C. Cowboy: hey, here's another chapter full of surprises, and other goodies, again I'd like to thank Tux and Fusionblaster for checking this chapter for me, and now on with the show. Sigma's last push takes place in this one, so … For the thousands in attendance … and the millions … watching around the world … Ladies and Gentlemen, LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE! R&R
Chapter 4: Ground Zero
In a mysterious fortress, hidden high in the Rocky Mountains, two figures waited patiently as an old man and his dog walked up to them. "This is big," The old man said to the two.
"I thought you didn't want us to get involved anymore, Doc," the shorter figure said, the color of his armor was hidden but what appeared to be a scarf was seen waving from where it was wrapped around his neck.
"Yes, Doctor," The other, a younger, slightly taller girl said, her long, golden blond hair waving down her back, with a blue helmet resting under her arm. "Surely X can handle anything this Sigma can throw at him."
Yes, X can," the old man said, "But this isn't just Sigma alone, and even if I had any more armor capsules to give him, it might not be enough."
"Keh, what's so different about this time?" the male figure said, unimpressed.
"Wily," The old man said, seriously.
"What?" they both yelped in alarm, "How can he still be alive?"
"How can I be?" the old man chuckled. "Anyway, you two, go see what he's up to, but do not get involved unless you are one hundred percent sure X can't handle it. Understand?"
"Yes, Doctor," the girl said, teleporting out.
"Whatever," the guy said, following suit.
"Good luck," The old man said, walking back into the fortress, followed by the red, robotic dog, "I can only hope X won't use the last armor. I am not certain if he has the will power to control it yet."
"Oh, X?" Alia purred, slinking into X's quarters. She smiled when she saw him sleeping in his pod. She then turned his lights on low, walked over, and looked down at him. "X, are you awake?"
X slowly opened his eyes and looked up at his girlfriend in a long, blue nightshirt with a seductive smile on her face, "Hey there," She whispered, "You wanna thank me for your new armor now?"
X blinked a few times, looked at the clock, and looked back at her, "Alia, it's three in the freakin' morning!"
"You're welcome," Alia huffed angrily.
"I am thankful for that, but …" X said, trying to avoid her being angry with him, "but it's three in the morning!"
"Well, I just finished tweaking YOUR new armor," Alia snapped, "I'm sorry for taking so long ensuring YOUR safety." She then brought her hands to her face, and her shoulders started to tremble.
X then quickly climbed out of the pod, and wrapped his arms around her waist, "I'm sorry, Ally …"
She spun around and began to cry on his shoulder, though he couldn't see her smile, 'sucker …' she thought, as X gently rubbed her back.
"Come on, sweetheart," X whispered soothingly, "Let me make you some coffee; it'll make you feel better."
"No, X," Alia snapped, "I don't want coffee!" She said, giving him a passionate kiss.
X pulled back and looked at her, slightly dazed. "Oh … ok … that works too," he said before kissing her again, and the two started making their way to the pod.
As the couple began to lie down, the door opened and in marched Zero, "Hey, X, time to… OH GOD! MY EYES!" The Crimson Hunter cried, covering his face in his hand.
"Zero, please learn to knock," X sighed, holding back the angry Alia.
"Heh, sorry, guys," Zero apologized, unable to look at either.
"Whatever," Alia huffed, crossing her arms, still glaring at the Crimson Hunter.
"What's wrong?" X asked, knowing something had to be up for Zero to be in full armor at three in the morning.
"Nothing, we think," Zero said finally, looking at X, "Something's wrong with the radar and long range communications, so until they fix whatever the problem is, we have to have guards watching the base at all times. The 17th and 0 Units have first watch."
X sighed and looked at Alia, "Rain check then?"
Alia climbed into X's pod and adjusted her nightshirt before pulling the blanket over her, "Fine, whatever, you boys have fun playing watchdog. Goodnight."
Meanwhile,a short distance away, Sigma stood watching the Maverick Hunter Base from his hiding place.
"Master Sigma, Sir!" Chill Penguin cried, waddling up to him, "I've information from Lord Wily and the spy!"
"Be quiet, you incompetent worm!" Sigma hissed, glaring at the Maverick.
"Uh, Sigma, sir, I'm a penguin, not a worm," Chill Penguin said, scratching his head nervously.
Sigma sighed angrily before looking down at the fidgeting, avian Reploid. "What have you to report?"
"Ok the spy's transmitter is still working perfectly. I've been watching her personally for the entire month. She has no clue we're seeing what she's seeing, and it works twenty-four/seven. Even when she's in the shower!" Chill said, chuckling at the last part, "Anyway, it seems that the Hunters' main control room is on the fifth level, toward the center of the base. And we've also discovered where Megaman X holds his armors."
"Anything else you've learned from her?" Sigma asked, smiling at the newfound knowledge.
"Yes sir, I think we've found Megaman X's weakness," Chill said, pulling out a small monitor and holding it for Sigma to see. Sigma smiled brightly. What he saw he could definitely use. The screen it showed X carrying a sleeping Alia down the hall of the base. Then it showed another of X stealing a kiss from her before leaving a room.
"Yes, that will be useful," Sigma mused, "Anything else, Chill Penguin?"
"Yes, Lord Wily sent this for you," Chill said, holding what appeared to be a handgun. "It has one dart with a diamond tip that can even penetrate Megaman X's armor. Inside the dart is a virus that will slowly and painfully cause every single system in his body to crash. There is no anti-virus, so if you hit him with this, he's finished. But you just have one shot."
"Rally the troops," Sigma said, smiling evilly.
Around an hour later, the group of Mavericks were gathered; in the front were Chill Penguin, Boomer Kwanger, the Storm Brothers: Storm Eagle and Storm Owl, Magma Dragoon, Slash Beast, and Neon Tiger. Behind them stood a countless mass of Reploids that looked identical. They were wearing black and white armor with gold trim, their chests were decorated with twin green gems, and their helmets had black spiked sides, and full facemasks showing only their bright red glowing eyes.
Sigma stood proudly, looking over the army he commanded, "Soon the war will be over!" he said loudly so that all Mavericks could hear, "The war will be over! Today one side will be destroyed and one side will be victorious! And it will be the Reploids standing victorious over the ashes of the Maverick Hunters and the pathetic Human Race!"
He then looked down soberly, "Up until today, we have flown the banner of the Maverick, the rebels. Today, we will no longer be known as Mavericks, and we will fly a new banner or rather an old banner; a banner that should have been flown a hundred years ago. Today, my Reploid brothers, we will be known as …" Sigma said, raising the new banner, it was blue and red with three letters in the center: 'Dr. W' "The Masters!"
"Three kings," Zero said from his seat at a table in the east tower of Maverick Hunter Headquarters.
"Full house," X replied, showing his hand.
"Glorious victory, Alpha Male," Wolfwing said, placing his hand down before gathering the cards from the three Hunters and shuffling them.
"I really wish you wouldn't call me that," X sighed as the lupine Reploid began to deal the cards.
"Alright, what do you boys say about making this one more interesting?" Zero asked, pulling out his zenny.
"I am in," Wolfwing said, pulling out his.
"Imbroke," X said quickly, looking down as a blush covered his face.
"What?" Zero asked as Wolfwing began to snicker.
"I am broke," X whispered embarrassedly.
"X, how can you be broke? You've been saving your reward money since the first uprising," Zero blared, scratching his head in confusion, "Heck, you haven't bought a new pair of blue jeans in ten years!"
Zero then spotted X fiddling something in his hands, "What's that?" He asked, reaching for the object.
"No, it's nothing!" X cried jerking it away, but dropping the object.
Zero dove for it and caught it while standing on one knee. He smiled brightly as he opened the box. "X," Zero said, spinning the box around to where he could see it, "This is an engagement ring."
"Commanda X, Commanda 'Ero, Woofwing … uhh sorry te interrupt ye … but …" Redeemer said, running in but screeching to a halt upon seeing Zero on one knee and holding a ring box in front of a blushing X. "Do ye want me te break tha news te Ms. Alia?"
"What?" Zero said, looking at their position, "Ack!" he cried jumping back and throwing the ring box at X. "The ring isn't for X; it's for Alia!" Zero said, waving his hands before him.
"Aye, Commanda, but what of Ms. Iris?" Redeemer asked blinking at the Scarlet Hunter, "T'll break er 'eart."
"No, X is going to give it to Alia. I haven't got a thing to do with it!" Zero yelled, "Now what's wrong?"
"'Tis strange, sir," Redeemer said, shaking his head, "long range communications have bin dun fer a while, but just a few minutes ago, short range failed too."
"Alpha Male, Commander Zero, you should see this," Wolfwing said, pointing out towards the distant hill.
"Oh God," X gasped, standing up.
"Where the hell did they come from?" Zero yelled, pointing at the mass of black marching toward the Headquarters.
"Zero, get the 0 and 17th Units down on an intercept vector before they can get into the base; I'll go inform Signas." X said, already heading down the tower's stairs.
X stopped long enough to see the distant hill already covered with the soldiers, and still no end in sight. "This is bad, VERY bad!" X gasped, running into the main base and making a beeline toward the command center.
X shot into the large chamber and immediately ran toward the Grand Commander, "Signas, we've got trouble!"
Alia, who had just arrived at her station, spun around at the sound of X's voice, "X?" She asked, taken back of the look on X's face: a look of fear.
"X, what's wrong?" Signas asked nervously.
"We've got a large number of Mavericks marching on the base, NOW!" X gasped.
"How many?" Signas asked, preparing to hit the red alert alarm.
"I don't know, more than I've ever seen in ALL the uprisings!" X said, nervousness replacing what appeared to be fear. "How many Hunters are on base?"
"Three hundred seventy five," Signas said nervously.
"Not enough," X sighed, "Can we contact help from other bases and forts?"
"No, long range is completely disabled, and short range is down for the time being too," Signas stated, "We can't teleport out without the long range scanner, and until the short range is repaired, we can't teleport short range either, so you'll have to tough it with your basic armor until it's restored."
"Wonderful …" X said rolling his eyes, 'It'll be a miracle if any of us get out of here alive.'
"How long 'til at least short range com is back up?" Signas asked Alia, who was now at their side.
"I don't know; I don't even know why it isn't working," Alia said, nervousness obvious in her voice.
Signas almost jumped to the main control panel and slammed his fist on the alert button. "Everyone to their battle stations. X, I'll have every able Hunter including myself out there with you ASAP!"
Alia then turned to go to her station when X grabbed her wrist and spun her around. "X?" Alia asked, seeing a nervousness in X's green eyes that she had never seen before.
"Listen, Alia," X started, bringing a hand up to brush some of her long bangs out of her face, "I won't lie to you; this really doesn't look good."
"X…" Alia started, but X cut her off.
"Please, just hear me out. If we both make it through this, there's something very important I have to ask you, but until then there's just one thing I want you to know. No matter what happens …" X then brought her into the most passionate kiss he had ever given her, "I'll always love you, always."
"X …" Alia said, tears beginning to form.
"Sorry, but we've both got work to do," X said, the familiar confidence returning to his gaze, "I'll need you out there, so get that com system back up."
"Ok," Alia said barely above a whisper, "Please be careful."
"Will do," X said, giving her a wink with a thumbs-up. "Talk to you soon," X said before dashing out of the room as the emergency door sealed behind him.
"Please don't get hurt, X," Alia prayed before going to her station.
X dashed out toward the side of the base where the Mavericks were approaching. Most of the Hunter Units were already out and the remaining groups were coming out as he was. X spotted Zero and went to his side.
"Looking any better?" X asked, readying his arm cannon.
"Yes," Zero nodded, "actually."
"How many you think?" X asked as Wolfwing gathered the 17th and Redeemer gathered the 0 Specials.
"Hmm, not sure," Zero said, "I figure at least a thousand."
"That all?" X asked with a smirk, "You'd think Sigma would learn not to underestimate us."
"Aye," Redeemer said walking up beside them, "Some people are slew learners."
"Whatever the case," Wolfwing said, taking his place by X's side, "if we are to fall, we shall fall with honor!"
"Any words, Preacher?" Zero asked, looking towards Redeemer.
"Aye," Redeemer said lowering his head slightly, "'Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me', and I carry a really, really big stick," He recited, spinning his staff around him, taking a fighting stance at the last part.
"This is truly a good day to die," Wolfwing announced proudly, receiving strange looks from X and Zero.
"Ok, then …" X said, looking at the approaching army. "What do you guys say about not letting them get any closer?"
Zero popped his neck and drew his Z-Saber, "Right behind you, X. Lets show them that this is our yard."
Alia continued to work at the computer, trying to find some way of getting audio and visual back.
"This is it; we're all going to be killed," Alia heard Iris panicking, "And believe me, I know from experience. It isn't any fun!"
That's all she'd done for the last five minutes, panic and cry, and Alia couldn't take much more.
"Iris!" Alia yelled standing from her station and gripping Iris' shoulders, "Pull it together!"
"Why should I?" Iris snapped, "Why are we even trying? We're dead already!"
"X and Zero won't let that happen," Alia said with complete faith in X and everyone else out their giving their all.
"Won't they?" Iris shot bitterly.
"Iris, do you not believe in Zero?" Alia asked, narrowing her eyes angrily, "Has he ever let you down?"
"Yes, he has," Iris hissed, her words dripping with contempt, "He killed the only family I had, left me for dead, and then he let Sigma …"
Alia couldn't believe what she was hearing; she had heard Zero's story, and he did kill Colonel, and left Iris, thinking she was dead, but it was obvious Iris didn't realize it had killed a part of him in the process. And her blindness made Alia angrier and angrier until she finally brought her palm hard across Iris' cheek.
Iris gasped in surprise and gripped her cheek, "Why you little … bleach-blonde bitch!" Iris growled, returning the favor.
Alia recoiled, holding her cheek while glaring at the now angry Iris, not sure what made her angrier: the slap or the cut down. Either way, she was pissed and slapped her even harder, sending Iris back a few steps.
By now all commotion in the Command Center had ceased, and all eyes were on the girls.
"What now, you spoiled slut?" Alia shot, surprising herself with her words. But didn't have time to muse, as Iris, with a cry of rage, tackled her to the floor.
Outside, the battle had begun, and the Hunters were holding back the Maverick horde, but not easily. It was all they could do to hold the front line, yet there were two pushing farther into the invading forces. The two Hunters, who have rightfully been called the Red and Blue Berserkers by the other Maverick Hunters, were, to no one's surprise, living up to that name.
Both their armors were badly damaged, but neither one was giving an inch. X jumped into the air and fired his arm cannon at some of the armored warriors. He hit the ground and before he could dodge, a Blackguard sent his beamsaber through X's shoulder, making the armor explode. X retaliated by firing multiple head shots from point blank range. The Maverick fell backwards and X looked down on the now uncovered face. It was bloody, but X easily recognized it.
"Zero!" X called, taking his hand away from his injured shoulder and firing at a few more Mavericks, "Does this guy remind you of anyone?"
Zero slashed a few Mavericks before he jumped to be back-to-back with X. "What is it … oh my god …" Zero gasped, looking down at the Maverick who looked exactly like him, only in different armor.
"So I take it they were cloned from me," Zero stated the obvious, looking around at the mass closing in on them. "Well, as pretty as they may be, there can only be one me!" He cried, diving toward a group slashing.
Zero swung his Z-Saber with deadly accuracy taking down six Blackguard clones with one swipe. "They just keep coming!" Zero cried as he felt a blast hit him in the back, pushing him to one knee, "Oh, that better not've hit my hair!"
I know," X replied blasting a Mav, grabbing his leg and slinging him into a mass of others, "The more we knock down, the more come at us!"
"Whatever knocked out short range com and porting has to be close," X yelled, firing a double charge blast. "Maybe we can take it down so I can at least get some heavier fire power!"
"Would that do it?" Zero asked, pointing toward Storm Eagle's battleship.
"I think so," X smirked, "Wolfwing, I need a ride if you can get over here!" he cried over the crowd.
Wolfwing, flapping his massive wings, flew over the crowd of Mavericks and landed at X's side, quartering two Mavericks with his massive claws, "You called, Alpha Male?"
"Think you can get me to that battleship up there?" X asked, pointing toward the ship.
"Hang on," The hybrid wolf/bird-type Reploid placed his claws under X's arms and the two rose into the air.
Meanwhile, Storm Eagle and Storm Owl sat at the controls of the medium sized battle cruiser, enjoying the show. Suddenly, with a thud, the two bird-type Mavericks looked up to see a smirking Blue Bomber beginning to glow. "NO! NO! NO! NO!" The brothers screamed, holding on to each other and watching X glow brighter and brighter, "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO-" Their cries were cut short as X released two charged blasts that passed through the bridge before he back flipped off the ship as it exploded.
Wolfwing easily caught the Cerulean Crusader, and the two watched the battleship crash and take out a good number of the horde. "Now let's see if it worked," X said, touching the side of his helmet, "Commander X to Hunter Command, please respond."
Back inside the Command Center, no one really knew how to deal with or even think about what was going on with Alia and Iris. They both were punching, kicking, clawing, biting, pulling hair, head butting, and a variety of moves that would put most professional wrestlers to shame.
"What the …" Naomi said from her communications station, "short range communications back up!"
Alia's eyes lit up and she tried to get away from Iris, but a right cross to her jaw brought her back into the fight. Alia knew X needed her, so she had to settle this quick. She punched Iris in the ribs, and placed in a headlock. Alia wasn't the strongest of Reploids, but her training as Maverick Hunter gave her a very good edge.
"Iris, we don't have time for this!" Alia said as Iris struggled to escape her vise grip.
"Let me go!" Iris screamed, kicking and struggling.
"No, Iris, not until you get it straight," Alia growled, "I want you to know something; when you and your brother died, a part of Zero died with you. He cut himself off from everyone, even X, and unless you want to know exactly how he felt, I think we need to put this aside and be there for the guys. And if you still want to fight after X and the others stop this army, fine, I'll gladly kick your ass 'til it's a brand new shape. But right now, X needs me and Zero needs you, so let's get to work. NOW!"
Iris stopped struggling, and without another word the two girls got up and went to their stations.
"Commander X to Hunter Command, please respond," Alia heard over her headset.
"X, Hunter Command here," Alia replied, "What's your situation?"
"To say it was bad would be an understatement," X said, dodging an attack and returning fire.
"You wanted to give the Archangel a test run today," X said, punching an attacking Maverick. "This is as good a time as any."
"X, no!" Alia said, fear evident in her voice, "We haven't even done any tests on it yet. It's too dangerous!"
"Alia, I didn't have a chance to properly test most of my other armors." X said, turning and firing at a group, "It's now or never … AH!" X said, crying out as a blast hit him in the back.
"X!" Alia cried, fear gripping her, "X, please respond!"
"I'm ok, Alia," X returned, though sounding as if he was in pain, "I'm going to summon the Archangel now; it's our only shot."
Alia gulped and looked back at Douglas, who looked as unsure as she did. Something wasn't right; something felt wrong about using this armor in this situation. But they honored X's wishes and in the Armory, robotic arms maneuvered the pieces of the Archangel armor set in the center of the massive room as the teleportation system came on line.
"Archangel Armor ready." Alia gulped, closing her eyes as the armor teleported to X.
X looked around him and saw Mavericks surround him. "Now or never … Archangel Armor," he said as the Mavericks fired on him.
"X!" Zero cried, looking as the smoke boiled up from where X was standing.
Back in the command center, Alia watched the monitors fearfully when Douglas spoke up. "Alia, did you install a power amplifier to the Archangel?"
"Uh, no," Alia said, giving him a puzzled look, "Why?"
"The scan shows X's power readings sky rocketing," Douglas said, "It's already off the scale!"
Back on the field, the battle had stopped and all eyes were on the glow coming through the smoke.
Once the smoke let up, on the ground was what appeared like a white cocoon. Slowly, it opened into wide, angelic wings, revealing X in sparkling, dark blue armor. With a strong flap, the Blue Angel started to float in the air, supported by the four majestic wings. Slowly, he looked up with almost glowing gold eyes and looked around the battlefield.
"Oh my God …" Zero and Signas gasped in unison, both wide eyed.
X narrowed his eyes, and in a mechanical, emotionless voice, he finally spoke, "Enemies targeted."
To Be Continued…
