C. Cowboy: this is it, the last regular chapter of Ground Zero. It's been a fun ride, but like all good things, it must come to an end. I'd like to start off thanking Tuxedo Kamen and Fusionblaster for helping out and beta reading for me. Enjoy and make sure to drop a review!
Chapter 8: Duel of the Fates
"General Light!" General Faulkner of the U.N. Anti-Maverick Council cried out as he dashed into the Council's shadowy meeting hall.
"Yes, General, we know the Hunters' attack on the Mavericks' fortress has begun," Light said monotonically, "You have no reason to act surprised; who didn't see it coming eventually?"
"No General, that's not what I have to report!" Faulkner said, his voice breaking in distress, "Fort Auto, General, the U.N. sent a clean up crew to dig out the bodies of those there …"
"And …" Light said, stroking his brown beard worriedly.
"And they found survivors, twenty five humans and Reploids, in the a protective bunker under the ruins," Faulkner said nervously, "they reported to the full United Nations … and … and it was an anonymous vote … the U.N. is sending a strike force, using large portions of every country's military organizations, even the United States' damn Special Forces Units! The Master warned Doctor Wily about the Hunters, but … but he won't be expecting a force like this … the Uprisings will be over!"
"Damn, even the Joes … damn the U.N.," Light cursed, "Why wasn't it cleared by us? We're supposed to be in charge of all anti-Maverick activity! If they stop the Uprisings … we'll have to surrender control of the countries back to their respective governments … damn it!"
"It's of no concern," a voice in the shadows stated bluntly, sounding rather bored, 'Sigma and Dr. Wily were slowly showing signs of potential problems for us anyway. Perhaps it's a good thing to let the U.N. take care of them before they become as much a problem as the Copy."
"But, Puppet Master," Light questioned, "if they wipe out Wily and the virus then … then we … then YOU lose all control!"
A blue gauntleted hand shot out of the shadows, grabbed the General by the collar, and raised him off his feet, "You dare question me?" Puppet Master asked, his eyes giving off a blood red glow.
"N-no sir … Never … I'd never question you …" Light choked out fearfully.
"Good," Puppet Master growled, dropping the General hard on the ground. "It appears the Maverick Wars are coming to a close." Puppet Master said louder, sounding actually friendlier, "But have no fear, our control will remain over this world for as long as I see fit to allow us to rule over the pathetic humans and their even more pathetic Reploids. Tell me, what is the one thing that keeps us from full control of the world?"
The room was quiet for a moment, "Mega … uhhh … The Copy and the Maverick Hunters, right?" General Harry Thompson said unsurely.
"Exactly," Puppet Master said, walking around the table, "Sigma, Wily, and so many Mavericks have made the mistake of underestimating the one called Megaman X," he stated, spitting out the name at the end, "Let's give them a time for peace; let the Copy lower his guard and pretend everything is happy and joyful in the world once again. Then when he least expects it, I will personally crush him. Zero failed, Vile failed, Sigma failed, Gate failed, and now Wily will fail. If you want something done right … you have to do it yourself. But rest assured gentlemen … this war is ending, but a new one is just beginning."
"DON'T LET UP, BOYS!" Zero cried, bringing his Z-Saber down through a Blackguard Maverick, "We're almost there!"
"Aye, Commanda!" Redeemer cried, bringing his staff around taking out several Mavericks at once.
"This is for my Dove!" Wolfwing growled as he slashed through several Mavericks that foolishly tried to overpower the hybrid Animaloid.
This truly was the Maverick Hunters' finest hour, most regular Mavericks were retreating so only the few surviving Blackguard remained between the Hunters and Wily's Skull Tower.
Zero spun his Z-Saber around, slashing a few more Mavericks, and then fired a few rounds from his Z-Buster. "Who else wants a piece?" He asked confidently, taking a combat stance with his Z-Saber held out before him.
'Zero,' a voice sounded in his head, 'Zero, my masterpiece, I need you … come to me…'
The Crimson Hunter's eyes glazed over for a moment before he shook it off and returned to acting normally, "Redeemer, Wolfwing, you two are in charge!"
"Aye, Commanda, but what aboot ye?" Redeemer asked, firing his own buster at a few stray Maverick helmets.
"I'm … needed elsewhere, take care of things." Zero said before running into a gaping hole in the outer wall of the fortress.
"What's the matter, Father?" Sigma asked with a smirk, "Worried about your precious Alia?"
X growled as he slashed Sigma's beamsaber against his own, causing sparks to fly everywhere, "Don't call me that!" X shot angrily, "You're not my son. You murdered him!"
"I'm deeply hurt, X," Sigma replied with a smirk, "Yet you did nothing to save me, same with your men at Fort Auto, I could tell you trained them, especially that one bird Animaloid. Too bad she ran when I took off her arm, she would have been great fun. Oh, and who can forget Alia … your face when she collapsed into your arms was priceless!"
"You … YOU BASTARD!" X cried, slashing wildly at Sigma.
"Your emotions are your weakness, X!" Sigma growled, pushing his saber through X's shoulder. X cried out in pain before flapping his wings to push himself away from his opponent.
"Your ego is yours, Sigma," X responded hoarsely before tackling the Maverick Overlord. Sigma kicked him off and into the air, but the Blue Angel used his wings to catch himself and hover, firing the gatling guns and Vulcan cannons.
"You'll have to do better than that!" Sigma shot dashing out of the way.
X responded by firing a charged shot at him, which hit dead on and pushed him through a steel wall. X landed and dashed toward the hole Sigma made, but before he got there, the Maverick dashed out toward him and connected with a punch to the side of the head, shattering half of X's helmet and knocking the rest off.
Sigma then prepared his own charged buster shot, "This is it; I'm giving you everything I have!" he cried as his buster reached dangerous levels.
"If that's how it's going to be …" X responded, charging his own busters and overriding the safety protocols. A moment later, the two released the charge in steady streams of energy that met in the middle of the large room. Both groaned as they constantly pushed their own streams forward.
"You … won't … win … X …" Sigma grunted, "I won't … let you … beat me... again …"
"Alia …" X whispered, "I … won't let it … end this way … I'm going to beat you … Sigma … this is for … ALIA!" With that, X pushed an final jolt of energy to his busters, which caused the plasma beams in the center of the room to explode, bringing the roof and walls down on top of the two Reploids.
After a few moments, the dust and smoke finally cleared. Slowly, some movement began to show and a single figure stood up from the rubble; his armor was cracked and broken in some places, and drops of blood-colored coolant ran from his lip and a cut on his temple. "I … I'm sorry," X said sadly, "I'm sorry I couldn't save you … Rest in peace, son."
X then turned and started to walk toward the chamber Wily escaped through.
Zero dashed through the inside of the fortress, "Any idea where I can find X?" Zero asked over his radio.
"Sorry, sweetie," Iris responded, "Just keep going up I guess."
"What the?" Zero said when he heard an echo of Iris' voice, only half of it was coming from the room he was standing beside. "Say something again, Iris."
"What's wrong, Zero," Iris asked worriedly.
"Stand by," Zero hushed her as he slowly opened the door and snuck in. The Crimson Hunter saw Chill Penguin sitting at a video monitor with a radio in his wing.
"We've got Hunters at sector C, D, G, K, and M," Chill Penguin reported.
"Iris, I want you to say not a word, but activate my helmet cam and tell me if this is what you see." Zero whispered, looking at the monitor that seemed to be looking at a Spotter console.
"What the hell …" Iris gasped as Chill Penguin froze looking at his own monitor through the screen.
Before the bird could react Zero had him pinned against the wall, "How long have you been watching her?" Zero growled.
"A … a month … Please, don't hurt me …" Chill whimpered, staring into Zero's very angry, green eyes.
"Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit," Zero growled. Chill Penguin's cries could be heard all through the tower. "Guess I lied, huh?"
Zero started to walk off, but stopped when he saw a video had fallen out of a compartment out of the side of Chill Penguin's armor, "What's this …" Zero asked, reading the side of the video which said shower and bathing. "Iris, are you still monitoring my video feed?"
"No, why?" Iris asked, "You think I want you see you torture bird boy?"
"Good, just checking," Zero said with a smile as he placed the video disc in the padded, back compartment of his armor. Then he stood up and continued on looking for X.
"WILY!" X cried, walking into the large chamber.
"Perhaps I underestimated you, Megaman X," Wily's voice echoed through the chamber, "You are actually a worthy opponent and also worthy of that proud name of yours. You have earned my respect."
"So, does that mean you're surrendering and we can call it a day?" X replied with a smirk.
"Ah, I see you share your elder brother's sense of humor," Wily chuckled, "Rock was quite the comedian. A joker down to the very, very bitter end."
"You've already lost, old man," X stated coldly, "The Hunters are finishing off the Blackguard, and Sigma is … dead … this is the end of the line, Doctor, surrender or fight."
"I have one last champion for you to face, Megaman X, if you defeat him then we'll talk." Wily stated.
"X! There you are!" Zero said, running in, "What the hell did you do to that room back there; my god, man, you're getting worse than me!"
"It's over, Wily; your champion can't beat us both!" X said confidently, standing at Zero's side.
"Is that a fact?" Wily said giving Zero a look, "Are you sure you can defeat my masterpiece?"
Zero back stepped, slightly shaking his head. He looked down quickly, closing his eyes tight before opening them with an evil smirk.
"Alright, Wily, where's this champion?" X said, readying his busters, "Let's get this, AH!" He cried as Zero brought his Z-Saber hard across his back, slicing through the Archangel Armor.
"Zero!" X cried, dodging another slash from his best friend.
"Ah, it's great to be free again!" Zero sighed, diving at X again, "Yeah it's me, buddy, and now why don't you just let your best friend kill you?" Zero said, insanity plainly seen on his face.
"Zero, we've gone through this before; you've fought this before!" X pleaded as the Z-Saber slashed, scraping across his chest plate.
"Zero, I won't fight you!" X said, lowering his guard, "I refuse to fight you."
"Then … die!" Zero cried as he plunged the Z-saber into X's side then jerked it out, causing X to stumble to his hands and knees. "Why … why can't I destroy you …" he whispered, questioning why he couldn't stab X through the core.
Meanwhile, a forgotten Hunter … a forgotten hero began to shift and symbolically rise from his own ashes, his armor was broken and he was leaking coolant badly, but he lived.
"How … how did I get here?" He asked, looking around his surroundings, "I … I was in the cave … the red maverick …" he then looked down at his armor, "Where … how …"
Then suddenly memories began to return, and the arguably greatest Maverick Hunter in history dropped to his knees, "Oh god … what have I done … what I have I allowed myself become?"
"Father … he … he became a hero … like I always told him he would … he did it … he stopped me … saved me …my god, what have I done … so many sins … so … so much blood on my hands …" the Maverick Hunter ranted in grief. He then looked up though the open doorway into the other chamber and saw X on his hands and knees before Zero. "The Maverick's been reactivated … but he was saved …he's a hero like father now … I can't let him become a monster like I was. It's the only way for me to begin to atone for my sins." The original Maverick Hunter, Megaman Sigma, then stood to his feet and began making his way into the chamber.
Zero then brought his saber over his head, "I won't miss this time …" he said and started to slash at X's neck, but a large hand grabbed his wrist.
"No, Maverick," Sigma said boldly, sounding more like X than the overlord the world had known for many years, "You still have unfinished business with me!"
Sigma then looked down at the shocked X and smiled proudly, "I knew you'd do it, Father; I told you. I told you Dr. Light named you Megaman X for a reason; you were created to be a hero! I knew you'd be a great hero."
"Sigma?" X said his eyes widening and a smile slowly crossing his lips, "You … you're back …"
"I think … I think you saved me, father," Sigma replied, but was cut short as Zero elbowed him in a damaged portion of his side.
"So you want some too?" Zero asked, smiling, "Father and Son reunited, beautiful, sweet, sickening …"
"No, Zero, I don't wish to fight with you," Sigma replied, "I've spilt too much blood already, just think of what you're doing. The Reploids system which allows them to think, feel and make their own decisions is flawed, and when it malfunctions, Mavericks are created, but you and Father … you're the proto units; your systems are not flawed in that way; you can still make your own decisions. X is like your brother; I have seen that plain as day through the years. Do you really want to kill your brother?" Zero stopped and a look of deep though crossed his face, then it contorted as if he was fighting himself.
"Don't listen, my masterpiece!" Wily ordered, "They are trying to confuse you!"
"Zero, do you not have someone waiting for you to come back?" Sigma asked, "Iris, I believe, is her name, "She loves you, but do you think she'll continue to love a monster the likes of which I became when I listened to his will?" he asked, pointing a finger at Wily.
Sigma and X stood side by side between Zero and Wily, "Zero, you're my best friend, my brother. Let's not do this … we don't have to do this; don't let Wily control you."
Zero then raised his arm cannon and fired it at X's head. X closed his eyes expecting to meet his end, but instead heard Wily curse behind him.
X and Sigma spun around and saw Wily holding a stump where his arm cannon was blown off from Zero's blast.
"Damn you … you machines!" Wily shot before turning and dashing out his back exit.
X started to go after him when he heard Zero call his name lightly before falling backwards. X and Sigma ran to his side.
"I … feel like shit …" Zero whispered, "I mean … worse than you both look …"
'Commander X!" a voice called over his radio.
"What is it, Wolfwing?" X responded.
"We have a large number of Blackguards coming out of the base of the tower, looks like it was a trap!" Wolfwing replied.
'Not good … Sigma do you know anything of this?" X asked.
"No, Father," Sigma replied, "Wily kept me in mostly in the dark concerning the Ground Zero operation; it was his baby."
The two helped the weakened Zero to his feet and both walked out to the remains of the observation room. They all gasped when they saw a good 30,000 Blackguards overtaking the Hunters.
"Not good …" X stated emotionlessly.
"Not good at all …" Sigma responded.
Wolfwing cried out as a blast hit him on the back bringing him to his knees, "Looks … looks like I'm coming to you … my Dove …" Wolfwing said sadly.
"No, Fuzzy, I'm coming to you," a soft, familiar voice ran from above him.
"S-Songbird!" Wolfwing cried happily before grabbing a pair of Blackguard and slamming their heads together with renewed vigor. "I thought you were killed!"
"Me, Lan, and Dex got as many of the Fort Auto crew as we could into an underground bunker before the real fireworks started," Songbird replied, landing at his back and opening fire on some Blackguards, "I got hurt, yes, even lost an arm … the one with … with our engagement ring … but at least I'm alive and we're back together and the U.N. gave me a full body repair and brand spanking new armor! How's it look, Lover?"
"I wouldn't complain if you were just wearing a layer of mud; you would look glorious to me, my Dove! I am so happy you're alive!" Wolfwing replied, slashing a few more Mavericks.
"Mud alone, huh?" Songbird replied with a mischievous look in her eye, "That can be arranged for the honeymoon."
"If we live through this," Wolfwing said, wearing down, but still slashing.
"Oh, did I forget to mention I brought some friends?" Songbird asked as planes shot overhead and countless parachutes came floating down from the sky.
"YO JOE!" a multitude of voices cried as well as other battle cries in several different languages as countless soldiers joined the Hunters until the Blackguard were now outnumbered at least three to one.
Less then thirty minutes later, the battle was over. "Father, I make it official … I surrender …" Sigma said, holding his hands out before him.
"Alright, I'll report what happened and we'll do a viral scan to determine if you're still Maverick or not." X said sadly as a group of Hunters placed restraints on Sigma's arms and legs. The unit saluted X then took hold of leads on Sigma's restraints, "They're the best at their job, Sigma, I'll see you as soon as I can."
"Thank you, Father … and Father …" Sigma said sadly, "If they choose to destroy me … please don't fight it; it is the least I deserve for the things I have done."
"I hope it won't come to that," X said as he watched Sigma and the recovery unit teleport away.
He then turned toward Redeemer, "Any sign of Dr. Wily?" X asked.
"Nay, he just up and disappeared, wasn't any sign of 'portin' out so they ne telling were he be," Redeemer informed.
"Keep looking … X-Armor," X said recalling the damaged Archangel Armor and taking his basic armor.
"Commander X," a human soldier came running, "I've a message for you, sir."
X saluted then and nodded for the soldier to give the message. "We received a call from Arizona Beach Base medical, said you needed to come quickly, it's urgent."
X suddenly went weak in the knees. "Alia …" he then touched his helmet, "Iris!"
"I know, X; I just got the same message, teleporting you to the medical facility now," Iris responded as X disappeared in a beam of energy.
A short distance away a lone, armored figure with a damaged arm ran for his life. "It's not over yet, Megaman X; I'll be back …"
"Is that a fact, old friend?" a voice called before him, causing the cyborg doctor to stop dead in his tracks,
"That voice … it can't be …" Wily gasped.
"It's been a long time, Doctor," the voice in the shadows replied; his voice was soft, almost childlike. He looked almost exactly like X -- only a few minor differences in his face and height, and his blue armor lacked a chest plate with medium sized shoulder guards in its place. And his helmet was one solid blue color, instead of X's two shaded, and also had the same 'Mohawk' as X, but instead of a triangular red gem in the center, he had a rectangular blue one.
"Rock … but how … how are you alive? … Zero …" Wily stuttered.
"You always underestimated me," he said, letting his arm transform into a buster, "and now we're going to settle this, First Law of Robotics says I can never harm a human being."
"That's right!" Wily shot proudly.
"But you aren't human anymore, are you?" He said, giving Wily a confident smile.
"No …" Wily panicked, back stepping, "No … NO … NOOOO!"
X ran as fast as he could to Alia's room, but fear stopped him from turning the knob and entering. He finally steadied himself and opened the door, and what he saw shattered his heart. The machines were all turned off, and Alia's body was covered with her white hospital sheet.
"Oh … oh, Alia …" X whimpered, walking slowly toward the bed before dropping to his knees beside it, laying his head on the side of the bed. "I-It's over … we … we won, Ally … I'm so sorry … there's so many … so many things I needed to say to you … I love you, Alia, I love you with everything I have … everything I am... I should've saved you … I-it's all my fault … all my fault …" X sobbed, gently pounding his fist on the side of the bed.
"I love you too, but you really do need to stop blaming yourself for everything," A familiar voice ran through X's ears, "You know that, right?"
"A-Alia?" X cried, jumping to his feet and jerking the sheet back to see Alia's smiling face. "Y-You were … you were pulling a joke!"
"Oh my goodness," Alia smirked, "Someone's a rocket scientist!"
"Y-You're really alive?" X asked hopefully, staring into her deep blue eyes.
"Yup and good as new!" She replied cheerfully.
"YOU'RE ALIVE!" X cried as he picked Alia up by the underarms and swung her around in the air, both laughing like five year olds. "But if you EVER do that to me AGAIN!" X said, slamming her back down on the bed.
"You'll do wha … ACK" Alia squealed before trying to get away, "X! STOP IT! DON'T TICKLE! STOP IT! STOP IT!"
Back at Wily's fallen fortress, Iris had 'ported in with a bouquet of flowers and made her way to the makeshift hospital. She quietly made her way into Zero's room and noticed a TV and video disk player running and that he had fallen asleep, "he's cute when he's asleep … just like a little boy." She then turned toward the TV, "I'll just turn this … WHAT THE HELL!" She cried, causing Zero to jump in his bed.
"Wha... what is it?" he asked innocently, not fully awake.
She simply stared at the TV, her jaw working up and down like a goldfish, and her eyes glued on the video of herself bathing from her point of view. "You … you … you … YOU PERVERT!" She cried, shoving the flowers in his face and storming out.
"Oh hell …" Zero sighed, lying back down roughly.
A few weeks later, once Alia was cleared to travel, X and she teleported to the Maverick Hunter Headquarters Memorial, which was a large wall in downtown Tokyo with all the names of the Hunters who were killed during the events Dr. Wily himself called Ground Zero.
"Naturally," Alia sighed, "Placed all the Reploids names last, even Commander Signas'."
"At least they honored them," X said, looking over the large wall himself. "May sound disrespectful, but … I'm just glad your name isn't on here."
Alia stood up and put her arms around him, "I am too," She said as she gave him a simple kiss on the lips, "Who else would keep you and Zero from blowing up the world?"
"Iris," X answered simply, causing her to humph and turn her back. X responded by wrapping his arms around her from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder, "I'd be lost without you, Ally."
"Ok, I guess you're forgiven," she said with a smirk.
"You're too easy on me, Babe," X said, kissing her jawbone. "Marry me."
Alia stiffened, 'did he say what I thought he said?' "What?" she asked in a timid voice.
"I said … Marry me." X replied, moving around to stand before her and look in her eyes, "I'm no good at romantic talk, and I'm afraid if I get down on one knee, I'll just look stupid so I'm just going to out and out ask you. I know this is fast; we've only been together for almost two months, but... Alia, will you marry me?" He asked as he brought out the velvet box to show her a golden ring with sixteen, surrounding smaller diamonds and one large diamond in the middle.
"Does this answer your question, X?" Alia said as she pulled him into a passionate kiss.
On a rooftop nearby, two figures watched the couple. "YES!" a girl cheered, pumping her fist into the air.
"Keh, I though you didn't like her, Roll," Her companion in a scarf said, looking at the pair and showing little interest.
"Things change, Blues," Roll said with a smile, "Besides, if he's happy, then I'm happy!"
"I do believe that is the corniest thing you have ever said, Sis," Blues smirked.
"Oh shut up, whistle boy, let's go home." She replied as the two disappeared into pillars of energy.
To Be Concluded …
The epilogue should be up soon as well as some replies to the reviews and a sneak peak at Endgame, now REVIEW!
