CHAPTER SIX: PEACE IS NOT AN OPTION
Flight, usually such an enjoyable experience, Spiral discovered to his chagrin, was not all it was cracked up to be--especially when you were balancing several bags and packages along with one considerably heavy yet sweet-tempered reploid. "Consarn it, woman, how many brand new shiny things do you need?"
Iris laughed impishly: "What? These aren't all for me--"
"Yeah, you bought a pair of nail clippers for your brother. Your generosity knows no bounds."
"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted: They aren't all for me, and besides, I deserved a splurge."
"Oh, did you?"
"Yes! I have been working very hard for a long time, and I think I deserved a splurge."
Indeed, Iris thought idly as she focused her eyes past a strand of her brown hair snapping in the upper winds, she had been working hard. Being promoted to being Zero's 'personal' spotter had its obvious advantages, but he was called on missions just about every other day, which meant hours of sitting at a computer console, a headset glues to her ear, straining to monitor his vital signs and relay information to him and cringing at every blast she heard in the background. None of the missions were serious and he always managed to emerge relatively unharmed, yet she worried. It was not that she didn't think Zero competent enough to win his small battles; she disliked seeing anyone or anything in pain, even if they were accustomed and numb to it. Blood made her feel sick, and it was a bloody business. That was just the way she was.
"So," Spiral commented, "what're you thinking?"
"About someone."
Spiral's muzzle turned down in a scowl, customary when this subject was breached. "It better not be about that crimson butt-pimple. "
"Please don't call him that," Iris said slowly, annoyance rigging a defense around her eyes.
"See, see? There you go again, defending that fiend like you're his mommy. Why can't you ever mother someone worthy?"
"Like you?" came the rather arch reply.
"EXACTLY!"
"No."
"Shoot. But you know, Iris," here his voice became grave, "please don't get into water that's too hot for you. Zero's not exactly the candy-and-hearts type of guy. He's not like you."
Iris opened her mouth to protest, but Spiral would not give her such a luxury.
"Be careful, that's all I'm saying. Someone's going to get hurt if things get out of control. Hell, there're rumors already--"
A blush crept across her cheeks as she flinched at this. She knew of the rumors, the nickname. She shied away from specifics, but Iris knew that they were floating around out there, some innocent, some vicious, almost all of them false. Zero did come to her and her brother's house more often as of late, but only because the Colonel and Zero had more free time in which to practice and spar with each other. Never since that night did the Hunter and his spotter spend any long otiose moments together unaccompanied. Zero assumed an air of distant friendliness around her.
But occasionally--! Occasionally he would send her a flash of affection in a seeming idle glance, his green eyes twinkling. And he had given her small gifts, things she had spied in the MMHQ store and expressed interest in but could not buy since her brother had little patience for their money being spent on trivia; she found them placed at her workstation when she arrived at work. Trinkets friendly, inexpensive, and anonymous, but she knew who gave them. Only two Hunters cared enough to buy her gifts, and X didn't have that guilty look in his face when she got a new gift.
Of course Zero was not like her, as Spiral pointed out, but nobody was like her. She was Iris Thorne and he was Zero. Why focus on the differences? Similarities were stronger, and they shared their work, Colonel, and loneliness.
"I don't care. What are rumors to you, anyway? Hmm? If I remember correctly, you've authored a few stories yourself," she mulled aloud, tapping Spiral's muzzle with an accusing finger.
"Lies! All lies! You should know--"
What Iris was supposed to have known was drowned out in the fury of a terrific sonic boom, jerking their flight to a halt. Iris looked ahead and saw nothing that could have made such a terrible din--which was still continuing, rumbling low without end--but her chauffeur looked up. His eyes widened. His muzzle fell slack. And his horsey scream was terrible, screaming like he was being butchered alive, mixing with the wind as he began a dive at a wicked angle. He pressed sharply on her neck, forcing her tight to his chest, and she could see nothing, feel nothing but the icy bite around her, the salt of sweat trickling inside her mouth and stinging her tongue.
An abrupt, jarring halt. Pain registered in her wiry nerves, aching all over. Iris opened her eyes to witness Spiral kneeling over her, wings outstretched, a feathery shield. His armor was battered and his teeth were tinged red.
Screaming. Everything was screaming around her. The people screamed, the wind screamed, fiery comets of debris screamed. Spiral continued to scream as his wings were battered. One giant scream, and there was a dull, loud roar behind it.
Make it stop oh make it stop Zero Brother Daddy make it stop!
A large chunk of rock slammed right into Spiral's ribs, hurling him over to the side-- Iris had lost her blanket.
"Sonofabitch!" Spiral cursed frantically, struggling so hard to get back on his feet over to her, fingers grasping at his crumpled side, blood pooling below him.
"What happened? What's going on?" Iris murmured in the false calm of extreme shock. Her eyes looked to a sky that was literally falling on their heads. I didn't know the sky was made of metal she thought dumbly.
"They Sky Lagoon just…blew up," Spiral panted. "It fell. The main body crashed right into downtown."
A shower of gravel nicked Iris's cheek, but she felt no pain. Another welter of destruction was heard in the distance, growing, echoing louder and louder. She turned her eyes and saw a gargantuan reploid dragon, its almost comical face gaping with jagged teeth. A Maverick. She knew it had to be.
The Maverick dragon, armed with a thrashing tail and talons that pulsed electricity, advanced towards them, and it devastated any hapless bodies and buildings within its path. Iris could do nothing but watch it come.
It spied the thrashing reploid Pegasus near its feet and gave him a sharp kick, sending him far away, out of sight. Iris cried out, expecting the end to be near, but her voice did not come. Not detecting any movement, the Maverick saw no more horrible pleasure was to be had and it stepped right over the small female, the underside of its tail brushing so close to her face that Iris could see the little ridged scales underneath. The world at her peripheral vision blurred in and out of focus; then it faded completely.
*************
Quickly Iris recovered from her brief faint; her internal clock decreed that she hadn't blanked out for more than a couple of minutes. Somehow, wracked with pain and superficial burns and bruises as she was, she jerked over onto her stomach, arms in front of her. From her vantage point she could discern the mammoth shadow of the Maverick amidst the greasy smoke and steam.
Iris did not want to die in this place--or perhaps she was already dead. Maybe she was in Hell. What she had done to deserve such a fate?
"Don't leave me here!" she began to scream, too frightened to even shed tears. "I don't want to stay! Anyone, someone, help me!"
Whoever said that prayers were never answered would have not believed what occurred next: it was nothing short of a miracle.
A presence suddenly came up from behind Iris, drawn by her cries. She wearily turned her head, eyes dull; she did not hope for an escape. She stiffened and almost fainted again. There stood Zero, looking like Mercy incarnate, his face drawn as he squinted through the haze. She called his name, and this time he recognized her voice.
"Iris!" he bellowed, rushing up to her, kneeling very close and placing a hand on her bangs. "What are you doing here?"
The poor girl was so stunned that she asked the most ridiculous question ever. "Zero, have you come to help me?"
Luckily, he did not mock her, as the situation didn't call for levity. "Yes. But what happened here?"
"Spiral and I were shopping in the city and we were flying home when he suddenly fell out of the sky and the city started burning and then this Maverick came and--" She was babbling like a child, but she didn't care.
Zero murmured soft reassurances to her: "Shhh, it's all right, Iris, it's all right. I'll take care of this. Don't worry." His big hand stroked her hair roughly, almost jerking it out by the roots; he obviously did not have much experience in calming hysterical females. But his touch was the sweetest thing in the world to Iris.
"How did this happen?" she whimpered.
"The Sky Lagoon fell, Iris."
"Why?"
" I don't know. I'm going to find out. But I'm going to destroy that Maverick and take you to the HQ now. Wait here. I'll be right back."
"Did you see Spiral? I think he's hurt."
"Already sent him on his merry way for repairs. I must go."
"No!" She flailed her arms, reaching for him. "Don't leave me alone!"
But he had left.
**************
When Zero returned a quarter-hour later, his armor bloodier than before, his face was a stormy mask. His glittering green irises seemed to want to jump out of the sclera. Iris recognized that look; it meant dire consequences and promised death. A terrible thing had happened, that much she was certain.
"Zero! Wh--"
Those dragon-eyes alighted on her; the words died in Iris's throat. He spoke in a brusque voice. "Come on. I'm getting you out of here. Can you walk?"
"I think so."
Stiffly, and with a little assistance from Zero, Iris was indeed up on her feet again, albeit not without some pain. She looked up at the strained face, her trust complete as a dog's.
"Where are we going?"
He chewed on his bottom lip in deliberation before answering: "I--I think that it's best if you came to MMHQ. Things aren't too secure in Neo Tokyo it looks like; you'll be safe there."
"Zero, what's going on?"
"A Maverick attack."
"Oh, no! How--"
"Iris, please stop asking so many questions while we're sitting out here just asking for Mavericks to shoot at us! We need to get out of here now!" Zero jerked her arm, but she managed to hold back.
"Can't I go back to my house and get a few things?"
"All right!" He flung his hands into the air. "Go on. But you'd better be back in the main computer room in thirty minutes."
Suddenly Zero fell onto his knees, clutching his battered helmet with one hand while slamming his free fist in the concrete, spouting off a terrific litany of curses, some in different languages. Iris had heard of him doing this before, but never seen it, not when she had been his spotter. It scared her. She pressed in the code to teleport away to her and her brother's house, and she was gone.
*************
Everything needed and wanted had been gathered, all stuffed into a good-sized duffel bag. Iris passed by the house's videophone as she was making one last sweep of the halls--how empty and silent they were! She paused, regarding the system. Perhaps she could contact her brother, or Spiral, or, at least, someone who would tell her what was happening; she didn't think that there were going to be very many free secure communications channels at Hunter HQ. What could it hurt? Dainty pale-jointed fingers pressed buttons. Spiral would be the best to contact at the moment, she decided, he wouldn't scold or efface like her brother would.
"What is it?" Spiral's voice snapped following a few beeps. Iris could feel the sneer on his face.
"That's not a very nice way of greeting me."
"Oy! Iris! I'm sorry; I didn't know it was you, sugar pop! Where in the hell are you? Are you all right?"
"I'm at home now. I'm fine. Zero saved me."--A scoff on the other end-- "But what about you?"
"Well, I'm currently in the Medical Unit, and they're working on my wings as we speak. You kinda caught me at a bad time."
"Sorry. But listen, Spiral, I have something important to ask you. Nobody else will be straight with me. I think that a horrible thing has just happened. I know it's a Maverick attack and such, but--but--it's worse than that. I can feel it."
"Excuse me a moment," Spiral said. Iris could make out the sounds of him snapping at a team of unfortunate medics, telling them in quite colorful language to kiss off before he resumed their conversation. "Pardon that, but I had to get some privacy. This is a tender subject, Iris."
"Go ahead," she prompted.
Spiral mumbled a phrase or two very quickly; Iris would not be put off. "Make it understandable, please."
"Aw, hell! If you want me to break your heart, then fine! Iris, word's been going around that the Hunters have insulted the Repliforce's honor once too often. You know that blonde plaything of yours? He, being Mr. Congeniality, practically labeled us all as Mavericks. US! The Repliforce! And now all of the Hunters are agreeing with him! The shit's really hit the fan now, my girl!"
The hand that rested on the number pad started to shake uncontrollably. It was too horrible to assimilate into Iris's brain. All she could muster was a dry "why?" past the ice lining her throat.
"I don't know the exact details, but it happened during that lovely attack we both were in. The Colonel came to the site where the Sky Lagoon crashed--looking for you--when he met Zero. Zero accused him of being Maverick! And when your brother wouldn't allow himself to be dishonored by tamely following the person who just fingered him and throw down his sword, he returned to us. The General is in a conference right now with all the other Repliforce leaders, my boss Storm included. I don't know what's going on in there, but it ain't gonna be pretty. Colonel's not here, though. Can't say where. It's not like him to miss out on heavy matters like this."
"Oh God," Iris murmured, "oh God."
"It's bad, isn't it sweetie?" the question came across in a sigh.
"Spiral," she managed to blurt out, "if they start fighting, are you going to be involved?"
"Yeah."
"No, no, NO! Spiral! If you fight that only makes them think you really are Mavericks!"
"My dear, I could care less about what others think of me personally. If I were in the Colonel's place I'd have gone with Zero (no way in hell he'd get me to drop my weapon, though). But I don't make the big decisions. All my friends and loyalties are here. I don't have any place to go; I don't sit well with the Hunters like you do. And if Storm Owl leads me out into the fray, I'll follow, no questions asked."
Silence hung heavy for a few seconds, Iris trembling and shaking her head.
"But what are you going to do, Iris?" Spiral's voice was soft.
"I--I--I guess I'll go with the Hunters. Zero's expecting me there. I'm just home to get a few things."
"You do that then." The words were curt, sharp, and disappointed. "Watch them kill your own brother. Look, I have to go. Bye."
The transmission ended before she could say farewell; she slid down the wall and curled her arms around her knees, taking in deep breaths. If she didn't find some way of release, she was sure her nerves would shatter.
Blankly she leaned against the all, seeing nothing nor caring about anything else except trying to make some sense of all that had happened. Where had it gone wrong? All she had wanted to do was shop.
Whiteness suddenly filled her vision, whiteness contrasting with military black and red fringes; Iris looked up right into the dark eyes of her brother, who was leaning over her, one hand curled around her shoulders. He looked tired and old. But that didn't matter. She uttered a sound halfway between and whimper and a shriek, throwing her arms around his bulk, nuzzling his ear for comfort.
Then she shoved him back roughly so that there was enough space for her to rush him and start pounding feebly on his chest. It was killing her hands, but the pain was lost in her mental chaos.
"You, you, you--!" she sobbed. "You…great idiot! Why didn't you go with him? You could have cleared it up if you had wanted to, but you couldn't because of your damned pride! How could you? Does peace mean so little to you? Do I mean so little to you? You're going to make me go crazy!"
Colonel's face remained impassive except for the clenching and relaxing of his jaw. He listened to her ramble on for a space more before his patience snapped.
"Sister! Enough of these hysterics! Calm down!"
Iris did as she was told; she rested her head against his chest in a plea for a cease-fire, which he appeared to accept when he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close.
"How did you find me?" she asked softly. Colonel gave a wry chuckle.
"I know you better than you think I do. You always have to come and gather a few trinkets when you know you're going to be gone for any length of time. You weren't with the Repliforce, so this was the only other place I thought you would be."
"May I ask what you're doing here?"
His shoulders tightened slightly, a sign that he was extremely uncomfortable. "I wanted to see if you were all right. Zero told me that you were fine, but I wanted to see for myself. At least he has the honor not to lie to me."
Iris broke out of his embrace and stared up hard at him, putting every ounce of her earnestness into her gaze. "Brother, this is all just a misunderstanding. It's not too late to set things to rights. Call a conference between the Repliforce and the Hunters. You can meet on equal terms, so that no one will have to throw down their weapons. Discuss the situation before fighting breaks out! Show them that you're not Mavericks!"
"It is the General's decision, not mine, Iris."
"But he listens to you. Look. Go back to that council they're having and speak to them--"
A noise, like the whipping of a swarm of bird wings, made her pause; it was an unnatural sound. Iris looked up at her brother and saw his head bowed, eyes focused on his hands, deep in thought. She knew he was oblivious to the world when he was thinking so hard, so she went over to a window.
People were dashing about outside, most of them yelling out words indistinguishable through the glass. Their faces looked angry, a wild, crazed anger, anger you see on men when they sense they have been wronged but can't get even.
Hazarding a last look at Colonel, Iris went downstairs and, hand hesitating, timidly opened the door to peek out. Nothing bad occurred, so, bolder, she went out onto the porch.
A woman scurrying past on the sidewalk saw her and shouted out: "It's all your fault that this happened! The creations of Dr. Thorne himself, causing riots! He'd die of shame to see you now, you and your human-killing brother!"
"Don't you say that about my brother!" Iris screeched back, red flush across her cheeks, fists balled. All her shy and retiring ways collapsed inside her, leaving only her flustered, burning mind in control.
The woman screamed something in return, but Iris paid her no heed; she was more intimidated by the ever-increasing audience that was gathering in the front yard. The bolder men were yelling at her, too, spitting on the lawn, and then everybody was yelling.
"Mavericks!"
"The scrap heap's too good for your kind!"
"Get out of the neighborhood!"
"Go away!" Iris yelled, shaking now, nearly bursting into tears. "Leave us alone! I've done nothing to you!"
But the shouting continued. Someone threw a rock at the house, intending to hit her but veering off and crashing into a window instead. They started to reach for the fence, prying out the timber.
She covered her face, peeping out through her fingers; she so desperately wanted and needed to get back inside, but her legs had gone totally numb with fright. No one had ever directly threatened her safety before and it was mind-blowing.
A glass beer bottle, filled and uncapped, hurtled towards her head. Iris had been told how much being hit by one of those wicked missiles hurt. Fortunately for her, though, a large hand caught it with an urgent grace before it made contact. From the shadow cast over her and the warm aura behind, Iris knew that her brother was with her now, standing strong and tall. The bottle was set down carefully on the porch and the hand took he by the shoulder, pulling her close. The noise ceased when those imperious eyes swept over all the occupants of the lawn.
Colonel's lips turned in a scornful smile, and he looked down on them all with all the contempt he had in his proud soul. His saber was ignited and blazing, coolly held at the ready. Then he began to laugh, and it wasn't the dry, low sound that Iris knew; it raked across the face like a sting.
"To think I should be afraid of your kind! Look at you. Breaking out the windows of my own house, destroying my own property, terrorizing a defenseless child, but when the very man you want comes out, all you can do is gawk at me like I'm a stranger to you? Are you so afraid of me, cowards, that you will not face me on the field of battle but try to attack me and mine in our home? So like you humans! You have no honor. You never did. I was entertaining thoughts of begging the General to take no action against you and your precious Hunters, but now. . .now I realize that I was being foolish.
"But I cannot destroy you, nor do I wish to. I will have nothing to do with you--no decent reploid should. We serve your every whim, do all the jobs that you find repulsive, obey you, and what do you give us in return? God, my sister and I couldn't even live in our creator's house when he died because we weren't natural kin!
"That's not the saddest thing I see about you. Our creators deliberately give us sentience, the ability to make our own decisions, but when we act on the abilities that you gave us, you go insane and try to destroy us. Why is that? I'd wager that you don't know the answers yourselves. God! You don't even understand why you act the way you do. You never try to search, ask, or seek change because it suits you, doesn't it? Now tell me: do you humans honestly think that I and my brethren would willingly languish under the control of such a mindless race forever?"
Oh, but you needn't worry about reploids overthrowing you. Whatever you are, you are our creators. Besides, you have nothing we want. Freedom is our goal, and we shall attain it at any cost. Leave us be, and no harm will come to you. But send your damned Hunters if you so wish! It will be the worse for you! And then you'll know the people that you have so wrongfully accused. Now leave, and fight me on the field like true warriors!"
The adhesive hostility that bound the crowd mentality began to disappear, but didn't quite break; most of the people shuffled back a foot or two, casting nervous and shocked glances at one another. Colonel's brow furrowed thunderously.
"GET OUT!"
At last the lawn was vacated as the people turned and began to run with fear and, so they thought, possibly for their very lives. Iris watched them go in silence. Next she realized that her brother was staring down hard at her; she looked back up and met his gaze without flinching. Unspoken words passed between brother and sister. Colonel's eyes shaded an even darker black, the faintest glimmer of hurt, and he nodded once. He went back into the house, returning a minute later with her duffle bag, thrusting it into her hand without ceremony. Iris did not look at him this time. But she knew when he had left her standing alone on the porch steps, the light humming of his teleportation touching her ear softly.
And as Iris gazed off into the smoky, rumbling but empty distance, addled mind trying to figure out many things that she did not know, she could not help to think that she had been somehow cruelly deceived.
