Blast: Aloha! It's the eleventh chapter! I'm so bad! I'd better go somewhere to think...

Mai: And I'm here, about to speak about.... (breaks down) Wah! Themis56's story is heart burning! I like Iris/Zero stories! But hearing Iris die and die again in stories is making me sad! And I'm having our journalism seminar!

Makoto: (Boys Be, people) Can you connect?

Mai: Ask me if I give a damn. So, Makoto, can you say the disclaimer please?

Makoto: Sure. Mai doesn't own Capcom. Amber Trasè is her own character. Imaginations are rolling!

~~

CHAPTER XI: NEW ENEMIES

~~

I yawned as I sat down. I know _I'm_ a reploid of many talents and all, but I never thought this day was that heavy. I get to meet many new recruits, some exchange Repliforce troops, and had a conversation with Colonel! Isn't that wonderful of me? Hey, I'm sarcastic.

FLASHBACK:

Colonel: You must be Commander Trasè, yes?

Amber: Aye. It is my great honor to meet you.

Colonel: As it is mine. Do take a seat. (After Amber takes a seat,) So, is there any comment regarding my sister inside the Maverick Hunters?

Amber: Iris is quite good. She learns quickly, and that is one trait I don't see from reploids everyday. Her work will be strenuous for some periods of time, but that's basically life as an informant.

Colonel: I see. I'm really sorry if I couldn't check on her personally because of the matters here at Headquarters.

Amber: Ah, that's no big deal. Everyone with a high rank tends to do such things. Let's just say I know what you feel. And don't worry about Iris. She's not alone there. Aside from the other Repliforce troops, she has us.

Colonel: Thank you for looking out for her. I will try to pry out of my tight schedule if I had the chance.

Amber: Seriously, you don't have to do that. You are an officer, and everyone looks up to you. And as I've said, Iris is doing fine. Though I'm willing to bet that she really misses you a great deal.

END FLASHBACK

I had to go to the Repliforce Headquarters and have a word with Colonel. Iris is improving greatly for a rookie, but it is no mystery since she is the sister of a high official of the Repliforce. It must be in the genes. As if they had the genes. I had to laugh out loud for that.

Visiting the new Spying Unit was almost refreshing. Vein did well in training the rookies, and he didn't mind with the usual arguments between the Hunters and the Repliforce troops. Good thing I didn't have that kind of problem, since I'm not taking newbies in my Unit. It is really funny to actually notice that reploids are behaving like ordinary human kids, if not better. Squabbles and fistfights, that wasn't new. I have witnessed some myself, although I wouldn't butt in if it were unnecessary.

The Repliforce exchange troops were a different case. Being a commander, they show respect for me, and for the other commanders. It makes me glad that I'm a commander; otherwise I don't have the authority over some of the misbehaving reploids.

Life goes on in that fashion. And now, I'm sitting on a chair in the Mainframe Panel. Dennis is an intelligent reploid, being the product of Dr. Abel Gredovia, who is one of the brightest scientists of his time. But even though he's witty, Dennis has proven he is more of a nuthead than a well- mannered reploid.

"If I'm permitted to say, Fara is getting too serious for her job!" Dennis rambled this time. I raised an eyebrow at that, but Dennis had a point. Fara really is getting too serious. I sense something about her, something I really don't like.

"For once, I had to agree with you." I replied solemnly, before standing up. I'm going to confront Farathine Gredovia about this. I began walking at the direction of Fara's office. When I was about to knock, I heard voices. I heard two voices to be exact. Placing an ear to the door and raising my auditory nerves to the maximum, I eavesdrop on the conversation.

"I have a strange feeling that Dr. Trasè is on to something." The voice I recognized as Fara's was heard.

"Don't worry. She is not your problem." A sickly gruff voice answered. That voice is so familiar, although I can't put a finger to it. "You know her weaknesses, and I have no doubt you can bring her down just by showing these to Dr. Cain."

"But, I think she might be a use for you, sir." Fara replied. This girl is a major wreck. "I mean, she has a duplicate of that virus you had..."

"No. She's not any help. My first meeting with her wasn't the best. And she was still a Maverick back then."

"Seriously?"

"Amber Trasè is a Maverick. But somehow, I don't know, maybe she controlled the virus and turned normal. But be careful. I don't want you spilling anything about this."

"I won't."

After silence reigned down in the place inside out, I walked silently out to the main corridors. I have a pretty good idea on who's been speaking to the second reploid child of Dr. Gredovia, and it's not Duke Red. (AN: Hated that guy from Metropolis....) Going to the deserted 18th Unit training room, I sat on one of the chairs in the control tower.

'Someone knows about us, Amber.' Leila said. 'Fara must be labeled as a Maverick right away for even talking to Sigma.'

I disregarded the thoughts of the Wilybot inside me. I can't let another reploid die because of my wishes! All to cover my real identity and my real purpose in this place... Middy is enough. But...Fara is already here since the leadership of Sigma. It may be possible, even though crazy, that this reploid has something for Sigma. Humans have countless emotions, and I have some of them. Thinking about it makes me barf!

I have to relocate my system server and lock it with another password. Typing at the computer nearest to me, I began hacking my personal files. After checking at my files, I relocate them, safely storing them in some of the databanks, and locked them up with a fool-proofed signature and lock that only Zero and I can access. After doing the following commands, I allowed myself to be swallowed by the darkness of the room. Well, that was only for a while before I heard X come in.

"Amber, you here?"

I yawned as I faced the blue armored reploid. "Yeah. What brings you in the dark, secluded areas of the 18th Unit?"

X merely smiled at the comment. "Zero told me that he found some very interesting fragments from a certain laboratory out southeast. He also wants you to check it out. The coordinates are 15.27.38.312. Don't worry about transportation disturbance, we checked it already."

"Finally, that blood armored brother of mine did something that didn't include fighting." I sighed. As I looked at X, his look was more of a guilty reploid.

"Well, actually, he went there in the first place because he learned that there are Maverick interferences." X replied, scratching the back of his helmet.

Well, so much for my thoughts. "How's Iris?" I asked, changing the subject. Zero is one topic too many, I guess. To add more, I might leak out some information, so better avoid it for the meantime.

He smiled again. "Iris is navigating Zero through the rubble. Since she had the contact, she also some of the information Zero collected. If you want to go to Zero, you had the coordinates. If you want to stay in the vicinity, well, you could always go to Iris."

"Well, I guess I'll go check Zero, then." I answered, following X as he goes out of the training room and to the transport pad. "He might need some assistance."

"Good thinking."

"Do I always?" A smirk leaked my lips.

"Not every time." X responded, continuing the charade.

"State me one instance when I didn't think well." I countered, casting a glance at him for a comeback.

"Well, for one, you shouldn't go out in the rain. Even though you're a reploid, Zero would've killed me for not keeping an eye on you."

"Oh, you silly boy!" I laughed, bonking my companion. "That was pure instinct. How would _ you_ react when someone close to you gets killed for no reason?" Regaining my composure, I added. "And to top it off, I'm NO LONGER A KID THAT ZERO NEEDS TO BABY-SIT!

X winced, clutching his ears. "Geez, can't you give a bit more sympathy for my ears? Your voice echoed through the hallway, and I wouldn't be surprised if Dr. Cain himself hears you."

"Sorry." I apologized flatly. I stopped at two metallic doors that automatically opened after hearing my voice. Good thing Edwin's team decided on making voice commands one of their top priorities.

~~

After meeting up with Zero and taking some important fragments back at HQ, all four of us, including Iris, decided to stay in the 18th Training Room. Well, I think they're doing it because of me. The spies are no use for that day, and they have been improving even without practice, so why bother? That leaves a deserted training room and me.

"Would anyone care to join me for a spar?" I asked, eyeing my companions one by one.

Zero was much eager to fight me, X has doubts about himself, and Iris took the liberty in handling the tower for the landscape format for the spar. So in short, Zero is the one who gets to fight me, Iris is in the tower for the navigation, and X is a spectator.

I had partner spars all the time, but none of them matched Zero. As I've already concluded a lot of times already, his skills are excellent. I'm only at Rank C, but that didn't stop me, even though I don't practice much. Seriously, who cares for a battle between a Rank C and a Rank SA? They might say that the reploid in Rank C is dead or somewhere near that, but if I'm permitted to speak, X, who is a Rank B, can beat Zero. It was just of X's being pacifist that is slowing him.

But I fighting Zero was another story. I had a lot of experience in fighting and had created several strategies of my own. That ended in another draw. This is what happened:

"Simulation start!" Iris called, turning on the terrain holograph, and Zero and I stood on a plain, with several bits and pieces of metal. I knew it was holographic, but my eyes are deceiving me. Taking a hold of my light saber, I scanned the area where Zero was last standing. He disappeared!

"Above you!" he hollered. Looking up, I saw a flash of red before blocking it with my light saber. It was quite an advantage that I was built with quick reflexes; otherwise I would've ended as two.

My eyes narrowed as I saw Zero in front of me, with the light saber on his hand. We both waited for someone or something to start a messy duel, we both know that. I'm not sure if it was someone else, but I heard a small click, and the last thing I know, I was heading to Zero, and he to me.

Our light sabers crashed against each other, creating an electric friction as they made contact. I could tell that he was having trouble, because I know I am. With the depletion of the small amount of force in our hands, we both jumped away. He ran back to me, greeting me with the neon-ignited blade. (AN: Hey, is that right?) I retaliated with my own. Green and red neon hits each other again and again as we fenced with each other. After surviving a few major hits, we both leaped back.

It is really funny that two warriors think alike in the battlefield. I soon learned that when we posed for our last attack. After unconsciously counting to three - please be reminded that Leila told me that because I was concentrating on the battle, not the strategy - we both attack each other from mid-air. I delivered my strongest attack there, and so did Zero, before both of us touched the ground.

We both remained in the stance we landed on. After a few seconds, I felt a small electrical twitch on my shoulder. I gasped, kneeling down, but I was fortunate I heard the same thing from Zero.

"It's a draw!" Iris deduced, turning off the holographic images. We were once again inside the training room. I clutched my distorted shoulder blade while standing up, and facing Zero. I hit him on his arm - thank God it was not the arm for his light saber - and he seems to be in the same position as mine.

"Hey, Z, you okay?" I asked. Zero stands up and smirks at me.

"Never better, sis." He answered. He extended his hand at me. "Another good spar, I might add. You're doing way better than last time."

"And so are you." I replied, accepting the hand.

After the handshake, X ran to us, Iris not far behind. X greeted us with a high five and a clap on the shoulder - to Zero, mind you - and Iris only responded with a small smile and a bow. We were about to open a topic when those booming sound speakers above us were turned on.

"Calling the attention of the Maverick Hunters, please proceed to the Mainframe Panel." It said in almost a boyish voice. I couldn't help but snicker, but first things first. After receiving a nod from my three companions, we all headed to the Mainframe Panel.

~~

It wasn't an easy task to intake what is happening as we entered the Mainframe Panel. Dennis and Fara are on the main controls, Fara on the headset. Dennis was on the main board, adjusting some controls. The other reploids are doing their jobs on their stations. But that wasn't the one that took all the artificial air out of me.

It was the scene that was played at the huge flat screen in front of us.

There are several bodies projected, but they are not moving an inch. Some of the facial expressions of the reploids are indescribable. It was like...their life was sucked out.

"The place you are seeing right now is the Laguz Island." Fara started. Avoiding the inquisitive look of the Mainframe head, I set my gaze at the lifeless reploid bodies. "Reports are going nuts. They said that when some technicians checked it out, it was something like their souls are...erased."

"Awful." I replied almost like a whisper, my eyes narrowing. "What kind of crazy lunatic would something like that? Everyone has a right to live..."

"X and Zero, you are ordered to investigate this phenomenon immediately." Fara said. "_This_ must stop, if it is for the safety for everyone living!"

The aforementioned nodded stiffly. Fara returned the gesture, took off her headset, and handed it to Iris. She glanced at me before she exited.

I swear, I have to take care of her sometime. But now is not the time. Not now when the lives of thousands of reploids is at stake. Iris now took over of the whole Mainframe - from the looks of it, she is built for this purpose - and now holds the statistic reports of the systems of the Mainframe and the report from the Laguz Island.

X and Zero already exited, probably out to the transport pads. Being a commander myself, I have to do something. I'm not going to let them go there alone. I'm not that type of reploid that would do that. Taking the position of the reploid who made the announcement earlier, I tapped the microphone.

"Commander Tim Vein, you are requested to report to the Mainframe Panel immediately." I ordered. "I repeat, Commander Tim Vein, you are requested to report to the Mainframe Panel immediately."

Standing up, I took my position next to Iris, who is already briefing X and Zero who just arrived at Laguz Island. That is the technology. If it were a long time ago, something like the 1900's or something, it'd take a whole month to reach the place. Envisioning it, all the reploids are going to be wiped out by the time they reach the island.

"This is not good." Iris commented to herself. I looked at her, puzzled for a while. "Resurrected Mavericks..."

My eyes were as wide as dinner plates when I heard that. There is no way...there is absolutely no way that this is happening...but it already is. "How did that happen?"

"I don't know..." Iris said. After a while, she heard a set of transmissions. "Oh my..."

"What the hell is happening, Iris?" I asked, feeling that I'm living under a huge rock.

Dennis relieved me of my worry of not hearing by giving me an extra headset. Slipping them on, I heard the conversation that ensued between the reploids.

"I am a Soul Eraser." An unfamiliar voice said. "I hunt down Mavericks and erase their souls."

'Soul...eraser?'

"Judging by how many are on this island, you're either really sloppy or lying. What's your REAL job?!" Zero asked suspiciously. I had to admit, Zero's not the guy to approach when he snaps.

Silence was present, concluding that the reploid who calls himself 'Soul Eraser' is thinking. But that was only a while. "You are courageous to ask a question like that. Tell you what, retire the eight major Mavericks residing in this island, and I'll agree to meet with you."

What the hell is this reploid up to?

"We don't have time for this!" X yelled. I winced. This was one of the rare times I've heard X sound so pissed off.

"Wait, X. He may be serious." Zero said, calming down. "Maybe retiring the Mavericks would be easier than persuading his little behind."

"Now I know that Maverick Hunters are not all airheads." The 'Soul Eraser' scoffed, which made me trembling in anger. "My name is Gareth, nice to meet you."

"Gareth," Iris muttered. "There is no such name in our database."

"That guy thinks he's so great. No one has the right to take innocent reploids' souls!" I said, angered by the standing that Gareth has on himself. "We may only be wires and metal, but we have a right to live!"

"Zero, what have you got there?" Iris asked, seemed to be into what Zero has in his possession right now. I glanced at the data that was recently inputted, and saw a strange energy...but not as strange as the virus, though.

The doors bursted open, as Vein appeared. I disregarded the conversation between Zero and Iris as I greeted the Commander of the 21st unit.

"Vein, we're going spying."

He looked at me questioningly. I pointed at the screen. "We are going to take a small walk at Laguz Island."

~~

Mai: Well, I'll stop it here, because this is getting too long. And also, some of the script for the meeting with Gareth was not mine. If someone is kind enough, please thank ker-plop for the script. I kind of forgot to get the original script from mm.x.online and I saw his kerplopified version of MMXtreme2. Please review, because this will be the only story I'll be continuing because of some reason. BYE!