Attention Lawyers! If you want to see the disclaimer, go to Page One, Chapter One, and your indignation at my use of Capcom's and Nintendo's property will be quelled.
*Authors Hoopla: Here's Chapter Six, out a lot sooner than #5, longer, stronger, and with more staying power than ever before. Enjoy.
[][][][][][][][][][][][]^_^
I present Chapter Six of Paths of Life; I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
Paths of Life, Chapter Six: Order and Chaos / Cleanliness and Godliness
Written By: Veritech
New Email: Leo_Koz@yahoo.com
Part One: The Mission of Absolute Order
The corridor was long, dim, and perfectly square. The walls, floor, and ceiling were carved of black granite, and perfectly smooth. A single track of white lights ran down the exact center of the ceiling, giving off perhaps 40 watts of light, though that could be increased to near-blinding if the need arose. The stone deadened sound, the sounds of titanium-encased boots striking the granite floor strangely hallow, the air was cool, and well circulating, but smelled of damp vent shafts and a tinge of dust. Together, the dark stone, the cool, damp and duct scented air, the dim lighting, and the hollow, deadened sounds made it seem as one was inside a tomb. Which was exactly the Zero liked it; other places in the stronghold had the hustle and bustle of an active military base, but not here. Here it was silent, the silence of death.
Death was his life's mission. Death of humanity, death of corruption, death of imperfection, death of life... Human life. It was ironic that he was born one of the very human imperfections that he worked to destroy, the imperfection of ambition. He was born of the want to play god. Dr. Wily had wanted to create a utopia in his image, a perfect word, populated by a perfect people. No hate, no corruption, no barriers, none of the imperfections that made humans what they were. None of the impurities that made humanity unfit to inherit the universe. And so Dr. wily had created Zero to be his herald of true order and peace. He created Zero to cleanse the world, the galaxy, the universe, of all the imperfections of life. He created Zero to be the true father of the one truly perfect race. And to do that, Zero must first destroy humanity. The race that had created him, the race that had created their superiors in the forms of Reploids. Which was why it pained Zero so much to see Reploids fighting Reploids, as if they were the same lesser beings that had created them. Why did X fight him? Why could Light's creation not see the truth of Wily's mission? Why did X not recognize that the humans were the cause of the strife that had hurt him so much? Why did X not see the truth, the right of Wily and Zero's work? X fought for peace, but did he not see that Zero brought the peace that humans so craved? To their chaotic lives he brought order. To all their imperfections and hard existence, he brought the pristine, totally equal and peaceful state of death. Why did X not see and know this? Why did he not see that Zero was actually doing the humans a service? Taking their lives, and replacing them so that Reploids, a race stronger and hardier than they, would face the hard realities of the universe rather than them, saving them from the chaos of their own lives? While Reploids lived and faced the universe, he gave humans the true peace that they wanted. Why did X not understand? Humans thought that the afterlife was paradise, so why did they resist so fervently when he only sought to send them to that paradise?
These thoughts and questions plagued Zero as he walked down the tomb like corridor to his audience chamber. While walking, Zero took note of the total perfection of the corridor's design. Everything equal, everything pristine, it was moving in its stasis, it showed Zero that his mission of total order and perfection was not futile, that one day, he would hold sway over a universe cleaned of chaos, a universe of total order and peace, a universe of perfection.
It was ironic that the humans thought he was the embodiment of chaos and everything evil, and yet he lived in a stronghold made of perfect angles and symmetric shapes. No, Zero thought, he was not chaos; he was true order, the order of emptiness, the order of the cold vacuum of space, the order of death. X, and his Concordant that the humans loved so; they were the chaos, the chaos of humans, the chaos of life. And Zero only wished to bring order to chaos. That was, after all, the reason he was created.
The hollow, deadened footsteps echoed as Zero walked down the corridor, fading until they stopped when Zero sat down in his solid throne of black stone, ending the sounds that were the only signs of life in his tomb of absolute order.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
The Battleship Isis appeared out of a hyperspace portal three light-minutes out from the Antiga starbase. The Stormrunner followed, then a third ship, a destroyer, the Arcanum, followed behind Stormrunner, a small modified Terran assault shuttle held in its tractor beam. Maq opened a comm. Channel to the starbase.
"Antiga control, this is Commander Maq, Isis escort, requesting pattern insertion with possible level six biological threat for decontamination."
The control was noticeably shocked to say the least, a female voice came over the comm., and the face of a red-haired woman with blue eyes came on screen. "Say again, Isis escort. Level Six?"
"Affirmative, Antiga control, is there a problem?" Maq did not like repeating herself.
"Uh, negative Isis, I just need to get my superior to authorize such a high risk contamination."
"Who am I speaking to?" Maq's voice was flint.
"Uh… Lieutenant (jg) Langley, ma'am." The newly minted Lt. Obviously feared getting demoted.
"Well, Lieutenant, just put the Admiral on the line, and I'll discuss this with her."
"Uh..Uhm.."
"That's and order Lieutenant." Maq's voice somehow got colder "Or do you want to be a Corporal again?"
"Yes ma'am! No ma'am! I'll get the Admiral immediately."
Maq's voice went from artic to sunny "Thank you Lieutenant."
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
"Admiral?" Lt. Langley's voice came from the computer on the desk. The blue and white armored Reploid reached out and tapped a key.
"Yes Lieutenant?" Her voice was soft and musical, despite her reputation.
"Ma'am, there's a Commander Maq in command of the battleship Isis requesting insertion, she's escorting a possible level six biological contaminant here for decontamination procedures, do I let her in?"
"Commander Maq?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Who's she escorting?"
"Uh, she said the Stormrunner, Admiral. Hey, isn't that the ship under Comm-" the Admiral interrupted Langley.
"Yes, Commander X. Tell Commander Maq to hold, I'll see to this myself." She disconnected Langley and called the Isis from her office.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Maq sat back in her command chair and tried to contain her mirth, but was unable to totally, so a smile showed through. She knew who was in charge of the Antiga starbase, was close friends with her in fact, and couldn't resist twisting her tail.
"Commander" said an ensign at the comm. station "We're being hailed by the starbase again."
Maq smiled "I'll take in my ready room." She got up and went through the doors to her small office. Once behind her desk, she activated the comm. The Admiral appeared on the screen.
"Maq" said the admiral.
"Iris" Maq responded.
Admiral Iris smiled and shook her head "Just what kind of trouble did X get himself into this time?" She tried to sound stern, but failed.
Maq made a dismissive gesture "Oh, the usual, investigating Maverick activity, getting involved with Terran ships, rescuing a beautiful woman and getting exposed to the X-virus. All in a day's work for X."
"WHAT!?!"
Maq smiled again –evilly- " I said 'Oh the Usual-"
"I got that part, I mean the third thing you said he did."
Maq had to resist an evil chuckle; she loved teasing Iris about stuff like this "Oh, the rescuing the beautiful woman part? Yeah, apparently, she was on a ship with huge amounts of X-virus activity on it, so X went it, engaged in a short firefight with some kind of viral construct, and got the woman out."
Iris sighed, "When did he become a knight in shining armor?" That question was directed at herself, though Maq still answered.
"He always has been, you know that."
"I know, Maq, it was rhetorical. Who is she?"
Maq checked the file; she hadn't had a chance to talk to either of them much, too busy "Hmm. Oh boy, this is good."
Iris looked interested "What?"
Maq looked back at Iris "Her name's Samus Aran."
Iris blinked a few times, searching her memory, then her eyes got wide.
"Yes, THAT Samus Aran." Said Maq "This ought to prove interesting, the Intel boys have wanted to talk to her for years."
Iris was shaken, but intrigued "Well, bring them in, you have them contained?"
Maq was now just as serious as Iris, humor had it's place, and it wasn't now "Yes, they've been inside the shuttle X used in the operation, the shuttle is in full lockdown, the shuttlebay in decompressed, and under full Ultraviolet bombardment."
Iris looked up from delivering the order to Lt. Langley "How long have they been in there?"
Maq had to smile again "About five days."
Iris buried her face in her hands "Oh no, if those two…"
"I doubt they would, Iris" Maq assured her friend "X isn't like that, and Samus seems sensible."
Iris shook her head "I hope so."
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Part Two: Cleaning up and visions of heaven.
The shuttle was moving, much to Samus' relief, albeit slowly. The accommodations were nice enough, actually comfortable, and she liked X's company and all, but living for five days in a very confined space got annoying. At least there was entertainment. Samus loved to read, and the shuttle's computer could put near any piece of literature she could think of up on a datapad. Aside from reading, there was X to talk to, and music could be obtained through a secure, protected, one-way only remote data connection. Not that she had much time for any of that. The resurgence of the X-virus in her body had taken al lot out of her, and many times, she would awaken, only to eat and fall into her bunk again for another ten hours sleep. Her strength was returning though, and it had been two days since she had last collapsed into bed. She also had medical examinations, performed by X, under the watchful eyes of the ships doctor over the communications system. Taking blood samples, antiviral drugs and the like. She didn't mind the taking blood part, she never had been afraid of needles, but the drugs were the kind swallowed, they had the texture of chalk and a taste that was worse. Thank god for replicotors.
She had drunk one of the antiviral serums about en minutes ago, leaving a slimy film in her mouth and a nasty aftertaste in the back of her throat. "Ugh, I hate this stuff."
X looked pitying "Sorry, but it can't be helped. Any flavoring ruins the serum."
Samus chuckled "I know, you said that last time, but I can't help complaining, this is really bad stuff. Are you absolutely sure that I can't eat or drink anything but water for the next hour?" Water helped, some. It got rid of the slimy feeling in her mouth and washed out the aftertaste, but would make her lightheaded. A small price to pay, in her mind.
X sighed, "Yes, sorry."
"You don't need to apologize for it X, don't worry about it." She smiled and swung her legs over the edge of her bunk "Besides, at least I'm alive, so I have no right to bitch."
X laughed "Okay then. I'll stop apologizing, if you stop remarking on the taste of the serum. Deal?" He was smiling as he said it, showing it to be a joke.
"Deal.
#=====#
It took half an hour to tractor the shuttle from Stormrunner's boat bay to the main shuttlebay of the starbase. Upon landing, a containment team, actually a squad of Concordant Marines, headed by Doctor Juno rushed to the main hatch of the shuttle. The door hissed open, revealing X and Samus, who were standing, waiting.
"Commander X, Ms. Aran." Juno walked up to them, holding two hasmat suits like the ones she and the rest of the team were wearing. "Put these on please, we don't want any contact between you and any portion of the ship or it's crew before you're checked and decontaminated."
"Allright." X took both suits and handed one to Samus. A few minutes later, both were garbed in the biosuits. "Lead the way Doctor."
"Yes sir. If you would please follow me."
X and Samus fell in side by side, surrounded by armed Marines. Unlike x, Samus, and Doctor Juno, the Marines were wearing self-contained powered armor, rather than a biosuit. Surprisingly, Samus found herself a bit intimidated by all the firepower surrounding them. Even in her powersuit, these armored soldiers would have proved more than a match for her, and in the presence of these professionals, she was reminded of just how frail a human body was in comparison to armor composites and energy weapons. She was also startled that a whole squad was present, why all the security? Sure the X-virus was dangerous, but contained as they were, it wasn't a threat was it?
"I know, humbling, isn't it?"
Samus' head turned in surprise at X's remark. "What?"
X gave her an understanding smile "The look on your face tells the story, I feel the same way. I'm used to being in armor and carrying a plasma buster most of the time. All of it is necessary, sadly. You know how the virus can hijack your nervous system, if it takes control of our bodies, these Marines are the only thing between us and the ship's systems."
[Why didn't I think of that?] She thought [It's obvious, it happened the last time I encountered the X-virus.]
But for some reason that thought didn't bring any comfort. Samus didn't fear much, and had faced death so many times she had lost count. She'd been wounded before, sometimes severely, but had always fought through. She'd faced pirates, metroids, and Mother Brain, but she feared the X-virus. It was an enemy she couldn't fight on her terms. Her armor and her training were no protection from it, only her body's own defenses could fight it, and then, ever after all the biological and genetic enhance she'd had, she still had proven vulnerable to it. The X-virus was an enemy she couldn't fight. And now she had it again. X had told her that the drugs he had to give her only put the virus into remission; only the medical facilities at the Antiga starbase had what was needed to purge her body of the virus. And even then, her body would still need to adapt to prevent another infection. She knew she wasn't helping herself thinking like this, but she couldn't help it. Looking over at X, she saw the look on his face was just as tense and worried as hers probably was.
Samus was not far from the truth. X's thoughts were almost a carbon copy of hers, though he had even more to fear. Samus was human, and therefore could adapt, and had a viscous immune system that constantly learned and grew to fight new infections; X's antiviral systems and protocols were not so robust. The only reason he had proven immune to the X-virus so far was because he shared the same baseline code it used in all it's incarnations. But X also knew that the virus constantly adapted and mutated, concordant doctors still hadn't found a cure for the X-virus that worked on reploids, so if it ever found a way around his antiviral system, he was doomed, and if that happened, the whole concordant would soon follow, as every reploid in it had antiviral systems based of his. That was the only thing that kept them all safe, one small line of 700 year old reploid source code invented by the greatest scientific genius in human history. He looked over at Samus, perhaps she held the answer, she'd been infected once before, and had managed to fight the virus off, so maybe her body held the secret of finally beating the X-virus. X held that hope close.
Samus looked at X and saw fear, one deeper even than her own, but also a flash of hope. Hope in her, though she didn't know why. They were kindred spirits really, two humans facing the deadliest virus ever known. Without thinking, she slid her left hand into his right, giving a light squeeze. X squeezed back softly, now at least, both knew they had an ally in this fight.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
X and Samus entered the medical by in silence. Juno led the way, and the Marines paired off four at the entrance, two each for X and Samus, and two went to the main computer terminal, the last two remained outside, guarding the other side of the door.
Juno went to Samus and ushered her into a small room adjoining the medbay, a table was against one wall, a small bed against another, and occupying one corner, built into the walls, was a large cylinder. Juno tapped a few keys on a control pad, and a door slid up, revealing the inside of the cyninder. "Now, Ms. Aran-"
"Please," said Samus "Call me Samus."
"Very well, Samus. I'm going to scan you to see how far the virus has spread in your body, please strip and step into this scanner."
In another adjoining room, X was receiving the same treatment, standing naked in the scanner as deep penetration medical sensors went over every inch of his body. The doctor assigned to him, a human named Remsfield worked the scanner. Roughly ten minutes later, the scanner finished, and X stepped out to put on his clothes again.
"Well, Commander, I have good news, you're clean."
X looked the man in the eye "You're certain?"
"Yes, totally. Your antiviral systems are still 100% effective."
X let out the breath he was unconsciously holding "Thank god."
"Yes, you should."
"You're clear of infection, Samus."
Samus sighed as the tension drained out of her; she took her clothes back from Juno. "Thank you." Juno simply nodded absently, wholly absorbed in the data she was reading on her datapad.
"One last thing, Samus. I need to take a blood sample. The sensors show that your body is producing X-virus antibodies; we've been trying to engineer them for years, but haven't got far. If you would consent, I'd like to get a sample from you, hopefully we can produce a vaccine, or even a cure."
Samus didn't even need to think about something like that. Wordlessly, she held out her right arm.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Samus and X walked out of the medbay with a sense of relief and ran into Maq on their way out.
"Hey you two. I take it the news was good?" Maq asked.
X smiled "Better than ever. Though we were both lucky."
"I may have even helped a bit." Samus added, "I've survived the X-virus before, so the doctor wanted a blood sample, she hopes they can engineer a vaccine against the virus."
Maq nodded "I'll definitely have that, we need it. Well, it's late, and you both look ready to drop, but as they say, no rest for the wicked. The council want the both of you at Centris ASAP, so you'll have to come with me to the Isis."
X's face went from happy to sour "I had almost forgotten that."
Samus looked from Maq to X "What's this about? Why do we need to go?"
Maq smirked "X has many, many political enemies, and they're always searching for ways to wreck his career, this is what, act four?"
"Five" X corrected, "You're forgetting when I had Prime Minister Klein's brother shot for cowardice in the face of the enemy."
Samus winced at that "No wonder you have political enemies. But how do I fit in with all this?"
Maq took a deep breath "Technically, X violated standing order when he went in after you. RCN ships are not to become involved with Terran vessels; we're supposed to remain unknown to your race. For now. Because he violated that order, a stupid order, but still an order, he has to face the council. This isn't the fist time, probably not the last either, knowing you." She gave X a false stern look.
"What can I say? I'm a natural born rebel."
Though what Maq said had raised more questions in her mind, Samus decided to ask them later. "So, why does the council want to see me?"
"Probably just to ask questions. Though if Trent manages to browbeat enough councilors, she'll push for a selective memory wipe."
Sam became more than a little alarmed at that, but X stepped in "That never happens. She's been pushing to make it legal for six years now, and she's still alone on the issue. They'll ask you questions, and that's about it."
Samus looked worried "You're sure?"
"Positive" X answered "And even if they try it, they have to get through me first, and if the council moves on me, they'll have more trouble on their hands than they can deal with, the fleet is like a family, we all protect each other."
Maq nodded in agreement "True. Now, it's late, and we need to set off by 0300, so I think we need to get to the Isis. I have quarters set up for the both of you. X, the Stormrunner will remain under Vesping's command and follow us."
"Fine by me, Vesping's good. She'll be a good commander when she gets her stars." They started off walking again, talking idly. Samus somehow felt more at home here than anyone else. That was a startling thought, though it made sense. These were people who didn't judge her by her occupation. The Terran military looked down on mercenaries and bounty hunters, after all, they fought for honor and duty, those lesser beings fought (worked) for money.
"Um, isn't the shuttle bay that way?" Samus gestured down the corridor the opposite from the way they were going.
"Yes" X answered "But we're not going by shuttle, were teleporting."
"Teleporting!?" Samus was shocked. Terran science was convinced teleportation was impossible.
"Yes, and it perfectly safe" said X "Actually, that's how I got you on the shuttle."
"Oh." They continued on.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the teleportation room. Maq, X and Samus walked in, a engineer was behind a control console. "Sir, ma'am"
Maq and X stepped up on the platform as if they did this every day, well, they did, Samus, with a bit of trepidation.
"It's okay Samus" Maq smiled "It won't hurt a bit."
X smirked evilly "Well, most of the time is doesn't. Sometimes there's an accident like that one time-"
"X, shut up!" Maq shot him a hard look.
"What?" he asked innocently.
Samus had stopped when X mentioned 'accident'. Maq took pity on her.
"It's okay Samus, X is only being a man."
"Hey!"
Smiling, Samus stepped onto the platform. Moments later, all three of them disappeared into shafts of white light.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Samus walked with X down a corridor on the Isis, unconsciously, they were hand-in-hand again. The corridor was well lit and bright. Soft gray carpet and polished titanium walls with control panels built into them, the ceiling was also carpeted, with two bars of lights running down the center. They were going to their quarters, separate, but in the same corridor.
"I don't know about you, but I'm beat." X stretched "I look forward to sleep."
"Hm?' Samus looked at him, she looked even more tired than him.
"Yeah, I'd say you need sleep." He stopped walking; Samus went a step more, then noticed that X wasn't moving and stopped. "This ones yours, Samus."
Samus shook her head to try and clear it "You're right, I must be tired."
X smiled softly "believe me, you look it, go get some rest and feel free to sleep in, no more antiviral drugs, and we have three days to Centris."
Samus nodded "Goodnight X."
"Goodnight Samus, see you in the morning."
X turned and started walking away, Samus decided to act on an impulse.
"X wait a second."
X stopped and turned "Hm? What is it?"
Samus walked up to him "I just noticed that I still haven't said thank you for getting me out of my ship and saving my life, a bit ungracious of me, especially with all you've done."
X smiled and chuckled softly "Samus, you d-"
She held up her hand, signaling him to stop "Yes, I do." Then Samus acted on impulse, she put her hands on his shoulders, and kissed him lingeringly. "Thank you, X, I'd be dead if you hadn't come along." Then she stepped back, the doors to her quarters hissed open, and she stepped inside.
X stood stock still in the corridor for a few moments. He had not expected that, in fact, he had hoped that it wouldn't have happened. Not that he didn't like Samus, she was a good friend, one of the best her had, and was very beautiful. Part of his mind had thought of her as a woman, but he had checked that, and quieted it. Now, he couldn't. He liked Samus, and wanted to hope that they could get closer, he wanted to, with all his heart, but the part of him that had been fighting a war for 700 years warred against that.
He had learned from what had happened to Alia what Zero would do to those closest to him if he allowed himself to love again. So, to protect others, he had buried that part of him, the emotions, the threat to others, shut it out, never allowed himself to be more than a friend. And now Samus was bringing that part of him out again. Emotions that, for the safety of others, he could not allow himself to have, because they would put anyone he cared for in mortal jeopardy. He turned and began walking to his quarters again, the memories he had buried coming back to him, he knew that he wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight, them memories were bubbling back to he surface like magma, and he couldn't control them. It was as if it was 500 years ago again, he could see the battlefields, the death and carnage, he could see Alia dying in his arms, the wound that had killed her delivered by his own bean saber with his own hands. He could hear Alia's voice asking him to forgive her for being not being strong enough to hold off Zero and the X-virus.
X entered his quarters and sat on the edge of the bead, trying to keep tears back. He lay back shutting his eyes, hoping that sleep would clear his mind and once again shut out the living nightmare. But with sleep memories came clearer, like visions, only this time it wasn't Alia lying in his arms.
It was Samus.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
End Chapter Six.
Authors notes: I know I said that I would put a lot of humor in this installment, but it didn't pan out, and I want to get this moving, and it will. From here on things will pick up a bit.
I don't know when Ch7 will be done. I have ideas for another crossover fic, a Gundam / Robotech one, and also a Tenchi fic, so my time is no devided. But don't worry, Paths of Life is still my main fic, and will receive the bulk of my attention.
Send C&C to my new spam-free Email at Leo_Koz@yahoo.com
See you nest chapter.
Veritech