A/N: I can't fix the spacing problem. I uploaded this the exact same way I've uploaded the other 30 fanfics I have done, and this is the only one that is doing it. Weird. Anyway, please look past that and enjoy the story as it continues. There is a flashback sequence at the end, and will be marked so instead of making it all italics like I have done before. Enjoy.
~~**~~
Zero turned the wrench firmly, making sure the bolt was in place. Grinning, he slid himself out from underneath the bike that he had salvaged in the past week. It shone in the light perfectly, and he felt a certain amount of pride swelling up inside of him while looking at it. The chrome was so perfect, it mirrored everything in the room. The seat was double lined leather. The mechanics were all done by himself. Leaning over, he gripped the handle bars and looked at the start button. It would be the first time it was started up since he found it. With a huge smile, he pushed it.
And nothing happened. "Son-of-a-"
Reploid: Zero III
By:
Satashi
A few days later, Zero was summoned to the lab room by Ciel herself. He reported to her quickly, and was quite surprised at what she had to show him. "See?" She asked, pointing to a point on the map on her monitor. Zero leaned over her shoulder and nodded. "These three points give the same signal that your helmet gives off. I'm assuming there are more of the capsules you told me about at each of these locations."
Zero nodded. "I'm leaving right now."
"Zero." Ciel turned when he started to walk away. From her face, he could tell she had more news for him. "There are enemy signals on each point as well…"
Zero sighed. Three. Three capsules, three parts of memory, three generals. "Where are they?"
"The desert, not too far from here. The forest on the other side of Kapcom, and the artic."
"I'm going to the artic first. I need to talk to Leviathan. Set the coordinates into my helmet."
Ciel started tapping away on her keyboard. "Done."
"It's time to fight again." Zero spoke, right before being engulfed in a bright crimson light. When Ciel could see again, Zero was in his full armor. His light saber was ignited and in his hand. The cold eyes of the ex-hunter looked solid. "I'll be back shortly."
With those words, he activated the new teleporting system at his disposal.
~**~
The cold wind whipped harshly against his metal armor as he ran through the snow, blasting various robots in his path. More than a few X-droids fell as he continued on his path. When Zero came to a large portion of water, he didn't hesitate to jump from the land and sink into the murky depths. His vision went down to only a few feet in front of him, as almost all feeling left his frozen body.
Zero's lungs filled with the fluid and chilled his systems as they swapped into underwater mode. Now instead of air circulating through is lungs, there was ice cold water. Although Zero didn't have to breath to live, he was fond of it. Having water in his lungs made him gag a few times before he got used to it.
The ground met his boots a short moment later. Even before he could sink like a rock into the muck, he activated his EAS and shot forward like a bullet. Zero's hand twitched and moved apart, making a gun nozzle come forward. His fingers circulated around until making a fist and gripping the trigger. Shooting, Zero's vision was illuminated by the smoking plasma as it burned through the water, leaving boiling air bubbles in it's wake.
The reploid continued to blast apart all sorts of undersea robots until he found a door of sorts inside a mountain. Luckily he avoided a blast by a type of fish robot before he punched the door. It didn't give.
Zero reached behind him and pulled out his light saber and ignited it. Instantly the water boiled around it and sent bubbles to the surface. He set his center of gravity low and swung fiercely, neatly cutting the door in half. He was swept inside along with the water and barely made it in before a second door slammed shut behind him.
He quickly coughed up the water in his lungs onto the floor and choked harshly. As he looked up slowly he saw the new door replacing the one he cut through. A water leak safety door. That meant the base or lab he was currently in still functioned. Sure enough, as he walked through a new door, light invaded his eyes.
Spotting a camera as it swirled to him, Zero grinned madly and waved with both hands before pulling down an eyelid and sticking out his tongue.
~**~
Leviathan growled at the image on her screen. "Geeze, you jerk, I only send half of my army to kill you and you get all cocky with me! Well then, let's see how you like this!" She slammed her hand on a red button by the monitor.
"Intruder in Section A!" a female robotic voice cheered out merrily. "Starting defense actions!"
Leviathan laughed as Zero smacked his hand onto his head before running full tilt.
~**~
"Yah!" Zero cleaved a laser gun in two before quickly taking out his whip and swinging it. The tip embedded into the ceiling and swung him across a false floor. In the swing, Zero deactivated the whip and flipped, sending plasma raining on anything he could see. No sooner than he landed did the Z-saber ignite again and slice a hole through a wall. Swinging a few more times, he made a shortcut into the next room and ran through.
"No, don't get up!" Zero sang as he intruded on a group of robotic lab workers that were starting to try and fight him. They fell quickly by his blaster and saber. Running along a hallway, he saw a door at the end. Close to reaching it, it hissed and slid open.
Another door opened before he got to it and Zero continued to run through.
~**~
Leviathan pressed another button that opened a third door for Zero. A fourth button was pressed as another door hissed aside for him. Now seeing that Zero was going full tilt, she watched on the monitor as Zero ran through another door and to the last one that would lead to her. Grinning, she didn't press the button to open that one.
CLANG!
Zero wobbled back a few steps and looked like he still had no clue at what just happened. Leviathan rang out with laughter as he shook his head and watched the door open, just a liiiiiiitle too late.
"Should have seen that!" Leviathan cried out, wiping her eyes free of tears of happiness. "SLAM! Right into it!"
Zero glared. "I did not find that funny!" He looked around. "Where is the capsule?"
Leviathan instantly sobered up. "I'm sorry, Zero. I can't let you have this one."
"Why not?" He asked her. "You know you can't use it…"
Leviathan lowered her head and though back to the mission briefing.
~**~
X looked at the three generals. From his place in the large tube that was slowly rebuilding him. Fefnir, Harpuia, and Leviathan all stood at attention, saluting as the missions were given. She had just informed him on the capsule and had shown the broken wing of Zero's helmet. Several robots off the assembly line were already searching for the capsules.
"Leviathan." X spoke. It was almost the only thing he could do. "You did well in fighting Zero, but you still let him get away. Do not allow it to be so this time. I know what was in the capsule, so the mission was a failure. Do not fail in this one! Defeat Zero!
"Sir." She bowed ever so slightly. "I will defeat him this time."
Fefnir snorted. "Fat chance."
"Fefnir!" Harpuia snorted at him. "We have done no better!"
"She's failed more than us, though." He pointed out, glaring. "I'm beginning to seriously doubt her. After the last battle she was barley scuffed at all, yet she brings back a chunk of Zero's armor?"
Harpuia turned to look at Leviathan. "I did not want to ask about it, but he makes a very valid point. Just what went on in that fight?"
"I…"
"Enough." X yelled at them. "I will not have my generals talk such a way to each other. Leave. Now." The three turned on their heels and walked out, but X called one of them back. "Leviathan, I need a word with you…"
~**~
Zero looked at the girl curiously. "Well?"
Leviathan looked at him, sparkles of water or tears were on her eyes. "He said that if I didn't defeat you this time, I would be kicked out of my position as general! He knew what was in the capsule! He knew I brought back the old helmet piece to show I fought you, but he knew we didn't do battle!"
Zero set his jaw. "Calm down."
"Zero!" she called, pointing. "We fight now! I won't lose!"
A door opened behind her and she gave a mighty leap backwards. A loud splash was heard. Zero slowly walked to the door and hopped down into the water tank.
Lights came on all around the walls of the pool that was several stories deep. The water was as clear as could be, but was slightly hazy for Zero, as he was meant to see on land. Leviathan had her trident out and was already ignited, sending a purplish glow around her. Small bubbles danced around her as she dropped into a battle position.
Zero drew his sword and ignited it, making the water around it warm instantly. He brought it to his eyes and saluted her with it. Leviathan looked almost regretful about what she was about to do, but darted forward anyway, slamming into him and cracking his back into the wall behind him.
He brought the hilt of his saber down onto her helmet, making a large crack on it. She, in turn, rammed her fist into his stomach respectively, making blackish blood erupt from his lips. Zero grabbed her head and slammed it into his knee, making her scream and stumble back. Blood dissolved around them, but the two didn't stop.
Leviathan's trident danced with his saber steadily. Air bubbles swam around the two as the battle raged on. Zero grabbed the whip handle from his waist as he deflected another stab from her. Switching it on, he swung with his weaker hand and missed. Leviathan took the chance to form a barrier of ice around her and charge, hitting him square in the chest, breaking his armor.
Zero yelled in pain, sending bloodied water once again from his mouth. He still managed to slice down hard, shattering the ice shield and cutting a long gash across her arm. Leviathan reared back and formed a large ball of spiked ice in front of her and launched it point blank at him.
The reploid flew back and hit the wall far away. Leviathan soared to the top of the water and made several spears of ice, which she threw wildly at the spot where he fell. His yell of pain was once again muffled by the water, but he continued on, now jumping from ice spear to ice spear until he was level with her. His whip, now in his right hand, lashed out and grabbed her waist.
When She tried to jet away, she pulled him with her. Zero grinned and grabbed the whip, yanking so hard it jerked Leviathan to a stop. Zero yanked again and pulled her to him, slamming his fist into her cheek, snapping off some of her helmet armor. As the two sank, Zero hit again and again. Finally, Leviathan saw a chance to make use of her soupier agility under the water and swished behind him. She took a firm hold onto her trident and stabbed downwards.
Zero's eyes flared open and air bubbles rained from his mouth as he let out a blood curdling scream under the water. Pure instincts took over as he wretched himself from her spear and grabbed his injured shoulder. Blood spewed angrily from it, making his vision so hazy he could see nothing. He wanted to pant, but the water started to choke him again, no longer properly circulating. His shoulder had been run straight through.
A fist hit Zero right into his stomach, making him double over instantly. The butt end of Leviathan's weapon whipped clearly through the water, making him fly upwards. As he sank back down, he felt so shockingly cold he actually blacked out.
Leviathan panted hard, making water fly through her systems as she did so. She had done it. She had defeated Zero. Just then the pain in her systems decided to make her realize that she did not come out unscaved.
Falling to the floor, she touched her wound on her arm tentivly. Pain shot through her body as she fell to her knees. Tears of pain sprang to her eyes as she mentally calculated her damage. He armor was almost totally destroyed, but that was common when fighting with Zero. Her arm had almost been sliced off, and her from right shoulder had an large gash running down to her hip.
The ice prison Zero was sentenced to shattered, revealing a tattered and torn reploid. He took two steps before falling to his knees and then on his face. "Zero?" She asked heavily, voice muffled by the water.
Zero pushed himself up slowly, painfully. "I won't die." He spoke, voice so pained it almost hurt to hear it. Blood wafted around him, making the clear water a blackish red haze. "I can't die." He formed his gun and blasted twice before stumbling. Leviathan swam to him like a bullet through air. She landed several punches on him, sending him reeling. He floated a moment before sinking back to the bottom, only to get up again. "Not yet… It's not over yet…"
Leviathan ran along the bottom of the pool and grabbed his hair, pulling his face up and struck it repeatedly. "Stay. Down. Damn. You!" She screamed, punctuating each word with a punch to his face.
Zero sagged almost lifelessly before upercutting her, making her fly into higher depths of the water. There she hovered, watching his shoulders heave. "How?" She asked aloud, voice lost in the water. "How can he move…?"
Zero glared up at her, raising his right hand. He tried to form his blaster, but it started to spark, sending him into a spasm in the water. Once again he fell.
"Kill him." Leviathan turned to a large screen outside of the tank. X's face was looking at her, along with Fefnir and Harpuia.
"But…" Leviathan looked over to Zero, trying desperately to get up. She, too, also wanted nothing more than rest at the moment. "He's beaten! He can't fight anymore!" She called to them. "The mission was a success! We can hack the capsules now before he is able to fight again! We've won this time!"
Fefnir glared at her. "Do as your ordered woman!"
Harpuia looked at her with interest. "Are you going against Master X's order?" He seemed calm, waiting patiently for her answer before jumping to any types of conclusions.
Leviathan hesitated.
"I don't believe this." Copy X said flatly. "She has gone Maverick."
"What!? NO!" She turned to Zero.
'I respect you, it won't do to have such a powerful warrior die…'
Leviathan looked at the body of Zero, almost scared, as he was standing now. He was hurt, bleeding, could no longer fire his blaster, but was still ready to go on.
She respected him.
"I can't." She told X. "I have fulfilled my mission, as you have asked. I protected the capsule."
"Refusal to kill an enemy. Siding with people who kill my men…" X sounded furious. "Maverick."
"No!" Leviathan cried out to them. "I just don't want to-"
"Maverick." Fefnir echoed X's words.
No…" Leviathan sank to her knees. "I respect him, I owe him that much…"
"Leviathan…"
She looked up at Harpuia, tears mixing flawlessly with the water she was in. "Harpuia…You believe me…"
He turned his head. "I have fought against him against my will as well when the dark fairy granted me the power I didn't want." He glared. "But I still would do my orders if I had to."
She sobbed. "No…X, you don't mean… you can't mean…"
"All who oppose me die." The pirate copy of X stated. "Leviathan is a maverick. Moving to commence her destruction."
The screen cut off, followed up by a timer. "Lab security systems compromised. Maverick signals found. Self destruction in T minus five minutes."
Leviathan sobbed to herself at the bottom of the tank, ignoring the flashing red lights. "I'm not a maverick." She whispered. "I only want to help the world…"
"You can do that at our base." Zero said, standing next to her. She looked up at him slowly. He was still bleeding, and his eyes looked so dilated he had no more colour to them. The water didn't allow his wounds to heal, and he was obviously in great pain. And yet he stood.
"The capsule is that way." Leviathan pointed to a blue hazy object.
Zero ran forward and jumped out of the water, fell to his knees outside, and scrambled up and over to it, falling into the glass.
The glass flung up, allowing him entry.
"Zero…"
Zero looked up, panting hard. "Hi. I don't have much time…"
"T minus, four minutes to self destruction."
Dr. Light nodded. "This will restore your legs to the way they used to be, and also give you the memories of the first Maverick war." And with that, he vanished.
Zero stumbled into the capsule and the lid closed. A moment later, it opened and he took a step out before falling unconscious.
Leviathan ran over to him and scooped the reploid up. "I don't know if you'll try to kill me again when you wake up, but I'm going to take you out of here. I owe you that much. She then proceeded to run with Zero on her back. The halls blurred together as she did so, not being at the lab long enough to know her way around it completely.
"T minus two minutes."
"There!" Leviathan grunted as she started to stumble under the weight of Zero and her injuries. "Almost…" She whispered as she started to lose her balance. The door was not five feet away from her.
She fell to her knees as parts of the base started to blow apart.
"T minus one minute to self destruction."
The ground started to shake. 'So close!' Her mind screamed. 'It's right there but I can't move!' She strained harder. "Zero! Zero!" She cried to him. "Wake up! Help me!" She pulled harder, but her joints were locking up. "How come you can move when you're worse than me!?" She yelled as echoing blast sounded around them. "Why? Why!?"
"T minus thirty seconds to self destruction."
She started to cry fully, realizing her situation more and more. "No one's ever cared about me before!" she yelled out, sagging. "No one has ever helped me…" She started to choke. Water was flooding the room now, reopening all of their wounds as the blood clots were washed away. "And here you come, out of the blue, and throw my world upside down…"
"T minus ten seconds to self destruction."
"Why are you strong?"
"Nine…"
"Why do you fight?"
"Eight…"
"Why do you keep going?"
"Seven…"
"Even when you are finished?"
"Six…"
"What is your purpose…?"
"Five…"
"Purpose…?"
"Four…"
"I have no purpose."
"Three..."
She looked up. "Or do I?"
"Two…"
"I have to protect you now…To start again…"
"One."
"I can protect people who can't protect themselves!"
"Self destruction."
Leviathan screamed as her systems went into overdrive. The lab blew up, but the pair were already speeding out of the blast radius. 'So that's why you are strong…' Leviathan thought to herself as she started to slow down again. 'You can fight harder because you have a reason… A purpose in life…'
The two sank to the bottom of the artic ocean slowly.
~*Flash back*~
Zero waved his hand in a beckoning motion to X. "Is that all you got little blue boy?" X snarled and lunged at Zero, easily getting knocked aside. "That's pathetic!" He taunted him. "Come on, X-ray!"
X stood up and shot to him like a blue bullet from a gun. Zero was neatly tackled to the floor. The little blue reploid started hailing punches down onto the crimson wonder before two reploids pulled him off. "Let me go!" X shouted. "I'll rip his lungs out and play them like a bagpipe!"
Zero grinned. He liked this guy.
~**~
"Hey."
Zero looked to his side, where X had just sat down next to him with a tray of food. "Hi."
The pair ate in silence, but didn't need to say anything. A friendship was made between them that day. An unspoken one. A friendship that, despite their first meeting, would be a firm one.
Finished with their meal, Zero stood. "Come on, X, the Miss Kapcom pageant is about to come on and I have a twelve pack of beer at my place."
~**~
"Zero, this is the Colonel." A reploid introduced. "He is the leader of Repliforce, a new division of the MHHQ."
Zero shook the reploid's hand. "I've heard about you." He stated. "I hear you're awesome with a light saber."
The Colonel shook Zero's hand. "And I've heard about you. Complete lack of respect to higher ranking soldiers."
Zero grinned. "I respect some people."
~**~
"How is it, X?" Zero called into his wrist communicator. "X? X!?"
Static answered him a moment before a tired reply. "Zero…?"
"X!? You're alive! Where are you!?"
"Chill penguin is destroyed." X said proudly, but tiredly. " I don't think… I can teleport in on my own. Energy cells are low…"
Zero nodded. "Hang on X, I'm on my way!"
~**~
"This is it?" Zero asked softly, looking at the one person in front of him. He was beaten badly, and would be scarred for life. "My unit…" he sank to his knees. "My whole unit's gone?" His eyes began to water. "The people I trained myself… my friends…all of my friends… They respected me…supported me… they… they gave their lives to I could go onto fight Sigma…"
Zero stood. "Go to base, Isaiah." He told him. "The 17th unit will be at rest with me. I'll kill Sigma."
~**~
"…Zero? Zero, wake up!"
Zero opened one eye and grunted. "X? Heh, Heh… you're alive." X looked like he was about to cry. "I… don't look so good do I?" He asked weakly. His entire lower section was destroyed and he knew he would die soon. "X…Listen to me X! Dry those tears! You know I don't want to see that!"
X wiped his eyes "S-sorry…"
"Attaboy…" He coughed, sending blood flying. "You did a good job on Vile there buddy… but it's not over yet… Sigma… Sigma is still alive. You have to kill him…"
X nodded. "All right. Rest easy Zero. I'll be back for you shortly…"
Zero half laughed, voice flickering. "Don't fool you're self X… You know I'm dieing…"
"Zero?" X whispered seeing his only friend's eyes close. "Zero? Zero, wake up Zero! Zero! Don't' close your eyes! Zero! ZERO!?"
~*Presant*~
"…Zero!? Zero answer me! Zero!? Zero!? ZERO!?"
"X?" He asked lightly. "X, where are you? It's dark… Is Sigma gone…?"
"Zero! You're alive!"
"…Ciel…?"
The surroundings came into focus then. He was in the snow, covered partially by Leviathan, who was unconscious on top of him. The wind was harsh and cold and his armor was frozen.
"Zero, we can't get a lock onto your position."
"I…I can teleport." He managed out through the haze of darkness coming over him again. "I'm…Brining a friend."
A crimson light engulfed the pair.
~**~
"Leviathan!?" Ciel shrieked as the two appeared in the trans server room, where Zero had set his teleportation location.
"Help her too…" Zero managed out before passing out once more.
Ciel and Cerveau both looked at each other a moment before turning to the medical staff. "Give her repairs as well." Ciel ordered. "Zero must have his reasons. However, I want five guards at the door, and three on the inside! After repairs, cuff her down and disarm all of her weapons!"
"Mam!"
~~**~~
A/N: Yay! One down, two to go! Stay tuned for the next few instalments ^_^
As always, feel free to suggest things, compliment, or flame. Just be sure to point out the errors that upset you or I cannot fix them. Till next time!