MEGA MAN X: END OF A DREAM
By Erico
CHAPTER TWO: HIDDEN FURY
Zero was where Cain had said he would be. The rec room was incredibly large compared to most in the world, but then again this was more of a training center. Before Sigma had turned, he had emphasized the importance of training.
"I tell you Dr. Cain, the more time spent in training, the less injuries and deaths we will receive on the battlefield!" that phrase was one of the few left that the old Sigma was remembered by. The quote hung above the entrance, framed on matte board and covered with an ancient clear solid known as "glass."
But Zero was not swinging easily from high bar to low bar, nor sprinting with his dash boots. Even the target range was unschorched by plasma fire, and the beam saber dummies had not a cut on them. Zero sat above in the rafters, his legs dangling easily. Zero was thinking.
He had much to think about. Somehow, Sigma knew a crucial part of Zero's past, one which was a blur and came only in fragmented images when he was recuperating in a recharge chamber in stasis. More important on his mind was his lost friend, Iris. He had been attracted to her, but Repliforce's turnaround caused them to become enemies. Finally, Iris died. Or a closer term would be shut down. Zero himself had been shut down by his suicide attack at Vile's walker in the first Maverick War, but thanks to X's efforts was able to be reassembled none the worse for wear. But when the station exploded, the remains of Iris went with it.
"Hey Zero!" X called up. The sudden voice broke Zero from his trance, and he popped down, landing easily with the aid of a well-timed boot thruster. His hair, long and fiery blond, came to rest a second later. That and the incredibly red armor he wore distinguished Zero from others, much like X's childish appearance did for him. Zero smiled at X, his long time friend and partner. But it was smaller than it had been before the Repliforce incident, for that was when X had asked Zero to destroy him if he ever went Maverick himself. And Zero was also plagued, but not by demons of demeanor but the voice of those lost, voices forever silenced because Zero had failed in ending the threat. Both had their demons tormenting each other, but their bond to each other was what got them through it.
"Hey, X. What are you doing down here? I thought you would be in the control room," Zero asked, breaking the ice.
"I was, but Dr. Cain informed me you were down here."
"I'm sorry if we bothered you, Zero. The way I figure it, the both of you need to practice your techniques." The elderly doctor chuckled. Zero smiled at the thought of battle.
Unlike X, who viewed battle as a terrible thing, only to be pursued for the continuance of peace, Zero enjoyed battle. Those who fought with him could tell you the only time Zero was truly happy was when he was charging through a horde of enemies with his blaster going off and his beam saber slicing through the thick armor.
"So what kind of training? Should it be a saber duel, or a blaster showdown? I'm open to both!" Zero clapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. X shook his head.
"How about a match in chess? Simple, strategic, a battle of wits!" Zero's smile faded. X was the chess champion and nobody liked to go against him.
"Don't even try that again. I just played you in a game a day ago. Now put on your armor and I'll set the chamber for team raid." X shrugged, and Zero walked over to the computer-input unit that was installed in the wall.
"Computer, verify. Zero, designation Geold 26."
"Identification verified. What can I do for you Zero?" the feminine but hollow computer generated voice of Dawn Wells wafted through the room. Dr. Cain had it installed because of his affinity for the actress who played a movie star in some old show called "Gilligan's Island." The running joke at Headquarters was Cain actually knew the dead for 200-year actress when she was alive.
"Battle mode. Holographic simulation alpha, Team raid function." Instantly the room quivered, and the metallic walls disappeared as a holographic image of a cramped city block took its place. By now, X had warped into his X1 armor, the first set given by Doctor Light's hidden capsules. If he had worn one of his other sets, he would have put Zero at the disadvantage. Cain had left the room and was waiting in the control room. If by some quirk or glitch the simulation got out of hand or locked up, Cain could shut it down and ensure the trainee's survival. A ringing bell sound told X and Zero the session had started, and the two set off, their Busters at the ready.
The program was well written. Not only did X and Zero have to worry about eliminating the reploid holograms with their simulation attachment, (it was based off an ancient device called the "Light Zapper" that worked with a system called the "Famicom", and allowed them to keep fire stats without worrying about blowing anything up with their plasma cannons.) But also they had to keep in mind some of the holograms were innocents that hurt their score if they were hit. This was designed to give them a real world feel, for in a tight situation there was no time to go back in practice. It wasn't like this was a video game. X being the more cautious was taking his time as he walked around, his cannon at the ready. Zero however leapt and boosted about without a care in the world.
"Isn't this GREAT, X?" Zero laughed as he pegged a hologram crouching on the rooftop. X swerved around, but put his arm down as he identified a friendly individual. Zero sped ahead of X and kept his work up.
By now Zero had hit about twenty targets and was feeling better. Zero's way of dealing with a problem was fighting it, and this was no different. But then the holograms shifted their forms, slowly at first so that Zero thought he might be going too fast and they were a blur. But then it became unmistakable.
The holograms were turning into images of X. Zero froze, unable to continue firing at the form of his friend. Just then, another image appeared before him. A man clothed in a lab coat, casual pants, with ghost white hair appeared. The face was blurred, but the outline was there.
"Zero…my masterpiece…" Zero gasped.
For some time Zero had been having the same dream where this man came to him, telling him to destroy "him." And now it was clear who "him" was. Zero's memory was fuzzy of his past before the first Maverick Uprising, but when he had first started having his dream, images had come back in furious waves. This person, Zero's creator wanted him to destroy X.
"What do you want?" Zero pleaded with the apparition.
"Destroy him. He is our enemy, our rivalry gives me motivation in life. Now go. That's an order!" the man's voice was old, scratchy…and sinister.
"I…I can't…X…my friend…" Zero whispered in fear. The shadow turned back to him, whirling around quickly. The image's eyes glowed bright red.
"You must. It is your mission. I built you for that reason. Destroy him, and infect the world with my hatred!" the man vanished in a puff of light, leaving Zero standing in darkness, alone to his thoughts, dazed and confused. Then the holograms began to advance on Zero, their faces angry, their voices loud, making no distinguishable sound but still creating a cacophony that left Zero clenching his head in agony.
"Please…leave me alone…just leave me alone…please!" he pleaded with them, but they only got closer and closer, louder and louder. Zero shut his eyes and a tear fell down his face.
"Leave me alone…leave me alone…LEAVE ME ALONE!" Finally he shouted. He opened his eyes and the X holograms stood before him, their cannons upraised. Zero dropped the game attachment and lifted his own cannon. Firing with a fury unmatched by any before, his plasma blasts sizzled through the room, passing straight through the holograms. Zero cried out, his bloodcurdling scream echoing about the chamber like that of a wild caged, tormented beast.
Then one of the Xs stepped forth and grabbed Zero by the arms. It was the real X, equipped with his fourth "Force" armor set. The environment shut down, but the Xs remained. Then another one came forth and injected him with an anesthetic.
"Go away…go away…leave me alone…" Zero sobbed as he drifted into an uneasy sleep, with X and Dr. Cain standing above him, their faces covered in worry.