Sigma's Defeat
Sitting frozen inside of his own mind, X drifted through the thoughts of everything that had happened this far... The picture of Alia froze inside of his head as the tears welled in the corners of his eyes... His thoughts turned to Zenith, Zero and Ciel, whom he had failed, and it further locked his fate for everything he had worked for had been lost... This dampening his spirits, X's mind strayed between nothingness and the eternal abyss of hopelessness as it began to consume him...
Inside of his entombment, X had all the time to realize everything that he had done wrong and all the moments he had missed to take out evil before it did its worst... Somewhere between this daze and eternity, X found the answer to all the riddles and every question... Locked away within a fragment of his memories, there laid the last message of his creator... telling him of the moments to come.
"X," Dr Light began, "When you get this, I will be long gone from your life... but not forgotten. Once you destroy the Sigma Virus, you must allow Dr Cossack to cleanse your systems. I'm afraid that your infected form may take total control one day. And in the case that he take control, X, I installed a series of power limiters to slow him down but his power is still quite substantial. You must retake control over your body so that the cleansing procedure can take place!
"Listen, I have something else on my conscience.... My son, I wanted to believe that I would accept your will to fight but I cannot... I wanted you to have a life unlike your ancestor, Megaman. I wanted you to live peacefully until the end of your days... Despite these wishes and doubts, someone has to fight because humanity is still unwilling to fight such battles. Show humanity the error of their ways and shatter these darkest days! I will be awaiting you on the other side when you pass on. I want to hear everything about your life. Farewell and make me proud."
"Father..." X mumbled incoherently.
Frozen in his containment, X could only see the picture of his father replaying through his head and a new hope started to rise. As the seconds burned into infinity, X started to glow with new power and a golden hue took over everything in the vicinity. When the light vanished, X appeared totally free from his confinement and sat amidst the blurrying memories with tears in his eyes... The battle had turned in favor of X this time but not totally... for Hellspawn still had control over his body... Sitting down and sifting through the unlocked memories of Dr Light, X sought refuge from everything and tried to bide his time for his moment to strike...
As Hellspawn got reacquainted with his form, Zero and Zenith backed away from the monstrosity... Dashing away from his former comrades, Hellspawn went through the Neo Arcadia complex setting whatever he could ablaze... Somewhere between the moments of pyromania, Typhus got Hellspawn's attention and barred his entry into the next corridor... Grinning ear to ear, Hellspawn pulled a darkened saber from his sheath and turned to meet Typhus' hollowed out eyes... Shutting his eyes as he saw his moment, Typhus grinned a toothy grin as he took a powdered substance out from a capsule sitting next to him... Spraying it into Hellspawn's face, Typhus walked away toting the capsule behind him, his evil cackles echoing through the corridors... Following the dust's contact, Hellspawn doubled over as a red glow overtook him and he snickered nefariously as he went on a crazed rampage through the complex... The worst had happened... Hellspawn and X were both infected with the Mother Virus... further proving Sigma's false claim about immunity...
Further diving into the memories of his beloved father, X got comfort from every word and act that he had recorded here. Sitting here in his mind, X could feel the strength that was draining from him start to return... As he started to repair, he could sense another presence near him and turned to meet the face of his darker side, Hellspawn.
"Ahhhh so you've got your ass kicked too?" X smiled, "I was wondering when Sigma would use his trump card and draw you out into the open. You're such a fool Hellspawn."
"Oh shut up," Hellspawn barked as he whimpered in a corner, like a child who did not get his way, "I never get to have my fun before some bad ass villain kills it! All I wanted was discord and chaos, is that too much to ask for?"
"Yes it is," X sighed, "Best to make the best of the situation and get along for the moment. I have a feeling we're going to be stuck here for some time."
"You just sit here," Hellspawn retorted coldly, "I'm going to find a way out of here!"
"Whatever makes you happy," X replied with a grin.
"You know what... I really hate you X," Hellspawn gritted his teeth, "Nothing would make me happier than to wipe that ugly grin from your face!"
"If you are so tired of it, come on over here and wipe it off of my face!" X grinned confidently.
"You asked for it!" Hellspawn shouted as he dashed forward towards X with his saber pulled.
"Here we go..." X mumbled as he shut his eyes.
Angling their wings toward each other and with their respective swords drawn, Hellspawn and X engaged in an aerial sword fight of mammoth proportions. Slashing their swords, they parted the air under their weight and caused thunder to echo across the voids of X's mind... With a exploding clash, the swords met and flung a whirlwind of energy cascading around them in a swirling sphere of combating energies... On one end, there was the good energy and the other evil... Both energies battling for the right to survive out the day...
Gritting his teeth, X met Hellspawn's eyes as his met his... Their fists clenched their swords and together they dueled at their maximum... Seeing his moment to strike, X angled his angel wings at Hellspawn and sent a whirlwind at him knocking him off balance... Seizing his sword and hurtling it through the air, X went for the shot to change the world. Hellspawn seeing the moment of weakness spun around and stabbed X with his sword. As the blood hit the ground, X caught himself and sped around to meet Hellspawn ready to proclaim his victory.
"You've always been the weaker side," Hellspawn gloated, "I've always had to take over to make up for your weaknesses! All those chances you had to wipe out evil! I had to do it all! I had to do all your dirty work and now I want my breathing space! Once I'm done, the only thing that will remain is the memory that you were once the greatest hero this pathetic rock knew of!"
"Hellspawn," X breathed calmly, "In the darkest of night and in the holiest of light, my faith will shine through and break through whatever evil has to offer. If you are the best that evil can offer, you will suffer the wrath of my blade and taste the silence of the shadows!"
"You should really take care of your wounds X! You'll bleed to death if this keeps up!" Hellspawn gleed.
"You forget something! Whose mind are you stuck in? MINE!" X beamed.
"Your power dwindles here! You haven't the energy to maintain your consciousness here! What makes you think you can beat me?"
"THIS!" X sounded as he shoved the sword into the ground. Folding his hands over the sword, a star of energy radiated from X's sword and light pushed forth from the cracks in the ground... As the light jumped forth from the ground, X looked up to his demonic half and shook his head sorrowfully. "This is the end Hellspawn. With this last bit of energy, you're gone! DARKNESS CONTAINMENT!"
In a brilliant flash of white light, Hellspawn screamed in agony as he was sealed in a crystalline prison. Hellspawn's confinement crashed to the ground with his astonished look still petrified on his face. Claiming victory for himself, X forced a smile onto his face as he crashed to the ground with a thud... As he laid still, the blood pooled underneath his frozen body and his hand still clenched to his sword... The moments drew on as X did not move an inch... X had given his own life to seal Hellspawn away... However, this deed was not his to do... for he was needed elsewhere...
Outside of his mind, X dashed through the Neo Arcadia complex totally destroying anything in his path... The Mother Virus had pushed itself inside of X and drastically changed him for the worst. Not a segment of the original X, that protected the world, remained... Every portion that protected and nurtured the Earth was sealed within his mind... As the fires were ignited, the glowing red form of X maniacally demolished all remnants of the government that once resided there... Everything that stood for the Neo Arcadian government was wiped off of the Earth in a blaze of brilliant flame... forever darkening the fortunes of all...
As the sun peaked over the burning complex, Nemesis and Oracle strode up through the terrain up to the gates of Neo Arcadia. Behind them stood an army of rallied Reploids that would put a dent in Sigma's forces. The uninfected numbers dwindled but somehow Nemesis and Oracle found them before they fell to darkness. Invading Neo Arcadia, the forces engaged the resistance that had gathered outside of the complex... For upon Zero's, Zenith's and X's entrance, Sigma had the base fortified with the other half of the Assassins Guild forces with Xephyr as their commanding officer... In the consuming fire fight that would follow, the sounds of gunfire and cries of pain echoed through Neo Arcadia with the fires within the complex highlighting both sides' faces... Using their forces to their limit, Nemesis and Oracle stalled just enough to use their trump card... Getting within close proximity of the other side, Nemesis wheeled a large capsule into view and whipped it through the air... Xephyr's lifeless eyes took notice of this feat and all attention turned toward Nemesis... The battle then shifted onto taking Nemesis down... Each shot searing his body, Nemesis gritted his teeth and blasted the capsule as it came within contact with the other side... The capsule exploded and sprayed everyone with a substance... Electricity flowed through their bodies as they all lost consciousness... The battle was over and they had won... In the moments to follow, Xephyr and his crew reawaken to Nemesis smiling while he looked over each of them... While Oracle was tending the wounded, Xephyr went around the battle lines with saddened eyes looking at his own brethren being used as pawns...
"Sigma..." Xephyr uttered, "This act of aggression won't go unresolved! Men once you have all been tended to and once we can get mobilized. We storm the Neo Arcadian fortress! I have an appointment to keep with the dictator of the place. He's going to pay for his betrayal!" "Glad to have you back, Sir," Nemesis bowed, "The cure to the Epsilon was something that cost many lives but it was well worth it to get you back on our side..."
"Nemesis, you have stayed with me in the thick and thin! You shouldn't be bowing to me. I should be bowing to you. Without you and your guidance, I would have lost my life many years ago," Xephyr rationalized as he got down on one knee, "You are a true friend. I couldn't ask for anything more than what you've done for me thus far. Nemesis, my friend, when we challenge Sigma forthright, I want you at my side. With our swords drawn, we will make that rat fink bastard pay for ever crossing the Assassins Guild! It's our time to strike and this so called reign of Sigma will be put down!"
"What say you Oracle?" Nemesis asked.
"Something's different now..." Oracle chimed sullied, "I'm afraid the future just got much more dim for Reploids... After this last attack on Neo Arcadia, our kind will be hunted like animals and we will be on the brink of extinction... X! He's switched sides... He's infected... All our hopes are gone now... This seals the fates of everyone on this world for he was the only one that could stop Sigma and the Mother Virus..."
As the news seeped into their minds, Nemesis and Xephyr readied for the calm before the hellstorm... for what would come would be the trial of fire that they have been training for since day one... The hopes and future of everything was forever tarnished for Reploidom but there was another that held the keys to their fortunes... For all this time, one of the puppets had played his part well to get within the ranks of Sigma... In fact, Typhus stood within arm's distance of changing everything and soon his time would come to put Sigma's ill fated reign to an end...
Sitting frozen inside of his own mind, X drifted through the thoughts of everything that had happened this far... The picture of Alia froze inside of his head as the tears welled in the corners of his eyes... His thoughts turned to Zenith, Zero and Ciel, whom he had failed, and it further locked his fate for everything he had worked for had been lost... This dampening his spirits, X's mind strayed between nothingness and the eternal abyss of hopelessness as it began to consume him...
Inside of his entombment, X had all the time to realize everything that he had done wrong and all the moments he had missed to take out evil before it did its worst... Somewhere between this daze and eternity, X found the answer to all the riddles and every question... Locked away within a fragment of his memories, there laid the last message of his creator... telling him of the moments to come.
"X," Dr Light began, "When you get this, I will be long gone from your life... but not forgotten. Once you destroy the Sigma Virus, you must allow Dr Cossack to cleanse your systems. I'm afraid that your infected form may take total control one day. And in the case that he take control, X, I installed a series of power limiters to slow him down but his power is still quite substantial. You must retake control over your body so that the cleansing procedure can take place!
"Listen, I have something else on my conscience.... My son, I wanted to believe that I would accept your will to fight but I cannot... I wanted you to have a life unlike your ancestor, Megaman. I wanted you to live peacefully until the end of your days... Despite these wishes and doubts, someone has to fight because humanity is still unwilling to fight such battles. Show humanity the error of their ways and shatter these darkest days! I will be awaiting you on the other side when you pass on. I want to hear everything about your life. Farewell and make me proud."
"Father..." X mumbled incoherently.
Frozen in his containment, X could only see the picture of his father replaying through his head and a new hope started to rise. As the seconds burned into infinity, X started to glow with new power and a golden hue took over everything in the vicinity. When the light vanished, X appeared totally free from his confinement and sat amidst the blurrying memories with tears in his eyes... The battle had turned in favor of X this time but not totally... for Hellspawn still had control over his body... Sitting down and sifting through the unlocked memories of Dr Light, X sought refuge from everything and tried to bide his time for his moment to strike...
As Hellspawn got reacquainted with his form, Zero and Zenith backed away from the monstrosity... Dashing away from his former comrades, Hellspawn went through the Neo Arcadia complex setting whatever he could ablaze... Somewhere between the moments of pyromania, Typhus got Hellspawn's attention and barred his entry into the next corridor... Grinning ear to ear, Hellspawn pulled a darkened saber from his sheath and turned to meet Typhus' hollowed out eyes... Shutting his eyes as he saw his moment, Typhus grinned a toothy grin as he took a powdered substance out from a capsule sitting next to him... Spraying it into Hellspawn's face, Typhus walked away toting the capsule behind him, his evil cackles echoing through the corridors... Following the dust's contact, Hellspawn doubled over as a red glow overtook him and he snickered nefariously as he went on a crazed rampage through the complex... The worst had happened... Hellspawn and X were both infected with the Mother Virus... further proving Sigma's false claim about immunity...
Further diving into the memories of his beloved father, X got comfort from every word and act that he had recorded here. Sitting here in his mind, X could feel the strength that was draining from him start to return... As he started to repair, he could sense another presence near him and turned to meet the face of his darker side, Hellspawn.
"Ahhhh so you've got your ass kicked too?" X smiled, "I was wondering when Sigma would use his trump card and draw you out into the open. You're such a fool Hellspawn."
"Oh shut up," Hellspawn barked as he whimpered in a corner, like a child who did not get his way, "I never get to have my fun before some bad ass villain kills it! All I wanted was discord and chaos, is that too much to ask for?"
"Yes it is," X sighed, "Best to make the best of the situation and get along for the moment. I have a feeling we're going to be stuck here for some time."
"You just sit here," Hellspawn retorted coldly, "I'm going to find a way out of here!"
"Whatever makes you happy," X replied with a grin.
"You know what... I really hate you X," Hellspawn gritted his teeth, "Nothing would make me happier than to wipe that ugly grin from your face!"
"If you are so tired of it, come on over here and wipe it off of my face!" X grinned confidently.
"You asked for it!" Hellspawn shouted as he dashed forward towards X with his saber pulled.
"Here we go..." X mumbled as he shut his eyes.
Angling their wings toward each other and with their respective swords drawn, Hellspawn and X engaged in an aerial sword fight of mammoth proportions. Slashing their swords, they parted the air under their weight and caused thunder to echo across the voids of X's mind... With a exploding clash, the swords met and flung a whirlwind of energy cascading around them in a swirling sphere of combating energies... On one end, there was the good energy and the other evil... Both energies battling for the right to survive out the day...
Gritting his teeth, X met Hellspawn's eyes as his met his... Their fists clenched their swords and together they dueled at their maximum... Seeing his moment to strike, X angled his angel wings at Hellspawn and sent a whirlwind at him knocking him off balance... Seizing his sword and hurtling it through the air, X went for the shot to change the world. Hellspawn seeing the moment of weakness spun around and stabbed X with his sword. As the blood hit the ground, X caught himself and sped around to meet Hellspawn ready to proclaim his victory.
"You've always been the weaker side," Hellspawn gloated, "I've always had to take over to make up for your weaknesses! All those chances you had to wipe out evil! I had to do it all! I had to do all your dirty work and now I want my breathing space! Once I'm done, the only thing that will remain is the memory that you were once the greatest hero this pathetic rock knew of!"
"Hellspawn," X breathed calmly, "In the darkest of night and in the holiest of light, my faith will shine through and break through whatever evil has to offer. If you are the best that evil can offer, you will suffer the wrath of my blade and taste the silence of the shadows!"
"You should really take care of your wounds X! You'll bleed to death if this keeps up!" Hellspawn gleed.
"You forget something! Whose mind are you stuck in? MINE!" X beamed.
"Your power dwindles here! You haven't the energy to maintain your consciousness here! What makes you think you can beat me?"
"THIS!" X sounded as he shoved the sword into the ground. Folding his hands over the sword, a star of energy radiated from X's sword and light pushed forth from the cracks in the ground... As the light jumped forth from the ground, X looked up to his demonic half and shook his head sorrowfully. "This is the end Hellspawn. With this last bit of energy, you're gone! DARKNESS CONTAINMENT!"
In a brilliant flash of white light, Hellspawn screamed in agony as he was sealed in a crystalline prison. Hellspawn's confinement crashed to the ground with his astonished look still petrified on his face. Claiming victory for himself, X forced a smile onto his face as he crashed to the ground with a thud... As he laid still, the blood pooled underneath his frozen body and his hand still clenched to his sword... The moments drew on as X did not move an inch... X had given his own life to seal Hellspawn away... However, this deed was not his to do... for he was needed elsewhere...
Outside of his mind, X dashed through the Neo Arcadia complex totally destroying anything in his path... The Mother Virus had pushed itself inside of X and drastically changed him for the worst. Not a segment of the original X, that protected the world, remained... Every portion that protected and nurtured the Earth was sealed within his mind... As the fires were ignited, the glowing red form of X maniacally demolished all remnants of the government that once resided there... Everything that stood for the Neo Arcadian government was wiped off of the Earth in a blaze of brilliant flame... forever darkening the fortunes of all...
As the sun peaked over the burning complex, Nemesis and Oracle strode up through the terrain up to the gates of Neo Arcadia. Behind them stood an army of rallied Reploids that would put a dent in Sigma's forces. The uninfected numbers dwindled but somehow Nemesis and Oracle found them before they fell to darkness. Invading Neo Arcadia, the forces engaged the resistance that had gathered outside of the complex... For upon Zero's, Zenith's and X's entrance, Sigma had the base fortified with the other half of the Assassins Guild forces with Xephyr as their commanding officer... In the consuming fire fight that would follow, the sounds of gunfire and cries of pain echoed through Neo Arcadia with the fires within the complex highlighting both sides' faces... Using their forces to their limit, Nemesis and Oracle stalled just enough to use their trump card... Getting within close proximity of the other side, Nemesis wheeled a large capsule into view and whipped it through the air... Xephyr's lifeless eyes took notice of this feat and all attention turned toward Nemesis... The battle then shifted onto taking Nemesis down... Each shot searing his body, Nemesis gritted his teeth and blasted the capsule as it came within contact with the other side... The capsule exploded and sprayed everyone with a substance... Electricity flowed through their bodies as they all lost consciousness... The battle was over and they had won... In the moments to follow, Xephyr and his crew reawaken to Nemesis smiling while he looked over each of them... While Oracle was tending the wounded, Xephyr went around the battle lines with saddened eyes looking at his own brethren being used as pawns...
"Sigma..." Xephyr uttered, "This act of aggression won't go unresolved! Men once you have all been tended to and once we can get mobilized. We storm the Neo Arcadian fortress! I have an appointment to keep with the dictator of the place. He's going to pay for his betrayal!" "Glad to have you back, Sir," Nemesis bowed, "The cure to the Epsilon was something that cost many lives but it was well worth it to get you back on our side..."
"Nemesis, you have stayed with me in the thick and thin! You shouldn't be bowing to me. I should be bowing to you. Without you and your guidance, I would have lost my life many years ago," Xephyr rationalized as he got down on one knee, "You are a true friend. I couldn't ask for anything more than what you've done for me thus far. Nemesis, my friend, when we challenge Sigma forthright, I want you at my side. With our swords drawn, we will make that rat fink bastard pay for ever crossing the Assassins Guild! It's our time to strike and this so called reign of Sigma will be put down!"
"What say you Oracle?" Nemesis asked.
"Something's different now..." Oracle chimed sullied, "I'm afraid the future just got much more dim for Reploids... After this last attack on Neo Arcadia, our kind will be hunted like animals and we will be on the brink of extinction... X! He's switched sides... He's infected... All our hopes are gone now... This seals the fates of everyone on this world for he was the only one that could stop Sigma and the Mother Virus..."
As the news seeped into their minds, Nemesis and Xephyr readied for the calm before the hellstorm... for what would come would be the trial of fire that they have been training for since day one... The hopes and future of everything was forever tarnished for Reploidom but there was another that held the keys to their fortunes... For all this time, one of the puppets had played his part well to get within the ranks of Sigma... In fact, Typhus stood within arm's distance of changing everything and soon his time would come to put Sigma's ill fated reign to an end...