Kimiko's eyes finally cleared. Reaching down with her left hand, she
unplugged the chip from the back of her right hand. The synthskin closed
up again, once more appearing seamless.
X looked at her. "Do you understand me better now?"
Kimiko nodded. "Hai. Thank you, Ecksu-san." She spoke much better English now, with only a slight Japanese accent.
Visually measuring the distance between herself and X, she tossed him the chip.
He caught it easily, in one hand. "So, as-"
She cut him off. "My question. Why am I here?"
X put one hand on his helmet and rubbed absently, as though trying to scratch his head. "Actually, we don't know…."
Blink. Blink. "Beg pardon?"
X shrugged. "You showed up in this weird armor, and started attacking people. Did a pretty clean job of it. You seemed to be looking for me."
Kimiko shook her head. "I don't remember this at all."
Error. Memory sectors 2F through 65T have been purged. Data is unrecoverable, highly scrambled.
Are there any other problems?
Affirmative. Blocking program has been installed with regards to Dash Boots, Armor Warp, and Translocational Warp systems. Buster functions reduced to 10 %. Do you wish to attempt to rectify one or more of these systems, Y/N?
Delay decision.
Confirmed.
"Ecksu-san, have you installed blocks on my systems?"
X blinked. "Ah… yes. For safety reasons. We weren't sure if you would try anything. Still aren't sure, really. I'm afraid I'll have to leave them there for now."
Kimiko thought for a moment.
Attempt to correct error in Dash Boots and Translocational Warp systems.
Confirmed. Program will take indefinite period of time. Is unknown run time acceptable?
Yes.
Kimiko shrugged. "I guess that makes sense. I really don't remember attacking anyone, though. As a matter of fact, I don't remember much of anything besides my name and how to speak. Apparently, someone or something purged some of my memory."
X nodded. "Sorry to hear that. We'd like to find out who sent you, really."
Kimiko blinked, finally noticing something. "Who is 'we'?"
Zero, in the observing room, decided to play a game of 'bash my head against a wall repeatedly'.
Arnie turned his head to watch Zero. What was he saying? Sounded like 'ijjit' or something?
X started. "Wha? Oh, uh… dang. Okay, 'we' are the Maverick Hunters."
Kimiko blinked. "So, you believe I am a Maverick?"
"Ah, no actually, we don't. When you attacked, you didn't kill anyone. You just seemed to be looking for me…"
Surprised slightly by the immediate, almost apologetic way he answered, Kimiko didn't respond.
"My turn for a question?" Asked X.
Kimiko nodded.
X held up a small disc. "What is this?"
Kimiko walked towards him. "Ano… I don't know…"
The disc was small, maybe an inch and a half across, at most. The outer edge was corrugated, like on some coins, but the center area was smooth, with an image of a slightly slanted L on it. Added in such a way as to seem to be behind the 'L' was a curved line that, if you ignored the bottom line of the 'L', would form a 'D' with the back of it.
"…may I see it?"
"Sure." Said X, holding it out.
Kimiko reached for the disc.
Arnie, Zero, and Dr. Cain all jumped. Arnie immediately started working some controls, and one of the upper corners of the room sprouted some sort of a weapon.
"What the-"
"-heck was THAT?" X finished.
Kimiko looked at the now-glowing disc sitting on the floor. When she had touched it, it had emanated an electrical jolt into both her arm and X's. Both of them had flinched away their arms, letting it drop to the floor.
"I don't know…"
Suddenly, the disc emanated a hologram. Or rather, tried to. The picture quality was so bad, the image so 'snowy', that all that could be discerned was that this was probably someone's head. The sound quality was bad, too, but Kimiko recognized the voice that spoke.
"If this message has been activated, then one of three things has happened."
"Otoosan?" Whispered a slightly puzzled Kimiko.
"One, Megaman X has been destroyed. Two, Kimiko has been destroyed. Three, both of them have touched this disc simultaneously." There was a bit of a blip in the recording, then it continued. "Megaman X, Kimiko, you have my apologies. If both of you are listening to this, then the program that activates Kimiko has misfired."
X glanced at Kimiko, but remained silent, his eyes returning to the poor- quality holograph.
"Any way that this program has been activated, there are a few things I must communicate. First of all, Megaman X, Dr. Light, due to an incident with Dr. Wily, was unsure of your proper functioning. This is why you were sealed inside a capsule. More than this I cannot reveal at this time. I, however, had confidence in Dr. Light's abilities, and indeed, knew that X might need help in the future. To that end, I created Kimiko. Kimiko, this program was created mainly in the possibility that X would turn rogue. You are built off of a copy of X's program, and hence can be considered one of the prototypes for a new type of robot with the capability of completely independent thought and, hopefully, of emotion. I did what I could with a 'younger' robot body to ensure that you would have a good base personality. I then transferred you to the body you now wear. If X did turn rogue, then the program would activate you, armed specifically enough to defeat, perhaps destroy him in combat. Programs such as the one I used are not, however, infallible. Should both you and X be listening to this, then please work together for the greater good. I know X is likely destined for high things, and can only believe that you might, as well. If X has not gone rogue, then I urge him to seek out his past. A further message from me can be found there. More I cannot say, for there is no room left on this recording."
Abruptly, the message cut off, and the small disc melted into a tiny pile of slag.
X and Kimiko just stood there for a while, staring at the blackened lump.
Zero and Cain stood thoughtfully as Arnie disarmed the electrical stunner.
"You know," began Zero. "This could be a really elaborate Maverick trap…"
Cain blinked at Zero, then shook his head. "Only you, Zero. Only you could see all this and still find a reason to doubt."
Zero nodded. "Only I have as much combat experience and combat planning ability as I do."
Cain sighed. "I suppose you could be right. But I doubt it. I'll wait to hear what X has to say about this first, before deciding what to do with our uninvited and, apparently, unintentional guest."
Zero shrugged in response to this. "Hey, you're the boss."
Elsewhere.
Somewhere in the Pacific, in the Ring of Fire, in a long-dormant volcano, there was pseudo-life.
Robots and a few reploids, moving about and building a base. Slowly, a shape was being carved out of the face of the mountain-island, and the form was yet indistinct.
Somewhere inside, a few reploids were conversing.
"So, I get the jungle area, right, String?"
'String' nodded. He was a desert-brown-armored reploid, with a distinctly insectoid helmet. Both his hands were replaced by pincers with an attatched thumb. From his back sprouted a tall tail, which suspended a large bulb with an attatched sharp point a foot over his head. Otherwise, he was an unassuming five and a half feet tall.
"Right." He said to the one screen, in a voice that seemed to be composed of the chittering of many insects. Turning to the other reploid in the room, String spoke again. "Gale, how is the airship coming?"
Gale Falcon's eyes focused on the scorpion reploid. Gale was an unusual Maverick. Where most other Mavericks of any great skill were male in form, she was emphatically female. Whoever had designed her had done an amazing job on the armor, as well. She looked for all the world like a classic angel, wearing light plate armor, all in a bone-white, with the odd addition of her head and wings being those of a falcon, and a spread- feathered tail. Unlike the other Falcon model reploids, she had two hands, rather than a permanent turbofan replacing one forearm.
"It is on schedule, String. Two weeks more."
String Scorpion nodded. "Good. We'll do Sigma proud, and provide him with a good place to build a new body, as well. Look out Maverick Hunters. Here come the Island Irregulars."
A dry, chittering chuckle emanated from his throat, and Gale shook her head slowly. Such a melodramatist.
X and Kimiko looked at each other over the scorched lump that had been a very important message.
X extended a hand. Kimiko looked down at it then up to X's face.
The blue-armored reploid smiled slightly. "Well," he began, "Let me be the first to say, welcome to the twenty-second century. Hopefully, I can soon say 'Welcome to the Maverick Hunters' as well, but that's not entirely up to me."
Taking X's hand, Kimiko pumped it up and down once. "It is good to be here, Ecksu-san."
She smiled slightly. A friend already. Her father really had sent her somewhere.
Into the future.
And it didn't look like things were going to be too bad.
Okey-dokey, that's chapter three.
STILL ONLY FOUR REVIEWS??
Is noone reading this or something?
Recommend this to people, or something, PLEASE???
Okay, so, it's been established that Kimiko is not there to kill everyone. Well, established to everyone who really knows about her except Zero, of course.
And we know that something about X's past holds more clues to Kimiko as well.
Oh, and then there are the Mavvies. You know, the ones in the volcano. So what's the evil plot?
That…
Is a secret.
::several Lina Inverses from alternate dimensions chase the author::
::running away:: Ja ne!….
Keep your friends close.
Keep your enemies closer.
And keep the enemies of your enemies very, very confused.
Because being in control is a GOOD thing.
-Me.
X looked at her. "Do you understand me better now?"
Kimiko nodded. "Hai. Thank you, Ecksu-san." She spoke much better English now, with only a slight Japanese accent.
Visually measuring the distance between herself and X, she tossed him the chip.
He caught it easily, in one hand. "So, as-"
She cut him off. "My question. Why am I here?"
X put one hand on his helmet and rubbed absently, as though trying to scratch his head. "Actually, we don't know…."
Blink. Blink. "Beg pardon?"
X shrugged. "You showed up in this weird armor, and started attacking people. Did a pretty clean job of it. You seemed to be looking for me."
Kimiko shook her head. "I don't remember this at all."
Error. Memory sectors 2F through 65T have been purged. Data is unrecoverable, highly scrambled.
Are there any other problems?
Affirmative. Blocking program has been installed with regards to Dash Boots, Armor Warp, and Translocational Warp systems. Buster functions reduced to 10 %. Do you wish to attempt to rectify one or more of these systems, Y/N?
Delay decision.
Confirmed.
"Ecksu-san, have you installed blocks on my systems?"
X blinked. "Ah… yes. For safety reasons. We weren't sure if you would try anything. Still aren't sure, really. I'm afraid I'll have to leave them there for now."
Kimiko thought for a moment.
Attempt to correct error in Dash Boots and Translocational Warp systems.
Confirmed. Program will take indefinite period of time. Is unknown run time acceptable?
Yes.
Kimiko shrugged. "I guess that makes sense. I really don't remember attacking anyone, though. As a matter of fact, I don't remember much of anything besides my name and how to speak. Apparently, someone or something purged some of my memory."
X nodded. "Sorry to hear that. We'd like to find out who sent you, really."
Kimiko blinked, finally noticing something. "Who is 'we'?"
Zero, in the observing room, decided to play a game of 'bash my head against a wall repeatedly'.
Arnie turned his head to watch Zero. What was he saying? Sounded like 'ijjit' or something?
X started. "Wha? Oh, uh… dang. Okay, 'we' are the Maverick Hunters."
Kimiko blinked. "So, you believe I am a Maverick?"
"Ah, no actually, we don't. When you attacked, you didn't kill anyone. You just seemed to be looking for me…"
Surprised slightly by the immediate, almost apologetic way he answered, Kimiko didn't respond.
"My turn for a question?" Asked X.
Kimiko nodded.
X held up a small disc. "What is this?"
Kimiko walked towards him. "Ano… I don't know…"
The disc was small, maybe an inch and a half across, at most. The outer edge was corrugated, like on some coins, but the center area was smooth, with an image of a slightly slanted L on it. Added in such a way as to seem to be behind the 'L' was a curved line that, if you ignored the bottom line of the 'L', would form a 'D' with the back of it.
"…may I see it?"
"Sure." Said X, holding it out.
Kimiko reached for the disc.
Arnie, Zero, and Dr. Cain all jumped. Arnie immediately started working some controls, and one of the upper corners of the room sprouted some sort of a weapon.
"What the-"
"-heck was THAT?" X finished.
Kimiko looked at the now-glowing disc sitting on the floor. When she had touched it, it had emanated an electrical jolt into both her arm and X's. Both of them had flinched away their arms, letting it drop to the floor.
"I don't know…"
Suddenly, the disc emanated a hologram. Or rather, tried to. The picture quality was so bad, the image so 'snowy', that all that could be discerned was that this was probably someone's head. The sound quality was bad, too, but Kimiko recognized the voice that spoke.
"If this message has been activated, then one of three things has happened."
"Otoosan?" Whispered a slightly puzzled Kimiko.
"One, Megaman X has been destroyed. Two, Kimiko has been destroyed. Three, both of them have touched this disc simultaneously." There was a bit of a blip in the recording, then it continued. "Megaman X, Kimiko, you have my apologies. If both of you are listening to this, then the program that activates Kimiko has misfired."
X glanced at Kimiko, but remained silent, his eyes returning to the poor- quality holograph.
"Any way that this program has been activated, there are a few things I must communicate. First of all, Megaman X, Dr. Light, due to an incident with Dr. Wily, was unsure of your proper functioning. This is why you were sealed inside a capsule. More than this I cannot reveal at this time. I, however, had confidence in Dr. Light's abilities, and indeed, knew that X might need help in the future. To that end, I created Kimiko. Kimiko, this program was created mainly in the possibility that X would turn rogue. You are built off of a copy of X's program, and hence can be considered one of the prototypes for a new type of robot with the capability of completely independent thought and, hopefully, of emotion. I did what I could with a 'younger' robot body to ensure that you would have a good base personality. I then transferred you to the body you now wear. If X did turn rogue, then the program would activate you, armed specifically enough to defeat, perhaps destroy him in combat. Programs such as the one I used are not, however, infallible. Should both you and X be listening to this, then please work together for the greater good. I know X is likely destined for high things, and can only believe that you might, as well. If X has not gone rogue, then I urge him to seek out his past. A further message from me can be found there. More I cannot say, for there is no room left on this recording."
Abruptly, the message cut off, and the small disc melted into a tiny pile of slag.
X and Kimiko just stood there for a while, staring at the blackened lump.
Zero and Cain stood thoughtfully as Arnie disarmed the electrical stunner.
"You know," began Zero. "This could be a really elaborate Maverick trap…"
Cain blinked at Zero, then shook his head. "Only you, Zero. Only you could see all this and still find a reason to doubt."
Zero nodded. "Only I have as much combat experience and combat planning ability as I do."
Cain sighed. "I suppose you could be right. But I doubt it. I'll wait to hear what X has to say about this first, before deciding what to do with our uninvited and, apparently, unintentional guest."
Zero shrugged in response to this. "Hey, you're the boss."
Elsewhere.
Somewhere in the Pacific, in the Ring of Fire, in a long-dormant volcano, there was pseudo-life.
Robots and a few reploids, moving about and building a base. Slowly, a shape was being carved out of the face of the mountain-island, and the form was yet indistinct.
Somewhere inside, a few reploids were conversing.
"So, I get the jungle area, right, String?"
'String' nodded. He was a desert-brown-armored reploid, with a distinctly insectoid helmet. Both his hands were replaced by pincers with an attatched thumb. From his back sprouted a tall tail, which suspended a large bulb with an attatched sharp point a foot over his head. Otherwise, he was an unassuming five and a half feet tall.
"Right." He said to the one screen, in a voice that seemed to be composed of the chittering of many insects. Turning to the other reploid in the room, String spoke again. "Gale, how is the airship coming?"
Gale Falcon's eyes focused on the scorpion reploid. Gale was an unusual Maverick. Where most other Mavericks of any great skill were male in form, she was emphatically female. Whoever had designed her had done an amazing job on the armor, as well. She looked for all the world like a classic angel, wearing light plate armor, all in a bone-white, with the odd addition of her head and wings being those of a falcon, and a spread- feathered tail. Unlike the other Falcon model reploids, she had two hands, rather than a permanent turbofan replacing one forearm.
"It is on schedule, String. Two weeks more."
String Scorpion nodded. "Good. We'll do Sigma proud, and provide him with a good place to build a new body, as well. Look out Maverick Hunters. Here come the Island Irregulars."
A dry, chittering chuckle emanated from his throat, and Gale shook her head slowly. Such a melodramatist.
X and Kimiko looked at each other over the scorched lump that had been a very important message.
X extended a hand. Kimiko looked down at it then up to X's face.
The blue-armored reploid smiled slightly. "Well," he began, "Let me be the first to say, welcome to the twenty-second century. Hopefully, I can soon say 'Welcome to the Maverick Hunters' as well, but that's not entirely up to me."
Taking X's hand, Kimiko pumped it up and down once. "It is good to be here, Ecksu-san."
She smiled slightly. A friend already. Her father really had sent her somewhere.
Into the future.
And it didn't look like things were going to be too bad.
Okey-dokey, that's chapter three.
STILL ONLY FOUR REVIEWS??
Is noone reading this or something?
Recommend this to people, or something, PLEASE???
Okay, so, it's been established that Kimiko is not there to kill everyone. Well, established to everyone who really knows about her except Zero, of course.
And we know that something about X's past holds more clues to Kimiko as well.
Oh, and then there are the Mavvies. You know, the ones in the volcano. So what's the evil plot?
That…
Is a secret.
::several Lina Inverses from alternate dimensions chase the author::
::running away:: Ja ne!….
Keep your friends close.
Keep your enemies closer.
And keep the enemies of your enemies very, very confused.
Because being in control is a GOOD thing.
-Me.