"Meanwhile, on an island somewhere in the general area of the Pacific, the
brave and valiant Island Irregulars. Do you think I should use Irregulars
or Mavericks? I mean, Irregulars sounds better, but Mavericks IS the
official title. Or maybe I should just use 'the brave and valiant heroes'?
What do you think? Huh?"
Gale looked up from the map she was sitting in front of.
"I think, String, that you should stop trying to be String Shakespeare and start HELPING ME FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS!!! I swear, noone is going to NEED you to write this down as it's happening! You want to write about it, write about it after we win."
The brown, semi-insectoid Reploid looked up from the datapad he had been dictating to. "What? What's wrong with keeping a record? After all, if we fail, something will need to be around to say what not to do, right?"
Gale sighed, exasperated, and put down her compass. "Except that we aren't GOING to fail, String. We're doing this better, faster, and quieter than any of the previous Maverick Uprisings, and this time, Buster Boy and Captain Saber won't stand a chance. But we'll never be ready if you don't start taking this seriously! I swear, this is like a hobby to you. I've half a mind to remove your tail and use it to flog you with."
String tossed the pad over his shoulder, where it bounced and skidded under a set of databanks. "Why don't you? Come on, I'm game."
Gale reached for her beam-fork. "Why, you."
KKXHHHT
Both Maverick Generals snapped to attention, looking up at the large viewscreen, which now showed a wireframe image of Sigma's head.
^Report, please.^
"Well, sir, we're-" "I'd like to say that-"
Gale glared at String, who shut up.
"As I was saying, sir, we're having a bit of trouble getting proper supplies to one of the islands- I really don't think Thunder and Cutter can deal with an attack yet, if one were to happen."
^What is the difficulty? I thought you had a plan worked out!^
Gale grimaced. "Apologies, but as it turns out, so long as Thunder keeps trying to stay in the forested area, about half of it is constantly on fire- there's no way to ensure the survival of the robots he requests once they get in there. He simply refuses to stay out of the forest, and I have no idea why. Also, I'm not quite sure how to set up the main base, sir."
^Hm. I will personally speak to Thunder Toad, so you don't need to worry there. As for the base- do you still have the plans for the Arctic Fortress from the second Uprising on file?^
String held up a datapad. "Right here, sir."
^Excellent. See if you can't do something similar, but with an aquatic fortress. As a matter of fact, get Freeze to work on it- if you can make it truly cold in there, we'll have a serious surprise for anyone trying to get involved.^
String nodded. "I'll talk to him right away, sir."
^Good. I'll check up on you again in roughly 36 hours. See that at least one thing is dealt with.^
"Of course, sir."
^Sigma out.^
The screen flickered off, and String turned to Gale, only to find that she wasn't there anymore. A moment later, he was hoisted up off the floor by a firm hand around his neck. The tall reploid's other hand was wrapped around his tail, preventing him from using it to get free.
"Now, String, remember- if we don't do well enough, Sigma may decide to DELETE US. If he does, I will personally shred EVERY LAST ONE of your circuits, slowly, while you are still conscious. DO YOU UNDERSTAND??"
String nodded as best he could.
"Good. I'm going to go get work started on the fortress."
The stout brown reploid fell to the floor with a heavy clanging. He waited until he was sure Gale was gone, then got up.
"I swear, why Sigma paired me off with THAT uncultured birdbrain, I'll never know."
Kimiko walked down the hall, glancing at the door numbers as she passed them. She was wearing her armor, and carrying a set of datapads. She supposed she could have put them in her chest compartment, but she really didn't want to have to explain her odd compartment to anyone. For some reason, she was really nervous. The feeling was oddly. familiar.
"203 F.. 203 F." She murmured to herself, continuing down the sixth floor hall.
'We're putting you in a special program, Kimiko,' X had said. 'You're going to have the normal classes and exercises with the other fresh Hunters. Then, after those classes, you'll have special sessions with me or Zero, alternating. I'll be giving you the recent history stuff you're missing, teaching you how to deal with Mavericks, and teaching you about effective Buster use. Zero will give you information of a slightly more. technical bent, and will be teaching you about group tactics and close combat, particularly with beam sabers. By the way, if you want, you can use the shop to make your own beam weapon, once you can learn how. First, of course, you'll be using a normal booth to learn the things that most Reploids get to learn right off the bat- history, and things like that. The pads are for personal notes, journals, whatever you want to put down in file.'
X himself had been unable to see her to the appropriate room, however- he needed to spend the morning on standard maintenance for his unit- equipment and otherwise.
Dodging around a short, stocky reploid, Kimiko finally spotted the room. She walked up to the door, paused for a moment as it slid open with a subtle mechanical hiss, and stepped in, ignoring the confused glances some of the Hunters in the hall were giving her.
Kimiko looked up and down the rows of terminals for an empty spot. Finding one near the back, she headed for it.
As she moved to sit down, she stopped in surprise- Zero was up at the front of the room, watching over the many reploids at the learning terminals. As she looked up at him, he nodded slightly at her.
Not sure what to think of that, Kimiko sat down at the terminal, setting the pads on the small tablespace, and reaching for the datacable. As she moved it to her right hand, she noticed that the surface of the white glove parted, as well as her synthskin underneath.
Plugging the cable into her systems, there was no tangible feeling, but something in her mind seemed to go-
--click-
-click-
-click-
"Hmmph."
-click-
-click-
"Dangit!!"
-click-
-click-
"Aargh!"
-SNAP-
"Ah. Thunder?"
"WHAT?!?!??"
The purplish-blue reploid that resembled nothing so much as an animated add for Shell gasoline winced.
"I don't think that's how you're supposed to use an arc-welder."
The yellow-green toad-reploid glared at his 'companion', the sphere-topped antennae behind his eyes emitting sparks.
"Well, excuse ME, MISTER technological expert!! But I don't see YOU helping to rebuild Master Sigma!"
Cutter Clam sighed, turned, and walked calmly out of the lab. Descending the long, spiral stairway, he eventually exited the tower. Tucking legs, arms, and head into his shockingly-yellow body, he skimmed along the nearby river towards the beach. Coming to a stop on the delta, he re-emerged from his shell, and looked out over the heavily modified shipyard.
"I swear, that guy probably had a few connections broken BEFORE he became Irregular, if you ask me."
"Oh, he did. I know that for a fact."
Cutter jumped. "YAAH!"
Whirling, he raised an arm, forming a crescent of plasma. Then he saw who was behind him. "Cheez! Do you HAVE to do that?"
The figure in menacing deep violet chuckled, staring back with a glowing red gaze.
MatinaHornerwasbornin1939toGreekparents,whodecidedtostayintheUnitedStatesaft ertheoutbreakofWorldWarIISherecievedherbachelor'sdegreefromBrynMawrCollegein 1961andthenattendedtheUniversityofMichi-
-click-
Suddenly, the stream of data broke, and Kimiko's external senses shut off. She didn't even have time to panic before she found herself floating in a void, but standing at the same time.
Looking around, she saw only blackness, aside from herself. But that didn't make sense- if she could see herself, there was light coming from somewhere..
"Why don't they trust me/us?"
Spinning, she came face to face with.
Nothing.
"Have we/I done something wrong?"
Kimiko looked slightly down, to see a young girl standing in front of her. Looking maybe 7 or 8, the girl had soft-brown hair pulled back in a braid that went halfway down her back, and was wearing a Japanese school uniform- a sailor seifuku.
The girl tilted her head back, and two pairs of soft violet eyes met. There was a sudden feeling of vertigo and duplicity, and Kimiko and the girl simultaneously staggered back slightly.
"I. I know you."
Straightening, she blinked, wondering which of them had said that.
Or was it both?
Something was wrong with the scene. it was. it was.
Suddenly, Kimiko looked the girl dead on.
"You. you're the face in the mirror."
The girl nodded. "Hai! Atashi wa Kimiko desu!"
"but.."
-crash-
The girl shattered like glass, and the pieces faded out even as they flew at Kimiko.
There was a sense of something found. Kimiko blinked. That WAS her.
She could remember now, remember being small, and-
-click-
-what was going on? She sat up, blinking. Zero was there, holding the cable, which wasn't plugged into her hand anymore. Kimiko instinctively recoiled for a moment, then controlled herself.
"-at happened to you? Are you alright?" Zero asked, frowning. A couple of security troops were on their way just in case, but X wanted him to trust her more than that.
"Ano- sorry, Zero-san." Kimiko answered, slightly dazed. "I just- something happened."
Zero put the cable down and stood up. "I think you should go back to the medical bay. A couple of people will be here in a moment to take you down there- don't worry, I just have to stay here."
Kimiko nodded absently. What had happened? She didn't recall. only, she remembered having been smaller once. That was. that was a new memory. But what had happened when she was using the terminal? One moment, she was getting a datafeed, then- Zero holding the cable.
Her internal chronometer told her that four minutes had passed between those points- and she didn't remember them.
As she stood up and followed the two security guards to the medical bay, one question echoed through her head over and over.
What happened?
Ah-HA! The plot sickens! I mean, thickens.
Gradually, Kimiko begins to gain bits and shreds of memory. Will she find out the whole story?
What does Zero think of what's going on, really? Why was he in the room?
Who met Cutter Clam down at the delta?
Why do I bother asking questions the readers don't know the answers to?
BECAUSE I DO!!!
Wahahaha!
::eyes her evil twin suspiciously:: Riiiight.
Anywhich, more coming soon. As for this, I just had the urge to write more (finally), and picked it up and ran with it.
By the by, if anyone reading this HASN'T read any of Erico's Megaman X fanfics, then I have to insist you do so. They are. inspirational to say the least.
(evil twin) Waiii! He's so cool! I have to have his liver!
::pulls a rope, evil twin is crushed by forty-thousand ton weight, leaving a noticeable hole::
::sighs:: The things I have to endure.
Oh, well. Until next time! Jaa, ne!
("And our hero did proceed to begin a great swan dive. Now- before we continue, we shall think about something. Don't worry about our hero- we'll put him in suspended animation. He won't fall. Now, what is he diving into?" "A lake." "Right. Now, how do lakes form?" "Well, usually, you have ice melt in the mountains, which turns to water, then it flows downhill, and collects and all." "Right. Now, does the water ever really get warm?" "No." "So, our hero is diving into what?" "TWELVE DEGREES.") -Excerpt, Bill Cosby, Niagara Falls, from the CD 'Wonderfullness'.
Gale looked up from the map she was sitting in front of.
"I think, String, that you should stop trying to be String Shakespeare and start HELPING ME FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS!!! I swear, noone is going to NEED you to write this down as it's happening! You want to write about it, write about it after we win."
The brown, semi-insectoid Reploid looked up from the datapad he had been dictating to. "What? What's wrong with keeping a record? After all, if we fail, something will need to be around to say what not to do, right?"
Gale sighed, exasperated, and put down her compass. "Except that we aren't GOING to fail, String. We're doing this better, faster, and quieter than any of the previous Maverick Uprisings, and this time, Buster Boy and Captain Saber won't stand a chance. But we'll never be ready if you don't start taking this seriously! I swear, this is like a hobby to you. I've half a mind to remove your tail and use it to flog you with."
String tossed the pad over his shoulder, where it bounced and skidded under a set of databanks. "Why don't you? Come on, I'm game."
Gale reached for her beam-fork. "Why, you."
KKXHHHT
Both Maverick Generals snapped to attention, looking up at the large viewscreen, which now showed a wireframe image of Sigma's head.
^Report, please.^
"Well, sir, we're-" "I'd like to say that-"
Gale glared at String, who shut up.
"As I was saying, sir, we're having a bit of trouble getting proper supplies to one of the islands- I really don't think Thunder and Cutter can deal with an attack yet, if one were to happen."
^What is the difficulty? I thought you had a plan worked out!^
Gale grimaced. "Apologies, but as it turns out, so long as Thunder keeps trying to stay in the forested area, about half of it is constantly on fire- there's no way to ensure the survival of the robots he requests once they get in there. He simply refuses to stay out of the forest, and I have no idea why. Also, I'm not quite sure how to set up the main base, sir."
^Hm. I will personally speak to Thunder Toad, so you don't need to worry there. As for the base- do you still have the plans for the Arctic Fortress from the second Uprising on file?^
String held up a datapad. "Right here, sir."
^Excellent. See if you can't do something similar, but with an aquatic fortress. As a matter of fact, get Freeze to work on it- if you can make it truly cold in there, we'll have a serious surprise for anyone trying to get involved.^
String nodded. "I'll talk to him right away, sir."
^Good. I'll check up on you again in roughly 36 hours. See that at least one thing is dealt with.^
"Of course, sir."
^Sigma out.^
The screen flickered off, and String turned to Gale, only to find that she wasn't there anymore. A moment later, he was hoisted up off the floor by a firm hand around his neck. The tall reploid's other hand was wrapped around his tail, preventing him from using it to get free.
"Now, String, remember- if we don't do well enough, Sigma may decide to DELETE US. If he does, I will personally shred EVERY LAST ONE of your circuits, slowly, while you are still conscious. DO YOU UNDERSTAND??"
String nodded as best he could.
"Good. I'm going to go get work started on the fortress."
The stout brown reploid fell to the floor with a heavy clanging. He waited until he was sure Gale was gone, then got up.
"I swear, why Sigma paired me off with THAT uncultured birdbrain, I'll never know."
Kimiko walked down the hall, glancing at the door numbers as she passed them. She was wearing her armor, and carrying a set of datapads. She supposed she could have put them in her chest compartment, but she really didn't want to have to explain her odd compartment to anyone. For some reason, she was really nervous. The feeling was oddly. familiar.
"203 F.. 203 F." She murmured to herself, continuing down the sixth floor hall.
'We're putting you in a special program, Kimiko,' X had said. 'You're going to have the normal classes and exercises with the other fresh Hunters. Then, after those classes, you'll have special sessions with me or Zero, alternating. I'll be giving you the recent history stuff you're missing, teaching you how to deal with Mavericks, and teaching you about effective Buster use. Zero will give you information of a slightly more. technical bent, and will be teaching you about group tactics and close combat, particularly with beam sabers. By the way, if you want, you can use the shop to make your own beam weapon, once you can learn how. First, of course, you'll be using a normal booth to learn the things that most Reploids get to learn right off the bat- history, and things like that. The pads are for personal notes, journals, whatever you want to put down in file.'
X himself had been unable to see her to the appropriate room, however- he needed to spend the morning on standard maintenance for his unit- equipment and otherwise.
Dodging around a short, stocky reploid, Kimiko finally spotted the room. She walked up to the door, paused for a moment as it slid open with a subtle mechanical hiss, and stepped in, ignoring the confused glances some of the Hunters in the hall were giving her.
Kimiko looked up and down the rows of terminals for an empty spot. Finding one near the back, she headed for it.
As she moved to sit down, she stopped in surprise- Zero was up at the front of the room, watching over the many reploids at the learning terminals. As she looked up at him, he nodded slightly at her.
Not sure what to think of that, Kimiko sat down at the terminal, setting the pads on the small tablespace, and reaching for the datacable. As she moved it to her right hand, she noticed that the surface of the white glove parted, as well as her synthskin underneath.
Plugging the cable into her systems, there was no tangible feeling, but something in her mind seemed to go-
--click-
-click-
-click-
"Hmmph."
-click-
-click-
"Dangit!!"
-click-
-click-
"Aargh!"
-SNAP-
"Ah. Thunder?"
"WHAT?!?!??"
The purplish-blue reploid that resembled nothing so much as an animated add for Shell gasoline winced.
"I don't think that's how you're supposed to use an arc-welder."
The yellow-green toad-reploid glared at his 'companion', the sphere-topped antennae behind his eyes emitting sparks.
"Well, excuse ME, MISTER technological expert!! But I don't see YOU helping to rebuild Master Sigma!"
Cutter Clam sighed, turned, and walked calmly out of the lab. Descending the long, spiral stairway, he eventually exited the tower. Tucking legs, arms, and head into his shockingly-yellow body, he skimmed along the nearby river towards the beach. Coming to a stop on the delta, he re-emerged from his shell, and looked out over the heavily modified shipyard.
"I swear, that guy probably had a few connections broken BEFORE he became Irregular, if you ask me."
"Oh, he did. I know that for a fact."
Cutter jumped. "YAAH!"
Whirling, he raised an arm, forming a crescent of plasma. Then he saw who was behind him. "Cheez! Do you HAVE to do that?"
The figure in menacing deep violet chuckled, staring back with a glowing red gaze.
MatinaHornerwasbornin1939toGreekparents,whodecidedtostayintheUnitedStatesaft ertheoutbreakofWorldWarIISherecievedherbachelor'sdegreefromBrynMawrCollegein 1961andthenattendedtheUniversityofMichi-
-click-
Suddenly, the stream of data broke, and Kimiko's external senses shut off. She didn't even have time to panic before she found herself floating in a void, but standing at the same time.
Looking around, she saw only blackness, aside from herself. But that didn't make sense- if she could see herself, there was light coming from somewhere..
"Why don't they trust me/us?"
Spinning, she came face to face with.
Nothing.
"Have we/I done something wrong?"
Kimiko looked slightly down, to see a young girl standing in front of her. Looking maybe 7 or 8, the girl had soft-brown hair pulled back in a braid that went halfway down her back, and was wearing a Japanese school uniform- a sailor seifuku.
The girl tilted her head back, and two pairs of soft violet eyes met. There was a sudden feeling of vertigo and duplicity, and Kimiko and the girl simultaneously staggered back slightly.
"I. I know you."
Straightening, she blinked, wondering which of them had said that.
Or was it both?
Something was wrong with the scene. it was. it was.
Suddenly, Kimiko looked the girl dead on.
"You. you're the face in the mirror."
The girl nodded. "Hai! Atashi wa Kimiko desu!"
"but.."
-crash-
The girl shattered like glass, and the pieces faded out even as they flew at Kimiko.
There was a sense of something found. Kimiko blinked. That WAS her.
She could remember now, remember being small, and-
-click-
-what was going on? She sat up, blinking. Zero was there, holding the cable, which wasn't plugged into her hand anymore. Kimiko instinctively recoiled for a moment, then controlled herself.
"-at happened to you? Are you alright?" Zero asked, frowning. A couple of security troops were on their way just in case, but X wanted him to trust her more than that.
"Ano- sorry, Zero-san." Kimiko answered, slightly dazed. "I just- something happened."
Zero put the cable down and stood up. "I think you should go back to the medical bay. A couple of people will be here in a moment to take you down there- don't worry, I just have to stay here."
Kimiko nodded absently. What had happened? She didn't recall. only, she remembered having been smaller once. That was. that was a new memory. But what had happened when she was using the terminal? One moment, she was getting a datafeed, then- Zero holding the cable.
Her internal chronometer told her that four minutes had passed between those points- and she didn't remember them.
As she stood up and followed the two security guards to the medical bay, one question echoed through her head over and over.
What happened?
Ah-HA! The plot sickens! I mean, thickens.
Gradually, Kimiko begins to gain bits and shreds of memory. Will she find out the whole story?
What does Zero think of what's going on, really? Why was he in the room?
Who met Cutter Clam down at the delta?
Why do I bother asking questions the readers don't know the answers to?
BECAUSE I DO!!!
Wahahaha!
::eyes her evil twin suspiciously:: Riiiight.
Anywhich, more coming soon. As for this, I just had the urge to write more (finally), and picked it up and ran with it.
By the by, if anyone reading this HASN'T read any of Erico's Megaman X fanfics, then I have to insist you do so. They are. inspirational to say the least.
(evil twin) Waiii! He's so cool! I have to have his liver!
::pulls a rope, evil twin is crushed by forty-thousand ton weight, leaving a noticeable hole::
::sighs:: The things I have to endure.
Oh, well. Until next time! Jaa, ne!
("And our hero did proceed to begin a great swan dive. Now- before we continue, we shall think about something. Don't worry about our hero- we'll put him in suspended animation. He won't fall. Now, what is he diving into?" "A lake." "Right. Now, how do lakes form?" "Well, usually, you have ice melt in the mountains, which turns to water, then it flows downhill, and collects and all." "Right. Now, does the water ever really get warm?" "No." "So, our hero is diving into what?" "TWELVE DEGREES.") -Excerpt, Bill Cosby, Niagara Falls, from the CD 'Wonderfullness'.