MegaMan X: Title Pending

Chapter 3: Divine Intervention

Disclaimer - We've already established that Capcom clearly belongs to me. Oh, wait, no it doesn't. Silly me.

Zero was just about ready to unleash a world of pain and general discomfort on Axl, but then blinked suddenly, looking up, as if he'd seen something. And seen something he had. Axl tilted his head back from his position on the floor, and saw a wonderful upside-down view of Signas, who blinked in surprise at the awkward scene before him.

"Zero, what are you doing? You can beat up Axl later," he said, and Axl made a slight whimpering sound. "I need both of you in my office as soon as you can manage," he said, "and uninjured, if at all possible." He finished, with a level gaze at Zero. Zero put on an innocent face.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he grinned, reaching down, hauling Axl up off the ground, and finally giving him a brotherly hug. "Axl and I are best friends, right? Right, Axl?"

"Er… y-yeah!" Axl stammered, forcing a grin onto his face.

"That's good," Signas nodded. "I like to see my fellow Hunters getting along." Axl had the feeling that Signas wasn't really oblivious to his plight, but wanted Axl to suffer anyways. And he was probably right. Signas turned around, and walked down the hall the way he came. Axl looked up at Zero, who was still holding him. What was a "brotherly hug" suddenly felt like a death grip to the young reploid. Zero suddenly pushed him away.

"You know, I forgot what I wanted to kill you for," Zero said, shrugging. "I'm sure I had an extremely good reason, though."

"A-ah, well… not really." Axl said, if not a little fearfully. "Shouldn't we get going?" Zero arched an eyebrow temporarily.

"Eh? Oh, yeah, sure." he said, starting down the hall towards Signas' office, Axl tagging along behind him.

-

When Zero and Axl had entered the slightly over-sized office, there were 3 people who had gotten there before them. Signas, of course, by the virtue that this was his office, a blue-hued reploid that Zero immediately recognized as none other than X, and a forest-green armored reploid that he had trouble attaching a name to at first. Axl recognized him, though. It was none other than Sparrow, Axl's unit-mate, and more-often-than-not partner.

Sparrow's armor was extremely minimal. His entire body, save his head, was covered with a strange black film material, which looked like it would be thin, but was completely opaque. His armor consisted of slightly oversized knee-high boots, elbow-length gloves, and a thick armor plate which covered his chest and back, and resembled a sleeveless jacket. There was a slight bulge in his armor around his wrists and ankles, which were colored black, while the rest of his armor was a dark green. There was gold trimming running up the back of his gauntleted arms and the sides of his boots. Sparrow looked at Axl and grinned, and Axl shot him back a murderous "I'm gonna kill you" look.

Axl also took the time to look around Signas' office; it wasn't often he was invited in. Signas had styled his office with the "1980's" look in mind; it was mostly made with synthetic wood (because the real stuff was quite expensive anymore…), which composed the ceiling, as well as paneling on the lower half of the walls. The upper half was covered with a wallpaper with a rather unique flower design, but it was very subtle, and just the right touch needed to give the room a sort of atmosphere that Signas so loved.

Zero frowned. "What's up? Anything wrong?" He asked, then motioned to Sparrow. "And why is he here?" Sparrow frowned, but Signas spoke for him.

"Sparrow is here because the three of you wouldn't be enough." He said, infuriatingly non-specifically, then motioned at X and Sparrow. "These two have been sitting here oh so patiently while you decided to waste your precious time getting here." Zero looked like he was about to open his mouth to defend himself, but apparently thought better of it. He made a slight "tch" sound and stood next to X, while Axl took a stand next to Sparrow. Axl was only slightly amused that he and Zero were the only ones out of armor.

"Zero's right, though. What are we here for?" X mimicked. Signas sighed, and clasped his hands in front of him on the desk he was seated at.

"I've received a call from Dr. Cain," he said, "and he's told me something rather… disturbing. Lately, our spotting teams have recorded abnormal energy readings, mostly just off the coast of Kyushu, and another large reading near Hyderabad, India. X frowned.

"Hyderabad? But that's nothing more than… a… a huge ruin! What would be there?" he asked. Axl was next to speak up.

"Kyushu isn't much better off…" he said, trying to be helpful. Zero next.

"And why so private? Any other Maverick attack, assuming this is one, is announced over the intercom system, and a Hunter unit is dispatched to take care of it. Why go all this trouble to have a meeting? And in your office, even?" he asked, as Signas waited patiently for his tangent to end.

"I am holding a private conference with the four of you because it may not be a Maverick attack," he said. "But… the energy readings have some unusual patterns. They may remind you of someone you know."

"Who, Sigma?" Zero half-joked, but it was a serious question all the same.

"No, not quite that bad," Signas replied. "Lumine." X's eyes widened.

"Lumine? But he's dead. Axl, you killed him, right?" he turned towards the younger reploid.

"Yeah!" he nodded. "Dead as a doornail; I made sure of it. But what do you mean, may not be a Maverick attack?"

Signas nodded. "Announcing to everyone that Lumine is back and out to kill everyone would certainly cause undue panic. If it's just a residual energy signature, then there's nothing to worry about. But I'd rather not have half the base running around like chickens with their heads cut off." He said. X grinned slightly at the rather morbid metaphor.

"So you'd like us to check it out? But there's only two locations. We're going to double up on this one?"

Signas nodded. "Yes. You can never be too cautious; it may be something serious. Better safe than sorry, right? Now, Zero and Axl… get suited up. Sparrow, you're with Axl, and the both of you are going to Hyderabad. X, you're with Zero, going to Kyushu." Sparrow and X looked at their respective partners. "Leave as soon as possible. Here are the co-ordinates for your teleportation systems." He handed both Axl and X a small data-chip with the co-ordinates burned into them. They all filed out of the room shortly after.

-

"Hyderabad, huh?" Sparrow joked. "I heard the weather's nice there this time of year…" he remarked, trudging after Axl, who had by now warped his black and red armor onto himself.

Axl chuckled a bit. "Yeah. Lots of…" he struggled for the word. "…rocks. Also, remind me that I'm gonna kill you later." Sparrow blinked.

"What? Why?"

"Because Zero tried to kill me."

"You and Zero looked like best buddies back there."

"Call that… divine intervention."

-

Not as long as some of my past chapters, by 200 words or so. But hey, at least I've finally updated, yeah?