Harry:We're back! Sorry for da boring A. N. last chapta, but Web was sorta busy.
Web: Yeah, uh, the FCC showed up and... it was a nightmare... oh well. Before I get to the reviews, I want to explain why Network Failure hasn't been updated. Let's just say that I've got some plagarism issues to work out with someone -glares- before I'll update there again.
Harry: But, you all ain't interested in that, here we go! Yes, people, we know that Kraft ain't Axl, give us a break please!
Web: The resemblance is uncanny, makes you wonder if Capcom's planning something... But that wasn't what I was refering to. Now, moving on... Uh, I guess that there's nothing to say...
Begin Chapter!
"We've combed the entire convoy," Cerveau shook his head, indicating his bewilderment to his companions, Dande, Zero, Allouette, and Andrew, "she's not here."
"So where'd she go?" Dande swept his arms out to indicate their surroundings, "We're in a desert! It would be suicide to go out on your own."
Zero stood silently, with Allouette by his side, trying to figure out where Ciel had disappeared.
"Mr. Zero! Mr. Cerveau!"
The Hunter turned to see the almost forgotten about Merge hovering through the air, towards him. The Cyber Elf was struggling to carry a large data disk of some kind as he flew through the air.
"Merge heard that Ms. Ciel is missing." The Elf panted as he slowed to a stop in front of the Reploids. "So Merge go out to look for Ms. Ciel, Merge find this out in the sand."
Merge dropped the disk, his arms too exhausted to continue, "Maybe it help."
Intrigued, Cerveau picked up the disk, and inserted it into his visor.
A few moments passed as the computer decoded the information and displayed the contents on the screen covering Cerveau's eyes.
"It's a map…" The inventor reported, "And there's a mark indicating a place about two miles east of us... that's it."
"So now for the big question." Dande muttered, "Did Ciel drop this or someone else?"
"There's an easy way to find out." An idea presented itself to Cerveau as he turned to their Elf companion. "Merge, try and locate Ciel."
"Oh, Merge forgot about that…" The Elf grinned sheepishly.
Merge snapped his eyes shut and began concentrating furiously.
"Ciel very far away." The Elf began to tremble underneath his massive exertion. "Hard to find…"
"Just do your best."
"Ciel… one hundred fifty miles away… roughly… northeast…"
Merge's eyes popped open, as he gave a weary sigh. "That the best Merge can do."
"It's a lot of help, thank you." Cerveau fed those numbers into his computer-carrying visor. In seconds the location had appeared on the map still displayed on his visor. "Oh my… that puts her right in Neo Arcadia!"
Shocked at the news, Allouette gasped at her memories of that place. Tears began to appear in her eyes at the thought of what her adoptive mother could be going through, and subconsciously, she latched onto Zero in an effort to find comfort.
"So we can assume that she was captured. I have something to say about that." Zero spoke slowly, his intent clear in his eyes.
"But if they knew where Ciel was." Dande spoke up, "why didn't they take us in too?"
"Because, one by consent is worth more that thirty by force." The swordsman rested his hand on his saber, "I think its safe to assume that the Neo Arcadian government made a bargain with us that we didn't know about. Ciel surrenders, and they don't attack."
"But that makes absolutely no sense." Cerveau replied, "It would be a complete change of policy for the government to do that."
"I don't know for sure." Zero's voice was hard. "But there's only one way to find out. I'm going after her."
"That's suicide!"
"Then call me suicidal." The Hunter shot back, "I've infiltrated Neo Arcadia before, and I'll do it again."
Zero's voice clearly told everyone that the discussion was closed.
But before he began his mission, the Hunter had one more task to do.
The swordsman kneeled down to the weeping Allouette, and gently laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Allouette, I promise you, on my honor as a Maverick Hunter." Zero wasn't sure where the 'Maverick Hunter' phrase had come from or what it meant, but the sentence came naturally to him. "That I will get Ciel out of there."
"Thank you."
"You stay here with Cerveau." The Hunter instructed her, "And I'll be back in a little while with Ciel."
That done, the swordsman stood up.
"Merge, you're with me. Everyone else stay put."
"I wish I could help." Cerveau spoke his mind. "But without a Trans Server, I can't beam you into Neo Arcadia. So I'm sorry, but you'll have to drive there."
"I'll make better time if I run." Zero shook his head, "Now, I'll be back."
With that, the swordsman took off running, kicking up clouds of dust after him. Merge was right on his heels.
"Do you think he can do it?" Dande just had to voice the question.
However, instead of Cerveau's voice, it was another that replied.
"I know he can." Andrew spoke, causing the others to realize that he had been standing there the entire time. "He is our MegaMan. After the original MegaMan was gone, Reploids were developed, their designs copied from Dr. Light's greatest creation: MegaMan X. X never did like to do battle, but his honor drove him to protect humans from the Mavericks."
"Meaning us." Dande spoke bitterly.
"No, in those days the threat of Mavericks were real. But with Zero's help, X managed to end the Maverick threat and destroy their leader, Sigma. Zero is strong enough to take on anything that opposes him. He truly is a MegaMan."
"Huh?"
Alia snapped awake from her light nap, a strange sound coming through the air. It took her a moment to realize that it was the sound of tears, sobs, and gasps.
Quickly she sat up and glanced around the area, it took her a second to remember that she now had someone in the cell next to him. The prisoner snapped her head around to see the human Ciel sprawled out on her bed, tears raining down her face and staining the cot.
"Ciel, are you alright?" Alia stood up and moved as close as the bars would allow her. "Ciel?"
"Oh…" The woman looked up to see the Reploid looking at her in concern, quickly she tried to gather her self-control. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"That's quite all right, I was about to waken anyway." Alia sat down at the foot of his wall of bars. "What's troubling you?"
"I… I don't really want..." The scientist stuttered slowly, the last of her tears running their course. "It hurts…"
"What does? Sean, that Reploid on your right used to be a medical issue Reploid."
"Hmm?" Ciel turned to see a standard hospital issue Reploid in the cell next to her.
"I didn't mean… like that… I meant… Alia she's dead! I can't believe it…"
"Oh." Alia finally realized what the problem was. Ciel wasn't physically injured; she was grieving emotionally. "Ciel, It might help if you talk about it."
"She, I can't believe that she's gone."
"What was her name?" The Reploid put her full concern on helping her 'neighbor'.
"She- her name's Allouette, my daughter…" Ciel realized what she had just said, "I mean, not mine… she's a- was a Reploid, I adopted her… and they killed her…"
"I'm sorry."
"They attacked us… she never made it out…"
"And you're sure that she's… gone?"
"Positive, we couldn't even find a trace of her." The woman replied, her sentences becoming more coherent as she regained her stamina.
"I know what you mean." Alia spoke calmly but sadly, "I lost someone too. He gave himself up, to save the rest of us."
"He did?"
"Yes, he paid the ultimate price…" The Reploid closed her eyes, reliving those terrible days in her mind. "And willingly died… a hero."
Alia's eyes opened, showing the sadness within her.
"He was gone forever, and I never told him how I felt."
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you." The prisoner shook her head. "It took time, but eventually I started to live again… I consider myself lucky. I didn't have to lose my love like Zero did…"
"Zero?" Ciel's eyes widened in surprise that someone from the past had survived to the present day.
"Yes, you've heard of him?" The Reploid glanced down. "Iris… her brotherwas retired duesoSigma's influence. Zero took him down, but Iris couldn't forgive him… she was delusional with false dreams and hopes. In a fit of rage, she decided to destroy him, and she literallytransformed into a monster… Zero was forced to kill or be killed. It was a hard blow for him."
"So that's why the name troubles him…" Ciel spoke so softly that Alia never heard her.
"Listen, Ciel." The Reploid looked up. "I know that it's difficult, but someday you will be able to move on. Isn't it what Allouette would want?"
At that moment, the woman realized that he was right.
"Hang in there Ciel." Zero muttered as he exploded across the desert, off in the distance he could see the faint outlines of the Neo Arcadian city.
"We're closer." Merge replied as he homed in on his friend's position. "She's about ten miles away… Uh oh."
"What?" Zero kept running, kicking up sand clouds behind him.
"It looks like we've got company. Drones are coming this way, lots of them."
"So you can sense drones now."
"Merge can only sense Drones if there are many. Merge not sense them if there are few."
"I see." Zero drew his saber and selected his Shield Boomerang; it was time for a little payback.
The Hunter prepared himself for the coming battle as the mass of patrolling X Drones appeared in the distance. He'd have to take them out hard and fast before they reported his position, if they knew he was coming, then there was no telling what they'd do to Ciel.
"So let's get this party started!" A flash of light erupted from the shaft, as Zero ignited his blade.
Ciel's head snapped up as she heard the sounds of a door opening in the distance.
Alia had heard the sound too, and was peering down the corridor. In seconds she had spotted the four Drones marching down the hallway towards them, and realized that this meant trouble.
"Quick!" She hissed, "the cuffs, slip them back on!"
As Ciel followed her instructions by locking the restraints around her hands, she noticed her Reploid companion also binding hier hands with a pair of handcuffs.
Together, they looked at the patrolling Pantheons through their barred cells, watching them draw closer.
To their surprise, the robots stopped outside of Ciel's cell.
"Prisoner Gamma-45-3," One of the Drones said in monotone. "You have been summoned for interrogation."
Ciel made no reply.
Ignoring the other Reploids, a Drone opened up the lock on the cell door, and then slid it open. Two others entered the confinement chamber and grabbed Ciel's arms, preparing to escort her away.
"Hang in there Ciel." Alia called after her as the Drones dragged the woman away. "Remember, I'll always be here for you!"
The blond scientist desperately hoped that she was right.
End Chapter!
Up next: The moment has arrived: None stop POPCORN!
