Chapter Four:
Time Lost

Zero's body laid in the scrap heap. Due to the escape of Ciel, aided by an unknown reploid, now labeled as Maverick, the meltdown of scrap metal was delayed. There was nothing to look forward to in the beaten and battered reploid's life. No one would fix him up, his systems were unable to recover on their own…It was over, that's all that one could think.

The Neo Arcadian base was quite dark at night, especially in the scrap pile, where there were no windows or doors open to let in any light even in the daytime…The last place many reploids ever see. Especially in the night, scrapped machines always feared ending up in this place, it was a signal that their life was over, because once you go in, you never go out…

A small robot crept into the scrap pit through a trap door, a monkey, searching around through the scrap to find anything interesting. The monkey soon stumbled upon a beaten up reploid, and started inspecting it. It noticed the ancient methods it was created with, and grabbed the reploid up, hopping up and down in excitement, and ran out of the trap door with it.

The robot ran through the jungle area near the base, carrying the battered reploid with it. The robot jumped from tree to tree, somehow able to carry the reploid, which was larger than it, easily in its arms. The robot soon arrived at a shabby old hut, letting out a shrill cry toward the hut, hopping up and down, apparently trying to get some attention.

A creaky old door slowly opened, the hinges mostly covered in rust. An older reploid hobbled out of the hut, with purple-black armor and yellow eyes. The older model reploid growled at the monkey, "What scrap did you bring me this time? Something useful, I hope!" The monkey held up the badly damaged body of Zero to the old one, crying out loudly at him. The old man's helmet produced a magnifying glass in front of his right eye, as he bent over closer to take a look at the ancient reploid.

The old model inspected Zero for a moment, mumbling to himself as he did so. This reploid seemed familiar to him, but the old one couldn't place how. Nonetheless, he dragged the trashed item into his hut, grumbling. The man dropped the ruined machine onto his table, grabbing a tool kit and starting his repairs on the reploid.

Omega beat me. It was just that simple…Had Ciel been able to get away? So tired…I can't move, I can't see, I can't hear… Is this what death is like? I have nothing to look forward to, no reason to look back… It's so cold, so lonely. I failed in my mission, I couldn't stay alive. I've nothing left except to be tortured for eternity.

…No! I cannot accept that! I-I have to get up! Ciel, I will protect you! I can't die here! Gah!

The old reploid watched the jewel on the ancient one's head glow, as though it was trying to regain its energy sources. "Amazing, even with this much damage, its systems are still operational! It seems my search bot actually found a useful thing this time. Hope I can fix this, then."
Day started to break over the mountain range. Harpuia watched the sun rise, his arms crossed over his chest. The sunlight made his armor seem to glow in the light. He looked back to the young human girl, her soft blonde hair covering her eyes as she slept. Her breathing was slow and peaceful, as though she had no troubles, no worries.

Harpuia's lips curled into a smile, as he watched the young girl, then got down to one knee, leaning slightly on his arms. He thought to himself, as he stared into the morning sky, his deep green eyes glowing with the sunlight. (I've betrayed Neo Arcadia, I have no life left. The only thing I have left is the knowledge that Lady Ciel is alive, and that I must protect her.)

Ciel sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes as she yawned, her blonde hair in disarray from the previous day. She sniffed at the air, smelling something like food. She stood up, and looked over to the cave entrance, seeing Harpuia, holding some fish above a small fire. Harpuia smiled at Ciel. "Lady Ciel, I believe after not eating for a whole day you might be hungry, so I went out and gota fish."

Ciel blinked. "How did you go out without getting caught by the soldiers?" Harpuia smirked knowingly, explaining to the young girl, "Our soldiers usually don't go on searches early in the morning, since that's when the drones recharge their power cells." Harpuia sighed lightly, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't think I'll be able to go back there…Not after my actions."

Ciel stared at Harpuia, thinking things over to herself.

Harpuia protected me, despite the fact that he would be shunned from Neo Arcadia. Is he trying to fool me? He can't really care about me this much, we're on opposite sides, we're enemies! Then why? Why is he protecting me? I just don't get it. Why do I feel so strange about it all…Zero, I wish I was still with you, and you were holding me...Omega, why did he have to hurt you, Zero?

"Lady Ciel." Ciel was brought out of her thoughts, staring at Harpuia, stuttering, "Y-Yes?" Harpuia held out the fish to Ciel, which he carefully set on a large leaf. "Here, eat," Harpuia smiled, "before it gets cold." Ciel stared, and took the fish, her face flushed somewhat as she started to bite at it, staring at the ground. As Ciel ate, Harpuia thought to himself, (Lady Ciel, I'll stay at your side.)

The old man grumbled to himself working well through the night. Fixing resistors, repairing circuits, welding armor…It was wearing the old model out! The reploid that he received may be ancient, but it's not too much for him to handle. "Phew," the old one said, sitting back on a stool in his workshop. "This sure is tough work for just one man to do…I just have to infuse its energy systems and it should be good for workin'! Eheheh!" The old model laughed to himself.

A shrill cry from one of his search bots was heard, as he grumbled. "Bothering me when I work? I'll teach that insolent little 'bot a lesson!" He shoved open the door, stating to yell, "Alright, I'm gonna take you" as he looked up, the old model froze, muttering, "N-No…They found us…" Fefnir was there with a huge group of Neo Arcadian drones, yelling, "I knew the monkey robots were suspicious! They were stealing from the Neo Arcadian scrap pit! With my authority as one of the four guardians of Master X, you're to be terminated, and your projects are to be recycled as scrap!" The old one stared blankly at the force. "It's over…my life is all over! Why did it have to end like this?"

…
Activating auto repair system…
…
Checking system…
…
Complete.
Energy systems online.
Starting memory check…
…
Complete.
No damage apparent.
!WARNING!
Long-term memory files locked!
Will not affect system performance.
Systems optimal.
Starting processes…
…
Complete.
ZERO unit online.

A glow emanated from the jewel on the front of Zero's helmet, a pale blue. Zero rubbed his head, sitting up. "I'm alive?...but, what about…Ciel!" Zero jumped off the work table, and looked around. He picked up some of his repaired weapons, including his Z-Saber, and put them into a compartment in his leg. Zero walked toward the door, holding his Z-Saber in his hand. Zero kicked open the door, daylight flooding into the room.

Zero stood outside, staring at all the forces, his hair flowing softly in the wind. The old model stared, and spoke, "Wait, you're..." Fefnir then finished the sentence for him, "...Zero!" Zero flicked the energy blade on, as the beam blade formed. He smirked, and spoke simply, "Let's go."