Chapter 2: Brothers
'It … it just can't be …' X thought as his eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. "You're … you're supposed to be dead …"
"The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated, Brother," Rock smiled.
"But … Mega Man was supposed to be modeled to look like a twelve year old boy," Alia blinked, studying the supposedly original Blue Bomber, "You look more like a twin to X."
"My original body was destroyed when I finally finished off the Robot Masters years ago, so Doc gave me this brand new one based on your body, lil bro," Rock nodded, taking a seat.
"Ok, so … where have you been then?" Alia narrowed her eyes, taking the lead in questioning since her husband was still merely staring slack jawed.
"Around," Rock shrugged, "The U.N. military found me in a pod not unlike X's a few years after he was discovered. Doc wanted to make sure my body didn't counteract with my programming, just like you, X. Then I helped train a few Anti-Maverick teams and was the base for several military-type Reploids." Rock smiled at X, "You didn't think you were the ONLY prototype, did you?"
X responded with a quick shake of his head, making Alia roll her eyes. "X, are you just going to stare at him?"
"No …" X said sheepishly, a blush crossing his face.
X then stood up and walked toward his 'brother', "So, why'd you show up now?"
"Two out of the last three uprisings were disasters," Rock stated coldly, "I wanted to make sure you didn't make the other half of the world uninhabitable."
X stepped back, his face showing his hurt, but it was Alia who stepped between them, "Excuse me? If not for X, the whole world would be uninhabitable now! And where the hell were you during the six uprisings? Oh that's right, you were around."
"Who do you think cleared X and Zero's way in? Or gave Hunter Command the beam locations that WEREN'T death traps?" Rock said, taking a step toward the couple. "Sure, X has done well, a lot better then I expected, but something's up, and he needs to just back off and let the pros work."
Alia started to speak up, but X beat her to it, "I expected as much. What can I do?" She spun around and took her turn to gape in shock at X.
"Be ready for anything," Rock responded, "A new uprising is on its way and its worse than anything Sigma ever dreamed of. This guy has the Council in his pocket. And he's the one who sent the helmets after your friends."
"Who is it?" X narrowed his eyes, going into work mode instantly.
"He's known only as Puppet Master, but I've heard rumors that he's a military copy of you. His insane mind has it in his mind that he's the real Megaman X and you're the copy. He's raised an army of Mavericks lead by the group of revived and upgraded Robot Masters now calling themselves the X-Masters."
"Robot Masters?" X asked in shock.
"Bomb Man X, Gutsman X, Cutman X, Iceman X, Elec Man X, and Fire Man X," Rock named off, crossing his arms.
"The original group," X nodded, not liking the situation at all.
"So what can we do to stop them?" X looked up at the original Blue Bomber.
Rock shook his head. "Wait for him to make the first move; we don't know what his objectives are yet, so it would be best and let him go first and see what he's up to before we rush in and get shot at like a couple of wannabe heroes I have been watching."
Rock took a step forward and stood before X; the two heroes were silent for a moment before Rock finally spoke again, "I'm sorry for being harsh, X, but this isn't Sigma wanting to play games with you before he decides to get serious when you are finally lucky enough to get in close enough that it's too late for him. If you fight like you have been fighting, Puppet Master WILL kill you, and chances are he won't do it quickly or mercifully. I just want you to be ready."
X nodded, looking up at Rock's eyes determinedly, "I will be."
"I expected as much, but you really need to work on your self-confidence," Rock smirked, "You failed your first test, baby bro."
"Huh?"
"I was pounding you, and you had your pink-obsessed misses standing up for you while you just looked like you were about to burst into tears," Rock laughed, "Or did she just get you good and whipped?"
X looked down again and blushed furiously.
"Thought so," Rock winked before turning serious. "You've done good, kid; don't let anyone tell you different ever again, even me, got that? You've done great, but you have got some work to do before I believe you're worthy of that name, but you're on the way."
X nodded slightly, not looking up. "Hey, I have to run," Rock said before stretching out his hand to X, "I have some prior engagements, but tomorrow, I'd like to see what you and your sidekick, Zero, have. How about a two on one dance to see if I still have it? It'll be fun!"
"S-Sure," X choked, still not looking up, but reaching out and taking Rock's hand, "I'll get with Zero. What time?"
"Let's say ten in the main training area," Rock said, releasing a tight grip on X's hand before turning and walking toward the room, "Don't keep him up to late, Pinky; the boy will need his strength!"
X and Alia stood there for a moment, staring at the now closed door, "Pinky? Well, I never … humph, I expected Mega Man to be a bit more humble, not a jackass that makes Zero look like Hurricasaurus, huh, X?" Alia glanced to her left and quickly went to the Second Blue Bomber's trembling side.
"He's alive; he's really back …" X stated softly, pulling Alia into a hug. "I finally have my answers, Ally; I can finally know …"
X laid his head on her shoulder, "I had so many questions, and all I could do is stare at the floor. I really am a wuss."
"No, you're not; he did come at you too hard, though, in my opinion," Alia said, hugging him back. "It will be easier after you and Zero give him an attitude adjustment in the morning."
"Alia? He's going to slaughter the both of us," X gulped, pulling away, "How can we take Mega Man?"
"X, you're forgetting one major factor," Alia sighed dully.
"And that is?"
"He's last years model, Megaman X," Alia said, waving her hand toward the suit of blue armor in a pod in the corner of X's office, "While you, you're the future!"
"Ally, Hon, I love you," X said, straining to keep from smiling, "But … if you ever say anything that corny again, I'm going to be forced to leave you."
"You'd never leave me, you know why?" Alia asked, a confident smirk playing on her lips as X cocked an eyebrow, "Who else knows how to make you stop sulking instantly?"
"Oh, and you do?" X sat back in his office chair, trying to stop the smile from growing on his face, "Then pray tell what is it?"
"I think it would be better to show you, seeing as Iris already told me you're done for the day," Alia eyed him suggestively, "What say we go home and let me demonstrate?"
"Let me clock out."
Alia sat up in bed on the tail end of her own scream. "Alia, what's wrong?" X said, sitting up quickly as well.
Alia glanced around to find herself back in her and X's bedroom; she spotted the digital clock with bright red numbers saying it was three forty five in the morning.
"I wish there was a way to filter out nightmares," Alia choked, not daring to look toward her husband.
"Want to talk about it?" X asked, placing a hand on her trembling shoulder.
"No … yes … no … maybe …" Alia argued with herself. She turned and hugged X tightly, pressing her face into his chest, trying to erase the image of X being shot and falling, the lifeless look on his face after hitting the ground, and the evil laughter.
"I want you to take Mega Man's advice," Alia stated, not looking up.
"What?"
"Let someone else handle this," Alia half begged, "Mega Man does have more experience than you, as does Zero. Please, just this one time, let them handle it."
"I'm the Grand Commander; I can't rush off and be crazy like Zero and I used to anyway," X said, stroking her back.
"I know you, X; as soon as it looks like the possibility of it turning bad, you'll run out there half cocked," Alia said, pulling back, and X realized she was crying, "I have a really, really bad feeling about this one, and if something was to happen to you …"
"Ally, nothing bad is going to happen to me. I beat Sigma six, seven times at least. And this time, I don't just have Zero, but Axl, and even the original Mega Man," X explained, kissing her forehead, "But if it makes you feel better, I'll stay seated in the command center. Ok?"
"Thanks, X," Alia said, letting herself smile, "Now just hold me a bit longer 'til I fall back to sleep."
"I don't care who he is," Zero growled as he and X maneuvered through the training field inside the MHHQ, "I'm NOBODY'S sidekick, you hear me X? I'm NOBODY'S SIDEKICK!"
"Think you could say that a little louder? Force Armor," X sighed, one hand resting on his buster arm as his armor beamed on him, "I don't think he's figured out where we are yet."
X then touched the side of his helmet, "Any chance of telling us his location, Ally?"
'X, he's…' Alia started, but was cut off by what sounded like wrestling in the observation booth.
"Oh, no, you don't, there's no way you're going to cheat in this!" Iris all but shouted, making X and Zero both jump. "Get out there, and take your beatings like Reploids!"
"Beatings?" Zero asked, "I beg to differ, fair Iris," he said in a mock-noble tone, "It's two on one, and the old timer is up against the Invincible Zero and HIS sidekick X!"
"Oh, God," Iris laughed, "I can't hardly wait to see that ego of yours blown sky high!"
X chuckled, "You sure know how to pick up, Zero!"
"Oh, bite me, you blue bastard," Zero growled with a blush.
"See him anywhere?" X asked, peeking up from their hiding place.
"Nope, wait, what's that … MOVE!" Zero screamed as he literally dragged X from the hiding place, narrowly missing the charged blast passing through the holographic rocks.
X and Zero readied their arm cannons and opened fire on the location. After five minutes of screaming and firing, X and Zero stopped. "Think we got him?" Zero asked breathlessly, looking at his partner.
"We had to!" X replied, shaking his head.
Neither of the two detected the person approaching them until they felt a tap on both their shoulders. "Hey, boys, guess what? You missed." Rock said, punching them both in the face and sending them sprawling to the ground.
Zero was the first back to his feet as he turned to the Original Blue Bomber and drew his Z-Saber. The Red Devil dove at Rock with his powered down Z-Saber directed right toward Mega Man's head. His eyes widened as Rock smiled at him and gripped his wrist, "Please tell me that wasn't your best attack?"
X had just gotten to his feet when Zero, being thrown like a lawn dart, collided with him, sending them both bouncing along the terrain on top of one another.
Meanwhile in the observation booth the group gathered there flinched at the sight.
"Oy, my God have mercy on them," Redeemer shook his head, "For it appears Mega Man has little to give."
"This almost too painful to watch …" Iris flinched, looking away.
"Almost," Alia said, resting her chin in her palms, "They both need this though, since Ground Zero, Zero's confidence has been too intense, and really needs some deflating, and X's confidence needs some boosting. A good challenge like this is just what he needs."
"AW! C'MON, X! ZERO! GET UP!" Axl screamed, bouncing up and down, "He's cheating! There's no other excuse; he HAS to be CHEATING!"
Back in the field, X and Zero stood huddled after calling a 'Time Out'. "Ok, NEW plan!" Zero breathed, "You shoot at him, while I sneak around behind and stab at him."
"We tried that already!" X shook his head. The Second Blue Bomber glanced over Zero's shoulder at the untouched Mega Man, who was looking at his gloved hand. "Think our men would think less of us if we surrendered?"
"HELL YES!" Axl broke in on their radio, "If you surrendered … I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO!"
"Axl, you're there too?" Zero asked, "I thought it was just Alia and Iris watching."
"Hah, funny, Iris sold tickets!" Axl said happily.
"Ok … we need to get him down fast," X stated, trying to ignore the warmth coming to his face at the thought of who all was watching them get their asses kicked.
"Gee, come up with that on your own, X?" Zero rolled his eyes.
"We can get him if we rush him," X stated.
"We've tried that six times, damn it!" Zero cursed in frustration.
"No, I hit his left; you hit his right. He can't dodge both of us!" X explained quietly.
X charged his buster and shot at Mega Man's feet causing a massive dust cloud. The two Maverick Hunters counted to three before they jumped into action. Zero dashed around and went into the cloud on the right, before pouncing on him, bringing his fists tightly around his neck, "HA, THERE! I TOOK THE GREAT MEGA MAN! WHO'S THE SIDEKICK NOW!"
When the dust settled, the color faded from Zero's face as he felt an arm cannon pressed to the side of his helmet. "Oh … damn." He sighed, looking down at the disgruntled X staring daggers back up at him.
"That was fun, boys," Mega Man said with his blaster settled on Zero's head, "The sidekick took out X, and I took out the sidekick, game over."
The holographic surroundings faded, leaving X, Zero, and Rock in the same position only now in a large, square, plastic room.
"You both have good team work; you just need to learn that offense isn't the only way to fight," Rock explained, helping them to their feet.
"Is that right?" Zero asked sarcastically.
"It is; there's always defensive, of course, and misdirection. Misdirection and distraction can be a Hunter's greatest tools if he knows how to use them. And then there's the mind game, where you worm your way into your enemy's life, then destroy it from the inside out," Rock explained casually.
"You're talking to a brick wall, Mega Man," X said, rubbing his slightly damaged arm.
"And the name's Rock, X," Rock smiled, "He and Roll would have gotten on well. She was really stubborn, too."
"Roll?" X stiffened slightly, "Rock, I was wondering … if you maybe …"
"You want to know about where you came from, don't ya, kid?" Rock gave a broad smile, "I'll tell you a few stories while we have our dents buffed out, would ya like that?"
"I definitely would," X nodded as the three walked/limped out of the training simulation.
Most in the Observation Booth were storming out disappointedly except Alia and Iris, who were shutting down the program, along with Wolfwing and Redeemer, who hadn't moved since it finished.
"Did ye catch that, Wolf?" Redeemer asked, rubbing his chin.
"Indeed," Wolfwing nodded, crossing his arms, "Mega Man was holding back."
To Be Continued …