This is based loosely on the events of MMZ and MMZ2 so in no way do I own anything that belongs to Capcom. I only own the games and the comic books. Yep, I got the comic books. They're in Chinese though and I had them for at least thirteen years. Dang, I gotta get the new ones...
Official Disclaimer: In no way do I, Kingkazul400, own anything by Capcom that is related to Megaman. The only thing I'll probably own from Capcom is probably their games and probably their stock in the future.
Important Note: This takes place after MMZ so many of you will be confused. MMZ2 is when it'll be mostly written about.
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Chapter 3: The New Resistance Base
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Elpizo, the new commander of the Reploid Resistance, could hardly contain his glee. The red robed Reploid with a red and white cap stood on an elevated platform with two Transerver Operators near him. Before him, a vast congregation of the Elite Resisters awaited his orders and his speeches. Waiting until the throng began to become silent, Elpizo leaned against the rail.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Reploid Resistance!" the commander started. "Thanks to your great efforts, it gives me great pleasure to announce the completion of this new Resistance base!"
The throng of the Elite Resisters before him cheered. A warm feeling, the kind that's joyful, surged through Elpizo's systems. Taking in a small breathe he continued.
"I thank you all for accepting me as the commander of this new base! I promise to bring about a new era of peace." Elpizo continued. He then gestured at Dr. Ciel. "Please thank her and her wise decision!"
"Hooray!" a blonde Reploid cried.
"Yah!" yelled another.
"Victory!" bellowed a dark-haired one.
"For peace!" a rather chubby Reploid thundered.
"Yah!" yelled the rest of the assembled Reploids.
Elpizo couldn't believe his audio systems. This speech, which he had considered scrapping and making it more complicated, was just what he needed to raise his popularity. He gave a weak chuckled as he waved his hands at the crowd.
"For now, we lie quiet like the snake in the grass," he yelled over the ruckus the Elite Resisters were causing. "When we strike, we'll destroy much if we don't annihilate them outright!"
All the Reploids raised their right arms and yelled. "Long live the Resistance!"
After a few more minutes of this chaos in the enormous room, the soldiers returned to their posts, still chatting about the future.
Elpizo leaned against the railing with his back. With his eyes closed, the new commander sighed.
(I just hope that we can succeed.) Elpizo thought. His audio and sensory systems then detected a new arrival. Opening his eyes, he immediately identified the new arrival.
"Ha ha ha..." Elpizo weakly chuckled as Doctor Ciel finished climbing the stairs to the Operators' Deck. "I'm still a little embarrassed when I think about being a commander..."
Ciel gave a look of mock horror at the somewhat embarrassed Reploid. "It's not just my decision," the blonde-haired scientist retorted. "It's the entire Resistance's decision!" Elpizo gave another weak laugh.
"Are you sure about this?" he continued as he traced the etchings on his Beam Saber on the side of his waist. "Trusting our fate to a Reploid like me...?"
Ms. Ciel crossed her arms as she nodded her red and white helmeted head. "Absolutely," she said. "It was you who organized us to fight against Neo Arcadia, when we were barely able to escape from there..." The new commander blushed.
"I'm flattered," Elpizo stammered as he shook his head. "But, you helped me all along. You know how unreliable I am with you, Ciel."
Doctor Ciel glared at the red cloaked Reploid. "You just keep in mind..." she said with a hardened edge in her tone. "... That we had to organize a resistance force in order to defend ourselves..."
Elpizo raised his white gloved hands in mock surrender. "Yes, I will remember that. And now we are buying time for you to complete your research."
Ciel looked sideways at Elpizo. How the heck did he know that she was doing research? Must be Morris...
"Still, since X hasn't been resurrected yet," the new Reploid commander continued. "We couldn't ask for a better opportunity than now. Please, allow me to carry out my operation."
Elpizo clasped his mechanical hands around the scientist's. Ciel looked doubtfully into those orange eyes. Those eyes shone with a fire that even Ciel with all the water in the world couldn't quench. But one major factor in her underlying psyche made her give in.
She had like Reploids ever since she learned about their internal structure in high school. But just merely less than a year ago, there was one Reploid that made her burn with a fire within her.
But now, there was a hole that ached within her heart that she wished to fix just like she could with a Reploid's wound. But this wound, this hole in her heart, she could only heal with only one thing.
"... ... ..." Ciel continued to look into those begging eyes. "All right..." Elpizo immediately released her hands and he jumped into the air, giving a great whoop. Both operators glared at the joyous commander through their scanners, quelling much of Elpizo's excitement.
"But promise me one thing!" Ciel immediately said before Elpizo nearly jumped off the platform. He turned around to look at her. "Do not be too strict."
Elpizo rolled his eyes. "You have my..."
But he was immediately cut off. The door to their right quickly slid open and a sentry covered in sand ran in, puffing. The sentry ignored the look that Elpizo was giving him and gave his report. It was Morris!
"Excuse me, sir!" Morris saluted. "It's about Zero. He was found lying unconscious..."
"What? Zero?!" Ciel cut right in as she immediately ran down the stairs. Elpizo gave a glare of hatred worthy for humans.
"Just outside the base, ma'am!" Morris replied. Seeing that Ciel was running past him, the sentry immediately followed. "This way!"
Elpizo sighed as he walked down the stairs. He was going to give something special to Ms. Ciel but that damned sentry just had to burst in. His sensors then immediately called for him to jump back. He jumped back and was caught in the tailwind of several other soldiers who overheard the conversation.
"Zero! Zero!" the soldiers yelled as they exited the room. Several were armed with their plasma rifles. They had been shirking sentry duty...
Elpizo's eyebrows furrowed and twitched. A look of malice appeared on the normally joyous Reploid.
"Zero..."
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In the Maintenance Room...
Several soldiers along with Morris and Ms. Ciel managed to lift the unconscious Zero onto the Rejuvenation Machine that the Resistance managed to pilfer from Neo Arcadian warehouses. Their lead scientist, Cerveau, just below Ciel, plugged the Red Warrior into the machine. The plastic top was lowered by Ciel on top of Zero's head.
"You guys can go now," Ciel said as she looked at the helpless sentries. "Cerveau and I can handle the rest."
"Whatever you say, Ms. Ciel," Morris replied. The green clad Reploid turned around.
"Fall in!" he commanded. The rest formed a single file with rifles before them. "Forward!" The lead Reploid lowered his plasma rifle as if to skewer a X Drone with it. "MARCH!"
As the sentries filed out, Morris gave one last look at his hero. If only he wasn't on sentry duty, he'd help Ms. Ciel and Cerveau out and expediate Zero's recovery.
Flipping several switches, Cerveau watched carefully as a schematics unit started giving the life sign signals for Zero. All the bars immediately maxed out into the red zone, alarming Cerveau. But they quickly lowered themselves back to the yellow, still in safety yet so close to danger.
"Let's quickly fix his basic structure," Cerveau suggested as he pointed at the schematics diagram. Ciel nodded her head.
They both opened a nearby cabinet full of tools. Both scientists quickly pulled out wire seperators, plasma wielders, oil, and other things required to fix a Reploid. They then made sure that Zero was hooked up to a large unit full of Energeon, the lifeblood of Reploids.
Cerveau tackled the upper-body structure while Ciel managed with the lower parts. Removing the easily repaired armor plating around Zero was simple but the challenged Ciel loved to deal with was another story. Zero hadn't gone under maintenance for a year and a great deal of grit and sand had accumulated with the Red Warrior's lower locamotion systems and his acceleration systems.
"Look what I found!" Cerveau exclaimed as he held up something. Ciel looked at it and gave a small gasp.
It was a small round object that was black. To Cerveau, it was noting more than a piece of garbage but to Ciel, it was a possible link to Zero's past. Cerveau gave it a cursory glance and then tossed it onto a nearby crate.
"I think it's best to keep it," Ciel carefully said as she continued to look at the black ball. "It might reveal something."
"Like what?" Cerveau grunted as he wielded a small buster blast wound on Zero's chest.
"It might be of Zero's past..." Cerveau stopped briefly and looked at Ciel.
"You know," the Reploid Scientist slowly said. "You just might be right..."
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Bright lights shone around Zero as he laid on the ground, weak and tired. He felt disconnected as if his upper body was severed from his lower half. He knew that his left arm, his secondary buster weapon, was definitely severed for he cannot feel it moving. Rolling his head to the right, Zero saw the awful carnage his friend did to his foe.
"X..." Zero said in a broken tone. "Where's Vile?"
The Blue Reploid jabbed behind him with his right thumb. "He's finished."
A great heap of metal was what remained of Sigma's right hand man. The underling Reploid's head was still intact but it was most definitely deactivated. Looking into those deactivated eyes, Zero was satisfied.
Zero slowly moved his head back to a more comfortable position. He then lurched upward and coughed into his remaining right hand. Looking at his hand, Zero fell back onto the ground. His life, his very essence, his fusion engine coolant was departing from his systems. He shut his eyes and he felt X cradle his head. He opened his right eye and gave a small grin.
"You've grown very strong, X..." Zero slowly said. X's eyes didn't have tears since Reploids weren't human but Zero could tell that X was crying inside. Zero then looked back at the dark ceiling.
"But Signma seems to have unimaginable power..." Zero continued as his focus of the ceiling starting dimming slowly. His internal systems were slowly working against the damage within him. Zero coughed up more of his vital essence.
"I'm done, I've fought... there's only one of us left... only you, X..."
"No Zero! I can't fight Sigma alone!" X broke down as Zero's left optical system shut down.
Zero looked at X and then raised his right arm. He silently commanded his body to disassemble the Buster Upgrade part. He felt it fall off of his arm.
"Take my Buster Part with you..." said Zero. "It'll increase the power of your Buster..." X picked it up and just held it in his arms.
Zero gave a small grin. "Of course, I don't know if you can take the recoil of the thing or not..." X looked at him and gave a faint nod.
Zero felt more of his systems shutting down. His engine was slowly and slowly coming to a stop like a windmill. Each slow moment seemed elongated like a piece of taffy stretched. So painful...
"See ya... X..." Zero faintly said.
The darkness within him was welcoming him. X was slowly fading out of his vision.
"My last... wish..."
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Cerveau continued to watch the schematics display next to Zero's inert form. For the last five hours, both he and Ms. Ciel had labored on the structure of Zero. The Rejuvenation Machine handled the major damages quickly after both scientists fixed the smaller problems.
Ms. Ciel, being a human, decided to quit for the night after they finished working on Zero's structure. She had just left minutes ago, yawning and stretching. Cerveau saw something that would arouse a human but being a Reploid, he ignored the once in a lifetime visual of Ciel's posterior torso region.
Looking through his visual optical enhancements, Cerveau noticed little change as the machine updated on the progress of Zero's recovery. The first bar on the left indicated the overall damage on Zero, which was slowly dropping. The second bar in the middle indicated the internal damage and it was rapidly descending. The final bar on the right was the indicator for Zero's external damage and it too was falling rapidly.
The Reploid Scientist continued his silent guard over his patient.
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Ms. Ciel trudged down the long metal tunnel to her quarters. In her right hand was the mystery black object they found in Zero's body while in her left was a great mug of coffee. A small tendril of steam arose from the small gap in the cup.
As she dragged her tired feet along to her room, the blonde human Reploid Scientist's thoughts drifted from the daily happenings that Elpizo couldn't handle to something that just recently happened. Only just merely five hours ago, Morris and his Scout Patrol found and recovered Zero's unconscious body.
Ciel abruptly stopped and leaned her head against the cold steel wall. Only merely a year ago had she had emotions toward someone special. She had thought that he had left her for good. Ciel turned her back against the wall and slowly slid down until she was sitting against it. Closing her eyes, a lone tear rolled down her cheek.
(He's back,) Ciel thought as she dropped her mug and the black object onto the chilling cold steel floor. (It's been so long, Zero. But is there still a fire within you for me?)
Bringing her legs close to her, Ciel placed her head on her knees. It had been so long since that fire within her had been kindled for a person of the opposite sex. But for a Reploid? It was unheard of.
(Wait a minute,) a little voice in Ciel's mind spoke. (What about Andrew and his lover? They most certainly got along.)
(But that was ages ago!) Ciel protested. (That was when the original X was still around and in charge! Zero and I, we cannot show out feelings for each other!)
(Ciel, you and Zero are of the Resistance,) the small voice gently said. (Since members of the Resistance are labeled are misanthropes of society, committing yourself to a Reploid would most definitely show that you are still of the Resistance.)
Ciel silently sat there against the cold wall. That voice was right. She may be human and Zero may be a Reploid but that is nothing when it comes to the matter of love. If it had been done before, then surely she and Zero can do so.
(Thanks,) Ciel thought to that little voice. (For everything.)
(Don't mention it, Ciel.) it replied in a happy sort of way.
Dr. Ciel of the Resistance slowly gathered the black object and her mug of coffee and stood up. She might not be able to speak to Zero right now, but this little thing might be able to tell much of his past. She turned it over and over as she walked down to her lab/room.
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Zero found himself dashing madly along the battered and blasted interior of what laid of Sigma's second fortress. While the last one was a floating keep, this one was located on the Antartic and Zero swore that the only thing keeping him from freezing is his fusion engine's heat.
He had just been "resurrected" by Dr. Cain merely moments ago. The old doctor was actually rushing Zero to the field of battle to assist X in defeating the remnants of Sigma's followers and his icy palace.
Firing a series of plasma bursts into a small pack of drones, Zero shook the smoking Buster on his arm. X had just plowed on right through, which Zero once did a while ago, and now he's doing the mopping up.
Zero grinned as another annoying drone popped out of a small trapdoor. Bringing out his Z-Saber, Zero split the drone into eight miniscule pieces of circuits and scrap metal. If he knew X well, Zero wouldn't be needed to help him. But friends cover each other's back dearly.
Dashing and firing continuously at the hoard of extremely weak drones, Zero managed to find the door which he knew that X and Sigma were behind. After all, X was the only Hunter who was capable of handling many different weapons with grace and ease yet with such savage power. A nearby body of a drone gave Zero the proof he needed. The head was severed cleanly by fire (Speed Burner), the arms frozen by ice (Crystal Hunter), the torso littered with plasma holes (X-Buster), and the legs shattered by explosives (either Silk Shot or Magnet Mine).
Satisfied that there weren't going to be anymore annoying drones, Zero's audio sensors tuned into the voices behind the door.
"It's been a while, eh, X?" Zero heard the malicious tone of Sigma. "We've been waiting for this day."
"This day for what, Sigma?" X's straighforward tone sliced into Sigma's little oration. "The day when I eliminate you permanently?"
"No, X," Sigma laughed as Zero heard the tell-tale humming of X charging up his Buster. "It's for your apology to your friend. Oh, should I say MY friend." Zero heard something beam in and then the cry of fear from X.
"Zero?! Is it really you?" X gasped. The hum of his Buster charging up halted.
"Let me introduce him," said Sigma in a sly tone. "He is my new partner. Or should I say my new comrade."
"This isn't... he can't have..." X muttered furiously as Zero heard more and more energy being charged. "Impossible..."
"You both were comrades in the old days, before he began to fight as freely as he wished," Sigma continued. "And now, I do believe you'll have to pay the price."
"Zero..." said X, full of longing and hope. "Please... snap out of it!" A blast of plasma was heard exiting a Buster weapon and Zero heard the cry of pain from X.
The real Zero couldn't take it anymore of this mental torture. How dare Sigma create a renegade copy of him! Zero will tear that stupid Reploid piece by piece and circuit by circuit to make that corrupted Reploid suffer the same pain that he had suffered years ago. Zero then charged both his Busters up to the max and stood in front of the door.
"I'm coming, X!" he yelled as he fired the first bolt of plasma. A purple blast of plasma exited his right Buster, blasting the door apart. The second, a great green bolt of energy, passed through the great gap in the door and smashed into the astonished Dark Zero. Dashing through the opening, Zero brought out his Z-Saber and swung it furiously at the rapidly dodging Sigma.
"Sigma!" Zero yelled as he continued his onslaught, which was thankfully well aimed. "You should have studied the blueprints closer!" Sigma grinned as he pulled out his own beam saber to counter the blows.
"And why should I?" the Maverick Reploid smirked. Zero swung his Z-Saber from overhead, forcing Sigma to step off to the side. Zero then aimed his left Buster on Sigma. Great globs of red and purple energy started to circulate around the tip of the plasma weapon.
"There is only one Zero!" Zero yelled. He released the pent up energy, unleashing a great wave of green and blue plasma. It flew straight and true and struck a surprised Sigma in the stomach. The Maverick Reploid doubled over and grabbed his stomach.
"Why you..." Sigma cursed as electricity crackled across his body.
Looking up from the ground, Sigma smirked once again. "Zero! Why haven't you turned to my side?" Sigma asked with a questioning edge.
Zero charged both his Busters slowly. Seeing Sigma down and flinching at the energy coursing across his body was a welcome sight to Zero.
"Why should I turn over to your side?" Zero said slowly as he smiled. Taking one small step forward, Zero slowly raised both Busters at Sigma's head. "You've fallen, Sigma."
"Your true enemy shouldn't be me!" Sigma cried as the pain in his fusion engine greatly increased. Doubling up in pain, Sigma swore.
"No matter, Sigma," Zero said offhandedly as he decided on which form of execution his former commander should suffer. "Maybe you are right but even so, I still hate you!"
"Damn!" Before Zero could eliminate his former commander, Sigma reached for his emergency escape teleporter and exited the complex.
Sheathing his saber, Zero slowly released the pent up energy back to the surrounding which he drew from. Looking about, he found X lying on the ground, staring in wonder at him.
"How's it going, X?" Zero asked as he helped the Blue Legend up. A faint grin appeared on his shorter comrade. Zero dug out an Emergency Energy Tank and attached it to the X's left arm.
"Zero..." replied X. The energy from the tank was quickly repairing much of the Blue Legend's damages. "I'd thought you be here sooner..."
"I got held up," said Zero as he pointed his thumb through the door he blasted through. "I say, X, you really got to work on your technique."
"Why so? Is it really that bad?"
"Nah, you've just got to make sure that you eliminate all the easy drones and leave the hard ones for me." They both gave in for a moment of laughter. After the tank was depleted of its energy, Zero's face became solemn.
"I kept you waiting, didn't I, X?" said Zero as X tossed aside the energy tank. "But the pleasantries will have to wait. What we need to do now is to defeat Sigma!"
"But how? He's stronger than last time!" Zero's face took on the look of concentration. His forhead wrinkled as X continued to stare at a hole.
"I'll destroy the base's Main Computer," Zero slowly said after X began to pry about the room.
"X!" The Blue Legend looked at his friend. "You chase after Sigma!"
Reaching for his Z-Saber, Zero took one last look at the great Main Computer before him. Holding it where the point is toward the sky, Zero swung it back over his shoulder and brought it back down in the classic axeman's swing. The green blade bit deeply into the core of the computer, shutting down many programs that Sigma had been running. Zero then swung his saber off to the side and swung it to the other side, making a cross in the Main Computer. Charging up his Dual Busters, Zero unleashed a series of blue, green and purple plasma beams. The metal plating on the Main Computer unit quickly gave way and it soon collapsed into a heap of scrap metal. But it didn't just stop there. Peering at the heap, X decided to strike it with his own blast of plasma.
The heap of scrap was knocked aside and Zero gave an excited gasp. "Here, X! Sigma's true form is in that last room!" He gave one nod to X. X then took a running leap into the hole.
Rummaging through the heap of destruction, Zero found a backup copy of the data from the Main Computer and started downloading it onto a disk. Numbers, letters, dates and a barrage of other data assaulted his memory files. By the time he gets done with this batch of crap, X will probably have kicked Sigma's ass so hard that even a virus's return will be a miracle.
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Ha ha ha! I'm finally done with this GREAT HUMONGOUS CHAPTER!!! MWAHA HA HA!!
Sairn: (^_^;) I think he's finally cracked...
Mwa ha ha! *grabs Sairn by the neck* You shall suffer my WRATH!!
Sairn: (O_O!) AGH! 'Elp! SAVE ME!!
REVIEW OR HE DIES!!! MWA HA HA!!!
Official Disclaimer: In no way do I, Kingkazul400, own anything by Capcom that is related to Megaman. The only thing I'll probably own from Capcom is probably their games and probably their stock in the future.
Important Note: This takes place after MMZ so many of you will be confused. MMZ2 is when it'll be mostly written about.
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Chapter 3: The New Resistance Base
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Elpizo, the new commander of the Reploid Resistance, could hardly contain his glee. The red robed Reploid with a red and white cap stood on an elevated platform with two Transerver Operators near him. Before him, a vast congregation of the Elite Resisters awaited his orders and his speeches. Waiting until the throng began to become silent, Elpizo leaned against the rail.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Reploid Resistance!" the commander started. "Thanks to your great efforts, it gives me great pleasure to announce the completion of this new Resistance base!"
The throng of the Elite Resisters before him cheered. A warm feeling, the kind that's joyful, surged through Elpizo's systems. Taking in a small breathe he continued.
"I thank you all for accepting me as the commander of this new base! I promise to bring about a new era of peace." Elpizo continued. He then gestured at Dr. Ciel. "Please thank her and her wise decision!"
"Hooray!" a blonde Reploid cried.
"Yah!" yelled another.
"Victory!" bellowed a dark-haired one.
"For peace!" a rather chubby Reploid thundered.
"Yah!" yelled the rest of the assembled Reploids.
Elpizo couldn't believe his audio systems. This speech, which he had considered scrapping and making it more complicated, was just what he needed to raise his popularity. He gave a weak chuckled as he waved his hands at the crowd.
"For now, we lie quiet like the snake in the grass," he yelled over the ruckus the Elite Resisters were causing. "When we strike, we'll destroy much if we don't annihilate them outright!"
All the Reploids raised their right arms and yelled. "Long live the Resistance!"
After a few more minutes of this chaos in the enormous room, the soldiers returned to their posts, still chatting about the future.
Elpizo leaned against the railing with his back. With his eyes closed, the new commander sighed.
(I just hope that we can succeed.) Elpizo thought. His audio and sensory systems then detected a new arrival. Opening his eyes, he immediately identified the new arrival.
"Ha ha ha..." Elpizo weakly chuckled as Doctor Ciel finished climbing the stairs to the Operators' Deck. "I'm still a little embarrassed when I think about being a commander..."
Ciel gave a look of mock horror at the somewhat embarrassed Reploid. "It's not just my decision," the blonde-haired scientist retorted. "It's the entire Resistance's decision!" Elpizo gave another weak laugh.
"Are you sure about this?" he continued as he traced the etchings on his Beam Saber on the side of his waist. "Trusting our fate to a Reploid like me...?"
Ms. Ciel crossed her arms as she nodded her red and white helmeted head. "Absolutely," she said. "It was you who organized us to fight against Neo Arcadia, when we were barely able to escape from there..." The new commander blushed.
"I'm flattered," Elpizo stammered as he shook his head. "But, you helped me all along. You know how unreliable I am with you, Ciel."
Doctor Ciel glared at the red cloaked Reploid. "You just keep in mind..." she said with a hardened edge in her tone. "... That we had to organize a resistance force in order to defend ourselves..."
Elpizo raised his white gloved hands in mock surrender. "Yes, I will remember that. And now we are buying time for you to complete your research."
Ciel looked sideways at Elpizo. How the heck did he know that she was doing research? Must be Morris...
"Still, since X hasn't been resurrected yet," the new Reploid commander continued. "We couldn't ask for a better opportunity than now. Please, allow me to carry out my operation."
Elpizo clasped his mechanical hands around the scientist's. Ciel looked doubtfully into those orange eyes. Those eyes shone with a fire that even Ciel with all the water in the world couldn't quench. But one major factor in her underlying psyche made her give in.
She had like Reploids ever since she learned about their internal structure in high school. But just merely less than a year ago, there was one Reploid that made her burn with a fire within her.
But now, there was a hole that ached within her heart that she wished to fix just like she could with a Reploid's wound. But this wound, this hole in her heart, she could only heal with only one thing.
"... ... ..." Ciel continued to look into those begging eyes. "All right..." Elpizo immediately released her hands and he jumped into the air, giving a great whoop. Both operators glared at the joyous commander through their scanners, quelling much of Elpizo's excitement.
"But promise me one thing!" Ciel immediately said before Elpizo nearly jumped off the platform. He turned around to look at her. "Do not be too strict."
Elpizo rolled his eyes. "You have my..."
But he was immediately cut off. The door to their right quickly slid open and a sentry covered in sand ran in, puffing. The sentry ignored the look that Elpizo was giving him and gave his report. It was Morris!
"Excuse me, sir!" Morris saluted. "It's about Zero. He was found lying unconscious..."
"What? Zero?!" Ciel cut right in as she immediately ran down the stairs. Elpizo gave a glare of hatred worthy for humans.
"Just outside the base, ma'am!" Morris replied. Seeing that Ciel was running past him, the sentry immediately followed. "This way!"
Elpizo sighed as he walked down the stairs. He was going to give something special to Ms. Ciel but that damned sentry just had to burst in. His sensors then immediately called for him to jump back. He jumped back and was caught in the tailwind of several other soldiers who overheard the conversation.
"Zero! Zero!" the soldiers yelled as they exited the room. Several were armed with their plasma rifles. They had been shirking sentry duty...
Elpizo's eyebrows furrowed and twitched. A look of malice appeared on the normally joyous Reploid.
"Zero..."
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In the Maintenance Room...
Several soldiers along with Morris and Ms. Ciel managed to lift the unconscious Zero onto the Rejuvenation Machine that the Resistance managed to pilfer from Neo Arcadian warehouses. Their lead scientist, Cerveau, just below Ciel, plugged the Red Warrior into the machine. The plastic top was lowered by Ciel on top of Zero's head.
"You guys can go now," Ciel said as she looked at the helpless sentries. "Cerveau and I can handle the rest."
"Whatever you say, Ms. Ciel," Morris replied. The green clad Reploid turned around.
"Fall in!" he commanded. The rest formed a single file with rifles before them. "Forward!" The lead Reploid lowered his plasma rifle as if to skewer a X Drone with it. "MARCH!"
As the sentries filed out, Morris gave one last look at his hero. If only he wasn't on sentry duty, he'd help Ms. Ciel and Cerveau out and expediate Zero's recovery.
Flipping several switches, Cerveau watched carefully as a schematics unit started giving the life sign signals for Zero. All the bars immediately maxed out into the red zone, alarming Cerveau. But they quickly lowered themselves back to the yellow, still in safety yet so close to danger.
"Let's quickly fix his basic structure," Cerveau suggested as he pointed at the schematics diagram. Ciel nodded her head.
They both opened a nearby cabinet full of tools. Both scientists quickly pulled out wire seperators, plasma wielders, oil, and other things required to fix a Reploid. They then made sure that Zero was hooked up to a large unit full of Energeon, the lifeblood of Reploids.
Cerveau tackled the upper-body structure while Ciel managed with the lower parts. Removing the easily repaired armor plating around Zero was simple but the challenged Ciel loved to deal with was another story. Zero hadn't gone under maintenance for a year and a great deal of grit and sand had accumulated with the Red Warrior's lower locamotion systems and his acceleration systems.
"Look what I found!" Cerveau exclaimed as he held up something. Ciel looked at it and gave a small gasp.
It was a small round object that was black. To Cerveau, it was noting more than a piece of garbage but to Ciel, it was a possible link to Zero's past. Cerveau gave it a cursory glance and then tossed it onto a nearby crate.
"I think it's best to keep it," Ciel carefully said as she continued to look at the black ball. "It might reveal something."
"Like what?" Cerveau grunted as he wielded a small buster blast wound on Zero's chest.
"It might be of Zero's past..." Cerveau stopped briefly and looked at Ciel.
"You know," the Reploid Scientist slowly said. "You just might be right..."
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Bright lights shone around Zero as he laid on the ground, weak and tired. He felt disconnected as if his upper body was severed from his lower half. He knew that his left arm, his secondary buster weapon, was definitely severed for he cannot feel it moving. Rolling his head to the right, Zero saw the awful carnage his friend did to his foe.
"X..." Zero said in a broken tone. "Where's Vile?"
The Blue Reploid jabbed behind him with his right thumb. "He's finished."
A great heap of metal was what remained of Sigma's right hand man. The underling Reploid's head was still intact but it was most definitely deactivated. Looking into those deactivated eyes, Zero was satisfied.
Zero slowly moved his head back to a more comfortable position. He then lurched upward and coughed into his remaining right hand. Looking at his hand, Zero fell back onto the ground. His life, his very essence, his fusion engine coolant was departing from his systems. He shut his eyes and he felt X cradle his head. He opened his right eye and gave a small grin.
"You've grown very strong, X..." Zero slowly said. X's eyes didn't have tears since Reploids weren't human but Zero could tell that X was crying inside. Zero then looked back at the dark ceiling.
"But Signma seems to have unimaginable power..." Zero continued as his focus of the ceiling starting dimming slowly. His internal systems were slowly working against the damage within him. Zero coughed up more of his vital essence.
"I'm done, I've fought... there's only one of us left... only you, X..."
"No Zero! I can't fight Sigma alone!" X broke down as Zero's left optical system shut down.
Zero looked at X and then raised his right arm. He silently commanded his body to disassemble the Buster Upgrade part. He felt it fall off of his arm.
"Take my Buster Part with you..." said Zero. "It'll increase the power of your Buster..." X picked it up and just held it in his arms.
Zero gave a small grin. "Of course, I don't know if you can take the recoil of the thing or not..." X looked at him and gave a faint nod.
Zero felt more of his systems shutting down. His engine was slowly and slowly coming to a stop like a windmill. Each slow moment seemed elongated like a piece of taffy stretched. So painful...
"See ya... X..." Zero faintly said.
The darkness within him was welcoming him. X was slowly fading out of his vision.
"My last... wish..."
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Cerveau continued to watch the schematics display next to Zero's inert form. For the last five hours, both he and Ms. Ciel had labored on the structure of Zero. The Rejuvenation Machine handled the major damages quickly after both scientists fixed the smaller problems.
Ms. Ciel, being a human, decided to quit for the night after they finished working on Zero's structure. She had just left minutes ago, yawning and stretching. Cerveau saw something that would arouse a human but being a Reploid, he ignored the once in a lifetime visual of Ciel's posterior torso region.
Looking through his visual optical enhancements, Cerveau noticed little change as the machine updated on the progress of Zero's recovery. The first bar on the left indicated the overall damage on Zero, which was slowly dropping. The second bar in the middle indicated the internal damage and it was rapidly descending. The final bar on the right was the indicator for Zero's external damage and it too was falling rapidly.
The Reploid Scientist continued his silent guard over his patient.
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Ms. Ciel trudged down the long metal tunnel to her quarters. In her right hand was the mystery black object they found in Zero's body while in her left was a great mug of coffee. A small tendril of steam arose from the small gap in the cup.
As she dragged her tired feet along to her room, the blonde human Reploid Scientist's thoughts drifted from the daily happenings that Elpizo couldn't handle to something that just recently happened. Only just merely five hours ago, Morris and his Scout Patrol found and recovered Zero's unconscious body.
Ciel abruptly stopped and leaned her head against the cold steel wall. Only merely a year ago had she had emotions toward someone special. She had thought that he had left her for good. Ciel turned her back against the wall and slowly slid down until she was sitting against it. Closing her eyes, a lone tear rolled down her cheek.
(He's back,) Ciel thought as she dropped her mug and the black object onto the chilling cold steel floor. (It's been so long, Zero. But is there still a fire within you for me?)
Bringing her legs close to her, Ciel placed her head on her knees. It had been so long since that fire within her had been kindled for a person of the opposite sex. But for a Reploid? It was unheard of.
(Wait a minute,) a little voice in Ciel's mind spoke. (What about Andrew and his lover? They most certainly got along.)
(But that was ages ago!) Ciel protested. (That was when the original X was still around and in charge! Zero and I, we cannot show out feelings for each other!)
(Ciel, you and Zero are of the Resistance,) the small voice gently said. (Since members of the Resistance are labeled are misanthropes of society, committing yourself to a Reploid would most definitely show that you are still of the Resistance.)
Ciel silently sat there against the cold wall. That voice was right. She may be human and Zero may be a Reploid but that is nothing when it comes to the matter of love. If it had been done before, then surely she and Zero can do so.
(Thanks,) Ciel thought to that little voice. (For everything.)
(Don't mention it, Ciel.) it replied in a happy sort of way.
Dr. Ciel of the Resistance slowly gathered the black object and her mug of coffee and stood up. She might not be able to speak to Zero right now, but this little thing might be able to tell much of his past. She turned it over and over as she walked down to her lab/room.
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Zero found himself dashing madly along the battered and blasted interior of what laid of Sigma's second fortress. While the last one was a floating keep, this one was located on the Antartic and Zero swore that the only thing keeping him from freezing is his fusion engine's heat.
He had just been "resurrected" by Dr. Cain merely moments ago. The old doctor was actually rushing Zero to the field of battle to assist X in defeating the remnants of Sigma's followers and his icy palace.
Firing a series of plasma bursts into a small pack of drones, Zero shook the smoking Buster on his arm. X had just plowed on right through, which Zero once did a while ago, and now he's doing the mopping up.
Zero grinned as another annoying drone popped out of a small trapdoor. Bringing out his Z-Saber, Zero split the drone into eight miniscule pieces of circuits and scrap metal. If he knew X well, Zero wouldn't be needed to help him. But friends cover each other's back dearly.
Dashing and firing continuously at the hoard of extremely weak drones, Zero managed to find the door which he knew that X and Sigma were behind. After all, X was the only Hunter who was capable of handling many different weapons with grace and ease yet with such savage power. A nearby body of a drone gave Zero the proof he needed. The head was severed cleanly by fire (Speed Burner), the arms frozen by ice (Crystal Hunter), the torso littered with plasma holes (X-Buster), and the legs shattered by explosives (either Silk Shot or Magnet Mine).
Satisfied that there weren't going to be anymore annoying drones, Zero's audio sensors tuned into the voices behind the door.
"It's been a while, eh, X?" Zero heard the malicious tone of Sigma. "We've been waiting for this day."
"This day for what, Sigma?" X's straighforward tone sliced into Sigma's little oration. "The day when I eliminate you permanently?"
"No, X," Sigma laughed as Zero heard the tell-tale humming of X charging up his Buster. "It's for your apology to your friend. Oh, should I say MY friend." Zero heard something beam in and then the cry of fear from X.
"Zero?! Is it really you?" X gasped. The hum of his Buster charging up halted.
"Let me introduce him," said Sigma in a sly tone. "He is my new partner. Or should I say my new comrade."
"This isn't... he can't have..." X muttered furiously as Zero heard more and more energy being charged. "Impossible..."
"You both were comrades in the old days, before he began to fight as freely as he wished," Sigma continued. "And now, I do believe you'll have to pay the price."
"Zero..." said X, full of longing and hope. "Please... snap out of it!" A blast of plasma was heard exiting a Buster weapon and Zero heard the cry of pain from X.
The real Zero couldn't take it anymore of this mental torture. How dare Sigma create a renegade copy of him! Zero will tear that stupid Reploid piece by piece and circuit by circuit to make that corrupted Reploid suffer the same pain that he had suffered years ago. Zero then charged both his Busters up to the max and stood in front of the door.
"I'm coming, X!" he yelled as he fired the first bolt of plasma. A purple blast of plasma exited his right Buster, blasting the door apart. The second, a great green bolt of energy, passed through the great gap in the door and smashed into the astonished Dark Zero. Dashing through the opening, Zero brought out his Z-Saber and swung it furiously at the rapidly dodging Sigma.
"Sigma!" Zero yelled as he continued his onslaught, which was thankfully well aimed. "You should have studied the blueprints closer!" Sigma grinned as he pulled out his own beam saber to counter the blows.
"And why should I?" the Maverick Reploid smirked. Zero swung his Z-Saber from overhead, forcing Sigma to step off to the side. Zero then aimed his left Buster on Sigma. Great globs of red and purple energy started to circulate around the tip of the plasma weapon.
"There is only one Zero!" Zero yelled. He released the pent up energy, unleashing a great wave of green and blue plasma. It flew straight and true and struck a surprised Sigma in the stomach. The Maverick Reploid doubled over and grabbed his stomach.
"Why you..." Sigma cursed as electricity crackled across his body.
Looking up from the ground, Sigma smirked once again. "Zero! Why haven't you turned to my side?" Sigma asked with a questioning edge.
Zero charged both his Busters slowly. Seeing Sigma down and flinching at the energy coursing across his body was a welcome sight to Zero.
"Why should I turn over to your side?" Zero said slowly as he smiled. Taking one small step forward, Zero slowly raised both Busters at Sigma's head. "You've fallen, Sigma."
"Your true enemy shouldn't be me!" Sigma cried as the pain in his fusion engine greatly increased. Doubling up in pain, Sigma swore.
"No matter, Sigma," Zero said offhandedly as he decided on which form of execution his former commander should suffer. "Maybe you are right but even so, I still hate you!"
"Damn!" Before Zero could eliminate his former commander, Sigma reached for his emergency escape teleporter and exited the complex.
Sheathing his saber, Zero slowly released the pent up energy back to the surrounding which he drew from. Looking about, he found X lying on the ground, staring in wonder at him.
"How's it going, X?" Zero asked as he helped the Blue Legend up. A faint grin appeared on his shorter comrade. Zero dug out an Emergency Energy Tank and attached it to the X's left arm.
"Zero..." replied X. The energy from the tank was quickly repairing much of the Blue Legend's damages. "I'd thought you be here sooner..."
"I got held up," said Zero as he pointed his thumb through the door he blasted through. "I say, X, you really got to work on your technique."
"Why so? Is it really that bad?"
"Nah, you've just got to make sure that you eliminate all the easy drones and leave the hard ones for me." They both gave in for a moment of laughter. After the tank was depleted of its energy, Zero's face became solemn.
"I kept you waiting, didn't I, X?" said Zero as X tossed aside the energy tank. "But the pleasantries will have to wait. What we need to do now is to defeat Sigma!"
"But how? He's stronger than last time!" Zero's face took on the look of concentration. His forhead wrinkled as X continued to stare at a hole.
"I'll destroy the base's Main Computer," Zero slowly said after X began to pry about the room.
"X!" The Blue Legend looked at his friend. "You chase after Sigma!"
Reaching for his Z-Saber, Zero took one last look at the great Main Computer before him. Holding it where the point is toward the sky, Zero swung it back over his shoulder and brought it back down in the classic axeman's swing. The green blade bit deeply into the core of the computer, shutting down many programs that Sigma had been running. Zero then swung his saber off to the side and swung it to the other side, making a cross in the Main Computer. Charging up his Dual Busters, Zero unleashed a series of blue, green and purple plasma beams. The metal plating on the Main Computer unit quickly gave way and it soon collapsed into a heap of scrap metal. But it didn't just stop there. Peering at the heap, X decided to strike it with his own blast of plasma.
The heap of scrap was knocked aside and Zero gave an excited gasp. "Here, X! Sigma's true form is in that last room!" He gave one nod to X. X then took a running leap into the hole.
Rummaging through the heap of destruction, Zero found a backup copy of the data from the Main Computer and started downloading it onto a disk. Numbers, letters, dates and a barrage of other data assaulted his memory files. By the time he gets done with this batch of crap, X will probably have kicked Sigma's ass so hard that even a virus's return will be a miracle.
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Ha ha ha! I'm finally done with this GREAT HUMONGOUS CHAPTER!!! MWAHA HA HA!!
Sairn: (^_^;) I think he's finally cracked...
Mwa ha ha! *grabs Sairn by the neck* You shall suffer my WRATH!!
Sairn: (O_O!) AGH! 'Elp! SAVE ME!!
REVIEW OR HE DIES!!! MWA HA HA!!!