Chapter 4: Rebirth
X's eyes slowly opened to see Iris' dirty yet cheerful face. "Good morning, X." Iris said with a smile, "How are you feeling?"
"How do I look?" X grunted.
"Uhh … like shit actually." Iris said, giggling slightly.
"Well … that's how I feel."
"I'm sorry." Iris said genuinely, "A typical Reploid I could probably do an at least half way decent repair job on, but you're not a typical Reploid, X. We'll just have to wait 'til the self repair system completes the repairs on its own. Do you have any reading on the damage report system?"
"No." X said and looked like he was trying to pull it up, "It must have been damaged too."
"That isn't promising." Iris stated the obvious. "After how long you were asleep, it's obvious the repair system is working somewhat."
"How long was I out?" X asked, rubbing his temples.
"Four days," Iris said, looking down slightly, "I was scared that you might not wake up."
"You know I'm tougher than that." X said, finally making the girl smile again.
"Yes, you're right." Iris nodded. "I have to go to work; you stay put and rest ok?"
"Be careful, Iris." X said as she waved bye before exiting.
X lay down on the bed, "Four days should have been enough to completely restore my systems." X sighed, touching the still open gash on his side, "the self repair system is probably damaged too. Getting out of here may be tougher than I thought."
Meanwhile…
Alia walked out onto the balcony of the lab at the Light Institute for Robotics. The Building itself was shaped like the former United States' Pentagon, and in the center was a beautiful and relaxing park. But the park only brought tears to the former Maverick Hunter's eyes, for in the center was a massive statue built in honor of the late Dr. Light's greatest creation, and X's name sake: Rock, the original Megaman. And to say that X and Rock shared similarities would be an understatement.
Right beside the statue the foundation was already broken for the building of a second memorial of Light's second greatest creation, Megaman X. "Wonder what X would say if he knew his memorial statue was going to be built right beside his namesake?" Alia asked out loud.
"I would imagine he would be pleased knowing that the people thought so highly of him," a voice said from behind her.
"Oh! Prof. McCaskill, you startled me," Alia said, spinning around to come face to face with the head professor of the institute. "And I doubt that. X … X wasn't one to like public praise. He never really saw what he was doing as anything special. He was always doing what he had to and nothing more. X wouldn't want a big deal made."
"Sounds like he should be honored then." Prof. McCaskill said with a smile under his long white beard, "The greatest heroes are the ones who do not fight to be heroes." The older human turned and walked back into the lab, "Take as long as you want out here, Alia."
Alia nodded then turned back to the star-lit sky, "X …"
Elsewhere … even deeper in Maverick territory, several Mavericks had broken away from Sigma and begun to follow their new savior: the one who destroyed Megaman X, Overdrive Ostrich. Those very followers were completely unaware that they were being stalked, being hunted. In the shadows, a slight shimmer of red armor could be seen as lights passed by on one of Sigma's Reploid-only cities.
Zero leaned back against the wall. He set up sensors to warn him if Overdrive's followers made any movement, so it wouldn't hurt to have a lil' nap.
Zero ran into the damaged area of the satellite base, eyes on the still figure lying on the floor.
"Iris!" He cried as he dropped to her side, "Iris…"
"Z-Zero?" she got out with a painful voice.
"Hang in there, Iris." Zero begged, his stomach in knots.
"Please … Stay away from Repliforce …" She begged, "Let's live together … in a world where only Reploids exist …"
"Iris …" Zero said sadly, "There is no world for only Reploids … it's only a fantasy …"
"Yes … I know …" Iris said with a weak smile, "But I wanted to believe it … I wanted to live in a world … where only Reploids exist … with you …"
"Iris …" Zero sighed as he took her hand in both of his.
She smiled brightly, showing her love for him in her smile, but suddenly the love and the life in her features faded into death.
"Iris? Iris? Iris! Iris … IRIS!" He cried as he brought her limp body in his arms, "NOO! THIS ISN'T HAPPENING! THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO GO ON! WHAT AM I FIGHTING FOOOOOOR!"
Zero jumped from his seat, and looked up towards the sky, old questions flooding his mind, "What am I fighting for?" he asked barely above a whisper. His musing was cut short as the two mavericks exited their club, and started walking down the sidewalk.
Zero used the grappling hook equipped in his arm cannon and went to the rooftops, following the two unsuspecting Mavericks.
Back with X…
X's eyes shot open when he heard a woman's voice screaming. He pulled himself sorely to his feet, and limped to the ledge, looking in the center of the mine. The mine itself was like a gigantic hole in the ground with several caverns in the walls used for homes and also entrances to the mine tunnels. He looked down and spotted a girl no older than twenty on her hands and knees with a whip coming hard across her back, tearing her dirty, red bodysuit. Her short blond hair was, like everyone else's, unwashed and with a brown tint. And with every slash, her long, fluffy bangs would bounce.
On the other end of the whip was some unknown Reploid, and beside him were four others laughing at the human girl sprawling on the ground. These did grab X's attention, but not as much as the Maverick standing behind them, watching.
"Vile…" X growled, turning and heading down the way out of the Iris' cave-like living space.
"Please… please stop… please…" the girl begged, no longer able to support herself on her hands and knees and now laying flat on her chest.
"You hear that, Whiplash?" one of the other four Reploids asked with a chuckle.
"Who cares, Shocker." Whiplash replied. "It's just a human." The Maverick then slashed her a couple more times with his whip. "What? Don't like working for us, Human? Don't like doing the work you made us for?"
"Leave her alone!" a voice called across the opened area.
"What did you say?" Whiplash asked with a smirk at the limping train wreck of a Reploid making his way toward them.
"I said let her go… now." X ordered. It was kind of weird for X to actually face a group of basic Reploid Mavericks without them running in fear, just goes to show just how bad he looked.
X then formed both arm cannons and aimed them at the group. "Let her go unless you want trouble." X snarled as the cannons prepared to fire then … only sparks shot from the barrels. He looked down at his two arm cannons, "Oh… this is bull shit."
X looked up and watched the girl get pulled away by other humans, the distraction drawing the Maverick guards' attention. He changed his arms back to normal, ready to fight best he could.
Meanwhile…
Zero followed the Mavericks to a bunker. He peeked into a window and spotted Overdrive sitting on a throne, looking as if he thought he was invincible. The Crimson Hunter was about to change that. Zero counted at least seventy-five Mavericks in the bunker. Seeing how lightly guarded his prey was, he smiled.
He pulled his Z-Saber and dove into the window, taking the Mavericks off guard. As he slashed through unsuspecting Mavericks, memories of times with X, in and out of battle, flashed through his mind. Most Mavericks didn't have a chance to raise a defense, but Zero didn't care. He and his Z-Saber showed no mercy.
The large number of Mavericks slowly began to dwindle until only Zero and Overdrive Ostrich remained, and the large Animaloid cowered at the very, very angry Maverick Hunter. "Eye for an eye." Zero growled slowly, walking toward the now begging Maverick.
"Please don't hurt me…" Overdrive begged, looking up with fear filled eyes.
"Hurt you?" Zero chuckled raising his Z-Saber, "You probably won't feel any pain, not too much at any rate."
"No…" Overdrive panicked, backing up against the wall as Zero's shadow covered him. "Please, go away! Please… GO AWAY, NO! NO! NO!"
Back at the mine…
Iris walked out of the mine and gave a small jug of water she had hidden in her dress to a young boy who seemed thirsty. Then she spotted something lying in the dust, and it took her a moment to realize who it was… "X!"
(There's a ship out
On the ocean
At the mercy of the sea)
Iris, worry of her friend gripping her mind, ran to his side and rolled him over.
(It's been tossed about)
He was badly beaten, and the armor was now almost completely destroyed on X's broken body.
(Lost and broken
Wandering aimlessly)
"Come on, X." Iris whispered as she brought one of X's arms over her shoulder and drug him best she could back to her room.
She got him back to her room and got him on his back on the bed.
"Oh X…" She sighed, looking at his shattered, bloody armor.
(And God somehow
You know that ship is me)
"A-Alia…" X breathed as pain-caused tears slid out of his black, swollen eyes.
('Cause there's a lighthouse)
At that very moment, Alia was sitting in her room and holding the picture Zero had handed her days earlier, the glass cover drenched with tears.
(In the harbor)
No matter how had she tried to admit it to herself, she couldn't bring herself to believe X wasn't coming back someday. Her mind screamed he was dead and gone, but her heart stayed true.
(Shining faithfully)
"Please come back, X." Alia whispered to the smiling blue Hunter in the picture she was holding, "don't leave us… don't leave me…"
(Pouring its light out
Across the water)
Alia suddenly felt something hit her in the heart, a feeling, one that said X was out there and in trouble. She set the picture down and walked over to the window, resting her hand on it, "X, hang on. If anyone can prove everyone wrong… it's you." She spoke as if he could hear her.
(For this sinking soul to see
That someone out there
Still believes in me)
"You're going to be ok, X," Iris said worriedly
"Iris … I-if … I don't … make it … t-the Hunters … will eventually find this place and save you … when … t-that happens … find Alia … and tell … her that … I … I … love… " With that, his system damage caused him to black out.
(On a prayer)
"X, don't give up." Iris ordered, "You'll get to tell her yourself. Same as I'll get the chance with Zero."
(In a song)
X was about to give in, and let the damage overcome his system with a permanent shut down. But at the last second, a voice in the back of his mind gave him just enough strength to hold on. 'I believe in you, X.' it said, 'Fight X… Fight.'
(I hear your voice and
It keeps me hanging on)
'Can't give up.' X's mind yelled, 'my friends are waiting on me… Lifesavor…Douglas…Signas… Zero…Alia… can't… let them down…'
(Raining down
Against the wind
I'm reaching out 'til
We reach the circle's end)
"I have … to go back …" X grunted fighting off the pain, and with that the darkness overcame him and he passed out.
(When you come back to me again)
X's eyes slowly opened again. He didn't know how long he was out, but had a feeling it was a long time. He looked around and saw the room abandoned. "Iris… she must be working…" X grunted and found that, despite the valiant effort by Iris, his damage appeared to be irreparable.
"You really don't look too good, son." A voice called from the door. X turned his head and saw an old man in a dirty, white shirt and trousers. His face was hidden behind a white beard mottled with pebbles and dirt and white hair that came down to the nape of his neck, blue eyes twinkling with wisdom.
"W-Who are you?" X got out as the old man reached his side.
The old man looked as if he had to think about his response when he spoke up, "The name's Thomas. My friends call me Doc though. You must be Megaman X."
X nodded, "How do you…"
"Uh … your friend Iris asked me to take a look at you," Doc said looking over X's broken body, "I used to work on robots and Reploids." Doc rubbed his beard before nodding, "I'll see what I can do, but I'll have to shut you down temporarily. Is that ok, X?"
X nodded, and Doc smiled before reaching behind X's head to the hidden deactivation switch. "Goodnight." X said as he felt his systems shutting down.
Doc smiled, "Rest well… my son."
Eight hours later, Iris was in fact working in the mine. Her shift was almost up, and she was glad for it. Her robotic body was stronger than a human's but even it had its limits. She looked down toward the entrance of the cave and watched Whiplash and his cronies chuckling at a seven-year-old boy trying to push a mine cart overflowing with ore. The boy's sore legs finally gave out and he collapsed right in front of the mavericks.
"What's wrong, Human?" Whiplash asked, kicking the boy in the side, "Get up, you lazy…" he said, whipping the boy across the back, "I SAID, GET UP!"
The boy did try to get back to his feet, but his human limitations had been passed a long time ago. "Pathetic human." Whiplash growled as he brought his whip down on the boy again, and again, and again.
Iris' eyes began to tear at the sound of the boy's cries for mercy and help 'til she couldn't handle it any longer. She ran, pushed through the guards, and covered the boy with her body. "Leave him alone! He's just a boy!" She cried, glaring at the Mavericks.
"So you want some hurt too?" Whiplash asked as he brought the whip down on Iris, causing her to fall to the ground. But she pulled herself back to her feet and boldly stood between the boy and the cruel Maverick. "You're a traitor to your race, and you know the fate of traitors: Death." Whiplash then electrified the whip and threw it back for a hard blow, but felt it snag on something in the shadows.
The Maverick pulled and tugged on it, but it wouldn't come loose. "What the?" He asked. Then with a massive jerk on the other end, the maverick went flying against and then through the wall.
"Who… who's there?" the other Mavericks asked nervously. Whiplash was the strongest at the camp, next to Vile. Who could possibly be strong enough to throw him like a rag doll? The answer came as the figure walked out of the shadows confidently. One white-gloved hand was clinched into a fist and the other was forming an arm cannon. His blue armor shimmered brand new and his face was half shadowed under the blue helmet, yet not hiding the knowing smirk.
They all began to back step away from him in immense fear. "I believe the lady said to leave him alone," the blue warrior whispered menacingly. The other mavericks watched his every move, their faces not hiding the fear flooding through their bodies. They were all deathly quiet 'til one finally got out… "M-Megaman X…"
To Be Continued…