Disclaimer - I don't own them, just doing this because it was a slow, snowy day at work (and the original draft filled one sheet of paper and both free areas of a stock list O.o) Though this revision happened during the fall of '04 and will expand this fic quite a bit.
This is set WAY before X1 and is my version of how things came to be. This is going to be done as accurately as possible using information from all of the X games. Of course, there will be some liberties taken, especially if the information isn't readily available, but it will be an attempt to follow a logical path as to how events in the X series came to be. Even with information from Irregular Hunter X, I prefer to think of that game as being a separate canon timeline as opposed to the timeline proposed by the original games, the ones I'm following for my fics. Thank you Tikimother for beta'ing this.
Read and enjoy!
Timescape Saga
Of Irregulars and Hunters
Book One
Genesis
Chapter Three
A New Dawn
(C) 10 - 19 - 2004 to 02 - 04 - 2006 All Rights
Reserved
By Goldenmane
X sighed softly to himself as he overlooked the production line. Already Repriroids had been rolling off of the assembly lines at a rapid pace since the license to build them had been granted to Doctor Cain. And although Repriroids didn't enjoy the same freedoms humans did, they seemed to be readily accepted in society.
Crossing his arms, X watched as the workers below, mostly human with a few Repriroids, created the intricate parts that would become Repriroid cores. Doctor Cain had assigned X to oversee the production of new Repriroids while he worked on continuous upgrades and advances to further expand the different types of Repriroids that could be created.
"You know, I never thought I'd see the day when something I had helped build would be helping me to build others like it," X heard a human worker say. He looked over in the general direction of the speaker, one of the newer techs that had been hired to help with the increased demand mass producing Repriroids had created. He noted the mirth in her partner's eyes, a Repriroid built with jet black armor flecked in gold and blue specks along the metal shell.
"And I never expected I'd be working with one of my creators, either," the Repriroid said.
At least the workers were getting along, no matter what race. And that was always a good sign. And even out in the field, as Doctor Cain called it, in the real world where Repriroids worked alongside humans in day to day tasks, tensions seemed to be low. True, there were a few extremist groups who had decided that Repriroids were an abomination and should be destroyed, but they had been mostly contained by not only the media but by supporters of Repriroids and what they had to offer humanity.
Of course, paradise could be deceiving at times and the extremists did have some cannon fodder to use against Repriroids. Namely the fact that a handful out of the first thousands produced had glitched somewhere in their neuro processors and had become violent. But that hadn't happened again in a long time. Though that didn't stop the Council, set up by the government to handle anything that dealt with Repriroids, from deciding that something must be done. Which was why Doctor Cain was busy working on new Repriroids, ones that would not degrade, glitch or become corrupted and would also be virus free. Though so far no Repriroid had been infected by any type of computer virus, the elderly doctor didn't want to take any chances.
X began to pace as he waited for the shift to end, seeming impatient as the seconds seemed to drag on. Maybe it was his urge to see how his mentor and caretaker was doing on his latest project, a behemoth of a Repriroid, at least compared to X's slender frame, one that would be strong and powerful yet kind and compassionate. One that would be resistant to all viruses and include some of the breakthrough circuitry Doctor Cain had developed. No one had given this new Repriroid a name yet since it was still just a featureless shell, mostly the infrastructure and key parts. He knew the boys down at the plant would have already sent the shell, though he had yet to see what it would look like, still locked away in storage. Doctor Cain was keeping a very tight lip about this project.
With a soft sigh, X looked over at the huge wall clock. Too long, he mused, too long until he could go and check up on the new Repriroid, the crown in Doctor Cain's career.
"Sir?" a young female voice asked, one that startled X out of his musing, "there's a call for you on line one. They said it was urgent."
X turned to face the young secretary and nodded before walking over to the phone. He picked it up and watched as she left the room. "This is X, to whom am I speaking with?"
"No need to be so formal, X," Cedric's voice said over the phone, "it's just me. But I wanted you to know before it gets spread out over all the media and Doctor Cain hears it second hand, but two of the Repriroids working at the energy plant became unstable and started destroying the area around them. Another Repriroid managed to throw a live cable at them and fried their cores, stopping them."
X paled at that. This was the first time any Repriroid had become unstable in a long time. "Do you know who they were?" he asked, a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"A couple of generic workers our of Plant R09382," Cedric said, "I don't know if they had names or just designation numbers."
"How long do you think before the media gets a hold of this?" X asked.
"Who knows?" Cedric said, "we can't stop them from broadcasting the news even if we wanted to."
"Get back to me when you learn more," X said, "I need to tell Doctor Cain now about this."
"Go," Cedric said, "I just hope he takes this news better than Vickie and I have."
X didn't bother with any form of good bye before hanging the phone up and teleporting to Doctor Cain's workshop. "Where is he?" he asked the elderly doctor's personal assistant.
"He's in the lab putting the finishing touches on the new robot," the lady said, "he gave specific orders not to be disturbed by anyone."
"This is an emergency," X said as he moved past her. He ignored her protest as he opened the door, closing it behind him. Adam was there, dressed in a long, white lab coat, much as he wore, clipboard in hand, assisting Doctor Cain.
"Ah, X," the elderly doctor said, "just the Repriroid I wanted to see."
"We have a problem," X said as he walked over, "Cedric just called. Apparently a couple of our workers glitched. They had to be destroyed."
Doctor Cain nodded. "I was afraid something like that wouldn't be just an isolated occurrence. I made sure when I built this fellow here that he'd have more protections and sub routines to prevent any degradation, viral infection or any problems a machine could have.
X remained silent. Every so often the doctor would refer to all Repriroids as simple machines, and he understood in a way, but in a way it hurt him as well. Repriroids were more than mere machines. They were sentient creatures, albeit metal not flesh.
"Come here and see my latest masterpiece," Doctor Cain said, waving X over.
X moved over and looked down at the Repriroid on the table. He was nearly complete, only a few pieces of his armor needed to be fitted, but he was still quite a sight to be seen.
He was tall, but not as tall as X had figured he would be. This new Repriroid bore orange gold boots, more streamline than X's two-part foot and leg units. The chest and lower arm armor was a rich shade of green, the body a deep black. A long plate covered where a human's privates would have been instead of the 'full' lower body armor such as X had been designed with. Touches of silver adorned the entire Repriroid giving him a powerful yet dignified look. What struck X the most was the fact that Doctor Cain had forgone a helmet-like structure for an angular human face, a firm, square jaw set below high cheekbones, a darkish red crystal sat in the center of this new Repriroid's forehead about where X's own crystal sat in his helmet.
"I've been trying to come up with a good name for him," Doctor Cain said, "something that better fits his resilience."
"I suggested Sigma," Adam said as he turned to look at X, "but Doctor Cain doesn't seem to like the name."
"It's Greek for 'eighteen' and he's not my eighteenth Repriroid," Doctor Cain said with a soft huff, folding his arms cross his chest, clipboard tucked under his arm.
"It has a sort of powerful connotation to it," Adam said, "it would befit a Repriroid as strong as this one will be."
X nodded. "Why don't you consider it?" he offered, "it's as good a name as any, considering all the factory and labor Repriroids have designation numbers as per what plant they came from instead of identities."
Doctor Cain said nothing for a moment. "Fine," he said, "this virus resilient brute will be named Sigma."
"Finally, I get to name a Repriroid," Adam said with a triumphant grin.
X smiled at that, happy inside that Adam had made even that small of an accomplishment.
"Now to go work on the problem of getting upgrades for the existing Repriroids so they won't glitch anymore," Doctor Cain said.
"We haven't figured out how to stop the degradation from happening," Adam said, "all theories and tests prove that you cannot determine which Repriroids are going to glitch and which are going to be spared that fate."
"And that's not comforting news to people since they never know if their workers or partners are going to suddenly turn on them and attack," Doctor Cain said, "I know the last poll taken showed that confidence in Repriroids had dropped slightly after that first scare that something had happened and a Repriroid had glitched."
"They wouldn't stop production of us, would they?" Adam asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
"No," Doctor Cain said, "Repriroids are needed in the workforce more now than ever. I don't foresee a future where Repriroids will be hunted down like criminals or feared as a result of these glitches. There are no known viruses that will affect Repriroids like they do computer systems and if Sigma proves to be successful then I'll implement his system structure into all future Repriroids to prevent them from ever glitching again or becoming susceptible to any viral cases that might show up in the future."
X nodded, breathing a small sigh of relief. At least then he wouldn't have to worry about Repriroids being seen as a menace rather than the help they have been.
"Now, it's time for Sigma to wake and start his new life," Doctor Cain said as he moved over and pressed the button to activate Sigma.
X watched as the lights began to flick from the orange of standby to the green of ready. Not since the first days when Doctor Cain had begun his tests and experiments on X to see if he could recreate the old robot had they had any failures except in the most extreme cases. And then only where they had modified a Repriroid's systems to withstand some extreme or other where the variables and factors had been new ground they were covering.
Slowly Sigma shifted and a hand twitched. His pupil less blue eyes opened and he moved his head to look first at Doctor Cain who was the closest then to Adam and lastly to X. "You are my creators," he said, voice a deep resonance in the lab room.
"Well, I am," Doctor Cain said, "Adam here just helped me and X just came in to give us some distressing news."
Sigma nodded then slowly he sat, large hands gripping the edge of the table. "From what I was programmed with, distressing news is not the best thing to hear."
"Repriroids have started to glitch," Doctor Cain said, "and we have no idea why or how to stop it."
"Will I glitch in the future?" Sigma asked.
"No," Doctor Cain said, "I've made sure to incorporate all of my latest designs into you. You are free from any danger of glitches or virus infections. In a nutshell, you're the perfect Repriroid ever built."
Sigma simply nodded, his gaze once more resting on X. "I have knowledge about you in my data banks," he said, "you are the first of us. You are the one that allowed us to be created."
"Doctor Cain analyzed my systems and translated that over to what was later called Repriroids," X said, "I had no say in the matter."
"You probably should have but that's a moot point by now," Doctor Cain said, "Repriroids have so integrated themselves into society it's sometimes hard to remember they were never here in the first place."
X stayed silent, withdrawing a bit. Once he had been the center of attention, not at that time he realized just what it meant. But now, to see others of his kind, more advanced, stronger, more agile and smarter made a part of him inside ache with a reason he couldn't quite understand.
"Now to run a few tests on you to make sure everything is working perfectly then I'll assign you to a division to work," Doctor Cain said.
"If you will excuse me," X said, "I should get back to my own work. I just wanted to let you know about the incident."
"Fine, fine," Doctor Cain said absently, his attention all on Sigma, "keep your ears peeled in case this happens again. I want to know ASAP."
"Ok," X said before turning to leave, passing the secretary who seemed still angry at him for barging in on Doctor Cain and Adam. He ignored her since she was the least of his concerns. He returned to his office and sat with a soft sigh before filing through the papers he had stacked on his desk, but his mind was far from his office.
Casting his gaze to the clock on the wall, X set the pen in his hand down and rose. He paused before scribbling a note, setting it where anyone who came looking for him would see it. Shrugging out of his lab coat and and hanging it on the peg near his door, he left, heading out of the lab to the bright sun outside. He squinted in an automatic reaction to the change of light, pausing as his optics adjusted for the brightness around him.
With no particular destination in mind, X went to his hover bike and mounted it. He started the smallish machine and checked the display to make sure it was at peak operating efficiency before slowly backing out. He kicked it into gear and headed into town. Maybe a long walk somewhere away from the lab would do him some good and help him to clear out his thoughts.
Trees, buildings and even vehicles seemed to speed by X as he headed to the local park. He knew that would be the best place for him to go to think. Even if there were others there he would still be alone enough to think without worrying about someone stopping him to ask what was bothering him. He knew that Cedric and Vickie meant well and that, before he had so absorbed himself in his work Doctor Cain had hovered over the old robot in worry and concern.
Finding a handy spot to park, not minding how far he would have to walk, X pulled the bike in and shut it off. He rose and looked around. Only a handful of cars sat in the parking lot and no one could be seen.
With a soft sigh X dismounted and headed into the park, passing through the rows and rows of hedges that isolated this pure patch of nature from the rest of the city which bustled with human and Repriroid life. Having learned early on in life, even though he had only been active not even a year, X kept his radar on as he walked to prevent him from hitting any one or any thing. He let his thoughts wander as he walked, drifting back to an earlier time when it had been just himself who represented what would become a new race to inhabit the Earth. He reflected on how Doctor Cain had devoted all of his time to X, making sure that anything and everything X might need was taken care of, no matter what the cost or trouble getting it. But once Adam had awoken and the elderly doctor had turned his attention to his first creation, X had fallen by the wayside. Even though he had been respected and honored as being the first of a new kind of robot the attention had shifted to Adam the 'first man' of the Repriroid world and it had left X with a strange, cold feeling he couldn't easily describe or put a name to.
But why did he feel so cold when Doctor Cain paid more attention to Adam and his other creations than to the old robot? X pondered on that for a moment, trying to come up with a concrete answer, with some tangible data, something he could use to pinpoint the problem, like a solid diagnostic. Though, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. The answers were there, he could sense them, but to be able to bring them out into the light was another matter.
X looked up at a sound, a child crying. He stopped, watching the young human boy as he stood there, crying, stomping a foot every time the Repriroid with him tried to get him to follow her. He found himself frozen to the spot as he watched the boy throw himself to the ground, crying and screaming. The Repriroid knelt, speaking softly to the child, reaching out gently to touch his shoulder or arm, never once seeming upset or mad that the boy was throwing a temper tantrum. Her expression was soft, peaceful, as if she had no worries in the world, not even watching over this child.
X blinked when he watched her draw the child, still crying, into her arms and held him close like a mother would her child, rocking him back and forth gently and whispering something that was just too faint for X's audio receivers to make out. Whatever it was the child nodded and sniffed before burying his face against her armored shoulder. The lady walked off, the same expression still on her face, disappearing a few moments later behind a row of bushes as the path branched out.
Letting go a breath he wasn't conscious he was holding, only realizing it when he noticed a small overheating warning blinking in the corner of his vision, X continued on his way. He thought on how the Repriroid had handled the child. Was that how it was with Doctor Cain? Had he treated X with kindness only because he was, in essence, a very young child when he had awoken? And now that he had other 'children', those created by his own hand, did they deserve more attention than X? Was it X's time to step out of the spotlight and let the advanced robots, those who deserved the name of Repriroid, take that light and carry it forth to further benefit their own kind?
Stopping by a fountain, X gazed into the clear water. Much as he had after he had gone with Doctor Cain back to the place of his awakening, X stared at his reflection, studying his face and what he could see of his armor. He still looked young, by human standards, as if he was an older teen, young adult. Never once had he thought about having Doctor Cain make him look older. What was time to a machine after all?
X hesitated at that word. It pained him to think that humans still thought of the sentient robots as machines. They were more than the mindless mechaniroids who simply followed a preset set of commands to perform its task. Repriroids were more, much more. They were as sentient as any human was. They could think, make their own decisions, they could become whatever they wanted to be regardless of programming. They were not bound by a set of rules as the mechaniroids were. They were free, even if human society kept placing more and more restrictions on Repriroids. It had taken a lot from Doctor Cain to allow Repriroids the right to walk freely in the world without some form of guardian with them. He only hoped these latest incidents wouldn't set that back and force the humans, especially the Council to enforce new rules to take away the rights a Repriroid should have.
With a soft sigh, his questions still unanswered, X returned to his hover bike feeling a bit better but still empty inside. He headed back to the lab to finish his work for the day assuming no one would have missed him while he had been gone. When he stepped into his office and saw Doctor Cain sitting there, arms crossed and a scowl on his face, X hesitated.
"You can't just go running off like that," Doctor Cain said, "these workers here are depending on you."
"I know," X said, "but I needed room to think."
"What could be more important than the work we're doing here?" the elderly doctor asked.
"Nothing," X said, voice going a bit soft before he could stop himself.
Doctor Cain rose from where he had been leaning against X's desk and he walked over. "I want you to work personally with Sigma," he said, "I want you to help teach him about the world around him."
X nodded, wondering why Doctor Cain would do such a thing.
"I want you to make sure he finds a hobby," Doctor Cain said, "I have to make sure his field tests work out so I can start working on a new generation of Repriroids that can move out of the workforce and into the real world. I want them to enjoy as many privileges as they can and not seem like mere workers."
X nodded again. "I'll try my best, sir," he said.
Doctor Can returned the nod and patted X on the shoulder. He gave the old robot a soft smile before heading out the door.
Hesitating a bit X kept his gaze on the door before turning to his desk. He noticed the new papers there and he skimmed them over, too many thoughts running around in his head to allow any one thing to take hold. It was a work order. One detailing out what Doctor Cain wanted X to do with Sigma. He knew this was going to be a challenge but one he did look forward to, even if it only meant the elderly doctor was paying attention to him again.
X began to scribble notes down on a pad when he heard a knock on the door. "Enter," he said simply.
"Doctor Cain sent me to see you," Sigma said, "he said you are going to be my trainer."
"Not so much a trainer," X said, surprised to see the behemoth or a Repriroid so soon, "as a guide."
"Then you will guide me in how to act," Sigma said simply.
X nodded. "That's what Doctor Cain wants. He wants me to teach you about the world and find a hobby for you."
"A hobby?" Sigma asked, "that word is not a part of my programming."
X paused, trying to think of how to phrase it. "A hobby is an activity that someone enjoys doing," he said, "there are many different types of hobbies. I'll try to show you a few of them and see what seems interesting to you."
Sigma nodded. "And when do we begin?" he asked.
"I don't see why we can't leave now," X said, "have you been programmed in how to use a hover bike?"
"No," Sigma said.
"Well, does your teleport unit work?" X asked instead.
"It does," Sigma said simply.
X nodded. If there was one thing he was going to have to do would be to find a way to get Sigma to lighten up and not be so cold and robotic seeming. But, he knew, given time and he would adjust to being alive and his personality program would learn how to work better and give him less and less of a robotic feel and more natural. "Then we'll just teleport to the city and I'll give you a tour of it. I'll show you a few hobbies and you can see what sparks an interest in you and we can go from there."
Sigma nodded, seeming to be a Repriroid of very few words.
X jotted a note and rose, going over to Sigma's side. He handed the new Repriroid a set of coordinates. "This will take us to the downtown district. I know it's going to be quite a change from the lab, especially since you haven't been active all that long, but it's the best place to start."
Sigma simply nodded before teleporting.
X blinked at the sudden teleport and followed suit. "I meant for you to wait until I gave the signal."
"If I am in error then I must be corrected," Sigma said.
"Just remember that you must follow my commands and words to the letter," X said, "and I can forgive you of that transgression."
"As you wish," Sigma said before looking around.
X had learned how to drown out the sounds and sights of the city, tall skyscrapers made of metal and glass, cars that roared by and the bustle of both humans and Repriroids as they went about their daily business. But he knew to Sigma it would be a new, almost alien world, one he would need to explore as a child explored its world.
"This place is large," Sigma said as he turned around to get a better view of the area around them.
"It is," X said, "the original city expanded after the creation of Repriroids. It's nearly twice the size it used to be. There are some sections that are off limits to Repriroids just as there are some sections off limits to humans. I don't know if Doctor Cain programmed you with the reason why or not."
"Because some areas are too dangerous for humans to exist in and therefore are only suitable to Repriroids," Sigma said, voice sounding as if he was reading from a book, "and there are some areas too fragile for Repriroids to exist and so the two must stay separate."
"That's one way to explain it," X said, "but humans sometimes fear Repriroids and they need their areas where they can go and feel safe. The same can be said about Repriroids as well."
"Why would a human fear a Repriroid?" Sigma asked, shifting just enough to look down at X.
X hesitated a bit. "Because Repriroids are stronger than humans," he said, "because humans are weak and Repriroids could easily kill them without meaning to. Humanity depends on our kind to help the world function, just as we depend on the humans for maintenance. Our two kinds are interdependent on each other."
"Which is why humans should be cared for at all costs," Sigma said.
"Right," X said, "now, let's head this way and if you have any questions feel free to ask me."
Sigma nodded and fell into step behind X.
X made sure to take the long, scenic route as they walked, trying to pass anything and everything that might spark some topic or other with Sigma. He even stopped by most of the hobby shops, those large enough for Repriroids to walk around in, hoping that something would take the giant's eye. But nothing seemed to spark even a remote interest.
As they passed an electronics store, Sigma stopped X and indicated the TV's in the window. "What is that?" he asked.
"That is a television, TV for short," X said.
"No," Sigma said as he indicated the pictures moving on it, an old movie that X had been told was about an ancient group of humans who hailed from a place once called Japan.
"That is a movie about samurai," X said, "Doctor Cain could tell you more about it if you want to know."
"What are those things called?" Sigma asked.
"They are called swords," X said, "I'm afraid I don't know much about swords."
"I wish to learn more about them," Sigma said, "and the way they are used."
X nodded. "We'll see what Doctor Cain has for information on them back at the lab."
Without warning Sigma teleported.
X sighed softly as he tried to track Sigma's signal, finding him back at the lab already. He teleported as well, landing next to Sigma. "We need to work on that," he said, "you shouldn't just teleport like that while you are still young."
"I saw no harm in the act," Sigma said, "no laws were broken."
"That may be," X said, "but while you are still learning about the world you shouldn't teleport without permission."
"Understood," Sigma said before walking off.
X just shook his head, returning to his office to jot down his report on Sigma, giving him high marks except in following orders, which was something Doctor Cain was going to have to work on. All in all it seemed as if this new Repriroid was going to turn out to be a huge success and a new shining star in the elderly doctor's crown of achievements when it came to robotics. But, X mused as he wrote, only time would tell if Sigma would learn to obey orders and accept the fact that he couldn't just do as he pleased.
X stopped by the observation deck as he watched Sigma practice. It had taken the gentle giant only a fraction of the time, by watching the old movies and videos he had learned how to imitate their style. The elder robot glanced over to Doctor Cain, watching the excitement and glimmer of pride in his eyes as he watched Sigma go through the moves once described as iado, the art of drawing the sword. And, X had to admit, Sigma was very good, as good as most masters who had practiced many, many decades whereas he had only been watching and reading about it for little less than a week.
"Well," Doctor Cain said, "at least you found a hobby for him. It wasn't quite what I expected but he seems happy with it."
X simply nodded. "He seems happy enough," he said, "and all of the field tests have come out perfect. He's even learned to follow orders without question."
"He'd make a fine soldier, don't you think?" Doctor Cain said, voice somewhat absent.
X looked over at Doctor Cain. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"The Council contacted me," Doctor Cain said, "they want me to do something about the Repriroids who glitch. I was told to form a group of peacekeeping Repriroids who could respond to a problem and hopefully contain it before it starts."
"Are you going to do it?" X asked.
"I already have," Doctor Cain said simply.
"That's why you redistributed the workers in my wing," X said, "so they could go to another plant to work on these soldiers."
Doctor Cain nodded. "I had to," he said, "human society has become so dependent on Repriroids that it would no doubt crumble if your kind was removed from it. I had to build soldiers who could handle other Repriroids who glitch."
"You're talking about exterminating possible innocent Repriroids," X said.
"These peacekeepers will hunt for only those who do not conform to the standards laid out for Repriroids," Doctor Cain said, "they will not terminate any Repriroid until they know they cannot be saved."
X just nodded, his gaze down now even as the group around him began to clap once more at yet another move Sigma had no doubt made in his 'performance.'
"X," Doctor Cain said softly, resting a hand on the old robot's shoulder, "I'm trying to help save the Repriroids, not destroy them. If I don't do this then the Council might declare something more drastic like the termination of all of them, not just those who are irregular. I'll make sure that there are strict ground rules set in place to prevent any problems from happening. Don't worry about it."
X nodded. "Are you going to lead these hunters?"
"No, no, my boy," Doctor Cain said with a soft chuckle, "I have someone else better suited to the job."
"Sigma," X said as he looked over to the elderly doctor.
Doctor Cain nodded. "He might not be too old but he has shown a great level of competence. I'm sure with a bit more training he'd become a fine soldier and leader."
"Who's going to train him?" X asked.
"The Council is going to send a few people from the armed forces to work with Sigma," Doctor Cain said, "they'll make sure he's well versed in protocol and in the way we're going to work the hunters."
"Irregular Hunters," X mused, "somehow it almost sounds like we're condemning ourselves before any major problems really start."
"We're not," Doctor Cain said, "so don't worry. Just let me handle it."
X nodded again, falling silent.
"I want you to help me," Doctor Cain said, "I want you to help me work to develop new types of Repriroids for this new Hunter organization. I want you to remain my personal assistant."
"Ok," X said, voice a bit soft, "if you'll excuse me, I have something I forgot to tend to."
Doctor Cain only nodded a soft, if sad smile on his face.
X turned and left, wanting nothing more than to leave the lab and the thought of what was to become of Repriroids.
However, X retreated to the small, private gardens on the backside of the lab, a place built to take the new Repriroids out to experience nature first hand without risking an unwanted first contact with others. He found a place to sit on the low, stone wall and he gazed up into the night sky, his breath fogging before him, much as it had that night when Doctor Cain had first found and released X from his century long sleep. The stars seemed to twinkle just as much now as they did then.
"I don't know what to do," X said, voice soft as he kept his gaze cast to the heavens, "I don't know what I'm supposed to do, what you'd want me to do. I feel so lost and alone, even now when I know I have those who care about me. I sometimes feel as if I really don't belong here, as if I should never have woken. I know it seems strange to hear me say it, but it's true. I know I have a job, what you'd call friends, a mentor and those who look up to me and who I look up to, but . . . somehow . . . it just seems so . . . so hollow. As if it's not real."
With a soft sigh X looked down. "What am I supposed to do? What did you want me to become? Why? Why is this happening to me? Why do I doubt like I do? Why do I hurt so much inside. Why am I so terrified of the thought of the Hunters being created?"
X fell silent when he noticed a blip on his radar. It was weak, almost unnoticeable, but it was close. A human, no doubt and he had a good idea who it was who had followed him. He only hoped he was wrong and that Doctor Cain hadn't heard what he had said. The last thing he needed was for the elderly doctor to doubt X's competency and take him off of the project. Not that he condoned Repriroids being used as fighters like that but he also, once he stopped to really think on it, wouldn't stop their creation knowing that prevention, in this case, would be much better than waiting until the Council decided to take drastic measures.
Rising from his seat, X began to walk around the grounds, both inside the smallish garden and outside to the electronic fences designed to keep the lab safe. He let the cool of the night air comfort him, hoping to hear even a whisper of an answer on the breeze though a part of him knew such a thing would never happen. This was something he had to deal with himself and only the future would know what and when those answers would appear. He would be the one who would need to take control of his destiny, whatever that might be, not some ghosts of the past who he would never see or get to know, who could answer his questions and save him the inner pains he felt, both of not knowing what had been expected of him as well as abandonment. Though he had seen the message from Doctor Right, had known he would never have lived to see X wake, but that still didn't comfort the sapphire robot any.
With another soft sigh X returned to the lab, more specifically his recharge capsule. He opened the lid and hesitated running a hand along the edge before stepping in and settling himself down. He closed the lid and stared at his reflection as he waited for the capsule to lull him into a sleep mode, hoping in the morning he'd feel better and maybe not quite as empty.
"Sir," a Hunter said, "we have reports of an Irregular spotted at E-46."
"That's the location of Doctor Right's lab," Sigma said, "are the reports confirmed?"
"They are, sir," the Hunter said, "one Irregular bearing red armor was spotted rummaging around the area as if searching for something, but what we have no idea."
"Keep me informed," Sigma said, "send Garma to investigate. His Unit is more suited to intelligence."
"As you wish, sir," the Hunter said before turning back to his terminal.
Sigma crossed his arms as he turned toward the doors of the Command Center when they opened. "Doctor Cain, X."
"We've just established two more unit Commanders," Doctor Cain said, "I decided to separate a couple of units since they were so huge. One I made into the 4th Overland Unit and the 14th Grapple Combat Unit, the other I split into the 8th Armored Division and the 9th Special Forces."
Sigma nodded. "I will go over the notes as soon as I can. A Hunter on patrol picked up an Irregular near the Right Lab ruins and I've sent Garma to investigate."
Doctor Cain nodded. "I never figured anyone would really care about that old place but I guess I was wrong."
"Do you wish me to go to the ruins to investigate myself?" Sigma asked.
Doctor Cain shook his head. "No need. Garma is a very competent Commander. I'm sure he and his men can take care of it."
Sigma nodded before falling silent, still not one for 'small talk'.
"Well, I'll let you get back to your work," Doctor Cain said, "I just wanted to let you know the changes so you know how to redistribute your forces."
Sigma simply nodded and he watched as Doctor Cain hesitated before turning to take his leave, X following him. The Hunter Commander turned his attention back to the monitors and the feeds to each unit's outpost. So far, except for this single Irregular, things had been very quiet. Not that he was one to go look for a fight but he was also not one to sit around and do nothing.
"Sir," a Hunter said, "Garma reports the Irregular has refused to respond to calls to stop and has teleported."
"Tell him to keep on it and to follow this Irregular until he subdues him," Sigma said, "I'll be in my quarters going over the new reports."
"Yes, sir," the Hunter said.
Sigma turned and left, heading back to his quarters. No sooner had he entered then he paused upon hearing a commotion in the hallway. He turned around and watched as Vava, part of his Seventeenth Elite Unit fired on a fellow Hunter, killing him instantly.
"What is this about?" Sigma asked.
"He started it," Vava said, "I just finished it."
"Firing and killing a Hunter is an offense punishable by death," Sigma simply said.
Vava only half shrugged.
"I'm going to have to take you into custody for that," Sigma said, withdrawing his sabre."
"I'd like to see you try it," Vava said, "I have the advantage." He lowered his shoulder cannon, aiming it at Sigma's chest.
The Hunter Commander didn't even blink as he stepped in, saber coming up and biting into the lower part of Vava's cannon.
The former member of the Seventeenth blinked, the only sign the slight dimming of his red optics. "Very good," he said, "I guess I'm your prisoner now. So take me away and lock me up. Not that you can hold me for long. Nothing can hold me."
"We'll see about that," Sigma said as he hit his com unit. "Requesting two Hunters for an Irregular pick up outside my quarters. I'm holding the prisoner as we speak."
"Right away sir," a voice said over his unit.
"I could just as easily teleport," Vava said, "and you couldn't stop me."
"But you're not the type to run," Sigma said, "something I always admired in you."
"Then let me go," Vava said, "oh, that's right, you're too 'uprighteous' for your own good."
"I am the leader of the Hunters," Sigma said, "you should know better."
Two Hunters teleported in and paused, shocked looks on their faces.
"Vava is under arrest for killing a Hunter in cold blood," Sigma said, "take him away to the cells while I report this to Doctor Cain. And call a medic to take the body away."
"Yes, sir," one of the Hunters said with a salute.
Sigma turned and entered his quarters, starting to write his report for Doctor Cain. He didn't get the chance to finish it when suddenly there was a call over his radio.
"Sir! Report from Garma," the Hunter operator said, "the irregular has wiped out half of his unit . . . bare handed. He is requesting back up support."
"What?" Sigma exclaimed, "how can an Irregular have that much power?"
"I don't know," the Hunter said, "now we're receiving word that only four of them live. Garma has fallen."
"Where is this Irregular," Sigma said, "send me the coordinates."
Once he received the coordinates he teleported, determined to stop this Irregular from killing any more Hunters and to see for himself just what kind of power this Irregular had that could so easily slaughter a crack Hunter unit.