Please note the a/n at chapter suffix

Megaman X: Shadow of Arcadia
Chapter Three: Mortem in C Minor, Second Movement

It was midmorning, about 1000 hours. The cramped room was flooded with a muted sunlight from the solitary window with curtains drawn. Outside, it was quiet; there were no noises of someone going through a bag or reploids shooting the breeze in the barracks commons. There were no exercises going on in the outdoor area, and the bulky work computer in the room hadn't been turned on yet. The only sources of noise in the room were the steady, yet out-of-synch breaths of the two sleeping reploids. One of them lay serenely in the bunk on one wall, and the other slept sitting upright in a large chair borrowed from the common area.

Then, slowly, gradually, one awoke. His breathing quickened and he became vaguely aware of the pillow beneath his head. A feeling of profound peace and security overtook him for the few short moments he lay awake before turning his mind to its proverbial "on" position. A soft groan escaped him as he remembered the events from the early morning. He heard a sharp breath from the opposite side of the room followed by a sleep-laden "Hey." He looked tiredly over at the noise and saw a groggy Zero sitting in an armchair –he was still dressed in the same clothes as he was last night.

"Hey," came X's somewhat shaky reply.

"You feeling alright?" Zero was sitting forward now, obviously still tired, but concerned.

"I guess so; I think it was probably just a little much all at once." Zero nodded assent and sat back again.

"You scared me when you fell forward like that. You sure you're going to be able to do this?" X responded without a moment's delay.

"Yeah; anyone who'd do that needs to be caught, and fast –who better to do it than us?" Zero nodded at X's enthusiasm.

"That's good, because I've got our precise orders on my desk. Why don't you get ready for today and meet me down at my dormitory; we'll meet Carice and Angie after that." Zero stood up and stretched. He waved good-bye to X and headed out the door. X lay in bed a few more minutes, not wanting to let go of the peaceful feeling too quickly –Zero needed a little extra time anyway. A few more winks couldn't hurt…

Unit 0 Barracks, 1100 hours

X knocked on the door marked "Commander Zero" and waited. He heard a shuffling noise from inside and the "slide-click!" of a deadbolt being shot back. Zero stood in the doorway, changed and recently showered.

"Come on in." X followed Zero back into the room and was instantly jealous of his friend. He had once heard that Zero had a large living area, but he hadn't put much weight to the rumor. Zero's dormitory had to be at least twice the size of X's, and actually had furniture –something X didn't think anyone had, let alone soldiers. He continued to look about with envious eyes as Zero lead him to his desk.

"It's because there's fewer of us." X looked at Zero, slightly puzzled. "The room. It's nicer because there's less of us; Unit Zero gets the same funding and space that the 18th gets, there's just less of us. Anyway, that's really unimportant at the moment. Here," he paused long enough to hand X another envelope. "You've got a copy too."

Orders to Maverick Hunter Elites Col. X, 18th, and Col. Zero, 0

Issued May XX, 21XX from MMHQ Top-Command
Classification Priority: Triple Gamma, top-level classification
Hunters Col. X and Col. Zero are to accompany and ensure the well being of investigators 2nd Lieutenant Carice Lauer, 32nd Civilian, and 2nd Lieutenant Angelina Keror, 32nd Civilian.
Mission critical that Lauer and Keror survive any confrontations with hostile forces.
Mission critical that mission remains fully covert. All persons who know about this mission not listed in this document are to be considered hostile and extremely dangerous to all parties involved.
All measures approved, lethal force is authorized.
Failure will result in immediate exile or termination.
Verified: General Signas, MMHQ Top-Command

X finished reading the orders and looked up somewhat worriedly at Zero. They spared a moment in silence, understanding entirely what the other wanted to say. X just nodded and looked away again. "Immediate exile or termination" it was not a nice prospect.

"It doesn't get any clearer than that. It's just conjecture, but I would imagine that this is more than just a couple of murders. I think we're in for a long haul that won't just be resolved with this second murder. We have two choices here: either we a skip out of the city and live as exiled Mavericks, or we b stick it out and make sure no harm comes to those two girls –perceptive as they are, I don't think they suspect a major conspiracy, not yet an any rate." X looked incredulously up at Zero again. How could he even say that? It was just… just… crazy… but true. They had no options, really. In about one half-hour, they would have to cement their fates to keep the conspiracy covered up –or become one of the very reploids they hunted, at least in the eyes of the city.

A/N

Well as you can plainly see, this chapter is incomplete and has been nothing like the last two; I attribute this entirely to a radical change in myself. This change has left me, in my opinion, incapable of composing something dark enough to satisfy this story on a regular basis. I apologise for beginning something so grandiose only to let it falter as it has, but such things are --happily --out of my control. With that said, I don't expect I'll finish Shadow of Arcadia; alas, it will likely stay as it is now indefinitely.

-Pherexio