Disclaimer: I do not own Megaman Zero or any character portrait on this fic, with that out of the way, let's continue:
'' '': Dialogue of characters
Italics : Thoughts of characters
First Strike
Beyond the devastated area caused by the Ragnarok five reploids stood side by side facing east on top of a leveled building , three of them were none other than the surviving guardians of Neo Arcadia; Leviathan ,Fefnir and Harpuia. The remaining two were the legendary maverick hunters; X and Zero.
''This is the place'' – Harpuia said, broking the silence.
''Are you sure? '' – Fefnir asked scratching his head – ''Looks to me like a simple scrap yard.''
''Again with the stupid questions? '' – Harpuia replied.
''No, he's right'' – X said in defense of Harpuia – ''The signal from the tracking device is very clear, this is the place.''
''So what are we waiting for, let's go there and kick some maverick ass'' – Leviathan said as she jumped off the building, however Fefnir managed to grab her before she could screw up the mission.
''This is no joy ride! ''- Harpuia harshly replied – ''We are going to infiltrate their hideout and destroy them from the inside, not barge right trough the front door!.''
X waved a hand towards the cloaked transports filled with X-bots, once the team of five had successfully disabled their security grid the X-bots would come in to assist them. Once he was done ,X nodded to Harpuia.
Harpuia dashed at full speed in direction to the ground , and in one clean cut he created an entrance to the insides of the abandoned sub stations. X motioned Fefnir and Leviathan to proceed, the two guardians saluted and followed Harpuia.
''I wish they stop doing that…''- X thought. Shaking that thought away X turned to his partner – ''Zero, we'll enter trough the northeast tunnels, from there…''- X stopped talking after realizing Zero was lost on his own world.
Zero had remained quiet trough the entire trip, all the time with the same thought on his mind: Iris. He had made it perfectly clear to everyone that the next time he'd faced her he would finish her off once and for all. However he left it clear for everyone except one person; himself.
''Zero! ''
Zero jerked out of his train of thoughts and turned to X – ''Sorry, I was just thinking. What is it?''
X sighed and started speaking – ''I know this is hard, especially for you'' – X said, referring to Iris – ''but we need to finish the dark mavericks or else the still remaining humans will perish because of Vile. I need you to be focus, not like in the briefing.''
Zero nodded, recalling said briefing – ''You're right, let's go X.''
Both dashed towards their destination, meanwhile X laughed a bit making Zero curious.
''What's so funny? ''
''It's just that, for a moment you sounded like your old self'' – X said with a smile –''don't take it wrong it's still you ,but it seems your old personality is also coming back. ''
Zero laughed as well – ''Let's hope that's the only thing coming back, because I suddenly recalled the many times I had to save your sorry ass'' – Zero said, leaving behind an angry X muttering random stuff of not always needing his help.
Zero's smile disappeared as the thought of Iris once again came to his mind – ''Iris…''
Flash back: 2 hours before. Neo Arcadia's command center:
''Here '' – Harpuia said to the briefing staff , pointing the section of the map – ''Sector 45-E, the devastated area caused by the Ragnarok ''
''Are you sure? '' – Fefnir asked scratching his head.
''Yes, I am sure'' – Harpuia replied. – ''The tracking device I implanted to Gate is emanating it's signal from around that area, I propose we head out there and infiltrate their base, while our main force awaits just in the border of the area to come and finish any resistance we encounter.''
Everyone considered the idea, and some even gave suggestions, however one of them was just sitting on his chair with his arms crossed, deep in thought:
''Can I do it? '' – Zero thought – ''I know she's not the real Iris, but she does have her memories, besides, my body is not the original but nonetheless I am Zero. I know destroying her it's the right thing to do but I once had to kill her, and I really don't want to go trough that again. How could I…''
Zero suddenly stopped, realizing what he was about to say – ''Could it be possible…do I…still …love her …''
''Zero?''
Zero opened his eyes and turned to the source of the delicate voice – ''Yes, what is it Ciel?''
''Nothing, is just…'' - Ciel thought of the correct words – ''you seem like something's bothering you, what is it?''
''Nothing, just pre mission jitters, that's it.''- Zero replied, a bit fast from his usual way of speaking.
''Oh, okay'' – Ciel said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. Zero nodded and decided to finally pay attention to the briefing, however that was the last thing on his mind at the moment:
End Flash back
''Iris…''
''You said something Zero?''- X asked with a puzzled look.
''No nothing, look!'' – Zero said pointing a few meters ahead – ''There's our entrance.''
Zero drew his Z saber and created an entrance, both hunters entered and took point. So far no contact.
''Alright Zero, let's end this.''
''Indeed.''- Zero said raising his saber while X charged his X buster. Both hunters dashed at high speed while remaining in darkness, one way or another this was going to end today.
Neo Arcadia: Resistance relocation sector:
Since the dark mavericks revealed themselves and threatened not only the citizens of Neo Arcadia but also the resistance members, X had suggested that all of the resistance should move to Neo arcadia since it was the safest place to be at the moment. While the resistance was not happy for the decision ,they agreed but only until the threat was eliminated.
While the transports continue to arrive unloading dozens of resistance members, Ciel was in the upper balcony of their temporary home, just looking at the sky:
''Zero…''- Ciel mused – ''I know you said you're alright with this, but what about your feelings…''
Flash back: 2 hours before. Neo Arcadia's command center:
''Oh, okay'' – Ciel said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. Zero nodded and decided to finally pay attention to the briefing. However she was now the one deep in thought:
Zero had told her that he was fine, just a bit nervous for the upcoming mission, however she wasn't fooled, In all the missions Zero had gone he never seemed nervous at all.
Recalling Iris, Ciel felt a hint of jealousy but she discarded it.
''That's foolish of me'' – Ciel thought – ''Zero admitted he loved me a few days ago, I'm just being paranoic, right?''
Turning left she saw Zero once again in meditation, sighing she resumed her observation of the briefing – ''I hope I'm right. ''
End Flash back
''Ciel, there you are!''
Ciel turned to find Cerveau along with a portable pad.
''I was looking for you, I need you to check the power distribution on a few of the energy crystal plants here in the city. '' – Cerveau said, handing the pad – ''I just got this a few moments ago.''
''Oh, Okay'' – Ciel said and grabbed the pad – ''I'll check them inside, the air is making me a bit dizzy.''
''Really '' – Cerveau replied – ''I feel fine, maybe you're just tired. Why don't you leave this for later and get some rest.''
''No '' – Ciel quickly replied – ''I want to be alert when the team comes back.''
''If you insist'' – Cerveau said. Both of them entered the building wondering how was the team at this moment. Both unaware of the increasing fog around the city.
''O yeah, in an out, a clean cover ops mission.'' – Fefnir said.
''Shut up and keep firing'' – Harpuia yelled while slicing some reploids in swift moves. The mission was going fine, until the 3 guardians missed a security device in their path, now they were surrounded by dozens of dark reploids.
''Keep pressing'' – Harpuia ordered – ''We need to lower the base defenses for our main force to enter.''
''Easier said than done'' – Fenfir muttered.
Harpuia turned to see Fefnir and Leviathan engaged with several reploids, right now neither was available to follow his order.
''Fine, I'll do it myself ''– Harpuia thought. Dashing strait to the concentrated reploids near the control room Harpuia cut, literally , his way trough them. Some still active reploids lunged to attack him however Harpuia easily took care of them.
Once he was satisfied he approached the security panel on the door. – ''Weak reploids…''
''Watch out!''
Harpuia turned around to see a dark reploid readying his saber to stab him , however a blue blur of movement clouded his vision and took the attack for him.
Once everything stopped, Harpuia recognized the one that saved him – ''Leviathan!.''
The dark maverick withdrew his saber from Leviathan's chest , dropping the blue guardian to the floor in the process. Then he turned to Harpuia, however the only thing he found was an energy wave heading strait to him, the dark reploid was instantly turned to ashes.
Harpuia instantly kneeled before the fallen guardian, while Fefnir finished off his own problems.
''You fool, why? '' – Harpuia asked – ''You well know that I could have resisted the attack better than you, my armor is stronger…''
''That's not the point…''- Leviathan managed to say.
''Then what is it? '' – Harpuia replied – ''getting yourself killed just to avoid me some damage.''
''No…''- Leviathan whispered – ''Team mates support each other…and you're important to me…''
''I don't quite understand? '' – Harpuia replied with a lower tone of voice. Leviathan sighed and pressed her lips to his. After several moments both guardians separated and stared at each other.
''You know…sometimes you're just clueless…''- Leviathan said smiling.
''Er…well, we better get you treated for that wound'' –Harpuia said helping her stand up– ''We can talk about this…in private…''
Leviathan slightly blushed and nodded. Both guardians entered the control room to find a few reploids destroyed and Fefnir breaking his head while trying to disable the security system.
''This one'' – Harpuia pushed the correct sequence and the entire defense grid was now deactivated – ''Was that so hard? ''
Fefnir shrugged and stepped away from the panel – ''It's not my fault the damn system is so damn complicated, besides If you two had left the make out session for later the system would have been out a while ago.''
Both Harpuia and Leviathan turned a deep shade of red after hearing that – ''Were you spying on us?''
''No need'' - Fenfir replied – ''I could hear everything from a mile away.''
''Forget it'' – Harpuia said and tapped his comm. – ''All ground forces, proceed in attack vector!
Hundreds of X bots and Neo arcadia mechaniloids swarmed trough the upper levels of the base, destroying dark mavericks on their path. From the lower levels, the sound of battle could be heard.
''It seems Harpuia's team was successful'' – X said while searching some encrypted data on a terminal. Zero kept guard on the door in the meantime.
''Something's wrong'' – Zero spoke.
''Like what?''
''This, don't you feel it'' – Zero replied – ''this mission has been too easy ever since the beginning.''
''You mean where's the giant enemy mechaniloid, or the boss? ''– X asked – ''Don't worry, we'll find them soon… ''- X stopped as he found something very perturbing. Leaving the panel X turned to Zero – ''We need to reach Neo Arcadia, Now!''
''What? Why?''
''I'll explain in the trip back, but right now we need to go back'' – X yelled while Zero nodded. While they ran outside X opened a comm. link to the others – ''All forces, return to Neo arcadia ASAP.
''X ,can you tell me what have you found? '' – Zero asked.
''You wont like it'' – X said – ''This entire mission was just a trap, they lured us here to prepare their main attack to Neo Arcadia.''
''That's why there's barely enemy resistance here'' – Zero replied.
''No '' – X replied – ''they plan to attack Neo Arcadia in another way'' – X said with a serious look that Zero interpreted as something bad, real bad.
''I just hope Ciel is alright…''- Zero thought.
Neo Arcadia:
''Everything's set in motion'' – Gate said to Vile – ''The techno virus I developed is rapidly spreading trough the entire city.''
''How long until we see the first side effects on our victims?''
''Not long'' – Gate answered – ''after the first contact, the infected will began to feel the first sin tomes, and since I released it in the environment mere minutes ago I estimate 10 to 15 minutes.''
''Perfect'' – Vile said – ''after that we shall ascend to power and the surviving reploids will have no other choice but to obey us''
''By the way, where's my creation?''
''Outside ,in the city'' – Vile replied – ''she's waiting to finish off Zero once he arrives.''
''I thought you wanted to kill him yourself after all that he's done to you?'' – Gate asked.
''Yes, however this is a lover's quarrel, we shouldn't interfere'' – Vile said while gate acknowledged.
Across Neo arcadia thousands of humans, men ,women and children fell ill thanks to the techno virus created by Gate. The reploid population scrambled around , helping the ones they could, while others brought them to nearby hospitals.
''Ciel!''
Cerveau dropped his portable pad and raced towards the unconscious Ciel, a few moments they were discussing the energy consumption of the base ,the second later she fell to the ground. Instantly a few X bots arrived at the scene.
''You! Get an ambulance Now! ''
While the human population fell ill trough the entire city, a female reploid with long brown hair awaited atop one of the tallest buildings, waiting for his rival.
''Zero…''- Iris whispered.
Author's notes:
Finally after ,who knows one or 10 months this fic is back, sorry for the long time without update but things got in the way for me, but thankfully I'm back. Not much to say except stay tuned for next chapter: Zero vs. Iris.
Until next update.