Chapter 7 - As The Light Fades

Standing before both Faern and AX was an average-sized Reploid, or what could be mistaken as one. His armor was a dark silver in tint, with a carbon rubber-suit beneath of a lighter silver shade. His helmet was simple in design, that is until you came upon the ridges that connected where his forehead would be and raced back along the helmet and up into cylindrical cone-points. The shoulders are adorned with extra plating, making them more broad for extra protection, the chest was a single plate of armor, unlike X's which was cut into three sections. The gauntlets and boots were of simple Reploid design, nothing flashy there.

"Shift at your service."

AX's lips went from slightly agape into a small smirk, his hands touching together in a light clapping, "Flashy entrance, that's five points for you." Shift only grinned.

"So you're Shift.." Came Faern's voice, motioning toward the computer screen.

"That would be me," Shift replied, sliding down into the computer chair, while AX walked over and set one hand on the back of the chair and the other on the computer console, "The one thing that bothers me Shift, is why you're even in the database to begin with."

"32 decided that Faern would need to be to eventually figure out I wasn't Enz-" Shift began, but AX interrupted, "And that's another thing, where's the real Enzan?"

"If you'd let me finish a sentence, I'd be able to tell you," Shift sighed heavily, glaring slightly up at AX, who backed up a little and motioned for him to continue.

"Back in 32's lab, when you ran off. 32 called me in, Anode knew I was still active, so me being there wasn't a surprise to him. 32 explained the situation to me and told me to assimilate Enzan and to take you back to Faern. 32 told me to make sure that he would figure it out, instead of there always being two Enzan's running around. I'm in the database for that same reason. To make sure Faern would discover the farce." AX nodded, while Faern stroked his chin slowly.

"So now what?" AX asked after a few minutes.

"Now you go back and help 32, while I stay here and help Faern finish some Hunters," Shift replied, giving a grin.

"Don't take too long, Shift," AX called out as he went running from the building, Shift nodded a little.

"Ok, doctor. Let's get started."

Shoryu gazed around the laboratory, his eyes moving across every instrument and tool, his memories slowly beginning to return to him after all the years of being deactivated. Dr. Sebastian went walked past, carrying a tray of parts to a table on the other side of the room. Shoryu lifted himself from his table and dropped to the floor, following slowly behind him, getting used to being awake again. He stopped at the foot of the lab table, upon it laying the upper portion a half built Reploid. This Reploid was a collage of gold trimming and crimson armor. Upon the shoulders were epaulettes, golden fringes capping the shoulder plating. His face was blank, due to not being activated. Atop his head was a red beret, with a white patch in the front, topping his blonde locks. Though he was only half-finished, Shoryu could tell that this Reploid would be about the same height as X, the azure Maverick Hunter of the past.

"Who is this one?" Shoryu already knew of the doctor's planned, for he had been programmed to know, what he hadn't been programmed to know was his fellow 'Mavericks.'

"His name is Elcazor.. He's more advanced than you are, but he has less battle experience, which is why you're in command of many of the troops. You actually know what you're doing, Shoryu." The doctor said, messing with a few instruments on another table, "Make yourself scarce, I have work to do and cannot be bothered answering your questions."

Shoryu eyes slit for a moment, anger showing in his eyes. He shoved himself away from the table and walked away from the doctor, slamming his palm into the door to another room within Sebastian's establishment.

Alpha ran back and forth across the street, carrying the blue mail bin atop his right shoulder. Bread Man stood off to the side, staring at him in disapproval, but he couldn't do anything about it. Alpha hefted the bin upward with one hand and then threw back where he picked it up. It hit the ground, teetered backward a bit and then slammed back into its place in the ground, dents all across it from its misuse. Bread Man shook his head in disbelief and just walked away.

"Where you going Brendan!"

Alpha went chasing after him, refusing to be left alone for the second time while out on a mission. The first time was completely his fault too. He had been screwing around with the head of a blown up Joe and refused to leave it alone until he had completely covered the entire thing with rocks. When he got the last rock on there, everyone was already gone.

Alpha was really sad.. For about ten seconds.

32 sighed heavily, sitting back in his seat. He laced his fingers together in front of him and jerked slightly, cracking all of them at once. He sat forward, typing a few things up on the screen, changing certain aspects of Axl's programming, internal systems, and configuration. He turned his head to the screen next to him, watching Enzan's progress slowly through the massive headquarters.

Enzan rounded yet another corner. He was beginning to get tired of all the corners within the building. He didn't think there could EVER be that many corners in one building. He turned another corner and stopped, flicking on his flashlight and letting it lay across the massive silver door in front of him. He stepped forward slowly, touching his fingers lightly against the cool metal surface.

"32?" Enzan asked lightly, and 32 responded almost immediately, "I see it.. I have no idea what that is though. I doubt it has anything to do with X and Axl though."

"Don't you think the most inconspicuous area would be the perfect place to look?" Enzan inquired, still staring at the door. 32 sounded slightly agitated, "If you can get it open, look. If you can't, keep moving."

Enzan nodded lightly. He put the flashlight between his knees to keep it from falling to the floor. He set both of his hands to the door and shoved... Nothing happened. He sighed a little, and then began gliding his hands over the surface of the door, looking for any type of hidden panel or lock or opener of any sort.. Nothing. He stepped back and sent his foot slamming into the door, he yelped and grabbed his foot, the flashlight dropping to the floor, he rubbed his feet with his hands, standing on one foot, slightly hopping ever few seconds. "Ow."

"Idiot."

Enzan scowled and bent down to grab his flashlight. He turned away from the door and went off in another direction, hoping to find something slightly more exciting than a boring gray door that couldn't be opened.

A small hatch at the very tip-top of the door slid open and a small camera slid from it, watching the assailant upon the door walk away. The camera blinking, like an eye and then slid back into its place, the hatch closing. The sleeping figures within the room remaining undisturbed for another day.

"Finally!" Shift clapped his hands together, Faern glanced over at him, "What are you so happy about?"

Shift turned around to face the doctor, holding the completed helmet and gauntlets to Mega Man. He walked over to where the doctor was standing, manipulating his body into three arms, he set the three pieces into place, nodding with satisfaction. He brought his body back into itself and walked back to the other table, getting to work on the boots.

'... I'm never going to get used to that.' Was all Faern could think after that spectacle.

Faern turned his gaze back toward the inner workings of Mega Man, sparks showering the lab table as he touches his welder inside of the almost complete frame of the newly rebuilt relic of old.

Shoryu's left wrist glowed faintly, before energy exploded forth from a small slit at the base of the gauntlet, a green beam racing out in front of him a few feet. He swung the wrist blade in front of him once, before dashing forward, lashing the blade across a rebuilt Joe, splitting him apart. Shoryu walked forward, the body exploding behind him.

"I hate this place.. I need to get out and do something.." A dark twinkle appeared within his eyes, "Hunters.. Be prepared for my return."

Lizzy crossed her arms across her chest, sighing lightly. Panic and Piro stood off to her left, Fidget was spinning a pistol around his right hand, not a sound coming from him, which was something new. Anode stood a few feet from Lizzy, in the same position, his arms crossed over his chest.

"What can't we just leave, Anode?" Lizzy snapped slightly in her tone, Anode didn't notice or didn't care, "We have to wait for AX. It's that simple. As soon as he gets here, we can go back to the lab."

All eyes turned in Fidget's direction as a blast was heard. Smoke was filtering out the end of Fidget's gun, an innocent little grin on his face as he quickly holstered it and ran off to find out what he had hit.

Panic glanced at Piro, who shook his head quickly.

Anode smirked slightly, uncrossing his arms. He turned away from Lizzy and set his hand to the side of his head, activating a comm. link to both 32 and AX at the same time, "Do you two copy?"

"Loud and clear." Came 32's response, but neither of them heard AX's response, "Do you think something happened to him, 32?"

"Could be a past position he's in. Communication satellite probably isn't in alignment for us to get his signal, or vice versa." Anode nodded a little, "I suppose."

Lizzy stepped up to Anode's side and pointed a little ways off down the destroyed rode. She whistled lightly and called back to her unit, "Piro! Panic! Up front, now."

The two did as they were told and came running. Piro stopped next to Lizzy and Panic stopped next to Anode. Lizzy pointed out toward the distant object moving quickly in their direction. Piro nodded and set his hands to his temple, a green visor flashing over his eyes.

"It's going too fast.. I can't keep my eyes on it." Piro said, annoyed and nervous at the same time, his eyes could be seen trailing over the visor slowly, trying to keep the figure in his sights, "DAMMIT! STOP MOVING!"

As if it had heard him, it stopped. Dust flew up over where the figure was standing and as it cleared, AX was found standing there, smirking slightly. He pointed toward them, smirking. Anode's link came to life seconds afterward, "You guys don't need to worry about me. Just remember. Going that fast usually means I'm not going to be able to talk."

The four of them went running toward AX, who stayed where he was standing, crossing his arms over his chest. When they got there, AX glanced about them and looked to Anode, "Where's Fidget?"

"I have no idea." Anode replied, completely calm despite his team member being missing. AX perked a brow at the calm Reploid, "I wonder where he's gotten off to."

"He'll show up eventually. Let's get back to the lab," Lizzy stated, rather forcefully, "I'm tired of being out here in the open with you freaks. Let's go already."

Lizzy strode off toward the HQ, with Panic and Piro following closely behind them. AX and Anode stood staring at another for a moment, and then Anode began to follow them. AX stood there alone and glanced around the ruined street where a battle had occurred only a few hours ago.

"You better be okay Fidget and get back to base.." AX closed his eyes, and then turned and followed after Anode and the rest.