Chapter 8 - Government Issues
Fidget crept through the back alley, his eyes roaming back and forth before him. He shivered a little, as if the temperature had just dropped multiple degrees, but the temperature gauge on his wrist hadn't changed.
It had been ages since he had done anything on his own, well.. Anything without back-up at the ready. All of the current missions he had undertaken, involved at least one person knowing the consequences of his actions, but this time.. He went off on his own, without anyone knowing. Apparently, none of them cared either, seeing as how they hadn't come looking for him. But Fidget knew how to take care of himself when going solo.
He sighed heavily, leveling his pistol before him, his eyes sliding back and forth in front of him. He spun on his heel quickly at the sound of metal tipping and clattering against the pavement, his pistol aimed carefully, but all that revealed itself was a small rat. He let out a sigh of relief slowly, but his body tensed as he felt the barrel of a some sort of rifle being placed against the small of his back. He shut his eyes and mentally yelled at himself for letting his guard down.
"State your business, immediately. Turn around and I blow a hole through your core."
Fidget flinched slightly and drew his pistol slowly up into his hand, letting the handle draw over his wrist, so the person with the rifle wouldn't fire, "I'm checking out this area for any signs of Mav-"
"Are you a Hunter?" The second question came before the first answer even finished, Fidget tried to glance back at his assailant, but to no avail, "Yes. I would be one if there was a Hunter organization still."
"You know a guy named Bread Man? Or 32?" His assailant actually waited for a complete answer before continuing with his interrogation. Fidget nodded lightly, "They weren't deactivated and are still active, yes."
"Ah-hah. Bleu! Orichalcon! Come out here." Fidget's eyes widened at those two names, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
The rifle was removed from Fidget's back and he slowly turned around, dropping his pistol into its holster at his waist. The wielder of the rifle stood before him, it was a much shorter Reploid, he had a simple green Reploid helmet, but it was adorned on either side of black spikes sprouting from the sensory units, and a single blue gem in the middle of his forehead. His entire armor was spackled with golden paint. The same blue color as his gem adorned the tip of his boots, as well as his belt and his gauntlets. At the back of his shoulders are golden clasps, keeping his red cape attached.
The two Reploids that join him are much taller than the he, both almost the same exact height. The male Reploid, standing to the right of the green Reploid, was a dark blue in color. The carbon rubber-suit beneath the armor was a darker shade of gray. The tops of his boots were adorned with lighter dray guards, that same color of armor tipping his boots, as well as adorning the plating around his neck. Twin reflectors adorned his chest and a bit below them, a light silver 'belt' coiled around his waist. The darker silver plating also adorned his helmet, wrapping about where his forehead would be, and leading back along the center of the helmet. A small light blue gem was located in the center of the forehead plating.
The female Reploid on the opposite side of the male, had armor the color of cyan. The chest plating was adapted to fit a female body, and a 'V' shaped light blue armor was made at the base of the front of her neck and placed down her chest plate, to make it seem like she had a 'V-neck' armor plating. Across her waist was a sort of gray belt, that wrapped from above her right hip to below her left. Her helmet was clipped at the back to let her hair, also a cyan color, to dangle around the base of her neck. The front of the helmet was slanted slightly, to cover her forehead, and a small ruby gem was placed in the center of the front. Her gauntlets and boots were standard issue Reploid design, but her boots had knee guards of small detail, made to keep her agility up. Her carbon rubber-suit was black in color and made to fit her body perfectly.
"Fidget!" The two gasped out his name in surprise simultaneously, stepping back slightly. Fidget gave a small smirk and set his hand to the side of his head, "The one and only!"
"How do you know my team-mates.. 'Fidget?'" The shorter Reploid asked, glaring at everyone's favorite brown Hunter.
"O. Fidget used to work with us on numerous missions before the utopia." Orichalcon, the male Reploid answered. Bleu set her hand lightly upon Orichalcon's shoulder, "Fidget was our commanding officer."
'O.. Where have I heard that name before.. I kno-.. OH MY GOD!' Fidget's hand flew from his side to his pistol, upholstering and aiming straight at O's forehead, "Step away from the Reploids, O! DO IT NOW!"
O had moved about as quick as Fidget had, his rifle aimed at Fidget's chest plating, his finger twitching lightly over the trigger, but he had also pulled Bleu in front of him as a shield, and shoved Orichalcon off to the side, causing him to trip and fall over a slab of concrete.
"Make your move, Fidget," O's lip twitched as he spoke, his finger setting upon the trigger, Fidget doing the same, one eye slipping closed as he aimed more carefully.
And with the squeeze of a trigger, a gun went off, the resounding blast echoing within the small alley. And one figure falling to the concrete earth, releasing their hold upon their weapon, having it topple to the side. Orichalcon gasped as he removed himself from the rubble he had been pushed into.
Faern stepped back away from the rebuild body of Mega Man, wiping the sleeve of his lab coat over his forehead to remove the sweat. He closed the panel over Mega Man's chest, latching it closed, replacing the carbon suit over his body, and then placing the chest plate back on him. He reached for the welder and began welding the armor into place, sending a shower of sparks upon the floor.
Shift whistled lightly as he spun a small claw-like instrument in his right hand. He drew the instrument over the helmet sitting in front of him, shaping the helmet design to be exactly like Proto Man's. He nodded at his work and set the instrument down. He picked up the helmet and walked past Faern and around the table containing Mega Man and stopped at the next table over, setting to down at the top of the table. He turned to Faern, "Do you want me to start the construction of Blues, or continue to make the armor?"
"It would be more helpful if you started on the construction of him. I'll be able to help in a few minutes. I need to add in a few more memory chips to Mega Man, and then I'll be able to activate him."
"You should activate them together, instead of separately," Shift returned, walking back over to 'his' lab table on the other side of Faern's.
"You may be right.." Faern muttered lightly, pushing Mega Man into a sitting position to begin adding in the memory chips.
"All the flaws have been corrected.. His design has been redone completely.. His memories have been added in. He's finally done.. It took me so long to finish him.. I just hope he can actually help out.."
"President Goompas, what are planning on doing in this situation concerning the famed Dr. Sebastian?"
The president sat back in his chair, sighing lightly, his eyes closed. He twiddled his fingers together for a few moments, before sitting back forward, opening his eyes. He lifted his right hand and re-adjusted his shades, giving one of those fake smiles that president's always give to calm the nations.
"The government is doing everything in its power to quench this flame of rebirth. Reploids were shut down for a reason. We will not be allowing them to retu-"
"But there have already been multiple accounts of rampage Reploids in the streets, Mr. President. What is the military going to do about them? Citizens are frightened out of their wits at the abominations."
"We'll do what we can to help everyone. No more questions please. I have something more important to attend to." And with that, President Goompas pushed himself out of his cushy-leather chair and walked out of the room.
The press exploded upon his exit. He strode down the monotone hallway, the bland colors always irritating his eyes. He lifted his hands to his black suit and tugged on it, pulling it more about his shoulders. He then readjusted his crimson tie, straightening it out. He turned down a hallway and stopped at the other end, setting his hand on the glowing green panel.
"Welcome Mr. Goompas." An automated female voice recited.
The eight locks undid themselves and steam rolled along the seam. Goompas stepped back as the massive steel door swung open, allowing him access. He walked into the room and walked up a small flight of stairs, standing in the center of a circular shaft. He tapped a code into the panel off to his left and the elevator began its descent, the sound of the door overhead closing as he dropped multiple stories.
The elevator finally came to a stop, letting Goompas out on to a dimly lit hallway. He proceeded forward, pushing open a glass door. Before him was a massive secret underground laboratory. Dozens of scientists from different countries were running back and forth across the room. There were more tables then there were scientists, and atop each table was a machine. Most were half-built, some were nowhere near completion, and others were almost completed. Goompas walked down the flight of stairs to where the scientists were located.
"Goompas! I have a new Reploid idea, sir!" A young scientist came running up to him, waving a blue print in front of him, Goompas could only sigh.
"What's your idea THIS time, Andehshun?" He stood still as the scientist came running to him, handing over the blue print to the president.
Goompas' eyes ran over the schematics of this new robot and was taken aback at how skillfully designed it was. It reminded him of X in many ways, but it was also different. He flipped to the next page and noticed multiple components that had never been used before.
"Hmm.. What's it's name, Andehshun?" Goompas asked, looking up at the young Roboticist. Andehshun smiled widely, "I want to name him.. Paragon."
"Get Dr. Malone and Dr. Stabler to assist you on this project. Complete it as quickly as possible. The idea of a Reploid capable of making armor at will after accumulating schematics from other Reploids is very intriguing. I would like to see him in action." Goompas returned the blue prints and Andehshun nodded, "Thank you sir!"
The young man ran off and collected Malone and Stabler and took them to a table that was empty on the complete other side of the room, laying out the schematics for them to overlook. Goompas nodded lightly and walked over to the head of the department, Dr. Raijouta, who was busily assigning tasks to a group of slightly older scientists.
"Dr. Raijouta. I assume you're almost finished with the Wandering Souls force. I'm only assuming this because you've had more time than initially determined." Goompas crossed his arms over his chest, slitting his eyes a little.
"Oh.. President Goompas, sir.. Uhm.. We.. Ugh.. Dynamo is the only one we have left to finish, then his force will be c-c-complete. I'm positive on this sir," Dr. Raijouta stammered out, dabbing his handkerchief at his forehead.
"That's good to hear. Get back to work." Goompas turned away from the good doctor, who almost fainted.
'I can't believe I have to resort to rebuilding Mavericks to fight against Sebastian's Reploids.. This is so embarrassing.. Like that one time in first grade when I p-.. Get your mind on track, Goompas!'
"Alright! Let's keep up the good work. I want the Wandering Souls to be completed before the end of the day today. Other than that, everyone else progress normally. Oh.. Andehshun, Malone, and Stabler are not to be taken away from their current project. This one is VERY important. Allow them to finish it.' Goompas watched as the scientists within the room and nodded and returned to work. He let himself out.