***Disclaimer***
For all you hard-core Megaman fans out there, Yes, I am aware that Lumine was not apart of the Megaman Zero games, but rather the MMX games. However, he has a very interesting personality and I wanted to incorporate his character in this. Considering this is, after all, an alternate universe, I think I'm fine.
***RB***
The only sounds she could hear in the room was the sound of an IV dripping...heck, she could barely hear the air conditioner running. It usually was loud and obnoxious. If anything, what she REALLY noticed, was the fact that her head was absolutely POUNDING.
"Uuuunnnngggghhhh…" Raven groaned lowly, putting a hand to her head and running her fingers through her hair. Her palm rested on the area where the throbbing was hurting the most. That hurt like the pit! What had hit her? A planet?
...oh right, it had been Fefnir. Pah. She had never liked the creep. All brawn and no brains. Wait till she had a chance to-
Raven heard someone let out a heavy breath… a sigh was more like it.
Letting off a moan, Raven continued to rub her head. Who was in the room with her? Had she been captured? Was she back at the Rebel base? Had sh-
Raven stopped her thinking when she realized that she was touching...hair...She felt her head for a moment, and slowly opened her eyes.
The lights in the room did nothing to help her POUNDING headache that only seemed to increase when she moved. Where was her helmet? Why wasn't she wearing her-
Raven stopped in her tracks when she spotted movement out of the corner of her eyes and she made eye contact…
...with Zero…
Zero was standing by her bedside, giving her a...rather neutral look. He didn't seem upset, but he didn't seem too terribly pleased either…
The two stared at each other for a moment. Zero studied Raven's demeanor. She looked like she was far more alert than when she had first arrived. She had a mess of red hair that looked like it needed a brush to it from the fact she had been bedridden for three days.
She still had a few scratches on her, as well as a long faint scar that ran along the right side of Raven's head, over her eye and down across her temple.
Though one thing that startled him was her eyes quickly widening when she saw him.
Raven quickly SLAMMED her hands over her face and looked away from Zero, turning on her side, making sure her back was to him. The action made Zero gasp slightly, surprised by the sudden movement.
"...Raven we need to talk."
"Where's my helmet?" Was the sudden question from the girl in the bed.
Zero's mouth went agape for a moment, why was she suddenly so afraid of him? Did she think that he didn't know about her ploy against the Guardians. Reaching out for her, he softened his tone. "Raven, please I need to speak wit-"
"WHERE...is my helmet?!" Raven asked again, her voice sounding more desperate than the first time. Zero was taken aback by the determination that Raven had...for not allowing him to see her.
"It's over here...but wha-"
"PLEASE! GIVE ME MY HELMET!"
Zero's mouth stayed open for a few moments. The panic in her voice...the sound of...fear...HECK, she sounded like she was about to cry! He had NEVER seen Raven like this for the year and a half that he had known her! It almost sent a chill down his back…
Where was Raven? The smart-assed hotheaded, quick to give a retort girl who liked doing things her own way? Where was that girl?
The person he was looking at...was someone who was scared...vulnerable...hurt…
...it filled him with a mixture of fear and anger...
After a short moment of watching her curl herself into a ball, refusing to look at him and keeping her arms over her face, Zero slowly walked to the nearby desk, where her helmet was resting.
Not far off were her Naginata along with different parts of her 'armor' that she usually wore.
He took the helmet from the desk and approached her with it. When she didn't look at him, Zero softly rested the helmet on her lap. A short moment past, before Raven took it in her own hands, and continuing to face away from him, slowly placed it on her head, keeping her back turned to him.
Zero was silent, watching Raven trembling...she still refused to look at him.
"...Raven. What did she do to you?"
Raven still didn't look at him.
Zero frowned lightly. "Raven. Please. If she did something to you, I'm going to drag her all the wa-"
"Foxfire didn't do anything to me!" Raven quickly said, still refusing to look at him. "She found me. We argued about who's side is the right side, and I blacked out. That's it. Foxfire couldn't fight a CAT, much less me!"
There was silence in the room for a moment, before Zero let that subject go.
...But there was still one more matter.
"...Raven, Why didn't you tell me that you are a human?" He finally asked.
Raven's body tensed and she gritted her teeth. Great. The human complex. This was NOT something she wanted to hear from anyone. LEAST of all ZERO.
"Zero, please go away."
"Raven this is serious!" Zero took a step up, reaching out for her. "You could have been KILLED! You were seriously hurt and I wasn't able to protect you!"
"Zero, leave!"
"No, you've been hiding way too many things, Raven. Why would you lie to us? Why would you fight a war that isn't-"
"ZERO! GET! OUT!" Raven finally yelled, putting her face in her hands and gritting her teeth tightly. "GET OUT!"
Zero took a step back at the outburst, his mouth hanging open at the shrillness of her voice. Raven's smug, 'I can do it myself' demeanor was...gone. She looked a child who looked like she had been whipped.
The door suddenly opened, and in ran Ciel, who looked at the situation, before quickly making her way to Zero and taking his arm. "Zero!" She tugged at him to get him away from the bed. "I asked you not to upset her!"
Zero looked towards Ciel who was now using all of her strength to drag him to the door. "No, I need answers, Ciel. Raven can't be fighting with us! Raven-"
"Raven needs to sleep and recover, Zero." Ciel managed to get him to the door and put her hands on his back pushing him out. "She's been through too much, and the added stress will only make her recovery time increase."
Zero turned to look at Ciel, the girl giving him a pleading look. "Please Zero. She needs to be left alone for a few days."
"...You knew she was human…"
Ciel paused for a moment, locking gazes with Zero for a few seconds, before she stood up straight and frowned softly. "Good night, Zero." she mumbled, closing the door behind her.
Zero stayed at the door for a moment, gritting his teeth. "Ciel!...Ciel why did you keep this from me?"
There was no answer on the other side of the door. If anything, he only heard the sounds of Ciel's footsteps heading back to the bed in the room…
...he also swore he could hear Raven softly crying…
The reploid stayed at the door for a few more minutes, his mind flooded with questions...logic being derailed...his understanding was clouded.
Would X have approved of this? Even though he remembered SOME things about X, it wasn't very much…
Honestly, if anything, if X was here, he'd probably scold Zero for making a human girl cry….
...but why would Raven hide the fact that she was human? What did she possibly have to prove? Did she feel sorry for what Humans had that Reploids didn't?
...She didn't seem like the type that did things out of pity.
After a while, Zero turned and slowly walked away from the room, looking like he was weighing all the questions in his head.
What should he do? Had he been too forward back there? Why was this kept secret?...
...what WOULD X do in this kind of situation?
"Zero!"
The Reploid paused and glanced behind him, where Colbor and Jaken were catching up with him. They slowed their run into a walk as they finally caught up with him, Colbor looking spooked. "Did you get to talk with her? Is she doing alright?"
"What I want to know is how she managed to keep the fact that she's a human from everyone." Jaken rubbed his head, looking thoughtful. "I mean NOW it makes more sense as to why she keeps destroying all the alarm clocks that she has."
"I've heard the Guardian Fefnir does the same thing…" Colbor put up a hand. "I might be mistaken though, old timer…"
"MY NAME IS JAKEN!"
"S-SORRY! Sorry!" Colbor waved his hands in the air quickly.
Zero glanced towards the two, a small frown on his face. "She seems to be getting better...as for the questions about her being human...she didn't seem too eager to share."
"Well at least her STUBBORNNESS hasn't taken a hit from this!" Jaken mumbled. "It's better than seeing her comatose, honestly."
Zero didn't answer, he just continued to walk…
...why would Raven hide this?...Why would CIEL hide this?
...it made no sense...
***NA***
"It would seem as though the rebel holding the sky fire is far more resourceful than I expected." Copy X hummed, looking over the city, his hands loosely held together behind his back. "It would seem as though I need to put more effort into knowing my target…"
He glanced over towards the Guardians and their Lieutenants, a very faint yet smug smile on his face.
"How fortunate for one of my best Lieutenants to discover that our chance was not ruined."
At the comment, Foxfire glanced up very slightly, but looked back down at the ground, keeping herself at parade rest.
"Still. We are one step ahead of the rebels, even if they have a dangerous weapon on their hands."
Copy X turned and made his way towards his Guardians. "I have taken the liberty to acquire an expert on Earth legends. He will be in charge of all handlings of 'the Raven' from now on."
The Guardians seemed to glanced towards one another for a moment, before looking back towards X. After a short moment, Sobek spoke up.
"Master X...who exactly has expertise on 'the Raven' other than Foxfire?"
Oh please don't mention me. Foxfire thought to herself, before glancing towards Sobek. "Sobek...I was only asked to find out who 'the Raven' was...I have no…" she trailed off and glanced to the side. Well...it would be a lie if she said she had 'no expertise' on her…
...what would Master X say if he knew Raven was a human?
The others seemed to wait for Foxfire to finish for a moment, before X continued. "Lieutenant Foxfire may have knowledge about the appearances of this individual as well as her fighting techniques; however, the reploid I have chosen to lead the capture of the two fires has researched this topic far greater than any other reploid in my army."
Copy X smirked slightly. "If I am to protect the humans of Neo Arcadia...even something simple as legends need to be taken seriously." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Especially when it has been proven to be true more than once."
The door opened, and in walked a reploid with white and green armor with purple highlights here and there. His 'hair' was lavender with a moon-shape "C" to it...and he had the most smug smirk on his face.
Harpuia's eyes widened for a moment, and a scowl made its way to his face, before he looked towards Copy X. "Master...please reconsider." he said slowly, gritting his teeth lightly. "We can do better, we can-"
"Why Harpuia, I'm absolutely heartbroken."
The new voice made Harpuia scowl in the direction the new bot was slowly walking in from. Heck, the rest of the guardians seemed to not enjoy the presence of this guy.
The purple haired reploid chuckled lowly and made a small bowing motion. "I'm only here to serve Master X...Is that so wrong, Harpuia?"
Harpuia scowled at the new arrival and crossed his arms. "Please, Lumine...if you expect me to believe that all of your slag is for the good of the people of Neo Arcadia...you are even dimmer than a broken lightbulb…"
The Reploid known as 'Lumine' lightly put a hand to his mouth and chuckled. "Oh...how harsh...and here I thought we could be friends, Harpuia." Lumine snickered, earning a glare from all four of the Guardians.
"That is enough...all of you." Copy X ordered, making a motion with his hand. "Director Lumine is the top researcher of his area, and he will be assisting you in gathering information on the two fires." X's eyes narrowed. "As well as coming up with a way to get them in our custody...especially the sky fire…"
Lumine strode over to the Guardians and smirked in a haughty fashion. "Of course...all of this is for the good of Neo Arcadia...Lighting up our beautiful city...as well as Master X. I only wish to bring bright sunlight to the humans." He turned and offered a hand towards Foxfire, who tensed up.
"Ah and you, my dear, will definitely be a major help...considering the research you have on the Raven already-"
Lumine found himself knocked backwards a bit as Phantom got in front of Foxfire, eyes mear slits.
"As my Lieutenant, Foxfire will continue to do her research under my watch." Phantom snarled. "The Cutting Shadow Squadron is second to none when it comes to information gathering. I have many other agents that will research what Lumine needs."
Lumine regained his bearings and cleared his throat, his smug grin never leaving him. "Oh? Are you making decisions for Master X?" he asked, almost in a taunting manor.
Phantom narrowed his eyes...before he looked towards Copy X, who was only watching the interaction.
"Master X. I will double our efforts to-" Phantom started.
"I wish to see Lieutenant Foxfire's data on this 'Raven' that the Rebels are harboring. Lieutenant." He made a motion for her to approach him.
Foxfire winced and glanced towards Phantom, who kept his eyes firmly planted on X. She then looked towards the other three Lieutenants, who glanced at her briefly.
Slowly, she made her way to the tyrant, taking a knee when she was right in front of him. Foxfire did her best to NOT be shaking in her armor, but it was beyond hard.
When he held out his hand to her, Foxfire placed her datapad in his hands, to which he began reviewing it. After a while of looking over it, Copy X looked upwards. "It's settled. Lumine. You will be working together with Lieutenant Fox-"
"With me!"
All in the room looked towards Shadow who had suddenly piped up. Shadow made a motion with his hand. "Master X, I was the top researcher of the Cutting Shadow Squadron before being placed under Commander Harpuia's battalion. Foxfire is a flyer. A Pilot. All the information she has on the Raven is mear child's play."
There was silence in the room...before Copy X made a motion with his hand. "Very well. Lumine, take Lieutenant Shadow with you on your excursions. He will be your field soldier while you track these fires for me."
Shadow bowed slightly. "Yes Master X."
Lumine turned and calmly walked for the door. "Very well, Master X. We shall shed some light on this task. Come along, Lieutenant." he purred, walking out of the room. Shadow turned and followed Lumine, exchanging a quick nod with Phantom, before the rest in the room looked back towards Copy X for their next orders.
Copy X looked towards the others. "The rest of you. While Director Lumine and Lieutenant Shadow track down the whereabouts of the second light; will keep on the task at hand and track down rebel activity." He looked frowned. "Harpuia."
The mentioned Guardian made his way forward. "Yes Master X."
"I need your Battalion to double their efforts in scouting. Considering the rebels are also aware of the two fires, it is imperative that we not only find the sun first, but keep the rebels at bay. Take Lieutenant Foxfire to be your Lieutenant until your proper Lieutenant is finished with his duties with Director Lumine."
Harpuia made a small bowing motion. "Of course Master X. We will ensure this is addressed."
"Very good. You all are dismissed."
The rest of the Guardians and Lieutenants made their way out of the room...finally when they were out of earshot, Foxfire let out a huge breath. "Oh my woooooord...that guy creeps me out."
"NO KIDDING!" Sobek put his hands in the air and made a flailing motion. "Did you SEE the way that guy talked?!" Sobek proceeded to put himself in a girly pose and waved a hand in the air for emphasis. "I am going to bright light to the world. Oh look at me, I am the light."
Sobek proceeded to take Foxfire's hand in a 'wooing' motion, and continued his mocking voice.
"Pardon me, Lieutenant! Look at my helm style! It's ridiculously LIGHT!"
This statement made Sandstorm and Fefnir crack up, Even Leviathan began to chuckle.
Foxfire rolled her eyes, but couldn't help a small smirk coming to her face. "Yeah...he was...strange to say the least." She took her hand away from Sobek and flung her hand slightly in the air. "He acts like he IS the sun or something. 'Oh I will bring the light to Neo Arcadia. We will shed LIGHT on this task."
Sobek and Sandstorm laughed, Foxfire chuckling lightly.
Phantom glanced towards Foxfire for a moment, before he looked towards Harpuia seriously. "...You don't think that Lumine has anything to do with the two lights, do you?"
"I seriously doubt it." Harpuia muttered. "If he WAS one of the lights, he'd be flaunting his abilities." He narrowed his eyes dangerously. "I wouldn't doubt that he'd try to turn on Master X if he had those abilities."
"Seems like Lumine needs to be watched closely." Leviathan glanced towards Harpuia. "Are you sure Shadow will be able to handle being under this moron's command?"
"He should be fine." Harpuia looked towards Leviathan. "If anything, Shadow will be reporting to me of any mischief Lumine may be up to."
"Shadow was my best pupil." Phantom glanced towards Harpuia and Leviathan, listening to the Lieutenants and Fefnir making more jokes about Lumine. "I wouldn't doubt Shadow already has our best interests in mind...as well as the interests of Master X." He frowned. "Though...even I question why Master X would choose Lumine of all bots…"
Harpuia nodded lightly, continuing his course. "I don't trust Lumine…" he growled. "Everyone needs to keep a sharp eye on him while we look for these lights for Master X."
Phantom and Leviathan nodded.