Disclaimer: Hey! Nothing much to say here but I don't own Capcom in any way possible, therefore, Megaman belongs to them. I own my original characters and ideas.

Chapter 2: Experiments and Prep

Day 1
Gene's Bar
Time:
-22:31-

As Zero and Leyna walked in the door to the bar, they were greeted by the members of the 17th Division. Locke, who was usually clad in melancholy gray armor, had on jeans and a printed blue T-shirt. Stryke was wearing a black and blue sweat suit, and Kicker still wore his white armor with a blue medical cross across his chest. They already had ordered Leyna's drink, but left Zero to get his own, because his drink preference changes hourly.

"Hey Zero. Sorry we didn't get your drink but," Stryke started but was cut off.

"I know, I know. It's fine. Now, gimme that menu!" He took a moment to study the menu with vigor. A waitress presented herself at the table. "Hmm, you guys go ahead and order your stuff. It might take me awhile." Zero said to the group.

"Ok, I'll have a shaken martini please." Locke ordered. Stryke ordered a glass of water. Zero chuckled while his face was still in the menu. Kicker ordered something light alcoholic that no one else could pronounce.

"Ok!" Zero exploded. "Here's my order: One martini, a barracuda punch, and six," he paused. "No, make that eight suicide shockers, and a very large bowl. That'll be all." He gave the waitress a wide grin.

"THAT'S ALL?!" The group said in unison. Zero looked innocently at them.

"What?"

"Whaddaya mean, what?! You're gonna explode from all of that!" Leyna shouted, nearly standing up. Her little outburst had unintentionally gotten half of the bar's attention. He laughed as if he just discovered water.

"Nah! See, I carefully calculated the amount of alcohol I could consume and not have serious complications, and then I ordered double that amount." He stated matter-of-factly. Before Leyna could protest anymore, he added, "Therefore, I have been training for hours on end for a number of weeks to expand my already high tolerance. So I'm ready. In theory."

"In theory." She repeated. He nodded sagely. Stryke and Locke were about to explode from laughter. Kicker was thinking about how many Lifesaver units it would take to haul his ass down to the armory. Maybe he should have arranged for a high pressure water hose to be prepared. The waitress had returned with everyone's drinks, with a second waitress holding Zero's massive order. Without a second thought, the determined hunter poured all of the liquor into the bowl and stirred it up with a few spoons. The crowd that gathered around gasped in awe. He smirked as he stood up.

"Ladies and non-ladies!" He rumbled out, gathering the attention of everyone in the damn bar. "Prepare to witness history in the making! I will attempt, no. I will succeed in downing this massive booze pool!" Stryke was now on the floor, bawling. Leyna felt her cheeks redden. The crowd of mixed drunks cheered as Zero picked up the bowl of sweet smelling liquor.

Zero started chugging his "Mega Elixir" and the crowd around him cheered him on. Zero could stomach in one hour what an experienced drunk could get down in one day. After about forty-five adrenaline pumped seconds, he slammed the bowl down on the table. The crowd went silent. Zero, looking like he had just emerged from a war, slowly thrust his fist into the air and let out a warcry. The crowd mimicked him and chanted his name as he and the gang left the loud bar.

"Well I'll be damned!" Kicker exclaimed.

"What? You thought I couldn't do it?" Zero spoke with a normal tone. Before anyone could answer he stopped abruptly. "Oh, crap. Listen up, guys! 324-44d-787w000!" He shouted out right before he let out the most monstrous belch ever known to the world. He then proceeded to rock forward a bit, then tumble backwards into Stryke's arms, making him stagger from the sudden dead weight. This struck everyone dumb.

"What the flip?" Locke said slowly while looking at everyone else. They all wore the same expression. Leyna punched the numbers into the panel of Zero's hovercar and the doors slid open. She hopped into the driver's seat and started the vehicle. Locke and Stryke hauled Zero into the back seat of the ride while Kicker jumped into the front passenger seat.

"I knew he wouldn't be able to last much longer!" Kicker revealed.

"The alcohol, right?" Leyna deadpanned, frowning deeply at Zero from the rearview cam.

"Yes. See, because his body wasn't used to taking in so much alcohol at once, it backfired on him. When he belched, he felt the effects of the alcohol all at once." The experienced doctor said sagely. The crew could only shake their heads as the crimson demon snored as loud as his personality.

"And this is the man leading the most covert Hunters in the world…" Leyna sighed.

MHHQ, Living Quarters
Time:
-22:43-

X walked casually out of Zero's quarters with a satisfied grin on his face. He was now dressed in his evening outfit: a black t- shirt, baggy gray pants and broken in tennis shoes. Comfortable clothes. After the intense training he was feeling hungry, so he went to the mess hall to grab a snack. When he got there, he noticed some of Zero's Unit sitting on the far side. They were conversing about how their lead officer downed a gallon of the strongest liquor Gene's had to offer. X never really did see the point in drinking, but he had warmed up to it over the past few years. Especially tonight, since Zero wouldn't possibly be able to see what would hit him in the morning.

He went through the line, looking for a salad bowl. All out. He then eyed a vegetable soup bowl and tons of leftover "chef's surprise." After the water bath he had enough surprises for one night. He found a seat that was somewhat secluded along a wall. He sighed as he sat down and winced as his body was sore from his trek up and down the armory stairs. Turns out that our crimson friend caused the elevator to crash. A 2,000 lb. ride armor shouldn't really fit in an elevator with a weight limit of 1,000 lbs. But he had a really hot date! That's reason enough, right? X began eating. The soup was lukewarm and had an awful after-taste, but he couldn't care less; hunger conquers taste right now.

"Hey, X." The sudden presence of the voice made him choke on his spoon. After much gagging and coughing he managed to form words.

"Hah! Hi, Alia!" He said without turning around.

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you choke!"

"That's ok. I would have probably choked anyway," he said, referring to the soup. He turned around and looked up at the blonde navigator, immediately wishing that he didn't. She was wearing a black t-shirt that was fairly snug and pink sweatpants. He motioned for her to seat as he tried to cough his dirty thoughts away.

"So, how was your day?" Alia asked curiously.

"Well, let's see, after the combat training, I had to walk down five flights of stairs to my armor locker, opened it only to find tons of water to crash out of it onto me, that was a present from Zero by the way, and now I'm telling you how my day was while eating crap soup. All in all, it was okay." She pouted her lips.

"Aww. Poor you. Are you gonna get him back?"

"Hehe. Already done." He smirked evilly.

Alia grinned and asked him to tell her what he had planned. He looked over at the Zero posse and saw that they had mostly dispersed. He whispered in her ear and her grin grew.

"Think it'll work, X?"

"If this doesn't, then nothing else will."

"All right, bout time! I still need to get him back for the time when I first joined up. I asked him to show me where the dorms were and he led me into the men's locker room!" She scowled at the memory. X held back a smirk as he tried to keep a straight face, because he had a part in that little joke. But he would never tell her that. Then she had a thought.

"Hey, how about we go edit that note? Get him back for me, too?" She asked sweetly, standing up. He smiled sinisterly again as he dumped the cold bowl of soup into the trash can. They made their way across the empty mess hall, Alia taking point. X soon found his eyes traveling down her body, noticing that the pink sweatpants she wore were also form-fitting. He started coughing randomly again, signaling to the blonde navigator that she had his full attention. She smirked as they made their way around the corner.

Day 2
Cliffs
Time:
-05:39-

While the rookies of the 13th unit slept, Scar and Echo stood watch. Echo was busy punching the air, drawing her bladed tonfas every once in a while. Scar just sat in one spot, thinking about the mission. The sun was peeking over the horizon, as if it was sneaking a peek at the being in the forested cliffs.

"Scar. Scar." A deep, menacing voice emanated from deep within his mind.

"What do you want from me now?" He thought back.

"Nothing. Just reminding you not to try anything you might regret later."

"Whatever." Scar growled. The voice chuckled.

"So. Scar, tell me, what's it like to have betrayed those who took you in..."

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!" The maverick almost roared out loud, catching the attention of some of his drowsy unit.

"Hehe. Just remember, I'm always watching you..."

"Hey, Scar, you ok? Not spazzin' out now, are ya?" Echo asked her commander. He didn't bother answering. Echo faked a sad expression on her face. He finally sighed.

"I'm fine, Echo."

"Kay, just checkin'!"

"So, Echo," A female voice asked suddenly. The reploid it belonged to de-cloaked herself. She looked like a carbon copy of Echo, save for the hair which was jet black with silver and red tips. Her eyes chilled with a pale blue. Rayne carried an odd rifle on her back. "You ready?"

The first twin re-sheathed her blades and looked over towards the massive base. She turned her head and gave a smirk...

Another chapter down! More to come…

Till Next Time!