Medic could feel it. Things were not running smoothly at the HQ. Alia was a pale ghost of her former self. She had become almost… robotic. no longer feeling anything. Signus spent his days in the darkness of his office. Axl looked angry all of the time and his relationship with Palette had ended in a fight. Zero was the worst. His eyes had taken on a haunted look and he had retreated into himself. He would stay in their quarters all day if Medic hadn't chased him out threatening to chop off his hair. A blanket of despair hung over their heads and Medic hated it. At least, the Stardroids had the decency not to press an attack.
Currently, Medic had convinced Roll to help her get Alia outside for a bit. They were sitting on a bench together. Zero was out in the field, blowing steam by practicing with his saber. Axl was in the air, driving poor Storm Eagle nuts with his antics, but it was clear that the young hunters heart wasn't in it. At least, he was making an effort to be in it.
"Why did X do this to us?" Roll broke the silence.
"I wish I knew. He must have seen something terrible in the memories from Dr. Light, but what could be so bad that he had to take himself away from us? We're his family." Medic replied, "He knows I'd be able to repair any damage if that is what he saw."
"Dad wouldn't do that to him." Roll sighed, "I hope he didn't."
"What?" Alia turned to her, her blue eyes empty of any emotion.
"Um, I shouldn't tell you this, but I will. During X's creation, Dad discovered something really bad. He wouldn't say much about it but Willy told me everything. Back when Willy was making Zero, he picked up these readings. At first, he thought they were coming from Zero, but it wasn't him. They were coming from another robot that looked almost exactly like Zero. At first, he thought someone was copying his Zero, but he realized later that he was copying the other robot. He called it Omega. Dad may have sent X on a mission to stop Omega." Roll explained, shivering slightly.
"Are you cold?" Medic asked.
"No. I'm scared. Omega is really powerful. My brother, Megaman, was nearly reduced to a scrap heap at their first meeting. Protoman brought him back to us and finally got his core repaired. He told Light that he planned to be with Megaman next time Omega attacked. So far, he hasn't attacked yet." Roll answered, "I've never seen anything look so vicious."
Zero came up to them, sweat glistening off his forehead and darkening his dark t-shirt. He wasn't wearing his armor as it wasn't needed. Instead, a dark t-shirt and jeans with red sneakers was his look for the day. He gave Medic a quick kiss, and gave Alia a warm hug before sitting on the ground next to them.
"So, you are still around, Roll? I haven't seen your brothers around." Zero asked conversationally.
"Protoman and Bass are on a mission with Palette as their Navigator. I'm trying to cheer up Alia." Roll smiled, "Don't you have a mound of paperwork warming your desk, and I don't get a hug anymore?"
"Only when the wife isn't around! Ow! What was that for?" Zero turned to Medic, who was laughing as she flicked him in the back of the head.
"Are we having an affair?" Medic giggled, knowing Zero would never do that to her.
"Why would I have one?" Zero asked, smiling back, "You'd leave me in so many parts that Gate wouldn't know where to begin to put me back together!"
"Oh, I'm the affair, I see." Roll laughed, "Trying to bag more then one woman, are you?"
"I belong only to Medic. Honest. Wait, say again, Signus? Really? I'm on my way! Signus says Palette has picked up what she believes to be X's signature! Lets go!" Zero rose to his feet and led the way into HQ. Behind him, Axl slipped through the door while in the air and landed gracefully. There was a dull thunk as Eagle missed the door entirely.
"Need a spatula?" Axl laughed, looking out the door and up at Eagle who was plastered against the wall.
"You're going to need Medic to rearrange your face when I get my claws on you!" Eagle peeled himself off the wall and landed, "you can stop laughing."
The command Center was full. Alia had lit up at the news and was anxiously leaning over Palettes shoulder and staring at her screen. Signus was on her right, also watching closely.
"It's him. There is no mistaking that signature." Alia sounded flustered.
"Eagle, Zero, armor up and go." Signus ordered.
"Wait, Harpuia, you too." Ceil looked up from her own screen, "It might be a trap."
"Bring back X if you can. Good luck and god speed." Signus finished as the three hunters acknowledged and left for the armory.
The Armory was huge. Rows of lockers crisscrossed the huge space. Around the perimeter of the space, glass cases held different armors worn by X, as well as famous armors worn by other well known hunters. Zero could see his Black Zero armor between the Super Armor and the Falcon Armor both worn by X. Zero finished slipping into his armor which was checked by Eagle whom Zero did the same. Harpuia was waiting by the door. Zero made it a point to check Harpuia's armor before they stepped out into the sunshine. Zero activated his absolute armor while Harpuia and Eagle hit the sky. Zero joined them minutes later.
"Stupid question." Harpuia broke the silence moments later.
"Smart answer, what?" Zero asked while Eagle cracked up.
"Did somebody remember to get the coordinates?" Harpuia asked.
"Oh crud!" Zero face palmed.
"Don't worry, I have them. I was wondering how long it would take you to realize I hadn't sent them to you yet!" Eagle let lose with another peal of laughter.
Harpuia and Zero eyed each other, counted to three, and tackled Eagle, nearly knocking him out of the sky.
"Boys! Stop with the horse play and focus!" Ceil snapped through their coms, "I saw that eye roll, Harpuia. Don't make me sic Zero, our Zero that is, on you! Better yet, how about Seraph X? I thought so. I'm your Navigator for this mission. You are almost there. Take a right at Lightberry and head due north after five miles."
"Got it." Zero replied, taking the lead. The rest of the flight was silent save for Eagle cracking up every so often until Harpuia threatened to slice off his wings. That shut Eagle up until they reached their designation.
It was a factory set in a depression between a few hills. At the opening, a limp blood soaked form leaned against the partially opened door. Closer inspection revealed it to be a drone. Zero gasped, pointing a shaking finger at the wounds. He didn't have to speak. They recognized X's signature buster wound pattern.
"He's here." Eagle whispered.
"Why would he come here?" Harpuia asked.
"I don't know." Zero crept farther into the opening.
"Is he here?"
Eagle and Zero both turned to give Harpuia odd looks, which quickly changed to looks of horror. Harpuia stared at them puzzled.
"Harpuia, walk toward me, nice and slowly. Don't run." Zero was pale.
"W-what's behind m-me?" Harpuia began to walk toward Zero.
"You don't want to know, or find out." Eagle brought up an egg bomb in his mouth, thankful that his last upgrade moved the opening of his bomb making ability from his backside to his mouth. At least, he didn't have to put up with being called bird lady anymore.
"Now!" Zero hissed as Eagle drew back his head and released the bomb through his mouth with a guttural pith. The bomb landed with a crack to release four mini eagles which flew somewhere behind Harpuia who heard the distinct pops as they hit their target. Curiosity got the best of him as he slowed and peaked behind himself. And let lose with a high pitched scream. Zero clamped his hands over Harpuia's mouth while Eagle nearly choked on an egg bomb. He ended up suffering a coughing fit before bringing up the ruins of the egg bomb he had been about to spit out.
"W-what is I-it?" Harpuia whispered.
"Nightmare!" Zero hissed in his ear, "Don't let it touch you!"
At that moment, a very familiar buster shot tore past Zero and struck the forming nightmare with deadly accuracy. The nightmare twitched and dissolved into a dark colored stone which Zero quickly crushed beneath his heel. He then turned to the opening.
"That shot, it was X. He is here!" Eagle crept deeper into the factory, "X, I know you are here!"
His only answer was the sound of someone teleporting.
"Damn!" Zero punched the wall in frustration, "X!"
"Ceil, Harpuia, scan and trace, now." Harpuia ordered, "X just teleported." He waited for a confirmation, "Ceil? Ceil, please respond!"
"Teal, do you read me?" Eagle felt the first pangs of panic flutter in his stomach.
"Alia? Signus? Medic? Anyone?" Zero had no luck ether. This brought back memories of a mission long ago that had failed, horribly. Zero shoved the memories away. Now was not the time to remember. He still couldn't help but shudder.
"Oh god not again." Eagle swallowed, remembering that mission as well.
Harpuia went white, remembering a different time, "It's not happening, it wont happen for over 200 years."
"Are we cut off, or are they cut off?" Eagle asked.
"I'll find out." Zero closed his eyes and pulled up a frequency from his mind, one he knew Alia would recognize instantly. Focusing on the image of the young blond navigator, Zero began to transmit a coded message. He got a coded response back and it took him a minute to decode it, "I got through to Alia. Something is blocking all transmission. We are not to return to HQ, but report to Storm Hawk at the 6th unit base."
"Um, don't I outrank Hawk?" Eagle asked, getting a dirty look from Zero, "I do not report to… Ow! Okay! I'll report to Hawk!"
"Alia said very specifically not to teleport. What ever we do, don't teleport." Zero finished, "We'll fly. The base isn't far from here."
"G-guys?" Harpuia stared straight ahead. The other two hunters turned, and froze.
"What on earth? There isn't enough Nightmare virus anywhere for this." Eagle whispered.
"I know. X and I killed the Nightmare virus at it's source." Zero whispered back, "If we move, we're dead. If we don't move, we're dead too."
"I vote we move." Eagle said, "We move very slowly and very carefully."
"I vote we don't move. Maybe they won't see us." Harpuia whispered.
In front of them, a massive black tidal wave swept over the land. White spots with black dots floated with the wave. The guardian and the two hunters knew that each eye was a virus.
"There is no way we can take out the viruses in time. It is moving too fast." Eagle pointed out.
"We can't teleport." Zero added.
"We're dead, aren't we?" Harpuia whimpered.
The sea of Nightmare rushed faster toward its prey. All of the white eyes merged together to create one single eye as the blackness molded itself into a flower like shape. A long, skinny neck connected the bowl shaped head to a rounded body with five legs feeding into the ground. The open portion of the head was ringed in thousands of long tentacles. The Nightmare was now huge, towering well over the factory behind our heroes. The air shook as the nightmare howled, a sound known as Infrasound, which even the Reploids couldn't hear, but they could register the waves.
"That's never happened before." Eagle prepped an egg bomb.
The Nightmare dipped its head toward the Hunters and the Guardian, its eye open and glaring. Eagle swallowed, and promptly choked on the Egg Bomb he'd forgotten he was preparing. A few hard smacks from Zero forced him to bring up the egg and spit it out. It broke open to release the four mini eagles which flew toward the eye. Several tentacles ended the mini eagles before they could even move. Zero found his Saber gone before he could even think of using it. Next, they heard Harpuia scream, both arms entangled in the tentacles, his blades shattered. He twisted, ripping his arms free, and let lose with a howl of agony. Eagle got to him and screamed in horror.
"My arms! My arms!" Harpuia wailed.
Both of his arms, from the elbow down, had shrunk in and had become mummified. It was clear that the virus was spreading rapidly.
"We got to get him out of here!" Eagle screamed.
"Gee, you think?" Zero shot back, "We've got 20 stories of deadly in front of us that won't let us go without a fight!"
"I'm gonna die, right? It's gonna kill me, right?" Harpuia panicked.
Zero managed to dodge the tentacle, but he didn't see the other tentacle until it wrapped around his waist. Boiling, horrible pain flooded his body, his circuits shorting out from the overload. Zero howled, his body changing. A red blur exploded from where Zero was once held. Eagle screamed, throwing himself over the sobbing Harpuia. Zero let lose with a primal scream, diving right for the open eye. The tentacles tangled around him, but he managed to sink a fist into the eye.
The Nightmare roared again, and melted. Zero dropped to the ground, body reverting to normal, and already more then half mummified. Eagle screamed, again.
"Like my Virus Beast?"
Eagle turned, "Who're you?"
"My name is Dr. Mercury. I specialize in Virus control." Mercury stepped through the remains of the Nightmare, "Never expected to catch the Red Demon."
Mercury was the size of an average human. He wore a lime green environmental suit with black rubber boots. Green hoses connected from a green backpack to the green helmet with a glass front, revealing a very human head with dark russet hair and blue eyes. Thick green gloves covered his hands.
"You're a Stardroid!" Eagle spat.
Just then, more people appeared, each clad in green environmental suits.
"Doctor? Your orders?" one of the suits asked.
"We've got three victims. Reploids. Be careful of the winged one." Mercury ordered, smirking at Eagle. Before he knew it, He was surrounded by the suits.
'They're human! I can't hurt humans!' Eagle thought frantically. Someone fired a gun, and Eagle dropped like a ton of bricks.
Alia sat on her bed, a blue disk in front of her. Zero had given it to her saying it was X's, and it contained his memories from his creation. Alia had put it on her book shelf, but now, she stared at it.
"X, what did you see? What could be so bad that you'd leave me?" Alia mused silently, her fingers running over the disk. She picked it up, her mind made. She would see for herself. Silently, she loaded the disk into herself and laid back on her bed, her eyes closed.
Bass sat inside Signuses office, mind reeling over what had just happened minutes ago. First, there was the flash of light that had knocked out Signus, Medic, and Axl, then came a message from the CDC saying they had Harpuia, Zero, and Eagle. The three of them were suffering from a strange mummification disease that was stumping the experts. He sighed, a headache making itself known behind his temples. How had he gotten roped into this again? It had been Protoman's fault. Him, and that glowing blue twit that started spouting nonsense about a sickness and that all wasn't what it seems. Next thing he knew, he was accepting the position as a temporary replacement until Signus woke up. There was a knock at the door. His door.
"Who's there?" Bass called out.
"It's Alia." Alia called.
"Come in." Alia entered the office, "What can I do for you, other then fixing this mess we're in?"
"I'm worried about them." Alia sat down in the offered seat, "If we lose Zero, it will kill Medic. Axl too. I'm also worried about him."
Bass didn't have to ask who she met, "X just needs some time alone right now. I wish I could increase the search party, but we are already running thin. X will come back soon." Bass closed his eyes, "Don't count Zero out just yet. I know my little brother. He is one hell of a fighter. He'll pull through for Medic."
"Med bay to Commander Bass, we have a situation down here. Please reply." Gate spoke over the com, "It's Medic. She is going into labor!"
Alia and Bass ran.
"She can't go into labor! She is only 20 weeks along!" Alia cried out, "Her baby won't survive!"
"Zero will not like this!" Bass tried his best to remain calm. The lift seemed to be taking forever to bring them to the ground floor. It finally spat them out and they raced for med bay.
"How is she?" Bass asked, clearly frightened at the prospect of losing his future niece or nephew. He rushed to Medic's side.
"Not good." Cinnamon looked up, "we can't stop the labor, and she isn't responding to any of the meds we've pumped into her."
"Medic! You can't do this to Zero!" Alia was crying, "Zero was so happy at the prospect of being a father! Hold on for him!"
"Is there anything you can do?" Bass asked fearfully.
Cinnamon shook her head, her expression one of pain.
"I can help her."
Alia turned, "Mother Elf?"
"Alia. I can help Medic. The little one is scared. Easy, little one. Rest a little longer. Mommy is okay. Easy." Mother Elf place a gentle hand on Medics swollen abdomen, "Mommy is only sleeping. Rest."
"The labor! It's stopping!" Cinnamon cried out.
"That is it, little one. It isn't time to be born yet. Sleep some more. The little one is calm now." Mother Elf smiled, "Mother and child are at rest."
"Bass, office." Gate pulled Bass into the office, "Axl is on a ventilator, and we're losing Signus."
"Signus first." Bass ordered.
"Well, it is hard to explain. Signus is running a high temperature that is literally cooking his insides. We are barely keeping the fever from killing him. Axl can't breathe on his own. There is nothing wrong with his lungs, but they won't work. Medic is okay. It appears that she is asleep, but I fear for her baby. She is literally going in and out of labor." Gate was interrupted by gasps coming from the main part of Med bay. He opened his door to see what was going on.
"It's Axl! His heart stopped!" Lifesaver screamed, "He is going into multisystem failure!"
"Signus is gone!" Cinnamons voice rang out seconds later.
The room was suddenly plunged into darkness, causing more screams.
"I can't work in the dark! Somebody get on the lights!" Lifesaver screamed.
"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk." came yet a new voice, "So pitiful. Well, blue bomber, who will you chose to save?"
"Who are you?" Bass thundered, rushing out of the office, "stop this!"
"Who am I?" a form took shape in the middle of the room. It was a Reploid wearing a white Kevlar suit under dark brown armor. His eyes were yellow with a black slit in the center, and several rings floated around him. His helmet was flat on top with a red stone set on the front. Corse brown and white hair stuck out from under the helmet. "My name is Saturn. I am one of the mighty Stardroids serving under the Radiant Lord Sunstar. Who will the Blue Bomber choose to save? Will he save his partner and comrades under Mercury's curse, or will he save his partner, boss, and close friend?"
"You!" Bass flung himself at Saturn, only to get pinned to a wall by a ring. He fought, but the ring was too strong.
"Let them go, Saturn! They aren't what you want! Just let them go!" Alia cried out, "Please! Medic is pregnant with her first child! Let them go!"
"No can do." Saturn smiled coldly at Alia.
"Then take me! Spare them and take me!" Alia charged. Saturn caught her. Alia screamed, one of the rings around her, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Oh yes. Perfect." Saturn waved a hand and Medic, Axl, and Signus all woke gasping. "You will do even better!" he vanished, taking Alia with him. The ring holding Bass vanished, letting him fall to the floor.
"I need somebody tracking her signal!" he ordered, "you three okay?"
"I'm fine." Signus shuddered, "Axl, are you still blind?"
"No. This is too creepy to be a shared dream. We were put there on purpose." Axl stood, "I'm okay. Medic, you okay too?"
"Yeah, and so is the baby. I'm shaking." Medic answered, "Where is Zero?"
"Um…" Bass paled, and realized everyone else was staring at him, "Zero, Eagle, and Harpuia are at the CDC because they are suffering from a strange mummification disease that is stumping the experts. We don't know if they will live or die."
"No, not Zero. I'm going to him. If they can't figure this out, maybe I can!" Medic rose to her feet.
"No, Medic. We need you here. I am sorry, but we can't risk you or your baby." Bass explained gently, "I know how you feel."
"No, you don't know how I feel!" Medic exploded, "My husband, the man I love, needs me more then ever now! I am a doctor! I can help him! He needs me!" she was crying now, "I should be with him!"
"But I do know how you feel. Someone I cared deeply for got sick with Roboenza and nearly died from it. Her name is Roll. She survived the sickness and nursed me back to health. Zero is strong. He'll beat this thing. You need to worry about your child. Losing that child will hurt him badly. Please, Medic. I know my brother. He wouldn't want you to see him that way." Bass reasoned, his tone gentle. Bass hoped that a certain someone would not see him being gentle. Unfortunately, that certain someone saw the whole thing.
Medic turned and ran out. Bass decided not to follow her. Protoman came up to him.
"You did the right thing, Bass. I didn't know you could be gentle." He said.
"She is my sister in law. This changes nothing. I'm still going to be trying to kill you know who." Bass growled in response.
"And I'll still be protecting you know who from you." Protoman quipped.
Bass sighed.
Carefully, X broke into the Stardroid base. He hit the ground, rolled, and came up buster out and charging. Already, the dings and dents he had suffered from the fall were repairing themselves. A light colored visor dropped over his eyes as he switched to infrared vision and scanned the area. Nothing came up. This worried X greatly. It met that the Stardroids had found something that had taken their minds off of security. He switched to normal vision and crept down the hall.
"Going somewhere?"
X spun, to find the hall behind him empty. He spun again to check the path in front of him which was also empty. He looked up and down to find nothing.
"I am in no mood to play games. Show yourself!" X growled.
"Testy, aren't we?"
X spun to look again, "I've no time for this!"
Next thing he knew, something hard slammed into the back of his head, knocking him out. Saturn appeared from the shadows and scooped him up, "Time to Sun, got blue prize. Coming in now." he vanished, to reappear inside a command bridge where Sunstar was waiting. Terra stood on his right. Saturn dropped X into a chair where Terra's vines were waiting to secure X. Within minutes, X was awake and glaring angrily at the three Stardroids. Sunstar smirked.
"Megaman X. I find it hard to believe that someone so weak could take out Mars and Neptune." Sunstar purred, "then again, they were the weakest of us Stardroids. I have a business proposition for you. Give me the pure you've collected, and They will walk free." Sunstar stepped aside to reveal a tied up Alia, and three nearly mummified bodies. X's mind flew.
"D-don't listen!" Zero grunted, "S-save yourself!"
X lowered his head and closed his eyes, "Zero… once again, you are facing death because of me. Alia, they got you because of me. Eagle, Harpuia, you were both innocent bystanders dragged into this mess because of me. I can't let them hurt you. Sunstar, I accept!"
"You coward!" Eagle sputtered, "Running will get you no where!"
"Face up to it, X!" Harpuia screamed, "stop running from yourself!"
"X, you can't run from the past, no mater how bad it is!" Alia cried out, "All you can do is face it!"
"Stop running, X!" Zero screamed.
"I can't let them hurt you because of me." X turned from them.
"When will you get your head out of the sand, X? running, hiding, those will get you no where! Stop running, and stop hiding! So what if you are responsible for the Maverick Virus? That was the past. It happened, it's over. Get over it. Start fighting. My Kouhai, look at me." Zero managed to smile, "So what if I die, again? So what if Eagle and Harpuia die too with me? So what if they got Alia? Get your head out of the sand and start fighting!"
X only shook his head at Zero's words.
"Look at me, then, X! I was a Maverick! You set me free from the viruses hold! I did bad things as a Maverick, but do you see me running? Listen to your Senpai! Zero too, was a Maverick! Did he run? No! we both faced our past and dealt with it!" Eagle screamed, "Start fighting! Face it!"
"No. I can't fight what I am." X replied, "These wars were my fault. It was me. I was the first Maverick, not Zero."
"So what!" Harpuia snapped, "the X I know would be creaming the Stardroids! The X I know would be fighting to set things right! You are a coward!"
"Sunstar, it's me you want, so take me! Let them go!" X looked toward the Stardroid.
"Mercury, Saturn, set them free. A wise choice, X." Sunstar hissed.
Zero, Alia, Harpuia, and Eagle were set free outside the base. Alia turned to walk back in.
"Alia, where do you think you are going?" Zero asked, stepping in front of her.
"I'm going to go save X." Alia growled, "Move, Zero!"
"No way, Alia! Are you crazy? You aren't even wearing armor! We have to regroup. Fall back and come up with an invasion plan." Zero reasoned.
"I know, Zero. I saw. Now let me by or you'll have to explain the hole in your chest to Medic!" Alia glared at the SA rank Sub Commander.
"You didn't!" Zero gasped, "Alia, going in there right now is suicide!" Zero scooped up the navigator over his shoulder and ignored her screams and pounding fists, "this is for your own good." a quick shift to Absolute form later, he took to the sky. His mind spun in circles.
'X, I hope you know what you are doing. Don't worry. I'm not leaving you in there. I'm coming back to save you.' Zero focused on returning to HQ.
Queen Sunstar: I know, it's been five months since my last update. Life threw me some lemons in the forms of Grandfather sick in hospital, Aunt sick and dying in same hospital, and service dog with injured spine. I had to drop out of script frenzy, which is basically nanowrimo in April, only you write 100 pages of script in 30 days. I've got a cold coming on and I'm praying it isn't strep throat. Last time I had strep, it went Pneumonia on me. I would have died if it weren't for my cat who went and got my neighbor, an EMT, who saved my life.
Anyways, next chapter, Saturn and X do battle while Mercury unleashes several of his virus beasts that sicken much of Abel City. With humans and Reploids sickening at higher and higher rates, It is up to Signus, Zero, Douglas, Axl, and Alia to try to hold off the beasts until X comes to fight Mercury.
Ciao! Don't forget to review, now!