Megaman X: Final Prologue
By: SylentStryke
Rated: M
Disclaimer: X is owned by Capcom. So are Zero, and all the other characters Capcom has made.
A/N: I realized that I goofed up the dates on some of the earlier chapters. The year is 21XX. Sorry for any confusion that might have caused.
Chapter 4: Adaptation
MMHQ- Main Hall
Time: 11:18 A.M.
Date: 6-16-21XX
Days later, the war between the Maverick Hunters and the 'NT Mavericks', NT standing for New Type, was at a standstill. Though the Hunters could not break through their lines, they at least kept the horns locked in place. Zero's been MIA for close to a week. Axl's still out of it, but otherwise okay. The death tolls for both sides of the conflict are becoming greater each day.
"And in other news, the NT war has not let up since it started five days ago." A newscaster said with a pathetic tone of voice. Stryke tore himself away from dull newscast to waltz around the base. Shoving his hands in his jean pockets, he rounded a corner, stumbling over it in the process. He decided he would kill some time at the target range, so he went in that general direction.
As he made his way past the numerous reploids crowding the halls like a clogged artery, he managed to hear a few comments mentioning his name. Though he paid them no mind physically, he mouthed back snide replies mentally. It was when he collided with another reploid that he learned to pay attention to what was in front of him rather than the words behind him. After reaching the target range, he placed his hand in the scanner then took his custom rifle out of the rack. He picked up a pack of paint ammo and headed over toward the bulls-eye targets.
"Hey, stranger." A voice suddenly called out. Out of pure instinct, Stryke whirled around and pointed the rifle at Locke's head. Or maybe it was shock that made him turn. Whatever the case, he dropped his aim with a slightly exasperated sigh. "Whoa, good thing it's not loaded." She smiled sheepishly. Stryke gave her a weak smile in return.
"With the way I'm maimed, it wouldn't matter if it was loaded." He said, pointing to his left eye which was scarred and closed.
"Don't say that! Stryke, you're the best marksman here next to X. C'mon, let's do some target shooting." She said trying to raise his spirits. She ran to the opposite side of the range, intending to pull his targets. Reluctantly, Stryke loaded the paint pellet magazine into his rifle.
"Ready?" Locke shouted out. He stepped on the button on the ground, signaling for her to pull the first target.
The target flew down the tracks from the ceiling and stopped abruptly. Stryke placed the rifle in his shoulder and peered through the sights. He pulled the trigger lightly, sending a round down to kill the target. A holo-monitor materialized with his score on it. "(Bulls-eye.)" He stepped on the button again, repeating the process of shooting the targets several times.
After he emptied the first magazine, he called Locke back from the target end. She looked at the print out of his scores and patted him on the back.
"Ya see? You're still an ace shot." He sighed. It wasn't enough to convince him that he was just fine. Not yet.
"Locke," He started, pausing for a brief moment, "grab a rifle." She looked perplexed. "Sure I can shoot bulls on stationary targets, but moving..." Locke filled in the rest of his sentence and grabbed a spare rifle, as well as a padded vest. Stryke grabbed a vest as well.
"Stryke, you know as well as I do that I suck with rifles." She reminded him. He shook his head, dismissing any negative thoughts she had.
"Just do your best."
Stryke's head was a jumbled mess. This would be the ultimate test for him. Whether he could hit a moving target or not would determine if he could still fight. He sat behind a rock waiting for Locke to make a move. Voices ran through his head as he searched the grounds ahead of him. Movement.
He stood up and shot a few bullets at her. Now there was silence. "...Did I miss?" He whispered to himself. He squinted at where he shot, attempting to focus on Locke. If she was still there...
The air behind him warbled with distortion as paint bullets flew dangerously close behind him. "Dammit!" He cursed as he dove behind the rock. "(How did she sneak up on me that fast?)" He peered around the corner, secretly eying her as she walked dumbly into the open. "Here goes nothin'!"
He waited for her to get a little bit closer, until she was about thirty feet away, then he rolled away from the rock, aiming his rifle at Locke, who jumped and froze from shock. He concentrated on his aim. Once the sights were over her heart, he pulled the trigger. He felt a sting on his own chest as he fell backwards. He lay on his back, sprawled out on the artificial grass. He rubbed the wet spot on his chest before inspecting it. Blue paint. He sighed exasperatedly.
"Stryke! Are you okay?" Locke called out as she ran up to him. He sat up slowly, disappointed that he would be dead were it a real battle.
"Locke. Did you get hit?" He asked, his voice lifeless as if he already knew the answer. He looked up at her before she could answer. Nothing on her at all; she was clean. He saw something over her shoulder on a rock. It was bright yellow paint.
"...No. You missed me by...a lot." She said slowly, trying not to sound too negative. He put a hand over his face.
"What about the sound I heard earlier? By the bushes?" He asked as he pointed toward where he thought he heard the rustling. She slowly shook her head, pointing in a spot that was at least forty feet away from the bushes. "I was over there, the entire time."
He stood up and sat down against his rock. Locke followed him. "Stryke...It's okay." She said, trying to console him. He saw a stone on the ground next to his leg. He grabbed it and began tossing it into air and catching it. With his depth perception the way it was, he wasn't surprised when it seemed to slip right through his fingers. He drilled his fists into the rock with robust anger.
"Arrgh! Son of a BITCH!" He continued punching the rock while Locke watched in pain. It wasn't until after his hands were well beyond bruised and bloody that she decided to stop him from his fit.
"Stryke, stop it, please!" She cried out. She held onto him from behind the best she could. He slowed down after a while, breathing hard and heavy. "It's gonna be okay. Everything's going to be fine..."
"No, it's not gonna be okay! I have one good eye, I can't even fire a damn rifle...I'm fuckin' useless! Useless..." He hung his head, the emotions overwhelming him. Locke turned him around and hugged him tightly. He sobbed into her shoulder, feeling helpless. It pained Locke to see him like this. He had lost all hope. His duty was stolen away from him. She felt a stinging in her own eyes. The doors to the range closed as someone walked out.
Arcadia- Inner Core
Time: 2:02 P.M.
Scar walked through the massive holding pen with a foul sense about him. He once again found himself lost in questions. Why was he here? Who had he become? Why did he drag Rayne into a mess again?
"Ugh. I'm startin' to sound like Raydia." He said with a non-humorous chuckle. He stopped when he came face to face with a sleeping Zero floating in a tube. He wondered... "(Just why did Weil capture Zero anyway? He poses a far greater threat alive than he would were he dead. He could 'wake up' at any given time. That wouldn't be good.)" He was so immersed in his thoughts that he failed to notice a lifeform lurking behind him.
"Scar...are we gonna be okay?" Rayne asked softly. He turned around, his eyes lingering on Zero while he did so.
"...I dunno this time. But we have no choice but to play the part. We are mere pawns in this tactical war; given an impossible goal, only accomplishable upon the enemy's mistakes." He spoke. The usual clatter in the holding pen seemed to double from the day before. He spun around toward the entrance and placed a finger on the side of his helmet. "I'll be back. I'm gonna go pay a visit to our 'Master'." He put heavy emphasis on that last word before he warped off. Rayne sighed heavily and looked out of the massive window toward the MHHQ.
"Echo. I'm sorry." She whispered to herself, wishing that her twin would hear her apology.
MHHQ- Strategic Meeting
Time: 7:46 A.M.
Date: 6-17-21XX
Alia walked tiredly into the room where the meeting was taking place. Upon entering, she eyed X, Signas and the leaders of the other units seated in front of a holographic view of MHHQ and Arcadia. They were discussing plans of attack and defense.
"If we put the 8th here," Signas said pointing to a space just outside the limits of Arcadia, "we'll have an advantage on this side."
"But if we do that," X interjected, "we'll be leaving our frontline defenses wide open. The defense turrets are powerful, but not against large numbers. I say we place the 8th here, along with the 1st." He pointed to the place where the 1st would be stationed.
"Why place them there," Ixion interrupted, "when we have my unit, the 16th, up there with the general infantry unit? I say we send them...here." She pointed toward the ocean. Pico shook his head furiously.
"That won't work either, seeing as how we don't even have space enough on our ships for my own unit." Ixion slammed a fist down.
"Well, why don't make space?" She spat the words at the Sea Force Unit commander snidely.
"I would have room if the frickin' 16th would stop running over to us every time they got threatened, Ixion." He retaliated. Ixion was known for have the most fluctuating unit in the Hunters. Why? Simply because she was pretty much a bitch twenty-four seven and no one could stand it for more than a few months.
Pretty soon, all of the commanders, save Signas, were quarrelling over where to place everyone else. Mick, the 8th commander, leant back in his seat with his hands folded behind his head. Alia listened to the bickering for as long as she could stand it. She stood up and dropped her navigation equipment on the table as loudly as possible.
"Good. Children, now that I have your attention, why don't you consider this: Scatter half of the 8th along the frontlines, as well as the 17th. The 6th should use reefs for cover as well as ambush points. Our true goal is to penetrate Arcadia and retrieve the stolen Cyber Elf. The 7th will carry the 0th, half of the 17th and half of the 8th into Arcadia over the enemy lines once they are broken through." Silence ensued for a few moments later. "Anyone have a problem with that strategy?" They all shook their heads simultaneously. She smiled and gestured to Signas.
"Well. Um...you heard the plan. We'll spend the next day or two preparing to execute it. Any questions?" They shook their heads in unison once more. Signas dismissed the room, pondering the thought of how much more useful Alia was than everyone else.
To be continued...
Yay! X-mas is almost here! Excited? I am! Tough chapter to write, but I think it's a good deal. I'm trying to focus on the background of a few characters, so feel free to ask questions. As always...
Till Next Time!