Q&A Time!
One comment from BlueStar Palette I'm gonna address: Yes, my upload schedule is crap. As a university student, I ask myself three questions when uploading: Is the chapter finished? Do I have time to upload it now? Do I have the means to upload it now? Answer yes to all three, and voila! New chapter posted. I found out I can upload .DOCX with my phone to FanFiction and use the doc editor, and will be doing so if I finish a chapter while away from my computer. Yaay, the life of a busy busy student…
.: Chapter 1.1 :.
A week passed. X and Zero found themselves standing at the entrance of Noah's Park like they had done a little over a month earlier.
But back then, Axl was with me, not Zero, X thought.
"X, Zero," Alia's voice came over their comms, "I've tracked down the target. There is an experimental mechaniloid called a "Mecholiath" running amok in your general vicinity and causing damage. We have cause to believe it's being remotely controlled, so if possible please leave the control chip intact."
"Got it," Zero replied.
X stared out at the forest before them, full of towering trees supported by mechanical systems to keep them in peak condition. The scenery was beautiful, but seeing steel wires run through the natural plant life disturbed him.
"X," Zero called out, "come on, let's go. We gotta track down that mechaniloid before it causes serious damage."
"Right," X nodded, "of course."
A large crash from nearby shook the ground, sending wildlife running and birds flying.
"That was easy," Zero grabbed his sabre and activated it, running through the treeline towards the source of the disturbance. "Cover me!"
X activated his buster, readying a charge shot as he followed behind his friend. It wasn't long until the two reached a meadow, and in it was a large red mechaniloid over twice the hunter's height. It was built like a Ride Armour, with a sturdy body, wielding a claw in place of its right hand.
"Alia, we found it!" Zero exclaimed over the comm. "The thing's huge!"
"Yes, it's big, but not invincible," Alia stated. "If you can expose the joints, you can disarm it that way, but focus on taking out its power source. Do you see that crystal on its chest? That's it."
"Thanks, I see it," X responded, focusing on the round blue crystal obscured by the Mecholiath's arms. "The arms are in the way, so we don't have a clear shot yet. We'll probably will have to attack the joints first."
"On it!" Zero said and lunged towards the mechaniloid. He jumped up and swung his sabre down on its right wrist, destroying the armour protecting the joint. It retalited by swinging around its upper body, sending Zero flying back. He landed on his feet, ready to attack again.
X fired off the charged shot, making the mech flail its arms out as it attempted to regain balance.
Zero took the opening, taking a running jump and slashing the mech across the chest, damaging the crystal where its powercore was stored. It quickly countered, using its claw to send Zero flying off again.
X ran up closer to the mech, charging a shot while attempting to find a better vantage point.
The mech noticed. It lifted its claw above its head, ready to come down at a moment's notice.
With its power core exposed X fired the shot, destroying what was left of the exterior of the crystal and damaging the power core. Sparks flew from its chest as the body stiffened, unable to move itself.
"Well, that was easy," Zero stated, moving in underneath the giant.
X nodded, and walked up beside Zero. "Are you okay? You took the brunt of its attacks."
"I'm not fragile, a couple hits is nothing," he responded. "Hey, Alia, you wanted the control chip, right? Where is it?"
"It should be in its head," Alia said. "There's a service panel in the rear, which should give you access to it."
"Of course it's on the top of its head," Zero muttered, staring straight up at the slumped over mechaniloid towering over him.
"This thing's huge, what's it purpose anyways?" X asked.
"Construction. They were supposed to be deployed to the Moon Colony, but weren't completed before this fiasco started."
"They?" Zero questioned. "Don't tell me there's more of this thing."
"According to the records I have, there were three constructed in total. However, the other two are currently accounted for."
"Thank goodness," Zero sighed in relief. "That was a rough battle, I'd hate to go through that again."
"Still, the issue at hand is recovering that control chip. This thing seems needlessly tall…" X said. He scratched the back of his neck and turned towards Zero. "Give me a hand, will you? If I can get boosted up high enough, I can climb the rest of the way-"
The Mecholiath roared to life again, its claw quickly coming down at the two. X quickly pushed Zero away, and ended up pinned to the ground.
"X!" Zero screamed, activating his saber again and lunging at the exposed joint.
The mech responded by swatting at him, sending him flying into the tree line. A steady beeping started.
"X! Zero!" Alia screamed over the comm. "What's wrong? What's going on there?"
"Run away! The self destruct activated!" X screamed, struggling to move underneath the claw.
Zero quickly got up, gripping his saber tighter. "Not without you I'm not!" He rushed towards the mech again, dodging its massive arm and landing a clean hit on the joint, separating the claw from the body. "Hold on!"
The beeping increased in frequency, becoming louder and faster.
"Go, save yourself!"
"I told you, I'm not leaving you!"
"Zero, RUN!"
A blast rang out, and then there was silence.
Author's Notes: God damn am I busy. I wanted to get a side story done first to expand on issues brought up in the previous chapter first but I hit a rut and couldn't continue either. I apologize this took so long.
I forced myself out of this rut because today is a special day. For you, Monty Oum. I promise to create today, and I promise to complete this story, my masterpiece. You will never work on yours again, but those left behind here have picked up the torch and continue your legacy. In your memory I dedicate today's updates and my resolve from here on out. Forever rest in peace, Monty Oum.