For the Humanity Within

Disclaimer: Megaman is owned by Capcom but the names used here are meant for fictional purposes. If real names appear here, this is out of coincidence.

Note: In case you saw the list, I guess I gave you major surprises there. Anyways, the second list will come after a number of chapters and all.

Here's a chapter for you to see, enjoy the second interval.

Vagrant: Interlude of Platinum

The days passed quietly, ending the winter solstice at its right. The thoughts wandered on that early morning, the chilly air giving its caress upon Criel's face. The view on the terrace remained with the darkness, the dawn yet to paint the horizon hours later. He turned to take a peek to his daughter, sound asleep. A pang crept upon his heart as he winced at the memory that ran to his head.

"You start to look like your mother as time passes." Criel whispered as he turned, leaving a note upon the desk. Turning towards the door, he could only give a silent prayer upon closing the door of the room.

The gate opened with him sauntering underneath the lights of the lampposts upon the street. Clad in a long black coat covering his attire of a black shirt and jeans, he winced at the decorated canopy with its glittering gems, the night sky had been continually filled with the stars while the clouds hid the moon behind it. Feeling the concealing shadows during that moment, he closed his eyes as he felt an urge to do what was needed.

"No one else knows of this. Just a meager number." He whispered, feeling an aura of mingling darkness and frost. As the streaks circled around his body, he began to levitate as he gained height from the ground in a hovering state. Reaching the sky where the moon began to show its light through the clouds, a pair of wings in its shadowlike form came forth reaching its span. There, he soared and made his leave riding the air with the black pinions, leaving a trail of feathers that diminish into frosty dust.

The fountain was empty, finding no water spouting from it to be filled. The premises were empty, save for a person seated upon the bench affront it. The stranger gazed upon the tip of the fountain; a mused grin worn upon her face however obscured by the crimson hat that she wore that tilted its angle to hide her eyes. The scarlet coat covered her, concealing the attire yet gave outline to the seductive form that she had. Her legs were crossed provocatively yet elegantly as the lights upon the park gave shades upon her body. Her gloved hands rested upon her lap as she shook her leg that wore the pair of boots. The quiet was stirred as a black feather made its descent upon her palm. A gust of wind followed as a shadow landed before her, the black wings vanished as the footsteps echo from the midst of shadows. He showed himself under the light of the moon and of the light post.

"So you came just as expected." The woman commented, amused by this appearance. "I could have sworn you never came to be after all the things that transpired between you and her, my dear Kreuz von Schwarz."

His platinum hair gleamed under the luster of the night, his eyes mingling with sapphire and crimson as he felt a cold aura amass upon his body. Gazing at this familiar stranger, he winced at her words, knowing the very end of her statement proved his identity.

"Do you still call me with that name even now, Lucia Mir Atreides?" he asked, finding the name to be a sort of annoyance.

"Well, you did change for the matter to hate that title of yours Criel Delacroix. I was expecting a warm welcome after all this time." She playfully tilted her head. Finding time to rise from her seat soon after, she took a few steps to take a good look of him, angling her hat's tip to gaze at his eyes with her own crimson laden irises.

Criel knew well of her. A smirk lined his face upon seeing this former comrade. Noticing the strands of her long, smooth hair in its auburn shade, it gave detail to who she was. His mind recalled an image of her and it seemed different at some point. Lucia, on the other hand noted the changes as well, much to give how time has taken toll to everything.

"So I've heard you got married, had a child and lived a happy life or so it seems." She gave a jesting tone upon her words as she spoke. "You did go for Beatrice, I knew it."

"What do you want at this time when it's dark? You still have that antic for sneaking things to me." Criel winced.

Lucia shook her head, finding the frank and cold tone to welcome her. A reply came to her lips yet she finds it tempting to bring it aside for the moment. Clasping the oddly-shaped pendant upon her hand, she spoke once more.

"You still search for her right? I believe I have news about that."

Criel composed himself upon hearing this. Finding this too easy yet fulfilling, he tried to weigh the circumstances.

"Is that so? Can you tell me?"

A mischievous grin came cracking upon Lucia's face. "Of course but there's one condition for that and I figure you're dying to love it."

Criel closed his eyes, figuring that no change came to Lucia after the years they parted. "After all this time when the Guardians disbanded from the Zodiac Collective, you haven't changed a bit. What is it this time?"

Lucia took ample steps, her hands upon her back in a childish manner. Gazing at his stern face, finding the logical side of him and the collected placement upon his personality, she wished to recall it again. She licked her lips, moistening it as it gave its shade to a tempting mode. Closing her face upon his, she whispered her offer.

"Kiss me, just this once." Her voice came softly with a seductive tone. It was giving a desire that was dormant for quite a long moment.

Criel felt the hazing confusion into play. It seemed to be a ruse to him, his mind being toyed upon. The longing for his beloved along with the loneliness that he suffered from weighed upon his shoulders. Yet, his mind rationalized and brought his decision, an oath that he cannot forget came to mind. What more is to be done?

He raised his fingers of his right hand, middle and index together. Noticing her closed eyes which bore longing, he placed his fingers upon her lips as it brushed upon its surface. She opened her eyes and was brought to her surprise.

"Well, that can't be done. I'll have to do it the hard way if that's what you're looking for." Criel gave his answer as he took a few steps back, bringing distance once more.

Lucia sighed as she was met with this response. "I can't believe you're still like this even if she's missing. Well, I can't argue with that commitment that you have. Besides, you have two daughters. It's just like what Alexander told me"

Criel turned his back as he was about to walk away until. "Wait, Criel. I'll help you find her. I just miss the rest of the group. How are the three young ones?"

Criel recalled the three, Mana, her brother Takenori, and Klaha. He halted as he turned to face Lucia once more. "They're fine. It's just that they're helping the new chosen ones. It's our job after all."

Lucia smiled yet it seemed short-lived. Falling silent, she stirred upon the surroundings. Criel noticed this sudden reaction, turning to his surroundings. He felt the air in its uneasy form. Readying himself, he came to stance but a question came to mind that he died to ask.

"Lucia, I just have a question." Criel gave his inquiry as he distanced his hand from his body with an open palm waiting upon the air. "What have you heard from Alex and what else have you been doing these past few months?"

Lucia winced at him as she stretched her hand affront her body. The open palm gathered a spherical aura of crimson, taking shape in a slow pace. The center part began to extend, forming its shaft while the tip of both ends began to take shape as well. One end became the pommel, its rounded tip cast with its metallic form. The other end took a greater shape as a curved herald; its protrusions surround the curved crescent while a spherical gem was embedded in the center. She clasped the weapon as the aura dissipated, revealing the staff that has been its end product. Gazing at her main weapon, she noticed Criel has revealed his main weapon, a scythe.

Shadows stirred around them as they began to take form. Surrounding them were hordes of black entities. These beings varied with their armaments, bearing either swords upon their hands, claws mounted on their arms, or arm cannons. Finding themselves in the center, the pair had no choice but to engage the target.

"Well, let's see…" Lucia held her staff as she gazed at the enemies surrounding them. "Before I answer your question, we got ourselves tied up today."

Criel winced at the thought as he identified each of them. "They sent Blood Flaws, Guilt Tears and Malice Thorns. Looks like you're gonna use that Carmine Diviner right away."

Lucia could only agree to his statement. "Well, you showed your Black Revenant. It doesn't change a thing. We'll get serious a bit here. Anyways, I'm itching for a warm-up. You up for it?"

Both of them fell silent as they charged at their foes at opposite directions. Criel dashed upon one unsuspecting Blood Flaw, catching it off guard. Thrusting the pommel of the scythe, he pushed the enemy slightly while it was severed in half by a rising slice from the crescent tip of the blade. Taking the momentum into motion, Criel whirled the scythe in a pendulum. Tilting the weapon, he brought his freehand upon the shaft to exert more force on that stroke, assailing his enemies upon his sinister side and arcing its way in front of him. This blow sent his foes either airborne and landing in severed halves or falling into the ground in pieces.

Lucia launched herself into the air, evading the beams fired at her by the Malice Thorns. With acrobatic grace, she twirled and flexed her form as she evaded. But at that same moment, unnoticed to her adversaries on the ground, her hand amassed energy. On that second twirl, she flicked her hand as she released a spray of crimson beams upon the enemy, countering their barrage and destroying them in the process. The black beings were dispersed after the shot took them down, giving a clearing upon the ground. Landing gracefully, she struck her staff upon the ground. The impact raised a gust of wind upon them, following a branding formation upon the ground. As the circle took shape upon them, the sphere upon her staff resonated and brought the formation on the ground a distinct glow. Soon after, a flash of light peered through the shape given, destroying everything around that circle at once.

Criel twirled his scythe as he turned and danced. The blade slashed everything around his path, destroying and dismembering them in a horizontal path. Hurling himself from the ground, he leaned his body horizontally as he flipped and twirled. At that fluid movement, his leg whipped an unsuspecting Malice Thorn to the head as it launched its form upon the others, sending them to the ground. His leg touched the ground upon landing. Unable to keep his form still, he whirled once more and gave an assailing stroke with his scythe upon the unsuspecting battalion that approached to attack, ending his motion as he brought his other leg to the ground. Now standing before his opponents who are down on the ground, he turned to Lucia who was faring well with her battle, finding that it was tilting greatly to her favor.

"Hey Lucia, you haven't answered my question." Criel yelled. A Blood Flaw pounced behind him, its claws gleaming for its lust of blood. Without even turning to face this assailant, he flicked the scythe with his hand as the blade glided in ascent. This diagonal stroke took down the enemy as it severed the arms and torso with its body vanishing into dust after a flash of the blade.

Lucia struggled slightly as she flipped sideways, evading a charged energy shot from a Malice thorn. As soon as she landed, she flicked her staff sideways, firing a sphere as it rushed in high velocity. The energy sphere collided and its blast upon impact took out a few of its companions near it. Finding that the numbers are decreasing, she replied to Criel's question.

"Well, he did tell me about you working in a school as a teacher, aside from you searching for her. And he did miss me a lot." Lucia winced as she answered with a casual tone. Averting her gaze to the remaining foes, she focused her thoughts as her body began to gather energy around her. Being surrounded with an aura of scarlet, she clasped the staff with its spherical piece within the crescent tip resonated with its burning glow. She motioned her staff in a manner that the light created ancient writings upon the air. Soon after, a circle formation made its shape affront her as she swung her staff to the central area. A sphere of energy grew and as it increased in size, it burst to a number rushing in velocity to the battalion. Each fragmented energy sphere burned its target as it collided, wiping the group in that spray of power.

Criel jumped in the air, evading the horizontal swings aimed at the lower proximities of his body. Countering with his form gyrating in a twirl with his leg smiting each nearby assailant with a kick to the head on each, he thrust the hilt of his scythe to the ground as he propelled himself further into the air. Springing from the ground, he unleashed his energy from his body as it summoned his black wings. Airborne, he channeled his energy to his hands as it surged through his scythe. Now enveloped with a dark purple aura, he hurled his scythe to the ground, circling in motion. The crescent blade impaled an unsuspecting enemy to the ground and on that impact; it brought a powerful shockwave that took away the enemies within its diameter of effect. The energy flickered with its sparks and spikes of electricity along with its diamond dust mixed in the shock. Criel winced as he hovered in that suspended state, whisking his hands as flashes of light gathered upon it and engulfing them. The light dissipated and formed a pair of gauntlets with its sharp claws protruding from its knuckles. Before initiating his attack, he glanced at Lucia and gave another follow-up question.

"What else did you do then, anything else from the discussion?" Criel asked.

Lucia watched as she struck her staff upon the ground, standing impaled upon the gap between the cobblestone paths. She summoned energy as it gathered upon her hand, taking shape of a strange hilt. Settling with its form, she clasped the object while the glowing tip began to reveal its flexible form. She gave stroke to her movement, letting the loose light curve and stretch to its full length. Slithering through the air, the light whip struck down a row of opponents in that sweeping stroke. She countered another in its alternate direction, flagging them once more. Upon the third blow, she unleashed a vacuum of energy that brought them to disperse into dust. Wincing at the attack, she replied.

"Well, you won't like the idea about it Criel." Lucia replied with a teasing tone.

Criel swooped down upon his movement, descending upon his remaining foes with increasing speed. Charging at them, his talons are ready to strike. The Malice Thorns among the fray began firing shots at him, easily swayed to and fro with Criel's maneuvering. As he reached them, his blades met their forms as it assailed upon them and dispatched them in rows. An ill-fated Blood Flaw was caught into the air upon the ascent that soon followed, sliced up with the flurry of strokes and scratches from the pair of claws before falling to the ground. Hearing the words that Lucia threw in the air, he was shaking his head.

"Come on, don't leave me in suspense. I'm losing momentum when I'm hearing cliffhangers. Tell me." Criel said to her as he took another drop from the air once more. Charging at the remaining battalion, he circled and brought himself in a drilling spiral as he pierced through the remnants, either throwing them aside incapacitated and destroyed or sliced and pierced on the ground.

Lucia took a breath as she charged upon the remaining squad. She whipped the light whip upon a Guilt Tear with one lash, recoiling upon withdrawal. She gave another stroke upon it once more, this time taking the once beside it on the diagonal lashing. The third stroke took a coil upon a distant Blood Flaw and grappled it, pulled in towards her upon recoil. Nearing her form quickly, she gave a powerful kick that propelled the enemy back to the group, throwing them to the ground. As the whip came to its recoil, she flicked it towards the ground and caused a powerful impact to throw the enemies airborne. Gathering a sphere of energy upon her palm, she hurled it as it brought an explosion destroying them. She gazed at Criel as she finished her half.

"Well, I slept with him recently." Lucia said with a smile on her face, stating it in a nonchalant manner.

Criel brought his hand upon his chest, the index and middle finger together in a casting position. The whole of his hand began its ominous glow as he whispered a trail of words, "programming" some commands upon input. He then whisked his hand upon the direction of his remaining enemies as a dust of frost gathered affront him. Upon that mist came to form a number of frost lances. The icicles rushed upon formation, colliding towards the battalion and giving no mercy to the remnants. The annihilation has marked the end of that battle. Landing upon the ground, he heard her reply.

"Oh, I see." He smiled upon landing to the ground. Snapping his fingers, he dispelled his weapons. But upon realizing what she stated, it then hit him. "You did what!?"

The delayed reaction made Lucia giggle. Finding this fact a bit too surprising, Criel dispersed the black wings, its feathers dancing upon the air. Calming himself down, he knew deep in his mind it would be possible. Stirred in curiosity, he wanted to know what else is there.

"Yeah I did." Lucia answered.

"Since when did you go for him anyway?" Criel asked.

"Just a few years after you and Beatrice got married. We haven't seen each other for the previous year due to some things." She casually answered. "And since I haven't heard from any of you, I just thought of catching up with him in that way."

Criel just shook his head. That figured to be a strange way of catching up. It did involve something that he saw in her. His guesses may have leaned to be true. And there, its hints manifest. He smiled when he thought of the answer.

"I guess you do love him, a way that you can only express." Criel said to her.

Lucia paused on that moment. She turned to him and smiled, finding assurance to his answer. "I think you're right. I should tell him about it."

"You should. It's not just the liaison, is it?" Criel added. His analysis was right. "I guess you have moved on and that you chose to go further than just a cover-up."

The young lady in crimson could only agree. Finding a friend that understood her like a sister was this man, a former comrade and still an ally. She was thankful that he was doing well in life. Indebted in a sort, she remembered her bargain.

"Well, since you mentioned it." Lucia said to him. "I'll be helping you in this. In finding her and in fighting these new enemies. I guess I should be doing my part here as well."

Criel smiled, ever thankful with this decision that she took. Now that an ally has joined her, he could find that it would be solved soon.

(End of the Platinum)

Author's tête-à-tête

A new ally comes to aid the group. The battle will soon take form of a greater obstacle. And now that secrets will unfold more, what awaits our heroes?

Whew, chapter's done after all the busy stuff! I can't believe having battle of the bands from the previous week and nailing only second place, forming a band of my own just now and another fic for my Vandread x Breath of Fire IV crossover worked up is really killing my head. That ain't stopping the only Sydney Grise.

I figured that you read the list and got some grimaces on the events, having X kiss the female version of Lumine. Well, that was a bit funny and I can see those glares. There's a reason to everything as I may say.

Here's a new entry to your list. She'll show up on the version 2 list after a few chapters. So, go guess who she is.

Lucia Mir Atreides – (try and guess. Even if the guess is very wild, I don't mind.)

Chapter 15 shall be up soon. Well, 'til then I have to unveil the worlds once more.

Please review. Your reviews are appreciated as well as comments and suggestions. I can accept flames of your reactions as well. At least it's the freedom of speech right? See you next time with the next update.

Sydney Grise