Well, it's update time again, but before I do that, let's take a look at those comments:
ZBoi – Don't worry, some ZeroxCiel fluff will come soon, although not in this chapter, so sorry :(.
Mocha – Thanks. Well, that's all that I can say with that comment.
SpartainCommander – Actually not a bad idea… Just keep reading and find out where I'll go with this.
Hasabusa – Indeed they are, indeed they are.
Silver888 – It's a bunk bed with Aile on the bottom bunk and Vent at top bunk.
Someone – No, but I have my ways…
Alright, now that that's done. It's time for the new chapter!
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They say that when you're at the brink of death, your life flashes before your eyes. I hope that's not true, because that would mean I'm at the brink of death right now. Just staring at her must have sparked something, because the missing pieces of my memories start to all slowly click together.
I remember everything now: Sigma, Colonel, Vile and the countless others. The most important thing was her. This time, it wasn't a dream or just a fragment of my memories. I remembered how I was forced to fight her. I remembered the result of that decision I made. What I don't remember, however, is why I chose to fight in the end. Why didn't I try to save her back then?
"Are you going to fight or just stand there, Zero?" Iris looks at me without drawing any weapons. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice. I won't force myself to kill her again, now that she's finally back. What if this is just another one of Weil's tricks?
What if it isn't? That's how another part of my mind replies to that question. If it isn't, then I'll have to fight her again. "Iris, I don't want to have to fight you." I wait, not exactly sure what I'm expecting. Did I really expect it to be that easy?
"I'm not going to attack if you don't fight back, Zero. I should warn you though, the longer you stay here, the harder it will be for your friends to survive." My friends? She must be talking about Ciel and the others! I make a bolt for the exit, jumping to avoid some of the desks in the way.
I reach out to push the doors open, but something whizzes past me and burns the door at the spot that I would have touched if I hadn't stopped moving. What was that? I turn to Iris to find out.
Along with her usual red and blue attire, she now has a golden bow that she's wielding with her right hand. The bow's about the length of her, though I can't really tell since she's holding it horizontally. The two ends of the bow are covered with black feathers and look like two black wings.
"If you try to leave this room, then I'll have no choice but to follow my orders and kill you." She puts her hand on middle curved part of the bow and starts pulling her fingers back. A blue bolt of energy forms where her hands were to create an arrow. I don't know how powerful that attack is, but I sure am not willing to get hit to find out.
With my hands, I grab onto a nearby desk and use all my strength to toss it between us as a shield. It bursts into pieces as soon as Iris let's go of the bowstring. Wait, the arrow's still coming towards me!
The collision with the table must have thrown it off course, because the arrow misses my most vital points and scrapes the back of my right hand. I flinch and look at my black and white gauntlet to realize that just making contact with that attack has torn a part of it off, revealing my skin.
Iris is getting ready to shoot again. I have to do something and quick! I duck under a desk and flip it to the side so that it could hide me. "You already tried that, Zero. That won't stop my attacks!"
An arrow pierces through the table just centimeters away from my body. There has to be some way for me to keep her busy. If I keep this up, then Iris will get lucky sooner or later and kill me. Another arrow misses me. It's now or never!
I stand up and toss the table at Iris. She looks wide-eyed at the projectile flying towards her and fires the arrow from surprise at the wall. I have to subdue her now before I lose my chance! I jump towards the flying table and grab onto it, slamming it down at Iris's body. She lies down with her head out while the rest of her body is buried under the weight of the table and my own weight.
"Listen, Iris. I don't want to have to hurt you." I just hope I can talk some sense into her before she breaks free. I'm already having trouble keeping her down right now. A white light completely annihilates the table that's keeping me down and pushes me outward. Luckily, I manage to grab onto a nearby chair to land safely. That didn't exactly work out the way I had planned, what do I do now?
"So, Zero, you don't want to fight me?" Iris lowers her bow. Did I manage to get through to her? "I'll offer you to join Model W. You can help bring in a new age free of the humans. We will be able to build a new era where reploids will be able to live in peace."
"I don't know what kind of changes Model W made to you, but both humans and reploids will never be at peace if he's the one ruling." What she said almost sounded like the same words she said the last time right before she fought. Can she be doing this on her own free will? No, that's impossible. Iris may have been somewhat optimistic, but she'd never be blind enough to follow Model W willingly. At this, Iris just laughs.
"In a way, you're kind of a hypocrite. Why do you think you were created, Zero? Whether you like it or not, you are the God of Destruction. The fact that you even managed to beat Omega proves that." What does she mean by that? "You are a Robot Master, just like Forte, Shademan and the others. You were not created to protect humans. You were created to destroy. You're Zero, the ultimate killing machine!"
"Your words have told me all I needed to know." I draw my Z-Saber and ignite the green blade. "I can tell from what you said that you are no longer the Iris I once knew. I'm afraid I have no other choice left but to fight you." If Ciel and the others' lives are in danger, then I have no time left to lose.
"Finally decided to fight? You won't even be able to touch me with that blade." The next thing I know, Iris is right behind me with an arrow pointing at me. She lets go before I could react. The breath is forced out of my body from the blunt force of the arrow hitting my stomach. For some reason, the arrow wasn't sharp enough to pierce me.
So I guess that means Iris did have different type of attacks despite the fact that she had the same weapon. Wait, why do I even have the time to be thinking this? I'm flying through the air with an arrow pushing me against my stomach. I should be thinking of how to not get hurt while landing. I crash into a table from behind. I guess it's too late for that now.
The arrow's still moving. Okay, this is really starting to scare me now. If I hit the wall, will I just be pushed through it or will it actually stop my impact? There's a loud cracking sound and I turn to see that the table smashed into a wall. Pieces of wood and metal scatter and I fall down after making impact with the metal wall.
I can barely hold my Z-Saber up now because of Iris's first attack. If this keeps up, then I won't be able to survive for long. I stand up again and face Iris. She has another arrow pointed at me, but she didn't' fire while I was down.
"I'll give you a chance to reach your full power. Show me why you're the God of Destruction." She wants me to use my Ultimate Armor? That's what happened the last time we fought...
I can't afford to make the same mistake twice. "I'm not going to kill you again, Iris, but if Ciel and the others are in danger, then I will get past you to protect them!" My right hand is losing its grip on the Z-Saber. The attacks that she made are starting to take its toll on me. Just wait a bit longer, Ciel.
"You can't even wield your weapon properly. How do you expect to beat me in your condition?" She fires and I sway to the left in order to avoid the flying projectile. If I don't pull this off properly, then I'll die.
I drop the Z-Saber on the ground and jump into the air while changing the configuration for my Z-Buster. I just need to focus and aim. A white laser shoots out from the gun at Iris.
She dashes forward closer to me as I land. I put away the Z-Buster with my right hand while simultaneously pick up the Z-Saber again with my right. I spin around to strike her with my blade, but she grips onto my wrist with her right hand.
There's a clanging sound as she drops her bow. "I gave you a chance to fight at your full power, Zero, but this ends now!"
"AHH!" She lets go of my wrist after her hand impales my shoulder. She slowly takes it out to reveal that sharp and long nails have appeared, giving her left hand an almost claw-like appearance. I guess she isn't just long-ranged after all. I choke as she grabs onto my neck and lifts me up in the air.
"I don't want to have to hurt you, Iris." I grab onto her arm to try and loosen her grip on my neck, but to no avail.
"I don't think you're in any condition to be saying things like that." Wait for it… her free hand becomes a claw again. I just need to hold on a bit longer… Iris lifts her arm into the air to strike.
Now! I use my feet to push myself away from Iris and then there's a loud cling sound as the laser I fired earlier makes contact with the chain that supports the ceiling lights. Iris looks up in shock as the large circular lights fall down and trap her.
I grab onto the bow that she dropped onto the ground and point my Z-Buster at her. "If you try anything, then I'll have no choice but to fire." Iris just stands there without any hints of worry or defeat. What's she up to?
"I've already completed my job of stalling you. The next time we meet, I won't hold back. You better be ready to fight at full power as well, Zero." She snaps her finger and her bow reappears in her hands. I check my hand and sure enough, it's gone. "It's farewell for now, Zero."
"No, wait! IRIS!" I try to stop her, but she teleports out of the base. Will I have to fighter her again later? Iris, I'll find a way to bring you back to your true self again. I'm not going to let Model W use you as a tool.
"Zero! I've been looking for you." I slowly turn to find X standing by the doorway. "Are Vent and Aile with you as well?"
"They're still in the base?"
"Prairie and Ciel couldn't find them or you outside, so they sent me, Harpuia, Leviathan, and Fefnir to come back in and search for the three of you." Wait, if all four of them are here, then who's with…
"Where's Ciel!?" I shout out the question and X covers his ear.
"She's just outside the base to the northeast." Hearing that, I dash to the nearest exit and rip the doors open. I jump down and X follows me without a question. I guess just seeing my reaction is enough for him to know what's wrong. Please be okay, Ciel…
-----------POV Shift: Leviathan-----------
"I found him!" Fefnir's voice echoes from a room and I follow it to the source. I meet up with Harpuia at the doorway and the two of us enter together. My eyes move around the room until I find Fefnir kneeling down next to a figure covered in blood.
"Is he… alive?" I pause as I look at the sight. It looks like a war zone in here. I wonder what could have caused it. Harpuia kneels down next to Vent and puts his hand on his neck. After a few seconds, he removes it.
"He's still breathing, but barely." Harpuia concludes and Fefnir carries the unconscious figure. "Did you two find any signs of Aile or Zero?"
"I checked the other rooms that I was supposed to cover and found no sign of them. X probably already found them." Fefnir nods as well to confirm that he did the same. Harpuia frowns. "What's wrong, Harpy?"
"Nothing, I just thought that the two chosen ones would be together. We better get him some medical attention." Fefnir nods and he carefully caries Vent towards the exit as Harpuia and I follow him.
"Hey I just thought of something." Fefnir stops and looks at Vent's unconscious face. "What if he and his girlfriend got into some kind of fight and that's why he's beaten up like this."
"Fefnir, what makes you think that Aile would beat Vent up like this and then suddenly disappear? The two of them use the same biometals, so her condition shouldn't be any better than his." Fefnir looks at me and tries to find a way around that.
"Well, that's only assuming that Vent fought back." Since when did Fefnir get this good at arguing? I guess when he gets a thought like this, he'll try everything to defend it. Harpuia just sighs at the two of us talking about Fefnir's theory.
"Now's not the time to discuss this. Just focus on keeping him alive and getting him medical aid as soon as possible." Fefnir quiets down and I stick my tongue out at him. "LEVIATHAN!"
"Alright, fine, I'll stop." The three of us go to the transporter room and Harpuia checks the machines while Fefnir puts Vent down. "What are you looking for?"
"I just want to make sure that everything's alright before we go." There's a whirring sound as the trans-server turns on. "All set. Get him on the trans-server." Fefnir carries Vent on his shoulder and I get on the trans-server as well.
Harpuia joins us last and then the three of us teleport back to report back to Ciel and Prairie.
-----------POV Shift: X-----------
The two of us descend to find Guardians collapsed on the ground while Guardians from another squad are trying to treat the injured. Zero looks around, probably for Ciel, and he finally stops when he finds her collapsed on the ground as well.
The two of us go up to her to find Rose checking her for a pulse. "Is she alright?" I hear the worried words coming out of my friend.
"She's still breathing and her life isn't in critical condition. The same goes for Prairie." Zero and I turn to find that Prairie's also unconscious next to Ciel. "There's something strange. Prairie seems to have no physical injuries whatsoever."
"There isn't any danger back at the base, so it'll probably be easier to move everyone back to the Medic Wing." Rose nods at my suggestion and gives orders to some other Guardians.
"I take it all of you arrived in time to save them?" Rose nods her head. No? What does she mean by that?
"That's another strange thing. By the time I arrived here, all the mechaniloids and Guardians were down." There's no way that the two sides could have done that, unless there was…
"X, Zero!" I to the direction of the voice to find Harpuia, Leviathan, Fefnir and Vent on Fefnir's back. "We've heard about what happened here. We found Vent in the Training Room."
"I'll take care of him." Fefnir hands Vent to another Guardian and they head back to the base. Still it feels like something's missing. Then, I remembered. "Where's Aile?"
"We thought you found her. We couldn't find her anywhere." Leviathan looks around and sure enough, doesn't find Aile. I should've noticed it sooner.
"We'll just have to wait until Vent's conscious again and then we can ask him." The three of them head back as well. Rose slowly picks up Prairie and follows the three of them back. I turn and find Zero kneeling down to Ciel with his palms on Ciel's cheeks. I've seen this look before.
"It's not your fault, Zero. Besides, like Rose said, Ciel's life isn't in danger." Zero stands up again and picks up Ciel bridal style.
"I could've gotten here sooner and helped. Next time, she might not be so lucky." Zero starts moving back to the base. I wonder why he's feeling so responsible for Ciel's current state. Something must have happened before I found him. From his injuries, I could tell that he was fighting someone, but hadn't thought of pressing the subject any further.
"What kept you busy before I found you?" Zero turns and gives me a serious stare before answering.
"Iris."
-----------POV Shift: Vent-----------
Where am I? How am I still alive? What happened to me? What's one plus one? My eyes open and I find myself back in my room. Why am I here? The last few hours of my conscious life start slowly coming back to me.
"Where's Aile!?" I bolt up and almost slam myself against the higher bunk. Wait, I sleep on the higher bunk. This is Aile's bed!
"I was just going to ask you the same question." I follow the source of the voice to discover that I'm not alone in this room.
"If my whole body didn't hurt right now, then maybe I'll bow down or do something to show my respect, Commander." I force a faint smile as I try to forget about what happened.
"You never did that even when you weren't injured. If you don't want me to push the subject, then I won't." She stops talking and sits there beside me as I try to close my eyes and forget about everything that's happened so far. Maybe it was all just a dream, but the fact that Prairie's here asking about Aile proves otherwise.
"Aile went with Prometheus and Pandora to save me. She left because I was too weak to protect myself." Prairie would have found out one way or another. It doesn't matter if I try to hide it.
"If that's what happened, then don't try to beat yourself up for it. Aile didn't save you just so you could kill yourself from guilt." I feel so useless. I failed Aile when she needed me the most. It feels like I haven't been able to do anything right. It feels like nothing's right these days.
"I feel like I don't have anything left to keep me going. If I wasn't so weak, then I could have helped Aile fight Prometheus and Pandora. She might still be with us right now." I pull the pillow over my head to hide.
"Aile's still alive. That should be one thing to keep you going." She is? How would Prairie know that? I pull my head out of the pillow to ask her, but she cuts me off before the question could leave my mouth. "If Prometheus and Pandora's goal was to kill Aile, then they would have done it here instead of taking her with them."
I guess that makes sense, but maybe she's just saying that to make me feel better. "Are you sure?" Prairie nods and I immediately jump out of the bed with renewed energy. "If that's true then I need to go after Aile before they do anything to her!"
I head for the door but Prairie's voice stops me. "Where are you going to start looking for her?" I stop and collapse on the floor as the small burst of energy from earlier leaves as my hopes crash down. "I thought so."
"I just want to see Aile again. I want to know that she's still safe. Is that too much to ask for?" I just want to be able to see her smile again, to hear her call out my name. Not having her here is making me realize everything that I took for granted.
"Do you really want to see her that much?" Prairie asks me
"Yes, more than anything."
"I can tell that this is really killing you from the inside out. Go to the Commander's Room and talk to the transporters. They should be able to track down her biometals, and with any luck, you'll find her." Hearing this, it feels like a huge weight's been lifted off my shoulders.
I stand up again and run down the hall towards the Commander's Room. "Be careful!" I hear Prairie shouting at me from across the hall before I make a turn. I'm going to bring you back, Aile, no matter what it takes.
-----------POV Shift: Prairie-----------
I'm not sure if I did the right thing by telling him that. He's not in his best physical condition right now, but the longer I wait to tell him, the more dangerous it can get for both Aile and him.
It's better for him to see Aile now instead of later, when she'll probably be just a shadow of her former self. I just hope that he doesn't do anything rash to get himself hurt, but this is something that Vent needs to do alone.
-----------POV Shift: Vent-----------
Outside
Aile should be somewhere around here. The biometals' signature came from the north, I think. I better keep following it until I find her. I should've just borrowed a bike or something. My legs are so weak and tired.
I can't complain now, Aile might be close by. I let her down during our fight with Prometheus and Pandora, but I'm bringing her back no matter what it takes, even if I have to break into Model W's base to do it.
There are so many trees and plants around here. It's hard to see anything. Didn't I already pass that spot a few minutes ago? Am I walking around in circles? I need to follow a path and stick with it or else I won't be able to get anywhere.
"Vent… are you there?" An unclear message is sent to me via the communicator. I think all the trees are blocking the signal.
"Prairie?" Did she change her mind about sending me out here? What am I going to do if she tells me to pull back? I'm too close now to stop, but I don't want to have to argue with her.
"You're walking in the right direction. Keep going and you should be able to find Aile's biometals and hopefully, Aile." I nod, but then remember that Prairie can't see me.
"Alright, I'll keep moving." I continue walking and Prairie's silent. Is the communicator still on? I better check to make sure. I prepare to take it off, but Prairie ends the moment of silence just before I could.
"Remember, Vent, you're only checking to make sure that Aile's alright. If she's with anyone, then just run. If she's alone somehow, then try and bring her back." I can't just leave her without at least trying… there has to be something that I can do to persuade Prairie to change her mind.
"I can't do that, Commander. Sorry, but I can't just leave Aile with Model W and the others." Forgive me for disobeying orders, but that's one I can't follow.
"Vent! Don't be so-" Prairie's voice is cut off when I turn off the communicator. I should be very close to the biometal now, but I don't see any signs of Aile. Wait, I think I see someone. There she is!
"Aile!" I call out to her. She looks at my direction in surprise and I wave to get her attention. "I'm so glad that you're safe. Did you manage to escape from Model W all by yourself?"
"Vent? How did you find me?"
"The operators tracked down your biometals. I was worried that you'd be imprisoned by Model W, but you're really here now." I rush up to Aile and wrap my arms around her. We've only parted for a short while, but for a moment there, I thought that I really lost her.
"I see. Thanks for coming and…" Aile breaks out of the embrace and I see her holding something sharp and shiny. "Goodbye!" I cough as blood splatters onto the ground. I look down and see a knife stabbed in my stomach and then Aile's hand connected to the hilt of the knife.
It takes me a few seconds to register what happened and by that time, Aile takes out the knife and I'm on my knees. Why did she do this? How much time has passed since she went away with Pandora and Prometheus? Can she have changed so quickly? "Why?" I manage to sputter out.
"I'm tired of protecting weaklings like you. From now on, I'll be following Model W and I'll rid the world of unnecessary weaklings. I'll leave you here to die and think about that. If you manage to somehow survive, Vent, then I'll finish you off the next time we meet."
Aile starts to walk away from me and I try to grab onto her, but she escapes my reach. Why is everything in my life going so badly now? If this is a nightmare, then I want to be able to wake up…
Hot tears stream down my face as Aile escapes from my view. Aile's gone now. She has betrayed all of us because I was weak. "I'll get stronger, Aile. I'll bring you back by force if I have to!" I slam onto the ground and the blood starts pouring out onto the ground. My wounds from the fight with Prometheus and Pandora have reopened. I let out one more cry before my world is swallowed by darkness…
-----------POV Shift: Normal-----------
Next to Vent, a large yellow budding flower appears. The flower opens and Plantman steps out. "Model W has finally made his move."
Plantman walks up to Vent and lifts him up. "I guess I should bring you back to Shademan. He might be interested in seeing you, or if he isn't, then I can always use some extra fertilizer for my garden."
Petals surround Plantman and Vent. The petals form together and encase the two of them in a flower. The flower slowly sinks into the ground, dragging Vent and Plantman with it.
-----------POV Shift: Pandora-----------
Model W's Base
I walked into the jail cell to see Aile huddled in a corner. "We need you to conserve your strength, here's your food." I put the tray next to Aile and look in the direction she's looking to see a small dent in the wall. "There's no point in trying to escape, we made sure to take all your biometals."
"How did you know I was planning to escape?" Aile replies without looking at the tray I brought.
"Because, I looked at that same spot a long time ago and thought the same thing." At this, Aile looks at me surprised, but I won't explain any further. That was the past and I've learned to accept my fate. Pretty soon, she'll do the same.
"I'm sure that the others will be here soon. Vent's going to come and help me break out of here." Should I tell her what Iris told us earlier? I guess there's no point in trying to keep it from her.
"Once she has no hope left, then she'll gradually learn to accept her fate." That's what Model W said, but I still feel hesitant. Was it because I feel sorry for her? It's not exactly a great idea to give her false hope either.
"I don't think that Vent's going to come and rescue you anytime soon." Aile looks up at me with a horrified expression.
"What do you mean?" She manages to almost force her words out, as if afraid of the answer that I'll give her.
"Iris came back earlier and said that she took care of Vent." I look at Aile and in that moment, I can almost see her resolve weakening. Is this the weakness that friendship brings? Still I can't help but feel a bit sad as well, and feel sorry for her. Why should I care about their personal problems?
"Vent won't be defeated that easily." Is she in denial or does she actually believe that? I can't tell from her voice. It's soft, but firm. I guess now it's time to tell her the full story.
"Iris said that even if Vent isn't dead, he won't want to try and rescue you anymore." At this, Aile becomes a bit suspicious.
"What do you mean?" I wish I knew as well. I already told her everything that Iris told us. Maybe she said more to Model W, but I definitely don't know anything else aside from what I already told Aile.
"I don't know. You'll have to ask somebody else." I move towards the exit and I see from the corner of my vision Aile picking up the bowl that I brought her and slowly bring it up to her lips.
I hear a slurping sound after closing and locking the gate and then a loud CRACK. I turn my head briefly to find the bowl shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces and the grey and thick liquid that was supposed to be her food.
I give Aile one last glance to see her burying her head in her arms. I also can't help but notice a few drops of tears on the ground. I take in the sight for a few seconds before turning away.
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I feel like I took things a bit fast this time around, although I can't be sure whether this is a good thing or bad thing. Anyways, remember to read and review!