Hmm… I see I managed to snare in a few more readers. This is good… Well, I'm sure you all don't want to hear my small talk, but before I begin, I'll do something I haven't done in a long time.

Disclaimer: RebornEnvy/ Xenolicious Lemon (As I'm called on EXEHQ now) does not own any of the characters portrayed in this fic. If he did, RebornEnvy would be a very rich writer, but sadly, Capcom's the rich one here.

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-----------POV Shift: Normal-----------

"Okay, first question. Where the heck were you this whole time?!" Forte winced as Prairie raises her voice. "I thought you died! Do you have any idea how worried I was about you? What do you have to say?"

"I think this needs a bit more cream…"

"DON'T TRY TO AVOID THE QUESTION!" Prairie slams her hand onto the table and the other customers turn to look at where the commotion is coming from.

"Looks to me like it's a lovers' quarrel…" Prairie and Forte both hear this comment from a random spectator and turn to face the direction of the voice.

"We're not a couple!!" Two completely synchronized voices reply and the small mechanic waiter move up to their table.

"I'm sorry, but there have been some complaints from the other clients. Please finish your coffees and leave the café for another time. We're very sorry for the inconvenience." Hearing this, Forte and Prairie finish their coffees in one gulp.

"The rain still hasn't let up one bit." Prairie notes before sighing and moving towards the exit. "If anything, I think it just got worse."

Forte flips his silver hair out of his cloak before moving next to Prairie. "Don't worry about the rain. If it really bothers you that much, I can set up a shield. The hotel I'm staying in is about ten minutes away by foot."

"Fine, let's go."

-----------POV Shift: Prairie-----------

Innerpeace Streets

We've been walking for about two minutes now and Forte still hasn't said anything. He's leading the way and getting soaked in the progress. Does he really not mind the rain or is this some kind of macho thing?

"Forte, you still haven't answered my question yet. How long have you been alright and why haven't you tried to contact us?" He continues walking but his pace has slowed down.

"Well, I've been alright about one day since that battle."

He's been here for that long and didn't even think about contacting us!? "You better have a good excuse for staying hidden like this. Who repaired you?"

"No one repaired me. I repaired myself." What does he mean by that? How does a reploid who got his body completely destroyed repair himself? If he could, that would explain how Zero always survives. "As long as my core isn't damaged, my self-repair program will be able to shape surrounding metal objects to create a new body. Back when I was first made, both Rockman and I had that ability. We called it "Extra Lives" because that's basically what it is."

"I see… does that make you immortal as long as your core isn't destroyed? The way Zero described that battle. It doesn't seem likely for your core to be functional after that." After I finish my question, he slows down and wags his finger at me, as if he's talking to a small child. I'm one hundred years old! Sure, he may be three times older than me, but he spent most of his time in hibernation. How dare he treat me like a child?

"This process takes an incredible amount of energy. Even after the restoration is complete, the newly created body is weakened for a whole day. It takes at least one month to gather enough energy to reactivate that process. Although very powerful, this program is very hard to create, so only Rockman and I have it."

I guess that explains a lot. I wonder why Zero or X don't have that ability as well. They were made by the same creators. "Is that how the Robot Masters keep coming back?"

"Actually, they just have backups and spare bodies. That method is a lot simpler and quicker than mine although personally, I don't think it is as reliable." He knows a lot about everything that's happened so far. Perhaps he's been watching us this whole time. I definitely won't put it past him.

"That still doesn't explain how you're back to normal. Last time I saw you, you were a kid. In fact, I think I liked you better that way. At least I know back then you wouldn't turn your back towards us and walk away with no explanation." This time, Forte completely froze. Did I say something to offend him? Well, he did turn his back on us and leave. Whatever bad memories that brought up, he deserved.

"The explanation is obvious, isn't it?" He turns towards me as he says this. How is the explanation obvious? I can't exactly read minds. "I'm a Robot Master just like Shademan and the others. Although my combat abilities may be the same as a reploid's, I still have Robot restrictions. The only home that I have is the battlefield."

"Well, then maybe it's time that you tried finding a new home."

"Believe me, I've tried." His eyes look distant, as if he's deep in thought. A strange look settled in his amethyst eyes. I know I've seen that kind of look somewhere…. Oh, right, it was the look that I've seen on Zero and Ciel when they were in the pits of despair. The rain falling on his face almost makes it look like he's crying, but other than his eyes, his face doesn't show any emotion, so that can't be right. "Oh look, we're here already."

I look at the building in front of me and then look back at Forte to make sure that he's staring in the same direction that I am. Well, there's only one single word right now that can possibly describe my feelings after looking at Forte's current residence.

Bleh.

For one thing, this reminds me of a dilapidated tower that's falling down. The beige paint is dry and scratched and some of the windows are cracked and ready to break. I know that Forte probably doesn't have a lot of money, but I wouldn't live there if I was paid to!

"Umm… wow?" How is that place even still standing? I think it would fall down if I put a feather on it, much less having people actually living there.

"Don't worry. It looks a lot better inside than it does on the outside." Well, it certainly can't look any worse. Well, he did spend some time at the Guardian Airship, so I'll just have to trust in his tastes.

"Still, shouldn't first impressions count for something?"

"Not when there are less than legal things going on inside. Come on, let's go." Less than legal? Somehow, I have the feeling that I would be safer outside in the rain.

-----------POV Shift: Normal-----------

"Hello and welcome to the Accarat Hotel. I see that you've brought a guest with you this time, Etrof. Is she one of the new recruits?" The receptionist at the front desk greets Forte with an air of perkiness that seemed very artificial.

"Recruits?" Prairie browses the room for waiters or any other workers, but can't find any. If there were any other workers, then they should be in the lobby. This place still looks like a dump from the inside.

Prairie follows Forte to the elevator and Forte presses inserts a key from his cloak into a key slot and a number pad is revealed. He rapidly presses a few buttons before hitting the button for the second highest floor.

"Wait! We're moving downwards!" Prairie clutches onto the support on the elevator before finding her footing again. She stares at Forte. "Etrof?"

"Well, I couldn't use my real name, now could I?" Forte crosses his arms and calmly leans against the walls of the elevator as it stops. Two other reploids enter and during the brief time that the elevator doors were open, Prairie managed to catch a glimpse of what looked like a casino. Confused by that sight, Prairie stares at Forte.

Forte doesn't respond until the elevator stops again. Forte gets out and motions Prairie to follow her but the two other occupants stay where they are. "There are six underground floors in total. The lowest two floors are rooms. The first one is a casino and the one after that is a fighting ring. The two floors in between…. It's probably better if you don't know."

Well, at least everything looks decent from the hallway. This definitely isn't as rundown as the appearance from outside would give. Prairie stops when another question crosses her mind. "Wait, what about the upper levels?"

"Those are just other rooms that barely anyone stays in. It's so the law doesn't get too suspicious." Forte stops at Room 503 and puts his hand on the scanner. The gates open and Prairie looks around.

The walls of the room were elegant and simple with a light beige color. Other than necessary furniture like a couch, table, and chair the living room is pretty much empty. "Well, I guess this place isn't that bad."

"You should watch your-"

"AHHH!" Prairie trips on something after taking her first step inside. Luckily, she presses her palms against the floor to stop her fall. She pushes herself back up again and looks at the floor. "Alright, there is something really wrong here. How come one-third of the floor is covered with trash?"

"This isn't trash." Forte points to a line on the floor. "Everything on the left side of the line is stuff I built out of boredom and everything else is scraps." Prairie looks at the red line and notices that about four-fifth of all the metal and other objects on the ground are scraps.

"Why do you leave your junk everywhere? Don't you have enough sense to clean it?" Prairie wades through the junk on the floor to sit on the garbage free couch.

"Common sense told me to leave it on the ground." Forte closes the door and levitates so that he wouldn't have to struggle to move the same way Prairie did. Hearing this, Prairie twitches a bit.

"Common sense!? Common sense is a very good friend of mine, Forte." Prairie rubs her nose to try and prevent herself from sneezing before continuing. "Common sense tells people to not bang their heads against the wall when they're frustrated because it will hurt. Common sense tells people to not to put their hands in a fire because it's hot and believe it or not, common sense tells people to take care of their junk. ACHOO!"

Prairie sneezes after finishing and takes off her soaked coat, but her black undershirt is just as wet. "There's a dryer in the laundry room right next to here."

"I have nothing to change into!" A pink bathrobe lands on Prairie's knees just as she finishes talking. "You expect me to just change here while you're watching? Why do you have a pink bathrobe?"

"The bathroom's over there." Forte points to the other side of the room. "As for the bathrobe, it came with the room." Prairie stares at the distance between her current position and the bathroom. She looks on the ground and tries to create a mental path in her mind that won't involve climbing above piles of metal scraps.

While she was lost in her thoughts, Prairie didn't notice that Forte slipped his arms around her waist until she was levitating towards the bathroom. "H-H-Hey!"

"Since you don't want to have to walk through the things on the ground, I guess I'll just have to carry you there." Prairie calms down and stops struggling as her cheeks change color to match the coat that she left on the couch. Whether it's from cold or being so close to Forte, even she doesn't know.

Upon reaching their destination, Forte drops Prairie off and she goes opens the door and enters. Prairie scans the room and sighs in relief after finding that Forte's messiness hasn't corrupted the bathroom.

After quickly changing and tossing out her wet clothing outside for Forte to take. Prairie brushed her hair and wiped the rain from her face with a towel before leaving and trying to find a path that will lead her to the couch without having to push her way through. After failing, Prairie forces her way through.

There's a knock on the door and Prairie frowns. Doesn't Forte have the keys to come back in here? Prairie moves forward as the banging gets louder and louder until…

BANG!

The doors are kicked open and a male wearing a blue suit with a black undershirt stands outside with a gun pointed forwards. He had gold eyes and straight light blue hair reaching his shoulders. A few light tanned freckles dotted his face as well. A golden badge is located on the left of his chest with the letters "I.R.P.D".

"FREEZE! This is Divah from the Inner Region Police Department. Nobody moves and nobody dies." The officer lowers his pistol to get a better look at the occupants in the room before he finally sees Prairie. "Hellllloooo there, what's your name?"

Prairie inwardly rolls her eyes, both at the officer's inability to focus in a situation that could be dangerous and his sad attempt at trying to woo females. "Not Available .That's all you need to know."

"My higher-ups have acquired information that there have been strange activity at Accarat Hotel and I followed some of the residents to this underground floor. It might not be safe for you to be here, ma'am."

Tell me about it. Divah puts away his pistol and looks around the room in confusion at all the strange devices and junk lying around. I have to find a way to get this guy out of here. Shouldn't the IRPD be doing more important things than investigating this?

"Doesn't the police have more important thing to deal with? There have been multiple attacks on Innerpeace by the Robot Masters and the forces of Model W." Divah seems to be surprised at Prairie's knowledge of recent events.

"How do you know the name of the Robot Masters? These details haven't been to the public yet. Are you a member of the Guardians?" Realization finally dawns on Divah as he recognizes Prairie. "Y-Y-You're the Guardian Commander!"

"I'm here to investigate something important. However, you have more important business to attend to, like the welfare of the citizens in Innerpeace." Divah nods and gets out a carton of cigarettes. He puts one between his lips and gets out a lighter.

"No smoking inside. Get out." Prairie declares with a cold air of authority and Divah stops.

"But-"

"GET OUT!" Prairie grabs one of the numerous pieces of scrap that were lying around the room and tosses it at Divah. Divah runs away and Forte enters the room just a few seconds later.

"Alright, I'm back." Forte looks around and notices something amiss. "Why's the door broken?"

-----------POV Shift: Vent-----------

Robot Master's Base

Well, here I am. In the middle of nowhere stuck with a bunch of battle-hungry Robot Masters. Waiting for a vampire-like machine to locate Aile somehow and then charge recklessly inside and attempt to rescue her.

…

This seemed to make a lot more sense when I first thought of it. What did I get myself into? Well, there's no way out now, I'll have to just play along and hope for the best. Still, if only there was some way I can contact the Guardians or maybe even Aile.

My foot really hurts, I should just sit down. I sit down on the cold floor and feel something hard in my back pocket. "OW!" What did I put in there? I reach into my back pockets and pull out something small and metallic. How did this get here?

I remember now! Girouette gave it to us a long time ago. What was it called again? A cellular phone? He said that we should use this in emergencies to call him. Since this is ancient technology, I never bothered using it. I can't believe I still have it.

How does this thing work? I browse through my memories before remembering Giro's instructions. Right, I needed to dial some numbers… Do the Guardians have a number? I don't think so… damn it! Wait! I can try calling Aile, but then she might not have it with her.

Since this is ancient technology, I doubt the Robot Masters will be able to track it. I think hard and dial in Aile's number. After ten rings, I stop. IF she didn't answer after that long, then she most likely doesn't have it anymore.

Who else can I dial? There has to be someone. Wait, there's one number that Giro told me to use in emergencies! This better work… After dialing in three simple numbers, I wait for exactly three rings as my heart pumps in sync with each ring.

"Hello this is IRPD. Please wait while we connect you with an officer." A very mechanic female voice said and then there's elevator music. I think I hear footsteps! Nope, that's just the sound of my own heart beating. The music finally stops and I hear breathing from the other line.

"Hello? This is Officer Divah of IRPD…"

-----------POV Shift: Normal-----------

Weil's Base: Pandora's Room

Pandora takes out the strange device that's making ringing sounds from Aile's shorts. She quickly scans the device to intercept the co-ordinates from the source. After finishing her scan, the device stops ringing.

Pandora opens her personal computer and inserts the data she just gathered. A piece of paper is printed with strange numbers and letters. Pandora takes scans it carefully, etching every detail into her memory before deleting all her traces on the computer.

The next thing Pandora did was completely tear the paper to shreds and then setting a spark with her electric powers so that it would burn. After all the evidence was destroyed, a faint smile crossed her lips.

"It seems that I've finally found you, Vent."

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Well, I thought it would be strange that Innerpeace only relies on outside sources for help, so I added in IRPD. Oh yeah, I noticed that ZX Advent has been released... I have only one thing to say:

Forget about ZX Advent in this fanfic. I don't care about the Three Wisemen, Model A, or anything else. All Capcom does is skip a few years (usually one hundred) to put in some new characters when they feel that their cash cow is getting dry. Well, enough about my rant about ZX Advent.

Now, how will Divah answer Vent's cry for help? Will Divah take Vent seriously and why did Pandora erase all evidence? I'm making this up as I go along, so even I don't know the answer to those questions yet.