The Next Age Chapter Two Part Two
When Xavier arrived at the training room, he found Rock waiting for him already in his blue armored robot form. He entered quietly, hoping Rock had yet to hear the news of what happened in the lab but he could tell by the look in Rock's eyes that he knew and wasn't happy.
"Xavier…I think we need to talk." He spoke softly.
At the sound of those words, Xavier looked to the floor. He could almost hear the disappointment in Rock's voice and he hated to disappoint anyone. He stood silently before Rock, ready for whatever punishment was going to be dealt to him.
"I heard about what you did in the lab today. Your mom and dad aren't happy about it and neither am I. It just isn't like you to do something like that, you should know better."
"I'm sorry Rock…" Xavier said.
"Zor told me you're anxious to prove yourself and he thinks that's why you disobeyed policy. That's not an excuse but…it is something I at least understand. I can't say I agree with it though and it doesn't mean you're not in big trouble. You went way to far, what you overheard and read was something strictly confidential and not meant for your eyes and ears."
"I know..I know.." Xavier sighed.
"Xavier….look, you're still young.." Rock spoke gently. "Your chance is going to come someday and probably before you're ready for it. Don't get yourself in trouble trying to rush things, it's not worth it. Roll and Ryoga want to speak with you later, If I know Roll-chan, she's going to ground you for the whole time you're suspended. We haven't had to restrict you like that since you were in grade school. Please do yourself a favor and play by the rules from now on, okay?"
Xavier nodded.
"Alright then." Rock said, his mood brightening. "Let's practice!"
Rock brought forth his arm canon with a thought, the weapon replacing his left forearm, and motioned for Xavier to do the same. For Rock, assuming his robot or armored form was easy but for Xavier, it was a touch more difficult and even slightly painful. His body just didn't adjust as quickly, it was the human in him. He excused himself to go to the weapons room, shutting the door behind him and undressed quickly. With a deep breath, he called forth his armor, wincing a bit from the uncomfortable sting it sent through him. It was very similar to Rock's, the same light blue/dark blue colors though in much different patterns. His chest plate, however, was marked with two violet plates, the same color as his eyes and his hands were pure white. Many thought in this form he looked like a much taller, more human-like RockMan and he had been mistaken for Rock's son before. After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Xavier headed back to the training room and summoned his canon to his left arm.
Before going on, it should be noted that Rock's training room was unique in the fact that once inside and once the safeguards were activated, no energy weapon or spell could cause damage, the room simply absorbed it. A tally kept track of who had hit whom and estimated how much damage in points the body would have taken had the battle been real. Onlookers could watch the fight through a clear wall looking down into the arena on the floor above. Dr. Light had built the room long ago, one of his final presents to his son.
Xavier approached Rock slowly and cautiously as he always did and took a defensive position when he was only a few feet away.
"Computer, level one for opponent 001." Rock said. "Level three for opponent 554."
"Affirmative." The computer answered in it's simulated voice.
Rock raised his canon, taking a fighting pose and looked into Xavier's eyes. His expression was serious, almost cold. Xavier bit his lip. Rock was fighting with a handicap again. That meant he wanted to see if Xavier was strong enough to beat him yet. He met Rock's gaze, focusing his attention on his opponent a bit reluctantly. With a battle cry, Rock thrust his canon towards Xavier, firing off a blast without hesitation and jumping back. Xavier darted to the side but not quickly enough as the plasma brushed past his arm. He gritted his teeth at the sting of the energy blast. True, it did no damage to him but it did hurt for a moment.
"Target 554 receives 5 points of damage." The computer announced.
Xavier fired back at Rock while advancing forward but his aim was terribly off. The blast went right past his target and hit the wall instead. Rock took the chance to jump up onto one of the many platforms that hung in mid-air and shot at Xavier while he was still recovering. Xavier turned just in time to see the bright glow of the plasma and tried to throw himself out of its way. This one struck him in the leg.
"Target 554 receives 8 points of damage."
Xavier blindly shot where the last attack had come from but Rock had already moved to another platform. Xavier never saw the shot coming until it struck him in the back. He yelped in surprise and hurt as his body was pushed forward by the force of the blast.
"Target 554 receives 16 points of damage."
Xavier spun around, breathing heavily and trying to focus as he aimed once more at Rock, watching as the smaller robot called up a Leaf Shield and absorbed most of the energy.
"Target 001 receives 2 points of damage."
In the next instant, Rock threw the shield at Xavier too quickly for him to dodge. It struck him head on, pushing him to the floor with a shocked cry.
"Target 554 receives 10 points of damage. Target 554 is destroyed."
Xavier let out a groan as he stared at the ceiling. In a moment, Rock jumped from the platform and came to stand over him.
"Xavier……"
"I'm sorry Rock…let's try again, I guess I just wasn't paying attention." Xavier said, faking a smile but Rock saw right through him.
"Your heart isn't in this today, it wouldn't do any good." Rock said and offered Xavier his hand.
Xavier sighed, grasping his hand and letting Rock pull him to his feet. He was right though, Xavier's mind and heart were else where at the moment. He didn't feel like fighting or training as he was ashamed of what he had done in the lab and sorry that he had done it in the first place…..or at least that's what Rock thought.
"Why don't you go back to your room until dinner's ready, I think Roll is going to wait until then to speak with you." Rock suggested. "I can't train you when your thoughts aren't focused, alright?"
Xavier nodded, shifting uneasily.
"Rock, do you think mom and dad are going to ground me from seeing Zero while I'm suspended?" He asked.
"It would be hard to since Zero lives with us but I don't know if you deserve to be hanging out with your best friend." Rock replied
"I know this'll sound bad but I've gotta be able to see Zero, he's having a real hard time right now, someone hit him again and he's weird for a few days after something like that happens." Xavier explained, doing his best to convince Rock not to ground him completely for Zero's sake.
Rock sighed frustratedly but it wasn't because of Xavier. He knew very well what had happened to Zero and he knew how much Zero relied on Xavier, more than he should at his age. Taking Xavier away from him wouldn't be fair, Zero hadn't done anything wrong after all.
"I'll talk to your mom and dad about it." Rock replied. "That's all I can promise."
"Thanks Rock." Xavier said.
"Go get changed now, I'll see you at dinner." Rock spoke, offering Xavier a small smile.
"Alright." Xavier said and headed off to the weapons room.
Later that evening at dinner, Xavier's parents had a long talk with him and handed out the punishment. They disconnected his Video games and his television then forbid him to leave the tower for a week. however they didn't tell him he couldn't see Zero. Whether that was because of Rock, Xavier didn't know but he was grateful. Still, he did try to reason with his parents over the whole thing, he hadn't killed anyone or something like that but it was in vain. He was sent to his room after dinner and sulked by himself for a while, that was until Zero snuck off to his room to keep him company.
As he had the night before, Zero decided to stay in Xavier's room and climbed up to the top bunk when he got tired, falling asleep quickly. Xavier, on the other hand, couldn't sleep. His mind kept drifting back to the report he had found and the meeting he had overheard. What was the true nature of the technology found in that room? What had killed the Enforcers? If only he could have talked Zor into letting him go…… Around two in the morning, Xavier grew tired of tossing and turning. He reached over to the nightstand and clicked on the light, grabbing the book he had set there. Reading always relaxed him, maybe it would take his mind off things.
Zero rolled over in his sleep a few moments later, lost in his dreams of flying and being free until the light from Xavier's lamp shown against his closed eyelids. It was enough to get him to stir. In his half-awake daze, he heard Xavier rustling papers and moving about. Was it time to get up? He opened his eyes to slits and saw that it was still dark, no sunlight coming in through the window. Xavier sat on his bed, reading some book Zero couldn't quite read the title of. He yawned as his exhaustion tried to lull him back to sleep. Xavier glanced up at the sound.
"Oh..sorry I woke you, Zero." He apologized to his friend.
Zero sat up, stretching his arms and fighting back the urge shut his eyes.
"What are you doing up? Can't sleep?" Zero asked with a yawn.
"I'm thinking." Xavier replied.
"Well don't hurt yourself." Zero quipped.
Xavier smirked at Zero and then returned to his reading.
"Whatcha thinking about anyhow?" Zero asked after a long pause, leaning off the edge of the mattress to try make eye contact.
"The site Zor won't let me investigate." Xavier replied keeping his nose in the book.
"That again?" Zero said with a sigh. "I don't get it, why don't you just go? You already said the worst they could do was kill you. That can't be as bad as going a week without watching "Navy Sun".
"Would you go if you were me, Zero?" Xavier asked, looking up to meet Zero's gaze.
"Sure! I mean, you already got punished like you did anyway so why not?" Zero answered.
"That's true…….." Xavier spoke.
He did think his punishment was a bit extreme in some ways. Really all he had done was overhear a few things, it wasn't like he had actually acted on them. Then again, his parents would be furious if he went off on his own not to mention what Zor and Rock would do to him. What if he discovered something big though? What if he found out what had happened there? They couldn't really punish him then, could they? Of course, something told him they would anyhow. What if it was more than he could handle? What if he really wasn't ready for something like this? Rock had told him not to rush proving himself but what if he waited and his chance never came? It wasn't like Rock or Zor had waited around for theirs. This had to be it, fate wanted him to go. It was calling to him. That had to be why he had felt the need to pursue it and why it wouldn't leave his mind.
"Alright." Xavier said, breaking the silence. "We'll go."
"We?" Zero questioned.
"Of course." Xavier said confidently. "I'm not going by myself."
"But Xavier-" Zero started to object.
"C'mon Zero, it'll be an adventure. I'm not going on the 'Forbidden Mission' with-out my best friend. Aren't you even a little curious about what's out there? There could be thing from the age of the ancients just waiting to be rediscovered. Wouldn't you like to be the one to find them?" Xavier asked.
"No. I can miss finding an ancient can opener or some stupid thing like that. That stuff's for no life's like Zor. The past is history, gone and buried, why do you care?" Zero replied.
"Because, Zero, it's the history of our people, the first age when our kind lived with humans in paradise." Xavier answered.
"We learned all that in school, it was boring. What is it with you and ancient stuff anyhow?" Zero asked.
"It's something I'm interested in, okay? I don't know why. Look, it'll be cool and it's not like you have anything better to do." Xavier spoke, a bit frustrated with Zero's less than enthusiastic attitude.
"Well…..I guess not. Alright, when do we go?" Zero sighed.
"Now." Xavier replied, putting away the book he had been reading. "Change into your robot form and meet me out on the highway terminal in ten minutes."
Zero smiled sleepily.
"You sure know how to break the rules…" He remarked.
"Yeah well let's just hope we don't get caught." Xavier said, getting up.
Ten minutes later, Zero stood out on the elevated highway. He was still tired but the chill in the night air kept him awake. The city sprawled beneath him was quiet except for a few passing vehicles now and then. The street lamps along with the glow of the moon provided enough light to see by. Zero looked out over the scene set before him for a few moments until he heard the hiss of an approaching cycle. Xavier drove out of the terminal on his dash cycle in his full robot form, helmet and all, a backpack strapped to his back full of tools and other necessities. The cycle itself was a dark, shiny blue, looking freshly polished. It lacked wheels, hovering a few inches off the ground instead.
"Well?" Xavier asked as he stopped beside Zero.
"Wow….." Zero breathed in awe, his eyes on the cycle. "Is that really yours!?"
"Of course it is, mom and dad got it for me for when I got my license." Xavier replied with a smile.
"Cool! Can I drive it?" Zero asked excitedly.
"Of course not! You have to be eighteen!" Xavier answered. "Besides, with the way you jet around I can't imagine you driving. Now c'mon, get on before anyone sees us."
Zero nodded and hopped on the back of the cycle, putting his arms around Xavier's waist for support. Without asking, Xavier took off down the highway at high speed. Zero's ponytail of blonde hair blew behind him, whipping around like a flag in the wind. Xavier had only had the cycle for a few weeks, he hadn't really used it except for a few joyrides. This would be his first real trip. Haven, the city closest to the site, was several miles away. Even if they used the terminal gates to warp between cities, it would be morning before they arrived. After about fifteen minutes of driving, Xavier felt Zero lie his head on his back and drift off to sleep. Xavier had no clue how he managed to still hold on but he did. He chuckled softly to himself. This proved it, Zero could fall asleep anywhere.
Xavier drove all night, staying away from the main highway as much as he could to avoid being seen. It was almost 7AM when the distinctive Old World style stone dwellings of Haven first came into view. Xavier gently nudged Zero a few times.
"Hey Z, we're almost there." He said.
"Hmmn…..?" Zero moaned sleepily. "We there yet..?"
"Yeah, almost." Xavier answered.
Zero stirred against Xavier's back before settling in again. He wasn't ready to get up just yet. They rode into Haven slowly. The city had no highways, only paved streets of marble and stone. The carved buildings looked like something out of an ancient textbook. This was the domain of the centaur robots, a city of peace and calm well known as a vacation spot. Xavier's family had come here a few times to "get away from it all." They probably knew he was gone by now…..He kept from the main road, trying to pass through the city as quickly as possible. He felt exhausted and hungry, maybe this hadn't been the greatest idea after all, but it was too late now. They reached the city limits shortly, entering the unclaimed area referred to as the Outskirts where no cities or domains had been built. The ruins of previous civilizations lie untouched amongst the grass and trees. Xavier was forced to slow his pace again to avoid the various obstacles nature had put in his path. He reached behind him, careful not to disturb Zero, and grabbed the scanner from his backpack, hoping to start picking up some unusual readings in the area as he drew nearer to the co-ordinates given in Zor's report. There weren't any, not yet at least.
A short time later, the plant growth became much too dense for Xavier to continue forward on his cycle. With a heavy sigh, he brought the cycle to a stop beside a tree and nudged Zero a few more times as the hover jets slowly shut down.
"C'mon Z, time to get up." He spoke.
Zero yawned a few times and stretched with a groan, stumbling off the seat and flopping down at the base of the tree.
"I thought you said we were almost there.." He mumbled.
"We are. Wily's fortress is just up this way a little." Xavier said as he hopped on the cycle and set it against the tree trunk. "The bike won't make it through all these trees, we'll have to go it on foot."
"Can we stop to have breakfast first?" Zero asked. "I'm starved."
"Um…yeah sure." Xavier replied, setting his backpack down and searching through it for the food he had brought: two small packets of cereal, a thermos of milk, several packets of sugar and two spoons to eat with.
He sat down next to Zero and the two of them ate together, sharing the milk. It felt very good to not be moving. Xavier leaned back against the tree, his whole body ached. He wondered how he was going to make it through the rest of the day without resting. If only he had thought to grab an energy drink. Zero glanced over, noticing the fact that Xavier seemed a bit groggy.
"Xavier, are you zonking out on me?" Zero asked.
"Is it that obvious?" Xavier replied.
"Not if you look past the death warmed over expression."
"Thanks Zero."
"Well you asked…."
"Come on, let's go before I pass out." Xavier said, getting to his feet reluctantly and starting into the woods.
Zero sighed and followed behind him.
RockMan, Zero, Rock and Roll are copyright of Capcom of Japan because Capcom USA couldn't come up with cool characters if their lives depended on it.
Xavier, Haven, Zor and others are copyrights of Roll-Chan Productions, I created them.
I make no profit off this miserable fic so don't sue me, I'm very poor.
Mail all comments to Roll_Chan@Yahoo.com
What will Xavier and Zero find on their "trip of discovery"?
Zero: Hopefully a huge candy factory. ^^;;
Oh Zero, you're hopeless!
Zero: An ancient candy factory?
-_-;; Zero…………