Chap 13: Dark Eagle.
"I will destroy all...Nothing will hold me back."
Zero, in another nightmare this time, Finds a robot with long hair, facing his direction, with his saber drawn towards him, with a "Z" written on his left shoulder.
"Is...is that me?" Zero asked himself while preparing his saber, only to find that it's gone.
"(Damn it! Where is it!?)" Zero searches desperately only to find it stuck on someone's chest, as he rushes to it, The corpse made Zero crawl away from it in fear and guilt.
"! IRIS!" Zero pinned himself on the remains of Iris' Armor during his battle between them during the past.
"You, you're me, You'll never forget your past, Your memories will haunt you, every day, every night, while you sleep, on your death bed, the very same memories we share, will hunt us, so... why won't you understand fate's decision? It clearly wants to drive us to insanity, We should take revenge against everyone." The past Zero said as he extended his hand.
"No, I...I still have the present, If I keep looking at the past, I won't be able to move on to the future..."
The old Zero laughed hysterically, like a cold blooded killer...
"Don't you get it!? The present would've been much better if it hasn't been for the past! each action, has a effect, sooner, or later...It's because of US...that Iris is dead, and we still shed tears for her death."
"Yeah, I do..." Zero said as he looked down at Iris' face...closing his eyes...
"Then why not agree with me? Come on, If we don't cooperate...We'll never have what we want back, Imagine, maybe even Sigma and Weil could bring Iris back to life!"
This caused Zero to yell with rage, punching his past self...
"SHUT UP! IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT BASTARD THAT IRIS IS DEAD!" Zero yelled as he leaned his fist harder towards his past self's face.
"I Will NEVER...And I mean NEVER, Cooperate with Sigma and be his lap dog! I still have the present, with X, Axl, and other friends that I wouldn't have discovered if It wasn't for Iris' Death! It's because of HER! That I found the Resistance! IT'S BECAUSE OF HER, THAT I FOUND CIEL!"
The past Zero faded away...not before leaving these words.
"Fool, remember, You're are me, We are the same beings. You'll have to face all those you love eventually...You'll realise soon, that there's no mercy, or compassion in this mad world...soon, you will know despair..."
Zero woke up, to find Ciel beside him, still asleep...
"...I know that I will face all those I love soon..."
Zero turned to Ciel...
"...It's just that...I can still prepare for it..."
Zero walked out of the base. Finding X and Axl playing a game of rock, paper, scissors.
"Hmm? Don't you guys think you're too old for these childish games already? let Menart and Alouette alone be the right age." Zero chuckled a bit.
"We're making a bet.." X replied.
Axl spoke up "Yeah, whoever loses 3 out of 5 has to do something silly."
"Like?" Zero asked.
"Explain the whole "green circled Zero" story to Ciel while wearing one of her bras.
"Do that, and I'll kill you two."
"Which part? The fact one of us is gonna tell the circle thing or wearing her bra?"
Zero crouched towards Axl and stared at him dead straight in his eyes.
"Going to tell the story without me..and wearing her damn bra...her bras..well...OUR THINGS...Is only accessable by "Zero and Ciel" ONLY...Unless given permission."
Axl stared at him with wide eyes...looking like he was scared...then he looked at X and vice versa, then they stared at Zero again...then they laughed REALLY loud.
"OH MY GOODNESS! BWAHAHAHA! HOOOOOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH OOOOOOOOH MY REPLOID HUMOR! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
X, still laughing, tried to speak up, but he couldn't..It was too funny, (Atleast to them.)
X finally stopped laughing enough to speak..
"He does have a point though..Heh...Zero...remember when we panty raided Alia, Layer, and Palette's room?"
Zero, searching for his memories...remembered it, and even chuckled..
"Heh, yeah...I remember that, I remember the look on their faces when they caught us red-handed...Hell, I think even Signas was there...His expression was PERFECT in the situation...We thought we were in trouble, when we entered His room, He laughed along with us and even "Promoted" Us to "Class S Panty raiding Maverick Hunters"."
And a small voice came. "Mr Zero, Axl, and Mr X, what is this "panty raiding" you three speak of?" The three turned to spot Alouette.
"(Shit...)" The three thought to themselves..
"Is it something, too old for me?" Alouette asked.
"Weeeeeeeell, If you put it that way...Sorta..."
"Hmm, good point, I'll go ask Sis."
This was enough to cause the Triplet to chase after Alouette, but only Axl got in..
Zero and X hid, pressing their ears against the wall...
"Hmm? what is it Allo?"
...
"WHAT!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN PANTY RAIDING!?"
"(Shit...We're screwed) X, uhm, Think we should go out for a quick jog or something?"
"YES.."
For Ciel, and Axl.
"WAIT WAIT WAIT, I DIDN'T TELL ALOU...COME ON, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME! Ó_Ò ' "
...
And the wall breaks.
Everyone looked at Axl flying out of the wall, landing on the ground..
and when they looked, they saw Ciel with her fist extended...
"Anyone else, wants to teach Alou some things that are too young for her?"
And X and Zero dashed for their lives.
[During the jog..]
As they were jogging, X asked to Zero why they were jogging in the first place, asides from Ciel of course.
"Well, Fresh air..." Zero replied back.
"And?" X looked at Zero while they were jogging.
"And, something to do."
"And?"
"And, just to make me relax."
"About?"
"...You aren't gonna stop asking till you get something personal from me, are ya?"
"So?"
"Fine..." Zero stopped and they sat down on the cliff.
"So, what is it?" X asked Zero..
"Well...I just had a nightmare, again..."
"Is it the same one you keep on telling Ciel and I?"
"Yeah, wait...sorta..instead of just Me, Only I was left...with my old self."
"How bout that voice you keep on hearing?"
"Didn't appear in the nightmare.."
"Hmm, so tell me, what happened."
Zero explained to X what the nightmare was about, including the last part where Zero punched his former self.
"Hmmm, that's...not good to hear."
"You don't say?"
"Anyways, What I'm guessing is from his quote "Nothing will stop me" means that you'll eventually go insane over Iris' Death and POSSIBLY awaken your "True Self".
"True self? I may've recovered my memories, but I don't remember anything about my "True Self"."
"*Sigh, Remember when we fought each other in Eurasia?"
"Yeah.."
"Well, while you "Supposedly Hid and repaired yourself" which, until now, I have no damn clue how you did it, I've been thinking why you've been benefitting from the Virus."
"Wait, benefit?" Zero was starting to feel that his dream's "Former Version" was right..
"Yeah, Rather than getting infected negatively, You would get stronger..heck, I think if you got enough of the Virus, You would be nearly unstoppable."
"So I asked Alia to research, apparently your data mixs perfectly with the Virus. Your true self would be, a disaster..." X said as he started to feel some worry grow.
Zero was puzzled, what if his memories wasn't exactly complete.
"Hmm, alright, so...You do still believe that I can possibly NOT do what my dream possibly meant."
"Yeah, I'm sure you can Zero, But, still, be careful..." X said before suggesting that they'd go back, they still had some Mavericks to take care of..
"Alright, let's go."
X dashed ahead...
"...Be careful...I can do that..." Zero tried to encourage himself...but it wasn't that helpful. Zero dashed towards the base again.
[Back at the base]
"All right, we got 2 Mavericks left to take care of, Machstar and Eagle."
"I suggest we go take on Machstar!" Axl yelled.
"That's a terrible idea! What point is there having speed when Eagle could just turn the damn area to total darkness, rendering us completely blind?" Zero yelled from behind.
"Well sorry, Don't need to have a tantrum."
"Shut up." Zero told as he crossed his arms.
"Alright, We're gonna transport you guys to Dark Eagle's location, he's found in W.R Factory where you fought Hellbat Schilt."
"Don't you mean Devilbat?"
"He's referred as Hellbat or Devilbat."
"Alright, considering I've been there before, It should be easy."
"Uh...The spot has been darkened and completely changed, now with death traps."
"...Son of a..." Zero wasn't in his "Badass" mood.
"Oooookay. Transport is ready."
"Alright, let's go." Zero stood in position, then Ciel followed, then the others.
"Transfer!" The operators said as usual.
[W.R Factory]
Zero and company arrived at W.R Factory, X said they could use one of the reploids there to light the area up.
"Why would they put reploids that can light up here?" Zero asked
"Probably for security, for the other reploids which can't see." X suggested.
"Genius, so we can just go ahead, take one of them, and I'll slash through the freaking reploids. Wait, can't you give Axl the DNA and transform to that glowing reploid?"
Axl, who was behind Zero, poked his shoulder, "Yeah, that's a GREAT idea! In fact, don't you remember I can only copy Reploids that are MY size?"
"Wait a sec, for an entire century, you still haven't upgraded that transform of yours?"
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuhm, Yes?"
Zero facepalmed himself. "Axl, I'm gonna tell Cerveau to upgrade that later, alright?"
"I'd love that!" Axl remarked with joy.
"Don't shout! Do you want the security to spot us!?" Zero whispered harshly.
"INTRUDER, INTRUDER, INTRUDER!" The troop turned to spot an army of Security Reploids aiming at them.
"Nice one, genius." Zero shoved Axl a bit too strong, causing him to accidentaly shoot one of the Reploids.
"ALLY DOWN, TAKE DOWN ENEMIES." The Security yelled as they charged towards Zero's direction.
"Alright then, If that's how it's going to be..." Zero said, getting a grip on his saber.
"Then..." Zero looked towards the security charging, almost at him.
"SO BE IT!" Zero dashed towards the security reploids, yelling, then released his saber and slashed horizontally, taking down a group, then turned around, to twist and kick one of them, leaping into the air and releasing shots from his buster, shooting the heads of the Reploids off.
Elpizo prepared his armor he used when he was using Dark Elf's power, but, since it Mother Elf is cured now, rather than looking fierce, His armor appeared less demonic, and rushed towards the security, stabbing each one of them.
"I must admit, this armor feels much better than when you were cursed, Mother Elf." Elpizo said.
While the team were dealing with the enemy, the light switched on, revealing the gauntlet that was up ahead.
After taking care of the security, Zero looked ahead.
"Sure, they weren't kidding with the place being "darker and death traps everywhere"."
The areas were dirty, ripped bodies near the death traps, and what seems to be blood on the traps.
"Wow, it's almost like we're in a horror movie." Ciel, who was shaking, ran towards Zero to hide behind him.
"Crap, how are we get through this?" Zero turned to look at Axl.
"Think you can hover and disable the traps?"
"Think? I'm sure I can Green Circled Dude! I mean Zero!"
Zero didn't look at Axl amused.
"Zero?" Zero looked at Ciel, who was looking a bit annoyed.
"You told me so many times you'll explain to me what's with the green circle thing and you haven't told me!"
" *Sigh* Fine, I'll tell you, after this mission."
Axl dashed through the traps rather fine, but once he got in the middle of it, it started to get harder, one of the traps even slashed his arm.
"Axl! be careful! We don't need a dead prototype right now!" Zero yelled.
"I got it! Chill! It's just a scratch!" Axl dashed through the traps good enough, but once he was in the end, he started to lose energy to hover.
"Shoot, Axl! Faster! Don't turn back!" X yelled
"No really!?" Axl dashed through the last set of traps, and he stopped hovering, now he was moving towards in mid-air without anything to control his movement, He was almost at the ledge, but at the same time, almost gonna die.
He got closer and closer to the floor, and closer...
...
Axl reached the ledge, unharmed, If you don't count the "scratch".
"YES! He did it!" X yelled happily.
"Good job, Scarboy! Now find a way to get us through!" Zero commanded.
Axl searching for anything, thought of ways that might disable the traps, but nothing worked.
"There's nothing that can disable the traps!" Axl yelled.
"Damn, Ciel, can you try hacking it?" Zero asked.
"No...unfortunately.."
"Damn, hey, Operators, can you hack it?"
" *Static* No, we can't Zero! I guess only Axl can fight Dark Eagle."
"Dang, Hey, Ciel."
"Yes Zero?"
"I think only X and I can reach it along with Axl."
"What? How?" This surpised Ciel alot.
"Well, I think my Black Form can increase my dash range, and X can use his new thrusters to fly through."
"Alright, good luck." Ciel, Elpizo, and Mother Elf went back to the Resistance.
X and Zero got through, unharmed, then the Trio continued, finally reaching the Boss room.
"Alright, just the three of us, like before." X mentioned.
Zero replied, "Yeah, so.." Zero, now determined.
"Let's do this!" Axl yelled
They entered the door, then the area went dark...
"Hey, Eagle, show yourself, don't be a wuss!" Zero yelled.
"Hah, quite funny indeed, Zero." The area lit up, and showed Dark Eagle.
He had sharp talons, His arms could transform to wings, his body was slender, his eyes were sharp, and he was colored black with purple marks, showing his attribute with darkness.
"Alright then, gentlemen." Dark Eagle cracking his knuckles.
"Shall we?" Zero grabbing his Z-saber.
"Heh, We shall." Zero, X and Axl dashed towards Eagle, who threw a punch towards X, who dodged it and tried to shoot Eagle, but Eagle flew into the air, dissipated to darkness, and striked X from behind.
"AAGH!" X yelled in pain as Eagle's talons pierced through his armor.
" X! " Eagle tried to shoot Zero, who dodged it.
"Heh, Fell for it."
"!?"
Eagle grabbed Axl by the leg and threw him towards Zero, before turning the area to darkness.
"Alright." Zero lit his saber on fire thanks to Frost Phoenix's power.
"Intelligent! But, can you withstand this?" Eagle dashed towards Zero, but Zero parried and slashed Eagle with his Saber which is on fire.
Eagle released a yell of pain at the same time, he checked his side to find a huge cut.
"Heh, not bad at all! Zero!" His voice came from the darkness
Eagle tried to search for Zero, but Zero was behind him, spinning in mid-air, slashing at Eagle, before landing on the ground, lighting his saber on fire, and slashed him again, then caused his saber to spark.
"Now, let's end this, shall we?" Zero shocked Eagle with Volt's power, and did Split Heavens on Eagle, who fell to the ground, dying, the Area wasn't dark anymore.
"You know, I wonder, how come most of you aren't using the Force Metal anyway?" Zero asked.
"Heh, You tell me..." Eagle smirked, Zero slashed Eagle's neck, ending the fight.
Zero turned to X, rushing towards him, and helped him up, X helped Axl up, and they got Dark Eagle's power, then left the area.
"... Dark Eagle." A voice came
"Sigma."
"How's the plan?"
"Hehe, going quite as planned. Lord Sigma." Eagle said, chuckling.
"Good, once we finish the Neptune colony, we'll be able to rise."
"Indeed, Lord Sigma." As it was revealed to be that the Dark Eagle that was damaged was just a copy, the Real Dark Eagle came down.
"Oh, and by the way, The chip they got only lasts for a second, and is only usuable once." Eagle said before departing.