Chapter 4: Reawakenings

Zero's processors had never felt slower. Not even when he was tortured at that Maverick asylum. He didn't want to wake up in that hellhole again: he wished his processors would stay off. But something caught his interest. Sure, it was that his processors were actually responding, after months of forced shut down, but this was different. It was... mumbling. Unless a Maverick snuck into his room and fell asleep (without getting shot by all five lasers aimed to take him out if he somehow managed to get free; which he never did), the only other option was he wasn't at the asylum anymore.

Another thing was that the voice was female.

He tried to open his eyes, but his sight processors were not cooperating. He was going in blind; where he was. The mumbling he heard was too soft to actually make into words, but he strained to hear if this voice was any of the female Mavericks that he'd come across over the past five years. Depending on how long he was out, it very may have been six. Six years... he thought to himself, dread pooling in his stomach.

God, poor A.

His mind almost never left the last image he had of the smiling young preteen all that ago. Her hair had reached her thighs and she'd always be wearing a big, goofy grin that rivaled Axl's and would have rival X's if his innocence hadn't been crushed. She had had the habit of wearing the shades Zero had given her, a weird obligation he felt he had had the need to do. He felt himself flinch as he thought of his comrades. Last he'd seen Axl was... maybe four years ago when he'd been face-to-face with Sigma, who was back in a horribly familiar body, in which insulted Zero. He hadn't seen X since the Maverick uprising five-six years ago.

"Come back... Zero..." the mumbling voice said. Zero felt himself freeze and he tried opening his eyes as he ignored his programming's warnings and forced his eyes opened. He stared at the female who laid asleep on the capsule he was in, a blanket draping her shoulders. She had grown-horribly so to Zero's dismay. He'd missed a lot of her life. She had gold hair-which he immediately realized was like his black armor, Axl's white, and X's ultimate forms-that fell down the long of her back and continued to where he couldn't see. Her face was older, but still had the same strong, yet gentle features that he'd associated with the girl he used to love, Iris. She was alive.

She was waiting for me, he realized as he stared at sixteen year-old A.

As if sensing his gaze on her, her eyes blinked open sleepily, and he discovered that her eyes, instead of the blue that mimicked his own, were a beautiful hazel that matched the golden transformation she'd made. They seemed horribly familiar. The moment she spotted him, years seem to disappear off her as her eyes lit up with happiness and tears. "Zero..." she muttered in disbelief. She stood up, stumbling a bit as she made her way to the monitor and began typing. It was a full minute later that she'd carefully latched herself to him in a tight, but gentle, hug.

Tears fell down his back as she cried, choking on sobs. "Oh my god..." she muttered. "You're actually alive. I didn't screw up horribly. You're okay. Oh my god..." Zero watch her carefully for a minute as he carefully moved his arms around her, squeezing her tightly. She started sobbing hard as he body quivered and shook violently.

"A..." he whispered. She started crying harder. A few Hunters ran into the room, probably because they heard the sound of someone crying, but froze at the door.

"What's wrong-?!" They stopped short. They stared at the zeroth unit's commander, who looked at them in what looked like happiness. Or it could of been the annoyance that froze them. "You're alive, Zero," A mumbled into his hair. He told the Hunters to scram with his eyes and they complied immediately. "Hey, A, calm down," he said softly. "I'm perfectly fine thanks to someone. I hope you thanked them." He said the last part jokingly, but all it did was make A sob even harder.

"It... it w-was s-so worth it," she whispered. Zero looked at A. He pulled back and stared at her full on. He noticed she was a lot taller than she used to be, and looked more of X's age of seventeen than Axl's sixteen now that he saw her. "What was worth it?" he asked. A stiffened slightly and he glared a little bit. "A..."

"My life."

He stared at her in shock. "After saving you from the asylum and transporting in the middle of the battle I was in, we were sent to be operated on immediately, according to Lifesaver. You came out fine after a day's worth of operating but I... I'd died temporarily." A smiled sadly. "And as much as you'd hate it I'd do it again."

"You're right; I do hate that fact," he stated. "But... you were the one who saved me?" he asked tentatively. She nodded. "And in the process of the battle I became... this," she finished, signaling her gold hair and hazel eyes. "I wish you could see the newer me instead of whoever this is."

Zero couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt like this wasn't the first time in seeing her like this.

I couldn't believe it. He was alive. He could talk. He remembered me! "How old are you, A?" he asked as I pushed him down the hallway. Many Hunters stared in awe, causing me to shoot glares at them. I hadn't come across Six yet in the few days I'd been awake, but that was probably because she was busy co-commanding her unit. "I'm seventeen, starting today," I announced happily. I actually had turned seventeen a few years before X, Zero, and Axl had... left, but I was now seventeen in reploid years, since I aged slower than most normal humans, and faster than an average reploid.

Zero sighed heavily and I copied him. "Hey, you're here now and that's what counts," I said quietly. "And besides, think of X and Axl's reaction when we bring them back." Zero froze slightly before chuckling. "You're right," he agreed. "X'll probably go into cardiac arrest, and Alia will probably slap him back to life." I laughed, but I could hear the strain in my voice. Zero glanced over at me. "You okay, A?" he asked.

I nodded and felt guilty that I had to lie to Zero. "Totally, I just... missed you," I stated as I stared straight ahead. That was the truth, just not the one he was looking for. He must of knew it too, because he gave me a look before staring around the hallways. "I see HQ's been upgraded, took damn long enough," he pointed out. I nodded.

"Yep, but we still got some rickety areas. The first floor hasn't changed at all, and neither has Signas's office." I shook my head. Signas's office was as plain as ever. Ugh.

"Really? Damn it. It was the least they could of done," Zero muttered. I nodded in agreement, a small smile on my face. It was great having Zero back.

"A!" I turned to find Hane, running down the hallway after us. "Slow down! Signas-Signas wants to see you and tell you-eep!" Hane blushed profoundly at the sight of Zero before stuttering out a, "C-C-C-Com-m-mander Z-Zero!" She bowed in respect and I chuckled slightly. "At ease," Zero said, confusion dancing his eyes. I laughed. Hane had told me that she'd had a major crush on Zero, ever since the Repliforce incident, where she'd basically had been shot on the battle field. I once asked her if it'd hurt.

She whacked me over the head in response. Zero eyed me, as if searching for the answer I had that he didn't before sighing and turning to Hane again. "Zero, this is Hane, a friend of mine who was also placed in your Unit," I introduced. "Hane, Commander Zero."

"'Nough with the 'Commander' BS," Zero muttered, waving his hand to emphasize. I giggled. "So Hane," I said turning back to my scarlet-faced friend, "what does Signas need me for?"

"F-f-f-for taking t-the A-A R-R-Ranked T-t-test!" she stuttered out and I felt my heart thud. What? Zero sent me a grin. "What, you're a B-class?" he asked teasingly. I didn't notice I was touching Zero's shoulder. "Figures, you and X are like two peas in a pod. Are you against fighting Mavericks too?" I felt my heart thud again, this time in pain. I bit my lip, as to not worry Zero. It probably was a little malfunction with the new programming-

CRCKZ!

Everyone froze as blood flew from my mouth. I fell to the ground with a choked scream, my eyes wide as my vision frizzed and I spasmed. I vaguely heard Zero scream my name as everything went black.

21XX

"What's our current situation?" The sound of clanking boots announced the arrival of Sigma, leader of the Maverick Hunters. The two lone Hunters turned. "Commander!" one said.

"Where's that red maverick that whipped out Garma's Unit?" he asked. The two reploids two and saluted him as the slightly-heavier built one adorning brown armor responded, "Inside. He's inside that door." His voice was faint.

"You may leave now," Sigma stated. He had no scars on his face. "I'll take care of this personally."

"By yourself Commander!?"

"I don't want any more of my people being sacrificed!" Sigma declared as he began walking towards the warehouse. My body, a see-through silhouette such as a ghost's, followed behind the revolting soon-to-be leader of the Mavericks. I was pulled as if I was on a chain connected to Sigma. He arrived at the doors, which he forced opened with ease. He took a few steps inside, and despite what I wanted, I was pulled in. Red Maverick...?

Oh no.

There he stood; long blonde hair, red armor, blue head gem. I felt myself freeze in horror. Sigma seemed surprised as well as he gazed at the Maverick who I'd come to love. The Maverick known as 'Zero'. He turned, making eye contact with Sigma, giving Sigma a few seconds of shock, before charging with his fists. His eyes weren't the usual blue that I too adorned. They weren't Maverick red yet, either. They were green. A fierce emerald green that mimicked X's.

Sigma dodged, but it looked as if he hadn't moved. I had never personally faced Sigma, but I instantly knew I'd of been flattened like a bug on the bottom of his shoe. Zero gazed back at Sigma, then turned briefly before kicking, to which Sigma also dodged. Zero's kick hit a way, one of which sent smoke and dust everywhere. Sigma had a stupid smirk on his face, one of which made him (along with anyone else who wore that smirk) look cocky and overconfident. He expected Zero to be down.

I knew Zero so much better than that.

Zero walked calmly through the smoke, surprising Sigma. Even if Sigma was the good guy here, I was still rooting for Zero. Old habits die hard I guess. Sigma's smirk widen as he lunged, crying out something nasty. Zero went into an all-out sprint, crying a much healthy battle cry in my opinion. Zero punched: left, right, left, right, left, right. Sigma dodged: right, left, right, left, right, left. Sigma sent a colossal kick at Zero, which in turn Zero tried blocking with his hand, and failed, causing him to go flying.

I tried to scream his name. No sound came from my throat.

He collided with some barrels as Sigma made his way over. I drifted towards Zero, as close as I possibly could without being yanked back. I noticed something then. A 'W' in Zero's head gem. W. W. W.

W.

My head throbbed and I swore that Sigma glanced at me before turning back to Zero, who lunged in another punch, which Sigma dodged. My head had a strange echoing to it as I clutched it.

W. W. W. W. W. W.

What did it mean!? W?! Who or what was 'W'?!

I barely noticed it when Zero was tossed over Sigma's shoulder and thrown up to the roof, where his head broke through the ceiling. Sigma was smirking; I knew that much through the pain. Sigma seemed to be smirking in victory. As if the battle were over. My head pulsed again and I screamed loudly. I felt something change in the air then, something that overrode the pain in my processors and the strange knowing of 'W'. That was the feeling of the tide turning.

Zero grinned as he dislodged his head from the ceiling, holding onto two handles as he grinned viciously at Sigma. He dislodged one of the handles as they both lunged at each other, throwing it at Sigma, causing Sigma to snap it away and for their punches to collide. I felt the world shift and I suddenly felt very, very sick. They broke away and just as fast the sickness faded. I realized it was the first time Zero ever got a purposeful hit on Sigma.

Zero lunged again, throwing punches as if he were swatting an annoying fly that wouldn't go away. Sigma dodged them all and finally leapt back onto a metal bar that held the place together. I felt my hair being blown back as I collided with a wall from the extremeness of the battle, of each punch and blow and the fighting spirit. It was causing me actual pain.

Zero leapt up to the opposite bar as Sigma drew forth his beam saber with a nasty grin. Zero gripped a metal rod. They launched at each other, breaking back. I felt myself glide upward as I gazed at the battle in midair. Sigma slashed, Zero blocked. Slash, block. Sigma slashed, breaking Zero's rod as he continued forth, Zero shaking his head slightly before following suit.

I'm not too sure how it happened.

Zero and Sigma flew past each other, far too fast for me to see, and stood still for a full minute until I realized Sigma's sword-arm was entirely gone. Sigma turned, his arm sparking, causing him to hold it and wince. Zero grinned as he stood straight, his psychotic laughter rising as he calmly walked over to an injured Sigma. Sigma looked downright terrified.

To say Zero beat the bloody pulp out of Sigma was an understatement. Punches were thrown and Sigma couldn't do a thing to defend himself. Scars were on Sigma's face. The scars that from then-on would represent the Maverick leader. Sigma was thrown to the ground, Zero on top of him, clutching his cheek and bringing his head up. Zero continued laughing. It was then two things happened: I became truly terrified of Zero. And he saw me.

My breathing escalated as Zero held Sigma's arm back and pulled his chin towards himself, chuckling like a mad man. This isn't Zero, I thought to myself. Zero would never... ever do something so... I found my choice for vocabulary ironic. Vile. Just as his chuckling became full-on laughter, his emerald orbs landed on me. I felt myself freeze as the 'W' on his head glowed, causing him to freeze in his torture. He was staring straight at me in what looked like... recognition.

Sigma turned around, wondering what his miracle was, to find Zero' clutching his head and screaming in agony, the 'W' glowing brightly. I wished I could scream as I ran over to him, stopped by the thread holding me to Sigma. Sigma got up and ran full-out at a defenseless Zero, punching him straight in the head gem and 'W'.

'Zero!' I wanted to scream. No voice came out. Zero went flying, completely unconscious, as he hit the floor. I ran over as close as I could get (or maybe even dared) as whatever 'leash' held me tugged harder. I saw Sigma glaring at me viciously. "I know you're there," he stated in a cold voice that I'd associate with his Maverick half. It occurred to me, that maybe THIS was what caused Sigma to go Maverick. Sigma punching Zero in the head gem caused the virus to transfer the worst of the itself to him.

"And I will find you. I have what you want, and its only a matter of time before you come to me."

Sigma's gaze fuzzed a bit as he limped himself out from the warehouse. "Look! It's Commander Sigma!" one of the reploids shouted. They smiled at each other. "Incredible, now I'm certain there's no one to match the Commander-What!?" the bulky one whispered in his hoarse voice, gazing at an injured Sigma in shock.

"Take that red Maverick..." Sigma forced out. "...to the repair center! And-and call Dr. Cain! I wished to have that Maverick studied! Heuh... heuh..."

"Commander! Are you okay!?" the bulky reploid asked, in what I now recognized as a British accent. British... where have I heard that too!? My head throbbed, making me realize that my old throb had disappeared until now. "Silence!" Sigma called as he pushed past his subordinates. "I'll live!"

I woke up screaming, scaring awake the blonde Hunter and navigator. Zero looked everywhere before his gaze settled on me. A scream clogged my throat and came out as a weak gurgle. My body froze as my heart rate increased, causing my breathing to fasten. My joints locked together as my processors to halt in their actions. I stared at his eyes. They were blue. They were sane. Tears pooled my eyes yet again as a sob choked on me. I held myself tightly as I choked and shook violently, Pallette going to check my vitals as Zero took a hesitant step forward. I yelped as he went to touch me, before realizing he wasn't meant to hurt me this time. This time.

He was sane.

The thought vibrated through me, causing me to remember all those years with Zero, Axl, and X gone, causing me to want Zero even more now in my life. I felt myself lung at him, knocking us both to the floor. I heard him gasp as I hugged him tightly. "A-A!" he gasped, causing me to sob harder than I ever had in my life. He hugged me and I accepted his embrace, wanting someone to hug me for once in my life. I wanted a shoulder to cry on. But when his grip on me tightened, it cause me to freeze up again.

Zero tore away from me and looked into my eyes. Hurt flashed across his sapphire orbs, because I know he saw the fear in my eyes. The fear of him. I held myself tightly as I sobbed out, "Brother!"

Zero and Pallette froze themselves as I continued to cry. I didn't stop until midnight, when I'd fallen asleep again.

A very feely-feelz chp. no? I think so. I didn't know it'd turn out this way (especially since my computer malfunctioned and I lost the last 1,000 words. It was bigger than planned, since it was only supposed to focus on Zero waking up at HQ and the stuff. I don't like how some of it came out, but I loved the flash back and that last scene.

And yes, I did incorporate some foreshadowing. I'm not telling you where it is! :P

So yes, I get it was feely, but come on. Everyone gets like this-when they just need to cry. Seriously, I think A deserves it too. Sure, she cried the first part of this chapter, but that was from happiness (horribly written if I say so). This was real, living fear. One of which we haven't experienced with A yet. You have to admit, I made the damnedest of choices in this chapter.

Oh, and that flashback was caused my three things: her systems responding to the word 'Maverick' in a dream (slightly different than the animated cutscene), touching Zero (which gave us that flashaback of epic proportion of his lost memories), and her own transformation, which was somehow linked to the 'W' (which we all know represents).

Comment, like, thanks.

Oh, and YES! I AM writing a fanfictions to explain the parts we do not know about A's life. Such as what happened before her and X7 (lost five years of memory and BEFORE that), some bits of now, and the future. It will not be posted until this is finished, but I am working on chp. 1 now (finished prologue while ago). Thanks again and byez. And yes, you can comment what you think will happen or what happened in the past.

Good luck guessing. :P