"Now, sit down."
Iris followed Zero's order without a single word, she couldn't understand. Why, why Zero was so harsh with her? Was he really the gold-hearted reploid that she helped many years ago? But the most important question was, will Zero hurt her again?
"First question." started Zero "How do you know my name?"
"I was your navigator, we worked together in a militia group called Repliforce."
"So you are saying we were allies?"
"Kinda, I'm not too good at fighting. I just had the role to breif you."
"Second question. Did I team up with X at that time?"
"Yes, you were best friends alike."
"I must inform you then, there's a copy of X that wants to kill us of the resistance, we are his enemeis."
"What are you...?"
"Ciel will tell you the details. Now my last question... For now."
"Ok..."
"Ciel told me that the soliders found you fainted, what happened to you?"
"W-What? Uhm..."
"Can't your understand?"
"Oh! Well..."
"It seems you are in a trauma. Something similiar to me uh?"
"Well, yes."
"Im going to do a mission now."
"Wait!"
"What is it?"
"I'd l-like to help you..."
"What? You just said you are not good at fighting."
"Yes, but you see... I can use a special gem that creates a special armor."
"Why would you help me?"
"Because I want to know you better... Please Zero!"
The red reploid didn't know if was a good idea to trust that girl. Her innocente appears... Zero found that quite suspicious, and the fact that she knew so much about him was not a too good thing but he felt to give Iris a chance, in fact if she had some powers, two heads are better than one.
"Fine, but if you can't keep up, return here. Understand?"
"Y-Yes" said Iris.
"Follow me to the commander room."
As they exited out of the door, Ciel talked to them, hoping that Zero didn't hurt Iris's feelings. He wasn't the most expressive reploid ever but at least he had some kindness with his allies or friends. With unknown people though, the red warrior has proved to be extremely cold.
"So, how was that?" Ciel whispered in Iris's ear.
"He asked a lot of questions, and was very harsh."
"This is the less worst, trust me."
"If you are going to come with me," Zero interrupted them "I want less words than now."
"Ugh... Right sir."
"Just call me Zero."
The three went to commander room to choose the mission and Iris was scared and excited at same time, she never had a serious fight and the new Zero wasn't esactly the nicest guy around but that was the only, precious opportunity to impress him. Also she was curious to know about Neo Arcadia and the copy of the reploid X, maybe he wasn't all this evil.
"There's only two missions, Mr Zero." A young woman said.
"We are going in the factory."
"We?"
"Iris is coming with me."
"Oh, are you two ready?"
"Yes. Iris?"
"Uhm... Yeah!"
"Stay alive, ok?"
"Of course." Said Iris with a large smile
"Hmpf. Send us to the factory."
"Zero..."
The two reploids was sent to the factory, there was so many old stuff and Iris was kinda disgusted.
"Ahead is the factory control unit. Data from cameras in the factory is sent to this unit. Destroy the cameras you process."
As the mission started, Zero noticed one thing. The purple armor that Iris actived was powerful, almost unbreakble but...
"You are too slow."
"Sorry, my armor was made for fight, not exploration."
"You should've warn me before the mission."
"Ugh... S-sorry..."
"Get out of the armor."
"What?"
"I'll give you my buster. Do you think you can fight with it?"
"Uhm, I can try... Wait, what?"
"What's the matter?"
"You have a cannon!"
"No. I have a gun."
"What the..."
"We'll talk about that later. C'mon, get out of that armor!"
"Yes sir!"
Iris obeyed and Zero gived her the Z-Buster, the mission became more excited and confusing for the girl. What in the earth did happen to Zero?
"Are you in your dreams again?" Said Zero annoyed.
"No! Just... How should I use this?"
"Just like a normal gun. Keep pressed the trigger to charge a stronger attack. Now let's go."
"Yes sir."
Finally, the duo moved at a decent speed even if Iris had some difficult at jumping fast and her reflexes wasn't really the best. After some robots defeated and cameras destroyed, they reached a room with a giant beehive.
"Don't drop your guard."
"Right!"
The beehive opened and six bees came out attacking Zero, who easily disposed of them. Then it closed only to open after four seconds, this time the bees attacked Iris.
"Hya!"
The girl managed to dodge and shoot the little enemeis.
"We have to destroy it by hiting the core. Use your armor!"
"Yes sir!"
As the beehive opened by the third time, Iris shooted a purple beam that easily destroyed the core. Even Zero's sword wasn't strong as that armor, and the crimson warrior started to think that maybe Iris could've become very useful if trained well. Zero ordered to exit out of the armor and the mission continued, until they reached the final room and a white reploid with a cape.
"So, the barbaric reploid is trying to corrupte ladies now?"
"Shut up and prepare yourself. Iris, the armor."
"Right!"
"Oh! What a strange armor you have" 'Maybe this is not the best situation, I am against two enemeis.' The reploid started to think 'Zero has defeated Inarrabita gaining her power while the girl is a mystery... What should I do?'
"What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing. I am Devilbat Schilt, one of Weil's Numbers. I can't stand your barbaric ways, so..." He turned into a big, robotic bat with grey and purple wings "I have to clean up the trash!"
The fight started and Zero, after using the Ice Form, slashed at Hellbat who vanished laughing and reapperead in front of Iris, shooting some bats at the armor, without much effect though. Iris charged a beam but it was too slow and the Maverick had enough time to teleport and attack Zero, but the legendary reploid was faster and attacked Hellbat with a charged slash, freezing the electric bat. Zero kept his guard while Iris was charging a second beam, and this time managed to hit the enemy who screamed in pain and the battle seemed won.
"Did... Did we beat him?"
"Hhmm." Zero slowly closed the distance between him and Hellbat, altrough his guard wasn't enough and the maverick managed to hit Zero with much bats and paralyzed him with an electric beam. "Gah!"
"Ahahah, what's the matter, Zero? Can't you resist? Well, I guess your barbaric life will end now."
Zero closed his eyes and tried to get free when a loud voice was heard, but wasn't one of Hellbat's laugh, it was a scream of pain.
"W-What are you doing, woman?"
"Take this!" Iris, who disactived the armor, shooted the Maverick with the Zero Buster.
"Gaaah! You insolen-"
"Die, Maverick!" Hellbat wasn't fast enough and Zero divided his body with the Z-Saber. "You talk too soon."
"Ke...keke! No manners... No manners at all! Trying to defy Lord Weil, what dismal behavior! Ke... Kekekekeeee!"
Hellbat exploded and Iris gived the Z-Buster at Zero.
"Iris... Why did you do that?"
"The a-armor was too slow... And t-there wasn't another w-way to save you..."
"You should'nt..."
"Im so glad you are alive..." Iris smiled and fainted.
"Zero..." Said Ciel sadly
"... Mission complete." Replied Zero.
"Transferring... Two... One... Transfer complete."
Zero and Iris finally reached the base and Ciel got closer at them.
"Zero... Thank you. That recycling plant will be out of operation for some time, I think. Thank you so much... And... Im sorry for her."
"If wasn't for her I would'nt be here now. Call Cerveau and tell him to repair her.
"Yes." Ciel took Iris to the scientist. "She needs help."
"I see, she seems really injuried. I'll take her in the laboratory."
Meanwhile, some important guys heard about Hellbat's death. Those guys was Copy-X, Harpuia and the former criminal: Doctor Weil.
"What? Another s-s-solider is dead?" Said the glitched reploid.
"Im sorry Master X, this Zero seems to be too strong for the Eigth Judges."
"That b-b-blasted reploid!"
"Master X." Said Harpuia "Isn't strange?"
"Uh?"
"This time, our soliders got defeated incredibly soon."
"True. Do y-y-you think that Zero found an a-a-ally?"
"Master X, this could be a precious opportunity for us. Kidnapping this mysterious guy we can force Zero to surrender."
As Harpuia suspected, Weil was the most sneaky living thing on the planet... No, he was just pure evil and the guardian knew that the old man was planning something to betray X.
"This is a good p-p-plan... But no. I want more! We'll kidnap this new enemy to force Zero to came here and challenge me... I'll d-d-destroy that fake hero!"
"Fake indeed Master X, hee hee hee."
Sorry for the late but you know, I had to study hard to pass the school (uff...). I'll try to be more active :3 R&R, so you can help me to improve my english ^-^