"Do you think she will be able to live?" Asked Ciel.
"My injuries after the fight with Copy-X were more bad. She is not in danger."
"Yeah, but Iris is not strong as you."
"Even Fefnir, who is weak against thunder would resist."
Zero was obviously lying, just to rassicure Ciel... Or maybe he was trying to rassicure himself.
"Mr Zero, there's only one mission. Will you accept?"
"... I will."
In the laboratory, Iris had a dream. The girl was running in a red, endless path until she saw something. Something that she never wanted to see: Zero was badly injuried, kneeling before another reploid. As she reached Zero, the crimson warrior pushed her away saying her to not get close to him, then the other reploid dashed at Zero, followed by a charged shot. Iris tried to protect Zero but a hand stopped her, a human hand, and then she woke up... But not under Ciel's eyes, not under Cerveaus eyes, the one who waited her was Zero.
"Iris..." Said the blonde reploid, looking at her green eyes.
"Zero, are you ok?"
"Yeah, I finished the last mission." He had to admit that she was kinda of cute, her innocent look almost blocked him... But there was no time for that!
"Where is Cerveau?"
"Ciel is scolding him for sleeping at the work."
"Uh?"
"Follow me."
They exited out of the laboratory only to hear a extremely loud voice.
"Seriously, how could you sleep during that operation!?"
"I'm sorry , but I started to feel..."
"Feel like WHAT?"
"Well... I felt a gentle warm over my body, almost like a hug from a father."
"Hug from a father... IS THIS THE TIME TO THINK TO A FATHER?"
"Ugh..."
"Ehy guys!" Said Iris, followed by Zero.
"Oh hi. Well, uhm... I..."
"You snapped again, didn't you?" Zero knew Ciel, she was a nice girl but there was a very few calm side inside her.
"Yeah... But seriously, Cerveau told me about a gentle hug, warm and stuff like this."
"Don't worry, he did a good work." Said Iris before giving Ciel a large smile. "I can move perfectly."
"Oh I'm so glad of that."
"Wait Cerveau, Ciel said... Gentle hug and warm?"
"Yeah Iris... Why?"
"Oh nothing. I just felt like that in my dream."
"Oh you dreamed something?" Asked Ciel.
"Yeah."
"And what?"
"Uhm... Let's focus on the next mission."
"You are not goint to follow me this time."
"Wait what?!"
"It's too dangerous for you, stay here."
"But..."
"Besides, we can't proceed with a variable speed. I hope you understand this."
"Yeah... But..."
"Why?" Asked Cerveau. "Is Iris slow?"
"She have a powerful armor that is really slow though. And until this problem is not solved, we cannot work together."
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner? I can try to modify her armor!"
"What? Can you really do that?"
"Iris, Cerveau created my boomerang, my recoild rod and repaired my saber and buster twice."
"Whoa, that's awesome!"
"Yeah."
"If you follow me, we can start."
"Zero!" Said Menart.
"What's the matter?" Replied the reploid
"Someone wants you at the second floor, room 02A"
"Hhmm, I guess I'll go."
As Zero followed Menart to the room, Iris went in Cerveau's laboratory and gived the gem to the scientist. She lied on the platform and closed her eyes, ready to be studied.
"You can open your eyes, I have to confront your gem with Zero's data first." Said Cerveau.
"Oh."
"So Iris, how was your time? Ciel told me you are really old."
"Well, I lived in a hard period too, but this war seems so much darker, expecially with this crisis of energy."
"Yeah, without Zero we wouldn't manage to survive... He saved us many times and gived us the hope."
"Tell me Cerveau, Zero is always so cold?"
"He is very serious and doesn't show his emotions ofter, I guess it's because of his amnesia."
"He was serious in my time too but not at this point... But I can understand him."
"You like him don't you?"
"W-What?" Iris blushed at the question.
"Ahah worry, I will keep the secret.'
"But I didn't..."
"Your face became red."
"... Please don't tell this to anyone."
"As I said, you don't have to worry Iris. But why you like him so much?"
"Well, I don't really know, he is strong, cool and sometimes nice."
"Listen... I am trying to study Zero's data to create new weapons, can you tell me what he was like?"
"Oh yeah. He had a buster like a cannon called Z-Buster and his Z-Saber, but that's all."
"A cannon you said?"
"Yeah, Zero too seemed to be unaware of this."
"Maybe he got an upgrade."
"I don't know, his new gun was less powerful than the old cannon... But faster"
"Hm... Oh well, the connection between Zero's data and your gem is complete!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, now, I need you to sleep so I can work."
"Ok. Good luck Cerveau." She replied smiling, falling in a deep sleep some minutes later.
Next time we will know who wanted Zero :3 I thanks all the people who is supporting and will support this story despite my awful late, you are awesome! Oh, and I leaved an easter egg, will you find it?