"Ok, now listen to me. I know that your job is complicated... BUT THIS DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO SLEEP EVERY TIME YOU GET TIRED!"
"Ehm, take it easy Ciel." Iris tried to calm the girl.
"Er... I swear, I don't know what happened!"
"Gah... Cerveau, you are such an irr-"
"This is the base of the resistance I guess."
Under Ciel and Cerveau's eyes, Harpuia entered in the commander room.
"Harpuia!"
"You are the reploid that helped Zero?!"
"I suppose you are his new friend, Iris am I right?"
"Uhm yeah. N-Nice to meet you... Harpuia."
"Where is Zero?"
"Right behind you, I heard Ciel screaming."
"Duh..."
"Wow, you are really a die hard reploid Harpuia."
"Why did you saved me in first place? Are you expecting to recuit me in your group?"
"Considering that I and Iris are the only major warriors of the resistance, maybe you're right."
"Try to understand my words, Zero... I will join you only because I have to save Master X. Once Weil will dissapear, we won't have pity for you mavericks!"
"Zero is not a maverick!" Iris protested.
"I will take care of this, Iris."
"Zero..."
"You are very kind to join us Harpuia, thank you." Said Ciel.
"Hmpf. I just want to avoid what happened with your former commander."
"About that, Harpuia..."
Before Zero could finish, Neo Arcadia broke the system again and Zero ordered Rouge to let it through. The screen showed Weil and Copy-X, who wasn't amazed at the sight of Harpuia, who instead couldn't say a word.
"What he have h-h-here, a new girl in the resistance? I guess you are-re the new member of the re-resistance, am I right?"
"What do you want?" Asked Zero.
"We'd like to talk with your blonde friend." Weil answered. "You see, she created a new source of energy, eheheh."
'The Ciel System' Thought both Zero, Iris and even Harpuia.
"And so?"
"We ask you to surrender and give us your power, with the Dark Elf we will be able to create a new, infinite source of energy. Do you know what this means? We can solve this crisis in a blink of eye, and put the end of this useless conflict!"
"C-Ciel," Continued the blue ruler. "a single word from you w-w-will bring the peace in the world."
"I... I can't trust you!"
"What?"
"You were ready to sacrifice human lifes just to obtain the Dark Elf. Ciel System was created to allow humans and reploids to live together! I will not give it to you!"
"Is that s-so, Ciel? Hmpf! You have the mon-nopoly of energy, and Zero... A reploid with insane fighting skills... You ar-are nothing than filthy extremists."
"How about you, X?" Iris said. "Just for this so called Dark Elf and me, you used a missle destroying a city under your protection! And worst of all, you didn't even warned the humans there, like this gre-"
"Hush Iris!"
"But Zero..."
Copy-X watched them, expecially Iris and Harpuia. That girl was not only strong enough to handle Omega, but was very entertaining. The copy chuckled leaving the brunette confused.
"You are as intresting as Z-Zero you know? But you have o-o-only the version of the resistance, you should listen our re-re-reasons too."
"..."
"Ciel, for all this time, I was holding back-ck because a human, you, were there. But now I will show you my power-r, and you'll get destroyed along with your mavericks! Weil, close the comunication-tion."
"Master X, WAIT!"
Then the screen turned normal again, with an horrifed Ciel and a shocked Harpuia. His master was really changed, all for Weil's fault.
"Dammit... That Weil..."
"Harpuia, how long do you plan to act like your precious master cares about you? He didn't even tried to save you from Omega, he didn't cared about your presence here, in the base of his enemies!"
"Zero... You..."
"And, I'm sorry to tell you this Harpuia, but the master that you always served, is just a copy of the the real X."
"Shut up! I don't care about your words, I will save Master X from Weil's brainwash!"
"So you don't belive X is just a copy?"
"No I don't."
"Can I say something?" Asked Iris.
"Uh?"
"Even if we weren't best friends, I knew X. He wasn't so harsh, and I heard your master did cruel things even before Weil's appereance. That's why this base exist in first place."
"Are you saying that Zero is right? Fine, think what you want, I don't care at all." And he walked away.
"Where are you going?" Asked the crimson warrior.
"I just remembered that Leviathan and Fefnir are still knocked out, and if Master X have changed so much, he could use them against me. I will not lose my brothers too."
"And you think Neo Arcadia is going to let you take them?"
"In that case I'll use bad manners." And ignoring any other word, he went for his way.
"Ohw... I thought he would've join us..."
"Harpuia is a very proud guy, Iris, and he is in a terrible situation. His master is a cruel reploid, helped by an even more cruel scientis, and worst of all, I think Copy-X banished him from his army."
"Why he would?"
"Maybe because he and his brothers got defeated by me several times."
"That is something that Sigma would do."
"Who is Sigma?"
"Well, Sigma was your greatest enemy. I guess you defeated him, I dissaperead before I could know anything."
"You still have to tell me what happened to you."
"Ugh... We don't have time for that..."
"Iris," Said Ciel putting an hand on Iris' shoulder. "We are ready to help you, you mustn't fear anything with us." She ended with a smile.
Ciel's words were conforting, yeah, but what would've be Zero's reaction at the truth? Zero killed both her and her brother: the Colonel of the Repliforce, how could she tell him certain things in the middle of this new war?
And Ciel? She always thought Zero as a protector, she surely wouldn't trust her, no, probabily anyone would trust at those words. Sure, that wasn't Zero's fault but... Well, sooner or later he would've get his memories back, so it was better to tell him now.
"Well, I told you about a militia force called Repliforce right?" The two nooded. "One day, the colonel of that group was accused to be a group of mavericks, and the colonel decided to rebel against humans. The colonel was none less than my brother."
"What? Your brother?! So you wer-"
"Ciel, let finish her."
"After the rebellion, all member of the Repliforce were officially considered as mavericks and the first priority was to take them down. And..."
But just when Iris was going to finally tell everybody the truth, Rouge and Jaune interrupted her warning about a new attack from Neo Arcadia. The enemies would've attack the base from three different zones: the Twilight Desert, the Forest of Anatre and the Front Line Ice Base.
"I guess we'll have to settle this later." Said Zero. "Jaune, breif us about the Twilight Desert."
"We have detected Neo Arcadian units moving through the Southern desert. Their boss seems to be Anubis Necromancess V."
"Him again? Good job two of you, now he know how to move. Iris, get ready!"
"Yes sir! How about Harpuia?"
"He is not a priority now, and I am sure he will be fine. He is the strongest of the guardians."
"I understand. Rouge, Jaune, send us to the desert."
"Understood. Get ready, 3... 2... 1... Transfer complete!"
'Be save... Both of you.'
As the two were sent to the desert, Zero told Iris about Anubis: he was the pupil of Fighting Fefnir, another guardian of X. His weakeness was the fire, and his attacks were based off undead stuff, like summoning phanteons by the sand, or attacking with elecric graves.
"Before we begin the mission, I suggest you to wear your armor. Otherwise, someone would recognize you."
"Right!"
As the girl actived her armor, Zero and Iris started to explore the desert that seemed to be endless. As expected by Jaune and Rouge, many Phanteons were waiting them along with little flying mavericks. Zero took the normal troops while Iris attacked the air group, and in the middle of the fight, Iris found a little pink sphere.
"I see you found a Cyber-elf" Said Zero slashing a Phanteon.
"Cyber-elf?"
"I'll explainen after the mission. Look behind you!"
Iris turned and saw some elicopters with some Phanteons inside them. They shooted at her with thier bazookas but the girl easily dodged the missles and countered with her power beam.
Meanwhile, a reploid was watching the fight with some flying bots along with him. He didn't say anything, he was thinking.
'Is this the right thing? ... No, I have to obey and trust my Master, no matter what!' "Soliders! You will do as planned and if will be necessary, we will do as our Master said! Is that clear?" The units prepared them busters. "Good, now let's go!"
Sorry about the unforgivable late guys but a Wild Laziness apperead and the attacks were super effective D: now, who is this mysterious reploid? What is his goal? Let's find out in the next episode of Lost In Neo Arcadia, R&R folks! Tell me if there's some writing error, I am writing this fast because I will be absent or a week, mah 18th birthday is coming :D