Megaman X: Elysium Rising

Final Mission: Delete the Maverick Virus

Chapter 32: The Garden of Eden

By Genoscythe

AN: Sorry this is so late. From here on, things aren't fleshed out quite as well as they were before, so there'll be a good amount of winging it on my part. I'll try to keep up the pace, though, as school isn't turning out to be too bad this year.

Marx's processor was a mess. One moment, he found himself staring into a glaring red orb. The next, he was being dragged by formless gray shapes. Finally, when his systems were prepared to reboot, he awoke. This, he decided, was a bad move.

Gone were the solid metal walls of the cargo ship. Gone was Nephtis from his side. Gone was his replacement replacement arm. In their place, the dark shapes stood over him like a stage audience. Their single bloody eyes stared at him expectantly, and he shifted upright. This wasn't easy to do with only one arm, but he managed.

His armor was scratched and broken in places, whether from these dark machines or the crash he couldn't tell and didn't care. "Where the hell am I?" He asked logically, and he was responded with silence. "Hello? Anybody home?" Awkwardly, he got to his feet and switched on his night vision. He almost leapt back in surprise.

The dark shapes were robots, unlike anything he had ever seen before. They carried massive shields at their side, and wore what appeared to be Japanese hats on their heads. The blurry green robots were barrel-shaped, and on their free arms Marx could see long, cylindrical busters. He switched off his NV, staggering back to the wall. He badly wanted to cry out, to get some answers, but he knew that wouldn't solve anything.

The foremost robot's eye blinked for only the briefest of seconds, and Marx waited for them to all raise their busters. Nothing happened. At this point, Marx almost would have preferred some action.

In a few moments, Marx got his wish. A rectangle of light appeared on the far corner of the right wall, and a slender shape was silhouetted in the brightness. The form swept itself into the room, and as it did so, lights on the ceiling began to turn on behind her. Yes, it was a her. Definitely a her.

The machines parted like the Red Sea before Moses, and the green-haired woman walked calmly through the mass of metal. She stopped before Marx, looking him up and down. Seeming satisfied, she nodded and spoke to him. "You are clean. You may join the others." Her voice was cool, calculating, and nearly monotone. That being said, she whipped around and began returning the way she came, with the lights disappearing behind her as she went.

"Wait!" Marx called, rushing to keep up behind her. "Who are you?"

"Mother Unit Kira. Reaverbot Control Alpha," was the mechanical response.

"Mother...?" Marx murmured in wonder, looking around at the machines around her. It was safe to say these were the 'Reaverbots' she was talking about. "So, we made it to Elysium?"

"Correct."

"Is everyone alright?"

"State your definition of alright."

Marx stammered, not sure if she was attempting a joke or not. "Is everyone alive?"

"Yes."

Marx decided to count his blessings, no matter how small. "You're trying to stop the Carbon whatsit, right?" He asked, making sure they hadn't landed in the clutches of their enemy.

"Correct. We are the Omegas."

Marx nodded. At least something went right. "Where are the others?"

"I am taking you to them." Kira's mechanical voice was starting to grate on his nerves. Marx decided to take a look at his surroundings, and found that they were walking down a narrow gray corridor. The only light in the corridor came from illuminated strips of the ceiling, which turned on as they approached and flickered off as they passed. Marx whistled. This Mother Unit seemed to be controlling the environment itself. He made a mental note not to piss her off.

Out of nowhere, an orange door appeared before them. It slid apart, and sunlight flooded in. Kira continued undaunted, but Marx had to blink to adjust his optics. They were now in a light-flooded courtyard, the spacious walls made of a white marble-like substance. Plants seemed to be everywhere; lining the walls, hanging out of alcoves, and covering the ground.

The slender Mother Unit led Marx down a marble path, slipping deftly through massive fronds. In no time, they were walking toward another gray metal building, and Kira was stepping through the orange portal. Marx followed her, and was surprised to find that this building was one wide, open empty space. Well, not entirely empty.

Zero gave Marx a light-hearted wave from his position sitting on the floor, and Axl merely gave him a glance. He could see the wonder and confusion on the young reploid's face, and thought it strange that Zero was unaffected. To his disappointment, they were the only ones there. Nephtis was nowhere to be seen.

"Take a seat. Show's gonna start soon," the blonde Maverick Hunter said, patting the ground next to him. Marx sidled over to them, watching as Kira walked briskly to a corner of the room. Re-evaluating his first assumption that the room was almost empty, he saw X and a man similar to Kira talking heatedly in the corner. In the middle of his sentence, he turned his crimson eyes toward Kira and flashed her a brief smile. X himself turned to the newcomer, but she merely bowed and remained silent.

"Can either of you fill me in?" Marx asked, hoping that Zero's carefree attitude meant he knew something. The crimson hunter shook his head; Axl was too busy being astonished to respond. Apparently the full scope of their situation hadn't registered with Axl until they had actually landed on Elysium. Marx still didn't believe it himself. History rewritten? No, more like the real history. Disbelief was the only thing that kept him from losing it.

Another door opened to their left, and a weary Selene stepped through. Her armor was gone, and in its place she wore an exotic white dress similar to Kira's. Axl gave her a weak wave, and without a word she made her way to them. She collapsed next to the young hunter, who silently pulled her close to him.

"This isn't everyone, is it?" The man with the crimson eyes called, stepping away from the corner with X and Kira flanking him.

"It'd better not be," Zero responded icily.

"The woman with the golden armor is unconscious at the moment," Kira informed him. "She attacked our Reaverbots, and we were forced to take action."

Despite the news, Marx had to smile. That was his Nephtis, alright.

"What about Malakai?" Zero asked.

"Purifier Tau is being detained," was the cold reply.

"Tau, or 'Malakai', was an Alpha Purifier," the crimson-eyed man began, sensing the confusion on Zero's face. "We were lucky enough to capture him and force him to help us."

"That's noble," Zero snorted.

"You don't know what's at stake here, Zero." Marx was now even more confused than before. This man knew Zero? "All our colonies have failed but this one. If we have to use the CRP, it could be another millennia before we find another planet as perfect as Earth."

"So that's your excuse for brainwashing people?"

"What, you'd rather be fighting against Tau?"

Zero had no reply. Marx now looked to X, who had a deeply troubled expression on his face. After a moment of silence, he put a hand on the man's shoulder.

"I'd like a few minutes alone with them, Genoscythe."

The man, who Marx realized was Genoscythe, nodded and turned, leaving the room with Kira at his side. X now stood forward, and they all looked at him expectantly.

"What's up?" Zero asked calmly. Marx wondered how he was still keeping his cool, even with the disturbed look on X's face.

"I just found out..." X began, clearing his throat hesitantly. "They need me to replace Eden."

Zero blinked. "So...what's that mean in English?"

"That means I can't leave, whether I survive or not," X's voice was cold; detached. "Eden's the living computer that controls all of Elysium's subsystems as well as most of the intelligent machines. I need to take Eden's place in the center of Elysium."

Finally, Zero's resolve seemed to crumble a bit. "...why you? Why can't they make another reploid to do this?"

"Because..." X let out a shuddering breath. "They already have me. This is what I was built for. We can't just destroy Eden, we have to replace it or else Elysium will break down."

"Screw Elysium! Easier just to blow this whole damn place up than try to save it."

X lowered his gaze. "I wish it were that simple, but we need Genoscythe and Mistress Kira on our side. They don't want to destroy Elysium, and since they're the ones in control of the Reaverbot army, they're the ones calling the shots."

"We'll just take 'em all on, then."

"I don't think so. The Reaverbots are stupid, but they're way stronger than any reploid."

"Damn it, X. I'm not gonna throw you to the dogs."

"I know, and I'm sorry. If there was another way, I would have taken it."

"There is!" Zero was fuming now. "There always is!" Marx watched in detached bewilderment as X and Zero continued on their argument. Now adding to the pile of things he didn't believe was the thought that X wouldn't make it back from this mission.

As he watched, he felt a pair of hands grip his shoulders from behind. He immediately tensed, expecting a Reaverbot or, worse, the blonde stowaway. However, his fears were immediately put to rest.

"Ease up, soldier. It's me." Nephtis's honey-like voice filled his ears, and he relaxed. She only spoke that way to him.

"I was gettin' worried," he said off-handedly, and he heard her drop to her knees behind him. Moments later, she had draped her arms across his shoulders and rested her chin on his right shoulder.

"What's wrong?" She asked, hearing the concern in his voice. He briefly relayed what X had told them, and why he and Zero were arguing. She paled. "You're kidding...right?"

"Ask X," Marx replied wearily. Interrupting all conversation, Genoscythe reappeared in the doorway. Zero bolted to his feet and strode over to the green-haired man – or was he a machine? Without saying a word, the crimson reploid launched his fist into Genoscythe's face. His head snapped back; the rest of his body didn't move an inch. Slowly, Zero withdrew his fist and Genoscythe turned his blood-red gaze on him.

"Feel better now, Zero?"

"Bastard. You just happened to forget a few convenient details when you told X about this place?" The blonde Maverick Hunter was fuming. "Didn't think he would come if he knew he'd have to die?"

Genoscythe shook his head and tried to step around Zero. The reploid grabbed him and held him firmly in place. Turning a sour glance on Zero, Genoscythe then addressed the gathering of reploids. "I didn't 'forget' because I was afraid he wouldn't come. I was afraid you wouldn't let him come."

"Smart choice," Zero conceded. "I'm not gonna let him die over this."

"I never said anybody would die," X put in, walking over to them. "I'm just going to take control of Eden."

"That's supposed to be better?"

"I can save billions of lives."

Zero's eyes narrowed, and he now placed an arm on X's shoulder. "Get off your damn high horse! Nobody designated you to be the next Jesus Christ."

"Actually, we did," Genoscythe pointed out from behind.

"Shut up!" Zero barked, turning his head just long enough to shout out the command. "Look, you're not gonna sacrifice anything. We won't lift a finger until we find a way around this," he stated, looking around at the hunters for support. They were all watching Zero in wide-eyed astonishment, but most of them managed a weak nod.

"You can try all you want," Genoscythe said slyly. "I doubt the Alphas will wait around for your solution."

Zero whipped around to face the purifier again, his face red and wild. Finding himself unable to speak, he simply pointed a finger threateningly at Genoscythe, who seemed to be becoming increasingly amused.

"I doubt they'll attack soon, however," the purifier said reassuringly. "They must still be fishing Sigma out of the ocean."

"Why do they need him?" X asked.

"The same reason we need you," Genoscythe replied. "Only he was made to replace the Master, the missing element in Eden's system."

X blinked in surprise. "But Sigma was made at least thirty years after I was. Why did they wait?"

"They didn't. I'm sure you remember why Sigma went Maverick in the first place, don't you?"

X now directed his gaze to Zero, who was still staring daggers at Genoscythe. "...Zero?" He asked tentatively, but he knew even before he spoke. It all fit. X was made by Doctor Light, Zero by Doctor Wily. Both were made at roughly the same time, both were virtual opposites. X had always leaned toward peace, Zero toward destruction.

"Now I'm a sacrifice too?" Zero spat.

"Not anymore, although I suppose you still could be," Genoscythe replied, his face still smug. "Your Elysium Interface program is linked to the Maverick Virus that you used to hold. Now that Sigma is the virus carrier, he can interface with Elysium as well."

"So now that all the pawns are here, we can start the game?"

"Essentially."

Many hours later, X and the hunters were still sitting in the room, going over the situation in their minds. However, something began gnawing at X. Where's Alia? He asked silently. His thoughts were received by silence. Slowly, he got to his feet and looked about. A single Reaverbot stood at either doorway, but he doubted they would prevent him from leaving.

Pushing one of them aside, he began walking down a hallway in the direction he had been taken from. After what felt like an eternity, he emerged through a door and into one of the numerous courtyards dotting the complex.

"X," A voice stated to his right. He whirled to face Genoscythe, red eyes glimmering.

"How did you...?" he was unable to finish his sentence.

"How many people were on that plane?"

X thought for a brief moment. "Seven."

An uncharacteristic look of surprise flashed across Genoscythe's face. "Not nine? You're sure?"

X's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, why?"

"There were two reploids in the cargo hold when we salvaged that wreck. One was a man with silver armor, and the other was a woman in a red dress."

It couldn't be... X blinked, thinking of the ramifications this could have. "What did you do with the silver one?

"He's unconscious, like the woman."

"You didn't put them both together, did you?"

"We separated all the survivors."

"Good. Now tell me wh–" X's words caught in his throat. The survivors. That means someone didn't survive. Alia!

"X?" Genoscythe queried, sounding less concerned and more curious.

"Alia...she's dead...isn't she?" X choked out the words, tears brimming his emerald eyes. He thought the years of his life had numbed him of pain, but the chill tightening around his gut assured him that they had not.

"In a sense..." Genoscythe said wearily.

X blinked away his tears. "In a sense? Either someone's dead or they're not."

"Her reactor was smashed, but her processor was still intact. We've begun downloading her into a new body."

Just like that, the cold burst into white-hot fire. "You think she'll make it?"

Genoscythe chuckled his usual mirthless laugh, then said, "There's no chance of failure. Remember, we make species in our spare time. This is nothing to us."

X wasn't quite sure what to say. He did, however, know what to do. "Take me to her."

"Dunno if you want to see her like this, X," Genoscythe said. "She'll look like one of us."

"I don't care."

"Suit yourself..." Genoscythe stepped out of the building's shadow and led him to a square cut into the ground of the courtyard. Seemingly on its own accord, the panel began to descend into Elysium, and in no time they were in the midst of another nondescript corridor.

"How do you find your way around this place?" X asked as Genoscythe began leading him along again.

"Same way ants find their way around an anthill," the purifier replied. His next words were drowned out by a scream up ahead, and X paled. When the scream subsided, Genoscythe explained. "Don't worry, we're just making sure Tau stays put."

As they passed a door up ahead, Genoscythe stopped. "She's in here. X, before you do something stupid, just know it's only temporary. We have machines to change what she looks like."

X eyed him oddly. "I'm not Zero."

"Yeah, but I know how you are with women. Just giving you a heads-up..." With that, Genoscythe continued down the hall toward the source of the screaming. X looked through the doorway, steeling himself for whatever he might find inside.

At first, he didn't think he was looking at Alia. Even after he realized it was her, he didn't believe it. In the small, dark room lined with alien machines and capsules, only one of the many tables before him was occupied. On it lay a woman colored identically to everyone else at Elysium: Dark tanned skin and apple-green hair. It spread out under her like a blanket, reaching all the way to the small of her back.

When X looked to her eyes, he found them unsettlingly blank. Unlike a reploid during shutdown, her pupils were still visible. They were, however, a dull gray, and it conveyed a sense of emptiness that no reploid visage ever could. In the uncomfortable minutes of silence that followed, X took a seat at the foot of her table.

X was about to go looking for Genoscythe when a small view screen flickered to life on the side of the table. The words were, to X's surprise, in ancient Greek. Then, with a pop, two cables detached themselves from the woman's head and slithered into a compartment that almost seemed like a metal pillow.

X watched in amazement as color slowly filtered into her eyes, amazed because the color was Alia's own crystal blue. A moment later, her body shuddered and she inhaled sharply. Taking a slow, weak breath, she pushed herself upright and her eyes met X's.

"X...?" She gasped, and immediately snapped her mouth shut. The voice that had escaped her mouth was not her own.

"Alia, I don't know what happened to you, but..." he trailed off as she held up a hand, inspecting it with mortified curiosity. "Genoscythe had to put you in another body." Her face showed understanding, but her mouth remained shut; afraid of the voice that didn't belong to her. "It's only temporary," he said hastily. "I'll ask Genoscythe when he comes back, but I swear you'll be just like yourself again in no time."

Though Alia refused to speak, he could tell from her eyes that such was not the case.

End of Chapter 32