CHAPTER 21

-"BLASTING INTO THE PAST! X AND ZERO'S NEW MISSION!"-

X and Zero look all around and see what they're up against. There were undead Mavericks on every side, their fallen teammates among them. Storm Eagle was in the sky, laughing at them, mocking them. Flame Mammoth was slowly getting up, his limbs reattached, although now he had a large hole in his chest from where X shot him with his X-Buster. And above them, the sky was a blood red, with thick clouds of the mist in the air. There was only one thing they could do now…. Both charged up their Busters to full power and fired, taking out a large group of Mavericks!

Zero yells, "Everyone! Fall back! RETREAT!"

And X, Zero, and the rest of the Maverick Hunters ran through the gap they made, fighting off the legions of undead Mavericks as they fled. X and Zero rush toward the enemy forces like avenging angels, brandishing their Z-Sabers, slicing and dicing everything in their path while the Hunters provide covering fire. They make their way to a parking lot where the 17th's Land Chaser motorcycles were parked. Hopping onto the bikes, they rev their engines, and zoom off to the Hunter Base to regroup and plan their next move.

Storm Eagle's insulted. "Oh, oh, I see. Running away, eh? You bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to you!"

As they ride through the city, X and Zero have a conversation.

"Ugh. That was disgraceful back there. Still, we had no choice but to retreat." Zero looks at the death and destruction around him. "The carnage... It's... horrible... Those Mavericks will pay for this!"

"Zero, remember what Eagle said, how the mist was responsible for their reactivation? Do you think Sigma is behind this?"

"I don't know for sure, X. But that stuff is definitely evil, probably more so than Sigma. You saw what it did to those Mavericks and our fallen Hunters. Does HQ have any ideas on what it is?"

X replies, "No, not yet. Alia and the Reploid Researchers are still investigating it. I wonder if Dr. Cain, Signas, and the others are okay. I'm really worried…"

"I see… Well, let's hope they have some answers for us by the time we get to the base. That is, if those Mavericks don't get to them first!"

"Right! Let's go, Zero!"

Going full throttle, their Land Chasers speed off into the night.

And all the while, the mist was spreading throughout the city….

MAVERICK HUNTER HQ:

Months have passed since the "Nightmare Incident". [AUTHOR's NOTE: If you don't know what I'm referring to, just play Megaman X6!] X and Zero defeated the renegade Reploid scientist Gate and his Nightmare Investigators. Then, they had to battle Sigma (or what was left of him) once again and destroyed him, hopefully once and for all. At last, the world was at peace, and humans and Reploids shared the Earth together. With Sigma gone, the world seemed ready to enter a new golden age...

Then the "Zombie Mavericks" came...and the world became a living hell!

They were Mavericks who were destroyed by the brave Hunters Megaman X and Zero in the past. But thanks to the mysterious red mist (a.k.a. Erick Genryusai's DVL Cells), they were brought back to life! The zombies suddenly appeared and began to riot, attacking humans and Reploids alike.

When X and Zero arrive at the Hunter Base, they head for the command center. Upon entering, three people are waiting for them. The first is a young woman who looks like a grown-up version of Roll; the second, a tall man in a blue military-esque uniform, and the third, an elderly man with a long white beard wearing a blue robe and a long sleeveless gold vest. They are Alia, the Hunters' Reploid researcher, General Signas, the leader of the Maverick Hunters, and Dr. Cain, the man who discovered X and created the first generation of Reploids.

Dr. Cain's the first to see them. "X! Zero! Are you all right? The entire city has been thrown into a panic because of this mist. Truly, these are perilous times."

Signas nods, agreeing with Dr. Cain. "Yes, the situation is far worse than expected. The mist has spread throughout the city. It's affecting both people and Reploids. At this rate, it's going to eventually cover the Earth...Everything, including Reploids and the entire human race, will be in danger."

Alia says, "We have no choice... For the sake of the world, we must destroy this mist! But how?"

Entering the command center was a man wearing a doctor's uniform. It's Lifesaver, the Maverick Hunters' medic.

"Ah, Lifesaver. I trust you have good news?" Signas asks him.

Lifesaver affirmatively replies, "Yes, I do, sir. I believe I have found the origin of this strange evil mist." He shows a canister, filled with Erick's DVL Cells!

Everyone gasps!

Alia, fearful, asks, "Wh-what is that?"

Lifesaver explains, "It is an artificial virus. It has the ability to reanimate deleted Reploids, or as the humans call it, "bring them back from the dead". You've seen how that the Mavericks you've fought are able to function yet their exterior plating and internal circuitry show obvious signs of decay and has not been repaired at all, giving them the appearance of human corpses. This virus is the cause of these "zombie" Mavericks. I don't know exactly as my analysis is not yet complete... But this virus is very similar to the Sigma Virus; except for one main difference…it's alive."

"Alive? What do you mean, Lifesaver?" X wanted to know.

"In my analysis, I discovered traces of genetic material encoded within the virus. Which leads to the other problem…"

Zero wants to hear more, knowing he's not going to like what's next. "And that is…?"

"The real threat of this virus. The zombies are only carriers. If they come in contact with any Reploid, the Reploid too becomes infected. The Zombie phenomena... An infected Reploid gets out of order, turning Maverick. Once infected, the virus rewrites their DNA and AI programs, immobilizing them. At worst, even their appearance changes."

Alia remarks, "It's almost like the Nightmare Incident."

Lifesaver confirms, "Yes. Which leads to yet another problem… Because of the genetic material this virus is made of, it can also infect humans."

"WH-WHAT!" everyone else yells.

Lifesaver notes their surprise, but continues, "As I was saying, because of the genetic material this virus is made of, it can also infect humans, rendering them in a comatose-like state. Observe."

He pulls up a video display of a hospital ward. We see doctors and nurses tending to the victims of the Cells, both human and Reploid alike. One catches the group's attention, a young girl. She's lying in a bed with a blank, distant look on her face, as if waiting for a command from someone…

Alia, saddened by what she sees before her, risks asking, "That girl…is she…?

Lifesaver tells her, "No, she's very much alive. How long though, it's not certain. Clearly this virus affects humans differently than Reploids."

Zero notices the blank look on the girl's face. "She looks as if she's been brainwashed or possibly hypnotized…"

X's thinking them same thing, and voices his observations, "Now that you mention it, Zero, you're right. All the humans who've been infected have that same expressionless face."

Lifesaver's impressed. "Very perceptive, you two. All they would need now is a puppet master to pull the strings…"

"This is very bad," Dr. Cain concludes. "Lifesaver, if what you've told us is true, then the whole world is in grave danger!"

X is about to say, "Dr. Cain, you don't mean…?"

"Yes, X, I'm afraid so. This new virus would give Sigma the means to return to life, and threaten the peace that we've enjoyed these past few months. If he were to learn how to harness the virus's power, he could control both humans and Reploids, and there would be nothing to stand in his way of conquering the Earth, no, the very universe!"

Zero's angry now. "We can't allow that to happen!"

"What do we have to do?" X asks.

Lifesaver state the obvious solution. "Well, obviously destroy the virus, of course! But it will be difficult, since it's beginning to spread at an alarming rate."

"The safety of the people is our top priority. I suggest evacuating as many non-infected civilians and Reploids to the shelters," Signas says.

Alia replies, "Already done, sir. I've sent warnings to all the world leaders."

Signas, pleased, continues, "Good. Then, we Maverick Hunters, along with Repliforce, and the rest of Earth's military forces will work together on a strategy to combat the new virus."

Lifesaver approves. "A brilliant idea, sir, although…. shouldn't we learn a little bit more about our new enemy, before we charge in? Besides, I still need to finish my analysis of the virus. There are secrets contained within it that, if I find them, will reveal who created it and why."

"Very well, Lifesaver. You and Alia will uncover those secrets."

Alia & Lifesaver agree, "Right."

Then, the emergency alarms are sounded!

A voice over the intercom shouts: Emergency! Emergency! All Maverick Hunters on call should assemble immediately! We are under attack! I repeat, we are under attack!

Signas can't believe this. "Who'd dare to attack us directly?" To Alia, he orders, "On screen!"

"Yes, sir!" Alia gets on a computer and pulls up a video image on the command center's main monitor.

And wishes she hadn't. Everyone is shocked to see who attacked the Hunter Base. It's…

"Repliforce!"

X shouts, "No way!"

Zero says nothing, gritting his teeth, "…"

Outside the Hunter Base, just only miles away, were the founding members of the Repliforce. X, Zero, and the rest could see Web Spider, Slash Beast, Cyber Peacock, Split Mushroom, Jet Stingray, Frost Walrus, Magma Dragoon, and Storm Owl. Even The Skiver (a.k.a Spiral Pegacion), whom X and Zero fought during the "Colony Incident" [AUTHOR's NOTE: Again, play Megaman X5], was standing with his fellow soldiers. Leading the group was the massive General, and his second-in-command the Colonel. Like all the Mavericks that X and Zero had just fought today, the General and his troops were reactivated, but showed obvious signs of damage and decay. They've become Maverick zombies!

The General speaks. "Maverick Hunters! You have wrongfully judged us all as Mavericks and destroyed our hopes for an independent nation of Reploids!

X gets on the communicator and speaks to the General. "General, please! You don't know what you're saying! Listen, it's this evil mist that has done this to you!"

"X…. There is no turning back for us now. It was always our destiny to fight. And this "mist" you speak of has granted us this opportunity. Therefore, we will fight you to the bitter end!" To his soldiers, he commands, "Onward, men!"

And the Repliforce makes its advance toward the Hunter Base.

Signas grimly says, "So the mist has gotten to Repliforce, too… Very well, then. We have no choice but to fight them now. X, Zero, dispatch!"

"Roger!"

And X and Zero go out to battle the reanimated General and his soldiers. Even though their enemies fought with their best attacks, X and Zero managed to beat them pretty easily. The only one who put up a fight at all was the Colonel as he and Zero clashed sabers in a spectacular duel.

"I've been waiting for this for an eternity, Zero!"

Zero tries to reason with the Colonel. "Colonel, stop this! For Iris's sake! Or have you forgotten her too?"

"Bah! Stop dredging up the ghosts of the past! My sister's dead, and when this is over, you'll join her! Now fight me!"

And so, the former-friends-turned-foes continue their duel, neither one letting up on their attacks. In the final moments of their face off, the two leap into the air and clash swords one last time. Upon landing, it's the Colonel who falls in defeat.

An hour later, Zero rejoins X, who just finished off the last of the revived Repliforce members, the General himself. But before they can catch their breaths, they get an emergency call from the base!

Emergency! Emergency! This is the Maverick Hunters 14th Grapple Combat Unit! One of the Maverick zombies made it into the training hall! It's…AAAARGH!

The line goes dead.

"Oh no!" X exclaims.

Zero realizes, "No wonder the General and his goon squad went down so easily. It was a diversion to keep us occupied while one of those no-good zombies runs amok inside!"

Returning to the base, they enter the 14th Unit's training compound, which resembles a martial arts dojo. All of the 14th lie dead inside, killed by some powerful force. Seeing this gruesome scene, they are even more determined to destroy this Maverick zombie and avenge their slain comrades.

"Let's split up, X. I'll go this way; you go that way. It'll be much faster finding that Maverick this way."

"OK. Be careful, Zero."

"You got it. Let's go."

They split up and explore the compound, searching for the undead Maverick. After some time searching, Zero calls X on his communicator. "Hey, X, find anything yet?"

X, on the radio, replies: Negative. What about you?

"Nope. Just keep your eyes open and your Buster charged."

As they're talking, Zero hears something moving behind him. "Huh?"

Zero! What is it?

"Nothing. I thought I heard something for a moment there…"

Then, he hears it again! Zero looks around, his danger senses on full alert. He whispers, "X, lock in on my signal and get over here as fast as you can. I think I've just made contact…."

Roger!

Zero pulls out his Z-Saber and assumes a fighting stance, ready to face whoever or whatever was coming…

He calls out, "All right, you no-good Maverick! Where are you? Quit hiding! Come out and face me!"

Then, a girl appears. She has long brown hair and is wearing a red and blue dress with a matching red beret. It's Iris, the Colonel's sister and the girl Zero once loved.

Iris says quietly, "Zero."

Zero is shocked. "Oh my god….Iris?"

Zero WOULD have been happy to see her. But there was just one, teeny-weeny, little problem…OK, it was a BIG problem. He noticed that Iris' clothes were tattered and dirty, some of her circuitry was exposed, and worst of all there was blood on her hands. Fresh blood. Which meant…

"Iris…. YOU killed the 14th Unit? But that means…. No, not YOU too!"

Iris walks towards Zero, with her arms outstretched as if to embrace him. "Zero… Please... come with me. Let's live together…"

"Iris…."

"Zero…I'm lonely…. Come with me…I don't want to die…alone…"

To Zero's horror, long tentacles burst out of Iris' back and make their way toward him. They coil around him and lift him into the air, then squeeze him like a large python squeezing its prey before feasting on it.

Zero screams, as the tentacles crush him, "AAARRRGH!" Ugh…C-can't move…She's got me! Right where she wants me. I guess this is her revenge for me killing her brother the Colonel.

As the thing that used to be Iris tries to kill Zero, he sees his life flash before his eyes. Part of him DID wish to be with her once again, but the Maverick Hunter part of him screamed that it was madness. He had to face it; the girl he loved was dead. Just before the final squeeze, Zero summons all of his strength and manages to break free! He lands on the ground, his Buster aimed at Iris.

Iris is sad, "Zero…why?"

"Iris…forgive me for what I'm about to do…"

"Don't you…love me…anymore…?"

Zero's heart breaks at that question. His Buster aim wavers unsteadily for a moment. But only for a moment. Zero knows what he has to do. He aims his Buster, and calmly says… "Goodbye, Iris…" He fires three times.

"Zero…" Iris dies…again.

Later, X arrives and finds Zero standing over something. "Hey, Zero, are you all right? You got that Maverick, didn't you?" He gets close enough and sees… "Hey! Isn't that… Iris? Zero, don't tell me SHE was…"

Zero says not one word to X. X takes his friend's silence to mean, "Yes, Iris killed the 14th Unit." Zero raises his hand to stop X from coming any closer, pointing to Iris's body. Thin vapors of the red mist are coming out from the holes where Zero's Buster shots hit Iris. He goes over to her, picks her up, and carries her limp body in his arms.

Megaman X tries to warn his friend. "Zero! The mist!"

Zero assures him, "It's OK, X. Just don't get too close. This mist is kinda like the Sigma Virus, and since my return I seem to be immune to it, so I should be safe from its effects. Anyway, let's get back to the base."

They return to the Hunter Base. Zero gives Iris's body to Lifesaver and a group of Reploid medics wearing protective gear so that Lifesaver can examine her and finish his investigation of the strange mist.

Hours later, in the Maverick Hunters' command center, Dr. Cain, Signas, X, and Zero are waiting for Alia and Lifesaver to give their report.

Signas asks, hoping for something good to come out of all that's happened today, "Well, Lifesaver, any news?"

Lifesaver reports, "I've finished my examination of Iris." He turns to Zero, "I'm sorry, Zero. There was nothing I could do to save her, especially given what we're dealing with."

Zero sadly replies, " … I see."

Lifesaver continues, "There's more. As a result of our analysis, Alia and I have found what we believe are those secrets I mentioned earlier. Alia?"

Alia takes up where he left off. "Thanks, Lifesaver. Anyway, everyone, we found out that this mist is actually made up of microscopic machines. But they were programmed to act like a virus. When they infect a human or a Reploid, these tiny machines infiltrate their bodies and then take over their minds, turning them into mere puppets of their creator. We've already seen what it can do to deleted Reploids, of course…"

Megaman X realizes, "The Maverick zombies!"

Lifesaver says, "Correct, X. But you remember how Flame Mammoth was decapitated by Zero, and yet was still able to function? And later, when Mammoth returned with his limbs reattached? That's another effect of the mist – self-regeneration. It has other abilities too, such as reproduction, mutation, and evolution."

Dr. Cain comments thoughtfully, "Hmm…that's very bad."

"Yes…," Signas agrees. Then, turning to Alia, "Alia, what did you find out?"

"With Lifesaver's help, I was able to analyze the machines' program. At first, they appeared to be quite advanced, but they're really quite primitive. I only got four pieces of information from them….The cells….Deimos….Japan….20XX."

"Cells?" Signas asks.

"Deimos?" Dr. Cain then asks.

"Japan?" Megaman X asks next.

"20XX?" Zero finishes asking.

Lifesaver replies, "That's exactly what we thought, too. But here's what we came up with. The "cells" are these machines, and apparently someone named "Deimos" from Japan in the year 20XX created them. Their ability to reproduce, mutate, and evolve, is probably the reason for their survival."

Megaman X consider this. "That makes sense. So all we have to do now is go to Japan, and destroy these "Cells" at the source, right?"

Zero would agree with his friend. But there's yet another problem. "Yeah, but X, 20XX? That means these things have been around for a century, before you or me, before Sigma and the Mavericks. Just HOW do we destroy something that's been asleep for a hundred years and is just now waking up with a vengeance?"

Just then, Douglas, the Maverick Hunters' head mechanic entered the room. "Hey, everyone! Sorry I'm late."

Signas tells him, "It's all right, Douglas. You're just in time anyway. We were about to discuss how to destroy this mist once and for all."

Douglas takes a seat as the meeting continues. He listens with great interest as everyone talks about how to go about destroying the "Cells".

Signas comments, "Well, we know a frontal assault would be useless. We can't risk any of our Hunters being exposed to these Cells."

Megaman X agrees with his commander. But he begs to differ about the use of force to deal with this issue. "Even if we fight, what good will it do? A battle won't solve the problem."

Alia offers a suggestion. "Wait a minute. We still have Dr. Doppler's anti-virus program, right? We could use it to destroy them!"

Lifesaver's intrigued. "A possibility. But even if we use that, we still need to destroy the Cells' source."

Zero's a bit skeptical. "That's great and all, but where exactly in Japan would we begin looking for it?"

Douglas speaks up. "Don't you mean "when", Zero?"

Everyone turns to Douglas.

"What do you mean, Douglas?" X asks him.

"No,no,no! When I said, "when", I didn't mean it in the present tense. I meant "when" in the past tense. Time travel!"

Everybody else sweatdrops. They think Douglas has finally lost it.

"Time travel? Sounds like something from those ancient science-fiction novels," Zero says.

Douglas makes his point. "Well…. yeah, back THEN it was science fiction, but technology's come a LONG way since those days. Using a time machine, we'll go back in time and destroy the Cells in the past so they can't wreak havoc in our time. Neat, huh?"

Signas decides to humor Douglas. "Do you even HAVE such a device, Douglas?

"Oh yes, sir! In fact I'll even show it to you! C'mon!"

At an indoor testing facility within the Hunter Base...

Inside, we can see a few cameras, and some computer equipment set up to monitor something. Douglas takes the group over to a long object covered by a tarp. He pulls it off, revealing a mean looking Delorian sports car with gull wing doors. We can see all sorts of strange equipment attached to the back of it.

Megaman X breathes in awe, "Whoa..."

"Is THIS it, Douglas?" Signas asks.

Douglas tells him, "Yep, this is it, sir. This is my time machine! I've been working on it in my spare time." To Alia, he says, "Say, Alia, would you mind grabbing one of those cameras?"

Alia takes one of the video cameras and starts filming.

Megaman X looks the time machine over; he notices something rather familiar about it. "Umm…it looks like something from a very old movie I saw."

Douglas confirms, "You're right, X! I found it in a place that used to be called "Hollywood, California". I even found some video records about this machine. It used to be powered by a crude energy source from the 20th century, but I've made some special "modifications". Hee hee! Here. Get a shot of this!"

Alia does so, and focuses the lens on the interior of the car. "This is what they call a flux capacitor!" Douglas says proudly. "It's what makes time travel possible!"

There's a strange electrical device in the back seat of the car, taking up the whole thing. Douglas indicates a particular portion of it. It is a box with a Y-shaped light inside of it.

Zero asks, "Does this thing actually work, Douglas?

"Oh, it does! I'll show you how it works!" Douglas calls out to someone. "Come here, please."

Then, a Mettool (you know, one of those little hard-hat wearing guys, who've been in just about EVERY Megaman game!) walks up to Douglas. Douglas takes the Mettool and puts it inside the car. "I have just attached a stopwatch to our little friend here. As you can see, it is set at exact synchronization with my own!"

X nods. "Um. Okay."

Douglas jumps out of the vehicle and closes the door. "And now we begin!"

He pulls out a remote control and started the engine with it. "Keep your eyes on the car, everyone!"

The vehicle comes to life; the engine roaring as it speeds down a long stretch of the testing area. "When the car reaches eighty-eight miles per hour, the reaction should occur!" Douglas says excitedly as he uses the remote to apply gas to the vehicle again.

Zero mutters out loud, "What exactly does this thing do?"

Then the car vanishes, leaving two flaming trails where the wheels had once been.

Douglas jumps up and down excitedly, crying joyously, "I did it! I did it! It works! It works!"

Zero sweatdrops. He looks at Douglas as if he's gone crazy. "All that, just to get rid of one Mettool?"

"What?" Realizing what Zero's just said, Douglas laughs, "No! No! He's not dead!"

"He's not?"

"I sent him into the future! Five minutes into the future specifically!"

X blinks. "Oookay,"

"Wait! Keep the camera rolling. In exactly thirty-five seconds, he should reappear!

Alia does so, focusing on the point where the vehicle had vanished. It blasts back into existence, leaving her staring slack jawed at it as it suddenly brakes and spins around to a stop.

"Whoa," is Alia can say.

Douglas rushed up to the car, opening the door and motioning the group to follow. "Keep the camera on me, so there's no question about the validity!" The Mettool gets out of the car and stands next to Douglas as he put up the watches. "Exactly five minutes and thirty-four seconds have lapsed on my watch, but here..."

The Mettool's watch was still behind, by five minutes.

"Whoa," Megaman X says.

"Exactly! I'll show you how it works!" Douglas, in full mad-scientist mode, giggles madly and rushes over to the back end of the vehicle. "You see, it takes an enormous amount of power for this to run. As I mentioned before, this machine used to run on an older energy source, nuclear power. Now, thanks to my modifications, it now runs on these Energy tanks!"

Dr. Cain's impressed. "That's amazing, Douglas!"

"Gee, thanks, Dr. Cain!"

"So this thing will let you go five minutes back in time?" Zero asks.

"No! That was just a test! With my time machine, I can go anywhere! Or should I say, any-when!"

Douglas pulls X and Zero over to the interior of the car. He continues, "For example, should I want to go to Japan in the year 20XX, at say, eight o'clock in the evening? I just punch it in here."

Using the time machine's onboard computer, Douglas adjusts the display to the time and place he had mentioned and smiles at the group.

Signas stepped back from the car, obviously impressed. "Well, Douglas, you've obviously done your research." To the others, he says, "OK, let's all take a break. We'll meet back in the command center in one hour for a final briefing before we start the mission. Dr. Cain and I will be drawing up our final plan to destroy the "Cells"!"

While everyone else makes preparations for the mission, X and Zero are in the observation deck. Zero is standing over at the room's large panoramic window, lost in thought. X goes over to talk to him. "Zero. You've been pretty quiet since we left the testing facility. What's on your mind?"

Zero snaps out of it. "Oh, sorry, X. It's nothing. Just doing some thinking, that's all."

X asks innocently, "It's Iris, isn't it?

Zero gives X a look that says "You shouldn't have brought that up, X." He lets out a deep sigh. "Yeah, it's Iris. Remember the time when Sigma turned Repliforce and the Hunters against each other? After we beat the Colonel, we boarded Repliforce's space station and split up, just like we did today. While you were fighting with Double, I had to fight…her. She'd found out that Colonel was dead, and… You should have seen her, X. In her last moments, she was so beautiful and yet so sad. I tried to explain what happened, but it was as if she had just given up all hope. When she died… part of me had died with her."

"Zero! Can it be? You never said that…."

Zero laughs bitterly, "That I loved her?" He changes his tone of voice, gravely admitting, "Yes, X, I loved Iris."

Needless to say, X is shocked!

Zero notices his friend's reaction. "Does that surprise you? I mean, if humans can fall in love, why not Reploids? If only things were different…well, I was going to give her this…" He reaches into a compartment in his armor, and pulls out a round golden object. It's a wedding ring! "…And ask her to marry me. You would have been the best man at our wedding, X."

X's jaw drops! Shocked again!

Zero goes on, "Yeah, I'd dreamed of the day when we'd finally defeated Sigma once and for all. Iris and I…we'd spend the rest of our lives together. But it never happened."

X, getting over his shock, finally speaks, "Zero, did you ever tell her how you felt?"

"No, and by the time I'd finally summoned my courage to do that, it was too late. I loved her once, and I killed her twice. Maybe Iris and I weren't meant to be; maybe I was just nursing some foolish hope."

"No, Zero, you're not being foolish. Love, like peace, is something that can be wished for and fought for."

"Your optimism is always refreshing, X, but it just shows how naive you are," Zero plainly tells his friend. Pointing to himself, he continues, "Look at me, and tell me what chance I have at love, huh? Feh. I have no illusions, yet at times I'm weak. On an evening patrol, I sometimes ride through the botanical gardens on my Land Chaser and breathe in the scent of fresh flowers. Then I notice some guy strolling through the park with a girl on his arm and I dream that I too could be strolling there, with a girl on my arm, under the moonlight. My heart fills with joy at the thought, and for a while I forget about all my troubles, but then I see my reflection in the pond….and realize that it's just not going to happen. And then I think I see this shadowy figure who says "Beware, don't fall in love Zero! You'll end up dead!" The price of peace is often high, X. The same could be said for love, too."

X thinks: So these Cells do more than bring back the dead. They destroy dreams! Zero dreamed of falling in love. But his dreams were shattered when Iris died. Today's battle must have reopened old wounds for him. Aloud, he says to Zero, "Zero, I've always dreamed of a world where humans and Reploids live together in peace. And with Sigma gone, I thought that dream might finally come true, until today when the Cells swept through the city like a plague. I know Douglas' time travel plan sounds crazy, but I think it'll work. We've got to destroy the Cells. To protect our hopes and dreams!"

X's words seem to bring Zero back to his senses. "That's why I'm going on this mission, X. When I find this Deimos, I'm gonna give him the business end of my Saber! He'll pay for what his creation has done to the Earth, to Iris, and to me. For you see, I have two deaths to avenge: Iris's and my own happiness!"

Then, X and Zero hear their names being called over the intercom.

Maverick Hunters X and Zero, report to the command center immediately for final mission briefing!

"That's our cue. Let's go, X!"

"Right, Zero!"

They leave the observation deck and head off to meet with the others.

An hour later, Dr, Cain, Signas, Megaman X, Zero, Alia, Douglas, and Lifesaver are assembled in the command center.

Signas begins the briefing. "We are now beginning our mission to destroy the "Cells"! But considering the current situation, you are the only Hunters who can accomplish this difficult mission. You are our only hope... Can you do it?"

"We'll do it," X replies.

"Then it's decided. X, Zero, you'll use Douglas's time machine to travel back in time, destroy this new virus, and terminate this "Deimos" with extreme prejudice."

Alia says, "Meanwhile, Lifesaver and I will be working on a cure to treat those who are already infected by the Cells."

Zero approves. "Great. While you guys work on the cure, X and I will discover what the Cells really are and what this Deimos' intentions are."

Signas warns, "Be careful, you two. Remember you are our only hope."

"Roger," X & Zero respond in unison.

Later, everyone is assembled in the launching bay. Normally, it's used for launching the aircraft used by the Maverick Hunters. But today, it's being used as a runway for the time machine, which will be piloted by Megaman X and Zero.

Douglas does one last run-through of the systems. "OK, the coordinates are all set – time, place, destination, everything! You're ready to go! I should warn you guys; time travel is a fickle thing. There's really no guarantee that the world you'll return to will be any better, worse than, or the same as right now. So while you're in the past, be careful what you do. Any actions you take in the past could radically alter the future! Suppose you disrupted an important event in time? You two, as well as all Reploids, might never be created!"

Signas admits, "It will be dangerous, and you two are in no way obligated to go. You can back out now if you wish. But I need to ask you something... Will you carry out this mission?"

Zero smirks. "Hey, it's our job. We're Maverick Hunters... Things have been too quiet for a while with Sigma gone... But we are ready to fight for peace!"

X and Zero get into the vehicle and close the doors; Zero's in the driver's seat with X on the passenger side. Zero turns the ignition, starting the engine. The time machine comes to life; the engine roaring as it sped through the launching bay into a starting position. Zero works the clutch, throwing the shift lever into gear. The vehicle roars forward, putting up billows of smoke as he jams his foot onto the gas. He keeps his eye on the speedometer as an energy field surrounds him and X. Once the speedometer hits 88 miles per hour, the energy crackles in front of the car as it bursts into the fabric of time. Then it vanishes, leaving two flaming trails where the wheels had once been. Signas, Alia, Dr. Cain, and Douglas stare at the two trails of flame it left.

Dr. Cain says, "X, Zero, good luck. The fate of Reploids and humans alike rests in your hands."

TO BE CONTINUED…