Disclaimer: All Capcom related entities belong to Capcom and I claim no ownership of them whatsoever. All OC's and the story itself belong to me.
Chapter 20 - Drifting Leaves
'Time...', Iris thought, 'Is a funny thing. Never enough when you need it. Far too much when you don't. And, never able to regain it once lost.' These were among the thoughts of the normally bright and cheerful perspective that Iris was renowned for. The last seven days had been an indescribable hell from the second she pressed the button that teleported her heart to the furthest reaches. And, for Iris at least, the world had gone grey and muted, color, light and sound all softer and sadder then she'd ever remembered. At first she hadn't noticed, more to the point she didn't care. But here, under the blazing nighttime noon of Neon City, Iris became fully aware of how much brighter Zero made her world.
After days of wandering around the HQ like an aimless ghost, Iris couldn't stand the sight of the hallways. Every turn, every corner, '...every INCH...', reminded her of Zero, so she left without a word. Mistakenly she thought perhaps being outside and far away would ease her mind, so she'd headed to Neon. At the sight of the shop they'd visited on their date, Iris became fully and painfully aware of how wrong those thoughts were. Immediately, she jumped onto a public bus, deciding as she sat to ride it to its end.
Her mind meandered as much as the city streets the bus followed. Memories of her and Zero flashed to life, happy moments, quiet moments. Their moments. 'All gone now... Like footprints in sand, washed away by high tide...', she thought sadly, a sharp pang resonating from her heart through her body. Lost as she was, Iris almost jumped out of her seat when the last stop announcement sounded. Looking out the window, she recognized the area and quickly exited the bus. Activating a watch-like device on her wrist, Iris pulled up a holo-map of the area.
As an Operator she had been responsible for guiding combatants through unknown terrain. Using that knowledge, she segregated the area into grid sections and assigned coordinates to them. Cross-referencing the layout with global tracking, supplied by Imperium satellites, verified accuracy and allowed Iris to pinpoint a specific location. As the cross checks finished, a grid section almost instantly lit up. Locking in the directions, Iris dashed off to the last place Zero had been before everything happened. After hearing Roto's debrief and seeing Zero's physical condition, Iris believed that confronting this Brav would somehow change things. And, as far as she knew, the Max Torque was the last place HE was seen as well.
Iris tried to make sense of the emotions she was just barely NOT switching instantly between as she ran, still not fully comprehending her own haste. Although sorrow was dominant, urging her to hide away and weep until everything just ended, a seething and terrible anger bubbled up to the surface crying for revenge. It was a small voice inside her, a voice that was strange, but not, all at once. She remembered that voice howling to her a thousand years ago, roaring for Zero's life because of his betrayal. Quickly, she shoved that voice back down into whatever dark recess it existed in inside her mind. 'Every Reploid has the potential to go Maverick, Iris. Not one of us is immune. Not me, not you, not Colonel, not X. It's YOUR Will to contain it, that's the difference. That's the barrier between Lawful and Lawless.' Zero's voice spoke from a distant memory to overshadow the terrible howling in Iris' mind and gave her a slight stability once more.
Several long moments of dashing brought a breathless Iris to the steps of the Max Torque. Leaning on the banister leading to the bar, She collected herself, both physically and mentally, before walking down the stairs. Once through the doors she found herself in the low-lit, semi-bitter, semi-sweet and slightly warm air that accompanied most tavern-like establishments. Directly beside the door was a suit wearing Reploid with dark sunglasses whom Iris assumed was a bouncer of some sort. He unfolded his arms upon seeing Iris and approached, a very slight grin tugging the corner of his mouth before he spoke. His voice, Iris noticed, was both mild and powerful with a hint of lethality resonating underneath that made further thoughts of Zero flood into her.
"Evenin' Miss. Although I doubt it, it's my job to ask if you're currently armed."
Iris shook her head, replying "No, sir."
The bouncer nodded. "Figured. Just stand a nano, scan-pad's almost done."
Iris looked down at the mat she was standing on, only noticing now that it was a holo-scan pad. She looked back up as a chime sounded from the bouncer's watch.
"All good. How many with your party?"
Iris found herself unprepared to answer the question. 'This is a very thorough process for a bar...' Iris thought before replying.
"I'm alone, sir. I'm here looking for someone."
"Oh?", the bouncer replied with a look of amused curiosity. "Who you lookin' for? Maybe I've seen them."
Iris took a deep breath, collecting herself once more.
"He's known as Brav. As I know it, he's an Elite of the Nihilist Armada and the last one to encounter the Maverick Hunter, Zero. I have some questions for him."
The grin fell away from the bouncer's face and he removed his glasses, his deep dark-red eyes scanning Iris' face before he moved her to the side.
"Stay right here. I'll be right back."
Iris watched as he walked over to the barkeep and exchanged words for a moment. Both looked over to her more than once during their conversation before the bouncer came back over, took hold of Iris' bicep and harshly dragged her from the bar. Released at the top of the stairs, Iris stepped back a few paces rubbing her arm before looking back up into unnerving eyes. Those red eyes, the color of dried blood, seared into her for long seconds before he finally spoke again.
"Who the Hell are you and why you lookin' for Brav?"
"I told you why I'm looking for him. What does it matter who I am?" Iris responded, indignant and irritated.
"Because Brav's a VERY Wanted individual. I'm not about to send a Bounty Hunter to his doorstep. Or a Maverick Hunter for that matter.", a deadly smile crept onto his features, "I'll ask again, Who...The...HELL... Are...YOU?"
The tone and inflection of the bouncer's questions told Iris she'd found the Reploid she was looking for. "My name's Iris Callister. I need to talk to you about what happened a week ago when you fought Zero." Iris' voice was on the verge of breaking, but she pushed past it and looked at the one she was almost certain was the last one Zero had clashed with.
That deadly smile transformed once more into a mask of shock as Brav folded his arms across his chest, leaning his weight on his back leg as he looked Iris over again.
"Wow... Both of you came back, huh? As you've obviously figured out, I'm Brav. Let it not be said the Maverick Hunters were lax in their searches. But I don't know what to tell you, cupcake. The long and short is this: Zero kicked my ass and laid me up for a week, after he killed my girl. I just retuned the ass whuppin'. His neon armored buddy came out at the end spouting some shit about 'Omega'..."
Brav was cut off as Iris' hand, completely involuntarily, cracked across his cheek with a hard slap. Stunned, both just stood in silence for a second before Iris found her voice once more.
"Revenge? That's why I lost Zero? So you could satisfy some perverse need for vengeance?"
Before Brav could attempt to explain Iris snapped and lunged at him, a howl of pure anguish tearing from her as she did. Off-guard but on point, Brav easily snatched Iris' wrists and spun her around so her back was pressed against him, wrapping her up in a straightjacket like grapple with her arms acting as restraints.
"Calm down! I got no desire to hurt you. For the record, I didn't mean to bust your boyfriend up THAT bad. How the Hell was I supposed to know he was harboring some mighty destructive entity inside? You have ANY clue about the 'Omega' fairy tales they tell nowadays? It's...a...myth. Omega is a horror story, campfire legend, nightmare fuel..."
"BUT HE'S NOT!" Iris spat as she struggled to free herself from the deceptively strong Maverick. "Omega has been tearing across the globe on his way back HERE. More than a dozen military sites, both Imperium and Armada, have been completely annihilated over the last seven days, and the ONLY being capable of that kind of absolute devastation, no survivors, is Omega Zero."
Suddenly, Iris found herself stumbling forward as Brav released her, barely catching her balance on the nearby banister. Turning back to face him with red-rimmed eyes, Iris squeaked out a final question as her stoic facade shattered.
"If you knew... If you knew he was Zero, why? Knowing his history, knowing what he was, why? I don't believe any being with free will chooses revenge without wanting to die..."
Brav scratched the side of his head and looked away before answering.
"Maybe you're right, sweetheart. Maybe I wanted him to Retire me. Maybe I was hoping he would send me to Vale. I don't know... I DO know this, though: if you're right about Omega, and he's NOT the story we all thought, there isn't much time, is there?" Brav ran a hand across his face, as though wiping away some of this trouble. "Feels like I owe you a favor now, Miss Calister."
The shocked look on Iris' face caused Brav to chuckle loudly.
"Don't look so surprised, gorgeous. If you'd've done a BIT more research, you woulda found I AWOL'd from the Armada not too long ago. Got Imperium AND Nihilist warrants out on my head. Nevertheless, here's what I'm gonna do: go back to your people and tell them you've located an information source here in Neon that's been tracking the 'Omega threat'."
"What, exactly, does that accomplish?" Iris asked, her shock replaced by impatience.
"You keep 'em busy with this." Brav reached into his pocket and produced a data-disk, extending it to Iris. "This is a current regional layout of all Armada installation locations. It also lists each locale's specs, so you can attempt to discern a pattern."
Iris slowly took the disk from Brav, far more confused now then before this encounter started. The Maverick looked at her, head cocked to the side and a slightly smug half grin on his lips, and Iris again found herself reminded of Zero. Mentally shaking away the notion, Iris found her voice once more. "Why?"
Brav shrugged nonchalantly.
"Stop askin' why. I got no definite answer for ya. Like I said, kinda feels like I owe you a favor. The Imperium won't be able to stop this thing if it's as powerful as you say. Neither will the Armada. Just maybe, you and your Hunter buddies can. Because, if Null somehow swings Omega's favor, the whole world could go to shit REAL fast. And I, personally, can't let her win."
Brav looked away, somewhere far off in memories, before slipping his shades back on and plastering a grin back on to his face.
"Now, beat it. Time ain't on your side in this one, Flower Girl. Get that info to your people, and hopefully avert global destruction. My frequency is encrypted on that disk as well. Let's get together again sometime."
Iris was completely dumbfounded as she walked away. 'Was he...flirting with me? Bad form...and, Never.'. Hailing a taxi to Main, Iris studied the data disk in hand. 'Why would a Maverick try to help us? How can I trust this? Do I really have a choice not to?'. Paying her fare at the Main Avenue gate, Iris made her way to the transport she'd used to get here. Speeding off towards Hunter Base she mulled over the little she learned while wandering. Setting the Auto-Cruise and popping the disk into a reader, Iris confirmed the information Brav gave her and deepened that sense of confusion and unease. She pushed it down, however, and opened a comm channel to HQ.
"Iris to Base. I've acquired some information that may be of use. En Route back now."
Brav watched as Iris disappeared in a taxi and chuckled to himself. 'I love leavin' 'em off guard.', he thought as he moved to step back inside. Something in his guts stopped him and told him to check the alley, but that notion immediately told him all he needed to know. With a dejected sigh he turned to face the alleyway.
"Just come out, Roma. If this is gonna happen, let's at least be up front about it."
Andromeda shimmered into existence from the shadows and stepped out to face Brav. From what he could see, aside from the new scar on her cheek, she looked better than when he'd last seen her. 'Guess that's a plus...', he thought as he slipped his hands into his pockets with a slight grin.
"Lemme guess: you're here to drag me back, right?"
"In as many pieces as necessary, yes." Andromeda responded, her whisper-like voice seeming more strained then threatening to Brav's ear. He stepped forward, removing a hand from his pocket palm skyward.
"You don't have to. I can help you."
Andromeda quickly drew her daggers while stepping back.
"I don't need your help, traitor. My mission is clear."
Before Brav could respond, a tight-beam, text only communication appeared in his Eye-HUD that read: 'Kay sabotaged my cloak. Nanites. Monitoring me. Can't detect short-burst. Must fight or else.' Brav sighed, knowing there wasn't much he could do right now as Kay was surely tapped into her Audio/Visual systems. With a resigned shake of his head, Brav lowered his hand.
"Shouldn't have to be this way, especially between friends." Another message: 'Thank you, Brav. End me with Honor.'
Armoring up and filling with an even greater distaste for the Armada, especially Kay, Brav ignited his Longsword and cast an eerie orange glow upon the alley. Andromeda's daggers quickly ignited in blazing yellow energy and she launched forward like a coiled spring into a flurry of movement. Brav easily swatted away the rapid blows from the smaller Andromeda, taking careful notice to keep her on the very outskirts of each of his big swings. They clashed back and forth several times, neither seemingly able to gain the advantage, before Brav created some distance with a counter throw, hurling the assassin down the alley. Brav noted instantly that, although she recovered in the air, Andromeda landed harder than she should've and took much longer to recover. 'Fuckin' Kay... You knew she was too busted up to take me...'.
"This isn't gonna end pretty, Roma. I can tell your not up to spec against me. Just drop the pig-stickers and take off. For your own good." he shouted down the alley.
"You know NOTHING of what's good for me...", she spat, a hot venom behind her words.
Andromeda leapt forward once more, only to be engulfed by an incendiary blast from Brav's Cannon. Encased in flames her cloak burned away to cinders, the fast blaze also scorching her hair and face slightly. Brav stood over her and aimed his Cannon at her chest, letting an overly smug grin cross his features.
"And, poof, no more cloak. We done here?" A message: 'Finish it. Still linked. Please.' Reply: 'Not today.' Charging his Cannon, Brav fired into Andromeda, as she attempted to sweep his feet out, with a devastating E-Mag Burst, wrapping the downed assassin in coursing tendrils of yellow electro-plasmatic energy. If fully charged the weapon was capable of critically damaging or completely destroying a Reploids' delicate internal systems, causing catastrophic permanent systems damage or death. Luckily for Andromeda, this wasn't the first time Brav needed to transport a 'dead' Reploid.
The power of the shot he hit her with was enough to cause a Critical Shutdown but also cause the Primary Life Support to register as 'Deactivated'. If Brav understood nanite tech, if their host dies, they too die. And, at that moment, any scans of Andromeda would say just that. Collecting his limp friend over his shoulder, Brav proceeded down the alley towards the basement doors built into the sidewalk.
'What the Hell am I doing?', he wondered as he slowly descended into the dark confines of the Torque's storage basement and powered down his armor. 'What do I care if ANYONE survives? We all gotta go, right? What's the point of ME stickin' my neck out?'. Brav found himself wrestling with thoughts he'd never happened upon before as he gently laid Andromeda on a couch nestled amid cases of alcohol. "Ah, fuck it...!", he exclaimed as he made his way back upstairs, deciding once more that he'll cross the bridge of 'Why' when it falls on him.
Andromeda opened her eyes and found herself drifting helplessly through a void. She gazed in all directions, searching for any form of life, and was greeted only by vast emptiness. Although unnerving, Andromeda found the quiet seclusion more peaceful then frightening. 'Is this Death?', she thought as she closed her eyes to bask in the infinite silence. 'I never imagined that dying would be so peaceful...'. That thought triggered another: pain. Not in her body HERE, but in her body nonetheless. A pure physical ache emanating from her mid-section.
Andromeda's eyes shot open as a hot, dull pain radiated from her ribs. Sitting up slowly she took in her surroundings. She was in a cellar, some kind of storage for alcohol by the looks of the cases and barrels. Two crates flipped upside-down acted as a small table next to the couch she was currently on. Atop the makeshift table were her daggers, a Quik-Charge pack and a handful of recharges, a week's worth of rations for quick energy conversion and a change of clothes complete with black traveler's cloak.
Activating her sensors as she took up her daggers, Andromeda calmed slightly as her scans revealed her to be alone and she slid her weapons into their place at the small of her back. Running a system scan and finding the nanites gone and most things in working order, she hooked into the Quik-Charge and rifled through the clothes, all of which were grey or black toned, before finding an optical message wafer in the pants pocket as well as a Lightgun and ammo. Examining the pistol quickly before returning it to the table and placing the small, paper-thin device in her palm, Andromeda couldn't help but feel relief when a 7-inch hologram of Brav materialized in her hand.
"Mornin' sleepy.", the pre-recorded Brav started with his signature roguish grin firmly in place. "Sorry for the harsh injection of Insta-Nap, but when you said nanites I only knew of one way to clear 'em out: kill the host. Luckily, this wouldn't be the first time I've needed to do this. Anyway, you're at the Max Torque. I brought you in after our 'scuffle'. The owner and I are friends and he hooked you up with the gear there.' Brav's grin fell away, "I know you won't be around when I show up later, but my offer stands. I know what you're wrestling with right now. Every wire is burning you to 'Obey' and return to the Armada for punishment. If you change your mind, you know how to find me." His smiled returned, albeit somewhat subdued. "Be careful, Roma. Until the next one."
Brav tossed a two finger version of the Imperium salute before the hologram faded and the wafer puffed into a ball of smoke. Dusting her hands off and unhooking from the charging unit, Andromeda closed her eyes with a sigh. Things had gone from simple to inside-out faster then she'd ever thought was possible. Shaking away the situational fear, she quickly changed into the fresh clothes and grabbed the satchel near the crate-table. Even if the nanites were wiped out, her IFF and XID transponders would alert Kay that she hadn't perished and he'd send hellfire down to smite her. And after all Brav and his associate had done, it seemed an injustice to subject them to that.
Loading up the satchel she'd found near the sofa with the provisions Brav had left and locating the doors to the street, Andromeda slipped out of the cellar and into the alley. The sun was high in the sky causing her to pull her hood up, guarding her eyes from the harsh glare. A quick check of the city map showed her the nearest border wall was less then a mile from her position. Her best bet to hide away from Kay was east of the Sandsea Wastes, near Quadrant Three. 'Maybe I can find someone to remove my transponders...', that thought brought up the question of funding, which was something she'd never needed before. 'Perhaps,', she thought, 'I'll find someone to barter with. Although the diversity isn't vast, my skillset has its uses.'.
Adjusting her bag and pulling her hood close, Andromeda set off for parts hidden away, fighting off the burning urge deep inside her to return to the Armada. 'Brav was right about this feeling and it sucks. But, to be free? Pain is of little consequence.' With this thought firmly in mind, Andromeda silently slid away into the nearby shadows, hoping that this uneasy feeling in her mind, and guts, was part of the programming she was disobeying and not an ill omen of things to come.