Mr Colbert was forty-two years old. He had been in the service of the academy for twenty years. He was a mage whose nickname was "Flame Serpent". His hobby… or more accurately, his life was centered around research and invention. He had rushed down to the courtyard once he had seen the object being carried by the dragons from his research laboratory. His curiosity had been set alight.
"You, what's that? Can you explain to me?"Colbert's face shone as he looked at Zero, who was watching the Zero fighter being lowered.
"Ah, I wanted to talk to you about it actually."
"Me?"
Colbert was taken aback. "Why do you need to talk to me about this?"
"This is called an airplane. In my world, they're used to fly in the sky."
"This flies! Wow! Wonderful!"
Colbert started looking at different parts of the zero fighter with a deep interest.
"Could it be that this is the wing! It seems like it can't flap like normal wings! What about this windmill?"
"That's called a propeller. It turns, and pulls the air as it turns. This causes the propulsion."
Eyes wide in amazement, Colbert drew closer to Zero. "I see! When it spins, it causes the power of wind! It's well made, isn't it! Could you fly it for me? Look, my hands are shaking from my curiosity!"
"To turn the propellers, I need gasoline."
"Gasoline? What's that?"
"That what I want to talk to you about. You know the class we had where you showed us that invention of yours?"
"The joyful snake?"
"Yes, you had to burn oil to make it move right?"
"So you need oil? That's a problem that is easily solved!"
"No, oil won't work. We need a better fuel than that. It needs to burn hotter and cleaner than oil. The oil would just gunk up the insides of the fuel system. It has to be gasoline."
"Gasoline? Hm… well there are many different types of oil."
Zero suddenly realized the dragoons were grinning broadly at them. Guiche whispered in Zero's ear.
"Sorry if you are busy, but if you don't pay the transportation fee…"
Zero smiled at Colbert. "Mr. Colbert, could you possibly pay the transportation fee for the time being?"
***Break***
Colbert's laboratory was situated in a small area between the central tower and the fire tower. It was much like an old dugout shed.
"At first I conducted experiments in my own room, but noise and bad smells come naturally with research. I was complained to by the people next to me shortly afterward. You'll get used to the smell soon. A woman however wouldn't, which is the reason why I'm single."
Colbert sat down while muttering answers to questions he wasn't being asked. He sniffed the gasoline he had gotten from the bottom of the zero fighter's fuel tank. Since a permanence spell was placed on the Zero fighter, the gasoline had not undergone any change in chemical composition.
"Hm… It's a smell I've never smelt before. Giving off such a smell without even being heated… This must be quite easy to burn. If this were to be used as an explosive, it would be of alarming strength."
"Not compared to what I've seen. Its a decent fuel but there are far better explosives out there."
Colbert reached for a piece of parchment near him and started jotting down notes as he shook his head at that disturbing thought.
"If I duplicate this oil, that 'airplane' will fly?"
"Yeah. All systems are green aside from the fuel."
"Interesting! Concocting substances is tough work but I'll try it! Once you get the understanding down and do it once, it gets much easier though!"
Muttering to himself, he took out all sorts of substances and lit his alcohol lamp.
"Zero, you say you're not from this world, right?"
Zero nodded.
"You said in your home town, these could be seen flying everywhere? The technology of the lands that you are from must be completely different. Oh how I wish i could see it. The amazing things that technology can bring!" Colbert's hand suddenly stopped as he realized something. "So, we essentially took you from your home. It wasn't just your family, but the very world that we stole you from?" Colbert had a pained look on his face.
"Its fine. Its not like I mind. I was going to die if I hadn't been summoned."
"Die you say?" The older man looked at the armored individual in front of him,"Did something happen?"
"Well, its a bit of a story, but if you want I could explain it. Are you teaching any classes tomorrow? It will take most of the night, even glossing over unimportant details" Zero said as he looked at the older professor..
"Not a one. So I'd like to hear it."
"Well, it all started with me waking up after a long sleep. You see, there was a scientist named Ciel..." Zero started.
***Break***
It was late at night. Colbert had been working off and on with some of the sketches Zero had improved for him after he had used the Zero's engine as a starting point. It was hard to believe. A space station? High up in the air, able to destroy whole cities with a single blast of power. A destroyed world, and the protection of the little nature that was left. The young man in front of him had fought so many battles. While he was much older than Mr. Colbert, the older man reasoned that Zero had simply "slept" when not in use preventing him from aging. This would explain why he was so young. But to be used as such a weapon, and to still keep his underlaying gentle nature... Colbert personally knew many people who had been destroyed by battles far less large or hard fought than the ones the boy had endured.
"I see. So that's why you're the way you are. That time you had pointed that weapon of yours at Mott... You were really going to kill the Count, weren't you? No second thoughts about it?
"Yes. I was," Zero responded with a somewhat chilling indifference.
"Ending a life is something never to be taken lightly, Zero."
"You're wrong. Ending a life is just a simple action. If required, I will kill to protect the people I feel are worth protecting. If people didn't wish to harm others I wouldn't have to kill them. Its not like I enjoy killing... But there are times when it has to be done."
"So, you don't enjoy killing then? You simply view it as a course of action?"
"That's right." Zero replied with a curt nod.
"So if Louise or even the princess asked you to kill someone, would you?" Mr. Colbert asked.
"Who knows. It all depends really. If it is those bastards in Albion, without a doubt. Other than that I'd need a good reason. Killing shouldn't be the first option, but it also shouldn't be off the table altogether. I mean, I gave Fouquet a very real warning. She was endangering a lot of people with her earth golem. I told her to leave or I'd kill her. She forced my hand. Her death was on her own hands. She had the choice to leave."
"I like you more and more Zero. You're intelligent, but at the same time you've fought and have been the focal point of so many battles. But even through it all, you don't dwell on it. You simply try and make things right. " he said, laughing ruefully.
"You're a strange person aren't you, Mr Colbert?"
"I get called strange by many people. I haven't even found someone willing to marry me yet. But I have a belief."
"A belief?"
"Yes. The nobles of Halkeginia treat magic as a mere tool… Like a broom, they only see it as a handy tool. I don't think magic is something like that. Magic could be used for so much more. Instead of simply sticking to the traditional uses of the different branches of magic, we should be experimenting to find different ways to utilize it."
Zero nodded. People tended to stick with what made them comfortable if possible. He had to admit, that even he was guilty of that
"After seeing you, my belief has grown stronger. Who would have thought there was another world that was so amazing! This shows that the rules of Halkeginia are not absolute! Interesting! Such an interesting topic! I want to see this world. There are probably lots of new things to be discovered! It'll probably add a level to my research! If you have any questions at all, just come and talk with me. Colbert the Flame Serpent will always help you."
**Break***
In the Austri courtyard, Zero was sitting in the cockpit of the Zero fighter and inspecting its parts. When he grasped the control stick, or even if he merely touched a switch, the runes on his left hand shone. Information would then flow to his brain, and tell him the condition of the part. When he moved the control stick, the ailerons of the wings and the elevator on the tail moved with a clank. The tail rudder moved when he stepped on the rudder bar and a cross shaped pointer appeared on the glass pane when he pushed the sight device switch on the instrument board. The engines on either side of the body of the plane were still alive. The shining Gandalfr runes told its user quite a bit. A smile appeared on Zero's face.
"Partner, can this fly?"
"Oh, yeah. God, how long has it been since I've piloted anything?" Zero asked aloud. He had been one of the few maverick hunters that was actually a pilot. While he was at home fighting on the ground, flying had a charm all its own.
"Something like this flying… Your world is a strange one."
Numerous students were watching Zero in the Zero fighter, but they quickly lost interest and left. There are only a few nobles who would be interested in this, like Colbert, Zero thought. He laughed at how short sighted they were. Suddenly a girl appeared, proudly brushing her pinkish blond hair with her hand. Louise stared at Zero and the thing he was in. As if she were angry, she pointed her finger at it and asked, "What's that?"
Zero raised his head from the cockpit and simply replied, "An airplane." His head went out of view a moment after that.
"Come down from that airplane thing, then." Ordered Louise, pouting her lips while placing her hands on her hips. He ignored her and continued inspecting the parts of the Zero fighter. Louise grasped the end of a wing and started to make the Zero fighter wobble. "I said come down, didn't I?"
"Please don't do that. Doing my -1 is annoying enough without having to wobble", called Zero as he continued his work despite Louise's attempt to distract him.
"Where did you go?"
"Treasure hunting." Zero said as he pulled out a few of the gauges, checking the plugs on the back for security and condition. No corrosion, no fraying at all. Alright, magic had some things to be said for it, Zero thought.
"What were you thinking, going without telling your master?" Louise crossed her arms and stared at Zero.
"Didn't you fire me? That technically means I don't have a master" Zero flippantly replied, as he checked the boot of the aircraft's control stick. It would be a pain to have to check for foreign objects in the flight control cables. Thankfully it was tied with a cord, and secured tightly.
Louise cast her eyes downwards and spoke with a voice as if she were about to cry. "I suppose you deserve a chance to explain yourself. If you have anything you want to say, then say it now."
"What is there to explain? I didn't do anything. This is about Siesta right? I had simply tried to stop her as she was taking her clothes off. Apparently I'm the one she's chosen for a husband. Of all the foolish things." Zero laughed, his feet comically sticking up out of the cockpit as he inspected the rudder bar.
"Then, nothing really happened?"
"Nothing. Why were you so angry? That was the first time she came to the room. As if I would do anything like that. Besides, as long as it didn't effect my responsibilities as a familiar, I'm not sure why it would matter to you," Said Zero.
"It's none of my business, but in some ways it is."
"Which one is it? You're not making any sense," Zero said, as his head popped back up from the cockpit. Louise had to struggle not to laugh at the ridiculous positions he was taking while talking normally like that.
She walked up to the cockpit,"Hey, apologize. You disappeared and made me so worried. I thought you weren't ever going to come back!" she shouted, tears in her eyes. He'd been talking to her, but she'd expected him to at least feel sorry for her. She knew that she looked like she had been crying. This would require drastic measures. She drew out the deadly technique she had been saving. It was a girl's secret technique, which would sweep away any suspicion, anger, contradiction, and even the fact that Louise drove Zero out. She burst into tears."Where did you go all this time! Idiot! I hate you!" Sniffling, she wiped the streaming tears with the back of her hand.
"Don't cry. You're the one who sent me away. I figured you'd be more upset that I didn't die in a ditch. Besides, that whole crying thing isn't going to work on me. This whole mess is your fault. I tried to explain." Zero said, nodding to himself as he finally jumped out of the cockpit.
"I hate you! I hate you!"
"Yeah, yeah. You say that a lot, and its really making me tired of it. I think I'll go talk to Mr. Colbert about becoming his assistant after this. I'm sure room and pay would be decent." He said, kneeling to get under the aircraft's wing, but a pair of hands grabbing his stopped him.
"Why do you keep doing things on your own? Don't you understand? How can you treat me so coldly! Why can't you understand that!" she asked. "You're the only one. The only one... You're the only person to believe in me. The only person to care about me! The only person to encourage me! And then you go off and do things on your own! What about me?" She shouted at him, becoming near hysteric as she pulled his arm with every sentence she said.
"Alright, I get it. I think. I'm sorry I left," Zero said gently as he put his free hand on her head. He had so resolved not to be effected by her tears. Perhaps Colbert and Osmand had been right about female mages.
Kirche approached them, holding a mop and a dust cloth in her hands. Because they had skipped lessons, their punishment was to wipe the academy's windows clean. As Zero was neither a noble nor a student at the academy, he didn't have to do anything.
Guiche looked at Zero, who was comforting Louise, and grinned. "You can't just make your master cry like that."
Kirche said dully, "Made up already? That's no fun…"
Tabitha simply pointed at the two and said, "After the rain comes fair weather."
***Break***
That night…
Louise lay in her bed, tightly grasping her pillow. She had asked Zero to change out of his armor. Once he'd switched to the clothing he wore at the ball, she got a good look at him again. She blushed and frantically pretended to read a book. Zero looked around the room which he had been away from for a week or so. Tableware was scattered everywhere. So she'd likely not left the room at all...
"So you've been absent from lessons?"
Montmorency had mentioned it when they passed by her in the corridor. Montmorency told Louise that she had been absent for too long and that she'd do better not to come back since It was a wasted effort after all. Louise just ignored her and walked off.
Louise glared at Zero, slightly taken aback."So what?"
"Are you feeling ok?" asked Zero, who seemed to be worried.
She was about to say "Whose fault do you think it was that I have been skipping lessons?" but her pride got the better of her. Putting the blanket over her head, she snuggled under it.
Zero scratched his head and looked at her. He sighed and sat in his usual spot against the wall, closing his eyes.
***Break***
"Wake up Louise, time for you to go to class." Zero said as he shook the little girl.
"Zero?" Louise said, sounding somewhat surprised.
"Yeah. Time to get up."
"Ok!" she said, she seemed almost excited. "We'll go to class today, but before that we'll go to breakfast. I've been thinking. You can sit at the table. Its just not fair to treat you like a dog!"
"I can go to breakfast," Zero said slowly. He really didn't want to start an argument in the morning,"But Mr. Colbert said that Osmand wanted to see me this morning. It seemed kind of important,"
"Oh," Louise replied. "But you'll come to breakfast?"
"Yeah, sure. I could probably eat," Zero said. At least she hadn't gotten annoyed. She'd been really emotional
"Alright, I'll get changed, you wait outside for me, ok? And don't put your armor back on!"
"Wait, what? Why not? I feel like an idiot when I wear this get up." Zero protested.
"What you feel is completely insignificant in this case. You look far more presentable and respectable in that."
"Its not as durable as my armor though..."
"It doesn't take you long to change. I remember what you did on the airship. And you look more like a normal person this way. You need to remember that you're not just a fighter. You're also Zero," Louise said, although she didn't mention it the simple, sleek, slightly shiny material made him look regal with his posture and natural composure. Without his helmet binding his hair, it also flowed behind him more naturally. All in all, it made him one of the most attractive men in the school.
"Whatever you say." Zero said, trying to keep the peace, since she was only trying to help.
***Break***
"So what did you want to see me for?" Zero asked as the head master stared out the window, absently smoking his pipe.
"Zero, Mr. Colbert has said that you have a great deal of knowledge about things we do not," he said slowly.
"Yeah, well its nothing special really."
"I wonder... You seem to have knowledge of all the unusual things that you find in this world, beyond even what the runes show you." A few more trails of smoke come from the old man, who seems to be pondering something. "Zero, roughly forty years ago, a large explosion of light was emitted from a series of caves to the south of here. Myself, and a few others were sent to investigate."
"What did you find," Zero prompted, when the old man said nothing.
"It was one of the most unusual things I've ever seen. In one of the deeper caves, part of it seemed to be converted into a room. But somehow, it bled into the cave. The room seemed incomplete. It was almost as if the room had been torn from where it was, leaving what was left of the room in the cave. At first, we suspected that someone had been experimenting, and that they and the other part of the room had been destroyed. But with everything that's been happening... I"m beginning to think that it might be from your world."
"A room? Describe it to me," Zero said, curious as to what new weapon would greet him now.
"Well, there are a great many boxed windows. Its unusual, because there are a few of them, but they are all black. There is a large amount of metal used, but besides that there is some materials that we can't identify. They're fairly hard, but very light. There are also two large glass tubes. There appeared to be someone inside of each of them, but we couldn't get them to open. And our water mage said that they weren't alive, but that they weren't decomposing. We didn't want to damage them, so we left them be."
"Where is this cave, I need to get there!" Zero shouted as he surged forward.
"Oh, we didn't leave it in the cave. We thought it might be dangerous since it had caused half the room to simply stop existing. We had five of our strongest square earth mages, and we moved the room to an area beneath the academy, and put a permanence spell on it. Some of the people on that mission have tried to figure out its secrets but we've had no luck so far," the old man said, a sly smile on his face.
"If its what I think it is..." Zero said, then halted. "Osmand, how many people know about this?"
"None who are still living, aside from myself and Mr. Colbert," he said, with a shake of his head. "Aside from those who worked on getting it here, and discovering it, nobody else had been allowed to see it. It was the previous headmaster's order. I only let Mr. Colbert know about it because I trust him."
"Can you take me and Colbert down there as soon as I get him? I might need a hand. And he's probably the only person who can deal with what's going to be down there without arguing with me about how things work," Zero said, an edge of excitement in his voice.
"Of course. Colbert doesn't really have too many classes anymore. He's far more valuable as a researcher, and our students just don't have the drive to learn that they should. Consider him at your disposal for now,"
"Thanks old man. You won't regret it,"
***Break***
Colbert looked at Zero as he wandered the room. He'd found something earlier that seemed to excite him, and he was walking around the looking at things, and going to a metal panel and hitting switches. Every once in a while, he'd take an odd looking pen that he found in a desk, and would mark a large wire with a piece of paper he colored red. As Colbert looked at the room, It literally looked like it had been sheared in half. He wondered just what this place was for. Zero had called it a Lab when he came in here, but it barely resembled his at all. "Zero, what are you looking for."
"Lose wires. I found the generator and the junction box. I don't wanna give power to anything that can be cut off. No need to waste power. Not to mention if someone gets too close to an exposed line they'll probably fry." he said, looking directly at Colbert.
"I see... Sounds dangerous," Colbert responded.
"Its not really supposed to be. The connected wires should be well, connected. They should be completely coated, and complete a circuit. There is no danger to em in that form. Only when they're exposed like they are now."
"Ah. I suppose it wasn't designed to work with half of it missing, I suppose,"
"Yeah. I'm probably one of the few things designed that way," he said absently as he finished tracing the last of the wires. He walked over to the generator panel, and said loudly "Okay, power's coming on! Stay away from the wires I marked with red. They're live and we don't have any covers for them." Lights came on, and the sound of computers booting up could be heard.
"What is this?" Colbert asked, shocked at the sudden light and sounds.
"This is electricity. The generator makes it, and it powers everything in the lab. I'm probably going to have to impose on you to make some more fuel for this later. Its full now, but no need to use it all up. It seems to be a bio-fuel though, so it should be fairly simple to make, since it should just be broken down plants or something."
"How interesting!" Colbert said, his eyes shining as he saw many of the windows come to life. "What is with those windowed boxes. why are they making light like that?"
"They're not windows. They're monitors. They are used with a computer, which is something that is used to store information, run programs and simulations, to show you what the computer is doing."
"I see... So how do you use it?"
"You see these plastic panels with these buttons on it?" Zero said pointing to a keyboard.
"Plastic?"
"Yes, its what its made out of. Non conductive, very good for electrical equipment.
"I see..."
Zero sat at the main station and started tapping in commands. "Hmm. No security. I wonder why,"
"Security?"
"Yes, to prevent unauthorized or unwanted access to their information people would put security programs or passwords on thier computers. This one is lacking that."
"I see. So its nothing important then?"Colbert said, obviously disappointed. Everything here was completely alien. He was hoping that Zero would make another great discovery like the Zero fighter.
"Oh god no. If what I'm reading here is right... This would be the lab of the late Dr. Light. Or half of it anyhow." Zero read through the files. as he skimmed through the files, he saw a few journal entries that had been put in before the system had shut down. He opened one of the latest ones.
"Rock has been having more trouble lately. I should have foreseen this. I thought I'd fixed the problems with his power core with the improvements from Blue's core. But that was for a normal robot. An assistant for my lab. My improvements to make him a combat specialist, have done great damage to him. A large deal of his files are damaged, and his hardware has been failing at an alarming rate with the fluctuation of power from his core. I've been working on him. Thankfully, while his sister has shown some of the same issues, she hasn't been used in combat more than a handful of times. Her core files are undamaged. Rock was glad for that. He seemed to be more worried that his sister would die than he himself. I've already created four capsules for them, one for their next generation body, and one for their current one. I'm having doubts about my ability to move Rock's files into the new body. And with his current body failing no matter what I do to repair it... I will find a way. A father should not outlive his children! I won't fail another of my sons!"
As Zero read that entry, he couldn't help but stare. This was the creator of X. He tabbed down and opened the next entry.
"Rock destroyed the two capsules I had made for him today. He refused to be transferred. He saw the specifications on the body, and knew what it was capable of. It was fairly similar to the new model, X that I created. While not the same, it would have given him the ability to truly make his own choices. But then, he seems to have that now. With his corrupted files, he was more afraid that something would happen during the exchange to make him lose control. Rather than risk hurting someone... He destroyed the only chance that he had at life. He has continued to work on Roll's capsule with me though. I'm so proud of him, but I can't help but be sad. He's fought so hard to protect robots and people alike. And now, because he's concerned with his own stability, he has chosen to fade away. I can't help but think that this world doesn't deserve a hero like him..."
The entry was quite telling. Dr. Light had viewed his creations as his children from the start. Whoever this Rock and Roll were, they were important to him. He didn't call them robots. They were his children. He scrolled down through a few more Journal entries, then read the last one.
"This is likely to be my last entry. I've left my remaining children in the care of those who come after me. They are a new breed of robot. They can think, and feel. They can even evolve. I've removed the securities from my computer. Hopefully whoever finds this can wake up my Son, X, and his sister Roll. As their father, all I can ask, is that whoever is reading this... Please take care of them. The program required to wake them up, is under the file , named in honor of my first beloved son who gave his life to ensure that his siblings would live on."
Zero's eyes widened. X had a brother and a sister. X and he hadn't been the only two of their kind... There was a third! His eyes watched the screen intently, as his fingers played across the keyboard. Power was good, diagnostics were running. Green. Program download, 81%. Operation had been halted before power had been lost. File was opened and running.
"So, are you going to wake my sister up?" a voice said from nowhere in particular.
Colbert looked startled by the bodiless voice. The unfamiliar language didn't help that either.
"Yeah. You'd be Rock I take it?" Zero asked politely in Japanese.
"I am. You're a robot master made by Wily, aren't you?"
"What's going on Zero? What did it say? What are you saying?"
Zero looked at him, then said in the native french dialect. "Rock, you able to talk in french? We got a guest here who doesn't know our language,"
"Understood," responded the voice. "Still. A creation of Wily trying to wake up my sister. Why?"
"Because. She's been sleeping long enough. She has the right to the same chance X had."
"X? What happened to him? My program was shut down during an earthquake. I lost power, and the back-up generator failed to turn on automatically. His capsule is no longer connected to my network."
"Its been quite a while. X... Is dead. He sacrificed himself to save the world. Our world anyhow." Zero said, looking away.
"Hmm. I suppose you're like him then, with the ability to make choices and decisions for yourself?"
"I am."
"I'm glad. You don't seem like Wily at all. Will you take care of my sister?"
"I'll do my best,"
"Thank you. Initiating Start up procedure. You will need to activate the capsule manually and open it once memory upload equals 100%. Understood?"
"Got it..." He walked over to the capsule and hit a few buttons on the lower panel, which followed with the capsule humming to life. He wondered momentarily why there was a rather large metal broom behind the capsule. As he looked into the Capsule, he noticed that Roll didn't have the massive amount of armor that he or X had. She was wearing a simple but elegant red dress with a pair of sturdy looking metallic boots. Her long blond hair framed her face, giving her an almost angelic visage.
"Zero, just what is happening? What are you doing? And who is this Wily?" Mr. Colbert asked.
"I'm waking up the girl in the capsule"
"Which one,"
"There is only one Colbert. I'll have to explain later. As always, its complicated. This is going to require my full attention." Zero said, as he continued working on the capsule, and waiting for the go ahead from Rock.
***Break***
Everything was dark. She heard talking. She registered the language. French? Why would people be speaking french. It was a language used in only a small part of the world comparatively, and not really at all in this country. As she listened, she heard one word that brought a feeling of dread into her. "Wily." Had she been stolen by Wily or someone working for him? She felt her body becoming lighter. Her eyes opened, and through the glass of the capsule, she saw a young man in a dark black dress suit. It was him. Something about him screamed to her of danger. She watched him working the controls for the capsules. The room around him looked like the lab. Hopefully her broom was where she had left it...
"Download completed. Release capsule when ready," Rock said.
"Got it." Zero said, opening the capsule. He wasn't really sure what to expect. But to have the girl who had been standing so calmly in the capsule roll backwards grab the metal broom and smack him in the face with it was not anywhere in the top thousand likely things he had expected. He laid on the ground for a few moments.
"What did you do! Where is Dr. Light? You're a wilybot aren't you?" the pseudo teenage girl demanded.
"Ya know. While that hurt, I have to say that being completely owned by a broom hurt my pride even more. Rock, can ya give me a hand here?" Zero said as he stood up.
Laughter followed from the speakers,"Roll, that was the best! I can't believe you adapted to your new body so well already!"
"Rock, is that you?" She asked, shocked.
"Well of course. Dr. Light and I came to a compromise. I would become the program to protect and wake you up, since I felt that I was too much a danger to be given a body like you and X."
"Rock!" the girl said, as she stared at his portrait that was now taking up one of the monitors.
Mr. Colbert walked up to Zero slowly,"Do you know what's going on?"
"Well, my creator was... Less than an upstanding citizen. While I can kind of understand being attacked because of that... A broom? Seriously? The worst part is... It hit!" Zero said. He seemed to be struggling not to laugh.
"It did indeed hit. You were thrown fairly far... A fearsome warrior indeed." Colbert said chuckling at Zero. He looked at the excited girl in front of the monitor. She looked so harmless and happy talking with her... brother? Colbert didn't really understand it fully, but apparently her brother didn't have a body... He looked at Zero who was smiling as he watched the two talking.
Roll turned to Zero, and walked up to him, bowing. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you were working with Rock. I only heard one of you mention Wily... and there wasn't anyone I knew around..."
"Its alright. You got a nice arm there. Makes me wish I'd worn my armor rather than than this silly suit." he said.
"Oh, you have armor?" She asked.
"Yeah. Same as your baseline specs allow. Internal energy storage."
"Oh...Yeah..." She said,"Its going to take some getting used to in this body..." her eyes blanked for a moment.
"Its fine. I'll help as I can. As long as you don't hit me with your broom again," Zero said, an amused grin on his face.
***Break***
Colbert followed Zero and the girl Roll up the stairs. He'd insisted that she go to meet the headmaster. This seemed so odd. His whole world view was entirely shaken. So Zero was like this girl? He had seen the sealed girl before. But he dared not break the capsules. He was thankful that nobody had tampered with them. She seemed so innocent. But she'd managed to move fast enough to floor Zero with her broom. Even if he treated it more as a joke than anything. As they walked in front of him, he heard them conversing, sometimes dropping into that odd Dialect. He heard X come up multiple times. That was the younger brother of this Roll right? Zero had said he was dead... It seemed like Zero was giving her a brief history of what had happened to him since he had arrived in this world.
"Wait, so when you first got here, she treated you like some kind of slave?" she stopped, as she shouted at Zero.
"She tried to. It was rather funny though. I broke her of that habit pretty quickly. For the most part. Second day here, I jumped out of a window from the third story. Just to prove how common I was. The attitudes here tend to get to me at times." Zero said, laughing as he remembered the looks he had received from the class after doing that.
"Well she'd better not try that with me around. We may not be human, but that doesn't matter." Roll sounded angry. Apparently being treated like an object was new for her.
"So Dr. Light treated you as his daughter then?" Zero asked.
"Well, of course. I had my chores. But I also had a dream too." Roll said.
"What dream was that?"
"I wanted to be a doctor. To help people. Dr. Light gave me a lot of medical journals and information. He helped me and supported me the whole time. Unfortunately, robots weren't allowed to practice... But that never stopped him. He said that someday they'd get over that prejudice. That I would be allowed to use my skills to help others."
"Ah, well. I doubt they even have modern medicine here. So you could not only be a doctor, but you could probably become the most influential person in the field of medicine this world has ever seen! Although the people here won't understand if you say that you're not human. Best to just leave that out except for the few people who know about us."
"Its hard to believe though. You say this is really another world?" Roll said, doubtful.
"You saw it yourself. I can't think of anything that would transport a whole portion of a room like that. The room's remains weren't even damaged. Although the moons are the biggest change."
"Moons? As in more than one?" Roll asked curiously. When Zero nodded, she sighed. "At least Rock came with us. I still wish that he let Dr. Light make a new body for him."
"Yeah. I don't think he would have gone out of control. He reminds me a lot of your younger brother X. I definitely see where X got his attitude from."
"So you really knew him well?"
"Of course. he was my partner for over two-hundred years. He's the only person I trusted the world to. Hilariously enough, he entrusted it back to me. I've never been half the hero he was though. Perhaps its because I was built for combat."
"Well, even if we're not in our world anymore... At least we're not alone right? I don't know if i could handle that," she said quietly. If she had lost her entire family, what would she have done? She couldn't honestly say. Everything seemed a little clearer, and sharper. The pain at the state Rock was in now hurt her. Her feelings seemed so much deeper now.
"Don't worry. You're not alone, plus the head master of the academy isn't a bad guy. A little odd. Don't let his hands near you though. I'd have to break his arm if he touched X's little sister like that. Or older sister," Zero said. He knew that was going to get annoying.
"I don't think he'd do that Zero," Colbert said, knowing the headmaster's habits. At least, he hoped he wouldn't do it. As they reached the top of the stairs, Colbert knocked on the office door. It opened up silently.
"Ah, Colbert did you and Zero find anything interesting..." The old man trailed off as he saw one of the sealed girls standing in front of him. "You unsealed her?" he asked, completely mystified.
"She wasn't sealed. She just needed someone to wake her up," Zero said. He was not going to get into the specifics. Even Colbert was having a hard time even comprehending the thought of a robot, yet alone the actual specifics.
"I see. I'm glad." He turned to the girl,"So how was your sleep?"
"I suppose it was good. Apparently I was sleeping for a very long time... " she said.
"Ah. Well. Its good to see you awake. I had mourned that such a young girl was fated to sleep forever. Whatever happened to the other girl who was sleeping?" When Mr. Colbert and Zero looked at each other, he nodded. "She's not going to wake up, is she?" he asked sadly. The girl had appeared no older than twelve...
"Ah... Well. You see, sir... That was me..." Roll said as she saw the pained look on the old man's face.
"What?"
"Zero, is he one of the ones who knows?" Roll asked Zero in Japanese.
"Yeah, mostly. he doesn't know exactly. But close enough."
"That was my old body... It had problems with it, so my father created my new body." She said proudly. "He was a little odd sometimes, and I could never keep him from smoking his pipe... But he cared enough about me to build me... And then, to give me a new body when mine was failing..."
"You... Make it sound like you're a golem of some kind," The headmaster said slowly.
"No." Zero said simply. "We're nothing like a golem. Consider us artificial life forms. Built by humans. While human hands made us, our capabilities are anything but."
"I see... So... You're not as young as I've always assumed. Are you Zero?"
"Not even close ,"
"How old are you?"
"About Three hundred and fifty,"
"I see... You're an old man... And you call me 'old man'!" the headmaster laughed at that.
"Well, its all in your actions I suppose. I wear my years better than you," Zero said with a cocky grin.
"That you do my boy. That you do. So, what is it that you came up for. While showing off this beautiful young girl is all fine and good, you're like an open book. You want something from me,"
"You may be younger than me, but you're more perceptive... I want you to take her on as a staff member," Zero stated simply.
"Can she use magic?"
"Nope. But she's studied medicine."
"I see... what's so special about that? We have water mages..."
"Its simple. She has medical knowledge on the human body that is literally hundreds of years ahead of your own. She probably can diagnose illnesses and use treatments that nobody here would even think of. Just think of how many people could help with the knowledge she has."
"Ah. That would be remarkable...So the world you're from is that much more advanced than our own?"
"Old man, you do realize that the world I'm from made something like she and I... Without magic. And that was three hundred and fifty years ago."
"Hmm. It might not be our magic, but it seems to be a magic of its own..."
"There is a saying in my world. Technology when advanced enough is indistinguishable from magic. The reason we seem magical is that we're far beyond your comprehension."
"That's a little deflating," the headmaster responded ,"Although likely true. I suppose. You and the girl both merit positions. Unfortunately i can't give you noble positions, but I can make you both assistants to Colbert."
"Sir, really? Zero and Roll both seem to know far more than I do. It would seem an injustice..." Mr. Colbert protested.
"Its alright Mr. Colbert. That's just it on paper. Plus if the girl needs anything made you can help her with that. Hopefully you're not like any of those barbaric eastern doctors who don't use magic. They'll actually cut you open," The old man shivered at that.
"Actually sir... Surgery is a cornerstone to medicine." Roll responded. With an almost strict air about her, she continued,"With enough advances you can actually go in and reinforce or remove things. One such use is an assist to the heart called a pacemaker, which is used in the case of someone having heart troubles. This allows electrical pulses to be used to regulate the heart. Well, its a little bit more advanced than that... But you also have the ability to remove cancerous growths that are found early enough can save a patient's life. You can also reattach ligaments, or insert pins or screws into weakened or shattered bones. Most cases don't have it as a first solution, but in cases like appendicitis, you have an extra organ that humans don't even use anymore. It often becomes inflamed, and when it does, it eventually bursts. The shock and contaminants from the ruptured organ normally means death for the patient. Its actually fairly easy to diagnose... And remove. But without removal you'd doom your patient to a painful death..."
"I... see." Old Osmand looked at the girl in front of him. While she seemed no more than sixteen years old, she talked with the surety of a professional. "Can't say that I enjoy the thought of being cut open..."
"Nobody does. Especially the people who have to do it. But when you have a choice between saving someone's life... And letting them die, what would you do?" She asked in a reasonable and gentle voice.
"Put like that..." The old man looked at the seemingly young girl and shook his head. Well, at least he didn't have to worry about today being boring.
"Anyhow, we should probably go. Louise is probably going crazy looking for me. How do we go about getting Roll a room?"
"I'll have Mr. Colbert get her a room and a key. Just stay with her until he finds you. Is that alright with you, Mr. Colbert?" Osmand said, as he took out his pipe.
"Ah, its no problem. I'll see to it immediately,"
"Sir, you know that smoking leads to a great many physical defects,right? As a matter of fact, you can really see the difference after some strenuous activities for smokers. They'll often cough up blood if they've been doing it for years. Its really quite unpleasant. And if it gets bad enough, I've known of people who've had one of their lungs removed because of the cancerous growths that it causes." Roll said,
"Ah... Another one of those hmm?" He sighed regretfully as he put his pipe back into his desk.
"Well, lets get going Roll. Have a good night old man," Zero said, a grin on his face at the chagrined look the headmaster sent at him. He wasn't sure if it was the pipe or the reference to his age, but that didn't matter. It was still funny.
***Break***
"So. What exactly are we supposed to do now?" Roll asked Zero.
"Well, you see I have to find Louise so that she doesn't complain. Aside from that we can probably get some food."
"Oh. Yes. I can eat now, can't I?" Roll asked Zero.
"Yeah. X absolutely loved it. The food here is actually really good. Its not efficient energy, but its definitely fun sometimes," Zero said.
"I see you've picked up yet another girl. I wonder just how many you'll end up stringing along," Guiche said from behind him. As he bowed to Roll rose in hand he asked,"May I have the pleasure of your name?"
"My name is Roll," She responded.
"Surely such a noble beauty such as yourself wouldn't leave me with just that?" Guiche responded. "Although you shouldn't be seen with Zero here. He has quite the reputation as a ladies man"
"I suppose, Roll Light is my full name. But I've never had to use that before," she said after a moment. "Wait, you're one of those 'nobles'?"
"One of those nobles?" Guiche looked at her oddly for a moment. "You're speaking like..."
"Speaking like what?" she asked.
"Ah, nothing. nothing. Well Zero, I'll be headed to dinner. You might want to find Louise soon. She was rather angry that you didn't show up for lunch,"
"Great. Just what I need. Thanks for the warning Guiche. Come on Roll. She'll probably be at the dining hall now,"
"Well, its was nice to meet you Guiche." Roll said, as she walked after Zero. "He was a little ridiculous. But what's this about you being a ladies man?"
"I have no idea. I've got three girls after me. None of them seem to be able to get that I'm not human. Two of them are very forward at times. the other is...She has issues. I'll leave it at that," he shook his head.
"Well..." She said as she looked at Zero,"You are handsome. And that suit really sets you apart. Its simple, compared to what Guiche was wearing... But its also more tasteful. Have you tried dressing down?" She had to wonder. Did Wily intentionally make his robots to be handsome? First Bass, and now Zero...
"Normally i just wear my armor. Its the easiest thing to wear. But Louise demanded I wear my normal closes more often. And these are my normal clothes." Zero laughed.
"Ah. I can see the problem with that. Well, they'll figure it out eventually," she laughed as she noticed he was actually blushing.
"Yeah yeah, laugh it up. You're beautiful too ya know. I wouldn't doubt if Guiche is the last to try and flirt with you. At least you got me to keep em away." Zero laughed.
"Yeah..." She responded silently. Beautiful? She'd known she was cute before. All the neighbors had always told her that she was cute, or precious. But beautiful? Was that what this new body was? ***Break***
Louise was standing, glaring at the entrance to the dining hall. Where was that familiar? She had been waiting here for him for twenty minutes. She'd even gone to look for him earlier. He was nowhere to be found. Even the maid said she hadn't seen him. Although she didn't know if she could trust her. The sound of laughter coming closer drew her attention. That sounded like Zero! Turning around, a smile on her face, she saw Zero walking next to a beautiful girl, who's long blond hair framed her body. Her red dress showed that she beat Louise in a number of assets. As they walked together, Zero said something, and she laughed again, her arm touching his. "So that's what he's been doing! Help the head master huh!" she said to herself, her fists clenching, stomping towards the laughing pair. She yelled at Zero,"Where have you been! And who is this? Have you been wagging your tail at another girl! Well, you stupid dog!"
Zero turned to look at her, the smile leaving his face. He sighed,"Roll, meet Louise. She's my very, very volatile summoner. Louise, meet Roll she's"
Louise interrupted Zero after he said the new girl's name."Y-y-you, you know that he's my familiar! He promised to protect me. He's even held me! So you don't have any chance with him!"
"Really?" Roll responded to the girl."So you like him, then?" She asked innocently.
"O-of course not! He's just my familiar!" Louise said, her face turning red.
"Then he's a possession?" Roll asked.
Louise looked at the girl. Didn't she know what a familiar was? Of course they weren't a possession. Well, they sort of qualified as that. They were bound to serve the person who summoned them for the rest of their life... But she knew Zero would be angry if she said that. "No... its not that," Louise said carefully.
"Then what is it like, I don't understand the ways of this world yet, sadly," Roll said, sounding very similar to what Zero had when he got to this place.
"This... world? You're... Are you from the same place Zero is?" Louise asked, cautiously.
"Yes, you could say that. I'm Roll Light. Its nice to meet you," She said, bowing to Louise slightly.
"Ah, so you're a commoner then?" Louise asked.
"I'm anything but common. Zero should have shown you that... At least with what he's told me you should have realized that," she said, that same gentle smile on her face.
"So, you're a weapon like Zero then?" Louise hazarded. Such a beautiful girl. And she would be able to understand Zero... Why did she have to show up now?
"Oh no. I've fought before, but my main purpose wasn't to be a weapon. I was built to assist my father in his lab. Mostly cleaning duties, but he supported my wish to become a doctor. I know a great many things about illnesses and injuries, as well as how to treat them."
"But you can't use magic, right?" Louise asked her.
"Not as such, no. But I do have some limited combat capabilities, enough for self defense at any rate." Roll replied modestly.
"Limited? You knocked me back ten feet with a freaking broom. That's after you rolled backwards to said broom, and jumped at me fast enough to hit me with said freaking broom." Zero said, trying to break the tension he sensed building between the two girls.
"I already apologized for that. As I said, I was surprised when I heard that name. We've had bad dealings with him before." Roll said, looking down sheepishly.
"What name?" Louise asked puzzled. This girl had hit Zero? With a broom?
"Wily. The name of my creator,"
"Wait, but he made you three hundred and fifty years ago,"
"Yeah, and?"
"So...Does that mean..."
"She's X's older sister." Zero responded.
Louise's face was suddenly pale. Such a beautiful girl had shown up. She had been acting so casual with Zero. Her heart sank as she realized what she had been saying.
"I never got to meet him while awake, but Zero has been telling me all about him." she said, smiling at the girl. She didn't like her, but she knew that Zero would probably get more trouble if she was rude to her.
"How come you never met him?" She asked
"I was sleeping. I've been sleeping for a very, very long time. Zero woke me up today,"
"He... Woke you up?"
"Yes. I'd still be sleeping if he hadn't saved me."
Louise looked at the girl. So... Then this girl really was what the head master wanted to see Zero about? "Would you like to have dinner with us?" she asked timidly. If this girl hated her, Zero would probably hate her. This was the sister of X, the man Zero had loved like a brother.
"Of course. Zero had wanted to have dinner with you anyhow. He wanted to introduce us," She smiled at the girl, all the while wondering how Zero had dealt with her.
*** Break ***
Three days had passed since Roll had awoken.
In front of Colbert's eyes was a flask placed on top on an alcohol lamp. A glass tube stretched out of this, which let the heated catalyst cool and coagulate in the beaker to the left. This was the final step. Colbert sniffed at the gasoline he received from Zero and started cautiously reciting the alchemy incantation at the substance in the beaker while concentrating on the smell of the gasoline.
A puff of smoke rose from the beaker and the color of substance inside changed to a yellowish brown. He smelt it. The strong smell of gasoline drifted to his nose. Colbert opened the door with a thud and rushed outside.
"Zero! Zero! I've made it! I've made it! I've finished concocting it!"
Out of breath, Colbert approached Zero, who was inspecting the Zero fighter. Within the wine bottle he held out, there was a yellowish brown liquid. Zero opened the cover of the fuel tank, which was in front of the windshield. He poured two bottles of the gasoline in to it.
"I analyzed the composition of the oil you gave me," said Colbert proudly.
"It seemed to be made from microorganisms in fossils, so I searched for something similar. I decided to use the fossils of trees… in other words coal. I soaked that in a special catalyst and extracted a similar composition. After spending days doing that, I cast the alchemy spell on it. And that turned it into…"
"Science and magic together. An interesting combination" Zero said, as he looked at the enthusiastic teacher.
Colbert nodded and urged Zero "Quickly, turn that windmill for me. I was so excited that I didn't even sleep."
After filling the gas tank, Zero returned to the cockpit. To start the engine, the propeller had to be spun. Zero popped his head from the windshield. "Mr. Colbert, could you spin the propeller using magic?"
"I thought it turned using the power from burning the oil?"
"To start the engine, the crank inside must be rotated manually first. I don't have a tool to turn the propeller, so if you could use magic please."
Colbert nodded. Zero began to prepare the plane.
Firstly, he set the fuel source to the tank he had just put the fuel in. Then he set the mixture ratio lever and the prop pitch lever to their optimum states. Zero's hands moved by themselves. It had been too long since he'd been in the cockpit. It might not be what he was used to, but flying was flying. He was one step closer. He opened the cowl flap and closed the lid of the oil-cooling radiator. The propellers rumbled as Colbert used his magic. Zero pressed the ignition with his right hand at the proper time. His left hand gripping the throttle lever, he tilted it forward slightly.
A sputtering sound was heard and the engine started to run after the spark plug's ignition. As they ratted, the propellers started to turn. The body of the airplane vibrated. The brake wasn't on and so the plane started to propel itself forward. Zero felt the even bumping as the plane moved.
Colbert watched with a moved expression on his face. After checking that the engine gauges were moving, Zero turned the ignition switch off.
Jumping out of the cockpit, he smirked at Colbert. "Told ya it would still work!"
"Yes, we did it! But why didn't it fly?"
"There's not enough gas. In order to fly, we would need at least five barrels."
"That's a lot to make! But since I've already done so much, I'll finish it!"
After Colbert had returned to his laboratory, Zero continued his adjustments. He was thankful for the tools that were in the lab. While not entirely suited for this, the basic screwdrivers and such were a major benefit. He was having more luck here than he had in the lab for the fast few days, but then again he was going through a crash course on how to repair a damaged lab. At least Colbert could make the bio diesel that they needed for the lab enmass. The copper needed for the cables was also very easy to synthesize as was the rubber coating. The cooks had seemed surprised that they were asked to save all the left over and spoiled plants and plant based foods.
Louise called out to Zero who was working on the fighter while absorbed in his own thoughts.
"Hey, it's time for dinner. What have you been doing? It's already dark."
"I started the engine!" Zero said to her happily.
But Louise replied back dully. "Really now. Good for you. What happens after you get the engine running?"
"It flies! It will fly!"
"What will you do when it flies?" Asked Louise in a lonely voice.
"Hmm. Fly of course. Its been a long time since I have. And while I enjoyed it... I don't think I've ever flown for just that reason. Of course I do have a promise to keep as well."
"Promise? What promise is that?" she asked suspiciously.
"Well, this belonged to Siesta's grandfather. She asked to see her village from the air in it. It seems fair, since it was a family treasure," Zero replied.
"I seriously can't believe you! With that maid?" She said, accusingly.
"What's the big deal? A promise is a promise, and she has more right to it than me anyway." He smiled as he looked at the plane.
Louise didn't seem to bear any interest however. She replied back in a lonely voice. "You're my familiar. You can't just do what you want."
"And why can't he?" Roll said from behind her. The two had taken a complete dislike to each other from the beginning, and seemed to not miss a chance to argue. While they had been civil to each other for the first night, Roll made her displeasure known when Louise treated Zero more as an object, and less as a person. It had boiled up when Zero made a clipped comment about her whipping him. Zero thought that this worlds first world war had hit with Roll's response to that. He fled the scene and had waited out the night with Rock in the lab.
"Because he's my familiar,"
"Okay. So why does he have to do what you say?"
"Because... He's my familiar. He entered a contract with me," Louise said after a few moments.
"You mean you cast a spell on him, and kissed him, and forced him to be your familiar until one of you dies?" Roll asked, her voice slightly acidic.
Louise said looked away from Roll. "Its time for dinner. Lets go Zero."
Absorbed by the Zero fighter, Zero nodded as if he were listening. Once he knew that it could fly, he had become mesmerized by it. That and he'd already learned not to get into these fights. Just let them pass, and keep going. Trying to stop them just added more oil to the fire.
Louise pulled his ear. He hasn't paid any attention to me since he's returned and instead just gazes at this 'airplane', and disappeared to do "Headmaster" work. At least he'd listened about not wearing his armor all the time. At least it gave her something to grab.
"Listen to me!" She shouted.
"I'm listening!"
"You're not. You're daydreaming. There's no familiar that listens to its master while looking away!"
" I am listening. You were standing there silent for a minute and a half after Roll asked you a question. You didn't have an answer, so you decided to try and avoid the question by dragging me to dinner. I already told you two I'm not getting in the middle of these arguments. Go have dinner Louise. I have some more things to work on here." Zero said, then he turned to look at Louise. "Don't worry. You'll get a chance to fly in this too. So make sure ya look forward to it!" he flashed her a boyish grin. Being neutral was such a pain, but it was better than listening to Louise rant. And he wasn't going to disagree with Roll when he knew she was right.
***Break***
"I said to sleep in my bed, didn't I?"
Zero looked at her,"I'm fine here."
Louise didn't respond to Zero immediately. "You hate me now don't you?" She asked after a little while.
"Why would you say that?" Zero asked.
"Because. That girl is X's sister. The sister of the one you respect the most... And I'm always fighting with her. And though you say you're neutral... She makes the same arguments you did." Louise said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I don't hate you. And the reason that she makes the same arguments as me, is because she's from the same place as me. We cast off most of this class foolishness a long time ago. But this world is hundreds of years behind us. I can't expect it and the people here to change over night."
"Then why won't you come to bed?" she asked plaintively.
"Because. Even though I'm your familiar, even though I'll protect you... Even though I do care for you... there are times that I honestly don't like you." Zero said simply.
Louise bolted to sit up straight,"You don't... Like me? What do you mean!"
"Its simple. You always treat me like I'm some sort of animal. Even though I show you respect, and encourage you and try to support you... You act as if you can't trust me. You see everything about me in the worst possible light. How could I like someone like that?" A familiar voice came to his mind. 'Well, you should thank me that you don't. That rune's been trying to make you more subservient since you got it. If I'd let the rune do everything it wanted to your programing you'd be in love with her already. Not that I'd let anything subvert my son again!' With that, Zero stared in shock at Louise. "Do... The familiar runes make you more submissive?" he had to know if she knew.
"I don't see how. I know that they prevent the wild animals from attacking the mage that they're bonded too. But its doubtful that it would effect you. I mean, it just curbs their destructive instincts and lets them bond with the mage. Besides, have you ever been submissive?" she asked him back.
"No, I don't suppose I have," Zero said laughing a bit. "Yeah, I don't think you'd force me to submit that way anyhow. Hell, you're probably more likely to try and put an electric dog collar on me! Although that would probably end in a whole lot of local property destruction while I tried to remove it," Zero said, laughing until he saw Louise's blank stare as a response."You're supposed to laugh at a joke. You know, ha ha..." Zero looked at her as she blushed and looked down. "Wait. Okay. So that was next on your list of things to do? Seriously... Okay..."
"I'm sorry..." She responded.
"Three days." Zero said to her as he stared at her, his eyes cold and flat.
"What?"
"You have three days. Prove you're worthy of me as a familiar. I've put up with a whole load of crap. But to collar me like a dog? No. You're damned lucky you didn't try. You thought I was pissed with the whip? God. Every step forward, you take one back. Just where do you get these damned ideas on how to treat people!"
Louise looked away, then spoke after a few minutes. "But this is how my mother and sister taught me how to deal with people...And when I asked my sister for help, she told me that was what I needed to do...She said it had worked wonders on her newest Fiance..."
Zero just looked at her. "Really? That's what they teach you? God they must be popular."
"Well... Its how they treat the people that are below them... even... even..." Louise looked down at her balled fist. "Even their zero of a mage..."
Zero looked at her. Wait, so her family treated her like this? For fucks sake. "What, you mean look down on you? Although the horsewhips would probably be for the people below them. Obviously your family so they wouldn't use them on you, right? Louise?" he looked at her as he asked. His entire body felt heavy the longer the pause went on.
Louise looked away from Zero, she couldn't take that angry stare any more.
"Louise, you'd best pray to your founder that I never meet your family." Zero said, in a dark voice that sent a chill up her spine.
Louise looked back at him puzzled, "What do you mean? Why should I pray that?"
"Because if I ever see them, I'm likely to beat some sense into their empty skulls. No wonder you're so screwed up. Damn it, what the hell is wrong with this world?" Zero demanded. He knew he wouldn't get an answer. He retrieved Derflinger from the wall, and pulled the sword out of its sheathe."Partner, we have a forest to go cause massive amounts of destruction in. I'm pissed. I'm beyond that actually. I need to get away from breakable things right now. Like doors. Towers. Castles. People."
"Wow, your hand is shaking partner. You're really upset..." Derflinger said cautiously.
"Yeah. I am. Louise. Sleep well. You have three days. Prove me right. Prove that you're not a failure and stand on your own damned feet. Not your position, not your title, nothing but you. Prove me right, and your family wrong." Zero said, as he 'lightly' closed the door behind him.
Louise stared at the door as he left. Was this it? Was she at the verge of it being an irreparable crack? At least the door was intact this time...
***Break***
Roll was standing by the fountain, looking up into the night sky. It was beautiful, the twin moons. She could stare at them and they never seemed to get old. Suddenly the sound of a loud bang grabbed her attention. It came from the tower that Louise and Zero were staying in. After a few moments, she saw Zero stalking out of the doorway looking angry. She'd seen him annoyed with Louise. But this was pretty scary. She hesitated for only a moment, then called out to him. "Zero. Is everything okay?" She ran up towards him.
Zero turned to Roll. "No, everything isn't okay. I'm so angry I don't know what to do! So I'm about to go blow stuff up."
Roll looked at Zero," What do you mean?"
"I had a small talk with Louise. Some information came to light. I think I understand her a little better. But damn it I'm so pissed!" Zero said, a flash of light enveloping him as he talked.
"What? What's wrong?"
"You remember how she had tried to use a horse whip on me?"
"Well. Yes, that was a horribly inhuman thing to do,"
"Yeah. But it wouldn't even have hurt me. Ya know, that's how she thinks its acceptable to treat people who are below her. She knows this because that's how her Mother and sister treat her since she's nothing but a failure to them," Zero said, his entire body shaking.
"But... She's only sixteen right? And she's been here for at least a year..." Roll reasoned.
"I know. She's just a child. That they'd do that... To a child. To their own family. I don't know what I'd do if I ever met them. I know for a fact that there will be broken bones. I don't care if they're women." Zero said with a vehemence Roll hadn't expected.
"That's enough of that Zero. Venting like this isn't going to help. Lets get some tea, and head down to the lab. We can talk about this more later, after you've calmed down. Until then, no talking about it. We'll talk about anything else you want to, but you need to calm down," Roll said, grabbing his arm, and holding it tightly. She realized he was shaking. She looked up at his face. A great warrior, a destructive weapon. And here he was, shaking in anger at his powerlessness. She shook her head. "Its okay Zero. now that you know, you can keep it from ever happening again right?"
***Break***
Louise looked out her window, and saw Zero talking with Roll. She had stopped him, and then they started to talk. Suddenly Roll gasped in surprise, then grabbed Zero's arm. After a few moments, Zero stopped struggling, and they continued to talk. Louise had to wonder, why did her family's actions effect Zero so much? He acted like some terrible crime was committed. Then maybe, to him it was a terrible crime. His moral compass was totally backwards. After a few moments, she realized one thing. "He's angry because he thinks I've been treated badly! If he's angry about that... Does that mean he cares about me?" she asked herself. He'd given her three days. Three days to prove she was a better person. I have three days to prove him right, she thought. She wouldn't fail. With a semblance of peace and resolve, Louise retreated to her bed, and thanked the founder that she hadn't closed all of the doors on herself in her relationship with Zero. She blushed as she thought that. Thankfully nobody was there to see the blush that was on her face.
***Author's notes***
-1mentioned in this chapter, is a type of inspection pilots/flight engineers do on aircraft prior to calling it safe for flight. Its very much a normal type of inspection that is done before every flight, unless you are just doing a crew swap. Then it is shortened or skipped after a face to face with the previous pilot/crew. The reason i didn't have Zero explain that was because he didn't feel like it. He was purposely being curt with her. ON the other thing, i tried to make a reference next to it, but apparently doesn't like that. It also apparently doesn't like the name Colbert because it keeps disappearing from various areas for no damned reason.
Let me be the first to assure you. When dealing with Aircraft, they are not made for maintenance, and the first rule of actually working on an Aircraft, you must at least be a semi-decent contortionist. Having worked various models of aircraft, you will likely bruise pretty bad though. The things that he was checking are various things that you'd check after an aircraft had been grounded for a fairly long period of time. And sometimes you really do need to take some of the most remarkable positions to get into an area to inspect things. Trying to get into a number 1 or 4 dry bay on a C-130 is NOT an easy thing for anyone, yet alone a 6ft tall crew chief. But its doable. I always went in head first, and crawled my way in, then maneuvered to crawl out head first. Not many people could twist their body though, especially in those areas. Unlike Saito, Zero's a trained pilot which is mentioned as the reason that he was the one who flew the shuttle into the colony. This being said, he knows what to look for, not just how to operate it, and the dangers that come with neglecting proper inspections. The rune is telling him systems are green, but he still wants to double check. Because a system going out in flight that he could have prevented could make a big difference.
Also when it comes to jet aircraft... low tech world... no. not gonna work. they couldn't replicate the parts, nor could they replicate the computer system. Nor do they have the necessary runways to take off without destroying the engine with foreign object damage(FOD). Just wouldn't work. about the best you can really hope for would be a WWII prop plane in this situation, because they'd be far easier to replicate parts for in a low tech environment. Most the parts are fairly simple to make, but its the knowledge of how it all works that is the key with them. Once you started getting into functional on board computers, fly by wire, and all the other stuff that makes our modern aircraft so much fun to play with... You get to a point that a low tech society would be completely unable to let it function.
And now, enough changes have been made that a lot of the FoZ world is going to start getting changed.
As for some people asking about the Z-buster vs Buster that he has now, it is my opinion that at some point Zero's systems did away with the integral weapon. It makes for a lot more moving parts and much easier wear/damage. On X and copy X, they stayed because that was X's primary weapon. The buster shot was actually a basic firearm that he converted into a buster during the opening of Megaman Zero. It is not like his original Z-buster and it is not as much damage either. Compared to himself in the Megaman X series, his saber and his abilities with it are higher, but this has been with a trade off on the strength of his buster. The exception to this is his X armor that he has. This flips things around completely, but he is less powerful overall in this form. It is simply a utility/ranged stand off capability armor.
And in case people think that I'm over-exaggerating on the mother/sister, all i can say is that the Manga/Anime tone it WAY down. After rescuing Tabitha, they confront Louise's mother. She does some pretty fucked up shit to Louise and nearly kills Saito. Henreitta and Agnes have to step in with threats of deadly force. Zero would be less than happy with Karin of the Heavy Wind in that situation.
On a happier note Roll sure is passionate when it comes to medicine.
Roll: Well, it was my dream for a long time...Even if it isn't brought up that much in the games. In the past Surgery was looked down on for so long, and doctors who performed it were even declared witches! If I ever want to be a doctor I have to get people to understand what is at stake!
True. Also, nice shot on Zero with the broom.
Roll: Yeah... I still feel bad about that...
Zero: No, it was a good shot. I don't want it repeated, but I'll admit its something to laugh about.
That's all for today. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Oh and Zero, if you piss off Roll, make sure to watch out for her theme music. If you hear it, its likely you're gonna get owned by the broom. Again.
Zero: Isn't that that extremely cute cute song that is entirely inappropriate for a fighting game?
Yep!
Zero: Wonderful. Good to know that I'll be beaten to an extremely unfitting soundtrack.