Copy Zero stood in the lab, watching his father work. He had been called here after some supposed 'irregularities' had popped up in some of their troopers, and that his father had wanted to talk to him about them. He leaned against the wall, wondering if this was about the control he was learning to exhibit over the other units?
"So... Zero... Is there any reason that your coding keeps finding its way into the pantheon shock troopers?" The blue haired man asked, without turning from his monitor.
"Couldn't tell ya." Copy Zero replied shortly.
"I see... You know that the base of your brother was used for them, correct? You two think differently, so it could cause problems if it keeps happening." The other man responded admonishingly.
"I've got no idea what's causing it." Copy Zero replied, still denying anything. Almost inadvertently, Copy Zero pushed out with his thought into the lab itself. As his mind linked into the computer momentarily, he realized something. The computer was linked to Weil! Suddenly, the thought,'Who is Weil?' crossed his mind. A sudden shift in his memory caused a massive flux of information from the computer system he had tied himself to before he was able to remove the link he had made. He cried out violently and clutched his helmet. A sick feeling of glee and a twisted ego touched his mind.
"Are you alright my son?" 'Joseph' demanded as he ran up to the Copy of Zero who had been standing behind him. "Zero, what happened?"
Zero's eyes stayed unfocused. He was watching himself. He was fighting, always fighting. But it was from a distance. Yes, that body was a wonderful battle body. It was perfect. Destructive. He could rule the world. These disgusting thoughts continued in his mind. He then saw himself fighting... Himself, and a hazy shadow of someone who looked like X standing behind him. He was so close! He could have ruled the world if not for that damned Zero! Copy Zero suddenly realized that this was not any memory of his, and that the influence of whatever he had probed was trying to take him over. His mind fought back viciously once he made note of that. In his mind he fixed on the form of X. A hero. A naive hero. A hero who could save the world because he cared. Zero would always be doomed to destruction and blood but X could change all that. Time passed in Zero's head as he saw a battle from Weil's perspective on board the space station Ragnarok. He was there, fighting. Then, finally, pain. Zero had struck a mortal blow. The explosions started soon after, and Copy Zero almost wanted to sigh in relief as he realized Area Zero was safe now. Then, everything was dark, but he heard some voices. Just as he knew that the darkness was ready to strike at that voice, a sudden shift could be felt, and the world seemed to change under him. From dirt, to finished stone, and the temptation of power... Copy Zero finally understood. His eyes opened as he looked his creator in the eyes. "You..."
"Me?" 'Joseph' asked quite confused,"You seem out of sorts. You locked up for a moment."
"You are Weil..." The low voice Zero used was the only warning the other man had to jump back as the saber came free and slashed, causing the man's left arm to be severed at the elbow. "You're my enemy."
"Damn it! What did you do?" 'Joseph' demanded as his arm even now started to regenerate. With his link to the system he sent a message to all of the commandos that Zero and X were to be removed on sight. "Why would you call your own father your enemy? Have you gone mad?"
"Mad? Says the man stupid enough to recreate the only forces that were able to stand against your evil lies and domination." Copy Zero said as his saber was pointed at the man standing before him.
"You think I would do so with out a way to defend myself, you useless replica?" 'Joseph' demanded, his body shifting,taking on a more mechanical form. "If I had known the trouble you would cause, I would have spent less time perfecting your copy. I'll know better for next time."
"There won't be a next time." Zero replied as he charged with a slash, aiming to pierce Weil's head, but the man retreated out a window and a hail of suppressing buster fire kept Zero from jumping out of the window immediately. His chance at a quick kill lost, Copy Zero decided he had only one option. He had to get to X. He was in danger. And the copy of X was his only hope!
***Break***
At this same time, another serious battle was taking place. Zero had been called to Kirche's room, because she had something she needed to 'talk' to him about. She insisted that it was important, and had called in the 'favor' of always listening to him instead of judging or jumping to conclusions. So here he was, looking at the red haired girl, who was standing by her bed wearing more clothing than he had ever seen. It was a gossamer gown, that while quite fetching, was not what one would expect from such a girl. It appeared to be layered heavily, so while the material was somewhat see-through, all you could see was the previous layer of fabric. Even her hands could barely be seen in the gown. With a sigh, Zero decided to get whatever was going on over with. "So what did you need me here for Kirche?"
"I wanted to talk to you." She replied honestly as she sat on her bed comfortably,"Come, sit. I won't try anything to get you into bed. Unless you act first." She almost purred.
"That's not going to happen." Zero replied, but moved to sit down next to the girl. She wasn't known to lie, so he didn't really have any worries. All he had to do was not do what she expected him to do as a man.
"You see, I've been wondering, just what it would take to earn a place in your heart." Kirche said as she looked into Zero's eyes.
"A place in my heart?" Zero asked confused,"I care about all of you, so why worry about that?"
"Because. I want a bigger place in your heart. Your heart is so big, nobody would notice." Kirche replied piteously, keeping Zero off balance,"I want you to see me for the woman that I am. I know you're older than me, but i'll be dead before we're ever close to each other in age. So I don't care about that. I want to be with you. Stand by you. Love you. Shoulder your burdens."
"What?" Zero demanded as he pulled away from the girl who leaned in. As he did, his subconscious mind informed him that the girl had been using a weak, almost undetectable amount of magic through her entire plea. Unfortunately it was too late for him, as when he pulled a little away, nearly invisible silken strings caused the dress to tear away in some places. Suddenly, Kirche was no longer so modestly dressed.
"Oh my," Kirche replied in mock surprise, then lunged, her arms encircling Zero. "Undressing a girl does count as the first move, doesn't it?"
"The hell is going on?" Zero demanded unsure of what had just happened.
"This dress is my secret weapon," Kirche replied as she held to Zero tightly. "Using the 'tie rope' spell, I was able to attach the silken strands to you. The more you run away, the less clothed I'll be."
"...What the hell is wrong with you?" Zero asked in an exasperated voice as he instinctively pulled back again and part of the dress came with him before he stopped moving. Kirche closed the distance again. "Agh stop!"
"No." Kirche replied cutely,"I'm not going to lose. I don't mind sharing you. But i'm not giving up! It's your move. Pull away again, or I'm just going to keep holding you tightly!"
Zero looked into the girl's eyes, confused as hell. "What?"
"The more you pull away, the more I'll chase." Kirche replied as she laid her cheek on his chest. "It's in my nature to give in to my passion. And, it's in my nature to light that passion in others. Your heart will be healed in the flames of my love!"
"How...does this even make sense?" Zero demanded of the obviously insane girl.
"You're conditioned. At least that's what Roll called it." Kirche replied reasonably, not moving at all.
"Conditioned?" Zero asked mystified.
"When people are close, you pull away. You desire to run when people are too close because you are afraid of being hurt. This dress is the perfect counter to you. When you pull away you'll only get us closer. This dress will let you see the error of your ways. I shall remove your conditioning myself, though it is a task certain to be a hard and long fought battle." She replied coyly. "Your move."
"I'm not moving until you undo the spell." Zero replied, his face clearly pink with a blush at the now strategically undressed Kirche.
"Ah ha, you're blushing! You're finally blushing!" Kirche cried almost triumphantly. "I'm finally a woman to you!"
"That's not true!" Zero replied angrily and turned away.
"I'm so happy." Kirche cried, half sobbing as she held tight. "I'm not letting go. You can run all you want. But i'll find you. And I'll make you see it. You are not alone."
"I know I'm not alone." Zero replied in a low voice."I have people that I care for. That I fight for."
"That is lonely though." Kirche shot back,"You are away from those people, you separate them from you."
"If I don't, they'll die." Zero replied.
"If it's to save Zero, I don't mind." Kirche replied.
"Don't say that!" Zero nearly yelled,"Don't talk about throwing your life away meaninglessly."
"It wouldn't be meaningless. And I don't want to die." Kirche replied calmly as her hand came to rest on his cheek."I really, really don't want to die. The thought of dying scares me."
"Then why do you talk about it so easily?" Zero asked her.
"When you love someone enough, their happiness and well being is the most important. To give ones life for another is the highest expression of love. Isn't that close to what you said?" Kirche asked coyly.
"That's different!"
"Why is it different?" Kirche asked quietly. "Explain it to me. If you can explain it to me so I can understand, I will release the 'tie rope' spell."
"Because you're all worth fighting for. You are all good people." Zero's response came, but Kirche just looked up at him and smirked.
"So, Zero, you are a good person. You're worth fighting for." Kirche parroted his wording,"You're saying that If the person is a person who I see as good, and is someone worth fighting for that I can die to protect them?"
"That's not what I said," Zero objected.
"It's exactly what you said, darling. Well, you said you could do it. But we're the same. We'd both die to keep the people we love alive and happy." Kirche's smile was gentle as she looked in his eyes,"We are the same... You've yet to convince me how we are not. You are driven by love just as surely as I. Your heart is open and large enough to let you hold so many people within it. I can only hold you within mine. You fill my heart to bursting... And with your answers you've only given me more reason to... Pursue you." Her hand had moved from his face to his chest.
"That's because you're not listening!" Zero said angrily.
"I am listening. And I'm understanding. It is you who will not listen." Kirche said as her hand moved further down. "And since you will not be a good boy and listen, you'll have to be 'punished'."
"Wait, what?" Zero demanded as he felt the girl's hand moving more aggressively south. It was at that point that Zero finally took action before things got even worse. He disappeared in a beam of light as he did the only thing he knew how to do in this situation. A strategic redeployment to the rear. Retreat. Run away.
As Kirche laid on her bed alone, most of her dress gone with Zero, she had to smile. She had gotten to hold him. She might have lost her chance at him by pushing him with this, but perhaps that was alright for him. Her eyes filled with tears as she pressed her resolve forward and she said aloud,"Priority two does not ever...E-ever supersede priority one."
***Break***
As Zero appeared in the lab, he heaved a sigh of relief. Then he noticed that both Mathilda and Roll were in the lab, and looking at him quite oddly. "What?" he demanded.
Roll just laughed as she looked at Zero and replied,"Well... First, you just transferred in without warning. And... You have at least half a dress attached to your clothing. You're also... Blushing."
"I didn't think you had it in you, but good job." Mathilda said as she raised her cup of wine to Zero. "So which one did you finally choose?"
"I didn't choose anything!" Zero spat out,"Kirche tied this thing to me with a spell while we were talking. Whenever I tried to move away parts of it kept ripping off her. And she wouldn't listen to what I was saying!"
"It seems something more than that for it to fluster the great Zero so much," Mathilda replied as she leaned back lazily in her chair.
"It was nothing!" Zero replied angrily.
"Whatever you say, Zero." Mathilda replied knowingly.
"She probably shouldn't have come on so strongly, but I guess she came to the end of what she considered 'subtlety'," Roll laughed as Zero blushed even more.
"It's your fault! She said you talked about me being conditioned!" Zero shot back at Roll.
"Well, it is true." Roll replied as she looked thoughtful. "I never thought she'd actually do something like this though. It certainly has you worked up though. So it must have at least touched on the issue. Why, this might just be a breakthrough on robot psychology. If she continues to be right abotu this, we might just have to work up a reploid psychology doctorate program for her to take."
"Does this seem like some big joke to you?" Zero asked her as he glared at Roll, still looking ridiculous with the dress pieces hanging off him.
"Considering you're wearing half a dress, yes. It really does at the moment." Roll replied as she watched Zero start fighting to get the pieces of the dress unentwined. "Oh well, you got here just in time. We were just about to do some karaoke. Mathilda has been enjoying it, even if she can't understand the songs."
"Oh, I don't need to understand some of them. The emotion in them, the instruments seem to convey what needs to be said sometimes." Mathilda replied.
Zero's eyes shot open at this and he tried to data transfer but all that could be heard was the locking of the electronic door and an eerie boyish voice saying,"Unavoidable."
***Break***
Copy Zero ran through the halls of the castle, his saber biting into every pantheon that crossed his path. He was halfway there. While they weren't dangerous to them in combat form, X tended to stay in his civilian form all the time lately. If one got a jump on him he'd be lost! Copy Zero cried out,"X!" as he ran through the halls, deflecting a hail of buster fire, his saber turning purple for a moment as it deflected the energy. Suddenly he heard the sound of a charged buster from right behind him. He was about to slash whatever was behind him when he was blown back by a concussive explosion. As he looked up he saw the remains of one of the pantheon commander units. Standing in a nearby window Copy X stood, his integral buster still ready, his default combat form already online.
"Just what did you do Zero? What is going on?" Copy X asked him, his buster reluctantly turning towards Copy Zero.
"I found out what 'father' is!" Copy Zero replied.
"What?" Copy X asked mystified.
"Our 'father' is a being known as Weil. An evil entity that tried to destroy the world he came from since he could not gain dominion over all humans. He made us and has been carefully raising us to be his sons... Because we're the ones who defeated him in the past!" Copy Zero spoke quickly, noting that his brother's buster was fully charged already.
"Why would he do that?" Copy X asked as he unleashed his buster on a group of pantheons that ran around the corner.
"He has done it once before with me. He made a Copy of Zero before. Using that he nearly took over the world. And killed billions uncounted all in a mad quest for world domination. Zero and X stopped him then, and again. When he was summoned here by the man Joseph he took control of the man and started where he left off!"
"Then that means...You were right..." Copy X said sadly,"I had hoped... I had hoped that things could work out peacefully..." After he said that, Copy X's face turned up in anger,"But if this must be done, if he truly wishes to harm the people of this world, we will stop him. Father or no, he will not harm anyone while we remain nobles of this world! That's what we said, right? We'd be true nobles?"
"That's right." Copy Zero replied, relieved that Copy X had so readily remembered their promise. "Our first mission is, eliminate the threat that is Weil." As he said that Copy Zero dropped to his knee in pain, more memories seemed to be settling from the information he had gleaned before. "Maverick..." He murmured as Copy X knelt next to him, saying something. He couldn't tell. He remembered though. The maverick virus. It worked on mechanical beings that didn't have Copy X's innate resilience... As his head cleared he looked into Copy X's worried face."Sorry, I'm alright."
"Zero, are you sure?" Copy X asked.
"Yes, I'm just remembering how to use my power. The fool... Brilliant he might be, but he's insane too." Copy Zero replied as he stood up. "He wanted to make the perfect copies. Well he did just that. And just like before, we're going to stop his plans. We might not be the originals, but we can't just stand by and let him do what he wants!"
Copy X smiled as Copy Zero stood up and said this. The resolution on his brother's face seemed to lift his spirits, give him confidence."That's right. Copy or not, it doesn't matter! We won't fail. let's go, brother!" With that, Copy X charged his buster and ran with Copy Zero, destroying any of the Pantheon forces or nobles who got in their way.
***Break***
After fighting through most of the palace they had found Weil. He had surrounded himself with almost all of the remaining local pantheons, and was looking even more monstrous than before. His body was encompassed by a large metal suit. What looked to be almost half eaten pantheons were scattered around him. From their hiding place, Copy Zero figured that must have been how he had managed to make such a large battle form so quickly. He almost felt sorry for them. "So what do we do?"
"I'm not sure. Do you know what his capabilities are?" Copy X asked.
"Not really. I remember the last time he got all big and metal like that, he could shoot beams of energy but he really was predictable. He's a scientist not a fighter. He was a downright joke for the real me to kill. And I doubt he's taken the time to practice fighting since he got here." Copy Zero replied quietly.
"I see. If you think you can take him down, I'll run in with two charged buster shots and draw attention." Copy X said,"I'm more durable than you are, and can dodge far easier than you since you're more close range. When an opening happens, you take him out..."
Copy Zero was about to object but then nodded. It was a solid plan, although he didn't like the thought of putting his brother in danger. But the madman had to be stopped here. "Right. Just make sure you dodge. If you get yourself killed i'll repair you and then kill you myself."
Copy X laughed gently and replied,"Duly noted." With that, he charged up both of his busters and then charged towards the pantheons, releasing two blasts towards Weil that were intercepted by the pantheons he was using to guard himself. Multiple smaller blasts were released from Copy X at that point and what appeared to be a small path opened up. A few stay buster shots hit him but most were dodged, and he didn't particularly feel like they had done anything anyhow. He watched in fascination as Zero ran in, dodging the Pantheons as he dashed, his saber flashing twice at two that remained in his way and then it seemed to expand and release a crescent of energy that cut Weil's head and upper body off. The stream of energy continued on until it hit the tower that was once occupied by the now deceased princess. It had been so much easier than expected. As Copy X watched, he noticed the body still moving too late, and saw Copy Zero get slammed into the ground, as the head of their 'father' grew back. "Zero!" Copy X cried as he ran forward, his buster discharging shot after shot.
"You think you could kill me that easily? You think I'd let you? You're my creations! Nothing more! I will destroy you as surely as I created you!" Weil cackled as he swung again at Zero who rolled away and jumped back.
"You can try Dr. Weil. But you will never succeed. You could never best us." Copy Zero replied as he came to stand next to Copy X.
"We will stop you. We don't wish for this fighting, we don't wish for this war. But if this is what it must come down to." Copy X said regrettably,"Then I shall kill you myself, father. Surrender and we will spare you."
"Surrender? To an impudent, naive pup? Who would do such a thing?" Weil demanded as a beam of orange energy was released from his arm with no warning. Both Copy X and Zero jumped in opposite directions, narrowly avoiding the beam, although the damage to the landscape and the castle wall was quite severe.
"Your aim hasn't improved since I killed you on Ragnarok, Weil. You really should know that such an attack won't work on us. Not even Omega for all his might could stand against X and Zero. And you are far from Omega." Copy Zero said with a calm detachment. "As a matter of fact... You're not even a reploid. You're a former human. You're inhabiting a mechanical body, just like a reploid though."
"And of what of it boy? You should see by now that you can not kill me. I will just regenerate." Weil taunted as he took two buster shots from Copy X and regenerated them in next to no time.
"I see. I wonder, are you immune to me?" Copy Zero asked as he smirked at Weil.
"What? What are you talking about?" Weil demanded.
"You're mechanical. You're nothing more than a robot with a human mind inside. I doubt you have the fail safes that were built into myself and X." Copy Zero replied as he made a quick move to close the distance with Weil. His palm flashed out, a brilliant Z formed it, and made contact with the battle body. As he did, he forced his mind out, or more accurately, the control of the maverick virus. The man wasn't immune. That was shown by the fact that Copy Zero had been able to access him accidentally. As Copy Zero delved into the dark mind of Weil, he wasn't there to convert, or to change. he was there to destroy. Every line of code, everything he came across. He inwardly shuddered with disgust at being in contact with such a diseased mind, a mind that was pushing at his, demanding obedience, making obscene promises. But through it all he kept X's face in his mind. The reploid who had sacrificed himself for Neo Arcadia, the one who had done everything, given everything for the world that this man had tried to destroy. He felt a despairing feeling, and could feel Weil's conscious mind dying under his assault. A grim smirk came to Zero's face as he looked into the almost lifeless eyes of his 'father'. "It's all over now." he said out loud. "I know you can hear me, and I know you know what I'm doing. You might be right that we can't destroy your body. And thank you for letting us know that. That just means that we simply need to destroy your mind."
"Zero, what are you doing?" Copy X demanded as he ran up. The pantheons had stopped moving the moment Zero had made contact with Weil, and now, Weil's form was slouching, as if it no longer had a will.
"We can't kill him. He's probably right about that. At least with his mind active. He'll just regenerate. But I have a virus inside of me that allows me to deal with such problems. I'm killing him from the inside." Copy Zero explained with a smile.
"No...So...close..." Weil muttered as his vision was going black, his arm reached out slowly but was slapped away by Zero. "I...created...destroy..." He struggled out then was silent.
"Done." Copy Zero said with a dreadful finality.
"Are you sure?" Copy X asked as he moved forward. He pointed his buster at the man's head and released the charge. To the surprise of both, his head started regenerating again. "Zero?" Copy X demanded of his partner, although he looked just as surprised.
"He's still regenerating. But his mind is empty." Copy Zero said, slightly bewildered at the effectiveness of the mechanical body that Weil had. "If he was half as competent as us with this type of body... Things could have been badly."
"...I think we should get his body back to the lab." Copy X said as some nobles had started to gather at the edges of the courtyard where the final battle had taken place.
"Agreed." Copy Zero replied as he ripped the main body of Joseph out of the battle body, and carted the husk behind him. Copy X followed closely behind.
***Break***
There in the lab, Wiel's body had been mounted on the wall. Three times they had tried to destroy the body, before they had finally found the core inside the man's chest. When Copy Zero had moved to strike it, Copy X had stopped him. When Copy Zero threw him a questioning look, Copy X just smiled and shook his head. "Ah... Such a selfless sacrifice. To give up one's mind so that they can bring true peace to this world, that is far more than one should ever be asked to do. Know this my creator and king, we shall do our best to create a lasting peace. We will hold this world in our hand and it shall flourish." Copy X bowed to the bound form of his 'Master Joseph' who's blank eyes stared at nothing.
"Now, isn't that just a little taunting? I wouldn't have expected that from you X." Copy Zero commented.
"Yes, well... I could have said much worse things, but in truth he will be bringing about world peace because of and through us, and we will be using his regenerative powers to provide ourselves with the army we need to do such after such an event destroyed most of his current one... While his intentions were anything but pure, his actions will have brought about the peace that we hope for, Zero. And after all, he is family... In a way I suppose." Copy X said sadly.
"I guess. Still don't like giving that bastard any sort of credit. If it were up to me I'd just as soon cut him to pieces." copy Zero replied with his arms crossed.
"Don't worry, once we no longer need him he'll be disposed of. He'd be far too dangerous should he ever find a way to reinstate his mind." Copy X commented sadly.
"Yeah, like that could happen. My virus wiped clean his mind, and it's wiping out any and all memories that are created every nanosecond. I won't let that bastard return. Not after everything he did. You wouldn't believe everything I saw... everything this bastard did! I won't let that happen again." Copy Zero said with a grim look. After a few moments he punched the mindless husk's face.
"My, you have some strong feelings. I feel relieved." Copy X said with a smile as he looked at his partner.
"Why's that?" Copy Zero asked curiously, snapping out of his near rage.
"Because, we will need those feelings, and all our power to save this world from itself..." Copy X stated calmly, in a voice filled with sorrow.
"Always the hero huh?" Copy Zero asked as he looked at his friend with a knew the original X was dead, but somehow, this new Copy was nothing like the Copy he remembered from Weil's memories. He was different, he seemed to carry the burdens of others rather than foist his supposed perfection on to others as if desperately seeking recognition. Copy Zero had wondered if he would have to fight the Copy of X at some point, if he would turn out like the corrupted copy in Neo Arcadia. But for some reason, he couldn't believe that the person that stood there could ever turn out like him.
"It's not that I'm a hero... But someone has to step forward... Someone has to stop the deaths and the killing somehow... If no one person steps forward then the endless cycle of pain and death will continue, and we will fail in our promises to be true nobles. Then more tragedies will happen, and more people will die. I won't let that happen Zero." Copy X said with a small frown. Further cementing Copy Zero's view on his partner's motives and feelings.
"As I said. Always the hero, no matter the form." Came the warm reply from Copy Zero. He knew that the original X was dead... But somehow, this person standing there seemed so much like the skewed memories that the doctor had of the original. The difference, was that while Weil had been disgusted by the supposed naivety of the original, Copy Zero knew that it was that point that was the difference between the Copy of Neo Arcadia and the Original. This new X, was the best hope, and he would protect him.
***Author's notes***
And that's the end of this arc. Read and review. The amount of reviews really is directly proportional to how much I work on the story. The more I get, the more I feel that people actually like the story, rather than me just telling myself stories. Cause if that's the case I'm already content with the ending. I like it.
Why the break in the middle of the thing for Zero's run in with Kirche? Technically, it's happening at the same time. So figured I'd emphasize that. Also get that outta the way.
Zero: Who the hell gave you the idea for that weird dress?
Ex girl friend. Although instead of magic she made use of the fact that I sleep heavily in my own bed. Good times.
Zero: ...I wish I had not asked that. I'm now deleting the memory of that dress and that previous comment.
That's right. And when Isn't Henrietta not up to something lately? In a good way
Assassins do not need to be the assassin's creed type. As a matter of fact, the most simple assassins are the ones who look no different than anyone else. A man with a small breath spray bottle with a cyanide mixture in it, and a kerchief to cover his mouth as he sprays it in someone's face(while walking perhaps), would cause the person to die within seconds of an apparent heart attack. Can not poison the food for a feast? Poison the silverware. A truly good assassin will make you wonder if they were ever there at all unless a point is being made.
And yes, I know, Angst, Drama, all that other stuff. But he, Weil got what was coming to him. And in case anyone was missing it, this is why Copy Zero punched Weil in the face. He awoke, and while he was still learning how to use his virus, it was being used in a sort of passive information gather mode. He knew enough even upon waking to mistrust the man and that put the deep seeded need to punch him in the face. You all prolly just thought he punched him because let's face it, Weil has a punchable face. But no, there WAS A reason fir it.
Because the Koga have had many questions and PM's(please don't bother PMing if it's a review. Just put it in review. I check all my reviews and attempt to answer them. If I don't post for a while then you can PM me.) I'm going to do a bit of a writeup on what they are and what they are not and how they are quite honestly the single most politically breaking force. In this, you have commoners being treated as equals and seen as people during their training. During their conditioning and training things stay with you. I will honestly say that I was never a racist person, but I was more then a little afraid if I was not in my neighborhood alone when i was younger. And for no damned reason. Perfectly good neighborhood. And good people. But I was uneasy about it. Human condition. But as it stands, I've served with every single type of person that you can think of in the service. I've gotten over any racism because I've been through hell and back with people I would die for to this very fucking day. Lucky 7's and the Meat Gazer!(a wooden sword someone crafted. It was...She was...It was a deployment I don't know that last time any deployment story made sense to other people who haven't deployed.) But in this, working with this, showing them compassion are the commoners, being patient, helpful and doing their best right alongside them. This has the doubling effect of showing the need the nobles have for them, as well as humanizing them. Would Guiche challenge Count Mott for Siesta now that he knows her as a person? As someone who has assisted his friends? Of course not. The point is to drive home, from the top down(Royal guard is about as top as it can get. Aside from the queen, she promoted Agnes anyhow) you will be seeing a rippling effect of commoners being held in higher regard when they deserve it. I'm not gonna say all commoners deserve to be treated with respect. The public idiot/drunk? Nothing will change for him. But the shoe maker, the scribe, The wood crafter. The cook. These are the people that the Koga are realizing that even their LIVES are in the hands of. A single angry cook could add something and kill them. Many things with edible flowers or roots, have very very poisonous roots/flowers. It's not hard to get a hold of. Looking at it like that, you'll see how having a group of mages who mixes with commoners and treats them better and is more accepting of them will be better than a fully non mage platoon muscling it's way into high society and trying to change opinions with the very thing that's looked down on, brute force. In my opinion. Because it's much easier to start a top down transition in procedures than a bottom up. An order comes from the top, it goes all the way to the bottom. A suggestion comes from the bottom it normally gets ignored or whatever butter bars or captain is looking for their next OPR bullet will run with it and say they did it, but won't have the expertise/knowledge to get it seen by the people who really make decisions.
The Koga Knights will act as an elite corps of assassins as needed, but not officially. Officially they are knights. But they are receiving the training of both sides, and that is what is making them run ragged. They're learning to be the true "noble knight" that can politic in court, get information out of their rivals/knights from other countries through the pleasantries of conversation. But at the same time this knight corp has a black ops side. He's built it up almost similar to the Maverick hunters back home. He's got the whole "Front" for the Koga, and that's all he wants people to see. Kids in training. He doesn't want you to see children who can hide as commoners, who are able to cast deadly magic. Who are able to be subjected to the 'treatment" just shy of sexual abuse at the hands of other nobles to hit their target. THey are learning war from someone who is from a world were we tossed off those petty restrictions on honor, had two terrible horrible world wars that were abominable, and then lead to the Law of Armed Conflict, followed by the total force/total war concept. I'd say Zero is intelligent, and ever since Cain reactivated him(Still can't put a Dr. there) him he has likely been 'bookish' on information involving past military defeats, deceptions etc. In day of Sigma it shows that he isn't just some one dimensional person. Yes he's more combat oriented than X in personality, but be it paranoia, or less 'faith' in sigma than X he figured it out first. So knowing the impact that a few trained assassins, some peasants and dressing up small animals as ninjas to make them believe that what they did was magic.(They'd go so far as to knock out a squirrel and put ninja garb on it, and then release it for them to chase). And often times during all this, the one making the distraction wasn't the one who did the killing. it was the Geisha, or the cook or someone who put a little bit of something into someone's cup or bowl. That's the type of bookish information Zero would know about. Would build upon. It is also why nobody expected him to run it like that. It's kinda like us having a time traveler from 600 years in the future when war over energy is gone(What a stupid war that was. Seriously, all we needed to do was make those machines that supposedly never stop to generate electricity in a 0 gravity/resistance environment. Duh. Stupid 21's century. The real war is now about who lives above/below ground and who gets to live on colonies in the moon and on other planets because there isn't enough room. I'm sure they'd have hundreds of new tactics that we wouldn't never think of because we don't have the numbers, or the advancement of our army to fathom strikes the way they do. Even now some of our high tech stuff is so out there(TOP SECRET), that you just look at it and can't help but wonder if you stepped into one of those weird Sci-fi movie or something.