"Say hello to my little friend!" Tony Montana
"Can't believe this…no cybernetic enhancements and they're not afraid to die." Toubosa
"Phantom!" X shouted, pointing his X-Buster at him.
Phantom looked at X from his elevated position above the HQ of the base. He leaped down from where he was right next to Mega Man X and blocked his access to the door.
"Out of the way Phantom!" X said. "I've already defeated Fefnir as he's either dead or captured. I don't want to kill another Guardian!"
"If you continue this attack on this base…" Phantom said. "I have no choice but to prevent you from crossing the road. There are things here Mega Man X that should best left alone. Leave us to do our work! We have no intention of harming Britannia!"
"How am I supposed to believe that!?" X said. "You guys just attacked hundreds of human soldiers! How do you justify that!?"
"What we have sealed in here is something that you should not mess with." Phantom said. "It's too dangerous to handle or attempt to destroy; even with your help."
"Why don't you tell me what is going on?" X said. "If you don't, I may still be forced to fight you. The Princess has told me to discover what you are harboring no matter. And besides…you have broken the first law. You need to be arrested and reprogrammed."
"I do not desire reprogramming." Phantom said. "If that is the case, then it seems I have no choice but to fight you."
"I see." X said. "Whatever you're doing, it's out of your range or ability to allow me to see."
"I'm afraid so." He said.
Phantom reached into his back and drew his Japanese katana. X's arm turned into his X-Buster and pointed it at Phantom. His sapphire blue saber still emitted its blue light as X stood there, waiting for the battle to begin.
"I have always had the desire to fight you Master X." Phantom said as he positioned himself into a battle ready position. "Please…if I must die a second time…let me have a fight that I can remember."
"To give you that fight would never let you have a chance to enjoy it." X said. "But I will grant that to what capability I think you can face me at."
X charged his buster and fired it at Phantom. Phantom easily dodged the buster and explosion it generated. X fired several others and Phantom ran on the steel walls of the base to dodge his attacks. Phantom threw his Shuriken and landed on it as he began to float around the room. X fired his homing torpedoes in an attempt to hit him off the blade, but he disarmed them with his Kunai's as the missiles exploded when they got hit.
X eventually was able to hit the Shuriken, but Phantom leaped off of it and began his attack. He swiftly swung his sword at Mega Man X. Mega Man X easily dodged the swing and swung his saber at his sword. Sparks and liquid metal appeared as the blade was cut clean off the hilt, for the steel simply melted through the saber.
Phantom looked at the broken sword. He threw it to the side as X swung the saber to hit. He back-flipped over it and continued to move away from X. X continued to attack Phantom, missing him as Phantom performed gymnastics to avoid each of the attacks. He however could not dodge the X-Buster that X fired at him. As soon as he landed, the buster hit him in the chest. Phantom flew from his spot, a small incarceration in his chest. Sparks and electricity shown from it. Phantom held onto his chest and began to throw Kunais at X. back-flipped over them, catching the last one Phantom threw in his hand. He eyed Phantom with deep determination as he crunched the Shuriken in his hand.
Phantom threw his large Shurikens at X. X easily either dodged them or backflipped over them. Phantom gritted his teeth. Nothing was working against X. X was too skilled. Phantom reached into his pocket to use another weapon, but was shocked to see he was out. He looked at X as X charged at him. Phantom braced himself for defeat and possible destruction. Still, he choose not to go out without putting up some form of a fight. He was disappointed that the fight did not last long and that he did not fight X at his full power. He put his fists up to prepare for the attack.
Just then, a massive explosion came from the side of the wall. X turned around as the fragments of the wall flew in all directions. X looked curiously at the smoke and rubble that appeared. A sound of a blaster going off was heard. X attempted to brace for an attack, but was promptly hit by a Z-Buster. X got up, despite the small scar in his chest (which exposed some internal components) and managed to deflect a blow from Zero; who had charged in from the dust.
"Zero!" X shouted.
"Stay down." He said as he deflected a counter attack from X.
Both Reploids zoomed off to different sides and held their weapons towards each other. Behind Zero as the smoke and dust cleared, the Black Knights began rushing into the facility. Six Black Knight members appeared from the smoke, armed with machine guns and began to move around the facility. Ciel, Cerveau, and Leviathan appeared from the smoke there as well.
"The Black Knights!" X shouted.
"Save your energy X." Zero said as he pointed his saber at him. "Your fight's with me. Not them."
"You're not suggesting I'd kill them?" X shouted.
"Of course not; you're you." Zero said in a sarcastic manner. "You're the one who protects people. Yet I see you attacking a base with humans in it! How the hell can you justify what your doing!? Do you know what's in this base? Or what the Britannians will do to these people afterwards!?"
"These people are causing large scale blackouts by draining all this power." X shouted. "It doesn't matter what happens;' Reploids are not made to make those decisions."
"But your not a Reploid; and neither am I." Zero said. "We can make decisions! You know what's going to happen to these humans after everything's said and done!"
"Aaaarrr..." X grumbled. "Enough talk!"
X pointed his saber at Zero.
"This is between you and me." X said.
"So be it…hero." Zero said.
X and Zero charged at each other. Both warriors crossed their blades and attempted then to push the other one to his knees. X and Zero gritted their teeth at each other as both sides attempted to break the others push.
"I can't let you go around killing more people Zero." X said.
"Oh please spare me your self-righteous crap." Zero said as he broke the lock.
X looked as Zero attempted to bring the saber down on him. X leaped over Zero as Zero brought down the slash. Zero quickly turned around to see X firing his X-Buster at Zero. Zero rolled out of the way and fired his Z-Buster in return. X used his saber and held the blast in place long enough to deflect it off. Zero tried charging at him. X picked up pieces of the rubble created by the bomb the Black Knights used soccer style and kicked them at Zero in an attempt to slow him down. It was in vain for Zero was able to flip and roll out of the way to dodge the pieces. Zero dodged one last X-Buster as he moved in for a kill.
But he missed. X put his saber out to deflect the blow. He swung it at Zero's head. Zero ducked and then made a stab at X's stomach. X jumped in the air and Zero missed. Zero got up as X brought down his saber on him. Zero blocked the blow. While the two stayed locked at each other, Zero kicked X in the stomach and forced him away. X got up right away and kept his saber out, knowing it would serve him better than the buster; for Zero had become too persistent to rely on point blank shots.
Outside, the Britannian forces had moped up eighty percent of the Reploid forces. Cornelia was annoyed at this fact, hoping X would have been able to subdue them. Her flanks however, were at risk because the Reploids put up such a fight. Many Britannian infantry and tanks charged. Although most of them were able to kill their targets, most of them we're gunned down on their way up. She had already reinforced two flanks because of the Reploids advanced technology and skill. Even the Knightmares couldn't get close.
But then X destroyed the artillery. The Knightmares managed to approach the Reploid's position and began to fire ruthlessly on them. Many Reploids screamed as the bullets penetrated through their armor and fell dead. Britannian infantry charged up. The Reploids who survived fired back. Britannian forces fell, but they we're unable to thin their ranks far enough. And the Reploids fell dead. The Britannians managed to secure the unconscious Fefnir who slept before them. He was safely locked away now in a stasis environment.
But then an explosion pierced through the side of the walls of the cave. Four Sutherlands came out the massive hole. The Knightmares stopped in confusion.
"Alright!" Ohgi shouted from within the cockpit. "Take a position and don't let any Britannian through."
"Death to Britannia!" Tamaki shouted.
Kallen lead the team with Ohgi by her side. She started by firing her Slash Harkens at two tanks who were nearby. Both tanks we're hit and exploded. While the harkens retracted, Kallen used the machine gun on her Knightmare and began to fire. She was bad with it. It didn't suit her style. Ohgi, Kento, and Tamaki however enjoyed the fruit of this gun for it bore them three kills each. The Knightmares didn't have time to react against the sudden onslaught and most began to retreat. The four Black Knight Sutherlands picked them off one by one. All in all, fifteen Knightmares and twenty tanks lay destroyed from the counter attack. The ones who survived regrouped and pressed towards them. They had positions behind the man made canyon from the rocks that we're taken from the walkway up to strip Britannia of cover.
"Now this is more like it!" Tamaki said. "Now they know what's like on our end!"
"Ciel!" Ohgi said on his tac-com. "How's like down there!?"
Ciel and six of the Black Knights we're currently engaged with Britannian forces. Ten Britannian infantry units were firing at them as they stayed behind a wall to keep safe from the rounds. Leviathan stood by Ciel to make sure she was safe. Ciel fired rounds at the Britannian forces, but she was bad at it, missing all the time. She fired wildly enough though when she did to force Britannians down.
"Not too good." Ciel said. "We're trying to clear a way, but no luck!"
"C'mon guys get some kills!" Leviathan said as she continued to swing her lance around and deflect bullets away from them. She had been hit a couple times, but nothing serious on her end.
"Alright screw this!" Cerveau said holding his gun. He cocked something in place as he walked out towards the Britannians. He went over to where Leviathan was and pointed his gun at the Britannian marines firing.
"Say hello to my little friend!" He shouted, firing a grenade from his gun.
The explosion incased that entire section of the hallway.
X and Zero continued to clash their blades from within the fortress. X barely dodged another swing from Zero and did a side flip to prevent him from being hit from another. As he got up, he swung at Zero. Zero blocked the blow that X made in order to counter attack. X deflected the counter attack and went for Zero's neck with his saber. Zero ducked and moved away from X.
"You really paid attention when I showed you how to fight with a saber." Zero said.
"You'll find I'm full of surprises." X said as he recharged at Zero.
Zero clashed again with X and blocked two blows. X and Zero both got their sabers right next to each other, spinning them around in their hands 360 degrees twice. Zero used this time to punch X in the stomach. X lost balance and flicked his sword away from him. The saber flew the air and deactivated as it landed on the ground. Zero looked at the unarmed X. X dodged a vertical stroke from Zero by rolling to the side. He fired his X-Buster at Zero. Zero simply used Heat haze and created an illusion of himself. X hit the illusion and found that Zero was gone.
X didn't wonder where Zero was for long. He turned around to see Zero right next to him, saber pointing right at his head.
"You are beaten." Zero said. "Surrender here X. Don't make me kill you like I had to kill Iris."
"Why do you show mercy to me!?" X shouted. "Don't you realize I'm trying to retire you!"
X looked at Zero as Zero moved closer with the saber. X became humble and lifted his arm down. Zero kept his eye on X because he knew X was full of surprises.
And surprises they were. A bright glowing light incased X.
"No you don't!" Zero said as he swung his saber at X.
Zero however missed X. Zero looked around to find where X was. He remembered the saber and looked to see if it was there. It was gone. X had managed to steal it behind his back. Zero continued to look around as he tried to find where X was.
His answer came when he looked up to see Shurikens fall from the ceiling and towards him. Zero ran from the spots and allowed the Shuriken busters to hit the ground. Zero looked up to see X in his shadow armor descend towards him. X landed on the ground, holding the blade behind his back, reverse blade style. Zero held his saber in his hand, knowing full well what X could do in this form.
X pulled the same trick that he did before. He disappeared in front of where Zero was and reappeared in front of him. He swung the sword at him. Zero barely dodged it, but still received injury from it. X fired his Shuriken-buster at Zero. Zero took the hit. He recovered from the hit, despite the pain he felt from the attack. He deflected several more blows from X, but couldn't keep up with him this time. Every once in awhile he would receive an injury from him. Eventually X pushed Zero down the ground.
"Now who should surrender?" X said.
"You think it was that easy!?" Zero shouted. "Guess again!?"
Zero flipped up from where he was. X fired more busters at him. Zero managed to weave in and out from them. Zero stood still as X waited for him to attack with his Buster pointed at him. Zero smirked at him as he closed his eyes. A bright ensnared Zero to X's surprise. X backed away from Zero as the energy encased him. When it cleared up, Zero went from Red Zero, to Black Zero. Zero smiled at him as he drew his saber in his direction.
"Want to try that again?" Zero asked.
"You think your hyper mode can stop me?" X said.
Zero teleported to X's surprise right in front of him. X gasped as he moved back. Zero reached his hand and grabbed him, securing a grip as he held X in the air. X tried to get out of it, but the grip was so tight and painful, X dropped the saber and couldn't get his buster at the right angle.
"Yes I do." Zero barked.
Britannia had made another charge towards the Black Knights. They fired wildly into the them as they tried to charge into them another time. Three of their number fell because they could not find a position. Once again they fell back and we're forced to regroup.
"This is getting easy!" Kento said. "I can't see anything going through our defense!"
"Don't say that! Ohgi shouted. "Bad luck usually happens when someone does that!"
And bad luck did happen. One of the Knightmares exploded by them. Ohgi, Kento, and Kallen looked over by their fallen comrade to see a Reploid floating above it, the flames and smoke clouding some of his figure.
"I shall redeem my lost honor!" Harpuia shouted.
"Zero!" Ohgi shouted. "A Reploid!"
"Retreat!" Lelouch shouted over the radio. "Have Zero deal with it! You bought as much time as you can!"
"Right!" Ohgi said. "All units retreat!"
Ohgi's Knightmare began to backup into the large cave that they had created with the explosives. Kallen and Kento soon followed, firing rounds behind them in order to keep Harpuia away. Harpuia weaved in and out of the rounds and took almost no damage.
Kallen pointed her gun up and fired at the roof with her machine gun. She depleted all of her remaining ammo and fired an armor piercing round into the roof of the ceiling. Harpuria stopped moving as rubble from the ceiling collapsed. All of rubble fell and blocked the hole that they had created earlier. Harpuia just stared at them. He made one last look at the ruined Knightmare that he had destroyed as the Britannian units went over to Harpuia.
"Welcome back Harpuia!" They said.
"It is good to be back on the battlefield." Harpuia said. "Have your forces advance in the building. Retire any Reploid who is too dangerous to keep alive. Any who surrender or are knocked out capture. Cornelia desires as many as alive as possible."
"Yes sir!" They shouted as they proceeded forward to the base. Marines from below began to swarm in once again.
"Miss Ciel!" The Reploids that we're held up in the deeper sections of the base shouted.
Most of the younger Reploids like Alouette ran over to Ciel to hug her. Ciel gave them hugs back, but at first was scared since five people at once tried to hug her. She stood her ground as she received all the hugs from all the people. The Black Knights looked at Ciel as she helped everyone. They noticed as she seemed to bring great joy to them almost the moment after she entered.
"Miss Ciel!" Rouge said as she walked over. "Thank god you're here and…Leviathan!"
Rouge ducked over to where Colbor was and ducked behind him Colbor armed his gun and pointed it at Leviathan.
"Stay away Neo Arcadia scum!" He shouted.
"Hey!" Ciel said running in front of Leviathan. "Don't shoot! Leviathan's one of us now."
Colbor and the others looked confused as Ciel stood in front of Leviathan.
"I'm telling the truth!" She shouted. "Leviathan is with us. The Black Knights are helping us evacuate this base! We need to go!"
"Are you serious?" Joan said. "I mean how can we be sure she is with us? This could be a Neo Arcadia scam!"
"You know, I have been feeling really crappy lately; and none of you guys are helping." Leviathan said.
"Zero trusts her." Ciel said.
"Zero!?" Rouge asked.
"Yes; Zero." Ciel said. "He's here now battling Mega Man X! We need to go now."
"We can't though!" Colbor said. "We got to keep this Britannia from opening that capsule. We've been monitoring a lot of things with this system. It's been sending and hacking the Britannian security network so we know what they want."
"Zero's going to beat X and then we can go home with it." Ciel said. "Then we'll destroy it."
"Are you sure…" Rouge said.
Before she could finish, a explosion by the wall of the command room was created. Ciel ducked and moved to the ground. Britannian soldiers one by one began to appear by the wall. They began to fire. Ciel went over to Alouette and used her body to shield her. Several rounds tore into her back.
Ciel screams echoed throughout the building.
Zero knew that the Black Knights had fallen back. There wasn't much he could do about it. He knew though that Ciel and the others would be in trouble if they continued to advance through the perimeter. As Zero wondered what to do, X used his Strike chain and grabbed his saber. Zero let go just in time to avoid getting hit by the attack. Zero back-flipped over X's attack. He charged and locked his blade with X; once again, wrestling with the sapphire blue blade that shot sparks in all directions. X jumped back and dodged the attack Zero made after he swung the blade. X and Zero both leaped in the air and teleported. X and Zero began a series a teleporting and reappearing in different section and clashed their blades. Then they would teleport and reappear in another section of the area. The process continued on for what seemed like hours with no end in sight.
But seconds later while they fought, Ciel's tortured screams reached his ears.
"CIEL!" He shouted.
X charged at him another time. Zero found a burst of energy as he grabbed X. He spun X around a few times before throwing him into a wall. X tried to get up, but Zero fired a large Z-Buster into him. X flew from the wall he was at through it, making a X shaped hole in the wall, along with a Z-Buster shaped hole in the wall. Zero ignored the fact X could chase him and moved throughout the building.
Phantom in the midst of the fight stood there confused.
"How did I live through all that?" He asked.
Ciel had taken three bullets in the back, leaving large bloodstained clothes on her as she slowly slipped off of Alouette. Alouette looked at her with disbelief as Cerveau and the Black Knights fired back at the fifteen and growing number of Britannians that moved into the room. Four of them we're already killed. And more continued to pop out of the hole.
"Can't believe this…no cybernetic enhancements and they're not afraid to die." Cerveau said as he fired into the crowd, killing two more.
Leviathan leaped into the fray and began to attack the marines with her lance. She swung and chopped. Many fell did in pools of red blood. Several aimed their weapons at her. She pointed her hand out and blew a beam of freezing air at the group. She turned around and swung again and knocked several more to the ground, three of which we're killed. She continued to fight using her lance and many of the marines we're killed. But more continued to come out; and at an alarming rate at that. Leviathan found herself up against thirty marines and was forced to retreat away from them. She hid behind the barricades and the computers. Her attack all in all had killed twenty of the marines who continued to pour out.
Zero ran into the room where they were and grabbed Ciel. Ciel looked bad. Zero could already feel her heart rate going down. Leviathan ran over to her as well and went to take a look at her.
"Oh Zero…" Ciel said as pain fell through her back.
"No!" Zero shouted.
"Please…" She said weakly. "Please help all of them…save them Zero…"
"God damn it, Ciel!" Zero shouted. "I lost Iris…I WILL NOT LOSE YOU!"
Zero picked up Ciel and turned her over. The bullets didn't hit any vital areas, but they landed very close. She wasn't close to death, but if untreated, she could die. Zero wasn't worried about that. It was her mentality that was would kill her. She had been shot at before, but never shot. The pain was probably unbearable. Zero picked up Ciel in his arms and allowed her to put her arms on his neck.
"What's going on down there!?" Lelouch called out on radio.
"We can't reach the capsule!" Zero said as he fired three rounds from his pistol, killing three guards. Promptly which, two of the Reploids helping Cerveau we're shot at their CPUs and killed. "There's too troops moving around, and Ciel has been injured. Sorry Zero; we're aborting mission."
Lelouch stood silent for a minute.
"Understood." He said finally. "Retreat to the hole and plug it up."
"Let's go!" Zero shouted. "All units pull back! Pull back!"
Zero shot two more guards before leaving. Cerveau loaded another grenade and fired it into the crowd. The grenade killed ten guards as more continued to pour out of the section. Zero and the others ran back to where they had originally entered from. Phantom was still standing there.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Phantom!" Rouge said. "We're leaving. We'll fill you in later! We need to leave now!"
Zero made no effort to stop and explain and continued to run through the hole as many of the Reploids followed. In total, fifty-five Reploids, along with the higher up ones that both Zero and Ciel knew personality. Leviathan was the last one to enter as she went towards Phantom.
"Just trust me." She said.
"Lev…Levia…Leviathan!?" He shouted.
"C'mon!" She said, pulling him towards the hole.
Phantom was too confused at this point to know what was going on. Essentially, he allowed Leviathan to take him wherever she wanted. At this point, all he wanted was answers. Leviathan pressed a button behind her to create a series of explosions above the hole. Rocks and rumble fell from the ground and plugged up the hole. The Britannians, who arrived shortly later, along with Harpuria, had no way of following them.
"Damn those Black Knights." Harpuia said.
"Should we go after them?" A Marine asked.
"No time." Harpuia said. "We must get the capsule that they guarded so preciously. We can deal with them later."
"Cornelia!" A soldier shouted. "The enemy resistance is retreating via tunnel. The capsule has been secured."
"Good!" She shouted. "Secure and open it up."
Cornelia stood there on her chair. She felt the biggest feeling of pride today. She had defeated with precise tactics (and X's guidance and weaponry) people who possessed technology greater than that of Britannia. This would be a grand victory to be remembered; even if Britannia would have to keep this secret. But while she celebrated, a transmission came through.
"Incoming transmission from the Mainland." Dolton said. After examining it, his skin turned white.
"What?" Cornelia shouted.
"It's...it's your father." He said.
X managed to enter the area later as the squad that Harpuria had moved towards the vaulted room. X eventually after many hardships and dead ends, managed to find the server complex. X entered the heated room and found the main network server drive. Since it was Neo Arcadian brand, X was able to plug his X-Buster into the server complex directly.
There was lots of data stuffed in there. X saw in his mind the amount of folders and database reports that we're in them. X copied them into his hardrive for later review, but really, he was looking for what was going on. He searched through many windows and folders as he continued to march forward into the paths of data. He eventually found a database file called "Capsulereport". X opened the file in his mind and began to read it. However, he soon logged out and ran out the server. He knew now.
It's no wonder they didn't tell me! I got to stop them!
X arrived in the nick of time as Harpuia began to crack the capsule's defense code.
"DON'T OPEN THE CAPSULE!" He shouted. "DON'T OPEN THE CAPSULE!"
"Out of the way, machine!" A soldier shouted. "That capsule is property of the Britannian Empire!"
"Don't do it!" X shouted. "You have no idea what you are messing with!"
But the soldiers were loyal to Cornelia. They pointed their guns at X, the red lasers all over his body. X didn't know what to do. These men were about to release Sigma into the world. He couldn't allow that. But he also could not shoot these men. Even though he armed his X-Buster, would he really be able to fire?"
"Move X!" One shouted.
"I..." He muttered. "I...I can't let you do this. That thing in there..."
"Quiet you piece of scrap metal!" He shouted. "That piece of technology belongs to the Empire! Do not dissuade us!"
"I can't let you do this!" X shouted.
The men cocked their guns. But before a battle ensued, Cornelia went to the captain's radio. He answered it.
"Yes." He asked.
"This is Viceroy Cornelia!" She shouted. "I have received an order from Charles Di Britannia himself! We are to call off the attack, take the Reploids in without hostilities, and to not pursue that capsule. All men, cease fire! All men, cease fire! Do not touch the capsule!"
The battle was over. The Reploids who once numbered a two hundred-fifty two, now only numbered a mere ninety-five. Britannia had lost a two hundred-ninety six infantry, thirty two tanks, and twenty-five Knightmares. The Black Knights had lost one of its members. It was a massacre on both sides. Britannia couldn't believe how well a small group of machines had defended themselves. Forty of the Reploids had been captured, including that of Fefnir.
When X informed Cornelia about the data, she ordered that any remaining Reploid found throughout the base was not to be harmed. Somehow, her father knew Sigma was in there, but he gave her no answers how. Still, she knew why he choose not to destroy them. He desired powerful weapons to help Britannia keep its power and its people in check. As well as defeat any who would disrupt that peace. But neither of them had no desire to have their country destroyed by her greed. She agreed with Mega Man X. The attack was stopped immediately.
Mega Man X attempted to melt down the capsule and hopefully destroy Sigma. But X could not focus enough energy into his Buster. The fight with Zero had damaged his systems severely. Cornelia gave X downtime and allowed him to return to Count Lloyd for repairs.
"I assure you." She told X. "No one will pass through this section, with the King's order in place. We will secure the area and guard it; until you are able to get the energy needed to destroy it."
"Thank you Cornelia." X said.
"Your dismissed." She said to his surprise.
X saluted her and began to walk. But as he got far, he heard Cornelia continue.
"If it wasn't for you and my father…" She continued. "We would all have this Sigma Virus to deal with. All of Britannia's technological achievements would be for naught. We will make up for the lives lost here by dedicating ourselves to rid us of this Sigma."
"But how could your father have known that I wonder?" X asked.
Zero stayed by the door where Ciel was being operated on. He stood there in complete shock and fear. I had already assumed the worst. He had deactivated his armored form and went into human form. He was sweating fiercely from what had happened. He had not talked to anyone the rest of the night. He stayed on the bench.
Kallen walked into the room where Zero was at. When she saw him without his armor, she jumped.
"Zion!" She shouted.
"Yeah." He said. His voice was shaky, and rattled with fear. "Figured you find out sooner or later."
Kallen stood there with disbelief. She had now learned about machines that could impersonate a human being. Now one of her friends was not only the body guard of Zero, but that he was one. And a classmate at that.
"How long we're you going to hide yourself?" She asked.
"Until I felt it was right to tell." Zero said. "This is a little bit early than what I expected. I didn't want you to find out until we had won or lost the war. I felt it would have been better for you to find out. But I just don't feel like returning myself to armored form."
"So all that you said about yourself to and from spots are…" Kallen began.
"Lies." Zero said. "All of them."
"But why?" She asked.
"There's things about me and my life that are better left forgotten." Zero said.
"Are you worried about her?" Kallen asked.
Zero looked at her. She could see tears in his eyes. Kallen's eyes widened and gleamed when she peered into his. But how to tell her he was a robot...that he was from another dimension? There would be no way for her to believe him. So...he paraphrased his story.
"Long time ago..." He said. "I fell in love with this girl. She was named Iris. Back then I served the empire as they're experimental slave. I kept destroying resistance and kept the world safe. But then her brother joined the resistance. I pursued him to the ends of the earth and deep space to find him. Then I killed him. I killed him in cold blood. I could still hear his scream as the explosion...and his sense of pride. Iris couldn't take the grief. She knew I had to do it…but she couldn't accept it. Then…oh the horror…"
"What happened?" Kallen asked, interested with emotion.
"I…I…I killed her." Zero said.
Kallen gasped at the mere sound.
"She went crazy." Zero said. "I…I…I had choice; I had to do it. But it left a marking on my heart. One that never healed. And when I saw Ciel back there…all I could think about was her…and Iris. I thought I was going to lose her. I could lose her. I didn't know what to do. When I lost Iris, I felt as if the whole world around me collapsed. Everything was stripped away; leaving only my cold emotions to others to keep my company. I hated myself. Many times I entered battle hoping to die. Hoping that if my life was taken, the grief would pass. Nothing could help. I don't want to lose her…I couldn't take it…to lose her and Iris."
Zero lowered his head into legs. Kallen couldn't help but make a small tear at the poor man. Leviathan had also listened to everything that Zero had said as she stayed behind a door. Leviathan lowered her head.
So that's why he's so stoic. He tries to hide his inner feelings.
Kallen sat next to Zero and put her hand on his.
"I'm so sorry Zero…" She said.
"You don't have to apologize." He said.
"No." she said. "I do."
"What for?" Zero asked.
"Because I thought you we're nothing more than a slave." She said. "I thought you were a man who took only orders and didn't care about what had happened. But you showed me wrong. Behind your rough exterior…emotions…more powerful than ours exist. I should have thought better of you. I apologize."
Zero looked at her. Kallen was teary eyed, but she never cried. Except for the one that had fell. Zero knew she was sincere in what she had said.
"Thank you Kallen Stadfield." He said.
"Do you love her?" She asked.
Zero looked up, unable to answer.
"Not sure." He said. "She's my closest friend right now...she's the only one I care about in comparison to Leviathan."
Out of the room, Rouge opened the door and went over to where Zero was. Zero almost sprang from where he was.
"Is she alright?" He asked.
Rouge looked at Zero with a depressed look. She lowered her head to the ground. Zero almost was about to burst out when he saw this.
"She'll be alright!" Rouge said at last.
Zero looked at her with disbelief. As soon as he heard that, he drew emotions all out of him. A rare smile appeared on his face. Kallen looked at him with utter joy as she saw his happy expression. She had never truly known Zero. Now she knew him…saw him in his truest form. No shell. All emotion.
"Thank you Rouge!" He said.
Zero grabbed Rouge and hugged her. It almost looked like harassment of some form, due to the fact Zero was two feet taller than her.
"Alright…alright…" She said. "Settle down there cowboy."
"Can I see her?" He asked.
"Sure." She said. "She's fine and awake."
"I will." He said.
Zero turned to Kallen's direction.
"Kallen." He said.
Kallen turned to his direction.
"Thank you." He said. "For helping me recognize that I haven't gone maverick yet."
Kallen did not know what he meant by that, but she still smiled and nodded her head.
Zero smiled back, Ciel was in there on a bed. There was a lot of blood there, but she looked alright. She was awake and relaxed on the bed. She turned to see Zero. Her face almost radiated with joy.
"Oh Zero…" she said.
"I'm glad you're alright." Zero said as he clasped her hand tightly. "I almost lost you…I couldn't…"
"It's alright." She said as she put her other hand on top of Zero's. "I am here. I am still alive."
"Ciel…" he said.
The two stayed like that for what seemed like hours. All Kallen and Leviathan did was stare and watch (without Zero's knowledge).
A lone figure appeared over in the field as it approached the hole where the battle had began. It wandered over to the base. It approached the checkpoints where the guards we're at. At first the guards pointed their weapons at it. It simply took off its cloak at each checkpoint. Each of the guards each time simply lowered their weapons and allowed the figure to pass. It continued to do that until it reached the room where the capsule was. The figure pressed the release button on the capsule. The capsule opened up as Sigma pulled himself out of the capsule. Sigma got up from his long slumber and looked into the figure. He looked around the room itself too. He knew everything that was going on in the background. He could read the data stored in the Reploid servers. He then began to laugh at figure, assuming that he had let him out for power.
"Heh!" He said as looked at him. "Britannia played right into my hand. You have not released a Reploid who will help you, but is going to destroy you."
"Wrong." The figure said.
The figure unveiled its cloak. IT was an older man. He wore a traditional powdered wig from that of England. He was tall in stature and strong in appearance. A Geass symbol appeared in his eye.
"You serve me." Charles Di Britannia said.
"What!?" Sigma asked.
The Geass was casted.