Chapter 7, The Resistance.
Resistance base.
"Zero, we can't ask X to stop the Master, because X is the Master of Neo Arcadia" said Ciel.
Zero was speechless for a few seconds as he processed what Ciel had just said, "Your lying" he said in a voice that was so serious that it sent a cold shiver down Ciel's spine, "X would never do something like that".
Ciel gulped "Zero please, I know that this has to be hard for you to believe but I promise you that I'm telling the truth" she said her voice breaking slightly.
Zero was looking at Ciel suspiciously, there didn't seem to be a hint of trust on his face, "Why, why would X do something like that, how do you expect me to believe something like that" he said, Ciel was trying to think of something to say but her mind was coming up blank.
Zero turned to leave fully intending to abandon the Resistance, "Zero please don't go, we need your help, everyone needs your help" begged Ciel, Zero stopped just at the door, "Then where's your proof, where's the proof that what your telling me is true.
Ciel quickly jumped off of her bed and ran over to her computer, "Here, these are all of the files that I downloaded the day that I left Neo Arcadia" said Ciel as she brought up all of the files that she had on Neo Arcadia.
Zero looked over Ciel's shoulder at the computer screen, the files showed multiple things, there was plans for an ever growing army, there was talks about cover ups and kidnappings, and there was blueprints for a Reploid mass execution factory.
Zero wouldn't deny that everything that he was looking at was worrying, however he also knew that Ciel could have just faked all of these files, but there was still a chance that everything that he was seeing was true.
Zero wasn't convinced that X was behind any of this, it just didn't sound like his old friend at all, however he did want to know just what was going on here and who was telling the truth and he wouldn't be able to do that if he was wondering the wasteland alone.
"Fine Ciel, I'll listen to you for now, but if I find out that your lying to me than Neo Arcadia will be the least of your worries" he said making sure that there was no room for any misunderstanding in what he meant.
Ciel released a breath that she didn't realise she was holding, this had not gone as well as she had hoped but at least for now Zero was willing to hear them out, "Thank you Zero" she said.
Shortly after this Ciel was called to the command room, it seemed that now that Milan was dead she was now the leader of the Resistance, while Ciel was gone Zero took this chance to explore the base and hopefully learn all that he could.
The Resistance was made up of mostly Reploids but there was a few Humans here and there as well, everyone looked miserable and afraid, it seemed like they thought that they could be attacked at any second.
No matter where Zero went he saw that everything in the base was falling apart and was only being held together by improvised repair jobs, Zero was starting to wonder if the Resistance would survive even if he did help them.
"Hello there young man, I haven't seen you around here before" someone said as Zero passed, Zero turned and saw a Reploid who resembled a old man with a long beard, this confused Zero first he had seen a child Reploid and now an old man, who would build Reploids that are physically weak.
"I'm Andrew, may I ask you your name" said the old Reploid, "Zero" said Zero simply, "Zero? Ar you must have been named after that legendary hero from all of those years ago" said Andrew complicity oblivious too the fact that he was speaking to said hero.
Zero was about to say something but Andrew continued talking, "Yes the legendary Zero, that Reploid saved so many lives, it's a shame what happened to him" said Andrew becoming lost in thought.
Zero knew that he should correct Andrew but this could be a chance for him to learn if Ciel was telling the truth, "And what did happen to him exactly" asked Zero.
"Oh it's so sad, Zero died in battle when he and the evil Reploid Sigma destroyed each other" said Andrew, "I often wonder, would X still have gone insane if Zero had survived" he added sadly.
This information was becoming a little to much for Zero so he said goodbye to Andrew and left.
A little later Zero came across the little Reploid girl Alouette, "Hi, is Mummy finished working yet" asked Alouette as she ran up to Zero, "She's just in a meeting right now, she should finished soon" said Zero.
"Oh, OK then" said Alouette sounding disappointed as she turned to leave, "Alouette could you wait a minute" asked Zero, Alouette looked up to Zero a little confused "What is it" she asked, "Could you tell me what do you think about Neo Arcadia" asked Zero.
Alouette hugged her toy tightly, "Neo Arcadia's really scary, Mummy said that their the reason that I'm the only one of me left" she said with fear clear in her voice.
Zero felt a spike of guilt, he didn't want to upset Alouette, "Hey don't worry about them, they can't get you here" he said trying to reassure the girl, Alouette gave a weak smile "Thanks, I'm going to go and find Mummy" she said as she ran off.
This wasn't a good sigh, Zero began to wonder if Ciel was right about Neo Arcadia, but he still wasn't convinced that X was the one behind all of this, Zero wondered could somebody have replaced X with an imposter.
Zero passed a old dusty mirror and paused as he caught a glimpse of himself, Zero took a step back and looked at himself fully in the mirror, this was the first time that Zero had been able to get a good look at himself since he had been woken.
Zero notice how different his body looked, whoever had rebuilt him had clearly made a lot of changes and Zero wondered if these changes was supposed to be upgrades or if his old body was so badly damaged that whoever had saved him had to build a completely new body.
Zero's body was now a lot more sleek and streamlined, he was completely missing all of the more bulky parts that he had before, this made Zero look far more human than he had before, if he was to try he could probably pass off as a human who was simply wearing armour.
Looking at his new armour closely caused Zero's curiosity to spike, Zero felt the armour on his torso and to his surprise he found that the armour wasn't attached to him it was in fact just a armoured vest that he could removed.
Zero quickly checked the rest of his armour and found that it was all removable, if he was to take it all off then he would likely look completely human, Zero wondered why these changes had been made, but then again it seemed that all Reploids looked like this now.
A few minutes passed and nothing happened, Zero talked to a few more members of the Resistance but he only received the same story, everyone here clearly had a low opinion of Neo Arcadia and it's ruler.
Soon Zero saw Ciel, she was with a few Reploids and a Human and everyone of them looked worried.
"What's going on" asked Zero, "Neo Arcadia captured some of our men, they was sent out on a scouting mission a week ago but they was ambushed on the way back, we just received their distress call but it's too late, their already gone" said one of the Reploids
"And what's going to happen to them now" asked Zero though he had a few ideas, "Their being taken to a Disposal centre, that's where all Reploids are sent" said another Reploid, "Do you know where this place is" asked Zero, "Yes, one of them was wearing a tracker, their being taken to one of the highest security Disposal centres there is, so there's no chance of a rescue" said the Reproid.
Zero thought about this, it certainly seemed bleak and everyone looked like they was ready to morn their fallen friends, "I'll see if there's anything that I can do" said Zero surprising everyone.
"What are you insane, no one in their right mind would go near a Disposal centre" said the Human though Zero didn't take any notice, "Zero the disposal centres are some of the most dangerous places on Earth for Reploids, are you sure about this" asked Ciel, "I'm sure" said Zero.
"OK, I'll provide you with whatever support that I can from here, but please promise me that you'll be careful" said Ciel with nothing but concern in her voice, Zero didn't make that promise mostly because he didn't know what was going to happen.
While Zero didn't say it he had a reason for doing this other then saving those Resistance members, he wanted to find out more about Neo Arcadia and this seemed like a good place to start.