Mega Man Zero
Log Interference
Phase 0: Dive In
A/N:
Narration
"Dialogue"
Monologue
*sfx*
Sand Wilderness
It has been a year since the former Maverick Hunter Reploid Zero went his separate way with the Resistance.
During that time, he continued to resist the forces of Neo Arcadia on his own without any aid from others.
He fought and destroyed countless pantheons to lessen the possible burden they would have on the resistance; however, eventually, all the fighting lost its meaning for him.
To regain that sense of loss, he once again sought out the resistance, defeating all pursuing enemies and leading him to the desert.
*boomboomboom*
As the mechaniloid, Mega Scorpia, slowly explodes, Zero falls onto his knee. "Somehow... I did it..." the wounded reploid whispers as his sight slowly dims. "But.. it took me...".
*thud*
After a year's worth of no proper maintenance was done on his body, all the wear and tear in his system and the damage he took when dealing with the large mechaniloid took its toll and shut down his systems.
But before his sight completely blacked out, a silhouette of a figure appeared in the midst of the explosion.
"Hmmm... I'm alive?" The lone female reploid stood amidst the wreckage of Mega Scorpia as she checked her vital signs.
She has short white hair, blue eyes, and noticeable red zigzag line markings that run down below her right eye. The female reploid wore a black leotard, arm sleeves, and stockings. Her overall armor consists of a white gorget that looks like a collar, thick arm armor that is like a rerebrace, and large boots.
For a short while, she was in a daze over her situation. "How?"
*swoosh*
The gentle breeze, accompanied by sand and the scorching heat of the sun, helped her realize that what she was experiencing was all very real.
"Where exactly am I..." She scanned her surroundings to verify if the place resembled any topography in her database and noticed the body of a fallen reploid. Based on the IFF in her record, this is likely to be...
"Zero…," a soft voice escaped her lips as she slowly walked beside the fallen reploid. She scanned his vitals and noticed that he sported the design of the other Zero that she knew. "By his appearance, this is definitely the Zero timeline. And that means…" She looked at her arm and leg armor before looking back to the fallen reploid. "My appearance is so out of place here."
As technology progressed, the armor used by reploids became slimmer, and by 21XX, before the Elf Wars began, the chest and leg armor that she wore had been phased out already.
"In any case," she crouched down and looked at him closely. "To live or to die..." she said as if recalling a certain scene before slowly picking his body up.
This is likely the intro stage for Zero 2,
The reploid thought until she recalled the next scene that should have followed. "I know you're there; show yourself."
*Swoosh*
A small gust of wind blew as two figures descended from the sky. A green humanoid Reploid rode a Hippogriff-like Reploid.
"Sage Harpuia," the female reploid said with a deadpan expression as if expecting his presence.
"Who or what exactly are you?" Harpuia asked as he eyed the outdated-looking reploid carefully. A model that exuded a vibe similar to the other guardians, if not stronger.
"Iris," she pauses for a moment before continuing. "That's a good name. I'm Iris, former Repliforce Reploid turned Maverick Hunter operative."
Harpua squints his eyes over the introduction. Scanning the terms used, it fit the time period models of Reploids like her were made yet something seems off about this female Reploid.
"That should do it, right?" Iris asks. Whether the information she gave is true or not is irrelevant for the time being, as Harpuia is starting to have a massive migraine over how the reploid acts.
Her attitude is just like...
Harpuia thought as he shifted his attention to the red reploid on the ground.
"Very well..." Knowing what the Maverick Hunters are and what they do from his database and its connection to their progenitor X, Harpuia lightly tap his foot as the hippogriff slowly ascends. While there are some worrying things about the female reploid. Mainly regarding the information he got from her, she does not seem to be a threat to pose a threat.
"Wait!" Iris called.
"Yes?"
"I don't know how to get past this skipped scene," Iris said while Harpuia looked at her, trying to understand what she was saying. "Can you help me get to the resistance base?"
"And why would I help you or him for that matter?" Harpuia asked. "I am one of the four guardians of Neo Arcadia, and the Resistance is a threat to us."
"But wasn't that your intention as well?" Iris replied back while taking a side glance at Zero.
"...Hmph! Grab Aztec's legs," Harpuia crosses his arm and grumbles. Somehow, she could read his intention.
After taking a separate path with the resistance, Zero had been fighting them by himself. During that time, he conducted several guerilla tactics that primarily focused on decreasing their numbers. Recently, Harpuia received a report that Zero had been spotted in the open. Seeing this change of behavior, Harpuia decided to take a look at how the lone hero was managing. If he were to kick the bucket, then so be it; it would mean the confidence they had given him for besting them is all for nothing. And if he is still alive, then he will get the rematch that he has been waiting for. Upon arrival, however, he saw him on the ground and the remains of the mechanoloids they sent were in shambles.
He was disappointed to see Zero lying on the ground after his fight with a mechaniloid like Mega Scorpia, but he had been fighting them for years without repair.
The new resistance base should be nearby,
That is when the idea came to his mind to send him near the resistance base for repairs.
A year had passed since the resistance left Neo Arcadia, and during that time, they continued to oppose humanity while slowly building their new base in the middle of nowhere. If he was to have his rematch with Zero, they were the most capable hands he knew who could help him get back into fighting shape.
This should be contradictory for his duty but after taking the mantle of ruling Neo Arcadia from Copy X a year ago, he came to a realization that the resistance is not entirely wrong. But as long as they continue to resist humanity, they will continue being vigilant to them. And this gives him more chance to face against Zero.
And yet, before he could act on his plan, he detected an unknown presence at the center of the Mega Scorpia's wreckage. As the dust settled, he noticed a lone female Reploid with outdated features slowly approaching Zero. He decided to wait and see what the reploid will do until she called him out. "Don't blame me if either of you fall."
"Thank you," Iris replied. "X would have done the same in this situation."
"..."
Resistance Base, Entrance.
Just as the Resistance Army was preparing for its next operation,
The news of Zero's return caused all resistance soldiers who fought alongside him a year ago to gather at the base's entrance. They were greeted by an unknown female reploid carrying a severely injured Zero.
With how outdated the female reploid looks, they assumed he met her in his year of absence and a relic of the past that he unearthed. Questioning her is not a priority right now with Zero in critical condition.
The resistance soldiers quickly delivered Zero to the maintenance facility where Cervaue, a tall reploid who appears to be in his thirties, wearing a long green lab coat and sporting a visor, Rocinolle, a female reploid wearing a white medical uniform, and Dough, Cervaue's assistant, a reploid that appears to be in his sixties, were waiting to tend to his injuries.
For Iris, she quickly entered without a pat down, only to be quickly swarmed by multiple resistance members demanding information on Zero.
"Haah... It can't be helped," Iris mumbled before bowing to them. "I know you have a lot of questions, but please let me go to where he is right now."
"Sorry about that miss...?" Colbor, one of the reploids that swarmed her walks forward and apologìze on behalf of them.
"Iris" Iris introduced herself.
"Right, Ms. Iris," Colbor replied. "We were just delighted to see Zero back. Let me lead you to the maintenance facility."
"Thank you,"
Resistance Base, 4F Maintenance Room
"Hmmm... this is quite severe," Cerveau said in awe as he analyzed all of Zero's damage. "To think he held on this long." Amazed at how Zero managed to keep on fighting for a year without any professional help. With all the wear and tear in his body. There are even some signs that he improvised by taking parts from enemies that he defeated. He even has placed a strange mechanism in his hands that lets him assimilate weapons taken from defeated enemies. But it didn't stop him from doing his duties. "Doight, go to the storage and have Autruche bring me all these parts." Analyzing all of the parts that need to be replaced and parts that can be fixed, Cerveau handed Doight a long list of materials.
"On it," Doight replied. he quickly ran out of the room, not noticing A female reploid with white hair enter as he left.
"How is his condition," Iris said.
"Ah, you must be the one who brought Zero back," Rocinolle said as he replied with a nod. "I'm sorry but we are currently undergoing his repairs."
"I'm Iris, a former colleague of Zero, I have previous experience in treating reploids, Please let me help,"
Cerveau and Rocinolle look at one another before they relent to her.
If she is who she claims to be, there should be no problem in letting her aid them.
The repairs took longer than what Cerveau had expected. Zero's initial repair which was supposed to last for at least an hour got extended to five hours. Not because of how difficult the repairs were but because Iris suggested that they should strike while the iron is hot midway through his repair. Rather than just fixing him back to normal, she suggested they upgrade some of his systems while they're at it by showing them the performance of the old Zero.
"I see what you mean..." Cerveau contemplates. "The Zero one year ago does not seem to show the capacity to learn technique based from the enemy he defeated."
"Who knew he could double jump and even dash on air?" Dough added.
"But do we have the parts needed for this upgrade?" Rocinolle asked which Cerveau responded by shaking his head.
Due to missing necessary parts, it took them longer to complete his repairs. They had to fabricate some of his upgrade parts using the materials they had on hand and ensured the important parts and chips they were missing could be easily swapped once more materials arrived.
*swish*
After finishing the repair and upgrade of Zero, while Cerveau and Rocinolle continue to watch Zero's vitals, a tired Iris went out of the room where she met a blonde human walking in circle in front of the room's door.
"Can I help you with something Dr. Ciel?" Iris asked.
"Iyaaaah!" Ciel yelps in shock as Iris's voice brings her back to her senses.
"..."
Iris stood silently. Deliberating if she will ask once more or let Ciel speak first.
"Uhm about Zero..." Ciel fidgets for a while. Finding the right words to ask. "Is he..."
"We finished all of his repairs," Iris replied tiredly. "It's better to see for yourself. I am certain Cervaeu and the rest won't mind you there."
"Thank you." Nodding, Ciel dashed into the room. "Huh?" Then it clicked in. Just as Cerveau raised a thumbs up to tell her everything was fine, Ciel came to a full stop before looking back at the exit. "Did I ever introduce myself to her?"
Aaaaaaaaaaand Cut!
With this, the chapter came to a close.
The Z/ZX legacy was on sale recently and the idea of her in the series popped up while playing Zero 2 and XDive.
For the review likes and follow, thanks!
Made some minor changes. Corrected some grammar and spelling err. v1 09/05/21
Change 2F to 4F for the location of the maintenance room
