"Zero! Your back!" Alouette all but jumped out of her seat as the Hero of the hour re-materialized on the tele-pad. Not even looking the worst for wear (well, there was some damage, but to Alouette's eyes, they did not exist at all.). Ciel all but wept at the sight, shamelessly running up to the red ripper and throwing her arms around her neck. "You didn't, why did you…Please don't do this again!" The de facto leader of the resistance all but cried in sheer relief.

Zero looked down at the young genius; her face remained impassive…calculating.

"Zero, what happened to you? When did you wake up? Why did you go on a mission without telling me? You could have gotten-"

"How did you know we were hacked?" Zero asked abruptly, revealing to Ciel what had changed.

It took a moment for Ciel to recover from this unexpected development.

"Ciel, how did you know?"

"Zero your-"

"Just answer my question." The red legend snapped.

'Uh-oh, Zero's not happy…' Alouette noticed; Zero held herself on alert. She was looking at Ciel with angry eyes as if she was an enemy. The little reploid remained quiet, knowing that she could get more information as long as she remained unseen.

Ciel recoiled from Zero's intense leer. "I…I received a tip from…from an anonymous person, he told me the computers had to be destroyed and-"

"Where was he? Could you track down his Location?" Zero asked…no, demanded to know. Her eyes narrowed.

"N…No, No, I couldn't…"

"Did he give you a name? Was there anything you could have used to identify him?"

"No! Zero, why are you asking me all those questions," Ciel asked as she took a step away from the fuming blond.

The legendary re Heroin clenched her fist…and let out a vent through her nose.

"Did he wrote, Anon. underscore Upper case X ?"

Ciel's eyes grew even wider…" Yes...he did, but How did... Oh…No...Don't…Don't tell me."

"Yes…He played both of us," Zero revealed, her arms crossed. " Ciel…do you know the purpose of the Hidden base?"

Ciel shook her head, fearful of the answer.

"That's the last clean water source for Neo-arcadia, and by extension, the resistance base…" Zero ominously revealed. "Those controlled the pumps…if I would have destroyed them…"

Ciel brought her hand to her mouth, looking even paler and sick. "Oh God…" She fell to her knees.

Zero closed her eyes…and left. "If there's another emergency, you know where to find me." she of-handedly said.

Alouette looked at Zero's retreating back, she would love to follow the Heroin, but she had a rebel leader to calm down…she would track down Zero Later after the reploid had cooled down a bit.


In Neo-Arcadia, up in the central tower/sanctuary, the sharp and rhythmical sound of leviathan's heels and the argument between her brother units was the only thing to be heard. She had a message to deliver…and an opportunity to meet the reclusive Master of the last bastion of humanity.

'I hope he's in a good mood. Otherwise, I don't even think Harpi will be able to reach him.' Speaking of which, the green guardian was there in the hallway, his antennas twitching as he scanned the atmosphere for rain…not that any drop had fallen naturally over a hundred years. Beside him was Fefnir, the fighter of the group…he looked bored out of his mind as he leaned on the 'marble' column.

"Hari…I already told you, your system glitched." Fefnir lazily told his…colleague. "There's no raincloud…and the barometric pressure didn't change. It's all in your head."

"I know what my radar said Fefnir…And I didn't say it was about to rain, just the pressure changed as ifit had been about to rain." Harpuia specified.

"Yeah…in other words, you glitched." Fefnir gave a toothy grin. "Anyway, as I was saying, I can't wait to face Zero again; the Bot really got me fired up, you know." The red fighter let out a dreamy sigh. "I can still feel the burns of the last face of, can't wait to get reignited again by that true warrior."

"Keep it to yourself, Fefnir…" Harpuia cringed. "This…Is Zero we are talking about. The greatest traitor in History-"

"The breaker Of Master X precious, precious heart. The first sinner, the walking plague!" Fefnir dramatically finished with a flourish. "Har, we all know you care a crap tone for master X…but please, don't bring it to the battlefield. Besides, it's not like you didn't have this stupid, very satisfied smirk on your face after your own fight, bro."

" Leave your sick masochism on the battlefield." Harpuia made a face as Fefnir grin. "And don't put me in the same category as you."

"Hey! birds of a feather flocks together, and I wouldn't mind a bit of a...tag team action against Zero." Fefnir grinned; it was clear he had some fantasy about it.

"So, no welcoming party?" Leviathan decided to end his particular conversation before it would degenerate. "You know, I thought I was an important part of the team."

The red and green guardian of Neo-arcadia turned their attention toward the only 'girl' of the group. Fefnir sporting a huge fang-filled grin. "Hey Levi, how was your date with Zero? Was it satisfying?" at the side, Harpuia rolled his eyes.

Leviathan stretched her arms in the back, putting them behind her head. "Oh yes, absolutely, she had me pinned to the ground faster than I could clock it; she took my spear also and nearly pierced my core with my own weapon." She spoke nonchalantly with quite a bit of sarcasm, waiting for her two co-models to compute what she had just said.

Of course, truth be told...she would mind being in the same position, to be driven to the ground by the rogue legend, the beautiful Zero was nothing short then a dream come true, and this power...this raw power...

It drove Leviathan mad. she wanted more.

Fefnir barked in laughter. "Wow, that fast? Aww man, he held back with me, not fai-"Fefnir's eyes grew wider, Leviathan smirked, as was Harpuia.

"What do you mean 'she'?"

"I think she meant Zero…and I do believe you owe me a thousand Zenni." Harpuia smugly replied.

Fefnir rolled his eyes. "How did you know? He…he ain't girl shape, and his voice ain't sweet and sunshiny, I swear, he…she…they could make an entire platoon quack in their boot by speaking normally. Are you sure lev? Like-"

"A hundred percent. She even calls herself Draupadi now." The blue copy of X is confirmed. Not that Fefnir was listening to her, Harpuia having taken all of his attention

"In our last confrontation, I had a…well; I sort of discovered this fact as I was driving their head into solid stones… I'm still surprised as to how they survived it." Harpuia smirked.

"Anyway." Once again, Leviathan interjects to stop the conversation from degenerating more than it had any right to. "Zero's a cute girl with a lovely voice now. I went, I saw her, she overpowered me, and now I have to report to master X." the blue guardian spoke briskly before her demeanour turned a bit glum. "How is he?"

"Surprisingly joyful," Phantom spoke as he exited the Nexus, himself sounding quite astonished by this development. "I think he may have been smiling."

"No, you got to be kidding me," Fefnir exclaimed. "Master X smiling. Why?"

The Shinobi crossed his arms. "This…is not for me to tell you."

"Phantom… do you think he can see me right now?" Leviathan asked her more discreet colleague.

"Why? Master X, the ruler of Neo-arcadia, is a very busy man Leviathan; he does not have time to entertain you…not anymore." The entire atmosphere turned grim…the four guardians were well aware of their original template's general mood and how he had grown more recluses with each passing year.

"X…there's something wrong with him." Zero's words echoed through Leviathan's memory bank.

Nobody wanted to admit it…but there was something wrong with their leader. A type of melancholy that would not leave him, an aura of constant pain that would unmistakably shine through his cold veneer, smiles that would not reach his dull eyes… and no tears were shed for the fallen. Those dark feelings were so strong; even the guardians began to share them…that is before he cut all communication save for what was strictly necessary.

And then came his order to cull the reploid population to a manageable level, for they were draining resources.

First of all, the reploids population, unlike the human population, was always stable (theoretically) since they could not reproduce as humans would. And quite frankly, it was a good thing since space was limited. And second, reploids didn't need that much energy since they could recharge in the ever blazing sun…

Or, the older reploids could…those the cataclysm had eradicated with extreme prejudice. And thus, the majority of synthetic life now could only recharge either in a pod –something that not many could afford anymore- Or E-crystal and E-tanks –two things that would drain plenty of resources to manufacture.

The order had been given without emotion…nor even with any hesitation. It was as if Master X saw the whole thing as trivial…impersonal even. And they, his four guardians', were bound to his words…

For some reason, it was only Leviathan and maybe phantom that had picked up on that fact.

"Yoshou Leviathan." Phantom broke her out of her reveries. "Is there any reason why you want to speak with Master X?"

"I do" Leviathan nodded." Before she left, Zero gave me a message to deliver. It's specifically addressed to Master X." Phantom's eyes grew wider behind his mask; it seemed he was unaware of Zero's gender reveal. Nevertheless, the most professional of the Guardian did not react more than that to the news.

"What is the message?" he asked instead.

"She told Master X to stop acting like a fool; she'll be there to take good care of him soon and…"

"And?" The Shinobi asked his posture tense.

"And she told him to chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, and be happy." Leviathan recited, the foreign words resonating in the mausoleum like confines of the nexus antechamber.

The other three guardians listen to the mantra with rapt attention. "Hare Krishna…" Fefnir recited to himself while Harpuia's antenna began to twitch, the green wind guardian was probably cross-referencing and analyzing every single modulation of the prayer with known songs and hymns of the world...not that the registry had been comprehensive in the first place.

"Yoshou…did she told you what it was?" The ninja of the group asked, now on edge from the mantra.

"Zero told me it was the everlasting peace formula…and before you start to panic, no, there no virus attached to it. It's just some Sanskrit words, nothing more." She repeatedly assured Phantom about that fact.

Not even Ganesherif knew what it meant…shockingly enough.

"Yoshou, it could be a kill-phrase…" Phantom grimly informed the Ice-based general.

Leviathan waved his concerns off. "Oh, I doubt it. And I have a reason to believe it."

"Care to share it?" Harpuia asked.

"It's a secret between us girls…something you guys won't understand." She dismissed as she made her way to the heart of the Nexus…the grand doors were adorned with baroque-style cherubs…some of which resembling skeletons at a certain angle. Leviathan brought her hand to a hidden scanner; once her designation was read, the door opened, admitting the ice guardian to the lair of the Master of Neo-Arcadia.

The room was filled with static electricity, and the sound of the numerous servers and the world's strongest Wi-Fi antenna gave Leviathan some vertigo. There was no ambient light saved for the blinking LED, and the natural light streamed in from the sun-well illuminating Master X 'throne' and the Master of the Last bastion.

It was more like a monstrosity made out of oversized cables and consoles…basically the cities central neural hub. Sitting there, connected to the mega-computer, was master X., his eyes half-lidded as he compiled and treated all the data generated by the last safe heaven on earth. He wore a long blue robe that hid his frame, a cross emblazoned on his front, and a data-halo shone above his head, another connection to the city he served for a full century...more even.

"All glories to Light." Leviathan knelled, keeping her head bowed, unable to bear neither master X doll-like figure…nor his emotionless red eyes.

'Red eyes…why do I feel it means something important.'

"And all glories to Cain." The azure ruler replied to the old and overused greeting. "Fairy Leviathan…How is Zero?" Master X asked without any inflection.

The ice guardian paused…were to start.

"My mission to stop the destruction of-"

"I know how your mission went; I just want to know about Zero."

'Right…he's Zero's lover.' and since Zero had been as good as decommissioned for...a bit over the same time Master X ruled Neo-arcadia, it was oblivious her boyfriend wanted to have some news.

"Zero is fine,…And an F-model, apparently," Leviathan informed the Master of Neo-arcadia…there was just no way to tell this news without sounding extremely awkward in front of the brain behind the city.

Master X remained impassive at the new development. "I see… You seemed to have fared better against her than your co-model." He observed without giving anything of how he felt.

"She…took me by surprise." She admitted to her template. "I should have been more careful." She could still hear Zero's lecture and her foot on her throat. And the power that lurked under her black synth-skin.

"Why didn't she kill you?" The master spoke with mark wonder. "Did you run away like the rest?"

"No…I didn't run away. Zero told me she didn't want another enemy…especially one that looks so much like you...master."

Finally, Master X showed some expression…his eyes went marginally bigger. "I see…that's-"He stopped himself from speaking further.

'Why do I have the feeling he was about to say 'unfortunate'?'

"Anything else?"

"I think she still lo-"

"Anything else?"Master X's voice raised half a decibel higher as he cut her off. In essence, he had just snapped at Leviathan. The blue guardian…his female copy, flinched.

'Ouch…poor Zero.'

"Yes…she had a message for you, Master."

Master X remained silent, listening.

"The message is…" and then…her mouth began to move by itself. "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare…"

An oppressive silence descended upon the expansive divine server room. And If Leviathan would be honest with herself, she had the impression Master X was…stunned into silence. He looked like it also.

"She told me it was the everlasting peace formula…it makes people happy." The blue guardian spoke as if she hadn't been controlled by something much, much more significant than her.

Master X gave a slow blink as if trying to compute what had just happened.

"Oh yeah, She also told you, 'Stop acting like a foo; II will take good care of you soon."

Once those words left her mouth, a tension she hadn't realized was there lifted…and she saw something only legends spoke of.

Master X…smiled. Not one of those fake celebrity smiles. But a genuine, relieved smile.

"Anything else, Leviathan?"

The blue guardian chewed on her lips. "Well…was Zero always a girl?"

"It's complicated…"

'Once again with the cryptic answers.…' Leviathan almost puffed her cheeks.

"Is that all?" In other words, Master X was tired of her.

"Yes."

"You are dismissed then."


Back at the resistance base, Alouette was making her way as quickly as possible to Zero's room. Ciel had sent her out, apologizing to the child-like reploid for what she had seen and not to worry about it; everything was fine.

Obliviously, it wasn't…Ciel had almost fallen for a hacker's trick. A hacker that may or may not be X. Thankfully, Zero was pretty smart and had saved the day again!

So now, Alouette wanted to be with Zero; maybe she would be more open with her since…Well, Alouette wouldn't call them friend, but she felt the red Reploid trusted her. Which was why she was now standing in front of her door, listen to see if the Heroin was in or not.

She was in, as proven by her boots by the door. There was also this very…distinct noise coming from inside. It sounded as if…

Alouette's eyes grew wider, Zero…Had muted her voice box, but the sound of silent sobbing still met her audio.

Whatever had happened back there…it had been bad enough to make zero cries!

'What type of horror happened to her? Maybe…there still more broken things in Zero…maybe I should get Cerveau.' Alouette clutched her cat plush closer to her little chest.

When she had first seen Zero, the robot master had come off as someone who was cool-headed, seemingly emotionless and who would not hesitate in front of an enemy; he would always aim for the kill, just as his legend had told. Now, though…

She was crying in her room…Zero was crying in her closet called a room.

'Well, the legends had been wrong about her gender; I'm sure it was also wrong about other things too!' Definitely not her heroism or her power…but maybe about her heart.

Taking courage, the little blond knocked on Zero's door, leaving behind all expectations, all preconceived notions. She was not about to see a legend…but a friend who needed a good, long hug.

She heard the red and black reploid go silent…then there was a sizzle, and then scramble to her feet and rush to the door, Opening it without any forewarning.

Alouette, who was still standing close, stood in awe at the sight in front of her. Zero stood tall, her faces impassive save for some irritation…and she looked right above Alouette's head and around the hallway, scanning for any other reploids. Seeing that the course was clear, she gestured Alouette in.

The room Zero occupied was practically barren and claustrophobic in size. A Generator/converter hummed close to the thin mattress she would recharge on, and her sitting mat was at the other side.

There were no windows, and only a single half-clogged vent provided some air circulation. Alouette could see that Zero had tried and failed to clean it, for the dust was absolutely caked in.

'My rooms' bigger than this…poor Zero.' Alouette's little heart went to the red Legend. She deserved so much better.

Zero closed the door and removed her helmet. "Please take a seat." She gestured to the piece of carpeting. "What may I do for you, Alouette?" she leaned back on the opposite wall crossing, her arms crossed over her chest in a very typical 'Zero' fashion.

Alouette kneeled on the makeshift Zabuton; she still held Socrates close to her.

Zero seemed fine, but…

"…I heard you cry." A look of pure surprise decorated the Red Legend's pretty face.

"Really?"

Alouette nodded.

"How?"

"I know how a crying reploid sounds like…even muted." The little blond revealed. "Zero…what happened?"

Zero closed her eyes...and let herself slid down the wall. As she sat crossed-legged, leaning her head on its grimy surface, Alouette could see that the red Hero looked …tired.

"What happened?" Zero gave a mirthless laugh. "Let's see…everything."

Following her heart, Alouette left the carpet and climbed in Zero laps, and gave her a big hug with Socrates. "It's alright, Zero… we all feel like this."

"Yeah…I noticed…" Zero mumbled as she hugged Alouette back. The smaller reploid could not help but notice how…hard the red and black Reploids body was. Not metal hard, but her frame was definitely made from a mix of synth-muscle and mechanical parts.

And yet…she was plenty present to hug. There was just something nice about Zero, something…right.

"Alouette?"

"Yes, Zero?"

"Did you ever…Did you ever were the cause of a…Have you ever had this situation where you go to recharge, expecting everything to be better the next day. But you wake up, and your house has burned down, and your loved one is acting like...like an M-Maverick?" Zero's voice glitched at the end of the sentence.

Alouette snuggled closer to the red ripper, taking her time to understand what she was trying to convey.

"A little but…Not on your scale." Legend said that Zero…had sealed him-herself away in an attempt to stop the Maverick Virus a hundred years ago. So Alouette definitely could understand how confusing and soul Crushing the whole situation must be for her.

Zero began to shake…to sob. "I hurt him…" She took a shaky breath. "I thought…I thought he could…I thought he…" the dam broke, and Zero pitifully sobbed over Alouette's head, her tears freely flowing from her eyes. "Oh, Echo…Echo…."

Alouette held Zero even closer as the Red legend unleashed the heavy grief she carried.

At this moment, the little reploid realized that Zero was really not all that different from the rest of the reploids; she would cry, feel despair, and be moved by events. She was not the emotional brick; the cold stone the legend would describe her as…there was nothing artificial about her, not in the feeling department.

Alouette closed her eyes; she could feel Zero's grief; heavy, ancient, a pain the little girl would probably never understand. And then…she felt some Inspiration to chant.

She went closer to Zero's audio receptor and began to sing.

~Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare~

~Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare~

She repeatedly repeated, remembering how Zero had told her that this Mantra would make people happy. And since Zero was not happy at the moment...well, every illness had a cure.

Zero Hugged the little Reploid closer, rocking her in her powerful arms. Her sobbing did not subside…but Alouette could feel her smile and hear some laughter. It was like sunshine…her tears now cold and their nature the complete opposite of what they used to be.

And then…Zero also began chanting. And Alouette felt transported, Lifted out…flooded with great bliss…

At that moment…Alouette realized what she had been missing all her life.

Outside of Zero's door, the Cyber-elves living in the base, Coucou, Paon and Hibou were intently listening to the impromptu duet, their heart filling with hope and joy…and they soon dispersed once the room became silent, unwilling to incur the wrath of one Red Ripper.


"And here's my room!" Alouette joyfully spoke as she gently dragged Zero into the much bigger living space, to her, at least.

"Listen, Alouette. You don't need to give me your room; I'm fine with what I have." The Taller blond spoke meekly. She felt…drained and yet cleaner inside after her breakdown.

'When was the last time I cried so much?' She wondered, not regretting her decision to mod in some tear duct, now knowing their real purpose and powers. 'Right, when Mother Sri went back home back to Godhead with her husband.' She felt tears welling up again…' hey, no…C'mon, it's not something sad…' Well...to be honest, it had been the worst time in her life, for it meant the start of twenty-five years in the Corrupted Veda-base, figuring out how to spread the ancient knowledge without the support of her Master.

So many things could have gone wrong. And if not by Krishna's intervention, Zero...would probably be preparing to kill her husband...and this knowledge would be gone for good.

"Zero?" She heard Alouette ask as she picked some clean bed sheets for Zero's use. "You're still sad?"

Zero shook her head. "No, it's…I'm just missing my Spiritual mother. That's all…"

"And Echo…"

The red warrior lowered her eyes.

"You know, it's ok to cry…you can sit here; I won't tell, I promise" The smaller blond showed a chair to Zero…it was a very simple one that could fold. Zero sat down, burying her face in her hands.

She may be strong physically…but the whole situation…

I reminded her of the whole Repliforce debacle and how her hands got stained. And the Eurasia crash…and Doppler town and everything relating to Sigma, "No…what was done was done; it was just our karma' she sighed.' Xiu…I will try to save you, but if you prove to be too far gone, then may Sri-Krishna have Mercy on you.'

God had a plan, a perfect plan. She was simply his instrument.

Straitening up again, she looked around the youngest rebel's much bigger room.

There was a bed with a converter by its side, a single-window was cracked open, letting in some air, and there was a little make-shift desk were Alouette's half-finished doodle laid waiting for her final touch.

Obliviously, it was done on a tablet since trees were now an endangered life form.

It was of Zero…and the little reploid had added a pair of fluffy angel wings to her.

'So cute…definitely off, but cute.'

The walls were somewhat repaired, and they had been painted a very light shade of yellow, making the whole room appear bigger and brighter than it really was.

On the other side of the room, the legendary reploid watch as the sweet little soul made her a bed with all care and attention. It was still the bare minimum, but Zero knew it was not half moulded.

"You know…I have my own room." She told the little reploid.

"It's not a room; it's too small," Alouette argued back.

"I don't need more than that." Zero replied with a smile, thoroughly enjoying watching Alouette make her a bed with all her heart and Dedication. 'Oh Krishna, Please bless this soul. If only she treated you the same way she treats me, she would be well on her way back home.' Her smile widened. What was she saying? Alouette was well on her way out of this material world if the impromptu Sankirtan was any indication…and those three reploids and half a dozen Cyber-elves that had attempted to be sneaky.

Oh yes, her personal mission to save her life partner may very well fail, but her ultimate mission was well underway.

Alouette suddenly rose and whirled to face Zero. "Well, you may not mind it Zero, but I don't want my friend to live in a supply closet." She vehemently opposed.

"It's not a supply closet; the room is just tiny." And damp, and stuffy… And haunted.

"It isa supply closet…" The little girl quietly groused.

Zero paused…. "Alouette…you think of me as a friend?"

Alouette nodded.

"Why?" she gave the girl no Reason to see her as such…really, the only three friends Zero had in her life either died by her hands, went M.I.A or insane.

"I dunno; I just like you a lot, okay?" The little reploid in pink lowered her eyes to the ground as she scuffed the floor with her barefoot, her pale cheeks turning a dusty pink.

Zero's heart melted, marvelling at this rare occurrence. 'And I thought only Xiu could cause my core to have a meltdown...And Krishna, of course.' Of course, one of the effects of the Maha-mantra was the softening of the heart. Not That Zero minded anymore.

It felt…right.

"I love you too, Alouette… And…If you don't mind a heartless war machine, then I would love to call you a friend also."

Alouette raised her head, a bright smile brightening the room even more and further melting Zero's heart. The smaller blond ran up to where the black and red reploid was seated, the taller woman kneeling with arms wide open. She caught her new friend as she all but jumped to her neck, embracing her with all of her little strength.

The old Zero, The monster doctor Wily wanted, would never have accepted this, using this as an opportunity to rip the innocent girl to shred. And the Red ripper would have sneered at the thought of hugging children and showing emotions…at least to those who were not X.

Draupadi, on the other hand…relished in the open show of affection. She now understood what mother Sri-Isopanisad and Vasudeva Prabhu meant when they told her that, by Nature, the soul desired to love and to be loved. For it was also the nature and desire of the Lord too, their source.

She embraced the fortunate child closer…If Only X could see her now…

"Tonight, let's share my room, okay?" The little girl spoke it as much authority she could muster. And Draupadi gave a long-suffering sigh.

Oh…when was the last time did she has the chance of acting out, of having fun?

"Oh, Alright. I'll stay here for tonight if it can make you happy." This elicited a squeal of pure joy from the smaller blond.

Yes…it was not meant to last, but for now, Draupadi desired to give this soul as much of her association as possible. Just to make sure the Bhakti Virus would nicely take hold.


A bit later, and Draupadi realized that it was one of those days when the Neo-Arcadian army would leave them completely alone. Usually, she would be training to hone her technics and calibrate her reflex to a scalpel-like precision…now, though?

Reading, chanting, meditating on the Lord and his pastime, Compiling files, making sure nothing was a scramble in the sacred Zip file…the Blond robot master knew she would have plenty more opportunity to hone her fighting skills. But now, she had better, more pressing things to do.

Unfortunately, it seemed that even the mega-computer could not make the sacred files readable. It simply was too old. And the encryption was obsolete.

'Alright...so I may need to write everything down then.' She was not a stranger to typing reports for hours on end, either with X or alone. She could pull it off...as long as she had a personal terminal and a sane husband who would not attack reploids without any good reasons...other than insanity.

Draupadi was sitting on her makeshift bed. It was definitely kinder on her hip joint and smelled better than the half-rotten mat they had given her, not out of malice but out of…' it's all we had.' sort of sentiment. Alouette had even given the Vaishnavi her power converter.

It was very nice of Alouette…but it also told Draupadi that the little reploid in pink had no opportunity to charge from the sun, nor could she consume E-crystals. For The legendary reploid would use a converter as a way to regain whatever was lost during her most hectic days since some time, hitting the canteen was simply not an option, Alouette had no reason not to, since she had plenty of time.

Alouette had assured her new friend that it was not that bad; X's soldier just damaged her a bit, and now her frame could not process E-crystals usually, nor could she charge in the sunlight either. So, until Ciel had the facilities, this would be how she would survive…

'Oh, Krishna…please be merciful onto her.'

Nevertheless, Draupadi had a sacred duty to perform. She counted the names, like Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would more the six hundred years ago using her fingers.

Hours passed, and still no emergency, no mission…no Rebels having to be bailed out of trouble…

1728 repetition of the Maha-mantra later (approximately two hours.)And Draupadi finished her meditation. She felt better, her mind quiet, and her heart filled with bliss. 'Oh, that felt good. I need to spread that to the rest of the base.' She knew everyone was suffering from anxiety caused by a general ignorance about God…

'…Draupi, you sound like a fanatic…nobody likes fanatics.' And yet, she was well aware that this was the main problem of the world, not the so-called energy-crisis or the lack of greenery.' Krishna gave each and every species the food they required in the quantity they deserved. Famine is just an artificial blight caused when unscrupulous man hoarding what does not belong to them.' Ergo…

"Zero?" Alouette spoke for the first time in two hours, Calling Draupadi by her old name.

"Yes, Alouette?"

The little reploid, who had been silently drawing at the desk, took some time to answer. "Wh-who's Eko?" she asked.

The robotic bodied Vaishnavi closed her eyes…of all the things the little bird could have asked her.

"Echo…used to be an old friend…" Much…much more than that.

"Like…a boyfriend?"

It took everything for Zero not to balk. 'How did she manage to…oh to hell with this.'

"No…more than that." There…it was not common knowledge, but she had a feeling the little reploid would hound her until she knew.

Draupadi heard the tell-tell sound of a pair of aperture blowing wide open with surprise with her superior hearing.

"Zero…your legend said that you were a boy reploid…but, you're a girl now. Why?"

'Oh Krishna…one of those days, I need to know what exactly is my so-called legend.' "I always was a woman…I just forgot for about 268 years," Draupadi explained…things would have been much simpler if Doctor Cain would have left her voice box well alone. And if she would have remembered who she was under the layer of illusion, Wily covered her with all those years ago.

"Oh…I see. Is Echo a Reploid?"

'Oh Krishna, how am I to answer this one.' "No, Echo's a robot master, just like me." Obliviously, being a robot master or a reploid implied that something very wrong happened to them, something that went against the natural flow of material nature.

"Is it X?"

Draupadi opened her violet eyes. Alouette was looking at her from the top of her chair. The Vaishnavi vented out as she ran a hand over her face…for some reason, the little bird had this uncanny ability to get those particular worms out of their can.

"…Yes." The blond robot master could ask Alouette how she knew…but it was not at all important.

A moment of silence passed between the two blonds.

"I'm…Sorry." Alouette apologized. "It must be hard for you."

"Don't be." Draupadi dismissed. "It's our fate, just like what happened to you." She lowered her eyes. "I wish it were different, but…well, it's all in Krishna's hands." And God knew what would be the best; she was but an instrument after all.

Alouette frowned.

'Oh no…Krishna, why?'

"Krishna… it God, right?"

"Yes, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the controller of everything and he who knows everything past, present and future," Draupadi explained, glad the subject was moving away from her wayward husband and what was needed to happen.

"Can he change it? Can Krishna…"

"Krishna's not obliged to do what I want." Draupadi interrupted. "I…I already asked him. So it's up to Him now…" Man proposes, God, disposes.

"And you're not mad? Anxious?" The little reploid in pink asked, clearly shocked at this development.

"Yes…I'm mad at myself for being so insensitive to what X needed…and yet, I did what I thought was right at the time." A self-deprecating smile lit her lips. "And we all know how that worked out." But she couldn't regret it, for, during her sojourn in the undernet, she had found her spiritual family and the cure for all ill.

"It's no Krishna's fault…we have what we deserve; it's called karma. And no, I'm not anxious. I have God on my side. And whatever happens, it's all by His will…He's the greatest friend one could have. So why fear?" Draupadi explained, reminding her that her Navigator knew past, present future and knew what would be the best outcome, she just had to follow the path, and everything would be fine.

Alouette looked down, worrying her lips. "But…what if…what if He's wrong."

Draupadi looked at the little girl in pink. "Alouette…By definition, God cannot be wrong. He's God; he knows everything and can do everything. And he loves his devotees." Actually, As a Super soul, Narayana in the heart, He has neither a friend nor an enemy. And yet…His neutrality ended with a simple utterance of his Name. Still, Krishna was free to do as he pleased.

"But why does he let us suffer?" Alouette asked, clearly upset.

"Who said that's what He wants?" Draupadi shot back with a tilt of her head." The only thing Krishna wants is for us to be happy. The thing is, we can't be happy without him."

"Why?"

"Because Krishna is an ocean of pleasure, and he wants to share his happiness with us. The thing is, we turned our back to Him, wanting to have fun without our best friend. So, with a cooling ocean at our back, we are burning in a desert. "

"Why?"

Draupadi turned her violet eyes toward the little reploid. "Alouette…do you know what envy means?" he asked with a compassionate smile.

The little girl in pink began to think, scrunching her little brows as she taxed her hard drive. "umm...Envy means…you don't like that the other person has something better than you, and you want to have what he has?"

Draupadi nodded. "That's a good definition of jealousy. But envy is even worst; you just don't want what the other person has; you also want to destroy the person, to make sure he will never have more than you. You want that person to suffer, to pay for being better than you, you want to be better, you want to control, and you want to crush those who are under you so that you will always remain on top." Draupadi explained as she clenched her fist as if crushing something. She closed her eyes; she knew so many that fit this description.

Wily, Cain, Sigma. General and Colonel too, to a lesser extent. Those humans who hated reploids and those reploids who hated human's back...all had envy.

Oh…and Lumine.

Herself also…Oh, it may not be as bad a Sigma and her creator, But Draupadi was well aware that this illness was also in her heart.

"We got envious of God…we wanted his position, his wealth, his fame, beauty, strength, intelligence…we wanted it so much, for ourselves that we edge God, our best friend, out."

"That was not very nice," Alouette murmured with guilt.

"No…Krishna didn't deserve what we did." Draupadi closed her eyes as she brought her knees to her chest, leaning her head against the wall. "We may have forsaken him, but He still cares for us."

"Why?" Alouette once again asked, causing Draupadi to smile.

"Because he loves us. And before you ask, true love doesn't need a reason but love." The doll-like Vaishnavi paused, realizing that maybe Alouette didn't know the real meaning of love since it had taken Draupadi to temporarily leave her body and meet two pure devotees on the web for her to realize it.

X had also put her n the right path…of course, their relationship had been infected with quite a bit of lust at the beginning. But still, some love had been there.

Enough love for Draupadi to sacrifice her life for him trice over...and enough love between them for X to rebuild her frame from scratch after the whole...

...

'Well, it seems my memory still has a few holes here and there...no big lost, I remember what's important.'

Alouette sat back in her chair, and the war build could hear her hard drive working overtime.

"Zero…how do you know God loves us? Aren't we soulless machines?"

Draupadi bit back her reply; this…was another big can of worms she was not ready to open yet. She knew she had to but had no idea how to go about it without turning her new friend a Maverick. But knowing that too remained silent would just undo whatever progress Alouette had made, she prayed for the Lord to give her the intelligence needed.

"Alouette…do you have any desires?" She carefully asked.

Alouette did not answer just yet. "…Yes? But, it's just some chips,, right?"

"No, those are not chips; a mere mechanoid cannot have desires." 'Alright…time to blow this up.' "The ability to desire…it's something only a soul can have."

Alouette raised her head as she worked out the implication. "You mean…I…I have a-"

"No, You don't have a soul…you have a body," Draupadi explained with a smirk, taking too much pleasure at seeing Alouette's thought process.

"Huh?"

"Alouette, you are a soul in a mechanical body, not a body with a soul." The same thing applied to all that could experience birth, growth, multiplication and finally, death. 'Of course, it's a bit more blurry when in a robotic doll body.'

At his revelation, a light shone from within Alouette as she processed what it meant. Draupadi had started this fortunate soul on her journey back home, back to Godhead…she just hoped nothing would block it.

"I'm…I'm a soul?"

The red and black Vaishnavi nodded with a bright smile. "Yes, you are…"

The little blond began to wring her little hands; once again, Draupadi could just hear her thought the process. 'Such a brilliant little soul.'

"Zero…can the soul die? Can it break or…or get burn?"

Draupadi closed her eyes, remembering the particular Gita Verse that spoke of this particular subject. "No, The soul is so small, it's can't even get atomized. Sri-Krishna said that the soul could not be burned, cut, crushed, broken, wetted, buffered by the wind or whatever else fantasy writers may come up with." The Vaishnavi let her eye roll at the thought. Not only that, but a soul really was anti-mater, for it was made of spiritual mater, the antithesis of dull, dead mater.

"So…the soul…we can't die," Alouette confirmed.

"That's right; the soul is by nature eternal, fully conscious and full of bliss, and we are eternally persons, individual separated with God and yet one with him. But because we forgot who we are and wrongly think we are those bodies made of metal, flesh…or whatever material we deserve to be in, we have to suffer. is it clear so far?"

Alouette was about to reply when the controller of the Zero Virus heard (and felt) Cerveau at her door.

'Right…I was one of his patients. I sort of gave him the slip…' And if she had been in a recovery tank, her situation must have been critical.

"Oh...I think it's Cerveau." Alouette whispered as she tried to hide behind the back of the chair. "I don't think he's...happy you left the tank and the mess."

Draupadi winced...right, still high from the E-drugs coursing through her system, the Vaishnavi may have acted a bit rashly. "Now, if you excuse me, I have a doctor to see." And with that, the last Vaishnavi put her helmet back and met the base engineer/only competent medic. It was not a visit she was looking forwards to, but as mother Sri would often tell her, 'Needful needs to be done quickly, just like a Band-Aid.' it was a sentiment both women had shared.

'Time to get this one off then…'