They came from the stars 6
As they, X and Zero road and flew to the Hunter's bunker and land strip. Lori's majestic form came into view.
Sure, she still looked like a mere toy ship, but after exchanging specks with her, X came to a surprising conclusion.
They had the same self-updating technology and variable system; hell, they had close to the same coloration!
It was another... Another person likes him. And despite their different form... Lori had the same curiosity about humanity and everything in general.
He looked at her, and both had so much in common. But the ancient machine was still scrambling for her identity, for being the Lor-Starcutter was merely a name and an occupation. And she seemed to have quite the hard time grasping the Vaishnava philosophy. Nevertheless, it was clear she was happy to be fully conscious now.
: So... another trip in space, Huh?: Zero broached the subject via radio-wave. : No elevator trip for us then.:
: Zee, you sound disappointed.: X commented as he aligned himself with the back seat and managed to land there, wrapping his arms around Zero's thin waste.
He was known to make a woman jealous of his figure.
:... I hate Flying.:Zero said after a minute, his shoulder drooping. : You know I hate it ever since... that time.:
: Yes. Zero. I know.: X conveyed as he meaningfully tightened his arms around his long-time lover. : But, it's either that or facing all those mavericks, potentially playing in Sigma's hands again and wasting precious time going up the impossible elevator.:
Well, the elevator only went as high as the very end of the stratosphere, but after only a year of use, they already talked about critical structural damage. And it was locked by the eight obligatory mavericks.
:... What's wrong with facing mavericks?: Zero pointedly asked. : I mean, they're all crazy and good for scrap pieces, right?:
: No... they can be saved.:
:X-:
: Me and Kamala... we can purify them.: X reminded his lover of this fact, a small smile tugging at his lips.
: So... why don't we go and, you know. Purify them all?: Zero asked, and X has no idea with his Zero's making fun of him or his question is genuine.
: Because there's a chance, a perfect chance at that, that we just need to get ride of Sigma once and for all. Since Dark Matter are hived mind-:
: Cut off the head, and you're done.: Zero finished for him as he popped a wheely. Ruthlessly crushing a Mechaniloid under Its front magnet.
: Yep!: X replied as he felt the end of a long and arduous journey approaching. : Can you believe it, Zero? Our solution to our problem just fell from the sky... just as I was wishing for it.:
:X... Kamala didn't exactly fell from the sky.: Zero reminded his upgraded lover.
: Yeah! They all arrived from a dreamboat!: X declared, a feeling of light effervescence bubbling up from his core. : hey Z, I spoke to Lori, and there's a possibility I could have a boat form too!:
He felt his partner's shoulder shake as he tried to suppress his laughter. :X, Please, not when I'm driving!: His beloved partner choked out.
: Sorry... not sorry.: X chuckled over the air, burying his face in Zero's fluffy hair.
Zero swerved a little. : Oh, you lovely jerk... So, No fighting the eight maverick then. Were heading straight to Sigma."
: Yep! And you know we don't need any upgrade to get him... not that I can get upgraded anyway.: X revealed some sadness colouring his voice.
As it turned it, his Light driver was one thing Lori had also removed. And this meant that X was completely incompatible with any Light Capsule left in the world. He could only fight with what he had.
But with Zero and Axl at his side and what to say about the interstellar Vaishnavas, X knew that this time...
This time, he was not alone to face his firstborn son.
"There you are, five minutes late." Signas frowned at the couple. But considering his position as the commander, he had all the rights too.
Mangala liked him; he reminded the mage of his own father and his disgust with tardiness.
May the Lord have his soul one day.
Nillor looked a bit sheepish, his crystalline armour shining in Lori's light. Behind him, The Lor seemed to purr at the sight of her brother... but this purr seemed a bit too aggressive, in Mangalananda's opinion.
But then, after learning what lurked in Zero... who was rather close to Lor-X...
He brought his new communicator to his 'mouth' and turned back to his adopted daughter. "Lori, I already warned you. Sir Zero's like Gandharva, and like Gandharva, he feels like Dark Matter."
"I know, Dad... It's just... he has the same reading as... it."
"I would be more surprised if he didn't," Mangalananda said with a smile. "His blood is what the native called the virus. And its source is none other than the White Plagues blood."
"But... that doesn't make any sense." Lori countered, appearing beside Mangalananda with her fists to her hips. "That's just 0²'s blood, dead blood!"
"Lori, please..."
"Dead blood doesn't make more dark matter, dead blood..."She began to gesture around wildly. "Dead blood can't power up a man-made machine; it's impossible... something wrong, it doesn't add up!"
Mangalananda launched a glance to Zero and X; both were still deeply engrossed with Alia, Palette, Layer, and Signas debrief. Madan, Kamala, and Gandharva were hovering near them, listening to what they would soon face.
Usually, during their adventure, the celestial warriors would have to run all over Popstar and/or the universe to get some fancy bobble to get to the last place/'bad guy'/ whatever required to be beaten to submission and or killed.
This time, it was different, it was not an eldritch abomination, another one of Kamala's race, driven insane with sorrow and other's anger. It was not even a Bhrama-rakshasa called Nightmare.
It was a race of 'robots,' one of which had come in contact with 0² blood and driven mad with rage, Greed, lust, anger and sorrow...
Or maybe not the last part. But Mangala never met this sigma, so it was hard to tell.
In other words, they had to fight yet another processed person. But from what he had gathered, the old commander was still a force to be reckoned with.
Unfortunately for him, So was everyone in their fluffy little group.
He returned his glance to Zero; the poor soul was warily looking at Lori as if he could sense her anger and mistrust.
Then, Zero turned his ice-blue glance to Mangalananda, Practically begging for the oldest (and last) N-Z in existence to save him.
"Lori... Zero's the same as our good boy Gandhi, and trust me... I know a baddy when I see one."
"But!"
"But nothing. Zero is not 0, end of the story." Mangalananda broke no argument about that one. Besides, from what he had heard from Signas, "He is a Hero and was able and willing to sacrifice his life numerous times for the benefit of others." the young Vaishnava spoke wisely. "Would he be the white angel of the black plague? Zero would not be with us as we speak, he would not be a loving spouse to X, and he definitely would not be a mere blond robot after ninety years. and Kamala, Mandana-Mohana and Ghandhrava would be carving out swats of afflicted to get the guy... which is not happening at the moment."
And with how Madan's eyes kept going from yellow to pink as he kept looking at Zero, who kept fidgeting and had grabbed X's hand roughly as he stared at the looming form of Lori with clear dread.
Oh, Madan may be a saint, but it didn't mean that he would not find other discomforts somewhat amusing to hilarious... if in the right circumstances, of course.
And, to Mangalananda, the fact that Zero feared flying was hilarious and oddly endearing, especially how he kept staring at the Lor with deep dread.
Now boarded, X sat down in his seat, made by Lori to accommodate her three new guests.
A seatbelt fastened him, the seat was probably the safest he has gotten in, and this would be his first trip to the moon.
The moon!
'Is this how astronauts felt when they were about to go to the moon.' X thought as his excitement grew. He was going to another planet; would he see the marks of the boots? See the flag?
"Nobody went to the moon." Madan-mohan suddenly spoke up. "The real moon-planet is 95,000,000 miles above the earth. Not only that, but the only way one can reach this heavenly planet is through yogic practice or Vimana and king Indra's blessings. Not by earthly mechanical mean."
Beside him, X heard Axl scoff while Zero remained oddly silent. "Oh great, on top of being idol worshippers, you are also a conspiracy theorist." The young reploid sneered. "Next thing you'll tell me is about how the earth is flat and that reptilians are in control of our society."
"AXL!" X warned. His cheeks reddish.
Madan-Mohan cleared his throat as the rest of the Vaishnava stared at Axl with a varying degree of anger... save for Kamala and Gandharva.
"Actually, what we worship are not Idols but Archa-vigraha's, or recognized form of the Lord as described in the revealed scriptures that are, at the minimum, over five thousand years old... unlike what you have put your faith in." Only amusement coloured Madan's voice as his eyes turned a playful blue and pink. "And yes, the earth is indeed flat, but only where you stand on it. You see, in the shastra, or our holy books describing the universe, the earth form is described in two different ant ways; Either as a Gola or an orb. Or a Mandala, a circle. Both statements are true, and I have seen it for myself numerous times."
Axl opened his mouth, but Madan didn't let him have a word edgewise.
'Smart man.'
"In the Vedic way of learning, when our scriptures give two paradoxical statements, then both must be true." The blue knight stressed. "When you stand on earth, the plane you are on is flat. But the moment you reach the stratosphere, then mother earth turns into a glorious orb." eh explain. "also, the earth can sometimes take the form of a cow, and she is also a woman, Sri-Vishnu's wife. Also, what you call reptilians really are Naga's, a race of multi-hooded snakes that lives in the last planetary stratum of this universe. But there is indeed a race of giant, underground bears that have its claws in the world's government." Madan shrugged as he went to his seat. Not even looking at Axl.
X was certain the star warrior had purposefully confused the cocky and loud-mouthed new-gen.
"But but...X! Mapop!" Axl turned to his mentor figure. "C'mon, man, your the smart one. Tell him why humans went to the moon!"
"Axl... Are you aware that those have travelled the universe countless times?" X shot back. " Humans have barely left the surface of the earth, and that happened before I was discovered... and no humans had again stepped on either the moon or Mars."
"Not that Mars is all that interesting, to be honest." Dharadhara das spoke up from his seat; beside him, Mangalananda was imputing the coordination to Lori, who was sending glances toward Zero.
Being build to hunt down and destroy 0 and whatever Dark Matter they had spawned, X could not blame her.
"Why? You went there?" Axl asked, his tone challenging.
X openly face-palmed, and beside him, he could hear his lover let out a sigh.
They loved Axl, they really did. He was a ball of sunshine with a wide mouth filled with sassy comeback and hope. But at the same time...
Being cocky and sassy was the fastest way to make enemies... or get Intel and promptly killed.
Dharadhara let out a hearty laugh. "Deh Heh heh! Sure did, sunshine."
"I visited there once, it uses to be even lusher and greener then the earth before the industrial revolution started to strip her clean of her wealth," Kamala-Kantha interjected. "But Dark Matter and 0... they took over the planet, twisting its inhabitant into demons." his voice turned quiet. "Galacta knight and Kartikeya were dispatched, and they had to turn mars into a desert... at least on the earthly gross level. That's what Galacta told me anyway."
"Wait, you mean... Galacta knight, the guy who destroys planets and maybe says 'oops.' the one who was sealed for his power were too much, the one the ancient dreaded, the eon knight the-"
"My little brother." Kamala chirped Happily. " And he was not sealed. He was just resting, and his duty is to hunt down disruptive demons around the universe."
Beside him, Axl made a noise as he began to pelt Kamala with thousands of questions about all things Kirby related.
For his own peace of mind, X tuned the young hunter out and instead turned his attention to his poor Partner, who was about this close to rip the seat's armrest to shred.
'Poor Z, today really isn't his day.' X internal sighed as he grabbed his lover's hand, gently rubbing the top of Zero gloved hands with his thumb. [It's alright Zero, Everything will be fine.] He sent his reassurance via radio.
[Can you prove it?] Zero asked, his voice about as tight as his grip.
[Well... Kamala can fly, same as all of them. And Mangalananda can open portals through space-time. What to say of Lori.]
[Ok...no... still feeling like I'm about to chock... I can... I can still feel the too-small seat, the count down, the heat... of God, X... X...]
X managed to grab his lover's hand. Grounding him in reality. [It's alright, Zero, I'm with you. No one will crash; you are not in a shuttle, you on a flying boat named the Lor Starcutter, who just so happen to be related to me, piloted by an extra-terrestrial life form named Mangalananda.]
[Oh yeah, I feel much better now.]
X smiled at the sarcastic reply; if Zero could snark, then he was fine.
"Alright, everyone." Mangala clapped his hand, one of his ears twitching with clear irritation at the one person shouting match between triple D and Axl.
Apparently, Kamala had said something to Axl, and the new-gen got triggered.
Obliviously, Axl was raving and ranting about how the interstellar Vaishnavas were following an outdated doctrine to serve an outdated concept. To which Dhara replied that Axl couldn't disprove God's existence as much as he could prove the existence of oxygen.
"Human need to live, meaning, if humans are alive, then there's oxygen," Axl said triumphantly.
"Meh... I don't know." Dhara lazily replied as he leaned on his ever-present hammer, Gooey chilling in his hood. " I mean, I can't see it, so it can't be real n' all... and what those ancient medical books said. I don't quite know, and I bet those primitive humans had to find a way to explain why humans died when they can't breathe. So they've made this whole 'oxygen' concept to fill the void."
"Well, they saw it-"
"Yeah, well they didn't see them oxygen molecule with their eyes, they had to use something to see them and that something was wrong." The King of dreamland folded his palms; his beak quirked to the side as he kept baiting the youngest of the group.
Axl tried to retort, but some magical lines of light formed around his face...
"Mute." Mangalananda intoned. And indeed, Axl could not make any noise.
Suddenly a pressure that was subtly crushing everyone was lifted with the coming of the blessed silence.
"So, as I was saying. All preparations are done, Lori has received the green light to lift off, and our objective is much neared then anticipated." Mangala said as he clapped his hands. "We should reach the stratosphere in five minutes, and from there, the trip to the unknown object will take two days if Indra won't ask us to stay for supper."
Beside his, X could practically hear Axl's eye roll.
"Wait... what do you mean, King Indra want us for supper?" Zero asked, apparently the ludicrous statement was enough to break him out of his panic attack.
"What does it sound like, Zero?" Dhara retorted. " King Indra, the lord of precipitation and the king of swarga love's Krishna's Devotee. And since were one of the few who can travel the length n breadth of the universe, he often invites us." the bird-like E.T rubbed the back of his head sheepishly." The problem is the time dilation between here 'n swarga's horrendous. A day up there equals a whole year."
"Yeah, But Granddaddy Brahma's even worst, on his planet, a moment is a whole year." Gandharva warbled as he shuddered like jelly of a vibrating table.
"Yes, which was why we ended up a hundred-year too late," Mangala explained as he returned to his console. "We managed to stay in his garden for a mere five minutes. And when we came to mother bhumi..."
" The earth is in completed ruins," X spoke quietly, his numerous mistakes and failure.
He felt Zero's grip tightening on his hand, his lover now the one giving comfort. [ X...]
[It's alright, Zee. I know this wasn't my fault.] X assured his beautiful blond. [ In the Gita, Krishna said to Arjuna that one should perform his duty without any attachment to the result. I did my best with what I had, but the Global Karma didn't match my expectation. And there's no reason for me to keep lamenting.]
He heard his dear Zero grunt appreciatively. [Ancient wisdom suits you well, X.]
At those words, the Crystalline android felt some heat rising to his face. [Thanks... I hope... I hope you don't mind it?]
[No, why would I? If it makes you happy, then I'm happy.]
X felt his chest and... whatever was inside of his frame squeeze. What a transformation his Zero underwent. From a quasi psychopath living only for the thrill of the kill, unable to empathized to somehow could... to someone X had fallen in love with.
It was... Amazing, Zero was amazing. Brave, bold, a little cocky on the side, but...
But this gentle side of him, this side that only X knew and Alia suspected, the one who demanded that Iris and General had a proper sendoff that would let X in his deepest fear and loathing. Who would admit his greatest failure and would give whatever triumph he had to the love of His life.
But for X... this was nothing compared to having the red ripper show his vulnerable side and seeking his help. Giving X a chance to Finally Start repaying for all the times Zero saved his ass to his very life... sometimes sacrificing limbs, and quite possibly his life.
As Mangalananda got the go-ahead for liftoff, he began the count down. And Zero almost crushed X's hands when he realized his time on earth was drawing to a close.
On the Dock, all vehicle and personnel had vacated, leaving only the Lor Starcutter on the wide expanse of sun-backed concrete; her sail and oars glowed with power as she rose.
" So? How do you think she will launch?" Palette asked Alia. " I've plenty of shuttle launch but... not a boat launch."
"I suspect Magolor will... that Lori will simply fly up, fighting the pull of gravity like every other rocket." The oldest Navigator spoke as she gazed at the toy-like spaceship from her observational console.
"Alright, I have another question for you," Pallet asked again as Signas gave Magolor the green light for liftoff. " How do you feel about Zero being half-organic?"
"It's... I knew only because X slipped once. I didn't believe him back then and simply brushed it off as fatigue." a wry smile stretched her lips. " There's so much to learn about Zero and X. I have been studying X for decades before he unexpectedly woke up... and nine decades later, and Zero still has plenty of trick up their proverbial selves."
"OK... but, doesn't it sort of freak you out a bit?" Palette prodded. "Personally, I just itch to see how he ticks, you now. There's not such thing as a blood-based system. Let alone one that can generate a virus like the D.M virus. It's organic, and yet, it seems only to attack synthetic-based systems... not that our selves are not free from the human element." Palette mumbled on. "But as I said, It's freaking me out a bit too much also. Not sure I want my hand's in his innards now."
Alia grunted in ascent as she watched the Lor positioned itself to take off. But instead of having its front pointing up, it simply chose west and flew off, peeling off from the earth's gravitational pull as if it had never been there in the first place.
"Huh... a Horizontal take off." Layer murmured to the side as she gazed at the dot that used to be the alien ship. " You know... when Zero comes back, I would like to take him on a shuttle ride. Maybe I could make my move the," she spoke to herself.
Pallet saw Alia pale. "Umm... Layer dear?" the eldest Navigator and X's older sister and Zero maybe friend called out the new girl.
"Oh, Yes, Alia?" Layer asked as she moved her green gaze away from the oversized monitor. " have I done something wrong?"
For her part, Alia began to ponder her options. And decided that the truth had to come out, lest Layer discovers X and Zero's relationship by herself.
"Come with me; we need to talk in Private." The elder Navigator gave no option for her underling as she turned her heel and found the most secure meeting room, the one that was practically cut-off from the world.
Layer followed her in; despite her long leg, the tall and elegant reploid had shrunk on herself.
It pulled on Alia's heartstrings, but... it was a problem she had to nip at the bud.
[Layer... Zero... already had someone in his life.] The oldest of the Navigator began, using their private come... just in case.
One never knew...
[Who?] came the dreaded question.
[What will you do if I told you? Will you try to break their happiness for your own self-interest?] Alia didn't mean to sound so hard, but at the same time, she didn't want more Drama for her good friend, colleague and little brother.
"No! Or course not!" Layer spoke aloud; the way she said it and her knee-jerk reaction was a good indication that she was telling the truth. Still, Alia didn't want to expose her colleagues more then necessary.
[Then let leave it at that...]
[But-]
[But nothing, Zero's life is his own. And while I can understand why you are attracted to him, our red warrior has no taste for a F-model.]
Layer crumpled on herself. [But... But I'd thought Zero used to have a girlfriend. Iris.]
[And he had to kill her when she turned maverick.] Not only that, but Alia suspected that it was mostly one-sided.
Ever since she knew those two, Zero was always gravitating around X. At first, Alia had agreed with all that both had a bromance that rivalled the best of romance. They were rarely apart, they would support each other, Zero would lift the weight of being commander from X's shoulder, and X would soothe and calm Zero when a mission would go wrong or right.
The blue bomber had a way to mellow Zero down, and out of love, the Red ripper had started to learn about human emotions and how to empathize with others.
And as for X? He grew more confident with himself and his ability, more aggressive on the battle field, less prone to have hurtful comments turning him into a ball of wet misery.
And one time, Alia found them in a utility room after the second war. Amour off and...
No, after that, there was no way she could think of her little brother and colleague as brothers. And really, for the second navigator to have been put online, she was ashamed to admit that, in hindsight, she had missed and misinterpreted many signals the two were sending.
Some aborted touch, certain vocal modulation...
and now this...
She remembered how flustered the two had been and how Zero had this dark aura around him... no, not an aggressive aura, more like... another part of Zero.
She had sworn not to spill their secret as long as their missions did not suffer from it. And dare she said, when X and Zero were together, their success rate was something to write in a book, make it holy and worship it.
Still, now, she had to bend this vow, for she could not have another unit trying to break the beautiful bond between her red sun and blue moon. No matter how cute she was.
[Iris was... too young to understand Zero's feeling. And he desperately wanted to move away from her Brother's shadow by following Zero around. Zero didn't mind, and neither was X. It was clear Zero was indulging her fantasy, and X wanted her to be happy.] Alia revealed. [iris was an exceptional Navigator and a budding healer. But the stress of the war, Sigma's scheming and her obsession with the perfect Zero...]
[Turned her maverick.]
[I still wonder if I could have stopped her, be a better friend or...] Alia rubbed her dried eyes. While she didn't have the tear duct, she could lock herself in a room and scream and flood the place with tears. [But... that's in the past. And Zero has already moved in with his life.]
Layer nodded meekly.
[Right now, he's in a healthy relationship, despite whatever crap Sigma sent their way and how humans have treated us.] Oh, and wasn't that something else to deal with. [ So, as their friend and sister figure, I'm asking you, Layer, to leave Zero and his partner be. They've suffered enough as it is.]
[A... Alright...]
"And if you want me to hook you up, I know a few websites that cater to reploid." A light tone entered Alia's voice, true, she gave a dire warning, but it didn't mean that her friend and protegee would have no options.
"No, it's... I don't feel comfortable having my pictures online anymore since... you know." Layer's face turned an unhappy beet red as Alia realized her mistakes.
Right, Layer had a...history.
"It's alright... I can always get Signas to scout someone for you... someone who's not filled with eldritch blood and taken.."
"Oh, please, don't remind me." The purple-headed Navigator groaned. " I don't like blood... and the cutest, most handsome guy on the base is filled with it!"
"Thank God you were forewarned, weren't you?" Alia spoke with a grin, trying to make light of the entire debacle.
X was an alien... and ancient alien robot made by an ancient race of super advance ETs. He was not even made of metal anymore, just this crystal-like substance. And yet, he could also remove his armour and appear more or less human.
Just... a truly gender-neutral human who just so happens to identify with the male pronoun. Whose body was crystal-like, with a heart-shaped gem beating in his chest?
And Zero...
Zero's frame was made by a mad scientist whose crimes were such that his name was practically whipped off from most records. A mad man whose only objectives had been to conquer the world with a robot-master (the predecessor of modern-day reploids... save for the fact that those were also ghost in new vessels who were forced to follow human commands. Or only Wily's commends.) The mad scientist had... he had...
In Zero's line, the blood of an ancient demon-beast flowed. And from the blood, the Maverick Virus was born... Dark Matter returned.
"Still... I wouldn't mind going on a shuttle ride with him. Even if it's in the friend-zone, you know." Layer mumbled as she made the poky-finger thing, the most bashful move of all.
Alia gave a wry smile. "Oh, this would not go the way you think, Layer."
"Why? There is nothing dangerous about shuttle flights. It may be a bit pricey, but-"
"Zero's afraid of flying."
"Zero? Shit! Zero, please answer us, man!" Axl yield as he strained in his seat to get a better look at his mentor.
Zero's whole body had gone rigid, his eyes wide open as waves of fear rolled off from his frame. He did not answer his radio call, and not even X could break him out of his blue screen. Instead, the old hunter was gently rubbing Zero's clenched hand, gently whispering to him.
"Oh... Is Brother afraid of flight?" Gooey asked, his two eyes filled with deep concern. " Something happened; why is he afraid of flying?"
"He... was in a shuttle crash a few decades ago... it marked him for life," Nillor-Mapop explained to the child-like slime.
"Oh... crashing's scary... Right, Madan?" He turned to Axl's ex-video game crush.
Meta knight let out a silent grunt, his eyes yellow. He kept looking at the blue screened Hunter and, despite his all obscuring mask, it was clear he had feelings on this whole incident.
Then he turned to X. "Sir X, is there anything we may do for Zero?" The blue knight asked, and indeed, his concern was even clearer in his voice then his face.
Kirby curiously inched closer to Zero, same as Dedede. " Poor kid..." He whispered as he fearlessly patted the much taller reploid.
Axl never realized just how small Kirby and Co were. Kirb and Gooey were the smallest at eight inches tall, followed by Meta Knight, who barely reached ten inches. Dedede was the tallest at twenty-seven inches, while Magolor was around Kirby's side.
'Hmm... meaning Zero... 0 should be about... Let see; he should be about eight or nine Kirbys meaning... Huh, five foot three to six-foot.' Axl let his eyes drift to X and the blue screened Zero. 'No... No, Axl, stop being a dumb ass.' He chided himself in the privacy of his mind.
"You can..." X let out a breath. "There's nothing much we can do; he'll get around once he stop feeling the cabin's vibration." The elder hunter informed the crew.
"Two more minutes for us, billions of years for him," Magolor muttered under his breath.
Without any prompting, Gooey hopped on Zero laps. "Don't worry, Zero; I'll protect you."
Meta Knight said nothing as he place his gloved hand on Zero's ankle and...
"~Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna~ Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare~
~Hare Rama, Hare Rama~ Rama Rama, Hare Hare~"
Axl started and the singing Knight. First of all, he had no idea the Bad-ass blue beach ball even could sing. Let alone a lullaby.
Let alone a Hare Krishna Lullaby.
The gunslinger cringed; sure Meta Knight had a surprisingly good singing voice, but singing the song of his cult was not something Axl wanted to remember of him.
He wanted his sexy blue puffball back, not... this...
"Zero?" Axl heard X's voice filled with hope. And Zero closed his eyes, finally venting heat out, his entire frame slowly but surely relaxing as the master of the Halberd crooned the stupid Hare Krishna song.
'Maybe I should warn Meta Knight about Zero's foul mood? I mean, I would totally get out of a blue screen just to kick him quiet.' When those thoughts came, Meta Knight stopped his lullaby and took a defensive stance, leering at him.
"Axl... Stop thinking like that." Zero warned, his voice raspy. He was leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed.
"The hell, do you know what I'm thinking?"
"Your thinking loud..."
"Zero, Are you alright?" X asked as he held the bond's hand closer to his pulse generator.
'Oh? Aw shit, Layer's got no chance.' It was hard not to be in awe at X and Zero's epic bromance. For all he knew, they had this platonic shit down to a science.
"... Maybe... I'm..." Zero bought his had to Gooey's head, the blob squish happily under the ministration. He closed his eyes as he let out yet another shuddering breath. " I hate this..." He hissed
Meta Knight patted his leg fearlessly. "I know; Trauma is not something one can easily step over. But you will get through it, mark my words."
A slight smile touched Zero's lips. "Yeah? I've been trying to pass over it for well over 48 years now... still can't walk close to a jet without feeling like I'm about to burst out from my armour."
"Yeah, we know that feeling," Dedede spoke up from his seat beside Kirby, walking by the main console.
Magolor said something to the penguin (or was he a fat eagle?) well below Axl's hearing range and set himself beside the warbot. "My if I ah... sit in your lap? You ain't our size, and it's ain't like I can float and speak." he sheepishly admitted. "Nothing weird... I'm just getting a nasty crick in mah neck looking up all'a time."
Zero looked down at Dedede and to X. " Well... I already have my lap full with... Gandharva. X do you mind if-"
"Not at all, it would be an honour to play your throne, King." X gave his permission with an inclined nod from his helmet. "Sir Madan-Mohan, you may come too, same with you, Kamala."
"It's quite fine, Sir X. But I fear none of us can fit in if Dhara is there." Madan bowed out of it, seemingly content to stand by Zero's feet. "And... I doubt Zero would appreciate Kamala's presence so close to him."
Now, Axl had a sharp vision, and it was well known that Kirby made the blood-filled reploid uncomfortable... which was ridiculous considering how huge Zero was compared to the adorable puffball.
Actually no. It made a terrifying amount of sense for Zero to shake in his boots; He had the same vibe when he watched the debrief about the diminutive, black-hole holding cutey.
Once Dedede hoisted himself up onto X, he stood up to look at Zero. "Listen, Son. We all have Trauma, and we all have our scares..."
Axl rolled his eyes as he silently groaned. Great, group therapy on their way to the not-moon. Just how Axl liked it... Not.
'Yeah, now I get why one should never meet their heroes. Bunch of frauds.' No, not X and Zero; obliviously, those were hero's, real heroes.
And this would never waver in Axl's eyes.
"Alright, folks." Mangalananda warbled. " We have a two day trip to the satellite-"
"So, not the moon then." X interrupted as he walked with Zero to their quarter, holding his lover steady as they walked through Lori's perfectly white and shiny corridor. He could feel him... let's call her a sister's, wary gaze on him and Zero.
The poor blond was still shaking. But it seemed the impromptu talk therapy he had with Dhara and Madan helped him a bit. Krishna knew Zero needed more...
"No, I suspect it may be Rahu they've reached, but Lori did pick up a rather strong reading for yet another Ancient artifact," Mangala revealed. Causing X's... whatever served his as a heart, skip a few times. "It's still too far for her to fully identify. From what I've gathered, it must be a mighty treasure."
"Oh... I see. Do you think... do your think it could be another one like me?" X asked with some revived hope.
He hated being the only one of his kind.
"Hard to say." Mangala shrugged. "We will only know when we will reach it..."
"Mangala?" X asked as he noticed how silent the cat-ball of a devotee remained pensive.
"Sorry, I've just been reviewing the astrological chart... I don't think the object we will land on is Rahu. Rahu is not even close to us at the moment." Mangala revealed as he leads the couple to a door... a very familiar door in a very familiar corridor.
And once the door slid open, X could not help but feel his lips stretch in a smile.
It was the same space... the same cozy and homey room the interstellar Vaishnavas had to host them in the first time they had boarded Lori.
"Hey... is that..." Zero croaked out, clearly out of it.
X held his long-time lover closer, giving him as much support and love he could while not being too open about it. "yeah, Zee, we'll pass the next two days here." X confirmed as he helped his Zero enter the homey little house.
Noting had changed.
"Now." Mangalananda spoke up. " I would love for you to be our guest again. But after some rumination, we have decided that a cabin of proper size would be more appropriate for the two of you." The tiny alien spoke as he leads his friend to the door... but since Zero was not in any shape to bend down (hopefully, he would recover during the next two days, enough to fight Sigma.) Mangala magicked it bigger. "There you go. While it's not the same as pop-star, you will still have access to the Very Green Valley and the autumn stream."
"Oh, this sound's lovely." X sighed how he missed autumn colours.
"... Can we spar there?" Zero rasped as X helped him to a couch. The crystal blue reploid sent a meaningful glance back at Mangala, and the magical flying head of untold power glanced back.
Wordlessly, Mangalananda went to a cabinet and took out a kettle and some loose tea. Chamomile and mint. "Yes... you may. But take some rest dude, you look halfway to Yamaloka."
"Yeah... feels like it also," Zero grunted as he pressed his hand to his head. "Ugh... It didn't feel this bad... before." The red and blond reploid hissed, and X sat beside him, whipping the blood (not oil) that lazily dribbled from his nose as he held his lover steady.
Thankfully, Lori didn't sway as she plied through the hidden ocean of air.
"Oh no... wait, let me..." Mangala murmured and mumbled as he flew in front of Zero's face, applying his hands, now surrounded by a pair of laser... sun-circle.
'Magic... real magic, like we see them in anime and video games.' X thought as he watched, mesmerized by the precise energy that danced around Mangala's hands. And this amazing sight moves to Zero's head, chasing away the pain and the...
"Mangala, Lori-"
"yes, I know, Nillor." Mangala hissed as he broke the wave of magic that afflicted his beloved.
The moment the Ancient magic was dissolved, all tension broke from Zero's frame, and the Robot master flopped on the back of the couch as he practically moaned in relief.
X looked away, hiding his blush. But not his relief at his life partners slackened features.
"Better?" Mangala asked.
"Yeah." Zero breathed out; his eyes still closed as if about to fall asleep.
Suddenly, the sound of the kettle warned Mangalananda and X that the water had done boiling. Mangala flew to it and, once again with his amazing magic, produced a mug big enough for Zero to hold it in his hands and prepared the soothing brew. "So, as I was saying, you guys will have a small cabin by the fall forest. And yes, there is indeed a training ground were you and X can have fun without fearing a broken down holo-deck." The flying head proudly stated.
"Eh... I'll see how long this place will last." Zero smirked as he sat back up, snatching the mug and happily sipping it. "Hmm... it's been decades since I had herbal tea."
" Oh my, once this baddy's taken care of. We, Kamala, Dhara, Madan and myself, will establish as many perma-culture hubs and educational centres as we can... but to be honest, we would probably make more Prema-culture centres. Then, you will be able to enjoy the fresh fruits the earth will give us, Zero."
"Excuse me, but... what's the difference between Perma-Culture and Prema-Culture," X asked as he leaned a bit more on Zero's side, dispelling his helmet.
He was among friends, and it felt nice not to have this weight on his head.
Mangala floated to a beanbag and sat down, folding his palms together. Looking extremely please with X's question. "Ah yes, Perma-culture is the action of, as the name implies, permanently cultivating the land with as little negative impact on mother earth as possible. It involves using plants that will not strip the soil of its water and nutrients and feed it when they perish. It also involves cows, goats, hens and ducks to control pests and fertilize the soil naturally. No artificial fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide and fungicide is allowed."
X's eyebrows reached the border of his hair. "Oh..."
"It's a very holistic way of life. You live with what the earth and the sky give you. And many such projects have greened deserts and fed those who would otherwise be dependent on other countries."
"Oh, this is amazing." X breathed out, already planing on implementing it. "And it can be learned?"
"Of course it can. Not only that, but my boy Madan got in contact with a few teams of Perm-farmers willing to travel and spread the love of nature." Mangala joyfully confirmed, and it took everything X had not to jump, run and fluttered around like an ecstatic five-year-old undergoing the mother of all sugar rush...
Well, no. It only took Zero's arm and hand around X's thin waist and the promises that he could let it all out once they were at the cabin since they would have more space and privacy to celebrate the good news.
"And what about Prema-Culture?" Zero asked next, wanting to know more for his beloved's sake and pleasure.
"It's basically the same thing, save that we focus more on cow and bull protection and Bhakti. Or loving and willing service to Sri-Sri Radha-Krishna. It has solved the drought problem quite a few times." Mangalananda explained as he leaned further back in his beanbag. The pride in his voice was unmistakable.
"Wait... you know how to stop drought?" X asked as he eagerly leaned forward, making Zero spill some of his tea.
"Pshh... of course, we do." Mangala playfully scoffed. "Stopping drought is so easy. Even a child can do it."
X and Zero (who was slowly recovering.) sat straighter as they wordlessly begged the tiny alien for the key to make it rain.
Mangalananda began to clap his hand and sing. His warbling voice... not the most pleasant, but the lyrics were what was important.
"~Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare~"
"Wait... you mean. The Maha-Mantra's the answer?" Zero sputter out, taking X by surprise.
'wait... Maha-Mantra?'
Mangala's eyes closed in a way that invoked a please smile. "Yes, My friend. The Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra gives everything to the chanters. You want rain; you will get rain; you want wealth? Ask, and thou shall receive. Do you want to see God? Boom... not that fast, but you will see him. First with your ears, then with your eyes, and finally, he will forever be in your heart."
"Really?" X asked.
"Do I look like a guy who would lie?" Mangala asked with a quirk of his ears, his winning personality shining like the chrome in a car dealer's plot.
"Yes." Came Dharadhara das' voice. The kind of dreamland strode through the room and grabbed some white cotton cloth. " But... you would never lie about anything related to Krishna or the effect of the Mantra."
"Dhara, what are you doing here?" Mangala asked as he floated up to his couch. "I thought you wanted to meet Indra and his wife."
"I did... real nice couple. I had to tell Indra to calm down and note nuke Lori tough." The king explained as he walked to a bathroom. " He said he felt the powerful demon 0 'round here. I had to explain that one of our friends inherited his blood. But was the same as Gandhi."
This caused Mangala to chuckle nervously... and X had the delightful image of Zero as a red blob.
Obliviously, his mirth caught the attention of his beloved, who had just finished his tea and was looking at X weirdly. : Care to share?:
: No... I care for my life too much.: X sent, and Zero gently hit his crystalized helmet with a pair of fingers.
Some sparks flew off, and Zero stole his hand back, holding it protectively to his chest...
OK, so hitting X would cause his armour to harm Zero... good to know.
"Anyway, Indra-deva gave us the go-ahead to enter the sea of air..." And as the king entered the bathroom, grumbling at how annoying Axl was and how he'd almost got the king of heaven mad enough to blow them because he asked one too many questions about his thousand of eyes.
"Oh, God... I hope Ghandi didn't mention... that." Mangala mumbled fearfully as he turned to Gaura-Nitai's altar with frantic folded palms.
X had no idea what Mangalananda was praying about, but it had to do with Indra and a very Noisy Axl.
He heard Zero groan and turning to his lover; X could not help but feel worried as the taller of the two massaged the bridge of his nose as if to stave off yet another Axl-born migraine.
"God damn kid... can't he leave him alone." He turned to X. "X, once we were back on earth, you need to teach him the art of diplomacy."
"Yeah, no problem," X muttered, leaning on his life-long partner.