Note: I've got one more chapter that I've already done on Ao3 to post here. Then we'll be caught up on both ends.

That said, thank you to everyone that's given kudos/comments so far! I'll admit that I was a little nervous to start this one, but it seems to be going over well.

If you guys have any questions for me, just ask!

As for some differences, I'll kind of need to go into how I came into Mega Man.

Because I came into it all wrong.

Mega Man 2 was my first "Mega Man" game, but the first game in the franchise I became familiar with as a wee kid was the first Mega Man X. I had no idea who Dr. Wily was, I thought Zero and Proto Man were the same characters (my cousins outright said that they thought Zero was X's brother), and that Roll and the rest of the others of the Classic cast were just doing stuff off-screen. Also, I thought Zero's hair was a cape because it was incomprehensible to my three-year-old mind that men could have long hair.

Years later, I realize the difference and grow an appreciation and love for both series. Though with time, I feel that, while X is one of my favorites, I feel the Classic series is better, if not just for the fact that without it, we wouldn't have the X series. That said, I always hated how the X series just seems to forget about the Classic series and its characters unless it's Dr. Light. Where's Mega Man? Proto Man? Roll? The Robot Masters? Granted, it's been a century, but some hint as to what happened would've been nice.

Thus, I'm adding a Classic character into this series to try and link the two.

As for Dr. Fujiwara, the original game manual said that Cain essentially built the first Reploid by himself, but isn't the guy a paleobotanist? What does he know about making robots? Plus, while I could be wrong, there don't seem to be a lot of "humanoid" looking robots around. True, there are Reploids, but were the Mechaniloids there before? Did robots continue to exist? Were there just Mechaniloids before?

I'm going to try and work these questions into the narrative, and one of those ways was the inclusion of Dr. Sho Fujiwara. Named after the original Mega Man X's producer, Tokuro Fujiwara (also known as Professor F), and a designer for the game, Sho Tsuge, I added him to better explain how the first Reploids were able to be put out. Because robotics and studying ancient plant life are two very different fields.

Also, I'm addressing the span of time between when X was first dug up and when the first Reploid was completed. X was uncovered in just a few days, but according to the manual, the first Reploid wasn't completed until sometime in November. So I'm showing what perhaps happened during all that time, as well as why there had to be such a long span of time.

I'll admit that I am making a lot of stuff up, but I want to keep the core points of the story and characters present, even if this is a different interpretation of the story.

With that said, let's get onto the chapter! Hope you enjoy it!

The X Buster

May 30th, 21XX

Arcadia, the White City

As Cain came to find out quickly, a new type of robot, let alone any type of robot, couldn't just be released out into the world right away.

"Need I remind you, Cain, that neither of us is supposed to technically have this robot in our possession." Sho Fujiwara told the older man. "If the council gets ONE word of this, no matter how small, then-"

"Yes, I'm well aware." Cain told the robotics expert. He knew well what would happen to both of them, and perhaps the entire digging team, should X's existence get out before the time was right.

Since the uncovering of Dr. Light's final creation (presumably), Cain convinced everyone to remain silent for the time being, Cain simply declaring the expedition a failure. True, it was a loss of both time and money, but Fujiwara proposed something to the crew.

"If we could make use of this machine somehow, then we could change the entire world. And each and every one of you will have contributed to it!"

Cain knew that the Japanese man intended for him to hear his words, but his concern was more on the consequences of having that blue robot in their custody without alerting the council. And the fact that Fujiwara bribed everyone to stay silent wouldn't look good on either of the men either.

"Well, how much more does he need to do for you?" the paleobotanist questioned Fujiwara. "As in, whatever tests he needs to go through?"

As Fujiwara had explained to Cain if there were going to be successful in this endeavor, as they WERE technically breaking the law by even having him in our possession. It wouldn't even matter if we made him ourselves, you and I know that his AI is far beyond any mechaniloid. That would be all they would need for this entire operation to shut down."

How in the world did he get into this mess? He had gone out to prove a theory of his regarding ancient plant life, and how here he was, committing illegal activity with an advanced robot he knew next to nothing about! Still, he wondered something. "If they find out that X is a creation of Dr. Light, then surely such information would be in his favor, right?"

"Perhaps," Fujiwara told Cain. "But even then, he would be preserved in a museum somewhere. Whichever way, we'll never have the chance to see just what this robot can lead to. If we can present these tests to the council, as well as solid evidence of his interactions with both mechaniloid and human alike, then they would have no choice but to accept my proposal."

Isn't it too soon to have such confidence already? The older man thought, yet he didn't say it aloud. Whether he liked it or not, he was in too deep now. If any of this was revealed to the public in any way, both he and Fujiwara would be finished. Even if it was just a rumor being spread around, the council could still look into it! And then what!? There was so much that he wanted to tell the scientist, questions that needed answering, but he knew that he wouldn't be getting them. Not yet, anyway.

"Speaking of, where is he?" Cain asked.

Fujiwara looked from his work. "Hm? Oh, you mean DLN-"

"Mega Man X." Cain interrupted. "Even if he has a serial number, he also has a title."

"Fine, call him whatever you want. It doesn't matter to me." the Asian told him. "Ah! That reminds me, I need him for another physical."

"Another?" Cain was surprised to hear this. "How many have you done? Four or five?"

"Six." Fujiwara corrected. "But this one is for more than just testing the strength of his form or endurance." he rose from his chair. "I'm wanting to see what he can do with that buster."

He had been fetched from his room, yet again, for another test, yet again. X had been cooped up in this place for nearly a month and a half, and still, Fujiwara was not done with him! True, it wasn't as if he had much of a choice, having been informed of what could happen to him if he were discovered too soon. He was told he would be taken away and either terminated or deactivated, never to see the outside world again. Of course, given that was the last thing the blue robot wanted, he complied with the Doctor's requests, even if they were more like orders.

His armor had been scanned, his limbs and joints tested, his CPU analyzed, and that didn't even cover the numerous physical and stimulation tests that Fujiwara had put him through. But now, what was being asked of him caught him off guard.

"You want me to what?" X asked, standing alone in a small room of sorts, Fujiwara and Cain looking down from a platform high above, thick glass covering the opening.

"I want you to aim and fire your buster at the target," Fujiwara answered, voice echoing throughout the small chamber. "It's only a few meters away, there's no way you could miss it."

Before X stood a mechaniloid around his size, motionless and ready for him to fire. "You…" X began to realize what the Fujiwara meant. "You want me to shoot him?"

"Him?" Fujiwara was confused, looking at Cain. "Why assume it's a him?" Cain was about to answer, but he never got the chance, Fujiwara speaking into the mic again. "It won't attack you if that's what you're worried about. It should be a training dummy for you." The mechaniloid was motionless before the blue robot, waiting for him to take his shot. But he never drew out his buster. "Well?" the scientist was puzzled. "Proceed with the test. Shoot the target."

X looked at the mechaniloid, then up at the two humans observing him. "Can I ask something?"

Cain and Fujiwara were surprised upon hearing this. "You may after your complete the test." Fujiwara said. "Now, begin."

"But-"

"Begin the test." Fujiwara told the blue robot sternly, though, to Cain, it sounded more like it was bordering on an aggressive growl.

"Now, hold on." the older man stepped forward. "Why not let him speak? After all, how many tests has he done for you already?"

"What would that matter?" the Japanese man asked, then he turned back to X. "Begin the test. Now."

"But you didn't say the target was another robot!" X argued.

"You insist on being stubborn again?" Fujiwara asked. Cain looked and saw X grow nervous. "Fine." the older man then saw the scientist press a button on a remote-like device he had retrieved from his lab coat pocket. "Either way, I get results."

Before Cain could ask what he meant by that, he saw the mechaniloid spring forward towards X, tackling him to the floor. "What are you doing?!" the older man shouted, appalled by what he was seeing.

"Relax." Fujiwara said nonchalantly. "This should be child's play for him." he continued to look at the scene taking place below. "Assuming he actually uses his weapon this time."

This time? Cain got no time to say anymore as he heard a shout of pain from X, the blue robot slamming on the floor after being delivered a right hook to the face. "Stop it! You're hurting him!"

"He'll be fine!" the Japanese man replied. "If anything, you're only making it worse for yourself." Fujiwara said into the mic. "Just make use of what was built into you, and all of this would be over."

The mechaniloid then drew out a handheld energy blaster and began firing at X, the blue robot ducking just in time to avoid the blast. "What the hell are you doing?!" Cain shouted. "You're going to kill him!"

"That laser won't pierce through his armor," Fujiwara explained as if what he was seeing was perfectly normal. "It'll just deliver a light shock."

"Sho, you've got to stop this!" Cain argued with him. "This is cruel!"

"What it IS is time-wasting!" Fujiwara said back. "It seems that our friend here needs just one more push."

Then the mechaniloid fired at X's chest, causing the robot to stumble back. A painful surge of electricity traveled throughout his entire body, sending X to the floor on his hands and knees. Then he became aware that the mechaniloid was pointing the energy blast at the red crystal on his head.

It was then that as if by pure instinct, the blue robot's right hand retreated into his forearm to be replaced with the barrel of a blaster. X's arm then aimed at the mechaniloid's head, and with one, quick shot, a concentrated blast of plasma was fired, piercing the robot's metallic skull and coming out the other end of its head. The mechaniloid immediately fell over, spasming while X got to his feet and looked at the sight.

Finally. Fujiwara thought, quite pleased with what he had just seen. Cain, on the other hand, was horrified. "All right, the test is over," he said into the mic, X looking up at him with wide, shocked eyes. The door sealing the chamber was then opened. "You may leave."

X could scarcely believe what he was hearing. "That's it?" the robot asked. "That's all you can think about?"

A part of him was ashamed, yet Cain was in awe at seeing the robot's youthful face contort into an expression of shock and anger. But another part of him was steadily becoming fearful of the robot below. His voice was rising in volume as he continued to speak.

"What's the problem?" the Asian questioned.

"The problem…the problem is that he's dead!" X shouted to Fujiwara, gesturing to the mechaniloid, who had finally stopped moving. At least, until its leg twitched. Seeing this, X ran over to the other machine, turning it over. It was then that he saw where the blast had gone through, a clean hole right through the cerebral chamber. "He's…" X stammered. He then looked up at Fujiwara. "I…I don't understand you."

With that, he stepped out of the chamber and went off without another word.

"He had better be grateful." Fujiwara groaned. "He's just gotten his privilege to go elsewhere than his room." He then heard the door being opened. "Cain?" the Japanese man was confused. "Where are you going-" the door slammed behind the older man, leaving Fujiwara alone in the small area above the chamber.

He ran. He didn't know where to, let alone where he could even go, but he ran. He needed to get away from that room, away from that mechaniloid lying dead on the ground. He didn't want to go back to his "room", and he knew that he couldn't leave the lab or he would potentially be seen.

Finally having stopped from his aimless sprinting, the blue robot rested up against a wall and slid down to the ground. He looked at his right arm, his hand slipping into his forearm to be replaced with the buster again. Why? X thought. Why was Fujiwara wanting to test this part of him so badly? And for what reason? Why did that mechaniloid attack him?

And better yet, why did he have to shoot?

"There you are." X suddenly heard a voice. He looked up to see, to his relief, that it was just Cain. "Are you all right?"

X scowled. "What do you think?!" he shouted, the human surprised at his reaction. As quickly as he said though, X immediately regretted raising his voice. "I'm sorry. I…I shouldn't be taking it out on you."

"You're in shock. How else are you going to react?" the human told the robot, surprised at himself for saying such a thing to him. To a machine. "Is this the first time Fujiwara's had you do this?"

"Not really," X answered. He seemed somewhat reluctant to speak; almost as if he would get in trouble for it. Or rather, in trouble with Fujiwara. "I mean, I guess it's only natural that you would want to see what I'm…well, made of, in a sense," he said. "Oh! Not that I mind the tests! They're simple enough to complete after all."

"Relax," Cain assured him, placing a hand on X's shoulder. "You're not going back into quarantine if that's what you're afraid of." X seemed to calm down somewhat upon hearing this, yet he was still clearly distressed. The older human doubted that the robot would wish to discuss what had just happened, but suddenly, he heard X speak for him.

"I didn't mean to kill him."

"What?" Cain asked. "The mechaniloid?"

X nodded after a moment of silence. "He just started attacking, I just wanted to get him away from me! I didn't mean to shoot him through the head!"

"I know, I know," Cain assured the robot. With each and every time the two interacted, the human was still astonished by what came out of this robot's mouth. "I plan to have a long talk with Fujiwara later, so don't worry about that." X looked fearful at first. "This is something I want to bring up to him. The only one Fujiwara would be mad at is me."

X looked at the ground, unsure. "Promise?"

"Promise." Cain told him. Then, he thought of something. Something that he had been wishing to ask since he was alerted that the robot was allowed out of quarantine. "By the way, I don't think I've seen your room yet."

X's attention was back on Cain. "Oh yeah, my room." he then rose up from the floor. "But…it's not very interesting."

Even if he was keeping a smile on his face, Cain's blood was beginning to boil. "I'll be the judge of that." he then gestured to let X lead the way. The blue robot took the hint and began to make his way to where he was placed in the Japanese scientist's lab.

Oh yes, Cain thought. He and I are going to have a very, VERY long talk.

Later

"I still don't understand what the problem is." Sho Fujiwara said, unaffected by what Cain was saying. "If anything, that robot should be grateful that he's even here at all, what with the worldwide ban on advanced AI after all."

Cain folded his arms. "And it's that kind of approach that will make him want to retreat from us and hide away." he told the scientist. "You've been keeping him cooped up in here, making him perform test after test without a break, and you wonder why that robot is reluctant to even speak to you!"

Fujiwara folded his arms. "And you this how?"

"Because I talk to him, Sho. Unlike you." Cain told the other human. "Look, the point is that you can't keep treating him like this! That whole scene with you setting that mechaniloid on him was too far! He outright told me he doesn't want to ever use that buster again!"

"Well, he had better get used to it!" Fujiwara argued back. "Otherwise he WILL be going back into quarantine!"

"You can't just demand or bully him into doing what you want!" the older man shouted.

"And why not?" the Asian questioned. "These are just the standard tests for any new brand of machine that is to be going out into the world." he explained. Especially the market. He thought to himself. "If he doesn't perform these tests, then he won't see life outside of this lab. And that's if we're fortunate enough for no one to say anything."

"Then can't you find a way that doesn't involve him doing…what you forced him to do earlier?" Cain questioned.

"I didn't force him to do anything." Fujiwara explained. "He refused to participate in the test, and thus, I gave him a little push."

"And that involved killing that mechaniloid?" Cain was getting nowhere with this man!

But it was then that Fujiwara rose from his seat and approached the older human, looking him dead in the eye. "I suspected that you would be this way. Usually, someone is."

Cain was confused, as well as somewhat intimidated. "And what is that?" he asked, hoping that he didn't further provoke the other man.

"That gets too attached to these things." Fujiwara said. "That mechaniloid, nor that robot, are even alive technically. They never have been. You're projecting onto them, thus, you fool yourself into believing that they truly have a will of their own."

Cain was silent for a short time. "But…Light's notes. He said-"

"And that was his greatest flaw." Fujiwara interrupted. "He was a brilliant scientist, but the man was an emotional fool." Cain scarcely believed what he had just heard. Of all the men that he had known in the field of robotics, not one of them ever spoke of Dr. Thomas Light in such a way. "He built this X machine to presumably mimic the behavior and mannerisms of an ordinary human. His goal was to build a robot that, aside from its proportions and the fact he's entirely mechanical, was a being that could share in the same gift that robots were denied for so long."

"And that would be?"

"Freedom," Fujiwara answered. "The freedom to control their own lives, to make their own decisions, to set the course for their own destiny and path in life."

Cain took a moment to process this. Was this what Light had intended? From what he had seen from X, he realized that indeed, he had seen a robot do things that haven't been seen in decades, perhaps even for a century! Well, at least until Light's death. X's AI was leagues above any mechaniloid. In fact, Cain then realized, despite the fact he was a mass of metal and circuits, the blue robot seemed more man than machine.

"It's all an illusion, of course." Fujiwara continued, completely blowing off what Light had managed to accomplish. "Even if they and other humans may think it's real. At the end of the day, Mega Man X is just that. His title and his creator only matter so much that he would most likely be preserved as an ancient artifact. Or, should he comply with these tests, he shall help bring forth a new wave of machines that could change the world." the Japanese man then folded his arms. "And you're wishing to throw this all away because you think I'm being too harsh on a robot?"

Cain was silent, knowing well that Fujiwara wasn't going to budge. Now it was time for him to suggest an idea of his own. "Then…perhaps I should take him elsewhere."

Once again, he was confined in this room. Well, perhaps confined wasn't the best term, as neither Cain nor Fujiwara ordered him to stay, but he sensed it best that he not leave. Lest he has to go through another "test" again.

At first, X had nothing in the room for him, but he had requested a place to sleep. Fujiwara simply told him to switch his systems to stasis, but the blue robot showed that it wasn't as simple as that. Even if he was a machine, he still felt that need to lie down and rest. For what reason, he didn't know, but he wanted it all the same.

Eventually, he was given a simple twin bed, which supported his weight (though he did only weigh fifty-seven kilograms or one-hundred and twenty-five pounds), but not much else. It was Cain who suggested that he needed more than just a bed. Fujiwara didn't really seem interested, but when Cain suggested that he could see X processing things such as literature and information. The scientist argued that Light, the Doctor, would've surely programmed such things into him already, so there was little point. He seemed more interested in seeing what X could do for him in collecting data.

The blue robot was quite plainly told that, should he leave the lab, he very well could be seized or even killed. According to Fujiwara, his very existence could've been seen as breaking the law.

"Why?" X asked him when the testing had first begun, not understanding.

Fujiwara turned to him before he left to analyze what he managed to collect from the DLN. "Because, according to the council, let alone in general, something like you isn't supposed to exist."

The door then shut, leaving X to contemplate his words. And even now, he still contemplated them. He wasn't supposed to exist? What did that mean? Light…the Doctor…he had created him, so he was meant to exist for something, right? His hand retreated into his arm, being replaced with the canon of a buster. The Doctor had also given him this weapon, so was this meant to be used? Was he constructed for that purpose?

The image of the mechaniloid flashed in his head, X banishing it immediately. No, he wouldn't use this thing. Never again. He swore he wouldn't.

Suddenly, he heard the door open, sensing motion and opening for whoever was outside. X was surprised, assuming that Cain had locked the door from the outside. Could he have gone outside the entire time?

The blue robot didn't get much time to think it over as he felt something scratching at his calves.

X looked down to see, of all things, a small, white ball of fluff with legs looking up at him with large, brown eyes. A surprisingly long, pink tongue hung out of the creature's mouth, panting as if it had been running for some time.

X was puzzled. A dog? How did a dog get in here?

"Patarche!" a high-pitched, young voice called out. "Patarche! Where are you!?" the sound of approaching footsteps alerted X that someone was coming. "Patarche! Pata-" a small girl stopped in the doorway, spotting the white puppy. "Patarche!" she ran into the room to collect the puppy, but she then realized that the canine wasn't the only one in the room.

"Oh really?" Fujiwara questioned. "And where else would you take him to? To who?"

"It'd be easy." Cain retorted. "You're not the only expert in the world. The moment anyone hears that he's a creation of Light, they would at least know to treat him decently."

The scientist wasn't intimidated in the slightest. Do you think you know how to play this game? Think again, old man. "Fine." he simply said. "Take him."

"What?" Cain asked, confused.

"You heard me," Fujiwara answered. "Take X to someone else. Try to find a way to get him there," he said. "And let's assume you do. Let's assume you can bring X to someone with even half of my credentials and success. But who's to say that you'll have even the chance to try it?"

The older human paled. "What are you saying?"

A slight grin came to the Asian man's face. "I'm saying that you're stuck with me. You and that robot are," he told Cain, the older man having played right into his trap. "Bear in mind, X's existence hasn't been reported to the council. That is an offense in of itself, especially considering the level of this robot's AI. Even the mechaniloids programmed to handle complex tasks pale in comparison to him." Cain sensed he wasn't done. "But the council isn't going to care." a cold chill ran down the paleobotanists' back. "They're going to burst in here and take every piece of data I've recorded, along with that robot, and lock it away."

Cain's lips tightened with anger. "You wouldn't…"

"And that's not all." Fujiwara continued. "Every name involved with this will have their lives ruined. Remember that we all swore that we'd never tell, right? And wasn't that your idea, Cain?"

"I…I was just trying to-"

"We're all in this together now." the robotics expert explained. "And I could alert the council any minute about what's going on. Take that robot to someone else, then maybe I could let some information slip out by accident." he then growled. "Don't think for a second that I won't bring you and everyone else down with me. If I go, we ALL go. And you know well that there is nothing you can do to stop me."

Cain was left entirely silent, his eyes wide with terrible comprehension but also at Fujiwara's utter callousness. As much as he despised it and despised the other man at the moment, he knew that the Asian was right. There was nothing he could do. And if it wasn't out of self-preservation, then it was out of fear of X being put away.

"Mr. Fujiwara!" the door to Fujiwara's quarters was thrust open, a tan-skinned woman with brown-haired tied up in a bun rushing in. "Ah, thank goodness you're still here!"

"What's the meaning of this, Cecilia?" the Asian questioned, quite irritated at having been interrupted.

"It's your daughter!" the woman, Cecilia answered. "She ran off!"

"Ran off? Where?" Fujiwara immediately questioned. "Is she in the lab?"

"Yes, she's here," Cecilia confirmed. "She wanted to come to see you, but Patarche-"

"Patarche? Who's Patarche?" the Japanese man had no idea what his housekeeper was talking about. "Whatever! Just find her!"

The moment she stepped forward, X stepped back. The girl was a young child, perhaps around four or five, of Asian descent. Her eyes were brown and her hair completely black, tied up in a half-ponytail with a red ribbon. She wore a red dress, a white turtleneck undershirt, white knee-high socks, and red buckle shoes.

"Who are you?" the girl asked, then she looked at the canon of his buster. "What's that?"

X looked down in horror. "Shit!" he said aloud, not even thinking. "Oh, nothing!" he said, putting his right arm behind his back.

The child seemed utterly unaffected by the curse. From how calm she was, X assumed that she was perhaps no stranger to hearing such things. "Are you one of dad's new mechaniloids?" the girl asked, circling X and studying him, the white puppy following her. "You look a lot more like a person though." she then looked at the size of his calves and forearms. "Well, kinda."

X raised a brow. "What does that mean?"

The girl completely ignored him, looking around the small space that served as X's living quarters. "Is this your room?" she asked. "Looks boring." Well, X had to agree with that. "So, what are you?" she asked him. "You're not a mechaniloid."

"Well, no. I'm not." X answered.

"What's your name?" the girl questioned, clearly leading the conversation.

"X." he told her.

She waited to hear more but saw the robot had no more to say. "That's it? Your name's a letter?"

She was blunt; he had to give her that. "Well, it's actually a variable."

"Variable?" the girl questioned. "So, your name can mean anything?"

X thought for a moment. "Huh. Yes, I guess it can." she was staring up at him, taking in every feature she could see. "So…what's your name?"

"Chiyo." The young girl answered. "Chiyo Fujiwara." she then gestured to the puppy. "And this is Patarche."

Note: I'll admit that I write a little slow, but seeing as I'm kind of building an AU, I still want to make the world around the characters make sense. By the way, Chiyo is based on a very minor character in the X manga, but she has an expanded role. She matures beyond being a little girl over the course of the story.

I will also discuss why there are only mechaniloids and no other robots like the Light children or Robot Masters. Granted, I won't give away too much, but I wanted to give a reason as to why, as it is something I noticed.

Please let me know if there are any errors, leave your input/kudos (or both), and I'll see you next time!