Note: Break from Ray B. Focused stuff (although I think it's safe to say everyone knows who he really is) but I'm glad his inclusion is being received ok. Granted, he won't take away too much as it is X's story, yet his history has ties to the plot of the series and Reploids overall.

As to how he survived? Well, Tempo has something to do with that. Yes, their relationship does improve.

But sorry for dragging, any further delving into the past won't occur until we reach Launch Octopus, and only because it provides both plot significance and character introductions/growth.

Recommend Hiding and the rest of the series by Kaguya 2.0

Also, recommend the Mega Man fan film

The Son of Wily

This was a trap, that much he knew. This idiot was deluded, believing he had the upper hand over the red Hunter as they continued to do this ridiculous game of chase. Fine, whatever, Zero thought. If that helped him finally manage to nab this guy, the better. This had been going on long enough, and, quite frankly, things were beginning to drag.

Or rather, right after the Mole Borer was taken out, this began to feel like a stretched-out endeavor that was taking longer than necessary, even with the current circumstances.

"Hey, you lagging there, girly man?!" Zero heard Goldminer chortle from up ahead, voice echoing off the compact, mineral-filled walls of the depths of the Zalts Mine. "We're almost there!"

The urge to shout something back came to mind, yet the blonde Hunter held his tongue, continuing to follow the sound of Goldminer's obnoxious voice. On and on he went, the golden helmet atop the Maverick's head vanishing into the sudden veil of darkness that consumed the tunnel ahead, catching Zero off guard for a few seconds before his optics adjusted accordingly to the lighting, of which there was barely any. Still, night vision allowed for some ability to navigate more than a mere few feet in front of him.

In the next few steps, he saw the distant glimmer of an object shining, said object resembling a construction helmet similar to those possessed by the Dig Laborers, only composed of more iridescent material. A pair of goggles soon joined the helmet, the bright yet oddly "floating" ensemble composing of the seeming disembodied head of Goldminer.

Zero immediately knew that he had chased the Maverick as far as he could go, yet, all the same, Goldminer appeared to not exactly be panicked. Perhaps it was due to being forced to fight at this point, the red Hunter having cut off all other potential routes of escape, yet, as he drew closer, he began to see more and more items seemingly "spring" to life, gaining a bright glow from within and this pattern followed for what appeared to be every single object surrounding the invisible outline of Goldminer.

After a few moments, it soon dawned on Zero that what he was seeing were gemstones. Large, sizable gemstones of varying minerals and precious metals, the once nearly pitch-black space lit up in shimmering light, the surface of the priceless natural materials reflecting off the rocky walls of the surprisingly large chamber. Near the center, the items composed of the treasure pile were fashioned in the style of something of a makeshift throne, Goldminer's arms situated on rows of medium-sized diamonds and his back supported by the solid formation of several stones clustered together, their shape unrelenting, but, together, they could be manipulated to serve him in this manner as well.

"Aren't they pretty?" Goldminer questioned, staring down at Zero from his gemstone-made perch of rich beauty, all dug up personally by himself. "I lay claim to all of them, just so you know," he made that clear. "Not one thing here hasn't been taken out of the Earth by anyone's hand but mine. And I intend for it to remain that way."

Zero didn't show any signs of amusement. "So, what? You plan on taking them all with you in some grand explosion?" he questioned.

"Far from it," Goldminer stated, gesturing to his left side, a small, black device attached to his midsection. "Granted, I've put my signature on each and every one of them," he noted, Zero himself spotting a few peculiar emblems, almost the size of an ant, on the surface of the Maverick's findings. All with the same damned first character of his name. "But those are trackers. This here," he gestured again to the device on his belt. "Connects to an explosive situated right underneath my stash," he proclaimed with pride. "One hit to this, and we both go!"

Zero gritted his teeth. "You're willing to do all this for some shiny rocks?"

Goldminer possessed none of the visible features found on the blonde Hunter, yet Zero could sense that his comment didn't exactly sit well with the Maverick, his goggles flashing dangerously. "You know, Armadillo went ahead and gave me a warning about you," he said, gripping his pistol. "But it looks like you're just as dense and moronic as he is."

Zero merely crossed his arms, all the while watching Goldminer's movements, the other Reploid still standing atop the treasure hoard. "Because we have enough sense to know it's worth nothing to die for something as trivial as this?"

That appeared to garner a reaction of sorts from the Maverick, his mask hissing in fury at this perceived offense. "Whatever," Goldminer spat. "I don't need you to judge me," he said. "Or what I see as valuable," he then aimed and fired. "I don't need anything from you, human-supporting filth!"

A flurry of blasts exited from the weapon, Zero quickly using the nearby gemstones and precious metals as cover for the shots, which they provided reasonably well. If anything, their presence only served to protect the Hunter from his opponent's shots, a fact either seemingly lost on Goldminer or he simply didn't care. Regardless, the Red Devil readied his own buster, all the while keeping the device strapped to Goldminer's belt in sight.

"X…" he muttered to himself, blue optics catching a flash of something shining and yellow. Or, more appropriately, gold. "You had better not have gotten yourself in trouble."

Abandoned Weapons Plant

"Do you have to do this?" he heard her question him through the com-link. "You've got everything that was recorded on the computer, right? That means you can just come back, right?"

Ray B. sighed, dipping his chin further underneath his clothes. "I got what was recorded on that particular computer," he told his contact back in Abel City. "And, even then, I don't know if it'll be enough for you," he confessed. "But it's the best that I can unfortunately do at the moment."

"Then why are you still there if you've done all you could?" Roll asked. "Which sounds rather disparaging on your end, might I add? Bear in mind, Chiyo and Kenichi are here still because of you."

The heavily clothed machine did a light scoff. "Funny, considering how one of the first major acts of my new life resulted in death," he then muttered. "A majority of them the very beings I was made to help."

"What was that?" Roll asked, bringing Ray B. from his musing.

"Nothing," he responded. "Nothing you would remember, anyway," he muttered to himself again. "And it's everything I wish to forget."

He kept going, the darkness of the factory more or less reminiscent of the same blackness that threatened to overtake his sight entirely, along with the dense shadows of Ra Moon's chamber. Where he had been found by Wily so long ago.

And, from then on, who he was before was no more, for he didn't deserve to carry the name Dr. Light bestowed on him. That name no longer existed. That robot no longer existed. Nothing from that era existed anymore, the world, idealistic yet curious of new life, life such as himself, and it was all shattered.

Whether it was doomed to happen eventually, or maybe the world Dr. Light wished for never existed in the first place, he didn't know. Yet it couldn't be denied that, despite what the others would tell him, he certainly had a hand in making things worse, circumstances notwithstanding.

After all, Wily wasn't responsible for everything.

But, unlike before, everyone appeared powerless to do anything, and any hope of unity was little more than a foolish dream.

Armadillo's Chamber

"...and then, that was when you were found," the imprisoned Maverick finished. "And now, here we are, at the end of each other's weapons."

X stood in silence, green eyes wide and mouth hanging agape. Armored Armadillo was still confined in his prison of ice from the neck down, and the little Met that had been brought from the secret chamber outside was gazing up curiously at both of them, although whether it could truly process all that had been said remained a mystery.

The blue and white armored Hunter moved his lips, yet found it incredibly difficult to produce even a single sound. "...how many?" he finally croaked, the Met's wide eyes tenderly surveying the larger figures before it. One was seemingly on the verge of complete distress while the other had just "given up" in a sense.

"Aside from you, no creations of Light exist," Armadillo said. "Let alone anyone or anything from the time when he was alive. You are the last thing he had his hand in making."

X was quiet. His head steadily lowered to face the dry ground of the inner chamber, the roaring waterfall continuing its rhythmic flow. "...all of them?" he weakly croaked, trying to conceal his growing distress from the view of the elder soldier. Not literally, yet, at the moment, the blue and white Hunter felt quite childish in comparison to Armadillo.

"It all occurred before your time," the banded mechanical mammal told the other Reploid. "Or rather, soon after," he corrected himself. "You had been sealed up according to the dates found on the records. Had you emerged, you would've potentially been collected and shipped off with the others to who knows where?"

X bit his lip. "...I'm not suggesting I would've killed anyone," he said. "Especially any humans."

"Then what would you have done?"

"..."

"Bear in mind, they may be our ancestors, yet we Reploids are not as the robots were," Armadillo said. "We could run and hide if we so chose to. They, on the other hand," he then released a low growl. "Many were built with features that required them to be solely obedient to their creators and their flesh-covered brethren."

"Even…" X began but then hesitated. "Even Light's?"

"And Wily's," the former Hunter finished for his previous ally. "Although," he then muttered, quietly, yet X still managed to catch a little of it. "Apparently the one that had served the role of 'Break Man' apparently had the same code embedded into his system. Yet when Dr. Light attempted to use it, it seemed to not…?" Armadillo stopped, noticing that X was now holding the Met in his hands, the small, yellow machine gazing up at the seasoned warrior with large, inquisitive eyes. "What?"

"Well, consider this your lucky day," X replied, much to his foe's confusion. "I was sent here to put an end to your illegal operation," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, my end of things is done. Which essentially leaves you at my mercy, doesn't it?"

Armored Armadillo, who had been stripped of his protective wear and encased in ice, was left puzzled. "What are you getting at?"

"If you're at my mercy, that means I decide what happens to you, right?" X continued.

"...yes, technically."

"Then, in that case," the other Reploid's green optics studied the other's entrapped form. "I'm placing you under arrest."

Goldminer's Stash

"Come on, pretty boy!" Goldminer bellowed, continuing to fire any time he caught sight of Zero, brief as it was. "Stop hiding and shoot me already! Or are you worried about messing up that precious hair of yours?!"

That comment alone made it tempting to rise up and put a shot or two through his mouth to shut him up, yet Zero kept his head down to avoid the continuous onslaught of plasma bullets being delivered in his direction. And no, it had nothing to do with his hair. Still, he would need to find a way to get past the barrage of projectiles sent his way. However, given that Goldminer wasted no time in pelting the area with shots at the slightest hint of seeing red or yellow, leaving the Hunter no time to come up with an offense.

At least, not one that wouldn't result in letting himself get riddled with holes.

Still, if he could perhaps close enough distance between them, then maybe he could make a shot. Granted, he couldn't guarantee it would be a good shot, let alone one he could charge a great deal, if at all. All the same, he had to try something. Whether he was in trouble or had everything under control, the blonde Reploid knew that, somehow, in some way, X was waiting for him.

From his place atop the treasure hoard, Goldminer ceased firing for a moment, the repetitive, almost rhythmic, and harmonious melody of the ever-emptying weapon, the barrel hot with smoke and the Maverick's trigger finger still on the handle, ready to fire again at any time. Still, he had to think of something.

True, a few wounds here and there were perhaps manageable, yet the Maverick had come to this place mostly for cover. Should he get lucky wasn't important in his mind, what mattered was making the Hunter's job as hard as possible, and what better way than to surround himself with what were essentially dozens of shields? Diamonds would make perfect protection, and, even more, there were all his. Each and everyone that was present had been personally dug up by him and him alone, All the gems, the metals, the precious minerals that had been melted down and converted into bricks and solid forms of clean-cut shapes and smooth textures, they all belonged to him.

He laid claim over this mountain.

A flash of gold was spotted in the corner of his eye, beneath his thick goggles. He wasted no time in firing a shot and immediately grew giddy upon hearing a shout of pain, as well as traces of smoke beginning to rise from a nearby corner, Goldminer began to steadily make his way over to the source.

This mountain was his and his alone, and no one would claim it.

Not even Sigma himself.

That was too close!

Or perhaps, just close enough.

Hissing as he applied pressure to the fresh wound, Zero inwardly cursed the Maverick for this sudden stroke of luck, yet his focus remained on trying to make the smoke from the shot that had struck him die down, or at least snuff it out entirely.

Still, even with that, there was also the issue of getting close enough to Goldminer to deliver a potential killing blow himself. Yet, in order to do that, he would have to close the distance or remove the Maverick's weapon from his person.

Or, he soon realized as his ivory digits traced over the smooth polished surface of a few sizable diamonds, maybe all he needed was what had already been around him.

After all, sometimes the best offense was also the best defense.

Armadillo's Chamber

To say X's declaration shocked him was an understatement. If anything, had he not been formally encased in ice, Armored Armadillo would've possibly struck the blue Hunter for such an insulting remark. "You dare mock me?" He growled, the icy prison still not letting up, but he was still struggling to try and reassert dominance over his opponent. Even if the battle was technically over.

"No, I haven't ever mocked you," X answered plainly. "Yet I don't trust that you won't try to escape once I set you free, so I'll have to make use of these," his back compartments opened up and he reached inside, fiddling around until he felt the ring-like restraints meet his wandering digits. Taking the pair of stasis cuffs out, the blue and white Hunter eyed Armadillo, green optics watching his every move.

"I still don't know whether you are completely foolish or have at least some sliver of intelligence," the banded Maverick stated. "But even still, just a sliver isn't enough," he said. "You've been getting by through sheer luck until now. Such a thing is fleeting and fickle," he continued with a sigh. "You won't cut Sigma down like that."

X bit his lip. "Sigma will be dealt with," he said. "But he'll be dealt with according to the guidelines set by the Law."

"There are no Laws anymore," Armadillo responded. "None that we are forced to obey against our will," he added. "It was those very Laws that led to so many of our predecessors being taken and used for the agendas of others," then, he paused. "And left them with no choice but to surrender themselves to be forcibly scrapped."

X was left silent for a moment, trying to conjure up a response. "We don't live in that age anymore," he said. "The relationship between man and machine, it's evolved past that. They understand better now. They've-"

"No, they haven't," Armadillo cut X off. "They haven't evolved, nor has our relationship," he turned his optics to face the other one of his kind. "We have. We are not like those that came before us, X," he relayed. "Or do you consider yourself to be like the others constructed by your creator?"

The other machine was puzzled at the mammal's inquiry. "What does that have to do with-"

"Which do you consider yourself? A robot or Reploid?" Armadillo went on, not even allowing X to finish.

X was growing more confused. "Why would that matter?"

"Answer the question," the former Hunter barked, growing impatient. "Which one are you?"

X pondered on whether or not to repeat himself, yet, upon thinking further, he decided to simply rephrase his question. "I'd like to know what's at stake regarding my answer," he said. "Even if former ties mean nothing in this case, according to you," he emphasized that point, "surely the fact that I'm the one that's mobile be enough indication that one of us is greatly disadvantaged?" He asked. "Meaning that one could potentially take you out anytime, but is refraining from doing so?"

The violet and golden Maverick was taken aback by this, yet the shock didn't last long, he lightly scoffed at the other Reploid's words. "You wouldn't," he said. "If I recall correctly, Marth essentially did half the work for you while Sigma himself disposed of Mandrill. Neither of them were your kills."

X's throat tightened, despite possessing no organic traits such as an esophagus or digestive system. "Your point?"

"That is my point," Armadillo said. "You won't kill me because you refused to kill them. And even when your hand was forced, it was not just your efforts that led to Penguin's demise."

"I didn't want that-"

"Exactly! That's the problem! You don't want to conquer your enemy! You wish to convert them! What good is that?!" Armadillo bellowed. "What good will you be against Sigma if you don't wish to defeat him?!"

"And why should I want him dead?!" X protested. "Why should we not try to see if whatever's infected him can be purged out of his systems?!"

Aside from the ongoing waterfall, neither one of them spoke, silence falling in between them both. At least until Armadillo decided to completely dismantle the other machine's perception.

"So," the Maverick shook his head. "You really don't know what you're dealing with."

"What do you mean?" X questioned.

Armadillo sighed. "You believe Sigma to be a victim," he said. "A mere patient zero of this supposed virus that's been rumored to potentially be the cause of Maverick incidents," he closed his eyes. "Well, you're not entirely wrong," he confessed. "Although, not entirely right, either."

Abandoned Weapons Plant

"If you can share, just what exactly did you find on those files?" Roll questioned her contact, he in turn continued on, the sensation in his chest indicated that he was getting closer to the source of the presence he felt.

"Mostly schematics for mechaniloid designs," Ray. B. answered. "Some detachable weapons, nothing too usual," he said. "Of course, modifications are always a possibility, especially now that the human element of Sigma's plan no longer serves any purpose."

Roll was quiet for a few moments. "Fujiwara's certainly left us with many of his…inventions to deal with."

"And yet you don't speak of him as harshly as you speak of Wily," Ray B. observed. "Why is that?"

"You believe I hold a higher opinion of him over the other?"

"No, but it's clear you could tolerate one compared to the former," Ray B. said. "Even with much of what you say you don't remember, you still have enough memory to form a conclusion based on your own perception and experiences."

"And you don't have a take on either of them?"

Ray B. was silent at first, yet ultimately answered. That girl and her blasted way to pry. Or, rather, he supposed it was 'woman' now. Although, was she still as she was before? If so, how much was left? Was this "Roll" he spoke to the same girl from before, or did the robot not exist anymore?

Was this the mark of the separation between what she was then versus what she was now, a creation that he too didn't entirely understand? Did she even remember how she nearly died by his hand? A memory he still hated, yet one where he first saw her drive to do everything she could, despite her role as a homemaker. Someone who would face death head-on if Rock was in danger.

Although there was no Rock anymore, there was only X.

Only X. And only her, as far as she knew. Truly, the elder sister and younger brother were the only recorded and recognized works of Dr. Thomas Light supposedly left existing in the present world.

Although there was one thing he was curious about, regarding her. "May I ask something?" He questioned.

"Oh, well, I suppose so. I don't see why not." Roll answered back.

Ray B. bit his lip and sighed, wondering if this was too intrusive. Yet, he had to know. If not for her own sake later. She would deny it to high heaven, yet she was just as foolhardy as Rock when it came to fighting to maintain the concept of what they believed was right.

He didn't want a repeat of what occurred the first and last time he saw her in her original form to ever happen again.

"Does the name, Bass, mean anything to you?"

Goldminer's Stash

All right, he had to be closing in on the pretty boy now.

Goldminer shifted his stance to better navigate through the cluster of precious stones and other treasures he had accumulated, continuing to approach the source of the present smoke emitting from behind a corner a short distance away. True, the possibility of Zero potentially waiting for the Maverick came to mind, yet if the Hunter was indeed damaged, then Goldminer would be a fool to not take this opportunity.

Of course, upon turning the corner, he realized that both conclusions were wrong, and the truth was much worse on his end.

"NOOOO!"

What the…?

Finishing up with the last of his small "find" in regards to borrowing a few things for himself, Zero turned his head to find Goldminer on his knees and clutching his helmet over something apparently rather dire. However, upon peering from around the corner to see for himself, Zero found the true reason to be completely unbelievable.

"No, you blonde bastard!" Goldminer shouted, grabbing his masked face. "You son of bitch, you destroyed it!"

The source of the Maverick's distress was that of a few melted, golden bars, Zero realized that, as he kept his buster charged in case his aggressor dared approach him again, he would be prepared. Unfortunately, this had the unforeseen effect of the metal cannon of his weapon growing hot and unintentionally melting away at the precious metal.

The blonde Hunter was left near speechless. "You know, if it's melted that easily, then it's probably not real gold," he mentioned aloud, immediately getting Goldminer's attention.

Despite the goggles obscuring his optics from view, it was clear that the other Reploid was completely livid. "The others wouldn't have known that, moron!" he bellowed in rage. "They would've believed it to be real! That's the whole point! Now they'll know it's fake!"

The blonde was left puzzled. "Wait a moment," he said. "You mean, everything in this place isn't genuine?" Goldminer went silent for a few moments, yet his lack of an immediate answer was all that Zero needed. "Then you're just protecting useless counterfeits!"

"Shut up!" Goldminer roared, firing his pistol in Zero's direction, the red Hunter swiftly dodging the blast. Upon seeing the blast weakly reflect off the surface of a few nearby gemstones, he realized that the Maverick had been playing him for a fool the entire time. True, the shot he received before was real, yet if his own buster partially charged could melt through false gold, then Goldminer wasn't going as hard as he could go. "I don't care if it's not real! It's real enough!"

Zero only huffed, hiding behind a nearby corner, a plethora of fake, shimmering stones surrounding him. Charging his buster again, he once again tested his heated cannon against the surface of the rocks, finding some surrendering to the heat, yet a select few appeared completely unaffected.

"Hm," the red Hunter mused, glancing down at the wound in his chest, which was still uncovered. "Perhaps some of this guy's stash might be genuine after all."

If he could somehow take advantage of the reflection cast by Goldminer's energy pistol, then maybe he could outright use his open wound as a shield.

Abandoned Weapons Plant

"…Bass?"

"…yes," Ray B. told her. "Does it strike a chord for you?" He asked. "Or does it mean anything at all?"

There was a period of quiet between the two of them, the other machine's steps serving as the only background noise available.

"Bass…" Roll repeated. "Yes, I believe I have heard that name from somewhere," she confessed. "Although," she continued with a slight pause. " I believe that it's just that, a name. I…can't seem to attach a face to it."

Ray B. said nothing at first. "That's all right," he assured her. "Considering how you came to be what you are now, it's probably best if you don't remember how," he muttered. "Considering how your last body was essentially torn in half." He had an experience such as that thanks to King's ax, a blow that put him out of commission for most of Mega Man and Bass's journey.

Possibly the first time that robot ever served as an ally to them.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," the other machine answered. "It's all right. Nothing you need to concern yourself with right now."

"You say that, yet you yourself don't sound too sure."

"Don't worry," Ray B. told her. "I'm getting close to the source of the energy down here," he said. "It's just ahead."

"Be careful." Roll alerted her contact, somewhat hoping that her words would persuade him to turn around and come back to HQ with what he had.

Still, despite her own desires, she had realized long ago that this Ray B., well-intentioned as he might've been, seemed like he had his own way of doing things, an independent plan of action known to no one but himself.

He was like that, wasn't he? She pondered to herself. Blues? Or was it Break Man? Proto Man?

Or, as she continued to consider the mysterious android she knew of then and the one she knew of now, another figure crept up in her thoughts, the shape in red with a golden scarf that resembled Rock transformed into that of a taller machine with prominent pauldrons and a uniquely-shaped helmet that reminded her of a cobra spreading its hood for intimidation.

And yet, in the memory, she was just now receiving, broken up as it was in some parts, the red-eyed, war-paint-wearing robot was not the source of her grief and despair.

200X

One Year After the Stardroid Invasion

She sat there, huddled in the corner of the latest of Wily's hideouts, which appeared to be a desolate laboratory that was just barely keeping itself standing, the ever-present heat and arid air slowly chipping away at its foundation.

"Well, once again, you've served as something of use to me," the balding mad scientist huffed, wiping his forehead to relieve himself of some of the sweat developing on his skin. His prize creation, the one made to be her brother's, Rock's, rival and the self-proclaimed greatest achievement of Wily himself, only stood in the doorway, head turned from the scene taking place. "Of course, your skills at dusting and cleaning probably won't do you any good this time!"

Roll clenched her fists and the reminder of how she was captured so easily continued to shame her. "You have no heart!" she shouted in her captor's face. "Rock saved your life, saved the world AND you! Blues died to protect this planet! Several of your own robots died!" her tearful, frustrated eyes turned toward Bass. "And you, you helped save the world too! You worked with Rock, not against him! Remember when King-"

"It's no use, little girl," Wily interrupted. "If anything, I'll give your delinquent eldest brother points for his mere existence, as much of a nuisance he would turn out to be," he grinned. "You know, I'm the one that insisted he be coded red instead of blue like Thomas wanted at first," his eyes then turned to Bass, his grin faltering for a moment. "I think I've exited my black phase for now," then, he looked back at Roll. "A color as strong as fire, as red as blood," he sneered at her damaged dress. "It doesn't suit the likes of a weak nothing such as you."

"I am NOT nothing!" Roll protested. "I've certainly given the people and machines in my life far more enrichment in these last few years than you have in your entire life!"

"In what? House care? Dish cleaning? Airing out your creator's old attire?" Wily questioned. "No," he sighed. "You machines, you could never understand."

"Understand what?" Roll asked. "What's there to understand? Aside from the fact that you've clearly learned nothing of gratitude and thankfulness?"

The balding human was rendered silent for a moment, but only for a moment, the sting of her words quickly giving way and motivation to respond in anger. "On the contrary, I understand very well," he said. "In fact, when your brother gets here, he can see what his generosity has led to!"

The old man swiftly shifted to face his creation, the dark-armored robot resembling that of an older teen, his features radiating with barely concealed fury. "Bass," Wily began, moving past the machine and standing in the doorway, back turned toward his hostage. "She has no more use to me," he said with indifference. "Kill her."

Then, he left.

Note: He might not appear as a character in this entry, yet I don't plan on leaving Bass out of this series. Yet I don't want to overstuff the first entry with too much. Granted, I'm glad people are enjoying the previews for future installments, yet I still want this story to mostly be about X1.

The last chapter of Zalts Mine is next, I promise. I can write a simple outline but it takes me around 4-5 chapters to fully execute it.

Thank you all, and I hope you enjoyed it!