Note: Hurricane Helene passed over us and we were without power for a week, but it could've been worse compared to what's going on in Asheville. Things have gotten better, yet there are some difficulties still. Regardless, here's the next chapter, and we'll soon be onto Launch Octopus!

K-9 Unit

Their optics locked into the orb of shining light, the rays of the great star lightly grazing their metallic outer shell as dawn began the gradual transition into the day.

Another day. One that was closer to ending this ordeal soon.

The Thunder Slimer shifted its gaze toward the two machines like itself, then to the sole organic among them. "Are you truly Fujiwara's child?" they questioned. "Their true offspring?"

Chiyo nodded in response, yet was nonetheless puzzled. "As far as I know," she answered. "Why?"

The mechaniloid turned their optics from the human to the sun, still processing how it was due to the actions of those before them, this human, that allowed them to achieve the one simple thing they had been denied finally. And with that, they too realized another aspect they had been wrong on. "No, not just your father," they said. "But humans in general."

"What of them?" Chiyo questioned Ray B. and X hanging back in case either needed to step in.

"From my conception to the end of my construction, all I had known was the inside of whatever confines the humans had placed me in," the Thunder Slimer answered. "Whether a building, containment unit or some holding place for discarded machines to be torn apart later, wherever I was, it was away from the one source of life that the flesh creatures depended on."

The Reploid and robot stood by, all the while looking to observe the other's expression. While X could sympathize with the wish to go to the outside world, his first months of existence having been spent confined to a lab, Ray B. appeared to possess knowledge and experience that allowed him to further relate with the Thunder Slimer's words. Still, whatever that shared experience was, he did not articulate it, having resigned to keep it secret.

"True, we organic beings are rather dependent on the sun and its overall relationship with the planet," Chiyo confirmed. "Yet, even if it is not exactly vital to those such as yourself, I see no good reason for you to be denied that simple pleasure. The sun is free, after all. It belongs to no one in this world."

Thunder Slimer looked outward, the morning rays tracing over their metal shell, their optics turned down to the streets below. They were currently empty, yet they remembered how they would be flooded with both people and machines alike, the sun beating down on them all as they traveled together, brought in harmony by the simple goal of accomplishing that day's goals.

"Sigma told me that he wished to allow us to walk freely without fear of entrapment or confinement by the humans," the massive mechaniloid relayed. "And yet, I am only here now because of those that he deemed to be my enemies."

Ray B. crossed his arms. "It wouldn't be the first time someone's been fed and promised falsehoods by those claiming to care for them," he remarked somewhat bitterly. "Even more when you realize those that were your enemies were only such by circumstances outside of your grasp."

X bit his lip. He didn't entirely understand the context of what Ray B. was alluding to, yet he clearly spoke as someone with experience in such things.

Thunder Slimer looked out at the sun again, then to Chiyo. "A human…of all things, a human…" they mused aloud. "Chiyo, your name is?" the dark-haired young woman nodded. "A traditional name, meaning a thousand years or a thousand generations," they paused. "Generations that you may not have if things continue as they are."

"Then help us put a stop to it," X pleaded with the mechaniloid. "Help to put an end to the destruction instead of adding onto it."

Thunder Slimer was silent for a short time, contemplating where they had begun to know, where they had ended up: surrounded by those that they were informed to be their foes. And yet, they provided them with what Sigma could've given so easily. "The missiles released onto the city were just a precursor," the massive mechaniloid began. "Sigma wishes for the human populace of this place to survive, yet only for long enough."

All three surrounding the larger machine listened in, absorbing every detail that was relayed to them.

"The work your friend stumbled upon," the mechaniloid said, referring to Ray B. "That's just a small portion of the wave that will hit this place," they informed. "Now that you've gotten a glance, the initial plan may be compromised, yet there's no reason to doubt that Sigma will make use of what he has at his disposal, somehow."

Ray B. pondered what this could mean. "He plans to unleash all of those mechaniloids onto the city?"

"Correct," the Thunder Slimer answered. "Only, it will be done from a remote point. Unreachable by anyone here save for those already stationed there."

"Sigma's fortress?" X questioned. "Where is it?"

The Thunder Slimer sighed. "Unfortunately, such information has been erased from my databases to prevent those such as yourself from finding his base of operations," they confessed. "That said, there is a way that you can reach him from the island itself."

"How so?" the blue Hunter further inquired.

"Close to the perimeter, around the same day Sigma announced his rebellion, a part of the land broke off and separated, rising on a platform built below to shield just what it truly is," the Thunder Slimer explained. "And, even now, it's hidden in plain sight."

"Then how do we discover where it is?" Ray B. inquired. "Can it give off any particular signal or electronic signature?"

"Yes, yet even then, it will be difficult to track its location," Thunder Slimer answered. "The fortress is not in one place at all times."

"Not in one place?" X inquired, thinking about this detail. "You mean to say that it's moving?"

The large mechaniloid was about to answer the blue Hunter, yet it was at that moment that the three mechanical life forms turned to look underneath them, Chiyo was puzzled as to what their sudden fixation with the ground was.

"What is it?" she asked, Ray B. placing a hand on her shoulder and urging her to be quiet. With a raised finger to his concealed lips, he silently urged her to listen as well.

Something was coming up from above.

Tearing and scratching from underneath the platform could be heard, metal being torn and rendered useless until, finally, at long last, a shape burst up from a space created by the prowler's claws and teeth, the quadrupedal form blasting out orbs of surging electricity from its muzzle that shot forth to the three down below.

X rushed to grab Chiyo, yet found Ray B. had done so for him, setting the human off to the side as he drew his buster to engage the newly appeared enemy. The assailant landed before them at long last, presenting itself fully for all to see. The figure was indeed mechanical, yet it wasn't humanoid. Rather, it bore the form of a canine, sleek and smooth in design, its joints and shoulders indicating that it was constructed primarily for speed and tracking, assuming that it had followed them here. Despite being mostly based on a large dog or wolf, X couldn't help but notice the robotic hound bore some feline traits as well, such as an extremely flexible tail and sets of razor-sharp claws situated at the front of its paws, small traces of fluid still present on the metal.

"Take care of this guy!" Ray B. alerted X. I'll watch over the girl!"

"Right!" the blue Hunter engaged the metallic predator, its red optics shifting from X to Ray B., to Chiyo, and then to the largest of them all. Then, it dashed forward.

X fired, the canine leaping over his shot and landing atop the Thunder Slimer, the mechaniloid unable to retaliate, let alone dissuade the other mechanical life form from getting off. Both X and Ray B. locked onto the sleek killer, the Velguarder, who then began to dig its claws into the surface of the Thunder Slimer's dome.

"What is it doing?!" Chiyo questioned, baffled yet disturbed as the other machine was quite literally digging its way into the other's skull.

X jumped forward and made a reach for Velguarder, yet the canine only dug deeper, its tail producing a small laser to blast out at the tip, forcing the blue Hunter back a few steps while it completed its work. Finally, with a loud ripping of cords and cables, as well as the sound of crunching metal and fragile circuitry, The Thunder Slimer's optics flashed sporadically, as if they couldn't maintain a link with the rest of their senses, the world growing dark yet again, the sun vanishing from view.

The Velguarder wretched its head from the hole it created, and in its jaws rested the crushed remains of the larger machine's CPU, severing the other's connection to the present world and this very life. Thunder Slimer's optics then grew dim and darkened for one last time, the reflection of the morning's rays casting in the glass surface.

Before X could do anything to either retaliate or even futilely assist Thunder Slimer, Velguarder tossed its prize off the side of the building and dashed toward Ray B. and the sole human among them, claws out and jaws unhinged, displaying rows of teeth made to shred through whatever material they made contact with.

Quickly shoving Chiyo to the side, Ray B. dodged the incoming canine, who leaped off the building in a jump too far. Yet, it quickly corrected this error with a boost from its thrusters, allowing the mechaniloid to flip back in a triangular jump, landing back on top of the platform where the dead Thunder Slimer now stood. Chiyo watched as, to her shock, Velguarder ignored her entirely and set its sights on Ray B. intending to render him in the same state as its previous victim.

Ray B. shot forth a blast that grazed the canine-like machine's side, yet it wasn't enough to stop it entirely, the predator continued to make moves at the other robot, biting and slashing with claws, its optics locked onto where it sensed the source of the other machine's energy lie.

Seeing that he had no other options, save to continuing to potentially endanger those around him, Ray B. turned and ran, taking a bounding leap off the building and falling below, the Velguarder unit following suit after its target.

"Ray B.!" X called out, then heard another sound from behind, from the same place the metallic predator had clawed its way out from.

To the blue Hunter's relief, a familiar red figure emerged from the hole, climbing his way through to see just what had happened. "X, what's going on?" Zero questioned, his blue eyes then noticing the lone human present among them. "What is she doing here?"

X bit his lip, his focus torn between his friend and the robot that had just escaped to divert their aggressor's attention off of the others. "Zero," he finally spoke. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

Abel City Streets

Finally able to pause for a brief moment, Ray B. allowed himself to slump against a wall he had found in an enclosed alleyway, analyzing the damage that had already been done to him in the lightning-fast maneuvers of the pursuing mechaniloid. From the looks of it, his coat had been torn through, yet his scarf was mostly left untouched, thankfully. Still, the parted clothing allowed him to see the small square indent where his core rested. Or rather, once rested.

Now, something perhaps even more precious took its place, a gift made just for him.

For him, by her.

Ray B. sighed, knowing that he couldn't stay and dwindle long, needing to get somewhere he could safely recoup, his energy levels, unfortunately, running low after some time without a moment to recharge. Of course, given the low growling he just now took notice of, a task such as that would require him getting out of this alive first.

"Where are they?!" X openly exclaimed as he stood atop one of the towering structures that survived the missiles days prior, trying to spot any hint of either Ray B. or Velguarder.

While he hadn't seen them in action, X himself was aware of the Velguarder units, or, at least what they would be, considering that their concept and construction had gone no further than a prototype. A prototype that went missing upon complete testing and was never rediscovered until now. The blue Hunter couldn't help but ponder just how long Sigma had been hiding it from view, just like the Thunder Slimer. Only this one seemed to be far more willing and obedient to its superior's commands.

Judging from the reverberating howl that echoed from down below, it appeared that it had no intention of stopping until its task of elimination was done.

Perhaps he should've spoken with Quick Man before coming to this place, considering that this metallic beast was practically dodging and maneuvering out of the way of all his shots. True, while Ray B. himself was no slouch, shooting and moving in response to Velguarder's constant attempts to rip him open, slashing and gnashing its teeth wildly any time it managed to get in range. His coat was caught on the mechaniloid's claws, the cloth being torn to shreds on one side until there was barely anything left hanging on the left portion of the trench coat, his pants leg practically ripped apart to reveal a metallic gray leg with a red boot that connected at the knee-joint.

Seeing that it failed to grasp anything of value, Velguarder pounced, raising its claws to bring them down again on its target, optics locked onto the small panel centered on the robot's chest. Opening its mouth, a wave of burning flames was released from its maw, traveling in an arc that just barely grazed Ray B.'s concealed face, the yellow scarf escaping the fire, yet it still gained some dark spots from the heat.

Of all the things that the garment had survived, this rage-filled dog seemed to be determined to be the one to end it once and for all.

Parting both halves of its mouth, Ray B. prepared to fire yet again, yet instead of a wave of fire, three surging orbs of electricity were produced, all three firing forward at the bipedal robot that was feeling his strength depleting more and more by the second. Of course, unlike before, there was no Fumiko to take notice.

Sensing his moment of weakness, the Velguarder unit lunged, jaws seizing Ray B. by the arm and, after a short yet violent struggle, the limb was torn from his body, wires and electrical surges firing out from the wound created as his arm was tossed to the side, the sleeve torn to reveal a red forearm with a matching hand. Velguarder chomped down on the cannon of his buster, yet this proved to be erroneous as Ray B. released a shot that went directly down the canine's throat, damaging some interior workings inside.

This allowed the robot to make a break for it, yet his pursuer had no intention of letting him escape. Another burst of electrified orbs flew from Velguarder's jaws, his target ducking low and to the side, yet the very last struck him square in the chest, sending a stinging fire surging throughout his entire body. After a few moments of spasming due to the intense force of the shock, Ray B. fell to the ground on his back, his aggressor placing a metallic paw on his chest, keeping him down and in place.

The violet canine bit down and took a chuck out from the robot's chest, expecting to find a functioning core or some sort of device that would power the other machine, yet what they found in its place brought forth even more confusion, as well as frustration. What appeared to be a cracked yellow topaz held within its confines a spiked red crystal that held what were the components of some sort of battery inside. Had whoever constructed this made it so that the machinery was within the gemstone?

This warranted further study.

Removing the strange and unfamiliar device, Velguarder found the topaz to be material that would surrender better to the pressure of its jaws if it focused on the cracks. Then, it would discover just what the bizarre contraption that lay inside was for, let alone what it was even composed of.

In the corner of its red optics, the murderous mechaniloid noticed a source of light coming their way, the incoming flash forcing them to abandon their catch as the one who fired the shot came in, making use of his leg enhancements to catch up to the unit and its target.

The Velguarder unit leaped back and off the walls, intending to jump back down to reclaim what it took for itself. X wasted no time in scooping it up moments before it could descend, snatching the cracked topaz and placing it in a space underneath his left pectoral, the palish purple armor serving as an adequate cover for the coveted treasure, whatever it was.

Seeing that its catch had been taken from it, the mechaniloid unleashed a wave of fire that X barely managed to slide out of the way of, making his way to Ray B. and placing the topaz inside the small empty cavity that lay in his chest. Odd, X thought, as the space in itself was fashioned to where it was originally meant to house something much bigger. This little gemstone and whatever was inside wasn't even a fourth of the size capacity.

Just what was meant to be in here?

However, just as he was about to place the object inside, X felt a sudden yet powerful shock to his systems, his CPU overtaken with images and memories that weren't his own, the gemstone still clasped in his hand, the core within seemingly glowing.

"HE REPLACED ME!"

"I never want to see you again!"

"You're the only one I've talked to about anything!"

Voices. Voices that he hadn't heard, let alone recognized, one male, one female. They went back and forth with each other, yet the events that the words were attached to flew by too fast for the blue Hunter to fully process just what he was seeing. Yet in them, he could feel the distinct emotion attached to them, mostly a sense of strong hurt and pain.

"You don't trust me?"

"I don't know."

"I wish I could…because…"

The Velguarder stood in place, puzzled by the other Reploid's lack of action, as if his body had seized up.

"You've ruined everything for everyone!"

Now the female voice was bellowing in fury, the visualization of fresh tears trailing down her cheeks as she spoke infiltrating X's thoughts.

"Things would've been fine if the blackout never happened! If you didn't help Wily!"

So strong, as if this anger and rage were fresh and new, encompassing and clouding every other potential subject and topic X could bring to mind. Nothing could tear him away from being thrust further into the mind of whoever was speaking such charged words. Such hurt, such despair, as if their owner had lost any reason to go on.

"I wish I could've maybe trusted you," she said, voice still laced with fury, yet a distinct sadness was also present. "Because the thought of someone else knowing what you're experiencing…the possibility..." she paused. "...it felt so good."

A low growl finally managed to bring him from this state, X was brought back to reality with him holding the small topaz and Ray B. still on the ground, Velguarder still active and ready to attack again.

Just as the canine was about to prepare for another strike, they sensed another presence making their way toward them, spotting a small yet quickly approaching object in the distance. One colored red and quite ready to retaliate against anything the mechaniloid would perhaps try. Seeing that it was outnumbered, as well as how its target appeared to be unresponsive, Velguarder leaped onto the side of a nearby wall, kicking off until it reached another, then another until it navigated its way to the top, traveling atop the buildings until it vanished from view, its task done for the time being.

Having arrived at the scene, Zero approached X and the unconscious Ray B., blue optics spotting the topaz in his friend's possession.

Underground HQ

"Bear in mind, he's only allowed in here due to his contributions so far to our cause," Zero alerted X, he gathered with the blue Hunter as Ray B. was stationed on a medical table, laid out with a gaping hole in his chest with nothing inside save for the cracked gemstone found on his person. "Our resources aren't getting restocked anytime soon," he looked over the motionless form of the robot. "Assuming there's anything that we can do."

X bit his lip, wishing that his friend hadn't said that, yet it was ultimately the truth. They were low on supplies, not just for themselves, but the reserves they had gotten for the two humans they now had to house. And given that they still had no idea where Sigma was, let alone where his fortress may be, they were still stuck with having to take care of whatever he threw their way to keep them off his tail.

"He's not in the best condition as it is," Zero observed, blue eyes scanning over Ray B. who was still motionless. "Makes me wonder how he survived for this long, let alone where he's even from."

"I'm not too sure," X added. "But he seems to have quite a bit of knowledge on what occurred before either you or I were found," he said. "Chiyo thinks that he's from that time, and while he doesn't seem to be a Reploid, it makes me wonder if a machine could survive that long on his own."

"You did, didn't you?" Zero questioned.

"Yes, but Dr. Light had me sealed away in suspended animation. There was complete protection from the outside elements," the blue Hunter surveyed the stationary machine's limbs, both those attached as those ripped from him in the skirmish with Velguarder. "I mean, there is a possibility, yet it would mean living throughout all that time beings like us weren't allowed to be created."

"Which would mean that he couldn't have just gone out into the world freely," Zero added. "According to what Armadillo told you regarding this so-called Robot Recall that occurred far before any of us, he would have to keep a low profile and make sure not to draw the eyes of any humans."

X's green eyes closed. "What a sad life."

"It'll be sad for everyone else if this crisis isn't solved soon," Zero remarked. "From what that mechaniloid you and he spoke to said, Sigma's base is nearby, yet outside of the perimeter of the island, right?"

X nodded. "That's what they managed to say before…" he paused, remembering the moment Velguarder tore the helpless mechaniloid's systems from their very cerebral chambers.

"Then that greatly reduces the area we have to search," the blonde Commander remarked. "Still, that leaves open where exactly near the island it could be, as, aside from Arcadia, I can't see anything outside of the island's borders."

"Maybe he's making use of some sort of technology to either hide or conceal where he is?" X suggested. "Perhaps using something left over from Fujiwara?"

"That wouldn't surprise me," Zero agreed, acknowledging the possibility. "Still, we need to keep our eyes peeled for any unusual activity outside of the island," he mentioned. "I'm going to have Ai scan him over, along with whatever that thing in his chest is," he then turned toward the exit of the medical room. "In the meantime, maybe you can assist Firefly in scouting around the outer sectors." With that, he left, X now alone with the still dormant Ray B.

Or was it even more permanent than that?

The azure Reploid leaned over the lifeless form on the table, green eyes once again centered on the yellow topaz, the peculiar red object in the center drawing his attention once again.

Later

"These components are completely outdated, I don't know if we even have the materials to fix even the minor damage!" Ai remarked, sighing in frustration as the supplies laid out beside Ray B. appeared to have no use. "What timeline is this guy from?"

X said nothing, focus turned from the patient to the instruments that were meant to heal him. "Maybe Chiyo's theory has more credence after all. Still, if he is a robot, which one?" he muttered to himself.

"This is no good," the blonde Navigator remarked, drawing away from Ray B. with an energy reader. "He's not responding at all. It's as if he's been completely deactivated."

X's eyes widened. "You mean to say he's…?"

Ai was about to answer, yet paused, rethinking her words for a moment. "Well, not exactly," she clarified. "At the moment, his systems are only reading as stationary. Essentially, he's in sleep mode," she continued. "We just need to jumpstart him and maybe his CPU will connect with the rest of him and he'll be able to function again."

"But the problem is that his body isn't compatible with our equipment, right?" X questioned, to which Ai nodded in response.

She then went quiet. "For the time being, we'll have to put him on life support. But, even then, there's no guarantee that mere rest will be enough. And if he doesn't come back to the world within the next couple of hours, then I'm not sure we can afford to keep him online."

X didn't argue, knowing well that there was no other option in the matter. If anything, perhaps he should've been thankful for Ray B. being seen at all. Still, it was yet another situation where he felt completely powerless to do anything. "Thank you regardless, Ai."

Ai nodded, yet her neutral expression seemed to gain a slight hint of warmth to its features. "I heard Zero's got you going with Firefly to scout the outer sectors. I think they're about to head out soon."

"Right, I'll get going," X answered.

"I'm going to see him off. Even with those leg upgrades you go, I'm going to get to him first!" With that, the red Navigator ran off, passing through the door to see off the green biker and whoever else was assigned to his team.

X turned back to the motionless Ray B. and the topaz shimmering underneath the light of the overhead light. Approaching his body, the blue Hunter found himself reaching forward and taking the gemstone to examine yet again, still uncertain as to what it, let alone the device inside was, let alone how it was made. Yet holding it, he couldn't help but feel a small force resting within the small object. As if it held a life all on its own.

"Take it."

X froze, quickly whirling around to see who he had just heard, only to find no one else in the room with him.

"Place it in your chest."

There was a voice, yet where from, he was unaware. Daresay, it was almost as if it were coming from nowhere. Even more, it greatly resembled the female he had heard when he had first grabbed the gemstone. Wait… was it…no, he thought, eyes locked onto the topaz. It couldn't be…?

"Place it in your core."

His core?

"Hurry."

Wait, what in the world was this? What was happening? What was he even experiencing at this moment?!

"Please. Help him."

X's panic ceased upon hearing the plea, his green optics turning back to Ray B. on the table, his worn down, torn form, and the tools that, despite being the most current versions of each, would do him no good in his recovery. If such a thing was even possible.

"I can't anymore." the voice seemed to echo in his mind. "But you can."

The blue Hunter held the gemstone, gazing toward the empty space in the older machine's chest, then to his own. Silence overtook the chamber, X pondering his next move, let alone if he was truly hearing what he was. Still, after a few moments, he activated his chest compartments, his pectorals parting further and allowing the Reploid to access his inner workings. More specifically, his core.

His own core resembled that of any other Reploid, a given since he was the original basis for them all, yet upon analyzing it further, he couldn't help but sense a magnetic draw between his own source of life and the cracked stone he held in his hands. Reaching inside, he found that, while it was a snug fit, the topaz managed to fit right in the center in the small circular space that rested above where his main processor lay. He waited, and waited, yet nothing occurred.

"X?"

The suddenness of hearing Zero's voice brought him from his musing, quickly shutting his chest and sealing it up yet again. "Y-Yeah, sorry. I'm coming."

Zero raised a brow. "You ok?"

"Uh, yeah, sure," X answered. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I'll get going."

He raced out of the room, leaving his Commander to study the still form atop the table for a few moments before turning away to join his other men. Still, even if he had other matters to attend to, the blonde Hunter couldn't help but wonder where that yellow stone inside the chest had gone.

Note: We begin the Ocean Stage next time! Also, we get to meet one of my favorite characters in the entire X series, no matter what timeline/canon/etc.

Thank you for reading, and I hope to hear from you! Feel free to give your input!

Thanks to Ian Flynn for providing me with great ideas that have helped shape this story.