Limitless Potential

by RockmanGurlX

A retelling of Mega Man X.1st in the Variables series. A hundred years have passed since the days of the Blue Bomber, but during a dig, Dr. Cain stumbles upon the last of Light's creations. A machine that goes by the title of "Mega Man X". But the future takes a turn for the worse, as some Reploids go "Maverick" and declare war on humans, X must rise and save the world.

73. Twin Leviathans

Note: Hello all! Almost done! I'm sorry, but my limit is 4- 5k words (sometimes 6 or 7). After that, I got a little burnt out from the chapter and had to start another.

So, I'm trying out this method.

Let me know if it's too long.

While Archie had its problems, I do wish we could see what Ian Flynn would've done with MM5 if given the chance.

There's another reference to the Iwamoto manga, but I made some alterations to the conditions.

But I think in both his and my version, the message would be clear.

Empathy is not a sin.

Twin Leviathans

How could she have been so foolish? She should have known—no, she did know. Maybe she always had, but everyone and everything around her convinced her that her guard was unnecessary. They made her believe that her worries and doubts were unwarranted. Fear clouded her judgment, preventing her from seeing the truth. In her blindness, she was cruel to someone who was trying their best to make amends for their mistakes.

"Cruel…" she mused aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. She wondered why she even bothered to articulate her thoughts. "As if he hasn't been cruel already," she growled, clenching her fists despite the bindings that restricted her ability to transform into her Robot Master form. "If anything, he was cruel first, so why shouldn't he experience a taste of his own medicine?" She paused, her teeth gritting. "Or does wittle Baby Blues feel bad enough about what happened and doesn't need a reminder so soon?"

Letting her eyelids fall, Tempo LaLinde hung her head once again, her brunette hair cascading over her shoulders like the low-hanging leaves of a sorrowful willow tree. What good would it do to lament her imprisonment? More importantly, what good would it be to focus any more on that red and gray traitorous scum? The answer was clear: he didn't care. He never did. She was right; everything he had done since approaching her with his pathetic sob story about needing help—and how she was the only one he could confide in—had been a farce.

A pretense.

Everything about him and what he represented was a lie.

Even if she hadn't recognized it at the time, the way things unfolded now made her initial instinct to turn him away resonate painfully in her memory. It felt like a relentless reminder, chastising her for allowing something as fleeting and unreliable as momentary curiosity and a gnawing sense of pity to overshadow her deep-seated disdain for the one who had wreaked havoc—not only in her life but also for everyone else.

"And no, Mom, it's not about the wall," Tempo continued, her voice steady despite the tempest brewing inside her. She knew deep down that this conversation was futile. "Or the picture." Pausing for a moment, she felt her breath catch in her throat. "He… he hurt me," she confessed, her voice trembling like a fragile leaf in the wind. The android mentally scolded herself for her emotional receptors flaring up at such a critical moment, and even more so because these emotions were tied to him. "Even if he and everyone else insist that he wasn't going to hurt me, not in that way, he still did," she said, biting her lip as unwelcome moisture pooled in her ducts, trickling down her cheeks like a soft rain. "He showed me that I didn't matter. At that moment, I was just another target for him—a mere object he could unleash his frustrations, an outlet for his anger. All that mattered was how he felt, he cared nothing for me or anyone else!" Her bellow of rage echoed throughout the small chamber, the fleeting remains of her declaration of anger steadily being overtaken by deafening silence once again. "Even when he came back, it was just to get his core analyzed. He didn't care about making amends. He just thought of me and Dr. LaLinde as resources he could make use of. Everything he does is only for himself and his benefit…"

The first tear crept down her cheek, a silent testament to her struggle, and she croaked out, "I… I was such a fool. Even with what happened with Rock and Roll, Blues, he still gave Dr. Light the means to help save the world. So I thought, even if I despised what he did, he had found some value in helping others. I thought he…"

Her shoulders drooped as the weight of her emotions grew heavier, a burden as taxing as accepting the bitter truth she had always sensed lurking in the back of her mind, a truth she felt compelled to ignore, no matter how painful that reckoning would be.

"I thought… if he knew about me… then maybe he would understand what it feels like to be trapped," she wept, her voice thick with sorrow, feeling utterly helpless as the cascade of tears continued to fall. In that moment, she was consumed by a furious self-loathing that she couldn't quite suppress, as if her very being rebelled against the raw vulnerability she couldn't escape. "Stuck, with nowhere to go," she paused, the thought of how useless this was again emerging at the forefront of her mind. Still, she was also quickly reminded that, by the time this was over, she would have nothing left to lose. Whatever. "He should know what it's like to have someone you put your trust in, even if just a little, make you doubt yourself and everything around you."

Why…why was she even feeling this way?! Why did she have to let the urge to give him the benefit of the doubt rule her decision-making each time when it came to something important?! She should've known that he was no good when she was told of what happened with Rock and Roll! She should've known that he wasn't bluffing when he said he didn't need forgiveness, let alone for anyone else to receive his! She should've known that he wasn't genuine with his supposed remorse or sob story! Nothing about him was genuine! Nothing! Absolutely nothing!

…so why did it hurt so much to find out the truth? To find out that there was no hope?

Not for him, not for her, not for anyone.

"...I hate you," she choked out, even if she knew it would do her no good. "Because…the thought of there being someone who could understand," she sank. "If it was true…the idea…I…think I actually liked it."

Silence then retook everything around her.

"...squeak!"

At least, for the first few moments.

"...huh?"

Yes, Tempo thought, from the vent to the right. She could hear it: the skittering of metallic paws on a solid surface, the source drawing closer and closer. Then, the vent's gate was knocked off, and a small, round ball rolled out and bounced on the floor.

Then, the ball uncurled, presenting its ears and small yet reactive snout.

"Hey,"

"Mariachi?"

"Hey, Kiddo! Are you there?! Hello?!"

The blonde mermaid's question pierced the air, disrupting X's view of the sleek, brunette Robot Master and the unexpected, whirring mechanical rodent scurrying nearby. The familiar faces of Tempo and Mariachi had vanished, replaced by a new, shadowy figure that radiated an unsettling aura, standing where Proto Man once did.

"What?" X asked, a hint of confusion lacing his voice as he carefully surveyed his surroundings once more. It was undeniably the present day, yet an uncanny similarity lingered between the despondency he imagined in the robot and the weight of melancholy that hung over him like a shroud.

"I was asking how do you feel?"

Registering Marty's inquiry, as well as what she was referring to, X looked himself over as well as read over his internal systems. "So far, things seem to be functioning accordingly," he answered. "Weapons are all still present, and energy is still at its former levels," he then paused. "Why?"

"Well," the turquoise mermaid shifted in place despite her lack of lower limbs. "I mean, you took that shot at close range," she mentioned. "Just checking if there was any potential damage I may have missed," she then approached. "I could do another look-over if you-"

"That's all right," X quickly answered, drawing back from her outstretching arm. "I'm fine."

Truthfully, while nothing seemed out of sorts so far, he wasn't entirely sure of his condition himself. Yes, everything was operating as it should, yet he couldn't help but wonder what the purpose of Octopus ordering Marty to fire at him was. Extravagant as it was, the mollusk went through the trouble of turning this place into a tribute to vice and depravity because he saw a purpose to it, even if a good portion of it was simply presenting the fact that he could do as he saw fit for the sake of it. The white beam that hit him, it had to have done something, X thought.

But what?

"The mechaniloid that Octopus took is hidden down here," Marty informed the Maverick Hunter, her voice steady as she guided him toward a waiting elevator. This was no ordinary descent; her destination wasn't among the familiar floors they had previously explored. Instead, it plunged deeper into the darkness, surpassing even the mysterious depths of the Snail Chamber, where shadows danced and secrets lay buried. "Of course, given that this place is still crawling with his forces, we'll need to sneak it out of here a little more discreetly than he took his."

"Yeah," X replied, nodding in agreement, his voice steady but laced with an underlying tension. "Although, that should be expected," he added, a hint of dissatisfaction creeping in. "You would know all about that, wouldn't you?"

Marty flinched as if a tiny, sharp needle had been expertly inserted into the most vulnerable depths of her being. "X, listen," she implored, her eyes searching for understanding. "I only went along with him because he—"

"You can explain your reasons once the mission is over," X interrupted his tone now a stark contrast to the amiable Reploid she had first encountered in the chaotic underbelly of Octopus' domain. His usually calm demeanor was replaced by an urgency that radiated from him. "Right now, I have a friend who's in grave danger," he continued, determination sharpening his features. "And an entire city standing on the brink of devastation that it can ill afford."

Taking the subtle hint, painful as it was to accept, Marty offered a small, resigned nod before she activated the elevator, its smooth doors sliding open with a quiet hum. As she stepped inside, the Hunter followed closely behind, his sharp optics scanning her with an intensity that felt almost predatory. He then shifted his focus to the control panel, examining the buttons and screens as if searching for any hidden threats or ulterior motives lurking beneath her calm facade.

"Where is it?" he asked, his voice steady and devoid of confrontation. Yet the detachment in his tone pierced the air like a cold blade, leaving an unsettling chill. It was as if he were entirely devoid of emotion, a machine operating on logic alone. At that moment, Marty could sense the growing tension between them, thick enough to cut.

"Lowest level," the mermaid replied, her voice barely above a whisper, as if the weight of her past bravado had been stripped away. A hint of vulnerability flickered in her eyes, replacing the fearless demeanor she once wore like armor. She reached out and pressed the button situated near the bottom right of the elevator panel, the soft beep echoing in the confined space.

With a soft whoosh, the elevator doors slid shut, sealing the two opposing individuals inside, and creating an atmosphere thick with tension. As the mechanical hum of the elevator began to resonate around them, they could feel the journey downward starting, the sensation both unsettling and intriguing. The dim light flickered above, casting shadows that danced around them, hinting at the unknown depths they would soon encounter.

Philippine Sea

While it was certainly a blow to his pride to depend on another to reach the shores of Abel City, let alone Arcadia—Fujiwara had deemed it too unpredictable to receive the same upgrades as the Thunder Slimer—there was a silver lining to this situation. Although he felt a sense of frustration relying on a seemingly unintelligent lug, perhaps this hulking contraption could offer unexpected benefits. Not only would it serve as a formidable tool on the journey to Abel City, but it might also provide strength and resilience in ways he had yet to recognize. The experience could ultimately transform this dependence into a valuable partnership.

At the very least, it would provide him with a much greater advantage over those pathetic simpletons he couldn't believe he once called allies. Even if their flesh didn't naturally excrete fluids and oils like filthy humans, the fact that they still endeared themselves to these creatures was enough to justify despising those fools just as much as the hairless monkeys. Oh, he had a few in mind that he wouldn't mind unleashing his "pet" on the moment they entered the area, and those idiots would have no choice but to defend the city and its inhabitants from the enormous weapon he had at his disposal.

If anything, this little display might make those monkeys think twice about breaking the rules established for them! The crimson cephalopod thought as he gripped the helm of the elongated mechaniloid. He soared through the water on its back, his tentacles suctioned to its metal shell to keep himself aboard, his mind racing with excitement as he pictured the stunning spectacle of this monster unleashing chaos on both the city and anyone of his choosing.

Save for one.

Underwater Fortress

"We're getting close to the lowest floor of the building," Marty announced to her companions, casting a glance at their tense faces. Despite their current disagreements, she felt it necessary to break the uneasy silence. "This place actually has nine levels instead of seven," she continued, her voice echoing slightly in the dimly lit elevator. It was more of a commentary to herself than an attempt to engage them, but the heavy silence from X was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

"I told Octopus that if he wanted to stick with the theme he had envisioned for this place, then nine levels would be far more appropriate than just seven. It would really capture the essence of Dante's Inferno, or whatever concept he was trying to express," she explained, her brow furrowing in thought. Each level, she believed, could represent a layer of hell, intensifying the experience for anyone who dared to explore. "There's already supposedly 'Seven Princes of Hell' according to some sects of human religion, so it's kinda peculiar he went with the motif of animals."

She paused, her mind racing with questions. "But why did he actually decide to go through with all of this, anyway? What drove him to create such a complex maze?" She struggled to understand his motivations as they continued their descent into the depths of the building, the air growing heavier with each floor they passed.

While X was only half-listening to the mermaid's animated commentary, it wasn't merely a matter of tuning her out. Rather, his growing confusion and frustration stemmed from the sudden onslaught of a vivid vision that engulfed his mind's eye. "Come on, please," he thought desperately, squeezing his eyelids shut in a futile attempt to push the intrusive images away or, at the very least, set them aside for later contemplation. "Not now," he silently pleaded, his heart racing. "I can't deal with this right now!"

Yet, the source of these intrusive visions proved relentless, and once again, he found himself a reluctant spectator to a scene from a long-forgotten past, whether he wished it or not. The colors were sharp, even if the overall environment was not, the details painfully clear, and although he longed for silence, the echoes of another time pulled him back, dragging him deeper into memories that were not his own.

---

How in Asimov's name did this tiny mechanical rodent manage to fit an entire lockbreaker in its cheeks? The idea seemed almost absurd, yet there it was. Even more puzzling was how this little creature had pinpointed her location and recognized that she might need help escaping. From what she gathered, particularly from Dr. Light's conversations with Dr. LaLinde, Mariachi was modeled primarily on the diminutive Robovinski breed of hamster. However, his striking coloration gave him the appearance of a miniature Syrian hamster adorned with golden accents.

She couldn't shake the feeling that, to extract the device that had been instrumental in unlocking her restraints, the little rodent must have somehow managed to store part of it within its tiny body. The sheer mechanics of how that was possible left her baffled. The rodent's compact form suggested limitations, yet here it was, a marvel of engineering and ingenuity, defying all logic. The unexpected nature of Mariachi's abilities only added to the mystery surrounding him. How could such a small creature possess such acute awareness and resourcefulness? The questions swirled in her mind as she attempted to comprehend where exactly to go from here.

Having broken free from her confinement, Tempo had transformed into Quake Woman, a more defensive version of herself—albeit still inexperienced in the art of combat. She stood in the heart of a dimly lit metal corridor, the walls cold and gritty against her armored form. The air was thick with an unsettling tension, echoing the sinister nature of the fortress that surrounded her. Though her armor offered a sense of protection, uncertainty gnawed at her; she had no clear direction to follow or sense of what lay ahead—and a nagging doubt lingered about whether she should even dare to venture forth.

"If Mother is somewhere here," she muttered to herself, the weight of her circumstances slowly dawning on her, "then I have to find her."

Just then, a peculiar sensation stirred within her core, an unusual hum from the internal Geiger counter embedded deep inside her, a foreboding sign of the unknown dangers lurking in this forsaken place. Although that instrument had been given to her after the cave-in incident, a precaution on Dr. LaLinde's end just in case she encountered any potential pockets of radiation whenever she was to delve down into the hidden heart of the Earth, even if the said task was much simpler before than it was now, so far, she had yet to encounter any potential source of radiation, let alone radioactive properties.

…all save for one.

A soft squeak from the little mechanical rodent named Mariachi tugged Quake Woman's attention back from her swirling thoughts. Her vivid green optics shifted to lock onto his bright blue eyes, which sparkled with an urgent eagerness. In an instant, he darted down the dimly lit hallway, his tiny metal legs clattering softly against the floor. Quake Woman instinctively sensed that he wanted her to follow, the rhythmic sound of his movements urging her onward.

---

Moments later, another voice called out, "...hey, yo, we're almost there."

Just as the sensation of anticipation began to take root, the ephemeral vision abruptly faded, swallowed by the stark reality surrounding her. The comforting echo of memories was overtaken by the pressing weight of the present—the tension hanging thick in the air, as palpable as the metal walls closing in on her. Quake Woman found herself locked in a precarious situation, her mind racing with the knowledge that both she and the Robot Master she was observing were bound by circumstances that felt increasingly inescapable.

Was there truly conflict everywhere he looked, whether it be in the here and now, or even the past?

"Hey, did you hear me?" Marty repeated, noticing that X was still not entirely receiving her message. "We're almost there."

"Oh, right," X responded, not exactly at ease with the turquoise-armored mermaid. The sudden transition from them to now has proven a little disorienting whenever it occurs. Sorry."

Still, he had yet to understand entirely why. Or rather, he had little more to go off of to save for the small trinket he had taken with him from Abel City.

"Hm?" Marty heard a small click and looked to her side, witnessing X open up his chest compartment and remove an object that had been nestled within. "What's that?" She inquired, gesturing to the topaz X held on his ivory palm.

Despite the present suspicion and animosity between them, X found himself answering her question. "Truth be told, I'm not entirely sure."

"You're not sure?" Marty pried further, puzzled as to what he meant, her violet optics studying the worn and cracked gemstone for herself. "You ask me, it looks like it's certainly seen better days."

Reservations aside, X contemplated her assessment. "You know, I think you're right," he answered, surprisingly answering the mermaid slightly. "I have more than a few questions for Ray B. when I get back," he muttered to himself. "If Lifesaver and the others can patch him up enough."

"Who?"

X bit his lip. "No one," he quickly responded. "No one you need to concern yourself with, at least."

"Oh really?" Marty asked, hands on her hips. "Bold of you to assume that I wouldn't have any sort of reaction to whatever is going on with this person of interest," she stated. "Or are they like us? As in, non-human?"

The Reploid held his tongue at first, wondering if he should even relay such information, let alone if she deserved to even know, as much as the sudden surge of spite didn't sit right with him. Nor did the subtle desire of wanting to inflict a little bit of emotional pain on her, but even so, he found such things had rooted themselves at the forefront of his mind, refusing to leave.

"Hey, are you going to answer me? Or are you too deep into your thinking again?"

He didn't answer, eyes still locked onto the cracked and chipped triangular topaz in his grasp.

"...or, if you just don't want to talk, that's fine too, I guess."

The truth was, even if he was debating whether or not to engage with Marty, considering everything that had just occurred, he wasn't silent merely because he wished to give her the silent treatment. Rather, he found himself wrestling with his own convictions and dwelling on those of another.

As the visions unfolded, X found himself grappling with a profound sense of alienation from Quake Woman, who held the 'domestic' name of Tempo outside of her role as a manipulator of the earth. She radiated an icy demeanor, her eyes reflecting a coldness that felt almost cruel in its refusal to acknowledge Blues. Although the red and gray robot had his share of faults throughout his tumultuous existence, X believed he had made his intentions crystal clear: he was no longer interested in a path fueled by vengeance or rekindling collaborations with Wily. Though he felt unworthy of the name "Blues," he adamantly rejected the label "Break Man" as well. Yet, despite his efforts to redefine himself, Tempo, with her tanned skin and piercing gaze, had already made up her mind. To her, it mattered little what name he chose; she had chosen to sever all ties and treat him with only a fleeting moment or two of acknowledgment.

However, despite his desire for a different reality, the primarily blue Maverick Hunter found himself confronting an unsettling truth. He began to understand that the Robot Master's perspective—though it appeared frigid and devoid of emotion—might have been rooted in valid doubts and fears that were more than justified. The weight of her uncertainty, or rather, what had once been such, resonated with him, forcing him to reconsider his assumptions amidst the chaotic backdrop of their ongoing struggle.

Roll said that Blues was cleared of any wrongdoing, at least what he had no hand in, X thought, the elevator coming to a stop as it reached the very bottom of the fortress.

"This is our stop," Marty informed him, even if she had accepted she would most likely not receive an answer. "Let's go."

The doors opened, yet X was still caught in his musing. But from what I've seen, I'm not sure what to believe about him, his optics fell on the mermaid accompanying him. Or almost anyone else, for that matter.

As the elevator doors shifted open, X and Marty emerged from their cramped quarters, stepping into the vast expanse of the weapons storage area that lay shrouded in darkness deep within the structure. The sheer size of the space was daunting, with towering shelves lined with an assortment of armaments and equipment, their outlines obscured by the dim light.

With keen eyes, the mermaid scanned the shadowy surroundings, her gaze eventually landing on a distant object, just barely visible under the erratic glow of a flickering light fixture high above. This intermittent illumination cast a haunting glow, revealing only a fraction of the mechaniloid, its metallic form lurking ominously in the depths, creating an unsettling contrast against the enveloping shadows. The atmosphere was thick with an awareness of hidden dangers, and the silence was punctuated only by the occasional hum of machinery in the distance amidst the underwater ambiance of just one of the world's oceans.

"All right," Marty began, swimming up to the dormant mechaniloid. "It takes a bit for one of these guys to start up, so it'll take a few moments for…" she then paused, noticing X seemingly fidgeting in the corner of her eye. "What's up?"

X didn't answer at first, trying to figure out the same thing for himself, although the answer didn't appear to be one he would've liked.

"My buster," the Maverick Hunter muttered, trying to bring forth some sort of small charge.

"What about it?" Marty inquired with a raised brow.

After a few more moments of nothing, the realization soon dawned on both of them. "I think," X said. "That shot accomplished what it was supposed to."

Philippine Ocean

Underwater Fortress-Weapons Storage

"What do you mean, you can't use your buster?!" Marty exclaimed, baffled at what the firearm's owner had just discovered.

"Exactly that," X remarked, tone a little more curt than intended, but he ultimately found that, in the end, perhaps it didn't matter. "My energy levels are normal and weapons chips are all in place, but, for one reason or another, most likely due to the blast delivered by your pistol," he made sure to clarify. "It seems that the components present in the shot are made of disabling particles that cancel out the development of plasma."

"Oh," Marty pondered the Hutner's words as she went to work on activating the serpentine mechaniloid that would take them to the borders of Abel City. "So, what about your other, what did you call them? Chips?" she questioned, pulling back a panel on the machine's circular head, a few buttons located behind the protective covering. "Do those work? I saw you use a few of them out there in the field, so…" she remarked, trailing off as she adjusted the settings on the dials to adjust for the appropriate buoyancy and water pressure resistance. Then, she truly registered what X had just told her. "Wait," she then turned to face him, the armed Reploid assessing the condition of his most reliable means of defense. At least, it was up until now. "My pistol?"

X took a moment to switch to Shotgun Ice, finding that, to his relief, the frozen concoction produced the chemicals necessary to then freeze to subzero temperatures and release from the barrel. The blast of small but crystalized splendor hit the nearby side of an inactive Gulpher, the shimmering formations of ice spreading across its rounded surface.

"From the looks of it, they are at least operating as intended," X answered, the spread of ice beginning to halt. "Of course, even with that, unlike my naturally-built-in plasma source, isn't exactly limitless, meaning I'll have to keep track of-"

"No, not that," Marty cut in, waiting for him to turn and face her, yet he stayed in place. Thus, she swam in front of him. "What do you mean, my pistol?"

He heard her, and she said it right next to him. There was no way he couldn't have registered what just emerged from her lips. Still, he seemingly ignored her inquiry, going about his business as if he were preparing to go out of business venture. "Of course, given that Fujiwara rigged each of his creations or collaborations with some sort of weakness, I could potentially find an exploit," X remarked with a sudden pause afterward. "...assuming I have something on hand that can be of use-"

"Hey, I know you heard me!" Marty's voice shattered his external musing, placing a hand on his armored shoulder. "What do you mean, my pistol?"

X bit his lip. "It WAS in your possession, wasn't it?"

The mermaid's brow creased. "Yes, Octopus gave it to me before you went in to face him, but I didn't have any idea it was going to do…this."

Marty witnessed it before her: what had once been optics that had been a brilliant green, but unblemished and seemingly interested in her history and her as an individual, now felt as if their previous shimmer had gone. Faded away. Perhaps, to her growing dread, never to return.

His next question all but potentially confirmed her worst fears. "Really?" X asked. "That's new, considering everyone I used to consider a friend or someone I could trust stabbed me in the back with the intention to kill."

"I said I was sorry, ok?!" Marty argued. "I didn't want you dead! I was just told to wear you down enough in order for you to be collected and taken back to Sigma!"

"And do you have any idea of what Sigma has in store for the humans back in Abel City?" X retorted. "He certainly doesn't intend to give them the same courtesy," the Reploid turned his head to the side. "…do you know how he made his announcement of his campaign?"

Marty was silent at first, yet X's surprisingly steely expression indicated he wanted some sort of answer. "I know what occurred with Dr. Fujiwara," she ultimately confessed. "No, I'm not the biggest fan of humans, but I don't want…that," She finished, as if it fully dawned on her just what the execution of the human scientist meant. As well as how far things would truly go. "Octopus said that Fujiwara would've eventually betrayed or tried to take over the operation," she explained. "According to him, Sigma only made a hard but necessary decision for both our kind and the planet itself."

"So you're willing to let him and his forces do as they see fit, as long as the ocean is maintained?" X inquired. "Is that it?"

Marty found herself without a retort to produce that would satisfy him, although she doubted that any reason or explanation would suffice on his end.

"Let's just get this…" X began, pausing and soon realized just what sort of machine the mermaid had brought him to. "Is that a…?"

"Yep," Marty answered. "And it's the same model Octopus has got," she confirmed. "If we adjust its speed to near maximum, then we should be able to catch up."

X nodded, albeit there wasn't much optimism in his expression. "Hopefully before any more serious damage is done."

Abel City

Looking out at the shimmering water wouldn't summon him to appear. The red-armored Hunter was all too aware of this reality and understood the folly of such wishful thinking. Yet, despite his resolve, he found himself entranced by the mesmerizing rhythm of the ocean's gentle waves, which lapped against the rugged edges of the artificial island. The island, a marvel of engineering, cradled the bustling city that rose proudly on its foundation, each building casting reflections that danced in the sunlit water. The tranquil sea, with its deep blue hues and occasional flecks of foam, seemed almost to whisper secrets, drawing him into a contemplative silence as he stood there, captivated.

"Enjoying the scenery, Sir?"

The long-haired Commander turned to see a shadowy figure clad in dark armor standing far away. This imposing individual towered over his leader, their stature commanding and intimidating. The Commander couldn't help but feel a sense of unease; the visual contrast of Sigma looking down on him while he looked down on others was a disconcerting twist of perspective. The air around them seemed to thrum with unspoken tension, and he wisely chose to keep his thoughts to himself, aware that some observations were better left unuttered.

"That's not exactly the intention, Signas," Zero replied, his voice steady but tinged with an undercurrent of frustration. As he spoke, he turned his gaze away from the Maverick Hunter, shifting his focus to the vast horizon stretching before him. The endless blue sky above merged seamlessly with the azure sea below, creating a breathtaking expanse of color that felt both calming and distant. Blue. Blue everywhere, just like the elusive presence he subconsciously longed to manifest. "Although, I suppose it can't be entirely avoided," he conceded, his thoughts trailing off as he lost himself in the moment's tranquility. "Do you think I should've gone with him?" he asked aloud, not exactly caring at the moment who he was talking to.

"What do you mean, Sir?" Signas inquired, his brow furrowing in confusion. However, as the question slipped from his lips, realization washed over him like a tide—it became clear who the red-armored Repoid was alluding to. "Ah," he finally said, nodding thoughtfully. "You're referring to X, aren't you?"

The blonde's blue optics widened in surprise, a soft blush creeping across his cheeks. "Is it that obvious?" he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment.

"Well, apart from his 'sibling,' he's the only one who seems to dominate your thoughts when it comes to safety concerns," Signas observed, his tone calm yet serious. "That's not to say that our own well-being isn't important; it is, but—"

"There's no need to elaborate; I understand your perspective," Zero interjected, cutting off Signas with a wave of his hand. A glimmer of relief washed over him as he continued, "If anything, I'm thankful you don't see me as playing favorites." He paused, his gaze drifting over the vast expanse of the ocean, the waves sparkling under the sunlight. "But… you're right," he confessed, the weight of his feelings evident in his voice. "Each one of you is my top priority, and each of your lives is vital," the blonde Commander informed the other soldier. "Still, when it comes to those like X, there are some…different measures I have to take to ensure that he remains among the living," he expressed. "All the while, making sure that he's truly living up to what he knows he can do."

The navy-armored Reploid's lips tightened into a firm line, a sign of his internal conflict. He knew precisely what his newly appointed leader was alluding to, yet the issue stirred another question in his mind—one that had been weighing on him for quite some time. "If I may be so bold, Sir," he began, his voice steady but laced with concern, "Why do you continue to assign him to these missions?" He paused briefly, gauging his leader's reaction before pressing on. "You are aware of his hesitation to take decisive action in critical moments. So why do you place your trust in him when the situations clearly demand a more resolute approach?" The Reploid's brow furrowed as he sought clarity on the leader's reasoning, hoping for insight into a decision he found perplexing.

Zero fell into a contemplative silence, the rhythmic sound of ocean waves crashing against the shore creating a soothing backdrop that filled Signas' audio receptors. A wave of anxiety washed over him as he wondered if he had crossed a line, prompting his mind to scramble together an apology he could deliver immediately. Yet, the red Maverick Hunter remained remarkably composed; there was no flicker of offense in his expression. Instead, he seemed almost relieved, as if a weight had been lifted. "Indeed," he responded, his long hair swaying gently in the ocean breeze, his tone smooth and reflective, taking Signas by surprise. "That's a question I pondered when he first set off to investigate the situation in the Mountain Region of the island."

Signas did a double take, pondering on where he had been informed X had been sent during his last few trials. "He found Chill Penguin up there, didn't he?"

"And Marth," Zero added. "Of course, only one of those three actually left that place."

The lower-ranking Hunter was silent for a few moments. "What of those that he found in Penguin's chamber?" he inquired. "From what I was told, their bodies were still intact, albeit frozen."

"True," the long-haired Commander answered. "Yet their internal components had ceased to function long ago. From the scans done on those extracted from the ice, their cores and other functions were unable to be reactivated. Essentially," he paused, biting his lip. "They were dead by the time someone made it there," he explained. "And Marth most likely wouldn't have made it down the mountain without some sort of medical attention or life support system until he could be stabilized," his blue eyes shut. "Of course, I'm also aware that, had things not gone differently, it could've been X who suffered the same fate alongside him."

Signas was reluctant to ask at first, yet the question continued to incessantly trouble his mind, and then form words to dance on his tongue, practically begging for him to just let it out. "...is that why he decided to hold Penguin so X could get the shot?"

Zero was quiet at first, not due to any perceived offense from the other soldier's question, but more out of contemplation for the scenario presented to him. "And to make sure X hit the device in Penguin that controlled the mechaniloids responsible for the avalanches in the area," the red Hunter answered. "But yes, I think your assessment was part of the reason," he sighed. "Even if X brought Marth down to the Emergency HQ, it would've most likely been too late for him."

"Really?" Signas asked. "But don't humans at least try to revive themselves if they enter, well, their form of stasis lock or temporary shutdown?"

"Yes, and we are allowed as well," Zero responded. "But only to an extent," he added. "If a Reploid's systems fully shut down entirely, even if just once," he said. "Then the Law requires that they be declared deceased and their remains melted down to add to the production of brethren like themselves."

The navy-armored Maverick Hunter found himself robbed of words, unsure how to respond. True, he knew the general procedure for distinguishing between humans and Reploids that would potentially survive and those who would not, especially when the renegade mechaniloids seemed to be becoming more common. Yet even so, efforts were always made on both ends to preserve life.

At least, he believed so.

"And…with this in mind," Signas muttered, finally finding his voice again, though only slightly. "I…suppose it's safe to assume that you fear the same could happen to X, right?"

Zero lowered his head, his piercing optics fixated on the cracked and weathered asphalt beneath his feet, evidence of countless battles fought on this worn stretch of road. As his gaze drifted upward, he was enveloped by the vast expanse of endless blue that stretched above him, mingling seamlessly with the deep azure of the ocean below. This was a stark contrast to the harsh realities of their world.

"Can I be honest with you, Signas?" he asked, his voice carrying a weight that hinted at the gravity of his thoughts.

Signas felt a rush of surprise at his Commander's unexpected question. Of all the Reploids in the ranks, it was him—the unassuming Signas—who had caught the attention of the legendary "Red Devil." Although the sudden intimacy of the moment left him flustered, he recognized that it would be improper to deny his Commander this simple request. "O-Of course, Sir," he replied, determination steeling his voice despite the awkwardness swirling in the air between them. "What's on your mind?"

Zero held his breath for a moment, caught in a whirlwind of thoughts that threatened to spill over. The weight of his uncertainty pressed heavily on his chest as he considered whether to voice the turmoil within him. This internal struggle had begun the moment he urged X to remain with A-1 back at the missile base, a decision that now felt haunting. It lingered in his mind, resurfacing vividly when he encountered the blue Hunter ensnared in the clutches of Vile's imposing Mobile Suit. Now, as he stood at the edge of the world, gazing out at the vast azure expanse of the ocean merging seamlessly with the endless sky, those swirling thoughts tugged at him once again, begging for resolution.

He parted his lips, the first words of a deep truth poised on his tongue like a fragile secret. Yet, they never escaped. Just as he was about to voice his thoughts, a flicker of movement in the distance captured his attention, pulling his focus away.

"Sir?" Signas asked, concern lacing his voice as he stepped closer, straining to discern the cause of the disturbance. However, the red Maverick Hunter swiftly raised his hand, a silent but urgent gesture that urged the other soldier to keep quiet and remain alert.

"There's something in the water," Zero muttered, Signas then turning his own focus out to where his Commander had. "Something big."

Indeed, once he noticed the strange movement, Signas too realized that despite the relative calm and quiet out on this corner of the island, they were not alone.

A striking figure broke the surface of the water—a red-armored, multi-armed Reploid, exuding an aura of power as he seemingly floated upward from the depths with little effort. Golden sunlight glinted off his polished armor, creating an almost ethereal glow around him. To the astonishment of the two Hunters watching from a distance, he appeared to be standing triumphantly on the surface of the water, defying the laws of nature as if he commanded the very elements themselves, a master of both the sea and the skies above.

"Oh my," the ruby cephalopod said, its glistening eyes scanning the crumbling structures that loomed ominously before it. Some buildings stood valiantly, though scarred and weary, while others sagged under the weight of neglect. "It certainly looks like this place has seen better days."

Signas' eyes widened upon realizing just who had emerged from the sea, shock soon transforming into disdain and anger as he dashed up to the edge of the island. "Launch Octopus!" he bellowed. "So, decided to finally crawl out from your underwater hole and show yourself, have you?!"

"Hole?" the octopus inquired, his voice laced with a touch of indignation. He gazed down at the unremarkable structure below, its dull, unpolished surface contrasting sharply with the vibrant allure of his underwater realm. "While that term may hold some validity for that drab structure," he conceded, reflecting on Signas' words, "It pails in comparison to my magnificent palace. Soon, with Commander Sigma's forthcoming cleansing of the primate filth that infests the surface, the entire world will radiate with the same breathtaking beauty that defines my kingdom!"

"Kingdom?" Zero raised an eyebrow, a scoff escaping his lips as a mischievous smirk danced across his features. "What, did you actually conjure up your own 'Octopus Garden' down there?" The red Hunter inquired, his tone thick with sarcasm, completely unfazed by the mollusk's ominous prediction of destruction. "Of course, considering how meticulous you've always been about your coat, I never imagined you'd willingly get your tentacles dirty in the muck."

To Signas' surprise, he found himself stifling a chuckle as he observed Octopus narrowing its optics in response to the remark. Despite the evident annoyance, Octopus quickly masked it, regaining his composure with practiced grace. Signas couldn't help but reflect, Still maintaining that polished, gentlemanly facade, are you? It intrigued him how Octopus, a member of a species known for its remarkable ability to change appearance at will, could so expertly balance charm and wariness. The contrast between appearance and underlying emotion fascinated him, prompting questions about the true nature of the Reploid behind that carefully crafted exterior.

"Heh," Octopus huffed, trying to maintain an image of being humored, yet the hidden anger was evident on his features, limited as they were. "By the time we're done here, I'd say it'll be you that'll be working their way through the muck," he retorted. "Of course," he then added, along with a dismissive shrug of his upper tentacles. "Given that this place won't be standing for much longer, there may not be any muck left to try and trudge through."

Any sense of humor at the Maverick's expense quickly died in that moment, the red-armored, horned Maverick Hunter gripping his ivory hands on the railing that separated him and his soldier from the small drop into the ocean. "What do you mean?" Zero inquired, voice low and demanding, clearly invoking some semblance of a command. "What is Sigma planning now?"

Octopus chuckled. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he coyly questioned, crossing his upper tentacles over his chest and ribs. "Although given your current position, I doubt you need to worry much more about the condition of this city, Zero."

The red Hunter raised a brow. "What are you implying, Maverick?" he hissed, keeping Signas on hold, but close by, should assistance be needed.

"Oh, not much," Octopus replied with a sly smile, as both Zero and Signas watched in awe. The water beneath the mollusk's boots began to churn and ripple, foreshadowing the emergence of something colossal hidden just beneath the surface. Slowly, what had supported him all along surged upward, extending higher and higher until its enormous shadow eclipsed the sun, enveloping Zero and Signas in an ominous darkness.

As the metallic sea serpent rose gracefully from the depths, it dominated the aquatic realm below, its sleek, shimmering scales reflecting hints of light like a twisted mirror. It cast a curious gaze downward, its two blank, glass-like blue optics gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. Complementing this was a deep indigo visual receptor on its dome, which seemed to pulse with a life of its own. The atmosphere was charged with a sense of impending confrontation, the very air thick with tension as nature's titan loomed above them.

"Is…" Signas stammered, stepping back in shock, his eyes widening as he took in the extraordinary sight before him. Despite the awe that gripped him, he had no intention of forsaking his Commander. "Is that…?"

"Indeed, it is," Octopus replied with a gleam of pride in his eyes. He spread his numerous, sinuous arms wide as if to command the attention of everyone around him. Behold, my magnificent Leviathan!" The creature loomed behind him, its scales glimmering like precious gems under the light, and its massive form exuding an aura of ancient power and beauty.

And, indeed, it was a sight to behold.

Although Zero was well aware of the massive mechaniloid looming above him—having meticulously studied its blueprints—he had yet to witness one of these towering metal giants in action. His missions typically drew him toward dynamic ground and aerial engagements, seldom requiring him to navigate the depths of aquatic environments. While tests were occasionally conducted to evaluate his underwater capabilities, they were few and far between. He consistently excelled in these assessments, boasting high marks, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that his movements were sluggish and delayed when submerged in water.

The suggestion to cut his flowing hair came from various scientists, who believed it might enhance his performance within the Naval Unit. However, the red Hunter swiftly dismissed any thoughts of altering his appearance for the sake of joining the maritime operations. His hair, a symbol of his identity, was not something he was willing to compromise, even for the promise of improved efficiency.

Thus, while he knew of them, he had yet to truly see many of the machines meant to traverse and delve into the depths, such as the specimen that now looked down on him and his subordinate, although he was far from less than.

The metallic sea serpent, Launch Octopus, loomed majestically atop the colossal underwater titan he had boldly declared as his own, the formidable Beast of Destruction. While it bore no flesh or any familiar aquatic form, the name "Leviathan" seemed almost destined for such a magnificent creation. The mechaniloid, known as the Utuboros, showcased an elongated, segmented body artfully crafted from vibrant, colorful sections adorned with bold red and blue rings, seamlessly interlinked by glimmering silver connectors beneath. Each reflective scale of metal captured and danced with the stray rays of sunlight that pierced through the depths, creating a dazzling display against the shadow of the imposing machine.

Every segment of the Utuboros featured a striking central circular component that shimmered like a brilliant sapphire, lending the beast an ethereal beauty that was as captivating as it was intimidating. Its head was a fearsome sight, with two predatory optics set meticulously in place—one sapphire optic receptor perched above while its jaw, lined with vicious metallic teeth, gaped ominously. Three jagged spikes erupted from its dome, resembling a twisted crown, symbolizing its dominion over the abyss. Despite its sleek, predominantly smooth design, the creature was punctuated by sharp, spike-like protrusions, each one enhancing its savage yet sophisticated mechanical aesthetic, echoing the haunting beauty of the ocean's depths.

"Granted, while it may not be the official name, I'd say it fits better than the official title, given that it will soon be laying waste to this place," Octopus remarked, sneering at the damaged Abel City. "Something that seems long overdue from the looks of it."

Signas' brow furrowed with anger. "How dare you!" He shouted, the Utuboros momentarily becoming an obstacle in his way in regards to giving the arrogant cephalopod a piece of his mind. "Have you no regard for what you've done?! For what Sigma is doing?! He could very well kill all of us if this continues any further!"

Even if he possessed none, both Signas and Zero could've sworn that Octopus raised a brow, seemingly perplexed by the Hunter's inquiry. "All of you?" He repeated back to the two Reploids below him and his dear Utuboros. "Oh no, that's a misconception, dear boy," he answered. "Granted, most of you will probably die, yet there may still be a chance for a handful."

"I am NOT a boy!" Signas retorted, somewhat emboldened by his growing anger from the "title" Octopus had given him.

"You're still a B-Rank, aren't you?" Octopus questioned with a tilt of his head. "Ah, yes, the same as your little blue friend, right?" He turned his attention to Zero. "Commander?"

"Get to the point, you multi-armed freak," Zero responded. "What are you here for?" He then paused, a terrible realization dawning on him. "Where is X?!"

The red Hunter's remark bristled Octopus slightly, yet he didn't allow himself to shed his image. At least, not yet. "Oh, he's just fine," he answered. "Currently, he's in the care of a friend of mine," he then narrowed his optics. "Of course, by the time I'm done here, you'll be joining him shortly."

Zero stood in place, the words just delivered to him registering in his processor. "What are you talking about?" he inquired. "Because if you think I'm going anywhere with you, then it'll only be when it's to deposit your bullet-riddled corpse to rust at the bottom of the ocean!"

The ruby-colored cephalopod coiled his glistening tentacles, creating the impression of a tightly wound spring, ready to burst. Still, his voice remained steady as he continued his speech. "Well, fortunately for you, you'll have the chance to channel that fiery aggression into something far more productive once you decide to tap into your intelligence and join me on this journey."

"Like hell!" Zero shouted back, his voice a fierce roar that echoed through the air. "If I didn't want a place in Sigma's 'formidable' personal army before, what makes you think I'd want one now?!"

"True, but you seem to forget," the Octopus interjected smoothly, his eyes shimmering with a hint of mischief. "Your comrade is currently in my possession."

The fearsome Red Devil fell into a heavy silence at the sound of that ominous statement. His lips tightened into a grim line, fury bubbling just beneath the surface as resentment toward the cunning red mollusk took root in his core.

"Now," Octopus continued, feeling rather high on the fact that Zero of all Reploids was essentially being forced to relent to him. "Even if I had to bang him up a little bit to get him to stay put, X is alive and intact," he restated. "However, given that where I'm currently operating is a rather hazardous area, even I can't entirely guarantee his safety. After all," Octopus paused. "Didn't he get in trouble before because he ran off, even when you explicitly told him not to?"

Zero gritted his teeth, fists clenching as he glowered at the cephalopod towering above him. Or rather, using a tool far larger than himself to visually boast of his assumed superiority. "Damn you…" he hissed.

Octopus shrugged off the scornful curse hurled at him by the red Hunter, perceiving it as merely the bitter outburst of a sore loser. "Now, considering that the longer we remain here bickering, the more time our dear little X has to get himself into yet another predicament, let's move on," he declared confidently. With a swift, deliberate tap of his left foot against the massive, gleaming dome of the Utuboros, the immense mechaniloid gradually descended, revealing its colossal shape looming just above the water's surface. This action brought Launch Octopus to a more equal standing with Zero and Signas, both of whom watched intently.

As they approached the jagged edge of the island, now only a few meters away, Octopus spoke, his voice dripping with a mocking tone that echoed ominously against the rocky landscape. "If your supposed companionship holds as much significance as Commander Sigma suggests," he mused, his eyes narrowing as he studied them thoughtfully, "then surely you understand that you're not the one steering this ship in this perilous situation."

Zero cast his gaze downward, the weight of his responsibility pressing heavily on his shoulders. He knew that his decision would impact not just the safety of his comrade, but far beyond that. It was a stark realization, one that Octopus had deliberately framed around the notion of "him," underscoring the isolation of their predicament.

"Would you like my pet to give you a demonstration of what will happen if I determine you're intentionally testing my patience?" Octopus asked, a sly smile creeping across his face. The threat in his words hung in the air like a gathering storm, leaving no doubt about the peril they faced.

With an expression strained under a barely contained mask of calm, the long-haired blonde released a heavy sigh, the weight of his unspoken thoughts hanging in the air. He was on the verge of delivering his answer when he noticed, to his perplexity, that Octopus' confident demeanor had suddenly faltered. The pompous mollusk had turned his back, his attention seemingly captivated by something brewing in the distance. As eerie signals crept closer to his leader, the blonde was about to ask what had ensnared Octopus' focus.

"...what?"

The disbelief evident in Octopus' tone registered with Zero and Signas, but they barely had time to voice their confusion. In an instant, the red mollusk and his steed plunged beneath the shimmering waves once more, the multi-armed Reploid caught in a tumult of uncertainty. He was still unable—and even more, unwilling—to confront the unsettling detection evoked by the Utuboros in its systems, which was alerting its rider to the approach of something ominous.

A presence hauntingly similar to its own.

"...WHAT?!"

To his shock and dismay, Launch Octopus beheld an ominous shape slicing through the water, unmistakably reminiscent of his Utuboros. The elongated, serpentine form glided with a grace that was both familiar and unsettling, instantly revealing its identity. It was the spare Utuboros, long since hidden in the shadowy depths of his fortress—his palace—now commandeered by not only one of his most dangerous enemies but, perhaps even worse, a treacherous harlot whose duplicity stung like a bitter poison. The sight filled him with a mixture of dread and fury as he confronted the implications of this unexpected arrival.

---

"Okay," X began, his voice cutting through the heavy silence that had lingered during their arduous journey. The air was thick with unspoken thoughts and emotions, as he turned to address his companion, an ally for now, even if their paths often diverged like two rivers flowing in opposite directions. "So, this machine can actually release lasers from its mouth?" he asked, his curiosity piqued as he adjusted his grip on one of the Utuboros' towering spikes. The sheer size of the massive mechaniloid challenged his balance, but his determination kept him steady.

The prospect of conversation had ignited a flicker of hope in the turquoise-armored mermaid beside him. Yet, as she registered the words falling from his lips, she felt the light dim considerably. She recognized that his inquiry was merely about the functionality of the machine rather than a genuine attempt to bridge the emotional gap between them. A pang of disappointment washed over her, and she wrestled with her feelings, trying to maintain an air of composure and mask the hurt creeping into her chest. The tension between them was palpable, laden with both the weight of their shared history and the unlikelihood of ever truly connecting.

To compensate for the fact that she wasn't equipped with a firearm (and technically X had his somewhat incapacitated), the mermaid had taken along two steel tridents from the weapon's storage, although X declined to take one for himself.

Or rather, taking one from her.

"Yeah," still, at the moment, even if she wanted to resolve things, there were more pressing matters at hand. Besides, even if the second trident was hooked onto a small compartment on her back, she could still hand it to X at any time. Assuming he'd accept her help. "You have to input the command and let it charge for a bit, but the control module should be right around…here!"

---

The other Utuboros opened its silvery jaws and, in its throat, a sphere of blue energy began to manifest, growing in size and power as surging plasma and other components developed and began to come together. Then, just when it had reached its critical mass, the metallic sea serpent released the concentrated orb of fierce power, launching the shot in the Octopus' direction. Seeing the incoming blast meant for him, he commanded his Utuboros with a tentative tap on the head to swiftly avoid it, the flexible, eel-like mechaniloid turning to the side and letting the energy blast fire out into the depths of the ocean, thankfully missing the foundation of the artificial island.

Even though Octopus had formed a solid suspicion about the identities of his aggressors, the moment he turned to confront them directly only intensified his mounting frustration. He let out a dismissive huff, his optics narrowing as they fell upon X and Marty, who were positioned there with the stolen Utuboros figuratively clutched tightly in their grasp. "Well, well," he sneered, a wry smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "Look what the catfish dragged in."

The realization hit him like a jolt: X had chosen to ally himself with none other than Marty, a partnership that seemed particularly reckless. "Still so eager to place your blind trust in others, little boy blue?" Octopus's voice dripped with a dark amusement, each word laced with implication. He chuckled, a low, mocking sound that echoed in the tense atmosphere. "Surely you've come to grips with the chaos your little mermaid's handiwork has wreaked on your systems by now, haven't you?" The challenge in his tone was unmistakable, revealing the depths of Octopus' disdain and the troubling secrets lurking beneath the surface, waiting to ensnare his unsuspecting foe.

"Oh, I'm well aware of how my main weapon's energy source is cut off for the time being," X responded, raising his buster up for the ruby-red cephalopod to see for himself. "But I'm also aware that I couldn't have made it here alone, let alone on time to make sure you didn't cause any more trouble."

Octopus scoffed once again. "What? Do you still believe this to just be a game of Soldiers? Haven't you killed enough of your 'friends' to understand that this is a matter of life and death?" he inquired, then paused. "For you, at least."

X clenched his teeth slightly, the tension evident in his jaw. "Oh, I know," he replied, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of resignation. "Contrary to what you, Penguin, Mandrill, and maybe even Armadillo have thought or still think, I've come to realize that my existence has continued solely through the kindness of others or sheer blind luck that arrived just in time." He paused, his eyes drifting away momentarily as if he were searching for something profound in the distance. "Indeed," X continued, a heavy weight in his tone. Marty and Octopus exchanged knowing glances; they could see the struggle etched across his face, as if he were wrestling with a painful truth he had long avoided acknowledging. "I've fallen far short of what it means to be a protector of the weak."

Marty felt a protest bubbling on her tongue, her instincts urging her to assert that he was more than he believed. Yet, as the words hovered in her mind, she hesitated, questioning whether they would even resonate with him now. What worth did her reassurance hold in the face of his stark self-assessment? She could only watch, uncertain, as X confronted the shadows of his past that threatened to swallow him whole.

"Hm," Launch Octopus observed, crossing his tentacles over his chest and mid-section. "So, it seems you've gained at least some semblance of self-awareness," he mused aloud, his last set of tentacles mockingly beating together to resemble some form of congratulatory clapping. "Of course, it doesn't change the fact that it came only after, let's see, who's died in your prescence again?" he inquired. "There's Marth, Penguin, Mandrill, oh, and we can't forget Armadillo," he then paused. "I'll have to remember to give Vile my thanks for flushing that traitorous little pill-bug out. Then again," he then added. "Perhaps he wouldn't have been an unnecessary casualty, had you just done your job."

X's expressive eyes flashed, surging red boiling underneath the calm, green sheen.

"Even now, you refuse to do it properly," Octopus continued, gesturing towards the aquatic turquoise-armored Reploid accompanying X atop the pilfered Utuboros. "It's because of her that you're currently crippled. You said it yourself, your main weapon is disabled due to the shot delivered by her weapon," the mollusk stated. "Why would you willingly bring her here?" he then paused. "Or maybe," he said, voice growing dark. "She would like to explain herself here and now, seeing as she still has time to talk before I rip her throat out."

Marty felt a familiar knot of hesitation coil in her stomach as she faced Octopus, fully aware of the malicious resolve that lay behind his monstrous gaze. The weight of his threat hung in the air, unyielding. Yet, despite the tremors of fear that whispered warnings of self-preservation, her pride surged within her. The indignation sparked by his audacity ignited a flame in her chest.

"You told me to lead X to you so he could be apprehended and contained!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the tension, fists clenched at her sides, trembling with a mixture of anger and defiance. The memory of his cold, calculating words echoed in her mind, reminding her of the stakes involved. "There was no mention of him getting hurt the way he did back there!"

"Yes, those were my instructions," Octopus replied, nodding slowly as if savoring her discomfort. He leaned forward slightly, his many eyes narrowing with malicious delight. "However, despite that clear directive, you squandered precious time tiptoeing through this one's misguided attempt at forging friendships with everyone in his path." As he spoke, he took note of the primarily blue figure, X, standing nearby. The tension in X's posture was palpable—every muscle stiffening at the veiled insult.

"Furthermore," Octopus added with a smirk, "May I comment on your rather lackluster performance? You are quite the pitiful actress, my dear." His voice dripped with condescension. "So much so that I found it necessary to enlist the help of a friend just to reconstruct the façade of you being a mere damsel in distress, desperately seeking a hero." He then shifted his gaze back to X, a predatory glint in his many eyes. "Tell me, hero, how did that strategy pan out for you?"

The area felt charged with the weight of his words, each syllable a reminder of the dangerous game they were caught up in. Marty wondered just how far she could push back against an adversary like Octopus, even with someone like X with her—even if it was only technically.

"Once this is completed," X responded. "She can make her own choices, as long as it doesn't include dealing with the likes of powers such as you."

Marty felt a subtle easing of the tension that had been lingering in the air between them. It wasn't quite enough to imply that they were on "good terms," but it was a start—a small glimmer of hope in an otherwise strained relationship. As she remained still, her mind wandered to X and the weight of a secret she bore. What would he think if he uncovered the true reason behind her presence here, the underlying motivations that led her to serve? Would he be more willing to listen and understand her perspective, or would it make no difference at all? The thought gnawed at her, leaving her torn between the desire for honesty and the fear of rejection.

Despite the chaotic tension in the surrounding, ironically calm water, the ruby cephalopod found his opponent's response had struck a deep chord within him. His initial delight at the idea of undermining X's morale began to morph into an unmistakable frustration. "It's no wonder Penguin saw you as merely a loud little do-gooder spouting nonsense," he growled, his voice dripping with disdain. His tentacles unfurled dramatically, the Utuboros—his formidable sea serpent of metal and might—sensing its handler's growing impatience and desire for action. "Very well," he said, his tone clipped and cold. "Let's put your blind benevolence to the test, dear savior."

With a decisive tap of his left foot, the elaborate, crimson-decorated mechaniloid beneath him surged forward, propelling itself straight toward X and Marty. The sudden burst of speed caught the blue Hunter off guard, forcing him to react quickly. His aquatic companion wasted no time, issuing a swift command that sent their own Utuboros veering out of harm's way at the last possible moment.

"Hold on tight, Kiddo!" Marty shouted, her voice tense with urgency as she struggled to steer the massive machine away from imminent danger. She glanced at X, noticing the way the other Hunter wrestled to maintain a firm grip on the suddenly slippery, eel-like mechaniloid beneath him. The battle within the deepening blue was not just one of speed and might; it was a test of wits and resolve against the forces of chaos that threatened to engulf them.

X managed to keep himself atop the sea serpent as the blonde mermaid steered the creature around to try and face in the same direction as Octopus and his own Levithan. "So these things are supposed to be made equal?" X questioned Marty, who had taken hold of the spare trident she had snagged back at the fortress.

"That's what was intended!" the turquoise-armored Reploid responded, readying herself with her weapon, even if she herself wasn't exactly designed for combat. Her violet optics turned to the Maverick Hunter by her side, separated by a large, metallic spike that served as the "crown" of the Utuboros. "Are you sure you don't need one of these?" she inquired, X, in turn, shifted his gaze to the second handheld three-pronged spear on her back. "Look, there's nothing attached to it or anything. It's perfectly normal."

X was quiet a first, sizing up Octopus and his Utuboros that had made eye contact with him and had given a visual signal that he was prepared to go in for the attack again. He at first considered not answering, figuring that it would ultimately be useless. Yet, with some further thought, he also found that there was no reason for him not to say what he thought. Especially considering he could no longer guarantee what would happen to either him or her.

"I'll keep it in mind," the blue Maverick Hunter told the turquoise-armored, blonde mermaid. "I don't usually use handheld weapons, but that didn't stop Fujiwara from putting me through a few tests now and again."

While it wasn't with the same vigor as before, a small girn came to the aquatic Reploid's features.

"But, if it comes to it," the Maverick Hunter concluded, sensing that Octopus was about to make his move. "Please, don't hesitate," he sighed. "Save yourself."

Launch Octopus commanded his Utuboros to charge forward. Its elongated, serpentine body effortlessly traveled through the water as it approached its sibling. The metallic jaws opened, ready to deliver another blast of energy—only this time, it would be at close range.

Sensing that was the intended plan, Marty input an action into the CPU of her and X's eel-like steed, the massive mechaniloid rising and soaring through the ocean while both avoiding and approaching its aggressor simultaneously. Octopus's Utuboros halted in developing a blast of energy, seeing fit to make use of its teeth and clamping down onto one of the lower segments of the second Levithan, the impact felt by the two riders and keeping their mode of transportation in place, the other underwater beast holding its twin securely in its jaws.

"How do we get this thing off?!" X inquired, all the while trying to hold on as the other Utuboros continued to chomp and bite down on the lower sections of its own sibling.

"Hold on, give me a second-AHH!" Marty answered, trying to keep steady herself. This was no good, she thought. They couldn't maneuver their Utuboros's head over to fire as the range would be too close and potentially blow them back as well, yet if they didn't react, then they'd had the one advantage they had on their hands be rendered useless! They had to do something!

It was then that the mermaid realized their steed's tail was right by the dome of the other Levithan's head.

"Bingo."

With a flick of a switch located in the small panel she had opened, she activated the components centered in the barbed tail, the wiring traveling from the Utuboros's massive dome to its secondary weapon taking a few seconds to input the command, yet just as the other red sea serpent was busy chewing through the other's tail and when its teeth met a few of the exposed wires and cables that traveled through the mechaniloid, the other Utuboros found its systems assaulted with a barrage of stinging electricity that consumed its entire form.

"What the-GAHH!"

And, in turn, Octopus himself.

The red cephalopod and his steed were forced to release their hold on the Utuboros's twin, allowing X and Marty to pilot the mechaniloid a short distance away. The turquoise-armored mermaid looked back to see the damage done to the lower sections of the aquatic machine. "This isn't good," the blonde Reploid observed grimly, surveying the wounds dealt to their ride. "We need to keep ourselves from getting in a position like that again." she remarked.

"Then should we try and aim from a distance instead?" X suggested, genuinely trying to engage in exchanging ideas. "We could try and maybe hit them from there, right?"

Marty bit her lip. "Sorry, Kiddo, but the Utuboros is specifically based on the shape and structure of an eel, specifically moray, yet the same function is the same," she sighed. "And this one's clearly been out of use for a while," she paused, biting her lip. "I hate to say it, but I think maybe it's best that you turn tail and head back up to the surface."

X shook his head. "I can't do that," he responded. "That would mean abandoning you, as well as forsaking my mission and duty as a Hunter."

"Don't get all worried over me! I'll be fine!" Marty protested. "I can probably be of more help by getting Octopus to tail me while you go to the surface and get your buddies to take this guy out!"

"That would still leave you at risk, so it's out of the question," X answered. "And no, it has nothing to do with your gender."

"Then go ahead and get help!" The mermaid continued to argue. "There's no way you could take this guy on your own! Even with this thing at our disposal, we-" she paused. "…maybe only have a slight chance of getting out of this in one piece, but that's if they're lucky! And last time I checked, I'm a better swimmer than you at the moment!"

"Then I'll make sure that you're the one who will survive!" X told her, taking Marty back. "I said I would help you, right? And, so far, I've yet to solve your problem," He stated, turning his gaze toward Launch Octopus and his own Utuboros, who were readying themselves for another charge. "As long as he's allowed to roam free, then not just your ocean or this place, but no place under the water will be spared from the destruction he intends to cause."

Marty was rendered silent, a hand gripping at her chest. "Don't you realize the odds that you're up against?" She stammered. "Don't you see that death is staring you right in the face!?" She then found her composure slipping, an unintentional piece of honesty slipping through her lips. "Aren't you afraid?!"

X didn't answer, the calm of the water overtaking everything else, the stillness of the submerged world serving to only make the blue Hunter's absence of an answer even more troubling.

"…of course I am."

The blonde mermaid blinked, torn whether she had just heard X mutter something or she had simply imagined it out of some vain sense of hope.

"I'm terrified," X continued, voice honest and vulnerable, yet it seemed that confessing such a thing openly was serving not as a detriment, but an encouragement to his morale. "When I first awoke, I saw the humans, but the first things I noticed were the mechaniloids set to attack me at any given moment," the Reploid tightened his lips. "I was kept in a lab for months because I and the outside world were afraid of each other," he paused again. "And, even now, I fear what will happen to this city and those still dwelling within it."

"…so why?" Marty questioned. "If you're afraid, if you know that you could die, why stay and fight? Why not save yourself?"

He turned to face her, the mermaid's optics widening upon seeing, of all things, a small smile trace the other Reploid's lips.

"Because, while I have a sense of fear, and to be afraid," he answered. "There's more than fear that should push us forward," he witnessed Marty's features soften, the terror previously present smoothing out into an expression of bafflement, but also of intrigue. Perhaps even a small sliver of awe. "There is more than fear, that drives me."

The mermaid was left speechless, barely able to grasp what she was seeing, let alone hearing. It flew in the face of every logical conclusion she had made just now! And yet, even with that, whether it be due to X's delivery, or the timing, or perhaps because it was something she needed to hear at that moment, despite the absurdity of it all, she found herself wishing to share in what X was presenting at that exact time.

"You know, Kiddo," Marty muttered, a tiny grin unconsciously curling her lips. "I don't think I've ever met anyone like you before."

X found the question of "What do you mean?" On his lips, as well as the sensation of a shift in his perception of the mermaid.

A shift in his core? No, not that, the origin, while familiar and registering with his own emotions, were linking with his, connecting to his, reflex his own.

The topaz.

"Hey, what's up? You ok there?"

An ivory hand placed itself on his chest, the Maverick Hunter closing his eyes and pleading silently with whatever force or entity that was somehow attached or communicating through this seemingly immaculate trinket to not resurface with its visions.

"Look alive! Here he comes!"

Not until this was taken care of, at least.

Launch Octopus had commanded his transport to make another lunge at its twin, Marty in turn compelling her and X's own to make an arc above the incoming sea serpent in an effort to dodge it.

Yet, just as Octopus was about to gloat of the two's cowardice, he looked above him to witness his rivals activating their own steed's beam, the blast of powerful, blue energy forcing the cephalopod to maneuver back, the Utuboros he rode upon doing the same. However, it couldn't avoid such a close range shot entirely, the shot clipping the edge of one of its prominent head spikes.

Further up above, Marty glanced down at the angularly-shaped tail of the mechaniloid. "The primary weak point of this thing is the cerebral chamber," she informed X. "Although, that would require getting through the dome, and well," she paused, uncertain if she should even ask such a thing, if not just to try and avoid her own guilt. "Do you think you can do that in your current condition, Kiddo?"

X turned his green optics to his buster. "I'm not completely disabled, if that's what you mean," he responded. "But, I will admit, not being able to have access to a near endless supply of plasma will make things more difficult," he then paused, noting the mermaid's features beginning to falter. "But, that doesn't necessarily translate to it being impossible."

This appeared to lighten the mermaid's growing despair, even if just slightly. Still, she had one idea on her mind that she found herself steadily leaning towards. The only thing was, would her current companion be willing to help her go through with it or not?

"Well, do you have another energy source that could maybe serve as a temporary replacement?" She asked, remembering the previous skirmish X had with Octopus back at the fortress.

"Nothing that would probably be too effective against the Utuboros itself," X responded. "But, when it comes to Octopus himself, it seems that Rolling Shield doesn't mesh too well with his circuitry."

The turquoise-armored mermaid nodded, spotting Launch Octopus and his steed rising up, seemingly following in order to try and make another aggressive maneuver against them. "I ask because I don't think our ride's buddy is going to stop until either one or the other is no longer moving," she remarked, gripping the trident in her hold. "And I don't think it's going to stop until Octopus here tells it to, which I don't see happening anytime soon."

Steadily grasping Marty was suggesting, he was silent for a few moments, optics still tailing the incoming red mollusk and his transport. "Then do you think it best we counter now while we can?" He questioned. "Which, I assume means that you too wish to be a part of it, right?"

She nodded, sensing the Hunter's still present hesitance. "I was a moron to put any semblance of faith in that tentacled narcissist," the long-haired blonde mused aloud. "I'm not trying to justify lying to you, let alone anything else," she paused, biting her lip. "You're completely in your right not to trust me."

X stiffened, his core reacting to her words, the topaz nestled inside his chest seemingly responding as well. Another link, perhaps? Did it have anything to do with something that occurred between Blues and Tempo? Perhaps even the ongoing dilemma he witnessed play between the two of them?

"Marty-"

"No, don't," the mermaid interrupted. "You have nothing to apologize for. If anything," she relayed, sighing in resignation and defeat. "I don't think I could tell you enough 'sorrys' to make up for everything I put you through," again, she stopped, albeit only momentarily. She had to tell him this, especially now that the circumstances were not in her favor. "But, if you're willing, if you'll let me," she stated. "You fought for me, even when you had your doubts. So, in turn," she bit her lip. "I want to fight for you, even if it's just this once."

X didn't respond at first, the aquatic Reploid's declaration rendering him speechless and with a profound conflict present in both his head and in his core. And again, those two robotic figures re-emerged in his mind's eye, even if for a few brief seconds. There was no way they could be random, X concluded. What they presented, what was going on now, there was a reason they were seemingly parallel to each other.

There was some sort of tie between them.

A link.

A connection.

"X?"

The Maverick Hunter knew he owed Marty an answer. If not for the fact that he may not get another chance to do so. Still, he could only give her part of an answer. There was still so much he wished to say.

"…all right," but, at the moment, he would have to reserve his words. "But, please," save for one important warning. "Should things come to it, don't worry about me," he told her. "Save yourself."

"There you are!" Launch Octopus cackled to himself, his optics gleaming with malicious delight as he spotted his Utuboros Unit inching closer to its still fleeing twin. "Finally, I was beginning to grow tired of this continuous lagging on!" A dark grin spread across his face as he relished the thought of the impending chaos. "Looks like you little guppies are right in my sights."

With a sinister glint in his eye, he coiled his tentacles in anticipation, the tension crackling in the air like electricity before a storm. "Let's make this a quick but memorable ending, why don't we?" he taunted, positioning himself expertly to unleash a storm of Homing Torpedos toward his helpless foes. Each torpedo was a cruel harbinger of doom, designed not just to destroy, but to savor the fear and desperation he knew would unfold.

"Oh, let's see just how well you squirm your way out of this one!" His laughter echoed with a chilling edge, filled with twisted glee. The thrill of the hunt coursed through him—this was more than a battle; it was a chance to relish their panic, to toy with their lives as they grappled with the inevitable.

Of course, upon meeting them again, he found that panic, while potentially present, was not what they decided to present him with.

Upon reaching the other Utuboros and swimming up beside the twin sea serpent, Launch Octopus saw the blue Maverick Hunter riding atop the mechaniloid's large dome, X turning his green optics to face the red cephalopod. He and Octopus locked eyes with each other, yet, in the few fleeting moments shared between the two adversaries, a particular detail, or rather, the distinct absence of one was noted only at the very last second.

And by that time, it was already too late.

From the lower back of the second Utuboros, Marty bolted forward, her underwater thrusters meant for bursts of speed were going into overdrive, her tail only making the slightest of movements to keep herself steady and propelling in the direction of the pompous tentacled jerk, one trident in hand and the other affixed to her back.

"Traitorous wench!" Octopus bellowed, clearly offended at the present rebellion the mermaid was displaying, he was forced to focus his attention on blocking and either countering or dodging her strikes and swings with her weapon. "Commander Sigma bothered to hear your pathetic plea out when there are far more important happenings occurring all outside of this worthless ocean, and you dare turn against us?! Against me?!"

"Against you?!" Marty barked back, beating back a few incoming tendrils that sought to ensnare her. "You said that Sigma would allow for the world's oceans to be safe! Hell, you owe your very life to the ocean!" She shouted, stabbing the three-pronged spear in Octopus's direction, forcing him to keep his distance to an extent. "Or have you conveniently forgotten how you were found half dead and practically looked like you took a trip through a trash compactor?!" She questioned, her violet irises torn between Octopus and the other Utuboros that had been close by. "The ocean and those that have been assigned and given the task to protect it are the reason you're even here, and you go and trample all over their compassion?!"

This sentiment seemed to hold no sway or power over the former Maverick Hunter. Rather, if anything, he appeared amused. "Funny," the red cephalopod said. "Isn't that what you've just done to your newest companion?"

Marty was robbed of any words, finding her tongue refusing to cooperate in providing a proper rebuttal or counter. Then again, perhaps she knew that there ultimately was none.

Still, the least she could do was help the one she had wronged finish this.

"Now, X!"

The Utuboros fired, Octopus and Marty separated, and the mollusk's steed backed up to avoid the incoming attack. The sudden shift in movement from such a large figure momentarily jostled the tentacled Maverick and the turquoise-armored mermaid, putting their confrontation on hold for a short time as X tried to make another move with the Utuboros, all the while noticing how Marty was rearing for yet another strike with her trident.

And, at that moment, X took notice that Octopus was putting one of his own into action.

"Marty, look out!"

From one half of his multi-limbed yet extravagant body, Launch Octopus released a barrage of Homing Torpedoes and Piranhas from his tentacles while the other half managed to snag the mermaid's trident in the constructed distraction of explosives.

"X!" Marty cried out, about to rush over to assist the other Reploid, yet she found the staff of her trident grasped by one of the cephalopod's tendrils, the others going to work in restricting her movements as retaliation was inevitable on her end.

Thus, Octopus concluded with a dark sense of glee, that a more permanent solution was in order.

With her trident seized, the ruby-red mollusk wasted no time in ripping the weapon away from her, despite her desperate struggles to try and keep it in her grasp. Upon taking the stabbing instrument for himself, he quickly tossed it to the side, the blonde mermaid watching on in horror as her means of defense was thrust out of her reach and perhaps her sight, forever.

Of course, that was just one trident, she had another, musing this fact as she reached back to detach the other weapon from in between her shoulders. The mermaid wasn't so foolish as to believe Octopus wouldn't try to intercept her at this point either, yet it seemed that, from the way he was thrusting his tendrils in her direction, it seemed that he was less interested in getting rid of her other weapon and more in making contact with any portion of her body that he could reach.

While it took more time than he would've cared for, X eventually managed to steer the Utuboros around the clouds of smoke, catching Marty in his sights as the mermaid finally managed to retrieve the other trident from her back, beating the incoming tentacles from getting too close, their owner's intentions made clear to both her and the Maverick Hunter.

Unfortunately, despite her continued efforts, the multi-limbed cephalopod managed to seize the mermaid's arms, forcing them upward and, in turn, aiming the head of the trident away from her target altogether.

"GAH!"

However, before he could make any aggressive maneuver, Launch Octopus found his back assaulted by a barrage of stinging energy that drove his systems to near madness from the pain and forced him to release the mermaid, allowing her to put a small bit of distance between herself and the other aquatic machine. Whirling around to see X had fired at him, the mollusk's systems registered as well just what had been sent in his direction.

"Rolling Shield…" Octopus mused aloud, albeit with the volume of a low growl. "Fujiwara, you bastard," he hissed, tentacles curling dangerously. "Even now, your damned handicaps do nothing but slow us down."

"Oh really?" a familiar, female voice questioned. "Well, I say a mere handicap isn't efficient enough," he shifted in place, yet by the time he realized just what, let alone who was coming his way, it was too late. "I'd say dismemberment would be a more permanent solution!"

When he was able to finally face the incoming enemy, Octopus found any sort of retaliation rendered useless as the three sharpened ends of the trident came down, the mermaid using every ounce of her strength behind the downward thrust to tear through the metal shell of the mollusk's tentacles.

Success!

Marty beamed in triumph as she witnessed Octopus's prized limbs being ripped away one by one from her ongoing strikes, the blasted big-headed, smarmy "artist" finally having next to nothing to say or counter with as he was rendered almost completely limbless due to the mermaid's continuous, aggressive strikes.

"Now, X!"

From behind, the Utuboros fired another blast, forcing Launch Octopus to depart from atop his steed to avoid the incoming sphere of surging energy. The same couldn't be said for his means of swift transportation, which took the blast right to the face, the proximity causing a considerable amount of damage.

"Move out of the way, you damn worm!" Octopus bellowed, about to curl out his arms in growing frustration, only to realize that he had no such appendages anymore. And, in the next second, he would perhaps have his throat cut out if he didn't move, Marty having decided to make another move against him while he was metaphorically down, so to speak.

No, Octopus mused to himself. This would not do. He needed to even the playing field. Well, "level" in the sense of bending conditions to his favor, yet even that would consist of the elimination of some of the current players.

"Not so cocky without those slimy little things poking out of your sides, huh?"

And, upon hearing the turquoise mermaid's taunt, he believed he had found just the perfect way.

"Come on, you slippery bastard!" Marty shouted, not letting up in her continuous attacks "Maybe a gutless worm or slug would be a more fitting form for you," she remarked, stabbing and thrusting with the trident, along with the occasional swing as if it were a sword. "Once the chips are down, you're nothing more than what I see right in front of me!" she glowered in disgust. "I can't believe I was stupid enough to entertain the idea that you care for something or someone outside of yourself!"

The urge to reach out and strangle the mouthy urchin came to mind, yet the lack of prehensile appendages made such a thing impossible. At least not right away.

Noticing the lack of concern on Octopus's features, barely human as they were, Marty couldn't help but feel a shiver run up her metallic spine. "What?" she inquired, all the while keeping her eyes on the cephalopod.

"Oh, nothing," Octopus responded, although it was clear that was the furthest thing on his mind. Oh no, whatever he had at the forefront of his processor gave him nothing but absolute delight. "Aside from the fact that I've found a way to take care of both of you and your stolen property once and for all."

Before she could process, let alone demand to know what he meant, Launch Octopus responded by opening his tentacle sockets and releasing every missile and explosive stored in the inner compartments, and then some. Marty realized this at the last moment and made a desperate attempt to halt the destructive counterattack before it could begin; she found her toned yet trim form stood no chance against the Maverick's more extensive and more compact dome. The ruby-red mollusk headbutted the mermaid's forehead, sending her backward, her body crashing against the jagged cliffside, which disoriented her and caused her fingers to begin slipping.

"Marty!" X shouted, about to direct the Utuboros he steered to make a dive for the mermaid, yet soon found himself intercepted by not only another barrage of Homing Torpedoes and Pirahnas but, trailing behind them, the other red Levithan was barrelling straight toward its twin, jaws open and readying to fire a blast of its own.

"X…" Marty weakly strained, watching on from afar in horror as the sight of the primarily blue Hunter was overtaken by incoming projectiles and the resulting explosions they left behind.

The trident began to slip, Marty realizing her steadily decreasing strength as she tried to keep a hold of the weapon, all the while weighing between going for X or dealing with Octopus here and now.

"Huh? What the…?!"

Unfortunately, the mermaid was never granted that chance, a sharp, stabbing pain assaulting her bare stomach.

Then, it was followed by the sensation of her insides quite literally being drained from within.

---

There was just no end to them! If he hadn't dealt with the barrage of exploding weapons beforehand in the fortress, then X would've assumed that Octopus had gotten an upgrade or two in regards to his arsenal, the sheer amount of firepower at his disposal severely against human-set regulations.

Probably another reason you went with Sigma, huh? X pondered bitterly as he was forced to make use of his usable weapons in ways ranging from semi-creative to borderline desperate in regards of effectiveness in combating the various incoming threats. Still, I can hold my own against this! I have to get to Marty!

His assessment wasn't entirely wrong, Marty, despite what her bravado would potentially have you believe, was ultimately not designed with either combat or defensive measures in mind, especially when it came to times of war. No, the true tool, the instrument of destruction was himself, and yet even he was beginning to struggle against the onslaught brought on by his marine-life foe.

With the access to the near boundless amount of plasma embedded in his systems cut off, the Maverick Hunter had to rely on the three abilities inserted into his forearm, the only guaranteed existing remains of those he had once fought alongside. And each proved to have their own advantages and weaknesses in regards to batting away the incoming projectiles of Homing Torpedoes and metallic Piranhas.

Shotgun Ice proved useful in freezing the contents of the missiles, either greatly reducing the force of their explosions or outright rendering them useless, yet X, to his own shame, only discovered this after trying to electrocute the hazardous objects coming his way in an attempt to stop their journey before completion. This proved effective and did as intended, yet X soon found that the resulting release of such volatile materials was more than he was prepared to initially handle.

Thus, even if he found the technique to be the most effective, the true strength and defensive power of Armadillo's Rolling Shield only came to be known because X had inadvertently placed himself in more trouble than necessary. And, thus, the blue energy spheres that kept back the incoming explosions also served to drain his reserves of the very weapon he made use of.

And then, once the projectiles and robotic fish were dealt with, there was still the issue of the incoming Utuboros dead set on tearing him or its twin to pieces, whichever came first didn't matter, just as long as the blue Hunter himself eventually fell!

Given that he was far less experienced at steering and maneuvering the red eel-based mechaniloid, X took to dealing with the controls and attempted to keep out of the range of Octopus's Leviathan, all the while trying to make his way toward Marty, realizing that he had yet to see any sign of the red mollusk for some time. Unfortunately, the other underwater mechaniloid didn't appear interested in simply allowing the blue Hunter to pass it by, the elongated machine rising up along with its twin as X hurriedly raced toward the vague shape of the mermaid he saw against the rocks.

Going further up, however, the other Utuboros then dove downward and began to coil and constrict itself around its counterpart, restricting its movements as X found his ride to steadily become further and further restricted due to the close embrace of the other like metallic sea demon. Then, just as the rest of its form was wrapped in a segmented body, X witnessed the opposing Utuboros unhinge its jaws and clamp down, piercing the dome and metallic skull of its twin, functions ceasing instantly as X was forced to retreat the doomed vessel that had taken him this far.

The steel jaws tore through its twin's CPU and all other systems that rested in its dome, the secondary Leviathan releasing billows of smoke from its disfigured mouth and optics until the large red dome could take no more and exploded entirely.

X didn't stop, he couldn't afford to, yet he couldn't help but give a silent eulogy to the Utuboros that had brought him this far. The least he could do now was at least assist the one that had put themselves at risk to help him. Spotting the turquoise-armored mermaid from afar, back against the cliff side she had been flung into, X hurriedly swam as quickly as he could manage, finding that, no matter how fast he went, it ultimately wouldn't be enough.

Yet another would fall in this terrible conflict.

"Marty!" X called out, finally reaching the seemingly unconscious mermaid that, by sheer luck, had released her trident out of exhaustion, but the formation of the cliff side rocks allowed for a small enough space for the rod to slip in, essentially allowing the spear-like weapon to teeter over the edge. "Marty…" X took the motionless Reploid in his grip, holding her body in one arm while he reached for the trident with the other. The long-haired blonde was in pretty bad shape, outer shell dented and scuffed in several areas, as well as traces of leaking fluid from open wounds that had been created throughout various places on her semi-humanoid form.

Open wounds…circular in shape…and she appeared to be sucked dry of any sort of strength.

…or energy.

"Hm?" A looming shadow from behind was seen in the blurry vision of her violet optics. The sensation of being held alerted her that she wasn't in the grasp of her adversary. Yet the one who had come to her aid had yet to become aware that an attack was coming from behind. "Kiddo, look out!"

Just as the realization dawned on him, X tried to dodge the incoming strike from Octopus's tentacles, the sight of them a shock in of itself seeing as he witnessed Marty dismember the red cephalopod with his own optics. A stray tendril grazed the Hunter's side, managing to scrape the metal midsection, yet it wasn't enough to pierce the Reploid's form.

"What the?!"

"Moron!" Octopus cackled. "Don't you know Octopi can regenerate their limbs?!"

He tried to go in for yet another attempt, aiming for his mid-back, yet just as Octopus was about to center his target,

"Marty, no!"

Once again, he found his plans met with interference.

Just as Octopus was about to strike again, the bothersome minow that had seen to it to get attached to her target shoved the Maverick Hunter out of the way, the cephalopod's piercing tentacles and their energy-draining function striking not the body of X, but that of Marty, of whom was already quite drained and beaten from before.

"MARTY!" X cried out, swimming over to her, yet found his way blocked by a winding serpentine body, the Reploid inwardly cursing as he saw the forms of both Octopus and Marty fall further down, the damaged yet still functioning Utuboros not allowing him to pass.

"Damn you, wench!" Launch Octopus bellowed, all the while, ironically enough, struggling with the one that had previously been the source of his newfound energy. "Get off of me!"

"A little late for that!" Marty retorted, the sensation of her energy steadily being sucked from her already damaged body far from pleasant. Still, she held on. She had to. At least just until they got a far enough distance from X.

"You idiot!" Octopus roared, tentacles that hadn't latched onto Marty's form saw fit to seize her throat, their constricting force painful and applying significant pressure to her neck. "Why are you doing any of this?!" he demanded, tightening his grip, and restricting the mermaid's ability to speak. "What good does assisting him do you?! He's the one who's enabled those who will destroy what you love! They will destroy this place and all others like it!" he shouted. "And whether he intends to or not, he'll eventually destroy you!"

Up above, X continued to contend with ever-present and persistent Utuboros, Doding yet another attempt to catch the Hunter in its jaws as he lunged back, hitting the cliffside: the same spot where Marty had once been. Glancing downward, he saw the trident was still situated in the small space the rod had gotten stuck in. He then turned his attention to the incoming Levithan, noting a considerable crack that had formed in the center of its dome. If he could break through that, then perhaps…but his X buster, it was…?!

Seeing that there was no further time to debate, the larger sea serpent came in on him, forcing the blue Hunter to move, but not before snagging the trident before the massive mechaniloid slammed into the cliffside, rocks dislodging and falling to the depths below.

And down below, a distance away, Octopus and Marty continued to struggle, sinking further and further down, although it was clear that one was faring better in the skirmish than the other.

The brief glimpse of them motivated X to approach the Utuboros, the mechaniloid coming in for another lunge. The Hunter maneuvered to the left and landed atop the sea serpent's back, climbing upward until he reached the cracked section of the red dome. Forcing the trident downward, X found that the weapon did puncture the area somewhat due to the already present damage, yet it wouldn't be enough. He needed more force behind it.

A brief swing of the Utuboros' head almost dislodged X from his place, but despite being sent back a short distance, to his relief, X saw the trident had remained in place. Desperately clinging to the surface of the elongated underwater machine, the Maverick Hunter painstakingly worked his way up to where he had once been, activating Rolling Shield and pressing the cannon end of his buster on the hilt of the trident, the energy and power behind Armadillo's weapon producing enough extra push to drive the three-pronged spear downward. The process was slow at first, X greatly concerned that it wouldn't be enough, yet at the last moment, a sudden boost propelled the weapon forward, the Utuboros' CPU and inner workings pierced and destroyed by the incoming object that tore through its dome and exited out from the underside of its jaw.

Having reached a boulder atop the sandy floor, Launch Octopus landed on the rocky surface and tossed Marty's now still and seemingly lifeless body to the side. The mermaid was unable to retaliate as she felt the world around her beginning to fade, barely even registering the sensation of her hitting the ground below. Still, she knew that he was far from done with her, sensing his form looming over her, malicious intent surely in his optics.

"Worthless wench," the ruby-red cephalopod scoffed. "What does adhering to the whims of some self-righteous naive idiot get you?" he inquired mockingly. "What has it gotten me? Why do you think I left?" he continued on, unaware that a shape from a distance away was steadily approaching. "There's no point in any of those virtues or sense of morality that they preach! There's nothing to gain from it!"

Closer and closer…

"In this world, we must live for ourselves! We must take care of our own needs and wants!"

Just a little more…

"And should anyone or anything try and get in my way,"

…

"Then…?"

Launch Octopus turned around, mere seconds before he was engulfed in a blaze of smoke and the resulting reaction of chemicals meeting each other. The Utuboros X had slain had crashed right into the Maverick, leaving him no time to react, let alone recover, his form destroyed and taken out immediately, along with the massive head of the sea serpent that had just ended him.

Even in death, I am beautiful!

Note: Finally!

Granted, the battle is done, but the story isn't. But, rest assured, we WILL be moving forward from here.

Thank you!