Note: Hello all! A tad shorter on this chapter, but one of my favorite X characters gets introduced, so here's hoping that makes up for it somewhat!

Mermaid

The information stored in his processor about this location was extensive, yet being here in person only amplified the breathtaking splendor of the Coral Triangle, it was still almost impossible for the Hunter to believe that such a place as this existed on the planet, and so close to his general area in comparison to the other reefs of the world. A sprawling expanse of vibrant polyps intertwined to form a bustling ecosystem brimming with life and variety captivated X completely as he glided through the water. The breathtaking beauty hidden beneath the waves was an irresistible lure, inviting a wave of tranquility to wash over his mind. An invitation that, while tempting, he ultimately had to decline. For as wondrous as this place was, X knew that he couldn't afford to lollygag, he had a Maverick to track down.

It could also help avert any future calamities similar to the rescue vessel incident.

"See anything yet?" Roll's voice inquired, bringing him back to the present.

"So far, nothing of interest," X answered, green optics scanning the area. "But the one we're after did go this way."

Roll was quiet for a few moments, pondering on whether or not she should inquire further. Still, given she was technically serving in the fight now, such information would be vital to know. "And who exactly is this Maverick you're tailing?"

The mostly blue Hunter stopped, both to survey his current surroundings, as well as relay what his Navigator had asked of him. "I didn't get too good of a look when he was underwater," he confessed. "But the tracking signal indicates that it's someone that used to work with us."

"A former Hunter?" Roll questioned, X not answering back, yet the silence was all the confirmation she needed. "Well…who is it this time?" All those involved still felt the entire wave of betrayal that came over everyone when Sigma declared war against humanity and the subsequent fallout.

X bit his lip, the name on his tongue, and in his mind, yet the acknowledgment of yet another one of their own aligning with such actions still stung at his core. He was going to relay an answer, yet he never got the chance to speak.

"OOF!"

A sudden force slammed right into his side, sending him flying (or, in this case, spinning underwater) towards a nearby cluster of coral and rocks, his landing dismantling some of the fragile specimens from their places. He was momentarily disoriented from the impact, his audio receptors scrambling to get back to their normal frequency, yet he could still hear the sound of someone trying to recover from the hit they had both just taken.

"Ugh…"

"X? X?! Are you all right?" Roll questioned in worry, reaching the Hunter again after a brief moment of disconnection.

"Y-Yeah," he answered, receiving his sister's voice from afar in Abel City again. "But where…who did I-"

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" a female voice made itself known, and its tone indicated that the owner was rather furious about something. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?!"

"What?" X questioned, trying to regain his bearings. He soon became aware that a figure was hovering over him, yet their shape was similar yet different from his own.

Turning his gaze upward, the blue Hutner soon found himself in the presence of another Reploid like himself, only not so at the same time. The mechanical being that had bumped into him was assumedly female, her hair long, flowing, and blonde, seemingly dancing in the weightlessness of the water, her audio receptors fashioned after fins or a more fish-like appearance. Her eyes were a striking violet, her brows thin but fierce as they narrowed in his direction. Her upper body was adorned with a turquoise breastplate that resembled a strapless bikini top, her arms and chest bare yet still presenting seams and attributes that suggested her mechanical nature. She sported matching turquoise arm cuffs, and instead of legs, she possessed a sleek-fish-like tail that tapered to a sharp, fin-like end meant to guide and direct her in the ocean.

Before X could ask as to who she was, let alone why she had been going so fast, he felt his forearm seized by the mermaid and he was quite literally thrust up from where he sat, losing his footing for a few moments before coming back to a stop. Granted, he still didn't look any less foolish in front of this Reploid, whoever she was.

Turning around to face her, X was about to speak, yet the blonde mermaid cut him off, clearly not done in the slightest with giving her a piece of her mind.

"Do you know the damage you've just caused?!" she questioned angrily, gesturing to the coral that X had just inadvertently collided into. "Those polyps are incredibly sensitive organisms that need the right conditions to thrive! It's taken years for this part of the ocean to finally get itself back in order, and here I find you, going and smashing everything up like a…" Amid her rant, she paused, her purple irises scanning the intruder from top to bottom. "Wait a minute," she said, eyes widening with realization. "You're a Maverick Hunter, aren't you?"

"Huh?" X asked, somewhat taken aback by the shift in the conversation. "Oh, well, yeah. I'm actually here on a mission-"

"Ah, that's great!" the mermaid exclaimed, thrusting her arms around the mostly blue Hunter in a rather unexpected embrace of gratitude. "You're just what I need! In fact, you're the one that I've been searching for! I-"

"Excuse me?"

Another voice cut through the current conversation, causing everyone involved to take pause. "Uh," the blonde mermaid began, eyes shifting around. "That wouldn't have happened to have been you, would it?" she questioned X.

X was about to answer, yet his Navigator cut in for him. "Actually, that's me," she responded. "And I'm part of the help back at headquarters. Who are you?"

The fish-like humanoid android drew closer to X's audio receptor, studying the attribute of the helmet with intrigue. "Call me Marty," she introduced herself, although it was less of a greeting and more of a statement. "And care to explain who YOU are, lady?"

"Lady?" the voice on the other end questioned, not exactly prepared for such a comeback. "I do have a name of my own, Miss," she retorted. "My name is Roll, or, if you wish to be more accurate, Roll Unit 2.5, and this here is my younger brother, Maverick Hunter Mega Man X, Seventeenth Unit, B-Class," the other Reploid relayed. "At least, that's what your file says, X."

The blue Reploid bit his lip, somewhat unsure if it even mattered if he said anything at all, given everyone else was speaking for him. "...thank you for that, Roll," still, there was business to attend to, the Hunter directing his attention back to the mermaid. "But, yes, I'm a Maverick Hunter here on assignment, Miss Marty-"

"Ew, drop the 'Miss' thing, would you?" the aquatic Reploid grimaced in disgust. "I'm not some dainty little thing. Marty is fine enough."

X blinked, taking a moment to absorb the other's brazenness. "All right then, Marty," he answered. "While I'm here on official business, I have to ask what exactly had you in such a hurry before?"

"Oh yeah, that. Guess I should say sorry." the long-haired blonde responded, rubbing the back of her head and presenting the Hunter with a sheepish smile.

You guess? X mentally pondered, yet he decided to keep it to himself.

"Truth is," the turquoise mermaid continued. "I was actually trying to escape."

The mostly blue Reploid tilted his head curiously. "Escape?"

"Yes," Marty responded. "You see, it's actually kind of fitting that you're a Hunter," she then grew more demure, drawing into herself, indicating a tension she had been trying to suppress. "Because, at the moment, I'm being hunted."

Abel City Underground HQ

"You look like you're deep in thought," Roll turned from her place to see Trinity standing over her, the pink-haired Navigator's presence surprising the other Reploid somewhat. "I take it you're hearing some interesting developments?"

Roll was about to answer after recollecting herself, yet she stopped, realizing just who had addressed her. "Where's Ai?" she questioned.

"Taking over the head communications for the time being," Trinity informed. "Even if I was constructed to maintain the growing network we've got going on, extended periods can lead to particularly sharp headaches."

"Ah, that makes sense," Roll responded. True, she doubted her body could take such a strong input from so many different sources, yet even taking up the task must've put some strain on the processor. "The truth is, it seems we've got an unexpected guest in the middle of this fray."

Trinity's blue optics widened. "What do you mean?

Coral Triangle

"So, a Maverick's been tailing you ever since?" X inquired, Marty, having relayed the last details of her situation to the Hunter.

"Exactly," the mermaid answered. "I've done well so far to stay out of his line of sight, but he's got spies everywhere down here," she alerted X. "Not to mention that he's got ties with the guy causing trouble back on the mainland."

"Wait," X spoke, momentarily interrupting the aquatic android. "The mainland?" he questioned, pondering this detail further. "As in, Arcadia and Abel City?" while the latter wasn't exactly part of the landmass that formed the White City, the events taking place there surely would've been known. After all, Arcadia had responded, yet their efforts were quite literally shot down, resting at the bottom of the ocean by now.

"Yeah, that guy," Marty confirmed with a nod. "Name's something Greek, I don't entirely recall. I only heard the name in passing during captivity."

"Sigma," X answered. "And I think I have a relatively good idea about who exactly he's sent here to stir up trouble."

"You do?" Marty asked, hopeful. "He's got the delusion he's a looker, but he's actually just some slimy old cephalopod that doesn't even have eight arms!"

X bit his lip, narrowing his optics. "So, it IS him," he muttered. "Tell me," he questioned Marty. "Where exactly did you see your captor last?"

"Back the way I came," the mermaid responded. "Where else?"

"Oh…right. Yeah, that…would be kind of obvious," X admitted, feeling somewhat foolish for not seeing the obvious at first. "Still, if he's in that direction, then I know now which way to go. Thank you."

The blonde mermaid presented a smile. "No problem! Now that you're here, we can go in and put a stop to the nonsense that stupid squid is pulling down here!" she then began to swim forward, pausing only when she realized that X wasn't following behind. "Well? Are you coming? This IS your job after all, isn't it?"

"Well, yes, but" X responded, trying to string together a proper response that hopefully wouldn't cause too much offense. "You're coming along too?"

"Uh…yeah?" Marty answered with a shrug. "I mean, yeah, I was kinda taken hostage back there, but I snuck through the areas where security isn't as tight, so it's possible to…" she paused. "You don't want me to come with you?"

"Yes," X answered, yet backtracked upon realizing how his response could be taken. "Well, I mean, I appreciate the offer, but I don't think it'd be in your best interest to go with me."

Marty narrowed her eyes. "Why?" she inquired. "Because I'm a woman?"

"No, it's not that," the Hunter replied. "We have several female Hunters working with us," he paused, the image of the dark-haired Teal coming to mind. Sure, he didn't entirely know her too well, yet she seemed nice enough. Since the missile strike, no one had seen any sign of her. "But you're a civilian, which makes this situation entirely different, and that's why I have to get you to safety first."

The turquoise armored mermaid turned her back to the Hunter, waves of blonde shielding her bare back from view as it became apparent that she was slightly offended by his words. X was about to speak again, yet before he could get a word out, he found his world spinning as the aquatic Reploid's tail promptly slapped him across the cheek, disorienting him for a few moments before he regained his bearings.

"Ow…" X moaned, massaging his cheek before turning to face the mermaid, who was swimming ahead of him. "Hey! What was that for?!" he questioned, finding the action rather uncalled for.

Marty stopped, placing a hand on her hip. "Your contact, she called you her 'little' brother, didn't she?" she asked.

X's green optics widened. "What? What does that-"

"And she also said that you're B-Class, right?" the mermaid continued, turning around to face X, and presenting him with a wink. "You're far from being anyone's knight in shining armor, Kiddo!"

X cursed himself for it, yet he couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth rise to his cheeks. "Y-You…"

"Either way, I'm heading back because I've got business where I escaped from. Follow me if you want, but I'm not going to wait if you don't take the help," she then gave her hair a small flip. "Guess I'll see you there, if you can catch up!" with that, she swam off, leaving the stunned Hunter to process her words.

"Kiddo…" he repeated, a wave of embarrassment assaulting his pride and flaring up his anger. "And what makes her so high and mighty, huh?"

"Well, given the order Dr. Light made us in, you technically ARE the youngest."

Now X's face threatened to burst into bright red. "A-Am not!" he argued with a huff.

"Still," Roll mused aloud, ceasing her teasing. "Given she's all alone out here, and assumedly unarmed, it probably wouldn't be wise to simply leave her unattended."

True, X thought. Besides, he continued as he was weighing his options, saying that it would be useful to have some guidance down in this place, not to mention that, whether he cared much for her attitude or not, it would be wrong just to leave her. Thus, with some effort, he swam his way until he managed to catch up.

"H-Hey! Wait!"

Or, at least, close enough so she could hear him call out.

Pausing in her continuous stride through the water, Marty turned around to see X a short distance away, raising a brow as she approached. "So, realize that you'd do better with me close by?" she inquired.

X was tempted to not give her the satisfaction, but ultimately kept his temper and answered. "At the moment, I have little other choice."

This appeared to delight the mermaid, she presented X with a coy smile, as if to subtly say 'told you so!' "Well, in that case, it's this direction," she informed him, swimming forward again. Only this time, she allowed the mostly blue Hunter to catch up and keep a reasonable distance between them. "Try to keep up, ok?"

"R-Right!" X answered, keeping in line with her, yet still lagging behind somewhat.

The long-haired aquatic Reploid centered her gaze forward, violet optics taking in the expansive display of underwater life surrounding both her and the Maverick Hunter.

That's all. She thought to herself, biting her lip. I just have to get this guy to the right place. That's all. And when I do, she sighed, pushing back the small stabbing pain of guilt that pecked at her core. This place, and all others like it will finally be safe.


Some time had passed since she had last checked up on him, so Roll decided to give her brother a small message. "How are you holding up down there?" She questioned.

"So far, everything is going smooth," X answered, green optics scanning the environment around him. "But I know, I can't be too careful."

"And your…guide? Is she still with you?" Roll inquired.

"Right here, sister," Marty answered Roll, to her shock, receiving her voice on the other end of the communications. "What? I can't share your com-link? I'm in this too, aren't I?"

"Well, at the moment, you're providing assistance," Roll admitted. "But how did you-"

"It was easy once I picked up Kiddo's frequency here," the mermaid replied, her attention turned toward X. "But relax, I don't plan on spying on anyone but, well, you, I guess."

Roll was quiet for a moment, unsure if the mermaid was being genuine or messing with her. Frankly, she was veering toward the latter. "Yes, well, given that you've oh-so-generously volunteered to offer your services to X here, I don't suppose you would mind giving us some information about yourself?"

"Oh, yeah," Marty shrugged. "Guess I should," she then paused, constructing a response that hopefully her company would be able to believe. Or at least reasonably accept, for the time being, the element of desperation working in her favor. For both sides. "I was originally designed as a medical droid to assist with humans or other Reploids that fell overboard," she informed both X and Roll. "Although, overtime, I found myself more at home watching over wonders such as these than worrying about some idiot that wasn't careful enough."

"So…you changed career paths, so to speak?" X questioned. While he himself had wondered about such things before, he wasn't entirely sure that simply "changing" what a Reploid was designed for was allowed, let alone something they were able to do.

"Hmm, I guess you can say that," Marty answered, her optics turning to the lush underwater landscape on all sides, a small smile creeping to her face. "You know, this may just be one reef, but compared to that of even Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Triangle contains more than seventy-six percent of the world's shallow-water-reef-bulding coral species."

X raised a brow curiously. "Really?" he questioned. True, such information was a subject he could research himself, yet the mermaid detailed it in such a manner that she seemed completely invested in the very nature of these ancient yet enigmatic animals.

Marty nodded in response. "That's not all," she continued, several fish swimming by, their scales illuminated in the rays of the sun that managed to penetrate the depths. "There are several reef fish here, thirty-seven percent of the world's actually," she explained. "The same goes for the razor clams, which fifty percent of them are found here," she was suddenly interrupted by the incoming presence of an aquatic turtle, the oceanic reptile swimming past both the mermaid and Hunter, its shell an earthy brown with small patches of algae growing on the surface. "Not to mention six out of seven of the world's sea turtles."

Indeed, X thought, looking out and surveying the various creatures he could spot swimming through the reef and waters, almost forgetting entirely that he was here on a mission. "This place has been a long time, hasn't it?" he inquired, intending to keep the conversation going.

"Since early history, as I know of," the aquatic Reploid answered. "Of course, while it's always been attached to these islands, it was only in the past century that they were able to calcuate the profits related to this area."

"Profits?" X asked.

"Yes," Marty responded. "Something which lets you know that this world is still run on human greed," she surveyed her environment again. The former spark of wonder was gone, replaced with an almost melancholy frustration. "In the year 2014, the Asian Development Bank, or the ADB, reported that the gross domestic product of the marine ecosystem of the Coral Triangle was roughly around 1.2 trillion per year."

The Hunter absorbed this information, noting that, while he had reservations about such things himself, the mermaid appeared almost resentful of her human creators. "Well, outside of money, before it became a well-documented location on Earth, surely this place served to let people get necessities, right?"

"There is that, I'll admit," Marty conceded. "Around $3 billion in foreign exchange income from fisheries and exports. Plus another $3 billion from coastal tourism revenues," the blonde mermaid sighed. "Although, I can't help but wonder…"

"Wonder what?" X questioned. Truthfully, he held some idea as to what she would say, yet ultimately wished to hear it for himself.

The other Reploid was somewhat reluctant to say, sensing that her company would most likely not agree with her stance. Still, so far, this had been the only time she had been allowed to share her grievances at all. Given the circumstances, was there any harm in simply being honest with him? Or did it even matter at all?

We don't matter at all. Not to them.

Before she could respond to X, her attention was drawn to a series of strange shapes undulating within the reef. "Look," she murmured, and X turned to see the movement as well. Tiny streams of bubbles began to rise from the sand, hinting that something was steadily surfacing from below. Emerging from the thick mass of coral and vibrant marine life, several small mechaniloids revealed themselves, designed to mimic the appearance of miniature seahorses. "Sea Attackers!" Marty exclaimed, instinctively retreating as she swam closer to X. "They've come to take me out!"

The blue Hunter centered his gaze ahead, drawing out his arm cannon. "Find some cover!" he instructed, gesturing to a nearby patch of densely packed coral. "I'll deal with these guys!"

Note: Rereading through the Iwamoto chapter where she's introduced, I'm also going to reference the light novel and remake on the PSP.

Thank you for reading! Alert me of any errors I may have missed, and I hope you enjoyed it!