Note: Almost done with this arc! Only a few more chapters left! I promise, there is a point to these flashbacks.
Breaking through Barriers
A single batch of crude oil had been secured, leaving five more to capture.
The emerald and gilded Cruiziler adjusted its sensors, pinpointing another containment unit just a stone's throw away. It glided gracefully through the water, its colossal form poised to hover above the transparent tube, prepared to unleash its claw once more.
Suddenly, its sensors detected an additional presence—a tiny blip materializing on the radar. The remotely operated submarine halted its voyage, drawn to a curious spectacle that had emerged at the surface: a solitary Gulpher unit had emerged from the depths, rising above the water's surface and gently swaying with the rhythm of the waves, as if it were a mere plaything of the sea, lacking any command over its own actions or mechanisms.
Soon, the Cruiziler's operators discovered this assessment couldn't have been more correct.
The Gulpher's jaws flew wide, unveiling a figure clad predominantly in blue armor, accented with splashes of white and gold. With a powerful leap, he sprang onto the surface of the verdant vessel, the machine instantly recognizing the presence of a potentially hostile intruder aboard. The Cruiziler sprang into action, quickly unleashing a swarm of green mechaniloid drones that stood like bipedal figures, each equipped with a glaring red optic. As they opened fire, the Maverick Hunter, had to swiftly crouch down, narrowly evading the barrage of shots aimed at him. The tranquility was short-lived, for as soon as the first adversary succumbed to X's overwhelming firepower, the rest quickly followed suit.
Undeterred, X pressed forward, drawn toward an unusual aspect of the ship: a massive, spherical gemstone glowing with a mesmerizing blue hue, pulsating with a potent energy that resonated deep within him. Then, he heard it again, the voice from before. The same that had alerted him to search beneath the waves. "The core of the ship," she said, "It must be destroyed before it reaches the mainland."
X had no qualms about the situation, firmly believing that Sigma's forces would never seize the oil extracted from this place. Yet, as he lifted his buster, ready to strike down the Cruiziler ship, a nagging thought crept into his mind about the repercussions of his impending action. "But…the oil," he murmured, a sense of oddity washing over him as he found himself conversing with his own thoughts. While he often engaged in inner monologues, this was the first instance where a voice other than his own echoed back to him. "The containment unit could potentially…"
"There will be more of a risk of it spilling out if you don't destroy the ship now," the female voice answered. "Act now, or you may potentially have a bigger mess."
The "bigger mess" quickly transformed from a mere possibility into a looming reality as X observed the Cruiziler reaching for yet another container of harvested petroleum below, its claw descending to seize another source of energy. As he prepared to fire a shot to initiate the takedown of the vessel, the Maverick Hunter suddenly faced not just more soldiers, but a swarm of Sky Claws emerging from a hatch above. These yellow flying machines filled the air around him, swooping down in a chaotic flurry. One of the units managed to snag the Hunter in its grasp, seizing him by the shoulders and lifting him up high, further and further away from the vulnerable core as the others separated into two groups: one to deal with the intruder and the other to protect the lifeline of the ship. Sensing that they were planning on either taking him far off from the area or were going to outright toss him back into the ocean, X fired despite his arm being currently restrained.
While his shots were scattered and erratic at first, they managed to at least blow some of the Sky Claws out of the air, allowing him time to wrench his arm upward to where he could take care of the mechaniloid currently holding him up. This maneuver proved successful, the Maverick Hunter plummeting down toward the Cruiziler and landing on the surface, allowing him to race up to the core and begin unleashing all that he had.
All the while remembering the paradise that lay below, and the cloud of black death that would fall on it if the substance this ship carried got out.
With one, final blast, he hoped and prayed that doing his duty wouldn't lead to disaster.
A surge of raw, vibrant energy erupted from the depths of the blue gemstone, shattering its internal components and leaving the vessel on the brink of total failure. In quick succession, explosions erupted, with various sections of the ship mirroring the chaos of its critical core. Some of these blasts alarmingly approached the precarious storage of crude oil, heightening the sense of impending disaster. Making his way to the back of the vessel, X looked around to try and see if there was a way to potentially release the containment unit from the storage compartment, knowing well that any heat that met the substance inside would certainly make for an even bigger explosion.
Should he let it go, there was still a possibility that the contents might burst forth. However, if he chose to hold on, the threat extended beyond just the oil in the unit, risking a far greater contamination of the waters.
The damage was getting worse, he had to act now. Forgive me, Marty, please. He inwardly lamented, releasing the hatch that allowed the clear tube to fall forward, hitting the ocean's surface and sinking downward. At the same time, the Cruiziler's shape could no longer maintain itself, the ship's engines releasing all the stored-up energy they held and quite literally tearing the vessel in half. A thunderous blast sent X tumbling, his body hurtling into the abyss below. As he plummeted, he lost all sense of balance, surrendering once more to the disorienting embrace of weightlessness beneath the surface.
He descended deeper and deeper, the relentless grip of gravity seizing his metallic body and dragging him into the abyss, the weight of the ocean's depths offering only a faint resistance.
"If you continue to ignore him, he'll sink further into his own shadows." A different voice slipped into his thoughts, this one female but distinctly younger, radiating a cheerful energy that contrasted with the earlier tone. Despite its lively spirit, X couldn't shake the feeling that it echoed Roll, as if the voice's owner was trying to offer him some kind of guidance.
"Sometimes the shadows are the only place where you're guaranteed safety." The last speaker shot back, their voice laced with a chilly bitterness, but beneath that icy exterior lay a palpable vulnerability. A hint of pain lingered in her words.
X felt the impact of the ocean floor against his back, the Hunter's body going rigid as his vision began to shift. The surroundings morphed before him, the familiar world fading as darkness crept in, vying for control over his sight.
"Well, don't you think you'll eventually have to come out? Nothing living can survive without the sun."
Black steadily took over everything, the two voices debating with each other over an unknown subject that X merely felt to be an observer. Still, despite this, there was a lingering sense that none of this was entirely random.
"According to some of those that are in charge," the other figure debated again, speaking with an almost chilling sense of dread. "We don't qualify as living." then, before everything went dark, he heard one last, biting remark. "He's helped see to that."
As the figure above revealed itself to be merely a Cruiziler arriving to gather its cargo, the Gulphers emerged from their concealed spots and resumed their journey, oblivious to one of their own trailing behind. Steering clear of the machines that were extracting crude oil from the depths, the mechanical fish stumbled upon a magnificent edifice nestled on the ocean floor. This stunning structure, adorned by the vibrant life and natural artistry of the sea, was encircled by coral and other formations, resembling a glass palace that mirrored the glistening surface of the water above. A massive door opened upward, allowing for the Gulphers to travel inside, the barrier between the secluded palace and the rest of the Coarl Trinagle severed, the mechaniloids all beginning to congregate around a solitary figure that stood in the middle of the small chamber.
"All right," he spoke, not exactly pleased and with a tone that indicated a hint of annoyance. "Spit her out."
The Gulpher that still held the turquoise mermaid in its mouth registered the command and expelled its catch, Marty rather unceremoniously hitting the floor with a thud and somewhat weakened. Yet, surprisingly enough, the damage on her was scarce, and any potential fatigue she experienced could easily be remedied with some energen crystals. Turning her violet eyes upward, the mermaid half expected someone else to have been the one to greet her. Yet, instead of the cephalopod she had seen before, another figure was standing before her. One she recognized as well, yet didn't entirely expect to be here.
The Reploid before her was indeed based on an aquatic creature, yet instead of one of the eight-limbed varieties, this particular specimen appeared to have more in common with a squid. His dome was tall with a rounded-like shape with a prominent crest that mimicked the frills of the natural animal he was based on, his color scheme primarily consisting of varying tones of blue with accents of yellow and white, a round green gemstone centered on his chest. He bore a mostly humanoid form despite the shape of his head, possessing two arms and legs, only, in addition to them, he also maintained four full-functional tentacles that loomed over the mermaid situated on the ground.
The figure crossed his arms and gave Marty a small huff as if she had just given him a lot of trouble. "So then," he began, tone curt. "Have a nice first date?"
He found himself in a parched place, far removed from the ocean's embrace. Yet, the haunting melodies and vibrant calls of exotic wildlife drifted through the air, resonating in the stillness of the night. These sounds hinted that he might not be as distant from his previous surroundings as he had thought. Ahead lay a generously sized, cube-like dwelling, nestled within a lush, semi-tropical forest. The vibrant greenery suggested that this locale was likely situated in a much warmer region of the planet.
As he drew closer, X then registered he could detect two particular voices coming from a short distance away, both recognizable, yet one of them still caught him off guard.
"And…what is…this?"
One voice was the soft, almost constrained tone of the young woman who had been conversing with him, a sound X had anticipated to some extent. However, the other…
"It's a he, actually. His name's Mariachi."
He identified that one too, but the figure linked to it was someone he had only glimpsed in fleeting snapshots and photographs taken by those fortunate enough to capture an image of him before he disappeared into thin air once more. Navigating through the thick greenery enveloping the house and its adjoining lab, X caught sight of a green-armored android. She had a slightly tanned complexion and long earthy brown pigtails, engaged in conversation with another android. This companion gleamed in shades of grey and red, adorned with a distinctive golden scarf and a red helmet that sported a pair of shades, effectively hiding his eyes from sight.
"He is…one of Dr. Light's creations?"
He heard her question, and he responded, but instead of the unfamiliar voice he had anticipated, it was the very voice of someone he had recently departed from in the medical wing.
"Yeah, one of the more…recent ones," the red and grey machine answered, holding the orange and yellow robotic hamster up closer. "But he said that maybe Dr. LaLinde could be his foster mother for the first few weeks."
"R-Ray B.?!"
The mermaid looked up at her captor, her eyes shimmering with a mix of annoyance and curiosity as she regarded the Gulpher that had ferried her away. Despite the indignity of her situation, she couldn't resist making a quip about his appearance. "So, what's the name this time? Volt Kraken? Or have you switched to Squid Adler?"
The azure and cream-colored cephalopod folded his more human-like arms, his tentacles drawing back into his body, their tips extending outward over his shoulders and along his sides. "I go by Kraken, officially," he replied. "Though I must say, it's quite entertaining to consider that a rock band that emerged in the mid-eighties still holds a bit of fame today."
Marty propelled herself upward, gliding toward the massive squid. "Nice to meet another enthusiast," she said, her voice laced with a hint of menace. "But considering all the chaos outside, I take it you're the mastermind behind my abduction?"
"Not the mastermind, but," Volt Kraken acknowledged with a nod, clearly observing the other Reploid's evident frustration. "Seeing as you two were taking so long, a good friend of both of us thought things needed some speeding up," she still seemed unamused. "So, I gather that my contributions are overlooked?"
X shook his head, a wave of disbelief crashing over him at that moment. No way, it couldn't be true. It couldn't possibly be "him." Not after everything that had happened over the years. He had heard the grim tale that the robot was lost forever, that he had fallen in the battle against the alien menace known as the Stardroids, leaving Roll and Rock to grieve his absence in the aftermath. And Roll had told X of the instability of his core, the initial reason for his departure, and the subsequent replacement granted to him by Wily, it all hit the Maverick Hunter right then and there. There was no way, he told himself, there was absolutely no way.
The voice of another resonated in his thoughts, spoken by a creature crafted not from metal, but from living flesh.
"Isn't it obvious? He's a robot from the previous century."
Chiyo's evaluation hit him like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the shadows of his thoughts. While he initially considered her theory a bit far-fetched, he couldn't deny that it had a ring of truth. Despite his familiarity with Abel City, he possessed a wealth of knowledge that seemed to elude nearly everyone else. The lingering question remained: if Ray B. was indeed the person X was starting to suspect, how was he still present in this world? Even more perplexing was the mystery of how he managed to operate without his essential core.
"You mean…you're giving him to us?"
A wave of questions surged through his mind, one rising above the rest: if Ray B. was truly the same as the other robot he had observed from a distance, then who was the mysterious android with pigtails? The very one whose voice had woven itself into his thoughts ever since he extracted the shattered Topaz gemstone from the wounded Ray B.'s chest.
"Oh, uh, well…yeah. Yeah, I guess I am. I mean, he is, Dr. Light."
X observed the tiny robotic rodent as it lifted its large, expressive blue eyes to gaze at the other robot's green ones. Her own optics scrutinized the hamster's features before shifting to its keeper, whose face remained partially shrouded in shadow. He noticed the way she regarded the red and grey machine, her gaze laced with caution. The suspicion about his very presence was clear in her expression, which was as guarded and controlled as her voice. It was as if she wanted to feel, to express something, yet ultimately held back. As if allowing such a thing was dangerous.
Perhaps it wasn't exactly a completely accurate comparison, yet X couldn't help but find her behavior similar to that of his own comrade when they first met. The comrade he promised to return to. "Zero…"
With a moment of contemplation, the green-armored robot scooped up the orange hamster. The tiny creature wasted no time, quickly climbing up her arm and settling on her shoulder. This unexpected gesture seemed to crack her stoic facade, her optics widening in astonishment at the little rodent's swift actions.
"Huh," the red and grey machine couldn't help but chuckle, allowing himself to revel in the small moment of humor. "I guess he likes you."
X observed the other robot, a faint smile playing on its metallic features, uncertainty lingering in the air, but there was an effort nonetheless. However, it was her response that truly captivated his focus. Or rather, her lack of one. The Maverick Hunter observed her lips quivering as if weighing some unspoken thought. Was it a smile that was about to break free, or a frown that would cast a shadow? He couldn't tell, and it appeared he might never find out. The youthful visage of the pigtailed android was a mask of restraint, her expression battling to keep its secrets hidden beneath the surface.
As if revealing said secrets to him was dangerous.
"...well," she then began, "I'll be sure to give him Dr. LaLinde's regards. Thank you."
As she set off towards the lab entrance, the gap between the red and green machines expanded, stretching further apart with each step she took. And from the looks of it, she seemed intent on making her getaway as fast as possible, as if she were trying to get away from him.
"Hey," still, despite this, X saw him call out to her, the other machine stopping in her tracks, yet she only slightly turned her head to face him, her back still setting up a seemingly impenetrable wall. "...there's a small cliffside near here I found."
The green android quirked a brow, the orange robotic hamster registering that she was listening, but also searching, as if waiting for something to be said that would solidify whatever she was thinking. "Yes, I think I remember that place," she answered, tone smooth and mostly even, yet there was a small hint of remembrance. Of days long gone that she couldn't exactly recall, not on her own at least. "I can't believe I actually once thought it was a good idea to try and jump off." X expected a lighthearted reply, but instead, she perceived a tone of melancholy in her answer, leaving her feeling rather somber. "Why do you ask?" she inquired, turning the other robot's question back to him. "Is the location something of interest to you?" she asked. "Or are you looking for a place to maybe drop something off?"
The Maverick Hunter found herself puzzled by her words, but the tone of her voice suggested something deeper. It was as if she was hinting that the red and grey machine was on the prowl for a spot where sinister deeds could unfold. The hint was clearly not missed by the other; X observed him nervously biting his lip, realizing that, despite his efforts to be amicable, things were not unfolding in his favor. In truth, X couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the other machine.
"Uh, no," the red and grey machine answered, although X found himself unable to keep his name off his tongue any longer. Or rather, one of his names. "It's just…" he paused. "There's a rather impressive view of the stars from there. I…wasn't aware if you knew you could see such a thing there."
X whispered, "Blues…?" his voice barely above a murmur to avoid attracting any eyes. He was uncertain about the situation, but he was determined to remain inconspicuous and not invite any unwanted scrutiny.
"And I assume there's a reason you're telling me this," the green-armored android responded. "Are you suggesting that you want me to see it?"
"Well…I…I guess so," Blues answered. Or rather, Proto Man. Yet still, whether he went by that title or that of Break Man, X still saw his brother. "Or, not even that," the scarf-wearing robot continued. "If you just want to talk, then…"
A hush enveloped the space between them, with X acutely aware of the palpable tension that lingered, contrasting sharply with the serene surroundings. It felt as though this fragile bubble of calm was teetering on the brink, yearning for a single spark to break it apart completely.
"Really?" she asked, voice cutting through the silence. "That's interesting," she remarked. "The last time we conversed, you said I gave you nothing of value."
Proto Man didn't respond, yet X could see that the response was felt, the robot's body growing tense. "I…that wasn't right, I'm sorry," his head somewhat sank, as if realizing that, once again, tonight would result in disappointment. "But I meant it when I said you were the only one who-"
"The only one who you told anything," she finished for him, yet, unlike him, her tone seemed to regard this fact with little reverence. As if it were an afterthought. "Well, seeing as Wily is supposedly no longer a part of your life, then maybe you can start a social circle of sorts, she answered. "However small it may be, seeing as you do not like to be seen."
X felt a familiar tug, realizing she was grounding her judgment in reality, yet her responses seemed meticulously crafted, as if she were oblivious to the fact that the other machine was extending a hand, yearning for some form of connection. It was as if he was silently begging for that bond.
"No, but-"
"Thank you for the…gift," the android with pigtails replied, making an effort to sound polite, but it was evident that she was not keen on prolonging the discussion. X could see that this indifference stung Blues deeply. "I'll show him to Dr. LaLinde right away."
She continued her journey toward the laboratory, while X observed Blues, whose lips quivered as if he wanted to speak, but silence enveloped him. The lab door swung open and closed, leaving the red and grey machine isolated in the stillness of the night. Blues lowered his head in defeat, hesitating briefly to glance back at the house before dissolving into a radiant beam of red light, leaving no evidence of his presence.
"...then again, maybe that's what she actually wants from me."
Marty's fists tightened as she stepped right up to the other Reploid, her eyes blazing with anger. "Overlooked?!" she spat, her voice sharp. "Do you even realize the destruction you've unleashed? The very species you might have pushed closer to extinction?!" Her words hung in the air, but Volt Kraken remained unfazed by her outrage. "These creatures aren't like us! They're delicate! They depend on precise conditions just to survive, and yet you're out here obliterating them!"
The metallic squid raised an eyebrow, a soft chuckle escaping his mechanical voice. "And it helped keep your disguise intact," he noted. "Just so you know, your superior and I have been keeping an eye on your developments, and let's just say, he believes you've been getting a bit too friendly with that blue fellow outside."
The blonde felt the urge to fire back with a clever retort, but her mind was blank. Deep down, she recognized a truth she loathed to confront: the Maverick Hunter she had been leading was starting to piece together the puzzle, and that realization left her feeling exposed. "You could've done that without blowing up parts of the reef, couldn't you?" she questioned, still rather sour about that particular move.
"Why?" Kraken questioned. "Planning on taking him on a grand tour after the mission?"
"No!" Marty barked defensively. "We just met, for Asimov's sake!"
Kraken chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "You two were really connecting, weren't you? Except for that little 'love tap' you delivered with your tail. But considering he's rushing over to rescue you, I doubt he's too upset about it."
Marty scolded herself internally, a flush creeping up her face. Yet, it was evident that her thoughts were tangled in more than just embarrassment. "You know, neither you nor the boss mentioned that he was," she hesitated, searching for the right words. "I mean, that he was…"
"Was what?" Kraken inquired. "Naive? Foolish? Overly idealistic?"
Marty replied, her voice lacking the enthusiasm for dissecting X's shortcomings that the other Reploid seemed to relish. "Yes, he is that," she said, but then hesitated, searching for the right way to express herself. "However..." she continued, her thoughts tangled as she sought the perfect words. "But he's also..."
"The adversary," Kraken interjected before she had a chance to respond. "They are our opposition, a straightforward barrier that we must conquer, nothing more."
Marty shot back, "And what's it to you? You shouldn't even be here! Didn't the boss make it clear that you had no desire to get involved with anything Sigma does?"
At first, Kraken seemed taken aback by the mermaid's remark, leaving a brief silence hanging in the air between them. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke up. "I don't have a clever retort," he confessed. "But I do resonate with the sentiment that the world ought to treat us better," he continued, his gaze thoughtful. "This is especially true when it comes to humans."
"So why aren't you involved?"
Once more, Kraken appeared to be pondering the best way to respond. "I was instructed to ensure your arrival, or more specifically, that 'he' made it here," the squid explained to the more human-like aquatic android. "Beyond that, our esteemed 'superior' has explicitly stated that my presence is not desired when the situation turns dire."
This seemed to intrigue Marty, the blonde raising a brow inquisitively. "And what makes you so special?"
He was on the verge of replying, or at least attempting to craft a response that would satisfy her curiosity and put an end to her inquiries. However, just as they were poised to speak, an unmistakable shift in the atmosphere outside caught their attention, halting their conversation.
BOOOOM!
What on earth was that? Kraken shoved Marty aside, his tentacles propelling him toward the monitor on the far side of the chamber. He flicked the switch to see what could possibly have caused such a ruckus outside. "What's happening?" the mermaid inquired, gliding up to the squid from behind. "What's going on?"
The white and blue cephalopod turned his attention from the display on the screen to the blonde that had approached him, optics unusually serious. "Well, it looks like we don't have to wait as long as I thought," he remarked. If he were able, a smile would've come to his face. "Your boy toy is here for you."
He started to awaken, his internal clock ticking away the moments since he had plunged back into the water following the explosion that obliterated the Cruiziler. The blue Maverick Hunter felt his senses sharpen as he began to ascend, realizing that he was once more submerged in the ocean, with the trees and house vanishing as if they had never existed. Yet, the fate of the colossal green ship was unmistakably clear to him. The metallic vessel that had been siphoning crude oil of the ocean's depths from the surface plummeted dramatically, smashing into the stronghold's base just ahead. The entrance lay in ruins, obliterated by the wreckage of the vessel. However, X recognized an unexpected opportunity; the shattered entryway was entirely unprotected, with no sign of enemy presence in sight.
With a sense of determination propelling him onward, X glided through the shattered threshold of what was once a magnificent fortress, its shimmering monuments now dulled by time but still echoing the water's natural splendor. His mission was nearing its conclusion, yet he remained blissfully ignorant of the shadow trailing him—not the Volt Kraken, but a far more colossal presence.
The shadow it projected onto the ocean floor loomed so large that it made the Hunter seem insignificant beside it.
Note: Sort of combining elements of both the Iwamoto manga and the Light Novel for the rest of the arc, yet I hope it still stands as its own thing. Thank you for reading!
