Mega Man Fan Fiction ❯ Surrender ❯ Ch 3 Part 3: Instruction Manual ( Chapter 6 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: ImpatientSnake 
Light is finally shed on what happened at the abandoned laboratory as X tells his side of the tale.
Non Anime: Mega Man Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Adventure / Action / Shounen / Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 05.14.2008 | Updated On: 06.02.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 237 | Status: Work In Progress
Light is finally shed on what happened at the abandoned laboratory as X tells his side of the tale.
Non Anime: Mega Man Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Adventure / Action / Shounen / Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 05.14.2008 | Updated On: 06.02.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 237 | Status: Work In Progress
MMX Fan fiction. Beta Copy. 5.13.08. Ch. 3 Part 3
ImpatientSnake: ‘Ello again! Here it is! The final part of chapter three! It seems that I’ve actually got a fan base for this story now! =3 So I’ll be trying to update on a regular basis. Also my author page now has a poll for the story, I’m running a forum if you have any questions on the story, and as always my deviant art . com account (Ki773N) has some fanart extras.
PS: It’s gonna be a LONG one. With gratuitous amounts of flash back. This one was a bit difficult to write so I hope it turned out well…
Disclaimer: Megaman X, etc. owned by Capcom.
Summary of Last Installment: X and Zero have arrived back at their hospital unit where Signas, Lifesaver, and the head doctor assigned to their case are waiting for them. While X is aware of the recent events that have transpired, Zero is sure to have some questions for them.
(X’s thoughts)
((Zero’s thoughts))
(((Lifesaver’s thoughts)))
/ Doctor’s thoughts/
“Dialogue”
“Maverick Zero”
((Not Maverick Zero))
Flash Backs/Dreams/Day Dreams
_ _ _ Break in Flashback
#Author’s Note#
The attention of the small group gathered about the sunlit room shifted towards the seated S Class hunter. With a lost look in his clear blue eyes he glanced upwards towards X as the smaller hunter took a seat next to his closest friend.
“How about we just start from the beginning?” Signas suggested breaking the silence of the room as he looked toward the green eyed youth, “X, why don’t you relay the details of your last mission.”
Nodding with a bit of uneasiness, the blue hunter sighed, staring out of the hospital window as he began his tale.
X’S POV
X stood with his back against the ancient metal wall, buster charging silently in the darkness. The two had infiltrated the deteriorated laboratory yet neither had run into any trouble yet. The blue clad hunter rounded the dark corner, mechanical eyes staring into the blackness and continued to run forward as he was joined by a stealthy red reploid.
“…Find anything yet X?”
Shaking his head in response, the B Class hunter turned towards his partner noiselessly.
“Could this have been a hoax?” X questioned as he began to scan the pitch black room.
“It doesn’t make any sense… This is the exact lab that’s in the reconnaissance images. Sigma has to b--!”
Zero’s reply was abruptly cut off as white lights suddenly flashed on, and began to fade into a gentle glow, softly illuminating the dated laboratory. The two hunters shortly recovered after their temporary blindness and began to survey the room. Five pods that had formerly housed reploids stood in a circle around a central monitoring device, decaying computer monitors lined the steel walls of the gunmetal grey room, and a series of wires and metal fixtures lined the ceiling. X approached one of the central pods just as a monitor flickered on in the eerie light; the aged voice of an elderly man crackling through on its decaying speakers.
“…November 18, 20XX… Dr. Albert W….ily’s log…”
The crimson hunter’s eyes narrowed as he froze in his steps… back towards the green, flickering screen. His countenance was marked by fear as he recalled the owner of the log from his nightmares.
“…I…e successfully created him… my… g…reatest creation.”
X stared at the cracked green monitor with awed bewilderment as the functioning half of the screen displayed the last item he would’ve though of…
…a schematic of Zero’s internal design.
“…he is made o… of the most… owerful energy…n… this universe… he can …ver been beaten.”
Static resounded as some of the log had been lost due to age.
“… November 19, 20XX… Dr… log… He has become to… owerful to be controlled… due to a flaw in his… central pro… gram… The energy has … ecome… infections, damaging much of … e … lab equipment and … robots. I’ve chosen to … suspend him temporarily… controlling him …ith… a newly invented chip… until I can unleash him on my nemesis… Thomas… ight.”
Another screen switched to an archived video feed of the laboratory as the green monitor sparked and died out.
“It’s time…” A wild haired man said as he entered some commands into the computer terminal, rising the lid on one of the occupied pods.
“Zero…”
“Who? Who are you?”
“Zero… my masterpiece…”
“But… who are you?”
“After him… my nemesis… our rivalry is what gives me motivation in life…”
The crimson maverick hunter turned around as a sharp chill ran down his spine, his fearful green eyes locked on the monitor as the scene from his recurring nightmares played out before him. X slowly looked towards his stricken friend, a mix of terror and confusion in his gaze as the realization came over him that the reploid he had become so close to was originally his enemy.
His fear and emotions overcame him as the S Class hunter sprinted instinctively into the distance; wanting to get as far away from the place of his origins as possible.
“Wait! ZERO!”
X began to run after his partner as concern for his friend overrode the need for further investigation for the sake of the mission.
“ZERO don’t-- GAAAHHH…”
The blue hunter was stopped in midst ride as a metallic tentacle impaled him through the midsection, sending out an energy field that drained his remaining energy causing him to loose his grip on consciousness.
“…Zer…o…”
_ _ _
X stirred slightly, rising his head above the smooth metal brace that held him to a steel maintenance table. He winced as the blue hunter recalled the wound that was still present in his torso. Opening his fading green eyes the looked upon the hazy figure of Sigma who stood menacingly over him.
“…S…Sigma…”
Grinning, the mad reploid pressed a button located on a small remote in his torn hands, sending a high voltage shock through the table and X.
“GGGGGAAAAAHHHHHhhh….”
X’s scream pierced the darkness of the room and faded, while the battle scarred reploid stood laughing. He walked over to a series of monitors, his battered red cape flowing behind him as he switched on live video feeds of the laboratory.
The pain stricken reploid strained to look over towards his captor’s activity. Stealing a glance at one of the monitors, he saw the frantic figure of Zero struggling against a band of several resurrected mavericks--his strength fading as the crimson hunter attempted to fight off wave after wave of enemies.
“Perfect…” Sigma’s deep voice boomed as he turned towards the recumbent figure of X who’s eyes were glued to the screen.
“Tell me X… how does it feel to know that your best friend was the tool of your creator’s nemesis, the man to started his war?”
The shorter hunter’s attention shifted towards the dark, looming maverick.
“You’re… you’re lying… Zero would never--”
“He would… and he has! He destroyed your family, your creator, and he’s destined one day to destroy you. Will you still be his friend the day he turns his saber on you?”
X stared back at him with defiant eyes, refusing to believe in the lies that Sigma spewed.
“What’s wrong Sigma… afraid… if you release me… you’ll lose” He managed to bluff in between his pained breathing.
The maverick leader let out a deep, menacing laugh as the shocked the damaged hunter again.
“No… No X, I’ve got much bigger plans for you…”
He said as the later began to slip into darkness once again.
“It’s too bad that you won’t be around much longer to enjoy it…”
_ _ _
The B Class hunter awoke again, this time the scene was much different. He was lying on the cold steel floor at Sigma’s feet as the mad maverick held him in place with an electric net. Zero stood across the room from them.
“Let him go Sigma! I’ve destroyed you once before and I’ll do it again!”
The other merely sneered at the command by the enraged hunter as the sent another wave of electricity through the captured hunter.
“GGGGAAAHHHhhhh….”
“LET HIM GO!” Zero said as he dashed forward, saber drawn.
“Touch me and he dies!“ Sigma threatened as he stepped forward and held out to stop the S Class hunter in his pursuit.
Zero screeched to a halt, his beam saber inches away from the infamous maverick’s throat as he lowered his weapon.
“There… now that I’ve got your attention I’d like to propose a trade…”
Straightening himself, Zero gazed defiantly upwards into the madman’s eyes.
“X can go free… but you have to stay here. It’ll be just you and me…”
Smiling cockily, Zero laughed in the taller maverick’s face.
“Hmph…If it’s a fight you wanted all you had to do was ask.”
“You agree then?”
“First you’ll let him go unharmed… and then I’ll deal with you myself…”
Sigma smiled as he disabled the bonds on X as he thrust the fading hunter into Zero’s arms.
“X! Are you alright!?”
His vision faltering, X gazed upwards into the stern blue eyes as the tried to regain his senses.
“…ero… don’t… it’s a … trap--!”
As the red reploid looked towards his enemy, Sigma had snatched Zero’s saber from the ground and struck at the maverick hunter. Zero rolled aside, managing to hang onto the limp form of X. Setting him against a steel beam, he drew his buster and took aim at Sigma. The blue hunter watched the fight with fading, confused eyes…
(If Sigma’s bent on destroying us… why would he…)
X was unable to complete his thoughts, his green eyes closed as he drifted into darkness.
_ _ _
Some increment of time later he was roughly grabbed by the throat and held from the ground, as icy blue eyes gazed into his own.
(ZERO!)
The blue hunter chocked as his former friend held him from the ground, his form aglow with an reddish purple light.
“I…. Will… Destroy you….” The red reploid stated coldly as he tossed the damaged hunter into the blue steel wall.
“Wha… what happened to … you?” X stammered as he caught his breath, fear for his life giving him the necessary adrenaline to stand and fight.
“This is me X, the real me…”
“N-no… you’re not Zero… you can’t be…” X managed to say in between strained gasps for air, refusing to believe that the wild maverick before him was his partner.
The other laughed manically as he began to haphazardly slash at the blue maverick hunter. X dodged with jerky, sluggish movements; his body beginning to feel heavy as the purple viral aura that surrounded the maverick began to infect him.
(The virus! He’s been infected by the Sigma virus!)
“Zero! I know you’re still in there!” He said as he fired off an briefly charged shot, “Don’t let Sigma… control you!”
Grinning the infected hunter charged forwards, killing intent present in his gaze.
((Don’t! You can’t do this!))
((You stay out of this! You’re weak! I’ll accomplish where you failed!))
Zero began to sink to the ground, grabbing his head in pain as his screams broke the silence of the still air.
“…Zero…?”
X ventured tentatively towards his pained friend, his hopes daring to show again as the red maverick was to occupied with his own predicament.
“… that’s it… Z…ero… you can… beat… this…”
X kneeled in front of the tormented reploid as his friend’s narrow blue eyes focused upon him.
“X… x…” the crimson hunter’s familiar soft counterance returned to his gaze as he struggled against the virus that surged through him, “get…away… I don’t want… to…”
((DO IT NOW!))
The soft-hearted hunter wrapped his arms around the distraught reploid’s waist, holding him close with the last strength he had; as Zero’s inter conflict reached a breaking point.
((NO!))
The devious smile came across his stricken face again as the maverick activated his choice weapon, its green blade replaced with a dark purple. X’s green eyes shot open as Zero’s arms came behind his back, stabbing the blue hunter through the shoulder and the red maverick through the chest.
“ZERO!”
X held the wounded hunter in his arms as he fell to one side, fighting for his hold on life.
“ZERO! ZERO!”
((HOW COULD YOU!?!))
((I’d rather see both of us die… than to see you live…))
“…Z…er….o…” X’s voice began to fade as his body grew heavy, the effects of the virus beginning to come into play.
(The… virus… is this… how it ends…?)
His green eyes lost their glow as the hunter of light lost his grip on this world…
The blonde-haired youth’s gaze had been locked on his partner throughout the length of his tale. He didn’t recall much after the two had entered the building and X’s account had shaken him to his core.
((X… how could I… how could I have done this to you?))
“But…”
The brunette’s voice resounded throughout the quiet room as he turned towards Zero, tears streaming down his fair face as he held his partner’s scarred hands.
“I… I don’t want you to blame yourself Zero…” Remorseful blue eyes stared endlessly into his X’s compassionate green, “you’ve suffered enough already, and nothing could make me ever think less of you…”
“X…”
“We’ re alive Z… and that’s all that matters.”
“Why should you forgive me? I… I almost…” Zero stared down at their clasped hands as his own emotions got the better of him, as crystalline tears welled in the deep blue eyes.
X embraced his closest friend firmly in this strong arms, as the long haired youth latched onto the B Class hunter tightly; his body shaking as penitent sobs racked his still recovering frame.
“… we’re both alive Zero… thanks to you…”
Signas, Lifesaver, and the doctor looked on with due admiration. The two reploid hunter staff members never ceased to be amazed at how deep the top commander’s bond ran. Though they had originally been created as mortal enemies their care for each other had transcended their destinies, and it was through this they had managed to come back alive--and forever rid of the threat of viral attack.
X and Zero reluctantly parted their embrace as they blushingly remembered the three other occupants of the room.
“To put a long story short, both of your internal systems were designed to convert your metallic components into biological ones. It’s because of the scale of your infections that your bodies enacted their last defense and allowed this transformation.”
Lifesaver explained, breaking the silence as X awkwardly took his seat beside Zero once more, still holding on to the scarred hand as his partner’s blue eyes turned towards the reploid care technician.
“But why would such a feature be built into our systems in the first place?” Zero asked, gathering as much of his usual cool-headed personality as he could muster.
“From the information we gathered from the remains of the lab it would appear that you are a copy of X’s design. Your creator was “flying blind” when he based your plans on X’s, which accounts for your incomplete form.”
“So… X was destined to become a human?”
The white reploid nodded.
“It would also appear that your present forms are based on your components as reploids,” Signas added on Livesaver’s cue. “you’ll still retain your strength, speed, and any scars and damage that you held before the transformation.”
“…Wait… so we’re pretty much the same as we started just… mortal?” Zero asked with confusion present in his voice.
“Not exactly…” The doctor added “your biology is quite different from humans. Thanks to your auto repair systems you heal faster, some of your skeletal structure is a foreign alloy that supports your super human strength, and other mechanical components still exist--for example--”
He walked over towards the seated form of Zero, pulling out a small pen light, he shined it in the youth’s blue eyes.
“The two of you still retain your mechanical eyes…. Apparently your original designs lacked necessary components to build functioning human eyes…”
“Is that… bad…?” Zero asked as he winced at the bright light.
“No… it just means that if you open your eyes in a dark room someone’s going to notice you.” He said as he strode back to his respective seat.
“Another point I’d like to add regards your repair systems,” The white reploid spoke intensely as he leaned forward towards Zero. “you were outfitted with a very sophisticated auto-repair which combined with your incomplete form and produced a very… interesting adaptation.”
Confusion showed in his face as the blonde youth awaited Lifesaver’s explanation.
“When you were admitted to the operation room for your injuries, your body absorbed the metallic medical instruments and used it as raw material to heal your wounds. In other words, metal can be used to build new cells in your body. But,” The white reploid’s attention shifted towards the shorter brunette. “if your body is damaged X… you’ll heal exactly like a normal human, which is why I’m sure that head wound still smarts.”
“Guess I should remember that…” X retorted as he grabbed the white linen bandaged and smiled absently.
“Now then,” Signas stated nonchalantly as he stood to leave the room, “you’ve both been cleared for check out at the hospital and are free to leave when you wish.”
X and Zero watched as the small group began to exit the room.
“I’ve given you some leave to let you recover. We’ve no current signs of the Sigma virus for now so this is the perfect time for you two to get used to things.”
Looking back at the two he gave a friendly smile.
“We can handle things at the base. You two have deserved it.”
They both waved good-bye to their company as they exited the unit. Turning towards each other, a nervous smile came to both of their faces.
(…Now what?)
((…Now what?))
ImpatientSnake: This turned out a LOT longer than expected! I hope I did a good job with this one… I’m always so bad at integrating explanations into the story. -_-;
^_^ Now what is right! They both have nothing but time now that Sigma’s been removed from the picture…
As always thanks for reading! You can review but I’m not going to wine about it, as long as you guys are enjoying the story I’ll continue to write it!
Expect chapter 4 between Friday and Sunday--maybe sooner if I’ve got time!
ImpatientSnake: ‘Ello again! Here it is! The final part of chapter three! It seems that I’ve actually got a fan base for this story now! =3 So I’ll be trying to update on a regular basis. Also my author page now has a poll for the story, I’m running a forum if you have any questions on the story, and as always my deviant art . com account (Ki773N) has some fanart extras.
PS: It’s gonna be a LONG one. With gratuitous amounts of flash back. This one was a bit difficult to write so I hope it turned out well…
Disclaimer: Megaman X, etc. owned by Capcom.
Summary of Last Installment: X and Zero have arrived back at their hospital unit where Signas, Lifesaver, and the head doctor assigned to their case are waiting for them. While X is aware of the recent events that have transpired, Zero is sure to have some questions for them.
(X’s thoughts)
((Zero’s thoughts))
(((Lifesaver’s thoughts)))
/ Doctor’s thoughts/
“Dialogue”
“Maverick Zero”
((Not Maverick Zero))
Flash Backs/Dreams/Day Dreams
_ _ _ Break in Flashback
#Author’s Note#
The attention of the small group gathered about the sunlit room shifted towards the seated S Class hunter. With a lost look in his clear blue eyes he glanced upwards towards X as the smaller hunter took a seat next to his closest friend.
“How about we just start from the beginning?” Signas suggested breaking the silence of the room as he looked toward the green eyed youth, “X, why don’t you relay the details of your last mission.”
Nodding with a bit of uneasiness, the blue hunter sighed, staring out of the hospital window as he began his tale.
X’S POV
X stood with his back against the ancient metal wall, buster charging silently in the darkness. The two had infiltrated the deteriorated laboratory yet neither had run into any trouble yet. The blue clad hunter rounded the dark corner, mechanical eyes staring into the blackness and continued to run forward as he was joined by a stealthy red reploid.
“…Find anything yet X?”
Shaking his head in response, the B Class hunter turned towards his partner noiselessly.
“Could this have been a hoax?” X questioned as he began to scan the pitch black room.
“It doesn’t make any sense… This is the exact lab that’s in the reconnaissance images. Sigma has to b--!”
Zero’s reply was abruptly cut off as white lights suddenly flashed on, and began to fade into a gentle glow, softly illuminating the dated laboratory. The two hunters shortly recovered after their temporary blindness and began to survey the room. Five pods that had formerly housed reploids stood in a circle around a central monitoring device, decaying computer monitors lined the steel walls of the gunmetal grey room, and a series of wires and metal fixtures lined the ceiling. X approached one of the central pods just as a monitor flickered on in the eerie light; the aged voice of an elderly man crackling through on its decaying speakers.
“…November 18, 20XX… Dr. Albert W….ily’s log…”
The crimson hunter’s eyes narrowed as he froze in his steps… back towards the green, flickering screen. His countenance was marked by fear as he recalled the owner of the log from his nightmares.
“…I…e successfully created him… my… g…reatest creation.”
X stared at the cracked green monitor with awed bewilderment as the functioning half of the screen displayed the last item he would’ve though of…
…a schematic of Zero’s internal design.
“…he is made o… of the most… owerful energy…n… this universe… he can …ver been beaten.”
Static resounded as some of the log had been lost due to age.
“… November 19, 20XX… Dr… log… He has become to… owerful to be controlled… due to a flaw in his… central pro… gram… The energy has … ecome… infections, damaging much of … e … lab equipment and … robots. I’ve chosen to … suspend him temporarily… controlling him …ith… a newly invented chip… until I can unleash him on my nemesis… Thomas… ight.”
Another screen switched to an archived video feed of the laboratory as the green monitor sparked and died out.
“It’s time…” A wild haired man said as he entered some commands into the computer terminal, rising the lid on one of the occupied pods.
“Zero…”
“Who? Who are you?”
“Zero… my masterpiece…”
“But… who are you?”
“After him… my nemesis… our rivalry is what gives me motivation in life…”
The crimson maverick hunter turned around as a sharp chill ran down his spine, his fearful green eyes locked on the monitor as the scene from his recurring nightmares played out before him. X slowly looked towards his stricken friend, a mix of terror and confusion in his gaze as the realization came over him that the reploid he had become so close to was originally his enemy.
His fear and emotions overcame him as the S Class hunter sprinted instinctively into the distance; wanting to get as far away from the place of his origins as possible.
“Wait! ZERO!”
X began to run after his partner as concern for his friend overrode the need for further investigation for the sake of the mission.
“ZERO don’t-- GAAAHHH…”
The blue hunter was stopped in midst ride as a metallic tentacle impaled him through the midsection, sending out an energy field that drained his remaining energy causing him to loose his grip on consciousness.
“…Zer…o…”
_ _ _
X stirred slightly, rising his head above the smooth metal brace that held him to a steel maintenance table. He winced as the blue hunter recalled the wound that was still present in his torso. Opening his fading green eyes the looked upon the hazy figure of Sigma who stood menacingly over him.
“…S…Sigma…”
Grinning, the mad reploid pressed a button located on a small remote in his torn hands, sending a high voltage shock through the table and X.
“GGGGGAAAAAHHHHHhhh….”
X’s scream pierced the darkness of the room and faded, while the battle scarred reploid stood laughing. He walked over to a series of monitors, his battered red cape flowing behind him as he switched on live video feeds of the laboratory.
The pain stricken reploid strained to look over towards his captor’s activity. Stealing a glance at one of the monitors, he saw the frantic figure of Zero struggling against a band of several resurrected mavericks--his strength fading as the crimson hunter attempted to fight off wave after wave of enemies.
“Perfect…” Sigma’s deep voice boomed as he turned towards the recumbent figure of X who’s eyes were glued to the screen.
“Tell me X… how does it feel to know that your best friend was the tool of your creator’s nemesis, the man to started his war?”
The shorter hunter’s attention shifted towards the dark, looming maverick.
“You’re… you’re lying… Zero would never--”
“He would… and he has! He destroyed your family, your creator, and he’s destined one day to destroy you. Will you still be his friend the day he turns his saber on you?”
X stared back at him with defiant eyes, refusing to believe in the lies that Sigma spewed.
“What’s wrong Sigma… afraid… if you release me… you’ll lose” He managed to bluff in between his pained breathing.
The maverick leader let out a deep, menacing laugh as the shocked the damaged hunter again.
“No… No X, I’ve got much bigger plans for you…”
He said as the later began to slip into darkness once again.
“It’s too bad that you won’t be around much longer to enjoy it…”
_ _ _
The B Class hunter awoke again, this time the scene was much different. He was lying on the cold steel floor at Sigma’s feet as the mad maverick held him in place with an electric net. Zero stood across the room from them.
“Let him go Sigma! I’ve destroyed you once before and I’ll do it again!”
The other merely sneered at the command by the enraged hunter as the sent another wave of electricity through the captured hunter.
“GGGGAAAHHHhhhh….”
“LET HIM GO!” Zero said as he dashed forward, saber drawn.
“Touch me and he dies!“ Sigma threatened as he stepped forward and held out to stop the S Class hunter in his pursuit.
Zero screeched to a halt, his beam saber inches away from the infamous maverick’s throat as he lowered his weapon.
“There… now that I’ve got your attention I’d like to propose a trade…”
Straightening himself, Zero gazed defiantly upwards into the madman’s eyes.
“X can go free… but you have to stay here. It’ll be just you and me…”
Smiling cockily, Zero laughed in the taller maverick’s face.
“Hmph…If it’s a fight you wanted all you had to do was ask.”
“You agree then?”
“First you’ll let him go unharmed… and then I’ll deal with you myself…”
Sigma smiled as he disabled the bonds on X as he thrust the fading hunter into Zero’s arms.
“X! Are you alright!?”
His vision faltering, X gazed upwards into the stern blue eyes as the tried to regain his senses.
“…ero… don’t… it’s a … trap--!”
As the red reploid looked towards his enemy, Sigma had snatched Zero’s saber from the ground and struck at the maverick hunter. Zero rolled aside, managing to hang onto the limp form of X. Setting him against a steel beam, he drew his buster and took aim at Sigma. The blue hunter watched the fight with fading, confused eyes…
(If Sigma’s bent on destroying us… why would he…)
X was unable to complete his thoughts, his green eyes closed as he drifted into darkness.
_ _ _
Some increment of time later he was roughly grabbed by the throat and held from the ground, as icy blue eyes gazed into his own.
(ZERO!)
The blue hunter chocked as his former friend held him from the ground, his form aglow with an reddish purple light.
“I…. Will… Destroy you….” The red reploid stated coldly as he tossed the damaged hunter into the blue steel wall.
“Wha… what happened to … you?” X stammered as he caught his breath, fear for his life giving him the necessary adrenaline to stand and fight.
“This is me X, the real me…”
“N-no… you’re not Zero… you can’t be…” X managed to say in between strained gasps for air, refusing to believe that the wild maverick before him was his partner.
The other laughed manically as he began to haphazardly slash at the blue maverick hunter. X dodged with jerky, sluggish movements; his body beginning to feel heavy as the purple viral aura that surrounded the maverick began to infect him.
(The virus! He’s been infected by the Sigma virus!)
“Zero! I know you’re still in there!” He said as he fired off an briefly charged shot, “Don’t let Sigma… control you!”
Grinning the infected hunter charged forwards, killing intent present in his gaze.
((Don’t! You can’t do this!))
((You stay out of this! You’re weak! I’ll accomplish where you failed!))
Zero began to sink to the ground, grabbing his head in pain as his screams broke the silence of the still air.
“…Zero…?”
X ventured tentatively towards his pained friend, his hopes daring to show again as the red maverick was to occupied with his own predicament.
“… that’s it… Z…ero… you can… beat… this…”
X kneeled in front of the tormented reploid as his friend’s narrow blue eyes focused upon him.
“X… x…” the crimson hunter’s familiar soft counterance returned to his gaze as he struggled against the virus that surged through him, “get…away… I don’t want… to…”
((DO IT NOW!))
The soft-hearted hunter wrapped his arms around the distraught reploid’s waist, holding him close with the last strength he had; as Zero’s inter conflict reached a breaking point.
((NO!))
The devious smile came across his stricken face again as the maverick activated his choice weapon, its green blade replaced with a dark purple. X’s green eyes shot open as Zero’s arms came behind his back, stabbing the blue hunter through the shoulder and the red maverick through the chest.
“ZERO!”
X held the wounded hunter in his arms as he fell to one side, fighting for his hold on life.
“ZERO! ZERO!”
((HOW COULD YOU!?!))
((I’d rather see both of us die… than to see you live…))
“…Z…er….o…” X’s voice began to fade as his body grew heavy, the effects of the virus beginning to come into play.
(The… virus… is this… how it ends…?)
His green eyes lost their glow as the hunter of light lost his grip on this world…
The blonde-haired youth’s gaze had been locked on his partner throughout the length of his tale. He didn’t recall much after the two had entered the building and X’s account had shaken him to his core.
((X… how could I… how could I have done this to you?))
“But…”
The brunette’s voice resounded throughout the quiet room as he turned towards Zero, tears streaming down his fair face as he held his partner’s scarred hands.
“I… I don’t want you to blame yourself Zero…” Remorseful blue eyes stared endlessly into his X’s compassionate green, “you’ve suffered enough already, and nothing could make me ever think less of you…”
“X…”
“We’ re alive Z… and that’s all that matters.”
“Why should you forgive me? I… I almost…” Zero stared down at their clasped hands as his own emotions got the better of him, as crystalline tears welled in the deep blue eyes.
X embraced his closest friend firmly in this strong arms, as the long haired youth latched onto the B Class hunter tightly; his body shaking as penitent sobs racked his still recovering frame.
“… we’re both alive Zero… thanks to you…”
Signas, Lifesaver, and the doctor looked on with due admiration. The two reploid hunter staff members never ceased to be amazed at how deep the top commander’s bond ran. Though they had originally been created as mortal enemies their care for each other had transcended their destinies, and it was through this they had managed to come back alive--and forever rid of the threat of viral attack.
X and Zero reluctantly parted their embrace as they blushingly remembered the three other occupants of the room.
“To put a long story short, both of your internal systems were designed to convert your metallic components into biological ones. It’s because of the scale of your infections that your bodies enacted their last defense and allowed this transformation.”
Lifesaver explained, breaking the silence as X awkwardly took his seat beside Zero once more, still holding on to the scarred hand as his partner’s blue eyes turned towards the reploid care technician.
“But why would such a feature be built into our systems in the first place?” Zero asked, gathering as much of his usual cool-headed personality as he could muster.
“From the information we gathered from the remains of the lab it would appear that you are a copy of X’s design. Your creator was “flying blind” when he based your plans on X’s, which accounts for your incomplete form.”
“So… X was destined to become a human?”
The white reploid nodded.
“It would also appear that your present forms are based on your components as reploids,” Signas added on Livesaver’s cue. “you’ll still retain your strength, speed, and any scars and damage that you held before the transformation.”
“…Wait… so we’re pretty much the same as we started just… mortal?” Zero asked with confusion present in his voice.
“Not exactly…” The doctor added “your biology is quite different from humans. Thanks to your auto repair systems you heal faster, some of your skeletal structure is a foreign alloy that supports your super human strength, and other mechanical components still exist--for example--”
He walked over towards the seated form of Zero, pulling out a small pen light, he shined it in the youth’s blue eyes.
“The two of you still retain your mechanical eyes…. Apparently your original designs lacked necessary components to build functioning human eyes…”
“Is that… bad…?” Zero asked as he winced at the bright light.
“No… it just means that if you open your eyes in a dark room someone’s going to notice you.” He said as he strode back to his respective seat.
“Another point I’d like to add regards your repair systems,” The white reploid spoke intensely as he leaned forward towards Zero. “you were outfitted with a very sophisticated auto-repair which combined with your incomplete form and produced a very… interesting adaptation.”
Confusion showed in his face as the blonde youth awaited Lifesaver’s explanation.
“When you were admitted to the operation room for your injuries, your body absorbed the metallic medical instruments and used it as raw material to heal your wounds. In other words, metal can be used to build new cells in your body. But,” The white reploid’s attention shifted towards the shorter brunette. “if your body is damaged X… you’ll heal exactly like a normal human, which is why I’m sure that head wound still smarts.”
“Guess I should remember that…” X retorted as he grabbed the white linen bandaged and smiled absently.
“Now then,” Signas stated nonchalantly as he stood to leave the room, “you’ve both been cleared for check out at the hospital and are free to leave when you wish.”
X and Zero watched as the small group began to exit the room.
“I’ve given you some leave to let you recover. We’ve no current signs of the Sigma virus for now so this is the perfect time for you two to get used to things.”
Looking back at the two he gave a friendly smile.
“We can handle things at the base. You two have deserved it.”
They both waved good-bye to their company as they exited the unit. Turning towards each other, a nervous smile came to both of their faces.
(…Now what?)
((…Now what?))
ImpatientSnake: This turned out a LOT longer than expected! I hope I did a good job with this one… I’m always so bad at integrating explanations into the story. -_-;
^_^ Now what is right! They both have nothing but time now that Sigma’s been removed from the picture…
As always thanks for reading! You can review but I’m not going to wine about it, as long as you guys are enjoying the story I’ll continue to write it!
Expect chapter 4 between Friday and Sunday--maybe sooner if I’ve got time!