Rockman Zero Remix

[Drayconis]

and thus chapter 7 clocks in at the longest one yet, and to Morph, POWEH TO THE METS! WOOO

[swimstud600]

...it was good.

[Morph]

Mistah Hanumachine was weak anywayz. ;p

[Drayconis]

Chapter 8


“Leviathan, are your defenses ready?”

“Yes Lord Zero.”

“Good. You know my new price of failure...”

“Yes sir... I shall not fail.” With that the blue reploid turned and left the darkened throne room.

**

Dray sighed and spun in his chair. “So we’re finally going to attack?”

“Yes Dray, we believe the Arcadian troops are weaker then ever thanks to the failed attacks of last week. Now is the perfect time to strike at the heart, here in their main base at Outer Heaven.” Ciel said as she pointed at the tactical display. “Now, The Outer defenses are controlled by Leviathan. Both sides call her Ice Heart, while she has failed Zero several times in the past, she has always come back stronger then ever. Voren, Raykan and Sim, you three are to occupy her and her forces. Drayconis, X I want you 2 to infiltrate the base and detonate the main reactor core.”

At this point Dray raised his hand, “Will any of the other Generals be there? Or even the big cheese himself?’

“No, the other 3 generals seem to be helping with the defenses of Inner Heaven.”

Dray chuckled, “Geez who came up with these names? Some 17-year old kid with nothing better to do in his life?”

“...Riiight.... focus Dray.” Ciel clutched her forehead as she spoke. “Anyways... After we take Outer Heaven. We’ll attack Inner Heaven itself. Of course we’ll attack with the full force of our army. Not just you 5.”

It was Raykan’s turn to sigh, albiet his was a sigh of relief. “Good, No offense or anything but fighting in a large group always helps in these situations.”

Dray sat up, “Right, this is your advanced warning, when we reach Inner Heaven. Fefnir, that shiny pink bastard is mine.” The scar over his left eye was the silent reminder to everyone of Dray’s hatred of the Fiery general.

“Right then. Lets go people! Heaven waits for no man woman or reploid!” Ciel declared, “Of course I’ll stay here and co-ordinate things.”

“Good.” Said Dray, “You don’t need to be in harms way... I’m still leaving Bob here with you though.”

Bob beeped at Dray, “No Bob, you dont get a say, we can play scrabble or something.” Ciel said as she patted the met on the head.
“Lets go people.” Was all Sim said as he walked out the door to the ‘porter room. The rest just followed him.

**

A group of Zero clones was patrolling the outer wall when they heard a noise, walking forward they met a bladed demise as Voren jumped over their head and Raykan just slashed through them. “C’mon, lets go find the boss.” Sim said as he de-cloaked and headed forward.

“I’m afraid you won’t have to wait long boys.” Came an icy voice from behind them. As the trio turned around they saw Leviathan with a 5 platoons of troops behind her.

Voren looked at her, “Right, I take doll face on you two mutilate the grunts.” Raykan just shrugged before running past Leviathan, Sim at his side as they started to hack into the troops. Voren smiled at the female reploid as she readied her staff, “Looks like its you and me cupcake.”

Leviathans face burned red at the comment form this, this insolent blue trash. “Suffer!” She yelled as she summoned massive Ice spikes and hurled them at him.

Voren dodged them effortlessly, “C’mon honey buns your gonna have to do better then that.” He laughed as her eyes got redder and she threw giant spikes blindly in his general direction. He merely dodged them and fired off charged shots from his buster, pissing her off even more. “Hey sweet cheeks is that the best you got?” He called out playfully.

“AUUGH!” she yelled and tried to smash him with her staff. Voren just switched form his buster to his bright crimson blade and blocked all her attacks.

**

“Dray...”

“Yes X?”

“Do you think it’s eerily quiet in here?”

Dray looked around, “Now that you mention it, yeah. There should still be some-“

He was cut off as a massive deer-like reploid burst out of a wall and started creating a massive blizzard vortex.

X turned to Dray, “I’ll take this guy you hit the reactor core.” Dray merely nodded and ran down the hall. X turned to the overgrown reploid and smiled. “Let’s dance big boy!” He pulled out his buster and started firing.

**

Dray ran for a while, hacking through minions. “Oh sure, NOW they come out. Oh... that looks like a reactor...” he said to himself as he walked into a the large room housing the reactor core. He smiled as his body started to glow a bright atomic green. He just sat and took all the hits thrown at him for they couldnt get past teh blazing green aura surrounding him. As he reached full power all the swirling energy around him focused onto his chest jewel and the ones on his hands. “Lights ! Camera! DESTRUCTION!” He laughed as he let loose a massive green energy blast straight into the heart of the reactor.

An automated warning came on, “Reactor critical capacity reached! Over capacity, over load occuring, warning, reactor explosion in 30 seconds.” Dray pressed a button on his comm, “Ok, you can port me out any second now.” He smiled as he shimmered away.

**

X had just trashed the large reploid when the claxxon sounded, grabbing an ice elemental chip and installing beside the fire and lighting ones he had in his buster he commed the base, “Ok, port me out.” He shimmered away in a haze of blue light as the countdown reached 10...

**

Leviathans eyes went wide as she heard the warning. “Damn you! Damn you all!” She ran and activated her own transporter and beamed away as Voren, Raykan and Sim all activated the transport functions on their comms. Her grunts were left to fry as the countdown reached one.

**

A massive mushroom cloud reached out and touched the sky as the reactor exploded. Everything in a 2 kilometer radius was vaporized instantly.

**

The 5 conquering reploids raised glasses in teh brief victory ceremony being held before they left inner heaven. Dray grabbed Ciel and lifted her up and kissed her. Everyone (but X, he looked away) Oooo’d and aweee’d at the happy couple.

**

Zero stood in his room, his back to Leviathan, “You failed me Leviathan. You know the price of failure...”

“Please sir, I’m sorry... All I need is one more chance...”

“You have used up all your chances. My mercy has run short for you...”

Harpuia arrived at the door to warn Lord Zero that the resistance was expected to attack Inner Heaven, here, at any moment, when he stopped and looked at a softly sobbing Leviathan on her knees, as Lord Zero activated his Emerald green blade....

[Drayconis]

aaand here we have chapter 8, enjoy folks

[swimstud600]

0_o he's going to kill her? Even Copy X cared about his generals, he told them to get out, they were no match for Zero.
Its interesting. I thought the fight was a little dry though.

[Morph]

Outer Heaven? ZOMG MGS IS INVOLVED.

[Drayconis]

Chapter 9


Dray looked at Ciel and the others, “Well... I guess we should get going, overthrowing evil over lords waits for no man.”

X looked on and nodded with the rest, thinking to himself, Apparently neither does stealing someone else’s love, you green hair bastard.

“Achooo!”

Ciel looked at Dray, “What was that for?”

“Someone called me a bastard. Happens all the time.” Dray smiled at her as he walked out of the room.

As the rest exited Ciel turned to Bob, “So... wanna play hangman this time?”

**

Zero slashed at Leviathan again, leaving a deep gash in her armor. “Is there a reason you resist your fate? You know you stand no chance against me. Or are you desperate for life you’d fight for 5 more seconds?”

Leviathan merely tried to crawl towards the door where she could see what looked like Harpuia. “P... please Harp...” Zero jumped and kicked her head into the ground.

“You realize of course this could’ve been swift and painless. But you had to resist. Now you shall suffer for your failures!” He slashed at her back, fluid starting to leak from the wounds covering her body. Zero stepped back, a slightly cruel glint in his eyes. “See Harpuia the price of failing a God? Can you see?!” He laughed one of those dark, chilling laughter’s.


Harpuia tried to close his eyes, or turn his head away. But he found it like one watching a train wreck, unable to pull his eyes away from the blue whimpering heap on the ground. That heap had once been his only true friend, he had thought of her as a younger sister.

Zero just laughed again and walked over and kicked Leviathan in the gut as she struggled to stand, causing her to cough up more fluid. Zero brushed some of the fluid off his white shoulder pads and looked down at her body. “And now you shall know why you never fail a God!” He raised his saber and started to bring it down upon her, for a final blow.

“NOOOOOOOO!” Harpuia cried out and dashed forward, blocking Zero’s saber with his two red ones. “You are no God! Would a God do this!”

Zero blinked, and stepped back. “Hmm... maybe you right...”

Harpuia sighed and relaxed a bit.

“On the other hand YOU DARE to question ME a GOD?! You shall share her fate!” Zero cried out as he dashed forward slamming Harpuia against the wall. “You shall pay far worse then she, for daring to question my judgement...” He jumped back across the room and readied his saber. Harpuia stood up and drew both of his. They paused for a moment, before dashing forward towards each other, swing their blades.

**

“You know guys, this seems really easy.” Dray shouted over the sounds of battle.

“Oh? What makes you say that?” Raykan shouted back as he back flipped off one golems back, stabbing another one in the back of it’s head.

“Well, I mean, Fefnir and Phantom’s armies seem as always, decently lead and coordinated, but Harpuia’s and Leviathans seem... I dunno... Unlead?”

“Now that you mention it... Yeah they do.” Said Sim as tossed a grenade into a group of Zero clones, killing them all.

“Wonder why.” Mused Dray as he blew apart a column of clones. As the bodies burned and flew he caught sight of a large pink reploid... “FEFNIR! YOUR MINE BITCH!” Dray screamed, running past all sorts of regular minions, straight towards the suddenly fearful general.

Fefnir looked at the glowing green screaming reploid running towards him, leaving a path of destruction in his wake and decided it would be safer inside. He looked and saw Phantom retreating inside to. Running down the corridors he sighed in relief when he looked behind and could no longer see that black and green reploid. He slowed down to a walk when a sound sent a chill down his spine.

“Hell asshole. Miss me?” said Dray, his eyes glowing green, his armor splattered with the blood of those that didn’t get out of his way. He jumped off one of the crossbeams right in front of Fefnir.

“Wh... Whats your problem?” screamed Fefnir as he backed away. Fear present in his eyes.

Drayconis gave a feral smile. “It was about... 10 years ago. I was trying to save a small reploid girl, Alouette was her name. Of course I didn’t have my armor at the time. All I had was a green saber. You and your forces came and demanded her life. She was a kid you spineless bastard. I tried to hold you assholes off while waiting for my friends. But you.. you little guy thingy bite, you shot me from behind. And while I was watching, murdered her. Crusher her body then burned her alive. Unfortunately my friends are not known for timing. They arrived about five minutes later, you were in the process of beating my face in with that over sized excuse for a cannon of yours. Thats what gave me this scar. So I would never forget what you did that day. And now... Feffy... Its time to pay for your crimes...”

Fear turned to horror in Fefnir’s eyes as he recalled that day, recalled that reploid who screamed a horrible vengeance as Fefnir ran off. He backed away, trying to escape his fate as Glowing green energy gauntlets formed around this.. this demon from the past’s hands. “But.. But I.. I...” He stammered.

Dray’s eyes glowed brighter as he drew closer. “This...” he grinned, revealing green energy fangs, “Is gonna hurt like a bitch.” He laughed as he dashed forward.

**

Sim, Voren, Raykan and X turned as they ran down the corridors when they heard a loud scream. “Did that sound like Fefnir to anyone?” said X.

Raykan and Sim just looked at each other, “Looks like Dray found him.... May God have no mercy on him.” They said together.

Voren and X just looked at the two and shrugged, “Well lets ge-“ X stopped as a shuriken buried itself by his feet.

“Not so fast ancient one. You still have me to contend with!” Phantom said, dropping down from the roof.

X smiled, “Hey guys... you go ahead, I’ll take care of ninja boy here.” The other three merely nodded, running back down the corridor towards the throne room. The sounds of the battle raging outside, the resistance forces were winning.

Phantom smiled, “You shall not pass.”

“We’ll see,” said X as he charged his buster.

**

“Hah! Its potato isnt it!” Ciel cried out triumphantly. Bob whistled in defeat. “All right my turn, its got 3 words, 27 letters...”

**

Harpuia got slammed against the wall, yet again. Coughing up blood he looked up at Zero, “You... you were always evil. I don’t know why I didn’t try to stop you before.”

Zero just smirked, “You would’ve done nothing, just as you are doing nothing now!” He raised his saber for a killing blow when Raykan, Sim and Voren ran in. “Oh look, more playmates!” He kicked Harpuia in the head and turned towards the newcomers. “Hey you look familiar.. oh well. You’ve come to die I suppose?”

Raykan looked at Leviathan and Harpuia’s unconscious forms and looked back at Zero. “Well, safe to say I didn’t expect to see this.” He shakes his head and glares at Zero. “It’s three against one. Come quietly and we may go easy on you.”

Zero laughed and charged forward. Not dignifying Raykan with a response.

**

Dray ran down the corridor, his eyes had once again returned to normal. IN his right hand he carried an armored red spine, with Fefnir’s head spiked through the top of it. Hearing the sounds of battle he turns into the throne room and sees Raykan’s still form against the wall, Sim in a corner clutching a broken leg, and Voren, bleeding from a dozen wounds fighting off Zero, who didn’t have a scratch on him. Dray hefted his make-shift pike and threw it, hitting Zero in the gut.

“What the? Oh.. Fefnir’s head. Meh nothing lost their.” He looked at Dray, “More have come to die?” He back handed Voren into a wall as he spoke. “you know, I’ve fought Leviathan, harpuia, your three friends here. And not a scratch. Do you believe you stand a chance?”

Dray made a mental note, Oh, he did that Leviathan and Harpuia, good thing I brought spare beacons then. Then he looked at Zero, “Hell no. I ain’t that stupid. But it’s always been my philosophy to fight again another die, after running away.” He tossed a small, emergency transport beacon at each of his fallen comrades. AS they shimmered away (Harpuia and Leviathan to) He looked at Zero again. “But that doesnt mean I wont save my friends.”

Zero’s face went red and he dashed forward slashing at Dray as he to shimmered away. “COWARD!” He yelled out.

**

Ciel and Bob ran to the transport room as Dray and the others ported in. “Get all of these guys to med bay now! And start beaming back our troops ASAP. Yes even Harpuia and Leviathan, stop standing there GO!” Dray yelled out at those gathered around. AS teh base reploids went to work Dray walked up to Ciel, “Well.... Everything was going great until the fight with Zero started. He took out Vor, Sim and Raykan single handedly. Also it appears Harpy and his little blue friend there rebelled against him. I didn’t quite get the full story there.”

Ciel just nodded dumbly, “But.. where’s X?”

Dray’s face went pale. “Awe crap.”

**

X was walking towards the throne room after he had of course defeated Phantom. Looking in he saw an almost empty room, and Zero standing there looking at the door. “Z... Zero?” All of a sudden conflicting memories and thoughts poured into his head. His thoughts told him this was the enemy he was supposed to fight, to destroy. But his memories told him different, He saw him and Zero hanging out, fighting side-by-side, and one memory, where Zero told X he’d always be there for him.

Zero noticed the pause, and the conflicting emotion on X’s face. “X... Is that you? I thought you were dead! It’s so good to see you!” He walked forward, his arms stretched out ready to give X a hug.

“Zero? Your the.. Enemy aren’t you... They say your evil... That your trying to kill us all.”

A look of shock passed over Zero’s face, “I never! I’ve done everything I can to help save and protect humanity! Just like we used to do! Don’t you remember?”

More memories passed through X’s mind, more of him and Zero saving everyone. Fighting renegade reploids. Wait... Does this mean.... I’ve been fighting on the wrong side? It was always us versus those that would disrupt balance... Isn’t that what the resistance is trying to do? It was me and Zero... We were always on the side of good. He obviously still has all his memories.. I... I feel I should trust him. “What... What have i been doing?”

Zero smiled and embraced his old friend. “It’s ok, you didn’t know any better. But now, were back, it’ll just be like old times, you and me, protecting humanity once again.”

X looked up and smiled, “Yeah.. yeah. Old times... But... Obviously Ciel, a human was mislead by those renegades. Those mavericks.”

Zero smiled, Ah, someone he cares for. “Yes, obviously.”

X’s face darkened, “No doubt that Drayconis’ fault. That bastard was taking her away from me! But... if he’s gone, she’ll come back to me! (of course his memories are rather twisted, he doesn’t realize he never had her to begin with.)

Zero smiled, “yes, yes. Together... We shall bring back peace.”

X smiled back, “yes... together.” Zero patted X on the back as they looked out the window over Neo Arcadia.

[Drayconis]

chapter 9 is up and available! and I think the rockman manga calles it outer haven. oopsies.

[swimstud600]

After Zero beat everyone I figured X would be the only one who could stand a chance. I like the plot twist though, the two old friends joining up again.
Wish you would have detailed X's fight with Phantom a little more. I think if theres anything you need to work on its describing your fight scenes.

[Drayconis]

Chapter 10: Interlude -a Flashback-

Captain Simotech sighed as he leaned against the wall. He was teaching the next group of new recruits and it was... Difficult at best. Thank fully this year’s class seemed brighter then most. He looked around the classroom, his eyes stopping on one young reploid wearing bright white clothing, his armor would probably end up the same color scheme. Right now the class was in the middle of a ‘Current Mavericks on the loose’ test. They had to try and remember the 10 top most wanted mavericks currently on the loose, and what priority number they had for avoidance and capture. Sim sighed and looked at the clock, 10 minutes left. He looked up as the white clothed student neatly folded his test and put it off to the side. Hmm... That’s Paladin for you. Done early again. Sim thought to himself. “All right class, 10 minutes left and counting...”

**

The maverick that would have come in the 2-5 range was currently standing on top of a large hill, looking at the small town below. He watched as children ran and played happily with their parents. Dogs barking and chasing after balls. It made him sick, all that happiness. But I can fix that! He thought to himself, his lips curling up into a feral grin as he thought of the actions he was about to take. He laughed silently to himself as he descended the hill.

**

There was a mixture of glee and disappointment as Sim handed their marks back, (It takes about 5 minutes for them to be auto marked) Paladin was pretty happy, scoring a perfect 20. His friend Zan had not faired quite as well, Zan had gotten the 10 right, but not the order. “All right class,” Sim started up. “You’ve all received your marks, those of you who didn’t score quite as high as the others, study harder. This is the most promising class I’ve seen in a while. Keep up the good work. Ok, remember the training room is open. But the only levels you can currently access is trainee. It isn’t that hard and I know some of you are eager for a better challenge. That’s why tomorrow I’m going in with you and we’ll practice how a real squad works and trains. ON some of the more fun difficulties.” He got a few cheers at that. He smiled, he really did love teaching. “All right, class dismissed.”

As the class got up and started filing out the door Zan walked over and nudged Paladin, “Hey think you can help me study a bit. Then maybe hit the training room for awhile?”

Paladin mulled it over for a couple of second then looked at his friend. “Yeah, sounds good to me.” He almost didn’t notice Commander X and nearly walked straight into him. “oh.. s... sorry sir!”

X smiled at him. “It’s ok, just pay more attention to where your going. Is Captain Simotech still in the class room?” Paladin just nodded dumbly. “Thanks for your help kid.” Paladin nodded, then he and Zan took off. X just smiled and shook his head before walking into the room.”

Sim looked up as X walked in, “Oh, hello Commander. What brings you here today?”

X looked at him, “No need for formalities Sim, you’ve served here for a long time.”

Sim smiled, “That I have. All good to.”

X continued on, “Anyways. We’ve received a help call from a small village up in the mountains north of here. They seem to be under attack from a maverick. But the transmission died before they could give a description.”

Sim furrowed his brow at the news. “Have you sent any hunters yet?”

“No, I was hoping you’d go. With your background in stealth you might ascertain the identity of this guy. There’ve been several attacks on similar villages in the mountains. We think we know who it is but we aren’t sure.”

“Great. Yeah I can go. I’ll tell Sarine our is postponed.”

“I’ll do it for you. Time is of the essence. Oh, we have a small unit there. They’ve been told to meet up with you and help in any way possible.”

Sim nodded and ran off towards the transport room.

**

The maverick smiled. The blood that soaked his black armor glistened in the sunlight. Half the village was dead already. He laughed as he broke the back of a dog while the small boy who owned it watched in horror before he to died. The mavericks ears picked up the sound of a mother trying to get a small child, baby perhaps, to stop crying lest it attract attention. To late. He thought to himself, smiling wide, revealing glistening fang-like teeth. He smashes through the door and looked down at the mother who was holding on to her baby. The mother screamed out as the maverick grabbed the child from her. “this thing won’t stop crying!” he laughed at the mother. “You need to teach it discipline!” With that he threw the child into the wall. The body made a wet thud as it hit the brick.

“You! You bastard!” The mother yelled and the green haired reploid. Charging at him with a broken chair leg.

The reploid merely shrugged and thrust his hand through her chest grabbing a hold of her spine and ripping it out. “Tsch, what a weak species.” He said to himself as he turned and threw the spine out the window, catching a teenage girl through the head with it.

**

Sim beamed in with his armor and sword. He felt sick as he looked upon the carnage that surrounded him. Walking forward cloaked, he looked around for the maverick responsible. He almost sighed in relief as he saw the hunter squad walk through the other end village. They started to make their way through streets, slowly and cautiously.

Didn’t help them however as the black clad maverick jumped off the roof of a nearby village and landed in the midst of them. The maverick ignited a bright purple beam saber and started to slaughter the squad before they knew what hit them. The squad leader was last to go. He backed up, trying to get a good shot at the maverick. But the maverick just laughed and shot the commander through the chest with his lancer style buster. Sim gasped as he got a good look of the maverick, good enough to identify him. The maverick turned his back on the cloaked Sim and looked at the carnage he had caused. He smiled to himself before beaming out. Sim followed suit and returned to base.

**

X met Sim in the transport room, Zero beside him. “Well?” said blue armored reploid. “Did you identify him?”

“Yes.”

“And.”

“It was... the Bastard, Drayconis.”

Zero cursed under his breath and X clutched his forehead. “This is gonna be a miserable week...”

[swimstud600]

Lots of carnage there. The description was very good, it sounded really brutal. This is an interesting plot twist as well, keep 'em coming.

[Morph]

Haha! Two good guys are now on the 'evil' side. Well, not really 'evil', but Neo Arcadia's ways make them appear as such. Good one.

And the other was a flashback, eh? So... Dray was first a Maverick? Was that before he joined the Hunters, or after?

[swimstud600]

Before. It looks like he's got the same thing going as Zero did, once a maverick and something made him change.

[Drayconis]

Chapter 11

I walk forward I can make out 3 figures, I can’t see them too clearly. One, one looks like a demon from hell itself with its eyes glowing red. The other, behind the demon one, looks like it carries the ferocity of a dragon. He has 2 different colored eyes, green and red. His feet and wings also remind me of a dragon. I try to get closer to the third. He seems smaller then the others. Maybe it’s cause he has no wings... But his eyes glow green, as I get closer I can see blood stained armor. As I make out it’s face, he smiles at me, a wicked, evil smile. And I see... Me.

Drayconis woke with a start. “Ugh, that dream again. What the hell is with that?” He looked beside him at the sleeping figure of Ciel, he smiled as he watched her sleep. With all the new recruits rooms were becoming scarce so he and Ciel opted to bunk together. Or at least that’s what they used as an excuse. He debated trying to go back to sleep, but he didn’t want too live through that dream again so soon. Slipping carefully out of bed so as not to disturb the sleeping Ciel. Throwing on a pair of jeans and a dark green T-shirt he went out the door.

The halls were quiet as Dray walked down them. It was the night watch after all. He greeted a pair of reploids on patrol as they passed by. They merely nodded and kept going. They were probably part of the new recruitment batch, under command of that new guy, Elpizo. Or as Dray and other like-minded reploids called him, Elfpiss. Ciel seemed oblivious to the fact that Elpizo was slowly taking over. He was popular with many of the new troops, troops that were slowly outnumbering the old ones. Dray shook his head. Maybe he was just paranoid. But how else does one survive a hundred years?

Dray’s train of thought as he stopped out side Cerveau’s lab. The two guardians, Harpuia and Leviathan were in there. He was about to enter when Cerveau popped his head out. “Oh good Dray. I was debating if I should go wake you. Harpuia is finally awake and he wishes to speak with you. Well I assume he means you. Something about a black reploid that saved them. I’m just guess-“

Dray pushed passed him, “Yeah he means me.” Walking to the back of Cerveau’s lab he goes through one of the two back doors and steps through.

**

Harpuia was sitting up slightly in bed. His green hair pushed out of his eyes. He looked up as Dray walked in.

“Doc Cerveau said you wished to speak with me?”

Harpuia nodded, “Yes... I wished to express my gratitude for saving my sister and I. Who I’m told will make it. But, I wish to ask you... After all the terrible things we’d done for Lord Zero... Why? Why did you save us?”

“Because Zero was stupid enough to tell me that you had rebelled against him.”

“But surely, we deserved death after all we did.”

An odd looked passed over Dray’s eyes as he thought about how to answer. “All right, I’ll tell you. Because I was once a maverick.” Harpuia’s eyebrow raised at that. But he let Dray continue. “I was called The Bastard Drayconis. I slaughtered people indiscriminately, reploids, humans, man woman or child. None were safe from my ways and me. But during an accident at the maverick base, I was severely injured, lost an arm if I remember correctly. Then I picked a fight with a reploid who I should’ve been wary to fight with on a good day and got my ass kicked. Doing so triggered an old, really old, sub-transport routine that sent me straight to the hunter base. They should have killed me, lord knows I deserved it. But one kind medic helped me. When they put me out and were doing an examination of my mind and body, they found something wrong with my mind. I hadn’t been infected by some virus like most mavericks, but it was the reploid equivalent of brain damage. They were able to cure it, at the cost of my memory of pretty much all I had done as a maverick. Of course that brought up other problems but they don’t relate to your question. The point is, I was given a second chance, even after all I had done. So I figured I should repay fate, by doing the same. Satisfied?”

Harpuia mused about this for a moment, “Yes. I am. Thank you for saving me again.”

Dray smiled, “No problem. I do hope we can become friends. Love the hair by the way.”

Harpuia smiled at that. “Ditto for me.”

Both of the green-haired reploids started to laugh.

**

Ciel woke slowly, and noticed the spot next to her empty. She was about to get up when Dray walked in the room. “Oh Dray, I was just about to go looking for you.”

Dray chuckled and ruffled her hair as he slipped back under the covers. “Awe, worried about me are we?”

She blushed slightly, “Maybe.”

“Heh, I just woke up and went for a walk. Harpuia woke up. Had a chat with him. He’s actually a nice guy.”

“Hmmm, why’d you wake up?”

A serious look passed on Dray’s face. “It was.. that dream again.”

Ciel wrapped her arm around his shoulder, “Oh... I’m sorry...”

Dray smiled and returned the hug, “It’s ok. Thank-you for being sorry.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “Hmm, do we go back to sleep, or....”

Ciel smiled, “I opt for ‘or’”

The two giggled and disappeared under the covers.

**

X and Zero sat looking at the new production models. On the right there was the current Zero clones. They had been stripped of all long range weaponry and now carried modified beam sabers mounted on the right arm. Standing beside the red clones were the new models, X clones. They had now taken over the long range duties of the grunt army. X sighed as the 2 show models walked in front of him and Zero. “They look so... I dunno, I guess they look kind of like us.”

Zero smiled at his friend, “Well, we don’t want them to look to much like us. Sadly we can’t raise their combat level by much either. It seems you and I are oddities amongst reploids. Our powers can never be matched.”

X laughed, “Yeah, I guess your right. That’s why we are suited to do what we are doing. Protecting humanity in the most direct way possible.”

Zero nodded, “Indeed. To bad your old ‘friends’ couldn’t see it like that.”

X cringed a bit as he thought of Ciel, “I’m sure we can make some see it our way.”

Zero knew X was talking about Ciel, “Yes I’m sure, all we need to do is remove some... obstacles.”

“Aye”

The two leaders stood there silent, “You know X, we need some more generals, While you easily make up for the loss of the 4 guardians we can’t be everywhere and lead everyone at once.”

“our right. Hmmm, something to dwell on.”

“Indeed.”

The two sat mulling ideas over for new generals as the 2 showcase models left the room, the doors closing behind them softly.