By Sean Thornton
Within us all...
There lives another...
This other is �us�...
Who we truly are...
They are the rebels.
Just Another Day at Work
Timeline: May 27, 2100 A.D. Aprox. 10:00 AM, MST
The day was just starting for Sean on the Hunter base in Threshold. It was nearly 10 yet
he was just getting up. Sean liked to sleep late, something that was not too well looked upon by
his few superiors. Sean was a prototype. Ever since Zero went into cryosleep after he realized
the threat he posed to humanity, X had to deal with the brunt of Sigma�s forces on his own. The
Mavericks were advancing, and X and his comrads were faultering in their efferts to stop the
madman and his army. After some study on Gate�s failed attempt to clone Zero, Cain�s scientists
developed a new way of going about it. They took Zero�s blueprints, and made a totally new
Reploid modeled after the notorious red legend. They copied some of his behavior files and
basically copied Zero�s �brain�, all except any emotions he had or memories of stuff that had
happened, so the clone wouldn�t mistake himself for the real Zero, like the Nightmare did. Sean
was this clone. He looked astonishingly like Zero, except for some minor differences. He was as
skillful, if not more, as Zero, as far as combat went. After all, the reason for Sean�s creation was
to duplicate a Reploid of equal destructive capability of Zero.
Perhaps the thing that made the two Reploids the most alike was their hatred for
Mavericks. Sean too, had learned to hate the Reploids that had �crossed over�. Some say his
passion for killing them and his hatred for them was greater than Zero�s, who himself was a
Maverick once. The thing that concerned his creators was that they feared Sean�s rage and hatred
would get the best of him and he would release his inhibitions in battle, causing him to
involuntarily become Maverick. Aside from his hatred for his foes, Sean was an all around nice
person. He had Zero�s good looks, and a devilish charm of his own that seemed to make you
immediately want to be his friend. The main difference between him and the original Zero was his
eyes. Like X, Sean had the most clear, deep, icy, blue eyes. When he looked at you, it seemed
like one of two things: 1. He was looking deep into your soul, like he was reading your mind,
enchanting and sort of hypnotizing you, or, 2. he was staring straight through you with the most
intimidating and oddly spine tingling glare that anyone could give you. His eyes often depicted his
apparent mood. Most of the time, when he wasn�t glaring with hatred at a fallen Maverick, or a
soon to be opponent, he was in a good mood, and his eyes had a calming, soothing affect on you.
Perhaps that is why he was so charming to most people, they felt comfortable around him.
Sean was about 6�3�, which was not odd considering the fact that Reploids were built
taller than the average human. He had the same armor and colors as Zero, and besides the eyes
and obvious personality, the two were almost identicle. Sean carried a saber very much to the
likeness of Zero�s and used it and prefered it over his arm cannon. However, when he used the
two in unison, he could unleash hell.
However, there was one thing that could stop him dead in his tracks. Yes, one thing on
the face of this earth powerful enough to subdue the beast within him. Her name was Vicky.
Believe it or not, this machine of destruction did have a heart, and with his devilish charm, had
managed to acquire a few lady friends in his day. But, there was something special about Vicky.
Something about her just made his heart melt, assuming Reploids have hearts, that is. Sean would
do anything for her, and almost anything to impress her. He�d went on a few missions with her,
and the more he was around her, the more he realized how much he felt for her. Maybe one day,
he would break his and Zero�s reputation for hiding their feelings and emotions, and come out
with it and tell her how he felt. Today, however, was not the day for that kind of thing.
Sean was awake and just stretching out on his bed when a siren went off. It was the siren
that informed the base that they were under attack by Mavericks. Sean quickly came alert, even
though he was half asleep at the time of the alarm sounding. He jumped up, grabbed his saber
from beside his bed, and ran out of his room. He pressed a button on his temple that activated his
internal COMM unit.
�What�s going on?� He shouted as he ran towards the front gates of the base.
�About 20 or so Mavericks are at the front gate, they are demanding our surrender.� X�s
voice came in loud and clear over the COMM. X was already down by the gate ready to
retalliate.
�Ahhhh, bullshit.� Sean remarked. �20 Mav bastards can�t even dream about takin this
base by themselves. Don�t make a move until I get there, I want to talk to their leader.� Sean
reached an elevator and quickly rushed down to the ground floor. He ran down a long hallway
until he reached the grounds between the compound and the main wall. He met up with X there.
X pushed a button on a computer that activated a camera that let them see the group of
Mavericks responsible for the trouble. They were heaviliy armed and wore full assault armor.
�Whats this I hear about wanting our surrender? Do you think that 20 of you can take this
base?� Sean spoke into the speaker beside the screen. His long blond hair identical to his clone�s
wavered a bit in the slight breeze. His voice shot out accross the baren ground from a
loudspeaker.
A Maverick wearing predominantly black armor with some red stepped up. He carried a
plasma double bladed axe resting on his shoulder. Sean recognized him immediately. He was the
mercenary known as Tyrone. Sean had fought with him before occasionally, and particularly
despised him. Although they had never fought to the death, they held extreme contempt for one
another, and vowed one day that one would kill the other in the midst of a battle. Sean was
determined to win that battle. He drew his plasma blade and glared at Tyrone through the screen
with his icy eyes, now full of hate and rage.
�Well, well. Who would have thought I�d run into the infamous Sean, and in Threshold of
all places! Ha ha ha ha ha. This may turn out to be more fun than I thought. Tell me Sean, do
you remember that promise we both made to fight to the death one of these days?� Tyrone spoke
with a surprising sense of calm in his voice.
�Yes.� Sean�s eyes flashed red for a moment, and a wierd feeling of someone trying to
claw his way out of his body came over him. He stepped back and nearly dropped his plasma
blade. He shook his head as if he was shaking the feeling off. He regained his alertness and
glanced at X, signalling to him to be ready to open the doors to attack. �I remember. I will fulfill
that promise too, oh omnipotent Tyronethe Mercenary.� Sean added a bit of a mocking tone to
his last statement. He was wondering what that strange feeling was and what had brought it on.
Tyrone laughed contemptuously as he activated his axe. He pointed it at Sean, knowing
he would see it on the screen he knew he was looking at him through. �Then come and get it.
After all, your only a clone of what once was great. That doesn�t make you better than anybody
else. Your pride will be your reason for death, Sean. Now come show me if your as worthy as
Zero was.� All the Mavericks took a few steps back away from the gates, even though they were
about 75 yards off.
�Want me to have em turn on the auto guns Sean?� X looked to his friend as he exposed
his arm cannon, ready for the imminent battle that was going to take place. Vicky, and a few
other Hunters came forward and stood next to X, ready to fight by Sean. It was not unusual for
only 5 or so Hunters to take on 20 or so ill-experienced and poorly skilled Mavericks. Most
Mavericks became so because they went insane, making their rage cloud their judgement. Even
though Sean fought with pure rage at times, he did not cross the line to Maverick or let himself be
blinded by it. He knew when to turn it on and off. Or so he thought.
�No. Leave them off.� Sean said with a distant tone in his voice. He turned to his
comrades, Vicky impaticular. �You all leave Tyrone to me. This is my fight. Just cover me and
take care of his buddies. Techon, if things get hairy, turn on the auto guns to pick off the extra
Mavs, or any others that might show up.� He nodded to X, signalling him to open the blast
doors. A moment before the doors opened, Sean took a stance with his saber.
�Are you coming or not, wannabe?� Tyrone was growing impatient and had his forces
stand at the ready.
�I�m coming.� Sean said, barely under his breath.
The blast doors opened, and the Hunters charged. Seven of them charged on against
twenty foes, totally fearless and confident. X and Sean ran in the lead, Sean getting a stabbing
poise ready with his saber as he charged for Tyrone, who stood at the front of the others waiting
patiently. He sent forth his forces to meet the oncoming hunters.
When the Hunters were about 30 yards away from the oncoming Mavericks, X stopped
and started firing off plasma shots from his arm cannon. Sean however, kept charging, dodging
some badly aimed shots from the running Mavericks. He finally met the line and cut down 2 of
the Mavericks with a quick slash of his blade. The broken bodies lay on the barren ground
spurting coolant from various limbs. Sean just kept on running. X new what Sean had in mind,
he had seen him fight like this too many times before not to know what was going to happen.
Sean was going to go straight for Tyrone, and would fight him to the death this time. It was X
and the others� job to cover him while he did this, taking out the other Mavericks. X and a few
others stayed a good distance away from the advancing line, picking off a few with plasma shots.
Others, like Vicky, followed Sean�s example and charged the line with their sabers and other close
combat weapons.
Vicky was a solid 6 feet tall, making her a bit shorter than Sean. She had predominantly
green armor with white and pink trim. She was a beautiful young girl, and had shoulder-length
brown hair. She had beautiful hazel eyes, which could hypnotize even Sean himself. Perhaps the
thing Sean liked about her the most was her smile, you know, that kind of smile that a girl gives
you when she looks over her shoulder at you and makes you think she�s interested. She carried a
pink plasma kattana, and she was astonishingly deadly with it. She, as with Sean, fancied dueling
combat aside from using her plasma cannon. Her and two other hunters cut down five Mavericks
with relative ease. X, using Zero�s old saber which he carried in rememberence of his friend,
came into the battle alongside her and, along with the shooters, took out the remaining Mavericks
within about 10 minutes. They all stayed where they were and proceeded to watch their leader,
Sean, take part in his personal battle with the mercenary leader.
Sean was running hard, and with the aid of his jet-dash mechanism, he moved like
lightning. An instant before he was upon Tyrone, he shifted and slid in underneath the plasma
axe, and made a lighting quick slash at his legs. Tyrone, in turn, jumped above the low slash, and
brought his axe down hard on the ground, just close enough to cut off an inch of Sean�s long hair.
Sean quickly rolled to the side after his slash attempt and cut diagonally up at Tyrone�s elbow as
he pulled his axe back up. The blade met its mark, and severed his left arm at the elbow. Coolant
shot out in small little spurts from the stub of an arm. Tyrone hoisted his axe with is right hand,
jumped back to avoid another slash, and opened a portal. Then, he did the unthinkable.
Just before he entered the portal, Tyrone threw his axe in, and quickly grabbed Vicky with
his good arm, and dragged her into the portal with him. Just before the portal closed, Vicky
screamed.
�Sean!!! Help me!!!� She cried out helplessly as she was carried through. She had
dropped her blade when she was grabbed by surprise.
Sean saw what happened, and his quick wit let him react fast to the situation. Not fast
enough though, as the portal closed as he dived for it, allowing him to land in the dirt a few feet
away. He quickly picked himself up as he spat dirt out of his mouth.
�VICKYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!� He cried out as he turned to where the portal was. All
of a sudden, the feeling swept over him and his eyes flashed red again. This brought him to his
knees, and he jammed his blade into the earth, causing it to crack a bit. He grabbed his head in
agony as he yelled in pain.
Suddenly he got up. He just stopped yelling and got up. He turned to his friends, and
they were taken back to see that his eyes had turned a crimson red, instead of their normal icy
blue. Sean then looked toward his saber. He picked it up and looked at it a bit, as if he had never
seen it before. He sheathed it and pressed a button on his arm. A hoverbike soon whizzed up to
him on auto pilot and waited for him to jump on. Sean jumped on without saying a word, and
sped off. Before he was out of earshot, X and the others heard him call out.
�TYRONE I SWEAR THAT BEFORE THE SUN SETS I WILL HOLD YOUR HEAD
IN MY HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!� He then hit the turbo button and blue flames spurted from
the hoverbike, and he was gone.
Rebelious Manifestation
The five remaining Hunters, including X, stood there for a moment trying to take in the
situation. The four besides X had blank looks of disbelief on their faces. X, however, was
looking off to where Sean had last been seen on the horizon. It appeared that he was in deep
thought about something. Whatever it was he was thinking, it was not good.
�Back to base.� X said with distant but firm tone in his voice.
�Are you just gonna let him go like that? Aren�t you going to go after him?� One of the
Hunters stepped forward with this comment.
X laughed contemptuously. �Why should I? Were you planning on stopping him? Did
you see the look in his eyes? Are you planning to go on chasing after him?� X smiled a slightly
agitated smile. �Somethings wrong. I dont think you can fix it by yourself, so don�t go telling me
too.�
The Hunter stepped down and they all headed back to the base. When they got back, X
went straight to the computer lab and looked over Sean�s data and the notes taken upon his
creation.
�The guy�s gone Mav. I knew he would sooner or later, just like his inactive
counterpart.� A tall figure stood in the doorway to the lab.
�Shut the hell up, Jax. You don�t know that, and besides, if Sean really did go Maverick
out there, which I seriously doubt, he wouldn�t have been so hell bent on destroying just Tyrone.
He would have killed us all in a blind rage. Besides, when you go Mav, there�s not alot of pain
and agony involved. Something happened, something different. But, whatever it is, it�s changed
Sean--for how long I don�t know. That�s why I�m looking over his files to see if it was something
in his programming.� X said over his shoulder, not even giving the rebellious Hunter a glance.
He typed away at the computer.
�Whatever you say, Blue.� Jax turned and started to exit the lab.
X reached for Zero�s saber, looking to strike down the insubordinate Hunter for his
remarks. He was stopped by a box that popped up on the screen. The graphics brought up a
three dimensional wire drawing of Sean�s head. A line pointed to a spot somewhere in the back
of where his �brain� should be. The blueprints were constantly updated, so this new pop-up
revealed something new that had came in on Sean�s last scan. In small letters at the end of the
arrow pointing in the head, there was a notation that read: � �REBEL� VIRUS VR .06972
DETECTED. WARNING: UNKNOWN STRAIN.�
�Oh shit.� X stared blankly at the screen and the warning message. �Techon, get down to
the lab A.S.A.P. That�s an order!�
Techon scrambled into the lab and almost ran into Jax on his way. When he got there, X
showed him the warning.
�When was this last updated?� X asked.
�The diagnostics are ran every two days. This must have been when Sean came back from
the recon mission at Diakara. That place is one of the Mav�s biggest strongholds. No telling
what in the blue hell happened, Sean and Vicky and Ryou were the only ones assigned, and well,
Sean and Vicky aren�t exactly here right now.� Techon stated.
�Well then get Ryou the hell down here! I want to know every detail of what happened
on that mission.� X shouted with an impatient tone in his voice. The normally patient and calm
Reploid seemed to be losing his temper knowing that his two best Hunters were gone.
Techon made a mock salute and ran out of the lab. He headed up to Ryou�s quarters.
Ryou was probably the fourth best Hunter statistically in that base, if not in the whole Hunter
organization. X being the top ranked, with Sean/Zero not very far from him, and Vicky after that.
Ryou�s armor was mainly black, with red and some orange trim. From aways away, he
could be mistaken for Tyrone if you weren�t careful. He carried a nasty club like plasma weapon
that resembled a mace. He was as tall as X, and was built after X�s model, as were most of the
elite Reploids. There had never been any Reploids, besides Sean and the Nightmare, that had
been built after Zero, because Wily�s technology was rather different from Light and Cain�s. It
was like Zero was a different type of Reploid. But anyways, there was something that was always
mysterious about Ryou. Its like, you never knew what he was truly thinking or how he really felt
about stuff. Zero was withdrawn but it wasn�t like he was hiding something. Ryou always
seemed like his privacy was precious and that his thoughts and feelings were only his to know.
�X wants you in the lab ASAP.� Techon said
�Hmm. Wonder what the all powerfucl X wants now.� Ryou said with a sarcastic tone.
Ryou wasn�t near as cheery as Sean or X, and seemed to be easily agitated.
Ryou followed Techon back to the lab, wondering what X wanted with him. Hopefully he
hadn�t done anything wrong. Not that Ryou actually cared if he had. If X gave him shit, he could
transfer to another base. Ryou didn�t seem to care much about anybody or anything, even
fighting the Mavericks. Vicky be that made him so good, he didn�t care if he died or not, kind of
like a no tomorrow type of ambition when he fought. Ryou didn�t really sweat the small stuff, or
the big stuff for that matter. His carelessness was a concern though, and it might lead to him
getting his comrads hurt in a battle. However, things were focussed on the situation at hand.
They reached the computer lab.
�Whats up X?� Ryou said with a lack of enthusiasm in his tone.
�What happened at Diakara, Ryou?� X asked. A look of tension was on his face.
Ryou raised an eyebrow at him. �Um, it�s on the data chip, a total report of the mission,
X.� Ryou said with a bit of anxiousness in his voice.
�Hey, listen up Ryou, I checked the data files on the mission, and anyways, thats not what
I�m tryin to find out, smart ass.� X pointed to the screen. �When did this happen???�
�Whoa, blueboy, I don�t know anything about that. You can take my word for it. I
wouldn�t know anyhow, Sean and Vicky and me split up to cover different areas. We all met
back at the waypoint after we were done. We didn�t use our COMM�s that much, cuz of
frequency taps. What else did you wanna know?� Ryou answered.
X looked Ryou in the eye, as if he was trying to find something that Ryou wasn�t telling
him. X had soul piercing eyes too, and he wasn�t often fooled or lied to. Ryou however, had
long grown immune to X and Sean�s soul piercing gazes, and with good reason too, but he wasn�t
about to reveal anything just yet.
�Your answers will suffice for now, Ryou. Oh, and another thing, don�t ever call me
blueboy again, or the only blue you�ll see is the coolant spraying from your neck as your head sits
a few feet away.� X made a threatening swipe with Zero�s saber, then retracted the plasma blade
and put it away.
Ryou smiled slyly as he narrowed his eyes a bit before he walked out of the lab. X could
have swore he muttered �Whatever you say, blueboy,� as he walked out, but decided that internal
conflicts were not needed at this point in time. X turned to the screen and stared blankly for a
minute at the text on the screen. Staring at the name of the virus, �Rebel�, reminded him of
something, but he couldn�t put his finger on it. Suddenly, a vision of Zero and Sigma flashed
before his eyes. X came wide awake out of his blank trance and knew exactly what it was.
When Zero was created by Dr. Wily, with the intention of being a machine of destruction,
he was a Maverick. To be a Maverick, perhaps the first ever, Zero had a virus put in him by Wily.
When Zero battled Sigma, while he was still good, in a cave after desecrating a city, Zero
glitched for a moment because of this virus, allowing Sigma to narrowly destroy him. Upon
Zero�s defeat, Sigma accidentally caught the virus, which later became known as the Sigma, or
Maverick Virus. Zero was repaired, but the virus was dormant inside him. That is why Zero
locked himself in the capsule. Anyhow, the �Rebel� virus must have been a branch of the Sigma
Virus. Maybe it acted as a sort of safeguard put in by Wily so that Zero could not be cloned or
copied successfully. Whatever it was, or for whatever reason it was there, it had put the Hunters
in deep shit for the time being.
__________
Somewhere out in the desert, three hours after the Tyrone attack.
The hoverbike was speeding at close to 300 kilometers per hour. No human could drive
anything at that speed without an autopilot to compensate for obstacles. This bike, however, was
not made for any human�s use. It was custom built for quite possibly the greatest of all Maverick
Hunters, Sean. Sean seemed to pilot the bike with a sort of wreckless ease. Big rocks were the
biggest problem, even though the bike floated a foot off the ground, rocks large enough could still
flip it, and at 300 kmph, no Reploid, even in the best force armor, could hope to survive.
Reploids do have way better vision in comparison to humans, and this came in real handy when
driving a bike as fast as Sean�s.
Sean was on the warpath. His normally ice-blue eyes flared a deep crimson. His jaw was
clenched in an angry scowl, and the more enraged he became, the faster he punched it on the bike.
He conciously did not even know where he was going, but then again, he wasn�t in his concious
state of mind. Rage blinds thought, but not instinct, and instinct was taking Sean to the Maverick
HQ, where all portals issued to commanding officers went. The base was quite some ways away
from where Sean had started, but he was making good time.
Even though Sean didn�t know it, something was happening to him. He too, would fall
into the pit of his former self. It seems that along with Zero�s body, Sean had also inherited, to
an extent, his past.
Diakara--Hell with Flourescent Lighting
Off-base branch of Diakara, main Maverick stronghold
�What the hell do you want with me you sick bastard?!� Vicky yelled as Tyrone pushed
her away from him as he stepped away from the closing portal.
They were in his quarters, which was nicely accomidated aside from having the aura of
sheer evil about it. Tyrone looked at his stub of an arm, the coolant had stopped leaking from it,
and it was sparking every so often. He looked from his arm to her, with a distracted look on his
face. He seemed to care more about his arm than his captive at the time.
�Haha. Don�t you know that the evil mastermind should never reveal his plans to the
hostage, even though he does in all the movies?� Tyrone laughed a bit in spite of his concern.
�But, I suppose that I might as well tell you, not that you can do anything about it. You, as you
may have found out, are my prisoner of war. I am basically using you so that the Rebel Virus that
is dormant in Sean will activate. It will do this because I know him all too well. I know how he
feels about you, about me, and about everything. He, believe it or not, is madly in love with you,
Vicky . He will do anything in his power, even outside of it, to keep you safe, and make sure you
live another day, even if he does not. As for me, well, he hates me deeply. I know he will follow
not only because of you, but because I am his mortal enemy, and always will be, until the day he
or I dies.
The point of it all is, after Zero saved most of the world from the Eurasia crash, and
vanquished Sigma a few more times, the stress and rage got to him, and caused the dormant
Sigma Virus in him to re-awaken. Luckily, Zero saw this coming thanks to the help of a virus
check scan, and sealed himself in the capsule for 102 years, where he still sleeps. When Sean was
made, they could not erase Wily�s programming totally, and a form of the Sigma Virus, the Rebel
Virus, remained. Sean�s creators saw no great threat in this, because they assumed that he would
not have any of the problems and obstacles that Zero had to face. You must have saw how his
eyes changed colors at the base. That is the virus surfacing in him. I had a contact of mine set off
a timer in him that would just sort of help the virus along. The virus was �helped� today just
before the attack, while he was still sleeping I assume. It will change him and turn him into a
mindless killing machine, a total �rebel� of what he used to be. When Sean gets here, the virus
will be close to taking over, and he will end up getting himself killed at my hands while he is
blinded by it. However, it might be a double edged sword, and he might still have concious
thought, and just be pissed as almighty hell. Either way, he�ll lose it eventually, and after the virus
is in him for so long, he will go Maverick. If the violent cross-over doesn�t kill him, or if I don�t,
his fellow Hunters will be forced to. You, my dear, are simply bait. You had condemned Sean�s
fate ever since the day he saw you.�
�Bullshit. Sean is strong, and possibly the best ever. He won�t lose it. I know he won�t.�
Vicky glared at Tyrone with hatred and disgust in her eyes.
�Heheh, we shall see. Hmmf, it�s just too bad that I couldn�t have more time with you
alone.� He walked over and stroked her hair with his existing arm.
Vicky whipped her right arm around and shot Tyrone with a small plasma charge right in
the midsection. It didn�t do any nasty damage, just seemed to knock him back accross the room.
She quickly started to recharge for a more powerful shot.
�Stop.� Tyrone said in a nonchalaunt voice. He held out his hand and as if by magic,
Vicky�s plasma cannon stopped charging and shut down.
�What the hell???� Vicky exclaimed as she looked at her cannon, obviously puzzled.
�Hahahaha. You think your weapons will work here? I have control over any plasma
weapons that are in this room. You got away with that little mule kick, but that�s the last charge
you�ll shoot off in here.� He walked over, rubbing his abdoman, and punched a button on his axe.
�Touching this won�t do you any good either. Its set to an alarm that will shock anyone but me.
Pretty nifty doncha think? Oh, and another thing, I don�t want you running off while I�m fixing
my, um, predicament here.� He turned and shot two energy rings out of his arm cannon, and then
walked out the door to the infirmary.
One of the rings hit Vicky in the right forearm, and seemed to nail it to the ground. The
other did the same with her left. There she lay, all the beauty and innocence in the world, nailed
to the floor in the room of one of the most evil and dangerous Mavericks, totally helpless. There
was nothing she could do for now. She forced herself to get some sleep until Tyrone returned,
and then she would see what he had in store for her.
An Inside Job
Maverick Hunter Base in Threshold, the next morning.
Techon ran full bore down the hall, skidded around the corner, and made a right turn. He
finally came to X�s dormitory door. He banged on it earnestly, catching his breath. There was
the sound of footsteps and X came to the door. He was not wearing his normal armor, but he
was in civilian clothing, basically jeans and a t-shirt. His black hair that appeared to have a hint of
blue in it was everywhere about his head as if he payed no attention to it.
�Whats wrong Techon?� X said, already seeming to know something was up.
�He... Ryou... gone... left...� Techon managed to spit out between gasps and hard
breathing.
�What?!� X said, not totally understanding what the little Reploid had said.
�Gasp. Ryou... he left! He gathered a few supplies and a few weapons and left! I think
he�s gone Maverick, X.� Techon said, finally regaining his breath.
X merely stood in the doorway. The look on his face made him seem oblivious to the
world, as if he was staring into space. All of a sudden, he turned and ran into his room.
�What are you doing?� Techon asked.
�I knew it. I knew it since I met the guy that he would be trouble. I don�t know why I
kept him around. It�s quite obvious to me now that he�s an insider for the Mavericks. That
would be why he�s so good, they trained him to be. I�ve gotta find him.� X said as he walked
over to a capsule in the corner.
X stepped in the capsule and punched some buttons. A bright light shone from the
capsule, and Techon had to turn away. When the light faded, X stepped out. He was in his full
force armor. The latest design had just made it out of testing, and X had been eager to try it out.
The armor was mainly black, with some white and a bit of blue here and there. X looked nothing
like his usual blue self in it. He looked more dangerous. It seems he would get his chance to test
it sooner than he had thought.
�Your just leaving? Just like that?� Techon looked skeptical and confused.
�Well I�m the only one who is fast enough to catch him and good enough to destroy him,
aside from our long lost comrad, Sean, so yeah, I�m leaving, just like that. Set the autoguns to
full alert while I�m gone. You and Jax are in charge. Have everybody get on standby. I have a
feeling that the next major battle in this war we fight is going to take place soon. I should be back
in seven days. If I�m gone more than ten, well, then, I have a tracker; come pick up my pieces.�
X said these final words as he headed for the garage to get on his hoverbike.
There was a beep as Techon radioed in on his COMM. �Jax, set the autoguns to full after
X is gone,� there was a pause as Jax replied, then Techon answered, �Yes, he�s going after
him...�
Enter Pergatory. . .
About 1 mile away from Tyrone�s private quarters outside Diakara
Sean stopped his hoverbike. He took of his riding visor and looked out over the desolate
landscape. He zoomed in with his camera-like eyes and could glimpse the small compound that
was the hideout of his rival. His eyes still shone a brilliant crimson, but it was fading gradually.
He decided to walk in the last mile or two; it was a better way to aviod detection. About all he
carried on his person was his saber, and a few little gadgets that proved useful for a rescue
mission. The sun was beginning to set as the red, one-man army was making his way to the
threshold. It was pure Hell beyond that compound, and he would be entering it.
__________
20 minutes later...
Vicky had given up on struggling with her restraints. She lie on the floor in a light sleep.
She was dreaming.
In her dream, there she was, �tied� to the floor of Tyrone�s room, much like in reality.
Then, Sean busted in through the blast doors and rushed in. His long blonde hair wavering a bit in
the breeze that had been let in. He looked so heroic standing there. He then ran over and ripped
off the rings with very little strain and flung her over his shoulder, ran back to the hoverbike, and
took her back to base. It was then, in her dream, that Vicky realized how much she cared for
Sean. Her dream then turned to fantasy as a storybook romance unfolded in her subconcious.
Vicky was very much beggining to enjoy her dream when she was awakened by a loud
door slamming. Her eyes flashed open in an instant, only to see, to her disappointment, Tyrone
with his newly repaired arm standing in the room a few feet away.
�Wakey wakey sleepy-head.� Tyrone said in a creepy, evil sort of voice.
�Up yours, Ty.� Vicky had no tolerance for the madman. She was about to rub sleep
from her eyes, but then remembered that she couldn�t.
�Hmm. Still some fire in you is there? I thought you�d be all forlorn and wimpering by
now.� Tyrone took a few steps closer to her.
�Well you underestimate me, Tyrone. Just as you underestimate Sean. That will be the
death of you.� Vicky said casually.
�Hmm. I think not.� Tyrone�s tone was lowered, as if he was trying to be romantic.
The mercenary walked over to where Vicky lay, kneeled down and forced a kiss on her.
Vicky let out a stifled scream as she flung a heavy foot back in a gymnastic sort of way, and
kicked Tyrone in the side of the head. Tyrone fell back against his bed, holding his head in his
hands.
�Haha, you will soon wish you had not resisted me. Do you not see that you have no
choice or say in any of this?� Tyrone spoke calmly, although anger was rising in him. He raised a
clenched fist and made to strike Vicky.
___________________
Sean was about 20 yards away from the little bunker-like house of the mercenary. He was
crouched in some bushes off to the side. When the time came, he could make a mad dash for the
door and slice through it in a matter of seconds. All he had to do was wait for some sign of
Tyrone being around.
______________________
Tyrone took his clenched fist and flattened it out as he slapped Vicky accross the face with
great force. The sound of it almost sort of echoed in the concrete building, followed by Vicky�s
scream.
_______________________
Sean was sitting in the bushes still, trying to peer through a small window in the side of
the building. All of a sudden he heard an ear piercing scream from within the house. Even
though it was muffled by the thick barrier of concrete, Sean heard and recognized it plain as day.
Vicky was in there, and she had been hurt. In a fraction of a second, Sean�s eyes that had started
to fade back to their normal blue as a sign of him calming down, flared crimson once again. He
clenched his teeth and a sort of growl/war cry built up in his throat. Sean took his saber out and
activated it as his jet-dash sent him flying towards the door.
________________________
It was now that Vicky�s dream became somewhat a reality. With the stinging, burning,
mind bending pain of the hard slap spreading accross her face, Vicky looked to the door as she
heard an oddly familiar sound. It started out as a low whirr, then developed into a high pitched
charging sound. �It could only be one thing,� she thought.
Whirrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Kaboom! The heavy metal door of
Tyrone�s hideout was sent flying inward, dented and broken by a powerful plasma blast. In the
doorway stood the devil himself, his blonde hair flowing in the wind, just as Vicky had pictured.
The sun was behind Sean and he appeared to be draped in a sort of shadow. All that could be
made out besides his outline were the glowing, burning eyes.
The eyes of the Hunter saw two things now. They saw Vicky, the love of his life,
everything that meant anything to him, pinned against the floor, tears in her brown eyes and an
expression of agony on her face. Then they saw her tormenter.
Tyrone stood in disbelief about two feet away from Vicky. He stared blankly at Sean for a
moment before making his way to his plasma ax. He grabbed it in both hands and activated it.
The green blades on either side of the axehead lit up and glowed a bit.
Sean retracted his arm cannon and reached behind his back with his right hand and drew
out his saber. The plasma energy in his blade shone a bluish white, contrasting with the red of his
armour. He put both hands on the handle of the sword and held it out in front of him. The
crimson in his eyes was burning and it was dark to the point of being the color of blood. Sean
stared straight into the eyes of Tyrone with a hate greater than any human could ever imagine. He
had hurt the one girl he loved, and now he would pay dearly.
It was Tyrone who moved first. He charged in low with his axe, making a downward
diagonal slash. Sean jumped to his right and twirled in the air, swirling his blade in a spinning
slash. The cut nicked Tyrone in the back, hardly doing any damage. Sean now stood towards the
inside of the building, with Tyrone standing with his back to the doorway.
Now it was Sean who moved. He ran in with his saber down low. Right before he was
upon Tyrone, he spun again, moving slightly to the right and bringing his blade up in a diagonal
spinning cut. This slash was more succesful and it cut off Tyrone�s newly acquired left hand,
causing him to lose grip on his axe. Sean was now standing behind Tyrone. Still shocked by the
loss of his hand in the blink of an eye, the mercenary never saw what was coming.
Sean regained Tyrone�s attention by stating his vow that he had made against his foe.
�Tyrone, before the sun sets I shall hold your head in my hands. Thus, our duel is done.�
Sean�s voice was not his own this time. Although they were alike in almost every way, his voice
was different than the original Zero�s. When Sean had said these words to Tyrone, it sounded as
though Zero was speaking with him in unison.
Tyrone realized what was about to happen and swung a luckily aimed kick backwards,
nailing Sean right in the groin. The red reploid was thrown back a few feet; the surprising force
of the kick sent him him rolling out of the doorway and onto the dirt outside. He lay there
moaning in a nasty kind of pain for a few moments. When he opened his flaming eyes, Tyrone
was standing over him, weilding his plasma axe in his right hand.
�Now my vow shall be the one that is fulfilled.� Tyrone raised the axe awkwardly over his
head.
�We....shall...see.� Sean managed to gasp out as he converted his right arm to his cannon.
His saber was on the ground about three feet away from him.
Tyrone�s axe came down in a wild swing, whirring down towards Sean�s head. Sean
jerked his head to the right, narrowly escaping the blow. All the while he was charging his cannon.
As Tyrone was working his axe free from the earth, Sean let out a fully charged shot, catching the
mercenary in the abdomen. The force of the shot sent Tyrone flying back and crashing into the
cement wall with a loud clang. He hit the ground and layed stunned for a moment.
Sean grabbed his saber and started to stand. Suddenly, the pain started ripping through
him and he was forced to a knee. A horrible peircing pain stabbed his temples and he grabbed his
head in agony.
�GAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Not again!!!!! AAAAAHHH!!!� Sean cried
out in extreme pain as he held his head in his hands.
While all this was going on, Sean was seeing visions of all types flashing in front of him.
He saw the first battle between Zero and Sigma, he saw the pod with Zero in it flying toward the
Eurasia space colony, he saw Iris and Colonel, everything that was once a part of Zero�s existence
was now becoming part of his. He then saw where Zero�s life ended in the capsule and where his
then began. Then the pictures played at the same time and ran together. All of a sudden, after all
the visions and pictures were done flashing, he saw a picture of himself, but no, it wasn�t himself,
it was Zero. Wait, no, it had to be him, he couldn�t tell the difference. The figure looked like a
combination of him and Zero. Then, the pain stopped.
Sean got up and picked up his saber. He walked stiffly toward the slumped figure of
Tyrone. The mercenary regained some sense of conciousness and started to make for his axe.
His efforts were not effective.
�It ends now!� Sean shouted in a stern voice that was not entirelly his. He took the saber
in both hands and sliced off the hand that was reaching for the axe.
Tyrone looked at the figure of Sean with pure terror in his eyes. This was not the normal
Sean he was seeing, he was more powerful, more frightening. The burnging eyes seemed to cut
him like lazers, but it was not Sean�s eyes that killed the mercenary.
Sean made a final swift, powerful slash. He struck out with all his might, he struck for
Zero, he struck for himself, he struck for Vicky. The head of Tyrone held the final look of terror
for a few seconds before it rolled off the lifeless shoulders. Coolant and sparks shot from artificial
veins and a robotic spinal cord. Sean walked over after sheathing his saber, and picked up the
head.
�It is done.� He said in his estranged voice. Then, something happened. Sean saw the
visions reverse sort of, like they were being rewinded. The next thing he knew, Sean was
standing there, staring at the head of Tyrone confusedly. He shook his head. His eyes were their
normal icy blue again. He took out a knife and popped Tyrone�s Energen Crystal out of its
socket in his forehead, and put it on a chain he produced out of the same pouch the knife came
from. He fastened the chain about him, the crystal of his foe dangling from his neck. He tossed
the head aside and turned to see Vicky staring spellbound at him, a blank look on her face.
Regardless , Vicky was very happy to see Sean. He walked over to her and cut the rings
with his saber. Vicky lunged at him and gave him a huge hug.
�Sean, I knew you would come for me! I knew it all along, I dreamed it.� She paused for
a moment. �Sean, I... I have to tell you something...�
Sean managed to pull away from the hug and looked Vicky in the eye. �What is it?�
�Sean I... I... I love you!� Vicky finally blurted out. She then took a step back from him,
sort of embarrased of what she had said.
�Vicky, the truth is... I... love you too. I�ve known that since the day I met you, that you
would be the one.� Sean stood there a bit awkwardly after confessing his feelings too.
�I... don�t know what to say.� Vicky finally managed to enunciate.
A grin played on Sean�s face as he stepped closer to her. He stroked her cheek with his
right hand. �Maybe we shouldn�t say anything then...� He finished his sentence by putting his
arms around her, pulling her close to him, and finally kissing her.
It was the kiss they had both longed for. They had both waited for this ever since they
met, but never thought it would ever happen. They stood there for awhile, in each other�s arms,
letting out all the passion each one had for the other that had been held inside for so long. Finally,
after some time, Sean interjected and decided they should leave here. After all this, they had
forgotten where they were. Sean walked Vicky to the hoverbike and they both got on and headed
back to the base.
Rude Awakening
Back at Threshold, three days after Vicky�s rescue and X�s departure.
Sean awoke around the usual crack of noon on the base. It had been three days since he
had killed Tyrone and returned to the base. There was, however, something different when Sean
woke up this morning. You see, when he woke up, Vicky was laying next to him. Of course,
what did you expect? It seems the couple had become um... much more acquainted since the
rescue. We shall leave the details of the last few nights� events to your imagination, though.
Upon Sean�s returning, now seemingly normal, he learned of X�s selfless act of chasing
after the renegade, Ryou. Like X, Sean had also suspected something unusal about that guy. On
the Diakara reconaisance mission, he had disappeared and went out of contact for an entire day,
and nobody knew where to or for what purpose. Ryou had come up with some excuse with
intricate details and all that good stuff, but everyone else still had their suspicions.
�What time is it?� A mumbling Vicky questioned.
�About noon, hun.� Sean leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
Vicky smiled at her blonde-haired, blue-eyed hero, then rested her head back on the
pillow. All of a sudden, there was a pounding on the door of Sean�s quarters. Sean got up, in
boxer shorts, looking quite human, and answered the door.
�What is it?� He said, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
A curious, yet urgent Techon peaked past the tall sleepy reploid and spied Vicky arising
from the bed.
�Ah, well I can see what you�ve been up to, Romeo. No wonder why you sleep so late.�
Techon stifled a laugh.
�What do you want Techon?� Sean found the little reploid�s remarks funny, but lacked
the energy to laugh, it was too early in the day for him. He hadn�t exactly been asleep the whole
night.
�Oh, well, this is somewhat important. We are receiving a transmission from X.� Techon
said, now taking on a serious manner.
�Somewhat important?!? God-damn, Techon, hurry and patch it through to me!� Sean
was abruptly brought out of his drowsyness by this.
Techon entered the room, walked over to a console in the corner, and punched some
buttons into the super computer. He tried to avoid looking at the sparsly dressed Vicky in the
corner of the room. After a moment, an image of X came up on the screen, the reception was a
little fuzzy, but his words were clear enough. He looked on the verge of panic.
�If anyone at the base is receiving this, turn on the defenses! I caught up with Ryou,
about 5 miles west of Diakara. When I found him, he had an army of about 300 or so Mavericks
with him. From what I saw and heard, they are going to attack Threshold this afternoon. As of
now, I�m on my way back to base, I should be there in three hours. Ryou and the Mavericks
won�t be far behind me, so get to your battle stations. I hope Sean is back and unharmed, as well
as Vicky, we will need them both. X out.� The transmission ended and the screen went blank.
�Awww shit! This is not good at all.� Sean turned to Techon. �Have you sent out the
call to arms, Techon?�
�Of course I have, frankly, you two love birds are the only two on the base not ready for
war around here.� Techon looked impatiently from Sean to Vicky, then back to Sean.
�Ok, ok, I�m on it little buddy.� Sean scooted Techon back out the door and closed it.
�At least we know X is alive.� Vicky said, but it did not help the gravity of the situation.
�Yeah, that is good, we will need him, after all, he�s the top ranked Hunter here. If Ryou
has been training those Mavericks himself, then we are in some deep shit. Ryou is good, and if he
has 300 fighters with him that are even half as skilled, we will have a good fight ahead of us.�
Sean stepped into a capsule much like the one in X�s room. The same blinding light enveloped
him and when it faded out, Sean was in full battle armour. His appearance in his armor was the
same, although the quality of the armor had been upgraded to the latest and most durable
technology.
Vicky also suited up, and the both of them ran weapons checks. The whole ordeal took
about fifteen minutes. The Mavericks wouldn�t be there for another two and a half hours.
�I hope this doesn�t go the way the last battle did.� Sean commented, sounding a bit
gloomy.
Vicky put on a fake smile to try to lighten the situation. �Yeah, me too. Well, even if it
does, at least I know you�ll be there to save me.�
Sean smiled sheepishly at the trying-to-be-romantic words she had said. �Haha, that, and I
hope I don�t,� he pointed to his eyes, �you know, lose it again.�
�Didn�t you get that checked out?� Vicky asked.
�I tried. Nobody on this entire base knows what it is or why its happening. The only
logical reason for it that I�ve heard so far is that when I was made, the virus in Zero was mutated
and carried over into me. Anyhow, when X gets back, and after we win this, if we win this, him
and Dr. Cain and him will check it out for me. Cain should know what it is and hopefully how to
fix it.� Sean didn�t look to optimistic about anything in his future right now.
�Don�t worry, we are gonna win this. It�s not the worste battle we�ve fought, and as far
as the virus goes, I�ll still always love you no matter what.� She leaned closer to him and kissed
him passionately.
After a moment the kiss ended. �You sure know how to turn me red.� Sean said
comically.
Vicky rolled her eyes at the foolishly funny remark. �We had better get down to the
briefing room, funny man.� She got up and walked out of the room, and Sean followed.
Standing on the Edge
About 30 minutes before X�s E.T.A.
The entire base of about 280 Maverick Hunters stood at the ready. Some stood on
battlements, like archers in the medieval times, some ready to take off on miniature helicopters to
drop into the fray, others still, were on hoverbikes equipped with cannons. Sean and about 75 or
so others were down by the main gate, ready to charge the line. These few were the top ranked
Hunters, for they had no bikes, copters, or anything, just their cannons and plasma weapons.
They were trained for this kind of melee combat, however and knew the drill well.
Sean stood amongst the others, a little more towards the front. Vicky was a few feet
away to his right. He glanced over at her, she looked nowhere near as worried as he did. Even
though Sean was very used to battles and usually calm and collected, this time he was on edge.
It wasn�t like he was afraid of getting shot or stabbed or slashed to bits, Sean knew that
would probably never happen. What worried Sean the most was that something would happen
that wasn�t supposed to. Now that Vicky and him had become an item, he felt a sense of
responsibility for her, and he blamed himself for her capture the last time.
The other thing that worried him, and perhaps what worried him the most, was that he
would lose it in battle. That he would feel the agonizing pain in his temples, that his eyes would
flare blood red and he would go mad, perhaps even Maverick. That would not be good. Not at
all. The Energen Crystal of Tyrone was dangling from his neck, and it was an ever-present
reminder of what he had done, the vow he had fulfilled, and what he was capable of.
Vicky glanced over at Sean. She knew that he was not looking normal, not like he had the
day they went out against Tyrone. Of course, she realized that after that ordeal, he might never
be quite the same again. Vicky kept telling herself that it was just a battle, there was nothing new,
even though she felt the same responsibility as Sean did, she knew she had to keep it real.
Amongst all the tension and feelings of apprehension, there was total silence. It was kind
of eerie. Suddenly, the silence was slowly broke by the sound of a hoverbick whirring closer to
the base. Techon activated the monitor and Sean saw that it was X, in his black force armor,
speeding toward the gate. When he was about 100 yards away, Techon opened the blast doors
and the hoverbike sped inside and stopped with relative ease.
The doors were hastily closed again, and X jumped off the bike. He looked around the
ranks of the Hunters, he saw the ones on the helipads, the ones in the vehicle bay, and then the
melee fighters. Finally he found what he was looking for; a 6 foot 3 inches red reploid with long
blonde hair and deep icy eyes. He slowly approached Sean. He also glimpsed Vicky, who came
and stood next to Sean.
�I see you were successful.� X said stiffly, looking from Vicky to the Energen Crystal of
who he knew was Tyrone around Sean�s neck.
�Would you have expected anything else?� Sean said smiling, trying to releive the obvious
tension.
�No, no. Come to think of it I wouldn�t. I was worried though. I see you are better...�
X indicated Sean�s eyes.
�Not entirely.� Sean said, then he motioned for X to follow him away from the ranks.
�So what happened?� X asked reluctantly.
�Nothing too outrageous, I arrived at Tyrone�s compound about 2 hours after I left here.
He held Vicky captive, bait for me, and all part of a master plan of his, at least that�s what she
told me. The only really disturbing thing aside from my obvious virus problem, was that right
before I killed Ty, I saw him. I saw Zero. I saw his whole life flash before my eyes, then I saw
my own, then they ran together, and suddenly it stopped.
I remember speaking to Tyrone in a voice that wasn�t mine, yet it was, and I saw a vision
of what looked like me and Zero combined. Then I severed his head, fulfilling the vow. Then the
visions reversed, and I was normal again, eyes and all.�
X looked at Sean, deep in thought, taking it all in. It didn�t quite make sense to him, but it
did a little in an odd sort of way. Somehow their essences had touched, Sean�s and Zero�s. For a
brief moment they were one person. This was something X had never heard of, probably never
wanted to.
�I�m going to need you to get Cain down here to check me out and see if we can get this
fixed.� Sean paused. �To tell you the truth X, I�m a little nervous that I might lose it out there,
that I might lose her out there.�
�Let me guess, you got the girl. Typical damsel in distress story. Haha.� X smiled, sort
of bypassing Sean�s last statement.
�How�d you know? You just a good guesser?� Sean smiled back.
�Nah. Truth be told, I knew all along she had a thing for you. I woulda had to be blind
not to see it in the way she looks at you when your back is turned. Of course, you weren�t so low
profile yourself. She�s the only one I�ve ever known that could give you the butterflies man.� X
grinned.
�Was I that obvious?� Sean cocked an eyebrow.
�Not like totally head over heels obvious, but I could tell what was going on, and what
was gonna happen if you and her made it back, but I haven�t been to sure of things these days.
With good reason you know.�
The two friends� conversation was interrupted by what sounded like a herd of buffalo
charging toward the base. Actually, it was the Maverick army, led by Ryou. The two, who had
lost track of time, hurriedly ran back to the ranks and stood in front of the video screen. They
could see the army charging, about 300 yards away from the base.
Suddenly the whole force stopped. The ranks divided and one single Reploid walked ever
so calmly up to the front of the army. You can probably guess who it was, Ryou. He stood
calmly there, in the breeze and blowing dust. He took out a little circular device and held it up to
his mouth. It acted as a sort of megaphone.
�My, my, it seems that my fellow Hunters have put together a welcome-back party for
me.� Ryou grinned evilly.
The Dynamo Twist
X marched up to a box below the screen and spoke into it, his voice shot out across the
land just as loud as Ryou�s. �My ass, Ryou. You are a disgrace to �your fellow Hunters�.
You�re nothing but a Maverick spy. You have some guts coming back here.�
�Ha! Well, I was always recognized for my so called gutsyness. Tell me now, X, where is
your precious red weapon?�
�I am here Ryou. Your friend was not successful in his mission, I wear his crystal around
my neck.� Sean stepped up and said.
Ryou was a bit taken aback, just enough to make it visible. He was surprised his plan had
failed. After all, he had �helped� the virus that morning like he was told to, he had done
everything. �I guess Tyrone wasn�t as competent as I took him to be. Did you find your little
malfucntion the least bit troublesome?� Ryou said as he held up the device that he had used to
activate the virus.
�You did this? I should have known, you always keeping your secrets. Why did you
double cross us, Ryou?� Sean said, eyes wide with anticipation.
�I had very good reasons for keeping those secrets, Sean. I also had great motive to do all
this. X, do you recall a Maverick by the name of Dynamo?� Ryou questioned.
X�s eyes widened a bit. �Yes, Zero and I killed him a few years ago. What�s it to you?�
�Oh, well I just thought you might want to know that he was my brother.� Ryou said
dramatically.
�Not even.� X said, astonished.
�It is true, X. That is why I am doing all this, you and Zero killed him. You, I can get
back for that. Zero, however, as we all know, is nowhere to be found and in cryosleep. Sean is
part of him, carries some of his DNA and the like. He is the closest thing to that red bastard that I
can kill at this time. That is why I am doing this, X. To return a favor. You and Sean shall both
be killed by my hands.� Ryou had a rising tone of vengence in his voice.
�You want a piece of me?� Sean said defiantly.
�Oh yeah, tough guy. Indeed I do, and it will be of no challenge since you are
handicapped by your virus, thanks to me.� Ryou was casual, not at all worried. He had that
reckless confidence of a berserker that made him so dangerous.
�We shall see. Ready yourself, Ryou.� Sean drew his saber and awaited the opening of
the gates.
Love and War
Sean rotated his wrist, making a cool sort of looping motion with his saber. The plasma
blade hummed in a low pitch as it traveled through the air. He glanced over to Techon, basically
the only Hunter not taking part in the blood bath. He waited a second, then nodded. Techon
pushed a button and the wide gates slid open. Then, all Hell broke loose.
The warriors on both sides ran full bore towards each other. The helicopter like devices
started spinning and hovering, flying towards the masses. Hoverbikes with reploids carrying
plasma lances and charging their cannons whirred towards their enemies. The ground shook with
the feet of almost 600 reploidal machines of destruction pounding down on the dirt and rocks.
Sean was in the midst of it all. He ran swiftly through the ranks, quickly and agilly helping
those who had met the line headlong, cutting down a Maverick with each swipe, letting the other
Hunter move on to another foe. Sean wasn�t concerned with the enemies around him, he ran,
driven by adrenaline, or what passed for it in reploids, towards his main target, Ryou.
Sean made the art of killing look effortless. He took his saber into a lancing poise and
would spear whatever unlucky enemy he ran into, then he would simply twist the blade and it
would slice right through the armor like a hot knife through butter. Others were doing the same.
The constant sound of plasma charges being shot could be heard behind him, the whirrs and
clangs of both sides locked in mortal combat around him, the sound of the helicopter fighters
above his head.
Every now and then, someone on the helicopter devices would be shot down, and the
spinning blades would hit the ranks along with the bodies, causing hazard to both sides.
Hoverbikes would explode, lancing riders ejected at vicious speeds, sharp points impaling friend
and foe alike. Needless to say, the Hunters had the advantage, they had the bikes and chopper
devices. The Maverick army�s superior numbers did not seem to take that much effect.
The Hunter line was advancing, especially around Sean. He found himself temporarily
surrounded by the Maverick ranks, but quickly got himself out by pulling a wild whirlwind motion
with his saber, swinging it in wide circles, rotating with it, separating lower body from upper all
around him.
Vicky spotted Sean a few yards away from her on the battle field. She saw the raw power
in his movements, then she saw the icy blue fury in his eyes. Hot blooded fury was driving the red
warrior closer and closer to Ryou, who was now within Sean�s sight. Vicky quickly diverted her
attention from her love to the two enemies charging her.
Sean spotted Ryou. He quickly glanced around him for X, who was about twelve feet
back, causing havoc with Zero�s saber. Sean decided to withdraw a bit and help the other
Hunters, realizing he was losing himself in the midst of his blood lust.
�There he is!!!� Sean shouted over the sounds of battle and death at X, pointing to Ryou,
who was fighting about twenty feet away.
�I see him!! Let�s get over there and confront him!� X shouted back between deadly
blows.
Sean and X stood side by side slowly advancing on Ryou. X reverted to firing charges
from his arm cannon, while Sean sliced any Maverick that got too near, and deflecting other shots
with his saber blade. They got about ten feet from Ryou, who�s concious was lost in the melee.
Sean quickly tossed his saber into his left hand and converted to his wicked arm cannon. He
charged a shot and hit Ryou right in the left shoulder.
�That should get his attention.� Sean said as he returned the saber to his right hand.
All immediate fighting around the three expert warriors stopped. Ryou got up from a
knee, holding his left shoulder with his right hand, his plasma sword in its sheath across his back.
He turned to see Sean and X, and motioned for a wide space to be given to them. The Mavericks
backed off, some going on forward to meet the ever oncoming Hunters.
�A rather cheap shot, don�t you think?� Ryou glared at Sean.
�No,� X quickly fired off a charge, hitting Ryou in the other shoulder, forcing him to take
a few steps back, �that was a cheap shot.�
�A fighter of such valor like yourself taking cheap shots at a foe? I thought you better
than that, X� Ryou said contemptuously.
�Better, I am.� X drew Zero�s saber again.
�Prove it.� Ryou drew his.
Sean stood back, watching the two duel it out. One was a blue blur, blocking and slashing
with incredible speed. It occured to him that this was Mega Man X that he was seeing, and he
wondered if he had expected any less. The other was a traitor, a backstabber who had made Sean
the way he was now, his blue eyes bloodshot, a slight headache coming on. Sean would have
gladly taken X�s place and repayed the favor he owed to Ryou, but it was really not his choice
now.
The battle went on for twenty minutes or more, both fighters seeming evenly matched.
Both fighters had been knicked with each other�s blades, and little sparks and pieces of wires
could be seen here and there. All of a sudden, the tide shifted in the fight.
X made a reckless stab at Ryou�s chest, a move he should have never pulled. Ryou
ducked under X�s blade, and shoved up with his own, completely running X through. The blue
reploid�s eyes widened in pain and surprise as he felt the hot plasma pierce his robotic body.
Ryou stood up and pulled the blade out, and X dropped to his knees.
Sean took a second to soak in what just happened. His best friend had just been beaten.
Suddenly, whatever sanity in him remained, left him. Whirrrrreeeeeeeeeee!!! He charged a full
shot with his cannon and shot Ryou square in the chest with it, causing him to go flying back and
putting a dent in his armor. Ryou lay there for awhile, and Sean approached X hastily.
�Shit. It�s ok man, your gonna be fine. It�s all ok.� Sean said.
�Quit bullshittin� me man. I�m through, you know it and I know it. Too bad I don�t have
one of those big final speeches they have in the movies.� X was still comical, even though the
situation was grave. He reached for Zero�s saber, and held it out.
�Take this, Sean. Zero would have wanted you to have it. He is a part of you, and this is
a part of him. Take it and become one. Be strong, Sean, be strong. I�d have never admitted this,
but your the best there is... I have total faith in you. You know what must be done.� X dropped
the saber as he coughed. Sparks and coolant shot and spurted from the wound in his midsection.
Suddenly his whole body relaxed, and X�s eyes closed.
Thus, Mega Man X, the first reploid ever made, perhaps the most valiant warrior and most
powerful of them all, the legacy of Dr. Thomas Light; passed on and out of a world of hate,
chaos, war, and bloodshed.
Sean bowed his head momentarily, and the first tear that anybody had ever seen him cry
slid down his cheek. He looked up and over at Ryou. His icy eyes narrowed as he picked up
Zero�s saber. The plasma blade felt strangely familiar in his hands. It was more comfortable to
hold than his own. He got up and walked a few steps toward Ryou, who was standing patiently,
unphased aside from the dent in his chest.
�Better, he was not...� Ryou said mockingly.
�I�ll not die so easily.� Sean glared at him, holding Zero�s saber in two hands in front of
him.
�En garde then.� Ryou said with evil humor as he took a stance with his own saber.
Sean rushed in and took an offensive unlike any other. He was going at Ryou, driven by
the fury that fills you when someone kills a loved one. His blood ran hotter than the deepest
Hellfire as he slashed, deflected, and slashed again.
The two fighters were now moving with lightning speed, each one trying to best the other
at every turn, finding no avial. Then, the unthinkable happened. Sean and Ryou locked sabers
just long enough for a dishonerable Ryou to shoot him with his free arm. The shot knocked Sean
back about three feet and layed him flat on the ground.
Ryou took the advantage and walked over to him. He stood over Sean and twirled his
saber, showing off before he vanquished his foe. He then took the saber and thrust it down into
Sean�s chest. Electrical sparks shot out as Sean�s body tensed. Ryou drew out his saber and
sheathed it. He smiled and started to walk away.
Persona Reunited
Vicky could not believe her eyes. She forgot the battle and knelt and wept. Her beloved
was dead. No. He couldn�t be, not Sean, not her idol of passion. She couldn�t believe it. Ryou
was a few steps off, smiling defiantly, when he stopped, hearing a noise behind him. He turned
around.
Sean was on one knee, moaning in agony. He was breathing heavily, barely alive. He
clutched Zero�s saber in his right hand. After a moment, the cries of pain stopped. Sean looked
up, still on one knee. His eyes flared bright red, a red far surpassing the color of his armor.
Slowly he stood, never taking his eyes off of Ryou. The wound on his chest, well, there was no
wound. It was gone, simply gone.
�How... how can this be?!� Ryou said, visibly shaken.
�As I said,� Sean bellowed in that voice that was not his, but Zero�s, �I�ll not die so easily.
Ryou, brother of Dynamo whom I defeated many years ago, you have killed my dearest friend in
the world, and you shall pay. He fought in my honor once, now I shall fight in his.�
Ryou stood staring blankly for a moment, finally grasping that the real Zero was speaking
through Sean. The brother of Dynamo was in for more than he had bargained for.
�Ready yourself.� Sean said quietly, in his own voice this time. His eyes shifted to icy
blue again as he stood poised. It seemed that Zero�s saber was glowing brighter now, and that
the white light was spreading around his whole body.
Ryou drew his saber. It was the first time he had actually been scared. The fear of God
was in him, no, not God, this was something more. Whatever it was, it scared the holy shit out of
him. Despite his fear, Ryou accepted the challenge.
They went at each other. Sean was fighting with a zeal and skill not all his own. Ryou
was defending against endless blows, rather than working to attack.
�Where is his power coming from?� Ryou thought.
Ryou was getting tired, the duel had only been going on for a little more than ten minutes,
but Sean�s blows were growing in force and speed. Ryou quickly held up his blade to block a
blow to his neck.
The block was not successful. Sean struck with so much force that Ryou�s plasma blade
literally split in two, half of it falling to the ground. Ryou could not believe it. Never in all of
time had any plasma weapon been broken, let alone by a reploid bearing another one. Ryou
dropped what was left of the blade and kneeled down, bowing his head.
�You have won. I request that you let me die with honor.� Ryou said in what passed for
a begging tone.
�Traitors have no honor.� Sean said coldly as he took Zero�s blade and ran Ryou through
with it in much the same way as Ryou had killed X.
The thrust lifted Ryou off the ground about an inch or so. Sean quickly turned the blade
and it sliced through the rest of Ryou�s body, letting it fall to the ground. Sean took out the same
tool he had used on Tyrone, and popped out Ryou�s Energen Crystal. He took the crystal and
slid it on the chain he wore next to Tyrone�s. He then sheathed his saber and turned to the battle
going on around him.
The Maverick army, seeing their commander dead and their numbers dwindling, was
begining to retreat. The remaining Hunters who were not staring spellbound at Sean were
pursuing them, taking no prisoners. Sean turned to Vicky, who was totally at a loss for emotions
or words.
Sean walked over to her, and grabbed her in a huge embrace. He pulled away after a
moment and looked into her eyes. She had tears in her eyes, tears of sorrow before, tears of
happiness now. She returned his hug with another one.
�It�s over Vicky, it�s ok now.� Sean said, trying to comfort her.
�I know Sean, I know. I was so scared. I thought I�d lost you.� Vicky said, half crying.
�Don�t worry. You will never lose me, not now, not ever. I love you.� Sean said
�I love you too.� Vicky answered.
Sean pulled away and went over to the body of X. He picked it up and motioned for
Vicky to follow him. The three warriors, two walking, one resting in peace, forever in the hearts
of his comrades, made their way back to the base in the fading sunlight. They bypassed the bodies
of friend and foe alike, leaving the field of bloodshed and sorrow, and the setting of horrible and
yet triumphant events.
Sean�s hair wavered in the breeze. His eyes were icy blue again, with a new determination
in them. He was a new person now. It seemed his change was for the better. The curse had
turned out to be a blessing after all. The �Rebel� had made him a legend.