When X came to, the first sensation he experienced was a tiny form slamming into his chest hard enough to drive him back against the med table he realized he was laying in. "Hey Octavia," he muttered without bothering to open his eyes or activate any other more advanced sensors. His hand came up of its own accord to rub her back. "I take it I've been-" Another familiar form slammed into him from a different direction, pinning him completely to the med table. "...hey Alia..." he managed to mumble past the hair in his mouth.
"In answer to the question you both were trying to ask," Lifesaver spoke up, "a week."
X's eyes snapped open. As he'd thought, Octavia and Alia were clinging to him tightly, and Iris was clinging to Zero just as tightly on the next med table over. "A week?" X managed to gasp out.
"Guess Sigma planned better than we thought," Zero grumbled, managing to sit up without letting go of Iris. "So what have we missed?"
"As soon as the ladies will let you go enough for me to give you a full check up, Signas will brief you," Lifesaver growled out, glaring at Iris, Alia, and Octavia. The two Reploids blushed in embarrassment, pulling back. Octavia, however, turned and blew a raspberry at the no-nonsense medical Reploid.
"Tavi," Zero chided.
"Alright," Octavia replied, rolling her eyes as she hopped down, letting Lifesaver do his job.
Signas stood boldly before the gathered Hunters, their numbers greatly reduced. "I'm afraid today is bad news layered atop bad news," he began morosely. "First off, when Sigma was destroyed, he released enough concentrated Viral Energy to blanket the entire globe." Turning, he called up a satellite image, showing the entire planet covered in a purple fog. "The density isn't as bad at ground level, except in certain places, but already several Reploids have been consumed by the clouds, going Maverick and destroying everything in their path. Thankfully, the Virus Clouds can't penetrate through solid stone, and several pre-End Times underground facilities that had been excavated prior to these events have been rapidly retrofit into shelters, and the vast majority of the population - both human and Reploid - have been evacuated into these shelters before the worst of the viral storm consumed the world."
"Why is it purple?" Octavia asked curiously.
"B-beg pardon?" Signas demanded, confused.
"When Sigma appeared in viral form before this, he was always green," Octavia explained. "But the clouds are purple. And how is the virus spreading as clouds, anyway? That's not how viral programs spread naturally. Computer programs aren't airborne!"
Signas could only shrug. "Those are some of the many questions we can't answer about this conflict," he explained. "Beyond that, this virus somehow is effecting organics as well. Humans and creatures of various types have also been infected, whether or not they have cybernetic components. So far, we've only determined four individuals who are unaffected by this Viral Energy: X, Zero, CiCi, and Prometheus."
"Prometheus is here?" X gasped out, surprised.
"He was," Signas clarified. "He dropped off something for Octavia that he said would protect her from the Viral Energy, then immediately left to scout infected areas. He's been sending in reports via Gate's lab, which is also protected from the Viral Energy due to one of Gate's more recent experiments. He isn't entirely sure why it does so, so he can't duplicate it yet." He turned back to the screen, and the image changed, this time to a view of space. "On top of that, somehow a Viral Infection of similarly massive proportions made it past the Eurasia Space Colony's viral scanners, and the colony's orbit is now slowly decaying. It will crash in approximately 16 hours, so we have no time to play it safe. Every Hunter we can give even the most basic of protections to needs to be on assignment to support one of two countermeasures we've prepared to prevent the colony's crash." He stepped back. "I will allow Colonel of Repliforce to explain the two plans we have developed."
Colonel stepped forward, nodding to everyone. "Repliforce has a great deal of resources at its disposal, which should prove useful in stopping the collision. The first and safer plan involves upgrading the Enigma Laser Cannon to its maximum operating potential and firing a full power blast at the colony with the intent of vaporizing it. We have determined four methods we can use to upgrade the Enigma within the time frame. Unfortunately, there are four Reploids we'll have to deal with in that regard to access the resources we need...and there's high probability that all have gone Maverick."
The screen began displaying the Reploids as Colonel described them. "First up is Grizzly Slash." The computer displayed a massive brown bear Reploid, heavily armored, his left arm completely covered with a massive red clawed gauntlet. "He's a weapons broker, and he has a focusing crystal we need to improve the Enigma's targeting system. Someone will have to go and enter negotiations with him for possession of the crystal...or, if he's become too infected, take him down and retrieve it. Negotiations need to be completed within two hours of dispatch. If a deal hasn't been brokered by then, whoever takes this mission is authorized to use whatever means necessary to acquire the focusing crystal...whether or not Grizzly Slash has gone Maverick."
Colonel did his best to ignore the stunned murmurs as the screen displayed the next Reploid, a massive blue whale with legs. "Duff McWhalen has been tending to the Earth's oceans for some time, protecting and preserving them. In order to properly fuel the Enigma, we'll need a supply of hydrogen, and the ocean is unfortunately the only readily available source, and we'll need to work with - or through - McWhalen in order to set up the hydrogen harvesting machinery. Unfortunately, due to the amount of time it will take to harvest enough hydrogen, this mission will have to be completed within the hour."
The next displayed Reploid was a blue and white bipedal squid. "Squid Addler is a retired Maverick Hunter, who specialized in the manipulation of massive amounts of electricity. One of the devices he utilized for this was an Energy Cart, which we will need to properly power the Enigma. Unfortunately, he's the one of these four most likely to have suffered heavy exposure to the Virus, and thus most likely to have gone completely Maverick. Whoever goes after him...will have to be prepared to terminate one of your own brother Hunters."
Dead silence was the only response as Colonel moved to the final Reploid, a red and black humanoid firefly. "Izzy Glow is a renowned doctor of engineering, and has created any number of useful and advanced devices. We will need to acquire his Laser Device in order to upgrade the Enigma's firing device to handle the amount of energy we will need to hit the colony with. While his lab is completely covered in the Viral Clouds, we have no details on the doctor's status."
The screen changed back to a world map, and Colonel spoke up again. "However, no matter how much we upgrade the Enigma...it is unlikely to be able to handle the stresses of being fired, so we will only get one shot. While we can hope it will succeed, if it fails...there is a backup plan. We have an old Space Shuttle that can be used to ram the colony. There is no guarantees there either...and it is our hope the plan won't even be necessary."
Signas once more stepped up. "Our best and most skilled hunters will be tackling these missions, alongside Colonel himself, who has volunteered to assist us. While he doesn't have the same immunities to the Viral Energy, he has been equipped with the Virus Buster program based off the Hikari Antibody the longest, and it has already proven effective at dispersing the Viral Clouds. And we have a special job for one of our elite. Octavia Melody!"
Octavia snapped to attention, stunned. "S-sir?" she began, half afraid she was going to be held back in base to 'protect' her.
"The most vulnerable point of both plans is the construction site where the Enigma and shuttle will be worked on," Signas explained. "We need one of our best there to guard it for the full 16 hours, or until the colony has been stopped. As the upgrade Prometheus provided for you will need to be recharged every half hour, sending you into the field is not an option, as you and Varia will be independently vulnerable to the Viral Clouds. As such, your job will be to guard the construction site with your life against any and all Maverick activity. If the Enigma or the shuttle is sabotaged before they can be completed, all will be lost."
Nodding, Octavia saluted. "Understood, sir!" she replied. She didn't like that she had to remain behind, but she understood why. And her job was important, arguably the most important in this mission. She wouldn't let anyone down.
Signas nodded. "X, Zero, CiCi, the three of you are the only ones we can send out, along with Colonel. Choose your missions carefully."
Well, this is gonna be good, can't wait.
PS, virus is purple and airborne because it's Wiley's virus thing.
Officially the best reploid name ever.
6980518
Author knows why it's purple. Characters don't. Also, you're wrong.
6980543
Might be Starforce referencing the game. Signas is an actual character from X5.
You know, when you kept mentioning "Prometheus, Prometheus!", I always thought you were talking about this guy.
vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/megaman/images/6/6e/Prometheus.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080328040035
But now, after thinking about what Prometheus was in Greek Mythology, as well as actually using the few marbles I have left... it turns out it's him. Sort of interesting, to be honest. But I wonder... whatever happened to the Robot who has no other desire than to be the world's strongest?... Oh, wait, that was how it was in canon... the one who has no greater desire than to protect his sister?...
Well, see you.
6980518 I would have only affected robots then.
First off...in the previous chapter...X and Zero insult taxi cabs by questioning they're place in NEW YORK of all places...and now...YOU GAVE THE BOSSES NORMAL NAMES!!!!
HERSEY!!!!!
6980573 You can't blame me for guessing that, it was a logical conclusion.
6980598 I'm pretty sure those bosses are actually named that. I have X5 on the PS1 and X Collection on the GC.
Okay, holy shit, this is tense and exciting. Eagerly awaiting the next chapter!
Wow. You weren't kidding, this is where shit hits the fan.
6980580 its a bob and george reference. the aftermath of the first time travel arc introduces him.
Oh, Mega Man X5. This game hates me. Played through the game as Zero, and I should have gotten the good ending, but instead I got the bad ending and so I rage quit when I had to fight Zero as a completely vanilla X.
6980638 That's what they were originally named, yes.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good work.
Wait... what the... when did the title pic change?
6980937 Hmm, after looking at the wikipedia entry, it seems like a rather entertaining departure from the mainstream. Perhaps I'll give it a look whenever I get the time.
Poor Tavi, but at least they have a good reason for keeping her back. Plus, we get to see Colonel and Cici in action! I really hope they don't have to kill Squid Addler, as a former Maverick Hunter I'd hate to see X or Zero have to terminate him.
6980573 Reference to the Smooze perhaps? I could be wrong as well.
6981558
The purple virus clouds aren't a reference.
a very exciting chapter, Can't wait to see the next one. Shits gunna hit the fan. Am happy that Octavia is being left behind cuse it means that we might get an octavia only chapter , aswell as another CiCi only chapter squeee
6981563 Doh! Hmm... Better luck next time for me then.
Thus begins the assault against Guns and Roses.
6980598
The taxi cabs had freaking buzzsaws on the front. Any sane person would question that.
Also, that's really how those reploids are named. There's also The Skiver, Mattrex, Dark Dizzy, and Axle the Red, apparently.
[*Faerydae feels like listening to Guns N' Roses music now.]
6982099 Do you know the story to how they got those names? Because I do, and it makes me groan.
I remember one time I played X5, and fired the cannon before killing anyone and actually blew up the place. I was a bit flabbergasted.
Purple cloud of bad? Wait a second, I remember something like that! It's Evil Energy! That's the only canon thing I can think of!
Well, ain't that a stinker!
PS: Will probably start drawing you-know-what finally.
6985326 Doctah Wahwee.
6985326 You mean from the Mega Man Battle Network series? Why not?! Why not add a few Mega Man Star Force items!
This is cool, but seriously!
6986044
Actually, Evil Energy was first introduced in Mega Man 8.
6981563 Mhmmm. "All Idiot Balls have dropped", after all. There's no more "well, if they'd just done this it would've fixed everything!" option left to anyone, even as perceptive as 'Tavi. Drek City is colliding with Fan Alley, and it's a whole new breed of dookie from here on out. D:
Now, one I'm looking to see the results of in........ lesse, 40 or so chapters?
BURN! BURN! BURNTOTHEGROUND! BURN! BURNTOTHEGROUND! BURNTOTHEGROUND! BURN! BURN!
Edit: ah, we're this far already? I was reading to catch up. So, 12 or so?
Ooh! Shall you do Command Mission? That's actually one of my favorites in the series!
6990821
Command Mission will be covered.
6980532 6980982 6980598
True fact: Of course they're not named that in the original Japanese. But a woman who was working with the X5 translation team (somehow) got them all changed to reference Guns n' Roses band members, for her boyfriend, who is a fan.
<belts out "Sweet Child of Mine">
Wait, X should sing that at some point.
6990824
6985326 That reminds me:
DUO! YOU HAD ONE JOB!
Also, forgot a "meanwhile" back in the Crystal Snail fight. Ahem:
Meanwhile, thousands of light years away, in a snowy plain: a fragmented red horn gets an erection, and it doesn't know why. It only knows it's missing out on..... cyrssstallllsssss.
Oh crap, a colony drop scenario.
So, four missions that have to be executed simultaneously, and basically zero room for error. Well, let's hope nobody screws up.
6993780 Someone's gonna screw up, I know it.
6993780 Dear God... it's like UFO Aftermath all over again.
6990824
WOOT! /)(\
6994829
Given how the events of the original timeline turned out...
Well, is not X if things don't keep getting worse.
Of course the god robot upgraded by Vinyl's work.
now it's a race against the clock, 4 target's, 4 items, and 4 heroes each going after a seperate thing, the clock is ticking....