X, Alia, Zero, Iris, and Octavia sat together on a blanket spread in a grassy field, enjoying a picnic together. Admittedly, in order for it to be the private affair the group wanted, they were having the picnic in a simulated field in the Training Simulator, rather than a public park or anything similar. Still, after the intense events of the past week - so much had happened, it was hard to believe it had only been that long - any respite was a welcome one.
Zero had his own wonderful news he'd shared with all of them as soon as they'd settled in. The first Reploid Gate had attempted to resurrect with Zero's help - Duff McWhalen - had been resurrected in a complete success. The extraction of neural and spiritual pattern from within Zero had occurred without a hitch, and the reproduced body proved exactly what was needed, accepting the imprint perfectly. Not only that, Duff's first words upon full reactivation proved it was a true resurrection. He'd opened his eyes, looked at Zero, and asked, "Didn't you just kill me?"
Octavia still found it rather amusing that such a question - which would have been considered a bad thing in any other circumstance - was greeted with such enthusiasm. She couldn't help but imagine Duff's face when the response he got was Zero and Gate promptly toasting success with a cold one.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Gate would be continuing to explore Zero's coding to see if the other Reploids' psyches were also stored, and if so transfer them into new bodies. This news was greeted warmly by X, Alia, and Octavia...though Iris teased Zero a bit about one of them - Grizzly Slash - being one of her exes that might decide to test if Zero was 'worthy' of her. Zero, being Zero, had welcomed the challenge, claiming it excited him. Iris had playfully covered his mouth before he could say anymore.
As the group sat together, Iris' communicator beeped. Sighing, she activated it and held it to her ear. "Yes, what is it?" she asked ruefully, rolling her eyes. Her eyes suddenly widened. "Really? Go ahead and send him up." She quickly deactivated her communicator. "Zero, a Repliforce Liaison Officer is here to see you."
"Liaison Officer?" Zero asked, confused. "I thought you were our Repliforce Liaison."
"Not exactly," Iris explained. "Any member of Repliforce can serve as a Liaison with other branches of the military, but the Liaison Branch is specifically for handling interactions at large between Repliforce and other aspects of the government. It's their job to handle matters of public relations and the legal loopholes involved in fielding a Reploid military force."
"So...somewhere between press agents and JAG officers?" X clarified.
"Something like that, but much more important," Iris confirmed. "Part of their job is sounding out the views of the public - both human and Reploid - so as to work to change the laws in order to prevent the various frictions that cause the non-Virus related Maverick activities. They're very well trusted by humans and Reploids, and are in position to wield a great deal of political influence should they need to."
"And this one...wants to see me," Zero concluded. "Did he give you any hint as to why?"
"No, but it probably has something to do with recent events," Iris offered. "They tend to move fast when they can."
At that moment, a door opened smoothly in the apparent air of the field, allowing someone entry. The figure was tall, easily taller than Signas, and armored in the same design of green and yellow. Unlike Signas' design, however, this figure had two large sheaths of some sort hanging off his back from his shoulders, obviously holding some sort of equipment, though its exact nature wasn't visible. As he approached, he stood at firm attention, saluting. Since he remained there, Zero eventually got to his feet and returned the salute. "Zero," the figure greeted, "I'm Colonel Redips, Repliforce Liaison Officer. I'm here regarding the events of the Eurasia Incident."
Zero nodded calmly. "Alright. What is it specifically you wanted to address?"
"While most of the events of the Incident are still classified, the public has heard of two major players in these events," Redips continued. "Gate's Reploids and evac-domes managed to keep the death toll down to an almost unbelievable level, and you yourself risked life and limb to crash the shuttle into the colony, preventing it from impacting the surface, which could easily have reached ELE levels of destruction and desolation. While everyone involved in resolving the incidents will be receiving the expected commendations and awards - and likely promotions - the public learning of what you and Gate did has opened the doors for a great deal of pressure to be applied to the government in certain areas, especially in regards to Reploid Rights. Humans and Reploids alike want to see you and Gate receive a substantial reward beyond what the system is currently designed to grant. I'm here to ask what you want."
Zero stifled a snicker. "What, is this where you offer me three wishes?" he asked jokingly.
"One, actually," Redips corrected. "Gate already stated that what he wants is free reign to continue his research into RDNA without oversight. While we were unable to give him completely free reign, he was happy to accept it being fully funded with only Maverick Hunter oversight, specifically you and X. So..." Redips squared his shoulders. "What's one thing you want, more than anything else, that you can't have as the world is now? That you'd like to see the world change so you can have it?"
Zero stroked his chin in thought. While he was tempted to laugh the offer off, the firm stance Redips was taking left him actually considering it, thinking if there was anything he wanted that he couldn't have...and then seeing if there was anything on that list that might be in Redips power to grant, or arrange to be granted. Then he remembered his mention about Reploid Rights.
Reaching down, he took Iris' hand in his. "Just one thing," he said simply. "I want to get married." As Iris gasped, Zero looked Redips in the eyes. "And I don't mean just some informal agreement and a ceremony. I want it to be real." He turned to Iris with a smile, gently wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes with a fingertip.
Redips frowned thoughtfully, his eyes flickering as lines of data raced back and forth. He then smiled widely. "I think we can make that happen," he replied simply, making Octavia gasp happily.
Got to worry that they stay sober for the rest...
Makes me want to see a Mega Man X version of A Few Good Men.
And I can totally see Octavia being the Flower Filly.
Hmm… a guy whose name is spider backwards? This might be legit, but it's probably not. Zero, be careful not to get caught in whatever webs this guy might be spinning.
Tavi's gonna have an aunt and a mom!
Well then, better start buying tickets for the ceremony now, odds are the good seats will be gone before a reploid can blink.
7506519 Let's check his canonicity before we shoot him, I didn't say put the gun down.
7506526 I'm just saying. He's doing a really transparent name reversal; whether he'll make good on his promise or not, he's definitely hiding something. I'm not suggesting anything drastic, just....I'll be keeping an eye on this reploid.
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...well, he is the major villain in Command Mission...
Wait, Colonel Redips? Oh gosh! Command Mission will be in the story!
<---(Only exposure to Mega Man as a franchise was the Zero and ZX series+Battle Network)
7506584 ...Nice spoilers, man.
7506584 dude, spoilers.
I'd like to see how Tatsurou does with a story that isn't a crossover/adoption story.
So it's been a hundred years, and Robots are allowed to make more complex choices, but they can't marry... Each other... There's no way I can phrase this without getting flak, so here's a word with historical significance: Nuts.
Anyways, the lanky swanky Redips had walked across a field. He had a proposition that had to be sealed. Then came a reply that was worthy of respect, while the lanky swanky Redips surely wouldn't deflect... See ya!
You know, I'm just wondering how many exes Iris has. Seven? Though the colonel is probably a bonus fight. Hmm... Zero Pilgrim... Dang, can't think of a name. Anyone have ideas?
Another enjoyable chapter. Great job.
One question, Tats. At one point, Redips refers to an ELI. Did you mean ELE, as in Extinction-Level Event?
OH FUCK
i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--zkrOnmeX--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/zf71o87x56l3smuv6fbx.jpg
So, I was having a closer look at the cover artwork, and realized that Sting Chameleon is overlayed by Octavia.... and that some of his piping is flesh toned... and one of these pipes is visible through Octy's undercarriage....
MEANWHILE, THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF HOURS AGO, at WubLabs:
pre12.deviantart.net/cd8e/th/pre/f/2013/242/6/2/vinyl_scratch_licking_screen_by_flamelauncher14-d6kdgi3.png
Ah yes...Redlip-I mean Redips.
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Oops. Post edited. Don't know where my head is tonight.
That said, the game is how old now?
Surely that ranks up there with mentioning the death of a certain flower girl in FFVII.
...or the death of a certain general in the game before that.
...or the death of the grandfatherly figure in the game before that.
...or the non-deaths of half the cast in the game before that.
...or the fact that that the forth party member keeps getting killed off and replaced in FFII.
Marking the above spoilers as well, just in case.
Edit: ...and apparently Spoiler Tags can't cover multiple paragraphs.
7506980 Well, the game is not that well known if you compare it to those examples (command mission is basically an over-looked game by today's standards).
7506991
...huh. Maybe it just seemed more popular to me due to the fact that it is an RPG, which plants it square in my wheel house, set in the Megaman universe, thus making it more so.
Yay! Marriage!
What an interesting request. definitely looking forward to the wedding. do you think Zero would want a gift or just money. Cant show up to a wedding empty handed
7506592
7506599
He put a spoiler tag.
7506519 dudes is the main antagonist in meganan x command mission... nigga gonna turn maverick later on
7508893 I had this discussion already. Mark that as spoilers, dude.
7507908 Tell that to Celestia and Luna! lol
I can barely imagine what sort of world Volnutt is running around in.
Eh, will Vynil be in the ceremony?
7506566
Pretty sure this is the same Colonel Redips from Command Mission. While a turn-based RPG was a bizarre turn for the franchise, I had a ton of fun with it.
Oh no, no no no. Zero that wish..... no.
Weddings never ever turn out well. It has been (crap too hyped for Pokémon S&M to remember the correct amount of time) but the last wedding I read turned out horrifying. Tatsurou, you aren't ripping the scab off that are you?
please don't let the wedding end the same way as rock's did in www story
8204235
You just made me feel an incomprehensible amount of feels... Why man... Why?
>>bronyvamp
...goddamnit man i was ssooo happy and now im sad
that wedding BETTER NOT get attacked by some random asshole, and if someone DID plan to mess with it i hope cici tore them limb from limb