As X and Octavia beamed into the Crystal Mine, X held up his hand to stop Octavia from charging in. "We'll need to be extra careful here," he pointed out. "The crystals in this mine are a rich source of energy. A badly aimed shot could trigger an explosion...or a chain reaction explosion. Also, the energy fields will interfere with some systems."
"Sounds like I shouldn't call Classic, then," Octavia murmured. "Hopefully we'll be able to get out of here quickly..." She glanced around nervously. "This place gives me the creeps..."
"Then stay close to me," X instructed. "Let's go."
As they moved into the mine, they came across a few bat mechanaloids, which were easily dealt with. Not long after, they found a Ride Armor with spiked fists. "Whew," X gasped in relief. "Kinetic force shouldn't trigger any explosions." He hopped into the armor, Octavia sitting in his lap.
Octavia blinked as Varia's sensors pointed something out. "I'll be right back!" Climbing upward, she slid down a pit to a small platform before a large gap. She could see the Heart Tank off in the distance, much too far to reach normally. Charging both her busters, she switched to Speed Burner. Leaping into the air, she triggered an air dash, then released the charged Speed Burners one after the other, giving her the equivalent of a triple boosted air dash, letting her clear the pit completely to collect the Heart Tank. Thankfully, a floating platform carried her back across the pit, allowing her to climb back up to rejoin X.
In addition to the gauntlets of the Ride Armor being spiked, they could be charged up for a dashing punch to smash through obstacles. It also had a limited use jet pack on its back. With the exception of when the crystal formations blocking the path were out of position - unlike X and Octavia, the Ride Armor couldn't attack at an angle - it could carry them through nearly anything. When they came across a badly positioned crystal, either X or Octavia would hop out to investigate a means to clear the path.
Eventually, they were forced to abandon the Ride Armor because it couldn't go up high enough to clear a wall. At the top of the wall was a mechanaloid inside a crystal shell, blocking their path. It attacked with a remotely controlled drone which shot at them with a projectile that ricocheted off the walls. Though intimidating, it did not take long to break through the crystal casing to destroy the core.
After that, they had to race down a slope ahead of a crystal formation that broke away and was sliding after them. Escaping it, they followed another signal down into another pit. After passing several crystal based obstacles, they came across another Light Capsule.
Oddly, rather than immediately open, the capsule scanned them both first. When it opened, the Light hologram looked...perturbed. "It seems you have the armor upgrade...but it was downloaded without proper capsule activation. Who brought it to you?"
"We were told it was a reploid named Prometheus," X replied, noticing a widening of the hologram's eyes. "Do you know this reploid?"
The hologram stroked its chin. "Have you encountered him before?"
"He gave me these!" Octavia piped up, sliding her new visor down over her eyes.
The hologram looked close at the visor as the capsule scanned it. "Tell me...did this Reploid have an ancient looking but sturdy shield carried on his back?"
"That's what Lifesaver said!" Octavia confirmed. "And a scarf and a dark visor like this one!" The visor slid back into her helmet.
The hologram crossed its arms, looking miffed. "Well, isn't that just like him. He could have at least said hi..."
"You know this Reploid?" X asked, surprised. "How?"
"You and Zero aren't the only 'Reploids' who aren't actually Reploids, X," the hologram replied. "This Prometheus is another one...and a friend. Though given how long its been, I wouldn't be surprised if he's a little crotchety at this point."
X's eyes widened. "He's from your time? And still functional after all this time?"
"I'll let him tell his story when he wants to," the hologram stated firmly. "In the meantime, this helmet will give you enhanced radar capacity, to see objects and paths that were previously hidden to you, though it will use some energy to activate. Speaking of, the modifications to Rush are nearly complete. I should be able to deliver him to you soon."
X found himself smiling goofily at the idea of getting a robot dog for a pet. As the hologram vanished, the pair stepped into the capsule for the upgrade. Returning to the main path, the pair continued onward to find Crystal Snail, the mysterious Maverick that had run amok at that location.
Crystal Snail himself dropped in, his shell spinning around before landing on the ground right side up. Crystal Snail then stood up. "Greetings," he stated calmly. "I am Snail Man. I will destroy you."
Octavia blinked. "...Snail Man? I thought your name was Crystal Snail?"
"Negative. I am Snail Man. This is the designation I was given by my maker."
X frowned. "What are you doing here?"
"I am here to fulfill my part of Project Animus - in relation to Project Revelation - by engaging in battle with you."
Octavia frowned. "You mean...you sowed chaos in the energy crystal mine just to fight us?"
"Negative. I did that because it was fun."
X ground his teeth. "How did you do that spinning thing?" he asked curiously.
"I am magnetically connected to my shell. The delicate magnetic fields can be manipulated to-" Crystal Snail paused as he saw X and Octavia each switch to their Magnet Mine subweapon. "Oh...this is going to be so not fun."
X and Octavia proceeded to use Magnet Mine to bounce Crystal Snail and his shell around the room in a strange game of pinball.
As X and Octavia returned to the base, CiCi raced up to them. "The X Hunters are holding Santa Claus hostage!" she proclaimed dramatically.
X stared at her for a time as Octavia giggled. He then turned to Alia. "Can you explain what she means by that?" he asked as CiCi raced off to deliver her confusing message to someone else.
"The X Hunters base is located at the North Pole," Alia explained. "Also, they somehow managed to steal Zero and his parts."
"What?" Octavia demanded angrily. "They kidnapped Uncle Zero?"
"Zero is Santa Claus!" CiCi shouted out.
As Octavia's eyes widened in amazement, X turned back to the teleporter. "Get us there immediately, Alia!" he ordered.
"Yes sir!"
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!?
ZERO IS SANTA CLAUS!?
You are just, I love you man. P.S. Is Promethius = Protoman?
Proto Man, what are you doing here?
And so it was, that X and Octavia SAVED CHRISTMAS/HEARTHSWARMING!
Protoman's alive and kicking.
Hmmm...
Wait is Zero Santa! He is at least better then Robot Santa from Futurama.
GASP!
IT'S ZERO CLAUS!!!! YAY!!!!!
WHAT A TWEEST!! Epic. :D
Another enjoyable chapter. Good work.
protoman is still here..... he is probably a badass
I said it once.
I said it twice.
WAT DA FUQ?
Okay...I pretty sure that after Cici had her secret mission...she went full freaking Pinkie Pie on us....cripes that's an ugly thought.
The X Hunters lost the true meaning of Christmas...
THE TWIST! THE TWWWIIIIIIISSSSSTTTTT!!
and most folks who havent read Bob and George have realized who Prometheus is...
also the fact that Zero is the real Santa Claus.
Okay, I about choked trying to laugh around a burger. Well played.
6583666 daughter of an elder bieng Pinkie is copying Cici
LOL!!!!
Isn't it a bit early for Christmas?
6584561 Not if you're one of those people that instantly deck the halls once Halloween's over.
This reminds me of the time my dad told me Santa Claus was Odin. It made so much sense to ten year old me. Even now the theory is still cool.
Any chance Brit bot will get a minor cameo?
I can see him and Prometheus hanging out when Octy finds them using her powers of adorableness.
Suddenly Octavia became a devout believer in Santa once more. So, who wants to help her deck the halls first? No, really. There is only so much base to decorate after all.
6585128
...who's Brit bot?
Nice chapter, can't wait to see if X and Octavia manage to rescue some Elves as well as Santa. I can't wait to see Zero's reaction to his new Boob Lights.
6584606 Santa was actually inspired by Odin. Have you ever read the Dresden Files???
Who knew Prometheus was
protatoprotoman way before this chapter?*raises hand*6583551 If I remember correctly, it was mentioned earlier that Zero dressed up as Santa Claus and Octavia didn't know it was him... I think. I'll need to re-read earlier chapters.
6585281 Kieran, the one from the comic.
Snail Man? What are Robot Masters still doing being active in X's time? Is he one of Wily's?
6585667
What comic?
6586068
You're the first to catch that.
6586679 http://www.crowdedstreet.net/comic/tos/tos01.html This one.
6586828
Ah, that one.
As much as I like the comic, no. He's there for plot reasons specific to that universe, which don't apply to this one.
6586854 Kinda figured but I wanted to make sure anyways.
If you can't do the Crystal Time, don't do the Crystal Crime!
After running into a couple of pieces of writing I was unable to enjoy, I'd been beginning to think that my currently being sick was making me too grumpy to enjoy anything. Thanks for the good laugh that proved me wrong.
6584606
That's actually canon in Dresden Files.
6595661 Oh. My bad. I haven't seen Day of Sigma in a while, so I automatically thought that there was more detail.
6595684 So you're intending to find a way to mesh the two storylines together?
6595695
In a manner of speaking, yes.
There's also the fact that either plotline only happens because X, Zero, and Colonel are handed a massive idiot ball at the end of the intro stage.
6595722 I always figured it was Colonel's soldier pride that was his problem. How did X and Zero drop the idiot ball? If I recall correctly, it was the humans who said the repliforce were to be considered Maveriks.
You know what after typing this up and thinking about some of the dialogue with the 8 bosses, I can see what you mean.
6596090
The whole reason the Repliforce became Maverick?
X/Zero asks Colonel to lay down his arms and come in for questioning.
Colonel refuses as a matter of honor.
Neither X nor Zero thinks to seek a compromise with him. There's the idiot ball.
X and Zero say, "Do this or you'll be declared Maverick!"
Colonel says, "I will not dishonor myself or my troops for your convenience!"
6596113 Yeah, then there is the conversation with Cyber Peacock and Split Mushroom, they should be used to it by that point.
I know in one fan comic I read, made by Mr. Death, the entire thing went out of control because X called Colonel an idiot in not so kind words.
If I can ever find it again, I shall link you to a story that he wrote. It is about some archeologists from the time line of Legends find proof about Protoman. It is a good read.
6596226
That comic. You're talking about "Burning Stickman Productions presents...Something!", aren't you?
6597109 Yeah that is the one. Still surprised to see anyone that actually read the same comics I did.
6597329
I loved that comic!
Actually, how it handled the end of X4 is what inspired me as far as 'fixing' it for this story.
6597449 Well shoot them now I'll have to Double my efforts to find that story when I get home. I'll send you the link though a personal message if I find it, because it is really good.
[spoilers] So we might see some Colonel vs The Skiver action? The boss names for MMX 5 were translated so badly, do you know the story behind that?
When CiCi declared that, I had thought at first that Dr. Light had time-traveled during a drunken christmas and had been ACTUALLY abducted.
6915659
DRUNK SCIENCE!
Well, seems Protos survived.
7165347
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