Utopia (5)
Chapter 9: coup d'état
X and Zero both teleported out of the city and back to the command room. The intercom reported maverick sightings close by. All of them were members of Repliforce.
“Iris what are you doing here?” Zero questioned in shock.
“I’m going to some of the maverick sightings. See you guys later.” X ran out of the command room to his destination when he noticed Double waiting by the entrance way.
“Umm Sir… Sorry to bother you, but I’d like to help you during this crisis. I know I’m just a rookie, but I’d like to help in any way I can. The name is Double by the way incase you forgot…” The chubby yellow reploid said.
“Sure Double I don’t see a problem. Keep an eye out for any new information while I am away ok?”
“Yes sir! I’ll do my best!” Double saluted as X ran out the door.
Back in the command room Zero was surprised to find Iris at Maverick Hunter Base.
“Zero… My brother started the coup.”
“I know.”
“Please don’t fight him! This must be a mistake! Let me talk to him before you both do something rash!” She pleaded.
“They have already taken over several cities in this short time. It’s my job to stop them!”
“Zero, wait please!”
“I have to go Iris! Try to understand that I have to do this…”
Before Iris could respond Zero left to his assigned areas leaving Iris there to contemplate what she should do next.
Zero and X were out on missions all day long. Double kept his cool and researched information. He tried to keep updated on the current happenings of the war and what Repliforce was up too. He had plenty of information to give X already.
Iris on the other hand was frantic with worry. She desperately didn’t want her brother and Zero fighting. All she wanted was to live happily with Zero by her side; to live happily with both her brother and Zeros love to keep her content and safe.
She grabbed the phone in one of the smaller offices and called her brothers private phone line. It rang a few times and then went to the answering machine.
“Brother it’s me… Listen I’m begging you… Please don’t fight with Zero. I don’t care what reasons you two have to fight, so please… There has to be another way. You know how I feel about him brother… Why would you do this? Never mind that question. I already know why… You tell me every time the enemy won’t listen to my peaceful proposals. It’s about protection, it’s about honor, and it’s about PRIDE! What is it with you warriors and pride? Can’t you set it aside for once? Can’t you just spare his life?? I don’t care about anyone else…!”
Iris hung up the phone and walked back to the command room waiting for Zeros return, knowing deep down that neither Colonel nor Zero would listen to her pleas.
That evening X and Zero arrived from their missions and were ready to get up early the next morning to complete the rest of them.
Double reported to X his findings and what Dr. Cains assumptions were for the cause of the coup. X congratulated Double on his good work and dismissed him for the night. X went to bed early and slept in his recharge capsule until morning.
Zero was worried about Iris because of how they had left things in the command room, so he decided to visit her in the guest quarters.
He knocked on her door, no answer. He knocked again and still no answer.
‘She must be asleep already… Maybe tomorrow…’ Zero thought walking to his room and shutting the door to turn in for the night ‘I know this is wrong… I’m not stupid… I know the Repliforce are not bad people and Iris is suffering because of the fighting, but I can’t ignore my orders. It’s my job… I have no choice… Damn Iris, I’m doing my best. I hope you know that…’
The next day X left to complete his last few missions. As Zero was exiting the command room Iris ran up to him.
“Zero I have a message from Repliforce.”
Colonel appeared on the wide screen television “Zero I’ll be at Memorial Hall. Be there!”
“Zero, please don’t…”
“This is a matter of Pride now! I won’t turn away from a battle! I have to go!” Zero declared warping out of the command room before Iris could plead with him anymore.
“No… I… I…” Iris mumbled with gritted teeth, her eyes shut tightly holding back the tears “I can’t take this anymore…”
Meanwhile at Memorial Hall Colonel was waiting for Zero to show himself. His hands were itching at the thought of a sword battle with his new rival, especially with a reploid so worthy of his skill. He wouldn’t have to hold back at all with Zero.
“Colonel, I’m disappointed in you!”
Zero jumped off of a ceiling ledge and landed in front of his opponent.
“What are you doing you idiot?”
“It’s not too late. Stop the coup!”
“Never”
“Fine… Then take this!” Zero shouted swinging his Z-saber at the Colonel. They both stared into each others eyes as they pushed against one another swords clashing until suddenly a loud scream rang through the hall.
“Stop it!” Iris screamed “Please brother don’t you remember? Zero saved my life!”
“And I am thankful for that… but this is different. This has nothing to do with favours or friendship! This is about our honor and pride as warriors; as soldiers!”
“Iris go back to Maverick Hunter. It’s not safe here.” Zero told her.
“Fuck why won’t you listen to me…? Don’t you understand how stupid this is? How meaningless and pointless all this fighting is…?! Just stop it now!”
“My dear sister, I’m sorry that you don’t understand, but trust me this is for the good of Repliforce! It’s not just about my honor as a reploid, but for the honor of everyone in our organization! Now do what Zero says Iris… Please leave!”
“Fine… You brought this on yourself Colonel… Since I can’t convince you with peaceful means then I will have to use violent methods like you do… Because in war there are always sacrifices right? It’s the price we pay for peace…”
Zero and Colonel just stood there confused. No understanding of what she was saying or what she meant.
Suddenly Iris pulled out a gun from her bag. She held it up to her face, grabbed the trigger, and aimed at her throat trigger finger ready to fire at will.
“Iris what are you doing???” The Colonel yelled “Put that down… Y-you don’t know what you’re doing!”
Zero stared in silence with a look of fear and shock spread across his face. He finally managed to speak “I-Iris don’t do it!”
“Make one more move and I’ll shoot! I’ll do it! I’ll show both of you how meaningless this feud and war really are! Every war has a sacrifice, something that makes both sides stop and look towards other options. If I have to be that sacrifice to keep you two from dying at each others hands then so be it! I’d gladly do it because… You are the most important people in my life…!”
The area filled with tension as both men stood frozen in fear. They were afraid to act and afraid to not act. They didn’t know what movement would send her off the edge to pull the trigger on her self.
Colonel broke the silence “Alright! I’ll spare him for now…” He said walking away not even looking back at Zero or his sister.
Iris dropped the gun to the ground, her hands shaking at what she was thinking of doing. She looked up at Zero “Zero… Please try to understand why I did that… I’m afraid that one of you will end up dead! That would devastate me! I’d rather it be me instead!”
Zero turned away and punched the wall of Memorial Hall “Damn Iris! Someone has to stop Repliforce! Don’t do that again!” He ordered.
Chapter 10: Sacrifices
Zero walked Iris back to Maverick Hunter H.Q. He knew that Iris would be ok waiting for him in the command room. He knew she wasn’t serious about hurting herself she just wanted desperately for the war to end as did he.
X returned from his missions later that evening. He congratulated Double on another successful mission. He told Double to take the night off as he walked past into the command room. X came in to confirm some information that Double had given him, when he noticed Iris crying in the corner.
“Iris, are you ok?”
“No… I’m sorry X. I just don’t know what to do anymore…”
“Oh, about Repliforce you mean?”
“Yes, and about my brother and Zero… Everything is so hopeless!”
“Iris…”
“It’s ok X… I understand why Maverick Hunter is fighting Repliforce. You’re doing your job. I know that.”
“Iris… I’m sorry… I wish there was something I could do to convince Zero and your brother to stop. I am against this war as well, for different reasons. I hope it stops soon too, before anyone we care about gets hurt.”
Iris smiled and looked up at the green eyed hunter “Thank you X, that means a lot too me.”
“Keep trying Iris. Don’t give up on them.”
“I would never…”
X looked up with a dazed look on his face “I guess I’m done for the night. I’m going to bed. Tell Zero hi for me.”
“I will. Goodnight X” Iris smiled.
X smiled and nodded back as he exited the command room for bed.
A few hours later Zero returned to find Iris looking very concerned.
“Zero, Repliforce is at the Space Harbour.”
“I have to go stop them once and for all!”
Iris paused, looking at him with sad eyes as he departed for the Space Harbour. She remained in deep thought for a few minutes, remembering the words of wisdom that X had shared with her. She then realized what she had to do and with that she ran for her next destination.
Zero located Colonel at the Space Harbour his Z-saber in hand for self-defense.
“Colonel this is my last warning. Stop the coup! I’m asking you as a friend! I don’t want to fight you!”
“No… Besides we have already begun our launch into space! Our time has come, the time for the glorious region of only reploids to be born under our protection and services!”
“I can’t let you do this!”
“Then fight me Zero.”
“But Iris will be sad if she loses you.”
“Don’t be so presumptuous and fight me!”
Zero and Colonel fought a violent duel. Zero and Colonels swords clashed with great force and strength. Both men fought passionately for their individual causes and there own personal longing of battling the other as an opponent.
Zero emerged as the victor. He leaned beside Colonel with a sad look in his eyes. Colonel just chuckled with a smirk.
“You’re too late Zero Repliforce has already left for the Space Colony! You’re too late! Tell Iris I died happily with honor…”
Zero walked away a few steps as Colonel collapsed to the floor. He warped to Hunter Base to prepare for his next mission to attack the space colony when X ran into the command room.
“Zero have you seen Iris…?”
“No, where did she go? Did she leave with them? Damn!!”
“Double is gone too, I found most of my unit slaughtered when I got back from my last mission! What has happened here…?”
“Do you think Double kidnapped Iris?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him! Shit, how could he do this to us??”
“I don’t know, but I have a feeling they are at the Space Colony. Let’s go!”
Zero and X left quickly for the Space Colony the both of them frantically looking for Iris. Deep into the base the two reploids found Double holding a blade to Iris’ neck.
“Come one step closer and she’s dead!”
“Zero, help me please!” Iris screamed.
“Don’t worry Iris I’ll handle it!” Zero shouted.
“I don’t think so…” Double laughed hitting the switch on his back “X you are such a fool! Trusting someone you never even met! You’ll learn your lesson with her as the sacrifice! Hehehe I worked for Sigma the whole time! Stupid idiots both of you…!”
“No!” X shouted as he realized that the switch was Doubles self-destruct mechanism. Double exploded severely damaging Iris with the impact.
“Iris!” Zero shouted running over to her lying motionless on the floor “Iris…”
“Zero…” Iris said weakly looking up at Zero who was knelt down beside her.
X remained across the room and watched as Zero held her. He knew that she was not going to make it because of the major explosive impact. He turned his attention to Zero and Iris’ last words together.
“Please… Stay away from Repliforce… Why can’t we live in a world where only reploids exist…?”
“Iris there is no world only for reploids. It’s only a fantasy… Humans and reploids need to get along together…”
“I know, but I wanted to believe it was true…I wanted to live in that perfect world…together with you… Because I love you Zero…”
X knew that his best friend loved her as much as she loved him even though he never admitted it. The last gesture he saw Zero make was him holding her hand as she smiled at him and died in his arms.
Zero screamed as he held her body close to him.
“Why… Why…? This can’t be happening! There’s no reason for me to go on! What am I fighting for…?” Zero screamed.
X stood in silence. He didn’t know how to answer that. Only Zero knew that and he had to figure it out for himself.
After Zero put her body down he ran out of the room. X wanted to follow for support, but he knew that all Zero wanted right then was to be alone for awhile.
He decided to run ahead to encounter the General. He wanted to know why the Repliforce did this in the first place.
“General! So many people died because of you!” X shouted pointing in his direction “Iris, Colonel, did you not care about them? Did you not care about the humans you made suffer by taking their homes? These lives are on your conscience!”
“I have no regrets X. If you think you can stop us then so be it!”
X fought with the General guns blazing from both sides. Zero jumped in later in the battle and assisted X in defeating him.
“Zero, X, you are both so strong… I can sense you have grown in strength…”
The ground began to rumble and the Space Colony shook as it started to load its weapon into position. The charging blast was aimed at the earth.
“What’s happening?” X asked
“No! The weapon shouldn’t be working! I never turned it on! No… It can’t be him…!”
“Who General…?” Zero urged.
“Sigma…”
“He’s alive…? But how…?” Zero stammered.
“I knew it!” X muttered clenching his fist hard “The mission in Point-D that I was sent on six months ago do you remember…? The maverick I was sent to kill was gone by the time I reached the ruins of the lab! He’d gotten away and… Sigmas data was gone! I kept looking for him, but I couldn’t find the maverick that was reported to have stolen Sigmas virus data.”
“Yes, we sent him and then disposed of him after he had finished his duty…” The General said weakly.
“Where is Sigma now?” Zero asked.
“He should be in the main control room. Hurry quickly.” General ordered them “leave now. I will be alright…”
“General, thank you…” X nodded running towards the control room.
“Yes, I thank you General. Escape now.” Zero nodded running after X.
“Sigma… I can’t believe he’s alive…” Zero commented while running.
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault for not catching the maverick that did this.”
“You couldn’t help it if the maverick escaped before you got there X! Stop blaming yourself for tragedies that are out of your control!”
“Thanks Zero…”
X and Zero entered the control room and saw Sigma waiting for them in a long black robe with a hood, holding an axe. He looked the spitting image of the grim reaper.
I’ve been waiting for you X and Zero! Welcome.”
“Sigma…!” They both said in unison.
“Zero, I’ve been especially looking forward to seeing you… I’ve been having so much fun infecting your dreams.”
“So it is you giving me those nightmares! But why…?”
“Do you not remember? You were a maverick! My unit was sent to destroy you after you had destroyed Gammas unit. You were in a cave and we battled to the death. I defeated you and brought you back to be reprogrammed.” Sigma giggled as if he was giddy with delight about this chance to tell him his past “You, Zero a maverick… remember all of the people you killed both human and reploid… Remember all of those countless lives… Their blood is on your hands! And it’s not just your past Zero. It is your destiny to kill. It is within you. Murderer…!”
“Shut up!” Zero shouted “So what if I was a maverick? It doesn’t change how I am now! Now I fight mavericks the likes of you! I will defeat you sigma!”
“Yeah” X chimed in “He has made amends for his past actions by becoming a hero now! He isn’t like that anymore!”
“Fools… You will see…”
Sigma raised his battle-axe in the air ready to fight. Zero and X took their weapons and attacked. Sigma shot attacks of fire and lightening while Zero and X dodged the attacks.
Sigma stabbed Zero in the left shoulder with his axe. Zero grabbed his shoulder in pain as he retracted his Z-saber. He took out his standard Z-buster and fired a few bullet spurts, but Sigma managed to dodge them seamlessly “X!” Zero shouted in frustration.
“Don’t worry Zero I have an idea! Follow my lead.” X charged his X-buster. At the same time Zero charged his Z-buster holding onto the power increasing in their buster cannons.
“Ready? 1, 2, 3…!” X yelled both reploids releasing their charged plasma shots sending Sigma back to destruction.
“This isn’t over yet! The weapon is still aimed at the earth!” Sigma laughed.
“Not if I can help it…” A voice called out. Next thing they knew a giant golden reploid who was heavily damaged ran speedily into Sigma.
“Damn you General! I can never die!!”
“At least I can destroy this weapon and save everyone!” General stated ramming into Sigma and the panel controlling the weapon “X, Zero… Tell everyone at Maverick Hunter I’m sorry…”
The entire place began to explode with General and Sigma inside; both men screaming in agony as they killed each other.
“General!!!” X screamed.
“X, there’s no time we have to escape now!” Zero said grabbing Xs shoulders and guiding him out to the escape pods “Thank you General…”
The giant flower shaped weapon that was aimed at the earth exploded into the atmosphere thus creating a giant stream of light to appear. X and Zero flew back to the earth in their separate one-man space ships.
While traveling back to Earth they reflected on the past happenings of the 4th war with Repliforce along with all of the innocent lives that were lost.
Zero reminisced about his time with Iris. He wished more then anything that he could have saved her and as he stared off into the stars he wondered…
‘Iris… I’m sorry for everything… Do we reploids all turn out to be mavericks after all…?’