Chapter Twenty-One: Interesting Therapy
"I beg you to reconsider, sir!" X's voice filtered through the tightly shut door.
Alia paused outside of it, a thick folder of papers in her arms. She turned up her audio sensitivity, leaning against the wall near the door to avoid opening it.
"I understand you're concerned, X," Signas rumbled, "but I will not back down. It has been too many days and Maverick activity is increasing. We must have all battle-ready Hunters available to combat this threat. We're short-handed as it is, and Zero is an elite Hunter. We need him on the field."
X clenched his teeth. "He isn't ready, sir."
Signas knitted his fingers together, resting his elbows on his desk. His hands hid his face from the nose down as he fixated steely eyes on X. X stood straight, refusing to be beaten into submission by the unwavering stare.
"No one ever is, X," Signas finally said. "Iris and Colonel were not ready. The victims of Mavericks are not ready. There are casualties happening that I believe would not, if someone of Zero's caliber was present."
"You can't seriously blame him—"
"I'm not blaming him, X." Signas' cool gaze became a glare, and X shut his mouth with a snap. "But I am saying his skill is now required. Other people out there need help, X, and Zero cannot sit in HQ, or your new residence for that matter, when people need him. Iris and Colonel died for us, and now, Zero must fight for us to preserve their sacrifice."
X felt his face heat up, but Signas curtly dismissed him before he could argue further. X wanted to stay, to further his point, but Signas turned on his chair and probably would ignore any other words X uttered. Angrily, X left the office, grumbling to himself under his breath. He didn't notice Alia until she cleared her throat, forcing X to whirl around in surprise.
"I see Signas is pulling his asshole mode again," Alia said, adjusting her headpiece. "I hate to say it, but we need Zero's power again."
"You don't get it!" X shouted. "He's not in the mindset to fight! How can you say you need his strength when he's using all of it to deal with this?"
"Deal with what, Pops?"
Again whirling around, X came face-to-face with Axl and Zero, arms linked and faces looking suspiciously tear-stained. X looked at Zero, surprised to see some of the cloudiness of his eyes cleared up and he looked… almost okay, almost normal.
X cleared his throat. "Nothing at all."
Alia glared at X, stepping forward with her fists on her hips, the folder of papers threatening to spill. "Zero, Signas has ended your leave. Tomorrow, you will be back on the clock and in the field."
"Alia!" X snapped.
Zero seemed unfazed by the news, although Axl took on a similar angle to X's and began to argue with Alia. The two were soon locked in a death gaze stare-down, refusing to back off. X sighed heavily, and then gave Zero a worried look as the blond made his way to Signas' office.
"Zero?"
Zero waved before entering the office, the door's sliding sound shaking Axl and Alia out of their stare-down to both glance over to where Zero was standing. Axl exclaimed, looking side-to-side for Zero as X facepalmed himself with a groan.
As it turned out, Zero was hardly bothered by Signas' decision. With little more than a shrug, Zero accepted it and went back to his room as silent as ever. X and Axl were put on call shortly after, leaving the blond alone to contemplate the day and what to do for tomorrow. Staring at his recharge pod, Zero drew out the little box Lifesaver had given him earlier. It was a Reploid version of an anti-depressant and sleep aid, meant to be used while he recharged.
Frankly, Zero distrusted such things, and he dumped it into his trash can. Even Reploids could abuse anti-depressant programs, and Zero would not risk falling into that trap. He was better off managing without 'drugs' to help him, and it would probably be better for him in the long run anyway. In the mean time, Zero changed out of his civilian clothes and into his black jumpsuit, the familiar skin-tight fabric, laced as it was with various wires and conduits, almost soothing. He hadn't worn his armor since the funeral…
He pulled his hair into its usual ponytail and then placed on his helmet. He paused in summoning his armor, truly wondering if he should bother with the rest of the day. Zero thought of Axl's little attempt to help him and smiled, summoning his armor as he did so. Having little Axl try something so mature, and break down during his touching speech, spurred something in Zero. The exhaustion he felt wasn't as heavy, the bleakness a little brighter, it seemed.
Zero was sure his unit missed him. Even without his voice, he should train with them before having a mission. It was time to be a Hunter again… the same Hunter that slew Iris and Colonel in their Maverick hazes. The thought brought back some of his darker musings, but Zero shoved them away. He was now Commander Zero of the Special Forces 0 Unit, and Commanders didn't let regrets and personal life get in the way. He had to embrace that warrior in him and let go.
Maybe in the end, it would help.
Zero grabbed his saber out of the wall charger, placing it in the familiar pack on his back. He raised his head, straightened his shoulders, and marched to the training room, sending out a transmission to his unit.
/ 0th Unit, assemble! This is your Commander. Training will commence in ten minutes; failure to report in will result in appropriate punishment.
I will return to active duty tomorrow and we cannot afford mistakes. We will resume the usual schedule. /
~*~
"We have detected heavy Maverick activity near the site the Enigma was originally built," Signas debriefed. "17th and 13th Units, secure the perimeter and take out most of the weaker Mavericks. It seems that they have a new leader and with him, more specialized and powerful Mavericks. I want the Special 0th units to find, indentify, and remove this new Maverick leader before he becomes more of a threat."
The officer looked at Zero, who met his steely gaze. "I understand you trained with your units yesterday, so I have confidence you are able to command them even without your voice?" Signas asked.
Zero sent back, / We have established a transmission channel should orders require words. However, my Unit is fully capable to run on military hand signals alone. /
"Transmission channel? Risky, Zero. What if the Mavericks hack it?"
/ I am the server. They will have to hack me to get into it. /
Signas nodded. "Move out, Hunters."
"Mission accepted, sir!" all assembled Hunters saluted. X gave Zero a worried glance, but he stood just as straight and tall, saluted just as crisp. Although he didn't utter a word, he still mouthed the appropriate reply.
// Be careful, love… // X sent to him.
On the way out of the room toward the teleportation pads, Zero placed a hand on X's shoulder and bent down, giving the worried lips an almost confident kiss. X followed out after him, still concerned as the Units marched to their destination. His gut gnawed at him, trying to warn him of something. But X could not mess up his orders just for one Reploid, no matter how important that Reploid was to him.
Immediately upon arrival, the 17th and 13th Units went to work, dispatching the Mavericks on guard. Low to the ground, Zero and his Unit rushed through the chaos the other two Units created, running right for the complex. Zero drew his saber and slashed through the thin garage-like door, rolling in and lashing out, his saber meeting and slicing through a metallic body of a surprised Maverick. Zero waved to his Unit and they flooded in, cutting off any Maverick reinforcements to the outside. A flash of pale blue caught Zero's eye near the ceiling where a catwalk extended to another building.
/ Unit 0, I have located the Maverick leader. Keep the others from reinforcing him or the outside. /
A chorus of 'yessir!' filled Zero's mind as he leapt to the catwalk, barely catching it with his free right hand and launching himself onto it. He dashed down toward where he saw the Maverick go, slashing through doors that barred his way. In the third attached building, the catwalk suddenly dropped off into a huge, half-destroyed hanger. Zero jumped down, landing in a defensive crouch as he quickly surveyed the area. The roof was more or less destroyed by the massive hole in it, walls partially standing with the rest of them rubble on the ground. Standing on the tallest rock of debris stood a tall, slender Reploid.
Zero stood cautiously, saber up in such a way that only his eyes peered over its pulsing edge as he studied the Maverick. By the cocky grin and proud stance alone, Zero determined this as the new leader. The Maverick sported long, silver-blue hair that was nearly to his waist, donned in black and dark blue armor accented by white and gold, a red visor covering his eyes. His right arm was transformed in a silver, intricately-decorated blaster cannon that was currently trained on Zero.
The Maverick's smile grew. "Ah! Commander Zero, just the guy I'd hope they send after me. How do you do?"
Zero frowned deeply, and in response the Maverick laughed. "Oh, forgive me… I had forgotten. I heard rumors the almighty Zero had been silenced due to a… tragedy."
Zero felt something hot flash in him, and he recognized it as anger. It had been a while since Zero felt the liberating and maddening rush directed at someone else, the murderous rage washing over him like bloody silk. It flared larger when the Maverick laughed.
"How was it?" the Maverick taunted. "Killing the good Colonel and his sweet sister Iris, I mean. I bet it was glorious to hear them scream, especially Iris. She'd have a lovely shriek of pain, I think…"
Zero's howl was silent as he charged the Maverick, saber swinging. The Maverick jumped high in the air, barely avoiding getting his legs slashed off. He kicked off the wall behind him, landing on the other end of the room, away from Zero.
"That's right…" the Maverick snickered. "That's the Zero I want to fight. The one who let rage blind him…"
All training went out the window as Zero lost more and more of himself in the engulfing flames of fury. Instead of precise strikes at weak points, Zero lashed out wildly and recklessly, and all the Maverick did was jump around and laugh at him. In the back of his mind, behind his rage, Zero had no idea why he was flying off the handle. It only made sense that his absence would be noticed by Mavericks, and they would dig for the reasons to prod him with when he returned. He seized himself and tried to regain control, and soon, his attacks lost their blind ferocity in favor of accurate danger. The Maverick's grin faltered when Zero managed to land a hit, slicing off a thin layer of his bracer.
"Oh hoo, gained your bearings I see." The Maverick flipped back, landing neatly into a flourishing bow. "Well, I must admit I was rude before. I didn't even properly introduce myself!"
Zero took a step forward, raising his saber up with a look of indifference. He was a Hunter, immune to taunts. Cold and calculating killing were nothing like anger-induced massacre, and Zero was not going to lose himself to his emotions again.
"The name's Dynamo," the Maverick said with a large, almost goofy grin. "I was second in command when Sigma was around, and well, now he's not anymore, so…"
Zero dashed-jumped toward Dynamo, swinging his saber down as he sailed above the Maverick's head and hit the wall, slowly sliding down it as he watched Dynamo finishing his rolling dodge. As soon as Dynamo stopped rolling to turn around, Zero kicked off the wall toward him, a red after-image trailing behind him. Dynamo raised his buster arm and fired off a shot, throwing himself to the side when Zero deflected it with a swing of his saber and tried to punch with his right hand. Zero opened his fist and his palm smacked the ground with a slap, and he used his hand to pivot himself around and spin, becoming a deadly tornado of slashing saber as he somehow managed to move toward Dynamo as he spun. Dynamo waited until the last second to dive out of the way as Zero engulfed and shredded a large boulder. The spinning Hunter stopped, now on his feet and not the least bit dizzy. His blue eyes were dark and colder than ice or death as they stared at his agile opponent.
"Yes," Dynamo practically moaned. "That's it. That's the cold, detached Hunter I need, that I crave to fight."
Zero readied himself for another attack, flipping the handle of his saber so the blade was parallel to his arm. It ignited with plasma fire, illuminating Zero's handsome, dangerous face with sharp light.
Dynamo grinned. "Yes… the cold Hunter that murdered Colonel and Iris in his rage…"
Zero's saber suddenly lost its fire as he blinked at the comment and he lost his rigid battle stance. It only lasted a second, but it was all Dynamo needed—the Maverick charged and slammed his palm into Zero's face as he shoved a charging buster arm into Zero's stomach. Zero struggled to throw him off, but the movement ceased as Dynamo let the blast go.
It pierced through Zero's armor and came out from his back, leaving behind a hole that showered sparks and dripped with blood, coolant and oil. Zero silently gaped at the pain, eyes wide, as Dynamo released his face and let the Hunter fall to the ground, his saber deactivated. A triumphant laughter filled Zero's ears as Dynamo kicked his body clear across the room to slam up against the wall, leaving a wide splatter of glistening blood. Zero could only utter a grunt as his body impacted a hard surface twice, and Dynamo dashed over to kick him again.
"What's this, now?" Dynamo growled as he kicked Zero again. "One good hit and you're out? One comment about your mistake and you lose your cool? This is the almighty Zero that killed Sigma over and over? Pathetic."
Dynamo reached down, grabbing Zero by his ponytail and yanking him up so they were eye-to-eye, the Maverick scowling as Zero winced and only barely managed to open one eye. Dynamo dropped Zero and as the Hunter fell back to the ground, swiveled on one foot and kicked Zero, sending him flying into a brittle wall and shattering it. Zero crawled out slowly, his helmet cracked and a chunk missing, the jewel threatening to shatter. The jumpsuit's arms were tearing and his shoulder pads were dented, as well as his chest plate above the hole where he had been kicked before. Zero tried to get to his feet, but pain, injury, and depression forced him to the ground.
"Pathetic!" Dynamo barked again. "Where's that cold killer I know you are? The one that slaughtered Colonel, Iris, all the Mavericks and Sigma! The one we're all supposed to fear—where is he?"
Dynamo angrily marched over to Zero and stomped on his head, Zero tensing as his helmet threatened to break under the repeated trampling that followed. Dynamo stepped on Zero's ponytail, forcing his head to turn to the side to look at him.
"If this is it," Dynamo scoffed, "then getting to X and your little Axl would be a piece of cake. The only threat was you, and this is all you can do? I hope your precious X doesn't know how weak you are, how you can't do a damn thing, when I get my hands on him and Axl. I bet they have lovely screams…"
Zero struggled then, albeit weakly. Dynamo resumed stomping on his head as he continued to provoke the downed Hunter.
"I'll rip off all of X's limbs," Dynamo cackled as cracks formed and chips began to fly from Zero's helmet. "Strip him of his armor and open him up and burn every wire and system. Flay him alive and keep him functioning as I rip out his hard drives and let his core leak out slowly. As for Axl… he's like a son to you, isn't he?"
Dynamo kicked Zero in the head, forcing him to roll over and skid a few feet ahead. "He's a young one, isn't he? The baby brother of old Red Alert? I have a special bone to pick with him… Tell me, Zero. Since he's become your little baby, have you let him know another person's touch?"
Dynamo let out an insane laugh, Maverick Virus emitting from him to create a purple-ish aura as he advanced on Zero, who lay on his stomach with his face in the ground.
"I bet you sheltered the kid," Dynamo groaned, "so he has no idea what it's like to be fucked. Good, good. I have so many plans for all he and his little group did…"
The Maverick raised his foot to kick Zero again, and as he brought it down he yowled in pain, staring in astonishment as Zero's saber penetrated his foot, a pair of intense, practically glowing blue eyes rimmed with red staring hatefully at him. Zero ripped his saber free of Dynamo's foot, letting the Maverick hobble back as the blond rose to his towering full height, seeming imposing and radiating danger, even with a hole in his mid-section and his armor badly dented, cracked and chipped. Virus particles hissed and batted against him, were even absorbed into him, but if it did anything, Zero did not notice. His eyes were blazing, his face set in such a fearful expression Dynamo found himself quaking under his armor. There were no threats, not even growls, as Zero silently set upon the Maverick, every inch the cold killer Dynamo so wanted to evoke.
Outside the room, the other Hunters looked up in alarm as someone's painful shrieks pierced the victorious silence they shared over the guardian Mavericks. X's eyes widened as the cries went ultrasonic in desperation, and his near hysteric cry for his lover set other Hunters in motion, following the screams. Coldness seized X's heart when the screams were cut off abruptly, and silence as still as death chilled every uninjured Hunter to the wire. X dashed with every ounce of might he had, leaping down the broken catwalk into the ruined battlefield. He cried out in alarm as he spied Zero's crumpled body, bloodied and broken.
X raced to him, not even noticing the splotches of fresh blood and shorn silver-blue locks, the scattered body parts, or the severed and crushed head gaping from a tall boulder, eyes wide in fear behind a cracked and chipped red visor.
<--- PREVIOUS CHAPTER NEXT CHAPTER --->
"I beg you to reconsider, sir!" X's voice filtered through the tightly shut door.
Alia paused outside of it, a thick folder of papers in her arms. She turned up her audio sensitivity, leaning against the wall near the door to avoid opening it.
"I understand you're concerned, X," Signas rumbled, "but I will not back down. It has been too many days and Maverick activity is increasing. We must have all battle-ready Hunters available to combat this threat. We're short-handed as it is, and Zero is an elite Hunter. We need him on the field."
X clenched his teeth. "He isn't ready, sir."
Signas knitted his fingers together, resting his elbows on his desk. His hands hid his face from the nose down as he fixated steely eyes on X. X stood straight, refusing to be beaten into submission by the unwavering stare.
"No one ever is, X," Signas finally said. "Iris and Colonel were not ready. The victims of Mavericks are not ready. There are casualties happening that I believe would not, if someone of Zero's caliber was present."
"You can't seriously blame him—"
"I'm not blaming him, X." Signas' cool gaze became a glare, and X shut his mouth with a snap. "But I am saying his skill is now required. Other people out there need help, X, and Zero cannot sit in HQ, or your new residence for that matter, when people need him. Iris and Colonel died for us, and now, Zero must fight for us to preserve their sacrifice."
X felt his face heat up, but Signas curtly dismissed him before he could argue further. X wanted to stay, to further his point, but Signas turned on his chair and probably would ignore any other words X uttered. Angrily, X left the office, grumbling to himself under his breath. He didn't notice Alia until she cleared her throat, forcing X to whirl around in surprise.
"I see Signas is pulling his asshole mode again," Alia said, adjusting her headpiece. "I hate to say it, but we need Zero's power again."
"You don't get it!" X shouted. "He's not in the mindset to fight! How can you say you need his strength when he's using all of it to deal with this?"
"Deal with what, Pops?"
Again whirling around, X came face-to-face with Axl and Zero, arms linked and faces looking suspiciously tear-stained. X looked at Zero, surprised to see some of the cloudiness of his eyes cleared up and he looked… almost okay, almost normal.
X cleared his throat. "Nothing at all."
Alia glared at X, stepping forward with her fists on her hips, the folder of papers threatening to spill. "Zero, Signas has ended your leave. Tomorrow, you will be back on the clock and in the field."
"Alia!" X snapped.
Zero seemed unfazed by the news, although Axl took on a similar angle to X's and began to argue with Alia. The two were soon locked in a death gaze stare-down, refusing to back off. X sighed heavily, and then gave Zero a worried look as the blond made his way to Signas' office.
"Zero?"
Zero waved before entering the office, the door's sliding sound shaking Axl and Alia out of their stare-down to both glance over to where Zero was standing. Axl exclaimed, looking side-to-side for Zero as X facepalmed himself with a groan.
As it turned out, Zero was hardly bothered by Signas' decision. With little more than a shrug, Zero accepted it and went back to his room as silent as ever. X and Axl were put on call shortly after, leaving the blond alone to contemplate the day and what to do for tomorrow. Staring at his recharge pod, Zero drew out the little box Lifesaver had given him earlier. It was a Reploid version of an anti-depressant and sleep aid, meant to be used while he recharged.
Frankly, Zero distrusted such things, and he dumped it into his trash can. Even Reploids could abuse anti-depressant programs, and Zero would not risk falling into that trap. He was better off managing without 'drugs' to help him, and it would probably be better for him in the long run anyway. In the mean time, Zero changed out of his civilian clothes and into his black jumpsuit, the familiar skin-tight fabric, laced as it was with various wires and conduits, almost soothing. He hadn't worn his armor since the funeral…
He pulled his hair into its usual ponytail and then placed on his helmet. He paused in summoning his armor, truly wondering if he should bother with the rest of the day. Zero thought of Axl's little attempt to help him and smiled, summoning his armor as he did so. Having little Axl try something so mature, and break down during his touching speech, spurred something in Zero. The exhaustion he felt wasn't as heavy, the bleakness a little brighter, it seemed.
Zero was sure his unit missed him. Even without his voice, he should train with them before having a mission. It was time to be a Hunter again… the same Hunter that slew Iris and Colonel in their Maverick hazes. The thought brought back some of his darker musings, but Zero shoved them away. He was now Commander Zero of the Special Forces 0 Unit, and Commanders didn't let regrets and personal life get in the way. He had to embrace that warrior in him and let go.
Maybe in the end, it would help.
Zero grabbed his saber out of the wall charger, placing it in the familiar pack on his back. He raised his head, straightened his shoulders, and marched to the training room, sending out a transmission to his unit.
/ 0th Unit, assemble! This is your Commander. Training will commence in ten minutes; failure to report in will result in appropriate punishment.
I will return to active duty tomorrow and we cannot afford mistakes. We will resume the usual schedule. /
~*~
"We have detected heavy Maverick activity near the site the Enigma was originally built," Signas debriefed. "17th and 13th Units, secure the perimeter and take out most of the weaker Mavericks. It seems that they have a new leader and with him, more specialized and powerful Mavericks. I want the Special 0th units to find, indentify, and remove this new Maverick leader before he becomes more of a threat."
The officer looked at Zero, who met his steely gaze. "I understand you trained with your units yesterday, so I have confidence you are able to command them even without your voice?" Signas asked.
Zero sent back, / We have established a transmission channel should orders require words. However, my Unit is fully capable to run on military hand signals alone. /
"Transmission channel? Risky, Zero. What if the Mavericks hack it?"
/ I am the server. They will have to hack me to get into it. /
Signas nodded. "Move out, Hunters."
"Mission accepted, sir!" all assembled Hunters saluted. X gave Zero a worried glance, but he stood just as straight and tall, saluted just as crisp. Although he didn't utter a word, he still mouthed the appropriate reply.
// Be careful, love… // X sent to him.
On the way out of the room toward the teleportation pads, Zero placed a hand on X's shoulder and bent down, giving the worried lips an almost confident kiss. X followed out after him, still concerned as the Units marched to their destination. His gut gnawed at him, trying to warn him of something. But X could not mess up his orders just for one Reploid, no matter how important that Reploid was to him.
Immediately upon arrival, the 17th and 13th Units went to work, dispatching the Mavericks on guard. Low to the ground, Zero and his Unit rushed through the chaos the other two Units created, running right for the complex. Zero drew his saber and slashed through the thin garage-like door, rolling in and lashing out, his saber meeting and slicing through a metallic body of a surprised Maverick. Zero waved to his Unit and they flooded in, cutting off any Maverick reinforcements to the outside. A flash of pale blue caught Zero's eye near the ceiling where a catwalk extended to another building.
/ Unit 0, I have located the Maverick leader. Keep the others from reinforcing him or the outside. /
A chorus of 'yessir!' filled Zero's mind as he leapt to the catwalk, barely catching it with his free right hand and launching himself onto it. He dashed down toward where he saw the Maverick go, slashing through doors that barred his way. In the third attached building, the catwalk suddenly dropped off into a huge, half-destroyed hanger. Zero jumped down, landing in a defensive crouch as he quickly surveyed the area. The roof was more or less destroyed by the massive hole in it, walls partially standing with the rest of them rubble on the ground. Standing on the tallest rock of debris stood a tall, slender Reploid.
Zero stood cautiously, saber up in such a way that only his eyes peered over its pulsing edge as he studied the Maverick. By the cocky grin and proud stance alone, Zero determined this as the new leader. The Maverick sported long, silver-blue hair that was nearly to his waist, donned in black and dark blue armor accented by white and gold, a red visor covering his eyes. His right arm was transformed in a silver, intricately-decorated blaster cannon that was currently trained on Zero.
The Maverick's smile grew. "Ah! Commander Zero, just the guy I'd hope they send after me. How do you do?"
Zero frowned deeply, and in response the Maverick laughed. "Oh, forgive me… I had forgotten. I heard rumors the almighty Zero had been silenced due to a… tragedy."
Zero felt something hot flash in him, and he recognized it as anger. It had been a while since Zero felt the liberating and maddening rush directed at someone else, the murderous rage washing over him like bloody silk. It flared larger when the Maverick laughed.
"How was it?" the Maverick taunted. "Killing the good Colonel and his sweet sister Iris, I mean. I bet it was glorious to hear them scream, especially Iris. She'd have a lovely shriek of pain, I think…"
Zero's howl was silent as he charged the Maverick, saber swinging. The Maverick jumped high in the air, barely avoiding getting his legs slashed off. He kicked off the wall behind him, landing on the other end of the room, away from Zero.
"That's right…" the Maverick snickered. "That's the Zero I want to fight. The one who let rage blind him…"
All training went out the window as Zero lost more and more of himself in the engulfing flames of fury. Instead of precise strikes at weak points, Zero lashed out wildly and recklessly, and all the Maverick did was jump around and laugh at him. In the back of his mind, behind his rage, Zero had no idea why he was flying off the handle. It only made sense that his absence would be noticed by Mavericks, and they would dig for the reasons to prod him with when he returned. He seized himself and tried to regain control, and soon, his attacks lost their blind ferocity in favor of accurate danger. The Maverick's grin faltered when Zero managed to land a hit, slicing off a thin layer of his bracer.
"Oh hoo, gained your bearings I see." The Maverick flipped back, landing neatly into a flourishing bow. "Well, I must admit I was rude before. I didn't even properly introduce myself!"
Zero took a step forward, raising his saber up with a look of indifference. He was a Hunter, immune to taunts. Cold and calculating killing were nothing like anger-induced massacre, and Zero was not going to lose himself to his emotions again.
"The name's Dynamo," the Maverick said with a large, almost goofy grin. "I was second in command when Sigma was around, and well, now he's not anymore, so…"
Zero dashed-jumped toward Dynamo, swinging his saber down as he sailed above the Maverick's head and hit the wall, slowly sliding down it as he watched Dynamo finishing his rolling dodge. As soon as Dynamo stopped rolling to turn around, Zero kicked off the wall toward him, a red after-image trailing behind him. Dynamo raised his buster arm and fired off a shot, throwing himself to the side when Zero deflected it with a swing of his saber and tried to punch with his right hand. Zero opened his fist and his palm smacked the ground with a slap, and he used his hand to pivot himself around and spin, becoming a deadly tornado of slashing saber as he somehow managed to move toward Dynamo as he spun. Dynamo waited until the last second to dive out of the way as Zero engulfed and shredded a large boulder. The spinning Hunter stopped, now on his feet and not the least bit dizzy. His blue eyes were dark and colder than ice or death as they stared at his agile opponent.
"Yes," Dynamo practically moaned. "That's it. That's the cold, detached Hunter I need, that I crave to fight."
Zero readied himself for another attack, flipping the handle of his saber so the blade was parallel to his arm. It ignited with plasma fire, illuminating Zero's handsome, dangerous face with sharp light.
Dynamo grinned. "Yes… the cold Hunter that murdered Colonel and Iris in his rage…"
Zero's saber suddenly lost its fire as he blinked at the comment and he lost his rigid battle stance. It only lasted a second, but it was all Dynamo needed—the Maverick charged and slammed his palm into Zero's face as he shoved a charging buster arm into Zero's stomach. Zero struggled to throw him off, but the movement ceased as Dynamo let the blast go.
It pierced through Zero's armor and came out from his back, leaving behind a hole that showered sparks and dripped with blood, coolant and oil. Zero silently gaped at the pain, eyes wide, as Dynamo released his face and let the Hunter fall to the ground, his saber deactivated. A triumphant laughter filled Zero's ears as Dynamo kicked his body clear across the room to slam up against the wall, leaving a wide splatter of glistening blood. Zero could only utter a grunt as his body impacted a hard surface twice, and Dynamo dashed over to kick him again.
"What's this, now?" Dynamo growled as he kicked Zero again. "One good hit and you're out? One comment about your mistake and you lose your cool? This is the almighty Zero that killed Sigma over and over? Pathetic."
Dynamo reached down, grabbing Zero by his ponytail and yanking him up so they were eye-to-eye, the Maverick scowling as Zero winced and only barely managed to open one eye. Dynamo dropped Zero and as the Hunter fell back to the ground, swiveled on one foot and kicked Zero, sending him flying into a brittle wall and shattering it. Zero crawled out slowly, his helmet cracked and a chunk missing, the jewel threatening to shatter. The jumpsuit's arms were tearing and his shoulder pads were dented, as well as his chest plate above the hole where he had been kicked before. Zero tried to get to his feet, but pain, injury, and depression forced him to the ground.
"Pathetic!" Dynamo barked again. "Where's that cold killer I know you are? The one that slaughtered Colonel, Iris, all the Mavericks and Sigma! The one we're all supposed to fear—where is he?"
Dynamo angrily marched over to Zero and stomped on his head, Zero tensing as his helmet threatened to break under the repeated trampling that followed. Dynamo stepped on Zero's ponytail, forcing his head to turn to the side to look at him.
"If this is it," Dynamo scoffed, "then getting to X and your little Axl would be a piece of cake. The only threat was you, and this is all you can do? I hope your precious X doesn't know how weak you are, how you can't do a damn thing, when I get my hands on him and Axl. I bet they have lovely screams…"
Zero struggled then, albeit weakly. Dynamo resumed stomping on his head as he continued to provoke the downed Hunter.
"I'll rip off all of X's limbs," Dynamo cackled as cracks formed and chips began to fly from Zero's helmet. "Strip him of his armor and open him up and burn every wire and system. Flay him alive and keep him functioning as I rip out his hard drives and let his core leak out slowly. As for Axl… he's like a son to you, isn't he?"
Dynamo kicked Zero in the head, forcing him to roll over and skid a few feet ahead. "He's a young one, isn't he? The baby brother of old Red Alert? I have a special bone to pick with him… Tell me, Zero. Since he's become your little baby, have you let him know another person's touch?"
Dynamo let out an insane laugh, Maverick Virus emitting from him to create a purple-ish aura as he advanced on Zero, who lay on his stomach with his face in the ground.
"I bet you sheltered the kid," Dynamo groaned, "so he has no idea what it's like to be fucked. Good, good. I have so many plans for all he and his little group did…"
The Maverick raised his foot to kick Zero again, and as he brought it down he yowled in pain, staring in astonishment as Zero's saber penetrated his foot, a pair of intense, practically glowing blue eyes rimmed with red staring hatefully at him. Zero ripped his saber free of Dynamo's foot, letting the Maverick hobble back as the blond rose to his towering full height, seeming imposing and radiating danger, even with a hole in his mid-section and his armor badly dented, cracked and chipped. Virus particles hissed and batted against him, were even absorbed into him, but if it did anything, Zero did not notice. His eyes were blazing, his face set in such a fearful expression Dynamo found himself quaking under his armor. There were no threats, not even growls, as Zero silently set upon the Maverick, every inch the cold killer Dynamo so wanted to evoke.
Outside the room, the other Hunters looked up in alarm as someone's painful shrieks pierced the victorious silence they shared over the guardian Mavericks. X's eyes widened as the cries went ultrasonic in desperation, and his near hysteric cry for his lover set other Hunters in motion, following the screams. Coldness seized X's heart when the screams were cut off abruptly, and silence as still as death chilled every uninjured Hunter to the wire. X dashed with every ounce of might he had, leaping down the broken catwalk into the ruined battlefield. He cried out in alarm as he spied Zero's crumpled body, bloodied and broken.
X raced to him, not even noticing the splotches of fresh blood and shorn silver-blue locks, the scattered body parts, or the severed and crushed head gaping from a tall boulder, eyes wide in fear behind a cracked and chipped red visor.
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