D.N.A’s Megaman X Fanfic

Commentary on the Battle of Elysia

Chapter Four: in which Zero speaks not at all

X was worried about Zero. He had kept a fairly bad record of staying alive and X wasn’t sure whether Zero would survive again. However, his own survival was at stake, and he certainly would be of no use to Zero if he was dead.

When Theta shot Zero, she opened herself to an attack from X’s side. No doubt she thought her armour could sustain any attacks from him. X smiled to himself. Sometimes it was nice to be underestimated. Taking full advantage of this lovely opportunity, he let loose an immense blast. It hit her right side, ramming her against a tree with a satisfying thud.

She quickly got up again, but she was grimacing from the pain in her right leg. X saw that crippled as she was, it was only a matter of time before she was defeated. She realised this point as well, and, dodging a shot from X, rolled behind Zero’s body. Using the unwilling Hunter as a shield, she crouched and fired. However, X was more agile than she thought, and easily manoeuvred his way next to Zero. He forced Theta away from the body, and began to lug his rather heavy buddy out of harm’s way.

Unfortunately, this was a large mistake on his part. Instead of continuing his attack, he worried too much about his friend and placed himself in the defensive again. Theta took full advantage of this and mercilessly fired at the unconscious Zero. She hoped X would be kind enough to take the blow for Zero, but if not, then at least Zero would be out of the equation. To her satisfaction, X did indeed take the blow. It didn’t destroy him, but at least he no longer had the advantage.

Wounded and burdened with the responsibility of protecting his partner, X saw that the tables had turned. Sure enough, X soon faced the prospect of defeat and subsequent annihilation. Theta was also heavily injured, but she did not have anyone other than herself to watch out for. She knocked X away from the body and aimed to destroy Zero. At that moment, however, a huge black thing crashed out of the forest and shot at her. The glider seemed ignorant of the small stream of smoke still coming from its wing and proceeded to scoop up X. It turned for another attack on Theta.

This time, she was prepared. Standing over Zero, she fired through the windshield at X. The glider swept over her with another series of shots and staggered away into the sky.


X was slightly dizzy from his wounds and the high speed flying. He glanced down and saw that he was much too high above terra firma for his mind to handle along with the new fact that he was in great pain. His brain, overburdened with these facts, happily dropped the second, not so pleasant fact, and concentrated on the first unpleasant fact. Soon, another even less pleasant bit of information pushed out the previous one.

Despite his drunken state, he was able to deduce, after much examination and mental calculations, that Zero was, actually, not on the glider. Indeed, after another moment of struggling with the logic of it all, he reasoned that since the glider had not picked him up, Zero must still be lying in the snow, somewhat neglected. He shook his head and realised that he was in great pain.

"Ow…pain…" he groaned. His foggy mind lugged itself back onto the subject of Zero, unconscious and lying in front of the Maverick camp. Hmm, there’s something very important here that I’m missing, X pondered.

Finally, his mind shifted into gear, "Zero! I’ve…got to go back for…Zero!"
He tried to wrestle the glider back to the dome, but all he got was a message on the console. X, YOU ARE IN NO CONDITION TO MEET THE MAVERICKS AGAIN, it read in an annoying green colour.
"Take me back…stupid machine! Zero…in trouble! Turn around! Curse…you! I order you!"
IF YOU GO BACK NOW, YOU WILL BE DESTROYED.
"I don’t care…got to help…Zero!"
IN YOUR CONDITION, YOUR CHANCES ARE MINIMAL. YOU CAN’T EVEN SPEAK A SENTENCE PROPERLY.

"What…about him? You think he’ll…do fine against…whole Maverick gang?" IT IS TOO LATE FOR HIM NOW.
"Why didn’t you…rescue…him?"
IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE ORDERS ARE TO PROTECT THE HUNTERS AND KEEP THEM SAFE. IT WAS TOO MUCH OF A RISK FOR YOU TO GO DOWN FOR ZERO IN YOUR CONDITION. YOU ARE TO GO BACK TO HEADQUARTERS TO RECOVER.
"But…Zero…why?"
THE PROGRAMMING MUST BE FOLLOWED. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE.
"Why…Zero…" X pleaded before passing out.


Theta sat on a chair, checking her wounds. There was no permanent damage, but it sure was painful. Her armour was also going to need plenty of repairing and upgrades. She cleaned herself off and staggered to the lab. Of course, she really ought to rest, but this was too much fun and important to wait.

When she entered the lab, a couple of Mavericks were examining her trophy. They respectfully stepped out after a few words of praise and congratulations. Theta smiled to herself. This was the first time any of the Mavericks had taken her seriously. And it’s all thanks to you, she addressed her prize. Zero, lying in the capsule, was too unconscious to respond.

It had been Vile’s idea to spare him. Theta was pleased that Vile believed in her abilities enough to have her reprogram Zero. However, she was still aware that her superior thought of her as being inferior, due to her origins. Well, this time, she would prove herself to be not only stronger, but also much more intelligent than him.

She opened the capsule and lifted Zero’s rather damaged helmet off his head. He looks so human…I wonder… She quickly dismissed the thought, knowing that it was highly improbable. She connected several cables to his head and closed the capsule again. Taking a seat in front of the large console, she began to type. After a minute or so of waiting, a long series of codes appeared. Whoever programmed Zero sure used an obscure language. She sighed and began the time-consuming work.

Onwards to Chapter Five
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