Substantial

by Sueanoi

Summary:

Gate collected Zero’s pieces to rebuild him. Wolfang was assigned to keep watch. In the midst of the wasteland, an unlikely friendship began to grow.

Notes:

Finally, The Zero Wolfang fiction that nobody is waiting for. XD
If you stumble upon this, I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: Return to Existence

“Threat assessment : Low.”

An unknown entity showed up in the perception field, in the midst of nothingness for who knew how long it had been. It approached. The data, although very dim, shone brightly against the lifeless, empty background. It became closer, closer, closer to him.

 

Him? 

 

He existed. The notion that he himself was an entity intrigued him. He knew nothing of before. There was only then, the moment, the stream of data tickled his processor where it used to be void.

It might as well have been an eternity since he had any sense of self. It could also have been mere seconds ago. He noticed, he could not sense the passage of time, or keep track of it. 

There was no past, no future, only the moment. 

And at the moment, there was another tickle on a different part of his processor. He was picking up thumping, rhythmic noises, each one bringing the presence of threat closer to him.

 

They were probably footsteps.

 

Discovered that he had auditory sensors, he explored its functions, focusing on what else it could tell him about the world around him.

A low buzzing noise, constant, meaningless. He ignored that stream of data. Filtering it out, a muffling voice emerged. 

 

“..Ze…...DNA……beau….unsto...ble…….”

He couldn’t make out what he was hearing. The voice continued on and on into what he could only guess was a laughter. 

 

Calibrating Auditory... Left: 20% range functioning, Right: Offline.

Displeased to discover that he was nearly deaf. Perhaps he was incomplete, perhaps he was heavily damaged. No matter. His auditory was not reliable regardless. 

 

The low threat had reached him. He paid attention to it, wondering what it intended to do. It stayed there for an unknowable length of time as it spoke more about an unknowable topic. Was it speaking to him, or was it speaking alone? Before he could ponder on that question, an intense stream of data from his gyroscope screamed at his processor. He was spinning! He was falling! He was accelerating! 

His gyros! He had gyros! But it’s not making any sense!

Calibrating gyros.... failed.

His world span, span, span. He couldn’t make heads or tails of his being. 

His head kept spinning for so long it felt like forever, until suddenly, it stopped. Equally disoriented by the sudden lack of sensation, he took a moment to catch himself. 

 

He could no longer sense anything from the gyros. It was offline, completely this time.

 

He was probably moved. Moved so harshly that his loose parts were thrown apart. Without the gyros, he had no way of knowing which way was up or down, or which direction he was being moved towards. Was this entity really a low level if it was capable of such damage? 

There was no response from his optics, tactile, compass, or any of the senses that he tried to ping. Threat assessment was the only reliable sensor left. He focused on it. 

 

‘Threat assessment: low’

‘Suggestion: observe’

‘Observe’ was all he could do anyway, even that is very limited. The suggestion was useless. 

 

‘Moderate threat approaching’, reported the ever present system. 

He was moved to the middle of it, then stopped. He observed it. 

 

‘Threat assessment: moderate’

‘Suggestion: avoid being surrounded’

...How? There was no way for him to interact with the world. His motor systems were still unresponsive. He was either paralyzed, or he didn’t have any moving parts left connected to him. 

Annoyance. They didn’t appear to move at all. Perhaps this signal was environmental hazards rather than an enemy. He can afford to ignore them until there are any changes. He dismissed the suggestion.

 

The Low Threat moved about in his sensory field. For a while of unknown time, none of them had attacked him. 

 

He started to lose his interest in observing the surrounding signals. 

 

His energy level was very low. And he knew no more.

 

-----

 

Threat assessment: Substantial.

The first thing he was aware of as he came to, was a very “loud” signal directly above him. The system screamed at him to defend himself! 

He had to move. He had to escape. He had to do something! 

Connection to the motor system pinged back a success…! Erratic, he couldn't completely control his moving parts in a way that made sense. Panicking, he kept at it. Any movement was better than none!

 

The Substantial Thread moved away.

 

“Master, he moved.” He heard a low voice, low enough to be in his hearing range. 

Master? The substantial threat was the subordinate? That surprised him, but he wasn’t interested to think about that right now. He tried to figure out his limbs to escape, to leave, but his motor system stopped responding. He’s paralyzed once more.

 

Helpless, he waited for whatever it was going to do with him.

 

Heavy footsteps, further and further. The Substantial Threat had left him, to his surprise.

Left alone, in relative peace, he noticed that he was able to tell which way was up and down. His gyros were reconnected. While he couldn’t understand how that was possible, he was pleased with this information. 

 

Calibrating gyros: 100% success. 

He was now able to tell that he was laying down, facing the sky. He had a head, a torso, and a shoulder on his right side, but he couldn’t find the rest of himself. He tested the motor function again, confirming that he could not move anymore.

 

He was too weak. 

 

The Substantial Threat came back with the Low Threat. He froze, anticipating an attack that he had no way to defend against. 

 

"...Lea.....s." The Low Threat ordered, voice still too high for his broken auditory to hear clearly.

“Yes sir.” The Substantial Threat answered, then it left him once more.

 

The Low Threat approached him. It got closer, closer, closer until the proximity sensor reported a negative number…! ?

How could that be?! Either his proximity was malfunctioned too, or it was inside of his body! 

His proximity was functioning just fine. Some of his inner parts were being disconnected. He tried to move away, but he still couldn't move…! 

 

Despite the discomfort of the invasion, his energy level was very low. And he knew no more.

 

-----

 

Threat assessment: Substantial

His inside was no longer being invaded. The scary Low Threat was nowhere to be found in his sensory field. There were a few foreign wires connected to his system, he denied all of their requests for access. The substantial threat signal was next to him, immobile. Irony, he felt relieved. Whoever they are, they never laid a hand on him so far. 

 

That could change, his threat assessment commented to him. He must keep being cautious. 

As if he could do anything with it, he thought. Checking his motor again, to his surprise, it responded. 

He turned his face towards the Substantial Threat. He was too weak to move anything else.

 

“Hmm?” It said, in its low voice. 

 

He blinked, but he saw nothing. His optics were still offline.

 

“Oi” It called, “Are you awake?” 

 

He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out of his voice box. 

 

“My my, you are!” It said, “I should call my master.” it quickly whispered, probably not to him.

 

No, don't. He wished dearly to be communicative. He disliked that Low Threat who violated him, messing with his insides. He tried to shake his head but he was too weak. He simply closed his unseeing eyes. 

 

His energy level was very low. And he knew no more.

Chapter 2: Exploration

Summary:

Everyone exploring Zero, including Zero himself.

Threat assessment: Substantial

He was bombarded with meaningless signals from his now-connected optics. It was so bright… too bright…!

 

Calibrating optics… failed.

No control over optics function. He would have to deal with his semi-blindness for now. 

He couldn’t sense the Low Threat, good. He’s safe a while longer in this conscious episode. He wanted to see them, the only other person in the room, the Substantial Threat who never really threatened him (yet). He tried to open his eyes, squinting at the unfiltered bright light. Nothing was in focus, and he saw… blue.

 

Blue blur with a tint of red on the forehead. 

 

X? 

 

The name from somewhere deep in his memories came to his mind spontaneously, mysteriously. ‘X’, who was he? Was X someone he’s familiar with, someone important? 

 

They must have been important, he felt. Although he couldn’t recall why, he had no doubt of that fact. He had a feeling that the name would be stuck in his mind as he wondered who they were.

 

The blue blur noticed him.

 

“Zero?” The low voice said, turning their body so they face him directly.

...Zero? ...Was that his name? It sounded familiar, so it might very well be. 

 

“I’m glad you’re awake again, good morning.” 

Zero tried to answer, but he still had no voice. He managed to give out a sigh. 

 

“I see.” They said, Zero didn’t understand what message they got from that sigh. “I would be annoyed too in your situation.” 

Zero stared at them, fascinated by the blurry blue face with the red head gem who somehow understood him, fascinated by the conversation that he finally got to have, although it’s kind of a one-way, this is the first real interaction with the world around him.  

They were so blue.    

For some reason, blue fascinated him.

 

“Can you see me?” They asked, “We have had your optics reconnected.” 

That explained it, they did a sloppy job if that was their intent. Zero sighed, as it was the only sound he could make. 

 

“If I may,” They moved in close to his face with one finger pointing up, “Follow my finger if you can.” they moved it slowly to the left and right. 

Zero looked after the finger’s movement. He concluded that whoever this was, they were not humanoid, not entirely. It explains the level of threat, if they were made for combat, it would not be strange that their appendages were equipped with sharp ends. 

“Excellent!” They exclaimed. “Ah, forgive me. I was too excited. I should introduce myself. I am Blizzard Wolfang, he pronoun. I am assigned to keep watch over you for my master, Gate. He picked you up from under a rubble, and we intend to repair you to full function. I am supposed to alert him if you reactivate again, but he is currently out of the building. Hopefully I wouldn’t be in trouble for talking to you a little bit. I am quite fascinated by you, Zero.” 

Repair…? 

Offended. That Low Thr-... Gate dared thought whatever he was doing was a favor. Zero was doing just fine without the violation of his personal space. He turned his face away from Wolfang. 

 

“Don’t be like that, we merely wish to bring you back to existence. My master Gate was successful with my resurrection. I’m sure he could be successful with you as well.”

 

His energy level wasn’t that low, but he was so angry, he lost interest to keep interacting with the world. He decided to shut himself off anyway,

---------------

 

Threat assessment : Low.

 

“Ah, Zero… such a beautiful creation! Oh look at this part it’s so intricate! Such a complex design yet so perfectly made…”

This voice he didn’t recognize, but he’d recognize that threat signal anytime. It’s Gate, the Low Threat who was more threatening than anything he’d ever remember, the master of Wolfang. 

 

A wave of pure hatred washed over him. 

 

“I am so happy that we’ve met...It must be fate! I am destined to discover your secrets! I, not any of those fools! I want to see every part of you at your full glory!  I will be the one who succeed at what they have failed!”

 

He hated to discover that his auditory was fully repaired and now he could hear the full range of sound wavelengths. He’d rather go back to being half deaf than had to listen to this delusional monologue.

He still didn’t have tactile sense. He couldn’t feel touch, but his proximity sensor was ever present, and it reported all the things he wished he didn’t know. Gate’s hands were all over him. Poking, prodding, connecting, disconnecting, messing with everything in places he would never allow anyone to mess with had he any choice.

And what he hated the most, was that his motor system was disconnected again. He could not move, not even a blink. He was completely trapped.

Disgusting. He denied every request for access at every external port. Nothing of his that he would allow Gate to have. Alas, Gate was able to brute force into a lot of his insides. 

 

“It’s no use, Zero. Just let me in. I have your source code. It is only a matter of time before I am able to decipher everything. Let me in and it would be quicker for the both of us.”

 

No. Never. His source code was dangerous. He couldn’t remember why but he knew it was dangerous. He couldn’t allow it to befall into a wrong hand. 

And Gate was definitely a wrong hand. 

Wolfang mentioned resurrection, and compared himself to Zero. It must have been the same for the both of them. Zero must have been completed before and then broken down. While he still couldn’t remember anything before Gate, he believed that Wolfang was telling the truth. So many trace memories that didn’t make any sense were detected in his data.

Was it just as uncomfortable for Wolfang? Probably. He could see why Wolfang would submit to this weaker reploid. He didn’t agree, but he could understand.

Where was he anyway? Curious, Zero scanned his surroundings to find Wolfang’s signal.

He couldn’t detect him. Wolfang was not in the building. 

 

There was nothing more to distract him from the discomfort of being violated. Zero could only resist with all his might. As he tried to force disconnect every external request for access, the first thing that went out was the power line. 

 

That wasn't intentionally, but it's good enough. Gate cannot access his data as easily if he wasn’t activated. And it’s not like he could do anything anymore useful in his consciousness.

 

Zero’s energy wasn’t that low, but he forced deactivation on himself.

 

---

 

Threat assessment: Substantial.

 

“Oh, welcome back.” Wolfang greeted him. Zero squinted at the blue blur. His optics were still not in focus.

Zero was in no mood to talk, he looked away. 

 

“It’s snowing today. I went out to fetch something.” Wolfang kept talking. “I like snow. It is my element.” 

Zero sighed.

 

“You know, my master was really mad yesterday. Whatever you did pissed him off royally. He threw a big tantrum....” 

Satisfaction. Gate deserved it.

“...and I got a little bit of a stray bullet.”

Guilt. Wolfang didn’t deserve it.

 

“Not that it’s anything I haven’t handled before. My master has been less… stable lately.” 

Curious. Zero turned his head back to Wolfang’s direction, looking at him. 

 

“Not that it makes him any less capable! I’m sure he’ll fix you up real soon! I look forward to see you completed.” 

Zero looked down, seeing his blurry, mangled up half of a body. He’s conflicted. Getting repaired would be nice. He would be mobile again, he would be free, he would be able to fight back.  ...but at what cost? Gate had an ulterior motive. Repairing him was only a side project, what he really wanted was to explore him. And his secret was utmost important that it stayed with him. 

Hmm… his one arm was red in color. Interesting. 

He could move his wrist, barely. Fascinated by the new found control of his motor functions, he explored it a little more. He tried to close his hand into a fist, but to his dismay, he couldn't even do that much. He only got his fingers twitching about. Frustrated. 

 

“It would take time for your system to learn to control your body again. I can relate to that frustration.” Wolfang commented, watching his self exploration with full attention. “You’ll get the hang of it soon.”

Zero looked at the blue blur. For some unknown reason, he felt at ease.

 

His energy wasn’t that low, but he felt safe. There was nothing else he could do at this time. He let himself drifted to unconsciousness. 

Chapter 3: Memories

Summary:

Recovering some memories

“Zero, if I ever go maverick, you have to take care of me.”

 

“Now go, after him! It’s an order!” 

 

“Promise me, Zero.”

 

---

 

Threat assessment : Substantial

 

Except for opening his eyes, Zero stayed perfectly still. 

He contemplated on the memories that he had just recovered. His memory data, fragmented by a fetal damage,  were slowly put together during his deactivation, finally they started to form a story of images and voices. 

They still didn’t feel like his own story. Incomplete as they were, he needed more time to recover more clues of who he was and who he will be from now on. Was he the same person as he used to be? Should he even try to be? 

Until he knew exactly who he was, he’d not rush on that question.

The ceiling looked a little less blurry. He stared at it as if it’s the most interesting thing in the world. 

 

“I wish you could tell me what’s in your mind.” Wolfang, sitting on the ground next to him, broke the silence, “The legend, the most powerful maverick hunter is laying here, right next to me. To say I’m not excited to get to know you would be a lie. Surely, you are more than just your fame, aren’t you?” 

 

Zero just blinked. Even if he could speak, he wouldn’t be able to tell anything anyway.

He just now learned that hunted mavericks, but he didn’t understand what mavericks meant. He still couldn’t make sense of those fragmented memories. Was he an important figure? It was strange to think about himself in that way, but it would explain the obsession of the only 2 people he had met in this new activation. 

Thinking of that other person, Zero could still sense his signal from afar. He tried to look at the direction, but his neck was stuck.

 

“My master is currently working on one of my brothers.” Wolfang answered his non-verbal question, “I am to leave him undisturbed, unless something urgent happens, like your vitals going crazy or you dying again or something.” the canine leaned his chin on his palm, “I doubt that is even possible.”

 

Zero stared at Wolfang, observing his relaxed posture.

 

“My brothers and I, we were unfortunate in our past lives. Master said that our only fault was just that we existed without their permission.”

 

Zero kept staring with wider eyes, bewildered.

 

“We are not so different in our circumstances, Zero. but unlike us, you were spared. I wonder why we weren’t.”

 

Overwhelming. He had a lot of memory to process, both his own and now Wolfang’s. Zero let his eyes close, and he initiated defragmentation once again.

 

---

 

“Thanks, Zero. You saved me again.”

 

“Zero, you were a maverick!”

 

“I trust you, Zero.”

 

---

 

Threat assessment : Neglectable

 

Zero opened his eyes only slightly, his vision was clearer than the last time that he was awake.

Strange. He never had threat assessment this low. He focused on it. He can sense Gate, but he was in another part of the building. Far enough that he was not an immediate danger.

He looked around, Wolfang was not in his line of sight. Nor could he sense Wolfang at all. He was only surrounded by the lab full of equipment that he had already marked to ignore. 

He felt less safe than when his assessment yell at him about how dangerous Wolfang is.

Thinking of his newly recovered memories that didn't make any sense. It appeared that his past was full of contradiction, as if he had more than one identity.

Zero had no time to think about that for now,

 

Substantial threat approaching, the door opened, and he heard the familiar heavy footsteps of Wolfang. 

Zero let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. 

 

“Oh! You’re awake!” Wolfang greeted him, “I was out fetching. It’s Sunny today.”

He manually closed the door that looked like it was supposed to be automatic. Wolfang was dragging something behind him, 

“...So much Sun. Everything metallic was reflecting so much light it could burn someone’s eyes off. Good thing I’m well equipped for harsh light so I was fine.”

Wolfang kept walking while he rambled, he walked past Zero, and went to another door.

“...Sorry, Imma go drop this off for my master and I’ll come back to you in a bit.”

 

And then he’s gone from Zero's visual. His footsteps then went out of Zero's earshot, then his signal leaving, further and further, and gone.

It was quiet. So quiet that it almost hurt his ears. Zero took a breath and…

 

There was a commotion. Noises of things breaking, indecipherable yelling, more crashing noise, (probably) Wolfang yelping.

 

Dangerous! He had to see what’s going on..!

 

Zero tried to get up with what little body parts that he had. Leaning on his left elbow, he pushed. He successfully flipped to his left side…which was the wrong side, he needed to turn the other way. His neck was still stuck, his lower body was still connected to several wires and tubes and those are probably the only reason he’s functioning right now. Zero tried again, he pushed the table in front of him, Flipping himself over to right side, too far…! 

Zero fell off the working table face first. Noise of Zero crashing onto the hard floor was drowned in louder crashing from the other room. He was dangling by his lower body that was still attached to the wires on the table. He tried to rise up with the only limb that he had but it just made everything worse. 

 

Power line disconnected. Zero was forced shut down.

Chapter 4: Threat

Summary:

Things are escalating a little bit

Threat assessment : Moderate

 

Zero was on the table again. He was laying flat facing the ceiling. He felt foreign tools and hands invading his body again. Only, this time, he wasn’t able to react physically.

He heard a laugh,

“Are you back to us now, sleeping beauty?” It’s Gate’s voice, “Did you have a nice nap? My, my you are too naughty for someone who just came back from the dead.” 

Zero wanted nothing more than to swat those hands away from his abdominal cavity. But he found himself unable to move any part of his body. There was no motor control.

“Oh, don’t give me that look. I couldn’t risk you falling off and hurting yourself again, you don’t know how precious you are.” Gate lightly slapped his arm, smirking. Zero could do nothing other than just stare back, he wanted to wipe that smirk with the ground.

“Now that you’re back online, we can have a little bit of fun… what does this do?” 

Gate pulled something off from his abdomen, 

“I don’t think us reploids have this part, or at least, whatever this is doesn’t look the same.” Gate examined it, turning it around. “Hmm, now that I see it closely this kinda looks like a…”

Zero’s system was screaming at him that he was quickly overheating. He needed to hyperventilate, but his vents did not respond. He was suffocating without ever needing air.

 

“..Ah, of course. It does that.” 

 

That was the last thing Zero registered as his systems was forced shut down to prevent further damage.

 

----------------------------------

 

Threat assessment: Substantial.

 

Cold.

 

Ice cold. 

 

He opened his eyes, gasping, hunger for air that he didn’t need anymore. 

Oh how glad he was to find that his vents were working again. Motor functions be damned. He didn’t care about that right now. Checking his internal functions, his energy balancer was back in its place. His other internal systems weren’t too damaged, either. Autorepair was already doing its job. 

What a relief. There is no need to hyperventilate. Slowing his ventilation… it’s not really slowing.

 

“Hey.” Wolfang greeted him.

 

Zero just kept panting loudly, looking at his “watcher”. Wolfang was sitting on the ground, knees-up, resting his muzzle on a palm. Then he noticed that Wolfang was missing a few spikes on his head.

 

“You okay?” he asked, making Zero wonder if he had forgotten that Zero could not answer, “That was nasty. Good thing I have icy breath, heh?”

 

Zero looked at his body, found that he was covered in frost.

 

“Yer lucky I’m your watcher, not my brother Heatnix.” Wolfang put his arms on his knees, rested his chin on them, making an unimpressed face. “I don’t know if Heatnix getting revived is making my master as hotheaded as that bird. As glad as I am to see him back to life, I’m still not very … fond of him. That fried chicken and I… we just don’t mix.”

 

Zero just blinked. Wolfang being grumpy is an unusual sight. His breathing was slowing to normal. He stared at Wolfang’s misshapen head.

 

“Ah this?” Wolfang pointed at his head, noticing Zeros curious stare. “I fetched a wrong thing. Well deserved I guess.” He looked away.

 

That Gate… he attacked Wolfang? And won? His threat assessment should put Gate at a higher level, not low, not moderate. 

Moderate? He didn’t care to think about it before, but Gate registered as moderate last time. He wondered what changed. 

 

“Eh, I’ll be fine. I know he won’t stay mad forever. Not at me, and not at you.” Wolfang looked back, waving his hand,

 

Zero had a hard time believing that. Gate was a threat to him no matter the emotional state. He couldn’t care less if Gate would stay mad until his death.

 

“Still, try not to do that again. I thought you'd killed yourself with that fall. And it would have been my fault.” Wolfang scratched his head,  “Please, just make both our lives easier. It’s just for a while more, I promise.” 

 

Oh damn it all. This is too complicated for Zero’s poorly restarted processor to think about. 

 

Zero turned his head back to look at the ceiling….closing his eyes. Took one more deep breath before initiating defragment.

 

Entering sleep mode.

 

---

Chapter 5: Loyalty

Summary:

Wolfang and Zero had a proper conversation for the first time.

 

“Zero… Let me..! I’ll go instead of you!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, X. The world needs you.”

“Don’t talk as if you won’t return!”

“I’m not gonna die from such an easy job! Unless I become a maverick, there’s no way I would get killed”

“Alright. Be safe, Zero.”

 

---

 

Threat assessment: Substantial.

 

Turning his head towards the signal, Wolfang looked like he was sleeping on his job. The wolf reploid was still at the same usual place, huddled on the ground, with his muzzle tucked in between his arms. His broken spikes stuck out like a sore thumb. Zero’s eyes linger on them.

 

Gate does not deserve this one as his subordinate. 

 

Thinking of him, Zero observed his surroundings. There was no “Moderate threat” signal within his immediate surroundings. In a wave of relief, Zero let out a sigh.

 

That sigh, while silent, stirred the wolf. His muzzle rose out of his tucked arms. “You wake.” He said, eyes half open, voice hoarse.

 

Zero grunted in an affirmative response, surprised himself that there was some audible voice produced.

 

“And you have a voice already. My master is quite quick with his work, you see.”

 

Was it his work really? 

Checking his internal systems for exploration damage, his neck was definitely opened and closed, but he found no trace of attempted access into his voice synthesizer. It definitely had not been touched. This was no external work. This was a result of his own automated repair. 

 

His automated repair was working. This is new, very valuable information.

 

He decided to keep his mouth shut about it, instead, he tested his motor control. It appeared he had regained some of the connections, but it’s not enough to move as much as before at this time.

 

“Why did you do that anyway?” The wolf suddenly asked.

 

“Hmm?” Zero grunted in question.

 

“You tried to get off the bed before you had any legs. Why?” 

 

“Hmm.” he thought about what to say, and decided to be honest about it. “I wanted to see you.” Zero managed to whisper, his voice was hoarse from disuse. The feeling was unpleasant.

 

For an animaloid, Wolfang had quite an expressive face. Zero’s answer has intrigued the wolf.

 

“Why did you not fight back?” he continued, “You clearly are stronger….than him.”

 

“There’s not only one type of strength” the wolf smiled, amused. “I owe him my life. There is nothing in this world that I would not do for him.”

 

“Would you die for him?”

 

“I would die again for him.” His voice stressed, “over and over.” His expression was that of determination. 

 

“Hmm.” 

 

“I’m sure you could understand.” 

 

“...” 

Strangely, for some reason, Zero could empathize with this. He couldn’t remember why but… He had traded his life in for someone, hadn’t he? 

 

Was it the name of the reploid in his fragmented memory? Was it X that he died for? 

…perhaps, Wolfang knows. 

 

“Why am I here?” Zero asked, changing the subject. 

 

“My master rescued you.” Wolfang answered straight. 

 

“...Why did I need rescuing?” Zero pressed for information, his voice becoming quieter, he clearly needed to rest.

 

“You do not remember.” his face softened (somehow), “I’m sorry, Zero. I wasn’t alive during that time. Only you can answer that question. Perhaps you need some more time to revive your memories.” 

 

“…” 

 

“It’s not uncommon for a resurrected reploid to have their memory temporarily inaccessible. You just might need a bit of time to remember again. I am not an expert on reploid resurrection - that’s my master- , but I’ve seen my brothers wake up confused. You should not be different. - Oh! I could show you random stuff from outside. Anything you’ve seen before could stimulate you to pull memories connected to it.”

 

“...Don’t do it if you will be punished.”

 

“Bah!” The wolf waved his giant hand in dismissal, “I fetch his things. That’s all he cares about. He doesn’t care if I keep something else for myself.” 

 

Zero’s vision was blurring. He stared at the wolf’s red head-gem, as his visual field became an unfocused, blue blur with a bright red focus spot. A memory was trying to lapse into reality. Suddenly, he was in a cockpit of some sort of space shuttle.

 

Zero, don’t say it like you’re not coming back…! Promise me you will be back.!

 

His eyes refocused again. The blue blur turned into the wolf, and the surrounding merged back into the lab where he was placed. The seat turned into a steel examination bed, and the safety harness turned back into wires that restrained him while also keeping him alive.

 

Wolfang was staring at him quietly. 

 

“...your idea, it might work.” He whispered.

 

“Where were you, just now?” the wolf asked, knowing that Zero’s mind went somewhere.

 

“...with someone.” Zero said, hesitantly, “They have your color scheme.” 

 

“That would most likely be your partner, Mega Man X.” 

 

“...Mega…Man X….” Zero pondered the name.

 

Wolfang suddenly stood up, Zero’s system screamed at him that a big threat had a sudden movement. He didn’t react outwardly that he was internally startled.

 

“My master calls.” the towering wolf said simply, “Do not fall off the bed.” and he began to leave in a hurry. 

 

Zero half wanted to call out, but he didn’t. There was no point. Wolfang was loyal to Gate, not to Zero. 

 

Zero wasn’t a friend, just his task. A task that is second in priority, even.

 

His system was happy that a threat signal was leaving further and further, until he could no longer be detected, but Zero wasn’t happy. He felt less secure. He was slightly upset, even.

 

There was no more entity he could focus on. He attempted to test his motor control once more, only to find that it’s still pretty much as restricted as before. It took him everything to lift a finger off the bed. 

 

Growled in frustration. The strategic thing to do is wait for more body function, either from his own automated repair, or from Gate’s violations. Just thinking about allowing the latter to happen again even once disgusted him to his core. 

 

He can’t stay here. He won’t stay here even a second longer than the first chance he gets. 

 

Unfortunately, that won’t be today. Zero’s energy quota was running out. He will be forced to sleep again very soon. 

 

He spent the rest of his waking minutes staring at wires on the ceiling. 

Notes:

this is a bit of a short chapter. but it's been a long while since i've had any drive to push this story to completion. I feel like any update is better than none, so here it is. One more wakeful session for our Zero. Fair warning from now on, if you hadn't caught on, Gate will get creepier and creepier as he succumbs further to the maverick virus. I want to put his insanity to full display, without shadowing how Gate was a genius among his peers. This is what happens when someone with really high technical knowledge loses his moral sense. - and continues to lose it further and further. I'm very excited to get the rest of the story out. I'm not sure when's the next chapter will be but, in my head the entire story is ready.so hopefully I wrestle my own inhibition and get it written.

Chapter 6: Old life

Summary:

Zero was "tinkered with" some more, and he had another conversation with his caretaker.

After him! He is my nemesis. Our rivalry is what gives me motivation in life

 

Please don't fight against him! This must be some kind of mistake!

 

I wanted to live in a world where only Reploids exist...... with you.

Threat assessment : High

Warning : Unauthorized access to processor

Suggest : Escape

Cold.

 

Sharp.

Bright.

Invasion. 

Zero woke up with a startle, met with a blinding spotlight light shining directly to his face, his body felt heavy, his arm felt like it weighed a ton. His neck felt like it was bending at an angle it’s not supposed to. 

 

No, none of his body parts were responding!

 

He couldn’t move …! Not at all…! His panic rose as he realized the heaviness he felt was a lie, but he couldn’t feel anything below his neck. Making the only feeling he had left flooded him with sensory bombardment, it was not pleasant. It was cold. It was sharp. His head must have been pried open where it shouldn’t be. 

 

“Good morning, beautiful.” A sickening sweet voice of Gate greeted him, “You’re finally awake. You took your sweet… sweet time…  why’d you kept me waiting, hmm?” He said without remorse, almost singing.

 

Something sharp was sticking inside Zero’s exposed skull. He wanted to scream, but his voice synthesizer was below where he could command. His mouth was open, but no voice came out of his throat.

 

“Look at how this part moves! The gap around it was designed specifically for its movement range. Perfect fit! How could someone from such an archaic era have put this together? Not even MY works are this neat, and I call myself a genius.” The monologue kept going and going, Zero wasn’t registering his words anymore as he somehow felt his decidedly-out-of-sensory fuel tank trying to empty its non-existent content.

I’ve told you time and time again not to fight him, but you never listen! Now he’s dead. IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!

Memories were flooding in. What’s happening?! Who was this?! Too much! Too many inputs! 

Tell Iris, I died happy.

Who was Iris and who was this now!? He couldn’t stop- He couldn’t think about anything! There is nothing to do but endure. 

YOU ARE A MAVERICK!

NOW GO! AFTER HIM! THIS IS AN ORDER!

“…I could make use of this. We’ll create a perfect specimen together… a new era of reploid generation is upon us now.” 

Zero felt suffocated, his gyros going off the rails again as felt the world spinning in all directions. Something is wrong - more wrong than it already is …! He doesn’t know what’s real and in the present and what’s not anymore. His temperature started to rise as his vents weren’t functioning. The spotlight was too bright, but the world was darkening. 

His silent scream was never heard. 

His system forced itself to shut down. 

—------------------------------------------------------------

 

So , it’s you, X. 

I …I will destroy you! 

What’s happening…? Why would you say that - I don’t… I don’t understand…

… ‘There are things in this world that cannot be analyzed like data. Some things can only be felt.’ You taught me this, Zero. And I feel…so strongly … that I have to go see you. I know - I feel in my heart, this is our destiny. I will not back down. I won’t run away!

Sigma! It’s been you all along! I knew it…! I won’t - I WON’T LET YOU HURT HIM!

Zero… Zero… can you hear me? I can’t see anything …. Please …don’t- don’t leave me…! Please stand by me… I will protect you…Zero.

Take care of yourself, Zero. I don’t have time to put you back together again!

Go now… Maverick hunter… X…

Threat assessment : Substantial. 

Zero woke up with a yell. - he underestimated his mobility as he rose upright with a snap, but the wires connected to his chest restrained him, the rebound yanked him back to the bed so hard - he saw stars.

“Zero!” The wolf rushed towards him “Are you okay?” His giant clawed hand lightly pressed Zero’s chest back to the bed.

“..No.” Zero answered followed by a coughing fit, his voice box felt worse than before. He’s panting, it hurts to pant. It’s painful to speak. He had a massive headache, not sure if it’s from before, or from his head hitting the stainless steel bed.

 

The coldness of the wolf’s hand was helping. It’s semi-restraining, semi-comforting.

“Something wrong?” Wolfang asked, 

“...Whatever your master did.” Zero forced his voice out, his breathing was stabilizing, “Everything is wrong.”

“He gave you another arm.” Wolfang said, calmly, “Is it hurting?” 

Zero paused. He looked at himself. Sure is, he has a right arm now. Its sensory input was still a confusing static, but it’s there. It’s definitely an arm that he could feel. Testing its response, he couldn’t close his right hand into a fist, but he could move it somewhat.

 

His left arm now has nearly perfect motor and sensory. He could turn his wrist around, form a fist, touch each finger with precision. While still lacking strength that he somehow remembers that he used to have, 

Zero was so fascinated he forgot Wolfang. The ice wolf took no offense and removed his giant hand then stepped back to sit at his usual spot right across the bed. 

“I fetched that shoulder joint in your right arm.” Wolfang pointed while he settled, amused, “I don’t really know whose that used to be, but the size fit. My master made it work, right?” 

Zero looked at him, horrified, then looked at his right shoulder, conflicted on whether or not he should throw the whole arm out. 

The wolf laughed with his whole chest, he must have noticed Zero’s array of emotion on his face, “Don’t worry! It’s just the frame! The electronics are all new. Nothing's gonna infect ya!”

 

That doesn’t help, nor does Zero understand what that meant. 

“You know, the maverick virus?” Wolfang must have noticed Zero’s question mark face. 

“...Maverick…” The word came up in his memory “What does it mean?”

“Who knows.” Wolfang shrugged “used to mean criminal reploids, then it meant infected ones, now it just means disobedient ones. By some definitions, we would be ones because we’re existing without their permission.”

“I was told… I was a maverick.” 

 

 

“Maverick HUNTER you mean. You were a maverick hunter. You hunted mavericks. In your previous life you would be hunting me.” 

“...why?” 

“I don’t think I can answer that for you.”

 Zero’s headache worsened.

Wolfang sat comfortably, seemingly wasn't bothered at all by the implication of their respective identity.

But Zero was quite bothered. This silence was not a peaceful one. He tried to remember what could have been the reason to hunt someone like this- one who’s so coherent, so non-violent. But he failed. Nothing came up. 

 

…but, he probably had already done something like this, hadn’t he? In his fragmented memory, he must have hunted someone he didn’t want to. 

“….I don’t want to hunt you.” Zero said what he felt. Breaking the uncomfortable silence.

“Then don’t.” Wolfang answered simply.

…Would it be that easy? Would there be some form of dictation that makes Zero do things against his will in his previous life? Would it still be in effect, if he were to return?

 

Could he…even return? Should he even want to?… if it meant he and Wolfang would become members of directly opposing factions?

 

Aren’t they currently… enemies?

“If my existence harms you……why…” Zero hesitated, “ … why would you bring me back… ”

 

‘What’s in it for them’ , was the unvoiced question. 

“I can’t claim to know my master’s thoughts.” He paused, scratching his chin, “ I think you and I are alike, so I assumed you would want to live, given the chance”

Zero wasn’t able to confirm or deny this assumption… he … don’t remember enough to decide. Existence in itself was neutral, but what he’s experiencing here has been net negative. 

 

Old life or not, Zero can’t stay here. He won’t willingly stay. Not for anything… not for Wolfang.

 

The thought hurts. Zero grimaced.

“We’re in the middle of nowhere, Zero.” the wolf continued, a bit more somber, “That’s why I fetch things. My master will make use of whatever still works around here, or we can’t live at all.”

“...”

“We have to make our existence worthwhile out here. I am revived for a reason, and so are you. My master has a grand plan for us all, you’ll see.”

“…”

Zero had enough. He stopped responding, and Wolfang didn’t push further. 

 

The wires in the ceiling somehow became a comforting sight. His eyes trace them mindlessly until he falls back into sleep mode. 

 

Notes:

Some more progress on Zero's body and mind. He now has two arms! yayyyy! Also, memory recovery is almost done. I do want more progress but it feels too fast so i paced them out for the next chapter for now.

Notes:

Zero is quite an unreliable narrator. Considering that he has limited sense. Hopefully it's not too confusing to understand, and I will try to clear any mystery in the next chapters where he regain his senses! Thank you for reading! Next chapter is on its way, please stay tuned!