this is gonna be another two parter chapter and sorry for not updating this for awhile I had other plot bunnies attacking me and life in general. anyway enjoy. Also I had posted early but I don't celebrate holidays and forgot it was one. ZX sorry for the mix up, I unblocked you.

Chap. 7

Night had fallen on Neo Arcadia but it was not peaceful in the X tower. Nearly two weeks have passed since the destruction of the Disposal Factory. Word had spread quickly of the Mavericks acquiring a red fighter whom had previously allied himself with X, had now become an enemy. Humans became scared of the dangerous reploids outside the wall. Fortunately, nothing got loose about the scientists that were attacked, but that doesn't stop the whispers of danger.

"ARGH!" bellowed an angry voice in the chambers of X tower. A blue reploid laid his head in his hands as he sat at his war room table, the Commander of the Mavericks hunters of Neo Arcadia, Megaman X.

Zero betrayed everything X and he fought for, and now he was a threat to the peaceful utopia X had created. The humans' fear had returned in the form of his former partner. Not only that, but from what X gathered from Fafnir's report there seemed to be more reploids beyond just the resistance.

The footage taken from the prison in the desert showed a strange reploid helping Zero and Axl. What was a struggle for the two Mavericks was an easy feat for the new comer. This made X regret not keeping a better eye on Ciel; she must be accumulating more power to come and take over Neo Arcadia.

Or worse overthrow him and let Zero take over like his human creator wanted.

X then went to his intercom and pressed a square button, "Leviathan, Phantom, and Harpuia come to the war room to discuss our next phase of attack."

…

The night was difficult for Zero. As he slept his mind was plagued with nightmares, the past had begun to come back for a few days now. Iris' death was playing in his mind again. Some changes had appeared; for instance when Zero would run to her side she would raise her hand up to warn him of the incoming grinder from the Disposal Factory, or X coming from behind and shooting him in the back.

Fed up with his latest bout of nightmares, Zero set out for the roof. He saw the moon and star shine brightly as he stood at the opening. He could see the ruins of an old human city's shadows glide on the ground. Beyond its horizon Zero also saw the 'X' shaped building be a beacon for Neo Arcadia.

Almost lost in thought, Zero heard the shuffling of paper behind a set of crates. As he went around to check them he was surprised at who he found.

"Alouette," he asked quietly as not to scare her, but still she gave a slight jump at the sound of her name. She then look and realized that it was Zero so she relaxed.

"Hi, Mr. Zero," she said cheerfully as she held a grey folder in her lap. Some of its contents were on top of the portfolio. It showed to be colored sketches in great detail.

"What are you doing up," Zero asked the girl as she shifted a bit in her spot nervously. "It's nearly two in the morning."

"I woke up and couldn't fall back to sleep, so I came up here to look at these drawings." She said as Zero gave a look that asked where the drawings came from. "I found them hidden here a year ago." the blond girl pointed to a hole in one of the crates.

"I see…but would you like to look at them in a better light, you could hurt your optics." Zero pointed out. Not saying he didn't want her around, but he could have used the alone time.

"Maybe, but I like looking at them out here, the base can be so cramped." The little girl said as she sifted through the papers. Alouette then lifted a sheet towards Zero, "here, this one's my favorite."

Zero took the paper in his hand and stared at it with great detail, and couldn't help but smile. It showed old Andrew sitting at a table, smiling at an old woman with grey hair. She too was smiling happily, with loving wrinkly eyes at Andrew. They both held hands as silent words passed between them; a human and a reploid hand in hand. Zero then saw the signature on the bottom of the right-hand corner.

Enzen Chaud.

"Alouette, do you know who drew these?" he asked the girl mildly curious.

The girl looked over at Zero and then at the paper, "not really. I think he was retired before I got to know anyone here. I was only active for three hours when the resistance rescued me. Then I imprinted on Ciel and that's why she's my Mommy," She said happily thinking of her mother.

"What was the purpose of your creation?" Zero asked the small child reploid.

"What do you mean?" Alouette gave a confused look to the warrior, "Mommy says I can be whatever I want to be."

"Most reploids are built as adults to fulfill a purpose," Zero clarified. "They then are taught how to interact with the people around them."

"Not me, I was created as a baby and I get to grow into an adult!" Alouette said cheerfully and then her face became thoughtful, "or at least that what I was a prototype for, but Neo Arcadia shut down the project and retired my mother and father units before I could even imprint on them."

Zero grew silent at this revelation; he didn't know what to make of it. The fact that Alouette had a chance to grow like any human child was an amazing prospect. The little reploid before him then gave a thoughtful look and fixed her gaze on Zero.

"Mr. Zero… do you cry in your sleep?" she asked out of the blue.

The reploid saw the serious in her and wondered where it came from. Had he ever cried in his sleep? "No…I don't think so," Zero answered, "why do you ask?"

"It's why I can't sleep…" Alouette answered back pulling her knees up with the portfolio still in her lap. She looked down sadly at the book before she spoke again, "I cry in my sleep a lot. I have nightmares about the four guardians coming and killing us. I don't want Mommy to know because she worries a lot and now with uncle Milan dead… they got worse…" the child teared up as she let out a sob.

Zero recalled the fight he and his brother had with the general, Fafnir. He had asked Alia whom they were and found out they were X's elites. Sage Harpuia was the lead general, Hidden Phantom was espionage, Fairy Leviathan was the hacker, and Fafnir was weapons expert.

The fact that they made this child cry shows the fierceness of their reputation… but Zero was fiercer. He placed a hand on Alouette's head and spoke gently, "Alouette, if you like, I could stand guard by your room, if that will help you sleep?"

"You would do that," the reploid child sniffed. The red hunter responded with a nod, and then was giving a hug and many thanks by the small child.

…

When Ciel got up this morning she didn't expect to find Zero propped up against a wall across from her door. He was in a seated position like a guard; Zero's head laid on his left arm witch plopped on top of his left knee.

Ciel leaned in closer to the sleeping reploid to make sure he didn't shutdown or something like that. "Zero," she asked, and only then realized her face was a bit too close to his as he jolted awake. In the split second their forehead gems touched, a small spark connected between them ever so briefly. Ciel jumped back with a small squeal and Zero stood straight up.

Zero woke as soon as he heard his name he bolted up; he soon realized that Ciel was right in front of him. She was as shocked as he was and then he remembered his conversation with Alouette. It must have been morning by now.

Before Zero could ask Ciel what time it was, she suddenly began to apologize, "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!" her voice was high-pitched as she spoke frantic. She didn't mean to get so close to him; she just wanted to make sure he was okay. "So why were you sleeping in the hall?" Ciel asked as she absent-mindedly rubbed her forehead. She chocked up the sensation as just nerves.

"I found Alouette in the middle of the night, she was having nightmares and I offered to stay nearby as a guard." The red hunter stated Tingling also still being felt in his head. What was that?

"Oh I see," Ciel nodded in understanding, "and you're still having nightmares, too?" the pink cladded scientist recalled Zero mentioning it only to brush it off as no big deal. This troubled Ciel but she was unsure at how to address it.

Zero didn't have time to give a response as Axl had come running into the hall. "Hey morning you two," He said with some pep in his step. "You two ready to start the day?"

Zero groaned a bit, "it should be illegal for you to be this cheerful in the morning." This got an even bigger smile out the young reploid.

Ciel giggled, "I have to agree with Zero on this one, Axl." Her tone was full of mirth, "I at least have to have some coffee in me, before I can start the day." Then again sometimes not even coffee could make her feel energized enough to take on the day.

"Well you'll perk up when I tell you that we got contact from the boss, and by this time tomorrow the express train will be coming in." Forte instructed the young reploid to stay with the resistance so they could stay in contact with the Scavengers until they arrive with help toward evacuations.

"Really," Ciel practically shouted with joy as she clasped her hands together. The last time she had seen anyone of the other Scavengers was five years ago. Their constant moving made it difficult to get help from them. "Axl that's fantastic! We'll finally be able to leave this place!"

-"Really, we get to go to a new home?!" Alouette, whom had just come out of the room, exclaimed with excitement. She had always wanted to see new places, but had to always stay in the base to be safe. She then turned to Zero and gave him into the biggest hug her little body could muster. "Thank you Mr. Zero for helping us get a new home and keeping the scary bad reploids away!" said this while beaming up at him.

Zero returned with a small smile and patted her head. He wasn't sure what to say as he felt a mix of warmth and awkwardness. He finally settled for a 'you're welcome'.

Ciel's heart also warmed at the sight, but she didn't realize she begun to stare at Zero for a little too long. Axl notice but didn't find it in himself to tease about the infatuated look on Ciel face. It was rare of her to show a genuine smile that held no burdens.

Then once Alouette broke the hug and turned to ask Ciel a question. "Mommy, can Mr. Zero be-"

-"Ms. Ciel, Mr. Zero, Mr. Axl, please come to the command room immediately!" the reploid intercom spoke and was cut off when a rumble shook through the base. Dust fell off the ceiling as the rumble grew more aggressive.

"Alouette head into the closet now!" Ciel took the frightened girl back into their room and told her to stay in the closet until she came back. The girl nodded but was still frightened tears threated to fall as she clutched her doll tight. The door was shut leaving the girl to only see a thin beam of light.

Ciel rushed out of the room with the door closing behind her, but Alouette wasn't alone for long. A figure teleported into the room; this caused the girl's eyes to widen in fear as she peeked through the crack in the door.

The figure stood in mostly black save for the white bird-like mask on his face, and the red scarf around his neck. His eyes in a menacing purple as he looked around the room. He began to search for something; looking through draws, underneath Ciel's desk, then the figure stopped as he found one of many of Ciel's dairy books. Ciel mostly wrote her feeling in them, but never anything important, she packed the important stuff away.

Alouette stayed as still as she could and hope that the figure didn't come toward the closet. Her hopes were dashed, though, as the light from the crack disappeared. The figure then began to slide open the closet door and Alouette was too frightened to scream…

…

Ciel got to the command room to see the cameras pick up footage of a giant orange tank. It was equipped with missiles and hatch that releases mechanaloids. The front had a bulldozer like wheel with spikes that tore up the ground of the disposal factory. In some ways it looked like a mole as it dug up the decrepit machinery.

"Zero, Axl, a Hittite Hottide is head in our direction," Ciel said urgently over the intercom as the two reploids were headed through the trans-server. "Please, destroy it quickly before it takes us out!"

The two then transported outside to fight the looming threat. The two were transported behind the mechaniloid and began attacking it from behind. Once it was destroyed, Axl and Zero exchanged glances as they were on the same line of thinking.

"Uh…was that a little too easy," Axl voice his thoughts to Zero. The red hunter placed his saber back in his left holster.

"It was," Zero agreed and then pressed the intercom, "Ciel is the base alright?"

"Yeah, it's fine…" she paused mid-way in her sentence as she tapped on her computer. "Hold on I'm picking up an unknown teleportation signal." And it was coming from her room! Ciel stood and ran out of the command room. She told Zero and Axl to make it back quick as she rushed down the hall to open her room.

There she found Alouette's cat doll in the middle of the floor. As she picked it up she found a cyber Kunai stabbed in its back. As more soldiers came by to see what was going on, Ciel heard a noise coming from the closet. She took a peek and saw what it was…

A time bomb.

"Move from the door!" Ciel yelled as she rushed to push herself and her men away from the door. Then the roar of an explosion rocked the hallway. Debris hit Ciel's back as she barely missed the flames, and the shockwave threw her and two others to the floor.

Zero, Cerveau, and Axl ran and came upon the scene. The three saw Ciel and the other reploids struggle to get up. "What happened," the engineer asked as Zero came to check Ciel for injuries and Axl helped the other two reploids up.

"We need to get her medical attention, now!" Zero voiced full of urgency as he saw the shrapnel in her back. He carefully took her in his arms. He knew the resistance had very little medical supplies, but what they had would have to do.

"H-he took her…P-Phantom took Alouette," the blond cyborg said in discomfort trying to ignore the pain in her back. She still held on to the cat doll and weapon.

"H-he left a messaged Kunai…" Ciel said as Zero as he set her down on a repair table. She took the cyber knife and pressed a button on the hilt. A hologram appeared showing its owner.

"Zero, I am Hidden Phantom of the Four generals. I wish to challenge you to a duel; if you do not face me in the desert by sunset I will order my subordinate to execute the maverick child." The message paused, "As for Dr. Ciel, consider the 'gift' I left as a warning, Commander X's generosity for you is growing thin. If you continue to be foolish then there will be no pardon for your errors."

The message ended as Cerveau came to give Ciel medical care. This was low even for X; Zero tightly gripped the kunai and finally spoke, "Ciel, I'll get Alouette back. I promise." She muttered a painful thanks as she fell into unconsciousness.

Axl then came rushing in with some more bad news, "hey, guys, I just got word that we're being hacked and they've traced the location back to the underground prison."

Cerveau gave a heavy sigh, "Axl, you're going to have to go and investigated the hacking. Zero can you give Axl you fire chip, I have a feeling he might need it."

…

Alouette heard chirping above her head, opening her eyes she saw green grass. She could tell it was artificial due to the cyber trace lines and lands on the blades. The last thing Alouette remembered was being knocked out by the scary masked reploid. She looked around to see trees full of green leaves and robotic birds.

"Glad to see you're awake, little one," said a voice that made Alouette jump in her tracks. She slowly turned around and saw a reploid. He was tall and had gold and green armor with a dark blue in between. He had a green cloak with broad shoulders and his face was had some scar under his right eye. His left eye was completely covers by his rectangular red and green helmet.

Alouette stumbled backwards afraid of the tall figure. She tried to make a run for it, but she had caught the attention a hive of a bee-like mechaniloids. They made a straight shot for her as she covered her as Alouette tried to protect herself. She expected herself to feel the stabs of their stingers but instead she heard the sound of shots going over her head.

Uncovering herself, Alouette saw that the same reploid she was running from had took out the mechaniloids. "Are you okay, little one?" The tall reploid knelt down to meet the small child's gaze.

"Why did you save me?"

"because you were in danger, and had no way of protecting yourself," the tall reploid spoke again.

"But you're Neo Arcadian, you think I'm a maverick," Alouette said confused. Was he trying to trick her?

The tall reploid gave a small smile, "you don't look maverick to me, besides just because I work for Neo Arcadia doesn't mean I like what they're doing." Alouette decided he could be trusted and smiled at him.

"My name is Alouette, What's your name?" she stuck her hand out for him to shake. The tall reploid took it and answered her.

"My name is Kraft, it's nice to meet you Alouette."

cliffy! please review and please no cursing in the review section