Chapter 15: "Consequences and Changes"

"We've got them! X and Zero are safe! Maverick forces are disabled!"

It was Dex's voice that rang through the comms of the entire Hunter force, in HQ and around the collapsing, imploding fortress. Airstrike, Inferno, and Shimmer were among the first to raise their arms with a holler of relief and victory.

Quickman, Barrel, Gravity Beetle, and Tunnel Rhino raised arms, but were also sagging from exhaustion now that they could finally break cover for a real breather.

"Is it always this close to the wire?" Rhino had to ask.

Barrel snorted, "Yeah, just about."

Tripwire elbowed Cadis playfully after she gave a loud cheer. She blushed and nudged him back as Spikesaw and Snapvice mutually shook their heads at the two.

Turbo actually flopped onto his back as Acid Seahorse chuckled, Pyrostrike and Blast Squirrel smirking as they let their respirators catch up.

Mapteron was uniquely stoic, though pleased, as Warp Turtle eased down for a leisurely rest. Blast Hornet folded his wings into passive function as he blinked between the two of them. "You'd think this was a slagging funeral, the way you two never react."

Neon Tiger, the original, shrugged simply for his part. "At least they don't panic in a fight?"

Mapteron smirked at them. "More or less."

Signa's voice came over the comms some time after Dex's confirmation, "Alright, people. Hard fight, well won, but now the long hard road of clean-up needs to start. Anyone suffering grade 2 injuries or worse, report to medical. Hunters, help the wounded who can't mobilize as a priority. Anyone else, we need a clean perimeter around that wreck of a fortress as soon as possible. We'll cycle folks out in shifts for recharge."

He sighed as he closed the channel for a moment. "I'll report to the field to help start on that. Operators have logistics handled?"

Alia, clearly rejuvenated from relief, nodded quickly. "I've got it, Commander, if Dex and Iris need to recharge?"

Dex chuckled. "Hah, no. I'm working here."

Iris giggled a bit. "Plenty of energy left myself, sir!"

The commander center gate opened that moment, with a very tired-looking Zero and X marching in.

Alia started to clap, and Dex and Iris quickly followed her example. Signas just turned with a smirk and a salute. The two saluted back, and X shared a little smile with Alia before he looked back to Signas and Zero.

"Want us out there on clean-up?" X started.

Zero side-eyed him for it, but didn't voice a disagreement.

Signas chuckled. "You two need recharge and probably repairs."

Zero lifted his hand to agree with that lightly. Then he shared a little smile with Iris, who blushed happily, hiding with her work station.

Alia raised her hand a little, "Actually! If... it's not too much trouble, X would be very helpful in getting that clone Tiger and Dr. Doppler properly situated?"

X nodded. "Of course, I'd be happy to help." He waved a hand awkwardly. "I also have, uh... three more Mavericks' personality drives and buffers to turn in."

Everyone stopped and stared for a beat.

"Bit, Byte, and Vile," X murmured awkwardly. "Should probably be secured, but they deserve proper psych-evals... and such."

Alia relaxed into a happy smile. She knew what that had to mean for him. "Well! Let's get them situated, too, hm?"

Signas glanced between the two, then shrugged. "Sounds logical enough. Make sure they're secured if they're not found clean of the virus at this point. And Alia, you're approved to make medical arrangements to assist them with disinfection."

Alia saluted, and actually hopped up. "Sorry, guys!"

Dex waved it down, and Iris just gave a little thumbs-up before focusing back to work.

Once Alia and X jogged out of the command center, Signas looked back to Zero.

"Things go well?"

Zero shrugged. "Well enough, hm? I'm gonna go get that recharge."

A few days later, most of the wreckage clean-up was well under way across all of Doppler Town. There was some discussion of converting it to simple civilian city and infrastructure with how abysmally the 'Reploid Utopia' had failed and shown to be a deception from the start.

The political scene had become tense and afraid, dangerously so. The Maverick Hunters were kept busy with clean-up and basic security monitoring by order of the council. Everyone assumed this was to keep their voice out of certain discussions.

X was waiting, somewhat impatiently, to be called into a summons by Dr. Cain and some of the council visiting HQ. He'd known this was inevitable, and was calculating how to maintain his plan despite what was coming, but sitting here, idle, while so much clean-up had to be done was driving him mad.

A familiar set of heavy footfalls called his attention upward, and he smiled.

"Depthcharge! Great to see you on your feet!" X stood himself.

Depthcharge offered a sincere, though wan smile, fully aware of the context for X. "Thank you, X. I'm glad you're unhurt at least. I... apologize for the timing, but I needed to speak with you, and it's been too busy to catch you otherwise."

X blinked, but nodded. "Of course, go ahead."

"It's regarding Jessica... Well, somewhat. It's about me, but... Mm," Depthcharge groaned at himself, rubbing part of his head-plating.

X blinked again, this time becoming pensive. Then he smiled gently. "You're going to stay with her?"

Depthcharge stared in shock for a pulse. "Y... Yes. Did you... monitor me...?" He had to ask, though it didn't quite seem the way X would check on things.

X chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no, I've no reason to monitor you guys," he kept it vague for their location's sake. "You and Jessica share something unique. Special. When she came so immediately to make sure you were okay, I knew it wasn't just a special bond on your side."

Depthcharge sighed with some relief, tension leaving his frame, and he nodded. "Exactly so... You aren't upset with my decision?"

X shook his head. "I've always wanted people to be able to live their lives, Depthcharge. Our friends aren't an exception to that hope. We'll miss you in battle, but I don't think anyone would begrudge you finding some peace in this world."

"I'm technically a... risk," Depthcharge phrased gently and dropped his voice lower.

X raised an eyebrow, then smirked mildly. "No more than I. Go on. Let her know I'm happy for you two, hm?"

Depthcharge offered his massive hand. "...I can't repay what you've done for me. Or us."

X shook the hand, however mismatched the sizes were. "It was never about repayment. Thank you. Stay safe out there, alright?"

Depthcharge nodded, eased back somewhat awkwardly, and then turned to depart.

Only a moment later, the doors near X finally opened, an attendant confirming X was to enter next. X exhaled, and strode into the office.

Councilor Teagan, Dr. Cain, and the couple of other councilors present didn't surprise X. He was mildly startled to see Signas, but considering this was a top-down action on the Hunters, he realized it was foolish to be so.

Signas stood straight to the right, Dr. Cain opposite, with Teagan leading the other councilors in the center. X saluted once he stopped, Signas returning it so he could stand at-ease.

Councilor Teagan smirked faintly. "Do you know why we've called you in, Maverick Hunter X?"

X remained serious, only saying, "I can't be certain, sir. May I ask why?"

Dr. Cain wrung his hands on the grip of his walking aid. "There are several records providing evidence of you acting counter to orders, or operating independently of Hunter Command, X. A full investigation is warranted. Hunters under investigation are suspended, pending results."

Teagan gestured to Dr. Cain's answer, and kept his little smile. "It would appear you're not just stubborn in front of cameras, X."

One of the other councilors coughed firmly, and Teagan rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, there's a silver lining for your suspension," Teagan continued, "as before, no one can really argue with your results, not even our investigators. As such, your B-class ranking will not be affected unless the investigation yields results consistent with termination of your rank. If that happens..."

Dr. Cain grimly finished, "You will be mechanically disarmed, and reduced to civilian status."

Internally, X did feel a pang of outrage that they'd try to pull Dr. Light-given systems out of his body, but that emotionally reaction was well contained by how much he knew about what was going on around him. "Understood, sir, councilors. Am I dismissed?"

Signas actually spoke next. "I moved for your suspension to be partial rather than full, X, and the council has been gracious enough to allow it. You are to function as an operator under Lt. Alia's supervision until further notice. Any action to deploy will be grounds for reprimand. Is this status clear?"

X blinked, eyebrows up. /...Thank you, Signas./ "Y-yes, sir. I am grateful to be allowed to help."

Signas showed a faint smile before his official nod, nothing more.

Dr. Cain set his cane to one side to get attention, still appearing grave himself. "The council has been given authority and mandate to begin the creation of the Reploid Defense Force. A military organization under human command. It will be the first-responder to extreme outbreaks like Doppler Town in future."

Councilor Teagan smiled again. "It will be formed after Dr. Cain has finished developing certain safe guards for its purposes."

X and Signas both tightened their eyes.

X asked, "May I know what kind of safeguards?"

Councilor Teagan seemed to relish the question, but was silent. Perhaps he was enjoying not telling X.

Dr. Cain answered, which startled the councilors.

"The Cain Anti-Virus will be set-up as a fail-safe trigger inside new Reploids intended for the RDF, as well as retrofitted to any Reploids who opt to join it."

Signas had to stop himself from taking a step, X showing clear alarm, barely held from shouting out.

Teagan grumbled a bit, "That was supposed to be classified, Dr. Cain..."

Dr. Cain started toward the exit, startling X as much as anyone else in the room. "It's a small matter. I will be resigning from public Reploid work once the fail-safe design is completed to the council's specifications."

X twisted on a foot, but couldn't bring himself to speak, just looking after the aged human who hobbled out of view... and was lost to closing doors.

The X-Hunter bunker had been mostly quiet during the Doppler Town war, but a few weeks after the fall of the outbreak, X and his full team had finally managed to coordinate a way to meet in person without arousing suspicion.

The now hefty force of Reploids, save for the Doppler ex-Mavericks who opted to show themselves as victims of the infection rather than go undercover, were scattered around the central space of the bunker, with Signas, Alia, and X clustered to one side.

The trio had just finished making sure everyone was fully up to date on what was happening. X leaned onto his knees where he sat as he wrapped up.

"...So that's where we are. This... Repliforce they're starting to call it, is already approaching recruitment and manufacturing phase. The lethal anti-virus is being used as a fail-safe implant in Repliforce members. And I'm now one of Alia's support personnel, officially."

There was some mild humor shared among everyone, Alia's smile widening just a touch especially.

Pyrostrike spoke up first, "Does this change the long-term plan? It'll be difficult for you to position yourself as you intend after all this."

Signas and Alia looked to X along with the others.

"Difficult, yes, but we've bought time with ousting the last outbreak, too. I'll be working closely with Alia not only to maintain appearances, but to help prepare for future outbreaks until we either see a better opening, or my leash is relaxed enough to put the true plan back on the forefront."

"So delayed, not failed?" Mapteron chose to confirm.

X nodded.

Shimmer angled his head, eyeing X shrewdly. "Do you intend to tone down your overt disregard for hierarchy in the next outbreak?"

X half-smiled at the serious point. "Honestly, Shimmer, I was trying to lay groundwork for the plan without risking innocent lives. I will... I intend to maintain that approach short of actually debilitating my ability to function."

"Technically, aren't you debilitated now?" Inferno challenged, though he didn't seem upset.

"You're right. I didn't calculate all of my choices properly. ...If you all have specific changes you'd like to see me make, I'm listening..."

Alia nudged his arm. "Less calculating, more care, maybe?"

Several nods, affirmations, and little chuckles resounded around the X-Hunters.

X chuckled back, sinking his head with a nod. "Understood." Calming to seriousness, he went on, "Repliforce is going to be a problem no matter how we look at it. Please be discrete, but we need information sources on it going forward. It's a massive, juicy target for the virus once it's established."

"And it's already getting a lot of Maverick Hunter recruits," Airstrike added, grim as well.

Signas nodded. "We have to play this delicately. We're being forced to treat friendlies as potential threats. This is very dangerous ground to tread. Stay alert, and stay cautious."

A stronger affirmation resounded though the bunker before they started to scatter.

Zero stood calmly, arms folded, as a new Reploid stepped down from a medpod. He resembled a stylized beast of some kind, with wicked blades for toes that were nearly as long as Zero's limbs, and a powerfully built upper body. The overall frame was mostly browns and silvers.

"You certainly look ready for a fight," Zero commented dryly.

"Don't I? Can call me Slash Beast now," the new Reploid replied with a fairly pleasant smile.

"Close enough to Neon Tiger's persona to feel comfortable, but different enough to be yourself?" Zero tested more seriously, raising an eyebrow as Slash stepped closer to him.

Slash nodded. "Exactly. My style is my style, it's how I move and think, but I can get used to some new techniques and a name. And was better to do it sooner rather than later before the original Neon Tiger got annoyed, hm?"

Zero chuckled. "Not sure I could handle that so easily as you. Welcome aboard."

Slash shook his hand. "Pleasure. Eager to see what I can do to help."

Zero gestured back after reciprocating the shake. "Check in with Dex in the command center, he'll get you situated."

Slash saluted, and then sprinted out of the medbay with a purpose.

Zero took a breath once he was alone, closing his eyes. I never would have bothered sparing a clone produced by the virus. I wouldn't have believed it was worth the risk... Now... I'm just not sure of anything right now.

Someone entered the medbay that moment, but Zero was too deep in thought to react much beyond his instincts confirming the person wasn't moving in a threatening way.

"...Sir?"

Zero blinked, and twisted to face, "Iris? You... look upset." He frowned as he realized why her voice had been so much softer than normal.

Iris offered a wan smile. "Sorry to worry you, sir. I... had a disagreement with my brother about what I came to you to say."

Zero's brow creased. "...You're unhurt physically?"

Iris blinked, then waved her hands. "Oh, no, no! My brother would never harm me, Zero." She blushed as she slipped with his name so casually.

Zero did ease a bit. "Sorry, just... paranoid. Anyway, what is it you wished to say to me?"

Iris faded back to an almost ill-looking anxiety as she looked down at their feet. She was struggling to pull her words together. Zero could see that much, and didn't egg her on as he normally would have. Things had finally calmed down, he didn't have to push for lives on the line.

"I'm quitting."

She'd forced the words out, looking up to his eyes out of courage, but hunched down from anxiety.

Zero was just confused, not angry. "...Why?"

Iris flexed her hands a few times, straightening a little. "I... I'm not comfortable here, anymore. Tracking allies, informing on them, working against each other when there's a much worse evil to fight. I... I just can't do this, Zero," she finished in a choked voice, starting to weep.

Zero winced, but was mentally caught himself. He wanted her to stay, to show her it was alright, things would be better, but another part of him knew this place wasn't healthy for her. She'd always felt guilty about what he'd asked her to do. And part of him now regretted asking her to do it...

His fingers flexed a few times... and then finally Zero eased forward, pulling Iris into an embrace.

Iris gasped, her eyes flaring, but she never tried to pull away. After a moment, the reality of his embrace sank in, and she coiled her arms around him, burying her face in his torso as she sobbed, "T-thank you...!"

Zero caressed her hair, and stayed quiet as he just held her for several moments.

At last, her voice returned. "Aren't you upset with me?"

"No... Your brother was?"

She nodded meekly into his front. "And he... he intends to join the Repliforce. He wanted me to go with him."

Zero stiffened, but he hadn't forgotten Colonel's interest in the concept.

"I'm sorry!" Iris squeaked, feeling his jerk.

Zero realized what he'd done, and shook his head, caressing her hair again. "Sshh," he offered softly first. "I just have to talk with him, too. ...I'll miss working with you, Iris."

Iris eased, and nodded more easily. She was in no rush to escape his arms. "And I you, Zero. I... really admire you for all you do."

Zero half-smiled. "I know I'm too harsh for your style, Iris, it's okay."

She eased back only enough to look up to his eyes, offering a sweet smile despite her watery eyes. "I think I'm a little too soft for your style, you mean? You're the hero."

Zero shook his head, gently sad for the topic. "I'm not a hero, Iris. I'm just... trying to do what needs doing." He took a breath. "...Would you mind if I checked in on you on occasion?"

Iris' face lit up brighter. "Not at all. Please do..."

Zero nodded to her, and only then released his hug. "See you around, alright?"

Iris gave a soft bow. "See you around, Zero."

They shared a warm smile before she hurried off, likely to finalize her retirement. It left Zero saddened... and them determined as he thought on Colonel, before leaving the medbay with a purpose himself.

"Unless you intend to enslave me to the Maverick Hunters, sir, my decision is final," Colonel returned sternly to Zero's challenge of his choice.

Zero tossed a hand out. "Colonel, think for a minute! The infection thrives on Reploids who are specialized for combat, especially in places of influence or tactical importance! Repliforce is a catastrophe waiting to happen! We need you here!"

Colonel set his jaw. "You've already poisoned my sister against my ethics enough, Zero, I'll not tolerate more of this. Maverick Hunters scramble to barely accomplish anything. Mavericks with mechaniloids held us at bay for months! Repliforce is the kind of systemic response we've needed! My pride demands I serve!"

"Your pride is going to get you—AND YOUR SISTER—killed!"

The roar of Zero's voice seemed to startle both of them.

Colonel slowly narrowed his eyes after his start. "My sister is a noncombatant, thanks to you, Zero. I will do what I must."

Zero clenched his fists as Colonel twisted to leave the small meeting room. "...Do you really think deaths to infected will be limited to Repliforce personnel in the future?"

Colonel paused in silence for a moment, but only turned his head to reply, "Repliforce will protect the civilians better than the Hunters ever have."

Zero watched him march away. Once alone, he twisted and punched a dent into the wall. "...I wish I could blame the virus for this... but this is on us..."

Alia eased into Dr. Cain's lab with some trepidation. A hand trailing off the frame, she looked around in the mostly quiet lab.

"...Dr. Cain... sir...?"

With all that was going on so suddenly with Repliforce initiating, X's public status, and Dr. Cain announcing his soon-to-be-effective retirement, she was more than a little anxious of why he'd called her...

"Yes, sorry, Alia. Over here."

His voice drifted from the back-right corner, clearly distracted by something he was working on.

Alia jogged over lightly, her body pinging softly, little hisses and clicks resounding. "Did you need a lab-assistant, sir?" She was trying to be professional, but had a secondary motive for the offer. If she could get close to the actual data he was working on, she might be able to grab the coding she would need to help deal with the anti-virus before it slaughtered otherwise rescueable Reploids.

"Not exactly," Dr. Cain muttered, and pulled a small datachip from his console, offering it to her casually as he continued working. "Check this data for me. Need a second pair of eyes."

Alia blinked, but took the chip, and plugged it into a secondary drive in her forearm. She was confused for a beat, then felt like an idiot for showing it on her face. She quickly made a show of going to the console near Dr. Cain, and using one screen, as if she was simply reviewing secondary data.

What he'd actually given her was a local-comm clearance key. Once she used it, a message started to play on her internal comm.

/I don't have the benefit of internal comms, so I had to prepare this indirectly,/ the message began, Dr. Cain's voice, low and raspy. /Though I have some frustrations with how X handled himself, he was right. The government has pushed my anti-virus too far, too fast. It never should be applied like this. When you're ready, I'm going to hand you a generic progress report. It will have an encrypted secondary message. Use the same key I just gave you. Both messages will hard-erase after being used once, so you must not lose the data. It should help you avoid a catastrophe./

Alia kept her calm expression as she confirmed the key-code had just erased itself. She offered the chip back to him. "It seems to be in order, sir. Would you like me to deliver the progress report for you, or do you need a little more time to compose it?"

Dr. Cain just nodded as he worked, put the chip back into its slot, and then pulled a dataslate up to offer to her. "Thank you, Alia. Carry on."

Alia took the dataslate, but as she turned she touched his shoulder. She didn't speak, and she couldn't linger too long, but he did pause to glance toward her, and she smiled briefly before she moved off.

"X, have a minute?"

X blinked back at Zero, awkwardly twisting to face him properly. "Uh, I think, yeah! Was just going to get some assignments from Alia..."

Zero half-smiled, though there was a sadder note to it for some reason this time. "For a punishment, I think you got off pretty good."

X chuckled. "I did. So what's on your mind? You seem... out of sorts."

Zero nodded. "I am. Iris quit, and Colonel has joined Repliforce. I've been hearing whispers of dozens of Hunters looking to join it. As much as you and I disagreed this time, I think we've been on the same page about Repliforce..."

X wasn't surprised by the news, he'd kept aware of it, but Zero's emotional weight from it was what really got his attention. Sympathetic, concerned, X lifted a hand up to rest on Zero's shoulder, which somewhat surprised the red Reploid. "We'll figure something out to help avoid the worst case scenario with Repliforce. And I'm sure Iris would love it if you visited her..."

Zero started to nod a little, then blinked at the second comment. "W-what...?"

X blinked, then started to smile at the faint blush on Zero's cheeks. "Something wrong with visiting someone you care about?"

"N-no... but you're making it sound weird," Zero finished with glum, mostly joking distrust.

"Go visit Iris, Zero."

Zero turned outright dismal. "I'm pretty sure she wants some sp-!?"

X actually moved closer, shoving Zero along lightly. "Go. Check. On. Iris. Zero."

Zero stumbled along awkwardly, mostly going along out of social shock. "Are you serious—Wouldyouj—Xstoppit!"

And he was through the closest door, which X shut.

Zero muffled through, "I'm only going to check on her because you've weirded me out and now I'm worried!"

X grinned. "Whatever works!"

Zero marched off, grumbling.

Just a few moments later, X stepped out onto the roof of HQ, spotting Alia at the railing. She glanced over her shoulder, her elbows on the bar, smiling at him as he came around to join her there.

"So is there a specific reason I'm getting my assignments on the roof? Or did I tick you off MUCH worse than I thought I had?" X started with a light chuckle.

Alia smirked at him, handing him a dataslate with a list of tasks. "Your assignments. I was also trying to think about how to give you something, but everyone's so paranoid now, you can never be sure if we're being watched and stuff, right?"

X blinked up from the dataslate. "...I suppose so, but why..."

Alia seemed to touch her lips for a moment... and then reached over, tipping X backward with a mild shout of surprise, right before she silenced him with a kiss on his lips that she held rather securely while supporting his head and back.

X was so startled he flailed mildly for one pulse, then blushed violently while savoring the completely unexpected sensation... and then realized she was passing him something from her mouth. It had been just behind her lips.

X managed to flick it back into his own mouth without breaking the kiss, and then Alia's gestures softened, settling into a truly affectionate touch before she eased him back upright, and stood aside with a mild blush and a playfully innocent demeanor as she hid her lips with her hand again.

"Ahem. Figure that's more worth reporting than a list of tasks on a dataslate..."

X cleared his throat, and used a gesture of his hand shyly touching his lips to discretely shift the small device she'd slipped him into his hand, and then down into a storage unit at his back. His blush was very bright and very real. "Y-yeah. Fraternization is... um... problematic. Especially, you know... being as you're my superior. And such."

Alia leaned at him dryly. "If you're feeling uncomfortable, you should report me," and she casually started back to the exit door.

X had to try to tease back, leaning off the rail after her, "Don't suppose agreeing not to would get a repeat?"

Alia gave him a playful glare over her shoulder. "Don't push your luck, mister," and she slipped back inside.

It let both of them take a happy breath and smile before they mutually shook their heads out of the clouds, and focused back on task.

X activated the chip she'd given to him so 'discretely', and processed it while feigning to look over his assignments. His mood became more and more serious. The anti-virus trigger mechanism. We can create a bypass with this data... Thank you, Dr. Cain. X closed his eyes with a bowed head. I'll help make this right.

Iris gave a big stretch to loosen her servos. She had finally finished unpacking her things from Gate's lab in her new apartment in the city. There had been some bureaucratic issues with her getting an apartment, but they'd cleared up abruptly that morning, allowing her to get moved in.

Enjoying the satisfaction of completing the simple task, she glanced out her window, admiring the twilight cityscape. The part of Maverick Hunter HQ she could see from her new home caused a pang of regret, but she firmed herself, remembering all that had pushed her to this decision in the first place.

She jumped with a yelp as her doorbell rang.

Who would even know where she'd moved? She hadn't updated her brother yet... Hurrying to the door, she checked who it was, and a brilliant blush flared on her cheeks. She squeaked, coughed, and tried to compose herself before opening the door with a sweet smile. "Z-Zero! Hello!" Her mind was privately screaming in both confusion and joy, HOW DID YOU FIND ME SO FAST!?

Zero offered her his casual, but charming smile, and lifted a hand from behind himself. It offered a single, purple and yellow, orchid. "House warming gift. And an apology."

Iris blinked several times before softly taking the flower, staring down at it. She was in enough shock to need a moment, then finally rattled her head to look up at him. "W-why apologize? B-but thankyouforthegift!" she quickly added in social panic.

Zero momentarily thought about asking to come inside, but felt uncomfortable being that pushy, so he just swallowed his embarrassment about standing in the hallway. "Because I pushed you to do things that made you so uncomfortable you left a job you're extremely good at. I respect your decision," he added with a lifted hand to ease her instincts. "I just... needed to apologize."

Iris's frame loosened at last, gentler surprise replacing her shock. "...You believed you were doing the right thing, Zero. You shouldn't apologize for that," she finished with a little teasing smile.

He shrugged. "Not entirely sure of that anymore."

Her eyes widened subtly. She was concerned for him now. He wasn't the type to doubt himself. And that was when she finally realized he was still standing outside her door. She jerked back. "P-please, come in! We should talk."

Zero blinked, but smiled out of it, and stepped past her to glance around. "Oh, hey, this place is really nice. Downright homey." He leaned to idly inspect a small sculpture she'd placed in her living room.

Iris blushed, but found herself smiling as she brought her flower with her to the small kitchen adjoining the room. "Thank you. You're officially my first guest!" She giggled as she placed the flower in a small glass with some water.

Zero turned to smile at her, momentarily caught by how appealing the view was. She was pleasant, happy, just... living. He'd never realized how foreign that was to him before... "A-anyway, I wasn't intending to crash in on you, just wanted to bring you that little gift and the apology."

Iris giggled again, calming to his presence after her spike of concern for him. "No crashing here, don't worry. I just realized we hadn't spoken... as friends. And you don't usually doubt yourself."

Zero met her eyes in soft surprise. He fell into a weak smile, glancing down. "...True. It's just... once you explained why you were retiring, it made me start thinking. I started... seeing how my choices added to the problems we're facing now." He leaned back to rest against the back of her couch. "I... don't actually know what to do anymore. X worries me, but he's not... hurting anyone. Dr. Cain made a huge mistake, but seems to realize it, just too late. So I... I can't help feeling like I made mistakes, too. Too focused on the wrong things."

Iris came around, and touched his arm, calling his eyes back to hers. "Then you just have to decide the right things, and focus there." She smiled again.

Zero smiled back. "...I think I'm starting to..."

Her smile turned more bashful.

Jessica exhaled leisurely as she tugged a shawl tighter around her shoulders. She was curled up on a big chair, near a natural fire, with a good book in hand. Old fashioned, but that ran in her family. Taking that pause from her book, she looked out the closest window, a gentle smile with a touch of sadness forming as she admired the rolling green hills around her cottage, with bright cities on the distant horizon.

'Someone'—she was fairly confident who—had supplemented her small pension from her work before all this Maverick insanity, and allowed her to buy this delightful home in the country. She was far from groceries and such, but the peace was well worth it.

She did feel a pang of sadness for him, though...

Something caught her eye, and she blinked, leaning out of her seat to get a better look. Her eyes widened, then delight lit her features before she scrambled to her door, and bolted outside, all but sprinting down the little hill from her home.

Depthcharge looked up in surprise as she burst out. His instincts alerted him to possibly some threat she was trying to escape... but his optics finally saw her tearfully happy face as she ran toward him.

He hurried a few strides more before she leaped up at him, leaving no time for debate. Depthcharge laughed as he carefully caught her hug, her arms tightening around his durable neck.

"You came! You came..." her voice softened to a near sob as she hung tight.

Depthcharge smiled gently as he knelt down to let her feet touch the ground again, his hands shifting to gently rest against her torso and her hair, as much as they could for their size. "Your home is beautiful."

She laughed softly. "It is! ...Thank you for helping me get it."

He blinked, and glanced off in mild embarrassment. He should've realized his pretense of hiding the money source was a bit foolish.

Jessica only then eased enough to stand a step back from him, her hands staying at his chest as she beamed up at him. "How long can you stay?"

Depthcharge would've been blushing if he had the face for it, and she could tell. He glanced off again, rubbing the back of his head. "A-actually, I... ahem... retired..."

Jessica blinked, completely stunned silent, frozen.

Depthcharge just looked at her meekly, shrinking a bit the longer the silence went on.

She rattled her head a little, some water returning to her eyes. "What about... You meant what you said. You had to stay..."

Depthcharge swallowed as a social cue system. "I realized that... I need to keep you safe more than that. And... I can do that best, if you... allow me to stick around... nearby..."

Jessica's eyes widened again, gentle tears dripping free. "You... came to be with me...?"

He nodded softly. "If you allow it."

She grinned, then laughed with a sob, and hugged him again. "My family is home again..."

All he could do was hug her tight.

Things began to settle down more smoothly. The Maverick Hunters lost significant numbers to Repliforce recruitment, but it brought the remaining units closer together. Crush Crawfish actually took Depthcharge's position in Unit 14 once he passed his review exams.

Bit, Byte, and Vile were given noncombat, generic bodies, and secured under psychiatric observation for the time being. Bit and Byte showed promise for recovery now that Doppler's outbreak was handled, but Vile very much appeared to be a psychotic creature with too-violent tendencies.

Dr. Doppler himself, once confirmed cured, actually retired from his private lab, and joined a local medical practice. It seemed to offer him some sense of peace.

However, not everyone was so grateful for the peacetime break.

Gate stepped into an elevator in his lab, and pressed in a specific sequence of floors. The lift then went straight down for several seconds, before opening out into a dark computer lab of some kind. He moved through it, his labcoat rippling softly, and he came to a data-screen. It illuminated in a black and green interface.

"I see things didn't quite go as intended, master. What is the next plan?"

Sigma's voice came through the console, garbled, but clear enough. "The humans have finally doomed themselves in their panic. All we have to do is nudge the right pieces into play. We'll need something dramatic to set things off once we're prepared."

Gate rubbed his chin. "I might have an idea for that, master. However, my projects are not yet complete, they may not be ready in time to take advantage of the human mistakes."

Sigma chuckled. "Oh trust me... they won't even be necessary... this time."

End, Chronicle 3

Author's Note: Six years waiting, and it's finally done! Thanks for sticking around or coming back, folks. I really appreciate it. As with the previous chronicles, the ending here is just a stepping stone to the true conclusion that will be at the end of Chronicle 5. However, I hope this final chapter of Chronicle 3 is satisfying enough for the specific story it concludes. I especially wanted to do a little something for a lot of the major relationships, but especially X, Alia, Zero, and Iris still have some arcs to go through before their romantic story lines are concluded.

I am also very happy to confirm that Chronicle 4 is already in progress! It's got some unique challenges and benefits, but overall I've been extremely excited for 4 since the project was just an idea before I wrote anything.

And lastly, sorry for this post being late! I thought I had already posted it, and didn't realize until today! I hope it was worth the wait!