SZ: *teleports down via a beam of light* we back and wow...a lot has happened in Zero-One

Z0: Things have been getting good so we figured we'd get back into the swing of things.

SZ: Eeyup. Plus...*taps a wall, causing it to slide and reveal tons of files*we have a LOT of ideas for this fic.

GT: *pops out of the tons of files* ...What day is it? *sees the calendar* I've been trapped in there for three months. *glowers at the two* Who put all these files in here when I was scrubbing it?

SZ:...uh…

Z0: Talk to the janitor.

SZ: Ahem! Anyways...before we begin as usual, we own nothing aside from original content.

GT: It was you two, wasn't it?

Z0: *performs hand sign and vanishes in a puff of white smoke and wind*

SZ:...*beams out*

GT: …*pushes a button and a raid siren went off* I've released Siren Head and Slender on them both. *fades away*

Z0: *comes back with red eyes of rage* You let who into my home? NOT IN MY HOUSE THEY WON'T! *turns into a far worse creature of nightmares and rage with eyes of hell fire*

X blinked as once again Aruto's office was empty. However, unlike other times, the one left behind to hold down the 'fort' as Aruto often called it was Roll. ...Which is what made for this awkward moment here today. Normally, with Rico, she explained whatever today's insane project Aruto had to overlook for the company - be it of his choice or certain others making him in the hopes he would screw up. However, X still had trouble starting up casual conversation with Roll, so now he was just standing there...only, unlike Roll, he could display the awkwardness plainly on his face.

"Ano…" X began, getting her attention from her organizing paperwork for Aruto to sign, "Uh...ehehe...so...what is Aruto up to today?" he finally asked.

"Aruto-shachou is partaking of a excursion to see how one of our new Reploids is doing." Roll explained.

"I...figured. What kind of job does this model...do?" X asked with an awkward chuckle.

"Tour guide," Roll replied.

"Tour guide?" X repeated.

"At the moment, she is being tested on how she can handle what humans term the stage of their life cycle between the ages of thirteen and eighteen as 'teenagers,'" Roll stated.

"...And you're not with him because…?"

"Aruto-shachou ordered me to remain while Rico accompanies him to have her experience it as well," Roll stated, "I have already spent enough time around them several years prior to have enough data."

'...I think Aruto left you here so that we wouldn't get complaints from parents that their kids now fear brooms,' X thought as the awkward silence resumed.

"Ah! Look at all the green!" Aruto cheered as a bus drove down a highway which went through a forest, Aruto himself was almost pressing his face against the window to see the almost endless expanse of trees and nature, "I love traveling! You see so much neat stuff you can't find in the city!"

"You can?" Rico asked, wearing a white and teal sundress instead of her normal uniform to not blatantly stand out on Aruto's asking/pleading.

"Ah...Rico, is this your first time out of the city?" Aruto realized.

"Uhn," Rico nodded before pouting, "The Vice President didn't like leaving the city, let alone the office unless it was for a place to eat or his home."

"That sounds about right…" Aruto mumbled, "But...well, I guess this will be a new experience." he smiled, "I love trips like this out into nature. It helps you...well…we humans call it 'unplug,' since we have become so used to technology and modern conveniences."

"Ah," Rico nodded before looking at the front of the bus to a young lovely looking female Reploid in a tour guide uniform, "Still, we're also evaluating how Anna-san is doing at this job she was designed for. This is her first time giving teenagers a tour."

=I am Anna. I will act as your guide and provide historical data on your journey= Anna spoke, speaking through the bus' intercom =Hopefully, I can make this trip more enjoyable=

"Oh, right," Aruto whispered before holding his hands up over his eyes like a pair of binoculars.

"What are you doing?" Rico asked, blinking twice.

"Observing," Aruto replied.

"..." Rico tilted her head before following his lead.

=We are now approaching a site of great historical significance in recent history= Anna continued as the bus drove by a large, gated flooded city =The remains of Daybreak Town, a monument to a tragic day and was one of the final times anyone saw the infamous Dr. Albert Wily=

Aruto lowered his hands at that, hearing that name making him think of and remember many things from the past. Aruto never really knew or met Wily, but he heard of him from his grandfather and Dr. Light. Rico tilted her head and lowered her own hands before noticing a young teenager nearby holding his hands tighter while looking at the floor.

=The Japanese government worked primarily with Hiden Intelligence and several other companies such as Zaia Enterprises and Frontier Media to create an urban development run by Reploids. It was also the launch site for the control satellite that would come to govern the Reploids, among a variety of other projects= Anna explained =However, sabotage caused by Dr. Wily with an unusual virus he created known as Roboenza caused an explosion in the R&D Sector, which would eventually spread to the power infrastructure. By the end, the entire city was destroyed and Dr. Wily was presumed deceased. It was an unprecedented disaster= she continued as the bus stopped, the driver opening the door to let them step out, "Eventually, this event would come to be known as 'Daybreak.' And even now, years later, access beyond this point is strictly prohibited."

Aruto looked out at the lake which had formed with a sigh. He knew the event in question well. He was there when it happened...and when it claimed the life of his father.

"Question!" one student spoke, "What really caused the explosion in the factory?"

"Hmm?" Anna blinked, the group unaware of a figure slipping behind the bus, "It was believed that it was a Reploid that was infected by Wily's Roboenza Virus," the figure tapped a ZetsumeRiser and ZetsumeKey to the window, getting the driver's attention.

"I know what really happened!" another spoke up before grabbing the young man from the bus, "It was all Go Sakurai's dad's fault! He was in charge of the factory, and he let Wily just waltz in!"

"Back off!" Go snapped as he pushed him away, only for another to grab him.

"Yeah! His dad was a co-conspirator with Wily!" the other student laughed, he then cried in a sharp high pitched tone as the bus suddenly exploded behind them.

Everyone turned to see the bus driver walking out of the flames with the ZetsumeRiser on his waist, his eyes and earpieces glowing red.

"Connection to MetsuboJinraiNetto established...glory to our lord," he whispered, clicking the ZetsumeKey before slotting it into the belt and pushing the button.

=̶̫̘͉̻̭̲̀͆̊͌͘O̷̥̙͍̻̳͕͐N̶̖̝̈́̀̒́̎́͠Ý̷̫͖̲̘̑͌͋̿̅͝C̴̜̬͉͙̒̄͛̀̿H̷̫̘̜͙́͒̉ͅO̸̭̯̥͒̀͛̏̉!̴̲̭͎̗͚̰̩͊̈́͊̄̉̇͝ ̸̨̝͉̫̦̇̿͝͠ͅŹ̷̢̛̙̰̩̫̖̼̄̿̕E̵͎͓̺̘̪͂̅T̸̡̛̈́̏͌̈̊̓S̵̮̫̺̟̩̖̔́̆̂́̄Ủ̶̡̥̮͕M̸͈̲̬̚Ę̴̬͔̙̣̻͓̓̀̋R̴̩̬̥̮̱͚̦̽̓̒I̴̪̾Ş̴̢͕̽̎E̸̢̛̠̥̬̪̒̾̑̒͝͠ͅ=̷̲̳͉͔͚̟̈̏͆͊

His human like form melted away as his skeletal structure was morphed into its new form. He looked like a regular Trilobite, only his armor changed, he had purple chest armor, his fingers ending in claws, large bat like wings attached to a small propulsion pack in the center of his spine, he had large blue lenses for eyes, purple armor forming a fanged mouth guard with a snout like nose.

"Oh not again," Rico squeaked with wide eyes.

"Exterminate all humans…"

"Run!" Aruto ordered, getting in front of the students as he guided them away with Rico and Anna.

Meanwhile, no one noticed Jin sitting on the wall of a building that was connected to the dam that held back the lake. He smirked, kicking his legs back and forth, "That's right! Get them off our lawn!" he laughed, falling back as he kicked his legs more, "Show those humans who's boss...uh….hmm...Razor Onycho? Talon Onycho?"

"Hm?" X blinked as he got an alert, "What? Already? It's not even noon yet…"

=X, we got a Maverick signal near Aruto's location= Alia spoke through X' communicator =...It's...It's near the remains of Daybreak Town=

"That far away?" he asked, "Alright, this one can't be a random attack." he spoke as he began running, "I'm on my way!"

=Good= Signas spoke =And be careful. A.I.M.S is approaching the same location as we speak=

"Why is it herding teenagers seems about as hard as herding sheep!?" Aruto complained as the Onycho Maverick kept chasing them at a leisurely pace, "Come on! You're, like, in middle school! Why is running so hard for all of you!?" he muttered, helping a few boys up, "Oh god...I'm turning into my Grandpa…"

"Exterminate!" Onycho spoke as he caught up to them, turning to Go as he tripped and fell over, "Exter-Gah!" he cried as a bullet struck him, making him back off. He then grunted as a man in a familiar blue military uniform ran up and slammed his knee into him.

"Fuwa-san?" Aruto blinked, seeing Isamu.

"I'm gonna kick your ass…" Isamu spoke as he shot Onycho again, making him stumble back.

"L-Language!" Aruto called out, pointing to the kids.

"Ass…" Isamu spoke again as he shot Onycho.

"Oh if these kids repeat anything you say, Hiden Intelligence is going to be filled with angry parents…" Rico muttered, helping Go up.

"Ass…" Isamu spoke again as he ducked under Onycho's punch and kneed it in the abdomen, making him stumble back.

"You're doing it out of spite now…" Aruto sighed.

"Eeyup," Isamu aimed and shot the Maverick point blank in the chest, knocking him over, he then pulled out his key and grunted as he once again forced it open just by pushing on it with his thumb, showing how much stronger he was getting, once he opened it, he clicked the button and inserted it into his ShotRiser.

=BULLET! SHOTRISE! SHOOTING WOLF~!=

Isamu roared, punching the bullet as his armor formed around him. Vulcan took his place as he holstered his gun onto his belt. He rushed and punched Onycho across the face once before grabbing him by his wings and swinging him around and slamming him through a tree. The Maverick groaned, pushing himself up only to look up as Vulcan swung the top half of the tree like a club and slammed it down on the Maverick.

"...Okay. Is he…" Aruto began before X -already in his armor- appeared next to him via a beam for light, "AHH! DON'T DO THAT MAN!"

"Sorry," X apologized before looking out at the scene, "Alia, Commander, I see the Maverick in sight...and it's not another of the missing Reploids."

"Get up…" Vulcan spoke, dragging Onycho up to his feet before punching him across the face making him stumble back, "You can rest when I've torn you into scraps for the junkyard."

"...I think Vulcan has this…" X sweatdropped.

=We…see that= Alia and Signas muttered before a warning signal went off.

=?! X, there's another Maverick signal near you...and it's approaching you fast!= Alia shouted.

"Another one so s-" X began before he quickly jumped back, narrowly dodging a large mace that slammed into the ground as it left a sizable crater, "?!"

"Heh….Agile was right...he knew you'd come here, X," Violen's voice spoke as the mace retracted back, the large burly Reploid stomping into the area as the mace reconnected to his back.

"...Another X Hunter?" X ased, a serious look on his face as he aimed his X Buster at him.

"Yup! Name's Violen, the muscle of the X Hunters," Violin grinned, cracking his knuckles a bit, "And I can't wait to crush you like a tin can!" he roared out, sending his mace out at X again.

"?!" X tensed as he rolled out of the way and fired a few shots at Violen, only for it to bounce off his armor, "What?"

"Heh-heh-heh. My armor's way too tough for your puny little lemon pellets," Violen chuckled, patting his chest.

"Wah...talk about Macho…" Aruto awed, flexing his arms as Rico gave him a deadpan look, "Oh come on! It was right there."

"Another one?" Vulcan blinked as he held Onycho in a chokehold, "Oi, Reploid! Trade with me!" he shouted, spinning the Maverick around and sending him towards X.

"Wh-ahh!" X yelped as the Maverick crashed into him.

"Wh-?! Oi! He's mine!" Violen snapped as Vulcan's shots bounced off him, making him look over his shoulder at him, "...Oh you want a go, little man?"

"I'll kick your double wide ass, macho-gorilla!" Vulcan snapped back at him as he charged while shooting.

Violen raised his arms and let each shot bounce off his armor. He lowered it, only to blink as he lost sight of Vulcan. He looked down too late to see the blue Rider slide under his legs...and grab the Maverick by one of them and force him to fall face first into the ground. Violen growled as he began pushing himself up, only for his hand to be shot and knock him off balance and fall down again. Vulcan grunted as he jumped and grabbed the trunk of a tree before climbing up with his enhanced strength. Once he reached the top, he jumped off and landed both his knees down onto Violen's back, pinning him down. Vulcan waited a moment and reached for his ShotRiser, but stopped when the ground shook. The Rider then grunted as he was tossed off by Violen turning over. The Maverick growled, pushing himself up and swung as Vulcan kept ducking around each swing.

"You got power...but you're slow!" Vulcan growled as he jumped back while shooting at Violen, "And I have confidence in my stamina outlasting yours!"

"...heh," Violen smirked before throwing his opened hand out, making Vulcan tense up a bit before he dodged an array of energy bullets fired from Violen's fingertips, "You're not the only resourceful one here, punk!" he laughed as Vulcan prepared to fire, only to cry out as the large Maverick's mace crashed onto his back, sending him crashing through a tree, "You may be fast, but no one can match my strength and defense!"

"Wow…Talk about flexing one's ego," Aruto noted.

"Grr…" Vulcan growled, getting up, "That all you got, Macho?"

"...Oh I'm gonna enjoy breaking your skull with my hands," Violen grinned.

"And I thought Vile was violent," X muttered, dodging a flying swipe from Onycho before trying to fire out at him, only for the Maverick to fly out of the way, " He's too fast...Zea, I need Homing Torpedo!"

=Acknowledged= Zea answered as a beam of light shot down from the sky and hit X, the light fading to show his armor a more grey-ish and tan color.

"Homing Torpedo!" X shouted as he fired a few missiles at the Maverick, who began to fly off as they began to chase after it...only for the Maverick to turn and slice them in half, "Tch...not good…" he looked at Aruto for a moment before sighing, "I'm gonna regret this but...Zea, I need Storm Tornado."

"Wait, what?" Aruto blinked upon hearing that, 'But...isn't that Storm Eagle's move?'

=...Affirmative…= Zea compiled as another beam of light hit X, changing his armor to a more purple and light pink color.

"Everyone...you might want to hold onto something!" X shouted as he raised his Buster up, aiming at the Maverick.

"?!" Rico tensed, grabbing a confused Aruto before grabbing onto a nearby tree.

"Almost...there! Storm Tornado!" X shouted as he fired, unleashing a large tornado at Onycho.

The Maverick tensed as the tornado hit, grunting as he tried to stay in place in the air...only to cry out as the tornado sent him flying off far into the sky with sparks coming off of him.

"Whoa!" Aruto shouted as the winds were so strong, it would have pushed him around had Rico not grabbed onto him.

"...It worked….but it got away…" X whispered, the tornado dying down as he lowered his X Buster.

"Okay...That move seems way too overpowered!" Vulcan complained, having nearly lost his footing during his scuffle with Violen.

"Really glad I had sandwiched myself so tight…" Rico mumbled, releasing Aruto and the tree, revealing a small indent in the bark shaped like her arm.

"I'm...done...with amusement park rides after this…" Aruto groaned, falling over.

"...heh. Least I can get back t-" Violin began before some shots deflected off him, making him turn to see Valkyrie running into the area, "Oh great...it's Cheetah Girl, too…"

"Damn...I thought I ditched her half way down the road…" Vulcan groaned.

"You and I are gonna have a talk after this…" Valkyrie stated, glaring at Vulcan before looking at Violin, "And Maverick in violation of the Artificial Intelligence Act detected…"

"Heh...Well good luck! My armor is too strong for your bullets, too!" Violin laughed.

"It talks like every annoying toxic masculine man ever…" Valkyrie muttered to herself, "I'm gonna hate this day so much…"

"I heard that!"

"Oh good...It's able to listen to others just to complain...It's like another Fuwa…" Valkyrie shook her head.

"Da hell!? I am nothing like this tub of heavy junk!" Vulcan shouted while shoulder checking Violen, taking him by surprise and pushing him away.

"Grr...Now this is starting to get annoying! I came for X...not you guys and him!" Violen snapped as he got up, glaring at the three far-ranged fighters, "...Screw it. X, we'll settle it another time! That includes you too, puppy boy!"

"Puppy boy?!" Vulcan snapped as Violen slammed his fist onto the ground, propelling him high up into the air as he leapt off, "Who the hell you calling 'puppy'…?!" he growled while looking up, "Woman! Find him!"

"You…! ...Ugh. Nevermind," Valkyrie sighed, dismissing her transformation as Vulcan did the same.

"...Alia, I…" X began.

"I didn't want this…" everyone turned to see Go sitting down against a tree, his head hanging low, "Why….Why do I have to go through this? Why does my family have to be cursed by that damn Wily?!"

"Eh?" Isamu blinked.

After that event, and calling another bus to come pick up the students, Aruto offered to bring Go back to Hiden Intelligence to get the full story about all this. Thankfully, Isamu offered to drive them, in the process leaving behind Yua again… Personally, Aruto and Rico thought that was for the best. They make the room super awkward whenever they're together.

"Sakurai Go, son of the late Sakurai Satoshi, the head of the factory in Daybreak Town before the tragedy years ago," Roll spoke, reading a file on Go's father before handing the tablet she was reading to Aruto, "He was an exceptional employee that treated his coworkers like family."

"...They say my dad is the reason why Daybreak happened," Go spoke, "Everyone always tells me that he helped Wily cause it...that my family is nothing but a bunch of supporters to Dr. Wily...Since then, we've received nothing but hate and ridicule…that it's all my dad's fault."

"You're wrong," Isamu instantly spoke up, getting Go's attention, "It's not your dad's fault it happened. Wily caused the event to happen...the Mavericks are the ones who caused the damage." he stated simply, "They are machines that hurt people, machines that kill, they went berserk and leveled the factory. Your father had no control over what happened. Stupid people just perfer to think horrible things that are convenient to them...and ignore the truth."

"...Least my cousin Maylu can ignore it…" Go muttered, "No matter how much hate both our families get and accused for being Dr. Wily supporters, she manages to pull through…"

"Hmph…" Isamu snorted simply.

"We have no records of either claims," Roll spoke up.

"Because Hiden covered it up!" Isamu glared at Aruto.

"I'm looking it up now…" Rico spoke, tapping her tablet as she began to search up the desired info, "Found it...It says it was a Reploid infected by Wily's Roboenza Virus...and yet…"

"Hmm?" Isamu paused mid snap at that.

"It feels like someone's trying to cover it up…" Rico noted.

"Just 'cause everyone agrees on something...does that really make it the truth?" Aruto asked in a thoughtful tone.

"...Roboenza...What is with that name?" Rico muttered, tapping on her tablet, "Seriously, it's a silly name. The effects are not silly, but the name is."

"You mean the rampaging," Isamu stated.

"No. It starts out like a human experiencing a flu, increased temperature, malaise, headache, sneezing, chills, cough, body pain, and a sore throat. But after twenty four hours, the personality of the Reploid changes to a complete desire for destruction and global domination," Rico noted, looking at the virus, "Dr. Light created a vaccine for it after that day with the first Reploid being treated after infection…" she blinked twice and looked at Roll, "...was DLN-002: Roll Light."

"Roll-san?" Aruto asked, standing up and looking at her.

"Twenty four hours?" Isamu repeated in confusion. He then walked off and left the office with a similarly confused expression as Aruto.

"I want to learn the truth!" Go shouted, catching up with Isamu outside, "I want to know what really happened that day. To my Dad...to everyone…" he breathed heavily from running to catch him.

"You really want to know?" Isamu asked, getting a nod from Go, he turned around with a frown, one that wasn't mad or upset, but one that seemed sad...and understanding, "So do I," he simply replied as he walked up to Go with a look of reassurance, "Let's learn the truth then," he sighed, giving a small yet still sad smile to the boy.

"...Hai," Go nodded.

"Fukuzoe...What caused the explosion at the factory in Daybreak?" Aruto asked Fukuzoe as X, Alia, and Signas were on a few nearby screens.

"...Why are you asking me this?" he asked, his tone already very nervous and concerned, "...and why are the Maverick Hunters…?"

"I asked the first question," Aruto replied simply and gently so as to not cause an escalation.

"...I'm afraid I don't recall…" he replied simply in a much more confident tone that seemed rehearsed, as if something meant to be said for any situation pertaining to this topic.

=...You're hiding something= Signas frowned

"Usso da…" Aruto sighed in agreement.

"Vice President Fukuzoe...Why are there no records of that day, let alone any files indicating exactly how the explosion happened. Or...if Mavericks cause it or not?" Rico asked, standing next to Aruto.

"It seems very likely a cover up was intentional," Roll agreed with the logic of the chance if was indeed a cover up by Hiden Intelligence.

"...I'm sorry. I don't recall," Fukuzoe replied, his voice shaking as he stood up and began to walk away.

"Usso da!" Aruto stood up, making him stop, "Now I know you're hiding something from me!"

"Shacho…" Fukuzoe spoke.

"Tell me what happened to our factory...President's Executive Orders…" Aruto ordered.

"I can't!" Fukuzoe snapped, "Sometimes protecting a company means keeping the truth in shadows...That's how business works."

"It's still an order from your superior...what happened all those years ago," Aruto replied simply, refusing to give up.

=I suggest you answer= Signas added, a serious look on his face as he scowled at Fukuzoe =Because of this cover up, it has ruined and destroyed the livelihood of Go Sakurai's family because of false tie-ins with Dr. Albert Wily=

"I'm sorry...I don't remember…" was all he could say as he walked out.

Aruto let out a very long breath as he made his way back to his desk and plopped down in his chair, the screens turning to face him as he did.

"I never thought acting like the boss for the first time would be so...hard…" Aruto scratched his head.

=It's never easy, but sometimes you need to be serious when it comes to situations like this= Signas sighed

"If Fukuzoe won't talk, and all our computers have nothing...where could we find the truth?" Aruto asked, turning to his window.

"Only a computer from Daybreak Town could have such information," Roll spoke up, making everyone blink and realize how simple and obvious that should have been.

=...Of course. If we can get someone to enter Daybreak Town, we might be able to look into this further= Alia spoke

=But the problem is...no one is allowed to enter Daybreak Town, not even the Maverick Hunters unless it's an emergency= X spoke

=...X, you and Aruto will lead a small team into Daybreak Town to find a functioning computer= Signas ordered.

"Rico...any chance we have a company boat?" Aruto asked.

"Six," Rico replied, "One custom made by Zea as well."

"By chance...can the president...use it whenever and for whatever?"

"Yes," Rico replied before becoming pale, "But Raiden is going to be livid when he learns what he has to bring up to Zea later…"

"I got the boat!" Aruto cheered, "And...we'll deal with the hearing loss later…" he cringed, remembering last time he talked to this Raiden over the phone.

=Sir, are you sure this is okay?= Alia asked

=Yes….I might be the temporary commander, but…= Signas paused, bridging his fingers together as he looked out at the others =If it means looking into the truth behind the Daybreak Town incident...if there are any clues to what started the Maverick Outbreak, I'll take the responsibility=

"Me too…" Aruto added, "I need to know the truth...not just for my sake...but for everyone else who was hurt by that day." he stated with a serious tone and expression, "'Sides...If we say I did it...people will be way more mad at me then Signas!" he smiled.

=...heh heh...You are indeed one strange human, Hiden Aruto…= Signas gave a light chuckle =But right now is a time for action...X, go and meet up with Aruto=

=Yes sir= X nodded.

"Wait. Warn me before you do th-" Aruto began before X appeared next to him, "GAH! EVERY! DANG! TIME!"

=...Alia, tell Douglas and Pallet they may need to fix the teleportation system=

=On it=

The next morning, Isamu had taken Go along with him to Daybreak Town. Isamu brought along supplies for climbing, spelunking, diving, and other such things for exploration. He also brought a sturdy plastic raft to make it across the water. And for his own sake, his ShotRiser, and some extra weapons in his AIMS-issued transport van. Right now, he was currently looking over knives before picking one and sliding it into the boot of his combat uniform. He looked over the other things he brought along before grabbing more rope and a collapsed entrenching tool.

"Alright, I think that's everything," he spoke, shutting the back door and spooking Go out of his daydreaming, "Look, if you get scared...you don't have to come with me." he offered with a concerned expression.

"No...I have to find the truth…" Go shook his head.

"Alright...make sure you stay close and be careful. A lot of those old buildings could give way at any moment. Step where I step," he ordered as he gave Go his own smaller duffle bag of supplies.

"Hai," Go nodded, putting the bag on.

The two began walking, only to stop as Yua walked out and into their path, a very annoyed look on her face which made Isamu sigh in probably equal amounts of annoyance. Go just looked concerned, knowing that she worked with Isamu...and was well aware this was probably super illegal, which is why Isamu told Go to lie to his mother about where he was going today. And now another horrible thought entered the poor boy's mind as he tuned them out just as they began speaking.

"You're not authorised to enter here…" Yua stated simply.

"Apparently, I'm not authorised to do a lot of things…" Isamu replied with sarcasm.

"Is this a joke to you?" Yua asked, growing more annoyed.

"I am a simple guy. I do what I think and know is right," Isamu explained, "I know something is wrong here...and I think that the reason I'm still here after that day...is to help those who also were hurt by Daybreak Town. Like him…" he turned to Go, "People hurt by this place, this place that ruined their lives and don't even know why." he turned to Yua, "And he wants to find the truth."

Yua took a long moment as she processed all he said, "And I can't stop you."

"...I find saying nothing is my best response…" Isamu admitted.

"You are literally...impossible," Yua sighed with a look that seemed like a mix of understanding and mild annoyance if best explained.

"And I am proud of that…" Isamu muttered. Yua then walked up to him and handed him a grey ProgriseKey, it had the image of a Gorilla, and read: 'PUNCHING KONG Ability POWER', "What's this?"

"A word of warning…" she spoke with a sharp tone, "This ProgriseKey packs a real nasty punch. I doubt you'll be able to use it given you're just a normal person."

"Then why give it to me?" Isamu asked, confused and upset, "You're just contradicting yourself here!"

"Just try and remember what your job is, alright?" she responded simply.

"Today, I'm actually off the clock," he smirked, fixing his scarf around his neck as he removed his A.I.M.S badge from his chest. He then took the ProgriseKey and put it in his pouch-belt next to his Shooting Wolf key.

"...Just…Just go before I change my mind," Yua sighed.

"Too late...it's in my pocket." Isamu replied as he dragged Go along.

'My Aunt would love to meet these two…' Go thought with a sweatdrop.

"Please find countermeasures for aerial opponents," Roll stated, her eyes flashing pink for a moment as the 3D printer in Aruto's lab went to work.

=Fabrication complete=

At that, Roll opened the door and pulled out a completed ProgriseKey. It was pink/magenta in color with the image of a Falcon mid-flight. It read: 'FLYING FALCON Ability: WING'.

"God damn it, Minato...I lend you the boat for one weakened and the motor is shot to hell...and I wish I meant broken…" Isamu groaned as he tried to fix the motor for the boat, "And is this...Nutella? What crazy things do you do on your days off, man?"

"Are we really going to learn anything out there?" Go asked.

"I can't say," Isamu replied, wiping out some more Nutella from the engine, "But we won't know unless we try." he sighed, "I'm putting Minato on bathroom duty when I get back to work tomorrow…" he stood up, "It's as good as it's gonna get…" he then stopped as he heard footsteps.

"I-I-Intruder alert!" Several Trilobite Mavericks spoke as they fumbled towards them, "Exterminate! Exterminate!"

"And here I thought exploring underwater buildings would be the dangerous part of my day," Isamu grunted, pulling out his ShotRiser and began shooting the Mavericks, making several fall over.

Isamu grunted and kicked another before swinging his gun and whipping a second across the face. He spun around and shot a third in the head making it fall over. He swung his leg and tripped over another Maverick before blocking a punch from another. He twisted and used its own weight against it to slam it into the one he just knocked over. He aligned their heads and aimed at their heads and fired off another round, striking both with the same bullet. He grunted and raised his arm to block a kick, making him roll back across the gravel beach. He stopped and aimed before shooting the Maverick that kicked him several times, leaving a line of holes up the center of its torso. He grunted and pushed himself up before reaching down and grabbing the knife in his boot. He flipped it up and grabbed it between his index finger and thumb, before flicking his wrist and sending the knife flying and hitting a Maverick in the center of its forehead, making it fall over.

"Whoa…" Go awed, "Is he actually even human?"

"Exterminate…" Go spun around to see one had managed to get around Isamu to get close to Go, "...all humans."

"Ah!" Go yelped before a blue sphere of plasma shot its head off, making Go look to see a black and yellow grasshopper-themed ship approaching, X's buster arm smoking from the charged shot fired at the Maverick.

"Ahoy~!" Aruto waved, piloting the boat over and quickly jumped off with X by Go, "You alright? You're not hurt, are you?"

"...y-yeah…"

"Shachou?" Isamu blinked as he shot another Maverick in the head, "What are you doing here? Trying to keep us from seeing anything inconvenient?"

"No...I want to learn what really happened!" Aruto argued, pulling out the ZeroOne Driver as he began to walk up to him.

"Ah! Matte!" Rico yelped as she tried to stop Aruto, "You need to protect your secret identity!"

"Aruto hates secrets unless it involves a surprise," X explained with a sigh, "I had a feeling he'd do this one day."

"Do you want to die? Get out of here!" Isamu ordered as Aruto walked up to stand beside Isamu...before the gunman noticed the Driver on Aruto's waist, "That belt…"

"As Hiden Intelligence's president, I promise you...I won't keep any secrets. You have my word," Aruto promised as he held up Biting Shark and clicked it before scanning it, "I'll prove that Reploids are the advancement humanity dreamed of!"

=FANG! AUTHORISE=

Everyone looked up as a blue beam hit the lake. After a few seconds, the Shark jumped out and began biting at the Mavericks, catching one and chewing it up 'till it was snapped in half by its jaw strength. Aruto swung his arms into the air, crossing them above him, and then brought them before him, flicking open the Progrisekey.

"Henshin!" Aruto declared as he inserted the key into the slot on his belt.

=PROGRISE! KIRIKIRIBAI! KIRIKIRIBAI! BITING SHARK~!= the belt announced as Aruto turned into Zero-One with the Shark turning into his armor =Fangs that can chomp through concrete=

"You're the Grasshopper freak?!" Isamu asked in shock.

"I'll handle things here," Zero-One instructed as he looked at the ship, where Anna was now sitting at the wheel, "Anna, go on ahead with them! It's your job to guide the guests to their destination, after all!"

"Yes, sir," Anna replied as she calmly motioned to Go to get on, "Right this way."

"Eh?!" Rico gawked.

"Think of it as testing her in being able to keep her cool in emergencies!" Zero-One replied.

"Eh?! But she...and you...and-GAH! No wonder Roll-sempai keeps a broom on hand!" Rico exclaimed, throwing her hands up in disbelief.

"I'm a handful!" Zero-One laughed as he charged and began swinging and slashing with his arm fins.

He spun around as he slashed a Maverick across the chest, sending him flying back. He swung back and blocked a Maverick before kicking it away. He pulled out his Attache Calibur and opened it before swinging while spinning around, knocking over several all at once. He flipped it around and held it upside down before spinning around and stabbing backwards, piercing a Maverick through the torso. He swung with his free arm and slashed another Maverick, sending its head flying off.

Isamu stopped as he watched Zero-One fight, his finger slowly moving off the trigger. He lowered his gun as he glared at the scene...but the glare wasn't aimed at Zero-One; it was filled with anger and confusion. But even he at this moment realized...maybe he could trust Zero-One. With a grunt, he ran back to the others.

"X, go with them! They might need someone good with computers!" Zero-One spoke as he grabbed a punch from a Maverick before spinning him around and swinging down to slash its neck.

"Understood!" X nodded, standing defensively before Go as he fired a few shots at some Mavericks, letting the teen get on the boat.

"Why does it look like him when he's a grasshopper?" Isamu questioned.

"It was made as a sea-based combat vehicle for Zero-One," Rico replied.

"This thing has guns…?" Isamu asked in a tone that sounded excited.

"I think so," Rico replied, inching away as she did note the excited tone in his voice.

"Dibs…" he spoke, tossing his exploration gear in and jumped in first.

"He is...a simple person…" X noted.

"Wait...it has weapons?!" Zero-One asked as he kicked a Maverick across the face, "You said we didn't have torpedoes!"

"Yes, torpedoes. You never specified if there were any other kinds of artillery," Rico deadpanned as Anna drove the boat off.

"Wait! It's my boat! I am supposed to shoot first! Ah!" Zero-One groaned, swinging his elbow back and smashing the mask of a Maverick, "Ah mou~!" he cried, jumping over the Maverick that charged at him next.

"I both hate and love this...On the one hand...he owns a weaponized boat...On the other...it's a weaponized boat!" Isamu declared as Anna drove the boat to one of the buildings poking out of the water, "We don't have stuff half this nice…"

"The hard part is going to be dealing with the one in charge of putting it back into Zea," Rico gulped, "He's as explosive as his mythical namesake..."

"This thing goes in space?" Isamu asked before slapping himself, "Calm yourself...you hate this company with passion…"

"We have arrived at the Reploid factory where the Daybreak Incident originated from," Anna informed, halting the boat by a gaping hole in the side of the structure, "Please exit calmly and safely and avoid any exposed rebar, wiring, and nails as we make our way into the structure."

"...Stay close. We don't know what could be hiding here," X advised, keeping his X Buster ready as he hopped out of the boat.

"For the record...I've never done this in an abandoned building...over water," Isamu spoke as he grabbed his gear.

"I have downloaded a blueprint of the factory in order to assist in guiding through the structure," Anna informed as they began to get into the building, "We are currently on the sixth floor. Our destination is on the eighth."

"Uh yeah...stairs are kinda...gone." Isamu spoke as he looked up the staircase...or what remained of it.

"Any other means of…" X began before blinking as Isamu already began climbing up the wall, he gawked as Isamu made it to the 8th floor and dropped a rope down for them, "Humans continue to surprise me with each day…"

"Can we really call him...human?" Rico argued, "What kind of human can free climb like that?"

"Oi, Robots! Help the kid up first, then I'll pull you up...one at a time...you things are heavy…"

"...We have names, you know," X muttered, moving Go over as he tied the rope around him, "Rope is secure."

"Hai," Isamu spoke as he began pulling him up, "Give me your hand…" he grunted pulling him up, "Alright good..." he smiled, pulling him up to solid ground, he smiled once more as Go regained his balance, "Okay, Robots." he sighed, tossing the rope back down.

"Anna first," Rico suggested, "She's our guide after all."

"Of course," X nodded, taking the rope before tying it safely around Anna, "She's good to go."

It took roughly ten minutes for Isamu to pull Anna up and then Rico. He prepared to toss the rope down for X before the blue Reploid jumped at the wall and began to climb up through hopping up it. Isamu snorted as he packed the rope away before they continued on. X's gem lit up and began to shine a light down the dark hallway, the only sounds in there being their footsteps and the dripping of water. Isamu prepared to go down to the right at a branching path when Anna walked ahead and stopped at the left path.

"This way, please," Anna spoke, motioning to the group to the left path.

They nodded in response as they began walking down the left path, staying close to one another until they came across what looked like a destroyed control room, debris littering the area.

"This is the Reploid factory control room, where the explosion originated," Anna explained.

"...and where Go's father worked," Isamu added.

"Hey, uh….There...There's no lingering Roboenza, is there?" Rico asked.

"...Rico, all Reploids have the vaccine installed prior to activation," X deadpanned.

"Oh...R-Right…" Rico chuckled sheepishly.

"How can a virus for robots linger?" Isamu asked, "Isn't it more like a computer virus?"

"The Roboenza virus was distributed through nanomachines inside of an aerosol form," Anna informed, "It acted like a human virus in terms of infecting and reproducing through utilizing 'cells' in a Reploid." X raised a brow, "In order to better inform anyone I am guiding in this area, I downloaded all related information that was available." she looked around, "I will begin searching for anything that may assist us."

"How are you holding up?" Rico quietly asked Go as the others began to search.

"It was here…" Go spoke, "It all happened here...in this place…" he looked around as if trying to imagine what happened that day.

"Ha!" Zero-One, reverted to Rising Hopper, shouted while slashing his Attache Calibur and knocking the last batch of Mavericks away. He pulled out Biting Shark and inserted it into the bottom of his weapon.

=ProgriseKey Confirmed Ready To Utilize! Shark's Ability!=

Zero-One swung his sword around as blue energy charged into the blade. The energy arked off the tip and formed into what looked like shark fins set up in a saw tooth pattern floating one atop of the other. Zero-One pressed the trigger as he swung up.

バ

イ

テ

ィ

ン

グ

カ

バ

ン

ス

ト

ラ

ッ

シ

ュ

=BITING KABAN STRASH!=

The energy fins slashed through all the Mavericks in one swing, before Zero-One swung down and bisected them all one more time for good measure. The Mavericks sparked and split apart from the slashes before exploding.

"Yosha! That's the last of them! Now to get my boat back and shoot a shot before Isamu does an…" Zero-One began before a plasma ball resembling fire slammed into the ground before him, "Gah!" several more followed as Onycho swooped down at him, "Aw come on! You again?!" another volley made Zero-One jump out of the way before he jumped at Onycho...who flew out of his max jumping height, "Ah! Oi! You…" Zero-One looked down to see the lake below him, "...You're despicable." he proceeded to yelp and splash down into the water, coming out a few moments later on land, "Ugh! Ptui! Gack! ...Oh wait. This is sealed. ...Did I just spit and splutter because I swallowed my own spit? Ew...It's all messy in the helmet now...Really need to see if this can be taken off like a normal helmet for when I do stuff like this..."

"Aruto-Shacho," Roll spoke as she fast-walked over to him.

"Gah! Roll-san, how did you get here so fast?!" Zero-One yelped, getting up quickly.

"Raiden will be delivering the boat and bike back to Zea later today," Roll informed.

"Oh shoot. Two in one…" Zero-One gulped before Roll presented the pink/magenta Progrisekey, "Ah! A new one! A bird? Guess I'm feeling pretty fly!"

=WING! AUTHORIZE!=

Aruto blinked as he found himself once more in the virtual space of Zea. He closed his eyes, worried about what persona would appear this time.

"ARU-CHAN~!" a voice cheered happily before he was bowled over in a tackling hug.

"GWAH!" Aruto yelped as the tumble ended with Aruto lying on his back with a giggling Roll wearing a pink and magenta tee and jeans with a feathery scarf on her neck sitting on him.

"Hi~!" Roll greeted.

"Ow, my spleen…" Aruto groaned, "...Oh wait. I'm not really here physically. ...Ow, my digital spleen…"

Roll giggled as they got up, "You're so silly, Aru-chan!"

"So Hopper is normal, peppy Roll...Shark is Cranky Roll...and Falcon is...uh...kid Roll?"

"Hm?" Roll pondered as she stepped back three steps...before pouncing in a tackling hug, "ARU-CHAN~!"

"Eh?! Didn't we just go through this?!" he asked as he was able to keep from falling over this time.

"Hm? What do you mean? We just met just now," Roll pondered, tilting her head.

"Masaka…" Aruto realized, "You're...a Bird Brain!"

*BOP!*

"Mmmm~!" Roll pouted as Aruto rubbed the large bump on his head from her broom, "Mou, you're a meanie!" she turned around and took three steps...before pouncing him in a tackling hug once more, "ARU-CHAN~!"

"Yappari da!" he cried in pain and annoyance, catching her once more, "...Okay...Just so this doesn't keep repeating…" he pulled her onto his back in a piggyback, "You're staying there."

"Oh! This is fun, wai!" Roll cheered.

"Hai, hai…" Aruto sighed as he walked over to the instructions for Flying Falcon and tapped them, opening it up, "It's a very strange day when I'm keeping watch of Roll-san instead of the reverse…"

Outside, Onycho flew at Zero-One once more...only for a large shadow to come over him. He looked up just before a massive robotic magenta/pink falcon rammed into him. It flew back and tried to grab Onycho with its talong making the Maverick panic. Zero-One flinched as his consciousness returned to his body.

"Yosh! Ikuze, Tori-chan!" he shouted, slotting the open ProgriseKey into his belt.

=PRORISE! FLY TO THE SKY! FLYING FALCON! Spread your wings and prepare for a force=

Zero-One's yellow armor opened up once more. His mask split open and slid back around his face with his antenna pointing backwards. A pink mask formed over his face while multiple strips of pink metal formed the appearance of feathers as gaps in his mouth plate formed the appearance of a beak, and his eyes now became a vibrant Green color. The armor on his chest split and moved to the side of his chest and his shoulders. The new armor looked like a pink arrowhead going down the center of his chest, with two plates of overlapping armor giving his chest piece the visage of a Falcon's head. Pink spikes formed on his shoulder pads like feathers, with two pink armor pads on his upper thighs completing the new form.

Zero-One looked up as he jumped...and flew upwards with amazing speeds, leaving pink lights with the angular appearance of computer circuitry. He flew around before tackling into Onycho, knocking him off balance.

"Whoo! I really am flying!" Zero-One cheered before tackling into Onycho once more.

"Have a safe flight, sir," Roll stated.

Onycho flew away but grunted, looking back to see Zero-One keeping pace with almost no issue. The Rider's flight speed picked up until he passed the Maverick, making it gawk in surprise as Zero-One held his hand out and grabbed a piece of metal from a demolished building, he used this to spin himself around and fly back at the Maverick to slam it with a kick to the chest. Onycho grunted and used its wings to fly back up, only to be tackled by Zero-One who began flying up high into the sky.

"Let's see who can fly higher!" Zero-One cheered his speed picking up until a sonic cone formed around him, indicating his breaking the sound barrier, "Yeah!" he cheered as Onycho failed to try and free itself, it's wings beginning to ice over from the atmosphere, while Zero-One seemed totally fine, "Going down!" he cheered letting go and kicking the Maverick making it fall back down, "I wonder how fast I was going?"

"...Mach 2 speeds…" Roll noted using a pair of binoculars to see Zero-One.

"Anything?" Isamu asked.

"Some motherboards from the computers, though there's damage from water and the weather," X replied.

"This place has been left alone for years…" Isamu sighed, "But maybe someone smarter can do something with anything we find." he offered a suggestion, "The woman...maybe she can do some of that nerd magic."

"It scares me whenever Yua shows up and talks with Alia," X admitted, "They always get this...look...in their eyes that makes me want to hide."

"You've seen it as well?" Isamu asked.

"You know what I mean?"

"Yeah...she gives me that look a lot. When I break her stuff...ditch her in the middle of nowhere...lock her in her lab…" Isamu listed, "She's a real pain, can you blame me."

"You are...a brave brave man…" X muttered, 'That or you enjoy messing with her for the giggles...either way, you scare me Fuwa-san.'

"Oi, this big computer looks pretty...okay," Isamu spoke, crouching down and looking into the main monitor, "Almost no water damage or rust...just some cobwebs and dust...maybe if we can power it we'll get something?"

"Maybe," X agreed.

"Ah, I shouldn't have watched that horror movie with Aruto-Shacho last week…" Rico shivered as she stayed with Go as they looked around as well, "This place looks just like the scene of a really scary moment…"

"Please don't tell us what happened…" X gulped.

"You're robots...why would you be scared of a human killer?" Isamu asked, "If it was some kind of sentient car crusher on legs...well...that would be warranted."

"Because their abilities at times make absolutely no sense!" Rico replied, "Like that Freddy man…" she whimpered, "I refused to go into sleep mode for three days in fear my dream module could let him get into my head and offline me in it..."

"But what could they do to you?" Isamu pointed out clearly confused as to why they'd be scared of the same things as people, "I mean...humans die over anything, but you guys are made of metal."

"I do not want to be the one who proves that if you die in your dream module, you die for real!"

"I guess we just think the same way as you..." X muttered, seeing this was getting a little out of hand.

"Hmm…" Isamu replied, "I always hated the movie with that creepy doll…" he admitted as if...trying to have a conversation with them finally, "Even though now as an adult, I'm sure I could take it...as a kid, it made me hate dolls…I still find them real creepy now,"

"Aw, now this is touching," the group tensed as Violen emerged from around a corner with several Trilobyte Mavericks, "But I hate touching moments."

"Macho bastard…" Isamu growled, stepping forward.

"Violen...how did you get here?" X asked.

"Duh...We don't need to breathe," Violen pointed out as he looked at Go, "Hm? Oh, this is amusing. You look just like that guy who caused this whole town to go nuts."

"?!" Go's eyes widened at that.

"What are you talking about?" Isamu demanded.

"He was the one who pushed the button! Not like it stopped anything; we're still around!" Violen laughed. As he laughed, Go tightened his hands grip, trying hard not to let what the Maverick was saying get to him.

"Teme…" Isamu growled, gritting his teeth, "What do you think human lives are...to talk about them like that…" he pulled out his new ProgriseKey and began pulling on it, "I won't...forgive…" he growled as the key began opening little by little, "...Your bullshit!" he shouted, snapping it open.

"He did it again," X noted in surprise as Rico cringed as she got Go over to Anna as they hid behind one of the larger chunks of rubble near the computers, "That is some amazing strength."

"Hoh?" Violen pondered as Isamu pressed the button.

=POWER!=

"Go!" Isamu called out, making everyone go silent, "Don't listen to this defective piece of junk...It's not your father's fault things went wrong here...If you don't believe in your father...then who will?!" he shouted, "If you turn your back on him here and now...then it's all over!" he strapped his belt on before slotting his ShotRiser, "Raise your head!" he held up the ProgriseKey, "And look forward...Henshin!" he shouted, slotting the key before removing the ShotRiser and aiming at Violen before pulling the trigger.

=SHOTRISE!=

The bullet that fired out of the barrel spiraled around, slamming into several Mavericks and knocking them away before coming back at Isamu. A tribal beat came from the ShotRiser as Isamu backhanded the bullet. The armor from before formed, only now both legs were white with his entire upper body now covered in black heavy armor. His chest plate was bigger with very large shoulder armor. His mask was framed by a black set of armor with red stripes along the sides that made it look like a gorilla's hair. His arms now covered in huge gauntlets that looked like closed metal fists at the ends, his hands exposed via small hand straps to keep the armor in place, heat escaping twin vents on each gauntlet as he slotted the Shotriser back on his buckle.

=PUNCHING KONG~! Enough power to annihilate a mountain=

"Enough power to...annihilate a mountain?" Rico gawked before looking at Go, "It said 'mountain,' right?" he nodded before she looked at Anna, "It said 'mountain?'"

"It did," Anna nodded.

"Oh, I'm not sure if I should be afraid that it's a true claim or worried that it's just bragging about how strong it is…" Rico groaned.

"Get him!" Violen ordered as the Mavericks opened fire...as Vulcan just marched forward, letting the bullets bounce off to no effect, "Nani?"

X took that opportunity to open fire on some of the Mavericks, knocking them over with some sporting new holes in their bodies. Vulcan roared, swinging his arm as he punched a Maverick with enough force to send its body flying out through a wall, its body falling apart in pieces once outside.

"Keep your head up...and always move forward!" Vulcan declared as he backhanded a Maverick, knocking its head off with the remains of said head flattened with an imprint of the gauntlet's knuckles.

Vulcan ran forward as he swung, his giant gauntlets hitting Mavericks and demolishing them with a single strike and sending them flying into others, letting X deal with any stragglers. He spun around and punched as his fist clashed with Violen's. Everyone flinched from the loud clang of metal...before Violen grunted as his arm sparked, making him stumble back.

"Ah! Maybe that statement was true…" Rico gawked, remembering how X's shots and Vulcan's bullets from the last encounter didn't even do a thing while Punching Kong was able to actually cause damage.

"The Gorilla is the true king of the jungle and the Kong is the greatest of them all!" Vulcan spoke, lifting Violen up and punching his chest multiple times, making sparks fly.

"..." Go looked around before blinking twice, "Eh?" he knelt down by Rico's foot and picked up a memory card with 'HIDEN' on it, "What's this?"

"Memory Module for a legacy Reploid located," Anna noted, looking at it before plugging it into her right 'ear,' "Now accessing data."

"Nice find!" Rico patted Go's back.

"I...I did it?" he blinked a few times.

Everyone then flinched as the wall suddenly broke down as Zero-One and Onycho flew in, still wrestling with one another.

"He's pink now?!" Vulcan gawked.

"Lightish Red!" Zero-One snapped as he elbowed Onycho across the face before tackling him into a wall.

Onycho struggled with Zero-One before spotting Anna. Onycho released Zero-One's left arm, taking a punch to the face, but let him swing the arm that had been holding Zero-One's out and let out tendrils that struck Anna in the back.

"Anna!" Rico gasped.

Anna gasped as the virus began uploading. It's effect worked rapidly as her human form was burned away, her face covered by the mask of the Trilobite Mavericks. Her head pieces flashed to red while her arms reached for Go and Rico...but stopped.

"Go!" Vulcan called out in concern as he took his ShotRiser and aimed, but stopped as he noticed Anna's headpiece...was flashing between Red and Blue rapidly...before stopping on...Blue.

"Blue?" Violen pondered.

"Eh...That's...never happened before…" X lowered his cannon in equal shock, "Did...did Anna resist the virus?"

"The duty of a bus guide is to share the history of a destination," Rico whispered, "Anna is so dedicated to it…"

"Now p-playing…" Anna struggled to get out as she turned to an intact wall, "...f-footage from…"

She pressed two fingers to her right 'ear.' A light shined from it before a screen formed on the wall from the light. From the speakers in Anna, the audio came in of sirens and Zea's voice while the video began to play of the room.

=EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! This area is under…=

=This is Sakurai Satoshi, head of Factory 1, Reploid Production!= a man in a blue uniform walked into the scene as he began typing at the computer and checking anything and everything =All the Reploids are going berserk after experiencing flu-like symptoms! At the current rate...the factory will explode if nothing is done!=

"So...it really was the Reploids…" Vulcan lowered his gun.

"Tousan…" Go spoke as he watched with great concern, as if this scene from the past was happening now.

=The employees should have evacuated by now...That just leaves…= Satoshi spoke before a mad laugh entered the speakers as the screens of the computer flickered and changed to show an elderly man with large grey hair with his head balding in the middle and a bushy mustache =Dr. Wily!=

=Hahaha...ah...Finally, this beloved Factory of Hiden Intelligence, Hiden and Light's beloved passion project, all mine for the taking!= Wily laughed.

"That's Dr. Wily?" Rico pondered in surprise, "...Huh...I thought he'd look...different."

=I won't let that happen!=

=Hm? Oh how amusing. Seems someone stayed behind= Dr. Wily noted.

=You...You caused this!=

=Indeed I am! This is a neat little virus I've been working on. A legacy of sorts= Dr. Wily chuckled =Any machine that intakes it...well, you've seen the results so far, hm?=

=If those Reploids get out into the city...the world…=he paused =Go…= he looked down at a picture on his desk, showing him standing next to a woman while holding a newborn =...If the Virus doesn't spread...Light-hakase can make a countermeasure...to prevent untold harm...I will destroy every Reploid in this facility!=

=What?!= Wily exclaimed as Satoshi began typing away while the computer screen began to show blocks with numbers =Wait, what are you doing?!=

=I'll shut all the bulkheads, every door, every entrance...so when the building explodes, they will be trapped within...the blast will melt them down...and the virus along with them= Satoshi explained =With the time this will grant Light-hakase...he can create a vaccine to prevent this virus from ever infecting another machine=

=Rrrr! Light this, Light that! If he finds a cure for this, then I'll create another, stronger variant! You're just delaying the inevitable!= Wily snarled before he started to cough.

=Maybe...but...If all I can do is make sure there is time for the next generation to grow up...to become smart...to replace us...then I can live with that. I'll be happy knowing Go can live...that someone else will rise up after Hiden-shacho and Light-hakase to protect our dream= Satoshi declared with a defiant glare aimed at Wily, who finally stopped the coughing =Then...I'll gladly take that chance! For the brighter future I believe in!=

=Why you...you…= Wily growled before coughing again.

=Wily-hakase, go relax. I will speak to the human= a distorted voice spoke.

=F-Fine...I leave it to you then…= Wily spoke, walking away =I have another part of my legacy to work on…=

Stepping into the monitors in place of the elder was a strange-looking figure. Despite the lightning, all that could be made out were jagged bits of armor and a pair of glowing yellow-gold bug-like eyes.

=Ningen...You have managed to work up Wily-hakase to a point that only the like of Light-hakase and Hiden-san or Mega Man and Ichi-Gata could= the figure noted as Zero-One looked at X in surprise as X's eyes widened.

=And you are…=

=The first...Maverick…= the figure introduced himself =I...am the leader of the Maverick crusade...the first character...of MetsuboJinrai…=

"Metsubo…" Zero-One repeated.

"...Jinrai…" Vulcan finished, his free hand's fist tightening.

=Even with the Bulkheads closed...it can't contain all of them...some will escape=

=You're right…= Satoshi spoke =But...the reactor for the factory has a manual override...which I can set to self destruct sooner= he opened a glass shield revealing a red button, =We had it installed...incase such a horrible event ever occurred such as this...with the hope that it never be used=

=You will die alongside them…=

=Maybe...but I will live on...in my family, something I don't think you understand= he replied as he sat down in his chair.

=Family…= the figure repeated with some sort of morbid curiosity =Hmph…= he nodded simply as he cut the video.

Now alone, Satoshi looked at the button before pushing it, more warning lights going off as he sat back as best he could, explosions already audible in the distance and through the walls. The man let out a shuddered breath, clearly...while he knew he did the right thing, in his heart he held many regrets, all relating to the thing currently most beloved and precious to him.

=Go…= was all Satoshi said as the flames covered the screen and the footage ended.

"Updating database on D-Daybreak Town…" Anna spoke as Go started to choke back sobs.

"He...He wasn't a traitor…" Rico whispered, wrapping an arm over Go to comfort him.

"He stood against them all by himself, to stop the Reploids infected by the Roboenza virus…" Zero-One spoke before looking at Go, "...Your father...He was a hero!"

"Tousan…" Go sobbed as tears streamed down his face.

"...Tch...Man, that was boring," Violen snorted, "The explosion was pretty nice, though."

"!" Vulcan growled as he turned towards the Maverick, "Mavericks…This never would have happened if not for them...you...the pain you bring…" he growled as the red lines on his armor began glowing, his eyes flashing, "I won't let you hurt another family!" he roared loudly, shaking the building, before pressing the button on his Progrisekey once more.

=POWER!=

Onycho used the lowered guard of Zero-One to quickly sucker punch the Rider and flew out of the hole. Zero-One stumbled before glaring at the fleeing Maverick and flew out after him. As he flew after Onycho, Zero-One pulled out Rising Hopper and began to repeatedly swipe it over his belt.

=BIT RISE! BYTE RISE! KILO RISE! MEGA RISE!=

"Oi...what is this…?" Violen asked confused, "It's like their power is rising higher and higher…?"

"Grrr!" Vulcan aimed as his ShotRiser was framed by both of his gauntlets, the vents on the back igniting once more as they began glowing, "I'm going to turn you into scraps!"

フ

ラ

イ

ン

グ

メ

ガ

イ

ン

パ

ク

ト

"Ha!" Zero-One roared, flying after Onycho, "Omae o tome rareru no wa tada hitori, ore da!" he shouted while tapping his ProgriseKey in.

=FLYING MEGA IMPACT!=

Zero-One grunted as wings formed from his back. With these, he flew faster, reaching max speed as he became a pink blur that attacked Onycho from every possible angle, knocking him around before tearing his wings off. Zero-One shouted as he landed a scissor kick that let him catch the Maverick and bring him with him as he dashed at his maximum speed. He grunted and twisted his body around and released Onycho, sending it tumbling through the air. Zero-One roared, swinging his right leg with a powerful roundhouse as he left a pink streak of energy with the swing of his leg. The kick struck and tore through Onycho, his body splitting apart and exploding violently.

パ

ン

チ

ン

グ

ブ

ラ

ー

ス

ト

Vulcan roared, pulling the trigger of his ShotRiser as the gauntlets detached from his arms.

=PUNCHING BLAST!=

The glowing gauntlets struck Violen and began pushing him back as he tried to resist their power. His arms sparked as he overexerted his own body's power. His arms finally gave out as the gauntlets struck his chest and carried him up into the sky before the energy of the attack caused a massive explosion. The gauntlets flew back to Vulcan as he let them reconnect to his arms. Violen groaned, falling down as Vulcan waited below him, the thruster on his right arm igniting as he punched up with an uppercut and struck Violen just as he fell.

"ONORE, VULCAN!" Violen screamed as he was sent into the distance, becoming a twinkle in the sky.

"Sugoi power…" X whispered before a clattering made him look down to see a disc, "..." he picked it up and put it away on him to give to Alia later, "There's still one thing left…"

"Ah," Vulcan nodded as the two turned to Anna, who had fallen to her knees and was unresponsive.

"Whew! Okay, I've calmed down now! I'm feeling fly once more!" Zero-One noted as he flew back in.

"You fly like Peter Pan…" Vulcan replied bluntly, making Zero-One flinch as he took it as an insult.

"...The Maverick Hunters would like to bring in this one," X informed, motioning to Anna.

"AIMS requests to examine the Maverick as well." Vulcan added, "We will examine it's memory core...the Maverick Hunters can take its central processor and see how it was able to resist the virus…" he offered.

"Ah! That means Anna could help make a vaccine for what MetsuboJinrai is doing!" Rico gasped, moving enough that it made Go turn a bit and his eyes to widen.

"Look out!" Go called, managing to tackle over Rico...before a segmented tendril ending in what looked like a scorpion's stinger to strike Anna in the chest, the path it had gone would've resulted in it having to go through Rico's head had Go not knocked her over.

"Ah!" Zero-One gasped as Anna began to glow purple...before she began to fade away into dust.

"Nani?!" Vulcan gasped before the tendril retracted just as fast as it came.

"Pursuing!" X called as he began to move in the direction the tendril had come from before the ceiling of that path collapsed, "Gh!" he looked up as there was an opening just wide enough for him to see who did it.

Standing in the hallway was...a...Kamen Rider. He, judging by his strong masculine build, was clad in an all purple suit. His body was covered in black straps keeping armor in place with the armor changing between black and a diamond plate gunmetal pattern. His left arm had a large black metal gauntlet that looked like a scorpion...with a stinger extending out over his hand, its sharp tip dripping a purple liquid. His head turned to look at X revealing his mask themed after scorpion claws framing his yellow eyes. His belt looked as though it was forcing a purple ProgriseKey opened.

"Kamen...Rider?" X spoke as the Rider stared at him.

"'Till next we meet...Megaman X…" was all he said as he walked off, the opening collapsing as he did.

Once the Rider was far enough away, he reached down and pushed in the black lever on his belt, forcing the Progrisekey to close. He grasped the key and pulled it out...letting his armor fade away and reveal...Horobi. Nearby, Jin skipped over.

"Well, that was nasty," Jin noted, "And we have a lot of new holes in the roof."

"I wanted a skylight anyway…" Horobi replied as he began walking, "I never expected the Hunters to be so quickly outpaced by the Riders...we'll have to look into heavy modifications."

"I knew Violen would be in deep poop when the gun said he could blow up mountains," Jin noted as Serges walked over.

"He kept asking if it did say 'mountain,'" Serges grumbled.

"Regardless, even if they know the old man caused this mess with his projects...as long as they don't know about the Ark, nothing will really get in our way," Horobi smiled.

"True. The Roboenza virus was an interesting attempt at an initial way of leaving a legacy," Serges noted, "It provided quite a bit for the Ark in that time."

"Ne, ne, Serges! Can we give Violen a violin?"

"...This is about his name, isn't it?"

"...Maybe…" Jin looked away.

"...Horobi, your son is being a fool once more," Serges sighed as he walked away.

"Children...are beings of potential," Horobi replied, "They are an investment in the future. If humans rely on them...it's for the best of Maverick kind...we learn to use them as well." he then grabbed Jin by his hood and pulled him away from some remnants of his armor's poison that had dripped onto the floor, "Don't touch that."

"Aw…" Jin whined as he was pulled away from it.

=Yesterday, Hiden Intelligence held a press conference, where they revealed new facts about the Daybreak Incident from twelve years ago= a Reporter spoke as the news feed was played on the News airships flying over the city =It was disclosed that they uncovered video surveillance proving the explosion was not caused by faulty maintenance and Wily having a spy within, but by sabotage caused by Wily working with MetsuboJinraidotnetto. The video evidence was recovered by the work of a pair of Reploid by the names of Rico and Anna, the latter destroyed due to being forcefully converted into a Maverick=

Go smiled watching from the street below while on his way to school. A picture of his dad appearing on the screen while the reporter continued to talk. He then blinked as the boys from the field trip walked towards him after seeing the video.

"Hey...uh...sorry…" one of them spoke up, scratching the back of his head, "That was kind of a...dick move on our part."

"Yeah...my mom beat me with a slipper after she saw the story…" another spoke, "We're sorry, man…"

"Yeah...your dad is a real hero," One more added.

"...Yeah. He was," Go nodded, looking on at the image of his father for a moment before he began to walk off, "Let's go…"

Aruto smiled as they watched from a pedestrian bridge, "Yokata…"

"I guess you meant it when you said you wouldn't cover anything up," Isamu noted.

"And you wouldn't have known the truth if you had destroyed Anna," Aruto responded, turning to look at him.

"If only we were able to save her…" Rico sighed sadly.

"Hmph...I guess you aren't so bad Hiden…" Isamu spoke, "I apologise for giving you such a hard time. I know now...you're just an idiot who got a crazy job."

"That might be the nicest thing you've ever said around us…" Aruto 'sobbed' in response before laughing, "Ah I don't mind, don't…" he flipped his hood up over his head, "Sweater it!" he chuckled, "Hai Aruto ja naito!"

Isamu twitched as he closed his hand and began popping his knuckles single handedly. His nostrils flared as he clenched his mouth shut. He walked off letting them think he was mad again before bursting into silent laughter as soon as he was far enough away.

"...ahh...X would've l-" Aruto began.

"A juxtaposition of the colloquialism 'don't sweat it' and a reference to the president's clothi-" Roll began.

"Gah stop! Please stop explaining the jokes! Aruto complained as Rico just giggled at the two.

"...Another part of Zero," Alia whispered, looking at the computer screen

"More Data?" X asked.

"Hai. It seems to be part of a three-piece set," Alia explained, "What you recovered was Zero's body while the one we've examined before were his legs…"

"...Meaning the X Hunters have the data for his head," X noted.

"Hai, but they wouldn't have been able to control him," Alia stated, making X blink, "The only part that seems to be missing is his Control Chip, and we have no idea where it could be hidden."

"But why do they have this data on them?" X asked.

"...that's what concerns me the most," Alia whispered, "From what you explained during the raid on Sigma's base, the last time you saw of Zero...was against Vile."

"..." X said nothing as his fist clenched up for a moment, remembering that day clearly, "...We need to get that last part from them, then find the Control Chip."

"But who could have what?" Alia asked.

"MetsuboJinrai…" X spoke, "The figure in the video...he called himself the First character...MetsuboJinrai is made of four Kanji...the Purple Rider...he must have the Control Chip."

"...Most likely," Alia guessed, "I'll have Pallet look into any data involving the chip...the hard part is finding this Purple Rider."

"If he pops up, I'll let you and Commander Signas know," X stated as he began to walk off, 'Metsubojinrai….just what are you planning?'

SZ: Well..talk about a revelation.

Z0: *cleans hands* Well that's best left to be revealed to GT later, anywho, things are picking up for our story as we continue to construct a one of a kind story.

SZ: Eeyup, so to keep you in anticipation...preview time!

Jikai, Zero-One X Protocol!

?: I don't need to draw anymore…the Reploids can take care of it for me

Rico: Wouldn't it be a problem for humans if their passion burns them up?

Aruto: Please give your manga all your passion, it's made so many smiles!

Serges: You cannot stop us...ze revival of our lord will commence!

X: ?! No…

Serges: Yes...and we need Zero to help welcome him back and lead his army!

Zero-One: I'll let the passion burn to! Moeru-ze Tiger!

5TH ENTRY: His Passionate Manga Method!

Horobi: It would seem we need his help…

SZ: Thigns are gonna get fiery hot next time

Z0: Get ready for that chapter!

SZ: 'Till then, read and review folks!