Rockman ZX - I - Innocence

"He left again."
Aile tossed the covers from her bed and slunk over to her brother's, poking his sides sharply as she whispered into his ears.
"Vent, wake up! Vent..."
The transporter groaned. This was going nowhere; she had to kick it up a notch. Aile pulled the covers from under him, screeching as loud as she could without making a scene.
"WAKE UP, YOU IDIOT!!!"
Yet it barely seemed to do a thing—Vent's body now slumped on the floor as he rubbed his head. The boy stared at his sister with a hint of malice as he rose up with the agency of a slumbering turtle.
"The heck was that for-"
"We don't have time for this Vent, come on!"
The girl grabbed one of his legs and dragged him towards the door like a rag doll.
"Sis, wh-"
Her fiery eyes beamed a hole into the boy's chest before he could finish his sentence.
"The Red Flash, remember!? If we don't go now, we'll be too late!"
"OH CRAP!"
His eyes shot open as he pulled away from his sister, sharply LEAPING to action. Aile tumbled over, now shooting a death glare towards her dear brother.
"Uh... sorry?"
Her glare intensified as the boy struggled to contain his laughter.
"Whatever, jerk..."
Aile got up and dusted herself off, shrugging it off before she ran towards the door and filed outside behind her brother. The two walked over to one of the ledges of their quaint forest home, taking opposite sides as they scoped out the area. Aile's sharp eyes noticed a familiar red bike with a familiar red man, zooming into the forest.
"Over there!"
She pointed in his general direction and Vent immediately ran over, the duo hopping onto their bikes with great haste. Both vehicles let out a gentle hum that was almost invisible to the human ear as their owners gripped the handles in unison; teal energy shooting out from the back to initiate their hunt. The pair trailed their father deep into the depths of Area A, a path being lit by the enormous flower-shaped generator standing tall in the background.
Giro parked his bike, shaking his luxurious mane before stepping off. He popped open the seat and took out a small box. He scanned his surroundings before lifting the lid; it seemed like the coast was clear. "Sorry guys, but I can't take any risks." He whispered.
"Sis, look! Dad's-"
"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Aile put a finger to his mouth, staring at the boy with eyes as sharp as daggers. He could only gulp in response.
"I have eyes and ears, moron! Would it kill you to be a bit quieter?"
A stare filled with great malice would be shot into the girl's back while she wasn't looking.
("I'm so gonna kill you when we get home...")
Rather than addressing her brother, Aile stared at their father with intent, slowly moving in like a silent predator. As the target approached the local Transerver room, the girl lightly tapped on her brother's shoulder, speaking in a hushed tone.
"Come on, we gotta move. No noise this time. If we get caught, this whole thing's toast."
Vent shook his vile thoughts and nodded, trying his best to mimic Aile's silent and efficient motions. Taking advantage of their rather small and youthful bodies, as they tracked their prey, the pair went from bush to bush, concealing themselves in the foliage.
Once he entered the room, they rolled in like little hedgehogs and split off to opposite sides of the room. The siblings easily secured a spot to hide among the heaps of technology scattered throughout the room, their eyes now shifting to the strange box. Something about this seemed fishy—real fishy.
"Inputting coordinates for Guar- What?"
Giro's face sharpened, perplexed by the red error flashing brightly on the input screen.
"Now, that can't be right; I inputted them correctly, didn't I?"
Giro looked up, pressing his hand against his face lightly as he looked at the interface with a contemplative look.
"Maybe something I know like the back of my hand... Area D, perhaps?"
Exercising great precision, the bespectacled man quickly inputs a combination of different codes. Still, nothing changed.
"Seems I'll be going by foot."
Giro lightly presses against his ear receiver, tapping his foot at a rapid pace as he waited for the recipient to pick up.
"Hey, boss. The Transerver's busted. I have to head to the pickup zone by foot. Sorry if I'm a little late. I have my... suspicions, but I won't be too hasty. Don't want to drive you crazy now."
There was an attempt at a laugh, but his icy glare did not yield. Giro's entire body tensed up, completely wrapped up in his conversation with who was on the other line. The children could only exchange glances—their shocked expressions said it all. They tried to link it to any and every possible thread, but nothing clicked.
Giro never talked to clients like that; no, he never talked to anyone like that. Just who was the person on the other line? The conversation wrapped up and Giro knelt down onto the floor, popping open the box and taking out a really weird... rock? A red rock, no a red and black rock, no, a red white and black rock with a gem on its head!?
"Well, partner, guess we can't walk the easy road. Not like you'd like that anyway."
"Don't act like you're so innocent."
"Haha, I suppose you're right."
A RED, WHITE, AND BLACK ROCK WITH A GEM ON ITS HEAD THAT TALKED!? The children's insides were practically leaping outside their bodies at as they tried to secure the best viewing angle—their star-filled eyes locking onto the man as he finally took hold of it.
"Model Z, Rock On!"
The man shouted the phrase with vigor, his once relaxed grip now tightening around the strange rock. It began to release a light red energy that coated Giro's body, and soon that energy would take shape. Familiar armor began to form and attach itself to his body; a satisfying click would lock the parts into place as he was completely suited up.
It was him.
The Red Flash, a mysterious Repliroid that left as abruptly as he entered the scene. In his wake, Irregular raids collapsed with zero effort. For a long time, it was just a rumor. Until ONE reporter was able to just barely snap a photo of him sitting on a rooftop by his lonesome.
("Holy...crap...")
They thought in unison as they bore witness to the scene, barely able to keep still. Sure, their father disappeared at night, was leaving more frequently, AND had a very long and BEAUTIFUL mane of hair that was basically instantly recognizable. Sure, he possessed all those traits. Yet neither of them could actually believe what they were seeing, just staring slack-jawed as they were barely able to process what was happening. Their old man was a superhero, with a secret identity? How awesome could he get!? Their eyes shone with excitement as they stared at their father's regal armor, every motion he made furthering its majestic aura.
"Sorry, X. I can't risk taking you tonight. You know the drill."
He leaned down and peered into the box with a gentle smile on his face, speaking to what they could only assume to be another talking rock. Yet, their excitement was shot as the next statement that escaped his mouth. His somber, hollow tone only cemented its gravity.
"If anything happens to me, protect them. At all costs."
Giro tucked the box away in a hidden compartment under the floor, gently patting it before he grabbed a hilt from the holster sitting at his side. He swung it down to his side with great might, a stream of azure energy erecting from it, which soon formed into a jagged blade. Giro walked towards the cold metallic door, which sprung open the moment it sensed his presence.
"Let's go, partner."
He dashed out at an untraceable speed, the kids only able to see his afterimage. It was dead silent as the gate snapped shut, and all the kids could do was stare in awe. Vent was the first to move, running over to the compartment and tearing it open as fast as his little mitts could muster. He opened the box slightly, spotting a blue rock sitting within.
"Wh-"
Before it could even respond, Vent SNAPPED the box shut, not allowing it to get in a single word. He ran over to his sister, who continued to stare off into space. The boy tapped her shoulder, meeting her gaze with a serious expression.
"Come on. We're going."
Aile's body trembled as she attempted to process the scene, lightly scooching back as she turned her eyes to the ground. Her brother's expression would tighten, and his words grew louder, sharper.
"WE'RE GONNA LOSE HIM IF YOU DON'T MOVE!"
"B-But, I-"
"Sis."
The boy kneeled down to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder, peering into her eyes with a strong, solemn face.
"I'll be by your side, always."
A light smile crawled onto her face, and the shivering would come to a halt. She nodded her head and got on her feet, steeling herself for the journey ahead.
"Yeah... Yeah!"
An enormous smile painted the boy's features before he got to his feet, extending a hand to his sister.
"Now let's go!"
Aile grabbed her brother's hand, who pulled her up from the ground. Hand in hand, the siblings encroached upon the door at a snail's pace. Aile could feel her brother trembling, and her grip tightened in response. His trembling ceased, and their proceed would hasten. The gate's mechanical locks popped open, and they answered its beckoning call—walking headfirst into the dangers of the night.
A light buzz would ring through the air as Giro's saber swiftly cleaved every target in its path. The Red Flash tore through everything, leaving nothing but piles of junk parts in his wake as he zipped through the forest. His movements were elegant yet sharp, like a ferocious dance.
"Out of my way." Giro muttered as he scanned his surroundings. The entrance to the city was close. Very close, only a few more... "Here we are."
A smile crept onto his face as the giant snake-like machine slithered into view. Giro's grip tightened around his saber as he darted away and leapt onto a nearby tree. The mighty beast roared and unhinged its jaw, a flash of light building within the creature's mouth. It erupted into a violent stream of energy, aimed directly at the man in red. The aging oak flew back as Giro dashed off, his grin morphing into something devilish as he descended upon the beast. Upon landing, the Red Warrior shoved his saber through its head, turquoise sparks flying as the beast's wail pierced the silent night. The robotic creature folded under his weight and sank to the floor, desperately gyrating in an attempt to shake off its predator. For a moment, it seemed to have worked. The creature's yellow eyes shifted, its analytical systems picking up nothing in the surrounding area.
However, the hunter had no plans to give up his prey so easily.
From the darkness came a red flash, beaming around the poor creature unpredictably as it failed to keep up. Pure plasma would repeatedly carve into its side, a sharp scream radiating from its vocal banks until it too was pierced. The Red Flash leapt on its back and hoisted his saber skyward, funneling copious scores of untamed energy directly inside the teal-colored blade as it speared down past the fertile soil and tunneled underground. There, beneath the carnage that raged overhead, this unbridled power began to take shape. Where there was once a singular, incandescent mote of light, now resided a divergent series of lofty pillars, each one primed to service their master and puncture straight through his sworn enemy.
And so they did.
Acting with what all but the assailant would consider spontaneity, the assembly of beams operated in concert, erupting beyond their earthen cage and effortlessly skewering the beast's massive steel frame.
("It's done.")
Bereft of the ability to physically resist its newfound, searing misery, the serpentine creature's limp body attempted to relinquish a final, guttural shriek; it couldn't withstand its explosive fate any longer.
"Rekkoha."
Spoken dispassionately, Giro paid no heed to the incomprehensible protests of his mutilated victim, nor did he show any regard for the burgeoning explosion. All it required was a nimble leap backwards, and the relentless Repliroid would have escaped the blast radius, leaving the surrounding foliage dotting Area A's forest as the only bystanders consigned to the serpent's fiery oblivion. A sick grin crossed the man's face before an incessant ringing would snap him straight. Hesitantly, he would tap his left ear, a panicked voice erupting from the communication system.
"GIRO, CODE RED. AREA D IS BEING SWARMED BY A LARGE ARMY OF IRREGULARS. HEAD THERE IMMEDIATELY!"
"Understood, on my way."
Eliminating them would be no issue, but this activity spike, and the Transerver being down... something wasn't right. The Red Flash flickered through the industrial room, a troubling thought continuing to nag at the back of his mind as he mentally prepared himself for the next mission. "We don't have time for this Vent, come on!"
The girl grabbed one of his legs and dragged him towards the door like a rag doll.
"Sis, wh-"
Her fiery eyes beamed a hole into the boy's chest before he could finish his sentence.
"The Red Flash, remember!? If we don't go now, we'll be too late!"
"OH CRAP!"
His eyes shot open as he pulled away from his sister, sharply LEAPING to action. Aile tumbled over, now shooting a death glare towards her dear brother.
"Uh... sorry?"
Her glare intensified as the boy struggled to contain his laughter.
"Whatever, jerk..."
Aile got up and dusted herself off, shrugging it off before she ran towards the door and filed outside behind her brother. The two walked over to one of the ledges of their quaint forest home, taking opposite sides as they scoped out the area. Aile's sharp eyes noticed a familiar red bike with a familiar red man, zooming into the forest.
"Over there!"
She pointed in his general direction and Vent immediately ran over, the duo hopping onto their bikes with great haste. Both vehicles let out a gentle hum that was almost invisible to the human ear as their owners gripped the handles in unison; teal energy shooting out from the back to initiate their hunt. The pair trailed their father deep into the depths of Area A, a path being lit by the enormous flower-shaped generator standing tall in the background.
Giro parked his bike, shaking his luxurious mane before stepping off. He popped open the seat and took out a small box. He scanned his surroundings before lifting the lid; it seemed like the coast was clear. "Sorry guys, but I can't take any risks." He whispered.
"Sis, look! Dad's-"
"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Aile put a finger to his mouth, staring at the boy with eyes as sharp as daggers. He could only gulp in response.
"I have eyes and ears, moron! Would it kill you to be a bit quieter?"
A stare filled with great malice would be shot into the girl's back while she wasn't looking.
("I'm so gonna kill you when we get home...")
Rather than addressing her brother, Aile stared at their father with intent, slowly moving in like a silent predator. As the target approached the local Transerver room, the girl lightly tapped on her brother's shoulder, speaking in a hushed tone.
"Come on, we gotta move. No noise this time. If we get caught, this whole thing's toast."
Vent shook his vile thoughts and nodded, trying his best to mimic Aile's silent and efficient motions. Taking advantage of their rather small and youthful bodies, as they tracked their prey, the pair went from bush to bush, concealing themselves in the foliage.
Once he entered the room, they rolled in like little hedgehogs and split off to opposite sides of the room. The siblings easily secured a spot to hide among the heaps of technology scattered throughout the room, their eyes now shifting to the strange box. Something about this seemed fishy—real fishy.
"Inputting coordinates for Guar- What?"
Giro's face sharpened, perplexed by the red error flashing brightly on the input screen.
"Now, that can't be right; I inputted them correctly, didn't I?"
Giro looked up, pressing his hand against his face lightly as he looked at the interface with a contemplative look.
"Maybe something I know like the back of my hand... Area D, perhaps?"
Exercising great precision, the bespectacled man quickly inputs a combination of different codes. Still, nothing changed.
"Seems I'll be going by foot."
Giro lightly presses against his ear receiver, tapping his foot at a rapid pace as he waited for the recipient to pick up.
"Hey, boss. The Transerver's busted. I have to head to the pickup zone by foot. Sorry if I'm a little late. I have my... suspicions, but I won't be too hasty. Don't want to drive you crazy now."
There was an attempt at a laugh, but his icy glare did not yield. Giro's entire body tensed up, completely wrapped up in his conversation with who was on the other line. The children could only exchange glances—their shocked expressions said it all. They tried to link it to any and every possible thread, but nothing clicked.
Giro never talked to clients like that; no, he never talked to anyone like that. Just who was the person on the other line? The conversation wrapped up and Giro knelt down onto the floor, popping open the box and taking out a really weird... rock? A red rock, no a red and black rock, no, a red white and black rock with a gem on its head!?
"Well, partner, guess we can't walk the easy road. Not like you'd like that anyway."
"Don't act like you're so innocent."
"Haha, I suppose you're right."
A RED, WHITE, AND BLACK ROCK WITH A GEM ON ITS HEAD THAT TALKED!? The children's insides were practically leaping outside their bodies at as they tried to secure the best viewing angle—their star-filled eyes locking onto the man as he finally took hold of it.
"Model Z, Rock On!"
The man shouted the phrase with vigor, his once relaxed grip now tightening around the strange rock. It began to release a light red energy that coated Giro's body, and soon that energy would take shape. Familiar armor began to form and attach itself to his body; a satisfying click would lock the parts into place as he was completely suited up.
It was him.
The Red Flash, a mysterious Repliroid that left as abruptly as he entered the scene. In his wake, Irregular raids collapsed with zero effort. For a long time, it was just a rumor. Until ONE reporter was able to just barely snap a photo of him sitting on a rooftop by his lonesome.
("Holy...crap...")
They thought in unison as they bore witness to the scene, barely able to keep still. Sure, their father disappeared at night, was leaving more frequently, AND had a very long and BEAUTIFUL mane of hair that was basically instantly recognizable. Sure, he possessed all those traits. Yet neither of them could actually believe what they were seeing, just staring slack-jawed as they were barely able to process what was happening. Their old man was a superhero, with a secret identity? How awesome could he get!? Their eyes shone with excitement as they stared at their father's regal armor, every motion he made furthering its majestic aura.
"Sorry, X. I can't risk taking you tonight. You know the drill."
He leaned down and peered into the box with a gentle smile on his face, speaking to what they could only assume to be another talking rock. Yet, their excitement was shot as the next statement that escaped his mouth. His somber, hollow tone only cemented its gravity.
"If anything happens to me, protect them. At all costs."
Giro tucked the box away in a hidden compartment under the floor, gently patting it before he grabbed a hilt from the holster sitting at his side. He swung it down to his side with great might, a stream of azure energy erecting from it, which soon formed into a jagged blade. Giro walked towards the cold metallic door, which sprung open the moment it sensed his presence.
"Let's go, partner."
He dashed out at an untraceable speed, the kids only able to see his afterimage. It was dead silent as the gate snapped shut, and all the kids could do was stare in awe. Vent was the first to move, running over to the compartment and tearing it open as fast as his little mitts could muster. He opened the box slightly, spotting a blue rock sitting within.
"Wh-"
Before it could even respond, Vent SNAPPED the box shut, not allowing it to get in a single word. He ran over to his sister, who continued to stare off into space. The boy tapped her shoulder, meeting her gaze with a serious expression.
"Come on. We're going."
Aile's body trembled as she attempted to process the scene, lightly scooching back as she turned her eyes to the ground. Her brother's expression would tighten, and his words grew louder, sharper.
"WE'RE GONNA LOSE HIM IF YOU DON'T MOVE!"
"B-But, I-"
"Sis."
The boy kneeled down to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder, peering into her eyes with a strong, solemn face.
"I'll be by your side, always."
A light smile crawled onto her face, and the shivering would come to a halt. She nodded her head and got on her feet, steeling herself for the journey ahead.
"Yeah... Yeah!"
An enormous smile painted the boy's features before he got to his feet, extending a hand to his sister.
"Now let's go!"
Aile grabbed her brother's hand, who pulled her up from the ground. Hand in hand, the siblings encroached upon the door at a snail's pace. Aile could feel her brother trembling, and her grip tightened in response. His trembling ceased, and their proceed would hasten. The gate's mechanical locks popped open, and they answered its beckoning call—walking headfirst into the dangers of the night.
A light buzz would ring through the air as Giro's saber swiftly cleaved every target in its path. The Red Flash tore through everything, leaving nothing but piles of junk parts in his wake as he zipped through the forest. His movements were elegant yet sharp, like a ferocious dance.
"Out of my way." Giro muttered as he scanned his surroundings. The entrance to the city was close. Very close, only a few more... "Here we are."
A smile crept onto his face as the giant snake-like machine slithered into view. Giro's grip tightened around his saber as he darted away and leapt onto a nearby tree. The mighty beast roared and unhinged its jaw, a flash of light building within the creature's mouth. It erupted into a violent stream of energy, aimed directly at the man in red. The aging oak flew back as Giro dashed off, his grin morphing into something devilish as he descended upon the beast. Upon landing, the Red Warrior shoved his saber through its head, turquoise sparks flying as the beast's wail pierced the silent night. The robotic creature folded under his weight and sank to the floor, desperately gyrating in an attempt to shake off its predator. For a moment, it seemed to have worked. The creature's yellow eyes shifted, its analytical systems picking up nothing in the surrounding area.
However, the hunter had no plans to give up his prey so easily.
From the darkness came a red flash, beaming around the poor creature unpredictably as it failed to keep up. Pure plasma would repeatedly carve into its side, a sharp scream radiating from its vocal banks until it too was pierced. The Red Flash leapt on its back and hoisted his saber skyward, funneling copious scores of untamed energy directly inside the teal-colored blade as it speared down past the fertile soil and tunneled underground. There, beneath the carnage that raged overhead, this unbridled power began to take shape. Where there was once a singular, incandescent mote of light, now resided a divergent series of lofty pillars, each one primed to service their master and puncture straight through his sworn enemy.
And so they did.
Acting with what all but the assailant would consider spontaneity, the assembly of beams operated in concert, erupting beyond their earthen cage and effortlessly skewering the beast's massive steel frame.
("It's done.")
Bereft of the ability to physically resist its newfound, searing misery, the serpentine creature's limp body attempted to relinquish a final, guttural shriek; it couldn't withstand its explosive fate any longer.
"Rekkoha."
Spoken dispassionately, Giro paid no heed to the incomprehensible protests of his mutilated victim, nor did he show any regard for the burgeoning explosion. All it required was a nimble leap backwards, and the relentless Repliroid would have escaped the blast radius, leaving the surrounding foliage dotting Area A's forest as the only bystanders consigned to the serpent's fiery oblivion. A sick grin crossed the man's face before an incessant ringing would snap him straight. Hesitantly, he would tap his left ear, a panicked voice erupting from the communication system.
"GIRO, CODE RED. AREA D IS BEING SWARMED BY A LARGE ARMY OF IRREGULARS. HEAD THERE IMMEDIATELY!"
"Understood, on my way."
Eliminating them would be no issue, but this activity spike, and the Transerver being down... something wasn't right. The Red Flash flickered through the industrial room, a troubling thought continuing to nag at the back of his mind as he mentally prepared himself for the next mission.