Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Oct 20, 2014 21:13:01 GMT -4
PrologueOver a century ago, a world was brought to it's knees. In one nation a great divide was made between the few powerful and the many powerless. For a time it was bleak. What was needed was a hero. All it took was one good idea. Tales of a new kind of hero appeared, empowering the weak and oppressed, inspiring those who could to act justly. It was more than just a hero. A superhero. Things began to change. Leaders cared for the needs of their people. The common ones sought out to better themselves. Through battle, the nation found it's strength again. But change doesn't just stop, even if it should. New ideas came to be, many of which clashed. One's view of justice was another's oppression. What was considered charitable, was called debilitating. The old generations had their arguments and fights, but it was the next generation that reaped the consequences. The nation had gained it's strength, but lost it's way. As for the superhero, it could no longer I've up to the new ideals that replaced what it once stood for. I see a new generation lost. Confused by what it has been taught, and the realities showing them otherwise. Held back due to either fear of failure, or worse, obstructed due to fear of success. If this continues, in time, their strength will be lost and the world hurled into conflict again. They must find their way. They must find inspiration. They need a superhero to light the way in the dark. Chapter 1 Part1The mid-day peace is suddenly broken in the tourism district of Tremorton City. One of the large demolition robots has gone rouge. It quickly smashes through a few building as the crowds scatters screaming. An alert is triggered at a tower on the other side of Tremorton hill, deep in the forest. A young robot suits up in his shades of blue, topped with a cape boldly marked with a "Z". He flies out of the tower, his home, at near mach speed. His name is Zero. XJ-Series model number 0. "This is XJ-0 calling out," he says over radiocom, "is anyone else responding to the alert?" First reply is Jessie Winkler, student, hero, and significant other. "I'm in between classes sweety, and my robonizer is being fixed.", she responds. Next is Champ Mars, hunter, master swordsman, best friend. "The Tremorton Heroes and I are dealing with a break in at a electronics factory downtown." Zero makes one more call. Jenny Wakeman, student, hero, XJ-Series model number 9, half sister. "Jenny Wakeman, are you available?" "Sorry.", Jenny replys, "I just left a hole in my class ceiling, and am already out of the city responding to a volcano emergency." "Ten-Four, I'm on this.", responds Zero. He is on his own. He reaches the rouge robot taking position right in front of it. It looks directly at him, and begins a sort of analysis. It reads Zero as a Super Class type robot. "If you know what you're dealing with, then I suggest you return to your station for repair.", Zero warns. The robot immediately takes a swing at him with one of it's wrecking ball fists. Zero takes the impact and slows it down to impede any further damage to the area. With a shove, Zero throws it off balance, followed up with a punch to the face. The impact echoes. Jessie looks out the window of her classroom. "Be careful..." The robot's road wheels feet turn it back to Zero. It attempts to clap him between it's fists, but he dodges back and charges his high frequency optic beams. Zero unleashes the beam onto the robot's side. "I can keep this up all day. What more can you do with just wrecking balls?" The robot looks back at Zero. It's shoulder globes open at the seams, popping up two emitters. EMP emitters. Zero eyes dim. "Right..." The EMP burst knocks out electricity in the area. Zero falls to the ground, but is still concious. He tries to get up, but cannot fly. Optic beam is out of commission too. "Zero!", a voice shouts over radiocom. It's Dr Nora Wakeman. "Your extra offensive systems are down. You are now limited to only your super strength for the next twenty minutes as your system recovers.", she says. As Zero assesses the situation flashes light up behind him. Photographers are taking whatever shots they can. "GET OUT OF HERE!", Zero shouts. They scatter just in time as the robot fist land a heavy hit on Zero. He is thrown down the block, through a bus and several cars. He tries to get up, but is immediately run over by it's road wheels. The robot stomps and grinds over and over. It takes a look under it's foot. Zero is gone. Behind it Zero has taken position on top of a gas tank. He takes a piece of burning debris and lights up the tank. The explosion launches him onto the robot's back. It tries to shake him off. Zero then takes grip of one of the arm joints and pulls. Metal cracks, and wires tear under the strain. As the arm detaches, the robot thrashed Zero off, landing on his butt. "Oof, I'm okay.", he mutters, then the detached fist lands on him. As the robot bears down, Zero kicks the fist off and into the robot's chest. While it is off balance, Zero grabs the severed end of the wrecking ball fist and swings it into the robot's leg, breaking it on impact. As it falls over, Zero finishes it with an uppercut, breaking it's head off. As the smoke clears, Zero holds his head in pain. He took some serious damage. "Blood" drips from his head and onto the ground. "Threat disabled. Now let's see who was pulling it's strings.", says Zero. The robot explodes before Zero can investigate it's relays. He looks around, certain that this was with purpose. "Whoever you are... I will find you.", Zero calls out. Zero leaves the site. A figure then enters the debris and pulls out a vial. The figure looks to where Zero left the wreckage. He collects the "blood" left behind, and disappears as clean up crews arrive. To be continued...
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Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Oct 26, 2014 0:43:39 GMT -4
Back in Tremorton Forest, Zero's tree-like tower cycles collecting sunlight in its green panels and globes. In the mid core of the structure, Zero lays in his recovery chamber. The gathered solar energy feeds into the chamber. The damage done to Zero's wakemanium skin heals with the boost.
He rises out, now fully recovered. This is followed by a knock at the rooms entrance. Zero looks over to see Jessie Winkler leaning on the door frame, giving him a smile.
"All better tough guy?", she says.
"Yeah.", he responds with a wink.
She runs up and hugs him. They've been together for threes years now. It hasn't gotten old. The original puppy love they had at first had evolved to a more refined relationship.
"I hoped you would be more careful.", she scolds cheerfully.
"I heard you. Sorry I couldn't deliver."
"Heard me?"
"I'm always listening. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't give the right attention?"
She gives him a kiss.
"It's so neat how your body can fix itself.", she comments giving him the up and down look.
Zero approaches the console and screen next to his chamber.
"Well, the damage was minor. The XNA is stable.", says Zero.
XNA, a new type of nano hardware based on DNA. It enables Zero to heal with the need of traditional tools used on a robot. Almost human, another part of Zero's growth. Who makes him feel most human is Jessie. Thier love has made him more tuned to the needs of those he protects. She also gives him a life to live when he's not being a hero.
"Good for you.", Jessie says, looking to the side.
Zero catches the change in her demeanor.
"Hey," he says softly, "something on your mind?"
She stands straight and takes a breath.
"Finals are coming for this semester.", she replies, "And I might see less of you."
As much as Jessie enjoyed being a hero, she took her schooling very seriously. Zero always knew this about her.
"And that changes what?", he asks.
"I just worry that you may get lonely."
Her worry is valid. Loneliness is one of Zero's biggest fears. As social as he is, there is nothing like the relationship they have. What helps them is trust, and that's good enough for Zero.
"I'm not afraid.", he says with a reassuring smile, "I'll be fine, and you're gonna do great."
Jessie knows that Zero is loyal and strong, and that's good enough for her.
Elsewhere, the vial containing Zero's XNA is placed in a holder... next to a vial of human blood.
To be continued...
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Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Oct 26, 2014 0:44:02 GMT -4
Months pass since the attack, and life moves on. Jessie focuses on her schooling, as Zero watches over the world, help where he is needed. They get together as often as they can sharing their experiences, thoughts, and ideas.
Romantically, they make games out of their dates. Sometimes they try to find a place they've never been to. Or Zero reads dialogue for Jessie to practice her acting. He's terrible at it. But a favorite pass time is hanging out at Mezmers.
It's Friday night.
Mezmers is buzzing with activity. Jessie takes the time to bring her sister Jane up to speed with her classes. Zero and Champ are reading the captions on the television news cast, since the music is blasting. Jenny Wakeman approaches then off the dance floor.
"What are you boys watching? You should be dancing.", she asks.
"Something about a new orbiter called Lunaire.", replies Champ, "Just random tech news."
"I have two left feet apparently.", says Zero.
Jane joins in the conversation.
"I still have the video!"
Jane pulls out her phone and plays it. Everyone watches for a moment, followed by a loud in sync, "Oooooooooh!"
Zero is clearly embarrassed. Amidst the luaghter, the lights flicker. The television goes static. As everyone looks around, a hooded figure appears on screen.
"Turn on the volume!", shouts Jenny.
There is silence for a brief moment before the hooded figure speaks.
"Citizens, members of the human family... We are the Sons of Gaia. Our mission is simple: To save and keep cleansed the lineage of humanity.", he speaks.
No one is really impressed.
"They're just fanatics.", comments Champ, "Whose going to take them seriously?"
The hooded man continues.
"As you have all opened yourselves to these so called super humans, many of which whom are not biological in any way, you are creaking open a door to our extinction as a species."
He steps aside revealing a table with a small bundle on it, a single light illuminating it.
"Here is the proof of that threat."
The camera zooms in on the bundle. He pulls back the blanket. Everyone looks closer at the screen as the focus clears. What they see catches thier full attention.
Under the blanket is a baby.
"What in the world...?", whispers Jane.
The baby looks human, but with strange features. Two seams run from it's eyes to below it's jaw. The skin is pale, and the hair... is red.
"This creature," continues the hooded man, "is the product of what can replace us all if we continue to accept and mingle with these beings. This was accomplished with the application of a new form of nano-tech, XNA, collected from the meta known as XJ-0, combined with the DNA of one of our own who chose to pair with him, Jessie Winkler."
The air goes still in Mezmers. All look back at Zero and Jessie. Both thier eyes have dilated. Thier hearts sink from the shock of what they've just saw and heard. Zero remembers the injury he recieved months earlier. Jessie falls out of her seat, jaw dropped. Jane runs over to hold her.
"The time to end this is NOW!", shouts the hooded man, "We will be handing this hybrid over to the highest bidder for study and synthesis of a weapon capable of disabling this potential virus. The future is in your hands. Take it back from these young invaders of our way of life."
The screen goes blank, but soon returns to a news coverage of the message just played. Focus in Mezmers shifts back to Zero and Jessie.
"We need to find where they are immediately.", says Zero, already planning for a skirmish. He goes to Jessie. She looks at him, recalling what happened months before.
"I, I had a doctor's visit... they did a blood test... said it was routine...", she says speaking rapidly.
"Calm down, calm down.", Zero says softly, hugging her. Jessie gets her breathing under control and nods her head, letting him know she's in control.
"Zero...", says Champ, "Did you know you could... do that?"
Zero looks at him in disbelief, but remains composed.
"I've never thought of it, and I had no idea my XNA could be applied that way.", he says, "It has only ever helped me function."
Jane continues to console Jessie.
"It's not your fualt. We'll get through and take those jerks down!", she says.
"It's not just that.", says Jessie, "That baby is not just a baby."
She looks to Zero.
"It's our baby."
Zero looks down realizing the weight of the situation thrown on them. After all the time they had spent together, he never thought of the possibility of them actaully having a family. To be a father.
Jenny's sensors are triggered.
"I'm picking up multiple signals bouncing on the global network. All of them are encrypted communications trying to get in touch with the Sons of Gaia.", Jenny says.
Zero snaps out of his thought.
"We need to get moving now!", he snaps.
Looking to Jessie he says, "We will save our baby."
He holds her hands.
"Whatever happens next, we'll figure something out.", he says.
Jessie agrees and has a new determination on her face.
"I want to."
Zero returns to his home and suits up in his primary uniform.
Jessie pulls out her robonizer and transform to her super robot form.
In minutes every super hero in the city scrambles and begin a desperate search.
To be continued...
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Post by Agai Lazen on Oct 26, 2014 9:49:05 GMT -4
((Loving this so far. Keep it up!))
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Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Oct 26, 2014 21:56:53 GMT -4
Geez, I didn't know anyone was actually reading this. Glad you like it, will continue.
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Post by Agai Lazen on Oct 26, 2014 22:13:09 GMT -4
Which is why I've added my two cents. Feel free to delete my posts if you feel they interrupt the flow. I certainly do, and they've served their purpose in telling you that your work is appreciated.
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Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Oct 27, 2014 21:24:44 GMT -4
The vigilantes take to the streets, interrogating any career criminal, lowlife, and gang. Organization metas look into various underground sectors. The Tremorton Heroes led by Champ Mars conduct independent investigations and tracking.
Zero is in orbit, and is become increasingly impatient. He has his arms crossed inanxiety as he scans the earth's surface for any disturbances or hidden hollow spots.
"Anyone... anything...", he mutters to himself.
Jenny meets him.
"It's been hours. Everyone is doing the best they can. We'll find them.", she says.
"How is your mother faring in the search?", asks Zero.
"She is filtering all global network traffic, looking for any holes in the encryption.", Jenny answers.
"I should have been more careful.", laments Zero, "I should have put more thought into what I am capable of."
"Is that such a bad thing?", asks Jenny, "The baby is a new type of lifeform. What if your father knew what he was doing when he created the XNA?"
"If that's the case, why wouldn't he have told me?", Zero says.
"Did he really need to? You're not stupid. You were made to live as humans do."
"That was so I could understand ther wieght I carry as a meta."
"Oh, come on! My mother helped complete that body of yours. Dr. Nero meant for you to have a life of your own. Maybe even a family."
Zero stays quiet.
Back on earth, Jessie is in Wakeman's lab helping with the communication filters. In her robot form she can search faster.
"Dear, even if you stay in a robonized form, you still need to rest.", says Nora Wakaman.
"I don't want to give up. All life is precious.", says Jessie.
"I know sweety, I know.", replies Nora, "but this is a new situation. No one could have predicted this."
"Are you so sure?", asks Jessie.
Nora looks at her inquisitively.
"You built his new body. You finished the XNA project. Did you ever stop to think of the applications?", Jessie demands to know.
Nora stays quiet for a moment.
"I did know, but for my safety, Zero asked for all the data regarding his body. I never got to tell him.", Nora answers.
Jessie continues her search, her cheeks slightly blushed, which Nora notices.
"Is there something more you want to know?", asks Nora.
Jessie looks back.
"These evil men were able to create the baby. Does that mean... Zero...?"
Nora gives her a reassuring smile.
"That is something for you and him to talk about. It's your lives. Your future."
"Is the world even ready for that?"
"Everything changes, no matter how hard some may try to hold to the past."
Just then, a messege is sent to Nora. It is from G-Force, a giant mech defense force. Their global network was hard at work in the search effort. "We've traced communication traffic regarding the baby to a general location."
Jessie takes the message and blasts into orbit. She finds Zero in the southern hemisphere.
"Zero! We know where they are!", she calls out.
Zero flies over to her.
"Where?"
"Somewhere in the Persian Gulf, at the base of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers."
Zero goes onto his telecom.
"Champ! I'm sending you coordinates get there immediately!"
Zero looks back at Jessie. Her hands are folded. Her face has an expression on concern and fear. He holds her hands.
"It'll all work out. Let's save our child."
To be continued...
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Post by Agai Lazen on Oct 28, 2014 0:39:53 GMT -4
((While I enjoy the nod, I think it would be better if the call-in came from Skyway patrol. The need to explain what G-Force is interrupts the flow IMO. With Skyway, you already know who they are and what they do. If the inclusion was just to give a nod, I recommend removing it though I'm still deeply honored of its inclusion. My priorities be wack, yo.))
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Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Oct 28, 2014 1:27:17 GMT -4
G-Force has another spot in this story, which I already planned. My head canon imagines them as more advanced than Skyway Patrol, so it's not just a simple nod.
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Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Oct 28, 2014 1:27:21 GMT -4
Two streaks light up in the atmosphere. Zero and Jessie reenter on thier approach to southern Iraq.
"Zero! Approach with cuation. That is a populated area!", warns Champ.
Soon they are over the area. Years ago this was a under developed city with many problems. Many years later, they have overcome the various issues that plagued them. The people here do not need any further troubles.
Zero and Jessie land softly. The people take notice of thier presence. Some look in wonder. Other try to hide. Still, some shake thier heads. Zero focuses his senses. His eyes turn violet as they shift into x-ray. Jessie look around as well.
"Why would they pick such a far away place?", she asks.
"It's a symbol.", answers Champ Mars, "The Euphrates and Tigris rivers are two of four in the Genesis account. They supposedly lead to Eden."
"Where the first two humans had thier beginning.", concludes Jessie.
"And yet they name themselves after a greek Goddess.", adds Zero.
"Clearly they are not native to this land.", says Champ, "There are no facilities here to accomplish what they did."
They are approached by a police officer.
"We are informed of what is happening and will stand by with assisstance.", he says.
Jenny circles over head scanning further. Champ talks to the officer.
"Have any foriegners been sighted over the past year?", Champ asks the officer.
"Tourisim is becomeing more common in these areas.", he answers.
Zero walks around and notices some residual tracks in the streets. He knows these tracks. They are very similar to the construction mech he fought before.
"Was there construction done?", Zero asks. The officer looks over.
"Yes, actually. Not far, south from here. Never really knew what came of it. No buildings ever were produced."
As they continue to talk, a man sneaks up close by with an object in his hand. Jenny spots him and dives down. The man sets a sphere and prepares to press a switch. Jenny tags him with a tazer dart. He convulses loudly, startling the group. Jenny grabs him and notices a symbol like the one the man in the robe wore. A double helix.
"A Gaia member.", says Champ.
Jessie snatches him and throttles him.
"Where are they! Where's the baby?!", she shouts.
It's to no avail, the man is out cold.
"Sorry.", Jenny says, "He was gonna set off that device."
Zero recognizes it.
"An EMP blaster. Just like the one on that modded mech.", he says.
The officer takes the man into custody as the heroes head south.
Further down they can see someone standing in the middle of nowhere. Zero takes a look with his x-ray vision.
"There's a facility underground. Only a few people...", he says.
"And the baby?", asks Jessie.
"I can't see, but we're sure gonna find out.", shouts Zero.
Zero land hard near the person, throwing them several feet.
The man chuckles.
Zero lifts him overhead.
"Why did you do this you diseased maniacs?", Zero demands.
"Disease you say?", the man says, "You carry a self duplicating simulation of real living material. Much like a virus... irregular."
Zero throws him down.
"I'm not gonna ask again!"
The man luaghs. Zero clenches his fist and walks away. Jessie walks up to the man and knocks him out with a punch to the head.
Zero raises his fist and brings it down to the ground, punching through the bunker door and tearing it off. The quake alert everyone inside, who take up arms and begin to fire. The barrage of bullets bounce off Zero. His optic beams fire, shooting the gun out of thier hands. Zero, Jessie, Champ, and Jenny enter the facility. Jenny sends a signal to the local authorities.
"I'll stick with Jenny.", Champ says.
Zero and Jessie agree, and they go thier seperate ways.
The facility is brightly lit, and very clean. Champ and Jenny encounter several turrents scattered through the halls. Champ dodges the blasts and take them out with his sword. Jenny scans each room they pass and nets any personell they encounter. Soon they find themselves in a planning room. Paperwork and blueprints are scattered around the table. Champ looks over the details.
"I've seen these items. Camera equipment. These are from the robbery I was dealing with.", he says.
Champ also notices the seismic readings left over.
"Jenny, you had a volcanoe to deal with too, right?", he asks.
"Yeah", Jenny replies, "That was months ago."
"All of this happened at the same time, including the mech Zero fought. This was planned out, meant to get Zero's XNA, but why go through all of this if they weren't going to keep the kid? They are more than capable of doing thier own research.", says Champ.
Jenny picks up one more item bearing a familiar mark.
"Star Force...?"
In another part of the facility, Zero and Jessie have been clearing thier own way. Jessie pushes ahead as Zero watches her back taking out personell and small defense bots. Jessie slams the men through the walls. Zero breaks thier guns and smashes any bot that attacks. Soon they find one lone door in a large hall.
Jessie slowly opens the door. They both step in. Some cameras and other equipment are in the room. At the center of the room, sleeping soundly, is the baby. Next to it, is the hooded man.
"I surrender.", he says with a smirk. Zero zooms up to him and grips him by the throat. Jessie walks up to the baby.
It slowly opens it's eyes and looks at her. Jessie's eyes glisten as she makes eye contact. She gently puts her arms around it and picks it up. She gives it a kiss on the forehead, and a hug.
"Your plans are finished!", says Zero.
"You young hero types are so predictable. You curse yourselves with your own actions. That's why you'll never have a future.", the man says.
Jenny and Champ run into the room. Both are wide eyed upon seeing the child in Jessie's arms.
"Zero... Jessie...", whispers Champ.
"Enjoy him for as long as he has.", the man utters.
The baby begins to cough hard, crying in between.
"What's wrong?", Jessie asks trying to console the baby.
"WHAT'S WRONG?!"
The man begin to luagh. Zero tightens his grip on the mans throat. He gasps for air.
"ZERO!", screams Jessie.
Zero drops the man. He doesn't get up. Champ checks him, and finds that he is still alive. Zero sits with Jessie, placing his hand on the baby's head, brushing him gently.
The men are arrested, and the heroes return home to Tremorton.
In the Wakeman home, Zero and Jessie wait in the living room. Dr. Wakeman steps out from her lab with a look of sadness on her face. Jessie holds on to Zero tighter.
"The XNA and DNA fusion was forced. He is very unstable. You should be with him.", says Nora.
Zero and Jessie enter the lab where the baby sleeps.
Jessie holds on to the baby's hand. They wait.
Soon... they are in tears.
* * *
A few days later, in an unknown location Tremorton's heroes gather. They pay their respects. Champ talks amongst the others.
"This was an act of cruelty. The Gaians had no intention of handing him over alive. What's more, it appears they had a tie to Star Force.", Champ says.
After services, Zero and Jessie stand alone by the unmarked grave.
"Zero.", says Jessie, "What would we have done, if he lived?"
"We would have figured something out.", answers Zero.
She hold his hand and leans her head on his shoulder.
"Do you want a family?", she asks.
"After this...", he says, "I don't know if we can."
Jessie looks up at Zero.
"Maybe we're not ready.", she says.
Zero looks down. He can neither deny nor agree with her.
Jessie walks away from him.
"Jessie?", Zero calls out.
"Zero...", she says looking back with tears in her eyes, "We need to be apart for a while."
"But...", Zero says as Jessie interrupts.
"The world isn't ready for us.", she finishes, wiping the tears from her eyes, "We can't give them a reason to hate and fear us."
Jessie goes home, as does Zero. Jessie goes into her bedroom, and looks out the window. Zero enters his own room and does the same. Alone, and overcome with grief, they burst into tears.
To be continued...
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Post by Agai Lazen on Oct 28, 2014 2:29:07 GMT -4
((Preemptive introduction, I love it! I gotta say, that last chapter was pretty emotionally powerful.))
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Post by Agai Lazen on Nov 2, 2014 1:16:00 GMT -4
((Made some Fanart ))
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Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Nov 5, 2014 19:45:56 GMT -4
The following week, Zero stands before Skyway Patrol. He looks disheveled, and in a very bad mood. He has his arms closed in open defiance.
"The Gaians have been retrieved and will face a tribunal.", says the High Commander, "And due to these recent events, we are resubmitting our request for the technology in reference to the XJ-0 unit and associated XNA nano tech."
"I am right here as requested, and my answer is no.", says Zero.
The commander leans forwards with his hands folded.
"Let me remind you son, that you were built using stolen Skyway property."
"Which was destroyed..."
"Making your current build composed of XNA, a creation of Dr. Aven Nero."
"Completed by Dr. Nora Wakeman."
The Skyway officers look at each other.
"Don't be clever. Your creator developed these components while in the employ of Skyway."
"My father created many things, and you allowed them to be abused by the mad general Balaam. You cannot have this."
"And the Hybrid?"
Zero sneers at the choice of word.
"I will not allow you to desecrate him."
"You don't seem to grasp the weight of the matter. Your XNA is out there. It was used, and can be used again."
"I will deal with it when it is, but this is not up for discussion."
"And what guarantee do we have that you can 'deal with it'?"
"My word, and that's all you're gonna get."
Zero leaves the room, with the officers very frustrated.
Storming out of Skyway HQ, Zero takes flight and returns home.
At Tremorton Community College, Jessie is having trouble of her own. Jenny Wakeman finds her sitting at a picnic table looking over class notes. She looks very tired.
"Jessie? Are you okay?", asks Jenny.
"I barely scraped by with C on ally practice exams.", replies Jessie.
She puts her head down, a tear running down her cheek. Jenny lowers her head to make eye contact.
"You've been under a lot of stress.", says Jenny, "Have you talked to him?"
Jessie looks up, wiping her face.
"I can't.", she says.
"Why not?"
Jessie sits up trying to compose herself.
"It would hurt too much.", she says.
Jenny gives Jessie a reassuring smile.
"But you want to?", asks Jenny.
"The world is not about what I want. It's about what everyone else wants.", Jessie replies.
She picks up her papers and leaves.
At top of Zero's home is his watchtower. It is the place where he receives all his alerts, news coverage, and research. Several screens surround the room. At the main console he stands, looking into whatever he can on the Children of Gaia, and any possible link to Star Force, according to Champ's findings.
Star Force was dissolved following the Battle of Tremorton. All personnel were interrogated. Top officers were either terminated or imprisoned for whatever roles they had in General Balaam's attempted genocide of the metas. All others were absorbed into Skyway Patrol's ranks. General Balaam's head, trapped in a robonizer state, is being held in a research facility.
The Children of Gaia are new, but far too organized to be run by amateurs. Thier ability to produce the baby, as well as a fortified bunker, shows that they could very well have resources similar to what Star Force had.
Zero's vision blurs as he looks into the screen. He wipes his eyes and tries to focus, but cannot. He goes to his room and collapses onto his bed. He doesn't sleep. Just stares into nothing.
On the main console screen, a text appears.
: XNA Error : Cognitive functions compromised : Physical functions compromised
To be continued...
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Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Nov 11, 2014 18:32:27 GMT -4
Mid story notesReality in Fiction- XNA is real, while of course it's application in the story is fictional. Article: meet-xna-the-first-synthetic-dna-that-evolves-like-the-real-thingRecycled Idea- Robot/Human hybrids are not a new idea. I first saw the idea used in "Armitage the Third", where it is revealed that the robotic title character is able to bear children. Wiki Article: Armitage_IIIWorking on the next part now.
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Zero
Prime
All things are possible...
Posts: 3,921
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Post by Zero on Feb 8, 2015 3:29:54 GMT -4
A boy is in a field. He runs towards the school house on the other side. He pushes through a large bush. He gets scratched, but he is okay. He leaps over a fence. He stumbles on his landing, but he is okay. He meets a girl who takes his hand. They run together.
As they near the schoolhouse, a larger boy, a bully, knocks them both down. The bully takes the boy's bag. The boy tries to get up, but cannot. The girl sits crying. The bully reaches the schoolhouse. Everything goes dark.
The boy finds himself in the schoolhouse. The bully has taken credit for the work stolen from the boy. The teacher looks with great disappointment. He hears a voice echoing.
"Son..."
The boy looks around, but cannot find the source. He sees the girl. He wants to approach her, but can see the pain in her eyes. He could not protect her. He has failed. It may be best to leave her be.
"Son...!"
The boy turns again, and sees the bully standing over him. The bully pushes him down. The boy looks up just as the bully is about to stomp down on his face.
"SON!"
* * *
"DAD!!!", Zero shouts out as he quickly sits up from his bed. He hears knocking from the main entrance of his home.
"Son, are you there?", a familiar voice calls out.
Zero rushes to the door, swinging it open. A man backs up, caught off guard. It's Mr. Winkler.
Zero rubs his eyes as he staggers on the door frame.
"You look awful.", comments Mr. Winkler.
"Yeah, I... I thought your were... someone else.", Zero replies, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm came to check up on you. It took some travelling though. It's so isolated out here.", says Mr. Winkler.
Zero nods, keeping his eyes on the ground. Mr. Winkler puts his hand on Zero's shoulder.
"It's not good for anyone be alone."
"I call it solitude."
Mr. Winkler crosses his arms.
"No. This is called isolation. As troubled as your are over what happened, when was the last time you spoke to my daughter?"
Zero looks up, regaining some composure. The sternness in Mr. Winklers voice prompts Zero to keep his emotions in check.
"She needed space.", says Zero, "There's nothing I would want more than to talk to her, but I'm not gonna force her to talk so I can feel better."
Mr. Winkler shakes his head, but gives a smirk.
"You two have been together for three years. I didn't always have the best opinion of metas, but the both of you really had something special. It's easy to fall into routine after that amount of time, but that's why we work on our relationships. So we can plan and be ready for the unexpected, and remember why we got together to begin with."
Mr. Winkler leans down to make eye contact with Zero.
"Do you still love Jessie?"
Zero stands up straight.
"Yes, I do.", he says, "but does she still love me?"
"That's for you to find out.", answers Mr. Winkler, "I hate to see Jessie suffering like this. Don't try to get through this crisis on your own. We all need support and family. Understand, son?"
Mr. Winkler then goes on his way. Zero closes the door. In his bedroom, Zero looks out the window.
"If only I weren't scared of what the answer may be."
* * *
Up in orbit, Luminare will soon pass over Tremorton.
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