Before The Dark

<---INDEX

Neo Arcadia 2888, Dr. Light's laboratory

Rock ran into Zero's room, yelling, “Zero! ZERO!!! Where the Slag are you?” Looking around, there was no sign of the Martial artist, only encouraging the young Rock to panic even more. “Zero! It's an emergency!!!” Suddenly, Zero appeared upside-down in front of the young man's face making him fall to the ground. “What's all the screaming about, X? Are you trying to wake the dead?” Rock looked at him and snapped, “If that were the case, I sure as shock wouldn't be this hysterical, now would I?!?” Zero rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Good point. What's the problem? Someone dying and you're practicing your unorthodox resuscitation method?”

Rock slapped the blond man in the face, yelling, “Stop joking around, you idiot! It's Dr. Light!” for the first time in the entire time the two Reploids have known each other, Zero had shown an actual emotion. Fear now dominated his face and the sight merely made Rock even more distraught. Shortly, Zero and Rock ran into the doctors room where Roll waited for them. They looked at his weary, age worn face. Zero yelled, “Doctor! Did you Stop your life extension treatments?” The doctor nodded weakly. Rock stood there, on the verge of tears, saying, “Why doctor? Why did you stop?”

Dr. Light said weakly, “Roll, My daughter, Rock, My greatest achievement and Zero, The best thing that could happen to either of them. Man was never meant to play god in this world. Life extension let's you live longer than one should, and it was never meant to be forever. I have to die sometime. That's just how life is. I know that it'll be hard when I die, But I'll never truly be gone. I will always be in your hearts, and that is where it matters the most.” The three Reploids sat in silent vigil until the doctor breathed his last. Before he finally departed from the world, he uttered a feint, “Farewell... My family.”

Zero sighed and said, “At that moment, Rock realized all he had left was Roll, his sister. She managed to survive execution by the original Bass by a decoy. Apparently, his dog Rooter managed to get the message that he was coming and Roll got while the going was good. Sadly, new's didn't travel well in the way of Maverick assaults those days, since it had become pretty much a daily occurrence. So while we were going through mavericks like patch jobs... and we went through a shock of a lot of those, believe me... The real Roll was teaching advanced robotics at Light university in the center of Neo Arcadia.”

 Jake shook his head and said, “Hold the Gyro-rail right there for a moment! Are you telling me she was teaching advanced robotics, in the school named after her father... directly next to your base and you guys didn't even notice she was standing right on top of your toes?!?” Zero shook his head. “No, no, no. I knew the whole time. Actually, it was me who suggested she go there. I thought it was suiting. Rock never cared much for going near a school unless it was attacked, so her hiding place wasn't at risk of compromise. Rock on the other hand... Well, let's just say Kodak Moment didn't come close to how precious the look on his face when he finally ran into us having dinner.”

Wes smiled and said, “Now we're getting to the good stuff.” He pulled out a bag of Cheesy-Woozies and started eating with a increased interest into the story.

Chez Leblanc, Neo Arcadia's central district, March 8, 2999

 Rock walked into the Restaurant, looking a little sheepish. This was the fanciest, most expensive upper-crust eating facility in all of Neo Arcadia. It was bad enough that only the richest of the rich could actually afford a salad by itself and not be broke, but he had to bribe the greeter his last five hundred Zenny to get past the door because not only were Hunter uniforms against dress code, but he didn't have a reservation made ten months in advance. He sighed and muttered, “Dim Ram, Zero, Where the hell are you? Other than the outpost report, I have three more things to discuss right now and you're in this Zenny trap. First, Why are you here? Second is How can you afford to come here and finally, what in the Matrix would make you come here to begin...”

At that moment he finally noticed the pain in his output going down on one knee, apparently about to move on from the long lost Roll. He smiled as a female voice said, “Zero!!! Yes! Yes, I do!!!” Everyone started to applaud and Rock prepared to give his adopted brother a well deserved pat on the back when he noticed the female who now lunged into his arms and embraced him was his long dead sister Roll. “Cest que Phoque?” A passing waiter looked at him quizzically and asked, “Excuse me, sir, But are you aware you just asked, 'What the seal'?” Rock muttered in surrender, “Not programmed to swear. That's the closest I'm ever going to get to the big F.” The waiter laughed and said, “Clever. I'll have to remember that one.”

He looked at Zero and Roll and said, “It's a rare sight that two Reploids commit these days. Say, I know you. You're Rock, The number one Hunter. You must be ecstatic over seeing this!” Rock said, still in a daze, “Ecstatic isn't the word I'd use. More like really, really, really... re...ally... confused. Zero and... Roll?” The waiter smiled and said, “Ah, yes. She works here occasionally doing maintenance on our restaurant's systems. She get's a 95% discount on meals here.” Rock sighed. “Well, that's two answers. How long have they been...” The waiter smiled. “Oh, yes. He's the closest thing to family you have. I thought he told you. They've been seeing each other for about forty years now. Popping the question, so to speak, was always his greatest fear. Poetically ironic, I must say.”

Roll was showing everyone the ring and accepting congratulations alongside her new Fiancee and Rock simply smiled. “Well, I'm sure they have their reasons for the last forty years. I'm just glad they found each other again. Now I can proudly call Zero my brother and not feel weird about it.” Zero walked over to Rock and said, “X! What are you doing here?” Rock laughed and said, “Being the first in the outfit to say Congratulations, naturally.” Zero looked frantic and stammered, “I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner instead of all this cloak and dagger slag. Man I feel like an idiot. You must me Pissed. Oh slag. I'm so...”

Rock jokingly swatted him in the back of the head, saying, “Four things right off the hop, Zero. First, you both had your reasons. Yeah, I have questions, but that's no longer important. Second, hurt her, You're dead...” His expression turned to one of familiarity. “Trust me on that one. You really don't want to see her mad. Third, You're going to be family for sure now, so call me Rock. No more of this old foster brother nonsense in the office, okay?” Zero nodded. “Got it.” He then said comically, “Want me to write this all down?” Rock slapped him again and said, “Finally, don't make me wait another forty years before I learn you tied the knot. When's the big day? I need to give my sister away at the alter, after all. Axel can be the best man.” Zero laughed and said, “More like worst.” They both broke into laughter. “Okay, okay. The date is in January, on New Years Day.”

 Rock smiled and thought to himself, 'I think it would be better that I keep Lt. Wiley's psyche report for another time. Not like his talking to himself is going to be the end of the world, now is it?'