SZ: We kickin' into overdrive for this story folks!

Z0: We have a lot of ideas...and thanks to the break that the TV show has to take for...real life events that are best left at that. We have kind of a buffer period to catch up without worrying too much.

SZ: Yup. We gots plenty of material to work with for both sides now, so expect some epic action, drama, and the like.

Z0: As you know...we don't own jack. We're just a couple of nerds with a lot of creative ideas. Our other co-author is late so he'll pop up in the outro.

SZ: Eeyup..so..let us begin!*beams up like at the end of Megaman X stages with Z0*

It is well known that an iconic food of Japan known as Sushi is also a complicated art in a sense. The best restaurants and the best chefs often don't work out of giant extravagant Five Star kitchens. Sometimes they make due with small spaces off the beaten path. The Masters of this culinary art are revered for their skills. One such chef and his place of business belonged to one Norio Uozumi.

Inside the restaurant, Aruto watched as a male Reploid dressed as a chef slowly worked. He perfectly cut a prepared shrimp before grabbing a handful of rice as he began forming it with his hand and topped it with the sliced and butterflied shrimp.

"Here's your shrimp, made from the soul," he smiled to Aruto who was practically drooling in hunger.

"Now that looks good…" Aruto awed, about to pick it up before Roll moved it and picked the plate it was on up, "Hah?!"

"Aruto-Shacho, lunch is not the focus of our agenda," Roll reminded, "We are here to acquire the contract for the Reploid sushi chef, Ikkan Nigiro."

The entire time this was going on, an elderly man in a chef's uniform was watching with a disapproving look. In the moment Roll wasn't looking, however, Aruto snuck his hand and took the shrimp sushi off the plate.

"Ah…" Roll realized as he already ate it.

"Umm…" Aruto muttered putting a hand to his mouth as he finished, "Umai~" he cheered as he snuck a the squid sashimi next, once more putting a hand to his mouth as he enjoyed the flavor and quality, "I'm Tellin' ya, our company…" he paused, "Wait for it…" he held a finger up as he swallowed, "Makes some tasteful Reploids!" he cheered, standing up before he moved his arm back for his iconic finishing line, "Aruto Ja~naito!"

"..." both Roll and Ikkan just blinked.

'Heh...Nailed it. Sucks X couldn't be here t-' Aruto mentally began.

"Hey, Mr. President…" the old man spoke, earning Aruto's attention, "I don't think I'll sign that contract...Take it away."

"...Wait, what?!" Aruto gawked, "But...he makes such good sushi! Why?!"

"Perhaps it was due to Mr. President's joke?" Roll spoke.

"Eh!?"

"It's because he's a Robot…" the old man spoke. He was Norio Uozumi, owner of the restaurant and clearly...none pleased with Ikkan for some reason.

"You don't know what you're talking about," a voice spoke, getting everyone's attention as the Technical Advisor to AIMS Yua Yaiba walked in.

"AIMS…" Roll whispered.

"Welcome," Ikkan bowed respectfully.

"Are you gonna get on my case again?!" Aruto complained as Yua walked over.

"Reploids are unbelievably valuable," Yua spoke, earning Aruto's attention.

"Hah?" Norio asked.

"I didn't expect you to take my side…!" Aruto gawked as Yua smiled and sat down.

"Zero-One...AIMS...Maverick Hunters..." Jin smiled as Horobi went over the battle data they could recover from the last two battles. Showing Zero-One battling before the screen changed to Vulcan as he punched at the screen I.E. the face of his opponent, "You sure you want to ignore them?" Jin asked, jumping and landing on a couch.

"No need to worry. Sigma's plan is moving as anticipated. Soon the Ark will be reactivated as desired. But to do so, we need more data from more battles." he explained, typing away, "We can't play our big hands just yet, so while we...as in those of us who are the brains...We need you to make Reploids go Maverick for the sake of the plan." he opened a case, revealing a holder which held 5 ZetsumeRise keys before he pulled out several, "Don't mess up please."

"Wait...I'm not grounded anymore?!" Jin beamed, shooting as he rushed over to take the Keys, "Yatta!"

"However...given how upset Serges got when you spilled that bit you did with the belts, you'll be accompanied."

"Hah?! By who?"

"Me, of course," a voice spoke as multiple figures appeared into the room, blurring into one single being as they appeared from the shadows.

Standing there was a Maverick who looked like a human type, save for the fact his eyes were pure white with no pupils making them resemble screens. He was clad in mostly purple armor, he had long pointed shoulder pads which extended out like wings, his waist covered in an armored kilt which spiked into four tails, his legs covered in purple boots with rings of spikes around the cuffs of the top, he had purple gauntlets with white hands with red accents through his joints and palms. His head was covered by a helmet which had two upward turned edges, resembling a cross between a pirate hat and a mongolian hat.

"Eh? Why is Agile here? I thought it would be Vi..."

"Serges wants further data on the special Keys he made," Agile explained, picking up one of the Keys with a picture of an Ostrich on it, "And this one in particular is special, given our lord gave him a second chance before his sudden 'disappearance'."

"Okay…" Jin sighed while taking it, "I can't believe I have a babysitter…"

"Hmm," Horobi smirked.

"...That Playtime President…" Jun frowned, "Who does he think he is, meeting with a client?!"

"He appears to be visiting workplaces with Reploids, to track down the Terrorist group," Shester explained.

"That's why he went to True Heart Sushi…" Sanzo spoke as he looked at a tablet in Shester's hands.

"A Renowned Three Michelin Star Restaurant," Shester added, "The Proprietor has sought a successor since his back injury a few months ago."

"That's where our Reploid comes into play…" Sanzo added, taking the tablet, "Your call, Vice-President?"

"Let him go for now," Jun ordered, "If he gets the contract, we all benefit. If he fails, then all the more cause to force him out. Either way...it's win-win for me." he grinned as he began to give off a confident smirk.

"Ano...Excuse me, Mr. Vice President?" Rico spoke as she poked her head in.

"Ugh...What is it, Rico?"

"I think I saw the janitor throw your lunch out while he was cleaning the fridge."

"I need to go," Jun spoke calmly as he walked out...before scrambling down the hall in a mad dash, "NO!"

"Serves you right for talking about Win-win's at this time," Rico smirked to herself as she walked off.

"Sushi, huh?" X muttered, reading a text message from Aruto, "I never understood the appeal of it, personally...don't humans get sick from eating raw meat?"

"It is for Beef, Pork, and Chicken," Alia explained, currently working at a computer while examining the Zetsumerise Key X had found, "Fish is okay if it is prepared properly."

"Really?" he blinked, "Aruto has been going on about how good the stuff this new Reploid Hiden Intelligence developed makes. Still not sure I get it though...seems like a lot of work for only a few small pieces of edible meat."

"Some humans prefer it that way," Alia stated as she focused on the screen, "Hmm...That's odd...the data in this device is key for key. It's almost as if Blizzard Buffalo's data...or rather his 'soul' is in here..tainted by the Maverick Virus."

"Soul...tainted…" X repeated, "That...sounds amazing...How can a key hold that much data?"

"There's still a lot we don't know for sure about these Keys…" Alia sighed, "Only Dr. Light and Dr. Hiden really knew the true potential of them."

"...And yet this terrorist group is tainting them with the Maverick Virus," X frowned, "They're forcing innocent Reploids to do harm…" he took a moment to look at the Buffalo Key before putting a hand on it.

"X?"

"I'm sorry...but I might have to borrow your power for a bit," X whispered, as if talking to it, "Zea, copy and transfer Weapon Data from Blizzard Buffalo."

=UNDERSTOOD= Zea spoke as a light came from Xs helmet and began to scan the key for a moment before dismissing =COPY SUCCESSFUL. FROST SHIELD OBTAINED=

"So that works…" Alia blinked.

"Hai. Only way I can get it to work is if I'm close enough, or if the target…" X paused for a moment, his hand clenching before he shook his head, "But you get the gist."

"I do. Maybe Zea can help with these keys, too," she muttered, "And possibly some new weapons...Douglas and Pallete have been designing some new field weapons for you and the others to use should you be unable to use your weapons."

"Given what these MetsuboJinrai guys can do...might not hurt." X nodded, "Aruto met one and yet we still know next to nothing about him. Other then he can make them go Maverick with that belt thing."

"...Hmm...what if…" Alia whispered to herself, "...X, should another Maverick created by MetsuboJinrai pop up, trying to get one of their belts intact."

"I'll see what I can do. But given the damage that Zero-One and Vulcan can do, I'll need to get one of their help in that delicate operation." X explained, "And...only one of those two will help us...the other…"

"We saw the video…" Alia sighed, "Douglas nearly lost it when he forced the Key to open."

"That...was literally amazing." X spoke, "That is something that would take an industrial machine…"

"It just cost him his wrist for a few days...not that it stopped him from punching with the same hand." Alia added.

"Good thing he's kinda on our side…" X chuckled.

"Indeed...though Signas suggests to keep a close eye on him," Alia stated, "He might be on our side, but he's still a bit of a loose cannon...like Vile was."

X held back a flinch at that name, his hand gripping for a moment before touching the saber hilt on his hip, recalling its previous owner.

"Maybe…" X nodded, "But...something about him just feels different, too," he added, remembering Isamu's speech to Aruto and before he transformed.

Back at True Heart Sushi, Yua held up her RisePhone as it flashed. Ikkan's eyes lit up and began scanning the phone as it got data from it.

"...What are you doing?" Aruto blinked, earning a look from Yua.

"You're the president, and yet you don't know how to use Reploids?".

"W-" Aruto began before Roll whacked him on the head with her broom, "Itai!"

"You slept on that lesson, didn't you?" Roll asked.

"...Maybe," Aruto whispered before ducking under another swing, "Ha! Missed m-" he began before he got a face full of broom, "...Ow."

"So you really have no clue what just happened?" Yua asked.

"Clearly not…" Aruto groaned.

"Chef's choice please," Yua ordered from Ikkan.

"Hai-yo!" he cheered as he began working on a piece of sushi.

"Didn't you have a presentation for him?" Yua asked.

"...oh yeah," Aruto recalled, looking for something in his clothes before Roll held a hand up.

"Ikkan Nigiro uses the Rise Phone to analyze data on the customer," Roll explained, "Using that, he selects the perfect sushi for that exact moment. A technique that is only possible for Reploids."

"A Special Selection, Marinated tuna." Ikkan smiled, placing it on Yua's plate, "Please enjoy."

"Soy sauce tuna, huh?" Yua noted, picking it up before taking a bite of it, "Mmm~! Mmm-mmm~!"

"How enthusiastic…" Aruto awed, "That's some sushi…"

"Ahem! Y-Yes," Yua whispered, clearing her throat, "Modern life is about living in harmony with technology. It's up to each of us to decide how we get along with the Reploids."

"...Yeah, exactly!" Aruto beamed, looking at the owner for a moment before looking back at Yua, "I'm so happy we agree on that!"

Norio sighed, watching the two talk, clearly not agreeing or believing in their words.

While this was going on, across town at a small barbershop a man walked out happy with his mohawk haircut with a Barber Reploid walking him out.

"Thank you very much," the Reploid bowed.

"Thanks! I'll come back next month for a touch up!" the man laughed happily.

"Hmm…" the Reploid smiled before he felt a slight glitch out for a moment, "...eh?"

"Found you~!"

"Eh?" the Barber reploid began to turn before he grunted in pain, a familiar belt around his waist as he grunted in pain.

"Now we're friends," Jin grinned, "So...go ex-"

"Not yet," Agile spoke, walking out from a nearby alleyway before handing the Reploid the Ostrich Zetsumerise Key, "First he needs a touch up," he added, clicking the key before moving his hand to slot it into the belt.

=̴͠MOA̛͞=

Red electricity and blades of wind began to surround the reploids as he began to transform. His body armored itself in multiple different colored plates. His chest was covered in a blue chest plate which looped over his shoulders and outward, blades extending from his clavicle and upward, brown straps formed under his shoulders framing the olive green abdomen. The ZetsumeRiser resting over a green belt of armor around his waist leading to a blue codpiece, and brown upper legs. From the knee joint down, his legs were large armored boots, with blades extending from his knees, and ankle and two long toes acting as his feet. He had brown gauntlets with a blade extending over each hand and from the back of his elbows. An orange collar formed in the center of his upper torso as a long armored neck extended out topped in a blue and green ostrich like head.

"...Nande…" the Maverick whispered as he looked at himself, "I...I'm alive?"

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Overdrive Ostrich," Agile greeted.

"Mmm...I wanted to name him," Jin pouted.

"You can name the next one."

"...How...do you know me?" the newly named Overdrive Ostrich asked, "In fact….where am I? Wasn't I in the desert?"

'...So he lost his memory of what lord Sigma told him...might as well remind him,' Agile thought, "Well you see, you were called out here by our lord to attack the humans."

"?! What? Why would I...wait," he paused as he looked around, "...Where's Storm Eagle?"

"...Sadly, he is no longer amongst us," Agile sighed.

"?!...N...no….no. He couldn't be…"

"It is true. He was terminated...by the Maverick Hunters. Your former comrades," Agile stated, motioning to Jin as he gave him a signal.

"Oh! Hmm...where...here we go," Jin spoke, pulling out a large metallic purple feather with the tip a metallic red.

"...No…" Overdrive Ostrich whispered with wide eyes, his hands shaking a bit, "He's...they…"

"In cold blood nonetheless…." Agile added, "And the humans ordered it."

"...Maverick Hunters...humans…" Overdrive Ostrich whispered, an anger starting to boil within him before the sound of sirens filled the air.

"Speaking of whom…" Agile smirked just as a few cop cars came rushing in, a few human cops and armored Reploids stepping out.

"We heard a disturbance and a possible Maverick Sighting. Wh-" one cop began.

"You...you'll all pay for taking my friend…!" Overdrive Ostrich growled, glaring over at the cops, "You monsters…!"

"?! Maverick! Men, open f-"

"Sonic Slicer!" Overdrive Ostrich declared, throwing his arms out as he sent out multiple cutting waves, the cops quickly ducking behind their cars before the attack cutted them up into pieces.

"Hahaha...sugoi!" Jin cheered, clapping his hands.

He then took out his gun as he began shooting at the cars, making the officers duck back as Jin's bullets tore through their cover, implying his firearm was greatly more powerful than just a normal pistol.

"We'll keep them busy," Agile offered, placing a hand on Overdrive Ostrich's shoulder, "Why don't you send the Maverick Hunters a message? To those who took your ally away…"

"Good idea...They'll pay for what they did," he nodded before he dashed off in a blur.

"...heh. Poor naive fool," Agile smirked once Overdrive Ostrich was gone, tilting his head to the side to dodge an incoming bullet.

"Why would you have me hold onto the feather anyway?" Jin asked.

"For proof. Last time Lord Sigma convinced him to join before his 'disappearance,' he had his buster to show as proof. This time however, a simple feather of his would suffice," Agile explained.

"Eh...Well least we got that part of the job done," Jin smirked.

"Indeed...now let's be rid of these pests and move onto the next phase of the plan."

"Here you go. Your favorite piece, squid." Ikkan spoke while serving a piece to Norio, "I believe this to be the ideal sushi for you today."

Norio picked it up and popped it in his mouth as he began eating, slowly but surely tasting it to see if it was to his satisfaction. Everyone waited for him to finish, it felt like an eternity, but in truth was just a few seconds shy of a minute.

"Disgusting," Norio finally spoke, "I wouldn't even call it Sushi."

"But I thought that was your favorite!" Aruto declared in shock.

"There's no way a damn robot can be a sushi chef!" Norio declared.

"That's not true!" Aruto countered.

"A Robot doesn't have a heart!" Norio snapped, making the room go quiet for a moment.

"Heart…?" Aruto repeated in confusion.

"We're done here," Norio stood up as he grabbed his cane, "The Legacy of True Heart Sushi ends with me."

"...A heart…" Roll whispered.

"...Uso…" Aruto groaned just as Yua's phone went off.

"Hai?" Yua answered before her eyes widened, "Maverick?"

Overdrive Ostrich marched down the street before raising his arms to block a barrage of bullets and energy blasts. He looked ahead as AIMS and the Maverick Hunters intercepted him. He grunted as the barrage of attacks-while not devastatingly powerful-were enough to stagger him for a while.

"MetsuboJinrai…" Isamu growled, walking forward as he pulled out his ShotRiser and began shooting as his bullet hit Overdrive Ostrich's arm, making him stumble back a step, "I'm going to turn you into scrap…" he growled, shooting again and again as he got closer.

"Not unless I leave you in the dust, akuma…!" Overdrive Ostrich growled, crossing his arms as he jumped up high into the air, making Isamu and everyone else look up before the Maverick uncrossed his arms, sending out a large flurry of cutting waves that arched downwards, "Sonic Slicer!"

"Everyone down!" Isamu snapped as he rolled out of the way of each attack, rolling to his feet as he pulled out his Progrise Key. He pressed the button before he began pushing with his thumb till he forced the key open. He swung his arm flipping it open all the way before loading it into his ShotRiser, "Henshin!" he shouted, shooting up as the bullet curved around all of the Sonic Slicer attacks and hit Overdrive Ostrich, it then curved down and back to Isamu who punched the bullet dispersing the armor containers.

=SHOTRISE! SHOOTING WOLF!=

In a blue flash, Vulcan took his place as he slotted his ShotRiser onto his belt. He turned around and rolled across the ground before he grabbed two rifles discarded by his men. He aimed and began shooting both, causing Overdrive Ostrich to block once more. Vulcan tossed the weapons away once spent on ammunition. The Kamen Rider rushed as he tackled into the Maverick, sending them rolling across the ground. The two got up, only for Overdrive Ostrich to blink as his punch was caught by Vulcan.

"Grr…" Vulcan growled, twisting his arm to the side, "The only Akuma...is you!" he snapped, punching him across the face, "Mavericks!" he grunted, taking his ShotRiser as he aimed and began shooting, each bullet exploding on impact, making Overdrive Ostrich stumble back.

"Gh...Fine….Then let's see how you like this!" Overdrive Ostrich growled as he became a blur, dodging each shot before he appeared before Vulcan midair, his leg reeled back before he kicked him hard in the chest, sending him skidding back into the stairs.

"Grr.." Vulcan grunted, slamming his elbows onto the stairs to push himself up.

"Nanto…?" Overdrive Ostrich gasped, stepping back, "That should have knocked you out...you're just human."

"I won't rest 'till every Maverick is nothing but scraps…" Vulcan grunted, rolling his shoulder, "I don't care what your reason is. You won't hurt a single human," he walked forward, "That's my vow. Not a single human will be hurt by a Maverick while I'm around."

"...My friend Storm Eagle fought for humans, and yet they and the Maverick Hunters killed him in cold blood," Overdrive Ostrich frowned, "He fought with honor, and your kind killed him with no remorse!"

"That doesn't involve me," Vulcan replied.

"How dare you…"

"I don't care about what happens to Reploids," Vulcan added, "I only care what happens to people. I fight...so no one has to lose their loved ones to Maverick Monsters."

"...Then we're at an impasse...akuma," Overdrive Ostrich frowned, crossing his arms before sending out the cutting waves again, "Sonic Slicer!"

Vulcan turned his head around before crossing his arms and taking the attack. Overdrive Ostrich blinked before sending out another attack only for Vulcan to once again just take it head on. The Maverick arched an eye before stretching his head to the side to see civilians, both Reploid and human hiding behind the AIMS truck behind him.

"Looks like I made it in time…" Yua whispered as she ran into the area...only to stop when she saw Vulcan fighting the Maverick, "...Fuwa, you need my authorization!"

"I'm going to defeat this guy," he replied casually as he blocked a swing from Overdrive Ostrich before shooting him in the chest, "Just shut up and watch, it's all you're good at…" he sighed, swinging and pistol whipping the Maverick across the face.

"Ugh….I swear…" Yusa groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose before noticing the downed and injured AIMS soldiers and Maverick Hunters, quickly rushing over to assist.

Elsewhere in the same area, Aruto and Roll arrived to see the fight going on.

"Guess the party's started," Aruto whispered, "...Wait. Where's…"

"Beginning mission," X spoke as he appeared next to Aruto via a beam of blue light.

"GH?!" Aruto tensed, nearly jumping in surprised, "Don't do that, man!"

"Sorry. I…" X began before he noticed the Maverick Vulcan was fighting, "?! U...uso..."

"Hmm?"

"That's...Overdrive Ostrich," X whispered in disbelief, "He was in the 7th Airborn Unit of the Maverick Hunters."

"He was a Maverick Hunter?" Aruto blinked.

"Kick me one more time...and I'm ripping that goofy head off!" Vulcan snapped.

"He was...but from what I heard, he was forced to retire after an incident," X explained to Aruto as the three watched the fight, "But...how is he..." he paused the moment he spotted a familiar belt on Overdrive Ostrich, "...MetsuboJinrai…"

"How are they doing this…?" Aruto asked.

"Truck…" Roll spoke, making both look as Vulcan lifted and tossed a truck at Overdrive Ostrich, pinning him down for a moment.

"RAAAH!" the Maverick snapped as he tossed the truck off him with his legs.

"Someone didn't skip leg day," Aruto whispered.

"...Pffft…"

*WHACK!*

"Please transform, Aruto-Shacho," Roll advised, lowering her broom.

"Hai, hai…" Aruto groaned, rubbing the bump on his head alongside X rubbing one on his head.

=JUMP! AUTHORISE!=

"Henshin!" Aruto called out, slotting his ProgRise key.

=PROGRISE! To-Bia Ga Rise! RISING HOPPER! A Jump to the sky turns to a Rider Kick=

Zero-One and X jumped down as they rushed at the fighting Vulcan and Overdrive Ostrich.

"Hmm?" Overdrive Ostrich paused for a moment before jumping back from a slash from Zero-One before blurring out of the way of a few shots from X.

"He's fast…" Zero-One awed.

"You again, Grasshopper…" Vulcan sighed.

"Hello, Wolf," Zero-One joked, "Please don't blow me down."

"Hmm…" Vulcan tapped his ShotRiser before aiming and shooting, forcing Zero-One to panic and jump as the bullets flew under him, and into the path of Overdrive Ostrich, knocking him over.

"Wak! Grr…" Overdrive Ostrich growled as he got up before jumping high, his arms crossed before he uncrossed them once more, "Sonic Slicer!"

"Whoa!" Zero-One jumped out of the way as the attack scratched up a wall, "Phew..that was cl-ACK!" he cried out when one hit him, "Why does it feel like I got hit by two?!"

"HAA!" OverDrive Ostrich roared as he blurred before Zero-One, his legs reeled back before he kicked him hard.

"Ah…" he grunted, rolling backwards across the ground before jumping back to his feet, "You do not skip leg day, huh...Well sorry to tell ya...neither do I!" he declared.

At that, the two charged as they swung their legs, letting them clash. For a moment, it seemed normal 'till a sudden gust made everyone flinch from the power behind their legs. Zero-One grunted, putting more force into his kick...before winning out, knocking Overdrive Ostrich back. The Maverick looked confused as he swung his leg again only for Zero-One's leg to block his kick. The Kamen Rider spun around and slammed another kick to the Maverick's chest, making him stumble back.

"Zero-One has superior leg power?" X asked as Zero-One blocked another kick.

"Well...This is unexpected…" Zero-One blinked as he swung a kick and countered Overdrive Ostrich's next kick, he then spun around and swung a reverse roundhouse to the Maverick's face, knocking him back.

"Tch...This is getting me nowhere…" Overdrive Ostrich growled, jumping high into the air once more, "I'll leave this as a parting gift...akumas! Sonic Slicer...RAIN!"

"?! Move!" X called out.

"I got something…" Zero-One grabbed his Attache Calibur as he closed it.

=CHARGE RISE!=

"..." Vulcan tapped the button on his Progrise Key.

=FULL CHARGE! KABAN STRASH!/SHOOTING BLAST!=

Zero-One opened and twisted his sword around before swingin an upward swing, unleashing a yellow cutting wave. Vulcan aimed as he fired off a huge blue blast of energy. The Rider's attacks clashed with Overdrive Ostrich's, causing a huge explosion mid-air. By the time the smoke cloud settled...there was no sign of Overdrive Ostrich in the area.

"Ah great...He flew the coop," Zero-One groaned.

"I want to laugh, but not the time," X spoke.

"Grr…" Vulcan gripped his fist.

"Running!" Zero-One panicked at that.

"Grr...pfft…" Vulcan grunted before he calmed down.

"...Did you just force back a laugh?" X asked.

"Hm?" Vulcan asked with a growl.

"Nothing…" X held his hands up, backing away.

"Hmph," Vulcan walked off as he canceled his armor.

"..." X put a hand to the side of his helmet, "Alia."

=X=

"The Maverick was Overdrive Ostrich," X informed.

=What?=

"Trust me...I'm just as surprised, but it's true. I just saw him kickbox with Zero-One."

=...This is concerning…= Alia whispered =...Follow Zero-One. I need to discuss this with Commander Signas=

"?! ...Understood," X nodded as he rushed off.

"You didn't get the contract?" Rico blinked once Aruto and Roll were back at the office, X now with them.

"We tried, b-" Aruto began.

"Not just that, but you didn't even find anything about the terrorist behind the Mavericks?" Jun asked as he approached Aruto, "Well now...this is quite the dilemma!"

"So why are you happy about it?!" Aruto asked.

"This contract was in our projected budget," Shesta spoke, "This is a considerable loss for the company."

"Which proves my point at how incompetant you are," Jun added.

"But that wasn't my fault! It was that stupid ostritch that got away!" Aruto argued, "Ugh...you gotta be squawking kidding me!"

"I have no idea what you are saying."

"..." Aruto slumped further at that.

"We do have some info on MetsuboJinrai," X spoke, earning Jun's attention, "It's not much, but we know some of the Mavericks-much like the one that attacked here and the one from today- are Reploids that went missing."

"Oh really? And do you have proof?" Jun countered, "In fact...why should I take your word from it, Maverick Hunter? It was your fo-"

*THACK!*

"...Thanks," X whispered to Roll as she lowered her broom.

"Well if you want further proof...AIMS Captain has that proof." Aruto sighed, making Jun flinch as he paused in rubbing the newly formed bump on his head, "He was there and should have the footage. I mean Roll can call him for you." he offered.

"Know what...on second thought...I'll just trust you." he chuckled, backing away, "That man scares me…" he whispered, making a dash for the door.

"...Still, this is concerning," Rico spoke, "First Blizzard Buffalo, and now another Reploid that had gone missing to suddenly reappear?"

"Alia thought the same," X spoke, "We believe that they're storing their 'souls' inside of modified Progrise Keys based on extinct animals, then using Reploids to make new bodies for them."

"Extinct animals?" Aruto repeated, "...Hey, Roll, is that possible?"

"So long as there is DNA of it, it can be made into a Progrise Key," Roll replied.

"..."

"You want to make a Progrise Key for a dinosaur, don't you?" X asked.

"Can you blame me? Dinosaurs are cool," Aruto defended himself.

"Boys…" Rico sighed.

"Though the prospect of more diverse enemies does mean trouble for Zero-One," Roll spoke, walking into the lab portion of the office, "Rising Hopper will, at times, not be enough."

"Not enough...wait...can I use other keys?!" Aruto asked, "I was half joking…oh please be a T-Rex…"

"Negative," Roll replied, "At this time, we do not have DNA samples of any prehistoric animals in the company."

"Boo," Aruto and X complained before hiding behind Rico when Roll held up her broom...before she used it to poke a button out of her reach, "Phew…" a panel above them opened and a large wash bin landed on their heads, "GAH!"

"Uploading analysis of combat data," Roll spoke, her eyes flashing as she spoke with Zea, "Please calculate effective countermeasure."

=Data analyzed...effective option found= the Computer voice of Zea spoke as multiple DNA strands were shown before one was chosen.

"A Shark?" Aruto blinked as the image of a Great White was displayed next to the DNA Helix, "How can a Shark beat an Ostrich? I mean...besides dumping the stupid bird in the ocean...oh…" he had a realization.

"Beginning creation process," Roll informed, her eyes turning teal for a moment as the large machine turned on.

"What is this anyway?" Aruto asked.

"The Hiden Intelligence Three Dimensional Printing System," Roll replied, "This one is specialized to create objects to assist Kamen Rider Zero-One. It connects to Zea through Zat."

"That?" Aruto asked.

"No, Zat," Roll replied.

"The security system," Rico added, "Zat and Zea are two sides of one coin. Zea is the brain and Zat is the voice."

"Oh, I get Zat," Aruto joked, causing X to start snickering, "So...what next?" he asked.

"We need to find Overdrive Ostrich," X spoke as he calmed down.

"Any chance Zea has a car in it, too?" Aruto asked Roll.

"You are a Kamen Rider...not a Kamen Driver," Roll stated.

"You ride cars…" X muttered.

"So we just have to wait for him to go on a rampage again?" Aruto sighed, "Not exactly proactive, is it?"

=Process Complete= Zat informed.

"That fast?!" Aruto exclaimed as Roll walked up to the door of the printer and slid it open, pulling out a teal Progrise Key bearing the image of the selected shark with the words 'BITING SHARK ABILITY: FANG' on it.

"Well, that's one thing done," Rico noted, "Though...we still have the other issue."

"Finding Overdrive Ostrich?" X asked.

"No, solving that contract issue," Rico replied, "The Reploid made for it, Ikkan, is currently outside the office. Should I let him in?"

"Sure," Aruto nodded.

Roll turned to the door as Ikkan was let in. Her eyes looked him over once as if scanning him for something.

"Yo, Ikkan!" Aruto greeted as he walked over, "Everything alright?"

"...I have an inquiry," Ikkan noted, "Can a soul become data?"

"Eh?" Aruto pondered.

"I do not understand your inquiry," Roll noted.

"The boss seeks one with a soul," Ikkan informed, "Therefore, if a soul were to be installed into me…"

"That is impossible," Roll stated, "A soul cannot be converted into data."

"Eh?" X blinked at that wording as Aruto thought.

"...Roll, Rico, there's something I'd like you both to research regarding True Heart Sushi."

"Huh?" Rico pondered as Roll tilted her head.

"Alright...Thank you, Alia," Yua thanked, leaning against an AIMS vehicle with her phone to her ear.

"Still nothing on that feathered freak?" Isamu questioned.

Yua ignored him as she ended her call and began checking her phone with a slightly annoyed look as she typed away. As if unable to get what she wanted.

"You look like you're just playing on your damn phone." Isamu leaned in to look only for her to move it out of his line of sight, "Fine. Do whatever you want. You're not even helpful anyway." he grunted, walking off, "We're patrolling." he ordered some men who nodded and made their way to a van.

Yua sighed as she went back to her phone while speaking to herself, "You don't get it. You have no idea how tools work."

In his shop, Norio was cleaning it for the day. He reached out towards the counter to wipe it with a cloth only to start collapsing onto it. A pair of arms quickly caught the man, making him look up to see that the one who caught him was Ikkan. Ikkan helped him stand up fully and Norio looked to see Aruto approach with Rico and Roll at his sides with X carrying a white box.

"Why are you here?" Norio questioned.

"Here's the ingredients Nigiro Ikkan used this morning," Aruto informed as X hefted the box a little, "I'd like you to try his sushi again."

"I'm busy with tomorrow's preparations. Go home," Norio replied.

"Every apprentice you've ever taken on, has left not wanting to take over the business, right?" Aruto asked.

"Is that what your so-called data told you?" Norio asked with a chuckle, "Well, it's right! None of them could keep up with me. Their souls bent into frustration."

"My soul will not waver," Ikkan informed with a smile, "For I have no soul."

"You have a secret sushi technique, right?" Aruto asked, earning Norio's attention again. "One of your former students told us about it." he smiled.

-Flashback-

"The Flying True Heart Press?" Aruto asked as he, X, Rico, Roll, and Ikkan were in a modern and larger Sushi restaurant. The owner had Sushi making Reploids making orders for the many customers filling his store for an early lunch.

"Yeah," the owner nodded, taking out his tablet as he searched up a video file, "Here it is."

The video began showing Norio at a preparation station. He held his arms out, one over the rice and the other over freshly cut tuna. He gripped his hands before his eyes suddenly snapped open. At that, a piece of tuna suddenly jumped up into the air.

"Whoa!? It flew!" Aruto shouted as he, Ikkan and the owner of the establishment watched the video...with the other Reploids trying to peek over their shoulders, poor Rico forced to jump to peer over X's shoulder, "Awesome…"

"Strange way of pressing sushi, right?" the worker questioned, "I don't see the point of it."

Aruto turned to Ikkan, who was watching the video with meticulous interest. His eyes flashing showing he was scanning and processing the video and the information.

-end flashback-

Ikkan stood behind the counter, squid meat freshly cut to one side and the rice to the other. Ikkan closed his eyes while holding his arms in the same way the owner had in the video.

"Nigiro Ikkan has analyzed your pressing technique and learned the form," Roll informed as Ikkan gripped his hands before his eyes snapped open while a piece of squid jumped into the air.

"Ah! There it is!" Aruto awed as Ikkan was quick, "The Flying True Heart Press!"

"Here, a serving from the soul: one squid," Ikkan informed, setting the prepared sushi before Norio.

"So you think you can make it by copying my technique?" Norio asked.

"I have managed to copy your sushi-pressing technique and I have analyzed the technique," Ikkan replied, "I now know why you use this inefficient way of pressing." he looked at his hand that had been used for the rice before looking at Norio, "This is my theory: the technique carries your sincerity."

"Sincerity?" Rico and X repeated quietly, sharing looks with each other in confusion.

The owner looked at Ikkan for a moment. He reached out and took the sushi that had been prepared before eating it. He chewed for a few moments before swallowing. Never once did his eyes leave Ikkan.

"...Do it 10,000 times all over again," Norio ordered, his voice a little shaky.

"Acknowledged. Ten thousand times, correct?"

"So cocky...You're more stubborn than a human," Norio noted.

"...Aruto-Shacho, why are you smiling?" Roll asked.

"Hm?"

"The owner is angry and does not look too happy," Roll noted.

"Hmm…" Aruto nodded as the Reploids looked to him, "I guess if I had to explain it in simple terms... Humans...are really weird!" he smiled, "We're not all that simple. Didn't Dr. Light seem that way to you?"

"..." Roll looked back at Norio and Ikkan, a blank expression on her face.

"Alright...we've had enough time for them to extend out far enough," Jin smiled as he sat on the railing of a roof, "Vulcan will be on the clear other side of town. X and Zero-One won't be able to handle the next phase of the attack. Double O...begin infecting." He ordered to Overdrive Ostrich.

"Huh?" Overdrive Ostrich asked, "Infecting?"

"Yes...the Maverick Virus in your code. Spread it to other Reploids," Jin ordered.

"Oh, right," Overdrive Ostrich nodded, "...How do I do that?"

"You make these tentacles come out!" Jin replied.

"How?"

"...Ahh...Ano...Good point," Jin replied before pulling his phone out and dialed.

=What?= Horobi deadpanned.

"How do we make the tentacles come out?"

=...Jin...Are you watching something weird again? I don't want a repeat of what happened when you watched that American cartoon from 1985 with the cat people from space=

"What...no...I most certainly do not still think of that every moment I'm awake with dread…" Jin replied.

=Hmm…=

"How do we make the tentacles that infect more friends with the Maverick Virus?" Jin asked.

=You mean cables…=

"Is there a difference?"

=Multiple...key of which...you're an idiot=

"Aw…"

=Put the bird on the line=

"Okay. He wants to talk to you," Jin replied, giving the phone to Overdrive Ostrich.

"Moshi-moshi," Overdrive Ostrich spoke into the phone, "...Uh-huh. ...Uh-huh. ...Alright. I think I can do that. ..." he put a hand over the receiver, "He says you're in trouble later because he just found a sword under your bed that he swore he threw out into the lake."

"...Agile, c-"

"I'm not an enabler," Agile spoke, currently polishing a katana with the blade a pure crimson.

"Ah Fudge…" Jin sighed.

"Alright, thank you for the explanation, Horobi," Overdrive Ostrich thanked as he gave it back to Jin, "Yosha…"

With that, Overdrive Ostrich roared as he swung his arms out. Multiple white cables shot out of them and all over the area.

=X, I'm picking up multiple Maverick signals spiking throughout the city= Alia spoke

"What?" he blinked.

"What is it?" Aruto asked.

"Maverick signals a-" X began before one of the white cables crashed into the building before stabbing Ikkan, "?!"

"O-one S-squid!" Ikkan's voice sputtered as he changed into a Trilobite Maverick. The face mask shut down over his as he began swinging around wildly.

"Ikkan!" Rico gasped.

"Rico, Roll, get the Chef out of here," Aruto ordered as he and X pushed the Maverick Ikkan back.

"O-one S-squid!" the Trilobite repeated, struggling to get out of X's grip.

"He has to be destroyed!" X grunted as Ikkan spun around him and ran out the door.

"But he just got through to the Chef…" Aruto grunted as they ran out, "I can't do that!"

"I know...and it pains me as much as you do," X argued, his fist tightened up, "But he can be brought back with backup data, so that's at least something."

"Heh...quite the optimist, I see."

"?!" X tensed before he and Aruto looked up, seeing Agile standing on top of a nearby roof, "...Who are you?"

"Hoh? Well if you must know…" Agile paused as he leapt down, standing a few feet away, "I am Agile, strategist of the X Hunters."

"X...Hunters?"

"That's right. And in case the name wasn't obvious...we were formed…" Agile paused, slowly pulling his katana out as a slight murderous look appeared in his eye, "To hunt you, Megaman X."

"?!" X tensed, pushing Aruto out of the way before blocking a massive cutting wave, sending him skidding back quite a few feet as a large gash was left in the streets, 'I didn't even see him attack!'

"Hm?" Agile blinked, raising his sword to block a bullet, his sword splitting it and letting it go off and hit two Maverick Grunts that were filling the street, "You're not the Shooting Wolf."

Yua walked forward with a ShotRiser in hand, "Don't move, Maverick."

"...heh. Here's the thing…" Agile grinned, seemingly vanishing for a moment before reappearing behind her, "I don't like standing in one place for too long in a fight." he vanished once more to dodge a few shots from X, "Too slow."

"Aruto, go look for Ikkan," X spoke, keeping his Buster aimed at Agile, "I'll take care of the Mavericks here."

"Hai!" Aruto nodded before pausing, seeing how many Trilobite Mavericks filled the street, "I can't tell them apart…"

"Just destroy them," Yua replied simply.

"..." Aruto gripped his hand at that, "It's not that simple…" he spoke, getting everyone's attention, "Reploids are our partners," he grunted, gritting his teeth, "We have relationships with them! They're not just tools!"

"...Heh. As if Reploids-especially those you deem as Maverick-could be partners with lesser beings like you," Agile taunted, "Humanity is on a slow decline whereas we keep evolving...we're the next step in evolution."

"No...Reploids are just tools," Yua spoke, "But misused, they can harm others or break. When that happens...they need to be replaced with better models." she pulled out a belt and clipped a ShotRiser to the buckle before strapping it on around her waist.

=SHOTRISER!=

"Another one?" X pondered as Yua pulled out an orange Progrise Key and pushed the button on it with her pinkie.

=DASH!=

"You're not going to pull it open like Isamu, are you?" X asked.

"I'm not an idiot who'd break their wrist like him," Yua replied as she inserted the key into her ShotRiser.

=AUTHORISE=

"So that's how it's done…" X realized as Yua opened the key inside of the gun.

"Henshin!" Yua declared before pushing the trigger.

=SHOTRISE!=

The bullet flew out of the barrel and curved around her before aiming at her torso. It broke open as the armor containers formed around her, building her suit. It formed the same base suit as the one Vulcan wore. However of course tailored to her thinner build and a chest plate to contort to her figure. Orange armor formed on her chest which spread to the right side of her body, with a large shoulder pad that curved down her upper arm, multiple black triangles decorating her collar and shoulder. Likewise the orange armor around her upper arm and her gauntlet had the same black 'spots' with the armor on the back of her hand tipped in claws over her knuckles. The armor on her right leg was the same orange with black spots and claws on her boot. Her white mask was different from Vulcan's, it had cat shaped eyes with yellow optics and black lines going down where her nose would be and framing her mouth. An orange ridge formed around her mask framing the side of her jaw, with two horns forming cat ears atop her helmet with more black spots at the top of her helmet.

=RUSHING CHEETAH!=

With that, the new female Rider ran forward as a blur and punched a Maverick before kicking her leg out and striking a second. The kick continued forward as she stomped the Maverick down to the ground.

=Try to outrun this demon to get left in the dust=

"A Shooting Wolf, a Rising Hopper, and now a Rushing Cheetah," Agile noted in amusement, "A Trinity of Kamen Riders...How amusing."

"AI in violation of the law verified," the new Rider noted, "Kamen Rider Valkyrie eliminating targets now."

"Valkyrie?" Aruto repeated, "...But she's a cat, not a bird."

"I think she refers to the gun called a valkyrie," X noted.

"Vulcan's name is also a gun…" Aruto realized.

"I guess they are rather alike…" X muttered ducking over a swing from Agile.

Aruto turned around as a figure landed on the ground between all of them, everyone looked to see Overdrive Ostrich.

"So another human has become an akuma," Overdrive Ostrich scowled.

"Akuma?" Valkyrie asked, "What are you-?" she raised her arms to block a swing from his arm, "What an odd emotional response…" she ran to the side as a blur.

"Fast…" Overdrive Ostrich spoke, dashing after her.

The two began running around before running off to take their fight elsewhere. The two blurs jumped from wall to wall clashing mid air several times. Valkyrie ducked under a kick before spinning around and swinging a low at his other leg. The Maverick jumped up in time to avoid her kick. He moved his legs to stomp down only to flinch as Valkyrie rolled out of his path and jumped up, landing an uppercut to his face.

"Aruto," X spoke, "Now might be a good time to change." he glanced over his shoulder at Aruto to see him thinking, "..."

=They're not tools!=

"Gah! N-Norio-san?!" X exclaimed as the left piece on his helmet flipped open, revealing a small speaker.

=Sorry. I was worried so I hacked your comms= Rico apologized.

=The young lady said it herself earlier: It's all up to humans to decide how to live with Reploids= Norio spoke.

"...All up to the humans…" Aruto repeated.

"I grow bored of this," Agile noted.

"..." Aruto pulled out the Zero-One Driver as he strapped it to his waist, he then produced his Progrise Key and clicked the button with his thumb.

=JUMP! AUTHORISE!=

The light shone from above as the Grasshopper Ride Frame landed on the ground. It roared at Agile, making him flinch in surprise before it jumped and turned around mid-air...and kicked its legs out, striking him in the chest and knocking him over.

"Henshin!" Aruto shouted, slotting the key into place.

=PROGRISE! RISING HOPPER!=

"We'll talk about you hacking my communications later, Rico," X noted, quickly shutting it off as Zero-One hefted his briefcase and unfolded it.

=BLADE RISE!=

Zero-One swung his sword as he blocked Agile's next swing. The Kamen Rider grunted, pushing his weapon up and spinning around Agile. As the Maverick lost his focus for a moment, he was blindsided by a kick to his back, sending him stumbling forward. Agile grunted before he flinched as an energy shot hit him, making him stagger back once again. He looked up as Zero-One jumped and swung a kick, striking him across the face.

"Equipping Frost Shield," X spoke as his armor turned dark-navy and his jumpsuit purple.

"Frost Shield? A defensive ability?" Zero-One asked.

X aimed and fired what appeared to be a missile tipped with a long sharpened icicle. Agile blinked and blocked with his sword, only for the missile to explode into a frost like mist which froze over his sword, arms, and legs.

"That's not a shield! That's an Ice missile!" Zero-One argued before taking out his new key, "Might as well show you how ya need to be accurate."

=FANG! AUTHORISE=

Aruto blinked as he was back in Zea. He looked around before an annoyed growl made him slowly turn to see Roll again, her eyes a sharp teal with her dress replaced with a teal school swimsuit with shoulder-length gloves and stockings that sported shark blades on them.

"Uh...Roll? Why are you in that?" Aruto asked.

"Just get to reading before I rip ya a new one," Roll growled, showing her teeth were sharp as a shark's mouth.

"Yipe!" Aruto yelped as a new option appeared reading 'BITING SHARK,' "Why are you so scary?! I thought you were jumpy and peppy in here!"

"What was that?" Roll growled, before him with her eyes narrowed.

"R-Reading!" Aruto squeaked. He turned to the option as he tapped it, "Aquatic combat form, enhanced physical power...arm blades…" he read through the abilities, "Propulsion underwater, oxygen recycling…" he paused, "Wait a second...Where's the biting?"

"It ain't got a bite," Roll replied with a snort.

"Very misleading…" Aruto muttered.

"Nani?" Roll growled.

"Gomen nassai," Aruto squeaked in fear.

In space, Zea fired a teal beam down to the surface. The beam hit a nearby reservoir. A shark fin popped out of the water before swimming around. It dived down...and suddenly, a large teal Great White shark jumped out into the sky. It aimed down and dived down, crashing into Agile. It began chewing on him while wiggling around.

"Ah...Same-chan is teething, I think," Zero-One noted before whispering to X, "And Roll was really scary in Zea this time, too…"

"I heard that."

"GYEH!" Zero-One yelped, spinning around to see Roll standing nearby, "Roll?!"

"Battle data is being recorded," Roll informed monotonically.

"Will ya stop with the emotional flip flop?!" Zro-One groaned while plugging in his new key.

=PROGRISE!=

With that, the shark threw Agile away and 'swam' in the air over to Zero-One, breaking apart into several parts. The yellow parts on Zero-One began to glow before they started shifting all over his body, rearranging into a new configuration. His old mask opened and slid to the sides before rotating around so his antenna now pointed down. His chest armor bunched together and folded up before sliding down his arms and ending on his forearms in the shape of sharp fins, the armor on his thighs and boots slid to the side as well. Blue DNA helix beams shone on his body as it began forming new armor. Blue armor formed on his shins, with small fins extending outwards and two ports formon across the two armor pieces, hexagonal shoulder pieces formed on each shoulder decorated in black vent like slits like gills. A blue chest plate resembling the top of a shark's head formed, two sets of segmented armor forming gills over his ribs, two angled plates forming brows and black openings the eyes with a blue center plate completing the look. His mask also resembled a shark's face with a dorsal fin atop his helmet, and two fins on the side of his face curving upward. Black zig-zag lines formed a jaw of sharp teeth as his eyes were now a dark magenta.

=KIRIKIRIBAI! KIRIKIRIBAI! BITING~ SHARK~! Fangs that can chomp through concrete=

"Oh! Neat!" X exclaimed before poking at Zero-One's mask, "...Eh? The jaw doesn't open?"

"No. It...It just uses the fins on my arms as blades…"

"...So it doesn't bite?" X asked, an amused smile on his face.

"Oh shut up," Zero-One muttered, blushing under his mask.

"An aquatic mode...on land? What stupidity…" Agile grunted, getting up.

"I don't know," Zero-One cheered as he held his arms up and made a biting motion with his hands, using his fingers as teeth, "I feel like this form can take a bite out of evil!"

"...Hmph. fine…" Agile scoffed, getting into a stance as he held his katana ready, "Let's see your 'fangs' defeat my blade...ningen. X."

"Ike, Zero-One," X spoke, a serious look on his face as he stood ready.

"Ha!" Zero-One shouted, rushing in.

The Kamen Rider swung his arm in a punch, but missed with his fist swinging his bladed arm fin up at Agile. The Maverick grunted, blocking with his sword only to stagger back. Agile swung downward, only for Zero-One to block with his left arm's fin. The Rider pushed his arm to the side before swinging with his right, slashing Agile across the chest and making him stagger back as a scratch formed on his armor. Agile growled in anger as he swing in a diagonal angle from his left only to be blocked as Zero-One spun around and used the curve of right arms blade to hook and deflect the sword away, the Rider using the momentum to swing with his left and slash the Maverick across the chest once more.

"I'd say this is going swimmingly~" Zero-One laughed as he put his hand together in the chomping motion again to mock Agile.

"Why you…" Agile growled before grunting as several of the ice 'missiles' fired by X hit him in the side and exploded to freeze where they had hit, "Gh!"

"Don't forget you're fighting two," X informed.

"It's not so fun when the bad guys are outnumbered, is it?" Zero-One spoke, punching with his right arm and slashing Agile across the chest, knocking him over, "By the way, you can't call us cheats...you're the bad guy. You lose that card."

"Do you ever shut up?!" Agile snapped swinging at Zero-One.

"Sorry...just call me a jabber jaws!" Zero-One laughed.

Zero-One punched with his right arm and deflected Agile's slash away with his fin, the Rider spun around and swung with his left in a backhand scratching the Maverick across the chest. He kept his spun going and swung with his right, slashing at him again, making sparks fly on contact with his chest. Agile grunted swinging low as Zero-One jumped over the blade. The Maverick prepared to swing up only to be blind sided by another ice missile to his back keeping him stuck in his crouching position. Zero-One stepped off Agile's head and jumped to the side next to X as they both turned to Agile who broke free of the ice.

"You might be fast, but you can't stand up to my bite!" Zero-One held up his arms.

"Tell us what you and MetsuboJinrai are after!" X ordered aiming at Agile.

"Heh...you truly want to know?" Agile grinned, "Our true goal may end up scaring you…"

"Just tell us!"

"...fine. I'll tell you as a sneak peek…" Agile smirked, reeling his sword back as he prepared for a massive cutting wave, "The revival of a powerful warrior...one you may know, X."

"?!" X' eyes widened at that.

"I thought you wanted world domination." Zero-One spoke.

"Wha...well yes!" Agile spoke.

"So which one is it?" Zero-One asked, "Revive a guy, or world domination?"

"Both!"

"You should consider getting a cooler hat." Zero-One added, pointing at his head for emphasis.

"...Nice try. You're trying to goad me into messing up...sad to tell you…" Agile paused before he jumped up in a rising slash, sending out the massive cutting wave before doing a falling slash, sending out another, "It will not work!"

"GH?!" X and Zero-One tensed before blocking the cutting waves, grunting as they were sent skidding back while the cutting waves left two more large gashes in the street.

"That hurt a lot less…" Zero-One spoke, lowering his arms, "Soka...I got a defense boost too!" he tapped his hand on his belt pushing the key in.

=BITING IMPACT!=

Zero-One raised his arms up as liquid energy formed along his arm blades forming into larger energy blades. Zero-One ran forward, he slashed as he clashed with Agile's sword several times, each strike making him stagger back. Zero-One held both arms out as he delivered a cross slash that Agile blocked, sending him skidding back and hitting a chain link fence. Agile turned around, seeing that behind him was a reservoir of water.

"Let's go swimming!" Zero-One swung his arms up and down, cutting a hole in the fence before slamming and punching both his hands into Agile's chest pushing him through the hole and into the water below. Before jumping in, Zero-One picked out his Rising Hopper key...and began scanning it to his belt.

=Bit Rise! Byte Rise! Kilo Rise! Mega Rise! Giga Rise!=

With that Zero-One dove into the water. Agile surfaced before looking as a shadow swam around the water and around him at rapid speeds. Agile swung and stabbed his katana into the water only to miss every time. Zero-One grunted tapping the key.

=BITING GIGA IMPACT!=

Zero-One swam around Agile at such speeds the water began forming into a vortex around him. Agile grunted as he was washed around before the Rider stopped letting the water come to a crashing halt sending the Maverick up into the air. Zero-One jumped out of the water and into the air after Agile. Zero-One growled as the liquid energy formed around his legs into large serrated fin blades pointing upwards like hooks. Zero-One flipped back as he aimed his legs up and swung them up, the blades digging into Agile's back as the kick sent him flying upwards into the sky.

バ

イ

テ

ィ

ン

グ

ギ

ガ

イ

ン

パ

ク

ト

=BITING GIGA IMPACT!=

A massive explosion went off as Zero-One dove back into the water. X looked up and slowly tilted his head down as a heavily damaged Agile landed on the ground. It was then he noticed something fall nearby.

"A disc?" X blinked.

"Gh….kuso...I got careless…" Agile grunted, using his sword to stand up, "...Regardless. Even if we have one part missing, it will not deter us from our goal."

"?! Don't m-" X began before Agile leapt up, seemingly splitting into six before each one vanished from sight, "...he got away."

"Phwa!" Zero-One gasped, jumping out of the water, "He survived that? Ah man...satelite Roll is gonna yell at me."

"...Alia," X spoke, turning his comm on as he walked over and carefully picked the disc up, "One of the Mavericks dropped a disc. I don't know what's on it...but it might have something to do with this 'revival' he mentioned."

=Revival?= Alia repeated =Hmm...I may need to examine it once you get back=

"Roger," X replied.

"We still got Roadrunner to deal with, too," Zero-One added.

Elsewhere, Valkyrie and Overdrive Ostrich sped around clashing back and forth. The two skid to a halt as Overdrive Ostrich swung low, only for Valkyrie to swing her hands forward, block his leg and roll over the kick. She grunted spinning around on the palm of her hand, spreading her legs apart in an upside down split as she swung and kicked both legs across his face. She jumped off his leg before rolling forward and planting her feet against a wall. She grunted and pushed off the wall, rolling around and kicking both her legs out landing a drop kick to the Maverick, sending him skidding back and slamming through a wall.

"His legs are strong while he relies on his speed and blades for slicing attacks both close and far ranged," Valkyrie spoke, tapping the circular part of her helmet over her ear, "Recording information and data."

"Recording?" Overdrive Ostrich repeated.

"I have to analyze you. Why you're defective, why you went Maverick. To ensure this mistake never happens again," Valkyrie explained.

"Mistake?" he asked, clearly upset.

"I always believed giving Reploids advanced AI capable of emotions was a mistake," Valkyrie went on walking around him, "Machines can't handle emotions. It's a dangerous mistake that makes technology more likely to become defective."

"Defective?!" Overdrive Ostrich snapped, "My actions are justified, akuma!"

"Why am I an akuma?"

"Because..because you humans and the Maverick Hunters killed Storm Eagle in cold blood!" Overdrive Ostrich snapped, "I'll never forgive you all for killing him!"

"Killed?" she asked, "Machines can't be killed." she spoke, "Look at yourself...you were revived within a newer model body. That is your flaw...you think Reploids have mortality."

"Wha...what?" he asked.

"If possible, his data could be used to revive him the same as you. But...you're too defective to realize that on your own." Valkyrie went on, "That's why you are a Maverick. You're defined by mistakes. Which is why you must be terminated and rebuilt."

"You think our lives don't matter…"

"You're not alive." Valkyrie argued.

"...You humans really are monsters," Overdrive Ostrich scowled, "No wonder Commander Sigma rebelled against you…"

"That is why Mavericks must be eliminated...you are tools that think highly of themselves." Valkyrie spoke as she pulled off her ShotRiser.

With that the two began running down the road. Overdrive Ostrich swun his arms sending cutting waves only to miss each time as Valkyrie jumped and ducked under each one, never losing speed or momentum. She aimed and began shooting as each of her bullets countered each of the Maverick's slicing waves. She looked forward, before to her side. Her eyes taking in all information, possibilities and outcomes. Valkyrie suddenly kicked her leg forward, bringing her to a sudden stop.

Overdrive Ostrich skid to a halt as well as he turned to Valkyrie as she jumped and bagan bouncing from wall to wall, going higher and higher with each leap. The Maverick grunted, swinging his arms and sending cutting waves at the Rider as she evaded each one. Valkyrie grabbed a ledge and flipped around, avoiding another attack before pushing herself up with her hand. She landed on her feet and pushed up with all the power her legs could offer, sending her high into the air.

"What?!" Overdrive Ostrich blinked, "Heh...she can't dodge in mid-air!" he began swinging his arms, "Sonic Slicer!"

"Hmph!" she raised her hand and tapped on the button.

=DASH!=

She quickly pulled the trigger while the ShotRiser was still on her buckle.

=RUSHING BLAST FEVER!=

She tucked her body forward and began rolling forward as she fell. She gained speed as her rolled up form made a smaller target as all of Overdrive Ostrich's attacks missed. The Maverick gawked as she extended her right leg and supported it with her hands. Her leg began glowing with orange energy as it formed around the claws on her boot. With a grunt she swung her kick down as it struck Overdrive Ostrich's shoulder and tore through his armor. The Maverick grunted crouching forward as Valkyrie landed on one knee in front of him.

"Gh?!" he grunted as his fall was stopped by the ShotRiser jammed into his chest.

"Sayonara…" she spoke, pulling the trigger.

ラ

ッ

シ

ン

グ

ブ

ラ

ー

ス

ト

フ

ィ

ー

バ

ー

=RUSHING BLAST FEVER!=

At that, a powerful orange blast shot into Overdrive Ostrich, sending him skidding across the road, the energy building up inside of his own body as a massive orb of orange light. He stopped as it exploded in a massive blast of light which spread out as multiple bullets of energy into the sky.

"Guh...I...I'm sorry…" Overdrive Ostrich grunted as he crashed into the ground, struggling to stand as he reached up to the sky, "Storm Eagle...I'm sorry...I couldn't...avenge you...my friend…" he whispered before falling back, exploding once he hit the ground.

Valkyrie landed on her feet with all the grace of her motif. A clatter made her look down to see the Zetsumerise key that Overdrive Ostrich had on his belt. She picked it up as footsteps went off, making her look to see Vulcan running up. She looked at him while he looked at her. While looking at him, Valkyrie held up her ShotRiser and undid her transformation, leaving Yua smirking at him.

"And that's how it's done," Yua informed.

"I killed all the grunts…" Vulcan argued, tapping the button and pulling his Key out, canceling his armor, "And why didn't you say there were two guns? You should've told me!"

"Only one can be registered per user...and I'm not risking you being gun happy with two," Yua argued.

"Why would I need two transforming guns…" Isamu muttered, "I could have given it to someone with better combat abilities."

"..." Yua's eye twitched a bit at that.

"Matte!" the two turned to see X approach them, "That Key...I take it you…"

"Hai...the Maverick is exterminated," Yua nodded.

"...May I have that key?"

"Hmm?"

"He was once a Maverick Hunter...it's only proper to give him a proper send off," X explained.

"...He claimed the Maverick Hunters killed his ally Storm Eagle in cold blood."

"...That part is half-true…" X sighed, making Yua blink a bit, "When I fought him...he silently begged me to take him down…to stop him from harming the humans he once protected."

"..." Isamu took the key out of Yua's hands before tossing it to X, "Here. We don't need it anyway."

"Thank you," X nodded as he caught it, 'I'm sorry...but if I am to fight the people behind this chaos...I'll need your power.' "Zea, copy and transfer Weapon Data from Overdrive Ostrich."

=UNDERSTOOD= Zea complied as the beam scanned the Key =COPY SUCCESSFUL. SONIC SLICER OBTAINED=

"Got it," X nodded before looking back at Yua and Isamu, "I apologize for this inconvenience…"

"It's fine," Yua sighed.

"Whatever," Isamu spoke, walking off, 'That woman is weird…'

"Aw...We lost another friend," Jin pouted, lying on a rooftop before footsteps made him look to see Agile approach, "Oh! You didn't a'splode! That's great!"

"If only...My body got damaged from Zero-One's finisher," Agile grunted, sparks coming off him for a moment as he sat down, "And what's worst...they got one of the Z parts."

"I'm not telling Horobi…" Jin spoke, "And you can't make me 'cause when I tell him...he always thinks it's my fault...and then he grabs his sword and I have to fix my hair...I liked my old pony tail!"

"Hmph...well…"

"Zis is fine...one lost part will not deter us," Serges' voice spoke as two figures appeared from the shadows.

Standing there were two more Mavericks. One was a short hunchbacked Maverick. He had blue armor with yellow piping around his lower torso, with a red waste plate, blue leg armor with red feet. The majority of his body was hidden behind a blue cape, his face resembled an elderly man with a large metallic mustache and beard with two blades of metal acting as hair on the side of his head, his right eye looked normal with the same metallic eyebrows and a red eye, while his left was a large monocle like lens, his head topped with a large circular cap.

The second was taller than the old man looking Maverick but shorter than Agile, his body rounded and colored in red and yellow. He had large shoulder joints with spikes extending from each one, he had large gorilla-like forearms covered in red armor with spiked braces around his wrists and spikes jutting from each knuckle. True to the rest of his ape like body, he had a head to match with ape like facial features with protruding fangs from his lower jaw, large green eyes surrounded by blue metal armor, the top of his head covered in brown armor with a red strip across the top of his head and connecting to a pony tails of linked spiked balls, ending with a large mace that hung over his back.

"Ah...so you two decided to visit," Agile noted before grunting.

"Hmph! Can't believe you lost to a human of all things," the bulky Maverick frowned.

"But in return, we did obtain some combat data," Serges pointed out, approaching on the hovering platform he was on as he began to examine Agile, "And now there is a third Rider amongst them."

"The Rushing Cheetah...Valkyrie," Agile informed.

"But she didn't look like a bird," the bulky Maverick noted.

"The gun, not the Norse mythology, Violen," Agile deadpanned.

"Oh...I knew that."

"No you d-" Jin began before the bulky Maverik's mace flew past him, breaking some nearby crates, "...Shutting up."

"Hmph!" Violen grunted, moving his head back as the mce retracted back to him.

"No fighting," Serges spoke, his monocle scanning each part of Agile's body, "Hmm...Jin, get me ze toolkit."

"Ohh…! The toolkit!" Jin squeed as he ran off to grab it.

"Why does he always have to be so excitable about things…?" Agile sighed.

"His mentality is zat of a child," Serges explained, "Zat is what Horobi wanted of him…"

"Hmm?"

"Jin may not realize it...but he can be incredibly dangerous if left unchecked," Serges explained.

"I got the toolkit!" Jin cheered, holding it over his head as he ran back.

"Idiot, don't run! You'll…" Serges began before Jin tripped, causing the tools to fly out, "...drop it."

"Ow."

"Grr…" Jin slowly looked up to see Violen glaring down at him, the tools covering his body, "Kozo…"

"...Agile did it…"

"I'm over here…" Agile deadpanned.

"...whopwhopwhowpwhop!" Jin yelped as he ran off.

"Get back here, kozo!" Violen snapped as he chased after him, swinging his mace.

"...Trust me, he does have great potential," Serges informed Agile as he gave a deadpan look while motioning to the sight, '...ugh. Ich bin von idioten umzingelt.'

"EH?!" Jun and his partner exclaimed.

"You got the contract with True Heart Sushi?!" the man asked in shock as Jun's mouth twitched, trying to not turn into a snarl.

"President Aruto did," Rico replied with a smile, "Though it was more through Ikkan's efforts to be accepted by the owner."

"That...That's...wait…" Jun calmed down for a second, "Where is he now?!"

"Following up with the client," Rico smiled again, "I just came back to perform the needed paperwork filing, copy making of said paperwork, and then scanning the original documents for online storage while preserving the original paperwork in case the online storage fails."

"In other words...he has a constant reservation at the best Sushi restaurant in the city…" Jun spoke in a neutral tone, "And it still counts as work…" he spoke as he turned away. After a second, he fell over.

"That was not a manly way to faint, was it, Sanzo-san…?" Rico noted, earning a shake of the head of the other guy.

"Too much force," Norio stated, overlooking Ikkan currently making some sushi, "You're going to crush the rice."

"Understood. Adjusting grip strength."

Aruto smiled, watching the Master and student, he then developed a confused expression as he thought of something, "Am I the only one who thinks Reploids have hearts and souls?"

"Hmm?" Roll looked over at him.

"Well...He managed to change the Chef's mind." Aruto muttered, looking at them as he smiled once more, "Sorry Chef! I hope you don't mind starting from scratch with a new model." he put his hands together in apology.

"Don't worry about it, kid!" Norio laughed, "Gives me a chance to teach him the basics."

"Here is your squid, made from the soul," Ikkan spoke, putting down the finished sushi before Aruto.

"Well if you say so, Chef," Aruto smiled looking at the plate, "I think I will," he laughed.

"A comedic joke in which 'think' replaces-yet contains- the word 'ink," Roll spoke.

"Eh?!" Aruto doubletak-ed at that.

"Aruto Ja~Naito."

"Wait, that wasn't on purpose! And don't serve up my own material!" Aruto complained.

"Serving up seconds!" Ikkan cheered, mistaking that as an order.

"Nigiro, stop!" Aruto complained.

A hand moved a white chess pieces along a board. The hand slowly moved a Knight piece into position before spreading out pawns in a defensive position around the King.

"Sadly, it seems like a technical error occurred with my spyware program," Yua spoke up as a Black pawn took out the white Knight.

"You misjudged his resources," a man spoke, "His assistant was one of the late Dr. Light's special works. You thought you could sneak something past his creation with such a simple spyware program." he grabbed a Rook piece and toppled the Black pawn, "But that is why we have multiple pieces on the board...and multiple plans." he spoke as he held his hand up, showing his bracelet as it displayed a holographic screen of Aruto putting on the Zero-One Driver, then changed to an image of Zero-One changing from Rising Hopper to Biting Shark form, "He has the missing Progrise Key data that was lost. The key data that can restore the Ark."

"..." Yua looked down as the man leaned back in his chair.

"So the man with the key is Hiden...Zero-One," he smiled.

"So that makes two of these Keys," Alia noted, looking at the two Zetsumerise Keys that were Blizzard Buffalo and Overdrive Ostrich, "We can consider is more than likely capable of turning Reploids into these keys and is the possible cause of all the missing Reploid reports."

"Agreed," X nodded, "And then there's the X Hunters...they were made to hunt me. But...who could've brought them together? And what of this 'revival' Agile mentioned?"

"If they're part of Sigma's old army, most likely it is to bring them back," a voice spoke, making the two tense as a Reploid in black and yellow armor walked in.

"Commander Signas, sir," X spoke before saluting.

"Stand down," he ordered, "Still...both these X Hunters and ...most likely they are collabing with each other under someone's command...question is who?"

"Hopefully the disc X found will hold some clues," Alia spoke, moving over to the computer, she plugged it into the computer and gave it a moment to scan and process the data, after a moment data filled the screen, "This is...schematic data? For parts of a Reploid?"

"Reploid parts?" X pondered.

"Alia, see if you can find a name for the file the schematics are in," Signas spoke.

"Hai," Alia nodded, typing away at the keyboard before stopping, her eyes widened in disbelief, "N...no way…"

"Hmm?"

"Commander...these are parts of schematics...for Zero."

"?!"

GT: Hoo boy...Seems Yua attempted to spy on Aruto for some guy and the Maverick Hunters have a disc with blueprints for Zero.

Z0: Things are dangerous for our heroes.

SZ: Eeyup...questions is how will our heroes handle this?

Z0: Let's see what happens next time!

SZ: Preview time!

Jikai, Zero-One: X Protocol

Aruto: What happened at the factory 12 years ago?

?: The Explosion was my Dad's fault.

Isamu: Your father did nothing wrong!

Aruto: I'm going to prove Reploids are the machines of peoples dreams!

Isamu: Keep looking forward...and keep moving toward it!

4TH Entry: The Bus Guide Saw it! The Truth!

?: You look like an older version of the one who protected people that day.

GT: Seems we're going to talk about Daybreak Town next chapter.

Z0: IT's gonna be interesting.

SZ: Indeed...anyways guys and gals, read and review!