Redemption
A Mega Man X fanfic by Hunter Bahamut
Mega Man X and characters are copyrighted Capcom

Dr. Anderson drank from his mug as he looked over printouts that were strewn over his workbench. Several years of work were near completion.

There was a knock at the door. Anderson looked up. "Come in." A reploid walked in and bowed. "Forgive me for the intrusion, but Dr. Cain is interested to know if the project is near completion." Anderson removed his glasses and rubbed his head. "Yes. Tell the doctor that it will be finished tomorrow." The reploid bowed and left the room.

Dr. Anderson stood up and stretched, then looked at the mass on the other workbench. He shook his head. "All this work, just for a court martial."

##

Images… blurry images…

Bright flashes…explosions? Vague memories, becoming clearer…

A blue reploid stood before him.

"…why did you betray us?"

"You're so naïve X! Listen closely, I let Sky Lagoon fall! And I'd do it again!" The voice was shocking. It was full of anger and something else…jealousy?

A battle… extreme pain…

"Such a waste…why…?"

"Always…wanted to fight…you…then…he appeared…"

"He? Who?!"

"Told me to work for…Repliforce…to goad you into fighting…"

"You did this just so you could fight me?"

"Was worth it…for a final duel…sorry X…"

"Dragoon!"

Then, nothing…a blank…

It became clear. The blurriness cleared up, and now the face of a young man looked down upon him. "Welcome back, Dragoon."

Magma Dragoon slowly leaned up and placed his hand on his head. "Ohh…what…"

"You must forgive me for having you legs restrained. Can't be too careful. Anyway, you must have a lot of questions, and I can try to answer them for you. What's the last thing you can remember?"

"The last thing…was…X." The feeling of shame struck him. "My final duel with X…"

Dr. Anderson nodded. "As expected. Well, let's see if I can explain…"

"It's been two years since the last Maverick War. Peace seems to have returned and it's lasted for this long. During the war, Commander X's orders were to bring you back to base. Well, after the battle, X did that. There was major damage to you, but, surprisingly, your memory unit and several vital units remained intact and with only minor damage. It was then decided that the task of rebuilding you was to begin. However, your creator was hospitalized after the war, so he couldn't work, and so, I was elected to the task." The doctor stood up. "Dr. Gordan Anderson. Pleased to have met you."

Dragoon sat there, absorbing what Gordan had related to him. "But, why was I to be rebuilt? I was a Maverick."

"I don't know the details on that matter. All I know is that you are to be court martialed as soon as you are reported fit enough."

Court martial. Dragoon's high hopes were shot down. Rebuilt to be destroyed again. That was the usual outcome of a Maverick trial.

##

A day passed, and Dragoon was declared 'fit' for his trial.

Dragoon stood before the board: Dr. Cain, a reploid know as 'Signas', and a few other human scientists and reploids.

Dr. Cain began the proceedings. "During the past years, we have been discussing the incident dealing with Commander Magma Dragoon of the 14th Maverick Hunter Unit. Dragoon is responsible for the destruction of Sky Lagoon and has betrayed the Maverick Hunters and what it stands for." The words struck Dragoon like a dagger in his chest. Cain focused onto Dragoon. "Commander Dragoon, how do you plead?" Dragoon felt hopeless and low. "I plead, guilty as charged." Cain nodded. "However, it has been discussed that Dragoon was manipulated by Sigma into working for his cause. Since the issues dealing with Sigma are debatable, it was Commander X who decided that Magma Dragoon be given another chance. So, with the completion of Dragoon's revival, he has had a chance to hear the case and some key points of the trial. Our ruling in this situation is an interesting one. Magma Dragoon will continue his duty as a Hunter, however his command will be taken away until he is able to show that he able to continue his duties as commander. He is hear-by placed into the 17th Unit under Commander X. This hearing is adjourned."

It was over as soon as it had just begun. The panel dispersed while Dragoon stood there, dumbfounded. "I…was given a second chance?" As he stood there bewildered, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see X's face, the face of his commander. The two didn't exchange any words. X turned and started to walk out. Dragoon followed, but Dr. Anderson stopped him. "I have to add some kind of congratulations." Dragoon smiled half-heartedly and nodded.

Dragoon walked down the hallway of Hunter base following his new commander. X stopped and faced the red reploid. "Is anything wrong Dragoon?"

Dragoon finally looked X in the eyes. "X…I don't know how to repay you." X looked puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"X, you gave me something that I doubt I could ever repay, a second chance."

X smiled. "I thought that you deserved it."

"But why?"

X explained as they continued down the hall. "It's unclear as to why a reploid goes Maverick. The latest theory any of us can come up with is not just this Sigma Virus. Sigma himself has something to do with it. It seems that he is able to manipulate reploids into believing whatever he wants. That's how I feel about you. He used your jealousy of me to his advantage and turned you against us. In circumstances like that, I felt that you deserved another chance."

Dragoon understood what X meant. How could he ever be jealous of X? No matter how he looked at it, it was his jealousy that brought so much pain to the people and reploids.

"I swear X, I'll do whatever I can to serve you and to redeem myself! This jealousy of you has died!"

X looked back and smiled. "It's good to have you back, Dragoon."

"Dragoon!"

Magma turned around to see a smiling red reploid. He walked up to him and slapped him on the back, his blonde hair flowing behind him. "Zero."

"Hey, its great to see you again! So, what happened? X? Are the rumors true?"

X nodded. "Yeah. It's been decided. Dragoon is back with the Hunters."

"That's great!"

Dragoon sighed. "I wish I could share some of your enthusiasm."

"Huh?"

X explained. "Dragoon has lost his command and has been placed into my unit."

Zero's jaw dropped. "In your unit?! I had a feeling that he would lose his command, but he's in your unit?"

X shrugged, then saw Dragoon's face. "This isn't the time, Zero." X said under his breath. Zero looked at Dragoon and nodded. "Right. We can discuss this later."

Zero left the two. "Sorry Dragoon, but I guess you will be hearing that a lot now." Dragoon didn't say anything. "I guess it'll take some time before people can really realize it."

"I guess…"

"C'mon."

##

A few days passed and people have been getting used to seeing Dragoon among the Hunters once again. What was fortunate for Dragoon was that no one made any snide remarks. Well, at least he didn't hear any.

Dragoon sat by himself and gazed out towards the mountains in the horizon. The past several days seem to have gone well enough. The other members of the 17th Unit were also surprised to see Dragoon amongst their unit. They were also surprised to see Dragoon in the Training Area. Even after several years, he still had an edge in combat.

"Dragoon?"

Magma turned to face a pink female reploid. "Yes…Alia, isn't it?"

Alia nodded. "Yes. I'm new to the Hunters. I was assigned here after the war ended. Anyway," she handed him a pad. "This message came in for you."

Dragoon took the pad and thanked Alia as she left. He read over the message, and a feeling of shock came over him. He got up and ran to the transporters.

X saw Dragoon running past, but he was gone before X could stop him. "What was that all about?" he asked Alia as she walked up to X.

"I'm not sure. I just gave him a message a few…wait." She bent down and picked up the pad. "I guess he must have dropped this. I wonder why he was in such a hurry?"

##

Unlike some reploids, Dragoon wasn't a mass production reploid. Like some of the other reploids, one man created him. Dr. Edward Beowulf. At the time of his awakening, the doctor was in his late forties. Now he would be around his mid-fifties. Dragoon didn't know any details; all he heard was that Dr. Beowulf was in the hospital due to some accident and was in the hospital for at least two years. Many of the doctors are afraid that he may never recover.

It isn't unusual for reploids to come into hospitals. In most cases, they come to visit human friends and some work in hospitals. However, the receptionist felt odd when Dragoon came in. However, she came at ease to hear that he wasn't a Maverick and came to visit a patient.

Dragoon walked into the room of the Intensive Care area. The lights were low and the room was quiet. Dragoon saw a form in the room and quietly walked in. The form moved its head towards Dragoon's direction. "Who's that?"

"It's… it's me." Dragoon felt really awkward.

"?! Dragoon? Is that you?" The form tried to sit up, but slowly let himself down. He turned the light up. "Why, yes! It is you! Come, sit."

Dragoon took a seat beside the doctor's bed. "I'm so glad you received my message," the doctor went on. "I heard about your 'rebirth' and I was so excited that you've been given another chance."

"I'm not sure if I deserve another chance."

"Oh, nonsense. You have served the Hunters faithfully until…you know." The doctor sighed. "I was devastated to hear about your destruction." Dragoon felt the shame rising again. "But, that is all in the past now. Dragoon," He looked into the old man's eyes. "I want you to remember; the past is just that, past. However, you cannot fully forget the past, but do not dwell upon your past mistakes. Let them to make you stronger."

Dragoon thought over his words. "Thank you, doctor. You don't know how much this means to me."

"And you don't know how much your visit means to me." The doctor laughed. "I...I sometimes wish that you would call me…Father…strange, isn't it?"

'Father?'

"Thank you Dragoon, and I wish you much luck and success in the future. "

Dragoon left the room and started down the hallway, but then looked back. He felt better, as if a weight was lifted. 'Thank you, Edward.'

##

"Are you sure that this upgrade is necessary, Dragoon?" asked Anderson.

"Well, not really necessary. Just something I want to try."

"Well, I really don't see any use for you to have a buster cannon installed."

"Its just something I want to try out. I've realized that I could be in trouble if I ended up dealing with a fire-type Maverick. Mavericks usually have a back-up weapon at hand, and I know my normal fighting technique may not help."

"Well, if you say so. I'll install it." Anderson started his work. "It seems that I'm really the only person who knows enough about your system to work on stuff like this and repairs." He paused. "Your systems were also never fully restored, so I guess this upgrade might be necessary…"

Dragoon laid back. "Things really have changed. What do you think of Signas? Or any of the others?"

Anderson shrugged. "Well, Alia is a good addition to the Hunters. I'm not really sure why they needed someone like Signas to lead the entire Hunter organization. Granted, someone was needed, but I don't know how one reploid is going to watch over the 20-some units. Douglas doesn't seem too bad. He's working in the Engineering department, working on several devices and upgrades. However, there's Lifesaver. I've heard that some of the hunters feel uneasy around him. Some don't trust him."

Dragoon chuckled. "Kinda glad I don't have to meet with him. Yet, anyway."

"Well." Said Anderson. "Finished. Tell me how it works out."

"Thanks, doctor."

"Oh. By the way," said Anderson as Dragoon went for the door, "How is everything going? No troubles or anything?"

"No. It's been nearly a month and everyone seems fine to see me around again."

"Glad to hear it. I'll see you around then."

##

"Alright. That seems to be it," said the reploid. "That seems to be the last of it." He picked up a communicator. "This is Unit 4 on Cargo Hold 7. The last of the shipment has been delivered. All clear up here."

"Alright." Said the voice at the other end. "Stand by, we might be getting something else up at your end."

"Right," said the reploid. He jumped at the sound of metal. "What the…? Did you hear anything?" He asked another reploid that walked by. "Me? No." The reploid scratched his head. "I swore I heard something…wait a second…" He walked near a stack of boxes. "Is there someone there? Hey, you!" He shouted at a shadowy figure. The figure made a quick movement and there was a flash.

"AAAHHHGGH!"

The other reploid looked towards the boxes. "Hey! Are you alright?" Then he saw the figure and heard the voice of the communicator. "Unit 4? Unit 4! Respond Unit 4! Respond!"

##

X walked into the Training Area where he found Dragoon. Dragoon was in full battle with several different Mavericks. X stood back and watched. X had to admire Dragoon in some way. Dragoon's specialty was hand to hand fighting but he had the flamethrowers installed to add to his attacks. One of his primary weapons was the 'Hadoken', a weapon that was derived from one of X's upgrades from Dr. Light.

Dragoon was as good as X has seen him. He blasted through the smaller robots with little trouble. Then X received a small shock when a large mech robot came out. A mech would give a few Hunters some problems, but it wasn't that that shocked X. After a brief battle with the mech, Dragoon fired a charged blast from his Buster. He destroyed the robot.

Dragoon turned and saw X. "Hi, X."

"Dragoon? You had a Buster Cannon installed?" X was surprised.

"Yeah. I thought I might need a new weapon. I was just testing it out. Is there a problem?"

X shook his head. "No, it's just I didn't think you of all people would need a new weapon." Before the conversation continued, there was a call over the loud system. "Commander X, report to the Command Center. Commander X, report to the Command Center."

"I guess we'll take about it later." Said X. "Let's go."

##

X and Dragoon reached the Commander Center. "What's the problem Alia?"

Alia turned from her console. "We received a call from Sky Transport 4. The company says that they lost contact with all of the crews on board. They said they received vague reports of an intruder, but they weren't able to clarify."

"What did the crews consist of?"

"Mainly reploids, but there was also some humans on the transport."

Signas walked in. "We need you to investigate the transport. We feel that there may be some Mavericks."

"Alright. I'll check it out. You want to come along Dragoon?"

"Alright."

##

X and Dragoon appeared on the deck of the transport. "Looks empty." Said X as he scanned the surrounding area.

Dragoon read the markings on the side of the wall. "Cargo Hold 7. This was the area of the first of the disappearances." X looked into the darkness of the hold. "Anyone could be waiting for us in there… Let's split up. If anything happens, just give a shout." Dragoon nodded and the two hunters walked into the darkness.

Dragoon looked around the empty hold. There was barley enough light to see around. X looked around from a runway just above Dragoon, also having a hard time looking around due to the ill lighting.

X heard something behind him. He turned, buster ready and faced…nothing. 'I'm getting too jumpy…' Little did X know was that Dragoon also heard the falling object above him. He saw X above him, and also another object, running towards X. "X! Look out behind you!" X turned in time to avoid the flying mass and avoid any damage. X turned to fire at it, but it disappeared.

"What the…?" X looked around but couldn't see any kind of movement.

"X! Did you find anything?" Dragoon shouted from below. X took a deep breath. "No, whatever it was, it's gone." X jumped over the railing and landed beside Dragoon.

"If we had some descent lighting, we might have a better advantage." Said Dragoon. "Well, let's continue to look around." They turned their backs to each other.

"Hold it right there!" Dragoon turned to see the shadow behind X, holding a cannon to his back. "What…"

"Don't move!" commanded the reploid. "Unless you want X here to have a new hole in his back…" Dragoon growled. "Now you…move over to the platform behind you…" Dragoon couldn't do anything while the Maverick held that cannon too close to X. He had no choice. He walked on the platform. As soon as he stepped onto the platform, two metal clamps ejected from below and clamped down on Dragoon's feet and legs, holding him. Then a stinging cold blast shot Dragoon, covering his back with frost and bringing the reploid down.

"Now, it's just you and me, X." The reploid jumped back a few feet and X turned to face his opponent. X gasped. Even though he couldn't see well, he could make out the small features on the reploid. "Si...Sigma?!"

The figure laughed. "Nice to see you, X. Now a long awaited battle begins…"

"What is this?! What's going on Sigma?! What are you up to?!" X demanded.

"So many questions…however, all of them are of no importance. Come X, time to fight me!"

X didn't have time to argue the point as the Sigma form fired at X. X was able to avoid the blast and he ran towards the only source of light, outside. The Sigma shadow took off after him, leaving the injured Dragoon in the darkness.

##

X ran towards the light as he fired behind him trying to delay his pursuer. He needed the light in order fight Sigma. Just as he ran into the light, he was blown off his feet by a blast from Sigma. The blast blew the deck into twisted metal and X was barely able to recover.

X turned and faced Sigma as his form materialized from the darkness. "Are you done running X?"

"This ends Sigma! I'll stop you before anymore humans or reploids are hurt because of you!" With that, X fired the charged Mega Buster.

##

Dragoon could hear the battle starting outside. He had to do something. "I…guess my resistance to ice has been lowered…" He grabbed the clamps and pulled, but they remained in place, unmoved. "Guess, I have one choice…" He pointed his buster cannon towards the platform and fired.

The explosion was enough and it knocked Dragoon back. Dragoon jumped back up and engulfed himself in flames. The ice melted and evaporated off of Dragoon and the flames died. Now free of the ice, Dragoon turned towards the light. "I have to help X!" He said and ran.

##

X was having trouble countering the attacks made by Sigma. 'His fighting is different. Granted, it has changed every time I faced him, but there is something here that isn't right.' X's mind was in turmoil as he tried to battle. One more blast from Sigma and it sent X to the ground. X looked up to the looming figure. "Now, you die X…" he held the cannon towards X and was engulfed in flames and was sent flying over X. He landed with a thud. X looked over towards the direction of the blast. "Dragoon!"

Sigma looked up towards the dragon reploid. "Impressive. I didn't think you could escape that for some time." He stood up and to the amazement of X and Dragoon, he was also uninjured. "I've been able to create a resistance to fire attacks."

"So if fire won't work, then I'll take you with my bare hands!" Dragoon jumped at Sigma, giving him a series of punches and kicks, but Sigma was able to dodge everything Dragoon threw at him. Sigma brought up his cannon and blew Dragoon back, nearly running into X.

Dragoon stood back up slowly. "I know all your attacks, Magma Dragoon." Said Sigma. "There isn't anything you can do…"

Dragoon stared at Sigma. "Then, I have one thing left…" Sigma laughed and pointed his cannon towards the hunters. "Now, I'll kill you both!" He stopped. He could here a small 'whining' sound. It sounded like… "A buster…X?!" He looked towards X who made a dash away from Dragoon. However, the blast didn't come from X. Dragoon fired a fully charged blast and earned a direct hit onto Sigma and he was sent sprawling onto the ground.

Dragoon stood there, breathing heavily while his buster was still stretched towards Sigma's direction. He slowly lowered his weapon.

"Dragoon!"

Dragoon turned towards X. "Are you alright X?" X smiled and nodded his head.

"Amazing…"

X and Dragoon looked towards Sigma's fallen body. It started to stand slowly. Then the hunters noticed the fragments of Sigma's head lying on the bulkhead. The reploid turned and faced the hunters, and this wasn't Sigma.

"What is this?! Who are you?!"

The reploid laughed. "You mean you don't recognize me? Commander?" The 'commander' remark had a sarcastic tone to it.

Dragoon stared at the reploid. "I guess you don't…" said the reploid. He explained: "I was a hunter in the 14th Hunter unit, your unit Dragoon. That was, until I was removed from the unit for insubordination. I left the hunters after that…and was found by Sigma at the start of Repliforce's war. He said that I could fight for Repliforce, but all I wanted was revenge on the commander who ruined me. Of course, when Sigma said that he knew how I could get back at Dragoon, I was more than eager to become a Maverick. He said that as soon as Magma Dragoon finished off X, I could finish off Dragoon.

Well, now seeing how Sigma was defeated yet again, I thought of this little plan. Cause an 'emergency' caused by Sigma and bring X here, who would be willing to bring the newly returned Dragoon, so what better idea than to take both of you out?"

Dragoon's eyes narrowed. "You did all this just so you could get back at me?" Those words sounded eerily familiar to Dragoon.

The reploid laughed. "It was worth it." He pointed his cannon towards Dragoon. Dragoon could here the whining of the cannon. It was fully charged.

The reploid smiled. "But…first…" he swung his cannon towards X, shouting "I'll destroy you X!!!" And fired.

"NO!!"

Dragoon jumped in front of X just as the blast was fired and took the full impact of the blast and landed with a thud onto the bulkhead.

"Dragoon!!" X jumped back to his feet. "Alia! Send it now!"

X was engulfed in a glowing light and white armor slowly materialized onto X. The reploid shielded his eyes, and as the glow vanished, he faced an X clad in white armor he had never seen before.

Before the reploid could react, X fired a fully charged Plasma Shot at the reploid. The reploid flew backwards and landed with a heavy thud. "So…I see that both of you have new tricks up your sleeves…"

"X!"

A new voice appeared. The reploid turned and saw a red reploid running towards the group. "Zero! But how did you…?"

X looked down on the reploid. "We have our ways. If you had remained with the Hunters, you may have learned of them."

The reploid growled and made a final dash towards X. X held up his buster cannon and fired. The reploid landed, and this time, didn't get back up.

"X!" Zero and several other hunters arrived. "X, are you alright?!"

X faced Zero, then ran towards the fallen Dragoon. "Dragoon!" Zero turned and saw Dragoon, and he ran to his side.

Dragoon slowly opened his eyes. "X?…uhhh…di…did we get him?" X smiled and nodded. Dragoon smiled weakly…

"Quick! We have to get him out of here!" X shouted.

"The transporters aren't responding, I'll get a shuttle ready!" Zero scrambled and took several hunters with him.

"X…"

X looked down a Dragoon. "You gave me a second chance…I never thought I could redeem myself…But…but I hope that this…comes close to it…"

X smiled and shook his head. "You didn't need to find redemption, Dragoon. Not with me."

Dragoon smiled and closed his eyes. "At least…I can die…knowing that I did what I was meant to do…"

"Don't worry Dragoon, we'll get you back to base!" X said, and that was all Dragoon heard.

##

Blurry images…becoming clearer…

The blurriness cleared up, and now the face of a young man looked down upon him. "Welcome back, Dragoon."

Dragoon slowly sat up and put his hand on his head. "Ohhh…" He looked at the man and smiled. "Hello, Dr. Anderson."

"You're a lucky reploid." Said the doctor. "X and Zero were able to get you back to base in time for me to make the necessary repairs."

Dragoon sighed and relaxed.

"Now, you have to go." Dragoon looked up at the doctor. "You have to face the board."

Dragoon's smile went away.

"However, I don't know why this time, but I wouldn't want to miss it."

"Great." Dragoon said half-heartedly. "Why do I have to do this again?"

##

Dragoon stood before the same council that he stood before when he was revived. Dragoon didn't know what this was about, but he had a feeling.

"We have been here before regarding Magma Dragoon with regards to his actions in the Fourth Maverick War." Dr. Cain began, "And we have made our decision to have Dragoon return to duty, but was stripped of his command until we felt he was able to resume command. Over the past months, we have arrived at a decision. Magma Dragoon, you are herby re-instated as Commander of the 14th Unit. Congratulations."

Cheers and applause arose from outside and within the Conference room. Dragoon stood there, amazed.

"It's over then." Dragoon sighed. The large weight had been lifted.

As Dragoon walked out, he was greeted with applause and cheers from his fellow hunters, with X and Zero at the front.

"Congratulations Dragoon!" said X.

"Thank you X. For everything."

"And now lets celebrate!" shouted Zero and the hunters led Dragoon to his 'Congratulations Party'.

The Recreation room was set-up for the occasion and humans and reploids of the Maverick Hunters were there. This was a first in history.

Dragoon stood by the window, looking out towards the setting sun.

"Excuse me." Dragoon turned. "Hello, Alia."

Alia smiled. "I just wanted to add my congratulations as well." She handed him a pad. "This message came for you. It was marked 'Urgent'." Dragoon thanked Alia and read the message. Dragoon was shocked. He dropped the pad and ran out.

X and Zero watched Dragoon run out. "Where's Dragoon going?" asked Zero. "Kinda odd running out on his own party."

X shrugged and saw the pad on the floor.

##

Dragoon ran into the hospital and, reducing his speed, went to the floor where Dr. Beowulf was.

He went to a doctor near his door. "How is he?" The doctor looked down and shook his head. Dragoon took a deep breath and nodded. He looked into the darkened room, and walked in.

"How are you Doctor?"

Beowulf moved his head towards Dragoon's direction and smiled. "I know that I am dying. I just couldn't leave this world without seeing you first…"

Dragoon sat down. "I heard about you." Continued the doctor. "I'm so happy, and proud that you've been able to regain the faith and trust of the Hunters."

Dragoon smiled. "I had a lot of help." The doctor smiled. "Dragoon, I must thank you…"

"Why?"

"You've done something that I will remember always…you've made an old man very happy in his last moments…" Dragoon didn't say anything. "Goodbye, Dragoon."

"Goodbye…father…"

##

Dragoon returned to the party, he was excited, but he couldn't help but feel the sadness of his creator's death. Dragoon stood outside, with a drink in his hands and staring into the starlit sky.

"Dragoon."

Dragoon turned and saw X and Zero. They were helmet less and also had drinks.

They walked up beside Dragoon. "We heard about Dr. Beowulf." Said Zero. "We're sorry."

"Don't worry," Dragoon said. "It was his time, and he knew that." He sighed. "At least, I'm glad that I was able to give a few happy moments before his death."

X looked at Dragoon, then back to the horizon. He held up his glass. "To Dr. Beowulf." Zero also held up his glass. "To Magma Dragoon." Dragoon then held up his glass. "To the future."

With the toast agreed upon, they finished their drinks. "C'mon," said X, "Let's join the others."