The Original Project Zero…

Was this what Atlas had jabbered on about?

It’s my job. It’s part of me. It’s what I’m meant to do. The Projects must die!

Is…is this what I’m destined to become? I’ve been called Project Zero so many times; there is definitely a connection. Am I also going to turn out this way, no matter how hard I try? Am I going to become a dictator, conquering planets? Murder…mass murder, rape, and torture…

NO! I AM GOING TO END THIS NOW!

“I had hoped one of you would have had the sense to surrender and avoid any unnecessary bloodshed.” Original Zero stated as he lazily rose from his throne, irritated by the fact that we had dared to challenge him.

“So…which one of you wants to go first?” Original Zero taunted.

He must know about us. Who we are, what we can do, our fears and our loves…we have to work together, otherwise…

“As if you need ask!” Isaac replied as he teleported behind Original Zero, ready to sink his fangs into his neck.

I just know what’s coming…

It happened so fast I didn’t have time to react, that is, apart from grunting in pain as Isaac’s body hit me as we both were flung across the room. We both hit the solid concrete wall at the same time, dragging a grunt out of both of us. I felt light-headed for a second, but it passed quickly. Isaac pushed me to the ground as I went to get up in order for him to rise first, but his moaning wasn’t going to keep me down.

“Next?”

I looked around to see everyone stalling. While Isaac had moved quite fast, Original Zero moved a lot faster. Furthermore, it was if he had precognition…

Almost as if he KNEW it was coming.

Is he…psychic? Does he have some form of mind reading? Isaac couldn’t read his mind…did that mean his mind-reading abilities were of such a higher level he had a built-in defence?!

“No? It is too late to back out now…I warned you all…I warned you what would happen.”

I looked at the one person I had not expected to be taken in by this act…but he too was rooted to the spot.

Isn’t this what Shadow had wanted? HE knew Zero from beforehand…he knows what he can do.

Is that why he’s so scared?

“Why…why are you doing this…why must you make an enemy out of me?” I asked.

“Enemy is such a relative term. There is no such thing as a definite enemy. I am fighting to restore the Elysian empire to the rightful place it was knocked down from. It is only now that this objective has brought us into direct conflict.”

“But the reason we’re here is because you stole the Infinity Diamonds! That and you promised to go and conquer other worlds!” I protested.

“But you declared me an enemy. If, you are a force for good, that would make me a force for evil, correct?” Original Zero stated.

“Wait. How can you claim that what you are doing is anything BUT evil?” Zero asked. “If you go and lay waste to world after world in order to claim them, then that does make you in fact evil.”

“Evil only to your ideals Zero. Atlas, for example, did not see me as such.”

“Atlas is evil himself!” Maina cried out. I was surprised by her outburst, but then again, Atlas had held a knife of ice to her throat.

“As I disagreed with him on his methods, that makes me good, correct? I instructed him not to harm any of you, something he ultimately did not abide to.” Original Zero stated.

“But…you’re going to kill…” Maina replied tearfully. “You’re going to kill all those people.”

“Let me produce a scenario that might hit close to home. A woman kills a man in self-defence who is raping her. Who is more evil?”

“What the fuck kind of question is that?!” I subconsciously screamed. I had not even thought about a reply, and yet it came out all by itself.

“By that I know you think the man is the evil one. But while his crime is an utter disgrace to any form of life, he has assaulted her, whereas she has killed him. Does that not make her crime worse? And what if you could talk to the dead rapist? Who would he say is evil?”

“Her…for murder.” Xashi replied solemnly.

“Precisely, and she of course would state the opposite for the crime of rape. Who is the evil one? Who is the enemy? The answer is neither, they are each the enemy of the other.”

“What…kind of logic…” I began, but my mind struggled to comprehend what he was saying.

“What about him Charlie?” Original Zero stated as he pointed at Shadow, who looked like he could care less. “He has been your enemy multiple times, yet now you are working with him. Is the enemy of my enemy my friend? Well?”

I stood open mouthed as I saw completely where he was coming from. I had not expected this sort of psychological, thought-provoking warfare; on the contrary I had expected a mass melee to break out. But the truth of the matter is…he was right. At least…on one point.

The enemy of your enemy is not your friend, they could be an equal if not worse enemy.

“That is a question you will work the answer out to in due course. However, I know you well enough, all of you to know that you are all fighting for what you believe in. You all believe you are doing the right thing…as do I. So…” Original Zero flung his helmet off onto the floor, revealing long locks of gold that fluttered beautifully in the wind.

“I do not perceive you as evil, although you are my enemy. They are not the same thing.” Original Zero stated.

“God, you do half go on don’t you?” Isaac replied before drawing his whip. “I want to know how you know so much about us. You knew I was going in for the neck-bite…”

“That I did. I have files on all of you…stolen from the Valentine Circus…except Shadow…in any sense, I know you all too well...”

“Please. You have no idea what my life has been like since we last met!” Shadow retorted angrily.

“I will deal with your defection later…” Original Zero replied before clenching his fist.

I clenched my fist and everyone did the same in terms of preparation. Now, it was nothing but a standoff.

“I’m not sure what to do…” I muttered to Isaac.

“What? What are you blabbering on about?”

“I don’t know…something doesn’t feel right in all this.”

“Finally lost your nerve? Hah! This bet is as good as won!” Isaac replied. I smiled to myself, as I knew this was his way of trying to steel me up, and as we weren’t friends by any standard, antagonising me was the only way he was going to do it.

But still…something felt very wrong about this.

I had no time to ponder it as Isaac dashed forward and let fly with his whip. Unfortunately for him, Original Zero deflected all of his strikes effortlessly and sent an air pressure shockwave into him, sending him flying upwards. Mei let loose with a flurry of blue fireballs but Original Zero pulled something out and sliced all of them with frightening speed. As the lines stopped blurring and came back together, I saw Original Zero had a weapon in his hand.

It looked like the Z-Blade…but it was red.

“What…what is that?” Zero asked, pulling out his own Z-Blade to check he still had it. Sure enough, that familiar cyan hue was brought out to taste air once more.

“You must have realised that sword you have was based off of a legendary weapon from Elysian history…” Original Zero stated ominously. “Some say it is a weapon of salvation, but others say it is from hell itself.”

Sounds like Soul Edge to me…

“It is the equivalent of King Arthur and Excalibur…although the difference is this weapon existed. Your Z-Blade is a weak copy Zero…I possess the original. Very fitting…don’t you think? Two fakes wielding a fake weapon.”

Two fakes? What was he on about?

“THAT IS ENOUGH! I’VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH TO PUT MY BOOT IN YOUR FACE!” Shadow raged as he flew forward at a supernatural speed. He traded punches with Original Zero, both of them cancelling out the each other. Everyone watched with awe as this took place, no one daring to blink lest they miss any of the action. Suddenly Original Zero went to slice Shadow, who caught the blade by the hilt with both hands. Original Zero placed both hands on the hilt and pushed downwards.

“Traitor…I should have you for treason…”

“You know as well as I do that we weren’t prepared for that war!” Shadow replied as he removed a hand and tucked it under the hilt, his hand less than a foot from his chest.

“W-What?” Original Zero stated in complete surprise.

“I wanted to do this to you for so long.” Shadow smirked. Suddenly a gigantic purple energy sphere formed in his hand and he pushed it into Original Zero’s stomach. The purple orb suddenly imploded, sending out a huge torrent of energy and consequently air pressure. Each and every one of us was sent crashing into the wall behind. As I opened my eyes, Original Zero clambered out of the wreck that was previously his throne, clothes smouldering…

And looking pissed.

“I think it is time to get serious.” Original Zero stated as he held his arms out theatrically. There was a flash of light and suddenly; we were all outside in a field, the grass seemingly stretching to infinity and back. I heard a thud and turned to see Zero collapse to the ground unconscious, with Original Zero standing behind him, his hand shrouded in energy.

Great…we’re at a huge disadvantage now…he knows all we can do…we know next to nothing on him…and he’s just knocked out one of the strongest members of the group…This is going to get worse before it gets better.