Utopia

Chapter 11: Aftermath

The casualties of the Repliforce war were very high. Many of the Maverick Hunter members had comrades and partners there who had been retired. Since there was little maverick activity for the time being the majority of soldiers were able to take temporary leave for bereavement.

Behind the scenes of Maverick Hunter Headquarters it became disorganized as a whole. Out of guilt the leader of MHHQ had quit and left the military institution with no one to run it.

This made Dr. Cain scramble to produce a reploid who could take over the position. He had been playing with the idea of using his most cutting edge technology to create a reploid who was designed for a commanding position, but it would take time. He had to hope that a severe maverick threat would hold off until then.

Zero and X used their vacation time to spend a few days at the shelter with Jade, Kate and the gang. They needed some time away and they both felt comfortable enough to relax there without any interruptions from work.

Zero and Kate sat in one of the small offices near the navigation room. They were planning out defense strategies for if X and Zero were away during the time of attack. He also suggested an escape plan incase their defense plan failed.

Kate eyed the map on the table in front of them as Zero pointed out plausible escape routes until Kate suggested they take a little break.

“Zero… Thank you for helping us with these plans. None of us here have any extensive military training or background at all.”

“No problem” Zero said leaning back in a relaxing position.

“Zero… I heard about what happened from X and I just wanted to say I’m sorry. Iris sounded like a very nice girl… I know because your voice would light up every time you so much as mentioned her name. It’s ironic because when we first met you said you weren’t interested in the icky love stuff and that’s usually when you find someone and then Iris comes into your life… It’s just so tragic. I guess what I’m trying to say despite all my babbling is… If you need anything we’re all here for you…”

“Save it Kate. It happened and talking about it won’t make it go away, so just drop it ok?!”

Kate winced and pulled back like she had just been smacked in the face by someone she cared about. Zero saw this and his face softened slightly.

“*sigh* Thank you Kate. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Kate wisped a small smile as she drew her attention back to the map on the table averting her eyes away from Zero.

In the Barracks sector of the shelter Jade and X were sitting in the dining room enjoying some hot chocolate and snacks.

“What’s wrong X? You look sad. This is happy relax time!”

“I’m sorry Jade… I am trying to be happy.”

“I understand. It’s the events of the 4th war isn’t it? You miss the friends you had there now that they are retired?”

“Yes, but I am more worried about Zero. He lost Iris his love. I want to help him…”

“Don’t you miss her too?”

“I do, but I didn’t know her that well. She was more of an acquaintance really.” X sipped his hot chocolate.

“It takes time to get over a massive war time like that. This grief will pass.”

“I hope so…Jade…?” X asked looking up at her and setting his cup down in front of him.

“Yes?”

“How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“How do you keep going? Fighting? Helping people? Trusting people? Holding on to your beliefs and what’s right? How do you keep from giving up?”

“I don’t know… Well I… I guess it’s because I am strong in my beliefs just like you. I believe in justice and a peaceful world for all reploids and humans. That’s why I helped build this place. It’s because of my beliefs that I trust people. I think there is good in the world and there is good in everyone. I think that’s why I help people. I want to protect them and surround them with good things because the world can be so harsh. I don’t agree with violence to achieve peace, but sadly the way the world is… we have to fight. We have to face reality and the reality is that we have to fight to defend ourselves.”

“You’re wrong we don’t have to fight!”

“Only we control our actions. I would love to stop fighting and live peacefully with Kate and my friends, but it’s because of them that I keep on fighting. To prevent anything terrible from happening to them, that is why I fight, but if I could I would stop this instant!”

“So… you fight to protect the people you love… I do too… But we’re killing countless people who will never get to see the peaceful world once it arrives.”

“I keep repeating this phrase in my head whenever I am on the battle field –Kill one save a thousand- The mavericks we kill would have disrupted the world we fought for sooner or later. We can’t change others only ourselves“

“I’m sorry… I just can’t turn my back on my belief in true peace being achieved by peaceful means not through violence!”

“So then quit! No one is forcing you to stay. Either way I admire you X! You fight hard to protect everyone and you value all living things. If you stop fighting then you are honoring yourself, demonstrating your beliefs and setting an example for others. You are a leader by example X whatever you decide… It’s up to you…”

“You know I read in history books about humans that had done the same thing. Gandhi sticks out in my mind the most.”

“Yes, people have done it, but it takes strength to follow your heart. Could you sit back and watch your comrades battle on the field? It would be a hard thing to watch.”

“So I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t is that what you’re saying Jade?”

“No, just choose wisely that’s all. No regrets.”

X smiled and put his empty cup in the sink. Jade stood up and looked at X.

“Let’s go see what Zero and Kate are up too.”

“If I know Zero he has dragged your wife to the briefing room.”

“Let’s go see what’s up. It could be important.”

“Good idea.”

X and Jade entered the small office aka the briefing room to see what their colleagues were up too. Zero informed them of the defensive and offensive plans Kate and him had discussed while X and Jade sat and listened. Everything was in the process of being arranged incase a surprise attack were to take place on the base. The plans were set.

“I see” Jade commented leaning over at the map “So we exit through the side door to the right of the base and sneak down that long hidden pathway between the mountains, then we turn and travel deep inside the forest outside of Beat Village. We set camp by the stream and we wait for you there gotcha!”

“That was the best route we could come up with for now.” Zero spoke up.

“I agree. It is the most isolated from all the other alternatives.” X jumped in.

“Then it’s settled” Kate said standing up from her chair “I’ll inform every one of the plans we came up with. See you later.”

“We have to get back to Headquarters now.” Zero arose from his chair as well stretching his legs and arms.

“Yes, I think we’ve overstayed our welcome and besides we have some new members arriving. We have to be there for some of the interviews.” X added.

“Ok, see you boys later!” Jade waved “Thanks for everything. We enjoyed your visit!”

“So did Zero and I. Take care.” X waved back exiting the shelter.

X had a lot to think about on his way home after his talk with Jade. He never thought about things the way that Jade had explained it. It hadn’t dawned on him that he could just stop fighting whenever he wanted, but he still wasn’t entirely sure if quitting front line work was worth the consequences. With that in mind he felt it safe to continue fighting until he felt totally sure what his decision was.

Zero had much on his mind too. He had a week roughly to grieve over Iris’ death and even though it wasn’t a lot of time he felt it was time to move on. He always lived in the here and now and the present time was telling him to continue his job before something terrible happens. He realized he had to get over Iris someday. He also knew that he had plenty of support from X and the shelter members whether he wanted it or not, so until that day came he had to distract himself using his surroundings.

Back at the shelter Jade and Kate were in there room turning in for the night. Jade crawled into bed waiting for Kate to take off the rest of her make-up in the bathroom. She reached and turned off the bedside lamp as she put her book back on the night stand.

Kate turned to face the bed as she started brushing her hair “Jade wasn’t it nice to have X and Zero stay with us for a few days? They’re nice guys. Especially X, what a sweetheart he is. And Zero even though he’s a tough nut to crack he’s a nice guy underneath it all.”

“Yeah, I think so too. You know I think X had a bit of a crush on me when we first met! Did you notice that?”

Kate giggled “Yeah, a bit. It was cute. Poor guy you broke his heart.”

“Hah Awww I’m sure he’s over it by now. We’re all cool.”

“Good to hear. Hey, what did you guys talk about while spending time in the Barracks anyway?”

“Nothing really, he asked how and why I do what I do in terms of fighting and my values and beliefs. Stuff like that.”

“Oh? What did you tell him?”

“I told him that I believe in the good in people and I fight to protect the ones I love and although I don’t want to fight, reality is I have too if I want to keep you and everyone here safe from harm.”

Kate put down her hair brush and walked over to the bed. She sat down and gave Jade a warm, loving, affectionate look. She leaned in and gave Jade a passionate kiss on the lips. Jade held Kates face gently as they lost themselves in each other.

Jade pulled away slightly “What’s this for babe?”

“Do I need a reason?”

“Nope” Jade leaned in and started kissing Kates neck and giving light licks and nips to her sensitive flesh.”

Kate moaned softly and smiled as Jade gave a sexy smirk back at her lover. She kissed her lover hard on the lips again this time with more passion and need as she slowly stripped Kate out of her nightgown. Kate unbuttoned Jades pajama top with ease letting it fall to the floor. She ran her hands through her partners shoulder length red hair as Jades long blonde hair draped lightly around Kates shoulders.

Jade wrapped her arms around her wife holding their naked bodies close “I love you… You are the strength that gets me through the day when I lose myself in the chaos of this world… You are my safety net darling… No matter what happens I will always protect you… Believe that… I fight for you and only you…”

“I know… I love you too… I will always be there to catch you when you fall apart… You are the most important person to me in the whole world… Everything changed when I met you all those years ago… You have made my life complete… This place is a symbol of our love and the justice that we seek in this fucked up world!”

The two girls stared into each others eyes with deep love and respect. They kissed romantically again while they fell onto the bed beneath them.

Jade stroked her finger along Kates breasts, nipples, and stomach. She proceeded down to her partners’ clit and gently tickled it with her finger. She then started rubbing it with her thumb as Kate rubbed her lovers’ clit with her hand.

Both girls moaned as they became wet and turned on. Jade rolled on top of Kate and began fingering her gently running her index finger around inside of her. Kate started fingering Jade, moving her index and middle fingers inside of her.

They both put in more of there fingers until both girls were pushing their fists inside of the other. Kate and Jade moaned with pleasure as they both made love to each other.

They made each other cum hard making the juicy fluids run down their arms and soak the sheets underneath.

Gasping from exhaustion, they both embraced each other tightly as they fell asleep, knowing how lucky they were to have found each other…