Excerpt: Of Irregulars and Hunters - Book Five - Truth

With a soft growl Doctor Doppler watched the data come in on the computer, stroking his beard in thought. He didn't like what he saw. He didn't like the fact that X had progressed as much as he could. Even if Screw Masaider had almost killed X, that blasted Zero getting in the way to save him before he could die of fluid and energy loss, it still wasn't enough. So what if the Hunters had taken the remains of Masaider and Buffalio back to their damaged headquarters? He still had resources at his disposal to resurrect them when the time was right.

He knew his master wasn't going to be too pleased by this and the virus that lurked in his systems seemed to agree. "Even with this much ability at our disposal we still cannot catch that Irregular Hunter . . . " Doppler mused aloud before slamming his fist down on the computer terminal, "Get in here Vajurila! Mandarela!"

Doppler turned and rose, watching as his two, faithful servants warped in. "That Irregular Hunter needs to be captured now," he said, "if the opportunity presents itself, capture him alive."

Mandarela saluted, his bulky, red-armored form dwarfing his smaller, gold-armored companion. "Yes, for the sake of becoming as great as you, Doctor Doppler!!"

Before Doppler could speak both Mandarela and Vajurila teleported out. He sighed. They were eager, at least, but such eagerness he knew would also get them killed. He knew X's reputation. He knew what had happened the last three times Sigma had tried to control things. It hadn't ended pretty.

At the cold, grating laughter echoing in the room, Doppler froze before easing, watching as his latest creation teleported in. Well, not so much his creation. The core was older, more hideous than anyone could have realized. It was the shell he had built to house that evil, vile soul.

"They're too slow," the ghostly image said, "you think it's that easy to catch him alive?"

Doppler narrowed his eyes. No matter what his master wanted he knew it would not be a good idea to build a shell for such an evil core. "You . . . ingrate. You should be thankful I resurrected you and gave you the power ups I did . . . If it wasn't for me you'd still be trapped in that dead core wanting your revenge."

The ghostly Repriroid laughed softly, the sound unnatural. "And you think I care about that?"

"It is irresponsible to waver from the orders I have given you to follow . . . " Doctor Doppler said, "I gave you life, I can take it away just as easily . . . "

The ghostly Repriroid chuckled darkly. "They resent that fact I was reincarnated, in the end they should be more thankful . . . "

"They will be thankful if you follow your orders," Doppler said, "I need the three of you to work together to remove X from the scene so our master can finally enact his plans."

"This is going to be done my way and my way alone . . ." the Repriroid said, voice low and deadly.

The sound sent shivers through Doppler's core even as the ghostly Repriroid teleported out. "Hmph. Well fine . . ." he said as he crossed his arms, glaring at the spot where the resurrected Repriroid had just been, "but what are you going to do if those two do defeat that Irregular Hunter before you do . . . ?" Doppler asked to the silence around him broken only by the hum of the computer and energy core. "Are you going to throw a fit and disobey your master or are you going to bow like the worm you are and finally submit to your rightful master, you prideful . . . thing?"

Doppler chuckled as he sat back at the computer, hoping that his two Nightmare Police could stop X before the resurrected ghost could. He knew it would please his master to humble the spirit, something that could never be done in life.

"Soon, my master," he said to the silence around him, "your body will be done. You will live again, as your minion does and then you can finish what you have started . . . " Doppler rose and headed to his workshop. "And then I can finish what I had started . . . and end this madness once and for all . . . "