Parting

Two sets of footsteps sounded down the dark dank tunnels their owners now traversed through. Zero and Blues hurried through the tunnels, X riding along on Zero's back quietly, to make their way to the top before something which seemed to consist entirely of tooth and nail caught up to them.

"So... That's what this is all about..." Zero mumbled, after listening to X explain their situation. Things had gone from making very little sense, to making no sense at all. "So, what happened to this Forte guy anyway?" He asked Blues, rubbing his head.

X dropped his face into Zero's back, listening to them, yet saying nothing. He closed his eyes, memories flooding back to him. He'd seen it before... Through his eyes... Forte's demise. That horrible accident.

"He was destroyed, by his own creator, to be exact." Blues said slowly, chewing his lip. "Terrible way to go, too. Must have hurt. I was there to witness it."

Slowly, one of X's hands found it's way to his head, gripping his hair.

An old man, cowering back against a control panel.

"Hmm. Wonder why he would destroy his own creation like that." Zero wondered aloud, stretching. Ah well. Nothing to lose sleep over.

X shivered, lost in his thoughts, replaying the nightmare in his head.

Forte and the old man. They were fighting. Forte was screaming, hysterical. So angry... His anger was so strong.

"Damnit, I don't need to be fixed! You damned old man... You tricked me into thinking I had free will... Control over what I did... I had nothing... NOTHING!!!!!!"

He began to slide down Zero's back slowly, hands on head, trying to block out the memory.

"Dr. Wily was always rash like that." Blues snorted. "Besides, Forte was so wild, and out of control, I guess Wily just couldn't tame him, so he took care of him. Not to mention he tried to take Wily out..."

And then...

X's nails broke through his skin slightly, drawing blood, unseen under his hair. "It was an accident." X cut in with, voice low. A single tear ran slowly down his cheek. "It hurt so badly... I could feel it, even after I was awake."

Blues raised a brow slightly, the tip showing just over his shades. He was crying for Forte? Someone he'd never even met? "Accident? How was it an accident? What really happened there?"

X wrapped his arms tight around Zero, nearly losing his balance. "It was... just an accident." He closed his eyes, resting his chin on Zero's shoulder, dejectedly. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. It's not my experience to tell, anyway."

"I want to know what happened." Blues continued to pry. "All this time we thought-"

"He said he doesn't want to talk about it." Zero interjected with. "Leave him alone." Shifting X's weight slightly, he continued to make his way.

Blues sighed, inwardly. He sure was making this difficult for him. This 'Zero' was definitely going to be a problem. Didn't he understand that regardless, X was going to lose that chip? So far, he'd been lucky, but he couldn't keep X safe forever. It was better that X give it to him.

X cast Blues worried glances occasionally, from over Zero's shoulder. He was brooding, again. He didn't think it was possible for anyone to brood as much as he did. "Blues... I'm sorry I can't give you the chip." He broke in with, startling his two companions. "If there was any way I could do it, without hurting Zero, or my friends, I would. Without a second thought." He gave him a weak smile. "I'm sorry to put you through all this trouble. I've put everyone in trouble, just because I'm selfish.."

Blues stared at X from behind his shades. 'Rock... He sounds so much like Rock. Looks kinda like him, too. His reasoning, the way he thinks...' He turned back around quickly, damaged back to X and Zero, so they couldn't read his expression. "It's... It's alright." He squeezed out of his tight throat. He buried his fists into his pockets. "Listen, when we-"

Suddenly the beast they had been working so hard at avoiding dropped down in front of them, teeth bared.

"Shit!!" Blues leapt back a step, standing in front of X and Zero, protectively. "This is not a good thing!" He reached for his gun quickly, to pull it out.

His hand didn't even get the chance to touch the handle before the dog let out a long, ear piercing howl, which knocked the three of them off their feet.

X grit his teeth, hitting the ground, hard, Zero half on top of him. "What is that?!" He sat up quickly, scrambling to his feet. He glanced down, noticing Zero's sabre, exposed as he rushed to get up. He grabbed it quickly, out of it's hilt, and activated it. He ran past Blues and Zero quickly, charging at the creature.

It crouched ready to attack, then hesitated, something catching it's scent.

"X, don't! It's a berserker!" Blues shouted, whipping his gun out. Nothing but trouble.

Slowly, X lowered the sabre, cocking his head to the side, gazing at the beast. Something... Something was familiar about it.

"X, get away from it, idiot!" Zero shouted, hesitant as to approach. It wasn't attacking, and moving might cause it to.

The beast growled, but continued to sniff. Finally, it sat, confused.

" ... Gospel?" He finally asked, dropping the sabre altogether.

The creature let out something close to a whine, and stayed still.

"X!!!" Zero shouted, in desperation. 'What's he doing?! He's leaving himself unarmed!' He thought, stepping toward them.

Instantly, the beast was on its feet, ready to attack again.

"Gospel, it's okay. Stay." X murmured, turning to look at Zero. "Stay there. It's okay." He turned back to Gospel, stationary. Things were starting to make sense. 'So that's it.' He smiled slightly. "Take me back to him, okay?" He walked up to him, fearlessly.

"X, what are you doing?!" Blues yelled, taking aim.

"Don't you dare!" X cried, shielding Gospel. "You'll shoot me before him." His face softened slightly. "Thanks for all your help, but I think I can settle this." He gave Zero a slight wink. "I'll see you soon, Zero. At least, I hope so." He stared at his feet, blushing slightly. "If not..." What the hell, for all he knew this could be the last time I see him. "I... love you, Zero. Take care." He set a hand lightly on the huge beast's shoulder.

"X, are you insane, where are you-"

He disappeared in a blinding flash of light.

"-Going?!" Blues ran to the spot where X once stood. "Damnit!!! You're going to get us all killed!!"

Slowly, Zero bent down and picked up his sabre, tucking it back away. "Stupid... You'd better come back." He sighed softly. "Let's go. When we get out of here, we'll go find him. There's nothing we can do until then."