Chapter 9

Zero fans need not apply.


First, I AM A ZERO FAN! I think he is cool, calm, and the master of the sword and generally butt-kickery. But, I also think mindless violence is funny, and since X is way too nice for that, Zero gets it. And don't worry. He'll kick lots of butt later. And he comes back with some witty comebacks. Which, you know, the said witty comebacks gets him hit again. Such a vindictive cycle. *giggles for a bit*

On an important note, there will be another chapter after this, and possible an Epilogue, mattering on how everything get's spaced out. Not sure yet. Have to find out how big I want this chapter. I see the end, and it saddens me. But I've got another MegaMan X project I've put on the back burner, so I'll dig that up. Yep, focus on that more. *hides KH stuff away from the MegaMan fans* Yep yep yep.

Disclaimer: I still haven't gotten the next Star Force games, but I will…maybe. But I don't own the rights to MegaMan or any of its characters. Stardust is of my creation, even if she is a reploid, but take her and have fun with her…so long as I get credit for making her. And as I always say, the study of the paranormal is a continuing field which has no clear answers to. However, in these last couple of chapter, I've taken real liabilities over what a ghost or poltergeist can or can't do. So forgive anything perceived as disrespect to the dead.


Zero felt a familiar waking up sensation that he had become use to after all these years. It was bad and he knew the future would be equally as bad. He opened his eyes and noticed how the dim the whole room glowed. It was bad now and he knew the future would be worst. Then he felt his arms were bound somehow. It was now worst and he knew his future was at the bottom of the hole. Then he could see the company he kept (or kept him) and knew his future just going to really, really, really suck.

"Good morning, Zero." Vile said with a sneer in his voice, "How are you feeling?"

Zero, the quick wit and giant smart-ass he was, put on a visible sneer and said, "My back feels pretty straight, no harm in my eyes, but I have to say that service hear rather blows." He should have figured that he may get a shot in the gut, but he grinned through it. So worth it.

"Let me kill him noooow!" Vile demanded.

Stardust did her hardest to not let Vile kill him, straining against the other Maverick. "Remember, Master Sigma said no for us!" The girl said with her teeth tight. Stardust maybe strong, but Vile wasn't a high-ranking Maverick and consider Sigma's second hand man for nothing. Her metal boots were scraping as she tried to become a powerful ancor.

Oh, Zero just had to comment on that whole situation, "Yes, better listen to Sigma, you lap dog. Good think his female dog is butch enough to handle the situation." First he got another shoulder-cannon shot right in his stomach, then the said female dog stared him down, approached him (With one hand keeping the still crazed Vile at bay). She struck him with a fist on his waist armor and that finally got the grin off his face.

"Do you make him feel pain?" Vile asked in a mixture of rage and joy. Joy because of Zero's possible discomfort and rage because he did not cause it.

"Not quite." Stardust commented, quite happily with what she done as she twirled her little weapon around.

"What do you mean?" Vile asked, pausing from his struggles.

Zero looked down, "I can't feel my legs." He appeared shocked at this development.

"And I bet a few other things between that area, too." The woman said with a sneer.

Vile stopped with trying to kill the other and gave Stardust a peculiar look, "I am impressed, yet scared for my pieces."

"Well, I guess you better not call me a dog then, huh?" She replied with a wide and sadistic smile.

The Master himself made his dramatic entrance right after their dialogue. He, of course, designed him self in his typical large self: Big, Bald, and Burly. His usually crap-eating grin displayed on his visage, with his dark eyes finishing the look. Sigma even wore a new cape. Of course, this one looked slightly like a curtain, but it shimmered and looked soft to the touch, so he thought it perfect suited (and if he ran really fast, it would fly behind him, like he was flying!).

"Well Zero," the giant reploid began, still grinning, "I sure this is a surprise for you. Bet you didn't guess it was me, huh?"

"Actually, me and X came to that conclusion when we first woke up." Zero said quite calmly, considering he was fact to face with the head Maverick himself, was chained against something, could not feel his legs. Then again, this was Zero, so these usually important details of terror were merely trifling troubles.

Sigma hissed, "You fib."

'Oh here we go again,' thought Zero, but he decided to explain it. It would be funny to see what the dome-head would do. Besides, he did not have much to loose at the moment: He still could not feel below the waist. "Well, you are the only one who would think this would be the perfect place to do something nefarious. I am still not quite sure what you wanted to do, but never the less; this is probably some elaborate get-up that will surely explode in your face. Doesn't help your lackeys kept mentioning you."

Sigma turned his glare away from Zero to his soldiers, "What? You mentioned me before I entered?"

Both subordinates looked rather scared, "Well," Vile began unsteadily, "You never mentioned this time we were suppose to not mention you're return, Sir."

"It's a default rule!" He shouted

"It is?" Stardust asked quickly and quietly. She looked around nervously; pretty much anywhere not at Sigma, "Well, then, um…for the past couple of weeks, I've been telling everyone you came back. I even made t-shirts about it. We had a large convention and blogs about it." A pause. "Me and Vile even planned a surprise party." A pause. "I order banners." A pause. "They'll be done tomorrow."

Sigma glared at the both of them, probably imaging the torment and proper punishment for their insolence. Well, not insolence. More for their stupidity.

Vile sighed, "I suppose I'll have to cancel the caterer."

"I just got bumped back down to rookie, didn't I?" Stardust stated with an upside-down smile.

"We are going to talk about this later." Sigma said through his teeth. He turned back to Zero and put on his regular grin, "I bet you are wondering why we haven't killed you yet."

"I have a few ideas. And by ideas, I mean jokes." Zero should not have been surprised by the fist contacted with his jaw. Okay, he was not surprised contact; just by the pain. Ouch.

"Rhetorical questions!" Sigma screamed loudly. He kept his grin while his voice dropped down to a quieter pitch. "As I was saying, the reason we haven't killed you yet is we aren't going to be the one to kill you."

"Well good job on that one. Goodness knows that you guys haven't been too successful in the past. Great you decided to get some help," Zero swore he could not stop himself. They just came out. The next punch that came to him hurt, but he still laughed around the pain in his gut.

"Oh very nice. But soon you'll be screaming and you won't be able to stop." Sigma warned. Zero did try to come up with something, but nothing too workable yet. That and he still caught his breath from the last one. Right in the breathing controls! "We have rigged quite a surprise for you here." Sigma said, almost in a singsong tone. "It's very unorthodox, but that's why I love this. I was hoping it would have gotten you and X by now. I'm usually a patient man, but something the process must be sped up. Lucky for you, we lost the power. But as soon as everything is fully functioning, you shall mean you're Doom!" Sigma was on a roll now, "For soon brought to your presents shall be the depth of the dead. You'll face a terrible, frightening-"

Suddenly, Dynamo appears with a loud slamming of the door, "Hey, just to warn you guys, the power is starting to come back on. I fixed it up so the machine won't explode everything. But everyone better be careful. There will be a slight discharge in the air so you-"

Shhhhhwoooop!

The good news; the power started back on.

The bad news; a bit of static clung to the air. Everyone who possessed mechanical parts shivered.

"-might feel…discomfort." Dynamo said, with a little shiver of himself, "Wow." Everyone had to pause after that as body parts shivered still a little all over.

Sigma glared at the mercenary, "You've ruined the moment! The dramatic one!"

Dynamo rolled his eyes, but still held his large smile on, "What moment?" Then Dynamo spotted the pinned Zero and a completely new set of grin appeared on his face, "Hey sissy-hair."

"I'd say bite me, but if you took it to heart, I'd loose an arm." Zero replied, as smooth and flawless as all the rest. At least this time, Zero suffered no damage. Similar to Zero, insults just rolled of Dynamo and the mercenary liked to play a little before he went for the strike.

And play he did, "Well, I tease you some more, but you apparently are tied up at the moment. Knew you liked bondage, but did not take you for a grouper. Is this a private party or can anyone joins?"

Zero opened his mouth for another retort, but, "Dynamo!" Sigma shouted at his hired help.

"Whaaaat?" Dyanamo rolled his eyes and made sure to sound annoyed about the interruption. And to sound like a big, blue-haired child.

"What was that discharge about?" The Maverick of Terror asked.

"I told you, I'm not a dang mechanic." Dynamo stated but did not necessarily look as unhappy as he sounded, "I think I had to do something about grounding and maybe replace certain wires with other wires, but I just fixed it how I fix things: Various glues, Duck tape, and stable and banging it with a hammer. If you wanted the job done right, you should have gotten mech fetish," He pointed to Vile, "Or Sparkles over there," He pointed to Stardust, "To fix the big machine that is supposed to be important to you. Not the mercenary who is hired to just blow up things, which I have been lack of doing. You'll make my skill rusty, you know."

"I do not have a fetish," Vile mumbled.

"I am not Sparkles," Stardust huffed.

Both looked ready to do unspeakable horrors to the not-really-Maverick. Dynamo ignored them, "So if there is a slight issue, then it's your problem, not mine."

"Are you complaining about the work I give you?" Sigma scowled.

Dynamo snorted, "Heck no. It's like vacation." He then set a particular happy grin to Sigma, "However, you are complaining about the work I did, not me complaining about the work you give me. So if the work I do that you tell me to do is beyond my expertise, then it is not my fault."

"He's got you there." Zero said, with a groan following. The groan was from the hit in his gut he received afterwards. He rather regretted that one. But if you were on a roll, then you were on a roll.

Sigma backed away from his last punch and glared at Zero directly in the eye, "Well Zero, since you are eager to learn you're fate, I'll tell you the special surprise we have in store for you."

"Which is?"

"We have confiscated a deadly poltergeist and it is currently on the lose. Any questions?"

"Yah." Zero said with a blank look, "What's a poltergeist?"

In an emergency meeting…

"Alright, listen up here." Signas commanded. Which was quite an easy job as he was the model of a Commander; tall, proud, broad shoulders, and shined to a polish. The sun twinkled off the metal shoulder guards. He glanced at all of the warriors and support units before him, whether recent recruits or veterans. "Now, we are dealing with a particular situation. Though we out-number the forces in sheer numbers in this assault, we are dealing with some of the highest-ranking Mavericks in existence, include Sigma himself. Now, I know some of you are scared, but remember my friends, we all sighed up for this. We are Maverick Hunters. Our job, no! Our mission is to destroy these foul threats against ourselves and the citizens we protect." He took a deep breath, then shouted, "Are you with me?"

His speech was moving, even if it short. It sent a sense of pride. Except…

No one shouted as if they believed was not helping get the ball rolling. No one beamed with pride or started clapping. There were several people staring at shock at him. There were people covering their mouths. He wondered if they were sick or perhaps someone had yet again replaced the Flag with the Maverick Hunter Symbol yet again with something stupid. Then he heard a few choked breaths. He glared and the rage came. He did not care what was happening; they would show the proper respect!

"Why are all you people laughing? This is a serious matter of life and death! Our top Commanders are there. The heroes of many Maverick Wars are in there, trapped, being exposed to who knows what? If you all were in a similar situation, by golly, they would be out trying to save your worthless keesters. And you are giggle like little schoolchildren! I am half-tempted to just blast the lot of you! What! What can be so funny?" When nobody answered, he bent down at the waist (A few in the meeting received a big freak-out by this, as many did not know that Signas could actually bend at the waist. It seemed impossible due to the nature of his built) and looked ready to shoot lasers from his eyes. "If every one of you little braggets decides to refuse me an answer, I'll find you a more appropriate work. I need a new secretary!" That made everyone stand at attention. It was a well-known fact that Signas held a backlogged the size of their own command center.

With that threat, one young Hunter raised her hand, "Sir?" Signas signaled the recruit to come forward, appearing ready to fall right on her if the answer displeased him (that was just , "We mean no respect, but…there's a bird on your shoulder…and it went to the bathroom." Even though Signas only twitched slightly after her answer, it looked like something broke behind his eyes, so she quickly followed with a, "Sir?" and wishing she was anywhere else but right here.

He simply pulled himself up and commanded quietly, "Just get ready for the assault."

Back to our friends, just a different set…

When the power came back on, X and the ghost girl quickly hid in a closet, hoping not to get spotted. They weren't, of course. The four Mavericks were more interested in each other or punching Zero. X would have jumped out during one of these points, but he knew that Zero would not want him to give away his position unless Zero himself was in imminent threat. That, and maybe X did feel that Zero deserves some of those blast and bashes he received (Even X had a bit of a bad side, but it was rather tiny and only popped out after long, stressful events, usually involving Zero).

However, X did comment quietly at the last thing Sigma said, "Oh wow?" He was not really sure if he should be worried or not. On one hand, a poltergeist seemed like a scary thing. On the other hand, Zero had made a point about how…insane/inane this idea seemed to be.

The ghost girl, for her hand, frowned, "It's rather difficult to capture a poltergeist. They sometimes go into long periods of inactiveness and it is hard to read them because they don't take on forms."

"How would you know that?" X asked, and then remembered while she gave him a withered look, "Oh yah." He let out a little sigh, "Here would be the point where I would say ghost don't exit, but you are right here."

She smiled, "You've taking this a lot better then most have."

X shrugged, "I've seen a lot of things. You're rather tamed. Sort of like Casper." Though that had to make X wonder, which he did out loud, "A deadly poltergeist, huh? Man, when Sigma was revived, some chips must have gotten put in wrong. This is a little out there, even for Sigma. And usually there is a pattern to his madness." Make over half a dozen Maverick Generals and all other extras he was known to complete.

"Killer ghost?" The girl asked.

X, again, shrugged, "Well, it appears that they wanted a more free-body being and you seem to fit the bill in that regard."

"Fit the bill?" She blinked and her eyes grew wide, "Oooooh."

X looked at her when she cooed out that note, "I don't like that sound, dear."

She bit her non-lip, "Well, if I were supposed to guess, I think the deadly poltergeist the people are talking about is me."

"Well, I figured that out already. Sigma simply grabbed the closest thing that looked like supernatural and just did not realize it was a little girl." X mumbled lightly

"No, he knew where he was looking for." Said little girl spoke with light embarrassment.

X took just one second to process this new information, "So wait…you are supposed to be some sort of killer ghost?" X yet again looked her over, "You don't look like a killer. Or act like one." She looked rather harmless, cuddling her little doll. Of course, people had always called him trust, but really, right in front of him was female Casper. The worst she looked ready to do was give someone a paper-cut or a mean scolding.

"I said he knew where he was looking for, not who he was looking for. They were in the right location. But…they didn't want me." She commented idly

"Then who?" X asked, very much not liking where this conversation was going.

"They wanted Brooks."

"Brooks?"

"Yah." She said, "He's my room mate."

"Oh." Then X's eyes went wide, "Wait…you LIVE with a killer ghost?

The little one stood up straight, put one had on her hip (doll attached) and glared up at X, "First off, that's offensive. I prefer the term bunking, not "live with" since neither of us are alive anymore!"

"Sorry." X mumbled, sadly.

"Second, he's not a killer ghost."

"…Really?" X asked, not sure how this conversation was going to continue. Somehow, this kid seemed to pull a few surprises from her background. Then again, it would be a very Sigma thing if it turned out the ghost the Master Maverick wanted was a clown (in both figurative and literal sense of the noun).

The child remind silent for a moment before visibly licking her lips and began to ramble, "Okay, he might have, liked, accidentally scared a girl…or maybe two down some steps and that may have lead to their untimely death. And maybe, yah, this nun who came by, but he did not know the floor was weak when she fell through when she went running. Oh, and if he scared someone to the point where they died of fright, well, it is still natural causes. Even if it happens half a dozen times, heart attacks are totally nature." She answered rather amicably.

"Oh wow." X commented. Yep, full of surprises.

Back to the Mavericks and Co…

"-And that's what is going to happen to you when it comes." Sigma said with finality to his tone.

"Huh." Zero drew the sound out, "May I asked something?"

"Yes, you may." Sigma answered.

"Did you just put your head up your butt by accident this time or are you just trying to be creative with your failures since they suck so much?" Zero received a good backhand for that little comment. It stung. But he did mumble something.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Sigma asked.

"Can you do that again, but on the other cheek?" Zero chided, a little bit of fluids leaking out the side. "I'm all about balance, and I want the other side to match."

Sigma glared at him, but did do what was ask of him.

Zero groaned, but soon shouted with a hissing grin, "There we go!"

"Want more?" Sigma threatened.

Zero just laughed, sounding slight desperate, "Oh I can't feel it anymore! I wouldn't make a differences, you putz!"

Sigma turned away from the red bot and gazed around the room, "You want to know why you are chained up?" Zero opened his mouth, but Sigma already shouted again, "Rhetorical questions!"

"My answer is still kinky bondage, by the way." Dynamo interrupted. "Just for the record."

Sigma did not attack Dynamo, but he pointed his meating-looking hands in his direction. "You are THIS close! "Sigma warned with a hiss. However, the big man cleared his throat. "Anyone else?" Sigma said out-loud, but kept his eye on Dynamo. Dynamo kept just the smallest hint of a smile on his face. "Good." Sigma turned away and looked back at Zero. Dynamos choose at this moment to make faces behind Sigma's back as he spoke. Unfortunately, the two other lackeys had their attention also set on Zero, so they do not see the vulgar display to their master. Zero did, and it does brighten his mood a little. "Now, the reason you are stuck here at the moment is because we are going to bring our little friend up here." Dynamo wiggled his fingers and mouth Sigma's words.

"You are going to summon a killer ghost right here…to possibly do some bodily harm to me, at least." Zero stated.

"Yes." Sigma replied. Dynamo puts a hand on his hip and does an impressive nod.

Silence.

"I'm surprised you don't have any comments. Just moments before your mouth ran faster then our motors." Sigma said with a sneer. Dynamo also mimicked a sneer, but Sigma turned quickly around to glower at the Mercenary. Dynamo's face already turn back to his usually grin, with a rocking motioning to his feet. Sigma growled under his breath, but choose to look back at Zero. After that, Dynamo gave Zero a double-thumbs up

Zero smirked, but followed Dynamo's example and put on a neutral look when Sigma turned back to gaze at Zero. "No, no comment." Zero stated with boredom, "I think mine and your statements spoke for themselves. I mean, I could not have thought of a better joke." That was a knee in his chest. He let out a huff of air as he keeled over (the best he could while hanging from a wall). Zero managed enough breath to add a musical tone to his words, "Hey, don't be angry with me because all the Kings horses and all the Kings men put you together again in the wrong sockets, Humpty." That was a cannon-ball punch, sending his head slamming against the wall or whatever vertical surface he hung against. He finally let out a pitiful sound, deciding maybe it was time for intermission.

"Now that I have your complete observation, listen well." Sigma stated. He pointed to the machine behind Zero. "Listen now, because I will only say this once…"

One explanation that would use up another page…

"Got all that?" Sigma asked.

Zero remained silent, due to the pain caused by previous hits, but through the whole explanation, he had kept his mouth shut. His repair systems caught up to some of the damage and he felt better. Zero glanced at Sigma. "Well…one little things." He commented lightly

"Which is?"

"See, the brilliance of my last comment was not only a crack at how many times you've been blown to bits and that you aren't fully functional because your troopers are crappy at restoring you and you are bald. It's so perfect." Zero then got a nice blast in his face, "The hell?" He looked at the perpetrator, who was none other then, "What the, Dynamo?"

"Sorry, I got bored." Dynamo lowered his weapon, "You people are just going on and on. What's a fella to do?"

"Blow off, you Mr. Frosty looking mother heifer!" Zero bellowed out, tears of pain just pricking the corner of his eyes. But he would not cry!

"No counter attack?" Stardust asked, yawning. Even the other sadists were getting bored with their Master's Plan and their apparent un-activeness pertaining to it.

"Well, I'm not bored anymore." Dynamo said with a shrugged, "And if I so choose to, I can trash-talk back without needed to flex my muscles, as you will. Besides, in Zero's defense, Sigma should have stopped asking him if he had any questions. That's just asking for some retort from a prisoner."

"OH, YOU SIDE WITH ME NOW AFTER SHOOTING ME IN THE FACE?" Zero screamed from his perch.

"Hey," Dynamo brushed off the screaming like it was nothing and stated his argument, "I'll defend you against Sigma with words just because I can, but as soon as this plan fails, I'll kick the crap out of you and your blueberry buddy when he catches up."

"Oh, my plan is going to fail, huh?" Sigma growled, and then proceeded to knock Zero with another cannon-ball punch.

Zero could only garble a response for a moment, as he started to see sparks behind his eyes. He eventually shook his head, which unnoticed to Zero but noticed to everyone else in the room and in the area made a sound as if something was loose in his head, and glared straight at Sigma. "WHY? I didn't say anything this time."

Sigma glared at the down hunter, "Do I need a reason to torture you? Your existent pisses me off enough." He then focused his rage back to Dynamo. "You are being disputant. Please explain."

Dynamo shrugged, but looked happy with himself, "Hey, it's not my fault his and his friends are incredibly lucky and your luck is down the pooper." He then brought a hand under his chin, as if deeply contemplating the existence of life (though unlikely, since this was Dynamo), "It is one of the proofs that Karma is real."

Vile glared at him with his hidden glare, "And your lucky is spotless, huh?"

Instead of becoming offended, Dynamo just laughed, "Do you seem my paycheck, just for standing around and gawking while we all play piñata with Zero? I considered myself a very fortunate individual, with life and wealth. And I give you guys a discount because you all throw in weapons and the usual guarantee of explosions somewhere." He crossed his arms behind his head, "I get paid a lot more for other things."

Sigma had enough. He held up his hands and shouted, "Everyone, stop it, because the machine goes on and he dies! UNDERSTAND?" He finished with a point to the still pained Hunter.

Dynamo, sharing much the same mouth disease which Zero current held, decided to put his own little two sense on the subject, "Well, the way you've been using him as a punching bag, I think he'll be long destroyed before the specter comes and kills him. Or, whatever it is going to do. You know, you rather explained on what you were going to do, but it doesn't quite make much sense. I mean, if you want it to scare Zero to death, I don't think him seeing a ghost is going to do it. Now, maybe Vile without his helmet would do the trick. Besides, I swear I saw the ghost and it looked like a little-"

Sigma interrupted him, "Machine on, Dynamo."

Dynamo simply ignored him and kept on going with his point, "Now, if you wanted to destroy your subordinate here," Dynamo pointed at Stardust, "That's the way to go because according to what Vile told me, she's terrified of the things that go bump in the night…that aren't us."

Stardust glared at her fellow subsidiary, "Vile!" She hissed out the name in…vileness. After all, he was the only one who knew of this weakness

Normally, his name spoke in such a way was something he always tried to get out of his victims, but coming from this particular female was not going to turn out with him as a victor of anything, "It came up. It was an accident, I swear." She kept glaring at him in silence. "Stop doing that!"

Dynamo, smiling in his mind for causing discord among those two, kept his smile just for Sigma in the next moment, "Now what are we going to accomplish by sticking a dead person on a non-living person? How do you even know it is going to work?"

"MACHINE ON NOW, DYNAMO."

"Alright, alright, let us see what happens. Though either way, Zero is probably going to be in FUBAR'd for a bit." Dynamo mumbled.

Zero just glared at all of the people in the room, "You are all clown-hats and if you have not realized it, I'm still right here, you know!" He felt his lower body shake, but not actually anything in his lower body. But he saw something hit a leg without any discomfort, "Hah! Didn't feel that one, psychos!" He had that one up.

Stuck in the closet…

X and the ghost, safe to say, were in a bit of a pickle. And by pickle, they were going to be in a baaad situation.

"What are we going to do?" The child asked in panic, shuffling back and forth, "They are expecting a killer ghost! And he ain't here!"

"I know." X replied solemnly, but then he frowned and sent it to her, "Wait a minute, you said he wasn't a killer."

"Quit nit-picking. I'm thinking!"

"Alright…" X sighed, "I wish there was a way we could stop that machine from affecting you."

"What do you mean?" She asked curiously, though not quite forgetting her panic.

"Well, what are you going to do when they turn it back on?" X replied, wondering if he could get a good shot off here. Not that he knew really where to shoot on the giant…metallic pottery-looking thing.

"I still don't get what you mean." Now the panic faded into curiosity.

"When it drags you out, they are going to start asking question, seeing as you aren't threatening at all, and I don't think you want-" X began, but was interrupted by a honest to God squeal.

"Drag me out?" She cut him off.

X blinked and now looked at her with curiosity, "Wait a minute, you did not understand that the big thing Dynamo is turning on was the same thing that pulled you before and probably caused that small power outage?"

"…No…" The ghost replied shyly, kind of feeling a little stupid.

"But Sigma explained it just a moment ago." Now X shouted in a loud whisper.

"…I didn't understand anything he really said." The girl said with a small shrug, visibly apologizing.

"…" X's mouth dropped a little as he stared at her.

"I'm bad with the scientific stuff." She stated to defend herself from looking too silly. Though she should really know that admitting fault was still saying you have faults.

"…" His mouth dropped a little more.

"Well, do you know how you run?" She asked with blunt accusation.

X's maw dropped a little more, and then he got his voice back and screamed back, "YES! Trust me, I know how I run." He was about ready to draw it out for her if need be if she tried to argue there was no way he could. And no, he would not forgive her for being ignorant about how things run because things are kind of sucking right now.

But she did not. She just let out a little, "Oh…"

Then…

…brrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRR

"It's starting up…It's starting up." The girl started to pounce around in even more of a state of terror.

"Don't panic!" X warned with a loud whisper. But it was not as if he could grab her or something. Worst he would do is fall right through her and create more noise. Alerting the Mavericks of their presence. Which would only hinder things currently.

"But you said it's gonna pull me!" She cried out with despair, but at least kept it a quite cry.

"Alright…um…" X was half-tempted to hit himself in the head. Might send some jolts into the right areas to produce some ideas. But what to do? Or course, it was not as if the Mavericks could do anything to the poor girl. Unless that machine could somehow contain a vortex of doom or some sort of ghost-destroying ray-beams. Okay, now he was just thinking silly. But since there was a ghost in front of him, what were the limits to the imagination?

Unexpectedly, the girl stood straight and took a deep breath, "Okay, This is the part of the story where the climax happens." The girl mumbled. She could already feel that strange tug again, making things just worst that she was closer the stupid things. "Several things could happen. I could show myself, hoping that is a distraction long enough for you to do something." He was not in the mood to deal with this side of the strange girl. Nor was X in no mood to jump out half-hazard and start blowing up everything in his way (That was more Zero's style, but he was tied up at the moment and could not for X to follow his lead). However, he noticed that the little ghost girl's feet were beginning to slide, so he needed to come up with something because he was suppose to be the smart one and think up smart plans. The little girl continued to speak, "However, it might not surprise them so much and since they have a machine that could drag me, so who knows what else they can do? I mean, I got me here and it's rather hard to do that to a dead person." She took a few steps back, trying to hold herself away from the machine. "But, I could also hide behind the machine and they will simple think it is broken. Then, if they shut it off, maybe I can scare them and with that distraction, you can take them. You can take…four, right?" X gave her a look, but decided not to comment because that sounded suspiciously like the first plan, except with a longer waiting time. But heck, with the way things were going, worst comes to worst; he would have to try it. But the girl was not finished. "Or…we could give them what they want. Except, not really." X gave her eye another look, but she smiled winked, and floated away with a scream.


Oh my god, I finally got this checked. Sorry folks, it has been a hectic couple of months. But I am glad I finally have the time to do something with this. Well, to the few dedicated readers, thanks for the notice. There will be one more chapters, plus an epilogue (which is a chapter, just shorter and happier).