A/N: I'm finally posting again! Anyways, here's the news: I just got my new guitar last weekend, for my guitar class, incidentally. Keep in mind, I'm reading 8-Bit Theater while I'm writing this, so it's going to be pretty slow going (not that I update regularly anyways, but I want you to know that I'm trying to get better! At least I remembered my obligations! Also, if you don't know what 8-Bit Theater is, google it 'cause I can't mention the website without breaking the 'no advertising rule'. And then get down on your knees and thank Brian Clevinger for his comedic genius.)

So, without further ado, here's my next chapter, and from now on, in an attempt to keep it present-tense, since I got a complaint about that (thanks for pointing it out, by the way!), I'm going to keep all the conversations with Sara that are in Rock's head part of the narrative, to try and smooth out the dialogue.

Disclaimer: I don't own Mega Man, Mega Man X, or any other Mega-something.... Maybe Mega Awesomeness.....

Congrats to the Steelers for winning the Super Bowl, by the way....

Year 1225 A.W., June 4, Demeter's Southern Hemisphere

Huh. That was a rather odd dream. Sara, are you able to see into my dreams, perchance? Yes, I suppose I could do that, but I already told you that, out of respect for you, I try to stay out of your subconscious mind.

Oh. Well, then is it possible for me to see into your mind? Your dreams?

First off, I don't 'dream'. As I've told you, such a thing is foreign to me. Hell, I hardly even come close to what you call 'sleep'. But I dosometimes recycle some of my systems processors during Sleep Mode, which often involves the cycling of memories. I know also that some of my memories are locked away in an archive that I no longer have access to during my 'conscious', or 'awake, cycles, no doubt as a fail safe in case I fall into the wrong hands, which might be my equivalent to the human subconscious. I don't if or how you could gain access to them, but it might be possible. Why do you ask?

I huffed, exasperated by her long speech.

Because I had a dream that felt so real, but felt familiar somehow, even though I had never experienced it. So, naturally, I figured I got it from you due to our mental link.

Ah. Maybe. What was your dream?

I recounted the events taking place in the metal corridors of my dream's self-described place, The Pantheon.

Sounds familiar, but I can't be sure. So much was locked away when X separated my 'consciousness' and locked my dormant in the flagship. I do know the source of that name, Pantheon, though. Among the many cultures of Earth, there were the Greeks and the Norse, whose each religion revolved around a gathering, or "pantheon" of Gods and Goddesses who ruled the world.

The Pantheon of the Gods... It's definitely a fitting name for one of X's ships.

Indeed. After that sentiment, I looked around my room. I really do need to clean up soon, or I'll have my parents yelling at me before long.

So I got out of bed, gathered up my dirty clothes, and went downstairs to the basement, where the washing machine and dryer were kept.

After loading the washer, I went back upstairs to my room, and looked into organizing the clothes in my dresser drawers, and once they were to my satisfaction, I pushed them closed. I then went into my closet, and after I reorganized my wardrobe, I took all the empty hangers out and went down to the laundry room again to hang them up. Finally, I tried my best to organized my books, comic books, and movies into something not totally unlike order, and closed the closet doors. I then made my bed, and looked around my room. Not bad for half an hour's worth of work.

I was about to settle down and put a movie on, when the phone rang. I went downstairs and into the kitchen to get it, when I noticed that a note on the fridge. Taking a few seconds to read it, I saw:

Rocky,

Dad's going to be working late, and I got an emergency call from the station. Knowing that I might've

aced the interview, I went, hoping I got the job. I left some money on the counter for food, as neither of us will be back until late.

Feel free to invite a friend or two over, just don't get into any troube!!!

Love you,

Mom

Mom used to work as a chef, but she had to quit for when we moved here.

Sensing Sara's acknowledgement to my explanation, I went to pick up the phone before it stopped ringing. "Hello?" I asked.

"Hey, it's me," replied Maria's voice. "Hey, what's up?" I said. "I was wondering, do you have anything to do today?"

I told her no. She said, "Would you mind meeting me at the bus stop? There's something I want to show you." I said sure. "If you'd like, I can pick you up. I've got a certified vehicle. I'll bring you over to my house and we can have some lunch." "...Alright. Let me tell you where I live." After she gave me the needed directions, I went upstairs to grab both my house key and the motorcycle key Dad left in my room.

I jogged to the garage, loving the excuse to try out my 'Chopper. I opened the garage door, using the opener on my key ring, hopped on the bike, inserted the key into the ignition, and twisted. I felt the engine roar to life, humming in front of the seat. I rolled it into the drive way and closed the garage door. I revved the engine to check it's sensitivity. It took a great deal of effort to keep the bike from rolling out from under me. I refitted myself back into a comfortable position in the seat. I rolled it into the street and grinned.

This is goin' to be fun!!!

****

I managed to get to Maria's house without incident so far, without so much as missing a turn. The bike seemed to be alive to my very touch, like those 'horses' from Sara's memory....library...thing.

The house was unassuming at first glance. There were three windows on the front, one on the side, a small front yard, and a wall to surround the backyard. But from riding around it, I learned that there was something that constituted a large ranch near the house, with a barn (presumably for holding the kastonos), a great brown fence encircling it.

I revved the engine loudly to announce my presence. A few minutes later, I saw the slim form of Maria, draped with curly brown locks, emerge from the doorway across from the yard. She locked the door, making me assume her parents are away as well. She had a helmet in one hand. When I asked about it, she said, "It's my brother's helmet." After making sure it was fastened, she climbed on, her arms reaching around my waist.

"Hang on," I said, and she gave me a funny look. "Hang on?" she repeated, "You do know I ride kastonos, right?" giving me a quizzical glance. I just replied, "Well let's see if I can give it a run for it's money.

And with that, I revved the engine once more, performed a U-turn with a wheelie, and sped down the road as fast as the speed limit would allow, weaving in and out of cars while I was on the Interstate.

****

When we finally got home, I pulled the bike into the garage, feeling satisfaction. I said, "Well, how'd you like that?"

She gave an almost sheepish grin. "Well, it certainly was different. Different from riding a kastonos, anyway. I'm just surprised you didn't get pulled over." I remarked, "I stayed within the speed limit!" I felt pride in my bike, as well as...something else. I wasn't quite sure what it was.

I felt Sara laughing at me.

What? Oh, nothing.

When I tried to pry it from her 'mind', she clamped down, and I felt as a naughty child who had a slightly amused adult wave their finger at it. Anyway, we went inside and I asked Maria what she wanted for lunch. "Oh, I don't want to impose," she said. However, when I insisted, she said, "Oh, fine, if you must. Just a sandwich will do."

I did a mock bow, saying, "My Lady, your wish is my command." She giggled. I went into the kitchen, making us sammiches, asking, "So what was it you wanted to show me that was so important?" I heard her say, "It has to do with your new powers." I bluntly remarked, "I guessed that."

Silence for a moment. And then: "I think I might know of a use you could put it to, aside from helping old people across the street."

"Yeah? What?" I asked, coming into the dining room, laying down the sandwiches. She said, "Well, it occurred to me that only certain people could have had access to that room where you got the First and Fourth Warriors' Gauntlets, and the fact that you could would mark you as the Sixth Warrior. As it is the Sixth Warrior's mission to protect humanity, perhaps you could put the suit to use protecting the general populace where the police fail. Like you did with the old guy."

"What, like a superhero?" I asked. She turned a red color. "I know, it's a stupid idea."

I shook my head, not wanting to make her feel bad by giving her the wrong impression. "No, it's not. It's probably as important as you first said. After all-" I took a bite. "-it's a pretty big job, watshin' ober 'umanity. I dunno about being the Shixth Warruh, but-" I swallow. "I might as well put the power to some kind of use, right? To be perfectly honest, I'm a little nervous, because if anyone finds out who I really am, it could spell out trouble for me.

"If I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna need to be very careful. I assume you know what would happen if people found out about my and Ian's little break-in at the Mansion? Think about it -- they could interpret the return of The Mega as the return of the Dark Machines, and try to kill me before they bring their doom upon them. That's the worst case scenario."

She said, "But the best case scenario is being hailed as the greatest hero of all time." I inwardly groaned. Her imagination is getting the best of her. At that moment, she looked almost childlike, which was kinda cute. What? Cute? What am I thinkin'?

ANYWAYS, in order to keep it going, without expressing my doubts, I just gave a non committal grunt, saying, "Maybe. I'll have to think about it. In the mean time, anything else you want to do? After you eat, I mean." Remembering her food, she began to eat, reverting back into the teenager she is, saying, "I dunno. Want to go to a movie?" I said, "Sure. What've you got in mind?" She said, "I heard that they've got The Thing From Diagorn Swamp playing at 3:00." I nodded. "Okay. After we ate, I grabbed my keys and we headed out.

****

After the movie, I took Maria home, and I went back to my house. I ordered some fish for dinner, and after eating, I went up to my room, propped up some pillows, turned the TV on my dresser towards my bed, and watched a made-for-TV movie until I fell asleep.

****

I got up after another restless night. I went down to the engine room to consult Hrothgar on the repairs. "How's the repairs? Are we doing well?" He turned to me with his usual sour face. "I wish, General. I suppose we'll be fine borrowing materials from the rest of the fleet, but if we don't find a suitable planet soon, I'm afraid the crew's gonna be sick with either Hibernation Sickness from the amount of time they now need to spend in the Cryo Bay to recover from the work, or from exhaustion." I put a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. "I hope for the best. Please, don't push yourself. Do only what you can. If I have to, I'll get replacement engineers, so that the crew can completely recover. As for finding a planet, please be patient. I am doing all I can. Which reminds me, I have something to ask you." He looked up at me and asked, "Yeah?"

I shook my head, "Not here. Do you have someplace quiet where we could talk?" His eyes widened. He nodded. "I'll take you to my office." Once safely inside the small room, he locked the door, sat down at his desk, and asked, "What is it you need of me, sir?" I sat down as well, in the chair across from him. "It's about Sara. She believes she may have found a planet." The Chief Engineer nearly jumped for joy. A smile appeared on his face -- the first smile I've seen on a crewmember in a long time. I hope I'm worthy of it.

"Before you get your hopes up, let me remind you that there's never such a thing as certainty in this business. She ould just as well be wrong, even if she's willing to take the risk." His face got serious again. "Of course. You're right, Sir." I explained, "Anyway, there's something I need to install into the ship's core before we land on the planet. Sara has informed me of how far away the planet is, and it's my belief that if we make it, the ship's going to crash. So here's what I need you to do...."

My eyelids drifted open as a beam of sunlight pierced through my window's blinds.

A/N: So, how was it? Read and Review, peo--

Ian: *Enters room* Wait just a damn minute.

Me:*sigh* Yes Ian, can I help you?

Ian: I didn't even appear in this chapter!!! What, you think you can just imply a love interest, and just get away with it?

Me: Er... yeah, I'm the Almighty Author.

Ian: I'm Rock's best friend. BEST FRIGGIN' FRIEND!!!! I should be in, like, EVERY friggin' chapter!!!

Me: *sees long argument coming* Look, it's my story, and I'll do with it what I want. In fact, as the Almighty Author, I could make you disappear from the story forever, if you'd rather I do that.

Ian: Grr. At the very least, put me in the next chapter.

Me: On one condition; I don't want any more complaining outta you. What I want is for you to bring me another bottle of G2. If you can do that without incident, I'll put you in the next chapter. Oh, and remind the nice readers of the contest, please.

Ian: Grr. *Turns towards computer screen, and speaks in angry monotone* Remember, readers, guess Rock's last name and be in Reaper's next one or two stories.

Me: Very good. Now, before you get my drink, I've got an honest question.

Ian: Shoot.

Me: ....How'd you get in my room? I thought I lived in the Real World.....

Ian: I used the door marked 'Service Entrance'.

Me: o_0