Disclaimer: I do not own Megaman X or anything related, I only own the original characters that appear in this story.

Chapter 14:Connections

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Zero and Violet made their toward Alia's room.

"Zero, why did you volunteer to do this?" Violet asked.

"Because, X is my best friend, he would have wanted me to be the one to tell her." Zero replied. Violet fell silent after that as her thoughts drifted to Axl wondering where he could be. Violet let out a sigh which caught Zero's attention.

"What's the matter?" Zero asked.

"I just, I am worried about Axl, I should have been able to find some trace of him, I feel like such a failure." Violet said.

"Don't ever think like that Violet, if you start to doubt yourself now you won't make it very far as a Hunter and Axl needs someone he can count on, not someone that feels sorry for them self, besides, Axl has proven himself time and again to be a capable Hunter." Zero said trying to encourage Violet and make her feel better. Violet however still didn't feel any better. They finally reached Alia's room and Zero knocked.

"Who is it?" came Alia's voice obviously straining back tears.

"It's Zero." Zero replied. A moment later Alia's door flew open, most likely she hoped Zero had good news regarding X. Zero took a deep breath, he hated to do it like this but he was going to break it to her straight.

"Alia, I am sorry, X has become corrupt." Zero said. Zero looked into Alia's eyes and he swore he literally saw her artificial heart break right there on the spot. Alia looked down at the ground then collapsed to her knees and broke out crying in pure anguish and heart break. Violet got on her knees with Alia and embraced her in a tight hug with Alia's face buried in her chest so she could cry.

"Take care of her sis." Zero said walking off. Zero walked outside into the HQ's Court Yard and looked around. There was so much going wrong for them. X was now Maverick, Axl was missing, and there were still some H-Hunters left. With a final glance he decided to head to the Med Facility.

Maverick Hunter Headquarters Med Facility

Zero walked over to Hydro who was filling out some paper work.

"Hydro." Zero said making the poor chief medic jump.

"For crying out loud Zero, what have I told you guys about that." Hydro said.

"How is Iris, is she awake?" Zero asked.

"Yeah, she is, she has been wondering about where you have been." Hydro said. With a nod Zero walked off and headed toward Iris's room. Iris was sitting on her bed brushing her hair.

"Iris?" Zero questioned cautiously. Iris looked up and when she saw Zero her eyes lit up.

"Zero!" Iris yelled running up to Zero and embracing him in a tight hug.

"Are you, okay?" Zero asked.

"Yes, I am now thanks to you and X, I can't believe I was ever a pawn to Sigma after what he did the Maverick Hunters and Repliforce." Iris said.

"What happened out there Iris, why were you suddenly cured of the virus when you and X made contact?" Zero asked.

"I, don't really know, when X caught my arm it felt like the virus literally drained from and into X." Iris said. This only concerned Zero. If Corrupt X could drain virus strands from others then that only means he could become more powerful. Iris noticed Zero's concerned face and embraced him again.

"What's wrong?" Iris asked.

"It's X, he has fallen corrupt to a new strand of the Maverick Virus, it is a combination of the Sigma and Zero strands which we refer to as the X Virus." Zero explained.

"Oh Zero, I am so sorry." Iris said wishing there was something she could do.

"I regain one person I care about deeply only to lose another." Zero said bitterly.

"Zero, listen to me, it has been a very long time since I have seen you but you were strong back then and I am sure you're strong now, I think you will be able to save X." Iris said. Zero himself however, wasn't so sure.

"Are you clear to leave?" Zero asked.

"Hmm, yeah, I would guess so." Iris said.

"Then let's go for a walk, I need to take my mind off things." Zero said...

Maverick Hunter Headquarters Living Quarters

Alia sat on her bed a little calmer now while Violet still embraced her for comfort stroking her hair. When Alia finally calmed down all the way she became confused as to why Violet was comforting her.

"Violet, why, after all of the harsh things that were said?" Alia inquired.

"Well Alia, I finally realized I would never be able to separate you from X so I decided to give up on him, also, there is someone else I have my eyes set on and I know he is single, and the last thing is, I learned this from the time I have seen all of you, X, Brother, Axl, you, Signas, Hydro, no matter what happens you guys are all a family and well, I am a part of this family now, at least, I hope I am." Violet said.

"Yes Violet, you are a part of this family now, so now tell me, who do you have a crush on?" Alia asked. Violet smiled knowing she did a good job at making Alia feel better and taking her mind off X but she also blushed at Alia's question.

"I really don't wanna." Violet started shyly.

"Oh come on, you can tell me, I will keep it a secret, we girls gotta stick together after all." Alia interjected.

"It's Axl, I don't know why but he is just so appealing." Violet said. Alia just smiled at the young Reploid.

"Speaking of, how is Axl?" Alia asked.

"He is missing, we encountered an H-Hunter at Area Zero and Axl was knocked through one of the colony's windows and just disappeared without a trace." Violet said sadly.

"It really isn't going well is it?" Alia asked.

"Not at all, poor Zero, I think all of this is finally starting to get to him." Violet said...

Maverick Hunter Headquarters Observation Deck

Zero and Iris stood near the railing on the outside of the observation deck. This was one of X's favorite areas to go when he was upset or needed time to think something through and now Zero understood why, the view of the sunset was absolutely beautiful. In the back drop shadowed out was the Enigma Particle Beam Cannon which hadn't been used since the Eurasia incident.

"Zero, I wanted to say that I am sorry, if I hadn't let Sigma take control of me then maybe none of this would have happened." Iris said apologetically.

"You have no reason to be sorry Iris, it was my fault you were even like this to begin with, had I not fought against you for the sake of duty then." Zero said trailing off.

"As you mentioned at the Repliforce Airbase Zero, we were all duped, Maverick Hunters and Repliforce, everyone is guilty in that war." Iris said moving closer to Zero.

"I just wish I knew what to do here, two of our top Hunters are gone, Axl has simply vanished and X is Maverick now, I just don't know what I am going to do when we finally have to face him, will I be able to fight him, to kill him if it comes down it." Zero said.

"It will be okay Zero, I am sure you will do what is right." Iris said getting the courage to take Zero's hand into hers.

"Back during the Repliforce war, X wanted me to make him one promise, he wanted me to promise him that if he ever became Maverick that I would take care of him, I ignored it thinking he was just thinking crazy, but yet, here I am now faced with the very situation I never thought possible so many years ago." Zero said. Iris let Zero's hand go and turned him around to face her. Zero looked into Iris's eyes and there was a sight in Zero's eyes that Iris had never seen before. Zero had tears flowing from his eyes and down his cheek. Iris took her gloved hand and wiped Zero's tears away and pulled Zero down to her and kissed him passionately.

Here it is for all of my faithful followers chapter number 14 is now up and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I tried to give it a feeling of tenderness, not sure how well I did though. As always R&R good or bad I do not care, till Chapter 15 my peeps, PEACE!

P.S.: I am also now working on another story when I hit writers block with this that is a Megaman X AU story called Jowy and Star's Tale give it a read and le tme know what you think of the set up of it.

Reviewers:Alia Light, Gardian X, Rayokarna-Blaise aXcess, Cor Strike FX, shadowneko003, and Sacred Order