A Daniel X Fanfiction

by Sakura Martinez

Author's Note:

Welcome to the twenty-third (but actually twenty-sixth) chapter of this here fanfic. I'm on-schedule as planned, which makes me happy. I do hope that this chapter makes you guys happy, too! So, enjoy! :)

Disclaimer:

I do not own Daniel X, or the characters in that story. James Patterson own the rights for them. What I do own is the idea of this fanfic.

Summary:

Daniel has long accepted what has happened to his friends Dana, Willy, Emma and Joe. But when he is suddenly ambushed by Number 2's second-in-command, Number 13, the young Alien Hunter finds a big surprise waiting for him.

Daniel X: Game Over

Chapter Twenty-Three

"I am sorry to report that there is no Alparian in the island," the scout that Undinogh had sent came back two days later, a lot longer than we expected. "There were other players there—most of them were the ones who didn't want to pilot the ship and who had been in this stage for quite a while now, but there was no girl there."

"Are you sure?" I couldn't help asking, though I didn't want to insinuate that perhaps this scout didn't look thoroughly enough.

"I am certain, there are no Alparians in this level other than the four of you," the scout replied before bowing and backing away, leaving us with Undinogh.

"I can't say how sorry I am for not being able to help you find your friend," Undinogh said as we watched the other Undine walk away, returning to his duties. "Perhaps you would like to stay a couple of days more, we could try searching the other islands."

Joe and I exchanged glances while Willy slowly shook his head. Emma remained passive.

"No, that's alright." I replied, although it wasn't "alright" at all. It was frustrating. I was hoping that perhaps my power—or what was left of it at the moment—resonated with Dana's powers—if such a thing was possible. Of course, I didn't exactly knew if it was. No one was around to teach me these things. "We'll start the journey to the center. We can't waste any more time and I'm sure we would meet her somewhere..."

"Well, if you are certain then let us prepare to set sail," Undinogh nodded and I wondered if he really was as sympathetic with my plight as he was letting. It was hard to read an Undine's action especially when you're already bound to one of their contracts.

All four of us—me and my drang—nodded. And when Undinogh saw that we weren't going to change our minds, he called for his men to get to work, ordering them all sorts of things so that we could get a move on. Half an hour later, Undinogh gave me the wheel as I handed Emma the compass. I figured that she was better suited for that kind of thing, after Joe turned the offer to be navigator down saying that it wasn't as "technologically advanced" as he would like, calling a compass an "ancient, navigating device".

Emma didn't complain when I asked her to be my navigator. She seemed happy to be able to do something productive again rather than waiting. I guess she also hated the fact that she didn't know about the Undine and their contracts—not that I put that against her. Like I've said, we may have a higher IQ than humans, but we are not omnipotent.

As I steered the ship, Undinogh watched and as he watched I became even more paranoid. It was like there was some sort of hidden test and the captain was grading me. I didn't like the feeling. Not one bit.

"How long do you think it would take us to get there?" Emma asked.

We were the only ones left in the navigation room. Willy and Joe had agreed to keep watch for any suspicious activities that would lead us to believe that Undinogh and the Undines were up to something...troublesome. So far, they hadn't seen anything, nor heard anything, suspicious and I wanted to keep it that way. Should a fight occur in the ship, Emma, Joe and I would have to rely on Willy to get us through.

I couldn't help but chuckling at Emma's question, though as she sat with the compass in front of her.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that question?" was my reply, "You're the one who's navigating us, Emma."

"Well, it's not like I have a map, and I can't even feel the earth what with all the water around us," Emma huffed. "I hope we get out of this stage soon."

"You're not the only one," I sighed.

Silence.

Then...

"I don't want to ask this, Daniel, since I know you're just going to go think about it and that would make me think about it more, which, in turn, would make this compass stop working but, I have to know before it really starts bothering me and taking all of my concentration in finding the center of the ocean away," Emma said so fast that it was a miracle I manage to catch every single word she said.

"What is it?" I asked, even though I already had a feeling about what she was going to ask. It was, apparently, what all of us have in mind for a while now.

"Do you think, if it all comes down to it, we're going to have to fight Dana?"

"I hope not," I answered. I have already told them about what had happened in the crow's nest, even they didn't have an explanation for that. "I know I won't be able to lift a finger against her."

"And neither could we," she muttered, "But, what if that's the only way to get out of this place? What if fighting Dana is the only way to free ourselves and get your powers back? What are you going to do, Daniel?"

I didn't have to think about what to answer to that, "I'd find another way and I'll keep looking for another way. I won't sacrifice Dana. I won't give up on her."

Emma sighed, but there was a small smile tugging on her face.

"You know, I kind of envy the faith you put into Dana," she said, "I do hope it works out for both of you."

"So, you guys no longer have doubts of who I really am? I mean, the nickname is a flimsy proof."

"No one can fake what you've done, Daniel," Emma said shaking her head, "You're much too loyal to your friends to be someone else and I don't think Void would have the stomach to program someone like you just to mess with us. Besides, the way you make us all feel, it reminds us of the time when we were all together back in Alpar Nok."

I smiled, not really sure what to say to that. I know what they meant by "that feeling", I felt it, too and I was still feeling it. But, there was something missing still. We weren't complete yet. And we won't be until Dana was back with us.

"Well, back to work then," Emma said after clearing her throat.

You would have thought that, since this was supposed to be an alien ship, it would have been capable of traveling faster than the ordinary ships. But, that was not the case. If not, it seemed even slower. Willy, Joe, and I took turns piloting the wheel of the ship while Emma remained our sole navigator. I have to hand it to her. She really does have an impenetrable concentration. At least, when she puts herself into it.

There was one thing I did notice about Emma, though, when I decided to hang out in the navigation room when it was Joe's turn to take the wheel. Emma was, surprisingly, a bit restless. Like she didn't know which way to look, how to sit down properly. The silence in the room was a bit awkward, which I honestly didn't think was possible. I mean, Joe was loud when he wants to be and when he's not acting like the computer and techno-geek that he is. But even he was quiet, not in the uncomfortable way that Emma was.

At first it was quite amusing to watch but, when we ended up in a wrong direction—not once, but thrice—it stopped being funny. At that point, I asked Emma if she wanted a break but she shook her head and remained adamant about being the navigator. After that, there weren't any more mishaps. Still, the blush that appeared when Joe asked if Emma was alright and if she wanted to rest (which, he said he wouldn't take against her) remained on Emma's skin for quite a while longer than I thought necessary.

Heh, who would have thought? Emma like's Joe-Joe. The thought entered my mind as I watched them, my chin resting on my hand.

Apart from that, nothing interesting happened in the days that went by. It was painfully boring. Though I didn't want anything to happen, like a sea battle or a coup. What I wanted was to get out of that stage. And, we got that wish a week later when we finally found the center of the ocean.

There was nothing remarkable in the center. I was half-expecting to see some kind of portal, or even a whirlpool, or something ominous but there wasn't. The center of the ocean was nothing but water.

"So, where's the exit?" Willy asked.

To answer his question, Undinogh pointed overboard, in the water.

"Down there," he replied.

"You're telling us we have to jump?" Willy sounded panicked.

"That is precisely it. Once you hit a certain depth in the water, it will take you to the safe zone." Undinogh explained.

"Oh, heck no." Willy said backing away. "I already had a hard time cleaning all my weapons from our earlier plunge. There's no way I'm going to painstakingly take the Opus apart to clean it again."

"Well then, you won't have a choice but to stay with us." Undinogh said nonchalantly.

Willy growled and shot me a look as if that was my fault.

"So, we have to dive," I cleared my throat. I didn't like that look. "We're not going to drown, right?"

"Of course not!" Undinogh scoffed as if it was the most absurd thing he had ever heard. "Don't be silly, Daniel X. Now, unless you would like to stay here much longer, I suggest you jump and be on your way."

I nodded, looked at my companions. They looked expectantly at me as if telling me "You first". I sighed and shook my head before I let go of any inhibitions about ocean diving without any gears. At first, it was just like swimming but then there was a sudden gravitational pull that wrapped around me, dragging me further down. I struggled at first, which was the wrong thing to do since I was just using up my oxygen faster and there was no refill for that. Water bubbles escaped my lips and my nostrils as I fought the current dragging me down.

I was this close to fainting from lack of oxygen when I was unceremoniously dumped in the white room—the Safe Zone.

The relief I felt was short-lived as seconds later, Joe fell on top of me followed by Emma and then Willy.

"That...was interesting," Joe said.

"If you're into death-defying stunts like that." Willy said, "Which I am, but I don't plan to do that again any time soon."

"I agree," Emma nodded.

"Alright, guys," I struggled to say, "can you please get off of me? You're all so very heavy and I want to breathe, thank you very much."

After a chorus of apologies and shuffling while trying to get up, I was finally freed from being the pin-cushion of the year. We were all wet from the swim, but I was the only one who felt sore but I wasn't as annoyed as Willy—who had begun to take his weapons apart, drying them—was.

"I guess we're going to be staying her for a while, then, " I whispered as I looked at my companions who had all begun to check up on the things they were carrying: Emma with her staff and Joe with his Symbiote. No one bothered to say anything, they were all so busy.

I sighed. "Stay for a while it is then..."

I looked around, when I took a step towards the portal, the AI spoke, "Congratulations on making it past the 18th stage. You have received the following experience points."

A sound, like a roulette spinning sounded around us, causing Willy, Joe, and Emma to stand up in the ready. It was then followed by the level-up sound.

"You have now reached level 15," the AI spoke again. "Level one, power to create, unlocked."

A ping-sound erupted after that. But I was too stunned to notice anything else. I got my powers back.

My friends rushed to my side, eager to see me test out my powers.

I grinned at them and rubbed my hand. I knew exactly what to create—what would make them surprised. And so I concentrated on that thought—the thought of my friends wondering what they're expression would be to see the version of themselves that I had conceived out of my memory and imagination; the version of themselves that I had hung out with for the past years after my parents' death.

What happened next was not something I would have expected. Everyone knows how adept I am at controlling my powers and it hasn't gone haywire ever since I learned to fully control them. Which was why, when I ended up creating cardboard c ut-outs of my friends instead of the "real" thing. I have no way of explaining it.

Of course, they didn't know I didn't plan doing that.

"I was hoping for something with a 'bang', but...a cut-out?" Willy said, eyeing the first product of my imagination after regaining my powers.

"No, that's not—" I tried to tell him, but Emma butted in.

"A make-over? You create a cut-out and you give us all a make-over?"

"I'm telling you, I—" Once again, an interruption. This time, coming from Joe.

"I agree with Willy, you aren't one for subtlety, Daniel. But I guess you're trying to conserve your energy,"

"Guys, I wasn't trying to make cut-outs!" I almost shouted, raking my hair with my hand. "I was trying to recreate you guys. This," I waved my hand at the cut-outs, "was not something I did on purpose."

"What are you talking about?" Willy asked, "Recreate us?"

I nodded, trying once again to concentrate and use my powers. This time, I tried summoning an animal I knew all too well. An animal I admire. An elephant. But, when it came out—when it materialized—it wasn't a real elephant, it was a huge statue.

I screamed in frustration as I tried kicking the bronze statue of the elephant.

"Daniel, what's going on?" Emma asked, her voice telling me to calm down even when the words were not out yet.

"Something's wrong with my powers," I told them, frustration evident not only in my face but also in my voice. "It won't listen to me. It's like it's twisting what I wanted to form into something else. This has never happened before."

"Do you think it has something to do with what the AI said?" Joe piped after a while.

"What the AI said?" I asked.

Joe nodded, "It said 'level one, power to create'. Maybe you're trying to create things that aren't within the level range."

"So, you're saying this game is still capping on his powers?" Willy mused.

"That does make sense," Emma nodded. "Try something simple."

I nodded and I tried to create a book. It worked.

"Huh...this sucks." was what came out of my mouth along with a sigh. "I can't create anything useful."

"It's a start, though," Joe said, then pointed out, "Besides, I think now you can create any inanimate object."

I nodded half-heartedly. Still, I suppose Joe was right. It was better than not being able to create anything at all.

After that, I answered Willy's previous question. Telling them how I could create them from memory and how their "other" selves had been keeping me company while I was in Terra Firma, before we were all reunited here in the game. They were surprised. Willy voiced out his apprehension while Joe and Emma told me that they would like to see those "other" selves once I got my full power back. I promised them that I'd introduce them.

"We really have to find Dana soon," Joe told me half-an-hour later as we were preparing to leave the Safe Zone.

I looked at him, surprised that he would be the one to open that up.

"I know,"

"But I don't think you fully understand why."

"Let me guess," I said, crossing my arms and leaning back on one of the walls, "you have a theory."

Joe nodded, "Dana. I told you she can amplify and reduce someone's powers. Which means that this game is also her creation and, like I've said, perhaps the reason why you couldn't access your powers before was because Dana was blocking them. I don't think that Void meant to give you your powers back once you reached 'Level 15' or whatever."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Don't you ever wonder why we—me, Emma, and Willy—can use our powers whenever we like? Don't you wonder why we don't have that whole 'Level up' business to deal with?" Joe asked.

I did wonder about that. They never seem to level up so I had assumed that perhaps they were in a higher level than me.

"We're not," Joe said, as if reading my mind. "We're not high-level players. This game doesn't have that leveling system. At least, it doesn't give us that. I think Void is only messing with you, making you think that you are getting stronger with each passing stage. I also think that the reason you're gaining strength is because of Dana."

"What? She's giving me some sort of help?" I asked, hope bubbling up inside me.

"Maybe unwittingly. Maybe she doesn't know that her hold on your power is weakening." Joe supplied. "Think about it, Daniel. What if while Dana was outside, Void was making her watch or she was watching out of curiosity. What if seeds of doubt had begun to plant itself on her even before she was sent here? If that's the case, we can say that the reason you're getting stronger even though Void wouldn't want that to happen is because of Dana. But, because Dana is so important to him and his plans, he can't do anything to hurt her—at least, not while he's still using her against us—against you. Or, until he has enough reason to dispose of her."

What Joe said made sense, in a roundabout way.

"So, if we find Dana we can get her to stop sucking out my powers," I shook my head, "She's not going to help. She thinks that I'm a threat to her."

"Then prove her wrong. It's that simple really. It's no secret, Daniel. You're the only one who can bring her back to normal. You may not notice it since you haven't been with us long but, you've already managed to bring one of us back to normal—or as close to normal." Joe then nodded his head towards Willy, "Emma told you, right? About the moments when there would be a memory lapse with him. It hasn't happened since you arrived. It's a good sign."

"You're giving me way too much credit, Joe." I sighed. I didn't really think it was my fault.

"No, I'm just saying it as I see it." Joe replied, "I told Dana this before, and I will tell you the same thing now: never underestimate the power of a person's bond with another."

To be continued...

Post Author's Notes:

And that, my friends, is the end of this chapter. Don't have much to say at this point, except for "Thanks" to everyone who continues to read this fanfic and to those people who review (or will review). It means a lot to me. I hope you guys never get tired of reviewing and that you would review this chapter, too.

Anyways, until the next update! Happy weekend, guys! Ciao!