PART 1

They had opted to walk, as it would give X a chance to show Panache and the others as much as possible. "Although taking public transportation when convenient never hurts." he had added, and we're currently on a bus heading from the government district into the city proper.

"This really is convenient." Panache said, watching the scenery go by. "Riding in those Iron carriages is one thing, but having the means for the regular citizens to be driven around whenever? Such a thing would be unheard of back in the empire."

"It's a very simple set up actually." said X, who had used his position as Leader to get them on the bus for free. "You have several buses that drive a certain route throughout the city, stopping at predetermined stops along that route to pick up or drop off new passengers." He'd point to the pull rope. "using the pull rope will signal the driver that you wish to get off at the next stop."

"And when you get on you pay a small fee." Helm said.

"Right." said X. "And that bus fare goes towards maintenance and other expenses for the bus depot. All in all Public Transportation is an affordable means of travel, especially for people who do not yet have a drivers license and are unable to drive legally."

"We could bring this to the princess." said Shandy. "Maybe we can set up something similar, carriages carrying civilians to certain locations."

"I doesn't have to be within the city either." said X. "Back when there were more cities like Neo Arcadia, before the war destroyed nearly everything, there was transportation between cities as well, Mostly trains that traveled cross country. There is a train here in Neo Arcadia actually for longer distance considering the size of this place, though it mostly goes underground." X blinked, noticing the three of them tense up. "Um, did I say something wrong?"

"Hmm?" Panache blinked, shook her head. "Ah, no, it's just, well.'

"Hardy..." said Suissesse.

"Another of your gods?" X asked. "So far I'm really only familiar with Emroy, no thanks to that Rory girl being a part of the resistance." He let out a sigh. "The most powerful army in the world, and every last one of them is terrified of a little girl wearing Gothic Lolita fashion. Can't get much more humiliating then that can you?"

Panache couldn't help but smile at that. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, nearly everyone in our world is afraid of Rory, out of all the apostles, she's the one you DON'T want coming after you."

That just made X sigh and hang his head rubbing his forehead.

They got off in the city proper, standing on a sidewalk as people walked by, many greeting and showing respect to Master X, surprised that he would be out and about. X would return the greetings as they made their way down the road.

"They really look up to you, don't they?" Panache asked.

"Yeah." said X. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm even living up to everyone's expectations." he looked up at the sky. "I try my best, despite the circumstances, but there are times I feel like I was not meant to be a leader." he looked around, children waving to him as more people said hello to him. "but when I see the smiling faces of the humans, happy and safe, it gives me the strength to keep going."

"And what about reploids?" Panache asked, knowing this would be a sensitive subject.

"I care about them just as much." said X. "I've been slowly working toward removing many of the harsher laws I've passed during the worst parts of the energy crisis. Right now things have stabilized, and perhaps with the empires help things can get back to normal."

"I still don't see how we can." Panache said. "I look at this city, at how grand it is, and it makes me feel so insignifigent."

"Resources." said X. "You've no doubt seen how things look outside the dome. Resources are becoming scarce, the planet is healing, but slowly, and we lack the proper resources to rebuild. By establishing some form of trade that can benefit both parties, we'd be able to get our hands on raw materials and goods, things we can use to start staving off the energy crisis, even start building settlements again. And we are more than willing to share our technology with all of you. Both sides of the gate could prosper as a result."

"And what about the resistance?" Panache asked.

X stopped, causing the others to stop as well, he looked at Panache.

"Unfortunately there isn't much I can do, They are considered mavericks and enemies of the state."

"But...what about opting for peace?" Shandy asked, speaking up. "You have access to our world now, and would be able to rebuild, surely you could work out something."

X blinked, and smiled. "Harpuria suggested the same thing."

"Sir Harpuria?" Panache blinked.

"But Ciel is stubborn, and perhaps so am I. She won't accept surrender, and I can't look the other way, even for her."

Panache said nothing, was that X speaking? Or was that the virus twisting what his opinions?

X shook his head, looking to the group. "I'm sorry, I'm supposed to be showing you four around and not thinking about work. Anita would kill me if she heard me speaking like that."

"No not at all." said Panache. 'it's like you said to me at the banquet, 'better to let it all out now, then to let it eat you up later.' Getting all this off your chest might help you relax better for the best of the day.

"Thank you, Lady Kalgi." said X. "Now then, let me show you around this part of the city, the commercial district is very busy, and would be a good location for the Rose Order's Neo Arcadia branch."

Leviathan walked into Senator Rime's Lab, throwing an extra little swing to her step with a hand on her hip and a smile across her face. "Senator Rime, I'd like a word with you?"

Rime looked up from his computer, adjusting his glasses and standing up, fixing his lab coat. "Ah, Fairy Leviathan, how are you feeling today?"

"Fine thank you." said Leviathan as she moved her repaired arm. "Dr. Kurokawa works wonders, considering the miracle job she did with Fafnir after he got blown up."

"Indeed, she has a bright future ahead of her." said Rime, he'd come around the desk and approach her. "So, what can I help you with?"

"I'll cut to the chase Senator." said Leviathan. "Have you been supplying Master X with a Maverick virus vaccine for the past 2 years or so?"

"Maverick...vaccine?" Rime looked puzzled. "I don't know what you're talking about. The Maverick Virus hasn't been around for nearly 100 years, on top of that X is completely immune to the virus's effects, the worst its ever done to him is damage his systems in high levels of exposure, which was the case during the Eurasia incident back when X was still a Maverick Hunter."

"Yes, but we have reason to believe he may be infected by an unknown strain." said Leviathan. "One meant to infect him and him alone."

Rime's eyes widen. "What?" he shook his head. "Thats impossible. Even if he was infected, which he isn't, he would have used Cyber Elves to purge himself."

"And what if he couldn't senator?" Leviathan asked. "You understand how this would affect Neo Arcadia if people knew that X himself was infected."

"Do you even have proof?" Rime asked.

"Just take a look at his behavior in the 2 years since the start of the energy crisis, his increasing hostilities towards reploids and those living outside Neo Arcadia, and then a year ago when he orders the purge."

"That can easily be explained though." said Rime, as he walked over to a device, checking readings on it. "Stress for one thing."

"Then answer this." Leviathan asked. "With the gate available to us and the resources beyond it, why does X continue to obsess over the resistance?"

"Their Mavericks, criminals." said Rime.

"There are worst Mavericks out there in the wasteland." said Leviathan. "And another thing, why is he suddenly interested in looking into Cyber Fusion again?"

Rime adjusted his glasses and looked at Leviathan. "Because a girl from the other world someone succeeded in performing a cyber fusion without going insane, on top of that the princess of the empire seems to have a high degree of compatibility with Cyber Fusion."

Leviathan raised an eyebrow, that was a new one. "Is that so?"

"Yes." said Rime. "Now then, back to your original question. No I haven't been supplying Master X with a Maverick Vaccine, and even if he is infected, he never approached me about it at all."

Leviathan lowered her head, thinking. "Strange, we were certain he'd have confided in you about it at the very least."

Rime shook his head. "Perhaps he was worried, or perhaps he didn't want the senate to know. An illness like this he would keep secret from the public at large." he thought for a moment. "Anita would probably know."

"She wouldn't confirm it even if we asked." said Leviathan. "her loyalty to Master X is that strong."

"I see, she would be privy to it though, he'd need to have at least one person know to help him mitigate any symptoms and to help apply the vaccine."

"Regarding symptoms." said Leviathan. "The Shittenou believe his that behavior over the last two years, specifically the mood swings he's been having since the purge, may be a major factor."

"That would make sense." said Rime, he was pacing now, thinking. "anything else you can think of that could support your claim of infection?"

"There's the current conflict with the resistance." said Leviathan. "He seems hell bent on wiping them out and apprehending Ciel, we never questioned it till now, but with the resources of the Gate available to us, the smart play would be to end the fighting and work together, but Master X refuses."

"Hmm." Rime was thinking. "If he was infected, it's possible that its effecting his behavior, acting irrationally."
"He got worse after the purge." said Leviathan. "we suspect he may have been infected for a long time, but the virus was dormant."

"I see." said Rime. "The Energy crisis, which caused X no end of stress, would have started to agitate the virus, slowly causing him to change."

"Which would be represented by the laws he passed restricting reploid freedoms in favor of humans." said Leviathan.

"Then comes the purge itself..." Rime blinked, the realization setting in. "Oh god..."

Leviathan nodded. "exactly, that was when the virus took hold, and turned him into what he is today."

"But he doesn't seem any different. He's still the same caring, kind X."

"But only to humans and those inside the Eden dome." said Leviathan.

"I see, the virus may have twisted his mindset with regard to protecting humans." said Rime. "that or he's trying to keep himself from killing humans as a maverick by killing reploids instead."

"Do you know who could be supplying Master X with a vaccine or not?" Leviathan asked, getting back to the vaccine.

"It would have to be someone outside the government, the less people who know about this the better after all."

Leviathan gritted her teeth. "Then it has to be 'him' "

"Yeah, I think so too." said Rime.

"Kresh." Leviathan nearly choked on the name. "Thank you Senator Rime, and please keep this to yourself."

"Of course." said Rime. "Is there anything I can do to help though?"

"Find a cure." said Leviathan as she turned to the door. "If you can."

PART 2

They stopped at a deli for a meal, with X getting the group Sandwiches, Chips and Sodas as they sat down at a table outside.

"Aren't you hungry?" Shandy asked X.

"Ah no." said X smiling. "I recharged my energy this morning so I'm still good and running at full power."

"Oh right." said Shandy. "Reploids don't have to eat do they."

"We do." said X. "Just not human food, we rely on Energen."

"Energen?" Helm looked up from his bag of chips.

"It's a naturally growing crystal that can be used as an energy source." said X. "One of the factors of our current energy shortage is a shortage of Energen. It re grows naturally on its own, but it takes years, many years for that to happen."

"So you have to ration out what you can get your hands on." said Panache.

"Exactly." said X. "and sadly that is one of the reasons I had to pass laws that were not favorable to reploids, as both reploids and the city itself require Energen."

"But if the city loses its power." said Helm. "You end up endangering the lives of the people who live here, both human and reploid."

"Believe me." said X. "the last thing I wanted to do was favor the humans over the reploids, but I had no choice." he sighed. "if only this damned crisis didn't happen, if only things could have remained the same."

"Times change." said Panache. "we either adapt or be left in its wake."

X looked at Panache, and then looked up. "I have our best scientists working on a solution, I just wish I didn't chase off the one who was the closest."

"You mean Ciel?" Shandy asked. "You think she could still be working on her solution?"

"I'm sure she is." said X. "and believe me when I say this. She will use it as a bargaining chip once it's finished believe you me."

"It's quite a bargain." said Panache. "I'd say take it when and if she offers it."

"I just might." said X.

"Talking about work." Suissesse said suddenly, X twitched.

"I have, haven't I?" he said laughing.

"Anita would get very mad with you if she found out." said Shandy.

"Is that a threat?" X asked, eyebrow raised.

"Depends." said Shandy as she held up her empty bottle of soda.

"Okay okay, I'll get you another soda." he said.

"Shandy!" said Panache. "Blackmailing the leader of a city to buy you another drink is not how a Knight should behave."

"Then why are you holding your empty bottle up as well?" X asked.

Panache blinked, looking at her empty bottle of Soda. "Oh, I am? Silly me, I didn't notice."

X just smiled. "It's alright I don't mind. You're my guests, it would be rude of me not to treat you fair."

"No money." Suissesse added.

"Yeah there is that." said Helm. "We don't exactly have any local currency."

"Hmm." X thought for a moment. "I'll have to talk speak with Senator Albrecht about establishing an exchange rate between our Zenny currency and your own local currency."

"Using Silver Denari as the base would probably be the best." said Panache. "That is the most common currency use, there is Suwani Gold, but that is more for investments, you would be more likely to use Sink gold instead, but I'd stick with the Denari."

X nodded. "Very well, I'll be sure to let Albrecht know of that once Anita feels I'm fit to run the city again." He'd laugh as he got up, heading into the Deli to get more sodas.

"So far so good." Shandy said while their alone. "We've kept him out of his office all morning, and he has shown us a lot of the city so far."

"Nothing seems particularly valuable as a location for the Knight school though." said Helm.

"On the contrary." said Panache. "If Pina wants to be serious about this we have to adapt to this world and it's practices, having the school in a busy commercial hub would help us get noticed, unlike back home where the school is merely used by the nobility, the Neo Arcadia school would probably end up attracting the regular citizens, and not just humans either."

"Reploid Knights." said Suissesse.

Shandy looked at Panache and smiled. "You know, I think Ciel was right."

"Huh?" Panache blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that we needed to see both sides before passing judgment. You were ready to kill X prior to coming here, and now your laughing and joking with him."
Panache looked down. "Yeah, maybe I'm just finally seeing what everyone else sees, and not what I wanted to."

"All the more reason to save him right?" Helm asked. "If this right here is the real X we are seeing, then we need to make sure we keep him out in the city for as long as possible to give Fafnir time."

X returned, setting down the new bottles of soda before Panache and Shandy. "Here you go."

"Thank you." Shandy said with a smile.

"So do you have any idea what you intend to do with this Neo Arcadia branch?" X said. "I'm not sure you can apply the same rules and logic you did back at the old Knight School." He blinked for a minute. "Speaking of which, what did you do?

Panache cracked open her soda, taking a sip. "Well besides basic training, there were written classes as well. Sir Grey would teach us history and combat tactics and we'd learn about past wars and the formations and tactics used during those wars. I'm sure we could still do that here could we not?"
"I wish that were possible." said X. "Most of our records were lost during the devastation of the Elf Wars, and what little information there is kept from the public eye. On top of that the resistance raided the old ruins within the forests of Notus, Dysis and Anatre, and made off with who knows what."

"Well you've been around for a long time right?" asked Helm. "Perhaps we could have you as a guest lecturer."

X laughed. "Oh god, I'd be horrible. To tell you the truth I am really bad at giving speeches or presentations like that in public, its generally why I do it in front of a camera."

"Too bad." said Shandy. "Well maybe one of the Shittenou, you know Sir Fafnir is very popular with us. We might end up snatching him away from you."

"Well seeing as I have been accused of snatching away the princess." X said, looking at Panache, though clearly meaning it in jest. "I would say losing Fafnir to the empire would be a fair trade. How is he holding up by the way? I haven't seen him since I returned from the banquet."

"Sir Fafnir is doing well." said Panache. "he's walking a lot better at least."

"Still needs a cane." said Suissesse.

"He was training us in your military tactics actually." said Helm. "A 'Jin'en boot camp' as he called it."

"Well you won't find a better teacher than him." said X. "he may not seem like it, but Fafnir has a brilliant mind, he just never gets a chance to apply it, and tends to let his temper get the better of him at times." He'd look around the table. "Well if everyone is finished eating, how about we continue with the tour?"

"That sounds great." said Panache. "Please lead on."

"Excellent." said X. "To be honest, I do believe I know of a good location for your school, though it may be a slight bit out of the way."

"Master X!" the voice seem to come from nowhere as they were waiting for the bus, and X let out a sigh. "oh boy." X said, turning to see a familiar plump, elderly woman approach, more like barrel through as she actually pushed some people out of the way, including poor Helm and Suissesse as she stood before X, planting her Cane firmly on the ground. Today she was, much like in court a few weeks ago, dressed rather gaudily in a rather fancy dress suit finely cut and tailored, her steel grey hair in a tight bun that looked like her face was gonna peel off if the bun was tied any tighter.

"Ms. Picney, what a pleasant surprise." X said with a bow. "How did you manage to find me?"

"I went to the central tower, hoping to speak with you privately but they said you were out, took me all morning to track you down." Picney said. "What are you doing out and about anyways? And who are these people? Look like cosplayers from Akihabara."

Shandy blinked and looked to the others. "What's 'Ah-key-Habra?" the others just shook their heads/

"Showing some guests the city." said X, pointing to Panache. "This is Panache Fure Kalgi, from the empire, and her entourage. Lady Kalgi this is Eleanor Picney, want of Neo Arcadias more...influential citizens."

Lady Kalgi would give a polite bow. "An honor to meet you Ms. Picney."

"Yes quite." Picney said, sounding as if she were brushing her aside. "Master X surely you have better things to do then showing such people our fair city?"

"If this is about the mettaurs I already talked with the foreman." said X.

"Oh, that doesn't matter anymore." said Picney. "But I've heard rumors that there were Mavericks in our city. Mavericks! Naturally I was afraid for my life hearing about it."

"And that is all it is." said X. "Merely rumors, no doubt circulated by the resistance to cause unrest among the people. After all you start saying there are Mavericks in the city and there will be panic."

"There was talk of a commotion happening in the forest of Dysis." said Picney. "Surely you wouldn't ignore that, considering the cultural significance of those forests."

'Like you actually care about nature or cultural significance.' X thought to himself. "Ms. Picney, if there were Mavericks within the city, I assure you the army handle them swiftly and decisively.

"Humph." said Picney, before turning her gaze to Panache. "As for you, I surely hope you are not wasting Master X's time."

"Oh not at all." said Panache. 'yes we are.' she thought to herself. "We are here on behalf of the princess Pina Co Lada of the empire, I assure you our time here is strictly professional."

"A Princess you say?" said Picney, tapping her chin. "I would very much like to meet her, and I've heard things about this 'empire'." she'd looked to X. "It sounds like quite an interesting place."

"Oh it is." said X. "if a little backwards in its thinking. However at the moment until things settle down, having regular citizens migrate through the gate won't be happening for quite awhile."

"Pity." said Ms. Picney.

'For us, or her?' Shandy thought, sighing with relief when she saw the bus. "Ah, Master X, the bus is here."

"Ah so it is." said X. "I'm really sorry Ms. Picney, but we really must be going."

"Going? But we only just started to talk." said Picney. "And where exactly are you going anywhere? That particular bus goes to the edge of the commercial district, no one really goes there anymore."

"Well, there is a place very dear to me located in that part of town, which I think Lady Kalgi and the Rose Order could use."

Panache blinked for a moment, and Picney looked puzzled.

"But the only thing out there is the old Mav-" She stared. "Oh my..." she smiled. "Master X you truly are a generous individual. Well then, in that case I will take my leave then. Best wishes to you all." she give a somewhat respectful curtsy before walking off.

"What was she talking about?" Panache asked as they got on the bus. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see." said X as they found their seats, and the bus took off down the road.

Tritesta Kelverian walked into his offices early that day, removing his cape and hanging it up before turning and stopping, seeing Phantom standing there by the desk.

"How the hell did you get in here?" Kelverian asked.

"I'm here about that Maverick." said Phantom. "The one X executed in court the other day in front of Princess Pina Co Lada."

"That incident?" Kelverian asked as he walked around to his desk. Maybe Phantom was seeing things, but the Hachishinken looked relieved. "Good, I was beginning to think no one else around here gave a damn about it."

"There have been many Maverick incidents as of late." said Phantom. "And not just the resistance. That this case would be passed off as just another maverick causing problems beyond the dome is understandable."

"Not when Master X personally executes the Maverick in question in cold blood without provocation." said Kelverian.

"And that is what's been bothering you, correct Chief Justice?" Phantom asked.

"Yes." said Kelverian."

"Are you sure it was without provocation?" Phantom asked. "Did he say anything out of the ordinary that would provoke Master X in some way that we wouldn't have picked up on?"

Kelverian thought for a moment. "Hmm, Master X was under the impression that the maverick was under orders from a man named Dr. Weil, a war criminal from the Elf Wars currently in an eternal exile. Weil can't do much to Neo Arcadia, due to the destruction of the Dark Elf and the loss of his greatest weapon, the 'demon reploid' Omega."
"So the theory is that Weil is using Mavericks to, what? Get revenge?" Phantom asked.

"Yes." said Kelverian. "However we do not know exactly where Weil is, which is disturbing me to no end, as we lost his trail about a month ago."

"A month ago?" Phantom didn't like the sound of that, that's around the time the Gate had apparently shown up.

"However, the Maverick denied working for Weil, and said that he worked for someone else, someone he claims isn't as dead as X thought he was."

"This Maverick, he wore a brand of some sort did he not?"

"Yes he did." said Kelverian. "I did some research and it is an old Army brand from the Maverick wars, it was worn by Mavericks loyal to a particular reploid who waged war on the humans for nearly a century before he was finally killed near the end of the Maverick wars."

"Sigma?" Phantom asked.

"Yes that's the name." said Kelverian.

"His name has been popping up recently." said Phantom. "A maverick that was deliberately left in the forest of Dysis ruins was singing Sigma's praise while expressing a desire to kill the Maverick Hunters, and it wore the same brand."

"Hmm." Kelverian sat back in his chair. "I would say it was a coincidence, but ever since that trial, more Mavericks have been apprehended or eliminated, baring that brand." He'd toss a file on the desk which Phantom, instictvely picked up, and looked through it. Inside the file showed a reploid, thin with pale skin and a Glasgow like grin marked with black coloring, stringy red hair and a blue jewel in the forehead. he had a rather laidback grin on his face.

"Kranix." said Kelverian. "Wanted for multiple murders in the wastelands, we've caught him once before but he escape, and we believe he may be the ones organizing the recent maverick raids which Master X has turned a blind eye too."

"Hmm." said Phantom as he looked through the sheet.

"He may be a follower of Sigma." said Kelverian. "committing all of these acts in his name."

"Have you shown this to Master X?" Phantom asked.

"Yes, but he does nothing." said Kelverian. "He is far too focused on capturing or wiping out the resistance, so much so that he ignores all other dangers that are out there, and believe me Phantom, Kranix is as dangerous as they get."

Phantom nodded. "Alright, keep me posted on Kranix, for now try to get an eye on him. if Sigma is somehow still alive even though he should be dead, and Kranix is working for him..."

"He could potentially lead us to Sigma." said Kelverian. "Very well, I'll get to work on this."

"Not a word to anyone for the time being." said Phantom. "Consider this an official request from the Zan'ei, and strictly data collection. We'll need all the proof we can get to convince Master X that the resistance is no longer the primary threat to Neo Arcadia."

"Understood." said Kelverian. "I'll do all I can."

Phantom gave a nod as he set the file down.

Kelverian picked up the file, looking it over once more before looking up. "Regarding Kranix, his last known-" He stopped and looked around. Phantom was gone.

"Every damn time." Kelverian said with a sigh.

PART 3

The Bus let them off at an industrial park near the edge of the commercial district, it was quite out of the way from the more populated section of Neo Arcadia, yet at the same time there was plenty of traffic here.

Panache looked around, the place was quiet, almost peaceful. "What are we doing here anyways?"

"You'll see." said X. "Come on, this way." He'd motion them down the road, and they'd follow, the five of them walking about 2 or 3 blocks before X stopped in front of an old building that stood out from the rest. It took up 2 blocks and looked worn, like it hasn't been used for a long time, and yet it looks as if it had been kept maintained so as not to fall apart.

"This building is currently property of Neo Arcadia, and kept maintain through government funding." said X as he approached the entrance. It slid open, allowing them entry into an empty, dark hall, and X would walk over to a large box on the wall near the entrance. He'd reach into the pocket of his overcoat, taking out what looked like an old set of keys as he used one of them to unlock the box and open it up, revealing two long rows of switches inside.

"What's that?" Shandy asked peering at the box.

"Circuit breaker." said X. "This is manages the power of a given house or building." He started to flip the switches with a distinct click, a humming sound could be heard as power began to come on for the building, Panache and the others watching as lights started to come on, panels lit up and the hall itself looking much more vibrant then before.

"Wow." said Panache looking around.

"Welcome everyone." said X, the tone in his voice seemed almost sad. "To Maverick Hunter HQ."

They all looked at him. "Maverick...Hunter?" asked Helm.

"An organization that was dedicated to fighting Mavericks and protecting humans. After the Maverick Wars ended, the hunters were disbanded, and slowly replaced by the Neo Arcadia Military to protect the remaining humans. This building here was the last active Headquarters before the disbandment." X looked over to Panache. "I want the Rose Order to have it."

Panache just stared, a little bit shocked. "What?"

"As your school building." said X. "This place has gone unused for over 100 years, unneeded. However, I think in the hands of the Rose Order, this old place could thrive again with new purpose."

The four of them stared at X, who stood there looking around the place, his eye, those crimson hued eyes, were burning brightly, and tears seem to be forming. "I...couldn't save any of them in the end."

"Who couldn't you save?" Shandy asked.

"My friends...my comrades...all of them murdered at the end of Elf Wars. Signas...Alia...everyone is dead. Zero and I, we're the only Maverick Hunters left, once good friends and partners, and now we are bitter enemies. Maybe it's god's way of punishing me for my actions as of late." He started laughing, but it sounded unhinged and distant.

"X?" Panache looked worried.

"What should I do?" X asked. "Everyone has put all their hopes, all their faith in me, all of this responsibility and I feel completely useless. I stand here in this place, and I realize just how useless I am as a leader, and I seem to be alienating what few friends I have left." he turned, his eyes a brilliant crimson now, and Panache stared in horror and realization, the way his eyes were glowing, the way her eyes were glowing during the banquet when she lashed out at X, and even when she saw Pina's eyes glowing that time when she talked about moving the Rose Order.

"My God..." said Panache with a gasp as it hit her like a ton of bricks.

X blinked for a moment, rubbed his eyes and staggered suddenly before he collapsed.

"X!" Shandy and Helm ran over, helping him up. "Are you alright?"

"I'm...I'm fine." X said. "I just got a little dizzy." He laughed, it sounded forced but good natured unlike before as they sat him down in a chair. "Maybe I should have gotten some Energen at lunch time."

"Yeah no kidding." said Helm. "You sure your okay?"

"I'm fine. Might have just been the nostalgia overwhelming me." he smiled to the group. "I'm serious though, I want the Rose Order to use this building, it's very spacious and there are rooms to set up a barracks for staff so you don't have to worry about getting separate housing, and it's out of the way enough that you can train in peace and not have to worry much. Plus I can ensure you the rent would be very cheap."

"That sounds nice." said Shandy. "What do you think Panache?"
"Huh?" Panache looked up from her thoughts, and nodded. "Yeah, that sounds great, I'm sure the Princess will agree."

"Then its settled." said X. "Soon as I get my bearings I'll show you around the building then we'll head back to the city."

"Just remember we still have the whole afternoon." said Helm. "So your showing us as much of the city as possible."

"I know I know." said X. "Anita will string me up if I showed up back at the Central Tower before nightfall. He took a deep breath, smacked himself in the face a couple of times and got up, his eyes were back to that normal red of his. "Alright, let's take a look around. I haven't been here in a while so this will be a new experience for me as well."

They all nodded, and headed down the hall into the base proper, all except Panache who stood there.

'No doubt about it.' thought Panache. 'it would explain everything. He's infected alright, but it's not by the Maverick Virus. He's possessed...by a Cyber Elf.'

Harpuria and Fafnir got off the elevator as it stopped at Area X, and made their way down the hall toward X's office.

"Stand aside." Harpuria said to the Pantheons on duty.

"Sage Harpuria, Fighting Fafnir." The two Pantheons saluted. "Master X is out at the moment and will not be back for some time.

"Didn't you hear Harpuria?" Fafnir asked. "Stand aside, we are here to collect something from X's office for Senator Luhra back in the empire."

"Ah, of course." said the Pantheon as he and his buddy saluted.

"We'll be in here for a while though." said Harpuria. "Senator Luhra was a little vague as to what she wanted, why not head to the cafeteria in the meantime, we'll make sure no one gets in."

"Understood." again the pantheons saluted and headed for the elevator after unlocking X's office for the two Shittenou.

"Well that was easy." Fafnir said once the pantheons were out of earshot, they entered X's office, Harpuria closing the door as Fafnir gingerly started limping again, leaning on his cane.

"Your leg is still messed up?" Harpuria asked.

"Yeah." said Fafnir. "I think I might have messed it up again, I've been running on all cylinders to get here in a reasonable time that it feels like I forgot all about it."

"You need to take better care of yourself if you expect to be back on the field." said Harpuria as he started looking through shelves.

"Yeah yeah I know." said Fafnir. "How is Leviathan doing?"
"She's fine." said Harpuria.

"Fine?" Fafnir chuckled. "She went one on one with that Apostle chick didn't she?"
"Compared to what happened to you when you encountered Rory Mercury, she got off easy." said Harpuria.

"Man what the hell did we do to make an enemy of a god and his disciples anyways."

"God?" Harpuria looked at Fafnir.

"Yeah." said Fafnir. "You know the other world has gods and magic and stuff, and Rory's power comes from the fact she serves one of those Gods. Emroy I believe he's called. God of War and all that. And apparently he's the patron saint of the resistance now." He looked at one of the shelves containing trophies and the like, and raised his eyebrows at one of the statues. "Jeez, X has weird tastes." The statue in question depicted a spherical object which arms and legs sitting on a pedestal, and there was an eye located on center part of the 'body'. Fafnir picked the statue up, looking at it this way and that before he put it back down, shaking his head. "Nothing else here though." He walked over to X's desk, sitting down and rifling through the drawers.

"There has to be something." said Harpuria. "Records, documents. He'd have to at least be keeping track of the infection and what it's doing to him, so he can keep it under control."

"Anita probably has all of that." said Fafnir. "and I highly doubt she'd talk." he closed the drawers on his desk and sighed. "Nothing in the drawers." he'd boot up X's computer. "Shit password protected."

"Alia." Harpuria said.

"Huh?"

"His password."

Fafnir blinked, typed it in and sure enough he was in. "How did you..."

"She was a coworker of his from a long time ago." said Harpuria. "he still has feelings for her, and apparently Anita resembles her."

"Yeah that's not creepy at all." said Fafnir. He started sifting through the computer, scanning through various files. "Hmm, nothing so far." he'd open up X's email. "Let's see here, orders from Barter, nothing new there, correspondence with Luhra. Guess we can Email through the gate now." he blinked. "Hey wait a minute."

Harpuria turned. "What is it?"

"There's an e-mail here, sent recently." Fafnir looked up. "It's from Kresh."

"Kresh?" Harpuria looked surprise and walked over to the desk looking at the screen.

"I think we found our evidence." said Fafnir. "It's talking about a new batch of vaccine, strong enough to keep X's 'symptoms' in control so he won't freak out as much. It also says it would especially help with the 'voices' that X has been hearing."

Harpuria scanned his eyes down the email. " 'Injectors will be refilled and delivered at the end of the week, so use what you have left sparingly until then, will expect the usual payment.' "

Fafnir sat back in the chair, shaking his head. "So he is infected. And he's going to Kresh for treatment."

"Going that far means that no one inside the Central Tower knows about X's condition."

"Anita probably knows, he'd need to trust somebody with it, and Anita is always with him."

"Yeah." He'd hit a button on the keyboard, and the printer started up. Harpuria grabbed a file folder from X's drawers and walked over to the printer, grabbing the email printout and slipping it in, along with some blank paper. "Delete the print history." said Harpuria.

"Done." said Fafnir as he shut down the computer and got up.

"Done on this end." said Harpuria. The two nodded and headed for the door, and as it opened they both went rigid to see Anita standing there.

"Gah!" Fafnir stumbled back, nearly falling over due to his bad knee. "What the hell? Do you make it a habit of sneaking up on people?"

"What are you two doing here?" Anita asked. "Especially you Fafnir, your suppose to be in the Empire with Senator Luhra."

Harpuria held up the folder he prepared. "We came to get a few files for Senator Luhra, that's why Fafnir is back in Neo Arcadia."

"I see." said Anita, adjusting his glasses. "You should have at least waited, Master X is currently out entertaining guests from the empire."

"Is that so?" Harpuria asked. "I wasn't aware the empire had sent a delegation."

"It is a personal matter." said Anita. "Nothing for you to concern with, now if you found what you are looking for, please leave, I have work to do."

"Of course." said Harpuria as the two walked out.

Anita watched them with a careful eye, as they entered the elevator and headed back down to the main areas of the Central Tower. She had already taken note of the two guards gone missing, they probably sent them away. She walked in, looked around the room for a bit, before walking over to the statue that Fafnir had handled. She took off her glasses, and looking down at the statue, her eyes turned red with black sclera as she held out her hand. The statue twitched, and suddenly dissolved in an amorphous liquid, with shimmered with various colors. The blob like liquid reached out to Anita's hand, and would be absorbed into her body. She shuddered for a moment before regaining her composure, her eyes returned to normal and she smiled.

"So that's the reason you were in here..." said Anita. "Snooping around where you're not supposed to be? Oh how the great Shittenou have fallen." she chuckled to herself.

"Foolish, foolish Harpuria, this little investigation of yours into Master X's condition is going to get you killed." Anita let out another laugh, and coughed, clearing her throat as an odd word came out of her mouth in the middle of it.

"Crap...I'm still saying that when I get excited." said Anita as she put her glasses back on. "Seriously, what kind of word is 'Bumo' anyways?" she sighed and sat down at X's desk. "Well, might as well let Harpuria and Fafnir have their fun for now, I have paperwork to deal with anyways."