~Chapter 46~
~Dream prediction...~
Axl continued his depression for a while, only it was much worse than with Red Alert... Sure he lost people he looked to as family, but never specifically a lover...
Eventually, he was able to get up and move around. His leg still ached from the wound healing, but he had worse. His cheerful mood was gone, and replaced with a... typical teenaged moody one. Like the kind of teen who just couldn't stand being around people, or was depressed for no apparent reason. This made, everyone miserable. People like usual wanted to say hi, or bye; but couldn't work up the nerve to bother him.
Even Massimo kept his mouth shut when Axl walked in the room; and he was usually one to greet him the most on occasion.
"I feel bad for the kid. So used to his little buddy being around him." Marino said, watching as Axl literally just leant for the wall, I don't exactly think by this point he cared how he fell onto this wall, but safe to say it made an ear piercing sound when he had clanged into the side of it.
"I should go talk to him for a while." Thorn stated, leaving the small group, and walking over to sit next to Axl. Her size much bigger then him, causing her to have to lean on her leg. Axl attempted ignoring her. "About yesterday; it's alright to exhaust anger, but it's not exactly okay to destroy the training hall..." Thorn stated. The day before... Thorn decided to try and take his mind off it, as well as her own. So, she decided training would help. Since destroying things sort of helped cure frustration. Though, when he started... he lost it. He ended up destroying every practice droid in sight. Something Axl wouldn't do. Thorn ended up gripping him up and taking him outside to calm his rage. Basically showing him motherly love with hugs and head pets.
"Yeah, yeah, mom I get it." Axl replied spitefully. Thorn gave him a flick over his nose, causing his head to fly back slightly and him wince. He gripped his nose gently, gritting his teeth. "Don't give me attitude. I will treat you like a baby if you'd like." Thorn responded, sighing. "Listen, I understand what you're going through, but you can't let it bother you too badly..." she said, petting his head, her fingers between strands of dark Auburn.
Axl felt comforted almost, the petting and the attention he got. I suppose everyone wanted a mother at some point... He calmed down a little, his moody behavior still visible, but not as bad. "We'll find her... I promise. Even if it takes a thousand years." she stated. Axl felt a little better, but of course the pain he felt wouldn't be healed so easily unless I was there.
Even with the talk Thorn gave him, he still thought about me, the pain he felt. He got to where he would read over our old conversations over video chats. Though, it's almost like he was going through withdraw. He opened up chat menu's next to the screen I would be behind, writing messages to me, though they never did get through. The chat box just said that I had been disconnected for a long while, and they would be sent when I came on again.
He closed the old chat window, and just laid his head down on his desk. Words, honestly can't describe how shocking it was to see him like this. To see, a goofy kid suddenly change, that caused a lot of shock; and not only to his friends, but to everyone. Axl should have been pranking, laughing, joking, playing... but right now... his hair a mess, and his head down. Not too long before, he had let his hair out. Usually, it was around the time I'd bug him so that I could play with it, braid it... of course, he wouldn't let me do as I pleased. He's usually tease me, using my short height against me to keep me from brushing it or even combing it.
Egypt... I loved Egypt for this, his kind heart. It's because of him, that Axl was okay...
It's... okay to be sad, it's just a way of life. You have ups and downs. What's not okay, is hurting yourself... Axl, wasn't cutting or, trying to kill himself. Rather, he was depriving himself. Recently, and no thanks to me, Axl's been getting used to the human life style, even most of the time running around in human form. His eyes, drooping and vision blurring... he was tired, and not like your usual tired that says I want to sleep. Egypt sat behind his chair, watching Axl closely, seeing as how Egypt took a liking to him. Egypt, also knew that Axl was close to me, he knew I loved him, so he wanted to protect him.
Axl, had his hand over the back of his head, and the other, underneath it, much like he was encasing his head within his arms. In a second, the next thing Egypt knew, he was startled after hearing a large clank as Axl's arm collapsed onto the other side of the desk. At first, Egypt didn't think it to be bad. Well... simply because Axl didn't care. Axl never did care when he was like this...
His eyes, a dark green, a simple dark green with no hints of life almost. Static forming in them slightly. He was still conscious, and tried to keep them open. Explaining the problem... Axl's suffering, from the lack of energy. Reploids, at some point, do need to use pods. Their not only beds for sleeping, they run scans, and also give the droid energy. Sort of like charging a battery, like charging your laptop.
Axl... because of him getting used to human lifestyle, didn't use pods often, instead slept in bed. It's okay to do this, it's normal. Most Reploids like to feel human, but even so all of them need time to recharge. Axl, especially needs pods. Being a new generation Reploid, even a proto-type, needs a lot of programs refreshed and charged. Axl, hasn't been doing this. He hasn't refreshed his programming, hasn't run virus scans, and I'm sure hasn't been charged... sure, he can sleep in a bed normally, but of course this would take a longer process. Sleeping in a bed, can give energy, but it'd take longer. Literally, Axl would have to be in sleep mode for two or three days in order to get a complete charge and rest.
Egypt watched him closely, his eyes only slightly closed. His blue frame shook slightly, as a chill came across him, his flames slightly downing before rising back upwards. He looked at Axl intently, and eventually rushed over. Hopping from the floor, to the top of his chair, to his desk; nearly rolling off before skidding over to stop in front of his face.
Egypt tilted onto the edge of his candle. Just looking at Axl showed clarity that he wasn't okay. Reason one, being his skin going cold, and losing color slightly. Egypt formed into a small, humanoid form, hair like that of flames that stuck upward, long sleeves that dragged, two stubby feet, and a long blue tail. He put a tiny hand on Axl's face, he was no bigger than a flower pot.
He pulled his hand back, being shocked with how cold Axl's face was. It felt like metal that had sat out in the cold snow.
A Reploid's face when awake was meant to represent a human, just the same as the body in general. The face specifically, aside the gloved hands, is especially warm. Meant to represent blood flow through the facial or cranium region.
Egypt stood in awe for a moment, looking at his hand, and back to the spot of light red that had been left on Axl's right cheek. Egypt was never really exposed to anything cold, within my room, I kept it warm or he kept it warm with his small blaze. During Summers, his flame died down, and didn't cause the room much heat, but he never truly felt cold like this. It hurt and intrigued him.
Egypt fell backwards when Axl's eyes opened only slightly. The dark green orbs drifting towards him, where they were quickly closed again. Much like someone who was half-asleep. Egypt catching a glance of his eyes, caused him to grow nervous, and breath heavily.
"Axl hurt... Axl hurt... what Egypt do?! What Egypt do?!" Egypt exclaimed, in his usual helium heightened voice, running in circles on the desk before running off the edge, to hit his face on the floor below. He continued his strange babbling, the one he could only understand as he ran out into the halls with his tiny legs, charging under Hunter feet. Each one that jumped or stepped over him, yelled at him, yelling things like; 'Hey!" or "watch it!". Others, jumping back into desks to avoid the poor thing that was the size of a sewer rat and mistaken as such. Some knowing Egypt, others not. Some tripping over with reports and some bumping into others.
Something this small and cute, isn't always cute. He stopped in front of X's door, him taking a liking to the blue bomber; after I had asked X to watch over a pet for me, where X did nothing but take care of the little guy... he didn't have much a choice though,\. Egypt's... teething as I call it, caused the little guy to eat most of X's supplies he needed to work with. He squeezed through the small crack under X's room door, climbing into the room of the other side.
He rolled onto his rear as he finally pulled himself from the crack, getting up later to run over to him, Zero sitting next to him. Buddies they are, hanging out when off duty.
Egypt rushed over, Zero looking downward with a raised brow. The kind of look, that said clearly; "What the hell is that?'
Egypt tugged at X's pants, pulling back. "Egypt? What's wrong little buddy? You should be with Axl." X said, petting the small fire elf's head. Egypt's flame hair rising. His ears drooped as he looked at X with pleading eyes. "What is he?" Zero asked, leaning over to get a closer look at him. "I'm not actually too sure... but why is he here?" X asked, getting up as Egypt obviously clued for him to do. Zero following as X followed after Egypt. Egypt stopping to turn every few seconds before continuing a few feet further.
Eventually, he led them to Axl's room, walking inside after Egypt squeezed his way through the door again. X carefully walked over whatever was on the floor, Egypt having been there as well, caused the room... to be even messier than usual.
"I told him to clean this." Zero stated irritated. "I know, but he's pretty upset right now. We shouldn't pester him too much Z." X replied, Egypt hopping up onto Axl's desk where Axl still remained in his previous position. X looked at Egypt confused. "What's wrong huh?" he asked, walking over to Axl, shaking his shoulder. At first... it was fine, he seemed alright. Though, looks were deceiving. It didn't tale X too long to figure it out... and right away, they rushed him to Lifesaver, Douglas following to look for any Mechanical problems...
I'll save you the details...
...
Axl was placed within a Medical pod for maintenance, already in a charging state of sleep. "He'll be fine after a few hours." Douglas stated, dropping his toolbox on the floor. "Poor kid was running himself into the ground." he finished with a sigh. "I didn't think Axl would do something like that." Lifesaver stated, looking at the boy through the blue tinted glass. He slept soundly now, his systems no longer rushing to keep him awake, they could now rely on the systems they were laid in.
"I'll have to take a look at his systems later. For now I want him to rest until he's at least able to look around the room." Lifesaver muttered, as he cleared his throat.
Everyone understood, and took their leave to let Axl's systems heal like they should. Egypt, of course being the only one still around. Icy Rain pounded against the windows of the room, the humming of machinery filling the empty, dark, maintenance room. The Clock on the wall ticked, and the cracking of Egypt's flames as a small amount of space under him was lit with blue.
During the time I was gone, it was as if everything died. Axl losing his happy nature made things even worse. Guilt filled everyone, and not just him.
Egypt waited hours...
/"If anything happens, I want you to stay with Axl and help him okay?""
Egypt remembered those words, and like a loyal dog, kept to them, kept to his promise to protect Axl with whatever it took.
Axl's eyes opened from inside the pod, they remained a dark green. He closed them again to rest, his Auburn hair spread out as cords connected to him; keeping him awake... sane...
/'She didn't... really die did she? She couldn't have, I still feel her presence...'/ He thought, he was right. Of course, he didn't know if I was alive or not, but do to the sync, though weak, he could tell my processors were still running; My heart still beating.
His thoughts washed away to the sounds of the rain, the humming of his sensors and his pod keeping him relaxed as he drifted into sleep. The ticks from the clock, turning into faint echoes as his conscious vanished into unconsciousness. A dream forming...
...
/The dripping sounds of rain were heard as drops hit the blue tinted window of his pod. Water waking him as some of it managed to seep through the doorway of it's lid. Axl lifted his arm, his skin soaked from the water flooding, it nearly high enough to cover around his neck. He pulled himself up with near ease, the wires removed and some broken. He reached his hand to the glass, cutting between his thumb and pointing finger, with the glass, he winced as he pushed it. The cracks on the dark colored glass-the dark color showing it was off-getting larger as the door finally opened.
"What... happened?" he mumbled, climbing out, his clothes soaked. His feet crunched glass, the floor soaked with rain water that seeped through holes in the infirmary ceiling. The ceiling lights buzzing slightly from its reaction to the water, some of them broken beyond repair. Axl wiped water from his face, already he had become soaked from the large amount of water running off of the sides of the holes, his hair drenched to where it stuck down for once. The place around him... abandoned, beaten up beyond repair, and giving the sense of... dread, loneliness.
No one, was in sight. He could look around as much as he wanted, but he wouldn't find anybody. No one... existed any longer. He was alone, and soon he put that piece of the puzzle together. All the more heart wrenching it was for him. Rather, he kept walking, continued searching in his disbelief. In a second, he stopped. Stopping to the sounds of chains being dragged. He turned, slowly, soon facing something he could not doubt but remember. Me... Thus, a chase began.
He followed the person his nightmare created, followed her with whatever speed he could muster, but even with chains; I... proved to be more of a challenge to catch. "Ala!" he yelled, skidding to a stop, muggy rain water up to his ankles. I had stopped, at the end of the dark tunnel he followed me to. "Why do you keep running from me?! Answer me!" he yelled, but even when I did answer he couldn't hear me. My mouth moved, and he just stared in confusion. "W-...wha?" he muttered, the me he saw, shook her head, and rushed up some stairs. He exhaustedly followed, his knees burning as he continued following me.
Each time, it got worse. He would, chase me into dead ends that he knew, and even then, he wouldn't catch me. "I've got..-! You...?" he began, but stopped, the alley he tried chasing me down, was empty, and I was no where. He kept trying, but yet, each time I seemed even more scared of him. Until...
"I've got you now! You can't run anymore..." Axl muttered sternly, close to collapsing. Already, he had run all over Abel city, the Abel city that his mind copied, in order to make this dream... "Tell me why. Why do you look like that? Why are you so scared of me?!" he yelled, I simply looked at him with a saddening look. "Don't look at me like that!" he exclaimed, as he hiccupped, holding in tears. I simply went quiet, coughing blood as the wound I had suffered opened.
Axl's eyes widening. "You're bleeding!" he rushed over to me, the one he see's as me in his dream that is. "What do I do... There's no one here..." he mumbled in a panicked sense, catching me before I fell. He didn't know how to patch a wound... He fell to his knees with me, looking at me with worried eyes as mine were faint. "Ala... listen to me okay... I'm right here. See?" He continued to try and apply pressure to the wound, but it didn't make a difference.
"I'm supposed to be the enemy you know... you'll only end up killing me one day..." I mumbled, he looked at me, eyes only slightly widened with tears. "What? N-no... no. You're not... I mean, if you were my enemy, I wouldn't be caring for you; not that I wouldn't care if you were my enemy but..." he drifted off... I chuckled, and eventually just leaned onto him, lifeless... breathless. He shook me, trying to wake me. "Ala... come on, stop messing with me... this isn't... funny." he said, disbelief. Soon... he just realized it... and tears just began to burst from his eyes and my figure began to disintegrate into dots of white light, breaking into pieces until those pieces could seep through his fingers and vanish. Leaving later... nothing, but a violet color jewel in the center of his palm.../
He gasped as his eyes opened. He breathed heavily, his systems, desperately needing more air to use to cool his systems, to keep them from breaking down. Eventually, his panting stopped, and merely left cold tears in his eyes. He stared at the glass, looking at a worried Egypt above, who babbled in his language, in a worried sense. He eventually, ripped his arms free from the bearings, and covered his face with them, with gritted teeth, and tears rushing to the center of his chin.
In order to get what his dream meant, you need to think... Abel city, being abandoned and destroyed, is a way of showing himself how much of a destroyed shell of a person he became, because I disappeared. The emptiness, representing loneliness; and the destruction meaning depression. Me running, just showing a dream that you can't reach no matter how hard you try... the end of this nightmare, just a cruel reminder of truth during this time.
He curled on his side, wires still connected to the connection port of the back of his neck. He muttered words so silent, they seemed as if he had only just mouthed them.
Things continued this way, for weeks at a time...
...
"Maverick Hunter Headquarters, please wait one moment!" Pallete said, typing quickly on her panel, all of the other Navigators in the room extremely busy. "Ugh! All of these complaints are flying in. It's been two days now." she said angrily. "Links with Cyber Space have been cutting off pretty badly, a lot of Data is being lost as we speak. Which is unclear as to why." Layer muttered, Alia reading over scans. "I'm running a scan of the area now, nothing has come up just yet." she stated, watching and reading them carefully. "A lot of people are losing connections... we're really the only ones able to get to Cyber Space now, so it makes sense why their all complaining..." Alia muttered. "Wish they'd cut it out already though." Pallete replied with a pout.
"It doesn't make sense for Cyber Space to just disconnect from us like this. It's too strange to not be worried about." Alia stated, her face changing to shock. "Both of you, get over here." she stated, Layer and Pallete moving closer to Alia's panel. "Do you see this... this is Ala's data... but, it's corrupt, and she's currently active in Cyber Space. She's there." she stated, the others looking confused. "How? Why is she there? We thought she was gone..." Pallete muttered, "I know. It's shocking to me to... but, now that we know she's alive, I'm sure Axl will get back to normal." Alia replied.
"The important thing right now is that she's alive and well." Layer said, both of them nodding.
...
Right away, they gathered everyone, as they stood in the center of the room. "We've discovered a good lead on Ala's disappearance. It seems like she's within Cyber Space." Alia explained, a hologram showing a layout of the corridors of Cyber Space, a red line pointing to a few halls. "We've discovered that she's traveled through these corridors, but whenever we try to get into the systems, they wont respond, simply responding with an error; claiming 'Corrupt Data.'" She finished.
"So Ala's okay..." Axl muttered nearly joyfully. "We need to get to her!" he exclaimed, "We will Axl. It's awful strange however, mostly all of her Data is corrupt, all except for her personality files. Even her physical body is claimed to be corrupt, but I don't understand what that means..." she muttered. "If not corrupted, her Data is simply removed, deleted. We're not sure exactly what programs are missing." Layer implied.
"Think it could have to do with the virus?" Zero asked, Thorn arching her lips with furrowed brows. "It could... For now, we should dispatch everyone so that we can find her, I've tracked her to the northern east hemisphere of the Cyber Sector." Layer stated.
A dot... giving my location.
...
Axl rushed ahead of the others, Thorn following closely behind him. Both being separated from the others with how far he had rushed. "Axl. Wait." Thorn said sternly, grabbing his shoulder. "No! I can't wait!" Axl yelled, Thorn looking at him that told him that he could continue his words. "Thorn you know what this is like... you've been in this same position haven't you? I need to find her... for all I know, all of her Data could be corrupt by now and missing... she might not even remember who I am anymore... Exactly why I need to find her!" he exclaimed.
Thorn nodded. "I understand... but, I wish that you'd at least allow me to help, the others will have to catch up." she replied, Axl smiling wide. They continued rushing up halls... until Thorn jerked him back by his hair. "Ow! What the hell?!" he yelled, Thorn later looking up. "Look..." she muttered seriously.
He looked forward... to a scene you would never witness in Cyber Space. Droids slaughtered down with claw wounds along their weak points. Now that's common in the real world... but what was more frightening and concerning... were the walls being a dark red, and some black with the numbers being frozen where they stood. It was corrupted... rotting... Cyber space's once blue world, was now rotting and dying.
~Author's Note~
It's been probably a week since I've last updated, but that's fine~ We're nearly to the end everyone, not sure how many more chapters, but it will end with a good ending, I'm sure I will keep that promise to make it the best.
Recently I've been dealing with ideas and so on so I might be a bit slow with updating it, my story isn't dead don't worry.~
I just need to get more inspiration and to think things through to make the next chapters even better. I hope that the next one wont take as long to write as this one did... now then, back to some artwork I owe some people.~
