Aya: Aww, so our X-kun is actually chibi-sized in this world! Isn't that just adorable?!
X: Humf… I don't like being chibi
Zero: But you're so cute when you're chibi!
Gate: Time to begin my bit scene! *rains rose pedals*
Aya: What the heck?! *looks up*
Skew Universe
Chapter 3: The Other Half
"Arugh…" X groaned before opening his eyes again. He couldn't remember whether he wore himself out struggling against the Hunters, or if one of them finally got mad enough to knock him out. He rolled his head to face forwards, but when the back of his head made contact with the surface he was leaning on, he realized it was answer number two. "Stupid guards…" He muttered as he waited for the pain to pass.
"Back among the living?" X recognized the voice to be that of Gate's. The scientist approached X, toolkit in hand. "You must have really pissed Kirin off, since usually he's the nicest of the guards."
Not in a particular mood for chatter, X looked flatly at Gate, and then at his surroundings. He was strapped down on a workbench that was rotated perpendicular to the ground, so he could see about half of the room. It's kind of chilly in here…What the?! Where're my clothes and armor?! X blushed at the thought of which of the Hunters undressed him. Briefs were the only things separating him from total embarrassment.
"Not in a mood to talk?" Gate asked as he pulled out a tool from the box. "Oh, don't give me that look; I'm not going to torture you. I'm just examining you, that's all. It shouldn't hurt at all. Let's see… if you're just like X, then you should also have… aha!" Gate found the small depression on X's chest that opened his chest cavity door. "So where did you come from, anyway?"
"I don't know, as I've already said many times." X replied. "Now let me ask you something: How did your X end up in a coma anyway?"
Gate paused slightly from his examination, then resumed, but with a heavier look on his face. "He was leading the Hunters against Sigma's army. Someone shot him from the back. We've been keeping Commander X alive ever since, in that pod." Gate picked up another tool from the bag and poked at the inner circuitries of X. "The day you arrived is the first time he's shown any improvement. Naturally Commander Zero is very excited. He hasn't left the HQ ever since the accident."
"What happened to Sigma?" X looked down, slightly concerned about Gate's probing. "Did you finally get him?"
"He has a way of coming back… we'll see him again."
"At least this much is the same." X rolled his eyes, causing Gate to give him a curious look. "From what I remember, I mean."
"What is it that you do remember?" Gate asked.
"A lot of things Zero's mentioned is different. For one, I'm a B class Hunter, not the leader of the Hunters, just the 17th Unit."
"Well." Gate interrupted. "Commander X did get his start in the 17th Unit. He made leader of that unit within days!"
"Some of the procedures for processing prisoners are different here, as I've learned first hand." X raised an eyebrow. "We certainly don't lock up people without good cause."
"Commander Zero thinks you will bring X back. That is good cause." Gate looked curiously at something inside X's circuits. "Hm… this is interesting. You're programmed differently."
"I wish everyone would stop comparing me to the other X… or, at the very least, call me by my name." X pouted his lips a bit, just threads away from getting really mad at the recent developments.
"Very well." Gate smiled at X, about the first genuine smile he's seen since Alyssa. "I will call you X when Zero is not around. He's still a little sensitive whenever anyone mentions X, I hope you understand."
X recalled Zero's reaction when he mentioned the other X inside the cell. "I understand. Thanks. OH! What happened to the humans I was brought in with?"
"Them?" Gate blinked. "I think they were sent home. Zero just asked them what they knew about you." Gate watched as X let out a big sigh. "Did you think Zero did something terrible to them? He's not a monster."
"I… I'm sorry." X looked a bit ashamed. "I was just afraid…. Speaking of personalities, what is X like?" Gate pulled back, uncomfortable about the question. "It's just that Zero said I was different from his X, aside from just the height thing."
"Well," Gate still looked uncomfortable. "X is a complicated person. At first glance you'd think he's kind, but he is… complicated. I really shouldn't say anymore." Gate's eyes wandered as he thought of past events.
"Complicated…" X repeated, which brought Gate back to reality.
"Well, I'm done here." He closed the chest cavity. "See, that didn't hurt at all." Gate winked at X, then released the straps keeping X on the table. "Your suit is over there, by the chairs. I'm afraid they took your armor, so you'll just have to make do with the outfit Zero provided for you."
The light blue suit he wore underneath his armor was there, which he quickly put on. The other pieces of the outfit resembled his armor, except these were not metal, but made of cloth. Since they weren't metal, the new pieces lacked the bulkiness of their metallic counterparts.
"Well, don't we look handsome!" Gate walked over as X finished dressing. "I guess the tailor did a good job." X's expression pressed for an explanation. "This used to be Commander X's outfit, one of his favorites when he wasn't on duty. Commander Zero had it altered for you, since you are slightly smaller than Commander X."
At that point in the conversation, Zero entered the lab and his eyes widened with delight at the sight of X. The Blue Hunter, on the other hand, looked less than enthusiastic. Unconsciously he stepped backwards. Zero noticed the movement, but seemed to be even more delighted by X's reaction.
"X, I see you're dressed." Zero's eyes moved down the length of X's body, which made the Blue Hunter even more uncomfortable. "What are the results of the check, Gate?"
"Physically, he's pretty much the same as Commander X, aside from the obvious size difference." Gate read off a chart he was holding. "However, he is programmed slightly differently, and I'm still not too familiar with Commander X's nor…this one's programming to be able to tell you for sure. Interestingly enough, the same things about Commander X's programming that baffled me before seem to also be present here."
"So it's possible that they were both created by the same person?" Zero asked, his eyes still lingered approvingly at X's outfit.
"Yes, that would be the more probable conclusion."
"Come along, Copy." Zero turned and started walking to the door, but X stood in place, annoyed by the way Zero addressed him, as well as disturbed by the way he had been looking at him. X noticed Gate jerking his head in Zero's direction, urging X to follow him. Nodding dejectedly, X followed Zero to the doorway and out into the hallway.
"You know, Copy--" Zero began.
"Could you not call me Copy? I have a name."
"Of course…" Zero seemed to be even more delighted at the sight of an annoyed X, probably getting a sick enjoyment at the fact that X could do absolutely nothing about his annoyance. "But your name is the same as his, so I have to call you something else. Copy will have to suffice."
X started to slow fall behind from Zero's pace, stepping clumsily with wobbly knees. The Red Hunter noticed this and at first thought X was pulling some escape attempt, but the Blue Hunter was heading nowhere as he collapsed to the ground. He shivered violently, and his eyes glazed over. As quickly as it began, it stopped. The small, still body of X sprawled on the ground.
Unsure of what just happened, Zero kneeled down to examine X. The Blue Reploid have since closed his eyes and looked like he was just sleeping peacefully.
"Copy?" Zero called softly. "Copy?" Slightly louder this time. X's eyes snapped open, and they looked right at Zero. "Copy?"
"Zero, you shouldn't call me Copy." X looked coldly at Zero. "But it is good to see you again."
"Co... no… X?" Zero gulped. "X?"
"Of course it's me." X said, amusement filled in every word. X reached for Zero's shoulder and got up to his knees. "Questions later." He stated simply before wrapping his arms around Zero, drawing the Red Hunter's body tightly to his own. "I'm back."
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Aya: Cliffy cliff CLIFF! I'm updating this before going on a 6 hour drive home for Thanksgiving. I should be able to come up with something even better during the marathon drive. :)
X: What just happened to me?! What do you mean "I'm back"?! NA-NI?!
Zero: *timidly* Eek!
Gate: Why me get no action. *sniff*
Mob Member 1: Ooooo! X kun getting bold.
X: But, but… I'm confused!
Gate Fan Club: When can we expect fun fun for our Gate?
Aya: Chapter 4? Maybe 5? I donno. I need to sleep for a bit before driving. Meow! Good Night! Hope you enjoyed this chapter ^_^