Aya: In celebration of the last day of classes (but not last day of exams, huff) here is Chapter 5! ^_^

Gate: Me! Me! Oh ME!

Aya: Ano… sorrie.  No Gate luv.

X: Awww *pats Gate's head*

Zero: Commence!

Skew Universe

Chapter 5: What Dreams May Come

Another dream?  X thought to himself as one part of the surrounding darkness lit up like a stage.  Under the lights were X, Zero in a classroom full of children.  I don't think I remember this… it must be one of his memories…

"And so, that's how we became Maverick Hunters!"  X was addressing a group of children, who sat on the ground.  Blending in with the children's artwork on the side wall was Zero, smiling at the Leader of the Maverick Hunters as he answered children's questions.

"Oo!  Commandur X!"  One of the children raised his hands eagerly.  "Commandur X, I have another question!"  The Blue Hunter laughed at the child's enthusiasm.

"Yes, you, sir." 

"Can I grow up to be a Reploid?"  Curiosity glittered in his eyes.  Half of the school children, along with the teacher standing beside Zero, tried to restrain their laughter.

"Well, I'm afraid you can't become a Reploid," X smiled, "but you can still join the State Police!"  X glanced over to the school teacher.

"Alright class!"  The teacher announced.  "I'm afraid that's all the time Commander X and Commander Zero have for us!  Now it's time for us to have lunch.  Let's thank these two nice hunters!"  The children got up and said thanks in unison before being herded out of the classroom by the teacher. 

"You're good with kids."  Zero said as he approached.  "Have you thought of a career change?"

X smiled warmly at Zero.

"Huh?"  Darkness surrounded him again.  I guess it's still night.  X pulled himself out of bed, unplugging some of the recharge cords, and walked to the living room. Once again, he checked the door, but they were still locked.  "Well, isn't that dandy?  Lights."  At his command, the room was immediately lit up.  X concluded this was the other X's room, since Zero made no appearances in this room since X's been here.

My turn.  Someone said inside X's head.

"No."  X felt a tugging at the back of his head, which got more and more painful as the seconds passed.  "Let me go!"  He fought hard to keep his mind on something in this world.  Maybe if I concentrate enough he can't take over!  X thought.

"Ha!  Not likely!"  X heard the words coming out of his mouth, but he did not say it himself.  The other X had already started taking over.  In his field of vision he could see the other X moving his limbs, testing his body like a new ride armor. 

Stop it!  X thought, but more and more distance was between him and his body.  Mentally X heard something snap, and then he lost all feelings from his body.  No...

The world shut off to X.

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Zero spent his evening in his room, quietly reading some science journals.  The thought of visiting Copy had crossed his mind, but he was still shaken by seeing X take over Copy's body earlier this evening. 

I want X to come back…He took a sip of tea as he started into space, picturing X.  But I got a little too comfortable with the idea of having Copy around…fun, innocent, shy… Copy…  Zero's mind lingered on the image of Copy staring back at him with wide eyes back at the cell after they kissed, then mentally scolded himself.  Stop thinking about him!  You like X!  Copy is just a toy until I get X back!  He took another sip of tea, then studied his own reflection in the rippled surface inside the cup.  Have I changed?  I never used to be this…casual with love.  Sure X was like that… but me? 

He set the tea down and leaned his head against his hand.  I have changed.  How could I not have, since…

A sharp rapping at his living room door shook him from his thoughts.  "Coming."  Who's looking for me this time of the night?  Zero walked out to the living room, and found that the door was already open.

"Copy?"  Zero reeled back slightly in confusion.  How did he get out of his room?  How did he open my door?

"Nope."  Copy leaned casually against the doorframe, a self assured smile on his face.  Zero studied the body language for a moment, then concluded that X took over Copy's body again.  "You know who I am."  The smaller Reploid slowly closed the gap between the two and took Zero's hand. 

"X?  Is it really… you?"  Zero stood still, unsure of what's happening and how to react.  "How is this happening?"

"I didn't get a chance to tell you yet, did I?"  X grinned at Zero, and then wrapped his arms around Zero's waist.  "That other X, he's from a different universe.  When he his here, we share our memories…and even our bodies."  X took a deep and deliberate breath, closing his eyes as he ran one of his hands up Zero's back.  Zero shuddered slightly from the familiar way this stranger touched him.  "Can we talk about that later?"  X looked up at Zero.  "I don't know how much time I have."  Zero nodded, then wrapped his own arms around the smaller Reploid.  "I can feel him trying to take over again."

"We don't have to talk."  Zero squeezed X tightly, but felt the smaller reploid tense up.  Immediately he loosened his grip, scolding himself about forgetting how X is in a smaller body now. 

"I'm sorry."  Zero rested his chin on X's shoulder.  "About everything."

"It's not your fault."  X patted the back of Zero's head.  Zero's body shook as he began to cry.  "Sh… it's not your fault."

"I… I…"

"Couldn't have done anything."  X finished.  "I asked you to stay outside the building that day.  It wasn't your fault I rushed in without backup.  It's not your fault." 

X's body relaxed in Zero's arms.  Zero pulled his head back, and saw X's head rolling to the side limply, his eyes closed and his face expressionless.  A new wave of grief took over and he pulled X's body close to him again.

"Huh…"  X started to move once more, and almost lost his footing when he realized who had his arms wrapped around him.  "Ze-Zero?!" 

"Co…py?"  Zero leaned back and looked into the eyes of the smaller Reploid.  "It's you."  X was taken aback from seeing tears in Zero's eyes.

Zero never cries.  X thought to himself.  Well, my Zero never cries.  "Uh, are you okay?"

"Just stay with me, tonight."  Zero looked pleadingly into X's eyes. 

"I…no…"  X shook his head violently, afraid of what might happen if he did.  "I can't." 

"Please."  More tears welled up in Zero's eyes, which pulled even harder on X's heartstrings.  "I promise, nothing will happen.  Please.  Just stay.  I just… need to hold someone…"

X took in a breath, then nodded.  "I'll stay."

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X was sitting in a chair, another stage was set up in front of him.  I'm dreaming? Again?  I'm guessing this means I'll see more of the other X's memories.

"Zero, you stay here.  I'm going inside!"  X turned, and a doorway appeared in front of him.  Zero was nearby, and took a step towards the Blue Hunter.

"X!  Let me come with you!  We should wait for backup!"  X turned and put a hand on Zero's chest, preventing him from following. 

"No, Zero.  I can take care of myself."  X opened the doorway and walked through.

On the other side of the doorway was more darkness, but pieces of the surroundings started to appear as X stepped further and further away from the doorway.  A second door appeared, and X headed towards that door as well.  An eerie silence hung in the air as X cautiously walked through still more doorways.  Finally he reached a room with a large computer terminal in front of him.

"This is what I'm looking for."  X said as he approached.  A loud boom echoed and both the dreamer X and the one he was looking at felt intense pain. 

"Arugh."  A pair of voices grunted in unison.  He looked down at his chest, which was only a smoldering cavity now.  He grabbed the opening, desperately trying to keep what remained inside, but he could already feel his systems shutting down.  The hunter fell to his knees, but still tried to lift his head up.  Darkness devoured the X on the stage, and, at the same time, the dreamer X fell out of his chair.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"  X bolted upright on the bed, holding his own chest tightly as the image of the other X's empty chest cavity remained prominently in his mind.  A pair of arms wrapped around him.

"Calm down."  Zero said as he held X in his arms.  "What's wrong?"

"I… I just…"  X shook violently as he thought of his dream again.  "I saw it.  Your X… getting killed.  It was horrible!"  He gulped, trying to calm down enough to speak.  "He was alone, walking…"

The dream replayed in X's head again in a series of still images in first person view. Turning away from Zero.  Entering the building.  The endless doorways.  The computer room.  Looking down at his empty chest cavity after being shot, and the last thing his mind registered before he fell into darkness.

The reflection in the computer terminal: His own face twisted in horrific pain as the life spilled out from him.  His eyes looking tragically at himself as he realized this was really the end.  His lips as he tried to call out to the one he loved.  Soundlessly his lips moved as if to say "Zero" as he fell to his knees.

A feeling much more painful than any other hit him before the darkness took over.  Zero's reflection came into view as his own reflection dropped away from the terminal.  Zero with a smoking X buster, pointing directly in his direction. 

"Copy!"  Zero's voice called him back to the present.  "Copy, say something!"

His new found knowledge froze X in place.  He looked up at the concerned gaze of Zero, who still had his arms wrapped around him. 

Zero killed X.  The blue hunter turned his eyes away.  Zero killed X, and now he has his arms around me. 

"X."  Zero gently turned X's face towards his own.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."  X tried to cover his nerves.  "It's… just a nightmare."  Suddenly X wanted to get out of Zero's arms.  "Could you…get me a glass of water?"

Zero paused for a moment, then let go of X.  "Of course."  The bed bounced as Zero got out of bed and headed for the kitchenette.  When X was sure Zero left the room, he started to shake. 

Zero killed X?  X repeated in his head as he looked around for a way out.  I don't think Zero would lock his own door.  He jumped out of bed and started to head for the door, but stopped when Zero stepped back from the kitchenette. 

"Here."  Zero offered the glass of water to X, who hesitantly took it and started to drink.  After the initial sip, X realized how dry his throat was and immediately chugged the entire glass.  When he finished X stared at the empty glass, not wanting to get back in bed with what could be considered his own killer. 

"X?"  Zero asked.

"What?"  X said, not taking his eyes off the empty glass in his hands, but he could tell his fearful voice betrayed him.

"You know, don't you?"  His voice suddenly got more menacing than before.  By the time X looked up, Zero was already rushing towards him.  Unable to move out of the way, X was slammed back against the wall, with Zero's hand pressed hard against his neck.  "You know."  X dropped the glass and tried to claw Zero's hand off his neck.  "You think I can't tell from the way you looked at me?"  Zero's fingers dug painfully into X's neck as he gripped tighter.  With an angry cry, Zero slammed X's head into the wall again.  X's face twisted in one last grimace before the green light went out in his eyes.  Zero caught X as he fell from the wall, and wrapped his arms tightly around the limp figure.  "Now that you know," Zero said dangerously, and then kissed X on the forehead.  "I can never let you go."

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Aya: More cliffhangers!  Oh MAN!  Everyone who now wants to kick Zero's butt for killing X raise your hand!

*tumble weed rolls by*

Aya: Oh! So you STILL love him, even if he's a murderer!

Everyone: *Nods*

Aya: … ME TOO! ^__^ Bwa ha ha ha ha ha HA ha ha HAAAA….