Aya: Apologizing in advance for short short chapter!
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Skew Universe
Chapter 8: Feelings
"So you're saying that one of them will eventually become the other?" Gate asked, fidgeting near nervously in his chair.
"Not exactly like that." Conan replied. "One of my hypothesis is that the dominant personality will take control of the other. Instead of becoming the other person, he would feel sympathetic towards anything that the dominant personality does, because the stronger personality's feelings will overwhelm any kind of personal judgment they might have."
"That can't be good." Gate drummed his fingers on the table. "We should tell them. Just sitting here talking about is not doing anything… Then again I don't know what commander X will do with this information… he might very well use it to his own advantage."
"You still haven't told me why you don't trust him. If you did, then we could formulate a better plan." Conan studied Gate carefully, trying to decipher his expression. Gate was still hiding something from him. "But I guess for now I'll take your word for it."
"Thank you." Gate said. A sudden rattle from the ventilation shaft above him caught both their attentions. "Did you hear that?"
"Yes… I did…" Conan stood up from his chair and peered upwards to the vents. "Something is up there."
"You might as well come out." Gate announced. "If you don't come down, then we're going up after you." Gate and Conan heard shuffling sounds from the vent shaft. With a soft creak, the vent gauze swung open and a blonde woman hopped out. "Who…" Something was familiar about this woman. She looked grumpily at Gate. "Eh…"
"X?!" Conan shouted. Gate started at Conan with shock, then turned to get a better look at the girl.
"X… X?!" Gate stepped closer, examining the tight, black, and clearly feminine outfit X was wearing. "Why are you dressed like a woman?! And what were you doing inside the air vent?"
"Your commander X would only let me out and about if I agreed to wear a disguise, since people would mistake the two of us." X pulled the zipped up leather jacket, straightening it. "He picked the outfit…" He looked at Gate, and suddenly remembered that vivid dream he had with Gate and X, and his cheeks flushed slightly. "Uh… as for what I was doing in the air vent. I wanted to know what was going on…"
"So you were spying on me because you didn't trust me?" Gate asked, slightly offended. "I suppose there really is no reason for you to trust me completely. After all, you've only just met me. Oh." Gate gestured towards Conan. "This is Conan; he is an assistant of Dr. Hilbert. He's from your universe. He needs to take you back immediately."
"Wait a minute." X eyed Conan suspiciously. "I would like to believe you, but I would like to do a little digging of my own before going anywhere with anyone…."
"But X, it's important you go back as soon as possible." Conan said urgently. "Your mere presence here could be disastrous. We didn't plan for you to come here."
"Then tell me, why am I here?" X asked.
"Your team was there to guard Hilbert Labs against a possible Maverick attack." Conan began. "Dr. Hilbert's research is hotly sought after by the Mavericks. An important experiment was to be done that day, so both yours and Commander Zero's team were there. You tried to get me out of the line of fire of an attack, and we both fell through the portal…"
"So if I said I wanted to go back, you could send me back right now." X asked. Conan nodded. "How?"
"There was no way to count on there being a corresponding device in the destination universe, so I've memorized the blue prints, and I've built a machine that can take us back. It's at Hilbert Labs now. Apparently my counterpart also works there."
"But how come your counter part isn't giving you trouble?" X continued his line of questions. "Wouldn't he get suspicious there's another copy of him running around?"
"Since I was the one elected to cross, we took measures against that, and he's been temporarily put in… stasis. I've assumed his identity until I leave."
X stared silently at Conan, then turned to go. "I have to do a little digging on my own…"
"But you heard me when I explained about the dominant personality, correct?" Conan said evenly, stopping X in his tracks. "All of that is true, and it could happen. You really should come with me now and we can get you back home."
"I'll be fine for a little longer." X continued walking towards the doorway. "I'll be back in a couple of hours. We can talk then." The doors opened and X disappeared through them.
"I just hope you don't lose yourself while you're at it…" Gate whispered.
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"Are you sure it's a good idea to let Copy run off on his own?" Zero looked across the table to Commander X, who was serving Zero a slice of chocolate cake. "What if he disappears and never comes back?"
"Would that really be so bad, Zero?" X said, slightly amused. Zero just drew back, surprised by X's reaction.
"I didn't mean it like that, X." Zero picked up the teapot and poured each of them a cup of tea. "I don't care about him at all."
X set the knife down after cutting himself a piece of cake. He smiled at Zero, then walked around the table next to Zero and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I know, Z, I'm just teasing you. Now let's enjoy the cake." X returned to his side of the table and sat down.
Zero took a bite of the cake, looked across at X, who was eating contently. I wonder if Copy likes cake…He imagined Copy smiling happy back at him. It's sad how he looked miserable the entire time he was with me. A frown grew on his face with that thought.
"What is it, Zero?" X asked. "Does it taste bad?"
"No." Zero took another bite of the cake. "It's not it. The cake tastes fine."
"Then why are you frowning?"
"I…you know…I've changed since the last time we've been together like this." Zero looked at his reflection in the black tea. "I wonder if you'll still like me as I am, right now."
"Of course I still like you, Z." X leaned towards Zero from across the table. "I couldn't change my mind about you that easily."
"I don't understand how you can say that so easily." Zero looked back up, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "You haven't seen me for all this time. What if we aren't right for each other anymore?"
"Don't say that, Zero…" X slid a hand over Zero's, squeezing it. "I've been waiting so long to see you again…have you changed your mind about me?"
"I don't know." Zero shook his head. "I'm glad to see you again, and I've thought of you all this time…"
"But when the other X showed up, you wonder about my personality, right?" X got up and crossed the room, looking at the picture of him and Zero together. X's mind fell back to the day he was shot… by Zero. He still thinks I don't know. X thought. I know why he shot me that day…I was hoping… maybe…he doesn't hate me anymore… "I know how you feel, Zero. If you need some time, I can wait."
"X, I…" Zero couldn't make out X's expression, since his back was turned towards him. "I don't…"
"I can wait, Zero." X repeated. With that, Zero got up and left the room. X sighed and picked up the picture frame. A drop of his tear hit the glass, followed by another, and another. "Please don't leave me… Zero…"
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Mob Member 1: AH! You suck! What's with this short chapter!
Aya: Sorry sorry! I've been looking for a job lately, and now I've found one, I'm busy training for it! So naturally time is short.
Mob Member 2: What's up with the lack of nookie?!
Gate: Humpf. There's never enough nookie.
Aya: Uh.. yeah. Maybe chapter 9 will have nookie? I'll get Chapter 9 up as soon as I can! Really! I will! *Tumble weed rolls by*