A/N: Alright, it's time for the chapter that you've been waiting for!
(After the events of the chip Sigma got from Isoc and High Max and used on Neon Tiger, his base had to undergo repairs. It had been a while and soon things were back to normal for them. But in the process of cleaning and fixing up, Vile found a certain document that Sigma might see useful. Sigma was writing up the cost of damages report at his desk when he got a knock on the door.)
Sigma: Come.
(The door opened and Vile entered. Sigma kept at his work.)
Vile: Lord Sigma sir.
Sigma: What is it this time?
Vile: As you know everything is up and running as it should be, but in the process of re-updating, I found this.
(Vile put down the roll of paper on his desk. Sigma took off the glasses he was wearing and put down his pencil as he went to investigate Vile's findings. Sigma's eyes widened.)
Sigma: Leave me.Vile: But m...
Sigma: I said be gone!
Vile: Yes sir.
(Vile didn't want to feel the angry wrath of Sigma so he took the cue to exit quite quickly. Sigma waited for the door to close until he looked back down at what appeared to be blueprint instructions. He smirked, laughing to himself.)
Sigma: I know the original prototype was destroyed, but I had no idea that we had saved the instructions. Heh this is perfect, now I can rebuild my weapon and finally use it for my true purpose, rather than Neon Tiger stealing it from me. Well it's a good thing that he's out of the picture. (Neon Tiger sat decimated in a dark damp dungeon. Note: For original weapon appearance, see chapter twenty, 'changes anew'. Sigma stood up and laughed, it echoed in the cold empty room.) X won't know what hit him! Haha!
(At the Maverick Hunter Headquarters, it was a slow day, nothing had happened like in the events the week prior. Everyone was relaxing in the main room enjoying a day off. Alia was in the kitchen making some cookies when Signas came in.)
Signas: Those smell great, you're such a good cook.
Alia: Thank you sir, I enjoy cooking for everyone.
Gate: Just make sure you eat them before Zero arrives.
Signas: Yes, where is he anyway.
Life Saver: Don't know, don't care.
(Life Saver walked out of the kitchen, Signas and Alia look at Gate.)
Gate: What...?
Alia: What's with him?
Signas: Yea, he's been acting weird lately.
Gate: He seems the same to me. Quite and anti-Zero.
Alia: Funny hon. I dunno, you know him better than anyone else.
Gate: Yea, so I would've noticed something.
Signas: True. Well, just must be our imaginations.
(Signas left leaving Alia and her husband in the kitchen. In the living area of the main room, Douglas was asleep on the couch, exhausted from a day of inventing. Rush sat up from the rug in front of Zero's chair when the door opened and the General and the Colonel entered.)
General: That was a great session Colonel.
Colonel: Thank you commander.
Signas: Another spar you two?
Colonel: Yup.
General: He's getting so much better, he might out rank me someday!
Colonel: (blushing, waves air like a woman) Oh stop.
Signas: Well you two go and take it easy, Alia is making us all some cookies.
General: Well we'd better hurry or else Zero will eat them all before we get a chance to even look at them.
Colonel: Oh we won't have to worry about that.
Signas: Oh? And why not.
Colonel: Because he and Iris went to go to a doctor to check up on the baby's progress.
(Zero and Iris had been in the waiting room at the office for about half an hour. Iris was reading a parent magazine but Zero had grown impatient within minutes. He was tapping his finger on the knee over one leg, the other leg tapping the floor. He scowled up at the ceiling light with his other hand supporting his chin. The fan was revolving slowly, causing the plant on the table next to them to move ever so slightly. Finally Zero stomped and stood up.)
Zero: That's it, I can't take it anymore!
Iris: Zero please.
Zero: Zero please nothing Iris! We've been here for god only knows how long and it's driving me nuts!
Iris: Zero it's only been a half an hour, the nurse told us he was running behind schedule.
Zero: Fine then let's just go.
(Zero grabbed her by the wrist and went to pull her up, but Iris protested by pulling back, sitting firmly to hold her ground.)
Iris: No Zero, this is important. We have to make sure the baby is coming along ok, I don't want it to be sick or anything.
Zero: Iris, it's a baby. It's inside your stomach. How the hell could it get sick or hurt!
Iris: Zero...
Zero: You know what, I'm outta here.
Iris: Zero! (Zero stopped at her command and turned to see her standing.) This isn't about you, this isn't even about me, it's about our child! I know you don't like being her at the doctors but we have to ok, so just be a man and suck it up!
Zero: (sigh) ...I know, you're right, I'm sorry. It's just that I...
Iris: Sh, it's ok Zero, you don't have to explain, I know.
Nurse: Excuse me? (they look up at her voice) The doctor is ready to see you now, I'm sorry about the wait.
Iris: That's ok, thank you.
(They both follow her out into the hall. Meanwhile, X was in his room. He hadn't come out much, he was still thinking about the whole ordeal with Zero nearly getting killed. He didn't want to admit to the fact that one day he would have to die, but he just couldn't kill his best friend. He wasn't evil, he didn't have it in him, he just couldn't. He was a husband, a soon to be father. He changed before, will he again? X rolled over in his bed, there was a knock at the door.)
X: Go away!
(It opened and Life Saver entered.)
Life Saver: Hm, I would've expected a 'come in' from you, X.
(X rolled back over.)
X: Oh, I'm sorry...
(Life Saver came in and turned on the light to see X looking a mess.)
Life Saver: Look at you, what happened? You get a day off and it turns into a day way off.
X: Oh... well, I... you wouldn't understand.
Life Saver: Are you ok?
X: Fine.
Life Saver: I highly doubt that.
X: (sigh) Ok, I'm not fine. There, happy?
Life Saver: No, not entirely. (X sat up as Life Saver sat down on the bed.) So, are you going to tell me what's wrong?
X: Well, I guess... I was just thinking about Zero....
(X looks up after saying the 'z' word to Life Saver, but he just blinked down at X, waiting expectantly.)
Life Saver: Go on.
X: (a little shocked) About Zero and how he was almost killed yesterday.
(X looks up at him again, waiting for him to make a wisecracking comment.)
Life Saver: Uh hu.
X: (really confused) I just realized that someday he might return to his once Maverick state and in order to protect everyone on the planet I'd have to kill him. But he's my best friend.
Life Saver: But you have Rush, he's a dog, man's best friend.
X: Life Saver, I know you wouldn't understand...
Life Saver: I'm just kidding with you X, I know how you're feeling and I understand.
X: What, you do?
Life Saver: Well, not really, but... I know what you're going through and it's obvious. I may not have the best relationship with Zero, like you do, but I know what you're thinking and it might happen, it might not. Zero changed his path before, he can change it again. He doesn't have to be destined to have what fate set aside for him to do.
X: Yea that's true, so much is already different.
Life Saver: Yea, exactly.
X: Thanks for that little talk, I think I'll take a walk and clear my head.
Life Saver: Sounds like a good idea. Hurry back though, Alia made cookies and who knows when Zero will be back.
X: Oh surely the smell of the cookies will lead him home quickly.
(Life Saver smirked and X left. Iris and Zero were on their way back from the doctors, so far everything was going fine.)
Zero: I don't see why we had to put up with all that just to know that you're ok. I could've told you that!
Iris: Zero.
Zero: Sorry, sorry.
Iris: Maybe you should clear your head.
Zero: Yea I guess, I'll go take a walk.
Iris: No Zero, don't go alone again, please.
Zero: Don't worry, I'll be fine. Neon Tiger got the chip removed remember?
Iris: I know, I just get worried.
Zero: I'll be alright.
Iris: Ok.
(They hugged and Zero gave her a quick kiss before walking off. Iris watched for a moment, then sighed as she went the rest of the way back to the base alone. Zero was walking down the street of West City when he suddenly stopped. He looked around, he could sense somebody's energy, and it was coming closer. Growling, he slowly put a hand on his light saber and crept towards the corner. He jumped out, slashing the light saber in front of him to attack.)
Zero: Take that!
X: What the...!
Zero: Ah!
(Zero froze with the light saber just above X's head. Cringing, X slowly opened his eyes and put down his arms. Zero was in shock but finally shook his head and put the light saber away. X stood up.)
X: Zero, what were you doing?
Zero: Sorry, I was just taking a walk and I thought I.... (Zero looked down at X, he was in so much shock he was pale.) Hey what's the matter, you ok? (Zero put a hand on his forehead. X turned away.)
X: I'm fine Zero...
(X looked down at the floor. Seeing Zero come after him all fierce in attack mode had scared the lights out of him, and not only that but it reminded him of what he'd come out here to forget, that one day he would attack him and in order to save the world, he'd have to not only attack back, but destroy him. And if he couldn't bring himself to do it now, how would he prevent cowering and holding back then?)
Zero: Hello? (He waved his hand in front of X's face) Anyone home in there?
X: Come on Zero, we should head back.
(They started to walk back to the base.)
Zero: So what were you doing out here anyway?
X: Just, uhm... taking a walk. How about you?
Zero: I had to clear my head. Iris and I just got back from the baby doctor.
X: Oh? And how is everything going?
Zero: Fine, which made the trip pointless to make.
X: (laughing) Oh Zero!
Zero: What?
(As they walked, somebody really was out there sneaking up on them. He laughed, smiling a toothy grin as he clutched the weapon in his hand. Finally when he figured their guard was down enough, he jumped out of the shadows in front of them.)
Sigma: Haha, freeze!
Zero: Ah!
(Zero raised his hands but X pulled out his buster gun and aimed it at him. He paused, realizing that Sigma had attacked faster than Zero and yet he pulled out to defend the attack, where he hadn't with Zero.)
Sigma: Prepare to meet your end X!
Zero: Hey, what about me!
Sigma: Don't worry, I'll find a painfully slow death for you as well.
Zero: Thank you. I mean, ah!
Sigma: Now you die! Haha!
(Sigma shot at X. But just then Zero jumped in the way.)
X: Zero!?
Zero: X, no!
Sigma: What, wait a minute. No!
(There was a bright flash, Sigma covered his eyes. Finally when it was ok to see again, he looked around. Zero and X were standing how they were before, they both looked around.)
Zero: Wow what happened? Ah my voice, I've gone in reverse puberty!
X: Why do I suddenly have the urge for a beer?
Zero: Ah, X! What are you doing in there!
X: Hu, what? Ah, hey you, get outta my body!
Sigma: No!
(With a mission failed, Sigma disappeared. X, in Zero's body, and Zero, in X's body, looked at each other.)
Zero: Well now what?
X: I dunno...
(They both went back to base. Everyone stared at the two in shock, each slowly eating a cookie.)
Signas: Ok, let me see if I understand this. Explain it to me again.
Zero: Sigma shot a weapon at X, I jumped in the way, and now we're in each other's body.
Signas: Then why do you sound like yourself?
Zero: What? I'm trapped in his body!
X: What do you mean? I want a beer, how is this myself?
Sigma: Ok, I'm confused.
(Everyone sighed in the back, also confused. X and Zero looked at each other, why didn't they get it? Maybe it was because Zero was in X's body but had X's voice, and X was in Zero's body but had Zero's voice. The change was in spirit alone. Zero went over to whisper to X.)
Zero: Maybe we should pretened to be each other for a while just so we can take care of things without complicating them anymore.
X: Wait what? I'm confused.
(Zero growled and shook his head.)
Zero: Oh joy.
X: I want a beer. No, I want Iris.
Iris: Here I am, and I have a beer.
X: Sold!
(They both walk off.)
Zero: Hey you, get back here with my wife!
Life Saver: X, are you sure you're feeling ok? Maybe that walk was a bad idea.
Zero: For the last time, I'm not X, I'm Zero!
Life Saver: Ok, Zero, why don't you go back to you room and take a nap.
Zero: I don't want to!
Life Saver: Then what do you want to do?
Zero: I.... I... I'm gonna go train.
(Zero walked off, leaving everyone confused in the main room. But Zero was just as confused. Zero wanted a beer, so why did he say he would go train? That sounded like something X would say and yet he had the beer. Zero sighed and walked to his room and opened the door.)
Iris: Zero, what are you doing?
X: To be honest, I really don't know.
Zero: Ah! You, home wreaker!
Iris: Ah, X! What do you think you're doing?
Zero: Get off my wife!
(Zero went to jump onto X but Iris started hitting him with a pillow.)
Iris: What is with you, get outta here!
(She threw him out of the room, then closed and locked the door.)
Zero: Aw man! I'm in X's body, now X is in my body banging my wife.
(Zero growled and walked down the hall. Just then Douglas bumped into him.)
Douglas: Oh there you are X.
Zero: For the last time I'm not... ok fine, yea here I am.
Douglas: Well, do you think you could help me down in the maintenance room for a sec?
Zero: (shrug) Sure.
(Zero followed Douglas down the hall. They go into his room where Zero sees many new fangled inventions. Douglas turned back to him.)
Douglas: Impressive, isn't it.
Zero: I'll say. You never cease to amaze me.
Douglas: (blushing) Oh stop.
(Zero goes over to a new motorcycle. He goes to get on.)
Zero: So what's this baby do?
Douglas: It's like the original only with more modifications in speed and endurance. I've installed power suppliers so you can also use it as a weapon as well. You can see the quantum tazzer fires on the side.
Zero: You've really outdone yourself.
(Douglas blushed again, but then Zero's smile faded. All of those big words, did he just understand them? Douglas looks up at Zero.)
Douglas: So, would you like to try it?
Zero: Would I!
(Zero jumped on and started it up, smiling widely once again. So X always got to try out the new stuff before anyone else even saw it. He revved it loudly.)
Douglas: Now I must warn you that the fluxuater still is acting up being next to the fuel tanks....
(Before Douglas could finish, a gasket flew off of the motorcycle because of the pressure, causing steam to come out, followed by an explosion. The smoke cleared. Zero coughed and fanned it away as Douglas went over to the motorcycle.)
Zero: What happened?
Douglas: Don't worry, it's ok, I know what happened, and I can fix it.
Zero: Well that's good. I never knew this kinda stuff went on, does this always happen?
Douglas: What always happen?
Zero: When you let X, er, me, try out stuff it always goes wrong?
Douglas: Well sometimes, it's a learning method of trial and error, and....say X, are you feeling ok?
Zero: Yea, fine, why?
Douglas: Why don't you go rest and forget about training alright?
Zero: Well I don't really....ok.
Douglas: Fine then, I'll talk to you when everything's in working order again.
Zero: Sounds good.
(Zero went out the door and shook his head. Wow, being X was sure weird. He wondered how X was taking it. He frowned a little, X was with his wife, HIS wife!)
Iris: So Zero, would you like a beer?
X: (cringing) No thank you, man I can't understand how he drinks that stuff.
Iris: He who?
X: Ze... me.
Iris: What?
X: Oh, nothing.
Iris: You sure are acting different.
X: Never mind Iris, I think I'll go walk Rush.
(X got up to leave.)
Iris: You'll what?
(Iris was in the main room with Douglas, Colonel, Alia, Gate and Signas.)
Gate: Say what now?
Iris: Zero said that he didn't want a beer and then he went to walk Rush.
Signas: That is strange.
Iris: And when we were doing it he didn't do that... thing, he does when he's doing... his homework?
Colonel: (disgusted) Oh please, just stop it right there.
Douglas: And X was acting weird too, like he wasn't himself.
Gate: I guess they've just been hanging out with each other for so long, they just rub off onto each other.
Signas: Yea, they're real close...
Douglas: Maybe we should have Life Saver talk to them. He and X always seem to be on good terms, I guess they might be able to hit the nail on the head.
Signas: Good idea, I'll have Life Saver go see X.
Douglas: I think he's in his room, but he might be training.
Signas: Ok then.
(Signas got onto the base phone unit to contact Life Saver. Soon Life Saver was walking down the hall and to X's room. He knocked on the door.)
Life Saver: X, are you in there?
Zero: Come in.
(Life Saver came in to see Zero looking up at the ceiling.)
Life Saver: X, Douglas thinks you might be under a lot of stress lately. Are you ok?
Zero: Don't worry about it Light Saber, it's none of your business.
Life Saver: (stopping himself) Wait, what did you just say?
Zero: It's nobody's problem but my own.
Life Saver: No, no, not that. Before that, what did you call me?
Zero: Light Saber. That is your name, right?
(Life Saver just paused and shook his head.)
Life Saver: Wow, maybe they are rubbing off onto each other.
Zero: What?
Life Saver: Oh, uhm, nothing.
(Life Saver got up to go.)
Zero: Hey wait a sec.
Life Saver: Yes, would you like a beer?
Zero: Actually I....no. I was going to ask you, oh, never mind.
Life Saver: Very well.
(Life Saver left with a bewildered expression. Zero was just as confused. He hadn't had beer in what seemed like forever, being X was taking it's toll on him. But he wasn't alone. X came back after walking Rush. He unhooked the leash from the collar and let the dog run off. Life Saver approached him.)
X: Oh, hey here Life Saver.
Life Saver: Alright, that's it! What's going on here, cause I think we've had enough.
X: What are you talking about?
Life Saver: You and Zero! You guys are starting to rub off onto each other, you've been hanging around so much.
X: Hu, what do you mean?
Life Saver: You walking the dog, not wanting a beer, acting weird while getting, ahem, intament. And then X acting strangely with Douglas, slouching in training, and now this! You calling me Life Saver and he's calling me Light Saber! It's like you, you switched personalities or something!
X: Well actually, we did.
Life Saver: What!?
X: We tried to tell you but you didn't believe us.
Life Saver: I remember that now, it seemed so silly....but it's true?
(X nodded his head. Signas walked over.)
Signas: So, how are things going Life Saver?
Life Saver: Remember the whole 'body switching' story X and Zero told us?
Signas: Oh yea, that was a laugh.
Life Saver; Apparently not.
Signas: Why?
Life Saver: It's true.
(X, Zero, everyone met in the main room to talk things over and figure this all out.)
Signas: Alright, so how are we going to reverse this?
Zero: Only one way, get the device Sigma used and then switch us back.
X: But remember, this happened before. So Sigma must have had another one.
Douglas: You probably has the blueprints.
Gate: So even if we destroy it, he can still make another copy.
Life Saver: So why not destroy the blueprints?
Signas: Precisely. Destroy the blueprints, destroy the weapon. That's your mission, got it?
X: Got it!
Zero: But, we are gonna use it to change back first, right?
Signas: (smirking to himself) Yes...
(X and Zero went off to battle. Zero charged his buster while X fiddled with the light saber.)
X: Wow, it sure is gonna be weird to use a sword and not my gun arm.
Zero: You're telling me, I dunno how you do it.
X: I guess it just gives us a better respect and understanding for each other, being in the other's body.
Zero: Yea, I have a whole new perspective on things, seeing the world from your eyes.
X: Yup, same here.
(They both smiled at each other as they walked through the outskirts north of the main city. Just then Sigma jumped out, laughing melodically.)
Sigma: Haha, it was curtains for you from day one, now it's time to hit the final nail onto the casket!
(Sigma aimed the gun at them.)
X: Wait, what are you doing?
(Sigma shot at them, the blinding light caused all three of them to look away. Zero coughed and blinked until he could see and the smoke had cleared.)
Zero: Ok wow, bad shot. Did you miss on purpose or what?
X: Ah, Zero!
Zero: What?
(Zero gasped as he turned to X.)
X: Look!
(They were back in their own body? But how! They looked at Sigma who smirked at them.)
Sigma: I wanted to kill you X, but I didn't want to destroy you in Zero's body. Now I can take you out.
(Sigma threw the machine to the ground, breaking it in his anger to fight.)
Zero: Now why did you do that?
Sigma: Oh I could always build another one.
Zero: Oh yea, and how's that?
Sigma: Simple you simpleton, with the blueprints of course.
Zero: Yea right, blueprints.
Sigma: No, no, it's true. I have proof to show you.
(Sigma walked over and showed Zero the blueprints.)
Zero: Ah, so it is, so it is...
(Pausing to nod his head, Zero quickly grabbed the blueprints and ate them. Sigma screamed.)
Sigma: No you idiot! How, why did you do that?
Zero: Now the weapon can never be built.
Sigma: I have the one right here.
Zero: You broke it.
Sigma: I can fix it.
Zero: Oh yea?
(He motioned with his eyes and Sigma looked at his weapon, seeing X wearing a big cheesy grin next to the steaming pile of nuts and bolts. Sigma's jaw dropped, he'd destroyed it while he was talking to Zero. He le out an angry roar and disappeared. X walked over to Zero.)
X: Well partner, we did it, and we got our bodies back.
Zero: Yup, but I have you to thank for our victory.
X: Oh?
Zero: Yea, I never would've thought to trick Sigma like that. You know me, I always just charge head on into battle. But I used a strategy and it followed through and we won.
X: Yea. I guess being in each other's minds let us see through each other's eyes, bodies, and minds.
Zero: Yea, speaking of which... I know what's going on now.
X: What, about?
Zero: What's been going on lately, and how you're thinking about me and my past and...
X: Oh, Zero...
Zero: No, don't worry, it's ok. (he smirked) You don't ever have to worry about anything like that ever happening. But should something ever come up, like Sigma and his plots, and I revert back to my Maverick state, you have to take care of me. (X was silent, Zero growled) X I'm serious!
X: Ok, I know... I will.
Zero: Thank you, friend.
(X looked up, seeing Zero smirking back at him, with his hand held out. X smirked back and shook hands.)
X: Friend...forever.
Zero: Yea. (they started to walk off) Now come on X, I'm off to the bar.
X: You know what Zero? I think I'll have a beer too.
Zero: Ah, I see you learned much from being me.
X: Yea, and I saw a side of Iris I'd never seen before.
Zero: (stops) Ok now that's not funny. (X laughs) No really X, I'm gonna kill you.
(Zero pulled out his light saber and started to chase X. He laughed as he ran away, Zero smirked as he chased after his best friend. That night when they came into the door, they were taken off guard by Life Saver's voice in the distance.)
Life Saver: Hey the dog's dead.
Zero: (gasp) What! (he ran over with everyone else to see Rush laying on his side on the floor, not moving, not even breathing. Zero choked, trying not to cry.) Rush?
A/N: Well, I just started the next chapter, and like I said in my last note, after that I'd be taking a break. But I may take a shorter break than earlier assumed, next Friday is opening night for the play and we close the first weekend of October. So there will still be updates, just not as often, as I'm not sure if I'll be taking a short episode break. I'll have to see how my schedule goes with homework and stuff. Well anyway, thanks again to you loyal readers! Hope you liked the chapter.