Search for a Soul
Chapter 4
"Proof"
By MEGAMANX411

X slowly walked back to base, taking the time to observe his surroundings leisurely as he made his way. For some reason, he felt like he didn't have to hurry back. He took the time to see how people interacted with one another, how reploids interacted with fellow reploids, and how reploids and humans fared together. The end result was something he'd rather not witness. He happened to stroll by some sort of religous gathering, and one human was preaching to the rest. He couldn't quite tell what exactly what relgion it was for, however. Because of X's race, he was not brought up to be accustomed to any sort of religion. After all, he was created by man, so there wasn't exactly a divine force behind his origins.

That was the funny thing with humans. They spent all their time wondering where they came from, instead of focusing on where they are going. At least, that was the mentality of many reploids. X had once tried to learn about some of their religions, but couldn't quite understand some concepts of them. For a reploid, however, it was no big issue. X didn't exactly stop to hear the preaching really, it's just that he could easily overhear it. However, X's interest was caught when he realized that the gathering was about the "Reploid Rights Movement" that was still going on. This gathering, though, was against those rights.

According to the legislation that was under consideration, the Reploid Rights Movement was supposedly going to allow for reploids to be considered on equal terms with humans. While reploids did not need equal admittance for any educational purposes, they would be able to use their equal rights to enter any jobs that they desired. Reploids still had to work, if they wanted to get money that is. However, many people still felt that reploids should remain as servants so to speak, because they were created by humans.

"My fellow humans. You must not allow these reploids to attain the rights that we have, for we were given these rights by God, and him alone. Beings without souls cannot be allowed to be held in the same regard as his creations, and even if they can think and act human does not make them human!" he shouted.

The crowd cheered, and X had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. He stopped, and stayed to witness the rest. He got an awful pain in his chest. He knew that the comments weren't aimed at him directly, but he felt as though they were. After all, there weren't any other repoids really close to the area, and X kind of stuck out. For some odd reason, he felt compelled to listen even though it was hurtful.

"How can one claim that these reploids have souls? Is it not said that only God can bestow a soul? So how can man claim to have given a soul to some machine? It is surely wishful thinking on the reploids part," the preacher continued.

"Wishful thinking..?" X muttered, clenching his fist.

Wishful thinking? How could someone possibly say that? After all, although one cannot necessarily prove that he or she has emotions, it is rather difficult to deny the existence of someone else's soul, isn't it? Why is it that it is easier to deny than to prove? People always seem to be more willing to accept negativity, and X simply couldn't fathom why these people were talking in such a manner. Why was it that reploids were instantly subjugated, from the moment of creation? Being born into slavery was not what Dr. Light intended, at least that's what X thought. Was he supposed to be just a tool? Why could he think then? What was the point?

"But...I do have a soul...Dr. Light says so," X muttered futilely.

The man continued, much to X's dismay. He wanted to go up there and argue with him, to try and get the man to see things from his point of view. He didn't know if the man would listen to him, but he just wanted to get his argument down. X believed he had to right to speak his mind. But then that raised the question...was he really entitled to his opinion anyway? If people truly believed reploid's were servants, then what was the point of free will?

"These reploids are heartless machines! They kill humans and each other, which is why we must protest them attaining rights, and we should restrict the amount of reploids there are!" he shouted.

X clenched his teeth. How could he be so ungrateful? Maverick Hunters had fought for humans valiantly, and many had given their lives. They were brave and commendable, not murderous. The Mavericks were the ones who were murderers! Sure, X disagreed with their methods, and would've preferred not to fight, but how could they simply neglect all of their efforts? X alone had made an immense effort to save humanity, and they didn't even realize it! X, perhapsa gainst his better judgement, walked towards the group.

"Excuse me, but I don't think what you're saying is fair," he began.

The man wrinkled his nose and gave X a strange look. X assumed that the man must have been middle-aged, but he didn't know the exact year. His hair was graying, and his eyes had a sort of faintess to them. His skin was slightly wrinkled and pale, and he wore all black garments. The man appeared as though he had been insulted.

"So, a soulless machine wishes to tell me what's fair?" the preacher replied.

X clenched his fists. A soulless machine? X was more than that. Hearing someone say such terrible things about him made him feel so awful that he couldn't even stand it. He just felt so angry, but he didn't know what to do. This man just had a different point of view from him, and X wanted to prove him wrong in a harmless way.

"I do have a soul!" he shouted.

"Really? Where is your proof?" the man asked.

X struggled for appropriate reasoning, but couldn't formulate a very logical answer. He couldn't quite place a reason behind having a soul. After all, wouldn't one have to define what a soul is first? Who gives a soul? Can it only be given by God? Or do you get one for yourself? What exactly does a soul do for one, anyway? X struggled, and tried to give his best reply.

"I do...because I can feel. I can be sad, I can be happy. I have emotions," he replied.

The man chuckled in response. He found X's attempt to fight back comical. After all, he was a machine. Was man equal to a toaster? Some people would never accept a machine's rights, but then again, not all machines could think and feel.

"So? What does that mean? All you are doing is imitating our emotions because of a simple processor in your brain...it's fake, not real," he replied.

X felt like someone stabbed him in the chest. The man's words stung like poison. He could feel a seething hot sensation coursing through his body. He hated those words. It gave him such pain to hear them. But he didn't know what to do. He couldn't hurt the man...could he? He didn't believe it was justified, but he just felt so angry.

"But couldn't you argue the same for you? Why is it that you claim to have a soul, yet you say that no one can bestow such knowlege and privilege besides God?" X replied.

The man gritted his teeth and pointed a hostile finger at X. After all, X wasmachine. Shouldn't man be the one to know more about religion?

"Don't you dare talk to me about religion you damned abomination!" he shouted. "You are a mindless killing machine!"

X was becoming increasingly angry. If X truly were a killing machine, he could've killed this man already. But he didn't, instead, he wanted to resolve things peacefully. X always wanted to do things peacefully, yet his acts of kindness were never once appreciated. What was the point of being nice of no one cared? The anger X felt was starting to become painful.

"Mindless?" he shouted. "Killing machine?"

X gritted his teeth, and many thoughts began to run through his mind. Thoughts of what he could do to the man, what he felt like doing. A feeling of incredible rage coursed through his veins, and he could feel the hatred oozing from his every pore, his desire to make this fool be quiet. But the fact that he had such a thought terrified him to no end. Such thoughts were like that of a Maverick. Was it truly that easy to become a Maverick? All he had to do was give in. Horrified, X shook his head.

"No.." X muttered, backing away.

X had gone completely pale from fear, and was backing away from the crowd of people. They, of course, took this as a sign of X admitting defeat to the supposed "superior" human race, and thus began to laugh at him. Many of which were people X had saved, and had forgotten about it. X took a deep breath, and turned his back to them. Some of the members even had the nerve to throw things at him, such as rocks and discarded food items. They struck the back of his armor, but X didn't care. Physical pain he could handle, and these objects were harmless.

"You see? All reploids are cowards at heart!" the preacher mocked, gesturing to the crowd to continue throwing things.

X stormed off, and several things kept running through his head. He didn't care about what they did to him anymore. He just didn't care. He didn't want to give them any more of his time. Even though X was the one being kind, they never bothered to understand him. It seemed as though his entire existence could've been ignored, and no one would care.

"Must forgive.." X muttered, talking to himself.

He was apparently trying to calm himself by thinking aloud. He did that a lot, considering his nature. X was very introverted, and almost liked sorting out his thoughts. It was almost like a ritual to him. Whenever he felt stressed, he would just think hard, and try to sort out all of his thoughts. He knew the consequences of giving into desire.

"Hatred leads to becoming Maverick..." he added.

When he finally reached Maverick Hunter HQ, Alia was a bit shocked to see him. When X entered the door, he was entirely ragged. His eyes were glassy, and he was entirely filthy. His armor was slightly dented from some rocks that were hurled at him, and there remained some residue from all that garbage. X caught sight of Alia, and immediately look away in an ashamed manner. He felt as though he wasn't fit to be in the same room as her. He didn't say a word.

"X!" she shouted. "Where have you been? You didn't report back when Zero did.." she added.

Alia gasped as she saw the condition that he was in. She only had to wonder what kind of trouble X got into when he was on his own. Judging from how sad he appeared, it looked as though what happened to him was really serious. It wasn't physically bad in any way, it just looked like his heart was suffering.

"Oh...what happened X?" she asked.

X's eyes wandered. He didn't want to tell her that a crowd of people did this to him. He didn't think that he required any special treatment at all, because he thought that would only make him feel worse. He didn't want to make a big deal of it. With a slight sigh, he tried to come up with an excuse.

"I had a bit of a mishap during the mission," he replied.

Alia sighed. She knew that was a lie. She knew that there was something going on, and that X just didn't want to say. He just looked so sad. Alia could almost feel his depression herself. It was the sort of sadness that was almost contagious. X didn't take the time to continue their converation. He decided to just tell Signas about the mission, and be done with it.

"I'll go tell Signas the results of my mission," X added, walking past her.

Alia stood completely still, and gave X a look of sympathy as he walked by.