Search for a Soul
Chapter 11
"The idealistic fool"
By MEGAMANX411
X blinked heavily, and stared in disbelief at the monitor. He simply couldn't believe this. Why was this happening? Why now? What was the purpose of it all? However, X started to realize who was on the screen. He knew those features. That dark armor, that nonchalant attitude...it was Dynamo. The ultra-obnoxious mercenary who worked with Sigma previously. Did he not have a heart? How could he possibly work with such an evil, sadistic villain? An intense rage stirred to life inside of X as he looked at the screen.
"Hey X, Zero...how's it hangin' guys?" Dynamo asked, using his typical arrogant tone.
X gritted his teeth angrily. He simply couldn't fathom how someone could be so downright arrogant and carefree about a matter such as this. Alia was gone. It wasn't just another person, or just some reploid...this was Alia. It wasn't some average entity that X regularly encountered, it was a dear friend. He had experienced this before with Zero, but why did they have to involve Alia? It angered X to no end.
"Dynamo...what do you want?" X asked.
"Heh...straight to the point I see. You're way to serious X, you're going to have a heart attack, you know what I mean?" Dynamo replied, obviously trying to get a rise out of X.
"Dynamo! Don't play games, there's a serious matter at hand I must attend to!" X shouted.
Despite X's seriousness, Dynamo remained calm. He was really in control of the conversation, and he was enjoying it thoroughly. He knew that he held all the cards, and that he could simply terminate the transmission and leave the Maverick Hunters in the dark. But to him, it was so much fun to see the expressions on their faces.
"I know all about it..." Dynamo muttered, smiling viciously.
It hit X like a ton of bricks. The whole reason why Dynamo contacted them was obviously because he was connected to Alia's disappearance. The anger inside of him was growing more and more. It was like some sort of hideous monster writhing in a cage.
"You know...about Alia?" X asked, his eyes becoming as wide as saucers.
"Of course I know idiot. That's the reason I contacted you. And don't bother tracing this transmission, because I'm going to give you a destination anyway," Dynamo mocked.
Zero didn't trust Dynamo for a second. He glared at the screen with an intense gaze.
"Like we should trust you. This is obviously a trap," Zero sneered, turning his back to the screen.
"Even if it is a trap, you aren't going to...let anything happen to Alia, are you?" Dynamo mocked.
Dynamo snapped his fingers, and a light came on, illuminating a group of figures behind him. A group of supposed Mavericks were crowding around someone. That someone happened to be none other than Alia. The set up was all too perfect. They managed to successfully kidnap Alia in the middle of the night, and now she was at their mercy. The angerlocked up in X's soul raged once again, with even more intensity this time. He could feel his body being wracked with rage.
"ALIA!" X screamed. "Don't you dare hurt her!"
Dynamo chuckled lightly, and merely smiled at X. He snapped his fingers again, and the lights went back off. He enjoyed being in control so much. The very feeling of it was just so invigorating! To him, there was simply no better thing. Bargaining was quite an enjoyable way to time, it seemed. Zero kept a level head at these turn of events, and remained calm. X, on the other hand, was a torrent of emotion.
"You wouldn't want anything...bad to befall her, hm?"Dynamo asked, teasing X.
Of course, X wasn't really in the mood for Dynamo's games at this point. He wanted to get Alia back, and stop this nonsense right away. He simply had to get her back. Nothing else was important now, Alia was the number one priority. He she was hurt because of him, he would never forgive himself.
"Look Dynamo, I don't know what your intentions are, but just give Alia back. Now," X commanded.
Dynamo shrugged casually. He simply didn't care about X's commands. After all, why would the one in control care?
"No can do, X my pal. You see, an associate of mine was rather interested in the idea of kidnapping Alia. In fact, he was the one who put me up to it. You dig? Anyway, he wants a little chat with you, if you catch my meaning. If you want to wuss out, you can kiss little-miss-navigator goodbye," Dynamo mocked, making a gesture that would give the implication of an execution.
"Dynamo! Give Alia back to me right now!" X screamed.
"I told you X, the only way to get her back is meet my employer's demands. That means either you meet at the location I give you, or it's no dice. You got that?" Dynamo asked.
X gritted his teeth, and slammed his fist on the computer panel. He knew he was being manipulated into fighting. He hated the fact that he had to fight, but he had no other choice. Having Alia's demise on his conscience was certainly not something he'd like to have. He closed his eyes tightly and thought deeply for a moment. What would Dr. Light wish for him to do? What was the right thing to do? What should he do?
"Fine," X spat. "Give me the coordinates."
"Good, good. And by the way, there's one more thing. Zero cannot come along. If he does, the deal is off, and Alia is history. Understand?" Dynamo asked.
X was almost glad that Zero couldn't come. He didn't want any more close friends involved in this. He wanted to end it himself, right now.
"Whatever you want. Just tell me where to meet you," X replied.
The location was displayed onscreen. It was an underground research facility that had been long abandoned, and it was apparently set in a very run down part of the city. It used to be widely used by the government, but after an accident, no one occupied it. It seemed to be the perfect place for any illegal dealings, especially because of the rather low level of surveillance. Not even the authorities were interested in wathing that area, besides, they had a lot of other problems to deal with. X quickly made a note of the location.
"Later X!" Dynamo teased, waving his hand before he cut the communication.
Zero placed a hand on X's shoulder. He knew this wasn't a good idea. X going alone? It sounded ludicrous. After all, they were a team. They needed to stick together, at least that's what they always believd before. Zero knew that there was definitely a reason why they wanted X to go it alone.
"X, you know this is a trap. I have to come with you," he offered.
X shook his head slowly. A deal was a deal, even if it was with someone like Dynamo.
"But Zero...I can't risk losing Alia. Please, just let me handle this,"X replied.
Zero knew X very well, and he knew how much he hated to fight. He knew about X's weakness, about his unwillingness to fight. If it was earlier, X might've been better off, but recently, X has been sort of out of it. He wasn't able to concentrate on fighting as well. He still had the power and the potential. Zero knew that if he really put his all into it, X could be a simply amazing fighter in any light. But he was just too...kind.
"I know how you think X. You're going to try to resolve this peacefully, and it won't work. You have to fight them. But your big heart is your weakness, and you know it..." Zero explained.
X knew all about that already. But he couldn't avoid it. He didn't want to fight, but he had to go there. He didn't know exactly what he was going to do, but he just had to go.
"That's enough!" X shouted. "I will do this...I have to do it."
Zero grabbed X tightly, and brought him face to face. He didn't want to lose a friend so easily.
"X, listen to me! Are you willing to throw your life away for those ideals? You're going to get yourself killed!" Zero shouted.
X sighed lightly, and his gaze shifted to the floor. He didn't know the right words to defend himself, but he had to at least try to explain himself to Zero. He said the only words that came to mind.
"I may get myself killed...but I'll save Alia," X replied. "And if you try to stop me Zero, I'll get by you," he added.
Zero clenched his teeth, and turned his back to X. Was he really so willing to throw his life away? Just like that, he would go off and die without a care in the world? To save one reploid, the legendary Maverick Hunter X would sacrifice himself. For a supposed "hero," that was not the most glorious ending, it seemed. Zero closed his eyes and shook his head.
"You're a fool X," Zero spat.
"I may be a fool, but I will not be a coward," X replied.
X slowly walked out of the door, and made his way to the desired location. Zero stayed behind. He didn't really know why he did. Zero could've easily defied X and tagged along, but he saw the fire in X's eyes. But he knew that if he didn't help, X could die. Zero wasn't about to let that happen. Zero, usually the one to be full of confidence, felt like he should ask for a second opinion. He turned towards Signas.
"Signas...do you think I should follow him?" Zero asked.
Signas gave Zero a solemn nod. He knew how grave the situation was. There was no way he could intend to stop them, so he figured he may as well give them good luck.
"Zero, you're the best Maverick Hunter we have. I trust your instincts, so you should too," he replied.
Zero smirked, and walked off on his own to think of the matter. X was really going it alone. Why? Zero didn't fully know. He supposedit was because X was just so naive. It was just a foolish move.
"X...damned fool..." he muttered.
Zero didn't really curse X's name, but he found it sort of funny. X was always such a lighthearted person, and even a bit of a prankster back in his early days. He remembered back to when X was the bumbling rookie, and that he always had to show X the right way to do everything. He was like a child; pure of mind, and pure of heart. Zero sighed lightly and looked towards where X was running. He knew what he had to do, as a friend and as a partner.
Meanwhile, X reached the location described to him. It was a massive warehouse, just like it appeared in the transmission. X managed to use his teleportation to get close to the relative area, and then walked on foot the rest of the way. Outside, there were storm clouds appearing. It was alreay dark, and it wasn't even that late. The sky had a deep, foreboding edge to it that seemed to warn everyone about an upcoming disaster. X didn't care though. He had to save Alia. Before he entered the building, it started to rain. X could feel the droplets of water coming down quite heavily, and heard the noises they made as they hit his armor.
X didn't even blink, he just kept moving forward. Slowly, he stepped inside the warehouse. He went towards the nearest door,and entered a dark room. X looked around. It was far too dark to see with basic optics, so he tried to scan the immediate area. However, he was given a sudden shock when the lights came on.
"Well, well, if it isn't the idealistic fool."