Mega Man Cross
Chapter 9
"Onward to Fort Dragonia"
By MEGAMANX411

"So how do we get there?" X asked, turning to the group.

Zero shrugged. He wasn't from this world, so there was no way he could possibly know. X was pretty much in the dark too. That just left Kid.

"Is there anything you know about this Kid?" X asked.

"Well, I'm not sure..we could try askin' someone, but we are kinda wanted y'know," Kid muttered.

Alia then intentionally coughed to make her presence known. Although X counted both Kid and Zero, he forgot to think that maybe she had some input on the matter.

"Well, you all are, but I'm not," Alia replied.

X'seyes widened. He knew exactly whatAlia was talking about, and it was pure genius.

"That's a great idea Alia!" X shouted.

"Thanks," Alia replied, blushing a little.

Alia then walked off, and went to the other Dragoons. They both stopped her of course, but they didn't show any hostilities.

"Hello miss. Is there something you need?" one of the Dragoons asked.

Alia had to think of a quick alibi. Maybe she could say she was a new recruit? That idea may work. Either that, or she could mention some fake delivery scheme of some sort. Or maybe she could simply say she needed to meet them? Surely she didn't need something that elaborate..but she had to pick one scenario, and fast.

"Well, I'm supposed to meet some other Dragoons at Fort Dragonia. Could you tell me how to get there?" Alia asked.

The Dragoons looked at each other, and then shrugged their shoulders.

"You sure you want to go there?" the first one asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. Is there something wrong?" Alia asked.

"Well..no, not really. Anyway, I'm not too sure how to get there myself. But if you intend to head to the fort, I would offer you a word of advice. When you get on your boat, first head north, and then east. You should find a small island there. A retired Dragoon now lives there. Find him and ask for his advice. There are many frightful rumors about that fort, you know. You never know what to expect there," the Dragoon replied.

Alia nodded respectfully and smiled back at the Dragoons.

"Thank you very much!" she replied, running off.

The Dragoons then looked back at each other, and both nodded their odds.

"Man..that was one cute girl," the second one muttered.

"Yeah, definitely..wonder what she wanted at the fort?" the first one replied.

"I don't know for sure, but she might be a friend of Riddel's or something. That, or the Dragoons there needed some fun, heh.." the second one answered.

Luckily, Alia wasn't around to hear that last comment the Dragoon made. She was too busy getting back to X and company, who were all eager to hear what she had to report with.

"What did you find out?" Zero asked.

"Well, they didn't know what it was exactly.." Alia replied.

Kid was actually a bit pleased at this news. This meant that she wasn't able to outdo her in terms of reconaissance, and therefore, Kid was still superior.

"Figures, you're little plan was useless in the end.." Kid interrupted.

Alia gave Kid an annoyed look, but then decided to finish her point. That'd work better than insults.

"But I did find out about someone who does know," Alia added, smiling. "But that means we need to get to the boat first."

X slapped his face in shock. The boat! Korcha was just about to leave with the boat, so that means they would have to find another. And that may prove difficult considering that there are people after him.

"The boat?!" X shouted.

X looked over to Zero in apparent worry. Zero quickly got the message, and nodded back to X in confirmation of the implied command.

"I'm on it!" Zero shouted.

Zero went dashing off trying to catch Korcha before he left the docks. Korcha was just a little ways out because he was apparently being rather slow. Perhaps what Kid had said to him earlier made him act that way.

"Korcha! Wait!" Zero shouted.

"Heycha..?" Korcha muttered, turning to see Zero.

Now, Korcha may not have been the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was aware of the fact that Zero was the one who tried to strangle him on the boat. So needless to say, he was a bit startled.

"What...cha do ya want?" Korcha asked meekly.

"We need your boat again," Zero replied.

Korcha rubbed the back of his head and shrugged his shoulders. He didn't have much reason to get involved in this, and he himself wouldn't have a way back home for awhile if he were to lend his boat out. But of course, this way he might have the opportunity to further his deal with Kid...

"OK! But I have one condition..." Korcha replied.

Zero shook his head. He remembered exactly what Korcha's "condition" was the last time, and he sure as heck didn't want to get involved again.

"Oh no, you're not gonna get me involved in this. Tell her yourself, but count me out," Zero replied bluntly.

Soon, X, Alia, and Kid came running by to see Zero and Korcha. Korcha blushed at the mere sight of Kid, and then began to rub the back of his head, seemingly embarassed.

"So, what do you say Korcha?" Zero asked.

"Well..I um..you know," Korcha answered.

Kid crossed her arms defiantly and gave Korcha a rather annoyed look.

"Alright, alright, I'm not sayin' I am or anythin', but I'll think about it, ok? Don't get all excited," Kid replied. "Besides, ya know who I am dontcha?"

Korcha nodded, but didn't really seem to be too offended by the fact that Kid was a supposed thief.

"Wellcha, I know you were supposed to be a famous thief or something, but thatcha doesn't matter to me..." Korcha replied.

X, deciding enough was enough, thought it was time that they be heading off to get to Fort Dragonia.

"Alright, that settles it!" X shouted.

Everyone then got back into the boat and made the preparations to leave.

"So where do we go?" Zero asked.

"Well, I don't know where Fort Dragonia is, but there is someone we can visit who might be able to help us. He's a retired Acacia Dragoon,"Alia replied.

X then looked over to notice that Alia was fiddling with a computer. She was typing away quickly.

"What are you doing over there Alia?" X asked.

"Doesn't seem like anythin' useful, I mean she isn't from here y'know," Kid teased, obviously trying to flaunt her superior knowledge.

"I'm putting new information into my personal computer's database for future reference," Alia began. "That way, we can print out a detailed map of the area based on information we receive, or cross-reference material from here to material from our world."

X was a bit stunned. He knew Alia to be a dilligent worker, but this was pretty impressive. It was certainly a useful thing to do.

"That's great Alia!" X replied.

Alia merely blushed and tried to remain humble.

"It's..nothing," Alia muttered.

Kid merely crossed her arms defiantly and sat down beside Zero. Zero's gaze wasn't focused on her, although Kid tried to act like it. There were some things Zero particularly didn't care for. Babysitting was one of them, so he naturally wasn't too pleased about this turn of events. But, in the end, there was something weird going on, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Soon, the island where the old retired Dragoon supposedly lived came into view. It was rather small, and it really only comprised of a single home. The old reploid must have been rather reclusive, or at least X and company assumed as much.

As they disembarked the boat, they noticed that the area was rather...desolate. Smoke was rising from some of the parts of the building...that's when X realized that someone had burned this place to the ground. Someone had beaten them there.

"This isn't good..someone beat us here.." X muttered, surveying the area.

Zero also took agood look around the area. Something about this didn't seem right.

"You think Lynx did this?" he asked.

"Zat's correct. Hmm...maybe not?" a familiar voice replied.

X turned to see Harle return. That was one face he really didn't want to see at this moment in time. And he knew having Alia around might make things worse.

"Ze correct answer iz, I did zis under Monsieur Lynx's order. Say, X, did you miss moi?" Harle added.

"Who are you?" Alia asked, obviously a little offended that she was addressing X in such a matter.

"Who iz zees? Zome hussy? I t'ink you had best leave her mon X, she iz unattractive," Harle replied.

Alia was about to defend herself, but before she had a chance, X decided to intervene on her behalf.

"What did you just say?!" X shouted.

Alia was both stunned and happy that X defended her. He never really outwardly expressed himself like that often, but seeing him do it for her..well, it made her feel like she was special to him.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Well, on to more important matterz. Excusez-moi, X, but do you want to know why I burned this place to ze ground?" Harle asked.

X's face hardened. First, she burned the area to the ground, possibly injuring someone. Second, he openly insulted Alia. And third, she was acting like she did nothing wrong. This was making X a bit agitated.

"Tell me right now Harle. Maybe if you apologize I'll have less of a reason to detain you," X threatened.

"Well, first of all to teach you all a lesson...and second of all to get rid of zat geezer who livez here. He is an ally of ze Acacia Dragoons, and I hear he's quite skilled. I waz disappointed to see zat ze geezer izn't here. I wonder where he went? And one more t'ing, X. Monsieur Lynx gave moi one more order. Zat iz to slow down your pursuit. Here I go!" Harle shouted.

X was taken completely by surprise by Harle's attack, and didn't even have time to bring up his counterattack. She lunged at him with great force, but X wasn't ready to block. So, he attempted to sidestep at the last possible moment to avoid injury. Luckily, the attack missed.

"Harle, what are you doing?" X asked.

"I am zorry to do zis, but I must, mon X," Harle repleid.

Harle once again lunged back at X, this time with an even quicker pace and what seemed to be more force as well. X was ready this time, and manged to deflect her attack by grabbing her arm and shifting it away from him. Harle regained control of the fight by thrusting her weight into a kick which struck X in the side.

X stopped himself from falling, and then once again grabbed Harle. He tried to restrict her movement so he could talk some sense into her, but she proved to be a bit too agile and shifty for him to detain. She kept trying to elude his grasp, and was doing a good job of it.

"It iz difficult to defeat you, mon X, zo I must attack your comrades, no?" Harle questioned.

X immediately gritted his teeth as he saw Harle run towards Alia. There was no way he was about to let her get hurt, even if it did mean he had to use some force to stop Harle. He didn't want to have to hurt her, but he knew he had to stop her. X immediately rushed over, and plowed into Harle with a dash attack, knocking her over.

Harle was sent flying back a bit, and missed hitting Alia. X abruptly stopped, and then stood in front of Alia to make sure she wasn't hurt. Harle then stood back up and dusted herself off.

"Ooh lah lah...you really are strong, trez fort, X. Pleaze, X, turn back now," Harle announced.

Harle then shifted her attention to Kid and Alia, although where her attention was shifted to wasn't quite clear.

"She iz not'ing but bad luck! She will bring not'ing but misfortune to your life. Au revior, mon X!" Harle added, just before leaving.