Mega Man Cross
Chapter 14
"To The Dead Sea"
By MEGAMANX411

Norris was waiting just by a rather nice boat which easily dwarfed Korcha's. Korcha's vessel, to be blunt, was more like a somewhat spacious canoe with little enhancements besides. This boat was clearly a more refined vessel intended for use by superiors in the Porre army. It had a section of cabins, among several other rooms, including a matenaince room.

"Wow...traveling in style, eh?" Zero muttered, observing the boat.

"I think we had best get going. We have general coordinates, but if you have any other information, it would be appreciated," Norris replied.

X thought for a moment. He didn't know how he knew, but he had the exact location of this place somehow engraved in his memory. It was like he knew all along where it was and how to find it, but that just didn't make sense. X slowly tapped Alia on the shoulder and whispered into her ear.

"Alia, input the following coordinates into your computer...Sector C-1156," X whispered.

Alia nodded hastily and followed X's command. The group then proceeded to get onto the boat, one after the other. Zero lounged around in one of the main cabins, and made himself comfortable. He didn't know how long this trip would be, so he figured he may as well enjoy it. The crimson hunter laid his head back, and prepared to get a little rest and relaxation.

Kid and Korcha were both enthralled by how expansive the ship was. Of course, Korcha was incredibly envious because his own boat was completely destroyed by comparison. That surely didn't help any sort of his chances with Kid. Meanwhile, X looked out the window in a daze as Alia looked at him nervously.

"You all ready?" Norris asked.

"Yeah, let's get going!" everyone shouted.

Norris nodded in confirmation, and started up the boat. As the engine came to life, each passenger made themself pretty comfortable. Zero laid back and closed his eyes, letting himself catch some most deserved relaxation. Kid and Korcha were completely enthralled with all of the devices on the ship, and were simply fascinated. They were children, after all.

Alia stood by X, looking at him rather nervously. She had wanted to talk to him about something for awhile now, and this was the perfect opportunity to approach him about it. Of course, save for the fact he was no longer in his own body, because that certainly didn't help anything. Alia bent over and tapped X on the shoulder. X turned around and gave Alia an innocent look.

"Yes Alia? What is it?" he asked.

"X, can I talk to you for a minute? In private?" Alia asked.

One of Zero's eyes shot open at the sound of what Alia said, and he suddenly became a bit more interested. However, knowing how things could get with Alia, he just decided against it and relaxed again. Alia and X then went into a private room to talk.

"X, there's something I need to talk to you about," Alia began.

"What is it? You can tell me anything," X replied.

"Well, it's about...how you treat me," Alia muttered, sounding a little embarassed.

X wasn't exactly understanding what Alia was getting at. Did she mean he was being offensive or rude? X thought he had been very polite to Alia.

"What do you mean Alia? Have I done something to offend you?" X asked.

Alia shook her head quickly and sighed.

"X, you're always there to protect me. I appreciate that, because it does show you'rea very kind person, but..." Alia stammered.

"But what?" X asked.

"I don't need you to shield me all the time! Maybe sometime I'd like to try fighting on my own, or fighting for you sake. I'm not a child X, and I would appreciate it if you didn't treat me like one. I am a Maverick Huner, and I have completed the training for it. I just prefer to navigate," Alia replied, shouting some parts of her speech out involuntariy.

Alia then clasped her hand over her mouth and felt really embarassed. True, X was a bit overprotective, but Alia was worried that she may have come off as a bit rude herself there.

"I'm sorry..." X muttered, lowering his head. "It's just that..."

"Just what?" Alia asked.

"I protect you because..I..what I mean to say is..." X stammered, his voice becoming softer with each passing word.

Alia became rather interested as to what X was going to say next. She had a feeling that she knew what it was already, but hearing it from X would be a different thing entirely.

"What..?" Alia asked.

"I love you!" X shouted, clenching his eyes shut as he shouted it.

X immediately gave Alia an embarassed look and he shook his head.

"I'm sorry.." X whispered.

Alia smiled and placed her hand on his cheek. She knew it was a different body, but still making contact with X was something for the time being.

"X..I want you to promise me something," Alia whispered.

"What is it?" X asked.

"I want to protect you," Alia replied.

X smiled and held Alia's hands in his own. He nodded slowly, taking into account her promise. X may be a bit overprotective of things he loves, but he would do his best to keep his promise. But even so, he was a bit surprised that someone else wanted to fight for him.

"Alia..I don't want you to take a risk like that. But if this is what you want, alright," X replied.

"X, I just want you to see that I can help. And now, it's you that needs help, so I'm going to do what I can to proect you," Alia answered.

Both X and Alia just stood there for a moment, not saying aword. X looked at Alia, smiling, but inwardly sad because of his inability to treat her the way she wanted. And the fact he had now promised to let her fight wasn't something he liked either. Alia, on the other hand, felt good for getting that off her chest. But she still felt sad about the fact she may have come off as rude to X. Especially after what he admitted to her.

"X..you can let go of my hands now," Alia stammered.

X immediately let go, and blushed.

"Heh, sorry.." he replied, rubbing the back of his head afterwards.

"X...I..I think I'm going to get some rest," Alia muttered, walking off to her own private room.

X just stood there, not protesting anything.

"Alright...Alia?" X asked.

"What now X?" Alia asked.

"I promise," X replied.

Alia smiled, but said nothing in return. She walked off to find her own bed, and started to get comfortable herself. X, on the other hand, couldn't really feel like sleeping at the moment. Even though his new body demanded it, X just couldn't stop thinking. He thought about Lynx in his body, he thought about Harle, he thought about Sigma...and he thought about his fate.

X knew that something was wrong. In order for him to be involved in this whole ordeal, something had to have gone wrong. Everything happens for a reason, and so did this. He didn't just wind up in another dimension for nothing. X wondered about whether or not he was the real X, so to speak.

If a different dimension was created for each decision one did or didn't make, did that mean only one person was real? How did X know that he was the real X, and not the product of a decision of an alternate version of himself from a previous time? Or maybe he was merely the product of a decision of his creator? But why was it that only one was considered real?

Each being, in each universe, could think and feel. So aren't they real? What determines reality and existence? It was at times like this that X really wished he could talk to Dr. Light, the man who seemed to know all of the answers X sought. X then looked down at his hands. They didn't belong to him, not at all. He wondered how long he would be in this body, how long he would go on like this.

He knew there was no way he could resume his old life if he were to stay this way...how could he keep his rank at Maverick Hunter HQ? What would humans and reploids think of him? How could he be around Alia and Zero? It wouldn't be the same. He needed to fix this. But for some reason, he wasn't really afraid. He felt like the answers would be coming to him...at least, that's what his dreams were telling him.

X looked back at Kid and Korcha to see that they were still amsuing themselves with childish games. X smirked, and wondered what his life would have been like if he had a chance to experience something like that. Or maybe he could have his own child one day?

X then looked over at Zero. Even though they were best friends, he was amazed that Zero had stuck by him for all of this. No matter what, Zero was always one to count on.

"Well..I guess I should get some sleep," X muttered, walking towards one of the beds on the ship.

X laid down, and slowly closed his eyes. For a time, the whole ship was pretty quiet, with nothing making noise except for the sound of the water. Soon, day gave way to night, and everyone pretty much went to their rooms. X then heard someone else entering the room he was in. X bolted awake, and sat right up in his bed.

"Who's there?" he asked.

"It's me.." a voice replied softly.

X could see far better in the dark thanks to the eyes of his new body..he could see that it was Alia.

"Alia..what are you doing here?" X asked.

"Just wanted to see how you were doing," Alia replied, sitting beside him. "It's really beautiful, isn't it?"

"What is?" X asked.

"The moon...the stars..the night sky," Alia muttered, looking outside.

Alia then shook her head and chuckled.

"I'm sorry..guess I kind of ramble when it comes to these things, I'm a bit of a romantic," Alia added.

"I don't mind," X replied, smiling.

"So what do you think we'll find at the Dead Sea?" Alia asked.

"I don't know for sure..but I have a feeling that there's someone waiting for me there," X answered.

"Lynx?" Alia inquired.

"No, not him. At least, I don't think so. I can't tell who it is, but I think I know him. And I think he's the one who's been giving me these dreams," X replied.

"Why do you think this person has been giving you dreams?" Alia asked.

"If you want my opinion, I think it's because he wants me to stop Lynx. Everything happens for a reason, you know?" X replied.

"Yeah..I guess you're right," Alia replied. "But I'm more worried about you..."

"Alia, I'm not going to stay in this body forever. I'm going to return to my former self, I promise you that. And I haven't forgotten my other promise to you either. But when I'm back in my old body, I want you to do something for me," X answered.

Alia's eyes widened, and she looked at X curiously.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I want you to help me, and for you to seek help from me," X replied.

"I promise X," Alia answered.

X looked out the window once again to see the relfection of the moonlight off of the water. Soon, they would reach the Dead Sea. X would find what he was looking for there. He didn't know how he knew really, but he just had a feeling. That's what his dreams had been telling him, and he had gotten to trust them.

"Alia, can you do me a favor?" X asked.

"Yes, what is it?" Alia replied.

"Stay with me tonight," X answered.

Alia didn't say anything, she merely leaned her head up against X's shoulder and they both looked out the window. More than anything, X wanted to return to his old body and be with Alia. And he would get his answer finally when he reached his destination.