Mega Man Cross
Chapter 21
"Where Time Ceases"
By MEGAMANX411
X looked at the new data chips he acquired intently. Two from this dragon meant that they were now in possession in atotal of six, making it possible to access the area with Sigma supposedly is. According to Dr. Doppler, they could now input the data from these chips and find where Sigma is hiding. That is, if Doppler was telling the truth. But X didn't have the feeling that he lied.
"Well..I suppose it's time to check the data.." he muttered, handing the data chips over to Alia.
The blonde navigator nodded her head slowly and accepted the data chips from X, and then put all six of them into her personal computer. Suddenly, aflurry of data was displayed onscreen. Theoretical projections and overblown statistics were shown in a variety of graphs, and above the title displayed the word FATE.
"FATE...that must be the actual name of the machine that Sigma plans to use..but look at these statistics! Such power, such technology...it's amazing to think that this could have been created. Seeing as what this is capable of theoretically, I don't believe that we should leave this unchecked," Alia announced.
"Does the data include Sigma's location?" Zero asked.
"Yeah, it does. What's strange though...is that it's not really technically in this world at all. It's not in ours either..." Alia muttered, brushing her hair aside.
"What does that mean?" Norris asked.
"The data chips also allow us to adapt our internal teleportation systems to access the area where Sigma is. But I don't know if we can get back once we arrive. And from the looks of the data...that place isn't part of one dimension or the other. Like the Dead Sea, it is completely unaffected by time," Alia answered.
"But what about Sigma? I mean, what happens if we defeat him? Isn't there a chance that there will be negative side effects?" Norris asked.
"I think that we have to stop that machine either way. We'll risk a lot more just doing nothing," X replied, his eyes narrowing.
"Once we go though..we might not be able to get back.." Kid whispered, tugging at X's arm.
"I'm sorry to involve you in this Kid. If you wish, you and Korcha could stay back. It would probably be better," X answered.
"No..I wanna go with you guys.." Kid replied.
Zero bent down and patted Kid on the head, smirking at her.
"I had a feeling you'd say that. It's good that you could come along. Don't worry, I'll protect you," Zero whispered.
Korcha was standing beside Kid as well, nodding his head in agreement.
"I'll go toocha..." he muttered, almost shaking.
"But ya can't fight!" Kid shouted.
"So? I wantcha...to go with you.." Korcha replied, blushing immensely.
"Alright, but I warned ya," Kid answered, smiling back at him.
"Ok, that settles it. We're going. Everyone...let's go fight fate!" X shouted.
All of the sudden, the data chips began to resonate with the internal workings of all the reploids, and they were all encased in brilliant pillars of light. Each person was bathed in the celestial light, and was slowly lifted into the air. They were each then hurled quickly through space and time to the destination of fate...where Sigma awaited them at last.
They then found themselves in a rather furturistic looking building, much like the buildings in their own world. Sleek machinery covered almost every inch of the room, and there were no windows. It was dark, but the faint light of the machinery around them illuminated the room to a mild degree. Everything about it was somewhat cyrptic.
"I guess..this is it.." X muttered, getting to his feet.
"There's a door,"Alia replied, pointing over to the other side of the room.
"Be ready for anything," Zero added, pulling out his beam saber.
The group slowly walked over to the door, and the door creaked open, revealing an even larger room. X poked his head through first, taking a look around. The next room was absolutley huge, and was easily hundreds of feet tall. There were no windows here either, but the lights scattered throughout the room were sufficient enough. And at the end of the room there was a massive computer which was labeled "FATE."
"FATE...fate alteration and time eloping..." X muttered, reading the acronym off of the machine.
"Is that it?" Alia asked.
"Yeah. If we destroy that, we stop this whole mess," Zero replied.
The group then walked into the room, making their way over to the machine. Suddenly, two figures descended upon them.
"It's...it's you!" X shouted, his mouth hanging open.
Standing before him were Lynx and Harle. However, Lynx was still in the body that he stole from X previously. Lynx just smirked at X and shook his head, and his familiar evil was definitely present.
"I cannot allow you stop this machine," Lynx hissed.
"I'll get through you if I have to," X replied, readying his buster.
Harle then stood in front of Lynx, holding her arms out. Her face was surprisingly determined and hard, which was definitely not normal for her. Her typical arrogant and nonchalant attitude seemed to be entirely gone.
"I won't allow you to hurt Lynx," Harle shouted, her eyes flashing.
X slowly lowered his buster and gave Harle a puzzled look.
"Harle..what...what are you..?"he muttered.
Lynx then pushed Harle aside and rushed at X, slamming his fist into X's stomach. X grunted from the sudden attack and was sent hurdling into the wall. Zero tried to bring his saber down on Lynx, but the enemy proved to be agile enough to avoid it. Alia then blasted him from behind, sending Lynx into the wall as well.
Lynx then looked back at X and smiled evilly. He charged up his buster and pointed it at the ground.
"What's he up to?" Norris asked, aiming his gun.
"We'll just have to take him out before he has a chance to do anything!" Zero shouted, rushing after Lynx.
Lynx then fired at the ground, sending up a massive cloud of dust and debris. The attack made visibility drop for a good portion of time, and when it was cleared, Lynx and X were standing side by side. One was holding the other in a tight bear hug, but they couldn't tell which one was which.
"Hurry up Zero! I've got him pinned!"
"Don't listen to him Zero! I'm X! Don't you trust me?"
"Zero, you know me! Don't be tricked!"
"I would never trick you Zero! Believe me!"
Zero stopped dead in his tracks and his grip on his saber loosened. He didn't say anything, and seemed to be at a complete loss. His eyes flashed with worry and concern, and he frantically looked back and forth at the two X's. Alia then walked past Zero, charging her buster.
"I can tell," she muttered, aiming her weapon.
She fired, and the blast hit one of them full force. He was sent flying backwards, and he even spiraled in the air before slamming to the ground. The figure slammed his fist on the ground, and spat up a little blood.
"Damn! You..." the figure muttered, wiping the blood from his mouth.
"I know who X is. Your appearance can't fool me," Alia answered.
"Alia!" X shouted, getting back to his feet.
"I'll kill you!" Lynx screamed, getting back to his feet.
Suddenly, Harle grabbed him from behind, and held him tight.
"X...shoot Lynx and moi. Zat way, you can stop FATE and Sigma..." Harle muttered.
"Harle..you're on our side?" Kid questioned.
"I'm..trying to resist...the new programming that Sigma made for me...please...kill me before I serve him again. Kill Lynx and moi," Harle begged, tears streaming down her cheeks.
X's jaws dropped and his eyes were filled with a familiar terror as he saw that he had yet another unavoidable murder on his hands. He knew what he had to do, but the problem was the morality and ethics of the situation. What should he do? What could he do? What would be best for his ideals? What would be best for his friends? What would Dr. Light think?
"I..can't do this Harle.." X muttered. "There has to be another way!"
"No..mon X. Please...I cannot hold him much longer.." Harle whispered.
"Let go of me Harle! What would you gain from defying Sigma? You're just a program like me!" Lynx screamed.
"I know...but...I can be happy knowing that I have helped mon X..." Harle replied, a smile appearing on her face.
X clenched his eyes shut and pointed his buster at Harle and Lynx. He turned his head away as he fired, but he still heard their screams as the blast ripped through them. Dr. Doppler's special enhancement made sure that X hit them both. They were completely erased from existence from teh attack. A tear streamed down X's cheek as he looked back.
"Harle..what have I done.." X whispered, lowering his eyes.
"X...Harle gave her life so you could stop Sigma and FATE. We can't let her down now," Zero answered, placinga hand on the blue hunter's shoulders.
X looked back up at the vile machine and cursed. He cursed the fact that he had been fighting for this long because of this device. Sigma not only caused him pain in his world, but in other worlds. There was no end to his malice.
"You've come I see. Trying to stop FATE are you?" a voice asked.
