Chapter 10: R and R
Author: Lady Blue
Declaimer: Since I hate repeating myself, this will be the last time I am going to say this. This character all belongs to Capcom and not me.
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"We will begin the evaluation of the matrix report we gather for the last twelve months after the operation has begun to retired all the old and lower class reploids, Professor Bones" a senator announce.
Bones standing in a cubical stand and looked back with a worried expression on his face. The senators in front of him are evaluating the reports gather from Neo Arcadia and from what he could see it in their face it doesn't really look good. Bones takes out his handkerchief and wipes it over his bald head.
"This should be interesting" the senator said as she hits the control and a chart displayed on the screen "Professor Bones, can you please explain to us what you see here?" the senator looked back to Bones like a hunter.
Bones raised his head and looked at what has been generated on the hologram screen in the middle of the auditorium. There are five status bars on the chart and the highest one seems to be from Neo Arcadia. Bones twitch his spectacles a little as if he is trying to get a better view.
"Certainly Senator Morikawa. This is the matrix report generated from the yearly energy consumption of Earth" Bones replied.
"And" another senator speaks.
"And?" Bones trying to act innocent.
"Correct me if I am wrong professor, but it looks to me like Neo Arcadia is consuming the largest portion of energy then any other major industrial or country did in a year" another senator in the corner said "To be more exact" he hit the control and the screen lit up into another slide.
"FIVE times the power consumption utilized by Neo Arcadia alone in one year then we do in five years time" the senator said with a little angry notion.
"Well senator Blair, it takes time to handle an operation this large" Bones explained.
"Professor, how hard can it get to take down a reploid build to do daily chores or holding a note pad?" another senator beside Blair asked. "Or is Commander Zero having problem handling the so called resistance form by our old friend, Dr Ciel?"
"Now Senator Marshal, please do not involved Dr. Ciel into this, she does not know what she is doing" Bones try to protest and bang his hand on the table hard.
"This however does invol-" before Marshal can continue, the hologram chart in the middle of the room dissolved and morph into a shape of a young reploid in front of the senators and Bones.
The white color reploid raised his head and looked back to the senators. His helmet has a blue gem in the middle and with azure lines marking a V shape down on the gem. His white vest with a falcon emblem in the middle has two vine like object attached on each side on the back of his shoulder and his arms pads has a blue with bird like design marks on it. The reploid gives a smirk on his face and walks nearer to the senators.
"What is the meaning of this?" Marshal asked in anger. The white reploid pay no attention to Marshal and turn to one of the senator in the corner.
"Hold it Marshal, I asked for his presence" Blair said cooling down the elderly man. He turns to the young reploid before him. "Free Fall, this better be important"
"Certainly Monsieur Blair, you didn't pay moi juzt to give you newz from ze tabloidz" Free Fall said in an unserious way. With a blink of an eye the surrounding in the auditorium change into a new location.
This time the senators watch in horrors as the location is actually the railway station in Neo Paris. From what their eyes can tell them, it looks like a train crashed has just occurred and Z drones are moving in to secure the area.
"This is the supply train from Neo Arcadia to Neo Paris" Bones said recognizing the Neo Arcadia insignia from the wreckage of the train.
"How clever of you professor Bones" Free Fall insulted. From the background, Bones and the senators also see a group of drones pulled the body of the late Panter Flauclaws.
"How did this happened, Free Fall?" Blair asked.
"It appearz zat Panter Flauclaws haz an encounter with ze resistance" Free Fall said looking back to the train wreckage and back to Blair. "He waz able to take on Panter Flauclaws entire force and ze late commander himself"
"He?" Marshal asked in astonishment. "You mean only one reploid did all this?"
"Apparently No, there waz also a little cyber-elf with him" Free Fall said cross him arm and turn to the drones, doing their duty not caring that Free Fall is looking at them.
"Did you find out who actually is responsible for this Mr. Free Fall?" Morikawa asked. Bones just remained silence the whole way, knowing who had hit the supply train just then.
"Unfortunately non, Madame Morikawa" Free Fall replied. "He beam out az soon az I arrived, along with all ze energy supply in ze train"
The other senators then turn their attention on Bones, knowing that he might know something about this mysterious reploid. "Professor Bones, do you know anything about this?" Marshals asked.
"Well..." Bones thinking of a way to explain.
"Professor Bones?" Marshal asked with a stern voice.
"I have no knowledge in any of this Senators, I am in the dark as you are" Bones lied.
"Really professor" Blair replied rubbing his chin before he turn to Free Fall "Free Fall"
"Yup"
"Do what you do best" Blair said, he knows that Free Fall understand what he means. The mercenary reploid has been working with him for a few occasions and knows him best when it comes to doing business in the dark.
"Sure, az long az ze credits flow I will do what my contract state, Monsieur Blair" Free Fall said as the image shuts off completely, leaving the room with Bones and the senators.
"It seems like we have a serious problem here Professor, whoever this maverick is, he is sure pinching where it hurts. Please explain yourself and be honest with us" Blair said
"I am telling you the truth here Senator Blair, I have no knowledge of this reploid or how the resistance convince him to join their cause" Bones lied again. "However if I know Zero, he will have this thing handle in no time"
"I hope so professor Bones" Marshal said but was hold back by Blair.
"Please give us a minute here Professor" Blair said as a dark screen shielded around the senators, giving them some privacy.
The senators group up together and talk among each other. Second past like hours as Bones stand and wait patiently. Finally the shield is shutdown and Blair turns back to Bones. "Due to the sacrifice and commitment Zero did during his past, we have all agree to give Neo Arcadia a chance in handling this matter"
"Thank You Senators" Bones bow his head a little.
"However, we would like you to inform Zero to handle this maverick as soon as possible and as quiet as possible" Blair pointed out, hoping not to get to much commotion from this event. The human community does not want to know of this problem, they must never know any of these problems. All the public have to know is that their fare city and guardian is keeping their life safe and peaceful.
"I will see to it personally Senators" Bones bow his head.
"A few more thing professor, we will have another review in six more months and I hope that all the issues including this maverick is handle by then" Blair uttered
Bones nod his head and smile under his beard "I will be looking forward to it senator"
"One last thing professor" Morikawa finally speak "We wish that no harm will ever come to Dr. Ciel. She is young and naïve, but she still one of us"
"I will see no harm will come to her" Bones replied just like an answering machine.
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"This is hilarious" a cloak figure watch from a hologram image as Bones packs up his report and was about to leave. He gives a smile looking at the old man face. "Those human are still pathetic as they are gullible" he chuckles underneath his cloak.
"Omega" the voice spoke out in darkness. Omega turns his head to his side and finds a shadow stand beside him. Though it was dark, Omega was able to make out the figures body outline.
"Yes Master" Omega replied.
"You shouldn't be watching this" the shadows figure uttered with a slight anger in his voice.
"I was bored, Master. There is nothing to do right now and-" he complained.
"Stop giving me excuses Omega" the shadow figure raised his voice "It was because of your stupidity and carelessness that she had escaped"
"She'd toy with me, making me think that she likes me" Omega cross his arms and turn his head away "Furthermore, she had help" he muttered.
"No matter, it is not important anymore. Since I have got my hands on him. He will no longer be bothering us any longer" the shadow whispered
Omega raised his head and looked at the ceiling. "Whatever" he mumbles and sighed and turn around heading for the exit.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Omega turns his head over his shoulder and looked back to his master "To find her" he replied in a dissatisfy manner.
"There is no need to. No need at all, you are to remain here until my side of the plan has been put to phase. I am very close of reactivating my core program. When that is completed, there will be nothing to stop us. Not even the real X can stand in my way" he gives out a sinister laughed before the shadowy figure faded into the darkness of the room and his voice slowly dies down.
Omega knew he was now alone. He makes a grin under his hood. "Yes Master" he muttered in anger.
"If I ever get my hand on the ultimate power. I will make sure that I will repay your kindness in full my precious master" he added. "But I to have plans of my own, Yes Big plans" he said looking to the corner as a creature slowly emerge from the darkness.
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Free Fall stand and watch as he notice a group of commander units gather up together in the corner with none other the Harpuia himself. The green guardian turns his attention to Free Fall and walks over to him.
"I will have to ask you to leave" Harpuia inform in a standard military manner "Only Neo Arcadia personnel are allowed in this area"
Free Fall chuckles and looked back to Harpuia with an unserious look "Well Mon Ami, for your information I work for Monsieur C.Blair himself, your financer" he informed.
"I don't care who you work for" Harpuia said as his other followers stand beside him and gazed back to Free Fall "I only answer to Master Zero, himself"
"Zut, you really should get a life mon ami" Free Fall said, retreating back a little. He knows he won't be getting much info from mister cheerful here so he only has one more choice in this. The main guy himself.
"Don't you friend me, mercenary. Get off" Harpuia uttered in a serious and unwelcome manner
"I'm going" Free Fall raised his hands trying to calm the green guardian down before he activates his personal teleport unit and teleport out of the site.
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"One more mission like that and I am going to strap myself on those train tracks and get run over with it" X said as he step out from the Trans Server and stretch his hand, he was getting tired of all those mission Ciel have prepared for him. He hardly even has time to regenerate.
"You said it" Passy replied as she yawn and hovers lazily beside X. He shook his head and walk towards the door. The guard greeted him but he was too tired to notice what he was saying, he just smiles back politely to him.
As the door slides open X and Passy was quite surprised to see Ciel standing outside waiting for them. She placed her hand behind her as she approach X with an innocent smile on her face. "Hi guys, so how did the mission go?" Ciel asked cheerfully.
"Wonderful, I almost caught the six o'clock express train just now" X joked as he rubs his helmet looking back to Ciel, wondering what she is really up to. The only thing that could come out of his mind right now is that she has another mission waiting for him.
"I know I've been giving you a lot of mission lately, but this is a necessary to help buy us some time" Ciel explained "The energy supply you stolen... borrowed will keep our forces going for a few more months. For our freedom and a new way to coexisted with both races" she said in a high spirited way.
"Right now I will settle for a short break" X said as he walk down and head to the cafeteria, hoping to get some energy crystal before Ciel puts him into one of her suicide mission.
"Granted" Ciel replied immediately.
Immediately X stops his pace and stands in silence. He slowly turns back to Ciel "Say that again?" X asked. He turns to Passy and she was giving him the same look, stunned.
"I am giving both of you a week off" Ciel explained "You both needed a little R and R"
"What about the other mission?" Passy asked as she stand on X shoulder.
"I am sure the others can handle those issues while you both take a few days rest"
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Standing in the well guarded room, a tall and blonde figure stand and watch the tank as little baby cyber-elf flies around the containment unit. His eyes shifted as the little thing gazed back to him before she retreated and her body begins to shimmer in golden light, showing her excitement that he was there to see her.
The door behind him opens as a young reploid with blonde hair walks into the room. He didn't even bothers to turn around to see the newly arrival as he continues to stare at the baby cyber-elf.
"Commander" he blonde hair boy address himself and salutes to his commanding officer.
"Hobbes" Elpizo whispered. The boy lowers his hand and stands at ease.
"How's the baby cyber-elf doing?" he asked, turning around to the boy. He could see that he is holding a report on his hand.
"From our analysis, she is stable for now" Hobbes replied, passing the report to Elpizo. Elpizo takes the report from his and gazed into it.
Elpizo turn back to the baby cyber-elf and smile before he walks out of the secure room and down the corridor, his eyes fix on the result written on the reports. Once he finished the reports, he gives a big grin on his face.
"Her power is growing Commander" Hobbes indicated. "Stronger by the day. She is not like any of the other cyber-elf we have seen sir... even for a rare one"
Elpizo passed back the report to Hobbes as he continue towards the elevator "I know"
"Some of the science team are worried that she maybe the descendent of a dark elf" Hobbes said with a worried notion "She could be very dangerous"
"Who knows, maybe she is" Elpizo said stopping his pace the turn back to the young boy and gives him a calm look on his face. "Don't worry Hobbes, she is just a child. Beside we are still here, right?"
"Yes sir" Hobbes nods his head. Elpizo nod back and turn to the panel beside the elevator door. He hit the button and waited. All the time he was smiling to himself. He knew that the cyber-elf the stolen back in Neo Arcadia has a value, why would Zero be keeping it lock under high security if it was not.
"This little baby will be the key to our victory" Elpizo mumbles and grin "Once I learn how to harness her power"
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Rina walks into the simulator and hoping to see if the program she installed earlier is working. As the metal door slides open, Rina raised her head and look back with a little surprised. The room is fully activated and standing in the middle of the room, with a training staff is X, hitting back the simulated drones in virtual urban combat.
She lowers her computer pad and watch back for a moment. X was hard at practice, dodging and attacking the virtual drones; he was too busy to notice Rina standing in the doorway. From the way X fought, she could tell he was good with the staff, but not that good. She could remember her mistress used the spear and the way she fight and the way X fight, there was a big difference.
After a few more swing, the last virtual drone jumps up behind X and was about to pound on him. X withdrew back his staff and crouch down and when the drone comes into range he spin himself around in full turn and release his staff and stab straight into the drones, digitizing it complete. Once the last drone eliminated X laid down on his knees, panting from the exhilaration of the combat. He never knew that virtual drones could be this tough, he really have to give credit to the programmer. As he breath in the fresh air, X notice someone was walking to him. He launched himself around in a spin and points the staff towards the target, only surprised to find Rina standing in front of him with a calm face. With the staff pointing a few inch from her neck.
"Aren't you supposed to be resting?" Rina asked, staring back to X.
"I am" X replied lowering the staff and standing, relaxing a bit.
"Then why are you running the combat simulator?" Rina asked with a grin on her face and crossing her arms together.
"Practicing" X replied literately. "You know, is better that you don't sneak up on me again. I might hit you by mistake" he warned.
Rina gives a small giggles and looked back to X with an unserious look on her face "Don't worry I can take care of myself"
"Serious, I could really hurt you" he said it a bit seriously.
"And I am telling you seriously too, from the way you fight, is nothing to be brag about" Rina comment.
"Yeah, and I need a field medic to tell me what to do" X chuckles as he walks pass Rina. Rina shook her head and gives a mischievous smile on her face before she hazily grabs hold of the training staff and swipe her feet on his, tripping X down on his chest, flat.
"That was not funny" X said getting up on his feet and glanced back to Rina. She takes a few steps away and threw the computer pad away as she spin the training staff a few times and stand in defense pose.
"Give it back; I don't want to hurt you" X warned, extending his hand out.
Rina lower the training staff and gazed back to X "Try me" she said. "Computer load combat simulator Delta four" she commanded.
The urban combat simulator morphed out around them and morphed back in with a new landscape. X glanced around the new landscape; it looks like an old Chinese fighting school with training dummy made out of wood and weapon rack piled up near the wall.
X turn back to Rina, she was eager to show him what she got. "Rina" X said raising his voice a little, not feeling like playing with her.
"Come on, too afraid to hit a woman?" Rina teased knowing that a little psychology is needed to push X into fighting her.
"I don't like to fight a woman" X replied.
"Then don't consider me as one" Rina said as she lean forward a little and launched herself towards X.
X never saw this coming and before he could react, Rina hit the staff on the ground and jump up, kicking X with both her feet, hurling him back few meters away.
"Wow! Where did that comes from?" X asked as he got a little daze from the sudden attack. He raised himself up and stares back to Rina, now holding to the staff. She spins the staff like it was ceremonial baton before she hit the bottom of the staff it down hard on the ground. "You're not as harmless as you look" X comment as he get on his feet.
"You've seen nothing yet" Rina continue to tease X as she takes the staff and placed it in front of her in battle formation. X charged at Rina and was hoping to steal the staff back, however he was surprised at Rina when he swirl herself around and dodge X charge and trip him with the staff, sending him crashing on the ground again.
X shook his head and turn back to Rina, still playing with the staff and giving him a big grin on her face. "You're good" X said as he gets back on his feet again. This time he was not going to play nice with her anymore.
"For your info, they don't train me just to hold a screwdriver" Rina inform and takes the same formation again. X was ready for this and launched himself forward, activating his dashed system.
Rina try to leap up and dodge X's attack, but she reacted too slowly and X was able to pound her down on the ground hard. As X and Rina wrestles over the staff, they both roll on the floor a few times before X finally got the upper hand and used the staff and pushed Rina down completely. It was not over yet as Rina refused to give up the staff. It was also not an easy task keeping her down. X used almost half of his strength before he was able to force her down and pinning her on the floor.
"Getting a little rough are we?" Rina uttered.
"I thought we can take our relationship a bit closer" X said, his face just centimeter apart from Rina, the only thing that separate them is the staff in-between them.
"Well just for your info, I think this is close enough" Rina replied as she is able to slip her leg under X and kicked him on his stomach, pushing him off her.
X got hurl over, but was able to land on his feet. He quickly spins around and knocked Rina back to the wall, pinning her against the wall. They both wrestles for a few more second before X felt Rina, slowly lowering her strength and stay in their position. She gives a small smile on her face. He didn't know what have happened, but he did the same. As their face reached a little closer, Rina close her eyes and lean her face forward.
"Rina, have you finished that repair I told....." Cerveau asked as he enters into the simulation room, only to find Rina and X standing in an odd looking pose.
"Chief" Rina gasped and lightly pushed X off. They both stare back to the old engineer, standing in the doorway with a blank look on his face.
"I'll come back in an hour time" Cerveau said as he quickly rushes out of the simulation room.
"Did you see how he reacted?" Rina asked with a little giggles.
"Do you think he will tell the others?" X asked back giving Rina an uneasy look on his face.
"Nah, the chief won't tell this to anyone... except old Andrew" Rina teased him a little.
"Huh?" X looked surprised. Rina step forward a little and gives a gentle smile on her face as she gives a quick kiss on his lips. Rina gazed back to X who has a dazed look on his face. She just couldn't stand the sight and giggles. "What was that for?" X asked, finally getting back some reality.
"Just a thank you" Rina replied, throwing back the staff to X and start walking towards the door, leaving X still feeling a little stun.
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"Ready?" Elpizo asked standing on the pearl white plate along with a few resistance and equipment for his journey. He gazed back to Hobbes standing in the console with an operator beside him.
"All ready Sir" Hobbes replied.
Elpizo nod his head to Hobbes and smile. "Take care of things while I am gone" he ordered.
"Yes Sir" Hobbes replied.
"And one more thing Hobbes. Take good care of that baby cyber-elf while I am gone. Do not let anyone near her" he states it clearly "Do you hear me?" Elpizo asked.
"Yes Sir" Hobbes nods his head and saluted to Elpizo.
"Transport us" Elpizo ordered. The operator did as she was order and hit the switch. The pearl white floor brighten up and with a wink of an eye, Elpizo and the other resistance in the platform turns into light and burst out of sight.
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In the rose garden, deep within Neo Arcadia, Zero with his plain black suit, sat quietly in the carpet of grass with his eyes shut, seemingly sleeping. Calm and relax, Zero felt the wind around him shifted, knowing that even though he is meditating, there is someone watching him in the pillar near the entrance.
Not far from Zero a pair of eyes watches closely from the pillar. Her blue eyes keep close watch on Zero for months now. The way Zero act were more brutal and violence every passing day. Isis used to be close to Zero once, but now, she is even afraid of being close to Zero when they are alone.
"Finally it's done. All the feelings of his valuable virtue are gone" Zero whispered opening his eyes "I am whole again"
Knowing that he has awake, Isis step out of the pillar and approach Zero, with a soft black cloak in her hand. She gently places the dark cloak over Zero.
Zero turns his head over his shoulder and looked back to Isis. Her blue vest with golden thread designs on the edge of her vest makes her look like a royalty. Her matching white dress with a short skirt somehow makes her look less mature then she should be.
Isis retreated back as he rose up and face her, with a small wicked smile on his face. Isis is worried at Zero and how she wish Nova is with her now. However she knew this is necessary in order not to allow Zero to give any suspicious over her relationship with the azure guardian.
"Forgive me that I have been ignoring you these past few months, Isis" Zero said placing his hands on Isis shoulder. He could felt the girl trembles a little when he touch her. Isis pretended not to be afraid and shook her head, giving him a false smile on her face.
"Is nothing my love" she force herself to say it "It is necessary for you are building a future of Neo Arcadia and for me. How can I govern you most of the time that would be selfish of me"
Zero laughed as he brought Isis closer and lean his face closer. Isis did not resist as she knew it would be a mistake to do so. She closed her eyes and in her mind she try to think of the one before her is not Zero but Nova himself.
"My apologies Monsieur Zero. Am I disturbing something?"
Zero turn back to the field and gazed back to a white reploid standing not far away from his position.
Free Fall gives a smirk on his face and withdraws out a blade handle from his back and dashed forward activating his weapon. Zero quickly pushed Isis aside and throws his cloak at Free Fall. The cloak got tear into pieces as an energy beam slice it apart. Once the cloak is out of site, Free Fall glanced around to find Zero, only to see Isis lying on the grass with a shocking look on her face.
Free Fall then felt a change in the wind and leap away from his position as a green blade slice past his position. Free Fall pulled back his handle and swipe his beam whip at Zero, even without his crimson vest and arm pads, Zero is still dangerous. The beam whip wrap itself around Zero's green blade as Free Fall try to pull the saber off Zero's hand.
"You, I heard of you" Zero said looking serious and calm at the same time. But Free Fall could feel that Zero has not even used half of his strength in holding back his beam whip. "Free Fall is it?" Zero uttered, knowing who the white reploid identity.
"I didn't know zat I waz zat famous zat even ze legendary Monsieur Zero knew about moi" Free Fall replied pulling his beam whip with all his might. Zero narrow his eyes and pull back his saber as well, tearing up the energy whip up, leaving the handle itself, fried in Free Fall's hand.
Free Fall threw his weapon away and withdrew a new one; Zero can see that this guy comes prepared.
"I can see that having a senator as friends is a great asset" Zero said literately, knowing who Free Fall's working for.
"It haz its privileges" Free Fall replied placing his weapon aside, always ready to activate it if needed. He knew he just attack the legendary Zero himself, so he is not going to let his guard down just yet.
"You're good. Even for my standard" Zero said lowering and deactivating his saber
"Merci Monsieur Zero" Free Fall bowed his head, always keeping his eyes on Zero.
"Have you ever considered of joining Neo Arcadia?" Zero asked walking over to Isis and helping the frighten girl up.
"Once, but zat was before my mentor's death" Free Fall replied in a disrespectful manner.
Zero turns to Free Fall and gives a laughed "Yes I know about him, real pain if I would add"
"He waz good Monsieur Zero, but not as good az you" Free Fall said.
Isis standing behind Zero was a little confused and didn't know who this Free Fall is, but whoever he is, he must be good enough that Zero is not killing him on the spot.
"True and I am sure that you are not here for this?" Zero asked.
"Really Monsieur Zero, you are a smart one" Free Fall gives a chuckles.
"Speak"
"It's about the blue maverick, I am sure you heard something about him" Free Fall said looking at Isis. Zero turns his eyes to Isis and knew what need to be done.
"Isis, please leave me with MR. Free Fall here" Zero said placing his hand on Isis shoulder.
"But Zero" Isis pretend to protest. She always wish to know more of this blue maverick that is causing havoc in Neo Arcadia operation for over two weeks, but knowing how Zero works she turn around and walk away to the exit.
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"You know I am amazed with Glides team" one of the resistance said as he and his partner got off from their seat and is proceeding to the counter. "They really have the guts to go into the network even after so many strange things happens in there"
"Yeah, I kind of impress of them" his partner said. X is sitting by himself in the far end corner of the overheard the conversation as he was doing some reading with his reader. He remains silence and continues to listen "I heard that some of the operators say that there maybe a ghost inside the machine"
"Ghost! You must be joking?" the resistance asked with a disbelieved look on his face.
"Well that's what I heard from the operators only" his friend replied with the same disbelieved face. As the two resistance walk away chatting to themselves, X just gives a smirk on his face and shook his head, thinking that the conversation regarding the ghost was a little funny. These people really said funny thing just because the system have a few bugs here and there.
X switch off his reader and turn his attention to the large crowd of people in the middle of the hall, he notice that among these people is Yuna and Alouette, listening to one of old Andrew's stories. Passy was also with them, along with half a dozen cyber-elves.
"X" Sera called out to him. X spun his head around and sees Sera standing beside him, carrying a tray.
"Captain Sera" X replied.
"Can I join you?" Sera asked, but she had already placed her tray on the table.
"Make yourself comfortable, Captain" X muttered.
"Please call me Sera... I am not used to be address as a Captain" Sera replied turning to X, who has shifted his sitting position and retreated back to the wall.
"Why are you sitting so far away X?" Sera asked staring back with her usual dull eyes. "Afraid that Rina might misunderstand us?" she gives a small smile, something that X rarely seen in her.
"Why should Rina be worried about us sitting together?" X raised his tone a little, sounding more confident a little.
"You really don't understand a woman heart do you X?" Sera asked as she turns to her drink. She picks up her cup and takes a sip of energy fluid.
"Are you jealous?" X asked in a joking manner as retain his old sitting position, right next to Sera. They both stare back to crowd before them.
"No" Sera replied blandly "I've lost my feelings for relationship a long time ago" she lower her head and placed the cup down, sounding a little upset.
Sera gives a short sighed before turning to X, oblivious of her watching him. She gazed back to Andrew's direction and found Passy sitting on Alouette shoulder; the little cyber-elf happy expression tells her everything. "I can see that Passy is really fond of you"
"Yeah like an annoying little sister that follows you wherever your go" X smiled thinking about it. "But she is okay once you get used of her mouth" he gives a chuckles.
"That's why Ciel gave her to you"
"I don't like to think of give" X said leaning his back on the wall and lazily watching back to Passy "I rather think of her as my partner, a friend"
"Why are you so concern for them... the cyber-elf?" X asked.
"Because no one else will" she replied, X turn and stare back to her. "X, I am not sure if you'd notice, but people around here tends to treat cyber-elves as a-"
"Tool" X interrupted as he takes his mug and sip some coffee "Yeah I notice"
"They are not tools.... they are individual with feeling and thoughts.... they should be left as they are" Sera whispered in a sad notion "We have no right to take their lives as we see fit"
"I think I know how you feel Sera" X replied not facing the girl "I tend to think of Passy as a person and not a tool given to be used to fight, even though I know what she is capable of"
"You do?" Sera sound a little surprised, wondering how he found out about that.
"For sometime now" X admitted turning his head a bit facing Sera. He gives a little smile to her "She is a nurse cyber-elf isn't she not?" he asked directly, even though he knows the truth.
"Not just any nurse cyber-elf" Sera replied looking back to Passy, not knowing that both X and Sera are talking about her. "Passy is a rare bread of nurse cyber-elf... her power is capable of healing even the worse injuries inflicted on a reploid"
"That is why I'll never use her powers. I do not agree in wasting a life for power... even a cyber-elf. They are individual and like you said before, we have no right to take a life, even a life of a mere cyber-elf" X said.
"I wish everyone has the same way of thinking" Sera said, knowing fully well that many do not share her view on cyber-elf.
"Ciel does" X said, thinking of Ciel and the way he sees her with the other cyber-elf in the nursery just a few floor below them.
"Not really X" Sera uttered.
"Huh?" X sounded a little surprised this time.
"Ciel may love cyber-elf, but she believes that the cyber-elf maybe the key to help solve the world energy crisis" she explained "The source of our problem"
"I do not even wish to think of what they will do to them if they do find a way to harness their power...." Sera said shutting her eyes and turning her head away "Their life will mean nothing if that ever happens"
"Don't worry I think Ciel will find another way not involving them" X said placing his hand on Sera's shoulder.
"I hoped, but I know how it will turn out in the end... in every history, human or reploid... life meant nothing to them if there power involved" Sera replied opening her eyes and looked back to X.
"But there are always individuals such as you to make the difference" X pointed out, trying to cheer Sera up a bit.
"But what can one person do?" Sera asked.
"Nothing... but one can always hope and hope is something that never gives up on you no matter how worse the situation gets" X whispered.
"True" Sera smiled.
"One more thing" X said.
"Yes"
"Why do they call her bad luck Passy?" X asked.
Sera give a soft laugh and turn back to X "You never knew?" she asked.
"Not really" X shrugged his shoulder.
"Before Passy was assigned to you" Sera explained "She has been transfer to a lot of owners and in the end they either die in battle or wounded so bad that a sight of Passy near them, frighten them almost to death"
"So which number am I?" X asked with a smirk.
"I lost count after ten" Sera said truthfully.
"Lucky me. I always get the best bunch" he joked as they both laughed a little.
"Yes, lucky you" Sera said.
As they were chatting away, a figure dashed into the cafeteria and rushed over to their position. Sera and X turns to the blonde girl before them. She had a real a worried expression on her face.
"Sera" Haruka said, trying to catch a little breath.
"Haruka, what is it?" Sera stood up. X could tell that this is not a good sign as he got up from his seat, trying to figure out the same thing.
"We got problem" Haruka said "We need you and X in the command centre immediately" she uttered.
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Author Notes: Happy New Year.... well even if it is after 5 days . Got one thing to say... I really apologies to Rogue Hunters for miss spelling his name in Chapter 6...hehehehee. But don't worry, I have fixed that one already.
And thanks to Hideki for the review :)
