Chapter 9: Battle Network

Author: Lady Blue

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As the trio rushed into the command centre, X could see what Haruka meant of emergency. The whole place looks as if the enemy is right down on their throat. Every reploids in the centre is busy running around and doing their designated duties and standing in the middle of the room is Ciel staring at the hologram screen.

"Sera" Chris called out to her captain, knowing of her presence.

"X, Sera is good that you are here" Ciel said turn her head over her shoulder and glanced back to Sera and X before turning back to the screen. X call tell from Ciel expression that she is very disturbed and whatever is it that is attacking them now must really be serious.

"We got here as fast as we could, Ciel. What is going on?" Sera asked stepping up and stand beside her.

"Our Resistance Network is under attack from an outside source" Ciel answer not looking back to Sera.

"Neo Arcadia?" X asked.

"From the broadcast signal we are receiving, yes" Ciel said.

Sera turn to the two operators before her and placed her hand over Chris shoulder. "Chris, give me a full report" Sera whispered.

However, before Chris could report the current situation, the warning sign appears on the screen. The hologram image automatically zoom into the system and two red dots appear on the map. From what X can tell these do not really give much info for him. All he could see is a map made out of green and blue lines with two red dot moving into what looks like a picture of a sphere.

"It's coming in" Haruka uttered. The red dot hit on the first blue line on the screen and within second the line dissolved away as the dot continue their way. "Our Firewall in Northern Europe is falling.... they've hacked through it"

"My Goodness" Haruka whispered.

"What is it?" X asked, trying to get as much information as possible. The dots suddenly burst out into multiple red dots and are heading down the network connection.

"It's multiplying and heading the other part of the network" Chris said, typing on the key board as fast as she could.

"Cut off the other ports" Sera ordered "We cannot allow it to spread to the other networks"

"Done" Haruka said.

The multiple dots closed down on each other and merge back into one, leaving two dots again. It slowly breaks through to the other firewall and continues to the core. "It's now heading for the primary core"

"Haruka, can we cut it off?" Sera asked.

"I'm trying" Haruka said, typing on the control. But to her best, there was nothing she could do to stop the enemy from breaking in.

"Ciel this is Cerveau" Cerveau said over the speaker.

"Cerveau how is the situation down in the data centre?" Ciel asked.

"We can't get in" Cerveau replied.

"What?" Ciel asked in surprised "How come?"

"They were able to hack into the security system and access the force field program. We are stuck outside with no means of getting into the centre" Cerveau said. "Perroquiet, stop running around and get that field down" he ordered the little reploid.

"Can't we just blow it open?" Sera asked.

"We could if we can get into the armory, everything is lock down" Cerveau said "Even the elevators"

"They're hitting through our primary firewall" Haruka uttered.

"Play time's over, let my teams handle this from here Sera" Glide said as five yellow dots appear not far from the Neo Arcadian

"Glide?" Ciel said with a surprised "What are you doing in there?"

"My job" Glide said as his face appeared on the screen "I will cut those Neo Arcadian off and make sure that they are all terminated before they can reach the main core"

"Glide.... be careful" Ciel said softly.

Glide nod his head and turn back to his team. Glide joins his teams comprise of four people, three guys and a girl. The girl and the boy beside her looks rather young and inexperience. Ciel however can do only one thing she knows; pray that they will be successful.

"Haruka, give us our armaments" Glide ordered.

"Already done Captain" Haruka replied back. Glide nod his head to the blonde girl. "Alpha Team, get into position" Glide ordered as the screen when back to its original display.

"Roger, Captain Glide"

"This is Beta Team; we are right behind you Alpha" a girl said over the speakers.

"Here it come people" Glide informed. "Get ready boys and girl"

"They're breaking into the secondary firewall, there is no stopping them from accessing the core from here on" Chris said seeing the last line of defense is broken down "In Lifesavers name"

X and the others watch as the dots collide with each other and from his point of view, this really look hilarious. It was like some old 21st centuries video game. However, Chris manager to pull out windows of view on the side of the screen and this allow them to see what the resistance inside the system sees.

"Watch it" one of the resistances said.

"What the hell is that?"

"Stay in position Alpha Team" Glide commanded.

The others in the room knew that Glide and his team is in serious trouble, they way Glide giving out the order maybe clear and steady, but from what they are seeing inside the command centre, the Neo Arcadian are outflanking their position and breaking up their formation.

"Mayl! Behind you" a boy shouted.

"Got it, dammit what was this thing?" Mayl uttered.

"Girls, Get them out of there" Sera ordered, stepping in front.

Chris and Haruka typed their keyboard as fast as they could, doing everything they can "I'm trying Sera" Chris uttered, but before they could go further, the keyboard gives out a powerful static shock, forcing the two operators away. The two girl shriek in surprised, but not harm by the shock.

"They've lock out our control" Haruka said typing a few more times and the static flows in her hand. However, whatever she did, did not give much effect. "They are trap"

"Chris switch to secondary control" Sera ordered. Chris nods her head and get of from her seat and hit the panel on the wall. A box slide out from the wall and unfold itself into a set where a console is attach to it. Chris sat on it and activates the secondary unit.

"Trying... it'll take me some time" Chris said.

"Hurry Chris" Ciel said, sounding real worried for the people in there.

"Alpha Team has been erased" Chris informed. The two windows on the screen when snowy while other three still remain active. But it is in such a chaos that they can't tell much from seeing the display, except for some flashes of light.

"Lan, get Mayl out of here now" Glide ordered "I will hold them off"

"Captain" Lan tried to protest

"Go" Glide instructed before he shouted in pain.

"Glide" Ciel gasped as Glide's display went static as the others.

"Mayl" Lan called to Mayl.

"Lan! Help! It got me" Mayl shouted, her voice sounded like she is in a lot of pain.

"Stay there Mayl, I'm coming" Lan said before something caught hold of him and gives him a powerful shock. "ARRRGGG"

"LAN!!" Mayl cried.

"Sera" Ciel called in a worried notion. "We got to do something"

"Dammit" Sera uttered, knowing that there is only one thing left to do. It is a last resort and a risky one "Put an encryption around their avatar"

"But if we do that, we might risk damaging their avatar" Chris said turning to Sera. "And loosing them in the process"

"Do it now or we will lose them both right now" Sera order. Chris nods her head and proceeds with the orders.

"Encrypting" Chris relied. "That's it" Chris said with a little relief "That will hold their avatar until we can... oh no that thing is heading for the main core server"

"Place the Beta Saber Encryption Firewall around the core" Ciel finally commanded.

"But that software has not been fully tested yet, we do not know what it will do to the network" Haruka warned.

"I know, but we don't have much of a choice right now" Ciel argue back "IF they get through and access the main core, they will have the coordinates of all resistance base on the planet"

Chris nods her head and turn to the console, activating the software. "Uploading..."

"Upload complete" Chris informed, the display show that the wall have been placed around the core and invaders seems to have stopped their advance at the same time. They pounded the wall a few time, thinking that they could get through it like the others, but to no success, the program did its job and stay secure. Ciel and the others watch in silence for a few more moment before Chris can finally confirm "It worked... the new firewall is holding them back... but I'm not sure how long it will hold until they find a way to crack it open" Chris said as she slum back on her seat, taking off her visor. She is really bushed after such an incident.

"Long enough I hope" Ciel whispered.

"How is Lan and Mayl doing?" Sera asked.

Chris gives a few taps on the console before turning back to Sera "They are ignoring them" Chris informed. "The encryption works, but I am not sure if we can fully revive their avatar once we take back our system"

"IF we take back our system" Haruka corrected.

"Chris how much control do we have on our system?" Ciel asked looking back to the girl. Chris looked back to the console before turning to Ciel. "Minimum, they took most of our security grid and control. However, we still have control over Navi Transporter and some part of the base"

"Not good, we can't unplug our Navi's nor could be shut the core down?" Ciel said in a worried manner as she turns back to Sera.

"Use the meltdown program" Juan said as he enters the room. Ciel and Sera quickly turn to the old reploid.

"Are you crazy, our people are still in there" Sera said pointing to the screen. Juan spit out his cigar and gazed back to Sera.

"Acceptable losses" Juan replied.

"Errr... I may not know much, but why don't we just pull out the plug for the Na.. Navi's in there and shut the core down?" X asked feeling rather confused a bit.

"We can't X... if we do then we will erased their core consciousness... leaving us with a living body but a-" Ciel explained and before she could end the statement Sera jumps in "Dead brain" Sera said.

"Are there any other who can fight this thing?" X asked.

"Mayl and Lan were our best" Ciel replied looking very worried for the two people still inside the system.

"Guess we have no other choice, I have to go in" Sera said stepping up to the others.

"Out of the question Sera, it takes a six long months of intensive training and combat simulator just to get a Navi's ready for their first combat" Ciel said in disbelieved. "You only have two weeks of simulation run on the system. You are not fully qualify for such a task"

"You got anyone better?" Sera asked back.

"No" she replied, nodding her head, understanding what Sera meant.

"What about Lightheart? She was part of Leviathan's core. She should know how to hack into the network" Juan uttered

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"Have you been smoking that pot for too long, you walking chimney. I am a field doctor not a hacker" Rina shouted at Juan and walk away and lean herself against the wall with her arm cross.

"You did server under the guardian Leviathan" Sera stated.

"Yes, but that doesn't make me a hacker" Rina shoot back with an angry look on her face "I am trained to cure people not surfing the three Ws"

"It was a mistake and a waste of time. She is to scare to face her old friends" Juan said, turning back to the others.

"Hey, I am not afraid of a little reunion with my old pals, but I am not a stupid to rush into battle that I am not trained to fight in" Rina uttered placing her hand on her waist and sticking out her tongue like a child "Beside, I don't wannabe in there with that Ghost running lose in the system"

This was their last resort. Knowing that Rina does not wish to enter the system, Sera will have to be in there alone. And from the look of it, Ciel knows that Sera won't last a minute in there with two Neo Arcadia hackers on the loose. Ciel turn back to Sera "Sera I know this is going to be hard but-"

"I understand" Sera answered.

X looked at both girls "You're letting her in there alone?" X asked in surprised.

"No one else is qualified for it" Cerveau said.

"Then I'll go with her" X volunteered without giving a second thought.

"No way are we letting you in there, drone" Juan yelled in protest. X knew he would when he step up, the guy just won't let him do anything in peace, except die.

"From what I can see you have little choice in this" X said looking back to Rina, she gave him a worried expression on her face.

"X, are you sure you want to do this. You have no training at all in this type of combat?" Ciel asked placing her hand over his shoulder.

"How hard could it be" X said "I am a fast learner"

"Its not as easy as it looks X. Inside the system is another world by its own" Ciel said, hoping to convince X out of doing it.

"Don't worry Ciel. I did carry the name of a legend" X said "Beside, I read the manual"

"How can you still joke at the time like this? You'll be slaughter inside" Rina scolded.

"Don't worry Rina" X said with a confident smile on his face. X walk up to Sera with a serious look "Can I kill their avatar?" X asked.

"Yes" Sera answered in a monotonous manner.

"Then that will do just fine for me" X said.

"You'll just get in my way" Sera said.

"Stop being a grouch all the time Sera, keep that up and you'll turn into an old grumpy lady that no one want to marry" X joked.

"Excuse me?" Sera asked.

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"Everything's perfect, their ready" Cerveau said tapping on his personal note pad as he glanced back to Sera and X strapping into the capsule made to transfer their core consciousness into the system.

X turn to Sera lying down on the seat with her eyes shut; how he wish he could be like her calm and peaceful all the time. X turn back to Rina who is busy setting up the system, the head gear that will transfer his core conscious into the system.

As he try to see other part of the room, he found the five pods attached to the wall, with its operators still inside. All of them seem calm with Glide and two other reploids lying inside their capsule, dead. From what he learns, they are not really dead, just their core consciousness has been wiped out. With a new core they can be as good as new, minus the original tenants.

X then turn to the little cyber-elf hovering in front of him. She had the same worried expression Rina and Ciel had when he agreed to do this.

"X" Passy whispered as she flies nearer to X hearing system "You don't have to be as suicidal as Captain Sera.... she has lost someone she cared and does not have anything to lose in this.... but-" Passy try to convince X out of it, but X just placed his finger over Passy's mouth.

"Don't worry sugarplum" X said looking at Passy "I'm not planning to go inside and get kill. I am going inside to kick some idiot's ass for ruining our vacation"

He turn to Sera, she is looking back to him with her usual downcast eyes. He guessed she must have overheard the remark Passy made.

Sera sat up and turn to X "Passy's correct, I don't have anything to lose X, but you have people here that cares for you" she said "Think before you open your mouth"

"I did and I am not going to let have all the fun, would I?" X said with a smile "Beside this could be educational"

"Last chance" Cerveau said to the two. Sera nod her head and when lying down on the capsule again, shutting her eyes. X shrugged his shoulder and turn to Rina. She slowly placed the head gear over X's head. She was silence most of the time, he know she is worried for him and would want him to abandon the idea all together. However this is not something he wouldn't run away from.

"Hey when I get out of this, you'll promise me that you go out to dinner with me?" X asked in joking manner.

"Are you crazy asking me that in a time like this" Rina uttered back in surprised

"Come on; give a dead man a chance" X said.

"Hurry up there Rina" Cerveau said as he taps on the system, making the final preparation.

"What's your answer?" X asked holding to Rina's hand.

Rina nod her head as she blushed "Okie Okie" she uttered.

"Any second thought?" Cerveau asked for the last time.

"Yeah, just one" X asked looking back to the old engineer

"Yes?" Cerveau asked as he hit the control.

"Is this going to HURTTTTTT" X shouted as she felt his brain being fried in an oven.

"Damn I hate it when that happens" X said rubbing on his head. He felt funny, like he was real yet not at the same time. Hi vision is still not very clear and when he raised his head, he swears he is seeing double vision. X shakes his head a few times before he got back up on his feet and looked back to his hand. Blue Arm pads with a red ruby embedded into his hands and a blue vest with a red ruby in the middle of his vest, he even notice that he have shoulder pads on both his shoulder. X then glanced down to his body and found that his dark blue tight suit has change to a black one with blue line on each side. "Hey I feel strange.... I look strange...." X said turning to Sera

X turn to Sera standing not far from him. Her appearances too have changed, instead of the resistance uniform; the girl in front of him is was like two people all together. Her lime green hair has now been replaced with a long violet hair and her uniform has change into a pink vest cover over a light pink leotard, showing her slim body outline. She turns to X with her dull blue emerald eyes.

"Say now that is a sight worth seeing" X said.

"Don't worry, this is our avatar" Sera said walking over to X. X didn't knew what happen as she pulled him to her.

"This is kind of early for our first date, don't you think?" X joked as he gazed back into Sera's eyes. She was not really looking at him.

"Careful" nodding her head toward the other direction.

X turn his head over his shoulder and see a blue stream line shooting just inches away from his position "Wow"

"Those are termination path. You don't want to get caught in one of those or you'll slam into a termination port and get yourself terminated" Sera warned as she walks away to the edge of the virtual world.

X didn't get much time to see his surrounding as gives a short glance around. The whole place looks like another world by itself. The sky looks like an astronomy map with stars covering a light blue sky. And before him is a city made out of digital buildings. There are thing that X notice around the building, network links connecting from one area to another, there is even shimmering of lights floating in and out of the digital building.

"This place is remarkable" X whisper, marveling the site he is seeing.

"Welcome to the resistance network X" Sera said "The heart of the resistance forces"

As X take one step forward. Suddenly his head felt a little light as he lean on the wall panting, he didn't know what had just happen, but he felt as if his energy has been drain out of him. X raised his head and looked back to Sera. She was facing her back to him, as he raised his hand to her calling her, X suddenly lost conscious as he felt on the floor.

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"Where am I?" X asked looking at his surrounding; the space like virtual world has total turn completely black like the darkness of night "Sera" X called out, trying to figure out where his partner disappeared. He tries to think back and remember he was stepping towards the edge when all of a sudden, he found himself hovering in a non-gravity world by himself. X tries to move around, but wherever he goes, it is still the same, he is going nowhere.

"Hey" X said in surprised as three-sphere start orbiting around him. Three different spheres each with a color of its own, red, black and white. As he kept watching the sphere orbiting him, X notice a shimmering white light appeared in front of him.

He raised his head and gazed back to an elderly old man looking at him with a smiling face. X didn't know what to say and what to do, he just hovers there as the old man raised his hand and placed it over his head. The feeling of calm and secure ness, something he felt before flow through his body.

"Wake up X" the old man said.

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"Wake up X" Sera called out to the unconscious X.

X weakly open his eyes as he sees a blurry figure looking back to him. He couldn't see whom it really is or what that person is tried to say to him. All he could hear at that moment was a voice calling out to his name; it was slow, very slow like an audio record being pulled back. X shut his eyes again before opening them; the figure in front of him starts to get clearer. He shakes his head for a few more time and looked back to the violet hair girl before him.

"Dr. Light!" X said unconsciously.

"Huh?" Sera asked as she retreated back a bit before she leans forward to X. "X, is me Sera"

"Sera" X said as he sat up and gazed back to Sera. "What happened just now?" he asked confusingly, not remembering anything after he fainted.

"You passed out and when I tried to call you, there was no respond... till now" Sera said as she stood up and help X back on his feet. X shook his head and glanced around his surrounding before he turns back to Sera. "How are you feeling?" Sera asked as she placed her hand over his shoulder.

"Fine..." X said twitching his arm a bit "To be more exact I felt great"

Sera gave a doubtful look on his face "I don't think so X, I think you better head back to the exit pad and let Cerveau check you out" she advised.

"I don't think it is necessary" X protested, raising his hand to Sera. "Serious I feel fine"

"Sera's right X, I want you back here so I can check that you are safe enough to re-enter the system" Ciel said over their headset.

"No, we wasted enough time as it is, we better get a move on before they break through the firewall" X said.

Ciel standing in the command centre gazed back to the screen before she shifted her head towards Rina and Cerveau, both with worried expression on their face, especially Rina.

"Rina" Ciel called out to the medic, trying to get a second opinion.

"Let him be, it's what he wants" Rina said. Ciel can tell that she really didn't want to let X's go, but it seems that once the blue reploid has made up his mind, it is very hard for them to change it.

"X, just be careful" Ciel said turning back to the hologram display "Sera, keep an eyes on him"

"No problem" X replied.

"Guys this is Chris, I got you on display" Chris said typing on the console and their signal pops up on the hologram display. "I'm sending you a direct link to the core, please wait"

Within second a beam shoots out from edge towards the far end of the network city, where it is to dark to see from their where they are standing.

"Read you Chris, on the way, please provides us with our armaments" Sera said.

"Roger Sera" Chris replied as she gives another few tap on the console. Within a blink of an eye, a blue beam burst out from X and Sera left hand. X raised his blade and looked back to it, feeling rather strange with a blade shoot out of his hand. He turns to Sera who have a difference weapon then he has, a lance.

"It's our basic armament, see this jewel attach on our right arm?" Sera asked.

"Yeah" X replied looking at the red ruby attach to his wrist.

"That is our build in armament, it fires a beam that can disturb the avatars body structure and thus neutralizing it" Sera explain as X walk towards the edge nearing the beam leading to the core. "In short it is a gun right" X uttered as he deactivates his sword and raised his right hand to the beam

"Wait, you are not ready to-" Before Sera could stop X; he has already been absorb into the beam and shoot straight to its destination.

"Sera, what had just happened? I thought X has no knowledge in Net Battle?" Ciel asked.

"That's what I thought so too" Sera replied. "Guess there are things that we still do not know about X"

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As Sera dematerialized and landed herself on the floor, she quickly takes a quick glanced around her surrounding. It looks as if a herd of rhinos has just when through the place. However, there is one thing she notices; there was no sign of X anywhere.

"Chris, I'm at the core" Sera said "But I don't see X anywhere. Can you pick-" suddenly someone grabs her from behind and quickly pulled her to the away from the open, she wanted to shout for X, but her mysterious capture place his hand over her mouth, silencing her.

"Is me" He whispered into her ears as he slowly releases his grip over her. Sera quickly spun herself around and gazed back to X. "What the heck do you think you are doing?" she asked.

X said nothing and shook his head over towards the path they have entered. A large figure walk passes the area with a trembling sound. Sera turn her head over her shoulder and found the giant creature walking towards the core.

"What is that?"

"That would be our unfriendly guest" X said leaning on the wall and takes a quick glance on the corner before turning to Sera "That thing has been moving in and out from the core room ever since I have arrived"

"If I haven't pulled you in here, he would have stumble upon you by now" he added. Sera went silence as her eyes were downcast, feeling rather stupid during her first approach. She should have been more careful when she step into a hostile area.

"Come on, I think there are only two of them" X said as he slowly step out of their hiding place and approach the core, but unknowing that hiding within one of the data block another figure were watching their every move.

As they slowly approach to the core, Sera notice two silvery objects hovering near the pillar, nearing the exit point. She gets a little closer and sees a young girl sleeping inside an electric cocoon "Mayl.... and Lan" Sera said "What?" she asked as she felt X holding her back.

"We'll get them out later, but for now, we have other pressing matter at hand" X whispered and nods his head towards the front. Standing not to far away from is two Neo Arcadian. They seems to be too occupy to notice X and Sera's presence.

"Hurry it up already" The giant figure said, pushing its leg on the girls shoulder.

"I am doing as fast as I could matey, if you want to do it yourself, please be my guest" the girls said as she stopped what she is doing and pass her cutlass to the giant spiders.

"My, My, arguing like a married couple" X said. The two Neo Arcadian looked back to X and Sera standing not far away from them.

"So they have sent another group of fools to stop us" the spider said. "No matter, I am certain that you will share the same fate as your comrade did when they stood in our way"

"But where is my manners, my name is Arachno Web. I serve under the Guardian Leviathan. She has assigned me to acquire data directly from the resistance main core server in order to locate all resistances base" the giant spider said steeping up. X and Sera takes a good look at the black spider, it looks like half of its body is made out of human and the lower part, spider. Its body has a green gem attached to its black armor.

"My name is Auzera Hook, I too serve under the Guardian Leviathan, but I guess you know that by now matey" the girl said turning around and lower her cutlass. X gazed back to the girl; this is the first female Neo Arcadia he seen since Rina and from the look of thing, this girl means business. The girl wearing a red bandana over her head and is covered by a black vest with white tights under her body. It somehow remains X of the way pirates looked during the old days. The girl gazed back to them with her violet eyes and raised her cutlass to X and Sera. "And let me introduce you to my partner Silver Trojan"

X knew something was wrong and with a lightning respond he pulled Sera aside "What the?" Sera uttered as a silver blur past her like the wind.

The silver figure stood up and turn around looking back to Sera and X with an empty eyes, its horse head panted for air as it exhale vapors from its nose. Instead of vest armor, the horseman seems to have a silver armor with a blue gem attached in the middle and near on its shoulder pads. Similar to those used during the maverick wars. Silver Trojan raised its triton and growl loudly.

"Sorry, but Silver Trojan has a problem with his verbal communication" Hook said.

"But he has no problem with those" X stated pointing to the triton. Trojan dashed directly at X without given X a chance to take up defenses. X quickly pushed Sera aside and got knocked back by Trojan.

X was fast enough to catch hold onto Trojan triton as he placed his other hand on the horseman's face and hit his leg on the ground to propel himself over the horseman and land on his feet. X quickly activates his sword and spun himself around as he gives a wide swipe, but Trojan was able to spin himself around in time to block it with his triton.

X felt a powerful vibration on his hand as almost lost his balance and retreated back. X was a little worried; this guy is keeping him busy while his friend is breaking into the core. He has to get rid of this guy and fast.

Sera turn to X and see if he is alright, from what she could see, he is holding off towards Trojan. Sera quickly get back on her feet and turn towards the other two Neo Arcadian. Then without a warning a fast blur slash down near Sera almost cutting her into two, she quickly retreated back and placed her lance in front. Sera raised her head and gazed back to Arachno who has activated his beam whip. The spiders give a big smirk on his faces as it approach Sera a little closer. "Going somewhere my precious?"

"Silver Trojan you handle the boy there while I take care of the little lady here" Arachno instructed before turning back to Hook "And you get back to work"

"Mistress Leviathan may have placed you in charge of this operation, but that do not give you the right to boss me around" Hook said pointing her cutlass to Arachno before she slabs it into the red burning shielded that protected the entrance to the core. "Things were never like this when I was in the Maverick Hunters" she mumbles.

"Now where were we my precious" Arachno said turning his attention to Sera.

"Get away from me you jerk" Sera said as she drew back her lance and is about to dashed forward. But notice that Arachno has raised it front legs and slam it down on her position. Sera as able to dodge by somersaulted backwards and landed a few meter from the spider. She looked back to Arachno and found that the spider has made a big hole on the digital floor. Sera lower herself into crouching position and launched herself forward and are hoping to jab the spider reploid.

"Come to me my precious" Arachno snarl as it pull back his whip and swing it at Sera. Sera was able to dodge the whip with ease, but before she could reach the spider reploid, another string of yellow thread shoots to her. To fast and to late, she knew she could not dodge the yellow thread as she felt the sticky web swirl around her body and tie her down. Sera looked back to the spider reploid, with a yank, he swing Sera like a rag doll and hurl her to the floor. Sera shake a head a few times and got back on her feet, then she notice she had dropped her lance over the edge. Sera quickly turn her attention back to the spider.

Arachno gives out a sinister laugher as he pulled Sera to her knees. "Scream for me my little precious, scream like that girl Mayl did" Arachno snarl as he actives its web coming from his chest. Sera give out a scream as she felt her whole body is on fire and tumbles to the ground.

X turn his head over his shoulder and found Sera screaming in pain, her body is starting to blink in and out from the shock she is receiving. X quickly rise his right arm and points his blaster towards Trojan and open fire; Trojan reacted by raising his triton and block off the blast. With a little distraction to hold Trojan back, X quickly spun around and dashed towards Arachno and leaps high up with his sword over his head and brings it down on the spider reploid.

"What?" Arachno said looking high up, he quickly retreated back to avoid X's attack. X slash down his sword and cuts off the web holding to Sera. He quickly pulls her body and leaps back and stands in defense pose.

"Sera" X called out her name and takes a quickly glanced at Sera before turning his attention back to Arachno and Trojan, both re-grouping behind Hook. "Sera" X called out again.

"You are greatly outnumbering boy" Arachno said "Surrender and we will make sure that you'll have a painless death"

X ignore Arachno threat altogether.

"I'm alright" Sera said as she releases herself from the web and slowly trying to get back on her feet. She fells a few times before X extended his hand to her and helps her up.

"You're sure?" X asked.

"Sure..." Sera replied in a weak voice. "I'll be fine"

"Sera this is Ciel, are you alright?"

"Yeah" Sera lied; she was too weak to stand on her own and knew that she will be a burden to X if she holds him back.

"Chris, upload me with a sword program" Sera ordered.

"Yes ma'am" Chris replied as she send Sera her sword. Sera's hand burst out a blue blade as she drew it back. "And Chris, prepare to activate Specter mode at my command" She added.

"Sera this is not advisable" Ciel said "You are too weak and-"

"This is my decision Ciel...please let me do it" Sera said. "Chris... you know what to do"

"If that is what you wish Sera... then good luck" Ciel replied in a said way, knowing what Sera are asking.

"Roger Sera... specter mode on standby" Chris said before she taps on the console.

Sera walk up to X and stand by his side, X gives a quick glanced and turn his attention back to the Neo Arcadians "I'm ready, lets go for round two" Sera said, standing beside X in battle pose. Before X could reply, Sera rush herself toward Arachno.

"Sera wait" X called out but it was too late "Dammit" he muttered. He was about to rush to Sera, but Trojan seems to sense what X is about to do and block his path.

"Back for more my precious" Arachno chuckles as he shoots out more of his web hoping to tangle Sera like before. Sera narrow her eyes and runs in circles, avoiding Arachno's web, hoping to confuse the spider reploid. Once she knows that Arachno is having a hard time keeping up on her, Sera activates her dashed system and rush towards Arachno from the back.

Arachno knew that Sera were on his back as it swings its whip and slap Sera back to the wall. Sera shook her head for a few times and raised her head up. Arachno is just a few feet in front of her. The spider reploid raised its front leg and about to jam it down hard on her. Sera waited for the right time and when the two front leg plunges down on her, she rolls herself forward and stab her sword directly into the spider's abdomen.

Arachno scream in agony as he felt Sera pushed the sword deeper and slide her sword below his abdomen. Sera quickly got out of Arachno and leap onto its back. With her sword about to cut's the spider's head off.

"Damn bitch" Arachno snarl as it slam his elbow on Sera's face, throwing her off his back and landing hard on the floor. "You will pay for that"

Sera shook her head and looked back to the giant spider, knowing that it just angers him. She knows that

In order for X to reach to the core, she will have to take care of this guy first. She rolled herself back and stands in position, waiting for the right moment to execute her move.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Ms. Ciel" Juan called. Ciel turn her attention away from the screen towards the veteran soldier.

"Yes Juan" Ciel answered, knowing nothing good will come out of Juan.

"I think we have to be realistic here, that drone and Captain Sera is outnumber in there" Juan said

"Are you suggesting me that we should execute the meltdown program?" Ciel asked. The others presence in the room shifted their attention towards Juan. He stood with a determine look on his face.

"Yes, we can't let those jerk any chance of accessing the core" Juan uttered.

Rina couldn't stand it any longer walk straight up towards Juan "Are you crazy you walking chimney, they are not dead yet and are fighting to take the system back" she yelled.

"If they can take back the system" Juan said with a doubtful expression

Rina knew it was useless talking to the guy; he is literately hate X to the core. "Ciel, please give them a chance..." Rina begged.

Ciel stand in silence for a moment, everyone in the rooms seems to be waiting for her answer. She then raised her head and turn to the operator sitting in the corner. "Chris how much time do we have left?" Ciel asked.

"Approximately 15 minutes top before core breach" Chris informed "Ciel your orders?" Chris asked.

"Do it Ms. Ciel, run the program" Juan insisted.

Ciel believe that X and Sera could do it; all she need is a little excuse to keep Juan busy while buying more time for X and Sera. She turn to the few good man she could trust "Cerveau"

"As long as they are alive, there is always a chance" Cerveau said. "I say we give it to them"

"You foolish engineer" Juan said "Ms. Ciel"

"You request is duly noted Juan" Ciel said as she turns back to the screen "We will give them more time"

"Hurry up guys" Chris muttered as she continues to monitor their progress in the system.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"X, this is Chris, I suggest you hurry it up" Chris said. "Juan is planning to wipe you and Sera out using the meltdown program"

X barely dodge Trojan's triton quickly pulled back and placed his sword in front, forming a defense. "What do you think I am doing?" X uttered. Trojan waste no time and dashed forward with his triton pointing at X. X raised his blaster and fire, knowing that Trojan would block his attack. But to his surprised, the houseman, lean a bit to the side, dodging the beam and continues his assault. X didn't get much time to defend himself, so he quickly rolls himself to the side, almost getting stab in the process. X knew he have a small window of opportunity here and quickly get back on his feet and spins himself around and slashes Trojan on his back as he dashed pass him.

The Neo Arcadian drops to his knees as he felt the pain coming from his back, he raised his head and gives a shriek before turning his head over his shoulder and gaze back to X. Trojan quickly rose back on his feet and turn back to X.

X quickly retreated back a little, leaving enough space for him to maneuver if Trojan tries another head charge. Trojan then raised his triton high up and it gives a loud growl sounding like a war cry and before X knew what had happen, Trojan's body starts shimmers and image of itself starts to appear around X. About five more Trojan appear around X, all with the same look and weapon, except that the copy have a black shoulder and arm pads instead of the silver one.

"Dammit this guy can multiply himself" X mumbles. Then he took a quickly glanced towards Sera, hoping that she is doing better then he is.

Sera crouched down and waiting for Arachno's next move. Her sword on her hand seems to gives out a different glow, a much stronger blue beam. She rose up her head and launched herself at Arachno.

"Sera" X called out but was cut off by one of Trojan's copy. X quickly slash pass the copy, but another copy takes it place, forcing X back.

"Chris, give me specter mode now" Sera commanded as he sees Arachno is not moving an inch from where he is standing.

"Roger Sera" Chris replied.

Sera's body gives out a green glow as her body passes straight through Arachno like a ghost. She falls down on her knees, knowing that she has not only taken her enemy's life, but her own as well. However, instead of an explosion, she could hear a chuckles coming behind her. Sera slowly turn her head over her shoulder and sees Arachno turning around to face her with a big smirk on his face.

"Impossible" Sera muttered. "You... should be dead" she said in a weak voice.

"Foolish girl, we are all shielded with an anti-specter program before we enter your network" Arachno laughed "You've just wasted your life force in activating specter mode"

Sera still couldn't believe it and fell to the ground as she felt that the energy within her body slowly disappeared. X sensing that Sera's in trouble quickly try to get to her, but was block of by another one of Trojan's copy.

"Get out of my way" X said as he swings his sword a few time and finally able to slashed the copy into two.

"Sera, can you hear me" X held on to Sera, he could feel her energy leaving her body as it is. "Come on girl, wake up" X muttered as he glanced around him and found himself trap by Trojan's copy and Arachno.

Sera slowly open her eyes and looked back to X and gives a weak smile on her face "Its up to you now, X" she manage to say before her body starts to fade away.

"Chris, Sera's avatar is fading" X said as he raised his arm and fire at Trojan's copy and Arachno, holding them back a little "Help me here"

"I can't, the specter program has totally drained her energy" Chris said.

"There must be something that I can do?" X asked. X then turns his attention back to the Neo Arcadian and before he was able to move, Arachno swing his whip and strike it down where X stand. X did the only thing he knew and uses his body to shield Sera. He felt a powerful shock coming from his back as it slowly dies down.

"Activate Zero Alpha Level One" X heard a girl's voice commanded in his head. He raised his head and felt as a tremendous energy flow into his body and partially to Sera.

"What is this?" Arachno said as he retreated back with a doubtful look on his face. Not far from where they are standing, X's body starts to emulate with a red aurora around him.

"I don't believe this" Chris said looking at the result on the screen. Sera's life sign suddenly revive itself.

"Glad to have you back with us" X said as Sera slowly open her eyes and looked back to him.

"X" Sera said in a weak voice "How?"

"I'm not sure but-" X said, but before he could finish, he was pulled away by Arachno and wrap around in his webs.

"Whatever you did will not matter, once I am finish with you" Arachno said as he nod to Trojan. The horseman raised his triton and jam it down on X. X lean his head to the side, avoiding Trojan's triton and used it to cut off the web that is holding him. He raised his legs and kicked in Trojan's face and roll to the side as he rose back to his feet. He slowly retreated back to Sera's position and lowers himself.

"Can you stand?" X asked.

"Yes, I think so" Sera said, getting back on her feet. She felt a little energy returning into her body.

"I have enough of this" Arachno said as he raised his front four legs and slam it down hard on the floor, breaking all the platform and sending X, Sera, Trojan and his copies all falling down into the darkness.

"Trojan" Hook shouted and stops what she was doing. She was about to go after the horseman, but was stopped by Arachno.

"Get back to you post, witch" Arachno said as he turns down and takes a better look.

"Watch your tongue you eight legged freak" Hook uttered in an angry voice as she swipe her cutlass and points it to Arachno.

"Must I remained myself that I am in charge of this operation" Arachno said, giving a dead look on Hook, she spun her head away and stab back her cutlass into the firewall "Do your job" he reminded.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"What happened?" Sera asked as she glanced around where she had landed. It looks like the lower section of the system, there seems to be a lot of termination links around them. She then heard a loud growl to her left, she turn and notices a copy of Trojan lose his grip on the edge of the platform and fell, leaving behind his triton.

Sera quickly rise to her feet and glance back to X, fighting off Trojan and from the way she sees it, X is finally overpowering Trojan. Then as X pushed Trojan nearer to the wall, Arachno suddenly landed behind X and raised his front leg high and about to jam it on X's back.

"X, behind you" Sera shouted.

X turn his head over his shoulder and sees Arachno about to plunged his legs down on him. X reacted by spinning around and swung his sword, slicing off both Arachno's legs. The spider screams in pain and retreated back. Before X could turn his attention back to Trojan, he felt a hard slap on his face as he fell to the ground. He turns and looked back to Trojan pointing his triton down on his face.

"No Silver Trojan" Arachno snarl, the horseman turn back to the wounded Arachno, he crawl back to where X is, with the remainder of his six legs. "He's mine"

Arachno stand in front of X with his whip beam. He raised it high up and about to whip on X. "You will pay for that boy" Arachno snarl and before he could release his whip, he felt his neck being pull back by a hard by a solid object.

"Did you forget about me, my precious" Sera muttered as she pulled the triton back hard, forcing the spider reploid to retreated backwards. Arachno tried to shake Sera off his back, by shaking his body hard and swing his elbow, but to no success. The harder he tries the harder Sera pull the lance around his neck.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"60 second till firewall collapse" Chris inform as a timer pops out on the screen.

"They are breaking through. Activate the program now Ms. Ciel" Juan said turning to Ciel.

"No" Ciel said with a stern voice, hoping that X might still be able to help them.

"What?" Juan asked in disbelieved and within a panic stage that Neo Arcadia is breaking through, Juan did what he thinks it was best for the resistance. He walks over to where Chris is and pulled the operator off her seat "Stand aside"

"Hey" Haruka try to stop Juan but was held back when the guy pulled out a blaster.

"Stand back, this is for the good of the resistance" Juan said as he pull out the menu with the meltdown program in it. "If they break through the firewall and access the core, it'll be the end for the resistance"

"Juan put that down" Ciel order the old soldier.

"I am sorry I have to do this Ms. Ciel, but you'll understand when this is all over" He said as he hit the button that execute the program.

"No" Chris shouted but it was too late. Juan was about to say something when Ciel and the others heard a loud thumping sound.

"Rina" Cerveau said looking back to his assistance, carrying a dented fire extinguisher.

"Boy that guy really does get on my nerve" Rina said throwing the fire extinguisher away. Haruka quickly help her friend up as Chris took back the control. She gives a few taps and brings out the status of the meltdown.

"Ciel" said with a little disbelieved.

"What is it?" Ciel asked.

"The meltdown program... it has been aborted?" Chris informed

"Who?" Cerveau asked.

"I don't know... it just fail to execute" Chris replied, taping the console trying to get more information "Wait what is that?"

"Unknown... there is no ID tag on this avatar... if it is an avatar" Chris said as she turn to Ciel. Ciel turn to the screen and there is a bright red light coming straight to the core.

"Chris, speak to me" Ciel said.

"I don't know what it is?" Chris replied.

"What happened?" Haruka asked as the screen turn completed dead, nothing but a static screen.

"I am lock out" Chris inform as she raised her visor and looked back to Ciel.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Feeling confuse and panic, Arachno, swing his legs back and forth and it lost his sense of direction, he then unconsciously knocked himself against Trojan, thus knocking the horseman down. X quickly took the opportunity, rise to his feet and charge up his projectile weapon. He raised his wrist cannon and open fire at Arachno, generating enough force to send the spider reploid nearer to the edge.

"Sera jump!" X shouted, Sera nod her head and was about to jump when she sees a green object coming her way. Sera didn't know what it was until it stabs into Arachno on the chest and almost stabbing her in the process. Arachno cried out in pain as it loses balance and fell off the ledge, taking Sera with him.

"Sera" X shouted, but it was too late.

Sera quickly jump off of Arachno's back and grab hold of the ledge and gazed back Arachno as his body fell into the mashed up wires of termination link. Sera turn her head always as Arachno's body burst into light and dissolved into air. Sera raised her head and look back up the ledge and found that her hand is loosing grip on the slippery ledge. She tried to hold on as long as she could but in the end she lose her grip and fell. Sera closed her eyes and hope that her end would be swift and painless.

As she fall, Sera suddenly felt a slight twitch coming from her arm. Sera open her eyes and looked straight up, seeing X grabbing hold on her wrist, with a smile on his face "So this is where you hang out most of your time?" X joked. Sera smile back as X pulled her up.

"What was that?" Sera asked.

"No idea, but watch out" X yelled as he yank Sera to him as a pair of green spear shoot out and pass over them. X quickly turn to the direction passed and found Trojan hanging on the wall, with a pair of neo green spear stabbed into his shoulders.

Hook standing on the ledge watch as his companion shriek in pain. She wasted no time and leaves what she is doing and leaps down on the lower platform.

"Back off matey" Sera and X looked back to Hook, she raised her cutlass at them as is about to attack them.

"What the?" Hook asked in surprised as another green spear shoots out from the darkness. Hook quickly raised her cutlass and blocks the spear, diverting the weapon. When she turns her attention back, she quickly notices a green beam blade slicing down on her. Being trained to hold a sword since her activation, Hook raised her cutlass and blocks the attack. Her eyes open wide as a shimmering figure slowly materialized right before her eyes. The shimmering figure gives a few swing and slash. Hook tries to hold her ground but within second her cutlass was forces off her hand and landed a few meters from where she is standing. She drops to her knees as she looked back to the shimmering figure.

The simmering figure, shapes like a standard Z drone, stand tall and proud with his long and ghostly like hair flowing with the wind. It lowers its green blade and points it on Hook's neck.

"Like all that comes before you, a failure" the ghost said.

"Spare me the lecture matey and just get over with it...." Hook turns her face away and shut her eyes "But please gives a dead person a last wish"

"Last wish?" the ghost asked with a surprise tone "Speak"

"Spare Silver Trojan life... and I will take his place" she said looking at Trojan, over her shoulder before turning to the ghostly figure in front of her.

"Never" the figure said as he raised his beam saber about strike down.

"X" Sera shouted as X stand in between Hook and the ghost.

"Enough, she'd surrender" X said blocking off the beam saber with his sword "Now lower your weapon"

"You are still the soft hearted fool I knew. That is what differentiate us X" the ghost laughed and lower his weapon "Very well, I shall spare their lives" he added and deactivated his weapon.

"Go back to your master and tell him that I will come for him next" the ghost said looked at Trojan and Hook. With a slight nod on his head. The lance that is holding Trojan to the wall vanished into thin air as Trojan drops to his knees.

"Trojan" Hook said as she help to the wounded Neo Arcadian. Hook looked back to X with an angry look on her face. "I will not forget this" she muttered as she activates her emergency exit program and beam out of the site.

"It was a mistake for letting them go" the ghost muttered as he turn to X and Sera.

"Then it shall be a mistake that I will have to live with" X replied as he felt the ground he stand on tremble. As the tremble stop X gazed back to the ghostly figure and found out that they are standing on the level which the core is placed.

"Now for them" the ghost said turning to the two cocoons near the core.

As the energy dies down, Lan and Mayl falls to their knees "What?" the young boy asked looking rather confused "Where are we? Hey!" Lan said with surprised as he and Mayl get beam out, leaving the ghostly figure with X and Sera.

"Now for a little privacy" the ghost said not turning to X as a walls start to close up on them and seal them inside.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Ciel" Perroquiet called her through her headset.

"Yes" Ceil replied.

"We... we got Lan and Mayl back and they are both standing in front of me" the boy said in a rather shocking manner.

"What?" Ciel asked in surprised.

"Ciel" Haruka called out as she access the primary console "X and Sera... they're gone!" Haruka informed.

"How can that be?" Rina asked walking over to Haruka and looked at the screen.

"I don't know... a moment they were there and the next there are gone" Haruka replied, "I can't pick them up on any of the channels"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The ghostly figure stand and watch as the last plate close up the gap between them and the outside world, sealing off any outside communication all together. For now, they are alone. Zero lower his head and takes a deep breath before turning himself over to X, gazing back to his old azure friend, he knows that X may not be able to recognize him with his new form, but he has to try to reach to him.

He watch as X didn't make a single move from his spot; he just gave back with the same serious stare he does. Sera however were a little curious as she approach the field and touch it with her hand. Her hand gives out a short blink before it turns back to normal. Sera quickly retreated back to X.

"An electromagnetic field... but that's impossible" Sera said as she stands closer to X.

"Nothing is impossible in cyber world" Zero said.

Sera turns to the ghost reploid and raised her triton and it's about to attack, but was held back by X as he raised his arm blocking her way.

"Wait" X said, not leaving his eyes off the ghostly figure "If he wished to harm us, he would have done it by now"

"Wise, as always" Zero replied as she step closer to X.

"Who are you and what is it that you want with us?" Sera asked.

"Correction" Zero said turning to Sera "I don't want you, just X"

"I'm surprised you have not remembered me yet my old friend?" Zero asked turning back to X.

"Sad isn't it" X replied "Well since you have gone this far to get my attention, Old Friend. I suggest that we go right straight to it" he crossed his arm and gazed back, always ready to activate his weapon if calls for. But the truth is, he is a little worry, this guy is really powerful, he could take out three Neo Arcadia without even dropping a sweat, what is he to him?

Zero glanced around as if feeling the wind and retreated back "Yes... the window of opportunity is slim"

"I have to be brief my old friend, for everything is not what it is seems" Zero said "The war you are now fighting against Neo Arcadia has little to do with the elimination maverick"

"Then what is it about?" Sera asked. Zero gives a staring look as he walk in circle around X and Sera.

"It is actually an agenda used to fuel the mistrust and fear of humans over reploids" Zero said turning his back to X and Sera. "The truth is X, there is an outside force that... how should I put it, influence"

"Influence?" X asked keeping a narrow eye on the ghostly figure.

"Using Neo Arcadia as part of their tool to drive a much larger agenda" Zero said. "However I do not know who they are or what they are up to, but this I do know. Z... Zero is a part of this and so is the dark elves" Zero said, feeling rather hard to say that he is a part of all this.

"And I am to believe all the word you just said?" X asked.

"I don't expect you to X, but I know you do" Zero uttered.

X lowers his arms and gazed back, knowing what the ghost meant. He was right, he do believe him X could not understand why, but he felt he knows this guy and believe whatever he told him is the truth.

"Let say I believe you, what do you want me to do?" X asked.

"Stop Zero, if you are able to cut the head off, then the body will die" Zero said, knowing what he is asking for.

"But you said that Zero is only a part of this?" Sera asked. Feeling rather confused at the ghost's request. "How in killing him will do any difference?"

"I am not sure, but if X is able to stop Zero, then the war might stop and put a sudden halt to the plan that is suppose to take place"

"Like a game of chess?" Sera added "Cutting off one of the pawn and player will hold their assault"

"Precisely" Zero said.

"A short term goal" X said.

"Nevertheless it will provide you sometime to find out who is responsible for this and put a stop to them once and for all" Zero said as he retreated back, feeling that the connection from Neo Arcadia is closing fast and he have limited time to access their system.

"And what are you going to do?" X asked.

"I will try to stop Zero myself, but I highly doubt that I will be successful" Zero said "If I fail X, you are the only one that can stop him"

"And if I fail as well?"

"You better don't" Zero said turning "By the way, please watch your back and take good care of Ciel for me. Tell her that.... no there is no need" Zero chuckles thinking how much he misses her, it was kind of stupid for him to have feeling for a human as he is a reploid himself.

Sera can sense that he is about to make an exit. She then remember that he mention something about the dark elf. "Wait, you said something about the dark elf... what do you mean by that?"

"That you will have to ask Elpizo himself, Ms. Sera" Zero said turning his head over his shoulder "X be careful with Elpizo, he is not a man to be trusted. The baby cyber-elf in his possession is just one out of three, it must never be brought together or there will be trouble. I have already uploaded the data concerning this cyber-elf into your reader. You'll understand better once you went through with it."

"I will" X replied.

Zero then raised his hand to the barrier; it quickly lowers itself to them. Zero steps takes one step closer to the edge and turn his head back to X. he gives a smile on his face as he transform himself into a ball of energy and shoot out to the darkness, leaving X and Sera behind.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"X! Sera" Ciel uttered as she help unplug the headpiece attached on Sera's head, while Rina help on X. "What just happened in there?"

"Nothing... just nothing..." Sera replied looking at Ciel "How are Lan and Mayl?" Sera asked, trying to change the subject.

"Their fine...I am not sure how but they seems normal...like nothing had happened to them" Cerveau said looking at the two kids they have rescued inside the system. They are both sitting at the other end of the room with a white robe covering their body "Whoever that unknown avatar is, he has not only save the system, but able to bring back Lan and Mayl in one-piece"

"X" Passy suddenly burst out behind Rina and embraced on X.

"Hey sugarplum, careful there or you might hurt me" X said.

"Sorry, I was just glad to see you" Passy said with a big smile on her face as she retreated back a little.

"Yeah me too" X said as he turn back to Rina, she was smiling to him and from the look of things she was really glad that he came back. She suddenly opens her arms and embraced X as she whisper into his ears "Guess you owe me a dinner X" Rina said.

"Yeah, I guess so" X said, releasing Rina and looked back to her. He then turn to Sera and gives her a big smile on his face. She nods back to him before turning to Ciel. "I think we better leave them alone"

"I'm afraid not Sera. I have to quarantine you both until we are sure that you are not infected by any harmful virus when you were in the system" Ciel said.

"So we are stuck here?" X asked.

"Just until we know that you are safe" Cerveau said as he walks right up to X with a note pad on his hand "It'd just take a day or two to run the test and generate a confirmation report, nothing to worry about"

"Guess dinner will have to wait" X said looking back to Rina.

"Don't worry, we got lots of time in our hand" Rina said as she gives him a light kiss on his cheek before walking out of the room with Passy and Ciel.

Once everyone is tested and being retain for the test result to come out, X slum down on his capsule and turn back to Sera. "Sera" X called out to the lime hair girl. She turn hear to X giving him a downcast look.

"Yes X?" she asked.

"Why didn't you tell Ciel about that mysterious avatar we saw?" he asked.

"There was no need to... because I do not know what I saw back then.... even know I am not sure what I saw" Sera said as she sat up from her capsule and turn herself to X "Furthermore... do you think they will believe us?"

"A ghost avatar telling us that there is an outside influence using Neo Arcadia and dark cyber-elf?" Sera asked.

X nod his head and say "I'm not sure" knowing what she meant.

"X..." Sera said softly "Thanks. I am not sure how you did it, but you've save my life and I am grateful for it"

"It was nothing; you'll do the same thing if you're in my position" X said as he placed his arms behind his head and slum down on his capsule looking up to the ceiling.

Sera looked down on X for a few second before she say "I owe you one and till I repay-"

"Please don't tell me that you belong to me or something like that, if you really wish to do me a favor" X said with a chuckle "Next time, try not to be that suicidal"

".... I will" Sera smile.

"Life is not so bad if you really look at it" X said.

"Yeah" Sera replied, then she notice Lan and Mayl walking towards them.

"Hey guys" Lan called. X pushes himself up into sitting position and gazed back to the boy.

"Lan" X said.

"Since we are stuck here, why not play a game of cards?" Mayl pulled out a deck of cards from under her robes.

--------

Author Notes: Happy 15th anniversary Megaman....wait I think I am a little late here, it should be 16th instead of 15th........ heheheh well whatever. At least now I completed all the megaman character into this story, from megaman classic (sort of).... to megaman Battle Network.