Chapter 2: Fun and Games

Dr. Cain's word still echoed in Zero's head along with the sound

of his footsteps. This corridor was nearly empty at this time of day,

but he knew both Nemesis and X would be finished with their daily

duties soon. This seldom-used wing of the HQ was where the three

always met after work.

His thoughts drifted here and there as he leaned against the

wall. ~Sigma? Never. If he even so much as glances at her I'll kill

him!~ Then he smiled to himself. Sigma wasn't the only one who had

been taken by his oh so adorable baby sister. X adored her, but he was

either to proud, or too afraid of what Zero might do to show it.

He laughed. ~I don't think I'll ever deem any male Reploid worthy

of my sister. But then she probably doesn't see any females worthy

of me either.~
His thoughts were interrupted when another Reploid slammed into

him. Thinking that Sigma had discovered this wing was practically

deserted and had decided to attack from here, Zero reached for his saber.

However, as he was tackled to the ground and pinned, the giggling voice

of the "attacker" revealed who she was. Zero relaxed.

"You're getting better, Nem." Zero said as he reached up to

affectionately tousle Nemesis' waist length blonde hair.


She laughed, her turquoise eyes dancing with mischief. "Better?

You didn't even know I was coming, brother dear."

Zero grinned wickedly as he moved, pinning his sister beneath

him. "Yes I did," he lied, "I just wanted you to feel special."


"But I am special." Nem said, giggling. "Aren't I?"


"Oh yeah, Nem. "You're 'special' alright." Zero smirked.

"Is this a private party or can anyone join?"

"Sure, X." Zero grinned. "Come join the fun while I've got

her..." Nemesis took Zero's distraction as an opportunity to regain

control.

She rolled out from beneath him and pinned him again.

"Pinned?" Nemesis finished for her brother a bit too sweetly.

She looked at X and smiled. "Hi, X."
"Hey, Nem." X was captivated by her smile. ~Doesn't she

notice?"
"Okay, Sis, play time is over. What would the rookies say if

they saw the three top commanders playing like children?"

"Lucky them?" Nemesis asked as she stood and offered her

brother help up.
X laughed. "Oh yeah, lucky us. With everything we have to

do...fighting and training."

"Speaking of which." Zero interrupted. "How's your unit, Nem?"

Nemesis sighed. "Well, as always, Artemis and Apollo are the

best I have. I know we can count on them. Hercules' strength is a

great asset but his temper is practically uncontrollable. You never

know when he'll lash out, or at what. Athena prefers to lay out the

strategies, which is a great gift to the team in itself. She'll fight

when she has to, also. Iris (A/N Iris was the goddess of the rainbow

and Hera's personal messenger. That's why I thought I'd slip her in

this unit, for now) doesn't want to fight at all. And I respect that.

Her brother's also a bit overprotective." She glanced at Zero and

smiled. "I don't mind that either. But..."

"But?" X and Zero asked in unison.

"But I'm concerned about Medusa and Ares. They've already

showed some signs of turning Maverick."

Zero nodded. "We'll help keep an eye on them.

X nodded. "Of course." He grinned. "Now, since that's settled

and we have nothing to do, why don't the three of us go out? We

haven't done that for a while."

Zero shrugged. "Sure, I'm game. I need to talk to both of you

anyway."

Nemesis nodded. "Alright, let me get ready and I'll meet you
back here in a few."

"Hours?" Zero teased.

"Ha ha." Nemesis shot back, grinning. "See if I set you up

with Artemis now."

"Oh, c'mon, Nem. You know I was just teasing!"

"Okay, I'll ask her to come too." She said laughing. "Then

like I said, I'll meet you in a few."

****

Less than an hour later Zero, X, Nemesis, Artemis and Apollo

were all seated around a table in a dimly lit restaurant. Nemesis

sighed and rolled her eyes. "Did you have to pick this place, Zero?"

"Well...it is the local Reploid favorite." Zero said as he

gestured for his companions to glance around the room.

Nemesis smirked. "Okay, so half of your unit is here. What

does that prove?"

Artemis laughed. "Most of X's unit is here, too."

X smiled. "I think every off duty Hunter is here."

"You're probably right about that." Apollo added, his eyes

darting around the room. "But there's so much tension in the air, I

don't like it..."

"Oh stop, you're always so paranoid." Artemis teased. "I

sometimes wonder about Nem's sanity in choosing you as her second in

command."

Apollo shrugged his sister's remark off and continued to glance

around at the other Reploids in the room.

"Don't worry about it, Apollo." Nemesis said. "We won't be

here long. We just came to get some food, a drink or two, and hear

what Zero needed to tell us."

Apollo sighed. "Yes, ma'am, I'll try to relax."

"And don't be so formal." Nemesis chided teasingly. "We are

off duty you know."

"I know, Nem." Apollo said, grinning. "I know."

Zero cleared his throat. "Anyway, as X and Nem already know,

I spoke with Dr. Cain this afternoon." The others nodded, Zero

continued. "Sigma has been seen in a few various locations yet so far

he hasn't attacked anyone or anything."

"Damn." Nemesis shook her head. "I was hoping that we had

finished him off for good this time."

"So was I." X said, looking down at his half empty drink.

Zero sighed. "It gets worse..."

"How?" Artemis asked. "Is Vile alive too?"

"Dr. Cain didn't mention Vile. He did, however, request that

Nem, X and I stay on high alert. He wants us to watch out for each

other."

"You do that anyway." Apollo said. "We all do."

"Did he say why, Z?" Nemesis asked while absentmindedly

tapping the hilt of her saber.

Zero nodded. "He's always had a grudge against me. X

defeated him twice. And Nem..." He paused.

"What about Nem?" X asked, urging Zero to continue.

"Dr. Cain feels Sigma may see Nem as a common ground, or a bond,

between humans and Reploids. In Sigma's world, that cant exist." He

purposely left out Dr. Cain's opinions on Sigma's feelings for his

sister. "But if she were dead..."

"Or a Maverick..." X finished his friend's sentence. "He

wouldn't have to worry about a connection between humans and Reploids."

"Exactly." Zero said, glancing at his sister. "So we all have

to be careful."

"No problem." Nem said cheerfully. "With X and I to protect

you, Z, what could possibly go wrong?"

****

Hidden in the corner of the room a Maverick spy watched the

group of hunters intently. He smiled to himself. "More can go wrong

than you could possibly think, my Lady Nemesis. Perhaps it is almost

time for the Huntress to become the hunted." He slipped out the door

undetected, glanced around him, then crossed the street to a dark

alleyway.

"Well?" The unmistakable voice of Sigma met the Maverick as

he slipped deeper into the Alleys velvet darkness.

"They know you live, Lord Sigma. Already the tree you seek to

punish are on guard."

"Excellent." Sigma smiled. "Are my spies in place at their HQ?"

"They are, my Lord. One to be near each of them at all times."

"And you are prepared to deal with Nemesis?"

"Yes, My Lord."

"Good. Now return to the Hunter HQ before anyone realizes you

have left your post." The hooded Maverick nodded then, disappeared

into the shadows, returning to Hunter HQ.