X sat at the shell famous Helgak's head. Corgan and Maya were getting counterfeit passports from a resistance faction that sprang to life. "Two weeks and they made an underground railroad. This place is astounding,"

Grubb chuckled, "I guess, tell me about where you came from Oh Commander,"

X let out a deep belly laugh. Grubb was a riot when he got a hold of booze. They had stayed in town for two days as they discovered they needed passports to travel. Hence why they were in said bar. "Earth? It has only one layer, unlike Septerra and it's seven. It was mostly like shell three; But the Maverick wars turned it mostly into a wasteland. Humanity is outnumbered, and underpowered to fight off most of the Mavericks. That is where we hunters come in,"

Grubb nodded taking most of it in. "I was wondering, what make a Maverick go nuts?"

X looked up, "It's a virus, for most of them. Others, its pure choice. Reploids, like me, are THE most advanced artificial life forms ever made. I was the first; Created by a man names Tomas Light. He designed us with our own free will. Some Reploids were treated poorly by humans and naturally rebelled. Only when the Virus appeared was the true epidemic uncovered. We later found out that a single Reploid was the source, a reploid named Sigma. Over the years we waged war over every continent on over 8 separate occasions. But it usually came down to me, Zero, and Axl verses Sigma."

Maya sat down next to him, "Who are Zero and Axl?"

X smiled, "Zero and Axl are Reploids like me. Zero was taller and His log blond hair was his trademark. It hung down to his ankles. His red armor and strict saber usage stood out in most units. Axl was a young and brash Reploid who used a set of rapid fire pistols. He was able to change into other reploids at will, though this was only a temporary change mind you. I remember Axl turned into Zero and asked someone out. Heh, Zero almost cut Axl in half,"

The intrepid crew of heroes laughed at the misfortune of another reploid. "So this Zero is a swordsman?" asked Corgan.

X nodded, "Grow your hair out and wear the armor, and you could pass as his double,"

"You tried to reach them back in the mountain pass correct? Perhaps for assistance?"

X stood up, "Correct. I thought maybe Axl would help. You guys get the passports?"

Maya held up four passports, "They just said to count Runner a luggage,"

X began to laugh, runner was sure to be displeased. He stretched and heard a pop. He froze. He didn't have organic parts. Reploid joints never popped. He moved his torso a little more and another soft pop, "What in the name of god?"

Maya look at him funny, "What? Popping your back hurt?"

X forced the armor away and gave himself a pat down. HE was shaking as he felt wrong. He actually could feel. "I think I have a problem,"

Corgan rose and popped his own back, "We can talk about it on the way. We need to get to shell five."

Maya lead a very confused X out of the bar and the town. X's brain was attempting to wrap around. Was he becoming partly organic? Was it the core energy? And most of all, WAS IT PERMANENT? "This is bad, this is very bad. Maya, am I going to die?"

Everyone stopped, "What are you talking about X? Die from what?"

"Something is wrong, I think I am becoming organic."

Grubb laughed, "care explaining that?"

X continued to shake. "I can actually FEEL things, not just some reading in my brain. Comfort is actually working its way through it all. I've fought battles from inside volcanoes to frozen wastelands. It never fazed me because my skin was synthetic. My back POPPED. I have NO joints to speak of so a pop would be stating I am broken and need maintenance."

Grubb nodded, "Ankra and Jinam are supposed to have advanced labs and research centers. We could ask them to check you out.