Chapter 3: Old Friends
"Are you sure you're up to going back out there, Zero?" Douglas asked, looking at the Crimson Hunter seated next to him in the Hunter lounge.
"If I don't, I'll go stir crazy." Zero sighed, adjusting the added visor on his helmet used to hide his tired, red eyes. "How's Alia? You heard from her?"
"Haven't heard from her today, but I have a feeling she still isn't doing too good." Douglas said with concern.
"Maybe I should talk to her." Zero said as he stood up, "Still have a few hours before the next mission." He then sighed and looked at the ceiling, "Not going to be the same without X."
Zero made his way toward Alia's quarters and found two suitcases sitting outside the door, "Alia?" Zero asked, slowly easing into her quarters, "What are you doing?" He asked as he watched her packing another suitcase.
"I'm leaving." She said simply while keeping her back to him.
"What… what… what do you mean you're leaving!" Zero questioned, very surprised at this revelation.
"I can't stay, Zero." Alia said gently, gripping the medal around her neck. "Hurts too much."
"Alia…" Zero sighed, "You can't run away from your problems like that. X wouldn't want you to."
"I'll do what I want to, thank you." Alia snapped.
"But… What about the Hunters?" Zero asked, trying to think of a reason for her not to go.
"I put in my resignation this morning." Alia said emotionlessly, "I already have my old job waiting at Light Institute of Robotics."
"Alia…This won't help." Zero said, reading the girl like a book, "Running away won't make the hurt or the fact that you miss him go away, believe me I know how you feel."
With that Alia spun around with anger flashing in her eyes, "Know how I feel? How do you know how it feels to be in love with someone and lose that person before you could tell them? Huh Zero? How do you know?"
Alia wanted to say more, but was silenced when Zero forcefully shoved her against the wall, "Get over yourself! I know exactly what it's like to lose someone you love. Do you know the difference, Alia? You just believe you killed X. Me, on the other hand; it was my Z-Saber that cut Iris down."
"Iris?" Alia asked nervously, "I didn't know, wasn't she a Maverick during…"
"NO!" Zero growled, glaring at her hatefully, "Iris was NEVER a Maverick! Never!"
"Zero…" Alia whispered, knowing she'd made a mistake.
The Crimson Hunter turned his back and headed toward the door, "If you're leaving, you better finish packing."
As Zero left, Alia slid down the wall. In two days time, she'd lost her two best friends, and now she wondered what else could go wrong.
Meanwhile…
X continued to drift in darkness when he finally began to hear a soft voice calling his name. Slowly and painfully he opened his eyes and looked at the side of what he presumed to be a bed, his eyes began to focus and he made out wavy blonde bangs sticking out of a red head set and big blue eyes filled with worry.
"A-Alia?" X asked as his vision went unfocused again for a moment. When he regained full vision, the girl had changed from Alia to another girl he hadn't seen in many years, not since the fourth Maverick Uprising. One who, by all rights, should have died with the other Mavericks of the Repliforce, even though X knew good and well she was never a part of their group, "Iris?"
"At least you got it on your second try, Blue." She giggled in her Australian accent, making her blue-gray eyes dance.
"But… how… you… you…" X said, trying to sit up. The girl gently pushed him back down.
"Whoa, I patched you up best I could, but you're still in pretty bad shape." She said seriously, "And yes, I did die, and it's a long story as to why I'm here. I don't know the full story myself."
"Well…" X grunted, holding his bandaged side, "I'm not going anywhere for a while; where are we anyway?"
"Sigma sends the humans who lived on the lands he conquered to this concentration camp-slash-mine. Also the Reploids who somehow reject his Maverick virus come here. We call it Sigma's Trashcan."
"Ok, that answers where we are." X said in understanding, also noticing how dirty her dress was as well as her face, and her hair looked like it hasn't been washed in some time. "So… how are you…uh here?"
"I don't remember all that much really. One minute, I'm being held by Zero and hear him calling my name. Then, I'm hooked in a chair with Sigma yelling questions at me. You see, X, my brother was in charge of many aspects of the Repliforce…" She said, looking down sadly at the thought of her late brother, Colonel. "He didn't completely trust General, and some of the more dangerous things that the Repliforce Science Department discovered, he wouldn't let General know, and would destroy as much info about it as possible and place it in a hidden file in my CPU." She said, tapping the side of her head.
"So something Colonel didn't want discovered," X said in understanding, "Sigma wanted. But why did he revive you when he could have just downloaded it from your CPU even if you were… deactivated."
"Because only I can allow access to it," Iris explained, "No one can get the info unless I willingly give it. I didn't give it to him, even after he did…things… Anyway, he finally got tired of trying to break me, so he threw me in here."
"Wait." X said, narrowing his eyes slightly, "If your trapped here, how did you get out to get me? And if you can get out, why do you come back."
"Simple, X. Being a sister to the second in command of the Repliforce meant I had to learn to take care of myself in case someone wanted to use me to get to my brother. That includes knowing how to break in and out of places. Besides, a kid could break out of this place; the only water in a thirty-mile radius is the oasis where I found you. And there isn't a sign of civilization in at least fifty miles in any direction… I think. That's why security isn't that big of a worry." She then slowly helped him stand with an arm over her shoulder, "If you want to know why I come back, I'll show you."
She helped the Maverick Hunter to what looked like a small cliff. X looked off the edge and was sickened at what he saw, Reploids and both young and adult humans being worked as slaves in the mine. "We work in shifts. Mine begins in a couple more hours." Iris said her blue-gray eyes glazing over, showing tiredness in her soul, "The Mavericks bring just enough food to live, and only dirty water. I can't do anything about the food, but I go out every night, when the guards aren't watching, and bring back water from the oasis."
"We… We're all going to die here. I could go… but I can't abandon them… so if we're going to die, we're going to die together." Iris said with tears sliding down her cheeks. "I've thought a lot about running one night when I get out. Finding you guys, finding Zero. Showing him that I'm all right, telling him I don't blame him from my brother's death or mine. I really miss him..."
X gave her a squeeze, "No one's going to die, Iris. I'll get everyone out of here. And I know Zero will be more then happy to see you, again."
Iris gave him a skeptical look before smiling, "Anyone else saying that I'd think they were nuts. But… you ok?" She asked, breaking her thoughts at X bending over slightly. "Ok, for now you're not doing anything but lying down and resting. You can hide here 'til your wounds heal. Don't do anything stupid 'til your better." She ordered while helping the injured Blue Bomber back to the makeshift bed.
"What's so funny?" Iris asked with a hint of irritation at X's chuckling.
"Just you sounded just like a friend of mine." X explained while lying back down.
"Wouldn't happen to be that…Alia would it?" Iris asked, raising an eye brow at X's shocked expression, "You kept calling her name in your sleep. Would that be your girlfriend?"
"What? NO!" X said, starting to jump up, the injury in his side forcing him back down, "I… I mean no, s-she's just… just a friend."
"Mmhmm." Iris smirked.
"Alia…" X sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.
Flashback…
"Zero… It's not the end of the world." X reasoned, following his best friend as he stormed through the halls of the Maverick Hunter Base.
"Zero!" X called but only got a grunt for a reply.
Suddenly an apparently lost rookie with an arm full of papers shot around a corner into the Crimson Hunter's path and was quickly knocked down by his charge through the halls. While it didn't slow Zero down, it did knock the rookie to the ground and scattered her papers.
X stopped and looked at the rookie, she had on Reploid armor, light showing that she would have a desk job, more then likely a spotter. Her shoulder length blonde hair was flowing down to both shoulders and her hands scurried along the ground trying to gather the scattered papers.
"Sorry about my friend," X said crouching down to help, "He recently lost a… friend in the last uprising, and hasn't been in a good mood since."
"Oh no, it was my fault for not paying attention." The girl said yet to look up from the scattered papers, "I'm such a klutz, I haven't been an official Maverick Hunter for twenty four hours and I already make a mess." She sighed obviously a nervous wreck. "At least Megaman X wasn't here to see me make a fool of myself."
X smirked at that as he continued to gather the number of pages. "Welcome to the Hunters!" X welcomed, "Don't worry, you should have seen me my first day. Every thing I set out to do blew up in my face. But I'm sure you'll do great. What's your assignment?"
Still not looking up, "Oh, I'm assigned to be the Spotter for the 17th Unit."
"17th?" X asked deciding to see how long he can have a conversation without the person falling at his feet because he was the 'Legendary Megaman X'. "That's Commander X's unit, isn't it?"
"Yes it is, I don't know why I was cursed with that job." She sighed getting the mass of papers in order, "I don't know how I'm going to do it, be Megaman X's spotter. How is a beginner like me going to spot for the greatest of the Hunters?"
"Simple." X said as she finally looked up and almost made him laugh at how fast the color left her face. "You do the same thing I do. Do your best. That's all your expected of, and that's all any Hunter is expected to do. One thing though, don't call me Megaman X. X is fine. And I don't think I caught your name."
She stared for around a minute before finally getting out "A-Alia."
"Well then, Alia." X said placing a hand on her shoulder to try to help her relax. "I look forward to working with you. And relax; I'm sure you're going to do great!" X then looked down at the papers she had, "Just curious, what have you got there?"
"T-these?" She asked the nervousness still obviously in full force, "Just print outs of the data of each of your armor systems Mega… X." She said trying to get used to being around him, "I thought if I want to be a good spotter I should learn the strengths and weaknesses of each of your suits, that way I will be able to properly advise the right armor for the right situation."
"Clever. And say I was up against a Storm Falcon's airship, should I use the Falcon Armor?" X asked quizzing her knowledge.
"No, the best suit would be the Gaia Armor; Storm Falcon's Airship is heavily armed. While the Falcon Armor would allow you to take to the air, the airship's heat seeking missiles would be drawn to the advanced dash jets like a moth to a flame and the Falcon Armor severely weakens your arm cannons which makes it almost impossible to bring the ship down. On the other hand your Gaia Armor is bulky and slow, and also restricts special weapons, BUT it's armor should repel almost anything the airship can throw, and the armor's Giga Attack would be more then enough to destroy the airship."
"Clever girl." X smiled, "Why are you nervous, you just explained how I could have avoided three weeks in the medical wing last summer." He then turned and started to walk off, "Don't worry, you just proved to me you belong on the 17th."
X then stopped, "By the way… You wouldn't like to play chess, would you?"
Alia looked a bit surprised by the question then nodded, "Uh yes sir, it was my favorite past time while I was in the academy."
"Later tonight, if you're interested, would you like to meet me and play a game or two?" X asked showing a hint of nervousness, "The only other hunter that is remotely interested in chess is Zero and he gets frustrated and destroys the board and pieces before we can finish one game."
"My shift ends around eightish." Alia said finally smiling, "Meet in lounge C14?" "It's a game," X said nodding and turning to walk off, "Looking forward to it!"
End Flashback…
"Earth to X, you there?" Iris said waving a hand over the Blue Hunter's face.
"Wha? What's wrong, Alia?" X asked blinking out of his daze.
"Iris." Iris said with a knowing smirk that would make Zero proud.
"Uh…" X asked the naiveté and confusion showing on his bandaged and bruised face.
"You called me Alia." Iris said setting down beside him on the bed. "So she's just a friend, huh?"
"She couldn't be more. I drive her nuts enough as a friend." X explained a hint of sadness in his voice, "She's always angry at me when I come back from the more dangerous missions, and she points out every little mistake I make, like I could have been killed because of it."
"Could you have been killed because of them?" Iris asked nodding slightly.
"…"
"Thought so." Iris said winking at the Second Blue Bomber, "Ever think maybe you scared her doing yours and Zero's kamikaze moves?" Iris then noticed the blank look on X's face, "And don't give me that look! I remember spotting for you two lunatics on Lagos Island. I know what you're two pea brains are capable of coming up with."
X started to laugh but groaned as he gripped his injured side and lay back down roughly.
"You need to rest and recover." Iris ordered, "We've made it here this long, we can wait till you're strong enough to fight."
"Thought you didn't like fighting." X asked through pain-caused clenched teeth.
"I thought you didn't like fighting either." Iris responded with a faint sad smile, "Sometimes we do things we don't want to for the best. Took a few years in this hell to learn that."
Iris then stood up and walked toward what X guessed was the exit in the back of the chamber, "My shift is soon. You stay up here where it's safe. I should be back in a few hours."
"Iris." X said catching her attention. "I'll get you back to him."
Iris blushed and smiled contently, "And I'll get you back to her. I better go. Rest now, X."
X nodded as he got into a more comfortable position. He then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep almost immediately.
Back at Maverick Hunter Headquarters…
Alia smiled as she watched Douglas, Lifesavor, and Signas load the last of her things in her car. "You sure about this, Alia?" Signas asked smiling at the Spotter who has been a friend to him for sometime.
"Yes. I'm sure." She said sadly looking at her friends.
"Alia!" A voice sounded from the base.
She turned and spotted Zero running toward them. "Zero… I… I'm sorry about what I said this morning."
"No I'm sorry for going off the handle. You didn't know it was still touchy subject with me. Now. Don't go." Zero said smirking down at the girl.
"Sorry Zero, I think this is the best thing for me right now." Alia said looking down, "Besides, It just isn't the same without him."
"I understand, but promise to keep in touch." Zero ordered. "Here."
Alia looked at his hand and saw a framed picture of herself, Zero, and X, taken at the Christmas party just before the fourth uprising. "He's watching us right now, you know." Zero said with a sad smile. "'Just do your best. That's all any Hunter is expected to do'." Zero said in a mock-X voice. "What ever you do, do your best at it, and I know he'll be proud."
"What… what are you going to do, Zero?" Alia asked fighting off tears.
"What else?" Zero said his face turning stone, "I'm going to get that bastard who got X."
"Good luck, Zero." Alia said giving the Crimson Hunter a hug, "Don't you…"
"I know…" Zero said returning the hug, "I have two friends waiting for me, but I don't plan on joining them just yet."
Zero held Alia's door for her as she got into the driver's seat, "Take care of yourself, Zero." Alia said sadly.
"You too, Alia." Zero responded closing the door.
Zero gave a small wave as Alia drove away. Once Alia was gone, he walked past Signas, Douglas, and Lifesavor with a dark expression on his face.
"Zero?" Signas asked watching him go, "Where are you going?"
Zero gave a half look back before drawing his Z-Saber, "Ostrich hunting."
To be continued…