I'm finally back! Took me a bit longer than I expected to get back to my computer, since I got back at 11:45 p.m. If the chapter seems weird, blame lack of sleep. -Eye twitches- But anyway, here's the new chapter, and it's hopefully worth the wait!

For the next few days, everything at HQ was pretty calm. The rumours about Zero and Alia were gone altogether, replaced by rumours about X and Alia's date had gone. Zero was busy practicing his dog-reploid skills, while Rush followed him everywhere like a lost puppy (which he basically was). And Axl was...being Axl, spending his free-time sneaking in looks at Zero's manga collection (which, as Zero had put it before the whole thing started, was an instant death penalty). Needless to say, everything was calm for a while. Then, our favorite three Maverick Hunters (and dog) were called into Signas' office.

"Okay boys," Signas said, "Seeing as you've had a bit of a break, it's time to get back on-duty. There are still areas that need to be checked for Maverick Activity. Are you all ready?"

"Yessir!" Rush replied happily. X merely nodded in reply. Zero was pretending to be an actual dog-reploid, so not to arouse any suspicion from Signas. Axl let out a groan.

"But nothing's there!" Axl whined. "We've already checked!"

"Tell you what," Signas said, "I'll make a bet with you. If you're right, and nothing is there, I'll give you all the zennys I have in my pocket. If I'm right, and there is something there...I get gloating rights."

"Make it all the money in your pocket and your hat, and you have a deal," Axl replied.

"No! It's my hat!" Signas cried, clutching the prized hat atop his head. "Either take my previous deal, or no bargain."

"Oh, all right," Axl muttered. "But I will get that hat."

Rush and X both looked confused by this stupidity, and Zero was dumbfounded. Whenever he didn't want to do a mission, he was just threatened to have his "girl privilages" taken away, while Axl had a chance to make some money (unless, of course, Signas didn't have any money in his pockets). Then again, Signas being able to gloat about being right about a bet was never a good thing. Zero still remembered when he made a bet with Signas at the Winter Holiday party that X and Alia would kiss under the mistletoe. Zero had the perfect plan laid out to make sure that it happened too, but unfortunately, he had ended up locked in the broom closet after accidentally dropping the key down a floor vent (try reaching down a vent in a dark closet with your hair in the way, and see how much fun you have). Axl had also been part of the plan, but he had unfortunately had to go to the hospital wing after an unfortunate event involving a plate full of cookies, a really speedy dance with Palette, and a precariously placed chair that had sent the redhead into the holiday tree, and puking soon afterwards. Ol' Signas still wouldn't let them live it down.

"Okay then," Signas said. "Now that we have that out of the way, you guys can get to your mission. We've heard rumors about supposed sightings near an abandoned cave. It used to be a man-made mine for coal. Alia will give you the coordinates. Good luck, boys. Oh, and your dog too." Zero rolled his eyes as Signas gave him a pat on the head. If only Signas had known who he was petting, he wouldn't have touched him. But he didn't, so Zero had to put up with being petted.

"Come on Ze-Rush, let's go," Signas had not noticed X almost calling the dog Zero, watching as the three hunters and the dog walked out of the room.

The boys soon made it to the mine, which was quite dark. They arrived in the front, with three ways inside. In order to make the whole thing as quick as possible, they all split up. X went through the front path, Axl went through an entrance that had been covered by a bush, and Rush and Zero took a small path on the caveside. Zero didn't really want to follow Rush, but Rush was the only one he could communicate with, and Rush was in his body anyway. The two walked on for a while, with seemingly nothing in the way, except for the way that rocks just happened to fall down when the duo walked under them, or how a vine would seemingly pop up just to trip them. Needless to say, Zero was getting quite annoyed, wishing he could just cut everything away with his saber. Rush, on the other hand, was still smiling, happy to be going on a mission. It reminded him so much of his old trips with Megaman. Rush wondered whatever had happened to his former master, wondering if Dr. Wily had gotten him in the end.

"I hear something," Zero barked, getting Rush's attention. "Get out the saber, in case it's something dangerous."

"Okay." Rush replied, pulling out the shiny green blade he had practiced with days before. Almost instantly, images of swordplay entered his mind, most of which starring Zero in fierce combat with some Maverick foe. Out of the shadows came a Ruinsman, who had seemingly been driven out of the jungles to make this place it's home. Without a moment's hesitation, Rush began to swing, making sure to make every swing in the exact same fashion Zero did. Zero watched, a look of awe and horror on his face.

"Do I really look like that?" Zero thought to himself. Now he realized why some people revered him so for his skill. If he hadn't known any better, he might have been intimidated. But the one thing that bugged his was Rush's expression. It seemed...happy. Almost as if he was enjoying the slaying of his foe. Did he have the same expression on his face while fighting? He had never really cared for what he was thinking while fighting, except to make sure that his enemy was beridden. But did he really enjoy it? No, that would be what Dr. Wily would want. What Sigma would want. What he didn't want to be.

"Stop it!" Zero heard himself say, watching Rush turn his head towards him.

"Am I doing it wrong?" Rush asked. Zero calmed himself down. He was starting to act like X. Perhaps X's peaceful methods were starting to rub off on him.

"No," Zero replied. "Just...don't slash at them so long. Make it a quick death, alright?"

"Whatever you say Zero," Rush replied. "Come on, let's keep going."

Not much more to go now. Chapter 10 shall be up on Thursday! Later people!