Disclaimer: I don't own anything Rockman related. Durr.
Notes: I'm aware I have another one going, but I cannot think of anything to write. I'm probably going to scrap that one and focus on this one or... Another one - but that's for another day. Anyway, some if not all of the characters are going to be mildly if not totally OOC and most likely a bit or a lot AU. We'll see!
For a bit of clarification, this takes place after Iris' demise and all that fun stuff. But before Axl.
Just think of it as a bit of a bubble in time, or something.
On with the fic.
Warning: This probably won't have a good ending, assuming I actually keep this going until the end.
Alia sat, cross-armed, in a chair, staring at the reploid infront of her. A nervous reploid - she didn't know him, but she did know that he was one of the medical staff in the Maverick Hunters' headquarters. She had been called in earlier that morning.
Yesterday she had went, complaining of a pain in her head. All she knew so far was that this meeting had something to do with that. But she didn't know what, and whatever it was, was worrying the reploid before her.
"Well, uh, miss Alia..." Stammered the reploid, fidgeting nervously. How did someone this... Unnerved make it on to the medical staff?
"Yes?" The navigator smiled politely, trying to calm the medical reploid down so that he could tell her whatever it was faster. It didn't work.
"Well, we have the results from your check-up, and, uh..." He paused again. This was getting a little bit annoying.
Alia sighed, leaning forward and putting her chin in her palm. "Just tell me, whatever it is. It can't be that bad, can it?" She was tired, and the annoying ache in her cranium was irritating her. She wanted to sleep...
Though the look the other reploid gave her worried her. He looked increasingly nervous. Almost as if he had bad news...
And he did. "We got the results. Yes. You have... Something in you, and it's quickly messing with your memories, your personality - everything. Deleting, corrupting; it's all a mess - you just don't notice it yet because it hasn't made any drastic changes," he blurted out, leaving Alia staring at him, stunned. "... We have reploids working to find a way to stop this, but so far... By the looks of it, if we can't come up with something soon..."
Moving a hand up to one of her eyes, Alia felt tears. She was getting ready to cry. If she understood this reploid right... She was, for the most part, dying.
The reploid continued. "... You'll only have until around tomorrow evening. Then, we estimate, the damages will become noticeable... You..." He sighed, shoulders slumping warily. "You won't be able to function right. You'll eventually shut down. Die."
Alia stared teary and wide-eyed at the medical reploid, mouthing 'why' over and over again for a few moments before her voice finally caught up with her. "H... How did this happen...?"
"We don't know..." Was all the reploid could offer. "We truly don't. We'll look into that aswell, after we find a way to stop and hopefully reverse this."
The navigator sniffed, wiping away now-falling tears with her hands. "I... I see. I'll be going now," she said, faintly above the volumn of a whisper. She stood and exited the little office in a daze, overwhelmed with the current news. She was probably going to die soon, unless they managed to come up with a way to stop this... Whatever it was. This news didn't settle with her well. The last thing on her To Do list was, of course, to die. Especially by unknown means, and... This soon.
At least, she figured, she had the good part of two days to do what she needed to do. Alia blushed despite herself when she thought of a few things she really, really did need to do. Obvious little things that she had to do if she wanted to leave thhe world with a sense of peace.
Taking a deep breath, and letting it out moments later, she futilely pinched herself. It wasn't a dream. From her experiences, she didn't dream - but it was worth a try. She looked up suddenly when she heard a familiar voice. Two, really. Hiding her despair behind a mask of smiles and happiness, she rid her face of as much evidence she could that she had been crying and straightened up.
She knew it probably was the wrong thing to do, tricking those two. They were her friends, and they deserved to know... But... How could she break it to them? That she was dying?
Alia rounded the corner only to be met with her two good friends, X and Zero. It was obvious she kind of... Liked X. 'Like' being a bit of an understatement. But like most oblivious couples, they didn't admit their 'like' of each other. Not at all.
Zero... Well, she didn't like him in the way she liked X, but she did like him as a friend. Of course.
The navigator smiled as brightly as she could as she passed them, hoping nither of the two would notice her or call her over. She didn't know whether or not she could keep up her little rouse long enough for a little chat.
Unfourtunately, she wasn't that lucky.
"Oh! Alia! Hey!" Zero waved at her. Technically, he was beckoning her towards them.
Sighing unnoticeably, she complied and went over to them. "Hello." Was all she said, in a somewhat strained, cheerful tone. She hoped they'd get the hint.
But, no, they wouldn't.
The blonde nudged his friend, bringing the blue boy back to reality. A few quiet whispers later, X hung his head in defeat and scratched the back of his head, nervous. Though, not as nervous as the medical reploid from before. Or as nervous as Alia was beginning to feel.
"Um, Alia..." X started, pausing to think over something. "I was wondering... Do you have plans for tomorrow night?" He looked to the navigator, hope and fear in his eyes.
What a nice question. Alia stared at her love-interest for a long, long moment. Why now! Of all times! Why did he have to ask such a question now...? Why did she have to get this... This cursed whatever-it-was, now! She felt her eyes beginning to sting. Tears. Fresh tears.
Yes, X, I do have plans for tomorrow night. What plans? Plans to DIE.
That's what she wanted to say.
Instead, she simply turned away from the two, now confused reploids and ran. She ran as quickly as she could. Towards her quarters, not stopping until she was inside, door locked. Safe.
Until, of course, the next evening.
More Notes: Now that I think of it... I'm so not continuing the other story. Unless I get really, really bored.