A/N: I combined two chapters for this next revised installment. There's a LOT of dialogue, but I tried my best to avoid having it drag (it's hard!). I considered starting over completely- something I may do later. Right now, I just want this out there!

X arrived at the Class A block entrance. He paused for a moment, then stepped through the gate. His eyes swept the grounds, where he caught sight of Chill Penguin and Spark Mandril, each in sparring stance across from one another. Otherwise, no sign of Zero. X felt some mild disappointment, but a spar between Class A Hunters intrigued him nonetheless. X felt a tingling on his skin when Mandrill flexed his fists. They crackled with electricity. With that, a chilly wind blew over X's face. No matter how hot the weather, Penguin always emanated an aura of arctic air.

"You sure you want another go?" Penguin said to Mandrill. "Looked like you had a lot of trouble shaking off my ice last time. Quite embarrassing!"

"I hate the cold," Mandrill replied. "And since I can't destroy cold itself, I figure I'd be satisfied with pummeling the next closest thing."

"After seeing how badly my ice affects your systems? I can't believe you're A Class. Trying to win a fight against someone who can easily exploit your weakness is *idiotic*."

"Hold on," Mandrill said, holding up a palm. Penguin turned to follow Mandrill's gaze and spotted X.

"What the heck is this?" Penguin said. "Hey, you lost little guy?"

"No-," X started. The two officers approached him, sizing him up as they did so.

"Gee, think we can keep him?" Mandrill said with a bark with laughter.

"I don't know, he looks pretty scrawny. You might want to let him borrow some of your spare parts."

"Hey," X said. "I didn't come over here to be the butt of your jokes."

"Wait a second. What if he's part of our training?" Mandrill said, ignoring X.

"X? Not in a million years," Penguin said. "He's been Class B for years. *Years!* Sigma should just downrank him to the C that he is and be done with it."

X raised his voice, saying, "I'm looking for Zero."

Penguin guffawed. He said, "Zero? You think you'll see him again? Not after your audacity in the tower!"

X winced.

"Yeah, we heard about that," Penguin said. "Thank you for persuading Sigma to send Mammoth back abroad. Arrogant gasbag had it coming. But that doesn't mean we'll let you prance around here like you're royalty."

"You should keep to your own side," Mandrill said.

"Penguin," X said. "We used to be in the same unit. Does that not matter to you anymore?"

Penguin grinned. "Then let me do you a favor, my old comrade. If you turn around and leave right now, we'll forget all about this. Won't we?"

"Um, sure," Mandrill replied, shrugging.

X shook his head. "No deal. Tell me where Zero is, then you can forget about it," X said, folding his arms.

"Where did this gall come from?" Penguin said. "You were never this fresh before the merge. No, here's the new deal: you can leave on your feet, or in an ice cube. Pick one."

"Knock it off. That kind of talk is unbecoming of a high-ranking Hunter."

Storm Eagle approached from behind X. Eagle's voice and admonishment to the other Hunters relieved him.

"You are expected to be an example of leadership to the other Hunters here, no matter what their classification is," Eagle said. Penguin and Mandrill huffed. Storm Eagle turned to X and said, "Is there something we can do for you, X?"

X swallowed. He took a deep breath and said, "Sir, I'd like to speak with Zero, please. Do you know where he is?"

Penguin, Mandrill, and Storm Eagle all looked at each other. Storm Eagle then shrugged and said, "I haven't seen him. Besides, that's impossible. I understand he is limited from interacting with you."

"Right," was all X thought to say.

"Was there anything else, Hunter?" Eagle said.

"Hey, maybe you actually wanted to go a round, X?" Penguin said. "Surely you can take an ice shot to the face better than this mutated spark plug." Mandrill growled, his eyes flickering.

Eagle said, "You know that is strictly forbidden. If there is nothing further, then you are dismissed, X. It's not safe for a B Class to stand around here."

"Come on," Penguin continued. "I know it ain't actually allowed!" Pointing at X, he said, "One day I hope you get serious and make the A Class. Truly! I'd love the opportunity to give you a good thumping for having the arrogance to invite yourself into A Class territory."

X clenched. He had quite enough abuse- especially when Penguin moved his beak in close and said, "Well? Ain't you even going to apologize for wasting our time? What insolence!"

"If you're looking for a fight, Penguin, I'd be more than happy to give you one in his place."

X whipped around to see Zero approaching. X thought to smile until he saw the look in his friend's face.

"Z-Zero! Look, uh, I was just joking around! No need to be so angry. Someone might mistake you for Maverick with that expression." Penguin said, backing away from X. "Right, Eagle?"

Eagle huffed and said, "Sorry, comrade, but I would rather not choose sides. Good day to you, Zero."

"Eagle," Zero said, nodding to him.

Eagle then said, "I think we're done here, gentlemen. You especially, X. I won't tolerate any trouble here on my watch."

X glanced at Zero, then said, "I have business to discuss with Zero, then I will leave straight away."

The cockiness of X's demand took Eagle aback. Zero gave X a quizzical look, with some amusement mixed in. Penguin barked, "See? This nail is begging to be hammered down."

"You heard him," Zero said, retracting a his hand into his buster arm. "Or do I have to persuade you?"

"Gentlemen!" Eagle said. "Enough!" Eagle examined X, seeming to be gauging his sincerity. He then said, "All right, X. If it's truly business, then make it quick. If you're still here after five minutes, then I will report your insubordination - and Zero's - directly to Sigma."

Fighting a smile, X saluted him and said, "Yes, sir."

"You have a lot of promise, X. Don't spoil it with foolishness," Eagle warned. "Come Penguin, Mandrill."

"Maybe we'll spar some other time, Zero. Come on, Mandrill, let's forget about these two." Penguin said. Mandrill grunted and followed Penguin back into the training block along with Eagle.

In seeing the receding backs of Penguin and Mandrill, X let out a long breath. He tensed again, however, when Zero turned to him and said sternly, "What the hell do you think you are doing?"

Shocked by the hostility, X leaned back and stammered, "I-I-, uh, I just...I wanted to talk?"

Zero cast a withering glare. "You went through that just to 'talk'? You're lucky Penguin's voice is so loud."

"Thanks," X said.

"After dealing with Mammoth, you should know not all the Class A Hunters are as high-minded as Eagle or Armadillo. You could have been severely reprimanded, or worse if Penguin got his way. Plenty more would love for an excuse to end your career."

X suddenly felt a surge indignation. Without any further hesitation, X said, "You don't think I knew all of that before I came over here? I've been with the Hunters since the beginning, Zero, and with all due respect, I have a better memory of it than you do." X curled his lips. He then shrugged and said, "But today, I decided that I don't care what they think of me anymore. I was just trying to find a way to talk to my friend. A friend I haven't seen in weeks."

"You got my message from the doctor, didn't you?"

"Yeah," X sighed. "Listen, I'm not trying to pick a fight. I've only got five minutes, right?"

Zero's features relaxed and he regarded X for a beat. He then said, "All right, then come on. What do you want to talk about?" They began to walk side-by-side toward the gate of the training block.

"Um, well..." X began. "Let's see, how are you doing? What's Class A been like for you?"

Zero shook his head and said, "You call that official business?"

"You said we'd still be friends despite our different Classes."

"I know I did. I'm-," Zero hesitated. Zero put a finger to his brow, considering his next words. "To tell you the truth, I'm starting to regret this promotion, X."

"Really?"

Zero glanced at him, then sighed. He said, "I thought the A Class meant being better leader. Learning how to organize and inspire other Hunters in order to get the job done." Zero emphasized by pounding his fist into his palm. "The work is challenging enough, and the other officers are certainly strong enough to be worthy of their rank, but I don't know- there's not a whole lot of cohesion. You saw it just now. There seems to be more than a few officers who care more about status than the mission."

"I guess everyone is adjusting to the merge," X suggested.

"I don't know. That may be true, but everyone also seems to be here for their own personal reasons, with neutralizing Mavericks seeming to be secondary. Worse is that Sigma doesn't seem to notice it." Zero's voice quieted when he said, "It makes me worry about where the Maverick Hunters are headed."

X smiled, recalling his thoughts earlier about the training grounds. "I worry about that, too."

"Do you? How have things been on your side?"

They stopped just inside the gate of Class A training block. X noticed in his periphery that a group of Hunters stopped their exercises. X looked over to confirm his suspicion: they were being watched. X sighed and turned back to Zero, saying "Actually, pretty uneventful. I've been training more since our assignments are drying up."

"Oh?"

"The Hunters are still adding more to the ranks, but the frequency of Maverick outbreaks hasn't really changed. We have more Hunters than we need."

"Better than the opposite, I suppose."

"True. But I rarely see a familiar face anymore."

"I know how that feels."

X reached up to touch Zero on his arm. "That's why I took the risk today- to see a familiar face. Your face. The doctor explained what happened. I want you to know I had fun up there with you, despite the way things turned out."

Zero looked away, covering his mouth.

"What?" X asked.

He then noticed the pink color in Zero's cheeks. Zero then dropped his hand and smiled. "Right. As risky and stupid as it was, I'm glad you did take a risk today. I feel a lot better now," he said.

"Maybe I'll risk it again someday. Not too soon, I know- I don't want to cause anymore trouble for you."

Zero glowered. He said pointedly, "You should take the A test again."

"Zero," X said, withdrawing his hand in mild irritation. "That's not funny."

"I'm serious. You're not going to brush this off anymore. If you make A Class, then no doubt Sigma will lift the ban. We can talk to one another all we like. The officers won't be able to pick on you, either."

X furrowed his brow. He struggled to deny the logic. Nonetheless, he shook his head and said, "I've told you before. I'm not good enough."

Zero folded his arms. "And I don't believe that."

X replied, "I've tried more times than any Hunter here. I just can't get my mind in the right place."

"And how long ago was that?"

"Almost seven months."

Zero dropped his arms. "Seven months? You haven't even tried since the merge?"

X's face fell, and he sighed.

"Nevermind," Zero continued. "What matters is that changes now. Here's where we talk business, X. As your superior, I am going to sign you up for a test in a month from today." Zero turned around, heading in the direction of the testing office.

"Zero, no! A month? Even if I wanted to take it again, that's not enough time!" X said in a panic. He clapped a hand on Zero's shoulder to stop him.

Zero spun around and the dark look in his eye that made X pull back his hand. Zero said, "Doesn't it matter to you, X?"

"What?"

"Doesn't it matter? Your growth as a Hunter? Protecting society from Mavericks? Our friendship?"

"Of course it matters!" X said, exasperated.

Zero went on, "I started with no memory of my past life here. With nothing. I might as well have never existed up until a few weeks ago. I'm only beginning to come to terms with that. It troubles me everyday, but I deal with my uncertainty by giving my best to the things that matter. I have to so I can keep moving forward. Why can't you?"

The force of his speech cowed X into silence.

Zero folded his arms once more and said, "I know I'm being hard on you, but stop kidding yourself. You are more than ready. A month is more than enough time to figure it out."

"I can't!" X said.

"Then it doesn't matter enough to you. It's as simple as that."

Anger billowed in X's breast. His teeth clenched and his face twisted. Every slight and insult he had endured until now kindled a fierce hostility. He then did something that would have mortified his calmer self.

He pushed him away. Not roughly, but enough to have Zero wobble backward and stare at X, wide-eyed.

X then yelled, "Simple! That's right. I am simple, that's the problem! I don't have your specs, your materials, your programming, and yet you think the problem is that I don't try hard enough? That's easy for you to say since you got promoted to A Class after your first and only test. You don't know what it's like to fail over and over!"

The Hunters practicing nearby heard the commotion and turned their attention toward him. X lowered his voice, but with no less intensity said, "I'll tell you what doesn't matter: wishful thinking. I could pour my whole heart into the Maverick Hunters, yet I'd still have only this outdated blue blaster. Don't tell me I don't care."

Zero stared at him, stunned by the outburst. "Don't get me wrong. I appreciate your faith in me," X continued. "And I truly wish I were worthy of your expectations."

"Then humor me," Zero replied. "Because I'm still going to schedule you. Sounds like you've got nothing to lose."

Disbelief washed over X. "Did you listen to a word I said?"

"I did. I'll let the results speak as to whether you are truly outdated, or if it's your head that's holding you back." Zero glanced over X's shoulder. "Time's up. See you around."

As Zero departed, X turned to see Eagle approaching.

"I'm finished," X said.

"Good," Eagle said. "Your training block is that way. Have a nice day."