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Chapter Twelve

It was morning when X awoke stuff. He rolled over onto his side and pulled his legs closer to his chest to get comfortable. His helmet was off to the side where he had left it and he sighed contently.
Zero laid sprawled out on X's couch. A leg and an arm hanging over the edge, the other leg laid out on the couch, and his other arm resting across his chest. His helmet on the ground beside the couch and he used his hair as a pillow.
X looked over at him for a moment, then stretched on his cot and sat up.
He decided against waking Zero and left the room quietly.
He rubbed at his eyes, then his nose absently as he walked the halls to the Cafe for his morning coffee.
After a while a fly landed on Zero's nose. He swatted at it, lost his balance and fell off the couch. A curse echoed through the halls as Zero landed on his helmet. Zero mumbled as he rubbed his nose, fixed his hair, picked up his helmet and put it back on. He left X's room, stretched and started to wonder the halls.
X found him some time later. He held two coffee mugs, "Hey Zero. I thought you might want something to wake you up." he held out one of the mugs to him.
Zero took the mug, "Thanks X. But a fly and my helmet beat you to it." he muttered something else about a bug zapper and took a sip from the mug.
X chuckled to himself then grew quiet, he looked over the halls and said, "Its hard to believe..."
Zero looked up from his mug, "Hmm...? What is, X?"
X was staring out again when he replied, "Just yesterday I was frightened of anything that crossed my path, and never once did I think I'd actually be a real part of all this..." he glanced back at Zero, "And besides Alia, I never thought I'd ever have a true friend."
Zero smirked, "How about that. I've only been here for a day and I'm already changing lives." he took another sip of his mug.
X laughed lightly and shook his head, "You're a real piece of work Zero."
Zero laughed lightly, "Why, thank you X. You're not too bad yourself."
X yawned and side glanced at him, "Did you enjoy my couch?"
Zero blinked, "Oh...yeah. Thanks for letting me stay the night." he said and scratched the back of his head.
X shrugged, "Didn't have the energy to tell ya to get out."
Zero patted X on the back, "I even if you did, I bet you would have let me stay just because your a nice guy."
X rolled his eyes, "Yeah Yeah...So I wonder what's on the agenda today..."
Zero shrugged, "Don't know. Maybe we should go report in or something."
X's eyes widened, "Oh yeah. Forgot about that. Come on, we better hurry."
Zero blinked, sipped his coffee and slowly followed X, walking.
X walked only slightly faster, making sure he didn't spill his coffee.
He came to the large Training Room where Signas' Unit met and found only three or four of them there.
X frowned, "Where is everyone?"
Zero came in after X and looked around, "This may be my first meeting, but...this isn't normal, right?"
X shook his head, "No...I don't think so...There should be at least 15 Reploids here...But I only see a few..."
"Well, I guess we should ask them what's up." Zero suggested. He walked over to one of the other Reploids, "Hey, do you know why there's hardly anyone here?"
The Reploid in question spoke, "Most of our Unit is off at that Building, including Commander Signas."
"What are they doing there? And why so many?" Zero asked, and took a sip of his drink.
"The Commander wanted to keep a watchful eye on it I suppose." he shrugged.
X blinked, "I guess that makes sense..."
Zero frowned, "I still don't see why he needed such a big group, even if there was something there. The two of use took out Sigma and his little group alone." he sighed, "Oh well..."
X asked, "What do we do until he gets back?"
"Day off." the Reploid said.
X sighed, "Haven't even had a real day of work and now I have one off..."
Zero laughed, "Stop complaining, X. You could use the rest anyway."
Now it was X's turn to frown, "But now I have nothing to do all day..."
"We'll find you something." Zero smirked, "Oh, I just thought of something. If Signas is filling Sigma's position, who's going to fill Signas' position?"
X looked up, "Who knows?"
He shrugged, "It could be anybody..."
Zero finished off the rest of his coffee, "Hey X, lets go sneak up on Alia and give her a scare." he smirked.
X blinked, "Um, alright."
Zero shrugged, "Sorry. I'm bored. And besides, Alia is the only person I know so far that might be any fun to freak out, besides you of course."
X narrowed his eyes at him, then said, "No doubt she's in the Command Room, I'll show you the way."
Zero nodded, "Alright, lead the way, Oh Mighty Blue Bomber."
X stared at him a moment, raised one eyebrow a bit, shook his head and walked out, "Al...righty. Come on."
X found the Command Room and his pace quickened.
When he entered, he found Alia and tapped her shoulder lightly.
She jumped a bit, then turned, "Oh, hi there you two. How's it going?"
"Fine." X said with a tiny smile.
"You suck at this, X." Zero said, disappointed, "Next time, I'll do it." he stood behind X with his arms crossed.
"Sucks at what?" Alia asked.
X chuckled nervously, "Oh nothing. Anyway, just wanted to see what you were doing."
"Nothing much, but thanks for dropping in." she nodded.
Zero smirked and elbowed X, holding back a laugh.
X narrowed his eyes and elbowed him back,
Alia rolled her eyes, "MEN..." she turned back to the computer screen.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Zero asked, walking around to Alia's side.
Alia snorted, "You know very well what I mean."
X couldn't resist laughing.
"Oh do I? Is that a fact?" Zero asked, raising an eyebrow.
Alia looked up, "Oh, be quiet Zero. Anyway, I forgot to mention. Dr. Cain asked to see you, X."
X blinked, "He did? I better go see what he needs."
Zero rolled his eyes, "WOMEN!" he shook his head and followed after X.
Alia chuckled quietly to herself and returned to work.
X walked quickly down the hall, his footsteps echoing off the walls eerily.
He found the lab and entered, "Dr. Cain?"
Cain leaned back in his chair to see them, "Ah, X, and I see you brought along Zero. That's good. I have a little mission for you both, if you're willing."
"He couldn't get rid of me if he tried." Zero smirked, "But,a mission? Good! X was complaining that he had nothing to do."
X rolled his eyes, then said, "What is it Doctor?"
"It seems we have a new organization of Reploids that are acting as another form of Hunters..."
"This is a good thing, isn't it? Less strain for us. Let them share the work load and all that." Zero said, and sat down in a near by chair.
"They asked to see our best Hunters. I figured since Sigma...well let's go there, since Signas is out and you two did such a wonderful good yesterday, I'd bring you along with me when I go to visit these...Repliforce."
Zero smirked, "Wow, hear that X. One day on the job and already the best. I like that. When do we leave, Doc'?"
Cain tapped his chin, "In a hour or so, I must get ready. I'll come for you when I'm ready."
X nodded, "Yes Doctor," and turned to leave.
Zero got up out of the chair and followed behind X, "Another group of Hunters. I guess that means more free days for us." Zero laughed.
X shrugged, "I suppose so."
"So, we got an hour. What you want to do?" Zero ask with a stretch.
X grinned, "I'd like a nap. And before you take my couch...SEE YA!!" X darted off to his room with a laugh.
Zero blinked, "Hmm..." He crossed his arms, "I guess I'll let him have his couch." he shrugged and started towards the Training Room. As soon as he got into the room, he stood in the arena and called, "Ok! Line up for sparring matches!" and he drew his sabre.
X was having a blissful dream where he slept half sunk, and curled up on his couch, but it was shattered when little Tye tugged his arm.
X lifted his head and blinked, then yawned, "Hey there Tye, time already?"
Tye nodded and X got up.
X followed Tye to the Garage where Cain already waited. He nodded to the Doctor, then waited for Zero.
Another Servebot was sent out after Zero, who eventually found him.
Zero stood in the middle of the arena. The room was full of Roids, moaning and crying in pain. Zero glanced over at the Servebot, "Ohhh...has it been an hour already? This was just getting fun." he shrugged and put his sabre away, "Ok, lets go." he left the room and followed the bot to the Garage.
X was already in a Desert Vehicle that almost looked like a Jeep.
He was tapping his hands on the steering wheel in time with a song on the radio.
Cain waved his hands from the back seat of the car, "Hullo Zero! Over here!"
Zero saw them and ran over. He jumped over the side of the door and into the passenger seat. "You guys need to get stronger Reploids. The ones in the Training Room where pathetic!"
X rolled his eyes and grinned as the door to the outside opened, "Hold on!" he slammed his foot down and the Jeep screamed to life and jumped forward.
Cain whooped and latched onto the seat.
There was nothing X liked better than driving anything, be it car or not.
Zero cheered, "Yeah! Come on, is that as fast as this thing can go?!"
X shoved the gas more and the Jeep increased speed.
X felt acceleration course through his whole form and he gave a small shudder of excitement. He changed the vehicle into 3rd gear and it took on another burst of speed.
Cain shook his head, with a small grin at X's antics.
Zero cheered every time they went over a bump. Then he asked, "How much farther?" he asked, glancing over at X, his hair billowing straight back in the wind.
X couldn't hear him for a moment, then he blinked and said, "I don't know...Maybe awhile."
Cain called over the wind, "A hour or so, maybe less at X's speed."
X grinned and started to whistle to the song on the radio.
Zero nodded and looked out across the desert sand.
Soon X saw the building up ahead and a small sly grin spread across his lips. He did not increase speed, nor did he decrease.
Cain frowned, "Shouldn't we slow down?"
X laughed over the wind and cried, "Hold on!!" and swerved.
The whole car did a full two loops while still going forward.
Two Reploids that were waiting for them scurried away in fright as the kamikaze X pulled to a swirling halt.
"Whooo!" Zero cheered as he jumped out of the jeep, "That was the best ride ever!" he laughed.
Cain got out of the Jeep with a shudder.
X leapt out and put his hands behind his head, "Not bad for my first drive, eh?"
"First drive?!" Zero asked, "You mean, you could have killed us?!"
X smiled broadly, showing all his teeth, "Lil' ol' me? Kill you guys? Nah."
Zero shook his head, "Come on, their probably waiting for us, and now they probably think we're insane too!"