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Chapter Fifteen

X slept fitfully through the night. His dreams tortured his sleep like wraiths. All he could see was fire, and all he could hear was a roaring in his ears and some distantly crying voice.
He turned and almost screamed himself as a horribly dark shape lunged at him.
X came awake with a small choked gasp and sat up sharply.
He panted as he looked about in fright. He saw nothing wrong in his small room, and sighed, "Dream...just a dream...nothing to worry about..."
He swung his legs over the couch to stand and ran his hand through his short hair to calm his nerves. He picked up his helmet and stared into his reflection a moment before he placed it back on his head with shaking hands.
He decided now was a good time to practice the Sabre, like he had thought of before. He left his room quietly and noticed then how early it was. The halls were still dark and no one was up and about. He found the Training Room even in the dark and took up a sabre. He set up some dummies for himself and went about his training.

Zero's dreams were no better than X's own. He looked out over the same landscape X had. Fire engulfed everything, except the dead bodies laying at his feet. He looked up to see a elderly man yelling at him to kill someone else. He then looked forward. Standing a few feet away was X, Buster raised to fire. The Man encouraged him to go after X, to kill him, but when he hesitated, X roared and fired, this is woke Zero up.
He jumped straight up and shook his head, "Wha?" he glanced about, then sighed, "Dream...Not a good one either..."
He looked at his took his helmet into his hands, but did not place it on, but instead walked out.
X worked himself into a slow rhythm that increased in speed by the moment. He felt his body go with the sabre and some unplaced rage clawed its way into his chest and he took it out on the hapless dummies.
Zero walked the halls quietly and stopped as a dancing green glowing down a hall caught his eye. He peered into the Training Room and was surprised to see a blue and green flash as X moved like lightning and destroyed anything in his path.
Soon X had finished off all of the dummies and they lay in heaps upon the floor. X threw down the sabre as he caught his breath for a few moments.
Zero decided to step in and walked up to him slowly, "Morning X, what are you doing up?"
X turned sharply, the sabre in hand quickly. His eyes were wide, but he noticed it was just Zero and mumbled, "Nothing...just some bad dreams..."
Zero closed his eyes and nodded, "Yeah...Me too." he smiled slightly, but it faded away.
X sat and set aside the sabre, "Really?" he looked back at Zero oddly, "Weird..."
"Yeah...weird.." Zero sighed and laid back on the floor. "What was yours about?" Zero asked after a moment of silence.
X cracked his knuckles, "All I saw was fire...and someone was yelling at me...trying to tell me something...Then something came at me and I woke up..."
Zero closed his eyes tighter, "Mine was...more or less the same...just slight differences..."
X's eyes widened, and he said, "S-Slight differences? Such as?"
Zero shook his head and stood, "Not important." he said, looking away from X. "I'm...going to go back to my room. I'll see you later, X." he said and turned to leave.
X nodded and remained in his spot, his head swimming.
He was utterly confused, and for some reason as he looked at the sabre in his hand, that same rage took over and he had to force it down.
He stayed their for a while, and Hunters slowly came in, surprised to see the unmoving X sitting in the huge circle of destroyed Dummies.
Zero sat on the floor of his room, staring down at his helmet. "Who was that man? Why did I kill those people? Why was X there? Why was I told to kill him? Why did he attack me?" his hands tighten around his helmet. He sighed, "Not important. They're just dreams. I'm a Hunter, I got better things to worry my mind with." with that, he place his helmet back onto his head and left his room.
Alia had noticed X and walked up to him, "X? Are you ok?"
When he didn't respond she kneeled by his side and gave him a slight shake, making him jump and stare at her.
"Are you ok?" she repeated.
He nodded and shuddered.
Zero re-entered the training room, and seeing that X was still sitting there, now with Alia, he sighed and walked over to them. He stood by them and looked down, "Morning Alia. X, why are you still here?"
X didn't look up when Zero spoke to him. He only shrugged and said, "I dozed off here..."
Zero glanced around the room at the other hunters, and sighed. He kneeled down in front of X, "Come on, X. Pull yourself together. It was just a dream."
X glanced at him, "I had another one...It was worse..."
Alia frowned, "What are you two talking about?"
Zero had a look of worry on his face, which he shook off, "Nothing, Alia..." Zero sigh quietly.
Alia heard her small COMM go off and she sighed, "I'd hate to go...but I have to." she stood and trotted off.
X clenched his fists and tightly and closed his eyes, "I can't even get it out of my head..."
"Neither can I, X, but come on. It cant be tha bad. You can tell me, if you want." Zero said, "It might help."
X took a steadying breath, "It started like the last one...But it was more vivid. There were bodies and blood was everywhere...I couldn't see straight because of it all. They looked so familiar but I don't know who they were...and then someone came at me again and I heard someone scream. After that I woke up..."
Zero has closed his eyes, "I see..." he said as he exhaled. "Come on," he stood, "lets go get you some coffee and off this floor."
X nodded and stood stiffly. He was about to put away the Sabre, but he hesitated, and then kept it in his hand instead.
Zero smiled, "There we go. Come on, I'll even pay for it." he said, leading X out of the Training Room.
X followed after him quietly. Something was nagging at the back of his mind and he passed the sabre between his hands in distraction.
Zero and X down in their normal booth at the back of the cafe, ordered their drinks, and were giving them a few moments later. Zero took a sip of his and placed it back on the table, "You remember how I said my dreams were slightly different from yours?"
X looked up from staring at his reflection in the table and nodded.
"Well, there were bodies in my dream too, except...I was the one that killed them..." Zero said slowly and quietly, staring down at his coffee. "There was someone yelling at me as well, and then I was attacked before waking up."
X's eyes widened slowly and his hand clenched about the mug. His breath was held as he let go of it so not to break it. He sucked in a quick gulp of air and shook his head. He looked up at Zero and asked quietly, "What does it all mean?"
Zero shook his head slowly, "I don't know...And I don't want to know." he said to X. 'Because I think we're supposed to be enemies, X, because YOU were the one that attacked me..' he thought.
X stood suddenly, "I have to go. NOW." he hurried away, the sabre forgotten on top of the table.
Zero blinked as X ran off. He sighed and looked down at the sabre. He reached over and picked it up, staring at it for a few moments.
X had broke into a full run as he escaped the Cafe. He didn't know what had happened, but his mind was blank, even when he knocked over a Hunter he didn't even stop his mad dash. He ran head down and teeth clenched so tight he chipped one.
He found his room and practically threw himself in.
He jammed himself into a corner and caught his breath. He was suddenly terrified of Zero.
Zero left the cafe and started down the hall, finding a Hunter on the floor rubbing his head. He said a blue blur pushed him down as it ran by. Zero sighed and ran to X's room. He knocked on X's door, "X...what's wrong?"
X heard the voice and called quietly, "N-Nothing...Seriously." he couldn't keep the stutter out of his voice.
Zero sighed, "Ok X. If you say so." he turned away from the door. He went to the Commons Room, found a couch and dropped down on it. "Not as good as X's, but it will do." he sighed and laid back.
X squeezed his arms about his sides and rocked back and forth. He didn't know what was wrong, and he didn't feel like facing Zero at the moment. Something was horribly wrong, yet he could not grasp it.
He soon fell asleep in his spot and slept undisturbed by nightmares.
Soon Alia came to see if he was alright and peered in.
She frowned sadly as she saw X shake in his sleep and she stepped in silently. She took a cushion from his couch and placed it behind his head carefully as a pillow and took off his helmet. She watched him for a bit, then left to find Zero.
Zero laid on the couch on the Commons Room, staring up at the ceiling. His mind wondering in thought of what had happened. They were barely into the day and there was already so much to think about.
Alia came up to him and clear her throat, "Zero?"
Zero jumped a little as he came back to reality. He looked over to Alia, "Huh? Oh, hello Alia.."
She blinked and asked, "Please tell me what's going on. Why are you and X so quiet?"
"Its nothing, Alia. Don't worry about it. We're fine." Zero said quietly and stared back at the ceiling.
Alia narrowed her eyes, "I have the right to know. Stop playing me off."
Zero closed his eyes and turned his head to the back of the couch, "Just some nightmares with unknown meanings, Alia. It will pass."
Alia wanted to yell back at him, but decided it wouldn't help and turned away and stalked off.
X woke slowly in his room. He looked up into a small window in his room and saw the rain pattering on its surface. He sighed and leaned against the cushion. He suddenly felt a bit better from a dreamless sleep and looked at a sketch book on his desk. He blinked and grabbed it after awhile to draw.
Zero continued to lay there for a while, then got up and left the Commons Room to wonder the halls, stopping in front of Cain's office. He knocked on the door.
Dr. Cain looked up from his computer and said, "Come in."
Zero entered the room and walked over to Cain's deck, "Hello Doctor. Do you mind if I ask you a question?"
Cain blinked placidly and nodded, "Yes. What is it you need Zero?"
Zero was quiet for a moment, "When you first activated me here, you said you were glad that I didn't kill you. What did you mean by that? I know I didn't want to know at the time, but..."
Cain sighed, "You were a Maverick before we brought you here Zero. I reprogrammed you myself. From the notes I've collected, X was created by a man named Dr. Light, and you by his arch nemesis, Dr. Wily...I've found were designed especially for the task of ridding Wily of X and Light..."
Zero stared off into space, not saying anything. Then he nodded, "T-thank you, Doctor..." He nodded, turned, and left.
X was still in his room, his pencil working furiously as he sketched out his art.
He stopped to look at it and tilted his head.
He had drawn a small bird, a fledgling perhaps, its tiny wings flapping as it hopped about on a tree branch. He raised an eyebrow, what had made him draw this? Normally he drew what he saw, not something he just thought of. He shrugged and started on a new page.
X was half paying attention when he finished his next picture and what made his come to look at it was when his pencil's lead snapped and brushed his hand. He stared wide eyed at two small children. X stood up and stepped away, he knew those faces, all too well.
He shook his head and closed the book, "Coincidence...Coincidence..." he kept saying as he put it away and sat down back at the desk.
Zero went to the Training Room and straight to the target dummies. He drew his sabre and slashed at them wildly. 'No. I cant be. I'm not! I'm NOT one of those monsters!' he yelled in his head as he attacked.
X bit at his pencil's easer for awhile, then stood. He spat the tip he had bit off and walked out. Something made him head towards the training room, where he peered in and saw Zero.
He was reminded of his rant that same morning and frowned.
He sat down near the door and watched. He should have been taking note of what Zero was doing, but all he could do was stare.
When Zero had finished, and hunched over and breathed deeply. Another hunter come over and tapped Zero's shoulder, "Ummm...Other people need to use those.." Zero turned around and blinked, "Oh...yeah. Ok..." he put his sabre away and went to leave. He saw X at the door, he blinked and glanced away.
X frowned slowly and stood. He wanted to say something to Zero, but he could tell when he shouldn't and stood to leave. He looked over his shoulder once, then left again.
Zero blinked and ran to catch up with X, "X, hey. Wait up."
X turned and stopped, "Hey Zero..."
Zero waved some, "Hey X. How have you been? Why did you run off before?"
"I didn't feel well all of a sudden. It was nothing..."
Zero nodded, "Yeah. I understand. I wont hold you ageist it."
X blinked and asked, "Have you ever had any dreams like..these before?"
Zero shook his head, "No. This was the first."
"Ok. It was just so weird...It can't be real..."
"I hope not." Zero sighed. He shook his head, "Hey, isn't it past time we check in to Signas?"
X blinked, "I can't believe I forgot! Come on!!" X ran off down the hall, "Come on!!"
Zero tilted his head, then shook it and ran after X, "What? What is it?"
"We were supposed to report to him hours ago!!"
Zero laughed, "Yeah. I guess we got a bit distracted! Hope we don't get into too much trouble!"
X skidded into the room where Signas and his Unit were to report.
He noticed all of the Hunters lined up in a long row and he fell into line.
Zero slid in after X and quickly got into the line as well.
X blinked, "What are we doing?" he wondered out loud.
Signas strode out among the Hunters and spoke loud and clearly, "Soon we will find where Sigma is hiding. If you are selected for a patrol, and run into him, you are to call for backup, don't be a hero; call for help. We don't want to have to add more names to our fallen in action."
The Hunter chorused, "SIR YES SIR!"
"Now he tells us." Zero said quietly and nudged X slightly.
Kat says:
X grinned and shoved him back; glad to have some level of normal.
Signas nodded his approval, "Dismissed Hunters. EXCEPT you two." he looked at Zero and X.
X blinked and froze.
Zero snapped up and stood straighter, 'Crap..' he thought.
X watched as Signas came up to them, he expected to be chewed up for coming late, but instead Signas grinned and them and slapped their backs, "I wanted to properly congratulate you two on stopping Sigma. And thanks to you I'm am officially now Hunter General. I will soon announce who will take over my Unit. So, keep up the good work you two. Dismissed."
Zero relaxed and slouched, he laughed a little, stood straight again and saluted, "Anytime, Sir." he said with a smirk.
X stood quiet, then followed suit with Zero, "Thank you, Sir. I thought we-" he decided to stop while he was ahead and said, "I, uh, mean I hope who ever gets the job deserves it!"
Signas winked, "Oh they do."
Zero blinked, "'They'?" repeated, "You're picking two new leaders? I didn't know you could do that..."
Signas laughed, "No, no. I said they as in that person. I don't want to say he or she. It would ruin the surprise!!"
Zero smirked some, "Of course, Sir." He shoved X, "Come on, We got orders to follow out, lets go." he said and took off, running from the room.
X saluted awkwardly at Signas and darted out after him, "Wait up!!"
Signas grinned and shook his head as he watched them run off.
Zero slowed to a walk, "So X, where should we go and look for Sigma? I hope we find him, I want another crack at him." he smirked and punched a fist into his open palm, "And he won't get away next time, either."
X nodded, "Maybe this will give us some more time to test out our bikes while we search."
Zero nodded back, "Good idea. Lets do it!" he smirked and started running again, "Race you there!"
X grumbled and raced after him, "WAIT UP!!"
"Then just run faster!" Zero called back.
X growled and kicked off, running a top speed. He zipped past Zero and off down the hall, determined to beat him.
Zero blinked, laughed again and started running faster, catching up with X. "You're faster then you look!"
X grinned and pulled ahead a little, "I guess so!!" he saw the garage a ways and leaned forward even more and threw his arms back to gain even more speed.
Zero continued at his speed, letting X get ahead of him.
X ran into a jump and went over a railing to glide over the heads of perplexed Hunters. He landed gracefully and skidded next to his and Zero's bike. He stood straight and grinned through his slight panting.
Zero smirked and followed X, jumped over a railing, over the Hunters' heads, and landing next to their bikes, "Nice moves X, you win this time."
X made a mock bow and mounted his bike. He revved its engines and waited as the door to open. When it did he looked at Zero, "Ready when you are!"
Zero jumped on his bike, starting it up and revved the engines once, "I'm ready. Lets go." he said and took off into the desert.
X followed after him at a decent pace. He didn't feel like being a daredevil today. He took the pace not slowly, but not breakneck and simply enjoyed the ride.
Zero slowed down and rode beside X, "Think we should try the South again?"
X nodded, "Signas stopped watching the place I hear, so maybe Sigma returned."
Zero smirked, "Would be foolish to return so soon, but that would make it the perfect place to hide. Lets go."
X clasped at his side, where his new sabre was, 'This time I'm prepared...' he thought to himself as he followed after Zero.