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Chapter Seventeen

The next morning was gloomy for the whole base. Many Hunter's had been wounded and were out of commission for the next few days.
X woke around mid-day. His neck was stiff as he looked up and saw he was in his room. He moaned to himself as he remembered the day before and fell back out the couch in dismay.
Zero had woke up a few hours earlier and was sparing with another Hunter in the Training Room. He tossed the hunter down and pinned him by holding his sabre at his throat. He smirked as he let him up and nodded as he turned to leave. He sighed and entered the halls to roam.
t."
X stared at the ceiling a figured it was better not to sulk in his room. He slowly sat up and swung his legs over the couch and stood shakily to leave his room. He blinked as the harsh lights in the hall hit his eyes and turned down one way to clear his head for a walk.
X walked his head downcast, mostly due to the fact that the lights made his eyes throb. He saw Zero down a hall and frowned. He must've acted foolishly the day before. X trotted to catch up to him, "Hey, Zero!"
Zero stopped and turned to face X, "Oh, morning. How are you feeling?"
X tried to grin and shrugged, "Crummy...Sorry I was such an idiot last night...I lost my head..."
Zero waved a hand dismissively, "Don't worry about it X. You saw someone you cared about get hurt. Its not your fault."
X sighed, "Yeah...Still, I should've been more of a Hunter and less panicky. She could've really died if you and Signas hadn't been there...I'm going to go see her in a bit. Do you want to come along?"
Zero nodded a bit, "Yeah. I'll come with you. Got nothing better to do."
X smiled thinly, "Thanks." and he turned down a hall to the Medical Wing, "Hard to believe all of this happened in such a short time..."
"Yeah. Most things do, though." Zero said as he walked beside X.
X kept his face straight although he felt a twinge in his jaw as he ground his teeth, "When I find Sigma, I'll personally rip his head off."
Zero glanced at X, "Careful buddy. Don't get ahead of yourself. And remember to keep that anger in check, or it might cloud your judgement in battle."
X clenched his hands a bit, "Right..." he took a small breathe to shoved the thought aside and came to a door, "This should be where she is."
He peered in and saw the Medics running about trying to get work done.
X frowned, "I hope we won't get in the way..." he stepped in.
X clenched his hands a bit, "Right..." he took a small breathe to shoved the thought aside and came to a door, "This should be where she is."
He peered in and saw the Medics running about trying to get work done.
X frowned, "I hope we won't get in the way..." he stepped in.
He saw one Medic and asked as he walked by, "Excuse me! Do you know if Navigator Alia is-"
"She's being taken care of right now, sir. She'll be fine I assume. That's what my superior said. I'm sorry to be rude, but Hunter's where asked to keep out for the time being..."
X wasn't sure to be hurt that he couldn't see Alia, or relieved that she was fine. So he only shook his head and stepped back.
"We'll come back later, X. Come on." Zero said, closing the door as they left the room.
X looked back once or twice, but followed after Zero, "At least I know she's ok..."
Zero nodded and smiled, "We could go get her a gift or something for when she gets out. I think it would make her happy."
X smiled, "Yeah! Great idea..." then he blinked, "I have no idea what to get her though..."
Zero tapped his chin, "You could get her a stuff toy, or maybe some chocolates or flowers. Girls like that stuff, right?"
X nodded, "I guess...Maybe I can get most of that just to make sure..."
Zero laughed, "There you go. Cant go wrong if you get it all. Hey, you draw don't you? You could make her a picture."
X blinked, "Hey, good point!"

Outside the base, some Hunters looked up in confusion as a lone vehicle came thundering across the sands.
At first they thought it to be Mavericks, until the driver pulled to a stop and got out.
Iris fixed her hat and asked, "Is this the Hunter HQ?"
One Hunter nodded, "Um, yes..."
Iris smiled, "Oh good."
She walked past them, "I thought I was lost for a moment."
The Hunter who had spoke first barred her way, "Excuse me ma'am, no one is allowed in-"
"I was told by Zero I could come anytime!" she narrowed her eyes at him.
He blinked and sighed, "Fine. Fine, go on in miss..."
Iris huffed and marched past him, "The rudeness of SOME people!"
Iris wondered the base looking about, "What a lovely place! Now, where is everyone?" she looked down a hall and noticed a Hunter. She came to his back and tapped it, "Excuse me, do you know where Zero is?"
The Hunter blinked, "I saw him go that way awhile back..."
She nodded and trotted away, "Thank you."
Iris was about to give up after wondering for awhile until she saw Zero and X's back away ahead. She smiled and ran up calling, "Zero! X!"

"Yeah, you could--Huh?" Zero turned and blinked, "I-Iris?! W-what are you doing here?" he asked, eyes wide in surprise.
Iris caught up and smiled, "You said come whenever I could. I managed to slip away. Are you two well?"
X nodded slightly, "For the most part. You two talk, or something, I need to get some stuff done."
X quickly walked off, wracking his mind for a gift idea.
Zero looked as X left, "But..I...umm..." He turned back to Iris, "I guess I did say that..." he sighed some, "So, ummm, want to go to the cafe?"
She nodded, "you have one of those? Wonderful." she grabbed his arm and tugged him off, "Well come on!" then she stopped and blinked, "Well I guess YOU should lead, am I correct."
Zero blushed some as Iris grabbed his arm and nodded, "Y-yeah...Its this way." he said and lead her down the hall to the Cafe.
Iris still held his arm, but she noticed and blushed as she let go, "Sorry about that..."
Zero laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head, "I-its ok. I guess I'm just not used to, umm...yeah. The Cafe's right over there." he said and pointed to a door at the end of the hall.
She followed after him and asked, "How long have you been a Hunter Zero?"
"About a week." Zero said and laughed a little again. "But I caught on quickly and seemed to be considered one of the strongest already." he said as he opened the Cafe's door and lead Iris to his normal booth at the back.
Iris blinked, "Wow Zero. It took along time for my brother to work to the top!"
"Really? Guessing by his strength and his hat, he's a leader of a Unit, right?" Zero ask, then ordered their drinks.
Iris laughed a little at the Zero's mention of Colonel's hat and nodded, "He's second in command to the General."
Zero smirked, being able to make Iris laugh, "What about you? What do you do?"
"Oh...I sometimes navigate for our Troops when they go out..." she noticed how few people where in the Cafe and asked, "Where is everyone Zero?"
"Hmm...?" Zero looked around the Cafe, "Oh, we were attacked by a large group of Mavericks yesterday. They went straight for our Navigators.." he looked back to Iris, "Be careful when you go back, alright."
She blinked, "...Oh...I will don't worry." she smirked, "I wouldn't be a very good prisoner anyway. I tend to fight back."
Zero's gaze dropped down to the table, 'They don't take prisoners, they just killed them on the spot.' he thought. Their drinks were brought to them and Zero looked up, thanked the waitress, and took at sip from his mug.
She frowned, "Something the matter? You and X both don't seem to be as cheerful as when you came. Is it because of the attack?"
Zero nodded, "A friend of ours, Alia, she's a navigator and was severely injured in the attack. She's going to live, but there were a few moments where we weren't so sure. X, being close to her, blamed himself."
Iris said quietly, "I'm sorry if I came at a bad time..."
Zero shook his head, "No! No, its alright. We're--I'm happy you came." he smiled at her.
She smiled slightly back, "Maybe I can stay for the day, or maybe to tomorrow too. I'm not really big part of our Base."
Zero nodded, "Yeah. I'm sure it wont be too hard to find you a place to sleep." he finished his coffee and placed the mug on the table, "Is there anything you want to see now that you're here?
She tapped her chin, "I wouldn't mind seeing you spar again. That was amazing when you and X fought my brother."
Zero laughed a little, "Yeah, your brother's a strong fighter. But, if you want to, then ok. Lets go to the Training Room." he said and stood, waiting for her.
She stood with him and stood at his side, "Well, let's go! I can't wait!"
Zero smirked and lead her from the Cafe, "Alright then. Lets not waist too much time." he lead her from the Cafe and into the hall.