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Chapter Eighteen

Iris stayed at Zero's side as they made their way to the Training Room. She looked about as they walked and she said, "Your base is in much better condition than ours is in some places..."
Zero looked at Iris, then around as well, " I guess I'll take that as a complement." he smirked.
She nodded, "It was." she grinned a bit and then asked, "Who is in charge here? I mean like General or that sort of thing..."
Zero thought for a moment, "Well, its was Sigma but he..." he trailed off, "...So now I guess its Signas." he nodded.
She nodded, "I...see. Oh, is this the place?" she pointed at a door.
"Yeah, this is it. Come on." Zero said, smiling as he pushed open the door and lead her into the room. He looked around, trying to decide what he should show her first.
Iris looked around with wide eyes, "It so nice in here!"
"Well, lets take a look around then." Zero said and gestured to the room with his hand.
She nodded and followed him.
Zero lead her around the room, explaining everything he showed her. He started by the training weapons, and made their way to the arena.
She looked over the whole arena and blinked, "Its all so high tech!"
Zero laughed and nodded, "Yeah, the Hunters' get a lot of funding from the Government." He looked at her, "So, anything else you want to see or try out?"
She thought for a moment, then shrugged, "I don't know...Is there something else interesting?"
"Well, if you were a fighter, I'd ask you to a spar, but since your not..." Zero tapped his foot on the ground. "We could go find X, or go check up on Alia." he said, partly to himself.
She nodded, "Either would be nice. Maybe they could use a cheering up, well if she's even up yet."
"Alright, come on then." Zero said, turning to he door, "The Med Room where Alia is is this way."
Iris nodded and followed after him as he walked out.
Zero waited for Iris, then walked beside her, "So, how was your trip over here? Did you run into any trouble?"
She snorted, "Except your rude guards, no."
Zero laughed, "I'll make sure to give them more of a heads-up next time I invite someone, sorry."
She smiled, "That's ok. I showed them who's boss."
Zero laughed again, "Alright then. Oh, there's the med bay." Zero said and pointed to a door down the hall, 'X should be close by..' he thought and looked around a little.
In fact, X had turned the corner and balanced all the gifts in one hand to open the door and then walk in.
Iris blinked, "Well there was X..."
"Ahh! Come on, I want to see this!" Zero said and, without thinking, grabbed Iris' hand and ran down the hall with her to the door and went in.
Iris blushed a bit, but went with him willingly.
X was talking to a Medical Officer, who led him to a small room where the Reploids who had been repaired rested.
X found Alia and with a small whoop he ran to the side of the bed like pod she sat in, "Alia! You're alright!"
She smiled as he ran in, "Yep. I'm much better now."
He then showed her the presents, which she took gratefully.
Zero came up to X and Alia with Iris at his side, "Hey, Alia. Looks like your feeling better." he said to her. He noticed he was holding Iris' hand still, blushed some and let go.
X hid a grin at Iris and Zero and blushed himself deeply as Alia hugged him around his neck, "Oh you're so thoughtful X!! Oh, hi there Zero...Who's your friend?"
Zero grinned some himself at X's blushing, then snapped back to reality when Alia spoke, "Oh, this is Iris. She's a navigator at the Reploid Force."
Iris nodded, "Hullo."
Alia placed the gifts carefully to the side and said, "Is everyone else ok? The other Navigators I mean."
Zero nodded, "Yeah. They're fine..." he said, not referring to the ones that were killed.
X cleared his throat and changed the subject, "You know what? Signas never did announce the new Leader of his Unit..."
"Oh yeah. Think we should go hunt him down then?" Zero asked and looked around at them.
X nodded, "Yeah. Can you come with us Alia?"
She smiled thinly, "I wish I could...But I have to stay...But why don't you two go check it out?"
Iris nodded, "I'll keep Alia company, if that's alright."
Alia nodded.
"Ok, come on then, X. Lets leave the girls to their 'girl talk'." Zero said and waved, "See you ladies later."
When they left the Med Room, Zero elbowed X in the side, "That was a nice hug you got there, and a blush for the record books." he smirked.
X's face went red again as he rubbed at the back of his neck, "Erm...yeah..."
Zero laughed, "I'm just bugging. So what did you end up getting her?"
X blinked, "I made her a card, bought her some candy, and this neat little glass rose I saw. Thought she might like those."
"A rose? Nice touch. Not bad at all." Zero said, nodding some. "We should probably check the Command Room for Signas." he said, getting back on track.
X nodded, then wondered out loud, "I wonder who he picked..."
"That is the question on everyone's mind. And there's only one way to find out!" Zero smirked, "Race ya!" he called and broke out into a run.
X laughed and darted after him. He kept easy pace and grinned, "I bet you I can beat you there!"
"Ya, you probably could. 'Cause, you know, you're more aerodynamic with your hairless head." Zero laughed.
X huffed and picked up his pace and took a slight lead.
Zero grinned and matched X, "Come on, X, you can do better then this."
X gave a full toothed smirk, "You're right!" and threw himself forward, his feet felt like they barely touched the ground as he took a larger lead.
Zero blinked some, and shook his head, "I have got to learn to stop egging him on like that." he sighed to himself and did his best to catch up, or at least to close the gap some.
X saw the door and dug his heels in to stop himself and almost went down, but he managed to keep standing.
Zero ran up and stopped by X, breathing deeply, "Okay..we're here...GOOD." he laughed some, stood up straight and opened the door.
X seemed barely winded as he walked in as well.
Signas looked up from the Computer screen and nodded, "Just the two I wanted to see."
"Oh, you know. We were in the naborhood and thought we'd stop in." Zero smirked with a little shrug.
Signas chuckled, then said, "I've been meaning to call you two in, I was about to before you just did."
X blinked, "Us sir?"
"Did you have a mission for us?" Zero asked, "Did you get a lead on Sigma?"
Signas grinned lopsidedly, "Not exactly..."
X then spoke up, "Sir...does it have anything to do with the new Commander you're going to choose? That's kinda why we came..."
Signas nodded, "In fact, yes it is..."
"So much for beating around the bush..." Zero shrugged, "So anyway, who did you choose?" he asked.
Signas looked them both over and said, "For starters, X, you will be taking command of my Unit."
X's eyes went impossibly wide and his jaw hung open, then Signas turned to Zero, "And you Zero, will have your own Unit; I've decided to call it the 0 Unit."
Zero's eyes and jaw matched X's. "Wha..?! My-my-my own...Unit?" Zero blinked, "Thank you, Sir, but...are you sure? I've only been a Hunter for a few weeks."
Signas laughed as he looked at the two and nodded, "I think you can handle it."
Zero smirked and saluted, "Thank you, Sir. I wont let you down."
X fumbled and did the same, although he still couldn't find his voice.
Zero took a deep breath, and turned, "Come on, X. Lets go tell the girls." he said and patted his back, then calmly left.
X shook his head and followed after him, "Am I asleep!?" he asked, "Cause that CAN'T be right..."
Zero thought, turned, and slapped X.
X yelped and rubbed his cheek, "OW!!"
"Did that hurt?"
"Of course it did!!"
"Then you're awake." Zero grinned, turned and started running back to the med room.
X barked and ran after him, "I ought to tie your hair in a knot for that!!"
Zero laughed, "Oh, come on. Did you really expect anything else from me?"
X caught up with him and gave his hair a rough tug.
Zero let out a yelp, and growled at X, "Oh, your pushing it!"
X stuck out his tongue and lunged ahead, trying to outrun Zero again.
Zero growled again and lunged after X, "You're going down, Little Blue Commando."
X jumped forward, avoiding Zero, "HA! Too slow!"
"You cant dodge forever, ya' Smirf!" Zero grinned, and ran after X.
X laughed and stopped in his tracks and turned trying to make Zero run into him so he could push him down.
Zero's eye widened as X stopped, Zero let out a cry as he slammed into X.
X was not expecting Zero to hit so hard and was thrown back with a gasp as the wind was knocked out of him.
Zero sat up and rubbed his head, "Ow...I guess I know that I'm not dreaming now, either." He looked over to X, "Hey, you ok?"
X looked up and gingerly rubbed his side, "God Zero you weigh a ton..."
Zero stared at X blankly, then knocked on his armour and rolled his eyes, "Come on." he said and stood, "We got to go tell the girls the good news." he outstretched a hand to X.
X took it to stand then continued to rub his side and gave small fake groan, "I think you broke something you lumbering brute!"
"Oh...you poor poor baby. Maybe, if you ask nicely, Alia will kiss it better when we get back." Zero chuckled and start to walk down the hall towards the med bay.
X huffed at his ruined joke and followed after him.
Zero opened the door to the Med Bay and went in with X, then over to where Alia and Iris were.
They looked up from speaking as they neared.
"Well? Any news?" Alia asked, curious.
Zero smirked and looked to X, "You want to tell them, or should I?"
X beamed, "Zero and I both have our own Units! I took over the 17th and Zero's got his own called the 0 Unit."