Gamma had lost interest in the tour long ago.

X's world was certainly grand and... well shiny, but she had scanned and absorbed every bit of information she could already; and considering her new amount of brain memory, it almost seemed like nothing. At the moment, she followed at X's heels as he led her into what seemed the one hundredth chamber, but she hadn't been counting. All of the white washed, metallic walls looked the same anyway.

X's hand on her shoulder snapped her from her revere. "Gamma... this is another secret room. I know I bored you near to death in the other rooms, chambers and labs, but this is special. Would you mind paying attention?" His tired smile made her almost feel guilty for not giving him her entire focus. He had a habit of that. She couldn't understand it, even to this day.

"Sorry, X. I'll keep my eye out," she replied, chastised, "but where is here?" However, voice caught in her throat a moment later, her gaze rotating forwards. This particular chamber was quiet, dimly lit like the first lab he had shown her, but something was completely different about the atmosphere here. To her left, the wall was covered in monitors, quietly humming computers and a menagerie of other machines Gamma could not quite put a name to. To the right, something X had shown her earlier; a memory receptor. The device allowed a Reploid to dump their 'memories', which remained as electric data within their computer-like brains, into a 'bank' for storage. A Reploid's mind, like any humans, could become fuddled and forgetful, but with the Memory Receptors, it was no longer an issue. Or so she was told. Her curiosity at what could be stored on a device in this sort of room could hold, but she had a feeling this would be one of the things X would smack her hand for grabbing at.

Though interesting, the Receptor was not the main focus of this hushed sanctum. At the very center, situated upon a dais, an odd little device floated, as if caught by a whisper of wind. Circular in shape, the glowing item rotated faintly in a tight orbit, never deviating from this course. Covered in ruin-like markings and delicate edges along its facets, it almost appeared alive, light playing across its sides like liquid butter. Gamma moved in for a closer look, completely hypnotized by it.

The globe appeared to contain some sort of creature hidden within delicately curving appendages, shaped a little like clasping arms. The tiny thing was curled in on itself, completely unaware of the Reploids now standing in its presence. Breathless, Gamma turned her head to X, who stood by passively to the side, his own stare aimed at the creature perched within its ball.

"X... what is this thing? Its power levels... they're dormant, but they're off the charts. I didn't know that was possible. Is it a weapon?" She looked back at him completely now, before quickly turning back to examine the creature with both her eyes and internal scanners. It was incredible. She detected some sort of AI, but it wasn't anything like a normal Reploid. It was simpler, softer... inhuman. Un-Reploid. Alien. Boggled-eyed, she barely heard X as he spoke up.

"She is the Mother Elf." X explained, standing beside the pedestal and placing a hand on the object's outside shell. "She is a Cyber Elf. A sentient AI created during the last years of the Maverick Wars."

"The Maverick Wars?" Gamma asked, X's head giving only a single nod.

"Yes. She helped me to end that war, but unfortunately, she and her kind to follow her began another. The Elf Wars. Before Neo Arcadia was completed, we suffered an energy crisis of which we could barely cope. Cyber Elves are pure Energy with limited AI's, and therefore, were seen as possible ways to relieve this crisis. Because of this, they were abused terribly, and needless amounts of the Cyber Elves died for everyday needs. Bloody War broke out," Gamma flinched outwardly as she saw the haunted look in her friend's eyes. She knew no Reploid could 'pale' like a human being, but she was sure if he could have, his skin would be sheet-white. "90% of all Reploids, and 60% of humans were all wiped out."

"That many..." Gamma's shoulders hunched, staring at the Elf again with its deceivingly serene features. She didn't understand how something so small could cause so much damage, and because of it, so many of her people had died, and the human's decimated as well. "That's awful X," she slowly looked up at him again as she spoke, X's face contorting with the pity in her eyes. "You really are all alone, aren't you?"

"Yes. And no. I have the Guardians, and now I have you, my old friend. I'm not so alone anymore." As he continued, he let go a sigh he had been holding behind his teeth, "But Gamma... please, be warned. If anything were to happen to this place, or to me, this," His hands again touched the elf, and Gamma swore she saw it stir. "This must be protected. Too many people seek out the Cyber Elves, even now. Can I trust you to keep it quiet? She is more important to me than my life. She cannot fall into the incorrect hands. Ever."

"Of course you can." Her reply was typical Gamma; curt and leaving no room for argument. It finally brought a smile to his face, but it didn't seem to reach his eyes. "I'm not sure what all this has to do with me, but you can count on me. Have I ever broke a promise?" When he shook his head, Gamma added in a more dubious tone. "But... you're acting like its going to happen. Like this isn't a precaution."

She didn't seem to take the look in her old friend's eyes too cautiously. "Yes... You'll see why, I'm sure."

-xXx-

"I don't see why its such a horrible thing!"

For what seemed like the thousandth time, X took a deep, calming breath, and turned his gaze away from his paperwork, and to his fifth Guardian's steely glare. He'd have said it could have curdled milk, that look. Or someone had stuffed a bee up her nostril. The mental image made X inwardly snicker, but he tried to pull himself back to the present.

They'd had this same argument for weeks now, and again, X was left wishing she's give it up. But that wouldn't be a very Gamma thing to do, now would it? Pressing his pen carefully into its indent just above his workspace, X moved his hands back to his lap. Before he spoke, he glanced at the pen curiously. He would have thought the invention would have been outdated by now, but he often preferred paper- made out of recycled materials, there being so few trees as it was-to the touch of a computer. Finding it amusing he was, again, trying to find something else to look at rather than Gamma, X pulled himself together for a second time.

"Gamma. Abel City is gone. All that is left are ruins. Miles of hiding places for mavericks. I'm not letting you go into a death trap and get yourself killed-"

"X, I am not a baby.I can take care of myself." The mechanisms in Gamma's eyes narrowed to slits, and it was apparent she wasn't going to give this fight up anytime soon. Even the winglets on the side of her head had fanned out, reminding him of a bristling dog-

"Are you even listening!"

X's hands clasped before him, resting atop the table and fingers interlocking. "Gamma. I will not sanction this. I know you're no child. I know you want to see what happened... but you're just enticing trouble. The City is gone. Let it lay in ruins where it lies." At his words, Gamma's look of frustration only doubled. He understood her pain, but he would not risk her on a fool's errand. Abel City was a pile of rubble as far as he was concerned, a bad memory he'd rather leave behind him.

"Now please," at his voice, Gamma gave him a sour look, then reverted back to staring at her feet. "I have work to do. I'll see you later on today. I wanted to show you about the city itself," he chuckled, watching her head perk up. "You've been cooped up here long enough. You might as well see the city you're going to be expected to protect."

"Well, all right," she said, her voice laced with a sigh. "But don't just forgot about this, ok? Please think about it." With that said, she bobbed her head, and stepped out, the automatic doors hissing shut behind her. The room fell into silence the moment she was gone.

Somehow, her giving up so easily this time, gave X a very bad feeling. It was unexpected of her to be swayed by another distraction...

"Oh, Gamma," He groaned. "Please don't do anything stupid..."

xEndChapterx

HEY ALL. I'm sorry I've been gone so long ;m;! I switched to a new laptop, and had to get the story off a back up, and was busy busy busy. I'll be working on this off and on for the next couple of weeks I hope, maybe I'll finish it this time.

REVIEWS APPRECIATED ;D