(A/N: Sorry. I'm late, I know. I hope that the promise of real action in the next chapter will tide you over until friday. Enjoy!)

Chapter Six: Split Operation

"Obviously the research center doesn't want him, so naturally we are gonna keep him for ourselves." Gina put her hands on her hips, clearly annoyed at Ichiro. The four of them were gathered in the twins' basement, arguing over where Zero should be kept.

"But it was also obviously a secret. Who knows how many people knew about it?" Ichiro said as a last resort, knowing his argument was weak.

"But would you risk exposing your dad if it was the wrong type of secret?" Gerry raised a curious eyebrow.

"Low blow Ger," Rio scolded him, "guys, he helped find Zero and helped me escape, he deserves some right to where Zero stays." He reminded them, deciding to play mediator before things got out of hand.

"How about this, what if I keep him in my personal lab, secretly, and keep you updated? How does that sound?" Ichiro suggested.

"...I can live with that." Gerry smiled.

"Take the DNA chip too, you probably have the only equipment that can properly contain it." Gina said, wary of the chip.

"Ok, now that that's settled, what about the people who were looking for that chip? I didn't recognize them, so they must be from another town on the continent. What could they want with it?" Rio thought aloud.

"Who knows? Maybe they were on a treasure hunt like you guys were." Gerry shrugged.

"With blasters?" Ichiro pointed out.

"Ok so maybe that's not it. But does it really concern us?" Gina asked.

"Well if they come looking for us with reinforcements it will." Rio added.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The more pressing issue at hand is how Gerry is doing with X. I know he's itching to tell you." Gina changed the subject.

"So give us the info Ger." Rio urged.

"Here's the situation...I can't completely rebuild him as I had originally planned, but I do have a plan B."

"Which is?" Ichiro pressed him to continue.

"It's called the Link System. I can download X's program into a backup computer in the armor and have an analog, a person, pilot it while X gave them instructions." He explained.

"So it would be like...being X?" Rio's eyes went wider as he spoke.

"Eeeeeessentially." He replied.

"Count me in!" The red head cheered.

"Me as well. You need to have someone to make sure you don't blow the continent up." He gave a small grin.

"I'll send you the specs for Zero."

"This is going to be sweet." Gina smiled, seeing grins appear on all the boys faces.