Brothers

Zero could feel the rays of sunlight hitting his face, trying to force him awake. He muttered softly and turned his head away from the light, that seemed intent to wake him up. He growled softly when this didn't work, and the light seemed to move and follow his face. He opened his eyes and glared at the first person in the room. That damned doctor.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing??" He snarled and tried to reach up and grab the doctor, but he was tied down.

"Commander Zero, you need to calm down. Alia has taken over the search party, and we'll bring the survivors back." The doctor said as reassuringly as he could.

"I know... I just..." He laid his head back and glared at the ceiling.

"I know. You're worried about Commander X, aren't you?" The doctor said with a smile and Zero's eyes nearly fell from his metallic skull.

"I-It's not what you think!" Zero nearly yelled. He didn't know what it was anymore. Was he worried for X? Sure he was. But why? Was he deeply angry with him for leaving so quickly in the first place? Jealous that he couldn't come along?

"Sure it is." The doctor reassured again. "You admire Commander X's decision, but you want to probably teach him a lesson when he comes back..." If he comes back. That implication gave Zero a violent shudder.

"You're right..." He didn't sound to sure of himself, though. "I hate his little blue guts..." The doctor quirked an eyebrow at this.

"How do you know his guts are blue?" The doctor murmured jokingly and Zero started to laugh.

"I...don't..." Zero said between fits of laughter and the Doctor joined in. Passersby would swear they were both going insane. It was the doctor who stopped laughing first.

"So, do you need anything, Commander Zero?" He asked before breaking into a couple more giggles. Zero stopped long enough to give the Doctor a scrutinizing stare.

"I want untied..." Zero answered honestly and the doctor crossed his arms.

"Only if you promise not to go nuts again. Our bodies aren't the only things that can be broken. Our emotions can too. And when you, a Commander, act up, we become unsure of ourselves and even doubt our sense of-" The doctor was stopped by Zero whghedghed deeply.

"I know. Humans are so complex. I don't even see what X sees in you all. His creator was kind and supportive." Zero shook his head. "I'm sorry for flipping out back there. I'm just so nervous..."

The doctor noded at this. "I see. Well then, you give me no other choice. I'm suspending you to your quarters for the time being. At least until we can figure out what's happening." Zero nearly lost his temper again at this, and the doctor could see it in his eyes.

"I...I can't be grounded! I have to help X! I'm the only person-" He stops and takes a deep calming breath. "Look, I have to be out there to help. I can't stay cooped up in here while there's something I can be useful for going on out there. I don't like feeling like extra baggage."

"It'll be fine, Zero. We'll call you if anything comes up." A girls voice happened to chime in from the doorway.

"Alia?" Zero tried to turn his head to see, but she was at his feet so he didn't have to strain too hard. "What are you doing here?"

"I just came to check up on you. Think of this as a vacation. Do some exercize. I'll permit him to go to the VR training room." She added to the doctor who nods. Zero felt relieved then.

"Thanks..." Zero muttered and pulled against one of the arm bonds. "Now about untieing me?"

_---=====---_

X awoke to a buzzing sound in his ears. Not a low buzz, but a high pitched one. He jerked slightly and brought his hand up to swat away a fly. It flew away, but the humming remained. An eyebrow poked upwards in curiousity as he opened one green eye, then both. It took a few moments for his senses to adjust, but as soon as they did, he covered his nose and mouth in disgust. What was that horrible smell? His eyes fully adjusted to the dimness of the room he was in as he stood up on his feet. He was amazed that he was relitively alright after the accident. And there was that awful smell. How could anyone not smell it, human or reploid or Maverick? He held the crook of his elbow over his mouth and nose as he started to look around slowly. The buzz became louder as he went deeper into the room.

X stopped, dead in his tracks. His mouth hung open as he disected the horror before him. Leaning against the wall were makeshift tables. And on those tables were...

"Roll... Light..." X breathed softly, then turned to be sick in the corner. Strapped to the tables by their arms and legs were Dr. Light and Roll, his sister and father (creator).

_-~*~-_ (Here's where it gets a little graphic... People with weak stomachs should skip this part)

Roll stared off to the side off the room. Her face and hair half torn from her metallic frame, exposing the circutry. This was a big heartbreak X. HX. Her chest cavity was opened, and everything she had within her seemed torn from that hole. Just bits and pieces were left connected, almost seeming like an artwork... Or a lazy mechanic. One of her legs were ripped off, and the wires were frayed. Her arms had the same demise, but one seemed to have been carefully removed instead of yanked off.

Then there was Dr. Light. He stared at the ceiling with the gaping holes in his skull, his eyes long been gone. Flesh hung low on his skull, darkened by death and mold. X could see right into the eye, and what he saw didn't help much. Much of his brain was devouwered by paracites that still writhed for the best parts that are . Wh. When X looked again, mourning his loss, the doctor's mouth unhinged, and maggots spewed across his gutted belly. His entestine were strewn across the pair, and it seemed to writh as if it was still alive. There was a split somewhere down one of the trails, and maggots hung on for dear life when they're pushed out, but they still fall helplessly onto the ground, forming a small pile there.

_-~*~-_ (Okay, you can look now.)

X couldn't take the sight anymore. He turned and fled, the hum of flies growing softer as he sped down the hallways. He didn't know where he was going, and he didn't care. As long as it was away from that horror. He trembled inside, feeling sick again, but he managed to hold it down as he rushed for what he believed was the exit. He stopped in a large room, and a chill ran down his back. Something seemed so...familiar...

"Eeeeeeeecks..." The voice cooed softly from the shadows. X went pale. This was his dream! He didn't waste a second. He turned and ran. He tried keeping an eye on where he was going, but he didn't know when he was caught in his dream. Suddenly he fell forward and landed on his face with an 'Oof!' He looked down, and to his horror, the scarf was replaced with darkened titanium alloy rope. He couldn't believe it! This couldn't be happening!

"Eeeeecks..." He heard from right behind him which made him fumble with the rope around his legs more frantically. Then he felt it, that breath on the back of his neck. He was paralyzed by it, and stared down at his immobile arms. He cursed them over and over to move, but he saw them being tied up as well. No matter what, his number was up. He recieved the shock of a lifetime when he was turned around. It wasn't the familiar visor he stared into when he dreamed this. It would have been much better if it had been the visor. (But is the author kind? No he's not...) Instead of the shades, he was haunted by blood red eyes that glinted mischeviously in the moonlight and fangs that seemed to glint just as much.

"Bait..." Was the only word X caught as he blacked out again.

_---=====---_

Farther away, Blues muttered softly and sat up. He cursed his weaknesses, his life, then the world before finally finding clarity. His head swayed back and he stared up at the moon for a second.

"I'll kill you..." He growled, then looked back to the path between the trees, and rushed down it. "I'll kill you, Forte!!"