(Untitled)

[_megaman_x]

It had been a long, and cold past couple of months for X. After the bombings in Moscow, the 17th and 0th units had been assigned a long-term mission in Russia. The Russian Hunter branch had taken a hit in the bombings and needed reinforcements to bring down the terrorist cell responsible

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[endless_azure]

The channel sputtered and flickered for a moment or two; then his other self's mildly-surprised face faded into view. Over the shoulder of his alternate could be seen a desk cluttered with bureaucratic messes, a computer terminal, and a few random knicknacks, and the side of a loveseat currently occupied by a half-sprawled figure trailing a waterfall of heavy gold curls.

Pushing his hair out of his eyes, X blinked and then smiled.

"I wasn't quite expecting to hear from you today!"

"It's been some time -- has everything been alright? Not another Uprising, I hope?"

[_megaman_x]

To those that knew the signs, X still had a sightly exhausted edge to his features that came from long, strenuous weeks on top of little sleep. The mostly liquid energy diet for extended periods of time hadn't helped much. His hair was a little damp still and a bit disheveled from having just got out of the shower. He hadn't expected a video feed to come in across dimensions.

Behind X could be seen the back of an armchair and, against the far wall, a set of shelves filled with books and assorted random things.

X shook his head. "No. Not another Uprising. A situation, though..."

"I'm sorry I haven't had the chance to get back to you till now. The 17th and 0th Units were deployed not long after we last spoke. We just got back not too long ago."

"Is everything alright with you still?"

[endless_azure]

X's brow shot upward, and he tilted his head slightly as he studied his younger other for a long moment, concern plain on his face.

"That long? That's rather more than a simple 'situation' ..."

"You don't look well. Have you managed to at least catch up with yourself yet?"

With a shake of his head and a sigh, he continued.

"Lab-wise, we're holding steady. Briefly thought we'd lost ground but it turned out to be a false alarm; otherwise, it's getting a little tricky."

"There are a few stubborn old goats who've gotten tired of the time and resources being alloted to one person."

[_megaman_x]

X blinked slightly then shook his head a little. "I'm fine. Still in one piece and all."

"It took longer than anticipated to ferret out the terrorist cells in Siberia." He sighed softly and ran a hand through his hair.

X nodded. "It's good to hear her condition hasn't worsened, though." He frowned at the mention of the possibility of the efforts to restore her being cancelled.

[endless_azure]

"You're needing rest, my lad."

X grinned wolfishly, eyes gleaming with evil cheerfulness.

"Maybe I should invade? I have years of practice wrestling unwilling targets into recharge pods ..."

The smile faded slightly then, and he sighed.

"No, that at least I can assure of. No changes."

[_megaman_x]

X flushed slightly. "I have been resting since I got back."

He shook his head. "I'd rather get some actual sleep, actually. Didn't have time for much of it."

X nodded. "When can Alia and I come meet you to see if we can help?"

[endless_azure]

"Maybe we can arrange some sleeping for you, then."

X chuckled.

"Any time you're ready and willing would be fine, and greatly appreciated."

"Just let me know when you're on the way and I can supply the current coordinates -- or we can link up in the Nexus, if you prefer."

[_megaman_x]

"I'll be fine. Like I said, I've been resting since we got back."

"Either would be fine." X reached up to rub a hand over his lower face. "In a day or two be good for you? I probably shouldn't try this before I've recovered my reserves."

[endless_azure]

"That should be fine."

"It gives you enough time to get yourself settled again, and we lot enough time to have everything prepared and the world-gate tracking properly."

Chuckling again, X glanced briefly over his shoulder before directing his attention back to his younger self.

"And maybe when you arrive I can convince Sleeping Beastie back there to be sociable for a bit --"

The sleepy grumble -- and pillow flung expertly at the back of X's head -- suggested the 'Beastie' was paying more attention than expected.

[_megaman_x]

X nodded. "Good."

X chuckled at the pillow assault. Then he tilted his head a little with a laughing smile. "Did you put curlers in his hair while he was sleeping to get it like that?"

[endless_azure]

X started to laugh, as another grumble escaped and Zero clearly rearranged himself into the loveseat, curling up around another pillow.

"Not at all! It's always like that ~"

"I'll keep this channel open in my onboard comm-system; whenever you're ready, ping me."

[_megaman_x]

X's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. He'd never met a Zero with naturally curly hair before. He chuckled and grinned.

"Thanks. That'll be great, X. I'll call when Alia and I are ready to go."

[endless_azure]

"Excellent!"

"Now, you get yourself some decent rest and a few more decent -- and hot! meals in you. I'm willing to bet you made it on nothing but distilled e-crystals and nanite feeds out there in the ice, gaah --"

"I'll see you soon."

With another chuckle, X waved and cut the connection.