[Because of how short staffed the Hunter Base is, there aren't that many people coming in or out. So it shouldn't be hard to notice when the main doors hiss open and X steps outside.
He looks a little distracted, but not in any sort of hurry. He pauses briefly in the hall to touch a hand to the side of his helmet and murmur something to finish a comm call.]
[X lowered his hand as he finished the call, then lifted his head to glance around. He froze when he saw the tall, pink-purple haired reploid heading straight for him.
X stared, clearly in shock at seeing another Nightmare Zero. Automatically, he fell back a step and took a wary, defensive stance. He watched him tensely for a few seconds before speaking up in a serious, and warning tone.]
[that expression. oh how he hated seeing that expression. not that it was surprising; but that didn't make him like it. the warding posture this X took was more of the same.]
[sighing, he came to a halt and watched X's movements.]
[That... was unexpected. A slight flicker of uncertainty crossed X's features, but he didn't relax his defensive stance. If Gate had somehow rebuilt, or recreated the Nightmare copy of Zero...
He'd been experimenting on Zero already, but... why make another viral copy? X didn't have an answer to that, but then, Gate might not be very stable anymore, himself, these days.]
... [X frowned slightly as he watched the copy's non-aggressive demeanor.] Why did you come here? Who sent you?
[also not entirely unexpected -- though Nightmare could not decide whether the lack of 'who are you?' meant that X recognized him, for was simply not leading with that question for once.]
[not budging so much as a hair, he responded without hesitation. hesitation could be suspect.]
Came to this place, to here, I, by this one's will.
[Oh, X knew who and what he was - or at least, he thought he knew...
X blinked in surprise at the response, his eyebrows going up slightly. The grammar was disjointed, but lucid. This one wasn't rambling brokenly. The meaning was clear, though that was perhaps the most surprising part.
X frowned slightly, and then shifted out of the defensive stance, though he still held himself warily.]
You're aware you're not Zero, then. [It wasn't a question.] ...Do you have a name? [The copy hadn't had a name the last time. In his more lucid moments, he'd thought he was Zero.]
[X frowned, considering, then opened a comm channel internally to send a message to clear and lock down the way to a secure room.]
Nightmare, then. You say you're here to explain yourself, but this isn't the best place to talk. Will you come peacefully with me? [He really ought to be insisting on restraints too... But if this was another attempt by Gate to copy Zero - and he seemed to be totally different from the insane original Nightmare copy of Zero - then it would be a poor thing to shackle him for his predecessor's actions.
Another point toward this being another copy was that there was no sign of the reality warping hallucination effect of the original Nightmare of Zero's presence. So for now, he'd give him the benefit of the doubt.]
and there it was: it was a perfectly sensible thing for X to ask -- on all counts -- but if the Hunters cornered him in their own headquarters he was as good as dead.]
[Nightmare liked to think that wouldn't happen.]
Yes.
Controlled, I -- this one's control. Peacefully, yes.
[With any luck, X was hoping this wouldn't end in spilled blood. He didn't trust this copy, but that didn't mean he wanted him dead, either.
He received a ping back that the way was clear. Still wary, but not combative, he beckoned Nightmare and gestured for him to proceed him back into the base entry hall.]
This way. [He didn't attempt to insist on shackles, but he would firmly take Nightmare's elbow to both guide him, and to keep a handle on him, just in case.]
[It's certainly a sight better than being shackled as far as X is concerned. But he notices the sigh, which is yet another thing that increases his uncertainty about Nightmare.
He leads him through now deserted halls to a shielded secure room. Although the halls look empty, they're not undefended. And he knows that after securing the door behind them, security mechaniloids will be arriving to take up position outside the room, just in case. Perhaps it's overkill, but with Gate and Lumine active in the city and experimenting, and with people going missing right out from under their noses, like Zero and his twins...
X didn't want to lose anyone else. Especially not to carelessness.
X gestured to Nightmare to take a seat, in one of the two chairs on either side of a table, after the door was secured.]
Have a seat. [His tone wasn't unkind, though it wasn't merely a suggestion.]
[not that he especially wanted to remain standing.]
[dragging the closer chair away from the table, Nightmare swept his hair out of the way and sat, keeping his attention on X. the deceptive barrenness of the hall and the confines of the room they occupied was not lost on him.]
[hopefully he could explain clearly enough -- but even then, it could go badly. he was disturbing.]
[Once Nightmare had taken a seat, X sat down himself across from Nightmare. He watched him for a moment before speaking up.]
I'm X, though I'm fairly sure you already knew who I am, Nightmare. [He considered Nightmare for an instant before continuing.] I want you to know that I appreciate your willingness to cooperate, and more than that - to come to us yourself to explain yourself. It speaks well for you.
So please, [X made a slightly encouraging gesture.] tell me what you came to say.
He looks a little distracted, but not in any sort of hurry. He pauses briefly in the hall to touch a hand to the side of his helmet and murmur something to finish a comm call.]
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[impossible to say which it would be -- too much hinged on the when and the where and the temperament of this X.]
[there was nothing for it but to stride towards him, watching for the call to be finished.]
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X stared, clearly in shock at seeing another Nightmare Zero. Automatically, he fell back a step and took a wary, defensive stance. He watched him tensely for a few seconds before speaking up in a serious, and warning tone.]
That's far enough.
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[sighing, he came to a halt and watched X's movements.]
As wished.
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He'd been experimenting on Zero already, but... why make another viral copy? X didn't have an answer to that, but then, Gate might not be very stable anymore, himself, these days.]
... [X frowned slightly as he watched the copy's non-aggressive demeanor.] Why did you come here? Who sent you?
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[not budging so much as a hair, he responded without hesitation. hesitation could be suspect.]
Came to this place, to here, I, by this one's will.
Came as notification, explanation, of existence.
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X blinked in surprise at the response, his eyebrows going up slightly. The grammar was disjointed, but lucid. This one wasn't rambling brokenly. The meaning was clear, though that was perhaps the most surprising part.
X frowned slightly, and then shifted out of the defensive stance, though he still held himself warily.]
You're aware you're not Zero, then. [It wasn't a question.] ...Do you have a name? [The copy hadn't had a name the last time. In his more lucid moments, he'd thought he was Zero.]
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[this, delivered with the faintest of sighs in the slurred voice.]
Nightmare, I.
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[X frowned, considering, then opened a comm channel internally to send a message to clear and lock down the way to a secure room.]
Nightmare, then. You say you're here to explain yourself, but this isn't the best place to talk. Will you come peacefully with me? [He really ought to be insisting on restraints too... But if this was another attempt by Gate to copy Zero - and he seemed to be totally different from the insane original Nightmare copy of Zero - then it would be a poor thing to shackle him for his predecessor's actions.
Another point toward this being another copy was that there was no sign of the reality warping hallucination effect of the original Nightmare of Zero's presence. So for now, he'd give him the benefit of the doubt.]
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[Nightmare liked to think that wouldn't happen.]
Yes.
Controlled, I -- this one's control. Peacefully, yes.
Direction wished, you?
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He received a ping back that the way was clear. Still wary, but not combative, he beckoned Nightmare and gestured for him to proceed him back into the base entry hall.]
This way. [He didn't attempt to insist on shackles, but he would firmly take Nightmare's elbow to both guide him, and to keep a handle on him, just in case.]
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Not needed, this.
But ... unknown, to this blue one, this X. The point of this arrival, to explain --
[padding along as X directed, he didn't bother to hide yet another small sigh.]
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He leads him through now deserted halls to a shielded secure room. Although the halls look empty, they're not undefended. And he knows that after securing the door behind them, security mechaniloids will be arriving to take up position outside the room, just in case. Perhaps it's overkill, but with Gate and Lumine active in the city and experimenting, and with people going missing right out from under their noses, like Zero and his twins...
X didn't want to lose anyone else. Especially not to carelessness.
X gestured to Nightmare to take a seat, in one of the two chairs on either side of a table, after the door was secured.]
Have a seat. [His tone wasn't unkind, though it wasn't merely a suggestion.]
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[not that he especially wanted to remain standing.]
[dragging the closer chair away from the table, Nightmare swept his hair out of the way and sat, keeping his attention on X. the deceptive barrenness of the hall and the confines of the room they occupied was not lost on him.]
[hopefully he could explain clearly enough -- but even then, it could go badly. he was disturbing.]
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I'm X, though I'm fairly sure you already knew who I am, Nightmare. [He considered Nightmare for an instant before continuing.] I want you to know that I appreciate your willingness to cooperate, and more than that - to come to us yourself to explain yourself. It speaks well for you.
So please, [X made a slightly encouraging gesture.] tell me what you came to say.
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[Nightmare made no comment on the encouragement -- he wanted to avoid coming to any conclusions until after his recital.]
Of the first; of the red one, the dead one, I. Yes. Not of this place; a world-other, a different world. And, with Hunters.
Of the second; reploid, I. Not a virus, infection, mindless -- having that, not being.
[there was a slight pause before he continued, locking X's gaze]
Of the third ... Virus, yes, the Nightmare Virus; a tool, useful thing, hunting-thing. Hunter, I -- soul-eating, flesh-eating. A needed thing.
These things; to be, were regulated.
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