As it turned out, Blues was right. At midnight they were still waiting, sharing storied to pass the time. Or at least those awake were. Roll and Rush had curled up on the bed and were fast asleep, as were Mortalis, Ra, and Diadem in the chairs they'd brought in. Most of Blues' stories were of the past, of Dr. Light and the world back then, and of all the places they'd seen while running from Bass. And although his stories filled in many of the gaps in X's life, he was at a loss to explain the capsules he'd periodically encountered on his many adventures containing messages and aid from his father. Blues' best guess was that Dr. Light had built them in secret after Wily's death, or at most as a collaboration with Dr. Cossack. X in his turn told stories of his efforts against the Mavericks and of the Hunters who had over the years become his family.
Eventually, though, all but X nodded off. X fought to remain awake, reminding himself that if something happ - when Rock awoke! - it would be best if someone was alert. But he still felt battered, both physically and emotionally, and his eyes were so heavy...
... A sharp noise bought X's head up with a jolt. He'd fallen asleep! Frantically he looked at the clock on the wall, his stiff neck protesting the violent motion loudly, to see it was nearly six in the morning! He lunged up out of his chair to the side of the capsule, fearing what he'd find...
...only to find a pair of open, alert blue eyes looking back up at him through the glass.
"You're awake! He's awake!" X called to the others. They instantly awoke, Blues getting to the capsule first.
"Rock! How are you feeling?" It seemed Rock could read lips, for although there's no way he could've heard Blues speak, he smiled and winked to say 'I'm okay.' they saw him shift a bit, and again X heard the odd noise that had alerted him. It was Rock hitting the insides of the capsule as he tired to move about.
"Hey, bro, could you get Dr. Cain down here?" X glanced towards Zero when he spoke, who was out of Rock's line of sight.
"Sure." He left, and Rock put on a baffled face, looking at X, then at Blues who hadn't responded to the question. Blues chuckled.
"He knows, Rock. They both do." Rock nodded, then looked back at X, who grinned.
"Rock, brother, if you ever do something that crazy again, I'll personally pummel you to a pulp." Rock's eyes went wide for a second - and X doubted it was at the playful threat 0 then he smiled softly.
"Told ya you'd make his century," Roll quipped as Zero returned with a groggy Dr. Cain.
"So he's - yawn! - awake?" The doctor moved around to check the monitors. "Hmm... All systems are stable, though I'm honestly surprised. Given the fluid loss, I thought it would've been at least thirty-six to forty-eight hours." During all this, a faint rhythmic tap tap tap could be heard. Dr. Cain had been ignoring it, but he'd just been woken up before his usual time, and X knew that but his patience short... very short. "What is that noise!" It instantly stopped, and X saw the playful glimmer in Rock's eyes. He laughed and drummed his fingers on the lid.
"I think it's old Morse code for 'Let me outta here already!'" Dr. Cain scowled first at the Reploid in the capsule, then his blue clad brother, then clicked the open button. The capsule opened with a hiss as the lid lifted up and Rock carefully stepped out. Dr. Cain gave him a check over, especially the formerly injured shoulder and the connected arm.
"No loss of movement. Any sensation?"
"Nothing abnormal," Rock replied. "I feel great. Haven't had such a good repair job in decades."
"That's good. I'm heading back to bed, but I want you to take it easy, and to get a full diagnostic done before noon."
"Yes, sir," Rock replied, and Dr. Cain left. The instant he was gone, Rush tackled Rock to the ground, licking his face. "Ack! Rush!" His attempts to puch away the affectionate canine was futile. Roll giggled.
"He was worried."
"We all were," Mortalis put in. Rock managed to keep his pet at bay long enough to get up.
"I was too. I've never felt such pain before! And then I felt so weak..." He shook his head as if he'd rather not think about his brush with death, and smiled. "But I'm okay now."
"You should probably take Dr. Cain's advice," Zero said. "You did take a pretty nasty hit."
"I am a little tired."
"After your scan, we'll take our little brothers to the lab," Blues said, "and we'll open that chip."
"You know how?" X asked, surprised. Blues gave him a funny look.
"Um, yeah? Father did give it to us, remember?" X made a sheepish face.
"Oh, yeah." The rest laughed good-naturedly as they left the room in D-Wing, and the red light went out.