Chapter 1
Elevator problems
By Shinotenshi

	"Just a blown fuse."  Dr. Cain said.  "Nothing to worry about."
	"A blown fuse?"  X repeated.
	"Yes but I don't think a hit to the head would do that.  It was barely a tap.  It was 
only a 2x4 and the reploid carrying it wasn't turning the corner very fast."  Cain said.  "He's 
taken worse hits before without a problem."
	"Then what happened?"  X asked.
	"Something must have really upset him."  He said as he reset the fuse.  "Did he say 
anything?"
	"He mentioned something about a dream but I don't think..."  X started.
	"It was her."  Zero cut in.  He sat up.
	"Who?"  X inquired.
	"Beta.  She was in my dream."  The red reploid replied.
	"Just met her any you're already dreaming about her?"  Dr. Cain said in amusement.
	"No.  I had the dream before I met her."  Zero snapped in annoyance.  There was a long 
silence.  "I don't expect you to understand.  I don't understand myself, but she was in my 
dream."
	"Well what happened?  X asked.  They didn't believe, that much was clear to Zero.  He 
sighed.
	"Nothing... never mind."  He said quietly as he stood and walked out the door.
***
	Zero walked slowly down the hall.  Nothing made sense.  He'd never seen Beta before, yet 
he saw her vividly in his dream.  He continued walking, completely oblivious to the world around 
him until he felt a hand touch his arm.  He turned and met a pair of stormy blue eyes.  He gasped 
and took a step back.  If the wall hadn't been behind him he would have fallen over.
	"I'm sorry."  Beta said.  "I didn't mean to startle you."
	"That's alright."  He said regaining his composure as best he could.  "Did you need 
something?"  She nodded.
	"I'm completely lost.  I don't know where I am or where I'm going."  She said.  Zero 
smiled.
	"Don't feel bad."  He said.  "Most rookies get lost on their first day.  Where are you 
trying to go?"
	"Dr. Cain's lab."  She said.  Zero looked over at the elevator to find out where he was 
since he hadn't been paying attention.
	"You're on the wrong floor."  Zero said.  "I'll show you the way."  He turned and headed 
for the elevator.
	"Thank you, Commander."  Beta said, cheerfully following him.
	"Call me Zero."  He pushed the button and the doors opened, and they entered.  He tried 
to avoid looking at her.  Not that it really mattered anyway.  Even when he closed his eyes he 
could see those stormy blue eyes and cheerful smile.  
	He pushed the button for their desired floor and the elevator began to move.  There was a 
loud screeching noise and, halfway between floors, the elevator came to a halt.  Beta gave a 
surprised yelp and grabbed a hold of Zero's arm.  The lights blinked out and the elevator began 
to fall.  Moments later it jerked to a stop.  Zero grabbed a hold of Beta to keep her from 
falling.
	"What happened?!"  Beta asked
	"I don't know.  The cable must have broken."  Zero said trying to stay calm.
	"It broke?"  She said.
	"It's okay now."  Zero said.  "The safety device kicked in.  We won't fall."  He placed 
his hand reassuringly over hers.
	"What do we do now?"  She asked timidly.
	"We wait."  He said gently, trying to calm her down.  "I'm sure the security alarm would 
have gone off.  They'll come for us soon."
	"Security to Commander Zero."  Came a voice over Zero's communicator.
	"Zero here."  He said.  "This about the elevator?"
	"Yes, sir."  He replied.  "How did you know?"
	"Beta and I are stuck inside."
	"I'll send help right away, sir."
	"Thank you.  Zero out."  He turned off his communicator.  "See.  Nothing to worry about."
***
	"Security to Commander X."
	"X here.  Go ahead."
	"Sir, the elevator cable has broken and Commander Zero and Beta are trapped inside."  Said the security officer.
	"What floor?"  X asked.
	"Between floors 24 and 25, sir."
	"Have a security team waiting on floor 25.  I'll be right there."  X said.
	"Aye sir."
	"X out."
***
	Zero leaned calmly against the wall.  He was confident that X could handle things.  Beta, 
on the other hand, paced back and forth within the pitch black box.  Occasionally she'd misjudge 
the distance between walls and run into one.
	"You really should relax."  Zero said after she bumped into him.  He grabbed her arm to 
keep her from pacing.  "They're on their way.  We'll be out of here before you know it."  There 
was a sudden and loud crack from behind Zero.  He jumped away from the wall and almost tripped 
over Beta.
	"What was that?"  Beta gasped.
	"I don't know."  He said.  "But I don't like the sound of it."  There was another crack 
and the metal prison jolted sideways.  Zero and Beta slammed into the wall.  Beta was almost 
hysterical.  Zero held her tightly to him.  "Shhh...  Don't move.  Don't make a sound.  One wrong 
move and we'll fall."  He whispered.
	"I thought you said there was nothing to worry about."  She whispered.
	"Oh, hush."
***
	X arrived at the elevator and the security team was fired up.  "What's going on?"  He 
asked.
	"Sir, the safety device has broken."  Said one.
	"The elevator could fall at any moment."  Said another.
	"What?"  X gasped.  "Hurry, we've got to get them out of there."
	"How sir?"
	"Tie a line.  I'm going down after them."  X said.  They eagerly obeyed.  They secured a 
rope and tied it around X.  Slowly, with flashlight in hand, X descended into the elevator shaft. 
 He couldn't step onto the elevator or it would fall.  He called upon the Gaia armor and clung 
securely to the wall as he removed the top hatch off the elevator.  He shined his light down into 
the elevator.  Zero and Beta looked up slowly at him.  "The Calvary has arrived."
	"See.  Told you there was nothing to worry about."  Zero said softly.
	"Give me you're hand.  I'll pull you up."  X said.
	"You first, Beta."  Zero said.
	"But, Commander..."
	"No buts.  Go.  That's an order."  Zero said.  That said he helped her reach X's hand and 
she was pulled out.  The elevator creaked and moaned and shifted a bit.  
	"Zero!"  Gasped X.
	"I'm alright, X."  Said Zero.  "Just hurry."
	"Right."  X said.  He climbed back up.  With Beta safely on the 25th floor X quickly 
descended again.  He reached the elevator.  "Zero, give me you're hand."  Zero reached but X's 
hand was just out of his reach.  He had no choice.  He had to chance it.  He jumped and grabbed 
X's hand.  The elevator gave way and plunged down the shaft, knocking Zero on it's way down.  X 
and Zero both tried desperately to hold on but their grips slipped and Zero fell from X's grip.  
"No, Zero!"  X let go of the wall and pencil dived after Zero.  He reached out for Zero.  The 
loud crash of the elevator echoed through the base  "Zero!"  He could almost reach.
	"X!"  Zero called out.  Just as he was about to grab Zero's hand, X's rope ran out and he 
stopped falling with a jerk.
	"NO!  ZERO!"  X cried out as Zero disappeared into the darkness.  After a second or two 
there was a second crash.  "ZERO!!!"  Tears streamed down X's cheeks as he dangled from the end 
of the rope.

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Is this the end of the Crimson Crusaider?  Find out next time.  Same reploid time, same reploid 
channel.  send questions, coments, complaints and flames to shinotenshi_81@yahoo.com