X1

Upon returning to Dr. Cain's lab, X gave his mission report.

"Mission accomplished. I apprehended Chill Penguin and was forced to retire him."

Dr. Cain gave an understanding half-smile.

"That's good to hear, X. Did you manage to salvage Chill Penguin's data chip?"

Zero nudged between the two and presented a tiny microchip no bigger than a fingernail.

"I assume you're referring to this? Hmph, dunno what's so important. All it contains is Chill Penguin's schematics and memory data."

X looked over at Dr. Cain who was brimming with joy.

"You two don't realize just how valuable these data chips really are, especially to X! Each chip does indeed contain memory data, along with backup weapons data."

Zero clutched his Z-Buster ever so slightly.

"Just what are you getting at, Doctor?"

Dr. Cain laughed a little and rested his arm upon Zero's shoulder.

"Oh don't worry, my little Reploid friend. This will only come in handy in emergency situations."

"Well I won't be needing it whatever it is. I'm fine."

Dr. Cain couldn't help but smirk.

"Exactly."

Zero stopped in his place and spun around.

"Huh?"

"You see, Zero, this data is incompatible with your systems. You are at your peak performance level. X, on the other hand, has much room to grow and evolve. This data is compatible with his weapons systems and can be adapted at X's will to change his type of weapons output."

X looked down at his own X-Buster and back up at Dr. Cain.

"You mean I can become more than what I am?"

"In a sense. For example, Chilll Penguin's data chip gives X the ability to use Shotgun Ice. It changes his simple X-Buster into a frozen missile that shatters on impact! It can even freeze certain surfaces!"

Zero raised his eyebrows and coughed.

"Well, looks like the rookie's movin' on up in the world! But hopefully all your new gadgets like your ice gun and new boots won't make you slack on the field, X!"

Dr. Cain gazed down at X's unfamiliar new footwear.

"My...my word, how in blazes did you acquire those? Don't tell me you found the capsule!"

X nodded.

"Astounding! So they do exist! Upon reading Dr. Light's old schematics of X and his digital diaries of past experiments, I found out he had created special 'upgrades' to X's core systems. As technology was still a little behind in his time, the easiest method for harnessing these superior pieces of technology was to embed the data into these large capsules that only X could access."

Zero and X looked puzzled. Zero crept forward so close to Dr. Cain he could smell the dirt on Zero's helmet.

"I nearly walked into that capsule! Are you saying if I'd gone in there-"

"You probably would've been deactivated at the least. Your internal circuits and digital memory output would be so scrambled there would be no possible way to reactivate you. You weren't really thinking of going in there, were you?"

X's wide-eyed expression didn't even phase Zero.

"I was only doing my job! If I hadn't at least examined the structure...I mean...it could've been a trap!"

Dr. Cain walked over to a very large monitor above a very complicated-looking control panel. An electrical power plant could be seen in the frame.

"Now enough! As much as I enjoy our trite bickerings we have a mission to complete. Now as you were putting an end to the northern threat of Mavericks I was observing several other areas of interest. I didn't like what I found. Particularly at this electric power plant."

X walked over to where Zero and Dr. Cain stood and crossed his arms in concern.

"You mean where Spark Mandrill harnesses the electrical currents flowing through the plant's canals to store energy?"

Zero sighed and shoved X a little.

"Geez, exposition much? So anyway, I take it Spark's gone Maverick and we gotta shut him down along with the plant."

Dr. Cain lowered his head a little and looked over at X.

"Well yes, but not you Zero. I have something different for you. This will be a solo mission. X proved at the northern base that he can hold his own. So I'm giving him this important mission. Don't worry, Zero. You handled much worse early on in your career."

Zero had to rub his head a little and smile.

"Yeah, a lot of it's pretty fuzzy now, but you got a point. Alright, rookie, you'd better come back alive 'cause I'd hate having to explain why I brought you back in several pieces."

"As for you, Zero, I want you to head to the underground caverns where Armored Armadillo is currently some recon work. He'd been tunneling through that area and found a cluster of cave-dwelling Mavericks slowly gathering. He needs your knowledge to neutralize the nocturnal ne'er-do-wells."

Zero and X both stared blankly at the Doctor.

"*ahem* Sorry. I was rehearsing that line just before you got here. Anyway, good luck to you and your new outfits, X. And best of luck aiding Armadillo, Zero."

X looks over at Zero and pats him on the shoulder.

"You seem to get the more exciting jobs."

Zero looks back at X and pats him back.

"I say the more dangerous, the better. See you when you get back, and don't go getting killed to spite me."

The two clasped hands and teleported to their designated coordinates.