Past Prologue

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“You’re pathetic, X.”

X jolted as the voice and a jab at his side forced him awake.

“It’s amazing you’re not in pieces strewn all over the lab, sleeping alongside a Maverick like that.”

“He’s not a Maverick,” X shot off without thinking, his grogginess interfering with his judgment. He realized what he said a little too late, and with whom he was speaking as he glanced up toward Sigma’s towering form.

“Not a Maverick? I’d love to hear you try to defend that one to the Feds if the knew about this,” Sigma said gruffly. “But why should anyone care about what they say?”

“Excuse me, Commander?” X questioned.

“Listen, X, I wanted to apologize for my words to you this afternoon. They are not words befit a Commander when speaking to his subordinates. Morale and loyalty are precious, especially in a time like this.” X nodded, and Sigma bowed his head slightly before he went on. “I trust you to understand this: I have recently been informed that the World Federation is creating legislation that would merge all sanctioned Reploid Police forces of the world under one name and one leadership.”

That was big news to X. He had not even suspected that the Federation would be interested in managing something like that. “But that means…” X started to say.

“It means that we can say goodbye to any kind of private support, and to our own rules,” Sigma finished for him.

“But who will this leadership consist of? Under what name?” X asked. Sigma sighed.

“The official announcement of these changes won’t be made until they have finished organizing the chain of command, but they want to combine Police leadership based on record, talent, tenure, and public acclaim. Looks like I fit the bill for the top of that totem pole.”

X blinked. Was Sigma saying that…

“Within a few months, you will know me as Sigma, Supreme Commander of the Maverick Hunters,” Sigma said, as if answering X’s thoughts.

“The Maverick Hunters…” X said.

“Nothing more than fancy titles, X. We’re will be no greater than government employees, beholden to the whims of politicians before ourselves.”

X automatically rejected the cynicism in that statement. He furrowed his brow in thought before saying, “Even so, it sounds like it may work out. We will be able to cooperate with other talented officers, share resources, and get better funding. I think the people will benefit in the long run,” X suggested. Sigma smiled.

“Always looking on the bright side, aren’t you?” he said. Sigma sighed. “That’s good. But please understand, I’ve been under a lot of stress because of this change, in addition to concealing our secret project here. I’m afraid I’m handling it rather shamefully.”

“It’s okay, Commander,” X said. The change was a big deal, and something that would make any officer a little nervous. X believed it was a likely explanation for Sigma’s sour attitude in the past weeks.

“And in case you were wondering, I suggested they use our precinct as a template for organizing divisions. So in all likelihood, you will still be in the 17th unit.” Sigma said. “So don’t worry too much. Anyway, it appears you haven’t been doing the work you promised. I thought you were going to tame him?”

“I haven’t had the chance because he’s been repairing himself after the damage he received today,” X said.

“Incredible. He even can’t take a few punches? To think that he did this to me,” Sigma said, patting his reattached arm.

“I thought I heard voices,” Dr. Cain said, entering the room and carrying a data pad. “Ah, you’ve returned, Sigma.”

“Yes, I wanted to see what your findings have been so far. I know it has not been very long, but my time to attend to this grows short, and therefore I must have positive results as soon as possible. If not, then the research must stop and this Maverick disposed of without question, or else my job and credibility will be at stake.”

“I understand, and I am working as best as I can,” Dr. Cain said. “You should know, however, that X has made progress. I wish you could have seen it.”

Sigma arched a brow. X blanched, afraid that Dr. Cain was going to tell the truth about them waking the Maverick up without Sigma.

“Are you implying that you both contradicted my explicit orders?” Sigma asked blankly.

“X did no such thing,” Dr. Cain said. “I revived him in order to conduct additional observations. X just happened to be present.” Sigma chuckled, much to X’s relief.

“Very well,” Sigma said. “And what did you observe?”

“That reploid trusts X and listens to him. It’s quite remarkable.”

“Really? I suppose that’s no surprise. Everyone likes X,” Sigma said wryly. “I’d like to see it. Wake him up.”

“Sir,” X began, rising to his feet. “Zero, er, the Maverick will be in pain if we wake him up too soon.”

“Zero, huh?” Sigma said. He huffed in amusement, sweeping X aside to approach the maintenance bed and rip out the sedative cartridge.

“Commander!” X said firmly, his rage bubbling at Sigma’s sadistic intent. “Put that back! He needs it!”

“Oh come on,” Sigma said, juggling the cartridge in hand. “What’s the harm in a little quid pro quo?”

“Plenty,” Dr. Cain admonished. “If your one to abhor such childishness.”

In response, Sigma crushed the cartridge in his hand. He let the liquid ooze out between his fingers before saying, “Like I said, I’m under a tight clock. I want to see this now.”

As if on cue, a groan was heard from the bed as Zero started to come to. His eyes squeezed shut, then opened, and although they had regained their life in comparison to before, they struggled to stay open. X was fast at his side, but positioned himself in a way that he hoped would block his view of Sigma. Sigma, for his part, stepped into a shadow order to remain somewhat discreet.

“X,” Zero greeted, smiling, although seeming to wince in a jolt of pain when he attempted to sit up.

“Not too fast,” X said, pushing him to stay on his back. Worry marred X’s features. “Does it hurt? You can just nod or shake your head.”

Zero kept smiling up at X as if the question failed to register. He reached out to put a hand on X’s arm, but twitched involuntarily as his fingers came to rest. Zero’s eyes closed and his teeth clenched.

“Doctor, we’re going to need another sedative soon,” X said, taking Zero’s hand and squeezing it. However, Zero vigorously shook his head at the word ‘sedative.’ X paused, now feeling incredibly indecisive, exacerbated by Sigma’s attentive gaze piercing through his back.

“Zero,” X said soothingly. “I’m sorry we had to wake you before you’re ready. If you are in pain, then you should sleep until you are better.”

Zero shook his head again. He then opened his mouth as if he wanted to speak, but no sound came out. He tried again, and it almost seemed to X like there was some invisible obstruction in his throat blocking his attempt at a coherent phrase. Zero clenched, appearing to suffer another twinge of pain, and through his teeth he let loose a howl of aggravation.

Meanwhile, X started to panic as Zero seemed to grow more and more frustrated, and struggled to stem the restlessness Zero presented. Zero’s howl sent a bolt of fear down his spine, but X steeled himself and gripped Zero’s hand tighter, while using the other hand to still Zero at his opposite shoulder.

“Calm down,” X ordered in a loud voice. “I know you hear what I’m saying, I know that you understand me, so if you want to stay awake you will have to listen to me.” Zero paused, ceasing his agitated movements to look up at X directly. “If it’s that bad,” X went on, almost in a whisper, “then let us take care of you.”

Zero’s face fell, and he twitched again. He then breathed a word: “Help.”

Astonished by the request, and the sudden expansion of Zero’s vocabulary, X released Zero’s shoulder and straightened with a start. X’s voice faltered when he then said, “Alright, Zero, lets, uh, get you back to sleep.”

Zero nodded miserably, with a pained look that wrenched X’s heart. Dr. Cain took his cue to fetch another tranquilizer, but paused when Sigma silently motioned his intent to retrieve it instead. While they waited, X put his free hand to Zero’s forehead, trying his best to comfort him with gentle strokes. Sigma returned shortly, and whistled for X’s attention. X pivoted around in time to see Sigma toss him the cartridge, which he caught and quickly installed.

“Rest well, Zero,” X said softly. “Don’t be afraid.”

Zero smiled again, and his eyes slipped closed.

“Heh,” Sigma said. “That certainly was interesting, though I must say I learned as much about you as I did about your ‘Zero’ here. You should know the danger in opening your heart to a Maverick, X. The fact that you named him alone tells me you’re becoming dangerously involved with this.”

“I know,” X acknowledged. He was still holding onto Zero’s now-limp hand, but quickly put it down to rest on the bed. “But what else can I do?”

“And as you could see, Zero was quite docile,” Dr. Cain pointed out.

“That’s true, but I see that he can barely operate. His speech is out of order. He’s erratic. How do we know he is even comprehending what X is telling him?” Sigma asked.

“Yes, the way he presents physically and psychologically is disconcerting, and I do grant the possibility he may never regain his full, unbroken functionality,” Dr. Cain said. Shocked by the blunt assessment, X looked as though he were betrayed by what doctor said.

“In that case, I’ll make sure he is disposed of, then,” Sigma said.

X moved to protest, but the next words from the doctor stopped him. “Hold on. I do have an idea for how to repair him, but it is extremely risky,” Dr. Cain said. “If you will allow it, of course.”

Sigma said, “What do you propose, doctor?”

“As I have said before, it seems as though Zero here is missing a key, microscopic component in his system, something without which is sabotaging the ability for his biological systems to interface with his artificial ones. Therefore, I propose we reintroduce that component. I will create a virus to transplant the appropriate DNA and additional programming into his body. Gene therapy, in other words. If it succeeds, then we can expect a full recovery.”

Sigma nodded, bringing a finger to his chin. “You can synthesize such a thing?”

“The virus itself and the programming I can construct easily, but the DNA…” Dr. Cain hesitated. “The DNA is too complex, for I do not yet fully understand Zero’s design, and cursory scans suggest that I would need another lifetime to comprehend its intricacies. Therefore we need a donor, and I believe it must come from one who is just as complex, and whose origins are just as mysterious.”

X arched a brow, for Dr. Cain was looking directly at him as he spoke.