If the generation of incorruptible reploids have all been corrupted, is there any mechanical mind that can't be corrupted? And if there isn't, what do we do now?
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"You sure about this?" asked an older man with thick glasses to a massively pregnant young woman.
She seemed determined and unconcerned by his scrutinizing gaze. "Yes, Dr. Cain," she said, slightly annoyed by the question.
"Very well. If this is your decision, we will gladly accept your help." Cain holds up a syringe with a purple colored liquid inside. "If you will, ma'am." She gently raises her shirt. He leans down and injects the liquid into her swollen belly. She yelps but doesn't move to stop him. He smiles at her, "You have made a huge contribution to science and to the future. Thank you ma'am. We'll be in touch." She nods, unsteady and pale, and slowly makes her way out of the room.
Six months later
"She's perfectly healthy," a scientist rambled, "Pulse: normal, blood pressure…"
"Yes, George. Thank you," Dr. Cain's voice was strained with annoyance. Cain walked up to the little girl sitting on a large machine, which looked very similar to a reploid's "bed". She smiled at him and held up something that looked like a teddy bear.
"Do you want me to have this?" Cain asked, grinning back. She nodded, and he leaned down to take the teddy bear from her little, shaky hands. No sooner than he had wrapped his hand around the bear, the wall behind him exploded. Cain was thrown against the machine, while the girl reacted immediately, hopping behind the machine. From the corner of his eye, Cain saw the other scientists scrambling to cover. Realizing he wasn't injured, Cain slowly regained his footing and turned toward the flaming mess that was the other half of his lab. In the middle of the mess, there was a giant shadow that stood maybe ten feet tall. The flames made it impossible to make out any colors or specific features, but anyone could tell it was a repoid by the sharp angles of its outline. Cain, however, knew exactly who it was. "Vile," he growled.
"Hello, good doctor," Vile said with smug tone. The tone changed to bored, "We know you have her. Give her to me," Vile himself separated from the large outline and gently floated to the ground. He walked up to Cain and held out his hand expectantly. From a distance, Vile in his armor is terrifying, but up close, Vile himself is just as intimidating. He stood about six foot five and had a large missile launcher slung over his shoulder. He had no face, just a helmet, making anything he said sound hollow.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Cain mustered up his courage. It was obvious that this was the end of the road for him, but he knew that if his newest creation fell into the hands of Vile and Sigma, even X and Zero together would not be able to stop him.
Vile curled his hand into a fist. "Search the room!" he ordered in a steely, angry voice. He pulled back and punched Cain, ripping a hole through his chest, and throwing him across the lab towards the flames. Cain had just enough time to pray for his experiment's survival and safety before his world began to fade to black.
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"X, it's too late," Zero said sadly. X crouched over the dead body of the man he considered his father. Dr. Light may have created him, but it was Dr. Cain who had found him and activated him. Another, newer hunter named Novum stood a ways away from the pair, allowing them to mourn alone.
As she stood staring at the floor, trying not to think about who could have done this, a whimper caught Novum's ear. Following the sound to the not-so-ruined portion of the lab, she began to sift through some of the rubble. When she came to a large machine, the whimpers got more and more insistent. She stands back and slowly lifts up the end of the machine. Underneath, a baby crawled out from under the machine. Novum slowly set the machine back down and, in amazement, picked up the child. Slowly, remembering how she'd seen humans hold their children and aware of her metal arms, she tipped the baby to the side until she was cradling the child. She looked back toward the others. Zero was staring at her, but didn't seem to want to leave his friend's side. X was oblivious.
Eventually, Zero lightly tapped him on the shoulder. X dejectedly looked over to where Zero was pointing. When X saw the child in Novum's arms, he lept up and trotted over to her, with Zero right behind him. They all examined the child. The kid smiled at her rescuers, but latched onto Zero's arm. At first, Zero grinned back at the little one, but then the little one tightened her grip. Zero yelped and Novum gently made the little girl release Zero's arm.
The metal was severely dented. The three looked at each other in amazement. "This is no ordinary child," X stated, "And I would not be surprised if whoever attacked this place was after her."
"And I wouldn't be surprised if Sigma did this," Zero added, grimly, "If Sigma was after this little girl, she must be incredibly powerful. We need to keep her safe."
"I can raise her." Novum whispered. The other two stared at her. "What?" she asked, "You both know I can take care of myself and I am not called off on missions very often."
"Okay," Zero reluctantly said, "but don't be afraid to contact us if you sense any danger."
"Yes, don't take any risks," X ordered.
Novum nodded happily. "I'll call you Katie," she whispered.