CHAPTER I: NEW RECRUITS


The new recruits disgusted Zero. They were scrawny, wannabe reploids that kept stumbling with their weapons and yelping every time their names were called for demonstration. He was half-tempted to walk out, but that would leave his friend alone with the wannabes, and he could never be that mean. There were a few who could hold their own, but when put in the simulator they completely lost it. The simulator had only been at level 1.

"They're hopeless," he muttered to his friend. X chuckled weakly as he said, "T-there not that bad!" Zero scoffed.

"Yeah, there about as strong as a metool."

"Um... defense-wise or attack-wise? Metools have some of the best defense..." X asked. "Attack. They can't defend even as well as metools, and they're the lowest class Maverick we have scaled. These kids have no chance against the Mavericks," Zero stated. X sighed heavily.

"I hate to admit it, but you're right. Every year the crop keeps getting smaller. Half of them had forced shutdowns five minutes into the orientation speech."

"I know, I was there."

They stared at the crop of recruits with sadden eyes. Well, there goes our chance of winning this war. One week into the war with Sigma and all they had were a bunch of deadbeats. At this rate, they might of as well held up a white flag. Zero's compulsion to leave grew, and he turned around to answer this call. "I can't even watch them anymore," he muttered, disgust rolling off his voice. "We might as well surrender as it is." He walked up to the door, then stopped. He listened to the recruits scream, shake, some even sobbing, as they were each placed to fight a hologram Maverick in the training space. His grip tighten on the door knob. Just as he was about to open the door, X called, "Wait... Zero. I-I think we've got one!"

"X, appearance does jackshi-"

"No, come look at this guy. You have to see it to believe this..."

Zero sighed, his grip denting the knob as he let go and marched back over. He gazed out the window at the recruit who was about to go into the simulator. He had visors covering his eyes, but Zero could still vaguely see the determined look on his face. He wore blue armor top, which was more of a crop-top than an armor top, that hovered over his chest. A red X was crossed across his armor-crop-top, with a single green gem in the center. He wore a white thong with one green gem and one blue gem on the hips. Zero rose a slight brow at the sight. The recruit wore a black body suit with bulky blue boots with a single red strip running down them.

"I see what you mean..." he muttered in agreement. X nodded. "He just radiates determination and power," he commented as they rookie lunged into the simulator, unlike the others (they were pushed in). The recruit pulled out two rods from behind him, ones of which Zero and X hadn't noticed. He put them together before shifting them into place. His hands glowed red as energy sparked in the rod. The recruit lunged, stabbing at the Maverick holograms one by one. The Mavericks sparked as the rod was inserted into their weak points. Zero frowned visibly. How does he know all of their weaknesses... it's like Sigma all over again... he thought.

"Should we end this?" X asked, causing Zero to nod. "Yeah, I want to ask him some questions..." he muttered. X nodded as he called an end to the simulations, causing the recruits to start crying with relief. Zero gagged. They walked down to the platform and Zero glared at the recruits. "Scram," he snarled, causing them all to disappear in a cloud of dust, leaving only the blue recruit, who disconnected his rod and placed them as an X behind his back. He turned to the only two Maverick Hunters left. "What's your name?" X asked as they both walked until they were each three feet apart.

The recruit folded his arms. "Kal," he stated, his voice slightly higher than the average male. Zero caught a glance of cold, green eyes. He narrowed his own. "Well Kal," X started, "would you like to help us defeat Sigma? We need all the help we can get." A curt nod.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to join, would I?"

Zero decied to ask his long-awaited question. "Where did you learn how to fight? Who programmed it into you?" he question. X gave him an appalled look as the new hunter glanced back at them. "My creator had the experience of having someone he cared for kidnapped, and decided I shouldn't go being defenseless. Does that suit your question?" he answered, his eyes narrowed into a glare. Zero frowned to himself. I fell like I should recognize this tone.

"Yes."

"Good."

The hunter turned to walk out when Zero asked, "Who was your creator?" Kal didn't even look at them this time as he kept walking. "No one important, Commander Zero," he practically hissed out as he walked through the doors. They stared at where the new hunter walked out in confusion.

"Do you know him, Zero?"

"Did it look like I knew him, X?"

"No."

"Then that's the answer to your question."