Chapter 3

With Sigma and many other high ranking hunters gone, Hunter H.Q. was thrown into chaos. The new leader, Signas, was struggling to hold things together. X contacted him as soon as he returned.

"Megaman X reporting for duty!" X announced, as he entered the command center.

"Welcome X," said Signas. "I'm glad to see you're all right."

"Yes, but I let Vile get away…" X admitted.

"Don't sweat it," said Signas. "I know you're still disappointed about losing to Vile, but I have an assignment well suited to your abilities. I want you to go after Chill Penguin at his base. You should be able to whoop his little punk-a$$ without much difficulty."

"Yes sir!" said X. "I won't let you down!"

X quickly teleported to the coordinates he was given and soon found himself at the wintry outskirts of Chill Penguin's base. He battled various mechaniloids on his way, and eventually stumbled upon an icy, underground cave. Inside, X made a startling discovery. A huge capsule suddenly burst out of the ground in front of him! A holographic image of an old man in a lab coat was projected from the capsule. It was Dr. Light! He began to speak…

"So you've come…"

"What's going on?" asked X. "Who are you?"

"X, I gave you the ability to choose your own path in life, and I hoped the world would allow you to choose a peaceful one," said Dr. Light.

"You know my name?" asked X. "…Wait, it's just a prerecorded message…"

"But now it seems that you are destined to fight," the message continued. "Because I thought the world might need a new champion, I had my associate Auto hide this capsule for you. I suppose he may be there with you right now…"

Apparently Light had already sent Auto to hide the capsule shortly before that fateful day of September 18th, when his lab was destroyed.

"Should you decide to enter this capsule, you will receive enhancements to increase your powers beyond anything the world has ever known," said Dr. Light. "It's your decision X," the message concluded.

"Somehow I think I know that man," X said to himself. "Could it be…? Wait, there's no time to spare. I've got to get those power-ups so I can defeat Sigma!"

X immediately entered the capsule and was upgraded. He received leg parts to boost his speed, a nearly impenetrable helmet, a powerful new X-Buster, and a sturdy set of body armor.

"I won't be known as a Class B Hunter for much longer!" X exclaimed. "Where is Chill Penguin?! I'm ready to face anything now."

X blew the rest of the mechaniloids to pieces and quickly entered Chill Penguin's chamber.

"X? Is that you?" asked Chill Penguin.

"Why have you betrayed us?!" demanded X. "You've forsaken your duties as a Maverick Hunter!"

"Maybe I just got tired of being a hunter!" said Chill Penguin. "Working under Sigma's rebellion is much more interesting. Not that I have to explain anything to you, boy."

"You're under arrest!" said X. "Your actions are in violation of the laws of the grand council. Disarm and return with me to the H.Q. immediately."

"You're talking mighty tough for a Class-B hunter," scoffed Chill Penguin.

"I'm warning you Chill Penguin," said X. "I'm not the same as before. I won't hesitate to execute justice."

"You think those new duds are going to protect you?" asked Chill Penguin. "I'm afraid you're a little bit out of your element here boy. I'll teach you a lesson!"

Chill Penguin dove to the ground and slid across the ice towards X in a charge attack. But X unleashed a huge charge blast that he had been powering up since he entered the chamber. The force of the blast sent the puny penguin ricocheting all across the room. He eventually crashed into a corner, completely stunned. X walked over to him.

"You were a fool to think you could fight against justice," said X. "Surrender now!"

Chill Penguin shook himself back to full consciousness.

"Never!" said Chill Penguin. "I know what returning back to the H.Q. will mean for me."

He started blowing out a big cloud of frost, forming an ice sculpture.

"What are you trying to prove by doing that?" asked X.

X slowly walked over to Chill Penguin and crushed his stupid ice sculpture. Then he proceeded to carry out his sentence, putting him to death with one final shot.

"Now I must report back to the H.Q." said X. And he teleported off.

With his newfound powers and with the help of the other hunters, X made short work of most of Sigma's other head-mavericks. Eventually Zero reported back to H.Q. with his findings on the location of Sigma's fortress.

"I have found Sigma's fortress," Zero began. "From the looks of it, I think it's best if we sneak in as a covert operation. Only two hunters should enter initially."

"Who would you suggest to go along with you?" asked Signas.

"I can do it!" said X. "I'm prepared to face them this time."

"I see that your strength has grown considerably on the battlefield," said Zero.

"Yes! I'm ready to fight alongside you Zero."

"Very well," Zero agreed. "I choose X as my partner on this assignment."

"OK, we'll come in behind you two in case you need emergency backup," said Signas.

X & Zero left for the mission. They climbed to the mountaintop fortress and sneaked their way through it. Eventually they reached a room where Sigma and Vile were inside talking. X hastily kicked the door in.

"Your reign of terror is over Sigma!" yelled X. "Surrender now, or prepare to be retired!"

"You didn't necessarily have to announce our entrance, X!" teased Zero, somewhat nervously.

"What?! Who let those Maverick Hunters in here?!" Sigma roared.

"It's no big deal," said Vile. "I'll just finish what we started in our last encounter. Those ancient enhancements of yours are no match for my ride armor." he chuckled.

"I'll take X and you take Zero," said Vile, looking at Sigma.

"Z- Zero?!" Sigma stammered.

"What's the matter Sigma? You still scared from the beating I put on you when we first met?" taunted Zero.

"How do you know about that?!" screamed Sigma. "I thought all your memories had been lost. Anyway, as I recall, you were the one who was carried off unconscious that time," he reminded Zero.

"Look, you clearly have a score to settle with Zero, and I have unfinished business with X," said Vile. "So let's do this thing!"

"I don't think so," said Sigma. "I still give the orders around here, and I'm ordering you to destroy Zero!"

Sigma ran out of the room.

"After him X!" yelled Zero. "Don't let Sigma get away!"

"Right!" said X.

X & Zero both started running after Sigma.

"Not so fast!" said Vile, as he jumped in front of Zero. "You'll have to go through me first, hotshot!"

"Gladly!" said Zero, as he whipped his saber out.

X continued his pursuit of Sigma into the next room, but as soon as he entered he was immediately met with a crashing blow against his head. Even with his helmet, he was knocked to the ground. The door locked behind him.

"You fool!" laughed Sigma. "You've fallen into my trap. I've got you right where I want you!"

Sigma swung his saber at X, but X grabbed the blade with both hands. However as soon as he did, the blade started to burn his hands, forcing him to let go. The blade slashed X across his chest.

"Arrghh!" X screamed.

X tried to aim his arm cannon at Sigma in retaliation, but Sigma just laughed and knocked his arm aside. Then he gave X a swift kick in the head, sending him flying in the air. As X plummeted back to the ground, Sigma punched him with all his might, in mid-air, sending X crashing through the wall.

"You should never have betrayed me X!" said Sigma, as he slowly walked over to the nearly unconscious X. "Once the humans are out of the way we shall usher in a new age… The Age of Reploids! You could have been a part of that, but now the time of your destruction has arrived. Goodbye X!"

Sigma raised his saber over X in a stabbing position, but before he could deliver the final blow, he noticed X's body starting to glow.

"What's this?" wondered Sigma. "Don't tell me he's trying to self destruct!"

The glow surrounding X grew brighter and he began to levitate.

"What's going on here?!" yelled Sigma. "Nevermind, I'll end this now!"

Sigma swung his blade at X once more, but it was deflected by the energy surrounding him!

X could hear a voice inside his head…

"Not yet X…" the voice said. "You must live. I prepared even for a situation such as this. Now fight against injustice and fulfill the legacy of Mega Man!"

A giant flash of energy now surrounded X like a blue flame. Then he let out a cry:

"Nova Strike!"

In a furious blaze, X's body shot straight through Sigma like a torpedo!

"Arrghh! No! How can this be?!" cried Sigma, as he fell to the ground clutching his chest. "Th- the age of the reploids… will be born…"

And with those last words, Sigma started to violently explode. It was over. Finally, Zero busts into the room.

"I'm here X!" Zero cried. "I defeated Vile and… Wait a minute, where is Sigma?"

"He's gone," replied X. "I defeated him."

"Whoa X!" Zero exclaimed. "You really have grown as a hunter! I'm impressed. Not many people could have faced Sigma alone."

"Just another Maverick to be retired," X modestly replied.

"Let's notify the others to come clear out any remaining mechaniloids and head back to H.Q., partner," Zero said with a smile.

A big smile formed on X's face in return.

"Roger that, partner. Let's head back!"

After that, X & Zero became an inseparable pair. They continued fighting side-by-side, defeating mavericks together until the last vestiges of Sigma's army were finally wiped out.

To Be Continued…