Chapter 9

3 hours later: Maverick Hunter HQ

The Maverick Hunters' new guests were taking a look around the base while X went to the command center to speak to Signas about their discovery. Cutman and his brothers were talking about their temporary living space.

Cutman: I really like it here.

Iceman: I don't.

Cutman: What are you talking about? It's great. They got individual living quarters for each one of us, a huge training room where we can keep our skills sharp, awesome food in the cafeteria, and everyone's so friendly.

Oilman: Not to mention all the attention we get from the ladies. (he he)

Jewelman: Ah oui. I agree with zat statement, mon ami.

Iceman: That's the problem. All the women keep calling me cute because of how small I am. I'm a soldier! Soldiers aren't cute!

Hornetman: Oh, lighten up. Hey, where are Gutsman and Concreteman?

Elecman: They wanted to try out the weight systems in the rec-room.

Over in the rec-room, Gutsman and Concreteman were competing on which one of them was the strongest.

Gutsman: (Lifting an entire stack of weights) Try beating this, chump!

Concreteman: (Lifts and entire weight bench with one hand) You were sayin' ?

Gutsman was filled with irritation and quickly grabbed the largest thing closest to him. It was the heaviest thing he ever picked up, but he got it.

Gutsman: Ha! Chew on that sucka!

But Concreteman was backing up with a nervous look on his face.

Gutsman: What? Too much of a sissy to beat this?

Concreteman: Um….. You may want to put that down.

Gutsman: And just why would I do that.

?: Because if you don't put me down, I'll kick your ass.

Gutsman looked up at what just said that and he realized what he was holding. It was a very huge and round reploid based off of a mammoth.

Flame Mammoth: I'll say it again, punk! Put me down!

Gutsman quickly put down Fame Mammoth and backed away a few feet.

Gutsman: Uh….sorry.

Flame Mammoth: Whatever. What were you two doin'?

Concreteman: Seeing who's the strongest guy here.

Flame Mammoth: Oh, that easy. Me!

Gutsman and Concreteman: WHAT!?

While the two robots went against the Maverick Hunter, X was about to introduce his family to Signas and Dr. Cain while Zero and Axl were getting the others settled. Before X entered the command center, he turned to Dr. Light.

X: You guy should probably wait out here until I get them ready.

Dr. Light: Of course.

X entered the command center where Signas and Dr. Cain were discussing the other dig sight that had not yet been investigated.

Dr Cain: I assure you, Signas, that we will not have anything to worry about at Ground Zero. Its probably just some treasure seekers looking for any loot.

Signas: I'm not sure we can take chances, Doctor. For all we know, it could be a maverick trap. I talked to the council and they agree that we shouldn't be too risky.

Dr. Cain: (sighs) Strong willed yet a little stubborn. That's what I like about you, Signas. You remind me of Colonel.

Signas merely sighed back at this comment. It brought back memories of when he was a simple soldier under the command of Colonel in Repliforce before he transferred to the Maverick Hunters a few months before the Repliforce uprising. He had a lot of friends in Repliforce. To this day, he has despised Sigma for turning the world against them. As the two began to resume their discussion, Dr. Cain noticed X had enter the room.

Dr. Cain: Ah, X. It is very good to see you. I assume that Doppler and Gate's excavation was successful?

X: Believe me, doctor, it was.

Signas: What exactly was the doctors' discovery? I havent heard anything about it yet, but from what I can tell, it has half the base abuzz.

X: Well, sir, what we found was rather shocking. It was a set of stasis pods dating back about a century ago. The occupant awakened shortly after discovery and have accompanied us back to the base.

Signas: You are letting ancient life forms roam the base? Isn't that a little risky?

X: Actually, sir, you may be surprised at who the ancient life forms are. There are a couple of them outside.

Dr. Cain: Really? I'd very much like to see these life forms.

X: Yes, sir. Okay guys! You can come in!

As soon as X said that, Dr. Light, Megaman, Roll, Protoman, and Rush entered. The sight of the Light family shocked Dr. Cain and Signas.

Signas: X,…..is…is that…?

Dr. Cain: (whispers) My…god….

X: Commander Signas, Dr. Cain, I'd like you both to meet my family.

Dr. Light: Hello to you both.

Cr. Cain: (Shakes Dr. Lights hand) Dr. Light, it is such an honor to actually meet you. I heard stories of your great genius. I'm not sure if you know this, but you and your family are legends in today's society. The thought of actually meeting the creator of one of the most famous hero's of the Maverick Hunters is something that a person could only dream of until now.

Dr. Light: X has told me about you as well, Doctor. I must say I am amazed at how well you have expanded my work. You have truly brought to this world what I thought I would not live to see. You have given robotics the opportunity to think for themselves and make their own destinies. Not only that, but your mentoring and teaching have helped X become the hero he has become today. I feel that I should be honored to meet you.

At that moment, Axl comes in looking for X.

Axl: Uh, X? Flame Mammoth just met Gutsman and Concreteman. Let's just say that neither are making a good impression.

X: I'll handle it. I'll be back, you guys.

Axl: Remember to take pictures!

X ran down to the rec-room to see what was going on. When he got there, he saw a sight he found a little amusing. Gutsman and Concreteman had double teamed Flame Mammoth and had his trunk tied in a knot. Now, normally, X would be mad, but Flame Mammoth was a trouble maker even after rejoining the Maverick Hunters.

X: Hey, what are you three doing?

Gutsman: Oh! Uh….eh….hey, bro. We were just…uh….Concrete, help me out here!

Concreteman: We had no choice! He insulted us and we…did that…in self defense!

X: Relax, you guys.

Flame Mammoth: (Nasally) Wait a minute. Did he just call you "Bro"?

X: Yes he did. You just got jumped by two of my brothers!

Flame Mammoth: Oh….crap.

X: Yeah. And I have sixteen more sibling here to keep you under control.

Flame Mammoth: How...What…When did this happen!?

X: You know those signals Zero, Axl and I are investigating? The first one came from them. They were in stasis for over a century. And believe me when I say this! You mess with them, and they retaliate! But you probably know that by now.

Flame Mammoth: (walking away trying to untie his trunk) This ain't over!

Concreteman: Jeez. Are all hunter like that a-hole?

X: No. The others are okay. He's just a little resentful over how I beat him with ease since he thinks he's superior, which he's not. Anyway, I gotta get back to the command center. Don't cause a lot of trouble!

Gutsman: Yeah yeah. Whatever.

While X was handling the situation in the rec-room, Dr. Light and Dr. Cain were talking.

Dr. Light: X told me about how you served as his mentor for all these years. With your guidance, he's become the heroic, noble and strong willed man I had envisioned him becoming.

Dr. Cain: Please, sir. I don't really deserve all the credit. He was created by one of the greatest minds of the 21st century. It was inevitable that he would reach where he is today. There is also the fact that he received a little guidance and upgrades from the capsules you had left behind.

Dr. Light: I almost forgot about those capsules. I'm glad to see he used them wisely. But you shouldn't sell yourself short. You yourself are an amazing scientist. Unlike my creations, yours were created with absolute free will. While Dr. Cossack and I upgraded our robots with more free will than they originally had, they didn't have full free will.

Dr. Cain: Well, mine aren't exactly perfect. As you probably know, there have been some instances in the past where they some have turned against us. The most notorious was the former leader of the Maverick Hunters, Sigma. It wasn't entirely his fault, however. He was slowly corrupted by a virus he was infected with when Zero awoke.

Dr. Light: Ah. Yes the virus Wily manufactured to empower Zero. Speaking of which, I must know, how did Wily's Ultimate Weapon go from a force of pure destruction to one of X's best friends and an equally noble hero?

Dr. Cain: It occurred right after his fight with Sigma. He too was infected with the same virus that infected Sigma. It had a different effect on him, however. Normally, the virus would cause Reploids to go insane and turn against humanity, like it did to Sigma. However, seeing as how Zero was already insane, it turned him what we would call normal. He has since regained all of his memories, but the bonds he has formed with us keep him a loyal protector of humanity. I heard about how the Robot known as Bass is suspicious of Zero one day turning against us, but I am certain that with what he's been through, he'll stay loyal to our cause.

Dr. Light: I'm curious. What was it that happened?

Dr. Cain: Well, for starters, he has sacrificed himself on two occasions to rescue X from an attack from Sigma and an attack from a Maverick known as Vile. He also risked his life when he crashed a shuttle into a space colony that threatened to collide with the planet. But the thing that took a toll on him the most was the Repliforce incident. Repliforce is another group I created to fight alongside the Maverick Hunters. However, thanks to actions caused by mavericks working for Sigma, they were labeled Mavericks themselves. Unfortunately, X and Zero were friends with two of their members, Colonel and his sister Iris. Zero cares deeply Iris. He may even love her. Unfortunately, when Colonel was killed fighting X and Zero, she was distraught over his destruction and irrationally tried to avenge him. Zero was forced to kill her and he wasn't the same for a long time.

Dr. Light: I'm so sorry to hear that. Is it still taking a toll on him?

Dr. Cain: Actually, while it still haunts him, the toll has lightened. The Ancient, the mysterious leader of our new Reploid/Human council, restored and repaired a few members of Repliforce, including Colonel and Iris. The two have since joined our cause. Iris has become Zero's navigator while Colonel has become the leader for the Ancient's elite Guard .

Dr. Light: The Ancient?

Dr. Cain: Nobody knows his real identity. Whether he's a human or Reploid is unknown. Him and his elite guard have never been seen. All we know is that under his rule, there have been almost no Maverick activity. We'll get the occasional berserk reploids or mechaniloids causing damage to a city, but they're taken care of. They're usually caused by malfunctions.

Dr. Light: Reminds me of the trouble Wily caused for us over the years.

Dr. Cain: I noticed that a many of the robots that have accompanied you and your family worked for Wily.

Dr. Light: Actually, other than Bass and Treble, none of the Robot Masters with us were built by Wily. They were created by either myself, my colleague Dr. Cossack, or various other scientists from around the world. Wily's creations, as well as the doctor himself, are long gone.

Dr. Cain: He is? What happened?

Dr. Light: It was rather unexpected, frankly. Wily had kidnapped me, Cossack, his daughter Kalinka, Roll, Auto, and some of our robotic pets. He had also re-harnessed the evil energy that was being hunted by a robot from outer space known as Duo. Duo has since left Earth, believing the energy to be gone. Wily used what was left of the energy to empower the bombs that devastated the area you found us in and experiment on some of his creations. He tested it out on his garrisons of sniper Joes, turning them into mutant monsters and on his few remaining robot masters, turning them insane and unstable. Rock and Blues assembled everyone present to stop Wily once and for all. However, wily set up a trap with his most elite robots, the Stardroids and Megaman Killers.

Unfortunately, the Strdroids proved to be treacherous and turned on Wily, forcing us to team up with Wily and the Megaman Killers. Most of the stardroids were defeated, but not before they destroyed the Megaman Killers. Megaman and wily teamed up against their leader, the Stardroid known as Terra. Wily even promised to retire his plans for world domination permanently once the battle would end. Unfortunately, Terra injected himself with some of the Evil energy, allowing him to overpower Megaman. Just as he was about to finish him off, the unexpected happened. Wily saved Megaman at the cost of his life. Terra destroyed his Mily machine with wily still in it. He then escaped before we could stop him. I still am surprised at Wily's change of heart. He still had some humanity left in him.

Suddenly, a voice comes from the entrance of the command center.

?: What you just said about Wily…is… is that true?

The doctors turned to see who it was. It was Zero standing in the entrance with a look of shock on his face having heard everything Dr. Light said.