Chapter VIII - The New Antidote
"Maybe X is the one who needs to be released from the Hunters," said Zero as he rushed over to the blue robot who was no unconscious on the ground.
"No, that won't help, Zero. The last thing we need is to discharge one of our best," said Cain as he hurried after Zero. "Dr. Doppler, could you re-activate the diagnostic program. We need to scan X for possible damage to his circuitry."
"Yes, sir," replied the computer.
About a half-hour later, X was on the scanner, still out cold. Cain had removed X's helmet and artificial skin, and was attaching numerous wires to ports in X's plate metal skull. Doppler was on a nearby computer screen going over X's schematics.
"This doesn't make any sense. It seems that X's logic circuits blew out," muttered Doppler, "but there's no explanation why."
"When did X enter the room?" asked Cain.
"When we were talking about the antidote. Why do you ask?"
"So he heard us saying we could reprogram Sigma?"
"It would seem so."
"That would explain it. X didn't hear the whole conversation, just the bit about Sigma returning to the Hunters. It made no sense what-so-ever to him, so his circuits blew."
"Yes, that would make sense."
"It depends whose perspective your taking. Dang!"
At that moment Cain hadn't been paying attention to what he was doing and zapped himself on X's generator. Luckily, he hit a part of X that needed very little energy, so he didn't much of a shock.
"There, he's hooked up. Run the diagnostic, Dr. Doppler," ordered Cain as he sucked on his now bright red finger.
"Okay," said Doppler.
The wires started to glow brightly as energy was transferred from X to the computer. Copies of self-diagnostics appeared on some monitors while scans of programs began to glow on others. Cain looked at all of the screens until he suddenly he brief yelp of surprise.
"Doppler," Dr. Cain yelled, "Get Zero and Bass in here at once."
"What is that?"
"How should I know?"
"Maybe it's a virus."
"No it can't be"
"Not one that we know of, at least."
"SHUT UP!"
Dr. Cain was showing the others what he found in X's program. Unfortunately, they were all jumping to conclusions and making up theories about what the defect could be. After trying to get a word in edgewise multiple times, Cain had gotten very upset and started shouting.
"Listen up, already," said the doctor as he glared at everyone to maintain silence. "I've figured out what this is, and I would gladly tell you if only you could stay quiet for a moment."
By now Zero, Bass, and Doppler were all paying attention to Cain.
"This odd formation is not a virus. It appears to be the antidote."
"What!?!" yelled the three Reploids.
"It's true. I copied the program and inserted it into a Maverick that we have in custody. Within minutes he regained his composure and was willing to talk to us, and there was no trace of any viruses."
"How did that happen?" asked Bass.
"Well, Bass, it seems that upon meeting you, X's system recognized an enemy and started producing antibodies to protect itself. That's why X never trusted you as much as even Doppler. He somehow knew that you were dangerous to him in some way. My guess would be possible transference of the virus."
"So," said Zero, "how are we going to get Sigma injected with the Vaccine?"
"I think we'll need someone who Sigma doesn't know, but feels he can trust," answered Cain as he turned to Bass. "Someone who has the Virus."
TO BE CONTINUED
"Maybe X is the one who needs to be released from the Hunters," said Zero as he rushed over to the blue robot who was no unconscious on the ground.
"No, that won't help, Zero. The last thing we need is to discharge one of our best," said Cain as he hurried after Zero. "Dr. Doppler, could you re-activate the diagnostic program. We need to scan X for possible damage to his circuitry."
"Yes, sir," replied the computer.
About a half-hour later, X was on the scanner, still out cold. Cain had removed X's helmet and artificial skin, and was attaching numerous wires to ports in X's plate metal skull. Doppler was on a nearby computer screen going over X's schematics.
"This doesn't make any sense. It seems that X's logic circuits blew out," muttered Doppler, "but there's no explanation why."
"When did X enter the room?" asked Cain.
"When we were talking about the antidote. Why do you ask?"
"So he heard us saying we could reprogram Sigma?"
"It would seem so."
"That would explain it. X didn't hear the whole conversation, just the bit about Sigma returning to the Hunters. It made no sense what-so-ever to him, so his circuits blew."
"Yes, that would make sense."
"It depends whose perspective your taking. Dang!"
At that moment Cain hadn't been paying attention to what he was doing and zapped himself on X's generator. Luckily, he hit a part of X that needed very little energy, so he didn't much of a shock.
"There, he's hooked up. Run the diagnostic, Dr. Doppler," ordered Cain as he sucked on his now bright red finger.
"Okay," said Doppler.
The wires started to glow brightly as energy was transferred from X to the computer. Copies of self-diagnostics appeared on some monitors while scans of programs began to glow on others. Cain looked at all of the screens until he suddenly he brief yelp of surprise.
"Doppler," Dr. Cain yelled, "Get Zero and Bass in here at once."
"What is that?"
"How should I know?"
"Maybe it's a virus."
"No it can't be"
"Not one that we know of, at least."
"SHUT UP!"
Dr. Cain was showing the others what he found in X's program. Unfortunately, they were all jumping to conclusions and making up theories about what the defect could be. After trying to get a word in edgewise multiple times, Cain had gotten very upset and started shouting.
"Listen up, already," said the doctor as he glared at everyone to maintain silence. "I've figured out what this is, and I would gladly tell you if only you could stay quiet for a moment."
By now Zero, Bass, and Doppler were all paying attention to Cain.
"This odd formation is not a virus. It appears to be the antidote."
"What!?!" yelled the three Reploids.
"It's true. I copied the program and inserted it into a Maverick that we have in custody. Within minutes he regained his composure and was willing to talk to us, and there was no trace of any viruses."
"How did that happen?" asked Bass.
"Well, Bass, it seems that upon meeting you, X's system recognized an enemy and started producing antibodies to protect itself. That's why X never trusted you as much as even Doppler. He somehow knew that you were dangerous to him in some way. My guess would be possible transference of the virus."
"So," said Zero, "how are we going to get Sigma injected with the Vaccine?"
"I think we'll need someone who Sigma doesn't know, but feels he can trust," answered Cain as he turned to Bass. "Someone who has the Virus."
TO BE CONTINUED