Interlude 2: Exposition Expo!: Or, the hows and whys of our characters (omake 1)
by Tremor3258
Capcom owns Megaman (and Rockman) X, and despite the occasional flaws, have made one of the best platformers ever.
Things are a bit depressing, so I thought I'd lighten it with a little humorous background piece on the current situation. Also, you can assume X, Zero, Dr. Cain and other ranking members of the Hunters got a similar briefing, but a bit more cut and dried.
Anyway, this one is in script format because most of it is just talking, explaining some background, and is really more of an 'omake' ( a non-continuity piece) than anything else in how it takes place. The information is in continuity, the packaging for said information isn't. Basically, it's to get a good idea of everyone's capabilities at this point in the story. Expect people to be out of character.
Scene opens upon an empty auditorium. It's quite large, with multi-tiered balconies and private boxes. However, instead of the traditional curtain, it has a large screen for a projector.
A stage light turns on, but no one is on stage. It turns off, a few moments past, and it turns on again
Tremor (running lights) : What's going on out there!
Zero(whispering) : You know, someone has to go out there and lecture, or Tremor is going to quote: Mary Sue the hell out of Jazz and Bebop; end quote and reduce us all to janitors.
Dr. Cain (whispering) : I haven't even shown up in the story yet, why should I do it?
Zero (whispering) : Well, like I actually pay attention to what makes reploids WORK?
Dr. Cain (loudly) : Good point! (whispering) oops.
slight smacking sound, as if metal lightly on the back of an elderly skull, followed by a clanging sound by metal on metal
X (whispering) : will you two knock it off? Luckily for you, I managed to find someone to do this for us.
Zero (interested whispering) : Really, who?
X (whispering) : Easy, he's one of the characters Capcom added into the fifth game, and Tremor is trying to set up for some of the changes in between the two games, so get out there buddy, and make us proud.
Lifesaver, a tall, green and white robot wearing the old style parabolic reflector doctors used to wear, is shoved out on screen by X, Zero, and Dr. Cain. The trio then run out and take seats in the audience
Lifesaver : Well, I'm glad to make my pre-introduction to the fanfiction in such an abrupt manner glares at the trio in the audience, who act like they don't notice. To plug myself: I'll be appearing in normal continuity as one of the new medical officers the Hunters have hired.
Tremor (irritated in general) : Get on with it already! Most people are going to start skipping to the next chapter any time now!
Lifesaver : Oh, right. flips an internal remote, and the screen comes on. It displays Jazz and Bebop, front and side profile, in their current forms, which are, for the record, humanoid robots, slightly hunched over with claws on feet and hands (retractable). Jazz is brown and tan, and built along female lines. Rhythm's lion-like head has split into two and rests on her shoulders, and much of the rest of the body has folded up into a jetpack. Bebop is slightly taller, black with green accents in the lighter regions, and has Staff primarily resting on his back. Staff's old shoulder cannons are mounted at waist level, and two wing-like projections serve as stabilizers and maneuverability thrusters. ). Jazz and Bebop were found recently following the Repliforce-Maverick Hunters War, the details of which were covered in X4. However, this is a slightly alternate universe, in that the data from each robot was collected and granted to both of them, giving Zero and X full access to each technique, and X access to the complete Force armor.
X and Zero cheer on their awesome power (well, X is out of character), while Lifesaver switches to a montage of scenes from X4
Lifesaver: Also, Zero faced Iris and Colonel, sadly killing them both as they were led with no apparent way out into opposite sides of the conflict, as X dealt with the traitorous Double, one of the few actual maverick Mavericks dealt with, as Sigma had manipulated all sides into coming to blows, and almost managed to destroy humanity using Repliforce's weapon systems. The two teamed up to deal with Sigma and the General. Several weeks passed when Jazz and Bebop were found. Sigma is apparently destroyed, again, for the fourth, or eighth or ninth time, depending if you count bodies or apparent total destruction. He's probably still around lurking in Virus form.
Lifesaver switches the picture to a tiny, insect like robot. The scale indicates its only a few microns in size
Lifesaver: Nanomachines, like this one here, are the core portion of our auto-repair system, dealing with impact wounds as our shielding systems help deal with energy bolts. Reploid shield systems power both defense and fusion containment, when the shields collapse, unless auto-shutdown is hit very quickly, the reploid tends to blow up. The Maverick Virus also, in the story anyway, has a couple forms.
Switch to file footage of good old Doctor Wiley
The original form, created by the late, mad doctor here, was simply an extremely powerful computer virus, and Wiley had programmed in some nifty infection routines, like one that was carried along with weapon data on a variable weapon system, which is how both Jazz and Bebop got infected for a small period back in the days of Megaman. The virus's intended purpose was to allow a robot to simply fight far beyond where any reasonable limit would be to shut down, effectively giving the thinking and randomness of a intelligent, decision making robot, with the sheer stubborness and fighting fury of a drone. As a plus, the virus could be used to take control of simpler machines. Wiley didn't quite have it finished when Bass got affected, and it tended to cause merely a murderous rage.
Scene of Jazz and Bebop, lying down with apparently massive migraines
Luckily, Light and Wiley both anticipated something like this, and the two did manage to become aware of the effects in time to delete most of the virus. Though it isn't known to any but Jazz and Bebop in the main story, parts of the virus did manage to affect their personality programming before it was caught, and during the period in 'hibernation' it's become a core part of their programming. More on the effects of this later.
Scene of giant Sigma head. X, Cain, Zero, and Tremor boo and hiss
Lifesaver: Here's a continuity branch as well. It's not really important, but should be noted: While Zero was built to deal with the Virus, he wasn't infected with it originally. Sigma picked up the chip with the Virus on it and was infected. Zero, busy keeping people away from his home at the time, Sigma and Zero battled. Sigma, equipped with a beam saber, was able to take Zero out, though Zero did just as well as Sigma claimed in his little falsehood. Zero was then rebuilt and repaired by Dr. Cain into the superrobot of today. Why did Sigma lie: Because by attacking Zero's confidence, Sigma increased the chances of Zero losing and being infected later. You'll notice Sigma does these mind games a lot in the X games, like setting up a false anti-virus just to grab a lot of reploids at once.
Anyway, Zero's control chip and memory board were damaged in the course, and Sigma, busy dealing with the affects of the Virus, said this was the Maverick, but Zero awoke with no memory, and apparently was a well-adjusted Reploid post-repair, though built for battle. I assume for non-Viral Mavericks, the usual method was to try and take them in, and probably give them counseling, jail-time, or probably (sadly enough), memory erasures, putting a new personality in the old body. Zero decided to work for the Hunters, since he was equipped, and wanted to help atone for apparent past sins.
Meanwhile, Sigma's systems were taken over by the virus, and modified his auto-repair system into the current nano-virus form. (Which is why in X5, when Sigma's blown up early on, the virus is air-bursted over much of the planet). Sigma himself mutated into almost the Virus, a destroyer, and to help make it easier, flamed his resentments at the prejudice Reploids suffered from.
Tremor (from catwalk, loudly) : Why did I put this in? Simple: I like Zero to much to make him Typhoid Zero. Still, on 21XX justice systems, yikes! Well, memory erasure for assault? A human gets five years, robots get the Stepford Reploid
. Dr. Cain mutters acknowledgment, X, Zero, and Lifesaver are careful to say nothing.
Lifesaver : Anyway, Sigma then went and infected most of the other Elite Hunters with his little improved nano-version. This also explains why anti-viruses are so hard to develop, as not only is the CPU and core personality infected, the very body will reinfect itself, as the auto-repair has modified itself.
Switches to 'before' and 'after' pictures of Jazz and Bebop, pre and post hibernation
Lifesaver pleased at how well this segued That's a good mention to describe what happened to Bebop and Jazz during their period under the river. Most of this is confirmation of the guesswork I'll be engaging in 'off-camera' into between last part and the next one. Bebop and Jazz were affected by the early version of the Virus, or at least the core berserker program. Trying to flee to less-patrolled areas, it traveled over the data connections to Staff and Rhythm, who were currently in their Adapter (flight + weapon power-up) forms. However, as there was two-way traffic flow over the datalink in their dream state, Rhythm and Staff's non-sentient programs were gradually absorbed into the sentient purposes as stronger data-connections and correlations are one of the housekeeping duty Reploid sleep takes care of. This lends itself especially when the higher-level reasoning functions are brought down slightly by drowsiness, nervousness, or the Reploid-equivelent of adrenaline in battle, leading to cat-like mannerisms.
Due to the now-current existence of one-mind, the armor on both Reploids modified itself slightly. It now became one piece, and other improvements were made. The duo now have full flight capability for up to five minutes before needing to recharge. Also, minor errors in efficiency and such were corrected, so with the increased weapons-power offered by their armor and former support units, Jazz and Bebop got weapon charging ability (two levels) and four-charge levels on their original weapon systems.
Shots of Jazz (original) firing one missile, then one from both wrist ports, and then four missiles from her shoulder and wrist ports. Then it flashes to kitty-Jazz shooting missiles from all four old ports, and four from ports on the jetpack Each has a numeral beside it for the charge level, going up the scale with more firepower
We then got a shot of Bebop (original) shooting green laser from one cannon, then two cannons, and then blue shots from both cannons. Kitty-Bebop shoots purple energy from those standard arm cannons, plus the two waist cannons (this follows standard Megaman energy progression for charging levels, green, blue, purple)
Lifesaver (seriously) : However, one must remember their systems are forty years out of date. As evidenced by X's standard X-buster still being quite potent, weapon systems haven't advanced a great deal, and the two are still at least average in that area for firepower. Their main lack in such a way is the fact that they use specialized weapon systems that deal increased damage either with kinetics (missiles) or energy (particle streams) rather than plasma that does moderate amounts of damage to all items.
Quick shot of nifty-blueprint lookalike on Jazz and Bebop. Shows major circuit boards, fusion reactor, etc. I wish I could draw one!
But, their armor and defense systems are seriously outmatched by current standards, so weapons do a lot more damage than expected to them. Also, they don't have dash thrusters. Bebop mimicked a dash by using his jets, but he wrecked the jet pack.
The only reason they're alive at all in current story time is due primarily to the berserker features of the Maverick Virus, which is activated by the battle-type programming left over in what was Staff and Rhythm's memories. However, despite the increased power this gives, it also means that they put several months of wear and tear on their systems in only a few moments. Obviously, after a few battles, they'd start shutting down from systems failure, and their opponents only need to get lucky a few times. Jazz and Bebop need to get lucky all the time. However, there are ways to deal with this, and it's possible that the capsule might give them some overdue birthday presents.
Switch to close up of torso regions, sub tanks overlay, but there is only enough space for two
Lifesaver: Instead of the usual four sub-tanks, Jazz and Bebop only have space for two, since their systems were equipped to handle Energy Tanks as well as Sub-tanks, as Dr. Light or Wiley hadn't finished designing the additional system yet, but wanted the options to still be there. They can still equip heart tanks normally.
Switch to schematics of X and Zero (I think Sigma's room in 5 and similar sketches
Lifesaver : A pressing question at the time is: What exactly is the relationship of the two Reploids to X and Zero, despite the professed claims of the Reploids to be brother and sister? Let's take a look.
Four way split screen! Bebop and X (no armor) next to each other with Jazz and Zero (next to each other). Each 'generation' is next to each other, X and Bebop in the top row
Lifesaver: Bebop and Jazz look very similar, due to having extremely similar functions. Zero was designed to be the perfect warrior, and Jazz is a watered-down version of the same, without dash thrusters or as much armor. Jazz is also Wiley's possible ONLY female design because Wiley wanted to also use her to give Bass something a bit stronger to fight for. That's right, Wiley was nasty enough to I guess try and get Bass to do a reverse-Iris.
Bebop is a version of X, with more preprogrammed locks on his behavior. Those were eliminated, and Bebop doesn't mention them, as he wasn't supposed to be self-supportive enough to do that. Since Light built Bebop while Wiley was still a factor (X was intended for after the natural death of Wiley, after which the problems would probably cease.) Bebop in base form was a heavier armed and armored version. Since X wasn't a war design, Jazz and Bebop are about equal in those departments, one boosted as a warrior, the other weakened from her model.
Due to Jazz and Bebop being an interim design, they did get the support units that are similar to the original Megaman and Bass, which serves in a similar role to really the X1 or X2 armor for both, without so much stamina. (with the not-yet-completed Falcon armor as well).
Scene of Jazz doing a terra burst, Zero doing an ice saber stab, X and Bebop launching big blasts in separate shots
Differences to be noted between the two are as followed. X and Bebop seem to rely mainly on copies of the weapon systems of the robots they faced. Jazz seems to be picking up attacks more similar to techniques. Unlike Zero, Jazz can access more powerful (and usually more dangerous to herself) versions of techniques by charging up extra energy, such as using a double beam saber slash followed by a long-range attack. However, most of these leave herself more open to damage, like the charged version of the Terra Burst involves her slamming herself into an opponent to soak up more damage, followed by her blasting at close range, and then using that energy splash from the radiation to fire a second burst. Obviously, Jazz is a bit woozy afterwards...
Scenes of the cute capsule system, X getting various upgrades (where DO I get this file footage?)
Tremor : Move back to the series background! Tell them about the capsules.
X, Zero and Dr. Cain (similar to the nuns in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", or, in creepy unison) : "Yes, tell us about the capsules, the capsules!"
Lifesaver (unamused): Always of note is the capsule system. With Bebop being very similar to the X design, and Jazz being closer than Zero, there is a possibility that when they enter battle in this time that capsules could appear.
We know very little about how the capsules operate. They evidently have an artificial intelligence program based on Dr. Light's personality, judging by the fact that greater enhancements have been made to X. Without an ability to take a capsule and examine it, that's all we may know. We do know the capsules seem to come in a set of five, with four capsules each to a primary part (helmet, legs, weapons (arms), and torso). The fifth capsule generally has some sort of mega-upgrade that sends X's power beyond what anyone thought was possible up to that time. It should be noted that instead of a fifth capsule recently, there was another weapons capsule. It's possible the capsules are multiplying, or it's possible X missed one. (Which one? It's the Ultimate Armor code available, and the Armor upgrade available to the Force armor in X5)
Lifesaver looks through his notes That's all I've got for now guys. Thanks for letting me do this!
Tremor: You're welcome, but I'm not paying you.
Lifesaver: Rassing, frassing author .....
Lifesaver stomps off, stage left
Author's notes
Just another interlude (pretty long one actually), while I'm working on the next part. this gets a lot of stuff out of the way I wanted known, and wasn't sure how to do it besides long boring paragraphs. So, I just put all the long boring paragraphs in one place!
^_^
Anyway, that shows the few minor differences. X and Zero got all the weapons/techniques in the last game, and Zero wasn't the original carrier (judging by how nasty Sigma's version of the Virus is, I doubt it would have let old Zero go. I can see Sigma being cruel enough to tell Zero that his mysterious past was as the very thing he hunts down.
That's all for now.
Next time: Maverick Hunter Headquarters, and some answers. Plus, Zero and X try and deal with the deaths of friends, and various new staff. (In other words, enough of this stuff and back to some action!)
