Prologue:

In the year 20XX, Dr. Thomas Light's robotic prowess was well-known. Along with his research partner Dr. Albert Wily, the two created the plans for a new neuro-net to use in their robots. This net would act similarly to a human brain, enabling better control over the machines. This system was implemented in Proto, a creation that resulted after Wily's usage of the neuro-net to manipulate robots to his evil ways. Dr. Light wasn't going to let Proto fight Wily, but the young robot had problems with authority and was easily coerced by Wily to join him. However, after Wily double-crossed Proto, he took a different stance-as a vigilant protector of Dr. Light's subsequent creation, Rock. Like Proto, Rock wasn't designed to fight, but after Wily began unleashing his robotic evils on the world, he convinced Dr. Light to allow him to. He underwent structural manipulation and thus was born the hero of the Robot Rebellions.

Eight times Dr. Wily attempted to achieve world domination through brilliant(yet very predictable) orchestrated plans, even after being jailed and escaping twice. The constant interference of Rock and Proto and the belligerent, rebellious attitude of his most advanced creation, Bass, caused him to sink deeper into his own insanity, and one day found a blueprint for Dr. Light's experimental Neuro-net X, an even more advanced brain system that would allow whole artificial intelligence. Using the blueprints, Wily fashioned his own robot, with some adjustments based on the systems he'd used in Bass, to create Zero, a machine capable of mass destruction. He planned to release the robot to destroy Rock, Proto, and Bass, and then conquer the Earth as he was destined...

20XX...

Part I: The Mysterious Hunter Is Complete

"Ha, ha. It is almost complete. Just one more...there!" Dr. Wily said to himself, leaning over the table he was using to weld together the last pieces of his newest creation's neural net. The sparks from the lighttorch had just clicked the final part of the robot into place-the activation circuit was complete.

Standing erect once more, Wily looked down at his masterpiece. It was about a foot taller than Bass, reaching a height of almost 6'3. Its red armor glowed under the bright light from the laboratory, and its green chest nodes refracted a prism of color on the walls of the building. It had a super-powerful drive system and weapons array, and most importantly the Terria net-analogous to Dr. Light's Neuro-net X, the Terria net not only applied individual thought to the robot, whom he had dubbed Zero, but also allowed ultrafast accuracy calculations and control of its highly unpredictable weapons systems. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the Terria net, Wily could not pre-program Zero. He would have to use a program injection after he activated the machine. He was about to do so when he heard a knock on the door.

"And vat could dat be?" he muttered to himself, thick German accent resonating throughout the chamber. Walking to the door, he realized the noise had come from the table. But when he turned back around to check on Zero, a glass pane high in the rafters of the laboratory shattered, raining shards on the ground below. When he looked up, he got an unwelcome surprise.

"And vat is-" he began, before getting pelted with a hailstone the size of a baseball. "Stupid wetter."

What Wily didn't notice was Rock's pet bird, Beat, fly in through the hole in the glass and land on a nearby crossbeam. He had been equipped with a reconnaissance net so he could spy on Wily, but these last few months he couldn't find a way to get into the lab. Aiming the camera on the table Wily had walked back to, Beat began scanning the robot lying there. After a few minutes, he stopped.

That's not good, he thought. The shrill voice that Dr. Cossack had designed him with prohibited him from making much noise, and took caution to monitor this red robot of Wily's.

Wily had resumed his post at the table beside Zero, opening the chest plate of the robot and tripping the activation circuit. Closing the plate, Wily stepped back as Zero's eyes began to glow bright red, a shade deeper than its armor. After a few seconds, the eyes of the robot became white with blue irises. Its arms began to move slowly, mechanical systems adjusting to the environment. After several more seconds, it sat up and looked around, finally resting its gaze on Wily.

"Who are you?" the robot asked, with a distinctly male voice.

"I am your creator. My name is Dr. Wily."

Zero looked at Wily skeptically. There was something fundamentally wrong with this person. Maybe it was his wild hair(it did have a kind of mad scientist look to it), or that suspicious gleam in his eyes. Whatever it was, Zero didn't trust it. He looked around the lab, trying to find other robots.

"If you're a robot designer, where are all the other robots?"

Wily stuttered. "They aren't here. They're all in the city."

That's weird, Zero thought, quickly scanning the computers behind Wily. The things on it confirmed what he had thought. Centered in the aerial photograph on the screen was the research laboratory of another scientist, and nearby, the city hall. There were red lines running in and out of these structures, like attack and retreat directions. Finally, the words '12:34 P.M.-Plan Complete' caught the red robot's gaze and he realized what Wily counted on doing. He was going to raid that scientist's laboratory and then take down city hall by some means. But what could he be taking...?

When Zero wasn't looking at Wily, the scientist had grabbed a small instrument from the work tray next to him. He had installed the override program in it, and shakily aimed it at his creation.

"Hey, what are you doing with that-" Zero began, only to be cut off by a high-frequency electronic pulse that immobilized him and made him sink into a trance-like state.

Wily put the device back down. It was now time to give Zero his orders.

"You will attack Dr. Light's laboratory," he said, pointing to the building in the middle of the screen. And you will destroy him. He is my nemesis. You will destroy his robots, his plans you will take back to me, and then you will invade city hall. Take the officials captive and make them hand over control to me."

"I am here to serve you, master," Zero replied, in a ghostly monotone. "I will do as you wish."

"Very good, Zero," Wily answered, "very good."

Beat's eyes grew wide as saucers when he saw what Wily had done. That robot didn't trust the evil doctor, but then the whacked-out madman had used some sort of neuralizer to make him into a big metal puppet. And with the plans Wily had and the ammunition that robot was packing, nothing, not even Rock, could stop him. He had to tell Dr. Light immediately. Taking off through the shattered glass pane, Beat struggled to fly under the torrents of rain to get back to his home.