/* Following Section by Bryan Amethyst */
Near an hour later, Iris was closing up the cafe. Bryan leaned against the inside of the door frame, watching her. "Mind if I walk you home? Never know what could be out there at this time of night."
Iris blushed, looking down. "Um... okay." She looked back up, smiling. Bryan held the door open for her, letting her walk out. She locked it behind them, and slid her hands into the pockets of her coat. They then began to walk down the sidewalk, heading back to Maverick Hunter HQ.
Truth be told, Bryan liked her, and he was doing this as much to simply hang around her as his other reason. But really, he needed a bit of peace of mind. Getting all of that off his chest helped lighten the load on his thoughts. But even as Iris started to walk a little closer to him, even slipping her arm through his, Bryan's mind still turned elsewhere. He looked up into the sky, starting to lighten as morning approached. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow flicker. Spinning around, he instinctively channeled his ki into one palm while placing an arm protectively across Iris's chest.
The sudden movement made her gasp. She grabbed onto his arm with one hand, the other diving into her purse. In less than two blinks of an eye, a crimson beam shot upward through the air, just nearly singing Bryan's hair. Glancing backwards, he saw that Iris held her late brother's beam saber. Nice reflex, he thought. Stance was perfect, too.
"What is it?" she asked even as she scanned around herself.
Bryan closed his eyes, concentrating. Though it wouldn't be as accurate or as effective, he had the scouting program from his headset in his CPU. As far as he could tell, nothing was near them. He relaxed, letting the ki disperse into tiny pinpoints of light that rushed back to his hand so as to be absorbed. "Nothing," he said, looking around more carefully. "False alarm."
Iris deactivated the beam saber, replacing it in her purse. It looked almost ridiculous for her to wield it, what with how large it was. But she seemed capable. She smoothed her hair from her face. "Good. That means I can get home sooner and take a long, hot bath."
"Your tub large enough for two?" A mischevious grin found its way onto Bryan's expression.
Iris furrowed her brow as she frowned slightly, reaching up and yanking down hard on the tails of Bryan's headband. His eyes bulged as his head was snapped backward. Taken totally off-guard, Bryan keeled over backwards in a quite comical display of flailing limbs. She laughed at him. "What's with that headband, anyway? You look like Ryu."
Slowly getting back up while rubbing the back of his head, Bryan answered, "Because it keeps my forehead warm and the hair out of my eyes. That and the fact that it looks cool." He was treated with a look that screamed 'yeah right.'
Iris wrapped her arm back around his. "Well then. You can take me home now."
"Oh? I can take YOU home NOW? Am I your chauffer now? Your private servant boy?"
"The job's open if you're willing." She flashed him a grin.
Bryan rolled his eyes, dragging her forward with him as he started off. "I suppose I'll have to take it. The west side is rather tough if you're alone." Iris laughed and skipped alongside him. He let himself relax a little more, smiling again. It faded, however, as his attention turned once more to the fast-approaching morning sky.
Hazama... stay alive... I'll find you.
/* Previous Section by Bryan Amethyst */
/* A few days later... */
"Scramble! Scramble!"
Alarms sounded throughout Maverick Hunter Headquarters. Unit leaders rounded their men up and met at the dispatch point. Bryan saw Zero shouting orders to his unit, Special Unit #0, and pulled him aside. "What's going on?!" Bryan shouted over the incredible noise in the room.
"Mavericks have stormed the western section of the city!" Zero replied loudly.
"What?! Western? They're not trying another ruse, are they?"
"How should I know what the hell they're up to? HUNTERS! MOVE OUT!" Zero screamed to make himself heard throughout the room, which was equal in proportions to a medium-sized warehouse. Legions of Maverick Hunters, units 0 through 14, stormed out of MHHQ and into the mist. It was nearing the break of dawn. It appeared a large group of Mavericks had snuck into the city after nightfall and begun their slaughter. The other hunting units were left back home in case of a sneak attack. There was a time when the Mavericks had struck out at a farther section of the city with expendible fighters, while the more experienced ones struck at Maverick Hunter Headquarters itself, causing an uproar and sending every unit into a panic. After that, they left a unit at the headquarters while the rest went out to fight. It grew to where there had to be three units on standby at all times, given the intensity of the Mavericks' strikes.
Everyone thought the Mavericks were trying their age old tactics again, which is why the units at headquarters were dumbfounded when there was no attack. Two guards on duty at one of the main entrances did, however, notice a familiar figure approaching.
"Hey, Earl," one prodded the other. "Don't that look like Zero over there?"
"How should I know, huh? You're supposed to ask for identity, anyway."
"Me? Why can't you ask some times?"
"Will you just ask, damnit!"
"Fine! Hey, you-- whu? There's nobody there!"
"Fool! Let me read my magazine without any interruptions this time."
Around fifteen minutes later the guards' wrist intercoms crackled to life. "This is Zero. Maverick threat eliminated. We're returning to base. Ready the medical bay, we've got a few dents." Shouts erupted through the entire MHHQ. Hazama had slipped around the two while they had argued back and forth, and entered the building. He was walking down the hall when X rounded the corner and saw him.
"Hazama! Long time no see, where have you be-- urk!" X was cut off mid-sentence as Hazama swiftly grabbed the azure reploid by his throat and held him up to the wall. "Hey, what did I ever do to warrant this?" asked the leader of the 17th.
Hazama sneered. "Good to see you too, X. How's it been, living in the bowels of reploid hell?"
"Reploid what...? What do you mean?" inquired X.
"You should be able to figure it out. The glint in my eyes, the grin on my face..." Hazama's grin widened as X's eyes did so.
"I knew it. You've been playing too many fighting games. I keep telling you they'll-- gah!"
Hazama tightened his grip on X's throat. "You fool! You're just like everyone said. You make Santa Claus seem like an entity of destruction!" He emphasized the last word.
"No, don't tell me... you're..."
"Yes?"
"MAVERICK!" X shouted at the top of his lungs.
Hazama dropped X and looked around him, waiting for blaster-toting guards to come for him any second. Only a distant yell of 'Damn pranksters!' floated down the hall. X began to sweat as he rubbed his neck. He knew the units out on the attack would be back by now. Almost on cue, Zero came running down the hall. "Did someone yell 'Maverick?'" he asked.
X began to speak, but Hazama cut him off, slapping X on the back. "X here seems to think he saw a Maverick, but it must have ran off," he calmly replied.
Zero stared Hazama down before turning to X and saying, "Shoot next time, don't yell." With that, the crimson reploid turned and sauntered off down the hall.
When Zero was out of sight, X glared at Hazama, who just smiled. "Now, X, I wouldn't go around spreading nasty rumors about lil' ol' me," the green one chuckled. "It's bad form. You should get some rest. You look like hell." Hazama slapped X on his shoulder once more and walked down the hall himself, toward the barracks, leaving X where he stood. He could only wonder what the Zero-lookalike's motives were. The most he could do for now was to talk to Zero about the whole incident, and he set off toward the bar.
In his room, untouched by all but the cleaners, Hazama sat on his bed and changed the frequency on his wristcom.
"Hazama reporting. Infiltration was a success. Minor resistance from X, but it was handled without violence. He's probably going to talk to Zero about me."
Vile's voice responded. "Keep them from rioting and you'll be able to handle the rest. Remember, I want information, not bodies."
"Understood."
"Well then, try to fit in as if you're still Maverick Hunter Hazama. Over and out."
The wristcom died out, and Hazama reset its frequency to that of the MHHQ. Any odd frequencies on anyone's intercoms was grounds for suspicion. Hazama relieved himself of his armor and flopped down onto his bed, smiling to himself. He'd always wanted to be a spy.
By now the entire complex must know of my return, Hazama thought as he sat up in his bed the next morning. He got up and walked over to his armor, picked up the body plating, and examined it intently. The symbol bearing the 'coat of arms' of the Hunters stung his eyes, but he held his actions and donned the armor. Dressed for the day, he opened his door and stepped out into the hallway, closing the entrance to his room behind him. He no longer started down the hall than he saw Iris. She saw him and immediately ran up to him, grabbing him in a tight hug, burying her face in his chest, almost sobbing. "Where have you been, you big lummox?! You had me worried!" she wailed.
Under normal circumstances, Hazama would have beheaded anyone who touched him. His thought processors had no chance to act out his Maverick ways before his emotions beat them bloody. He wrapped one arm around her and put his other on her head, stroking her hair softly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, gently pulling her away from him and wiping a tear from her eye. "I'm back now. No need for tears." He smiled a bit, as did she.
"I thought you were dead." She sniffed once.
Hazama put his hands on his hips and tried his best to look angry. "Dead? Who could kill Hazama, the great Hunter?!"
She knew he was fooling, and grabbed his arm. "Come on. I'm sure you want to see your friends. They're having breakfast in the cafeteria."
They both walked down the hall, arm in arm, until they reached the cafe. All heads turned to the door and the room fell silent when they saw Hazama. He stared around the room for a while. "Alright, show's over. Back to normal, back to normal."
Everyone went back to eating and talking, some looking and pointing at the Green One. Hazama and Iris walked over and sat down at the same table which X, Zero, and Bryan were at. Without looking up, Zero spoke. "Well, he's back." He stabbed another piece of egg with his fork and continued eating. X stared at him in disbelief.
"Hazama! Long time no see, pal!" Bryan said.
"Yeah, long time. So, what have I missed?"
"A lot of nothing, really. There was a Maverick raid in the western section of the city last night. Weak ones, as usual, but there was no main force aiming for the HQ this time," X informed.
"Ah, sounds fun. Now I wish I could have been here for it all," he half sighed.
"'It all?'" Bryan quirked an eyebrow. "There was nothing to do!"
Hazama grinned. "That's my point!"
After breakfast, Hazama tramped down the hall to Cain's office. He was to regain command of the 15th Unit since he returned. He opened the door and peeked in. "Cain, sir?"
"Ah, Hazama. Have a seat. I have a few things to talk with you about," the old man said.
Hazama did as he was told, and an interrogation of sorts began with questions and answers flying back and forth. What happened during the battle Hazama was captured in, what happened while he was at Maverick Headquarters, and other relevant topics. Hazama had to think for a while before deciding whether or not to reveal more about Maverick HQ than he needed to. "I memorized the layout of their base while I was there. It's pretty big."
Cain's eyes brightened at this. "Could you draw a map of it just by memory? It would be a great asset to our forces if we could make strategies for the inside of their headquarters. We know the layout of their grounds, but once inside we have to rely on transmissions alone."
"Uh, sure... I suppose. I'm surprised there hasn't been one drawn already..."
"Great, great! You ought to be happy to be getting command of your unit back. Maverick Hunters hasn't been the same without one of its top members," Cain said, rising up.
Hazama rose as well and saluted. "Yes, sir."
"You can take the reins during training. Dismissed."
Hazama left Cain's office and was greeted by a voice that said, "You've been acting rather suspicious since you came back." The voice materialized as Zero once he stepped out of a shadowy recess in the wall. "There isn't anything on your mind, is there?" His voice didn't convey a friendly tone.
Hazama frowned. "What's there to talk about? I'm back, I've got my unit, all's well."
"Hardly. You've never acted this way in the past. I can't put my thumb on it, but I'll be keeping an eye on you."
"Alright, just make sure to keep the other eye on the path before you," Hazama smirked as he turned and started off the hall again. Zero went over to Cain's office door and knocked.
"Come in."
Opening the door, the crimson one stepped into the office and saluted his superior. "Haven't you noticed anything... suspicious about Hazama since he's returned?"
"Suspicious? Why, I haven't seen anything to warrant a suspicion. Why?"
Zero furrowed his brow. "I don't know, but there's something wrong with him. Is it possible the Mavericks could have..."
Cain's eyebrows rose. "You don't mean to say you think Hazama is a Maverick? Preposterous!"
"Maybe so, but remember Sigma was an upstanding Hunter of the highest rank. Mac was a good man, and Double was a Maverick under our noses the entire time. I'd like to keep an eye on Hazama if you'll allow it. I don't want to take any chances these days."
Cain let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, if you think it's in the best interest of the headquarters, you can watch him. Report anything that would indicate a Maverick infection as soon as you find it. I don't like to think it, but if two of our own could turn Maverick, then so could another. Dismissed."
Zero saluted again and made his way out of the office and down the hall toward the lounge. Worst-case scenario thoughts of Hazama being a Maverick floated through his head the entire way. His favorite one was killing Hazama himself, to his own surprise, though other thoughts were of X or Bryan taking care of him. Still another was the apology he would have to give to the green reploid if he turned out to be clean of the virus. He didn't like that one. Apologies weren't Zero's style.
In the barracks, Hazama sat in a chair, leaning back on two legs and playing toss-the-ball with the wall in front of him. He thought back to the meeting with Cain. Soon he thought back to the beginning of his existence, as far back as he knew. The most Hazama ever managed to remember was that he used to be a human, an anomaly among the reploid race, of which only he and Bryan had the privelege of being. His thoughts fast forwarded to the day he won Iris over. A smirk crossed his face as he saw the defeated look on Zero's face in his mind. Even while a Maverick, he knew the sight of Iris kept his Maverick reprogramming at bay, but he had no problem with this; Sigma could fall over and croak before Hazama would hurt Iris.
Near an hour later, Iris was closing up the cafe. Bryan leaned against the inside of the door frame, watching her. "Mind if I walk you home? Never know what could be out there at this time of night."
Iris blushed, looking down. "Um... okay." She looked back up, smiling. Bryan held the door open for her, letting her walk out. She locked it behind them, and slid her hands into the pockets of her coat. They then began to walk down the sidewalk, heading back to Maverick Hunter HQ.
Truth be told, Bryan liked her, and he was doing this as much to simply hang around her as his other reason. But really, he needed a bit of peace of mind. Getting all of that off his chest helped lighten the load on his thoughts. But even as Iris started to walk a little closer to him, even slipping her arm through his, Bryan's mind still turned elsewhere. He looked up into the sky, starting to lighten as morning approached. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow flicker. Spinning around, he instinctively channeled his ki into one palm while placing an arm protectively across Iris's chest.
The sudden movement made her gasp. She grabbed onto his arm with one hand, the other diving into her purse. In less than two blinks of an eye, a crimson beam shot upward through the air, just nearly singing Bryan's hair. Glancing backwards, he saw that Iris held her late brother's beam saber. Nice reflex, he thought. Stance was perfect, too.
"What is it?" she asked even as she scanned around herself.
Bryan closed his eyes, concentrating. Though it wouldn't be as accurate or as effective, he had the scouting program from his headset in his CPU. As far as he could tell, nothing was near them. He relaxed, letting the ki disperse into tiny pinpoints of light that rushed back to his hand so as to be absorbed. "Nothing," he said, looking around more carefully. "False alarm."
Iris deactivated the beam saber, replacing it in her purse. It looked almost ridiculous for her to wield it, what with how large it was. But she seemed capable. She smoothed her hair from her face. "Good. That means I can get home sooner and take a long, hot bath."
"Your tub large enough for two?" A mischevious grin found its way onto Bryan's expression.
Iris furrowed her brow as she frowned slightly, reaching up and yanking down hard on the tails of Bryan's headband. His eyes bulged as his head was snapped backward. Taken totally off-guard, Bryan keeled over backwards in a quite comical display of flailing limbs. She laughed at him. "What's with that headband, anyway? You look like Ryu."
Slowly getting back up while rubbing the back of his head, Bryan answered, "Because it keeps my forehead warm and the hair out of my eyes. That and the fact that it looks cool." He was treated with a look that screamed 'yeah right.'
Iris wrapped her arm back around his. "Well then. You can take me home now."
"Oh? I can take YOU home NOW? Am I your chauffer now? Your private servant boy?"
"The job's open if you're willing." She flashed him a grin.
Bryan rolled his eyes, dragging her forward with him as he started off. "I suppose I'll have to take it. The west side is rather tough if you're alone." Iris laughed and skipped alongside him. He let himself relax a little more, smiling again. It faded, however, as his attention turned once more to the fast-approaching morning sky.
Hazama... stay alive... I'll find you.
/* Previous Section by Bryan Amethyst */
/* A few days later... */
"Scramble! Scramble!"
Alarms sounded throughout Maverick Hunter Headquarters. Unit leaders rounded their men up and met at the dispatch point. Bryan saw Zero shouting orders to his unit, Special Unit #0, and pulled him aside. "What's going on?!" Bryan shouted over the incredible noise in the room.
"Mavericks have stormed the western section of the city!" Zero replied loudly.
"What?! Western? They're not trying another ruse, are they?"
"How should I know what the hell they're up to? HUNTERS! MOVE OUT!" Zero screamed to make himself heard throughout the room, which was equal in proportions to a medium-sized warehouse. Legions of Maverick Hunters, units 0 through 14, stormed out of MHHQ and into the mist. It was nearing the break of dawn. It appeared a large group of Mavericks had snuck into the city after nightfall and begun their slaughter. The other hunting units were left back home in case of a sneak attack. There was a time when the Mavericks had struck out at a farther section of the city with expendible fighters, while the more experienced ones struck at Maverick Hunter Headquarters itself, causing an uproar and sending every unit into a panic. After that, they left a unit at the headquarters while the rest went out to fight. It grew to where there had to be three units on standby at all times, given the intensity of the Mavericks' strikes.
Everyone thought the Mavericks were trying their age old tactics again, which is why the units at headquarters were dumbfounded when there was no attack. Two guards on duty at one of the main entrances did, however, notice a familiar figure approaching.
"Hey, Earl," one prodded the other. "Don't that look like Zero over there?"
"How should I know, huh? You're supposed to ask for identity, anyway."
"Me? Why can't you ask some times?"
"Will you just ask, damnit!"
"Fine! Hey, you-- whu? There's nobody there!"
"Fool! Let me read my magazine without any interruptions this time."
Around fifteen minutes later the guards' wrist intercoms crackled to life. "This is Zero. Maverick threat eliminated. We're returning to base. Ready the medical bay, we've got a few dents." Shouts erupted through the entire MHHQ. Hazama had slipped around the two while they had argued back and forth, and entered the building. He was walking down the hall when X rounded the corner and saw him.
"Hazama! Long time no see, where have you be-- urk!" X was cut off mid-sentence as Hazama swiftly grabbed the azure reploid by his throat and held him up to the wall. "Hey, what did I ever do to warrant this?" asked the leader of the 17th.
Hazama sneered. "Good to see you too, X. How's it been, living in the bowels of reploid hell?"
"Reploid what...? What do you mean?" inquired X.
"You should be able to figure it out. The glint in my eyes, the grin on my face..." Hazama's grin widened as X's eyes did so.
"I knew it. You've been playing too many fighting games. I keep telling you they'll-- gah!"
Hazama tightened his grip on X's throat. "You fool! You're just like everyone said. You make Santa Claus seem like an entity of destruction!" He emphasized the last word.
"No, don't tell me... you're..."
"Yes?"
"MAVERICK!" X shouted at the top of his lungs.
Hazama dropped X and looked around him, waiting for blaster-toting guards to come for him any second. Only a distant yell of 'Damn pranksters!' floated down the hall. X began to sweat as he rubbed his neck. He knew the units out on the attack would be back by now. Almost on cue, Zero came running down the hall. "Did someone yell 'Maverick?'" he asked.
X began to speak, but Hazama cut him off, slapping X on the back. "X here seems to think he saw a Maverick, but it must have ran off," he calmly replied.
Zero stared Hazama down before turning to X and saying, "Shoot next time, don't yell." With that, the crimson reploid turned and sauntered off down the hall.
When Zero was out of sight, X glared at Hazama, who just smiled. "Now, X, I wouldn't go around spreading nasty rumors about lil' ol' me," the green one chuckled. "It's bad form. You should get some rest. You look like hell." Hazama slapped X on his shoulder once more and walked down the hall himself, toward the barracks, leaving X where he stood. He could only wonder what the Zero-lookalike's motives were. The most he could do for now was to talk to Zero about the whole incident, and he set off toward the bar.
In his room, untouched by all but the cleaners, Hazama sat on his bed and changed the frequency on his wristcom.
"Hazama reporting. Infiltration was a success. Minor resistance from X, but it was handled without violence. He's probably going to talk to Zero about me."
Vile's voice responded. "Keep them from rioting and you'll be able to handle the rest. Remember, I want information, not bodies."
"Understood."
"Well then, try to fit in as if you're still Maverick Hunter Hazama. Over and out."
The wristcom died out, and Hazama reset its frequency to that of the MHHQ. Any odd frequencies on anyone's intercoms was grounds for suspicion. Hazama relieved himself of his armor and flopped down onto his bed, smiling to himself. He'd always wanted to be a spy.
By now the entire complex must know of my return, Hazama thought as he sat up in his bed the next morning. He got up and walked over to his armor, picked up the body plating, and examined it intently. The symbol bearing the 'coat of arms' of the Hunters stung his eyes, but he held his actions and donned the armor. Dressed for the day, he opened his door and stepped out into the hallway, closing the entrance to his room behind him. He no longer started down the hall than he saw Iris. She saw him and immediately ran up to him, grabbing him in a tight hug, burying her face in his chest, almost sobbing. "Where have you been, you big lummox?! You had me worried!" she wailed.
Under normal circumstances, Hazama would have beheaded anyone who touched him. His thought processors had no chance to act out his Maverick ways before his emotions beat them bloody. He wrapped one arm around her and put his other on her head, stroking her hair softly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, gently pulling her away from him and wiping a tear from her eye. "I'm back now. No need for tears." He smiled a bit, as did she.
"I thought you were dead." She sniffed once.
Hazama put his hands on his hips and tried his best to look angry. "Dead? Who could kill Hazama, the great Hunter?!"
She knew he was fooling, and grabbed his arm. "Come on. I'm sure you want to see your friends. They're having breakfast in the cafeteria."
They both walked down the hall, arm in arm, until they reached the cafe. All heads turned to the door and the room fell silent when they saw Hazama. He stared around the room for a while. "Alright, show's over. Back to normal, back to normal."
Everyone went back to eating and talking, some looking and pointing at the Green One. Hazama and Iris walked over and sat down at the same table which X, Zero, and Bryan were at. Without looking up, Zero spoke. "Well, he's back." He stabbed another piece of egg with his fork and continued eating. X stared at him in disbelief.
"Hazama! Long time no see, pal!" Bryan said.
"Yeah, long time. So, what have I missed?"
"A lot of nothing, really. There was a Maverick raid in the western section of the city last night. Weak ones, as usual, but there was no main force aiming for the HQ this time," X informed.
"Ah, sounds fun. Now I wish I could have been here for it all," he half sighed.
"'It all?'" Bryan quirked an eyebrow. "There was nothing to do!"
Hazama grinned. "That's my point!"
After breakfast, Hazama tramped down the hall to Cain's office. He was to regain command of the 15th Unit since he returned. He opened the door and peeked in. "Cain, sir?"
"Ah, Hazama. Have a seat. I have a few things to talk with you about," the old man said.
Hazama did as he was told, and an interrogation of sorts began with questions and answers flying back and forth. What happened during the battle Hazama was captured in, what happened while he was at Maverick Headquarters, and other relevant topics. Hazama had to think for a while before deciding whether or not to reveal more about Maverick HQ than he needed to. "I memorized the layout of their base while I was there. It's pretty big."
Cain's eyes brightened at this. "Could you draw a map of it just by memory? It would be a great asset to our forces if we could make strategies for the inside of their headquarters. We know the layout of their grounds, but once inside we have to rely on transmissions alone."
"Uh, sure... I suppose. I'm surprised there hasn't been one drawn already..."
"Great, great! You ought to be happy to be getting command of your unit back. Maverick Hunters hasn't been the same without one of its top members," Cain said, rising up.
Hazama rose as well and saluted. "Yes, sir."
"You can take the reins during training. Dismissed."
Hazama left Cain's office and was greeted by a voice that said, "You've been acting rather suspicious since you came back." The voice materialized as Zero once he stepped out of a shadowy recess in the wall. "There isn't anything on your mind, is there?" His voice didn't convey a friendly tone.
Hazama frowned. "What's there to talk about? I'm back, I've got my unit, all's well."
"Hardly. You've never acted this way in the past. I can't put my thumb on it, but I'll be keeping an eye on you."
"Alright, just make sure to keep the other eye on the path before you," Hazama smirked as he turned and started off the hall again. Zero went over to Cain's office door and knocked.
"Come in."
Opening the door, the crimson one stepped into the office and saluted his superior. "Haven't you noticed anything... suspicious about Hazama since he's returned?"
"Suspicious? Why, I haven't seen anything to warrant a suspicion. Why?"
Zero furrowed his brow. "I don't know, but there's something wrong with him. Is it possible the Mavericks could have..."
Cain's eyebrows rose. "You don't mean to say you think Hazama is a Maverick? Preposterous!"
"Maybe so, but remember Sigma was an upstanding Hunter of the highest rank. Mac was a good man, and Double was a Maverick under our noses the entire time. I'd like to keep an eye on Hazama if you'll allow it. I don't want to take any chances these days."
Cain let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, if you think it's in the best interest of the headquarters, you can watch him. Report anything that would indicate a Maverick infection as soon as you find it. I don't like to think it, but if two of our own could turn Maverick, then so could another. Dismissed."
Zero saluted again and made his way out of the office and down the hall toward the lounge. Worst-case scenario thoughts of Hazama being a Maverick floated through his head the entire way. His favorite one was killing Hazama himself, to his own surprise, though other thoughts were of X or Bryan taking care of him. Still another was the apology he would have to give to the green reploid if he turned out to be clean of the virus. He didn't like that one. Apologies weren't Zero's style.
In the barracks, Hazama sat in a chair, leaning back on two legs and playing toss-the-ball with the wall in front of him. He thought back to the meeting with Cain. Soon he thought back to the beginning of his existence, as far back as he knew. The most Hazama ever managed to remember was that he used to be a human, an anomaly among the reploid race, of which only he and Bryan had the privelege of being. His thoughts fast forwarded to the day he won Iris over. A smirk crossed his face as he saw the defeated look on Zero's face in his mind. Even while a Maverick, he knew the sight of Iris kept his Maverick reprogramming at bay, but he had no problem with this; Sigma could fall over and croak before Hazama would hurt Iris.