(Zero was busy getting a complete check out the next day, everyone was still surprised at his sudden awakening. Life Saver and Gate preformed the services, naturally, as Iris watched happily at her confused and still slightly disillusioned husband. X was on cloud nine with his friend back out of his coma, a mission had come up but for once he didn't respond to it, so Garres had to go by himself. He arrived at the location in downtown West City. He walked around and looked throughout the town. After a quick survey, he opened his wrist communicator.)

Garres: Base, come in base.

Alia: Go ahead Garres.

Garres: I got nothing here, are you positive these are the correct coordinates?

Alia: Affirmative.

Garres: Then what could be... where are....

(Before he could finish, a blast hit him from behind, he fell, hitting the floor face first.)

Alia: Garres? Garres, are you there? Come in Garres.

(A foot stepped on the communicator, Garres groaned and looked up, gasping.)

Garres: You.

Belkana: (laughing) Hello there Garres, so nice to see you again.

Garres: Why are you here, what do you want?

Belkana: Such a tone to take with an old friend? Hmm. Garres, I'd like to introduce you to someone, this is Geemel, my husband.

(A largely built Maverick appeared by her side, Garres gulped, he was powerful looking.)

Geemel: Nice to meet you, now we must part.

Belkana: So quickly?

Garres: No, you're not going anywhere.

(Garres struggled to get up, pulling out his gun. Belkana just laughed.)

Belkana: Oh, we're not going anywhere, the one whose leaving, is you.

Garres: What?

(Geemel punched him out, he landed on the floor, out cold.)

Geemel: Alright, now let's get outta here.

Belkana: Aw, you're no fun, honey.

(Alia was pacing back at the command center until finally Signas and X came in.)

Alia: What took you?

Signas: Sorry about the dilemma, but X is here now.

X: What happened?

Alia: We lost contact about a half hour ago, his locator must've been damaged, there's no sign of him in West City.

X: Dam.

Signas: X, we'll have to send you there.

X: Alright, I'm ready.

(X went to the transporter.)

Alia: Wait!

Signas: What is it?

Alia: A signal just showed up, it's northeast of downtown.

Signas: But that's beyond the boundaries, heading into the outskirts of the territory.

Alia: Something must've happened.

X: He could be in trouble, I'm going now.

(X turned on the transporter himself and disappeared, reappearing at the coordinates. It was a barren wasteland in the outskirts, no sign of life anywhere. He seemed to recognized a similar place from before, this was the same place that Zero had been ambushed. His communicator beeped.)

Alia: Careful X, this could be a trap.

X: I almost guarantee it.

(There was a sound, X whirled around, aiming his buster gun at it. Geemel came out from behind the rocks.)

Geemel: X, I presume.

X: Who are you?

Geemel: My name is Geemel, you might know me as Belkana's husband.

X: Husband.

(He growled, once again the pain of the treacherous love stabbing his heart.)

Geemel: You also know my two sons, Bit and Byte.

Belkana: They won't be joining us tonight.

X: Belkana!

(She appeared on the other side of the large rock.)

Belkana: Correct. They're going to miss the party, but a certain someone will not.

(She pulled out Garres, bound and gagged, still unconscious.)

X: Garres!

Belkana: So X, are you ready to meet your end?

X: Dam you.

Geemel: Hey, keep a civil tongue around the young ones.

X: Young ones? But I thought you said...

Belkana: X, meet Sigma's interns.

X: But I thought you guys were...

Geemel: Hardly, Sigma merely hired our family for the job.

Belkana: Yes, these are his interns.

(At the cue, two Reploids appeared on the side of Geemel, one was an older teenager, the other a young adult.)

Geemel: X, meet Techon and Zain, Zain, Techno, X.

Zain and Techno: The pleasure.

X: Is all but mine.

Zain: Smart.

Techno: That's what you should be, we're very close friends of this family.

Zain: Enough small talk kiddo, let's get down to business shall we?

X: This was all a trap, you held Garres hostage to lure me here so I could fight your two friends? Wow, you two need to pick your friends more wisely.

Zain: We are allied with Sigma!

Techno: This family is just hired goons.

Zain: Now prepare yourself X, for the end!

(He pulled out a long staff that had a blade on the end, electricity sparked out of it. X growled, powering up his buster gun. Techno just laughed and held up a finger.)

Techno: Ah, ah.

(He grabbed something out of his pocket and threw it at his buster, it looked like some sort of mechanical spider. It held onto the gun and sparked, X cried out until it stopped and the spider was gone. X growled and tried to shoot, but nothing happened. Confused he tried it again and cried out. Techno just laughed.)

X: What happened, what did you to do me?

Techno: I was smart, unlike you. I knew my enemy and prepared a little surprised for you, that little deactivate bug cut off the energy supply to your buster gun, now you are helpless!

Zain: Ha, and that's my cue.

(He spun his staff quickly between the fingers of one hand, causing an electrifying shield to form before him as he stepped towards X, laughing. X growled and held his ground, what was he going to do now? Alia was back at the base, waiting for X to respond. His signal was still showing up on the coordinates on screen, so she figured he had things taken care of. But during the duration of about five minutes, his signal began to fade. Alia gasped and called Signas in.)

Alia: Signas, it appears that X's signal has gone off the monitor.

Signas: That's strange. But then again it is the outskirts, perhaps we can't reach beyond that boundary very well with our signal.

Alia: Maybe. I'll try to contact him. (to communicator) X, come in, X?

(There was static. Just then his signal dimly lit up back on screen.)

Signas: Aha, got him.

(He pushed the button on the transporter and the signal vanished completely as X appeared on the transporter, a beaten and battered mess. He groaned as he flopped down.)

Alia: X!

(She ran over to help him.)

Signas: Are you alright?

X: Well, I can tell you this, it was an ambush. Oh!

Alia: Quick, let's get you to the infirmary.

X: Ok.

(X shakily got up, walking down the hall with Alia and Signas, explaining the fight.)

Signas: So Sigma has more now, this is getting too out of hand, he outranks us with power now!

Alia: I know. Not to mention Techno is on their side now, I've heard of him in the juvenile files, he's a hacker known worldwide.

X: Then that would explain that but he used on me.

Alia: Don't worry, hopefully with the recovery, your buster should work again soon. We'll have Douglas join Gate in your repairs.

X: Thanks Alia.

(They arrived in the infirmary where Zero was just getting finished. He looked over when he heard the door open and he saw X. He gasped and ran over.)

Zero: X! My gosh, what happened to you man?

X: Just got in a little scuffle is all, I'll be fine.

Zero: Wow, you got beat up but good.

(He frowned. X looked up at him.)

X: What, what is it?

Zero: I wasn't there for you, this time, I could've lost you.

X: No Zero, I...

Zero: Who did this to you, I swear I'll turn them into scrap!

(He posed, flexing.)

X: No Zero don't, there's too many of them and they've got Garres captured.

Zero: Who?

Signas: We're going to have to save him, Zero, you want to go, you're on the job.

Zero: Yea, that's great! Thanks Signas.

(Zero ran out of the room. X blinked and sighed, Zero was acting more serious with all of the events happening to him, but he was almost lost, X didn't want that to happen again. Zero waited for Alia to arrive in the control booth.)

Alia: Are you sure you want to do this Zero? This is a solo mission.

Zero: Bah I'll be fine, trust me.

Alia: But after your coma, you haven't even trained, you just got a check...

Zero: Come on Alia!

Alia: (sigh) Alright fine, you wanna go, then go.

(She clicked the coordinates and Zero disappeared off the transporter. Just then Iris walked into the room.)

Iris: Hey.

Alia: Oh hey there Iris, what are you doing here?

Iris: It's just that, Zero just woke up, I've been so scared and alone, I mean, I haven't even told him the news about the baby, and now he's going again. I sympathize with X, what if something happens to him, I can't loose him this close, again.

Alia: Don't you worry Iris, I understand, but this is Zero, and when he's pissed off, you know how serious a fighter he can get.

(Iris smiled and nodded.)

Iris: Thanks Alia.

Iris: (grin) No problem.

(Zero appeared at the set coordinates, it wasn't where X was attacked, this time it was the city limits of South City by the ocean boundary. He looked around, he didn't see anyone. He blinked and tried to focus, maybe he could sense someone's energy. He stopped and gasped in shock, he did sense somebody. He ran into the direction, going around a sloping cliff, he found Garres laying in the sand.)

Zero: Hey, hey you!

(Garres groaned and awoke to see Zero run towards him.)

Garres: Hu, who are you?

Zero: Are you ok?

Garres: Oh, I dunno. Who are you?

Zero: Me? Ha, I'm Zero!

(Garres opened both eyes and blinked up at Zero.)

Garres: Oh, so you're Zero! I'm Garres, X was training me and I served as your temporary replacement. But now you're out of your coma.

Zero: Yea, that's a great story. I hope to own the movie rights someday.

Garres: What?

(Zero smirked and opened his communicator.)

Zero: Alia, I found Garres, transport back?

Garres: No, don't. I want to help you, I want my revenge.

Zero: Alright then, suit yourself.

Garres: Oh I will, and you'll need the help, there's a lot of them, and they're strong.

Voice: Aw, look guys, so the drunken idiot was able to get out of his coma.

Zero: Wait, that voice, it's...

Garres: Belkana.

Belkana: Correct again.

(She stood on one of the break water. Zero growled, grabbing his light saber as he stood up.)

Zero: You! Come here and fight me!

Belkana: As you wish, come on guys, you heard the man.

Zero: Guys?

(Belkana made a leap over, Geemel, Techno, Zain, Bit and Byte all appearing behind her. They all laughed.)

Belkana: So Zero, are you ready to die completely this time?

Zero: No, sorry to break your luck.

Belkana: Hmm, what do you think fellas?

Zain: I think it's time for him to die.

(They surrounded Zero and Garres from all sides, they stood back to back, Zero with his light saber and Garres with his gun.)

Zero: Are you ready Garres?

Garres: Ready when you are Zero!

(They both cried out as they jumped head on into battle. Garres attacked Geemel, Zain and Techno as Zero fought with Belkana, Bit and Byte. Garres was still weak and tired from the injury, so Geemel was able to hit him down quickly and easily. Zero gasped and whirled around.)

Zero: Garres!

Belkana: You should be paying more attention to the battle in front of you!

Zero: Hu?

(He turned around to meet the combine effort of attacks from all six of them. He cried out in pain as he flew backwards, his light saber falling beam first into the ground. Zero groaned, his armor was tattered from the attack, he was cut in many places, bleeding badly. Belkana and the boys approached him, his eyes were as glazed as donuts. She pouted.)

Belkana: Aw, is it over already? This is no fun.

Bit: Mom, Byte's poking me!

Byte: I am not.

Geemel: Stop it boys.

Techno: Babies.

Zain: I agree with them, I'm bored too, let's go.

(They turned back to Garres, Belkana walked over and nudged his head with the toe of her shoe.)

Belkana: This was hardly a waste of my time.

(She turned to go and the boys followed. Just then she gasped, freezing in her tracks. The boys stopped and looked up at her.)

Geemel: What is it honey?

Belkana: I could've sworn I... (she turned back to look in the direction of the two fallen Hunters) No, it can't be, there's no way.

(She turned back and started to go again, once again however feeling the energy signal. She growled to herself as she continue to walk away, both of the Hunters were out cold and their conditions had left them weak to begin with, but still, she could've sworn she felt a hidden power level growing. Just then there was a cry, she turned around again as did the other boys, they saw Zain fall over in pain. Techno rushed over.)

Techno: Zain, what is it?

(He shook him but Zain didn't reply. He was dead. He shivered and stood up, Belkana approached them.)

Belkana: How could this have happened? It's that power I sensed.

(There was a growl, everyone turned over to see Zero. She gasped, he was conscious? She leered at him, something about him seemed different, she couldn't read his face, it was almost as if instinct had taken over. Everyone looked at him, Garres even regained semiconscious and saw the demented looking Hunter with Zain's blood on his hands.)

Geemel: What's going on?

Belkana: I sense nothing in his mind, he's a blank, being controlled deep down by instinct. Something inside him awoke, I can feel it, is that his heart?

(There was a heartbeat and everyone around him could feel his power grow, his eyes went white as the growl became louder, his sharp white teeth bared, the waves of energy surrounding him caused his long blond ponytail to blow. With each pulsating heartbeat, his body flashed white. They could sense it, the aura around him seemed so dark, almost demonic, it was so powerful. He yelled out, a change in his voice, it had a deeper viciousness to it. There was a powerful explosion of power that came from his body, everyone had to cover. When the light disappeared, Zero stood hunched over, his armor was black, his hair was white, color returned to his eyes, his pupils were green again.)

Geemel: What's going on?

(Techno didn't answer the repeated question, he just stood there frozen in shock. Belkana looked down at him.)

Belkana: You seemed scared smart one, what's going on?

Techno: He's transformed.

Belkana: Hm?

Geemel: What?

Techno: He-he's, a Maverick!

Bit and Byte: A Maverick!?

Zero: That's right.

Everyone: Hu?

Zero: What's the matter? Did you think I had died? Ha!

(They all turned to him as he stood up, holding his no longer blue but green light saber, it had changed color along with the evil now flowing through him. He jumped up to attack, opening his mouth to let out a ravaging animalistic growl, his canines so pointy a drop of blood could drop precisely off them. He laughed, enjoying the surge killing gave him, he could feel his heart pumping the blood through hsi body, and it fellt good to him. Too shocked and fearful to move, Garres could only watch as all of the Maverick's were slaughtered. Shaking at the horrid sight, he shakily opened his communicator, speaking just as shakily as his body shook.)

Garres: A-Alia, send back- up!

Alia: Garres, are you alright?

Garres: Hu-hurry, please!

Alia: Alright. Signas, please respond, emergency!

(A siren was heard throughout the base. X awoke in his bed in his room and despite being in a recovery stage, he rushed over to the control center along with Iris, Signas and Douglas.)

Signas: What is it, what's going on?

Alia: Garres called for help, he wanted backup sent immediately.

X: Garres asking for help? Hmm, this must be very bad.

Iris: Is Zero ok?

Alia: He didn't say, he was very shaken up, something very bad is going on right now.

X: I'm going!

Signas: No X, you're in no condition.

X: This is serious sir! Please.

Iris: Let's all go, we could be of help to X in his condition and if Garres is down too.

Douglas: I agree, come on everyone. Alia, you stay here to man the station.

Alia: Right.

(She watched as Douglas transmitted himself and the other to the site of the battle. They appeared a few feet from the fallen Garres. Signas rushed over.)

Signas: Garres, Garres are you ok? Speak to me!

(Garres was still too shocked to move, they all looked up to see what he was gaping at. They all gasped in shock as well when they saw the black armored, white haired Zero finishing off the last remains of the murdered Maverick's.)

Iris: Oh my god, Zero!

(Her shrill voice caused the demonic Hunter to look over at them, his body covered in blood, his armor tattered with the debris from the many Maverick's demolished armors. His eyes were piercingly strange, they could feel the dark energy illuminating from his body. He cracked his knuckles. A ruthless growl escaped his throat as he bared his teeth, they gleamed a shiny white in the bright sunlight.)

X: What... what happened?

Douglas: My god, look at him. Signas, what's going on?

(Signas didn't move, he knew what it was. He swallowed the lump in his throat. X was too shaken to move and Douglas was just bewildered beyond disbelief. Iris took a step forward, going to approach her husband very slowly.)

Iris: Zero.

Garres: No, stay... back.

Iris: Zero?

Douglas: Iris no!

Iris: Please.

(She held up her hands. Zero growled, getting into a fighting pose worthy of a beast. His deep raspy voice growled.)

Zero: Ah, get away from me.

Iris: What?

Zero: I don't know what I'm going to do next.

(He licked his lips as he closed his growling expression. Iris came within arms reach of her demonic husband, he growled quietly in confusion, still oblivious to reality. Iris's eyes met the green slits inside Zero's. She slapped him, everyone gasped. Zero turned his back from the force, holding his face.)

Signas: What have you done!?

(Zero's armor angled in the sunlight and when he turned around....)

Zero: Hey, what was that for!?

Everyone: Hu?

(He was back to normal, his eyes, his hair, his armor, his voice, everything.)

Douglas: What just happened?

Signas: He's back to normal...?

(Zero looked at Iris, tears started to well up in her eyes as she embraced him tightly.)

Iris: Oh thank goodness you've come back!

Zero: Hu?

(He looked down at his sobbing wife. She eventually released her hold and her eyes met his deep ocean blue orbs. She gasped, realizing he had no recollection of what had just transpired. Was that possible?)

Iris: What happened to you?

Zero: What do you mean? (he blinked and turned away) I dunno...

(He looked over at his light saber that lay in the sand, it too had returned to its original light blue color. Douglas spoke into his communicator.)

Douglas: Alia, ready transport back to base.

Alia: Roger.

(Signas helped Garres stand up.)

Signas: Well, let's go. Come on guys, are you all ready?

Iris: Yea.

(Signas turned to X, still looking horrified.)

Signas: Hey, are you ok?

X: Yea... yea, I'm fine.

Signas: Alright then.

(X stared over at his confused best friend. His worst nightmare had just been realized. Zero, had re-become... a Maverick. They disappeared, going back to HQ.)

A/N: For those of you InuYasha fans, last nights episode 'Tetsuiaga Broken' inspired me to write this specific chapter. Zero just reminds me of InuYasha, and I tried to describe him how InuYasha is in the PlayStation game when he's in his demon form, but oh well, lol! The end is near.... :(