(That night, Iris slept quietly and peacefully next to her wide awake husband. Rush whined as he lifted his head from down on the floor. He looked up at his master, sensing his uneasiness. Zero turned his head slightly and patted Rush, rubbing him behind the ears. His tail wagged, satisfied, and laid back down to return to his slumber. Zero sighed and laid back down, staring at the ceiling. He turned his eyes towards the window, outside the dark blue night sky was dotted with twinkling stars. He sighed, his thoughts spoken aloud in a quiet whisper.)

Zero: What's wrong with me? I'm a Hunter one moment then shifting to Maverick the next whenever my life is in danger. It's getting stronger within me, I can feel the energy laying dormant inside of my body. It's becoming hungrier for the blood of the kill, the thrill of the fight, and I can't stop it, it's growing every time. I'm loosing control, X, you're my best friend, my partner, no matter what you will always be by my side, even when I transform. What if next time I can't stop myself, your worst nightmare is of me reverting back and slaughtering you, you have no idea that that's my worst nightmare too.

(After a sleepless night of tossing and turning, morning crept up slowly, Zero finding himself in a zoned out state of semi consciousness. Iris stretched and sat up as she awoke, she looked down to her side to see Zero, his face looking forlorn with bags under his eyes, his ponytail a mess.)

Iris: Zero.

Zero: Hm.

Iris: Did you get any sleep at all last night?

Zero: Hm.

Iris: Zero!

Zero: Hm.

Iris: Answer me.

Zero: Be careful not to yell at me honey, the anger might cause me to revert.

(He sat up and walked into the bathroom. Iris sighed as she watched him go, he's changed so much since the day they first met. Something was wrong with him, he's become something he's not truly, something he's not ever wanted to be. Later that morning, Iris was in the main room watching the news by herself. Signas walked in upon making his rounds and noticed her depression. He approached her.)

Signas: Iris, are you ok?

Iris: Yea.

Signas: No, don't lie to me, something's wrong and I know it.

Iris: Oh no, really, it's nothing.

(Signas sat down beside her and turned off the program.)

Signas: Come on what is it, you know you can tell me.

Iris: Well, I was just thinking about Zero lately, and how he transforms and what not. And it got to me, I mean, he's struggling with this so much you have no idea. He hasn't touched a beer in over a week, something's seriously wrong with him.

Signas: Maybe he's giving it up, you know, with the baby due soon he might want to make a good impression.

Iris: No, I know it's not that, he won't eat, he won't sleep, he's a wreck and I'm afraid his body is going to shut down.

Signas: Zero is a tough guy, he'll fight his way through this.

Iris: But Signas, there's got to be a way! Can't Douglas do something to stop his transformation?

Signas: (sigh) Iris, let me tell you something, it's a story from long ago, something you might have long forgotten. Nearly half a decade ago there was an ingenious professor working for the Reploids by the name of Sigma. He was a great inventor and he was just as smart as any of the lead Reploids, he was the one that started the Maverick Hunters.

Iris: But if he despised them, then why did he become to lead them?

Signas: There was a young new upstart among the Maverick ranks, a punk teenager, a rebellious rouge. He yearned for the thrill of the kill, the blood of the victims he massacred in his fights fueled the blood to rush throughout his body. His name was Zero. Sigma strived to capture Zero and study him, see if he could revert him to a Maverick Hunter. But Zero was a self proclaimed leader, he and Sigma met once and Zero nearly killed him, he could've but he didn't.

Iris: Hu?

Signas: Nobody knows why, only Sigma will ever know what truly happened that day in the cave, but Sigma came back the next day a changed man. About a year later, Sigma started the rebellious Maverick army. But he didn't recruit Zero, Zero was eventually caught and studied by his doctors.

Iris: What happened?

Signas: Nobody knows for sure, except Sigma. But high sources believe that Sigma had this all planned out from the start of being a Reploid professor. He deceived them, he learned all they knew, everything about them. He wanted to take out Zero, but he couldn't he was too strong, so he did the next best thing, he had him deleted and restarted as a Maverick Hunter. Then Sigma took command of the Maverick's, knowing that nobody could stop him.

Iris: So that's where X and Zero come in?

Signas: Correct.

Iris: X was made for the sole purpose of destroying Zero, but with Zero as a Hunter that was eventually scrapped. But X knows his true purpose, he must kill his best friend, my husband. They're partners in the fight against Sigma, but now with Zero breaking back into his true form, despite his own wants and actions...

Signas: Iris, it's best not to discuss it, especially at a time like this.

Iris: I know, but...

Signas: Sh. Just forget about it, Zero is a tough guy, he's been through a lot, don't give up, I know he won't. He's a true fighter, just remember, you know him, you'll know he'll do the right thing.'

(Signas got up and continued his rounds. X had just finished his session in the training room with Garres. Garres, due to his lack of experience, was still a little sore from recovering, so he decided to pay a visit to Douglas to see if his armor could have any additional upgrades made. X was walking down the hall to go meet up with Alia in the control center when he walked passed Zero's room. He stopped when he heard something, it sounded almost like music. Was Zero playing music, no, that sounded like his voice singing. Opening the door a slight crack, he saw Zero sitting on his bed, his electric guitar in hand. X smiled, he hadn't seen Zero pull that thing out to play in years. Zero was looking up at a picture of Iris by the computer desk dresser stand by the end edge of the bed.)

Zero: This is for you, my muse.

(X watched and came to a realization, Zero wasn't playing any song, he was writing a song. For Iris. He smiled to himself as Zero began to come up with lyrics.)

X: Aw, how cute.

Zero: (singing) And I don't want the world to see me, cause I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am.

(X frowned, he knew what those lyrics meant. Zero sighed as he tried to come up with the right words for his song. X slowly closed the door and stood for a moment, thinking. This was tearing him so much inside he forgot all about Zero, the psychological issues behind this must be tormenting him even more so. X sighed to himself.)

X: Here I go again, being selfish. The last time this happened Zero was attacked and sent into his coma which eventually sparked his Maverick side to be reawaked by that damaged sleep. With me being so selfish yet again, who knows what'll happen to him next.

(X choked and ran off, trying to hide the sobs of sorrow behind his hands. Life Saver was around the corner, he came around upon hearing and seeing this all. He shook his head to himself and eventually brought himself to walk up to the door and knock.)

Zero: What! I mean, come in.

(Life Saver opened the door to see Zero putting his guitar aside. He looked up and sighed.)

Life Saver: I know, I know, I'm the last person you want to see right now.

Zero: For once I have to agree with you.

(Live Saver put his hands behind his back and stood up.)

Life Saver: Zero, I think there might be a way to stop this.

Zero: What?

Life Saver: When you transform, it's because your life is in danger and since that rarely happened until after your coma episode, it's reawakened and become stronger.

Zero: Yea, so, tell me something I don't know.

Life Saver: Ok, you're an idiot. Wait, everyone knows that. Look, the point is there's one simple way to stop this all.

(Zero's smirk faded as he and Life Saver looked each other dead in the eye. He blushed.)

Zero: You're not going to tell me it's to train and bring up my own strength.

Life Saver: Ah...

Zero: Dang it, you got my hopes up!

Life Saver: Listen to me. When you reverted back by yourself it was because X was there and you saw him, that awoke your true self deep down inside. Zero you should've learned this from your life story, you make who you are, you're a tough guy, you refuse to listen and be controlled, that's why the Maverick side of you will always fail.

Zero: Damit Light Saber I nearly killed him!

Life Saver: What?

Zero: Look, I haven't told anyone this, but I nearly killed X right there. But I felt my own heartbeat and I listened to it, it told me not to so I didn't, and I reverted back. I have no control, the Maverick within me runs the show, I'm just its bottled up conscience. If not for that one heartbeat, I would've killed X right there, my best friend, making his worst nightmare come true. There's no telling what I might do next, there's no way to stop me, except for the one easy way out. Death. If I don't end this now, who will?

Life Saver: Oh come on now Zero, be serious!

Zero: I am being serious! For the first time in my life I am Life Saver.

(Life Saver's eyes widened.)

Life Saver: Did you just call me...?

Zero: What? Life Saver, it is your name isn't it.

(Life Saver blinked, Zero was so simple minded that for once when he was being serious and his thoughts were clear he actually said his name right. He sighed with a smirk.)

Life Saver: Look at you, will you listen to yourself? This isn't the Zero I know. You have friends, an expecting wife who needs you, never before have you sounded so serious that you really sound stupid. Where is that drunken, fun loving idiot that we all know and love? We all want him back Zero, bring him back for us won't you? You're the only one who has the power to end this.

(Life Saver got up and closed the door behind him. Zero sighed, alone again.)

Zero: You have no idea how right you are...

(X had met Alia in the control room.)

Alia: It looks like it's Slash Beast again, only he's with an undetectable reading.

X: It could be another newcomer, like Flame Hyenard.

Alia: But I thought Zero destroyed him.

X: There could be more, who knows how many new recruits Sigma has.

Alia: Take Garres with you, I don't know what they're doing but this is simply an excavating mission.

X: Right.

(X went out of the room and found Garres.)

Garres: What's up X?

X: Ready for another mission?

Garres: Ah the life of a Hunter.

X: Are you feeling any better?

Garres: Yes, Douglas fixed me right up.

Zero: Hey guys.

X: Hu? Oh, Zero.

(Zero walked up to them.)

Zero: So, where are you going?

X: A scouting mission.

Zero: Oh, mind if I come with?

Garres: What, but Zero.

Zero: Don't worry, I know. But this is just an observation, I won't be fighting, we all will be perfectly save.

Garres: (gulp) Ok.

(Zero turned to X and looked him strait in the eye.)

Zero: Trust me.

X: We're partners Zero, of course I trust you.

(Zero smiled.)

Zero: Come on then, let's go not kick some but.

(Zero walked off, Garres and X looked at each other and then followed. Alia sent them off to the coordinates with the transporter. They appeared in the abandoned ghost town of Omega City. Crime, deception and fighting had left it in ruins long ago.)

X: What would Slash Beast be doing here?

Garres: Maybe he's making a deal with the devil.

(They looked over a rock and saw Slash Beast talking to a slightly larger cat looking Maverick. Just then Neon Tiger bounded from around a building corner, the two groaned but they continued on with their civilized conversation.)

X: I can't hear them.

Zero: That's Wild Jango, apparently he knows Slash Beast and Neon Tiger.

Garres: Wow, good ears.

Zero: Oh, thanks.

X: Wild Jango? Maybe he's related to them, they look almost alike.

Zero: You have no idea how right you are, that's their father.

X: Their what?

Zero: I wonder what they're doing with him?

Garres: Family reunion maybe?

Zero: Wait a sec... guys, leave. Leave now.

X: What?

Zero: I said go.

Garres: But this is...

Zero: An excavation, yes I know, you've seen what's going on here, now go.

X: Zero you heard something you're not telling us.

Garres: Yea, so tell us what it is.

(Zero's eye twitched, growing impatient. He turned around and growled loudly.)

Zero: This is the last time I'm going to tell you, go now!

(He gasped and covered his mouth, sure enough the three cats had heard them.)

Slash Beast: Ah, that sounds like Zero now, how appropriate.

(The trio was about to escape when the three cats jumped over to block them.)

X: Oh no! Not you again.

Slash Beast: Leaving, so soon?

Neon Tiger: Hi Zero.

(Zero slapped his hand against his forehead.)

Wild Jango: I so disregard you as my own.

X: Who are you?

Wild Jango: I am Wild Jango, and this is my son.

Neon Tiger: You forget me daddy.

Wild Jango: (sigh) Oh how I try...

Garres: Why are you with him? He's not in cohorts with Sigma.

Slash Beast: True, but we have something to do.

Neon Tiger: Zero, we've come for you.

(Zero growled, X looked at him.)

Slash Beast: No, for once my brother speaks the truth. It's you we're after Zero.

Zero: Yea, I know. But you won't take me alive!

(He pulled out his light saber and stood poised, ready for battle.)

Wild Jango: Haha, oh no, we're not going to hurt you, not at all.

Zero: What, then why are you....?

(Before he could finish his question, Slash Beast slashed X and Garres from behind, Neon Tiger joined in on the mauling of him with their claws. Slash Beast punched X up with his electric blast as Neon Tiger slashed Garres on the face.)

Garres: Ah, my eyes!

X: Garres hang, ah!

Zero: X, Garres!

Wild Jango: Haha, oh yes, that made you mad didn't it.

Zero: (growling) X, Garres, I told you to get out of here, why didn't you listen?

X: We're partners Zero, I could never leave you behind.

Garres: We're a team, and teammates stand together and never abandon a comrade.

Zero: But you guys don't understand, they're planning to...

(X and Garres cried out, being thrown together and collapsing after the beating from the two cat brothers. Zero cried out in shock, then growled, turning back to Wild Jango who folded his arms with a toothy smirk of expectation.)

Wild Jango: Had enough Zero, do you want to fight me?

Zero: Yes, yes I do. Ah!

(Zero ran at him and slashed him with his light saber, but he gasped, Wild Jango was holding it back easily. He threw him back, he landed on the heap of X and Garres. The three of them all sat up and looked at the three cats.)

Wild Jango: That's it? Oh my son, you fed me such lies telling me of the great Maverick Hunters.

Slash Beast: Well everyone does have an off day, father.

Wild Jango: True. And that shall seal your fate!

(Wild Jango formed an electrifying referse force field around the trio, rather than protecting them, it surrounded them with pain. They cried out at each shock, the field grew smaller as the pain increased with each blow. Zero struggled to stand up.)

Zero: I'll save you guys.

(He shoved his light saber into the force field, but it was sucked out and returned Zero with a high powered blue thunderbolt. He fell back into X's arms.)

X: Zero? Zero!

Wild Jango: Haha, and now you will die.

(He picked up the light saber, it had turned off. He tossed it up in the air in his hands repeatedly. Zero sat up, growling. He cried out in pain.)

X: Zero!

Garres: What have you done to him?

Wild Jango: He's too hurt to move, my special blue blast paralyzes the victem for an hour, which is even too much time before you'll die. I say enjoy your time together, they'll be your last moments. Haha!

Zero: (growling) Damit, dam that bastard to hell.

(X gasped, he could feel something inside him.)

X: What the hell was that?

(He looked down at Zero who was growling with anger.)

Zero: What a jackass. I'll get him.

(He felt it again and gasped, he knew what it was.)

X: Oh no not now, in here, not again!

Garres: It was a trap, they lured us here for this.

Slash Beast: True this was all a plan, but all we really want is you Zero.

(Zero didn't answer, he just growled. X looked at Zero's eye, it was blue, but with every feeling he got it flashed green for a moment. X gaped, he was feeling his heartbeat, his heart was changing. X gulped and began to sweat as a wind seemed to pick up from inside. Zero was shivering as the wind from the waves of power emiting from him blew at his ponytail. His body flash to his Maverick state once again. X and Garres cried out, they were trapped inside the encapsulating force field with this demon.)

Garres: X!

X: Oh no, Zero.

(Zero growled and sent a wave of energy from his body in a huge bright flash, it caused the force field to break, freeing X and Garres, not to mention himself. He rushed towards Wild Jango and punched him. He skidded back but regained his composure. Zero hunched over, cracking his knuckles as he growled.)

Wild Jango: So, this is the infamous Maverick form? I am pleased indeed.

Slash Beast: So what of the plan now father?

Neon Tiger: Yea, he's scary when he's like that.

(The two rolled their eyes at him.)

Wild Jango: Zero, I didn't expect you to be alive nor less move after the attack combo.

Zero: And yet here I am.

Wild Jango: Indeed. But why slaughter me? I am of your fellow man.

Zero: You may be a Maverick, but you aren't a fellow man to me.

Wild Jango: Oh?

Zero: They're Maverick Hunters, but they aren't fellow men either. I am both, I am neither, I am in a class of all my own. And now you will feel my wrath!

(Zero jumped up in a rage. Wild Jango smirked.)

Wild Jango: And it's about time.

(Wild Jango powered up, and shot a blast at Zero. But Zero had grabbed his light saber, it transformed on and he slashed through the attack. Wild Jango was shocked.)

Zero: And now you die!

Wild Jango: What!

(Zero slashed him literally right down the center. He landed with his saber edged in the ground from the blow. The two halves of the wild cat fell over, he was dead. Slash Beast gasped.)

Slash Beast: Oh no!

Neon Tiger: Daddy!

Zero: You underestimate me?

Slash Beast: How dare you kill him.

Zero: How dare I? How dare I! Allow me to reunite you!

(Zero jumped up and onto Slash Beast. He cried out and held up his hands to block him as Zero began to maul him.)

Neon Tiger: Oh no, brother! Stop it Zero!

(Zero's eyes flashed as he whirled around. He jumped off Slash Beast and landed in front of Neon Tiger as Slash Beast's body fell. Neon Tiger shivered as he looked over at him.)

Neon Tiger: Oh no, what, how could you...?

Zero: Simple, I just keep fighting until they stop breathing. Care for a demonstration?

(He parted his teeth as he growled. Slash Beast opened his communicator.)

Slash Beast: Sigma, send back up...

(His head fell. Zero laughed as he began to back up Neon Tiger. X and Garres were still in too much pain, not to mention shock and fear, to move. All they could do was watch, and it was tearing X up inside.)

Zero: I've wanted to scrap you piece by piece since the first moment I met you.

Neon Tiger: B-but Zero.

Zero: And now I finally get the long awaited chance. Run little kitty, for every life I shall kill you nine times!

(Neon Tiger squealed and ran.)

Neon Tiger: Ah!

Zero: The chase adds to the thrill of the game, it makes it more fun. For me.

(Zero tossed his light saber from his right hand to his left as he crouched down, preparing to give chase. But just then a voice cut him off.)

Voice: Haha, so Zero, we finally meet.

Zero: Hu?

(He turned and looked over at the strange Reploid.)

Reploid: Allow me to introduce myself to you as Red of the Red Alert army.

Zero: So, another of Sigma's alliances?

Red: Correct.

Zero: Then you shall fall. Just like all the rest!

(Zero jumped up but Red got out of the way. He appeared in a flash in a new area but froze.)

Red: Hu?

(Zero wasn't coming after him, he was slaughtering his men, the entire army he'd brought. He was confused. Finally after demolishing them all, leaving only a small handful, he turned to Red.)

Zero: Feh, is that all you got? Pathetic. Hardly worth the fun of going on a cat hunt.

(Red was lost for words, Zero had whipped out nearly all of his men, his whole army, only about a frightened ten of them remained. Red gulped.)

Red: Men?

Zero: Reatreating so soon?

(Zero jumped up to block them off.)

Red: No.

Zero: Not so fast, it's my watch.

X: Zero don't, they're helpless, please!

Garres: They're begging for their lives!

(Zero turned and looked down at the cowering pleading Reploids. Zero growled and put away his light saber.)

Zero: They're right, this isn't fun at all. No honor of game in doing that.

(He turned and walked passed Red.)

Red: What...

Zero: Go run along home little Red, come back when you're ready to fight like a man.

(Red backed up along with his men. As they were about to make their escape, Red bumped into something. He froze and turned around to meet Sigma and Vile. He gulped.)

Vile: What's this? Backing down and out already?

Sigma: I had a feeling you were soft and weak. You're just like the Hunters.

Red: Now just a minute there Sigma...! We, we had a deal.

Sigma: You should know better, than to make a deal with the devil.

(With a swoop of his arm he cut off his head.)

Vile: Sir? What of the others.

(They all shivered. Sigma thought for a moment, then smiled.)

Sigma: Kill them. Kill them all.

(They gasped, then ran. Vile powered up his gun and shot, he'd gotten them, they were all dead. Zero blinked as he watched this. These two just might be formidable enough advisaries. Neon Tiger gulped as he came out from hiding behind the two of them.)

Neon Tiger: I-is it safe now?

(Sigma turned and looked at the slain Slash Beast.)

Sigma: So, your brother is dead. And that one must be your father.

Neon Tiger: Yes sir.

Sigma: To keep in the spirit of the family reunion, perhaps your head shall be next.

Neon Tiger: Oh please no!

Zero: Excuse me?

Sigma: Hu?

(They turned to see Zero waiting impatiently.)

Zero: You seem to be forgetting me.

Sigma: Oh how rude.

(He pulled out his light saber. Zero's eyes sparkled with the glint of excitement.)

Vile: But sir.

Sigma: Back away you two, this fight is between me and him.

Vile: Yes sir.

(They ran off. Sigma and Zero smirked at each other.)

Sigma: This has been a long time coming.

Zero: Indeed it has.

(They both held their light sabers staring each other down. X, Garres, Vile and Neon Tiger watched with their anticipation on edge. Was this it, the final battle with Sigma?)