Chapter 4 Visit
Maverick Hunter H.Q. 10:00 am, Jan. 15
"Oh, X, I'm so glad I bumped into you." Exclaimed Micha, as she pushed a few strands of silver blue hair from her orange-gold eyes. Micha was a Rookie Hunter earning her keep as a temporary secretary. She wore a white uniform with dark green trim on the shoulder plates and cute little yellow ribbons down the center of her chest. She had a white knee length skirt that split in the center to reveal a pine green petticoat.
Micha had been carrying a large pile of papers from the copy room, when she turned a corner and ran right into X. Papers had gone everywhere and both Reploids were left sitting on the floor, her dainty white and green armored legs tangled with his oversized dark blue ones. The two disengaged their appendages and X helped Micha clean up the strewn papers. After all had been collected and accounted for, Micha turned to X.
"I'm so sorry about that," she apologized. "Oh, that's right; I have a message for you from Alia." Micha had been so exited about finally getting to talk to her hero in this manner that she had nearly forgotten her other errand. "Alia said that she got your request and that she found some stuff that might be of an interest to you. She's in the Archives." At the mention of this, X took off jogging down the hall to meet his teammate.
"Thanks, Micha!" He called over his shoulder.
"Just glad to be of service." She replied with a giggle.
X skidded to a halt outside the room that held the Archives. "Alia?" he called, slightly out of breath. The Reploid in question stepped out from behind one of the many massive data consoles that were gathered in the room, their sole purpose being to house astronomical amounts of information.
Alia was the Navigator and Data Analysis Expert for the Hunters and a member of the Special Operations team. She had graduated top in her class from technology school about seven years ago, and then joined the Maverick Hunters.
At first she had tried to enter the warrior faction of the Maverick Hunters, but just couldn't get the hang of battle. Trying a few other fields and failing, she had begun to worry that if she didn't find a job soon, that she would be discharged. Then two years later, during a crisis, Alia finally found her calling.
It had been during a time when the Hunters had been lacking a Navigator, someone who watched missions from the Head Quarters and warned Hunters of danger ahead of them that they could not see or identify.
Mega Man X, a famous Hunter she had only met very briefly once or twice, had entered a district that had been rumored to be the hideout of several Mavericks. He had gone in 'blind', a term Hunters used to mean 'without a spotter'. 'Spotter' was another name for a Navigator. Not having a warning, he had walked right into a trap. The Mavericks had blown up the district, leaving X horrifically wounded and ensnared in a disastrous area.
Alia had happened to be in the Command Center talking to General Signas about a suitable position for herself, when X's startling distress message came in over the ComLine. The Head Quarters had tried to send in a rescue team, but due to the amount of debris, had been unsuccessful. The only answer was for X to get to a clear area, but he was losing energy fast and could barley see because of all the smoke and dust in the air.
Not willing to just stand by and listen as X suffered, slowly expiring, Alia rushed to the main terminal and, without permission, opened the navigation program. Franticly, but methodically scanning the district, Alia managed to find the safest, quickest route out of the maze of rubble.
With her telling him where to look for passages and encouraging him to keep going; to not give up despite the urge to; X got into a clearing just before he literally crumpled to the ground in exhaustion. The rescue team was then able to teleport in and give the Blue Bomber the medical attention he had desperately needed.
Because of her quick thinking and level headedness, Alia was appointed by General Signas to be the new Navigator. X never forgot that, if it hadn't been for her, he would have died that day.
"Hello," Alia greeted with a smirk. "Good to see that my message got to you. Micha said she was headed down that way, so I figured she'd find you somehow."
"She is a bit accident prone, isn't she?" Chuckled X to himself, then he became all business again. "So, what did you find, Alia?"
"Well, seems the files that were stolen have been returned to the City Data Bank. The reports alleged that no damage had been evident, so apparently who ever stole them had no intentions of destroying or altering them. If it was a Maverick, than it seems kind of strange if you ask me."
To this X had to nod in agreement. Mavericks usually tampered with anything they got a hold of, and furthermore, why would they return it. No answers yet.
"I thought I had better let you know how the investigation of the theft had worked out, but what I knew would really grab your attention is what I found out about Nanotechnology." Alia handed him some documents she had obtained from the networking system. "As you can see, according to these, a new firm opened early in the beginning of last year. NanoCorps. From what I found, the corporation has been testing new medical sciences involving Nanotechnology. The process uses Nanobots; microscopic machines; to track ailments and cure patients from inside. Unfortunately, that's all I have on the subject. What do you think?"
"Hmm…" X considered for a split second. "Seems I'm just going to have to go visit the owner of this 'NanoCorps.' and find out the rest for myself."
X found Zero standing in the corridors of Sector 10 with some of the other Hunters gathered around him. It looked as though he was telling of his many adventures again; he was in the middle of waving his hands through the air in an up and outward motion to illustrate something, causing two of the Hunters to gasp. And he said he didn't like to brag.
A lofty, red Reploid, who had been designed to look like a giant Carpenter Ant, was using two of his four arms to lean against the wall. In front of him stood a female Reploid, her already petit form seeming even smaller compared to the giant. Her slender body was done in pastel pink armor and white midsections that accented her smooth shape. Her long auburn hair streamed over her shoulders and she stood erect with her head high, her mannerisms giving her a certain snobbish air.
"Hey X-k- how you doin'-k?" The ant greeted, his large mandibles clicking together as he talked.
"I'm doing fine, Jimmy. And how are you today, Tiara?" The pink Reploid's only reply was a sly, fetching smirk.
Casual greetings were exchanged with the other three Reploids standing in the hall. The group went on about recent gossip for a few minutes, but the conversation ran dry. Not enough had happened lately for making good stories. Finally, X spoke up.
"Hey Zero, since there's not a lot going on around here, you want to go down town with me and check something out?"
Zero gave X a momentary look that almost appeared to be relief. He nodded and the other Hunters said their farewells to the titanium duo, setting off to find other activities to occupy their free time.
"Hey, thanks X." Zero laughed as they walked to the Parking Garage that was located on the basement floor of the Head Quarters. "It's about time I got out of here and got some real excitement. I'll tell you what," Zero put his oversized, white hands behind his head and gazed up at the cool gray ceiling. "Peace isn't all it's cracked up to be, more like extremely boring."
X touched a door at the end of the long corridor and the door slid open. The two got on the elevator in silence, until X started quietly giggling to himself.
"Speaking of entertainment, I ran into Micha earlier today." Zero gave X a concise stare, one eyebrow raised.
"Brr." Zero shivered. "I try to stay away from her at all costs. She doesn't mean it, but that girl is dangerous!" Respite, then the two friends broke into laughter.
When the twosome entered the Parking Garage, the only sound that greeted them was a hushed buzzing. Normally the humongous garage was filled with the roar of engines and the sounds of conversation. Now all they could see were the dozens of unused vehicles.
"Boy this is bad, there's nobody here!" Zero exclaimed in exasperation, flinging his arms out to his sides.
Just around the corner from the entrance they found a Reploid whose armor was done in tie-dye. He was sitting in a booth with surveillance equipment, his head resting on the counter as he snored loudly.
Zero held one finger up to his smirking mouth, signaling for silence. X stood inaudibly, curious as to what his comrade had in mind as Zero crept over to the Reploid, got down so that his head was level to the counter and moved as close to the sleeping robot as he could without waking him.
"WHAT'S UP, FROLIC!"; He shouted full blast into the Reploid's ear.
Frolic was so surprised that he fell out of his chair backwards and skidded across the floor. He hastily got back to his feet and gave the two snickering Reploids in front of him a fake glare.
"Oh, you think your funny, don't you?" He challenged with mock sarcasm. That was one for the record book, noted Frolic mentally. He was a robot with a comical sense of humor. He greatly enjoyed playing jokes on people and was always scouting new forms of mischief making.
"At least it wasn't General Signas who found you asleep on the job." Pointed out Zero, as he jestingly waved a finger at Frolic. X folded his arms and put in his two cents by giving the security 'Ploid a stern look with a curt nod of his head. They all exchanged a momentary glance, than burst out laughing.
"So what brings you to this neck of the woods?" Frolic asked when he could breathe again, rubbing imaginary tears of laughter from his eyes. "Did we get some word on Maverick activity?... Are things finally gonna' get back to normal around here?" Zero looked briefly at X, and then turned back to Frolic.
"Nah," he shrugged nonchalantly, "X and I were just going to head down town on some personal business, so we thought we'd take one of the vehicles out for a spin." Frolic showed a moments disappointment, then shrugged, reverting to his normally cheerful self.
"Well, have fun, drive safe, and don't wreck it or Signas will have a fit." X held up his hand and Frolic tossed him a metal card key with a serial number on one side and a bar code on the other.
As they searched for the mode of transportation they desired, another Reploid, a Garage security guard, approached them. His body was designed for aerodynamics, having wing-like projections at the back of his shoulder plates. He was even shorter than X but had a lean build. His armor was bright yellow and white, and his face was kind and friendly.
"Hey guys, how goes it?"
"Everything's great. We just decided we'd ride around the city for a couple of hours, you know, seeing as nothing else is going on right now." X replied, shrugging one shoulder.
"We-eell, if I may make a suggestion…," Delta replied in a deliberately slow manner, a smug grin on his face, his eyes tilted off to one side guiltily, "…there's a brand new Ride Chaser in Dock E."
X grinned broadly as he and Zero chimed their thanks in unison and Zero exchanged a wink with the short guard. Then they were off, dashing between the rows of vehicles, making a game out of dodging the obstacles in their path as they raced to see who could get there first.
The robots arrived in Dock E and found the Ride Chaser, a vehicle that looked like a motorcycle, but had no wheels and hovered slightly above the ground. Zero looked the Ride Chaser up and down. The body was a base color of metallic gray, with purple side stripes and jet black handle bars. Its underbelly was equipped with the latest dual force-hover pads, and there were plasma guns hitched to the front next to the head lights. The whole thing was held in a brace a little above the floor. This vehicle wasnt usually intended just for joy riding.
Zero gave a long, low whistle.
"Delta16 really knows his machines."
"Yeah, and Douglas can really build 'em." X commented after he finished his inspection of the Chaser.
X climbed into the front seat, Zero taking the one behind, and inserted the card key into a slot near the handle bars. X turned the throttle on the handle bars, revving up the engine as the brace released, allowing the vehicle to hover freely. The Chaser responded with a deep, powerful roar. Placing a hand on X's round, blue shoulder pad to get his attention, Zero flashed his pal a mischievous smirk.
"Let's blow this popsicle stand!"
X shifted into gear and blew out of the Dock.
Traffic covered the bridge that lead away from the city center and toward one of the outer sectors. The bridge spanned a large river and the business district's vast cityscape could be seen just beyond. Despite the season, the roads were free of ice, for it had been a very mild winter and the city and surrounding areas hadn't received any snow since November.
X piloted through the many cars with all the expertise of a formula-1 racer, zigzagging between and around the other vehicles, whilst Zero enjoyed the rush of cool wind as it rippled through his long, pale blonde hair.
"I'm free!" Exclaimed the red Reploid as he threw his hands toward the sky. X could only grin and roll his eyes at his friend's childish antics.
Within a few minutes they had arrived outside of NanoCorps, a building made of tan-gray concrete that stood at least ten stories high. X parked the Ride Chaser in a vast lot owned by the corporation and they entered the building.
The lobby was a sizeable room with a polished crimson floor, cream colored walls and a light brown desk in the center. There were burgundy couches with magazine racks on either side of the room, and a wide fountain in the far right corner. A Reploid clad in a dark purple and yellow dress and business jacket combo sat behind the desk, busily typing away at a keyboard.
"May I help you?" she inquired in a sweet voice, looking up from her work as they approached.
"Yes." X stated firmly. "Please tell the owner of this corporation that Commander X and Commander Zero of the Maverick Hunters are here to ask him a few questions."
"Mr. Roazzari is in a meeting right now with the Director of Marketing, but if you wait, I'm sure he will be more than glad to see you." With that she paged a message through to Roazzari's personal secretary, then turned back to her computer and resumed her typing.
X walked across the room and leaned against a wall, closing his eyes in thought, while Zero, not content to just stand around, sat down on one of the coaches opposite X and started leafing through a mechanics magazine. The room was totally quite, except for the faint sounds of computer keys clicking and water falling in the fountain.
Maybe now I can figure out what's really going on. X brooded. I still have the strange feeling that Sigma might be up to something and nanotechnology might provide a clue. The information Alia gave me helped some what, but it wasn't enough to wrap up this mystery. Hopefully the owner of this firm can tell me what I need to know.
All of a sudden X felt very nauseous and disoriented, and then everything went black and red. "Uuahh…." He moaned in agony as his legs buckled, forcing him to drop to the floor on one knee, where he leaned heavily on the wall, eyes pressed tightly shut, supporting himself against a world that was spinning, threatening to throw him into a dark abyss.
Zero was instantly on his feet running to his partner's side, his lengthy ponytail sweeping back and forth just above the ground at his heels.
"X?" He cried in surprise. "Oh God… X!"
He plunged to his knees beside X, putting one hand on X's chest plate and the other on his back, trying to steady his blue clad friend. Zero could feel X's whole frame tremble in his grasp, his breath coming in as ragged gasps and an accelerated heart rate. Despite the situation, Zero couldn't help but ponder how strange it was to feel a heartbeat in a Reploid. X was the only Reploid to have an actual heart, not just a figurative one.
The robot behind the desk stood up and leaned forward, glancing at Zero with wide, questioning eyes. Just then, as if nothing had happened, X climbed to his feet and pushed himself away from the wall.
"X…?" Zero muttered in a tone of confusion, his eyes thinned with worry, as he slowly got to his feet as well.
"It's ok; I'm alright now, Zero." X said in a calm voice, still looking straight ahead, his face emotionless. "I'm sorry; I should have told you sooner. I've been really stressed out lately about some stuff, haven't gotten' a lot of sleep. I must just be tired."
Zero placed his hands on X's shoulders and turned him so that he could look into his friend's face, his lavender-blue eyes portraying so many emotions at once that X had trouble placing them all. There was genuine concern, doubt; and yet trust; and a glimmer of fear all wrapped up in one gaze.
"A-are you sure you're really ok?" Zero stammered. "You don't want to go back to the Head Quarters and rest, do you? …I could take you back if you wanted me to."
"No, it's alright, Zero. Really, I'm fine."
Zero frowned, but he didn't push the matter any further. A beeping sound at the desk in the center of the room caused the duo to break their gaze and look in that direction. The girl behind the counter pushed a button on an intercom and took a message.
"Mr. Roazzari is ready to see you now." She announced to them, still slightly shaken from what she had just witnessed. The two of them entered the man's office, Zero remaining close to X.
"Ah, Commander X, Commander Zero." A man sitting behind a large mahogany desk greeted with a friendly smile. "To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"
The man's desk was neatly organized, his work space on one side, his computer on the other. There were a few papers lying directly in front of him; he must have been filling them out. The man wore a slate gray business uniform, with an ashen undershirt and a bright yellow tie. His dark powder-brown hair was clean-cut-short and slicked back. These were a few details X took note of as he decided in what manner to present his questions.
He is a serious business man, but he is not boring. He is young, but knows what he is doing. X commented inwardly.
"Mr. Roazzari, if you don't mind, we would like to inquire about this corporation." The young man grinned broadly, extending his hands palms up to his sides in a welcoming gesture.
"I'd be pleased to answer any questions you have."
"All right," X began with a nod.
"First off, earlier today the Maverick Hunters found a document that stated that your corporation has been testing a form of new medical technology; Nanobots. What exactly is it that these Nanobots do?"
Mr. Roazzari considered this for a while, than replied. "For many years scientists and doctors alike have sought a better method to treat patients. Here at NanoCorps. we are hoping that we can provide that method. With the Nanobots that we have created, we can hunt down and obliterate viruses.
The Nanobots are introduced into the body through the blood stream. Once inside, they are programmed to locate any foreign organisms in the body, and then destroy them; like a soldier does an enemy. Because they are microscopic robots they can track down every atom of the virus and eliminate it.
If all goes according to plan, we may even be able to cure Aids; or for Reploids, the Maverick Virus."
Zero glanced wide eyed from X and then to Mr. Roazzari, amazed by what he had just heard. If the virus could actually be cured, the number of Mavericks would decrease drastically and bring the Hunters even closer to their ultimate goal: a world where humans and Reploid lived in peace! Zero glanced meaningfully at X, realizing his best friend might finally achieve his long quested for dream; Elysium, paradise.
X just stood with a thoughtful expression, sorting through and contimplating the explanation he had just received.
"Second question, how are these 'Nanobots' produced?"
Once again the room fell silent as Roazzari pondered the correct way to reply to the inquiry.
"The initial design was created by one of our human scientists, but this is another situation where humans are obsolete, because our dexterity and concentration are not nearly as advanced as yours. Due to their size, only Reploids have been able to construct the actual 'bots'.
As X reflected silently upon what had been said, Zero stood quietly taking in the conversation. It was not his matter to discuss, but the topic enthralled him none the less.
"Alright, final question: how are you testing these Nanobots?"
"Ah, yes. That has a most interesting answer indeed. You see we started out testing like everyone else, with animals. But animal testing did not produce the results we were looking for.
Then a couple of months ago, one of our chief engineers brought a new method to my attention. You see, the Nanobots were not meant just for humans, but we hoped to provide Reploids with a new form of medical treatment as well. So about two weeks ago, we started accepting Reploid volunteers. As you should know, and dont take this the wrong way, but in the event that something should go wrong, Reploids are much easier to repair."
X nodded in silent agreement, being a Reploid, he understood all too well how much more fragile humans were.
"If the Reploid tests are successful, then we will start testing on humans. If both parties prove to be successes, then we hope to see this new method out in the real world very soon."
Unexpectedly the man's optimism was replaced by disappointment. He sighed deeply. "It's a shame though, as of yet the Reploid testing has had more results than that of the animal testing, but we still haven't had a completely flourishing batch. It's almost as if something in the equation were missing."
X gave Roazzari a regretful frown. "I'm sorry that your experiments have not yet been a success, but I thank you for your time and the information you have given us. And please tell your volunteers that what they are doing is wonderful and that I support them all the way."
"I will tell them that, and I assure you, Commander X, that the Maverick Hunters will be one of the first groups to receive this invention when it is complete."
X and Zero said farewell to Roazzari and waved goodbye to the Reploid secretary behind the reception desk as they left the building. The sun was beginning to set and the winter air had turned frigid, causing frost to form on the ground and the trees. Zero followed X to the parking bay, keeping a vigilant eye on his partner. He convinced X to let him drive the Ride Chaser back to the Head Quarters and by the time they arrived it was after dark.
Zero parked the Ride Chaser in the dock, and despite X's protests, he managed to talk his comrade into allowing the Hunter medical doctor to check him over. Life Savor reported that nothing seemed to be wrong and had to agree with X and his previous diagnosis; it was just stress. But due to Zero's personal request, Life Savor had X's Sleeping Chamber environment altered to put him into a state of stasis; an induced deep sleep (also known to the Hunters as the 'Healing slumber'); for the night.