That night, when all the humans were asleep in their beds and the Reploids in their stasis chambers, a clinking of metallic feet on the steel floors registered faintly on Zero's auditory sensors. As the sound grew closer and more frequent, Zero's sensors alerted him to the encroaching presence, powering him full on in defense. The surge was always an unwelcome jolt to his systems, but however alarmed, Zero lay in wait, feigning "sleep", to have the advantage of surprise over his would-be adversary.

Zero listened intently to the steps for clues. A few clinks later, Zero knew the presence was bipedal. Yet a few more, and he gauged it to be a Reploid slightly larger than himself. Three more steps, and an intruder was in his midst.

Zero's right arm was primed to draw the blade on his back, his left was uncomfortably hot inside with the swirling plasma of a concealed, fully-charged blast. Yet he kept perfectly still, and the presence was fooled enough to begin speaking openly, though keeping to a hushed whisper.

The voice was unmistakably Sigma's.

"Yes, this Zero, he may be pretty strong now, but his self-doubt holds him back. He'll be a truly formidable ally later, and doubt himself no more. There's nothing to fear from him as long as he doubts."

Clink, clink. Clink, clink. He paced back and forth in what Zero could only imagine was quiet contemplation, or rising madness. Zero nearly hissed. A potential danger to all of Maverick Hunter lurked in its very halls, of this much he was certain, and he would resign himself to this, playing possum rather than protecting himself and others?

But the hint of trepidation in Sigma's step let him know that Sigma could do no harm, not now. Whether it was a reconnaissance mission of some sort or just idle speculation that led him here, Sigma was not yet a threat.

Suddenly, the room fell eerily silent. Zero strained for any cue to indicate Sigma had gone, but when he got no such cue, he knew Sigma was still in his midst, and waited.

When next Sigma spoke, it was with the sound of his own voice, but the manner, the character, belonged to someone else. It gave a response to Sigma's assessment of Zero.

"No. He is as an unmanned ship, his course difficult to chart, his movements unpredictable. A wildcard in our perfectly chosen hand. Deep within, in a part of himself he chooses to ignore or has simply forgotten, he is conscious of his purpose. But until he realizes that, he is our enemy, and a threat. Something must be done to ensure he not be a factor to our survival, since he will act of his own accord if necessary."

Sigma shot back at his own statement. "If we act too hastily, we'll only ensure that he join the fight against us. We must appeal to him, to his sympathies. Then I believe we'll get our desired result."

Zero waited. For a long time, no further words came. He counted the seconds, the milliseconds, the nanoseconds. What the hell is going on? In the silence of his room, the suspense numbed his other senses.

Into the silence crashed the voice one last time, which, even at a whisper, startled Zero so that he flinched. Dearly hoping Sigma hadn't noticed, he tensed for combat. But the voice went on, and Zero felt at once great relief and great apprehension.

"Agreed. Do as you see fit. Turn him, and your hand will hold all the cards."

And with that, Sigma's footsteps echoed down the hall and faded from Zero's sensors.