Jennie held tightly to Axl's waist as they rode out of the area. Just in case the Maverick base had gotten off a distress call, they needed to leave as quickly as possible.

She had given up her hoverbike to her brother, and she glanced over to look at him as they rode. The Maverick (was he really, though?) rode behind him, suffering the indignity of being a passenger with no expression. She tilted her head as she gazed at him.

He was really quite odd. His reaction to meeting X and Zero, and being surrounded by Hunters, had been complete indifference. Not that he was unaware of his danger in the presence of enemies, but more that he just didn't care. There was a certainty to him that made Jennie think she understood how he could be a Maverick, yet uninfected with the virus.

It was an unfortunate fact that some Reploids joined the Mavericks of their own free will. The virus could corrupt anyone into going Maverick, but those who fought the fiercest against it tended to go stark raving mad. Those who folded quicker were deadly, but the worst for the Hunters were the uninfected. Sigma allowed such Mavericks to exist because they could be used as spies and infiltrators. Any scanner would pick up the Maverick virus, so the only way to get in spies was with uninfected Reploids… like Double.

Of course, that cut two ways. The Hunters could place spies in the Mavericks, but it was a grueling and dangerous process for the spies. But perhaps this Maverick was some kind of agent? He seemed so utterly confident in his own actions that she had decided he was some kind of fanatic. Capable of doing absolutely anything for a cause he believed in, and safe in his own convictions. What was that phrase she had read, once? Kill them all and let God sort them out. I have no concerns about my place with the Lord.

Then X's voice came over the communicator… a general frequency, so the Maverick could hear him and answer.

We're far enough away for a talk. What happened in there? Jennie's brother was the one to answer that question.

I woke up to find him talking with the woman running the base. She wanted me infected, but he shot her instead and let me up, saying we needed to help you. The Mavericks had looted my lab, so I took a cannon I'd been working on and… you know the rest.

I have decided to defect from the Mavericks, came the calm voice of the Maverick. My name is Trance, by the way.

Why? Why are you defecting? X asked urgently. It was a very important question. There was a short pause as Trance considered the question.

I was created by the Mavericks. I have always believed in the rightness of our cause. Humans are clearly inferior to Reploids in every way. However, I like to think for myself and I do not consider bloodshed and war to necessarily be the ideal way to bring the proper state of affairs about. Jennie arched an eyebrow at that. He was pretty gutsy, to admit his convictions to X and Zero. When I heard about this technique of turning humans into Reploids, at first, I thought it was an abomination. So did my Mistress, but I hate her guts, so I considered it further. It occurred to me that if humans can become Reploids they eventually will, since our form is superior. Eventually, natural humans will die out. Then, the world will be the Reploid one I envision… if the virus doesn't make it impossible for humans to take Reploid bodies. Jennie understood what he was saying. Her greatest fear when she had been offered the chance at a Reploid body had been the possibility of infection.

As for the rest of his logic, she was appalled at his conviction that humans were inferior, but couldn't really fault his reasoning. He was quite possibly right. Reploid bodies lasted so much longer than human ones, if all went well. Who wouldn't want to be immortal? And humans might very well eventually die out, integrated into the Reploid population…

There was another pause as everyone considered that.

I can't say I agree, but I understand your reasoning, X finally said. We might be able to find a place for you as a Hunter, but you'll have to prove your loyalty.

Of course. Any kind of mental scans you require, I will undergo, he said calmly. Jennie was surprised again by the young fanatic… mental scans of the type he was discussing were anything but painless. But I have some information with me that you might find useful, about Sigmas plans and some current spies placed in the UN. Unfortunately, I could not get at any of the records about spies in the actual military organizations.

Too bad, but anything you can give us will be appreciated, X replied, and Jennie nodded. The UN was mostly bureaucratic in nature, so spies in it didn't really help Sigma too much.

Still, it was a sign that Trance had really changed sides. Or was Sigma just sacrificing the UN agents to place one in the Hunters? Jennie shuddered at the thought, then decided not to think about it. X and Zero had no doubt thought about it, and they'd find a way to deal with the possibility. She was sure Trance knew it, too, although it didn't seem to bother him a bit.

Soon, they had reached the depot they had gotten the hoverbikes from, and after storing them safely, they teleported back to Maverick Hunter HQ.

Trance seemed utterly indifferent to the reaction of all the Hunters in the area, who stopped to stare at the clear Maverick in their midst. Some reached for weapons, but a cold look from Zero stopped any incipient mayhem. Trance was escorted out between X and Zero, and Jennie watched, wondering exactly what would happen to him.

Then someone touched her shoulder, and she looked over into David's face.

"It's so good to see you again, Jennie." He said warmly, smiling at her. She giggled, and hugged him tightly. "Woah, careful! This body isn't up to much abuse!"

"It's not?" She blinked up at him, and he shook his head with.

"No, I got a chance to look at the schematics. It's barely a shell, something they whipped together in a hurry. I'll have to completely overhaul… oh!" David blinked then grinned as Axl stepped up behind Jennie. "You must be Axl. I've heard a lot about you."

"It's all lies," Axl said straight-faced. "Except for the part about us being engaged!" He hugged Jennie from behind, and she blinked, looking back at him.

"When did we get engaged?" she questioned him, and he grinned.

"Right now? Please?" he said, nuzzling her neck lovingly.

"…Sure!" Jennie said with a wide smile. It wasn't the most romantic of proposals, and her reply was even less so… but that was just fine by her. Wonderful joy filled her, and she hugged Axl tightly, giving him a deep, passionate kiss. She didn't care about the other Hunters walking by.

All was right with the world.

Fin

For now, anyway.