Note: Hello! The next chapter is here, but it's a bit of a shorter one. I had more planned but found that it would fit better in the next. Plus, I'm super anxious to get to a specific part of this story before taking a break.

It'll allow Fox McCloude/FoxBluerevear to translate at his own pace. Let me know if I'm moving too fast!

I'm taking dates from both the Japanese and American/European manuals of the original game, as I feel that, while there won't be enormous time skips (nothing like a jump to a decade later), building a brand new species of robot takes more than a few days.

This chapter is more of a set-up for what's to come, but I promise things will get interesting again!

I hope you enjoy it!

Damage Control

November 20th 21XX

In July, the occurrence was reported to the council, which X remembered well, but nothing came of it. Apparently, from what the blue Reploid was told since the incident took place in an isolated area and the witnesses were mainly composed of what modern society thought to be "dumb backwater natives", everything was kept hidden from the public. Cain raised hell over the decision, but his protests fell on deaf ears. Reploids, despite the short period between when production began and July 16th, had become too ingrained in Arcadian society. Moreover, there was too much time, resources, and, most importantly, money invested in this new species of advanced robots.

According to Arcadian officials, production would continue, and what occurred on July 16th never happened.

Dr. Fujiwara examined Delta the day after X had "decommissioned" him and found that his systems were heavily corrupted and "eaten" away at CPU from what he had seen. Ironically enough, from what the scans had shown, it looked very much like bugs were indeed eating at his "brain."

July 17th, 21XX,

Arcadia, the White City

"What is all this?" X asked, pointing to the corrupted portions of the Reploid's cerebral chamber.

Fujiwara took a moment to adjust his glasses. "The only explanation that relatively fits this situation is that Reploid's systems were infected with quite a deadly virus."

"A virus?" Cain squinted to better look at the scans on the computer screen. "But aren't all Reploids are installed with the latest protective measures?" he questioned.

"Unless this one was just recently developed," Fujiwara answered. "The only question is where it came from." he enlarged one of the scans, making a note of the infected portions of the CPU. "The programmer who made this is going to have a very, VERY bad time in court."

X looked at Delta's lifeless form, the sizable hole in his head making the blue Reploid bite his lip hard. "Excuse me," he suddenly spoke up. "But can't we just upgrade our security measures? After all, perhaps this is just a virus that hasn't been seen before, so all we need to do is find how to counter the program."

Fujiwara sighed, and before X could ask what was wrong, Cain took him by the shoulder and escorted him a short distance away from the computer. "Given the circumstances, it's been decided that Delta won't be repaired."

"What?!" X proclaimed, despite the fact Cain had brought him over to discuss things in private. "But why? We recreated Roll's systems, so why can't we do the same in this case? After all, it's not like you have to just throw us out like a computer. We can just replace the systems!" it felt odd to make the comparison between a non-sentient machine and himself. But then again, he was also a machine.

"Those in charge of production have received orders from the council itself. Until the one responsible for creating this virus is apprehended, no one is willing to take any risks." the older human explained. "I'm sorry, X, but there's nothing either of us can do."

It was then that X realized that perhaps his previous comparison held more weight than he initially thought.

Present Time

Since that day, things had been going over smoothly. Yet on October 18th, another incident occurred, only this time, it happened within the city's borders. No humans were injured, but a few Reploids were critically damaged before their rampaging fellow worker was taken down. This time, he was preserved and could thankfully be repaired, but he too was discovered to be infected, so he was deactivated. The Reploid was taken in for study to see the effects of this destructive computer virus, and up until a few days ago, things had once again returned to normal.

But then November 15th happened. And this time, it couldn't be covered up.

Three people working at one of the factories producing Reploids had nearly a dozen of them that had just come off the line somehow become infected with the virus. There were no casualties, but three humans were injured, one of them still in the hospital for a broken arm. Though X couldn't have been sure, he heard rumors that the man's humerus had practically been reduced to splinters. So now here the blue Reploid was, standing before the council yet again, along with Dr. Cain and Fujiwara. Sigma was present on the central platform of the chamber as well, while Roll was situated in the crowd. It took him a few moments, yet X eventually managed to spot the blonde Reploid. She presented him with a smile and a small wave, mouthing out, "Good luck!".

Yeah. X thought. Good luck to all of us.

"So, as of now, there have been two incidents of Reploids being infected with this virus and exhibiting…irregularities in their programming.," the oldest man in green robes said. "And as of now, the programmer responsible for creating the virus has yet to be identified, correct?"

"That is correct, yes." Dr. Fujiwara answered. "But from what we've managed to observe, if traits of the virus can be detected early on, any further incidents can be prevented. And given more time, we could perhaps develop stronger security measures in the standard model of a Reploid's cerebral chamber, the virus will become obsolete!"

"And how much longer will this take?" the man in red robes questioned. "And how many more lives should be put at risk?"

"There's been no recorded casualties." Fujiwara stated.

"Yet." the older human retorted.

The Japanese man sighed. "And do you suggest that we put a stop to the production of Reploids altogether? If I may, your Honor, I doubt that'll happen by this point."

The older man's face nearly turned as red as his attire, knowing well that the scientist was right. If this had occurred within the first few weeks, then ordering a simple recall would be no issue. But now that months had passed since the first Replicated Androids went off the line, Arcadia had become dependent on them, both for convenience sake as well as profit. There was too much invested to be turning back now.

"Then I assume you have a suggestion?" the woman in blue robes inquired. A small silence fell between the Japanese man and five officials. "Well? We are waiting."

Fujiwara swallowed. Cain, you had BETTER come through for this, or so help me… "Your Honor, if I may," he then gestured to the other human with the robotics expert. "I would like to invite my colleague here to deliver a proposal."

The council members silently debated among themselves before coming to a decision. "Permitted." the head member said. "Dr. Phillip Cain, take the stand please."

With that, Dr. Cain stood before the five other humans. "Your Honor, if I may suggest," he began. "Given that this is a virus, and thus, human-made, it can be solved just as easily," he explained. "And I have consulted Fujiwara and your own esteemed scientists that indeed, given time, such a thing is possible. Especially now that we have those with those very systems working alongside us." The council members and those in the crowd, both human and Reploid alike, pondered the paleobotanist's words. "And even more, who better to combat a renegade Reploid than another Reploid?"

Cain began to regret his wording as he saw the Grand Councilman's face gain a slight twinge of worry. "As in, even if it is an outdated title by this point, a Super Fighting Robot?"

"Well, in a sense, I suppose you can say that," Cain admitted. "Yet they would be fitted with the best anti-viruses and security measures we have. They would be an elite team, fit for any potential hazard. A Reploid task force, if you will."

Another short period of silence fell over the chamber, the council members again argued among themselves in silence. Then, the Grand Councilman spoke again. "And how are we to trust that this task force, as you call it, will be able to combat these…irregular Reploids?"

"The same way we trust fellow humans and Reploids around us. And Reploids are especially aware of the Three Laws of Robotics and how they still pertain to this day. And I'm also certain they're aware that they and humans share what is by this point, a symbiotic relationship with each other. We are co-dependent, and, by this point, they have become our brothers in everything but literal flesh and blood."

"Pathos can only get you so far, Dr. Cain," the councilman in orange robes said.

"And do you suggest we simply cease to continue with the progress we've already made? Forgive me for being so bold, but as Dr. Fujiwara said, I doubt that will happen."

Though he didn't speak, the red-robed human was mentally cursing Cain, knowing well he was right. The Grand Councilman then rose from his seat. "Then, we shall see to it that this development process goes accordingly, won't we?" he then looked to his peers. "If my fellow gentlemen and ladies are accepting of such a proposal?" Everyone seemed to agree, for there was no other direction to go. Not if they were willing to lose more than they could potentially gain. "Well then, since we agree," the Grand Councilman said. "What do we call these Reploids? Those that shall deal with these…Irregulars?"

"Irregulars? That's putting it mildly." the red-robed man added. "And let's say, hypothetically, that there are Reploids that DON'T take the Three Laws into regard. As in, if I may put it bluntly, use that supposed free will they possess to go against humans on their own accord? Then, would they be held accountable as well?"

"Certainly," Cain answered. "Should it come to that, they shall defend their human brethren against such threats. And they shall seek out potential threats and put a stop to them entirely. Whether it be, as you say it, an Irregular or a Reploid acting of their own accord."

"Irregular? That's way too light of a term to use!" The red-robed council member huffed. "More like Renegade or Terrorist." he continued. "These incidents could lead to some Reploids getting these ideas of how they don't need us!" he crossed his arms. "Create a bunch of no-good Radicals is what this will do."

No one would openly admit it, but several humans and Reploids were looking at the one beside them. Everyone gave the other acknowledgment at least once, whether it be just a glance or a full-on stare that went on for seconds. Roll saw all of this, and her eyes centered on her brother. While she could not see his face, she could guess that they both came to the same conclusion.

Something that hadn't been foreseen had occurred, and, despite the restrictions initially put in place, rules would have to be altered in order to combat this unsettlingly new development.

December 10th 21XX

Well, it looks like all those tests with your buster came in handy after all. So X thought as he stood atop a platform with several cables affixed to his metal shell. They did not pierce through his outer shell, but they were secure on him, able to latch onto him easily.

Since the decision had been made to establish a squad to combat against any Reploid that showed signs of being, as the council now said, "Maverick," referring to both infected Reploids and those who broke any of the Three Laws, X was once again placed in the hands of both Dr. Fujiwara and the council's appointed scientists. Currently, his systems were being studied, especially in how his buster functioned. Sigma was situated on another platform a short distance away, cables also affixed to his outer shell. The more recently constructed Reploid still resembled a male human stripped of his skin and with silver muscles of steel with only his facial region being "covered".

Once the approval had been given for Cain's "task force", the council had offered their "project" the choice of whether or not to become a part of this team. Sigma accepted, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, utterly confident in his decision. X was rather impressed at how composed he was. While the blue Reploid did his best to conceal it, he was a nervous wreck when he had to face the five elderly humans yet again. But given Sigma was built under strict regulations, he did not know how to handle a weapon, let alone carry a buster properly, X was selected to essentially "transfer" all his recorded knowledge into the other Reploid.

The process was dragging on in comparison to when the essential traits of X's CPU had been uploaded into Roll, and Fujiwara and the other scientists were quite occupied in overseeing the transfer process. And given that Dr. Cain had long since gone home, and Roll was still at the Japanese man's own home, X found that perhaps this was an opportunity for him to get to speak with this other Reploid finally. Now the only problem was where to start?

X lightly cleared his throat, attempting to get the taller machine's attention. When he didn't get a response, he did it again, only for Sigma to still seemingly be oblivious of his existence.

Though when X tried it again, "You have no lungs for something to get stuck in, so why are you doing that?"

X was surprised upon hearing this, yet then grew somewhat embarrassed. "Y-Yeah. Sorry. It was kind of stupid, I know." he said. Sigma said nothing. Ok. Now what? This wasn't going to be easy. "So, what have you been up to?" Truthfully, X could count on one hand how many times he had seen Sigma, so he knew next to nothing about the other Reploid. From what Cain had told him, Sigma had spent a good portion of his time with Cain himself and the council members. Apparently, they were rather anxious to test out how well Dr. Light's programming could be duplicated, especially with something that was "theirs." "Has Dr. Cain showed you his study yet? There's quite a lot of books and fossils he's found in there."

This seemed to get Sigma's attention, though not how X expected. "I do not understand the man's bizarre choices."

X wanted to believe that his response was just Sigma being matter-of-fact, yet he couldn't help but notice a hint of amusement in the other Reploid's voice. As if he were scoffing at Cain himself. "What do you mean?" X asked, needing an answer.

"He is a researcher of extinct plantlife, yes?" Sigma questioned. "So he does not know robotics, is that right?" X nodded, not knowing where he was going with this. "Then why is the council even allowing him to participate in this project, let alone when he first discovered you."

"Yeah, Dr. Cain did sort of find me by accident," X admitted. "But he also contributed to the initial research process when I was still, well, the only Reploid around." after all, Fujiwara had put Cain over what he called the "things that aren't as simple to calculate and put into a program."

"Yet isn't Cain's field of study completely different than this?" Sigma questioned X. "That still doesn't answer why he's involved at all. Why would a human that's devoted years of study to the past have any interest in the process of programming or general construction?"

X was quiet for a moment, unsure of how to answer the other Reploid. "I guess perhaps he felt somewhat responsible for me."

"How so? You're far from a child." Sigma said, studying the blue Reploid, who was currently "feeding' him several gigabytes of data. "Then again, in retrospect, perhaps I should be grateful." he then said. "For if not for his sentimentality, I may not even exist." the blue orbs serving as his optics, gazed on the small group of humans observing them. They all still wear lab coats. It must be some sort of unspoken rule. Then again, Dr. Cain never wore a standard lab coat. "Though now, I am puzzled by your choices."

"What choices?" X asked. So far, he had made very few "choices" of his own, though only because he couldn't afford to. But now that his existence was known and approved, any choice he wanted to make was his.

Still, what Simga said caught X off guard. "Dr. Fujiwara?" the larger Reploid said aloud. "I would like to ask my colleague a question, if I may."

Fujiwara and the other scientists ceased their note-taking and, looking over the ongoing transfer process, all eyes on Sigma. The humans wondered if they had just heard what they thought they did. Nevertheless, Sigma received an answer. "You may." the Japanese man told the metal humanoid, he and the others quieting down to listen to what the machine had to say.

"It is your data that is being transferred to me, your battle techniques and combat abilities, yes?" Sigma asked X, who nodded in response. "Thus, you acknowledge that you are a machine capable of these things, yes?" again, X nodded. "And I am in the process of preparing to become part of a squad to defend humans against those like ourselves that may do them harm. Is that right?"

"Yeah." X answered. Just what is he getting at?

"Why are you not a part of it?"

The entire room was covered by a thick veil of silence, no one saying a word, both man and machine. No one was quite sure how to process such a question, even X himself. "I'm…not sure if I understand the question."

"It makes perfect sense," Sigma argued. "You are the first of us, the base model," he said. "And thus, all that I am receiving, I will know from you. So why will you not be a part of this squad of specialized Reploids?" X wasn't sure of how to answer. "Well? Why won't you?"

Even if he probably didn't mean to, X found himself quite irritated that Sigma had put him on the spot. He hated it when he had human eyes on him like this. "Well, the council elected you to be a member, right?"

"And you believe because you weren't initially mentioned, you believe you wouldn't be accepted?" Sigma questioned. "Because when I volunteered to be part of this team, NOT elected as you claim, you were the one that the council initially believed would leap at the opportunity." he then looked the blue Reploid up and down. "I suppose they expected you to be more eager to present your attributes to everyone." he then shrugged. "Either way, it doesn't matter in the end. The decision is yours."

Attributes, is that what he called them? X's green eyes looked down at his buster, then to the cables attached to it. His eyes studied where the cables led, from himself to Sigma to the main computer. All part of a giant, collective system. And yet the three couldn't be more different than the other.

December 15th 21XX

Fujiwara's Residence

"So, you DON'T want to be a part of this team?" Roll asked, all while taking care to slice the raw beef in her possession. Given that Dr. Fujiwara had invited the council's scientists to his home that night, it meant Roll had a lot of dinners to make. Thus, she decided that a large nabe pot filled with an assortment of chopped vegetables and meats would be perfect, as everyone could serve themselves. I got to check if we've got any ponzu or goma-tare. Maybe I should get both, seeing as I don't know which dipping sauce they'll like. And some of the scientists are vegan, so I'll probably have to make a separate pot with tofu instead of meat. she then looked over at her brother, whom she had realized she had completely forgotten about. "Oh, I'm sorry, X. You were saying you didn't want to become part of this...group? What are they calling it?"

"Hunters," X told her. "Maverick Hunters."

"Hunter?" Roll said aloud. "Not Defense Force or Prevention Squad?"

"I guess it's to really drive home that such behavior won't be tolerated." X theorized aloud. He then looked at the boiling nabe pot nearby, noticing that it was beginning to foam at the top. "Dr. Light didn't build me with culinary skills in mind," X said. "But I don't think that the water's supposed to go that high."

"Hm? Ah! Shit!" Roll abandoned the Nappa cabbage she was chopping up and immediately turned down the heat, teal eyes looking over the boiling piece of kelp in the water. "Whew. It's still good." she then looked back to X. "Not a word to Chiyo or Fumiko about what you just heard."

"My lips are sealed." X responded. He continued to watch Roll chop up ingredients before she stopped and looked at him.

"Hey, seeing as you're here," Roll then knelt and brought out another cutting board from the space below, then she opened a drawer and pulled out a rather sizable knife. "Help me get all this prepared, would you?" she then smiled. "Surely you can put your accuracy stats to use here." Seeing as there was no other option for him (he knew he was stuck helping her), the blue Reploid took the carrot she handed him and began chopping. "So," Roll began. Even if she had "recruited" her brother to assist her, she was thankful that she had someone to talk to. Given that neither Fujiwara nor Chiyo was home (the girl had gone to Fumiko's for the night), X was currently the only company she had. "Why don't you want to?"

"Want to what?" X questioned as he chopped. However, cutting vegetables took no effort on his part, that didn't make the task go by any faster.

"You know what I'm talking about." Roll told him. "You can maybe convince Cain that nothing's wrong, but not me. Another thing you and Rock have in common: you're both terrible liars." X felt his cheeks grow hot. Was he that obvious? "This new team, these Maverick Hunters, why don't you want to be a part of it?"

X was quiet for a moment. "Should I want to?"

"Well, no, you don't HAVE to." Roll replied, having now moved on to slicing into the mushrooms. "But, well, I suppose I just thought you would. Mega Man got enlisted in the WRA when it was still around, though he still had to do a good majority of the fighting when it came to dealing with Wily." she then put the mushrooms in the pot. "You're chopping too slow! This broth had to be done before the meat's even put in!" before X could protest or say anything in his defense, his sibling grabbed the carrots that he had yet to chop (along with what he did manage to chop) and began cutting at a speed that made X do a second take. Then she began cutting the carrots into small flower-like shapes, discarding what the knife removed into the trashcan she had moved beside of her. "But back to what I was saying," Roll continued. "Why aren't you going to be a part of this group? You'd fit right in! If anything, you'd be the best choice for it! You could even lead the team if you wanted!"

X shrugged. "I think Sigma's more fit for that type of role," he said. "Besides, who else would Cain have to rely on to make sure he's packed extra sets of clothes whenever he goes out on an expedition."

Roll sighed and shook her head. "Dr. Light was terrible about that too. Honestly, he is-" she stopped. "Was my father, and I love him, but sometimes I wonder whether or not all those sleepless nights made his brain run slower at times. I'd have even to remind him to eat sometimes!" she sighed again. "Though, I suppose that's what makes humans, well, human. Perfectly imperfect."

Perfectly imperfect. Those two words stuck with X, though he wasn't entirely sure why.

"Say, what is Sigma like anyway?" Roll then asked. "I haven't had a chance to speak, let alone even see him since the council approved of our further construction."

"He's...all right, I guess," X told his sister, not exactly sure what to say. "He's...well, he's..."

"Logical? Direct?" Roll asked. "Mechanical, even?"

X was stunned. "How is it that I programmed most of what's in your head, but you can somehow already know what's in mine?"

"I'm the older sibling. I know almost everything." Roll answered.

Younger. X mentally growled.

"It's perfectly natural for some machines to go through that phase." Roll explained. "Dr. Light said a robot, at least, those that were created by his design, sometimes needed some exposure to the outside world and around others for the logical and emotional components to come together." she had finally finished with the vegetables, all of them boiling in the nabe pot with the kelp. She then went over to the refrigerator and pulled out an assortment of meats ranging from beef to seafood. "Here," she handed the slab of beef to the blue Reploid. "Don't worry about getting it thin enough. Just cut it into smaller slices. I'll take care of the rest."

Well, he hoped he cut meat better than veggies. X brought the knife down and sliced through the red beef tenderloin. "So, Sigma's behavior is normal?" X asked.

Roll nodded. "It takes some longer than others, Time Man being a fine example," she said, though she didn't sound too pleased discussing the Robot Master. Light's creation or not, that bot could be such an uptight jerk at times! Not to mention an overall grump. He even made Elec Man's ego look tame in comparison sometimes!" she then stopped herself. "Oh, sorry! I got a little off track." she apologized. Besides, the more those names lingered in her mind, the more she felt an agonizing gnawing at her core. "But yeah, it's perfectly normal. And given that Reploids have more...complex systems in comparison to robots," she explained. Even if it were true, Roll still felt that saying that robots were inferior was unnecessary. If not downright disrespectful. "Perhaps this means that concepts such as emotions and personality may come even slower."

"How slow?" X questioned.

"It depends." Roll answered. X handed her what he had cut up, and she began to slice it into thinner pieces. "After all, human development and robot, well, Reploid development may have much in common, but they have just as many differences." she paused again, her knife slicing off a single, thinly cut piece of beef. "Whether that's good or bad...I don't think such a question can be answered. Especially now."

Note: Sigma will be more personable later, as he's still "learning." Though given what comes later, brushing up on his people skills isn't exactly a good thing.

The next few chapters will make up for the severe lack of robot on robot violence so far. Yeah, I admit that I like writing action scenes involving machines, but I also want to give the characters that'll come next chapter a proper introduction.

They'll be revealed in the next chapter, but they consist of both more obscure and well-known characters.

Also, Roll will be getting some more development later too.

I hope I'm gotten your interest, and I hope to see you soon!