A/N: COVER ART BY metalhime. I commissioned this piece based on THIS chapter, "Fate". BEAUTIFUL WORK! Check out her stuff on DeviantArt/dA (search 'metalhime'. I don't think I can post a link here)
Without any additional conversation save for the directions from Dr. Cain - X gathered up the lifeless Reploids and followed Dr. Cain to a separate but adjacent biomedical facility. The room hosted a row of lab tables which connected to a computer hub along the wall. They used these tables as makeshift repair gurneys, for they could monitor vitals from the hub and administer sedatives from the tables. They worked on Sigma first, for his absence would be noticed by the community at large if there was undue delay.
Dr. Cain and X reversed the EMP coma without trouble. Within the hour, Sigma came to.
"Commander," X said as Sigma sat up on the gurney. Sigma held his forehead as his systems came back online.
"X, you damned fool," Sigma replied, lying back down. "Defending Mavericks- that's a crime. I ought to throw you out of the force, but then I would have no means to prevent you from talking about this without killing you. In fact, I have no means either way, so why shouldn't I send you and your little red pet to the grinder right now?"
"Sigma " Dr. Cain muttered.
"I won't talk, sir," X said calmly, though he was stifling a growing anger built from Sigma's relentless insults he had heaped on him since the afternoon began. X felt a surge of defiance. "As for the Maverick, I think there are still things we can learn from him. As long as we keep him sedated, that is."
"What things?" Sigma said, chuckling. "And when did you become such an expert? Didn't you get what you wanted, Doc?"
Dr. Cain sighed. "It's still unclear exactly how his nanomachines are receiving and translating his neural and chemical inputs, despite the amount of data we collected. No clear patterns emerged whatsoever."
"If he can't or won't reveal his secrets, then he's useless. Too bad, I suppose, after all my trouble," Sigma said, looking over to the still-unconscious form of the Maverick. "Scrap him."
X frowned, saying, "With all due respect, we can't just scrap him. I'm convinced, as you were, that he deserves our attention. He doesn't seem so hostile toward me, so maybe I can work with him if you'll give both of us a chance."
"That's an interesting change of tune coming from you, isn't it, X? Tell me, what if he turns around one day and murders you as ruthlessly as he murdered Garma?"
"As far as I can tell, sir, there is only one Reploid here who wouldn't mind seeing me dead."
Irritation blazed in Sigma's eyes, but he had no reply to make to X's words. Instead he said, "Very well. I'll allow the Maverick to stay, but you are now responsible for it, X. If you will excuse me, I must make ready for duty." He glanced at the Maverick. "Keep it under until I am able to return."
Dr. Cain nodded, and Sigma departed swiftly.
"Sigma " Dr. Cain said as the door closed behind Sigma. "He's so different now from when he first came online. He used to call me Father." The doctor sighed. "Now he is so cold and severe. I suppose the pressure of protecting our society is a heavy burden. X, I want you to forgive me. I could never figure out how to program the wonderful quality of humility you possess, and I had hoped that Sigma would learn it instead and " Dr. Cain trailed off, obviously disheartened by the failure he was admitting.
"Doctor, whoever Sigma is now, it certainly isn't your fault. You were the first human I ever met, and I learned from you what's true and good by your example. I'll never forget it," X said, reaching out to touch the doctor's arm.
"Thank you, X," Dr. Cain said, his eyes glistening with tears. "I'm sorry, but would you call me Father? Just sometimes, for I would like to hear it again."
"Sure, Father," X said. He then hugged the old man once again, who smiled gratefully.
"You are truly remarkable, X," Dr. Cain said, releasing from the hug. "Speaking of which, what on Earth are we going to do about him?"
X looked over at the Maverick, resting on the bed and looking as peaceful as he had before they had revived him.
"I don't know. I want to talk to him, but I'm not sure yet if he even understands what's happened to him," X said.
"He learned your name easily enough," Dr. Cain pointed out. "But he may still be dangerous if we reboot him as he is."
"Is there a way to delete Maverick programming?" X asked.
"If I could answer that, then you'd be out of a job," Dr. Cain said.
X smiled. "Good point," he said.
"Maverick programming or not, X, he is a mess no matter how you look at it. All the more reason for me to think that something key was removed from him, some important piece of data that was lost or corrupted. Without it, his autonomic and cognitive functions are incoherent. Perhaps that is why he is Maverick in the first place, but it's impossible to say," Dr. Cain said.
"How terrible," X said, his eyes softening upon the Maverick's face.
Dr. Cain in turn studied X for a moment before saying, "Let's wake him up, Sigma's orders be damned. He can take it up with me if he has a problem with it."
X whipped around to give Dr. Cain an appreciative grin, making no effort to disguise how thrilled he felt.
"The EMP emitter should be just about recharged by now, anyway. Would you bring it in here from the other room? I'll reroute the activation command to this room," Dr. Cain said, moving to a system input console. X obeyed, running out to fetch the device. He carried the boxy, dense contraption back in with both arms, set it down at the console, and hooked it in.
"Alright, hand me that soldering needle," Dr. Cain said, moving to the Maverick's bedside. "What should we call him, anyway? I've been meaning to ask you."
"Who?" X asked.
"Our guest here. Who else?" Dr. Cain said. "We should call him something, no?"
"You didn't give him a code?"
"He's supposed to be unofficial, so I saw no reason to make paperwork for myself."
X glanced down at the "Z" marking on the Maverick's shoulder. "He's not supposed to exist, hmm?" he pondered aloud.
Dr. Cain paused from his work to look up at X. X then said, "Zero."
"Zero?" Dr. Cain repeated.
"We'll call him that for now. Zero." X said.
"Zero. Very well," Dr. Cain said, resuming his work.
Like with Sigma, it was within the hour that Dr. Cain had successfully reactivated Zero's electronic systems. As he finished, they waited as Zero's integrated neural and biological systems slowly reactivated, indicated by his level of consciousness. X hovered over him as he watched his eyes open slowly. X still felt a tinge of fear about what they were doing, but it flew away once Zero's eyes locked onto his once again. The unbroken gaze embarrassed X a bit this time, but he steeled himself knowing that they could not turn back.
"How are you feeling?" X asked, taking a swing at communication. He even reached out to rest his palm on Zero's forehead. Truly, X felt sorry for what this Maverick had to go through.
"X," Zero stated after a pregnant pause. He then blinked dumbly. Progress, X supposed. X glanced up briefly at Dr. Cain who he noted was observing in unmasked awe.
"I'm X, that's right," X said, leaving his hand on Zero. "Nice to meet you."
Zero appeared to lose focus, as if trying to recall something, but it kept slipping out of his grasp.
"X," Zero repeated, again seeming like he was trying to remember something. After having an internal struggle, Zero's face fell, indicating he had given up. X brushed his hand his forehead, and the act seemed to relax both Reploids.
"Don't worry, Zero. We'll take care of you," X assured. He still wasn't sure if Zero understood, but he hoped the tone of voice sufficiently communicated his peaceful intentions. In reply, Zero reached up and took X's hand, bringing it to his side. To X's astonishment, Zero smiled. It was a pure, gentle, handsome smile, and it convinced X beyond a doubt that this was the one Maverick who deserved a chance to get better.
X cleared his throat and said, "Can you move?"
Zero squinted as if concentrating, and he let go of X's hand and attempted to sit up. X thought to stop him, for Dr. Cain had not yet checked if Sigma had inflicted any internal damage. Instead, he held his hands out to steady him in case Zero lost his balance. After some wobbling, Zero sat up straight and looked around, noticing Dr. Cain for the first time. Hostility crossed his features, making the old man gasp.
"No, Zero," X admonished, moving to the opposite side of the bed to come between them. "It's okay. He wants to help you, too." Zero glanced at X as he spoke, then his features relaxed. Though he did relax, X noticed that his rage had transformed rapidly into despair. X could not see it clearly, but he felt it, and thought about what it was like to come into strange, confusing world without purpose or memory. X had been through it himself. It was a powerful loneliness. A reason to live, any reason, eluded him during that dark time. X thought he might have lashed out at the world too if Dr. Cain had not been there to hold him at the times when he needed to cry.
X, moved by his empathy and his own memories, gingerly put his arms around Zero. Zero tensed at the unfamiliar contact, but X said, "I know what this is like. I don't know who I am supposed to be either, nor do I remember a thing about where I came from. It makes you confused, angry, and alone. But you're still alive, and as long as you remain alive, things will get better. Endure it. You'll be glad you did someday."
X felt Zero settle and lean into his chest.
"It must have been fate," Dr. Cain said, watching the scene unfold. "For you two to meet."
X stroked Zero's back gently. "X," Zero said again, but this time a powerful tremor wracked his body. Alarmed, X released Zero and saw that his eyes were slightly glazed over. "Doctor?" X said worriedly as another tremor shook Zero. Dr. Cain immediately rushed to assess him, visually and by analyzing the gurney's readouts. X pushed for Zero to lie down in order to get an accurate scan.
"It appears the internal damage to him was worse than it appeared," Dr. Cain said. "But according to these readouts, he is not critical. We just need to give him time to rest."
Despite the assessment, Zero convulsed again, and X could tell by his rigidity that his involuntary spasms were causing him some panic. X returned his hand to his forehead with soothing strokes.
"Should we put him back under?" X asked, though he did not like the thought of having to knock him out yet again. But for Zero's peace of mind and to aidrepair, it sounded like a good prescription.
"You seem to have his trust, X. So I would say it's your call," Dr. Cain said. "But he may be in pain."
X watched as Zero convulsed again. His head pivoted towards X, but his eyes were wide and unblinking. The sight was pathetic, and it caused X to struggle to contain his tears. He had no idea what to do to make it better.
"Let's do it," X then said softly. "Just for a little while."
Dr. Cain nodded, and went to fetch the sedative. X brought his hand down to one of Zero's and held it, but was surprised when he felt Zero's grip tighten over his hand.
"Don't worry," X said. "I'll be here when you wake up again."
A moment later, Dr. Cain returned with a cartridge containing a dose of tranquilizer and installed it into the table. Zero's grip on X loosened as the drug gradually took effect, and the lids of his eyes drooped.
"I hope he thanks you if and when he is able," Dr. Cain said. X glanced up at Dr. Cain with a somber smile. "I have a bit more work to do on the data we gathered," the doctor continued. "What are you going to do?"
"I'd like to stay with him," X said.
Dr. Cain smiled. "Do as you wish," he said, then took his leave.
X looked at Zero, the Maverick. He killed Lieutenant Garma, and nearly killed Sigma. He was unpredictable and violent. After today, X now saw Zero, the Reploid, suffering in his madness. The more X considered his own actions that day and in the past weeks, however, the more sure he became that he was doing the right thing. He cared little if Sigma or the authorities thought otherwise. That conviction comforted him, and he smiled to himself as he rested his head next to Zero's sleeping body. Sleep soon claimed him as well - restful, and without nightmares.
A/N: Another revised chapter!