"You're pathetic, X."
X jolted as the voice, accompanied by a jab at his side, forced him awake.
"It's amazing you're not in pieces strewn all over the lab, sleeping alongside a Maverick like that."
"He's not a Maverick," X shot off without thinking, his grogginess interfering with his judgment. He realized what he said a little too late, and with whom he was speaking as he glanced up toward Sigma's towering form.
"Not a Maverick? I'd love to hear you try to defend that one to the human government if they knew about this," Sigma said gruffly. "But why should anyone care about what they say?"
"Excuse me, Commander?" X questioned.
"Listen, X. I wanted to apologize for my words to you this afternoon. They are not words befit a Commander when speaking to his subordinates. Morale and loyalty are precious, especially in a time like this." X nodded, and Sigma bowed his head slightly before he went on. "I trust you to keep this to yourself. I have recently been informed that the World Federation is crafting legislation that would merge all sanctioned Anti-Maverick Reploid Police forces of the world under one name and one leadership."
The news baffled X. The changes sounded far too ambitious. He never suspected that the Federation would ever collaborate on something like that. X thought the humans preferred to ignore the growing Maverick crisis, so long as the Anti-Maverick Police kept them at bay. "But that means " X started to say.
"It means that we can say goodbye to any kind of private sector support, and to our own rules," Sigma finished for him.
"But who will this leadership consist of? Under what name?" X asked. Sigma sighed.
"The official announcement of these changes won't be made until they have finished organizing the chain of command, but they want to combine Police leadership based on record, talent, tenure, and public acclaim. Apparently, I fit the bill."
X blinked. Was Sigma saying that
"Within a few months, you will know me as Sigma, Supreme Commander of the Maverick Hunters," Sigma said, as if answering X's thoughts.
"The Maverick Hunters " X said, trying out the sound of it.
"Nothing more than fancy titles, X. We will be government employees, subject to oversight by a human council. They will be designees of world leaders. Small-time politics will be a thing of the past." Sigma sighed. "And I led us here. "
X furrowed his brow in thought before saying, "It sounds like a great idea in theory, though. We will be able to cooperate with other talented officers, share resources, and get better funding. I think the people and Reploids will benefit in the long run," X suggested. Sigma smiled.
"Always looking on the bright side, aren't you?" he said. Sigma sighed. "That's good. But please understand, I've been under a lot of stress because of this change, in addition to concealing our secret project here. I'm afraid I'm handling it rather shamefully."
"It's okay, Commander," X said. Sigma's confession did much to answer X's concerns about his Commander's irritability and severity over the past days. The change would transform society, and X believed the pressure Sigma experienced would overwhelm a lesser leader.
"And in case you were wondering, I suggested they use our precinct as a template for organizing divisions. So in all likelihood, you will still be in the 17th unit." Sigma said. "So don't worry too much. Anyway, it appears you haven't been doing the work you promised. I thought you were going to study him?"
"I haven't had the chance because he's been repairing himself after the damage he received today," X said.
"Incredible. He even can't take a few punches? To think that he did this to me," Sigma said, patting his reattached arm.
"I thought I heard voices," Dr. Cain said, entering the room and carrying a data pad. "Ah, you've returned, Commander Sigma."
"I wanted to see what your findings have been so far. I know it has not been very long, but my time to attend to this matter grows short, and therefore I must have positive results as soon as possible. If not, then the research must stop and this Maverick disposed of without question. My job and my credibility are already at stake by having this thing here."
"I understand, and I am working as best as I can," Dr. Cain said. "You should know, however, that X has made progress in communicating with the subject. I wish you could have seen it."
Sigma arched a brow. X blanched, afraid that Dr. Cain was going to tell the truth about them waking the Maverick up without Sigma.
"Are you implying that you both contradicted my explicit orders?" Sigma asked blankly.
"X did no such thing," Dr. Cain said. "I revived him in order to conduct additional observations. X just happened to be present." Sigma chuckled, much to X's relief.
"Very well," Sigma said. "And what did you observe?"
"The Maverick appears to trust X. It listens to him."
"Really? I suppose that's no surprise. Everyone likes X," Sigma said wryly. "I'd like to see it. Wake him up."
"Sir," X began, rising to his feet. "Zero, er, the Maverick will be in pain if we wake him up too soon."
"What did you say?" Sigma said. He huffed in amusement, sweeping X aside to approach the maintenance bed and rip out the sedative cartridge. "Zero, huh? That's what you call it?"
"Commander!" X said firmly, his rage bubbling at Sigma's sadistic intent. "Put that back! Zero needs it!"
"Please," Sigma said, juggling the cartridge in hand. "What's the harm in a little payback?"
"Plenty," Dr. Cain admonished. "If your one to abhor such childishness."
In response, Sigma crushed the cartridge in his hand. He let the liquid ooze out between his fingers before saying, "Like I said, I'm under a tight clock. I want to see this. Now."
As if on cue, a groan was heard from the bed as Zero started to come to. His eyes squeezed shut, then opened, and although they had regained their life in comparison to before, they struggled to stay open. X was fast at his side, but positioned himself in a way that he hoped would block his view of Sigma. Sigma, for his part, stepped into a shadow order to remain somewhat discreet.
"X," Zero greeted, smiling, although seeming to wince in a jolt of pain when he attempted to sit up.
"Not too fast," X said, pushing him to stay on his back. Worry marred X's features. "Does it hurt? You can just nod or shake your head."
Zero kept smiling up at X as if the question failed to register. He reached out to put a hand on X's arm, but twitched involuntarily as his fingers came to rest. Zero's eyes closed and his teeth clenched.
"Doctor, we're going to need another sedative soon," X said, taking Zero's hand and squeezing it. However, Zero vigorously shook his head at the word 'sedative.' X paused, now feeling incredibly indecisive, exacerbated by Sigma's attentive gaze piercing through his back.
"Zero," X said soothingly. "I'm sorry we had to wake you before you're ready. If you are in pain, then you should sleep until you are better."
Zero shook his head again. He then opened his mouth as if he wanted to speak, but no sound came out. He tried again, and it almost seemed to X like there was some invisible obstruction in his throat blocking his attempt at a coherent phrase. Zero clenched, appearing to suffer another twinge of pain, and through his teeth he let loose a howl of aggravation.
Meanwhile, X started to panic as Zero seemed to grow more and more frustrated, and struggled to stem the restlessness Zero presented. Zero's howl sent a bolt of fear down his spine, but X steeled himself and gripped Zero's hand tighter, while using the other hand to still Zero at his opposite shoulder.
"Calm down," X ordered in a loud voice. "I know you hear what I'm saying, I know that you understand me, so if you want to stay awake you will have to listen to me." Zero paused, ceasing his agitated movements to look up at X directly. "If it's that bad," X went on, almost in a whisper, "then let us take care of you."
Suddenly, Zero's face twisted with rage. His hands shot up and he grabbed X by the throat. They choked X before he could let out a cry of surprise.
"X! Oh no!" Dr. Cain said. He moved to the EMP and the computer hub.
"No!" Sigma hissed at him. "Not yet."
Zero's eyes did not move- his focus remained entirely on X. X put his hands to the fingers around his throat, gagging from the pressure. He looked at Zero, pleading with his eyes.
Then, just as suddenly as the rage came, it ebbed away from Zero. His face fell, and he twitched again. He then breathed a word: "Help."
Astonished by the request, and the sudden expansion of Zero's vocabulary, X relaxed in Zero's grip. He felt Zero's fingers loosen. The Maverick dropped his arms and sat limp as though exhausted.
X rubbed his throat. His voice faltered when he then said, "Alright, Zero, let's get you back to sleep."
Zero nodded miserably, with a pained look that wrenched X's heart. Dr. Cain took his cue to fetch another tranquilizer, but paused when Sigma silently motioned his intent to retrieve it instead. While they waited, X put his free hand to Zero's forehead, trying his best to comfort him with gentle strokes. Sigma returned shortly, and whistled for X's attention. X pivoted around in time to see Sigma toss him the cartridge, which he caught and quickly installed.
"Rest well, Zero," X said softly. "I forgive you. Don't be afraid."
Zero smiled again, and his eyes slipped closed.
"Heh," Sigma said. "And you said he wasn't a Maverick?"
Embarrassed by the incident, X refused to turn and look at his Commander.
"At least it was interesting, though I must say I learned as much about you as I did about your 'Zero' here. You are too trusting. Now you see the danger in opening your heart to a Maverick, X. It could kill you."
"I know," X acknowledged. He was still holding onto Zero's now-limp hand, but quickly put it down to rest on the bed. "But he didn't kill me."
"That's true, despite the ample opportunity it was given," Dr. Cain pointed out with wry emphasis.
"Was it the Maverick's choice, or can he barely operate? His speech is nonexistent. He's erratic. How do we know he is even comprehending what X is telling him?" Sigma asked.
"Yes, the way he presents physically and psychologically is disconcerting, and I do grant the possibility he may never regain his full, uncorrupted functionality," Dr. Cain said. Shocked by the blunt assessment, X looked as though he were betrayed by what doctor said.
"In that case, I'll make sure he is disposed of, then," Sigma said.
X moved to protest, but the next words from the doctor stopped him. "Hold on. Seeing X interact with it has given me an idea for how to repair him," Dr. Cain said. "If you will allow it, of course."
Sigma paused. He then said, "What do you propose, doctor?"
"As I have said before, it seems as though Zero here is missing a key component or components in his system. My theory is its absence is sabotaging his biological systems from interfacing with his artificial ones. Therefore, I propose we attempt to reintroduce that component through gene therapy. I will create a virus to transplant the appropriate DNA and additional programming into his body. It is risky, but if it succeeds, then we can expect a full recovery."
Sigma nodded, bringing a finger to his chin. "You can synthesize such a thing?"
"The virus itself and the programming I can construct easily, but the DNA " Dr. Cain hesitated. "The DNA is too complex, for I do not yet fully understand Zero's design, and cursory scans suggest that I would need another lifetime to comprehend its intricacies. Therefore we need a donor, and I believe it must come from one who is just as complex, and whose origins are just as mysterious."
X arched a brow, for Dr. Cain was looking directly at him as he spoke.
A/N: While looking this chapter over, I decided to make a small change in what happens with Zero to make it a little more interesting, and to tie in again the nightmare addition in previous chapters. Hope those who have read this before are enjoying the changes. New readers, I hope you are enjoying it as well!