In the past, Sigma's former office could be found nestled in the center of the Anti-Maverick Police Force. It symbolized the heart of the organization. Since the reconstruction, however, the office now crowned the headquarters at its highest in the sky. The new situation reflected his new status as the head of command, the brain, and like a neural network, an endless flow of data and communications went to and fro, up and down, directing every twitch and sensing every change. The volume of this information ballooned, and so a buffer of bureaucracy formed. This bureaucracy - and internal security - grew at a rate mirroring that of the Maverick Hunters' expanding network of warriors, navigators, and engineers.

Despite these measures, Sigma provided Dr. Cain a means to bypass any security hoops and contact him directly. As Dr.
Cain's assistant, X also could access the channel while he and the doctor worked on repairing and studying Zero. On a communications console outside the lab, X punched in the access sequence, then the authorization code. The action patched him into a private line, a line that transmitted itself silently to Sigma's office.

After a moment's pause, the console monitor flickered to life.

"X?" Sigma said. He leaned back in his chair and weaved his fingers together. "This is rather unexpected. Usually its Dr. Cain who gives me personal updates on our little project."

"He's busy, sir," X replied, pausing a moment. "With our guest."

Sigma's brow furrowed, but his eyes then widened as he caught on to what X was implying. He straightened, then asked, "And what exactly is the status of our guest?"

"Awake, sir," X said.

Sigma's lip curled up in dark amusement and said, "Unbelievable. That's wonderful news, isn't it? I mean, and the fact that you appear to have kept all of your limbs attached for the moment."

"He no longer displays any Maverick tendencies as far as we can tell. He is alert and lucid, but not in any way aggressive," X said matter-of-factly.

"Fascinating. In that case, I should make time in my schedule to pay him another visit. He ought to know how much I've worried about him."

At that point, he struggled to suppress his irritation. X nodded and said, "Of course, sir."

Sigma quirked a brow and asked, "Is there something else, X?"

X's eyes fell. He was afraid to mention the lie. With Sigma staring at him expectantly, X realized he had not fully thought through the deception. He then thought of the devastating consequences for his relationship with Zero if he did not convince Sigma to go along. X cared more about that, far more than anything Sigma might think.

"Sir, Zero has no memory of being a Maverick, and we decided not to tell him," X said. "If I may be bold, I would like to request that he never know."

Sigma's eyes narrowed and asked, "Why not tell him? Why not let him know whose mercy he is in?"

X cringed and bowed his head. He ground out, "I've already told him he is a Hunter, and he believes me."

Unexpectedly, amusement lit up Sigma's features before he burst out laughing. "X!" He exclaimed between fits.
"I thought I might have noticed your nose growing a little longer!" X squeezed his eyes shut,
now thoroughly embarrassed. Sigma composed himself quickly and said, "I never thought you were capable of telling a lie, X. I'll have to keep it in mind." He then sighed and said, "Don't worry, I think that's an improvement for your character. Besides, I think you may have the right idea."

X looked up sharply and asked, "Sir?"

Sigma nodded and said, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Keeping him under our thumb lets us monitor him. He may even teach us more about the Maverick phenomenon while he remains within our walls." He leaned back in his chair. "If his Maverick programming is truly gone, then he has the potential to become a very powerful ally. Yes, let us employ our little demon."

"You really will induct Zero into the Hunters?" X asked, hardly believing his commander.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, I must come down and assess whether or not he is even fit to scrub the floors," Sigma said. "Like all Hunters, he must pass all the necessary physical and good character requirements."

"Of course, sir!" X said, letting his excitement become more apparent.

"Heh. I have several meetings beforehand that I must attend, but you can expect me at 1900."

The monitor switched off, and silence rushed in to fill the air. For a moment, X froze in disbelief. Then, he thawed when he felt anticipation swell within him. He stepped backward and leaned against the wall, glancing up at the ceiling and the recessed light fixture there, one of many that dotted the length of the hallway. He closed his eyes, pausing to process his disbelief over Zero's recovery. The Maverick that protected him, that threatened him, that trusted him, now stood awake, alert, and as civil as any Reploid fresh out of production. Surely, Zero would get placed in B Class where they could stick together. X looked forward to being his friend and colleague out in the open.

"X?" X heard. He looked over to see Zero approaching him.

"Zero," X said. "You get along with Dr. Cain?"

"He's pleasant enough. But I'm worried about you, so I came out here to check on you."

X thought he sensed a pattern when the odd heat returned to his cheeks. "Worried about me?"

"You seemed irritated when you mentioned-," he paused. "Sigma."

"Sigma should be here at 1900. He can be a bit um, abrasive. Tough. He has a lot resting on his shoulders,
though."

"Sigma. Why does hearing that name make me feel-" Zero started, tightening his fists. "Feel- I don't know."

X chewed his lip before saying, "You two didn't get along." His gaze turned back to the lights. "He wasn't always so brutal."

Zero closed the distance, standing over X. "He hasn't threatened you in some way, has he?" he asked.

"Oh, no," X said quickly. "He's harsh, but the only Reploids he's ever harmed were Mavericks."

"Good," Zero said, stepping back.

X stood up straight. "Don't worry. I can defend myself if I have to." As he spoke, he retracted his right hand into his buster gun to emphasize.

Zero watched X's buster in awe. He looked at his own right hand. "Can all Reploids do that?"

After a pause to think, X said, "All who are designed for combat do have some type of weapon, but they're not always arm-mounted."

"Where's mine?" Zero asked.

X swallowed. Zero would expect him to know.

"Well, you have incredible strength and agility specs according to Dr. Cain, and, um-" X started. Suddenly,
Zero's hand retracted into a buster very similar to X's. X heaved a sigh of relief. "You have that, too."
X frowned when he noticed Zero's buster was a little nicer than his plain blue one.

"Hmm," Zero said, examining it. As he did so for a moment, the buster suddenly spooled up and fired an energy shot. It struck one of the lights, and shower of fire and glass exploded from the fixture.

"H-hey!" X said, jumping away from the debri. He gawked at the damage, then said, "We have

training facilities for that kind of thing!"

Zero surveyed the damage. "Oops," he remarked. X looked over at Zero, who mirrored his dread. X felt an uncontrollable wave of amusement come over him. He chuckled, then laughed.

"What?" Zero said. "I didn't mean to!"

When X's fit subsided, he said "I know. If that's how you refresh your memory, though, I'm going to have to keep my distance."

Zero smiled, saying, "Only if you were a lightbulb. Then you wouldn't stand a chance."

X chuckled again.

"What in the name of!" X and Zero turned to see Dr. Cain emerge from the lab. "Just what kind of mischief are you two getting into?" he asked, looking at the glass and ash littering the floor.

X hid his face in a vain attempt to hide a grin. Zero, on the other hand, lifted his buster arm up to show the doctor and said, "Still testing a few things out."

Dr. Cain looked over to X, then smiled. He said, "Since that's the first time I've heard X laugh in ages,
I'll forgive you for the mess. I'll have a sweeper clean that up later."

Zero dropped his buster arm to his side and protracted his hand, but winced as the hand locked into place. "Ah, my arm feels a bit sore- is that normal?" Zero asked X.

X looked to Zero's hand, then to him and replied, "Sore? Not really, no. You should feel some residual heat, but no pain."

"Hmm. I can take a look if you like," Dr. Cain offered.

At exactly 1902 hours, the door to Lab 44 swished open. X turned and saw Sigma enter the room.

"X," Sigma said, nodding as the doors behind him shut and latched. "Where is he?" Sigma demanded as much as he asked.

"This way," X said, leading his commander to the stasis room.

"And just what in blazes happened out in the hallway?" Sigma said.

"A bulb blew out. I think the construction might be causing surges down here."

"X, you can stop lying now."

X remained silent. He heard a low chuckle from Sigma.

When they entered the stasis room, Sigma's eyes fell upon who, seated with Zero next to an operations console, was tinkering with Zero's left forearm using along, wire-thin stylus. He was engrossed, and his back was to the door. He had not noticed them enter until he saw Zero sit up a little straighter. He retracted the tool and whipped around.

"Commander," Dr. Cain greeted, and gestured to introduce him to Zero. "Zero, this would be the Maverick Hunter Supreme Commander, Sigma, whom I built so long ago."

Sigma ignored him. "We meet again, you little devil," he said to Zero. Zero gritted his teeth and shifted in his seat, appearing to be somewhat insulted but unsure of what to do. He looked to X, but his lips where folded as though he were forcing his mouth shut. X feared what Sigma's meeting with Zero would bring. He wondered if Zero's health - and his composure - would stay intact. At that moment, Sigma let loose a bolt of laughter.

"Relax. I guess this means your memory banks really are clean as a bell," Sigma said. X let out a sigh. He was relieved for the moment that Sigma was honest when he agreed to play along. However, he was pained to watch Zero be so oblivious in the face of such a wily personality.

"My sincerest apologies, Commander," Zero said, respectfully rising to his feet. "I understand I was severely damaged in action."

This time, Sigma laughed, and did so as though Zero had been joking. Composing himself, Sigma said, "You're damned right." He paused for a moment to scan Zero head to toe before continuing: "In my opinion, it was too high of a price to pay, and one that makes me question your fitness for duty from here on out."

X's eyes widened. Did Sigma intend to betray the plan? Panic and fury broiled inside him as Sigma folded his arms and awaited Zero's response.

Zero appeared to be taken aback as well, but confidently stated, "I still wish to be a Maverick Hunter, sir."

"Why?" Sigma asked. "You can't even remember who you are and why you're here. Without knowing these things,
you're little more than a waste of scrap to this organization."

Zero's face fell. "Commander," X whispered, unable to contain his fury at what he believed to be Sigma's intentional sabotage. He fell silent, however, as Zero spoke:

"I want to remember," Zero said, "but I probably never will. I won't kid you, nor myself. I may never be able to totally regain my memories." He stopped and averted his gaze away from X, who was silent but attentive.

"Therefore, I have to determine my own destiny. I want to continue fighting Mavericks so they don't rob anyone else of their lives or memories. And," he went on, looking back up. "X doesn't know who he is, his origins, or his purpose, yet he is a Maverick Hunter- and still my best friend, right?"

X donned a look of shock. He looked to Dr. Cain as well. Sigma chuckled and said, "Come now, X, it was only a matter of time before he found out your secrets, such as they are." He relaxed his arms. "Point taken, Zero.
Far be it for me to separate such best friends. Pah!" He grinned. "Very well. You've passed your initial interview. Congratulations." He approached Zero, drawing in close. "However, because of your memory problem, you'll be starting from basic. From here on out, you're raw meat until you can prove yourself to be a soldier, got it?"

"Yes," Zero said.

"Yes, sir," Sigma corrected. He straightened. "Oh, and by the way, there have been major changes to this organization while you were away. Lots of swaps, transfers, and chickenshit quitters. I doubt anyone will recognize you anymore except myself and X here. Therefore, I suggest you crank up the charm and make some new war buddies."

"Yes, sir," Zero responded. Sigma nodded in approval.

"Good. You'll be hitting the meat grinder bright and early tomorrow, so let the doc make sure your hardware is up to snuff. Don't disappoint."

With an about face, Sigma turned and left the lab. X exhaled sharply, unaware that he had been holding his breath. Mavericks aside, being party to a delicate deception was the most stressful experience he had ever known.

In contrast, Zero pressed a fist into his opposite palm, grinning like a wolf. "I can see why we never got along," he said. "But I'll show him." His lips formed into a smirk, and he looked over to X. "Won't I?"

X smiled weakly. He thought of Zero's words to Sigma.

"I told him, X," Dr. Cain said, nodding toward Zero. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, doctor," X said. "I don't mind that he knows. Um, remembers."

Zero placed a hand on X's shoulder. "I'm sorry for being insensitive, X, but it was the truth."

"If it helped convince Sigma to let you back on the force, then I can't be too upset."

"I won't allow my accident to prevent us from working together again, X. If I have to be best Maverick Hunter there is, then I will."

X wondered how Zero could be so confident and determined despite living with the void of his past. Years went by before X developed a cautious optimism about his own future.

"You're pretty confident," X said.

"I have no reason not to be."

X cocked his head. The remark offered a glimpse into Zero's way of thinking, but it confused him.

"Well, that's something. Here one of you thinks too much before he acts, yet the other thinks too little,"
Dr. Cain said, hovering about the lab in search. "Now, where did I put that sweeper?"