A/N: Wasn't sure what else to title this one, but it's quite a bit different than the previous version in order to keep consistent with earlier events. Still has the same jist, though. Ride armor cool, Vile sucks.

X tilted his head all the way back. The heights of the hangar bays dizzied him. The formation of the Hunters prompted the overhaul of the entire wing, with the end result creating a canyon of giant half-cylinders. Chalk white sheeting coated the exteriors, and compressed windows encircled it around the top. Their size required the razing of the smaller, inadequate warehouses of the former Anti-Maverick Police Force . The last time he had the opportunity to visit this area occured before the creation of the Hunters, but only as a courier. The surroundings were so alien now that he wondered if he took a wrong turn. He noted that there no longer existed any form of landscaping to blunt the institutional appearance of the grounds, a pleasantry X only appreciated now due to its absence.

Nonetheless, foot traffic appeared sparse that morning. The white noise of cranes and forklifts whirring in the hangars indicated any activity. X turned his head left to see helicopters through ajar hangar doors. To his right, he saw a glimpse of endless racks of hoverskis. He then sighed and said, "Hangar G-2. How am I supposed to tell?"

He hoped to locate the hangar before someone asked him the reason for his visit. While not expressly prohibited by regulations, B and C Class hunters needed good cause to be near any of the stored equipment and vehicles. X did not want to explain that his 'good cause' came from a secret message from Zero as delivered by Dr. Cain.

X,

Zero tells me you've resolved your differences. I'm glad. He also asked me to communicate something to you. He insists that you meet him at Hangar G-2 tomorrow morning. He says he wants to show you some extra incentive to pass your test. He just loves trouble, doesn't he? Be careful.

- Cain

As X read the message again, he agreed that Zero had a grossly apparent affinity for trouble. He behaved as though rules and policies existed for other people, not him. X recognized Zero's chaotic nature as a clear contrast to his own from the start of their friendship.

Yet, X thought, here he was. He answered Zero's request. What did that say about him?

X stopped when he noticed a hangar different from the others. It did not stand out exactly, as white paint coated its exterior like the other hangars. At a passing glance, it appeared rather unassuming. X then noticed some cracking in the metal sheets, and lightened spots where the paint covered over previous markings. The structure also lacked any windows whatsoever. From the evidence, X guessed that it was a surviving Anti-Maverick Police warehouse. He wondered why they did not raze this one like all the others.

His eyes the caught a marking on its front: G-2.

"Psst, hey!" X heard. The voice drew his attention to the side door of the warehouse. There he saw Zero peeking out, and with a gesture he beckoned X to hurry over.

"Zero?" X hissed as he came to the door.

Zero grinned. "Glad you could make it. Come on before someone sees us."

"Hang on. What are we doing here? I'm not supposed to be anywhere near this wing of headquarters without a good reason. Let alone with you."

"Don't worry," Zero said. "Just get in here. I just want to show you an extra incentive for you to pass the A test next week."

X sighed. "I've got plenty of incentive as it is."

"Not even close. Not until you see these."

Zero grabbed X by the wrist and ushered him inside. "Hey!" X said, stumbling over the threshold as Zero shut the door behind them and secured it. X opened his mouth to complain, but the words caught in his throat when his eyes met with rows of towering, two-legged vehicles. They sported two arms on either side with clenched fists. The bulbous torso supported a pilot's seat nestled within the top.

X swallowed and said, "I thought they moved everything out of these old warehouses and set them for demolition."

"Most of them, perhaps," Zero said. He opened the side door to the hangar and gestured for X to approach. "But for this one, they moved these in. The newest tools the Hunters will have at their disposal. The Manned Multi-Terrain Engagement Suit. Ride armor for us laymen."

"Ride armor?" X repeated.

Zero smiled. He said, "These are still in the test phase, the B Class hasn't been briefed on them yet. Essentially, they are robotic suits designed for navigating through more treacherous environments." Zero patted the foot of one of the suits. "The standard ride armor, like this one, is meant for urban terrain. They've got pnuematically-powered fists for removing broken steel and rubble. They are also refitting ride armor used for mining that are able to withstand lava. Lava!" Excitement sparkled in his eyes.

X said, "Just how many are there?

"Forty-three right now. Until the Hunters start mass producing their own units, though, much of the ride armor we have here at Hunter base are actually on loan," Zero said.

X placed a hand on the cool metal of the armor's other foot. "I'd love to try one out," X said.

Zero shook his head. "Unfortunately, only A Class officers are approved to operate them at the moment."

"Oh, I get it now," X said, grinning. "If I pass the A test, I'll be able to try one." A short line of rungs ran up the side of the suit's torso. X hoisted himself up by these and peered inside the cockpit. "Wow! Can you show me how it works?"

Zero hopped up onto the vehicle's arm and grasped the rim of the cockpit to pull himself up. He said, "I would take you for a spin, but there is a catch. Ride armor use must be authorized by Vava," Zero said grimly.

X looked up at him. "Vava?"

"He's the lead engineer and our ride armor expert. He performed a similar role for a mining company in the mountains. He is unfortunately the only Hunter with this specialty," Zero explained.

"Unfortunately?" X repeated. He tilted his head to the side. "Is there something else?"

Zero seemed to hesitate before saying, "Most of the A Class call him 'Vile'."

"'Vile'?"

Zero leaned in. "Don't you talk about this with anyone," he said. X nodded. Zero continued, "According to the other officers, while he was with the mining company, a gang of Mavericks attacked his facility. They wanted the ride armor as well as the mining base to use as a fortress."

"Oh," X interjected. His eyes lit up. "The Earthworks incident! That was shortly before the merge. I was too busy to hear much other than that the miners fought them off."

Zero said, "It was not the miners. It was one miner. While the other miners and foreman were ready to surrender immediately, Vava commandeered one of their armors and rode out to meet the Mavericks head-on. He alone tore the Mavericks to pieces, and forced their leader to surrender. But instead of allowing Anti-Maverick Police to take custody of him, Vava changed his mind and executed him on the spot."

X's brow furrowed. "The Maverick must have provoked him," X said.

"Only Vava would know that. Whatever the real story was, the press denounced him anyway, declaring it 'vile' what he did. Therefore, despite having single-handedly defended the facility, he the company expelled him." Zero chuckled. "The company then advertised a bounty for his capture, and much more for the ride armor he 'borrowed' when he left."

"How did someone like that get recruited?" X asked.

Zero shrugged. "Maybe it's all gossip posing as truth. But what is true is that Sigma tracked him down once the news died down and hired him on the spot, quietly paying in full the cost of the armor Vava stole. Even more strange is that when I looked up his dossier to verify the story, I found it sealed under Sigma's authorization."

"Well, that's not entirely strange. The Commander could have done that for Vava's protection."

Zero closed his eyes briefly and smiled. "You're probably right. I guess the Commander wants anyone and everyone on his side who will kill Mavericks, no matter how questionable their past is."

X studied Zero, then said, "While I can't say I like the Commander very much at times, I can at least respect that about him."

"I agree, but I think it's too much of a risk to recruit Hunters who might be more Maverick than Mavericks," Zero replied.

X averted his gaze. "Thanks for showing me this, Zero. I promise I won't tell anyone," he said.

The sound of someone clicking their tongue interrupted them. A raspy voice then said, "Are those a couple of thieves I hear?"

X's and Zero's attention snapped to a stack of barrels off to the side of the vehicle. A purple Reploid stepped from behind it. A large, shoulder-mounted cannon aimed at them squarely, and red eyes pierced through the Y-shaped cut in the Reploid's helmet.

"Vava, I presume?" Zero said.

"Come, don't you mean 'Vile'?" Vile said. "What a bunch of petty fools who came up with that." He approached them, saying, "Now, Zero, what a shock to see such a reputable officer breaking protocol. What are you doing up there, and with this blue runt in tow?"

Zero leaped down from the ride armor, and X followed suit. Zero approached Vile and said, "I brought X here to show him the ride armor. I fully realize this violates regs and my corrective action, but that won't matter once X passes his A Class test very soon."

Vile threw a side glance at X and scoffed. "Will he now? And by what miracle, pray tell? Is there a nuclear missile battery hidden in that buster arm of his?"

"I don't need any hidden tricks to pass," X declared. He never met this Vava before, yet he immediately disliked him. He never met anyone who exuded such a hateful aura.

"I don't think you will be passing. You see, there is the problem now with you not only trespassing in a restricted area, but recklessly monkeying around on extremely valuable equipment. This is a serious impropriety, enough to prevent you from ever brushing shoulders with your betters."

"I am directly responsible for his presence here," Zero cut in. "If anyone should be reprimanded and punished for this, it's me."

"Coming to the rescue again, I see? You think that risking the uncontrolled exposure of and damage to a classified project can be satisfied with only a lash of words and a obligatory demerit? An example must be made, or how else can we officers maintain authority? The ideal solution would be to have you both detained until further notice."

"I doubt the Commander would approve of that," X said.

"I couldn't care less about what Sigma approves of," Vile spat. He then folded his arms, and the cannon on his shoulder lifted. He then said, "But I'll tell you what. Out of what little respect I have for you, Zero, I will overlook this only if you ensure that X fails his little test, and that he never takes it again."

"What?" Zero said. "What kind of a bargain is that?"

"Why?" X asked.

Vile turned to X and said pointedly, "I should ask why. Everyone thinks your special. Because you were the first?" He chuckled. "I want you to understand that you're not special, and you never will be. You're a prototype, merely a rough sketch of greatness. The world has long since moved past your laughable specs. Haven't you noticed? Your dawn is over. Even Sigma, the second, the golden boy of humanity, must be feeling left in the dust. Reploids and Mavericks today are far stronger and more clever than you'll ever be, and they only become more so with each passing year."

"Hey! That's enough!" Zero said. X gritted his teeth.

Vile said, "I thought you were a good friend, Zero. You know that the Hunters could stamp S-class on his forehead and the Mavericks wouldn't care. He's fodder, and they'd scrap him alive."

X bowed his head during Vile's speech and quivered with anger. "You know nothing about me, Vile."

Vile chuckled. "I struck a nerve. Good. X, my offer is a kindness to you. You aren't fit for this world anymore. If you pass that test, and I'll ensure Sigma overrides it, denounces your behavior publicly, then officially bans you from ever taking the A test again. Oh, and Zero will likely be expelled."

Zero growled. X looked over to him. He recognized Zero's expression from the lab when he was still a Maverick.

"Or, we can do it my way. No one gets into any trouble, no one's reputation is spoiled, but the result is the same," Vile said.

X bit his lip, but said nothing. Vile then said, "Think about it if you must. I'll be eager to see your results next week, X. Now get out of my hangar. Both of you."

With gentleness enough not to startle him, X placed a hand on Zero's shoulder. He felt Zero relax. "Come on," X said.

X led them away in silence, though not before Zero tossed a searing look toward Vile's smug form. X bristled, too, but said nothing until they set foot outside the hangar.

"I could have shot his head off," Zero then said suddenly, touching his buster arm. He started to walk, and X followed at his side. Whether they were seen together was the last thing on his mind.

Zero continued, "It scared me. I've never had such thoughts about a fellow Hunter before."

"I'm just going to cancel my appointment," X said.

Zero dropped his arm shook his head. "And have Sigma come asking why? No, X. I think you should go through with it as if we never even met Vile back there. I know he shook you up, but don't let him."

"You heard his threat," X said, stopping short. He glanced around. He then lowered his voice saying, "There's no point anymore. I don't want you getting discharged over this."

Zero turned to him. "I wouldn't bet on it. Vava, no - Vile - thinks of himself too highly."

"Huh?" X said.

Zero resumed his stride. "What, you think that charming personality carries over well among the upper ranks?"

X thought for a moment. "The other officers don't think so highly of me, either."

"That's just because they respect results more than anything," Zero said. "And so does Sigma. You give them that, then it may not matter what Vile says."

X smiled. "Sounds like a better incentive than all the ride armor in the world."

Zero laughed, then slapped him on the back with enough force to make X stumble. He said, "See? And he says I'm not a good friend."

"Yeah. You're the best," X said, wincing.

Zero stopped again. He stepped in front of X to face him and said, "Thanks for coming, X. I actually wasn't sure if Dr. Cain would deliver my message, or that you'd show up."

"You know it's awkward to pass messages through people like that," X said.

Zero shrugged. "If that's what it takes to see you."

X swallowed hard at that. He felt nervous, yet happy all at once, and it confused him.

"Anyway," Zero said. "You better get out of here. I'll see you next week."

Zero turned on his heel and left X behind, the latter remaining frozen in place. He tried to diagnose the error in his programming that generated a direct conflict: the desire to run toward Zero, and also to run away. When he failed to resolve it, he figured his systems just needed to run a longer maintenance cycle that night.

A/N: BIG Chapter is next!