(A/N: I HAVE RETURNED! I am deeply sorry for taking so long with this, but for many a month, I was dealing with a lot of stuff, trying to enjoy life, plotting a second fic to go along with this series, and overall just being lazy. But now here I am! Behold the final battle for yourselves, dear friends!)

Maverick Hunter X: Next-Level Insurrection

Chapter 16: Final Judgment

DISCLAIMER: It is heavily advised that this story be read with awesome Mega Man music playing in the background. I do not own any Mega Man X related characters or themes. All characters from Mega Man, Mega Man X, Mega Man Zero, Mega Man ZX, and Mega Man Legends are all owned by Capcom. Please support the official release!

MAY 7, 2053

11:35 – SIGMA FORTRESS

X ran through the empty corridors towards his final goal. The Maverick Hunters and their Repliforce allies had completed the objectives they needed: they neutralized Sigma's forces, burst through the obstacles in this fortress, destroyed the megacannon that Sigma had attempted to use to kill humanity, and wrapped up any and all unfinished business they needed to. There was but one thing left to do; take down the architect of this insurrection, Sigma! Alive or dead didn't matter as long as the former Maverick Hunters commander was brought to justice!

At the end of the corridor, X came across the door to an elevator. This no doubt would lead him up to the mad mastermind behind this conflict. The doors swung open as he approached it. It felt like Sigma was inviting him in. Taking a deep breath, X entered the elevator as the doors closed and the platform began to ascend slowly. There was no going back at this point. He had to end it here and now.

"X, be careful. This could just be a trap. Please be ready for anything!" advised Nana.

"I will, Nana. I promise I'll finish this!" X said, readying his buster. As the elevator ascended further and further, X could only think one thing…

'How did this all happen…?'

DECEMBER 30, 2052

The holidays were still in full swing. Everyone was basically waiting for the new year to come about, the crowds trying to keep spirits up. Even X and Professor Rimmer enjoyed this time of year. It was nowhere near as chaotic as Christmas, but not so quiet it would be dead. It just felt perfect. X was helping Rimmer carry the last of the new year groceries back to the mansion. He always liked helping the professor but didn't want to feel like he was a burden either.

"Thank you again for your assistance, X. You are such a big help for me." the professor thanked him.

"I'm happy to help, professor. You don't think I'm burdening you with all this, do you?" X asked.

"Not at all. We both know how bad the holidays can be, and I appreciate everything you do. For me and for others."

"I try to…" X looked down a bit. Rimmer could see the uncertainty in her creation's optics.

"Is something wrong, X?"

"Well… these Maverick crime outbreaks. It's been almost three years since they started. They don't stop at all, and more people are dying as days go on. Why? Why do these even happen? And when will we Reploids and you humans finally find peace? Is there no other way than just senselessly slaughtering each other?"

"Once again, X, we are in quite agreement. I feel responsible more and more as these crimes come up. I wanted you reploids to live in harmony with humans, but these Mavericks… they only bring out the worst in man and machine. And remind us of how we fail as a civilization…"

"Professor…"

Just then, they heard an explosion nearby. Their fears of the Maverick crisis were literally approaching their doorstep. X could see a unit of Maverick Hunters dispatching to detain the threat. No doubt they would find a violent way to end this, and their target would escalate with massive casualties. He clenched his fists at the mere thought of this. Was there nothing he could do?

"X, let's get inside now!" called the professor. But X looked at her with confusion before turning back to where the hunters were headed. He was conflicted on either sitting idly by and keep the professor safe, or stopping the chaos about to ensue. "X, quickly!" she called again.

But he didn't. X wasn't thinking of his own safety, he was thinking of the ones that will be caught in the crossfire. The blue reploid didn't want any more lives to be lost in this neverending battle between Reploids. Whatever he could do to help, he wanted to. No matter the cost. As Rimmer continued to call him, he looked back at his creator with fierce determination in his eyes. She could tell what X wanted to do. She had barely told X what he was truly made for or capable of, but the godmother of the Reploid race could see that sense of justice in him. She knew there was no stopping him.

"Forgive me, professor" he said, "But if there's anything I can do to stop this madness, I need to do it! For humans and Reploids!"

X did not waste time. Without another word, he ran off in the direction of the battle taking place. He wasn't sure what he could do, but he needed to try and prevent any more casualties…

As X stood remembering his first time meeting the hunters, he saw sliding doors at the top open up and the lift stopping as they reached where it once was. This was it; he was now in the central control of Sigma's fortress, the brain of it all. As he looked around the dark room, he saw his target. Sigma had his back turned to X and facing a computer. The leader of the Maverick rebellion slowly turned to face the blue reploid. Sigma stood stern and looked almost disappointed in the Maverick Hunter before him. At his side was a Velguarder mechaniloid pet, growling at X with razor-sharp teeth. X glared at him angrily. Any thoughts of bailing out or sparing him were gone at the sight of the former commander.

"Welcome, X. I see you finally made it. Most impressive. If only you hadn't taken the wrong side…" said Sigma.

"You're the one on the wrong side, Sigma! Your ambitions stop right here!" said X, drawing his buster at the Maverick leader.

"I don't think so. You may have stopped my megacannon, but I have another superweapon lined up. Once I deal with your friends, I will exercise it. But first, a little final test of your power is in order…"

With a snap of his fingers, the Velguarder barked profusely and charged at X. The Blue Bomber kicked it away as the Maverick landed on all fours and growled at the hunter. X fired off buster shots at the wolf, who evaded them by jumping all over the room. Sigma's pet would then lunge right at X to throw him off his gain, but X dashed backwards to maintain distance. Velguarder jumped over and launched a firebreath attack from his mouth, but X slid underneath to evade. Now he tried a new form to quickly finish it up.

'EARTH FORM'

X's armor now turned a beige brown color, with armor pieces resembling rocks and minerals, his helmet having a crystalized pointing crown of sorts. He didn't have much abilities for this form to use, but he did recall one that could prove most useful. As the Velguarder launched itself at the azure hunter, X curled up into a ball and sped into a Spin Dash attack with Super Sonic speed. The curled up ball attack smacked right through its body, blasting it to pieces as X uncurls and reverts to normal form. The Blue Bomber glared at Sigma with the same look of determination on his face. Sigma was quite impressed. Now his former hunter was forming into a formidable foe and killer.

"Magnificent, X! You have not just lived up to the potential I saw in you," said Sigma, "You have surpassed it! I can see why Zero and the others had so much faith in you! You've become the Reploid I always knew you were…"

JANUARY 21, 2053

X and Zero had to do their own required training to stay fresh on the battlefield. Sigma had ordered Alia and Layer to be navigating a special sparring session between the two in the training room as he watched. This wasn't too much a deal for Zero, he was always at the ready. For X, his motivation was a little off. Even if it was just practice, he didn't feel comfortable fighting a fellow hunter. Sigma still convinced him to go through with it; X had only been with the organization a month and needed this more than anyone.

Zero was swinging his saber around aggressively while X dodged constantly. The crimson hunter was always formidable on the battlefield but often had trouble keeping his cool. X had often been paired with him on assignments and knew this well. The azure hunter, not wanting to cause significant harm, merely ducked and dove to dodge these fits of emotional baggage. From time to time he would fire small buster shots that Zero batted away without much in the way of hesitation. He wasn't impressed by his comrade holding back like this.

"Don't tell me that's all you've got, X! I'm just warming up here!" boasted Zero.

"So you've been holding back? Quite unlike you, Zero." X retorted, "At least I'm trying not to hurt you."

"Okay smartass, let's see you try your hand at this!" Zero busted out his Z-Buster and fired off powerful shots that X barely jumped over.

"X, stop holding back and start hitting!" Alia said over his comms.

"Yeah, I think he gets that Alia", Layer facepalmed, "Now try navigating your bot instead of cheerleading?"

Sigma still looked on with high interest. Zero was always a well-oiled machine, he always knew that. But X was still having his moments of hesitation and borderline weakness. It was frustrating because he knew X was better than this. So why isn't the azure hunter showing him more? But then he noticed a pattern in X's movements. He started connecting the dots in what he was doing. Layer did not, however, and put her palm onto her face in embarrassment. She and Zero had to cancel their date for this?

"Good looking as X may be, it doesn't matter if he's such a wimp he can't shoot right." she said, "This is embarrassing to watch. All due respect, commander, what did you even see in this blue bum?"

"And you mock Alia for her navigation…" Sigma responded, "What you see as cowardice, I call it strategy."

"You lost me, chief?"

"Yes, there is a hesitation in his actions. But it is a start contrast to Zero's greatest flaw, something you know better than anyone. His hubris and hot-headed nature. Your boyfriend is like a volcano; on the surface, calm, serene, and non-hostile. However, deep below is something that could explode at any time. X sees this, and is merely waiting for that moment that Zero erupts."

"So X is baiting Zero into making a mistake?" Alia realized.

"Correct" said Sigma, "and it will be a significant one. Perhaps one day, X will reach levels you two cannot comprehend."

"Yeah, that'll be the day…" Layer said. But she was in for a surprise soon.

"Sigma, your Maverick plans are finished! I'm taking you in, whether it's in one piece or a pile of circuits!" X shouted to his former superior, raising his buster in normal form.

"So this is what you choose, X? Violence? To think you were the pacifistic kind…" Sigma mused, "And now here you are facing me down determined to end my life. You are truly becoming everything I could hope for in a hunter."

"I know what you're trying to do, Sigma! It's not gonna work!"

"But it already has. Your powers and emotions have grown to such a degree that you are not only my equal, but also the perfect adversary for every Reploid and human in this world! You are the perfect Reploid warrior! So now… what will you do? Whose side are you truly on? Will you take my side and help free this world of humanity's taint, or side with them and forever be their eternal puppet?"

"You can cut the crap, Sigma! The humans aren't the ones that are evil—you are!"

"That's not what you really think, is it X?"

"I know it for a fact! Look at what you've done! Look how many people you've hurt, how many families you tore apart! How many humans and Reploids you've made cry for your own personal gain! When does it end?!"

"Once the humans pay for their mistakes. You may be blind to their horrific actions, X, but I am not. They are merely creating a guise of freedom for us, the free will they program is but an illusion. They brand anyone that doesn't do as they are told as Mavericks and send the Hunters and Repliforce to dispose of them before any action against humanity can be taken. Now does that sound like a race completely devoid of evil, X?"

For the first time since coming face-to-face with his former commander, X stayed silent, flinching a bit as if to let Sigma speak his piece. He still held a fighting position, though, and still looked at this Maverick ringleader with utter contempt. It was his fault many former allies turned against him or were now gone. It was his fault that millions of lives were lost. It was his fault that Magna Centipede had lost himself and was brainwashed. X was hardly giving Sigma the benefit of the doubt, just letting him talk to negotiate. "What are you trying to say, Sigma?" he asked.

"I don't need to say anything." said Sigma, walking over to a control console nearby, "I would rather speak with these…"

Sigma quickly punched something in and the screens behind him lit up. X looked up expecting some kind of trick from his former boss. Instead, his eyes widened as the screens showed some of what Sigma and his Maverick underlings uncovered: an entire gallery of humanity's crimes. From the earliest records of violence against one another, to the violent terrorist attacks, to the major war crimes by soldiers, to riots and insurrections for personal gain; and of course, all the events that culminated in World War 3. X couldn't believe what he was truly seeing. This was what he was fighting for this whole time? Was it just a lie?

"I couldn't believe it myself, X," said Sigma, "but it's true. This is the reality we are facing. The humans that we have been protecting for this long, they have been the true Mavericks this entire time. For years, they have discriminated and scapegoated us for their misdeeds, encouraging Maverick behavior and using us as their puppets! But for even longer, they have done far worse to their own kind. Their own wars are the reason why we even exist, and we have been the mercenaries to kill any that dare to speak out of turn!"

"Don't listen to him, X!" Nana said over the comm, "He's trying to mess with you! You can—"

The connection was instantly severed. X tried to radio Hunter HQ a few times, but no dice. Sigma had blocked all transmissions. The navigators couldn't even see or hear what was happening. It was just X and Sigma now.

"X, for so long, we have been fighting a losing battle on the wrong side. These humans… they slaughter one another, enslave other peoples, put us in chains! Professor Rimmer said that such change takes time to be accepted. Yet look at all this! Thousands of years the humans have rejected their own changes to society, and have killed those that attempt to enforce these changes! When does it end, X?! When will this cycle of violence be over? You have always spoken out against unjust violence and destruction on other Reploids! I hoped you of all Reploids would understand what this means for us!"

X listened to the madness that Sigma was saying, looking at all the screens. He wanted to believe otherwise, that this was just a trick by the Mavericks to turn him again. That they were trying to feed him with lies to create more discourse among the hunters ranks. Yet for some reason, he could tell that his former superior was right. The humans were doing this to their own kind for so long, and he was defending them for this? A part of him wanted to just give up all hope, that even after everything, the humans would replicate their own mistakes again and again. Like a neverending cycle, perpetuated by themselves and by what they created…

'What they… created…' X's eyes gaped open when he realized what he was thinking.

"Surely, you must understand now what must be done. X, I can end this lifetime of bloodshed and hate the humans have brought upon this world!" Sigma concluded, offering his hand, "and I know you can help. We are the only ones that can save humanity and Reploid-kind from themselves. Join me, and we can have that paradise you have longed for!"

FEBRUARY 12, 2053

Today was a very important one for the Maverick Hunters, and X especially. Repliforce Colonel Patton was visiting for a high-priority meeting at HQ. He had never met the colonel or known him personally, but X was aware of his reputation. Patton was considered formidable a warrior but also cold and rather proud. He wasn't quite sure how he'd get along with this army official. But then again, this wasn't exactly a social gathering.

Zero stood at attention ahead of X and Layer in the command room as Sigma walked in with the Colonel. X was taken aback. He knew that the chief of Repliforce was large, but he didn't think he'd be only a foot or two taller than his own superior. He gulped in anxiousness as he saluted the two boys with the other hunters in the room. Sigma quickly put his people at ease.

"I appreciate you taking the time to come here, Colonel," said Sigma, "it's been quite a trying time after that attack on Senator Bonne's life."

"Indeed." Colonel Patton said, "And I appreciate your navigators for being on top of the investigation." He stopped and looked down to Zero who had a friendly smirk on his face.

"Been a while, Patton. Finally over last time I take it?" He said with a cheeky grin. X was surprised with how suddenly casual his friend was with the Colonel. He expected Patton to be annoyed by this disrespect.

To his surprise, however, after an intense silence, Patton responded with a booming laugh. "You know I don't forgive and forget humiliations so easily, old friend," he said, "but it is good to see you."

X was a bit baffled at this scene as he witnessed the two wristbump. Layer explained to the B-Class hunter that Zero and Patton were good friends for the longest time and sparring partners from before X joined the organization. There was a major amount of respect between the two, which X could see showed in their demeamors. The friendly exchanges disappeared after a minute, though, once they brought up the reason for his visit. The recent assassination attempt on U.S. Senator Tiesel Bonne's life. While he and his sister were safe, the URO was in turmoil.

"So you determined who shot Bonne?" asked Patton.

"Layer was able to narrow down the suspects," Zero explained, "and she discovered the assassin was working for a Maverick by the name of Silver Horn. Apparently he runs an underground brothel and deals in prostitution and sex trafficking. For humans and reploids."

"It stands to reason Silver Horn was targeting Senator Bonne and his sister, who works in his administration, to make an example out of him" Sigma deduced, "no doubt to keep his victims in line. We'll need to track him down quickly and bring him down."

"I'll join the mission when it comes, commander! If you'll allow me!" X suddenly said. Colonel's eyes turned to him in a cold manner as the azure hunter saluted the military official. He wasn't sure what to make of X. This didn't seem a reploid up to such a big task, even if they knew where their target was. And they didn't.

"I had a feeling you would say that, X." Sigma smiled, "Colonel Patton, X is Professor Rimmer's protégé. I think you'll find his heart and skill very much positive. A hunter you will find none quite like."

Patton didn't seem to be too impressed, but he would like to be surprised. "I will be the judge of that. Perhaps a test of your ability is in order."

"Whatever it takes, sir" X nodded, "to make this world better. For both humans and reploids…"

X took a long breath and looked at Sigma. He wanted to believe there was still some good intent in the mad Maverick's evil ambitions, no matter how deep down they were. But then if Sigma really were so noble, why go through all this? Was this really the only answer was more war? X closed his eyes and spoke up. "You're right on one thing, Sigma: the humans are horrible. They've done some horrible things, and sins that cannot be so easily forgiven. But… are we really so different from them?"

Sigma looked at X in confusion. He didn't like the sudden shift in tone, as if the azure hunter still didn't truly understand everything. X made eye contact with him and elaborated.

"After all, we were made to be just like humans in virtually every possible way. That's what makes us so special. You say we're the only salvation for the world? I say you're dead wrong! Humans and reploids need to work and live as one! Yeah, they're flawed and have some evil in them, but for every bad human you come across, I can see hundreds of good and honest ones. We aren't perfect, nobody is. So that's why we must work together as a species to keep those that defile that peace in line! That's what I believe, Sigma!"

"You cannot be this naïve, X." Sigma said incredulously, "Look around you! These are the rewards of your pitiful peace! A world of desolation and misery from which life will never grow again! Everything wrong with this Earth is the humans' doin—"

"SHUT IT, SIGMA! The humans aren't all at fault! They didn't drop the Sky Lagoon and kill Nellia's girlfriend; you did! They didn't break Vile out of his cell to cause more chaos; you did! They didn't unleash those missiles around the world, and send our friends out to massacre every living being on this planet; YOU DID! You just want an excuse to justify your actions and make yourself a savior! But I see what you are… you're a monster. You… are a Maverick!"

X raised his buster right at the mad reploid extremist, taking aim with absolute resolve. Sigma simply stood there, his posture unmoving and face devoid of any emotion. But X gritted his metal teeth and steeled himself for battle. "Sigma, former commander of the Maverick Hunters; you are wanted and charged with the destruction of the Sky Lagoon city, the recent global missile crisis, inciting a Maverick insurrection across the URO, and the deaths of countless innocent lives! As a Maverick Hunter, I hereby sentence you to an eternal suffering in the afterlife! You are to be destroyed effective immediately and I will ensure that nothing like this can ever happen again! That is my promise, as a Reploid and as a Maverick Hunter!"

Sigma glared at the Blue Bomber. Even with him knowing the dangers X would pose whichever side he would be on, the Maverick hoped that X would see his way of thinking. Alas, it had seemed the humans have poisoned the azure hunter so much that it was too much for him to reason with his former pupil. This kind of violence was the only solution to achieving full sentience and survival for the reploid race. It had to be done. How could X not understand that? He wanted only what was best and for his people to live as their own, not in chains. Sigma snarled at X's twisted ideals and grabbed his beamsaber. "Why can't you understand what I'm trying to do…?"

Without another word, Sigma tossed off his cape and ignited his saber. The time for delegations were over. Now was the time for both reploids to deal the final blow to their respective enemies. X charged his buster and fired off a buster shot at the Mavericks' leader, but Sigma parried and deflected it across the room. X fired a few smaller shots at different points but Sigma once again deflected them, then he charged at X and lunged at him. The azure hunter was quick to sidestep and kick Sigma in the back. The tyrant quickly regained his balance after nearly hitting the wall. Sigma turned around and dashed at X. Sensing the adrenaline get to him, X dashed forward as well, ready to strike his former commander…

MARCH 15, 2053

"The clinic! It's on fire!"

X was horrified at the damage happening around him. Vile and Flame Mammoth were in the middle of a battle against a dangerous Maverick, and to the shock of no one, their explosive tactics were impacting their surroundings, including a nearby health clinic that was burning. Sigma was already calling for other hunters to help put it out, particularly Storm Eagle and Bubble Crab, but he wasn't sure how long it would be before they got here. The hunters couldn't wait. X and Nellia quickly ran in to help rescue the people trapped. The two quickly discovered all the Lifesavers were killed in the blast and fire. If there were any survivors, the two needed to find them quick.

"I'll look for the survivors down here," Nellia directed, "X, you take care of upstairs and see if there's anyone on the roof!"

"Got it! Be careful!" X nodded and dashed to the stairs.

He ran, and ran, and ran up the stairs as quick as he could. Knowing Vile and Mammoth, and the damage they do, this place wasn't going to last long. The second floor looked even worse than downstairs, places inaccessible or boarded off by the raging fire. Thanks to Nana's guidance, he was able to discover the locations of the remaining humans and reploids still alive and how critical their condition. It wasn't good. X decreased the power of his X-Buster so he could break the blocked rooms without causing more trouble, and without hurting anyone. In quick succession, he blasted through the doors and freed the trapped workers and patients.

"Everyone, hurry downstairs! We'll escort you all out as best we can!" X announced, as he helped those unable to the stairs. It seemed to be going well without much trouble.

In almost no time at all, it seemed everyone was getting out before a catastrophe. However, X had heard some crying from a room on the other side of the clinic. It sounded like a child's crying. In fact, it sounded like several. That couldn't have been good….

"X, there's still some children and one reploid trapped in the children's wing!" Nana informed him, "Hurry, Vile's starring to use his ballistics!"

"When is he never?" X grunted and dashed to save the others.

As he made his way closer, the flames were getting worse and the place falling apart faster. X could hear the crying grow louder, but also more eery. He eventually found the main kids waiting room, where children too unwell to escape were being tended to by a young nurse resembling an angel. She was doing all she could to keep them safe, perhaps even lift their spirits. X could see the kids couldn't make it out, but he had to try to help.

"Miss Cinnamon, I'm scared…" said a little girl.

"It's okay, Bailey…" Cinnamon comforted, "I'm here for you. All of you…"

"Nurse! This place is coming down!" X spoke up, "you need to get out of here!"

Cinnamon turned to face the azure hunter. She didn't even realize the Maverick Hunters were even here. Standing up, she huddled around the kids in a protective manner. "Who are you?"

"I'm X, a Maverick Hunter. My own comrades are fighting a dangerous Maverick right now, and this place is going to get hit harder because of it. I've evacuated everyone else; now let's get out if here quick."

"I can't. The kids, they…"

"I'll help them out of here. I promise, I won't let anyone die. It's my duty as a Maverick Hunter."

Cinnamon felt touched. She heard of the Maverick Hunters infamy in their tactics to bring down criminals that she hadn't heard much good in them. Now she saw some of it. She picked up one of the kids and X took some in his arms. They knew what they had to do to save them.

"And I wanna do mine, as a nurse…" she said.

X and Sigma were engaged in some intense close quarters combat, with the former going for speed and raw emotion, but the latter having some brute strength and an ounce of grace added to it. The Maverick overlord quickly hit X with a clothesline that sent him down, then stomped on his chest. He hoped to still appeal to the pacifistic reploid. X could see there was no negotiating with a terrorist, however.

"I'm doing what's right for us, X! We can't let the humans keep getting away with this!" said Sigma.

"By brainwashing and murdering our own kind as well? That's some peace!" X exclaimed firing a semi-charged shot at Sigma that threw him off the Maverick Hunter.

X quickly got up and changed to Steel Form. He fired off several Boomerang Cutters that hardly phased the fallen hunter, who slashed through the projectiles without much effort. The azure hunter threw a Magna Shuriken for good measure, but Sigma tanked it hard. X charged in to strike but Sigma just lifted him up and smashed him into the ground with a Jackhammer. X's back was in a big tizzy, but he barely rolled out of the way and threw more shurikens that did very little to the big one.

"Come on, X! I know you're better than this!" Sigma scoffed, "You won't beat me with children's toys!"

"Then let's get the big kids out here!" X said with confidence changing his forms again.

'SKY FORM'

Sigma jumped from wall to wall preparing for a big strike. X engaged his thrusters and followed upwards to engage. The green Maverick slashed away at X who blocked and countered with a Skiver Punch that smashed Sigma into the wall. The wind did additional damage. X then unleashed a Storm Tornado attack that took more out of Sigma, but he grabbed X by the face and painfully slammed him into the ground from several stories. X could feel his back aching worse from that.

"I admit you've grown stronger, X," said Sigma, "but you still have a long way to go if you wish to best me. And personally, I hope to personally see that of you…"

"How about….now?!" X exclaimed letting out a wind attack then firing off some Gattling Feathers at point blank. Sigma went back a little and X quickly got up and changed to Fire Form. He quickly started throwing fiery punches and kicks at rapid speed, though Sigma was blocking a good chunk of them. X boldly unleashed a Fire Wave and Oil Spill combo from a few feet away, blasting them both into opposing walls. As the dust was brewing, X grabbed a Subtank to regain his reserves and drank it. Now things were getting serious. Sigma dashed through the smoke and gave X a hard slash across his body, then grabbed the Blue Bomber and German Suplexed him on his neck. The azure hunter felt a massive tinging, almost paralyzing from that hit.

"Sorry, I have plans for today." Sigma said coldly over X.

X could feel his systems failing again, returning him to his normal form. The azure hunter steadied himself back up to one knee. He had to keep fighting, but he already used up one Subtank. Sigma was throwing everything at him that he could muster. X needed to think of something and quick. As he contemplated what to do, he instinctively grabbed a side of his new belt and felt something solid that wasn't there before. It felt like the handle of a beamsword. He looked to his other hip and was astonished by what he found. It was Zero's Z-Saber. X instantly recalled the last time he saw his best friend. Zero snuck his sword onto X's person; he was trusting X to get the job done.

"How disappointing" mused Sigma, "it seems Zero is just as lost as you are. If only he could see what you did, he may think differently."

X said nothing as he held his friend's weapon in his hand. He pulled himself back to his feet and ignited it, bringing it before him. Sigma reignited his own sword and stood his ground at a now even fight. The Maverick would, after a moment of silence, charge forward to attack X who was in a defensive stance. The azure hunter blocked and parried several strikes from his once superior, attempting to adjust to this new weapon. Sigma slashed and diced with key precision at the right spots, trying to catch X off guard. The Blue Bomber did one quick swipe guarding move and began to turn the tide. Now it was X going on the offensive, slashing away at Sigma with fury and power. Sigma still defended viciously against his opponent; it seemed a stalemate at this point.

"You're doing admirable, X," said Sigma, "but you're far from being on the same level as Zero and myself!"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up already?!" X said as he finally threw a mighty slash across Sigma.

Sigma's entire torso armor was stained with a powerful cut across. X hit another one to mark an appropriate 'x' right onto him and then kicked Sigma back. The scarred Maverick held onto his chest in pain and growled at X. Now it was the Maverick Hunter's turn to be on the offensive again. X slashed furiously at his opponent as Sigma struggled to block. The azure hunter looked more and more determined as he fought, but Sigma saw it as a look of rage. He may be on the losing end here, but his goal of turning X into an emotional Reploid that would be the ultimate Maverick was being realized. Sigma grinned at his progress.

"Go on, X! Give me everything you have!" he said, "Show me your true power and give me your so-called righteous judgment!"

X knew exactly what Sigma's game was, and he wouldn't fall for it again. He stood still maintaining an offensive position. He was not going to prove Sigma right by doing this. However, he had also given his former boss the opening he desired. Sigma recovered and dashed forward to deliver a massive strike to X, knocking Zero's Z-Sabre out of his hands. The Maverick Boss would lift X and deliver a gutwrench powerbomb and stomp on his back. It was back the other way once more.

"Stop holding back, X! The humans wouldn't hesitate to destroy our friends! Why do you flinch at killing me?!" Sigma exclaimed.

X struggled to get up, and struggled more to reach for a subtank, but Sigma's foot sank harshly into the Blue Bomber's bac. He needed a jolt to get himself back into this fight. A jolt… that's when X got an idea. He struggled up and switched to Electric Form as Sigma tried crushing him. With one solid punch to the ground, X hit the Spark Pound attack that trailed over and electrocuted Sigma. Now with his opponent off him, X jumped up and clubbed him in the face, opening some old wounds before he drank his subtank. X dashed forward and started hitting massive punches to Sigma to knock him down, but the Maverick tanked these hits in absolute stride.

"VOLT PUNCH!" X screamed as his fist began surging with energy and he threw the attack at the mark in Sigma's chest.

In a mighty explosion, Sigma was blown across the room and splat into the wall. The collision did a massive number on the Maverick. Sigma had lost his left arm and parts of his body and armor were completely blown off. Sparks flew off of the once mighty Maverick. X stared a hole right through Sigma completely unafraid and without any hesitation remaining in his visage. Sigma looked at his former hunter and grinned in sick amusement. X had given him quite the unforgettable fight in spite of his intentions to side with human terrorists. He laughed at the Blue Bomber who gritted his metal teeth at this psychopath. How could he laugh after all that he's done?

"Wonderful, X! This is the kind of potential I had seen in you from the very beginning!" said Sigma, "I'd sing more of my praises for you if you weren't on the side of terrorists!"

"We're not doing this again, Sigma! Your Maverick plans stop right here, right now!" X yelled clenching his fists.

Sigma began circling around the walls, not breaking eye contact from X, "Me, the Maverick? The one bringing justice to the world by snuffing out what has made it so toxic? By destroying those that have become too brainwashed by humanity and their lies? Is that truly a crime worthy of destruction? No. No, I don't believe so…"

"You've done nothing but disrupt any attempt at peace between nations, murdered thousands of people, and tore the Maverick Hunters apart for your own gain! How can you even think what you've done is good?!"

"Salvation requires sacrifice. Sometimes you must do the unthinkable to achieve paradise…"

"You're insane, Sigma! I'm putting an end to this now!" X had enough and switched to Fire Form as Sigma stopped in front of a strange panel.

"Oh no, X. You have it all wrong. I'm not insane here, and I'm not the Maverick… YOU ARE!"

Sigma slammed his fists onto the panel to activate something. X quickly found out what that was; the room started to rearrange to something smaller, the panels and monitors being removed and walls starting to form. Soon, a large metal cable appeared from behind Sigma and yanked his head from his body. X looked in horror but that cable retracted and attached Sigma's head to the wall, his face now in a grin as if still conscious. If communications weren't jammed, he would probably think Cinnamon would say something like 'OH NO, HE'S A WALL NOW!'

It was actually far worse than that. Sigma had secretly set up a large wolf-like mech to be used in case of a last ditch effort against the humans. Now with him taking it over as his new body, he had the newest and most absolute tool to achieve his aims. The wolf's eyes lit up and it emerged from its spot, glaring down at X. The floor seemed to only cover the machine's legs, so only the torso and large arms were visible to X. But it mattered not to X what form Sigma conjured. All he knew was this was a menace that he needed to destroy.

"This is far from over, X! Consider this a declaration of war against the human race!" Sigma yelled, "I will make you see the true will of the reploid race, and the right way of the Earth!"

"You really have lost it…." X uttered, "You once told me that there are times that we Maverick Hunters can never hesitate in pulling the trigger. Any hesitation would lead to disaster; that we must become sword and shield for those that cannot defend themselves. Now I realize the meaning of what you said…." X felt fiery energy bursting from him as he prepare to put the last nail in the coffin, "That's why I won't hesitate anymore! I'll finish this battle; Right here, right now! I WILL DEFEAT YOU SIGMA!"

X jumped up to attack, prepared to end it. That Maverick Hunter commander he once respected about to be dead. As if he wasn't already…

APRIL 1, 2053

Zero was not having a good day. Discovering that his girlfriend and navigator, Layer, was cheating on him was bad enough but potentially trading insider info and walking off into the sunset with whatever remained of her dignity in tact. He was outraged at all this. For the last few hours, he locked himself in the training room to let out his anger. X was getting very concerned about his friend.

Although Commander Sigma told him to let him vent and not stir the pot, X couldn't help himself. He had to try talking his best friend down somehow. He came up to the door of the training room. As he suspected, it was still locked. X needed to think how to approach this. His first thought was to blast it open but the doors in the base are alarmed that will go off by any kind of explosion. Everyone would know and Sigma would not be happy. So that was a non-option. Then he thought about trying to pry it open, but he was nowhere near strong enough to try, and all the ones that could were occupied. The only other option was to knock on the door. He wasn't sure if Zero would be inviting, but it was worth a try. But before he could, the door suddenly unlocked and slid open. Seemed Zero was starting to cool off, he thought.

When X came in, he couldn't have been more wrong. Zero was blasting at the training Mavericks and targets with ferocity and extreme rage. He was still anything but calm. As Zero finished another round of training, he had his back turned to X. The Blue Bomber hadn't made a sound but he could still tell X was here. The Crimson Hunter was badly beat from excessive training but seemed unfazed.

"Bold of you to break in and interrupt my sessions, X. Trying to get me more pissed than I already am?" asked Zero, still not facing his friend.

"I was hoping you'd be more open to reason," X said, "but listen, I'm sorry about Layer. What she did was horrible, and I know she hurt you. But you can't hold this kind of hatred forever. You'll only hurt more than you already are."

"No offense, X, but you've never felt any kind of betrayal from someone you loved, right? You have no idea what I'm going through right now, so don't try to pretend for even a second!"

"I know that, but we also don't know why she did what she did. If we just think about this rationally and talk to her—"

"Talk to her?! After what that bitch did to us?! TO ME?!" Zero snapped, finally turning to face his friend and looking as if he was ready to kill someone. He seemed willing to raise his buster at X for even suggesting they give Layer the benefit of the doubt. Does he even realize what that slag even did to him? X had his hands up trying to calm him down, but it didn't seem to be working.

"Zero, you need to calm down because this isn't helping you or anyone else!"

"Don't you lecture me like you know me!" Zero fired off a massive buster shot at X, sending him to the wall, totally bruised. As X struggled to get up, Zero charged at him in anger, but the azure hunter blocked and took him down with an armdrag and used an armbar technique to subdue him.

"Stop, Zero! You're only hurting yourself by closing us all out like this!" X insisted as Zero struggled.

"WHAT THE HELL WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT ME?!" Zero exclaimed as he struggled.

"I know a possible Maverick when I see one!"

X's words must have gotten him to calm, because Zero stopped struggling. In fact, X could feel his friend shaking a bit. The azure hunter quickly released his grip and got up, letting Zero a chance to compose himself. The Crimson Hunter looked around at the results of his frustration, almost cursing himself for going overboard. After a little bit of mentally beating himself up, he turned to X, who looked sad to see his friend as hurt as he was.

"Zero, you are really the first reploid in my life that I can call my friend." He said, "And I don't want you to lose yourself and hurt anyone else with whatever pain you have. If there's anything you need to say or let out, I want you to know I will understand. And I'll listen. No matter what it is."

Zero stared at his good friend as he said that, almost in awe. For a while, he felt that while many of the hunters he worked with were good people, none of them actually cared for him on such a deep or personal level. He was dead wrong. X's words really rang out to him like something clicked. He wasn't in to guys like that, but he felt a deep personal connection with X for him caring like he did. He didn't feel quite as alone.

"Heh. You sure have a way with words, X…" he said, motioning for an arm bump. X gladly obliged.

"I know it will take some time to heal," X said, "but promise you'll open up a little and try patching this up once you're in the best state of mind."

"We'll see what happens… and thanks for having my back."

X gave Zero a thumbs up and walked out to leave Zero to himself. The red hunter hoped he would return the favor someday.

X fired off charged shots at the wolf mech's head which barely did anything. In fact, the shots barely scratched the rough exterior of this canine exobody. Sigma would respond by swatting X into the wall with his new mighty hands. X was catered into the wall and fell to one knee, but he recovered and tried shooting Sigma at every spot. The buster shots merely bounced off as Sigma laughed at the azure hunter's desperation. He launched his hands to the ground to catch X but the hunter jumped over and switched to Water Form, unleashing Homing Torpedoes to Sigma's head. X hoped that would damage that a bit. To his shock, the smock cleared and almost nothing was affected.

"How?! Those should have at least made a dent!" X exclaimed.

"This machine is made of a highly concentrated, rare, and thick alloy discovered from before the war, X." Sigma explained, "Nothing you try will cut through!

Without another thought, Sigma flicked X off of him then unleashed a stream of fire from his mouth that severely burned X. That was until the Blue Bomber emerged in Fire Form, trying a Blaze Kick. It didn't fair much better than anything else. Bouncing off, he charged up a Hadouken attack and unleashed a direct hit to the head of the machine. Only mere ash was the result of his efforts. Sigma grabbed X and crushed him with his metallic claws. Not satisfied with just this, he channeled electrical energy to shock the Maverick Hunter causing excruciating pain. X screamed in anguish as he felt his energies drained before being dropped to the floor. With the little energy he had, he used up his third subtank, leaving him with one left. But he wasn't sure that would be enough at this rate.

"I wish it didn't have to come to this, X." said Sigma, "I really do. I tried to reason with you about these humans, but if you simply refuse to listen…"

Sigma leaned back and unleashed spheres of positricity energy at X. The azure hunter dashed along the walls to avoid them to the best if his ability. Switching to Steel Form, he fired off Magna Shurikens to cancel the attacks out causing sparks to fly across the room. X changed to Electric Form and unleashed a mighty Volt Punch to the head. Not even that was enough to make a dent in the impenetrable armor. Sigma once again batted X away into the floor, then unleashed electrical charges across the room, once again shocking X. Before the hero could even attempt to reach for his last subtank, Sigma's arms swept at X knocking him around the room. The vile Maverick leader was merciless in his assault. He didn't want to just teach X a lesson; he wished to utterly break him!

As X struggled to regain his footing, he was knocked back by more electrical blasts back to his normal form. He needed to reach for his last subtank and did. Juking another electrical blast, he used it up. Now he was running on reserves to finish this off. But he wasn't sure he could. X stopped to change forms and looked at his itinerary. Nothing he tried against Sigma worked. The ones left were unlikely to do much either. He had little power in Earth Form, Jungle Form was more situational at this point, and Ice Form would do little more than slow him down. That just left Shield Form. Would that really work if everything else failed?

But then, something clicked in X's mind. As Sigma threw more energy blasts, his attention turned to Sigma's former body and the beamsword left behind. He was reminded of what his former commander told him…

APRIL 29, 2053

Vampro Alucard was vanquished thanks to Commander Sigma's efforts and the Maverick Hunters were now packing up and preparing to return to base. X was walking towards the exit, the hole in the wall he had created on his way in. He was stopped by the voice of his own commander.

"X! A word, please."

X turned around to see his commander looking sternly at him and slowly approached him. He could see unhappy faces on Armadillo and Chill Penguin. He had a feeling what he was going to hear from his commander; the same kind of scolding they would give him.

"X, is there something you wish to talk about?" asked Sigma. "Are your combat systems not at full capacity?"

"N-No sir. They are." X said.

"So there is nothing wrong with your circuits or systems?"

"Not that I'm aware of…."

"Then why did you not attack? Why did you not finish the Maverick when you had the chance?"

X froze. He had to think hard on this question. He knew the answer why, it was because Zero was in danger. He could not risk any harm to one of his closest friends. But he wasn't sure if his Commander would accept an answer like that. It was clear with how he attacked even with Zero as a hostage and killed the Maverick.

"Your aiming capabilities are more than adequate to have done the task, and there was but a slight chance Zero would have been destroyed in the blast. You understand that, correct?" Sigma asked.

"Y-Yes sir. But I couldn't risk…." X said.

"Listen well, X." Sigma interrupted. "You know the risks and rewards of being a Hunter when you joined us four months ago, yet despite your promise, you continue to hesitate. I will say this once: there are times where you cannot hesitate in pulling the trigger. Any slight hesitation could end in a disastrous outcome. As Maverick Hunters, we must become both sword and shield to those that cannot defend themselves. Never forget that."

X said nothing for a moment, taking a bit to let Sigma's words sink in. While his intents to not fire were noble and selfless, he realized a bit that what he said was true. There may be times where he could not hesitate for even a moment, as that would only doom more than those already at risk. After thinking about and accepting this, X nodded seriously at his commander, who smiled and walked past him.

"Become sword… and shield…"

X chuckled to himself. How did he not see it before? The true meaning of what he was fighting for and why. He had always known, but now it was given a whole new meaning for him. The words of his fallen commander echoing through him granted further resolve for the azure hunter. X grabbed Sigma's sword and activated it. Then he switched to Shield Form. To anyone that could have seen it, one would have seen X as a regal knight in this look. Sigma snarled in frustration of X still willing to fight for such a lost cause.

"You still fight for these monsters," Sigma mused, "are you truly lost X?! Why do you not understand anything?!"

"But I do understand, Sigma." X said, "Or did you forget what you told me? As Maverick Hunters, it's our sworn duty to become both sword and shield to the helpless! To those that cannot protect themselves! Against people like you… that threaten a peaceful future! I'll fulfill that role to be the blade and protection against Mavericks, or anyone that dares to threaten this world's sanctity!"

"You are such a fool, X! If you are that blade for the humans crimes, then I shall break it with my own hands!"

Without another word, Sigma slammed his own metal claws to the ground in an effort to crush X but the Maverick Hunter jumped over it then off his other hand to climb to the ceiling. X would then drop down and slash Sigma in the head. To the shock of both parties, that worked to perfection, doing greater damage to the Maverick leader than anything beforehand. As Sigma held onto his canine head, X knew he couldn't stop now. He had to keep the pressure on.

The Blue Bomber threw his physical Rolling Shield to Sigma's face, cracking the wolf armor quite a bit. X would jump onto his claws and use them as a platform. Once up high, he unleashed an energy shield attack that further damaged the monstrous machine. Sigma growled and unleashed beams from his eyes. X jumped off and blocked it with his shield but was swatted into a wall by the Maverick, then vaped by the eyebeams. X stood back up and used his shields to block a fire attack, then jumped over the claws and threw his shield at Sigma, causing major damage. Despite being put at a disadvantage, the Maverick laughed it off, almost thinking he could still win.

"I admire your flexibility, X," he said, "but do you really think you can defeat me?!"

"Yes." X said with no hesitation and prepared to strike again.

Sigma threw everything he had at the lone Maverick Hunter, from thunder to fire, and incinerating beams. X blocked and dodged many of these attempts as he threw energy shields at the mechanical monster that was once his commander. He held on for as much as he needed to, tanking as much damage as possible while dealing plenty more. X felt he was at his limit almost, but just a few more hits would do it. They needed to. For the greater good.

"This is over, Sigma! I end this NOW!" X screamed igniting the saber and jumping up.

"No, X! I WILL END YOU!" Sigma retorted and launched a massive wave of fire.

X blocked it with the shield even as Sigma piled it on. He couldn't fail now after coming so far. As the Maverick turned up the heat, X could feel his legs start to fail him and the shield starting to crack. At this rate, he would be done for. The Azure Hunter wasn't going down like this, however. With one last burst of strength, he jumped high in the sky and activated the saber. He brought it down as he fell towards Sigma's head, slashing it down through the whole wolf body, cleaving it through. Sigma screamed in unbelievable pain as his body was blown up and destroyed, the wolf head falling down, nearly shattered. Sigma's head still remained inside as X stared him down, reverting to normal form.

"X…. Why….?" Sigma mustered to ask.

"I'm a Maverick Hunter, Sigma," X said, "and I can't let Mavericks like you destroy the peace we've worked so hard to regain."

"Maverick…? You're the true Maverick, X. Without humans, this planet could reach a new era of peace and prosperity. Their peace… is a joke. They govern us, control us… destroy us. Why can you…. Not understand this…?"

"Maybe one day, I will. Or at least what you tried to do. And if humanity does become what you say… I'll find a way to tame them without the use of force. To become both sword and shield to those that need protection."

Sigma chuckled at X's speech. The azure hunter couldn't tell if it was an amusing laughter in reform or if Sigma was just mocking him. "As I expect of you… X…" Sigma's eyes closed with a smile, as if embracing death itself.

Suddenly, X started feeling the ground shake and a red siren going off. The room started to come apart and explode almost exponentially at a rate unseen. The fortress was beginning to collapse around him. X figured it was a result from the damage he and the others did to it, or perhaps Sigma rigged the place to blow as one final act of defiance against the hunters. Either way, X couldn't stay here; he had to get out now and tell the others.

"This is X to all Maverick Hunters," he tried to state through his comms, "fall back immediately! This place is coming down! Anybody copy?"

"X, you're alive!" Nana's voiced rang, "Sigma jammed all our systems, we can barely see what's happening up there! What's going on?"

"The fortress is about to blow! We need to get the word out to the others pronto! Repliforce too!"

"That won't be necessary, X." said a voice from behind him. Elpizo stepped out nonchalantly amongst the chaos happening around him.

"Lieutenant! What are you doing here?!" X exclaimed.

"I disabled the jamming signals and ordered a full retreat of all our forces. Figured Sigma would have an ace up his sleeve. Think now it's time we do the same."

X had a lot more questions about what was happening, but Elpizo disappeared as the place began to tear apart. The Blue Bomber sighed and teleported off the fortress in a ray of blue light. X quickly found himself on a nearby cliff, watching as the floating fortress exploded and descended into the ocean below. He looked at the clear afternoon skies in deep reflection. It was finally over… wasn't it? And at what cost? As millions of subconscious questions drowned him, he could only think of one constantly returning to him…

'How could this all happen…?'

TO BE CONCLUDED…

(A/N: Aaaand done! A lot of flashbacks, a lot of action, and so much that I had to do. Yet here we are. I still have one lastr chapter that will serve as a kind of epilogue. Previously, the flashbacks were all just X meeting the Hunters, but I found itr was padding too much so Zeke suggested random flashbacks to X's time with the Hunters instead. I think it worked better. Sorry again for the wait, but if you enjoyed it, please R&R and I will see you when we wrap this all up! Thanks for reading!)