Note: Originally, I would stop around Ch.19, but I think I'm going to continue until 20. That said, we'll be getting out of the set-up stage of this story soon.

While it's still early, and they really haven't had any interaction save for beating each other to near death, I feel that the brotherhood between X and Zero should be the heart of this story and this series. Sure, Roll and Chiyo (her character is actually tied to another canon character, but I won't reveal who just yet) have their places, but I won't have them get in the way.

Of course, X and Zero don't know each other, so their relationship starts a little rocky.

Hope you enjoy it!

Zero

"Zero?" X asked.

"Yes. Zero. That's my name." The Red Maverick answered.

"Did you just remember your name?" X asked again.

"No, I just came up with it." The newly dubbed "Zero" explained. "You said you needed something to call me by, so that's what I've chosen."

X was quiet for a moment. True, while this Reploid was just using his logic components, he suspected that such a display of independence would be looked at with suspicion. And the last thing he needed was this "Zero", making things worse for himself.

"Ok then, Zero," X began. "Given the circumstances of how you came to be here," he then paused. "Needless to say, everyone is a little conflicted."

"You plan to kill me, don't you?" Zero said suddenly, making the room grow silent.

"What? No! No, nothing like that!" X shook his head. "Nothing like that's even been decided yet!" he regretted his wording when he received a glare from the red Reploid. "Not to say that's a definite possibility, but-"

"But it IS a possibility. Am I right or wrong?" Zero questioned. X didn't answer him. "Exactly." he then turned away from X. "So there's no point in discussing anything. As long as I obey, I won't be terminated. That's basically the gist of what you're saying, isn't it?"

X saw the guards from outside begin to move closer to the room, ready to move in if need be. The blue Reploid was doing everything in his power so that it wouldn't have to come to that. "The council is taking statements from everyone involved in what occurred within and outside Arcadia's borders," X explained. "Although, you still say you don't remember anything?"

Zero didn't shake or nod his head in response to the question. "Does that matter? I was in custody, so you clearly believe I've done something wrong."

"That's just it, though," X clarified. "If your systems were corrupted or if you were infected from the virus, this could go in your favor." the blue Reploid continued. "Given that you're, well, you at least appear to be functioning normally, if you were infected, then your recovery could help in helping other Reploids recover."

Recover? Virus? "What are you even talking about?" Zero asked.

"Dr. Cain and Fujiwara would better explain it," X told him. "In fact, Fujiwara's requested that you come to his lab for examination."

Examination? What did that mean? "And if I refuse?" Zero asked.

X suspected that the Maverick wouldn't like what else he had to say. "Then I'm afraid you'll have to stay here until the council decides on what to do with you."

"Why can't I just talk to this 'council' myself?" Zero questioned.

"You can, but you'll need to be monitored." X replied.

"Why? Because I'm a criminal?"

X bit his lip. This guy wasn't making this any easier for either of them. "Well, technically speaking, yes. You DID evade arrest after all." he didn't dare mention what occurred with Gamma's unit or what happened to Sigma. "I really have no say in the matter. I just came to tell you those were your options."

"And why did YOU come?" Zero asked, his question phrased sarcastically, but it was nevertheless genuine. "Unless you're the only one who can tell me this. Though I doubt that's the case."

Ok, now you're getting me a little ticked off. X thought. I'm trying to help you! But he knew he had to keep his cool for this Maverick's, no, this "Zero's" sake. "No, but given the evidence stacked against you, I'd suggest you consider your next step carefully." he then began to turn away. "Your life might depend on it. I'm sure even you fear dying."

Though X couldn't see it, Zero's eyes grew wide, his systems scrambling together a picture in his head. A collection of data he wasn't even aware he had. He heard voices, but they were scrambled and he understood none of it. He didn't know what had triggered it, he didn't know, and it only happened for a mere second, but the blue Reploid's words related to it somehow.

Fear of dying. Fear of being obsolete. Fear of uselessness.

These were not sentiments attached to him, but he had heard them before. Yet he couldn't remember anything else. "Wait." Zero suddenly said; X had his back turned to look like he was leaving.

Yes! It worked! X mentally cheered, hoping his tactic would get the other Reploid's attention. "Yes?"

Zero was quiet at first. This wasn't exactly good for his pride. "Who did you say wanted to look at me?"

"Dr. Cain and Fujiwara." X answered. "It's nothing serious—just an examination of your CPU. Nothing will be tampered with." of course, the main reason for that would mean quite literally tampering with evidence, but X didn't want to give this Zero any reason to back out.

Zero was quiet, contemplating his response. "Fine." he finally said.

X's eyes lit up. "Really? You mean it?" Zero nodded. "All right, great! I'll get a ride ready." he then went to the door, but not before turning back to face Zero. "Oh, wait here." he said before leaving the room.

Where am I going to go? Zero thought. Well, whatever. The sooner I get out of here, the sooner I can escape from the city.

Dr. Fujiwara's Lab

"I still don't understand why you insist on waiting." Roll told her brother, standing in front of the door to Fujiwara's main operating chamber. The chamber he had first been taken to and his systems laid out for the Asian man and Cain to see, along with the council's scientists. "It's not like they'll let you in."

"I know," X answered, leaning against the door to the room. "But…it's not like I'll get in the way. I can just stand in the corner and not bother anyone."

"But you'd probably give your input on whether or not the one they're looking over is ok. If he needs anything, if his leg's cramping up, and a hundred other things that could be wrong. Am I right?" Roll questioned. X's silence was all she needed. "Why are you so desperate to know what's happening in there?" she asked. "Better yet, and I don't mean this callously, but why do you care?"

X looked at the blonde (well, the other blonde) Reploid. "What do you mean?

"You've been insisting that you want to know everything that's happening with this Red Maverick-"

"Zero." X interrupted her.

"What?"

"His name is Zero." X told her.

"But I thought you said he didn't have a recorded name." Roll answered.

"He doesn't. It's something he chose." X explained. "Which also doesn't exactly look good for him."

Roll nodded. "Even now, it seems humans still fear thinking too independently. Even from each other." she quickly got back on the subject, however. "So, as I was saying, why are you so concerned about him? This Zero?"

X pondered this for a moment. Indeed, why DID he care so much? Better yet, how could he express why if he didn't know himself? "Well," nevertheless, he had to try. "If Zero was indeed infected with the Maverick Virus, then perhaps there's a way to reverse the effects. I mean, he's walking and talking fine now."

"Assuming he had it at all." Roll added.

"What else could it be?" X asked. "No one with even half of a functioning processor would do all of…." X paused for a moment. "What he did." he finished. He had only heard details of what happened with Gamma but knew that the report was most likely nothing compared to seeing it. Glenn and Ray would surely not forget it anytime soon. "And now that it's out of his system-"

"Assumedly." Roll interjected.

"Assumedly," X reluctantly agreed. "He's behaving completely different. After all, why would the same one who…did what he did save a kid? Better yet, why didn't he use that opportunity to get away, seeing as a child getting hit by a car would be perfect." gruesome as it was, X had to acknowledge the possibility. Thankfully, it never happened, but it also conjured up more confusion. "So, perhaps we can learn how to repair damaged Reploids so they won't have to be terminated if they're classified as 'Maverick'."

"Perhaps," Roll said. While she didn't have the Red Maverick, this Zero in mind, if studying him could lead to things like that, perhaps it was good he was still alive. "Although," Roll continued. "Whether it's the virus or, as some are now calling it, a glitch, there's been no record of any virus or glitch causing this." she was silent for a moment. "It's almost like that energy Mega Man encountered once."

X turned his face to her. "What energy?"

Roll then turned to face him. "It was never officially named, but the robot that came from space, he called it 'Evil Energy'."

Inside the Room

No one was sure whether to call this fantastic or terrifying. The data was right there in front of everyone, yet no one was sure of what to make of it.

"Cain," Fujiwara began, rising from his seat in front of the main computer. "Ladies and gentleman," he then addressed the council's scientists that were currently studying Zero. "I need to take a moment to step outside. I shall be back shortly."

He stepped out of the room, but Cain followed. "Sho, what is it? What's wrong?" the older man asked, disturbed by the normally composed scientist's demeanor. "From the looks of it, that Reploid is functioning fine."

"Exactly," Fujiwara replied. "And that's the problem. He shouldn't be functioning AT ALL."

"Why?"

The Japanese human sighed. "Even after all this time, you still know nothing of machines," he said aloud. "This Reploid, this Maverick's systems-"

"Zero," Cain interjected. "X said he wants to be addressed as such."

"That's a prime example of what I'm talking about," Fujiwara explained. "His processor can register everything from basic tasks to more independent-based actions, but from I was told, this Maverick-"

"Zero."

"Fine. This 'Zero' was little more than a raging animal. Of course, this initially led me to assume that he had been infected. But, as you and everyone clearly saw, there's no sign of any sort of corruption. It's as if there never WAS a virus to begin with."

Cain mentally took note of everything, trying to understand. "So, he has made a complete recovery, is what you are saying?"

"In a manner of speaking," Fujiwara answered. "And even more, neither X nor Roll showed signs of infection, so,"

"So what?"

Fujiwara looked at him, expression grim. "These Maverick incidents might not be the work of a virus at all."

Outside

"So only a 'pure evil' being could use it?" X asked, Roll having finished her tale.

"That's what that robot from space said." Roll answered. "But should someone with a pure heart and mind be infected, then, upon realizing they couldn't be corrupted, the energy would kill its new host." she bit her lip. "That was one of the closest my big brother came to dying." she bit down harder. And if not for Duo, he would've indeed been… But, no! She didn't dare think of that. Not now! After all, Rock would want her to care for their "little-er" brother as best she could. "Proto Man explained it all to us, or, at least, an abridged version of it when he came with Mega Man." she recounted the lengthy procedure even to bring her brother back online.

"He didn't stick around?" X asked regarding Proto Man.

"No. Just as soon as he came, he went away," Roll answered. "That was the odd thing about him. He never stuck around, yet he always seemed to be right around the corner when you needed him," she observed. "Honestly, I regret not pressing him more about who he was."

"He never told you?" X asked again. This "Proto Man" remained ever so elusive and enigmatic.

"I don't think he told anyone anything. Not even Rock." Roll explained. "But still, thinking on it now, why would he stick around? Proto Man originally set out to destroy Mega Man, but ever since Gamma was recovered from Wily, he seemed to be in and out of the picture." she continued. "But even after that, Mega Man seemed to have this unwavering faith in him. Even when it seemed he truly was evil, Mega still held belief that he held some sort of belief that this was all some horrible misunderstanding."

X paused for a moment, wondering whether or not he should ask his next question. But, while it might've been simple, its weight was anything but. "And what happened? Was he wrong?"

Roll was silent for a moment, processing through her database and memory files. He knew that it took some effort to do on her part, but the blue Reploid was tempted to beg her to go faster. Or rather, did he not want to know the answer? Whatever the case, it was too late, for Roll had finally seemed to recollect herself. "He was right about Proto Man." she finally spoke. "And thankfully, it turned out for the better."

X was quiet for a moment. Was this what, as the humans said, having a heart attack felt like? "Oh? How's that?"

"Well, it turns out that everything was, once again, a set up by Wily." Roll said. That appeared to be a recurring thing in these recountings of the Blue Bomber. "But in the end, while no one could believe it, Mega Man was right about that red robot."

"You didn't believe him?" X asked. Even if Roll didn't know it, she answered many of his questions for him.

"No one did. Aside from Dr. Light, Rock was the only one who believed something was up." Roll said. "I'll admit, ever since that incident involving Gamma, I've been suspicious and on edge about Proto Man. As far as I knew, he was someone who tried to hurt Mega Man before, so why wouldn't he now?"

"Wasn't there a report of how he reportedly rescued someone's daughter?"

"Yes, Kalinka," Roll said. "But no one really knew what went on behind the scenes on that." she then turned to her brother. "Why so curious about Proto Man all of a sudden?"

X attempted to make himself seem oblivious. "No reason. Just curious. No one still knows much about him, so why not get information from a direct source?"

Roll shrugged. "Fair enough." she said. You're wanting to say something, but just won't. What is it?

Before she could ask, X spoke again. "Speaking of, wasn't there some sort of virus in your time?"

"It'd technically be your time as well," Roll told him. It would be time he would never see, so she had to be the one to tell him. "But yes. The Roboenza Incident." she raised a hand to her temple, as if she had suddenly gotten a headache. "That, I have had experience with."

Inside

"So, your name," one of the older scientists asked the long-haired Reploid. "It's not even a memory. It's just something you chose?"

"Essentially, yes." Zero responded. "Why is everyone so fixated on that?"

The scientist was rather taken aback by the machine's bluntness. "Well, technically, logically speaking, you just were making use of your logic components." he explained. "But it's typically the norm that either gives names by the creator. Or, in the case of mass-produced Reploids, a name generator." the scientist looked Zero over. "Though we can't tell which one due to your processor's damage."

That was the official explanation everyone was going with because no one could explain it any other way. Currently, Zero sat atop of an operating table (he refused to lay on his back, perhaps because it left him more vulnerable), with cables and cords connected to his audio receptors. A layout of his CPU was displayed on the monitor for all to see, yet it did little to ease everyone's puzzlement. His processor had the various portions functioning normally, yet the memory banks were completely empty. This Reploid's identity could not truly be confirmed, both name and serial number, because both areas were corrupted.

This, along with this Zero's display of thinking for himself made the humans nervous, but they did their best to hide it. "Well, if I may, how were you able to decide on that name?" another scientist, female, questioned.

The long-haired Reploid shrugged. "I have nothing aside from the bare essentials in my brain, so it's what I chose," he said. "There's nothing there, so I thought it fit." he then turned to her. "Why are you so curious? If you're thinking of changing it, then no."

The woman was quiet for a moment. Then she asked, "Well, why is that? Why wouldn't you want your name changed?"

"Because it's mine." the Reploid crossed his arms.

"So, you know that, or rather, you've chosen to call yourself that," the scientist said. "But you don't know your serial number?"

"Why would that matter?" Zero asked.

"It can tell us whether you are part of a line or were created individually as in, crafted by hand." the older scientist from before explained. "Usually it's listed as the creator's initials and a number listing afterwards. It was commonplace during 200X when Dr. Light officially created his first robot. So you could say he began that system of classification. But seeing as even that is unreadable," he pointed to the monitor, Zero's ID information nothing but error messages. "We have no idea of telling whether you were the first or last of the line or your creator's work."

"Well, so far, it seems I've been able to funcion fine without them, whoever they are." Zero said.

This appeared to make the humans nervous. Why, Zero had no clue. They were asking questions, so they were given answers. Still, it seemed those answers brought unease. Suddenly, one of the entrances to the lab opened, Dr. Cain and Fujiwara entering.

"Sorry about that." Fujiwara said. "Anyway, discover anything new?"

Outside

"So robots were going crazy?" X asked, surprised to hear such a thing from his sister.

"That's right. Crime skyrocketed and everyone was afraid of us. There were no humans directly harmed, but people were afraid that, eventually, Roboenza would corrupt their systems to the point where the Three Laws wouldn't make a difference." she explained. "At least, that's what I heard afterward. I was one of the first ones to catch it."

"Did you go crazy?" X asked, though began regretting it when he saw Roll look offended.

"Of course not! I was perfectly behaved the whole time!" she firmly told him. "Dr. Light had basic etiquette and manners deeply embedded in my processor." She grew quiet. "Although, I think I reacted that way to it because I wasn't programmed with any combat abilities. The Roboenza couldn't do much with me aside from just mess up the lab, so all it did was just make me sick." X wasn't entirely sure, but she sounded almost disappointed. "I mean, yes, I wouldn't want to cause any destruction, but-"

"But you wish that something would've happened?" X asked.

He had half expected the prototype Reploid to respond the same way she had before (not exactly thinking of that until now), but instead, she didn't respond. She was quiet and appeared deep in thought. Finally, she spoke. "I…I honestly don't know," she said. "Granted, Roboenza didn't make me violent or lose my head; otherwise I couldn't give Mega Man the medicine." Her medicine. The only thing she could do. The sole use that she had throughout the entire event. "And Mega Man did eventually get the cure, though he said Wily was the one that provided it after he was taken to a hospital. Everything turned out ok in the end, yes," she then went off on a tangent. "But it didn't take long for Wily to get back to his tricks. Let alone stop creating robots to cause trouble."

Inside

"No memory files, no identification, only the most basic functions available," Fujiwara said, going over Zero's processor displayed on the monitor. "And yet you're up and about like nothing's wrong."

"That's because nothing IS wrong," Zero answered "So there's really no point in doing any of this."

"Well, it's not as if we can just let you go." Fujiwara responded.

"Why not?" Zero questioned.

This gave Fujiwara pause. "You are unaware of what occurred?"

Zero was losing his composure, his growing frustration seeping through. "No one's said one word of why I'm even here, let alone why I was locked up or being chased yesterday. So seeing as all of you had your turn, how about I ask a few questions?" he then got up from the operating table and walked towards the Japanese man. The scientists, Cain, and Fujiwara were frozen from awe and fear. "Firstly, where the hell am I?"

No one spoke a word; the red Reploid looked around to see numerous terrified eyes were centered on him. He then saw Fujiwara reach into the pocket of his lab coat, some small object down in there somewhere. Zero came forward and seized it, suspecting it was something to disable him. The human was helpless against the Reploid's strength, yet his hand only felt restrained, not crushed. The Reploid reached into the pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a small switch of some kind, a warning of high voltage on the front.

"What is this?" Zero asked, having let go of Fujiwara's hand. "Why do you have it?" he then looked the Asian man straight in the eye. "You were planning on using this, weren't you?"

One of the other scientists ran for the door, only to remember that they were locked from the outside. Only Fujiwara had access to the locking system. The Red Maverick seemed to realize this, to the horror of the humans inside.

Fujiwara grabbed the device and managed to press the button. Zero felt white-hot fire assault his cerebral chamber; the Reploid was sent to his knees, head throbbing in agony. He felt his systems shutting down, realizing that he would lose consciousness if this continued for much longer.

"Wait! Stop!" Cain protested. "Sho, this is going to-"

Cain never finished as, despite his current pain, Zero ripped out the cables attached to him by his audio receptors, the incredible feeling being halved as soon as he pulled out all those on the right. He proceeded to do the same to the left and stood up. Fujiwara clicked the switch again, having managed to get it from Zero, but it did no good.

Their restraints no longer bound him. And he seemed to know exactly what his next move should be.

Zero's left arm transformed into a buster cannon to the collective horror of everyone inside, a charged shot already in development.

Outside

If it was not the sound that drew their attention, then the shake from the impact did. X and Roll were jolted off their feet by the sudden tremor, looking at each other and assuming the worst.

"Wait here!" X said, running off to the scene.

While he was still her little brother, Roll usually saw no reason to protest against X's regard for her safety. Yet when it came to that Red Maverick, she couldn't stay put. No. she thought, chasing after her blue sibling. You're not taking him from me! I won't let you!

X arrived to see that, with one final blast, the wall was completely demolished, a gaping hole created in the center. Through the still sizzling gap, X saw Zero leap out and take off down the hallway, his intentions already clear. He had ripped the cables and cords out of his audio receptors, leaving him free to roam. "Oh no, not again!" X hissed. He then turned to the other scientists, Cain, and Fujiwara. "Contact HQ!" X said. "I'll handle this!"

There was no mistaking it now. He had to escape; he had to get out of here. That blue Reploid had lied to him! He said that those humans weren't going to hurt him! He said his questions would be answered, but no one had told him anything! And now he finds that the humans were ready to shock his systems at any time literally?! That did it! He couldn't stay here!

He had to get out!

"STOP!" he heard a voice shout from behind, and blasts of gold fired in his direction. Zero ducked and continued running, dodging that damn Reploid's shots. Finally, he found the entrance and grabbed the door frames. With great effort, he pulled them apart, creating just enough space to where he could maneuver his way out of the lab and into the city streets.

Into the pouring rain, the skies above a light show of pure electricity.

"Damn!" X cursed, the red figure soon disappearing into the dense collection of white buildings in the distance.

Though, unbeknownst to him, he wasn't alone. So she kept herself hidden and only left when he was out of sight.

Inside the Lab

"Is everyone all right?!" Dr. Cain asked, everyone more than a little startled at what had just happened.

"Contact the council immediately!" one of the scientists cried out. "This Maverick can't be allowed to function any longer! He's a danger to everyone, both fellow Reploid AND human!"

The room was in total chaos, some people huddling in the corner while some had gone through the hole that the runaway Maverick had created. "Damn it!" Fujiwara hissed. "X told me he had gained that Reploid's trust!"

"Everything went wrong when you stunned him!" Cain argued. "You could've just answered his question!"

"And what would he have done?! The result would've been the same either way, Phillip!" Fujiwara shouted back. "And that's why I'm the head of this and not you!"

Cain said nothing. He then looked around, only to find that a familiar face was gone. "Roll?" he called out. "Roll? Roll?!" his eyes searched everywhere but saw no trace of her. "Oh no." he realized with horror. "She didn't…"

Note: I was going to end on a quiet note as I wanted to get to the action in the next chapter, but seeing as I want to have another small battle between X and Zero to show what their relationship was like before they came to know each other. Also, it'll show that Roll herself will have a different dynamic with him.

Hope I've satisfied, and I look forward to hearing from you!