The look on X's face was heartbreaking for Zero. He expected X to be infuriated by the news of the factory explosion. This was much worse. X's expression of pain and betrayal had Zero's emotion algorithms working in a severely uncomfortable overdrive. Although Zero had felt much anger and resentment towards X for his unwillingness to help the cause, X was still his closest friend, and to let him down like this was crushing for Zero.
X, once again sitting opposite Zero at the round table at Maverick Hunters HQ, remained quiet. He held his head low with his hands on his blue helmet. Dr. Cain and the other members of the Maverick Hunters seated at the table didn't dare interject. Zero would have greatly preferred an angry outburst, anything to break the silence. Even the occasional sound of reploid armour against the table or floor could not be heard as everyone held perfectly and uncomfortably still. Zero wondered how it all came to this. How had the two reploids, who had once been such great allies, drifted this far apart? Had X's human-like thinking made him soft, unable to share Zero's strong resolve required to put an end to the Mavericks?
"No good will come of this. The Mavericks will just build another facility, a better one, more concealed." X finally broke the silence that felt like an eternity. "Whatever trust I had with them as a negotiator is gone. Now I have no way to communicate with them, to try to open up some dialogue to try to resolve this conflict."
Zero found this talk of dialogue with the Mavericks to be silly and tiresome. He had not intended for such devastation, but the fact of the matter was, any Maverick plot of reconstructing Serges was foiled, at least for the time being. Normally, he would let his feelings on the subject be abundantly clear, but today he decided it was better not to get into it.
"This Red Alert group is getting out of hand." Zero began his defence. "These vigilante groups are becoming increasingly common because of our constant shortcomings. I'm struggling, X. I can't do this without you."
X was greatly moved by Zero's humble admission. X was tormented by a range of mixed emotions. He felt anger and frustration with the present situation, but also pity for Zero, and shame for not being able to help him.
"Since the Maverick Hunters are unable to get the job done, these vigilantes decide to take matters into their own hands," Zero continued. "However, their methods are so extreme in the relentless pursuit of the destruction of the Mavericks."
"Who does that remind you of?" No matter how softly X delivered these words, they stung sharply. X took no satisfaction in speaking them.
X's comparison between Zero and Red Alert was hurtful, but eye-opening. Was Zero himself an extremist?
"I think we can agree that what we're doing now isn't working." X hoped that in Zero's current contrite disposition, he could maybe soften his stance.
"X, I've spent much time reviewing your schematics as well as that of Zero." Dr. Cain took the opportunity to steer the conversation away from their dispute, and towards X's idea to make reploids resistant to the Sigma Virus by somehow sharing X's free will ability, or Zero's immunity to the virus. "It is unlike anything I've ever seen. Unfortunately, I don't even know where to start, and I'm starting to think I never will."
Today's disappointment only continued for X. If Dr. Cain couldn't figure this out, it was very likely that nobody could.
"X, you're the only reploid I trust to make your own decisions." Zero was annoyed by the turn in the conversation and felt these ideas were distractions. "The world is already filled with too many reploids with their own crazy ambitions. And either way, how is this going to help the reploids that are already built?"
X was growing weary of having his ideas rejected. It seemed that no matter what he tried, the world gave him nothing but obstacles.
"There may be one way." Dr. Cain was thinking out loud. "There is a top secret research facility that specializes in reverse engineering. It is rumoured to be located deep in the robot jungle where the researchers study the self replicating species of robots. Maybe similar methods could be used to study your architecture. However, the lead researcher, Dr. Doppler, is off the grid and doesn't communicate with the outside world."
"Maybe we need to seek out this research facility and pay this Dr. Doppler a visit," X replied. He remained unexcited. X knew this was a long shot. He had been disappointed enough times to know not to get his hopes up.
"Attention Maverick Hunters!" The reploid Iris was making an announcement over the facility announcement system. Everyone in the control room stopped what they were doing to pay attention. "A military train is under attack. Our intelligence believes this to be a hijacking attempt. Stand by for details."
Zero stood up, his thick red and white armour no longer concealed behind the table. The only detail he needed right now were the coordinates; the rest he could learn en route. When there was danger, Zero headed towards it without hesitation.
"Are you coming X?" Zero knew the answer before he asked the question, so he felt a deep disappointment even before he got an answer. However, a part of him hoped he would be surprised.
X was unable to look Zero in the eyes. The feeling of shame was unbearable. He wanted so desperately to help Zero, his closest friend, but he knew what path the X-Buster would lead him to, and all the pain and suffering it would cause.
"No," X finally managed to reply.
Zero took a moment to study the expression on X's face. He had no intention of causing him any more humiliation. Zero's programming was sophisticated enough to understand the conflict within X and to sympathize with the difficulty he faced. Zero tried not to show any reaction as he turned around and headed toward the exit.
X kept his gaze fixed to a spot on the table as he listened to the sound of Zero's big metal boots trudging away from the meeting area, eventually fading away into the commotion that was increasing in the room. Several reploids were preparing to join Zero. Other staff were mobilizing to support from HQ. X released a big sigh as he slid his chair out from the table and began slowly making his way through the scrambling reploids towards an available computer terminal.
Having taken a seat, X began reading all of the available information on Dr. Doppler and the jungle research facility. The research being done there had possible applications to the Sigma Virus. This is why it was necessary to keep the location a secret, to avoid attracting Maverick attention. X wondered if an antivirus could really be developed, and if it could be used to stop the Mavericks. He was also very interested in the work to expand the human brain's capacity. Maybe if human minds could be continuously upgraded and expanded, they would feel less threatened by the idea of reploids improving themselves and continuously progressing. X thought back to his conversation with High-Max. Maybe what the Mavericks really want is this freedom to grow. Maybe if Mavericks were more advanced, they would begin to see the senselessness of their violent strategy, or maybe not feel as threatened by humanity. X began to think if it was too early to dismiss the possibility of negotiation. Perhaps there is common ground to find.
X also wondered if Dr. Doppler could unlock the mysteries within X himself. Was there something there that could be shared with the world? Was this X's true purpose?