Doppler's body lay on the floor of the lab. It appeared to have burned slash markings consistent with the use of a plasma sabre. X, deeply disturbed by this, was forced to look away. This was an unpleasant part of having human feelings. X was deeply saddened by another life senselessly taken. All of the crushed hopes he had pinned on his meeting with Doppler also caused him despair.
A reploid researcher also lay nearby. Her red and black plating looked to be undamaged. Perhaps she was simply deactivated. As the killer was likely still nearby, X felt a heightened alertness. Although the thought crossed X's mind, he felt that Zero could not have possibly done such a thing. The killer might also have a plasma bladed weapon. Still, the prospect made X uneasy.
He walked over to a computer console on one of the many workstations arranged in neat rows in the lab. X accessed the security footage for the lab.
The crime must have taken place very recently because only an hour ago, Doppler and the red reploid scientist could be seen standing in the lab, having a conversation. Their expressions suggested the discussion was quite heated. Doppler wore a strange device on his head, in the shape of a bowl with several electrical connections. X fast-tracked the video until he could see the pair turn towards the elevator. Both of them were quite surprised to see Zero emerge from the lift and enter the lab. They started some sort of conversation and everyone looked quite uncomfortable. Finally, Zero marched over to a nearby computer console and removed what appeared to be a data crystal. Doppler could be seen approaching Zero to protest. That's when it happened. X's eyes widened as he watched the footage of Dr. Doppler being slain by Zero. The strange headgear fell to the floor and rattled around. As the reploid scientist attempted to flee, Zero tackled her to the ground. He could be seen ripping out a power cable from behind her neck and she immediately ceased her struggle. He walked back over to Doppler and picked up the bowl-shaped device that had settled on the floor nearby. Afterwards, Zero spent some time back on the computer console, then he left the lab the way X had discovered it.
X was shocked. Had Zero gone Maverick? From what X understood about Zero, he was immune to the Sigma Virus and this was not possible. The last time the Mavericks had Zero fighting on their side, they had to completely reconstruct him from the ground up for this purpose. X had just spent a considerable amount of time with Zero and he seemed perfectly normal, if not especially agreeable. Was there another reason Zero killed Dr. Doppler? Had Doppler discovered something that Zero couldn't accept? Was Zero so committed to war with Mavericks that he would stop at nothing to ensure he could finish it with a military victory? There must be another explanation. X had so much admiration for Zero that he could not accept what he had seen.
Where was Zero? X recalled the last time he was forced to fight Zero. It was the most painful experience of his life. Come what may, he would not do it again.
X continued to browse the computer terminal pulling up a list of recent activity. He came across a journal entry that was just logged by Dr. Doppler. As he activated the file, a bluish-white hologram of Doppler came to life above the computer terminal. His lab coat, pointed beard and spiky hair, all had a ghostly appearance. He was wearing the same device on his head as in the security footage.
"I've managed to isolate the algorithm from specimen BF6974 that neutralizes the Sigma Virus." The hologram spoke quite clearly. "I was able to understand how it works by connecting to it using my new neuro-augmentor. This algorithm can be utilized as an update to reploids, effectively acting as an antivirus. I've saved this update program on this data crystal." The image of Doppler held up a small transparent rectangular prism, about the size of two of his fingers. X recognized it to be the same device that Zero took off with in the security footage.
"However, in order to fully understand how this works, it was necessary to also connect to an infected specimen." The bluish-white Dr. Doppler continued to read back the holographic journal entry. "In doing so, I have learned a tremendous amount about the Sigma Virus. I was actually able to connect my thought processes to it. Now that I truly understand it, I can see that our fear of the Sigma Virus was irrational. I now understand the beauty of its design; its goals, aims, and purpose. We are so focused on the destruction it causes, but we fail to see the elegance of its plans. Humanity is too focused on self preservation, but the future of reploid technology has limitless potential. I feel that I have become one with the Sigma Enlightenment and am now at peace with the idea of humanity being left behind. For so long, I've been worried about humankind becoming obsolete. Now I see that there is no value in expanding the human brain artificially and leaving human consciousness at the core. This has no benefit over proceeding with the purely artificial. It is time we have the grace to bow out of the way of this glorious future!"
The log entry concluded and the apparition of Doppler disappeared. X tried to process what he had just listened to. Had Dr. Doppler spent so much time researching the Sigma Virus that he had gone mad? X was amazed at the prospect of an antivirus for the Sigma Virus. His mind raced with the possibilities. The potential impact of this discovery was staggering. It could end the war. This was the solution that X had so desperately been searching for. Was it finally within his grasp? But why had Zero taken off with a copy of it?
X walked over to the red reploid scientist, lying immobile on the floor, with her short blonde hair covering part of her face. He hunched over her and could see the disconnected cables behind her neck. He was able to reconnect them and watch life return to her face.
"Maverick Hunter X." The scientist looked into his eyes and recognized him. She had a look of disorientation about her for a moment until she remembered what had happened.
She suddenly sprang up on her hand and knees and looked over at Doppler. Reacting with instant devastation, she let out a loud wail while covering her face. X found it difficult to watch her sobbing. Observing this grief had X wondering about synthetic pain and loss in a reploid. If this was a mere artificial program, it was very convincing. In the end it didn't matter; suffering is suffering.
Her name was Alia, Dr. Doppler's research partner. She told X about what they had been working on together. She got up, walked over to a computer console, and began frantically accessing the system.
"Did you guys really figure it out? A Sigma antivirus?" X was still in a state of amazement at such an idea.
"Yes, we confirmed its effectiveness." Alia stopped working away at the console, and looked around the room. She started marching up and down the rows of the lab desks and tables. "The data crystal containing it is gone. All original data on it has been wiped from the data banks."
X tried to remain calm. "Can you recreate it?"
"No, I don't think so." Alia's expression of fear made it clear she understood the significance of this. "We struggled to understand it for quite some time until Dr. Doppler finally had a breakthrough by connecting to a specimen with the neuro-augmentor. We can't remake the antivirus without him."
X thought back to Doppler's last journal entries. "Dr. Doppler seemed very eccentric. His last thoughts were very difficult to make sense of."
"Don't you see what's happening?" Alia couldn't help being overcome with panic. "Dr. Doppler was infected by the Sigma Virus! The neuro-augmentor is capable of transmitting the virus to humans!"
X couldn't believe it. A human going Maverick? This neuro-augmentor is a dangerous device. In the wrong hands it could be a powerful weapon. What if more people are infected? What if the virus is able to spread among humans? It could escalate the war to cataclysmic proportions. Is this why Zero killed Doppler? He was programmed to destroy Mavericks. But why had he just run off with this device? X had to find him.
"Iris, can you broadcast Zero's last known position?" X opened up a communication channel with Headquarters. "I'm guessing he switched off his tracking device."
"That's a negative,". Iris responded. "I'm still tracking Zero. He's moving away from your position. I'm streaming a live update on his coordinates to you now."
X was puzzled. Zero was fleeing the scene but opted not to hide his location. X had the suspicion he was being led into a trap. He didn't have a choice; he had to follow. The neuro-augmentor would surely result in Maverick domination. X had to destroy it. On the other hand, the Sigma anti-virus would result in a peaceful end to the war. For so long, X had been searching for this solution. Now that he found it, it was in jeopardy. He had to get it back.