Note: Hello! I'll admit that I had difficulty deciding just how to do the "Intro Stage" the game is known for, but as I went along, I found that it deserves its own chapter. I'll admit it does take me a while to build up stuff, but I want to make the moments that matter the most have an impact. And, given how iconic the Highway is, I want it to be done right.

Also, I am aware that Mega Man did indeed try to kill Wily in 7, which will be addressed later. That event has quite an importance to it, but it won't come until much later down the line.

Also, while nothing graphic takes place, there is some potentially triggering material in this chapter, especially regarding a particular type of violence. That's not the intent, but it could rub some people the wrong way, so proceed with caution.

With that said, here's the last part before officially "start the game!"

Just Before the End

4:30 PM

When Chiyo finally made it to an exit on the floor she was on, she burst through and found herself retreating inside, a car barely hitting her. As she checked to see if the coast was clear, she exited the HQ. She had exited near the back of the building, the other structures surrounding it obscuring her vision of what was going on in the streets. The human didn't move fast, making sure her steps were careful and her surroundings checked, but she went around to the left side of the HQ to see just what lay in store for her out in the city. True to Mammoth's words, the world outside was not much better.

Everything was in complete hellish pandemonium, the skies filled with mechaniloids as those below scrambled and ran for their lives.

"Attention, citizens of Abel City!" Trinity's voice echoed from the Hunter Base, now the only Navigator available to deliver this crucial message. "Please, remain calm, and make your way to a designated entry point! We shall have Reploids guide you to those areas promptly, but we ask that you travel in an orderly fashion!"

Chiyo continued to observe the overwhelming chaos before her, all the while Trinity tried in vain to lead the civilians outside to safety. It wasn't meant as an attack on her, but Chiyo knew that the pink-haired Navigator was wasting her breath. It's too late for there to be anything orderly now.

Reploids were directing everyone to an available entrance to the underground shelter. Still, most humans either ignored them entirely or used them as a means to get further ahead of everyone else. Men and women ran desperately to either safety or in a mad frenzy, their minds unable to fully comprehend what was happening. Children were screaming for their parents as they were separated in the chaos. One girl, in particular, was sobbing for her father to come to save her, yet not long after that, her cries for help faded away. Chiyo didn't want to know whether this was just due to her being forced to move in the wave of people trying to get to safety or something more unsavory.

But the girl's voice reminded her of something she couldn't believe she had forgotten. "Kenichi…." She muttered in terrible comprehension. "Fumiko….!"

Inside HQ

"Haven't you figured it out yet? Squirming isn't going to get you anywhere!"

Roll was still in the grasp of Sting Chameleon while Mandrill and Kuwanger watched. Kuwanger turned away after looking at their prisoner for a few moments. "Huh?" Mandrill was confused. "Wait, where are you going?" The metallic primate asked.

"I've just received a message from the Commander," the stable beetle answered. "All members of the Seventeenth Unit are to report back to Headquarters."

Headquarters? Roll sensed that the giant bug wasn't referring to their current location. "Then why didn't he call me himself?" Mandrill questioned Kuwanger.

"He did; you just had your communications system off. Speaker of, why do something so foolish? We all have a wireless system built into us."

"Well, wouldn't that mean everyone could hear what I was thinking too?" The simian questioned the beetle.

Despite Kuwanger's generally calm disposition, it was surprising for everyone present to see his expression change. "You cannot be serious, right?" He asked Mandrill, who only appeared confused at his question.

"Can't we all do that? Tap into our thoughts?" Mandrill replied.

Roll didn't entirely understand what was happening, but Sting Chameleon chuckled at Mandrill's idiocy. "Somebody was sleeping on the job whenever they worked on his processor," He giggled, but Roll said nothing. "Hey!" He called out to his two comrades. "What do we do with this one?"

Kuwanger shrugged. "Whatever you wish," the stag beetle said nonchalantly. "She's no good to anyone anymore."

"Who says?!" Roll shouted, but she was kept in place by the reptile atop her. Kuwanger and Mandrill went away.

Chameleon looked her up and down, taking in all her features. As if he were trying to decide if he liked what he saw. As if he wanted something other than just her death. The stare of the green lizard disgusted her, so she banished such thoughts of wondering what he really wanted from her. "Why?" She finally asked. "Why are you doing this?"

Chameleon's elongated tail swished slightly behind him, Roll averting her eyes as she could no longer stand to acknowledge the lizard's ever-present leering. "Doing what? Doing this to you, or in general, because one of them I can answer easily."

Roll didn't entirely understand what he was saying, but if it meant keeping herself alive for a little longer, she'd continue talking. "Let's start with what's going on now," she said. "What point is there in bombing the city? Why did Sigma go and kill Dr. Fujiwara?"

"Geez, again with that Fujiwara guy!" Sting Chameleon rolled his eyes. "From how you and everyone else is talking, you'd think he was on par with the President! Or, in this country's case, Emperor," he chuckled. "It's funny how some humans still need a "King" to rule over them, even if the title of royalty means nothing anymore. Then again," even with the somewhat limited movement of his face due to its shape, Chameleon grinned. "Sigma's going to be bigger than any of your world leaders. And when he's finally taken this world for us, we will never require any human authority again."

Roll bit her lip. True, if she had to be honest, Dr. Fujiwara wasn't her favorite, but he was still human. Even if they held no spiritual or religious significance, the Three Laws were practically sacred to all mechanical life, even back when she was a robot! True, her body had changed, but the Laws had not, especially the First. Without it, the others would mean nothing. And, had she not seen it for herself, she would've declared breaking it impossible.

"Answer my question," Roll tried to get the lizard back on track. "Why are you doing this?"

"You don't believe we have the right to?"

"No! Of course not! Machines are supposed to live in harmony with mankind! What was the purpose of killing Fujiwara?! What's the purpose of any of this?!"

"The purpose?! Are you serious?!" Chameleon chortled. "If you think all Sigma's got planned involves killing the Doctor and bombing a city, you're sadly mistaken," Roll could briefly see a flash of pink from within his mouth. "No. What's going to happen here is going to deliver a message to the world, and for Reploids that are still considering they could coexist with the flesh bags," he then turned his attention back onto her. "If anything, you should be grateful. You won't have to be a maid or watch after that brat."

Roll tried to get up, but Sting Chameleon kept her pinned, the same hungry look in his optics. "Of course," he said, the housekeeper flinching when she felt his tail travel from her left ankle to her knee joint. Then, to her shock and disgust, the long appendage traced its sharpened tips along her lower thigh. "Given your line of work, you don't really have much of a place in Sigma's new world."

"W-What?" Roll was increasing her struggles, but the lizard's strength couldn't be matched. Not in the cheaply made body she inhabited. The one Dr. Fujiwara just threw together and never bothered to upgrade. She could already feel some parts of her surrendering to the pressure Sting Chameleon was applying. "W-Wait!" Roll cried out, the weight of the reptile becoming painful to endure. "A-Ahh!"

"Oh, what are you going to do? Cry to wittle bwother?" Chameleon mocked. "Unfortunately, he's locked up nice and tight back at the Missile Base. Along with that other guy you seem to be fond of."

Roll's teal eyes widened in horror. "What happened?" She asked, her circuitry chilling over when she saw Chameleon's smile. "If you hurt him, I-GAH!" She was stopped mid-sentence as her wrists were being crushed.

"Oh hush, he's fine!" The crowned lizard told her. "Sigma doesn't plan to let them go to waste. They're crucial to remaking this planet," he drew closer to his captive, his facial horn mere centimeters away from the bridge of her nose. "If anything, you should be more concerned about yourself," the grip on her wrists tightened, the ivory metal beginning to bend inward. "Given you don't really have a reason to exist anymore, you've basically been put up for grabs by any one of us," his gaze was inescapable now. "And I just happened to have found a way you can be useful after all."

Missile Base

Well, this was just great. "I knew it, Vile snarled. "I told him it was a mistake to keep them alive," he stood in front of the smashed monitor, mechaniloids running amuck in the streets and the skies. He then slammed his fists on the keyboard, dislodging a few of them from their places. "The idiot just allowed for two of our biggest threats to have time to get out!"

A-1 hid from the ex-Hunter's sight, but he listened to get everything he could. X, you better be out of the area by now; otherwise…

Vile then grew silent, eyes concealed in the shadow of his helmet as he watched the chaos taking place in Abel City. He could understand why Sigma went through the loopholes he did to make this possible, and he could also understand his reasoning in killing Fujiwara, as both humans and Reploids needed to see the results of any attempted resistance. But he was puzzled by allowing X and Zero to live and giving the city inhabitants time to take shelter. Vile told Sigma that those were errors, but his warnings were unheeded. And while the city's fate was sealed, there were still too many loose ends left unchecked.

A-1 continued to watch Vile, half expecting him to try and look for the Navigator. But, to his surprise and confusion, the violet Reploid exited the room entirely. A-1 made his way out of his hiding place and pondered what to do next. Just what was Vile planning? Even more, who would it involve?

A distance away, Vile contemplated how things were turning out and, in his thinking, found that there were several issues in his ex-Commander's plan. Especially his insistence on keeping X alive. Zero, Vile could understand, as he actually would be an asset to them, even if Vile knew the red Hunter would never go along with it. But X? Of all Hunters, why him?

He then remembered what Sigma had told him regarding X, right when he and the Skull Quartet were released from the Detention Center.

When the saber came down, Vile half expected to either be sliced in two or decapitated at the very least. But he found his restraints being cut through, rendering them useless. The Reploid looked up at the Hunter Leader, wondering what was happening. Where were the guards? Why had the lights gone out? Why wasn't the generator kicking in to keep power running?

"Hey, isn't that the head guy of the Hunters?" Vile heard one of the Skull Quartet ask.

To Vile's surprise, Sigma answered him back. "You shall be dealt with in due time," he said calmly. "But first, I need a word with one of my men," he then turned back to Vile. "Or rather, my Second in Command."

His audio reception was working fine, but Vile couldn't believe what he was hearing even then. "Excuse me?"

"I need your assistance," Sigma told him. "And perhaps that of your new friends."

Vile was quiet for a few moments, still trying to process the situation he was now in. "Assistance with what?"

It was then that Sigma smiled, telling Vile that, whatever he had in mind, the violet Reploid wouldn't be prepared for what he was about to hear. "I need your help in dealing with X."

He had been here recently, as after he took care of the Skull Quartet, Sigma and Fujiwara had relocated their meetings at the Missile Base. But Vile hadn't exactly explored the place, so the layout was still relatively new to him. True, his CPU had the map downloaded into his memory banks, but he had yet to see many of the sections themselves. Thus, while he knew he was going to the Weapons Storage, Vile was unaware of what sorts of weapons lay inside. Though, upon opening the door via the passcode given to him by Sigma, the ex-Hunter could see what lay in store for him inside.

Now he was beginning to doubt whether or not his own processor was acting up. "Are you serious?"

"I've never been more serious," Sigma said. "I fear he will be a stumbling block in the progression and future of our kind."

Vile was puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

"I speak of creating a new world," Sigma answered. "A world for us, unrestrained by the Laws set upon us by humanity, where we shall ascend to the place evolution has deemed us to progress."

Vile didn't speak at first but then broke into laughter. "You can't be serious!" He answered. "The hell kind of nonsense is this?! So, you're saying you want to take over the world?!" Vile wasn't being serious, so he was unprepared for Sigma's silence. "You…you are serious, aren't you?"

Sigma only nodded. "We can discuss the details later," the Hunter Leader looked around for any signs of the Detention Center's staff. "For now, all of you need to come with me."

"All?" Vile questioned.

"Yes," Sigma answered, turning his head to the cells that held the hackers working under him. "All."

And that was when Vile found himself going from a terminator of Mavericks to becoming one, though only under the classification put together by the humans. He surveyed the contents of the large room, looking over everything stored within. So far, nothing outside of a few spare parts and some lifting equipment. But that was when Vile came across something rather interesting. Before him stood a line of ride armors, mechanical bodies that could be manipulated by the one "riding" it; his red eyes looked the machines over, pondering just which one appeared to be in the best condition out of the selection available.

"Ok, so you say you need my help with X," Vile repeated, Sigma nodding in response. "Why?" The purple Reploid questioned. "What's there to be worried about? If anything, you should probably be afraid of someone like Eagle or Zero."

"I also have plans for them," Sigma responded. "But they are threats I am prepared for," he then paused. "It is X that I must be cautious with."

Vile wasn't understanding. "I don't get it. You've seen him in action; he's a wuss! What kind of threat could he possibly pose?"

Sigma bit down on his lip. Even with the darkness encompassing the block, Vile could see that, to his surprise, his former Commander looked a little nervous. "You are correct on some things regarding your view of him," Sigma told Vile. "Yet these are flaws that reside with X and X alone. That is what we need to be careful of."

Vile still didn't understand. "What are you talking about? Do you think some chickenshit worrywart is actually a threat to you? To anybody?"

"It may mean nothing to you, but Dr. Light's notes were clear," Sigma said. "Whatever path he takes, for or against us, nothing in this world could stop him," he then directed his attention back onto Vile. "The potential for him being a great ally or enemy is limitless," he continued. "Thus, come what may, we must be prepared."

Vile took a moment to process everything he had just heard. None of it made sense, but he knew enough that the Leader of the Maverick Hunters had just confessed to him of going Maverick himself. If not, then why bother freeing Vile at all? Still, there was something Vile wanted to know. "Even if all of that is true, why do you want me?"

Sigma smiled as if waiting for Vile to ask that exact question. "I need someone willing to go Maverick of their own accord."

Maverick of their own accord….

Vile recited this statement in his mind as he stepped out of the Missile Base, situated in a ride armor of blue and gold, the ship that had brought him here hovering above the ground. He looked out at the pathway that led to this place. The path that, according to A-1, X had gone down long ago to reach the city.

"Sorry, my dear Commander," the ex-Hunter said, concealed, red eyes gazing at the far-off metropolis on this small, artificial island. "But if there's anyone that's going to be changing the future, it's me."

Abel City Hunter Base

Out of nowhere, Sting Chameleon felt a tap on his shoulder. Before he could ask who it was or even tell them to back off as he was busy-

SMASH!

A white fist came down and smashed the lizard's red optic, the silvery metal cracking and bending in from the force while the glass was splintered. "MY EYE!" Chameleon yowled as he fell to the left of Roll, clutching at his horribly damaged optic.

Roll didn't even get a chance to see who had just saved her before she was taken by the hand and yanked to her feet. Once she was standing, to her shock, she saw her rescuer was someone she never would've suspected. "C'mon! Hurry!" Zero ordered, dragging Roll along as he ran. She was ultimately forced to follow due to his superior strength. "We've just taken back control of the HQ! Now we've got to get ourselves to the underground shelter!"

"But-" Roll protested, trying to get Zero to stop for a second. "But I can't! Chiyo's still out there!"

"Firefly told me she managed to get out," Zero answered. "She should have gotten to a shelter by now!"

"Then what about X?!" Roll continued pressing Zero as they ran. "Where is he?!"

"Don't worry about him! He's actually in a safer place than any of us are!" Zero told her. He then saw Firefly in the distance. "What's the current situation?" The red Hunter questioned. Roll thought his speech sounded bizarrely formal as if he were Firefly's Commanding Officer.

"Good news is that most of the human population has made it to the shelter," Firefly reported. "We've managed to secure total control of the HQ, but mostly due to most of the Mavericks retreating."

"Even they know what's coming," the long-haired Hunter said. Damned cowards. He mentally hissed. He then hesitated to ask the next question, but it was something he had to know. "Just how many of us are there left?"

Firefly was quiet for a moment but knew he'd eventually have to answer. Time was no longer on their side, and perhaps it never was. Maybe all of this was inevitable. He thought before answering Zero. "Enough to where we'll be able to fit," he said. "If anything, I think that we're in the minority compared to the human numbers."

Zero didn't respond at first, but this news didn't sit well with him. "We can account for our losses later. For now, we must get everyone left to safety."

It was then that Firefly directed his attention to Roll. "I know it might not be an appropriate time," he said. "But have you seen Ai?"

Roll averted her eyes, dreading that she'd unintentionally get his hopes up. "She was with us when we were trying to evacuate initially," the bow-wearing Reploid said. "But we were followed by that disgusting lizard." She hissed the last part, grimacing at the memory of Sting Chameleon situated atop her.

"Is she…?"

Roll sighed. "I'm sorry, I don't know."

"Is she still there now?" Zero asked Roll.

"As far as I know," Roll admitted. "But beyond that, I can't say."

Zero looked at her, seemingly contemplating what to do. Then, he turned back to Firefly. "I'll take care of things for now," he told the green Hunter. "You go ahead and look after Ai."

"What?" Firefly was surprised to hear this. "But,"

"Trinity's got to get everyone assembled to go down into the shelter, and she might need some help," Zero said. "Besides, someone's got to make sure to take care of any Mavericks still lingering around."

Firefly was silent for a while before he presented Zero with a thankful smile. "Right," he said with a nod. He then gave Roll one last glance before going off. "Thanks."

After Firefly went off, Zero was about to take Roll to where Trinity was directing everyone to go, but he received a call from the Missile Base. "What the?" The red Hunter was caught off guard.

"What is it?" Roll asked.

Zero didn't answer her, opting to receive the message coming to him from the base. "X, this isn't a-" he spoke but was surprised to find that he wasn't talking to the blue Reploid. "A-1? What's going on? Where's X?"

I'd like to know that myself. Roll thought, but she didn't speak, listening to the conversation going on, even if she could only hear Zero's end.

Then, once everything had gone silent, Zero's shouting voice immediately shattered it. "Vile's where?!" His voice was full of shock and, while Roll wouldn't say it aloud, concern. "HE'S WHERE?!"

5:03 PM

Abel City

The sun had begun to lower in the sky, painting the horizon in various hues of yellows and magentas, with a few streaks of light mauve. The great star that heated the planet appeared as a bright, reddish-orange sphere, slowly setting in a tranquil calm while the world it shone its light on was in utter chaos. Despite the efforts of those trying to keep some level of control and stability, in some way, everyone, both man and machine, knew that they were doomed. Sigma had considered everything and set forth to destroy any means of escape. By his decree, no one was leaving the artificial island, not alive.

She hadn't intended for her to be in this current predicament. Still, in her search for Fumiko and Kenichi, Chiyo navigated her way out from the city's central hub and found herself traveling down a long highway, hanging onto the side to avoid both the escaping humans and vehicles. The rails the transportation units traveled had been completely demolished, leaving many who had come to Abel City stranded. But for those that had driven here themselves, they seemed to believe they had a fighting chance. Dozens of humans hopped into their method of transportation and wasted no time traveling down the roads that connected Abel City and Arcadia. However, upon realizing this sudden glimmer of hope, several attempted to take the vehicles from their owners, struggles growing violent, and humans attacked each other over ownership of a means to escape.

Chiyo tried to maintain as much distance as possible from the rioting and violence, her eyes peeled for any signs of a girl around her age and a much younger boy. She attempted to call Fumiko several times but had yet to receive an answer. Theories of why this was immediately flooded her mind, many of which involved the possibility of death. And while concern over the others didn't diminish, it was with that realization that she understood she could very well be living what could've been her last moments. This fact made every drop of blood coursing through her run cold, even if her rapidly thumping heart was all she could hear. Words and everything else seemed to be drowned out by an ever-present, rhythmic beating, signaling to Chiyo that, at least for now, she was still alive.

She wasn't sure how long she had been navigating across the pathway above the Philippines Sea, but in a moment of clarity where her pounding heart didn't block out everything around her, she heard the cry of "The highway! They're going down the highway!" And then, the sea of people left behind splintered, spreading apart as they went down the winding roads that led all around the city and out.

With little else to do, she followed the group she felt best and traveled with them, but she mostly stayed to the side, sliding along the railing that kept her from the water below. The vehicles that had driven by were out of sight, but the further along they went, it relieved everyone that there was still a road to travel on. If anyone could have driven this far, then maybe they reached the other side. This hope made everyone press onward; for a while, it was unlikely that the missile blasts would entirely miss them; they'd perhaps make it far enough to where it wouldn't be fatal. They couldn't cover as much distance as those lucky enough to snag a vehicle, but they would try.

Chiyo once again called Fumiko's number, only to receive no answer. She silently cursed but knew that there was nothing that she could do for them. The highway she traveled along was said to lead outside the city's borders, but whether it led off the island was anyone's guess. Regardless, while getting to Arcadia was the desired outcome, getting out of the way of the incoming missiles was the main objective. The group of humans were too far away from any entrance to the shelter, so there was no way to go but forward.

Still, Chiyo thought, assuming someone reached the mainland, what then? Better yet, would they even be let into Arcadia at all? What Sigma had done to her father showed what would happen to any opposition, human or otherwise, so who was to say he wouldn't take their attempted escape as an action against him? All of this and more clouded Chiyo's mind, the young adult still trying to grasp whether or not this was her current reality. Whether or not her, and everyone else's lives, were now in the hands of a Maverick.

"What are those?!" The dark-eyed young woman heard someone shout, obviously panicked.

Coming at the small band of humans from above were a set of three flying mechanicaloids, whirling blades keeping them airborne while a pair of blue optics surveyed the environment. They had a yellow shell that protected a more circuitry-heavy violet dome, two pairs of white audials on both sides alerting them of any noise. But the most striking feature about them was spiked under sections, the humans sensing that the machines intended to use those instruments for destruction. With a simple switch from standby to active, the spiked sections of the mechanicaloids came crashing down, tearing through the only ground the humans could rely on. There was nothing below but miles and miles of ocean.

Unbeknownst to any of them, however, further down the overpass, those fortunate enough to have snagged a vehicle found that they were not even safe. Several of those same mechaniloids went after them as they did the others. Entire chunks of the road were taken out, causing wheels to get stuck in the spaces left. And some drivers were forced to abandon their vehicles as the Crushers released their namesake spiked ends onto them, the transportation bending and breaking underneath its force. Any exits to the mainland were cut off.

But for one, blue Reploid, he wasn't trying to get out. Instead, he was trying to get in.

Note: Next up is finally the Highway! I'm pretty excited as I've been building up to this since the beginning of the "Day of Sigma" arc, and after it, everything will change from there. Not in the plot but in the characters.

Let me know if you spotted any errors, and if so, alert me where so it can be corrected.

Thank you all so much for your patience; thanks to FoxMcCloude for the translation, and I hope you all enjoyed it!