Maverick Buster - S1Ep2

Previously on Mega Man X: Maverick Buster... {1 Stage Select (X) -> Mega Man Maverick Hunter X}
X remembered the day he met Zero as he began his search for his friend, only to get ambushed by a trio of Mavericks who called themselves the X-Hunters! These Reploids attacked X while claiming that they were going to restore Zero. X tried every attack at his disposal to fight them, but not one of his attacks did any damage. Not even the mighty Hadouken left a mark on the X-Hunters!
Because X used up all of his energy to fight these Mavericks, his body was forced to shut down, and the X-Hunters left him for dead... but X was rescued by a Reploid who claimed that he owed her...
Just who are the X-Hunters, and why do they want to bring back Zero? Is Zero really dead? And who is the Reploid that saved X? Find out next in Mega Man X: Maverick Buster!

Mega Man X: Maverick Buster
Season One: The Search for Zero

Episode 2 - Chapter Two: The Hunt Begins {2 Stage Start -> Mega Man X4}

When X's power was restored and he had regained consciousness, he heard different voices talking around him, making him open his eyes to see three Reploids standing around him within the repair wing of Hunter Base; One was a man wearing a black uniform, another man was wearing green and had goggles above his eyes, and the other Reploid was Alia.
"X, are you all right?" Asked the green Reploid who was checking X's status on a monitor.
"Ugh... I'm fine now." X replied, before realizing where he was. "Wait... how did I get back here?" The black Reploid then handed X a holographic note.
"That was found with you just outside the base." Alia told X before he started reading what was written:

Well... it looks like I just saved the very same Reploid that defeated Sigma. Maybe I should get a medal, or something. Anyway... Sigma maybe gone X, but that doesn't mean that the spread of the Maverick Virus hasn't. I'm going to try and get to the source of the problem, but in the meantime, you have to keep those X-Hunters occupied. Trust me, you'll thank me later...
The Sexy Reploid Thief {3 Event: Brief Relief -> Shadow The Hedgehog}
"X-Hunters..." Muttered X after reading the note, which expressed concern from the Reploids around him. "That's right... they're the Mavericks who attacked me..."
"Who attacked you, X?" Asked the black Reploid, making X look up at him.
"Well Commander Signas, I don't remember their names, but I remember them telling me..." X then proceeded to inform his commanding officer about what happened to him. Alia was horrified at what X had said, while the green Reploid checked the energy flowing from an large energy tank into X. Signas looked a little angry as X told the story...

"You went to look for Zero -who may not have even survived the destruction of Sigma's Palace- without authorization first?!" Signas shouted, once X finished his story. X looked down at his lap in shame. Signas then turned to Alia, who looked guilty. "And you knew about this? Why didn't you say something, Alia?" {4 Demo - Sorrow -> Mega Man X8}
"You don't understand, sir..." Alia told Signas, while hanging her head so Signas couldn't see her eyes. "Zero is very important to X... and because both Reploids are important to me, I didn't want to betray X's trust..." Signas sighed after hearing Alia's case.
"All right. I suppose I can't blame you two for wanting to stick by your friends..." He told X & Alia, who were both relieved at this. "But the threat from these so-called 'X-Hunters' cannot be ignored. Alia, put all Maverick Hunters on alert." {5 Hunter Base - Doubt -> Mega Man X8}
"Yes, sir." Alia replied as she saluted the Reploid, before running out of the repair wing. This made X sit up a little more.

"Commander, I should join the fight, too." He said to Signas, as the green Reploid tried to press X down by his shoulders.
"Not just yet, X." Signas replied. "Not until you've recovered from your last battle..."
"But sir! I can help you track down the X-Hunters!" This made Signas look back at X with sympathy.
"And you will... But I can't have one of my best Maverick Hunters on patrol when he's not at his best, right?" This made X clench his hands into fists, before hanging his head again as he sat back down in his bed.
"No, sir. You can't." He replied with regret.
"Thank you for cooperating, X." Signas said to the blue Reploid, before looking at the green Reploid. "Douglas, I want you and your intern to make sure that X is ready for active duty as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir." Douglas replied while saluting Signas, as a small green Reploid approached X's bed. This Reploid also had blond hair that didn't even look like it was attached to her head.

"Don't worry X, Douglas & I are gonna get you back in action before you know it!" She told X, who smiled at her.
"Thanks, Palette." He said to the Reploid girl, before trying to get the attention of Douglas. "But there is something I'd like to ask you two..."
"Hm? What's that, X?" Asked Douglas, after returning to X's bedside.
"How come my legs feel different?" This made both Douglas and Palette look at each other and happily nod, before they turned back to X.
"There's nothing to worry about." Douglas replied. "I just gave you somewhat of an upgrade..." {6 Hunter Base -> Mega Man X: Command Mission}
"While you were out cold, Douglas and I discovered that we could take the Dash ability from your Light Armor's Foot Parts, and give it to your standard feet." Explained Palette, making X's eyes light up with curiousity.
"Not only that, but almost all of the Maverick Hunters have now been equipped with the Dash ability." Douglas added.
"I see..." X replied, making him look at his feet.

Meanwhile, within an abandoned factory far away from Hunter Base, the X-Hunters were standing around a familiar -yet severely damaged- red-and-white Reploid with blonde hair. There was also a metallic liquid that was forming body parts for the Reploid, making all three X-Hunters smirk. {7 Event: My Perfect Plan -> Shadow The Hedgehog}
"Excellent!" Exclaimed Agile. "The nanites are accepting what's left of Zero!"
"And since these nanites already have the Maverick Virus, this'll make Zero a Maverick again, right?" Violen asked, resulting in a slap in the back of the head from Serges, who was looking at a chart he was holding.
"Of course he'll be a Maverick!" He yelled. "My calculations are never wrong! As for how long ze nanites vill take to restore Zero's body... I estimate zat it vill take at least 3 hours."
"And when Maverick Hunter X comes looking for Zero, he'll be forced to fight his best friend!" Agile suspected, making all three X-Hunters cackle as the nanites were starting to make their way into what was left of Zero's body.

About 2 and a half hours later, X dashed into the command center of Hunter Base, where Signas was standing around a group of Reploids at their terminals. Alia was one of the Reploids, while the Reploid next to her had long purple hair. {8 Hunter Base - Going to the Front -> Mega Man X8}
"Commander, I'm ready for active duty!" X said as he stood behind Signas while saluting him.
"So soon, X?" Asked Signas.
"Yes sir, both Douglas and Palette were amazed at the rate of my recovery." X replied, making Signas place his hands on X's shoulders with a welcoming smile on his face.
"If only ALL of our Hunters could be restored that fast..." He said to X, before getting serious. "Very well, you may begin your hunt for the X-Hunters... but take Alia with you." This made the blonde Reploid turn around in her chair to face Signas and X.
"You want me to go with X on a mission, sir?" She asked, making X turn back to Signas.
"But why?" Asked X.
"With Zero... not here... you're going to need some backup on future missions." Signas told X. "Besides... you've seen Alia in the training facility... I imagine that she'll be a great asset to you in battle." X eventually nodded in response.
"Commander... can I make a request for a navigator?" Asked Alia as she walked towards Signas and X, which made Signas nod. "I'd like Layer to keep an eye on us, sir." Layer turned her chair around in shock, aswell.
"Very well. Good luck to the three of you." Signas replied, making X, Alia and Layer salute him.

Just minutes later, X & Alia arrived in the Hunter Base garage, when they spotted X & Zero's Ride Chasers. When Alia saw X look down at the ground, she placed her hand on his shoulder. {9 Cutscene - Chip's Memories -> Sonic Unleashed}
"I can just ride with you, if you want X..." She told him, but X turned to face Alia.
"It's okay. I'm sure Zero would want you to take his, anyway." X replied, making Alia give X a sympathetic smile.
"*bzz* Alia? Um... can I ask why you chose me as your navigator? *bzz*" Asked Layer via radio, making both X & Alia place a hand over their ears.
"Isn't it obvious? We're going to look for Zero, and you're one of two navigators that I trust the most." Alia told Layer, while looking at X, who seemed confused. "We are going to find Zero, right X?" X closed his eyes as he sighed.
"*bzz* X... like Alia, I promise that I won't tell anyone about you disobeying Signas." Layer told X. "Especially if it means finding Zero... *bzz*"
"We're going after the X-Hunters..." Said X, surprising Alia and Layer. "...but we're also going to find Zero." Both Alia & Layer sighed with relief, but Layer also blushed back in the command center. "Let's move out!" X and Alia then raced out of Hunter Base on a Ride Chaser each. {10 Ending X -> Mega Man X4}

A little later, the X-Hunters had gathered around in a small chamber with eight monitors, which had a different Reploid on each screen. {11 Event: Shadow Incoming -> Shadow The Hedgehog}
"Listen up, fellow Mavericks." Announced Agile, getting everyone's attention. "Now that the Maverick Hunters are aware of us, everyone must be ready for an imminent attack..."
"Just remember to keep an eye out for X. He's the dangerous one. Especially now zat he knows we're bringing Zero back." Serges warned, making the eight Reploids nod in respond.
"So if that guy comes knockin' on your doorstep, pummel him! Ha-hah hah!" Said Violen as he smacked his fist into his palm, before the eight monitors turned off.

Meanwhile, within the construction chamber, the nanites forming around Zero seemed to have completed their job, as he was now tossing and turning around in his sleep with his repaired body... In his dream, Zero was suddenly standing in a white void, and was confused... {12 Event: Hidden Memories -> Shadow The Hedgehog}
"What the...? Where am I?" He asked, before spotting a familiar blue Reploid suddenly appear in front of him. "...X? Buddy, what're you doin' here? You should be takin' the fight to Sigma!" X seemed to have a blank look on his face, as he aimed his X-Buster at Zero. "X? What're you doin'?"
"Must... eliminate... Mavericks..." Was all X said in a monotone voice, that gave Zero some concern... especially when X started building up energy in his Buster, making Zero aim his own Buster at X.
"X... I'm no Maverick. You know that." Zero said to X, but the blue Reploid kept building up energy. "You're not leavin' me with a choice, X... lower your arm..." It was at this point that Zero started charging up a shot, aswell.
"Must... eliminate... Mavericks..." X repeated.
"X, don't make me do this!"
"Must... eliminate... Mavericks..." X then fired his Charge Shot at Zero, who quickly fired his own Charge Shot at X's, resulting in an explosion that expanded quite fast. {13 The End of the World -> Sonic and the Black Knight}
"X!!" Zero screamed while shielding his eyes, as he and X were engulfed in the explosion...

...which was when Zero quickly sat up in shock while gasping for air. After quickly calming down, Zero looked around, and seemed confused. {14 Ending Zero -> Mega Man X4}
"Where am I? Was all that... just a dream?" He asked himself before a voice was heard over the speakers.
"ATTENTION X-HUNTERS. ZERO HAS AWAKENED. REPEAT: ZERO HAS AWAKENED." Said a monotone voice that startled Zero.
"'X-Hunters?' I don't like the sound of that..." Zero said before jumping off of the bench he was sleeping on, and started running down the wrecked hallway. "I wonder if X managed to defeat Sigma. Hopefully, he won't shoot me when I ask him..."

END OF CHAPTER {15 Standby - Zero -> Mega Man X: Command Mission}