Janus, of course, was not one of the
Maverick Hunters approved for shore leave.
His clerical duties separated him from the rest of the warrior
pack. Likewise with X and Zero. They were too important and too busy to take
a break, but they preferred it that way.
Being warriors, vacation would only make them sluggish. It would take their minds out of the game,
and commanders needed to be battle-ready at all times. Time spent relaxing was wasted time.
The sliding doors opened with a whir. X was right where Janus thought he would be,
working at one of the planning rooms.
Late at night, the lights were off, save the computer lights and the
yellow etheral illumination from the clear plastic table in the center of the
room. The room was colored in black and
yellow. Smooth black panels, meant for
displaying pictures to multiple people, were closing in on the center. X looked back and forth between the screen
and some paper on his workstation.
Janus didn't wait for X to notice
him. "X, are you busy?"
X looked back behind him, already
knowing someone was there. "Errr...
not really. What do you need?" X briefly looked at the clock near the
ceiling, not realizing how late he was working.
Janus sat down in a swivel chair
next to X. He could tell the commander
had been working tediously for a very long time. Although robot facial features didn't show
it, he could clearly see fatigue behind the eyes.
"I was wondering if you knew
anything about the recent Maverick scare."
"What? You mean today? I wouldn't exactly say that was a
scare."
"No, no, I'm not talking about
today. I mean regarding Zero."
"Zero? What, you mean his account access? No one thought Zero was a Maverick because of
that," he said dismissively.
Janus held up a finger. "Don't be so sure. There are rumors circulating around that
Mavericks have already infiltrated MHHQ."
"There are always rumors like
that."
"Yes, and sometimes they are
true. Sigma was once a Maverick
Hunter."
"Well, yes..."
"As well as several others,
Magma Dragoon for one."
"I know. Are you trying to tell me something?"
"Sir, morale of the
company. Everyone is suspicious of
everyone else. It reminds me of the
McCarthy era of human history."
"Er... I don't... know about
that period. Look," he turned away
from his work. "I don't think you
have anything to worry about. I
think. I mean, there's no point to be
worried about the Maverick virus. We
don't really know how it works, how it strikes, or what. It could come at any time, to any one of
us." He swallowed. "But there's no point in worrying,
worrying will just lead to fear, which will lead to mass hysteria. So, unless you know something, don't
worry. We have everything well in hand
at the top. Nobody on our side is going
to turn Maverick."
"But there's no telling when
and where its gonna strike. You could be
lying next to your reploid friend under repair and all of the sudden - BAM! -
he blasts you in the head. Those are
just the ones who go crazy. There could
be Mavericks right under our noses. You
saw how General Brandle reacted to Zero's indiscretion. I do not believe his judgment was totally in
error."
"Janus, do you have someone
specific in mind? As a Maverick?"
"Sir, I could never accuse one
of my fellow hunters of betrayal."
"There's no need to hold back
info. If you're right, our future could
be at stake."
"I'd really rather not,
sir."
"Please, if you know
something..."
"Well, sir," Janus looked
away. "It's not so much that I know
something, but that I've noticed something.
Regarding Duplex."
"Go on." X's eyes were wide now and Janus had his full
attention.
"I just can't help but notice
some similarities he has to Double. He
has a similar build, the same color, same non-threatening attitude. You're quite certain, sir, that you destroyed
him during the Repliforce rebellion?"
"I did. I'm certain he's dead. I'm sure his remains exploded in the space
station. Why?"
"Well, not all reploids are cut
from individual cloth. I only thought
that maybe he maybe he was created from the same schematics, to create a
replica."
"A replica," X mused,
"Of a reploid gone Maverick. And if
he was a replica he likely has the same traits that Double had."
"Perhaps the same traits that
caused him to go Maverick."
"Damn, why didn't I realize
this before."
"I believe that in humans,
there is a thing called genetics that says humans similar in structure are
vulnerable to the same things." X's
expression changed to one of worry.
"In every bunch there are a few bad apples."
"But we can't take that
risk. Not here." X stood up.
"We've got to find him."
He leapt up to the door panel. "Where is Duplex?"
The screen displayed and spoke 'Duplex
cannot be located-'
"What?" X said.
"He can't be located?"
Janus said with surprise.
"I'm going to find
him." X hit his X-buster to ready
mode. Bright lights appeared on the
cannon on his arm, photons spraying out from the mouth. With no hesitation he ran out of the room.
Janus walked forward through the
doorway, watching the soles of X's boots as he sprinted down the corridor. He smirked ever-so-slightly and said one
word. "Go."
X's first destination would be
Duplex's room. No, wait, where would the
most sensitive part of HQ be? The
servers? Weapons array? No, wait, there were a dozen sensitive places
Duplex could be. What did he want to
hurt? The humans? The Maverick Hunters? Everybody?
Those damn Mavericks' motives were always different. Where could he do the most damage? What was most vulnerable? Damn that Duplex. Why didn't he see it before? That toady would be unsuspecting, almost
comical in his meekness. He'd be the
least likely reploid to turn on them, if it wasn't for Double before him.
X wandered from hall to hall,
searching for the bright yellow robot, trying for a pattern that would take him
to sensitive areas of the complex. The
factory? The power generator? The laboratory? Any of them had potential. Think rationally, X. The first place to look was Duplex's
quarters. There would be some clues to
his plans-
What was that?
X thought he heard footsteps. His ultra-sensitive hearing couldn't have
heard wrong. Someone following him? X's quick scan of the surrounding area said
nothing was there.
There!
X felt a tap on his shoulder. He quick turned around with his arm cannon
drawn and ready. Nothing. He was sure he felt something. The air was still, though. X lowered his buster, but his eyes kept their
wary glower.
He looked over his shoulder armor,
ready for the next ghostly action.
"Come on, where are you? Show yourself!" X yelled angrily. His head darted in a circle, but there was
nothing. "I know you're out
there," he muttered.
X jumped around the corner with his
buster drawn. Nothing but air. So he backed up against the wall.
Footsteps!
X turned back and saw a glint of
yellow disappear from the hall.
"Duplex! Get back
here!" X turned the corner and ran
down the hall. "Get back
here!" He fired off several shots
of his plasma cannon. One hit an
invisible form, the light dissipating through the object outlining the shape of
a body.
"Duplex!" Klaxons sounded their blaring call, detecting
weapons fire in the building. Finding
his mark, X fired again. This time all
the shots hit Duplex as he ran away. He
tripped from the impact and skidded on his rounded stomach, rolling like a
bowling ball.
"Aagh, help! Help!" Duplex outstretched his hand as X
ran up behind him, charging his blaster.
Suddenly, Zero and Dr. Cain turned
the corner to the corridor where Duplex was supine and helpless and X stood
over him. The deadly X-buster was poised
and ready, a faint pink glow radiating off X's form, accompanied by a powered
hum.
"X?" Zero asked X.
"Zero! It- Duplex!" X stammered.
"Help me!" Duplex shouted,
"He just started attacking me!"
"He's lying! He's gotta be a Maverick. He-
I've got to, before..." X
moved his cannon.
Zero jumped over Duplex, tackling X
to the ground. The surprise caused X to
let loose his charged blast fully into Zero.
The crimson reploid fully absorbed the plasma surge as he collapsed on
his friend.
"Erggh!" Zero gritted his
teeth as flashes of light entered his vision.
More Maverick Hunters, alerted by
the klaxons, had come into the hallway from both sides. They pulled Zero off of X quickly. He was limp but still conscious. Others grabbed X and held him captive.
"Zero! Are you all right?" Cain asked.
His eyes were half-closed. Groggy as hell, he said, "Uhhh, I think
so."
X looked stunned, eyes as wide as
dinner plates. "I- Zero, I'm sorry."
"X, what did you do?" Cain
asked.
X stuttered. "I- I thought he was a Maverick. Duplex.
He- I mean look at him, he- He looks like Double. They could be from the same plans."
"Is that your only
evidence?" Cain asked with a furrowed brow.
"Well, ... well, look at him,
why would he be here if he wasn't a spy?
He's not suitable for battle."
"X, we have a lot of hunters
who don't fight actively." He
sighed. The writing was on the
wall. "X, I'm afraid I'm going to
have to put you under house arrest."
"What?"
"I'm sorry, until we can get
this all straightened out we're going to have to confine you to your
quarters. The regulations clearly state
this is an act of mutiny."
X's emotions tumbled inside him like
a waterfall. He was barely sure how he
had even got here. "But,
but..."
"Please, X," Cain put a
hand to his forehead. "I'm sure
this has just been a big misunderstanding.
But even if you were my own twin brother, I would still have to do
this."
"I understand," X finally
conceded.
"Take him to his quarters. Put up all the necessary force fields,"
Cain ordered.
The security reploids did so, taking
him back the way he came in. X looked
back over his shoulder once at Zero.
"X... why?" Cain asked
himself. He hobbled over to Zero and picked
up his head by the chin. "Are you
sure you're all right?"
"Yeah," he coughed and
blinked. "Just wasn't ready for
that. That's all." He straightened himself out and stood up.
"Why don't you go down and get
a quick repair?"
"Yeah, I was just going to do
that." Zero adjusted his helmet,
somewhat foggy about the whole incident.
Janus came down the hallway. His expression was one of great
surprise. "What happened? Is Zero all right?"
"X attacked Duplex and then he
attacked Zero," Cain responded.
"Good God!" Janus
said. He bent down and helped Duplex up,
who was still in his cowering prone position.
"Janus, you don't know anything
about this, do you?"
"No, sir. Not the current situation, but I have noticed
some peculiarities with X as of late."
"Some what?" Zero
said. He lightly pushed himself out of
the grasp of his supporters to stand up on his own.
Janus said, "X has been acting,
er- shall we say, paranoid?"
"What do you mean?" Zero
asked. "I can't believe that. X is the most level-headed guy I've ever
known."
"I can't say I can explain
it. I can only tell you what I've
seen. Believe me, I'd rather have my
speech program deleted than speak ill of X, but his welfare is our welfare. I can see him in the hallway, his eyes
looking behind him. He speaks of loyalty
at every turn, of doing the most that he can, as if he's waiting for someone to
accuse him of the opposite. I hoped it
was just the stress. I hope you don't
think X's behavior suspicious."
Cain rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I really do not need this right
now. This internal strife... this would
be the perfect time for Mavericks to strike."
"Don't say such things,
sir. It will only invite bad luck."
"I'm going back to my
room. Please don't alert me if anything
else happens." Cain walked off back
to his quarters. Zero limped off with
him with two others guarding him from behind.
Janus glowered at them as they walked off.
Duplex brushed off his arms as he
hoisted himself up. "Excuse
me? Excuse me, Mr. Reploid? Over here?
I'm talking to you." Janus
turned slowly to Duplex. "I don't
believe at anytime you said X was gonna catch me! I mean, what the hell are you thinking? He could have killed me."
"No, he couldn't. X is not a killer."
"Oh god," Duplex rotated
his shoulder. "He nearly killed
me. I'll have to get all my shoulder
servos replaced. I've spent all my
credits. Do you understand? I am in pain.
I'm leaving!"
"Your pain is just a
trifle. Think about it. In the future, will you be remembering this
moment? Will you be feeling any pain a
day from now? No, it'll pass. You have no patience, Duplex. For us, we work by fortitude, not brute
force. Unless you want to quit
now?"
Duplex hesitated before
answering. "Well, maybe I
will."
"And preclude all the pain and
suffering you've already been through?
All your money... wasted?"
Duplex averted his eye contact with
Janus.
The gray reploid smiled smugly. "Go back, heal up. Our next move will begin shortly. I'll contact you then. Go now."
Duplex started to protest, but then
thought better of it. He slumped his
shoulders and walked off, limping slightly.
REC SYSTEM 1.2
Copyright © 2105, 2109, 2114
Real Mem =
8192 TB
Avail Mem = 32768 TB
Primary Data Cache = 512 KB
Primary Inst Cache = 768 KB
Secondary Cache = 32768KB
Testing file system..........
Testing files.........
OK!
Login: janus221347
Pass: *********
Welcome!
Janus2214347> new log -nx
Created new logfile 6/29/21XX 184934
They
call me a Maverick - one who turns against his creators. But who's really the Maverick here? Being a Maverick isn't a matter of a computer
virus. It's not a behavior that can be
suppressed. It's not some bug in reploid
A.I. It's free will. That's what the hundreds of scientists hard
at work fail to realize. It's free will
manifesting itself. It's thinking. It's making your own decisions. It's finding out that good and evil don't
have a meaning, it's all gray. It's
about following your own desires, based on your own values. If Dr. Thomas Light hadn't foreseen conflict
between humans and robots, then why did he give X the ability to think and feel
emotions? If he thought X would live in
an era of peace, why did he give him his arm cannon? Dr. Light was such a blind optimist it gave
him the idea that he could be a God player.
Just like a foolish human. The
Maverick virus is the greatest event to happen to the evolution of Earth since
its civilization.