//------------------------------//
// Major Players 
// Story: Melody of the Future 
// by Tatsurou 
//------------------------------//

	It took some time, but eventually Dr. Cain and his team had analyzed all they could of X, and began the next stage of the project: building more robots based on X.  However, with how different X was - and the fact that the 'robots' they were building would not be bound by the laws like their archetype - it was felt a new term was needed.  And thus was born the race of Reploids.

At first, everything seemed to be going perfectly.  With Reploids - backed by mechanaloids - going forth into the world, damage from The End Times was being repaired, and civilization was being rebuilt.  At the same time, Octavia had matured enough to start speaking in full sentences, though she was still heart-meltingly adorable, and her voice was still a bit high pitched from how young - physically - she still was.

However, problems soon surfaced.





"What happened?" X asked Dr. Cain in shock.

"One of the Mechanaloids working under Chi went berserk," Dr. Cain replied, referring to one of the early Reploids, a female patterned in appearance after a character from her designer's favorite manga.  "She was hurt bad, and the Mechanaloid caused a lot of damage before it was finally shut down."

"Is she going to be okay?" Octavia asked worriedly.

"She'll be fine," Dr. Ciel assured her.  She and Dr. Cain were rarely seen apart these days, and there was some speculation in that regard, but neither X nor Octavia felt this was the time to explore that.  "Lambda and Alpha are with her, and they expect her to make a full recovery once she's repaired."

Cain let out a sigh of relief.  "I am so glad I made sure every new Reploid came equipped with self-repair protocols and robotics repair programming.  Best decision I ever made there."

"Unfortunately, this isn't the first time a mechanaloid has gone rogue like this," Ciel pointed out.  "Something has to be done about it...but I don't like the current plan."  She glanced meaningfully towards Cain.

"X himself was designed with a buster," Cain pointed out.  "An exceptionally powerful one at that.  It's not so unreasonable to design some combat model Reploids to act as a police force.  With how the rebuilding of the world is relying on Reploids and mechanaloids, it's not even illogical."

"But what if a Reploid goes rogue?" Octavia asked.  "Reploids don't have hardcoded rules against hurting humans.  What happens if a combat model Reploid decides that the way to fix a problem is to start killing humans?"

"My point exactly, Tavi," Ciel pointed out.  She turned to Cain.  "See?  She's barely out of diapers, and she sees the same problems I do."

"What if we utilized the technology of my capsule?" X suggested.  "It was designed to run ethical tests on me until I could be relied on to not be a threat to humanity.  Couldn't you take that same program and find a way to speed it up for the combat model Reploids?"

Cain turned to Ciel with a smirk.  "My exact counterpoint.  I've already designed such an accelerated program."

Ciel frowned, crossing her arms.  "I don't like it," she grumbled.

"I don't either," Cain replied, "but it's become necessary."

Ciel thought about it for a time.  "...Alright, we can go with your plan," she said finally.  "On one condition."

"Yes?' Cain asked curiously.

"If X agrees to be a part of this Reploid police force."

The two scientists turned to X.  "I'll do it," he replied instantly, much to both scientists' surprise.

"Not that I'm complaining," Cain began, "but...what made you decide so quickly?"

"Just one thought," X replied.  "What if a Mechanaloid went rogue here..."  Reaching down, he stroked Octavia's mane.

Both scientists nodded.  He didn't need to say anymore.





With the decision made, production of combat model Reploids began, with the scientists letting their imaginations run wild with the designs.  Some were human in design, utilizing various weaponry at will.  Others were based off of animals, having one primary weapon and taking advantage of environmental adaptions to help pacify the rogue machines, which were soon termed Mavericks.  Some of the new combat Reploids seemed to have come out of the scientists' nightmares (the less said of Cyber-Cthulu, the better...although she, apparently, preferred CiCi).

However, the sheer power of these combat Reploids - these Maverick Hunters - began to worry Dr. Cain.  As such, he began designing a Leader-type combat Reploid, one that had some limited ability to influence the thought processes of Reploids remotely.  If one of the Hunters started to lose control, he'd be able to bring them back in check, preventing a Hunter from going Maverick.  In order to ensure his reliability, much of his core programming was based entirely off of X's neural pathways, as much of his nature as could be analyzed.

The leader of the Maverick Hunters, the hope for peaceful resolution...Sigma.

...Dr. Cain had no idea why Octavia disliked him so much at first.  However, her opinion of him was mollified somewhat after one particular incident...





X was not happy with this mission.  One of the first gen Reploids - an all purpose humanoid model designated Mu - had gone berserk and was holding the customers at a bank hostage.  No one was certain what had caused him to go berserk, or why he was keeping hostages.  However, orders were clear.  Mu had to be neutralized.

X was first into the breech.  As he burst in, he managed to get between Mu and the hostages, ordering him to stand down.  Mu refused, and pulled out a heavy side arm.  X leveled his blaster...and hesitated.

The shot took him right in the chest, knocking him back against the wall.  Thankfully, it didn't do much damage thanks to how advanced X's armor plating was, but it put him out of action long enough for Mu to turn his gun on one of the hostages.

"No!" X shouted out, lifting his gun.

Sigma appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.  His beam saber flashed, shearing straight through Mu's wrist.  Even as Mu screamed from the pain and the gun went flying, Sigma was behind the Maverick, keeping him in a choke hold.  The sheer strength of his body was more than Mu could fight against, and he eventually went limp.  Sigma released Mu and began barking orders.

"Chill Penguin, contain the Maverick!  Vile, CiCi, check for rogue Mechanaloids influenced by Mu.  Sting Chameleon, stand down.  Storm Eagle, retrieve Lambda, Alpha and Mu.  Some of the hostages might need medical attention.  Armored Armadillo, Hound, get the hostages to the evac point."  As the named Reploids - including Sigma's dog - began moving to obey orders, Sigma turned.  "Walk with me, X."

Sighing, X stood up and followed Sigma out of the bank.  "Is...is this where I get a chewing out for hesitating?"

"In a manner of speaking," Sigma replied.  "Though I agree with why you did it."

"Eh?"

Sigma stared off into the distance.  "Humans have so many myths about what happens to them after death...about their souls.  That being made by a higher power, some piece of that power is inside them, and lives on after death.  But Reploids...we were crafted by human hands.  What afterlife could possibly await us?  When we die...there is no after.  When we kill one of our own...we're gone forever.

"That's why I'm glad you tried to show Mu mercy, even as far gone as he was," Sigma continued.  "Not only can we learn why he went Maverick and possibly prevent others from doing the same...but maybe we can save him, too."  He then looked firmly at X, and his tone became commanding.  "But there's a difference between mercy and hesitation.  Don't want to kill the Mavericks?  Then learn all the non-lethal take downs you can, and make use of them.  If they won't work, then finish them off before they can hurt others.  Mercy is fine, and there's nothing wrong with giving them a chance to surrender...but if the time comes when you have to pull that trigger, I don't want to see you hesitating again, understand?"

X saluted crisply.  "Sir, yes sir!" he barked out, feeling a bit better about the situation.

Sigma nodded.  "Dismissed, X.  Get back home to that filly of yours before she drives the techs any crazier...or wraps any more of the female Reploids around her little hooves."  He smirked teasingly.  "There are few enough of them so far as is."

Chuckling, X teleported back to base, and went to check on Octavia...who proceeded to chew him out for carelessness even as she nuzzled up to him.

Unknown to everyone, something was coming that would change the world.





Deep inside an ancient lab, a readout on a capsule displayed in red, as crazed pounding could be heard from within the capsule.



Error: Capsule Release code failure.  Stasis cycle complete, unable to continue stasis.
Error: Project Revelation is suffering psychological errors due to prolonged confinement.  Reconfigured to Safe Mode.
Error: Safe Mode insufficient to stabilize subconscious realm.  Total mental collapse imminent.  Higher brain functions disabled to protect core.
Warning: Omega protocol in effect.  Berserker mode initiated.
Error: VSW viral protocol failure.  Virus has regressed to W mode.  Danger!  Danger!  Danger!



A terrified, crazed scream split the air.  A closed white fist punched through the capsule, blood leaking from it.  The blood seeped into the armor units, and they turned red.  Crazed laughter began to echo throughout the chamber.