Mega Man X: The Day of Σ

Investigation

Abel City East, 16 Block. X and Zero are making their way through the dark alleys.

X: Strange... It's too quiet.

Zero: Wanna check it out, X?

X and Zero leap up, walljumping up to the top of a building, Zero peers inside a doorway, then gasps.

X: What is it, Zero?

X looks in as well, and they find several disabled reploids on the ground. The police soon arrive, and an investigation is underway. Zero confirms the destruction of one of the Reploids. X looks at the officers nearby, working on a computer.

X: Well?

Officer: No dice. I'm afraid that whatever data was here must be gone now.

Zero: That's quite a feat.

Sigma: (enters) Status report.

Officer: Sir! Looks like it must have been an inside job. They were done in shortly after the mechaniloid went berserk.

Sigma: (walks over to X and Zero) Hm. What do you make of it, Zero?

Zero: Well, no matter who did it, it seems fairly obvious that they have incredible combat skills. Each and every blow was directed at a weak spot.

Sigma: Hm. (Walks out, to where Storm Eagle is waiting.)

Storm Eagle: (nods to Sigma, then turns to the others) The scoundrel who caused all this has taken his hacking data and fled the scene. He is now a fugitive. Storm Eagle Company, begin searching the area!

Storm Eagle Company: Yes, sir! (They spread out to start searching)

Chill Penguin: The Chill Penguin Company will check other sectors! Let's go!

Chill Penguin Company: Yes, sir!

As they leave, the camera focuses on Sigma, who is just watching them. 

~***~

The next day, the Maverick Hunter Base is deluged with communications.

Operator "Pink": Storm Eagle Company Troop A has been requested to move to Point 449.

Female Operator: Another incident in Sector 28-West?

Male Operator: Please be patient. We're still tracing the signal.

Male Operator 2: Good thing Vile's still being punished.

Male Operator 3: You've reached Hunter Base. Another berserk mechaniloid? Where? Okay... What?! That close?!

~***~

There is an explosion not far from the Hunter Base. Humans and Reploids are fleeing as a building is brought down by a berserk mechaniloid. Three hunters are attempting to contain it.

Hunter: No way you're getting past me!

The hunters fire constraining wires at the mechaniloid, who fires lasers back at them. 

~***~

Inside a cell, where the destruction causes dust to fall around a light. Vile seated in the cell, barely visible in the dim light. His wrists and ankles are cuffed together. More explosions rock the cell. The cell door opens, and Vile looks up to see someone.

Vile: Come to reprimand me in person, did you?

~***~

X and Zero, racing down a highway on Ride Chasers

X: I can't believe it's gotten this bad.

Zero: All these berserk mechaniloids... why do I get the feeling they're just here to distract us?

X: You think whoever's behind this has a different goal in mind?

Zero doesn't answer. There's suddenly a beep from the Ride Chaser communicators.

Operator "Pink": X! Zero! We have an emergency! The ex-Maverick Hunter Vile has just escaped from his cell!

X: What?!

Operator "Pink": Xena is already there. Report to the scene immediately.

X & Zero: Roger that!

X and Zero turn their Ride Chasers around and drive off in the opposite direction. 

~***~

Back at Maverick Hunter Base, where communications are still pouring in.

Male Operator: Just a little longer. We've almost got the signal traced.

Operator "Pink": X and Zero's team is heading to the detention center now. What is your next order? ...Commander? ...Commander Sigma, please respond!

Male Operator: What's wrong?

Operator "Pink": Something's wrong. I can't raise Commander Sigma!

~***~

At the Detention Center, where a large number of Reploids lay on the floor, destroyed. X and Zero rush in, then Zero kneels to examine one of the bodies.

Zero: There's no way this could be Vile's work. He doesn't have this kind of attack capability. All the blows were directed to weak spots. Whatever Reploid is responsible for this, they must have great analytical and combat skills.

Zero suddenly gasps as he remembers saying nearly the exact same thing to Sigma the previous day.

Xena: I checked through security. All recording was destroyed. There's no trace to follow.

X: So you think whoever's responsible made the mechaniloids go berserk as a cover so he could spring Vile?

Their comms beep.

Zero: (activating his comm) This is Zero.

Operator "Pink": X. Zero. Xena. We've managed to trace the hacker's location.