In those eighteen months, Z fought against a simulation Zero. And finally, he was able to defeat him. To make sure it was not a fluke or lucky shot, he tried several more times. And each time, won.
Then, finally, it was time to take on Zero for real.
"OK, Z," said X quietly. "Remember, attack him with everything you've got. If you lose, we'll take your parts and rebuild you, purging any signs of the Maverick virus afterwards. I'll finish Zero up, he's bound to be hurting after a battle with you."
"You got it," said Z.
The two were in Zero's base, which was actually Sigma's very first headquarters, when he tried his first time to take over the world with his Maverick army. It was actually ironic that Zero, the one who killed him, would be the one to retake his position as head of the Mavericks.
"I'll be right behind you," whispered X. Z took this as a cue to silently run through the building. Nobody had found either one of them out yet, but it still would be possible to be found, and that would ruin the surprise attack they had planned for Zero.
With his back against a wall, Z looked over the corner. Then, he powered up his arm cannon to it's medium strength, and blasted at the Reploid that was gaurding the door. He felled it with one hit, then snuck through the door.
Faster than he would have thought, they were there. Passing through the double gates (which X stayed behind the last one, so Zero wouldn't know that X was there), Z found Zero.
The two just stared at one another, Z in mild shock that THIS was the man he would have to destroy. There were so many similarities. Despite the color scheme, they were identical. Zero looked to be sizing Z up.
"You're... Zero?" asked Z slowly.
Zero frowned. "Who are you?"
Z shook his head a little, realizing his mission. Then he charged both of his arm cannons up to their maximum, hoping he wouldn't be attacked before he reached it. To buy some time, he said, "My name is Z Omega. I shall be the one to destroy you." Oh, yeah, THAT was dramatic.
Zero just looked at Z, then laughed. Which annoyed Z very badly. Couldn't Zero see that they were identical? Couldn't he see that, even if he won, it would be a VERY difficult battle? To try and prove the point, Z blasted his two arm cannons, one right after the other.
In a flash they were countered. In the time it took someone to blink, Zero had taken out his Z-Sabre and struck the two energy blasts, successfully blocking them. Then he dashed forward, the Z-Sabre coming down in a vicious, glowing arc.
Z barely had time to block the attack. He brought up his own Z-Sabre, a shade of blue instead of green, and the two energy blades crackled with energy when they struck, a bright flash of light erupting.
Z leapt back, the dashed forward again, his own Z-Sabre slashing in a horizontal strike. Zero leapt high into the air above Z, then came down, Z-Sabre first. The Z-Sabre stuck Z in the shoulder, and his left arm came off.
Nearly dropping the Z-Sabre in surprise and pain, Z clutched at the wound of wires and sparks. Zero landed with a soft 'thump' sound in front of Z.
"Well," he said, "I'm waiting. Go ahead, kill me." Zero was mocking Z. How could this be? How could Zero be so strong?
Obviously he wasn't the only one who had been training. It was foolish for Z to think that he could have won just because of his training in a simulation. He realized that he had never been in a real battle before. And right about now, he wouldn't mind having his mecha to battle in.
A moment passed, Z clutching the wound beneath his left shoulder, and Zero, hardly breathing hard, with his Z-Sabre in one hand. Then, in a blur, he moved again. Z leapt back, avoiding the thrust, then leapt high into the air, on one of the rafters in the ceiling. Zero followed suit, and as soon as his feet touched a rafter, he leapt forward again.
This time, Z had to block with his Z-Sabre. But the loss of one arm greatly deterioted his strength, and the energy of the blade was weakening. Zero's own Z-Sabre sliced through sabre almost effortlessly. Then, he drove the Z-Sabre through Z's chest. Z's eyes widened a little bit, and Zero leveled his arm cannon at Z's face. Z could only stand there, literally immobile, as Zero charged up to his maximum, and fired, point blank, in Z's face.
The blast knocked Z clear off the rafters, and he landed with a large crash. He was dead before he hit the ground.
Z's eyes awoke with a snap. He was already standing straight up, so he just looked around. It was the same room he had fought Z in... but hadn't he died? Wasn't he supposed to be at Dr. Cain's lab, with X?
At the thought of the name 'X', inexplicable rage tore through Z. Why, he did not know. However, Z did realize that he was stronger than ever, and fully rebuilt. Obviously SOMEBODY had rebuilt him, but who?
The answer was soon apparent. A wounded Zero walked in from one of the doors. "You are awake," he said matter-of-factly. Z nodded.
"Yes, sir." Sir?
Zero began typing at a nearby computer console. "Perhaps you may be wondering what is going on. Well, it is a simple as this. After our battle, I fought with X. He defeated me, but could not strike the final blow, and ran. Without you, I might add. I am still suffering from the damage he caused me. I had you rebuilt and... modified. You are infected with the Maverick virus. It overrides your inability to harm humans. It also, as one should say, puts you on my side. To add some spice, you are also deeply filled with hatred for X. Because of your skills and, starting now, rank, you will be part of an elite group known as "X-Hunters". Your job, is to hunt down and terminate X."
The mention of that name angered Z to no ends. He made a fist with his hands, looking down at them. These would be the hands that killed X. Z turned them into armcannons. These would destroy him.
"I shall do as you say, Zero," Z said resolutely. "Consider it done."