MMKB

When making edits to long standing statements or facts on the wiki, you MUST PROVIDE CREDIBLE SOURCES FOR YOUR CLAIMS. edits done without will be UNDONE, NO REASONS GIVEN. Please use the talk pages to provide these sources before editing!

READ MORE

MMKB
Register
Advertisement
Zeroconstruction

Zero in a capsule in Dr. Wily's lab, where the Maverick Virus was also stored.

The Maverick Virus (イレギュラーウィルス Iregyurā Wirusu, Irregular Virus in Japan)[1] is a computer virus in the Mega Man X series that causes Reploids and Mechaniloids to go Maverick. As its original host, Zero carries the Maverick Virus with him for many years,[2] and he has a unique response to the virus and its variants.[3] After infecting Sigma,[4] the virus merged with his mind to become the Sigma Virus.

Story[]

Origin[]

During his production, Zero had an unexpected flaw in his cognitive program that made him violent and unwilling to obey Dr. Wily's instructions. Because of this, Wily chose to seal him in a capsule full of Maverick Virus to flush his mind.[5] It is unknown what the Maverick Virus was originally intended for besides granting Zero clarity, though the future would show it held adverse effects on other robots. When Dr. Wily shows Zero to Bass in his ending of Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, Wily also mentions his "other project", possibly hinting at the Maverick Virus.[6]

Concept art states that Wily passed away before completing the Maverick Virus, but it is unclear if this is canon in the final story.[7] Whatever the state of completion, Wily's soul somehow lived on through the Maverick Virus to follow Zero's life in the future.[8]

Transfer to Sigma[]

X4 Zero WCrystal

Sigma punches the "W" on Zero's forehead

Sometime after X's discovery and the creation of Reploids, trace amounts of the Maverick Virus leaked out to the Reploid population from within Zero's capsule, increasing Maverick activity. Once Zero woke up, he became violent and was targeted by the Maverick Hunters, who had either tracked the source of the viral leak or found the lab after being alerted to the presence of a dangerous "red Maverick" nearby.[9] When Garma's unit was annihilated by Zero, the Hunter commander Sigma elected to intervene. Even Sigma, the strongest Hunter and most advanced Reploid, found himself at Zero's mercy. As Zero moved to rip off Sigma's head, however, a "W" appeared on Zero's helmet crystal and caused him great pain. Sigma punched this crystal, subduing him, but Sigma's system became infected with Zero's virus.[4]

Both Zero and Sigma had fully contracted the Maverick Virus.[10] The virus was designed in part to fix the cognitive flaws that made Zero psychotic and disobedient to Dr. Wily's will,[11] but in his damaged state Zero also did not "awaken" to Wily's intended purpose for him;[12] therefore, Zero ceased his irregular behavior, gaining enough mental clarity to join the Maverick Hunters after being repaired by Dr. Cain.[7][13] Nonetheless, Zero may have served as a vector for the Maverick Virus to spread all around the world in subsequent years during his work as a Maverick Hunter.[14] Conversely, Sigma was corrupted; despite his battle damage, Sigma's anti-virus protocols were too strong to let the virus take control, and the virus instead adapted to his program by mutating into the Sigma Virus. The Sigma Virus provoked thoughts of revolution, allowing Sigma to be influenced by the radical potential, philosophy, and actions of X, eventually triggering Sigma to mount an anti-human rebellion.[15] Sigma either was unaware of the Sigma Virus's existence or kept it secret during his first rebellion, only claiming after his defeat that his "spirit" (his viral form) lived on and that he would return.[16] Ironically, despite being infected with the Maverick Virus himself, Zero assisted X in opposing Sigma.

The Maverick Virus was next mentioned once Sigma's X-Hunters revived him and his rebellion. One of their soldiers, Magna Centipede, made particular use of the Maverick Virus; he injected the virus into X directly to cripple him mid-battle, and also spread the Maverick Virus around the globe via the Central Computer.[1] If Zero joined X in confronting Sigma, Sigma implied that Zero should follow him as a fellow Maverick, however Zero retorted that he still did not like Sigma.[17] Once X again fought Sigma and destroyed his body, Sigma was forced to reveal his new existence as the Sigma Virus.

During his initial research, Dr. Doppler identified this virus as the Sigma Virus. From this point on, all instances of the Maverick Virus were referred to as the Sigma Virus instead. If Zero confronted Sigma onboard Repliforce's Final Weapon, Sigma once again reminded Zero of the day he passed the virus onto Sigma in the first place.[18]

Subsequently, Sigma had some sort of meeting with Dr. Wily through their shared connection to the Maverick Virus.[19] This inspired him to awaken Zero to his original purpose as a weapon of evil via the Earth Crisis.[20][21] Spreading the Sigma Virus across the entire planet, Sigma then merged it with the Colony Virus to create the Zero Virus in the hope of awakening Zero as the Maverick Virus was made to do years ago.[12] Even if his plan succeeded (depending on the game state), both Zero and Sigma were destroyed in the conflict with X, although Zero would later return to life under mysterious circumstances.[22][23]

If Zero faced Sigma in the Sigma Palace during the Jakob riots, Sigma thanked Zero for giving him the Maverick Virus in the first place so he could begin his campaign to change the world.[4]

After the Mega Man X series[]

X6 scene 50

Zero chooses to surrender his body for Maverick Virus research.

Eventually, Zero chose to be sealed away and analyzed by scientists for his connection to the Maverick Virus. Years later, Ciel's ancestor discovered an antibody to the Maverick Virus in Zero's cognitive program. She used it to create the Mother Elf, which X then used to eradicate the Sigma Virus, dropping the number of Mavericks significantly and ending the Maverick Wars.

Name usage[]

Upon the introduction of viruses in Mega Man X2, "Maverick Virus" was the term used to describe the computer virus that turns Reploids into Mavericks. Since the release of X3, it is more commonly referred to as the "Sigma Virus" instead. From X2 to X4, sources alternate between calling it the Sigma Virus, Maverick Virus, or simply a "Maverick-facilitating virus", a "virus that facilitates Maverick behavior", or a "Maverick converting virus". From X5 onwards, sources used "Sigma Virus" as the only name for the virus, regardless of it being inappropriate when referencing the time before Sigma's infection.

Nowadays the term "Maverick Virus" is seldom used in official material, though fans still use the term to differentiate between the original virus created by Dr. Wily and the mutation of the virus formed within Sigma's electronic brain.

Gallery[]

Videos[]


See also[]

Trivia[]

  • The Rockman Zero Collection Timeline states that Dr. Light installed X with perfect virus counter-measures after he discovered an alien computer virus that caused robots to become violent. Said alien virus is speculated to be a precursor of the Maverick Virus (possibly Evil Energy).
  • It is speculated that Dr. Wily's Roboenza was a precursor to the Maverick Virus, as another computer virus that drives robots mad, but this is unconfirmed.
  • Rockman Perfect Memories erroneously states that Dr. Wily created Zero with the Maverick Virus already inside of him.
  • The Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works offers an alternate origin for the Maverick Virus; however, this information came with a disclaimer that it is based on early concepts and is not canon.[14] It posits that the Maverick Virus came from a "Suffering Circuit" that Dr. Light installed in X's brain, which granted him empathy for both humans and Reploids. The text never goes into the exact details of how this circuit made the Maverick Virus, leaving it a vague allusion.
    • The Suffering Circuit is speculated to be based on the Conscience Circuit in the Kikaider, this manga's spin-off film the Hakaider is a direct inspiration for the story of first Mega Man Zero.[24]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 The term Maverick Virus is used in Magna Centipede's profile from Rockman X2 for both the virus being spread from the giant computer in his stage and for his viral tail attack.
  2. Mystery Scientist: ... I see. It'll take a while to get rid of this. Even with the latest technology, it's hard to succeed... I'm not really sure if I can fix this completely... Zero: Don't worry. I must do it before it's too late. Mystery Scientist: But you haven't had any problems yet... You'll be fine as you are, won't you? It's none of my business, but what will we do in a crisis without you? Zero: Ha. I'm sorry, but don't worry... There's a superior Maverick Hunter. But I'm scared that I may become a disturbing presence. - Mega Man X6
  3. Lifesaver: "It's possible... He doesn't react negatively to the Virus... His power-output is actually growing... For the most part, the body systems of X and Zero remain mysteries. I can't predict what will happen... I suggest you take measures..." Signas: "Keep this secret... I'll think it over." Lifesaver: "His power is growing with the virus... It's too dangerous to keep them loose! Please... at least do something about Zero... before it's too late!" - Mega Man X5
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sigma: "Zero... Who could have imagined that we'd cross paths at the end of the world. The moment your virus entered my system, the seed had been planted. That's when it all began... The destruction of the world!" - Sigma Palace, Mega Man X8
  5. Story summary from Rockman Zero Collection official site translated by TMMN.
  6. Dr. Wily: "Don't be so over-confident. This robot's power level is far superior to yours. And this is more than just a simple robot. With this robot and my other project complete, the world will be mine! No one will stop me! Hee hee hee hee!" - Bass ending, Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters
  7. 7.0 7.1 The Mega Man Network: There Were Originally 24 Maverick Hunter Units, and Other Mega Man X Tidbits (Updated)
  8. Q6) What happened to Dr. Wily in Rockman X series? Are Dr. Wily and Dr. Weil the same person? Were they ever supposed to be? "KI: A large amount of time has passed between the classic series and Mega Man X. Dr. Wily had died in the interim but was brought back by the virus. Dr. Wily and Weil are not the same person. It is ironic though, because Dr. Wily created Zero, and Dr. Weil used Zero, but ultimately it was a copy of Zero's original body with a different mind that defeated him." --Keiji Inafune, 2008. - Inafune-san Answers Your Questions! (Web Archive, retrived on 2008 Sep 05)
  9. Sigma: "What's our current situation?" Hunter 1: "... Huh? .... Commander!" Sigma: "Where's that red Maverick that wiped out Gamma's unit?" Hunter 2: "In-inside. He's inside that door!" Sigma: "You may leave now. I'll take care of this personally." - Mega Man X4
  10. How the infection occurs varies between sources:
    • In Rockman Perfect Memories, page 60, it is said that the Sigma Virus was incorporated in Zero's body.
    • The Rockman Zero Collection timeline says that the virus was leaking from Zero's capsule, and both Zero and Sigma were infected due to their close proximity to it, as well as the damage they both sustained.
  11. Sigma: "I met an old man who knows a lot about you... He told me an interesting story. He told me that you are something far greater than what you appear to be... On his advice, I scattered the Virus so that it could infiltrate you, but you haven't shown any signs of waking up..." Zero: "I won't become a Maverick! I won't yield to your pitiful virus!" Sigma: "Hee hee hee. You don't seem to understand. I'm not talking about becoming a Maverick. You felt it, didn't you. You felt a tremendous power fill your body... A power from the Virus. That is because the Virus purifies your body." - Mega Man X5
  12. 12.0 12.1 Sigma: "I've conducted thorough research, and produced a tremendous result. I wanted to find out what Zero truly is... and scatter the Virus all over the earth to purify his body... But the amount of the virus was insufficient. So I used the rundown colony......making it a virus colony and let it land on the earth. You know the outcome, don't you?" - Mega Man X5
  13. Keiji Inafune's blog
  14. 14.0 14.1 Sigma Virus: The terrifying virus that causes a Reploid to go Maverick. The virus actually originated from one of the circuits that Dr. Light installed in X's brain. The circuit's function was to keep X neutral and unbiased in matters concerning humans and Reploids. Tragically, the very same circuit condemned X to a life plagued by the philosophical question that weighed the value of humans against that of Reploids - a question to which there was no answer. Zero was the first Reploid to be infected by the virus, but as an android created solely for evil, destructive purposes by Dr. Wily, the virus affected him uniquely. Instead of going Maverick, the virus turned Zero into a warrior driven by goodness, not evil. Unfortunately, by tirelessly fulfilling his destiny as a Maverick Hunter, Zero inadvertently spread the virus throughout the world. Eventually, as the host of the virus, Zero was taken to a research facility for study. -- Page 174, Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works, The three keys to solving the mystery of Zero and Omega (The book notes that this information comes from early concept phases, and therefore may not be canonical)
  15. Sigma: "Your dedication to what you refer to as "justice" is what first got me thinking... I realized the imperfection of this world and decided I must change it." - Mega Man X8.
  16. Sigma: "YOU HAVE WON A TEMPORARY VICTORY, X! WHAT YOU DESTROYED WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY BODY -- MY SPIRIT REMAINS INTACT. IN TIME I WILL FIND BODIES STRONG ENOUGH TO DO MY BIDDING AND I WILL RETURN. I WILL SEE YOU SOON, X. VERY SOON..." - Mega Man X, 1993 (US)
  17. Sigma: "Wait, Zero! I know your secret! You were destined to follow me!" Zero: "Maybe so, but I still don't like you!" - Mega Man X2
  18. Sigma: "Hee hee hee. Good work, Zero!" Zero: "You're... Sigma! ...So it was you!" Sigma: "Hee hee hee. Yes! Simply brilliant! You even defeated Colonel and Iris!" Zero: "...You made me do it!" Sigma: "No. You wanted to destroy them! Allow me to remind you that I was once the leader of the Maverick Hunters..." "Zero! You were a Maverick?!" Zero: "What's your point?! Are you that surprised?" Sigma: "Ah... Zero! You're most impressive!" Zero: "Sigma... I will defeat you!" - Mega Man X4
  19. Sigma: "Here I am. You can challenge me at anytime. I have delightful news. I've recently acquired a new partner. He has been very supportive. He seems to have created quite a few robots. And he gave me the toughest body that you will ever see. You got here sooner than I expected, so it is not yet complete... But...it is enough to defeat you... He is an excellent partner... I believe you two know each other... In fact, he used to be a comrade of yours. He was very persistent about you... and that makes him very helpful to me. You see X, there is someone other than me...who hates you... Now feel our combined rage and die! ...But not before suffering horribly, ha ha ha! ...Goodbye, X!" - Mega Man X5
  20. Zero: "Hmm...Yes...The energy readings are still the same...and there is no Maverick reading, is there... You are reading my normal data. This is the true form of me..." X: "It seems so... The data readings...... are the same as Zero used to be...still... You are not visible and cannot be analyzed correctly as data. You taught me that, Zero. I feel something evil within you...! Something evil similar to Sigma... Or should I say something more evil than Sigma!" - Mega Man X5
  21. Sigma: "Heheheh, don’t get too worked up…I’m close…hey, Zero…so I met this old man…and that old man told me that you were the world’s strongest…who is that old man?" - Final Sigma W with Zero, Mega Man X5
  22. X: "... Zero? Zero! You're alive?!" Zero: "Huh. So, X is alive, is he? Seems Sigma didn't defeat me after all." X: "But I searched all over for your parts, your signal, but I found nothing, so..." Zero: "That is most unfortunate. I hid myself while I tried to repair myself. I had to wait until I was healed. Well, it's been an emotional reunion... But now we must face the Nightmare." - Mega Man X6
  23. Zero: "Do you know who saved me?" Dr. Light: "I'm sorry... I don't. Yours is a miraculous return..." - Mega Man X6
  24. VG247: Companions Through Life and Death: The Story of Inti Creates and Mega Man (Original Article by US Gamer)


Advertisement