Zero/Maverick Hunter X

Zero (ゼロ) is the deuteragonist of Mega Man Maverick Hunter X. An A-Class Hunter in the 17th Elite Unit of the Maverick Hunters and the best friend of X, Zero mentors X as the hesitant B-Class Hunter struggles to bring out his potential.

The Day of Σ
During the leadup to Sigma's rebellion, Zero and his unit were dispatched alongside Chill Penguin, the Chill Penguin Company, and X (the latter arriving via drop point) to deal with a Maverick Mechaniloid. After X used a charge shot to down it and the Maverick Mechaniloid got back up while barely suffering any damage beforehand, Zero was ordered by Commander Sigma to target the Mechaniloid's generator, it's one weak spot. However, Zero replied that such isn't possible since the Mechaniloid is moving too fast to get a clean shot at it, and its attacks are preventing him or his unit from getting close. Eventually, after the Maverick Mechaniloid burst free from Chill Penguin's attempts at pinning it down and also took a hostage, Zero became irate enough at the mechaniloid picking on his friends that he rushed at it and used his Zero Buster to shoot it in the leg, crippling it temporarily. Zero then comforted X afterwards upon the latter being berated and lectured by Chill Penguin and Sigma, respectively, due to X hesitating to fire.

Back at Maverick Hunter HQ, Zero explained to X that some of the reasons for going maverick included programming errors and short circuits in the brain after overhearing the other Hunters discussing the recent increase in maverick activity. He also witnessed alongside X Vile being detained and escorted to a cell, with Zero speculating that Vile "caused a ruckus", and noted the contrast between X and Vile.

Presumably significantly later that day, Zero engaged in a holographic training sequence involving the Maverick Mechaniloid they stopped earlier, though he ended up hitting a captive Maverick Hunter by accident while trying to aim for the generator, resulting in him only scoring 95% to his disappointment, though Storm Eagle, revealing his presence, congratulated him on the overall high score. Zero then learned from Storm Eagle that the latter's been reassigned to being a Hunter again due to their finishing up the automated defenses of the missile base before informing him that they are to undergo a debriefing of the events that occurred earlier that day.

During the debriefing, after learning that someone accessed the mechaniloid remotely to go berserk, Zero pondered about the Mechaniloid security program, with Chill Penguin backing him up, though the pink haired navigator acknowledged that the perpetrator most likely was skilled enough at hacking to completely override it. Upon learning the hack's origin at Sector 16 East of Abel City, Zero expressed surprise at just how close the hack originated. Zero alongside X were then ordered by Sigma to investigate. However, by the time they arrived that night, they found the hackers to be destroyed, with Zero freezing up in shock upon seeing their remains. When Sigma arrived to inspect the crime scene and find out what happened, Zero reported that while he doesn't know who did it, he's certain that the one who killed them had high analytical combat skills due to each blow being directed towards weak spots.

The next day, Zero alongside X were dispatched to take out yet another Maverick Mechaniloid, although Zero expressed suspicions that the increased Maverick activity is to distract them, with his suspicions being confirmed when the Pink-haired operator informed them that Vile had just escaped from his cell and had the two redirected to investigate. Traversing the brig, with similar carnage to the previous night, Zero deduced the one responsible couldn't have been Vile as he lacked the capability to kill them, and then noted the perpetrator for this act had to possess high enough analytical combat skills. Just as he notes this, he then recalls his report to Sigma, causing him to realize that Sigma not only was responsible for busting Vile out, but most likely was also responsible for the earlier slaughter. He and X then got a report stating that they traced the recent hack location to the Missile Base, and that Sigma went MIA. Zero then expresses a grim feeling about what's truly happening.

Upon arriving at the missile base, he spots someone being present and then with X arrives to hold up the person, only to discover it's Sigma, who then tells them about the perpetrator causing the hack at a nearby terminal. Zero and X then deduce that they chose that location due to knowing it would take a while to trace. While working on disabling the hack, Zero then inquires about Sigma's going AWOL, with Sigma explaining he deactivated his transmitter to "maintain cover" before ominously declaring that doesn't matter. Zero, already having deduced Sigma was the true perpetrator for everything up to that point, then suddenly turns around and grabs Sigma's arm just as he attempted to stab him from behind, impressing Sigma enough for him to ask how he figured it out. Zero then explained that Sigma was the only one who had specs high enough to commit both murders, with Sigma commending Zero for his detective skills before admitting he actually intended to draw out X's limitless potential after learning about it from Dr. Cain. He then grabbed Zero and pinned him to himself before trying to goad X into shooting Sigma and potentially harming Zero. However, when X hesitated like with the Maverick Mechaniloid earlier, Sigma then proceeded to toss Zero aside and then slice him twice, leaving Zero unconscious. Zero eventually regained consciousness sometime afterward, remembering what happened regarding Sigma and X. He then noticed X's comatose body standing upward and then attempts to escort him out.

X Mode
After Sigma's declaration of Reploid Independence on July 4 21XX (June in the US manual of the original game), dubbed "The Day of Σ", Zero, who at that point was the highest-ranked member of the Hunter organization, became the new leader, and he and a repaired X fought together against Sigma's rebellion. Zero saved X during a Maverick attack at the Central Highway from Vile. In Maverick Hunter X, Zero also responded to Vile's question about why Zero would aid a B-Class Hunter like X by informing Vile that he's nothing more than a Maverick at the present. After that, the two split up, with X's task to slow down the Maverick activities in nearby areas while Zero himself was on recon duty at Sigma's fortress.

They eventually rendezvoused at the outskirts and together invaded the fortress. Here, they encountered Vile for a second time. Zero was captured by Vile and imprisoned in a cage (in Maverick Hunter X however, Zero was left unconscious by Vile as bait for X). When X was also defeated by Vile, Zero managed to break free (or regain consciousness, as was the case in Maverick Hunter X) and destroyed Vile's armor by firing a charge shot from point-blank range, which was a successful, yet fatal action. Afterwards, Zero handed his Buster Parts to X (only in case X hadn't obtained the Buster Upgrade from the Light Capsule) and encouraged him to continue to fight before ultimately dying in X's arms (Maverick Hunter X also has Zero remarking on the irony of his actions in saving X leading to his death when he earlier told X not to be so careless ).

Vile Mode
In Vile Mode, unlocked by completing the main game in Maverick Hunter X, Zero's characterization was similar to the main game, including saving X from Vile. However, instead of chasing Vile off, Zero instead retreats with an injured X. X and Zero later reappears as the final bosses at Sigma's Palace Stage 3, where he learns that Vile is in fact working against Sigma as well as fighting X and Zero. He ends up severely injured by Vile, although he eventually managed to sneak up and grab Vile's leg and pin him before he could deliver the final blow against X, also referring to Vile's earlier rant about X "changing the world" as "maverick talk," also grounding Vile so he'd be caught in X's charge shot. It is unknown if Zero managed to survive the charge shot that critically wounded Vile, or if, like in the main game, Zero also ended up destroyed in a sacrificial effort to help bring Vile down.