Maverick Virus

Maverick Virus

The X Series revolves around the Maverick Virus, which is a confusing concept to most Mega Man X fans. This article will try and break down the concept and the history of the virus.

What it is

The Virus is the driving force behind the Mavericks. It was first directly referenced in MMX3 and Dr. Doppler believed he had found a cure for the virus. (He had made a placebo.) The Virus removes all inhibitions within a Reploid or Mechaniloid and urges them to destroy whatever they can.

Furthermore, the virus evolved when it came into contact with Sigma... see below.

Origins

The original ideas for the virus was as follows: Zero was the original carrier of the virus. (See MMX4 and a variety of Japanese Sourcebooks) At some point when Sigma and Zero fought before MMX, Sigma became infected. It may have been originally developed by Dr. Wily, possibly a manifestation of Evil Energy.

(In Mega Man 10, a similar virus known as Robotenza causes Robot Masters to go crazy. There may be a link bewteen Robotenza and the Maverick Virus although there has been no confirmation if this is so.)

(It should be noted that Zero was seemingly purged of the virus. We know that Dr. Cain examines him (MMX4) but it isn't expressly stated that he removes it. It is possible that Zero was implanted with the 'Suffering Circuit', see below for more details.)

Sigma

With Sigma, the virus grew and evolved with his personality. Sigma was created by Dr. Cain as the perfect Reploid. He had the most advanced DNA computing systems and more. As the leader of the Maverick Hunters, he had access to the most advanced Reploid army of the time. The Virus does not appear Sentient until it reaches Sigma. It should be clearly stated that the virus evolved WITH Sigma. In fact, it completely bonded with Sigma: essentially, Sigma BECAME the Virus. Sigma himself may not have been aware of this transformation until after his defeat at the end of X1, when his original body was defeated and destroyed. It is believed through somebody infected, Sigma can control them, or at least, manifest his will in them.

Sigma has been able to be restored at least 8 times due to the Virus. In MMX8 it is believed he was killed once and for all, but in MMZ+ it's revealed the virus did in fact last some time longer, meaning that Sigma survived in some form after the conclusion of X8.

Elf Wars

During the Elf Wars, an ancestor of Ciel, (a scientist of sorts) developed the Elf Program, creating cyber-elves and culminating with the creation of the Mother Elf. The Mother Elf was created from virus "anti-bodies" present in Zero. It was able to eradicate the Virus, at least as far as is known.

Suffering Circuit and True Origins

In a source book titled Rockman Zero Complete Works, the virus's origins are explained. X was built with a Suffering Circuit, a program that gave him his calm attitude and ill-will towards violence. This was developed by Dr. Light.

When Dr. Cain made Reploids/Repliroids, he copied the Suffering Circuit and implanted it in the new reploids. Unfortunately, there was a design flaw and in some reploids and mechaniloids, this caused them to be violent.

After Sigma defeated the rampaging Zero, Zero was brought to Dr. Cain. As Dr. Cain examined Zero's body, he implanted the Suffering Circuit into him, trying to make him normal. It worked, to an extent. Zero originally had a program designed to make him a homicidal maniac, Dr. Wily's original purpose for Zero, but the loss of the program and the addition of the Suffering Circuit seemed to allow Zero a more traditional Reploid personality. The murderous program was transferred from Zero into Sigma when they fought. Sigma had the Suffering Circuit, but because of his Reploid defect, the circuit didn't do its job and the homicidal personality came into play. With Sigma, the murderous program of Zero combined with the most advanced X-based Reploid fused together. Here the two components of Zero and X became a true virus. This was the creation of the Maverick Virus.

When the two programs 'crossed streams' within Sigma, creating the virus, it gained the ability to infect others. When the Maverick Virus infected a reploid, the suffering circuit became a Suffering Virus, making one have inhibitions to the opposite of the Suffering Circuit. Basically, with the virus, a reploid became the opposite of X. It wanted to kill and hated the ideas of peace and benevolence.

It was the virus, incubated within Sigma, that created the Maverick War that lasted for years.

MMX1-4

In the first four games, Sigma's virus spreads and infects other reploids, making them Mavericks, and more importantly, HIS mavericks. The virus was found by Dr. Doppler in MMX3.

MMX5

During the events of the Eurasia incident, it is revealed that a mercenary named Dynamo released a virus into the colony, (the Colony Virus) that would cause the colony to crash into earth. The Sigma Virus and the Colony Virus mixed to form the Zero Virus. This Virus 'purified' Zero, making him stronger. (Most likely by having more of the 'Homicidal' program he was meant to have, it overrides the Suffering Circuit, allowing him to kill without regret.) From here on, the virus was mainly referred to as the 'Zero Virus'.

MMX6

The Zero Virus eventually became the Nightmare Virus. Originally not meant to become canon but Keiji Inafune retconned it in. After the game's events, the Nightmare virus seems to subside, giving way to the Maverick Virus all over again.

MMX7 on up...

Humans tried once again to enter space so they needed copy-reploids. Axl was made as the prototype. After him, all Copy-Reploids were made with a complex DNA pattern mixed with all the DNA's of the strongest Reploids from the past, including Sigma. These reploids cannot become infected, at least so it is claimed. But, since their internal DNA has Sigma in it, perhaps they are already infected.

Does the Virus cause all Mavericks?

It is worthwhile to note that the Virus doesn't cause all reploids to be mavericks. In other words, reploids CAN go Maverick without it. In MMX8 Lumine says some can go maverick at will which means simply that a reploid can CHOOSE to be a Maverick by attacking humans and other reploids. Lumine believes that Sigma isn't the source of being a Maverick. In fact, this ability is present in the next generation reploids, because they have some of Sigma's DNA, which has the ability to completely disable the Suffering Circuit.

Other reploids, such as Gravity Beetle and Storm Eagle, chose to be Maverick, partly because their computing drives them to it. Vile/Vava has a defect, making him a maverick. It isn't clear if this is the common Suffering Circuit problem that existed before the maverick virus outbreak.

Mavericks existed before Zero was unearthed. So the virus is not responsible for all Mavericks. Sometimes it was a faulty suffering circuit, other times it was a different programming error. But in MMX8, the truth is revealed. Just like humans, any Reploid with free will has the potential to act against their conscience. The sigma DNA in the new models simply makes the process a LOT easier for them.

Another important note is that many humans (and even many reploids) are distrustful and fearful of reploids. This prejudice resulted in Reploids being branded as Mavericks even if they were not infected with the virus, nor had a faulty circuit or programming. A prime example of this occurred in Mega Man X4, when the Repliforce was branded as Mavericks. In reality, only a few reploids was true Mavericks according to the Virus/faulty circuit/faulty program definition, but the entire group was branded as Mavericks.

In summary, Reploids are all designed in a certain way. They have programming that dictates personality, but they also have a Suffering Circuit that acts as a conscience. Their design allows them a certain measure of free will, though any choice they make is also related to their personality. A Maverick is a term given to any reploid that acted against the interests of humanity and choses to destroy. Though some reploids use their free will to turn against their human creators, far more common is flaws in design, flaws in programming, and the Sigma/Zero/Maverick Virus. Additionally, human fear and prejudice caused many reploids to be branded Mavericks for the slightest infraction against humans. The creation of the Mother Elf eliminated all traces of Maverick Virus, but the term "Maverick" continued into the future world of Mega Man Zero. These Mavericks came about from the other causes listed above. Thus while the Maverick Virus is the leading cause of Mavericks in Mega Man X, it is far from the only reason.

Differences between Sigma Virus and Maverick Virus

The Sigma Virus defines the virus that is directly related by Sigma, and potentially, the virus that Sigma uses to directly control those infected. The Maverick Virus seems to not be so evolved, and very active in just turning a reploid maverick, not necessarily being controlled by Sigma.

Final Notes

There are many theories floating around about how the Sigma Virus has overall infected the Mega Man series.

It may have been present since the classic series as Evil Energy. Zero was created with Bassium, an energy not to be confused with Evil energy, but may have been infused with it. (Although it does not appear so, Duo was on earth to eradicate all traces of Evil Energy and then left at the end of, or soon after MM8. In Rockman and Forte, Dr. Wily doesn't seem to be using Evil Energy and King was stated to be a prototype for a new version of robots. It isn't all that long after this that he creates Zero. So Zero's program may or may not be directly linked to Evil Energy. (EE doesn't appear in the X series yet.)

Some believe that the 'reaverbots' of the Mega Man Legends series are mechaniloids that are infected by the virus. The 'Reaver Eye' (giant red eye) is seen in Mega Man Zero, and some link it to the third eye of Sigma. This would explain their irrational aggression to 'diggers'. They may also be defensive simply because they are programmed to protect the ruins.

As of MMZ, the virus is believed to have been crushed, although 'Mavericks' are still frequent.

Also, Zero believed his original body had something to do with the virus, which it did. To try and eradicate the Virus, he basically seals away his old body which surfaces later as Omega.

Sources

Mega Man X (every game including Maverick Hunter X was used to write this article. The Japanese Sourcebook: Rockman Zero Complete Works was also used.)