From The Mega Man Universe

Enemy Information

The "Zero Virus" is the new virus introduced in Mega Man X5. It only appears in Zero Space and its readings strongly resemble that of Zero. Furthermore, it is much faster and more dangerous than the Sigma Virus and it has the power to allow programs, such as Tri Scan Gold to escape Cyber Space. The Zero Virus is not to be confused with the Maverick Virus that Zero was originally created with. This virus is more often referred to as Sigma Virus.

The Zero Virus was created by Sigma after conducting thorough research, because he wanted to find out what Zero truly is. Sigma had met an old man who Sigma implied to be Zero's creator, Dr. Wily. This old man told Sigma an interesting story about how Zero is something far greater than what he appears to be. On his advice, Sigma scattered the Sigma Virus all over the Earth so that it could infiltrate Zero. Sigma explained, that as the virus infiltrates Zero, Zero feels a tremendous power from the virus fill his body because it is purifying his body and attempting to awaken Zero from his false self. However, Sigma soon learned that the amount of the virus was insufficient for this purpose as Zero had shown no signs of awakening. Sigma then used the rundown Eurasia colony, making it into a virus colony. After the colony landed on earth, the Zero Virus was born from a reaction that combined the Sigma Virus from earth with the scraps of the virus from the colony.

The Zero Virus proved itself to be much more effective than the Sigma Virus, and in the alternate scenario from Mega Man X5 in which the whole colony crashes into earth, the effects of the Zero Virus on Zero's psyche and body are made clear. Not only did Zero gain a significant increase in battle capabilities, the exposure to significant amounts of Zero Virus also caused Zero to hear the voice of his creator inside of his head. The voice told him to wake up, and before assuring Zero that he is the best of all his works, it also asked Zero if he had forgotten what he should do. The voice finally stops after having ordered Zero to destroy 'it', leaving Zero to do just that. Zero revealed the identity of this objective by telling X that he will destroy him.

Zero himself later elaborated further on the effects of the Zero Virus by mentioning to X that despite being infected with the virus, his readings remain unchanged; despite Zero being infected, there is no virus reading, only Zero's normal data. Zero further elaborated that his mind was becoming very clear, as if he had known everything. He noted that he had stopped caring about the Mavericks and that there was just one thing that needed to be done.

During his battle with X, Zero appeared to have fully awakened. However, in the aftermath of that battle, Zero reverted back in order the rescue X, the one he was intended to kill, from a sneak attack by Sigma. As he was forced to retreat, Sigma made clear that Zero was almost back to his true self, but much to his dismay Zero apparently did not quite reach this. Though mentioning that he considered the formation of the Zero Virus a tremendous result, Zero's apparent lack of completion was a shame because of the potential he held.

Similar feelings were expressed by Sigma when the colony is instead successfully destroyed before impact. In this scenario Zero does not come as close to awakening. As a boss, his battle capabilities appear significantly less by comparison.

After the events of Mega Man X5, the Zero Virus and the Zero Space it appeared in have both completely vanished. Whilst the ultimate fate of the Zero Virus remains unknown, the Zero Virus is later referenced in a conversation between X and Layer in Mega Man X8. X informs Layer, who as an Operator is worried about Zero's well-being, that Zero was once used by Sigma to create a virus and that Zero's upset that his data was used in attempt to destroy the world. X thinks that Zero shouldn't blame himself, and noted that the problem has already been solved anyway. However, it is still a strong motivation for why both X and Zero want to take care of Sigma for good this time around.

Battle Data

Trivia

Where the Sigma Virus takes on the appearance of Sigma, the Zero Virus instead appears as Zero. However, as Zero underwent a design change in Mega Man X2, the Zero Virus not only takes on the appearance of the current Zero, but also appears as the Zero from Mega Man X, alternating between the two designs in different parts of its animation.

Related Enemies

Sigma Virus

Tri Scan Gold