Once Blizzard Buffalo had finished his carving - which perfectly captured Octavia's adorableness - X and Octavia returned to HQ to pick up a spare Neutralizer and plan their next move.
"We've got seven more Mavericks to deal with," X began, looking at the map. "Unfortunately, I don't know if any of the others are gentle enough by nature to be handled the way they were before..."
"You should go after Acid Seahorse next," CiCi spoke up.
"Why him?" Octavia inquired.
Calling up schematics of the Maverick in question, CiCi began to explain. "Acid Seahorse is capable of converting his entire body into a liquid state for self transportation. However, the effects of Frost Shield - the weapon Blizzard Buffalo provided you - interfere with that functionality, and will cause more errors in his system functionality than actual physical damage."
"And...that's a good thing?" X asked in confusion.
"For us, yes," CiCi continued. "It will disrupt the Neural Signal's control of Acid Seahorse, providing an opportunity to attach a Neuralizer."
X and Octavia nodded to each other. "Sounds like a plan," X agreed.
"Acid Seahorse has taken over the water purification plant," Alia informed him. "A good amount of the area is likely to be underwater."
"Then it's a good thing Piano floats," X replied as the pair went to the teleporters.
"By the way, where's Uncle Zero?" Octavia inquired.
"Since you didn't seem to need his assistance, he went to make contact with Repliforce," Alia explained.
"That Reploid military division?" X replied, shocked. "What's he planning?"
"He's trying to convince their sub-commander, Colonel, to position his troops at the edge of the Neural Computer's range to quarantine the area," Alia elaborated. "That way we don't need to worry about Doppler getting any more high level Reploids under his control, unless he builds them himself."
"Huh," X mused. "That's good thinking on his part. Let me know how he does when he has results."
With that, the pair beamed out to the Water Treatment Plant.
Warping into the Plant, X and Octavia both could see that the plant was malfunctioning, with water that was supposed to be clear pouring out as sludge. Octavia wrinkled her nose at the sight. "If we have to go through - or into - any of that, I hope I have a face mask."
"I can engage a full face mask," Varia offered.
"Wish I could," X replied, looking rather pale.
As they moved onward, they encountered a new mechanaloid type, a large green humanoid with a mobile optic for a face and a large laser gun. It jumped as they approached, and they were able to blast it as it came down. It proved no real obstacle.
Further down, they encountered the sludge filled area. Octavia immediately engaged Varia's full face mask. X sighed, as he could only hold his mouth closed, disengage his sense of smell, and hope there would be clean water he could wash in at some point. Leaping through the sludge, the pair began to climb.
Climbing all the way up through the sludge, they acquired a new Heart Tank. "I'm surprised we didn't find one in the frozen region," Octavia murmured.
"Well, there was that area with the large ice blocks we couldn't break," X reminded her.
"We'll just have to keep an eye out for a way to break them, then," she replied.
Getting out of the sludge, it wasn't far before they found their way into deep water. Once both were completely clean, Octavia summoned Classic and merged with him for aquatic mode. X, meanwhile, summoned Piano and hopped on his back. The large, fluffy robot dog had positive buoyancy even with X on his back, and thus was able to float gently towards the surface as he swam.
There were a great many turtle like mechanaloids in the water, but the pair ignored them. Swimming up to the surface, X found a Ride Armor Enhancer, the Kangaroo Unit. "Huh," X commented as he collected it. "If we manage to gain access to a Ride Armor we can summon, we can use this to summon a modified version."
"Could be useful," Octavia commented. "What's over on the other side?"
Deciding to investigate, the group swam over to the other side. Climbing up a wall, they found a Light capsule that was bright pink instead of the usual blue. When it opened, Light smiled.
"X, inside this capsule is a special power up chip to enhance your systems," he explained. "When equipped to one of your new armor units, it will increase its capabilities. This capsule contains one for your dash boots, which will allow you to air dash twice. Before installing the chip, be warned: your systems in their current state can only handle one of these chips. Choose carefully."
"Why only one?" Octavia asked in confusion.
"Because of how it redirects the energy of his systems," Light replied. "His system does not currently produce enough power to energize more than one chip."
"Well, couldn't you upgrade that?" X asked.
"Not at this time," Dr. Light replied. "It is taking all the resources currently at my disposal to perfect the Piano Adapter."
"Couldn't you make it part of the Piano Adapter?" Varia piped up. "I mean, the Classic Adapter greatly increased my own system energy output in order to allow for the merger and adapting to the new armor unit types."
Light blinked for a time. "I...I suppose I could do that," he replied. "But...would that still allow you to download the effects of the Power Up Chip?"
"Should," Varia replied. "I've already scanned the chip, and I should be able to handle the four power up programs, since I won't need an actual chip installed."
Light smiled. "I will do this," he replied. "However, in order for this to work...X, you will need to upgrade your systems to the maximum currently available schematics, and not install any power up chips."
"I can do that," X agreed.
"Then I will see you in the next capsule," Light confirmed, the hologram fading.
Turning, the group dove back into the water, swimming down to continue.
A strange, squid-like submersible blocked their path, firing homing torpedoes at them. However, it went down rapidly to their concentrated fire and Piano ripping one of its tendrils off and using it as a clubbed mace. After that, the water drained out of the area, leaving X and Octavia to climb onward, since Piano was too waterlogged to continue and Classic wanted to accompany his friend back to base. The pair soon reached the chamber where Acid Seahorse was waiting for them.
"You will not stop the Master's plan!" he cried out, leaping upwards to try and crush them beneath him as he came down. However, X and Octavia each left a Frost Shield shot forming in the air before dashing out of the way, causing Acid Seahorse to land on the shots rather than on them. As his system showed error messages and his body alternately sparked and froze, X dashed in and attached a Neutralizer.
Acid Seahorse staggered backwards. "Ugh...my head...what happened?"
"Dr. Doppler was manipulating your mind," X explained. "You need to stay here so he won't realize we've broken his hold on you."
Acid Seahorse stared at X. "Umm...okay?"
Nodding, X and Octavia quickly beamed out.
Acid Seahorse sat down. "That...really didn't explain anything..."