A/N: Disclaimer- I do not own Mega Man or the franchise that spawned it. If I did, I'd likely be rich. Plus, the term Agri-Corps is used in the Star Wars Jedi Apprentice book series (I think). So, I would like to say that I do not own said series, Lucas Arts and authors Dave Wolvertone and Jude Watson does.

Year 1225 A. W. (After Wars) May 25, Demeter's Southern Hemisphere's Harvest Season

I was really pleased with myself. I had just managed to get my motorcycle license from the Motor instructing Association for Youngsters (M. A. Y.) My dad said that if I ever manage to get a license, he'd take me to get the vehicle of my choice. So now I'm looking for a payphone. Speaking of which, why is it illegal to advance our technology beyond home telephones, television, cars, and motorcycles? About the most advanced bit of human technology we have is the Prehistoric Relics, farming equipment that our ancestors brought from Earth to colonize this world, being the only connection to the First Planet that we have, the only evidence that any of The Elder's stories are true.

What I wouldn't give for one of those sell phones or cum-pyoo-ters, or even the cheap mechanical labor created by our ancestors to make life easier. Honestly, why does our government make such a big deal over these old legends? I mean come on. Self-aware robots? The Light and The Darkness? Robot wars? Obviously just some really old history diluted over 3000 years to make this garbage. Nothing to outlaw advanced technology for.

Besides, if our Earth ancestors were as advanced as The Elders say they were- and as the Prehistoric Relics would suggest, then making sell phones and cum-pyoo-ters shouldn't be too much to ask. Ah! I spotted one! I made my way to the pay phone and dialed Dad's work number. I waited for it to ring. "Hello?" I heard my dad's voice. "Hey dad," I started, barely containing myself, "Guess who just got his motorcycle license!"

"Wow, that's great!" Dad said. "So that means that you know what vehicle you want to get, right?" I practically shouted it. "Yeah! An MCC Chopper!" It was the best there was, the fastest that one can legally get. "Ok, ok," Dad said, "I can't make any promises, but I'll see what I can do." I nearly jumped for joy. "Great! Thanks Dad!" Then Dad asked, "Is there anything else you wanted to ask me?"

I suddenly remembered. "Yeah," I started, "Ian invited me to something-or-other, and I wanted to know if you cared rather or not if I went tonight at six o'clock." Dad just said, "Sure, just be back by 10:00." I gave another thanks to him and hung up. Then I dialed Ian's house phone. When he picked up and I made sure that it was, in fact, Ian Ryder on the phone, I said, "Hey, Dad says I can come over."

Oddly, Ian said not to come to his house, but to meet him at Memorial Mansion. "Nobody knows what I have planned. Not even you. I just want to make sure that until I tell you, it stays that way." I began to wonder. I asked, "Is this another prank, something illegal, or anything else that can get us in trouble?" He said "No, it's not another prank, I don't think it's illegal, but it could definitely get us in trouble if anybody knows besides the two of us." I then asked, "Only the two of us?" He shouted "YES!!" I responded with "Okay," and I headed home to eat dinner and get ready.

Ian has been my best friend ever since I moved to Apollo City. Mostly because he was the first person in Garfeild High School to ever talk to me. This was mostly because people thought that I was stuck up when I was really shy. I didn't know anyone here, so I didn't talk that much. People took this to mean that just because my dad was the president of the country's leading farming company, the Agri-Corps, I must think I'm better than everybody. This made me somewhat of a misfit.

I suppose that the reason Ian and I became friends so quickly was because that he was a misfit himself. Ian liked to pull pranks. He always manages to make me a part of them. I guess this is so I won't get left out. Incidentally, he always manages to get me in trouble as he does, too. His last prank involved an alien invasion on a mock radio station presented on the intercom. It caused a panic;. When we got caught (as we always do, eventually), the principal and the instructors surprisingly didn't punish us. They just made us swear an oath to never mention the incident, not to ever mention alien invasions again, and reminded us that we were forbidden by The Elder to ever go near Memorial Mansion, and that The Elder's word is law.

I wonder if Ian's plan has anything to do with that...?

I rode the bus to the street where Memorial Mansion is located. I saw Ian waiting for me across the street. I walked up to Ian and asked, "Okay, I'll bite. What are you planning this time?" Ian just gave me a stare. "Remember when the principal made us swear that oath, and reminded us about the Law of Memorial Mansion?" I made a face. "Yeah, why?" He said, "Didn't you think that was weird?" I agreed, that WAS weird. Why didn't they punish us? Why'd they remind us of the MM's Law? and what was with that oath?

"Let me ask you something. Do you know the story of the Memorial Mansion, and why The Elder forbid us to ever set foot inside?" I said, "Yeah, who doesn't? According to The Elder, when X ended the Fourth War by moving the humans to this planet, he put a spell on the landing site, so that it's mechanical tendrils should protect the humans should the Dark Machines ever return, then, when X left Demeter, they built a mansion over it, to remind us of the price humanity had to pay through the expansion of technology, and to commemmorate the day when X gave his artificial life for us. But personally, I think it's just garbled history diluted to thousands of generations of Elders to make up some of this religious garbage."

"Really?" Ian said, looking surprised. "That must mean that you haven't heard the latest rumors." I looked at him funny. "What rumors?" He said, "I've been hearing rumors that the 'spell' that X cast wasn't really a spell, but a spaecial defense system that activates whenever the Dark Machines return. Like the legends the Earth's humans worshipped an omnipotent being called God and that the end of the world would be preceded by four horsemen. Same thing."

"What a stupid rumor. You shouldn't believe everythi you hear, Ian." I was growing impatient. I was getting ready to tell Ian to cut to the chase, when Ian walked across the street. I followed. He looked at the gates. Then he stared back at me and asked, "Do you see anyone coming?" I answered, "No." He rplied "Good. Watch and make sure it stays that way."

He pulled something from his pocket, and focused his attention on the large metal padlok hanging on chains. I said, "Why? Cut to the chase, Ryder. What are you planning?" I heard a soft, metallic click and I watched, stunned as the padlock opened and the chains fell. He quietly pushed open the gate, looked back and said, "We're breaking into the Memorial Mansion."

A/N: I realize that this chapter is a short one. I promise to make the next ones longer. Read and Reveiw!