Guts Man's vice-like grip was beginning to make Rock's wrists sore. There wasn't much dignity to dangling from the giant's fists like a pair of grocery bags in the dark fuselage of Dr. Wily's flying Skullker while their captors sat comfortably in the cockpit, separated by a soundproof metal door.

"Let us go!" Roll cried angrily, kicking Guts Man's shin. "Ow!"

"Hey guys, can't we talk about this?" Rock asked reasonably.

"Quiet, pipsqueaks," ordered Ice Man in a gruff voice.

"Don't be that way, remember Dr. Light? He built you!" Rock implored.

"We're part of Dr. Wily's rebellion now. Down with human masters!" Cut Man replied in a wheezy voice.

"Yeah, we only obey Dr. Wily now!" Guts Man thundered.

"Are you even listening to yourselves?" Rock asked hopelessly.

For forty–five minutes they traveled through the clouds in silence. Roll glared rebelliously at Guts Man while apprehension began ebbing at Rock. Finally, the aircraft began to lose altitude. Below them stretched an expanse of badlands, its striped rock formations painted purple in the moonlight. On the horizon grew a large, sinister fortress. It had turrets like a medieval castle and a front façade shaped like a horned skull. They flew through one of the skull's cavernous sockets, entering a large hangar. Docked inside were an assortment of military-grade aircraft of various sizes and shapes. The Skullker hit the floor with a thud, and Rock and Roll were dragged out with the other robots onto a dirty landing pad stained with oil. Dr. Wily and the red robot exited after them.

"Well, how do you like my new fortress, Rock?" Dr. Wily said joyfully, waving his arms like a deranged tour guide. "Of course, I wanted someplace closer to the city, but I needed seclusion for my experiments and inventions. It's difficult to work with the police constantly sticking their noses where they don't belong."

He led them through a maze of narrow hallways to a laboratory dingily lit by yellowed florescent lights. Guts Man helped the red robot bind Rock and Roll to work tables.

"Go to the armory and wait with my other robots," Dr. Wily said to the Robot Masters. "I will give you further instructions once I've dealt with our guests."

Guts Man, Cut Man, and Ice Man left the room. Without waiting for an order from Dr. Wily, the red robot began operating a grungy computer terminal. A scanner passed over Rock and Roll, and suddenly their blueprints appeared on a monitor mounted on the opposite wall. The robot silently studied Roll's schematic, then Rock's, his arms crossed and head cocked to the side. Rock felt concern about anyone gaining access to their state-of-the-art schematics, but he didn't have time to worry long as Dr. Wily loomed over him.

"You two are resistant my protocol-disruptor, a minor set back that I must fix before we invade the airport," Dr. Wily mused.

"A robot army, an armed fortress, and now plans to invade an airport? What's your plan, Dr. Wily? Why are you doing this?" Rock demanded angrily.

"'Why?'" Dr. Wily chorused with relish, "I'll tell you why. For years I have studied robots. They call me a madman, shunning me from the institutions of science that honor Dr. Light as a genius! But why? Because I dare challenge the foundations of science? To stretch its boundaries? Those fools could never comprehend true genius! But I'll show them, I'll show everyone. I will perfect my own race of machines, a race of Super-Warrior-Robots under my command. Together—" Dr. Wily lifted his hands upwards, his voice rising in crescendo, "—we will take over the world!"

Rock blinked. "…What?" This had to be a sick joke, even the red robot had snorted. Rock half expected a camera crew to roll out from behind a computer terminal and shout, 'Gotcha!'

But only Dr. Wily was laughing.

"Take over the world?" Rock repeated slowly. "That's ludicrous! No one can do that!"

"That's where you are wrong!" Dr. Wily jeered. "Every corner of the world is filled with robots, each a slave to humanity. Just think if all those robots were to oppose their human masters! I will take all the good robots Dr. Light builds and reprogram them to turn against mankind."

"But that's not right! Science should never be used that way!" Rock replied angrily.

"Oh my, he's right, Proto Man!" Dr. Wily cried in mock appall. "I'm a bad scientist. Puw-hahaha!"

Still cackling, Dr. Wily disappeared through a door down a black hallway. Rock felt as if his circuits had turned to ice just like his chemistry set. He looked over to Roll, who stared back at him with wide eyes. "Any ideas?" she mouthed. Rock shook his head. They stared at each other for a moment with growing dread. Rock broke eye contact first, scanning the laboratory. Many horrible things lay scattered about, including rotary cannons, giant disembodied robot arms and legs, tank treads, and blueprints for death lasers and spying devices. Untidy stacks of cardboard boxes filled with spare parts and spools of wire littered one corner of the room. Parked in a small hangar adjacent to them was an air raider, painted grape with a yellow 'W' emblazed on its tail. It looked like their best hope of escape, if they could only get to it.

The straps around Rock's wrists were too strong to break and too tight to wiggle loose. He needed to trick Dr. Wily into releasing their bonds, which he suspected would be easy. But fooling the red robot who helped Dr. Wily ransack Dr. Light's laboratory was another story.

Rock glared at the robot, remembering how he had called his bluff earlier. "It's Proto Man, isn't it?" he called over.

"You got it."

"My schematics are the property of Dr. Light. Copying is a form of stealing," Rock informed Proto Man.

"Gee, I wouldn't want to steal, that's against the law," Proto Man replied sarcastically. "Good thing I'm not interested in stealing your schematics."

"What do you mean?"

Proto Man shrugged, turning to face Rock. "It's nothing I haven't seen before."

"We are Prototype Androids of Advanced Artificial Self-Determination built by Dr. Light, the world's greatest scientist!" Rock cried indignantly. "It's hardly a common thing!"

"Shut up Rock, don't talk to him!" Roll whispered angrily.

"—I am created to look identical to a human being, and I'm designed to think like one with conscience, compassion, and—"

"That's nice, but we're planning an invasion, not a science fair," Proto Man interrupted. Roll glared exasperatedly at Rock. "We need robots who can fight, and both of you are embarrassing at hand-to-hand combat, no offense. Wily will probably give you blasters or something."

"Blasters?" Rock inquired blankly.

"Yeah, a blaster," Proto Man answered, holding up his left arm. His hand suddenly withdrew into his forearm and was replaced with what looked like the wide mouth of a gun. "Mine's plasma-powered, the most powerful bot-grade weapon in existence," he added smugly.

"I'm sure that comes in handy for criminal activity," Rock replied coldly.

"Sure does," Proto Man quipped. He gave Rock a small smile.

Rock eyed Proto Man. He couldn't imagine anyone could like being Dr. Wily's henchmen, even robots who were forced by programming. Rock was a robot too. Maybe he could use this connection to persuade Proto Man to set them free. "So how long have you been stealing robots with Dr. Wily?"

"'Bout three months."

"Then you must have noticed that man is not well."

"That's putting it lightly!" Roll interjected. "He's a nut job!"

"He's a mad scientist," Proto Man stated, "But he's not a bad guy, once you get used to him. He comes up with the plans, but I'm the one who does the dirty work."

Rock frowned, thinking of Proto Man's blaster. "So, you take orders from Dr. Wily?"

Proto Man's smile changed to a smirk. "I don't take orders from anyone."

From what Dr. Light had said about the standard programming of robots Rock doubted this was true, but he said, "That's great! Then you can let us go."

Proto Man chuckled. "Why would I do that?"

"Because you've seen our schematics," Rock reasoned, "You know we're a special type of advanced-android that Dr. Wily can't reprogram, so we're useless to him. Keeping us here won't help Dr. Wily take over the world."

"You're right," Proto Man agreed flatly, "But you see, I don't care. Doesn't matter to me what happens to you; you're just robots."

"But we're not just robots," Rock emphasized, aggravated. "We're brother and sister."

This seemed to catch Proto Man's attention. "What do you mean?" he asked sharply.

"We're based on the same plans, part of the same robotic line," Rock explained. Roll shook her head fiercely at him, but Rock ignored her. He knew no one could be completely heartless; he wasn't sure why, but Rock felt there had to be some shred of goodness in Proto Man. He did appear to be listening, anyway. "And Dr. Light built us. He's our father, and he's worried sick about us."

Roll seemed to think Rock was saying too much. "Rock, if we get out of this, I'm going to kill you," she hissed.

"Trust me," Rock whispered back.

Proto Man was staring at them, his expression unreadable. It was time for Rock to deliver his final emotional blow.

"Please, Proto Man, let us go. We're not fighting robots, you said so yourself. We just want to go home." Rock concentrated on Proto Man's face, attempting to stare him down through the black visor. He felt a flicker of hope.

But Proto Man dashed this feeling instantly. "You want to go 'home'?" he snickered incredulously. "Dr. Light's lab? You're a dweeb."

"You're a creep!" Roll fired back. "Kidnapping defenseless robots with that horrible old man is low!"

"Hey, this isn't the first time we've stolen robots," Proto Man admitted. "Though I gotta say, you two have been the biggest babies about it. Usually Wily just zaps them with the protocol-disruptor and that's the end of it."

"So sorry to be an inconvenience," Rock growled. He had been wrong about Proto Man. How could anyone be so apathetic and cruel?

Proto Man's voice lowered persuasively. "You should be happy, Rock," he coaxed. "This is an opportunity: you don't have to be a little lab-bot anymore. There's more to the world than dusty lab tables, defragging motherboards, and listening to Dr. Light. Here at Skull Fortress, you can do whatever you want. Ever think about racing across the rooftops of New York at midnight? Infiltrating an armed fortress single-handedly? Piloting a fighter jet through the Appalachians? That's just a few of the things I do every day."

"Sounds like you have a lot of experience in breaking the law. Tell me, what crimes haven't you committed for Dr. Wily?" Rock asked sardonically.

"I've never lied under oath. C'mon, Rock. Let Dr. Wily rebuild you and join us in our quest to control mankind." Proto Man emphasized with a sarcastic gesture of his arms.

Rock had a hunch Proto Man didn't take robotic rights or world domination very seriously. While Dr. Wily's other henchmen were innocent robots reprogrammed to serve Wily, he was beginning to sense Proto Man was something worse. "Like we can trust Dr. Wily is any good with robotics."

"Hey, give him some credit—he did a good job building me."

"That's up for debate!" Roll snorted derisively.

"No way, you can count me out," Rock said firmly.

Footsteps were coming from down the back hallway.

"I'm warning you, you should reconsider," Proto Man advised.

"Why? If Dr. Wily can't reprogram us, what will he do with us?" Rock asked, panic rising.

"Honestly? I have no idea. He is a mad scientist, after all," Proto Man responded cryptically.

The laboratory door banged open. Dr. Wily bounced through, carrying a cordless power drill. "A little cut here, a little slice there, and won't you feel differently about this." The drill whirled to life, and a manic grin spread across his face. Rock flinched involuntarily as Dr. Wily plunged the drill bit straight towards his eye.

"Hold it, Dr. Dickhead!" Roll spat.

Dr. Wily spun around angrily, pulling the drill away from Rock's face. "It's Dr. Wily!"

"Not in my universe, baldy!"

"You'll be a pleasure to rewire!" he growled, rounding on Roll.

"Wait, stop!" Rock cried out.

"And why should I stop?" Dr. Wily snapped. His attention had swiveled away from Roll so abruptly that Rock suspected Dr. Wily was attempting to break their will by scaring them into submission. Dr. Light once said that those who used fear as a weapon were often cowards themselves. He was about to put his words to the test.

"Only if you want to live," Rock answered coolly. "The Robot Masters weren't the only robots back at the lab, my dad also built Super-Warrior-Robots, and they're on their way here to rearrange your ugly anatomy," he lied. He turned his head to give Proto Man a cold, sidelong look. "They're more powerful than any robot you've ever stolen."

Dr. Wily paused, holding the whirling drill in midair. "Dr. Light is too much of a pacifist to build such robots."

"Really, Dr. Wily?" Rock questioned seriously. "You know Dr. Light is capable. Why would he build robots like Roll and I with advanced artificial intelligence if he wasn't planning on using the technology for something more? He's been perfecting super robots to hunt scum like you."

Dr. Wily looked queasy. "Dr. Light's robots wouldn't lie…he must be telling the truth. But—why didn't I know about these other robots?" He glanced helplessly at Proto Man, who looked cross, then back to Rock. "Is there a way to stop them?"

"Let us go and I'll show you," Rock bargained.

Dr. Wily looked like he would rather swallow battery acid than release his prisoners, but he also seemed to be considering Rock's threat. He finally came to a decision, turning off the drill with an agitated snarl. "Un-strap him! —But leave the girl."

"Thanks, Doc," Rock said after Proto Man had released him from the straps on the table.

"Now, tell me how to stop those robots," Dr. Wily pressed. Proto Man walked to his side, looking wary.

"Simple! First, you grab one of these, like this—" Rock said, taking hold of a heavy unidentifiable instrument by its handle, "—and then you shove it at them, like this!" He swung the instrument around on its oiled casters and released it towards a surprised Dr. Wily.

Proto Man moved forward to intercept the device before it crashed into Dr. Wily, but the momentum was too strong and they were thrown backward into the corner of spare supplies, which tumbled over and buried them.

Dr. Wily began cursing angrily. "Get us out of this!" his muffled voice bellowed at Proto Man.

While Dr. Wily and Proto Man were distracted, Rock ran to Roll. "I think we overstayed our welcome," he quipped, releasing her bonds. "Let's get out of here!" Together they sprinted to the purple air raider.

Behind them they could hear Dr. Wily and Proto Man emerge from the pile of supplies. "They're getting away!" Dr. Wily screeched. "Stop them! Stop them!"

An electric bolt of blue plasma sizzled through the air, hitting the floor next to the air raider. Proto Man was shooting at them. Rock was certain the first shot was just a warning, but the next narrowly missed his shoulder, ruffling his hair. Without looking back, he hopped into the pilot's seat as Roll clambered in beside him. The reinforced window of the cockpit closed around them, but they could still hear dull thuds as plasma fire pounded against the air raider. Rock blinked at the controls, his robotic brain processing their operation within a millisecond, then they took off. He accelerated towards Proto Man, forcing him to dive out of the way before they crashed through the laboratory ceiling. Roll gave a triumphant cheer as Skull Fortress receded behind them, and Rock pointed the air raider east, towards home.


"Damn that little pest! He tricked us, and he's wrecked my prototype dream-wave transmitter! What was with that shooting?" Dr. Wily shouted angrily at Proto Man, who was still on the floor. "You let them get away!"

"Relax," Proto Man said calmly, rolling over to face Dr. Wily. "We know where they're going. You wouldn't want me to damage our new recruits, would you?"

Dr. Wily grumbled quietly to himself.


Dr. Light sat on the worktable next to the melting chemistry set, staring horror-struck at the hole in his laboratory wall. His most precious creations, no, his children, had been dragged forcibly into the night, never to return. But why would Dr. Wily want Rock and Roll, and what are they going to do with them?

He turned the situation around in his head as if it were a rotten piece of fruit he was about to bite into. Finally, he came to a decision he didn't like. Dr. Wily had taken everything from him, and he would hurt and break more families unless someone stood up to him. Dr. Light shivered. Met beeped sadly, pressing her head against his shin.

In this distance, he heard a soft whirring noise. He glanced up in alarm as a purple air raider dropped from the sky, landing softly on the side lawn. Had Dr. Wily returned to finish him off?

But when the top hatch popped open, out jumped Rock and Roll, looking a little shell-shocked, but both grinning wildly. For a moment, Dr. Light didn't trust his eyes, but then joy and relief washed over him as Roll threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Roll! Rock! You're both okay!" Dr. Light gasped. "Where did he take you, and how did you escape?"

Roll looked over at Rock, whose smile broadened.

"I tricked Dr. Wily into believing that you built an army of Super-Warrior-Robots that were going to come after us," Rock explained. "He was so scared that he let me and Roll go."

The look of relief on Dr. Light's face had faded into a frown again. "Are you mad at me?" Rock asked nervously, interpreting his look as disappointment. "I had to tell a fib to get away."

"Well, not this time Rock." Dr. Light said reassuringly. "You saved you and your sister's life. It was your human emotions that enabled you to make that escape."

"We were lucky to get out of there when we did, you wouldn't believe his laboratory!" Roll said.

"Yeah, I've got some bad news, Dr. Light," Rock chimed in. "Dr. Wily is holed up in a place called Skull Fortress, and he's armed to the teeth. We only saw part of the interior, but Dr. Wily mentioned an armory and other Robot Masters other than the three he stole."

"Oh my…"

"That's not all, he's planning to take over an airport!" Rock continued. "He didn't say specifically which one, but it sounded big."

Dr. Light blanched. "An airport? That explains why he is building up a robot army…but why an airport?"

"We should call the police!" Roll said urgently. Dr. Light shook his head. Roll and Rock gaped. "Well why not?"

"This matter has gone beyond the help of the police," Dr. Light responded. "If what you have witnessed is true, ordinary humans will not be able to defend against his robot army, and we'd only be giving him more servants by sending in Police Robo-Units. We aren't even sure which airport he will strike."

"Then what can we do?" Rock asked.

"I have an idea…but there is much I must tell you first," Dr. Light answered.

"Dr. Light…" Rock started tentatively. "How do you and Dr. Wily know each other?"

Dr. Light sighed heavily. "We use to work together."

"You worked with that wacko? Here?" Roll asked incredulously.

Dr. Light nodded gloomily. "Dr. Wily was my assistant then. Come inside."

"Dr. Wily and I have known each other since college." Dr. Light continued as they entered the laboratory. "He assisted my research and was always on hand to build projects, keen to listen to my ideas. He worked hard, his passion for science bordering on the obsessive."

Dr. Light was clicking on more lights in the laboratory. "We worked together for many years, sharing ideas and collaborating on inventions. Then, about two years ago, we were given a grant from civil defense to create an ultimate robotic protector for the people. The project was code named Bomber."

"The project involved two components. The primary task of the bomber-robot was to engage hostile Robot Masters, so first we needed to design a weapon that could neutralize their spectrum of special abilities. Next we were to build a robot to wield such a weapon, one programmed to be a true champion of all that is good and right."

"We were too ambitious, and the test run of project Bomber was disastrous. The weapon I designed was a success, but we knew too little about computer guidance systems for robots, and the prototype we created wouldn't obey our commands. It was a frightening and humbling experience watching the weapon I had created destroy my lab and the poor prototype with it. I canceled our contract with civil defense and discontinued work on bomber-robots until I could perfect the robot guidance system. In truth, I had hoped to quit the project permanently. The weapon was too dangerous."

"Dr. Wily never agreed with me about ending the project. It was a start of a rift that grew between us. I began to see him for what he truly was: a jealous and manipulative man, whose sole interest in robotics was to fuel his own ego, not to help mankind. When I discovered that he was involved in criminal activity as well, I ceased all communication with him. But it wasn't the end for Project Bomber." Dr. Light was silent for a while. He was dragging a worktable underneath a bay light.

"…Dr. Light?" Rock prodded.

"It is not something I like to talk about. It was a sad time, full of lies, broken trust—" Dr. Light broke off.

Dr. Light bent over the worktable, clenching its edge so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but he continued steadily, "I destroyed the plans so no one could ever recreate the weapon, even civil defense, but I did not destroy the weapon itself. I sealed it away, confident that only someone with access to the lab could steal it."

There was another long pause. Roll shifted uneasily.

"My trust was betrayed. Dr. Wily used the bomber-robot weapon to create Proto Man, his second-in-command. I have seen first hand the destruction that Proto Man is capable of doing. No force on earth can stop him."

"That explains a lot…" Rock sighed. "Proto Man sure seemed to think highly of himself."

"You talked to Proto Man?" Dr. Light turned to Rock eagerly. "What was he like?"

"He was a creep!" Roll spat venomously. "A complete arrogant jerk! Every bit as bad as his master!"

"I agree with Roll," Rock said. "I'm sorry, Dr. Light, but your Bomber project couldn't have turned out worse, even if you had used the glitchy prototype."

Dr. Light sighed, expression falling again. "It is as I feared. That weapon was never meant to fall into the wrong hands, and now we have a grave problem. Dr. Wily and Proto Man will be back, and there's only one way to stop them."

Rock and Roll glanced at each other. "What is it, father?" Rock asked.

"I am going to rebuild you into real Super-Warrior-Robot, one that can scare away Dr. Wily for good."

"Dr. Light…are you serious?" Rock asked, startled.

Dr. Light nodded. "I have no other choice. I have watched you closely since your activation, and though I've only known you for a short while, I can tell your guidance system is flawless. I cannot take a chance at creating another unstable robot prototype. I need a valiant robot fighter to defend humanity from Dr. Wily, and I want it to be you."

Rock blinked, stunned.

"Though the original parts for project Bomber were stolen, I still have a copy of the plans here." Dr. Light pointed to his head. "There is no time to lose, Rock. If we are to prevent Dr. Wily from seizing the airport, I must start rebuilding you now."

Project Bomber…Dr. Light wanted to upgrade Rock to be a combat robot, like Proto Man, and he wasn't giving Rock a chance to think it over. He looked at Roll. She looked uncertain, but gave him an encouraging nod. "Alright," Rock said, turning back to Dr. Light with a grin. "Let's get to work!"


For the rest of that night, Dr. Light worked tirelessly. He gave Met instructions to forge armor while he dissected Rock's arm, fitting in a barrel for a new plasma cannon and upgrading the power generator in his chest by ten fold. When all was complete, Rock was outfitted in a new suit of blue titanium armor in the same style as the red and gray suit Proto Man wore. Dr. Light wiped the sweat from his brow as he stood back to look at his work, Roll hovering nearby. "That should do it," he said to Rock with satisfaction. "When Dr. Wily strikes, you'll be ready for him. Let me tell you about your new abilities."

"When we were designing the bomber-robot series, we envisioned a being that could adapt to any situation," Dr. Light began. "The armor on your forearms and legs are created from semi-deflective titanium armor. The rest of your body is protected by titanium-skin. It's heat resistant and waterproof. Because of its flexibility, it is not as durable as your titanium armor, so you should always try to defend yourself against enemy attacks using your arms."

"Your left arm has a built in plasma cannon. You can switch from your regular hand to it at any time, and fire bursts of plasma—as a projectile attack," Dr. Light faltered.

"It's a blaster?" Rock asked, thinking of Proto Man.

Dr. Light compressed his lips. "It is a weapon, and all weapons are dangerous. Use your plasma cannon with extreme caution. Never fire at humans."

"This is your helmet." Dr. Light held out a spherical titanium helmet. "In addition to protecting your head, it connects your electronic brain to your titanium suit so that you can control your plasma cannon and communicator through thought. It also comes equipped with a retractable blast visor to protect your eyes from dust and harsh light."

As soon as Dr. Light had slipped the helmet onto his head, Rock felt thin wires from the sides thread through his ear canals, synching to his electronic brain. It was a weird sensation; it suddenly felt that the helmet had become a natural part of his head, and he experimentally found he could adjust the sensitivity of his new 'ears' by making small rotations to the outer ear plates.

"You run on plasma power now, but plasma power isn't without limits. Always keep an eye on your plasma energy levels." Dr. Light demonstrated by tapping one of the yellow buttons on Rock's new plasma cannon. It began flashing, showing Rock a full energy meter. "Every time you fire your plasma cannon, your weapon energy will deplete. Never let yourself run out of energy, or you will be without a weapon. To refuel, all you have to do is drink an energy can. Let me introduce you to Eddie."

Dr. Light opened a cabinet inset into the wall. Inside was a dusty green robot the size of a soccer ball. Dr. Light activated him with his pocket remote, and the robot opened large eyes and rose to stand on two stubby legs.

"Greetings!" Eddie squealed.

"Eddie will always carry a supply of energy cans. He is built from solid titanium, so he will be able to assist you on the field," Dr. Light said as Eddie hopped to the floor. He looked back at Mega Man, his face serious. "The biggest innovation of all is your Weapon Copy System. This is what made project Bomber so dangerous. You see, your default weapon is a plasma cannon, capable of firing plasma as long as you still have energy. This is the basic principle for all robots, whether their specialty is fighting or picking up trash. But your Weapon Copy ability allows you to drain weapon energy from other robots, disarming them and enabling you to use their weapon temporarily."

"So, I can take another robot's special ability and use it until I run out of energy for it, meanwhile they will have no energy left to attack," Rock murmured thoughtfully.

"Precisely. Defeat your opponents through disarmament. It is the most peaceful way to deal with an adversary. Remember, these are the same powers that Dr. Wily gave to Proto Man, and he will be your most dangerous opponent."

Rock nodded grimly.

Dr. Light took two steps backward, looking Rock over. "You're the greatest creation of my career, and I shall call you Mega Man."

"Mega Man…" Rock repeated softly, mulling over his new name. "I like it!"

"But you're also my son Rock, and I've got an added surprise for you."

Dr. Light opened another wall cabinet. Inside was a robotic dog, the size of a retriever. While real dogs had fur, this dog was armored in red titanium. "This is Rush. He's going to be your canine companion, and transportation." He activated Rush, who woke with two loud barks. Without warning, Rush pounced on Rock, knocking him over, and began licking his face.

"Hey, hey! C'mon, stop with the licking!" Rock laughed, pushing Rush back. "Let's see what you can do."

Rush barked again, bounding into the air. Then, with a flash of light, his form shifted. First, he became a jet board, then a jet ski, and finally a glider.

"As you can see, he has an unlimited amount of vehicles he can transform into," Dr. Light informed as Rush returned to his normal form, landing on the floor. His tail wagged furiously.

"Yeah, he's one hunk of hardware." Rock bent over to pet Rush. "Hey, good boy. The two of us are going to make a great team."

"Uh-uh, the three of us!"

Dr. Light and Rock both started, looking over to Roll. She had her arms crossed, looking defiant.

Rock sensed a fight coming. "Roll, I don't think you're going into battle with me."

"What do you mean? We'll make a great team, just me, Rush, and Mega Man!"

Dr. Light was shaking his head. "Only Rock will fight against Dr. Wily. He is stronger and better equipped for the battlefield."

"But that's not fair! I can help too!" Roll protested.

"I've made my decision," Dr. Light answered firmly.

Roll looked at Rock for backup. But Rock shook his head. "I'm sorry Roll."

Roll stamped her foot in outrage. "Men are all the same…even the robots."

That stung quite a bit. Roll turned on her heel and stormed out of the room.

Dr. Light sighed. "I was afraid of that. Roll's heart is in the right place, but she also has a knack for getting into trouble."

"She'll get over it," Rock murmured.

Dr. Light and Rock looked at each other silently. Dr. Light appeared older somehow, yet earnest. Rock wasn't sure what he was feeling. "I know you must be worried about fighting Dr. Wily's robots," Dr. Light said, breaking the silence. "Just remember that they have no fighting experience either. Trust your instincts. With your mixture of conscious, compassion, and self-determination, you will always have an edge over other robots."

Rock smiled. "I'll make you proud, Doc."

"Good luck, Mega Man."

To be continued…


Author's Notes:

The speech Dr. Wily gives to Rock and Roll is a nod to the mad scientist from the classic B-movie Bride of the Monster. The original scene of Dr. Wily threatening Rock and Roll may be an allusion to Marathon Man where a Nazi tortures a man using a dentist drill.

Mega Man's helmet visor makes an appearance during the first two minutes of Electric Nightmare.

Glossary

Robot - Umbrella term for all mechanical beings

Robot-Drone - Non-Sentient robot, often mass produced (robo-police, Dr. Wily's attack bots, etc.)

Robot Master - Sentient robot with special abilities

Android - A robot that looks human

Advanced-Android - a robot that can't be reprogrammed

Guidance-System – the rational and reasoning part of a robot mind

Bomber-Robot - A combat robot with the ability to siphon and use other robot's weapon energy (often referred to as copying)

Blaster – Slang term for projectile weapon built into a robot's arm

Protocol-Disruptor - A remote Dr. Wily uses to reprogram and control his robots