(Crisis)
"Honestly Thomas," Dr. Mikhail Cossack sighed in exasperation. "I don't know why you're still on about your old lab assistant. The boy was a complete imbecile most of the time and a shameless womanizer on his good days."
"You can be such a cynic Mykhail," Dr. Light smiled tolerantly. "For all his faults, Jonathan was quite the eager lad with the best of intentions. If only he hadn't become so obsessed..."
Rock found himself listening intently to the conversation. This Loop, Dr. Wily apparently didn't exist. Instead, there was a doctorate student that his father had taken on as an assistant named Jonathan... something. Dr. Light never used the last name and it just didn't seem to come up in conversation. From what Rock could tell, the man had become a bit obsessed with something or other towards the end of his doctoral work and then, right before the graduation ceremony, he'd simply vanished.
"Greetings y'all," a voice with what could only be called an 'Elvis' accent suddenly came from every nearby media output, interrupting Rock's thoughts. The face on the transmission was that of a blond man in sunglasses with a labcoat stretched over his very broad chest and shoulders and his hair in an odd almost-vertical pompadour. "Don't be afraid babes and bros, for I come to you with a message of totally radical importance. For I, Dr. Brovo, have discovered the true power of brotherhood and understanding. A message of love and great justice. One that I and my totally cool Brobot Masters shall impart to each and every one of you by any means necessary. Know this all you uncool beyotches, your era of pain and hate is at an end and the time for brotherly love and togetherness is at hand! The world shall be remade with the totally awesome might of the Broforce! We now return you to your, ah, regularly scheduled programming."
Rock stared as the transmission ended, and continued staring for several minutes, blinking owlishly as he processed it. This was certainly new…
Rock had armored up as Mega Man as soon as Dr. Light finished the upgrades and adjustments and teleported to the first area that was under attack.
The agency where Gilbert D. Stern and Rosalyn Krantz normally worked.
Which was surprisingly intact for something being assaulted by a dangerous robot. The walls were pristine and none of the windows were broken, but the large amount of unconscious federal agents belied the reality of what was going on.
At least they were all alive and largely unharmed. Not all attackers were so considerate.
As if to prove otherwise, Agent Stern came flying out of the door as Rock approached and the robot braced himself to catch the man.
"Your cynicism is an uncool attitude that unbalances the way of the Bro," the one responsible for Agent Stern's impromptu flight stated as he stepped out. The robot appeared lightly armored and clad in a stylized martial arts gi with mostly blue pants that had large black striped and a mostly black top with large blue stripes, held closed by a belt denoting full mastery of whatever style was practiced. "Ah, there is a new challenger to represent the oppressive system against the harmonious might of Tae Kwon Bro. Come, we shall see how you fare against my fabled Bro Fist."
Rock blinked at the calm declaration, and decided to try something. "Can we take this fight away from the agency? I don't want to accidentally hurt anyone."
"A most enlightened and brotastic attitude," Tae Kwon Bro responded. "Unexpected from one who fights for the intolerant system, but the terms are acceptable. Let us depart."
Rock followed the 'brobot' to an open common area where no one was present and there was little of importance to damage.
"Before we begin, I would ask your name," Tae Kwon Bro stated as the two faced off.
"I am known as Mega Man!" Rock declared.
"A most righteous and mighty name," his opponent nodded and took a stance. "Come at me, Mega Bro."
Rock opened up with a barrage of buster fire, only to have it all dodged as Tae Kwon Bro closed in with a glowing fist and slammed it into Rock's torso. Rock's eyes widened as the force of the blow flung him back and he was overtaken by feelings of peace as the energy tried to calm his systems into submission. 'A pacifying weapon...' he thought idly as he lay on the ground. 'For all its energy it does little physical damage, but it forces energy of the target into a calmer state. That's why none of the agents are really hurt. Very impressive. And... their goals are ultimately peaceful... Would it be so bad to just let them go ahead and do this...? Maybe it really would be better for the world...'
"You fought well, Mega Bro," Tae Kwon Bro stood over the blue robot, "but my cause is just and my fist is strong. In short, my Broforce is simply stronger than yours."
'No,' Rock's features hardened and he felt his systems returning to full active status. 'Even if their intentions are good, it's not right to force others to follow a single way of thinking, even a peaceful one.'
With that, the robot known as Mega Man brought up his Mega Buster and fired on his opponent from point blank range.
Now armed with the 'Bro Fist' weapon, Rock made his way to the next area under attack, the nearest army base. Like before, there were unconscious humans everywhere, and once again his opponent stepped out to meet him.
This 'brobot' was clad in armor covered with military insignia, topped off with a combat helmet, and one arm that was formed into what could only be a grenade launcher.
"Who comes to challenge G. I. Bro, the real Bromerican hero?" the 'brobot' challenged.
"I am Mega Man," Rock declared, "and I am here to stop you before you hurt anyone else!"
"Then let's see if you can handle my Bronade Launcher!" his opponent yelled and opened fire.
Rock dashed forward and dodged around the shots, getting in close and downing G. I. Bro with a single shot of the Bro Fist to his torso.
'That...' Rock blinked as he looked at his defeated opponent. 'That was easy...'
Rock blinked as he took in the appearance of the robot calmly floating in the middle of the science museum amidst a sea of unconscious visitors. The robot looked like one of those 'little green men from mars' that was a popular depiction of aliens a while back, only clad in what seemed like a monk's robe.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Rock found he had to ask.
"I am U. F. Bro of the Brobot Masters," the robot stated. "And I can feel the unrighteous darkness within you. A brobot's strength flows from the Broforce. But you have become steeped in the darkness. Anger, fear, aggression; these are the things that hold us back from the path of the Bro. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. But once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."
"Yeah, I've seen the movie," Rock raised an eyebrow as his opponent uncrossed his legs and lowered to the ground. "You should get some original material."
"Very well," the 'brobot' stated as an energy blade shot out of one arm. "Do not bring a gun to a Bro Saber duel."
Rock mused that he wouldn't have done that anyway, not with all of these unconscious people around as he dodged the initial swipe and considered his options. The 'brobots' had been kind enough to simply disable their targets, so he wouldn't feel right breaking out his more dangerous master weapons even if there weren't innocent people around. And since that left him with only one non-ranged weapon, he decided to give it a shot.
The Bro Saber was deflected by the glowing power of the Bro Fist, and Rock took the opportunity afforded by U. F. Bro's astonishment to land a knockout punch.
Downtown business district was Rock's next stop. He was calmly walking down the street looking for a clue as to where his next adversary was when a blue and red blur appeared in front of him.
"Faster than a speeding brollet!" his opponent declared before Rock finished taking in the blue armor, red boots and hands, and the stylized red 's' on the front of the robot's torso. He was still reacting when the newest 'brobot' reared back his fist to punch the air before him. "More powerful than a Brocomotive!"
The gigantic pure-energy train engine that shot forth was about the last thing Rock had expected and he barely dove to the side in time to dodge it.
"Able to leap tall buildings in a single bround!" the 'brobot' declared as he leaped high into the air. High enough that Rock almost lost track of him before he came back down on the other side from where he had been. "I... am Super Bro!"
Rock had only begun to formulate a battle plan when Super Bro launched another Brocomotive at him. With no time to think or dodge, he instead called up the first weapon that sprang to mind and blindly countered with it. To both his and Super Bro's utter astonishment, the Bro Fist completely dispelled the pure energy train engine.
Rock was now at the power plant and once again the 'brobot' he'd come to face was nice enough to come out and face him rather than making him go looking. He was also flying through the air by way of spinning his body so fast that Rock could only make out his otherwise unremarkable and plain-armored head.
"So, you are the one who has been opposing Tornad Bro's righteous bros!" the robot accused. "Now you shall feel the might of my Bromerangs!"
With that, spinning crescent energy blades formed in the centrifugal vortex around the 'brobot' and began flinging themselves in Rock's general direction. Deciding that it hadn't failed him yet, Rock once again went with the Bro Fist and jumped into the air, twisiting around the barely-aimed projectiles as best he could to land his blow. He was not disappointed when Tornad Bro was flung out of controlled flight to crash hard into the ground where his body was revealed to be as plain and unremarkably decorated as his head.
The next area was not one of the 'nicer' neighborhoods, and would usually be beneath the notice of Rock's usual opponents. But since Dr. Brovo's intentions were to eliminate pain and hate, where better to start than the places where violent criminal gangs tended to hang out.
From the looks of it, whichever brobot had come here had been busy. Rock could see the streets littered with unconscious adults and teens who were wielding guns. Well, had been wielding guns. The firearms had been meticulously rendered permanently inoperable by whoever was responsible.
Rock was just thinking that maybe he should come back, like after the police were back on duty and able to make arrests, when an energy arrow passed right in front of his eyes. There couldn't have been more than a couple inches of distance between his face and the shot.
Turning, he saw a robot that was colored to appear shirtless, with camo pants, a red headband, and strangely enough a ram's head. Oh, and a large composite bow with another energy arrow pointed right at him.
"Let me guess," Rock stated as he called up the Bro Fist that had been serving him so well, "Ram Bro and his Bro n' Arrow?"
"Dude, bro," the latest 'brobot' declared as he idly drifted along the waves down at the beach, lying on a surfboard. "Are you the one who's been trashing my bros?"
"I am," Rock declared, "and you're next... um..."
The rather human-like robot in loud Hawaiian trunks smiled as he stood up on his surfboard. "Sorry bro, I guess I didn't introduce myself. I'm the Surfer Bro. And, I don't really like fighting much. I prefer to just ride the Brocean Wave, man."
Rock's eyes widened as energy infused the ocean water and pulled it into a massive wave that began to bear down on the beach upon which Surfer Bro rode his board like a champion.
Stealing himself, Rock charged the wave, determined to reach it before it crested and reared back a Bro Fist to meet the still grinning Surfer Bro.
Rock spat water out of his systems as he teleported back to Dr. Light's lab. The Bro Fist had gone six for six against the Brobot Masters... Even the Metal Blade hadn't been that universal in its effectiveness!
Of course, there was still the issue of the eighth 'brobot' who hadn't been reported anywhere yet. Rock was going to check in with his father and sister (Roll wasn't Awake this Loop) before going back out to look for the last of the 'brobots'. However, as he stepped into the lab he immediately sensed something off.
The lab was too quiet.
Running to the lab proper, Rock skidded to a halt upon seeing the unconscious forms of Dr. Light and Roll with a tuxedo-clad robot standing over them in the middle of a calmly pulsing field of energy.
"I apologize for intruding," the 'brobot' stated calmly, "but you have been making something of a nuisance of yourself in the execution of our righteous cause of great justice. I am Tuxe Bro," the formally-attired machine stated, tapping what looked like a watch on his wrist, "and I assure you I am quite untouchable with my Brotomic Watch."
"Untouchable to most," Rock stated evenly as he raised the glowing Bro Fist in front of him challengingly. To his surprise, Tuxe Bro began to laugh.
"The Bro Fist is indeed the mightiest technique of the Broforce," the 'brobot' allowed, "but only when wielded in the fist of one who understands and embodies the virtues of brotherhood, love, tolerance, and peace. In the hands of a warmonger like you it is powerless."
Rock blinked at the claim, and then narrowed his eyes. "Well, then. Let's see if you're right."
Tuxe Bro stood in place calmly, hands behind his back, as Rock rushed forward to punch the barrier. He had just enough time when the barrier shattered like cheap glass to widen his eyes in astonishment before the same punch impacted his face.
While Rock had gotten the final movement information from Tuxe Bro necessary to track down Dr. Brovo's lair, the 'brobot' had been recalled via emergency teleport. Which meant that he was probably going to have to face all eight of them again.
As such, when he entered a room lined with teleporters, he only had two surprises. The first was that there hadn't been any other defenses present. The second was that one of the Brobot Masters was already in the room, guarding the inactive teleporter on the other end.
"This is... unexpected," Rock allowed as he strode towards the sitting figure of Tae Kwon Bro.
"Yes, it is," the 'brobot' agreed. "To have defeated us all, you are indeed worthy or your mighty name, Mega Bro. But you have not yet mastered the ways of the Broforce and only one who is so worthy may meet with the master bro."
Rock narrowed his eyes. "And how do I prove that?"
"By facing each of us once more, bro, with two new rules," Tae Kwon Bro stated. "First, you must defeat us all in fair combat, or the way to our master will not open. That is the rule of the master bro. I have my own rule as well. I know you have taken our awesome skills with the Broforce, Mega Bro. And so I shall require you to use each of them in only one match of radical combat, and only one against each of us amazing bros. If you righteously fail to do so, I will not rise to face you in fair and just combat, and you will never meet with the master bro."
Rock considered for a moment. "Agreed," he said at last. May I take time to consider my choices first?"
"Of course, bro," Tae Kwon Bro allowed. "There is no hurry."
And so, Rock sat down to analyze the capabilities of each of the Brobot Masters that he'd observed as well as the strengths and limitations of each of their weapons.
"Surf's up, bro!" Surfer Bro yelled as he rode a Brocean Wave towards Rock.
"Sorry, bro!" Rock yelled back as he prepared the Brocomotive. "You've got a train to catch!"
The massive energy engine plowed through both wave and surfer with minimal resistance.
Rock raised the Bro Saber to deflect the energy bolt of the Bro n' Arrow and continued running as Ram Bro hastily tried to reload.
Rock hid behind a wall as G. I. Bro ran past and took aim with the Bro n' Arrow before the military 'brobot' could turn around.
The energy explosive of the Bronade Launcher didn't just knock Tornad Bro out of the air, it completely stopped his rotation as well.
Rock began spinning as he unleashed the Bromerang weapon on his opponent. U. F. Bro raised his Bro Saber in response, but when the spinning blades struck his, they kept spinning right around it as if it were a fulcrum.
Tuxe Bro stood confidently behind the shield of his Brotomic Watch, challenging Rock to even try and hit him. Rock simply smiled and sent a Brocean Wave at the suave 'brobot', the constant pressure of the water shorting out the energy barrier and leaving Tuxe Bro defenseless.
Rock stood still as the Brocomotive shattered on impact with the barrier of the Brotomic Watch, and then began to casually stroll towards the again gobsmacked Super Bro.
"So, you saved my own technique for me," Tae Kwon Bro stated as Rock re-entered the room. The final Brobot Master began to stand and take a combat stance. "I suppose I should be flattered, bro, but simply because you possess the Bro Fist does not mean you have mastered it!"
Rock took in the charging punch of Tae Kwon Bro in a moment and casually held up his palm to catch the 'brobot's' fist. The feeling of the energy in the punch trying to sooth his systems into a passive state came over him again, but he knew what was happening this time. A quick burst of focus to his system override and the feeling passed.
"That's..." Tae Kwon Bro's eyes widened. "That's not possible."
"Of course it is, bro," Rock retorted as he wound up his own Bro Fist and landed a haymaker. "Anything's possible!"
Tae Kwon Bro hit the floor and didn't rise. After a moment, the final teleporter beeped to life and Rock stepped through.
Rock blinked as he appeared on the roof of the building and took in the appearance of Dr. Brovo. The massive barrel chest he'd been expecting. Likewise the muscled tree-trunk arms. The comparatively tiny waist and legs on the other hand...
"So, you're the Mega Bro who, ah, mastered the Way of the Bro so quickly?" the man stated with crossed arms and his eyebrows barely visible over his sunglasses. "You're, ah, little shorter than what I expected."
Rock raised an eyebrow at that. "It doesn't matter, Dr. Brovo, I'm here to stop you."
"Now why would ya wanna do a thing like that?" Dr. Brovo asked in his naturally 'Elvis' voice. "The Way of the Bro brings peace and understanding to all. People have too much pain and hate in them as it is. They seek selfish ends with force and lies, never caring about who they gotta trample to do so. They blindly attack what is different and never take the time to see what about each other is the same. They need to be shown this great light so that they can lay down their weapons of war and embrace each other in the spirit of love and brotherhood. And if ol' Doc Light is still the same cool bro he was when I left, you, ah, should know this. We should be brothers in this great crusade, not enemies."
"I know how it is," Rock admitted, "but this isn't the way. Not everyone follows the best path, but each of us needs to choose our own path, not have it chosen for us. Even if our goals are the same, I can't condone your methods. To force others to follow the ways of peace is no different than forcing them to follow any other way."
"Hmm... you speak well, little bro," Dr. Brovo rubbed his chin. "But you haven't seen what I have. You haven't learned what I learned. In the deep forests of the fabled ninja, I learned how a man communicates his feelings with his fists. On the dark angry streets, I learned how to use those same fists for great justice. In a galaxy far, far, away I learned how to use the Broforce to seek peace and knowledge. In the mythical land of Hyrule, I learned how to tap the Broforce for courage! I've been many places and many things, for I am–"
"Obviously a looper," Rock interrupted, unimpressed.
"Oh, you too, bro?" Dr. Brovo's facial muscles twitched in the manner of someone blinking rapidly.
"Local Anchor," Rock replied. "Well, one of them. It's complicated."
"Gotcha," Dr. Brovo nodded. "But then you should understand the importance of my, ah, mission even better. For eventually, as all things must, the Loops will end. And the nature of the multiverse at the time will become the new reality everywhere. If by then I can spread my message of brotherhood to all the corners of creation, then the new multiverse will be a place of peace, love, and understanding among all!"
"And I'll have to stop you," Rock replied. "For everyone is unique and has their own path to follow, and to force them to follow yours is to betray the value of the very brotherhood you preach. You must understand, if all are to join in brotherhood, we must not only see how we are the same, but we must also embrace our differences and allow them to make us stronger as a whole. To love others even when those others don't accept it. That is the true meaning of brotherhood."
Dr. Brovo was silent for a moment. "You speak strongly, little bro. But as I, ah, said before, I have learned how a man communicates his feelings with his fists." Dr. Brovo uncrossed his arms and spread them wide. "So now you too must prove yourself a man and communicate your beliefs with your fists, while I do the same! But beware! For like the supersonic jet, these fists can move faster than sound!"
Rock recognized the stance as one his father had learned in a recent fused Loop of his and in the moment before the attack was launched, he cupped his hands around his stomach and gathered energy to counter it.
"SONIC BOOM!"
"HADOKEN!"
The explosion of force as the two attacks met obscured the rooftop for a few seconds, and when it cleared Rock could see that Dr. Brovo was blinking in surprise again.
"So, you've, ah, been there too?" he said at last.
"No, but my dad has and he taught me," Rock admitted.
"Gotcha," Dr. Brovo nodded. "Well, then I suppose we should do this proper-like," he continued as he turned to a stance meant to launch a charging punch and began to gather the same energy around his fist as what the Brobot Masters used.
Rock blinked, and then took a similar stance, calling on the same technique. Along with the energy, he did his best to lend weight to Dr. Brovo's words about communicating beliefs through fists and focused on everything he'd learned. Yes, there were people who did bad things. There were those who lost their way. But even though he'd had to fight countless times, he still believed that people could be shown the path to understanding and peace with patience instead of force. With those thoughts firmly in his processors, Rock stared into the sunglasses-covered eyes of his opponent and prepared himself.
At some unseen signal, both opponents launched themselves at each other, fists extended to meet knuckle-to-knuckle, and both shouted the name of the technique.
"BRO FIST!"
"I've been such a fool," Dr. Brovo stated for the nth time. Rock hadn't exactly been counting. He was too busy trying to wrap his mind around the fact that his opponent had done a complete one-eighty after a single exchange of punches.
"Look," Rock finally said. "Not to complain, but surely I can't have been the first to beat you at this if you've been to as many other branches as you claim. I'm a relatively young looper after all."
"You ain't," Dr. Brovo admitted. "But all the others... they looked down on me when they did. I could feel it in their fists. The mamasitas all slap me for trying ta appreciate them like a man should appreciate a woman and call me a womanizer or a pervert. All a' the dudes just think I'm a bigger fool than the ones that actually make a career out of being fools. I guess they were right about that."
"Um..." Rock wasn't too sure what to say to that.
"But you?" the man turned to Rock suddenly enough to make the robot jump. "I could feel it in your fist. You actually believe in me. You actually see something in me to believe in. Not... not many people see that in ol' Johnny Bravo."
"So your real name's Johnathan Bravo?" Rock asked.
"You, ah, heard my full name?" the man, Johnny, looked surprised.
"Sorta," Rock nodded. "You were my dad's old lab assistant this Loop, remember? He mentioned you a few times, just never your last name."
"Huh, well call me Johnny," Johnny Bravo smiled, "all my friends do. I just gotta ask, how did you find it in yourself to believe in someone like me who lost his way so badly?"
Rock laughed at that. "I somehow manage to find it in myself to believe a career madman bent on taking over the world just so people will recognize his brilliance can be a better person. Despite literally countless attempts to prove me wrong. I won't lie, it's hard sometimes to keep believing in him, but you? You just want to make the world a better place without hurting people to do it. It's easy to believe in someone like that."
Johnny smiled and extended his fist towards Rock. "Well, that's a mighty nice thing to say, bro."
Rock smiled back as he tapped his own fist to Johnny's.
Come at me bro!