Hi, I'm not dead.

So sorry for the long break, I just had a serious case of writers block for one of the future chapters which has thankfully passed. This next arc is all about the next FMian, and I'm pretty satisfied with how this turned out. This one is a little short, due to just setting the stage for the rest of the arc. But yeah, I hope you guys can forgive me for the break, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Review responses:

Cosmicblader12: Yep! My favorite character is gonna get some love, later on though. This arc is all about the next FMian. Just know that she will be very present from now on (hopefully)

Alex: Uhhh Spanish isn't my strong suit, but seems like you enjoy it so thanks!

XenoGamer186: Thanks a lot! It's reviews like this that keep me going!

Battousai: Thanks for saying the kind words. I would like to know specific aspects of my stories that aren't good, so if you see something, say something! I'm not sure exactly what you mean by the rocky start but I'll keep it in mind!

Golden Zero16: Thanks! The new chapter is now lol.

Please keep reviewing, it helps me know someone is reading much stuff and that's helps waaaay more than you may know! If you want me to finish the story, the best way to support me is just to leave your thoughts on the chapter! Thanks to those who always do read and review, and just those who read in general! Enjoy the chapter!


The next day Geo spent the entire morning looking for the mystery girl. Geo wasn't sure if the girl was a threat or not. However any FMian was an enemy, according to Omega-Xis.

"I'm telling you kid just because she didn't attack you doesn't mean she's an ally. It just means she's waiting for an opportunity to hit you while your guard is down." Mega insisted.

"I'm not so sure, her expression wasn't malicious, more surprised. Plus I refuse to believe all FMians are evil, after all you aren't evil." Megaman responded, still traveling every wave road he could find in Echo Ridge, searching for the woman.

"It's that kind of thinking that FMians will use to catch you off guard and delete you.. They don't care about humans at all, the only reason the woman we saw is here, is to kill us and get the Andromeda Key" Mega said

"Then why don't we destroy the key? There's no use keeping it if it's attracting the FMians here" Megaman said, to which Omega-Xis scoffed at.

"No way, not an option. That key is the only thing I can use to protect us if things go wrong." He said

"You plan on using that weapon to destroy planet FM?" Geo frowned, clearly not okay with that.

"No, just to give the king a scare. I've only used it to destroy insignificant asteroids to cover my escape, and even then the power of Andromeda was hard to control. If I tried to destroy planet FM I might end up destroying us along with it, but destroying the key would only lose us an asset to use against the enemy." Mega said

"Okay, then why don't we blackmail the king into stopping the invasion?" Geo asked

"I wish it were that easy, Cepheus, the king, doesn't respond well to empty bluffs, and unless the situation is dire he knows I wouldn't destroy planet FM because I would've already done it if I wanted to." Mega responded

Geo reluctantly dropped the subject and continued the search, destroying viruses as he went around. Eventually he gave up and headed home.

When he pulsed out in front of his house he noticed that the house next to theirs had finally been moved into, which was interesting. He wondered who moved in, until he realized he really didn't care. Being friendly with neighbors wasn't really something Geo cared about.

"Mom I'm home!" Geo called as he walked in and took off his shoes, noticing an extra pair of boots in the shoe rack, in fact they were awfully familiar…

"Oh Geo! Perfect timing we have a guest!" Hope said excitedly, Geo walking in and seeing Sonia Strumm sitting on his couch. The brunette's eyes widened in shock and confusion before he put the pieces together. Sonia mentioned moving into a new place, the new neighbor moving in today…

Sonia was Geo's new neighbor.

Sonia was equally surprised to see Geo here as well

"Geo? I didn't know that you lived here! Wow I guess that means we're neighbors! I just moved in next door!" Sonia smiled, Geo simply blinking in response, still shocked.

"Oh you two know each other? Wow what a small world we live in!" Hope giggled, getting up to go make some snacks. Geo sat down on the couch as well, now recovered from his initial shock.

"So you moved here huh? I guess that's fine. Better you than a random stranger I guess" the boy shrugged. Sonia rolled her eyes.

"You could at least pretend to be happy we're neighbors! I mean I'm pretty excited! I saw the pictures around the house but I didn't know they were of you as a kid! You had a really nice smile!" She said. All the pictures in Geo's house were before the accident with his dad, when Geo was happy.

"They're just pictures, anyway Mom will take care of you while you are here." Geo said, getting up and going into his room, done with talking with Sonia. The boy might have been making progress talking with people, but he still was a little antisocial and didn't want to talk to Sonia at that time, wanting to think of a plan for the FMian that showed up with Mega.

Sonia blinked when Geo suddenly left, but wasn't really surprised. She already was getting lucky with getting him to talk as much as he did, being neighbors meant she'd get to talk with him more often anyway so she decided to let Geo go. Besides, they were all going to AMAKEN in a few days together.

Hope sighed when she walked over "Sorry, Geo has trouble talking with others, it's nothing personal." She said, handing Sonia a cup of coffee.

"It's fine, he looks tired today anyway! Thanks for the coffee Mrs. Stelar!" Sonia said

"It's no problem dear, and please call me Hope!" Hope smiled. Sonia finished her coffee and stood

"Well, it was fun coming here but I have to go now, I'll see you later!" She said walking out the door, waving goodbye as she did so.


The next few days were uneventful for Geo and Omega-Xis, just more training and visits from their new neighbor. However the night before they would go visit AMAKEN, Mr. Dubius was working late.

He was working on the Flap Pack, all the workers had already left except him. He found himself wondering about the boy who had helped him earlier that week, Geo. He seemed to trust Mr. Boreal, and Aaron Boreal seemed to be nice, being supportive of Tom whenever he was around, even allowing Tom to use his personal office when he wasn't using it, which Tom was doing right now.

Tom slowly was trusting Boreal, day by day, but he never was fully open with him out of fear of what happened to Tom last time he trusted someone.

As Dubius worked on his device, Mr. Boreal approached from behind him.

"Hey Tom! Working late again? That's good, being completely invested in your work! Just remember to take a break every now and then for rest!" Boreal said with a friendly smile. Tom jumped in surprise when Boreal spoke, not knowing he was there.

"O-Oh yeah I'm working late… and um yeah I'll get some rest." He stuttered.

"Good to hear! So how's your project going? It looks almost complete!" Boreal asked

"U-Um yeah, it's going good. I-I tested it the other day and it seems to almost be finished." Dubius said, unsure why he felt comfortable telling Boreal that.

"Awesome! What did you call your device again?" Boreal asked, happy for his employee.

"The Flap Pack" Dubius responded quickly

"Nice name! Well I'll be seeing you tomorrow! I'm going home!" Boreal smiled, waving goodbye and walking towards the exit, however he stopped in his tracks.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" He said approaching Tom again. "I wanted to ask you, if you would become my brother!" Boreal asked, shocking the shy man.

Becoming a brother was a big deal, you would have to share all your secrets and have a level of trust no other relationship could match, besides marriage of course. Tom had never had a real friend before, the closest he had was the boss who betrayed him, using the brother band to steal Tom's secret blueprints of the prototype of the first transer and using them to make himself famous.

'Can I trust him? Will Aaron betray me?' Dubius thought fearfully, he didn't know if he could handle another stinging betrayal, but Aaron seemed so nice.

"I-Is that an order from a superior?" Dubius asked ignorantly, Boreal blinking in surprise at that idea

"O-Order? Hahaha! No of course not! It's completely up to you! Don't get the wrong idea Tom, I just want to be your friend." Boreal said sincerely. Tom could tell from his expression he wasn't lying.

"A-Alright, I'll do it" Dubius said without thinking, finding himself wanting to do this. Boreal smiled even wider and they linked together through their transers, officially becoming brothers. Boreal thanked Dubius and left the office, going home.

'Aaron… I can trust Aaron, he wouldn't betray me… would he? Did I do the right thing?' Dubius asked himself, full of doubt and fear.

"I can help" a voice said, Tom yelping in fear and turning around and looking, seeing no one else in the room.

"D-Did I imagine that?" Tom said to himself

"Nope, I'm right here" the sinister voice said, sounding cold and calculating. The voice appeared in front of Tom. The figure was made of blue fire, only much more pale and colder than the fire that Omega-Xis was made of. The alien was in the shape of a swan, it's torso and beak were the only parts of his body that wasn't made of pure energy. His eyes, like Taurus, were blood red.

"W-What are you!" Tom asked in horror, backing up against his desk to get away from the alien

"A friend, I am Cygnus from planet FM" the alien said, his voice somehow calming Dubius, convincing him he could be trusted.

"Planet FM? Like the planet PEACE was sent to?" Dubius asked.

"Yes, I am here to help you, Tom Dubius. I have been observing you and the human race for quite a long time now, and your suspicions of betrayal are completely correct." Cygnus said, Tom now slowly approaching the FMian, seeing it wasn't going to attack.

"They are correct? You mean Aaron will betray me? How do you know?"

"He will, just as all humans eventually do. Why he will betray you? How do I know? It's simple, because it's human nature, because betrayal is the essence of society." Cygnus said, the power of his statement washing over Tom.

"Betrayal is the essence of society…" Tom muttered, looking conflicted, but deep down knowing it was true.

"Yes, you are smart Tom. Never letting anyone get close, fearing betrayal, you've seen human nature up close. You understand, no matter how nice someone is, they will eventually betray you because that's what humans do." Cygnus said, allowing Tom to come even closer, seeing Tom did agree with everything he was saying.

"You're right…" Tom said quietly, his experience with his old boss verifying everything Cygnus was telling him.

"Yes, but I am not human, I will not betray you. Together we can make sure that humanity suffers for all the suffering it has put you, and everyone else through. I can make sure you never get hurt again, just let me into your heart." Cygnus said, Tom going silent, thinking of what to do.

"Aaron… he hasn't betrayed me yet." Tom said quietly.

"I see… you require proof. I understand, when he does betray you, and he will, then we can fuse. Until then I will stay with you in your transer." Cygnus said, going into Tom's transer. Dubius didn't protest, all he could think about was what Cygnus said.

"The essence of society…"


Yep, it's Cygnus time.