Chapter 9: Break Man Broken
Once again, Rock is comfortably nestled on top of his big brother and securely wrapped in his arms. The young robot boy has more nice dreams about the two of them together, not just going out and having fun but also acting as an unstoppable duo against the forces of evil.
In contrast, Blues's dreams are a bit less lighthearted bit more distressing. A shady figure stands over his brother, crushing his core underfoot while Rock cries out in pain. Blues runs as fast as he can to try to reach him, to try to save him, but it's like he's running in place. He can't reach them. He tries firing his weapon but it comes up with nothing. He tries to yell to his brother to kill them, to save himself, but though his voice reaches the younger boys ears, Rock shakes his head.
"I can't... I have to protect them"
Blues watches in horror as the human crushes his cinnamon roll brother's soul underfoot.
"Nngh!" Blues lurches awake and nearly knocks Rock off of himself. Even though he doesn't, it's still enough to wake the boy up. He gasps as his eyes snap open.
"Huh? B-Blues? Are you okay?"
Blues quivers when blue eyes meet his own and he realizes it was just a nightmare. He sighs and pulls the boy in his arms closer.
"Fine". You're okay. He's grand.
Rock hugs him back. "Oh... You had another nightmare, didn't you?"
"Mhm…" When Rock looks to him for explanation he clears his throat quietly and makes up a story. "There was an innocent plate of cinnamon rolls being devoured mercilessly by a human. It was horrible to watch. None of them were spared."
"Blues..." Rock frowns.
The red bot jokes in a lighthearted way, but the analogy isn't far off.
Rock gives his brother a look. He knows he's lying. "...did something bad happen to me?"
"Wha? Where did you get that from?" Blues feigns innocence.
"Cuz you call me a cinnamon roll."
"Psh" Blues snerks. But he doesn't comment further.
Rock decides any further prodding would be futile, so he simply lays his head back over his brother's chest.
Blues hesitantly brings a hand up to stroke through his hair.
Rock opens his eyes, surprised, but quickly closes them back and adopts a blushing look of contentment. "Mm..."
"We.. Should get up and check my power levels," Blues says.
"Ah...yeah, we should." Rock rolls off his brother and sits up, yawning and stretching.
Blues gets up as well, throwing his arms out in a yawn of his own before hopping energetically to his feet. He can definitely feel a difference in energy... It's nice to feel so much strength in his limbs after three days being buried under crushing rock... And then he laughs.
"Huh? What's so funny?"
"Ahahahaha! I've slept with rocks for five days now," Blues chuckles.
"Wha...? Five days?" Rock is doing the mental math and coming up with a different number.
Blues continues to chuckle. It's funny now, but it wasn't so funny at the time while he was being crushed. It was a slow and agonizing way to die. "You are... By far the more comfortable rock to sleep with."
Rock slowly begins putting the pieces together to figure out what he means. "...The rubble...you were...you were down there for three days...?
Blues nods. "Three and a half, technically, but..."
Rock looks devastated. "Oh Blues...I'm...I'm so sorry...I should have tried harder to find you...
...No...that's not right...I didn't even try at all..." Rock casts his eyes down, feeling shame well up from his chest.
"It's not your fault," Blues's smile sinks. "You didn't even have an idea where to look."
"Yeah, but..." He clings to his brother. "I'm sorry..."
"Don't be…" He walks out the door with Rock still clinging to him.
Rock knows that Dr. Light is probably already about to make them breakfast, and he's right. Him and Roll are up and cooking together. "Morning, Dad, morning, Roll."
"Morning Rock!" They both chime in, and add "Morning Protoman!"
Blues takes one look at all of the animal product being cooked and opts for his regular fuel. "Mornin..."
"Dad, can we be disconnected today?" Rock does the asking.
"I'll come and have a look, shall I?" The doctor grabs his tablet and walks over to Blues, plugging it into a port in his wrist. When he does, stats about the boy's energy levels fly up on the screen. "Running at 90% while the two of you are connected... That's good!" He unplugs Blues and then goes and plugs into Rock to verify that he has the same level reading out. "90% also... Good good, that's what we were hoping for. Now... Let's see what happens when we remove the power supply." He plugs back once more into Blues's wrist before taking the jumper cables away from his son's chest. As he does, he watches as the power indicator slowly drops. "89... 88... 86... 85. You're holding stable at 85% of your power capacity. It's less than ideal, but you should be able to move around on your own now. Another day of being plugged into Rock should do the trick and have your capacity back up to its optimum level!"
Rock frowns, knowing Blues won't be happy with that. "One more day? You're sure?" The doctor takes his plug out of Blues and attaches it once more to Rock to verify that his energy levels are also slowly back on the rise to 100%, which they are, while Blues flexed his hands and feet, feeling at his strength. This is good... He can work with this. "Alright, sounds great. I'll be back tonight."
The red bot grabs a fuel canister for the road and just like that he's out the door.
"Wh-! B... Blues wait!" Light cries.
"Huh?! Blues wait!" Rock echoes and runs out after him to catch up.
"But I made pancakes..." The doctor mourns as he watches his two sons go. Roll pats his back sympathetically.
Blues decides to go out the window rather than the apartment door and climbs his way to the roof while sipping his drink.
He doesn't catch him going out the window, but even then Rock is pretty certain he knows where his brother his heading. He makes his way up to the roof.
Blues is already surveying the university campus and the edge of town by the time he's there, preparing to head off. Hospital first... Then he'll just do a general patrol.
"Hey..." Rock's voice appears behind him.
"... What?"
"I thought I told you I wanted to go with you."
Blues looks aside, considering. "…well if you want to you can."
Rock brightens. "Good!" He runs up to join his brother's side. "Where do you think we should check first?"
"... W... Well um..." He tries to think of what to say to explain his odd detour. "I was gonna go check out some of the other hospitals... And then patrol the sewers."
Rock tilts his head. "Are you nervous?"
"….."
"AAA. Good thinking," he suddenly bursts out before Blues has to answer. "I bet the robot masters would use them to hide and get around the city undetected."
Blues sighs and nods. "They do. Frequently."
"You know?" Megaman pauses. "Did you ever hide down there with them?
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"Okay then. So hospitals first. Where do we start?"
Blues doesn't hesitate. "Metro Central Children's Hospital."
Megaman nods. "Sounds good. Ready?"
Protoman nods and launches himself into the air with his renewed power, running across the tops of buildings super-hero style while headed in a familiar direction.
Megaman is able to keep up with ease. Not knowing the way as well, he leaves his big brother to lead them there.
Protoman dashes across buildings most of the time, only venturing to the ground when there's no other option. It's easier to travel from above. And it's also usually safer. Almost as soon as they touch down onto the concrete sidewalk near their destination there's an explosion not far away. One of Wily's sniper pods. From what look like the remains of a mailbox, tree Joes emerge, guns blazing. Protoman quickly blocks the blasts with his shield, redirecting the fire away from civilians and back at the Joes.
With Protoman safe with his shield, Megaman dashes in another direction, leading more of the Joes away from the buildings and civilians. Whenever any of them are open, Megaman opens fire. Running on 100% again make it easy to use the power necessary to take them out with only a few shots.
With his brother working to eliminate the sniper drones, Protoman focuses on firing at them from the edges and blocking stray shots from doing harm.
In no time at all, thanks to their teamwork, the pod is eliminated and they're continuing on their way. What neither notices is the news team catching their actions on video.
"Whew...that could have been ugly." Megaman says as he returns to his brother's side. "Looks like this area is safe now though. Should we move on to the next hospital?"
Protoman looks up at the building. "I... I'm going to go in just to ask if they've seen any suspicious activity around."
"Okay. Want me to go with you, or do you wanna split up? I could go check elsewhere."
Blues avoids his gaze again. "Um... Just wait out here for me and keep guard until I've asked around. I'll be back soon."
"You got it!"
Protoman hurries inside where Ethyl is waiting at the front desk. "Protoman? Hey there... We weren't expecting you until tomorrow... What's up?"
"Sorry Ethyl. I'm not here to see the kids today, I came to check on things after I heard the news last night."
The woman frowns. "The attack on the southeast hospital lab? But... You don't think those bad robots would..."
"I do. They're looking through any lab they can find."
"But... What are they looking for?"
He's not sure he wants to explain the truth, so he settles on something more vague. "They're looking for a scientist. One who they think they'll find in a lab."
"Oh..." She quiets. "But... But he's not here, right? If we tell them that they'll leave won't they?"
"!" Now he regrets saying anything. "No! You can't tell them that. If they know you know what they're looking for they'll think you're involved and something horrible might happen to you. Ethyl listen, if they show up don't resist. Just let them enter the lab and search. They'll leave once they see for themselves he's not here. And whatever you do make sure that you deny knowing what they're looking for. Don't tell them about me or mention the man."
Ethyl looks confused and upset. "A.. Are they really coming here!? W... We should evacuate..."
"No Ethyl... The kids have to stay so they can get better. Look, I'll do everything I can to keep them from showing up here..."
He spies Sylvia peeking around the corner. It looks like they're being eavesdropped on. He turns to address her too.
"Just be smart and if they do show up let them search and then leave. Don't talk to them. Don't say anything. Keep calm. And keep the kids safe."
"... Are they after you, Protoman?" Ethyl murmurs.
"...partly. I'll do everything I can to keep them at bay." He promises.
He looks at Sylvia to see if she has anything to say.
"Thank you for coming to warn us, Protoman." The nurse answers. "We'll remember what you told us. And I know you two will keep us safe."
Blues looks down. He isn't so sure. He straightens himself and heads out the door resolute, angry at himself for bringing danger to this doorstep.
Megaman is still standing dutifully at guard when Blues exits the building. "Hey there," he says. "Did anything happen?"
"No... They hadn't seen anything." He replies.
When he looks up at the building once more he notices a few familiar faces waving from windows. Oh boy. He hesitantly waves back.
Rock notices this and curiously looks back to see what he's looking at. When he spots the young faces looking down at them, he waves too. The children aren't quite as delighted by him. They're trying to figure out who he's supposed to be.
"Er... Right then... Sewer..." Blues grapples with whether or not to split up. It would be easy to survey more the city with the two of them separate... But that would open them up to be easier prey in an ambush. Alone in the sewer could be dangerous...
Meanwhile Bass grumbles while he and the other robot masters tramp through dark, stinking sewage tunnels, headed for their next target. He's ended up captain of these misfits on the manhunt for Light, and it's far less than glamorous. "Hmph... This is ridiculous. I shouldn't be babysitting you lot, I could search much faster on my own!"
"B...but what if you get ambushed by Megaman or Protoman?" Gutsman points out. "They've already taken you out twice..."
"Exactly." Bubbleman chimes. "There's safety in numbers! Besides, if there's anyone that should be complaining it's me! Look at all this filth and dirty water! LOOK AT IT! It's against my core function to ignore this mess!"
"Can it" Bass grumps. "Who cares about a little sludge? Your core functionality was to clean up the messes those stupid, selfish humans made for themselves. To be their slave. Ignore it."
Still, Bubbleman continues to grumble. "Easy for you to say... Your core functionality is to fight and I don't see you trying to ignore that."
# # # # # # # # #
Protoman finally drags himself out of the sewer hours later with his brother after zero success. It seems like every time they think they must be getting close the robot masters turn up on some other part of the grid. "Sewer isn't cutting it... It's obvious they're using it to move but without knowing where they're going we are just wandering aimlessly down here. We need to take the search back above ground."
They stop for a while and refuel from a canister Protoman brought along. He can feel his power levels holding pretty steadily at where they were this morning, which is good. Of course, he hasn't been exerting himself, so when they actually end up in a fight... He'll just see how it goes then. Blues watches the cheerful boy at his side as Megaman takes another big gulp of fuel and sighs. He can't help but crack a small grin. So much enthusiasm even when they're doing grim, dangerous work.
Megaman blinks as he hands back the canister, noticing the smirk on his face. "What's so funny?" He asks curiously.
Oh nothing... I was just thinking that it's awfully sunny out. We might have to put some icing on you so you don't dry up.
Rock's eyebrows pinch together and he frowns, putting on semi-comical pout.
Blues snickers.
"...it is nice out though," Rock mutters, "I wish we could be out doing something a little more fun instead."
"Oh... Well..." Blues casts his gaze aside guiltily. He's inclined to agree, but… "We really need to stop the masters before we think about doing anything else ...but maybe after things clear up... I don't know, maybe then."
o.o Rock blinks.
Blues feels a flush creeping towards his cheeks. What is he saying? Is he really going to hang out with this dork doing kid things? ...he's considering it.
Rock's expression is quickly morphing from surprise to uncontainable joy. He looks impossibly excited.
Oh boy... What has Blues just talked himself into...
Rock takes his brother's arm and starts tugging on it. "Well come on then let's get going and stop them!"
"Ack! Okay okay!"
Megaman lets go and bounces onto his feet, itching to get back to work so that they might get finished sooner. "Where do you think we should go next?"
"Hm... I don't...-" Suddenly, something catches his eye. He goes as pale as a robot can go.
"Huh?! What is it?!" Rock follows his gaze.
Blues points to the jumbotron above the city with a news report. A sky copter is getting live feed from a local hospital.
Bass stands outside with his arm looped around Sylvia's neck and his blaster against her head.
Splayed across the bottom of the screen is "hostage situation unfolds at local children's hospital."
Megaman's face falls. "Oh no..."
Protoman takes off towards the hospital they visited earlier. His younger brother doesn't hesitate to follow after him.
When they near the hospital, Blues can hear Bass shouting. Megaman strains to listen to him.
"I know you're out there! Come out come out 'MEGA' MAN! Or do you want your little human friends to get hurt?"
Sylvia shrieks in terror.
Megaman looks to his big brother. "What should I do?" He asks. "Should I go face him?"
Protoman's mind is racing with panic but he tries to think through it. "...the other robot masters... We don't know where they are"
"Should we...should we look for them instead?"
"We could split up... That seems like our best option."
"Okay...you go look for the others. I'll deal with Bass." Rock turns away to face the foe, but quickly stops and turns back. "B...be careful, Blues..."
"Rock..." Blues looks back at him. You too. "...be careful. Just keep Him distracted... And try to move him away from the hospital if you can." If this building goes down from one of Bass's berserker rampages it won't be casualty free. He splits from his brother and moves toward the side of the building. There's a back entrance that he knows of.
The building is quiet when Protoman enters... Too quiet. He unlatches his shield from his back... It's never this quiet in the children's ward.
Something flickers in the corner of his vision and he only has a moment to raise his shield before Shadowman bears into it with his giant shuriken. The ninja bot seems to materialize out of the dark corners of the corridor. "We knew you would come by here soon. Where is your new pal? Saying hello to Bass?"
"Friend? Dunno who you mean." Blues denies, mind still racing with questions. How would he know about Rock? "I just heard you guys were looking for a fight."
He pivots to the side so Shadowman's force leaves the navy bot teetering forward and off balance—providing Blues an opening. He slices at the ninja's side with the sharp edge of his shield and grins when he feels it successfully connect with his target. "Thought I'd show up and give you a real one."
Bass grins maniacally when he spots Megaman arriving. He laughs. "I knew you'd finally show up if we threatened your little human friends!" The black bot shoves Sylvia out of the way to aim at the new arrival instead. "The other masters are inside. If you want to get at them and save the other humans? You have to get through ME."
Shadow Man grunts as he's hit, but otherwise he shows no other signs of pain. "Do not play dumb. You two were all over the news. So touching to see the brothers working together again." Suddenly the ninja bot creates multiple copies of himself to rush at Protoman at once.
Megaman steps no closer once he's been spotted. "You want me, Bass, you're gonna have to come and get me!"
Bass isn't playing that game though. He aims his arm canon at the fleeing doctor, powering it up. "You sure about that?"
He fires.
The fight with Shadowman proves to be a challenge for Protoman, and not just because he is not running at 100%. This one is tough. The copies run him towards corners, which is the last place he needs to be when fighting Shadowman. Usually that's his strategy when battling multiple foes in an enclosed space, but that's exactly what the ninja is counting on. Battling foes blocked into corners is his strong point. In order to keep from being worried ever back into a corner he has to lash out at the doubles, striking them out as they come while searching for the real Shadowman. He knows that the real one isn't among the copies. He'll be camouflaged in the hall... Finally Protoman sees his chance.
"! ARGH!" Pain. White pain lashes through the red bot's back. His foe was one step ahead of him. Protoman falls to the ground, the copies dispersing around him. Shadowman steps out of the shadows from the spot where he stabbed his foe in the back. "You were a good opponent... But until you understand the art of deception, you will never defeat me. Now then..." He kneels down over Protoman's limp form to bind his arms. "I will take you to my mast-"
-SMACK-
Protoman's helm shoots up, smacking right into Shadowman's face. The stealth bot groans as Blues grabs his leg, wheels around, and smashes him into the floor.
"Deception. Think I got it."
After tying the ninja up in his own binding and stuffing him into a utility closet, Blues advanced further into the hospital.
Megaman immediately rushes for the nurse. Before Bass's shot can reach her, he slides into her to push her out of the way to take the hit instead.
Bass laughs at the fool as Sylvia picks herself back up and runs for cover. "Mr. Goodie Two Shoes... I should have thought up this hostage thing earlier!" A cruel grin lights up the black bot's face. "Knew you wouldn't be able to resist if we threatened a few poor humans. So... Where's your BUDDY? Lemme guess... Inside saving the other hostages? He won't get far... Shadow man has a poisoned blade waiting for him~" he gloats in a singsong voice.
Bass whips out his own blade. "And I've got one... For... YOU!" He dashes at Rock, prepared to strike.
Megaman feels his core go cold when he realizes that Protoman is in danger of being poisoned, but there's no chance to warn him. When Bass rushes for him, he prepares to meet him with another slide, ready to trip him the same way he did before.
Meanwhile, in the next hall of the children's ward, the lights flicker. If Protoman can remember, this is the hall where Maggie had been staying last he visited.
Blues comes to a pause, sensing rather than seeing his foe. Elecman.
"Do you want to show yourself, or do you want me to flush you out?"
"Ooh, I think you'll want to come find me, dear Breakman. I have a surprise for you~" A familiar voice teases sadistically. One of the doors is wide open. The sound of a heart monitor can be heard clearly. The heart rate it is detecting is beginning to grow in speed.
! Against his better judgement, Blues rushes into what is surely a trap.
Bass is prepared for the rush at his legs this time. Doctor Wily has programmed him with a new protocol just for that contingency, and he dodges above, air rushing at the ground after he jumps and kicking for Megaman's chest.
Elecman is waiting for him when he burst through the doorway. The wires that run through the heart monitor have been severed for him to siphon its power himself. It gives them more than enough energy to send a bolt of electricity Blues's way.
! Protoman almost blocks with his shield to try to redirect the bolt but fearing for Maggie he doesn't, instead trying to dodge the shot. It still catches his arm and he yowls as it surges through the rest of him.
"E... Elecman... Still taking the cheap shots, I see."
Megaman is just barely able to roll out of the way of Bass's attack. When his foot connects to concrete, the boy is quick to get up and go for an uppercut.
! "GAh!" Bass yells in surprise.
"Oh, you have no idea~" Elecman drawls, venom dripping from his tone. The young girl in the room with them screams out, fearing for her hero. Elecman laughs. "Such an energetic child! You know how we knew one of us had to stick close to her? She put on her bravest face and told us..." He turns to her, hovering his sparking fingers near her. "Go on, sweety. What was it you told me?" The girl whimpers, sinking farther back into her bed. "I... I said you'd come to stop them..." she looks tearfully at Blues.
Bass takes the blow to the face, but quickly swipes his foot back up to kick Megaman away... At least that's what he WISHES he did but doesn't quite work. His foot is embedded in concrete from the force of his blow. He has to angrily tug to get it out while Megaman is free to keep up the offensive.
With Bass temporarily stuck, Megaman knows he needs to take advantage. He hits the black bot with a volley of shots as he moves behind him. And then he gets a thought. Rock runs for him, reeling back his fist, and hits Bass's back with everything he can. He knows Bass is made of stronger stuff than him, but the force of his punch should be strong enough to send him forward while his foot is still stuck within the ground.
Protoman stares between the two of them, faced with an impossible decision. Maggie is terrified. The pale young girl needs some kind of reassurance... But to offer it will mean showing weakness. She and every human will be a weapon to use against him. All of the Wily robot masters will use humans as living shields the moment they grow wise to the fact that he's gone soft. And yet if he doesn't tell Elecman to hold off... He could believe this bot would be cruel enough to end the girl's life to test him.
Protoman freezes, caught between a rock and a hard place.
Bass grunts as he's pummeled back and forth like a punching back. "You-GRk! Sorry piece of-ACK! Scrap-YOW!" Finally from the force of Rock's blow, Bass is knocked free. He leaps into the air to escape the blows before turning around and returning fire.
"ILL GET YOU, you BRAT!"
"I have to wonder how anyone here would know you...You sure aren't as famous as your little brother." Elecman tilts his head as a sinister smirk appears on his face. "And you sure ain't a hero like he is. So what'd you do to make her think so?" He reaches out to grab a piece of her hair, making the rest of her strands stand on end from static as she shakes and whimpers.
Megaman has to laugh at Bass's anger, even as he runs for cover from his fire. Now that Bass is so mad, he might blindly chase Rock away from the hospital. "You can try, ya dense-helmed jerk!" He makes sure to give him an insulting face to further infuriate him before turning and running.
Bass fires off a flurry of shots at Megaman even as he lands and sure enough takes after the blue bot. "COME BACK HERE AND FACE ME COWARD!" He follows haplessly, not realizing that he's being diverted.
"Why don't you come and catch me first?" Megaman teases. He'll get Bass as far away from the hospital as he can before he tries to seriously fight him.
The moment Elecman touches Maggie everything becomes very simple for Blues. Her wellbeing comes first. It doesn't matter how he accomplishes it.
"Hey, Buzz." He snides, putting on a cocky grin. "Remember how I pulled a plug out of Doctor Wily the other day?"
Blues turns his arm into a blaster and points it at Maggie. Be brave sweetie. Don't give up. "I'm about to pull your plug too."
He fires a shot at the girl.
Behind her, the heart monitor explodes from the impact, ridding Elecman of his power source. All the fire alarms in the room go off and the next moment the sprinkler system turns on, soaking everything.
Blues lunges at his foe.
Maggie shrieks as the heart monitor is blasted, and water begins to fall into the room. Elecman growls. "You fool!" Though he's no longer connected to a power source, he's stored plenty to power his attacks. Electricity sparks from his hands and to Protoman. His attack makes his target, but the sprinklers make it impossible to control the flow of his charge. Electricity bursts from him and to the outlets, the machinery, and its magnified through his own body. Maggie screams as blue lightning streaks travel everywhere.
Protoman changes directions midcharge when everything starts going haywire, shielding the girl with his shield and body as best he can to keep her from getting wet and subsequently shocked. "GRRR... Run... Run!" He grunts as he gets zapped himself.
Maggie hesitates. "But I...I'm supposed to be your sidekick...!"
"Y...you are... But right now I need you to help me by getting yourself to safety... Okay?" He howls as another streak of lightning arcs off of his back.
Tears falls from her face as she watches her hero so hurt, but she finally does as told and runs out of the room.
"Hehehe...good. Now she can't get in our way." Excitement is obvious in Elecman's eyes as he watches Protoman's body light up. "Oh yes~ you look perfect"
Protoman turns, his frame sparking. "Oh yeah..." It hurts, the electrical surges... But his battery is back up and his personal levels are surging. So if he can bear the pain...
"You're toast."
Bass is maybe not the craftiest of bots but it's quickly becoming apparent that this "blindly chasing" strategy isn't working. Megaman is fast and nimble. Bass is no slowpoke but he's better at the charges once he gets his momentum going. Not making quick turns.
So he changes strategy.
Eventually, Bass disappears from sight. If he is still pursuing Megaman, there is no sign of him.
Megaman skids to a stop when he realizes he's lost track of Bass. "Who's the coward now, huh?" He calls out, hoping more taunting will goad him out of his cover. "I thought you wanted to fight!"
Elecman tuts and wags his finger. "We'll see whose toast." He produces another burst of electricity from his hands that spreads through the whole room. Protoman is better off now that he can use his shield to block himself but that only really helps him against the frontal blasts, not against the surges that get to him through the water on the floor. He is forced to take the same strategy as with Shadowman-offense is the best defense. He bashes straight into Elecman, flattening him against the wall.
Elecman growls when he is pinned, but he simply grabs at his opponent's shield. "This thing can't protect you from everything!" He continues expelling charge as he tries to pry it out of his hands and reach around it, knowing that it will carry enough to Protoman's body
! "GYA!" Protoman seizes up as the enormous surge wracks his frame.
With a crazed and gleeful grin, Elecman makes a final attempt to rip the shield from Protoman's grip. "You're mine."
Too electrified up to resist the tug, Blues at last has it pried out of his grasp.
!
Elecman chuckles. "Come here~" he reaches for Protoman's helmet. Protoman grits his teeth, wishing he had something to bite into. This is gonna fucking hurt.
A lot.
Elecman takes hold of his helm and lets his energy flow out.
Protoman can't scream. He's frozen in his agony. Electricity rips through his brain, jolting him senseless. His body jerks sickly from the enormous surge coursing through him and holding him captive. When Elecman finally releases him he drops to the ground, unconscious.
"Ooohh yes~" Elecman moans once he's on the floor. "Such a delight. I get to see your body more alive than it's ever been, right before you drop dead."
# # # # # # # #
Protoman trembles faintly on the ground where he has fallen as his senses slowly trickle back... He's conscious again… But just barely...
He tries to force himself think... Think... There's gotta be a way to beat Elecman...
Think... Think...
The sprinkler has stopped pattering against his face.
Think... Think...
He's being dragged...
Think... Think...
His sluggish mind registers more bodies walking by his motionless frame down the hallway. There are scared faces peeking out of the hospital doors, watching the grim progression. Children mouth his name.
Think... Think...
I was a fool.
Think...
I'm no hero.
Think...
What's the use...?
I've lost.
# # # # # # # # #
Despite Megaman's catcalls, Bass is nowhere to be seen. The city streets are empty. Everything is quiet.
Suddenly, Megaman gets a comm. It's doctor Light.
"Rock? Rock are you alright? The news… Have you seen the news? The children's hospital is under attack! Oh Rock it's horrible... They have Blues! The robot masters have him!"
A news helicopter flies overhead, training on Megaman.
"Oh it's just dreadful it's... Ah! I see you on television! Hurry you must... SON LOOK OUT!"
There's a roar directly behind the blue bot.
Megaman tries hard to ignore the words of his father in order to keep his mind focused on the situation at hand. He's successful until Blues is mentioned, and then he goes numb. The robot masters all have him now, and he wasn't there to save him. He hardly even moves again until his father tells him to look out. And instantly he's diving out of the way to avoid an attack. He can't lose his resolve now. He won't be any use to Blues or the people in the hospital or anyone if he lets Bass get the better of him.
The black bot's punch that was aimed toward his head flies harmlessly over Megaman and into the brick wall showering both of them in rubble. This earns yet another howl of rage from Bass.
"STUPID KID! YOURE JUST AS BAD AS BREAKMAN! STOP DODGING ALREADY AND DIE!"
He lashes out blindly, destroying brick, concrete, and anything that gets between him and Megaman. "STUPID! IDIOT! WEAK! LAME... BLUE... Idiot... Stupid... L-lame... Weak..." As he shouts his fierce blows begin to lose steam.
"Idiot... Stupid... B-blue... Damn... You... Megaman..."
The blows finally come to a laborious stop as Rock dodges each of them. And finally... FINALLY... Bass has nothing left to throw into them. He clunks as his frame falls to the ground, heated and exhausted.
Megaman finally slows to a stop when he hears Bass's voice die out. He turns to see the bot fallen over without him having even touched him. Not knowing how long he will actually stay down, Megaman looks around for something that will keep him from getting back up and causing more problems.
There are some trash cans, dumpsters, and metal pipes around. The pipes maybe could be used to tie him up, but it's questionable as to how well they'll be able to hold him if he regains his strength.
He gets an idea, though. Rock quickly scoops up the bot and deposits him in a dumpster. The metal pipes are wedged into the handles of its sliding hatch. As for the top opening...Megaman jumps onto the lid and begins welding it shut with Heatman's power.
Blues is blurry on the details of what's happening. Things keep fading in and out. Someone is talking but his brain is too fuzzy to process the words.
"We should tie him up..."
"Psh. He's not going anyw$ 'bd...7:9 3!;$: ...dusk soon...;$zzzz... Bass? He should be back by ndlljdj..."
Fireman moves in front of him, speaking up.
"Why are we still here? We have Protoman. There's no purpose to being in the hospital anymore."
"But what if sklsfj... ;&/ :&zzz... D;?"
"Djskjj;& until he surrenders... Now what are they doing? HEY! Back to your rooms!"
There's whimpering from an unseen source and the sound of retreating footsteps and closing doors.
"Fine Fireman... You have a point. Let's get back outside to wait for Bass."
Protoman feels his mind trying to remake the connections broken by the power surge.
My name is Blues
I was made by a doctor
My function is...
My name is Blues... I was made by doctor...
I have a function.
Rock took it.
I am functionless.
Think... Think...
My name is Protoman.
Someone created me.
I am a robot.
My mind was fried.
Elecman tried to kill me.
Do I have a function?
My name is Breakman.
There were once two doctors that made me.
Was one of them good?
I have a name...
I can't remember what it is...
Someone created me.
I have a brother.
I hate him... Don't I?
My name is Protoman.
Doctor Wily fixed me.
Did someone break me?
I am the break man.
I am broken.
My head hurts...
Where am I?
Never give in... Never surrender...
My name is Blues...
Am I a hero?
I don't remember...
I'm so confused...
There was a power surge...
I feel so weak... My shoulder hurts...
My name is Breakman.
I need a doctor to fix me.
There are two doctors though... Which one should it be?
My name is Blues.
I'm not a hero.
I want to go home.
I can't think straight...
There were two doctors...
I have a brother.
Fight to the finish...
My name is Blues.
What should I do?
Think... Think...
Once the dumpster containing Bass is all sealed up, Megaman turns away and heads straight to the hospital. On the way, he opens up a comm to Light. "Dr. Light? Can you hear me?"
"Yes! Yes son I can! Excellent job! But you must hurry still. The robot masters are emerging from the hospital. They have your brother still. He seems to be offline."
"Thank you! I'll be there as soon as I can!" Megaman pushes himself to run even faster. He prepares himself to be met with any number of robot masters.
Blues's helmet clanks as it makes contact with concrete. He tries flexing his hand.
It moves.
He does so again, trying out his fingers.
They move... Twitchily, but they move at his command. He flexes his foot next.
He can move... Maybe he should... shouldn't he? Or should he stay laying down...
He knows vaguely that he's surrounded by danger and it sets him on edge.
To move or not to move when there's danger.
Shield... He uses his shield when there's danger. Where did it go?
Five masters wait outside the hospital-Gutsman, Cutman, Fireman, Bubbleman, and Elecman. Shadow man is missing, a fact that the other masters are bickering over.
"How should I know where he is!? He said he would take care of Protoman and yet here the guy is!"
"Do you think he took Shadowman out?"
"How should I know!?"
Gutsman knocks on Protoman's helm.
"Aye you! Did you do something to Shadow?"
"Oh yeah like drooly here is going to answer you."
They almost don't notice as Megaman approaches. Almost.
"Well well well! Look who we have here? See guys! I told you we were better than Bass. Original robot masters get the job done!" Cutman gloats even though he has done nothing productive all day.
Megaman glares when he sees the limp frame of his brother surrounded by all of them. "Please. I know all of you too well. If Bass couldn't surprise me enough to defeat me, none of you have a chance."
"Pahahahaha! That's what you think, but Protoman used to defeat Bass all the time too and look where he is now!"
Elecman grabs his helmet and swivels the red bots head around on his shoulders so Megaman can see how unresponsive he is. "Limp noodle."
Megaman narrows his eyes. "You let him go!"
Blues continues to try to make sense of the situation.
My name is Protoman...
Something's going on right now...
I should be doing something.
I defeated Bass. I turned his own power against him.
We're outmatched and overpowered.
I took a power surge to the head.
I can't think straight...
I can't think straight...
Fireman lifts the torches on his arms and fires them up, pointing toward Megaman. "Never! Surrender now or you'll share his fate."
"I'll never surrender to you!"
Protoman's eyes widen.
Never surrender. Never surrender. Fight to the finish. Something rings true to that. But who shouldn't he surrender to? Who is he fighting?
"Alright then." Gutsman pounds his fists together. Then we do this the hard way! You might be Rockman, but you're about to get ROLLED."
Rock. Roll. Rock and roll. Brother and sister. Roll...
"Cinnamon roll." He murmurs quietly. Something clicks. Everything else is a mess but something clicks. He just has to think straight. Gotta think straight...
Doesn't he? Maybe he doesn't. Maybe crooked will work fine.
Protoman stands to his feet.
"Ah... Man it feels like I just took a zap to the head... Whew... Thank goodness."
All of the other masters screech to a halt around him as their captive suddenly starts moving again.
"Wh... P... Protoman!?"
Protoman. His name is Protoman.
"How are you moving!? Y... Your processor should have been fried when Elecman zapped you!"
Elecman fried his processor.
"Hahaha. Yeah it was. Completely messed up. Thanks for that! I don't know what I'd have done without it."
The confusion thickens. Good. It's nice for everyone else to be as confused as he is.
"Eh... What do you mean!?"
"I mean I'm glad he zapped me! I can finally think straight!"
Bluff. Major bluff.
He activates the canon on his arm, pointing it towards Megaman.
"Now we can take Megaman out together."
Rock's eyes widen in shock. What is happening? Elecman fried his processor. Are his memory circuits damaged? Why is he saying this? "Protoman? What are you doing?"
Protoman grins and fires a shot straight at the blue bot. His brother.
"What I was made to do. Break you."
Gutsman scratches his head as Protoman opens fire, vocalizing what all the other masters are wondering.
"Wh... But I thought you were on his side... Wasn't he, Elecman? Why the change?"
Megaman ducks out of the way, but he feels like the shot made a direct hit to his core. No. This can't be. He couldn't have forgotten everything.
"M... Maybe he really is on our side?" Says Bubbleman. "Wh... What if when Megaman took him the other day they altered him in the lab... Protoman always DID think that doctor would change his personality if he got the chance..."
Blues continues to fire off shots while listening to what the masters are saying. Other doctor... Altering his personality.
"You're exactly right! That must have been what happened... I just remember being put on a lab table and then... Bam! Here I am. He must have overwritten who I was. I'm in your debt, Elecman. You really saved me." He flashes a charming smile at the black and yellow bot.
"No!" Rock cries out as he continues dodging the chaotic volley of shots. "He never even touched your core! That was you who fought with me! The real you!"
Idiot cinnamon roll. Protoman keeps firing in his direction. Meanwhile, Fireman and Gutsman jump in at Protoman's defense.
"No way! Don't listen to him! That's exactly what he wants you to think! I knew you were too cool to really join that blue loser! Sorry for doubting in you Protoman..."
Finally Bubbleman, Cutman, and Elecman look at each other, silently debating. To trust him or not to trust him? It's the moment of truth.
"Alright... Good to have you back, Breakman." Bubbleman says, joining in the shots with his hydro blasts. "Sorry for doubting."
Blues grins. It's working.
He makes eye contact with Elecman, looking for some sign of acceptance from the temporary ring leader.
"No!" Rock yells desperately, "They don't know what they're talking about because Wily changed all of them! He's the one you should fear changing you, not Light, because he's done it to them!"
Elecman meets Protoman's gaze...and grins. He gestures to Megaman. "Do what you were made to do."
Protoman returns his grin and motions forward towards the fray. "Care to join me, partner?"
Elecman gladly steps forward. He brings his hands together, pulling them apart to create a string of lightning bolts as a sinister grin is focused on the child.
There's a lot of confusion as children from the hospital watch the scene unfold below. A lot of question as to who is friend and foe.
Protoman and Elecman dip and dodge around Megaman's frantic attacks. They silence his pleas counter attacks. When blasts aimed for Elecman seem like they're about to connect, Protoman shields him, redirecting the breams at his brother.
And silently he pleads with Rock.
Run kid... Run. It pains him to do this. It's his only option right now, but it pains him.
And yet.. His mind is still not all right... And there's a crooked part of him still there...
A crooked part that takes glee in this savagery. In facing down an outclassed opponent.
Megaman dodges and counters all he can, but never does he once intentionally fire a shot at Protoman. He can't bring himself to shoot at his brother. "Protoman, please!" He continues pleading even though the others drown them out. "You have to remember who you are! Who I am! There's no reason for us to fight anymore!"
-PSHOW-
A hit finally connects, fired out of Protoman's own cannon. It hits his brother square in the chest, sending him flying back.
Megaman cries out and falls back. Elecman bursts into laughter. "This is pathetic, even for you!"
"Hahaha!" Protoman charges his cannon back up as his fragile mind races. Is he taking this too far? Can Megaman handle it? Should he stop and try to fight the real threat on these uneven terms?
He keeps charging and charging even as he watches a tear roll down Rock's face.
Rock doesn't even lift his cannon. He has no intention to counter whatever terrible attack Protoman has in store for him. All he can do is brace himself to dodge. "You see that!" Shouts Gutsman. "He ain't even taking you seriously!"
My name is Protoman.
Doctor light created me.
He built Megaman to replace me.
I am the break man.
I am not a hero.
I am a fool.
My brother is a cinnamon roll.
My mind was damaged.
I have to protect the children.
If I shoot Rock, he will die.
Think... Think...
Blues lowers his weapon.
"Ah... I remember now..."
He turns away from Rock back towards the other masters.
"W... Wait... What are you doing!?"
"Show's over guys. Let's pack it up and move out. I have something important to deliver to Doctor Wily."
Rock is left shocked once again. If Protoman goes to Wily, something bad is sure to come out of it. "No!" Megaman runs towards his brother. "You can't go back to him! Please!"
He's knocked back by a hydro blast from bubble man.
"No way Breakman! What are you doing!? Finish him!" Elecman rages
Blues waves him off.
"Now now.. Megaman isn't REALLY our enemy... It's Doctor Light. And I know exactly where to find him. That's the mission right? That takes first priority."
Megaman immediately scrambles to his feet. "No no no no!" He cries, running right back to him. "You can't tell him! You don't want to put us all in danger again! I know you don't!"
"And not just us! Remember, he'll attack other humans just to get us! You don't want innocent people to get hurt, right?"
Blues knows he has to do something fast or this is going to end badly... "Psh... Listen to you...
Such a cinnamon roll."
The other robot masters look confused. ...cinnamon roll?
Rock's eyes go wide. Cinnamon roll...does he really remember after all?
Blues wishes Rock could see him wink through his visor. Go. Run. "C'mon guys. Time to go back to Wily."
He turns and starts heading for the sewer entrance as sirens begin to sound in the distance, headed their way.
Megaman is left completely dumbfounded. If Blues remembers...why is he doing this? What is he planning? If only he could know. The boy is left standing with all of his questions while the robot masters reluctantly leave with Protoman. He doesn't even notice as the sirens approach.
As the police arrive on the scene a few surround him. The rest move into the hospital to check on the hostages.
Only after staring at blue lights for several minutes does Rock finally snap out of it. He gives a sad sigh and begins trudging home, ignoring his ability to beam back. He doesn't want to get home any sooner than he has to. It'll just mean he has to explain what happened faster.
Blues relaxes as he makes it into the sewer with the other Robot masters. He did it... The kids are safe... As far as he knows, no one was harmed...
And yet he can't feel happy about what he did. It wasn't honest. And it's not really over yet.
Wily remains. As long as that crackpot is calling the shots people are still in danger.
Blues's thoughts are grim as he thinks himself towards the only sensible solution.
My name is Protoman.
It is also Blues.
It is also Breakman.
I was made by Doctor Wily and Doctor Light.
Doctor Wily is a menace.
He will stop at nothing to have his way.
He will hurt people.
He will hurt my family.
I have the chance to stop him once and for all.
I'm not a hero...
But am I ready to be a killer?
END OF CHAPTERI left it on a cliffhanger. Ain't I a stinker?
