CB: Sorry about the lack of updates, the site hasn't been letting me upload anything.

Forte just gave Roll a blank stare, then shook his head. "What?"

"It's true, Blues confirmed it." Roll said.

Forte just kept on shaking his head, "No, he, no. There is no way in hell he would do something honorable like that."

"He never told you, did he?" Roll asked softly.

"Do you really think that matters to me?" Forte spat back. "All the crap he did to me, and everyone else, and the fact that he had a reason makes it all go away?"

"No, it wasn't alright, but-"

"I don't really care!" Forte cut her off.

"Forte… what did he do to you to make you hate him so much?" Roll asked softly.

"Forget it Roll, let's just get this little trip over with."

"Oh no. You are not dodging the question." Roll said with her hands on her hips.

"I'm not dodging the question." Forte said.

"Then what do you call this?"

"Trying not to make a scene." Forte deadpanned.

She stood confused for a moment until she remembered that they were still in public. "Fine, but this conversation isn't over."

"Are you sure about this Albert?" Thomas asked. "If we make a version more powerful than X, then what will we do if he gets infected?"

"Geez, aren't I supposed to be the pessimist?" Albert asked.

"I know that I'm not usually this antsy, but, well…"

"Well what?"

Dr. Light sighed, "I only hope that the IRC never finds out about this, because X alone would be seen as too dangerous in their eyes."

"Well, yes, I can see that as a problem, but they probably won't get involved. Especially after what happened a few weeks ago." Dr. Wily said.

"What do you mean?"

"Haven't you heard? The top members of the IRC were assassinated. No evidence of whom it could be other than very thin slits through their hearts. The entirety of the committee is still in turmoil because they never really planned for anything other than natural deaths." Dr. Wily explained.

"Oh my god." Dr. Light said. "I-I've been so caught up in my work with X that…"

"Bah." Albert said "Don't worry about it, it won't effect us. Now then, back to matters at hand."

"Ah yes, do you have a way to restrain him if he does become infected?"

"I plan on adding a failsafe, similar to the one I have in Forte. It will send high voltage currents through his body until he's immobilized, and then shut him down."

"That sounds very… painful." Thomas commented. "Isn't there a better way?"

"Unfortunately no." Dr. Wily sighed. "With how powerful and advanced this one will be, a flat out shut down might destroy him."

"Well what does it look like?"

"Just a gem on the forehead, Forte has one on his helmet."

"Will one be enough?"

"Probably not, so we should probably add a couple more, most likely on the chest to make sure it can get the servos." Albert explained.

"Are you absolutely sure it will stop him?" Thomas asked.

"Without a doubt." Albert assured him.

Thomas looked thoughtful for a moment. "We could probably upgrade the Mark 10 that X uses."

"Or maybe not…" Albert said slyly.

Thomas smirked when he saw the growing grin on Albert. "I know that look, so I should probably leave the room for a moment."

"Why?" He asked as he started chuckling.

"Because you're maniacal laughter gets quite loud."

"Um… Forte?" Roll asked.

"I told you to save it Roll." Forte said without turning his head toward her.

"No it's not that, it's that, well.."

"Spit it out Roll."

"We just passed the store I need to go to." She said.

"Oh." He said as he stopped in his tracks, his anger seeming to diffuse under the weight of sudden embarrassment. "Er, sorry…"

"It's okay, I know you have a lot on your mind."

"Um-" Forte was cut off as a yelling man ran down the streets towards them.

"Hey toilet pixie lady!" He called.

"What?" Forte asked incredulously.

"Um… that's Twigsby. I'm not really sure how to explain him." She said.

"Toilet pixie lady! How have" he stopped once he saw Forte. "Are you the government! Are you after my rice baked potatoes!"

"No Twigsby, he's not with the government, he's a friend of mine." Roll said.

"You must be Sarky Mctaquitochip! Very nice to meet you!" He said while fixing the beanie on his head and dusting off his heavy green full-body jacket. "It has been nice, but I'm afraid French fries and oyster monkeys call me to their domain." He shouted before running off.

"… What the hell was that about?" Forte asked.

"That was Twigsby." She said simply. "He was a bit calmer today than usual."

"I think I might be able to explain him, he's insane!"

"Probably." Roll said while scratching the back of her head.

The ball soared through the air, only to be caught in the air by Rush.

"Good boy!" Rock cheered with a smile.

"Rock." A voice from directly behind him suddenly said. He literally jumped and turned to find Blues standing a few feet behind him.

"Don't do that!" He shouted. Blues just smirked.

"Sure, I just came out here to tell you that the Cossacks are going to be stopping by for awhile in a week."

"Really? Great! It's been awhile since I've seen any of them." Rock said happily.

"Good." Blues said. "Be sure to tell Roll and Forte once they get back."

"Sure, but what are you going to be doing?"

"I have some things I need to take care of."

Twigsby walked happily paranoid down the alley, whistling off key a song he had made up about the government being after his cheese dip.

"Halt." A voice from inside the alley said.

"Huh? Who's there? Are you the government?" He asked suspiciously.

"I work for only one authority, and your government is not it." The voice replied.

"Then who are you? And what do you want?"

"I want to know why you seem to be immune to my friends effects." Another voice said.

"What effects? Are you talking about my farty juice?"

"…Ugh, I'd rather not know you simpleton." The first voice said.

"Don't worry, you don't really have to comply." The second voice, one with a sadistic edge to it, said.

"What ar-" He was cut off as a leather-bound hand shot out of the shadows and latched onto his face and glowed an amethyst light.

"Well?" The second voice asked.

"It is as I thought. His mind is to broken to effect like the others." The first voice answered.

"Can you control him by other means?"

"Hmph! You seem to forget just who you're talking to." The first voice answered haughtily.

"I know who I address. A man who thinks too highly of himself given his circumstances." The second voice replied.

The first voice growled. "Do you have any specific use for this simple fool, 'your majesty'? He asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes…" The second voice answered chuckling, "Things are about to get much hotter in this city."

"Okay!" Roll said as they approached the forest they came from. "That's everything."

"Good, now we can get out of here." Forte replied as he entered the forest.

An hour in, Roll decided to ask the question that had been on her mind since earlier that day. "Forte?"

"Yeah?"

"You still have to answer the question." She said.

"I said stow it Roll." He retorted immediately.

She wasn't going to let it drop at that. She ran ahead of him and stood directly in front of him. "No! I am not just going to ignore this!" She demanded.

"Roll…" He growled.

"No! I don't care what type of threat you give, I know it will be empty."

"Do you know what it's like to have your own father hate you?" Forte whispered loud enough for her to hear.

"W-What?" She asked.

"Do you!" He shouted, taking a step forward and making her fall a step back.

"I… I-"

"Has Dr. Light ever threatened to turn you into scrap metal for failing something the first time you do it? Were his first words to you, 'get up you worthless scrap, I've got a job for you'? Have you ever been broken and bleeding, and the most he gives you is a scornful look? Well?" He ranted on staring her directly in the eye.

"I-"

"No, of course you haven't. Your father actually gave a damn about whether you lived or died. Listen, my past is my concern; you have no right prying into it."

"I'm sorry." She said softly.

"I told you before, I don't want your pity."

"And I told you before, it's sympathy. I'm sorry that you had to go through like that. I can't actually say I know what it feels like, but, I do know you're not alone anymore, not everyone you know hates you." She said.

He calmed down lightly "Listen, do not ask about-" He was cut off as Roll's body quickly came forward and her arms wrapped around his waist. "What?"

"Sorry to surprise you" She said. "But it just felt like you needed one."

"I'm not letting you go so soon, so you might as well get comfy." She said with a chuckle.

"Fine." Forte sighed as he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. It felt… strangely nice, he noticed.

"See? Was that so hard?" She asked.

"What?" He asked, confused.

"You've never returned a hug before, feels nice, doesn't it?" She clarified.

"…Yeah." He said hesitantly.

Twigsby stumbled through the night streets, carrying a container of gasoline, wide eyed and at full attention. He knew what he had to do; he had to please his master.

He found the backdoor of his destination locked; he merely picked up a nearby rock and smashed the lock open. He dragged himself down to the lowest levels of the basement, carrying his rock and canister. The room was dark, and full of pipes and handles. He started turning all of them up to maximum output, then picked up his rock and started banging pipes open, filling the air with gas.

He proceeded to pour the canister of gasoline on the floor, pipes, and himself, drenching his clothes. Then, finally, he pulled out one final item that his master had given him, a matchbook.

An explosion ripped through the air, the sound deafening, the building falling in all directions, it's remnants in flames. A sign fell from the sky that said one thing.

"Winchester Hospital."

CB: Take notes kiddies; this will be on the test. Man, I'm real sorry I haven't been updating recently, even though I've been home for about a week, but life gets in the way ya know? I won't waste your time with a rant.