ROCKMAN:EMOTION

part two:password

(10)

Anxiously awaiting Wily's arrival, Blues leaned his head against the wall separating him from Sierra's makeshift cell, listening for movement. Aside from shifting around to take in her surroundings, the girl had made no sound, which strangely sent a thread of relief through his mind.

Smart girl, not panicking. He'd noticed it from the beginning; Sierra rarely fell into fits of strong emotion, waiting instead for the answers to present themselves.

Just like her dad.

The 'bot coughed suddenly, just as the old scientist ambled down the corridor towards him with Forte and another Robot Master in tow – for security, he surmised. Although far too inclined to make excuses rather than admit it, Wily was one of the biggest cowards he'd ever seen, and his treatment of Forte, his own violent creation, was no exception. But to be so afraid of a young girl? That was beyond pathetic.

The other Robot Master – Gutsman – gave him a scowl as they passed, a testament to Blues' constant lack of respect to them, to their creator, and just about everything else. But the red robot only smirked in return, crossing both arms over his chest and gesturing with a nod of his head towards the locked room.

"Inside Door Number One, gentlemen, is your prize." But is it the lady or the tiger, he added amusedly to himself. Wily ignored him as Gutsman clumsily worked the lock, swinging the door open so hard that it nearly splintered against the adjacent stone walls. Almost.

He glanced at Forte with a finger raised, and the cobra hissed, taking a guard position outside while the others entered. The door was closed again (more gently this time), allowing only the occasional murmur to pass through to spying ears.

Incredibly agitated, Forte began to fidget, snarling to himself occasionally. "What the hell's going on in there?"

"Who knows."

Unsatisfied, he pressed on. "Sounds like the old idiot's doing all the talking… she stupid or something?"

A soft chuckle. "Would you interrupt one of the Doc's rants?"

Ah, there it was, the smallest glimmer of a fanged smirk. "Hah. Hell no."

"There you go."

Silence fell once more, both concentrating on collecting whatever bits of conversation they could possibly get, though Blues only did so half-heartedly; he'd get his chance soon enough. The scientist droned on and on, pausing only occasionally as the girl would cut in with a few very choice words.

That's it, don't give in, he thought, but a golden glare from Forte brought him back to his senses – he hadn't even realized he'd spoken aloud. Damn.

"What was that?"

"Huh?"

"Don't play stupid with me, prototype. Ever since Fireman messed up, you've been on edge." His strides slowed to a languid stalk, and he stopped right in front of Blues, peering at the darkened visor expectantly. "Hiding, even."

"And what's that supposed to mean? I have nothing to hide."

"Like hell!" Forte roughly grabbed him by the scarf, his other hand placed threateningly along the edge of the crimson helmet. "How easy would it be to hide those thoughts of yours if I took this away, eh? Where's the mystery then?"

"Let go of me, Forte."

"Or what?" He sneered, already tugging at the visor in an attempt to rip it away. "What could you possibl—" the raspy voice cut off abruptly with a pained grunt, and the ebony-clad 'bot sank slowly to the floor. Golden eyes flared in fury as they fell upon a scarlet fist – the one that had embedded itself between the plates of his armor only a moment before.

Blues said nothing for a time, readjusting his helmet and resuming his relaxed position against the wall as if nothing had happened. "Don't push it, cobra, or the deal is off."

The door swung open, and Dr. Wily emerged with Gutsman close behind. The former gave Forte a curious glance before his beady eyes swiveled to regard the crimson robot instead. "Keep an eye on her."

"Just one?" he quipped, cocking his head to one side. "Care to elaborate, o ambiguous one?"

"She must be healthy!" he snapped back, stomping one foot against the floor grates with a clang and a creak of metallic protest "Her work begins tomorrow! Forte, you idiot, get up! I have a job for you." A motion to Gutsman, and the burly Robot Master grasped Forte by the arm, forcibly bringing him to his feet. This earned him a swift roundhouse kick to the jaw, barely missing Wily as he flew back into the wall. The crash was deafening, but somehow the ancient walls still managed to hold, a terrific cloud of dust and debris erupting all around.

"Don't touch me." Forte took a step towards Wily, then another, and finally decided to simply brush past, roughly shoving the doctor aside to clear the path. A split-second later the scientist regained his composure, taking a long breath and shouting a long series of obscenities as he followed his menacing creation back to the lab.

Blues idly glanced at Gutsman, grinning. "Seeing stars, Gutsy?"

"Shu'up, guts. Got a headache, guts. Ow. Guts."

This time he laughed outwardly, watching the apelike construction amble away, swinging his arms with each step. Only when he turned the corner did Blues turn back towards the door, opening it slightly to peer inside. The girl was staring off into space, her hands clenched into fists and resting in her lap. Several strands of hair had fallen from her ponytail, and dirt covered her clothing, and yet she wore an expression of proud defiance… one that her grandfather would certainly be proud of.

Her dad, too, he thought again before he could stop himself. "Sierra?"

Eyes rimmed red with silent tears slowly met his, but she otherwise remained still. Taking a step inside, he shut the door quietly behind him. Her stare remained, her mouth pressed into a tight, grim line, which for some reason made him uneasy.

"So… you met the doc, eh?"

Silence.

"Heh, yeah, I know what you mean. He goes on and on about himself, his genius, yadda yadda, and you just don't know what to make of it. Me? I shut up, too. Once he figures out you're not really listening, though, he quits."

He sat down, sighing gently and giving her a smile. "Wily's a real piece of work, let me tell you. Crazy son of a—well, you know that already, right?"

"Who… are you?"

Taken aback, he paused.

"Who are you?" she repeated, louder, turning to face him with hardened features. Her resolve had been shaken, but not broken… despite her capture she was all the more determined to get her answers. He had to admire that.

"They call me Blues."

"They called you a prototype," she stated calmly. "The prototype."

Stiffening, he sat up, the smile fading from his face. I don't like where this is going… "Did they, now? What else did they tell you?"

"Damn it, what do you want?" she demanded, jumping to her feet. "You show up, try to capture me… then come back to help me, and then bring me to this godforsaken hole to help that… that… monster! And now you want to play nice while you interrogate me! Is this just a game to you!" Fury filled her from head to toe, her face awash in red from pent-up anger and frustration. "You think you're so advanced, so superior that an idiot human being like me needs to be kept in the dark, to be your pawn? Is that the flaw that my grandfather found in you?"

It happened in a scarlet flash, far too fast for the natural eye to see. All Sierra knew next was that she was against the wall, her captor bearing down on her with incredible ferocity. The inability to see his eyes made him even more frightening, his hand gripping her shoulder tighter than a steel vise. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, her own anger rising to a new level. Staring him down, she dared him to try something. She wasn't afraid.

"You… don't know a damned thing about me," he whispered, almost too quietly to be heard. "You couldn't possibly have any idea what I've gone through… what I've sacrificed… just to survive!"

"You went with Wily… willingly," he could see her wince upon hearing her own voice break. "Abandoned my grandfather… and my father."

"Stop it…" his grip on her tightened, and this time a whimper escaped her. "Stop it…!"

"He said… that a robot killed my father… because he wouldn't join them…" gasping now, she fought to keep speaking, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Was it you? Did you kill one of your creators… break the First Law of Robotics…?"

"Shut up!" he backed away, letting her go and raising a hand to his face as if to block her words. Of all the times he wished he could stop listening, just switch off his ears… Make it stop…

"Was it… you?"

Growling, he raised his head, all control lost in a frenzy of fear and anger -- that evaporated immediately away as his hidden eyes fell on her again. Even now the girl stared at him, refusing to leave him in privacy with his agony. She clutched her arm, already darkening from the bruises of his fingertips and hanging limply at her side. Blues gaped at it, finally coming to his senses.

"I…that…" he shook his head slowly, taking another step, then another into the hall, before turning away completely and slamming the door shut behind him. Only when the lock activated with a dull click did he finally reach for the button on his wrist, teleporting him away from the fortress… and away from Sierra.

Author's Notes: Just hit midterms, so it will be a while until the next update… sorry guys! Forgive any typoes, but keep up the reviews – feedback rules, and will definitely help me through the loooong two weeks ahead.

Next chapter: "Recollection": A closer look into the past… Blues accepts his sins, but what will he do to atone?