Megaman and Protoman continued to fix up Bass, while Rhythm looked over the corpse.

"We called Dr. Wily first, right?" Protoman asked.

"Yes, but Dr. Light lives closer to here than Dr. Wily does" Megaman added.

Rhythm eventually sat down on one of the couches.

I don't believe it...I get a new apartment and it's furnished with couches, electronics, a kitchen...and a corpse. Why is it concealed underneath the floorboards?

"Well it must have happened before you moved in, the murder and concealment of the dead man to be precise" Protoman concluded.

"But why is the heart still beating?" Megaman inquired.

I don't know, but maybe one of the doctors could tell us.

Just then, a knock came from the door and Megaman answered it. Much to his surprise, it was both Dr. Wily and Dr. Light together.

"Hello doctors" Megaman spoke.

"Hello Megaman" The two spoke simultaneously, sharing a look of haunted concern.

"You said that this situation must be proceeded with the utmost privacy, why?" Dr. Light asked.

Megaman directed the two to the hole, but Dr. Wily caught a glimpse of his creation being repaired by Protoman.

"My god!" Dr. Wily exclaimed as he traveled to Bass "What happened to him?"

"He became highly disturbed at the sound that was coming from the dead body under the floorboards"

"The sound from...the dead body?" Dr. Light asked.

"Yea, Rhythm told us he likened it to a heartbeat" Megaman added.

Dr. Light pulled our a pair of rubber gloves to look at the body, almost retching at the smell. He then pulled out a pocket knife and cut the shirt of the old man.

"I think I know why this dead body still beats...come here"

Megaman walked over to the body and saw a scar on the chest of the corpse.

"A synthetic heart?" Megaman asked "That makes sense, but why is blood coming out of his mouth?"

"Maybe the existing pulse of the heart pushed it through some wounds in the mouth...but what kind of damage would cause it?"

Dr. Light then proceeded to use the knife to force the mouth open...and almost retched again upon seeing what had happened. The mouth had been filled with blood and the teeth were missing.

"The murderer...took the teeth?" Megaman asked.

Bass perked up "Well this should be easy then, who ever took the teeth must have done in this old man"

"But why would they hide the body in this apartment?" Dr. Wily asked.

"I had this apartment refurbished by independent contractors" Dr. Light detailed "the floors, electrical, and other components redone. Who ever killed this man must have taken advantage of the situation"

"But who would have killed this man? Who is the dead man?" Protoman asked.

I'm guessing that this man must have lived somewhere near this particular apartment. Otherwise the body would have to been carried quite a distance.

"I suggest that we call the police then" Dr. Light spoke as he got up from the floor.

We can't do that Dr. Light.

Dr. Light sighed "Rhythm...I understand that you treat Bass and Dr. Wily with the utmost respect..."

It's more complicated than details of respect, Bass and I heard the sound together. If the police know that I associate myself with a robot labeled as a crook I'm not going to make it out easily. We have to erase Dr. Wily and Bass from the story.

"How do you we suggest we do that?" Dr. Light tensely asked.

We just say that I heard the heartbeat. I moved in and after Protoman left and I went to sleep, and it was Iwho got disturbed by the sound. The same thing happened tonight which prompted me to call Megaman and and Dr. Light.

Rhythm paused, remembering Refraction, and turned to Protoman.

What about the fact that you and I went out tonight? The robots at Refraction won't be questioned, will they?

Protoman shook his head "They won't be. The patrons usually keep to themselves"

"Fine then," Dr. Wily spoke "Rhythm, Protoman, Bass, you three will come with me"

Dr. Light shook his head "Not this time Dr. Wily, Rhythm is staying with me this time"

Dr. Wily tensed, but Rhythm raised a finger.

He's right. To keep you and Bass from getting implicated I must be with Dr. Light.

Dr. Wily sighed "Alright then, come on Bass. Let's go home"

Bass got up, put on his coat, and as an afterthought he picked up the copy of Rebecca that Rhythm had bought him. Rhythm's brother exited with his father and Dr. Wily, resulting in a frown for Rhythm.

Megaman placed a hand on Rhythm's shoulder "Why do you care for him so much?"

He saved me, and I changed him. We don't want to see what we've done disappear in front of our very eyes.

Rhythm grabbed his belongings, wore the trench coat and scarf he received, and exited the Rotwang with his murderer and murderer's son. The two got into Dr. Light's car and the vehicle began to travel in the air.

"I'm pretty sure that you haven't seen our house yet" Megaman spoke to try to make the ride pleasant "that'll be interesting"

Rhythm said nothing as he fiddled with his cane.

"You'll be able to see Roll" Megaman added.

Rhythm cracked a small smile, which quickly vanished.

I'd rather not talk right now...I've had a haunting night.

Megaman nodded his head "I understand"

"I'll have to tell the programming therapist to meet at my place tomorrow morning" Dr. Light spoke "I don't want him missing Rhythm"

That'll be fine.

"You won't tell him about the corpse, will you?" Megaman asked.

Rhythm shook his head as the car pulled into the driveway of the Light residence. Roll, who was waiting anxiously, opened the door and rushed to help Rhythm.

"Rhythm! Are you okay?" Roll exclaimed.

I'm fine! I'm fine! It was Bass who had an issue...

Roll raised her eyebrows in astonishment "BASS?! What happened to him?"

"We'll tell you in the morning Roll" Megaman replied "It's been a long night"

The three robots and Dr. Light entered the home. Dr. Light offered his own bed to Rhythm and the other robots traveled to their own chambers while the scientist slept on the couch in the living room.

Rhythm twisted the tassels of his scarf as he replayed the memories of Bass's damaged body on the floor of his new home. He asked himself what terrified Bass so much that he would impose pain onto himself?

Rhythm connected himself to an electrical outlet, he put on his headphones and listened to a tape.

"You used to call me paranoid

Pressure
But even you can not avoid
Pressure
You turned the tap dance into your crusade
Now here you are with your faith
And your Peter Pan advice
You have no scars on your face
And you cannot handle pressure"