A/N: Hey, guys! Reaper here, with another fun-filled chapter to the Demeter saga!! For today, we'll—

Ian: Now hold it right there!!

Me:*sighs* Oh no, not this shit again…

Ian: I get what? Four, five lines, tops! All were non-sequiturs!! But that's not the worst part!! Oh, no!!

*Ian rummages through the backpack he's wearing. It turns out to be a copy of Chapter 10.*

Ian: *turns to desired page* Ahem, quote, "and Ian, who could only contribute by giving a barely audible squeak." A barely audible squeak??? A BARELY AUDIBLE SQUEAK!?!?!? WHY I OUGHTA KILL AND/OR SUE YOU WHERE YOU ST--

*Rock and Maria enter*

Rock: Everything all right? We heard shouting.

Me: Oh, that was Ian. Rather annoying, I'd say.

Maria: What happened?

Me: I used my awesomely Divine powers as Almighty Author to place him in a pocket dimension for a time-out. I'll bring him back once he passes out from so much yelling and screaming.

Maria & Rock: Oh. *they leave*

I know, I'm so cruel, aren't I? So, without further ado;

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Mega Man.

-...-

Year 1225 A.W., June 19, Demeter's Southern Hemisphere (2:00 p.m.)

I woke up from my long slumber in the Cryo-Bay. I needed to head over to the labs and talk to Sara. It's been two months and The Pantheon's crew was getting restless. We need to find this planet and meet up with the fleet soon, or the crew will either lose hope and commit suicide, or die of exhaustion.

I walked through the twin metal doors into the lab, and activated the holo projector. I needed to actually see her face, for though it may be a hologram, I still needed the face of comfort I've know for many months now. "Sara?" I asked, hoping she was not in her sleep cycle. To my relief, her slim form appeared. "Good evening, Father," she called me by her loving nickname she adopted when she learned the meaning of the word in her Earth's dictionary.

"Sara, I need to talk to you." Sensing my urgency, worry lines appeared upon her holographic head. "What about, Dad?" I told her about the worries I've been having, and of my nightmares. "I see. Well, the nightmares are troublesome. My suggestion is for you to go to sleep while listening to soft music. I've heard that it works with some people."

People. That was the term she used to define the human and reploid populace as a whole, without separating the two wholly unique races. "As for your worries on finding the planet, I'd advise you not to be so troubled. As long as we remain on our course, everything should be fine. In fact, I think we're getting even closer."

Relief surged through me, more powerful than any other energy before. "That's good to hear," I said. Sara began, "Good. But before you go feeling to nice, I have yet another worrisome topic to bring up, something I've been meaning to ask you about." I looked up into her face. "I'm listening." She said, her face serious, "I've heard that you've been making some changes to the ship's core. May I ask what for?"

I told her, "It's a surprise meant to help the Human refugees on The Pantheon. You'll find out soon. I'll tell you if and when we find this planet of yours." Sara said, "Fine, then maybe you'd like to explain the missing memories?" I sighed. I knew this day would come. I couldn't keep it from her forever, after all....

I woke from my deep sleep to the recurring trumpeting of my alarm clock. Another dream. I haven't had one for awhile. I immediately spoke to Sara, "You in your Sleep Cycle?"

No. Why? I recounted my latest dream. Oh, yes! I remember that day!

"Really?" I asked. Well, sort of. The memories are fragmented, but I remember he was saying something to me about how we needed to find the planet soon, and something about a surprise for the Human refugees staying on the ship with them. I also remember asking him something about missing memories, but it gets kind of fuzzy around there.... I think it has something to do with whatever pice he cut from me when leaving me on whatever ship you found me on...

"I think that ship I found you on was The Pantheon," I said to her, "and that my dream self was General X."

I think so too, and I'm beginning to think that your dreams have nothing to do with my memories -- as it wouldn't make sense because you see these fragments of the past through HIS eyes -- but from X's memories. But that doesn't make sense either. I suggested, "Maybe it has something to do with my arm?"

That's the only likely possibility. I still wonder, though, what he had installed into the core of the ship...not that it matters now, after 3,000 years. I agreed with her. Some thing's been troubling me for awhile now, though. "Sara? Remember when we talked about my ability to enter the chamber where you were kept, and you said that from The Elder's stories, it would mean I was related to him? Since I still question that theory, I have to ask: is there any circumstance where I might have received this power by accident?"

Maybe... That would be under the condition that the systems were malfunctioning, but..... You took the DNA test and eye scan, right? "Yes," I confirmed. Then that settles it, because if the security system named you as General X, hen you must be related to him somehow, and according to your Elder's stories, the only way that could be possible would be... I finished, "Would be if I was related to The Elder himself. But how could an Android, a man who's 75% machine, be able to mate with a Human?" I shook my head. It just didn't make sense.

Well, we already know about my horrible memory, and while it's still a bit fuzzy, I do recall an event where X would create some means to make him human enough to create a sperm cell, which is one of two vital components needed to create a child, the other coming from the female, in case you didn't know, since something tells me that you weren't exactly given a lot of Biology lessons during your time. And for your information, Father wasn't 75% machine, he was fifty-one percent. Only one percent away from being half-human; a cyborg. Unfortunately, Dr. Light was unable to come up with any more biological components aside from skin, blood, and a brain. Everything else was artificial.

There was something I didn't know. I looked at my clock; I had wasted so much time that I was going to be late for school! I needed to hurry. I got up and got dressed, and headed down stairs for the door.

****

I stepped on the bus just before the folding doors slid closed, and met up with Ian and Maria in our spot in the back of the bus. "Hey," I said. "Hey, what's up?" greeted Ian. "You all right, Rock? You look kind of...." trailed Maria.

"Yeah, man, you look kind of down. What's up?" Ian asked. I told them of my dreams, and of Sara's mentioning of the possible source. "I mean, I know that they can't be just dreams, but I still find it strange....how could all these memories be stored into....my...you know," I said, mindful of the fact that we were not alone on this bus, "and if so, then could they've been left behind by him, like the arm and other equipment were?"

"What was left behind?" I turned around and OH CRAP IT'S FRANK!!

"Er...nothing! Nothing at all.... So," I said, quick to change the subject, "Hey Frank, what's up?" At my greeting, Ian immediately stopped talking.

I suppose I should recap. After I "made up" with Frank, Ian had been probing me for answers, but I insisted he should make up with Frank and ask him. Eventually Ian did so, but begrudgingly. 'Hey, I'm willing to forgive and forget, if you are,' Frank had said. After shaking hands, Frank was willing to tell Ian what he wanted to know, on the sole condition that he be welcome among us. Though Ian's still a bit touchy about it, he decided to allow it.

Once Ian found out, he told Maria, and they consulted me for confirmation ("Did you really beat his ass?"), and I explained that that was when Sara told me about the nanos. As for Frank..., well, I wouldn't call him 'friend' just yet, and definitely Ian and Maria were wary of him, but at least he got what he wanted. We're starting over.

Frank said, "Oh, I'm pretty good. What're you guys talking about? What was left behind?" Ian, a really good liar, said, "I heard that Rock had left behind his last pencil at Garfield, and I offered to give him one of mine." Frank said, "Oh." A look came to his eyes, for just a split second, then it was gone. I thought it looked a looked a little like suspicion?

After a while, we made it to school, and we headed to first period; history with Instructor Kaleena. Sara says, Is that a radio?I used my "senses," as Sara once described them to me, and sharpen my ears. I heard, "And now we are getting reports of a major break-in at the Marjury bank over on Saint Avenue and Crescent. The perpetrator is an escaped convict from Neptune's prison, by the name of Samuels Fargo. He has apparrently taken many hostages, and we are going to bring our microphones over to the police and see if we can get a statement. Apparrently there are live TV news crews on the scene as well."

I turn to Ian and Maria, who I brought over to a dead end. I said to Frank, "Excuse us for a moment, please. We'll be right with you." Frank said, "Are you trying to exclude me?" I said, "No, It's just I've got something important to tell them." Frank said, "Oh, okay." His shoulders slumped a bit, but he did as I asked.

I whispered the situation to Ian and Maria. "I've gotta go," I said. "I've given it enough time; now's my chance to actually put my powers to good use. D'you think you guys can cover me while I'm gone?"

Maria said, "Don't worry, with my stage fright, I couldn't possibly be able to have to worry about that, and I think I can handle one, maybe two people." Ian added, "And I'm a really good liar. Go. I think we can handle things." I asked, worried, "What about Frank? You think you can stall him?" Ian gave me a look that said, Are you kiddin' me? "Go. Now. I'll take care of Frank." I thanked them, and headed to the restroom. I entered an empty stall, took off my blue backpack, and began changing, when something occurred to me.

Where am I going to stash my backpack? I suppose I could leave it here, but then, somebody might find it... I looked around, and found an air vent stright above me. Well, isn't that convenient. After I finished changing, I jumped up, opened the vent, and hoisted the backpack inside. After closing the vent, I made sure no one was looking, and exited the stall, and out a high up window (which was easy to reach for someone of my standards), where I climbed over the wall and landed at the parking lot.

Now, the radio news report said that the robbery was taking place at St. Ave and Crescent. Luckily, that was close by, so I didn't need to trek far. I found the bank. I instantly recognized it as my bank, and headed up to a crowd of police and news people. I remembered to close my visor, lke Sara told me. A woman turned around and instantly recognized me.

"Oh, it's the Blue Warrior! Mega Man!" At this, the other reporters immediately stopped harrassing the officers, and approached me, and assaulted me with questions like

"--Mega Man, is it true you are the Sixth Warrior?" or, "--Mega Man, are you here to protect the hostages and capture Fargo?", and other similar questions. I tried to brush them all of with a simple "no comment," but they just kept coming. Now I know how a movie star or a police officer feels.

I pushed through the crowd (which was hard, when you're trying not to hurt them because you don't know your own strength), and found my way to a brightly decorated police officer, whom I asked if he was the leader of this outfit.

"Aye, I'm the Police Captain Diego...are you who I think you are?" I nodded to confirm it. It was obvious. Even though it's been a few weeks, no one ever really forgot. It was all anyone at school ever talked about. I asked, "Have you tried to talk him out of there?" He nodded, "But to no avail, Holy Warrior." Obviously this man already believed I was the Sixth Warrior, without needing confirmation, like so many other people.

"Pull any officers you have in there out. I'll take care of this. But I'll need a pair of handcuffs" Diego nodded, and radioed in the order, as well as handing me the cuffs. I looked at the door, and when it opened, I heard gunfire. I saw three black forms in the smoke. One was shot down, but the other two made it out. I ran in before the doors closed, grabbed the fallen officer, and tried to throw her as gently as possible behind a nearby low wall for cover. I felt many pings on my armor, as if I was being assaulted by a small hail storm.

I rolled, unsure as to how much damage my armor could take, behind another low wall of marble, opposite to that of the fallen officer. I checked my armor/shield indicator, and saw that the bullets barely made dents in the armor. Seeing how easy this was probably going to be, I used the navigational mic in my helmet to set my Mega Buster from Blast to Stun. Immediately my arm transformed once again, but with the barrel significantly narrower.

I brought my arm over the barrier, targeted my attacker's pistol, and shot it from his hand. The dust cleared. I peeked around the corner and saw, after a quick count, 29 known hostages, huddled in fear at the counter, five of which were clerks, 3 dead security guards, one unconscious (presumably where he got the gun), liberal amounts of blood on the floor and far walls, and the attacker, whom I would assume was Fargo.

This was a large building, though, with probably more employees held hostage, which would be the only reason no-one has taken this lunatic down yet.

This man definitely wasn't working alone. Someone else must be helping him upstairs. "Who is that!?" Fargo screamed. I saw him tugging on a cord in his jacket. Upon further inspection, I found that the cord led to a large amount of explosives normally used for mining. But in this situation, it could be used to make a bad situation worse.

I raised one hand up, and called, "This is Mega Man. I have come to free the hostages! Do not pull the cord, and I will do as you ask!" The man's face, contorted with rage, scrunched as he smiled, and said, "I know you. I've seen you on the teevee. That blue guy. THe Sixth Warrior, huh?" I remained silent. He beckoned for me to stand up. I did as he wanted.

"You know what these are, mister?" I answered, "Some kind of mining explosive." He nodded, his sickening smile still on his face. "They're Type K3 bombs. Each containg at least 10 grams of explosives. Altogether that makes..." He paused, as if to do the math in his head. "50 grams. Every one of us has around that amount, and if I radio in the word, we will blow this place sky high. I wonder how many people would survive that? I wonder if even the almighty Sixth Warrior could survive it?

"Why do you wear a mask? What've you got to hide? You think you're some superhero?" He leans in close to me. "Take off that mask." I said, "You let go of the cord first." He shrugged. "Fine. But let me get my gun first." I shook my head, laughing. "'Let' you get it? What else canI do? If I make a false move, as you said, they'd all die." I gestured to the hostages, who were wimpering in fear.

He nodded. "That's right." He went to his gun, picked it up, and walked over to me. He tookhis finger out of the cord's ring. "Now, take off that mask. I nodded, and slowly opened up my visor and battlemask. Little by little. The metal just creeped up to the glass visor, when--

I clamped my fingers around his throat, put my hand on the cord ring, and watched calmly as he emptied his gun of bullets trying to shoot me. I threw him against the far wall. I knelt down to his face-down form, and put his hands behind his back, cuffing them. After closing my visor/mask again, I pulled his head back by his hair. "You listen to me, dirtbag. You are going to lie silent, until I come back for you. If you so much as breathe wrong in that short amount of time, I'll beat you senseless."

He pleaded, "Just...okay...just..don't kill me..." I shook my head. "Strange words coming from a man with bombs strapped to his chest. But don't worry, I'm not gonna kill you. After all, I don't really plan on sinking as low as you have." I rolled him over, and in one swift move, yanked the bombs off his chest. I carried them with me to the door. I threw them on the street. "Watch those for me, will you?" I said to the captain. He just nodded. I went to untie the hostages. After making sure they were all safe, I gave them leave to walk out.

I headed to the injured police officer, a woman, probably in her twenties, and picked her up. "C'mon, let's get you out of here." She just nodded weakly as I walked outside with her in my arms. I set her down on a nearby stretcher, which some Ambulance Attendants had kindly laid out for my arrival. After making sure she was going to be okay, I let the Attendants do their job.

I approached Captain Diego. "I've got Fargo, or who I assume is Fargo inside, cuffed. I'll be bringing him out now. Do not come inside until I give the word. "Of course, Holy Warrior," he replied. He bowed his head reverently. I bowed my head in kind, bringing up my hands to say, "You don't have to call me that, you know. Mega Man will do just fine." He says, "I know. But I wish to show you respect." Knowing I had no time for pleasantries, I simply said, "As you wish," and went back inside.

I went to Fargo's prone form, and knelt down. I turned the volume up on my mic, and whispered, "Hey, remember me? I'm the guy who beat the shit out of you. Now, we're going to play a game of 20 questions, and if you play correctly, you'll get a prize; you get to walk out of here mostly intact. But if you answer wrong....

"Well, let's just say that things will end very badly for you. Understand?" He nodded liked a bobble head doll. "Okay? Good. Okay, question one; how many of you are there?"

As he opened his mouth, I said, "Remember: think before you speak. As I said, things will go very bad for you if you answer incorrectly. Okay, go ahead." He said, "There are three guys on the second floor and two guys on the third floor." I asked, "Is that all?" He shook his head. "No, there are also two guys at the vault."

I patted his head. "Good boy. Next question. You said they all had explosives?" He said, "Yeah, or so they told me." I nodded. "Okay, last question. Are you willing to die for the money in that vault?" He said, "What is this?" I shrugged. "Just wondering." He asked, "What, are you a shrink too? Fine. At first I thought I was. I only needed it to fund an operation for my baby girl." I said, "You might want to rethink your job options."

With that said, I picked up the man by the collar of his shirt and carried him through the front doors. I put him down, forcing him to kneel before the cops. I told the captain, "There's seven guys left in the building with more hostages. They may or may not have more bombs strapped to them. Now, I may be a very powerful person, but let me warn that I am by no means omniscient. I'm still just one guy. I need you to send in more men, but be careful of the bombs, I can't stress that enough. We don't want to endanger the hostages.

"I'll see if I can get the guys on the second floor, you send your men to the vault room and the third floor." Diego gave me a salute. "Right away, Your Holiness!"

****

I ran up the stairs as fast as I could. I told the officer in charge of the Third floor squad to ready a smoke grenade. I kicked open the door, and the smoke grenade was thrown. I switched to thermal sensors and knocked out two of the guys with a well-aimed Stun shot to the head. I beat the third guy to the ground. "Go take down the two guys on the next floor while I get these guys to Diego. They nodded their acknowledgement.

I cuffed the three men and brought them down to the lobby, where I met up with Diego, whose men had already rounded up the men from the vault room. I dropped off the three felons, and said, "Your men should be rounding up the last two guys now." He nodded. "I don't think we could ever thank you enough. I'll see to it that the rest of the hostages are safe." I put my hand on his shoulder. "Good. There is one way you can thank me. If you could please keep the paparazzi off my back while I get out of here, that'd be great."

He smiled. "Of course, Your Holiness." I nodded, and made my way out the doors to head back to school.

****

I rushed into the classe room of Instructor Jauques, Second Period. Ian, who had this class with me, craned his head from the back row. I was panting and wheezing, hard. "Mister Rock, would you be so kind as to divulge the reason as to how and why you could possibly be late to this class, which I had worked so hard to prepare?"

"Umm...I fell asleep?" I suggested. He gave me a reproving glance, but nevertheless continued with his lesson.

****

We went to the junkyard after school. It had become our "place." I don't know why we were drawn to it. Ever since that day with the old man, we've been using it as a training ground, Sara and I. It's the reason why I know so much about the helmet's interface, as well as how to use my Mega Buster, which I've become pretty proficient at using. Sometimes Ian and Maria come to watch.

They had come again today; Sara using the radio, as with every training session in which they are present, so they don't feel left out. "Okay, let's review," said Sara through the radio, the volume once again turned all the way up. "What are the five settings to the Mega Buster?"

I listed them off one by one, in order from least to most fatal. "Repulse, Stun, Piercing, Bullet Rounds, and Energy Rounds, or Blast, to use a shorter term." She voiced her approval. "Very good. Now, explain how to utilize the proper applications of the helmet." I said it in a uniform and monotonous manner. She's been having me memorize this stuff every day.

"Like you, I retain a mental link with my equipment, most notably my helmet and Mega Buster. My helmet comes equipped with a standard HUD with a specially-designed user-friendly interface, complete with a health and shield monitoring system, a munitions handling device, which helps me keep track of metal and energy ammunition, a targeting system, a communications array, and a browsing system allowing me to access any digital information within seven hundred million miles."

"Correct. Now, to what use is your small pack good for?" I replied monotonously, "The rocket pack can allow levitation to a limited extent (say, to create a five-foot jump), as well as a secondary source for energy to power my many systems, as well as Auxiliary power for the Mega Buster's ammunition."

"Very good, and the nanomachines?" I responded, "The nanos consist of billions upon billions of tiny machines that were added to my bloodstream when I was integrated into the Gauntlet. After they integrated themselves into my system, they added to my physical human faults, making me stronger to the extent that I can be called superhuman, as well as enhancing my senses so that I may see and hear many subtle things that most humans may not pick up on."

"Good you remember." I sat down. "Hey, I've got a question for you guys," I started, "In these dreams of mine so far, X has been alluding to something that he built and installed into the core of the The Pantheon, the ship that I believe I may have found you on, Sara, and because of the fact that my dreams keep stressing this and that 'planet' X found (which I'm assuming to be Demeter), I'm beginning to wonder...d'you think we should go find out?"

Maria said, "You mean you want to go back there?" Ian dryly stated, "Sure, why not? I've always wanted to go to prison, I mean, we already got into the papers and were probably reported to The Elder, why don't we go back and risk our lives!?"

I said, "I meant only hypothetically, jeez! I just thought that because the dreams seemed to be stressing this particular point, I was going to suggest that we check it out. I just wanted to know how you guys felt about it." Maria and Ian both said, "It's too dangerous."

"Fine, okay, I get it." I said, exasperated. "I wonder what it might've been, though..." Ian said, "Maybe it's like those conspiracy theories that have been swimming around, lately; maybe it's part of that planet-wide defense system; X's 'spell' as The Elder likes to call it."

Maria pointed out, "Maybe." Ian said, "I guess that means all the more reason to leave it alone. I mean, after all, if we've lasted for 3,000 years without having to deal with that, then we shouldn't need to bother, right? Messing with it would probably bring the Dark Machines on us."

"Yeah, you're probably right," I agreed.

****

I went straight to bed when I got home, because I was tired, what with the events of today. I am so glad that it's the weekend. I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

I got out of bed. Sara's suggestion didn't work. The nightmares only came in an even stronger force. It was like they were trying to warn me of something. Unfortunately, I have absolutle no idea as to what that could possibly be...

I headed to the parlor on deck 15 for a drink, then I headed to Basement 2 of the aft side of the ship and headed down the hallways into the engine room. I took a lift down into the Core Room to find another lift reaching inside, like a metal arm, into the giant sphere. I used the control stick to move my lift around the room, and knocked on the other lift with the shot glass I brought with me.

The second lift retracted to reveal Hrothgar, who said to me, "Hello, General. I was inspecting the core, making sure the installations went smoothly... I installed the component, like you asked...."

"Good, good. Then the preparations are complete?" I asked. "As much as they'll ever be. But X, I've got ask, why did you want to go to all the trouble for such a trivial task? I mean, the 'object' you had me install, it's just..."

I put my arm on his shoulders, trying to bring ease to the confused face before me. "Do not worry, my friend. All will be known, in time..."

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping at my window.

A/N: Oooh, the plot thickens! Well, before I go, I have brought in another special guest! My friend Random Dude I Pulled Off The Street!!!

.: Uh, hello?

Me: *whispers to Ran.* Here's a script. Read it and get paid.

Ran.: Uh, okay. Ahem, "Thank you Reaper, it is an honor to be here. I would like to remind your Readers that if they guess Rock's last name right, they get to be in your next story." Okay, can I go?

Me.: Thank you. Here's your payment of a thousand virtual gold coins that are completely useless.

Ran.: Rip-off. *pockets coins and leaves*

Keep in mind I was up late finishing up this chapter! Expect this pitiful excuse for a 'fun' Author's notes to look stupid! Anyways... Read & Review people!!!