EPISODE 2: Wily's War.

The following takes place in the weeks after the events of "Defender of the Human Race" and before before the beginning of the Mega Man cartoon show.


The year is 20X1.
May 20X1, to be exact.

Less than a month ago, the world's first free-thinking robots were created. They have the ability to show a full range of emotions as well as a full range of physical sensations like pain and fatigue, and can think like a human can.
Two of them are good: their names are Rock and Roll.
One has been programmed to be evil: his name is ProtoMan.
The cause of this: Dr. Albert Wily had become insanely jealous of his partner Dr. Thomas Light, whom he co-created ProtoMan with. Wily attacked him and stole ProtoMan, reprogramming the robot and Dr. Light's latest creations, the Robot Masters - a series of industrial robots meant to serve Mankind - to do his bidding in his quest to take over the world.
He also kidnapped Rock and Roll and almost reprogramed them as well, but they escaped unharmed and returned home to Dr. Light.
After Wily launched his first attack on New York City, Rock - having a strong sense of justice - volunteered to be rebuilt into a warrior robot. Rock was upgraded with titanium armor, a powerful plasma cannon and the ability to copy the weapons of his enemies and use their own weapons against them.
He was also given a new name: Mega Man.
Mega Man thwarted a second attack by Wily and was declared a hero, and everything since that time has been peaceful.

ProtoMan still wants his brother to join his side, but Dr. Wily however has something else in mind... revenge.


Chapter 1: The Calm Before the Storm.


Skull Fortress, Dr. Wily's Hideout.
Somewhere in the badlands of the Southwestern United States.

Dr. Wily's once seedy hole of a hideout is now a massive intimidating fortress, complete with a large skull design right in front of the complex itself. Nobody has dared try to tresspass on this horrific property since the United States military launched a failed attack on it a few weeks ago.
Deep inside the cold and frightening titanium structure, in his workshop, Dr. Albert Wily is finishing work on his latest project: a new group of robots similar to the original Robot Masters.
Unlike the original Robot Masters, which were intended to benifit humankind, these new robots are built for one reason: create havoc.

"Yes!", Albert says to himself, "It's almost time to unleash my latest creations out into the world! These will be specifically designed to help me in my quest to control mankind!... Thomas Light won't be able to do a thing about it!"

All of the robot's bodies are finished and are all lying side by side on tables waiting to be activated.

First, there is Air Man: a blue and yellow robot with a large, powerful fan located in the center of his chest and the ability to spawn off micro tornadoes.
He doesn't have a human face, just two eyes right above his fan.

Then, there is Bubble Man: a robot specifically designed for underwater missions. His weapon produces a lead bubble that can severely shock it's target. His green and white body armor resembles that of a snorkler wearing a green bikini-cut speedo over his armor. But, his body looks slightly pudgy for some reason.

Then, there is Heat Man: a short orange/yellow robot that produces flames out of it's body, which resembles a flip-top cigarette lighter with a head inside of it.

Wood Man: a robot whose body is made out of metal and a large hunk of wood and whose weapon is the leaf sheild... the leaves are made out of titanium, not real leaves.

And Crash Man: An agile robot with the ability to fire deadly time bombs that connect themselves to surfaces... but we know about those already. His armor is orange and white and his helmet sticks out like a pompador.

Metal Man: A robot encased in almost all red armor with the ability to throw buzzsaw projectiles in his foe's direction, similar to Cut Man's cutters. The only feature on his face that remotely resembles that of a human's are a pair red eyes that will glow when he is awake, surrounded by some synthetic flesh, the rest of his face is covered by metal. His primary weapon a - buzzsaw blade - is attatched to his forehead. He is the scariest-looking of the group.

Flash Man: A large robot with blue and white armor and a bright flash weapon encased in a plexiglass cranium on top of his head that can temporarily distort the vision of his enemy.

And finally there is Quick Man: A robot with black and red armor and a sharp yellow boomerang symbol just above his eyes, so it almost looks like a pair of eyebrows. He can also fling energized boomerangs at his targets. But, the best ability of this robot is his remarkable speed (or quickness.)

All that remains now is for the new robots' programming to be completed.

"I will use these robots to crush that tick Mega Man! And then, they will help me take over the world!" Wily states.

"Hey, Doc!", calls the voice of ProtoMan, "Who are you talking to this time?"

Wily looks back at his best robot with furrowed grey eyebrows. ProtoMan's attitude leaves much to be desired (as well as his continued desire to not knock on doors first), but he's the best fighter Wily has, and he knows it. The problem is, ProtoMan knows it too.

"I'm almost finished with these robots, ProtoMan," Albert says, "They will be joining the ranks of my army and together, we can complete our mission."

"I don't know why you wasted time building more robots, Dr. Wily," ProtoMan says, sounding a little bit egotistical, "I'm the only robot you need. My little brother got lucky in battle, that's all."

"Keep in mind, Proto," Albert points, "Ultimately, it was you who lost the battle."

ProtoMan folds his arms, looking perturbed. It was noticable even with most of his face covered by his visored helmet.

Wily pauses for a moment and reconsiders his last statement. Maybe he was a little too harsh on Proto. "But," he adds, "I see your point. You are still my best fighter."

ProtoMan just nods in agreement. "Damn right, I am." he says.

Wily turns back around and admires his newest creations. "It's only a matter of time now, my boy!", he says, "and we'll all show the world exactly who they're dealing with... and just how much of a threat I really am!"

Wily chuckles to himself as he continues work on the robots.


A few days later.
Dr. Light's Laboratory.
Located just outside of New York City.

The people of the world now have a new hero. His name is Mega Man.
The mighty "Blue Bomber" - a nickname he was given by his sister Roll, but one that the press also seems to have embraced - and his creator Dr. Thomas Light are getting a lot of mainstream publicity... something that surely must be driving Light's former friend Albert Wily crazy.
Their faces are gracing magazine covers, they are being booked as guests on talk shows and several companies have contacted Dr. Light about merchandising Mega Man action figures, toys, bedsheets, Halloween costumes and video games...

Imagine that. A Mega Man video game...

Right now, Dr. Light's lab is being rebuilt by several user-controlled robots, with the outer wall being reinforced with a layer of solid titanium to prevent Wily and his robots from breaking into the lab again, like they had last month.
Also, new advanced security measures are being installed both outside and inside the coumpound, protecting both Thomas Light's lab and house that adjoins the lab, making this one of the most secure places in all of New York.
The Governor of New York is covering the costs out of gratitude for saving the city from another attack.

Outside the lab, Bree Recotta from News Channel 7 is in the process of interviewing the famous duo of Mega Man and Dr. Light. Recotta has come a long way from her early beginnings. At one time, she was the station's reporter for goofy events and was nicknamed "The Cheese Woman", because her name sounds like two kinds of cheese. She was assigned to report on the National Cheese Exhibit last year too... she wasn't happy about that.
Now, here she stands, speaking with the most brilliant scientist alive and the Defender of the Human Race.

"With this titanium scructure, nobody will be able to invade the lab again." Light says.

"And most importantly, it will keep Dr. Wily out." Mega Man adds.

"Speaking of Wily, Mega Man," Recotta follows-up, "If he launches another attack on our city, or anywhere, will you be ready?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Mega replies, "I'm ready for anything."

Before Bree asks her next question, she spots a large yellow hardhat with a red cross on the front of it sitting on the ground near her. But Bree thinks nothing of it... maybe one of the user-controlled robots left it there.

"There is another robot like you who is with Dr. Wily, is that right?", Bree asks.

"... yes," Mega Man answers, sounding glum, "His name is ProtoMan. He's my brother."

Again, before Bree can ask a question, she sees that yellow hardhat again. It looks like it's closer than it was previously. Her thin eyebrows furrow as she turns her attention back to Mega Man and Dr. Light.

"How could he be your brother?", Bree asks.

Mega turns to Dr. Light, letting him answer this question.

"He was Albert's and my first humanoid robot prototype," Light answers, "His programming was faulty and Wily managed to steal him before I could repair him."

"Is there any chance of reconciliation?" Recotta asks.

"... I hope so," Mega replies.

As Bree is about to ask another question, she feels something nudge one of her feet. She looks down and sees that same yellow hardhat again, but this time it was right next to her and it looked like something was inside it and lowered the hat on top of itself.

This was too much. She had to ask, "Excuse me, Dr. Light but... what is that yellow hardhat doing here?"

"Oh! Why, that is Doc." Thomas explains, "Come on out, Doc. Don't be affraid."

Slowly, the hardhat lifts up and a pair of big white eyes with big black pupils look up at Recotta from the shadow inside the helmet, then they look up to Dr. Light and blink.

"Doc is a prototype Met-Tool robot, or Met for short," Thomas says, "The Met is one of the latest in my series of personal assistant robots. He can help around the house, and he can be a great companion for children. Doc, however, is unique and will be staying here with us."

As Light talks, Doc lifts his hardhat up even higher and reveals that he is just a head - wrapped in dark gray rubber skin - on two large yellow feet. His little lips turn into a smile as he looks up at Bree again.

"That little guy's hardhat is made out of quadruple reinforced titanium," Mega shrugs, "even I wouldn't be able to blast through it!"

Bree smiles down upon the little Met and says, "Hello."

Doc says something that sounds like beeps and bloops, then his hardhat flips back and a long metallic arm with a hand on the end of it comes out of the top of his head. The hand stops in front of Recotta and it appears he's offering to shake her hand.
After a moment of confusion, Recotta shakes Doc's metal hand.

Meanwhile, Roll watches them from well out of camera range.
She's happy for her brother getting publicity, but she wants to join him in his battle against Wily. She doesn't want in for the publicity or the attention. She just wants to go out there and take the fight to Wily's robots like her brother does, to help make a difference.
With Rush right next to her, she sits down beside him and whispers in his ear.

"I've got to convince Mega to let me be his partner," she whispers, "I just know he's gonna need me out there some day."

Roll pets Rush's head and whispers, "This is gonna be so cool, Rush! Wait 'till you see me in action! I've reinforced my non-stick frying pan with solid titanium!"

Rush's shocked eyes get big and he makes a noticeable "Aroooo?" sound.

"Yep! It can fry both eggs and Robot Masters!" Roll says with a wink.

Rush's eyes widen and he gulps hard.


Vick-Tek corporate headquarters.
New York City.

Walking down one of the many corridors of his large skyscraper and wearing a black three-piece suit and tie, Marcus Vickers - President and C.E.O. of Vick-Tek, a large computer and technology corporation that he named after himself - makes his way to an observation room, accompanied by his group of 'Yes' people, namely his portly Vice President, Scott Erikson.
They are on their way to view the first prototype of the Vick-Tek Warrior Robot, a project Vickers himself greenlighted to try and capitalize on the Mega Man craze that is sweeping the nation right now. The prototype is surprisingly ahead of schedule, and Vickers couldn't be more elated.

"We shouldn't announce this to the press just yet," Vickers says, "We don't want to look like we're ripping off the Mega Man concept."

... Vickers fails to mention that ripping off Mega Man is exactly what they're doing...

"We don't want the Vick-Tek robot to be like the Zune... Have you ever heard of the Zune?", Vickers asks.

"I'm affraid I haven't, sir," Erikson responds.

"Exactly!", Vickers asserts, "Nobody remembers the Zune, at all. Period! Yet if a product has the letter I in the name, people still flock to it... even the iToilet. We should wait to debut this project. That way, we can give the prototype the time to reach perfection, just like all Vick-Tek products do," Marcus says with pride.

"Well, except for Home Office X1, sir," Erikson adds.

"Oh, God! Don't bring that up!", Vickers groans, "I've signed so many refund checks for that program, my hand is about to fall off!"

"It will not be brought up again, sir." Erikson replies.

Vickers and company arrive to the observation room, which has a plate glass window seperating it from the adjoining testing room where several scientists are preparing the company's first prototype robot. They also have a setpiece on the wall that resembles a brick wall.
A man wearing a black ski mask and a woman holding a purse are standing nearby in the testing room. They will be taking part in today's experiment.

As Vickers sits down in the observation room, Erikson adds, "We have put our best engineers on this project, Mr. Vickers. I think you will be very pleased."

"Okay! Good work, boys!" Marcus says, his goateed lips curling into a smile.

"We will be setting up a crime senario, sir" Erikson says, "We have hired two actors from a local dinner theater to play the part of an evil masked robber and his unfortunate victim. Our robot will come in and save the day."

Once everybody is seated, the lead scientist inside the testing room states, "Good morning, Mr Vickers. We are ready to begin our demonstration. We give you... the VickBot 1000!"

The scientist steps aside and the woman holding the purse steps into view in front of the brick wall setpiece.

"Oh, my Gwod!" she says in her thick New York accent, "I hope I don't get mugged on this bright wonderful day in New York City."

In the observation room, Vickers asks with a furrowed brow, "This is an actress? And furthermore, who wrote these lines?"

"Um... I did, sir," Erikson answers, sounding shamed.

Then, inside the testing room in front of the fake set, the actor with the mask comes in holding a prop gun up to the woman.

"Stick 'em up, lady! Gimmie that purse!" he orders.

"Oh, if only a robot protector would come and save me!", the woman poorly acts, placing the back of her hand to her forehead.

"There is no need to fear," a monochrome computer voice drones, "VickBot 1000 is here."

Right on cue, a cheesy-looking silver robot with a set of tank-like treads for legs, a lean silver torso, vacuum tube arms and a head with bright flashlights for eyes and a small speaker for a mouth makes it's grand entrance.

Vickers looks un-impressed by their silver warrior robot.

"This is our robot warrior?" Vickers fusses.

"Well, it is just a prototype, sir." Erikson tries to explain.

VickBot 1000 treads up to the masked actor as the woman says, "It's VickBot 1000. Thank Gwod you're here!"

Vickers groans in the observation room, "I'd give real money if she'd shut-up!"

"Flee the area immediately," drones VickBot 1000 to the masked goon in the testing room, "Or I will use lethal force."

"Oh, no! I don't want any part of the VickBot 1000. Especially that Tazer Arm of his!" the masked actor says, feigning fear.

"Tazer armed," VickBot 1000 drones, taking one of his vacuum tube arms and jabbing it into the side of the robber, tazing him...
unfortunately, this is not a part of the script.

"WAAAAAAAAH!" the actor screams as he falls to the ground, "MAKE HIM STOOOOOP!"

"Oh, Gwod! Get me outta here!" the actress warbles, no longer acting.

Back in the observation room, Vickers bolts up in his chair and looks mortified. "Is he really tazing him?"

"Uh, it appears he is, Sir!" Erikson says, also worried.

"... Tell me he signed the release," Vickers freaks, twitching his fingers, "Please tell me he signed the damn release!"

Vickers' team of lawyers behind him frantically try to find the release the actor signed, absolving Vick-Tek Incorporated from any liability in any harm that might come to him during the demonstration of the VickBot 1000.

VickBot 1000 mercifully stops tazing the robber, leaving him stunned on the floor, and turns to face the actress holding the purse.

"Drop the purse, or I will use lethal force," VickBot 1000 drones.

The actress screams and drops the purse.
VickBot 1000 takes the purse with his other hand and quickly treads away with it, racing towards a nearby wall. He then tries to tread up the wall, but falls on his back as soon as he hits it.

He drones, "Drop the purse, or I will use lethal force."

VickBot 1000 then takes his tazer arm and zaps himself with it. The arm holding the purse flails around as he shocks himself.
Then, suddenly, VickBot 1000 explodes from the shock to his systems, sending parts of himself flying accross the room, one of them hitting the window to the observation room.

Vickers nearly jumps out of his seat when the window crackles as the wreckage of VickBot 1000 collides it.

"What the hell was that?" he freaks.

One of Vicker's lawyers smiles, holding up a paper.

"I found the release, Mr. Vickers!" he says.

"He signed it, sir", Erikson states.

Vickers pants and places his hand under the left side of his suit jacket, feeling his heart rate return to normal. "Tell them to get to work on another prototype, right the hell now!" Vickers mutters, "In fact, let's never make one like that again! Is that clear?"

"I will inform R&D right away." Erikson replies.


Later that night.
Dr. Light's Lab.

The restructuring of the lab compound is finally complete. Now the chances of Wily breaking in again are very unlikely and the Light family can feel safe and sound in their home... hopefully.
The whole family - Thomas, Mega Man, Roll, Rush, Eddie and even Doc the Met - is together in the main lab.

"I would say this was a job well done," Dr. Light says, "We all put forth a team effort in restructuring the lab."

Standing on a nearby work table, Doc the Met beeps as he looks up to Thomas, who replies, "Yes, you too, Doc."

"Say, Doc..." asks Mega Man.

Thomas replies, "Yes? and Doc beeps, both responding at the same time, thinking Mega was talking to them.
They both look at eachother in confusion for a second.

"Uh... Dr. Light, I mean," Mega clarifies, "Now that Doc the Met is finished, what is he going to do around here?"

"The purpose of the Met is to be an assistant bot, and I wish to test Doc's capabilities before the Met series is produced to the public," Thomas replies.

"He could be your new lab assistant, Dr. Light," Mega Man says, "Since I'm too busy to do that now, being The Defender of the Human Race and all."

"He could, Rock," Thomas replies, referring to Mega Man by his original name, "But I would like to place him in a more common household situation. You already have your hands full taking care of Rush, though... hmmmm," Dr. Light ponders, stroking his think grey beard.

Roll raises her hand and asks, "Can I have him?"

"That is an excellent idea, Roll," Thomas replies, "I'll give you a checklist of tasks Doc can perform with you."

"Thank you, Dr. Light!" Roll peeps, clasping her hands.

"Just remember," Thomas adds, "Doc will be your responsibility."

"Don't worry, Dr. Light," Roll says, still smiling as she steps over to the table where Doc is standing, "I won't let you down!"

Roll hoists the Met under her arm and says to him, "Come on, Doc! We're gonna have a lot of fun together!"

Doc beeps and bloops and he makes a happy smile as Roll carries him off to her room.
After Roll leaves the lab with Doc, Mega Man looks over at his father and asks him a more serious question.

"Dr. Light... has she made any mention of being my sidekick to you lately?", Mega asks.

"Not that I'm aware of, son," Thomas responds, "I think she was just excited about you becoming Mega Man, like everybody is."

"I hope you're right," Mega adds, "I don't want to see her in danger. I know how crazy Wily is... who knows how far he'll take things if he strikes back."

Little does our hero know... Dr. Wily is about to strike back.


Author's notes:

The order the new Robot Masters are introduced is the usual order I defeat them in Mega Man 2, However, many gamers have their own order they defeat them in.

Mega Man cartoon fans have probably noticed that Air Man looks like he does in the games, not like he does in the Ruby Spears version.
This will be explained soon.

The scene with the VickBot 1000 malfunctioning is an homage (or, a blatent rip-off) of the scene in RoboCop when we see ED-209 for the first time and the scene in RoboCop 2 with the failed RoboCop replacments.

Please remember to review/comment.
More chapters are coming very soon. Stay Tuned.