Chapter 11

It's Tuesday afternoon. I haven't seen Alex since yesterday when he punched me out. It hurt like hell when I woke up and I had a lump on the top of my head. I saw him rip that robot's arm off; how'd he do that? I'm going to Alex's house to see if he's there.

"I hope he's alright." I thought

It felt weird not having Alex walking next to me. It was really quiet without his complaining. We'd been walking home since we were younger. It was probably around 5th grade when we met. The both of us meeting was a little weird.

Alex was really quiet back in those days and would almost never talk; even if someone was speaking directly to him. Because of that people didn't like him and one day a friend of mine who I can't remember for the most part came up to me and told me to punch him. I didn't know him and didn't care so I did just that. During recess I walked up to him and punched straight on his forehead. I expected him to cry but instead he got back up brushed the dirt of himself and looked me dead in the eye.

I felt bad so I tried to say sorry but he had another idea. He kicked me right in the stomach. It caught me off guard and bent over and held my torso. He jumped onto my back and started choking me. We both got sent to the principal's office that day.

The Principal was off campus for a while so we both sat on the bench outside his office. It was dead silent for a few minutes until Alex started to speak and speak he did. The guy talked my ear off telling me how what I did was stupid, how I'm the biggest moron he's ever seen, etc. It was funny looking back on it. Whenever we tell this story to people we always crack up and people don't get it. It really doesn't seem that funny when you think about it but it always makes me smile.

"You better be okay." I said out loud

His house wasn't that far from school. I knocked at the door and Alex's mom answered the door. She had shoulder length brown hair and green eyes. She was a little shorter than me. Her eyes were red and puffy like she had been crying. This can't be good.

"Hi Mrs. Spencer, is Alex home? He wasn't at school today."

I saw her wince at the mention of Alex's name.

"I'm sorry Andrew but he never came home yesterday," She started "The police did a check of the entire school and couldn't find him. I think whoever attacked the school took him with them."

Her eyes began to water. This is bad; I need to do something to help.

"Mrs. Spencer if it makes you feel any better Alex was going to help the other students. He knocked me out and put me in a janitor closet. He probably saved my life."

"That seems to be a trend with Alex lately."

"What do you mean?"

"During the previous attack on the city Alex rushed out of the house to help an man named Doctor Light."

"He did?"

"Yes, he came home looking like he was going to fall over any second."

"Do you have the doctor's number? I think he'd like to known about Alex."

"Sure let me get it."

She handed me the crumpled up paper. As I left I took out my cellphone and punched the number in. It rand twice before a woman's voice answered.

"Hello?" She asked

"Hello is this Doctor Light's home or office?" I asked

"Yes it is; I'll get him."

As she handed the phone away I heard a high pitch beeping in the background.

"Hello, this is doctor Light." He said

"Hello sir, I'm calling to ask you a few questions. Is that alright?"

"About what? Are you a telemarketer?"

"No, I'm a friend of Alex Spencer."

I heard his breathing hasten; was he nervous?

"He's gone missing and his mother thinks the group that attacked the school yesterday took him but I'm seeing if you know anything."

"I-I didn't know he went missing," He said "That's terrible; he was a big help around here. I can't get around as well as I used to and he comes by from time to time to check on me."

That damn beeping was still going on.

"What is that in the background?"

"Nothing, it's my…uh, fire alarm; it's been on the fritz today."

"Okay, tell me, how long has Alex been helping you."

"Um, a few days. Probably three."

The beeping continued in the background but this time there was a voice.

"Would someone help me down here?" The voice yelled "I feel like I'm in an oven!"

The voice came from a distance; I could barely hear it. It sounded familiar though.

"Who's that?" I asked

"It's my grandson!" He said quickly "He's been sick lately and he's staying with me."

The voice continued to rant and rave but it got louder.

"Goddamn it! I'm burning up over hear and you're talking on the phone? Help me!"

That was Alex! What the hell's going on?

"What's Alex doing there? You just said you didn't know where he was." I said

"Shit!" The doctor said

He hung up the phone.

"Damn it!" I yelled

This guy kidnapped Alex but what for? I need to get the police! I ran in the direction of the police station hoping that I wasn't too late.


I couldn't tell what was going on anymore. I was so hot. I need help.

"Would someone help me down here?" I yelled "I feel like I'm in an oven!"

I mashed the remote but nobody came down to help. I was close to crying. My painkillers had worn off and the wounds on my stomach were burning.

"You sons of bitches!" I shouted as the pain grew

I was crying a little now. I wanted to die; anything to relieve the pain. I grabbed my water glass on the table and tossed it in my face. It did nothing to help. I got up from my bed and fell to the floor. They floors linoleum was cold and felt like heaven on my burning body but I was still mad. I yelled out but my words came out slurred. I pulled myself up and staggered up the staircase. When I reached the top I saw Light talking on the phone.

"Goddamn it! I'm burning up over hear and you're talking on the phone? Help me!"

"Shit!" The doctor said hanging up the phone

"Listen to me you old bastard!" I grabbed his coat collar "You did this to me so I don't think it's too much to ask that you fucking help me!"

"Just calm down. Stress will only make your condition worse."

He pulled my hands of his collar.

"I'm in pain." I said trembling

He handed me a pill and I popped it into my mouth dry.

"Now go lie down."

I went back down the stairs to my bed. The pain killer hadn't kicked in yet and wasn't going to for a while. I thrashed back and forth in the bed as the bullet wounds throbbed and stung.

"Damn it all." I grunted


"Alex doesn't sound too well." Roll said

Roll was doing my maintenance. I was uploaded into the doctor's main computer and Roll was at the keyboard.

"He's screaming bloody murder down there." I said speaking through the computer's speakers

"How is he so far? You've spent a few days with him."

"He's really quiet in public. He's bookworm and sits by himself most of the time."

"He doesn't have any friends?"

"He has one that I know of named Andrew. Kid's a skyscraper and really hairy."

She laughed slightly.

"What about his family?"

"His dad's skinny as hell and twitchy. He mother on the other hand is fine!"

"I wouldn't say that around him if I were you."

"He already knows, it's hard to keep secrets from someone when you live in his head. It's especially bad when he tries to…I'm not going to say but he's beginning to miss his alone time if you catch my drift."

Roll burst out laughing.

"Ahem!"

Alex was standing in the doorway.

"Oops, awkward." I said

"What are you doing up?" Roll asked trying to change the subject

"I was going use the bathroom," He said "You guys are assholes."

"Sorry." We both said

He pulled up a chair and sat down next to us.

"You really should go back to sleep."

"I'm tired of being cooped up; I want to talk to someone." Alex said

"Alright then; I think we should take this time to get to know each other," Roll started "I get the feeling that we're going to work together for a long time. Let's start with you Alex."

"What?"

"Tell us about yourself."

"I'm a short, sixteen-year-old teenager who doesn't have many friends because most of the time they can't stand me."

"Why's that?"

"He's opinionated, pretentious and angry all the damn time." I said

"You're a dick." He said "Can I ask you guys some question? I don't like talking about myself."

"Okay, shoot." Roll said

"What's the story with you two?"

"What do you mean?" I asked

"How did you get built and how do you know the doctor, Roll?"

"We were both built by the doctor." I said

"Roll's a robot too?"

"Yes, I am. The doctor built me to help with Rock."

"You don't look like the rest. You look…amazing."

"Hey, that's my sister, back off!" I said

"After what you said about my mother we're even."

"Thank you for the compliment, Alex. I was built this way so I can go out in the open and interact with the world."

Alex couldn't stop staring in disbelief. I was a protective little brother and I didn't like him staring like that. It was nothing disrespectful but I didn't appreciate it.

"Wow, it's incredible." He said "Rock, didn't you say you used to have a body?"

"Yes, I did."

"Did you look human too?"

"Yes, but now it's gone."

"How did it get destroyed?"

"Wily's robots. This isn't the first time we've fought him. It was in a construction site a few years ago; it was little runt that he sent out to get supplies. The damn thing leads me under some girders that were being held in the air and shot them down. My body was crushed but they saved my brain."

"I'm sorry." He said

"It's all water under the bridge now."

The three of us spent a good while talking. We found out later that Alex actually had a decent sense of humor and got us cracking up more than a few times. He was good company. Roll seemed to like him but she likes mostly everybody. After our talk Roll put me back into Alex's head and sent him back down to his bad to rest.

I hope being down here will be easier for him now that he has someone to speak to. He fever spiked up and his painkiller wasn't working that well. The pill we gave him was very strong and it's too dangerous to give him another so we gave him a small dose of the steroid to help him. He laid in the bed thrashing around.

"Damn it!" He shouted "I need another!"

I'm sorry but we can't.

He got out of bed and went up stairs. As he got to the top we heard a sound coming from outside the house. Police sirens? We were in the living room now and there was a loud knocking at our down.

"All of you come out with your hands up and release Alex Spencer!" An officer said


A crowd of cops broke down the doorway. They had guns with them. One of them seized me and took me out. The night air was freezing and I was out there in hospital scrubs. I was too confused and dizzy from my fever to fight back.

"Let go of me!" I said

I heard the doctor, Roll and Garret resisting. I looked back and saw Roll being put in a squad car.

Roll!

I sent my elbow into the cop that was restraining me and ran to Roll. I tackled the officer that held. He pulled out a can of mace and sprayed my eyes.

"Goddamn it!" I yelled rubbing my eyes

I heard somewhere that an ingredient in mace is also found in salsa. I believe it.

"Get him out of here; he's delirious." The officer said

One of them picked me up and escorted me to a squad car.

"Sorry he had to do that kid. Can you tell me your name?"

I recognized that voice. It was the cop I saved when I fought Gutsman!

"Alex Spencer, sir."

"Oh, crap. Hey Bill, you maced the kid we were sent to save, you asshole!" He said

"Are you serious? Damn it."

"I am Lieutenant Otto Miller. A friend of yours ran into our precinct saying that you'd been kidnapped. It looks like he was right."

I tried to say something but Rock cut me off.

Alex, they're going in the house! The suit and drugs are in the house!

"I'm really sorry for this." I said

"Huh?"

I punched the lieutenant in the face. I reached for his holster and took out his gun.

Uh, clue me in on the plan, please?

I ran back to the house and grabbed Dr. Light by his neck. I fired a shot into the air.

"Everyone stay the fuck away!" I shouted

I pulled the doctor in the house. I shut the door, locked it and pushed the couch against it.

"Alex, what are you doing?" Light asked

"Do you know how much of the crap in this house is illegal?" I said trying to whisper "You have a steroid you made in your basement, you've been endangering the life of a minor, and I don't know what you use to power that suit but it can't be legit. If you guys go to jail I can't fight these robot bastards. Here's what we're going to do; I'm gonna take the fall for this."

"What?"

Are you stupid!

"I knew you guys were gonna say that but I don't care. Listen, if you're the bad guy in all this you will go to jail for a very long time. If I'm the bad guy they're going to spend all their time trying to find me. Tell them any story you want but make me out to be scum!"

"How are they going to believe me?"

"Like this."

I pulled the trigger of the gun and shot the doctor in his left thigh. It only grazed him

"Damn it!" He yelled "What is your problem?"

"You old son of a bitch!" I yelled "What did I say would happen to you if you called the cops! I should kill your ass right now!"

This isn't going to end well.

"I'm sorry; I'm really, really sorry." I whispered "Where's the suit, I need to get out."

"Down the hall to the right; climb out the window of that room when you're done."

I ran down the hall and found my suit in another one of those storage tubes. After I put it on I found spare vials of the steroid and another robot master microchip. I took them all and hoped out the window. The police were still trying the front door. I ran down an alleyway; I could fly away just yet or else I'll draw attention to myself.

I ran until the red and blue glow of the police cars couldn't be seen. It was then I kicked in my jets and flew high into the air. I perched myself on top of a skyscraper in the business district of Holiday Heights and waited.

Alex, do you realize what you have just done?

My heart was racing. I knew what I did.

You're a fugitive now!

"Alex Spencer is a fugitive," I said "Mega Man isn't and that all that matters right now."

Alex…

"I'll return after all this calms down."

You won't be able to go home.

I took a deep breath.

"I know but I think I have a plan for that."

Please review.

P.s. I'd like to take this time to give my good wishes to everyone in Japan and I hope you all do the same.