After fleeing the antique store's loft and stumbling through the dark, twisting alleys, Mega Man found himself a mile away from Old Town. He wasn't sure what to do; Dr. Wily had just transplanted his entire electronic brain into some kind of monster Robot Master. He had one lung like a bellows sitting in his chest, and within his abdomen he cold feel the humming of gears, tiny hydraulics, levers, and springs working together to relay his movements. It wasn't much different than the basics of Cut Man's design—he had just gone from being an android to a mechanized Robot Master.
Meanwhile, the previous owner of this body was now masquerading as Mega Man. He had to warn someone.
Get a grip, Mega! he mentally rebuked himself. He knew he shouldn't have panicked, but there also wasn't much he could do against three robot masters and Proto Man in this strange body. Dr. Light will straighten this out, you just need to get back to the hotel.
He turned a corner, deciding irritably that this robot was poorly constructed and therefore must have been built by Dr. Wily himself. This body is going to take some getting use to!
Patrolling down the lamp-lit street in front of him was a cluster of Geneva Robo-officers, looking particularly alert since the previous night's attack. Mega Man felt relieved. You could always trust a police officer to help you out when you were in trouble, as Dr. Light always said.
"Help!" he shouted as loudly as his new, raspy voice could muster. "I need help, pleasssssss-ssse!" With horror, Mega Man realized that a hiss had unwillingly escaped him.
The police patrol halted, their heads snapping back towards Mega Man. "Police, stop!" one of the robo-officers commanded.
"Pleaasss-ssss—sssse! You have to lissssssss…" Mega Man trailed off, deciding to try that again. "You have to lissSSSsssten to me!" It wasn't any better the second time.
To his utter shock, the robo-officers drew laser pistols and opened fired, obviously misunderstanding Mega Man and assuming he was hostile. Since when do the Geneva police carry electro-neutralizer pulse guns? he wondered as he scrambled for cover behind a stone ledge. The blue bolts zipping over his shoulder were harmless, but could render humans unconscious and forcibly power down robots. If he got shot, he wouldn't be able to warn anyone about the Bad-bots.
"No, no! I'm Mega Man! Sss-sssss-sstop!" Mega Man tried again, miming 'mayday'. This is so frustrating, I can barely speak! Dr. Wily had purposely built Snake Man to lisp, with nothing but a serpent tongue in his toothless mouth. But as the police rushed towards Mega Man with pistols flashing, Mega Man realized that he'd get no help here.
After Mega Man had run away, the Robot Masters huddled around Proto Man, who was still holding the handheld video communicator.
"Brilliant, I am truly brilliant!" Dr. Wily cackled triumphantly, dancing merrily around his lab and tugging at his hair. Snake Man and Cut Man exchanged glances. "Now, Mega Man, my newest robot," he said, beaming at Snake Man, "You can remove the transport chamber from Dr. Light's hotel room and plant it in the conference auditorium. No one will ever suspect you, meheheheh."
"Right, Dr. Wily," Snake Man answered, curling his lip. He too had felt peculiar after stepping out of the transport chamber. He now had soft hands and a soft face that stretched and squashed at the slightest facial movement, and a plasma generator in his chest emitted a warm heat that circulated all the way to his fingers and toes. Though he felt more agile, he also felt small and vulnerable; this body resembled an organic life form to the point that without its titanium skeleton and armor, Snake Man felt he'd puddle to the floor as a fleshy blob.
"The rest of you will transport to the auditorium," Dr. Wily continued business-like, the mirth vanishing from his face. "When the conference begins, grab the scientists and transport them here to Skull Fortress."
"Will do!" Proto Man gave Dr. Wily the thumbs up.
"Well…WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" Dr. Wily demanded, glaring piercingly at them through one beady eye. The transmission ended.
"You heard him, time to book it," Proto Man said, bundling up his disguise. "Guts Man, haul the transport chambers back to the van."
"Hey, what about Mega Man?" Snake Man asked Proto Man. "The guy who is in my body."
"Huh? Oh, don't worry about him—he's probably in prison by now," Proto Man replied lightly.
That was easy for Proto Man to say, but that was still Snake Man's body!
Guts Man nudged Snake Man's shoulder. "Heh…this is kinda like old times havin' you here, like when we all invaded D.C.!" he chortled.
"Yeah," Cut Man said at his other side, joining in on the joke. "Or when Mega Man helped blow up that tall building in down town New York!"
Snake Man laughed, catching on. "Or when I helped safeguard Dr. Wily's transport chamber, taking it to a secure location close to the Science Conference."
"Remember that time we trashed your home, kidnapped you and your sister, and strapped you to a table for torture?" Guts Man guffawed as he lifted the first transport chamber.
Snake Man stopped laughing."…No…" he said quietly.
"Hey, Snake Man…or Mega Man," Cut Man trailed off, scratching his head. "Is it Snake Man or Mega Man now?"
"You can call me Snake Ma—" Snake Man started.
"We'll call him Mega Man because he's in Mega Man's body," Proto Man interrupted, grabbing the van keys from a windowsill. "Keeps it simple. Got it?"
"Got it," answered Cut Man and Guts Man automatically.
"Got it, Mega Man?"
"Got it," Snake Man answered uncertainly. They weren't giving him time to get use to this body before he had to get into character: impersonating someone else's identity before he had built his own.
Still, what could he do but make the most of it?
Mega Man was on the run again, this time fleeing the Geneva robo-officers who chased him like an escaped felon. This is worse than being shrunk, at least then I still had my own identity! Mega Man thought bitterly as he ran straight into a busy intersection. He wove through the traffic, temporarily blinded by the glare of headlights and startled by blaring horns. Snake Man's body was not as nimble as the one as he was use to, and he was nearly stricken by a bus. Finally Mega Man stumbled onto the sidewalk, the police officers shouting angrily from across the street.
Hopping over a park bench, Mega Man darted into a tangle of thick-trunked trees. He surmised that he had just entered La Grange Park, which was silent and shadowy in the night. He slowed down, letting his wits catch up to him.
So this is what it was like to be a criminal on the run from the police…what appeal does Proto Man find in this sort of life? Mega Man thought dismally as he peered anxiously for the police before stepping into a glade of neatly trimmed grass. I don't think I lost them yet with how slowly this body runs. A light wind was whistling through the branches. Though he could neither hear nor see anyone, Mega Man couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone—
"Don't move," a voice commanded from the shadow of an elm tree. It was accompanied by what sounded like a bell ringing, its silvery peal resonating eerily through Mega Man's circuits as though he were a giant tuning fork. Then every joint in his body locked up stiffly on its own accord, as though they had suddenly accumulated ten years of rust. Mega Man was frozen mid-stride with no idea what was going on now.
Mega Man's attacker stepped into the starlight of the glade, his arms folded behind him. It was an android dressed head to foot in violet titanium skin, like a hooded scuba suit. Two semi-spherical golden bells sat above his ears like a wide-up alarm clock, and there was a familiar 'R.I.P.' insignia pinned to his chest. "You're under arrest for international organized crime," the android stated quietly.
Mega Man recognized the voice and cyan eyes; it was the stranger from the airport. "Y-you're—" Mega Man stammered, finding that though his movements had been encumbered like standing shoulder-deep in extremely sticky tar, he could at least talk.
"It's Time Man. I'm an officer of the Robot International Police, a division designated to assist local law enforcement in the investigation and apprehension of robot criminals acting across international boundaries, as warranted by the participating countries of the Convention to Combat Global Robo-crime in 1988." Time Man explained in a quick, almost clipped voice.
Mega Man felt stunned and really, really ignorant. Boy, was I off track on this one! He had heard of the Robot International Police under its nickname 'Robot Interpol,' but also knew it was fairly inactive, as robotic criminal activity was rare (before Dr. Wily, that was). Now was his chance to get help. "Pleassssss-SSS-sssse, lissss-ssssssssten to me!"
"Look, if we could be quite quick about this—it's trouble enough keeping this official without you hissing at me too," Time Man snapped crossly, his eyes sweeping critically over Mega Man's blaster and his snake-shaped helmet.
"I'm n-not doing thisssssss on purpossssssse—"
"Moving along," Time Man asserted, ignoring Mega Man. "On Saturday the twenty-ninth, 11:00 sharp I arrived at the Palace of Nations. At 11:23 I located a defective burglar alarm on the Avenue de la Paix north entrance—just routine security for the International Science Conference. At 19:33 yesterday evening a local officer gave directions to a white mid-sized cargo van that matched the same delivery vans transporting equipment to the Palace of Nations. At 19:37 the north entrance burglar alarm was triggered, and at 19:44 four robots, including one with your exact physical characteristics, engaged in combat with Geneva police officers."
"That w-wasssSSsssn't me!"
"You will not convince me that there is another Snake Man running loose in Geneva," Time Man rebuked sternly before continuing. "At 20:13 the robots fled in a white cargo van. At 1:12 this morning I received permission from the Swiss government to track down the robot criminals, which brings me to now, 23:54, where I am making the first arrest. You are 'Snake Man,' a suspected construct of Albert W. Wily, mad scientist wanted in Germany, The United States, and now Switzerland. Is that correct?"
"No, I'm Mm-mega Man!"
"That's a new one," Time Man sighed. "Unfortunately for you, I've met Mega Man, and you'd have to be much ruder to convince me that was true."
"It isssssss-ssssss true—"
"Don't be difficult," Time Man commanded sharply, silencing Mega Man. Then, in a more patient voice, he continued, "I know this isn't your fault, that you must obey your sinister programming—but do your best to cooperate and it will be much easier for you. I'm going to take you into custody, but first I want you to tell me what you and Wily are scheming to do in Geneva."
"I will tell you everything I know," Mega Man said sincerely. "W-wily built transsss-sssssss-sport chambersss-ssssss. Hissssss-ssss ssssch-ssssscheme isssss to sssss-sssssabotage the International Sssss-ssssciensssss-ssssss Conferensss-sssse at the Palassss-sss-sse of Nationsssssss-ssssssss—He usssssssed the chambersssss to sssssswitch my sssss-sircutsssss-ssssss into thissssssss ssssss-sssssnake'sssss body!"
If Mega Man had been calmer, he would have thought of a better choice of words. It didn't help that his story was also ridiculous. "I know it sssssssoundssss-sssss ssssssstupid," Mega Man admitted with chagrin.
Time Man considered him with deep concentration. Then his brows furrowed, puzzled. "…You're going to have to speak a lot clearer," he said finally.
Mega Man was getting nowhere. Though Time Man acted patient, he only understood half of what Mega Man said. There had to be another way to get someone to understand him. "Help me get to Dr. Light!" Mega Man pleaded.
He immediately regretted it. Time Man's expression hardened. "What's your interest in Dr. Thomas Light?" Time Man asked. "Have you come here to kidnap him?"
"N-no—"
"For your information, Dr. Light designed me, and if you've come to cause harm to him or his family, I will personally make sure you spend the rest of your life nailed to the floor of a pizza restaurant as an animatronic," Time Man said in a low voice. Mega Man felt Snake Man's inner-workings do a flip. This explained both why Time Man had been looking for Dr. Light earlier and why he looked vaguely familiar.
"I'm not Ssssss-sssnake Man and we mussssssst not w-wassss-ssste time," Mega Man tried again urgently. "There is an imposss-sssssster in my body—"
"Snake Man," Time Man addressed Mega Man firmly. His tone and temper had become icy. "Where are your accomplices hiding?"
"I don't know. There'sssss a chansssss-ssss they are sssss-sssstill in Old Town," Mega Man answered.
"Old Town?" Time Man repeated.
"Yesssss-ssss."
Time Man was starting at him appraisingly, and Mega Man felt an uplift of hope that he might be getting through yet. "What are they doing in Old Town?" Time Man questioned.
"I don't know."
There was a flurry of hurried footsteps, and the Geneva police force appeared through the shrubs. "You caught Snake Man!" the captain congratulated.
"Yes, but his comrades from the Palace are nowhere near," Time Man replied, not taking his eyes off Mega Man. "However, Snake Man did let 'Old Town' slip, maybe we should continue our search there."
"But we just searched Old Town, no one was zere," the captain said pointedly, glaring at Mega Man from under the brim of his cap. "I zink zis robot is trying to fool you. Just look at 'im! A clear joker."
Time Man narrowed his eyes, giving the captain a short nod. "Snake Man, you're withholding information. You must tell me exactly where Wily's robots are now, and why they are in Geneva."
"I'm not Ssssssss-sssnake Man, and I don't know whatsssss-sssss going on, you have to believe me!" Mega Man answered desperately. Despite being paralyzed from the shoulder down, he was trembling. While being arrested by Time Man was a lot more dignified than his arrest at Washington D.C., the fact that he didn't deserve any of this made the entire situation much worse.
Unfortunately, his impaired speech became the final nail on his coffin.
"I do not understand zis robot," the captain complained.
"Stop that hissing noise and speak clearly," a robo-officer ordered.
"Perhaps he is malfunctioning," suggested another robo-officer.
"It's no use," Time Man said, shaking his head sadly. "If Snake Man won't cooperate, we'll have to take him to Duo."
…Duo? Mega Man had no idea what that meant, but he had a feeling he'd be in real trouble if he found out. He had to get out of there. "I can't leave Geneva," he rasped.
"You bet your forked tongue you will!" the captain said angrily. He raised his laser-pistol towards Mega Man's chest.
"Wait!" Mega Man shouted, a grim idea forming in his mind.
Time Man and the captain exchanged glances, and the captain lowered the pistol. "Yes?" Time Man asked.
"I'm sss-sssss—ss, I'm ss-sss—"
Time Man frowned, bowing his head towards Mega Man. "You're what?"
"Sss-ssssss-ssss—" Mega Man cringed inwardly, hating himself for what he was about to do. "—I'm sss-ssss—ss—sssorry!"
Though he couldn't move, Mega Man rapidly fired his pneumatic blaster, and three Search Snakes plopped to the ground. They, not affected by Time Man's special ability, squirmed towards the police, who yelped and sprang back.
The distraction was enough to break Time Man's hold over Mega Man, and he tore away from the glade at full tilt, pushing this body to its limit.
"Damn it," Time Man cursed, kicking off a Search Snake that was attempting to bite off his kneecap. "HEY! STOP!" he shouted after Mega Man.
Mega Man was out of range. He ran until he saw the lights of the street again, then jumped aboard the back of a delivery truck waiting on a light, sliding the door shut behind him as quickly and silently as he could.
"Disappeared again," Time Man murmured, looking up and down the busy street. The Geneva police emerged from the shrubs behind him, one of the robo-officers limping. "This is like chasing wild geese. I'll contact headquarters and see if I can get another officer in Geneva to help corral these foreign Robot Masters…I have a bad feeling about all of this."
"What about Dr. Light and Mega Man?" the captain asked. "Zey are in Geneva too, Mega Man came 'imself to guard against Wily, as 'e was built to do in the United States."
Time Man hesitated. "No," he said finally in a decisive voice. "I don't want to bother Dr. Light, and I'd rather not involve Mega Man in this case either unless it becomes absolutely necessary."
Things were going great for Snake Man. Though it was really weird that his teammates kept insisting he was Mega Man, at least they were finally listening to him. Even Proto Man treated him more seriously.
"I'm gunna tell you how to act like Mega, so listen up," Proto Man said, taking Snake Man aside. They were standing underneath a remote railway bridge on the other side of the French border, the van hidden in a tangle of brambles and vines, and no soul within a mile but the occasional passenger train rattling down the track above. "You're now Mega Man, who is a harping nerd with a major hero complex. Light is your creator, who you have a dopey, doglike obedience towards. Rush is your dumb mutt, and Roll's your hot-headed tomboyish sister."
Snake Man concentrated on forming a blaster, and watched as his left hand sank into his forearm, then reappeared. "My 'sister'?" he asked skeptically.
"Yeah, Mega Man, Roll, and I are all advanced-androids built from the same plans, which makes us siblings…but don't worry about that. I doubt Light will notice anything's up, he'll be distracted by the conference, but play it safe and don't do anything to blow your cover. Hop onto the back of one of these trains to get back to Geneva. Then head to the Grand Hotel, it's on the lake—suite thirty-two," Proto Man instructed. "I know all of that's going to be hard for you to keep straight," he added dubiously.
"No, I got it, bro," Snake Man replied. Then, in a very serious tone, Snake Man added, "Remember, we are here on Dr. Wily's orders, so lay-low—no fooling around."
Proto Man looked at Snake Man expressionlessly for a moment. Then he smiled. "…That's a pretty good impression. Sounded just like the little nag." He clapped Snake Man once on the shoulder condescendingly. "You're a lot smarter then I thought you were. Might even pull this off." And with that, Proto Man brushed him off, swaggering back to the van.
Snake Man was beginning to dislike Proto Man.
Mega Man crouched tensely in the back of the delivery truck he had stowed away in, but he seemed to have successfully lost Time Man. Hiding behind a crate of apples, he waited as the truck wound its way back into Geneva, delivering fruit to grocery stores. He knew there was a supermarket near the Grand Hotel. A half hour later he could hear the lapping of the lake, and the truck was backing up for a delivery. As soon as its metal door rolled up, Mega Man jumped out into the back lot of the supermarket. "Ecssss-scussse me!" he called to a pair of cyclops labor-robots who watched in silent confusion as Mega Man raced past them.
Mega Man had only one thought on his mind: Got to get to Dr. Light, he'll know what to do! So what if he couldn't get through to the police, his family would be able to see past Snake Man's body and recognize him. He burst into the lobby of the Grand Hotel, ran right past the startled receptionist, and up the grand staircase. He rapped urgently at the door to Dr. Light's suite.
Roll opened the door. As soon as she laid eyes on Mega Man, she pulled back, her face twisting in revulsion. "Snake Man!"
Mega Man had anticipated this reaction and quickly wedged his boot in the door before Roll could slam it shut. "Roll, it'sssssss me, Mega Man!" he said in the most earnest rasp he could manage, wrenching the door open so he could push inside.
Roll backed away, her shoulders squaring defensively. Rush prowled to her side, baring his teeth and growling. "Do you think I've fried my circuits or something? I'm calling Mega Man right now—" Roll shouted, grabbing a floor lamp like a halberd, "You get out of here!"
Of all times for Roll to actually listen to me! Mega Man thought in exasperation. "Don't call Mega Man, he'ssssssss not who you think he isssssssss. I'm your real brother, Rock—" But Roll just grew more angry and disgusted. She swung the lampshade ferociously at Mega Man, forcing him to duck. This wasn't going at all as he planned. "Don't you know me at all?" Mega Man asked, feeling offended.
In response, Roll slammed the end of lamp into Mega Man's abdomen, winding him. Through all the excitement, Rush began barking loudly. He snapped savagely as Mega Man stumbled backwards.
Dr. Light had emerged from his bedroom wearing pinstripe pajamas, his face looking strained. He edged towards the coffee table, eyeing Mega Man cautiously. "I'll signal Mega Man," he said calmly to Roll, picking up a pocket communicator.
"But Dr. Light, I'm right here—" Mega Man protested, turning to meet Dr. Light's eyes. "Dr. Wily did ssssssomething to me!"
Roll gave up on the floor lamp, cranking a chainsaw from her utility arm instead. Mega Man backed hastily away, almost tripping over his own boots. "Get back, I don't want to hurt anybody…" he trailed off as Roll and Rush advanced. With a resigned, sinking feeling, Mega Man realized that if he didn't at least try to defend himself, Roll would lop his head off, no questions asked.
Mega Man retreated to the open balcony. Taking one last reluctant look at his family, he leapt over the railing into the open back of a sand truck rolling down the street below.
He'd have to figure something else out.
Roll leaned over the railing, watching the sand truck's taillights whisk down the street and around the lake. She sighed, returning to the lit hotel suite. "Aw, he got away…but we taught him a lesson, right?" she asked aloud, bending over to massage Rush's neck. Rush wagged his tail, thumping it against the floor.
Two minutes too late, Mega Man burst into the room, his face drawn in concern. He scanned the upturned furniture, the rumpled carpet, and the splintered lamp. "I got the emergency signal, what's going on?"
"Oh nothing," Roll said innocently, closing one eye nonchalantly, "We just beat up on Snake Man, that's all."
Inwardly, Roll was eager to see Mega Man's reaction, wondering whether he'd be angry or reproachful. To her surprise, Mega Man seemed pleased. "Good work, sis," he chuckled. "Good work."
Dr. Light sighed, sticking his hands in his pajama pockets, and glancing nonplused towards the window. "I don't understand what Snake Man wanted. He didn't even put up a fight."
"Maybe he's blown his circuits," Roll guessed, shrugging. "He even tried to convince me he was really Mega Man."
Mega Man stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Imagine that."
"Should we go after him?" Roll asked, turning to Mega Man. Chasing down a rogue Wily-bot through the streets of Geneva sounded like a fun way to spend the rest of the night.
But Mega Man shook his head. "Nah, I'm sure the police can take care of Snake Man. My duty is to stay here and make sure you and Dr. Light are safe. He didn't hurt you, did he?" Mega Man asked, looking seriously at Dr. Light.
"No, no, we're all fine…though the maid will have a fit sorting this mess out," Dr. Light said lightly, gesturing to the disheveled living room.
"Hey, what did Dr. Umlaut want?" Roll asked.
"Hmm?" Mega Man looked at Roll attentively.
"Hello! Dr. Umlauf, the guy you were meeting with!" Roll laughed, cuffing him playfully on the head. Even when Mega Man was in his 'duty mode,' he could still be a space case.
"Oh that guy," Mega Man answered, rolling his eyes. "He's worried Wily will attack the Palace of Nations tomorrow, but I reassured him that nothing bad will happen under my watch."
"And mine too!" Roll piped in.
Mega Man smiled. "Of course you too, who else can I count on to beat up Snake Man?" Mega Man's eyes flashed to Dr. Light's face, which was looking taken aback and disapproving. "If that's okay with Dr. Light, that is," he added hastily.
Roll would have kicked Mega Man, but since Dr. Light was watching she only shot him a glare instead.
"Science conferences are no place for violence," Dr. Light said wearily, "But the agenda we have planned is of the utmost importance, and can spare no interruptions of any sort. We must all be on our guard tomorrow."
"You mean later today," Roll corrected. "It's after midnight."
I thought they'd never go to sleep, Snake Man thought later that night, relieved to be alone at last. Prolonged conversation with Dr. Light and Roll wasn't a good idea, especially since he wasn't really acting like Mega Man; Snake Man hadn't known Mega Man long enough to imitate his personality. Instead, he acted like Proto Man, which logically made sense, as the two androids appeared to be identical.
Getting to work, Snake Man inspected the transport chamber, noting that it had been tampered with. He found a missing circuit card on the desk next to the telephone, and he picked it up and slid it into the transport chamber. They're in for a big surprise tomorrow.
"Aha, so you're still up too!"
The living room light clicked on, and Snake Man jumped guiltily away from the transport chamber. Roll was smirking from the doorway of her bedroom. Snake Man gave a friendly smile back, but inwardly felt annoyed that Mega Man's 'sister' had returned to the living room, forcing him to act again. "Yeah, well, the couch isn't that comfortable, so I thought I'd just stand guard tonight in case Snake Man comes back."
Roll looked amused. "No, you're playing with Wily's chamber device thing. Did you figure it out yet?"
Snake Man glanced over at the transport chamber, feigning a perplexed look. "Not yet. It's definitely something powerful, and of artisan design. Dr. Wily's really outdone himself with this invention," he answered, carefully masking the tinge of pride he felt.
"Hmm, well that's not saying much for Wily," Roll snickered, walking quietly to his side. "I know his Bad-bots will show up tomorrow. But we're ready for him! It'll just be like when we teamed up at the Zero Refrigeration Company, right?"
"Yeah, that was good times," Snake Man lied. Go away.
Roll nodded. Then, in a tentative voice, she continued. "Hey, after we take care of Wily and his goons…maybe we can skip out on the rest of the boring science conference go to an arcade until we fly home."
"Sounds like fun."
Roll looked surprised and delighted. "Really?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Hey," Roll said softly, tapping Snake Man on the shoulder. "You've been acting different, a lot less…rattled, I guess," she commented, smiling brightly. "You've finally learned to loosen up, huh?"
Snake Man looked up, and gave he a half smile unspoiled by his growing impatience. "Don't know what you're talking about, it's still just the same ol' me. But you should go back to bed, 'kay? We can talk more tomorrow."
Roll lingered for a moment, watching Snake Man, and Snake Man noticed for the first time how her sky blue eyes seemed to sparkle with a mischievous light, and the way her light blonde hair cascaded untidily around her face. "Alright, fine," Roll said, winking and strolling back to her room. "Have a good night, Mega!"
Snake Man unconsciously watched her leave, then gave a small shutter, forcing himself to concentrate on his strategy for sneaking the transport chamber into the Palace of Nations.
He had a feeling Roll was going complicate his mission.
After hitching a few more rides on unsuspecting vehicles, Mega Man staked out a place to hide near the Palace of Nations: A rusty old dumpster that still had yesterday's rotten cabbage leaves sticking to its sides (fortunately for him, Snake Man had no nose).
Crouched inside and listening nervously to the traffic and people passing by outside, Mega Man began to plan his next move. For his own comfort, Mega Man wanted to take off Snake Man's weird headdress, but it was welded tight to his head. Not only do I have to get my own body back, I'll to stop Wily, Mega Man thought grudgingly. Whatever he's up to, those transport chambers are a big part of his plan. It was going to be difficult, as Time Man and whatever backup would be guarding the outside from him, while the real Snake Man impersonated Mega Man and snuck Dr. Wily's robots inside.
Mega Man knew he had hit rock bottom when he was spending the night in a dumpster. What would Roll tell him if she had believed his predicament? You take life too seriously. Loosen up; when your arch nemesis is a mad scientist, sometimes things like this happen.
He knew inevitably, it'd all come down to a fight between him and the Bad-bots, so he might as well learn how to use Snake Man's weapon. All he knew was that it shot giant heat-seeking wiggle snakes, like the ones he sicced on Time Man and the Robo-officers. Mega Man shot one experimentally, and found he could also control the Search Snake telepathically like a remote control car. This isn't so bad, he told himself optimistically, watching the Search Snake on the floor of the dumpster gnaw around in circles like a dog chasing its tail.
Now if he could just control his hissing, he'd be set.
To be continued…