"G'morning, Doc!" Rock called, watching the scientist make his way into the dining area with his friend. "Ready for breakfast?"
Dr. Light smiled at him and shook his head in answer. "I believe we can wait for Kalinka, don't you?"
"She's still asleep?" Roll sounded surprised.
"Yes. The journey was a bit strenuous."
"Especially," Cossack added in his rumbling Russian accent, "since we were attacked at the airport."
"What?" the robots cried simultaneously. Rock stood up straight, staring at them both, and Roll nearly dropped the food she was carrying on the ground. "Why didn't you say something?" Rock demanded.
Cossack shook his head, waving his hand dismissively. "It was late. We didn't want to worry anyone. Worry is bad for the soul -- not to mention sleep."
"Was it Wily?" Roll asked sharply, glaring at her brother.
"In all probability, yes," Light informed them calmly. "But we believe it was just a scare tactic this time."
Roll jabbed her brother in the ribs. "Are you gonna tell them?" she hissed. "Or do I have to?"
"Tell us what?" Light asked, concerned.
Rock scratched his head nervously. "Uh, remember that machine last night?" he asked seriously.
The two scientists nodded.
"Well, there was something -- someone -- in it."
Light looked at him steadily.
At that moment, Zero and Flurry burst into the room. "Um," Flurry began, "do you know where there's a good electronics store?"
Silence greeted her question, and she shifted from foot to foot uneasily. Rock glanced anxiously at Dr. Light, who was staring in silence at the two visitors. He finally spoke up.
"Um, Doc. These are two of the someones . . . I was -- telling you about." He hung his head lamely.
Dr. Light nodded at him slowly, watching Flurry and Zero.
"We don't really have time for introductions right now," Zero said impatiently. "If you don't know a good store, we'll just go find one ourselves."
They still received no direct response, so Zero muttered something rude and took Flurry by the arm, half-dragging her to the front door.
"Wait a minute," Roll called. "Try the one on Main and 5th."
Flurry nodded at her as she was pulled out the door. The entire room was silent for a long moment after the door slammed shut, until Light finally turned to his creation, Rock, for an explanation.
"Zero! Let me go -- right now!" Flurry strained backwards, trying to pull free of his grip, when he simply let go, and she tumbled to the ground. "Urrgh. Why'd you have to do that, anyway?" she demanded.
"Main and 5th?" he asked her, "Is that what she said?"
Flurry got up, rubbing her arm resentfully. "Yeah."
"Then let's get moving," he ordered.
They looked at each other for a moment, amusement playing across their faces. "I haven't had a good run in a long time," Flurry remarked, and they took off.
The sun glinted brightly off his black armor as he sank down to one knee, watching the figures who raced down the dirt road, raising a considerable cloud of dust. A grin flickered faintly across his face. "Well, Gospel," he muttered softly to the wolf-like figure at his side, "what do you think of that?"
The dog rumbled softly, flopping his tail.
"I think they're moving a little too fast for humans. The boss is gonna want to hear about this one." He flipped out a hand radio, restraining a low mutter at the primitive devices Dr. Wily insisted on using. "Yo, Doc."
"What?" demanded a rasping German accent.
Forte grinned sardonically. "Hey, Al," he greeted the man.
"I've told you before -- I am Dr. Wily -- not Al, not Doc. DR. WILY!" The evil scientist's temper had been deteriorating rapidly lately.
"Cool it, Doc. I found something you might want to know about."
"What, Forte? Tell me quickly. I have work to do."
Forte held back a growl of annoyance. "I was checkin' out Doc Light's place, and a couple of people just zoomed by here. I think they were robots."
"So? Rock and Roll again?"
"No," the black robot said flatly. "I'd know Rock if I saw him. These two are new." He grinned again, and Gospel gave a low rumble. "Send me out some of your little myrmidons, and I'll get to work on tracking them down."
"Very well, Forte. If you must track down one of your -- wild geese -- then have at it. I will send you three robots. No more than that."
Forte frowned fiercely. Jerk. I'll show you some wild geese. "All right, Doc. Tell them to meet me at point seven -- full holographic camouflage."
The doctor did not reply before cutting off the radio signal, and Forte barely kept himself from smashing the radio to the ground. He looked up and around. Point seven -- as it had been designated -- was a run-down factory building, long since condemned. Muttering a curse out of sheer spite, he warped away, gone in a blur of black.
Upon reaching point seven, he was greeted by the three robots he had been promised. And he moaned. Gutsman -- clumsy oaf. He wouldn't know what he was looking for if it jumped up and bit him on the nose. Shade -- cripes. Even full holographic camouflage couldn't hide that wingspan. Slash -- now, there was someone he could probably deal with. A little hyper around the edges, but he could work around that. He rubbed the spot between his eyes, trying to think of a polite way to say what he was trying to say.
He gave up on it.
"What -- were you the only ones he could spare?" he snapped finally.
Gutsman glared at him, raising his fist threateningly. He could never think of a comeback fast enough.
Slashman rumbled warningly. "We can just as easily leave, Forte," he purred darkly.
Shade rustled his wings. "Mm. And I thought we were friends."
"Listen, folks," Forte said, not listening to them. "Wily sent you to help me track down a couple of characters I saw." He paused, looking at each of them to establish his authority. "I have good reason to believe they're robots."
"So?" Gutsman said in his plodding voice. "There are lots of robots around here."
Forte glared at him. "Shaddap, Gutsy, before I send you back to latrine duty. These guys are a little different." Gospel whined from behind him, but he paid the hound no mind. "I'll transmit the data to you once you get in position. Shade's with me. Slash, you and Gutsy head out to Main and 5th. Keep a close watch on anyone who enters that electronics store. Got it?"
They all nodded.
"Then get going."
Slash and Gutsman warped out, holographic camouflage appearing around them, and Shade stepped forward. "And what are we going to do?" he asked pleasantly.
Forte grimaced. "Pick up the mess they make."
Shade chuckled softly, and Gospel uttered a mournful howl.
"What is it, mutt?" Forte demanded. The dog wagged at him, tongue lolling out. His ears flipped back and forth uncertainly. "What's the matter with you?" He rolled his eyes. "Just what I need. My attack dog's getting cold feet." He turned to Shade. "Let's get to Main Street. We're bound to see one of them."
Shade nodded in agreement, and they were gone.
Flurry and Zero skidded to a halt just outside the city. Flurry shaded her eyes, gazing out over it. "Wow," she murmured. "It's so -- clean!"
Zero gave her a funny look, staring cautiously at the tendrils of smoke and smog that circled through the air. Compared to his home -- former home, this was filthy. Polluting, fossil fuel cars and whatever else was out on the road in this time period, not to mention --
"I mean for a major city," Flurry was saying. "Of course, I only went to one once -- but the air was so thick you couldn't cut it with a chainsaw."
Zero nodded carefully. "Let's head in there," he suggested. "I'll scout out some other stores. You try the one on Main."
Flurry shrugged noncommittally, eyes still glued on the city. "Sure. Just remember to keep a low profile."
"Always do," he grinned.
She looked at him, startled, then shook her head. "I knew that didn't sound right," she told him. "Let's dig up a phone book -- I don't know where Main Street is."
They found a phone booth in due time, and they were thumbing thoughtfully through the pages, when Zero glanced up sharply. "Don't look now," he murmured, "but we're being watched."
Flurry gave no sign that she had heard him, except to answer, "Humans?"
"I'm not sure. Keep your guard up." He stood up straight, looking silently at the phone book. "I'll take those . . . four," he said, pointing to one section of the book. "They're all in the same general area, and they aren't that far. I'll cover the second half of that list," he added as an afterthought.
Flurry nodded in agreement. "I'll take the ones down Main."
Forte looked at the two of them sharply. "Hey, Shade."
He heard the vampire's wings rustle in response.
"The girl's headed to where the others are stationed. Let's follow him."
