The robot in question spun sharply, seeing his brother scrambling toward him as the fortress exploded in the background. "What is it, brother?" he asked coolly.
Rock stopped, panting, and his dog scratched behind one ear. "Where -- where are the others?" He glanced up. "You didn't --"
"Don't worry about them, Rock. They're safely out of that thing by now."
"How can you be so sure?" Rock demanded. "They were after that machine, remember, and it was far from under their control the last time I saw it!"
Blues didn't say anything for a few minutes before asking, "Well, what about your mission? I don't think you quite came out on top this time."
Rock refused to answer him. "Whaddyou care, anyway?" He took a deep breath and turned around, preparing to warp out.
"Wait, Rock."
The youngish robot turned, expression sullenly questioning.
"Keep your temper well," Blues said flatly. "And tell Doc I'm sorry. It was my fault the fortress blew."
Rock felt rage begin to boil up inside him, but he nodded curtly and warped away without a sound. Rush wagged his tail apologetically and was gone as well.
Flurry sank to her knees, almost weeping with joy, hearing the sounds of a massive explosion behind them. "What next?" she moaned, getting to her feet again.
Tourian grinned mirthlessly. "Next, we try to convince this machine to take us back to Dr. Light's lab."
Zero smiled boredly. "I don't think that's going to be a problem. Check the map."
The others hadn't noticed the holographic map that had sprung up over the console. They turned to it slowly, and their expressions broke into broad smiles of glee.
"We're headed straight for it!" X celebrated.
"What's our speed?" Flurry asked, and to her surprise, small, green numbers popped up at the bottom right corner of the screen. They were cruising at three hundred mph. "That's kind of fast, isn't it?"
"I think Zephyr can handle it," Tourian said, suddenly sounding very tired. "Right now, I just want to get her repaired and get home."
Flurry nodded in sober agreement, and X and Zero exchanged a pained look.
"I guess," X said quietly, "we'd better start thinking of it as home, anyway."
Flurry and Tourian didn't say anything, feeling anew the shame of what they'd done to the other two. They couldn't imagine what it was like -- to be ripped from their own reality like a page torn from a novel. Some part of their spirit seemed lost back there, and it was a part of them they could never recover.
Zero was the first to break the ensuing silence. "We're approaching fast. Better get ready."
Not a word was said as the others went about preparations for the landing.
"Brandon!" Emily screamed. "Your shift starts in five minutes! Don't you dare take off again!"
Brandon spun, hair flopping ungraciously into his eyes. His sister, a few years younger than he and somewhat smaller, glared daggers at him, shifting a wave of brown hair over her shoulder. His mouth tightened as he tried to think of a way to keep her at his station until he could drop off those supplies at Dr. Light's.
"I -- wasn't taking off, Emily," he offered lamely. "I've got to make one, quick delivery, and then I'll be back. If you can take over for me until then --"
"No way! I handled your shift last week. I want a break this time." Her jaw was set stubbornly, mouth almost to the point of a pout, and she stood with her hands on her hips and legs spaced to shoulder width. "It's your fault you didn't plan around your job."
"Look, Emily --"
"Don't you try to --"
"Will you be quiet and --"
"Hey, I'm not gonna --"
"Guys, guys!" Nick shouted over the din. "Hush up! You're scaring the customers!"
They both stared at him, just coming out of the store room with some sort of adapter in hand. Brandon made for the door again, and Emily darted past the cash register in a fury, startling the woman Nick was waiting on. She caught up to her brother halfway out the door and hauled back on his arm with every ounce of strength she could muster. He strained against her, and she suddenly lost her grip, sending them both sprawling in opposite directions.
"Hang on a sec," Nick muttered to his customer. He walked over to the pair, who were getting to their feet, prepared to go at it again. "Look guys, why don't you both go and drop that stuff off, and I'll hold the fort here -- okay?"
Emily sniffed. "All right," she said grudgingly.
Brandon looked at his friend in horror. "Aw, Nick, come on! I can't take her! She'll -- she'll trip over something and break it. Or -- or she'll be a total airhead and make me look like an idiot --"
"You don't need my help for that," Emily growled, pushing her hair out of her face.
Brandon shot her a glance as he continued. "Nick, can't you just come along?"
"Nah. Emily will do just fine." Nick was returning to his customer. "She needs to learn the delivery drill, anyway."
"Ha!" Emily smirked at her brother.
He didn't say anything, walking out to his truck and jumping in. He started the engine, taking off nearly before Emily got inside. She settled in and buckled up, muttering, "You are such a jerk sometimes, Brandon."
"Sorry," he muttered, and he actually did sound it.
"It's all right. I promise I won't say anything stupid."
The trip to the lab was made in silence, except when Emily said, "It's so pretty out here. I wish I could live here."
Brandon made a noncommittal noise. "I dunno. Lots of weird stuff happens around here."
A distant rumble sounded, and Emily glanced out the window. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. She turned to Brandon questioningly.
"Don't ask me," was all he said.
The rumble was repeated, followed this time by a sharp cracking noise.
"I don't think I want to know," Emily muttered.
"Well," Brandon remarked, braking lazily, "you're going to find out anyway. Help me unload." He swung the door open and stepped out.
The scene that greeted them was somewhat chaotic. The girl Brandon had spoken to the day before was helping someone out of a bashed-up vehicle, and she didn't look so hot herself. All of the ones who came slowly out of the machine had a look of weariness and resignation about them. Rock was leaning against the repaired wall of the lab, looking sullen. His dog was crouched next to him, whining softly.
"Hey, guys!" Brandon called out. "We've got your stuff!"
Rock turned his head and then looked away. He was in no mood to deal with anyone. And he had yet to tell Dr. Light the bad news.
Flurry looked up and Brandon and smiled wanly. "Bring it on over," she called tiredly. "I guess."
Rock nodded curtly.
There was near-tangible tension in the air as Brandon backed his truck up over by the machine, and Emily sat down on a pile of rubble to watch in silence. The truck pulled to a halt, and Brandon jumped out to help the group unload.
Flurry smiled gratefully, and Brandon called to his sister to help. She nodded and walked over, taking an armful of stuff and handing it to another of the people. Her gaze followed the group as they went about their business, and suddenly one of them stopped, tapping another on the shoulder. The pair snatched the equipment out of her hands and darted over to one side, muttering.
"But," one of them said, "this is only half the stuff we're gonna need -- Flurry!"
"What is it, Tourian?"
"Where's the other stuff?"
"Oh -- o-o-oh." The girl spun to face Brandon. "Um, Brandon, could you do us a huge favor?" Her eyes met his pleadingly, exhaustion seeping into her gaze. "We got some stuff from other stores -- Zero knows which ones." The other glanced up at the sound of his name and nodded silently. "We were wondering," Flurry continued, "if you could pick up that other stuff for us."
"Uuuh." Her gaze held him completely, and he found himself agreeing before he'd even thought about it. "Yeah. Sure. No prob."
Emily made a disgusted noise. The damsel-in-distress bit got him every time.
"Thank you," said Flurry, releasing him. "Zero, tell him where to go."
With that taken care of, she turned to Rock, who refused to look at any of them. "What's with you?" she demanded. "Where are Dr. Light and the others?"
"They're inside," he answered, turning away.
"So why haven't you spoken to them yet?" she asked, curiosity creeping into her tone.
When he shifted his shoulders and wouldn't answer, Flurry realized in amazement that the small robot was ashamed about something. This withdrawn and angry display was not the result of sullenness or an injured ego. She sat down against the wall, eyes downcast.
"What's wrong, Rock?" Her eyes shifted to his slumped back. "Is it our fault?"
"No," he muttered barely audible. "It's my fault. I failed in my mission." He turned around. "I went chasing after Forte instead of trying to find Wily's lab." His eyes grew angry. "I feel so stupid!"
Flurry shook her head. "At least it was all destroyed."
"Sure, sure." He laughed bitterly. "I was supposed to retrieve some of it."
"Well," Flurry replied with some asperity, "stop pouting and do something about it. Just go talk to Dr. Light and patch the mess up." She shrugged and got to her feet. "We owe you a big apology, Rock. We lied to you, took advantage of you, and used you. But at this point, I don't really feel sorry. Snap out of it, already."
She walked away, leaving Rock staring after her. He watched her exchange a few quick words with Tourian, and he shook his head. It was so hard to believe they were robots, especially dressed in street clothes as they were. It was some time actually before he thought about the words they had exchanged, and he frowned at the pain they caused. She just doesn't get it, he thought stubbornly. She doesn't know what it's like to fail.
Roll glanced out the window, wiping her hands dry after washing the dishes. "Dr. Light, I think they're back."
The scientist looked up. "Even Rock? Then, why didn't he --?"
"I don't know," she murmured, tilting her head. "Maybe something went wrong."
Kalinka looked up from where she sat, working at a puzzle with her father. "Went wrong? What do you mean?"
"I don't know," Roll repeated, turning from the window. She looked back over her shoulder, silently worried.
At that moment, a door slid open, admitting Rock with head bowed. Dr. Light rose quickly, and Cossack was on his feet almost as fast. They looked at him eagerly, until he lifted his eyes to theirs and gave his head the slightest shake. Light stared at him in silence.
"What happened?" he asked softly.
Roll gestured quickly to Kalinka, who nodded in agreement and followed her out of the room. Their absence went unnoticed by the other three.
"The fortress blew before I had the chance --" His face twisted angrily. "No, that's not it. Blues says it's his fault, but it's not. If I hadn't gone after Forte, I'd have that robot safely here."
Cossack's head sank down against his chest. "Did Wily escape with his plans?"
"I don't know," Rock mumbled. "I don't think so. Flurry" his voice caught "says that everything was destroyed in that explosion."
Light sighed softly. "It's just as well. We have another chance to stop him, then."
Rock hung his head. "I'm sorry, Doc."
"No, no," Light replied, sounding tired. "It isn't your fault. We need to anticipate him. That will be the key to his defeat."