Brothers, Chapter 2: Homecoming


Vick-Tek corporate headquarters.
New York City.

Marcus Vickers paces his office high atop of his company's massive skyscraper, staring at a computer tablet that is showing the massive breaking news story about ProtoMan's sudden turn on Dr. Wily and joining Mega Man.
Late tomorrow night, Vickers will have his long awaited negotiatons with the famed robotics scientist Dr. Mikhail Cossack via videoconference, hoping to acquire his services to work on the company's top secret (and failure-ridden) Robot Warrior Project. Despite the magnitude of the ProtoMan story and the importance of the meeting with Dr. Cossack, all Vickers can think about is one thing...

"I've been upstaged again," he bemoans, convinced that this was all planned by Dr. Light ahead of time to overshadow his company's big announcement. "When I am mere hours away from obtaining the services of Dr. Cossack, Dr Light goes and pulls this on me! They had to have known about the meeting with Cossack. They just had too."

"Our private investigators have looked into this matter as you asked, sir," Scott Erikson informs his employer, "They concluded that there are no moles operating in this company."

"Well, have 'em double check it," Vickers orders, "And then hire a team of private investigators to investigate our private investigators. Maybe they're involved."

"Um... I will get right on it, sir," Erikson replies to his boss's unusual request.

"Not right now, Scott. I'm busy preparing for the videoconference with Cossack and I want to make sure we don't encounter the same problems we did with the other candidates for this job. I'd like to practice this with a live subject... and that live subject is you."

"Well, as long as this doesn't involve the use of the trap door again, I suppose I could help," Erikson replies nervously as he remembers his trip down the office trap door not long ago.

"Okay, good," Vickers says, putting the computer tablet down and standing accross from his Vice President, "Now, I'll be Marcus Vickers, billionaire C.E.O. of Vick-Tek Incorporated; You will be Dr. Cossack, the man who is going to build me my robot warrior. A robot warrior who will not only save humanity, but also make me a trillionaire... if not... a quadrillionaire! And it will be glorious!"

Erikson asks, "Is there such a figure as a quadrillion, sir?"

"... If I say there is such a thing as a quadrillion, then there is," Vickers impatiently replies, "And besides, you're supposed to be Cossack right now, anyway. Get into character."

"Oh, sorry sir," Erikson says, putting a pair of glasses on and sticking his index finger under his nose to make a mustache (even though the real Dr. Cossack has a beard.)

Vickers then proceeds to rehearse his meeting with Dr. Cossack. "Ah, Dr. Mikhail Cossack, it is a pleasure to finally speak with you."

In a fake sterotypical Russian accent, Erikson replies in character, "Ho-ho! It is great pleasure to meet with you. In Russia, robots build you!"

Vickers puts his hands on his hips, growing annoyed as his exasperated sigh clearly demonstrates. "If you're not gonna take this seriously, I'm getting sombody else to be Cossack for this senario."

"Sorry, sir... Ah! It is great pleasure to do busines with American tycoon such as yourself," Erikson says as 'Dr. Cossack.' "Where is contract, I wish to sign now."

"... does he really talk like that?", Vickers asks.

"Well, not exactly, sir. He does speak perfect english, albeit with a Russian accent," Erikson replies.

"Then, do his voice right," Vickers orders, "This man is the future of the company. Now, let's continue... so, Dr. Cossack, before we begin our disscussion, how is your daughter... uh, what's her name again?... Catacalysm? Calligraphy?"

"It's Kalinka, sir," Erikson replies

"Kalinka, that's right. I know it was one of those funky names," Vickers mumbles, before continuing his 'interview'. "So, how is your charming daughter Kalinka doing?"

Erikson replies in his fake voice, "Why, Kalinka is doing well, Commrade. Old enough to drive in America."

"And how is your lovely wife, Dr. Cossack?", Vickers asks, "What's her name again?"

"... um... Dr. Cossack's wife died two years ago, sir," Erikson says, breaking character.

"Why didn't anybody tell me this?", Vicker complains loudly.

"I actually told you personally, sir. Back when Dr. Cossack's name first came up in the Robot Warrior project," Erikson explains, "His wife's passing is one of the reasons he didn't enter negotiations until recently."

Vikers rubs his eyes, already growing dispondant over how this meeting will most likely go. "Oh, God. I can see where this is going. This is going to be another disaster, just like all the others," he groans.

"Sir, if I might suggest... perhaps you should take the time you have to familiarize yourself with Dr. Cossack's body of work. Not by using, you know... training sessions like this," Erikson says, with a hint of worry, affraid he might go down a trap door again.

"... you're right," Vickers says, straighening himself out and snapping his fingers, "I've been so focused on hiring Cossack that I never got the time to learn much about him. Scott, I will need all of the information I can get on Dr. Cossack, A.S.A.P. I refuse to let another Dr. Wagner take money from me."

"That's the spirit, sir," Erikson cheers.

"By the by, Scott... do you think I should learn some Russian?", Marcus asks.

"I don't think it's necessary, sir," Erikson replies.

"Well, we should make him feel like we are the good guys. Have somebody get some of those Russian dolls, that have another doll inside of them and we'll have them in the background."

"Right on it, sir," Erikson replies.

As Erikson leaves the office, Vickers looks outside his window overlooking Manhattan, certain that this time he's going to get the right man for the job, and the Robot Warrior will become a reality.

"We're gonna get him," he confidently proclaims to himself, "We are going to get him."


Cossack Family Citadel.
Moscow, Russia.

It is nighttime here in Russia, and in his office inside of his massive fortified citadel, Dr. Cossack is doing his own research on the Vick-Tek corporation before he speaks with them later this week (because unlike Vickers, Mikhail prefers to learn as much about the people he's dealing with well in advance.)
With the International Science Conference coming in a few months, he would certainly be the talk of the science community and he could finally get the chance to be on an equal playing field with Dr. Thomas Light. It would certainly feel more comforting if Vick-Tek told him exactly what it is they want him to design.

"They seem to have a lot of money to throw away on this," he says to himself in Russian after seeing that several millions of dollars have gone into a top secret project in the the past two years, including the acquisition of a large ammount of unsolidified raw titanium.
As he sifts through the information about the company, he learns that since this spending on the project began, the company's enter Research and Development team was relieved of their duites en masse. Cossack also remembers hearing that one of his fellow scientists Dr. Arnold Wagner - the inventor of Toby, the ill-fated robot who skyockets through roofs - was hired by Vick-Tek, and then was uncerimoniously released in April.
"No wonder they fired Wagner... I'm amazed they even hired the Swiss Simpleton to begin with," Cossack says to himself, mocking Wagner's lack of expertise, "They must not do their research."

Cossack hears a knock at his door. "Come," he says.

The door to the office opens and Mikhail's daughter Kalinka enters, and is beside herself with excitement. "Father! Have you heard the news?"

"What is it, Angel?", he asks.

"Mega Man's brother ProtoMan has left that monster Dr. Wily. He's reunited with Mega Man and his family!", Kalinka squees.

Dr. Cossack's sandy brown eyebrows tilt with interest. "And when did this take place?"

"It just happened!" Kalinka explains, "Wily sent his robots to attack a parade for some guy who's running in the election to become the news Governor, but ProtoMan turned against them."

"That's good news, indeed. Hopefully we are one step closer to peace."

"I'm just happy Mega Man can have his family complete again. He did an interview in America last week, he said in that's what he always wanted," Kalinka smiles.

Dr. Cossack remains silent for a moment. The wish of having a complete family again weighs heavily on his mind since the loss of his wife.

"So... what are you working on?", Kalinka asks, trying to make sure her father doesn't slip into a depressed mood again.

"The meeting with the Vick-Tek corporation tomorrow evening," Mikhail replies.

"The guys who made the big dancing robot?", Kalinka asks, referring to the VickBot 9000, star of last year's VickBot 9000 Groove on the Move tour.

"Yes, that one," Cossack replies, "They have a project that they have been pestering me to consider ever since last year. But, they will not disclose it until the meeting takes place."

Kalinka's eyes search her father's desk and sees the notes about the upcoming International Science Conference next year. Once she sees these notes, Kalinka begins asking a few questions about it. "So, where is the Science Conference being held?" she asks, folding her arms behind her back and crossing her fingers.

"Most likely New York City in America," Dr. Cossack answers

Kalinka smiles as she asks, "I assume Dr. Light will be there too."

"... most likely. He would be the star of the show," Mikhail answers with a hint of bitterness and jealousy, thanks to his continued desire to be better than Thomas Light.

"If Dr. Light will be there... do you think Mega Man will be too?", Kalinka asks.

"You're asking because you want to come along in the hopes that you can finally meet him, is that correct?", Mikhail asks.

Shrugging her shoulders, Kalinka sweetly asks, "... please?"

Cossack can't help but smile at his daughter's question, hearing how sweet she sounded when she asked it. Hearing her sometimes she was all it could take to soften him up, even though she's becoming an adult, she's still the little angel he always knew.
"Only if you promise to pay attention, my dear. The knowledge shared at the event could help make you the smartest girl on campus when you attend university next year."

"Oh, I promise, I'll listen, Father," Kalinka insists, clasping her hands togheter and interlocking her fingers with her smile growing wider.

Mikhail answers, "Then, the answer is yes."

Once she hears that she might finally have the chance to meet her hero, Kalinka bursts with happiness and hugs her father. "Thank you, father! Thank you!", she peeps.

It will be a very special experience for Kalinka when she finally gets to meet Mega Man, but it could prove to be even more interesting when Dr. Cossack and Dr. Light finally meet.


That Evening.
Dr. Light's lab.
Just outside New York City.

Nearly two years after his creation, ProtoMan has come home, and he certainly seems happy to be back. The only problem is when our heroes arrive to the lab, the media is swarming the place looking to get some comments from Proto, and the Red Raider seems all too happy to give an interview as he mugs for all of the cameras that are in front of him.
"That's right, everybody. Let it be known to the world... the tag team of Mega Man and ProtoMan will unstoppable!", he boasts.

Roll walks past him and reminds him, "I'm a part of this team too, you know."

"Oh, yeah, forgot. Her too!", Proto clarifies, "So, as I was saying, the team of Mega Man, myself and Roll will be unstoppable!"

Bree Recotta shouts over the voices of all of the other reporters, "What happened between you and Dr. Wily to make you abandon him?"

"Yeah, I'd like to know that answer myself," Mega Man adds.

"Wily?", Proto snorts, "Let's just say it's personal. I'm through with the old coot!"

"Do you plan on sharing Dr. Wily's secrets with Dr. Light?", asks another reporter.

"Are you going to raid Wily's fortress?", asks yet another reporter.

"I think safe to say Wily's days are numbered. He lost the only advantage he ever had when he lost me," Proto gloats, "Any more questions?"

Mega Man tries in vain to pull Proto away from the reporters. "Come on, Proto, let's go inside.", Mega says.

"Aw, come on, bro!" Proto protests, turning to his brother, "The public wants to have a word with me! I'm not used to being showered with affection from the media."

"Proto, please, not now," Mega begs, "We shouldn't hog the spotlight when it's Election Week."

"Okay, fine", Proto groans, then turn back to the reporters.
"I've gotta go now," Proto says, "I'm his big brother, but he's the hero, so I've gotta listen to him! But, don't worry," he adds with his arms outstretched, "I'll give each of you an interview later this week!... especially you, good lookin'!"

Proto smiles and points to Anastasia Love, the buxsome blonde female reporter who stars on the entertainment magazine show Entertainment Excess, who smiles back at him. "Like, Oh My God!", she squees.

"I think I'll let you interview me first. And I must admit I find human women like you to be really hot," Proto says coyly.

Mega Man glazes his eyes and tries to drag his casanova of a brother inside.


Later that night.

Soon after the Light family escaped the horde of media, Dr. Light wanted to run a diagnostic on ProtoMan's internal systems. "I notice your tracking device is missing," Thomas says as he looks up at the computer station, showing a full diagram of ProtoMan's body.

"Yeah, I didn't want Wily following me around," ProtoMan replies, "It would've been a lot of trouble, so I removed it."

Thomas finishes the diagnostic, "Aside from that, everything checks out alright."

"Good," ProtoMan anxiously says as he gets off of the flat table, "I don't like tests."

"Didn't Albert ever give you a proper check-up, aside from just damage repair?", Dr. Light asks.

Proto seems perplexed by the question. "Was he... supposed to?", Proto asks.

"Yes, he was," Light answers, then grumbles under his breath, "damn that Albert."

"What's the big deal, it's just a test," Proto shrugs.

"It's recommended that robots like you get a check-up at least five times a year," Dr. Light says.

"Yeah, well all humans are supposed to get injected full of medicine too, but not all of them get sick if they don't," Proto counterpoints.

As Thomas shuts the computer diagnostic down, ProtoMan spots an open doorway leading a dark room. This triggers a memory inside ProtoMan's mind and he starts walking towards the room, his mouth slightly ajar as he approaches.
Dr. Light notices Proto wandering towards this room and follows him.

ProtoMan enters the room, which is almost totally dark with the only light peering in coming from the main lab area. ProtoMan looks around and sees that this is mainly just a storage room, filled with random items, but he notices something over in the corner... it is a large hulk of equipment that appears to have been bashed to death.
Then, he remembers what it is, and that it was he who caused it.

He hears Dr. Light's footsteps stop somewhere behind him. "Are you alright, Blues?"

"I remember this room," Proto says, sounding distant, "... and I remember that thing over there."

"Do you remember how it got that damaged?", Thomas asks.

ProtoMan stares at the damaged equipment. "I remember... I felt pain in my head," he answers as bits and pieces of his first day alive begins to come back to him. "I remember you and Wily... then, all I wanted to do is break something, and that made me feel better... then... everything went to black."

Proto begins slowly backpeddling away. He doesn't know why he is feeling this way, but he is very freaked out by it all.

"Blues," Thomas says, using ProtoMan's original name that he wanted to give him, "It's alright... you're home now."

ProtoMan turns around and walks away, overwhelmed by the memories. "I've gotta go.", he says, sounding very rattled.

"What?", Thomas says, "But, you just got back here."

"I'm not leaving again... I just need some time to myself... for a little while."

"But, Blues-", Thomas says.

"Don't call me that, please," ProtoMan protests, spinning around and pointing at Thomas.

Thomas doesn't say anything at first. Surprised that ProtoMan remembers his original name, but also let down that he has rejected it. "ProtoMan," Dr. Light corrects himself, "Whatever's wrong-"

"I can just talk about it here, right?", Proto interrupts, "... I'm not exactly the talking type."

"If you leave, there's a good chance Dr. Wily could find you," Thomas warns.

"I can defend myself, don't worry," ProtoMan assures.

"But, your brother and sister will come looking for you," Thomas adds, "And if Wily has sent anybody after you, that will put both Rock and Roll in danger. You do realize that, don't you?"

ProtoMan remains silent for a about a moment. "... yeah... maybe I'm just freaking out. This isn't exactly easy for me," Proto admits, "I've been told to hate you for so long, I don't how how to react to you just yet. I've had pretty tough week... in fact, I'm tired."

"There's a spare bedroom at the end of the hall in the house... I prepared it in case you ever came back."

"Wow, free room and board, huh?", Proto grins, "Thanks, Doc. You're not so bad afterall!"

"This is your home now too, ProtoMan," Thomas says, patting Proto on his left shoulder, "You're now a part of this family, just like we always wanted... like it was alway meant to be."

ProtoMan smiles, still managing to look like he's flashing that Proto smirk of his, "Yeah... thanks."
As Proto turns to leave, he stops and adds, "I know I just said I wasn't the talking type, but maybe you're right. Tell my favorite brother that I want to speak with him tommorrow morning in Central Park. Just him and Me. There's a lot of stuff I want to get off of my chest."


Later.

All of the news crews and journalists have left by now and Mega Man is standing on the roof of the lab. For November, it's surprisingly mild out tonight and not too cold.
Mega had been keeping a weary eye on his brother all day until Dr. Light began running the tests on him.
He doesn't seem to be going over-the-top with his attitude... well except his cosanova antics with that female reporter from earlier.
But, Mega Man is having a lot of trouble accepting his brother's turn. Mega took both Wily and Proto on their word once before on the island in the pacific ocean where Dr. Wily had found a way to make robots out of stone statues earlier this year and it backfired. But, ProtoMan was acting under Wily's orders at that time... but then again, what's to say he's not now?
Mega Man is so uneasy about this development that he has barely smiled since that picture of him and ProtoMan was taken for the news earlier today.

Mega hears the door leading to the roof open. He looks over to see Roll approaching him. "I had a feeling you'd be up here," she says, "You're always up here when something's bothering you."

"It helps me clear my head... sometimes," Mega replies.

Roll notices her brother's noticably somber demeanor - despite ProtoMan finally coming home - and tries to talk to him about it. "You don't look happy about all of this. This is what you've always wanted."

Mega replies, "I don't know how to feel about him right now... what do you think about him?", he asks.

"I've gotta be honest, it feels kinda weird... I don't know to make of him either," Roll responds, "I've had to go from hating him to welcoming him. But, Dr. Light is happy though."

"That's what I'm affraid of," Mega replies, "I haven't forgotten when he and Wily stabbed us in the back on that island with the Stonebots a few months ago... I'm affraid of that happening again. I don't feel very comfortable with him here. I don't to see our father's heart broken again, or yours."

"And you also don't want your heart broken again either," Roll perceptively adds.

A beat passes as Mega nods his head down, because he knows Roll is right. His life has never been easy having to deal with ProtoMan.

"Mega, I know you're having trouble trusting him after everything he's done... honestly, I am too. But, he looks like he's happy to be here... what if he's really telling the truth." Roll asks.

"... I've thought about that... maybe he is. I hope he is," Mega replies, sounding distraught over this situation, "After all the things he's helped Wily do, do you think I should trust him."

"Would you?", Roll asks back.

Mega Man doesn't reply.


ProtoMan walks down a hallway inside of Dr. Light's house adjoining the lab. He can hear loud rock music coming from Roll's room. Proto can't help but smirk at how his little sister has the music up loud enough to be heard through the door. It wasn't too loud, but it was still noticable. It must drive Dr. Light up the wall.

Proto looks accross to see his brother's room right accross the way. Proto would have that talk with his brother right now, but he knows now is not the right time. Besides, both Mega and Roll are on the roof talking with eachother right now.

ProtoMan then arrives to the room Dr. Light said he could use. Proto wasn't expecting much of anything special, especially since he's just a robot and not a human.

But, when he enters the room, Proto is pleasently surprised. The room was fully outfitted like a human's bedroom would look, much like the kind they show in newspaper ads. There was a bed, dressers, nightstands, everything you could want to have in a bedroom, a far cry from what Proto was used to back at Skull Fortress: a small dimly lit room with an old stolen matress and that's about it.
Even the walls were decorated with red and gray wallpaper.

"Hmph... how nice," Proto says to himself.

It would seem to the casual observer that things are finally back to normal in the Light family and that ProtoMan has turned a new leaf. But, Dr. Wily is still out there and his latest plan is mere hours away from beginning.
and to make matters even worse, Dr. Wily is not the only threat...

He has arrived to New York once again.


Later.
Outside Dr. Light's lab.

Outside Dr. Light's lab complex, as all of the Light family is preparing to retire for the night, a familiar black sedan pulls up and stops directly in front. And the infamous Mr. Black stares at Dr. Light's lab from behind his mask. In the car with him is his full asrenal of weapons and gadgets that he has used to "gather information" from his subjects.

"So, it looks like we're one big happy family again... all for the better," he says, "This is all too easy."

Mr. Black slowly drives away from the lab and into the cover of night, where he will be ready and waiting for the right time to strike.


Late that night.
Somewhere away from the lab.

ProtoMan had snuck out of the lab compound after he knew everybody was asleep/recharging. It was the perfect opportunity for him to have that time alone he needed.

ProtoMan hides in an alley and looks all over to see if anybody is around. He scopes out every possible inch of his surroundings to make sure there's nothing, not even a mouse, that can hear him.

Then, he presses his communition panel on his blaster arm... "Are you there?", he says.

"It took long enough, Proto," replies Dr. Wily.

"You can thank my little brother for that," ProtoMan says, "And your old friend Light."

"Are they suspicious?"

"Except for my brother, they're buying it. Hook, line and sinker. Even my sister is, even though I don't think she's accepting it as well as Light. It might take a little more to get through to Mega Man, though."

"I expected as much," Wily says, "But, your brother will except it soon enough. Thomas programmed too much human emotion into him, my boy. It's his weakness."

"I've known that all along," ProtoMan smirks, "How about those rust buckets at the fortress? I'm guessing they're not handling this very well."

"I haven't told them yet," Wily replies, "I didn't want them to spoil the surprise in battle, it would ruin everything. As far as they know, you are the enemy. Until the time is right, only you and I know about this. But, Metal Man and some of the others particularly have it in for you."

"Oh, please. I'm not worried about them," Proto scoffs, "So, what's the second phase of this grand plan of yours, Doc?"

"Look up, my boy, and you will see," Albert answers.

ProtoMan looks up to see a Battonton approaching him. The Bat-shapped robot flies past Proto and drops a small microchip towards him. Proto catches it in his right hand as the Battonton flies away. "A microchip?", Proto asks.

"That is a very sophisticated scrambler chip you are now holding," Wily says, "All you need to do is place it on the side of your stupid kid brother's helmet, preferably inside his enhanced hearing sensor. It will make your job even easier."

"I've already made an arrangement for the two of us to have a little heart-to-heart tomorrow morning," Proto grins, "That might be the perfect time to plant it."

"Well, then, you say he doesn't quite believe you yet, so perhaps this would be an excellent chance for you to... convince him otherwise."

Wily snickers with a wicked glee and ProtoMan grins. There's no way this plan can go wrong, not this time. He is sure of it.


Author's Notes:

Sorry for the minor delay, everybody. I wanted to take the time to make this chapter right. I wasn't confident in it until now.

I always wanted to see more of ProtoMan staying at Dr. Light's lab during this time and trying to fit in. So, I added some scenes here showing that process.

The scene with Dr. Cossack and Kalinka Cossack had a subtle little hint to the direction episode 6 might take. ;)

The next chapter is the classic conversation scene with ProtoMan and Mega Man in Central Park. And this is going to be much more than just a brief little bonding scene with Rush licking everybody's face. This version of the scene will mean a lot more.

Please remember to leave a review or a comment (and please let me know if you catch any typos, preferably in a PM.)
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