Note: This and the next chapters are reposts from the other edition that I have decided to move here due to not enough traction on that one.
Hello everyone. Very sorry for the late start, but I won't lie in saying I'm more than a little nervous in beginning this. Mainly because, reading over some of the chapters from the last story, I found that some elements make little to no sense. And even more, are incredibly stupid. This, for now, mainly focuses on the Skull Fortress and its lack of protection, yet that has been adjusted. As well as issues that will be addressed, at least in this chapter here. And hopefully, while I do have plans to address many things in the first 'Season' later, I don't become incompetent and go and 'forget'. That said, before reading this, I'd advise you check out these past chapters first:
Time Stands Still Part 5
Ninety-One Days to Take Off Part 5
Ninety-One Days to Take Off Part 6
Ninety-One Days to Take Off Part 8
One of the things I want to assure you is that there WILL be no 'episodes', and while the chapters may begin to reach the 10,000 word mark, I will try to keep it shorter. No skimping on development and important points that'll come up later in both chapters and future installments, but I want to do work in cutting off a lot of the unnecessary fat that was in the last story/season. I'm no master or anything of the sort, not even close, yet plans for this, as well as techniques and general growth in my writing has happened through the years, and thus, I hope to make this one better than the last, and the next one better than this, and so on and so forth.
Thank you for your understanding and patience with me and my BS.
Also, 'SPP' stands for sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride. It'll make sense when you see it.
Chapter 1-Strange Changes Part 1
Mega Man © of Capcom
Just a few days, just a few words. That's all it took to send everything and everyone into a frenzy.
'Escaped!' it read on the headlines everywhere, every potential source of news outlet, in the country and out. Social media was abuzz with it, arguments regarding the prison's security (or lack thereof in the eyes of many now) abound, and more than a handful of conspiracy theories were born, detailing the possibility that said escape was perhaps not so 'unintentional'. That was baffling enough, yet not as much as what spurred all of it to begin with.
Questions. There were SO many questions. Both from said news sources and social circles, and those of a higher authority.
Questions that, only now, he was being told the answers to.
"All right." A uniformed soldier alerted his superiors, he and his fellow men resting atop of one of the large, natural formations of rock that lay above the area of focus below. "They're in position."
"Alert them to proceed." A voice ordered from the communicator. The soldier nodded in agreement.
"Affirmative. Gibson out." He answered, hazel eyes turning to the three machines below him and the rest of the human troops.
"Do you think he's still there?" he turned to one of the men beside him, eyes of blue meeting his.
"Why wouldn't he be?" Gibson questioned.
"Well, I'm just saying, it's pretty obvious place to go, isn't it?" the other clarified. "I mean, if I was making some grand escape, going right back to where my main hideout was isn't exactly the best option to go for. Let alone anything that'll keep you from getting thrown right back in prison."
"To be fair, it's not as if the guy we're talking about here is known for being subtle."
The other military man was slow to respond, yet ultimately agreed. Besides, if he WAS indeed here, then frankly, the only thing keeping them from getting the bastard back in a cell, or better yet, on his way to receive a nice, full dose of the combo SPP was the unseen 'blockade' below. Though if he had his way, he'd send him right to the chair, no sponge.
Of course, even if, by some miracle, their current situation WOULD be solved, simply waltzing in wouldn't be possible. For if 'he' was here, then who was to say whoever else he managed to glue, and screw together wasn't?
Turquoise and Sapphire eyes gazed at the seemingly empty, tightly spaced section in between the two walls of solid, reddened rock, seemingly nothing before them but more dry Earth and canyon.
"This is the spot." Mega Man said aloud, looking forward before turning to the Native based Robot Master, of whom held an intense gaze at the area. "So, you say that you've come to this spot before?"
"Many times." Tomahawk Man confirmed in a deep, slightly husky voice. "Though others were here long before I." his eyes turned to the other member of their small party, this figure a stark contrast to either of them.
It bore the general shape of a humanoid, though unlike them, it bore no distinct features of its own. No 'skin' or 'hair', let alone anything that made it resemble what its shape was based upon. A smooth, chrome, outer shell was all that lay on its frame, blank, paleish yellow optics in place of eyes, and what seemed to resemble an imbedded microphone stationed where a mouth would be. Aside from these attributes, the machine bore no other features on its 'face'. It was, in many ways, as barren and devoid of life as the area around them all.
"Many such as this one here," Tomahawk gestured to the blank android accompanying him. "Held the task of breaking into the gate's system that you had described." He explained. "Given your rather 'lucky' break, literally in a sense, it was assumed that Wily would have it repaired."
Mega Man nodded, though realized what the other machine was getting at. "And I take it that there have been some 'updates'?"
Tomahawk's lips tightened. "To put it mildly." His gaze softened upon looking upon the near featureless robot, cool, steely eyes unable to keep in line with it for long. "There have been many an attempt made,"
"None successful though."
The artificial Native shook his head, Mega Man too presenting the droid with them a surprised, saddened look. It didn't understand what either of the two were doing, let alone why their facial implants were contorting their features into such expressions.
"How many?" the Blue Bomber asked.
"More than I would care to list, if I may."
Mega shook his head. "No, no, it's fine. Though I assume that's why we're here."
Tomahawk was silent for a moment. "Later than I would've hoped." He relayed. "Though orders are absolute."
Again, the android did not understand.
"Don't worry." Nor did it understand DLN02's urge to speak to it. "Nothing's going to happen to you."
Tomahawk Man presented a small grin to it, then began adjusting the frequency of his audio receptor. "You two ready?"
The Robot Master nodded. "Yes. We are prepared to go when you deem fit."
"Then that time's now." The voice emitting from the receptor answered. "Both of you, take cover. Send the other one in."
Mega Man parted his lips to speak, yet Tomahawk's response cut him off. "Affirmative. We shall proceed." The link died, the Blue Bomber attempted to speak again, yet he felt his forearm being seized, his entire form soon being dragged by the Native based machine, forcing them both behind a nearby wall.
"But- "
"Orders are absolute." Tomahawk interrupted. Still, he sounded quite disappointed. If not outright regretful.
The silvery drone still did not understand.
Approaching the particular section in the rock wall where the panel was located (information that had been gained by the predecessor of its line, the only information that they had managed to share before their subsequent termination), it placed a silvery, segmented hand on the spot, and awaited for the section to lift up, the light of the red module then viewing and gauging whether the newest arrival was allowed to enter or not. Let alone remain functioning.
There was no shift in the stone beneath its palm.
Behind their vantage point, Tomahawk and Mega were puzzled by this sudden development as well, yet nevertheless, kept their post. Though the latter had been alerted and given the details of the repeated attempts to break in here, the former was more than aware of just how many of the androids had been blasted into little more than charred metal and circuits. If anything, the featureless robots were sent in to take care of breaking the code, or at least giving them a way inside.
His human superiors had made it clear that they were to keep back, seeing as it was clear which one of the two, now three, were better equipped to go on inside.
Still, after a near, full minute, the stone wall didn't budge.
"What's going on?" Mega Man questioned. Tomahawk said nothing, continuing to observe what was taking place before them.
Still, nothing happened.
A white hand reached up to an audio receptor and turned, Turquoise eyes still locked onto the silver android. "I believe," the Native based Robot Master communicated to the human soldiers above. "There's something amiss."
"I see it too." The voice confirmed from the receptor. "Why aren't the lasers going off?"
Tomahawk was silent, he too pondering this odd turn of events. All the while, Mega's blue eyes focused on the droid and wall. It was just a hunch, and nothing more, yet after all this time, for nothing to happen? Either there was a delay in the 'invisible' security system Wily had decided to put in after his visit…or…
"Hm?" Tomahawk's attention was wrestled from the humans above, noticing that the Blue Bomber had risen from his place. "What are you doing?" he questioned.
"…I think we might need to check this out. Something's not right."
The Robot Master looked on, the silver android still having its hand placed on the particular section on the rock wall, as if awaiting what was to come. And from what they were seeing, both Tomahawk and Mega began to come to an agreement that either the system was taking its sweet time in responding to this new presence, or…that the sight of yet another one of these droids was expected. Perhaps it was simply waiting for the opportune time for one of a different build to step forward.
One of blue, maybe.
"Wait here." Tomahawk Man ordered, stepping out from their cover and into the open. Though before going any further, he turned to the correct frequency. "I believe this requires further investigation. There's no response whatsoever."
"…fine." The human on the other end affirmed. "Be careful. We've gone through enough of those things already, don't want to add you or your blue friend to the smelting pot."
The link died. 'No, you don't. And neither do I.' He heard footsteps steadily approaching him from behind, his red feathers whirling around as he turned towards the Blue Bomber. "I said wait there." Thankfully, while clearly not pleased with the command, Mega Man adhered to it, keeping put where he was as the other robot approached the chrome machine, hand still pressed on the rock. It turned its head towards him, large, unmoving optics boring into his own.
BZZT!
The Robot Master jumped back, bringing out him namesake weapon. He didn't bother stopping Mega Man from approaching as well, buster drawn and at the ready. The silver android simply stayed put, its task yet to be complete. The three remained in these positions, moments ticking by. Moments that soon turned into chunks of seconds, that then evolved into minutes.
"Hm?" Tomahawk said aloud, the azure DLN by him noticing it too.
BZZT!
The invisible 'wall', serving its purpose before, was now beginning to phase in and out. An extension of the tightly spaced area between the canyons devolving into a far more accessible one, a large, towering structure a short distance away. In these brief moments of the illusion being broken, all three machines caught the sight of several plasma rifles and weapons stationed on the sides of the walls.
'Certainly explains why what was hitting the previous units couldn't be seen.'
BZZT! BZzzzzz….
The illusion only was able to linger for just a moment more before seemingly dissolving before everyone's eyes, the 'extra security' and what it was put in to protect in full view now. Another element was able to be fully seen now: two green, disc-like devices stationed just below the collection of weapons attached to the rock, prismatic light emitting from the center before they darkened, seemingly dying or losing power.
The magician's trick was finally unveiled.
"Though I dare not allow him such commendation," Tomahawk began, slowly approaching one of the devices and studying it further. "I must say, even this isn't what I or any of the human forces were anticipating."
"No kidding." Mega Man agreed. "Wily's stuff is almost always bonkers, but sometimes they do border on brilliant." Uncomfortable as it was to say, really, what else could have been said?
Cloaking device. The old bastard had up and made a cloaking device. And not even that, he had probably made it during, hell, maybe even BEFORE the construction of the Skull Fortress!
"We've got to go." The Blue Bomber suddenly stated. "We've got to go in, NOW."
"And we shall." Tomahawk Man assured. "Though not yet." He looked forward at the towering structure just in front of them, a strange, rather surprising silence hanging in the air. "I think it best that we alert a higher authority on what the next step may be."
"But…" Mega began, pausing. "I get what you're saying. This just has the markings of some sort of trap. But…I don't think I need to tell you of the man's penchant for wreaking havoc."
"No, no, everyone here is more than aware." The Robot Master answered back. "And everyone is more than aware that, even if not directly, the activities of the machines under him and he himself have led to more than a good number of human lives being affected. Whether temporary or permanently in some cases."
'All the more reason to go in there and…' Mega Man could've slapped himself right then and there. Go in there, yeah, and what? Get yourself riddled with whatever Wily might've put at the door? Or from whomever he had probably put at the door? It was nothing short of the actions of a fool to waltz right up there. And yet…
"So, what do you recommend?"
The other, teal armored android folded his arms, weapon having retracted back in its place. "We report on what we've seen." He then looked to the sky, sparse with clouds. "And then we wait. That's all we can do."
California
Chronos Institute
Home.
At least, the confines of these four walls were considered as such.
Honestly, the fact he was here, let alone repaired by the very people that worked here baffled him even more.
A Week Prior
"…his fingers are moving."
Voices?
"Good. His central nervous system is re-establishing connections."
He could hear again. And…he could move. Somewhat.
"All right, step back. It may not be right away, but everything should come back online soon enough."
Online? What were these beings speaking of?
A white, hot light was what met his vision, his pupils immediately shirking to lessen the sudden sting that came to his optics. Said sting soon dulled as he became aware of just how high his sensory input had been set to. Something of which was quickly taken care of via a quick adjustment, the chilled metal of the table near unbearable to him.
"His eyes are back on."
A voice stated, female and middle aged, he gauged. Steadily lifting himself upward, he found that his balance still held much to be desired. If not for himself laying down at the last second, he could've very well fallen to the floor.
"George, what's his status?"
Status? He lifted his hand, only to feel it a series of thin cords plugged into the side of his helm, specifically in the area below the golden, glassy portion.
"Looking good so far." A male, 'George' assumedly, answered. "His processor is displaying normal readings. And so far, it seems that his memory banks haven't suffered too much. Some bits and pieces perhaps may be lost, but we've repaired the most vital portions of it."
"Then a little test wouldn't hurt."
Memory bank? Questions, questions, so many questions. And it seemed as if he would receive no time to even ask them, for immediately, one of the humans in the room addressed him.
"State your serial number."
Despite himself, he found himself compelled to obey the lab coat wearing man's request.
"DW…" he paused. "DW…" it was there. It was right at the tip of his tongue…and yet…he found himself unable to let it fall from his lips. "D…D…K?" DW…he knew that was still registered in his memory, yet there was a 'hitch' of sorts. As if it didn't entirely 'feel' correct. Yet this new, unfamiliar label…it seemed to flow out so much easily. "DKN-01. Formerly DWN-014. Robot Master, Flash Man."
Present
And there wasn't much more after that. A few questions here and there, mainly to apparently see if his systems were responding as they should've. Yet aside from that, the human scientists lead him to this room and, from what he could tell, locked the door. True, not everything, memory wise, had returned to him right away, he informed that his central processor had been damaged due to a hardened blow to the more vulnerable portion of his head.
Of course, when the data began to retrieve itself and file back into its proper places…he realized and understood everything. How he came to be here, and better yet, whose actions lead to his acquisition.
DWN-014. Dr. Wily Number Fourteen.
Flash Man found his hand traveling to his smooth, bald top, the golden portion completely free of any blemish or cracks. He remembered everything now. The sensation of the crowbar meeting the back of his head, his subsequent shutdown due to the damage…how that little, green robot leapt in the way of one of the others with him and his 'creator' (even if it was so, whatever they had done to him made it feel strange)…and…and that one Robot Master that accompanied the one that bore a great resemblance to himself.
That robot. The machine stationed in the chamber the old man had broken into. The Time Skimmer. His inexplicable, bizarre inability to render it to little more than crushed, smoldering metal…
"Hggg…" Flash Man held the sides of his head, allowing himself to sit and recline against one of the walls. All of this, while good in that it was coming back, confirming any sort of damage had been repaired, was beginning to take a toll on him. His processor felt as if it were in overdrive, so many elements and factors being taken in all at once, his systems must've still been recovering if it was taking this much strain for a machine such as himself.
He needed to allow himself a brief reprieve, despite the urge to continue. As the men and women in coats said, strangers that had surely tampered with his CPU in some way or another, it would take some time.
Still…even with that…a new urge also came with the sudden influx of events being reminisced on and processed. The blue and gold Robot Master found it beyond him to explain why…yet he found himself wanting to find 'him'.
He wished to find and communicate with the one that held the smaller, green robot. The purple one, that, strangely enough, bore abilities like his own.
The Day After
Skull Fortress
"We are prepared to move at the ready, sir." The human garbed in camo spoke into the communicator.
"Affirmative. Commence operation 'Flush'. Out." With that, the soldier put the device back where he had previously retrieved it, turning back to see three robots approaching.
"Ok, you know what to do, I take it?" he asked, the one bearing a vibrant, war bonnet (really, even as a kid, he thought that such cool looking things deserved a better name than 'bonnet') nodding in response.
"Of course." The bonnet (seriously? Bonnet?) wearing Robot Master confirmed. "We shall clear the way, if need be." He then turned to one of his more 'developed' company. "Are you ready?"
The azure android's equally blue eyes turned to the towering structure before him. He then turned to Tomahawk Man and nodded. 'I guess…' "Absolutely." 'I guess this is it. This is really it.'
"Then we'd best make haste." The Native stepped forward. "Let's go."
Leaving the human forces that had gathered behind them, the three made their way forward, the embezzled skull's dark, hollow eyes seemingly watching them approach its domain. From what he was aware, which wasn't much, as he discovered its location but a few months ago by sheer luck, there were no cameras in the eyes of the skull. Though that wouldn't have been surprising if there were. Really, he had went in and gone out in such a hurry (the latter part only accomplished thanks to Rush's intervention), Mega Man had no time to truly analyze, let alone gain a good layout of the place. Who knew what truly lay in here?
Better yet, whom was in here?
The sudden dying out of the holographic projectors (it still baffled him that Wily even had such technology. He had only first seen something remotely similar when he was tasked with escorting Brain Bot) was one thing, but for there to be nothing of what he had seen that night before them? No response to the fact that there was an entire platoon here, ready to hold back and defuse whatever might've been thrown their way (the residents inside might've not been able to hurt them directly, the weapons that would've been activated by the system wouldn't break the rules per say)? This all pointed to a trap.
He could see it now: everything dead and offline, thus, they'd feel that there was no threat, and would waltz right up. Then the doors would open, revealing a flurry of lasers, blades, rocks, torpedoes, bombs, or whatever else the bevy of mechanical extensions of Wily's thirst for destruction.
And whichever would come first, it seemed that Mega and his two companions would discover soon enough, as they now stood right in front of the fortress' entrance, the sun's rays unable to reach them as they were trapped in the expansive shadow of the structure above.
Suddenly, Tomahawk Man got on one side of the door, motioning for Mega Man to do so on the other side. Kneeling down together, both robots managed to find where the thickened metal met the ground and began to pull upward. Slowly, ever so slowly, it began to rise. Both machines felt their limbs and the components that composed of them greatly being strained, said strain progressing and getting worse in a shorter time then it took the door to move but a few more inches. The silver, near featureless droid continued on, yellow optics watching the small, open space created getting larger and larger, albeit at a slow pace.
Finally, when it was at a height appropriate enough for it, the droid laid flat on the ground and crawled underneath before them. Just as it was instructed to. Just in case their entrance in this way was expected by one waiting on the other side.
A good moment or two ticked by, and nothing. Not one sound of a weapon being fired, or specialty of whatever kind being used. Tomahawk and Mega looked to each other, following suit in entering through the small space they created. Upon entering, they found it rather jarring that their visual components immediately adjusted to accommodate for the darkened area. No light shone down above from the bulbs in the ceiling, in fact, it was safe to assume that there had been no light at all until their entrance was created.
This…was this still a trap?
Well…one way to find out, right?
The three made their way forward, eyes scoping out and searching for the first sign of life, mechanical or organic.
Outside
"Are they still alive in there?"
Frankly, the human knew not how to answer. There had been no call, let alone any indication that one of the three machines were trying to communicate with them. Yet, even at their distance, there would've been some sign of a struggle heard. Or the insides of that place were soundproof. He could only hope that the latter wasn't the case. Still, the soldier couldn't deny that the lack of any sort of report was indeed disconcerting, if not just confusing. In truth, he would've preferred perhaps a sign of trouble, for at least there would be some sense of certainty, not this thick ambiguity hanging in the air.
What in the world could've been going on in there? Surely…surely they weren't-
"Hmm?" His communicator was beeping. 'Finally. ' "What's up?"
"…nothing."
"What?"
"Nothing." Tomahawk repeated. "There's…nothing."
Nothing? What did that mean, 'nothing'? "What, like, nothing there, or nothing- "
"No, no, that's just it." the Robot Master interrupted. "There's several vehicles and aircrafts and the sort here. Save for a select few."
"Then someone's been there?"
"Yes." The Native based machine confirmed. "Been."
"What?"
"There's…"
Inside
Every level.
Each and every level of this place they had searched. Save for one, at the request of Mega Man himself. Though there was, hopefully, no danger in falling into that, as so far, no trap doors of any kind had been triggered. Nevertheless, they searched. Manually, as the elevator, nor anything else in the structure appeared to be powered up. If not for there being stairs installed, they would've probably had to crawl up through the shaft itself. They stood in what they assumed to be a hanger of some kind, the entire chamber, along with all else they had seen completely engulfed in darkness.
Completely dark…and completely empty.
"There's nothing here." Tomahawk repeated. "There's…no one here."
Note: So, it seems that the full-on brawl they were expecting won't be happening for some time, if maybe at all. I wanted to add more, but given I want to keep this to five parts, and that I know what I want to put in this first 'episode' mostly (set of 5), I want to keep it remotely concise in length unless necessary. Again, given that Mega's now part of the WRA in a sense, expect to see Tomahawk and several more of the other members, both online and not, soon (or as soon as you can wait for).
Thank you all, and I hope to see you next time!