Hello once again readers! Mega Man is back and hopefully here to stay. I do hope you enjoy what I'm struggling to put together for my adaption of Mega Man 4. Enjoy!
The Iron Curtain Rises
"I'm telling you, he's still alive" Bobby insisted.
Joe sighed and adjusted his glasses. "We've been over this time and time again, Dr. Wily was crushed when the cavern collapsed. Rock told us he saw it with his own eyes."
"Rock was barely functioning at the time" Bobby countered "Who knows what he really saw?"
Joe sighed again while picking up a stray bit of litter. He and his stubborn friend were taking a walk near the train tracks where they could be alone to do or discuss whatever they wanted. At least this was Bobby's logic and he was currently employing this freedom on yet another crazy theory.
"Bobby, will you please face the facts? Dr. Wily hasn't been seen or heard from in an entire year. If he was still around, wouldn't someone like him have done something by now? He had the perfect opportunity with those Genesis Robots and still no sign of him."
"He's waiting until his ultimate plan is ready to launch. Oh, or maybe he's being held captive by an even greater villain. Maybe he was abducted by aliens…the possibilities are endless."
"Ok, and exactly what is your proof for any of this?"
"That's how it always works in the comics and on TV. The bad guy is defeated for a time but always rises again!"
"This isn't a comic book nor a TV show. It's real life."
"What's that old phrase?" Bobby paused and squinted as he thought. His face lit up as he declared "Truth is stranger than fiction."
"I give up!" Joe said with hands in the air "Believe what you want."
"Lisa would be on my side! Let's ask her the next time we see her."
"I'd rather not."
"That's because you secretly know I'm right."
"No, I…that is…look out, here comes a train."
The boys backed away from the tracks as a commuter train rolled past them. As they watched its progress, Bobby suddenly grinned and waved.
"Quick, that's Rock up there."
Joe looked up in time to spot a blue figure standing on the roof of one of the cars. He too began waving furiously and the figure acknowledged them before vanishing along with the train.
"He is so cool" Bobby gushed "I want to that someday."
"I'm sure if you also had a repairable, metal body he'd let you join him."
"Cool idea" Bobby replied, "Next time we visit Rock, let's ask Dr. Light for our own bad guy fighting armor and weapons."
"Oh yeah Dr. Light will love that idea" Joe said with an eye roll "He's busy enough without your hairbrained ideas."
"How dare you call Bobby Boy, robotic hero extraordinaire, hairbrained!" Bobby whirled and fired upon Joe with an imaginary arm cannon.
"Bobby Boy? Is that the best you can do? That's a lame robot title."
"And what would call yourself?"
Joe paused in mock thought before answering with a grin "Sniper Joe"
Bobby sputtered for a minute before shouting "That's not fair!"
Joe laughed at Bobby's over the top reaction and Bobby himself broke down in laughter.
On the roof of the train, Rock was still smiling at having spotted his friends. Little surprises like that were what made life so enjoyable. Not that life had been especially bad recently, quite exiting really but also busy. His adventures, combined with Dr. latest projects, had put Light Labs more firmly than ever in the spotlight.
"Everyone is wanting Dr. Light to consult on some project or other. It's amazing he's gotten all of his own work done." Rock mused to himself. "And I think I could give an interview in sleep mode by now. "
His thoughts drifted back over the past few months: the TV shows, the public appearances, the crime fighting, the disaster relief. He wasn't sure quite what to think of how some emergency service workers were starting to call him for help.
"As long as they don't create a Mega Signal…" he joked to himself. "What would that look like? My buster would look kind of weird…"
This sparked another train of thought as he raised his buster to eye level contemplatively. He flashed back to a moment not that long ago in the back yard at Light Labs.
"Ready to commence final test of the charge shot feature recently added to the Mega Buster" Dr. Light had said into a headset that recorded all his notes.
"This is going to be awesome!" Auto, the newly completed lab assistant, cheered. He was a chubby humanoid robot with a primarily green and yellow scheme. Completing his appearance were large red eyes, Frankenstein-like head bolts, and a right arm ending in a spout for oil and other mechanical liquids. He was every enthusiastic about everything, especially anything related to Mega Man.
"I don't see how adding extra fire power is awesome" Roll remarked
"I've learned through experience" Rock has said as he switched into Mega Man mode "that it's better to be safe than sorry."
"Indeed" Dr. Light had added "We never know what new disaster Rock will be called to assist with. This new feature simply gets the job done faster."
"Everybody stand back" Mega Man had instructed as targets rose in the distance. He took aim at the first of the dartboard like disks (Auto had argued for shaping them like Dr. Wily, but he'd been overruled). A simple plasma shot left a burn mark and a dent, but the structure was still intact. Mega Man turned to a second target and allowed his buster to charge for a few seconds before firing. The larger and brighter plasma ball completely obliterated the sturdy target.
"I told it would be awesome" Auto had shouted "Everything about Mega Man is awesome!"
"Thanks Auto" an embarrassed Mega Man had answered "But this is a tool for emergencies only."
"Of course, of course!"
"No side effects of any kind?" Dr. Light had asked while manually examining the Mega Buster.
"Nope. I feel great."
"Excellent. I do hope that this proves to be an unnecessary precaution."
"I hope so too" the present-day Rock added. He lowered his buster and took a moment to just enjoy being on the train. Despite being in his blue armor, he'd left the helmet off so that he could feel the wind in his hair. Train rides were one of the ways he occasionally got away from it all and unwound. He had worried about not actually buying a ticket, but the staff seemed to have no problem with his new hobby.
"They probably see me as great publicity" he said "My, I seem to be growing cynical in my old age" he added in jest.
The train began to slow as it pulled into a station. Mega Man waved at the crowds but quickly teleported away. Materializing in Light Labs he barely announced his presence before his robot dog tackled him.
"I love you too Rush" he said as the dog licked his face "but maybe Dr. Light programmed just a little too much affection into you."
"Welcome home, Mr. Rock" a polite voice said nearby. Mega Man sat up to see a robot with a large red flat top with a nervous looking face under it. The overall effect was of a small walking table. "Is there anything I can get for you?"
"Well, now that you mention it, an E Tank sounds really tasty right now."
"Coming right up, Mr. Rock." Eddie's top flipped open and a weapon replenishing pellet popped out. "Oh dear! Another mistake, I'm so sorry."
"It's ok Eddie. I'm sure Dr. Light will figure the glitch out soon." Eddie had been constructed as an experimental supply robot, capable of using the teleport system to retrieve items upon request. Unfortunately, he was fresh off the line and still had a few bugs.
"Indeed yes" Dr. Light said as he entered the room. "Don't feel bad Eddie."
"I just want to serve as best I can"
"A very admirable trait. If you like, I'll have another look at your systems a little later."
"Yes sir, that sounds very nice."
Dr. Light turned to Rock and asked him if he had a nice time in town. "Yes, it was a nice and quiet morning out. I spent some time just wondering around and enjoying the peace."
"I'm very happy for you. We're all feeling the hectic pace of life these days but in many ways, it's been quite productive."
"Yep, a few new robot designs completed, such as Eddie here."
"And me!" Auto exclaimed as he ducked around a door frame "Don't forget about Auto."
"Who could possibly forget about you?" Rock asked with a friendly laugh
Auto struck a heroic pose and everyone laughed, Auto included. Roll broke shattered the mood by bursting into the room with a panicked expression.
"You guys need to see what's happening on TV!"
"What is it?" Rock asked but she was already returning to the living room.
"I said come and see" she shouted back
The family quickly gather together around the large screen. A news anchor was talking solemnly (but with a hint of anxiety) about a terrorist video that had been released to all major media outlets. "This video threatens a reign of terror matching that of the late Dr. Albert Wily" she reported. Everyone gasped in horror as the network proceeded to air the threatening footage.
The screen was dominated by a stern bespectacled face with brown hair and a beard. "Greetings world" the man spoke in a Russian accent "My name is Dr. Mikhail Sergeyevich Cossack. I realize that this name, unjustly, is strange to you. It is a name that has been overshadowed by Western names such as Thomas Light or Albert Wily. I too am a scientist, brilliantly gifted in the field of robotics. My entire life has been devoted to perfecting robotics and engineering with very little to show for it on the global stage. I have decided to prove to the entire world the genius of Dr. Cossack. I will do this by completing the work began by Albert Wily, I will conquer the world with my own Robot Masters. Yes, you heard that correctly. I have given life to eight brilliant creations of my own who even now are beginning the work carefully selected for them. Mega Man, I now speak directly to you. I am sure you are going to oppose my robots, but I tell you they are waiting for you. Destroying you will not only clear the way to world domination but it, will prove once and for all who is the greatest robot designer. Good luck Mega Man…you are going to need it!"
The newscast switched back to the anchors in the studio who began commentary on the footage. Seconds later, the phones in Light Labs began to ring and Roll ran to answer them. Dr. Light cut her off by saying "Roll, let them go to voice mail for the moment. We need to deal with this."
"Yes Dr. Light."
"I can't…I mean…another mad scientist with Robot Masters?" Rock uttered in shock
"Mikhail Cossack…" Dr, Light said "I believe I've heard of him but not recently. I don't know much about the man personally, maybe I could do some research…"
"What we need to do is deal with his Robot Masters and take him down!" Rock said as his helmet formed on his head.
"Yeah go Mega Man!" Auto cheered "Go save the world!"
"Yes, of course, that's all well and good but where do we start?"
"Pardon me Dr. Light" Eddie asked from near a window "What was today's weather forecast?"
"Sunny and clear but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Sir, it's turning dark and cloudy quite quickly."
The entire family joined him at the window. Indeed, the sky was rapidly filling with heavy, grey clouds. A light rain began to fall and Roll gave a small scream as the immaculately cared for lawn began to smoke and wilt.