The next morning, Wily repaired the Robot Masters. He saved Mega Man and Mega Woman for last, undoing the changes the infected Dr. Light had done to their programming. He also removed their weapons and armor, restoring them to ordinary Rock and Roll. (Though not before taking careful notes on their capabilities. Just in case.)
Light had awoken not long after, remembering nothing since examining the mysterious sample that had appeared in his lab. Wily had given him the same edited story he'd given the world, then arranged for the global government to take custody of him and transfer him to a hospital for observation, the Robot Masters going with their "father."
Wily was rather proud of himself; he'd barely done any passive-aggressive gloating.
-W-
The Mega Man from the future was ready to leave. He and Wily were standing in front of the factory, Rush at their side.
"I've been keeping an eye on the news and they're still talking about what a hero you are," Mega Man said. "In my timeline, you're on the news all the time, but there the headlines are usually 'Dr. Wily Launches Lunatic Plot' or something like that. The world loves you. Please don't disappoint them."
He instructed Rush to convert to his jet form, then hopped on. "I'll be back at some point to check on things. Don't disappoint me, either," he said, giving Wily a meaningful look.
Then he flew off on Rush, flickering and vanishing in midair as they returned to their home timeline.
And Dr. Wily was alone, gazing up into the sky.
-W-
It had been two weeks.
The global government had officially created the Department of Robot Crimes and Incidents, appointing him in charge. Director Wily. It's no Lord Wily, but I could get used to it.
He was seated behind his desk at his office in Skull Castle. Headquartering the department there had been his first condition for employment. They had agreed, though they had been curious as to why he had built a technologically advanced castle ("just in case something like Light's uprising happened") and why it was shaped like a skull ("remember, genius is allowed to be eccentric").
His other condition had been that he be given funding to design and construct his own series of Robot Masters, which is what he was working on now. They would serve as the DRCI's elite officers, performing rescues and apprehending criminals. Of course, they would be programmed so his commands would override anyone else's, to make sure no criminals could use them for nefarious purposes.
He grinned as he worked.
No nefarious purposes at all.
-W- -W- -W-
Sorry it took so long, but that's the end of Reflections! However, the story will continue! I've decided to make this a series. Be on the lookout for the next installment in the "Director Wily" series sometime soon. I hope you've enjoyed!