Chapter 17: Repressed

X heads west , reaching the coordinates but nothing is there. Just an empty parking lot with a single toll booth gate at the entrance. Its deserted. X walks inside the booth and sees a single small computer with a large circular port under the screen. X was taught about jacking in and out of cyberspace in this world from Meiji. His virtual presence was studied by Meiji in exchange. There was a little complication at first with compatibility but X quickly resolved the protocol barriers. Meiji wanted him to stay so bad. X could speed up research by years. X jacks in and stands now in front of a door with giant W on it. He knocks and then opens it.

Forte sees X at the doorway. He's a bit taken by his intimidating presence. He senses a great power in him, but not from this body. He reapplies his cloak over the lower half of his face to hide any expression.

Wily - Well don't stand in the way boy, stand aside , whos come to visit me?

X - Hello. I'm following the trail of this...and I plugged in to this terminal...and the trail picked up again here in the cyberworld. You look just like a friend of mine. What's your name?

Wily - he he . I'm not sure I'm ready to give you that. You look very powerful my young friend. What trail you say?

X - you are Wily aren't you? But of this world.

Wily - Well now come in ! You just became too interesting for me to care about my safety.

Reggae perched on his shoulders lets out a loud laughing cackle and it makes Wily's smirk grow into a smile. He pets the back of the nape of the old crazy bird without looking.

X - I think I will Dr.

Forte stands further aside and contemplates many many things as he try's to figure out the cause of the unease he feels. He decides he would feel more comfortable outside for a walk with Haru and she instinctively understands his intentions and hops down to X's lap and sits perched as if awaiting to be fed and she simply squeaks out a cute meow and Forte turns his head and leaves by himself.

The door shuts behind him and Wily feels a bit anxious by it.

Wily - You will come back wont you! We aren't finished here son!

Forte hears the old man but chooses to reply with a stomp to the ground as he uses it to jump a few hundred feet up and over across the compound. Too much has happened and too many things are changing inside him. He doesn't like it. He's not in control of it. He's going to find a nice quiet spot to think about whether or not he will ever even return to the house for Haru. Perhaps some programs are in fact , too dangerous to be assimilated. What's the point of living just to survive? Power has been the goal and its been truly to find a way to feel at peace. To feel safe. When will he ever feel safe? How much power will it take? Hiding away seems safe enough but also pathetic and it doesn't suit him. He cannot be content or at peace or feel safe from his own judgement. Forte finds a batch of old oak trees with a clearing in the front of the bunch. He sits down cross armed and meditates on things.

Wily - You know, new kid, you might not want to touch that cats head.

X - Not happening, this cute little girl? She's awesome. What's her name?

X reaches down and pets her head with a smile on his face.

Wily - Her na...me...issss...

X loses consciousness.

X wakes up in a bed, inside a kids room. The walls are painted with race cars and white clouds with figurines of heroes both mechanical and supernatural. The bed he's in has bright sky blue comforters with a Giant yellow L with a smaller Dr. prefix in front on the center.

X looks to his left and finds the wall. To the right however he sees a familiar blue robot sitting at a drafting table, hard at work on something. The bot lifts his head up and turns around to face X's gaze.

Rockman - Hello again. How did you get in here?

X - I'm ... not sure. You are Rockman. Where are we?

Rockman - Inside your imagination of course. Its where I live remember?

X - No you live in my ... well..I guess you can call it that. Aren't you the old me? My true self?

Rockman - I keep telling you no. You are your own self. As you can see I'm here. You are there. But think of me as your older brother ,that's all. I safeguard certain core backups and critical systems functions. Remember that?

X - Yes. But where in my imagination is this?

Rockman - Well this is actually my little section of imagination inside yours. My own room is all I can manage inside this sophisticated super brain our father built for us. I say us, is that ok? I do live here.

Rockman breaks out a smile that can warm the heart of a killer. It works on X as it would anyone else.

X - Of course it is...big bro. So what's outside?

Rockman - Well...that sorta depends on you. Your moods and fantasy's and thoughts all build this place hour by hour. At times it can be amazing out there. But lately...well..

X - What? What is it?

Rockman points to the sole window in this kids room. X walks over and pulls back the blue satin curtains. The view through the window makes him stumble backward and step on a toy car on the floor; causing him to fall back. His reaction from fear put him in a combat mode state for a moment and he uses the fall to use a handspring backflip to regain his footing and he points his blaster at the window.

Rockman - Yeah... lol I don't blame you for that reaction.

Against the window are bodys of Reploid master fighters. Their faces and chest areas are missing large chunks. The critical fiber optic wires dangle eye pieces and core units in a way that seems almost intentional. The purpose being to make a nightmarish set piece for some robot horror movie.

X - What is this? I don't think about this! I cant stand killing any reploid or human! Your telling me I made this for you to live in? I'm sorry! I don't know why this is happening...

X turns around and plops down on the floor like a kid that just got scolded for being mean to another child. He's trying to figure things out.

Rockman - Listen, this world here isn't all you, its also some part of me too. We are separated you and I but we do possess the same actual mind. I walk around in here as you do after all. Its our cyber reality. But you get control of the body where as I will never be able too. Well, its not like we both probably couldn't continue Lights work and solve the riddles of these things but that was never Lights intention I think. He wanted to make a new body for me too but I told him I was happier in the cyberworld. So he gave me the task of looking after you and Lights lifes work and data and put me in you; the safest place in the world and protected by the strongest power. X, what you see out there is proof that parts of my past still haunt your soul. This is something Light and I did not foresee happening. I am sorry but, you may carry these burdens with you, my burden, with you...forever. But im working on a way right n...

X puts a hand on the smaller shorter blue bots shoulder and looks with his own trademark smile of determination that makes Rock's eyes swell up with cyber tears. Rock remembers that look. More than the look he remembers what it felt like to feel like a bot that could give someone else that look. They lock eyes and Rockman's look morphs into a smile of his own.

Rockman - Thank you for that...

X - I like that you are here. Rock. But we got to do something about this. Your life cant be stuck in a room because of the horrors in both our pasts...

Rockman - I know. Its been many years. I still don't know how to move past it. I loved them all so much X. My sister, Rush, Eddie, Auto, even Beat and Tango even though they spend most of their time with our other even older brother.

X - I have an even older brother!?

Rockman - Blues is or...was his name.

X - Blues...what was...

X blacks out and wakes up on the couch of Wily's cyberworld with a curious look on a black with white pawed kittens face, staring at him.

X - No! I wasn't finished. He needs my help. And how do I even fix it?

Wily - I told you about petting Haru on the head didn't I? You just had a dream , that's all.

X - No I was pushed into a pocket space that's is restricted for emergency's inside my own cyber realm.

Wily - What do you mean your own cyber realm? Programs dont have cyber realms.

X - I'm not a program Dr. I'm a reploid. I have a physical body ,its not based on copyboy technology either. I'm not from this dimension.

Wily - OhHH! That's wonderful!

X - How did this cat?

X looks at Haru with a confused expression. Wily notices...

Wily - Look it would take forever to explain and I'm old. Truth is, Haru could tell you everything you need to know. If you dare to connect with her again. But you cant be lost in unconsciousness , you somehow gotta fight through it. I have no idea how though. Besides, I think the answer you may be looking for resides in more interactions with Haru. Call it instinct. I am a genius after all.

X - Your not that much different than our Wily. I could really use his help right now.

Wily - There is another me here?

X - Yes.

Wily - You my boy, just keep bringing me these gifts of wonder. I haven't felt this excited in ages!

X - Well, not be honest I was going to go back to the base here soon. I would have to talk to Albert first to make sure he doenst have any objections before id allow you two to meet.

Wily - Don't be absurd boy. I've already gotten the location of the body your using to jack in with and with my network of recording programs I can use worker navis to sift through every image in the city from the last 10 years. That's 90% of every angle within the entire city limit. I've already instructed my programs to find the base you mentioned. Its only a matter of time.

X - Well, then I hope this doesn't end badly. How long was I out?

Wily - 6 hours. Fortes still gone too. That worrys me. I thought his little walk would be over by now...

X reaches down to pet Haru again. He pretends to be forgetful and impulsive but he wants to talk to Rockman again and fix his world so he can feel better about him living in isolation.

Wily drops his mouth a little in awe of the forgetful stupidity hes witnessing. Who made this program or machine as he claims to be? No one makes a machine without making a program first. He does seem to be different though, his code doesn't flow like others here. He actually seems to flow like my code does, like the virtual presences of humans when they surf around in cyberspace. Also, scanning his head region is impossible. That bothers me. Whoever this guy is, he could be powerful here or he could be as powerful as me. Which is to say, a normal human. Its impossible to tell without ...testing he he. He IS unconscious. Maybe just a few scans while he's asleep.

X dreams...

Thomas Light - You know Albert, this new Quantum technology you've discovered in Austria with that friend of yours, its going to be just the thing I need to make the AI network I've designed for X work in conjunction with nature. You've done it! Thank you old friend!

Albert sits slumped in a red barons chair from old times. Its red velvet color makes the spikey black and grey lumps of hair on Alberts head stand out even more. His gaze is fixed on a point on the floor and his eyes dont blink.

Thomas - You listening? Albert ? You ok?

Dr. Wily - I've been thinking...Thomas. I've been thinking ...a lot.

Thomas Light - What's wrong?

Dr. Wily - I'm not so sure you really ARE my friend...

Dr. Wily - I'm not so sure you are really anything but a thieving fraud!

Thomas Light - What? That's crazy I'm your best friend Albert. I will admit that without you I would not be the man I am today. But I also like to think that I have helped you discover some things too yes? Without my AI and programming skill you never would have gotten the guidance, balancing, and intuition programs to sync up. None of your bots would be what they are either.

Dr. Wily - I would have figured it out. You , you would never be able to build robots and push boundary's like I can. You know it...

Thomas Light - Well, yes...of course I do know how gifted you are Albert. Nobody better. I never wanted to compete with you. We do have slightly different visions for the way we intended to integrate humans and robots into society. I know you think humans using them for tools is just slavery but I see them as children meant to follow their parents at least for a short while. They also need to help us rebuild this world Albert. Without them, its all over for all of us. You know that...

Albert Wily - Good. Robots wont need anything but the sun. We have both ensured that solar power cells are capable of powering our super bots for eons. Self repair systems. Learning capability. Even emotional capacity. We've done everything there is to do together Light...

Thomas Light - What are you saying ? My friend... somethings wrong. Why are you so angry ? Your my brother in the field of science and my oldest friend. Whatever I've done I will do anything you ask to make it right.

Albert - Always the goodie goodie. Always in the spotlight. Always in the papers. Always doing interviews. Always building new facility's. Thomas...the biggest threat to robot life on this planet is you!

Wily stand up now and points his finger straight at his lifelong friend. The expression on his face is now something Light has never seen before. Its the look of maniacal pleasure. Wily seems to be smiling and enjoying this persecution.

Wily - You spend all day preaching about robots and humans living in harmony but all you see on TV is your precious Gutsman working all day to build castles for mankind to waste away in! The occasional girder slamming into his poor head which you made about as empty as an invalid! How DARE you purposely make a robot stupid!

Thomas Light - What are you talking about Wily? You and I both agreed that I would program him that way for personality reasons. We wanted him to be a gentle giant remember? The people are already going to be a little afraid of the size of some of our robots so in the beginning it was important to make them warm and friendly remember?

Albert Wily - Oh I remember alright! I remember how smooth you talk. How crisp your logic is. I remember it all OLD FRIEND. I remember that the whole time I didn't feel RIGHT about it! I remember that you were just that convinced that your way had to be the way we go. I felt that I had no choice but to follow you, follow the crowds of millions that follow you, follow the board of science that backs you, follow the world governments that invest in your work! Where is my lab THOMAS!? Here! Here in YOUR facility! Because my GOD you have so much money and investors. You have...power. And you know what? Its about time I got a little bit of my own!

Thomas Light - I .. ok. I understand a little of what's going on. I had no idea these things were inside you Albert. I'm so sorry...

Albert Wily - Ooooof course you are. The ever humble and humane good doctor...all of a sudden your looking like a joke Thomas... and by the way...

A little red bot peeks his face around the edge of the doorway to Lights study. Hes got a little scarf around his neck. Hes only 3 feet high...

X starts to gain a little bit of his awareness back as he now starts to manifest his own body into this dream world. He goes for the little red bot who is eavesdropping on the argument from the doorway in the back study.

X - Hey fella. You scared?

Little Red Bot nods.

X - It will be over soon. He's about to leave.

Little Red bot - Father.

X - Who ? The one with the long beard?

Little red bot shakes his head no.

X - The man with the spikey hair? The one who is so mad?

Little red bot nods.

X has a confused look on his face. He feels as if he knows things but cant quite find them in his memory. A hand is placed on X's right shoulder. Its blue.

Rockman - You shouldn't be here...

X - Rock! I found you. Who is this?

X looks down to the little red bot.

Rockman - That's the first of us X. The very first sentient robot ever made. He's your big big big brother. Kinda small at the moment huh?

X - What's his name?

Rockman - at this moment in time they haven't decided on one. and this little guy will be tinkered with a bit more before he finds his full personality so I wont tell you what he would come to be called. Instead...ill show you...

Rockman places his hand from X's shoulder to his chest and his hand starts to glow. The world around X flashes bright white until it blinds him.

X is inside a laboratory. He's not seen the place before. Its covered with open books with 10 bookmarks each stuck in various places in each book. The corners of the lab hold welding, and fabrication equipment of all shapes and sizes. Their are large robotic arms and a two story large dinosaur leg piece being suspended from the ceiling with cables and wires hanging in numbers which would require time to count. The very center of the lab holds a large operating style table. Its large enough to hold the giant dinosaur leg if need be but as of this moment it houses a smaller unit. A little red bot with a scarf around its neck has his helmet off and its right arm seems to be malfunctioning. Its twitching uncontrollably. X steps up a little closer to get a better look.

Wily - Blasted regulator! The power is too strong for any of todays blasted regulators! Ill have to design a new one from scratch but how long will that take? He's got to have the power to protect himself. I cant even get his basic body to function how am I supposed to give him the worlds most powerful blaster? Ahhh its the drawing board blues again. How many years of my life will I spend dealing with the drawing board blues? He turns off the little red bots main power coupling and the arm stops moving.

Wily walks over to an old record player. Puts this record on and pours himself a scotch.

Sweat drips once from his forehead just barely missing the glass of scotch in his left hand. Luther Johnsons - Lonesome in my bedroom starts to play...

Wily starts to sway a little, trying to relax and get into the calming spirit. He turns on the bot again. Its arm starts to twitch but Wily somehow just knows suddenly where to go. He finds the failing circuit relay and decides to change it into a permanent fused bypass circuit instead. More power. More durability. Less complex. Suddenly Wily feels inspired.

The little red bot starts to function. It shows signs of its own movement and Wily knows he's got it. He starts to sing to his new little friend...

Wily - boy i cried and I cried everynight...boys about bedtiiime... you know she didn't want meeeeee she didn't eeeeeeven want me arround...

The little red bot sits up and turns his face toward the man singing. He smiles at the old man who is also smiling at him as he sings

Wily - i said goodbye goodbye goodbye goodbye woooman... I got to say goodbye...you know im tired of sleepin by myself baaaby...i got to leave you aloooone...

A bright flash of light takes X back to the study where X was first witnessing the argument with Wily and Light.

Rockman - Do you understand now? They were inseparable. These are the only moments you will ever see of that man over there showing that side of himself.

He named him...Blues...and its time for you to go..

X - no wait! i want to help you!

X wakes up on the couch with the cyberworlds Wily reading a book in his chair as he waits for his guest to come around.

X - how long this time?

Wily - Id say only about 30 minutes or so.

X - That matches up with my chronometer. Seems my systems are calibrating to this new phase. I still didn't get to stay long enough to do what I wanted though. He seemed to push me out this time. Did he push me out last time? Why did I see all that ? X runs about 10 more questions in his head before Wily waves his hand in front of his own face to show he notices the long daydream X is in.

Wily - I think its time you leave. And don't even think about taking the cat. Everyone seems to be after my cat lately...

Haru meows and hops down off the couch next to X and hops up on Wily's shoulder and then climbs up to his head and plops down with her two front paws hanging to the left and right of Wily's eyes so he can see but he's robbed of his periphery vision.

Wily misses the feeling of embarrassment and the warmth of Harus body on his bald head. Cyberspace has come such a long way thanks to Wily. Little did this world know just how much of his technology he planted in the business world so he could have his worldwide network of virtual reality surfing come true. He can feel everything as if its real. X looks at Wily and even though they have different faces and demeanors, seeing a cat on Wily's head like this makes X bust out laughing.

Wily smiles and X suddenly sees a kind old man with a cat on his head and not the Wily of his time. Speaking of which...

X stands up ..

X - Its time to go back.

Wily - yes boy. It is. and good luck to you.

Haru meows

X - Goodbye

X waves to the both of them and shuts the door gently behind him. Its night time in the cyberworld. He's gotten more clues as to what's going on inside his head with Rockman and his own uneasiness. He still hasn't understood why he went mad in his simulated universe when his limiters were offline. He feels though it might be connected somehow to Rockman and his past. He said my feelings make up his world in there. That didn't seem like anything I created this last time though. Was he lying? I need to get back to the others.

X walks with his gaze to the ground and in deep thought when he almost runs into Forte who is making his way back to Wily's place for Haru and probably one last confrontation with Wily..

X jumps a little to the side , startled .

X - I'm sorry, excuse me.

Forte - ...

Forte walks past, opens the front door of Wily's and enters...

X heads for the base outside the city limits when standing only 10 feet away are Zero, Rush and Serges...

Zero - There he is!

X - Everyone!

X smiles as bright as anyone can for all his friends to see..