Chapter Four: The Return of Wily
"I know that you lost someone very dear to you and you carry that pain wherever you go. I see it every time you look at me... a shadow of sorrow beneath a mask."
I choked. How could he see that so clearly? I hadn't known him all that long-- and already he could see through me? It was a direct hit to my pride, but he never ceased to amaze me in what he knew. But how could he understand if I told him? Would he care?
Yes. Another look into his deep eyes told me the truth. He truly did care, as no one had done for twelve years. He wanted to listen... even Grandfather couldn't do that... for his own pain was too great.
"I don't know how I know..." he added, "but something tells me you've been alone for a long time."
"Yes," I respond at last. "A very long time..." but I could say no more right then, and Zero understood. I knew because he didn't press me, or urge me to go on. He would give me my space when I wanted it, and stay close when I needed him most. But right now, I needed him near me, like he was now.
Without warning I kissed him, drowning in my love of him. Zero readily returned my advance, tilting his head towards mine. I nibbled on his lower lip, and he smiled.
As a surprise of his own he gently settled me down back onto the ground, and settled his weight over me. He took a moment to break away and grin at me, touching his nose to mine. Then he kissed me again, harder and more passionately. My hands moved to encircle his neck, playing in his long ponytail.
"You're mine..." he promised as he caressed my swollen lips. "No one will ever take you away from me, Sierra... because... I..."
"What's THIS?" came an unknown voice some feet away. Zero's face snapped up, and he growled viciously. I sat up slightly, and gasped at the one staring at us in a mix of surprise and disgust.
"How could you?!" demanded the intruder to Zero loudly. "Showing emotions to a weak human! How embarrassing!"
"Who the hell are you?" Zero snarled, making sure to get between the other and me.
The intruder snorted. "It seems I must introduce myself, brother. I am Protoman."
"What kind of a lame-brained name is that? And what the hell do you mean by 'brother'?" Zero leered. 'Protoman' had grey armor covering his body, with red boots, gloves and matching helmet. Covering his eyes was a dark visor, and around his neck a yellow scarf was tied. He was a bit shorter that Zero, but taller than I was. Though I couldn't really see hi face through the visor and dim moonlight, I could tell that he was no friend of ours. But... a robot?
It had to be! And if it wasn't one of Grandfather's... it was...
"Zero!" I said in surprise. "He's one of Dr. Wily's robots!"
"Perceptive, for a human." Protoman's leer grew, and Zero tensed in front of me. In a flash, he activated his armor, and aimed his plasma cannon.
"You stay away from her."
The enemy robot pouted mockingly. "Aww... I can't play with your pet human? Well fine then," he drew his own cannon. "I'll play with you!" He fired. Yellow radiation came flowing from the weapon, streaking right at Zero and I. With a shout he shoved me out of the way and fired a shot of his own.
There was an explosion as the two bolts collided, and the brightness of it blinded me. I could hear Protoman's deep laughter as well as Zero's cursing, and as my vision cleared I saw that our enemy was powering up again.
"Sierra," Zero hissed quickly while not losing contact with Protoman. "Get out of here, NOW... find Dr. Light and get out!"
"Nope, sorry Red," said someone from behind us. "She ain't going anywhere!" I whirled around just in time to see a very tall black, yellow and red robot with a construction hat on his head grab me by the arms. This 'bot wasn't even remotely human-- clearly all-machine and inferior design. Even so... it hurt when he grabbed me!
"Zero!" I exclaimed. The dulled pain from the fall from the oak tree came back, now intensified by my captor's unmerciful hold.
Now Zero whirled, and I saw murder in his eyes as he leveled his cannon.
"I wouldn't do that, brother!" called Protoman from behind. "If you shoot Gutsman, you shoot the pretty human! Hey, I've got no problem with that, so go ahead and shoot! Get rid of her!"
"In your dreams, buck-o!" I shouted, snarling. In response Protoman nodded, and Gutsman twisted my arms behind my back. I resisted, twisting my face into a contorted grimace so that I wouldn't cry out, but the rivers of pain became so great that I screamed as loudly as I could despite my attempts to not do so.
Hot tears stung my eyes as I locked gazes with Zero, but as I tried to give him a weak smile of reassurance Gutsman twisted again. I saw the fury radiating from the red robot, his green eyes glittering in barely controllable rage from behind his helmet.
Protoman laughed hysterically at the situation, and added to the tension further with his next words. "This is great! I wonder if Dr. Wily and the others are having this much fun with that fool doctor Light!"
Just then an explosion erupted from the lab in a small mushroom cloud. I screamed again. And this time the tears were not restrained. I thought of Grandfather, how he was the last living relative I'd had... and what of Rock? Gone as well... it couldn't be happening! Damn Wily! Damn his robots!
"I HATE YOU!" I screeched at the top of my lungs. With newfound energy fueled by my own rage I kicked at Gutsman's legs at the knees. Having taken him by surprise the burly 'bot was knocked over, loosening his grip on me just enough so I could free myself. Zero hurried over to me in two strides, converting his cannon into a six-foot, green plasma sword that highlighted his furious features to the point that he looked like a devil, accented by the demonic style of his red helmet. Standing right beside me to make sure I wasn't grabbed again Zero swung his blade at Gutsman, first taking his metal head off and a second swipe across the torso for good measure.
Sparks enveloped the fallen 'bot, and one of the arms kept twitching until finally falling still. Deactivated and out of commission.
"How... how dare you!" Protoman bellowed. "Gutsman! Oh, you're going to get it, Red! Wily's going to blow a fuse over this!"
"That's not all he's going to blow once I'm through with him... but you first!" Zero charged at the remaining robot with lightning speed, his green blade blazing across the grass. He swung like a madman with precision to the micrometer but just in time Protoman jumped out of the way.
"Nice try! But not good enough!" The red and grey 'bot chuckled menacingly, and kneed Zero in the gut as he flew by.
"Zero!" I gasped as he fell, clutching his stomach. I struggled to get up, to crawl to him... but I could not. I could only watch Protoman kick him again, then begin to power up his cannon.
"ZERO! GET UP!" I yelled, sobbing. "DON'T LEAVE ME!"
"Si... erra..." he choked loudly as he tried to sit up. Protoman laughed again, causing the fallen warrior to snap back into reality.
"Hah... first I kill you, then I get to blast your pet human into a bloody mess!"
"You won't... touch her..." he growled viciously, glaring at him and getting to his feet.
"Sorry, brother! But it looks like you won't be able to help her any! Just to show my sincerity, I'll prove it!" he leveled his cannon right at me and I froze, knowing that this was the end for me... I closed my eyes and heard the crackle of electricity... the mingling of ozone in the cool night air...
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!" I heard Zero scream.
Protoman fired.
I heard the bolt streaking through the air as I lay in defeat on the ground. A tear stung my eye while I prayed that my suffering would not last...
I felt something enormous and hard hit me head-on, throwing me backward into the grass. I felt a heaviness over my body, but no pain or anything... I open my eyes, only to gasp in horror.
"Oh my god!" Zero is atop me, a hole in the back of his armor sizzling, sparking and smoking from the hit... from the hit he took for me...
"No! Wake up, Zero! Please!"
He opens his beautiful emerald eyes for me, is handsome features outlined in agony. He smiles feebly, trying in vain to breathe steady from his shock.
"Sierra... you... all right...?"
"Yes!" I whispered. "Yes... but you..."
"Will... fine... auto... repair... still function..."
"Ssh..." I hushed him with a finger on his lips. "Don't talk..."
"No... Protoman will... kill you... run... now... I love..."
Suddenly he fell forward and collapsed above me, and didn't move. I shook him desperately to awaken him, tears flowing into my eyes.
"Pfft. That weakling was beginning to annoy me!" came the sinister voice of Protoman. I sat up, cradling Zero in my arms as I glared daggers at the oppressor.
"You killed him, you... monster! DAMN YOU!" My hands curled into fists while I ignored the pain it caused me.
"No I didn't," he countered with a leer. "It was a low energy blast. He's only knocked out. As it turns out Wily wants me to bring you to him... alive. Isn't that right, Doc?"
"Quite right, Protoman..." that voice. The voice that has haunted my nightmares, whose hellish and demonic laughter sounded at the point my parent's hearts were ripped from their bodies for me to see. I have never forgotten that voice that let me live as an example for Grandfather... the one who built horrible war machines to help in his takeover of the world... Dr. Wily.
"You..." I spat in the utmost hate and disgust. The old man mimicked Protoman's leer.
"Yes... the little girl has grown up, hasn't she? And has quite a reputation I hear... isn't that right?" I didn't respond, and his devil's grin widened. "Ah, a silent one. Good. You will be perfect..."
"I'll never do anything you say, you murdering bastard..."
"Ah, ah, ah... that's no such talk for a lady..." he shook a knotted and crooked finger at me. "Come along now and we won't hurt you."
"No," I said flatly. Wily nodded, and Protoman began to walk towards me. I got up to my wobbling feet and began to run as fast as my legs could carry me. But I heard a whoosh behind me, and suddenly I was grabbed from behind. I fell to my knees in the darkness, my knees scraping against the green grass and soft soil. My arms were twisted behind my back as Gutsman had previously done, but this grip was more confident, arrogant.
"Pretty little thing, aren't ya?" Protoman sneered as he held me. I kicked his foot, but he didn't budge.
"Sorry sweetheart... I'm not a stupid as old Gutsman. Sadly enough he didn't have enough brain chips to begin with!" He laughed, causing me to shudder.
"Take her back to the ship... and make sure she doesn't cause any trouble!" Wily ordered, and the last thing I knew was something hitting the back of my head...
"I know that you lost someone very dear to you and you carry that pain wherever you go. I see it every time you look at me... a shadow of sorrow beneath a mask."
I choked. How could he see that so clearly? I hadn't known him all that long-- and already he could see through me? It was a direct hit to my pride, but he never ceased to amaze me in what he knew. But how could he understand if I told him? Would he care?
Yes. Another look into his deep eyes told me the truth. He truly did care, as no one had done for twelve years. He wanted to listen... even Grandfather couldn't do that... for his own pain was too great.
"I don't know how I know..." he added, "but something tells me you've been alone for a long time."
"Yes," I respond at last. "A very long time..." but I could say no more right then, and Zero understood. I knew because he didn't press me, or urge me to go on. He would give me my space when I wanted it, and stay close when I needed him most. But right now, I needed him near me, like he was now.
Without warning I kissed him, drowning in my love of him. Zero readily returned my advance, tilting his head towards mine. I nibbled on his lower lip, and he smiled.
As a surprise of his own he gently settled me down back onto the ground, and settled his weight over me. He took a moment to break away and grin at me, touching his nose to mine. Then he kissed me again, harder and more passionately. My hands moved to encircle his neck, playing in his long ponytail.
"You're mine..." he promised as he caressed my swollen lips. "No one will ever take you away from me, Sierra... because... I..."
"What's THIS?" came an unknown voice some feet away. Zero's face snapped up, and he growled viciously. I sat up slightly, and gasped at the one staring at us in a mix of surprise and disgust.
"How could you?!" demanded the intruder to Zero loudly. "Showing emotions to a weak human! How embarrassing!"
"Who the hell are you?" Zero snarled, making sure to get between the other and me.
The intruder snorted. "It seems I must introduce myself, brother. I am Protoman."
"What kind of a lame-brained name is that? And what the hell do you mean by 'brother'?" Zero leered. 'Protoman' had grey armor covering his body, with red boots, gloves and matching helmet. Covering his eyes was a dark visor, and around his neck a yellow scarf was tied. He was a bit shorter that Zero, but taller than I was. Though I couldn't really see hi face through the visor and dim moonlight, I could tell that he was no friend of ours. But... a robot?
It had to be! And if it wasn't one of Grandfather's... it was...
"Zero!" I said in surprise. "He's one of Dr. Wily's robots!"
"Perceptive, for a human." Protoman's leer grew, and Zero tensed in front of me. In a flash, he activated his armor, and aimed his plasma cannon.
"You stay away from her."
The enemy robot pouted mockingly. "Aww... I can't play with your pet human? Well fine then," he drew his own cannon. "I'll play with you!" He fired. Yellow radiation came flowing from the weapon, streaking right at Zero and I. With a shout he shoved me out of the way and fired a shot of his own.
There was an explosion as the two bolts collided, and the brightness of it blinded me. I could hear Protoman's deep laughter as well as Zero's cursing, and as my vision cleared I saw that our enemy was powering up again.
"Sierra," Zero hissed quickly while not losing contact with Protoman. "Get out of here, NOW... find Dr. Light and get out!"
"Nope, sorry Red," said someone from behind us. "She ain't going anywhere!" I whirled around just in time to see a very tall black, yellow and red robot with a construction hat on his head grab me by the arms. This 'bot wasn't even remotely human-- clearly all-machine and inferior design. Even so... it hurt when he grabbed me!
"Zero!" I exclaimed. The dulled pain from the fall from the oak tree came back, now intensified by my captor's unmerciful hold.
Now Zero whirled, and I saw murder in his eyes as he leveled his cannon.
"I wouldn't do that, brother!" called Protoman from behind. "If you shoot Gutsman, you shoot the pretty human! Hey, I've got no problem with that, so go ahead and shoot! Get rid of her!"
"In your dreams, buck-o!" I shouted, snarling. In response Protoman nodded, and Gutsman twisted my arms behind my back. I resisted, twisting my face into a contorted grimace so that I wouldn't cry out, but the rivers of pain became so great that I screamed as loudly as I could despite my attempts to not do so.
Hot tears stung my eyes as I locked gazes with Zero, but as I tried to give him a weak smile of reassurance Gutsman twisted again. I saw the fury radiating from the red robot, his green eyes glittering in barely controllable rage from behind his helmet.
Protoman laughed hysterically at the situation, and added to the tension further with his next words. "This is great! I wonder if Dr. Wily and the others are having this much fun with that fool doctor Light!"
Just then an explosion erupted from the lab in a small mushroom cloud. I screamed again. And this time the tears were not restrained. I thought of Grandfather, how he was the last living relative I'd had... and what of Rock? Gone as well... it couldn't be happening! Damn Wily! Damn his robots!
"I HATE YOU!" I screeched at the top of my lungs. With newfound energy fueled by my own rage I kicked at Gutsman's legs at the knees. Having taken him by surprise the burly 'bot was knocked over, loosening his grip on me just enough so I could free myself. Zero hurried over to me in two strides, converting his cannon into a six-foot, green plasma sword that highlighted his furious features to the point that he looked like a devil, accented by the demonic style of his red helmet. Standing right beside me to make sure I wasn't grabbed again Zero swung his blade at Gutsman, first taking his metal head off and a second swipe across the torso for good measure.
Sparks enveloped the fallen 'bot, and one of the arms kept twitching until finally falling still. Deactivated and out of commission.
"How... how dare you!" Protoman bellowed. "Gutsman! Oh, you're going to get it, Red! Wily's going to blow a fuse over this!"
"That's not all he's going to blow once I'm through with him... but you first!" Zero charged at the remaining robot with lightning speed, his green blade blazing across the grass. He swung like a madman with precision to the micrometer but just in time Protoman jumped out of the way.
"Nice try! But not good enough!" The red and grey 'bot chuckled menacingly, and kneed Zero in the gut as he flew by.
"Zero!" I gasped as he fell, clutching his stomach. I struggled to get up, to crawl to him... but I could not. I could only watch Protoman kick him again, then begin to power up his cannon.
"ZERO! GET UP!" I yelled, sobbing. "DON'T LEAVE ME!"
"Si... erra..." he choked loudly as he tried to sit up. Protoman laughed again, causing the fallen warrior to snap back into reality.
"Hah... first I kill you, then I get to blast your pet human into a bloody mess!"
"You won't... touch her..." he growled viciously, glaring at him and getting to his feet.
"Sorry, brother! But it looks like you won't be able to help her any! Just to show my sincerity, I'll prove it!" he leveled his cannon right at me and I froze, knowing that this was the end for me... I closed my eyes and heard the crackle of electricity... the mingling of ozone in the cool night air...
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!" I heard Zero scream.
Protoman fired.
I heard the bolt streaking through the air as I lay in defeat on the ground. A tear stung my eye while I prayed that my suffering would not last...
I felt something enormous and hard hit me head-on, throwing me backward into the grass. I felt a heaviness over my body, but no pain or anything... I open my eyes, only to gasp in horror.
"Oh my god!" Zero is atop me, a hole in the back of his armor sizzling, sparking and smoking from the hit... from the hit he took for me...
"No! Wake up, Zero! Please!"
He opens his beautiful emerald eyes for me, is handsome features outlined in agony. He smiles feebly, trying in vain to breathe steady from his shock.
"Sierra... you... all right...?"
"Yes!" I whispered. "Yes... but you..."
"Will... fine... auto... repair... still function..."
"Ssh..." I hushed him with a finger on his lips. "Don't talk..."
"No... Protoman will... kill you... run... now... I love..."
Suddenly he fell forward and collapsed above me, and didn't move. I shook him desperately to awaken him, tears flowing into my eyes.
"Pfft. That weakling was beginning to annoy me!" came the sinister voice of Protoman. I sat up, cradling Zero in my arms as I glared daggers at the oppressor.
"You killed him, you... monster! DAMN YOU!" My hands curled into fists while I ignored the pain it caused me.
"No I didn't," he countered with a leer. "It was a low energy blast. He's only knocked out. As it turns out Wily wants me to bring you to him... alive. Isn't that right, Doc?"
"Quite right, Protoman..." that voice. The voice that has haunted my nightmares, whose hellish and demonic laughter sounded at the point my parent's hearts were ripped from their bodies for me to see. I have never forgotten that voice that let me live as an example for Grandfather... the one who built horrible war machines to help in his takeover of the world... Dr. Wily.
"You..." I spat in the utmost hate and disgust. The old man mimicked Protoman's leer.
"Yes... the little girl has grown up, hasn't she? And has quite a reputation I hear... isn't that right?" I didn't respond, and his devil's grin widened. "Ah, a silent one. Good. You will be perfect..."
"I'll never do anything you say, you murdering bastard..."
"Ah, ah, ah... that's no such talk for a lady..." he shook a knotted and crooked finger at me. "Come along now and we won't hurt you."
"No," I said flatly. Wily nodded, and Protoman began to walk towards me. I got up to my wobbling feet and began to run as fast as my legs could carry me. But I heard a whoosh behind me, and suddenly I was grabbed from behind. I fell to my knees in the darkness, my knees scraping against the green grass and soft soil. My arms were twisted behind my back as Gutsman had previously done, but this grip was more confident, arrogant.
"Pretty little thing, aren't ya?" Protoman sneered as he held me. I kicked his foot, but he didn't budge.
"Sorry sweetheart... I'm not a stupid as old Gutsman. Sadly enough he didn't have enough brain chips to begin with!" He laughed, causing me to shudder.
"Take her back to the ship... and make sure she doesn't cause any trouble!" Wily ordered, and the last thing I knew was something hitting the back of my head...