Epilogue:
Setting the Places
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Standing between Bass, the favored son of Dr. Wily, and Gutsman, who he knows can break him in half and make him into dog food for Treble, Robert Cole jr. believes he has finally found the reason he moved out of Tokyo.
Sadly, they also live in New York, but well enough out of his circle of friends that he never has to worry about them. But as he stands between them in the cemetery outside of Okinawa, he looks at the two, side-by-side tombstones, and wonders exactly what he's gotten himself into.
One stone reads the name of Thomas Xavier Light. The other reads the name Rock Light, 01. The graves of his grandfather and, to most everyone who asks, his uncle, despite there never being anything of the first Megaman to bury except a legacy.
"We did good, out there," Roll says, standing alongside Bass, her armor changed for a black dress-suit, turning her gray clad ally, "You did good out there."
"Even counting me trying to off X?"
"Even counting that," she sighs, "You had your reasons. Just don't do it again."
"I'll try not to," he responds, turning to her, "But if he ever tries to hurt you, you know what I have to do."
Standing at the gravesite is Roll and Bass, along with Sarah, Iris, Zero, Emeralda, Gutsman, Robert jr, X, and Protoman. Not present is the Soul Blazer or Blue's master, both, the apprentice assured, would know of anything that transpired here.
"So," Blues says, "What do we do next?"
"We?" Zero asks.
"We," Roll responds, "What we did today we'll most likely end up doing a lot from here on in. The Walker isn't dead, and that means he'll be back. And we dealt with him this time because we worked as a team. Loosely, but as a team."
"Which I will remind people consisted mainly of me being hurled at Voltron," Zero chimes in.
Bass glares at Zero, quickly shutting him up under the withering gaze.
"If we want to beat him next time, we need to be able to act as a real team, not just a strung together in a minute one," Roll continues, "Cole Labs has the resources to support us. We can do more than just stop the Walker. The world is changing…and it could use people like us to help with the threats it can't deal with on its own."
"And what do we have?" Blues asks, folding his arms.
"My weapons," Roll responds, "They were Dr. Light's culmination on weapons technologies. Your magic, Blues. Zero's speed, and skill. The Soul Blazer…Blues, can you contact him again?"
"Certainly."
"Good. We have his powers and your master's, and the resources at our disposal. We can do a lot of good. With Rock gone, we have to be there to deal with things like another Albert Wily or another King. An elite team."
"A Team Elite," Bass says with a grin, "Hell, you and Rock really are twins. I'd expect that sort of plan from him."
"And what about you, Bass?"
"Maybe," he says, burying his hands in his pockets, "First, I need to find out who this 'Boss' is. If anyone's supposed to order around the Robot Masters on hairbrained schemes, it's supposed to be me. Someone's stealing my thunder, and I just don't like it…but consider me someone you can call in if you need."
Gutsman nods his cap to Roll, patting her on the shoulder.
"You're just like ol'Rock," he says, "You'll do him proud, sis. I'll be headin' back home. Seeya on the plane, Bass."
The giant begins lumbering off, as Bass sighs, turning to Roll and taking her hands into his.
"I have to be in Tokyo next week on business," he says, "Could you meet me for dinner, then?"
"We'll see," Roll responds, "I can't pretend what has happened hasn't."
"But it also doesn't mean I can't try," he says with a grin, "My treat?"
"In that case, fine," she says with a chuckle, "Next week?"
"Next week," he responds, "Take good care of my little brother for me."
"Haven't I always?"
"Seeing how much Iris has him whipped, I can question that."
"HEY!" Zero shouts…and quiets down when Bass again stares at him.
Bass takes Roll's hand, holding it to his lips, and walks down the same path as Gutsman disappeared to…leaving a Roll who's face has turned a slightly darker shade of red.
"Don't say it," she says to Blues' question, "Don't say it."
He laughs, putting an arm over her shoulder.
"I won't," he says, walking with her down another walkway, "The Team Elite, huh? I like it. I always wanted to be a superhero…"
The others begin departing, X giving one last long stare to the graves of his predecessor and his father before joining them, whistling an unfamiliar tune along the way…one that catches Emeralda's ear, as she takes his arm and walks with him, joining him in the whistling.
Leaving Robert staring at the graves, his mother by his side.
"In all the excitement I think you've been ignored," Sarah says, rubbing his shoulder, "I never even got to ask you about your day."
"Oh, nothing special Mom," he says, as he begins walking with her, "Same old, same old."
They leave the graveyard, the last of the family to leave…and as they exit through the gates, a fading figure becomes evident. Becoming more solid with every step, he appears, his form complete as he stands in front of the grave.
The Walker.
He stares at the two graves, a wistful smile on his face. And reaching down, he takes two stones, and places one on each headstone.
And turning, he steps again between dimensions, leaving the graves in their silence.
The End