A/N: I don't like this part. .-.; it's short, and skeezy. I may alter this a little before I post up the next part. Sorry it's so damned short, but the rest of the dream sequence just didn't fit in here. Which sucks, because I liked it. Oh well, I have a place I can fit it into later on. Anyway, feel free to diss this chapter, It's far from my best work. @_o;

Oh yes, if you're going to the Canadian anime expo from Aug 23-35th, and u want someone to chill with, e-mail me at: malakese@yahoo.com Now read, and waste minutes of your precious little lives!

Caged Like an Animal

Silently, Forte slinked into Wily's lab, hidden deep within Skull Fortress, in dire need of repairs. His shoulder armor was cracked and missing in places, exposed circuitry underneath synthetic flesh blown open. Fragments of said armor were embedded deep in his left side, the soft grey material of his jumpsuit having left him vulnerable. Blood seeped lazily around the wounds.

He approached Wily slowly, stepping silently up from behind. Slowly, with much force, he managed to stand up straight, at his full height. "Dr. Wily, Rockman has-" Within seconds, Wily was on his feet, chair clattering to the floor, instantly silencing the ebony armored Forte.

"No need to tell me what I already know, Forte!" he hissed. "You've failed me... You've all failed me! But you... You've had more chances than you deserve!" His eyes wild, he grabbed ahold of a nearby wrench. "Armor down, you useless piece of scrap metal! I had such high hopes for you, Forte. The way I built you, you should be invincible! You were my greatest..." He trailed off with an agitated sigh.

Forte did as he was told, almost timid looking, a very uncharacteristic thing for him. The old man sure was pissed this time. He couldn't believe Wily was actually going to repair him again after that last screw-up. sighing slightly, he stood still as stone, face and eyes downcast. Suddenly something struck him, hard, bruising his face by his ear, nearly denting the metal which lay underneath.

Forte suppressed a howl, gritting his teeth, knocked so hard from the blow he almost lost his footing. Recovering quickly, he shot a glance upward.

Wily stood over him, glaring, wrench in hand. Now Forte understood what was going on. Wily wasn't going to repair him, he was going to beat him, then probably dismantle him. "Wait!" He exclaimed, dodging another swing. "You can't destroy me like this! Give me a-" He jumped back. "-nother chance!"

"Stand still, damnit!" Wily roared, enraged. He grabbed Forte by his already damaged arm and threw him in the direction of the far wall of the room. "Stand there, and don't you dare move!"

Again, Forte did as he was told, pressing his cheek lightly to the smooth cold surface of the wall, glaring ahead at nothing as Wily began to tear into his backside with the wrench, bruising, cutting, ripping, denting........

'Damn you Rock.... Damn you.... this is all your fault... Your fault....'

.......................

......................

......................

".... your fault..."

Suddenly he opened his eyes, willing himself to consciousness. The searing pain was worse than ever, boring into every bit of his body. But it wasn't the same. The pain in his back had dulled, only to be replaced by a sharper, angrier pain in his chest. And he wasn't in Skull Fortress. Where was he? His lavender wisps stroked his cheek softly as they danced in the light breeze. He was outside somewhere...

Every inch of him hurt, throbbing heavily. His face twisted slightly into a wry smile. The pain made it obvious that he hadn't been blasted to Hell.

He shut his eyes lightly, gathering his bearings. If he wasn't at the fortress. He was outside somewhere. Why? Where? Obviously Wily hadn't put him there. Instead of cool metal brushing along his fingertips, he felt soft material, and Wily was hardly the fuzzy comfort blanket type. That ruled that out. In fact, it ruled out just about everyone he knew who was capable of helping him at that moment. Except....

Suddenly it all came back to him. Their fight.

'He wouldn't...'
He did have a blanket with him, he was having a picnic.

'..... Rock?'

He tore his eyes open quickly, but didn't move. He found himself facing a small back, covered with a white t-shirt, flexing ever so slightly as it's owner slept soundlessly.

Forte narrowed his eyes. 'Rock...' So it was him.

He was out of armor, with his damaged hand bandaged. 'A little trusting, are we?' He thought, as he stared at his small sleeping form, vulnerable as he was.

He made a grab for Rock, a malicious gleam in his eyes when suddenly a deep, sharp pain hit him like a train. He clutched at his chest, and almost cried out, the pain intensifying. He resisted the urge to tear at the bandages which already had traces of blood seeping through the white gauze. Shaking slightly, he forced himself to abort his plans for the time being, and lay back down quietly, glaring.

Mumbling incoherently, Rock rolled over, facing Forte and slept on, the faintest of smiles touching his lips. This caused a small rage to boil within Forte.

'How dare he lay there so peacefully when... when...' He shook his head slightly. Of course Rock was sleeping so calmly, so relaxed. 'He has nothing to worry about.. I can't even move..' He reached down to his chest, touching the white gauze gently.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he lay there, glowering. He was at Rock's mercy now, his unshackled prisoner. Closing his eyes and sighing slightly, he decided to go along with it for now. 'I'll let him 'save' me for now. Then....' Forte grinned broadly, showing off his fanged teeth, as a plan begin to brew within his head. 'I have one last chance against you, and I'm going to make it good. Rock, I'll make you sorry you let me live.'

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