Author's note: After a month-long hiatus (or so I think), I have returned from my retreat into my studies to continue with my series. Sorry I'm late, and same rules apply.

Megaman Legends: The Lariozan Connection
Chapter Thirteen: Isle of Awaiting Danger

"Gracias, señorita y señores, for your bravery. You surely taught those rebels a lesson! We really thank you!" said General de Leon, commander of the brigade that relieved Bocanete, to the five-person crew of the missile boat. After shaking hands with them, the man departed.

"Whew, that was exhausting!" was the first remark heard from the group, and its speaker was Megaman. "If I had to do that again I'd let those ships kill me."

"Same here, sport," replied Burnley, the journalist in him awakened after he had put the soldier in him to sleep. "So now, what do we do? Shall we go on to that island over there, or do we sit in the bar in the neighboring town doing nothing but watch the mopping-up operations? Due to our efforts, I've been given some passes there. Gives us 50% discount on purchases."

Megaman was apprehensive. "I don't believe we can spend the rest of the day..." were the only words he can muster before Roll cut into his speech, saying, "Don't worry, Megaman, we'll get there. Besides, we need to rest ourselves. With such a hectic fight we'll have no energy left when we get there now."

And so they hurried off to the nearby town, which was a 5-minute drive from the base on their van. Along the way, Roll got thinking.

"Whatcha thinking about, Roll?" asked the blue Digger. "Anything to be apprehensive about?"

Roll was meditative. "Those guns the soldiers were carrying-I've seen them on Mr. Burnley's weapons magazines. Most of them are very dubious, they certainly don't look like Althirian-issued to me." Being attentive to detail was the trademark of an avid techie and a good spotter.

"Guess you noticed it too, huh?" inquired Burnley. " AB-104 submachine guns. Foreign models. They're probably weapons those soldiers, er, 'confiscated' from dead or imprisoned rebels. But hey, not like those grunts don't receive Althirian aid far too much!"

"So that means..."

"With Moran at the helm of the armed forces, anything can happen. Secret dealings got him the defense portfolio, many would say, and Rodrigo is good at that. Coincidence them rebels intensified attacks on targets after-"

A nearby APC was blown to smithereens. Reason: land mines left behind. Burnley just stopped the car, took a single picture from his minicam, and drove on to town carefully. The passengers were silent.

THREE HOURS LATER

"Damn, that could have been our bodies searing in the explosion," Megaman commented. "So that's, uhhh, what happened, huh, Mr. Burnley?"

"Even worse, pal. At least that was an APC. Margaret was on a van," Burnley coldly replied as he gulped down his glass of lager (note: the bar served sparkling water to the two teenagers), then tried to smile. "Say, shouldn't you be going now? Your expedition can't wait." By the time, the crew began to leave for the naval base, where the CDMB was still berthed.

After a meanwhile, the CDMB was ready, and Roll, who had brought in spotting devices onboard, sped for the island. After a brief 45 minutes, they landed on the island quay, where a detachment of marines was on standby.

"Licencia, por favor," asked the lieutenant in charge of the platoon. "License for entry please."

"Here, sir, Class A," he said. The lieutenant looked approvingly.

"Ahh, fine. Up to you to find a way in, though. Those rebels couldn't blast through the gate, and I doubt it that you can."

Megaman just said nothing as he entered the third key and went in.

With the ruins opened, what secrets does the ruins of Zona 10 have to give out? The adventures on the Isle of Awaiting Danger continues with Chapter 14: Infiltration, coming soon!

P.S. I'm waiting to hear from you. Send reviews and/or possible plots to ceig13@yahoo.com!

P.P.S. Thanks to ravenf6 for giving me some hints. More power to thee, mi amigo!