Chapter Three - In Trouble

Zero: So you finally got away from that bus driver, huh?

X: Yeah. I hear Megaman's having a problem too, but it's not with the teachers.

Zero: A student?

Megaman: In a manner of speaking. It's another robot, disguised as a student. An old--uh--friend of mine...

X: A power-hungry robot named Bass.

Zero: Oh, good. That's one more thing to deal with.

Megaman: I know how we can stop him and keep him from bothering us, but it'll take me some time.

X: And we can buy him that time.

Zero: Yeah! I've been achin' for some action since we got here, anyway. So when do we get started?

X: Now. You get him away somewhere. I'll make sure everyone's away from where you guys are duking.

Zero: Fair enough. I need to do some slashin', anyway. The Zet's gettin' all stir-crazy in my backpack, I know.

Megaman: You and your saber can do what you want to Bass. I don't frankly care what happens to him. Kill him if you want. I'm sure that wouldn't be much of a problem.

Zero: Hee. Ye-he-hess....yes, indeed...

Megaman: Right. Anyway, I'll get going. The faster we can rid ourselves of Bass, the more time we'll have to study the students.

***

In the halls...

Bass (from the hall) : Someone lookin' for me?

Zero strides out quickly. Bass is standing in the middle of the hallway, arms folded, with a smirk on his face. His helmet has appeared atop his head, and he no longer wears his plain clothes.

Zero: So you're the one who called me a girly robot, huh?

Bass: Shh!!! You're not supposed to know about that, you moron!

Zero: Oh, right. Am I supposed to know Dr. Wily created me?

Bass just sighs.

'Cause I don't, if that's what you're thinking.

Bass: Anyway, what do you want?

Zero: A brawl. Megaboy's said you've been causing him trouble lately.

Bass: Ah, so I got him sent to the office. Big deal.

Zero: Hey, he's a friend. And you...okay, I can admire the whole power hungry thing. I've been told I have that "slash-slash-kill-kill" attitude about things... But that doesn't matter! You could expose Megaman and the rest of us!

Bass: I'm not so sure X would mind if you exposed yourself to him. (Grins)

Zero growls.

Zero: Oh, no you did NOT!-- (His buster appears on his arm.)

Zero slashes madly at Bass. Zero's clothes change to armor instantaneously and Bass shoots a few shots at him.

Zero dodges the shots and dashes forward.

Zero smiles and puts his huge hand around Bass's head, throwing him up through the roof. He does a double-jump up, using a spinning slash to tear at Bass's armor. He slams the robot to the roof, digging his feet into his back moments later. He tosses the Z-Saber over his shoulder, sending it spinning wildly. It lands, sticking perfectly straight up in the roof.

Zero: I don't need to stain the Zet with the blood of scum like you.

Bass: Bring it on, girly-man. (Beckons)

Zero: I'll "girly-man" you, Sea-Bass!

Bass: Oh, no you did NOT!--

Zero raises his arm and fires the Z-Buster at Bass's head. It hits squarely, and Bass falls to the roof, head smoking.

Zero: Well, that's that.

He begins to climb down from his spot, but hears Bass's voice behind him again:

Bass: Finish me off, girly-man!

Zero, without turning around, coolly: I thought I had.

Bass (weakly): Ha! That's a laugh...

Zero (coolly): I have a certain respect for other robot life... I'd suggest you take the opportunity and run with it.

Bass is silent, but picks himself up from the roof and shakes the dust and soot from his armor. Zero continues walking toward the edge of the roof, deactivating the saber and tossing it back into his open backpack. Bass rushes at him.

Bass: Ha! You think I'd admit defeat from you, you worthless automaton?!

Zero stops dead in his tracks.

Zero (coolly): Your style is too straightfoward. Be more subtle.

Bass: Ha! Your advice means nothing to me!

Zero (coolly): That's a shame...

He brings his right fist up just before Bass makes contact with him. Bass stops, staring at the fist in terror.

I've seen more than you, Bass. I know fighting.

He lowers his fist.

I could have taken out your CPU just then. Think. Think before you fight.

He continues walking, but turns around and shrugs his shoulders.

(Jovially) Oh, who'm I kiddin'? I'm gonna kill you anyway!

One student spots them and runs back into the school, all through the halls screaming, "Fight! Fight!". Everyone follows him outside, where they begin watching Zero and Bass chip away at each other. Some are making bets, some are wondering why the heck both the fighters have circuits under their skin, and the faculty is all cowering in fear (Don't I wish?), wetting their Depends. Shots from Z-Buster and F-Buster alike fly all around. No people are shot, amazingly.

X: What happened? I thought he was gonna just take Bass out...these people are in danger!

X radios Megaman:

I need a diversion here. I can't get anyone to turn away from the fight for a minute so I can get them to somewhere safe. What should I do?

Megaman: Diversion on the way.

X: Roger. (Thinking:) This better be good...

A Jeep comes screaming off the street and heads directly toward the school. X sees Dr. Light open the door and hit the ground just before the Jeep rams into the glass doors and continues into the building.

Light walks up to X, beaming.

Light: Your diversion, X. (Gestures to the broken doors, smiling broadly.)

X: Um...where does that corridor lead? The one that the Jeep kept going down?

Light brings up a holographic map of the school.

Light: Always prepared. Let's see now, if I trace my finger from the front door along this straight path, I see... (Grimly, but no pause after the first statement) oh, dear Lord...

X: That can't be good.

Light: It's heading for the school's backup generators!! Everything's gonna blow!

And, before you can say "Chimi-chimi-changa-with-a-cherry-Coke-and whipped-cream-and-chopped-nuts-on-top", (Phew!) everything does, in fact, blow up. There is a great silence that falls over the crowd for a few moments. Zero and Bass are thrown off the roof and across the street. Soon, the students regain their senses, and begin cheering at the top of their lungs around the burning school.

X: Perfect...

Zero and Bass pick themselves up and begin fighting again. More plasma bolts begin to fly around. This time, though, the students are more concerned with singing "Kum Ba Ya" and roasting marshmallows on the flames of the school building.

I've got to break this up...Zero and Bass have had enough. I have to get that saber-happy psycho Zero out of here, now!

(Radios Megaman)

You got anything worked up yet?

Megaman: It's done. I just need to get there.

X: The school's totalled. It's no good. We have to get Zero out of here and radio you with the location later. We've got no cover.

Megaman: Roger that. Try to find someplace relatively secluded.

X: Doy, Sherlock.

Megaman: Out.

X: Wish you hadn't sacrificed the Jeep. We could've used it now. Oh, wait, that's right...Me and Zero can teleport!

Light: Sure, you can. What about me?

X: You blew up the school and sacrificed the Jeep. Plus, you've not exactly been eating right lately. I think a walk would do you good.

Light: You're just going to leave me?

X gives him a long stare, but his eyes soften.

X: Maybe you're right. You did create me and Megaman, after all.

Light: That's right.

X: Nah, no, never mind. (Runs off toward Zero and Bass.) Yo, Zero! Time to go!

Zero's left arm has been ripped off.

Zero (grunts): But I've nearly got him! Gimme two more minutes!

X: Come on, you sadistic psycho!

They teleport away.

Bass: Ha! You'll never escape! By analyzing the trail of ions you left behind, I can pinpoint your destination even before you get there, and follow you!

He concentrates for a second, then smiles and teleports away.