Rock pushed the door open slowly, peering inside slightly. He glanced around for a bit, noting that the room was quite dark and cluttered. He couldn't even see Wily anywhere. Wily… Wait, wait! G'AH! Rock shoved himself against the door, watching as it flew open and crashed into the wall. Oh man! Not good! Too hard, too hard! He stole a quick glance at Gospel; the mutt stood next to him, doing nothing more than staring ahead. Uh –

"Damn it, Forte, how many times have I told you NOT to do that?!" Wily's voice sounded from the far corner of the room.

Rock scratched his head. I guess that was a good thing. While searching for Wily, he inspected the area he was now in. Never before had he imagined himself walking so freely through Wily's fortress; it nearly scared him. He looked around once more, watching in curiosity as numerous machines blinked and beeped. Dad's got nothing like this at home. Still lost in his thoughts, Rock didn't bother to notice the old man that had stopped before him. He did a double take when his gaze landed on Wily and swallowed. Hard. Holding back the urge to whip out his armor and start blasting, Rock stared at his forehead – which he could see was quite large, now that they stood so closely – and attempted to appear as if nothing was wrong.

"Well now, what's with the odd expression, Forte? You almost look like you've never seen the lab before," Wily commented, gazing at Rock intently.

Rock tried his best to put on Forte's common cocky grin before replying, "Just never realized how colorful this damn place is before."

Wily nodded. "I see. Being told that obvious statement was not why I asked you to come here, however."

Oh no, here it comes! Rock shoved his hands into his pockets, rubbing them against the fabric ever so slightly. Please don't make me attack my family…! Heading towards a nearby desk, Wily retrieved a sheet of paper and handed it to him. Rock stared at it. It looked like a shopping list full of…parts? "Uh…"

"What's wrong? You should know what to do," Wily stated flatly.

"Yeah, yeah, still kinda tired," Rock answered quickly, still staring at the paper.

Wily gazed at him for a few moments. "Well? What are you waiting for? Get going! And I'll be watching you just in case that annoying Rockman appears!"

No! Don't watch me! Rock nodded. "Right." Walking out the door and heading into the hallway, he slouched over as soon as he heard the door slam shut. Running a hand through his hair, he gazed down at Gospel. "Guess I won't be able to get a hold of Forte without Wily noticing something…" He peered at the paper once more. "…I guess I won't be able to just pay for these, either."

~ * - - - - - - - - - - * ~

Forte crossed his arms over his chest as he followed his 'family,' glancing at all the stores they passed from the corners of his eyes. This day was becoming a hell of an experience, and he still wished he would just wake up or something. Why me? Why am I the one that has to be trapped in this damn body?!

"Hey, Rock! Snap out of it, bro!" Blues suddenly shouted, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, nearly hugging him. Forte's natural reaction was to grab Blues by the throat and chuck him into the nearest store window, but thought better of it when realizing what a large commotion that would cause. So, instead, he forced a smile and closed his eyes. He appeared to be happy, but annoyance radiated off him like the foul stench on a pile of – "Why the glum look? Aren't you happy to be out with your family?"

"Oh, yeah, of course!" Forte stated the best he could while holding back the urge to burst into a fit of screams. Let go of me, you crazy bastard from hell!!

"Sure doesn't seem like it," Roll added, frowning at him.

"Well, I am happy to be out with you guys." Forte could feel his insides tossing and turning, the sickening feeling he was getting from saying such things nearly too much to handle. "Dunno why you would think otherwise."

Blues smirked, rustling Forte's hair with his hand before pulling away. "I guess it's pretty obvious he's happy to be out with us no matter what expression he's wearing. I mean, come on, he's out with his big brother, Blues! That's a damn good reason enough!" Blues shouted, posing dramatically as they walked.

Dr. Light laughed, his large belly shaking slightly at the movement. "Calm down before you blow a circuit, Blues."

"HEY! DAD!!"

Forte couldn't help but chuckle. …Wait. Why am I chuckling? Am I actually enjoying this? No way. There was no way he could actually be enjoying any of it. And yet…he was truly chuckling. Shaking his head, he brought his attention to a store in the distance. He smiled. Hot Topic!* YES! As he jogged toward the store he knew he would feel comfortable in, he heard Roll shouting after him.

"Rock! Hey, Rock, where're you going?" she shouted, chasing after him, followed closely by Blues.

Forte pointed at the store just a few feet away. "In there."

Blues peered up at the sign, then raised an eyebrow. "'Hot Topic'? You always said that place scared the shit out of you."

Forte blinked. …Son of a - ! Don't tell me I just messed up! Damn it!! "My…curiosity has gotten the better of me," he answered lamely.

"Your curiousity? Rock, how many times have I tried to get you to go in there with me? You backed out each and every time!"

Blues? He shops there? Forte stared at him, finally realizing that it was pretty obvious. Blues was adorned in a bike-chain-type choker, along with a matching bike-chain-type bracelet along with a few others, somewhat baggy black pants and a white under-shirt. …I guess we have more in common than I would have guessed. Forte shrugged. "Well, I'll take that chance now."

"Super!" Blues replied with a smirk, grabbing Forte by the arm and dragging him inside.

Forte sighed. Finally…somewhere I feel comfortable!

~ * - - - - - - - - - - * ~

Rock muttered to himself as he stared at the list, running over the plan in his head for what seemed the hundredth time. All right, so I'll just get the stuff and leave. No set backs or anything. I'll do it as quick as I can before Forte pops up. Man, I don't wanna steal anything! E-e-e-e-eh!! He closed his eyes tightly, suddenly feeling as if he would burst into tears again. It just wasn't his day. "No, no, everything will be fine. Everything'll get fixed sooner or later." Taking a deep breath, he looked down at Gospel, who was staring at him intently. "All right, let's get this over with!" he shouted. He summoned his armor…but nothing happened. "…Eh? What in the - ? Hey! What's going on?!" Gospel barked, wagging his tail slightly. "…Don't tell me Forte's way of getting his armor is different than mine. A-a-a-a-a-ah, mother of pearl!" Rock immediately began tinkering with whatever he could without having to open any of the latches throughout Forte's body, listening to the soft whirs and snaps that sounded every time he would move something. Before long, he finally figure out what to do, and was overcome with a sense of dizziness. He felt everything within him shift around as his armor appeared, and even after he had received his armor, he felt winded. "Good god…that was HORRIBLE!"

Picking up the sheet of paper from where it had fallen on the floor, Rock shifted his weight around slightly, trying to adjust to his 'new' armor. Never before had he had an armor that covered his chest; it made him somewhat uncomfortable. It was surprisingly light, however. "Okay, NOW let's go." In a flash of purple light, the two of them disappeared into the sky.

~ * - - - - - - - - - - * ~

Forte smiled contentedly as he purchased a few ball-chain necklaces and some new shoelaces for the shoes he had purchased earlier. He wanted to buy more, but didn't want to make himself seem even more suspicious.

Blues patted him on the back as they headed out, smiling proudly at his brother's accomplishment. "Great job, Rock! Never thought you'd head in there and actually buy something! You've got nice taste, though. Them blue flame shoelaces, very nice, very nice."

"Thanks," Forte muttered, forcing himself to smile up at him. Blues wasn't really that bad of a guy, much as Forte refused to admit it. They really had more in common than he had originally thought. As a matter of fact, the whole family wasn't that bad…

NO. DON'T EVEN THINK THAT WAY. Forte scolded himself, glaring at his reflection in the store window. DON'T.

"Well, where shall we head to – " Roll was cut off by a loud crashing sound. Numerous humans around them screamed as they ran in fear, debris flying in every which direction as dust flooded the area before him. "HOLY!!!"

Forte stared at the spot before him, having already taken a ready stance in case something attacked him. His eyes widened at the sight before him. It was himself! Or, as it was at the moment, Rock!

Rock stared at his family, his insides immediately beginning to twist around like mad. I didn't think they'd be over here! Good job, Rock! He spotted Forte. His gaze softened. Never before had he thought he'd be looking at himself like this, from his enemy's point of view. He never realized how small he actually was, how timid and fragile he appeared…no wonder Forte always got so riled up whenever he beat him. Gotta get this over with; let's go, let's go!

After staring at them for a few more moments, Rock bolted in the opposite direction, heading straight for the nearest store he could find that would contain any sort of electronic equipment.

"Forte! Forte, what are you doing?! That brat is behind you!" Wily's scratchy voice shouted over the intercom in his helmet.

Rock growled, then blinked. Had he actually…growled? He shook it off. "I've got it under control! Don't worry your pretty little head about it!"

"Forte - !"

"Don't worry!"

Blues had taken the time the humans used to run for their lives to summon his armor and started off in Rock's direction. He gazed back at Forte. "ROCK?! What the hell! Get your armor on and let's get going!"

Forte stared in the direction Rock had run off, confused as to what he should do. I need to talk to him about this, but he's in my armor, which means Wily's watching… And I can't attack myself, either! FUCKIN' A'! THIS ISN'T WORKING TO MY LIKING! "Right!" Summoning Rock's armor, Forte stared down at his hands in disbelief when nothing appeared but the clothes he had been wearing to begin with. "…What in all - ?!"

"ROCK! Let's get a move on!" Blues shouted one last time before finally deciding to leave his brother where he stood and began chasing Rock down.

That's right, this isn't my body! Forte slapped himself mentally. Then how does he get his armor to come on? Let's see…maybe this…or this…uh…fucking thing! Let's get going, ya piece of shit! Forte stood there for a moment, a look of pure anger worn on his face. Apparently, the expression had frightened Roll even more than the attack that had just taken place since she was staring at him with wide eyes.

"Rock – "

"S-S-SH!" Forte shouted. "Got it!" A bright blue light suddenly surrounded him, and as soon as it subsided, he was left standing in Rock's blue armor. He shifted around a bit. How in all hell does he wear this? I feel naked! Sighing, he began to head in the direction Rock and Blues had headed, his mind still swarmed by the numerous outcomes to what would take place between them.

Rock skidded to a halt before an electronics store. "I'm sure they'll have what he's looking for in here! Let's go, Gospel!"

With a load roar, Gospel ran into the room, scaring off all the people that had previously been shopping in it. I'm sorry! I really don't want to do this! Rock thought as he followed the mutt, running straight passed everything and into the back room. Flinging the door open, he found piles of parts on the floor. He sighed. U-u-u-u-ugh. They all have to make it so hard on me. Hunching over the piles, he began to rummage through all the pieces, picking up the things Wily needed. Why did I have to come here, of all places? I could have just gone to "Track Auto" or whatever the hell it's called…

A swift kick to the back suddenly connected with his side, sending the ebony clad bioroid into a nearby wall. He hissed, looking up at his attacker. His eyes widened. No, not Blues!

"Let's go, dumb ass!" Blues shouted, changing his arm into his buster cannon. "I won't go easy on you like Rock does!"

"No! I'm taking this one!" Forte shouted from behind Blues.

Rock gazed at him. No, no, no, no! He stood up slowly, staring at Forte from underneath his helmet. "…Rock."

"Forte."

The battle ended right there. Forte attacked, and without even realizing it, Rock shifted out of the way, grabbed him by the throat, and tossed him into Blues with such a force that after the two slipped from the ground they had slammed into, the wall had cracked and a small hole could be seen from where Blues' shoulder had rammed into it. Rock gasped. He did that? Never before had he been able to attack so quickly and with such strength… Was it Forte's body that had allowed him to do it? Was it his previous experience in battle? …Or was it a combination of both?

Gazing at the two bioroids one last time, Rock grabbed the equipment he had come for, waited for Gospel to join his side, and departed them.

* Just a lil' side note: Hot Topic is a store full of gothic-type clothing. Lots of black, chains, things that Forte would probably choose to wear over anything else. …Well, I can also imagine him in skater clothes, but whatever. o_O;;