Chapter 12
Status…
Sleep
Energy Status…
Purge
Purge Process…
98%
…
…
…
Purge Complete. Recommend Extended 30 minute Rest Cycle.
Unnecessary.
End Rest Cycle?
Affirmative.
Initiate Reactivation Sequence?
Affirmative.
Reactivation Sequence begun. Enter Rest Cycle Override code.
****
Code Acknowledged. Good Morning, Mega Man.
***
Mega Man walked into the lab, quickly scanning the area and taking note of the seven occupants. Wily, Light, and Cossack were bustling about the room, working on various figures and stratagems, trying to get a bead on the origin of the cyborgs. Electric Man and Pharaoh Man were busy trading glares with Shadow Man, as if daring him to do something. Roll was busy enough organizing the papers and files the three scientists kept tossing everywhere while they worked. She glanced up as he walked in and turned towards him.
"Morning, Rock," she said, planting a small peck on his cheek. "Can I get you anything?"
"Nah, that's alright, Roll. It looks like you've got your hands full as it is."
"Well," she replied, "you know how it is. Having one genius in the house is bad enough. Having two geniuses and a mad scientist in the lab," Wily cleared his throat and glared at them, and Dr. Light gave a slight reproachful look, "…is enough to keep even me on my toes."
"Yeah, and it takes a lot to keep my little sister busy." Mega Man walked over to his creator.
Dr. Light didn't even look up from his work. "You're up early."
"Well, the purge came up clean, so it doesn't look like they tried to infect me with anything. I just thought, you know, considering the circumstances, I didn't need to sleep any longer than was necessary."
"Well, you're the first one up. Protoman was reluctant to go into stasis, so he started a bit later than you. He should be done in about another 15 minutes." Dr. Light rolled his eyes, "Don't even get me started on the fight Bass put up."
Mega Man chuckled, "Huh, I'm not surprised. Well, is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not right now. None of the cyborgs have made any public appearances since we recovered LeeLann. The public thinks it was just another of Wily's robots, since none of them were there to see Shadow Man's part in the whole thing. Right now we're merely trying to get through the jamming that these things have implemented on our satellites. We can't find anything past the atmosphere. Why don't you go talk to your brothers. You never got the chance to when you got home." Roll had immediately told the news to Mega Man when he had gotten back from Wily's fortress, but after the initial shock of the news and their short, joyful reunion Dr. Light had insisted that he be sent into stasis to make sure the cyborgs hadn't tried to infect the blue bomber with any viruses or reprogramming charges. "Bomb Man's reprogramming finished about forty-five minutes ago. Take your sister with you. She could use the break."
***
The moment Mega Man walked into the room he was tackled by six over-eager robots, one of them quite large. "Ooof… hey, c'mon guys," he said, hoisting them all onto his shoulders.
"Woah," Guts Man exclaimed as he was tossed off his brother, "You've gotten stronger little bro. Last I knew, you could only lift four of us at a time, or three if I was one of them."
"You can blame that on your copy. It seems that the Super Arm that I acquired when I defeated him seemed to have integrated with my systems, pity it didn't work with the rest of them."
"Yeah? Well let's see how your new systems compete with the original strong-bot!" With a lunge the huge robot grabbed at his smaller brother. A struggle of titanic proportions raged around the room while the rest of the original robot masters and Roll cheered the contestants on. The fight only stopped when Dr. Light yelled at them to knock it off over the intercom. Guts Man has slowly been gaining the upper hand at the time. Only Mega Man's smaller size and quickness was able to keep him out of serious trouble.
"It seems you're still the strongest Guts, but you could do with a few lessons in quickness."
"The big, slow brute. That's me!" Guts Man said with a grin.
"Doesn't mean I'd like to get caught in his grip," Cut Man added as the Robot Masters once again gathered at the center of the room.
"Well, of course you wouldn't, Cut Man," Mega Man said. "After all, I had to use Guts Man's weapon to beat you."
"Um… yeah, about that…" Cut Man said, slowly bowing his head. The other robot masters followed suit.
"What… what's wrong guys?" Mega Man asked.
Fire Man decided to break the silence that followed his brother's question. "Rock, we were talking while you slept, and we wanted to tell you something. We want to thank you for being strong when our strength failed us."
"What are you talking about, guys?" Mega Man was thoroughly puzzled now.
"If you hadn't resisted Wily's reprogramming attempts, he would have taken the world with our help long ago," Elec Man explained. "We want to thank you for rising to the challenge and stopping us, even if it wasn't really us you were fighting. You didn't know that, and we realize that it must have been very difficult for you. We also wanted to ask for your forgiveness for being weak when we should have been strongest."
Mega Man finally understood the fullness of what his brothers were telling him, and it dawned on him that Dr. Light had indeed given his brothers a proper sense of integrity and ethics that many humans could envy. "Guys, look at me." The masters raised their heads. "The only reason that Roll and I weren't turned by Wily's reprogramming was because he didn't think of us as threats. He didn't try to reprogram me with half the effort he put into the rest of you. I don't blame you for falling into Wily's scheme, and I never will. You guys don't even realize the joy that I feel when I realize that you are the brothers that I have always known, and that it wasn't you who I had to fight. You ask me for forgiveness, but I can only tell you that there's nothing to forgive. You are my brothers, and you will always be my family, and for the first time, the robots of Dr. Light will fight together for the betterment of the world, as they were once designed to do!"
As Mega Man spoke, the downcast looks on the faces of the robot masters slowly turned to looks of joy, and when he finished, Guts Man looked like he was about to cry, if he could have. Finally, Ice Man spoke up and shouted as loud has his squeaky voice would allow him to.
"Let's hear it for Mega Man! The best robot in the world!"
***
In the shadows of the room, one lone robot looked on unnoticed as the group in the center of the room gave hearty cries in honor of their brother. In spite of himself, Protoman had to grin at the scene before him. He knew that he would never be applauded like his younger brother. In fact, many people in the world still spoke his name with anger and fear, remembering only the scene of the Dark Man copy of him leading a band of robot masters in world conquest during the Fifth Robot Rebellion. Still, he didn't mind. He preferred being reclusive and helping only in the background, it was how he worked, wasn't it? Protoman wasn't so sure anymore. Lately he had been doubting his methods, and he wondered if he should be taking a more active role with his little brother in defending the world. Slowly his thoughts turned to the memories of another time and place, when he had first disappeared from Dr. Light's lab. He had never told anybody the things that he had witnessed as he tried to find his way back to his creator, but he knew that they had changed him forever in a manner that many of this world wouldn't think possible for a robot.
No, not a robot. I'm a bioroid now, just like Mega Man, and I can make my own decisions. Protoman's thoughts returned to the group before him, and silently he offered his little brother a short salute and a smile. Live it up little bro. After all, you've earned it, more than any one else, you've earned it.
***
Computer… Status Update. Report all details during the past ten Earth standard "hours".
Affirmative, Generating Report. Records indicate three major occurrences within given time frame.
Report instances in chronological order.
Affirmative.
Case 1: Subject –LeeLann
Recovery objective given to Personal Guard 1st Class Cirius.
Mission Outcome: Failure.
Cirius reports two figures interfered.
Figure 1: Unknown. Best Estimate [99.5%]- Designation: Mega Man?
Figure 2: Previously Encountered- Designation: Shadow Man.
Open Image: Figure 1
Opening…
So this is our first look at this world's famous hero. He must be formidable indeed if he was able to overcome Cirius. Computer, next occurrence.
Affirmative.
Case 2: Subject- Resupply
Less 6.25 Kar: Convoy Alpha departing Central Headquarters.
Less 5.95 Kar: Contact Lost en-route.
Less 5.90 Kar: Assault Team Tau dispatched to inspect. Encoded signal feed intercepted near point of lost contact. Signal origin: Intraspace Spycomm 2134.
Less 5.82 Kar: Contact with Spycomm lost.
Less 5.60 Kar: Assault Team reports; Enemy Engaged.
Less 5.58 Kar: Contact with Assault Team lost.
Mission Outcome: Failure?
Assumption: Convoy Alpha/Assault Team Tau eliminated.
Computer, decrypt signal feed received from I.S. 2134.
Acknowledged. Decrypting…
Video feed decrypted. Play?
Yes.
Playing… Feed displays force possibly responsible for elimination of Convoy Alpha/Assault Team Tau.
Team leader: subject 19756. Uploading subject schematics.
Duo… You should not have interfered. Knowing you, you're probably on your way here right now, trying to find out what's going on. Unfortunately, I can't have you reporting this operation to our enemies. I'll take care of you this time. Still, you're team has already caused me trouble by delaying my reinforcements and supplies. Computer, final occurrence.
Affirmative.
Case 3: Subject- Structure Assault/Data Recovery.
Strike force, under command of Combat Commander Eether, sent to retrieve enemy acquired data and destroy enemy structure.
Mission Outcome: Partial Success.
Enemy team escaped fortress with data. Fortress destroyed (self destruct?).
Casualties: Heavy- 98% of force destroyed.
Enemy Figures 3 and 6 destroyed.
Figure 1: Unknown. Previously Encountered. Best Estimate [99.9%]- Designation: Mega Man
Figure 2: Previously Encountered- Designation: Doctor Albert William Wily
Figure 3: Previously Encountered- Designation: Spark Man
Figure 4: Previously Encountered- Designation: Bomb Man
Figure 5: Previously Encountered- Designation: Crystal Man
Figure 6: Unknown. Best Estimate [85%]- Designation: Yellow Devil?
Figure 7: Unknown. Best Estimate [67%]-Designation: Protoman?
Figure 8: Unknown. Previously Encountered. Best Estimate [96%]- Designation: Bass?
What is the condition of Combat Commander Eether?
Unsure. Indications of main weapon utilization subsequent to estimated destruction of Eether.
Video?
Affirmative. Play feed?
Yes.
Playing… Feed displays destruction of Commander Eether and his weapon discharge originating from previously encountered figure (Mega Man?).
Hmmm… It appears that this 'Mega Man' is very strong indeed, and those creatures who assist him, he uses them with excellent efficiency. Apparently he is also able to emulate the attacks of his defeated foes. These other two share similar traits with him. They will prove trouble, but they are vastly inferior to my soldiers. Like all the others, they will fall. Computer, display live video feed. Target: Earth. Document all data concerning Subject: Mega Man for future reference.
Affirmative. Feed enabled.
These puny humans don't even realize the gem that they are sitting on. They squander their planet and have no idea that many civilizations would slaughter them for the resources their planet and its surrounding cousins contain. Unfortunately for them, I intend to do just that.