Chapter 13
"No, blasted machine! Work! WORK!!! I will not be defeated again! No!" A resounding boom echoed through the dark room, and with a final shudder Wily knew that his machine was finished, and once more, it was time for him to beg for his life. When the dust settled, Wily was already in motion, spouting words that he had repeated before, but this time was different.
Without wasting any time, Mega Man charged forward and grabbed Wily by his lab coat, hoisting him into the air, and pulling the self-destruct button he knew was there out of Wily's pocket. "I'm through playing games, Wily, and I'm not going to let you escape this time. You've caused enough damage to this world, and so help me I will see you pay for your crimes once and for all."
Mega Man lowered Wily to eye level and suddenly, Wily feared for his life, which was something that he did not often do. It was at that time that several police guards ran into the room, weapons ready. When they realized that the situation was under control, one pulled a pair of handcuffs out of his belt and started toward the pair in the middle of the room. For a final moment, Mega Man glared at Wily.
"I hope you sit in your cell and rot."
As Wily was dragged from the room, he finally got the courage to shout back. "I'll never give up Mega Man, one day, I'll be free again, and I swear that I'll win. Do you hear me Mega Man! I WILL WIN!!!!!"
Wily woke with a start, and realized he'd broken out in a cold sweat. As soon as it dawned on him that he'd been dreaming, he sighed. The end of the Sixth Robot Rebellion was not a memory that he had enjoyed, though he had to admit that the end of the seventh was most unnerving. As he sat, breathing heavily in the dark room, it became apparent that he wasn't alone.
"You know Wily, the more I'm around you, the more I realize that you really are human. I think I'd better avoid you from now on. I'm afraid I'm getting attached."
"How did you get in here, Protoman?"
"Let's just say that your ninja in the hallway could learn a few things about espionage." Protoman smirked.
"Yeah? Well you could use a few lessons on subtlety yourself."
Protoman tilted his head and calmly looked over his shoulder. Shadow Man was there, a Shadow Blade pressed against the back of Protoman's neck.
"I'm impressed, not many have the skill to surprise me like that. I never thought a robot master would be among them. Anyway," Protoman turned back to Wily, "Dr. Light wants you in the lab, says he's come across something that he thinks you should look at. After you're done you can get back to your nightmares. It's nice to know that my little brother can give you a few." Protoman looked over his shoulder again. "Oh, and Shadow Man?"
Faster than Wily could see, Protoman had spun around, whipped his shield out, and sent the hapless robot master into the nearest wall. Protoman calmly re-sheathed his shield, and began to walk out of the room. "…I hate being surprised."
***
"Well, if it weren't for the fact that the jamming is still in effect, I'd think that they had already left." Dr. Light and Dr. Wily were leaning over a console in the lab, studying the radar. "It's been nearly a week since we've seen anything of them. We've managed to lighten the effects of the jamming somewhat. We've managed to detect a low orbiting object every half hour or so. It's should be appearing any moment now… there it is."
A faint red blip had appeared on the screen, in low orbit over the earth. "It will be visible for about forty five seconds. We don't think they realize that we can see them, because we've been tracking them for the past few hours. Nathaniel and I have been able to calculate its orbit trajectory, and we've confirmed it every time it becomes visible again."
"Interesting, but that still doesn't explain why you had to wake me up."
"We want you to help us plan an insertion strike. We've no doubt anymore that these being are hostile, and we don't think that they'd expect something like this."
"I still think we should wait until we know more before we attempt something like this." Dr. Cossack interrupted.
"Nathan, if we wait until we know more, it might be too late. We have to strike whenever we can find the chance."
"Well, what do we know about their ship capabilities?" Wily asked.
"Well, Leelann has given us all the information she could. We do know that they have anti-energy barriers similar to our own teleportation barriers. We tried beaming a small laser beacon onto this ship here, but the beacon didn't make it onboard, though we did manage to get it attached to their hull. I don't think they've noticed yet."
"Let's hope not, Thomas, right now we could use the element of surprise." Dr. Cossack turned back to the console he had been working on. "I've an idea on how we can get onboard the ship. If we can't beam directly into the ship, then we can give our robots magnetic boots and thruster packs and beam them as close to the surface of the ship as possible. They might then be able to force their way onto the ship from there."
"…and in doing so we alert whatever armada they've got up there that we're on one of their own ships. You don't possibly think that they only have one up there do you? For all we know, they'd rather eliminate one ship to kill us, or they'll send any and all of their soldiers onboard to make sure we don't get off. Very brilliant, Nathaniel."
"Always the pessimist, Albert? If you ever bothered to look up once in a while, you might actually accomplish something! Thomas and I are already addressing that issue. Study of the data that you brought back from your fortress has given us quite a bit of knowledge of these invaders. We already know that their automatons transmit status updates every so often. The laser beacon we attached to their hull has detected similar transmissions from the ship itself, which leads us to believe that the ship is run through automation. We've begun developing a small object that, when attached to the ship, will jam all outbound communications, and will then use the information gained by the beacon to mimic the automated status transmissions, telling the other ships that nothing is wrong. The enemy will never even know we were there.
***
"At least not until that ship goes critical." Hours later, Mega Man, Bass, and the other robot masters were being briefed on their mission objectives. It was merely a question of which team will be sent. "I still don't see why we all shouldn't just beam aboard and take the ship by storm, Dr. Light."
"Mega Man, we need someone on earth in case something goes wrong. If we were all to attack the ship, and the jamming device failed, they might just decide to destroy the ship and be rid of us all, or maybe they decide to attack the planet while we're up there. We need to make sure Earth has at least some defense." It was at this point that Dr. Wily and Dr. Cossack walked up to the two.
"All the teams have been briefed, Thomas, now we need to decide who is going." The three scientists looked over the three groups of eager robots. Dr. Light heard Dr. Cossack chuckle next to him.
"What is it?" He asked his colleague.
"I'm merely amused by the… what is the word… irony of the fact that we all have exactly eight robots to our name."
"Huh?" Dr. Light quickly counted the robots, and, if he included Protoman, who was absent at the moment, realized Nathan was right. "Why… I hadn't noticed that. Interesting indeed."
"If you are both through chatting, I suggest we start deciding." Dr. Wily looked annoyed.
"Very well, Wily. I was about to suggest that Dr. Cossack's team take this one. The invaders have not yet met them, and wouldn't know all their abilities. That might give them an edge. Dr. Light look over at Dr. Cossack. "What do you think, Nathaniel?"
"By all means," Dr. Cossack replied, "My team would be honored. I do have one request though. As it is plainly evident that none of my creations are quite up to par with Mega Man, Protoman, and Bass, I was wondering if I could have Protoman join my team for this operation."
"Dr. Light looked skeptical. "You forget, Nathaniel, that is something you'll have to take up with him. I cannot control Protoman as you would your creations. Being that he's not here right now, I'm not sure we have the time to go find him."
"I'll go, Dr. Light," Protoman said as he walked into the room." I may not always like being in the front row of these things, but I'm not about to let my world be completely destroyed. I've grown rather fond of it the way it is. Still, I wouldn't want to leave my creator short-handed." He turned to Dr. Cossack.
Cossack got the message. "I understand. I will leave Skull Man under Dr. Light's direction.
"Fair enough, shall we get started then?" Protoman turned to the other members of his new group, who murmured in agreement, but another voice spoke up.
"Dr. Light, I would like to join your team to assault one of my master's ships." Leelann had entered the room, and was walking towards the group. I have given you all the information that I could remember. When I broke free of my master's control, most of the things which I knew concerning their tactics and motives were lost to me, but I yet retain much of the knowledge to access that information should I be given a direct connection to the databanks. I could also assist your team should they be injured. I do not wish to sit idle while my masters destroy another world."
Everyone in the room was a bit speechless. It was Protoman who broke the silence. "I'm not so sure this is a good idea, Dr. Light. Sure, she might be able to heal us, but she could also get in the way and cause more injuries than it may be worth, plus, she could be doing this just to lead us into a trap. I think we should keep her under strict surveillance until…"
A blue flash stopped Protoman's words as the ground near his feet erupted in a small shower of rubble. Leelann glared at Protoman as she closed her palm, from which the flash had originated. "I may be a simple healer, but even I was trained in the art of combat. You must trust me now. If I were to betray you, your enemies would already have come to destroy this place. I wish to help, and if I can not go with you, then I will find another way to fight elsewhere, it is your decision."
Protoman turned to Dr. Light, who looked at him quizzically, and then to Mega Man, who could only shrug. Finally, he let out a sigh. "Alright," he said, "let's get moving."
***
A half-hour later, the team was ready to go, and waiting for the next time the ship they were boarding would show itself on the radar.
"Be careful up there, bro." Mega Man said to his brother. "If you go, no one will be around to pull my butt out of the heater."
"I wouldn't worry too much. I'm not going to go out all that easily, besides, you do just fine on your own."
At that moment, Roll walked into the room, carrying something in her hands. She approached Protoman and handed the object to him.
"Here, Protoman, I wanted you to take this. I know I don't usually let her fight, but I thought that you might need her. Just take care of her, ok?"
Protoman looked down at the object his sister had given him. "Roll, this is Tango's beacon, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yeah," Roll sighed. "She's a stubborn little kitty. She knows something really big is happening, and she wants to be a part of it."
"Heh, don't worry, Roll. I doubt I'll even use her, but you can rest assured that I won't let anything happen to her… and, thanks."
Roll smiled and walked out of the room, just as Cut Man ran into it. "Mega Man, Dr. Light needs you in the control room, something's come up, and it looks like we'll all be fighting today."
Just then Dr. Cossack barked at the assault team. "Be ready! You will launch in one minute, make sure all your teleportation coordinates are set properly."
Mega Man turned to his brother. "No rest for the weary. Good luck, Bro, and take care."
"From the sounds of things you could use some luck yourself, watch your butt out there." Protoman grinned at his brother, and gave him a high-five. Mega Man ran out of the room to the control center. Protman looked at his countdown timer. Thirty seconds and counting. This is gonna be interesting.
***
"What's going on Dr. Light?" Mega Man asked as he ran into the control room of the scientist's facility, followed closely by Cut Man.
"It seems that the aliens are no longer afraid to show themselves now. They're assaulting the Global Defense Headquarters in Washington. Their tactics were ingenious. They had taken half the facility before they were even noticed, so details are sketchy for the moment."
"Hmm… that's not the same tactic they used on Wily's fortress, which was just to barge in, guns blazing. Maybe there's been a change in command?"
"Or, maybe they realized that Wily was already secluded from the rest of the world to the point that they knew he wouldn't alert the planet. They didn't factor the robot master's intelligence though. Anyway, I want you to take your team there immediately. Skull Man will be with you in exchange for Protoman." Dr. Light turned to a console and brought up a map of the facility. "Your landing point should be somewhere around here, on the outer grounds. The nearest part of the building is supposedly under enemy control. At this point here," he gestured to a spot near the final defense ring of the building, "There was report of a heavy engagement. A group of military grade Guard Joes and some Sniper Joes were trying to enter through the back door and catch the enemy unaware, but got held down before they could even get in. You're to rendezvous with any survivors and help them in. Remember, every group of military robots are under the command of at least three human officers. So far, from what I've gathered, humans are either being killed, or taken prisoner."
Something Leelann had said crossed Mega Man's mind. "I can only guess what they're planning to do with them."
That is why you must protect or rescue any humans you come across, we can't allow them to fall into enemy hands. Besides, even if they are humans, they are military, and they may be able to provide assistance or give you information. If you need heavier weaponry, you can find the Armory here, but you can bet it will be heavily guarded. Anyway, once you get in, proceed to these three points," Dr. Light marked three rooms in various places on the map. "They are the Communications room, the Generator room, and the Control room respectively. Currently, worldwide communications are down. This was apparently a two-pronged attack, but Dr. Wily's team will be dealing with that issue."
"Why is the communication room so important then, if it doesn't matter at the moment anyway?"
"Because the enemy had taken several high-ranking military personnel hostage. If they are taken from the building, you can bet that any information they have will become common knowledge."
"Gotcha, doctor. What about the Generator room?"
"The enemy is using the emergency generator to keep the facility's computers operational, so they can gain information, and maybe figure out a way to get through our virus protection more quickly by studying it closer. Should you get to the generator room, you are to disable the emergency generator. That should slow them down. If all else fails, you must get to the control room. There's information in there that I'm sure I'm not even aware of, and I don't think I need to tell you how vital it may be."
"You got it Dr. Light, I won't let you down."
"Don't forget, if you run into any disabled or wandering Joes, you have the authority to command them, as usual."
"You know, I've never been able to use that authority, mostly because Wily's usually reprogrammed them all by the time I get there."
"Well, this might be your chance. I've already got the coordinates set into your teleporter, get back to the others and get going. If anyone gets too damaged, send them back, we can't afford permanent losses."
"Ok. Just keep an eye out for yourself Dr. Light. I don't want them attacking you while we're all away. If something comes up, call me immediately."
"Don't worry, Mega Man, I'll be fine, just get out there and make sure you come back."