Chapter Twelve
That night Proto dreamed.
He watched himself pick up Mega Man from a pile of rubble. "This is just so I can fight you later, Mega Man. Don't think I'm going mushy on you—I'm just going to destroy you properly…"
He watched as his double spoke to a body on a lab table. "Well, once Wily and I take over the world—which'll be easy since you're out of commission—I can force Dr. Light to repair you properly. Then I can destroy you in a battle, the way it should go. I'm still gonna destroy you, you know—don't think I'm going mushy on you just because you're my brother or anything…"
He watched as he left a room where his brother waited patiently. "You can call me Proto if you want…"
He watched as he walked up to Dr. Wily in a studio, and with eyes showing slight worry (though no one could see) said, "Dr. Wily, you're not gonna call him his actual name, are you? I mean, to his face…where he can hear it…"
He watched as his reflection cradled his brother in his arms. "It's all right, Rock, it's all right…"
He watched as his double sat next to his brother, looking at him protectively. "Did those idiots screw with your circuitry again? Don't worry, you won't see them around for a while…"
He watched as his brother said, "I'm so confused, Proto! I don't understand what's going on!"
His reflection stood up and left Rock sitting on the ground. Rock didn't move, a living picture frozen in time.
What are you going to do now? asked his double, staring at him. You've won. You can take him to Dr. Light and get him repaired now.
...I...
Take him to Dr. Light and destroy him. That's what you wanted, wasn't it? That's what we wanted.
...I...
Take him to Dr. Light. Take him now. It's time to destroy him.
...I…
You can't, can you? You can't do it. Idiot. Remember, he's Mega Man.
It was very hard to remember at this point…
You forgot. You forgot he's your enemy. You got…attached.
His reflection said the word as though it was foul. A swearword of the worst kind.
But…Rock isn't…Rock's not an enemy…his consciousness responded weakly. Rock's…my brother…
Has that ever stopped you before? It's time to destroy him.
For a long time Proto stared at his reflection.
…No.
No? That's what you were built for! To take down Dr. Light! To take down Mega Man!
No. I…
You can't, you weakling. You idiot. You knew better, you should have left him in that hole. You stupid piece of scrap, you took him home instead, like a stray, useless dog. And you grew…attached. You…care for him.
He's right, thought Proto. He's right…
The image of Rock turned and looked at him. "I'm so confused, Proto…I'm so confused…"
Me too, he thought. Me too.