The laboratory was dark and foreboding, unlike the friendly appearance of the area where Dr. Thomas Light worked. The scientist who owned this particular lab was, indeed, anything but friendly. No, it wasn't Wily, though that would naturally be the conclusion most would jump to upon hearing what he wanted and why. But this man was virtually unknown throughout the world. No one except those in his private army knew the extent of where his madness would take him. He had once studied under Wily as a possible apprentice, but then had left one night after deciding he wanted to make it on his own. He had bigger goals in mind than simply what Wily wanted, though indeed many of the end results he wanted were the same.

Carefully he bent over the robot he was working on, at last extracting the perfect arm he desired. Yes, this would work wonderfully. The recipient would be most pleased, just as the scientist was now. He moved the arm back and forth, testing the joints and finding everything to be in order. With a sneer he set it aside in a box and went on to examine the next robot.

That was when the door opened and the two thieves who had been at Dr. Light's laboratory ran in. Behind them they dragged their "catch of the day"---four variously damaged and unfinished robots. "We were successful in our mission, Lord Cain," the first one reported with a triumphant smirk. He set the handle of the cart down with a firm thud. "I think you'll be most pleased."

Cain made his way over to investigate his lackeys' work. He was always in need of more robots to further his plans. These, he could see from the first glance, would do nicely. But then something else caught his eye and he stepped closer, seeing an odd and unique black-and-yellow helmet poking up from under another robot's arm. Curious as a sudden wild idea came to him, he lifted the red robot on top aside and blinked in disbelief at what he saw before him. "Where did you get this?" he demanded in stunned shock, running a hand down the cold, lifeless, armored body. So much was damaged, so much was torn away. . . . So very little remained of a robot that had once been strong and proud. . . .

The second man frowned, having not remembered that they had taken this dilapidated piece of metal from the laboratory. It had caught his attention and interest, certainly, but it was surely too damaged for anyone to repair! In all the confusion, one of them must have grabbed it along with the others. "It was in Thomas Light's laboratory along with the rest, Lord Cain," he reported. "My apologies for it having been brought. You see. . . ."

"Apologies? Apologies?!" Cain cried incredulously. "You imbeciles! Don't you even know what robot this is?" He paused. "Or rather, what robot it was." His eyes glinted as he bent over the mangled frame. Even the most knowledgeable scientist would have problems knowing how to remedy the damage this creation had suffered, but Cain was certain he could do something with it. And it wouldn't be the something he did with most of the robots that passed beyond the barrier of his laboratory doors. No, not at all! For he knew exactly of this robot and of its origin. And he was completely intrigued as to how it had wound up with Dr. Light.

The two lackeys blinked in surprise. "No," said the first. "I mean, I know I've seen it around somewhere before, but I don't remember now where it was."

Cain lifted the broken body out with a hint of reverence, laying it down on the nearest free slab. "This," he proclaimed, "was Albert Wily's infamous creation, Bass!" Yes, it was instantly identifiable. Almost everyone had seen or at least heard of the powerful robot with the seemingly Egyptian-influenced helmet and the purple markings on his cheeks. The eyes had been red, a fact which Cain doublechecked on by prying one of the lids open. This was definitely Bass. And slowly theories and ideas began to form in Cain's genius mind. Wily always had underestimated his robots. He believed that they would never betray him when time and again, they had. Bass was one of those who had rebelled. And if Cain knew anything about Wily, he wouldn't stand for his own creation starting to turn against him. It didn't account for why Dr. Light had the remains, but it did make perfect sense as to why Bass had been all but destroyed.

Now the first henchman, the smarter of the two, narrowed his eyes in recollection. "Of course," he muttered. "Bass. . . . I should've recognized him . . . it." He gave a slight shudder as he looked at the fiercesome robot's body. Bass had been dangerous, strong, and powerful, from all known accounts by those who had come in contact with him. He couldn't imagine what combination of circumstances could have possibly led up to Bass's destruction, nor could he have comprehended that it had actually been both wickedness and fear (on Wily's part) and a need for justice (on Bass's part; hence, why he had rescued Megaman).

"It doesn't look like that robot's fit to do anything anymore," the second minion objected, seeing how intently their boss was studying every aspect of what remained of Bass.

"Oh, I wouldn't count him out just yet," Cain smirked, examining the severed and burned wires and circuits. Naturally it would take quite a bit of doing, but he was confident that he could make repairs in some way, at least as much as was necessary. His knowledge was, he felt, superior to any other of the leading scientists' and he would see to it that Bass was soon enlisted in his army, once repairs were complete. Of course, Cain didn't plan to be as foolish as Wily had been, in letting Bass have his run of emotions and feelings. In making repairs, Cain would attach a special chip to the base of the robot's neck, making him immune to anything and everything save for Cain's orders. He wasn't about to let any robot of his turn around and betray him. "Soon, Bass," Cain muttered. "Soon you will rise again."

Megaman gently lifted Treble up onto a soft couch in the back of Dr. Light's laboratory, looking the wolfdog over for any injuries. "He's alright," the blue robot concluded in relief. "I guess he was just stunned." With a sigh he sank down into a nearby chair, surveying the damage around them before looking back to Treble and seeing that he was starting to wake up. This is going to be so hard on him, Megaman thought sadly. First Bass was killed trying to protect me and now someone's ran off with his body! But why would they? What . . . what use could he be to anyone in the condition he was in? But Megaman could find no answers.

He glanced over at Dr. Light, who was walking amongst the debris and attempting to determine which other three robots had been taken. The scientist shook his head, looking up when he felt Megaman's gaze upon him. "This is terrible," he murmured. "The three that were mine were various prototypes of my later creations. Some, I never finished at all, but the other was destroyed in battle, as was Bass." He rested his arm on a nearby cabinet, frowning deeply at this turn of events. He hated that robots he had made were stolen---robots that, like Megaman and Roll now---had been his friends. But the worst loss, he knew, was Bass. There was no telling what treachery would come from that powerful robot being taken.

Treble opened his eyes slowly, focusing on the scene around him. He remembered the last thing he had heard before---that Bass had been one of those taken. The dog growled low, studying the cushions of the couch. He wasn't going to let whoever it was get away with this! There and then he vowed that he would get Bass back. They had no right to steal Treble's friend's body! What if those people were working for Wily? Treble was convinced that if Wily got hold of Bass's remains, he would turn the robot into scrap. But that couldn't happen. As long as the body had been here, Treble had been able to keep the hope that someday technology would be advanced enough that Bass could, indeed, be repaired. He couldn't keep that hope if Wily was now in possession of his friend.

Megaman nodded sadly in agreement with Dr. Light's statement and then looked down at Treble in a melancholy way. "We'll get him back," he tried to assure the dog. "I promise, we will!" He had to believe that it hadn't been Wily's men who had taken Bass away. After all, if Wily had been behind this, why had those other robots been taken as well? Wouldn't Wily only take Bass?

Treble looked at him but didn't even growl this time. But yes, he vowed again, he would get Bass back. Quickly he hopped down from the couch. Rush barked, telling him that he shouldn't try to go after the thieves by himself. Treble was determined to try, however. Bass had always worked by himself, well, save for Treble, of course. Treble didn't need anyone else to go with him. And yet he hesitated for a moment, knowiing he didn't know where to go to look.

Dr. Light watched the two dogs briefly before looking back up at Megaman. "Could you see what the intruders looked like?" he asked. If they could be identified, that would be a start. From there, they might be able to trace them down.

Megaman paused, recalling back to the glimpse he had seen of the two men. "I think they were human," he replied slowly, "except . . . it almost looked like one of them had some robot limbs and the other, some kind of control panel in his chest." He still wondered if it had been his imagination. A human with robot parts? He had never heard of such a thing. Of course he knew about prosthetics, but this wasn't quite the same.

Dr. Light frowned deeply. "That is unique, if that's indeed what you saw," he said slowly, "and I don't doubt it." Treble barked in confirmation, his eyes flashing.

"Do you think we can find them?" Roll asked as she came in from investigating the outside for clues.

"We have to!" Megaman said in determination. "Bass gave his life when he was protecting me. I can't just let someone go running off with his body!" He clenched his fist, looking down at the devoted wolfdog as he started sniffing around the room, hoping to find some clues that the others had missed.

Roll sighed and crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. "I just don't understand," she remarked. "Anyone could see that Bass was too damaged to be rebuilt. Why would they take him on purpose if they weren't working for Wily?" She was still surprised at the story Megaman had told her after returning from Wily's castle. At the time she hadn't quite believed it. Bass had actually tried to help his rival and wound up destroyed in the process? It had been a lot for her to comprehend. As Megaman's loyal sister, she had never been that fond of Bass at all, especially his insistance on defeating the blue robot. She had been more inclined to believe that Bass had meant what he had told Megaman after the explosion---that he just hadn't wanted something else to defeat "The Blue Bomber" before he, Bass, could do it. Perhaps he had thought, in his egotistical way, that he would be able to survive the castle crashing down on top of him, since he was supposed to be the strongest robot. But Roll knew that Megaman was convinced of Bass's inner goodness and so she had to think that maybe he was right and Bass had possessed more of a deep soul than had appeared on the surface.

Megaman's eyes widened as a possibility just struck him. "Roll, I think you're on to something!" he cried in triumph. Why hadn't he considered it before?

Roll blinked at him in confusion. "Huh? What are you talking about, Megaman?" she asked, not thinking that she had just said anything profound.

"What if they didn't take Bass on purpose?" Megaman suggested excitedly as a scenario began to form in his mind. "What if, in all the confusion, they just grabbed all the robots they could take with them and then ran? They wouldn't have had time to look at Bass and realize that he couldn't be repaired. All they'd be thinking about would be getting away before they were caught."

"I think you're on to something, Megaman!" Dr. Light exclaimed as he came over. "But then once they realized their mistake. . . ." He trailed off with a sigh. There was no telling what they would do then. And who had those people really been? Independent thieves just looking for something they could fix up and perhaps sell for some quick cash? Or were they working for someone other than Wily? If so, who could it be?

"There has to be someone else who would've seen those guys pass by!" Megaman declared then, heading for the door. "We still have to get Bass back, no matter who took him. I'm not going to give up!"

It only took a moment for the others to follow him out.

Several weeks passed by in this fashion, with Megaman and the others desperately searching for any leads and coming up with possible and good ideas, but finding nothing concrete. Treble was becoming more and more discouraged, but he refused to give up. He had to wonder, though, where Wily was keeping himself. The mad scientist hadn't made a move to cause trouble since he had murdered Bass. And from what Treble knew about the man, he was probably planning something big. Naturally, then, when reports started to trickle in about robots being seen throughout the cities and attacking people, Treble's immediate thought was that Wily was behind it all.

But there was something strange about these robots, as everyone soon realized. They all looked like robots that had been previously deactivated or destroyed. Now it almost seemed that they had been resurected (or else, that someone had crafted these robots strikingly after the originals) to do evils, including violating the first rule of the code. What was more, every one of these robots possessed eyes that glowed completely red, with no trace of any pupils or irises. They seemed like zombies in a way, with no true free will or knowledge of what was even happening. None of them ever spoke as they carried out their deeds.

Megaman was highly disturbed and alarmed by the reports. "I don't understand," he said softly. "Is Wily doing this? Did he get scared because of Bass's rebellion and decided that now he won't ever make robots with the ability to have emotions and feelings?" He petted Rush slowly as they watched the news reports of the latest assault, this time on a governmental building. Several people had been injured, though thankfully there hadn't been fatalities. A local cameraman who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time managed to get a bit of footage of the robot attackers, including several closeups. Megaman shuddered as he looked at these. The robots looked so cruel and cold, and yet . . . they also looked blank, as if they weren't controlling their own actions.

"He doesn't ever seem to learn," Roll remarked as she passed by. "Maybe it's a new enemy. Maybe even. . . ." She trailed off, looking down. Maybe whoever hired those thieves is behind this. Maybe they still have Bass. She didn't say this aloud, as she was certain Megaman already had considered the possibility. But nothing made sense. Bass couldn't be restored. Why would someone else have him?

Dr. Light shook his head grimly as the cameraman's footage continued to flash across the screen. "I always feared something like this would happen someday," he remarked, "but I never thought it would happen right after what happened to Bass." Well, for that matter, he'd never imagined that Bass would be destroyed. He winced as screams came over the recording before it was cut off abruptly and the focus went back to the news anchor.

"Do you think there's any chance that the person behind it all has Bass?" Megaman finally managed to ask, voicing both his and Roll's thoughts.

Dr. Light closed his eyes tightly. "I don't know," he said finally. "It's possible. But unless the person has some advanced technology that no one else does, I can't see how having Bass will profit him anything." He didn't speak his inner-most worries. If he does have that kind of technology, Heaven help us all.

Cain drank his umpteenth cup of coffee, poring over the damaged circuitry of the robot Bass. This had been more complicated than he had even counted on. The damage was extensive, so extremely much so that Cain had wondered several different times over the last few weeks if even he couldn't bring Bass back to life. But then he would try again, succeeding at patching up one fault or another and determining that Wily's robot would become his. Now he was convinced that he almost had it. Just a bit more . . . just a few more repairs . . . and then the installation of the chip. Then it would all be complete.

He set the cup down and put his full attention to what he was doing. A muttered curse came from his lips as he caught his finger on a wire. But soon his finger was free, as well as the faulty wire, and he was hard at work making repairs again. Bass would be his. And with Cain directing the robot's every move, there would be unbridled chaos in the world. Bass would help him achieve his long-desired goals.

He never noticed the transculent figure that watched him from the dark corner of the room. If he had, he wouldn't have known what to make of it. Or he might not have seen it anyway. What was it? The organization pressing for Robots' Rights would insist it was the soul of the robot Bass, decidedly not pleased at what was being done to his body. But perhaps a better explanation was that the entity was merely a thought, a memory, of something that once was and that would never be again. After a short while it shimmered and faded completely away, leaving Cain to his devious devices.

"I imagine I really should thank you in advance," the man smirked as he firmly adjusted the chip in its proper place. Now he had Bass standing upright on the floor. His armor had been refurbished now and the black-and-yellow robot looked as good as new. When Cain activated him once more, he would be alive, but not the same. The old Bass, the old programming that had made him who he was, had been overridden. All that Cain kept of the old programming were Bass's incredible powers and strength. That was all he would need. "You'll work for me now, and I couldn't have asked for a better servant of darkness. Your powers will enable me to gain exactly what I desire." He heard the final click as the chip attached. With an evil grin he stepped back, a wild gleam in his eyes. "Now, Bass . . . live again," he hissed.

There was a soft whir as the robot came to life. Sensations swept over him as he once again began to hear and feel. But indeed, something was different now. This Bass was not the same one who possessed a hidden demand for justice and not the same Bass who had been devoted to Treble and who had wanted more than anything to defeat Megaman and prove himself the strongest. Slowly the eyes opened, glowing entirely red. There was no emotion here, no feelings beyond the physical. This was only, truly, a machine.