disclaimer on chapter 1

Both Barrel and Regal stared at Yuuichirou, dumbfounded.

"Dr. Hikari, with all due respect, this man committed a crime and the law says he has to pay for it, with or without confession." Barrel said gravely.

"I know" replied Yuuichirou, his tone borderlining in exasperation. "But, isn't the purpose of condemning a man to jail to make him repent from his crimes? This man doesn't even know what's happened during his last 10 years, how do you suppose he's going to feel regret for ten years that never occured in his mind?"

Regal was confused to say the least. He certainly couldn't remember any of the crimes he was going to be condemned for. He didn't like the idea one bit, but he understood, if he really commited such crimes, he didn't expect much mercy. Why was Dr. Hikari trying to help him to avoid the imprisionment? He sighed and examined the documents the other scientist handed to him, confirming what he was already told.

Barrel looked deeply in Yuuichirou's eyes, and saw an uncanny determination on him. He rubbed his chin, pondering the situation, and decided to conceed the doctor his point. "Well... I guess something could be arranged." He also wished Dr. Regal could have a fresh start, and lead a better life, like his father, Dr. Wily, wanted. "I am sure I can try to change his sentence to serving as intern in SciLabs. With proper security measures, of course. He's a brilliant scientist, I'm sure he could be a great addition to the SciLabs' staff."

"I agree. We're always happy to welcome new scientists into the SciLabs." Yuuichirou smiled. "I will take all the responsability over this."

"Very well." Barrel looked back at Regal. "What do you say, Dr. Regal?"

Regal pondered the situation for a moment. This felt like a rollercoaster, going up and down very fast. He didn't really have to consider the options, but he still wondered why Yuuichirou Hikari was willing to take responsibility for him. "Very well. I admit I don't have much choice, but I would like to atone for my crimes. Even if I don't remember them, I'd rather try to pay my debt to society in useful ways."

"Alright then." Barrel nodded and glanced to Dr. Hikari. "We'll have to make the arrangements, and you will have to present yourself to take the formal and legal responsibility over Dr. Regal."

"Understood. As I've been told, I should be released tomorrow, so I hope you don't mind if I fill the forms then." Dr. Hikari moved his wheelchair to the door. "I guess I'll take my leave. Excuse me."

"Dr. Hikari, would you be so kind to wait for me outside? I'd like to have a word with you before you go to your ward." said Barrel, approaching him.

Yuuichirou was puzzled at first, but shrugged. "Okay, Commander."

Barrel helped Yuu out and remained in the room to talk with Regal a bit more. Ami was waiting outside in the hall, as she had promised her patient she'd do. "Dr. Hikari!"

"Ami." Her patient nodded and smiled. "Thank you very much for waiting."

"Ah, it's nothing... you're under my care, after all. Let's go then?"

"Er, not yet, Ami. I need to talk with that man first." Yuuichirou waved to the door. Ami spotted the raven-haired man she had seen on the hall before he entered that same room Yuuichirou had just left.

Just then, Barrel exited the room himself. A rather confused and tired Regal was left alone to have some needed rest. "Dr. Hikari." He noticed the nurse and bowed slightly. "Evening, ma'am."

"Right." Yuuichirou nodded, patting his nurse gently. "Thanks Ami, I can get to my room myself."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I'll be there in less than an hour." said Yuuichirou, apologetically. "I'm sorry to be such a burden, pushing me around just to meet somebody in the other side of the hospital."

"It's okay, Dr. Hikari, I'm getting used to it" replied Ami, chuckling. "Please don't be late, though. Excuse me." Ami the nurse walked towards the stairs and disappeared.

Yuuichirou's smile faded, and he turned to face Barrel. "Commander... no, Barrel. I fear you might be hiding something."

Barrel said nothing. He had a feeling the good doctor knew most of the truth already.

The brunette adjusted his glasses and sighed. "I'll tell you my theory. If that hypothesis about Kokoro Network that you told Regal is true, he wouldn't be the only one affected by it. Everyone exposed to Kokoro Network would've had sequels like Regal's, unless somebody interfered with it to focus it in one person."

Barrel's look told Yuuichirou all he needed to know. "You know who did it, don't you?"

Barrel sighed softly and nodded slightly, walking with the scientist towards his room. "Dr. Hikari, if your son was in danger, you'd be willing to risk it all for his sake, wouldn't you?"

Yuuichirou blinked a few times, confused as to why the raven-haired man would ask him such a thing all of sudden. "Of course I would, what kind of father I'd be if I wouldn't?"

Barrel smirked a bit and nodded. "Exactly. What kind of man would let his son die in the eruption of a volcano?"

Dr. Hikari's eyes widened slightly as the sudden realization hit him. "...Dr. Wily?"

"Yes."

Yuuichirou was expecting anything, but this. "But... why? I mean, how? His consciouness was eaten by Proto nearly a year ago. We never found him when the SciLabs scientists scouted what was left of it. And even if he could come back," he took a pause to breath, and continued, "even if he could, why would he help him now, and not before? He's never shown regret for his actions, let alone regret his child's..."

But it did make sense, after all. No one else but Tadashi Hikari, Dr. Wily, and their sons would know how to operate Kokoro Network. With nothing left of Tadashi Hikari's consciousness, only Regal and him would be left with the knowledge of the Kokoro Network.

And, apparently, Wily as well.

Barrel began to play with the small medals around his neck. "Those are answers that only Dr. Wily himself can provide." He pondered for a moment whether to tell everything to the scientist or not.

After a small pause, he carried on. "To be honest with you, Dr. Hikari, I formed this team by request of Dr. Wily. He asked me to stop his son at all costs. Why he has come to regret the insanity of his own son just now, I do not know. But it was his wish for his son to have the life Wily gave up on long time ago."

"I see." Yuuichirou lied. He really couldn't understand why, but it somehow made sense in his mind. So he just shrugged off the thought for the day. Smile and nod. And so he did.

"Very well. I guess that's all then. I'll take you to the elevator." Barrel didn't wait for Yuuichirou to reply and pushed his wheelchair all the way to the elevator.

"Thanks, Commander Barrel." said Yuuichirou, pushing the button to open the elevator's door.

"No need to thank me for, Dr. Hikari." Barrel helped Yuuichirou inside, before turning around to walk away. He needed to have a couple of words with the medics and Detective Stone. Preparing an audience to try to change Regal's sentence into internship on SciLabs wouldn't be easy, but he knew what strings to pull to get what he wanted. Barrel couldn't help but wonder if Dr. Regal would be able to climb the hill he was about to be put in front of. Only time would tell.

--

Dr. Regal casted a glance to the bundle of clothing that was delivered to him. He examined them; it seemed like a suit of a rich burgandy shade and a matching robe. The black-haired man sighed softly, slightly exasperated, as he picked it up and walked to what looked like a small dressing table arranged in his hospital room. As he sat up in front of the mirror, he quickly noticed how different he seemed to be from what he remembered himself to be. He had grown a well kept goatee he never remembered having or ever intended to have. But what really caught his interest was the strange piece over his right eye.

"What in the world..." Regal reached cautiously to brush his fingertips over the cold, metallic surface, quickly realizing this piece was permanently attached to his face. A low growl crept out of the man's throat. He recognized this piece as one of his father's early designs in his robotics investigation; it was his father's attempt to help to recover sight for those who had lost complete eye function. How in the world he ended up with one?

Regal decided he really didn't want to find out. He stood up to dress up in the garb that was handed to him. Just a few minutes after, he was completely dressed. Once more, he examinated his looks in the mirror.

"Well, I definitively look somewhat threatening..." He spoke without much humor. He could change his appearance a bit, but he decided it was best not to and confront the reality as it was.

A knock on the door drove him off his musings. "Excuse me, Dr. Regal, are you ready?" A nurse peeked into the room. Regal concluded the police was here to take him away.

Regal took a look at himself. Whatever belongings he used to have, he lacked them now, except for that bloody eyepatch that he had no means to take off of him. "Yes, I am."

"Okay," said the nurse, and walked away, apparently to bring the policeman or woman who would escort him on his way to his new 'home'.

Dr. Regal waited until the police agents walked into the room. He certainly expected heavy security from what he was told his crimes were. Thankfully, Detective Stone wasn't there this time; a lady dressed in a salmon colored suit came inside and carefully secured a pair of handcuffs on his hands.

"Let's go" was all the lady said. The black-haired man was glad at least her tone was rather neutral, he had enough of being yelled at by a random stranger. As he was taken into the patrol that would transport him to the Police Station, he walked straight up. He never bowed his head one bit. He was a criminal, and he wasn't proud at all of what crimes he commited, but he wouldn't hang his head in shame asking for forgiveness. The scientist was determined to pay for his crimes to the best of his ability, and he'd work hard to do it.

After arriving to the station, the nameless policewoman lead Regal to a small room in the deepest reaches of it. Another policeman was waiting for Regal and the policewoman there. He silently handed the woman a package, mumbled something to her ear, and left.

The woman opened the package and took out its contents, showing them to Regal. "Dr. Regal, do you know what this is?"

Regal scrutinized the small object the woman was showing him. "It's a satellital tracking chip." He said without hesitation.

"Correct. Then I don't need to explain what I'm going to do with this."

A couple of minutes later, the woman had successfully introduced the chip in Dr. Regal's right wrist. She quickly wiped the tiny spouts of blood from his hand, and nodded. "This chip is connected to a secure satellite network with no direct link to the SciLabs network or the internet you know of. Wherever you go, a laboratory, a park, the shower, we'll know. And if you're somewhere out of bounds, Commander Barrel has ordered us to send you into jail, and let the judges decide how long you're staying there to rot. Am I clear?"

Dr. Regal nodded. This wasn't going to be an easy nor a very pleasing experience, but he decided to make of this a personal challenge. He was certain the crimes he commited warranted the treatment he was receiving, it didn't make things easier for him. Admittedly it was a good incentive to prove to everyone that he could repay his debt to society beyond their expectations.

"Alright," she spoke in a slightly more friendly tone. "Dr. Hikari is here to take you into SciLabs. Don't mess it up, Dr. Regal."

The black haired man suppressed an annoyed groan. "Rest assured I won't, miss. I am no fool."

As if he were summoned, Yuuichirou entered the room. The woman dismissed herself, and Regal stood up. No words were needed, and both scientists understood this.