"You may wake up now, Prisma." "Yes sir."
Prisma heard the voices, one of which was her own. Voices from the past which haunted the partially deleted remains of her memory.
Prisma became aware of seeing two flickering rooms, attempting to merge as one in her mind. The smoke filled pub, and a simple but well to do household. Prisma attempted to stop the flickering, to see one room instead of two.
Instead, a hazy outline began to form. Prisma focused on that, aware that it was a figure that she recognized. "Sir? Gentleman? No . . . . Master." No sooner had she identified the still faceless figure than it was scattered into smoke. Prisma cried out in protest. "Master, no! I . . . must protect. . ."
"Prisma? Prisma, open your eyes please."
Prisma opened her eyes with a start and blinked at the overhead light, her irises tinting themselves automatically in defense.
Dr. Light smiled. "Are you okay, Prisma? You were speaking to yourself." Prisma blinked, trying to chase down the memory of what she had seen. Already, it eluded her. "I am fine, sir. . ." She hesitated on the last word, as if doublechecking that it was the correct word to use.
She sat up, lifting an arm to brush some hair out of her face, and paused as an unfamiliar object rose before her, freezing in alarm before realizing that it was attached to her arm. Prisma stared long and hard, coming to terms with the modified projectile weapon connected to her right forearm.
Prisma blinked at Dr. Light, a question in her expression. He smiled. "I've given you a weapon of your own. It isn't meant for battle like Megaman's. This crystal firing gun is only meant for self defense. I'll modify the crystals to explode on impact later. Right now, they are harmless shards of quartz."
Prisma shrugged and stood up. "So how do I make it f-WOW!"
She yelped as a crystal shard shot from her arm, ricocheting off a reinforced wall, striking a computer, and heading for Dr. Light! Prisma shrieked. "DOC!"
A blast of plasma power struck the shard, knocking it harmlessly aside. A grey and red robot ran over, helping the human to his feet. "That was too close for comfort. Are you okay pops?" He turned to regard Prisma, the tinted visor over his eyes hiding any emotion. Dr. Light smiled. "Thank you, Blues. I'm fine, Prisma just hasn't learned to control her quartz gun yet."
Prisma blushed, tiny wires in her face heating and expelling the heat build up from her scare. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll try to be much more careful. . ."
Blues smirked. "Prisma, eh? Does Roll know she's not the only ladybot around anymore?"
Dr. Light chuckled. "She knows. Blues, Prisma is the android who Rock rescued from the bar Wily's robots destroyed."
The red android scowled at that. "Is that a fact? And to think that guy hand a hand in building me. . ." he jumped back as Prisma whirled on him. "What? You have a relation to the creep who wrecked me!"
Blues held his hands up defensively. "Whoa, take it easy! Wily may have designed and built me, but so did Dr. Light. And hurting innocent people and robots just isn't my style."

Prisma blinked, calming down. "So you're not with him?" She looked at Dr. Light as he laid a hand on her shoulder. "Rest assurred, Prisma. You may depend on Blues."
Blues shrugged at the comment, smirking. "Yeah, as long as I'm feeling helpful." Prisma's face fell, so he quickly added, "Ah, I'm kidding. Don't be so serious!"
Prisma hesitated. "Uh . . . right." She turned to Dr. Light. "Sir? Where is Megaman?" Blues snorted. "Hey, don't be so formal! Sir, Megaman. You can call him doctor if you want. And my bro's name is Rock."
Prisma's face clouded as she was overwhelmed with this new information. "How can someone have more than one name!" Dr. Light hurried to intervene. "Prisma, nevermind that." He frowned gently at Blues, who tugged at the scarf around his neck, feigning a shiver. "Brrr, it just got cold in here! I'll see you." He turned and strode out.
Prisma watched sadly. "I don't think that he likes me. . ." Dr. Light chuckled. "That's only his way. You'll get used to it."
Blues found Rock absently tossing rocks for Rush to catch. "Rock and the rocks. How fitting."
Rock looked over in alarm before relaxing. "Hey! Where've you been THIS time, Blues?" Blues shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Everyplace is 'here' to me." he smiled. "So I hear you brought home a girl."
Rock blinked, flustered by the wording. "Prisma? I just brought her for some repairs! Hey, don't tease me!" He frowned at Blues' laugh, then grinned. "Besides, I think she's more your type. You're both pretty bad at expressing yourselves."
Blues blinked beneath his visor. "Thanks but no thanks. . ."

Meanwhile, Bass sat irritable in a shopping cart stall, grumbling at the after images that were still dancing in front of his optics. Treble looked up and gave a soft growl of welcome as a slender figure approached.
The female android dropped the bag in her hands and hurried over, grabbing Bass by the arm in an attempt to lift him.
"Bass! What happened! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Let me help you! Is there anything I can get you? Who did this? Was it Rock?"
Bass thrust his arm out, throwing her to the ground. "Get away from me, Vivace!" He rose, taking advantage of having a target to vent his frustration on. Vivace winced, sitting up. "I'm sorry, Bass." Bass sneered. "This is all that I need. Another annoying female. . ."
Vivace got up. "Me?" She stepped back as Bass glared at her again. He folded his arms. "That pesky crystal robot Megaman's towing around. She thinks she's so tough catching me offguard like that! I'm going to have fun taking her apart. . ."
Vivace frowned. "Like a female Crystal Man? Wait! Some robot was picking on Bass? I'm not going to stand for it!" Treble snarled in agreement.
"Bass!" Bass winced at a harsh voice crackling from a communicator he carried. "Not Wily again!" He concentrated on the communicator. "Not now, you stupid old man! I'm busy!"
There was a pause, and then Wily shouted. "Show some respect, you defective robot! I built you! Now I've recieved word that MegaMan has a new ally. . ."
Bass closed his eyes, gritting his teeth in a way that told Vivace that it was time to get to a safe shelter in a hurry.
Bass roared into the communicator. "YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT! WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING OUT HERE, PICKING PANSIES!"
Vivace hunkered under an upside-down shopping cart as the two went at it. Wily snarled back. "You could be for all that I know! Exactly who told you that you could leave my fortress anyway!" Bass straightened. "I told me, that's who! What're you gonna do about it, old idiot!"
Wily roared loudly enough that Vivace could just imagine the blood vessels threatening to burst in his head. "I'll dismantle you and build a better robot that can actually do what I tell it to! Like destroying Megaman!"
Bass winced, that one had hit home. "I'M PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF ELIMINATING THAT BLUE JERK! I'm toying with him, that's all!" Bass snarled. "And I'll prove it by wrecking him right now!"
Vivace winced as Bass cut the connection, seething. She decided to stay safely under her cart until he had cooled off just a little. Even Treble was laying with his head on the ground, being submissive at a time when he knew that his master was likely to strike out at anyone and anything. As Bass flicked his gaze toward his canine companion, Treble rolled onto his back for good measure. Bass glared at such nonsense from his killer sidekick and stormed off.
Vivace waited a while longer before emerging from the shopping cart. "Treble, we have to help Bass!" Treble rose and barked in agreement, charging off. Vivace blinked. "Hey, wait for me!" She ran after him, her bag of groceries forgotten.

Prisma took aim at the bullseye that Blues had painted onto a bale of hay for her. She groaned as a shard ricocheted off, landing harmlessly on the ground. "Drat! My shard had plenty of power behind it before, why not now?"
Roll kicked her feet idly, watching from a bench. "Hey, that was a good shot! It was only four inches from the bullseye."
Prisma turned to face her friend. "Yeah, but I'm not counting it until I get one to stick. Preferably in the haybale. After what happened in the lab, there's no way I'm using this weapon around any humans!"
Roll nodded, wincing. "I don't blame you. I don't want a pincushion for a dad!"
Prisma sighed. "It was just a good thing that Blues was there to prevent a disaster from happening. But I don't think I made a very good first impression on him. . ."
Roll grinned. "Well I bet he didn't make a very good first impression on you either. Mister Serious!" Prisma grinned back. "I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thinks so!" The two female androids laughed.

"Hey ladies, did I miss a good joke?" Rock grinned as he sauntered over, Rush at his heels. he blinked as the laughter halted almost instantly. "Yikes, am I that bad of a mood killer?"
Roll giggled. "Nono, we were just discussing Blues." Prisma shook her head. "We weren't really, I was just saying that I wish we'd been introduced under better circumstances. . ."
Rock grinned. "Oh? Under a full moon, maybe with it reflecting on a lake and the two of you alone. . . " "NO!" Prisma felt the wiring under her skin heating up, a sure sign that she was experiencing the robotic equivelent of an embarrassed blush.
Rock laughed. "Aww, I'm only teasing. Blues is just kind of hard to get along with sometimes. You get used to him." Prisma looked away. "That's what the doc said. I don't know. . ."
Rush gave a warning bark, alerting the three androids to trouble as three figures advanced. Prisma frowned. "What is it?" her eyes widened as the sun reflected off of an android in ebony armor, lined with gold. "That's the bully from the supermarket!"
Rock glared as Bass approached. "That's Bass. Roll, Prisma, you two get inside. I'll handle this." Roll frowned, but nodded. "Right!" She gestured for Prisma to join her as she hurried indoors. Prisma scowled. "That guy was pretty rude, I'd like to tell him what I think of. . ." Rock cut her off, glaring. "Not now, Prisma. That crystal shooter of yours is only for defense, not fighting. I'll get rid of him, you just go inside with Roll."
Prisma blinked, unable to argue with that logic. She sighed and reluctantly turned to head in, forgetting to recover her dropped shard.

Bass scowled as a flash of light up ahead told him that Megaman had powered up and was ready for a fight. He struck a pose and opened his mouth to speak, but Vivace cut him off, glaring at Megaman. "You're asking for it, you bully! Picking on poor Bass like that! I hope you get a good beating for it!"
Bass swiped her aside, looking slightly embarrassed by the overly protective female's actions.
Megaman blinked, then grinned. "I'm sorry, miss. I'd prefer not to fight Bass if I had a say in the matter." Bass growled. "Stop talking to Vivace and fight, you moron!"
Megaman winced, shrugging helplessly to Vivace. "I'll try not to hurt him, I promise. Now you'd better get somewhere safe." He barely had time to finish before an energy blast threatened to burn away the right side of his head. Megaman dodged by throwing himself to the side and landing on a knee. "Of course, I'm hoping that Bass won't hurt ME either!"

Vivace continued. "You BET you won't hurt Bass! If you do, you'll have to deal with an angry me! And believe me, you won't like that!"
Megaman sweatdropped, blocking out the lecture in an effort to block Bass as he pressed his attack.
Blues stared from inside. "That little idiot. . ." He stepped out, walking over and grabbing Vivace by an arm. "Come on, let Rock and Bass settle this for themselves." He proceeded to drag her away from the battle, Vivace screaming all the while. "You let me go, Bass needs me! You're gonna regret this, I'll make you sorry you see if I don't. . .!" Blues sighed. "It's times like this I wish I would learn to butt out. . ."
Blues pulled Vivace into the house, slamming the door behind them. He pushed her into a seat near the window and placed himself in front of her. "Sit and stay."

Outside, Megaman ran to the side, twisting to fire at Bass. "That sister of yours seems nice!" Bass jumped to dodge, returning fire. "You want her?"
Megaman flattened himself against the ground, then charged. "Huff huff. . . no thanks, I already have a bossy sister!"
Bass braced himself and jumped, vaulting over Megaman and twisting in midair, landing behind him. "Please? She's driving me up the wall!"
Megaman laughed, straightening. "Isn't that what sisters are for?" Bass growled. "I don't recall asking for one. . ." Megaman shrugged. "Neither did I, but Roll's here and I can't complain."
Bass blinked. "Wait, why am I discussing this with YOU!" He charged, forcing Megaman back. Megaman opened his mouth in alarm, leaping back and dodging the attacks. He backflipped, each flip narrowly evading a plasma blast aimed at his head.
"Oh, they're fighting!" Prisma cried out in dismay from inside. Roll patted her on the back. "Don't you worry, Megaman always wins!"
A voice from behind Blues, who they had not noticed entering, retorted. "That blue bully had better not hurt Bass! Oh, let me go you jerk!" Blues blinked. "Jerk?" He leaned aside to reveal a very grumpy Vivace.
Roll blinked, pointing. "Isn't that Bass' sister. . .?" Prisma blinked. "He has a sister?"
Vivace kicked Blues. "How dare you kidnap me and keep me in here! Bass will get you for that, NOBODY messes with Bass!"
Blues grunted at the impact, scowling. "Of course she's Bass' sister, who else would be so annoying?" Roll giggled. "I don't know, I kind of like someone who can get to the great Protoman. . ."
Blues drew his mouth into a flat line, clearly not thrilled with the remark. He walked off to sit on the couch alone. "You babysit her then, I'm through with her."
Roll grinned, loving this. "I don't know which bugs him more. That someone made him show a little emotion, or the fact that it was Bass' sister. . ."
Prisma blinked, ignoring Roll to walk over to the couch. She sat down beside Blues, who started to scoot away, then decided to just sit tight and ignore her. Prisma blinked, trying to find a way to break the ice. She looked away shyly. "So . . . I'm sorry for almost shooting your dad. . ."
Blues blinked beneath his visor, grateful that the accessory hid his reaction from Prisma. "Do you always begin conversations this way?"
Prisma blushed. "I wouldn't know, I've only been able to think and speak for a day or so." Blues smirked. "Well they say that humans who are slow to begin speaking tend to have the highest IQs."
Prisma blinked. "Who says?" She smiled as Blues lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. "Some human, I guess."
Prisma shook her head, amused. "I thought that you and Rock were built to be human?" Blues shrugged again. "There's a big difference between acting human, and being human."
Prisma smiled. "You're still one up on me. I was only built to look human. My mind was never so complex. I guess I owe the doctor, huh?" Blues twisted his mouth. "Dad won't want that. We're not here to be indentured servants or anything." He grinned teasingly. "The best way to thank him now is to keep that gun of yours pointed in the opposite direction."
Prisma twitched, and gave him a gentle whap on the arm. "Bully. . ." Blues laughed.

Vivace wandered closer, watching the two robots on the couch. She frowned at Prisma. "You were the one who was so mean to Bass before!" Prisma blinked, turning her attention to the new face. "Was I?" She winced at a dull thud outside. "What was that!"
Roll scowled. "Oh nothing. Rock just landed in the dumpster. . ." She ran a hand through her blonde hair. "Bass must have a healthy sense of humor. . ."
Vivace grinned. "And that's just where he belongs!" She blinked. "Hey, why am I still here? I have to help Bass!" She turned to run, yelping as three bodies piled onto her. "NO YOU DON'T!" Blues, Roll, and Prisma announced in unison.

Outside, Megaman coughed. "Ouch! I don't think Bass plays very well with others. . ." He idly lifted an unfinished metallic skull. "What do you think?" He worked the jaw joint playfully. "Oh, I think Bass should play nice!"
Bass growled. "Will you get serious!"
Megaman laughed, dropping the head and pushing himself up. He climbed out of the recycling dumpster and grinned. "Come on Bass, why do we have to be so serious? We shouldn't even-" Bass cut him off. "I know already! We shouldn't be fighting, blahblahblah, Rock's a blasted hippy!"
Megaman blinked. "I wouldn't have worded it THAT way, but that's the gist of it, yeah."
Bass sighed at the muffled screeching coming from indoors. Something to the effect of: "You let me go right now, You can't keep me here, Bass will come for me!" Bass shook his head. "I guess I really have to bring her back with me. . ." He cried out as a plasma blast nearly singed part of his headcrest away. Megaman playfully blew on his blaster, even though plasma was clean and smokeless.
Bass pointed accusingly. "That was dirty, even for you!" Megaman frowned back. "You keep insisting on fighting, Bass. If I got distracted like that you wouldn't just nick my head. You'd take it off! And you're angry because I took advantage of your distraction?"
Bass grinned to hide how furious he was. That was an awkward spot to polish, and he had to do his own maintenance for the most part. "Are you finally taking me seriously, then?"
Megaman took aim. "Only because you're forcing me to. . ."

Later, Bass snarled as he limped along. Vivace trotted alongside, looking concerned and trying to cheer him as Treble padded along on his other side, head low.
Bass growled again, favoring his dented heel and thigh. Vivace sighed. "It's not so bad. And you'll get him next time! Won't he, Treble?"
Treble lifted his head and whined briefly, regarding Bass instead of Vivace. Aware of being snubbed by the purple canine, Vivace sighed and fell silent.
It was a quiet trio who returned to Wily's base.

Megaman let himself inside and headed for the couch, pausing as Roll stepped into his path. "And where do you think you're going?"
He sighed. "Roll, let me sit down. I could use a rest." Roll lifted her head authoritatively. "Covered with filth like that? You're not getting that mess on my clean sofa! Now go clean yourself off!"
Rock winced, removing his helmet and watching bits of dust and debris fall away. "I guess I could use a wash. . ." He smiled sheepishly and walked out, heading for the bathroom.
Roll nodded firmly. "You got that right. Phew!" Blues smirked, watching Rock go.
Prisma rose. "It's getting late. Maybe we should all tidy up for the night?" Roll glanced suspiciously at the other female android, as if wondering if Prisma was after her job. She finally nodded. "That's a good idea."
Blues rose and caught Prisma by the elbow, smiling as she turned to face him. "I think it might be a good idea if you learned to use your gun as a last resort. Tomorrow you should start practicing some combat moves."
He patted her shoulder and walked off, leaving Prisma to consider this new turn of events.

"HIYAH!"
Prisma leaped, one leg extended and her hair flowing wildly around her. Her target dodged to one side, leaving her with only the wall to connect with.
Prisma winced as she felt the jolt of impact. Her fragile joints had never been intended for a combat situation, and she was paying the price for abusing them.
The robot facing her smirked and landed in a crouch briefly before leaping for Prisma. Prisma gasped as she found herself caught, one arm twisted behind her in a manner that threatened to pull it free from its rotator cup.
Her attacker grinned, right by her ear. "Are you ready to give up yet?"

Prisma tried to pull free, unsuccessfully. She quieted. "Not yet!" She eyed her opponent's foot and brough her own heel down on top of it. The other robot grunted and jerked away in surprise. Prisma took the opportunity to whirl. She yelped as her hair flew into her face, blinding her and tangling itself in her prisms.
She felt a sharp impact on her backside and fell, sprawling on the floor with her internal systems screaming of strained motors, weakened joints, and a dented frame.

Protoman examined his handywork for a moment before walking closer again. "You'll be fine. This sparring match is over."
He removed his helmet, revealing a head of thick, dark hair. The shades remained where they were.
Prisma groaned, not fighting as she felt him lifting her to her feet. "I'll get better. . ."
Blues shrugged, gently pulling Prisma's hair free of the prisms behind her ears. He glanced down at his helmet. "What you need is some proper armor of your own. Your hair got in your way."
Prisma blinked. "Armor?"
Blues nodded. "Sure, why not? Nothing heavy duty like Rock and I use of course, but You could use some basic armor and a helmet to keep that crazy hair of yours under control. That or some MAJOR hairspray!"
Prisma frowned. "You're teasing me again." She accused. Blues blinked. "I am? Naw, this time I'm just giving advice. The helmet or the hairspray, your choice."
Blues stretched and turned toward the house. He headed closer but just as Prisma thought that he would go back inside, Blues flexed his knees and sprang vertically for the roof.
Prisma blinked up. "O-kay, you're weird. . ." She smiled at Blues before walking back inside.

"You worthless machine! Can't you even accomplish one simple task!" Bass gritted his teeth against the ranting of his creator, climbing the ladder to an experimental mech in search of relief.
Wily glared up at his creation. "Don't you move away from me, Bass! I built you and I can unmake you just as easily!"
Bass sighed, flopping into the pilot's seat. "So you love to tell me, old man. . ."
Wily cupped a hand around his ear. "What was that? Get down here this instant, Bass, and show your superior some respect!"
Bass mimicked a yawn. "I will when he's built." He didn't bother to raise his voice, though he did raise the ladder, effectively stranding Wily down below.
Wily twitched, a blood vessel popping into view. "Bass you no good excuse for scrap metal! I never should have built you, you're a disgrace to my proud legacy! You insubordinate, obstinant, mutinous, defective. . ."
Bass growled and sent a silent command to his audio system, temporarily disabling his own hearing. As silence descended, Bass sighed in relief. "Much better. . ."
The onyx and gold android closed his optics, heedless of the flailing human beneath him. That was where humans belonged anyway. Far beneath his metal heels.

Prisma walked into the house and nodded to Rock, who was happily watching tv. "Feet off the cushions, Rock. I'm telling Roll."
Rock hastily twisted to place his feet firmly on the floor in front of him, looking slightly flustered. Prisma giggled and walked on.
Roll was cheerfully mixing batter when Prisma entered the kitchen. She peered over her shoulder briefly before resuming her mixing. "Oh hi Prisma, breakfast'll be ready in approximately fifteen minutes, okay?"
Prisma blinked. "Roll? I'm a robot. I don't eat." Roll paused her mixing and turned back. "Oh yeah. I guess that I forgot!"
Prisma grinned in response to Roll's tone and facial expression. Despite being far more complex than Prisma, Roll was not as clever as her brothers. Prisma found that she fit in well with the housekeeping unit because of that; it was good to have a friend who couldn't confuse her with a simple observation.
Roll laughed softly, pouring the batter onto a griddle. "Rock's in the living room, would you like to join him?" Prisma grinned back. "Oh, I know. I had to tell him to keep those anvils he calls feet off of the furniture."
Roll halted her cooking, turning to scowl at the doorway. "He was doing it again! ROCK!" A muffled "I'm being good! Sorry!" came back, causing the female robots to share a knowing grin.
Roll grinned triumphantly and brandished her mixing spoon. "What he means is, 'Don't hit me with the spoon again,' there's nothing like pancake batter to gunk up the servos!"
Prisma blinked, filing away a note to NEVER get on Roll's bad side.

Prisma smiled, remembering why she had come to Roll in the first place. "So could you use an extra hand?"
Roll grinned. "That would look kind of strange, don't you think? Roll the octopus!" She giggled as Prisma paused, staring confusedly.
Roll turned back to reassure her new friend. "Prisma? That was a joke. I know what you meant, so sure you can help!"
Prisma blinked, smiling uncertainly. "Oh . . . okay!"

To Be Continued. . .