Notes: This story is set in the intervening period between MM8 and MMX.
The Adventures of Rock Light: Chapter 1
Time: One Day Earlier
"King's Knight to C-2. Check."
Rock and Roll sat facing each other, a projected hologram depicting a chessboard between them. Rock peered closely at the board. "Clever. Queen to D-7. Take that."
Roll smiled, tapping a command into her keyboard. The virtual rook glided smoothly across the board, ramming into the opposing Queen and reducing it to a pile of dust. "Rook captures at D-7. Checkmate."
Rock blinked, frowning. "Oh, damn. I completely forgot your bishop was sitting there."
Roll giggled, typing the reset commands into her console. "Care to try again? Or are you ready to give up today?"
"Ah, you just got lucky. I'll get you next time."
"Lucky like the last three times we just played?"
Rock rolled his eyes, scowling. "I'll get you yet. You'll see."
His sister smiled, waving a hand over the freshly set board. "Make your move, then. You can take White this time."
"Alright then." The boy reached for his keyboard. "King's pawn to E-3."
The ambient music was suddenly replaced by a scratchy voice announcing, "Citizens of Earth!" A raw cough was followed by a few moments of silence before it announced again.
Rock turned to the speaker in alarm, "Computer! Full radio volume!"
"This is Dr Wily. I have... I have planted several nuclear warheads in the population centers of the world." He coughed dryly a few more times. "I will detonate them, unless you meet my demands. I want Rock. At my coordinates, unarmed."
Roll shook her head. "He's finally lost it..."
Rock frowned. "No. Something's wrong. This isn't his style."
"Do not attempt to find the warheads. Do not attempt to assist Rock in any way. He must arrive, unarmed, and by himself. Comply in 24 hours, or I will start killing the populace. Consider this your only warning."
The radio went dead for several seconds, but the silence was quickly replaced by an emergency newscast. "We would like to advise all citizens not to panic at this time. We have no details yet as to this latest ploy by Wily, but will be sure to keep you all..."
Rock stood up, "Computer, mute volume." He recalled his battle suit, waiting a moment for the sequence to finish before running to the main lab, his sister already ahead of him. "Hurry and track down that signal. I'll contact the general." He started punching commands into the vidscreen console.
Roll looked up from her command station, "I already have a lock. Wily's making this very easy for you."
Rock turned away from the dialing vidscreen after entering the final clearance codes. "What?"
"He's left a beacon running. It's the same signal that generated the netcast."
"He wants me to do this..." Rock frowned in thought, "But why?"
A voice barked behind him, "It's obviously a trap." Rock turned to see the face of the GN General. "Wily means to disable you, and then detonate the warheads anyway while we're helpless."
Rock shook his head. "No, that doesn't make sense. It's not his usual methodology."
The General glowered at him. "Regardless, you are not to go in. We will find and deactivate these warheads, and then we will deal with this lunatic."
Rock met the General's gaze. "No, sir. I'm going in. It's the only way to protect the populace." He cut the officer off before he could protest, "And I'll stop anyone I see trying to disobey his instructions. Computer, kill call." The view of the General's angry face was quickly replaced by an idle screen. "Computer, block incoming calls." The console beeped twice to acknowledge the command.
He turned back to his sister. "Give me the coordinates."
Roll kept typing at her console. "I've already setup the teleportation sequence. It's ready to activate on your mark."
Rock nodded, "Good. Computer, act—"
"Rock!"
"Yes Roll?"
She looked at him with worried eyes. "Please come home safe."
He gave her a half-smile. "I always do. Computer, activate teleport." He vanished in a beam of blue light.
He materialized in the middle of a forest. Surveying his surroundings, he could not make out any unnatural structures. He's got to be close by... Most likely underground. Activating his combat systems, his radar and tracking systems pinpointed the direction of the beacon signal easily. He took off running, heightened senses allowing him to easily maneuver around the thick trees, leaving a trail of kicked up dust and flying twigs in his wake. The signal steadily grew stronger as he approached a cave opening. Pausing only a moment to scan the cave system, he descended into its depths, activating his night vision systems.
Inside the caves he proceeded slowly, continually mapping more of the system and compiling all of the data into a comprehensive topographical map. Finally he found what he was looking for, man-made formations. He navigated towards the structure, finally stepping into a steel hallway. He scanned the hallway, frowning as he detected no traps of any kind. Here goes nothing... He issued the recall command to his armor, shutting down his combat abilities as he was redressed in his street clothing.
He walked forward cautiously, stepping carefully among ruined scraps of metal. Large plates of steel were dislodged from the walls and ceiling, revealing dead wiring and circuitry, with only the occasional spark of electricity to indicate they functioned at all. "What happened here? It's like somebody got here before I did..." Turning a corner, he stopped dead at the sight that awaited him.
A robot master stood at attention, staring right at him. Rock dove behind the corner for cover, crawling under a large sheet of metal leaning against the wall. There he waited, peering out carefully. Several minutes passed, and Rock heard no alarms, nor the heavy footprints of metal against metal. No shots were fired, but still he waited for another full minute before daring to venture out from his shelter. He edged along the wall, peering cautiously around the corner this time to look at the robot master.
It stood in the same position, staring just as it had before. Rock could hardly believe it, but it had not moved in the four minutes since he had seen it initially. Now, though, he began to realize why. The robot master's left arm was completely missing. The right fared no better, severed through the elbow. Its eyes were lifeless and empty. Rock slowly turned the corner and approached it, examining the robot.
The left arm socket had been brutally ripped out, wires dangling and a disjointed gyro protruding outwards. The right arm, however, had been burned completely through. Rock frowned. It takes a powerful energy buster to burn cleanly through steel like this... And there's only a very few robots I know of that have weapons this powerful. But why would they do this...? "It doesn't make sense."
He shook his head and advanced further into the hallway, his footsteps echoing through the ruined corridors. More lifeless robot masters greeted him, all in various stages of wreckage and combat wear. Shrapnel and metal slag littered the hallways, crunching beneath his feet. He shook his head and kept his gaze down, watching his footing and trying to block the robot masters from his mind.
Finally, he came to the only locked doorway in the entire complex. Looking it over, his eyes came upon the broken control panel beside it. He lifted a hand and pressed the 'Ring' button, emitting an electronic chime. Moments passed, before the door slid aside, granting him access. He slowly stepped forward into the darkened room, lit only by the hallway before him, and a giant monitor in front, silhouetting a command chair. The monitor itself presented a giant image of Rock via camera.
The voice was thin and raspy. "So... You came."
Rock nodded calmly. "You wanted me. You got me. Just don't hurt those people."
Wily laughed hoarsely, disintegrating into a hacking cough. "There are no bombs. The world is safe."
Rock started forward a step. "Then this was a trap?"
The chair turned slowly around, revealing the mad scientist. His clothes were disheveled. He had lost most of his hair, but what was left was deathly white. His eyes seemed sunken in, his entire body emaciated. His left hand clutched something in his lap. "Yes, it was a trap. But it is my trap."
Rock gasped, running forward to the doctor. "Wily! What's happened to you? We need to get you medical attention."
The old scientist waved a hand dismissively. "No, no. It's entirely too late for that. Nobody would treat me anyway."
"You'll get treatment. I'll make sure of it."
"I won't last that long." Wily looked into Rock's eyes, and he was surprised to see genuine grief in the old man's face. "I'm dying. Even now as we talk..." He started coughing violently again, turning his face away.
Rock shook his head. "No, I won't believe it."
"Shut up, boy. And listen!" Wily held a trembling hand out, clutching a single data disk. "Take it."
Rock reached out slowly to grab it. "What is it?"
Wily barked, "Take it!" He waited for the robot to take the disk from his hand. "This disk contains a program... Find the six, and tell them... Tell them I'm sorry. And deactivate the others."
"A program?" Rock knelt to talk eye to eye with the doctor. "What does it do?"
Wily closed his eyes, breathing shallowly. "The program contains..." He lay still.
He gently shook the old man. "Wily, stay with me. What does the program on this disk do?"
"Disk contains... removes the virus... Restore them completely." His breathing sped up, his entire body shaking.
Rock's eyes grew wide. "Even Blues and Forte? Will it work for them?"
Wily gave a weak nod. "Yes, but..." He gasped, struggling for breath, and then his body went limp.
Rock hung his head and slowly stood up. "Good bye, Albert Wily. I'll make sure that your penance is carried out." He reached out to gently close the doctor's eyelids. "I hope your soul finds rest in the afterlife." He turned with heavy footsteps, and began the long trek home.
Rock beamed back into the lab, clutching the disk in his hand.
Roll looked up from her console. "Rock! You're safe! I was so worried..."
He stared at his sister silently, his expression somber.
Roll blinked, frowning slightly. "Rock? Are you all right?"
"No." He dropped into a chair, staring at the disk in his hand. "Wily is dead."
"Oh no," gasped Roll, drawing her hand to her mouth. "I know how you had hoped he would..."
Rock held the disk up, turning it to examine it in the light. "He did, I think... Finally, in the end, he did."
"What's that disk?"
"He gave it to me just before he died. He said that it could fix our six brothers..."
Roll stared at the disk in wonder. "Are you sure?"
Rock shook his head. "No, I'm not. I'll have to check the disk out first. Just in case." He smiled up at Roll. "But I think he meant it. I could see it in his eyes."
She returned the smile, "After all these years... We'll be able to put this war behind us for good."
"Yeah..." Rock shook his head and sighed. "We still have to settle things with the army first. They're not going to let this go easy."
"Yeah, speaking of which..." Roll tapped at her console. "They're expecting your report."
Rock stood and tapped at his command watch, recalling his battle uniform. "Computer, put me through to General LaStran, Priority One." He entered the security clearance codes into the console and stepped back, snapping to attention.
The face of the GN officer appeared moments later. "Do you have your report for me?"
Rock nodded. "Affirmative. There is no threat to the populace; it was a bluff designed to draw me out. When I arrived, however, I was able to disable his traps and proceed to Dr Wily's command center. There I found him, but he was dying. He died while I was there, but I recovered a disk from his computer systems. My recommendation is to send a coroner with armed guard, and then to scrap the base."
The General nodded, entering notes into his datapad. "Good. I'll expect a full report shortly, of course, along with the contents of that disk. I'll notify the coroner, and autopsy will commence in a few hours. Is there anything else?"
Rock nodded, "Yes Sir. After autopsy is complete, I would like to request that Wily be given full burial."
LaStran raised an eyebrow, staring at Rock. "And why would I grant such a request?"
"It's what Dr Light would have wanted, Sir. I'm sure of it. I'll make all the arrangements and cover all costs involved. I only ask that I be allowed to retrieve his body when it is of no further use to your investigation."
The officer glared at Rock for several long moments, but slowly nodded once. "Very well then. I will turn over control of his body after we have finished our investigative efforts."
"I'd also recommend stalling a press release about this incident until the autopsy is completed. We can't be sure this isn't a ruse yet."
"Agreed. Keep me informed about the disk. LaStran out."
Rock pulled off his helmet. "Well, that went easier than I'd hoped."
Roll nodded. "I know. Do you want to start analyzing that disk now?"
"Not just yet." Rock walked over to his sister's console, tapping a few commands in.
Roll pushed her chair to one side, allowing Rock to pull up his own chair. "What are you doing?"
Rock pulled up a chair behind him and continued typing. "Making a special order from Incorporated Systems... We need a completely isolated platform to test that disk with. There's no telling what else it might contain."
Roll nodded. "Rick won't be there today... But I bet we can call him tomorrow and have him push the order ahead."
"You know I don't like doing that." Rock finished entering his specifications and started reviewing the order. "But, in this case I'd say it's urgent enough."
"Completely isolated, huh?" commented Roll, reading over his shoulder.
"Mmmhmmm. No chance of infection or spreading that way. That should do it." Rock tapped the send key and stood up. "I'll be in the combat sim. I'll have to be at peak if we have to take them down without destroying them."
"All right Rock." Roll slid her chair back into place. "I'll let you know when the General calls back with the coroner's report."
Rock stepped into the old office, looking around. Even now this old place reassured him. The only touch of antiquity in the entire lab, everything in the room came from the last century, or looked like it. He walked over behind the desk and sat down carefully, reaching into a drawer to retrieve his personal datapad. It came to life at the touch of a button, flashing cursor ready for input.
This day... I can't believe it. I'm still a little stunned, to be honest. Not only has my most powerful nemesis died, he's given me the key to undoing the damage he's done. It seems too good to be true, but... I could see the grief in his eyes. I just know he was being sincere. Still, I know I have to handle things carefully. Dad taught me never to rush into things, no matter what the gain.
The chance to not only cure our six brothers, but to cure Blues and Forte, too... I've waited for this day, but I never thought it'd actually come. Wily's virus has controlled them all for so long... Despite all of our best attempts to analyze and decode it, his programming has remained beyond our grasp. But now all we have to do is find them, and they'll be free to live like Dad always wanted them to.
Finding them will be tough, though. Blues has always been something of a rogue, staying hidden until we need him. The rest of them, though, probably went into hiding the last time I foiled Wily's schemes. I saw many of the robot masters disabled at Wily's hideout today, but it looked like none of the first six were there, so they're probably out in the world somewhere. Forte's probably back in hiding now, too. I'll get Roll to start checking any leads we might have on them. Normally we hear plenty when they're causing trouble, but finding them when they're not will be trickier. Still, there must be some signs of them somewhere...
They won't give up without a fight, I'm sure. The virus still has a hold of them, and won't let them give up without a fight. It'll be tough, but I have to bring them down without taking them out of commission. We can repair any damage to them, of course, but the less the better. Speaking of which, I'd better go make sure I'm ready for the upcoming fights and hit the sims.
Rock tapped the SAVE button and put the pad away, giving the room one last look before standing up and leaving.
Time: Several Hours Later
Rock stood stiffly at attention, listening to the General berate him at length.
"Tell me one good reason I shouldn't have you sent to the scrap heap, you miserable heap of junk!"
Rock stood there silently, not offering a word.
LaStran held up a sheaf of papers, shoving them at the vidscreen. "Do you know what this damn report says here?"
"No, Sir."
Slamming the report on hid desk, he glared at the robot. "Then let me summarize. Wily did not die a natural death. Far from it. He was poisoned. And I think we both know who did it."
Rock kept a calm face. "I'm afraid I don't know your meaning, Sir."
"You bloody robots think you're above the law, just because you have a special working arrangement with us. Why, I oughta—"
"Sir," interrupted Rock.
"--slag you right-- Did I give you permission to speak?"
"Sir," repeated Rock. "Ask me if I killed or poisoned Dr Wily."
"What are you on about! Insubordinate bucket of bolts! I'll come down there and dismantle you myself!"
"You know I am incapable of lying to a direct question asked by a superior. So ask me."
The general's face was red now, face twisted into an angry snarl. "Why you... Fine then, soldier. Did you directly kill, or poison Dr Wily in any way?"
"No, Sir, I did not."
"Are you at all responsible for his death?"
"No, Sir. I am not."
LaStran glared at Rock for several long moments. "Very well then... We will presume your innocence for now. I will assign men to tracking down his killer. That is all. LaStran out."
Rock stared at the view screen as it cut off, and then relaxed, flipping open his buster to recall his clothing. "Whew... He almost lost it that time. What a short temper."
"It's not his temper I'm worried about, Rock. Who could have poisoned Wily like that?"
"Blues or Forte, I guess." Rock shrugged. "Probably Forte. He's always been unstable, you know."
"How could you even accuse Blues of such a thing?" Roll glared at her brother. "He'd never... Even considering."
"Easy, Roll," Rock held his hands up. "I'm not saying he did it. Look. When I got there, the place had already been trashed."
"So? That doesn't prove a thing!"
"Well, no. But what about clean plasma burns through steel?"
"But the only weapons powerful enough of doing that are..." Roll gasped, looking down at the ground. "Oh."
Rock nodded. "Exactly. But like I said, it was probably Forte. He hasn't been stable in a long time... Hopefully, I can find something on the disk to help fix him, too."
"Oh, I hope so, Rock. And we can fix Blues too, right?"
Rock smiled. "Yeap. Wily said there was information on this disk for both of them."
"It'll be so nice to finally be a family again, all of us."
Rock placed a hang on Roll's shoulder and squeezed gently. "Don't worry. Just give it time. C'mon, let's go shutdown for the night."
Roll stood up and hugged her brother tightly. "Okay, Rock. I'll see you in the morning."
