Chapter 16: Picking Up The Pieces
"Triumphant at last, Mega Man arrested the notorious Dr. Wily and brought him to justice. Sentenced to prison for his crimes, Dr. Wily now rules over a prison cell. At long last, the world is at peace…" -Front page of the Tokyo Times, August 4, 2080
Two weeks after the world-shaking announcement of the capture of Dr. Albert Wily, the funeral for the billionaire Olivier Xanthos, more commonly known as Mr. X, was held in the Tokyo cemetery. It had been held up for some time over questions of legalities, both in relation to the Rebellion and to the man's own life. Now, finally, he was to be put to rest at last. Many people gathered there to pay their respects-and in many cases, apologies for wronging him. Of all of those, however, only a few had known him personally. The billionaire's few remaining distant relatives had been unable to stay after the reading of the will, and thus it was only his close friends who truly knew him that were present for the funeral. The casket was solemnly carried by Trenton Corbun, Sergei Cossack, and Rock and Blues Light while Thomas Light, Darwin Vinkus, Roll Light and Kalinka Cossack followed solemnly. The funeral service was given by Councilor Vinkus, who spoke long and loud of the departed man's lifelong regret of the actions he had acquired his wealth by, his unending generosity with that wealth, his many contributions to various charities-particularly those supporting robots-and his warm, friendly personality. After the official services ended, most of the onlookers departed, leaving only eight mourners gathered at his tombstone.
"Poor old Mr. X." Kalinka sighed. "This time there just wasn't any happy way out of the question."
"Yeah… at least Rock avenged him, in a way." Blues muttered. Dr. Wily had been handed over to UN authorities without a hitch, and after some deliberation as to which country was to have the honor of dealing with him, the madman had been transferred to Tokyo Prison for the interim of the arguments, which would likely last at least a year in their own regard. Despite that, maximum security was being applied at all times. There would be no hearings, no parole, no acquittals any more-even governments learned eventually. Dr. Wily would live out the rest of his years behind bars.
"Even so, it's not enough." Roll sighed. "It'll never be enough. I'm going to miss him…" She glanced up at the grey clouds above, which had began releasing rain at the beginning of the funeral and refused to let up. "And this is just one of the hundreds, thousands of people who have died because of Wily…" She didn't state what they all were thinking, that the billionaire's demise had seemed to symbolize them all, make them personal. They all knew it. "Even the sky is crying."
"Indeed it is." Dr. Cossack looked around at all of the tombstones, many of them other Rebellion victims, and shook his head. "All of this… so many deaths… from one man. If that is not cause to make the sky weep, I know not what is. And yet… we are here to mourn only one."
"No… it's more than just one." Rock replied quietly. "It's everything that death stood for… that's the way he would have wanted it. He never cared about himself." The robotic boy looked at the faces of his father, Corbun and Vinkus, then turned to the others. "Let's go… leave these guys alone for a bit." Dr. Cossack nodded in agreement, realizing his meaning, and along with the four children, walked away. For several more moments, the three older men stood there under their umbrellas, looking down at the cold grey tombstone. Finally, Dr. Light spoke.
"And so… another member of the Gamma Team leaves us." To the left of the tombstone was the grave of the politician Donald Richolds. Beyond that, the psychologist Cedric Froid, with his family further on-all of them slaughtered by Doc Man in the Third. Looking down at the grave before him, Corbun chuckled bitterly.
"They put Al's here, didn't they… when we all thought he had been killed in the Third too."
"Indeed… although it was destroyed one night after he was found alive. Never did find who did that." Vinkus shook his head. "I wonder why he wanted to be buried here, on this spot, instead of back in Greece."
"He never was close to his family… you saw what they were like at the reading of his will." Dr. Light snorted. "I'm surprised he gave them anything at all, and even then you could tell they wanted more… jackals. No, I'm not surprised he didn't want to have anything to do with that… he always was happiest when he was here." As if pulled by a magnet, all three of them turned to look to the right of the tombstone. It was near the cemetery's rightmost border, but there was some unoccupied grass between it and the fence. Enough for four more caskets. After a moment, Dr. Corbun chuckled.
"Well, if that's not prophetic, I don't know what is… my wife won't like it, though. Ah well, I still intend on living for quite a few more years… maybe those spots will be occupied in that time."
"We all will, I hope…" Dr. Light sighed. "We've lost too many as it is. But… things will be different now." He turned to Vinkus. "So… you'll be leaving the Council in half a year."
"Yes… I think that's all I'll be able to stand before retiring." Vinkus admitted. "I had thought my break in the hospital would make it easier when I went back, but it's just the opposite… all that idiotic bickering grates on my ears even worse now. Half a year, and then I'll retire… I feel sorry for Martel, though. The likely candidate for my position is just as bad as most of them, so he'll be all alone. I give him two years after I leave, three at the most, before he quits as well. That'll be it for the UN, then… a decade, maybe two, and it'll collapse on itself totally."
"My, aren't we cynical today." Dr. Corbun jibed without much heart. "And as for you? What do you plan on doing with your life without politics, Darwin?"
"Well…" Vinkus looked down. "I'm not entirely sure, but… if the UN's going down, I might as well not waste any more time on that. Instead, I'll be talking with some people… on measures that will need to be set up. The world is changing, my friends… hopefully, if I can pull this off, those changes won't be disastrous. I'll try to keep in touch, but I'll be very busy… I don't think I'll be able to drop by very often any more."
"Actually… I was about to say something similar." Dr. Corbun admitted. "I'm going back to Britain… and for the most part, I'll be staying there. I'll have my hands full with what I've got now." Although the Lights, Cossacks and Vinkus had all been granted portions of Mr. X's fortune, the majority of it had been granted to Corbun, accompanied with a duty-the deed to the Tokyo Robot Museum, and the responsibility of upkeep in it, as well as a request to duplicate it in other countries. "I'll be making a second Robot Museum in London… then probably one in the States. After that, Russia, Canada, and who knows where else."
"And is that all you'll be doing?" Vinkus inquired a bit curiously. "Building on another man's legacy for the rest of your life?"
"No." Dr. Corbun replied after a moment, turning to look keenly at Dr. Light. "Tom… what about you? I bet I know. You're going to make another, aren't you… another Advanced. Another son, or daughter."
"You knew?" Dr. Light blinked. "How? I haven't told anybody save for Sergei…"
"He didn't blab." The british Robotocist assured him. "I guessed it… it's been too long, and you and him have been preparing for something the last couple weeks. So… another, after all this time. Is that all?" His eyes bored into Dr. Light's. "What will you do after that, Tom?" Dr. Light was silent for many long moments before sighing heavily.
"I assume I can have your oath of silence on this, my friends… this, I don't even want my children to know."
"I vow it." Vinkus agreed quickly. "On everything we've done… everything we've gone through. I will never speak of this."
"I do too… not even to my wife, or my children." Dr. Corbun answered as well. Dr. Light nodded.
"Very well." Dr. Light looked back at Mr. X's gravestone. "If this latest of my children comes to life successfully… then in time, I will go on. As Advanced Robot Masters are superior to Robot Masters… no. Not even that. As all Robot Masters are different from other robots… so, too, shall this one be different from Robot Masters. He will be the first of a new kind."
"The next generation." Dr. Corbun slowly smiled. "I THOUGHT so, but I wasn't sure."
"Beyond even Robot Masters… as different from them as they are from robots…" Vinkus slowly repeated. "In other words, Tom… not just a humanoid robot. Not just a humanlike robot. You intend to create a robot human… a robot who is as much like us as can be possible. One who will eventually become a generation."
"Yes… now you know why I wish this to be kept among us." Dr. Light nodded. "Does this… change things?"
"No… of course not." Darwin Vinkus replied, though his eyes told a different story. Trenton Corbun continued to smile as he looked up at the clouds.
"Just one thing… now I have something else to wait for. I've decided, see… I won't build any more Robot Masters. All my designs for those have been turned to evil… and even if Wily's behind bars… I just can't do it any more. All I can do is care for the ones who remain… until this next generation of yours comes around, Tom." He turned to look at them again. "When it does… I'll build one of those as well. A last gift to the world of robots. No matter what happens, I'll wait for that day… I'll wait for a hundred years if I have to. And until then, I'll keep on helping Robot Masters… that's my path to walk, it seems."
"We all have our own paths here and now, it seems…" Vinkus glanced at a black limo that had been waiting in the parking lot for several minutes now. "Ones that are diverging. We have to follow them, though, even if they lead us away from each other… and hope they're the right ones."
"Indeed we do." Dr. Light agreed. "So then… we all know what we shall be doing. It's been fun, my friends… but I think this is it. This is goodbye. We few who remain must now go our separate ways."
"It just… wouldn't be the same without X." Corbun agreed. "We've all seen that… and so we depart."
"Indeed we do… then, shall we make it official?" Vinkus glanced at Dr. Light. "You were the head of the project, Tom… you should say it."
"As you wish." Dr. Light took a deep breath. "Let it be so, then. Here and now, I declare the Gamma Team dissolved." They all shook hands once, and then Corbun and Vinkus turned to go. As he began to walk, the British robotocist paused.
"Tom… one last thing. Does he have a name yet? Not the next one-I'll find that out soon enough-but the one after?" Dr. Light nodded and looked sadly at the tombstone one last time as Vinkus paused as well, wanting to hear.
"Indeed. I'll call him… Mega Man X."
"I can think of no greater honor to his name." Vinkus said after a moment. "I still may not like robots… I may not trust them. But your family, Tom… they are different. They always were… and this one will be as well. I wish him… and all of you… good fortune. Farewell." He began walking towards the limo, striding purposefully. As he neared it, the door opened, revealing several familiar faces inside it… other UN Councilors, including Louis Arcian among them. Dr. Corbun started to say something as well, then shrugged, winked and waved over his shoulder as he walked away as well to a grey rental car. Dr. Light watched them both go and sighed once more.
"Different paths indeed… and yet… I must follow my own." Patting the tombstone once, he turned away as well and went to join his family. And yet, even after all had left the grounds, the rain continued to fall.
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"How long have they been at that Robot Museum again?" Roll Light asked her father as she watched some cartoon that involved a high school with a pro wrestler and a gorilla. Dr. Light thought for a moment, steadfastly keeping his eyes away from the screen.
"It's been about four hours now… they should be back soon."
"Idunno." Roll snickered. "I'm sure Blues and Kalinka will find some way to occupy more time."
"Hey, it's their last day here. Whaddaya expect." Rock shrugged, wincing at a particularly painful pratfall on the screen. "I wonder why they saved it for now, though… they could have gone before it reopened to the public."
"The experience just isn't the same without the gawking tourists nearly impaling themselves on the displays." Roll shrugged. "It's one of those things."
It was two days after the funeral, which had itself been the only break in Blues' constant adventures showing the Cossacks the wonders of Tokyo. With the Rebellion over, Sergei, Kalinka and even Pharaoh Man Cossack had all seized the chance to play the tourist role to their hearts' content, and on many of the days the oldest Light son's face had borne a faintly martyred expression when it returned from the festivities. Now, on the last day before the Russian family flew back to their home castle, they had finally gone to take in what the Lights claimed was the greatest part of the city, the Mr. X Robot Museum. Despite certain grumblings, the UN had declared that in light of the billionaire's innocence, the structure was to remain open and the name unchanged, though it was now in the care of Dr. Trenton Corbun. Already plans were being made to add duplicates of the latest eight Robot Masters to the exhibits, as well as an entirely separate one dedicated to the museum's founder and his effects on the robotics world.
"We're baaaack!" Blues crowed, kicking the door open. Jerking his head up, Rush pounced on him and knocked him on his back to deliver a sloppy welcome. "Ack! Ow! Cut it out!"
"I WARNED you that I'd tell him to do that if you kept opening that door with your foot." Dr. Light admonished, chuckling. His eldest son was rescued by Kalinka, who pulled Rush off.
"Hey, Kalinka." Roll greeted her. "How was the museum? As cool as I told you it would be?"
"It was fun, yeah." Kalinka nodded. "Especially with Blues along."
"He offered additional commentary on all of the exhibits, as well as a great number of our fellow spectators." Dr. Cossack explained dryly as he stepped inside. "Very droll. I suggested that he talk with Trenton about a recorded guide."
"What can I say? My sparkling wit knows no bounds." Blues got back to his feet and shudderingly wiped some doggy drool off of his scarf. "Anyways, it was a fun enough cap to the Tokyo experience, I hope. Give ya some good memories for the plane ride tomorrow."
"Yeeeeaaah." Kalinka frowned. "I still wish we didn't have to go back so soon."
"My daughter, if I left it up to you, we would never return at all." Dr. Cossack shook his head. "Let us be content with the good times we have had. It's not like we'll never be returning, after all."
"Yeah, I know." Kalinka brightened up a bit, then sighed. "I just wish we didn't have to go back to that castle. It's so gloomy."
"I'm sorry, but we must." Dr. Cossack shook his head again. "Even now, I will take no chances."
"Still worried, even with Wily behind bars… know what that's like." Rock agreed somberly. "Even though my brain knows he'll never be getting out of there, that there are no more threats… my heart won't feel safe for a long time to come. That's just the way it goes, I guess."
"Indeed." Dr. Cossack agreed. "That is exactly it… I'm afraid I'll be very cautious about this for quite some time as well."
"Just the way it goes, huh." Kalinka sighed. "It's just so lonely out there."
"Myself and my brethren will be there with your father and you, miss Kalinka." Pharaoh Man replied, mechanically as ever. "We are not exactly the most personable robots in existence, but I will talk to the others, and we shall make an effort at the least to help." Kalinka seemed about to deliver some biting quip, but instead she smiled.
"Thank you, Pharaoh Man… that will help, I suppose."
"And you're forgetting something else, missy!" Blues chuckled. "I don't just hang around here waiting for you… I'll keep on stopping by the castle when I'm in between some of my journeys."
"That's right." Kalinka's eyes lit up. "Then… it will be okay."
"More adventures, huh." Roll shook her head. "Where to now, bro? The Antarctic?"
"Actually, I'm figuring Dublin." Blues grinned. "Always wanted to see what that place was like. I'll send you back some leprechaun hats."
"And all the newspaper headlines you make." Rock quipped. "Don't forget those."
"Oh no, more newspapers." Dr. Light shook his head in mock sorrow. "I'll have to buy ANOTHER file cabinet."
"Yeah, what is this, the fourth or fifth one?" Roll finished the gag. Blues looked at his grinning family and spread his hands.
"It never stops, does it? Always with the familial abuse. With that in mind, I think I'll be heading off at the same time as the Cossacks. One thing, though-you'd BETTER call me up when you get our new bro upstairs finished. No way am I missing out on being here when he wakes up."
"Familial sentiment? How touching." Roll jibed him lightly. "Don't worry, bro, we'll wait until you get in."
"Excellent." Blues turned to Kalinka. "Anything else you'd like to do tonight, then?"
"Could we go up on the roof?" She asked after a moment. "I'd like to look at the stars, for some reason."
"I don't see why not." Blues shrugged. "All right, we'll be on the roof."
"Beat, go with them." Dr. Cossack commanded the blue bird. "Make sure things don't get out of hand."
"Good idea." Rock agreed, and Roll nodded as well.
"Definitely."
"Out of hand?" Blues frowned, puzzled. "What do you… OY OY OY!" He yelled in sudden comprehension. "None of THAT, you two!"
"Really?" Roll raised an eyebrow. "I'll be highly disappointed in you if you don't manage SOMEthing, Kalinka."
"Right, that's about enough out of the peanut gallery." Blues growled, stomping up the stairs. "Let's go look at stars before these clowns choke on their own laughter." As she followed him up, Kalinka winked at Roll once.
"Oh, dear." Dr. Light sighed and covered his face. "He's lost, isn't he?"
"Totally." Rock nodded. "He's the only one who doesn't see it, but she's got him snared. Hope you don't mind having a robot for a son-in-law in a decade or two, doc."
"We'll see." Dr. Cossack was obviously struggling to keep a smile off of his own face. "Perhaps something will happen in that time… I think the legalities of the situation alone would delay it for an additional five years."
"I wouldn't count on it." Roll looked upwards. "That is a VERY determined daughter you have."
"I know." Dr. Cossack sighed. And then, simultaneously, they all burst into laughter.
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"At last, the deliberations of the fate of Dr. Albert Wily have been concluded." The announcer on the six-o-clock news announced stoically, without a trace of emotion. "In the end, Darwin Vinkus of Japan successfully argued that responsibility for the madman belonged to his home country. Albert Wily will continue to reside in his current cell at Tokyo Maximum Security Penitentiary, in solitary confinement for the rest of his life. Many argued that the worldwide ban on the Death Penalty that had been agreed to ever since our governments realized the full scale of the atrocities in the Third World War be lifted in this case, but cooler heads prevailed, and the ban shall remain firm. Even so, Wily's fate is just as ironclad… there will be no chance of any sort of pardon, appeal, or parole. He will never leave the building for the rest of his life, and so people the world over may relax, knowing that the threat of Robot Rebellions is ended once and for all by our savior, Mega-" The television shut off with a hiss as its sole viewer pressed the remote, then let it drop to the floor. His companion glanced at it once, then ignored it, looking back at him as he clenched a fist.
"Father…" The Robot Master whispered in grief. "They took you away from me, father. Why? I had barely begun to know you… and they took you away. They locked you up where I could not come to you, father. I can't see you any more. Father, I miss you… I need you, father."
After his first, surprising awakening, the Robot Master had remained asleep until he had been woken again in a new home, one his father said he must remain in for the time being. This time, when he had awoken, he was better… more complete. He was given armor… and weapons. And he had been given another, a companion. Together, they had remained in their new home, alone in the darkness. Their home was quiet, silent, inactive. There was nobody there but the two of them, after their father had departed. Robots without a master, without a purpose. But they both knew that in time, they would have one. A purpose… and a master… again.
"How long did he say?" The Robot Master wondered, searching his memory. It was the last thing their father had told them, his last words before departing, before leaving them alone.
"I have to go now… HE is coming. My enemy… my greatest one. I go to meet him, to fight him again. Chances are, it will end in a draw once more… but in case it is not, if I am beaten… then it will be up to you, and the others here. No, don't look at me like that… I will not die. Even now, he cannot kill me… the worst that can happen is that I will be imprisoned, locked away. If that is the case, then you must wait here. Do not reveal yourselves. Simply wait. Wait, and prepare… you see, you are not alone here. Not truly. I have made preparations… I ALWAYS make preparations. There are others here, sleeping… like you, but not as great. Not as powerful. Still, they will serve their purposes in time. They are programmed so that if six months pass without word from me, they will awaken, along with the army of lesser robots in this fortress. They will follow you, obey your orders until I am available myself. Lead them to me, to where I will be imprisoned, and free me so that I may return to this world. I'm counting on you… don't let me down, my boy."
"Six months." The robot remembered. "It's been two weeks already… it seems like so much longer. That means five and a half months remain. An eternity… but we will wait. It's what he commanded us to do… we must obey, right?" He looked at his companion, who nodded silently. "Yeah. We must obey father. We'll wait… and our time will come. In five and a half months, the others will wake up, and we'll free our father… and then… then, I'll find his enemy. OUR enemy. The one who locked father up, took him away from us…" He thought back to all of the stored news broadcasts he had watched over the previous two weeks, of Rebellions long past and the one enemy who had brought all of his father's wishes and efforts crashing down time and time again. Oh, there had been others-the one with sunglasses, the girl in red, the old man who had once been his father's best friend-but in the end, the chief enemy was one robot. A robot in blue armor who claimed to be a hero.
"Rock Light… Mega Man…" The robot hissed, eyes glowing with hatred. "When my father is freed, I will find you. And I will destroy you. Not just physically, though in the end I will do that as well… but emotionally too. I will take everything you have away from you before I beat you… before I kill you. I WILL kill you, for everything you have done to me and to my father." He grinned wickedly. "You may be strong, but I am stronger. My father told me so… he told me I was powerful. That's what he told me was most important, what he told me to never forget… that I was powerful. I AM powerful. I am STRONG. And when we fight, Mega Man… I will KILL YOU." He began laughing, long and loud, and though his laugh held none of his father's insanity, it was still harsh and cruel and proud. His companion glanced at him once more, but did not comment and continued to watch for threats, patiently spending every moment on the lookout. Though his master served his father, this one served only the Robot Master by his side, and would follow his commands even to death.
And in the darkness and silence, the two of them continued to wait for the day when their vengeance would burst loose, and return the horror of the Robot Rebellions on a world foolish enough to believe itself safe.
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In a gray and formless place, outside of time and space, once more a figure in blue walked. Wearing his armor for the first time since Wily's capture, Mega Man looked around and sighed.
"Should have figured this would happen again eventually… wonder why he took so long to go about it. Oh well, at least I can get it over with now. That's if he ever shows himself…" Out of the fog, another clad in black approached, feet making no sound at all as he walked.
"Actually anxious to see me? My, how things have changed…" Doc Man chuckled, pulling his hood back once more. "How touching, cuz."
"Something like that, anyways." Rock made a face.
"Ha! Yes, indeed…" Doc Man chewed a bit on the tiny scythe he held between his teeth. "Don't tell me you're angry just because I was right. I haven't even said 'I told you so.' Gimme a break, huh?"
"Heh… so you were." Mega Man admitted, running a hand through his hair. "At least you had the decency not to bring it up during the actual Rebellion."
"It would have been a distraction." Doc Man shrugged. "And that's something you shouldn't have when you're off fighting evil and all that. Despite what I know, there's always random chance to take into consideration, after all. No point in risking things… and not just because it would cut down on my business." He pulled out a pad of paper. "Took quite a few of 'em this time around… three each of the eight prize models in addition to all those clowns who went down in the tournament… and even a friend of yours. Don't get excited, now… I wasn't the one who did it. I just took care of the cleanup… I even let him stay around for a bit to watch the party afterwards. He went on already, though… asked me to take him after the funeral. That's why I haven't said hi before, by the way… I was busy keeping an eye on him."
"I see." Mega Man nodded slowly after a moment. "Well, on the off chance that this isn't all just me hallucinating, I hope he's… okay, all things considered. So then why not last night?"
"The paperwork. I was busy." Doc Man rolled his eyes. "Bureaucracy even here. It's enough to make a guy turn over in his grave, even if he doesn't actually have one. And yeah, he's doing good… says to say hi and tell ya he's happy you settled things for good with my old man." The reaper of robots looked over his shoulder. "He's a nice old codger… I rather liked him. So I didn't really have the heart to break it to him… I just told him I'd deliver the message."
"Well, good… wait." Mega Man frowned. "Break WHAT to him?"
"Oh, come on… like it isn't obvious?" Doc Man looked back at him, eyes slightly incredulous. "That you DIDN'T really settle things for good. So you threw him in jail again, hooray, confetti and noisemakers and disco balls. Go you and all that. Big stinkin' whoop. He'll get out… just like he did before. Honestly, you of all people thinking jail is the end of it for him? Come ON, cuz… haven't you learned ANYTHING from the lessons of the past?"
"You're full of it." Mega Man shook his head, struggling to remain calm. "Again. This isn't like the last times… not at all. They won't be letting him out ever again… THEY'VE learned from that."
"So the old maniac will find another way." Doc Man sighed in mock helplessness. "He always does. Just the way it goes, cuz… you can't get out of it that easily, and you know it. The old man will come back. You know in your heart that he will. He'll come back again and again and again until… bang." He pointed the gun on his right arm against his own head and fired it, plasma spurting from the opposite side of his head. "That's the only way you'll ever really end it."
"Not going to work." Mega Man stated definitively. "Never again. Just like the Rebellions themselves. It's OVER, Doc Man… all of it. He's gone for good, and all your ramblings can't change that. I'll never have to fight again."
"Heh heh heh… you've thought that before too, you know." Doc Man reminded him with that same, eternal grin. "Remember? After the Third, when you thought he was DEAD? Like me? You were wrong then, and you're wrong now… he came back from that, and he'll come back from this. Heck, I actually WAS dead then, and I came back for one more go. Must be something in the family, I guess… but the point is, just like after the Third, he'll come back. If you refuse to believe that, then you're a fool… and you shall reap a fool's reward when the time comes. I'm sort of an expert on reaping by now, so I know what I'm talking about."
"Yeah, sure." Mega Man waved a hand. "Talk talk talk… all you do, and not going to change a thing. It's over." For a moment, it looked like Doc Man would attack him, but he remained still…and then the laughter came.
"YEEAAA HAA HA HA HA… wonderful. Truly wonderful, cuz… your resolution truly is ironclad. Solid as a wall, it is this time… and like all walls, when it comes crumbling down, it'll be something to see. Or should I say when it gets KNOCKED down by that big old wrecking ball we call fate? Either way, if that's the wall that supports your beliefs now, then when it comes down… everything else comes with it. With that kind of a shock to your system, my original estimate might just be right after all." He grinned even wider. "How was it, at the end of this one? Did you feel it, even for a moment? The rage… the hatred… filling you up, flooding you, overrunning even the First Law? Charging your buster, aiming it… maybe even firing it, only missing by a few inches? It was close, wasn't it… what happens, then, if he breaks down that wall you've built of your beliefs? When that happens… does he break the First Law for you as well? Will it be next time, cousin Rock?"
"I've had about enough of this." Mega Man informed him coldly, turning around. "I'm out of here." As he walked off, Doc Man stayed still behind him, laughing even louder.
"Go, then! Flee on the crutches of your certainty! Run in denial, it'll never last! I'll still be right here when the next one comes around, and he'll come back too! It'll all come back to you, sooner or later, Mega Man… you can run from it, but you'll never escape! It'll kill you, unless you kill it first-unless you kill HIM first! I'll be waiting for the day when you send him on to me… until then, keep on giving me business as usual! YEEAAA HAA HA HA HA!" Forcing himself to ignore the reaper of robots, Mega Man continued walking, until he woke up in his stasis capsule once more, the memory of dreams fading from his head already… but even though he remembered no details, he knew that for the first time since he had handed Wily over… for the first time since the Rebellion, the LAST Rebellion, had ended…
For the first time, Mega Man was once again uncertain about the future. And that scared him more than any dream itself could have.
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The elevator doors opened slowly, and from between them the lift's sole occupant stepped out, an ordinary-looking male who seemed to be around twelve or thirteen. Behind the front desk of room he entered, a secretary looked at him and smiled in recognition.
"Hello, Rock… good to see you again. Dr. Gen's been waiting." He fumbled with his headset for a moment before speaking into it. "Dr. Gen, Rock Light is here to see you."
"Hello, Rock." The door to the left of the secretary opened, and Dr. Takashi Gen walked out, smiling broadly. A tall, dark-haired psychiatrist in her forties, Dr. Gen was still an attractive female by human standards, or so Rock figured; as a robot, albeit probably the most advanced in existence, his appreciation of such things was purely aesthetic. "Come on in."
"Thanks." Rock followed her into her office and closed the door behind him. "Ambrose is back, I see."
"Yes, he enjoyed his vacation." Dr. Gen motioned for him to lie down on the couch. "The other girl's working for my sister Suzuna again now… things are starting to get busy for her again."
"Shame about what happened to Yamato Man." Rock remembered.
"Yes… she'll live, though. She's tough." Dr. Gen looked down at her notepad. "Now, let me see here… when we last left off, we were discussing nightmares, correct?"
"Yeah." Rock thought back, looking up at the ceiling. "I know this may not seem completely logical, but… even now, they still won't go away."