Rhythm was glad to be riding on Rush instead of walking here. The Mega City Metal Refinery was one of the hottest buildings around, and now it was like somebody had cranked the heat up to eleven. Rhythm felt like every square inch of her was on fire, which was really bad. It wasn't that she disliked heat, it was more like she had gotten more burns than she could count, all by accident. So being in the metal refinery was like a nightmare.
Rhythm gulped when she noticed a smelting pit that had overflowed. She didn't want to think what would happen if she landed in there. But she did want to think about everything that had happened. It seemed to her that all the Robot Masters, next generation Robot Masters to be precise, we're just itching for a fight, but they didn't necessarily want one. They were just doing it, but for what reasons? Dr. Regis probably, but what did they really want? Rhythm would have to think about that later because a huge amount of molten steel nearly crashed into her.
"Hurry, Rush!" Rhythm exclaimed. The robo-pooch moved out of the way just in time. Rhythm looked back, fear of burning getting bigger. The molten steel had landed on a computer and was now melting it away to nothing. She shook her head, just lovely. Rush suddenly started barking, Rhythm looked down at him, just before he sped up. Rhythm gave a little cry of surprise. "What is it, Rush?" she exclaimed. The robo-pooch simply went faster. Rhythm listened hard, did Rush hear something she didn't? The sound of screams confirmed it.
Rush zoomed up to a platform that wasn't covered in lava yet, but it was steadily approaching. A couple of people, they looked like refinery workers, were on it, calling for help. Rhythm quickly switched out the Rhythm Buster out for the Vapour Cloud, maybe some ice would cool things down. Light blue and yellow replaced her usual ones.
"Everybody back up!" she exclaimed, knowing her shot was still a little poor. The workers looked up, most of them seemed terrified, but one of them got them to back up. Rhythm concentrated, knowing that she probably wouldn't get another chance. She sent the cool cloud down at the burning pool. As the cloud got cooler, Rhythm felt herself cooling down as well. The Vapor Cloud dropped down, stopping the hot lake in its tracks. Rhythm smiled, excited at having saved some people. She looked down at Rush. "Come down slowly, Rush, I think these people are a little spooked at us." she said. Rush barked and gently eased down below. Rhythm gently hopped off Rush. She looked at the workers, they looked at her surprised and worried.
"Who are you?" one of them asked. Rhythm wasn't sure what to say. The same worker that had gotten the others to back up came forwards.
"Look y'all she saved us, don't bombard her with questions. All of you, try to climb the ladder now that the lava is cooled, who knows when another wave is coming by, get to it." he commanded the workers. Rhythm noticed that he seemed to be in a higher rank than the others. The others obeyed. Rhythm watched them climb up a partially melted ladder. Rhythm was about to back up when the man set his hand on her shoulder. "I know who you are, Meg, thanks." he whispered. Rhythm looked at the guy, not knowing who he was. He gave her a smile. "I'm a friend of your dad's name's Fire. Now you be careful." he said before racing for the ladder. Rhythm watched Fire leave. Rush was wagging his tail excitedly. Rhythm smiled.
"You know him, boy?" she asked. Rush barked happily.
Later, Rhythm was nearly at the third Robot Master's location. There was way too much interference in the refinery, so Rhythm couldn't talk with her dad, but luckily he could still see what she was getting herself into. Rush barked, making Rhythm look up. They had nearly gotten to the back of the refinery. It was cooler back here, because there were less furnaces. Heaps of refined metal lay scattered around, and in the very center of them was another Robot Master. Rush swooped down without Rhythm needed to tell him to. She smiled, they were starting to understand each other. She decided to try something fancy. Just before Rush landed, Rhythm hopped off of him, landing with a loud clang. The Robot Master whirled around, looking a little startled.
"Don't scare me like that!" he exclaimed. Rhythm grinned, embarrassed.
"My bad." she said. The Robot Master looked her over, Rhythm looked him over too. His armour was the color of molten steel.
"Are you the one who broke off my contact with Caution Man and Vapor Woman?" the Robot Master asked. Rhythm nodded.
"I didn't want to, but they wanted to fight me." she explained. The Robot Master's eyes went wide.
"Fighting is our job, and to me it looks like its yours too." he said. Rhythm extended a hand.
"It doesn't have to be, we don't have to fight if you don't want to." she offered. The Robot Master frowned.
"My name is Alloy Man, and I'm really sorry, but I think I need to fight. Dr. Regis wouldn't like it of I didn't." he said, raising a weapon. Rhythm frowned.
"Fine." she said. She didn't want to fight much longer, the heat was already making her a little grumpy. She sent some cover fire, then switched to the Caution Burst. If it worked on Vapor Woman, it might work on Alloy Man. Turns out it didn't, once the cones were set up, Alloy Man simply coated himself in a metallic shield. He then sent it out in a burst, sending the cones at full velocity at Rhythm. Rhythm crashed backwards into a heap of metal, remaining electricity from the cones coursing through her. Rush barked urgently, and rushed at Alloy Man. Rhythm almost laughed at Alloy Man's face. Rush had chomped down on his foot, and now Alloy Man couldn't shake him off. Rhythm switched from the Caution Burst to the Vapor Cloud.
"Hold him there, Rush!" Rhythm exclaimed, sending the cloud overhead. She waited for just the right moment. The cloud condensed into the ice. "Get away now, boy!" Rhythm exclaimed at the last second. Rush bolted, Alloy Man was too confused to react in time. He froze solid. Rhythm charged up the Rhythm Buster, and sent it flying. It shattered the ice around Alloy Man, and made him spark. Rhythm came forwards. Alloy Man looked at her with a mixed look of sadness and satisfaction.
"I sent a transmission to my remaining siblings, they know you're coming now." he whispered. Rhythm looked down.
"You can get fixed, all of you. You don't need to fight." she replied. Alloy Man smiled.
"I'd like that." he said just before coming off-line. Rhythm bent down, Rush walked up beside her. Rhythm gave him a pat.
"We don't have to do this much longer, we're nearly half-done." she said, more trying to convince herself than Rush. She set her hand onto Alloy Man's weapon.
The Alloy Shield.
