At Albert's workstation in Nexus Technologies, he is typing at his computer, before scrolling with his mouse, as the screen is shown blueprints labelled "Nexus Technologies". He clicks on the mouse, with a property inspection report appearing on screen, which he scrolls through.
Albert sighs and whispers, "Still no hint of where an underground floor could be, if it exists."
Albert then notices Palmer approaching, before Albert quickly clicks on his mouse, closing the property report and the blueprints.
Palmer sees Albert looking over to him, "Mr. Reece."
Before Albert could respond, a voice behind them interrupted, "It's been nearly a year…" They turn to see a TV mounted on the wall, as a NG Bot news reporter talks, "Since the accident that decimated Proto City, leaving behind a haunting wreck…"
"Proto City…" Albert says to himself, before looking to the side. "That might be it."
"Proto City"
"It's been nearly a year, since the N1 satellite was set to be launched into space…"
On a screen, a large satellite is connected to massive rockets on a launching pad.
"But something went wrong," the narration continues, as the screen now shows a group of NG Bots are at a set of controls, when suddenly their earpieces turn red, then rise up from their stations and start to smash and swipe the controls. "All of sudden, all the NG Bots in Proto City seemed to have lost control and attacked the controls."
The screen frizzles, before showing an entire city, as explosions go off in the front of the city and then a massive explosion spreads out throughout the city, "The succeeding attack by the NG Bots themselves led to the exploding of the N1 satellite and the decimating of Proto City. No humans were presented in the city, and all NG Bot workers and residents were destroyed."
The screen then shows massive towers around sunken buildings, submerged in large lake, with laser beams between each of the towers, "Afterward, Proto City was deemed a complete lost by Nexus Technologies, and they walled it off with a laser gate, forbidding entrance to it from humans and NG Bots alike."
The video ends, as Albert leans back in Lucy's chair, with his arms crossed.
"What are you doing?"
Albert turns to see Lucy approaching, "I'm looking into Proto City. It might help with figuring out Nexus Technologies."
Lucy presses a couple buttons on the keyboard, closing the video window, revealing a window that is analyzing a falcon and another window analyzing a gorilla, "Proto City was destroyed. There's nothing to be gained from it."
"I'm not so certain," Albert gets up from the chair, with Lucy seating down in it. "Besides, if there's even a small chance we could discover something from Proto City, we should do it." Albert turns to face her. "Especially since we have no luck finding Nexus Technologies' underground level."
"It's too dangerous," Lucy says, as she pulls a Data Key from a device connected to the computer, before handing it to Albert. "Here, this Data Key is done."
Albert takes the Data Key, but Lucy doesn't let go.
"Now, don't go to Proto City," Lucy says.
"Okay, I understand," Albert says, as Lucy releases the Data Key, and allows Albert to take it.
Albert gives a small wave, before turning to leave.
Lucy turns back in her chair, sighs, and places an earpiece into her ear, "We might have trouble." She starts to look at the remaining Data Key in the connecting device.
Tye enters his hideout, going straight to the computer, "Did you summon me?"
"I did," Tye's partner says from the computer.
"You never did that before…"
"I'm aware, but I have an important job for you to do," the partner starts. "You need to make sure no one goes near a certain location."
Tye tilts his head, "What location?"
At what's left of Proto City, a massive lake surrounded by a large lake and the massive laser gate, a bus is driving acrossing a nearby road.
Albert is the only passenger on the bus, which is driven by a NG Bot bus driver.
The bus driver sees Albert in the rearview mirror, as he looks out a window, "May I ask you something."
"Oh, sure, anything," Albert looks over to the bus driver.
"Why are you on this bus?" The bus driver asks. "No one ever takes the route going past Proto City."
"I guess I'm… curious about Proto City," Albert answers. "Do you know anything about it?"
"No, sir, I don't," the bus driver responds. "All NG Bots that were stationed in Proto City were destroyed during the incident."
"Yeah, I heard about that," Albert looks back out the window.
"Why do you seem… displeased?" The bus driver asks.
"I just don't like hearing about NG Bots being destroyed," Albert answers.
"It is my understanding that they were all restored, although their memory of the incident was lost," the bus driver says.
"Even if a NG Bot can be restored, that doesn't mean they should be destroyed without thought," Albert looks at him. "At least, that's how I feel."
The bus driver smiles.
Suddenly, small explosions go off around the bus, causing it to come to a stop.
Albert gets up and approaches the front of the bus, "What's going on?"
Albert and the bus driver then see a group of Corrupbots approaching them. Albert then pulls the lever to open the door and rushes out.
"This isn't a scheduled stop," the bus driver says.
"Go, get out of here," Albert says, as he gets off the bus, unaware of someone entering the back of the bus.
Albert kicks away a Corrupbot's blaster, before he elbows the Corrupbot. He then spins another Corrupbot and grabs a third Corrupbot's blaster arm as it tries to aim.
"I can't abandon a passenger," the bus driver says, when suddenly a Viral Encoder is placed on his waist, with his eyes glow.
"This will get rid of that ridiculous concern," Tye holds up a Data Key and places it into the Viral Encoder.
"Bat Key! Corruption!"
Albert flips a Corrupbot onto its back and back kicks another Corrupbot, before seeing the bus, "Hey, who are you?"
"Someone you wouldn't have to worry about for much longer," Tye says.
At that moment, Batbot, who is covered in silver and purple armor, with a bat-like head and large wings on his back, stands up from the driver's seat, "I am Batbot. Ready to terminate."
"Oh no…" Albert says, taking a couple steps back.
Batbot launches himself out of the bus and slams against Albert, knocking him back.
Batbot lands a couple feet away in front of Albert, who returns to his feet, "You don't have to do this."
"It beats driving unappreciated humans all around town," Batbot starts to walk forward, with Albert backing up.
"I know you don't want to hurt anyone," Albert says, as he spins and back up into the woods.
"Then why do I do this?" Batbot holds out his hands, before shooting energy daggers at Albert.
Explosions go off around Albert, who is knocked off his feet and drops the Rising Hopper Data Key. Albert crawls and grabs the Data Key, before turning to see Batbot standing over him.
"Goodbye," Batbot holds up a hand, before suddenly he is kicked in the back and sends flying several feet.
Landing next to Albert is Vulcan Rider, who holds up his TransBlaster, "Goodbye."
Running up to Vulcan Rider is Valkyrie Rider, "Let's end this quickly."
Vulcan Rider nods his head, before the two run ahead. Albert returns to his feet and watches them.
Valkyrie Rider charges at Batbot, as Vulcan Rider fires at him. Upon reaching him, Valkyrie Rider elbows Batbot, followed by Vulcan Rider kicks him.
Batbot is forced back a couple steps, as Vulcan Rider runs up to him. Batbot pushes Vulcan Rider to the side, but Valkyrie Rider kicks him, then spins around and swipes at him with her TransBlaster. Batbot strikes at her, but Vulcan Rider pulls her back and tries to aim his TransBlaster, before having to flip to avoid a low arm swipe.
Vulcan Rider flips back to Valkyrie Rider and they both fire, blasting Batbot.
Batbot falls to a knee, "This is batty." Batbot then jumps up.
"Hold on!" Vulcan Rider calls out, as he and Valkyrie Rider run ahead.
Batbot flies up to a tree and lands on a branch, hanging upside down, as Vulcan Rider and Valkyrie Rider stop and aim their TransBlasters, before they fire.
"This is not my mission," Batbot spins around before he flies off. "So I'm out."
"We'll get him next time," Valkyrie Rider says, as she and Vulcan Rider hold down their TransBlasters.
"Yeah," Vulcan Rider looks over to the side. "What about him?"
"Yeah, what…" Valkyrie Rider says, as she follows her friend, as they both pull their Data Keys out of their TransBlasters and their bodies glow.
Followed by a bright glow, Lucy and Ray hurry over to Albert.
"Albert, I told you, Proto City's dangerous," Lucy tells him.
"Technically, I'm not in Proto City, yet," Albert says.
"This isn't a joke," Ray says.
"I know, but I'm confident that I could find something," Albert says.
"You are wasting your time," Ray says.
"Perhaps, but this is something I need to do," Albert says.
"Very well," Lucy says, with Albert and Ray looking at her. "Just be careful. Okay?"
Albert smiles, "Okay, and thanks."
Albert then runs off.
"Why did you let him go, especially knowing what you know?" Ray asks.
"We can't try to control his life, Ray," Lucy says. "We have to let him make his own choices. Learn his own lessons."
"Okay, but I'm still gonna keep an eye on him, so I won't have his destruction on my conscience," Ray says.
"Sure thing, tough guy," Lucy teases..
Ray starts to walk away, when Lucy holds out a Data Key in front of him.
"Take this, the Power Kong," Lucy offers, with Ray taking the Data key. "And you be careful too."
Ray looks to Lucy and nods his head.
Lucy watches as Ray runs off, before walking away, unaware of Tye, in the distance of the woods, watching her.
At the edge of Proto City, Albert and Ray get off a boat at the shore.
Albert notices another boat on the shore, "I thought no one's allowed to come here."
"They aren't," Ray looks from the boat to ahead to see a woman going over the hill. "Who there?!"
The woman hurries over the other side of the hill, disappearing, with Albert and Ray taking a couple steps forward.
"Was that a NG Bot?" Albert asks.
"A NG Bot?" Ray repeats.
"I'm pretty sure…" Albert responds.
Suddenly, explosions go off around them, with Albert and Ray get defensive and see a group of Corrupbots charging them with blasters.
"Corrupbots?" Ray catches a Corrupbot's blaster swipe, spins it around, sidekicks the Corrupbot, while pulling the blaster free and uses it to swipe aside another Corrupbot. "It can't be a coincidence."
"I'm sure it is," Albert ducks under a Corrupbot's blaster swipe, kicks it away, before roundhouse kicks another Corrupbot, and then spin kicks a third Corrupbot.
Ray blasts a Corrupbot with the taken blaster, "I'll see about that."
Ray then runs ahead, throws the blaster at another Corrupbot, knocking it down and flips ahead.
Albert spins away from a couple Corrupbot, "And I guess I'll handle this."
Albert holds his Data Key in front of his belt buckle, which shifts and expands into the Zero-1 Transbelt. He then holds the Data Key up to the Transbelt.
"Accessing."
The mechanical grasshopper lands in front of Albert, as he crosses his arms and opens the Data Key, "Access Code: Zero-1!"
He inserts the Data Key into the side of the Transbelt, "Rising Hopper!"
The grasshopper turns into energy and flies onto Albert, turning him into Zero-1 Rider.
Zero-1 Rider holds up his arms, "Any chance of we're not doing this?"
The Corrupbots start to charge him.
"I didn't think so," Zero-1 Rider says, before he roundhouse kicks.
In an old computer lab, which has destroyed equipment all around, Ray hurries through, until he reaches the woman and grabs her arm.
"Hold on," Ray says, with the female NG Bot turning around, and he lets go. "Wait, I've seen you before. You're that reporter NG Bot."
"I am Scoop, NG Bot for Neutron City Daily News," she introduces herself, giving a slight bow.
"What are you doing here?" Ray asks.
"My boss…" Scoop starts.
"A human?" Ray asks.
"Yes, sir," Scoop continues. "My boss wanted a new angle on the Proto City anniversary story, so I came here on my own, trying to learn more about what happened."
"You came here, on your own?" Ray asks, with Scoop nodding her head. "It's illegal to come to Proto City. A NG Bot shouldn't be able to break laws like that."
Suddenly a couple Corrupbots burst into the room, with Ray and Scoop seeing them.
"Great, this is what I don't need today," Ray says, as he holds up a Data Key and holds it in front of his belt buckle, which shifts and expands into the TransBlaster.
Ray then holds up the TransBlaster, opens his Data Key and inserts it into the back of the TransBlaster.
"Accessing Power Kong."
Ray aims the TransBlaster with both hands, "Access Code: Vulcan!"
Ray fires a gorilla head projectile, before lowering his arms, with the projectile flies back to him, turns into energy and turns him into Vulcan Rider, with black armor, including two large metal fists over his hands.
Vulcan Rider looks over to Scoop, "This is off the record."
"Acknowledge," Scoop responds.
Two Corrupbots hold up their blasters and fire. Vulcan Rider walks forward, holding up the fists to shield himself before spreading them. Vulcan Rider punches one Corrupbot to the side, knocking it down, before swinging a fist at the other Corrupbot, sending it flying against a wall.
Vulcan Rider punches at another charging Corrupbot, before punching another Corrupbot in the chest, sending it flying backward, hitting two Corrupbots as it passes. Vulcan Rider then backhands an attacking Corrupbot, before he pulls another Corrupbot into a spin.
Zero-1 Rider performs a horizontal strike with the Case Saber, striking two Corrupbots.
"I'm sorry about this," Zero-1 Rider holds up a Data Key and inserts it into the bottom of the Case Saber. "But you'll be restored."
"Accessing Biting Shark."
Zero-1 Rider holds the Case Saber back, as energy forms on it.
"Rider Jaw Strike!" He pulls the trigger, and then strikes five Corrupbots, as rows of large teeth appear over the Case Saber, then strikes them again.
Zero-1 Rider holds down the Case Saber, "I'll better catch up to Ray."
"Look what I found," Batbot flies toward Zero-1 Rider, who notices him, before he starts to throw large energy orbs at him, causing explosions around the Rider.
Zero-1 Rider is thrown back by the explosions, before he starts to get up, when Batbot flies past him. Seating down, Zero-1 Rider looks over to him, "Why don't you go back to Gotham?"
Batbot flies in place, "Your not my mission either." Batbot turns and starts to fly away.
"Get back here!" Zero-1 Rider starts to run and jumps up, reaching out to Batbot's foot, but he ends up falling down. "I can't jump high enough to reach him."
Zero-1 Rider holds out the red Data Key, "Perhaps this will help."
Zero-1 Rider gets up, holds up the Data Key, pressing its button, and then holds it in front of the Zero-1 Transbelt.
"Accessing."
The N2 Satellite shoots down a beam to Earth.
"I guess I have a few extra minutes for you," Batbot flies down toward Zero-1 Rider, when suddenly a large, mechanical falcon flies past Batbot, knocking him back.
Batbot then starts to fly away with the mechanical falcon giving chase, as the sudden speed knocks Zero-1 Rider down. The falcon slams into Batbot again, before flying past him again and then slams into Batbot, forcing him through the air before finally flying around Zero-1 Rider and then back up.
"Okay, then," Zero-1 Rider holds up the opened Data Key and inserts it into the side of his Transbelt.
"Flying Falcon."
Zero-1 Rider lowers his arms, as the falcon flies around behind him, and his armor shifts apart, then the falcon flies at Zero-1 Rider's back, separates into five pieces, turns energy, and forms new armor on Zero-1 Rider.
Zero-1 Rider then jumps straight up and flies up into the sky, hovering.
"This is getting to the birds," Batbot flies forward.
"Alright! Up, up, and away!" Zero-1 Rider flies forward.
The two fly at each other, collide, spins around and fall to the ground. They then fly across the ground, before colliding and fly back up. They continue to fly over the ruins, bumping against each other, before Zero-1 Rider flies ahead. Zero-1 Rider then jumps from one sunken skyscraper to another, before flying straight up, with Batbot chasing him.
Batbot catches up, with Zero-1 Rider spins around. Batbot starts to shoot a barrage of energy daggers from his wings, with Zero-1 Rider flying away to dodge. Zero-1 Rider flies across the lake's surface as the energy daggers hit the water. Zero-1 Rider grabs a damaged i-beam sticking out of the lake, spins around to dodge Batbot as he flies past, before letting go and flying after him.
Zero-1 Rider collides with Batbot, grabbing him with his legs, before spinning head over leg and releasing Batbot, sending him flying.
Zero-1 Rider turns and then flies ahead.
Vulcan Rider spins around, as Batbot crashes through the ceiling, slamming onto the ground, with Zero-1 Rider lands in after him.
"Zero-1?" Vulcan Rider looks ahead.
Scoop brushes debris off a computer station, "This computer still functions." Scoop's earpieces glow slightly. "Interfacing with hardware."
Batbot pushes Zero-1 Rider off him, "No, you don't."
Batbot fires energy daggers from his wings.
"No!" Zero-1 Rider pushes Batbot to the side, causing his attack to be off center.
"Whoa!" Vulcan Rider falls back, as the energy daggers hit the computer station, damaging it badly, with sparks going off.
Scoop steps back, "Interface cancelled. Computer ceased to function."
Batbot tilts his head slightly, "I guess that counts as a mission completed."
"Not yet," Vulcan Rider tabs the back of his TransBlaster, before turning to face Zero-1 Rider and Batbot, bringing his arms together, as energy gathers on the TransBlaster in one fist. "Rider Fist Blast!"
Vulcan Rider pulls the trigger, sending both fists flying, which flies around Zero-1 Rider, who falls back, slams into Batbot, sending him flying upward and through a couple ceilings and into the sky, before Batbot is consumed in a large explosion.
The fists then fly back through the ceiling and to Vulcan Rider's arms. Zero-1 Rider returns to his feet and watches Vulcan Rider, as he looks at the destroyed computer station.
Scoop walks over, as Zero-1 Rider approaches her, "Are you okay."
"I still function, but am I making a mistake in my conclusion that the corrupted NG Bot was after me?" Scoop asks.
"I think you are right," Zero-1 Rider says. "But why?"
"Why indeed," Vulcan Rider whispers, continuing to watch the damaged computer station.
Later on, on the bridge outside Proto City, Ray is watching the laser gate in the distance.
Ray turns to see Albert talking with Scoop, before sighing, "I'll see you around, Albert."
Albert turns to wave at Ray, who is already walking away.
"Thanks again, for protecting me," Scoop says to Albert, who turns back to her.
"Oh, don't mention it, but I am sorry you didn't get your story," Albert says.
"But I did get some information," Scoop says, as her earpieces blink a couple times. "I just uploaded a list to your phone."
Albert holds up his R-Phone, looking at the screen, "What? But why?"
"As a NG Bot reporter, I have access to the network of identity files," Scoop starts. "I realized you're an employee at Nexus Technologies. And I came to the conclusion you came to Proto City for a reason relating to Nexus Technologies. Was I mistaking?"
"No, you weren't mistaking," Albert smiles.
"And don't worry, this will be off the record," Scoop smiles.
"Thanks," Albert says, before looking back at the R-Phone's screen. "So, what is this?"
"It's a list of everyone who was involved in the early development of NG Bots, Proto City, and the N1 satellite," Scoop explains. "But most of them had either passed away or moved away from Neutron City. Except for one, who still lives in Neutron City."
Albert tabs his R-Phone's screen twice, before reading a name, "Ulysses…"