It had been three days since Pandora's liberation from Model W and Prometheus' attack on the Guardian Base.

When Neal had fought Prometheus, he had lost because of a few key factors. One, he was in a weakened state from freeing Pandora from the Model W. Two, his armored trench coat was severely damaged beforehand. And three, he hadn't had that much to eat since his little undersea adventure.

Model E revealed once again that the reason his armored trench coat was so damaged at the beginning of the fight was because the original article of clothing that it was built upon was missing the sleeves and shoulders.

Now that he had fully recovered, he would be able to go to Inner Peace, his old stomping grounds, and hunt down a new trench coat to replace the one that had been shredded. It had been around a week since Neal had "disappeared from the radar", so now would be as good a time to go as any.

Pandora wasn't 100% ready to be moving about on her own (and still confined to her bed and only able to move around for short periods), and if Vent and Aile went with him he might draw unnecessary attention to himself.

With a bit of persuasion, Prairie finally allowed for the transfer of Neal to Inner Peace via Transerver. After all she didn't want her new Chosen One jumping out of the Guardian Base.

Again.

Mega Man ZX Soundtrack - Brilliant Show Window

At the edge of the walls within, Neal had been transported to Inner Peace, his old stomping grounds from times before. He wore the same pants as he had before, but now he was wearing a white T-shirt, since he no longer had a trench coat (which had become his signature garment).

"Ah, its good to be back," he sighed to himself as he looked around. "Old place hasn't changed a bit."

"Now remember Neal, if you run into trouble, don't be afraid to call in for backup," Prairie instructed through the communicator he received. It was pretty much the same model as the ones Vent and Aile used, except slightly more streamlined since it was the newest model.

"Got it," Neal replied. "Just remember to keep an eye on Pandora for me okay?"

Prairie sighed. "Don't worry, I will. Now hurry up and get your shopping done. The longer you're out in the field, the longer you're vulnerable to your enemies."

Neal nodded. "Yes Prairie."

As he cut off the link, he stepped out into the sunlight and took a deep breath in. "Hello Inner Peace," he said to himself.

As soon as he got to higher ground, he took the moment to look over to the center of Inner Peace, where the Slither Inc. main office building once stood above everything, just like how Serpent had once stood above all other humans and reploids before his defeat. The outer area around its base had been cleared and re-purposed for new businesses, hotels, office buildings, etc. However what really bugged him was what stood at the center.

A large gold-plated statue of the late Serpent. Its seemed to mock him with its very existance, the way it stood above everyone with its fake smile that had fooled and killed so many in the past.

From what he had gathered, the plaque probably had something carved into it like, "In the caring memory of our greatest hero, Serpent", "Serpent: CEO, Businessman, Hero", or some other piece of apparent bullshit that nearly everyone was willing to swallow.

Neal was about ready to gag at the thought. I still can't believe how much they worship the bastard. But what can you do? They're so blinded to the truth by a false peace that they'll believe any lie shoved down their throats.

Neal was getting visibly more angry by the second, so before his rage could increase any further, he set the device on his ear to play a bit of easy-listening music as he took a deep breath.

"No. You're not here for Serpent. You're here to get a new trench coat," Neal said to himself as he looked for a directory. Just ignore the king-sized jackass and you'll be fine.

And with that, Neal walked toward the business district of Inner Peace, all the while keeping his eyes deterred from the stature of Serpent that continued to mock him.

I wonder if I can get it accidentally attacked while I'm here? Neal thought to himself with an evil chuckle. This caused people to stare, but they soon went back to their own business.

Back at the Grand Nuage, Prairie sat across from Pandora in her office. The lights weren't dimmed, so the room had a bit more color to it this time around.

After a tense few minutes, Prairie finally spoke up. "Pandora. Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?" Pandora asked, her hands resting in her lap while she awaited for Neal to return.

"How old are you really?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. She of course was designed to look in her teens, so aesthetically she was probably fourteen or fifteen. Pandora looked to be the same as well, but she couldn't really be too sure.

Pandora placed a hand under her chin and began looking about the room. "I'm not sure, really. Keeping track of time was never really a priority for me back then. Of course I was never really able to anyway."

"So you have no idea how old you are?" Prairie asked skeptically.

"I know that Albert created my brother and I long before we met you," Pandora answered.

Hm. That piece of information narrows it down a little bit, but not my much, Prairie thought to herself. Still, she could probably be at least a couple decades older, if not a full century than Neal.

"Prairie. You seem troubled," Pandora said, noticing Prairie was clearly deep in thought.

Prairie ended her train of thought and leaned back in her seat. "It doesn't concern you."

After that another few minutes passed between them.

"I wonder how long it'll take for Neal to get back?" Pandora said to no one in particular.

"Why are you concerned about Neal all of a sudden?" Prairie asked.

Upon hearing his name, Pandora remembered what had transpired the first morning she had woken up, causing a slight blush to grace her cheeks. "Uh... No reason?"

That sounded more like a question then an answer, Prairie thought to herself. And why on Earth is she blushing like that?

A half hour later in Inner Peace, Neal finally came upon a familiar military surplus store, which was where he bought his trench coat the first time around. "Ah the old military surplus store," he said to himself as he walked in and looked at the shelves. "Fell like I'm seeing an old friend again."

As Neal walked in, the store manager looked up and took notice. "Neal? Is that really you?"

Neal looked to his left and saw a large, well-muscled balding man with a gray beard and narrow eyes wearing a large camouflage shirt, green pants, and black military boots.

"Oh hey Chuck," Neal said walking over to the counter. "Yeah it's me, but why wouldn't it be me?"

"Don't you remember?" he asked. "There was a huge maverick attack in Inner Peace. You were right there when it happened."

Gotta feign ignorance, Neal told himself. "Really? Well I must've missed it. What happened?"

"Some pink-armored battle mechaniloid suddenly stormed in and shot up the entire square!" the man said flailing his arms around. "Thank goodness Legion's private army chased the bastard off. Especially those new Golem mechaniloids. Whoever built them must've been a genius."

That's a load of BULLSHIT! Neal thought to himself as he was getting visibly more angry.

"Yeah I know. Hearing about mavericks makes me sick too," Chuck said, misinterpreting Neal's angering expression.

"So… Chuck… Think you could find me another black trench coat? My old one got totaled a while back," Neal said, trying to keep his fake smile on his face.

"Oh sure, I think I have one more in the back," Chuck said. "I'll go get it for you."

"Thanks Chuck," Neal said as the man left his view behind the shelves. As soon as he was sure he wouldn't be seen, he set his little revenge plan into action, walkind towards one of the shelves with an evil smirk on his face.

A few minutes later after Neal had payed for his purchase.

One… Two… Three… Neal counted to himself as he walked away.

The next moment a plume of green smoke burst out of the front door of the shop and half of the windows.

"Ahhh, chemical stink bombs," Neal chuckled to himself as the large manager stumbled out of his store and fell into the street coughing out chemical sting. "So much better than organic stink bombs."

"And why exactly is that?" Model E felt prodent to ask from his place in Neal's pocket.

"It's all in the delivery and the potency," Neal said to himself as he continued to walk through the streets of Inner Peace, his trench coat billowing behind him in the wind as he walked forward.

As Neal walked through the crowd, on his way to his former home before heading to the nearest Transerver to get to the Guardian Base, he suddenly saw a flash of orange mixed into the crowd.

Orange... Wait! It couldn't be! Neal thought to himself as he realized what the flash of orange meant.

Walking through the crowd was none other then Atlas, Chosen one for Model F. And I'll tell you this much, she didn't look happy.

Maybe if I turn around fast enough she won't notice me, Neal thought to himself. However his actions were too slow.

At the moment Neal saw Atlas' cold gaze meet his own, he immediately turned around, only to see a reploid kid in blue clothing with blue hair, giving him the same look. He immediately turned to his right and saw a reploid kid in green with light green hair, and a katana in a red sheath. His gaze too was filled with hatred, which didn't bode well for Neal. He immediately turned around to see a fourth reploid kid in purple with matching hair, and a red scarf over his mouth.

At the moment he was surrounded on four sides, the crowd moving through the square seeming not to notice. But of course if you were dumb enough to believe that Serpent wasn't evil, then you were pretty much dumb enough to believe anything.

Wait a minute... Neal thought to himself as it suddenly dawned on him, remembering his briefing from the other day. These are the Four Mega Men that possess the other Biometal!

"Neal. I'm going to get us out of her with the Portable Transer," Elpizo spoke.

As Neal watched the Four Chosen Ones for a tense minute, he waited for himself to be whisked away by the teleporter. However, it never happened.

Model E! What's taking so long? Neal asked, his heart already racing as the Four Mega Men began walking towards him.

"I think its a pretty safe bet to say that that's the cause of the delay," Model E spoke as he motioned to Siarnaq, who was currenlty carrying a medium-sized jamming device on his back.

At that moment, the four Mega Men closed in on Neal. Anger filled all their eyes as their hands inched toward their Biometal.

MegaMan ZX Soundtrack – Phalanx

"Hello Mega Man Model E," Aeolus spoke in a cold tone. "I must say, you're even less impressive in person."

"Yeah. And the ZX Twins aren't anywhere near her now," Thetis added.

"I owe you for the disgrace you handed me in our last encounter," Atlas spat.

"TARGET ACQUIRED," Siarnaq spoke in an eerie monotone voice.

Crap. This doesn't look good, Neal said as he tried to find an escape route, but found none. Not good at all.

"This is the end. Megamerge," Aeolus intoned as he brought out his katana and Biometal, transforming in a cyclone into Mega Man Model H, the Wind Mega Man.

"You won't get away this time! Megamerge!" Atlas shouted as she slammed her Biometal into the ground, transforming in a pillar of flame into Mega Man Model F, the Flame Mega Man.

"You're dead! Megamerge!" Thetis shouted as he tossed his Biometal in the air before catching it and becoming encased in a block of ice, transforming into Mega Man Model L, the Ice Mega Man, the moment it shattered.

"BATTLE SEQUENCE INITIATED: MEGAMERGE." Siarnaq spoke as he transformed in a swirl of purple mist, transforming into Mega Man Model P, the Shadow Mega Man.

After the transformations, the people of Inner Peace finally realized something was wrong and began to back away. A moment later everyone began scattering like cockroaches when you turn the lights on.

"Any last words before we eliminate you?" Aeolus asked as he took to the air and readied his twin swords.

"Yeah. Just one," Neal said as he straightened his trench coat before reaching into his pocket and pulling out Model E. "MEGAMERGE!"

In a flash of light, Neal stood against Aeolus the Wind Mega Man, Atlas the Flame Mega Man, Thetis the Ice Mega Man, and Siarnaq the Shadow Mega Man, in his megamerged form with his rapier drawn.

To be continued...