Episode 5: The Moment Arrives
Hey there guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Tardispilot297 here bringing you the next episode of Mega-Man: Robotic Hero Season 2! Now if you guys liked the last season finale, then I bet you're gonna absolutely LOVE this one. Adapting these chapters has been a blast and I thank every single one of you for your feedback and taking the time to check this story out. Anyways hope you all enjoy this chapter. On that note, ON TO THE CHAPTER!
[Silicon City, Mean Bean Coffee Café, day.]
It's been two hours since me and Eddie had been caught and restrained to a chair with police tape by the police officer who busted in and ordered us to freeze. Since then he's been attempting to interrogate us and learn what Dr. Wily is planning. Or rather what we and "The little punk" are up to. Obviously he has no idea that Dr. Wily is back. Still I feel his patience is starting to strain, especially with him holding a butter knife. "I'm done playing games, fellas. You're both gonna tell me what I want to know. And I am asking you... for the last time… Where do you guys keep the cottage cheese for your bagels?" With his other hand he was holding a small plate with a display bagel on it. Apparently he didn't have breakfast this morning. "Neither of us will be telling you anything." "Yeah! Also apologies but we are currently out of cottage cheese. And that is a display bagel." Eddie explains to him. The burly officer lets out a sigh and puts down the butter knife. "Look I don't get it with you two! I mean, I've tried everything. First I was good cop. Then I was bad cop. I was cop who asks about your guys' bagels. And nothing. It's like…" He tries to bite down on the fake bagel only to finally realize what it actually is. "Ok. That is a display bagel. Wow. Great attention to detail." I guess hunger really makes humans slightly less intelligent.
Suddenly, all the lights in the café begin flickering and slowly glow a light purple as a figure appears in a bright flash of light, levitating next to the officer with purple electricity coming out of them. After our eyes adjust, Eddie and I look to see the figure clad in a white lab coat wearing white gloves and a red tie over some kind of body armor underneath. The top of their head shines with a metal dome with gray hair sprouting from both sides in a familiar fashion. A big mustache is sprouting from their top lip while the rest of their face resembles that of a young teenager with eyes glowing with energy. In fact if I didn't know any better I'd say they look just like… "Dr. Wily er Gideon er? Is that you?" I ask in complete astonishment at what I'm seeing. Somehow it's like the two of them have been… fused together into a single being. "Yes, It's us, and yet It's… Not all us." The figure, though I guess Wily/Gate would be a better title for them, addresses in an almost robotic tone of voice while turning to look at me and Eddie. We both continue to stare at them in awe. " Uh. Doct- er Sir, are you feeling okay?" Eddie asks them. "We're more than okay." They answer with a wide smile on their face. "We feel… smarter, more powerful. It's as if we've been… remade. We've been upgraded!" They proceed to create what look like holographic music buttons in midair. "Sinister 3.0. Our. Game. Is. Next. Levellllll-ooooo-lllll-oooo-llllll." It's not as if they've been fused, it's like they're a completely different person.
In the blink of an eye, Wily/Gate teleports behind us, startling me and Eddie. "Hi." "AAAAAH!" They lean over us, looking at us closely while placing both hands on top of our heads while making a sniffing noise. "We can smell the electricity in your brains." They look across to take a whiff at the officer. "You smell like a snack plate." As if unable to comprehend what's happening, the officer simply nods at their comment. "Yeah, no, that's fair. I had a couple last night." Wily/Gate teleports behind him and takes the display bagel off the plate he's holding. "Sit down." They order him. He lowers a little to the floor. "In the chair." They elaborate as the police tape spontaneously disintegrates, allowing myself and Eddie to jump off the chair. The police officer takes our place and sits in the chair as Eddie's head opens up to allow his metal arms to extend and restrain the officer with his own handcuffs. Wily/Gate eats the display bagel by slurping it up like an energy yogurt. I glance out of the corner of my eye to the front door and pick up on noises coming from outside. I glance through the blinds and see something very, very bad. "Sir, we have a problem." I shout as I run over to the computer console and press a button to fold the blinds back to reveal that the Mean Bean Coffee Café has been surrounded by tanks and heavy vehicles along with agents with loaded weapons. While I and Eddie show signs of fear and concern, Wily/Gate on the other hand just smiles at the scene in front of them. "Incorrectus, our trusty barnacles." They say raising a finger and turning their head to look at us. "After all these years, what we finally got… Is a solution."
A helicopter lands a few yards away from the perimeter Bastion has established within the city. Fortunately most of the citizens have already been moved back from the area with help from the police force. Agent Signas, Noelle, Auto and myself come out of the helicopter, with one of the agents escorting us to the Mean Bean Coffee Café. Now recognized as Albert's new base of operations. Signas addresses the agent walking alongside him. "Status report." "Thermal imaging shows four individuals inside. Two robots and two humans." "Can you confirm the identities of the two humans?" "From what we can tell, they appear to be Wily and a hostage. Possibly local PD." Signas nods and orders the agent to standby. "Prepare to commence the operation on my mark." Suddenly the doors of the Mean Bean Coffee Café open with a cloud of steam coming out. The agents raise their weapons, ready to fire on a moment's notice. We see a figure come out, levitating up to everyone with purple electricity emerging from them. Neither myself or Noelle believe our eyes when we fully see who it is coming out of the cloud.
'Albert, what have you done to yourself?' As I regather my thoughts, the person standing not far from us looks over at our direction with a sickening grin. "Well, if it isn't... our old college buddies. How do you like our new look?" "It's not exactly what I'd call stylish. Course then again you always did have an overinflated ego didn't you Albert?" "Hmm. And you've always been a blind fool unable to see the bigger picture Thomas." "Big talk coming from the guy who got his butt kicked off this planet. And I'll ensure it happens again if you mess with my family!" I shout at him or rather "Them". If what Roll explained to us is true I'd guess that Wily along with Gideon Gate not only acquired the Andromeda Key but it also transformed them into a single, warped individual. "Congratulations on your oh-so-temporary sense of superiority." Then again there may be more of Albert Wily in their personality if their way of speaking is any indication.
Signas grabs a nearby megaphone and speaks into it. "You're finished, Wily! We've taken everything. Your lab, your drones, you have nothing left! Let's see how big of a man you are without your little robots." The fused human's expression becomes more twisted. Almost like a child who's been told they can't play with their toys. "Oh really? Would you like to see how... "Big a man" we can be?" They ask in a mocking tone. Without looking away and with the flick of a wrist, a stream of energy shoots out of their hand which spreads outward through the area. Suddenly screws and bolts start unplugging from the tanks and vehicles as they start deconstructing themselves along with the agents' weapons which seem to fall apart in their hands. "Welcome... to the new norm." The fused human starts floating up in the air as black clouds start circling around them. More Bastion vehicles start deconstructing as they are levitated into the cloud, making it grow and swirl. "My god!" Signas spouts unconsciously. Suddenly two small robots rush out of the Mean Bean Coffee Café and face the figure in the center of the whirlwind. I quickly recognize them as Met and Eddie, Albert's old robot assistants. "Doctor, take us with you!" They both shout in unison. Suddenly they're lifted off the ground as purple lightning carries them into the cloud as it continues to grow and swirl until it becomes a black tornado that consumes more deconstructed vehicles and buildings. "They're taking everything apart." I state as everything is happening around us. "They're building something." Noelle adds. "Building what?" Signas asks us. I wish we could answer that question. However I have a bad feeling that whatever it is, It's not going to be good.
[Outside Silicon City, day.]
Thanks to the upgraded portal gun, we manage to arrive with the others riding in the modified plane, Roll and Douglas sitting in the pilot's seat and passenger seat respectively while Alia and Zero hang on the sides and Axel crouched on the top wing, and me and Rush flying alongside to see the massive tornado growing in the middle of the city. We all stare at it with concern. "That can only be one thing." Roll states. "The fearsome power of the Key." Zero says what we're all thinking. "If that thing really turns thoughts into power, we are in big trouble." Douglas comments. "Yeah. Wily and Gideon both have a lot of bad thoughts." Alia added. She's not lying. After seeing what both are capable of, we're no doubt in for the fight of our lives. I'm just glad I don't have to fight on my own this time. Now I have my friends, both old and new, to count on. Speaking of which I notice Axel waving me over to say something to me. I direct Rush to get in closer. "What's up?" I ask. "Yo Rock, are you sure it was a good idea bringing you-know-who aboard?" Axel asks me as he gestures with his head towards Zero looking straight ahead. "Zero isn't really a bad guy. He's just a little... mixed up." I say to try and reassure him. Zero turns his head around for a brief moment. "I am not mixed up! I have steely focus. And I'm complex. And that's a lot for some people." He states before looking forward again.
Roll chuckles a little. "Hope you're not still mad I hit you with that car." Zero lets out a small raspberry. "I was completely uninjured." He replies. "And my revenge will come when you least expect it, girl." He mutters under his breath but still loud enough for all of us to hear. Roll and the rest of us can't help but laugh nervously at his statement, but at least it's a good temporary distraction for the storm we're about to fly into.
[Downtown Silicon City, Day]
Inside Wily/Gate's tornado, a yellow mechanical face with a pair of horns on top of its head has been constructed along with a hulking metal body. Inside the head of the colossus Wily/Gate is shown floating above a platform with me and Eddie sitting at two control panels as everything starts to power up. A low computer voice echoes through the chamber. "GAMMA: ONLINE" Wily/Gate smiles like a child at christmas with purple electricity surging off their body and filling the entire chamber. Frankly, I've never seen anything more amazing in my life. "Sir, you're magnificent!" I shout in admiration. "Here, here!" Eddie adds. "Thank you, sycophants. Your admiration is inevitable." They state stretching out their arms as if standing on a grand stage. Outside everyone watches as the black tornado dies down to reveal the giant robot colored with a mixture of red, blue, and yellow armor. Wily/Gate looks out at the world below and smiles sinisterly. "Computer! Play audio file designated: World domination playlist." Wily/Gate proceeds to play Walk with their leg like a guitar as myself and Eddie bop our heads to the beat. A while back Gideon had put together a playlist of songs in anticipation for Dr. Wily's return and Mega-Man's downfall. He spent hours compiling the perfect songs that would fit best.
And now it's finally being put to use. Wily/Gate proceeds to dance stomp through the city with Gamma mimicking their movements perfectly. Down below the humans began to scatter and panic as Gamma stomped forward. The Bastion agents began to quickly retreat to get out of the way and escape. This was the moment we had all been waiting for. The ultimate triumph of our genius creator. The greatest genius in the world. No, the universe. Dr. Albert Wily!
We head toward Silicon City just as we see the Giant Robot start rampaging through the city like something out of a Godzilla movie. I don't think even the Yellow Devil was this gigantic. "How are we supposed to beat this thing?" Roll asks. "We need a plan." Alia advises. "Ok I got it. Zero, use your strength to…" Zero folds his arms across his chest and willingly falls off the wing of the plane and plummets down to the ground below. All of us just look down in complete shock. Axel turns his head to look at me. "I don't suppose you have a plan B?" Frankly I barely have a plan A. We're facing down a giant robot powered by a powerful space relic that turns thoughts to reality. How the heck do you beat something like that? Then again it's not as if things are ever easy. "Okay, this is what we're gonna do. Step 1: Light taunting. Step 2: I have no idea." It's not much of a plan but it's better than nothing I guess. "Well, that's good enough for me." "Same here." "Agreed." "Heck you had me at "Light taunting"." Alright then, let's do this!
As Noelle, Auto and I try to help evacuate citizens I hear the sound of a plane flying over us. I look up to see the plane Roll and Douglas modified heading straight for the Giant Robot. Flying alongside it I see a blue and red blur heading in the same direction. I have a good idea who it is. "Rock!" Obviously he can't hear me but I hope that he'll at least be careful.
Rush and the plane proceed to circle the Giant Robot. Thing looks even more intimidating up close, but that's never stopped us before. "Nice action figure, Wily." "Yeah. Does it do anything or just stand there looking ugly?" Sure the taunts may not be that good but hey, Me and Axel aren't the type to overthink things.
Just as things were finally going well for us, that little blue bomber has to swoop in and spoil everything! We've dropped ice, earth, and water on top of him. Sent entire armies after him. We've even tried destroying him personally on more than one occasion. Yet still he just can't lay down and die! "Like a blister, he keeps coming back!" Why can't he just die!? Actually the better question is, Why aren't we firing at him? We look over at the two dumbfounded robots sitting at the control consoles. "Umm. Excuse me gentlemen. Last we checked he's on the okay-to-kill list. Shoot the missiles. Make a decision." Honestly they may be simpletons but even they should be able to push a few buttons.
Unfortunately that doesn't appear to be the case here as they just sit there looking over the controls in front of them. "Uh, I think we need a moment, sir." "Yeah. We're trying to figure out how to do this." My god were they always this stupid? At least Zero had some uses when it really counted. "Did either of you even glance at a manual?" Before they can answer we teleport right in between them and proceed to press buttons on the control consoles at rapid speed. Getting slightly electrocuted in the process. "We'll do it. Pardon our lightning. You might want to ground yourselves."
We circle around to fly straight at the Giant Robot and give it everything we got. In response it proceeds to shoot a barrage of missiles from its chest towards us. "Uh, oh." Couldn't have said it better myself Roll. Axel on the other hand is a bit late in noticing the situation. "I'm gonna serve that thing heaping helping of canned whoop aAAAAAAH!" Missiles fly right toward us at top speed. Roll pulls hard on the throttle. "Hang on!" Roll does a barrel roll with the plane, dodging all the missiles but in the process Alia loses her grip on the wing and gets thrown off. Alia screams and falls through the air. Before she can hit the ground Rush and I swoop in to catch her.
Man I never get tired of catching her in my arms. "Dropping in?" Alia looks up and smiles at me. "We really gotta stop meeting like this." "Yeah but where's the fun in that?" We share a quick laugh as I put her down to stand behind me on Rush who manages to extend his body to allow her room to stand. We meet back up with the plane as it manages to dodge the final missile. Roll, Douglas, and Axel start feeling relieved at having survived. "Man, that was a close one." Axel comments seconds before one of the missiles hits him, making him fly away with it. "Axel!" Douglas shouts seeing him fly off.
Down below Zero enters the scene, running towards the Giant Robot on the ground. He shouts at the top of his lungs getting its attention. "Wily! DECEIVER!" "Die, mosquito." The robot shouts back putting its hand on the ground and makes it run right towards Zero. Zero generates red energy in his fist and punches the robot hand very hard, making it flinch. The robot pulls its hand backward. "Oooh. We felt that." Roll flies the plane at the Giant Robot. "Ready Douglas?" Douglas gives her a thumbs up. "Ready!" Roll hits a side button and a pair of machine guns deploy from the cowling behind the propeller. A targeting screen pops up in front of Douglas along with a joystick and trigger. Man those two really decked this plane out. "Once more unto the breach!" Douglas shouts as he starts firing the guns at the Giant Robot. It thrusts its hands around in an attempt to catch them.
While the plane flies around the Robot, Alia deploys her arm cannon while I get ready to use my mini bombs. "Shall we?" I ask her. "By all means." We fly in and start hitting the robot with a mixture of plasma shots and mini bombs, but neither them nor the small caliber rounds from the plane's guns have any effect on the Robot's heavy armor. Suddenly the robot's horns start to pulse with electricity and fire a beam of energy at the plane, destroying one of the wings and making it crash to the streets in a ball of fire. Roll uses her helicopter belt to fly her and Douglas out of the plane before it crashes and lands them safely on the ground.
What just happened? One minute we were attempting to smash those brats like the insects they are. The next a bolt of lightning gets shot out of our head. "Wait, was that us?" "It's the Tesla Ray." We look over at Met and Eddie sitting at the consoles. The top of Eddie's head opens up and an arm holding a small book pops out. "Right here in the manual." Just when we think that they're completely useless, they go and do something actually competent. Those little annoying simpletons, what would we do without them? Unfortunately the moment gets ruined by one of those brats riding on top of a missile that hit them earlier. "Return to sender!" Even in battle armor we can recognize Stern's idiocy. He leaps off as the missile strikes Gamma on its kneecap. In the head, Met and Eddie are rattled about in their seats and slam into each other, knocking them both unconscious.
Once the shaking stops we look over to check on them. "Met? Eddie?" We look at them lying on the floor. "Oh Great. Next thing you know, there'll be a report about a hostile work environment." Can't anything go right for us today?
Axel lands on his feet after redirecting the missile to hit the Robot. He looks up to see how high he's fallen before starting to celebrate the fact that he's not even hurt. "I LOVE THIS SUIT!" Before he can start dancing I call him over to the rest of us. He runs over and regroups with us behind a peeled piece of street. Zero joins us soon after. "Those were our best attacks and they did nothing!" He shouts clenching his fist in anger. "We can't beat Wily and Gideon as long as they've got that Key." Roll points out. "Agreed. They're too powerful." Douglas adds. Everyone's expressions are starting to turn sour. What we need is a moral boost. "Look. We aren't strong enough to beat Wily & Gideon on our own, but there's seven of us." I look at Zero. "Your strength…" Then Roll and Douglas. "...your guys' smarts…" Then Axel. "...your agility…" Then Alia. "...your bravery…" And finally Rush. "...his speed and my power, together. That's how we win." My little speech seems to help them get their confidence back.
Zero looks at me with determination. "So we make our stand here on the field of battle." "As a team!" Roll adds balling up her fists. Alia, Douglas, and Axel nod in agreement along with Rush who barks in excitement. We get up and stand on top of the concrete pile and line up across from the Giant Robot. "This is it. This is our moment!" I proclaim with confidence. Each of us assumes a battle stance. I bet not even the Avengers looked half as cool as we do right now.
The Robot brings its hands together in a weird shape with only its fingertips touching. "Time to fight." It announces like something out of Mortal Kombat. Suddenly a swarm of aerial drones deploy out of its shoulder and charge at us. Within a few seconds we start destroying them as they surround us. Zero swinging his laser sword, Axel dual wielding his blaster pistols, Alia firing off her arm cannon, Douglas and Roll utilizing all manner of different gadgets, Rush using his mouth and front paws to smash them to pieces, and me using a mixture of my powers. We have newfound resolve and plenty of firepower, now all we need is an actual plan. "Bad time to say this, but I don't actually have a plan." I end up admitting. "Well hey the floors open to suggestions." Alia says while taking out three more drones in quick succession.
I glance over to Douglas and Roll. "Roll, Douglas, any ideas?" "If we can somehow get inside the Robot we might have a chance of getting the Andromeda Key away from them." "I concur, to that end we have to find their weak spot." Douglas and Roll do a combo of small gauntlet blaster fire and a plasma grenade. "I suggest the groin." Zero adds while slashing another drone like butter. "What? No, no way!" Axel quickly comments before shooting five more drones out of the sky. "Traditionally, yes. The groin is the weakest spot." "Stop, saying, "groin "." "Guys focus! We need to come up with something that'll give us an edge." Alia shouts at them. Douglas and Roll have a point though, if we can find their weak spot we might have a chance. But what is it? Our little strategy gets interrupted by the Robot shouting at us. Or rather at me. "Mega-Man!" The Giant Robot shoots laser blasts from its wrists. "Look out!" I shout as we scatter to dodge the attack. Roll tries to fly with her helicopter belt but the propeller gets damaged by flying debris and causes her to fall to the ground. That is until Rush quickly transforms and catches her in midair.
The rest of us run along the ground to dodge the barrage of missiles, drones, and laser blasts as we charge toward the Giant Robot. Man all of this just to kill me? Talk about overki….. Suddenly it hits me like a meteor blast to the face. Why didn't I realize it sooner? "I know what their weak spot is: it's me! I'm the groin!" I shout over the chaos. Everyone gives me a weird look. "Uhh. You wanna rephrase that dude?" Axel asks me. "No, think about it! Between their combined obsession with me I live rent-free in these guys' heads." I explain. "So if you go out there and rile them up…" Alia adds slowly piecing it together. "They'll focus all of their attacks on only you, thereby leaving themselves open to a flanking maneuver from the rest of us. Brilliant!" Douglas finishes with excitement. "Mega-Man, you are a brave and noble warrior! Go to your certain death with honor!" Zero certainly has a way of inspiring people. "We're gonna have to work on your pep talks, pal." Axel jokes earning a chuckle from Roll. "Yeah." "Ok. Let's go!"
We proceed to split up. This next part won't be easy but then again nothing ever is. I stop right in front of the Giant Robot and look up at it. Now I know how Mario must've felt facing down Bowser. "All right, Eggheads! You want me? Come and get me!" "You don't tell us about coming and getting. We are on the cutting edge of coming and getting! Coming, getting! Coming, getting! Coming, getting! Coming, getting!" The Giant robot proceeds to chase after me.
As I start running to give it a good chase, Roll and the others make it onto a rooftop. Alia and Roll stand on Rush while Axel and Douglas hold on underneath while holding Zero by the arms. Rush takes off and flies them toward the back of the Giant Robot. Rush whines under the combined weight while Douglas and Axel strain to keep Zero up in the air. "Man, You're really heavy." "That's because I am one-million percent muscle! Faster, hound!" Under Zero's order Rush tries his best to fly after the robot.
We continue evacuating civilians as best we can. Auto assists in lifting heavy debris trapping a few people underneath. Noelle and I direct more people to safety when suddenly, we see a pick up truck pull up as the driver pokes his head out the window. We manage to get him to stop so he can talk to us. "What the heck happened here?" I'm about to try and explain what happened when suddenly an idea hits me. As it stands Rock is up against a threat greater than anything he's faced before. And that means he's going to need all the help he can get.
I turn to face Noelle. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" As if I need to ask. One look and I can already tell we're of the same mind. "Let's go get our son." We both turn to the driver. "We need your truck!" We speak at the same time. A moment later, we're in the truck. I call over to Auto to get into the back. Once he's in we drive off. I let Rock fight on his own once, but not this time.
The robot continues to chase me through the city, but runs out of breath. "Man this thing is heavy to move around." I hear one of its pilots complain as it stops to catch their breath. I stop on top of a water tower and encourage them to look up to see me waving at them. "Yoo-hoo! So what's the plan here? You guys gonna build a big robot house? Get yourselves a big robot wife?" "We're going to enslave humanity and force them to service our machines. First Silicon City, then the universe, then the multiverse, then who knows?! Maybe that'll be enough. Full disclosure? You won't be there." With emphasis on that last word the robot's eyes glow purple as lasers blast out, destroying the tower and making me leap off of it. "Eye lasers?! Really?!" I complain before dodging another laser blast.
At the same time Rush manages to fly everyone up to the robot without being noticed. Axel and Douglas drop Zero onto the back before dropping next. Roll gets ready to jump but Alia stops her. "You stay put." "What? But I wanna help." "I know but it's too dangerous for you, we can take it from here." Roll gets ready to argue but changes her mind and agrees. "In that case you'll need this." She hands Alia her hologram device. "Thanks, stay with Rush he'll keep you safe." "Good luck." Alia nods and jumps off to join the others. Meanwhile I zoom toward a bridge, but start to get out of breath. I look back to see if I'm still being chased but I see no sign of the robot. 'Where the heck did that thing go?' Suddenly, the Giant Robot rises up next to me. "Piledriver!" The robot lifts one of its arms with the elbow aiming down and destroys the bridge behind me. The crumbling wave eventually catches up to me. I fall to the ground below and end up unconscious. Well can't say I didn't give it my best shot.
YES! At long last we're finally going to destroy this little thorn in our side. All that's left now is to savor every last moment of this opportunity. "Ha, ha, ha, ha! Aw, Giving up already? Not so tough when you're fighting someone 700 times your size, are ya? You can't beat us! We're all-powerful! All-knowing!" We pause for a moment when we detect something trying to cut its way into the chamber. "All-seeing." We turn around and look to see one of Light's classmates coming into the cockpit after cutting a hole inside. Brown, if I recall correctly. Along with him is Stern and Stones. Looks like the gangs all here. As if that isn't annoying enough, several holograms appear as they emerge into the Giant Robot via the freshly made hole. "Pardon us my good man but it looks like your fancy robot has a glitch!" The holograms surround us as we try to find the real ones. Even as holograms they're just as annoying.
With each one we blast another seems to appear in their place. "Man Gideon, I think this new look is even worse than the last one." "I have to concur, at least the last one had a sense of finesse and style." "Eh, that's debatable. Course then again Wily isn't any better. Talk about sad." "You believe yourselves superior to us? Don't make us laugh!" We release a purple shockwave, obliterating the holograms and making the real ones hit a wall and land on one of the pipes. "Even if you had a million years, None of you would even come close to outsmarting us!" All three of them look up at us, but instead of despair see expressions of confidence. "We didn't outsmart you." "Yeah, we're just the distraction." Distraction from what? "Wily!" We look up to see Zero standing across from us. "I am also a hologram." He says waving his arms. Frankly it was pathetic. To think, We named him after one of our greatest achievements. How disappointing. Or should we say… "Disloyal." ""Dis" is how I roll." He responds while cracking his neck and knuckles.
We raise our hand and fire an energy blast at him but he manages to jump out of the way and fly right towards us. With one powerful punch to our chest, a bright flash fills the chamber. The last thing we see and feel is the Andromeda Key flying from our being and an intense pain coursing through our body… through my body.
Thanks to Zero the Andromeda Key is separated from Wily and Gideon, now back to being separate people. As they fall down the Key lands right in front of me between Axel and Douglas. I reach out to try and grab it but it rolls away out of reach. It helps me notice the entire chamber starting to tilt. With the Andromeda Key gone, the Giant Robot powers down, unable to function without it. It falls forward. As it does myself, the boys, and the Andromeda Key fall through the eyes of the robot and fall towards the ground. I reach out one last time to grab the Key but it falls too far out of reach. The last thing I see is the ground coming up fast before hitting it.
I awake with a gasp clutching my chest and breathing heavily. From what I can tell Myself and Gate are no longer fused together. Of course that can only mean… "My Key! Where's my Key?" I frantically search everywhere for it but find no signs of it. "No, no, no, no! No, no, no!" Where is it? Where is it!? "Doctor, H-help." I look over to see Gate sprawled on the floor below. Like me he is grasping his chest but looks much weaker. Most likely due to a feedback loop with his mental abilities. "Where's the Key?" "H-help me. Please." Just look at him. Pity, I really had high hopes for him. "Such a disappointment." I push a button on a nearby control panel and the floor underneath Gate, dropping him through the floor. "Computer, manual override. Activate auxiliary power." The auxiliary power goes online. However, it's not activating fast enough. "Move, you hunk of junk!" A control computer rises up from the platform and allows me to get Gamma back online. The parts of it that glowed purple with the Andromeda Key''s power now glow a sinister red under the auxiliary power. If I'm being honest, I actually like this color better.
I struggle to open my eyes and end up coughing up dust. I lift myself up, pushing off chunks of debris that fell on me. My armor's dented and slightly damaged and my vision is a little blurry. Fortunately the latter is temporary as things start to clear up. When it does the first thing I see is the Andromeda Key lying on the ground just a few feet away. 'There it is.' I struggle to get up and walk over toward it, occasionally falling over on the ground. "I have to... Reach it." I limb toward the Andromeda Key while behind me the Giant Robot walks slowly toward me. I manage to make it to the Andromeda Key, but the Robot lifts its foot and prepares to stomp on me. The large foot drops to squash me like a bug. However, I feel something scoop me up at the last second from a truck, which gets us out of the Giant Robot's foot range.
It takes me a few seconds to recognize the thing that grabbed me as Auto. "We got you, Master Rock." I look around to see Dad and Dr. Lalinde in the truck with Dad driving. "Hold on!" He steps on the gas and we speed up. That is until the Giant Robot punches the ground, sending the truck flying until it is on its back. After a minute we proceed to exit the truck. "Is everyone okay?" Dr. Lalinde asks as she helps Dad out of the truck. "Yeah. I'm ok." "Rock?" "Yeah." "Auto?" "Still functioning." "Okay." We feel the ground shake as the robot stomps closer toward us. I look down at the Andromeda Key in my hands. 'There's still a chance.' "I got the Key. We can still defeat him." I look it over trying to figure out how to use it. "Come on, come on. How does this thing work? What do I do?" Suddenly the Andromeda Key starts to fade in color and proceeds to break and fall into pieces, with the small shards falling out of my hands. I couldn't believe my eyes. "What? No. No, no, no, no! No, no, no, no!" I desperately try to keep it together but to no avail. And just like that, our last hope, everything my friends and I went through, the effort we made to find it, shatters along with the Key. I'm so devastated I don't even notice as The Giant Robot looms right over all of us.
In no time it unleashes a flamethrower, surrounding us with a circle of fire, trapping us. I barely have enough strength left to stand let alone protect everyone here. But there's still one thing I can do. " Listen, You have to get away from me. I'm the one he wants." 'Please, I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me.' I feel a hand get placed in mine. I look over at Dr. La- no, at Mom. "Hey. We're not going anywhere. We're family." I feel my other hand being taken. I turn my head to see Dad's smiling face. "And families stick together… No matter what." I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up at Auto. "We're with you to the end." This past year I thought I wasn't really part of this family, not completely anyway. But in this single moment, for the first time I feel like I finally belong with them. How funny, I finally feel at peace with myself and it's when I'm about to die. Still better late than never I guess. I tighten my grips and close my eyes. "I love you guys." "We love you too, Rock." Those are the last words I hear right before the Giant Robot stomps on us.
I feel something shaking me awake as I lie on the ground. I look up to see Roll and the others looking down at me. "Alia, are you ok?" I groan a bit as I sit up. "Yeah, I think so." Roll sighs in relief. It doesn't take me long to remember what's happening around me. We were fighting Wily and Gideon's giant robot. While Rock kept them distracted, We made it inside the robot and separated the Andromeda Key from Wily and Gideon. Then we all fell out of the robot and landed on the ground. Luckily we landed on some soft grass. Otherwise my skull would've probably resembled a smashed watermelon. I look around and soon spot the robot getting back up and moving again. And I could guess where it's going. "We need to move. Come on!" Fortunately we're not too far away if we hurry we can still help Rock. In a few minutes we manage to get close enough to see Rock, Auto, Dr. Lalinde and Dr. Light surrounded by a ring of fire. The Giant Robot lifts its foot to stomp them. 'Just a little bit closer.' We run as fast as we can. 'Almost there.' The foot drops as we get closer. Through the flames I almost make out a small light going into Rock until he vanishes from my sight. We all stop dead in our tracks. As the dust starts to clear all we can see is the robot's foot standing where Rock and his family were sitting. I stare in disbelief and horror. So much so that I can barely hear Roll crying out in sadness as she yells No!
"I GOT HIM! I finally got him! Hehehe." After so many failures, so many setbacks. Not only have I finally gotten Thomas Light out of the picture, but I've also destroyed his most cherished creation and scourge of my existence, Mega-Man! Now I just need to find my Andromeda Key and harness its power once again. Universal domination can still be achieved. Nothing could ruin this moment for me. Suddenly, Gamma begins to shake, causing me to go from ecstatic with victory to uneasy with dread. "What? What was that?!"
Instead of being crushed into dust like I was expecting, The Giant Robot's foot starts to lift up, allowing sunlight to shine through on us. Of course there was something much brighter outshining it. Its light nearly blinding me and Noelle as the creaking sound of metal reverberates above our heads. Our eyes adjust just enough to make out the source of the light. Standing there holding up the giant foot with both hands is Rock but different. His body armor is colored white, blue, and gold. There are white plates on his legs and feet, along with yellow ridges and white boosters that have appeared onto his ankles. The helmet now has the rim of his visor colored white and with yellow fins on top, plus a black border to his red forehead lens. His shoulderpads have been enlarged, with blue and black borders added to his breastplate and pelvis. The white of his hands and the blue of his forearms have been swapped, and his buster cannon is now colored red and yellow. Just as he did to save me the first time, Rock has transformed again. The next thing I know he blasts through the robot's foot causing it to stagger backwards away from us. He then flies towards the Giant Robot's head, aims his buster cannon, and decapitates it with a concentrated beam, exposing Albert. I just can't believe what I'm seeing.
I can't believe what I'm seeing. Instead of being crushed, Light's little robot is now hovering in the air staring right at me. I can't help but gasp in disbelieving shock as he approaches me and hovers just in front of the edge of the Gamma's neck, his face locked in a look of righteous anger. "It's over, Wily." I've seen him angry before but never like this. It's almost like staring down an enraged predator. A feeling that makes me put on a nervous smile. "I like the new look. It works for you. You know, What do you say we just let bygones be bygones? I mean after all I did some things, you did some things. When you think about it, there are good people on both sides." Mega-Man glares furiously at much so it seems that he doesn't notice me place my hands into my coat pockets to discreetly slip on a pair of control gloves and press buttons to control Gamma's right arm and fist. "Oh come now, you're a bright boy aren't you? Surely two intelligent beings such as ourselves... can work these things OUT!" I swing my right arm to try to punch him with Gamma's fist.
Instead he blocks the fist with one hand, without even turning his attention to it. I can actually almost feel the strain of pushing the fist further. Then without warning he transforms his hand into his cannon arm and blows it up. Seeing him easily taking out my robot's fist and arm single-handedly does more than shock me. In fact it terrifies me. In desperation, I try to punch him with Gamma's second fist, but Mega-Man blows it up as well. 'This can't be happening!' He then proceeds to zip straight through Gamma multiple times, delivering heavy damage to it. He then flies out stopping a great distance away in the air. 'Now what's he playing at?' As if answering my thoughts, Mega-Man shoots back toward me at top speed. In fact if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was turning himself into a missile. Wait, but at that speed he could very well shatter what's left of Gamma. Which in turn would no doubt ki-. 'No, there's no way he'd go that far.' He's getting closer. 'He wouldn't. He doesn't have the instinct.' He's not slowing down. At this rate he's going to… "Wait, now hold on a second." Closer. "Ok you win. I give up." Closer. "I said I give up. Alright?" Closer. "I surrender! You me!?" Closer! "S-Stop!" Closer! "Please, Don't!" CLOSER! "I GIVE UP! I'M SORRY!" I brace myself for the incoming strike by raising my arms. "PLEASE I BEG YOU! DON'T HURT ME!" Until finally….. Nothing. Nothing? I open my eyes and lower my arms to see a metal fist just inches away from my face.
And there he is, just hovering there in front of me. Until finally he pulls back and sticks his foot out to Gamma's chest and lightly hits it with a small tap. 'Did, did he just? So all that just now, it was all just a?' I'm so shocked I can't even form a complete thought. I look at him as he scowls at me. At that moment only one sentence manages to escape my mouth. "I hate you." The last thing that happens is Gamma tilting backwards and falling over, causing me to fall off its command platform. As I'm falling all I can think about is those three words as I look up at him still hovering in the air. I. HATE. YOU!
The Giant Robot collapses, defeated, as Rock lands on the ground near us. We all run over to him. "Rock!" "Master Rock!" "Hey Dude!" I want nothing more than to give my son the biggest hug I know how to give, only for the red robot Zero to block me and everyone else. "Wait! You cannot touch him!" He warns us. "The Mega-Man holds the power of the Key. I am sorry. He is no longer the Rock you once knew." "What?" Noelle asks but receives no answer. What he's saying can't be true can it? Is he really gone for good? I have I just lost my son again? Suddenly Rock creates a cluster of lightning and storm clouds in the skies that he channels into his open palm. In a bright flash summons what appears to be…. a pizza slice? He brings it up to his face and enjoys taking a good whiff along with a bite out of it, as if he'd been longing for one for a while. "Oh, man. You got to try this." Rock snaps his fingers to summon another pizza slice, which falls from the sky… and lands directly on Zero's face, much to everyone's amusement. And Zero's slight annoyance. "Okay. He is exactly the Rock you once knew." He states as the pizza slice slides off his face.
Once he finishes eating, Rock raises his hand again and fires another energy beam into the air. In a flash of light he returns to his original form. Upon seeing him as himself again we all finally rush to give him a group hug. "Rock!" "Bring it in, Dude." "It's good to see you back in blue, friend." "You and me both Douglas. I mean sure the golden god thing was fun, but blue has always been more my color." "It does look good on you." Alia compliments. Roll walks up to Rock in amazement. "Rock, For a few moments you were the most powerful hero in the universe, and you just… let it go. Why?" "Because I still have some growing up to do. And I kind of like being a kid." I walk over to place a hand on his shoulder. "And you're not just any kid. You're our kid." Noelle walks up to join in. "That's right. Now come here." We both give him a hug. Rock looks over at the others and smiles. "Bring it in guys!" Soon a huge group hug commences. "You know It's a good thing we didn't do this before. You guys would've definitely blown up." I'm not sure whether that's a joke or not, but it doesn't really matter now does it?
We break apart when we start to notice Zero finishing gathering shards of the Andromeda Key and pressing them together, causing them to glow. As Zero pulls his hands back, the Andromeda Key is revealed to have been fixed. "Whoa. You fixed it." Rock looks at him amazed. "Fascinating." Douglas adds with his own astonishment. Zero looks over the newly remade Key in his hands. "I've spent my whole life questing for this. Now I have it. Now we have it. What do we do with it? What comes next?" Everyone looks at each other until Roll walks up to join Rock and Zero. "A long time ago there were once two orders of heroes who protected the galaxy from those who would use the Key for evil." "Indeed. But they have all since passed on to the great battleground in the sky." Zero confirms. "So we start a new order. The seven of us." Rock suggests looking over his friends gathering around them. "This is no light task. We must make a vow; to use our powers to keep the universe safe; to watch out for each other. Our new clan." Roll raises her fist in front of her. "I know! A power bump!" "Good idea." Rock agrees as he and a few of his friends raise their fists as well. Zero looks at them in slight confusion. Roll is quick to explain to him. "It's an Earth custom. An unbreakable promise." Zero nods in recognition. "Very well. A power bump it is." "Power bump!" Rock and his friends shout in unison. They perform a six-way power bump with Rush topping it off with his front paw and barking as if making a pledge of his own.
[Silicon City baseball field, day.]
Everyone takes their place on the baseball field. Auto is the announcer, Roll is the pitcher, Axel, Douglas, and Alia are on the plates, Zero is the batter, I'm on home plate and Dad and Mom are the field catchers. Auto taps his finger to test the mic before speaking, reading some cards I wrote for him to say. "Good day everyone! It's truly a beautiful day for baseball here in Silicon City. An exciting lineup today with the debut appearance of two new players! On the mound, rookie sensation from across the galaxy: Robyn "Roll" Caskett! Facing off against the space samurai powerhouse: The Maverick Hunter, Zero." Auto looks over at me when he finishes his announcement. "Was that alright Master Rock?" "Yeah Auto. You did awesome." I tell him, giving him a thumbs up. Meanwhile Zero is holding the bat upside down looking at it confused. "I don't understand. Why am I angry at the enemy ball?" He asks me. "You're not angry. You just want to hit it as hard as you can and then run around the bases." I explain to him. "But if my quest ends where I am standing, then why run at all?" Axel groans while facepalming. "Ugh. I can't with this guy. Why do we even try?" Axel complains. "Hey now come on Axel. This is just a game. We're out here to have fun." Alia reminds him. "Indeed. Just having some good old fashioned fun as friends often do." Douglas adds.
Zero considers this new information "Fun. Huh." With that I'm now taking my place as the plate catcher and lowering my mask. "All right! Give him the heat, Roll!" I encourage her. She straightens out her cap. "Hope you're ready for my fastball Zero." "Your fastball will be dishonored, and so will you, girl." He taunts back. Mom calls out to them. "Easy, now kids!" "Hey, don't think about it too much. Just keep your elbow up, eye on the ball and give it a ride." Dad advises. Zero looks at him confused. "A ride, to where?" He asks as Roll proceeds to wind up her arm, toss the ball into the air and grab it with a gadget arm that springs out of her backpack. She then proceeds to use her gadget to toss the ball right at Zero. When it gets close enough Zero holds up the bat until the last minute when he lets go of the bat and balls up his fist. "Power bump!" Zero uses his fist and punches the ball straight over Roll's head and through the scoreboard overhead. Zero stabs the bat into the dirt and raises his arms up in celebration. "Ha! Victory is mine!" He proceeds to run to first base. "Hey, no fair! That shouldn't count." Roll complains. Not that Zero is paying any attention right now. "First base is also mine!" The rest of us look at the hole in the scoreboard. "I think that was our only ball." Douglas points out. Axel throws his catcher's mitt on the ground as Zero runs up to second base. "Great job Mr. powerhouse. Now we can't play anymore." He complains only for Zero to once again not pay any attention. "I have conquered the second of the bases!" All of us just look at eachother. "So now what?" Douglas asks us.
To answer his question Mom calls out to us with her own question. "Who wants ice cream?" "Ice cream!" "Ice cream, yeah!" All of us immediately get behind that idea as Zero finally reaches home plate. "Ha Ha! I am having the fun! What is ice cream?" Oh now he's paying attention. Course can't say I blame him. I mean who wouldn't pay attention at the mention of ice cream? I take off my catcher gear to walk up and explain it to him. "It's a dessert. If you like fun, you're gonna love it." "Oh, yum. Dessert. Does it have grapes in it?" "No, not usually." I answer him, slightly confused myself. It's only been one day since the battle and we've already taught Zero and Roll so much. About Earth, about human culture, Even how to act around other people. And in case you guys were wondering, they have moved in with me and Dad. Course they aren't the only ones. Now I'm not saying it's official yet but supposedly Mom is planning to move back in with us. It'll be like it used to be. Well almost like it anyway. Especially with both Roll and Zero living with us now. Once we all gather up and I finish explaining ice cream to him, Zero scoops Roll up and places her on his shoulder. Like an older sibling giving their younger sister a lift. "Come on, girl. Our dessert adventure awaits." "Good job, kids." Mom congratulates everyone as Rush walks up to her. "You too, baby. Let's go get some ice cream. Come on." She says petting his head.
Dad walks up to me as I hang back to let the others go on ahead. "I'm happy for you, Rock. Your suggestion to let those two come live with us was a great idea. Can't imagine more perfect friends to grow up with. We watch the others get into the truck that Dad bought this morning. "Come on, Zero." Roll calls out. Zero walks up to the side of the truck. "Ah. My victory chariot!" Zero leaps up into the back of the truck, making the entire vehicle shake causing Alia and Mom to laugh a little at Zero's change in personality. In a way he's right. Including Alia, Auto, and the guys, I couldn't ask for better friends. Of course that's only part of it. "I've got a lot more than that... Dad." Upon finally hearing me call him that again, Dad looks really close to crying tears of joy. He smiles and pulls me in for a brief hug. He then turns to the truck and gives me a grin. "Race you to the truck." He suggests. "Oh you're on." I tell him. "Alright then One, two, three, go!" He immediately bolts to the truck without warning. I'm not annoyed with him though. In fact I actually laugh a little and take off running after him. "No, don't go easy on me! I want your best!" Dad tells me as I catch up. As per his request I zoom past Dad as I make a cool pose on the truck before sliding in the back with Roll and Zero. Auto joins us as Dad and Mom enter the driver seat with Alia and the guys getting in the back. Zero turns to me with excitement. "Rock, I have just been told they have sprinkles." "Ice cream and sprinkles? It's official, this is your new destiny." I tell him as Dad starts the engine and we proceed to drive off. "What a perfect meal to celebrate my victory over you in base of ball." Zero proclaims. Roll looks at him confused. "What?" "I mean, you barely beat us." "Ha! You've never been beaten so hard." "Yeah whatever you say man." Yeah I'm not gonna lie, I'm feeling pretty lucky right about now.
Wilys gone, my friends have new awesome armor, I've got two new friends/foster siblings, and to top it off I've gone from local superhero to galactic guardian all within the span of a few days. And while I imagine things won't be easy, I swear to honor this new task and to not falter what so ever. "Um. Master Rock. Are you sure we're not forgetting something?" "Forgetting something? Like what Auto?" As if answering my question Rush jumps into the back fully transformed with The Andromeda Key in his mouth. Guess I kinda left it at the baseball field in my backpack. "Whoops. Can't forget this." I say awkwardly as I take the Key out of Rush's mouth. Guess I still have a long way to go before I start protecting the entire universe. But like I said, I still have a lot of growing up to do. And to be honest, I can't wait for what's in store for me and everyone else in the future.
And with that, season 2 is officially over! I hope you all have enjoyed reading this adaptation and are looking forward to any future installments I may decide to create in the future.
And now replies to story reviews.
Theoldblood98: Hope you enjoyed it.
Emerald the Lynx: Given the personality I gave him it seemed only appropriate. Plus it was fun to write.
Til next time this is Tardispilot297 saying… ALLONSY!