(A/N: Its me again! And I promised I'd be on time didn't? Anyway, here's chapter four, short again I know but I love ending on a cliffie and I couldn't resist the temptation :-P. But the action will pick up next chapter, so that's something to look forward to! Also, since school is starting Wednesday I will be having a more regular updating schedule. Unless otherwise stated on my profile, I will be updating every Friday for Megaman: Shattered Planet. Hope that cheers some of you up! So you guys only have to wait four days for the next chappie! Anyway, enjoy the story!)
Chapter four: Extraction point
Ichiro examined the hologram curiously. He had heard of them, but never had actually seen a working one outside the small trinkets they had at the research center. To think that there was one of such magnitude working perfectly here was mindboggling. Sticking his hand in and out of the illusion, he surmised it was safe enough, and slowly he stepped through. What he saw, first, was Rio tapping his foot impatiently, thinking his friend was taking too long.
"Are you afraid of a little illusion, Ichiro?" Rio taunted him.
"No, but weren't you afraid we would get caught? That our passing through would set off some sort of alarm?"
"Nah, the twins told me it was abandoned here anyway, I wasn't worried." He said, acting the picture of confidence. The twins! So that was how Rio had gotten his information!
'Figures, those two are always sticking their noses in official business.' He scoffed to himself. Ichiro then focused on where "here" actually was. Looking around, he saw they were in a long, dark hallway. The walls he supposed used to be white were now a gross yellow color, and he could only see about fifteen feet in front of him from the dim illumination of the hologram wall behind him. There was refuse scattered about the dirt covered tile floor, and the smell of mold permeated the place.
"So, where to next, navigator?" Ichiro asked of his friend, seeing as Rio would be the only one with anny sort of sense of direction in this place. Rio sighed, still not being able to push Ichiro's buttons with his teasing, even after numerous attempts over the years. Checking his piece of paper with Gina's crude instructions on it again, he oriented himself and turned around. Soon he began walking, Ichiro a few steps behind, through the darkness, careful not to step on any stray debris. They twisted and turned through the facility, and Ichiro finally broke the silence with a topic of conversation.
"So, why did you say my father was connected to this?"
"The scientists at the research facility abandoned this three years ago, and according to the data your father was the head researcher at this outpost. It was shut down after an outbreak of the Zero virus occured." Rio answered succinctly, taking another right down another hall.
"Then that's why they hid it, it was too dangerous to allow any more outbreaks." the blonde reasoned out. "So we are here for what?"
"Zero's armor, his DNA chip is the part that is contaminated, if we just grab the armor then Gerry will have most of the info he needs to rebuild them."
"Gerry would attempt something like that, crazy and unwarranted." Ichiro gave a sly smile, knowing it would agitate the red head.
"More like make him a hero! I don't get why you're so stuck up anyway, it's not like-!" Rio stopped immediately as he heard a faint sound echo through the halls, like a foot kicking metal.
"We are definitely not alone..." Ichiro whispered.
"This. Is. Bad." Rio agreed.
