Chapter 4

Dallas, Texas

Knowing what he had been through, Megaman was aware of how this would be. Snakeman's dossier had him listed as an avid animal enthusiast, so there were sure to be predators on the loose. High volumes of civilian captives meant that they were likely the ones to be in the cages. Under normal circumstances, Snakeman occupied the Aquarium Exhibit, due to it's enclosed, dark, location. So he would begin his search there.

Repelling from The Phantom, he noticed the absence of a glow, that should be coming from the underground entrance. Androids didn't need illumination, but the water in the glass encasement always reflected the outside light, that was a constant. This made Megaman uneasy.

(Grey and Orange) He cut the lock and opened the gate. Coming down the stairs, his eyes widened, to see the caves had been drained, and the caverns filled with dead bodies, refrigerated in glass coffins. He looked down at the vast amount of them, when he was grabbed from behind and thrown, violently, against the back wall.

The impact had him seeing double, for a moment. As his vision balanced out, he stared into the face of a hulking gorilla, of the robotic persuasion. The ape threw a vicious swing, aimed for his head, (Orange and Yellow) as he dropped into a side-roll, firing explosive stars as he backed away. The jagged orbs seemed to merely annoy the animal, as they singed it's fur. It charged him, roaring, driving it's shoulder into his chest, sending him down the hallway.

Rolling to his feet, (White and Blue) he ran backward, icing the floor, making the gorilla lose it's footing. He turned to sprint, and was caught by a forearm across his neck, flipping him over end. Another ape reached down, lifting him off of the ground, by his throat. (Black and Yellow) He grabbed it's wrists and flowed the voltage. The beast convulsed, letting out a high-pitched scream, then fell, eyes smoking.

More gorillas had come to join the pursuer-on-ice, clumsily falling and sliding into each other. (White and Green) Megaman doused them in bubbling acid, melting them to their cores, as he made his way to the exit. Opening the doors, he was standing off with a pride of snarling lions, who stared him down, with murderous intent. (Grey and Red) He raised his arm, bathing them in green flames. This angered the animals, as they charged in, pouncing on him.

The swipes and jaws came in a flurry. Megaman struggled against the predators, (Black and Red) as he formed his left arm into a buzz-saw, severing claws and fangs, as he swung blindly. The attacks slowed down, when a couple more rushed in. (Grey and Orange) He drew his katana, slashing off the top of one's head. He lunged downward, impaling another, as a beast pounced on his back, teeth sinking into his shoulder. (Grey and Red) He put the nozzle of his left arm to the lion's forehead, sending a green flame burning through it's skull.

The last lion ran in, as Megaman drew back, kicking it across the face, as it slapped against the wall, he quickly beheaded it, with his blade. Walking out into the jungle area, he was bathed in the evening dusk. The humans were living in the false habitat, guarded by the mechanical animals. They all crowded him as he emerged. Trying to calm them, he slowly made his way through the mob. The entire area was surrounded by tall, glass, walls. He needed to get out, without freeing the prisoners.

(Grey and Orange) He produced two daggers, and began to scale the concrete divider. The people began to panic, begging him to free them. He tried to reassure them, but had no choice other than to keep moving. Standing atop the wall, (Blue) he picked off the patrolling gearbots, as they passed, before sliding down the column, to the walkway.

He followed the paths, to the Exotic Birds Exhibit. Inside the large cage, bodies hung by cables, wrapped around their necks. The sight was horrific, large birds came by, plucking them from the bars, then sorting them into crates. (Grey and Orange) He cut the latch to the structure and stepped inside.

"You know, you've really come a long way." A voice said, from behind the large tree. "I mean, you've changed a lot, since your days of showing off, in Cutman's compound, and winking at cameras." Snakeman walked into the open, his green, scaled nanosuit shimmering. His gauntlets, a darker green, took on the form of snakes, covering his forearms, with the mouths opening around his wrists. He was skinny and limber, with shoulder-length, jet black hair, hanging over his green headgear. The headgear itself was menacing, with two fangs over his eyebrows, and two at his chin, his yellow, slit eyes, peered out of what appeared to be the jaws of a python.

He spoke again, as he neared closer, "You're slowly becoming one of us, do-gooder." He smiled with sharp, yellow, teeth. "A fake existence is an abomination, in itself. In time, you will lose your humanity, and another hero will be coming for you." He laughed, as Megaman stirred with anger.

He stood, glaring at the officer, stunned. What if Miller was right, all artificial life becomes a danger, eventually. There was no way around that. As true as that may be, he shook the feeling. He was still capable of doing good, so he intended to. He fired four razor-discs at the android, while covering ground. His opponent contorted his body, avoiding the projectiles, while deploying cables from his wrists. The tentacles whipped at Megaman's body, as he approached, making him alter course, (Blue) as he fired of bolts.

Snake pulled himself to the top of the cage, firing his right handed cord around his foe's arm, snatching him into the air. He dropped down, swinging Megaman hard, be fore releasing the cable. Putting his hand out, he shot a line around a branch, pulling himself onto it. He watched on, as the android bounced off of trees, all the way to the ground.

Standing up, Megaman was bleeding from the mouth. He scanned the tree limbs, for his opponent. Another cable shot out, from the distance, (Grey and Orange) he deployed two short blades, batting the cord around. Dropping a knife, he grabbed a hold of the line, and pulled it toward him, the other end simply fell to the ground, as the leaves rustled. He fired more discs, into the trees. Branches fell, as Snakeman dropped behind him, wrapping his neck.

Turning around, Snake pulled the cables over his shoulder, taking a few steps forward, he flipped Megaman onto the ground, in front of him. (Black and Yellow) He grabbed the cord, surging it with electricity, while rising to his feet. Snake shuttered, releasing the lines, and stumbling back.

(Grey and Red) He wasted no time, covering the officer with flames. Snake lashed back at him, with flailing tentacles, as he screamed loudly. He ascended back into the trees, as Megaman followed, on the ground. Being fed up with the cat and mouse games, he decided to set the wildlife ablaze. The leaves began rustling more frantically, as the fire spread, engulfing the trees. (White and Blue) Anticipating Snakeman's return, he coated the ground in a thick layer of ice, and awaited the dropping android.

When there was nowhere left to go, Snakeman descended, only to have no solid footing. Landing on his back, Megaman was already sliding over to him, dropping down, and grabbing him around the head. Sensors began to misread, after the third time his head was driven to the ice.

Megaman grunted, as he slid his foe against the cage. The officer pulled himself away, by his cords, just as the android's knee met the bars, where his head was. He pulled himself along the edge, as the red embers lit up the darkened sky. Holding the steel, he made it to his feet, (Grey and Orange) as Megaman stalked closer, with two katana. He clumsily threw out two cables, attempting to whip away at his opponent. The android beat them aside, while picking up the pace.

Approaching the groggy officer, Megaman coldly severed his arms, then drove both swords down, into his shoulders. Snake screamed out, in agony, as the android grabbed him, by his scaled nanosuit.

"See?" Snakeman gurgled, "You're the same as all of us." He began to chuckle.

Enraged, Megaman shoved his head back, between the bars. Dispensing a hatchet, he drove it into his adversary's face, repeatedly.

After the chopped mess of a being stopped twitching, he commed The Phantom, "Tracy, the zoo is cleared." He said simply.

Walking into the ship, the blood soaked Megaman tossed the chip on the table, and sat next to Protoman, taking off his helmet. Protoman gave him a look, scanning him up and down, "Jesus, Carrie, they're all going to laugh at you." He said, grinning.

Megaman smirked back, "I didn't even get a tiara."

The two shared a laugh, for the first time ever. Turning serious, Megaman looked to Scott, "Listen, I'm sorry that I tried to kill you. I've kinda been dealing with some things, these past few weeks."

Protoman nodded, "I don't fault you, everyone, usually, tries to kill me when they first meet me." He said, jokingly. "Besides, none of that matters, now. There's no Atlas, there's no Wily, before long, the world itself will be overtaken. All we can do is get in some hits, before it's all over."

"We can go after Gutsman." Megaman said, quietly. "Remove their leader, weaken their ranks."

"Kill Guts?" Protoman laughed. "Sure thing, let's just go do that."

"Why not?" Megaman asked, "You said so yourself, we're all doomed."

"That's an exaggeration." He corrected

"So, why not aim high, with our last hoo-rah? And I know you're not this Maverick guy's biggest fan, but he may have intel that could help with that. He was Guts' overseer at one point." Megaman replied.

"The guy's been boxed away for thirteen years, but if he still proves helpful, we can go over it with him." Scott said.

Megaman stood up. "Well, I gotta clean up, if I'm not out here when we pick him up, can you refrain from punching him?"

Proto chuckled, as he rustled the fur on Rush's head. "No promises." He said quietly.