Chapter 8

The Smithsonian- June 3, 2101

Gutsman stood at a table, sorting his "tools". He seemed calm, as if it were a regular day for him, and for all Megaman knew, maybe it was. The Aviation Hangar was silent, it made him uneasy, like he was on his final walk. Megaman refused to let this happen, he would find a way to escape, and get back to the others. He lost hope, remembering something Miller once told him, "People will be lost, including some of us. You need to learn that." The memory of Miller sank him deeper into an abyss. She was gone, and soon he would be, too. Why was the world like this, the deception, the killing, the anger. Wily's machines were a reflection of everything that was evil in humanity. He felt no other emotion, lately. He wanted to desecrate everything that stood up, in front of him.

Guts turned around, facing a hate-filled Megaman. "I can tell you what you're feeling." He said. "Helplessness, anger, fear. I've seen it in everyone who's been where you are." He pulled a drill from the table, walking over. "It's always the same, but it never get's old." He smiled, now standing face to face with Megaman. "At first you think, 'This isn't the end, I'm gonna get free, make him pay!'. Then reality sets in, you panic, deflate. The despair begins to frustrate you, into a blind rage. Then you give me that look." He pointed to Megaman's face, placing the small drill bit to his side. "And that's my cue," he revved the drill, as the android screamed, "to bring you back, restarting the cycle."

The bit punched through, leaving a clean hole in Megaman's bottom rib. The screams became hoarse grunts, "I'm gonna fucking kill you." He growled.

Guts smiled, "See? Back to the beginning." He placed the bit to the next rib up, and began a new hole. After the yelling had slowed, he continued. "I must admit, I'm glad to have a second chance, with you. When you were human, things seemed rushed. Wily was only interested in sending a message. But androids, they are more fun than humans. More resilient." He began the hole, on the following rib.

Megaman was reeling, with pain, "Men like you are cowards." He spit out. "You think yourself powerful? Undo these straps! Stop hiding behind restraints and steel armor, General! You're no better than Wily, weak and afraid!"

This infuriated Gutsman, who dropped the drill, driving three, hard, uppercuts to his perforated ribs. "I'm the coward!?" Guts punched him in the nose, bringing on a stream of bleeding. "I'm weak!?" He stormed back to his tools, grabbing a chisel and hammer. "I was going to kill you, in Nova Scotia!" He yelled, pointing the chisel at him, "Give you a soldier's death! But you couldn't accept that! You tucked your tail and ran, letting your double die like a man! That's why you're here!"

He put the chisel on Megaman's collarbone, and drove the hammer down hard.

The Phantom

The mood aboard the ship was somber. Dr. Light had retreated to Tracy's personal quarters. He had taken the loss of his son, for a second time, hard. Tracy, Scott, and Rush sat in silence, at the Command Center. "Why are we just camping here?" Tracy finally asked, looking out the view port, at the still treeline. "These people have been through enough, they don't deserve to be packed in this ship all night."

Scott chewed his toothpick, quietly.

She rolled her eyes, turning toward the engine controls.

"No!" He stopped her, "We can't leave yet!"

"Why not!?" She replied, "You're being paranoid!"

"Something is not right." He whispered, "I know he killed Alex. I mean, look at the facts; Megaman was virtually one of the most powerful androids ever, and one mission paired with 'Maverick', who even looks like Wily, and he dies, mysteriously?"

"Scott, I know it seems odd, but things happen. I mean, it could be coincidence. Now if both of you had died, then yeah, I'de probably kill him, myself, just to be sure."

Scott's eyes grew wide. "He would know that." He said. "I may be paranoid, but humor me. I'll take the ship controls, I need you to get him to the back of the Engineering Bay, find any reason..."

"Scott, this is crazy!" She cut him off.

"Just, please! Trust me, Tracy." He pleaded.

"Okay. So I take it you want him in the back right corner, of the Bay?" She responded.

"Exactly. Find a reason to get him to take his helmet off, he may be monitoring transmissions. I'm going to radio ahead, to Radcliffe." He stated.

In the Lounge, Tracy walked in, as Zero sat on the couch, still in the black and red suit. "You look really uncomfortable." She said. "Expecting a battle, on board?" She grinned.

"I'm just a little on edge." He replied. "Need to be ready for anything."

She stood over him, leaning down, "I hate to put you in danger, but I'm really gonna need to make some minor repairs, to your gear." She smiled, flirting a little, "You can always keep me company, while I work."

He stood up, removing his helmet. "That sounds like an odd request, Miss Bonne." He said, grinning.

She brushed his hair behind his ear, "Don't jump to strange conclusions, Mav. I just like a little eye candy while I work. Besides, I've seen the wayyou glance at me, perv."

He looked confused, "Your friend just died, Tracy. Shouldn't you get some rest?"

"You're right," she said, covering her face. "I just needed some kind of companionship. It was stupid of me to bother you like this." She stormed into the Engineering Bay, letting the door close behind her. She stood at the table with her back to the door, covering her face.

She smirked as the she heard the sound of the door opening. "Tracy, I'm sorry..." He began, as he walked in.

She turned around, cutting him off, pressing her lips to his. The kiss was passionate enough to make him drop his helmet, putting his arms around her. She pressed the small key, on her ring, alerting Scott, to proceed. The two continued, moving to the back of the room, as they kissed like newlyweds. She began to unzip his nanosuit. "Wait," he said, "what about your brother?"

"He's in the cockpit." She whispered, pulling his top off, and kissing his chest. She pushed him to the back wall, rubbing her fingers through his hair, as he unbuttoned her shirt.

He stopped kissing her, slowly pushing her back. "What's wrong?" She asked.

He smirked, "Your brother just sent an evacuation order." he replied.

"How do you know that?" She asked, genuinely.

He grabbed her around the throat, "I guess the jig is up. You tried to seduce me? You tried to outsmart me!? I am the android supreme! I am fucking Lord Zero!" He screamed psychotically, as she pressed the key frantically, fighting strangulation.

The Smithsonian

Megaman hung, bloodied and exhausted. Guts had been at it for hours, and hadn't even gotten past his center mass. He needed to antagonize Guts into freeing him. It was his only chance at escape. He laughed quietly, drooling blood.

Gutsman lifted his chin, to meet his eyes. "Haven't heard from you in a while. Cracking so early?" He asked.

Megaman continued to laugh, "A while ago," he whispered, "you said I ran from you because I'm a coward." He laughed harder. "But that's not how it was. I left you to pursue a more important target."

Gutsman punched him, furiously, to the body. "I am superior to you! And you are too afraid to admit it! When you're dead, Lord Zero is going to lead us loyal androids to greatness! And where will you and your friends be?!"

Megaman laughed harder, through the pain, "The only way you are superior, is when your opponent is bound. You couldn't even lead the androids yourself. Always helping the better being succeed, and that eats at you." Megaman raised his bloody head, "You were built like a warrior, but inside, you're a frightened little rat."

Guts flipped his work table in a ferocious tantrum. Trying to gather his emotions, he looked back to the android. "Fine, I've had my fun. Let's settle this." He pulled up his case, opening it, and putting on the silver gloves and boots.

"The suit, huh?" Megaman asked, prodding him. "I knew you were too soft for a fair fight."

Guts chuckled, "I'm going to kill you, regardless." He put on the sleek, silver helmet, with curving fin-like horns, and glowing red vision enhancers on the visor. Allowing him to see when armored. "But I've been itching to try out my new gear." He finished, in a chilling, robotic tone. He slapped a key, releasing the metal restraints, and Megaman charged, instantly.

He threw a running, right hook, driving the two of them to the floor. The helmet was rock-hard, sending pain through his fist when it connected. He looked over, watching Guts begin to stand. Megaman kicked the back of his knees, as they armored themselves, but still shaking the androids balance. He drove a shoulder into the android's midsection, and flipped him over his back, onto the ground. Gutsman was down, only for a second, but that was his chance. Megaman made a dash for the door, as the steel panels dropped, once again, locking him in.

"Got something better to do?" The General asked, walking up.

Megaman turned around, clenching his jaw. He sighed and simply put up his fists. The android rushed him, and grabbed his throat, throwing him across the room. He rolled to his knees, punching out a display case and pulling free a small propeller. He hurled it at his foe, but the silver armor just deflected it, into a wall.

Guts laughed, "A propeller?" He asked, as he forward-kicked Megaman's face. Reaching down, he gripped his hair, driving his fist, repeatedly, to his adversary's skull.

Things were getting foggy, as Megaman picked up a shard of glass, and swung for the neck. Once again, plating descended from the helmet, shattering the shiv and slicing his skin. He managed to leverage his legs, rolling Guts over, and raining blows down. But nothing met the android, he was only bloodying his knuckles upon steel paneling.

Guts gripped him hard, and stood to his feet. In a fit of rage, he launched the android through the air, crashing into an attack helicopter. The chopper came plummeting to the floor, along with his rival. When Megaman landed, the blades spun by, breaking on the floor. The fourth simply planted itself, diagonally, almost beheading him. He pushed up on his elbows, as Gutsman approached.

"Don't feel so bad, when I crush your skull." He began, "You did get spared days of punishment." He laughed.

Megaman struggled to stand, gripping the broken shard of chopper blade, in front of him.

Guts was surprised, "Maybe I had you wrong." He stated, walking up to the damaged android. "You have some fight left in you?"

Megaman shook his head, slowly, "I can't go on fighting, I'm finished." He said, as he reversed his elbow gears, at full speed, and dropped to his back. Before Guts could process the surrender, the long chopper blade had already swung around, breaking on the opposite side of Megaman's head.

He stood, stunned for a moment, then the blood dripped, in a line, from Gutsman's neck, diagonally, down to his ribcage. His head, right pectoral, and right arm fell to the marble. They were joined seconds later, by the rest of his body.

His red vision blurred, as Megaman removed the menacing helmet, looking down at him. "I know you still have a few seconds left, General. And I can tell you what your feeling, defeat." Gutsman hated the android with immeasurable passion, as he left the world forever.