Chapter 12
"Alright people," Tron said, walking into the Command Center, as Rush cocked his head, "and...dog. This is it. Scott and Rush will take the Fail-safe to the Atlas Command Tower. Alex, we'll be dropping you at Alcatraz. Light has already put the calls through the proper channels, to the Canadians. We are all on standby until the virus is uploaded." She looked at around, at the others, "We've got one shot, at saving humanity, then we can have our lives back. That's all." She finished.
Scott stood up and hugged her, as he and Rush dove out of the side hatch, flying north.
Light walked over to Megaman, "Alex, if anyone has the ability to save this country, it's you. Be careful out there, son."
Megaman nodded, "This is what I was made for, Doctor." He replied.
Alcatraz
"Megaman is in position." Tron stated, over comms, as he repelled down, to the island.
Protoman came through, next, "Hey Alex, Welcome to The Rock." He said, in his best Sean Connery impression, breaking the tension, a little.
Before getting three steps toward the prison, the harpy droids flooded the skies, screeching horrendously.
"Okay," Light said, "getting started early!"
Tron rushed to the turret controls, putting on her gloves. Only two were fully repaired, but it was better than nothing. Large amounts of the flying attackers were blown to pieces, while more continued to emerged.
Megaman made his way to the back entrance, while shooting up, at the pests. One attempted, foolishly, to snatch him from the ground. He reached up, crushing it's demonic skull, in his palms. He jumped off the wall, grabbing the feet of another, and swung it against the building.
The Phantom circled the island, mowing down the hoard. "Go ahead, Megaman." Tron said, "Preston and I can handle these guys."
Opening the door, using Gutsman's access code, he walked into the staff offices. He scanned the rooms, suspiciously, finding no sentries. He proceeded, with caution.
Seattle, Washington
Protoman and Rush could see the Seattle Space Needle, in the distance. The once tourist attraction, had now served as the beacon, for the Atlas' transmissions. This information had been a very well-kept secret, until now. As they neared closer, the tower appeared abandoned. He could actually see right through it. The inside was hollow. He looked on, confused, when something struck his head. He fell from the dog's back, into the open air. Bolts and fire rained down on him, from seemingly nowhere. He ejected his shield, taking cover, as he plummeted faster.
Rush dove down, rocketing toward his master, catching him feet from the cement. Protoman dropped to his feet, shooting fusion discs, up from behind his shield. He looked, seeing sparks fly, from thin air, while the ground cracked on it's own.
A pea-sized green light caught his eye, amongst the chaos. The realization hit him. He turned his arm, firing on the projection box. The device disintegrated, as he found himself looking up, at hundreds of small, dragon-like, droids, circling the tower. "Cute." He stated plainly, looking over to his canine.
Alcatraz
Entering the D-Block, of the prison, Megaman began hearing the disturbing sounds of robotic moaning. In the darkness, were the glow of red dots, gazing from behind the bars. He jumped, as the crackling of the loud speakers came on.
"Megaman," Zero's voice called out, "I have to admit, I was expecting the other android. But seeing you here explains why I haven't been able to reach my General. That displeases me a great deal."
"The feeling won't last long, if that's any consolation." Megaman replied.
"Oh, I have no doubt, that I'll be seeing you soon. Until then, enjoy the company of the precious humans that you failed to save." Zero responded.
The cell doors swung back, on all levels, pouring out thousands of zombie-like cyborgs. The humans had been gutted, and their insides replaced with wires and tubing. Their brains were implanted with core chips, programmed for one thing, "kill". They swarmed him like ravaging fire ants, as his armor encased him. He closed the eye-shutters, to fully protect himself, as he punched and fired, blindly.
Trying to run through the mass, he was pulled to the floor. He could hear the muffled growls, and scratching on the steel suit, as they piled on top of him. He opened fire, in every direction, as the weight grew heavier. The sounds of meat and bone, meeting concrete became deafening. Megaman lifted himself, amongst the hoard, spraying bolts at what he assumed was head-level.
The bodies continued to fall to the ground, as he slowly shoulder-pushed his way through the mob. He reached a cell door, pulling a bar free. He began making horizontal sweeps, smashing skulls and bone, with ease.
When enough breathing room had been made, he raised his eye shutters. The room was a large pool of blood and gore. The remaining cyborgs attempted gouging at his eyes. He charged his BSTR and fired, blowing a hole through several of them, in a row.
He walked the cell block, bashing the heads of stragglers. When he reached the doors, he looked back at the massacre, then to the security camera. He gave Zero an intense stare, before exiting.
Seattle, Washington
Protoman twirled his staff, batting away at the whelps, as Rush flew toward the top of the needle. The creatures spit bursts of fire at him, as he weaved his way through, shooting them down.
Talons dug into his shoulders, yanking him from his dog. Protoman fired a trio of discs, into the open mouth of the beast, as Rush flew underfoot. Reaching the top of the structure, he dove through the glass, crashing to the floor. The machinery lit the massive room, like a Christmas decoration. He walked over to the Main console, inserting the Fail-safe, as Rush began to growl.
Dressed in a blue nanosuit, with black gauntlets and a matching, spiked helmet, Needleman emerged, from around the back wall. The android grinned with black eyes, and sharp, titanium teeth. He was joined by another officer, known as Slashman, who's wildly spiked, auburn hair almost matched his orange nanosuit, covered by a black jacket that went well with the fingerless gloves, and steel headband.
Protoman whistled, ordering Rush to leave the area. The dog whined, then jumped out the window, flying to safety. When the reinforced shutters dropped, Protoman activated the upload, as the consoles sealed themselves, lowering into the floor. He ejected his staff, as the three stared each other down, "So we gonna get to this, or what?" He asked.
Slashman sprang razor-sharp blades, from his fingers and arms, as Needleman projected dozens of spikes, to meet him. Protoman deployed his shield, charging in, firing on Slash, while driving hard, into Needle's chest. The android fell backward, as the shield became a staff, spinning and deflecting the other's frenzied claw swipes. Diverting the blows, he shoved Slash back, thrusting the butt of the staff into Needleman's face, as he tried to stand.
The feral android jumped toward him, intending to impale Protoman, from above. Spinning right, he broke the staff down, into nunchucks, battering his foe, from behind. Proto swept the android's shin, driving him face-first to the floor, when he was struck, from the side.
Needleman had brought him down, with a sharp shoulder tackle. The spikes punctured his nanosuit, causing him to yell out. It was like being hugged by a metallic blow fish. He shoved his elbow back, repeatedly, against the officer's head, until he was released. Rolling back, bleeding, he was quick to swing his baton backward, taking a charging Slash, off his feet.
He stood, tiredly, backing away. Holding his side, Proto moved in, kicking Needleman across the face. He checked the progress, on his heads-up display, twenty-two percent. Sighing, he ejected his staff, once again, as the two rose to their feet.
Alcatraz
Tracy and Preston had gunned down all of the harpies, clearing the sky. They turned their attention to the ground forces. "Tron," Protoman commed, "if you can break free, I may need a hand, in Seattle, soon."
She heard fighting and the clanks of metal clashing, in the background. "What's going on there, Scott?" She asked.
"I'm kinda locked, inside the tower, with a couple of hostile androids." He replied, grunting, "Hold on, a sec." The sounds of a melee continued, for a moment, "Okay, I'm back. I may need help, getting out of here." He finished.
"On our way." She answered, turning the ship around.
Entering the large area, of the upper level, Megaman was face to face, with Zero. The android was clad, in his white body armor, with red trim, and an automatic sub-machine gun holstered on each thigh, with a five foot katana sheathed across his back. His white and red crown sat draped across his brow, where his long, blonde hair hung down, over his shoulders, as his glowing green eyes glared at Megaman.
"Here we are." Stated Zero, walking toward him, "Two artificial life-forms, set to do battle for the fate of the human race, blah blah blah, so on and so forth." He laughed, "Delusions of grandeur, that's what gets them all, in the end, every time."
Megaman's light blue armor covered his body, slowly. "Every one of Wily's officers has had that same misconception. They all believed that they could win. I am what got them, in the end. You are no different." He said.
Zero smirked, "How fitting," he said, "you'll get to see the end from their perspective, this time." He drew his sword, pointing it at his foe's face, and blasting a bolt of lightning down the blade.
Megaman's suit absorbed most of the electricity, as he ran toward his opponent, opening fire. Zero moved with blink-like speed, leaving burning grooves in the blue plating. His sword lit ablaze, as Megaman slapped aside the incoming slashes. Before being struck in the stomach, and whipped to the floor, by his head. The sword came down, aimed for his eye, as he rolled clear, firing back, at nothing.
Zero had moved to the other side of him, grabbing his left arm, arm spinning him off the floor. The room swerved by, before he was released, crashing through the barred window, into the night sky. Something gripped Megaman, mid-air, and he was being pulled back inside, quickly. Zero gave him a quick jolt of electricity, before drawing his SMGs and laying a volley, of fire into the soaring android's chest. The armor deflected the bolt, as Zero drove the butt of the gun, into his face, flipping him out of the air.
Holstering his weapons, Zero drew his sword, "Get up." He said, harshly, putting the tip of the blade under Megaman's chin armor. "We aren't even close to 'finished'."
Megaman stood, slowly. He wasn't sure how much longer he could continue to be abused. But he had to hold out, the world would need him. He raised his gauntlets, to his adversary, who chuckled at him. Zero came in with another barrage, slicing off small pieces of steel, from Megaman's shell, exposing flesh. The android raised his palm, sending a searing blast of heat to the open area, causing his foe to scream, behind the mask. He picked him up. Magnetically, throwing him to the ceiling. When gravity brought Megaman back down, the blade slashed across his sternum, drawing blood from beneath the armor. On his hands and knees, he looked up at Zero, who drove a boot to his face.
Seattle, Washington
Protoman swung his baton, violently, as he barely fended off the slashing attackers. The three of them were bloodied and injured, like rabid beasts. Slash landed three of his claws into Protoman's chest. The android grabbed the bladed arm, flipping him over, snapping the elbow. Slash screamed, almost like a roar, as Needleman fired two spikes into his foe's knees.
Protoman writhed in pain, pulling the needles out and trying to stand. Upload complete flashed green in his HUD, as Slash impale him, before the claws fizzled, into fusion embers. The android called the console back up, rushing to remove the program, from the system.
The Phantom approached the Space Needle, and Tron could see Rush, attacking the group of whelp droids. Light opened the side hatch, as Tracy let out a whistle. The canine turned and made his way onto the ship. "We got it from here boy." She said, as Light operated the turrets, disintegrating the dragons. "Scott, what's the situation inside?" She asked.
Protoman lay on the floor, bleeding badly, as the two officers worked to undo the Fail-safe. "Tron, when I give you the signal, contact the Canadians." He wiped the blood, from his face, "I've gotta take care of these two."
"Scott, what's going on? Just hold on, we can get you out." She replied.
"There's no time, Tron. They have backup servers, they're going to be back up any second now." He responded.
"Scott, wait! You don't have to keep fighting them, if they're distracted! Just give us a minute!" She yelled.
"Who said anything about fighting?" He asked. "Get back to Alcatraz, and comm the Canadians. I love you, Tracy." He removed his helmet, and looked to the officers, "Hey!" They turned to look at him, as he stood up, "You guys wanna see something cool?" He asked, reaching into his pocket.
Tracy screamed, as Light took the controls. The bottom of the tower exploded, bringing the massive structure falling to the Earth. Tracy stood at the view port, banging on the glass, crying frantically, as the top crashed into the streets, crushing on impact. Light tried to calm her, as she fell to the floor. Rush barked and whined at the window, but Protoman was gone. All they could do now, was finish the mission.
Across the Country
Gutsman's chip had provided them with the location of every android officer created. After negotiations with the Canadian Army, Light got them to agree to helping, hunt them down. At that moment, platoons of Special Force Units waited, outside of every location. When the signal came over the comms, they moved in, quickly, eliminating every remaining Wily creation.
Alcatraz
Zero laughed, as he continuously electrocuted Megaman's writhing body. The android fought through the pain, standing to his feet. Zero raised his other palm, to add fire to the attack, when nothing happened. The crackling had ceased, as well. He drew his sword, confused to find that it was just that, a sword. No fire, no electricity, no diamond coating, just a blade. He seethed with rage, "What have you done?!" Zero screamed.
Megaman charged, thrusting a shoulder to his gut, and picking him up. Zero wrapped the android's neck, using the momentum to flip over, attempting to snap it. He landed to his feet, but the armor was still resilient. Megaman only bent backward, he wrapped Zero's waist and flipped him back over, smashing him into the floor.
Zero, lying on his back, threw a kick, back at Megaman's head, only dinging off the helmet. His opponent grabbed his throat, and threw him, like a discus, out the doors, and down the stairs. Stalking toward his prey, Megaman picked up the dropped katana, twirling it, as he neared closer. He jumped down to the landing, attempting to behead Zero. The android rolled out of the way, as he was greeted with a boot to his gut. The blow sent him over the railing, into the body-littered cell block.
When Megaman dropped down, to continue the assault, Zero had drawn his guns, but they only fired fusion rounds, that bounced off, uselessly. "What have you done to my power!?" Zero screamed at him.
Megaman only walked toward him, giving him no explanation. Zero tried to dodge the flurry of slashes, but without his superhuman speed, he couldn't adjust to quick combat. Suit cut to ribbons, he fell back against the bars, of a cell door, where Megaman banged his skull repeatedly, against the steel. His headgear snapped, falling to the floor. His bloody hair hung, messily, over his face. His foe pulled it up, to look into his eyes. "Hail to the King." Were the only words Megaman uttered, before driving the blade through Zero's head.
The building was silent. The Phantom had arrived, piloted by Dr. Light. "It's done!" He yelled ecstatically. "Alex we've won! We did it!"
Megaman walked by him, silently, handing him Zero's head, then making his way to his personal quarters. He sat down in the dark, as he took off his helmet. It's over. He thought. No one to hunt, no one to eliminate. The humans had their lives back, but what did he have? He grew irritated and confused, feeling like he had no place in the New World. All there was, was to protect the humans, but from what? Other humans? They would grow to fear and eventually, hate him, for what he was. A Machine. They were fickle beings, humans. And soon they would turn on him. He wouldn't let that become his fate.
Light sat with Tracy in the cockpit. She stared blankly, out the window.
"Tracy, I'm sorry about Scott. He did what he thought, would give you a chance, at a free life. Without being afraid, without running. As much as it hurts, he would have never left you, if he didn't feel it was the only way." Light said.
She wiped her cheeks, "I know. He was always looking out for me, you know, since the beginning. And I've mourned him three times, now." She chuckled, awkwardly. "I think he would tell me to get over it, already." She smiled, petting Rush. "But hey, I've still got his sort-of dog."
The two stood up, to check on Alex, when they found the remaining escape pod missing. They ran into the Engineering Bay, in a panic, where they found the holo note.
Dr. Light/ Tracy
I'm glad to have brought you this New World, but I can't be a part of it. There's nothing left for a "Megaman" here. So I've decided to go where I can't be a danger to others. It's time I began a life of my own, and I hope you understand. Don't try and find me. I just want to be myself, whoever that is.
Goodbye
Tracy looked to Light, "What should we do? I can track the pod."
He only smiled, shaking his head, "That's not necessary. My son was forced to be at my side, his entire life. I think it's time he finally moved out."
Tracy smirked, "That's one hell of a kid, ya got there, Dr. Light." She said
He smiled, proudly, "Yes, he is." He replied.