One day after the previous chapter...
Proto Man is waiting for Tempo near Light Labs' exit.
Tempo comes out of the living room.
Proto Man: "Will you be ready to go soon?"
Tempo: "Yes. Let's find Cut Man today."
Proto Man: "Alright."
Dr. Light: "Tempo... Proto Man. Are you leaving?"
Blues: "Yes, we're about to."
Dr. Light: "Then I'd like you to take this. (Dr. Light hands him a helmet.) It's just an early prototype, so it may not work perfectly, but it should let us get in touch, and it will protect your head. Remember to use your Proto Shield and Proto Buster too."
Proto Man: "Thanks."
Dr. Light: "Good luck, Proto Man."
Tempo and Proto Man leave.
Tempo: "So where do you think Cut Man is?"
Proto Man: "He was made for deforestation and lumber work, so it's natural he'd want to cut wood."
Tempo: "Then let's check a lumber yard."
They get to a place with lots of logs.
Proto Man: "Hmm. This place is odd."
Tempo: "Agreed. I'm gonna transform just in case."
She transforms into Quake Woman.
Quake Woman: "Let's go."
Suddenly, the conveyors turn on and logs start rolling.
Proto Man and Quake Woman jump onto the conveyors, which are aligned like stairs, but with the steps far apart.
A log shoots toward them off the conveyor above them, but Quake Woman shoots through it with a Quake Drill.
Another log comes, and it hits Proto Man. He starts falling.
Proto Man: "Tempo!"
Quake Woman: (Grabs his hand) "I've got you!"
She pulls him back up.
Proto Man: "Thanks. (He smiles.) Our promise, remember?"* *See Chapter 5: Tempo and Blues.
Quake Woman: "I do. Anyway, let's keep going."
Proto Man: "Okay."
Quake Woman: "Being with you is nice, Blues... Sorry! I mean Proto Man!"
Proto Man: "It's okay, you can call me Blues if you want. And I like being with you, too."
Quake Woman smiles.
Quake Woman: "Ack! I got distracted.. Anyway, NOW let's keep going."
They get to the middle of the stage, but then...
?: "Hahahah!"
Quake Woman: "Who's there?"
Mega Man: "It's me, Mega Man!"
Proto Man: "Rock..."
Mega Man: "I told you already, it's Mega Man, not Rock! Who the heck is Rock?! Anyway, now's not the time for words, it's time for battle!"
Mega Man blasts at Proto Man, but Proto Man blocks it with his Proto Shield, sending the blast into the ceiling.
Mega Man: "Graaah! You think you're so funny, huh?!"
Quake Woman then fires a Quake Drill, but Mega Man hits it aside with his Mega Blade. He then runs at Proto Man with it, and Proto Man tries to deflect it with his Proto Shield, but Mega Man slices the shield in half.
Proto Man: "What?!"
Mega Man: "Heheheh!"
Mega Man then runs at Proto Man again with his Mega Blade. Proto Man dodges, but it slices part of his helmet off.
Proto Man charges up his buster and shoots Mega Man, hitting him.
Mega Man: "Ahk! I'm not leaving yet, you fools!"
Mega Man charges his buster and shoots. Proto Man picks up the two halves of the Proto Shield, which then gets cut into fourths by the blast.
Proto Man: "Let's do a combination attack, Tempo!"
Quake Woman: "Alright, let's go!"
Proto Man charges up his buster, while Quake Woman gets ready to shoot Quake Drills at blinding speed.
Mega Man: "What the heck is happening?!"
Proto Man: "Ready?"
Quake Woman: "Yeah, let's do it!"
They do a combination attack. Proto Man shoots a large blast, while Quake Woman surrounds the blast with many Quake Drills shooting at a blinding speed. The blast and drills knock into Mega Man, injuring him, but not enough.
Mega Man: "Grrrrrrrrrr! You win this time! The outcome will not be the same next time!"
CONTINUED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER