Note: A Shorter chapter when I was still doing the episode format, but rest assured, they'll be longer in the future.

Title changed as this will include more than just the MM4 arc.

Falling into Place

The blonde housekeeper ran out of the expo with her creator, her brother long gone. She turned to see Doc muttering to himself, clearly unable to process what had just happened.

"Mikhal…" he whispered. "Mikhal…why?"

"Excuse me?" a female voice asked. Both Light and Roll suddenly became aware that two figures were approaching them. A man and woman were walking towards them.

The man wore a green trenchcoat with black slacks and suspenders hidden underneath the coat. Black shoes with hidden socks were on his feet, and he wore a red tie with a white, collared undershirt. He was Caucasian and had tired but firm blue eyes, a receding hairline exposing a wrinkled forehead, his hair dark with quite a few notable grey hairs.

The woman was far younger than her partner and a few inches shorter. Her skin was bronze, and her hair a deep red that flipped outward at her shoulders. She wore a yellow choker around her neck with a pink undershirt and a blue jacket to wear atop of it. She wore blue jeans with a pair of casual, blue and white sneakers.

"You're Dr. Thomas Light, yes?" the woman asked.

"Yes, that's right." the doctor answered. "And may I ask who you are?"

"Gilbert Stern and Ms. Roslyn Krantz here." the man spoke, voice low and firm, matching his appearance well.

"Stop with the Ms. thing; you're making me sound old!" the woman giggled. He only gave her a small smile. "Anyway, I suppose we should just get down to business." both she and Stern then pulled out a pair of badges, the image of an Earth with a sword behind it and two scales on them.

"We're here from Interpol," Stern explained. "And as we've come to know, you and Dr. Mikhal Cossack have been…shall we say, rather acquainted for some time."

Roll didn't understand. "Doc? What's he mean by that?"

"Your creator's not in any trouble, don't worry," Krantz assured the robot. "We would just like to ask Dr. Light here a few questions."

Roll raised a brow. "What kind of questions?"

"Sorry to say, but this isn't something to get yourself involved in," Stern told her, approaching Light so that mere feet separated them. "Whether anyone likes it or not, it doesn't matter. You're coming with us, Doc."

"What?!" Roll exclaimed. "Hey, you can't just leave stuff like that out! What do you mean that Doc's been-"

"Roll, please." Dr. Light suddenly said, urging her to calm down. He then directed his attention to the two agents. "If I can be of any help, then I shall provide you all I can."

Both Stern and Krantz seemed satisfied with this answer. "The car's parked not too far from here. But, we better hurry it up because we've got some flying to do."

Nodding in agreement, Dr. Light then turned to Roll. "Roll, take Eddie to Mega Man. It seems that I'm needed elsewhere." he began to leave with the two agents.

"Doc!" Roll called out, reaching for him.

"It's all right!" Light called back to her. "Just go help your brother! I'll be all right!"

Roll stood there, watching her creator go with the two strangers, leaving her alone, a slight winter breeze lightly causing her hair to sway in the wind.

Kolyma

While his programming included information on multiple countries, Mega Man found that merely reading about something was nothing compared to seeing and experiencing it despite his ability to do so.

Yes, his databanks allowed him to know that Kolyma was a region in Russia, technically Siberia, and shared its name with the region's largest river and mountainside. But as he was flying over them, seeing the snow-covered hills and towering trees below him, his advanced optics allowing him to catch the sight of small bits of green pines or a possible animal passing by, it was terrific.

While he always could do so, the Blue Bomber found himself unable to leave the United States due to Wily mainly working within the country's borders, so travel outside wasn't a common occurrence. Yes, he managed to go to some obscure island off the coast somewhere. Still, to be in another nation, the DLN found himself unable to recall anything except the US, let alone North America. Sure, what he saw below him were sights he had seen before: expansive forests and hills covered in snow, a deathly cold chill in the air (Mega wasn't bothered by the temperature but could still feel the wind on his cheeks), and he was once again going off to save the day. But to be somewhere else outside of the states was thrilling to him, despite the situation.

Of course, with his title of "Super Fighting Robot," he would go where he was needed. But to travel so far from familiar territory felt odd for him. And just who was this Dr. Cossack? What sort of problem did he have with Light? At least with Wily, Mega knew the story behind him and Light, but he knew nothing of Cossack. So why challenge him, and why now? And he had taken back his robots from Wily? What did that mean? And better yet, just where WAS Wily?

He then saw it: nestled behind a thick layer of towering trees was a towering building fashioned to very much have its country's signature style. But as he drew closer, Mega Man saw that, to his surprise, there were other figures down below.

"Looks like we're not the first ones here, boy." Mega Man observed.

Rush looked down and spotted a particular figure amongst the small group at the structure's base. It was a human, his hair white and slicked back, but if it weren't for that, the robotic dog would've mistaken him for a bear standing on its hind legs. Instead, he wore a thick, brown coat and hat and brown boots partially buried in the snow. He descended and hovered over the ground to allow Mega to jump off.

Only to find himself ankle-deep in thick, white powder. Rush lowered himself, legs outstretched, only to plummet down and make a perfectly sized indention in the snow. Mega couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of it; Rush lifted his head only to look like a living snowball, wholly enveloped in the numerous white crystals.

"It's taken you five hours to get here." a voice suddenly said, the human dressed in thick faux fur approaching the Blue Bomber and his mechanical dog. "We arrived long before that."

Mega was somewhat taken aback by the man's attitude but remained cordial. "Sorry about that, sir."

"Petrov." the man said, his face old but stern, eyebrows white and thick, and seemingly constantly furrowed. "Ivan Petrov." he "introduced" himself. While he spoke English, his accent was thick in his voice. "And seeing as you've finally arrived, we can get started." he then turned away, walking towards the citadel.

Mega Man and Rush quickly caught up, walking beside the warmly dressed Russian. "So, what are you doing here, sir?"

"Why I am here and what I do, let alone who I work for, is information that is no concern to you," Petrov told him. "You are here to apprehend and bring Dr. Cossack out alive."

Rather direct, this guy. Regardless, as he and Mega Man drew closer to the citadel's entrance, canons facing forward and tracking their movements, the few other humans that were there, dressed similarly to him, were watching the citadel as if they were completely transfixed by it. Or were waiting for the fortress to suddenly spring to life. Either one of those could've been true from the way their gaze fixated on it.

"You don't have to worry about Dr. Cossack," Mega assured. "I'll bring him out for you."

"Make sure that you do," Petrov said directly, not even looking at the blue robot or his dog. "Even if that means protecting the man from himself."

The Blue Bomber's equally blue eyes widened, looking at the ivory-haired Russian. What did he mean by that?

Before he could question further, Mega found himself at the entrance to the citadel. Ivan stepped back, joining the rest of his fellow humans a short distance away. It was clear that only Mega Man would be allowed to enter. The massive doors unlocked, the sound of the mechanism echoing across the hills. Everyone was silent as the doors slowly opened, opening wider and wider. As if the fortress was beckoning the summoned robot inside.

A vast, dark space presented itself like a gaping maw, ready to swallow the Blue Bomber whole. And in a sense, perhaps it would be doing just that. Taking a step forward, Mega Man and Rush entered the citadel, the doors closing behind them.

Thus, everything was put in place now. Petrov then raised a communication device to his ear, ready to move to the second stage.

When she heard the ringing in her ear, she knew well that it was her superior calling. "Unit Ninety-Five here. What's the current situation?" she was wearing a thick, dark coat that resembled a cloak, the fabric blowing in the chilled wind.

"Mega Man has entered Cossack's base of operations. What's your status, 95?"

The cloaked android, "Ninety-Five," looked towards her destination. It was far off and somewhat challenging to see through the billowing snow, but her enhanced optics spotted it despite her vision being partially obscured. "I'm at least forty-six point six seven kilometers away from the site of interest."

"Excellent. Any sign of anything else?" Petrov asked.

"Negative," Ninety-Five answered. "No living thing could survive out here."

"All the more reason to hope that 'she' is someplace warm," Petrov said. "Contact me if there are any new developments. Petrov, out."

With that, the android ended the call and began her way forward through the dense snow. If that bird-bot's report was correct, then all she would have to do is go in and pick the brat up and be done with it. But, of course, she assumed that the brat wouldn't do something foolish, such as running out into weather such as this.

Then Ninety-Five doubted anything could save her then.

The Citadel

The moment the Blue Bomber stepped inside, the doors immediately shut behind him, locking both him and Rush in. Rush began to whimper slightly, yet a small pat calmed his circuits. Still, this whole situation was entirely off, Mega thought. There was something more to this entire thing.

The chamber they were both in was refurbished like the rest of the citadel, but there wasn't much interest inside. If anything, it appeared that it was just the chamber and a single, inconspicuous door ahead. It reminded Mega of Dr. Light's lab in a way.

"Good, you're here." a voice suddenly spoke, filling the entire empty chamber. "Now, we can finally get started."

"So it seems." Mega replied, noting how oddly low and smooth Dr. Cossack's voice was. Much different than Wily's uneven tone.

"The first challenge awaits you past that door there." suddenly, an overhead light flashed on, casting the door in brightness as if to show Mega just where to go. "Your first opponent's been rather anxious to see you, so it'd only be polite that you don't keep him waiting."

"No, of course not." Mega stepped forward, drawing closer to the door. He then turned to Rush. "I think I'm going to have to go solo for the next while, boy."

Rush whined. "Aw, but Mega gonna need me!"

"Yes, I do." the azure android told the robotic canine. Mega then knelt so he could whisper in the dog's ear. "But for now, I need you to stay put. I don't know what this guy might do."

At least with Wily, dangerous as he was, he was at least a familiar threat. Cossack was a complete mystery to the Blue Bomber. Wily would surely demand that Rush stay put, and ultimately, Mega decided to go with that. Whether or not Cossack or Wily had a vast number of differences, the fact remained that this man had dangerous machines that he'd set loose unless the Blue Bomber accepted his challenge. Rush seemed to not like this but knew that Mega's mind was made up. He was to stay outside and wait.

Staying put, Rush watched as the blue machine approached the door, only for it to slide open. He entered, Rush taking a few steps closer to at least maybe give Mega a tiny bit of encouragement, but the door shut just as quickly as it opened, separating the dog from his owner.

She was someplace warm, that much she knew. But she knew that, wherever she was, she was far, far away from home.

Kalinka Cossack stirred, finding a cheap, barely usable bed with a worn-out mattress and with just one single blanket that didn't even fit the bed. She sat up and looked around, brushing some of her curly, blonde hair out of her face. She saw she was in a small enclosure of some sort (though she'd call it a cage) with bars on all sides, keeping her from escaping. A toilet and sink were present in her compact prison, but she doubted the plumbing here, if there was any. The only source of light she had was a single light hanging up from above.

The young woman got up off the bed, only to find her legs feeling stiff. She sat back down on the bed, her head beginning to ache. She had breathed in something, that much she was sure of. But the one who had drugged her wasn't one of the robots she was familiar with, yet he seemed to be familiar with her.

"Great. You're up."

Now that voice, she recognized. Kalinka turned her head to see that her prison was in a far larger space, appearing to be somewhere under or at least partially underground. A cave? Or perhaps something else? Whatever the case, the Russian saw Proto Man reclining against a wall near her enclosure.

"Now I've got to deal with you, brat."

Note: Thanks for the favorites and reviews! They're the best encouragement to post this here, as while I'm posting on Ao3, I know some people missed my RS work here.

Thank you again!