Note: Here is the chapter that details Kalinka's background, as well as her connection to Dr. Cossack's robots. This is sort of why I had this AU have the series take place over ten years, for without that, Kalinka's relationship with her father's creations wouldn't hit as hard I think.
Plus, as I do in the Variables series, I want to show the difference between man and machine with the main observation being the aging process. True, everyone looks the same in my head for now, but with a few arcs/sagas in, people's hair is going to get whiter and the years are going to catch up to them.
But those are plans for the far-off future I don't even know of yet. I've only lightly planned out things from MM4 to MM6. Everything else that comes after is fair game for writing.
I did some research on both Russian and Swedish holidays and customs, both for the small transitional story I have planned after this one, and to place this AU series in a timeframe. Because I'm hung up on details like that.
With that said, here's the story of Kalinka Cossack, and I hope you enjoy it!
Trigger Warning for mentions of death
Tale of Kalinka Cossack Pt. 1
"So, how long have you known Dr. Cossack's daughter?" Roll asked Beat, she, the bird, and Natsenka still waiting for the Swallon to return from its voyage.
"Ever since she was a kid," Beat answered. "But those seven came before even me."
"Really?" Roll asked, tilting her head curiously.
"Shh!" Natsenka hissed. "If you're going to talk, then keep it down," she said. But, interestingly enough, she didn't tell the two to be completely quiet either. "Still, is that true?"
"You mean you don't know either?" the blue robotic bird inquired the redheaded Russian android.
"I knew that Dr. Cossack constructed his Robot Masters," the metal agent answered. "My combat program specifically comes from that of Ring Man. At least, before Wily went in and messed up his systems. But back to the subject at hand," she said. "His child knew of his creations as well?"
"Oh, she more than knew them," Beat told Natsenka. "Before they were even Robot Masters, Dr. Cossack programmed them to be companions for Kalinka."
Roll had already been told such before, so her reaction was much more subdued compared to her Russian companion, but the revelation was still difficult to believe. "You mean...?" Natsenka questioned, slowly realizing what Beat was implying.
"Before our dear country's government got involved, there was nothing more than a lonely man that had just lost his wife and left behind a baby girl," Beat told the dark-clad, dark-eyed combat agent. "He suffered much during his youth, so he wished to protect her from the outside world. Even still, he knew that she would get lonely, all by herself," Beat then paused, sighing as he grew despondent. "So, he did the only thing he knew he could do, for his talents would allow him to fulfill his child's wish for companionship, and keep her safe from anyone and anything from the outside," he then lowered his head, which was essentially his main body. "He made her some friends."
Russia 199X
Despite the remote location being hundreds of miles away from either country of origin, the young blonde sat at the television, transfixed by a white duck in a sailor outfit and a strange, eccentric bird that was doing everything in his power to pester the waterfowl. The special in itself was a custom passed down from the girl's mother, for her father never celebrated Christmas growing up in the Soviet Union. His first Christmas was from his experience in Sweden, and that was when he was introduced to the annual tradition of watching Kalle Anka. Otherwise known as Donald Duck.
"Mama," the child no older than three turned to gaze at the woman who shared her hair color and curls. "Can I get an Aracuan bird for Christmas?"
The woman, a Swedish-born native that had just moved to Russia with her husband, merely laughed. "Unfortunately, no, Pralin," she said. "There are no tropical jungles anywhere in this place, let alone in Europe."
"Then why don't we go to Asia?" the girl suggested. "Asia's got jungles. Or maybe we can try to get Papa to have a demonstration in someplace like China, or even South Korea!"
Anni-Frid chuckled, lifting the girl from the floor and onto her lap. "And here your father said you would like his hometown," she said.
"It's ok," Kalinka answered. "But I wish we still lived in Stockholm."
"I'll admit, it was quite an adjustment coming here," Anni-Frid admitted, her daughter a spitting image of the woman, save for the color of their eyes. Kalinka bore the same light green as her father's side of the family. "But, your Papa's employers wanted him back here. And, well, it's usually best to do as those people say," she said.
"Why's that?" Kalinka asked.
"Oh, uh, never mind," Anni-Frid told her child. "The point is, this place is different, but it isn't all bad," she said. "Your great Babushka hoped that your father would return to his country."
"Why?" Kalinka questioned, unsure of why the dearly departed old woman wanted such a thing. As far as she knew, her family, at least those that were left, enjoyed life in Sweden. True, the girl only knew of the country and its traditions through her mother, too young to truly remember living in Stockholm. But she remembered the faint glimpses of an expansive, bustling city compared to the large but lonely house in the middle of the woods.
Her Papa promised they'd move to his hometown, but that meant the woods miles outside of it. Anni-Frid couldn't blame her husband, yet she wished that Kalinka wasn't so confined. There were no other children around here, and Mikhail insisted that she be schooled in private. It seemed that moving back to Russia, even if it was mostly forced, seemed to bring forth the man's intense desire for privacy. Knowing what he endured to even make it to Sweden gave Anni-Frid some perspective, yet she couldn't deny she worried for Kalinka's development.
For now, however, she would let her child experience a pleasant Christmas, the weather was almost always perfect this time of year in the forest. And, as she did since she was her daughter's age, continued watching Kalle Anka as the snow fell outside.
Citadel
Drill Man's Chamber
"Ok, this is getting a little repetitive," Mega Man murmured. Then, Drill Man sprang up from the ground again and slammed his whirling namesake down, piercing the hardened earth with terrifying speed and efficiency. "I mean, surely Dr. Cossack's given you other skills than digging holes," he then looked around at all the craters andhollowed-outt sections of ground surrounding him. "From the looks of it, this is the biggest board of Whack a Mole I've ever seen."
Drill crossed his arms, albeit with some slowness due to his lack of hands. As much as that robot could be an annoyance, he could empathize with Crash Man's desire for extra appendages. "Do you think this is funny?" he questioned Mega Man. "Doesn't the fact that Dr. Cossack has threatened your country mean anything to you?"
"Of course it does," Mega Man countered. "But, so far, Wily hasn't been successful, and I doubt your creator will be either," then, he wondered something. "You know, I've been meaning to ask one of you guys," he said.
"Huh? Oh, sure. Go ahead." Drill Man answered, only realizing afterward that he was giving common courtesy to his opponent!
Nevertheless, Mega Man continued speaking. "Just how did Dr. Cossack get you guys back from Wily? I mean, if Cossack created you, then that means you all were stolen," he then lowered his humor and grew somewhat serious. "Just like Dr. Light's original six."
"Yes, we were taken and reprogrammed by Wily," Drill Man confirmed. "And, frankly, the fool did a poor job in rewriting the CPUs of your creator's Robot Masters," he then huffed. "Thankfully for him, our superior programming was mostly left untouched, save for our allegiance."
"What?! You little…?!" an enraged voice hissed from the speaker in the room, getting the Blue Bomber's attention.
"Shh! I'm in charge here, remember?!"
"Huh?" Mega Man turned his head to the side. That was Dr. Cossack, but that other voice, he knew it, but it wasn't Cossack's. Yet it did bear an accent.
"But he…!"
"Do you want to get caught? Then shut up!"
"That sounded just like…?!"
This momentary distraction was all that Drill Man needed to burrow himself underground once again, and this time, he managed to catch his blue opponent off guard, his drills spinning rapidly and aimed right for the Blue Bomber, ready to strike whatever body part the sharpened instruments reached first.
Russia 199X
WARNING
When she had heard she was going out of the house today, she wasn't as elated as she would've usually been, for today was not a joyous occasion. On the way to the hospital, neither Kalinka nor her father spoke a word, unsure of how to comfort the other. Even if they both knew that this was coming, it was difficult for either of them to accept. The drive was long, and the trip was solemn, yet, eventually, the Russian scientist and his daughter reached the infirmary in the small town outside of the woods where their house resided.
"All right, Kalinka," Mikhail told the blonde girl. "We're here."
The girl got out of the car, dressed in a red coat and black cossack hat with beige boots and dark stockings. "Papa," she asked, voice uncertain yet clinging to some sliver of hope. "Is there any chance Mama can come home?"
Dr. Cossack didn't respond to her question. "Let's go," he told her. "She's waiting for us."
The man led the child through the entrance of the hospital and to the floor his wife was on, both of them entering the woman's room. From the looks of it, she was only growing worse. Her once bright, still youthful features were completely sapped from her, leaving her a disheveled, wrinkled mess. She had lost a great deal of weight, her skin practically clinging to her bones, and her hair had grown thin and lost much of its color. Her senses were getting duller every passing day, yet Anni-Frid had enough awareness to know that she had visitors. And upon seeing who they were, she was relieved.
"You," she said, voice weak, but she was determined to speak. "I've been expecting you."
Dr. Cossack and his child went to the bedside of his wife, the bearded man taking a hold of his wife's hand. He didn't wish to consider it, but she felt a little cold. "How are you doing, дорогой?" he asked her.
Anni-Frid didn't answer at first. She only looked at her husband, the man beginning to realize just what she was implying. He grew cold, but she shook her head, alerting him to be quiet.
"Mama?"
The hospitalized woman looked down to see her child, who was far more lively and healthy than she. "You've grown," she said. "How long has it been since I first came here? Three months?"
"Four," Kalinka corrected. "But Papa said that if treatment is going well, you can come home soon!" neither of her parents spoke. "Right?" again, she received no answer. "Papa? Mama?"
"Kalinka," Anni-Frid said. "Come here."
The girl drew closer to the bed, her mother wrapping a hand around her daughter. The girl wasn't the strongest due to her age, yet she was convinced that her mother wouldn't stand a chance against her. It was almost as if a branch had skin and was trying to get a grip on her more solid form.
"Mama?" Kalinka asked, her voice not as confident as before. She never realized it before, but her mother looked almost like a corpse.
"Kalinka, I've had this talk with your Papa already, yet I was afraid I wouldn't be able to have it with you." the woman told the child.
The blonde girl was confused. "Mama?"
Anni-Frid smiled, even if it took quite a bit of energy to do so, much less speak. "I'm sorry to do this to you, yet I want you to know something, something your Papa's Babushka told him when he first went to Sweden."
Kalinka was puzzled but listened nonetheless. "Y-Yes?"
"Your Babushka had a hard life," Anni-Frid said. "But…she still had hope that this place, that this entire section of Europe could be seen as a beautiful and peaceful place."
Beautiful and peaceful? Beautiful in some areas, perhaps, but Russia was anything but peaceful. Why else would her Papa keep the girl in the house, away from everyone else save her family?
"But, for that to happen, the right people have to use their talents to make it so," she then stroked the young girl's cheek. "You're still so young, yet I sense you will do great things. Perhaps as a dancer, or maybe a scientist like your father," she glanced at her husband, tears beginning to form in his green eyes. "But, whatever it is, you'll be a light in a dark place. Whether for one person, or several," the woman's breathing grew slower, and her body grew colder.
"Mama?" Kalinka began shaking her head, realizing what was happening. "No, no you can't be…?"
"Whatever it is, seize it, Kalinka. Seize your future," Anni-Frid took her daughter by the hand. "Take it, and don't let go. You are my Princess," she said, feeling her eyes growing heavy. "But…one day, you'll be a Queen."
Then, Anni-Frid's hand fell, her arm hanging limply to the side. Kalinka gripped her hand, yet it was cold as ice. She then realized why her father had insisted on taking her to the hospital today, why he hadn't been completely honest about her mother's condition. She realized all of this in the span of a few seconds. And before she could protest, bargain, or beg, what she dreaded had already happened.
Her mother's lifeless form in front of her was proof of that.
WARNING OVER
Citadel
Drill Man's Chamber
Knocked off his feet, Mega Man was sent flying back, landing hard on the ground and skidding a short distance before he came to a stop. "What? Now that the order's been switched up, you're not going to have as easy a time bashing us up, huh?"
"Order?" Mega Man questioned, getting back up. "What are you talking about?"
"Oops! I wasn't supposed to have said that!" Drill Man mentally kicked himself. "Even if Dr. Cossack restored my honesty chip."
"Well, if that's the case, then perhaps you can answer something for me," the Blue Bomber replied. "Is there someone else besides Cossack that's here?"
Drill Man didn't respond at first, the other machine's words registering and processing in his CPU. "Uh, well, that's…complicated."
"How so?" Mega questioned. "It's a simple question: Is Dr. Cossack the only one here?" Drill Man went silent. "Come on, now, you said it yourself," the blue android pried. "If you've got your honesty chip back in, then surely you can give me an answer," he said. "Plus, robots can't make up lies." Not unless they are allowed, Mega remembered, his brother came to mind.
"Uh," the reddish-orange, drill-headed Robot Master's eyes shifted. "Um…"
"Better yet, how about you answer me this," Mega Man finally asked what he truly wanted to know. "Is Dr. Wily here?"
He said nothing, and he bore no facial features save for eyes, but that was all Mega Man needed. The sudden shock registered in the reprogrammed DCN (even now, it was bizarre to think that Dril Man and all those before him were made by Cossack), and it became clear just what was going on.
"I knew it," the Blue Bomber scowled. True, it felt good his suspicions were validated, yet, once again, that madman was threatening the world. "So, just what's the deal this time? Did Wily get a new best friend in Cossack because Dr. Light wouldn't put up with him anymore?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Drill Man asked. "Besides, whether he's here or not is irrelevant, because you're far from done with Cossack's challenge," his drills then began spinning with high velocity. "And to do that, you have to get through me!"
He then dove underground once again, leaving Mega Man surrounded by holes created in the ground. "Great," the Blue Bomber sighed. "How am I going to get him out?" he then looked at the large vacuum still affixed to his back, then at the several holes all around. Are these all connected? He wondered. He had an idea, although he was unsure as to whether or not it would work. Still, if it was the only way to get Drill Man to stay out of the ground, then it would have to do.
With a powerful thrust, Mega Man converted his buster into a vacuum thanks to Dust Man's copied ability, and, with a mighty gust, set the switch from such to blow.
Observation Room
"And, after that, she was the only family I had left," Dr. Cossack relied upon Wily. He doubted the man cared, yet he wished to know just how the Russian (partially Ukrainian) scientist came up with the Robot Masters he made. Thus, with little else to do but watch Mega Man combat his machines, the younger robotics expert obliged. "That was a lonely Christmas that year."
"Speaking of, I need to look over my list," Wily murmured. "Hey, wait a minute, I thought Christmas was outlawed in Russia."
"During the Soviet days," Cossack answered. "Of course, that didn't stop people, but we had to do it in secret. But, seeing that the people would need a day of celebration in these winter months, New Year's became the Russian Christmas, if you will. The actual name is Novy God," he said. "We even have our own Santa Claus, Grandfather Frost," he then smiled. "Kalinka always loved the story of his companion, the Snow Maiden, Snegurochka."
"Snow Maiden?" Wily scoffed. "What is she, five?"
"As much as it pains me to admit it, for a good portion of her youth, her main companions were books," Dr. Cossack said, speaking of his daughter. "Many of which are collections of old Slavic stories. Even during my time, children, even adults clung to those stories," he then sighed. "They spoke of a country that could produce such stories of courage and beauty, that today, that same land is unrecognizable."
"Oh, enough of this!" Wily groaned. "If you hate this place so much, why don't you just go off the grid and live somewhere else? That's what I did!"
"Unlike you, Wily, I'm not a maniac," Cossack answered. "And my government tracks me wherever I go, so I can't exactly go anywhere I please," he then gazed at the monitor, observing Mega Man's battle with Drill Man. "Although considering all that I've done for you when Mega Man eventually gets up here, I'd like some tips from you."
"Oh?" Wily questioned. "Why's that?"
Mikhail lowered his head. "Because, when Mega Man comes, I will need someplace to hide my shame."
"Doc!" a familiar voice shouted, a figure running through the door.
"Proto! What the…!?" Wily began, wondering just what was wrong. But, upon glancing in the Red Bomber's direction,
The distraught robot held a torn piece of yellow fabric in his hands, torn between despair and utter rage. "Where…are…the…needles…and…thread?"
Russia 200X
"Doctor Thomas Light," Cossack mused, down in his lab, tinkering on one of his more animal-based machines. "Hm. Curious fellow. But he has excellent ideas."
"Papa?"
The scientist saw that his young child had come down into his lab. "Kalinka, how many times have I told you not to come down here? It's dangerous in here!"
"Only when you're working with wiring," the girl said. "Besides, what are you working on, anyway?"
"Oh, well, I suppose I could show you," her father answered, allowing the girl to see the Swallon unit he was currently constructing.
"Oh, you're making a birdie!" Kalinka exclaimed. "It's cute!"
Cossack smiled. He wondered what she would've thought if she knew it was a "request" from his government for new surveillance. "So, you like it?" he asked, Kalinka nodding in response. He then noticed her looking longingly at it. "What is it?"
"I wish I had one," Kalinka said. "A little birdie of my own."
Cossack inwardly sighed. His daughter had been asking for a pet, whether it be a dog, cat, or, in this case, a bird. She just wanted some sort of companion, for, while he did the best he could, Mikhail had to admit that his daughter had no one in her life outside of him. And her mother was unfortunately long gone. The young girl, despite her father's notoriety, was a complete enigma to the outside world.
If he could help it, then no one besides him would know his daughter existed. That way, she would be safe from the clutches of anyone that would want to use her for their nefarious purposes. Perhaps he could work something out with his superiors, as he had already done so much for them. Still, his mind then remembered his daughter's request for a pet of her own. And then, his mind wandered to the concept of his child having friends of her own.
"Papa?" Kalinka asked, her father seemingly spacing out.
Still, Cossack didn't answer her at first, still caught up in his thoughts. Friends…yes, he could do that for her.
Citadel
Drill Man's Chamber
The moment he released the gust of wind from the vacuum, the holes surrounding the Blue Bomber were propelling air from their deep depths, dirt flying everywhere as if several tornadoes had sprung up at once. "You'd think I copied Air Man instead!" Mega Man noted aloud.
Then, thankfully, he saw who he was hoping to see, even if that someone meant him ill will. Drill Man was forced out from his hiding place in one of the several dust devils produced, the air becoming too much for him to bear. "Hey, watch it!" the Robot Master complained. "You're getting dirt all up in my visor!"
"Then how about you stop hiding underground and do something about it?" Mega Man questioned, ready to fight again.
"Oh, I plan to!" Suddenly, Drill Man positioned his arms straight ahead, ready for his next attack. "How about this, Mega Man? Dr. Cossack might be my creator, but Wily left me with some touches from before!" then, his drills began spinning, Mega Man sensing what was going to happen.
"It's always missiles," Mega Man mused. "Wonder if Crash Man served as your inspiration, or is it the other way around?" then, he heard a distant hissing sound. "Wait, what's that?"
"Huh?" Drill Man asked, still spinning his drills, however. "What's what?" he asked.
"That noise, do you hear it?" Mega Man listened in closer, his audio receptors catching the sound from down below. He bore no sense of smell, yet the sound was enough to tell him what had just happened. "Uh oh," he said. "I think you might've hit something while you were down there," he told Drill Man. "Specifically a gas pipe."
"What?! I did?!" Drill Man looked down at the holes, but then focused his attention back on Mega Man. "Wait, I see what you're trying to do! You're trying to distract me!"
"No, really!" the Blue Bomber said, uncharacteristically nervous in his current predicament. "If you let those things off, who knows what could happen!"
"Ha! Nice try!" Drill Man set his drills to fire. "Nice knowing ya!"
"Wait! You…oh, forget it!" Mega Man couldn't afford to wait any longer. He ran towards the platform that had initially brought him into this room, running right past Drill Man.
"Hey! We're not finished!" Drill Man protested.
"Let those drills out, and we will be!" Mega Man told him.
"Enough of this! Time to blow you to smithereens!"
Unfortunately, when the drill missiles were released, Mega Man's terrible prophecy came true.
Observation Room
The screen was consumed by a fiery explosion, nothing able to be seen among the raging flames that spread due to the gas.
"Mega Man!" Proto Man had temporarily been distracted from his torn scarf by the explosion caused by Drill Man releasing his weapons.
Once the smoke died down, even if it took some time, the fire was still raging in the chamber, yet Drill Man's dismantled form was on the ground. The Blue Bomber was nowhere to be seen.
"Looks like I activated the teleportation device just in time," Cossack said, sighting the platform designed to transport Mega Man to his various challenges. "Of course, I'm sure you're happy about that," he said, turning his attention to Proto Man. "One more day to try and destroy him yourself, right?"
"Wait, what?!" Wily questioned, clearly enraged. "You helped him out?!"
"They were both going to explode if I didn't," Cossack responded. "Besides, he technically won the challenge, as Drill Man ultimately defeated himself."
"That…that doesn't count!" Wily protested. "You had that blue dweeb RIGHT THERE, and you up and let him go?!"
"Don't worry, there are only three more of my creations to face," Cossack told the angered German. "One of which was commissioned by you, of course."
"Yes, that one," Wily grinned. "If you ask me, that one is your best work."
"And because of that, I hate him," the Russian lamented. "After this is done, you can keep him."
"Oh, I plan on keeping them all," Wily told the younger scientist. "After all, I'm keeping you, aren't I?"
Cossack growled. "For now," he said. "Yet, if you listened to the conversation, I believe that the Blue Bomber is onto you now." he then looked back at Wily from the monitor, grinning. "And, if that gets out, then, well, I don't know if I can stop Mega Man from delivering you to justice."
Wily crossed his arms, glowering. This man was insufferable! Nevertheless, he refused to let the brunette man get the upper hand. "Bear in mind, I still have your brat," he said. "And, even if Mega Man figures out what's up with the two of us, if you want her to remain untouched, you'll do as I command."
Cossack went silent. "Curse you," he hissed. "I hope nothing good comes to you for the rest of your life."
Wily scoffed. "Yes, yes, my life has already had a slew of disappointments and hurdles," he then glanced at Proto. "Some of which don't do anything to help mediate these events."
"Hey!" the Red Bomber protested. "I'm fulfilling my duty in keeping my bro from screwing up your plans, right?"
"Of which are often screwed up because you go and try to defeat him on your own!" Wily argued.
Cossack listened to the two go back and forth, yet his focus wasn't on the man and machine bickering with each other. All that was on his mind was the curly-haired blonde that, somewhere, in some place, was kept prisoner.
Russia 200X
"You wanted to show me something, Papa?" Kalinka asked. She was usually told to keep out of the lab whenever her father was working, yet today, he was summoning her down there. Entering the door, she saw her father standing in the room as if he were waiting for her.
"Ah, малышка, there you are," Dr. Cossack said.
The girl immediately noticed that her father was chipper than usual. "Papa? What's going on?"
He smiled, She knew something was up. "Well, I've been thinking," Cossack told his young child. "You've heard of Dr. Light, yes?"
"Oh, the scientist from America?" Kalinka questioned. "Yes, he's your friend, right?" she then said, "I want to meet him sometime, Papa. I don't know any of your friends."
"Maybe later," Cossack answered, though Kalinka felt he wouldn't make good on that promise. Regardless, she was curious as to why she was called down here. "But, speaking of friends, you know how you've said you've always wanted some?"
Kalinka nodded. What did this mean? Was he going to bring her to town and let her play with the other children? "Papa?"
"Well," he then stepped to the side and pushed a button on a switch located in his pocket. A door slid open, and Cossack spoke. "All right, she's ready to see you."
See who? Kalinka was about to ask, but she didn't get the chance when seven figures exited the door, all of their eyes gazing upon her. They were tall and strong, towering over her, and the girl was somewhat intimidated at first. "Papa?" she then looked at her father. "W-Who are they?"
He smiled. "They are your new friends."
Mine
"So…Cossack's Robot Masters were built to be his daughter's companions?" Natsenka asked, Beat nodding in response.
"Well, sort of," he said. "Granted, our dear higher-ups wanted Robot Masters of their own due to the six Dr. Light had created, yet Dr. Cossack was allowed to choose the designs and program their respective personalities," the bird explained to the Russian agent bot. "And they were all based on interests that Kalinka had at the time."
Roll was quiet for a moment, having heard this story before. Still, hearing it again still stung. "It's…not easy when that happens," she said. "Doc doesn't say it, but I can tell that he still hates that occurred."
Natsenka looked down at the ground. Even if her mission was at the forefront of her mind, she had no idea that Cossack's daughter had gone through so much. "So, these seven, they are here now?"
"I'd assume so," Beat said. "After all, as long as Wily keeps up the facade that Cossack's the one in control, then those seven will be the only ones that Mega Man fights," he then sighed. "Then, he might have to face the Doctor himself."
"Don't worry about that," Roll assured Beat. "Mega Man's not like Wily's goons. He doesn't threaten to hurt humans."
"No, you don't understand," Beat told the pony-tailed blonde. "It's not the Doctor I'm worried for. It's your brother."
Roll was confused. "What do you mean?"
"Hush!" Natsenka hissed. "The Swallon is returning!"
And, indeed, the little robotic bird was heading their way, ready to lead them down the path it had come from to Cossack's captured daughter. Unfortunately, it never reached them. From out of the darkness sprung a winged creature that caught the Swallon in his talons and promptly crushed it. The robotic bird was rendered into a twisted metal mess before it was thrown to the ground, its little wings still flapping before they went still.
"What the…?!" Roll began, yet then noticed two other figures approaching from the darkness.
"Found them!" the larger, black bird squawked, flapping in front of the two robots and the other bird.
"So you have," a somewhat smarmy voice observed, he and his companion making themselves known. "Two prying young ladies that need to learn to mind their own business."
Roll scoffed. "Elec Man?" she then looked at the second Robot Master with him. "Oh, wow, Ice Man? I thought Wily would've surely scrapped you for what you pulled that one time."
Ice Man gave a salute. "Forces are always low, so any support is welcome, soldier!"
Elec Man rolled his eyes. "Enough of this," he said, approaching the three intruders. "I don't believe I need to tell you that we can't allow you to continue any further."
Roll raised a brow. "Um, are you ok?" she asked. "You seem…different than before," she then gazed at Ice Man. "You too."
"I told you, Cossack's probably done some work on them," Natsenka told Roll. "But there's no time to discuss that now," she then got into a fighting position, and the housekeeper realized that she had just walked into a battle. "We must fight our way through!"
Note: дорогой means "dear" or "darling" for reference.
Again, five Robot Masters down, three to go! And Elec and Ice Man's new personalities are based on their Power Up incarnations. I wish we got more of those games. I would've played through them (or at least would've tried, as I suck at Mega Man games, ironically enough."
With that said, thank you for reading, and I hope to hear your input! Thanks!