Note: Ok, onto the next part of Kalinka's past! We're nearing the end! I'm super stoked to introduce new characters from both the comics and games, but we've got to finish this up first!
Hope you enjoy it!
Tale of Kalinka Cossack Part 3
200X
"So, these are from South Africa?" Kalinka questioned, standing atop a stool as she studied the round rocks before her, Drill Man by her side.
"Yes," the orange Robot Master answered. "Although these are geodes, so there's no way to tell what's in them by just looking."
"Well, let's crack them open and see!"
After a short while, all of the round stones were drilled into and cracked open, revealing the glimmering, shimmering contents inside.
"Wow…" Kalinka gaped in awe at the crystals that lay within the dusty-brown confines of the rock.
"These are spares, so they're not for the museum. So, if you want," Drill Man said, the blonde girl looking wide-eyed at the Robot Master.
"You mean…?!"
"You can choose one to keep if you want."
"Wow, you mean it?" she asked. Drill Man nodded. "Ah!" she hopped off the stool and embraced the taller machine's legs. "Thank you!"
"Um…yes, sure." Drill Man said, feeling somewhat awkward. Rarely did anyone touch him in such a way. Nevertheless, he found he didn't mind it too much.
The girl immediately went to work surveying the gems before her, unsure of just what to choose, but she would make her decision in due time. Something to compliment the abundance of red in her room…
Present
"I chose the one that I thought was a diamond," Kalinka relayed to Roll. "Turns out it was just opal, but it still looked perfect on the shelf," she then frowned. "It's probably been trashed along with the rest of the place."
Roll looked on sympathetically. "Sorry about all that," she said. "When this is over, we'll be sure to help clean up the place."
"If the people Papa works with will let that happen," Kalinka responded. "I don't know what's going to happen after this. If Mega Man realizes Papa isn't behind all of this."
"Well, back to what we were talking about earlier," the other blonde said, trying to redirect the conversation to happier subjects. True, there wasn't anything good about their current situation, but the least she could do was try and lift this human's spirits. "What about Ring Man? That guy sounded like he was on something the last time Mega fought him."
"On what?" Kalinka asked.
"Uh, never mind," Roll replied. "But, you said that he taught you ballet?"
"Oh, yes," Kalinka answered. "Although, it wasn't right away. I had to do a little convincing first."
200X
"I still say you look like you're dancing."
Ring Man ceased his regular practice and turned to look at the girl who had just entered the small training room. "You should not come in when I am perfecting my skills," he told her. "It's too dangerous."
"I trust you to be careful," Kalinka told him, unafraid. "Anyway, I actually came here to ask you something."
"You wish for me to teach you how to master the art of ballet, is that correct?"
Kalinka was rendered speechless for a moment. "I don't know about master, but I'd like to learn a few moves."
"And what makes me so qualified?" Ring Man questioned. "Not that any of my abilities are to be underestimated, mind you."
It was then that the young girl knew how to get her way. "No, not at all," she said. "In fact, it's because of those things that make you the perfect instructor."
"Perfect instructor?" the instructor part wasn't too appealing to him, but perfect? "Go on."
"Well," Kalinka began conjuring up any sort of compliment she could think of to try and persuade the Robot Master. "You're flexible," she said.
"Yes, that I am." Ring Man agreed.
"And you're graceful," she added.
"Hm," Ring Man nodded. "Form is always important."
"Not to mention well-built and with a good form." Kalinka could swear she saw Ring Man begin to examine his muscles.
"Not as large as Dive Man's, but I am built for speed," the red Robot Master said.
"And, even more, ballet can lead to better coordination and fighting ability." the girl said.
Ring Man placed his hands on his hips. "It's clear that you have no intention of giving up, do you?"
Kalinka blushed sheepishly. "Is it that obvious?"
Ring Man's expression softened. "I still believe it's ridiculous," he told her. "Yet, if it shall give you a true demonstration of your father's brilliance when it came to my construction," he then gave a fast-paced twirl before bowing gracefully. "I shall be your teacher for the time being."
Present
"I wasn't really that graceful as a kid," Kalinka admitted. "But, given I had gone through the trouble of convincing Ring Man to teach me, I wanted to stick with it."
"I've never seen the Russian Ballet, but I heard they're amazing," Roll added.
Kalinka chuckled. "I always wanted to be like them when I was young," she said. "Not so much in that, I wanted to dance, I liked to, but that wasn't my main motivation."
"Then what was it?"
The blonde, young Slavic woman leaned back against the stone wall of her prison. "I wanted to be able to travel the world," she said. "And not just Europe, I wanted to go anywhere and everywhere."
"Like where?"
"Well, there's France, the United Kingdom, America, yet for the longest time, I wanted nothing more than to go to Egypt."
"Ah, Egypt, interesting place," Roll said. "Kind of funny that Wily hasn't tried to dig something up from any ancient tombs yet. There's probably something cursed in one of those." if that old man found a box with a malevolent, all-powerful spirit inside, who was to say what else was out in the world?
"I always badgered Pharaoh Man with questions whenever he came back from one of his excavations," Kalinka admitted. "He sometimes brought trinkets home from there, as well as the other countries he explored." her smile then faltered. "Although," she said. "There was one sample he brought back that was supposed to be sent off for study at the Science Department."
"What was it?" Roll questioned.
Kalinka took a moment to answer. "I'm…not entirely sure," she confessed. "He was showing me a hidden passage they had discovered in the Khufu's Pyramid, they had taken pictures for me to see," she explained. "Yet, that wasn't all."
200X
"So a king once lived in this place?" the blonde girl asked, gazing at the photographs in her hand.
"Not exactly," Pharaoh Man told her. "But, it was meant to be a resting place for him," he explained. "All of his possessions would go with him to the afterlife, along with his body and organs."
"Organs?!"
"Yes," Pharoh Man answered. "The process of mummification was a long and rather gruesome procedure. The only thing separating it from actual torture is that the subject is already dead."
"EW!" the girl grimaced in disgust. Then, she noticed one particular photo in the collection that caught her eye. Mainly because an eye was the centerpiece of the entire photograph. "Hm?" she raised the picture to the light shining above in her father's laboratory, the man not home at the moment. As long as she was supervised by one of his machines, she could enter, just so much as she didn't touch anything. "What's this?"
The Egyptian-based Robot Master gazed at the photo she held, immediately recognizing it. "Ah, yes, that one," he said, analyzing the image. "It is an…unusual find."
"What is it?" Kalinka asked, trying to make sense of what was before her.
The photograph presented the image of what appeared to be a black sphere with some sort of symbol carved into its surface. It almost resembled an eye, yet it was not akin to the Eye of Horus of Amon Ra. No, this eye was much different, more…alien. Why that term came to her mind, Kalinka knew not, but it seemed to fit all the same.
"We are unsure," Pharaoh Man confessed. "At first, we believed it to be a treasure that was part of the Pharaoh's possessions, but the material is solid and sturdy, having seemingly survived being out in the desert since when the Egyptians were still building the pyramids."
"That old, huh?" Kalinka asked, studying the photograph more. "Still, is this a symbol of some sort of god they worshiped?"
"That is hard to say," Pharaoh Man answered. "It matches no iconography associated with any member of the Egyptian pantheon, yet there is a great resemblance to already existing symbols regarding the image of the all-seeing eye."
The all-seeing eye…Kalinka pondered such a thing. As far as she was concerned, her government was an all-seeing eye from the way they kept an eye on her father and tracked where he went, making sure they kept up with every step they took. Yet this eye, while Kalinka wasn't too sure why, but it appeared to serve something of a similar purpose.
As if it were watching the ancient world of Egypt, somewhere buried in the sands.
Present
"Huh," Roll said, pondering what the Russian had just told her. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen a symbol like what you described either."
"The Eye, from what Pharaoh Man told me, was supposed to represent the sun, as Ra traveled through the sky, carrying the sun with him to light up the world, and then, he descended into the underworld, thus bringing the night."
"Yeah, but what made this symbol so different from those found in Egypt?"
Kalinka thought back to the photograph, trying to recall the details she had once remembered so well, but now were a partially spotty memory. "It was an eye, yet, I don't believe it represented the sun," she said. "Rather, it was as if the eye itself was consuming the sun, taking it over."
"Taking it over?"
Kalinka nodded. "Almost as if…" she paused. "It was…becoming the sun. The new sun. A sun that would block out the one familiar to the world." she then looked up to the ceiling. "But…I don't think that would be a good thing."
Roll looked at the entrance to this part of the mine, noting that Cut Man had been absent for quite a while. True, it wasn't as if she WANTED his company, yet it still seemed odd that there wouldn't be someone watching over them. Then again, where could they go?
"Greetings, prisoners!" Ice Man proclaimed, entering the chamber with a salute. Of course, his professional demeanor faltered when his eyes set themselves on Roll. "Oh, assuming that you are in decent conditions, regarding your current situation."
Roll raised a brow. Just what was with this guy? "Uh, yeah, it's great. Thanks."
"Ah, excellent!" the Inuit-based Robot Master said.
Has this guy never heard of sarcasm? Roll pondered.
"Well, alert me if you are in need of anything, as it is my duty to provide the necessary means for your survival whilst in our possession."
"You could just let us go," Kalinka suggested.
"Unfortunately, that is a request I cannot grant," Ice Man responded. "But," his eyes fell back onto the other blonde, her blue eyes radiating confusion, but also presenting such a brilliant hue, Ice Man found himself getting lost in them.
"Uh, you ok there?"
"Oh, yes! Always alert and on duty, soldier!" the Robot Master was roused from his stupor and gave another salute. "I shall be your warden for now, so behave yourselves!" he then faltered. "Oh, if that's all right with you."
Roll and Kalinka looked at each other, clearly sharing in the other's bewilderment. "Yeah, we got it."
"Performing my guard duties now!" Ice Man began to patrol the outside of the cell, although there wasn't much area to walk.
"Geez, Wily must've REALLY done a number on him," Roll remarked. "Last time, he was totally ready to betray that guy."
"Hm?" Kalinka tilted her head curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, that happened some time ago," the ponytailed robot said. "Oddly enough, it started out as a pretty normal day," she relayed, recounting the tale of one of her and her brother's many scuffles with the mad scientist. "We went to a school where we had to look after these three kids…"
"How much further?" Eddie questioned, still trying to maintain balance on Rush's back.
"I'm not sure, I don't know the layout of this place!" Beat answered. "But she's got to be around here somewhere. That Swallon managed to get a glimpse of her, so she's somewhere in here."
"And Roll roo!" Rush added.
"And the pretty lady!" Eddie chirped afterward.
Beat continued flying forward, but couldn't help but wonder where that black robot bird had gone. Reggae, he believed his name to be, had engaged in a fight with the blue bird bot, but retreated just as Beat was getting the upper hand (or rather, upper wing). True, Beat had come out a little scraped from the skirmish, but the damage was nothing serious. But that still meant Reggae was still out there, probably lurking in the shadows, tracking them.
Waiting for the right moment to pop out and alert Wily's other bots that the intruders were right at their doorstep.
Still, he knew they had to continue. Now, not just for Kalinka and the Doctor's sake, but also for the one who had rescued him from the snow when he first arrived in this snowy landscape. If anything, he had to make sure both of them got out ok. The Swallon hadn't been so lucky, but if it had to come to that…then so be it.
"Beat?" Rush yipped. "Rut rong?" he questioned.
"Eh, nothing," the bird answered. "Now, come on! We've got to get going if we're going to find them in time!"
"Right!" the robotic canine barked, dashing forward ahead of the bird, nearly dislodging Eddie from his place atop the dog's back.
"Hey, wait!" Beat called out, flapping furiously after the two.
Unfortunately, his suspicion regarding the blackbird couldn't have been more true. He watched them go, but for now, would just follow. He knew this mine better than them due to the downloaded map Wily had put in his processor, yet he knew better than to risk getting scrapped by all three of those dolts. No, he would need some help. And, luckily, he knew a shortcut to get there before they did.
"How many times is he going to keep doing that?" Kalinka questioned, having grown bored of watching Ice Man patrol long ago.
"As long as you are our captive, sir!" Ice Man responded. "Oh, uh, ma'am."
"Don't call me that, it makes me feel old," Kalinka huffed, crossing her arms.
"Well…how about…?" Ice Man began, but his vision suddenly spazzed out, his eyes turning briefly into static. "Soldier! No wasting time conversing with the prisoners!" he then saluted. "Yes, sir!" he then went back to patrolling.
With that, Roll and Kalinka began talking again. "So, what happened?" Roll questioned. "I mean…so far, it seems things were going pretty well."
"They were," the human answered. "My Papa even said we were getting a house in St. Petersburg, and I could go to an actual school with other children!" she said, clearly enjoying reminiscing about her childhood. "True, I had to wake up early, but I enjoyed it for the most part. I even made some human friends when I was there!"
"So, what happened?"
Kalinka grew quiet. "Seeing that in places like, say for example, Japan, or, your country, the United States, were developing their own robotics programs, Russia decided they wished to present there's with Papa as the face of Russian Science," she looked down at the rocky ground. "It was at a conference in the Capital," she explained. "I was off from school that day, and I wanted to see my friends go out and be admired by everyone. True, I didn't care what this meant for the country, I was just happy to see Papa's robots were going to be used as the official faces of Russian robotics," her peridot eyes closed, the memory still unpleasant to remember. "Then…that's when he came and ruined everything."
200X
"Is everyone ready?"
"I believe so, Doctor," Pharaoh Man answered, looking over the other six machines and inspecting them for any sort of dirt or filth that needed to be cleaned.
"I am fine, thank you," Ring Man told Pharaoh Man, clearly insulted. "I ALWAYS happen to be in perfect working condition, as well as presentable."
"Still, I'm a little nervous," Bright Man said. "I mean, the most important people in Russia, even some guys from all over Europe are here! They're going to see us and think that this is the best we can do!"
"Well, isn't that good enough?" Toad Man asked.
"Yeah, but…but what if they don't like us?" Bright Man asked. "What if we don't impress them, and they might ask the Doctor to scrap us and make better robots?"
Kalinka watched on as her father conversed with the machines he was going to present, yet what was this talk of scrapping robots? Surely her Papa had no such plan for her friends, right?
"No such thing will occur, that I promise you," Dr. Cossack assured his creations. "You shall show the world that, despite our history, this part of the world can create something beautiful," he then went quiet. "Just as Babushka wanted," then, he regained his normal volume. "Well, I believe they'll call for us soon, so we should be going," he turned, the robots going with him, but he stopped before they made their way to the stage hidden past the curtain. "Remember, Kalinka, you're to stay behind here while the presentation is being given. Understood?"
"Yes, Papa." Kalinka nodded.
"Good," Dr. Cossack replied, then turned to leave. "Now, let us show them that we can make more than just weapons in this country."
Sometime Later
So far, so good.
From her place behind the curtain, the blonde child could see scientists and reporters from various countries surrounding Russia to those further west, such as Belgium and Germany. Indeed, it seemed many from various parts of the continent had come to see her father's work. For the first time in a while, it seemed that the world could see Russia offering the world machines built for peace and the betterment of life than to destroy or cause terror. And, even better, her friends would be the ones that the world would come to see as the pinnacle of not just Russian science, but science from all the Slavic nations in the East.
And, even more, if things went well, maybe her Papa would finally let her outside of the country! She wanted nothing more than to travel with one of his robots to the world beyond the borders, to Africa or Asia. Perhaps even to the western side of Europe, or even the United States! There were so many possibilities, and they were all about to possibly happen! She was nothing short of ecstatic!
Still, she kept herself as quiet as possible as her father spoke, his machines lined up and presented before the audience, cameras flashing and reporters asking as to what inspired him to create each machine for its specific function and appearance. Frankly, Kalinka knew all of that stuff already, she just wanted to get to where maybe her Papa would let her possibly explore this place with one of her friends after the presentation was done.
Suddenly, there was a rumbling outside. And before anyone could do or say anything, the ceiling of the building was smashed through, a group of robots entering through the newly created space and dropping down to the ground in front of the frightened crowd.
"Greetings, scientific minds of Russia!" a male voice with a heavy German accent said, words echoing throughout the building as he spoke from what appeared to be a flying ship shaped like a skull. "Especially you, Dr. Cossack!" the voice continued. "I can see that our intel was true, you ARE one of the most brilliant minds in this freezing pit of the world."
The brunette spectacle-wearing man stepped back, green eyes glancing over to where Kalinka concealed herself behind the curtain. "You're the mad scientist that took Dr. Light's robots, aren't you?" Cossack questioned. "Dr. Albert Wily?"
"Ah, so you've heard of me!" the aforementioned Wily proclaimed, clearly pleased with the recognition. "I see my reputation has spread beyond the American landscape."
"Anyone that's in robotics has heard of you," Cossack answered. "And I think I know why you're here, right?"
"We're here for your robots, Cossack!" Guts Man answered, stepping forward.
"And from the looks of it," Cut Man added, surveying the line of seven machines. "Dr. Wily's right. We SHOULD take them all!"
"We'd have to do it anyway," Proto Man rolled his eyes from beneath his visor. "Anyway, here's how it goes," he began. "If none of you fine people want their heads blown off, those seven dolts of yours will save everyone the time and get on the ship."
"You can't do that," Cossack said. "The Three Laws forbid-"
"And you think Wily programmed such limiting things into his machines?" Proto Man scoffed. "Oh no, we can do WHATEVER we want. It's a perk of being a bad guy."
The Russian man glanced at the spot his daughter hid, praying that none of the hostile androids noticed or took interest in the small shape behind the curtain. "You're bluffing," Cossack told Proto. "Wily wouldn't be that foolish to not program adherence to the Three Laws."
"You want to test that theory?" Proto questioned again, drawing out his buster and pointing it at the scientist. "You're a man of logic and reason," he said. "In order to test a theory, you have to go through a few test subjects…"
"STOP!"
Dr. Cossack's eyes widened in horror, but not for himself. Rather, it was for the smaller, blonde shape that ran out and tried to shield him with her tiny body. "K-Kalinka!"
"Little Miss!" Bright Man called out in concern.
"Wait!" Pharaoh Man ordered the others. "Keep an eye on her, but don't make any moves yet."
"Don't you dare hurt him!" the young child shouted at the taller, more muscular robot, trying to appear intimidating, yet she bore the ferocity of a miniature poodle. It was adorable, really.
"Who's kid is this?" Guts Man questioned.
"Who cares?" Cut Man answered. "She's a child, so she's already an ideal hostage!"
Hostage?! Dr. Cossack whirled around, facing his machines. "All of you! Run!" he ordered. "Get her out of here!"
"Yes, Doctor!"
Ring and Pharaoh Man, as well as Dive and Drill Man, stepped up to defend the Doctor and those surrounding him while the other four worked on getting Kalinka out of the area. "Wait!" Kalinka called out! "Papa! Кольцо! Матрос! Копатель! Фараон!"
"Little Miss, come on!" Bright Man pleaded. "This place is dangerous!"
Kalinka continued to protest, but she couldn't hope to fight against the android's superior strength. She was led to the emergency exit of the building, and all the while a battle ensued between her father and Wily's machines.
A fight that she didn't witness, but had heard in her mind for years since then.
Present
"Wait, you actually MET Wily before all this?" Roll asked, shocked.
"I guess you could say that," Kalinka shrugged. "Although, he didn't know who I was, let alone that I was related to Papa. I think he just thought I was some brat who got up on stage or was some devoted young fan of his," she then looked up at the ceiling. "Either way, he didn't realize that I was Cossack's daughter until just recently. Although, I guess, in retrospect, it wouldn't have made a difference whether he kidnapped me at five, ten, or sixteen."
Roll glanced over at Ice Man, who was still patrolling the outside of the prison, yet, upon facing the entrance to Kalinka's confinement, he saw a tall shadow looming, casting itself on the wall underneath the dim lights. It crawled toward the ice-based Robot Master, the large-eyed android feeling, ironically enough, a chill go up his spine. "H-Hello?" he asked, momentarily stepping out. "Who's there? Identify yourself, soldier!"
From the shadows in between the lights, a figure walked forward, head just inches below the bulbs that were struggling to glow. The electricity to this place was being pushed to its limit, and the generator would have to be recharged soon. Still, that didn't explain just who had come up to him at a time like this. It was brief, yet the flashes served to give brief glimpses of the machines before it made its way up to Ice Man, staring down at him with glowing red eyes.
Back in the space containing the prison, Roll and Kalinka continued their conversation. "So, what happened then? If you don't mind saying."
"No," Kalinka answered. "Actually, it's been sort of…relieving, to be able to talk about it," she took a moment to breathe before continuing. "Anyway, I was led to the emergency exit, but when I went through, some of Wily's robots were coming to the door. In order to keep them from noticing me, they shut the door." she then lowered her head. "And…that's the last I saw of them."
Roll glanced at the other girl's face, noticing the beginning of tears in her eyes. "I'm…sorry. About what happened."
"Don't be," Kalinka answered. "You're not responsible. Just Wily and your brother."
"He is NOT my brother," The other blonde made that clear. "He and I have NO relation."
"Is that so?"
Both robot and the human froze. "Wh-Who's there?" Roll asked, the suddenness of the voice spooking her. As well as its general tone and pitch.
"You are…DLN-002, are you not?" the voice asked, low and foreboding, but seemingly intrigued.
"Who wants to know?" Roll asked. "Where's Ice Man?"
"He is…around," the figure answered, stepping before the two of them. "But, that is not why I am here."
Towering over the two stood a black and white robot with the helmet/face of a skeleton, his armor ivory and gold, yet the sections connecting his limbs were the darkest blacks. An emblem of a smaller skull was on his forehead, and no flesh could be seen in the spare open spaces underneath the eyes, the surface a solid black, almost resembling the surface of oil or tar. His eyes contrasted heavily with the darker sections of him, his optics large, but irises small and somewhat slanted. Yet the most distinguishing feature was their color: a deep, burning red that eyed the two imprisoned individuals as if he were a predator deciding whether or not they were suitable prey.
"So," he spoke again. "You are the child," he said, addressing Kalinka. "Yes?"
"If you mean Cossack's, then yes," Kalinka answered. "But who are you?"
"I am your father's latest creation, a collaboration between himself and Dr. Wily," the Robot Master extended his arms, presenting himself. "I am DWN-032. Skull Man."
Note: копатель means "digger", матрос means "sailor" (for Dive Man), фараон means "pharaoh" (for who, obviously)
Also, Light's stolen bots don't have much personality because they're still mainly programmed by Wily, whose knowledge of programming is very basic. Then again, he has a one-track mind in destroying Mega Man, so all of his work just has the order to crush the blue dweeb.
Anyhow, thanks for reading! Alert me of any errors, and please give your input!