Note: Here we are! Near the end and the reveal! So sorry for the wait. Some stuff with possibly upping med dosage came up, and I was sort of out of commission for July due to this, but here's hoping we can get it sorted out by this month.

It's been a bit of a hurdle in deciding how to exactly execute this story compared to some of my more grounded Mega Man work, but I think I've managed to figure out what I want to do, regarding the tone of this series.

Variables and this are good for me as I get to tackle a more serious vs a more lighthearted tone.

Granted, while it's still classified as for general audiences, some things probably wouldn't fly on something that came out for kids in the 90s. Then again, the masterpiece that was Beast Wars, another show dubbed by the same people as Mega Man, had rather notorious scenes of characters dying.

One of which belongs to the Greatest Transformers character ever, who's also voiced by Scott McNeil.

Special thanks to the wonderful folks on Discord! Seriously, you guys are the best creative consultants ever.

Face of Death

"Hm?"

Proto Man turned upon hearing the door slide open, revealing the forms of Skull Man and his hostage.

"And where have you been?" he questioned, folding his arms over his gray chest. "Dr. Wily's getting all uppity about you getting into position and all that!"

"Did you not request that your sibling be brought up to repair your garments?"

"Garments?" Proto questioned. Even if Dr. Wily had programmed (or rather, Dr. Cossack) the Russian language into his and the other robots' databanks, he still wasn't exactly articulate. It was the same problem with both Wily AND Cossack! Why not just use terms everyone understood?! True, he could research 'garment' in his built-in electronic dictionary, but he deemed that to be a waste of time. "Look, whatever, as long as she repairs the scarf, fine," he said. "For now, you probably should get to your position before Doc loses it."

Even if she had promised herself to remain silent, upon hearing about Dr. Wily, a noise escaped her lips. "How-" she spoke, realizing the heaviness of her accent was slipping out. She panicked when she drew the attention of Wily's second in command, Skull Man's optics silently urging her to stay silent.

"Huh? Sis?" Proto Man suddenly approached his "sister", concealed eyes beneath a darkened visor studying her appearance.

"Roll" shifted her "blue" eyes to the side, adjusting her hair (which had become surprisingly curly, despite still being held up in a ponytail.) "Um…yes, brother?"

The red and gray android raised a brow. "Brother?"

"Y-Yes, that is what you are, right?" "Roll" continued, the accent in her voice steadily being "Americanized" as best she could.

"Yeah, but…" Proto Man said, still confused. "Mega calls me that. You don't."

"Roll" then remembered what she had been told by her cellmate, "Kalinka," who was back in the mine. "Um…yes, that's right," the blonde ponytailed "robot" answered, brows furrowing as she got herself into character. "Yes, I…I hate you!" she shouted, giving the robot a punch to the chest. Only to then pull her hand away, as if it had caused her pain.

Proto wasn't sure what to think. This girl LOOKED like his sister, and could even sound like her to a degree, but it was clear either Dr. Light had a budget and decided to repair her with cheap materials, or she hurt herself punching his chest.

Skull Man could tell that things weren't going in their favor, so he stepped in to try and redirect the other machine's attention. "Either way, she is here, isn't she?" he asked. "Surely you don't want to continue much longer without your…" he gazed at the other robot's bare neck. "Cloth."

"Roll" was shocked upon seeing it, but she swore she saw Proto's cheeks flush with embarrassment. "It's a scarf, Bones," he told Skull Man. "But sure, whatever. Just go get in position before Wily takes things out on me."

Skull Man nodded. "Yes, I should be going," he turned toward the door. "I shall see your brother shortly." with that, he left.

Proto frowned. "Yeah, we'll see about that, Skully," he then turned to his "sister" a short distance away, drawing closer and taking in her appearance. "So…Sis," he said, handing her the torn scarf. "How about you start repairing the damage the brat downstairs did, hm?" he questioned. "Gotta look my best for OUR brother in a short while."

"Roll" raised a brow, confused. "Wh-What? What do you mean?"

The robot smirked. "Why, Sis, surely you know how this goes by now, right?"

Mine

Ice Man glanced over, having taken over watching one of the prisoners, the other having been taken to the Citadel. He was somewhat disappointed, for he had saved her from harm to get a chance to speak to her, but his chance had slipped away, once again. Of course, he then considered that, given the time they spent together, perhaps Wily's more "human" hostage could fill him in on some info.

"Kalinka," noticed the Robot Master approach, her peridot eyes (that didn't possess a small tint of bright blue) gazing into the large, spectacle-like optics of the android originally built to withstand sub-zero temperatures. "Hm?" she blinked. "What's up?" she asked. But then remembered that she was supposed to be Russian (and partially Swedish and Ukranian). "Oh, uh…Как дела́?"

Ice Man tilted his head upon hearing her voice. True, she had the accent, yet there was something…different about her voice. And, perhaps he was seeing things from the sporadic lighting, but "Kalinka" appeared to have suddenly gained a few inches of hair. And he could feel small bits of heat emitting from her curled locks as if they had just been done recently. Odd.

Still, if this was perhaps an opportunity that had once again been so graciously offered to him, he had to take it.

"Kalinka" then saw the thickly-dressed android straighten out his outer cover, giving his optics a small polish, as if he were trying to make himself look presentable. Presentable…for her? "Ahem!" Ice Man began, clearing his throat, a small stream of visible breath exiting his lips. Though whether this was due to his built-in liquid nitrogen generator, or due to the low temperature in the mine, "Kalinka" didn't know.

"Um," Ice Man started, clearly trying to sound confident, but his general demeanor said otherwise. "So," he said. "Greetings, prisoner."

"Kalinka" responded. "Yeah, greetings." Just what was he doing here, she wondered.

This was it, he had his chance. "Ahem!" Ice Man cleared his throat again. "Prisoner, given that you are our hostage, I am granted the privilege to interrogate you for information, should it be deemed necessary."

"Kalinka" tried not to show it, but her eyes grew wide with trepidation. "Ok...and do you intend to interrogate me?"

"Yes," Ice Man answered. "Oh, um, if that's all right with you, Miss."

The "human's" fear immediately died down, remembering that the Robot Master's personality was completely different than before. "Fine, what do you want to know?"

"Well," Ice Man began, pushing his pointer fingers together. "It's not so much information about yourself, but rather, your cellmate."

Cellmate? "Wait," "Kalinka" said. "You mean...?"

Ice Man nodded. "You spent some time with Mega Man's sister, have you not?" he asked, "Kalinka" nodding in response. "Well..." he began, feeling a swelling heat develop in his core. "Do you...mind if you share some details with me about her?"

Warp Chamber

Just one more. That was what he kept telling himself. Just one more robot to face, one more battle until he could try and get to Cossack. One more chance to perhaps get some answers.

Specifically, just who was this "Kalinka?"

Stepping onto the platform, Mega Man was transported to another confined chamber, only now, he could barely see. The night vision feature built into his optics seemed to be near useless as he could only vaguely see strange shapes and what appeared to be the outlining of bricks.

"I have been waiting."

Mega Man whirled around, trying to find the source of the voice, low and husky, almost naturally intimidating. He didn't try to let it be noticed, but he felt his circuits growing a little frigid. "Wh-Who's there?" he questioned, cursing the stammer in his voice. He gathered up his courage and furrowed his brows, giving a determined look, even if perhaps the source of the vote wouldn't notice due to the overwhelming darkness. "Show yourself!"

"Gladly. For you have earned that right."

Earned what right? Before Mega could inquire just what this unseen figure meant, he noticed a strange anomaly manifesting before him, his blue eyes both startled yet then steadily captivated and intrigued. Small flames of blue began dancing around him, floating and bobbing up in down in almost hypnotic patterns. Just what were they, the blue robot pondered. True, he had seen more than his fair share of crazy things, but he had yet to see a phenomenon such as this. His processor went to theorizing, the closest thing coming to his computer brain was that of a Will-O-Wisp, yet he was far from any forest, let alone anywhere near Western Europe. Then again, perhaps Russia held its secrets too.

The blue flames then began to migrate to the opposite side of the chamber, all surrounding and illuminating a shape that the Blue Bomber had only become aware of now. As the lights drew near, the darkness began to fade away, the chamber becoming bathed in a cool blue hue despite the source being fire.

Then, the blue faded away, and light, albeit sparse, shone down from the ceiling, allowing Mega Man to truly see where he had warped to.

The chamber's walls were very reminiscent of Drill Man's mostly being composed of solid rock, yet these slabs of stone appeared to hold some contents within. Fossils were shown openly, having been carved out of their original resting place and situated into the wall. The bones ranged from ribs to skulls, to nearly complete bodies, yet they were all the same. All hollow, all still and motionless, all quiet.

All dead.

The blue lights faded away, the figure that had presumably summoned them standing at attention. And, needless to say, despite himself, Mega Man found himself somewhat startled by the robot before him. Sitting in a criss-cross position, as if he were waiting for his opponent to come, the tall android of white, gold, and black rose, standing tall, surpassing the Blue Bomber by a good few inches.

"So…" Mega Man began, trying to appear brave. "You're the last of Dr. Cossack's robots?"

The other machine nodded. "I am he that prevents you from reaching my creator himself," he said. "I am Skull Man," he introduced himself. "I am unlike those that you have faced before me, as I have just been given life recently."

"Yeah, I don't think I recall seeing you before," Mega Man confessed. "What, did Cossack think you were too scary to finish right away?"

Skull narrowed his eyes, irises glowing red. "Your quips will not save you," he told the Azure android. "The machines before you were built with a previous purpose in mind. True, some had some sense of combat in mind, yet fighting was not their exclusive purpose," he said. "I, however, do not share such a trait with my brethren. I am as you are, a fighting machine."

"You mean, 'Super Fighting Robot,' don't you?" the Blue Bomber questioned. True, perhaps he shouldn't be teasing a bot that looked like he wanted to rip the blue boy's head off, but it was alleviating his anxiety, so perhaps he could at least build up enough bravado to even get right to fight. He would never say it, but, Mega found that, if there was a way, he'd rather avoid this Skull Man entirely.

"I am more than 'super,' fool," Skull Man growled. "I am a Supreme Combat Machine!"

"Same thing as Super Fighting Robot," Mega interjected, earning him a glare.

"Not quite," Skull Man answered. "For clarification, your combat presets were added after your initial creation, were they not?" he inquired, earning an expression of surprise from the Blue Bomber. "Yes, I know of your history, DLN 001, or, rather, Rock Light, as your creator christened you upon activation."

Mega Man was left speechless for a moment, taken aback by the knowledge Skull Man had been given all the details regarding everything from his creation to now. Still, with that came a question. "So, Dr. Cossack's done a little digging on me?" the Blue Bomber asked. "Anything come up on just why I had to go from being Rock to Mega Man?"

Skull Man didn't appear to possess any outer mouth, but he spoke nevertheless, voice having a slight echo to it. "A man by the name of Albert Wily, yes," he answered. "A German immigrant that migrated to the United States in 195X and graduated from the same university as your creator with a degree in robotics. Anything more you wish to hear about what you should know already?"

"Well, I just can't help but notice that, while I'm not denying you're built by Dr. Cossack, I've known Wily for a good while," the Blue Bomber said. "And one thing I've learned is that the guy has a bit of an affinity for skulls. Like, he likes skulls."

Skull Man narrowed his eyes. "You are implying something."

"Not so much as in trying to get somebody to admit it," Mega Man retorted. "It's obvious Wily's got some part in all of this, so why not come clean and stop with this whole charade?"

The skeleton-based Robot Master was puzzled, yet also slightly intrigued. "You speak as if Dr. Cossack was innocent," he said. "Yet, was it not he who challenged you to fight his machines? And was it not he who will release his creations onto New York City if you didn't comply with his demands?"

"Yes, but he didn't mention a name that I've been hearing lately. Perhaps you know it?" the Blue Bomber responded.

"Know what?"

He wondered if there was any point, yet still, he had to try. "You wouldn't happen to have heard of anyone named Kalinka, would you?" Despite the lack of change in Skull Man's expression, limited as it could be given his facial structure, his silence was all the confirmation Mega needed. "She's in trouble, isn't she?"

Skull Man was silent for a short time, the Blue Bomber assuming that the other robot wouldn't answer. Yet, to his surprise, he received one. "She is safe and unharmed if that is what you wish to know."

"She's got a connection to Dr. Cossack, doesn't she?" the DLN continued to interrogate the recently built fighting machine. "Is she his wife? Sister?" he questioned. "Daughter?"

Skull Man said nothing.

"Wily kidnapped her, didn't he?"

"That is none of your concern. Your battle is with me."

"If someone's in trouble, then I can help! This is far from the first time Wily's taken somebody hostage!" the blue robot's mind briefly had an image of Roll flash by. Even if she had been told to not follow him, Mega couldn't help but feel that his younger sibling was in some sort of trouble. And, if so, then maybe helping this 'Kalinka' would help her as well.

Skull Man still said nothing.

Mega Man parted his lips to speak again, yet the bone-based Robot Master interjected. "Enough. You are my opponent, and we are to duel until one of us is reduced to scrap."

Mega felt a chill. Scrap? What was wrong with just making sure your enemies fell to literal pieces? At least they could be put back together. Then again, this guy didn't look like the type to consider that. Or, perhaps he did, yet he preferred a more sure, definite way to make certain his opposition would no longer fight back.

"Now," Skull Man said. "Your move."

Observation Deck-Side room

"Are you done yet?" Proto asked for what "Roll" assumed to be the umpteenth time.

"I'm going as fast as I can! Geez, haven't you heard patience is a virtue?" his younger "sister" retorted, wincing as she once again poked herself with the needle.

True, while "Roll" was out of her cell, repairing this jerk's scarf wasn't exactly what she had in mind. Still, despite herself, she was ultimately willing to do it. If not for herself, then for another.

"In case you haven't noticed, Princess, I'm not exactly a virtuous kind of guy," Proto Man scoffed. "That's more of a 'Light' trait than a 'Wily' one."

"Roll" raised a brow. "Weren't you initially constructed by Dr. Light AND Wily as a collaborative project?"

The red and gray robot shrugged. "Technically, yes, but Wily's the one that finished me up," he answered. "Your dear ol' Doc wanted to alter my guidance system, so, if anything, Wily did me a favor."

"Somehow I doubt that." the stolen DLN's "sister," remarked. "Still, if I get this thing done, will you let me see Dr. Cossack?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever," Proto Man answered with a dismissive wave. "Although, I'm not sure why you're so concerned about that guy."

"Because, since his capture, I doubt that you've been taking care of him."

Oh, the old man's fine. If anything, Wily's the one that's in poorer health from just dealing with him. Guy's such a paranoid nutcase! If it wasn't for Wily finding out that he had a brat, then we would've never gotten him to work with us in the first place," he then chuckled. "I know Russia's a crazy place with crazy people, but I think this guy's out there, even for them."

"Roll's" eyes flared. "Papa-" she began, but bit her tongue the moment the word exited her lips.

From beneath his darkened visor, the former DLN gazed at his "sister" curiously. "What was that?"

"I mean…Dr. Cossack," the blonde "robot" corrected herself. "He is a perfectly respectable man compared to that balding loon-ow!" her opinion on the Russian and German scientists was interrupted by the needle once again sticking her finger. "And…he's a way better programmer."

Proto smirked. "Yeah, I won't lie, he is," he admitted. "But that's just going to make the challenge all the more interesting. Besides, these guys have been a little stupid for far too long."

"Oh please," "Roll" scoffed. "Like you even have a fourth of your supercomputer brain functioning. I doubt Wily's even updated you to the latest CPU model," now she was the one smirking when she saw her captor's grin fall, replaced by an indigent frown. "Am I wrong?"

"Tch! That's none of your business!" Proto Man huffed, turning his head away. "Just…get that thing fixed!" the red and gray robot then turned to the right, preparing to exit the small room.

"H-Hey! Where are you going?!" "Roll" questioned, shocked that he was leaving her.

"I'm checking to see if Bone-Head's gotten any progress on his fight with Mega Man," Proto answered. "If that's repaired by the time I come back, I might let you come in and watch how our Bro is doing."

"Roll" grimaced. "You enjoy watching others suffer, don't you?"

"Depends on what mood I'm in and who's the one suffering," Proto admitted. "Besides, isn't the golden rule of comedy that it's based on someone else's misery?"

"Roll" fumed. "Just…go look at your stupid video or whatever it is of Mega Man fighting! Just listening to you is making me mad!"

"Yeah, whatever," the visor-wearing robot scoffed, going through the door. "I'll let you know who's winning," he answered before the door shut. "And I'm going to make sure it'll be me."

Citadel

Realizing there was no way out of this, Mega Man drew out his buster and fired. Skull Man leaped in the air, landing right in front of the Blue Bomber, but he did not strike. Mega Man appeared confused, but then he threw a fist forward, gaining a reaction from his opponent. Skull Man grasped his fist and, with one swift motion, flipped the Blue Bomber onto his back.

Yet, to Mega's surprise, the other robot allowed him to get back on his feet. "Well, you're certainly more honorable than some of my family members," he said. Then, he got a thought. "Speaking of, how is my brother doing these days?"

Skull Man narrowed his eyes. "He is not your concern," he told Mega Man. "Considering some of your recent interactions, one would think you would want his head," he said, noting how Mega Man appeared unsure of what to say. "No shame in it if you do covet his helm. You're far from the first."

"I can deal with Proto Man in my way," the Blue Bomber said. "And that doesn't have to involve destroying him."

"Then do you plan to bring him to Dr. Light?" Skull Man questioned. "Reprogramm him with a mindset such as yours?"

"A little attitude adjustment is something he's needed for a while, frankly." Mega Man answered.

Skull Man was silent for a moment. "Hm, I see," he said. "Then…I suppose that path is not open to me either."

The Azure android was confused. "What do you mean?"

"There's no point in discussing it with you," the skeleton-based machine shot back. "Focus on the battle taking place now! Can you not see that your life is on the line?!" Skull Man questioned. "I was constructed to terminate you!"

"But you're still Dr. Cossack's robot, right?" the Blue Bomber questioned. "If you know him, then surely you know Kalinka too!" Skull Man said nothing, but he froze up, all but confirming that there WAS indeed a connection between Cossack and this mysterious girl. "If you're loyal to him, then you'd be loyal to her too, right?" he asked. "Assuming Wily's not involved, if you want to continue keeping that lie up."

Despite his limited ability to emote, the fighting machine turned his red eyes to the ground, silent, yet his processor was the equivalent of a roaring, untamed tempest, wild and free to lay waste to the land as it saw fit. "Just as I must do to you," he muttered.

Mega raised a brow. "What?"

"I cannot tell you of this Kalinka," Skull Man told his opponent. "But," he then paused, as if he was hesitant in what he was about to say. "If you care for her safety as you claim you do, then you shall continue your fight with me!"

Mega Man didn't grin or smirk back. Not this time, not with the knowledge he had now. "If I do, will she be ok?"

Skull Man nodded.

"Then fine," he said. "For her sake."

"For the sake of a young woman that you don't even know?" Skull Man inquired.

"For the sake of somebody who needs help."

The ivory, gold, and ebony machine was rendered speechless. "...you are a naive fool," Skull Man said. "Yet…I trust that you will hold up your end of the bargain," the strange softness in his voice then vanished, the robot thrusting a bony finger in Mega Man's direction. "But that changes nothing!" he bellowed. "I shall STILL best you in combat and crush you with my bare hands!"

"Crush's more of Guts Man's thing, isn't it?" Mega Man questioned, a small smile coming to his face. True, he was still serious, yet he had to admit that busting bad bots always gave him some stress relief. "Personally," he then drew out his buster. "I prefer to blast the competition!"

Skull Man chuckled. "Hm, interesting tactic," he said. Then, to the Blue Bomber's surprise, the other robot drew out a blast of his own. "Hope you don't mind if I borrow it."

Note: Here's hoping that I'm not boring you too much! We're nearing the end, I promise! Plus, I can't wait to introduce the next few characters in this series!