Rock walked over to Dr. Light, patting him on the shoulder as a form of consolation. The early hours of the robot revolution were terrible for society—especially when the main forces at work were Dr. Light’s—as news stations reported mass destruction across cities nationwide and, soon enough, globally. Capital cities such as Canberra, Australia, and London, England, fell to the hands of the Light Numbers, while other cities were still being attacked, such as Atlanta, Georgia, and Fairbanks, Alaska. “Why would they just… go rogue suddenly?” Rock asked Dr. Light with worry in his voice. “They couldn’t have just done this,” he responded. “They were programmed to aid humanity, yet there must’ve been some kind of faulty error in each of their codes…” “But Doctor,” Rock continued. “There must have been someone behind all of this! I want to find out.” “Rock, you simply can’t,” the Doctor explained. “You’re a lab assistant robot, and that’s all I intended for you to be. You simply cannot fight back against them so easily.” He would look away, outside the window where a large building was crumbling to the ground in the distance.
“I… I don’t want you to get hurt,” he continued. “Oh, but I do, Light!” A UFO-like machine burst into the room, Rock sheltering Dr. Light as Roll raised her broom in defense, coming to the two boys. “Your robots were certainly of great help in my plans for world domination,” the voice continued. “And now, the world shall soon crumble and kneel before the great…” The top half of the capsule opened, smoke ominously pouring out. “...Doctor Wily!” The old doctor from the other night grinned maliciously, watching the three stare back in shock. “Albert?!” Dr. Light exclaimed, heavily confused. “Why would you do such a thing?!” “It’s simple, Light,” Dr. Wily said. “I’m tired of always being second to someone like you! Now you get to watch as I take over the world, and prove that I was truly the best all along!” He would cackle, now looking at Rock. “And you, I seem to have missed a few robots of yours, Light! No matter, they don’t look like they’ll be of any use to me anyway!” Dr. Wily would laugh once more, the lid closing on the “UFO” as he flew away.
The kitchen was in shambles. Roll lowered her broom and looked at Dr. Light, now petrified at what his former colleague was doing. “Doctor, are you okay?” She then walked over to him as Rock stood there, staring off into the distance as the city in the background continued to crumble. “Yes,” Dr. Light responded. “I’m quite alright, Roll… thank you…” He got up, catching his breath. But Rock was still staring at the city. “...Doctor?” “Yes, Rock?” Dr. Light looked at him now. “...I need to do something. Please…” “Rock, no… you cannot,” he answered. “But I have to,” Rock shouted in a serious tone. “I can’t just stand here while this world, this… this planet falls into pieces until they obey Dr. Wily! Please, Dr. Light, let me do something! I need to… I need to do something. To help the people…” The doctor looked at him, then at Roll, and back again. “...fine,” he answered. “I wish it never would have come to this… but it seems that it is inevitable. Come along now Rock, I have to make the preparations ready now.” He walked out of the kitchen and into a hallway, heading back into his lab. Rock and Roll followed Dr. Light into the lab, where they soon saw some kind of machine on the wall, hooked up to a big computer that only served a purpose to upload “data” onto the machine. “What… what is this,” Rock asked. “This is an upgrading capsule, now specialized for you,” the doctor replied. “I wished that I would never have to have used this, but now it appears that I don’t have much of a choice.” He motioned the former to enter it. “Step inside, my son. For the sake of the world, we don’t have much time to waste!”
Rock would step inside of the capsule with Roll and the doctor watching. The technology began to whir and start-up, the lights beginning to flash within. Looking at his family, Rock braced himself and waited for his transformation. And it occurred in mere moments after much flashing. The capsule opened up as steam poured out, and what once stood as the lab assistant robot now stood a blue, helmeted combat robot, a determined look on his face. “It… it worked,” Dr. Light said in shock. “The capsule modified him… Brilliant!” Rock, in his blue armor, looked at the two. “What… am I okay, Doctor?” “Yes, my boy,” he replied instantly. “You’re more than alright… you’re ready.” He looked at Rock’s new body. “But,” he continued. “Your current name won’t stand as it speaks now. I must give you another… how about…” “Rock Man!” Roll chimed in. “It sounds perfect for Rock, right?” Yes,” the doctor started. “But then he doesn’t have anything to do with the earth, correct?” “Yeah, I bet Guts Man could use that title, hehe,” Rock jokes. “...hm, how about… Mega Man?” The two looked at Rock. “It sounds… quite fitting,” Dr. Light said. “And it gives the people hope, perhaps.” “Alright, Mega Man,” Roll joyously stated. “Let’s get to work and stop Dr. Wily!” Mega Man leaped out of the capsule, determined to put an end to the mad doctor’s quest for world domination. “It’s settled! I’ll stop my brothers and Dr. Wily, and the world will be back at peace again!” The three cheered as Dr. Light went to a screen in the room. “Here, Mega Man. These will bring you to your brothers. Be careful out there!” The screen lit up, showing eight separate mugshots of each of the Numbers attacking: the six industrial robots, and the two experimental robots. “In my opinion, I believe you should start with Time Man,” the doctor continued. “His Time Slow ability could prove more dangerous than the others, so it’s best you handle him first.” “Roger,” Mega Man complied. “Take me over to his station, immediately!” “Yes, I know,” Dr. Light responded. “You will be teleported in 3 seconds. Brace yourself!” “Good luck, Mega Man!” Roll cheered.
Bwip!
Mega Man was teleported to where Time Man was stationed: a large, robust clock tower adorned with green bricks and mechanical strains. At the top was where Time Man was waiting, right at the top balcony just below the main clock. “He’s early,” he stated. “Arrived here 2.3 seconds earlier than expected. I suppose I’ll have to wait for his arrival… nuisance.” Entering the clock tower, Mega Man would soon find himself fighting against Time Man’s forces, meant to guard his lair from intruders as intended. Ambush after the attack, the cycle repeated until Mega Man reached the halfway point up the clock tower. There waited Time Man, arms crossed and with a stern impression on his face, clearly not wanting the former to be there. “You’re late,” he said. “…late?” Mega Man asked, confused. “But I’m just in… time.” “You’re late, as I said,” Time Man continued, “by only 5.7 seconds. A new record for you, but I don’t think it’ll matter anyway.” He shrugged. “In only a matter of time, you’ll be nothing but a pointless waste of metal.” “What are you talking about,” the former asked. “Why can’t we just go home and let everything be fine again, Time Man?” Time Man just looked at Mega Man, annoyed. “Shut up, you’re wasting both of our time.” He then fired a Time Arrow at Mega Man, striking him in the arm. “AH!-“ Recoiling in pain, Mega Man attempted to fire back, but it was too late. Time Man had already retreated to the top of the clock tower in that short period, and now Mega Man angrily ran after, determined to stop him. Blazing through enemies and making his way to the top, he soon encountered the fated break hallway: one that is given near the end of an area to signify a grand fight. Mega Man used this opportunity to sit down and catch a breath. “…why,” he solemnly told himself. “Why did it all have to come to fighting?” He looked at his hands, desperate for an answer; one that he could only give himself. “…all of this violence… one that I must stop. Come on, Rock, you can’t give up now.”
Forcing himself up, he’d proceed into Time Man’s room: a balcony overlooking one of the main faces of the clock tower. Despite getting there early in the afternoon, it had already been sunset, the sun itself darkening the clock tower on the current view. “…wow,” Mega Man said. “Sure is a nice view up here.” “And it will be your last, Mega Man.” Time Man appeared on the other side of the arena, disappointed in why the other was still there. “Time Man! I’m giving you one last warning,” he demanded. “Come home with me now and none of this has to happen!” “Pitiful blue hero,” Time Man irritatingly responded. “You’ve wasted my time long enough, and now you’ll just have to watch me finish you!” Engaging in combat, Mega Man raised his Mega Buster, but Time Man had already fired another Time Arrow at him. Dodging the attack, the former fired upon the latter, angering him. “Hmph! You can hit me, but not for long!” Ringing the bells on his head, Time Man activated his Time Slow ability, significantly slowing down the speed of time and everything around him. “Wwwhaaaaat?” Mega Man’s voice dragged on due to the slowed time, now firing at him. But his shots were slowed too, missing all of them as Time Man struck him with another Time Arrow. “I pity you, but you’re still weaker than me, and for that, I will not let you win this fight!” The Time Slow’s effects had worn off at this point, ironically, with the latter now getting hit by a Buster Shot. “Hrrgh-“ “Just give up, Time Man!” Mega Man pleaded with him, not wanting to fight, but he refused, attempting to strike them with another Time Arrow. But Mega Man fired one last shot at Time Man, knocking him back and defeating him. “Gah! Impossible…” Severely weakened, he’d finally pass out, unable to fight. “…I’m sorry,” Mega Man said, taking off his helmet and walking to his unconscious body. “You left me no choice… but hopefully Dr. Light can fix you back up.” Carrying his body, the two of them would warp back out to the lab.
“…is he going to be okay,” Roll asked. “He’ll be just fine,” the Doctor said. “Just a few more adjustments and he’ll be good as new.” “Good job, Rock! That’s one down!” “And seven left,” Rock said, either determined or saddened. He didn’t want to do this anymore, but he couldn’t just give up now, not when the world’s fate was in his hands. This wasn’t the time to give up, but now with Time Man recovered, there was some hope that the world could be at peace once more.
To be continued…
All characters are owned by CAPCOM Co. LTD, thumbnail sprites(Mega Man) made by CAPCOM Co. LTD. Used with credit.
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