The Business of War
Orchestrated By C.M. Rich (Magnetman)
Dr. Cossack War Journals 8
By Naop, Blazeman, Liquid-Snake, Regulus, Hunter, Mahajarah, Draconis, Sean, Winterman.exe
Dustman hesitated before walking into Dr. Cossack’s
workshop. He knew that the old Doctor was overworked considering how
bad a state Geoff and Regulus came back in, but had been looking forward
to going to bed and trying to sleep away all the pressure that had
been building up. After a minute or two, Sean knocked and entered.
“Hello,” Sean said. “Do you need a hand?”
“No,” Dr. Cossack replied. “I actually have the situation under the
control, Kalinka has been a very big help lately. She’ll probably be
getting a degree of her own after this war; she most likely knows everything
by now.”
It was just then that Sean noticed Kalinka in the room. She was currently
hard at work in the corner with a soldering iron.
“Really?” Dustman asked amazed. “You don’t even need a hand with Artilleryman?”
“No, I have everything under control. Artillery should be up and running
again in another few minutes,” Dr. Cossack answered. “You should get
some rest. We’ll be fine.”
Dustman was quite shocked. He wasn't even sure if Artilleryman was
repairable when he brought him in...
Dustman barged into Dr. Cossack’s lab, ironically covered in dust
and debris. He was sporting a few new scratches, but otherwise wass no
worse for wear.
“So, how was Toronto?” Dr. Cossack asked without looking up from his
work.
“Terrible. The place got overrun by the Scissor Army and while all
the commanding officers had left town, there were still a few grunts
running around that I had to dodge,” Sean answered. “I think I spent
nine tenths of the trip hiding in the wreckage.”
“Well that certainly explains the dirt. Did you manage to recover Artilleryman?”
asked Dr. Cossack, now finally turning to face Dustman.
“Yeah,” said Dustman.
“Good, where is his he?” Dr. Cossack asked. “I hope he isn’t in too
bad a shape.”
Dustman then threw a duffel bag in front of his feet.
“Your hopes are too high,” Dustman explained before he proceeded to
pull parts out of the bag. “I think this mangled bit of metal was an
arm, but I’m not exactly sure. After searching further I found what
I believe to be the shattered remains of his weapons and possibly torso.
This burn piece of metal I found on the ground might have been part
of his jetpack at one point. These twisted and smashed pieces of scrap
may once have been part of his leg. And if you squint, you might find
this piece to look vaguely like a hand.”
Dr. Cossack sighed and sat down.
“But don’t you worry,” Sean said as he pulled one last piece of machinery
out of the bag. “I am seventy-five percent certain that this was his
head. All I know is that I found what are either the remains of his
vitals or just a random Joe that got left behind. I couldn’t really
tell.”
“So I have my work set out for me,” Dr. Cossack said with a sigh. “It
doesn’t look like I’ll have free time anytime soon.”
“I’ll give you a hand after I take a few hours to rest,” Dustman offered.
“I really should clean off all this dirt first though.”
“Oh, I didn’t tell you?” Dr. Cossack asked a bit perplexed. “The rest
of the CC has been waiting for you. You better hurry so you can go
on your next mission.”
“Wait, what?” Sean asked as Dr. Cossack pushed him out the door. “I
don’t get any rest at all?”
“I’m sorry, Sean, but there isn’t any time,” Dr. Cossack explained.
Sean now had a newfound respect for Dr. Cossack. He could not believe
on top of everything else that the doctor got repairs done so fast.
It seemed unbelievable, but Dustman decided not to question his good
fortune.
Dustman quickly thanked the doctor and left. As soon as the door closed,
Kalinka stopped her work and turned to her father.
“Why did you lie?” Kalinka asked. “Even I know we are overworked at
the moment.”
“Considering what the CC has been through today I think they all need
a rest. Mesmerman is not an easy opponent and neither is the Ascendant
Androids, especially after what General Cutman did to them,” explained
Dr. Cossack. “Physically, all of them could go into battle again after
I finish repairs. However even I wonder how much longer they can last
psychologically.”
Dustman entered his room and immediately went to sleep. It had been
an exhausting day and things would not be an easier tomorrow.
In his sleep, the horrors of the war had revisited him. Corpses came
to visit. Severed hands moved to strangle him. Friends fell and their
dead bodies proceeded to crawl towards him across the floor. Death
was approaching, but too slowly coming. Sean saw what had seen, what
he had been told about, and the creations of his imagination that he
prayed would never enter reality. The scream that escaped from his
mouth and caused awakening could not come soon enough.
Sean paced around the room, shaking and trembling with every step.
He needed to calm down. He needed to try and forget… no wait he needed
to do something harder. Dustman need to come to terms with the nightmares
and not ignore them.
“Damn you, Rivers,” Sean muttered as he sat down upon his bed. “Why
did you have to be right about repression?”
Posttraumatic stress disorder was in no way amusing. While he knew
that trying to forget bad memories would be more difficult, Dustman
decided to try and focus on other things. He attempted to focus on
strategies and ideas for victories; dreams were much more enjoyable
than nightmares.
“The RPD, SA, and Wily all have armies. Not only that, but they all
have these special forces which are mechs with probably more power
than an RM as much as I hate to admit it. All of them can afford upgrades
and repairs a lot easier than we could either. I don’t think we could
outnumber or out power any side in a head on battle. Also I can’t claim
we have more experience or skill either,” Sean thought out loud as
he paced. “We have parts and some money, but we can’t really build
anything. Electricity costs are one of our biggest concerns right now
so we wouldn’t be able to afford to activate a large army. Plus monsters
like Gravity can tear apart battalions of soldiers with ease and we
can’t afford to replace or repair large numbers. So we can’t increase
our numbers, unless….”
Sean immediately stopped pacing and began to run towards a pile of
papers he had lying on his floor. He tossed some aside as he grabbed
specific sheets. Then Dustman quickly grabbed a notebook and a pen
as he began writing down formulas and sentences illegible to anyone
else inside the citadel. A few quick design plans were sketched underneath
some areas of text.
“This just might work. I’ll need to find a few other experts just to
be sure and probably Pluto. I’m sure Regulus will be up still and have
some free time,” Sean said with a smile as he left his room.
--------------------
Tension
The Cosmic Gladiators had just returned from Kalingrad. As they
rested in their rooms, Dr. Cossack's voice rose over the speaker
system. “All teams please report to my lab. I will be talking with
each team one by one.”
Pluto immediately got up and rushed out the door. (It's probably
something important...) he thought.
He met up with the others at the door to his lab. Kalinka was standing
just outside the door, letting a team in every so often after the
last one left. Soon it was their turn.
“The doctor will be right with you.” Kalinka said.
The CG sat down in the various random chairs gathered for seating
whoever entered and nothing else. Kalinka closed the door, and for
a few seconds they waited. Cossack came out of a door on the other
side of the room, with a mean look on his face.
“I suppose you're wondering why you're here.” He said. Grabbing a
newspaper, he thrust it in Jupiter's face.
“Kalingrad falls to Wily, RPD forced to retreat. Yeah?” he responded.
“You GAVE that place to Wily!” Cossack scorned. “You gave that city
to those damn Wily's Warriors! I wouldn't care if the RPD got it,
but WILY?! You're all morons!”
Pluto jumped at the sudden verbal assault. “Hey! The RPD got creamed
first thing! It was either Wily or the Scissor Army!”
“Then take the city yourselves, you pieces of space junk!” Cossack
yelled. “I've had enough of you people cooperating with Wily! You
needed help, so I said you could form a temporary truce! Not let
them get away with this!”
“Yeah, well what's your problem, tetris-head?!” Mars snapped. “Since
when has Wily been the bad guy in this war?! He's just a senile old
fogey who couldn't take over a sandwich! Not much different than
you, screwball!”
Cossack turned around, breathing heavily. “...we...are...NOT...the...same...”
he sputtered. “That...monster...kidnapped my DAUGHTER!”
“Well he's not the one KILLING people's daughters!” Jupiter shouted.
“Are you forgetting that the SA has even massacred helpless children?!
Remember that news story about that school in Australia last month?!
Wily is not the main problem, Mikhail!”
“I don't care! I've been working around the clock for weeks, and
we've made no headway whatsoever! If it weren't for incompetant scrap
heaps like you we might have gotten rid of the shutdown code, but
instead we're STILL digging for GARBAGE!” the doctor yelled almost
insanely. “Now get out! Especially you, cat boy! I don't need you
and your constant repairs!”
Pluto stood up completely still, for five full seconds. Suddenly,
he completely lost it. “That's it. I. QUIT.” he stated roughly. “You
got a problem with me? Then I'm gone! Let's see how YOU like it when
the CG are happy-go-lucky in space while you Earth-slime fight some
pitiful war over OPINIONS! And when you're done, and the Scissor
Army wins? Then I'll see to it that Star Command blows “Elysium”
off the face of the *bleep* PLANET!” He walked up to the door, shoved
his claw through it, ripped it off the hinges, threw it onto the
floor, and walked out the citadel back to the Great Zodiac.
Everyone could only stand and watch as Cossack's loyalest follower
up and quit.
--------------------
“Well, this is just GREAT! We've lost Pluto!” Mars complained.“He'll come to his senses.” Jupiter assured him. “But I'm a bit worried, having the space police destroy ELYSIUM? That's overboard, and not because they wouldn't do it. Those corrupt jerks at Star Command wouldn't need much excuse to destroy the SOLAR SYSTEM, let alone General Cutman's possible future empire.”
“Star Command? I see there is evil to destroy off this planet as well...” Skullman mumbled amongst the crowd of RMs that had gathered around Cossack's lab.
“Huh? Who said that?” Terra overheard.
The CG looked around, but could not find the source. Zymeth had already slipped away.
“That's it. Show yourself! Nobody messes with OUR outer space and gets away with it!” Jupiter demanded.
“Shut it already!” Slashman snapped back, stressed like everyone else in the Citadel.
“Whoever said THAT just earned themselves a one way trip to a singularity!” Sunstar threatened back.
“Okay, that's it!” Frostman yelled, throwing a chair at Shift. He had finally had enough.
Within seconds, everyone started throwing chairs, tables, small utensils and anything they could get their hands on at each other. It was just about to get ugly, when a whistle could be heard.
“Okay, break it up! If you're going to act like kids then I'll start treating you all like kids! Rooms, NOW.” Kalinka ordered.
The crowd broke up and everyone headed off to their rooms. With Cossack laying blame right, left and center, the stress building up on everyone, and events that were the final straw for many people, the brawl was almost inevitable. No one person was truly at fault, the tension had just grown too tight...
--------------------
The ship had run out of fuel and powered down weeks ago, but Pluto was determined to contact interstellar civilization. He spent hours doing everything he could to fix the ship, but it was useless.(At this rate I'll be done by next decade...) he thought. “Okay! I give up!” he yelled to the heavens. “You want me dead? Then do it! Strike me down! I'm just an emotionless NetNavi anyways! Nobody cares about me anymore! I'm ready!”
Nothing whatsoever happened. Pluto ran over to a tall, unstable pile of rubble and kicked it. It held fast.
He kicked it again, and it still didn't budge. Slamming his fists and feet repeatedly into the junk heap, he yelled in anger as the towering wreckage did not give way. Giving up on that, he gave it one last punch and turned around.
Breathing heavily, he heard a creaking noise. The pile of loose debris fell on Pluto, knocking him unconsious...
--------------------
Several hours later, Pluto woke up on a metal table. The rest of the CG were gathered around him, worried about what had happened.“...guys?” he groaned.
“Oh, thank god.” Jupiter sighed. “What the heck were you doing, you idiot! You nearly got yourself killed!”
“Don't ever do that again! You had us worried!” Mars said.
The rest of the CG shared their comments, all in concern for him. Even Saturn was on a video screen nearby, risking Wily's wrath to check on his friend.
But the most unexpected comment of all came from the man who fixed him. “I'm sorry, Pluto.” Mikhail appologized. “I talked to some of the other teams, and I had no idea you were that determined to stick with us up until... you know.”
“Guys...” Pluto groaned. “You really shouldn't have. I'm just a NetNavi, I've got no real emotions.”
“I wouldn't be so sure of that.” Jupiter responded. “NetNavis are programmed to copy “fake” emotions and attachments by observing humans. But to tell the truth, none of us really wanted to stick with Cossack that bad. This is a tough position!”
“Huh?” Pluto asked.
“You certanly didn't gain the attachment to this side's beliefs and cause from any one nearby.” Mars explained. “You might just have real emotions after all.”
“But... that's impossible. I'm a program, my impulses just come from electrical signals...”
“And so do humans, WinterMan. Emotions are really just chemical impulses in the body. The word real doesn't even properly describe emotions.” Jupiter corrected. “It looks like machines can have a soul too...”
“Thanks everyone...” Pluto said.
“Don't mention it.” Sunstar replied. “You're a good friend, dude.”
“So should we prepare fo the next mission?” Pluto asked.
“No, no...” Cossack warned. “You're still in very bad condition. The damage done by that collapsing rubble has left you in no condition to fight. They'll have to go without you.”
“I see...” Pluto sighed. “Kick some Scissor @$$ for me, guys.”
“Will do!” Terra said.
The CG left to get ready for the next mission, and Pluto laid back and daydreamed. (A mechanical soul...) he thought. (...can their really be such a thing?)
“Oh, I just remembered something!” Cossack exclaimed. “Sean and Regulus need some help to upgrade those Sun Joes your friends gave to us. I never could sell them, so they want to upgrade the Joes as extra troops. You're in a good enough condition to help, so I told them I'd ask you.”
“Tell them I'll be right down.” Pluto said. “They'll need all the help they can get...”
--------------------
Rage
(One Hour after Stage Three)
"AAARRRGGGHHH!"
"Get him inside, now!"
"What about everyone inside, Blaze?!"
"They can handle themselves! Dozens of Robot Masters, all able
to defend themselves! We need to worry about him getting lose and attacking
a city!"
"Why not let him? Maybe the General will take him out for intruding
on his turf."
"Maha, you're not helping!"
"Feh, why should I?"
"Query: You want me to blow a hole in you like I did to Dash?!"
"Go ahead and try, you two headed freak!"
"Stop it! You two are acting like children!"
"Response: This coming from a floating eightball."
"At least I'm not turning into a cold blooded killer!"
Astrochan gasps as Searchman aims his rifle at her. Looking around
frantically, Frostman fligns Swordman and Grenade off of himself, and
charges for Searchman. A primal roar echoes in the halls, as Search
is lifted off the ground.
"He's loose!"
"Apologize!"
"Query: What?"
"Unless you want both heads shoved in that rifle of yours, apologize!"
A Flash Bomb hits Frostman in the face, and Search falls to the ground
with a thump. Stomping like a branded bull, Frost charges right into
another Flash Bomb. He falls to the ground, and goes limp, prompting
the others to pick him up.
--------------------
"Ugh, my head.""I see you're awake, and not insane at the moment."
"I lost it again."
"Yes, you did. You turned on one of your own, too."
"Do want something from me, or are you just here to point out the obvious, and make me feel like crap?"
"I've called meetings with the other teams, but in your case, I wanted to speak with you alone."
"About what?"
"The fit Dustman would have if you were responsible for the depletion of our budget. You're a ticking time bomb, and while have the potential to trash the enemy, you also have the potential to lose this war for me."
"Fine, put me on salvage duty, or some other menial task. The only reason I joined was so I could have a crack at Wily, but that's not going to happen."
"Wily you say? What has he done to you?"
"Let's see...he's the sole reason I'm going insane."
"Yes, he is a problem."
"Well, this was a nice talk doctor, but if you don't mind, I'd like to go back to sitting outside, fighting against my own mind."
Frostman stomps past Cossack, and exits the Citadel. He takes a seat on the edge of the frozen mountain, and sighs.
--------------------
--Just after scenario 3, 5 hours after.--Maha was in his room, lying down on the rather uncomfortable peice of fabric called a "Matress."
He was self-withdrawn, snappy from the evil energy.
He closed his eyes and forces his hand out.
Immediantly, a purple aura formed in it, forming into a ball of evil energy.
"Oh, how I hate you, and how I need you."
Maha sat up, looking at the irregually pulsing ball.
"How I F*cing DESPISE you, and yet, for some reason, I really don't mind you."
Immediantly, under the energy, a greenish aura formed... planar energy.
"No. Not yet."
The energy sinked back in.
"I need you... For as long as you're in me, I know where the hell you are."
Maha got up, and looked at his shade. He picked them up and promply held them, gingerly.
"I'm going to find you." Maha slightly chuckled, crushing the shades in his hand.
"And when I do... Not only am I shoving that puny little scythe of yours in your head..." Laughed maha, looking at his arms, both formed into gernade rifles, "I'll pull the trigger this time."
Maha laughed for a while, and abruptly stopped.
"You can come out now."
...No response.
"I SAID YOU CAN COME OUT NOW!" Yelled maha as he flipped his bed over violently.
... Nothing under the bed.
"Damn it." Muttered maha, falling into a heap in the center of the room.
"DAMN IT!" Screamed maha as he beat his fist against the floor. He'd soon start chanting it as he pounded the ground, causing the concrete to start cracking.
"Well, That's healthy."
Maha stopped, and looked up, seeing a rather pertubed swordman.
"Shut up, or I'll shove that blade of yours in a place you never thought it could go."
Swordman only laughed.
"Like you would do that anyway."
Maha's eye twiched, and he slightly chuckled.
"So what the hell do you want, eh? Come to preach, or praytell, tell me what I should do with my life?"
"Not at all. Tell me, You control neutral energy right?"
"...What about it?"
"Well, If you do, then tell me? Why can't you force the evil energy out of your systems?"
Maha froze.
"I just can't. Evil energy overpowers Neutral energy.
Which was a lie, as maha had the power to flush it, but he didn't want to yet.
"You're still thinking about him, aren't..." Started sword, but he never got to finish, being cut off by the loud, ear-ringing slam of a door straight to the face.
In pain, sword grabbed his undamaged, but radiating face.
He pulsed purple, and reered up to slash the door and show maha where his place was... and stopped.
"No... I'm not letting you get a hold of me." chanted sword, almost similar to that of a mantra, until the energy died out.
"God, what the hell is this all for?" thought chris as he walked away, more suprised and perturbed than hurt.
--------------------
THINKING BACK
I headed straight to my room and locked the door. After I sat on the side of my bed, I replayed to myself the conversation we had with Cossack. This method always allow me to get details I may have missed...
--------------------
We were all gathered with the Doctor, save for Frostman who was still unconscious. Judging from his expression, he wasn’t much happy about us.“I have to say, your latest results in the War disappoint me.” He started.
“Your first mission in Alberta was a success – you secured money, and managed to stop the Scissor Army.
“However, in Osaka and Baoding, you came back with nothing, and I have reports saying you attacked each other. Particularly you, Searchman.” He glanced at me. “What is your explanation ?”
My left head glanced at my fellow Impacters, who nodded to me in response. I had to say it.
“Answer : Evil Energy.” I replied.
Cossack was a bit surprised. “I heard your armors were powered by it, but also that they were purged of it. How do you explain this reappearance ?”
Aquaman raised his hand. “Wraithman.”
“What ?”
“Back in Alberta, that SA Officer managed to damage us, and infect us with Evil Energy. Since that time, we have some ... lost of control.”
“Frostman too ?”
“Yep.” Aquaman carried on. “Though, he was a bit unstable to start with.”
The answers didn’t seem to please Cossack. “I don’t have the proper equipment to deal with Evil Energy. All I can do for now is to ask you to ... restrain yourselves.”
--------------------
Restrain ourselves. As if it was as easy as snapping fingers. Initiate laugh sequence.The Doctor still had a point, however. If I were to let the Evil Energy control myself again, things could get worse. I could start to kill.
And if I take this step, nothing could stop me for carrying on, and kill again. I wouldn’t be any better than the Officers, or Quint.
Should I save everyone trouble and directly leave for the SA ?
No. They all count on me. I can’t let them down.
But if I were to succumb to my darker side ... I hope they’ll make it end quick and painlessly.
--------------------
Meeting in Secret
A few days after Stage
3
Cossack wiped his forehead. "Today is just going to hell." He
mumbled. He went back to his lab to find Blizzardman piecing parts
together on the lab bench.
"Blizzard!" He yelled with frustration. He knew he wasn't
up to maximum strength yet. What really frustrated him was that Blizzard
knew this, too.
"I decided I would help with repairs." Blizzard replied,
not even looking up from his work.
"That's not necessary." Cossack rushed over to the bench. "We're
on top of things here. You must rest."
Blizzard looked up at Cossack. Kalinka had come in after him. It looked
like Night of the Living Dead. They weren't getting much sleep.
"That's a lie. You are lacking sleep and it's blatantly obvious."
Blizzard returned to his work. "Your daughter should get some
sleep as well."
Cossack was left without a defense. Blizzard wasn't going to leave
that room unless he had a really good reason to- wait! Now he remembered.
"Dustman needs you." Cossack said. Blizzard looked up.
"I don't like charity." Blizzardman looked down at what he
was soldering. "You patched me up, I'll patch your parts together."
"Just go, Blizzard. I am not trying to deceive you." Cossack
tried to explain. Kalinka even joined in.
"C'mon, Blizzard. Dust really needs you." She asserted.
"If Dustman needs me so much," Blizzard pointed the soldering
tool at them. "Then he can come down here himself and-"
Just then, the Cossackbot himself showed up. "Blizzard!" He
exclaimed, his eyes lighting up, "I found you."
Blizzard set the tool down. "You sure did, now what?" He
sighed.
--------------------
Blizzard, Pluto, and Dustman were gathered around a table, none of them speaking up."Well," Blizzard said, "You called us here. What is it?"
"I have an idea for those parts that are lying around in storage." Dustman replied.
"Oh, so we're finally going to activate the Joes?" Pluto asked.
"I should hope not." Blizzard rejected the thought coldly. "They're not useful enough to help. They'll be blasted to bits and we'll just be throwing away cash fixing them."
"Hey, you haven't exactly been helping with bringing in resources, and you took a pretty big hit last fight." Pluto said, reminding Blizzard of his near-death experience.
"I've been doing my fair share of work." Blizzard replied. "I can do a hundred times the damage a worthless Joe can- no, a thousand." Blizzard didn't slam his hand to demonstrate a point, realizing they wouldn't have a table to use anymore if he did.
"True, maybe." Sean replied. "I think Pluto was just being fair to each side.
"You're probably right." Blizzard replied. "Regardless, the reactivation of those Joes is harmful, not helpful. It will make the enemy think we have a standing army, which will prompt a full campaign on our forces."
"I know." Dustman replied. "That's why I came up with this."
Dustman passed around some folders holding sheets of paper with scribblings on them. Blizzardman was having a hard time deciphering the handwriting, but Pluto managed to calculate a rough translator for Dust's freehand using placement of characters and spelling.
"I can't read your handwriting, Comrade..." Blizzard said, mildly annoyed that Dust would present written notes for a presentation. He was used to neatly typed reports from his researchers back at Blue Fox HQ.
"Here, I translated the rough copies." Pluto said, passing Blizzard a datapad.
"I'm impressed..." Blizzard read through the datapad. "That was fast..."
The three robots stood silent. Blizzard was the first to break the calm.
"This is a good idea, Dust." Blizzard confirmed.
"Yes, it utilizes all the scrap we haven't sold up until now." Pluto replied.
"I already have two Kazaks planned." Sean said as he passed out more folders.
"Hmm..." Blizzard looked at the designs. "I see... nice work, but I have some ideas myself."
The other two were surprised. "What? You've already come up with some designs?" Dustman said, shocked.
"Uh... more like I had some planned up for a while." Blizzard replied.
As Blue Fox the war-technology dealer, Regulus had several designs for highly useful war machines. Of course, that meant Blizzardman also had these ideas as he and Regulus were now the same being. Blizzardman pulled out a holoprojector and now placed it on the table. It activated, revealing rough sketches of various images and text files. The images were replaced too quickly by the next to fully take in what they depicted, but it was clear he had a backlog of "Just in case" files.
"Wow, Blizzard. How'd you get so many?" Sean asked.
"It's a hobby." Blizzard replied quickly. He didn't think someone as good-natured as Dust would want to know he was a weapons-dealer. A lot of people around here would be appalled by his trade.
"These are good." Pluto said, looking over the files.
"We need funding, though." Sean brought everyone back to the problem. "This will be expensive."
"I've got that covered." Blizzardman replied.
"Oh, going to search for scrap?" Sean replied.
"You could say that." Blizzard said, somewhat ominously. Sean's ability to detect shadiness had been dulled by constant exposure to Zymeth, so he decided that Blizzard knew of a great place for scrap.
"Ok, so then it's settled." Sean said. "I'm glad we had this discussion." Everyone got up and shook hands. It was almost like they had concluded a business meeting.
--------------------
Cossack walked through the Citadel, coffee mug in hand. He had admittedly gotten quite addicted to the stuff, being as he needed to be up so often making repairs."Dr. Cossack." Blizzard said as he walked up behind him.
"Listen. I have everything under control. Your help is not-" Blizzardman handed Cossack a folder. "What's this?" He asked.
"Oh, you're a fellow scientist." Blizzard replied. "Surely you'll figure it out." He walked off, leaving the folder in the confused scientist's hands. He examined the cover:
"Project Stonehenge"
--------------------
Reunion
Outside Cossack's Citadel; 6 hours after Scenario 3
Dr. Drew Krankein stood outside of the Citadel. He looked up at the
large fortress, adorned with weapons that Cossack had put up as defenses.
The Citadel used to be a much more peaceful place, before Cossack was
forced against Mega Man by Wily. Drew had always thought of Wily as
an evil man, but now he didn't know if he could trust the RPD, and
there was also the growing power of the SA...
None of that mattered at the moment, however. Drew was focused on how
he would great his mentor from the past, who he hadn't seen in countless
years. He touched his goggles, which he had developed back when he
worked under Cossack. Memories of working over hunks of metal, building
robots that could help better the future. Now the future seemed bleak,
with no hope for robots to have a happy tomorrow. Not until Cossack
opened his little resistance. Drew began to recall the events that
had led him back to the Citadel.
--------------------
"You want me to install the shutdown code? Into myself?" inquired Dr. Krankein as the RPD talked to him in the interrogation room."Yes, due to you robotic parts, you, too, have been requested to install the shutdown code on threat of arrest." responded the RPD official.
"But I'm human! I only have parts that are robotic!" screamed Drew. He was showing signs of stress on his face. He was not only angry, but frightened. Why would they make me do this, it doesn't make any sense! he thought in his head.
"The RPD has looked over your case. It's been decided. You must get the code installed, or you will be put under arrest, and your robotic parts removed." Drew clutched his chest. He hadn't told anyone about the surgery he had done on his lung, how he had replaced it...
"We'll leave you to make your decision," stated the RPD officer, as he left the room. "You fascist pigs." mumbled Drew under his breath.
--------------------
The next thing he remembered, he was in the ruins of the RPD building, with no RPD agents in sight. Drew almost felt as though he had been hit by a truck."No matter," he mumbled to himself, as there were no RPD officers in sight, "I'll just leave this little town, until this whole thing blows over." He knew he couldn't join Light in his protests, because that would attract the attention of the RPD. He would have to go to stay with his old mentor, Cossack, and hope that he would find refuge there. He was almost certain he would. So he left Nonsteropolis, and headed for Cossack's Citadel.
--------------------
"Well, here goes nothing," spoke Drew. He had made it up to the entrance, and knocked loudly. The doors squeaked open, and warm air came out from the cracks, contrasting to the cold air surrounding Drew's body. "Hello?" rang out the familiar Russian voice. A conversation commenced from either side of the doors:"Cossack? Do you remember my voice?..."
"Could it be you?"
"...the times we spent going over and building robots to better the world?"
"Krankein? Have you returned after all these years?" speculated Cossack, before opening the doors enough to see the goggles he remembered starring at robotic schematics for hours, seemingly even days at a time. He threw the doors open, and greeted his friend, pulling him in from the cold. Cossack looked back at his old, spirited intern. Drew's face appeared to be worn, and he wore his goggles, as well as a wool cap, and has his hair spiked downwards underneath of it. Cossack had dust and oil smudges across his face and lab coat, obviously having just walked away from working on a robot. "You truly did return. Are you here...for the cause?"
"Yes." responded Krankein, solemnly. "I believe in you and your cause, Cossack. I believe that we can influence them to take away the Shutdown Code." He paused for a bit, before asking, "So...where are those robots we worked on?"
--------------------
Immediately after Stage 3...Beaten, injured, and overwhelmed, the TT were back home, back at the citadel. And to greet them, there was a frowning Russian scientist. The doctor immediately tended to his human colleagues, which AstroMan and his team had managed to rescue from the eventual carnage that took place in Chelyabinsk. As soon as they were ought of sight, thanks to Kalinka showing them the way to the medical bay, Cossack stepped right in front of Astro, as he was about to head in the same direction.
“Tell me you didn’t side with that Wily scum again.” He pointed his index finger at Astro’s face, menacingly.
Startled by this outburst, the floating robot took a few “steps” back. He sighed and motioned his hand to signal his team to go away. They did as they were told, and once they did, he decided to answer his old friend. “I did. And I am truly sorry.”
“How dare you!” Cossack’s face was now red with anger. “You, of all people… I can understand when the others, those outside our family, come back after a mission telling me they sided with Wily! They don’t know me, and most likely, they don’t care about me or my principles. But you? We have known each other for far too long… I trusted you, and I never expected you to side with the man responsible for the suffering of my family!” panting, after yelling so much, the doctor had finally come to a stop.
“Are you through?” Astro asked, quite bothered by his attitude. “Now look, doc. Here’s how it goes… you know me, and you know me better than most. You know that I have no real family, and that half of my life is somewhere in the future of an alternate timeline. Here, I only have you and my team. And I also know you pretty well. In fact, you are the closest thing I have as a father! You built my ‘other’ body, for crying out loud!” this made Cossack flinch and turn his stare at the floor, slightly ashamed. Astro continued…
“If I ever where to betray you, you know it wouldn’t be my doing. They would have to take my brain out and replace it, or reprogram me in this case. But I would never betray you or you trust on my own accord. Sure, I can go about doing what I consider best, like I did in South Africa. But you know my judgment is always on the right track… at least most of the times. If I did what I did, it was for a reason.”
Cossack sighed, and finally assumed a more patient tone. “And what was that reason, if I may ask, Naop? To me it seems you only endangered my colleagues.”
Astro couldn’t help to chuckle. “Hehe… you should thank the heavens that your friends are safe and sound, for the devil himself faced us during this mission!”
“Wha… you don’t mean…?” the Doctor couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Damn right I do! General Cutman was there. And in all my years as a Hunter I never saw someone fight the way he did. He could have taken us out in a few minutes, if the Fatal Five hadn’t been there to give us a hand.”
“I didn’t know…” Cossack took a few moments to process the information. He never expected the General to be on the battlefield so early on. The fact that several Russian cities were under attack at the very same time, also made him suspicious.
“But that’s not all, doc.” Astro continued. “The monster has a weakness…” the face of the Russian scientist, pallid and with gigantic bags under his eyes, had truly lightened up since the beginning of the war…
--------------------
8 hours after Stage 3, a
short distance from the Citadel...
"Hmm...it seems that the Evil Energy's power is slowly increasing..."
Swordman said to himself, "Seeing that it almost overtook me a
few hours back...it won't be long before I won't be able to restrain
it. Hopefully, I'll be able to hold on long enough so that if it does
overtake me, it would be in a situation where it would be at least
somewhat helpful for our side..."
Swordman looked up towards the sky, and continued, "At this rate,
it won't be long before someone would come here and make a move to
take us out of this war forever. If someone does...I'll go in and tell
them that we won't go down without giving a heck of a fight. If we
do manage to hold off an attack against them...it could continue a
historical trend of the place causing whoever tries and fails to take
it over eventually falling..."
Swordman then looked down on the ground, "Perhaps the scientists
of the world would realize what would result of their efforts of making
us robots more human...to get the desired effect, they'd have to put
up with the fact that we may end up interacting with humans the way
other humans do...up to and including fighting, war, and killing..."
--------------------
Just as BlizardMan and DustMan
were about to get down to business at one of the citadel’s workshops,
the doors were slammed open behind them. They turned around to see
who was interrupting their work, so early on. Dr. Cossack was standing
by the doorframe, and for a second, Regulus thought he was there to
show his support for “Project Stonehenge”. His hopes were brought down
soon enough. “I can’t allow you to work on this project right now.
Sean, BlizzardMan… I need you to work on something else.”
“And what exactly is it, doctor?”Asked Blizzard. Half curious, half
frustrated. The man had been refusing to accept any help until now.
Just then, several elderly people had gathered behind Cossack.
“My colleagues here have made me reconsider a rather disheartening
possibility.” Dr. Cossack explained. “I had become suspicious since
St. Petersburg… but now, Kalingrad, Murmansk, Izhevsk and Chelyabinks
have all been invaded. And all in a matter of hours.”
“I see what you’re getting at, doctor.” DustMan replied, getting worried
at the meaning of it.
“We must take precautionary measures. And so, I need you to aid my
colleagues. Help them get aquatinted with the facilities so they can
start working.” The doctor wasn’t asking them. This was something that
needed to be done.
As much as he hated having to leave his work pending, Blizzard knew
the old man had a good point. Along with DustMan, he reluctantly followed
the human scientists outside. As they were walking down the hall, he
was able to hear a conversation between Dust and Cossack…
“Do you really think they know where we are, doctor?” Sean whispered.
“I certainly hope they don’t. But if they ever find out…”
--------------------
