Megaman - Thursday, March 02, 2000, 10:49 PM
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Outside Robotropolis...

Kaiser Sigma moves only slightly, the grand sabre moving with a fencer's speed. The energy blade interposes itself between the blast and the Kaiser, parrying it with ease. As the plasma strikes, it splits in half and ricochets off. One half of it flies into the pile of rubble that had been brought down upon Sigma's head, vaporizing the junk. The other half flies closer, nicking the Maverick's shoulder armor before pock-marking the ground behind him.

That finished, it's now time to put Bass on the defensive. The air ripples with invisible force as Kaiser Sigma activates a set of magnetic controlers in his arm. Thrusting the huge limb forward, the energy slides off, heading towards the now descending Bass. Small bits of metal that lay nearby leap into the air as well, throwing themselves into the magnetic vortex - where they are instantly crushed to dust amidst the power.

Bass lands with an audible *WHUMP*, his form bending down to absorb the impact as he moves to a quasi-tripod crouch, with one hand flat on the ground beneath him. His snarl grows in intensity as his blast is parried, frustration beginning to set in. He -knows- he's no match for the Kaiser now, especially not in this form, but escape may be a distant memory right now. As the magnetic vortex comes his way, the Dark Knight twists, and activates his dash jets at the last possible second, trying to physically hurtle himself free of its influence.

It's only partially successful. While keeping him from being crushed within the vortex' incredible power, Bass skirts the very edge of it, and is sent hurtling at an awkward angle. Too awkward for even his agility to compensate, and once again he meets the wall of a destroyed building, all but annihilating it as he passes through the solid surface. Momentum continues to carry him through, right out the other side, and onto the street beyond, where he scrapes face fist along the pavement, a shower of sparks going up, until he finally comes to rest none too gently against the frame of a half-crushed car, rocking it with the sheer impact.

For a few seconds, the Dark Knight lays like this, hands out at his sides, until once again his fingers clench...and he slowly begins to pull himself back up. "Ugh..."

Kaiser Sigma stomps forward, shaking the ground. No short-range teleports. No flying. Careful, measured, firm steps. He wants Bass to *feel* him approach. The building bass passed through crumbles a little more, the gap widening to accommodate the Kaiser's frame. Finally, he speaks. "We were disappointed when our X slew you, Forte. It deprived us of a victory." One of his huge boots crushes a fire hydrant as if it were paper mache. "One we would have taken great pleasure in. This shall do, however. We shall destroy you, and feel the ooze of your master's brain beneath our heel." The huge frame comes to a stop several meters from where Bass lays. Both of the buster-arms aim carefully, and begin to build up a huge charge. "Then, when we are finished with you and yours, we shall defeat General and his Repliforce, just as we have before." The busters glow bright red, nearly ready to fire. "You may have survived encountering us once, but you shall not again..."

Time is on Bass' side, however. Quite literally, it is. Another time ripple flows across the area, the force of it visible to the naked eye. While much of the landscape is only somewhat affected (as it can only be demolished to a certain extent before it ceases to be), far worse-off is the Kaiser himself. The massive collision of reality sticks to his body, even after the wave itself has past. It's as if you were looking at him through a layer of clear Jell-O. His body wobbles, parts of it appearing to become detached from the rest, then reattaching, then overlapping, as the fabric of existence just goes haywire around the time-displaced monarch. The whine of powered busters fluctuates randomly, going everywhere on the pitch scale. Then, as suddenly as it came, it is gone again, and the busters fire.

Bass pulls himself to a kneeling position, breathing heavily as he feels the tread of those heavy feet. A long, ragged tear on his side sends a constant shower of sparks, and was struck deep by shrapnel with his previous flightpath. It's a serious wound, though he still wills himself to move, refusing to give in to the desire to just drop himself to the ground right here and now and give up. As the Kaiser turns towards him, and begins to charge his weapons, Bass glares back definatly, in his half crouch...

"Never...." he breathes, the word barely a whisper. "What was destroyed in your world merely carried my appearance, and my name. It never was -me- Kaiser...it never WILL be me." His voice builds in pitch, practically to a roar of defiance. "I will NEVER succumb to the likes of you, X or General! I WILL stand triumphant over the remains of each and every last one of you!" Reflexively, he raises his arm at the peak of the buster's charge, as if to try and ward off the attack. It's then that the temporal rift takes effect, causing those few seconds of hesitation. But...they're a very precious few seconds, as he reacts as quickly as he can. His dash jets refuse to function now, so he bodily hurtles himself forward, trying to get as far away as he can. The sheer impact of the twin weapon's megablasts sends a chaotic shockwave, that only propels him further on, and skidding across the ground once again, smashing another fire hydrant to pieces in the process. As he comes to a halt, his form is further battered, and damaged, a thin stream of mechfluid tracing from the edge of his mouth. But even now....his colors have changed to a cobalt blue hue, with white trimmings, as with a new purpose, he hauls himself to his feet suprisingly quickly. Fueled by one thing almost more powerful than any other generator.

Hate.

But even then, through the red haze, the berzerk fury, he knows he has to take advantage of the temporal shift, if only to buy himself time to get away. He makes no bones about it...he -is- no match for the Kaiser right now. Better to damage him and flee, than to meet death by -his- hands. Dispensing with his buster, Bass suddenly stands up straight, and throws both arms high into the air.

"Cobalt...."

His voice starts low, but slowly builds to a roaring pitch, as a fiery aura builds about him, growing in intensity, until blinding to look at, and roaring with a deafening level of power, mixed now with his own scream of rage.

"...INFEEEEERNOOOO!"

Both of his arms smash forward, as if guiding the power he wields, and at his command, hell's fury is unleashed on Sigma. The entire surrounding area becomes little more than a firestorm of hurricane-force winds, debris being burnt to a cinder in seconds, or sent hurtling through the air like deadly projectiles, Bass' sheer fury now fueling the attack itself.

The Kaiser cackles in pure madness - the temporial displacement has thrown off his vision, as well as his aim. From where he stands, Bass was within that deep crimson explosion and became little more than vapor. His cheerfully evil laughter comes to a sudden halt, however. The big golden-yellow head spins to see Bass, standing there, surrounded by a giant halo of flame. For a very brief second, his madness slips, and the Kaiser actually looks surprised - and a tiny, tiny bit afraid. This second pause is all it takes for Bass to complete his charge, and unleash it.

Both arms rise, shielding the tyrant's face from harm. The rest of his body is not as fortunate. A wave of pure flame washes over him, swirling and biting. Deep within the bright orange firestorm, he stands as a dark shadow at the heart of it. Any sound the Kaiser might make is obscured within the roar of wind, though it's doubtful his pride would let him cry out in pain.

As it passes, the monsterous form of Kaiser Sigma is still there. Bright armor now blackened to pitch, and the ground below his feet melted, he stands none the less. The arms lower slowly - his now hatless head shines in stark contrast to the fire-charred body around it. He simply stares at Bass in pure fury, matching the Elite in every ounce of bile-fueled anger.

Just as Bass is a creature of Chaos and Hate, Kaiser Sigma is a creature of Ego. His pride and insanity refuses to let him halt. One giant boot lifts upwards, and steps foward. The other lifts, and comes foward another stride. Slowly he approaches Bass again, intent on finishing the fish-headed one no matter the cost. Again his Sigma Sabre blazes to life, held at the ready to strike down the impudent. In mid-stride, the backs of his heels snap open, and a giant pair of dash jets ignite. Sword-first, Sigma slides across the smooth blasted ground at Bass.

Bass's eyes seem to flash, as if venting his fury as the last of his power is unleashed. Though it's a mirror reflection of the serious drain to his reserves all of a sudden. Even then, his fury prevents him from falling, though he stumbles for a split second in the process, as his coloring shifts back from where it came. Sides heaving greatly with the very effort of cooling down his systems, he ignores the overlapped view on his interior display, down in the corner of his vision.

*WARNING:SYSTEM CHARGE CRITICAL LEVEL, SHUTDOWN INITIATING*

It only takes a few seconds for him to input the proper command.

*OVERRIDE*

Despite the haze suddenly enveloping him, Bass once again shifts his arm into his buster, building a charge into it, forced to pull the reserves from his -own- levels, as the buster itself has been depleted completely and will need time to recharge on it's own.

"No Kaiser..." he coughs, bending his knees, ignoring the tortured, inner shrieks of his warning systems, as he again leaps into the air. The inferno bought him a moment, and enough to set himself up for his next move.

"Not today Kaiser.....it dosen't end -today-!" he finally rasps.

Clutching his buster with his free hand, he braces it as he comes to the pinnacle of his leap, aiming it directly -for- Sigma as he charges inwards. Once again, his power builds to an incredible pitch, though lightning begins to arc over his frame, as the sheer effort of fueling his power-hungry buster is beginning to force feedback into his systems, pain racking his body.

"AHHHHHHGH!" His scream of fury and agony rips forward, then is suddenly drowned out, as that most powerful of blasts, the Megablast itself is unleashed....turning into a raging, crackling inferno of it's own. Eating up the space between the Kaiser and himself at a pace that is frightening to behold, the hellish blast seems to seek it's very target...as if hungry to taste his armor....and desiring to do little more than turn his headlong charge backwards.

Nevertheless, the true purpose of the blast now is shown, as Bass himself is propelled backwards at breakneck speed, hurtling out over the rubble, and -past- the waterfront, towards the ocean beyond, left in a barely conscious state, only able to hope somewhere in his mind that it's enough to keep the Kaiser occupied....and thus lose sight of his path.

Kaiser Sigma tries again to parry the strike, his energy blade already rising from the upwards stroke of his dash attack. There's no point in trying to dodge - the Megablast is *not* something you evade when you're the size of a truck. It's too fast - too big.

Again, the ball of plasma strikes the sabre square-on. Kaiser Sigma slides backwards as the unstoppable force crushes against him. White-hot energy swirls around him as the force of the Neo-Buster collides with the Sigma Sabre, filling the air with a hideous screech. A wisp of energy slides across the blade, lashing at his exposed chin, leaving behind a dark scar.

Then the sabre winks out. Unable to take the sheer overload of energy, the powered sword simply shuts itself down to prevent from melting away. While lessened, the megablast remains, now unimpeeded. For the second time in a minute, Sigma's entire body disappears in fire. Charred armor vaporizes, and his huge form slumps down to one knee, wreathed in smoke. Liquified metal drips from his body like sweat, splattering and sizzling on the ground. Then, his head rises. The metal that made up his face is badly damaged, and his eyes, still a dark, insane blue, have an almost skull-like appearance. They carefully zoom in, watching Bass' limp form hurling skyward. A sputtering cough behind him signals an attempt to ignite his thrusters - but nothing happens. Once more, the Kaiser is ground-bound. Once more, Wily's second in command avoids doom narrowly. And all Kaiser Sigma can do is fume, and slowly cool.

Bass indeed continues on his flight path, unable to even flail just a bit to change his course. He stares downwards as the ocean itself begins to rush up to meet him, with a detached sense of calm now, closing his eyes only a split second before impact.

And it's ironic where he impacts indeed. Off the shore, in a boat and equipped with cameras with zoom-in lenses, a news team from Neo-Tokyo had been filming the entire battle itself through their equipment, practically drooling as they'd thought about the ratings this would bring. They even watched Bass' flight path for some distance, but took their eyes from him to zoom back in on Kaiser Sigma again, and focus on his form. It's then that something splashes down right in front of the boat with frightening speed, sending up a huge cloud of water and vapor in it's path.

The boat rocks under the sudden waves, and the reporters glance at each other uneasily.

"What was that?"

"Bass musta bought it...let's get outta here before that nutcase turns on us too."

With their precious footage in hand, the crew fires up the boat's engines, and begins to beat a hasty retreat, deciding they've got -more- than what they came for right now.

Underneath the water, just under the boat's hull...a figure drifts, small arcs of electricity still dancing over its frame now and then. Despite this, Bass opens his eyes slowly, glancing at the hull nearby, and acts without thinking. In a last show of strength, he digs the fingers of his right hand forcefully into the boat's bottom, though not far enough to puncture it right through. Thus, as it begins to move out from the scene....the hitchhiker holds fast, unwilling or unable to let go.

=============================== IC Broadcasts ================================
Message: 9/16 Posted Author
This JUST in! Thu Mar 02 E.R.W.I.N.
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"Today, the entire planet was rocked by yet /another/ temporal ripple. This one seems to have had a more adverse affect that its predecessors, causing seismic disturbances on a global level. When effects were checked for, the results were shocking.
Northern Africa /no longer/ exists, ladies and gentleman. The entire area, according to officials, is now a 'hot zone,' bleeding nuclear radiation for most of the northern continent. The Sahara seems to have been turned into a glass desert. Scientists suspect that the cause was another timeline where World War III could have occurred and nuclear fallout happened. Also, it seems that a giant hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctic has been detected as well, appearing out of nowhere. Now, the southern polar icecap seems to be melting, albeit slowly...
As for /our/ Africa, it is theorized that it exists in another plane of reality and should be restored once the problem with these temporal distortions is settled. The UN is advising Repliforce on solving this problem and hopefully should have it wrapped up. We shall keep you posted as details develop."
==============================================================================

Rooftop Runway <Hunter HQ>
While it bears a fancy name and important function, this chamber is really no more than a glorified garage where the vehicles and Ride Armor sit when not in use or while being maintenance. Large storage closets are against the back wall, directly across from the hangar doors which lead out into the Neo-Tokyo sky.

Twila Peterson is seated on the rooftop on the opposite side of the assorted vehicles, resting herself on a crate as she overlooks the city below.

Rick Morgan enters the runway area, datapad held in his hand, though at his side loosely, as he pans his gaze around for a moment, as if noting the condition of all the vehicles. He raises a hand and rubs his chin thoughtfully, as if considering, then finally sighs and begins to walk amongst them, -just- to make sure. It's then that he spots the other figure sitting and looking out at the city, arching an eyebrow curiously. "Thoughtful moment, Twila...?" he asks gently.

Twila Peterson turns within her seat and takes one of her hands out of her jacket pockets to offer a small wave. "Hmmm, yeah. Guess you could say that. Least things have quieted down a little. Although...feels like more the eyes of the storm."

Rick Morgan hmmms, and gives a slow nod. "Yeah, tell me about it." he offers, moving up close to Twila and glancing out over her shoulder to the city beyond as well. "You know we got another Maverick in the medbay?"

Twila Peterson offers a quiet sigh and dips her chin. "I was just there to see how things were going and get updated...and check the schedule." She pauses for a moment and states, "I almost didn't want to be in there if I knew I was going to be alone. Even with the fields on. Yesterday, with Sigma...he threatened me. Although he acted as if it wasn't. But I knew it was." She's not really surprised. He is Sigma after all.

Rick Morgan frowns then, stiffening just a bit. Even though he knows it's Sigma, and he wouldn't expect anything less, he still takes it rather roughly, being directed at Twila of all people. "Sis..." he says gently, leaning a hand on her shoulder. "Take my advice, even while all this is going on, -please- stay as far away from him as you can...ok?"

Twila indicates she'll do the best as she can. However, if the Mavericks are in the Medical Center and that happens to where she's scheduled due to her duties... "Don't have to really tell me twice. Although, would make it a bit hard to stay fully away...considering where it is I work," she states with an almost too casual shrug. "Kyo may not particularly enjoy it and...I don't like doing it, but I've since placed her in one of those animal-travel cases when I'm away from the quarters. She wanted to be constantly near me. But...you saw how she reated towards Sigma. With both Mavericks she would probably just outright attack. Don't...need to make this worse than it is."

Rick Morgan sighs quietly, and gives a small shrug of his shoulders. "It won't be much longer. Now that we're all starting to get an idea what the situation is like in the city.....we'll be making our move soon." he gives an ironic smirk. "Hey, and they're -still- on Wily's doorstep. If we've had this much trouble with him all this time, imagine how much Wily will give the Kaiser?"

Twila Peterson is forced to chuckle at that. "Maybe. They can be quite 'annoying'." She muses on that momentarily before commenting, "You...heard about Africa?"

Rick Morgan hmmms, and nods slowly. "Yeah...I heard about it." He admits soberly. "Have to wonder what place its going to happen to next...or what the inhabitants of -our- Africa are seeing right now. Even if we get this all cleaned up...there's going to be leftover damage from it...with all these earthquakes and temporal storms."

Twila Peterson creases her brow. "I take it there's alot more going on than the news is reporting..."

Rick Morgan hmmms. "Well they've mentioned about Earthquakes, and other things. But they don't know it to the extent that -we- do." he sighs, and glances down again. "There's going to be...alot of rebuilding to do."

Twila Peterson could imagine, or maybe she can't. Nothing such as this has ever happened before now in all of history. "Everywhere?"

"I can't think of anywhere it -wouldn't- affect anyone." Rick offers soberly. "Heck, even the Stardroid's home got knocked out of orbit afte all. The only places that seem to be safe are those that have these otherworldly visitors there. And we don't even know how long -that- is going to last..."

Twila Peterson bites her lower lip. "As...the temperal damage grows stronger...probably not for very long I would gather. Heard...anything on any plans on what is going to be done about it?"

Rick Morgan sighs. "What -can- we do about it?" he shrugs helplessly. "I heard that those who have timestoppers are able to slow it down, maybe do some good in the face of it but...those are really rare to begin with. And experimental at best."

The girl ohs. "And...no word on how the 'visitors' are able to be sent back? Since Wily started all this in the first place...couldn't he just...reverse it somehow?" Considering all those taken from their dimensions cooperated. Of course, Kaiser more than likely would raise an objection.
...not to mention his followers the Magistrate and Viris.

"Word is that Wily is working on a reversal process..." Rick says quietly. "Dr Light too. In fact I think they're working on it together...kinda like the old days. And from what I hear, it doesn't -require- someone's willing co-operation for it. But I haven't heard much more....I just hope its going to work."

Rick Morgan shrugs slowly. "To be truthful, I have no idea." He admits quietly, sighing and shaking his head once more. "But we don't have to worry, we know they would go voluntarily."

The girl tilts her head. "Yeah...I know. I was just...wondering what their thoughts were is all. Although, I suppose I needn't really guess...least for most of them. Just wish there was some way to help X tho. He's all torn up inside from remorse and guilt."

Rick Morgan nods slowly. "Yeah, he hasn't got much of a world to return to has he?" he sighs. He then shrugs his shoulders. "But...who knows? Maybe...seeing us as we are here...maybe being with us has done some good for him..."
"I...we can only hope..." she replies while casting her gaze downward momentarily. "Would hate to see the Kaiser finally win. And I'm not speaking of a physical death."

Rick Morgan places his hand on Twila's shoulder again, and gently rubs it in reassurance. "Hey, look at it this way. He's still Rock, even if he's been through alot more. We've all seen it, somewhere deep down he's still Rock like we know him."

Twila Peterson smiles at the contact, greatly appreciating it. A hand moves up to cover his and gives a gentle squeeze. "I've seen it too. I just wish some og him would...see it too."

Rick Morgan hmmms quietly. "We can't show that to him though." he murmurs. "He's got to see it himself...." he then shakes his head. "I guess only time is gonna tell, though that's what we're starting to run out of."

"I've been trying to give him some encouragement on those times I have seen him. But...I doubt it does any good. Every time I see him, I see Rock...and his worst fears realized..." She allows her voice to drift a bit in some thought before changing the subject slightly. "You...out here to check on the armors?"

Rick Morgan sighs, and gives Twila's shoulder a gentle pat. "Yeah, that's what I'm here for." he admits quietly. "I wanted to check up on their condition and all. In fact I better get back to it real soon now that I think about it."

Twila Peterson offers her brother a nod in acknowledgment. "You...needing any help with it?"

Rick Morgan smiles just a bit. "Thanks for the offer..." he speaks. "But's it just routine stuff is all, one-man job kinda thing and all. I gotta give it a couple of my touches too...." he offers a quick wink.

Twila Peterson smiles a little wider now. "Your own special touches, huh? Don't tell me you're going to autograph your masterpieces as well," she gently teases. She jumps up from her seat and offers her brother a nice, warm hug. "What would be done without ya?"

Rick Morgan laughs gently, and hugs Twila back just as warmly. "I dunno, probably alot less care of the ride armors that's for sure." he offers another squeeze at the same time, grateful for the touch.

There's a soft chuckle emitted. The girl embraces her brother for a short time, feeling more comforted than he would probably ever know. She eventually does release him however, but not without giving him a kiss on the cheek. Inwardly sh both envies and admires his more "controlled" outlook on matters and how he's able to erect a front, his ability to be more "professional" about matters in times of crises. In contrast, what does she do after a certain point? She faints! But Twila doesn't mention this to him. She just tells him, "I...probably shouldn't keep you. Never know when those things may next be needed."

Rick Morgan hmmms, "Yeah, if I don't get to it, I'll probably be lazy and -never- do it." he sighs, and then smiles just a bit, raising a hand to give Twila's arm a gentle pat. "Hey, maybe take the chance to get some fresh air if you want. With this truce, might be one of the few times we don't have to worry about Masters or Mavericks suddenly showing up. They got bigger fish to fry."

"Speaking of..." Twila grins, "might as well visit the beach for a breather. Try not to stay up too late...if it can be avoided. Kay?"

Rick Morgan chuckles. "Hey this is -me- you're talking about." he teases, before giving a shoo motion. "Get going then. Enjoy it while you can ok?"

Twila Peterson emits a quiet giggle as she starts out towards the hanger. "Fine...I'm going already. Catch ya later, Rick..."

Rick Morgan gives a quick wave, before turning and laying into the armors with a zeal. "Take it easy sis. See ya."

<Later...after Twila has talked Rock into joining her on the beach...>

Harbor District - Neo Tokyo
Trade is still very much a part of Japan's vitality, and this becomes apparent in this area. Sea-faring hydroplanes of enormous size bob at the carefully controlled docks at the port, while immense cargo-carrying hoverships continually lift into the air and descend on suspension fields to landing pads below. Workers, robotic and human both, dart everywhere as they move to and from their ships while at the same time port authority inspections teams sniff out most of the illegal goods smuggled in.
Despite all the hustle and bustle, traffic here is still well monitored and organized. Among the gargantuan warehouses and high-tech automated sushi bars are scattered a few much smaller and older buildings left over from before the earthquake which destroyed most of this cuty, which now house everything from quite legal bars to not-so-legal establishments.

Twila Peterson steps from the end of the wooden boards of the boardwalk and steps into the sand of one of the few still open beaches along Japan's shoreline with none other than a certain reploid. "You sure you're holding up ok?" As if she should ask...being that she was the one who fainted the other night.

Rock nods. "I'm doing okay, yeah." He walks along next to Twila, hands in his pockets. "I think I'm past the shockability stage..." He steps on into the sand himself, careful of where he steps. "How about you?"

The girl offers a small shrug. "Well, other than the small spell I had last night..." Yes, she's a bit embarassed by that, as well as how she reacted over all. "Doing alright...well, for feeling like we're all living in the Twillight Zone with...all that's going on. Already heard about the latest continant to be affected by all this."

Rock quirks an eyebrow. "What ELSE has happened? And that's okay, Twila. You couldn't help it."

Twila Peterson blinks a little at Rock after offering a small nod to his consolation. "You...don't know about Africa then?" she asks carefully.

The water laps gently at the harbor itself, unbothered by the temporal shifts that plague the planet. At least, in this area as it is. Over the years as technology has been improved, the pollution and debris that flow in the harbor's waters have been reduced a great deal, to the point of being nonexistent. But now, the ocean carries a drifting form from far away, bringing it slowly along with the currents, until finally reaching the area of the beach, where the undertow is weak enough to allow the waters to give up their prize. Trailing a long groove in the sand, the heavily battered and damaged form slides into view. Even now, after such a long distance, the Dark Knight's ravaged form sparks now and then, an electric arc dancing over his body, though he dosen't move....his eyes shut tightly as he remains oblivious to the world around him.

Rock shakes his head, moving his hand to brush his hair away from his eyes. "No, I hadn't. What happened?"

"Uh...would you believe...it's not there anymore?" Twila states with a slight tremble within her voice. "All...that was detected was some sort of radiation and fallout...as if from something nuclear..." No doubt it must be a place from X's timeline. And not a very cheery thought at that. As the two rise over a ridge to look over the ocean waters, the girl looks out, panning her gaze with a sigh. It's then that her eyes narrow on something that seems out of the ordinary...although the two may not be close enough to see what it is. "Something beached?" she askes, pointing within the particular direction.

Rock blinks, at both statements... "That's... not good. Must be from X's time," the Blue Bomber muses; his sapphire eyes turn, and focus on the thing that beached. "C'mon, let's check it out..." Rock says, taking Twila's hand gently and heading off toward Beached Bass. Hmm... how appropriate, for Fishead to be beached.

Consciousness.

Bass barely knows it right now, though somewhere, he is not enveloped in complete darkness, cut away from the rest of the world of reality. Slowly, his right hand twitches, his fingers clenching just a bit, as he continues to lay on the beachs and itself, unable to move. Lightning continues to course over his body now and then, originating from that horrible side wound, and dancing over his form. Though he is far beyond feeling pain by now...

Twila Peterson nods in belated response as she joins the reploid as they near go about their investigation. Her hand grips his tightly when they make their approach. The "beached" form becomes far more clearer while it rests underneath the moonlight and within the caress of the waters as they continue to rise to meet the shore. "Is that...who I think it is?"

The Blue Bomber's head bobs as Twila questions, kneeling to give Bass' prone form a closer look. "It's Bass, all right... he's hurt, bad..." Rock intones, pointing to the wound on Bass' side, and the arcing energy that racks across his frame. "Looks like we gotta rescue him again..." He looks up at Twila, "Any chance of doign a field repair?" He stands back up, "At least to get him back to base?"

Twila Peterson pauses for a moment before guesturing a little up the ridge, where the waves can no longer reach. "Yeah...I think so. But it would be better if you could move him to drier ground before I try anything. I would guess some of his systems are already damaged by the saltwater...but try to avoid allowing any more getting in if possible."

Twila Peterson is already digging into her back jeans pocket where she keeps a small mini-tool kit. It may not offer much. But it's all she presently has.

Rock nods, leaning down to heft the Dark Knight and pull him further ashore; gently setting him as far from the water, on the sand, he backs up, dusting off his hands and watching Twila start to work. He oughta learn to repair someday.

Bass is duly dragged of course, his form limp in Rock's grip, as his armored feet trail twin traces in the sand itself. Though his eyes remain shut, his right hand still moves, and finally manages to clench into some semblence of a fist. Even like this...horribly damaged and struggling to even stay active...his fury refuses to be sated.

Twila Peterson thought that Rock had been a "Tool-User" when he had first been "born". She really should ask him actually what tasks he was involved with at the time before he was reborn into Megaman. Since the reploid seemed saddened at the talk of his past at the time, Twila simply never persued the question. At any rate, it's really a moot point for a moment. However, whether or not Rock knows anything of actual repair she does appoint him as an aid for the time being. "Ok, may have to have a bit of your help here. You've just become a nurse." So saying she starts out be going first to Bass's most vital systems...or rather the local where such systems are normally localed. "Can you help me remove his armor so I can get through?"

Rock nods, stepping forward and kneeling. As gently as he can, he begins manually removing Bass' armour. "Reduced to nurse... you owe me, Bass..." Removing the chestplate, he sets it aside, and lifts Bass long enough to remove the backplate as well.

The girl places a hand on his arm to prevent him from doing do. "Just the chest is fine for now. Just want to slow up the currents for right now.. That'll give us time to take him back to the Labs and do what we need to do there."

Rock nods, leaving the back armour in place. He steps back, crouching then, to let Twila do her thing.

For the few moments that Rock -does- pry the backplate open, even though he does put it back in place, he's treated to a tattoo that's located on Bass' upper right shoulder. The infamous W. Even he who has free will in Wily's ranks carries this brand...

Once the plating of the chest is set aside she carefully slices through the synthetic skin to get to the area she needs to...although, some of the injuries
Bass has sustained doesn't make that task to hard. Twila then takes another instrument and makes a few tweaks within that specific system's core. The arcs of electricity then begin to lessen considerably, but yet remain. She then snips a collection of specific wires from their base and the arc dies completely. "Ok...that should do it, Nurse Light. He should be fine to take back now."
Whether or not Twila would have been concerned that she could have been shocked from the electricity she doesn't exactly seem to show. But then, the site in which she chose treatment could have carried some form of insulation and helped her to avoid such a fear as electrocution as well.

Rock drops his face into a palm. "Yes, Dr. Twila," Rock falsettos, as he did when he was mimicking Zero at Halloween. Very gently he lifts Bass, thankful he reattached the back armour; he prods the chest armour with his foot, sliding it across the sand to Twila. "If you could carry that, please..." he says, in his normal voice, hefting Bass in both arms.

Bass is draped limply in Rock's arms as he's lifted, his head hanging back freely now. The severing of those wires to stop his self-electrocution also allowed him to drift off to a state of deactivation now, and essentially placing him in temporary stasis lock....

Twila Peterson bends over to snatch up the metal plating within her arms after wisking her tolls back into place. "Of course." She doesn't bother to correct him by stating it's supposed to be Dr. Peterson...if only for the fact that the two are supposed to be off-duty. then again, they do know each other far too well to be formal at this stage. "We don't have alot of time tho."

Rock looks about, wondering WHERE Bass' mechanimal is. With a slight shrug, he looks at Twila and then begins walking back toward Hunter HQ. "Looks like Sigma and Blizzard Buffalo are getting some more roomates..." Rock muses.

Twila Peterson groans at the thought while following. "Ever thought of adding fences in the bay?"

Rock snickers. "Not really, but maybe we should now. Or do like you suggested, and just leave the front door open with a welcome mat. We're sure getting enough non-Hunter traffic." He stops a moment to let Twila catch up, "Not a lot of time?"

Twila Peterson nods as she does indeed catch-up. The weight of the armor is shifted onto her other hip as she answers. "Uh...ya. All I could do was delay was taking place within his systems due to the accumulated damages from whatever fight he was in and the saltwater. Right now he's in stasis lock."

Rock nods. "Alright then. Let's go." And he begins to jog at a fairly quick pace back to Hunter HQ.

<Upon arrival...>

Medical Bay <Hunter HQ>
This room is kept immaculately clean and organized, from the polished tile floor to the bright exam lights and walls painted with soothing colors. Several repair and medical beds for robot and human patients line the walls, monitors above them indicating the status of the patient's vital signs. There are no windows here, as this is in the center of the floor and heavily reinforced against possible attack. It is here that the Maverick Hunter medics patch up the wounded.

Rock comes jogging in; as the bay doors open, he moves Bass to an empty medbed and lays him on it. Turning, he begins to review some of his old stuff... life support systems... where are they?

Bass is of course laid out on the medical bed, limp as limp can be right about now. His head tilts to one side as an affect of gravity, as his whole form relaxes.

Twila Peterson sets the armor she's carrying aside and goes immediately for her...aw...forget the smock. No time. She watches as the Master is laid down and points to some of the machinery against the right wall...near some of the cabinets. There's one she points to in particular that looks like an older computer on a roller that is holding various attachments. "The one labeled 'C' bring that machine over if you cold..." she instructs as she hurries to hook Bass up to the nearby monitors in order to keep track of his vitals.

Bass's vital signs are dim....but still there, held in check by the suspended state his systems have put him into.

Twila Peterson pauses to shove her sleeves up and then starts instructing Rock to help her remove some more of the android's damaged armor before she opens several areas in order to in put several of the strange attachments within his prone frame. "Ok...that done..." she muses and then goes over to device after it's turned on and starts typing a series of commands. "Something to place less stress on his systems until I can fins out what all is wrong." Heck, she's not a surgeon! She's just am Assistant. But she is doing her best as is. "Rock...can you monitor for me and tell me if there's any changes on his vitals while I work?"

Rock does as ordered... armour and stuff is removed, and he hooks up a monitor to Bass' vitals, and begins tomointor them. "Sure thing, Twila..."

Twila Peterson nods to herself carefully open the section of Bass's chest which had been tended to outside on the beach again, only this time she opens him up even more. Trailing the damage she takes note of why his energy influxes were so erratic. "Looks like he's gonna need some replacements here too. Sheesh, never performed what amounted to 'open heart surgery before'," she grumps. She bites her lower lip and glances towards the repolid. "What's the current status of energy emissions?"

Rock hmmms. "Subdued, Twila."

Twila Peterson perks an eyebrow. Nope, Rock is no medic. "Uh...on a rate to 1-10?"

Twitch.

Was that movement from Bass' hand again? Nah...couldn't have been.

Rock nods lightly. "Yeah. Looks like a 1-10..."

Twila Peterson just sorta...stares at Rock. "Um...yeah...it does...doesn't it?" Not trying to hurt Rock's feelings the girl moves to take a glance at the monitor herself...and groans. "Definitely subdued," she echoes before heading back to the terminal beside the bed and pressing several keys.

*Blip!*

One of the medical drones against the wall comes to life and heads towards the bed, ready for work, followed by a second. "I'll have to get the medic drones to work on him first. he's too damaged for my skills as he is right now."

Rock steps back. "I dunno how to work half of this stuff..." he says, as if defending himself. So he steps back and leans against a wall, sulking. You hurt his pride, man. *sniff*

Bass begins to take shape already as the drones start to work on him, with their quick, little precise movements they start to attack his damage with efficient fervor, replacing this, sealing that, moving those....moving almost too fast for the eye to see.

Twila Peterson glances over towards him while the droids hook themselves to the terminal to gain what they need to know of the patient before they begin working. "Rock, I don't begrudge you for it. Not alot do know what all this stuff is. Don't be that way." She turns towards the droids once more before walking over to him where he stands.

Rock nod softly. "I know...I just USED to know all this stuff."

Twila tilts her head to the side. Her brows furrow as she questions, "Back then you mean?" not specifying when it is she exactly means by that, having a feeling Rock would know.

Bass actually moves just a bit as the droids continue their work on him, and remove his helmet in the process. Much -unlike- Rock's own features, his Asian features are now plainly obvious, though there's still those odd stripes under his eyes, their purpose unknown. Long, silky black hair spills out from behind his head, actually draped over the edge of the medical table itself as he's worked on.

Rock hrms as Bass' features are revealed; he focuses his sapphire eyes on Bass' face. "I'd never seen Bass without his helmet... he looks human." Yeah, like that was a surprise.

Well...one way to avoid a question. But not as if Twila's about to press if Rock rather not. In the end it t was perhaps more rhetorical than it was meant to be. "Never...seen him *without* his helmet?" She's seen him a few times without it herself. "Human without those...well...metallic strips under his eyes. Wonder...wonder what they're actually for."

Twila Peterson gently pats his shoulder in what she hopes to be within an encouraging manner and goes back over near Bass's bed to take a glance at the monitors again to observe his lifesigns.

Rock shakes his head, "No idea about the metallic strips. But no, I'd never seen him without his helmet before."

The droids continue their work on Bass' form, repairing what they are programmed to do so, and doing a rather good job of it in the process. In fact...moreso than one might expect so rapidly because....

Bass' eyes snap open.

Rock blinks and almost jumps as Bass snaps awake.

On one of the other monitors, the waves indicating the Masters mental activity spikes, indicating that he is indeed awakening. Twila doesn't notice this at first since she's focusing more on the influx of hydrolics that she had caused her some concern. "Well...looks like he's certainly moving out of the critical stage..." she muses.

Rock nods. "Yeah... he's waking up." Rock understands THIS monitor, and points at it.

Bass is actually calm for once, as one might expect that he'd wake up in a rage after his previous battle. However, he slowly blinks once, and tilts his head, to glare down to his chest, which the droids are -still- reaching into and repairing bit by bit, before turning his glare to the side just a bit, as if taking in his surroundings.

"Maverick Hunter medical bay...." he rasps, the strain of his previous fight still with him. "Well now isn't that fitting?"

"Huh?" the young woman inquires. She glances at Rock with a blink as if not understanding what he's saying at first before looking to where he's gesturing. There's another blink before she turns just in time to overhear the patient. "Must have been...some fight," Twila manages slowly...and then looks back over towards Rock. Hey, he's the Commander of the base. She's just a lowly medic.

Rock steps toward Bass, nodding. "Yeah. Twila and I found you washed up on the shore near the base... you had some really major damage." He motions to the droid workers, "You're lucky we found you. If we hadn't, you would have died."

Twila Peterson idly wonders if that would have really been a bad thing. The thought's pushed from her mind. Everyone will be rather overjoyed with the newest addition won't they, right? Erm...maybe not. She can only guess Bass's gratitude, in either case, will be hardly overwhelming...

Bass narrows his eyes for a few moments, "I guess I'm supposed to be grateful." he states quietly, and then falls into silence for a few moments, panning his gaze around once again, before letting his head drop back to the medical bed once again. "Well now it looks like I took quite a trip from Skull Island...."

Twila Peterson ventures, "What...happened?" Or should either of them really ask?

Rock smirks, "Grateful would be nice." As Bass pans his gaze, he'd note a forcefield-held sleeping Sigma, and a forcefield held sleeping Blizzard Buffalo. A nod at Bass' second statement, "Quite a trip. What..." But Twila cuts him off.

Great minds think alike, or so they say. Twila steals a glance at the monitors once more, apparently satisfied with what she sees, before moving to stand by Rock, somehow feeling more at ease there. Even with all the others in fields, it's somewhat unnerving being here in the bay at times.

Bass indeed does glance in Sigma's direction...but he already knew of the Maverick leader's presence here, due to certain loose-lipped hunters. Nevertheless, he straightens once again, and glares upwards. "What else would have happened?" he fairly snorts. "Kaiser Sigma. That's what happened. Though by no means did he escape the battle unscathed himself..."

Rock nods lightly at Bass. "So you'd told me the other day... which is part of the reason we didn't let you rust out there."

Twila Peterson remarks lamely, "Maybe it would help if all of you ganged on him at once."

Bass fehs. "This was hardly an outright attack on him. We led a mission to..." he hesitates, narrowing his eyes for a few seconds, as if considering, and then dismissing it. "...retrieve a shipment that had been hidden in Robotropolis' waterfront before the attack. Sure enough, the spot that they were hidden in was safe, and we managed to load some of the cargo on. The rest we destroyed. But that infidel Kaiser appeared and threatened the operation. I suppose I had him most upset from our -last- meeting."

Rock has to smirk, "Yeah. Usually meeting you makes people get upset." He leans back a little, against the wall, "But, go on."

Twila Peterson raises a hand to her head, feeling a bit awkward. From her first meeting to Bass, to all the times he came within mere seconds or inches of ending her life, it is a little strange seeig him like this. And within the medical center as well. But, Twila can say that for some of the others here as we. She pauses to shoot a glance towards Sigma's bed and slightly shudders, feeling as if ice encompasses her spine. She then refocuses back towards the other two, listening.

Bass merely shrugs. "I was cut off from the transport from the start. He -wanted- to fight me..." Bass sneers then, and raises his right forearm, which managed to come out of the battle relatively all right. It shifts into his buster, the charge on the side of it showing now as its power levels have regenerated. He doesn't appear worried about the fact it might set people on edge of course. "So I gave it to him." he states simply. "Oh he's a strong one indeed, but -twice- now I've faced him in battle, and this time without the augmentation of Treble. He's mortal...just like anyone else."

The girl takes a step even closer towards Rock as Bass lifts that little toy of his before calming herself down. Certainly Bass would be wise enough to even attempt to use that thing of his hear and now...wouldn't he? Twila takes in a breath and inwardly chides herself. Time to switch to decaffe. However, she doesn't drink coffee. "So, how are you feeling...I mean with the repairs?"

Again, Rock's head bobs. "At least now we might have a plan of action, if we just want to obliterate him. But if we do that, reality will continue tearing." He hmms, trying to think. His player, however, is trying to remember just whom creates the device that sends Siggy and co. back...

Bass apparently seems satisfied with his repairs enough right now, because he reaches up with a hand to swat annoyingly at the medical drones who bleep and boop and dart off the side as the Dark Knight actually moves to sit up. It allows them to begin literally stitching up his side with their work. "Oh obliteration will work Rock...believe me. But it's not so easy to get at just him and the Magistrate as well as Viris when they also have a good chunk of the Maverick Army itself behind them."

Twila Peterson couldn't help but ask her previous question, being trained how she is and all. But. for right now, she allows the two too talk. Although, she does lean over towards Rock.
You whisper 'Um...by the way, since he'll be recovering...what do we do with him?' to Rock.

Rock looks at Bass, resisting a sigh. "If we obliterate them, though... that'll still keep reality tearing. We have to send them back... EVERYONE seems to agree on that point." As Twila speaks, he leans to her to reply.
Rock whispers: 'Same as Sigma and Blizzard Buffalo. Weapons off, and under a forcefield unless accompanied by a Hunter.'.

Bass stares at Rock, for a few moments. "Yes, but it's alot easier to shovel someone's remains into a teleporter than to put them there themselves...." he then cuts himself off, and his eyes narrow. He's heard -just- enough of the whispering in front of him, that he begins to shift forward again, moving to stand up, and wobbling in the process. "You needn't concern yourself with such formalities Rock. You know as well as I do that I'd rather be a scrap pile than not have my weapon systems online. I shan't trouble your medical facilities any longer."

Twila Peterson nods towards Rock, grateful that while she was getting Bass prepped his weapons were disabled for the time being, although they too had met with repairs. "Um...thought so," she states allowed. She walks over towards the bed's computer terminal and goes ahead and turns on the forcefield surrounding Bass's place of stay, bracing herself for whatever comes after. "Um...you weren't repaired just so your systems can fall into disarray because you didn't allow yourself to heal properly."

Rock nods a bit in agreement with Twila. "If you go out and get yourself smashed again, we might not be around next time to help."

Twila Peterson suddenly gets this sinking feeling that Bass is going to be alot more of a difficult patient than Dischord...

Bass's eyes narrow further into slits as he glares outwards at Twila once again. Yet...strangely, he still remains calm. Instead, he turns to face the drones, that are still inside of the forcefield with him. Wordlessly, he reaches out and snatches the nearest one in his left hand, which despite his condition, is still capable of an iron-like grip. The little critter gets barely a squawk of alarm out, before it's crushed into so much junk in the process. Ignoring those outside the field for now, Bass' fingers pluck at the tool array that the droids are equipped with. "Of course....not -all- of us are incapable of repair work such as our dear friend Rock here..." he muses quietly, pinching the tiny instruments between his thumb and forefinger as he turns to stare a deadly gaze back at the two, through the shimmering wave of the field. He holds the small tools up for both of them to see, and proceeds to shift his arm back into his buster again, upending it as he lowers the tool and proceeds to make adjustments. "You know...I've often wondered what the resistance level of a hunter forcefield to a buster charge would be....but I would so -hate- to test it tonight. I have so much more I plan to be doing..."

Twila Peterson widens her eyes a bit. Nope...he's defiantly not being a good patient. "And if your newly installed energy emission regulator isn't given time to adjust? You *did* have the equivalent of a heart transplant."

Bass smirks ever so faintly, his answer simply blunt. "Then I suppose my reactor goes critical and we -all- become a memory don't we?"

Rock frowns at Bass... darnit... "Alright. We'll let you out, and you can go..."

She has a feeling such a charge would probably drain Bass as well due to his condtion. "Only if your energy levels were allowed to get back up to par...something a blast would be a big drain on..." She glances towards Rock and sighs. "Rock...he's bluffing."

Bass twists the tool on his buster arm, and it thrumms to life again, the charge level on it blinking to indicate readiness once again. Oh yes, he's done alot of self work before when it comes down to it. It's a requirement when many of the other Masters don't like you very much....and Wily isn't -always- there to effect repairs.

At Rock's words, he gives the tool array a small toss off to the side, letting it land on the medtable again behind him. Slowly, energy begins to gather at the tip of his buster then, and that telltale power bar starts to rise, as he glances cooly in Twila's direction. "Am I?"

The young woman turns back towards the bed and sure *hopes* that he's bluffing. But should she risk it? She walks over to the terminal quickly enough and does a quick search before glancing back towards Bass. "Unless you want your systems to automatically shut you down for survival purposes."

Rock frowns... but he trusts Twila... so he leaves the forcefield up.

"Ah yes...." Bass intones, turning his right hand up for Twila to see, which -is- still gathering power in it's charge. "Were that if I had a normal weapon...." he actually chuckles ever so lightly. "...but you know almost nothing of buster technology do you? Hrm...? I'm sure if Doctor Light were present right now, he'd realize what sort of a fool you're being at the moment. In fact..." He gestures in Rock's direction. "Why dosen't someone who speaks from experience tell you outright? Rock....there's a seperate generator for our wonderful...additions isn't there?"

Twila Peterson shifts her weight a bit, not feeling so certain anymore. She glances over towards Rock's direction for help. But, he's more than likely not in the position to offer by much...unless he's able to know from experiance. And he's already stated he doesn't know much regarding robotics or repairs. Biting her lower lip, Twila reaches over and shuts down the forcefield...deciding it's not worth the risk. If Bass want's to do this to himself, she's not going to stop him. "Anyone ever tell you wou're the world's worst patient?"

Rock lets Twila shut down the field.

With a winding down hum, the buster loses its charge the instant the forcefield is lowered, and slowly shifts back to his hand again. He turns to take hold of his chestplate, raising it and easing it back onto his form once again, since the robots sealed up his chest as well. His helmet is next, which he drapes under one arm, as he steps out of the radius of the field itself, staring fully at the other two. "While your concern for my wellbeing is...touching..." Bass returns, lifting the helmet to his head, and easing it into place. Almost as if by some sort of retraction process, his long hair seems to coil up underneath on its own, and disappear from view into the helmet itself. "You'll pardon me if I decline. While Sigma...." he gestures to the nearby medical table, "...and this other Maverick..." Then to Blizzard Buffalo. "..may be here voluntarily...I am of a different sort. I still -have- a fortress to return to, and am not about to be detained from that in any shape or form." Bass that is.

Rock nods lightly. "Someone will escort you out." He talks into his comlink, and a gumby hunter comes to escort Bass out.

Twila Peterson moves herself back over to Rock's side as the guard arrives, not allowing herself to relax somewhat until after the guest is gone.

Bass turns of course then, to shift a glare to the gumby, as if sizing him up and a reminder of just how....-nothing- he is to the Dark Knight. Nevertheless, he finally straightens up, and waits to follow the assigned one out. He pauses then ever so slightly, to cast a glance back to the medical bed, and the crushed drone. "Hmmm, I do hope you tidy up around here...after all, you have a reputation to uphold." he smirks then, and finally sets into motion following the reploid from the medical bay itself.

Twila Peterson watches quietly as Bass moves himself on out along with the Hunter, breathing a small sigh of relief once he's gone out into the hallway and out of earshot. "Hmph. Should probably send *him* the repair bill."

Rock chuckles lightly at Twila, after sticking his tongue out at the retreating Bass. "Hmph. Like Wily'd pay it?"

Twila Peterson rolls her eyes while behind the two one of the other droids starts cleaning up the mess left on and near the bed. "I doubt he would loan me his credit card again anytime soon so he could." She shakes her head to clear a stray thought and then offers Rock a tight hug. "I'm going to go ahead and crash. Walk on the beach was fun while it lasted."

"I doubt he would loan me his credit card again anytime soon so he could." She shakes her head to clear a stray thought and then offers Rock a tight hug. "I'm going to go ahead and crash. Walk on the beach was fun while it lasted."'.

Rock nods. "Let's try again tomorrow. I'm in need of some serious crashing too." He gives Twila a hug, and a kiss on the cheek.

Twila Peterson gives one last squeeze before pulling back. "Deal." If no emergency comes up. "Stayed up late enough as is. Get a good night's rest, kay?"

Rock nods. "You too."

Twila Peterson smiles warmly and then offers a wave. She glances back towards the bed that was recently in use and notes that the droids have it cleaned for the most part by now, Fast working little things. She then pauses by the door before heading into the hallway to give a tease. "Oh, and...I'll have to be sure to give you Bass's goodie. Lemme know what flavor lolli you like."

Rock hmmms. "Orange," he calls to Twila, with a smile.

Twila Peterson giggles. Been awhile since he may have heard her do so. "I'll slide it underneath your door. Night."