Megaman - Saturday, September 16, 2000, 9:50 PM
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Colorado Springs, Colorado -- USA
Around the city of Colorado Spring, Colorado it's apparent the changing of the seasons has already begun. Blotches of yellows and oranges mix within the sourrounding foliage. It doesn't seem to matter much at all the offical first day of fall happens to be still a week away...
Rick Morgan rides with Twila aboard a standard hoverbike....not one of the military grade ones like the Hunters have. At the controls, he gently guides the craft towards the skyline of the community ahead of them....noting in his mind how he seems to be seeing more and more of this place as of late.
However, his thoughts return to the passenger just behind him, and he glances over his shoulder once more. "How you holding up?" he asks.
.oO(Are you sure you want to know?)0o. Twila mentally muses in reply. However, outwardly she merely shrugs as she continues to hold on to her siblings middle. "As can be expected..." she murmers, shifting carefully within her seat.
She manitains her silence as the two make there way through the city and into the suburbs. The scenery gives somewhat of a sense of normalcy. Although...is there really such a thing anymore? These thoughts occupy the young girl's mind as they enter into the neighborhood where there final destination lies. Drawing in a deep breath...she certainly can't help but wonder.
Rick Morgan appears to accept that answer with as much as can be expected from -him-. He frowns briefly for a moment, but then lets his expression trail neutral again. They aren't even -there- yet and already the doubts are starting. But no one needs to tell him twice, and he knows this goes for Twila too, that this has to be done...for the safety of the others. No matter how they may view things.
"So where is it around here again....?" He asks. "...I know we're close..."
Homes with will kept manicured lawns sweep past the two, their numbers visible on the mailboxes if not on the homes themselves. Even so, Twila knows the direction even without them. "Just one more block, then turn right. It's the thrid house on the left...numbers 407..." she answers with a small gesture of the hand.
Rick Morgan is used to following directions to find places. Heck, half the time he has to search for spots in San Angeles with much less guidance than he's just been given...so in this case, finding the place is a snap. With a gentle bank of the hoverbike's form, he then approaches the house itself, pulling up close to the sidewalk and setting down in a wash of thrusterfire, sending dust and little pieces of paper scattering, before the turbines finally shut down.
"Well..." Rick says, as he turns and slides free from his seat. "...looks like we're here."
The young woman gives good long hard stare to the house before following suite. "Yeah...suppose we are..." With that she sets her feet on the pavement of the driveway, noting idly that the cars that are usually parked here....aren't. She doesn't make mention of this to her sibling. She merely steps towards the walkway and up the steps to the front door. "Hope no one's in for a lynching..."
"Hey..." Rick offers, falling into step slightly
behind and to Twila's left...reaching up a hand to touch her
shoulder. "Don't forget what I said before..." he
offers gently. "There's not going to be any
lynchings...we're here to tell them what needs to be told. That's
all."
You paged Rick Morgan with 'Weird...after cleaning the disk drive
it acknowledges something's in there 'cept it still won't read
it. But it won't say so until after the floppy is taken out...'.
Twila Peterson swallows, grateful for the contact even though she may not outward show it except for lifting up her own hand and giving her brother's a tight squeeze. "I...remember..." But she can't help but be somewhat worried still about all of this. Still, she lowers her hand again to apply pressure to the doorbell. "Thanks, Rick."
Rick Morgan offers a small, reassuring grin. He knows it's about what Twila needs right now. "Anytime..."
Twila somehow manages a grin back.
She doesn't have time to give further response as the door opens. There, standing inside the doorway is the outline of a young man, not much older than Twila is herself. Dressed a bit more sacually than usual the 20-something blond is dressed within a sweatshirt and blue jeans. Not...his usual attire. But then, this is the weekend and he is probably taking it a bit easy right about now. Although, at the moment, his stance is anything but.
He straightens up, and if anyone was wondering if he was suffering any lingering effects from Treble's small, shove he happened to grant, by now it's successfully healed. Thank goodnes she didn't require surgery. His features are hardend as he takes in the two guests. For a few long moments he doesn't speak, giving either so much as a greeting.
Finally, a young voice male whines from the living room. "Hey, hurry up! Your missing all the good parts!"
"I'll be back in a moment, James. Just go back to the
movie," the man calls back. He then turns to the duo on the
doorstep. "Yes?" he asks guardedly.
Twila feels herself swallowing again before answering.
"Chris, we need to talk..."
The girl's cousin shifts his weight impatiently. "Neither of you are supposed to be here. I thought that was made clear already..."
Rick Morgan of course pipes up, his face set neutral as he eyes Chris steadily, not about to let himself show any of his own inner thoughts about the other right about now. "This isn't a house call for personal reasons." he grunts. "This is what you'd call official business, and I think you want to hear what she has to say right about now."
Chris Andrews visibly frowns before casting a glance over his shoulder to where his younger brother remained watching television. He turns towards the siblings . "Mom and Dad aren't home right now. So, I'm not to certain I'm the one you should be talking too. How 'official' is official'?" he points out with a sigh. After all, his cousin and her brother happen to be part of a group of vigilanties...aren't they
"Official as in the Robot Master Bass, the same one we encountered the other day, has vowed that he'll be threatening you and the others here should the need arice."
To this Chris perks both his eyebrows, peering on incredulously. "For what reason would he have an interest in us?"
Here, Twila takes in a deep breath, "To prod me into divulging information apparently.
This is meant with several rapid blinks by Chris. He checks up on his little brother with a quick glance and simple stairs at the twins. "I...I think your lying." But his tone would state otherwise.
"Why would we come here and lie about this?" Rick
blurts, folding his arms over his chest, demeanor taking on a
no-nonsense tone. "Look, I don't know what your views on the
Robot Masters are, and I don't know if you think you're safe here
where you are in the heart of a city, but we face them almost
every day of our lives. We KNOW that they mean business...and
above all, Bass is the most dangerous out of all of them. He
dosen't bluff..." He then narrows his eyes ever so slightly.
"And believe me...I've seen what he does to those he takes
interest in. I don't think you want me to go into details, but
let's say it's enough to make nightmares a reality."
He then lets out a long breath, before readjusting his arms on his chest. "So you tell me. Why would we come all this way just to lie to you about this? Whatever you guys may think here, Twila isn't, and I'm not about to let Bass go and say this without warning you first."
Chris Andrews forms his mouth into a tight line, his posture fighting not to betray is thoughts. "I can think of a few reasons," he lies. "But even if it were true what would you expect us to do about it? You vigilanties are the ones that are the ones supposed to be fighting them, not us civilians." And they're certainly not supposed to come into the heart of suburbia. .oO(**** it, Twi...what in the heck did you drag all of *us* into? it was bad enough when you dragged yourself! This your way of getting back at us?)Oo. "This isn't *our* war."
The young woman narrows her eyes. "Well, surprise, Chris. It is yours...just like it is everyone's. No one is safe. We were all pulled into it one way or another. Us 'vigilaties' are simply trying to do something about it. I didn't ask for this, and neither did Rick, and neither did Rock, nor Dr. Light, nor anyone else."
"Twila's absolutely right." Rick offers at the same time, frowning. "What...did you think that you can stay nice and safe here within the city limits? Is that it? Do you remember years ago what happened in Sydney Australia? The heart of the UN, the most heavily defended position on the planet at the time...and the whole city was almost wiped off the map? What makes you guys think you're safe from them here?" He uncrosses his arms, and sets his hands on his hips in slight frustration...but dosen't let it get to him. Not yet. "Tell me, if Bass comes here, looking for you, just WHO is going to stop him? The police? The local militia? Even if there is one? And how far away are they? Have you watched news reports of what tends to happen when the regular armed forces try to stop them as well?"
Chris's hand edges towards the knob of the door. But he doesn't close it on them...at least, not yet. He doesn't outwardly let on any responses to the contraty of where his feelings may lay. However, if one where to peer closely enough, that hand is slightly trembling. "So, I ask again, if it is true just what in the name of all creation would you have us do?" he demands with a low growl. "Twila...this never would have happened if you had gotten mixed up with those people and minded your own business." He shoots a stoney glance towards the Cyborg, looking him over from his crown to the soles of his feet before quickly glancing back at his cousin, as if looking to indeed place blame somewhere.
"Think what you want of me. I made my own choices and I won't go back on them. Just warn the others, Chris. That's all I ask and that;s all we're here for...nothing else," Twila spouts bitterly.
"If you'd done any research into what happened in the
past you'd find out that Twila had no choice in the
matter..." Rick growls in return, almost ready to move
forward and throttle Chris himself. While his whole upper body
may be organic...time in the Hunters has demanded that he keep a
level of physical fitness that could make some pro athletes
jealous...and such a feat would most likely be little difficulty
to him. But even then, he still holds back. "It was Enker
that came to her...it was him that decided to pick on her. It
wasn't anything she did, anything she said, anything she had
written. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and
got caught up in one of their twisted schemes. That's how it all
happened. Just like it's happening right now, here with you. You
may not like it, you may not want it...but believe me buddy boy,
it's happening, and it's GOING to happen. We could have just said
nothing of course if you preferred. Afterall, we could have left
you unaware of what was going on when they came knocking on your
door. Would you have preferred that?"
Almost unconsciously, Rick happens to raise his right hand, and gently sets it on Twila's shoulder...
"Who's at the door?" the 12 year old boy asks, his voice carrying through to the front and into the conversation. It's not hard to guess he must have overheard the raised voices and became curious.
Chris tightens his hold on the knob now, not answering the question or the persistant voice of his younger brother. As his features pale ever so slightly the door begins to shut. "I...I think it's time for both of you to leave. You're traspassing," is all he says in closing..." And then the door is closed, leaving the two outside on the front step like that.
Twila brings a hand to her mouth, stiffling a sob somehow...
Rick Morgan's free hand curls slightly into a fist, as if
ready to continue right into it and knock on the door right
now...or even kick it in if needbe.
But no...he leaves it at that, standing there for a moment longer, before turning and gently giving Twila's shoulder a small tug. "Come on..." he says softly. "We did what needed to be done...the rest is up to them..."
Twila breathes in sharply, nodding to her twin, knowing that he's indeed right. "He's...he's scarred..." she chokes softly as she steps away from the door.
"I guess he has grounds to be.." Rick admits quietly, guiding Twila away from the house itself, and in the direction of the parked hoverbike once more. "I just hope they aren't going to be stubborn like some...and think that it hasn't got a chance of coming to them." He grits his jaw tightly for a moment. "...because we all know otherwise."
Twila Peterson forces a nod, standing there a few moments before sliding onto the seat of the bike. "Yeah, you---you're right. Can't help but be worried, especially of James and Samantha..."
Rick Morgan lets a long breath loose, and nods, sliding onto the bike as well, as he casts a glance back to the house itself. "Let's just hope that they don't have to find out the hard way that we did in our own different ways..." he muses.
Although in some ways it would perhaps be fitting...by fate's standards. He still wouldn't wish that on anyone...
Twila Peterson snakes her arms around the cyborg's middle to gain her bearing. She dips her chin slowly in answer and snugs him from behind...perhaps as if in a little reassurance. "Let's go home..."
Rick Morgan hmmms, and gives a slow nod, as he powers up the
hoverbike's engines once more. With a gentle curve, he lifts the
craft into the air, spinning it about on the spot and sending it
gently rolling back the way it came, following the streets once
more.
For the longest moment, he says nothing...then finally offers, "You told them Twila...that's what counts." His voice is gentle, though loud enough to be heard over the engine.
After a lengthy intermintent silence, Twila nods in like. "Yeah...I did. I can only hope that he was listening after all...despite apperances," she muses with a sigh. "Guess...I can see why they're somewhat upset with me though. They wanted everything to go on...as if nothing had happened." And she wouldn't let them. Not that she had a true choice in a sense.
"So did we Twila..." Rick offers. "So do alot of people that somehow get involved. You sit there and hope it'll just go away if you don't look at it....but it dosen't go away. It gets worse...and at some point you have to finally admit that it is indeed happening...and things aren't going to be the same. It wasn't your fault that this happened Twila...just like it wasn't your fault with what happened with Enker in the first place."
Twila Peterson lowers her gaze as they make there way out of suburbia. "I...I know. Still, sometimes I cant't help but think it's some of my fault somehow. Just as Rock told me he does..." she states. Pausing for only a moment she then adds, "I...told Rock what had happened last night. That's how he responded." The girl clarifies. "He somehow thinks it's *his* fault that all this happened...because he fell in love and also inducted me into the Hunters."
Rick Morgan sighs, and lets his breath out once more. "What is it with everyone and blaming themselves around here?" He grumps faintly, before seeming to calm himself however. "Look..it's no one's fault around here. What happened, happened. The only ones who are at fault right now and are to blame are those who put you in the situation in the first place! Wily is at fault! Bass is at fault! It's all of them at fault for starting this dang war in the first place!" He then takes a ragged breath...and lets it out, willing himself to calm again.
Twila Peterson swallows again before responding. "Must be...something that's catching," she stutters, tightening her grip a little. "I know what you're saying's the truth. Just...hard to see sometimes I suppose."
"I know..." Rick offers gently again. "I know. But it's the truth, I wouldn't say it unless it was otherwise." He then pushes the accelerator forward a bit more on the hoverbike, roaring out as they rejoin the main highway. "Anyways...let's get home for now. Allright?"
Sometime later, Rick guides the hoverbike into the interior of
Hunter HQ, easily sliding up the ramp in the rooftop runway and
pulling it up alongside the other generic bikes of it's kind. The
type that aren't armed or armored. In short...expendable.
With a slow movement, he slides free from the vehicle's seat, and glances about. "Well we're back..."
Twila Peterson releases her hold that she has on him as he moves to stand up, remaining in there a few moments longer before soon joining him. "That...we are..." she whispers, still troubled by recent events, regardless of how she tries to pat it down. "Thanks for going with me. Not sure if I would have been able to go there on my own."
Rick Morgan offers a small upturn of his mouth, and turns back to face Twila once more, a slow nod being given as well. "Hey...like I said, don't worry about it. It's the least I could think of...I just wish there was alot more I could do actually."
A tiny smile forms as she holds out her arms slightly for him. All she asks is: "Hug?"
Rick Morgan can't help but laugh lightly at that, as he reaches out as well and pulls Twila close into a great big embrace. "You're somethin else, you realize that?" he chuckles.
The girl doesn't respond to him right away. Instead, she holds him as tight as she can, as loveingly as she can. "You realize how many times you've commented on it," her muffled voice somehow sounds, filtred through his folds of clothing. "Thanks for being there. Rick. Dunno...what I would do without you?"
Rick Morgan closes his eyes, smiling faintly, as he raises one hand to gently brush the back of Twila's head...then kiss her crown softly. "The feeling's more than mutual sis...believe me." he returns gently. "More than mutual."