Mega Man and Co. be property of CapCom. Yeh. Like we didn't already know. Lessee...Heidi, and all the other stuff that CapCom didn't come up with is mine. You wanna use some of my stuff in your stories? Well, ASK first! ! ! Thank you. (Y'know the characters referred to obliquely in Chapter 4? They're mine too.)

"Are you insane?" asked Brad, leaning over from his station to peer at Heidi's computer screen. Besides, he had to be close in order to talk over the oldies music playing over her unit's speakers."If one of the supervisors catch you playing with that junk, you're gonna get sacked."

"Nah", said Heidi, "I'm too good to fire." She didn't even look up from her screen. Brad couldn't tell whether she was joking or not, although if she was being serious, she was probably right. She was one of the best programmers they had. Maybe the best.

"Hey." said a new voice, "What'cha doin'?" Brad jumped and Heidi looked behind her. Tanny came up behind them. She looked at Heidi's screen and frowned slightly."Hey, are you allowed to be doing that?" Heidi rolled her eyes and turned back to the computer screen.

"Will you two get off my back? It's just some character sketches, for pity's sake, not classified military secrets." She paused and frowned a moment, then added, "This time." Tanny looked at her. Brad just shook his head and laughed. He was a bit more used to Heidi by now. Tanny was still the "new girl".

"So." said Heidi, "What can we do for you today?" Tanny loved to gossip.

"Well, I was in the ladies room a minute ago, and I was talking to Amy, you know, the security guard? Well, she said that there's a surprise inspection today, and guess who's coming? Doctor Light himself!" Heidi tilted her head back to cock an eyebrow at Tanny.

"You serious? The Dr. Light? The same guy who designed the security and computer systems for this shack?"

"This shack", said Brad, "is the most up-to-date computerized research facility on the planet. Show some respect." He looked up at Tanny."But is it true? Is Dr. Light coming here?" Tammy looked delighted to be passing on the news.

"Yep, it sure is! He should be here in, oh, five minutes or so." Brad suddenly looked nervous. Five minutes??? Heidi was by this time back at her keyboard, looking as though she hadn't even heard. She had, though, Brad knew. She heard just about everything, even when it looked like she wasn't paying attention. Especially when it looked like she wasn't paying attention.

"Okay." he said. "Thanks, Tanny. You had better get back to your work station now."

Tanny nodded and went back across the room. She loved to talk, but she had a paycheck to earn. Brad looked at Heidi. "Heidi. Heidi!" Heidi looked up.

"Yeah?" Brad spoke slowly.

"Did you just hear that Doctor Light is going to be here in less than five minutes?"

"I do seem to remember hearing something about it, yes."

"Good. Get that stuff off your screen! And turn off that damn music!"

Heidi frowned for a second, then shrugged and turned off the damn music. Brad got up and started to look around the room. It was clean, it had to be, because of the computers, but...

"Maybe we should hide away some of this junk."he started to pace around distractedly. "Maybe we should get the posters off the walls. Maybe..."

Heidi spoke up, sounding bored.

"Brad. Sit down. We three highly intelligent and creative people have to spend criminally large amounts of time in here, pulling off our various miracles. I don't think He'll mind the decor." She was still staring at her monitor, which still had her character bios on it. Somehow, however, she still managed to impart a sense of reverence to the reference to Dr. Light. Brad sat down and looked nervous. Heidi imagined if he had to sit there much longer, he'd start to bite his nails. Or go insane and start tearing stuff off the walls.

Mega Man pulled the car smoothly up to the gate. A uniformed guard, a dark-haired female, smiled at him. Her nametag read "Amy Ma".

"Afternoon, sir." The security guard said to Dr, Light. "Good afternoon, Mega Man, Miss." She tilted her hat to Roll, sitting in the back seat. "Hmmm..." she said mock-seriously, "I don't think pets are allowed inside the compound." Rush laid his head down on his paws, looking very depressed. "But I suppose it'll be okay this time." she laughed. Mega Man grinned at her.

"We're here to see Director Clemmins..."he started, but she waved him off.

"Oh, it's okay, sir, we were expecting you. Here's your passcard. You'll need it if you're in any of the restricted areas." Mega Man took the card, and drove through when the guard raised the gate. Amy waved them through. After they had passed, she turned to the tiny computer screen in the guard hut. On it was a single, simple message: He's coming. She had had it prepared, and was just waiting to send it. She clicked on the mouse. She smiled.

Director Clemmins, a big, barrel-chested man was waiting for them when Dr. Light, Mega Man, and Roll entered the lobby, followed by Rush. He shook hands with Doctor Light, but didn't offer his hand to either robot.

"Dr. Light! How good of you to come, sir!" He had a hearty, booming voice.

"I'm glad to be here. I've been wanting a chance to see how my computer systems have been working. No troubles, I hope?"

"No, none at all. In fact, if you'd like, we can go up to the central computer room right now and take a look at how things are doing." Said the Directer heartily. Dr. Light nodded his head.

"That sounds fine." he said. Clemmins led the way to an elevator down a short hallway. Mega Man noticed how the security systems went into standby each time they drew near a monitor or something, and knew it was because of the special passcards the Director and Dr. Light carried, that told the security moniters that that person was permitted into whatever area the card was programmed to allow them into. It was one of many security programs Doctor Light had designed for this compound.

They stepped into the lift, and it began to move silently upwards. Floors flashed by as they neared the top level of the building.

"I think you'll be pleased, Dr. Light." Said the Director. "The computers have been operating at peak efficiency since they came online, and we have three of our best people working with them. And of course, we've had no reason to test the security systems yet!" He laughed, heartily of course, and the other passengers laughed along with him. Their laughter died down as the lift neared the central core, where the supercomputers and their operators worked.

As the elevator doors opened, Director Clemmins and Doctor Light stepped out, followed by Mega Man, Roll, and Rush. Mega Man took two steps in the room and stared around in wonder. He had been here before, stark walls, floor littered with uninstalled equipment.

Now it looked like a comic art gallery. There were posters plastered all over the walls, and a few on the high computer tower. Whoever did all this was a good artist. He was about to say so when a young blonde man, looking very nervous, came up and pumped the Director's, than Dr. Light's hand. He offered his hand to Mega Man and Roll, too.

"Yes, it's an honor to have you here, sir, a positive honor!" The young man kept saying to Dr. Light. He was grinning hugely and almost falling over himself to show the group around. Another blonde, a woman, looking very shy, came up to the group and shook hands, mumbling greetings. She hurried back to the far side of the room after a moment.

"Well, Brad, " the director said, "Why don't you show Dr.Light how the computers have been performing?" Not an expert, he then excused himself and left the room. Brad led the Doctor around, talking about different modifications that had been made, programs that had been run. Mega Man and Roll listened for a while, then wandered around, looking at the computers and the various pictures. Then Mega Man noticed one high on the wall, over one of the computer stations. It showed him and his robotic brother Protoman, standing back to back. Protoman wore his customary cocky grin. He thought it was a pretty good likeness, actually.

"Like it?" A voice asked suddenly. It was only then that Mega Man noticed that there was someone sitting at that terminal. A pretty young woman in khaki and green with long dark hair drawn back into a ponytail like Roll's swiveled around to look at him. She had the palest green eyes he had ever seen. Odd eyes. They were-clouded-like she was was blind or something. Or looking at something no one else could see. She blinked and her eyes cleared slighly, looked almost normal. She motioned up at the picture.

"One of my best."

"Wow, you drew all these?" asked Roll. The girl grinned up at her. She had a pretty cocky grin herself, Mega Man noted. The girl stood and offered her hand. Mega Man, then Roll shook her hand.

"Yeah, "she said, "Name's Heidi Kipler. Welcome to our little corner of 'reality'." Mega Man surveyed the pictures.

"You know, if you're this good, what are you doing here? You should be,"he shrugged,"I don't know, animating cartoons or something."

Heidi looked thoughtful.

"Well, I've been told I'm here because of my singular talent and genius, but personally I think it's because of my charming and charismatic personality. Or, it could be because the Director has a chrush on me." Mega Man looked hard at the girl, but she appeared dead serious. Brad choose that moment to lead Doctor Light up to the little group. He appeared to have calmed down somewhat.

"Dr. Light, this is Heidi. She's the best computer programmer we have. She's the resident artist, too." They shook hands(My, what a polite bunch.). Heidi smiled at the doctor.

"Dr. Light, how nice. And you look so much younger than your pictures, too." The blonde woman on the other side of the room, who had been listening all this time, giggled. Brad frowned at Heidi, but didn't say anything. Mega Man almost laughed. Doctor Light looked flattered. Heidi smiled brightly at Brad. Then she looked at Mega Man. "So, you wanna see the system?"

"Sure." Mega said, "Why not?" Heidi went back to her station and slid into her chair. Mega Man walked over.

"Hey, wanna scramble some jets over the Pentagon?" Mega Man looked at her. She laughed at his expression. Brad rolled his eyes, and continued talking with Dr. Light about heavy-duty computer stuff. He looked awed just to actually be talking to Dr. Light. Christ, thought Heidi, Don'cha love hero-worship? Ah, well...She shrugged mentally, and turned her head towards Mega Man. ...Well, at least I get to have some fun...

"So, when do I get to have some fun?"

"Patience, Proto my boy," Doctor Wily said. He was busy pecking away at the computer, trying to override the research compound's security system. So far, he hadn't had much luck. Protoman snickered as Wily winced and muttered yet another German obscenity. Wily shot him a Look and turned back to his screen.

"A few minutes more and I vill have it. And get your big feet off the dashboard." Proto took his feet off the dash, and the moment Wily got engrossed in his computer again, swung his legs back up. He didn't want to be here, with nothing to do but stare out the window and listen to Wily showing off his vocabulary. He wanted to be down there doing something, preferably busting some heads...like Mega Man's. He had sat up straighter and payed attention for the first time that day when he had seen his little brother drive up to the compound's front gate, and Wily had forbidden him to go say "Hello." Protoman was angry. Protoman was frustrated. Protoman was...incredibly bored.

Suddenly the computer made a cheery little beeping noise and Wily looked happier than he had all day.

"There! I've managed to shut down the defenses! They are completely open to attack!" He looked over at Proto. "Get ready for battle. And get your damn feet off the dashboard!"

"Get your feet off the fax!"

"Get your head out of your-oh, sorry, Roll."

"Would you grow up?"

"Make me."

"Heidi!"

"Brad."

"GUYS!" That was Tanny. By now Brad had gotten used-almost-to having Dr. Light around, and had gone back to his station. Dr. Light had gone to talk to Tanny when Brad and Heidi had gotten into another one of their little discussions. "Sorry, Dr. Light, Mega Man, Roll. They do this a couple of times a day. They'd go crazy if they didn't."

"Are you sure they already haven't?" asked Roll. Tanny laughed. Brad shot the two of them a dirty look. Heidi, completely serene, was showing Mega some of her character sketches.

"So this girl's older sister is her enemy, right?" Mega Man asked. Heidi nodded.

"Yeah. Sibling rivalry. Fun stuff. They generally fight each other every few thousand years or so, or whenever the younger one's reincarnated."

"Reincarnated?" Mega Man repeated.

"Yeah, reincarnated. Reborn. Why, don't you believe in reincarnation?"

Mega frowned. No one had really asked him about what he believed before. He thought about it for a few minutes.

"Well..."

"Hey, what the-" Heidi interrupted, swinging her legs down as an alarm beeped on her computer. She closed her bios out and started typing commands into the computer. Dr. Light walked over.

"What's going on?"

"Something's gone wrong with the security system." Heidi answered, still typing commands.

She frowned at the screen.

"Strange-the moniters aren't reporting anything."

"Is your program scr-uh, malfunctioning, by any chance?" Brad asked. Heidi took the time to shoot him a dirty look.

"My programs do not malfunction. Obviously, the moniters are wrong."

Dr. Light came up and looked at Heidi's screen. "What program? And what is wrong with my moniters?" Brad answered for Heidi.

"Uh...Heidi designed a program that would alert her if something went wrong with the security system, if there were any anomalies, they would be reported to her." He didn't say anything about the moniters.

"Or, if someone tries to hack the system." Heidi said. She typed something, and suddenly her screen was full of images. "Look." Mega Man leaned in towards her screen. They were showing different areas inside and outside of the compound. Security cameras, Mega Man realized. And they were showing...nothing.

"What...?" started Roll. Then, suddenly, the pictures almost blanked out, then reconstituted themselves. But they had changed. Mega Man stared at them in shock. They were showing Robot Masters, lead by Protoman, attacking the compound! And it didn't look like they were meeting a whole lot of resistance.

"You see?" Heidi nodded at the screen. "This is what's wrong with young people today..."

High above the ground, giant automated gun turrets sat in special compartments, waiting for a signal from the compound's security system to begin firing at any intruders. Outside, huge mallet-type devices were also dormant, awaiting the same signal. But since the system was down, no signal came. Protoman laughed as the blast from his arm cannon tore through one dead security measure after another. This was too easy. All around him, the different Robot Masters were also enjoying themselves, tearing apart the defences. There was no resistance from the compound. Then, a plasma bolt etched a deep line less than a foot form Proto's feet. He looked up.

Finally. It was his brother, playing hero again. Perfect.

Mega Man leapt off Rush and faced Protoman. His left arm was held ready at his side, his right on his hip.

"Morning, Mega Man." Protoman greeted him. "And what can we do to you today?"

"Well, you could always save me some time and surrender." said Mega Man drily. "Unless you'd rather get trashed--again."

"I've got a better idea," said Protoman, "How 'bout if me and my friends blast you into little pieces and save Wily some time?" Mega Man looked around him. Robot Masters were forming a ring around him. If he didn't do something soon, he wouldn't have a chance. Hmmm...maybe this wasn't such a hot idea after all...

"Heidi, could you possibly go any faster?" Brad's voice was tense. Heidi didn't even look up, she was typing commands into the computer, trying to repair the damage Wily had done to the security system. Brad was watching her, while the others were watching the monitor screen which showed the battle outside. It didn't look too good. Mega Man was outnumbered and had his hands full keeping the Robot Masters away from the compound. Roll was fuming because she had been told by Mega Man to stay inside, and he had been backed up by Doctor Light. I bet if I were out there, I could be a lot of help. The nerve of that Mega Man, telling me to stay inside-where it's safe. Just because I'm a girl...

"That ought to do it." Heidi looked relieved. She and Brad turned to the screen.

"But--nothing's happening!" Roll exclaimed. Heidi blinked.

"Uh-oh." she said.

"Damn!" Mega Man narrowly avoided a Rolling Cutter and sent a quick shot towards Cut Man. This was not going well. The Robot Masters were throwing everything they had at him, and he was holding his own, but he was stuck in a relatively small area. The Masters had managed to keep him in the middle of a large, rough circle, and Protoman was prowling outside, clipping him whenever he got to the edge of the ring. Mega Man was getting low on energy, and on ideas. Now what am I supposed to do? he wondered. Maybe I should have let Roll come after all. Suddenly, Guts Man rushed him from the side, and Mega Man ducked just in time. Guts Man literally flew overhead, and smashed into one of the few remaining defense towers. As Guts Man climbed woozily to his feet, an electrical current ran up the side of the tower. All eyes followed as the current sparked and snapped around the machine.

"There." Heidi nodded at the screen in satisfaction. "I knew it. The Contact mechanism. All it needed was a little time."

The current died away, and for a moment everybody held their breaths, waiting. Then, a giant 'mallet' device shot out of the tower and smashed down on Guts Man. Luckily-for him anyway-the defenses were not at full power, or he would have been a flat little mass of Guts. As it was, the damaged systems had been dramatically slowed, and their effenciency and strength was way down.

Not that it mattered. Left and right, mallets were smashing down on Robot Masters, taking their attention completely away from Mega Man and centering it on saving their own lives. The gun turrets became active as well, and started merrily blasting away. Protoman dodged a blast and looked up to see Mega Man just standing there, watching and laughing as the Robot Master ran frantically around, trying to avoid the defense systems. But why weren't the defenses targeting him, too? Then Proto noticed the little pastic slip hanging on a cord around Mega Man's neck. A passcard. So that's how he'd been avoiding the systems!

Mega Man was enjoying the spectacle of the panicked Robot Masters running around, being smashed into little bitty bits by the defense mechanisms. Then he half-turned as he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He whirled, and the next moment went down as Protoman tackled him around the middle. With the two of them so close together, the defenses couldn't target just one without endangering the other, so it ignored them both.

The two fought hand-to-hand, wrestling on the ground. They were very evenly matched, so niether could get the upper hand on the other. Protoman was doing his best to get the passcard away from Mega Man, and Mega Man was of course trying to hold onto it while defending himself from his brother.

"Oh, no! We have to help him!" Roll wailed. If Protoman got the passcard away from Mega Man, then he would be able to pass through the compound-get to the core-unmolested. Not to mention the fact that the defense systems would be targeting Mega Man along with the robot Masters. Heidi was back at her station computer. She called up a targeting screen. Finally Brad noticed what she was doing.

"Um, Heidi?" She ignored him. The targeting lock was at Max Res. She was trying to manually target Proto with one of the smaller guns, he'd bet. The lock went from green to red as it zeroed in on Protoman. He was half-standing over Mega Man, who was lying on the ground. He looked like he was about to smash his fist down into Mega's face. Heidi pressed the trigger button.

A searing pain tore through Protoman's chest as the burning ray smashed into him. He flew backwards and slammed into the ground. He looked up at the sky dizzily, only half-concious. Ow...Hey. How come I'm not dead yet?

"Ow. That had to hurt." said Brad, staring wide-eyed at the screen. "Hey, how come he's not dead yet?" Heidi went back to trying to get the security systems up to full power.

"I didn't think it was neccessary," she said," to waste the energy, I mean." Brad just looked at her for a second.

"Yeah, okay." his voice was quiet, but Heidi picked up on the irony in it.

Outside the compound, Mega Man pulled himself to his feet. He started towards Protoman, who hadn't moved since the blast had knocked him off his feet. How badly is he hurt? Mega Man wondered. In spite of himself, he was concerned. Protoman might be evil, but he's still my brother...He stopped when he saw Protoman move.

"Ow." Mega took a step forward.

"Proto? You okay?"

"That hurt." Protoman got to his hands and knees and tried to stand up. "When I get my hands on whoever fired that cannon..." He finally made it up and gingerly rubbed at his injured chest. "Gee, how nice-no holes." he said sarcastically. He reached up and straightened his scarf.

"Well then, shall we try it again?" Mega Man said. Proto looked at him.

"Try what again?"

Mega Man smiled. "Try beating the life out of each other." he lifted his arm cannon and trained it on Protoman. "I wouldn't-there's no way I could miss you from here." Protoman held out his hands, palms outward,as though to ward him off.

"Hey, brother, there's no need to get like that." Protoman suddenly realized that, damaged as he was, between Mega Man and the newly restored defense systems, he had very little chance of surviving another fight, much less winning it. Uh-oh...

"Why's he waiting?" Roll wondered aloud.

"Uhh...basic respect for life?"

"Shut up, Heidi." She ignored Brad, smiling slightly.

"Well, it doesn't matter why he's waiting, as long as he waits a few more minutes." The defense systems were nearly back up to full power, the outside influence almost thrown off. A few more minutes...and...

"Hey, look!" yelled Roll, pointing. The Skulker had finally shown up and was picking up what was left of the Robot Masters while trying not to be blasted by the large cannons or smashed by a mallet. Heidi stared at the Skulker.

"You know, I would really love to drive that thing."

"You'd probably crash it." said Brad.

Mega Man started as the Skulker appeared overhead. A couple of Wily robot recoverers were released and flew down towards them. Actually, they were headed for Protoman. He shot them down-he wanted to save Protoman, and get him back to Dr. Light- but in the next instant, more were released and this time, there were too many of them. A group of them kept him busy while a few more picked up Protoman and flew him towards the Skulker. As soon as he was inside, what was left of the group distracting Mega Man took off as well. Mega Man watched as the Skulker disappeared into the distance.

"Damn." he said.

"Hey, good work, hero." Heidi said as Mega Man walked into the room. She wasn't trying to be sarcastic, she looked like she meant it. Dr. Light rushed over, Roll right behind.

"Mega Man! Are you alright? Is anything damaged?" he waved off the Doctor.

"No, Dr. Light, I'm fine." he winced suddenly and rubbed his shoulder. He laughed. "Well, almost fine." Dr. Light immediately went to check him out. Mega Man rolled his eyes playfully at Roll and let the Doctor do...whatever it is Doctors do (What!? I look like a surgeon to you!?). Roll watched him for a moment.

"You know. if I had been out there with you, I bet I could've helped." Mega Man sighed.

"Look, Roll, can we not start that again?" Heidi suddenly spun around and knelt on her chair.

"You know, she has a point." Roll smiled at her. Mega Man looked surprised.

Heidi looked at Roll curiously. "How come you got stuck in here anyway?"

"Because I'm a girl." Roll said sourly. Dr. Light peeped up from behind Mega Man's back.

"That's not true, Roll. You were just not built to fight. It's dangerous." Roll looked like she was going to say something, but Heidi beat her to it.

"Yes, it's dangerous. But from what I remember, he"--she indicated Mega Man--"was not originally built to fight, either." Dr. Light, finished, walked back around Mega Man, wiping his hands together.

"True, but he was rebuilt as a fighter." Heidi just looked at him. Her eyes-odd enough normally-bacame strangely clouded again. She looked right through him.

"Okay," she said. "Then why didn't you rebuild Roll too?"

Dr. Light was floored. No one had ever asked him that question before-not even Roll. He opened his mouth to answer, shut it again and thought about it.

"You know, I haven't the faintest idea." Roll stared at him. Mega Man stared at Heidi.

"Well, it just makes sense." Heidi said practically. Her eyes had returned to normal-for her, anyway. "After all, there are a lot of Robot Masters, and Protoman, and whatever else Wily has thrown at Mega Man. It would make sense that two people fighting would be more effective than just one." She had a point, but Mega Man looked insulted.

"You know, I handle things fine on my own," he said stiffly. Heidi blinked at him. Those eyes were really starting to creep him out.

"I don't mean to slight you, Mega Man. But haven't you ever wished that there was someone who could help you out-and I don't mean by cleaning up your messes-once in a while?"

Mega Man thought about it for a minute. She did have a point. But still...

"Oh, well." Heidi shrugged and spun back around. "I guess it's really none of my buisness. Do as you like."

"Well, thank you." said Dr. Light, sounding a bit surprised. Mega Man looked at Roll, who was looking thoughtful. He groaned mentally. Great...now she's never gonna shut up...

A short time later, Mega Man, Dr. Light, Roll, and Rush were in the car again, pulling out of the compound's parking lot. They passed the now-empty guardhouse-Amy had been inside with the other guards, protecting it, seeing as they were not a whole lot of help against the Robot Masters-and headed back to the lab.

"So, Dr. Light...did you enjoy the tour?" said Mega Man.

"Immensely." said the Doctor drily. "Interesting people."

"Heidi-yeah. Strange girl."

"I liked her." said Roll. "She understands me." Mega Man rolled his eyes and changed the subject."You know, I just can't help but wonder what Wily wanted, attacking the compound like that." Dr. Light reached over to pat his shoulder.

"Well, it doesn't matter, Mega Man. You put a stop to it, and that's all that matters."

"Yeah, but I can't help feeling like it's not over, not yet." No one could think of anything to say. They drove off-quite appropriately-into the sunset.