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jolienjoyswriting · 4 years

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Electrical Disturbance, Ch. III

Chapter 3 of "Electrical Disturbance," a Rockman (Dr. Chou Numbers universe) fan fiction story. Random trivia: The first page of this chapter was originally the last page of Chapter 2. Then, I went and revised things. 'tis for the better, n'yes.

I have to confess something. This story wasn't originally meant to go in this direction. Actually, it was going to be a nice, calm, boring story about Joseph and Kaitlin chillin' out at his house which would, eventually, lead to them getting cozy. However, I got a sudden spark of inspiration while writing Chapter 1, which led to the events of Chapter 2. Then, while writing this chapter… well… another unexpected thing happened and I rolled with it. Actually, I think most of this story ended up being spontaneous, knee-jerk choices, ha hah~

Word count: 4,335 – Character count: 24,994 Originally written: July 18th, 2020

After her less-than-successful battle, Kaitlin finds herself wondering just who she really is…

Thomas Right, Roll, Elecman, “Rockman,” and related characters and concepts created by various people and © Capcom Co, Ltd. "Dr. Chou Numbers" concept and related characters and concepts created by and © Jussy Kaitlin/Thundergirl created by and © KaitlinEXE

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“I shouldn’t’ve held back… What kind’a hero holds back in a crisis…?” “One that deeply cares about their friends, Thundergirl.”

After fulfilling Elecman’s request, Kaitlin called Roll and had her teleport the two of them back to Right Labs – though, outside the main building, since they were both a bit waterlogged. Once they were dried-and-drained, Kaitlin brought Elecman into the main lab where Dr. Thomas Right – the world’s leading roboticist and all-around nice guy – was waiting.

“I should’a went full-force!” she scolded herself after hearing the doctor’s comments. “I should’a just called down the thunder ‘n–” “It’s good that you didn’t. Elecman is in a rather fragile state…” “What–?!” The girl hopped off a workbench where she was sitting and practically ran over to the doctor. There, he showed her the damage…

“Wha– what happened?” Her hands came over her mouth. “I didn’t do that… did I?!” “No.” Dr. Right shook his head. “I believe Elecman put up a fight before Albert was able to reprogram him. It looks as though Albert neglected to repair him after that scrap…” “I-is he gonna be alright?!” “Calm yourself, Thundergirl…” The man smiled as he stroked his beard. “His body can be repaired and, according to initial scans, his original programming and memories are intact.” “O-oh… Oh, good…” After hearing that, Kaitlin finally let herself settle down. As she slowly walked back to the other table, she heard the good doctor continue.

“Once he’s stable,” he said, “I’ll take a look at you – with your permission, of course.” “I feel fine! Surprisingly…” The girl-hero rubbed the back of her head, thinking it over. “Actually, yeah. He prob’ly burnt out a circuit. Or, knocked something loose…” The girl quietly clutched her side, remembering when he kicked the crap out of her. “Man… Elecman sure got mean when he was mad at me! Ow…” “Albert’s viral code removes an android’s inhibitions, opening them to new possibilities,” Dr. Right explained. “Part of Elecman’s core personality is egotism and indulgence. You said that you had made him mad, yes?” The girl nervously laughed. “A little…” “I imagine that by angering him, you damaged his ego. In his virus-warped mind, the only way to save face was by… well…” “Kickin’ and shockin’ me almost t’ death?” Kaitlin asked with a grin. “Under normal circumstances, he is much more reserved,” Right continued as he started the repair process. “You must have significantly embarrassed him.” “I prob’ly just annoyed him,” she confessed. “I got a little cocky…” “Mm.” The girl tilted her head. It seemed like Dr. Right didn’t have anything to say to that. “Hey, I’m gonna head out, okay?” When he failed to offer a reply to that… she shrugged and simply left without a word. He’ll call me back when he’s done fixin’ Elecman… Prob’ly.

The heroic robot girl walked into the living room of the Right Labs compound, that afternoon, her hands behind her head and eyes pointed at the ceiling. She was a little lost-in-thought, trying to figure out where the fight with Elecman went wrong.

Okay, so. I got teleported in at the base’a the dam. Prob’ly should’a called that in. Had’a fight off all the small fries on th’ way up, so I was worn out when I got there… Then, I decided not t’ use my full strength when I fought Elecman ‘cause… ‘cause, he’s cool. She very-faintly blushed, the corner of her mouth twitching. Maaan… the only one who got embarrassed in that fight was me…! “Kaitlin? Kaitlin!” “Huh?” Kaitlin turned her head, then blinked. “Oh. Hey, Roll.” Standing behind her was the blond-haired girl she was mimicking earlier that day. Of course, she was wearing her new favorite outfit – the hoodie-dress with funky shoe-boots – rather than her plain, red dress… which only reinforced Kaitlin’s opinion that she’d made a mistake on what to wear for her surprise visit to her boyfriend. “Sheesh… Today’s just not my day…”

“Aww, I’m sorry to hear that, Kaitlin…” The brunette smiled as Roll softly hugged her from behind. “Eh, live-and-learn,” she said, giving Roll’s arm a little squeeze. “If I ever get into a fight with Elecman, again, I’ll kick his a– butt and not the other way ‘round!” “He kicked your butt?” Roll stepped back, blinking. “But… I thought you won…?” “It was… kind of a draw? Actually…” Kaitlin turned around. Next, she brought a hand up, pushing a button on her visor. It withdrew from sight. Finally turned to face Roll, directly. “It was more like ‘victory but forfeit.’” The other girl grinned, putting her hands on her hips. “You made him give up, huh?” “No-no-no…” Kaitlin waved her hands. “Elecman gave up all on his own.” “I’m not sure I understand…” Roll smiled. “Tell me about it? I’ll make us some tea!” “Can I get a cocoa, instead?” “Sure!”

The two shared a smile, then Kaitlin followed Roll into the kitchen. There, she told her blond friend all the details of how she fought Elecman to a standstill… which is to say, how she humiliated herself by show-boating and holding back, then dumped them both in the Hoover Dam reservoir where neither of them could hurt anyone, much less each other.

“Wow…” By the end of the story, Roll was frowning right alongside Kaitlin. The girl-hero was simply disappointed in herself. The housekeeper, however… “You did what you thought was right and there’s nothing wrong with that!” She just couldn’t help but support her friend’s decisions.

“Elecman almost blew up the dam and took us both out for good, Roll!” Kaitlin exclaimed with a scowl. “All because I didn’t take the fight seriously!” “It’s okay!” Roll brightly smiled as she said, “You were trying to save Elecman, not destroy him! I’m sure if you were an evil Wily ‘bot and he had to fight you, he’d do the same!” Kaitlin… nervously laughed at the idea. Oh, if you only knew, Roll… “No, Roll,” the brunette said. “I didn’t take the fight seriously because I’m a dumb kid who thought she could bat her eyelashes and sass-talk her enemy into giving up…” “You say that like it’s a bad thing…” Roll chuckled. “And… when I couldn’t persuade him to stop being bad, I still didn’t wanna hurt him!” “You say that like it’s a bad thing!” “But, oh. But, oh. Little did I realize that Elecman wanted to hurt me!” “He was under Wily’s control, though!” “Exactly!”

Kaitlin banged her fist against the table, startling Roll. When the cheerful girl looked up, the woeful one looked away in shame. “Sorry…” she whispered. “I know ya don’t like rowdy behavior in the house.” “It’s okay, Kaitlin…” Roll rose, then she put her hands over Kaitlin’s and offered a compassionate smile. “I know how you feel!” “Heh. I kind’a doubt it, but I appreciate the vote’a confidence.” Kaitlin took a sip of her cocoa… before she caught sight of something that made her stare. Roll’s green eyes were locked onto hers… and they were full of sadness.

“Did… you do somethin’ with your eyes?” Kaitlin asked, casually looking away. “Didn’t they used t’ be blue?” “I had a toggle installed…” Roll sniffled after her reply. Then, after rubbing her face, she cleared her throat. “Kaitlin… Every time Rock goes out there to fight bad-guys, he has to go through the exact same things you did, today.” “I’m sure he does…” “Kaitlin!” The girl-hero nearly snorted her cocoa in surprise. When she looked back over at Roll, the girl was glaring at her with weepy eyes.

“Rock never-ever wants to hurt anyone! Every Robot Master he fights could be a friend! Some of them even are friends…! He tries and he tries, begging… pleading them not to fight… not to do bad things… but every single time he fights one… it always ends the same way…” Roll brought her hands up, locking her fingers together over her chest in silent prayer. “Every time Wily tries to conquer the world, Rock comes home a mess! He doesn’t know what to do with himself… He wants to be angry, or he wants to curl up in a ball, or he wants to cry, but he can’t!” “Is it ‘cause he wasn’t built with that ability?” Kaitlin half-heartedly joked. The other girl flinched as Roll brought her hands down onto the table, making it rattle. “It’s because Rock is a hero, and heroes don’t cry, Kaitlin!

“Heroes like Rock can’t show any kind of weakness – especially not in front of the bad-guys… Rock has to keep moving forward when he really wants to run away! Rock has to keep a stiff-upper-lip when he really wants to cry! Rock has to… has to blast robots when all he really wants to do is make them happy! Rock believes there’s goodness… kindness… in everyone – even that jerk, Doctor Wily! I’m not so sure, myself… but I believe in Rock! So… so, if Rock believes that humans and robots can be friends and live in peace… so do I! And… and if you don’t understand that, then… well… I feel sorry for you!!” Kaitlin blinked a couple of times and Roll suddenly stormed out of the kitchen. She didn’t know if her friend was disappointed or simply disgusted with her… but either way, she was feeling even lower than before. I knew Rock had it hard… she thought as she sipped her cocoa, but I had no idea he had it that hard… She paused, considering something… I wonder if a hug from two girls would make his day better? Actually… She chuckled, then. I could use a hug, myself… Kaitlin finished her cocoa all alone, then. In her mind… it was probably better that way. I can never be a hero like Rockman…

Sometime after her conversation with Roll, Dr. Right called the hero back into the lab. “I have good news,” he said as she walked in and walked over. “Did Wily decide to pack it up and head home?” Kaitlin asked as a joke. “No, but I like your optimism.” She blushed a little as the doctor patted her head. It felt kind of patronizing, but she knew that was just how he was. “Actually, the good news has to do with Elecman!” She perked. “What about Elecman?” “Yes, Doctor. What about Elecman?” Kaitlin blinked at the new voice, then turned to meet it. All-at-once, her face lit up. Standing right there, good-as-new, was… “E-Elecman!!”

Before she could stop herself, she practically leaped at the robot, giving him a big hug around the shoulders. Elecman awkwardly returned the hug… at least somewhat. Then… “Um… thank you. Can you, um, let go, now? Please?” When she realized what she was doing… she practically leaped right back off. “I-I’m so sorry!” she apologized, covering her mouth and blushing. Then, after a moment more… she turned morose and repeated, “I’m so sorry…” “I’m not entirely sure what all has transpired while I was under the effects of Wily’s heinous reprogramming,” Elecman said with a confused look, “but… perhaps I should be the one apologizing to you?” “What?” Kaitlin blinked, again, as Elecman knelt and took her gloved hand into his. “I regret making such a lovely young lady worry about my well-being. And… I am filled with the deepest sorrow, knowing that I was forced to engage her in mortal combat, and it greatly bothers me to think that I could have turned your sunny smile into a frightful frown…”

As Elecman stood back up, Kaitlin covered her mouth with her free hand, her face… a rather noticeable shade of crimson. She was pretty thankful Elecman didn’t try and kiss her hand, otherwise… she might’ve popped like an overheated thermometer! It was more-than-enough that he was on bent knee, saying such sweet things and apologizing! When he smiled, afterward… she was pretty sure she felt her heart skip a beat. Say something… say something cool, stupid!! she internally shouted at herself. But, when she moved her hand and opened her mouth… “Fwah… guh… bwah…?” Nothing coherent came out. “Indeed.” It got a quiet chuckle out of Elecman… Dammit…! Which made her completely hide her face with both hands. She felt so embarrassed…

“Doctor Right.” The masked robot turned his attention to the doctor. “Thank you for repairing me. I will try and use less flashy tactics when engaging the forces of the nefarious Doctor Wily, next time.” “I’m just relieved the damage wasn’t more extensive!” The doctor smiled. “Between your fight with Albert’s forces and your skirmish with Thundergirl–” The girl nervously squeaked upon hearing her name. “– I think you have more-than-earned a rest.” “Is Wily’s operation still ongoing?” “Yes, but–” “Then, I have further work to do.” Dr. Right frowned… only to nod. “Roll will send you where you’re needed…” he said with a mix of understanding and regret. “Please, do be careful…” “I’ll buy an Energy Can from Rightot before I go, Doctor.” That brought some small relief to the elderly man’s face. “Oh! Before I depart, I should like to make one small request, if I may?” “What is it?” Elecman smiled, looking over his shoulder. Kaitlin, who was peeking out from between her fingers at him, immediately hid her face, again. “I want you to give my biggest fan the utmost of care,” he said, casually strolling away. “When all this is over… I want to see her bright, smiling face light up the night sky, once more.” Kaitlin made a weird, croaky kind of noise… Her heart was racing, her head was steaming, and in a way, she actually kind of felt… embarrassed, too. Elecman was laying it on super-thick. Was he always like that…? She kind of liked the attention, but wow… was it a lot. “I’ll give her as much attention as she requires,” Dr. Right chuckled. “I promise.” “Excellent. And, upon my glorious return… I shall give her the attention she deserves!” He looked back at the Kaitlin one last time and smiled, smiling as she squeaked, again. “Adieu! Adieu. ‘til next we meet, my lovely heroine! Fare thee well!” As much as Kaitlin liked hearing her favorite Robot Master shower her with praise… she was kind of thankful he’d left when he did. She was pretty sure one more compliment would’ve pushed her over the edge and made her faint. That wouldn’t have been very heroic…

“This should be a fairly standard process,” the doctor said after she’d had time to calm herself. “Lie down on the examination table, please, and I’ll run some scans on your chassis.” “O–” she squeaked, still feeling a little overcome. “O-okay…!” The white-haired man waited for Kaitlin to lay back and get into position. Once she was ready, he plugged her into his computer and began the tests…

“Mm-hmm… mm-hmm… Your core temperature is a little high – though… Elecman tends to have that effect on robots he likes.” She blushed and looked away, really wishing the doctor hadn’t acknowledged that… “Internal systems look… oh. Oh, dear.” “Wh– what?” “It seems that… Elecman has caused you some serious harm…” She knew what he meant, but felt a little flustered, again. “Most of your primary systems are offline and almost all of your backup systems are active and running at maximum capacity. Thundergirl, if I might ask… just what happened?” “You don’t wanna know,” she dismissively told him, not wanting to repeat her story. “This is quite important.” He turned toward her with a smile. “As your doctor, it’s sometimes necessary to know this sort of information to properly diagnose–” “Ugh, fine! If you need it…”

“Oh, dear… I see…” By the time Kaitlin was done regaling the doctor with how Elecman kicked her butt… and back, sides, head… and practically fried her like overcooked bacon… he was shaking his head and making a lot of tongue-clicking noises. “Tell me, Thundergirl… do you feel any abnormalities?” “Well, no…” she answered. “I feel a little slower than usual, but otherwise…?” “Given that you’re running on backup systems… secondary and tertiary, in some cases…” he quietly added, “that’s to be expected. What about your memory functions?” “I guess my brain’s in workin’ order? But… how would I know it’s not? I am an amnesiac, after all,” she told him with a chuckle. “That is… a fair point. Yeesss… yes, now that I think of it, you declined a backup of your vital data the last time you were here. I have nothing to compare your current memory to…” “Honestly, all I care about is gettin’ patched-up so I can try my luck with some other Robot Master… who isn’t Elecman…” the girl muttered in addendum. “The repairs to your primary systems could take quite some time…” “Wha’?” She sat up, looking at the doctor. “How long’s ‘quite some time?’” He stroked his beard, thinking about it. “No less than five days, I would say… And, that’s only if I don’t find anything else.” “Hrrnnn…” The girl flopped back and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to be out-of-commission for five minutes, much less five days! But, the doctor seemed really worried about her, so… “Alright,” she sighed. “Put me under and pop me open. I guess.” “Are you certain?” “Yup,” she said with a nod. “Do it to it, Doc!” “Okay…” He took a deep breath. “I shall revive you once it’s all over…” –––––

“– dergirl? Thundergirl? Are you activated?” “What…? Yeah, yeah, I’m awake… “Good, good… I–” “One thing. Who’s talkin’ at me? Also… where am I?” “Oh. Oh, dear… I was afraid of this…”

Kaitlin groaned, rubbing her eyes before blinking them. She sat up, then, and looked around. As far as she could tell… she wasn’t anywhere she’d usually be. Which was to say… it didn’t look like any of the rooms inside Wily Castle. The voice that spoke also didn’t sound like Dr. Wily or any of his robots… Actually, it kind of sounded like… “Doctor Right! Is Kaitlin okay?”

The girl blinked, again, before she found her focus. Standing off to one side of the room was a man of below-average height and above-average facial hair. He kind of looked like Santa Claus… except smaller and rounder. He also wore a lot more white than Santa does, she noted. “Doctor… Right…?” she called. “Welcome back, Kaitlin!” She looked to the doctor’s side and noticed a smaller form smiling up at her. The figure was, presumably, female, if the long, blond hair and girly, red hoodie-dress was any indication. She was probably a younger girl, too, considering the lack of curves. As she looked closer, though, she slowly recalled… “Hey… aren’t you Roll?” “Well, yeah! Did you forget?” When the blond girl giggled, the other android narrowed her eyes. “And, you’re… Dr. Right?” she said, focusing on the first figure. “Dr. Thomas Right…?” “That’s right…” he said with a nod. “I am Thomas Right.” “You’re Roll… and you’re Right…” Roll tilted her head. Dr. Right had looked away… “If you’re Roll and you’re Right… then… I’m outta here!!”

Before either party could react, Kaitlin jumped up and made a bolt for the door! Just as she thought she was home-free, though… “Goodness! Where are you off to in such a hurry?” She was stopped by a taller figure in a black body-suit and angular, yellow mask. “Oh, sh– you’re… you’re…!” The girl paused, blinking. “Er… which one are you, again?” “Who am I?” The figure scoffed. “I, the thunderous Elecman, found the time to come to visit my number one fan, Thundergirl, after her repairs… only for her to toss me aside like a burnt-out fuse! Hmph! How very ungrateful…!” “Elecman,” the doctor called, “Thundergirl is going through some–” “Why do you keep calling me– oh, never mind… Outta the way, big-boots!” “Hey!!” Elecman narrowed his eyes as Kaitlin barged by him. “You ungrateful, rude…” “Stop her!” “‘Stop her?’” The man-in-black blinked, then he spun around. “Um… stop?” Of course… Kaitlin was already long-gone from the area, by then.

“Okay… okay…”

The brown-haired girl ran through unfamiliar hallways, scared-and-confused, desperately trying to find a door that led outside. As she scouted, she also thought out loud.

“I’m lost… I dunno where I am… I’m not sure where I’m not… and… and…” She slowed, stopped, then backpedaled after passing a big mirror. “I’m wearin’ somethin’ way weird. What the heck is this stuff?”

The girl looking back at her didn’t look like one she recognized. Rather than the expected denim dress and lavender T-shirt, she was wearing what looked like big, clunky, yellow boots and black yoga pants – not unlike that funny-talking guy’s – a purple chest-piece with a red collar and shoulder “wings,” matching sleeves that ended in gold cuffs, thick, red-metal bracelets and fingerless gloves, a pair of white ear-pieces, and a purple beret. The chest-piece and beret both had a little lightning bolt on them, she also noticed.

“Is this… battle armor? What… why am I wearin’ battle armor? Where’s my dress…?” She put a finger to one earpiece, flinched, yanked it off, then touched her bare ear. “Dress, dress, dress… Huh, I don’t remember this outfit… what is– waaah!!” A light engulfed the girl and, just like that, her outfit was replaced by something a bit more casual.

“Th-this isn’t my dress, either… but it does look pretty snazzy!” She posed, fanning one arm and the opposite leg out as she admired herself. Rather than her expected dress, she wore a long-sleeved, pink T-shirt under a purple mini-hoodie with gold trim, a pair of black shorts, and white socks with two blue stripes near the top, and comfy, yellow sneakers with white energy ports on the sides. “I guess Papa Wily upgraded me in my sleep…” She giggled a little. “He let me keep my sneaks, too! Anyway, let’s see… Dress, dress, dress– ah! Here it is!”

Once again, she was bathed in light. When it faded, though… “Waaaaah…?!” She was horrified by what she saw!

“Wh… why do I have this outfit?!” she asked her reflection as if expecting an answer. The new outfit on her body was an exact duplicate of that housekeeping robot’s usual, red dress, complete with matching metal Mary-Janes. “W-well… at least I don’t have that dorky bow in my hair… b-but, wah!” She shook her head. “This is terrible! Red is not my color!” One more spin through her internal Quick-Change Module’s menu and she was back in the hoodie and shorts. “This’ll have t’ do ‘til I can get back home to Wily Castle… Oh, gosh, Dad’s gonna be so mad at me… I–” “I found her!!” “What?! Oh, no!!”

Kaitlin looked to her left. While she’d spent all that time changing, Roll had found her. She was quick to resume fleeing… though at a significantly higher speed than before, somehow! “Wow…!” She beamed as her feet carried her faster than she expected. “I guess Papa Wily did give me an upgrade! I feel light-as-a-feather! Speedy-as-a-hawk! Quick-as-a-lick! Or… something like that. Try ‘n catch me now, Right ‘bot!” She turned her head, putting her thumb to her nose and razzing the blond-haired girl as she gave chase. When Kaitlin turned back, she went wide-eyed… “Wuh-oh!” The guy in the black suit was in her way.

“Come to me, my dear ingrate!” he said with a harsh grin. “Let us return you to the doctor!” “You want me?” She smirked. ��Gotta catch me, first!” Without really knowing why, she hit the deck, dropping onto her back. Strangely enough… ports on her feet flipped open at that exact moment, shooting out a burst of air and, unexpectedly, she found herself sliding right through that weirdo’s long legs! “Holy…!” she cried as she pushed herself back into a standing – or, running – position. “Coolio!! Was it my birthday, or somethin’? Papa really tricked me out!”

The girl beamed as she continued running through what she eventually figured out was the Right House. Which was to say… she realized that she was in the home of her dad’s hated rival in science! “I should cause mischief, while I’m here…” she thought on her feet, “but I dunno where the front door is, yet. Maybe, I’ll knock over a lamp or crook-ify a painting on the way out… That’ll teach ‘em not to kidnap me!”

The chase continued for a solid five minutes, Kaitlin quickly darting, dodging, bobbling, and weaving around any-and-all obstacles and people in her way. However, when she heard Dr. Right tell Elecman specifically not to hurt her… she knew she had the full run of the place.

“Not the nesting dolls!” Roll cried as Kaitlin grabbed them from a shelf and started throwing them in random directions. “That was a gift from Kalinka!” “Watch the vase!” Elecman wailed as he ran to catch it after Kaitlin bumped it off its stand. “That was a gift from a more appreciative fan than you!” “Please, put those bills down!” Unfortunately, Dr. Right was helpless to stop Kaitlin from tossing a bunch of mail around the room, scattering both envelope and contents all over. “Kaitlin, stop!” Roll screamed as Kaitlin threw down a lamp and knocked over some unlit candles. “This isn’t very heroic, you know…!” “I am a hero!” was Kaitlin’s reply. “I’m fighting your tyranny the only way I know how!” “What are you talking about?! Ack, get out of the– nooo, all the coats…!!” “You Right-‘bots kidnaped me!” Kaitlin shouted as she hurled coats and jackets out of a nearby closet. “You stole me from my dad and my family! My dad hates you, and so do I!!” “Your dad…?” the blond girl asked as she started picking the garments up. Kaitlin stopped in he tracks and turned to face everyone. Then, she said the worst-possible-thing she could have… “I’m Dr. Wily’s housekeeper – Special Wily Number error: Kaitlin!!”

#gift #fan fiction #Mega Man #Dr. Chou Numbers #Electrical Disturbance #commercial characters #Thomas Light #Elecman #Roll Light #fan characters #kaitlinexe #Thundergirl #Kaitlin Wily #drama #suspense

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ask-jeff-woods-and-company · 7 years

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This is my creepypasta oc, Keegan Rene, I’ve had him for a while now but haven’t really drawn him out! If you wanna ask him questions here, you’re more than welcome to! I need to flush out his personality more anyway. :)

-General Info-

Name: ⁃ Keegan Rene

Demon parasite: ⁃ Beelzebub

Nickname/s: ⁃ Beelz ⁃ Keeg

Voice: ⁃ Asura - Soul Eater ⁃ https://youtu.be/XlKaRHdY8Fk

Theme Song/s: ⁃ One Reason - Deadman wonderland ⁃ https://youtu.be/2pZ-UpjtlXY

Gender: ⁃ Male

Alignment: ⁃ Chaotic neutral

Personality Type: ⁃ ENTP-A ⁃ https://www.16personalities.com/entp-personality

Age: ⁃ 27 ⁃ 15 (at time of possession) ⁃ His aging process is severely slowed due to the demon

Height: ⁃ 6’

Weight: ⁃ 150

Species: ⁃ Human/Demon

Hobbies: ⁃ Thriller novels ⁃ Photography ⁃ Writing

Bad habits: ⁃ Scratching and biting at his skin ⁃ Talking to his demon in front of others ⁃ Alcohol ⁃ Aggressive behavior ⁃ Cursing

Good habits: ⁃ Kills criminals ⁃ Sometimes defends the innocent ⁃ Rescues animals

Like/s: ⁃ Dogs ⁃ Supernatural/horror games ⁃ Horror novels ⁃ Photography ⁃ The feeling of taking out the aggression that beelzebub fills him with ⁃ Kids

Dislike/s: ⁃ People who complain ⁃ Innocent people who pick fights ⁃ Criminals

Alias: ⁃ “Mouth monster” ⁃ “The demon”

Abilities: ⁃ Ability to open large mouths anywhere along his body ⁃ Turning into a massive red skinned monster ⁃ Reading the thoughts of others

Agility: 5/10 Speed: 4/10 Strength: 9/10 Passion: 6/10 stamina: 10/10 Defense: 7/10 Armor: 5/10 Resilience: 9/10 Finesse: 3/10 Tactic: 6/10 Determination: 7/10 Naivety: 4/10 Curiosity: 9/10 Charisma: 8/10 Magic: 7/10 Madness: 7/10

Weapon/s: ⁃ Teeth and claws ⁃ Increased strength ⁃ Somewhat increased speed ⁃ Monster form

Important Facts/Info: ⁃ Possessed by a demon. The demon over the years has become an integrated part of his body and their relationship is symbiotic. ⁃ Usually has sleeves rolled up for easy combat access

Affiliation/s: ⁃ Beelzebub ⁃ A few allies that are aware of his situation and that Beelzebub trusts

-Appearance-

Facial appearance: ⁃ Thin squarish face with high cheekbones and medium sized ears. Detached earlobes. ⁃ When he allows Beelzebub to show through his jaw splits along the sides of his head to create a huge jagged smile full of sharp teeth. This appearance can show only slightly, or all at once. There can be more than one mouth or protrusion.

Hair color: ⁃ dark ginger hair.

Hair length/type: ⁃ Hair hangs just below his jawline. His bangs split in two along his forehead and hang at his cheekbones.

Skin color: ⁃ Pale Caucasian skin.

Eye color: ⁃ When he allows Beelzebub to show through he can be seen with two glowing yellow irises with no pupils and black sclera.

Body Shape/Type: ⁃ Slender and lithe build with lean muscle mass.

Blood Type: ⁃ O-

Scars: ⁃ Scars litter his thighs and calves, as well as his biceps and upper back.

Tattoos: ⁃ No tattoos, the demon rejects them.

Piercings: ⁃ No piercings, the demon rejects them.

Common attire: ⁃ A dark blue/black sleeveless puffer vest with a furred hood. ⁃ Light grey or light brown jeans, usually torn at the knees. ⁃ Black or green long sleeve shirts, with the sleeves rolled up at the elbows or upper arms. ⁃ Black ankle boots. ⁃ A necklace with a yellow and orange charm that hangs around his neck, a gift from Kaitlin to him when he was a child. It reminds him of his humanity.

-Social Info-

Current location/s: ⁃ Major cities

Parent/s: ⁃ names unknown, human, alive

Sibling/s: ⁃ None

Relative/s: ⁃ Unknown

Friend/s: ⁃ Kaitlin Fitzgerald, human, deceased ⁃ Michael Patrick, human, deceased

Best Friend/s: ⁃ Kaitlin Fitzgerald, human, deceased ⁃ Michael Patrick, human, deceased ⁃ Gen Osborne, altered human, alive ⁃ Francis Rios, deity, half-alive

Romantic Interest/s: ⁃ None

Allies/Acquaintances: ⁃ Beelzebub, demonic parasite, alive

Enemy/s: ⁃ Mostly underground gangs or cartels

Rival/s: ⁃ Blanche Roberts, exorcist human, alive

Pet/s: ⁃ None

-Favorites-

Fave. Color: ⁃ Green

Fave. Food: ⁃ Raw flesh ⁃ Coffee

Fave. Music: ⁃ Whatever’s catchy ⁃ Rock

Fave. Animal: ⁃ Dog

Fave. Season: ⁃ Fall

Fave. Time of day: ⁃ Sunrise

Fave. Place to stay: ⁃ Building roofs

History (shortened pasta): ⁃ Keegan was a high school sophomore who always had a strong affinity for the paranormal and supernatural. He and his two friends, Kaitlin and Michael loved playing dungeons and dragons every weekend. After his dog goes missing, he decides to take his friends with him and go looking throughout the neighborhood and surrounding areas for his dog, as they both feel bad for him. His dog has always been a support system for him. When they spot his dog, the dog ends up running into an abandoned mine. His friends are too scared to follow him, but they offer to wait outside for him. They end up finding his dog, but there’s something wrong with the animal. It’s body is covered in mange and lacerations that seem to be tumorous and have teeth growing from them. His dog doesn’t recognize them and ends up attacking them. They escape unscathed. Keegan decides not to tell his parents as he’s sure they’d never believe him. In the next 3 weeks, young children in the area begin to disappear and the few that reappear become very ill and sick, covered in bite marks from which they eventually die. When Kaitlin disappears, Keegan and Michael decide to team up to look for her. They leave late in the night so their parents won’t notice their absence. After searching throughout the suburban area, they deduce that she must’ve gone into or had been taken into the woods. They walk for a while calling out for their friend but find nothing. Michael suddenly notices one of Kaitlin’s shoes lying in the dirt in front of the old mine. They reluctantly go inside. It’s deep and dark the farther they go. They begin to smell something terrible. They end up seeing what looks like someone lying in the darkness, about 20 ft ahead of them. They cautiously call out to it, thinking it might be Kaitlin. What turns around and walks towards them is what used to be Keegan’s dog. It now resembles a giant hairless bear covered in a mass of tumors, teeth, eyes and raw skin. The only thing that still slightly resembles a dog is the body structure and some patches of fur. As their eyes adjust to the dark they can make out the mutilated bodies of the missing kids, one of them being Kaitlin. As they run from the monster through the woods, Keegan suddenly realizes he can’t find Michael and is now alone in the dark woods, far from anywhere he recognizes. The only weapon he has on him is Michael’s birthday gift to him, a small pocket knife with his favorite video game logo on the handle, it’s supposed to resemble the main character’s weapon. Suddenly, the beast is upon him. He fights off the urge to cry or to keep running, he knows he’ll just die faster. He can only imagine the suffering his only friends went through, at the jaws of his once-dear-pet. As it lunges on him, he manages to slice it in the stomach and tear open the skin, his dog falls over dead. As he struggles to breathe and calm down, he notices a snake like monster climb out from deep inside his dog’s ribs. It has a deep jagged mouth and no eyes. Before he can run it pushes him down and forces its way down his throat. ⁃ Over the next few months as the disappearances stop and the police stop searching for the missing children, Keegan thinks it’s possible he could start his path to recovery, only to discover a voice inside his head that talks to him. It calls itself Beelzebub and talks about how hungry it is, how much it wants to kill everyone, but in a completely serious manner. It tries to bargain with him and yell at him. It tries to keep Keegan from sleeping, to make him hurt himself, to even kill himself so it can choose a new host, but he stands steadfast. One night, it forces Keegan to sleep walk through the house, he awakens just in time to stop the demon from attacking his parents. He notices the appearance of those toothy tumors along his arms and stomach. At this point, Keegan realizes he is a danger to society and those he loves and decides to leave home, go somewhere he can’t hurt anyone. ⁃ This lasts for a while, but the anguish is too much, too strong. But he can’t possibly kill himself and let this thing infect another innocent who might be less resilient. Instead he decides to take out its bloodthirsty tendencies on those who deserve it. Criminals. Mostly. Over time, he loses most of his morals and some innocents get in his way.

#creepypasta #Keegan-Rene #jeff the killer #eyeless jack #ben drowned #slender #slenderman #ticci toby #masky and hoody #masky marble hornets #ask #art #my ocs #KeeganRene

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roninhunt0987 · 6 years

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SSBU Primary, Support and Unknown Spirits list

Primary Spirits

Gooey -- Advanced

Yuga -- Shield, Ace

Articuno, Zapdos, & Moltres -- Attack, Legend

Cranky Kong (Speed Down) -- Attack, Ace

Klaptrap (Weight Down) -- Attack, Advanced

Revali -- Attack, Advanced

Rabbid Peach -- Shield, Advanced

Kid Dracula -- Grab, Ace

Primid -- Novice

Bonkers -- Attack, Ace

Reinhardt Schneider -- Novice

Flare -- Novice

Bokoblin -- Novice

Smeargle -- Novice

Lakitu & Spiny -- Grab, Advanced

Gordo -- Shield, Advanced

Guts Man -- Grab, Advanced

Owain -- Attack, Novice

The Imprisoned -- Shield, Advanced

Bullet Bill -- Attack, Novice

Melia -- Advanced

Leon Belmont -- Grab, Advanced

Zael -- Attack, Advanced

Prince Fluff (Weight Down) -- Grab, Novice

Micaiah -- Grab, Ace

Severa -- Novice

Shy Guy -- Novice

Skull Man -- Shield, Advanced

ST Falcon -- Attack, Novice

Skull Kid -- Grab, Advanced

Sigma -- Attack, Ace

Starfy -- Ace

Jimmy T -- Shield, Ace

Mumkhar -- Attack, Advanced

Blooper -- Shield

Ephraim -- Attack, Ace

Zoroark -- Attack, Advanced

Octoling Girl and Octoling Boy -- Attack, Ace

Kyogre -- Shield

Princess Ruto -- Shield

Cut Man -- Grab

Support Spirits

Vulpix (Fire Flower Equipped)

Cappy (Strong Throw)

Pseudo-Palutena (Transformation Duration Up)

Elise (Autoheal)

Slippy Toad (Made of Metal)

Rattly (Jump Up)

Tree (Unflinching Charged Smashes)

Lip (Lip's Stick Equipped)

Nabbit (Item Gravitation)

Ouendan (Critical Health Stats Up)

Amy -- Attack, Ace

Fortidudo -- Advanced

Air Man -- Shield, Advanced

Polterpup -- Shield, Advanced

Rogue the Bat -- Grab, Advanced

Lip -- Grab, Ace

Able Sisters -- Attack, Ace

Hal Emmerick -- Shield, Advanced

Mimikyu (Death's Scythe Equipped) -- Advanced

Guardian (Weapon Resist Up) -- Advanced

Yama -- Attack, Novice

Dr. Lobe -- Advanced

F-Type -- Shield, Novice

Mia & Miyu Amakara (Poison Damage Reduced)

Jelfonzo -- Grab, Novice

Nino (Undamaged Attack Up)

Urban Champion Fighter (Fist Attack Up)

Snipperclips

Medli (Strong Wind Immunity)

Unknown

Mouser -- Novice

Silver the Hedgehog -- Advanced

Dry Bowser -- Legend

Clefairy

Metal Sonic

Urbosa

Eliwood

Loftwing

Piantas

Pandora

Kaitlin and Katie

Chibi-Robo

Piplup

Tails

Dr. Wily

Waddle-Dee

Metroid

Mr. Resetti

Majora's Mask Moon

Zero

Rambi the Rhino

:D tails is in the unknown spirits sector guys along with Silver too folks... and our very own Metal Sonic

that is all.. RH0987 out

~RH0987~

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jolienjoyswriting · 4 years

Text

Electrical Disturbance, Ch. VI

Chapter 6 of "Electrical Disturbance," a Rockman (Dr. Chou Numbers universe) fan fiction story.

This story kind of went off-the-rails, but I think it ended up this way because I was tired of just doing slice-of-life stuff. It's still plenty saturated with that "boring" stuff, though, 'cause I can't help muh-self~

Word count: 2,918 – Character count: 17,270 Originally written: July 19th, 2020

Rumble at the Lab: Dr. Right vs. Dr. Wily! Who will claim victory in this fateful showdown?!

Rock/Rockman, Turboman, Roll, Rightot, Rush, “Rockman” series, and related characters and concepts created by various people and © Capcom Co, Ltd. "Dr. Chou Numbers" concept and related characters and concepts created by and © Jussy Kaitlin/Thundergirl created by and © KaitlinEXE

[ ↶ Prev. Story | ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷]

To say that Kaitlin was a little upset as she stomped out of Right Labs, that morning, was an understatement. Her body was crackling with an aura of violent electricity and her eyes sparked with fury. “Kaitlin? What’s– auuhh–!!” The fox-man from before tried to run up to her, but her aura blasted him clear across the room and into the nearest piece of furniture! Then, as she stepped outside, she looked up into the sky, vengeful eyes looking for a rust-red dog or a sky-blue beam of energy. It would be the latter that made its way into her few, seconds later.

“Kaitlin! I–” “Shut up!” A loud crack of thunder boomed out from around her, making the windows of the nearby greenhouse and the lab rattle. “You killed my favorite brother, Rockman! Dr. Wily was right about you, all along!” “Kaitlin! Hold on!” “No! I’m not listening to anything you have t’ say!” Something unconsciously clicked in her systems. Without meaning to, she Quick-Changed into her battle armor. Even when she held one arm out toward the blue bomber, she didn’t seem to realize what had happened.

“My brother didn’t deserve t’ die!” she yelled, charging a powerful, sparkling attack in her hands. “I’m gonna make you pay!!” “Kaitlin, stop!” The girl narrowed her eyes as her vision turned yellow. Some statistics appeared in her field-of-view and a target locked onto Rockman… as well as something else. “What… what is that?” Her energy slowly dissipated as she took note of the gray thing Rockman had on his back. “I keep trying to tell you,” the boy-robot shouted, “I didn’t kill Turboman! I was really-really careful not to do any permanent damage!” “I don’t believe you– I don’t believe you!!” She channeled her energy down her arm, again, holding it in her palm. “This is a trick! Just like with Break-Blues!!” “Look, just… let me bring Turboman to Dr. Right, and–” “No!” She shook her head, closing her eyes. “Bring him to Dr. Wily!” “I… I can’t do that, Kaitlin…” “Why not?!” “I won’t let any more innocent robots get hurt…” Rockman turned his head with a frown. “Dr. Wily would probably throw him away…” “Dr. Wily would fix him, but you don’t wanna give him the chance because you’re selfish and evil! All of you are…! I–” “Kaitlin…” “What?!”

She narrowed her eyes, again, as Rockman gently set Turboman’s body down on the grass. From there, he stepped away and to the side, all-the-while never forgetting that any sudden moves might make the enraged girl in the purple beret attack him. “If you really want to fight me…” He looked up, his expression full of determination. “Then, let’s do this somewhere else – where no innocent people can get hurt. Okay?” “Shut up.”

The boy-hero’s eyes widened as she fired off a blast that crackled through the air. He was about to roll out of the way… until he noticed it zip right past him… and hit Turboman. “What did you do that for?!” he shouted. When he noticed the smirk on Kaitlin’s face… “Wait…” Rockman turned around, staring as Turboman’s body sparked and flickered. Then, all-at-once, the engine in his chest kicked on and he rolled back, springboarding up onto his feet. “Baby, baby, baby, awwooo!” he shouted as he spun around and struck a pose as his body glowed with energy. “I’m am turbo-charged and feelin’ fine!” “Huh, I guess you weren’t kiddin’ about goin’ easy on Turboman… Hey, Big Brother!” “Huh?” Turboman adjusted his sunglasses. “Well, hellooo, baby! Who’re you?” “It’s me, Turboman!” She waved with a bright smile. “Your fave little sis, Kaitlin!” “Kaitlin?” His engine rumbled. “Heeey, Baby-Sis! Long-time-no-see! Ah– there’s somethin’ different ‘bout you… Did you get your wig clipped?” “Dad gave me some upgrades!” She shot a small amount of electricity into the air. “I’m battle-ready and rarin’ t’ go, Fast Bro!” “Whoa…! That’s mondo cool, Baby-Sis! But, uh… where are we? Last thing I remember was– oh, hey. It’s you…”

Rockman blinked. Turboman’s eyes glowed from behind his sunglasses, almost as if trying to gaze through him. When he slid into a battle-pose, the boy-robot heard a noise from his other side. Kaitlin had walked closer and took a pose of her own, readying her electrical attacks in both hands and wearing a sinister smirk. It seemed like whether he wanted it or not… he was just a few seconds away from being double-teamed…

“Yo,” Turboman called to the blue-eyed boy. “That was most-uncool, the way ya stopped me from drivin’ all over Times Square, kiddo.” “You were causing a lot of traffic accidents, Turboman!” the boy in the blue suit argued. “Plus, you were driving inside all the shops! That’s really dangerous!” “You’re just jealous that you can’t be as cool as this hay-burner.” Turboman took another pose, revving his engine as he waggled his arms in a wave. Kaitlin cheered him on from the other side of the yard. “Yo, Baby-Sis!” “Yeah, Fast Bro?” “Let’s say we mess this clown up but good?” “Stoooop…!!”

All eyes turned back to the front door of Right Labs. Roll had run outside, screaming with a worried look on her face. Rightot followed close behind with his homemade howitzer. It seemed like he prepared to do whatever it took to stop the fight from happening. “If you hurt Rokkuman, das,” he shouted to Kaitlin, “then we are no longer friends!” “Fine by me,” Kaitlin said with a shrug. “Who wants t’ be friends with a fatso, anyway?” Massive tears formed in Rightot’s red eyes, on-the-spot. “Kaitlin-chan is so mean…!!” he shouted as he started crying. “Bwaaah…!” And just like that… the oversized lab assistant ran back inside, crying.

“Now, that was just plain uncalled for!” Roll scolded with a stern look. “What’s gotten into you, Kaitlin…? I thought we were friends?” “We were… ‘til I saw what your brother did to mine!” the girl-in-purple spat. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” “Right on, Baby-Sis!” Turboman backflipped into Funny-Car Mode and revved his engines. “Let’s teach all these punks not to mess with Dr. Wily!”

The tension mounted in the area… Turboman was peeling out on the Rights’ front lawn and Kaitlin was charging a huge, overhead energy attack. Rockman wasn’t sure who would be the first to fire, but he knew one thing… He had to be ready for anything. “H-hey, hey, what’re you doin’?!” Including an untimely intervention by his little sister. Apparently.

“Kaitlin, don’t do what you’re thinking about doing!” Roll cried as she held onto the other girl’s waist. “I’ll do whatever I damn well please!” Kaitlin shouted back. “Including french-frying you, if ya don’t knock it off!” “I won’t let you hurt my Rock…!” “And, I won’t let you stop me!” “Gyaaah…!!” “Roll…!!”

Kaitlin had intended to use all the energy she was charging to attack Rockman. However, when it became apparent that Roll wasn’t letting go… she brought both hands down, grabbed the girl’s arms, and sent a huge surge of electrical energy into her body. Even so… Roll still refused to let go.

“Roll! Stop!” Rockman cried. “You’re only going to get your self– gyah!” While the boy-hero was distracted, Turboman released his break and sped right at Rock! There was a loud thump, followed by a noisy crash, as Rockman found himself tossed in the air and subsequently landed face-down on the ground. “Watch your back, speedbump!” Turboman mocked as he did a sharp turn. “And, stay outta my way!” Rockman instinctively fired a couple of shots at the charging vehicle-‘bot, but they bounced right off. A second later, he rolled out of the way and got back to his feet.

“The King of the Road rules this roost with speedy moves and speedier tactics!” Once Turboman spun around, he transformed back into his humanoid form and jumped into the air. “Time to make like rubber and burn, kid! Burning Wheel!” A quartet of flaming, petrol-soaked spheres spun around the tall, slender robot, gaining speed. When it finally cut loose, they went straight for Rockman. “Turboman, no…!” Who absorbed the entire attack, rather than let it hit the house.

“Rooock…!!” Rock screamed as the sticky fuel mix splashed and set him completely on fire. Watching this, Roll growled and trembled, her grip on Kaitlin’s mid-section tightening. “Let… me… go!” Kaitlin shouted, sending ever-more electricity into the other girl. “Rock…! H-hang on…!!” The brown-haired girl blinked. Something was happening… “Wh-what are you– ack.” All-at-once, her power stopped surging through the person who had grabbed her. She blinked, again, noticing the upside-down interior of the Right House, as well as the seemingly-anti-gravity fox-man standing with inside the open door. “She… she…” The fox sputtered a little… then he went wide-eyed. “Roll, you suplexed Kaitlin…?!” Roll turned to the side, letting go of her captive and shakily getting to her feet. “Yeah, I did!” She posed and winked. “Guess the doctor was wrong about us watching Pro Wrestling, huh?” “As cool as that was,” Joseph said with starry-eyed admiration, “I wish you hadn’t…” “She started it!” the blond-haired girl countered. “And, I’m gonna finish it! Rush!”

Kaitlin felt confused and embarrassed. How could she have let Roll throw her?! As she got back to her feet, she prepared another attack – this one meant specifically for her. However… “Power Roll: engage!” Roll had run outside and leaped into the air. Then, a bright flash of pink light engulfed the girl. When Kaitlin’s vision cleared… “Oh, shi–” She was subsequently hammered in the face by a white hand crackling with green energy. “Holy crap…!” Joseph gasped, going starry-eyed, again. “You look so cool, Roll…!” “H-hey, hey, hey…!” Kaitlin rubbed her face and glared at Joseph. “Whose boyfriend are you, anyway?!” The fox grew flustered. “U-um…” “Don’t listen to her, Joseph!” Roll shouted. “She doesn’t remember you!” “The hell I don’t!” The girl in purple got to her feet… only to get clobbered a second time. “Give me a minute, you blond bi–” And a third time.

“She’s not the Kaitlin we know-and-love, Joseph…” Roll said with an angry frown. “The Kaitlin I know would never use such foul language in front of a lady!” “Lady, you’re no lady!” Kaitlin jumped up and clapped her hands. “Which means there’s no reason to hold back!” “You want a piece of me, Sister Spark?!” “I want all’a you, Dog-Girl!” “Let’s go…!”

All hell broke loose outside of the Right House, that morning… On one side of the yard, Rockman was having a rematch with Turboman, fought at a significant disadvantage. Every time Turboman launched a Burning Wheel, he had to take the brunt of the damage and put out the fire before it reached anything important. He thanked his lucky stars for the Water Shield ability Pumpman had given him two days prior… even though he’d had to fight the mind-warped robot to get it. On the other side of the yard, Kaitlin and Roll were having a power battle. When Kaitlin swung an electrically-charged punch or made a surging kick at the blond-girl, she blocked it with her Rush Power Armor and took a swing of her own, staggering the high-voltage warrior. They were wearing each other down, slowly-but-surely, but it didn’t seem like either of them was going to stop until they were both down-for-the-count… Meanwhile, Joseph stood inside the doors of the Right House, staring with wide eyes and an open mouth. He’d seen the chaos that Wily’s robots caused on the television, before… but never had he actually been in the middle of such a struggle! Worst of all… three of his favorite people were involved. He had to do something… anything… to make it stop.

“Kyaaah!!” Kaitlin sent a powerful thunder-clap Roll’s way, throwing her through a tree and into the boughs of another. When the armored girl fell back down, she stood up… only to stumble and crash onto her hands-and-knees, panting. “Geez, Kaitlin…” She smirked with one eye closed, staring at the maniacal girl who was walking toward her. “How’d Elecman kick your butt, the other day? You’re really tough!” “Couldn’t tell ya…” The other girl grinned, tapping her head. “Amnesiac. Remember?” “No, I forgot,” Roll said with a tired laugh. A second later… “Ready to give up?” “That depends…” Kaitlin cracked her neck one way, then the other. “You?” “Not if it means Rock gets hurt…” Roll stood, staggering and putting up her fists. “Guess this means we’re not friends, anymore, huh…?” “That’s fine…” The other girl’s grin turned wicked. “You were kind’a clingy.” “Only ‘cause I like you!” “Hah, I knew it…” Again, Roll laughed. “Not like that, you silly…” And, again… Kaitlin smirked. “I know.” And then… “Hnnk–!” Something happened that neither girl was expecting.

“Joseph?!” “Joseph…”

Joseph had finally exited the building and, against his better judgment, contributed to the fray. He held, in both hands, a metal pole that had landed right across Kaitlin’s skull with a metallic clang. Even when she vengefully growled his name, he didn’t flinch.

“What the hell do you want?” she snarled, shoving the pole away and turning back. “I want the old Kaitlin back!” he shouted as he spun the polearm around. “The one that didn’t attack innocent, heroic robots like Rock and Roll!” “What would you know about bein’ a ‘hero?’ You back-attacked me!” Her eyes narrowed. “That’s a bitch move…” “I–” He paused, blinking. “Okay, you’re right. So… take a free shot at– faaah–!!” “Joseph!!” Without waiting for the invitation, Kaitlin threw the attack she’d originally charged for Roll right into Joseph’s face. “Idiot.” She spat on him as he lay there, holding his face and writhing. “Anyway–” “Kaitlin…!!” “What– fuh–!!” Just as it had with Breakman… time seemed to pause. Kaitlin had turned back around right as Roll threw a fully-charged Power Punch into her gut. However… “Fuuuuuhhh–!!” Instead of dying… she was sent flying!

“Joseph! Joseph! Are you alright?!” Roll ran over to the fox, kneeling beside him. She quickly held one of his hands while the other arm moved under his head, raising his upper-half. He’d stopped screaming, but his face looked… messy. “It hurrrts…! I can’t– I can’t see, Roll…!” he half-screamed, clearly panicking. “Kaitlin must have overloaded your eyes… oh, no…” She hugged the taller fox a little closer. “We’ll get you to the hospital as soon as we can!” “Wait!” Joseph blindly gripped Roll’s shoulder. “Where’s Kaitlin…?” “My best guess?” The girl grinned despite knowing he couldn’t see it. “Somewhere the next town over! I walloped her but good!” “Not good enough, Dog-Girl!” “Look out!”

Joseph blinked his blank eyes as he felt Roll effortlessly pick him up. He wasn’t sure, but he thought the two of them were flying…? He also heard the crackle of ball-lightning exploding behind him – which made his tail go tingly and frizzy with static. “What’s going on, Roll…?” “Hang on, Joseph… Time– time out, Kaitlin! Man down!!” “I don’t give a sh–”

Joseph yelped as he suddenly found himself rolling across some grass and pavement. His ears picked up on a loud swear coming from one girl, as well as a pained cry come from the other. He got to his feet, his ears swiveling… “Roll? Roll!” he called. “This armor’s pretty strong… but tell me… How well is it grounded?!” “Roll…?!” The fox didn’t know what was going on. All he could hear was what sounded like powerful energy snapping and popping, as well as a loud, piercing scream that made his fur bristle. Even without seeing it… he got a pretty good idea of what was happening.

And, it was absolutely horrible…

Rockman and Turboman became momentarily distracted from their semi-one-sided melee, the two watching what their respective sisters were up to. Roll was screaming in complete agony while Kaitlin stood over her, both hands on the crystals of her Rush Power Armor, both girls violently flashing and crackling… “Roll!!” “At’a girl, Baby-Sis!” Wave-after-wave of electricity poured into the canine armor and clear through to the girl wearing it, sending a previously-unknown amount of pain all through her sensors. Just like when Elecman did the same thing to Kaitlin several days prior, Roll’s sensors all lit up with warnings and panic lights, and her body writhed uncontrollably! She could feel her systems starting to fail and, what was worse, she could feel Rush starting to fade. If she didn’t do something soon… they would both die at the hands of someone they loved…

“Kaitlin, stop!!” The brunette blinked. Somehow, Joseph had found his way over and put her into a weak headlock of sorts. “You want some juice, too? Well, then…” Roll gasped. “Kaitlin, no!” “Drink up!!” The blond-haired girl watched, horrified, as Kaitlin put one hand on Joseph’s head. Her wide-eyes shimmered with sorrow and started to cry as the fox screamed out with the pain that, up to that point, was meant for her. She was a robot… she could handle a bit of electricity. Joseph, though… he was organic. That much electricity… even half of it… would be enough to seriously hurt him – if not outright kill him! She had to do something – fast!

“No… no! Nooooo– raaaaah…!!” Roll let loose a primal shout and charged what little energy she had left. “Roll! Nooooo…!!” Her brother screamed, realizing what she was about to do. And then, Roll shouted… “Double Power Punch!!”

With that final act of courage… the fight was over.

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jolienjoyswriting · 4 years

Text

Electrical Disturbance, Ch. V

Chapter 5 of "Electrical Disturbance," a Rockman (Dr. Chou Numbers universe) fan fiction story.

I dunno what I was thinking with the dialogue in this one. Probably, weird things. I'm a weirdo. ):

Word count: 4,110 – Character count: 23,847 Originally written: July 19th, 2020

Kaitlin's suspicious nature leads her to find out that, maybe, the Rights are alright.

Thomas Right, Roll, Rightot, Rock/Rockman, “Rockman” (series), Turboman, and related characters and concepts created by various people and © Capcom Co, Ltd. "Dr. Chou Numbers" concept and related characters and concepts created by and © Jussy Kaitlin/Thundergirl created by and © KaitlinEXE

[ ↶ Prev. Story | ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷ ]

“– significant damage – radiation–” “– lin! Kaitlin…!! Wake–” “Why – Blues do–” “I say leave – is. Clearly, she – threat.” “Shut up! She–”

There was a dizzying cacophony of voices swirling around in Kaitlin’s head. Her optics were offline and her aural sensors were only working part-of-the-time. She couldn’t move and couldn’t speak, and she wasn’t entirely sure where she was or how she got there. All she knew was that the parts of her body that she could feel really hurt…

“Thundergirl? Kaitlin? Answer if you can hear me.”

The girl twitched. What was going on…? All those voices from before were gone… except for one. It was a gentle-but-firm voice calling out with a sense of urgency. Part of her didn’t want to bother responding, but… “I… I hear you…” She thought she may as well.

“Kaitlin, I know you can’t see me,” the voice told her, “but this is Dr. Thomas Right.” The girl went silent. She had a feeling that’s who it was… “Kaitlin, you’ve suffered some serious injuries.” “Yeah, no kiddin’…” She grumbled as she said, “I can’t see, I can’t move… Whatever happened must’a been pretty bad.” “You don’t remember because… I had to reroute power from your memory to your core.” “Where’s my dad?” Kaitlin frowned – at least, in her head. “Where’s Papa Wily?” “I know you think I’m the enemy, but whether or not that’s true, I assure you… I live by the Hippocratic Oath of Medics and–” “I… don’t know what that is…” “‘I carry out this oath,’” the doctor began quoting, “and break it not, may I gain for ever reputation among all men for my life and for my art; but if I break it and forswear myself, may the opposite befall me.’” She paused before telling him, “I didn’t understand a word’a that.” “It means that I am, first-and-foremost, a Doctor of Robotics. My formal alliances have no place in my laboratory or in any other place where I may repair a robot in need.” Once again, the girl too a long pause to consider his words. “Whether you trust me or not,” the doctor added in a softer tone, “I will do my best to return you to full health.” “Don’t… guess I have much choice, huh?” “You could ask me to leave you as you are… though, I believe that there are several people waiting outside for you to recover.” “Any… friends?” “They seem to think so.” Kaitlin sighed… Then, she said something she wasn’t sure she’d regret, later: “Go ahead ’n patch me up, Doc… I don’t trust you… but I trust your words.” –––––

“–lin, Kaitlin…? Kaitlin?” “What, what…?” The girl waved a hand in no specific direction… until it smacked into something. Immediately, her eyes shot open and she looked up to see… “Gah!” She’d accidentally plopped her hand on Dr. Right’s face. Needless to say, she was quick to move it right back off.

“S… sorry!” She paused… “Wait, no, I’m not! You’re my… my…” The girl sighed, suddenly, shaking her head. “No… No, I can’t swear vengeance against you… You fixed me… right?” “Ah, good!” The doctor smiled. “Your short-term memory, tactile sensors, and your audio-visual sensor array all seem to be working. How do you feel?” “Tired…” She chuckled as she asked, “Can I get an E-Can Mini, pretty-please? I… I promise not to threaten you ‘n your family, for now?” Hearing Kaitlin joke made the doctor even happier. She seemed to be doing just fine.

“So, let me get this straight, Doc…”

A short while after awakening, Kaitlin took a seat on the edge of a workbench. She was still tied into his computer systems while casually sipping on a miniature Energy Can. During that time, she took stock of her current situation.

“Accordin’ to Breakman… that sonova– uh, I came here after gettin’ into a fight with Elecman, a few days ago, who was… under my dad’s control, at the time?” The doctor softly nodded as he stared at a computer screen and typed… something. Kaitlin had no idea what and didn’t care enough to ask. “Elecman messed me up, so you had’a do some internal repairs…” “Mm-hmm…” “But, somethin’ went wrong?” “That is correct, my dear.” The girl shuddered. “Hey… can you not call me that, ever again, please?” “My apologies,” is what he offered, still focused on the computer screen.

“Anyway… You’re tellin’ me that you somehow… nuked my memories?” “Accidentally, yes. Up to the point where you were activated by Albert – Dr. Wily,” he corrected for her benefit. “And… before that, I was fightin’ on your guys’ side?” “Of your own volition, yes.” Kaitlin sipped her drink and narrowed her eyes. Something wasn’t adding up… “If I was on your guys’ side…” she asked, “then why’d Breakman shoot me?” The doctor’s typing came to a sudden stop. Somehow, that made the girl smirk. “What? Ya didn’t know? He dared me t’ zap him one after I found out I had electric weapons, but I couldn’t do it ‘cause… ‘cause he’d been so nice.” Her smirk faded into a troubled frown. “I… actually kind’a trusted him… Hah, guess I know better, now!”

There was a long, heavy pause. The atmosphere of the room had changed, dramatically. Dr. Right seemed just as troubled as his patient. “I had my suspicions,” he started to tell her, “that your recent injures were caused by Blues – or ‘Breakman,’ as he prefers to go by, in some instances. When Rock and Joseph brought you in, there was an unusual char pattern on your skin and clothes. You were burning-hot with radiation…” Kaitlin immediately looked herself over… only to find that she was wearing the same outfit she’d had on when Breakman had attacked her. A double-check confirmed that neither her clothes nor her skin seemed any the worse for wear. “I replaced the corroded parts of your synthetic skin,” Dr. Right commented, noticing his patient’s curiosity, “and Roll made you a new set of clothing once she’d heard what happened.” She blushed a little as she realized the doctor probably had to have seen her bare-skinned… and very-likely had to get into her chest panel, among other places. Despite knowing it was her own-dang-fault for permitting him… she still shuddered when she thought about it.

“Hey, Doc…” “Yes, Kaitlin?” When Kaitlin was finally over being creeped-out, she asked the doctor, “If I was your guys’ friends… why did Breakman-Blues shoot me?” “Ah, well…” he started as he returned to his computer console, “Blues is the type of individual who doesn’t trust easily. I suppose he considered you a threat when you tore through our house, making a mess, and claimed that you were working for Dr. Wily.” She shrank a little. “I’m… sorry for that, just so you know. A-and, not just because you fixed me. Twice. Apparently…” “Although you certainly gave us quite the start,” he said, matter-of-factly, “it could have been far worse.” He offered the girl a smile. “You could have been aware of your weapon systems.” “Heh… Maybe, that’s why Breakman shot me…” “Perhaps.” He frowned as he added, “However, I do I find it rather disturbing…” She blinked as the doctor looked back at his screen. “What’s that?” “From what you’ve told me, you were prone to attack Blues… yet decided against it. He, then, attacked you with a sort of… ‘just-in-case’ mentality.” He paused… “Kaitlin? Would you have attacked Blues?” “I… I was gonna, but…” She paused, rubbing her arm and looking away. “S… sorry, Papa Wily… I can’t attack someone who’s only been nice to me! Although… he did deck me with his shield! A-after I got mad and tried to zap him a little… He’s… he’s just so infuriating!” “What did he say to anger you?” “I don’t remember, exactly…” The girl looked up. “I just remember… he said something that really ticked me off, so I punched him… then he walloped me in the gut… then I think he said something that made me so mad, I ended up tryin’ t’ zap him one. He whacked me with his shield – and blocked my attack, thankfully – then I think I joked about zappin’ him for real… which led to this… stand-off… where I decided not to… but he, apparently, didn’t.”

“Blues is… something of a mystery…” The doctor sighed. “Even though I was the one who created him, I have yet to figure out what truly motivates him. He’s slowly dying… yet he refuses to let me replace the nuclear core Dr. Wily installed with a more stable solar unit. He helps Rockman from-time-to-time… yet he is just as likely to attack him – usually as some sort of ‘test.’ He keeps close watch of us all… yet he doesn’t want to be a part of our family. In fact, the only stable relationship he seems to have is with Roll. But, I guess that makes sense…” He smiled to himself. “Roll is the only one not trying to change him…” “Heh. That’s what he said.” She paused. “Hey, uh… speakin’a Roll…” “Don’t worry.” The doctor looked at Kaitlin with that same smile. “Roll is perfectly fine. She’s experienced far worse than a fully-charged Thunder Beam.” Kaitlin clasped her hands together before resting them under her mouth. “I wanna tell her I’m sorry…” She twitched as he turned and squeezed her shoulder… “It was hardly your fault. Roll is a brave, kind, caring girl who would gladly put herself in the line-of-fire to save a friend… or even a stranger! She and her brother are very like-minded, in that way…” “Awfully feelsie… aren’cha, Doc?” The doctor flinched, immediately letting go of her shoulder and turning back to his console. That made Kaitlin chuckle, but only a little.

“I-in any case,” the doctor said after clearing his throat, “you’re free to leave and go wherever you want – both within the compound and outside of it. Elecman returned to Nevada to undo his prior damage, Rockman is in New York, and Roll and Rightot are in the main lab. Oh! And, Joseph is waiting for you in the living room.” “‘Joseph?’” She tilted her head with a smirk. “Another one’a your pet projects…?”

“Kaitlin…!!”

Kaitlin’s eyes widened and her body stiffened. The instant she arrived in the Right Labs living room, she was assaulted by… bizarrely… what looked to be a human-sized fox-man! He wasn’t trying to lick her, though… thankfully. Just… hug her. Really… really tightly…!

“Get– get off…!” He leaped back with a yelp and blankly stared. She’d given him a dose of electricity. A moment later, he smiled and rapidly wagged his tail. “God… I’m so glad you’re okay!” The fox sniffled… “When… when Rock and I found you laying there, all burned-up and warped, I…” “Hey, save the waterworks for someone else, okay?” He nodded and tried… but he just couldn’t help but cry. “I’m just so relieved…” he hiccuped. “I dunno what I’d ever do if I lost you…” “Now, that’s funny ‘cause… I do know what I’d do if I lost you!” “Wh… what?” “This.” She brightly smiled. “‘bye!” With that, she casually strolled by the fox and headed into the main lab.

“Watch out, Rock! There’s a flock of Mini-Pipis heading your way!” “I’m on it, Roll! Rock Buster…!” “Yeah! Go get ‘em, das! Who’s a ve-ry might-y Ro-kku-maaan, das?!” “Ha hah, thanks for the cheer, Rightot! I’ll make you proud!” “Rightot is already proud of Rokkuman, das! Roll-chan, too!” “Just come back to us in one piece, Rock… That’s all I ask!” “Will do, sis! Rock, out!” “I love it when Rokkuman says that, das. It’s so ‘punny!’”

Kaitlin stood at the doorway of the laboratory, arms crossed and a smirk on her face. She’d always wondered what the “central control hub” of the place looked like during one of Wily’s campaigns… Strangely, it didn’t look much different from her dad’s “control room.” “A three-by-three grid with icons of the Robot Masters…” “Kaitlin?” Roll turned around and smiled. “Welcome back!” “Live satellite feed of Rockman’s current location…” the brunette commented as she strolled in. “A rough, 2D map of the current ‘stage…’ And, of course, a navigator –” Roll’s smile brightened as she was pointed to. “Just like with the Robot Masters…” “We’re here to keep Rock motivated and give him lots of help navigating the terrain!” the blond-haired girl explained as she removed her headset. “I’m usually here, warning him of incoming enemies, but Rightot sometimes helps out!” “Yeah, yeah, go, go!!” the big, green robot shouted, pumping his fist and screwdriver-hand into the air as he watched Rockman blast through a series of small, flying robots. “Super figh-ting robot! Rokkumaaan, das!” “Of course…” The girl closed her eyes and her smile became labored. “Rightot gets a little carried away with praise, most-of-the-time…” Her face returned to a happy expression, then.

“So, what brings you to the lab?” “Well,” Kaitlin started, her own expression falling. “Firstly… aren’t you… ya know… mad at me?” Roll tilted her head. “For what?” “For gettin’ you zapped by ‘Electman?’ Don’cha remember…?” “It’s ‘Elecman,’ and of course I do! But, why would I be mad at you?” Her smile brightened. “No one forced me to jump in front of his attack! I did it all on my own!” “But, why…?” “Because…” The girl flexed one arm, putting her opposite hand on that bicep. She winked at Kaitlin, then, continuing to smile. “That’s what heroes do!” “Uuuhh…” “Look,” the girl started, putting her hands on Kaitlin’s shoulders. “Whatever you’re going through, we can work it out. I know that somewhere, deep inside, the Kaitlin I know and love is still there! And, if she isn’t? Well, then…” She winked, again. “I’ll just have to do my best to earn this one’s trust!”

Kaitlin’s expression became confused… then suspicious. She opened her mouth, then closed it, then after a few seconds, she asked Roll a simple question… “Are… are you coming onto me?” Roll’s face turned slightly red and she became visibly flustered. But, then… “Oh, wait… You were kidding, right?” She pulled the brunette into a big hug, laughing and smiling. “Oh, Kaitlin… You’re such a funny girl! No wonder Joseph adores you!” “Ah– Fff…” Kaitlin was at a loss… so she just hugged the girl right back. Granted, she wasn’t… quite as enthusiastic about it. Actually, that hug kind of made her wonder if Roll wasn’t attracted to her, in some way… Maybe, she’s just this friendly with everyone… she thought to herself. Whatever, I guess.

“Hey, speaking of…” Roll continued after pulling back, “did you see him, yet?” “Did I see who?” Kaitlin asked with genuine confusion. “Your boyfriend! Joseph!” “Is he that crybaby fox I met on the way in here?” The blond girl nodded tilted her head. She looked like she might scold Kaitlin, but… “I remember when I caught you two kissing under the apple tree!” She softly sighed… “It was sooo sweet and romantic! I felt bad about intruding, but I–” “That’s disgusting. I would never–” “Aww, Kaitlin…! You don’t have to put on that tough-girl act around me! We both know you’re head-over-heels for him!” Kaitlin scowled as Roll giggled. “You’re… serious… aren’t you?” The other girl blinked a couple of times. Then… a look of realization came over her. “Oh, right!” She slapped one closed hand into the other. “You lost your memory!” “That’s what everyone keeps tellin’ me…” “Okay, well then…” Roll smiled. “Joseph was Kaitlin’s friend. He’s a silly, emotional guy with a cute face and a fluffy tail! He kind’a likes me… but I think he likes Kaitlin more!” “Why… are you talking about me in third-person, Roll?” Kaitlin tilted her head and scowled. “I’m right here.” “When I say ‘Kaitlin,’” she explained, “I mean– oh, wait! Better idea!” The girl cleared her throat and started over. “I’m sure he loves Thundergirl! You’re… not Thundergirl right now, right?” “I’m not Thundergirl, ever!” Kaitlin exclaimed. “I barely even know who that is!” “Perfect!” Roll beamed before telling her, “Joseph and Thundergirl were super-close friends and I’m pretty sure he loved Thundergirl!” “He loved my supposed ‘superhero identity’ before I supposedly lost my memories?” “That’s right!” Kaitlin rubbed her cheek while Roll nodded. “This conversation is confusing and annoying…” she grumbled. “I think I’d remember being a superhero with a furry freak for a boyfriend.” “Not if your memory was reset!” “Yeah, but–” Kaitlin huffed, shaking her head. “Whatever.”

“Roll-chan, Roll-chan!” “Rightot,” Roll called to the big, green robot, “I asked you not to call me that!” “But, Roll is small and Roll is cute, das! So, the Japanese honorifics–” She half-heartedly laughed before interrupting with, “What did you want, Rightot?” “Oh! Right, das.” He pointed to the screen. “Rockman is about to fight Turboman, das!” Kaitlin perked. “Car Bro…?” “Oh!!” Roll turned back. “E-excuse me, Kaitlin!” “Uh… sure.”

Kaitlin rubbed the back of her head, watching Roll hop over a table and grab her headset. Curiosity overtook her, then, and she decided to pull up and chair and watch Rockman fight one of her brothers… who she was silently rooting for, despite all the hospitality.

“Okay, Rock!” Roll called through her microphone while her brother came up to a tall shutter-style door. She read from a screen, telling him: “Turboman is a fast, transforming Robot Master. His weapon is the Burning Wheel which, as the name says, summons four flaming orbs that rotate like a wheel, burning everything they touch with sticky, napalm-like gasoline – including you! He’s perfectly-tuned for speed, but he isn’t very agile. Don’t let him draw you in with his high-performance exhaust system or ram you with his Crash Drive attack!” “Got it, Roll!” the boy called back. “Good luck, Rock! We’re all counting on you!” With that, the video feed became staticky and communication ceased.

“H… hey, I was watching that. What happened…?” “Huh?” Roll turned around. Kaitlin was standing up with an angry look on her face. “Oh, that happens whenever Rock gets close enough to one of Wily’s Robot Masters!” the girl explained with a smile. “See, Doctor Wily installs these… jammer… thingies in his robots that keep us from contacting or recalling Rock from the area until it’s disabled… It… always really worries me…” The blond girl frowned, wringing her hands. Meanwhile, Kaitlin tilted her head. “Huh. I guess that makes sense… Papa Wily wouldn’t wanna let Rockman get the upper hand and cheat his way through a fight! He sure could with–” “‘Papa Wily,’ das…?” Rightot stood up from his seat and spun around… His thick, triangular eyebrows pointed down and his shiny, red eyes focused on Kaitlin. “Kaitlin-chan is a Wily robot, das?” “Kaitlin-chan,” the brunette mocked, putting one hand on her hip and smirking, “is a Wily robot, das. What’s it to ya, Big Green?” There was a long, heavy silence as the two stared each other down. Then… “Well, any friend of Roll-chan is a friend of Rightot, das!” The green giant simply smiled… she thought… and turned back around, much to the girl’s confusion…

“You Right-‘bots’re too trustin’,” she laughed… before she frowned and added, “but I’m the same way, so…” “You say that like it’s a bad thing!” “Well, considerin’ your… brother, I guess?” She looked over at Roll. “Considering your brother, Blues the Breakman, broke me for my trust…” “Listen…” Kaitlin blinked as Roll quietly walked over. When the girl took her hand, she blushed a little. Roll was looking right into her eyes, for some reason…

“I won’t make excuses for Blues, but I want you to know that his actions don’t reflect how any of us feel about you. Okay? I know you made a mess that Rock had to clean up and you scared Elecman bad enough to zap you, but even so… I like you. I trust you! You’re a good person, Kaitlin, and no amount of Wily code or Wily branding is going to change that!” The brunette continued to blush. Roll wouldn’t stop giving her that bright, friendly smile or turn her shiny, green eyes away. She kept both hands tightly wrapped around hers, too. It was… uncomfortable. “H-hey… i-if you’re gonna flirt with me, um…” “I’m not flirting with you!!” Roll threw the other girl’s hand down before glaring and puffing her cheeks. “I’m trying to say you’re my friend!” she furiously shouted. “What’s wrong with you?!” “I dunno…” Kaitlin turned away, rubbing her arm. “May– maybe I was hoping you… were… flirting with me?” “Wh… what?” When Roll actually started to blush, herself… “You know I’m kidding, right?” She awkwardly smiled and canceled her decidedly-dumb joke. “I barely know you, and–” Her eyes went wide, then. Roll… had slapped her! “It’s not nice to play with a girl’s feelings – even if you are a girl!” When she turned away and crossed her arms, Kaitlin felt… a little guilty. “Roll, hey, I was–” She paused. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” “Well… at long as you’re sorry, I guess it’s okay.” Roll turned back and pulled Kaitlin into a brief hug. “To be honest… I’m probably sending you the wrong message by being so friendly, to begin with! It’s just that Thundergirl was a really good friend – just… a friend,” she quickly clarified. “We’d sometimes e-mail each other about stuff. Sometimes… we’d even talk about–” “At the risk of making you mad, again… are you sure you two were just friends…?”

“I just said…!” Roll half-shouted, anger flaring in her eyes and on her face. Once she calmed, she sighed… “Yes, Kaitlin… we were just friends.” The girl smiled. Then, she thought about something… “As far as I know, I mean? Thundergirl never seemed like she was interested in me, like that, and I know I wasn’t with her – no offense! Besides…” The girl winked. “I think she was pretty happy with that rascally fox of hers!”

“Okay. I believe you,” Kaitlin said, finally smiling. “Thanks for clearing that up. But, can I tell you something as a friend, Roll?” “What’s that?” She sighed a little, rubbing her other arm and tapping her sneaker toe against the floor… She didn’t feel quite right about what she was going to say, but… “As a friend… I… I do think y-you’re… really cute!” is what she ended up saying. “You, too, Kaitlin!” The blond girl beamed… but the brunette just tilted her head. “Come again?” she asked. Roll said that so fast, it was like she was prepared… “I said, ‘I think you’re cute, too!’” Her smile brightened as she added, “You have such nice hair, pretty eyes, a great smile, and I love your outfits! Plus, you look really cool in purple!” “O-oh, um…” Kaitlin knew Roll was just being nice, but somehow… hearing all that made her feel a little flattered. She’d said it all so candidly, too… Kaitlin didn’t know how to respond. “Hey, Roll?” “Yes?” The brunette held her hand out, causing the other girl to blink. “I’m… glad you’re my friend. Even if we are s’posed t’ be enemies. Heh…” “Aww…!” Kaitlin knew saying that was a mistake, but somehow… “Oof.” She didn’t mind, so much, when Roll pulled her into another overly-affectionate hug.

“Roll-chan, Roll-chan, das!” “What is it, Rightot?” Both Roll and Kaitlin turned back to the big screen. There, they saw the static clearing. The camera focused, a moment later, and showed Rockman standing over the collapsed heap of– “Turboman…!!”

Roll blinked as Kaitlin ran over to the computer terminal and grabbed her headset off the keyboard. Almost immediately, the brunette began yelling into the microphone. “Rockman, you jerk!!” “R-Roll?” was the reply she got back. “Your voice sounds different…” “I’m Kaitlin!” she corrected. “Rockman, you… you killed my brother!! Why…?!” “I… Wait, what?” Tears filled Kaitlin’s eyes as she shouted, “Turboman is dead! He’s dead because of you…! He… he was one of my favorite brothers…” She sniffled, rubbing her cheeks with one sleeve. “We used t’ go on night drives down the highway, laughin’ and makin’ lots’a noise! He… he actually treated me like a kid sister instead of a pest or a machine… He was so cool…” “Kaitlin… I–” “I don’t wanna hear it!” “But, Kaitlin! Hey? Kaitlin…? Kaitlin!” Unfortunately for Rockman… the girl had tossed the headset off and stormed out. As her body crackled with energy and the last of her angry tears rolled down her cheeks, she vowed… “I’m gonna get that little, blue boy… For you, Big Brother!”

#gift #fan fiction #Mega Man #Dr. Chou Numbers #Electrical Disturbance #commercial characters #Thomas Light #Megaman #Roll Light #Auto (Mega Man)#Turboman #fan characters #kaitlinexe #Kaitlin Wily #drama #slice of life

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jolienjoyswriting · 4 years

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Electrical Distubance, Ch. IV

Chapter 4 of "Electrical Disturbance," a Rockman (Dr. Chou Numbers universe) fan fiction story.

I sure do love worldbuilding. I'm also a big fan of world-wrecking, it seems.

Word count: 3,296 – Character count: 19,020 Originally written: July 18th, 2020

Kaitlin quickly finds herself on the wrong end of gun as she tries to figure out what's going on.

Elecman, Thomas Right, Roll, Blues/Breakman, “Rockman,” and related characters and concepts created by various people and © Capcom Co, Ltd. "Dr. Chou Numbers" concept and related characters and concepts created by and © Jussy Kaitlin/Thundergirl created by and © KaitlinEXE

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The room fell silent. Well, silent… apart from the maniacal cackling that filled it. Kaitlin had just dropped a bombshell on the room by announcing herself as a Wily-‘bot. Dr. Right and Roll were positively agog with surprise. Elecman, however… “I know what’s going on!” He went full-aggro on the girl!

“Elecman, no!” Dr. Right shouted as the robot charged an electrical attack. “I must have infected her with a time-release program during our regrettable skirmish in Nevada! She thinks she’s one of Wily’s machines – I must make this right!” Elecman took a fighting pose and put his hands over his chest, one above and one below, both pointing opposite directions. As he slid the two across each other, a loud crackle of energy sparked to life between them. In the next second, his hands went over his head in preparation… “This is for your own good, Thundergirl! Thunder Beam!!” Then, he threw them outward in an open-clam position, sending a powerful bolt across the room and… “Nooooo…!!” Straight into Roll’s waiting chest.

Once again, the room went entirely silent. Even Kaitlin, who was completely convinced she was going to be zapped, stood in awe of what had happened. “Roll…” Dr. Right weakly called to his creation as she awkwardly lay on the floor. “You dear, sweet child,” Elecman whispered, looking away, “what have you done…” “She… She saved me. She saved me?! Why did she save me?!” Indeed, just as Elecman had prepared to disable Kaitlin with a Thunder Beam… Roll had run in as fast as her feet could carry her, screamed in rejection, launched herself between the two, then crashed into the closet door, clutching her chest and trembling in agony, her body surging, crackling, and smoldering from her younger brother’s attack.

“She saved me…” Kaitlin couldn’t make heads-or-tails of it. “A Right-‘bot saved me from gettin’ zapped…” She fell to her knees, her eyes filling with tears of confusion and another emotion she didn’t quite understand. “I…” “Get away from her!”

Just as Kaitlin was about to pull Roll onto her back… Dr. Right came in swinging! Even though she was only stunned by the coat rack that was smashed against her full-metal head… it was more-than-enough to get her back onto her feet and scurry right out the front door! She didn’t want anything to do with those crazy Rights! “Gotta get outta here…” she panted as she ran even faster than before. “Gotta find a radio…! Gotta call Papa Wily and… and have him save me…! Gotta– ooph!” But, that was going to have to wait…

After being bounced to the ground, Kaitlin looked up… then she shivered with fear. Standing in front of her was a man in a gray jumpsuit with a yellow scarf and red boots and gauntlets. He had a shield on his back and… one very large arm-cannon pointed right at her head. “You have exactly five seconds to explain yourself, Thundergirl,” he told her in a cold voice that lacked any mercy. “After that… I’m going to blow your head off.” A lot of words came out of the frightened girl’s mouth as she stared down the barrel of his glowing plasma weapon. She could feel it scorching her face as it gathered energy for a powerful attack. Naturally, seeing that sort of thing was enough to keep her from saying anything coherent, but when she realized she couldn’t get a word out… “Aaaaahh…!!” She curled into a ball, covered her head, and hoped for a miracle. “Okay. That will do.” And, that’s exactly what she got.

The girl dared to peek through her arms, violently shaking and hyperventilating out of pure, unrestrained fear. Twice, today, she was sure she was going to die and twice, today, she was saved by some unexpected circumstance! If her luck held out… maybe she could be back in the cozy comfort of her papa’s latest castle before sundown! She hoped, anyway…

“Get up.” The sharply flinched, drawn from her thoughts by the man-in-gray. “I said…” A kick to the leg made her yelp. “Get up.” She was quick to follow directions, then. The kick didn’t hurt that much, but it was pretty clear that this man… robot? This person wasn’t screwing around…

“Now…” Kaitlin stood at full attention. Whatever his next order was… she planned to follow it! “Explain… slowly… why you decided to make a mess of my family’s house after the doctor took time out of his day to save your worthless life.” For some reason, the urge to turn it around and call him worthless boiled up inside her. Thankfully… she decided not to act on it. “I-I-I didn’t know he f-fixed me…” she openly admitted with a stutter. “I j-j-just woke up in a s-strange place, s-surrounded by people my dad hates! I was s-scared…” “Liar!” She shrieked as he shouted at her. A second later, she noticed him cross his arms. “Let’s try this, again… Why did you make a mess of my family’s house?” “I… umm…” She hesitated before admitting, “I did it in the name of Dr. Wily…” “Are you one of his creations?” She shrunk before answering, “Y-yes… I… I’m a Special Wily Number. L-like Big Bro Forte and Lost Bro King!” The man in the red helmet and black visor hummed. “Has this always been the case? Wily tends to… ‘find…’ a lot of ‘his’ robots.” “A-as far as I know…?” Unfortunately… she really didn’t know.

“Hmm…” The unnamed man looked to one side as he thought out loud, “You told us you were an amnesiac, but you never told us you were a Wily Number. Why the change-of-heart? Why the change-of-alliance…?” “What?” Kaitlin blinked in confusion. “I-I’ve always been a Wily Number, M-Mister…” “Breakman.” “M-Mister Breakman,” she corrected without hesitation. “Did your… creator… ever specifically tell you of your creation?” “Um… no. B-but, a lot’a my brothers don’t remember bein’ created by Papa Wily, either!” She looked down at the ground, rubbing her arm. “He doesn’t tell us stuff like that ‘cause, even though we think of ourselves as a family, he just sees us as tools… moving from one ‘project’ to the next… B-But, that’s okay, ‘cause we kind of are just tools! People who get attached to ‘tools’ are stupid and wrong! I mean, that white-haired beardo got all freaked-out when Elecman zapped that dumb, blond maid, and–” All positive emotion – not to mention color – brained from the girl’s face as she found her eyesight obscured by the faintly-glowing end of Breakman’s weapon. “Watch your mouth, Thundergirl…” She thought about keeping quiet. However… “W… wh-why?” A question found its way out of her mouth, instead. “I happen to like that Right Number.” He lowered his gun as he added, “She’s the only one who isn’t trying to change me…” “Ch… ‘change you?’” “Never mind.”

Breakman crossed his arms, again, before turning to the side. Even though Kaitlin couldn’t see his eyes through the visor, she knew he was looking at the Right House. She figured he was probably thinking, too, considering how quiet he got…

“Thundergirl.” “Wh-why does everyone keep calling me that?” “What?” He turned her way. She was scowling and looked annoyed. “Why does everyone keep calling me ‘Thundergirl…?’” Kaitlin repeated. “I dunno who that even is! My name is ‘Kaitlin!’ I guess it’s technically Special Wily Number error: Kaitlin… but ‘Kaitlin’ is way less of a mouthful!” Though she was smiling… Breakman was not. “Say that, again,” he half-demanded. “Say what again?” She tilted her head. “‘My name is Kaitlin?’” “Your full name.” “My full name… my… designation, ugh.” She scowled. “It’s Special Wily Number error: Kaitlin. I’m a Special Wily Number just like–” “Again.” Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “I’m… Special Wily Number error: Kaitlin.”

“Thundergirl. Kaitlin, rather…” Breakman leaned to one side, tilting his head. “Are you aware of what you’re saying?” “Of course I am!” She huffed. “What kind of stupid question is that?” The other robot smirked. He liked it when her true personality out-shined her fear. “Say your full designation one more time.” Kaitlin stomped her foot and threw her hands down, losing patience. “I’ll say it five more times if it’ll get you to stop asking!” she shouted. “Okay.” He continued to smirk as he told her, “Go ahead.” So, she did.

“I am Special Wily Number error: Kaitlin, I am Special Wily Number error: Kaitlin, I am Special Wily Number error: Kaitlin, I am… I… w-wait…” A look of fear and confusion came to her face as Breakman’s smirk became a smile. “Why… why don’t I have a number? Why can’t I find my number? Breakman…!” Her anxiety grew into panic and she grabbed the other robot by the shoulders. “Wh-why can I find my Special Wily Number?! Wh-what does that mean?!” “It means…” he started as he knocked her arms away, “you don’t have one. Wily never gave you a number.” “No… No, you’re wrong!” she cried, shaking her head. “I have a number! I-if Big Bro Forte is 1 and Lost Bro King is 2, then… then I’m 3! Zero-zero-three… I am Special Wily Number error!” Her eyes shot open. “I’m Special Wily Number error,” she repeated without meaning to. “No, I’m Special Wily Number error. I-I’m Special Wily Number error! Error!! Eeerr-herr-rooor…!!” “I think that pretty much sums it up, don’t you?” “You…!”

All-at-once, Kaitlin’s confusion, fear, and anxiety turned red-hot and she took a swing at Breakman! To her utter surprise… “Ah…” It connected.

“I… I…” The girl whimpered as she pulled her fist back. Breakman didn’t even so much as flinch when he was struck. Even after-the-fact, all he did was stand there, his head jerked back in the position she’d forced it into and his body in a neutral position. There was one other thing, though…

He wasn’t smiling, anymore.

“Oh, god!!” For some reason, the girl curled into a ball, hugging her head and whimpering in fear instead of running. She was far too panicked to even consider leaving the area. It took her a good minute of cowering before she looked up… but when she did… “Ahh– aah…!” She found herself pulled by the collar of her hoodie.

“Well?” “W… w… w-well…?” the girl stammered, almost too afraid to answer. “Did you get it out of your system?” There was a long pause before she asked, “A-aren’t you mad at me?” “I don’t get mad.” She blinked as he let go of her… only to make a horrible choking sound as his fist forcefully found its way into her stomach. “I get even.”

When he withdrew, she doubled over in pain, tears welling up in her eyes. She hissed and growled, huffing as she pain kept coming. He hadn’t even hit her with that plasma gun, but it sure felt like he did! “You… you sonova…!” “That’s right, Kaitlin.” He grinned. “Get angry.” “You hurt me…!” “You hurt Roll.” “Elecman hurt Roll!” “She got hurt saving you.” “You… you…!” “Me.” “I’ll kill you!!”

A few things happened in the instants that followed Kaitlin’s outburst. Firstly, she found herself on the ground, several paces away, laying there in more pain than before. Secondly, Breakman had pulled his shield around and, as best as she could figure, used it to whack her over to where she was. And, thirdly… “Wh… what…?” Her hands were sparking and crackling with white-hot plasmatic electricity.

“Did I– ow!” Kaitlin tried to get up… only to fall right back down, clutching her mid-section. “Careful,” Breakman warned in a mocking tone. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.” “What… what did…” She looked at her hands. “What did I just do…?!” “You just lived up to your name, Thundergirl.”

After reeling for a minute, Kaitlin finally got back to her feet. When she did, she noticed… there was a large, veiny sort of scorch mark on Breakman’s shield, as well as something similar on the ground. Between that, the tingling and crackling of her hands, and the constant nickname everyone kept using, she could only come to one conclusion… “Did… did Papa Wily upgrade me into a ‘battle android…?’” For some reason… she started beaming. “This is the best-worst-best birthday, ever…!!” Then, when she tried to pump her fist in the air… “Ow…!!” She collapsed back on the ground, her aching stomach telling her that it wasn’t going to happen.

“Ahem…”

Several moments passed after Kaitlin made her discovery, in which time, she started playing with her newfound power. For example, she spread her fingers and made a current arc from-one-to-the-next… She created a series of small sparks that crackled like fireworks… She even wrote her name in the air with a lovely cursive font! Just as she was starting to enjoy herself, though… Breakman broke in.

“What’s up, Breakman?” she called, still full of mirth despite her head and stomach aching from his counter-attacks. “You’re probably not going to believe this…” he told her, “but, before today, you were galavanting around, passing yourself off as a ‘superhero’ named ‘Thundergirl.’” “Me? A superhero?” The girl blinked her brown eyes. “I could never… Well, maybe…!” As she clapped her hands together and formed a ball of lightning… “Don’t get any funny ideas.” Breakman gave her pause. “I wasn’t doin’ nothin’…” she said, feigning innocence as she popped the ball and started drawing in the dirt with a sweet smile.

“In any case… this isn’t your first visit to the Right Labs compound.” Breakman stepped over as he told her, “A couple of months ago, Dr. Right invited you here to study you.” “That doesn’t sound right!” She slowly got to her feet, hugging her stomach. “Ow… Uh, why would Dr. Right invite me, a Wily-‘bot, to his place? That’d be like Dr. Wily asking Rockman to come over for cake and punch!” She winched from her stomach ache, suddenly wishing she’s said “cake and soda…” “At the time,” he continued, slipping his shield onto his back, “you didn’t announce yourself as a Wily Number.” “What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense, Breakman…” She frowned a little, wincing as her head throbbed. “I’ve always been a Wily Number since… since… why… um… why are there these huge gaps in my memory?” “You’re an amnesiac.” “Don’t get smart with me, Scarf-Boy!” He smirked as she scowled.

“You came back here after fighting a Wily-controlled Elecman, five days ago,” the robot said. “He was simply out-of-commission while you had severe internal damage. Once he was fixed-up, it was your turn to go under-the-knife, so-to-speak.” Kaitlin tilted her head, listening to the story with a doubtful look. “My best guess? The doctor couldn’t help himself and took at peek at your brain.” “My brain…?” “Yep. And, if I had to guess… he screwed something up and set you back to your factory defaults… or at least somewhere around the time Wily first activated you. The question is… whose side are you really on?” “Papa Wily’s, of course! And, with my new electric weapons…” She gave another mean smile before mimicking Elecman’s pose from earlier. “I can be a hero for justice!”

There was an awkward moment where Kaitlin continued to charge and play with her electricity. She kept tossing Breakman glances, hoping for a reaction of some kind. When he didn’t give her one, though… she stopped her movements, put her hands into her hoodie’s front pockets, and sighed, looking away. “Couldn’t you… ya know… at least pretend t’ be scared?” “Scared of what?” Breakman replied. “Of me!” He was grinning when she snapped back… which only made her angrier. “You’re no threat to me,” he told her with that same grin. “Oh, yeah?!” When he nodded, she pulled her hands back out and charged an attack. “You’d better run!” she warned. “I mean it!” Rather than run, though… “Wh… what are you doing?” “Calling your bluff.” Breakman did something crazy.

As Kaitlin held her attack, Breakman nudged his shield off of his back and… to her continued surprise… tossed it some distance away. Then, he held his arms out, away from his body, and made the girl a promise. “If you plan to attack me, Wily Number, then I won’t stop you. I won’t even try and avoid it. I’ll stand right here, with my arms out, and I’ll let you hit me.” “Are… are you insane?!” the girl cried, her face showing anger and befuddlement. “No.” He smirked. “I just don’t think you’ll do it.” “Of course I can!” Her smile returned and she hunkered down. “The Rights are your family, right? So, that makes you my enemy! I’d be doin’ Papa Wily a favor by destroyin’ you with my fancy, new upgrades! He might even reward me! So, why wouldn’t I?” “Because…” She gritted her teeth. Somehow… she knew he’d narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re no threat to me.” “I am too a threat!” “You aren’t.” “I am!” “No, you aren’t.” “I am, I am, I am…!!” “You really aren’t.” “I… I am, though…!” Even though she seemed ready to strike… her resolve was starting to crack.

“I’ll do it!” she told him, sounding less confident than before. “I’ll… I’ll shut you down!” “Go ahead,” the grey-suited robot said in a calm voice. “I’ll… I’ll zap you from-head-to-toe and make you hurt!” “I’m waiting.” “I’ll… I’ll… I-I’ll…” She sighed, canceling her attack. “O-oh, alright, fine. I won’t attack you.” The girl kicked a rock and pouted. “Happy?” “Almost.” “Wha–” “Blues Strike!”

Time stood still as the girl felt something… odd. Her eyes went open and the world seemed to turn to gray. She didn’t know what was going on or how it had happened… All she knew was that she felt kind of a sharp pinch… but only for a second. Then, after what seemed like forever… she felt herself collide with the ground. The instant the touched down, time resumed and color came back to reality. She heard herself gasp then, all-at-once, felt a burning… seething pain. When she could finally bring herself to look, she noticed a massive, burning scorch mark covering most of her chest and part of her belly. There was a little trail of burnt dirt leading up to her, as well. She followed that line with her eyes… only for another feeling to overtake her.

“Why…?”

Her brown eyes filled to the brim with tears and overflowed down her warm cheeks. She genuinely couldn’t believe that the robot… who had been so nice to her… could have been the one to attack her! Yet, the proof was right there, pointed roughly where she was a few seconds prior.

Breakman stood up straight, looking at his target with contempt and holding his smoking weapon upright. Even if she could see his eyes… she knew she’d see no mercy, whatsoever… “Because…” She flinched as he spoke, expecting him to fire, again. Thankfully… “You hurt my family.”

The man whistled a little tune as he retrieved his shield. Shortly after, he cast the wounded girl another look… then, he huffed with a smirk. Without another word, a pinkish-red glow overtook him and he disappeared in a beam of light, leaving the girl to lay there… dying.

“I’m ho– oh, my gosh…!!” “Kaitlin…?! Kaaaitliiiiin…!”

Kaitlin grunted at the new voices. Both sounded concerned, but one sounded absolutely grief-stricken. They both seemed to know her, so she tried to ask for help. However, she couldn’t hear her words… When she tried to turn toward the voices, she could only catch glimpses – her optics were starting to fail. As her systems powered down, though, she thought she saw two things: A boy in a blue helmet… and some sort of wild animal with glasses…

#gift #fan fiction #Mega Man #Dr. Chou Numbers #Electrical Disturbance #commercial characters #Elecman #Thomas Light #Roll Light #Protoman #fan characters #kaitlinexe #Kaitlin Wily #drama #suspense

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jolienjoyswriting · 4 years

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Electrical Disturbance, Ch. I

Chapter 1 of "Electrical Disturbance," a Rockman (Dr. Chou Numbers universe) fan fiction story.

As most of you are aware, I recently dipped back into the Rockman/Mega Man fandom – or, more specifically, a fan character off-shoot there of. Well, after revising that story, I guess I had another in me because, wouldn't you know it? I ended up writing a big, eight-chapter epic about Kaitlin's namesake hero-girl. And, unlike the last time… this one really is more of a "Rockman fan fiction," as you'll see later on. On an unrelated note, I think this might be one of the few times the story description on the Series Archive will greatly differ from the description of the first chapter. There's no way I can summarize the story's events here!

Word count: 3,871 – Character count: 22,118 Originally written: July 18th, 2020

While performing upkeep on his ride, Joseph finds himself joined by one of his favorite people!

Roll, Albert W. Wily, “Rockman,” and related characters and concepts created by various people and © Capcom Co, Ltd. "Dr. Chou Numbers" concept and related characters and concepts created by and © Jussy Kaitlin/Thundergirl created by and © KaitlinEXE

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It was 2 o’clock on a sunny Thursday in the suburbs. Outside of a small house on a random street, a fox-man with golden fur was washing his car, when… “Mister Joseph…?” The fox blinked, his chocolate-tipped ears twitching. Someone had called his name in a soft, gentle voice. He turned off the hose in his hands and turned around to see… “R… Roll…?” A little, blond-haired girl stood a short distance away from the man. As was often the case, she wore her hair in a high ponytail, tied back with a green ribbon, while a plain, red, shirtless pinafore dress and matching, metallic Mary-Jane shoes decorated her small frame. She seemed to be carrying some sort of shiny bag behind her back as she cheerfully smiled and looked at her friend with pretty, brown eyes.

Her sudden appearance had been enough to make the man suspicious, but… “W-wait…” Joseph flipped up his clip-on sunglasses and narrowed his eyes. “Roll… did you… change your eye color?” “Don’t you know, Mister Joseph?” She girlishly giggled as she walked over with a cute, feminine sway. “As a robot, I can change my eye color to anything I want! Blue… green… brown…” “You forgot your color contacts, didn’t you.” Roll blinked… then she scowled, stopped her bag, and stomped in a puddle. “Darn it, Joe!” she exclaimed, her voice sounding much less “girlish.” “Hah!” He wagged his tail and smiled. “I knew it was you, Kaitlin.” When she crossed her arms and looked away with a pout, he found it kind of adorable. However… “Kait, I thought we fixed this…?” He quickly changed his tune as he recalled the conversation that led to this scenario.

Roll – rather, Kaitlin – looked over at her friend. When she noticed the concerned look on his face, she tilted her head. Then, suddenly… “Oh! Oh, no-no-no-no-no!” She laughed, waving her hands and causing Joseph further confusion. “This isn’t what you think it is, Joe!” she started. Then, as she walked to his side and put her hands behind her back, again, she explained… “That talk we had a couple weeks ago really helped me, a lot… Like I said before, who cares what the original purpose for Doc Chou’s proto-girl was? Since New-Dad rescued me from the dump, I learned a lot of things. Not only did I become Kaitlin Wily, buuut…” She pointed to the sky, calling down a long strand of electricity from a nearby power line. The resulting impact made her dress billow and hair whip in the wind. “I became Thundergirl, the Renegade Wily Number!!” “Geez, Kait…!” Joseph cried, his fur fluffing from the nearby static. “Whatever happened to that whole ‘secret identity’ thing…?” She went bow-legged and covered her mouth with both hands. “Oop– sorry…!” Then, she actually giggled. It was a weird sight, coming from her… but hardly an unwelcome one!

“My point is,” she continued as she took a neutral pose, “I’m not doubting myself, anymore. Whatever I was, I ain’t, anymore, and whatever I am is whoever I wanna be! And, right now?” She grinned at the fox. “I wanna be the Kaitlin who dressed up like Roll for her boyfriend!” “As opposed to the Kaitlin who wanted to be Roll for her friend?” Joseph asked. “Bingo!” The girl winked and grinned at him, then she put her hands behind her back for a third time, sort of impatiently wiggling on-the-spot.

“So!” Kaitlin said with a bright smile. “What can I do for you, Mister Joseph?” He rubbed the back of his head. “W-well… I was in the middle of washing my car, as you can see, so–” “Oh! Let me help with that!” He blinked as, without waiting, “Roll” ran to a nearby bucket and grabbed a sponge. “I was built to help out!” she cheerfully proclaimed as she started rubbing a random dirty spot on his little, green vehicle. “I live to serve!” “Is… is that what you think Roll sounds like, Kait?” “What do you mean, Mister Joseph?” The brown-eyed girl paused, blinking in confusion. “I was made to be a housekeeping robot, right? Well, what does a housekeeping robot do?” “Keep… house…?” Joseph guessed with a cocked head. “Yep! So, let me help you keep your house tidy!” “I don’t live in my car, though…” he chuckled. “Oh, uh…” Again, she paused in confusion. She wasn’t sure if the car counted as part of the “house” – or rather, part of the household, like a lawn or a patio. As she debated herself, Joseph walked over, still chuckling, and started rubbing a window on the opposite side of his vehicle. “Besides, I thought you – Kaitlin,” he emphasized, “hated being a maid?” “Kaitlin hates being a maid, yes!” the girl agreed, continuing to use a sweeter tone as she resumed cleaning, “but Roll doesn’t! Roll – which is me – loves cooking and cleaning for her – my friends and family! We’re friends, aren’t we, Mister Joseph?” “Yeah…?” the fox answered… though he wasn’t sure “who” he was answering. “Sooo…” She brightly smiled. “Let me help you, today! It’s was a long flight from New Mexico, after all, and it’d be a waste for me to go aaall the way back just like that!” “I… suppose you’re right?” He smiled at the girl pretending to be Roll. “Okay, you win, Cutie Roll. It’d be my honor to have you help me out around the house. Thank you!” Once again, Kaitlin looked a little baffled. “What– really? Oh, I mean… yaaay!!” she quickly corrected, falling back into character. “Thank you for this opportunity, Mister Joseph!” He blushed a little as “Roll” bowed his way… then, he chuckled. “Your, um… ‘ponytail’ is slipping, ‘Roll.’” “What?” She stood back up with a blink. A second later, “Oh!” The girl looked in his side-view mirror, quickly adjusting her wig. “You didn’t see that,” she said in a cool voice that mimicked an angered Roll. “See what?” She smiled. “Good boy.”

The next hour was spent giving Joseph’s car a good scrubbing, followed by a rinse. During that time, “Roll” decided to catch up with her friend, asking him how things had been since he and Thundergirl visited, how the girl-hero had been, and so on. When it came time for Joseph to ask the same of her and her life… “Oh, you know how things are as Right Labs! Busy-busy-busy!” She didn’t have as much of an answer. “You know…” Joseph wagged his tail as he decided to test Kaitlin’s knowledge of Roll. “There’s a rumor going around on the web that you love your brother, Rock.” “Of course I do!” the false-blond said without missing a beat. “Rock is my brother! I love him, lots!” “Okay, but…” The fox grinned. “What I mean is, you don’t just love him as a brother.” “Well… I guess not!” She smiled over the hood of the car. “I also love him like family… because he is family!” “The rumor is…” His grin widened. “You have a romantic crush on your brother.” “Wh-wh-what?!” She looked up from her cleaning, her mouth and eyes going wide. “I… I d-don’t know what you’re talking about, Mister Joseph!” “I mean, I wouldn’t blame you if you did…” He looked skyward with a sigh and a smile. “He’s so heroic and brave… He’s always fighting that nogoodnik, Dr. Wily, as well as any other threats to the planet. Remember that time the Space Rulers invaded?” She tilted her head. “Wasn’t that a plot by Dr. Wily, too?” “Was it?” Joseph hummed. “Well, I wasn’t there, so I don’t know all the facts…” The fox signaled for “Roll” to scoot. When she did, he sprayed his car’s hood clean of suds and soap.

“Getting back to my point,” he said as he looked his vehicle over, “Rock isn’t just a superhero. He’s a super-duper-hero! I bet there’s plenty of girls who have a crush on him–” “Who?!” He blinked, his ears perking and eyes widening. “Roll” was giving Joseph an angry, impatient look with her hands on her hips. “I… don’t know anyone, specifically,” he clarified. “I’m just saying, it’s only natural for someone to crush on such a cool guy like Rock. Even his own sister!” “I-I… gueeess…?” The fox tilted his head. “Roll” was starting to blush… which either meant that Kaitlin was a really good actor, or… “Hey, Kait?” “Yeah? Oh– dang it!” He chuckled as she broke character. Then… “Real-talk: do you have a thing for Rock? I’ve always wondered. You can tell me.” “Mm… not really.” She shrugged. “I’m kind’a into taller guys with more flair?” He blinked a couple of times. She’d let that loose so easily… “Did… you mean to tell me that?” he found himself asking. “Sure?” She smiled his way. “Why not?” “I… uh, never mind.

“Anyway… you were blushing when I was going on about Rock, so I just–” “It’s called ‘acting,’ fluffy-butt!” She chuckled. “My current role is Roll, so I’m rolling along with whatever role you roll at me!” “That… sentence hurts my head.” The two shared a bit of laughter, together. “So, do you think your car shiny-and-clean enough, Mister Joseph…?” Kaitlin said as she went back into character. After Joseph nodded, she set her sponge down, clapped her hands, and brightly smiled. “Wonderful! I’m glad I was able to help you wash it, Mister Joseph! But…” She rubbed her arm and looked down, her face warming, again. “I’m even more glad we could do it, together… A-as a team, I mean…!” “C… come again?” “N-nothing…!” The fox blinked as “Roll” flustered and laughed. She was blushing, again…

“H-hey, it’s getting late, now!” she suddenly said. “Um, may I make you some dinner?” “Y–” He blinked, pausing. “You know how to cook…?” Kaitlin knew that question was directed at her and not “Roll.” However… “Of course I know how to cook! You’ve had my cooking, before! How rude!” She stayed in-character and shot him a glare, stomping the asphalt of his driveway. “S-sorry, sorry…!” the fox laughed. “Yes, I’d love one of your home-cooked meals, Miss Roll. Thank you very much!” “Great!” Her expression lightened and she clapped, again. “How does shrimp-fried rice sound?” “That… sounds pretty good, yeah.” “Okay! ‘cause, that’s what I brought in that cold-storage bag! The ingredients, I mean!” She walked to the metallic-looking sack that she’d abandoned by his curb-side mailbox. “The shrimp should be thawed,” she commented as she retrieved it, “so dinner should be ready in about a half-hour! You go ahead and relax while I get everything going!” “O-okay… But, um, if you’re going inside…” he commented as she trotted over to his front door with her bag, “you’ll need to unlock the door, first.” “Oh?” She blinked, giving his doorknob a turn. “Oh, it is locked!” “I’m paranoid… uh, ‘Roll.’ But, I appreciate the enthusiasm to get started. It’s sweet.” “That’s me, alright! Sweet-as-honey!” she giggled. “So… am I officially invited in?” He smiled, his tail wagging. “I’m officially inviting you in, yes.” The girl cheerfully giggled with a bright smile of her own. “Catch.” Only to blink and watch in curiosity as the fox tossed her a key-ring. “It’s the key marked ‘home,” he told her as he bent down to retrieve one of the wash buckets they were using. “I’ll clean up out here while you get started. Okay?” “O-okay…!” She flustered a little as she nodded. “Thank you very much!” “No, Roll.” He winked. “Thank you.” She looked away with another blush, giggling to herself. “The key unlocks the knob and the deadbolt, by the way!” “Got it!” she called back, already setting to work on unlocking the house. A second later, she made her way inside and got ready to cook for the friendly fox.

Geez… what am I even doing…?

That was the first thought Kaitlin had as she stood in Joseph’s kitchen. She had a bit of time to wait while the pan – which she’d dug out of one of the fox’s cabinets – got hot. That, of course, gave her time to think…

What was I even thinking, just showing up, unannounced, and dressed like Roll…? She looked at the red fabric of her dress, tugging it out in front of her. A second later, she twisted her body and looked herself over, sticking one leg out and pointing her toe at the tiled floor. Once she realized what it was she was doing – looking herself over, girlishly – she dropped her dress skirt, brushed it straight, then huffed. I feel so weird, wearing this… Why didn’t I pick Roll’s hoodie outfit, instead? At least I could’ve worn bike shorts under that one! The girl uncomfortable squirmed. It’s weird, feeling the air on my legs, like this… It’s even weirder knowing that if I bend over or sit the wrong way, I could end up flashing someone… Even a gust of wind could make this skirt fly up on me! She blushed, envisioning a situation where that happened while Joseph was watching. The perv’d prob’ly love it… Heh heh heh… That brought her some amusement. Shortly after, she sighed and looked at the pan. “Heat, darn it! I have a dinner t’ cook!” “Wha’cha say, Roll?” Kaitlin squeaked in surprise. A second later… “O-oh, I’m just being a grump because this butter isn’t melting fast enough! I’m sure you’re really hungry after washing your car, and–” “I’m in no hurry,” Joseph called from the other side of his roomy living room, she guessed. “Take all the time you need.” “O-okay! Thank you! Dinner should be ready within the hour!” “Heh. You’re the best, Roll!” She put her hands to her warming cheeks and wiggled in place with a shy smile. “He thinks I’m the best…” she whispered with a giggle. “G-gosh…” Kaitlin blinked, then, as she wondered why she did that. It wasn’t like he was close enough to see her, much less hear her. Method acting… she rationalized with a shrug and a snort. When the sizzle of the butter caught her attention, she hummed and smiled, then she started the cooking process, proper.

“Dinner’s ready!”

Roughly forty-four minutes after the robot-girl had started, she finished with a delicious-smelling pile of fried rice, shrimp, and peas all served in the same pan. She happily served up a portion on a plate for Joseph, bringing it to him in the living room. A minute later, she returned with a smaller dish for herself. When she knelt on the opposite side of his coffee table and set out a pair of forks for them… “What are you doing?” She had to look up.

“What do you mean?” she asked, curiously tilting her head. “You can sit on the couch,” the fox offered, shimmying over and patting the space next to him. “There’s plenty of room. Heck, you can even have the whole thing if you–” “I wouldn’t dream of kicking you off your own couch, Mister Joseph!” He blinked a couple of times. “But, to answer your question…” The girl looked down, shyly rubbing the tips of her index fingers together. “It wouldn’t be proper for me to sit next to you, like that… Hee-hee…” “Why not?” “Come on, Mister Joseph…” Her hands gravitated to her glowing cheeks. “A single lady sitting next to a handsome man, all alone in his lovely house…? That’s how rumors start!” “You think I’m handsome?” “Ah–!” She covered her face entirely, shaking her head. “I-I didn’t mean it!” “So, you think I’m ugly, then?” “N-no! I-I mean, yes?” She squeaked, pulling her hands over her chest and looking at the fox with surprise. “Aaah– I-I do think you’re handsome! I just– w-wait…” When she noticed him grinning and wagging his tail… “You tricked me…!” She got angry.

“Yooou think I’m handsome!” Joseph laughed out loud, his grin widening. “That’s not funny, Joseph!” She puffed her cheeks shooting him a glare. “It’s not nice to play with a girl’s feelings, like that!” “Hee-hee… Mmm… Man, Kaitlin. You really went all-out for this, huh?” The anger in her brown eyes vanished and she found herself genuinely smiling. “I wanted t’ do somethin’ extra-special-nice for you,” the girl said in her normal voice. “Not just ‘cause you’re my boyfriend, but ‘cause… you deserve it!” “If I didn’t know you were Kaitlin,” Joseph said as he picked up his plate, “I’d swear the real Roll were sitting across from me, right now. You’re an exceptional actress.” “Geez…” She rubbed her cheeks – which were genuinely warming from his praise. “Ya sure know how t’ flatter a girl, Fuzzball.” “Heh. Wanna take a break from the ‘Roll-play’ and–” “Heck, yea’!” The fox laughed as Kaitlin shrugged her wig off, grabbed her plate and fork, and slid around the coffee table to plunk down next to him.

“This smells really good…” Joseph told her as she turned on the television. “It should!” She beamed as she told him, “I’ve been practicin’!” “For me?” he teased. “For myself,” was the girl’s honest answer. “I don’t wanna go pro or anything, but I think it’s nice t’ be able t’ cook somethin’ for my friends! Or, ya know… when I was a hot meal.” She took a bite of her meal and wiggled, making “yummy” noises. “Ish sho guud…!” “Ya know…” Joseph said after a bite, “Roll would never talk with food in her mouth.” “Yeah, well.” She paused to swallow. “I ain’t Roll right now. So, there! Nyeh.” The two grinned at each other. Shortly after, they returned to their respective plates.

The meal went off without a hitch, that evening. Joseph was all smiles as he went back for seconds. Kaitlin wasn’t kidding – her shrimp-fried rice really was good! Of course, any praise he gave the girl was rewarded with a mix of egotistic boasting… and shy blushing. She never knew how to take a from-the-heart compliment from her friends. All she knew was that she appreciated all of it.

“I’m gonna have to have you cook for me more often, Kait,” the said as he started putting the leftovers into a plastic container, a short while later. “I–” “Shh!” “What? What’s wrong?” The fox waited for a reply. After a moment, though… “– the latest in a series of small-scale attacks by Dr. Wily.” “Aw, no…”

Joseph stopped what he was doing and rushed into the other room to join Kaitlin. She was already on the floor, her eyes glued to the television screen and ears taking in every word that the brown-haired newscaster wearing hair-buns was saying.

“As seen here, the infamous roboticist, Dr. Albert W. Wily, has already struck several major cities in the continental United States, including but not limited to…” The reporter listed off a series of names, showing off matching video clips of various Robot Masters attacking place-after-place. “News sources have yet to determine the motive of these attacks as they don’t appear to be organized in any cohesive way. We now join our news panel to discuss–” Joseph and Kaitlin both blinked. The picture was getting fuzzy and distorted… “Hey! C’mon!!” the girl-robot shouted as she sat up and banged the fox’s television. “I don’t think it’s the TV, Kait… I think it’s–” “Gyaaah ha ha ha ha ha hah…!!” “– a broadcast interruption – oh, here we go…”

An older, white-haired man wearing a black dress shirt, red tie, and white lab-coat appeared. His eyebrows waggle while his blue eyes stared right into the camera. “Greetings, lesser minds of the world!” When he slid back, there was no mistaking those big, jagged tufts of white hair or that push-broom moustache… The man who had interrupted the broadcast was none other than… “It is I, the indelible hyper-genius, Doctor Wily!!” “‘Indelible…?’” Joseph repeated. “What does–” “Shh…!” He blinked as Kaitlin hushed him, again. The two continued to watch in silence, after.

“You may be wondering… just what sort of sinister machination do I have up my magnificent sleeve this time…?” “What, did he buy a Thesaurus, recent–?” “Hush!” the girl warned, growing increasingly annoyed with the interruptions. Wily continued as a large map of the country appeared on blueprint paper, on-screen. “Well, as you’ve undoubtedly noticed, I’ve sent a few of my favorite machines out to take over some of the key tourist-centric locations of the United States!” As Dr. Wily named locations, flashing red-and-yellow dots appeared on the map, the last one appearing somewhere in Arizona. By the end, a total of eight dots appeared at various locations. The map slid into the upper-right corner of the screen, then. “Why have I done this?” Dr. Wily said as he came back into view. “Simple, you simpletons! This is the first step in my latest plan to take over the wooorld…!” “But, he’s just taking over–” “Joseph!” The fox covered his mouth as Kaitlin shot him a harsh glare. He had a feeling there wouldn’t be another warning if he spoke, again.

“‘But Dr. Wily,’” the doctor said in a whiny, dumb sort of accent, “‘you’re just taking over tourist spots in the US!’” Joseph blinked as Kaitlin briefly smirked at him. “Thank you for stating the obvious, you small-minded sap! The point of taking over the tourist industry of the United States is that it will have a largely-detrimental effect on the global economy! Stocks will plummet, the value of the dollar will fall, and before long, people will start to panic! But! While the world leaders scramble to salvage their failing countries and placate the braying sheep, I… Dr. Wily… will appear with my never-ending army of robots–” Another picture frame appeared, showing still-after-still of large groups of robots… Shielded stormtroopers in green, red, and orange… construction robots of all sizes with various weapons and machinery… flying creatures, swimming creatures, and everything in between! Wily really wasn’t kidding when he said he had “armies.” “– and quash the inevitable uprisings that will ensue in the panic! Once the masses are quelled and I’ve ousted the current leaders through force, I’ll have cemented my place as ruler of the world! Then… the New Age of Wily can begin!” “The ‘NAW?’” Joseph asked as the doctor cackled. “What a stupid– buwaaaurgh–!!” The fox then fell onto his butt as Kaitlin zapped him with a short, high-amp burst of energy! She did warn him to keep quiet…

“‘Doctah Wahwee,’” the menacing scientist mocked as he came back into view, again, “‘why are you giving us all the details, like this? Aren’t you scaaared that someone will stop you?’ Not at all, you minor mentalists! As you can see–” He gestured to the map and the slideshow of robot armies. “– I am quite prepared for any-and-all forms of resistance, be it from a local militia, the unified armies of the world, or even a certain blue bomber…” He growled at that last thought. “No, this time… absolutely no one will be able to stop me! This time, my friends… the world will be mine!! Gyah hah… ha hah… nyaaah ha ha ha ha haaaaah…!!” “We’ll see about that, Dad!!”

#gift #fan fiction #Mega Man #Dr. Chou Numbers #Electrical Disturbance #commercial characters #Albert Wily #fan characters #kaitlinexe #Kaitlin Wily #original characters #jolikmc #Joseph Lithius #slice of life #drama

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jolienjoyswriting · 4 years

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Electrical Disturbance, Ch. II

Chapter 2 of "Electrical Disturbance," a Rockman (Dr. Chou Numbers universe) fan fiction story.

Even after reading and proofreading this chapter, I wonder if I made a mistake in letting things happen as they did? I mean, it's all rationalized, but still… Ah, well. Them's the breaks, sometimes~

Word count: 5,082 – Character count: 29,650 Originally written: July 18th, 2020 Slightly revised: July 21st, 2020

Shocking Showdown: Thundergirl vs. Elecman!! Who will win this battle of bolts?!

Rightot, Roll, Elecman, “Rockman,” and related characters and concepts created by various people and © Capcom Co, Ltd. "Dr. Chou Numbers" concept and related characters and concepts created by and © Jussy Kaitlin/Thundergirl created by and © KaitlinEXE

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A day that started with a pleasant “play-date” of sorts came to an abrupt detour as the mad inventor, Dr. Albert Wily, decided to launch yet another attack on the world! When the heroic Thundergirl stood up and cast down his claim of global dictatorship, Joseph wasn’t surprised. “Kaitlin…” But, he was concerned…

The fox stood with a little difficulty – his nerves were still twitching from the hard shock he’d earned for talking over the news while the girl was trying to listen. As he finally got up, he looked at her looking at him. “I have to go, Joe…” the girl in the red dress told him. “I have to stop my dad from taking over the world.” “I’ll come with you!” he offered. “You’ll only get hurt,” she calmly told him, “but thank you for the offer.” Joseph whimpered. Once Wily had taken over the airwaves, it seemed like the Kaitlin he knew had been replaced by her alter-ego, Thundergirl. Even her unconscious Quick-Change out of the girly, red dress she’d worn for their get-together and into her purple-and-black battle armor with the yellow boots seemed uncharacteristic for the girl. She was in “all-business” mode…

“This is Thundergirl calling Right Labs. Please, respond.” Joseph blinked. Kaitlin had brought one of her thick, red bracelets up and, after pressing a couple of buttons, spoken into it. “Thundergirl, das?” a semi-familiar voice called back through some static. “Thundergirl, das!! Long time, no talk, das! How are–” “No time to chat, Rightot,” she interrupted with a scowl. “Is the doctor around?” “The doctor is in the main lab, Kaitlin!” Joseph blinked, again, his ears flicking. The radio voice had suddenly changed. “Roll?” Kaitlin called. “Listen, I know you guys have a teleportation network over there, and I know I’m hooked into it, so wherever Dr. Wily is, I wanna be there!” “We haven’t figured out where he is, yet!” Roll countered, sounding frustrated. “Oh, why does he have to keep doing this bad stuff? Why can’t he just go away?!” “I’d be pretty happy if he retired, myself…” The girl in purple chuckled before her serious look returned. “Just send me where I’ll be the most useful. I’m ready to bring down the thunder on some Robot Masters!” “Just a second! Let me see… Ah! Um… Kaitlin?” “What?” She scowled. “What’s wrong?” “Would you be willing to stop one of my brothers from rampaging?” “One of your…?” Her scowl turned to a sad frown. “Oh, no…” “Dr. Wily… that bad man… He got one of the doctor’s creations, again!” “Which one, Roll? I’ll go stop ‘em. Gently,” she added. “It’s… Elecman.” “E-Elecman…?” Joseph blinked, tilting his head. He wasn’t sure since the girl’s semi-transparent, yellow visor partly-obscured her face, but… he thought she might be blushing.

“Plugman isn’t responding to our calls” Roll explained. “He was somewhere in Japan, last time we heard from him… probably Akihabara, again. Sparkman is off-planet with Fuseman, helping convert one of Wily’s old space stations for a more peaceful use. Rock is busy fighting in Arizona and we can’t risk sending Cutman or Nitroman – they don’t know how to hold back! So… as much as I hate to ask a friend…” “I’m a hero, above all, Roll!” Kaitlin proudly declared with a brave smile. “I’ll do it!” “Thank you, Kaitlin…” Roll sounded relieved. “I’m sending the coordinates to you, now. The teleportation module Doctor Right installed in you should send you right there!” “Dr. Right installed a what in you?!” “Who’s that?” The other girl paused before guessing, “Is that… Joseph? Oh, no! Were you two on a date, just now…?” “Yes,” Kaitlin said with a straight face, “which is why I’m really mad at da– octor Wily for interrupting it!” Joseph’s cheeks burned from the conversation. He wanted to speak up, but… “It’s okay, Kaitlin! Once we stop Wily, you and Joseph should have plenty of time to go on dates! If… we manage to catch him, this time, I mean. Hee-hee…” “Tch… tell me about it.” The girl-hero rolled her eyes. “Anyway, it’s thunder time!” Kaitlin’s body became engulfed in a purple-pink light. “Kaitlin, wait!” Just as Joseph shouted and leaped for her… her energized molecules phased through through his ceiling and into space, leaving the world behind…

“No, damn it, no…” Angry and frustrated at the situation, Joseph slammed his hand against the floor… Kaitlin was gone. He knew she didn’t carry a cellphone while doing hero things, so he had no way of knowing what she was doing, where she was, or if she was okay. All he knew, for certain, was that she was going to be fighting Dr. Wily’s robot armies and, eventually, come face-to-face with Elecman… one of Dr. Right’s most dangerous “helper robots.”

To say that he was worried for her… was putting it lightly. –––––

“Las Vegas: The City that Never Sleeps… Filled to the brim with simple people looking for simple pleasures. Truly… this is the epitome of societal decadence.”

A large, man-made structure dat in the middle of an arid, desert landscape. On one side, a massive pool of water. On the other, a long drop leading to a small river cut into a canyon. On this structure stood a mysterious figure dressed in black, surveying his surroundings… “Hmph. Dr. Wily should have sent me here during the nighttime. It would be electrifying to see the city lit up! Oh, to see the raw energy usage of Sin City in action…! Well, I have my orders. It’s time to discharge the Hoover Dam from service!”

The figure raised a red-gloved hand and extended an index finger. Electricity sparked to life from his fingertip, forming into a large ball. Then… “Stop!!” The stranger found a distraction in the form of a little, brown-haired girl in a beret.

“Who in the world are you?” “Elecman, it’s me!” she cried. “Thundergirl!” “Is this some sort of joke?” The Robot Master hopped down from an access building seated atop the massive dam, discharging the energy from his finger as he walked over to the girl. He seemed… annoyed?

“Dr. Wily entrusted me, his best and brightest, Elecman, to disrupt the Nevada power grid and who does that old fool, Right, send to parlay?” He sneered. “Some… some little girl scout!” Kaitlin scowled. “Hey, I’m not a– “Take your shortbread cookies and your thin mints and begone!!” She flinched, then, as the Robot Master sent a wave of thunder her way. He wasn’t aiming to hurt her by any means – just scare her. However… “I’m not some ‘Girl Scout,’ Elecman!” She wasn’t intimidated.

“I’m your friend, Elecman!” the girl shouted, stomping her big, yellow boot with a huff. “I’m Thundergirl! We met at that carnival, that one time? Remember…? I certainly do…” “Please…” the smarmy man in the jagged, yellow mask scoffed. “Someone like me wouldn’t be caught dead at such a place!” “You were the special guest performer for the band Cold Steel!” She smiled, faintly blushing as she told him, “You looked so cool, playin’ electric guitar on that stage…” “This is absurd!” The man shook his head. “I don’t remember any of this nonsense!” “That’s because Dr. Wily brainwashed you! Again!” She took a step toward him as she suggested, “So… let’s just take you back t’ Dr. Right and–” “Enough!” The girl was quick to hop back as Elecman threw an actual bolt of lightning at her feet. “Initially, you had sparked my curiosity… I can’t imagine the Hoover Dam gets many visits from the Girl Scouts of America,” he said with an annoyed look. “But, after hearing your nonsensical drivel, I’ve decided that you’re no longer worth my time. I suggest you leave this place, immediately, lest I light up your life with a few-thousand amperes of electricity!”

Elecman brought his hands over his head, a wide arc of loud, sparkling energy forming between them. He seemed ready to use it, too. However… “You’re welcome to try, Sparky!” Kaitlin growled, rubbing her hands together as her energy surged. “Don’t you dare compare me to that cheap knock-off!” The Robot Master had heard enough. He swung his arm in a wide arm, sending out a wave of electricity toward the girl. Once again, she jumped away, but instead of talking… “Thunder Ball!” She tossed a sphere of plasma right at him! She didn’t just stop with one, however. “Oh, I see!” Elecman called as he dodged her attacks. “A connoisseur of currents, are we? Leave the electrical work to the professionals, Girl Scout! Thunder Beam!” Kaitlin made a mad dash to the backside of the utility building. A half-second later… “Gah…!” The glass blew out and some of the shrapnel cut her one of her purple sleeves. “So, it’s gonna be like that, is it?!”

Her energy surged and crackled into both of Kaitlin’s hands. When she jumped out from behind the building, however… “Wuh– where’d you go?” She noticed that her target was nowhere to be found. At least… “Waaaaaugh!!” Nowhere she could see.

Kaitlin stumbled forward, losing her beret after taking a heavy blow to the back. As the electrical energy crackled up-and-down her body, she rolled over, her ears catching a low, amused chuckle. “Are you positive that you want to do this, little girl?” Elecman smirked, taking slow, long steps toward her, his arms rhythmically waving in time to his saunter. He seemed awfully proud of himself… “It’s not often I get the chance to charge my mettle against an electrical enemy… It would be a waste to send such a precious galvanic gladiator to her ultimate end so quickly…” Kaitlin growled, her eyes narrowing as a faint blush burned on her cheeks. She felt an odd mix of embarrassment, humiliation, and a little bit of fluster as she watched the black-and-red Robot Master draw nearer. “Battery’ll get you nowhere, Elecman,” she spat with a sudden grin. “Clever pun, but entirely inaccurate, dear girl.” His finger sparked to life, crackling blue-white as he drew lines of energy in the air. It didn’t seem like he was preparing a fancy attack or anything… No, he was simply showing off.

“From this weak display, I have no doubt that my power is far greater than yours,” he told her as took his steps. “I–” “I’m just getting charged up! Thunder Ball!!” “What– hey!!” Elecman covered his face as Kaitlin shot a powerful attack directly at his feet. He knew, right away, that she just kicking up dust and debris as a distraction. However… “Fine. Play your childish games.” He didn’t care. “While you play hide-and-seek, I shall simply–” “Surprise!!” Suddenly, the girl-hero leaped from atop the utility building, hands sparkling and crackling with huge amounts of electrical energy! She had him right where she wanted him! “Fool!!” Until he zipped back and ax-kicked her, face-down, into the cement.

“Aaaugh…!” “Impudent! Little! Hoodlum!” Elecman snarled as he repeatedly kicked the girl in the ribs and stomped on her back. “Just who do you think you are to try and sneak-attack a master strategist – and I’m being very! Polite! In calling you that!” “I– ack– I’m Thundergirl, you blow-hard, and I’m– gah– I’m gonna stop you…!” The furious Robot Master narrowed his eyes before delivering one more kick that sent the girl rolling away. When she spun into a standing position, he didn’t hesitate.

“Thuuunder Bolt!!” The Robot Master’s finger went skyward and he discharged a powerful surge of energy into the clouds. Not long after, a hail of lightning bolts cascaded down upon the area, zapping the dam, the building, and anything within a wide radius of Kaitlin… including her. “How do you like that, you little upstart?!” he huffed as his attack came to a close. “Please…” was his opponent’s response. “I’ve gotten worse shocks than that from shopping carts at the supermarket!” She grinned, standing firmly as she stared down the taller figure. Plenty of those bolts had nailed her, leaving scorch marks along her arms, head, back, and boots… but she didn’t seem much worse off than she was moments prior.

“How dare you mock me!!” Elecman roared as he ran at her, throwing smaller, stronger bursts of energy all-the-while. “I never knew you had such a short fuse, Elecman!” the girl shot back, darting this way, rolling that way, and making every single one of the enraged robot’s attacks miss. “I will have you begging for a mercy which will never come!” “Well, threaten me with a good time!” she laughed. “You little jackanape…!” “I know you are,” she called with a huge grin, “but what am– aiieee–!!”

Kaitlin’s eyes opened wide. In all her teasing and dodging, she hadn’t noticed just how close Elecman was getting. Before she could mount a proper counter-attack… “The game is over…!!” He’d grabbed her by the collar, cross-armed, and pinned the girl against the dam’s safety railing, choking her with his wrists. “What’s the matter, Sparky?” she coughed with false bravado, “can’cha take a joke?” “No…” He flashed a wicked grin. “But, I can most-assuredly end one…” “Heh, that’s not bad– aaaaaahh…!!” The girl’s eyes slammed shut and she screamed as loudly as she could. She hardly had time to react as he focused every watt and every amp of his energy into both hands and started electrocuting her! Elecman was through with her “games…”

Kaitlin screamed loud and long, her horrific noises echoing through the dry, desert air. Her body twitched and her clothing burned… her internal sensors blared and flashed their warnings… her servos and gears ground against themselves… “Your screams are like music to my ears, dear Thundergirl…!” he shouted over her pained wails. “The only thing more beautiful than that will be the sudden, deafening silence to follow!” It seemed like the anguish would never end! That is… “What… what did you–” Until she finally made a move against him.

Elecman blinked in utter confusion, ceasing his attack all-at-once. He had no idea what was happening, or how it had even happened, but… he suddenly found himself falling. However, he wasn’t freefalling. Rather, it seemed like he – and his captive – were slowly drifting down through a wet, murky place full of bubbles. After a few seconds more, he suddenly realized… “You… threw us into the reservoir?”

Kaitlin laughed, peeking an eye open as the two slowly sank. “Heh… Wh-while you were frying my circuits, I thought up a plan…” Indeed, while Elecman was busy reveling in the horrifying screams and the “beauty” of a face pushed to the extremes of pain, Kaitlin had slid her feet up, pressing them flat against the guard rail. Then, with all of her might, she hugged the evil robot’s body, threw her weight back, pushed hard with both feet, and… down the two went. Right over the rail and into the drink.

“Are you joking– are you absolutely joking right now…?!” Elecman threw Kaitlin as hard as he could… which didn’t amount to a whole lot, since they were both underwater. The next thing he did, after landing and righting himself, was to walk over and kick her, again! Of course, that wasn’t nearly as effective as he’d hoped, either. In the end, he just flopped to the dirt and silt, crossed his arms and legs, and pouted.

“This was your grand-master plan…? To throw us both into the reservoir.” “It was the best I could come up with,” Kaitlin admitted as she shakily got to her feet. “I don’t think on my feet well, but so I thought with my feet!” “You… you…” The Robot Master shook his head and started laughing. “Well… this is not the outcome I was expecting.” “You ‘n me both, Sparky.” He glanced up to see Kaitlin grinning at him. After a moment of that, he grumbled and turned away. “I figured–” “I know what you ‘figured,’ Thundergirl,” he snapped, cutting her off. “You figured that by submerging the two of us, neither could throw a bolt and neither could physically strike the other with enough force to do any damage. Correct?” “That’s about right!” she said with a laugh. “So, what’s stopping me from overcharging my core and blowing up the dam – taking both of us with it?” “Uuuhmm…”

The wicked grin from earlier returned as Elecman looked at his adversary. A second later, he stood up and walked over to the dam wall. Kaitlin watched as his body started sparking and took on a rather ominous glow… “Hey, um… I don’t s’pose there’s any way I can talk ya outta this, is there?” “No, so save your breath – so-to-speak,” the Robot Master said as his glow brightened. “Instead… take this time to consider your parting words to this world…” “Okay, how’s this…” The girl-hero walked over to his side, making sure he could see her before she spoke. “Why don’t we find a way outta here, finish our fight where we can use weapons, and–” “I said: ‘save your breath…’” He closed his eyes and frowned. “This fight was over before it even began…” “Elecman, I…” The girl frowned, too, but for a very different reason.

“Elecman…” she whispered, removing her beret. “You don’t have t’ do this… Dr. Wily is a bad man who wants bad things t’ happen t’ bad people– wait. Scratch that last one.” “Good lord, woman! Even your diplomacy is just… awful!” The Robot Master actually stopped what he was doing to turn and face her. He put a hand over his face, shaking his head, then started laughing. Then, all-at-once… he went deathly-serious and narrowed his eyes at the girl. “Just what kind of ‘superhero’ are you? You cannot stop me any more than you can stop yourself from being a bumbling fool. You should have simply let me end you. Perhaps, I would have taken pity and let you live. Now?” He turned back to the dam, his body dangerously humming, again. “You and I will die, together, in a glorious burst of hellfire, utterly destroying any close-by settlements and devastating distant lands with floodwaters. I imagine such a catastrophe would irreversibly change the ecology and violently terraform the land for generations to come. He smugly smiled back at Kaitlin. “All because you had to play dress-up and pretend to be a hero.”

Kaitlin looked down at the reservoir floor, quietly kicking some loose pebbles with her boot. She could feel Elecman’s cold, blue optics piercing her with concept and judgment. She knew he didn’t see her as a threat or a challenge. She couldn’t match his power output, nor was she smart enough to out-think him. She was slower, weaker, and just plain worse at everything, compared to him. She didn’t know why she told Roll she could stop him… He had over three decades of life, world, and combat experience over her! Now… because of her complete lack of preparation and foolhardy attitude while fighting the robot… hundreds… maybe even thousands of people would die! All because, as Elecman, himself, had put it: “because she wanted to play dress-up and pretend to be a hero.”

“What… what are you doing?” As the reality of the situation hit her… she did the only thing she could think of… “Let go. I said, let go!” She wrapped her arms around Elecman, buried her face against his back and… she started crying in silence.

“Stop hugging me this instant!” the Robot Master shouted. He stopped overcharging his core and started twisting and jerking, desperately trying to to let go. However… “Just… get it over with.” She wasn’t going anywhere. “Whoever decided you should be a superhero made a very bad call!” He snorted as grabbed her by the arms. It took a little doing, but he managed to pull himself free and take a step forward. As quickly as he could, he spun around and prepared to punch her… only to stop before he’d started. “Oh, what are you doing, now?” he impatient asked to the girl who’d collapsed on the concrete floor, squeezing her legs. “Feeling sorry for myself, mostly?” was her honest answer. “Crying… I dunno…” “You really are quite pathetic,” the man huffed. “It’s almost amusing. Almost…” “I try!” she spat back between loud whimpers. “Not hard enough, clearly.”

“Look!” the angry girl snarled, giving him a death-glare. “If you’re gonna just stand there bein’ nasty, then–” “If you’re just going to sit there and simper,” he snapped, sounding impatient, “then perhaps you should just return home and go back to selling overpriced confections for your local troop! I have neither the time nor the patience for this… this… sad display of self-loathing!” “Just blow up the dam, Elecman…” “I beg your pardon?” He blinked, again, looking at the girl. Her head was back between her knees and she somehow looked even more defeated than she a moment prior.

“Just blow up the dam and get it over with…” she repeated. “I don’t care, anymore.” “Well, good.” He huffed. “You should have simply said as much to begin with.” “I should’ve…” She shook her head. “I’m no hero…” “Most assuredly,” the Robot Master muttered as he restarted his overcharge. “I don’t know what I was thinking when I made these modifications to myself…” “Yes, yes, whatever,” he sighed. “These modifications,” she repeated, looking up with quivering eyes. “I made them, myself, because I wanted t’ be a hero like Rockman.” Elecman rolled his eyes, staying quiet as his body glowed brighter. He was pushing himself harder and faster, hoping to expedite his self-destruction. That girl’s voice was really starting to get on his nerves… “I didn’t wanna shoot lemons, though… As good ‘n kind as Rockman was, I wanted somethin’ with a little more… ‘oomph.’ So… I dug around through Wily’s archives… uh… in one’a his old castles,” she said, deciding to fudge the truth just in case Wily was listening through Elecman’s communication systems. “Heh. I was shocked to find your blueprints, there!” “Mm-hmm… Mm-hmm…” Elecman nodded. “Very go– wait. What did you say?” She blinked up at Elecman. For whatever reason… she had his full, undivided attention. He’d even stopped charging himself up, again… for-better-or-worse.

“I… guess Wily made backups of all you Right Number robots ‘r somethin’, ‘cause he had you, Gutsman, Cutman… all them!” “Who cares about all of that?!” She flinched as he shouted, then she blinked… and blushed. He had knelt to meet her gaze, his blue eyes focused entirely on her brown ones. “You designed your modifications based on… my specifications?” he curiously asked. “Oh… uh-huh…!” She smiled, feeling a little shy as she explained, “I’d seen you fightin’ with Rockman – I-I mean as his friend, not fightin’ against him – ‘n I thought: ‘Elecman is so cool…! I wish I could be like him!’” The other robot didn’t move. However, she could see him scanning her with just his eyes. It made her feel even more self-conscious than before…

“Those bracelets…” Elecman commented. “Your boots… Yeesss… yeesss, how did this not dawn on me, before?” He laughed a little. “You little plagiarist!” “I… w-what?” “You didn’t simply steal my weapon systems…” His eyes sharply focused on hers as he said, “You incorporated pieces of my ensemble into your very design!” “I… I…” She blushed much harder, her eyes splitting off from his face. The last time she’d had this conversation with Elecman, it had gone in a much different direction. When they talked at that carnival and he noticed the similarities, it seemed like the Robot Master was genuinely flattered that she’d copied his style and look and made it her own! But there? On the reservoir floor? Elecman seemed angry about it… maybe even insulted. She’d never felt more guilty…

“Well…” Kaitlin flinched, expecting him to verbally tear her apart. Thankfully… “They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery… She looked up, softly blinking. Elecman seemed… amused. “Y… you’re not mad at me?” she asked, sounding even more like a little girl than normal. “I am a bit… disappointed, in some ways.” The Robot Master chuckled. “You are quite a pathetic automaton.” “Screw you, pal!” she spat before covering her mouth and gasping. “I-I mean–” “There’s the spark that I was looking for!” Again, she looked away with a blush. She couldn’t believe she’d just told her hero “screw you.” She felt so embarrassed…

“So, you wanted to be like me, did you?” “Uh-huh!” She nodded, shyly smiling. “So, with a little help of… er…” Again, she decided not to name names, just to be safe. “Some… other robots…” she continued, “I managed t’ get myself equipped with electrical powers! They’re… not quite as good as yours, but–” “Not even close!” “But, I figured they’d help me reach my goal of bein’ a cool, electric hero… l-like you.” “Well, you certainly have good taste… There is, however, one problem with your logic.” “W-what…?” She winced as he smacked her on the back of the head. As she grabbed the beret he knocked loose, she looked up in confusion. “I am a part of the ‘good-guys,’ as you might say! Rockman is the ‘bad-guy!’ Dimwit!” “You’re wrong, Elecman…” He seemed taken aback by that. “Excuse you?”

He stood up as Kaitlin got to her feet, standing and brushing away whatever silt and sand she’d sat in. Once she was relatively clean, she looked up at Elecman with steely eyes and a stern frown. “Rockman is the hero,” she told him, point-blank. “Wily is the bad-guy.” “Really…” He smirked, leaning to one side. “And, by what means did you come to this logic gate?” “Think about it.” She gestured with one hand as she pointed out, “Dr. Wily wants this dam destroyed, right?” “He simply told me to disrupt the power grid. Blowing up the dam was my bright idea…” He narrowed his eyes. “Because you had to interfere.” “Oh.” She paused, re-thinking her logic. “O-okay, well… why?” Elecman crossed his arms. “‘Why’ what?” “Why does he wanna disrupt the power grid?” “As part of his bid for world domina– oh.” “Yeah…” “Ooohh…” Kaitlin smiled, putting a hand on the taller figure’s shoulder. “Yeeaaah…”

There was a long, awkward pause as Elecman looked at the floor, getting lost in his thoughts. His rival-turned-companion patiently waited with him. He had the feeling she would have waited for all of eternity, if he’d asked her to. “You said your name was…?” “Thundergirl,” she told him. “‘Thundergirl…’” He hummed. “And, you say we’ve met, before?” “At a carnival in Minnesota.” the girl answered. “You played guitar for Cold Steel!” He looked away, thinking about that… “I have no memory of being at a carnival,” he told her, “nor any memory of playing the electric guitar for any reason, much less for some… ‘band.’” “You’re really good!” Kaitlin excitedly chirped. “Well… you were…” The Robot Master sighed, dropping to the ground with crossed arms and legs, again. “You said that Dr. Wily had ‘brainwashed me,’ yes? More than once?” “Yeah…” Kaitlin frowned, sitting near the agitated android. “You were one’a the first robots he ever reprogrammed, actually! S… sorry…” He grumbled, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “If you come with me, we can totally get you fixed, though!” “Come where?” He peeked an eye open. “Right Labs?” “Uh-huh!” She happily smiled. “Lemme call Roll and–” “My programming – and pride – won’t allow it!” He closed his eyes, again, before smirking… “You’ll have to disable me.” “What?” “Here.” She blinked, blushing as Elecman took one of her hands. When he placed it on one of his ear ports, though, she had to tilt her head…

“As crude as it may seem…” he began to explain, “the term ‘stick it in your ear’ applies, here. Although… it will be my ear in which you’ll be sticking something.” “Wh-what…?!” Kaitlin blushed even harder, though she was more angry and confused than flustered. “Simply put… put your fingers into my ear and channel all of your energy into my head.” She scowled at the thought. “That sounds… wrong…!” “It’s either that or fight me and lose. Or, I can simply blow up the da–” “Alright, already!!” she shrieked with clenched eyes. “Just…” “What?” The Robot Master tilted his head, then. That girl was giving him a strange look… “You sure you’re gonna be okay…? What if I fry you…?” “As if…” he laughed. “My body was built to withstand, channel, and match the entire energy output of a hydroelectric dam! The most your little zappers might do is give me a headache and knock me out – which would be the point. Comprenez vous?” “You’re sure…?” He smirked. “I am never wrong.” “Okay…” She whimpered a little before sliding one gloved finger into his ear-port. She was used to nailing energy ports with precision shots. Being subtle and delicate, like she was, just felt… way too intimate in all the wrong ways. Still… it’s what he wanted. “I’ll see you later, Elecman… Hopefully.” “I probably won’t recall. But, perhaps, I’ll give you an electrifying performance with my… what do the kids call it? ‘Ax?’” Kaitlin blushed, again, and brightly smiled, her eyes sparkling. “That’d be sooo cool…!” “Now…” The Robot Master closed his eyes. “Do it.” “Okay…” She paused. “Hey, Elecman? I have a question?” “What is– uhn…!” She half-chuckled, half-whined, sending a directed surge right into his head. “Hopefully…” she said as she caught his limp body, “that was enough of a distraction to take his mind off things before I knocked him out…” The girl shook him a couple of times and called his name. When he didn’t reply… “V-victory for me, I guess…” She quietly laughed… then, she sighed.

With that situation diffused, she picked Elecman up and tossed him over her shoulder. He felt lighter than she expected… Then again, they were underwater… “Please, don’t be dead…” She had no way of knowing if she’d done things right. It wasn’t often that she gave another robot’s CPU a shock like that. Elecman wouldn’t have suggested it if he’d die from it, though… right? “Guess I’ll find out… Hey, Roll? Rightot? Anyone?” “Kaitlin?” a soft voice called back from the girl’s bracelet. “Are you okay? We lost track of you when you–” “Two for teleport, please.” There was a brief silence. Then… the two robots were energized and pulled into space.

#gift #fan fiction #Mega Man #Dr. Chou Numbers #Electrical Disturbance #commercial characters #Auto (Mega Man)#Roll Light #Elecman #fan characters #kaitlinexe #Thundergirl #original characters #jolikmc #Joseph Lithius #drama #action

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jolienjoyswriting · 4 years

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Rockman - Static Cling, Ch. I

Chapter 1 of "Static Cling," a Rockman cross-fiction story.

A bit of backstory on this one, chums…

I wrote a story for a certain "jade butterfly" that involved the whole line of her characters. Problem is… they weren't all her characters. That was a problem! (Mostly, for me.) So, that story ended up on in limbo until such a time as… I feel like un-limboing it, more-or-less. However, from that story came the inspiration for this one! See, at the end of that one story, I wound up writing a fun little thing that showed some history between my character and one of the characters that wasn't part of this story. Doing so made me realize that I kind of wanted to write a full-fledged story starring that character and mine interacting. So… I did! This is the first chapter of that idea~

Oh and, yeah, Joseph is dating one of the Chou Numbers, and he exists in this particular Rockman timeline (fan canon-wise), and yadda-yadda-yadda…

Word count: 3,161 – Character count: 18,045 Originally written: October 19th, 2019

While being rescued from a gang of thugs, Joseph does something brave… and asks the resident super-hero out for a friendly meeting.

DR/LN-001 Rock/Megaman, "Mega Man," and related characters and concepts created by Akira Kitamura Heatman created by Toshiyuki Kataoka, Gutsman and Albert W. Wily created by Keiji Inafune All commercial characters redesigned/touched up by and Keiji Inafune and © Capcom Co, Ltd.

DChN-000 Kaitlin/Thundergirl created by and © Kaitlin EXE David Chou, the Chou Numbers series, and related characters and concepts created by and © Jade Green Butterfly

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On a random Saturday night, a man found himself wandering the city, trying to keep from going insane with boredom. His girlfriend had to stay late for work, and his other friends all had prior engagements, so he figured it would be a good time to go check out a new arcade he’d heard about. When he got there, however… it was being ransacked by a local gang of thugs! Upon seeing that, he tried to turn tail and run… only to bump right into one of their members who, coincidentally, had just come from the coffee shop with drinks for all her buddies. Said drinks ended up all over her nice, new leather vest and chaps. She was not happy.

Not long after the incident, the man wound up being chased into an alley and facing five of the meanest-looking punks he’d ever seen. He fell to his knees, begging and pleading to the woman he’d offended, but all that did was make her laugh. She suggested that she and her leader teach him what happens when someone messes with one of them, and it looked like he’d wind up in the hospital… until a bright flash of light and a powerful war cry pierced the air.

“It’s thunder time!!” That was the last thing the punks heard before sparkling balls of crackling electric disabled the lot of them. Then, out from the shadows stepped a form that the man recognized…

At a glance, she looked to be a short girl with brown, shoulder-length hair and curled bangs, and chocolate-brown eyes. As always, she wore a purple beret and matching, armless shirt, both with a gold lightning bolt on them. She also had her usual, dark-gray slacks tied with a gold band and tucked under big, bright, yellow-and-red boots. As she adjusted her red bracelets, he could already see the grin forming on her friendly face…

“You just can’t stay out of trouble, huh?” The man groaned, rubbing his face. “Hiii, Thundergiiirl…” he replied. She took a second to examine her handiwork before turning back his way. “Ya know…” the girl mused, “people are gonna start sayin’ things if we keep meetin’ in back alleys, like this!” He blushed, his vulpine ears folding back. “But seriously, I should prob’ly go. The police’ll be here, soon, and I’m sure they’ll have a lot’a questions for ya!” She offered an encouraging smile and a soft laugh. “See ya next crime, huh?” “H-hey, wait…” Thundergirl had already turned to walk away. As she heard him call to her, though, she stopped and turned back with a curious expression. “Yeah?” she asked in her usual, chipper tone. “I… um…” Her head tilted. The man seemed awfully nervous… and with good reason! “I… d… do you wanna, maybe, meet for lunch, sometime? O-or, breakfast, or…” To her complete surprise… it seemed like she was asking her out! “Um…” She didn’t know what to say. So, for whatever reason… she told him, “Sure?”

And, that’s how the whole thing started… –––––

The following Tuesday morning, the man sat at a café, sipping his favorite sort of hot beverage and taking small bites of a blueberry muffin. He was casually minding his own business when someone came up to him, calling his name. It took him a minute, but once he got a look at the person’s face… he recognized her neat hairstyle and gentle eyes.

“I… huh.” “What?” “W-well, when I asked about meeting up, I guess… I was expecting something else?”

After greeting her acquaintance, the girl sat down at his table and smiled… only to give him an odd look. Her companion was staring… “What do you mean?” she innocently asked. “It’s just me.” “Right, but… you look different.” “Ya noticed, huh?” She brightly smiled. “Well, I thought it was a good idea to put on my civies before I met up with ya! I can’t be the other me all the time!” “Okay, but…” The man uncomfortably squirmed. Just as he noticed, Thundergirl wasn’t wearing her usual outfit. And, just like he also noticed… “You dress… like a little girl.”

Rather than her “super-hero” outfit, she wore a purple, overall-dress with big, yellow buttons on the shoulder straps, gold trim around the chest, and a big pocket with a lightning bolt on it. Under that, a lavender T-shirt and black bike shorts, then metallic, yellow tennis shoes with yellow “energy ports” on the sides. Thundergirl certainly didn’t look like the lady he’d seen, prior, and she certainly didn’t look like the super-hero he knew on an almost-personal level… It was a little unnerving, in a way… especially since she did, indeed, look like a little girl.

“Well…” She continued to smile as she told him, “I am a little girl! Ah– Joseph?” Her face grew concerned. Joseph suddenly sputtered and coughed into his drink. “W-w-what– ack–” He snorted, trying to clear the hot liquid from his nasal passages. “W-what do you mean, ‘you are a little girl…?’” “Exactly what I said – I am a little girl!” she reinforced with another smile. “Well… I’m made to look like one, anyway! And… people say I act like one, too…” Thundergirl’s eyes turned away and her smile faded. “B-but, I really am mature for my ‘age!’” she said, giving him a brighter sort of smile. “Uh… I guess fighting crime–” He blinked, coming to a sudden stop. The girl was shushing him with an angry look. “Uh…?” “Joseph…” she whispered after leaning in. “The other reason I wore this is to be incognito! If people knew who I was, they’d all crowd around for autographs, or… or, bad-guys would come and try to fight me! I just…” She leaned back, softly sighing. “You asked me out as a person, not a hero. So… I wanna be normal, today. Ya know?”

Joseph tilted his head. Thundergirl looked less confident than before. Actually, she looked a little uncomfortable, all-of-a-sudden. So… “You… wanna bite of my muffin?” He did something to change that. The girl looked up, blinking her brown eyes. Joseph was offering his breakfast to her. “No,” was her polite reply, “thank… actually… yes. Yes, please.” He smiled as he handed the item over, then watched as she picked nibbles off the side he hadn’t touched, popping them into her mouth to eat them. When she closed her eyes and made a “yummy” noise, he had to smile. “You can have as much as you want,” he told her. “I don’t mind.” That was all it took to get her that bright smile back on her face. “Thanks!” she said before she started biting the muffin, directly. It was kind of cute to watch, Joseph thought. She wasn’t exactly a “dainty” eater…

“So, Kaitlin…” The girl looked up between bites, her mouth full of the confection. “I… uh… snrk…” She swallowed before giving him a look. “What?” she asked. “You’ve got blueberry juice on your mouth.” “I do?” The hero blinked a couple of times, then she rubbed her mouth with the back of her hand. “Did I get it?” “More-or-less. Heh.” She smiled. A second later, she hummed…

“Hey, how’d you know my real name?” she asked him. “Did my little sister tell you?” “Yeah.” Joseph chuckled. “She talks about you every-now-and-then.” “She’s not sharing any of my top-secret info, is she?!” “Naaah… She just says how cool you are, and how much she admires you. He grinned, his fox tail wagging behind him. “You are pretty cool… for a little girl.” “Thanks!” she laughed. “You seem pretty neat, too! For a wild animal.” His grin widened. The girl was smirking at him. “Better watch how loud you say that…” he teased. “My skulk might be listening!” “Th-there’s more of you?!” Kaitlin went wide-eyed with surprise and, if Joseph wasn’t mistaken, excitement! Animal-people weren’t exactly common, in that city… He hadn’t seen many of “his kind” in the streets, since moving there. Her excitement was well-placed, he figured, if she liked animals.

“Nah…” he told her, deciding to be honest. “My sisters live in another city.” “Oh…” She almost seemed disappointed to hear that. “It’s probably for the best,” the girl said as her smile returned. “If they get into as much trouble as you do…” “Heeey…” She grinned and laughed as her companion pouted. It was such a cute reaction.

Joseph and Kaitlin spent a good hour at the café, that morning, just chatting and getting to know each other, the former learning a few things he didn’t know, before, and the latter mostly asking about his relationship with her younger sister. The conversation stayed light and friendly and, by the end of the hour, the two felt less like strangers and more like friends.

“This was a lot’a fun.” Joseph smiled, standing from his seat as she stood from hers. “We should do this, again.” “Even though I’m just a ‘little girl?’” Kaitlin grinned… as did her friend. “Yeah, yeah…” he replied, his tail flicking. “I just… uh, Kaitlin?” “Huh?” She blinked, then looked up. “Sorry. Your tail got my attention.” “Heh. You really are a little girl…” “No…?” The girl frowned, giving him a dirty look. “I’m just… easily distracted…?” He waved his tail. Sure enough, Kaitlin’s eyes followed the white tip at its end. “By what, exactly?” he asked. “Things…” She did, indeed, sound distracted. “Well, that’s okay.” He wiggled his tail before telling her, “So am I!” “That’s good…” The fox snickered… That girl was completely transfixed on his tail.

“Do you wanna pet it?” “W-what?!” Kaitlin suddenly snapped back to attention with a surprised look. When she noticed the knowing way Joseph was looking at her… “N-no, I’m good.” She turned away, hiding her face… which had turned slightly pink. She must have realized what she was doing… “Okaaay, your loooss…”

The brunette blinked, then she watched her friend push his chair in. When he took a couple of steps away, he paused to look over his shoulder and swish his tail… “I’m going to the park,” he told her. “If I happen to see you there… I wouldn’t object to the company.” “Um…” Kaitlin blinked before she nodded. “S-sure…?” With another knowing grin, he strode out of the café, letting his tail swing with every step he took. It looked a little odd, to be sure, but he knew it was sure to keep at least one person’s attention… When he looked behind him after crossing the street, however, he was kind of disappointed by what he saw. Or rather, what he didn’t see. “Aww. She left…” The fox sighed, then he shrugged. “Just as well. She had a good point about people seeing us together… Granted, the circumstances were a little different, but….” He chuckled before continuing on his way.

Not long after leaving the café, the fox found the entrance of the park and walked inside. As Joseph make his way in, he noticed that a lot of people were outside, enjoying the sunny Spring day. It was unusually warm for that time of year, so he wasn’t too surprised to see people walking around in shorts and skirts. As for him? He was one of those kinds of people who wore pants year-‘round. Even so, he was dressed pretty light, not bothering with shoes and sticking with his favorite black T-shirt, in addition to his forest-green jeans.

After people-watching for a bit, he turned his attention to – and headed right toward – his all-time favorite feature of the public gathering place… “Ah, the swing set…” He smiled, looking up at the tall piece of equipment. It was made of five, solid, metal pipes and housed four different plastic swings tethered by two sets of chains, each. Surprisingly, he seemed to be the only person interested in such a thing, that day. As he sat in one, though… “Well, howdy, stranger!” He heard a familiar voice call from his left. “Eh? Thu– I-I mean, Kaitlin?” Seated in the swing nearest to him was, of course, the friendly girl in the purple dress, brightly smiling and, seemingly, waiting for him to arrive. How she’d gotten there, however, was beyond him. He was certain she wasn’t there, before…

“That’s right,” she said in a playful tone. “I’m Kaitlin! And, you’re Joseph!” “Last time I checked…” He chuckled. “What are you–” “Keeping you safe.” He blinked a couple of times, tilting his head. When she pointed in a random direction, though, his ears fell back. “Aw, c’mon…!” It was hard to tell from where he was, but clear across the park, he could see what looked like a bunch of people in leather hassling a hot dog vendor. To make things worse… he recognized the colors that the group of ruffians wore. It was that exact, same gang that trashed the arcade on the night he asked Kaitlin to join him…

“Seems like wherever you go,” the girl said as she kicked off, pushing herself into the air, “trouble follows!” “I… I guess…” Joseph deeply sighed, following her lead. “Damn it… Can’t I just have a normal day out where people just… be nice?” “Guess not! But…” She smiled at him. “At least you’re never bored! Kind’a hope they start something… Boy, will they be surprised, hee hee!” He shot the excitable girl a suspicious look. “I thought you wanted a ‘normal’ day, too?” Kaitlin visibly jerked, interrupting her stride. “Uh… I– I do!” she anxiously assured him. “I just… uh…” “No, it’s fine, Kait… I understa– I get it.” She felt a little confused when the fox suddenly corrected himself, but she didn’t ask.

“You like being a hero,” he started as his motions carried him farther-and-farther into the air. “The life of a hero is far more exciting than, say, sitting on a swing or just hanging out. Plus, just from the few times you’ve saved my bacon, I’d say you’re pretty good at it.” She hesitated before quietly thanking him. “So, yeah. I kind’a get it. If you wanna go give those guys a scare, I–” “H-hang on!” Joseph yelped as the girl grabbed his swing’s chain. It nearly right threw him off as their weight played havoc with their momentum. When the two finally came to a stop, she let go before putting her hands between her knees and looking at the sand under her feet.

“Joseph… I… I really meant what I said!” she told him, sounding a little conflicted. “I do want to just spend the day off! Being a super-hero isn’t all fun-and-games! Sometimes… sometimes, it’s really hard work! Like… like…” She inhaled, then exhaled before continuing. “Remember Heatman?” “Tch… How could I forget?” Joseph scowled, looking at a bare spot on his tail. “When I saved you and my sister, that one time, I got a direct hit on his CPU! But, usually… my electricity isn’t that effective. His armor absorbs it or something – I dunno.” The fox tilted his head. “Okay?” “Joseph…” She closed her eyes, her face turning sour. “We got into a fight at dad’s place. It… it turned ugly.”

Joseph blinked a couple of times. Something weird was happening… His fur was starting to bristle and he felt kind of tingly… but he knew he didn’t feel nervous or hungry. He took a closer look at his companion… then, his ears fell back. Her body was sparking, and the electricity was flowing through the all-metal playground equipment, itself.

“Kait…?” he quietly called. “Are you okay? You’re, uh…” “S-sorry…” She stopped sparking, then looked his way. “Heatman just… he really upsets me! A-and… he said something that got my circuits just sizzling, last night!” “What did he say?” Joseph was genuinely curious. “He said… he said…” The girl trembled. She was sparking, again… “H-he said that… that… that I’m always in his way…” He tilted his head. “In his way of what?” “I said the same thing! But, when I asked what I meant…” Kaitlin’s body quietly crackled, causing her companion’s fur to puff. “He.. he said… one day… he’ll… he’ll…” “K-Kaitlin…?” “He’ll take my little sister away from me…” “K-K-Kaitlin…” “I knew what he meant… H-he wants to marry her… B-but, the way he just… laughed…”

The entire swing set was jumping with electricity, sparks and tiny bolts snapping and crackling as Kaitlin inadvertently charged it with her current. She was so angry… far angrier than Joseph had ever seen her look. However, he wasn’t really in the mindset to try and comfort her or, really, say much other than… “K-K-K-Kaitlin…!” “What? Oh!” All-at-once, the brown-haired android leaped up from her swing and took a few steps forward. The instant she was out-of-range, all of the energy she’d put into that swing found its way right back out… through Joseph’s body.

“Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh…!!” The girl ran back over and, after making sure she was completely discharged, she crouched to check on her friend. He’d been tossed out of the swing and hit the ground with a loud snap. Every strand of his fur had expanded onward, making him look like a big puffball or something. But, as comical as that should have been… it was offset by the fact he was laying on the ground, erratically twitching. “Joseph…! Joseph!!” Kaitlin gently slapped his cheeks, her face full of worry. “Are you okay?! How– how many fingers am I holding up…?” He dizzily stared at the girl’s raised hand before asking, “D-d-do thumbs count…?” She blinked at the response… then, she sighed and smiled as he gave a thumbs-up. It seemed like he was just fine…

“Sorry ‘bout that…” After helping Joseph to his feet, the two sat on their swings, idly dangling. “Heatman just makes me… so angry, sometimes!” Kaitlin told him with a scowl as she tightly squeezed her chains. “Uh, you gonna be okay?” “Do… do you want my honest answer?” She blinked, giving another worried look… only to raise both eyebrows. Joseph… was blushing at her. “I… I kind of liked it?” he said, sounding ashamed of himself. “Is… is that normal?” “No,” she replied with a hollow chuckle. “No, that is not. But, everyone’s different…” The girl offered a friendly, somewhat-uncertain smile. “Just don’t ask me to do it on purpose, okay? That’d just be weird.” “Aww. There go my plans for our next date.” “Date?” Once again, she had to stare at him with suspicion in her eyes.

“Joseph…?” She tilted her head. “You were kidding, right?” “Yeah,” he said with a soft laugh and a smile. “I–” “Because…” It was his turn to blink, then. Kaitlin was blushing and fidgeting… “I’ve… never been on a date, before,” she confessed. “N-not a date-date…” “A cute girl like you? Really?” he said before he could stop himself. “Uh, I-I mean–” She blushed a little more… but she was smiling. Then, she looked over and asked… “You… wanna make this official?”

#gift #fan fiction #cross fiction #Mega Man #Rockman #Static Cling #commercial characters #Megaman #Heatman #fan characters #KaitlinEXE #Kaitlin Chou #Thundergirl #original characters #jolikmc #Joseph Lithius #slice of life #drama

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jolienjoyswriting · 4 years

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Electrical Disturbance, Ch. VII

Chapter 7 of "Electrical Disturbance," a Rockman (Dr. Chou Numbers universe) fan fiction story.

And, now… it's, basically, become a one-shot Rockman-characters-only fan fic. Well, except for that one part about that one character… nyeh heh~

Word count: 3,695 – Character count: 21,259 Originally written: July 19th, 2020

Though the battle is done, the war is far from over for the Blue Bomber…

Turboman, Roll, Rock/Rockman, Mikhail Cossack, Albert Wily, Blues/Breakman, “Rockman” series, and related characters and concepts created by various people and © Capcom Co, Ltd. Brietta Chou, "Dr. Chou Numbers" concept, and related characters and concepts created by and © Jussy Kaitlin/Thundergirl and Mikan Chou created by and © KaitlinEXE

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In the aftermath of the battle at Right Labs, there was no victor… Two people were severely injured, one was possibly dead, and the two survivors were bereft with emotional strife.

Even though Turboman had been winning his fight with Rockman, the two had stopped to watch when Roll started screaming. After the roar of “Double Power Punch” was made, as well as the sonic boom of raw power that careened through the area, shattering glass and sending debris flying, the transforming robot called a time-out and the two checked on their sisters.

Roll was laying under a tree, her Rush Power Armor shattered from-chest-to-fists. Her body, itself looked mostly intact, but she had a great deal of scorch marks and rips along her clothing and even throughout her synthetic skin. Her eyes were closed, which was a good sign – she’d managed to get into Sleep Mode and pass out instead of running out of Life Energy. However, she… and Rush… were in dire need of repairs. Laying a small distance away was the semi-limp, smoldering form of Joseph Lithius. He’d landed with his shoulders against the ground, his butt up in the air, and his tail hanging over his face. Like Roll, he looked pretty scorched-up with rips in his T-shirt and jeans with several cuts visible through his fur – all heat-seared shut. His glasses were nowhere to be found. Lastly… Kaitlin could be found on the other side of the front yard. At least… part of her. The girl’s body lay in a twisted, mangled pose against the outside of the Right House, scratched-up and partly-broken with a huge concave in her chest. However… “Baby-Sis…? Where’s your head, Baby-Sis…?” As Turboman noted… she didn’t seem to have a head, anymore.

An hour after the battle had ended, Rockman and Turboman stood inside the Rights’ secondary laboratory. They had managed to find Kaitlin’s head and drag the girls inside. In the interim, Dr. Right had called his college, Dr. Mikhail Cossack, over to help… “I appreciate you coming on such short notice, Mikhail… I… wasn’t sure what to do.” “Anything for a friend.” Dr. Right smiled… only to turn and look at Kaitlin’s ruined body and collapsed head. “Roll really fought with everything she had… I don’t know that we can fix this…” Dr. Cossack put a hand on his friend’s shoulder and offered a comforting smile. “The only thing we can do is try, Tomas…” “Well… let’s start with Roll…” “Da.”

After hearing that his “baby sister” may not recover, Turboman lost the will to fight and turned himself over for reprogramming. He even agreed to stay offline until there was news about his sister, one way or the other. With that settled, the doctors began their work… –––––

As the days passed, Rockman continued his fight against Dr. Wily’s robots. Though he was being coordinated by Rightot, it was still a slow, agonizing process for the boy-hero. His mind frequently turned to the condition of his sister, visions of her battered body still fresh in his head. It was killing him, emotionally… but at the same time… “Rock Buster…!!” It gave him the strength he needed.

“No more, Doctor Wily…” he thought out loud as he fought his way through the mad doctor’s latest castle. “No more… You’ve got too far, this time. People I love got hurt really bad because of you! This ends now, do you hear me?! This ends right here, right now…!!” “My, my… someone’s in a mood! I–” “Shut up!” The doctor found himself interrupted as Rock opened fire with a fully-charged shot. Then, before the first burst even hit, he cycled through all of his weapons, unloading a furious volley onto the evil man’s latest machine of mass destruction. Wily immediately regretted linking his UFO to the controls of the machine as, within seconds, the whole kit-and-kaboodle exploded, sending him flying!

“Waaaugh!!” He landed on the floor with a resounding whump. “Okay, now I’m mad! Do you have any idea how much–” The doctor’s eyes widened and his eyebrows raised. He was staring right down the barrel of a solar-powered arm-cannon… which was resonating with energy. “Wh– whoa!!” He flipped over onto his backside and scuttled back. “What are you doing?!” “Something I should have done a long time ago…” The way Rockman spoke sent an icy chill down his spine. “This– this is a little much for you, don’t you think…?” “So, what if it is?” “Besides…” The scientist smirked. “Haven’t we done this song-and-dance, before? You can’t hurt me! You’re just a robot who’s bound by Asimov’s Three-asinine-Rules!” Rock didn’t answer. All he did was stand there… his eyes cold and merciless and his buster humming as it waited to be fired. “Well? Are you going to fire, or not?” The hero narrowed his sullen eyes… then he looked away, dispersing his charge. “Hmph. I thought as much!”

After Dr. Wily got to his feet and dusted himself off, he grinned and crossed his arms. “Face it, Rockman… You’ll always be a slave to your pro–” “You’re fixing this.” “Excuse you?” The elderly man raised an eyebrow. “I’m fixing what, exactly?” “You’re fixing everything. Now!” “Wait, hang on, what do you think you’re doing?! Gah!” The roboticist flinched as Rock turned grey and opened fire at him. Before he knew it… “What is the meaning of this?!” He was encased in concrete, unable to move and unable to flee.

“You’re coming home with me. You’re fixing what you did to my family!” “I refuse!” “You don’t have a choice in the matter.” Wily growled. “This is grand-scale kidnaping…!” “Whatever it takes to get the job done…” As the scientist struggled and snarled, Rockman sighed, shaking his head…

“How long have you been trying to take over the world, Doctor Wily? Five? Ten? Fifteen years? No, no closer to thirty. How many people have you hurt? How many robots have you sent to their graves?” “I’ll use as many robots as I see fit, thank you very much!” Wily spat. “Why?” “Why what?” Rockman removed his helmet, tucking it under his head before he turned back to Wily. He seemed less mad than before… but far more disappointed.

“Why do you have to send so many robots to their graves?” he asked with a stern look. “Why do you have to send any?” “Because, they’re a cheap, efficient way to get the job done!” “Oh, right. I forgot…” His blue eyes narrowed, again. “We’re just tools to you.” “That’s right! You are!” Dr. Wily grinned as he told Rock, “Robots are just machines made to make life easier for human beings!” “And, whose life are you making easier with your war machines?” “Mine!” he snarled. “And, if you didn’t keep getting in my way, I wouldn’t have to keep making more-and-more! If you’d just let me take over the world, then you’d see…” “See what, exactly?” Rock smirked. “Go on, try me.” When Dr. Wily growled, the boy-robot just chuckled. “I don’t have to explain anything to you! You’re just a dumb machine!” “That’s where you’re wrong, Doctor.” “No. That’s where I’m very right…

“I guess your creator, the much-beloved Thomas ‘Wrong’ never explained just what it is that you are; that your supposed ‘emotions’ are just strings of data… else-if queries with predetermined responses to specific stimuli… In fact, all of your so-called ‘senses’ are!” “Oh, do go on…” Wily narrowed his eyes at the smirking boy-hero. Still… he decided to continue.

“Whenever you smell a flower, you feel all warm and mushy inside, right?” “I’m not much for flowers, but–” “Whenever you eat a sandwich or drink a soda,” he interrupted, “you enjoy the olfactory sensations… the smells and the tastes, right?” “Usually.” Rock rubbed the back of his head. “I’ve had some pretty bad food, too–” “Whenever you get a hug from your… ugh… ‘sister,’ or your creator tells you, ‘Good job,’ that makes you feel good about yourself? Am I right or am I wrong?” “You’re absolutely right!” The boy laughed. “But, that’s just human nature–” “That’s the thing of it!” Wily grinned as he told Rockman… “All of that makes you feel something. Any sort of external stimuli makes you feel. And, the things that you supposedly feel all trigger pre-programmed responses to the respective stimuli!

“When you smell a flower or get praise, you feel good because your programming tells you to! When you eat a sandwich, it’s good because your programming tells you it is! When you stop me from taking over the world, you feel proud because your programming dictates that as the proper response! Do you understand what I’m saying, Rockman?!” “I’m… not sure that I am?” Rockman tilted his head. “What are you saying?” “I’m saying that… for as much as you think you’re enjoying life and enjoying the things that humans do… it’s all a lie!” Wily’s grin widened. “For as much ‘free will’ or ‘independent thought’ that you have… it’s all a lie, too. You don’t have any free will. You can’t enjoy things. You’re merely experiencing a lie… a sweet, gift-wrapped lie… brought to you by what your electronic brain was programmed to make you think or feel.” “That… that doesn’t make any sense, though.” “Oh, no?” The scientist smirked. “How so?” “Well… me and Roll were built using the same basic stuff; blueprints, code, all that.” Rock gestured with one hand. “How come she likes things that I don’t?” “Easy! It’s very simple to modify code if you know what you’re doing! Thomas simply altered your artificial brains to suit your artificial gender!” “But… Roll likes Pro Wrestling and I like ballet!” “You like ballet?” Wily seemed surprised by that. “Yeah!” Rock smiled. “Sometimes, Doctor Right would take us to see Kalinka – Doctor Cossack’s daughter – when she performed for her school. It was a long flight, but–” “I don’t recall asking for your life story!” Rock flinched. “Sorry.” Then, he continued his thought.

“Anyway, if what you’re saying is true, then Doctor Right just programmed us a little different from each other. I get that–” “He’d almost have to if he wanted some sort of… ‘son and daughter’ stand-ins.” The very notion seemed to revolt the doctor… “But… but how about when we try something new?” Rock leaned on the concrete block, getting in Wily’s face. “Our brains couldn’t have been programmed for everything in the known universe!” “You’re wirelessly connected to your home mainframe, right?” “Yeah? So?” “So…” Wily smirked. “Your brains simply fill in the gaps with information from the Internet by using reviews of food, video games, or whatever! Then, after amalgamating the data, it randomly determines whether you should or shouldn’t like that thing – and by how much –using a simple random number generator to assign values! It’s hardly rocket science!” Rock staggered back, his face looking distraught. “That… that sounds like it makes sense…” “It should.” Dr. Wily grinned, again. “I’ve been using that same system on my more ingenious creations for years!” “But, wait, no. But, if that’s true… But, that means…” “Wow… If I knew it was that easy to break your robotic brain, I would’ve told you all of this, years ago! Have fun with your existential crisis, Blue Bomber!” “What? No, wait– wait!!” “See you next scheme!!”

Dr. Wily cackled as he was sucked into a hole in the wall. A steel door slid over the hole, then, leaving Rock to drop to his knees. Concreteman’s Concrete Shot had dried-up and crumbled off of Wily while they were talking, allowing the mad scientist to avoid apprehension, yet again. And, just like always… “Destruct sequence: engaged. Thirty seconds ‘til detonation.” Wily’s castle was rigged to explode as soon as the roboticist was clear of the blast zone.

“Come on, Rockman, get up. We have to move.”

Ten seconds in, a familiar whistle could be heard. Blues had arrived just-in-time. As he picked the blue hero up off the floor, he heard the hero ask a simple, two-part question… “Did Wily mean what he said, Blues…? Or, did I let him get away for nothing?” “Later, okay? Hit your teleporter.” “But–” “Don’t make me knock you out, Rockman.” The boy flinched as his older brother’s cold eyes glared through his visor. Then, with three seconds left… “O-okay. Rightot, get us out of here!” The two became engulfed in blinding light.

“I did it, again…” “You sure did.”

Just as the castle violently exploded, the pair of robots found themselves on a distant hill, watching the carnage unfold. Well… one of them was, anyway. As soon as he’d landed, Rockman sat down, hugging his knees and staring down at the ground. He’d let Dr. Wily slip right through his hands for what seemed like the millionth time. Unlike other times, though… “It was really important to get him to come with…” “There’ll be other times,” Blues told him as he leaned against a nearby tree. “No, this was really-really important, Blues!” Rockman closed his eyes just as some tears found their way out. “We need him to fix Kaitlin…” “Why?” He growled, shooting the robot in gray a look. “Because! He’s the reason she’s broken in the first place!” “The way I see it,” Blues casually commented, “Kaitlin made her choice. She didn’t have to try and double-team you with Turboman. But…” He smirked a little. “You could also argue that her ‘Wily programming’ kicked in, I suppose…” “That’s not funny!” “It’s a possibility, though.” “No, Blues… no…” Rockman buried his face to his knees and sighed. “She was just… just upset… She thought I did something permanent to Turboman…” “You mean, she thought you killed him?” “I don’t like those kinds of words!!”

The smirk disappeared from Blues’ face as his younger brother unit snapped at him. There was anger in his wet eyes and a scowl on his round face. For other people, it might have been heartbreaking. For him, though… “You should control that temper of yours.” He just found it amusing.

“I hate you…” “Hm?” “I said I hate you…” That comment actually got the mysterious robot to tilt his head. “You hate me, huh?” He hummed and smiled. “Are you sure your electronic brain isn’t just making you think you hate me?” “Shut up…” “Maybe, your electronic brain is fooling you into thinking you care about that girl.” “I said, ‘shut up.’” “Maybe, Wily was right.” Rock got to his feet. “Blues, I’m warning you…!” “Maybe, you’re just a slave to your fake emotions.” “Shut… up!!” The dark-haired boy blinked a few times as his brain caught up to his body. When he noticed his fist was firmly planted on his older brother’s face… “Oh– oh, no!!” He yanked it right back out and covered his mouth. Blues… was not smiling, anymore.

“You know…” Rockman took a step back, fear in his eyes and a tremble in his body. Blues had gotten up from his tree and was looking right at him. “That’s the second time in a week that someone’s punched me in the face.” Luckily… “Can’t say I’m a fan of it.” He went right back to smiling pretty quickly.

“Blues, I-I’m so sorry,” Rock rapidly apologized. “I don’t know what came over me!” “Some people would say I ‘deserve it’ for being such a ‘jerk.’” The boy in blue’s eyes widened. His brother had spit something red out to one side. “Oh, gosh, y-you’re bleeding! H-how hard did I hit you…?!” “Some people would say that,” he continued, ignoring the question. “What do you say?” “What…?” Blues leaned back into the tree, crossing his arms and putting one foot up. “Do you think I’m a jerk who deserves to be punched in the face?” Rockman hesitated, looking away and rubbing his arm. “S-sometimes,” he answered after a few seconds. “But…” He smiled, then, putting his hands behind his back. “Some people probably wanna punch me in the face for being such a ‘goody-two-shoes!’” “I know I certainly do.” Rockman’s smile brightened and he laughed a little. He knew he deserved that…

“You know, Blues…” The robot tilted his head. Rockman was stepping toward him. “I really enjoy talking with you.” “Even though I’m a selfish jerk?” “Because you’re a selfish jerk.”

Blues’ body tensed. He was used to getting hugs and the occasional kiss from Roll… but when Rock hugged him, he didn’t really know how to respond. “Never do that, again,” was usually his response-of-choice. “No promises,” was generally Rock’s response to that – usually with a cute smile. As Rock stepped back, Blues rubbed his face and hummed. “You’ve been spending too much time with Roll… You’re starting to get soft.” “I’ll tell her you think she’s soft.” He grinned. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.” “I guess getting punched in the face is gonna be my new thing, in that case…” “Oh, I’m sure she’ll just slap you, instead. She doesn’t generally punch… punch…” Rock suddenly frowned. “I hope she’ll be alright… The last time I tried a Double Rock Buster, I was out for a week… It might take Roll a lot longer to recover from using a Double Power Punch… She’s not even fully-compatible with Rush, like I am…” “She’ll live.” When that just made Rock’s frown deepen, Blues decided to try again.

“Roll is just as strong as you are, both physically and emotionally – and no, it has nothing to do with you sharing design schematics or code.” As predicted, Rock went to speak until Blues added that last bit. “Roll has a big heart and she cares about even idiots like me,” he continued. “That’s why she went to the effort of saving that worthless fox.” Rock’s eyes widened and he covered his mouth to gasp. “I-I’ve been so worried about Roll and Kaitlin that I forgot all about Joseph! Is he–” “He’s in the care of those who can help him the most.” “You’ve seen him…?!” “I have.” Blues paused. “He’s still blind and has some fairly-severe nerve damage, he’ll live. His sight might even return, in time.” The other robot sighed, then he smiled. “Thanks for checking in on him…” Blues shrugged. “Someone had to.”

After a few moments of watching the rubble smolder and burn in the distance, Blues took his leave. Rock, meanwhile, stayed on the hill until the sun set, lost in his thoughts… He wondered… if Dr. Wily was right about how his brain worked, why did completely new things – like being introduced to Kaitlin, whom no one knew of, for the very first time – have the effect it did. Was it possible that his brain, as well as the brain of all his robot brethren, were just… one big cloud network? “You know what?” He smiled at the still-smoldering castle ruins. “I don’t care if it is all pre-programmed gobbledegook. All I can do is keep being whatever ‘me’ I decide to be!” –––––

It had been two months since the incident at Dr. Right’s New Mexico lab had happened. In that time, quite a few things had happened to a certain amber-hued fox… He did, eventually, get his sight back – though bright light still hurt his eyes. He had to wear dark glasses at all times for his protection. He thought they made him look cool, though, so he was coping. He was also getting used to his left arm and leg aching or spasming, from-time-to-time, and getting used to using a cane. There was one last thing he was getting used to. “Josey!” “Hello, Joseph.” He was getting used to getting a lot of attention from a certain set of siblings…

During the first couple of weeks of recovery, all of the Chou sisters visited him at random times – some coming in during the morning, some visiting in the afternoon, and some staying overnight. It seemed like Mikan and Brietta liked visiting him at night, the most, while Farfalla and Persephone liked the day, more. Even after he was out of the hospital, they continued to meet up. On this particular evening, he agreed to meet the former at their favorite diner.

“Hiya, Bri. Mik,” he greeted as the small pixie hugged his neck and the tall mystic bowed. “Nice to see you gals.” “We missed ya, kid!” Brietta said, kissing the fox’s cheek. “Indeed.” Mikan softly smiled in that mysterious way she did. “Your lack of presence at the manor has been noted. It is simply not the same atmosphere as before.” “Gosh… are you girls gonna tell me this every time you visit?” Brietta snuggled up to him, fluttering her wings. “Yush.” The fox shook his head. “I’ll never understand why you girls are so sweet on me…” “It could be that your aura is simply highly-compatible with ours.” He blushed as Mikan walked over and gently hugged him. “Though, one could argue that one’s aura is an intangible constant.” “Wha’cha mean?” Brietta grinned and fluttered back. “I can touch his aura plenty!” The fox blushed even harder, remembering the time that girl invited him to a faerie circle. “You misunderstand me, Brietta. What I mean is–” “Hey, who dat?”

The trio watched as a figure walked toward them from the horizon. It was extremely hard for Joseph to make out any details between the sun and his dark glasses, but they seemed to be somewhat short and, if he wasn’t mistaken, appeared to be wearing a cloak of some kind…? “Their aura is in flux,” Mikan commented. “Something is making them nervous.” “You can tell that from this far away?” “Naw, braw,” Brietta added. “We can see ‘em fidgetin’! Dink dey knows us?” “Undoubtedly.” The shrine maiden smiled. “They are walking directly in our direction.” “Wonder what dey want?”

Joseph tilted his head. Before long, the cloaked figure was standing right in front of them. There was a long, awkward pause as he and the two girls stared. Then, as the figure drew back their hood, all three of them went wide-eyed and Joseph cried out in surprise.

“Kaitlin…?!”

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jolienjoyswriting · 4 years

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Rockman - Static Cling, Ch. II

The final chapter of "Static Cling," a Rockman cross-fiction story.

If you expected this story to be anything but a "ship fic," then you were sadly mistaken, my friend. ;) They really are kind of cute, together, though~

Word count: 5,069 – Character count: 28,949 Originally written: October 19th, 2019

After a fun day out, Thundergirl invites herself to Joseph's house and discovers a "dark" "secret" about her new friend…

DR/LN-001 Rock/Megaman, "Mega Man," and related characters and concepts created by Akira Kitamura Heatman created by Toshiyuki Kataoka, Albert W. Wily and Roll created by Keiji Inafune All commercial characters redesigned/touched up by and Keiji Inafune and © Capcom Co, Ltd.

DChN-000 Kaitlin/Thundergirl created by and © Kaitlin EXE David Chou, the Chou Numbers series, and related characters and concepts created by and © Jade Green Butterfly

[ ↶ Prev. Story| ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷]

There was a long period of awkward silence as the two sat in their swings. Though Joseph knew he hadn’t dug himself into a hole by half-flirting with the girl who stood a head shorter than him… he hadn’t felt like following it up, either – not even with casual chatter. It was a long while before either of them spoke, again.

“Uhm…” The fox’s ears perked, fell, and perked, again. “W-what… do you mean?” “Do you wanna make this official?” Kaitlin asked for a second time. “This ‘date’ thing?” Joseph blushed. She was giving him such a hopeful, almost-shy smile, he wasn’t sure he had it in him to say anything other than “yes.” “Hey, no!” He blinked, again. The girl’s face changed from excited… to confused… then, to angry!

“Joseph…” She scowled at him. “Aren’t you dating my little sister, right now? You shouldn’t date someone else… especially not me!” The fox tilted his head. She kept on scowling… there was a hint of disappointment in there, somewhere, almost as if she were saying, “Even though I really wanna!” “Y-your sister and I, um…” “Or, wait!” He flinched. That girl was good at cutting him off… Then, when she asked… “Is this like the ‘Gutsman’ thing?” His ears curled all the way back and his tail lost all life. He knew what she meant… “Y-yeah…” he told her. “It… it’s exactly like the ‘Gutsman thing…’” “Cool!” She clapped her hands. “Then, do ya wanna make this official?” And, again, the fox had to wonder if that was such a good idea…

“You don’t have to!” Kaitlin told him after a moment. “I’m sure you don’t wanna date a ‘little girl’ like me…” Though she’d said that with a smirk… he could hear a tiny bit of sadness in her tone. “It’s… well… actually, that is the thing.” She blinked, tilting her head. He was looking right at her with a concerned face. “You do look just like a little girl, Kait. Like… an eight-or-nine-year-old?” “I’m actually younger than that…” she commented with a quiet chuckle. “S… so, it’s a little iffy… At least, it would be for most people.” The girl blinked, again. “If there’s anything I’ve learned from your younger sisters, it’s that age is just a number.” The girl blinked as he gave a warm smile. A moment later, he explained what he meant.

“You and one of your sisters are both pretty young-looking. But, one time?” he started. “One of your sisters got pretty mad at me and kind of held a grudge! I said something that really hurt her feelings… We worked it out, though, and she proved that she was way more mature than she acted, and especially than she looked! Now, considering that you already act more mature than her, well…” He chuckled, wagging his tail. “If you really want to… yeah, we can make this an official ‘date.’” And, just like that… the brown-haired girl was smiling right along with him, again.

Kaitlin and Joseph stayed in the park, swinging and talking for a bit longer. She was looking forward to dating such an interesting guy… though, part of her stayed distracted by the punks across the way. It was only after they were escorted out of the area by a random police officer that she could fully focus on the fox… which led her to make a suggestion.

“Let’s go to the pier!”

As much as that secret super-hero wanted her date to believe she was “mature,” she did very little to hide her child-like excitement as the two strolled up-and-down the boardwalk on the city’s coast. There were several attractions there, as well as a few rides, and Kaitlin made sure to let Joseph know that she wanted to see and do it all! Or, well, at least as much as either of them could afford. The prices for things were pretty steep! The girl cheered Joseph on during her attempts to win her prizes. He was terrible at the dart toss and even worse at the ring toss, but he did manage to win something for her from an attraction where he sprayed water into a plastic clown’s mouth to fill a balloon. Seeing her so happy over such a cheap piece of plastic – which cost him five bucks, total – made him smile.

The two took a spin around the dock – literally – riding a suspended swing ride which gave them an aerial view of the entire area. Once they were done surveying, they headed to the pier’s hole-in-the-wall arcade and played more-than-a-few games. And, it was there that Joseph learned something very important about Kaitlin…

She was really good at fighting games.

The sun was starting to set as the two exited the gaming center with significantly-lighter pockets. Despite that, Kaitlin insisted on winning something for him before they left the area. He wasn’t too surprised when she proved far better at the ring toss than he was, but once she won a Tier 3 prize, he suggested she call it a day and offered to split the prize with her. They ended up with a pair of slide-whistles for themselves… and a little finger puppet for a random, small child who’d been watching her clean house.

“Be honest, Kait…” Joseph grinned at his date. She was sipping a soda and giving an attentive look as she walked out of the piece beside him. “You totally cheated that ring toss guy, didn’t you?” “Why, whatever do you mean, Joseph?” He grinned even more. She’d used her the most fake-innocent voice he’d ever heard, topping it off with a girlish bat her eyelashes. “Metal rings? Metal milk bottles?” he said, dropping hints. “Need I say more?” When she reached over and zapped his cheek with her finger, he yelped, but laughed. “Those games are rigged, anyway!” the girl exclaimed with a big smile. “I was just leveling the playfield! Really!” “Heh. You’re so awesome…” “You, too, Joseph!” Her face brightened. “I’m glad I keep having to rescue you!” His smile faded ever-so-slightly… He had to agree, though. If it wasn’t for his frequent run-ins with angry hoodlums and deadly robots… he might not have ever met her.

“Man… the sunset always looks so nice from this bench…”

After traveling for a while longer, Kaitlin and Joseph wound up back at where their date had officially started: the public park. Instead of sitting on the swings, however, the two had found a bench near the duck pond and sat down.

“Today’s been a good day. Huh, Kait?” The girl nodded in agreement. “You’re a lot’a fun, Joseph! For a furball, I mean!” “And, you’re a lot of fun, too. For a brat,” he added with a grin. “Hey, this ‘brat’s’ saved you more times than she can count on both hands!” “I know.” He quietly chuckled. “Thank you.” She hummed… then, without any warning… “Uh, Kait?” She grabbed his tail and rubbed her face into it.

“I’ve been wantin’ to do this aaall day…” the girl softly confessed. “It just looked so warm and inviting…” Joseph chuckled, again, then ruffled his companion’s hair. “Cuddle all you want,” he offered. “I don’t have anywhere to be, today.” He was expecting a reply. However, all he got was the noises of a smaller girl rustling his fur as she got lost in its downy plushness.

“I wonder how you’d look with a tail…?” “Silly, I bet…”

Eventually, Kaitlin got her fill of his fluffy tail – though, she kept it in her lap, occasionally petting it. It was kind of therapeutic for them both… When Joseph idly posed his question, she didn’t even miss a beat before answering, causing the two of them to share a chuckle. Then, they sighed and leaned against the bench, together.

“This was a fun date, Joseph…” the girl said after a while longer. “You sure know how to show a girl a good time!” “I try,” was all he could think to say. “More like, ‘you do!’” When she nudged him with an elbow, he had to chuckle. A moment later, they both fell into a content silence, just watching the sun disappear.

“I… s’pose we should head home, huh?”

It was quite a while before Joseph asked his question. The sun had long set over the distant mountains and the park had become illuminated by tall light posts. When the fox looked at his companion, he noticed her kind of staring off into space.

“I… guess so?” Kaitlin hesitated, then she nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go home.”

Joseph hummed to himself before standing up. He was about to give Kaitlin some parting words… when he noticed her take his hand. “Um… Kait?” he asked. “Let’s go home!” the girl repeated with a bright smile and a chipper tone. “W-wait… what do you–” “Home, Joseph!” she happily exclaimed. “Let’s go!” She gave an encouraging tug on his arm. All that did was confuse him, further. “Uh…” He scratched his head. “I… don’t know where you live?” “And, I don’t know where you live! So…” She beamed. “Take me home!” Joseph blushed. “You– you want me to take you to my home…?” “Well, yeah!” Kaitlin grinned. “Isn’t that how these things usually go?” “I… uh…” “Oh… alright. I’ll level with you.” He blinked a couple of times. His date had lost all of her cheer and was giving him a straight look. It seemed like she had something to say… something serious.

“That last fight I had with Heatman?” She looked away, rubbing her head with her free hand. “Yeeaaah… it didn’t go so well. Not only did I lose, but we kind’a… wrecked the cas– the place up, a little? Doctor Dad… kind of…” Joseph blinked. His friend’s expression had turned sour and, like earlier in the day, he could feel her electromagnetic field expanding into something tangible. “He told me to get out. S-so, I did.

“I wanna stay out, ‘til I clear my head.” the girl explained. “I hoped this ‘date’ thing would do it, but… I’m still mad.” She squeezed his hand, making his shiver as her current zig-zagged through him. “I don’t feel right, going back to Doctor Other-Dad… He doesn’t…” Again, he felt her current surge. Thankfully, it was very brief. “C-can’t I just… stay the night? Pretty please?” She gave him a deeply-pleading look which should have completely destroyed any reservations he had. However… “Let’s go home, Kait.” She’d already won him over around the time she mentioned Heatman, again.

Joseph flagged a taxi and the two crawled in. Roughly ten minutes and thirteen dollars later, they hopped out and took a short walk into a housing development. There, the former led his friend to a nice-looking, one-story house situated between two houses of similar appearance.

“Uh… ‘scuse the mess. I wasn’t expecting company.”

As soon as she was let in, Kaitlin walked right into the house, curiously looking around with her hands behind her back and long strides. She’d never seen a house from the inside… Mansion? Sure. Castle? Several! But, never a house. She was kind of in awe!

“It’s like Doctor Other-Dad’s mansion, but smaller!” the girl noted as she walked into the living room. “I like it! It’s way less overwhelming and looks way easier to clean!” “Heh. You’d be surprised…” Joseph said as he closed and locked his front door. “So, Joseph?” “Ye– uh, yes?” The fox blinked and stammered, slightly. Kaitlin had come back over and started looking up at him with bright eyes and a friendly smile. “What’s next?” she politely asked. “W– uh… I mean, are you thirsty? Or… hungry?” “I’m a robot, silly…” she chuckled. “I don’t get hungry or thirsty! Buuut…” Her smile turned radiant. “If you have any lemonade…?” Joseph had to laugh. She was trying to ask without asking. Either way… “One second.” The girl clapped her hands together. A second later, she watched him head into the nearby kitchen and disappear.

“I hope you don’t mind pink le–” Once again, Joseph found himself staring. While he was gone, Kaitlin had found his laptop computer and opened it up. “Gosh, Joseph… you sure do have a lot’a pictures of Rockman’s sister!” He practically turned to stone, at that. Not only was she poking around his files… but she’d found his collection of pictures of the famous, little, blond girl in red.

“When I found a folder called ‘Cute Stuff,’” the girl continued with a casual smile, “I dunno what I was expecting… but I sure wasn’t expecting a whole folder dedicated to Roll!” “I… I can explain,” he stammered as he inched over to where she was sitting. “No, it’s okay.” She looked up, her smile warming. “Roll has a huge following, on the Internet! A lot’a people think she’s cute ‘n stuff! Some are even your age… heh heh.” “That’s… y-yeah.” He sighed in relief. “I-I’m a fan of Roll. She’s–” “Why are there nudes in here, though? Bashful, half-clothed drawings…” Again, the fox froze. Even though Kaitlin was looking on with a grin, he was starting to feel a little bashful about the contents of that folder… “K… Kaitlin…?” he squeaked. “I…” “Wait! Are… are these her blueprints…? Are these real…?! Whoa…!” The noise he made in response to that drew her attention back his way. “You… really like Roll, don’cha? Thanks,” she added as she pried her drink from his clenched hand and took a sip before setting it down. “I…” “But, man… look at all this fan art…! It’s even sorted by ‘favorites’ and ‘super favorites!' Why would one person need this many pictures of– hey, what’s this?” The girl blinked… then, she went wide-eyed. “Oh. Oh, geez… Y-you’re one of those kinds of fans, I see…” He hadn’t wanted her to… but she’d found it.

His “secret” stash.

“Kaitlin, I can expl–” “Really, Joseph? Can you really explain?” He shrunk, folding his ears. She didn’t look amused, anymore. “Well?” The girl kept her arms crossed, eyes half-closed, and mouth in a straight line. “I… um…” he started… before being interrupted. “You have all this… ‘art…’” she said, putting heavy emphasis on that last word. “All of these… drawings… doodles… of Roll… Yet…” Her look turned a little more hostile. “You got all uncomfortable when I showed interest in just dating?” “W… wait,” the fox said, suddenly feeling far less uncomfortable. “Wait, what?” “‘Age is just a number,’” the girl said as she retrieved her drink and smirked at him, suddenly looking amused, again. “I see why you said that, now. Roll acts way younger than me, but that doesn’t stop you from having all this stuff!” When she turned the laptop his way, he flinched. She’d opened up a… pretty condemning drawing of Roll… and himself. “Goodness gracious…” She clicked her tongue, shaking her head. “Does Roll know you’ve got this thing for her?” “Oh, god, I hope not…!!” Joseph exclaimed without a second thought. “Well, whatever!” She closed the computer’s lid, then took a sip of her drink. “What you look at in your spare time is none’a my concern! Though, if I didn’t know she was a robot… oh, what trouble you’d be in, Joseph!”

“Look, Kaitlin,” Joseph started, suddenly looking and sounding angry. “So, okay, you found my folders of Roll pictures and, yes, some of them are a little iffy. But–” “Especially that one with you in it!” she interrupted with a laugh. “B-but…!” he continued, his face turning red. “If you’re gonna blackmail me or something, then… then, forget about it! I’m not ashamed! Okay? I’m a fan of Roll! She’s cute, precious, and… and way less of a sneaky tomboy than you are!” The girl blanched. “E-excuse me?” “What kind of person goes rifling through the contents of someone else’s personal computer without so much as asking…? Some hero you are…!” “I…” She paused, then she looked down. For a moment, it seemed like she might apologize. “Y-yeah, well…” But, then… “What kind’a person doesn’t put a password on his computer?!” she shouted, deflecting his accusation. “The kind that usually doesn’t need to worry that some child is gonna go snooping around where she doesn’t belong?” “Ch… ‘child…?’” Her face turned stormy and she leaped up before shouting, “Child…?!” Joseph shrugged. “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck…” The fox smirked… only to wince a nearby floor lamp suddenly lit up. Oh. Right, he thought, his ears falling back as the lamp’s three bulbs brightened, hummed, and popped one-by-one. Sh-she’s a walking power conduit…

“I… You… You… you-you…” Kaitlin trembled, her fists clenched at her sides, her body sparking and crackling. The look on her face, alone, was enough to fry the fox… “Now… now, hang on, Kait,” he started to say. “I–” “You jerk…!!” Joseph gasped, doubling over with a forced gasp. He never saw it coming… Then, as Kaitlin pulled her fist out of his stomach and stepped back, he fell to his knees… only for the girl to grab him by the throat and give him a death-glare.

“The things I’ve seen…” she snarled, keeping her hand locked around his neck and locking her violently-sparking eyes right on his. “the things I’ve been a part of… They’d make your fur fall out! You have no idea what I’ve been through! I. Am. No. Child!” “I… glk… I-I’m–” he sputtered only to squeak as she tightened her grip. “Do you know what it’s like to learn that your dad abandoned you? What it’s like for your foster-dad to treat you like property instead of a person? Do you know what it’s… it…” Her grip suddenly weakened. Then, before Joseph could even catch his breath… she dropped to her knees and went limp.

“K… Kay… Kait…?” the fox panted. “What…?” “O-of course, you don’t…” Kaitlin quietly laughed. “I know you don’t… How could you? Only a couple people do, and they know how to keep a secret…” The girl leaned back, staring at the ceiling with her hands on her ankles. She was laughing, again, but it sounded even emptier than before…

Joseph sniffled, trying to calm down. He didn’t care that she’d almost choked him out. He knew something was wrong… something big. “Kaitlin…?” he whispered. “I… I’m sorry I called you a child. I’m just…” “I wasn’t gonna blackmail you, Joseph.” “I… I know…” He huffed. “I’m just paranoid…” “You and me both, brother!”

The fox tilted his head, watching as his friend straightened up. When he noticed her rubbing her eyes, he frowned and almost leaned in to hug her. However, he decided against it. She’d hugged his tail, sure, but… she hadn’t been especially affectionate toward him, himself.

“Doctor Dad is… special,” she started after a moment. “To him, we’re just robots. You know… tools! He’s also kind of a chauvinist…” She gave a slightly-more-energetic laugh, rubbing her cheeks and smiling. “He took one look at me before handing me a broom and telling me to ‘clean this place up.’” The girl laughed even louder before asking, “Do I look like a housekeeping robot?” “No, you…” Joseph blinked, stopping short. However… “What?” The girl smirked. “What do I look like, to you?” He knew he was walking into a trap, with that question. Still… he decided to answer her as honestly as he could.

“You… well…” Joseph started. “You look like a pretty, little girl, to me? S-sorry…” “Well, I am a pretty, little girl!” was her surprising response. “But, what about function?” He blinked. “What?” She smiled, patiently asking him, “What do I look like I was made to do?” The fox paused, looking her over. Then, for some reason… he just started laughing. “What?” Kaitlin grinned, giving a couple chuckles of her own. “What’s so funny?” “I just… I had the dumbest thought, just now…” “Tell me?” She warmly smiled before teasing, “Promise I won’t zap ya!” “Heh….” He softly sighed. Then, after a moment, he smiled at her and said… “You look like you were made for hugs.”

“I…” Clearly, the girl hadn’t been expecting that. But, after taking a second to recover, she asked, “What do you mean?” “Well…” he started, “When I looked at you, I thought to myself, ‘she looks like someone who’d greet you at the door with a bright smile and friendly eyes. Then, after asking how your day went, she’d give you a great, big hug and tell you how much she missed you!’” The fox scratched his warming cheek, looking away. “Like I said, it’s dumb, but…” “That… that sounds nice…” Joseph blinked, looking back her way. When he did, he noticed her brown eyes fondly looking out into space.

“‘Welcome home, Doctor Dad!’” she said to no one. “‘How was your day? I missed you so much!’” Her eyes started to water. Note a second later, though… “Bah…” She laughed, rubbing her cheeks. “Who am I kidding? That’s so not me!” The girl sniffed, then she smiled at her friend. “I’m Thundergirl!” she exclaimed. “I’m a hero! I’m not some café maid or something…” “Heh.” The fox wagged his tail. “All the bravery and compassion of Rockman, but all the feminine charm of Roll, all bundled up in one adorable little package. You’re so neat…” “Really?” She smirked. “I thought you said I was a sneaky tomboy?” “I did.” Her smirk turned into a grin as she asked, “And?” “And, what?” The smirk faded… only to curl back into a grin. She knew he was messing with her.

“Alright, Mister. You asked for it!” The fox blinked. Kaitlin’s grin widened and she rubbed her hands together, generating sparks. It seemed like she was going to shock him… but when she leaned in… “Ah…?” She discharged her electric and hugged him! But, before he could return the favor… she whipped back and made a face. “Bleh!” she told him. “Hugging, like that, is… is too girly! I hate it!” “Says the girl wearing a dress…” he said as she chuckled. “Hey, this isn’t just a dress!” She beamed. “They’re overalls, too! Not girly, at all!”

Joseph rolled his eyes, laughing. “You’re such a closet case, Kait…” “Am, not!” She smirked, crossing her arms. “I just wear it ‘cause it’s comfy and it has pockets! Besides! I have a big shirt on, under!” “And, all of this is in girly colors, like purple, and lavender, and–” “It’s not a girly outfit, Joseph! It’s functional and stylish!” He had to smile, again, when she pouted.

“Hey, Kait?” “Yeah, what?” she replied, her full attention on him. “I’m… sorry for earlier. I know you wouldn’t blackmail me.” He offered a softer smile as he told her, “You’re a hero. Heroes don’t do that.” “They might if the situation calls for it?” His smile faded. “But, you’re not a bad-guy, Joseph.” She gave her own little smile as she added, “Kind of a weirdo, maybe a little naughty, but you’re not a bad-guy. Or even a bad guy…” She paused… then she said something unexpected. “Hey, you should write Roll and tell her.” “W– what…?!” His face went beet-red and his body stiffened. “I– n-no!!” “Not about that…!” The girl chuckled. “I mean… you should tell her you’re a big fan! I bet she’d get a kick out of hearing from someone like you!” “I… N-no, that’s still a bad idea,” he said as he looked away. “I’m sure she gets enough fan mail from people like me… worse than me… as it is…” “Maybe! But, Joseph?” He blinked as she leaned forward, again, looking right into his eyes. “You should be honest about your feelings! I know guys don’t do that, but if you really like her that much, you should let her know! Never know what’ll happen ‘til you try! Right?”

The fox continued to blush as that little, brown-haired girl stayed right in his face, softly smiling and happily looking on. She sounded so optimistic… so encouraging… It was hard for him to say “no” to that kind of positive energy. “I…” “Yes, Joseph?” He blushed a little harder… Then, out-of-the-blue… “Eh?!” He bumped noses with the girl and turned away.

“Did…” She blinked. “Did you just try and kiss me? And miss?” He flinched as the girl chuckled, then told her… “Th-thought about it! But… But, no. I… I didn’t miss. I didn’t even try. Something just… didn’t feel right? I dunno… I-I’m sorry.” “So…” She smirked, leaning back and putting her hands in her lap. “You’re saying you want to kiss me?” “A… a little…?” he shyly confessed. “S-sorry…” “Oh, stop apologizing…” Kaitlin softly smiled and quietly laughed. “I’m flattered, I guess. Thank you? But… but, you should’a done it, ya big chicken!” When she started clucking at him, he couldn’t help but start laughing, again.

After spending a little more time on the floor, Joseph and Kaitlin found a place on the couch, together. Once the latter apologized for accidentally destroying his floor lamp, the former opened his laptop and checked it out. Somehow, it seemed like she’d completely missed hitting it when her temper flared. As he wagged a wireless mouse to wake the screen up, he blushed and tensed… That picture… was still up. He was quick to close it… only for Kaitlin to insist he show her the other pictures he had. She did seem genuinely interested… so, after a little hesitation, he went ahead and browsed his archives.

On some pictures, she commented that the art was really good. Sometimes, she added that the artist could easily do something “less naughty” with their talents – something Joseph agreed with. Other times, she asked him why he had a certain picture, either because the quality wasn’t so great or because the content was a bit “extreme.” He was a little bashful about it, at first, but he eventually mellowed and just shrugged. Once-or-twice, she teased him about an image, suggesting that he wished he could be the one in the picture with Roll. He really couldn’t argue… He did have kind of a crush on her.

“Teeell herrrrr.” “I don’t–” “Teeell herrrrr!” “Kaitlin, this is–” “Do I have to type it for you? Gosh… Move over!”

A short while after browsing all the pictures he had of Roll, Kaitlin somehow managed to convince him to open his e-mail program and write the real-world version of the girl some fan mail. He hadn’t gotten far before she insisted he “confess his undying love for her.” When she bumped him out of the way and started typing, he squeaked, staring with an open mouth as he read the kind of words she was making him “say.”

“‘I know it’s weird, hearing that someone probably three times your designed age has a crush on you,’” she read as she quickly typed, “‘but I felt like I had to confess! You’ve been a huge inspiration to me with your pretty smile and relentless optimism!’” “Th-that’s not what I–!” “‘Roll… At the risk of sounding like a weirdo, I want you to know you’re my favorite DRN by far! You’re more amazing than you know. Never forget that, okay? Love…’” “D-don’t end it with–!” “‘Your biggest fan, Joseph!’” The girl grinned at her handiwork. Then… she did the unthinkable. “Aaand… sent!” “N– nooooo…!!” Kaitlin laughed as Joseph made the most pitiful squeaky, shrieky noise. Then, after watching the mail client confirm “his” delivery, he turned her way, looking completely aghast. “W… why…?” he sputtered. “Oh, I bet she won’t even reply!” The fox whimpered as his friend laughed. She was insane… but, she was probably right. What were the odds that Roll would even see “his” “declaration of love,” much less write back? –––––

“Hey, Roll! What’cha readin’?”

Somewhere in Colorado, a blond-haired girl wearing a red hoodie-dress sat in front of a computer. She’d taken a minute away from cleaning the Right house-and-lab combo to check her e-mail. As usual, it was full of letters from all sorts of people… Shut-ins, fanatics, some kids “her age,” older women complaining, younger women acting jealous… the usual. She generally trashed them all without so much as a glance, choosing only to read the ones were well-written or, on occasion, really-badly-written. On that day, she happened to see an e-mail simply labeled “Kind Words From a Long-Time Fan.” It seemed innocent enough… As she read on, however, she found herself a little engrossed by what they had to say.

“Oh, nothing new, Rock,” she told her robotic brother. “Just another fan letter…” “Really?” The brown-haired boy smiled. “Can I see?” “I… I dunno if I should.” The girl squirmed. “It gets a little… personal…” “What? Lemme see!” “W-wait, Rock!” But, it was too late. He was reading the message letter-by-letter, word-by-word.

“Boy, you sure do get a lot’a mail from ‘older’ guys, huh?” “G-girls, too…” she idly commented. “‘Three times’ your age?” Rock chuckled. “Wow! That’s old!” “Rock!” She angrily frowned. “Another confession…” The boy-robot sighed. “It’s even signed ‘love!’” He turned to his sister, giving a soft frown. “You get so many of these, Roll! Why do you even read them, anymore? They all say the same thing!” “I… I dunno…” She pressed her fingertips together, shyly looking away. “They make me feel wanted? I… I know I’m not a big, brave hero, like you, but it’s nice to know I can make people happy, too… even if it’s just because of my smile and optimism!” “Can’t argue with that…” His face warmed and he smiled, again. “You are pretty ‘relentless’ about seeing the bright side of life!

“Anyway, you should probably delete these before Doctor Right sees,” Rock told her. “You know he doesn’t like people sending us these kinds of e-mails.” She softly nodded. “I will…” “Good girl.” The brown-haired boy smiled, tussling his sister’s hair, much to her dismay. “I hate it when you do that!” she giggled as she fixed her blond hair. “I know!” The two stuck their tongues out at each other and laughed before Rock took his leave.

“‘My biggest fan,’ huh…?” The girl warmly smiled as she glossed over the words, again. Something about that e-mail seemed… really genuine. Maybe that’s why, after a few moments… “‘Dear Joseph…’” She began crafting a reply.

#gift #fan fiction #cross fiction #Mega Man #Rockman #Static Cling #commercial characters #Rock #Roll #fan characters #KaitlinEXE #Kaitlin Chou #Thundergirl #original characters #jolikmc #Joseph Lithius #slice of life #drama

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