"Its certainly hard to believe," Prairie said. "I've never heard of inter-dimensional travelers before."

"We get that a lot," R.D. said, placing a hand on his hip. "We don't try to make trouble, but it has a tendency to follow us."

"Even so, I'd like to hear your story first-hand," she said. She motioned to the door. "Come, we'll talk on the bridge. Its much roomier than in here."

"Sounds good to me," R.D. said, and the group made their way out into a long, wide hallway, where men in women in green uniforms went about on daily tasks. Prairie guided them down to its end, to another door. It opened, allowing them entry into a large, half-dome room with a windowed front showing the clouds zooming by, a horizon in the distance. The pathway branched to a half-circular computer station, and two stairways branching off on either side of it down to an even larger computer station. There was another door off to the right side of the room, but no one paid attention to it.

Stepping ahead of them, Prairie turned and gestured with her hands. "Welcome to the Guardian Base," she introduced. "My name is Prairie. I am the commander of the Guardians."

She gestured to Vent and Aile. "You've already met Vent and Aile, the Chosen Ones for Biometals Model X and Z."

"Yeah," Matt said. "You've got some questions and so do we, so I think we should all just sit down over something to eat and hash this out."

"You've been complaining about getting something to eat ever since we got here," Hugo said.

"Yeah, that's because I'm HUNGRY."

"I wouldn't mind something to eat either," Helena said. "Something with...something with a lot of meat in it."

In response, R.D. tossed a couple of roast beef sandwiches to Matt and Helena, after digging some out of his satchel. If R.D.'s actions seemed strange to any outsider, he did not notice it.

Prairie, wisely, did not comment on the spectacle. Instead, she sat down in the chair at the upper station, then turned to face them. "Now, I would like to hear your story, and how you came here," she said in a kind tone.

R.D. hesitated. Where to start?

"Well, it's like this," Matt said, and he explained the same story he told Vent and Aile, with his mouth stuffed with food between parts of it. Rude, maybe, but damn it, he was hungry. He kept his mouth closed and didn't talk when his mouth was full, he did fine.

Meanwhile, Helena had finished off her sandwich. Quickly. "Give me another," she said to R.D., nudging him in the shoulder.

"That's... quite a story," Prairie said slowly, as R.D. handed another sandwich to Helena. "I can see why the Galleons would come after you."

"You believe us?" Ileyna said, hopefully. Prairie nodded.

"I believe you. We've recovered the data on your appearance," she said. Turning, she pressed a rapid series of keystrokes, bringing up a holographic screen up in the air before the canopy of the Guardian Base's bridge. R.D. watched as a red light burst into existence out of thin air, quickly growing into a violently spiral of red energy that tore a green rip between dimensions before stabilizing. And then the group saw themselves walking out of it, and R.D. thought it weird not seeing Matt fall over for once.

"We detected it almost immediately," Prairie said as it happened. "The energy output of the rift was immense. Its no surprise it set off the scanners of nearly every defense mechaniloid in the city. You'd have been facing Inner Neo Arcadia's defense army had you stayed any longer."

R.D. fought the urge to look away. Sure, they've had experience fighting armies and those Galleon units were much, much weaker than what they had faced before, but R.D. still didn't like thinking about that canyon and the events that unfolded in it.

"So, this Omega Essence," Prairie said after closing the holographic screen and turning to the group. "Do you have a sample of it we may study? We may be able to help you find it."

"Um," R.D. started, then stopped. He remembered what Matt said when Dr. Liger had examined the first piece. "I... don't think that'd be a good idea."

The young woman looked perplexed. "Why not?" she asked politely.

Edited by RisingDragon on November 28, 2008 at 19:07:37.

"Monster feedback," Matt said. He held up his arm, and the armor materialized over it. "I'm lucky that I was able to absorb a piece of the Essence into my arm, here. But it wasn't fun. I've had previous experience with this stuff. I figure any normal person who comes into contact with it will not feel great afterwards." He waved his hand in a circle. "To think of what it'll do with your computer."

"It's extremely powerful for what it is," Hugo added. "That's why we need to find it."

"Is there more than one?" Aile asked. "Where are you keeping it?"

Matt produced the pendant. "In this pendant. It's been designed to hold the Omega Essence without causing any major problems."

"Then how are you finding it?"

Hugo jabbed his pickaxe toward Ileyna. "She can detect it. And speaking about that, have you picked up any new readings yet?"

Ileyna looked upwards towards the ceiling for a moment or two, but her hair remained blonde, with no accompanying feedback. She looked back down, almost dejected-looking. "No," she said, shaking her head. "I still can't feel any."

"We'll find it, don't worry," R.D. said, trying to reassure the girl. "It'll take some time, but we'll manage."

"Okay," the girl said, cheering up a bit. R.D. looked back up.

"There's really not much we can do until she detects the Essence," he said, shrugging. "We can't wait in the city, either. We did cause problems earlier, and our outfits... well..."

"They are kinda old-looking," Vent remarked. "But don't worry about that. Me and Aile have caused problems in the city by using our Mega Man forms in it, and things calm down after a bit."

R.D. blinked.

"Did you say... Mega Man?"

"Yeah," Aile said. "That's our title. 'Mega Men'."

Matt glanced at Hugo.

"Why are you called that?" the Mettaur asked. "Where did you get that name?"

"Oh. Well..." Aile looked at Vent. "Vent, tell them what we mean." Because, to be honest, she forgot.

"Um," Vent started, thinking. He really wasn't sure how to word this.

"It's the power of the Chosen Ones," Prairie explained for them. "The Chosen Ones can naturally harness the power of the Biometal and become Mega Men through use of the Meta-Encapsulated Granule Awareness system, or the M.E.G.A. System for short."

"With these Biometals and the Mega Man power they provide, we're able to protect the people from Serpent and his Mavericks," Vent said. "Me and Aile are the Chosen Ones for Models X and Z, but we've also collected Models H, F, L, and P from the Pseudoroids."

As Vent spoke, glowing light formed out of the pockets, and four stones hovered out, floating before them, as Model X's Chosen One said their respective names.



"Model H and Model P aren't complete yet," Model X suddenly spoke, also hovering out of Vent's pocket.

"Why not?" R.D. asked, cocking his head to the side.

Model H answered him. "The Pseudoroids that contain the other half of our data have yet to be exterminated," it answered in a lofty voice. "Until they are destroyed, we cannot access our passwords so that we can stop Model W."

R.D. opened his mouth again, but Model P beat him to the punch. "Model W is another Biometal, an evil Biometal. The Model W fragment is used by Serpent, and contains the power to make someone go Maverick at will. We fight to stop him from reaching Model W's Core," it said with a deep voice, one that commanded respect. R.D. promptly closed his mouth again.

"Good lord, look at all these talking heads!" Matt said. "Where do you GET these things?"

"Thanks, Prairie," Hugo cut in. "That's all I need to know." He turned away. "Helena. What's wrong?"

She wasn't facing them, but her hands were clearly near her face. "...where's your bathroom?"

Matt groaned. "Great. You don't have to barf, do you?"

"Someone just TAKE me there, okay?"

"I'll take you to it," Vent said, approaching the brunette girl. "Follow me."

The door opened up as he neared it, and he led her out of the room. R.D. watched them go, looking slightly suspicious.

"So," he started, turning back, his expression neutral once more. "Who is this Serpent guy, anyway?"

Prairie's look turned grim. Turning, she opened up the holographic screen once more, this time depicting a tall, imposing and powerfully-built man in a green coat, a man with a hard, angular face, reddish hair spiking forwards, and another one of those strange red triangles on his head.

"This is Serpent," she explained, "Until some time ago, this world was facing an energy crisis. Serpent solved the energy crisis with his company, Slither Inc, and was praised as a hero. Using his newly-earned wealth, Serpent commissioned a mechaniloid army to protect the people from Maverick outbreaks."

"Then he decided that he would do anything to revive Model W," Aile said, folding her arms. "And he began endangering lives. Even before we met him, he's probably ruined families. All for this 'Project Haven' he keeps talking about, like some selfish, conceited idiot who thinks he knows what's best for everyone."

The fire had dropped from her voice. Nothing masked her hate.

"Let me guess," Matt said. "If he revives Model W, everybody's hosed."

"Pretty much."

Matt looked back at Serpent's image. "Wonderful."

***

Helena focused on the approaching length of wall as Vent walked with her. She walked stiffy, uneasy.

"The Model W Core was locked away, and six passwords from the Biometal are needed to get within Area M," Prairie said. "However, Serpent managed to extract the passwords from all six of the Biometals, and is currently excavating Model W's Core."

"And I'm guessing you can't get in to stop him without the passwords yourselves," R.D. guessed.

"Correct," Model P said.

Meanwhile, after a bit of walking, Vent stopped in front of two doors and opened one of them. "Here you go," he said, gesturing to it. "I'll wait out here. Just let me know when you're done and I can lead you back to the bridge."

"So what're we sitting around talking Chinese history for?" Matt said. "Let's go see if Mr. Serpent's got what we're looking for."

"We need the rest of Model H and Model P's passwords, remember?" Aile said.

"Maybe Matt didn't hear it the first time around," Model Z offered.

"That wouldn't be the first time," Hugo said.

Matt mimicked Model Z by flapping his hand like a mouth. "Maybe blah blah blah blah blah I got the picture. So let's just go get the rest. Once we've done that, you can take care of the Core while you help us get the rest of the Essence. Deal?"

***

Helena burst into the bathroom, like she was saving up all her energy for this. Mirror. She needed a mirror. The first one along the wall. Helena threw herself upon the sink, grabbing the edge, lifting her lips with her other hand.

She knew it. All of her teeth had sharpened, glistening and wet. The incisors had clearly honed points, but even her flat teeth were focusing into something that ripped and teared.

Helena leaned her head against the mirror, covering her mouth and just stood there for a few moments, forgetting everything else except what was before her.

"We don't know where the remaining two Pseudoroids are," Model H said, turning towards Matt. "The Maverick forces have been mostly decimated by Vent and Aile, and the rest are lying low."

"We can't move until we've found the last two," Prairie said. "We had thought that perhaps one of them had begun an assault on Neo-Arcadia, but that turned out to be your group instead."

"Well, us causing trouble just by showing up is nothing new for us," R.D. said, shrugging.

"At any rate, we'll accept your deal," Prairie said, turning to Matt. "We can use all the help we can get."

After a moment, Ileyna spoke up. "What's taking Helena so long?" she asked.

"Can't you use the pillar?" Bryant suggested, eagerly. He's seen the power of that thing several times doing minor things like they were nothing. Something like this, he figured, was very realistic. The power of that pillar had always awed him on the inside and while it never felt hostile, was indeed intimidating.

Vent and Helena then re-entered the room.

"Hey," Matt said. "You didn't throw up, did you?" Helena gave a thumbs up and moved back near Ileyna. "Right! That just leaves the problem of finding the other two Psuedo Shoes or whatever they're called."

"Psuedoroids," Aile said.

"You say tomato, I say potato."

"If I could just boost my scanning ability, I could probably find them with a sample of Model H and Model P's energy signature," Hugo said. "Do you have a radar dish I can plug into?"

"We can use the lab's terminal," Prairie said, standing up. "Just follow--"

Klaxons and red lights began flaring in the room as an alert went off. Startled, everyone looked up at the monitors.

"Ma'am!" a old and wizened, yet anxious-sounding voice was heard as an intercom spoke. "We've detected Pseudoroid activity in two Areas!"

"What?" Vent exclaimed, running over.

"Explain, Fleuve," Prairie said, suddenly all business as she turned and sat down at her terminal.

"We've detected the last two Pseudoroids," Fleuve explained. "Both of them, at the same time! A group of people were kidnapped and were taken to Area I by one Pseudoroid, while another lead a Maverick raid on the lab at Area L! They seem to be going after the old research files there!"

"Damn!" Vent swore. "We'll need to split up if we want to take them!"

"Not a problem," R.D. suddenly said. "We can help. We've fought bigger, nastier things and survived."

===Pillar of Dawn, Japan===

"Its not that easy. I can't teleport you away from the Pillar yet, I haven't learned how. I'm still training, after all," Alasea explained. "I can teleport you closer to the Pillar, but that won't help."

She walked over to a drawer in the living room and opened it out, rummaging through it. Soon, she pulled out a large piece of paper and took it to the kitchen table, unrolling it to reveal a map. The girl quickly pressed against the table and began browsing it.

"Looks like there's a recreational port nearby," she said. "We can go there and get a boat, and I can see if I can retrofit it into something sea-worthy for this day and age."

Edited by RisingDragon on November 29, 2008 at 16:14:14.

A big smirk spread on Matt's face as he socked his fist into his other hand. "Sweet. I guess we get to tangle with someone sooner than we thought."

"All right!" Aile said. "I'll head down to Area L!" She pointed at R.D.. "You're pretty strong, so you're coming with me!"

"I'll go too," Hugo said.

"Guess that means me and Vent'll find the hostages," Matt said.

"I'll help too!" Helena suddenly said. She glanced away as Matt looked toward her. "I want to be useful too, I mean."

"Like hell. You're staying here."

"I was the one that wanted to come, remember?" Helena said. "You can't stop me from going. Besides, if I need to..." She rolled her hands. "You know."

Matt sighed. "Fine. But let us handle most of it, we don't know how dangerous this guy's gonna be."

R.D. nodded to Aile, then looked down at Ileyna when she tugged on his shirt. "What is it?"

"What do I do?" she asked, wringing her hands.

"Do you sense any Omega Essence yet?" he asked. She shook her head. "Then stay here. It'll be safer, and you can work on trying to find the Essence."

"Okay," she said, still looking worried. "Will you guys be alright?"

"We'll be fine. Just stay here with Prairie."

"Wait, Aile," Vent said, motioning for his sister to stop. He looked back at the monitor. "Fleuve, can you tell which Pseudoroids are at which Areas?"

The voice replied. "Just a moment."

Indeed, after a moment, this Fleuve replied. "I've detected the signature of Model H at Area I," he said, "Which means the other Pseudoroid must have the remaining data for Model P."

"Right," Vent said, turning towards the hovering Biometals. "Model P, go with Aile. I'll take Model F with me this time."

"Understood," Model P replied, hovering over to Aile while Model H went to Vent.

"Right!" Matt gestured boldly. "Everyone, let's ROLL OUT!"

The group, minus Ileyna this time, made their way out of the Guardian Base's bridge back to its Trans-Server. Minutes later, R.D. found himself reassembling in a room identical to the first Trans-Server chamber, and he quickly stepped off of the teleportation circuit while shaking off the tingling feeling. Once he and Hugo and Aile were together, he looked at the two doors and asked, "Which way?"

Aile raised a finger and it drifted between the two doors for a few seconds before pointing at one of them. "That way!"

"I hope you know where you're going," Hugo said.

"I can detect my other half within this area," Model P replied. "We will find the Psuedoroid easily."

They were led out of the Trans-Server room and through a similar wooded area before they reached what looked to be an amusement park--R.D. noted that Aile didn't seem comfortable here, but she led them through it easily enough, though they were accosted by several park mechaniloids, including one gigantic Mettaur twice as tall as either Aile or R.D.. After they destroyed it, they found the entrance to Area L.

As they entered, they found themselves in a large, industrial-looking area, with signs of extensive damage thanks to heavy weaponry. Up ahead were platforms, barrels, and large steel crates. "This place looks like hell," R.D. commented, stepping forward. Up ahead, a large pod-like container with the Slither Inc. logo smashed down onto the floor, connected by a giant chain. Its front opened up, spitting out a reptilian-designed mechaniloid on treads.

Aile's intercom rang, and Prairie's voice sounded. "Aile! The enemy has commenced their attack! If we don't hurry, all of the data in the research lab will be lost! The room with the data should be up ahead!"

"I'm moving as fast as I can, Prairie!" Aile shouted, and looked toward Hugo and R.D.. "I hope you can move fast, because we need to hurry!"

"You take me with you, R.D.," Hugo said, "and I'll get us cover fire!"

"Let's go, Model P!" Aile grabbed the Model and thrust it before her, triggering a new transformation. "Megamerge!"



"Laser Option!" The Options reconfigured into attack mode and hovered near Hugo, and he readied his gun. "Let's MOVE!"

R.D. spread his arms out, letting the Dragon King Armor to appear on his body, covering his form in the blue armor plating. As it completed, the armor shone briefly, and the center chest-mounted ruby glowed as the matter converter activated. Several barrels nearby disappeared into a prismatic mist, the particles reforming into the two shoulder-mounted cannons and the two hip-mounted cannons. He scooped up Hugo and looked at Aile.

"Hope you can keep up!" he challenged, beginning to run before activating the boot-mounted thrusters and began skating over the ground with them.

The initial assault dropped more mechaniloid-producing pods from the ceiling, as well as numerous Galleons with mortar cannons and hoverboards. Occasionally they ran into devices bolted into the ground that spit out rat-like rolling mines until they were destroyed, all of it hampering their movements as they were forced to blow away the giant crates and barrels to clear the path. Soon, they found strange radar dishes that were emitting mechanics-scrambling radio waves from them, forcing them to disable them or find ways around them.

After much fighting, the three of them made their way to the end of the initial building, and they broke through to the next section.

What met their eyes was a scene of destruction--most of the lab had been obliterated, with the ceiling missing and the walls reduced to twisted, smoldering piles of metal. Above, dozens of missiles were dropped from airships, pounding at the remaining structures, while more airborne mechaniloids were blasting everything in sight.

"Good lord," he breathed, shocked by the amount of destruction. Up head was a circular building, so far untouched from the battle--R.D. felt that it was in there that their target was.

After a pause, Aile said, "Model P's telling me that the other half is in there."

"All right," Hugo said. "Let's get this over with."

The mechanical doors parted for them and they walked inside. As the doors slammed shut behind them, they found themselves in a gigantic room with large, green egg-like computers capped with gold and connected to various spots with thick wires and cables. The floor flickered green from the light of the monitors.

"Is this the room?" Aile asked. "Everything still looks intact."

"So...you've come at last. The foolish Mega Man who has sided with the Guardians."

They didn't even notice him coming in, he was so quiet, but now he strode toward them with heavy stomps, the shadow covering his massive form peeling away as he stepped into the light:

R.D. could only slowly move his head upwards, staring at the gigantic Pseudoroid that stomped over to them, the ground shaking with each of its footsteps. The shadow of its hulking form covered the three of them as it stopped before them, its body brimming with power and its movements screaming "violence".

"All of the data that was found here is now in my internal data disk. I just need to destroy this room with you in it, and all of the loose ends will be tied up," it rumbled in a deep, menacing voice as it stared down at them imperiously. "I am the Model P Pseudoroid, Protectos! I will crush anyone that stands in our way!"

Warning bells went off in R.D.'s head, telling him that they had gone in way over there heads. How in the hell do they fight this monstrosity!? This... this had to be the power of Biometal.

Edited by RisingDragon on November 29, 2008 at 19:19:57.

"Is that right?" Hugo said. He fired upward at Protectos's head, energy bullets dancing off its armor, and the Laser Options joined in, firing simultaneously.

"Aile, where's the Biometal data?" R.D. demanded, as Protectos began to laugh at Hugo's attempts at damaging it. "This thing has got to have a weakpoint!"

Rockets ignited in the Goreroid's feet, and the massive robot began to float up and over onto a platform spanning the length of the room. It aimed its arms overhead, and began firing two volleys of drill-headed rockets that soared upwards and back down at the three of them.

"Scatter!" he shouted, dashing to the side.