machinesandman

[machinesandman]

"Why is there always something goin on or going down somewhere, just when things seem to be making headway..."

Crash Man was simply judging everyone. He should just go back home.

[machinesandman]

"Huh... Now this is a fascinating discovery..."

"All the way out here, in no where...? What is it?"

"A robot under the ground here... Or remains of one, at least. Scans show it has wheels, or what used to be wheels, a transformation capability, but the build style is unlike any robot master I have ever seen."

"Considering what you have seen, Doctor Jonez, that concerns me. Time and date of materials or deactivation?"

"Seems to be built with design style similar to very early 2000's... Material scans coincide with this possibility. Not sure about deactivation or shut down date, but certainly long before any of the Robot Master's. And don't call me that."

"Can't be a combat model then, we'd have known about it... We can't leave it's remains out here."

"Agreed, Metal. Let's get the Diamond Dog's out here to help in the recovery process, Crash can help us get through some of this rubble."

[machinesandman]

"Sometimes, not even science can explain some of the ridiculous outcomes some of you end up with."

[machinesandman]

"Serta? Serta no, don't go over there, don't draw attention- it's bad enough over there as is. Just as bad as here."

"Have an E-Tank and a charge pad buddy."

A certain robotic centaur with vampiric tendencies peeked out of the alley at the racket he heard in the distance.

“… What is going on over there?”

[machinesandman]

"..."

"That is up for debate. We might have more than his shenanigans in the future."

"Oh....everyone is awake?"

[machinesandman]

"Rock, I don't think tonight is a good idea to be mega-"

"Did someone call me?"

[machinesandman]

"I've made a terrible mistake... I gotta get outta here-"

"There goes Naoto-kun freaking out about robots again..."

[machinesandman]

"You could say that, Rock... Cut Man has accidentally discovered the fourth wall. I dunno if most of us wanna be awake for whats about to happen."

"Oh....everyone is awake?"

[machinesandman]

The.. The video game...?

...

Oh no.

Cut Man blinked several times in confusion, that became worry in two seconds. Something clearly had gone wrong, as if timelines bleeding over from the time skimmer and Tachyon particles, with it's weird science, wasn't bad enough! Then there is this?

"This is not a safe space suddenly- I need to go-" And there goes the Robot Master, turning and jogging away. Armor clacking with every step just like the video games and animations.

“YOU’RE FROM MEGAMAN! THE HIT VIDEO GAME!”

Alas, her brain still does not work. If anyone from the team saw her now, they would be very surprised.

[machinesandman]

Hey Snake Man, how you handling that newest data of yours getting deleted? Oh? Wait you didn't know till now? Ooooopsieeee~

"GOD DAMN IT, PROTO MAN, STOP DELETING THE NETWORK INFORMATION!! IT IS LITERALLY MY JOB-"

The sounds of an enraged Snake Man echoes from the distance, throwing empty E-Tank cans in his frustration. The information gathering and hoarding unit that he is, feeling awfully insulted and harassed right now.

[machinesandman]

"Wow... Tonight has been a complete mess, what is even going on out there. I'm just going to go back to what I was doing..."

[machinesandman]

"WHA-" With a startled jump does the Robot Master take a hop backwards in surprise from the sudden shout. Wide eyes blinking several times. "Oh uh- No? No, that's the blue armored one! My brother. I'm Cut Man!"

As if to emphasize this, he lifts one hand to gently flick against his scissors atop his head, a smile on his face. "Hello! Nice to meet you."

He has no idea what he just walked into.

@machinesandman said:

"Tighter than bark is saying something! But also can be really loose to, so wild card then?"

And there is a strange individual with a big round head, and scissors on top of it. "What I get from this is you're all unexpected and could do anything."

MMMMMEGAMAN | Unprompted

“...Yes,” Naoto starts, initially unaware of who she’s speaking with. It’s not until she turns around that... her brain collapses on itself and dies. Isn’t he just-? Is this real?

“MEGAMAN!?”

[machinesandman]

From Maverick Hunter to Cryptid Seeker

@agloryofuniicorns

To be a local story, rumors and debates, was one thing. To be a well known single entity that had some sort of proof of existence, and gained a reputation, was another entirely. And the Black Armor Cryptid had gone from rumor into infamy after blurry photos, conversation of actual encounters, and more activity over the years. Especially after so many people had become part of a community, built a shanty town at the edges of Abel City with old buildings once abandoned, now repaired and built up. Survivors of attacks from Mavericks over the years, or natural demands.

It was a place where the one of black armor had been seen most. As well as carefully not spoken of outside of the zone, it was the unspoken rule of a sort. But not impossible to find information or use it. Especially for someone like Zero, who know where to look or what to ask.

Maybe it had a bit of assistance of Robot Masters now walking streets as well, and some having become Hunters. Shaska was more curious than concerned.

Should have expected as much to eventually happen, so she entertained the idea...

A message whispered through folks. That the Cryptid was around on this particular day, at this particular location. Setting a bread crumb trail without being direct. It was safer that way really, for everyone involved. If it was answers that the Hunter craved? Well... May as well indulge him, considering how much Shaska did try to be respectful of hunter work, even if she had a run in here and there with them. There was a common goal among them after all.

Thus, here it had to be. Inside this old building that had once been a parking garage. Now it was only am empty shell of it's old self, with distant echo's of human children playing some sort of game further away. Not of any concern really, as the so called cryptid waited however long it took. Listening on this upper floor... Until finally, tell tale armor clanks moved along old concrete.

Helmet lifted upwards to look towards the entry onto this third floor, somewhere in the middle of it all. Out of sight, out of mind, so to speak. And only when she saw the familiar shine of red armor, did the neon glowing lights flicker to life and show her shape in the darkened back corner. Now walking forwards from the cover she had been waiting in. One hand lifted to adjust a second at her helmet before speaking.

"HeLLo HunTeR ZerO." The voice box was glitching, harder to identify. Easier to keep cover for herself out of armor. Which only added onto the mystery, considering when she was scanned, the armor had an unknown power source, no core registering, but there was energy. As if the armor it's self was hollow, or it was specifically designed to block whatever was inside it. A stealth unit of a sort. "My ApolOgiES for ThiS ExtREme. You'Re CleVer, tO hAvE coMe ThiS fAr. GoNe to GrEAt LenGth... YouR CuRIosiTY and TenAcIty DeSeRvEs a RewARd. HoW cAn I hElLP yOU?"

[machinesandman]

"?!"

The way this alternate got creative in how to dodge so effectively, using the thruster of the mounted arm missile as a way of increasing the dash to a dodge, it impressed the Ex Maverick. Enough that he had to pause and appreciate such a move, it was something he himself would have tried many, many, years ago when younger. But older versions of himself wouldn't, far too wrapped up in ego, power, and urges to use every new tool to be higher and in advantage over someone else.

"Good."

Vile was pleased. That means this one had an edge over that other alternate, not blinded like himself used to be. Vi will need that. Adaptability it what we were always good at once... Stay that way, be better than the rest of us.'

The older version of the two stood now in the indented ground, small crater of a sort, and he brought himself to his full height once more. The dust slowly settling down around him like an ominous haze in the air, leaving Vile silhouetted. That energy shield dissipating with but a thought as he began to turn, arm bending backwards, palm open. Preparing a new counter or attack- but Vile held his hand up. Making him stop in his tracks and wait. Honorable even now, with the raw honesty out in the air. That lifted hand lowering as all the energy he was gathering was depleted, put back into reserves.

Brows furrowed under the helmet as he listened intently then. Attacked...? From the sounds of things, it couldn't have been Mavericks. Extremists as he said have been deploying the virus on their own, so maybe it was those Emerald Spears bastards? If they even existed in this alternates world, or at least something similar to them. Vile was left wondering the specifics of how trying to cure it was even going, if the other worlds X was involved... Was he even still immune? Like the X of his own world? Had to be, otherwise he wouldn't be there.

"Well shit." The war machine strode out of the impact zone he had created, to stand closer to his alternate once more, enough for polite conversation, but not enough to indicate he would be standing down. "Sounds like a few are trying to find some sort of gain from causing that sort of destruction." A part was curious, almost enough so, to see if Shaska could have any input on this other worlds issue. But he sure as hell wasn't going to bring it up to her, not their circus. He had faith in Vi and the other side of reality. Or maybe faith was the wrong word... Maybe he was starting to feel that damnable Hope so many spoke about...

Wait-- that was a good question actually! Why would that other variant want involved? Vile felt his instincts suddenly flare, various possible outcomes flitting across his mind. "That is a big concern I share. I can think of two possibilities off the top of my head, and neither one are good." Even more so if a different Sigma, or some other figure head, is pulling that other Vile's strings. "For one, he could be there to try and get it to use as a weapon for himself. I can tell you for certain that most of the others of us have one hell of a grudge against X, Zero, and the Hunters as a whole. If he got hole of your version, maybe he would want to use it was a way to wipe MHHQ off the map. Strategy speaking? It would cripple any resistance."

He hummed then, shifting his weight sideways with the slight tilt of the helmet. "The grudge leads me to the second one. It could be thrill of the kill, just to try and take down you as a way to prove his superiority, or worse infect you to be like him. And then go after your worlds X and Zero. Not sure whatever ya want me callin' em'."

"Either way, he can not be suffered to remain a threat... It could be much worse than even I might be thinking." He motioned with one hand then, in a sort of offer. Something meant to let him choose to continue their fight, or keep it on a pause.

Miserable, that's how it sounds. Vi can only hazard a guess at the timeline, at how rapidly the virus advanced. How swiftly everything in his alternate's world decayed. His own experiences in a broken mirror. The spread had been slowed here, if only because of how deadly infection was. Killing the subjects so quickly was a mercy of a sort, although no one could really call it painless.

You enjoyed it? That glitch must have gone a long ways back. Although Vi couldn't deny the thrill of combat, the pride in his work, he suspected that this... reveling in the chaos, was not that.

Vile moves backwards, dodging as effectively as expected. Really, it would have been disappointing if the uppercut actually connected. What is a surprise however, is the thrusters mounted in the soles of his companions boots. It makes for a quick retreat and regrouping effort.

Shit, I can't do that. The raising of eyebrows under his visor. Getting airborne is a new trick, and one the Maverick Hunter would definitely be considering modifications for in the future. "I'm impressed." A quick scan of the other's armor is tucked away for later.

For the first time in a while, he's grateful to have teammates with flight capabilities, this at least, isn't out of the ordinary. A missile pops out of his gauntlet armor, rather than firing at Vile though... he breaks into a sprint towards his incoming opponent. The rocket's booster flares while still attached to his arm, helping him pick up speed. His dash turns into a slide just barely under the alternates path.

What he can't make up for in natural speed, he can make up with resourcefulness. He's had to use plenty of tricks when sparring with the other S-ranks. Nonlethal momentum is one thing he can handle. The weapon clicks as it disappears back into his arm, one of them is pulling punches after all. Vi gets back to his feet with a sigh, inspecting the impact zone he'd missed with a hidden grimace. Close call.

It's funny how casual this feels. It's easier to talk like this in a way. Functions split, less time to overthink the answers. More honest. Still, he isn't quick to retaliate, if only because his alternate asked a pointed question. He holds up a hand, to signal a proper pause in their skirmish.

"Xan-- X, and several other research teams have been studying it. Working on a vaccine." Slow, grim work. Comprised of mostly human scientists to avoid accidental infection. "...the primary research outpost was attacked a while back." A real dent in any progress.

"Since then, it's been deployed like a bio weapon by extremists. Completely clean areas become ground zero out of the blue." It'd only happened a few times, but even once is too many. "That's why it's still out there." Why it hadn't been fully contained. "We still don't know where it came from in the first place, or how they're getting their hands on more of it." A pause, and he's crossing his arms, thoughtful.

"...actually... now that you've got me thinking... what the hell would that other Vile gain from getting in the middle this? Our virus is lethal, and there's been no sign he's spreading anything else." So what then, is he just in it for the thrill of the kill?

[machinesandman]

"Are you also in love with the Dhampir hunter?"

"... In love with the who? That what? I'm sorry, are you asking me about books or media, or...? You've lost me."

"Are they talking about shade man, maybe? He's the only one I think could maybe be mistaken?"

"He's more based off typical sort of Dracula theme's though. Not really Dhampir's like in comics. And aside from that, he's still not fully built, he's only in the base body right now to move about."

"True, and he makes it known how picky he is about it..."

"None of that matters, because Dhampir's simply do not exist. Why do you two always entertain these kinds of questions?"

[machinesandman]

yo Metal-mans, my teeth have been hurting and i get migraines, you take insurance or no ‘Doc?

Oh he thought he was free of this. Metal Man was suddenly feeling the burning rage boiling deep inside himself, and growing to a fever pitch. This absolute RIDICULOUS belief. The god damned one comment Dr Light once made calling him 'Dentist of the future' has never been escaped. It was never even accurate!

Curse that entire robotics field guide!

There is a saw blade in hand within a split second. Looks like he will be curing you of your migraines in a different way there, Anon.

[machinesandman]

"That makes two of us...! Just one week of quiet for everyone, is that too much?"

"What I wouldn't give for a little peace and quiet for everyone..."