This is the first chapter in a Mega Man fanfic I've just started writing.  It's HEAVILY based off of The Protomen's CD, which is why it's a little dark. Keep in mind if you have the CD, or are familiar with it, I've deviated a good bit from that (see: "Roll").  Enjoy!



    No one knows how it happened.  No one remembers when Wily gained control over the earth.  There is no one left to remember the war of the humans and the robots.  There is no one left to remember the courage of the few men that would not allow a tyrant to control their lives with his machines.  The people have forgotten.  They have forgotten how to stand up for themselves.  They have forgotten hope.  Save one man: Dr. Thomas Light.  He remembers it all.  He remembers Wily being mocked constantly for his ideas.  He remembers Wily creating the first nano-machines, tiny robots that can force control over any other automaton.  He remembers Wily's exile for creating something that could harm mankind.  He remembers Wily injecting Light's robots with these machines.  He remembers the slaughter.  He remembers his pregnant wife being slain before his very eyes.  He remembers Wily forcing him in servitude, coercing him into making his own robots into killing machines.  Despite all of this, Dr. Thomas Light still remembers hope.  He remembers courage.  Every day, as he builds Wily's death machines, he takes parts.  A little here, a little there.  Until finally, he has enough to complete the very thing he has focused all of his hope into.  This is the birth of Protoman.

            For three years he worked.  Gathering the strongest pieces of Wily's machines, so that he would be greater than all of his generals.  He was more than a machine.  He was Light's hopes.  He was Light's dreams.  He was Light's courage.  He was Light's son.  He was a crimson knight.  He was the final hope of mankind.  Secretly, he trained Protoman in the ways of combat.  With his Buster Cannon and Protoshield, he would defend mankind.  He would save them from Wily.  

    The day finally came.  Wily and his eight generals would be coming to the town to collect his weekly tribute from the people.  After careful planning, Protoman knew this would be the perfect time to strike.  "Are you sure you're ready?" asks Dr. Light.  "I was ready the moment you created me." Protoman replies.  "Be careful, despite all your power, you are just one man."  "Do not worry father, I may be only one, but I was built to be greater than all.  Besides, once they see me fighting for their freedom, I'm sure they will help me take down Wily."  Protoman begins to leave.  "Wait!  I almost forgot something!"  Dr. Light comes back holding a bright yellow cloth.  "It was a scarf your mother gave to me.  They say every hero needs a symbol.  Let this be yours."  After wrapping himself in his mother's only gift, Protoman left the doctor and set out to stop Wily, once and for all.  "Just come back to me, son."  Light said to himself.

    Outside, the crowd had gathered.  There were several lines, with each robot gathering things like food, jewelry, or precious metals from the people.  "What's this?  You don't have anything to offer?" said Bombman, one of Wily's generals.  A sickly man responds, "I'm sorry, it's just been a slow week.  I'll have twice as much next time, I swear!"  The robot responds, "If you can't even pay tribute, than you're even more worthless than other humans.  This means you're expendable!"  Just then, a little girl jumps in front of the man.  "Please!  My father has been very sick!  He can barely walk, much less work!"  "Roll, stay back!"  The man pulls his daughter behind him, as Bombman pulls out a small explosive device.  Suddenly, the device is shot out of his hand.  "Who would dare?"
    
    Protoman stands atop a high building looking down at the crowd, smoke coming out of his Buster Cannon.  "Who the hell is that?"  mutters Iceman.  "He's dead, that's who." quips Gutsman.  Almost immediately, all the generals dash toward Protoman's position.  Panic sets in, and the crowd heads toward a safer area.  When the master robots get to where Protoman was standing, they find noone there.  Immediately, they look behind them to see a valley of bullets heading their way.  They can do nothing to stop it, so each of them takes considerable damage.  Gutsman takes the initiative and lunges off the building, plummeting toward Protoman.  Protoman quickly dashes out of the way, as Gutsman makes a crater in the earth, then immediately grabs a slab of rock and hurls it in the direction of the crimson robot.  He turns the stone slab into dust only to have Bombman appear behind it, holding a bomb with Protoman's name on it.  Quickly, Protoman raises his shield and deflects most of the blast, then leaps back into action.  Unfortunately, Cutman is just as quick.  Protoman is able to dodge most of his scissor-shaped projectiles, but he takes one in his right eye.  Half-blind, and in agonizing pain, he starts firing wildly around him in an effort to get the other robots to back off.  If he could regroup and get his bearings, he could have easily gotten back in the fight.  Alas, this was not the case, as Elecman appeared in his blind spot.  Elecman injected him with over 1000 volts, something which would have instantly fried most mortal men.  However, was still enough to make Protoman stagger.  This gave Fireman the opportunity to use his pyrotechnic skills on the crimson warrior.  With the little strength he had left, Protoman tried to defend with his shield.  Unfortunately, it had already taken so much damage that it shattered in his hand.  The fire was more intense than anything Protoman had taken so far, but he endured it.  He was able to make his way to fire man, grabbing him by the arm and using him as a shield against Cutman's projectiles.  However, from behind Gutsman grabbed Protoman and slammed him against the ground.  He then threw Protoman into the air as the other robots grazed him with their various attacks, toying with him.  Finally, Protoman fell back to the earth.

    The robots now gathered around Protoman, moving in for the kill.  The crowd of humans looked on with terror in their hearts.  Their hero had fallen, and was about to become a martyr.  Wily flew overhead, surveying everything like an angry deity.  Just as the robots were about to deliver the final blow, he shouted "WAIT!"  "You see what happens when you try to fend for yourselves?  There can only be pain and suffering for those who try to revolt.  This is my world.  This is my paradise.  You should just feel fortunate that I allow you to live and serve me.  Now, carry out my orders like the slaves that you are!  Destroy this machine that would dare attack my utopia!"  Noone could move.  Hands trembled with fear.  "What's this?  Are you resisting me?  Maybe if I take something from you, you will be more inclined to give to me.  I'll start with your children..."  The people began to move.  The robots cleared away as the humans grabbed rocks, pipes, anything handy.  They made their way toward their would-be hero.  "Stop!  Please!  Don't do this!"  The little girl called Roll rushed in front of the crowd with tears in her eyes.  "He tried to save us!  He weakened the robots!  You could fight them!  You could stop them!"  Her father quickly grabs her up and drags her away.  "I'm sorry Roll.  We can't fight them.  This is the only way."  Protoman looks at the girl as she is torn from his side.    "Amidst all of them, there is only one who would stand by me.  Forgive me Roll, I couldn't save you."  These are his last thoughts as a 2X4 connects with his head, tearing it from his body.  And thus, the hero falls...


Continue the story!
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7