Mega Man Legends 2, A Novelization

Chapter 5 - The Interview

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Inside the Sulphur-Bottom, Tron and Teisel huddled together, trying to make their bug work. Tron fiddled with dials and knobs while Teisel complained loudly.

"I wish we didn't have to eavesdrop in this other room," grumbled Teisel.

"I highly doubt they'd just hold a press conference and make it easy, Teisel," Tron replied icily, still messing with the receiver.

"Why is it that wherever we go, that blue kid follows us?" Teisel continued to complain. "I don't like it one bit! Next time I see it, I'll get him, or my name's not-"

"Shut up!" Tron hissed. "I'm picking something up."

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"So," Von Bluecher was saying, "if we have possession of the four keys, we can unlock the secret of the Mother Lode and save Mistress Sera?"

"Correct," Geetz replied. "We are your ancestors, from the past. We are in this world which we never made. We simply wish to live out the rest of our lives in peace."

"Interesting," Barrel remarked.

"Of course, you will benefit from this as well," Geetz continued. "You will have access to all sorts of technology that had been lost to you. All the refractors you need will be right there at your fingertips."

"I understand," said Von Bluecher. "Leave finding the keys to us. We are not the only ones searching for the Mother Lode. It's a dangerous world out there, so I recommend you stay on the Sulphur-Bottom for now."

Tron and Teisel heard footsteps, which abruptly stopped soon after they had started.

"Hmm?" Barrel's voice asked. "What's this?"

A loud burst of static made the eavesdropper jump and wince. Teisel's eyes were watering.

"Ow!" he yelled.

"They must have found the microphone," said Tron.

"Well, hello," a new voice greeted them. Tron and Teisel quickly swung around to see Glyde and the suit of armor behind them.

"You!" snarled Teisel. "Have you been spying on us?"

"Spying on the spies?" Glyde chuckled, shaking his head. "We're supposed to be allies, Teisel."

"We're a unified front!" said the armor. "A team! We won't let you hold out on us!"

"Unified front?" asked Teisel, smiling sarcastically. "There's only two of you!"

"Well, they are veterans," replied Glyde. "And they know what they're doing, unlike some people I know who think that the more people you have working for you, the better you are."

"Why I oughtta-" Teisel started to say, but Tron cut him off.

"Now, now, Teisel, the more the merrier, right?" she asked.

"I suppose..." Teisel grumbled.

"Come on, we can ditch them whenever we feel like," Tron whispered to her brother.

"Yes, you're right!" said Teisel, firing up. "All right, let's get this show on the road! What we need to do is split up, take over any town that has a ruin nearby, explore those ruins, and find those keys! Look sharp, and let's go!"

"I'll see you around," said Glyde, smiling calmly and walking out of the room. The suit of armor picked up a walkie-talkie.

"Come in, Bola!" he said. "We have work to do."

He also left.

"Those two really get on my nerves," grumbled Teisel.

He and Tron exited the Sulphur-Bottom.

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Von Bluecher looked up from the surveillance camera. He had heard and seen everything.

"Pirates, on the move already?" he sighed. "This complicates matters."

"Oh, stop putting on that act," Barrel snapped.

"Is it that obvious?" asked Von Bluecher, smiling.

"Don't you think you're just a little too old for playing around with pirates?" sighed Barrel.

Von Bluecher chuckled, but didn't answer. He turned to a security guard.

"Find Rock Volnutt," he said, "and bring him here."

"Sir!" said the guard, saluting and running out of the room.

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Rock was lying on the bed in a guest room in the Sulphur-Bottom. Roll sat in a chair, writing things on a notepad.

"This room is so nice," she said as she scribbled a complicated mathematical equation. "That picture above the bed is really pretty."

Rock turned slightly to look at the painting in question. It showed some garden gnomes having a picnic in a purple field.

"You have really weird taste," Rock said, turning over.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Roll called.

The door opened, and a security guard walked in. He saluted.

"Mr. Volnutt, sir!" he said. "Von Bluecher wants to see you!"

"Does this involve getting up?" Rock asked, burying his head in the pillow.

"Get up!" Roll yelled, violently jerking Rock from under the covers. He crashed to the ground in a heap. The guard pulled him to his feet.

"This way, sir," the guard said, and left the room. Rock followed.

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"Ah, Mr. Volnutt!" said Von Bluecher as the guard led Rock into the captain's cabin. "You're smaller than I expected. But that mustn't be too much of a liability if you successfully explored Forbidden Island."

"Don't get offended, Rock," Barrel whispered. "Tact is not exactly Werner's strong point."

"Anyway, I would like to ask you to help us find the keys to the Mother Lode," Von Bluecher continued, all business. "I'm sorry to have to drag you into this, but if I don't, the pirates are liable to find them first, and we can't have that. Please, will you help us?"

"Sure," Rock replied.

"Oh, Rock, I knew I could count on you!" Von Bluecher looked like he was ready to hug Rock and burst into song. To Rock's relief, he didn't.

"That's settled, then," said Barrel. "The first key is located on Manda Island, near Pokte Village. It's the smallest, so the pirates would probably strike there first."

"Once you've recovered the key, bring it back here," Von Bluecher said. "Thank you so much, Rock. You are dismissed."

Rock turned and left. He opened the door and smacked into Roll. They fell down in a heap.

"Ouch!" said Rock. "Sorry, Roll!"

"Oh, it's OK," said Roll, from under Rock. "I got tired of waiting, so I thought I'd listen with my ear at the door. We're going to Pokte Village, right?"

Rock didn't say anything. His mind was elsewhere.

"...Yoo-hoo, Rock?" asked Roll. "Are you still awake?"

"Huh?" Rock said, snapping back to reality. "Uh, oh, yeah, Pokte Village, right."

He stood up, and Roll did the same.

"I'll go look up Manda island on the map," Roll said. "Come back to the Flutter soon. We have to get out of here as soon as possible."

She ran off to the bridge as Rock stared after her. Then, he followed.

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