I called for Tempo and Rush occasionally, not wishing to think they had been captured again. When I needed them most, they were no where to be found.

We were in a realm that seemed to look like a construction zone. There was dirt everywhere, with cation tape and such on the walls, which seemed to be made of rock. The top was closed off, which made it seem like it was night covering the place, and everyone that had once been working had gone home. A few streetlamps lit up the ground a bit.

"What robot could possibly be here?" I asked myself, putting Sonic near a wall. Getting him into more trouble would be the worst thing that could have happened.

Nothing came to mind, but the place felt oddly familiar, like I had been there a million times. I could picture Cut Man and Gut Man nearly killing each other with rocks. Elec Man was leaning against a lamp post, bored as usual. Fire Man was helping melt steel and change it into forms, sometimes into interesting shapes just for fun.

"Duh!" I shouted, ready for anything. It was the real Robot Masters' realm! The ones that were my friends. I doubted Elec Man or Ice Man would be there, but the others would be a handful even one on one. Without help, how would I possibly even dream of winning...?

I looked from Sonic to the ground. He needed to be kept safe. Of course, he would help if there was any trouble anyway, but I didn't want to see him in anymore pain.

Then again, him not helping would probably cause more pain for both of us.

"I'll help." Sonic said, as if he had read my mind. "I-I'm better. Just... in pain. What are we up against?"

I wanted to protest, but I hesitated. The hedgehog getting mad could result in the last time he would be able to control his mind. I wondered how long the virus had until it went to his brain. Or, if it was there already, until it took over. I shuddered. It seemed so weird to see humans - er, animals - and robots so alike. "I'm not completely sure, but it shouldn't be more than three."

"Oh, is that all?" Sonic said sarcastically.

"It gets worse." I explained. "The robots are the ones that my father built. They aren't Wily knock-offs. They're more powerful, but I think I might be able to reason with them. If I can't, we'll defeat them and take them back to Light Labs later."

"Great." Sonic yawned, stretching his arm up. I heard something in my ear crackle, and I held my communicator close. I listened, and it sounded like somebody talking.

"Tempo...?" I asked, thinking that she could have found a way to talk to us.

After another minute or so, I could hear audible words. "It's me." He said. I smiled as I heard my dad's voice. It felt like it had been ages since I had.

"Dad, I need your help." I said. I explained the whole situation that had gone on with Sonic, wondering if there was some way he could counter the virus. If he could, however, there was always the problem of getting it there. Sonic glared at me the entire time, as if he didn't appreciate what I was doing. It was like he didn't want me trying to help him. I hoped that if we could cure him he wouldn't be quite as bitter.

"I can try." He finally answered. "But it will take some time. I'll have Tempo and Rush-"

"Tempo and Rush are there?" I asked. "How'd they get there?"

"They suddenly teleported here not too long ago."

"Do you mean we can teleport to this spot now? Is it like a checkpoint in a video game?"

Dad laughed. I thought it had been a legitimate question. "Not quite. I can only teleport robots to the location, not teleport them back here. So, for instance, I could bring Tempo and Rush to you, but I want to wait to see if I can help Sonic first."

I paused. "Dad...? How long have we been gone?"

"Let's see... Not too long. Only a few days."

"A few days?!" I replied. How long had we rested for? "How is that even possible? I swear we only came here a few hours ago and then we - "

"Calm down. There's nothing to worry about. The only issue the city is facing is finding out what's causing the climate here to be so dreadfully cold. Otherwise, officials are looking for Sonic, and nobody knows where he is except us. And I'm sure once this is all over, everyone will be able to trust him for helping out."

If only that could have been true. I wasn't sure even I could trust him.

"Hang on." I said. "How much colder has it gotten?"

"Since you left? Only about twenty degrees."

"You say only like it isn't much, Dad."

"Comparatively, it isn't. I'm going to go to work on the cure; you take care to see to it that Wily's done for."

"O-okay..." I said reluctantly. The communicator clicked and I couldn't hear anything else.

"Sounds like everyone back there's having a blast." Sonic commented. His irises were blood red, so I was even more careful not to offend him.

I shrugged. "It could be worse."

"Oh yeah?" He snapped. "How?"

"Terrorists could have blown up the city." I pointed out. "My family could have been killed. We could be dead."

"Now you know how I've felt for the past week. At least you know what's happening to everyone you know."

His insecurity made me angry. "Didn't know you wanted to be pitied so badly."

"Your father better find a way for me to get home." Sonic hissed. "I don't want to put up with you for long."

"My dad isn't a miracle worker!"

"I'm just saying. Or else."

"Or else what?" My teeth were barred, and I unconsciously raised my gun at him. "You'll kill my family? If you do, I'll find you. I'll find you and I'll make sure you never see Tails again." I didn't add whoever that is.

"Oh, yeah?" Sonic challenged. "You and what speed? You'll find me, and I'll just run to a new place. Or, better yet, I'll never stop running."

"Oh, it wouldn't just be me looking. I know people that would love nothing more than an excuse to make a powerful robot. Then, when they caught you, I'd kill you myself."

"You actually almost sounded threatening there for a minute." He chuckled. Did he not know how angry he was making me?

"Do you think this is a joke?"

"Of course." He replied with a smile. "After all, no little robot boy named Mega Man could stop me!"

"Wanna bet?" We both changed into an attacking position.

"Do your worst." So much for trying not to offend him.

I shot point blank at him, but he was too fast. I made sure I was always locked on, so I knew where he would be. I examined my choices, none of them very good. I could blow him to bits with Crash Man, try and hit him with Metal Man, attempt to quickly figure out what Night Man did, or...

I hesitated. I couldn't kill him. That would be wrong and I would never be able to forgive myself. It was terrible of me to even think of it. And what would my dad think?

With a grin I changed into Bubble Man. I would be able to knock some sense into him without completely destroying him.

"Oooh, you're white and blue now." He said. "I'm sooo scared."

"As you should be." I said. I tried at first to hit him with the Mega Blaster, which he promptly made fun of because the shots looked like lemons. Once he had me underestimated, I shot a bubble just in front of him, trapping him perfectly.

Slowly, I walked over to him, immobilized by the water. His stare was that of deathly revenge. He honestly looked like he wanted to kill me right then and there. To make sure he was intimidated (if only a little) I waited for about half a minute before I popped the bubble, splashing him onto the ground. He was a soggy mess.

"Truce?" I asked, offering my hand. He only still looked at me, taking deep breaths in and out and gasping for air.

I shrugged, turning around to see if there was a door or something that would enable us to fight the Robot Masters. I couldn't help but feel guilty for making Sonic angry. I felt like it was my fault, and I should have just agreed with everything he had said. Even if he wanted to, he wouldn't kill my family. There was still a bit of kindness in the shadow of Wily trapping his heart.

Of course, just as I had started to pity myself, Sonic toppled on top of me, kneeing me in the back. We rolled around the dirt like two kids trying to snatch a candy bar from each other, trying to fend off the other. "Get off of me!" I shouted, but I was ignored.

We exchanged punches and kicks for a couple of minutes, Sonic trying to kill me, I trying to get him the heck off of me. When I had finally pushed him away, I was completely exhausted. He was on one knee trying to catch his breath.

"Sonic, please!" I begged. "Both of our lives are at stake here. If we wear each other out, we'll never get through this. We have to work together, even if you really, really don't want to!"

He seemed to snarl, but his eyes changed from red to purple, showing he had gained a bit of control. It took me a while to realize that his arm had begun to work when he was angry, becoming limp once he had calmed down.

Sonic looked at me, then at the ground, his face full of guilt. He clenched his fist, and I was worried he would become really angry again. "It wasn't your fault, Sonic." I said.

He didn't reply.

"Wily's to blame for this, not you. It doesn't matter if he completely takes over you. We're going to save you."

"It might not have been my fault, but it still slowed us down.." He said. "And I don't exactly like people saving me."

"Should I just leave you then?" I crossed my arms and couldn't help but smile.

"Well, no... Just saying. Besides, we should look for an exit. We've wasted enough time as it is."

I shrugged. "It's not like any Robot Masters are-"

Of course I had to say that. Of course I had to completely jinx it. Four of the Robot Masters appeared: Elec Man, Ice Man, Fire Man, Gut Man and Cut Man were all ready to fight, and I looked at Sonic despairingly. Two of the robots I had been sure wouldn't be there were standing in front of me, looking for a challenge. Did we even have a chance?