(NOTE: This epilogue takes place BEFORE Ep. 0)
CJMErl: Hey Howdy Hey everybody! I'm CJMErl, Yami CJMErl(Metal Shark Player)'s Light alternate and occasional Guest on the
R.R. Forums and Epilogues. Ever wonder how Yami managed to travel from his dimension to the world of the Rebellion and become
the next Metal Shark Player? The answers--and much more--lie here...
~ CJ LABS, ROMSOURCE CITY ~
CJMErl: Now I just plug this into here, and...*CLICK*...done.
*he steps back to admire his handiwork: a group of various
spare armor pieces fitted onto a mannequin model and connected together by what looks like several thick wires*
CJMErl: All I have to do is present this prototype to Byte, and- *CRASH*
*CJ whirls around to see the source of the
disturbance: he notices Yami's arm sticking out of a freshly strewn-about pile of old models, spare armor, and deactivated
prototypes*
CJMErl: DAMMIT YAMI! How many times have I told you NOT to screw around with my failed prototypes?!
Yami: But I didn't touch 'em! They just...fell...it was WIND! Yeah, the wind blew them onto me while I was just minding my
own business!
CJMErl: . . .
Yami: . . .
*CJ suddenly fires a small bolt of energy from the port on his midsection, hitting Yami square in the
face*
Yami: ZOMGOWCHIES!!!
CJMErl: Nobody likes a liar, Yami.
Yami: ...sorry...
CJMErl: *walks over to a large computer terminal* Well, it can't be helped now. I have to get to CJ-Byte Corp. headquarters...
*activates it and begins entering coordinates*
Yami: What'cha gonna do there?
CJMErl: *points to his wired armor model* I have to submit my latest prototype to Byte Man for corporate approval.
Yami: Oooooooooh...what is it?
CJMErl: It's my latest brainchild: a way to incorporate dimensional travel capabilities into a basic suit of armor. It's kind
of like a built-in teleporter. *finishes entering the coordinates and begins detaching the armor from the model and stuffing
it into a briefcase as a large green pipe rises from a nearby hole in the floor* It would reduce the need for my old Dimensional
Warp Pipes, which is what we generally use nowadays. However, I need you to stay here and watch the lab.
Yami: WHAT?! But I'll get BORED!
CJMErl: No you won't, you big baby. I've already set up your trusty combat simulator for you to play with, and Lazlo's coming
over in an hour. You can hang out with him.
Yami: ...fine...later, CJ.
CJMErl: Laters! *hops into the pipe, which retracts into the floor five seconds later*
Yami: Bleh...I hate it when he leaves me alone...on my own...with no immediate supervision... *grins evilly* ...you'd think
he'd learn by now.
~ CJ-BYTE CORPORATION HEADQUARTERS, 20XX ~
*CJ stands with Byte Man, Swiftman, and Minion
in one of the Laboratory Testing rooms*
Byte Man: ...so, CJ, what's this "revolutionary new invention" that you have to show me today?
Minion: Yeah, and is
it gonna blow up like your last invention?
Swiftman: *beans Minion* That was YAMI'S fault, not CJ's...speaking of which, where IS Yami?
CJMErl: I told him to watch the lab. With any luck, he's probably in one of his n00b-sniping alcoves in the Great Tree...but
I digress. Gentlemen, behold...the Dimensional Armor! *opens the briefcase and displays the armor pieces to the others*
Swiftman: Hey, not bad, CJ...how's it work?
CJMErl: The idea is quite simple, actually. You see...
~ CJ LABS, ROMSOURCE CITY ~
Yami: Hehehe...this'll give him quite a scare...
*he admires his handiwork: a ring of zero-friction fluid lining the
hole where the Warp Pipe lies, which is then surrounded by a large number of giant bear traps*
Yami: Now all I have to do is- *he slips on a stray puddle of fluid*
*all hell suddenly breaks loose: feeling himself
starting to slip, Yami immediately tries to regain composure by grabbing the closest thing to him--the Warp Pipe terminal;
accidentally pressing several buttons on the console at once, the terminal suddenly comes to life--along with several alarms
and flashing lights; Yami leaps away and gets one of his legs caught in a bear trap*
Yami: AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH MY LEG!!!
*hopping around in pain--and getting caught in several MORE bear traps--he slips
on the ring of fluid surrounding the Warp Pipe and falls in the now-active pipe*
Yami: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!1!
*the alarms continue for about ten more seconds, then shut down
with the Warp Pipe terminal*
*five minutes later, Lazlo walks in*
Lazlo: Hey Yami, I found this sweet new
game I thought you might... *he stops and sees the mess caused by Yami's accident* ...well, THAT'S not good.
~ CJ-BYTE
CORPORATION HEADQUARTERS, 20XX ~
Byte Man: ...so in essence, CJ, you believe that our technicians can hardwire this new equipment into preexisting armor systems?
CJMErl: That's what I'm hoping for...the technology still needs to be compacted a bit more, but it's a definite possibility.
*a panel on his arm beeps and flashes* Huh? An incoming message...oh, it's Laz!
*a tiny holographic image of Lazlo
appears above CJ's now-exposed communicator*
Lazlo: CJ, I think we may have a problem--the lab's a mess and Yami's
gone AWOL!
CJMErl: *sigh* I can't have him with me, but I can't leave him at home either...right, I'm on my way. *deactivates communicator*
Swiftman: Lemme guess: he broke something again, didn't he?
CJMErl: I hope that's ALL he did...we'd better go and make sure.
~ ABANDONED FACTORY, 21XX ~
*Maverick Hunters
MegaMan X and Zero are facing off against the giant Maverick, High Max*
X: This is the end for you, High Max!
Zero: Surrender and we MAY decide not to retire you on the spot.
*a faint screaming can be heard off in the distance*
High Max: *gets up slowly, weakened by the collision* Rrgh...you two got lucky this time...but when next we meet, you will
ALL be terminated! *warps out*
Zero: ...well, THAT was unexpected.
X: Yeah...what do you suppose that thing was that crashed into him was?
???: Ow...my freaking noggin...
*Yami
gets up, wobbling and weak*
X: What...YAMI?! Yami CJMErl?
Zero: Isn't he one of those guys from the "other dimension" that came here a while back?
X: According to my memory data, yeah...but why's he here, now?
Yami: *turns around* Huh...X? Zero? What're you guys...doing...here... *collapses*
X: YAMI! *he and Zero rush over*
Zero: His armor seems to have suffered heavy damage from the impact, but I detect no internal injuries. He must just be worn
out. Still, we'd better get him to Sick Bay back at HQ.
X: Right. *he lifts up the now-unconscious Yami and teleports out with Zero*
~ CJ LABS, ROMSOURCE CITY ~
Lazlo:
...and that's when I noticed that your teleporter terminal was left running.
CJMErl: *sigh* Just like him to get himself stuck in another dimension... *starts Jet Thruster and hovers over the mess towards
the terminal* let's see here...warp history...random setting...well, it looks like he actually got lucky this time.
Lazlo:
Oh really? How's that?
CJMErl: He got himself warped to Dimension 21XX.
Lazlo: 21XX? Isn't that where we met MegaMan X and Zero during our
earlier adventures?
CJMErl: Exactly--it's their home dimension. At least now I can relax somewhat knowing that Yami's most likely in friendly
hands...
Lazlo: But how do we get him back?
CJMErl: Well...
~ MAVERICK HUNTER HQ, 21XX ~
*X, Zero, and Gate are all standing over Yami, who has been striped
of most of his armor, and is lying unconscious on a mattress in sick bay*
X: How's he doing, Gate?
Gate: Well, any injuries he may have sustained were fortunately minor, and seem to have healed
on their own. His armor, however...it has been heavily damaged, and rendered nearly irrepairable. This complicates things
greatly.
Zero: How so?
Gate: Yami himself is mostly biological, but he is not without his mechanical components. His armor
is cybernetically linked to his organic body, so I removed all the damaged components that
I could, but...
X: ...but?
Gate: I can't remove the rest of his armor, damaged or otherwise, without risking severe damage to his
cellular structure, something which even his advanced regenerative powers couldn't even heal...
Zero: Hmmmmmmm...
*suddenly, the door opens and Draconis/Blizzard Wolfang walks in, carrying a large container*
Draconis: Master Gate, I brought the parts you...*he notices X and Zero*...what are THEY doing here?
Zero: I was about to ask you the same thing, Draconis.
Draconis: *snarling* Why you-!
Gate: Enough. Zero, Draconis, stand down. We're all on the same side here, like it
or not. Besides, our first priority right now is our new patient.
Draconis: Patient...? *notices Yami on the mattress* WHA?! What's YAMI doing here?
X: You...know him, Draconis?
Draconis: Yes...I do...but that was ages ago, before I came to this world and became a Hunter.
X: You mean...you come from...
Gate: We can discuss origins later, you two--we have more important things to worry
about.
*Draconis sets the container on a nearby table, and Gate opens it; several dark blue Reploid parts are inside,
and Zero picks up the helmet inside...molded in the image of a hammerhead shark head*
Zero: What? This is...
Gate: That is correct. That box contains spare parts originally made for my former creation,
Metal Shark Player.
Draconis: Then that means-!
Gate: Correct. Like yourself, Draconis, I will reformat these parts as a new set of armor
for your friend while his old armor is being repaired. He will, in effect, become the next Metal Shark Player.
X: Are you sure that these parts are safe?
Gate: Do not worry, X. I have personally ensured that any virus traces
found in the parts were purged. And even if some miniscule trace were to emerge, it would be ineffectual to an organic being
like Yami. Now, let us begin...
~ CJ LABS, ROMSOURCE CITY ~
*CJ, Byte, Lazlo, and Swift are all standing by
the now-active Warp Pipe*
Byte Man: ...so Yami got himself warped to 21XX, eh?
CJMErl: Pretty much.
Lazlo: And the two of you are gonna go and bring him back?
CJMErl: If we can find him...
Swiftman: Heh, good luck with THAT.
CJMErl: Tell me about it...let's go, Byte.
Byte Man: Lead the way, duder!
*CJ and Byte hop in the pipe*
~ MAVERICK HUNTER HQ, 21XX ~
???: ...i...Yam...YAMI!!!
*Yami wakes up with a start*
Yami: GAH! *he blinks and looks around--things don't look quite right to him*
Wha...where am I?
???: Maverick Hunter HQ.
Yami: ...who the hell are you?
???: Over here, on your
left.
*Yami looks to his right*
???: *sigh* Your OTHER left, dumbass.
Yami: *turns to find Draconis
looming over him* EEKS! TALKING ROBO-WOLF! *jumps out of bed and tries to run away, but his footing feels unstable; he trips
and falls over*
Draconis: You moron, it's me! Draconis!
Yami: . . .
Draconis: You know, the "Smartarse Pyromaniac"?
Yami: . . .
Draconis: Your n00bslaying mentor?
Yami: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...wait, DRACONIS?! Since when are YOU Mr. Robo-Dog?
Draconis: You should talk. You're not exactly looking like yourself, either...
Yami: O_o Wait, WHAT?!
*he
steps in front of a nearby mirror and takes a good look at himself, jaw dropping; no longer in his old armor, he now evokes
all the appearance of a sleek, dark blue hammerhead shark Reploid*
Yami: Wow. I'm not sure whether to be really impressed at my studly good looks...or really freaked out at how this could've
happened.
*the door opens; X, Zero, and Gate walk in*
Gate: It happened because it was necessary, Yami.
Yami: Aaaaaaaaaaaaand, you are...?
Zero: This is Gate, our top science officer. He's the one who reconstructed your new form, Yami.
X: Your old armor took a major hit after you collided with High Max earlier. If Gate didn't have those spare parts...
Yami: Ah. So...where's my old gear now?
Gate: I had it brought down to Reconstruction. It will be some time before
it is fully repaired, however--the severity of the damage coupled with the stark contrast in technology will be challenging
to overcome. Since you will be using that armor for some time now, Yami, I have something for you. *he produces a small, red
gem from one of his pockets*
Yami: Ooooooooh, shiny...what is it?
Gate: *gives the gem to Yami* I call it the IronGrave Jewel. Once inserted into
your helmet, your new armor's latent powers will be activated and ready for you to use.
Yami: Cool, thanks. *he inserts the Force Gem, and it glows briefly* Ahhhhhh...now I feel MUCH better!
*suddenly,
Alia's voice sounds over the intercom*
Alia: X! Zero! There are two unidentified Mechaniloids at the front gate!
Zero: Hm?
X: We're on our way! *he and Zero rush out of the room*
Yami: H-hey, wait for me! I wanna test out my new powers! *he follows after them, with Draconis cloase behind*
*at
the front gate*
CJMErl: *annoyed* NO, I don't have a Hunter ID! I just wanna see X and Zero!
Byte Man: Are you SURE these guys know
you?
CJMErl: Of COURSE I'm sure! It's not like it's been THAT long since me an' Yami were last here!
*the main gate opens;
X and Zero run out*
X: Halt, Mechaniloids!
Byte Man: *looks around* Mechaniloids? Where?
CJMErl: X, you moron! It's me, CJ!
X: ...oh.
Zero: CJ? What brings you to HQ? And who's the Reploid behind you?
CJMErl: That's Byte Man, and he's no Reploid. He's my business associate, and we came to see if you knew anything about where-
*suddenly, a large steel anchor comes spinning out of the gate from behind X and Zero, slamming into CJ and Byte*
CJMErl: OW!!!
Byte Man: GAH! What the hell?!
Yami: *hops out and strikes a heroic pose* Take THAT, you villains! Nobody attacks MY buddies and gets away with... *CJ gets
up, looking quite angry* ...uhhhhhhh...with...oops.
CJMErl: What the freck is YOUR problem, dumbass?! I didn't do anything!
Yami: Sorry, CJ. Didn't see you and Byte Man there...
Byte Man: Do...we know you?
Zero: You were looking for Yami? *points to Yami in his shark armor* There he is.
CJMErl: Ah. I see. *walks up to Yami* One moment please...
*one severe beating + 16-ton weight later...*
CJMErl: You mind telling me what you did THIS time, you moron?!
Yami: It's...kind of a long story.
Byte Man: I'd like to hear it.
*one long story later*
CJMErl: I figured as much. Another backfired prank...you never learn, do you?
Yami: Learn? Me?! Pfft, that stuff's for lamers.
Byte Man: So you're going to stay here until your armor's fixed, then?
Yami: Yeah, I guess. CJ refuses to fix it for me...
CJMErl: Hey, it's your own damn fault you got into this mess; I think it's time YOU got yourself out of it on your own. Besides,
you've got friends here, including X, Zero, and Draconis!
Draconis: I'll do my best to make sure he doesn't do anything TOO stupid.
CJMErl: See that you do. I'd rather not have him go blowing stuff up when I'm not around.
Yami: Awwwww...nertz.
Byte Man: Well, we know Yami's safe and sound in capable hands. I think it's high time we got back, eh CJ?
CJMErl: Good point. I still have to give my prototype presentation to my subordinates in the SciTech divisions back at Corporate
HQ...
*Byte Man activates the recall function on the Warp Pipe, opening a small dimensional portal next to him and
CJ*
CJMErl: Well, I'll be seeing you guys!
*he and Byte jump through the portal*
Yami: So...where do we go from here?
