Bubble. (A one shot)

I decided yesterday to make this.

It'll be up soon.

It may make you crai.

D: Noooooooo

I'm writing it right now.

I've never written a tragedy before. This is my first shot at that kinda thing. :3

* = Click for visual aid.

ALL UNITS, BE AWARE.

Aerial Energy Harnessing Plant has been retaken by Lightlabs and American Government.


Air Man status unknown, presumed Terminated. Transmission was impossible due to altitude, but a brief security clip retrieved by drones revealed that Unit Air Man was in heavy combat with Enemy Unit Mega Man. No further contact has been made since.

As he sighed, bubbles rose from his mouthpiece, floating up. The metal walls of his tank reflected the white, blinding light of the laboratory.

This tank, for all intents and purposes, was a hamster ball. A way for him to come and go within the compound without coming on land, which would be impossible for him anyhow.

Kicking his feet, Bubble Man swam towards the window. He was the last to arrive.*

Flash Man, the newest of his "Generation," had called a meeting between them. While Wily was away, he was the leader, but none respected his authority.*

"That blue retard's coming for us next." Flash Man's voice was grating to the other masters, as was his personality. But he was right. "He's challenging us. Don't you get it? He finished off Air Man, and now it's our turn."

"Dude, chill out." Heat Man leaned against Bubble Man's glass. Bubble Man strained to see past him. "We're all stronger than Air Man was. I bet I could take the kid ALONE. We're not like the first series." Heat Man pulled open a bag of charcoal briquettes, popping five into his mouth. He heated up a bit as he munched on them. "We're built to fight, not a bunch of industrial punks. Rock's just a lab gopher." The window was only four by four, and Heat Man's box obscured his view of the others, his heat generating precipitation on the window.

But Metal Man noticed.

With a joking shove, he pushed Heat Man out of the way. "Heat Man is correct. Quick Man's power output is much higher than Mega Man's. Likewise with Crash Man." Metal Man took care to wipe the condensation from Bubble Man's tank window.

Thanks. Bubble Man drifted closer, pressing his hands against the tank.

Flash Man grinned, looking at Bubble Man. He was, personality wise, closest to Dr. Wily. A fact that the other masters noted with grim dissatisfaction. The one built in their father's image was the most grating and malicious. "I don't know about ALL of us. I mean, if Metal Man can't make the cut, then Bubble Man's going down for sure. I'll bet he's NEXT on Mega Man's shit list."

...Fuck you. Bubble Man glared at Flash Man.

Metal Man had the same steely, angry look. "Your power will be good for ONE cheap shot at most, Flash Man. Once Mega Man figures your ability out, all it will take is program reflex to destroy you."

Bubble Man looked at Metal Man with admiration. He was used to being laughed at. He had resigned to the idea of being destroyed.

He'd never expected help from anyone, but Metal Man was always quick to give it.

Crash Man smiled. "Your combat aptitude notes a pronounced lack of hardiness, firepower, and stamina, Flash Man. I possess no such weakness."

Flash Man ground his teeth, and turned to leave the room. "Whatever, dickheads. We'll see how well you do when he comes knocking. When I kill him, I'll ask Wily if I can come after YOU next."

Flash Man was gone in an instant, leaving the other masters alone.

Quick Man looked to Bubble Man with casual amusement. "He was right, you know. Even with the home field advantage, you'd BETTER have a plan, Bubble." Quick Man walked out the door, adding one final insult. "Just pray that I get to Mega Man before he finds you and POPS you."

Quick Man fired one boomerang from his wrist, striking the glass. Bubble Man flinched, as it cracked, but the glass held.

Bubble Man turned and swam away without looking back.

...We'll see...about that.

Metal Man watched his aquatic brother leave. Heat Man shrugged. "Man. Being more advanced sure does give Flash and Quick a superiority complex."

Crash Man grinned. "It may be their downfall. Being built for ONE job is a hindrance. I'm an equal opportunity destroyer."

"Dope." Heat Man turned to Metal Man. "I'm going to grab some more briquettes. Want to hang with us for a bit, Metal?"

Metal Man shrugged. "I intend to meet with Bubble Man for a brief time."

"Well, that's fine. SOMEBODY has to talk to him. Being stuck in water constantly must be a bitch. I'm not a big fan of water, so I'm gonna bounce."

"Affirmative. I shall bounce as well." Crash Man followed, his footsteps, weighted down by weapons and ammunition stored within him, echoed as he followed Heat Man.

Metal Man looked at the leaking tank. Bubble Man was gone, and he'd have to take the long way to catch up.

ALL UNITS, BE AWARE.

Guerrilla Warfare Robot Construction Facility has been captured.

Wood Man status unknown, presumed Terminated. Function was ceased moments before transmission ended.

Bubble Man waited, alone. A chronic pessimist, he expected Metal Man not to come. That the offer to chat was a joke, and that he had more important things to do.

Glancing up, he noticed how bright the sun was today. Soon he was transfixed by how hot and close it felt, in his pools outside the compound. The way nothing but chains, balls of iron, and light stood between him and grabbing its warmth. But land was an impossibility.*

The only things awaiting him, every day, were the cold water, and his destruction when Dr. Wily's plans failed.

"OI. BUBBLE MAN."

Looking up, he saw the constantly shifting visage of his brother, Metal Man.

"Did you hear? Wood Man is toast." Metal Man bent down to look for Bubble Man. "Where the hell are you? I know you're in there, bro."

Bubble Man swam up swiftly and quickly, weaving between chains and depth charges. Soon, his goggles and the top of his head poked up through the water.

"...Hi."

"Bubble Man, I've been thinking. Wily doesn't care if we live or if we die, as long as we do something of value. We should abandon him."

Bubble Man's eyes widened. "...He'll know. He knows everything."

"He's a foolish old man." Metal Man's mouthpiece slotted away. "I've been studying his designs. There are HUGE flaws in all of us, built to bolster traits that are only useful in one way. He BUILT us to fail as long as we can excel in one way."

Metal Man looked down at Bubble Man, who turned away, a wistful, hopeless look on his face.

"I guess you know that more than anyone, huh Bubble?"

"...You don't know the half of it."

Metal Man sat on the edge of the metal pool.

"I did some modifications to myself. I can kinda read people's body-language better." Metal Man tapped on the side of his head. "It's pretty easy to make body mods to a robot when you're METAL MAN." Metal Man grinned, but Bubble Man didn't seem to share his humor. "I've used that to watch you for a while. We're both different from the others, y'know. Let me ask you something."

Bubble Man looked up, paying attention.

"What do you want most?"

Bubble Man hesitated.

"...Sun. To walk. To be warm. You can laugh if you need to."

Metal Man nodded. "Laugh? What kind of dick do you take me for?" Metal Man stood up, his head turned proudly. "I can modify your respiration systems. You'll still be mostly aquatic in design, but you'll be able to survive on land."

Bubble Man's aquamarine eyes opened fully for the first time Metal Man had seen. They flashed with surprise, and most pleasingly, hope. Metal Man took pride in it. After weeks of being friends, he'd finally gotten the guy to be happy.

"...What do you want in return?"

Metal Man smiled. "Two things. For you to cheer the fuck up, and for you to come with me. We'll ditch Wily and go wherever we want." Metal Man offered his hand.

Bubble Man took it, and the two shook.

"I need to gather parts from my assigned factory sector, and make SURE they work. We'll have you on land in...say...a MONTH. Just wait here, and play it cool. Don't tell anybody, or Wily will be pissed."

Metal Man hopped up, and began walking away, his mouthpiece slapping shut.

Bubble Man opened his, smiling as he floated down to the bottom of the pool.

What he felt was a thousand times warmer than the sun piercing the water.

It was his first real hope since he was born.*

ALL UNITS, BE AWARE.

Wily Metal Production Facility Destroyed.

Metal Man status unknown, presumed Terminated. He was witnessed by drone units being disabled by enemy unit Mega Man.

"...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..."

Bubble Man floated to the bottom corner of the tank.*

His only friend. His true brother. His savior.

Gone.

He HAD to know that he wasn't a threat. That he didn't want to fight. HE HAD TO KNOW!!!

All there was was the cold water. Awaiting destruction.

HE HAD TO KNOW HOW MUCH HE MEANT TO ME. HE HAD TO KNOW HOW HE WAS THE ONE WARMTH IN MY MISERABLE, COLD LIFE.

Bubble Man's fists clenched.

AQUATIC ENERGY FACILITY COMPROMISED.

Bubble Man, prepare for combat.

A sudden rush of terror pierced Bubble Man's heart. It was quickly replaced by a burning hate and a total resolve.

...I'll beat him. I'll TEAR HIM APART. For Metal.

Soon, the water shifted.

"Hello."

Bubble Man turned, his eyes stinging with tears of hate as he targeted the visitor. It was, indeed, Mega Man.*

"You're Bubble Man, right? I'm going to ask you one time, to surrender."

Mega Man suddenly shifted in color. For a moment, Bubble Man thought the light in the room had changed, but Mega Man's armor had shifted to a dusty brown.

"...You're here to kill me..." Bubble Man, refusing to seem afraid, turned to face him, both fists at his sides, shaking with anger. "Like you killed my brothers?"

"Not unless you make me."

This was his weapon change ability. He'd killed three of Bubble Man's brothers, so what ability was this?

Leaf shield? Air shooter?

In an instant, a jagged circle of metal was in Mega Man's fingers, glinting and reflecting Bubble Man's face.*

That smiling circle of metal. That reminder of his brother sent Bubble Man over the edge.

"...That's HIS."

"Metal Man's. It should be sufficient to disable you without harming your Integrated Circuit-"

"THAT'S HIS." Bubble Man, in an incoherent rage, darted towards Mega Man, and swung the side of his fist. Mega Man was taken off guard, battered by the blow.

"HE WAS MY FRIEND!!! YOU TOOK HIM AWAY!!! ASSASSIN!!!" Bubble Man fired his bubble cannon. A more potent weapon than he thought, it struck Mega Man in the chest, rocketing him back. Mega Man recovered in time to dodge another shot.

"TELL ME ABOUT HOW MUCH HE WANTED TO LIVE!!! HOW HARD HE FOUGHT BACK WHEN YOU CORNERED HIM!!! HOW HELPLESS HE WAS!!! YOU RAT!!! MURDERER!!! HE WAS A GOOD PERSON, AND YOU TORE HIM APART!!!"

Mega Man reeled, but recovered his bearings, and began to utilize the metal blade to devastating effect.*

Bubble Man ate the damage. He took each blade without flinching. "You're only strong because you STEAL POWER! You think this hurts?! EVERYTHING HURTS WHEN YOUR BROTHERS DIE ONE BY ONE!!!"

Soon, Bubble Man had punched himself out. Each of his shots missed, or were destroyed by the blades of metal. His skin sparked, exposed wires touching water. His body burned with pain, each cut making him wearier.

But he had to try.

One final metal blade lodged itself in his cannon arm.

"...Dammit...I can't..." He clenched his hand in pain, his cannon inactive.

Mega Man loomed over him, firing another volley of metal blades. Bubble Man, unable to protect himself any longer, took each hit, his armor cracking and his skin peeling.

ALL UNITS, BE AWARE.

Aquatic Energy Facility breached.

Bubble Man status unknown, presumed Terminated. He was last seen disabled by enemy unit Mega Man.

Bubble Man floated down, all but broken. His eyes shut, as he attempted to focus.*

Get up...fight...

Metal Man had offered him the world. He'd selflessly given him his word. He'd planned a future where Bubble Man wouldn't be cold and alone.

But I couldn't avenge him...I couldn't honor him...I'm worthless.

"...I've failed you..."

"You should have never trusted Wily to begin with."

Bubble Man turned spitefully to Rock. "...I wasn't talking...about...Wily..."

The back of his head touched the floor. He was at the bottom of the tank. He was further from the sun now than he'd ever been.

Mega Man stood there, waiting for Bubble Man to deactivate. "Dr. Light, I beat him. His Integrated Circuit isn't damaged, so his Cognitive Chip should be fine."

"...Met..."

Mega Man, hearing Bubble Man's final plea, turned his head.

"...Metal...Brother..."

Bubble Man didn't see his enemy anymore. Glitching, and delirious with pain and damage, he saw Mega Man as his brother, Metal Man. Smiling and standing proudly, metal blade in hand.

"...Metal Man?" Mega Man raised his eyebrow. "...Oh. I understand."

Mega Man knelt beside Bubble Man. Bubble Man's eyes opened wider, startling Mega Man.*

Those aquamarine eyes were staring at Mega Man with genuine caring. Gratitude, lined with heavy disappointment in himself.*

"I'm worthless. I lost..." Bubble Man whimpered, tears filling his goggles. "But thank you..."

Mega Man held his hand, waiting with him. He didn't dare leave, as Bubble Man spoke his final words to his "brother."

"For loving someone as worthless as I was...Thank you for being my friend..."

Slowly, before his lights went out, the world felt warmer, as his vision faded. Bubble Man finally broke, and his hand went limp. Mega Man collected his weapon ability, solemn and ashamed.*

"I have his power. Collecting his cognitive chip now."

That was touching, I wasn't expecting that ending. Once I saw the warning about Metal Man, my heart dropped like a brick.

Even if you're a villain, you can still be someone's hero.

Float on, Bubble Man. (T-T)b

The problem with writing one-shot tragedies is that it's difficult to form a relationship with the character. Unless you develop them as much as is possible, it's just really hard. That said, you did well, but I personally was not very connected with the character.

D'aw rats.

Having said that, thanks for the critique, and thanks for reading. :]

Of course. It's well done. And you said you didn't write tragedies often. I'd say the most important part of writing tragedies is getting in the head of the protagonist and actually giving the reader an in depth look into his psychology. Then you have to really play on the emotions of the characters, which will tug at the heart strings of the reader.

Doctor Jensen wrote:Of course. It's well done. And you said you didn't write tragedies often. I'd say the most important part of writing tragedies is getting in the head of the protagonist and actually giving the reader an in depth look into his psychology. Then you have to really play on the emotions of the characters, which will tug at the heart strings of the reader.

I'm going to have to agree with Jensen.

While I did feel bad for bubble man, and sympathized with him somewhat (villains are people too guys!) I didn't feel a terrible sense of loss when he died.

Not like when Maura got her arm full of needles from a needler and I thought she was actually going to die. I was scared there.

Where am I?

Oi. Bubble Man. Sorry the plan went to shit. I probably shouldn't have pissed Rock off. He was tougher than I thought.

METAL MAN?! YOU'RE HERE!!!

Yeah. I figure we're dead. I went ahead of you, brother...sorry. I failed you. Building the respirator parts you needed took too long, and I couldn't defeat Rock when he came. If I had beaten him, I could have taken the parts I needed from HIM, but that went poorly.

But I'm just making excuses. I'm sorry, man. I was pretty useless. You can yell at me if you want.

...It doesn't matter, Metal.

OH STOP BEING NEGATIVE! FOR FUCK'S SAKE!!!

...Sorry. If you're going to sulk, I'd rather ya just yell at me and get it out of your system. I got your hopes up, then I fucked it all up. I just wanted you to cheer up, but I blew it.

No...I'm not sad. I'm very happy.

Really? I mean, why's that, bud?

Because...you're my brother. That's enough for me.

...Thanks, Bubble. You're a good dude. I'm glad you're here with us.[/cyan]

Us?

You guys are friggin' weird...

Shut up, Heat Man.

Shut up, Heat Man.

[color=brown]

Dr. Light smiled. All eight Cognitive Chips were in their designated slots. The broken bodies of the Robot Masters were laying on tables behind him, some already under repair. "Once we've removed some of Wily's Slave Programming, we can re-design these robots. Make them less lethal, and more useful. They'll still be rowdy. They're WILY bots after all." Light smiled. "A few of them managed to overcome the Slave Programming on their own. I see no traces of it in Bubble Man."

Dr. Light turned to his "son," Mega Man, with great pride. "You did them all a great kindness. I never asked you to avoid damaging their Integrated Circuits. It must have made besting them much harder."

Mega Man stood proudly, his arms folded. "Thanks, Doctor." He turned and walked out the door. "I prefer a happy ending."

I had written a happy ending to this. Took me a while to remember where I saved it.

I read that in Megaman Canon he goes easy on his opponents on purpose, so he doesn't damage their Integrated Circuit, so their Cognitive Chip isn't destroyed. That way, once he's "killed" an enemy robot master, they can be rebuilt. So, if a robot isn't totally blown to smitherines, they can get over death like a bad hangover if someone repairs them, builds them a new body, or retrieves and stores their Cognitive Chip.

The Integrated Circuit is like the spine, and the Cognitive Chip is the brain. :P

That's a little robot biology for you.

:D

*anatomy

Robot anatomy. Biology is the study of living things, and robots will never fall in that category!

Human Master Species!

Anyways, I like the happy ending but.... I feel it kinda takes away from the whole "tragedy" aspect.

I feel the same way (always kinda did), but I wanted to cap it off in a way that made me happy. I've never been a pro at tragedy, and happy endings make me happy face.

Thanks for the honest feedback, dawg. :)

Be strong John, be strong.