Little Stray Puppy

[Deleted]

{{ OoC: April 7, 2521. 10:00 a.m. Open to all. }}


After stealing some food earlier for breakfast, Erin found a puppy in an alley. The poor thing looked hungry and weak so she fed it more than half of what she had.

"Poor baby.... I wish I can keep you... but I can barely afford to take care of myself."

With no home or job, how can she be a pet owner? But she can't bear to leave it all alone. So she decided to take it with her and find a good home for it.

"Erin, where are you taking it?"

"To an animal shelter first. I don't have much money but the puppy needs to be cared for. I can't afford to take it to a vet."

Once she found a local animal shelter, she entered shyly with the puppy poking its head out of her unzipped black coat.

"Hello?"

[Imit Phare & Model Co]

Imit was at the animal shelter, working. It was a weekday and in the morning, which was the time that he normally worked full-time. However, at the moment, he was currently on a small break, having played with several of the dogs in the morning and making sure that the cats had all of their bowls filled.

He was currently the only one at the front, so the young man looked at the young girl that had walked in with the puppy in her coat. The puppy looked rather skinny and weak. Imit approached Erin.

"Hi, how can I help you?" Meanwhile, Model Co frowned. That Biometal felt a little bit familiar, but he couldn't name who it was.

[Deleted]

Oh, good. There was a worker around.

"I found this puppy in an alley. It has no collar so it probably has no owner. Poor baby looked hungry and weak so I fed it some food I had. As much as I want to take it in, I can't afford to. So I want to find it a good home at the very least. And I'll pay for whatever it needs."

Erin carefully held out the puppy to Imit.

And meanwhile, Model Sn sensed a Biometal in the animal shelter. Somehow it feels kinda familiar. Who can it be? Is the worker a Biomatch? Should he try to speak? Maybe he'll stay quiet for now....

[Imit Phare & Model Co]

Carefully, Imit reached out and took the puppy from the Erin. It was fairly cute, but it was tiny and definitely hungry. He held the puppy carefully in his arms, running his fingers through it's fur. It could have fleas, but he would have to deal with that in a bit. For now, he placed the little guy in a carrier with some soft bedding.

"It's pretty tiny... and with a condition like that, it is most likely a stray. I'll have to get him in the system and get our vets to look him over, but he'll be safe here. Thanks for bringing him in and not leaving him out there, miss. Normally, we'd like to ask for a small donation. Even if it's just a couple of EC, every bit helps."

He smiled back at her in thanks, unaware of the mental turmoil going through Model Co's head. It wasn't that annoying Ge, it wasn't any of the Biometals that he'd already met before! Aaagh! Who was it?!

[Deleted]

"Oh, of course. And thank you, too. Here. It's not much but I'll be more than happy to donate."

Erin smiled back at Imit in thanks and offered him 20 EC from her coat pocket. Probably a small amount but every bit helps like he said.

"May I stay here with the puppy for a bit? Even if I can't keep him... I want to at least look after him for a while."

Hm. A friend or an enemy? Perhaps... Model Sn will take a chance and speak up. Curiosity had better not kill the cat. Or snake, in this case.

"... Um.... Hi?"

[Imit Phare & Model Co]

Imit perked up a bit as she donated. He took the money from her, and placed it in the appropriate area for donations. "Thanks a lot! Sure, it might not be much, but like I said, every little bit helps. Lots of small donations equal one big donation, after all."

He checked up on the puppy real quick to make sure that nothing appeared to be wrong, and then looked over at her as she asked that question. "Sure! I don't see any problem with that, we always need volunteers that just come in a few times or even just once to-"

He cut himself off as Model Sn spoke up. Okay. There was definitely another person here, and likely a Biometal at that. Erin's...? As for Model Co, the kid recognized that voice for sure.

"...Snake? SNAKE? SNAAAAAAAAAAAKE!"

[Deleted]

Erin nodded and beamed when Imit allowed her to stay with the puppy. She won't mind doing a little volunteer work.

"You're welcome. And of course. I'd be happy to volunteer here--...."

She paused. Oh, boy. Did Imit hear Model Sn? Why did he have to talk? Wait. If he can hear him... then is he a Biomatch like her? Erin blinked upon hearing a different voice. A kid? No one else is in here but the two of them.

"... Are you a Biomatch?"

Of course, Model Sn also recognized that voice.

"C--.... Mega Man? Is that you? What~?"

[Imit Phare & Model Co]

Imit smiled at Erin as she mentioned that she'd be happy to volunteer here. Okay, he'd just need some information about her and such, and everything would be hunky-dory. He rummaged through the desk that he was nearby, and pulled out some forms for volunteers, which he handed to her with a pen.

"Awesome! If you can fill these out real quick-"

She then asked him if he was a Biomatch. Well, that was different. Someone that seemed fairly innocent enough and not creepy like that Siarnaq person, or annoying like that Thetis kid. Co seemed to know this one; Imit prayed that he wasn't about to pick a fight like he had with Model Ge.

"...Yeah. Are you?"

Phew! Someone that wasn't the annoying sparklebutt! Someone he could actually tolerate! "Yeah! You bet it's me~!"

[Deleted]

Erin answered as she accepted the forms and pen from Imit.

"... Yeah, I am. Um.... I guess there's no need for me to hide it. Model Sn, do you know the other Biometal? And... why did you call him 'Mega Man'?"

... When the Biomatches can become Mega Men.

It's his brother Copy Mega Man! Someone he's familiar with!

"Hey, long time no see! Oh? This is Mega Man. It's his name. Before we died and became Biometals...."

Model Sn doesn't consider Model Co some copy of the original Mega Man. He's still a different person and an individual. And he's his brother/adopted nephew.

... Really now? This Biometal was 'Mega Man'? That can't be right. But at least it's someone Model Sn knows. Erin raised an eyebrow before shrugging.

"Hm.... Well, why don't you come out of hiding and, um... play with your friend? I have papers to fill out now. Anyway... I believe I haven't properly introduced myself, sir. My name is Erin Hong. And this is my partner Model Sn. It's nice to meet you."

[Imit Phare & Model Co]

Imit sat down in a chair, and offered her a chair to sit in as well while she filled the forms out and they conversed. He checked up on the puppy to make sure the little guy was doing alright. Outside of curiosity and nervousness of being in a new environment, he seemed fine, so he focused back on Erin.

"There was a lot of strangeness going on with Biometal and such, so I usually don't let everyone find out that I'm a Biomatch. Lots of bad things can happen if the wrong people find out, and I'm speaking from experience."

Considering that he'd lost his parents and nearly lost his siblings when they'd dug too close to where Biometals had been buried, and the whole incident with the tournament not that long ago, it was wise to keep their mouths shut. The girl seemed young, and it was probably for the best that she not get tangled in anything nasty.

"Yeah! Snakey's right about that! I told you that I was 'Mega Man', but some people think I'm just being full of myself!" He'd have pouted if he could. It wasn't his fault that his identification in his programming was 'Mega Man' and not 'Copy Mega Man' as everyone tended to call him! "So how're you and stuff? Nice to see someone else I know that isn't annoying."

Imit just shrugged himself. He didn't quite get Model Co, but maybe there was a spark of truth to it if this Biometal was confirming it. Model S had nicknamed him Copy, Model Q didn't remember anything, and Model RS hadn't known Model Co all that well.

"Yeah, why don't you come on out? I don't think anyone else is going to be walking in at this moment, though you can always hide if anyone does." He smiled at Erin as she introduced herself. "Erin Hong and Model Sn? My name's Imit Phare, and this is Model Co. Nice to meet you too."

[Deleted]

Erin sat down, filling out the forms or at least as much as she could.

"... Hm, yeah. All the strange and even bad things.... I usually don't reveal it... unless I can't hide it. So far, I've made no enemies, but I'm still being careful. I've run into a few Biomatches the past three weeks, neither with bad intentions. And you're the third I've met now."

Erin normally keeps her mouth shut, too. She wouldn't want to lose Model Sn who's been by her side for three years. But Imit doesn't seem like a bad person so she feels she can at least trust him. He even warned her out of concern. Huh. This Biometal sounds like a kid. One who's sort of full of himself. Can this really be 'Mega Man'? Model Sn had better explain this later since he knows the kid.

Model Sn emerged from Erin's coat pocket and floated a bit. It's been so long since he was last called 'Snakey'.

"I've been doing fine. It's nice to finally see one of my brothers after so long."

Even if it's not Gemini Man.

"Imit Phare and... Model Co? I thought it would be MM or something. Ah, well...."

Erin blinked and shrugged. She wasn't sure what the Co was supposed to be short for, but it certainly didn't sound like 'Mega Man'. Model Sn can probably explain it to her later.

"How long have you been working here for, Mr. Imit?"

[Imit Phare & Model Co]

Imit sat down as well, not really having any need to stand at the moment. Questions could be left blank if absolutely necessary, but they shouldn't be too bad; just your average run-of-the-mill questions for a typical volunteer.

"Neither do I. I nearly got killed by some odd-looking Mavericks when I was 16 because I wandered too close to the place where Co was. Luckily I met Co right about then, or I probably wouldn't have made it out alive. Then there was the incident with the tournament some time ago... you heard about it? I got kidnapped. My brothers were NOT happy when they found out." Thank goodness for his brothers and the ones that had realized there was something wrong. Who knew what would have happened to him if they hadn't interfered and rescued the Biomatches. He looked over at Model Sn as the other came out.

Model Co came out as well, looking over at Model Sn. "Yeah! I mean... I already met Dad, and Quint, and that annoying Gemini sparklebutt..." Model Co 'hmphed' a little bit. Imit groaned.

"Co, I don't think I can ever go back to that restaurant ever again thanks to you and Model Ge." If only to spare himself and that poor waiter Pollux some sanity.

"Truth be told, I'm not sure myself. He kept calling himself the Mega Man, and I thought he was just being full of himself... until he met Model Q or Quint and called him a true Mega Man as well." What Co's standards were, he had no idea.

"Hm? Oh, about four years, by now. They took me in early on, and I've managed to work my way up." Imit smiled a little bit. "You said you met other Biomatches?"

[Deleted]

"... Yikes. Maverick attacks. There was one at my school when I was 9. Of course, that was about eight years ago. Oh boy. I heard about that tournament. Did all participants get kidnapped? That must've been scary."

And while Erin was finishing the papers, Model Sn was mingling with Model Co.

"Really? So Big Bro Shadow's around? Quint, too? Wait. You met Big Bro Gemmy?"

Model Sn could barely contain his elation. Though that hmph made him wonder if they got in a big fight. He tilted slightly. And Erin blinked.

"Sparkle-butt? What happened between those two? And it was at a restaurant?"

Well, this sounds kinda interesting. What do those two have against each other? While it goes to show that Model Co is a kid, what about that Model Ge? How old was he supposed to be? Model Sn referred to him as 'Big Bro' so does that mean he's supposed to be older than 17?

"Really? I wonder what the Co is supposed to be short for then. No offense but he doesn't really sound like... how should I say it? A true original Mega Man?"

Him being a 'Copy Mega Man' wouldn't have come to her mind. Who would make copies of Biometals anyway? Or the original robots that they once were?

"Four years? Are you already in your twenties? Oh, yeah. I actually met Ashe and Model A. And someone named Voile with a Biometal called Model RS. They were... giraffes compared to me. Eheheh...."

[Imit Phare & Model Co]

Imit shook his head. Maverick attacks were genuinely dangerous, and he pitied anyone that got caught up in a Maverick attack... or a plot by their government like what had happened in the tournament.

"Not everyone did, but anyone that lost a round got kidnapped and put unconscious. I didn't even know what had happened until my brothers told me. Which was... quite a few people, to be honest. Before the tournament ended though, a lot of people got suspicious upon not being able to see their family and friends, and snooped around to see what was up.

Co floated in the air a bit. "Yeah, he's around~. And so is he, unfortunately... ugh."

Imit groaned as he remembered what had happened. "Yeah... long story short, I went to Roader's Steakhouse, and it turned out that someone else there had a Biometal that happened to be Ge. The two... got into this verbal fight insulting each other, and it was a miracle that neither of them flew out and physically started hitting each other. But I want to spare my sanity - and the other Biomatch's - and not go back."

That indeed was a good question, what Co was short for, especially since even Sn admitted that Copy was a true Mega Man. That didn't explain why he called Q one, though, and he knew that the Q stood for Quint.

"H-Hey! I'm original!"

"Erm, don't bring it up... he's a bit touchy about it, especially after Ge called him a fake." The last thing he wanted was for Co to flip out on Erin. However, Imit perked up when she mentioned Voile.

"Oh, you met Voile? He's my brother! Not the nicest guy around, but he's not bad."

[Deleted]

Indeed, they are. And it's thanks to them that Erin is orphaned and homeless.

"I see. Boy, that couldn't have been fun. Did anyone get hurt? And are you okay?"

Model Sn sighed quietly. He's not surprised those two still bicker but he does wish they'd at least try to get along for even one second.

"Aw man.... As much as I don't want to say this... maybe you should just ignore him. Pretend he's not there. Because he... practically lives for attention... and reactions."

He floated down a bit with a small wince, feeling rather bad about saying that. He feels he just spoke poorly of his older brother. What would Gemini Man say if he heard this?

"... I see. Oh, wow. Well, I don't see why Model Sn should feel bad like that but he's probably right. And that advice should definitely be followed. Not completely sure what Models Co and Ge have against each other, but they need to control themselves. Can't have them fighting every time they meet."

Erin raised an eyebrow at Model Co and Imit. What? How can Model Ge consider Model Co a fake? Is the little Biometal hiding something? Well, he seems sensitive about it. She gave them an apologetic look.

"Oh... I'm sorry."

Erin blinked. Imit and Voile are brothers? Well... there is a resemblance, even if it's not that strong.

"Really? I didn't know he had brothers. Is he your older brother? You look a little shorter and younger than him. Well, he certainly is kinda nice. We actually had lunch together, and he even paid for my meal."

After Erin was done writing, she handed the filled-out forms to Imit.