The Mana-Verse

[Quickman]

The Professor's eyes went to the Gem in the middle of the cavern.  He recognized it instantly, as it had been detailed in his studies of the Precursors.  Though, as he gazed upon it, his master's voice spoke to him and the pain flared once more.

He dropped to his knees and covered his ears in an attempt to shut out the voices. "No, no, no, you are not my master!  You are not my master!"

After a moment, the pain subsided enough for him to lift his head.  Of all the times for that fit to happen!

[Dr. Wily II]

By this time, the taller cloaked figure was already standing in front if the Professor.

"Ah... Zo gud for joo to be bowing before me... Joo vill prove to be a very valuable ally..."

[Sakura Leic]

(Please blast him with Lightning, please blast him with Lightning!)

[Quickman]

The Professor got to his feet and held Albertus in his gaze.  "You are not my master, and I will not bow to you!"

He stepped forward and prepared to grab his Lightning Powder.  However, the brace on his left foot got caught on his robe and pulled it taut.  He lost his balance and pitched forward, arms flailing.  To keep from hitting the floor, he grabbed Albertus for stability, except due to his short height, he firmly grabbed the man's hips and buttocks.

Realizing what he had just done, his face deepened in embarrassment, and he stood and stepped backward. "I, I, I'm quite terribly sorry... My balance, my balance... it's n-not very good..."

[Sakura Leic]

(Brilliant! )

[Blue Valkyrie]

((Nothing kills evil moments more than surprise groping!  ))

[Dr. Wily II]

(... I'm very tempted here. )

The cloaked figure reeled in sheer shock at what had just transpired, his hood flipped back, revealing the face of an adult male, around his late 30s, looking very distraught. His bushy moustache twitched uncontrollably.

"HOW DARE JOO! HOW DARE JOO TOUCH THE GREAT ALBERTUS THE WILEY IN ZUCH A LEWD MANNER!?"

Shadow has his mouth open agape, while the other cloaked figure seemingly giggled.

[Blue Valkyrie]

((Albertus complains about being Lewd?  ))

[Quickman]

"Most sincere apologies... My balance, my balance is rather p-poor, yes?" The Professor shrank in his own robes and took another step backward.  Albertus's accent was quite thick and it made him difficult to understand.

[Dr. Wily II]

(Only he is allowed to do lewd things in his world. )

Albertus quickly readjusted himself, just as the other cloaked figure approached him, placing a hand on his right shoulder, and seemingly striking a pose under the cloak.

"I vould have joo hanged! However... Joo know a lot about ze Precurzorz... I need zuch information... Zo zhat I can rule thiz vorld! I need to know more about ze three keyz!"

[Quickman]

The Professor swallowed thickly.  He didn't understand much of what Albertus said due to the cavern's acoustics and the man's thick accent, but he was able to figure out the context.  The three keys...

"The three keys.  You know about those.  Bring those together and you can bring me back!"

The pain in his head flared and he reeled forward a few steps before he collapsed to his hands and knees.  Gritting his teeth, he tried to force the voice out of his head. "You are not my master!  Stop it!  Get out of my head!  Get out of my head!"

[Blue Valkyrie]

"Focus, do not pay attention to that pretender! You must save the last guardian!" The woman's voice rang in his head again helping stop the pain.

[Dr. Wily II]

Seeing the Professor reeling in pain, Albertus smirked.

"Lookz like joo are in terrible pain... Give me ze information, and I vill make ze pain go away..."

The other cloaked figure giggled at the Professor.

[Quickman]

The Professor shook his head as the pain cleared. "No.  No... I... I have to save her..."

Pulling out his pouch of Lightning Powder, he rubbed it between his palms and fired a charge at the other cloaked figure.  The charge wasn't enough to hurt anyone, but it provided a sizable flash and enough noise to serve as a distraction.

With that distraction, he got to his feet and hobbled toward the other end of the cavern in an attempt to find some means of escape.

[Dr. Wily II]

Both Albertus and the other cloaked figure screamed at the sudden flashbang, and were momentarily blinded. Shadow Master on the other hand, wasn't close to that, and immediately appeared before the Professor, blocking his path.

"You are not going anyway. Lest you can defeat me in battle!"

[Quickman]

Remembering how Aya looked after a battle with this Shadow Master, the Professor wisely realized that he didn't stand a chance.  He could try, but he was frail and weak with a lame leg, and the outcome would most likely end the same way; with him being forced to work for this Albertus person.

He would have to find another way.  If he could buy enough time, the rest of the party would find their way to the tower.  He could stall until he figured out how to slip out of sight.  There were many other possibilities, but fighting was not one of them. 

Giving in, the Professor bowed his head. "What, what do you want from m-me?"

[Dr. Wily II]

Albertus was still flailing around blind, while the cloaked figure was just playing along with Albertus. Shadow Master just stared.

"Just like my Master said, information on the three keys."

[Blue Valkyrie]

((all the professor would know is according to data he's managed to gather is: The keys are sort of magic key designed to open some sort of seal. They only work if all three are brought together, they are mentioned in several legends warning of disaster should they be gathered.))

[Quickman]

"Well, well, well, you see... I m-may, I may have some information, yes," the Professor nodded and turned back to Albertus.  His hands went to his bag, but stopped.  He didn't want to lead Shadow Master to think that he was going for a weapon.  However, he had reorganized the items inside so that he had ready access to explosives and Flame Paste, in the event that he would need to defend himself.

"But, but, but you see, you see, this, this isn't a place conducive to intense study.  I can't, I can't hear very well, and I'm afraid that I might miss things, yes?  Might, might I suggest we... retire to somewhere with less echo?"

[Sakura Leic]

(So how should the rest of the party proceed?)

[Blue Valkyrie]

(Up to you, do you all try to proceed or talk to the freed slaves?))

[Dr. Wily II]

Albertus rubbed his eyes, as his vision returned to him. Once stable, he walked towards the Professor, and grabbed him by the collar of his cloak.

"If joo DARE to make fun of me again... I vill not hezitate to kill joo, even if I don't get my information!"

Albertus then threw the Professor to the ground. Shadow Master then grabbed him again by the arm, and disappeared. The cloaked figure hugged Albertus, and they too disappeared.

The four reappeared back on the tower roof, the same place that Shadow Master first encountered the Professor. Albertus again walked towards the Professor.

"Zpeak now!"

(There's a reason for coming back here...)

[Sakura Leic]

(Up to you, do you all try to proceed or talk to the freed slaves?))

(I think we need to discuss that with each other.)

[Blue Valkyrie]

((What ever you want to do I'll make up an event for you all to follow.))

[Protoman Blues]

(I can promise you, Riagan is not interested in helping to free human slaves! )