Control Room, Metroid, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy, Q-niverse.  Stardate 1 068 054.79; July 20, 3013.

Doctor Jerome Wily and ProtoMan, under the careful watch of MotherBrain and Luna (who rode Amok, as usual), continuously entered commands in the computer.  In the trial over a thousand years earlier, Dr. Wily had seen Kevin with someone very interesting, and this interesting person, calling himself Michael, Kevin's brother, took the witness stand on his brother's behalf, utterly foiling the prosecution's cross-examination.  Wily had told MotherBrain about this.  Now, MotherBrain had an idea to destabilise Kevin by using this Michael as her weapon.

            "We've just about got it, MotherBrain," Wily reported.  "That warp to the past will flash open on him in a second and close the next."

            "Wily," said MotherBrain, "I'm glad you thought to implant that microscopic computer chip in that kid."

            "Ha, ha!  Actually, it implanted itself unnoticed in him under its own power.  I just gave it the bare data necessary to propel itself and home in on him.  Ah!  We'll now be able to see him in any year we choose."

            "Excellent.  When was he fifteen?  That seems an excellent age."

            "From February 7, 1992, to February 7, 1993."

            "Ah!  The year Mason brought Kevin's parents to VideoLand.  That's even better!  Let's see him in the middle of July, probably the twentieth, the day before he brought them here."

            Wily keyed in the date '20 July 1992' on the computer panel.  MotherBrain's viewscreen turned on and showed, early in the morning, Michael talking with his parents, Ned and Cheryl, at the door of their house.  "Sound is coming," promised Wily.  True to his word, after he had keyed a few buttons, they heard voices come through the room's speakers with lifelike clarity, despite the considerable gap of time.

            Michael told his parents, "All right.  I'll be back from the trip in a few days."

            "See you, Michael," Cheryl said.  "Call and give us the number, okay?"

            Michael smiled.  "Of course I will, Mother."  His expression turned more sombre.  "Now, you tell me if you hear something about Kevin, all right?"

            "Of course we will, Michael," said Ned.  "Have a good time on your trip in the Sierras, and just. . . please, just don't worry about Kevin so much."

            Michael sighed.  "I try, but it's hard."  He looked at his watch.  "Well, the bus won't leave for another hour, so I should have enough time to walk over to school."

            "All right," his mother said.  "See you when you get back, Michael."  She hugged him.

            "You, too, Mom.  See you when I get back, Dad."

            "Have a good time, Michael."  Michael left, turned right, and headed for the school.

            "I still don't believe it!" exclaimed Luna.  "That guy looks so much like Captain N, only a few years younger!"

            "Well, there's something a tad different in the face, but I can't tell exactly what, especially not with the pixelised screen," ProtoMan said.  "Even I might be deceived, and my eyes are keener than humans'.  About anyone would be fooled, including maybe Geordi LaForge, with his VISOR."

            "I want to nab him at the perfect moment," MotherBrain said.

            "How about some time after he reaches where he's going and has called his parents?" suggested Wily.  "That way, his parents won't be alarmed, and they won't be able to tell Kevin anything about this.  It would cause him to suspect us if he knew.  Our history will remain as it has remained."

            "Great!  Do it.  Jump to that point."

            Wily switched the monitor to when Michael was in his room where he was staying for his trip.  Kevin's brother picked up his phone receiver with his right hand and dialled home with his left.  When his mother answered, he said, "Hi, Mom.  This is Michael.  We've reached where we're staying, and I'm at my room."

            "Good," said his mother.  "What's the phone number?"

            "It's 777-8888, and I'm in room 27."

            "All right, thank you.  Now, you have a good time with your school-friends, Michael, and don't worry about Kevin.  If I hear anything about him, I promise I'll call.  You don't have to give any thought about it."

            "Thank you, Mom.  I'll talk to you later."

            "Talk to you later, Michael."

            MotherBrain laughed, "Ha, ha!  But, before we grab him. . . Eggplant Wizard, ready the hologram projector!"

            "Yes, MotherBrain!" said Eggplant Wizard.  He activated the hologram projector and set it to project her hologram back in time to Michael.  "Ready."

            "Now, turn it on."

            * * *

            In his room, Michael looked out the window at the beautiful sight of the Sierra Mountains.  However, as for the past three years, one thought pervaded his mind:  Kevin.  He really missed his older brother and hoped that nothing had happened to him, for Kevin was also his best friend.  He also missed their dog, Duke.  He had long since concluded that whatever had happened to Kevin had probably happened to Duke.  He just did not know what had happened.  However, he refused to believe his brother and their dog were dead.

            Michael greatly resembled Kevin.  He now wore a red letterman jacket with a large N, which was the same as Kevin's, even down to the exact size.  He wore the same brand and size of shirt, except his was red.  However, he wore nothing that Kevin had actually worn.

            He went to unpack his suitcase.  The first thing he removed was that small framed portrait of him with Kevin. . . the last picture they had together, and the one that most powerfully showed the great brotherly bond the two shared.  "I know you're out there somewhere, brother," Michael said.  "Whatever's happened to you, I'll find out somehow."  He held the picture close to him in his arms as though he were hugging his brother.  During this he looked up to Heaven.  "Lord God, I know You can hear me.  Please, keep Kevin safe.  I hope You'll let me be with him again.  With Your divine guidance, I know I can live without him, but it won't be easy on me."  He held the picture in front of him.  "May God keep you safe, dear brother."

            MotherBrain's hologram suddenly appeared.  "Gee, how sweet!"

            In his surprise, Michael nearly dropped the picture, but not quite.  "What. . . or who are you?" he demanded.

            "Let me give you a hint, bright boy:  you and your brother enjoyed alternating between who got to give me a headache every Saturday."

            "You can't be real," he said with assurance that he did not feel.  "You're just a video game character."

            "I assure you that I am quite real.  Oh, I'll take you to your dear big brother. . . but when my wicked plans for you have run their course, he'll hate you forever!"  She laughed quite wickedly and disappeared.

            This angered him.  "Hey!  Come back here, MotherBrain!  What do you know of Kevin?"  Then, he disappeared, warped away. . . the picture with him.

            * * *

            "Ha, ha!" laughed MotherBrain.  "Is he now dormant in the prison room?"

            "Yes, MotherBrain," Wily said.

            "Gee," said ProtoMan.  "He seemed a bit upset, didn't he?"

            "And he'll be more upset once my plan comes to fruition!" MotherBrain exclaimed.  "He and Kevin both!  Ha, ha!  We've noticed how much like Kevin he looks and acts.  Maybe Lana will be quite deceived by him."

            "Ah!" said Wily.  "How clever!"

            "Yeah," ProtoMan said.  "Kevin will be very angry at his brother if what you expect to happen happens."

            "Ha, ha!" laughed Luna.

            "Ridley," said MotherBrain, "let's descend to that prison room and visit our new guest."

            "With pleasure!" said Ridley in his powerful baritone voice.  He and MotherBrain left the control room.

            * * *

            Prison Room, Norfair, Metroid.

            When Michael regained consciousness, he looked around.  He did not know where he was, but several more people were here unconscious.  They had all been restrained to keep them from falling over.  He noticed he still had the picture in his left hand.  "Oh, Kevin," he said quietly, "if you can help me get out of this, please do it."  He put the picture in a pocket inside his coat and zipped shut the pocket.  He was puzzled as to why he actually called on his brother for help.

            He asked himself, "Where am I?"  He looked down to the floor and saw. . . "Duke!"  The dog stirred a little, but he went back to sleep.  "Oh, Dukie!  I may find a nice juicy bone if you get up."  Duke grunted and looked up at Michael.  He sniffed the human's pant-legs and then barked joyfully in recognition of one of his masters.  "Yeah, I'm glad to see you, too."  Michael put his left hand on his own head.  "I seem to have a small hole in my memory.  First, I was in my room in the Sierras, looking at my picture of Kevin,. . ."  He bent down on his knees and looked Duke in the eyes.  The sitting dog had to look up, and Michael had to look down.  ". . .And now, I'm here.  Something happened, and I don't remember what.  Do you know where we are?"  The dog whined and nodded.  "From your expression, I can tell it's not pleasant.  Do you know the name?"  Duke barked.  Michael leapt to his feet.  "-Gasp!-  Metroid!  Now I remember!  I was talking to a hologram, I guess, of MotherBrain, then she disappeared, and I felt a tinge and lost consciousness.  I thought when she identified herself that she was just a figment of my overactive imagination.  Guess not, huh?"

            Michael looked around again.  This time, he saw a computer panel to his right.  "A computer.  Duke, do you know if Kevin is somewhere around?"  The dog nodded.  In a quick series of barks, he passed some information to Michael.  "VideoLand?  A world of video games?"  The dog barked more.  "Oh!  An entire sixth of the galaxy.  So this is real-life, right now!  Oh, boy!  Hm.  I wonder. . . computer, can you contact Kevin Keene?"

            He was actually surprised to hear it talk back to him.  "Yes," said the computer.  "Please stand by."

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            Kevin Keene walked over to Kid Icarus's station.  "Hey, Kid Icarus."

            "Oh, hey, Kevin-icus," Kid Icarus said.  "Just. . . -sigh.-  Just waiting for MegaMan to call in."

            "He hasn't for some time, Kid.  We've waited long enough, though.  Tomorrow, I'll head a search party to Metroid to get all our friends out of there.  I know he's a very good friend to you, Kid Icarus.  I'd like you to go to bed and get some sleep.  I'll watch your station, and I'll call you the instant I hear word from MegaMan."

            "Thanks, Kevin-icus."  With his wings, Kid Icarus flew out of the chair.  "I know something's wrong to the maximus, Kevin."

            "Well, Kid Icarus, once, my best friend disappeared. . . or, rather, I disappeared from him.  See, when I came to VideoLand, I did leave someone I cared for very much behind, other than my parents.  At times, I wish he could have come, but. . . well, no use dwelling on that.  Get some rest, Kid."

            "Thank you very much, Kevin-icus."  He turned to leave, then turned back to Kevin.  "Does the emotional pain of leaving your best friend ever go away?"

            "Never.  There are times when it can sear your heart out.  When you are as emotionally attached to someone like a best friend or a very extra-special girlfriend, it's something that never leaves you.  It can be tougher if your best friend is a family member, as with me."

            Kid Icarus thought about asking just how this best friend was related to Kevin, for Kevin had never said a word about such a person before, but he felt it might be unwelcome, intrusive, and none of his business.  "Well, I'll see you in the morning, Kevin."

            "Good night, Kid Icarus."  Kid Icarus left.  Kevin crossed his arms.  "Oh, Michael, I should have gone back home.  I should have asked you to come to VideoLand with me.  Now, it's too late.  Oh, well, little brother, I've missed you, and I'll probably continue missing you.  -Sigh.-  And you probably missed me until the day you died, if I know you at all."  He sat down lazily at the computer terminal.  "Ho, boy.  I won't let this happen to Kid Icarus and MegaMan, though.  They don't deserve this."

            The computer announced, "One person on Metroid wishes to contact Kevin Keene."

            "Who'd refer to me like that?" Kevin quietly asked himself.  Very few referred to him by his family name since he had moved to VideoLand.  He hit the button to respond.  Then, on the screen, he saw the face of the last person he ever expected to see, and he was temporarily overjoyed to see that face.  "Michael!"

            "Kevin, is that you?" Michael asked.

            "Yeah!  Where are you, broth-. . ."  At this point, Kevin's logic and suspicions kicked in.  "Wait a minute.  Is this some kind of MotherBrain trick?"

            "If it is, it's on both of us," Michael replied.  He saw the look in Kevin's eyes.  "Hey!  You know I wouldn't lie to you, brother!"

            "Can you prove you're Michael Keene?"

            "Duke, talk!"  Kevin heard a dog bark.

            "Duke?"  Michael lifted Duke so Kevin could see him.  "Wait a minute.  Duke, why did the cat cross the road?"

            Duke yapped a reply.  "Oh, brother," moaned Michael.

            "Pretty bad joke, isn't it?" Kevin asked.  "Look!  What are you doing there on Metroid, Michael?"

            Michael put Duke down.  "I was going on a school-sponsored trip to the Sierras.  When I got to my room, as I began unpacking, MotherBrain showed up as a hologram.  At first, you know, I thought my mind was playing tricks.  However, I now know that assertion to be false.  After she had talked to me and disappeared, I felt a tinge and lost consciousness.  Next thing I know, I wake up while standing in this room.  Duke says this is Metroid."

            "You must have been warped across time as well as space.  How old are you now?  On which date did MotherBrain contact you?"

            "I'm fifteen, and driving up a storm with our parents!" he replied, grinning.  "It was July 20, 1992."

            "Hm.  You were in 1992, and you've been warped to the very same date in 3013."

            Michael's expression was of such stunned amazement that Kevin had never before seen from him.  "Three thousand thirteen?" demanded Michael.  "I know you wouldn't lie to me, Kev, but that is still barely believable!"

            "I can imagine.  Those villains must have resurrected Duke, because I found him brutally killed.  Duke, what happened to you?"  Duke barked.  "Ma-mutt!  So, Mumm-ra's wicked cur was responsible.  Michael, who's in that room, other than you?"

            "Well, I see several villains from Batman, as well as Commissioner Gordon, Batgirl, and Catwoman.  I also see Dr. Wright and Dr. Cossack from the MegaMan games."

            More to himself than to his brother, Kevin said, "Ludwig must have brought them back."

            "What?" asked Michael, not having understood.

            "I'll explain it later, Michael.  Are any others there?"

            Michael looked around, then up.  "Yeah, two people are slowly rotating back-to-back in the air.  One appears to be Wesley Crusher from Star Trek:  The Next Generation!  What's this universe coming to?  And the other. . . oh, my God, she's lovely."

            "What's she look like?" demanded Kevin urgently.

            Transfixed, Michael said, "She's absolutely beautiful, Kevin."

            "Michael!" snapped Kevin loudly.  Michael jumped and turned to him.  "I now see one difference between us that hasn't changed.  Describe her to me.  You can be as subjective as you want, but tell me enough fact that I can picture her in my mind.  If she's who I think she is, you'll have to do something."

            "Yes, Kevin," said Michael meekly.  He looked back up at her.  "She has the most beautiful, softest-looking skin.  Is she a princess?  There's a small golden tiara on her head, and a green emerald is in the middle of the crown.  Her long hair is brown.  Her dress is open at the middle, with pink and white areas."

            "All right, I know her."

            "Oh, you do?"

            Kevin smiled.  "I should.  I married her."

            Michael grinned back.  "You?  Lucky bro!"

            "I know it."  Kevin's expression turned more serious.  "Can you leave?"

            "I don't know.  If I'm in Norfair, and it's hot enough to damage Samus, what do you think would happen to me?"

            "Good point.  See if. . ."  Suddenly, Duke quietly growled.

            "What do you hear, boy?" Michael asked.  In a moment, he heard wheels on the floor outside and footsteps.  "Wheels and footsteps."

            "Hide!" Kevin said.  "Order that viewscreen to shut off.  You won't see or hear me, but I'll be able see in there, all right, and I'll hear what's going on."

            "How can I hide?"

            "Return to your previous position and pretend you're still unconscious."

            "All right.  Screen, blank on this side without cutting transmission."  He and Duke went where they had been and faked unconsciousness.

            Kevin hit the mute key.  A moment later, the elevator door opened.  "Oops," Kevin said quietly.  Thomas Keene, his son, came out.  "Hi, Thomas."

            "Hello, Father.  What's going on?"

            Kevin got up and looked in his son's eyes, the same colour as his own.  The time for the truth had come at last.  "Son, I've done something I've told you that one should never do.  I did it for what I believed was a good cause, but that is no justification, and it turns out that it didn't succeed."

            Thomas grew curious.  "What did you do?"

            "I never told anyone that I have a brother."

            "I see."  Thomas spent a moment thinking, then his eyes widened.  "You say that you have a brother?  You mean he's still alive?"

            "He's been transported to today from this date in 1992, Thomas.  I tried to cover him up to attempt to keep MotherBrain from finding out, but she found out.  Actually, I think I may know how.  You know that 1988 trial I told you about?"

            "Yeah."

            "Well, my brother, Michael, came to me and talked with me a little before trial commenced one day, and he testified on the witness stand."  Kevin smiled.  "He also handled the prosecutor's cross-examination quite well.  Anyway, Dr. Wily was a spectator, so he probably heard that we were related.  He must have figured a way to keep track of my brother in case MotherBrain had a use for him.  And I think now is when she's trying to use him against me.  My brother is in the room where Lana and Wesley are being held."

            "I see," said Thomas.

            "I witnessed his reaction when he first saw Lana.  Instantly enamoured."

            "Uh, oh."

            "I can't blame him for that, my son.  She's like your sister.  She's pretty enough to make anyone fall physically in love with her.  But I saw in his eyes something more than just physical attraction.  I sure hope this won't cause too much trouble.  Michael's my best friend."  He closed his eyes and sighed to himself.  "If Lana mistakes him for me and they start something, I sure hope I don't lose it.  He hasn't the morals behind this like I have.  Damn me, that's something I should have taught him when I had the chance, but I lost my temper at him then!  Oh, if something happens, it'll be mostly my fault."

            "Calm down, father," Thomas said, gently placing his right hand on his father's left shoulder.  "Don't get agitated.  I see why you tried to protect him.  The intense compassion you feel for him is obvious.  So, he was born three years after you?"

            "Yes, Thomas."

            Thomas smiled.  "So, now, I'm older than my uncle."

            Kevin smiled back.  "Yeah, I guess so.  you're about seventeen and three-fourths years old."

            "Well, I understand your motives for protecting him, Father."

            "If I had it to do over again, I would have gone back and asked him to come with me.  He's as good a game-player as I, you know."

            "I see.  So, he's on Metroid?"

            "Yes.  He contacted me with a computer that is in the room where he's being kept.  He heard MotherBrain and someone else coming, and I instructed him to fake the unconscious state he had when he was transported in."

            "I see.  Did you tell him to turn off the screen on that side?"

            "Yes, and I muted this side so the ugly brain couldn't hear me."

            * * *

            Norfair, Metroid, VideoLand.

            MotherBrain and Ridley approached the prison room.  "Think he's conscious yet?" asked Ridley.

            "We'll soon know the answer," MotherBrain replied.  When they reached the door, it opened for them.  They entered the room.  MotherBrain quietly said, "I believe he's still out."

            With his superior vision, Ridley thought he perceived some motion from Michael.  "Maybe.  I advise you to make certain, MotherBrain."

            MotherBrain looked at Ridley and saw that look in his eyes.  His advice to her was always worth much.  "All right."  She went over to Michael and examined him.

            Michael kept telling his body not to tense.  They were probably torturing him.  No matter.  He would retain his loose, relaxed unconscious-seeming look no matter what.

            MotherBrain seemed satisfied he was not conscious.  "You were probably seeing things, Ridley," she said.  "Might have seen some dust particles or something.  Still, keep an eye on him."

            "What will you do?" Ridley asked.

            "I'll check on everyone."  She turned to Batman's enemies, as well as Commissioner Gordon, Batgirl, and Catwoman.  "My wicked stepson sure works wonders, doesn't he?"

            "Yes.  Ludwig and Larry, too, can astound."  He chose his words carefully.  Maybe if he phrased things correctly and Michael were really awake, he'd cause Michael to reveal himself.  "Why, they must be the best pair of brothers around!"

            MotherBrain turned just in time to see Michael flinch just the tiniest bit.  She knew instantly what Ridley was up to.  "Yes, Ridley.  Well, all our sleepers seem dandy,. . ."  She looked to Lana and Wesley.  ". . .even Wesley and Lana."

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            Kevin and Thomas were watching.  "So, they are there," Kevin said.

            Ridley asked MotherBrain, "Well, what will be done with those two?"

            "Hee, hee!  In time, they will be disposed of."

            "Father, we have to do something," Thomas said coolheadedly.

            "Yeah," Kevin agreed.  "I just got a signal lock.  I know precisely where in Metroid those people are, but I can't just beam them out.  MotherBrain has shielded all of Metroid but the surface from the transporter.  I'm barging in there with some of the N-Team and getting out with our friends tomorrow morning."

            MotherBrain neared Michael, who was visible to Kevin and Thomas.  She said, "But we will see what my plot involving this kid does to Kevin!  Hee, hee!"

            "Heh!" laughed Ridley.  "If he's the type to do this, Kevin will be destroyed!"

            "As will Michael, himself!"

            * * *

            Prison Room, Metroid, VideoLand.

            Michael could not restrain his reaction anymore.  He could not ignore any threats to his brother.  "No!" snapped Michael, his eyes wide open and full of wrath.  "Don't lay a finger on my brother, MotherBrain!"

            "Well, good evening, Michael!" greeted MotherBrain.  "Welcome to Metroid."

            "Show me the way out."  MotherBrain put her left tentacle gently around his body.  "Hey!"

            "I don't intend to harm your brother personally, I assure you."  Gently but firmly, she pulled him towards her.  As she looked him over, his eyes betrayed deep fear of her.  "Oh, come on.  I'm going to let you see Kevin again. . . but the circumstances won't be pretty!"  She put her right tentacle around his left leg.

            "Hey!" he snapped.  Loudly, the little brother pleading for help from his big brother, he cried at the top of his voice, "Kevin!"

            Kevin's voice shouted from the computer, "MotherBrain, release my brother immediately, before I come over and seriously harm you!"

            MotherBrain promptly released Michael.  "Screen on!"  The screen activated to show Kevin and Thomas.  "Ah, Kevin!  I neglected to ask you this before, but how was your rather lengthy vacation to the X-iverse?"

            "MotherBrain, release those people and the ones who went after Lana and Wesley!"

            "You know, Kevin, that would just be no fun at all."  Quietly, she told Kevin, "After all, I haven't seen what he'll do with Lana when he wakes up.  And we both know that there is one E - T - H - I - C - K - A - L - L matter of which he doesn't know yet."

            "Ha!  You misspell."

            "Intentionally, I assure you."

            "Don't you dare let anything happen, MotherBrain.  If anything happens, you're the one to whom I'll display my anger."

            "Well!  Touchy thou art this evening."

            Kevin slammed his left fist on an unimportant part of the computer console.  "Darn right!" he shouted.  "You're holding my best friend in there!  If you don't let everyone who's on my side out of there, I'll be coming in, and you won't like it!"

            With calm stability in his own powerful heldentenor voice, Thomas said, "Father, please calm yourself."

            Kevin turned to Thomas.  "I'll handle this myself, thank you, Thomas!"  He turned back to MotherBrain.  "Look, MotherBrain, let them go!"

            "Have you lost your marbles, Captain N?" laughed MotherBrain.  "Ha, ha!  See you later, Captain Dumb-head!"  She pulled a switch on the left side of the computer terminal, and Kevin and Thomas disappeared from the screen.

            "Who was that?" asked Michael curiously.

            "Your brother, silly!"

            "Not him, the other guy, the one with blonde hair!"

            "That was your nephew, Thomas.  That's why you three look a lot alike."  She and Ridley turned to the door to leave.  "See you, kid.  Oh, and save Princess Lana."

            "What?"  He looked up.  Lana began to fall from where she had been, and Michael caught her.  Ridley and MotherBrain were gone by the time he had laid her down gently on the floor.  "Darn it."  He got on his knees at Lana's left side and looked her over.  She was far more beautiful than she had seemed to him before, but more than to the rest of her body he was drawn to her beautiful face.  What could he find in her eyes to make him really love her?  He felt his lips were being drawn magnetically to hers.  He closed his eyes and kissed her with a very warm kiss.

            Lana came to consciousness, her eyes still closed.  "Oh, God.  That nasty Ludwig. . ."  She opened her eyes, then sprang to a sitting position.  "Where am I?"

            "Don't worry," said Michael.  "You're on Metroid, but I'll get you out of here."

            "Oh, Kevin."  She hugged him.  "You've always come to my rescue."

            "I really should tell you something."

            "In a moment.  I just want to hold you."

            "All right, Lana."  He put his right hand on her back in a manner just the slightest bit unfamiliar to her, and she sprang away.

            "Hey, you're not Kevin!"

            "I tried to tell you!  I'm Michael Andrew Keene, Kevin's brother, born three years later than he."

            "Well, why then did you kiss me?"

            "You're a pretty lady!  I knew, at least, it might wake you up.  I apologise if I offended you."

            She looked at him closely.  "You sure look like Kevin.  In fact, in your eyes, I see quite a bit of him in you.  However, your right hand felt just the slightest bit different, and it caused me the most unfamiliar sensation."  She got up, then so did Michael.

            "Well, I am Kevin's little brother."

            Lana regarded him slightly strangely.  "He never said anything about you.  Yet, I. . . I do believe you.  I'm usually just a bit suspicious, but. . . can you at least show me, just to satisfy my logic?"

            "Yeah."  He opened the pocket in his jacket and withdrew the portrait, which he showed Lana.  "That's the last picture of Kevin and me together," he added slightly sadly.

            Lana looked at the portrait.  "Yeah.  I wonder why he never told me about you.  How close were you two?"

            "Best friends, absolutely.  I remember how much we played games together, though that wasn't all we did together.  The last summer we were together was so cool."

            Lana smiled with affection, then turned serious.  "How good were you, specifically?"

            "As good as Kevin."

            "I think I get it.  He might have wanted to protect you from MotherBrain."

            "Hm.  Sounds right.  That guy always seemed a bit overprotective of me."  He moved a little closer to her.  "My gosh, are you beautiful."

            Lana gave him back the picture and looked to the floor.  "Duke!"

            The dog barked his reply.  Michael smiled.  "He knows you."

            "Well, he ought to.  Can you understand him like Kevin?"

            "Are you kidding?  I learned to understand him before Kevin did.  We never knew what a special dog this would be when we got him."

            Lana smiled.  "Well, he still behaves like a dog.  What's special is the ways in which he's more than an ordinary dog, but some of his ordinary canine behaviour has gotten Kevin into a little trouble in the past."  Duke whined, appealing to Michael.

            Michael looked down at him.  "That's all right, you little rascal, just so long as you don't get him killed."

            Lana's expression turned sober.  "Michael," she asked, "could you look me in the eyes?"

            "Sure."  He did so.  Like his brother, he could tell certain things about people by looking through their eyes.  It was possibly a very mild form of telepathy.  He realised something that she probably did not want him to know, at least at the moment.

            Lana could tell Michael had been truthful with her.  Like his brother, it came naturally to him.  He indeed had much of his brother in him.  She also saw, however, that he did not know about certain things.  Well, he would soon learn by necessity.  She could tell he was just wild about her, and he seemed a bit more inclined to show he was wild about someone than Kevin was.

            Michael inched a little closer to her.  He could feel his physical attraction to her now.  It was manifesting itself unmistakably.  These things happened whenever he saw a pretty girl, though his feelings had never overwhelmed him like this before.  He could usually control them quite strongly and act perfectly normal, but for some reason, his feelings were just too powerful now to be restrained.

            Lana said, "I could see you just as well when you were a centimetre farther from me."

            "I can't stand being even this far from you," Michael said.  "This fire is burning my heart, and it started the minute I first looked at you.  To be honest, I don't know who wouldn't feel this way.  How'd Kevin react when he first saw you?  Even he can't be immune to your beauty."

            "His eyes widened.  With wonder, he looked at me, yet his eyes lingered longest on my eyes."  She smiled and crossed her arms, and she spoke as if remembering a wonderful dream.  "He quietly said to himself, 'I'm in love,' then he blushed and smiled.  'I mean, I'm. . . Kevin,' he said."

            "Whoa.  He must really love you.  I've never known him to react that much."

            "I love him, too."

            "What about me?"

            "You?  What about you, Michael?"

            "Don't you feel similarly about me?"

            "What?  No!"  She quickly turned away, then slowly turned back to him.  "Ah, well, maybe. . . maybe to some extent, Michael."  Michael smiled.

            "Now, you're being at least partly honest with me.  There's something I saw my parents doing before Kevin left.  It looked kind of fun, but I think it's only something a boy can do with a girl and vice-versa, because of what's done."

            Lana's eyes widened.  "What was this?"

            "I'm not sure, Lana.  Maybe you can tell me."

            "What exactly did they do?"

            "I don't know if I can say all of it, but I can show you."

            "Michael," she said nervously, trying to remind herself that he did not know about the morals of these things yet to avoid snapping at him, "I'm married to your brother."  But what worried her was not so much what he wanted.  It was that she also seemed to want it!

            "I know.  I talked to him earlier on that computer.  Then, MotherBrain came.  Duke heard her wheels.  I tried to hide, but when she threatened Kevin, I lost it.  -Sigh.-  I shut off the screen so he could watch and listen, but that brain was making me very uneasy, and I called Kevin's name, and I guess he was pretty mad at her."

            "It takes a lot for Kevin to fly off the handle."

            "I know.  Me, too.  I just can't stand anyone intending to harm him, and I guess he feels the same way about me."

            Lana smiled.  "It sounds like you two are quite fond of each other."

            "I love him, Lana.  He's my brother, and he's about the nicest person to me, though I would venture that I'm pretty well liked.  So, do you want me to show you?"

            "Michael. . ."  She turned from him again and crossed her arms.  "I'd be lying through my teeth if I said I absolutely didn't want it, but. . . -sigh.-"  Michael gently put his right hand on her right shoulder.  She resisted the logic going on in her mind.  If, as it was commanding, she rejected him without explaining, he would be crushed, and she loved both him and Kevin too much to crush him.  Could that have been how Ludwig had been turned into such a loveless person?  She had not known this boy for four minutes, and already, she loved him.

            "Don't worry," said Michael.  "I won't do any of the rough parts.  I'll try to be gentle."  He put his left hand on her belly and gently rubbed her there.  She gently hummed.  She absolutely loved the sensation.  Suddenly, she recalled it was exactly the same touch as someone else's.  She slowly turned back to him, a look of great surprise on her face.

            "Michael. . . your left hand!  It felt exactly like Kevin's, the way you used it just now."

            "Well, maybe he and I have the same feelings for you."  He smiled sweetly.  "You know, it's the emotional side of the brain that controls the left side of the body."

            "Michael, we have to talk about something."

            "What?"

            "Let's sit down, okay?"  The two sat down next to each other on the floor.  "Can you tell me more about when you saw your parents making love?"

            "Oh, that's what it was?  That seems an appropriate name to give it.  Well, when I saw them, it was night.  I got up about midnight, wanting to get a snack, I think.  My room was at one end of the hall, across from Kevin's  We had to pass by our parents' bedroom door to get to the stairs in the middle of the hall, which led down to the living room, where the door to the kitchen was.  Anyway, as I passed the door to their room, I saw it was ajar.  When I looked in, I saw all that they did.  They didn't see me, though.  The next morning, I told Kevin what I'd seen.  It was summer, you know.  Our parents had left to their jobs, while we got to stay home or go see our friends.  But when I told him, he got angry.  That's about the only time he got really mad at me, but he controlled it.  Still, he kept me away from the Nintendo for a week.  I don't think he wanted to do it.  I think he just convinced himself he was justified in doing it.  I've always been puzzled about it, but I felt too afraid to ask him why he punished me.  I didn't want him really angry with me."

            "Michael, I don't think he would have gotten mad if you asked him to explain his actions.  As long as I've known him, he's always been willing to explain himself.  Now, how did your mother and father regard each other?"

            "They respected each other and loved each other very much.  I could tell, as could Kevin.  You might say that we had as close to the ideal family situation as we could get.  Oh, when Mom was stressed out, she was very strict on Kevin about his chores, but everything was good.  She never abused him or me, physically or mentally.  Our parents always smiled genuinely when they greeted each other, and they never even thought about hitting each other, not even when they were mad."

            "Good.  I want you to understand what I'm about to tell you, Michael, because it's very important."

            "All right."

            "What your parents did that night. . . it was something a person should only do with one's mate, Michael.  The relationship is very special.  A person's mate is the person of the opposite gender whom the former person loves in a certain very special way and who shares those feelings for the former person.  They may feel other feelings, but what makes them specifically 'mates' are the feelings I'm talking about.  In other words,. . ."  She put her hands on Michael's.  ". . .I can't make love to you, Michael.  The relationship between Kevin and me is similar to the one between your parents, and you should only have that sort of relationship with one person, at least until the shorter-lived member of the relationship dies."

            Michael's eyes showed that he understood perfectly.  "I see," he said somewhat sadly.

            "Oh, don't be sad, Michael.  You'll probably meet someone with whom you'll form this relationship."

            "Does that mean I can't love you?"

            "Oh, certainly not.  I know perfectly well where the line is."

            Michael looked in her eyes.  "Kevin's my brother, and you're married to him.  This makes me your brother-in-law, doesn't it?"

            "Certainly.  As far as I know, you also have a niece and a nephew, who are twins."

            "Oh, is that whom I saw with Kevin?  My nephew?  A guy who looks something like him was standing next to him when he came back on after MotherBrain entered and sniped at her."

            Lana gave him a quite puzzled expression.  "Do you know the year?"

            "According to Kevin, it's 3013."

            She was surprised.  "I see.  That would make them seventeen years old."  She grew a little sadder.  "That means I've missed them growing up."  She closed her eyes and tried to fight back the tears that were forming, but she could not.  She began crying softly.

            Michael hugged her to comfort her.  "It's all right, Lana.  At least you'll still be able to meet them."

            Lana stopped crying.  "Oh, Michael, you're just as sweet as your brother."  Michael smiled sweetly.

            "That's very kind of you, Lana."  He released her, and they both got up.  Michael turned to the computer.  "MotherBrain shut it off."

            "How?"

            "She pulled a lever over here."  He went on the left side and tripped on a wire.  "Whoa!"  Lana quickly caught him before he could fall.  "Oh, thank you."

            Lana stared into his eyes, still holding him in her arms.  "No problem."  Now, she was transfixed on him.

            "What is it?" he asked quietly.  He saw that look in her eyes.  "You just told me. . ."

            "I know where the line is," she insisted.  "I won't trick you.  A kiss isn't illegal, and Kevin won't kill either of us for this."  She helped him stand, but she held on to him.

            "All. . . all right," he said.  Their lips neared, and when they touched, the two people closed their eyes.  Michael put his arms around her.  They both thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            Angry, Kevin leapt out of his chair.  "Thomas, don't do that ever again!"

            Thomas did not flinch.  He would deal very calmly with his father.  "Father, you are behaving in a most illogical manner.  You're letting MotherBrain get your goat by losing your temper."  He continued firmly and deliberately, "Now, listen to me, Kevin Keene.  Calm down.  You can't trust your judgement if you're angry like this.  And, if you don't cool off, I shall have to go to Wilykit to tell her.  If you can't act coolheaded and responsibly, she'll certainly be glad to go to Metroid instead of you, for she has a large stake in this, too."

            Kevin's eyes softened, and he sat back down.  "That won't be necessary.  -Sigh.-  You're right, son.  I let her get my goat.  I'm sorry.  I'm just grateful I have people like you to help keep me straight."  Thomas smiled at him, and he smiled back.  He then turned to the monitor.  "If MotherBrain leaves my brother alone, he might try to call again, if he can reactivate the computer."

            "Yes," agreed Thomas.  "He seems to share your intelligence."  He smiled.  "Probably genetic."

            "Intelligence itself isn't genetic, but maybe the tendency to wish for knowledge is partly genetic.  As far as I could remember, my parents both took all opportunities to learn more, even after they got their master's degrees.  They were also very active in making sure Michael and I got our education.  At first, they were worried the video games would rot our brains, but after we started, our marks went up a little.  They were good already, but improvement doesn't hurt.  They weren't sure whether this was related to the games or not, but the games weren't hurting us, so our parents let us keep 'em."

            "I guess they've been very helpful to you in VideoLand."

            "Yeah, and they have 'em here, too."  As if to himself, he said, "Now, I'll be able to play them with my brother again.  I always enjoyed that."

            "What about me?" asked Thomas, smiling.

            "Oh, sure!  You can play video games with us."

            "All right, Father."  The elevator door opened, and Johanna and Johannes came out.  "Hello, there!  How did you know we were here?"

            Johanna and her brother went over to him.  "The computer told us you were here, Thomas."  She and Thomas gave each other an affectionate kiss.  "What's going on up here?"

            "My father's found where your father and Kelly's and my mother are on Metroid!"

            "That's wonderful!" Johannes exclaimed.

            "That's not all," Kevin said.  "Thomas, I'd like to explain my situation to these two.  Could you watch this monitor for me in case you-know-who calls back?"

            "Sure, Father," said Thomas.  Kevin got up out of the chair and went with Wilykit's children toward the throne.  Thomas sat in the chair and kept a close eye on the transmission indicator.

            "Please don't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you guys, not even Wilykit," Kevin told Johanna and Johannes.  "That's something I'll do myself, and it'll look bad if you tell before I do."

            "All right, Kevin," Johannes said.

            "Not even Thomas?" asked Johanna.

            "He knows, so it doesn't matter if you discuss it with him."  He paused uneasily.  "I have a brother."

            Little escaped Johanna.  "Present tense?" she asked, astonished.  "But. . . but he's got to be at least. . ."

            Kevin interrupted, "He's not, Johanna.  He's only fifteen.  MotherBrain warped him to this time from this date in 1992.  He's on Metroid."

            "I see," said Johanna.  "And I assume from your manner that you have told no one about him?"

            "You, my son, and the Mason-Team are the only N-Team members other than me and, I now suspect, Lana that know of him.  I. . ."  The elevator opened to admit Wilykit and Wilykat.  "Ah!  Wilykit, Wilykat, I've got something to tell you about."

            "Mind if I talk with Thomas first for a moment?" Wilykit asked.  Johanna became a little uneasy.  "Don't worry, Johanna, it's good."

            "Go ahead," Kevin said.

            Wilykit went over to Thomas as Wilykat went over to Kevin.  She addressed him confidentially, which she could do, since she had had more exposure to him than even to her own daughter.  "Thomas, thank you for making my daughter happy."  She just felt she had to keep telling him this, though his good deed had been done a year ago.

            Thomas said, "Well, Wilykit, I love her.  She is much like you are, with a very good soul.  She makes me as happy as I make her."

            "I'm happy to hear that, Thomas.  When she first came home, she dominated her brother like a wild lion would dominate a tame kitten.  However, now, they get along as Wilykat and I do."

            He lowered his voice.  "She's cute and slightly mischievous.  It makes me crazy about her."

            Wilykit smiled.  "That's what Wesley Crusher thought about me."

            Thomas's expression grew more serious.  "I think you'd better see what my dad wants, Wilykit.  It's pretty important."

            "All right, Thomas.  I hope you and Johanna stay happy with each other."

            "Thank you, Wilykit.  I'm sure we will."

            Wilykit went over to Kevin.  "What's up, Captain N?"

            "Wilykit and Wilykat, unless you've probed my mind that much, you are do not yet know one very important fact about me.  In fact, many people are."

            "What is this?" Wilykat asked.

            "I have a brother."

            Wilykit sighed as if his statement revealed a lot.  "Somehow, you always lacked something that would indicate that you're a single child.  I couldn't identify that quality.  It was in Wes but not you.  But. . . why didn't you tell anyone, Kevin?"

            "The Mason-Team knew, but I asked them to keep quiet because I didn't want MotherBrain going after my brother, Michael.  I know hiding it from my friends was bad of me, but I didn't want my best friend, the only person I knew to play video games as well as I, my younger brother, to be harmed by her.  If I ever got it, he'd probably have been the next one to be brought here, so I not only did it for him."

            "I understand, Kevin," said Wilykit.

            "I do, too, Kev," Wilykat said.

            "Mom, you missed something quite subtle," Johanna reported.  "He said he has a brother.  Present tense."

            Wilykit and Wilykat looked perplexed, first at each other, then at Kevin.  "Yes, and the tense is accurate," Kevin said.  "Apparently, MotherBrain found out about my brother before I even came to VideoLand, or rather Wily found out about him and reported it to her.  I received a transmission from Metroid today, and it was my brother Michael who was calling me.  MotherBrain transported him to this time today from this date in 1992.  He is fifteen years old."

            "That would be immediately before Mason brought your parents here," Wilykit noted.  "Why wasn't his absence reported?"

            "He was on a trip at the time.  They would have discovered his disappearance too late to tell me about it.  Blast that cunning MotherBrain!"

            "There's more to it, Mom," Johanna said.  "Kevin and Thomas have found where Lana and our father are!"

            "Yes," said Kevin.  "They're in the room where my brother is.  He told me that Commissioner Gordon, Catwoman, Batgirl, several of Batman's adversaries, Dr. Wright, and Dr. Cossack are also in that room.  I think Ludwig resurrected them.  Oh, and Duke was there."

            "Duke?" asked Wilykit.  "I thought the poor dog was brutally murdered on Hyrule."

            "He was," Kevin said.  "He told me Mumm-ra's nasty cur was responsible, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was also responsible for poor Scooper's death."

            This angered Wilykit.  "Why, that rotten little mutt!  He's as mean as his master."

            Johannes said, "Be careful, Mom.  We have no evidence that Ma-mutt even touched your dog."

            "I know, Johannes.  Well, at least we know that Lana and Wesley are still alive, as are Kevin's dog and his brother.

            Something beeped.  "Hey, Dad!" Thomas called.  "Come back here.  I think he's calling back."

            Kevin went to the monitor.  "Thanks, son."  He hit the respond key.  The person whose face appeared was not the person whom he expected to see.  "MotherBrain!"

            "Howdy, Captain N!" said MotherBrain.  "Now, we can chat without worrying what your darling brother might hear!  Ha, ha!"

            "MotherBrain!" snapped Wilykit, coming to the screen.  "Release his brother, his dog, his wife, and the rest of our friends immediately."

            "Oh, you want I should tell Lana and Wesley about you and Captain N, Wilykit?"

            "If you'll excuse my inappropriate language twice, I don't give a damn what the bloody hell you tell them!  As rightly-elected ruler of the Universal Empire, I order you to release our friends."

            "Don't think that your political power frightens me, Thunder Brat!  I've known about my Q-cubed power since the year 1100, centuries before any of you fools were conceived!  Do not attempt to intimidate me with cheap politics.  I care not for them, and I would not if I were still human!"

            "You?" demanded Johanna.  "Human?  Never!"

            "I was born human, Wily-johanna.  I received a tainted measles vaccination, but due to a genetic anomaly in my brain, I didn't die, as any other human would have.  Instead, I reacted allergically, growing into this gorgeous entity whom you know and hate.  Some twerp, some ancestor of Dr. Wright, knew somehow that I was destined for evil greatness and acted unethically by knowingly giving me that tainted vaccine, as I have discovered.  Even had the anomaly not saved me, though, the Q-cubed power would have."

            Thomas said, "I'd go back and stop that doctor at least to keep you from getting ugly.  Father's shocking descriptions of you, which at first made my poor sister sick to her stomach, were perfectly accurate, which was nothing to compared to her first sight of you."  All this he said calmly and rationally.

            "Well, at least my family thinks I'm beautiful," MotherBrain said, refusing to be flustered.  "Wendy idolises me for my looks.  Ah, Kevin.  You sweet darling, trying to protect your precious little brother from evil, vile MotherBrain."  She smiled nastily.  "You are an utter idiot!  Thanks to Wily, I've known about Michael and you since before you came to VideoLand!  Not telling about him was absolutely worthless!"

            Kevin's eyes narrowed while his wicked enemy laughed.  He tried to fight back the pure rage forming inside him, but he hardly could.  "Why, you evil. . .!"  So that MotherBrain could not see it, Thomas put his right hand gently but firmly on Kevin's left.  Kevin quickly got the message.  "For what reason did you call me other than to torture me?"

            "Aren't you the slightest bit interested in what I intend to do with your brother?"

            "I have a pretty good idea, MotherBrain.  I think you intend to trick Lana into thinking she's doing certain things with me, due to my resemblance with Michael.  You are underestimating her.  She knows me well enough to tell even microscopically if something that Michael does is just the slightest bit different from something I'd do.  Even if she is tricked, you big brain, I love him too much to hurt him, and I love her too much to hurt her."

            "Even you can get angry and lose control of your temper."

            "I've had enough, MotherBrain," Wilykit said.  "Either be informative or free up our subspace radio waves."

            "Tsk, tsk," said MotherBrain.  "You seem a bit irritated, Wilykit."

            "Thomas, shut her off," said Wilykit.

            "With pleasure," Thomas replied.

            MotherBrain said, "Hold it!  I'd like to tell you one thing, Thunder Kitten."

            "What is it?" asked Wilykit.

            "Our good friend Ludwig is presently preparing to invade Wesley's home universe with the Ring and the two Triforces.  Just thought I'd let you know.  Oh!  If you set one foot into Brinstar here on Metroid, I shall instruct the Borg who are holding MegaMan, MegaMan X, Samus, Tragg, Jean-Léonard, and Rogue in Norfair to kill them painfully.  Ha, ha, ha,. . .!"  Her maniacal laughter resounded after she disappeared from the screen.

            "Shoot," said Wilykit.  "If we enter Metroid, we run the risk of signing our friends' death-sentence.  I find it unacceptable."

            "Our best chance, then, is to get back in contact with Michael," said Kevin.  "Lana always carries a spare Power Pad and Zapper for me.  He can learn to use 'em as I did, and he had a better aim with the Zapper than I did last time we played games together.  Though he is left-handed, he can adapt."

            "All right.  Even if he's only half as resourceful as you, he should find a way to contact us."