Skull Castle, MegaLand, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy, Original Universe.  Stardate 49 756.16; April 2, 1993.

Dr. Wily struck his console with his fist.  "No!!" he shouted.  "How did that blasted Thunder Kitten find my secret passage?"

            Ludwig said, "She has better sight than humans.  She probably saw the imperfection in the wall where the panel to the circuitry was.  Where does that passage come out?"

            Wily activated the map again.  He indicated a straight path bypassing a large maze-like section and coming out not far from the lab.  "There," he said.  "I created that tunnel for my own personal convenience.  I'm not as young as those whipper-snappers, and anyway, I've never been in the shape they're in.  When they're my age, they would probably make their way through my castle far easier than I could when I was their age!  And that is no exaggeration."

            "How about our new prisoners?"

            "They're headed this way.  I'd appreciate it if you'd secure them for me.  I have to deploy my Robot Masters."

            "Very well.  Where are they?"

            "Go out the door, turn left, and it'll be the second door on your left.  The electromagnet controls are there, and there's a secured force-field prison cell there.  You can figure it out."

            Ludwig nodded.  "Certainly."  He indicated the Keenes.  "What about these guys?"

            "Leave 'em.  The electromagnet might attract that table they're attached to.  I'll send them to you after you've secured our captives so they won't be in our way anymore."

            "All right."  Ludwig walked out of the lab and followed Dr. Wily's directions.  He found the control panels, and he operated the one for the electromagnet.  He brought in the one with MegaMan in first.  "Greetings, MegaMan."

            "Ludwig," MegaMan said.  "I see you're helping Dr. Wily in his dirty work."

            "I certainly am, and with pleasure."  He positioned the electromagnet carefully over the top of the cell.  Then, he went to the force field controls and activated the field.  He went back to the electromagnet controls to deactivate it, and when he did, MegaMan dropped into the cell.

            "Ow!" MegaMan snapped when he landed on his rear end.  "Hey!  What have you done with Michael and Wilykit?"

            "Those two are being pests.  Welcome your cell-mates, MegaMan."  He took this electromagnet away and brought in the one with Steelheart and BreakMan, carefully positioning it over the cell.  MegaMan was pulled up to it, but then Ludwig turned the magnet off, and all three dropped to the floor.  Before Steelheart could collect her senses, Ludwig returned to the force field controls and activated the force field across the top of the cell.

            Steelheart and the robot brothers stood.  "What is the meaning of this?" Steelheart demanded.

            "Don't be so offended," Ludwig said sweetly.  "After all, I haven't hurt you. . . yet!"

            "What have you done with Captain N?"

            "Oh, don't worry.  Those three young people have successfully dodged a trap.  However, can they handle thirty Robot Masters?"

            "Thirty!?" MegaMan demanded.

            "Ten to one is not fair!" shouted Steelheart.

            "Oh, lighten up," Ludwig said.  "You think Wily would send 'em all out at the same time?  Half the castle would be destroyed!"

            Wily's voice came through the speakers on the electromagnet console.  "Ludwig, it's Wily.  Have our prisoners been secured?"

            Ludwig searched the console and found the control for the communicator.  Pressing it, he said, "Yes, Doctor.  MegaMan, ProtoMan, and Steelheart have been secured.  I even turned on the force field on top so Steelheart couldn't escape."

            "Brilliant.  I'll instruct HardMan and GutsMan to bring in Mr. Ned and Mrs. Cheryl Keene."

            "All right."

            "My two robots can keep guard.  I request you return to the lab once the Keenes have been secured."

            "Sure, Wily.  See you."

            "Wily out."  The communicator was deactivated.

            "How'd Wily get his hands on Captain N's parents?" MegaMan demanded.

            "You'll really have to ask your new cell-mates, or your new guards.  Though I do not doubt that your cell-mates will provide more thorough detail."

            The door opened, and GutsMan and HardMan entered the room.  They were carrying the table to which the Keenes were strapped.  "Here they are," GutsMan said.

            "All right.  Carefully unstrap them and hold on to them."  GutsMan unstrapped Ned Keene and held him securely.  HardMan did the same with Cheryl.  "Stand holding them like that in front of the door."  GutsMan and HardMan stood in front of the door, holding their captives facing the door.  The captives were centimetres from the force field.  "Toss them in the second I lower the field."  The robots watched Ludwig.  The second Ludwig's finger hit the pad, they tossed the Keenes in.  Just as they cleared the field, Ludwig hit the pad again.  Steelheart and MegaMan caught the captives before they crashed.  "Nice catch."  Ludwig told the strong robots, "Make sure they don't escape."

            "Right, Ludwig," said HardMan.

            Ludwig left the room.  Steelheart addressed the Keenes.  "I am Commander Steelheart."

            "I am Ned Keene, and this is my wife, Cheryl," Ned told her.  "Do I recognise you?"

            "Possibly.  Kevin said that on your world, the Silver Hawks exist in a cartoon."

            "Ah, yes, that's right."

            "The Thunder Cats also exist here."

            "We noticed."

            "Tell me," asked Cheryl, "is there something between Wilykit and Michael?"

            "Yes, there is.  How did you know?"

            "That Ludwig said he felt something telepathically, though he said he didn't know what.  Just what is there between them?"

            "They love each other, ma'am, quite a lot like Kevin and Lana love each other.  I know, for I'm also a telepath.  The empathic portion of my powers is very receptive to very strong emotions, in case you wish to know, and it's too much of a strain to block out such powerful feelings.  They're probably getting a clue as to their powerful relationship."

            "What's Wilykit like?"

            "She's a very good person, just like her twin brother, Wilykat.  They're Thunderians.  Thunderians have similar values to humans, especially relating to monogamous relationships.  She's twenty-seven years old, but she's only been conscious for seventeen years, since she was in suspension for two hundred years and she aged ten years in that span.  The very same is true of her brother.  Their birthday is at the end of November.  I wouldn't worry about the age difference.  Michael and Wilykit are at about the same point in physical and psychological maturity, although certain functions in her body haven't begun yet.  They begin between the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth birthdays in Wilykats."

            "I see.  Are Thunderians able to have young with humans?"

            "Yes.  The genetic similarities are enough for that to be done.  Those processes in Thunderians work the same way as they do in humans."

            "How about Kevin and Lana?" asked Ned.

            "Well, they have pretty strong feelings for each other, but I don't think they've done much with them.  However, I know that they are good friends.  Next to Michael, I'd say that Lana is one of Kevin's best friends."

            "Well, that's good.  We met Lana some time ago when Perry brought us out to VideoLand."

            "How did those rats mega-kidnap you today?" asked MegaMan.

            "Wily knocked on the door and told us to come along with him," Ned said.  "Either we'd come peacefully, or he'd sic GutsMan and HardMan on us.  We knew he was perfectly capable of forcing us, so we didn't fool with him."

            "Wise decision," BreakMan said.  "Those two can be a headache if you don't have the weapons that irk them."

            "But I have all thirty Robot Master weapons," MegaMan said quietly, smiling slyly.  "BombMan's bombs can take out GutsMan, and MagnetMan's missiles are effective against HardMan.  I think we may have our escape route.  BreakMan, I'll give you the MagnetMissiles, while I blast GutsMan."

            "But how will we take them out?" asked BreakMan, taking the MagnetMissile adaptor when MegaMan handed it to him.

            "These two robots aren't designed for their intelligence," MegaMan said.  "A few careful insults, and they'll lower the force field to get us.  Then, we strike."  He turned to Steelheart for approval.  She nodded.  MegaMan turned to GutsMan and HardMan after switching to BombMan's power.  "Hey, GutsMan!  I bet you couldn't lift a pebble!"

            "Hey!" GutsMan snapped.  "I can too!"

            "I can possibly lift more than you!"

            "Why, you!  I'll show you what I can lift!"  The large mining robot deactivated the force field.

            "No, don't!" shouted HardMan, too late.  As soon as the force field was down, BreakMan shot him down with MagnetMissiles and destroyed him.

            Meanwhile, MegaMan ambushed the annoyed GutsMan with bombs.  They did a job on the large android and quickly drained his energy to zero.  MegaMan let BreakMan have HardMan and GutsMan's weapons, since he already had their weapons.  BreakMan returned the MagnetMissiles to him.

            MegaMan said, "We have to stop Wily's androids before they pulverise Kevin, Michael, and Wilykit!"

            "Yeah," agreed BreakMan.

            Steelheart said, "I'm after those devices that Wily and Ludwig are creating to neutralise our defence system."  She faced the Keenes.  "I don't know what to do about you two, though.  Ah!"  She took off one of her shields and handed them to Ned.  "Here's an energy shield, guys.  Press the blue button while you're touching.  As long as you stay in about ten and a half yards of each other, the shield will protect you both, no matter which of you has the shield generator.  You can even slip it into your pocket.  The red button turns it off, and the gauge shows how much energy it has."

            "We're not going to leave without seeing if Kevin and Michael survive," Ned said firmly.  Cheryl nodded.

            "Then stay with me, please.  What did you see happen in Wily's lab?"

            "They saw Kev, Michael, and Wilykit slip into a secret passage of Wily's that comes out pretty close to the lab," said Cheryl.  "The passage was constructed for Wily's convenience.  We also saw them program the electromagnets.  Wily has some sort of robot-clone device that he uses to clone androids.  He cloned every robot but these with it."

            "The other twenty-eight?" asked MegaMan.  Cheryl nodded.

            "Mr. and Mrs. Keene, you and I can go sneaking around and see if we can stop Wily," Steelheart said.  "I can protect the three of us with a single shield.  Meanwhile, MegaMan and BreakMan can hack down the androids."

            "We heard Dr. Wily calling BreakMan ProtoMan," Ned said.  "Why?"

            "ProtoMan was my original name," said BreakMan.  "My schematic was Dr. Light's first android design, which he used for MegaMan and some other robots.  However, Light changed my name to BreakMan soon afterwards.  I think Wily still uses my original name to insult me."

            "I don't intend any insult, but do you have feelings?" Ned asked.

            "We're not ordinary androids," MegaMan said.  "It's a very long tale, but BreakMan and I are what Dr. Light calls living machines.  We'll explain when we're out of here.  And by the way, we take no insult.  Any feelings that ordinary androids portray are just programmed traits.  They're just an act.  And robots don't die, just because they aren't alive and don't think for themselves.  Dr. Light says that robots able to think for themselves would be dangerous because we cannot yet create consciences for such things, and you can imagine that such a creature would be very dangerous.  I'll let Dr. Light give you the full explanation."

            "For now," Steelheart said, "let's just concentrate on our tasks.  There'll be plenty of time for discussion later.  Go, MegaMan and BreakMan."

            "Yes, ma'am," MegaMan said.  He and BreakMan carefully exited.

            Steelheart asked, "Do you know the location of the lab?"

            "It's very close," said Ned.  "We'll show you."  The two led the way as Steelheart followed.  A couple of doors down, he quietly said, "This is it."

            Steelheart looked around.  She moved to the door between the cell and the lab.  "What's in here?" she wondered, pressing the key to open the door.  It was a good thing the door opened silently, because as Steelheart glanced in, she saw the Wily and Ludwig to the left!  The two were concentrating on their work at the lab table, and no one else was in the lab.  Unnoticed, she closed the door.

            Ned noted, "That's the lab.  There must be two doors.  I wonder why."

            "I don't know.  The Robot Masters aren't in there now, though, so Wily must have deployed them.  I hope MegaMan and BreakMan stop them before they demolish our friends.  In the meantime, let's see if we can take care of Wily and Ludwig."

            * * *

            Kevin, Michael, and Wilykit met with no resistance in the passage.  They determined that Michael had been correct.  It was certainly built for Wily's convenience.  Now, though, it was serving their convenience!

            They emerged.  "That path went quite a way," Wilykit said.  "We must be pretty close to the lab."

            "And if Wily knows we took his private road," said Kevin, "he'll probably sic his robotic muscle on us."  He and Michael still had their Zappers in their hands.  They were determined to be ready for anything.

            They proceeded cautiously.  They rounded a corner. . . and were blocked by fourteen Robot Masters!

            "This is a restricted area," CutMan said with the wry quality that was part of his programming.  "Either come peacefully, or we'll slice-and-dice you."

            Michael's eyes widened.  There was no way they could take on fourteen Robot Masters at once!  "Ah, gee, Kevin.  We look kinda. . . outnumbered, here."  He was thoroughly frightened.

            "So, what?" Kevin said boldly.  "They won't attack if we come peacefully."

            "What!?"  But then Michael saw the look in Kevin's eye.  The older brother had a clever idea.  "Sorry.  All right, Kev."

            Wilykit knew Kevin was up to something.  "Sure, Kevin," she agreed.

            Kevin turned to the robots.  "Sure, we'll come," he said diplomatically to CutMan, who was leading the group.

            "Dr. Wily always likes his captives to be reasonable," ElecMan said.  "Follow the others."  The contingent of Robot Masters turned, except for ElecMan and CutMan.  Kevin and Michael holstered their weapons.  Kevin, Michael, and Wilykit followed the twelve robots, and CutMan and ElecMan followed the three.

            Kevin's companions were close enough for him to talk to them by just whispering without the androids hearing.  "Wilykit, can the Sword take out these creeps?" he asked silently.

            "Probably," she said quietly.

            He carefully put his hand to his Zapper.  "When I attack CutMan and ElecMan," he said even more quietly, "you try the Sword on the others.  After all, robots aren't alive, and they only do what they're told or programmed to do."

            Wilykit nodded.  She knew that already, and she understood it.  She kept her eye on Kevin.  As they rounded a corner, Kevin jumped away with his natural strength above CutMan and ElecMan and shot them with his Zapper.

            The Thunder Kitten was ready instantly.  She snatched the Sword by the handle, and as she positioned it, it grew to its full length.  She aimed it at the other twelve robots - IceMan, FireMan, BombMan, AirMan, CrashMan, MetalMan, BubbleMan, HeatMan, WoodMan, FlashMan, QuickMan, and MagnetMan.  They simultaneously whirled, but not in time.  Wilykit was ready.  She knew exactly what she wanted the Sword of Omens to do, and she cried, "Ho!!"  The Sword blasted a wide beam that took out the twelve androids instantly.

            "Wow!" Michael exclaimed in awe.  He spun to see how his brother was faring.  He blasted ElecMan with his Zapper before the electron-tosser could fry Kevin, concentrating on CutMan, with a ThunderBeam, still one of the most powerful Robot Master weapons.

            Kevin was suddenly aware of this.  He got an idea.  "Michael, out of the way, please," he commanded.  Michael obeyed.  Kevin knew very well that CutMan's RollingCutter weapon was devastating to ElecMan, and he would use that to his advantage.  When CutMan fired a blade at him, Kevin was close to ElecMan, so the Game Master used his Power Pad to leap out of the way, and the blade blazed through ElecMan and destroyed him.

            "You tricked me!" shouted CutMan.

            "Yeah," Kevin said sneakily.  He hit CutMan with another Zapper-hit.  His Zapper was a little stronger against some of the robots than MegaMan's Plasma Cannon, and it took him only four hits to destroy CutMan.  This was the fourth hit.

            "Great idea, Kevin!" Michael exclaimed proudly.  The brothers gave each other a high five, then Wilykit struck high-fives with each of them.  "You may need to do that again, Wilykit.  They may have the other Robot Masters up and running."

            Kevin took the adaptors that the two robots had left behind.  "Let's gather these things," he said.  "BreakMan should be able to use them, too."  The three gathered the fourteen adaptors in no time.  Kevin and Michael each gathered five, while Wilykit got four.  They all wound up in Kevin's jacket pocket.

            "Hey," Wilykit said.  "GutsMan was missing from that bunch!"

            "Yeah," said Michael.  "He should've been with CutMan, ElecMan, IceMan, FireMan, and BombMan.  Oh, well."  The group advanced.  They heard metal footsteps coming from a nearby corridor, and soon they met another group of robots. . . the other fourteen that Wily had created.

            "Hey, they've beaten the others!" said ShadowMan.

            Wilykit had the Sword ready.  "Yeah, and get ready to suffer the same, ugly robots.  Ho!!"  The Sword blasted the same beam again, and once more all the robots were wiped out. . . except for ShadowMan and TopMan, who quickly moved out of the way.

            "Yipe!" TopMan exclaimed.  Then, he turned to Michael.  "Prepare to go for a spin!"  He spun and zipped over to Michael, who jumped out of the way.  Unfortunately for the malevolently programmed androids, ShadowMan landed right behind where Michael had landed. . . and he could not jump out of the way before TopMan collided with him!  ShadowMan was quickly destroyed by the weapon to which he was the weakest, TopMan's TopSpin.

            "Ha!" laughed Michael, aiming his Zapper at TopMan.  "Got the wrong guy!"  Before TopMan could toss any lethal tops, Michael shot him with a powerful blast from his Zapper. . . four times as effective on TopMan as a HardKnuckle, and thus it wiped out TopMan with a single shot.

            "Good going," Kevin said.  Suddenly, they heard more metal footsteps running their way.  "Oh, no.  Not more Robot Masters!"  Moments later, BreakMan and MegaMan rounded the corner.  "MegaMan and BreakMan!"

            The two androids saw the mess of adaptors lying on the floor.  The two robots were shocked, but finally MegaMan asked, "What's mega-going on?  What happened here?"

            Wilykit grinned.  "We've demolished twenty-eight Robot Masters.  The androids came in two fourteen-robot groups.  Each time, thanks to Kevin's suggestion, I blasted twelve with the Sword, and these guys took care of the other two."

            "Nice work," BreakMan managed.

            "You can take all the adaptors here, BreakMan," said Kevin.  "Come over here, and hold out your hands under my left coat pocket."  He dumped the other fourteen adaptors from his pocket into BreakMan's hands.  BreakMan installed them as the other four gathered the remaining fourteen adaptors.

            "This makes a full group of thirty, then," BreakMan said.  "GutsMan and HardMan were guarding us, but we took them out."

            Michael asked, "What happened?"

            "Ludwig locked Steelheart and us in a cell," MegaMan said quickly.  "Then, GutsMan and HardMan brought in your parents, and Ludwig managed to insert your parents into the cell without us being able to escape.  Ludwig then returned to the lab, leaving the big robots to watch us.  But I gave my MagnetMissile to BreakMan, and decided the best way out was to taunt the robots.  Dr. Wily programmed GutsMan's anger routines too well, because the robot responded readily to my insults and lowered the force field.  When he did, of course, BreakMan and I hit HardMan and GutsMan with the MagnetMissile and the BombPower, respectively."

            "Where are Steelheart and our parents now?" Michael asked.

            "Trying to stop Wily and Ludwig."

            "Then let's help 'em," said Kevin.  They went the way MegaMan and BreakMan had come.

            * * *

            Wily and Ludwig finished the last of the transporters that they felt they would need.  Suddenly, the two were lifted from behind by powerful hands!  As they were lifted, Wily cried, "Yah!"

            "Oh, don't get upset," said Steelheart wryly from behind.  She was taller than Wily and just a little shorter than Ludwig, and her physical strength was more than sufficient to lift them.

            "Steelheart!" cried Ludwig.  "How the hell did you get loose?"

            "Oh, I had help.  You know, Wily, you shouldn't have programmed GutsMan to respond so readily to MegaMan's insults."

            Without thinking, Ludwig jarringly kicked back at her leg.  Of course, it was not strong enough to hurt her through the steel armour.  Just his heel.  "Ow!" he shouted.

            Steelheart grinned back at Ned and Cheryl, who were still in the door.  "Come on in, guys," she told them.  Kevin's parents entered the room.

            Wily shouted, "Robot Masters!!  Get back here on the double!!"

            "By the time MegaMan and BreakMan are through with your pitiful robots," Steelheart said, "they won't be able to cause pain to a fly!"

            "What should we do, Steelheart?" Ned asked.

            "You see those laser guns on the wall?"

            "Yeah."

            "I want these two villains to watch as their evil inventions are destroyed."

            Cheryl said, "We have the idea."  She and Ned each grabbed a laser gun, and they blasted the transporting devices Ludwig and Wily had just finished.

            "No!" Wily wailed.  "We spent all afternoon on those things!"

            "Then, I suppose it was time ill spent, wasn't it?"

            Footsteps came from the hallway.  After one glance at Steelheart, Ned and Cheryl aimed the guns at the door.

            Cheryl dropped hers when she saw Kevin and Michael leading MegaMan, BreakMan, and Wilykit in.  "Kevin!  Michael!"

            "Mom!  Dad!" Kevin exclaimed.  He saw Steelheart had Wily and Ludwig.  "Well, well!  What have we here, Commander?"  Steelheart could turn so the villains could see the team.  "Very, very nice!"

            "No!" Wily cried again.  "What happened to my robots?"

            "Your robots are spare parts now, Doc," Michael said wryly.

            "I don't have to put up with this," snapped Ludwig.  "See you, do-gooding saps!"  He snapped his fingers, magically teleporting himself and Wily to Metroid.

            "Drat," said Steelheart.  "I never officially arrested them."

            Right now, though, the four Keenes were mostly concerned each other.  "Did they harm you?" Kevin asked.

            "No," said Ned.  He smiled.  "Of course, they did get pretty annoyed when you guys found their secret tunnel."

            Kevin indicated Wilykit.  "Thank Wilykit here.  She found the control panel.  Michael guessed it was a tunnel for Wily's convenience."

            "It was," said Cheryl.  She smiled in amusement.  "Dr. Wily said that when you're his age, you'd probably make your way through his castle more easily than he could when he was your age!"  Everyone in the room laughed.

            "Well," Kevin said, "I guess it might be considerate if we left this place standing for once.  Although that segment from his second castle makes me think twice.  Do you happen to know where the warp room is?  You guys have to get home."

            Cheryl shook her head.  "No, we actually took the week off.  We could stay in VideoLand for a few days."

            Kevin and his brother beamed.  "Great!" Michael exclaimed.  "Still. . . hold it.  Steelheart, could you find the shield controls so MegaMan can teleport us out of here?"

            Steelheart nodded and went to Wily's computer.  She found it easy to operate, and in no time she had lowered the shields around Wily's castle that prevented transport.

            Kevin looked to the table that once held a data padd and several transporters.  They were destroyed, but some charred parts were still there.  "What happened here?" he asked.

            Ned and Cheryl lifted their laser guns.  "I guess Wily's transporters don't like lasers too well," said Ned, smiling cunningly.  "We blasted the padd, too, because it probably contained the information they used."  He and Cheryl returned the guns to the wall.  "After all, the good commander had her hands full."

            Kevin and Michael smiled.  "Good work," Michael said.

            Steelheart said, "The shield's down."

            "All right," said MegaMan.  "We all have to be in close proximity to teleport."  He held Kevin's right hand in his left.  Kevin held his brother's right hand.  Michael held his father's right hand.  Ned held his wife's right hand.  Cheryl held Steelheart's right hand.  Steelheart held Wilykit's right hand.  Wilykit held BreakMan's right hand, and BreakMan held his robotic twin's right shoulder.  MegaMan used his right index finger to press a button on his left wrist.  The group teleported out of the castle.

            * * *

            Dr. Light's Lab, MegaLand.

            The group returned to Light's lab.  "Welcome back," Dr. Light greeted.  "Was the trip successful?"

            "Yes," said MegaMan.  "Dr. Light, I believe you remember Kevin's parents, Mr. Ned Keene and Mrs. Cheryl Keene."

            "Yes," Light said.  He addressed Ned and Cheryl.  "Did Dr. Wily attempt to employ you in a nefarious deed?"

            "Yes, he did," replied Cheryl.  "Ned and I were about to go out to get dinner, but then Dr. Wily rang our doorbell.  He said either we'd come willingly, or he'd sic GutsMan and HardMan on us.  We knew he'd make us come, so we reluctantly decided not to resist."

            Kevin interjected, "Talk about an offer you can't refuse."

            "Indeed.  He and Ludwig appear to be quite insane."

            "They are," Michael said simply.  Then his eyes brightened.  "There's someone I'd like you to meet."  He indicated Wilykit.  "This is my friend, Wilykit.  She's. . . a Thunder Cat."

            Ned and Cheryl looked Wilykit over for a moment.  "Well," Ned commented with a smile, "glad to meet you."  He extended his right hand, and Wilykit shook it.

            "It's a pleasure, sir," said Wilykit.  "And ma'am."  She shook hands with Cheryl.

            "Same here," Cheryl said.

            "So," suggested Kevin, "what say we go to the Palace?"  Everyone agreed, except Dr. Light and BreakMan, who stayed behind.  Everyone except these two entered the warp that led to the Palace of Power.

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            Lana was relieved to see everyone back, then surprised - quite pleasantly - to see Kevin and Michael's parents!  So was Kid Icarus.  She stood when the group entered the throne room.  "We're back," Kevin said.

            "Yes, I see," Lana said.  She smiled at his parents.  "Welcome back to VideoLand, Ned and Cheryl."

            "Thank you, Lana," Ned said.

            "So, did you stop Dr. Wily?"

            "Yes," said Kevin.  "Turns out a fellow evil scientist was working with him.  Our pal, Ludwig."

            Lana shook her head.  "That turtle's a real rat.  Did they have any transporters made?"

            "Yes," said Cheryl, "but on Steelheart's suggestion, Ned and I used laser guns in the mad scientist's lab to take care of the devices, and we also shot a data padd that may have had the schematic."

            "Very good.  Now, how'd you get in VideoLand?"

            "That was Wily's doing," said Ned with disgust.  "He attempted to use us to scare Kevin and Michael off by threatening to hurt us if they didn't leave."  He put a hand on each boy's shoulder.  "Of course, these guys know better than to be intimidated by stuff like that."

            "I dunno," Michael said.  "When Wily showed us a hologram with our parents, I accidentally fell through a hologram floor when I blindly charged in.  Dumb.  I only suffered enough pain to teach me a lesson."

            "It's okay," said Kevin.  "Heck, I might have done the same thing."

            "BreakMan joined us for our little ride through the Dr. Wily House of Horrors," Steelheart said wryly.  She and Steelwill could be worse than the Wilytwins for making silly jokes!  Fortunately, Will was not around to make a scene out of it.

            The elevator opened, and Simon and Wilykat emerged.  "Wilykit!" cried Wilykat upon exiting.  He ran over and hugged his twin sister.  "I was worried!"

            Wilykit returned the hug.  "Well, Wilykat, you sure had a right to be," she told him frankly.  "That place is nasty.  Especially on landings, so it's really good you didn't go."

            "C'mon.  How big of a fall could a mad scientist think to put in?"

            "Try ten mega-storeys," interjected MegaMan.

            "I did have one landing that might've hurt your leg again," Wilykit told Wilykat.  They released each other.  "Wilykat, these are Kevin and Michael's parents, Mr. Ned and Mrs. Cheryl Keene.  Mr. and Mrs. Keene, this is my brother, Wilykat."

            Wilykat shook hands with each of them.  "It's really great to meet you," he said earnestly.

            "Same here," said Ned.

            "Likewise," Cheryl said.

            Lana asked, "How did Wily manage to take you two?"

            Ned said, "Cheryl and I were about to go out for dinner when Dr. Wily rang our doorbell.  He told us that we would come peacefully or he'd have GutsMan and HardMan, right behind him, take us by force.  We knew they were completely able to force us, so we went."

            Kevin asked, "Did you lock the door?"

            "Yeah, we locked and closed the door.  We had closed and locked all the doors except that one.  I tell you, if they had come two minutes later, we would have missed this adventure."

            Michael sighed.  "I'm sorry you had to go through being imprisoned by Wily and his androids."

            "To tell the truth, we were more worried about you when Wily cloned all those Robot Masters and sent them after you.  How'd you fight them off?"

            Wilykit said, "That was partly my doing.  It is a really long story, but suffice it to say that I'm heir to the position of Lord of the Thunder Cats. . ."  She drew the Sword of Omens.  ". . .and I can thus use the Sword of Omens.  I told it to send a wave of energy to destroy any non-living automaton it hit, and that included Wily's robots.  For another really long story, that description does not include MegaMan or BreakMan.  They're living machines."

            Lana asked, "Well, is anyone hungry like I am?"

            "We sure are," said Ned.  He looked at his watch.  "It's been some time since we attempted to go to dinner."

            "All right.  The Palace has a really good cafeteria.  In fact," she added with a smile, "I might know someone else happy to see you."  She went over to Kid Icarus's control panel.  "May I?"

            "Sure," said Kid Icarus.

            Lana opened an audio channel with Mason's office.  "Mr. Mason, this is Lana."

            Mason's voice responded, "Hello, Princess.  What's up?"

            "Are you and Miss Street busy?"

            "No.  Actually, we were intending to go have dinner at the cafeteria. . . especially since I'm returning to the office later to work on a case."

            "Oh, great!" Lana said happily.  "Kevin and Michael's parents are visiting again.  I was suggesting the Palace cafeteria to them."

            "Sounds wonderful.  Della and I will meet up with you when we get there."

            "Great!  See you there."

            "See you there."

            Lana closed the channel and turned back to the others, who were smiling.  "Good move, Lana," said Ned.

            "Thank you," Lana replied.

            "But. . . how do we pay?  All we have is U.S. money."

            Kevin turned to him and smiled.  "I'll pay," he said cheerfully.  "You'd faint if you could see my actual weekly salary!"

            Lana said, "Yeah, you sure would!"  They all laughed.

            Wilykit asked, "Can Wilykat and I come, too?"

            "Sure," Lana said.  "Do you need to inquire with Lion-O?"

            "Might be nice.  Might you open a channel, please, Kid Icarus?"

            Kid Icarus nodded.  "Sure-icus."  He tapped several keys on his terminal.  "This is the Palace of Power calling Cat's Lair," he announced cheerfully.

            Lion-O's face appeared on the screen.  "This is the lair," he replied.

            "Hi, Lion-O," said Wilykit.  "Wilykat and I would like to go to dinner here."

            "Of course," Lion-O said.  He smiled.  "I must know you guys pretty well.  I thought you'd be staying.  Of course, once you get back, you'll have to fill in Cheetara and me about everything that happened in Wily's castle."

            "We sure will," Wilykit promised.  Lion-O accepted that.  "See you later, Lion-O.  Wilykit out."  Kid Icarus closed the channel, and Lion-O's face disappeared from the screen.

            Lana asked, "So, who's coming?"

            "Me, definitely," Kevin said.

            "Count me in, of course," said Michael.

            Wilykit said, "Definitely Wilykat and me."

            "We're definitely coming," said Cheryl.

            "Count me in, too," Simon said.

            "Me, too-icus," said Kid Icarus.

            "I'll come, too," Steelheart said.  "Hm.  Mind if I invite my brother?"

            "Go ahead," invited Lana.

            Steelheart went over to Kid Icarus's terminal.  "May I?" she asked.

            "Yes, ma'am," answered the small winged archer.

            Steelheart opened a channel to Hawkhaven.  "Steelheart to Hawkhaven," she said.

            Steelwill appeared on the screen.  "Hey, Steelheart," he said, relieved somewhat.  "I see you survived the terrors of Wily's castle."

            "Yeah," said Steelheart.  "I'm going to eat with the others in the Palace cafeteria.  Would you like to come, li'l bro?"

            "Sure!  I'll be there once I find someone to hand my post to."

            "All right, Will.  See you in a few minutes."  She closed the channel.  She then turned to the others.  "You might as well go along.  I'll come once Will gets here."

            Lana nodded.  "All right," she said.  "Just enter the elevator and tell it to take you to the cafeteria, and you'll end up right there."  Steelheart nodded.

            Lana led the way to the larger freight elevator.  MegaMan, though he was alive, did not need to eat, so he stayed to monitor communications for Kid Icarus.  Once everyone was in the large elevator, she instructed, "Cafeteria level."  The elevator took them down.

            * * *

            Ludwig's Scout Ship, cloaked above the Palace of Power.

            The evil Ludwig from the Q-niverse and his brother, Larry, were watching the events of the evening.  "My counterpart here has none of the Q-cubed powers I have," Ludwig said with disgust.  "Oh, well.  At least they were wise enough to store a copy of the schematics on Metroid before the Keenes blew their transporters to bits."  Suddenly, he started thinking.  "So, Kevin and Michael also are to have a sister, eh?  I wonder if this happens in the Q-niverse, and I also wonder if MotherBrain knows about it if so."

            Larry said, "Odds are, she does, if it happened."  Ludwig agreed.

            Mumm-ra appeared in the ship.  "Well, did the N-Team destroy the transporters that the Ludwig and Wily of this universe created?" he asked.

            "Not technically," Ludwig said.  "It was Kevin's parents who did it.  That's what Wily gets for capturing them.  But then, most kids would rather back down than see their parents hurt.  This whole affair demonstrates that Kevin and Michael both are serious threats.  As is Wilykit.  None is Q-cubed, but they are all very intelligent and resourceful.  Steelheart seems to be immune to the natural magical repulsion that drains Mario's strength when Mario touches me.  Maybe it's her artificial heart."

            Mumm-ra asked, "Did anyone suspect that I was not of this universe?"

            "No," Ludwig said.  "I believe that no one suspects anything about you yet."

            "Well, since my counterpart in this universe is otherwise detained for now, I shall take advantage and cause some trouble."

            "Sounds delightfully nasty of you.  Just be careful.  These Thunder Cats may not be as advanced as the ones in our universe, but they're probably still a pain."

            "Certainly."

            * * *

            Casa di Cerebra, New Thundera, Milky Way Galaxy, Q-niverse.  Stardate 1 068 057.53; July 21, 3013.

            In the Q-niverse, Michael awoke with a start that evening.  He'd lain on his bed in his guestroom just to rest, but he had not intended to doze off.  However, when he awoke, he felt refreshed.  He looked at his watch and found it was eight in the evening.

            He stood and stretched.  He felt really great right now.  Suddenly, the door announcer beeped.  "Come in," he said cheerfully.

            The door opened, and Guillaume came in, grinning.  "Enjoy your nap?" he asked.

            "I sure did.  I feel great, Guillaume."

            "Well, dinner is almost ready.  I thought you might want to eat."

            "Sounds great.  How'd you know I was sleeping?"

            "Antonio checked on you a while ago.  He looked in because you didn't answer.  You were sleeping peacefully, so he didn't wake you."

            "All right.  I must've been sleeping like a log if that beeper didn't get me up."  He yawned.  "Excuse me."

            "Sure."  Guillaume led the way out of the room and downstairs.

            "This is a nice place," commented Michael.

            "Thank you," said Guillaume.  "What kind of tastes do you have in music?"

            "I can tolerate anything even remotely musical, but I love classical music. . . referring to the general period of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic, of course.  In fact, I'm a hornist."

            "Great!  My cousins and brother are string-players, and I'm a woodwind-player.  Steelheart's the original teacher to them."

            "Wow," said Michael.  "I also play woodwinds and other brass instruments because I've taken methods classes."

            "Good for you, Michael."  He was now leading the way through the hall to the dining room.  He opened the door.  "You, first."

            "Thank you," Michael said.  He entered, followed by Guillaume.  Others were standing in there.

            "Hello, Michael," said Steelheart.

            "Hi, all.  Anything exciting happen while I was resting?"

            "No.  I still don't have any idea what MotherBrain is going to do about Mr. Stannous, here."

            Michael considered that.  "Well, I don't think she exactly wanted Nuclesís to go get himself caught.  Possibly, she'll let Stannous testify before the jury before she tries to get him, as kind of a punishment and a lesson for her ally."

            Steelheart slowly nodded.  "Knowing her, that could be exactly what she'll do," the Silver Hawk said carefully.  "It sure fits her modus operandi.  You know what that term means?"

            Michael nodded.  "Her habitual method of committing crimes," he said with certainly.  "Most criminals act with some method, though there may be a zillion if's.  Of course, it does presume that a criminal will act with some degree of logic."

            Steelheart nodded.  "Sometimes, the logic is not easily determined, but there is always some scrap of logic unless the criminal is totally insane.  MotherBrain is definitely not totally insane.  So, how are you feeling?"

            Michael grinned.  "I feel like I'm ready to take the Mirage for a spin and save the galaxy!" he laughed, partly quoting his Original Universe counterpart on purpose.  Everyone laughed.  "Where are Antonio and Natalia?"

            "In the kitchen," said Leonarda, pretending to be offended.  "They refused my assistance!  Very politely, though," she added seriously.  "And I can't blame them, since they're the real cooks in the family.  So, Michael, do you play anything besides video games?"

            "Yes, actually.  I play wind instruments.  I mostly prefer the French horn."

            "Oh, good!"

            Steelheart asked, "Do you know what Kevin can do musically, Michael?"

            "Ooh, yeah," Michael replied.  "I was impressed at what Lana told me he could do.  Like me, he always preferred music written in the era from J. S. Bach to Richard Strauss, though we can tolerate any other music, but I never dreamed he'd be a composer!  I'd love to hear his music."

            "Michael, would you prefer a rather public environment when I talk with you about your evaluation, or would you rather just be alone with me?  I may be asking some very personal questions," said Steelheart.

            "Oh, I don't mind," he said.  "What do you think is best?"

            Steelheart shrugged.  "I'm not sure.  I don't know you very well."

            "What would you suggest for Kevin?"

            Steelheart smiled.  "You aren't he."

            "I know, but we're pretty close.  Chances are, I'd probably feel comfortable doing it the way he'd feel comfortable doing it."

            "Well, even then, I don't really know what's best.  He seems comfortable discussing such matters in almost any environment."

            Michael smiled.  "Well, then, if our hosts don't mind, I suppose we could discuss it during dinner.  Let them know stuff about me, too."

            "What about the stuff for the private file?"

            "I don't think that'll be very large."

            Steelheart asked, "Guillaume, can you estimate his height as compared to Kevin's?  You've seen Kevin quite a bit, and your eyes can measure pretty exactly."

            Guillaume said, "Sure."  He looked over Michael for about ten seconds.  "Good Jaga," he exclaimed softly.  "I think he's the same height, to the millimetre.  Same eye-colour, same hair-colour, almost exactly the same skin-tone.  He's wearing a red shirt, though.  Red, blue, yellow. . . now where've I seen those colours before?"  He strained to think.  Nothing in Thunderian myths, legends, or stories contained that combination of colours, but he knew he'd heard something about it.

            However, they existed in Earth mythology and legend.  "Three colours of the elementals," Steelheart said.  "In some Earth legends, there existed four elements.  Red for fire and desire; yellow for wind, sky, and storm; blue for water, ice, and healing;. . ."

            ". . .and black for earth, death, and evil," finished Michael.  "Yes.  Not only were they in some video games, but they were also in some books I read in the public library.  The same people who believed in that stuff believed in sorcery and magic."

            "You'll find that in existence in VideoLand," said Steelheart.  "There are some worlds that reject technology because of their firm belief in magic."

            Guillaume shook his head.  "I cannot understand that," he said.  "We Thunderians accept both magic and technology without problem.  Of course, few of us actually use sorcery, but that doesn't mean we don't believe it exists.  Of course, the right and left sides of our brains are equally developed, and despite the fact that the concept of magic is totally illogical and that the concept of science is entirely logical, we have found various links between them."

            "How left-handed are you, Michael?" Steelheart asked.

            "Just enough to be left-handed, really," said Michael.  "It nearly unnerved my mother, who once had a distrust of left-handed people, but she got over it.  I'm really ambidextrous, for I can write equally well with both hands. . . and, incidentally, I trained myself to use my right hand for writing because I found others less willing to drop their suspicions about left-handed people.  I aim better left-handed, but I can do it right-handed.  I just didn't train myself to do it, because Kevin doesn't mind left-handed people, and I usually only play shooting games with him."

            "Do you feel comfortable with normal game controllers?"

            "Perfectly."

            "Guillaume, have you seen Kevin's handwriting?"

            "Sure," Guillaume said.  "In fact, I'll bring my yearbook.  He signed that."  He left the room.

            Michael said, "It seems my brother's made a few friends here."

            "He's just that kind of guy that many people seem to like," said Leonarda.  "At first, Simon didn't like him too well.  The vampire-hunter still has an ego-problem, though mostly I think he intentionally overdoes it, but I hear he was at odds with Kevin because both liked Lana.  However, I think Simon finally realised that Lana was more likely to be in love with Kevin, and they smoothed over their relationship very well.  And Link, at first, didn't like Kevin being so knowledgeable on Hyrule, but they very soon became friends.  I think you both are pretty likeable."

            "Thank you," Michael said.  "I do like Lana, too, but I realise whom she loves."  He smiled.  "If Kevin and I were brought into VideoLand together, though, I'd probably have argued over her, too."

            Steelheart sighed.  "Well, knowing him and knowing you're a bit like him, you'd probably have found a way to resolve it before you turned your Zappers against each other."

            Michael shuddered involuntarily.  "Ugh. . . now there's something I definitely wouldn't want to think about.  Course, the way I dream, I'll probably have a nightmare about it."

            "Do you have them often?"

            "More often than I'd like.  When I was younger, they'd wake me scared in the middle of the night.  I usually went to Kevin because he seemed to understand me the most.  They stopped disturbing me so much, though, probably because I got used to them."  He sighed and crossed his arms.  "Still, I don't mind that being in the public file."

            "Sure," said Steelheart.  "I may have no right to ask you, but did Kevin ever run to you with his problems?"

            "Not often.  I think he handles emotional turmoil better than I do, but he usually did come to me if he had a problem he didn't want our parents to know of.  Like. . . has he told you about Mike Vincent?"

            Steelheart thought.  "The bully?"

            "Yeah.  That should be the former bully.  He realised he couldn't pick on Kevin's little brother quite as easily as Kevin.  I didn't try to fistfight with him, but I beat him easily in wrestling, even though he was older.  At least that was before he could try to bully me.  In fact, I think he didn't try to bully anyone else after that.  I don't think he was really bad."

            "Well, something probably happened to make him that way," Steelheart said.  "Say.  Do you know how to drive?"

            "I've got a learner's permit, so I'm learning to.  Only once, really, did I scare my mother, but other than that, it's gone well.  I haven't harmed the car, though I did have a little trouble with the manual transmission at first.  Now, though, I have no problem with it, and Mom says her car's a bit weird, anyway."

            "Well, your brother sure can drive," Steelheart said.  "First time, he almost blew me away with his startoff!  I'd rather let him tell you about it, but he certainly got us out more quickly than the Mirage could.  Your counterpart probably knew all about it in the Original Universe.  Later, Kevin was completely invaluable in winning a series of races against the Brain-Team.  He came in first every time.  Of course, the whole thing was a ruse to keep us away so Ganon could swipe Ludwig the Triforce, but Wilykit and Wilykat snatched the Triforce out of Ludwig's hands."

            "I see."  Guillaume came in with the large yearbook under his hand.  "Gee, that's one large yearbook!"

            "Yeah," Guillaume said.  "A lot of people attend the university."  He opened to the senior class and found Kevin's picture.  "Take a look."  He handed the book to Michael.

            Kevin's brother whistled, impressed.  "Third-highest," he said.  He flipped back a couple of pages and saw Antonio and Guillaume.  Antonio was highest, while Guillaume was second-highest. in grades.  "You're all straight A's.  What happened about the grade-rank, though?"

            Guillaume said, "Well, Kevin slipped a little at first because he wasn't used to the way classes are taught among Thunderians, but he never slacked off.  To tell the truth, Antonio's the only reason my grades didn't slip in some of the highest classes.  Of course, had Kevin been used to our system, he would probably have been valedictorian. . . or, at least Antonio's co-valedictorian."

            "Impressive," Michael said.

            "It certainly is.  Few humans have done so well.  Most can make A's and B's, but most have to really work for straight A's. . . as do Thunderians, really.  Kevin's very smart."

            "Yeah.  Did he find it sufficiently challenging?"

            "Yes.  However, if you want to go, you'd probably want to do what he did and take courses beforehand on VideoLand's computer network.  You can study at your own pace."

            "That sounds good.  School bores me only because I seem to master the concepts before the other students and thus, we can't go as fast as I'd like to.  I also have an excellent memory, and thus slow history classes also are boring.  If the teacher mentions a date and describes it, then that immediately seems to enter my long-term memory without any work.  I was in the fastest curriculum available, but I still got bored rather easily."

            "Don't worry about that anymore," Steelheart said.  "Studying at your own pace is much better. . . and Kevin's there if you should require help."

            Guillaume took the yearbook and flipped to the page where Kevin's autograph was.  The human had also written a kind, friendly message for Guillaume with the autograph.  Guillaume asked Steelheart, "Did you want to compare these guys' handwriting?"

            "Yes," Steelheart said.  She handed a data padd to Michael and an electronic pen.  "Could you sign your name?"

            "Sure," said Michael.  He took the padd, slid the pen out of its holder, and wrote 'Michael A. Keene' on it.  "That's the way I sign when I write checks," he said.

            Steelheart nodded as she examined his handwriting.  "What's the initial 'A' stand for?"

            "Andrew," he replied.  "I don't know where it came from.  No one in my family that I know has that name."  He smiled.  "If I have a son, I may name him that."

            Smiling, Steelheart examined the padd.  "You do write pretty well with your right hand," she said, her smile disappearing.  "May I see the page with Kevin's signature, Guillaume?"

            "Sure," said Guillaume, handing her the book.

            She held the padd on the book near where Kevin's signature was.  She made no noises, but her facial expression clearly indicated surprise.  "Your handwriting is nearly identical," she commented.  "Michael, how do you write with your left hand?"

            "The characters come out exactly the same," said Michael.  "My strokes are the same whichever hand I'm using."

            "I see.  I do note one distinct difference, but little else is very different.  I mean, it is slightly different otherwise.  Not different enough to be evident to the untrained human eye, but different.  The largest difference, and the only striking one, is the formation of the capital 'K.'  Michael puts a loop where the two arms go from the beam, but Kevin doesn't."

            "May I see?" asked Guillaume.  Steelheart nodded and handed him the padd and yearbook.  He examined Kevin's signature and Michael's.  "Who taught you guys to write?" he asked casually.

            "Mom taught us both," Michael responded.

            "Steelheart's right.  These are just similar enough to be indistinguishable to one not trained in seeing the difference, and maybe even to some of those who are thusly trained.  Both the K's in 'Kevin Keene' are written as Steelheart said. . . and another, in the word 'Keep' in the message he wrote.  Also, the texture of the writing is the same.  I. . . really don't know how such similarity is possible if you aren't identical twins."

            "We aren't identical twins.  We were born three years and almost a month apart.  It's darn near impossible for siblings who aren't identical to be nearly identical genetically."

            "I know.  But you're not entirely identical, though I only see one difference.  He's right-handed and you're left-handed, though you're both ambidextrous.  Although your musculature is slightly more pronounced than his, you're of the same build and the same height; your distinguishing colours are the same.  You probably weigh about the same.  I assume you're both smart, and I believe you two share a great desire for knowledge."

            "We're also probably as close as most twins are," Michael said thoughtfully.  "One of us has only gotten really mad at the other only a couple of times.  Though we enjoy competing in games, we really like spending time together."

            "That's good," Steelheart said.  "How well do you play the horn?"

            "Please don't ask me to brag.  I'd much rather demonstrate."

            "All right."

            "However, I'd like to be able to try the strings.  For some reason, the winds don't seem to be terribly challenging to me anymore."

            "I see.  Well, that's not very difficult to arrange.  Gosh, you sure do look like Kevin.  I bet you guys could play switch, and no one would know it."

            Michael laughed.  "Lana didn't know the difference when I woke her.  She thought I was Kevin.  That was before she learned otherwise."

            "And I bet everyone else thought you were Kevin."

            "Except, of course, for Duke and for Lieutenant Tragg.  They knew me.  MegaMan said I almost fooled him, too."

            "Hm.  If you were dressed exactly like Kevin, you'd probably fool us all."

            "Well, not all," Guillaume said.  "Those of us who don't have telepathy would most likely be fooled, as well as those of us who are telepaths but don't use our telepathy a lot.  Those of us who use our telepathy a bit would be able to distinguish, since Kevin's had a great deal more education than Michael.  Of course, few can be fooled to think that Thomas is Kevin.  The hair-colour is different, thanks to some unknown genome."

            "Yeah.  That's true.  Otherwise, though, he also looks nearly exactly like Kevin."  He smiled with amusement.  "Gee, what are the chances of me being younger than my nephew and niece?"

            Steelheart laughed.  "Not very good among humans," she said.  "Especially if people don't cheat with time warps.  You're fifteen?"

            "Yes."

            "Hm.  You should have a legal guardian, then.  Maybe you know enough of how to survive not to really need one, but I know the law.  After all, you are a minor."

            Michael shrugged.  "I don't know who it'd be," he said.

            "Your brother, maybe?"

            "Probably.  He's the person I trust the most."

            Stannous said, "Well, I trust Perry Mason's judgement.  He knows what he does."

            "Well, he knows how much physical education I've taken," said Michael.  "He also knows how well I do in school."

            "How strong are you?" Steelheart asked.

            Michael shrugged.  "I don't know," he said modestly.  He really did know, but he did not want to advertise it.  His bones were unusually strong, and he had great musclepower, a lot more than his musculature indicated.  He just did not think that it was right for him to boast.  He did not mind others doing it, but he was too modest to do that himself.

            "I bet you're strong," Leonarda said, smiling sweetly.

            Michael knew what that meant.  He began to feel a bit uncomfortable.  He said earnestly, "I simply don't like to brag, Leonarda.  I was taught not to do that."

            "That's okay.  Few like people who do nothing but blow their own horn.  But we still should do it at least once in a while.  A mild bit of truthful bragging is appropriate."

            Steelheart said, "If he could beat me in arm-wrestling, he'd be pretty strong."

            "Is that a challenge?" Michael asked calmly.  "Isn't your strength powered by robotics?"

            "Not at all.  Will and I have no robotic muscle, and yet we're stronger than the other Silver Hawks, each of whom has cybernetic enhancements for strength."

            "I accept, if we do it right-handed."

            "I find that condition acceptable.  How about now?  After dinner might give us some stomach cramps if we use too much energy."

            Guillaume asked, "How long will this take?"

            "Not long, I don't think," Steelheart said.  She had not told Michael that her family had a genetic tendency towards super-strength, but she would not hurt him.  She knew just how much strength to use to force a normal human's hand down without causing harm.

            Guillaume and Leonarda set up a small auxiliary table and put two chairs across from each other.  Steelheart and Michael sat across from each other and locked their right hands together.  "Ready?" asked Steelheart.  Michael nodded.  They began pushing at the same time.

            Unfortunately for Steelheart, she had completely underestimated him!  She provided enough force to defeat any other member of her species in the contest, but she was surprised when Michael pushed her hand down steadily!  She was stunned at a critical moment, and he won.  "You let me have that," he accused.

            "I didn't wish to harm you," said Steelheart.  "My force should've sent your arm down, but you're extremely strong."

            "How about this time you provide your full strength?  That way, we'll receive more accurate results."

            "All right."  They locked hands again.  "Ready?"

            "Ready."  They each now pushed with all their strength.  However, Steelheart was surprised again.  Michael was really strong!  She had sent Steelwill's arm through the table when she first arm-wrestled him at full strength.  She pushed with all her might, but it was not enough.

            After half a minute, Michael had steadily moved her hand down to the table.

            Steelheart was breathing deeply when he released her hand.  "Ow," she said.  "You really are strong."

            Michael was not exhausted, though.  "Did I hurt you?" he asked with concern.

            "No.  I grossly underestimated your strength."  She sighed.  "You could probably arm-wrestle MegaMan and win."

            "Guillaume here's pretty strong," Leonarda said.

            "No," said Guillaume to his cousin.

            "Oh, why not, cousin?"

            "I don't want anyone to get hurt."

            "I won't hurt you," said Michael, smiling confidently.  He just wanted to get Guillaume to do it, now that his confidence was up.

            "I'm worried about hurting you," Guillaume told the human.

            "Don't.  I can handle physical pain.  C'mon."

            "-Sigh.-  I think this is a mistake."  Steelheart stood, and Guillaume sat in her place.  He and Michael grasped each other's right hand.  "It's not too late."

            "I'll be okay.  Don't you dare let me win.  Ready?"

            "Ready."  They began pushing with all their strength.

            Guillaume and Michael were actually very worthy opponents.  A stalemate lasted for several seconds.  One gained ground, and the other caught up.  However, Michael had more strength, and after about a minute, he surged his strength into one strong lunge that shoved Guillaume's hand about one centimetre from the table.  He actually finished, though, with a gentler push so he would not hurt his opponent's hand.

            They released each other's hand.  "Boy, Steelheart was right," said Guillaume.  "You are strong."  He rubbed his hand.

            "So are you," Michael said with respect.  He rubbed his own right hand.  "Wow.  Where's my X-ray vision?"  Everyone knew this was a joke referring to Superman, and they all laughed.

            "If you can do that to a Wilykat," said Steelheart, "you can probably do it to anyone else.  Wilykats are generally stronger than Klingons."

            "Wow."  He had thought he really did not have a chance against Steelheart.  He realised that he was stronger than he thought he was. . . and he definitely did not look like he should have enough strength to stop a three-ton truck.  He had on his short-sleeved shirt but had left his coat in his guest room, and his arms were clearly very trim, like his brother's.  Like Kevin, he was sufficiently large - neither skinny nor fat, nor heavily muscular.  His physical power was mysterious to him.

            The door from the kitchen opened, and Antonio brought in a cart with the food.  "Hey, Michael," he said, smiling.  "Have a nice rest?"

            "Sure did," said Michael.

            Natalia came out.  "Well, we're ready," she said.  Everyone had a seat at the main table except Natalia and Antonio, who set the food on a hot plate on the table.

            Plates, napkins, and silverware were at each place, as well as a glass.  Natalia requested, "May I have your glass, please, Mr. Stannous?"  Stannous handed her his glass.  "Would you like Pepsi or something else?"

            "Pepsi will be fine," replied Stannous.  "With ice, please."

            Natalia went to the tray, opened a refrigerated canister, took a clean scoop, and scooped some ice into the glass.  Then, she opened a refrigerated bottle of caffeine-free Pepsi and poured some into the glass.  When she had filled it, she handed it back to him.  "Michael?"

            Handing his glass to her, Michael said, "I'd like the same, please."

            Natalia took Michael's glass and put ice and Pepsi into it as before.  Everyone else requested Pepsi, and she finished by pouring for herself.  She sat at her place.

            No one sat at the head of the table.  Antonio sat at the chair nearest the head to what would be the right of a person sitting at the head, and Natalia sat across from him.  Guillaume sat next to Antonio, and Leonarda was across from him.  Michael sat to Guillaume's right, and Stannous to Michael's right.  Steelheart sat to Leonarda's left, across from Michael.

            Steelheart asked, "Why does no one sit at the head of the table?"

            Antonio sighed.  "That was the place of our father, Patrico," he said somewhat sadly.

            "Oh, I'm sorry."

            "It's okay."

            "Unless we have guests, we usually eat in the kitchen," said Guillaume.

            Stannous and Steelheart were the close to the hot plate, so they began to pass the food around.  "The meat is from an indigenous Thunderian mammal," Antonio said.  "It's a farm animal, not very different from cattle."

            Michael smiled as he served himself some meat.  "I'm going to get fat with all this food and no exercise," he complained good-naturedly.

            "You don't have to worry," said Natalia.  "That is really better for you than Terran beef.  And there are plenty of ways to get your exercise on Thundera."

            "That's good to hear."

            Steelheart asked, "Does anyone mind if I interrogate Michael during our meal?"

            "No, go ahead," Antonio said.  No one objected.

            Steelheart had on the plain cotton shirt and pants she wore when on Hawkhaven and not in action.  She withdrew her data padd from a pocket and set it to record what was said, then laid it on the table.  It would send the information directly to Hawkhaven so she could work with it with a terminal.  "First, some standard personal info questions.  What is your full name?"

            "Michael Andrew Keene."

            "What is the name you like to be called all the time?"

            "Michael."

            "On what date were you born, and, if you know, at what hour and place?"

            "I was born at 1:47 in the morning on February 7, 1977 in the Los Angeles City Hospital."

            "What is your actual age?"

            Michael paused to mentally calculate.  "Fifteen years and one hundred thirty-five days."

            "Very good.  Do you have a current permanent address of residence?"

            "Ah. . . no, I don't.  Do you want my former address?"

            "No, thanks.  I doubt it'll mean anything after all this time.  I'll fill in that information later.  Who are some likely references?"

            "My brother, Kevin Keene, would be one.  Another would be Mr. Perry Mason, and Miss Della Street would be another."

            "All right.  The next few questions may seem silly, but they're for the record.  What is your species?"

            "Human, I believe.  Homo sapiens."

            "What is your race?"

            "White."

            "What is your sex?"

            "Male."

            "What was your Social Security number?"

            By now, they all had served themselves, applied condiments, and begun eating.  "It's 999-88-7777," he replied, smiling.  "Not too hard to remember."

            "Also highly improbable, but I believe you.  Extent of parents' education?"

            "Each has achieved a doctorate," he said proudly.

            "That's good.  I know that your brother also has.  The school system on Thundera itself gives an education equal to that required for a baccalaureate degree, and a doctorate is the certification of graduating from the Thunderian Universities.  Now I know how he did so well.  Which relatives, for the record, of yours are living?"

            "My brother, Kevin Keene.  Also, my niece, Kelly Keene, and my nephew, Thomas Keene.  Does my sister-in-law count?"

            "Yes."

            "My sister-in-law, Lana Deschain Keene.  I don't know if he counts, but Perry Mason is a good friend of my father's."

            "No, but that answers the next question, about any other people you know of that are close to you.  Anyone else?"

            "Della Street; Paul Drake, Sr.; and Paul Drake, Jr.  I also know Mr. Hamilton Burger, Lt. Tragg, and. . . well, about the entire Mason-Team."

            "All right.  Whom do you consider to be your best friend?"

            "Kevin Keene, by brother."

            "Are you licensed to operate a motor vehicle?"

            "Not by myself.  I have a permit to operate one under the supervision of a legal guardian.  It's probably expired after all these years, though!"

            "We'll take care of that.  What is your current level of education?"

            "High school freshman."

            "What are your typical grades?"

            "Mostly A's.  Not enough of anything else to pull my average for any class below an A."

            "Excellent.  What languages do you speak?"

            "I speak English and Spanish.  I know enough French, Italian, and German to understand what happens in operas without translation."

            "That's good.  What are your favourite activities?"

            "I like to play video games, I like to play musical instruments, I like to listen to classical music, I like to spend time with people, and I like to help people.  I really enjoy doing at least four of those things with Kevin.  He didn't really have the determination to play instruments when he was younger.  Oh, and I like to read, too.  He and I did that together, too."

            "I see.  This next question may seem ridiculous, since you're a minor, but it's on the list.  Are you married?"

            "No, nor do I have any girlfriends.  Believe me, it's not that I don't want to have a girlfriend, though, and it certainly isn't that girls don't find me attractive.  It's hard to explain, though a lot of guys think I'm crazy to pass up going out with girls when so many of 'em seem to like me."

            "That's okay.  If you don't feel comfortable doing it, you don't have to.  Maybe you're one of those people who'll have a psychic bond with the girl who's right for you.  Has Ludwig zapped you with his super-longevity device?"

            "Yeah."

            "Then you literally have all eternity to determine who's right.  Do you have any career plans yet?"

            "Not really."

            "Then, you definitely ought to take courses on the computer network before deciding.  Why is it you want to be on the team?"

            Michael said, "For sure, one reason's that my brother's on the team.  There are several reasons, I think."

            "That's all right.  Let's see.  I believe that's about it for the questions.  Part of the process is a medical exam, but we'll take care of that."  Everyone was eating at about the same rate, and they all finished at about the same time.  Luckily, Antonio and Natalia had prepared no extra food.  Generous first servings were enough for everyone.

            "That was a very good meal," said Michael.

            "I agree," Stannous said.

            "It was most delicious," commented Steelheart.

            "Great, as usual," Guillaume said.

            "Very enjoyable," said Leonarda.

            "Thank you, all," Antonio said.

            "Yes," said Natalia.  "Has everyone had enough?"  Everyone nodded.  "All right.  Would you mind helping us gather the plates?"  Everyone stood.  Antonio and Natalia took their plates to the tray.  They put their silverware in a container and stacked their plates.  Everyone else followed suit, and their plates were soon all off the table.  After using their cloth napkins, they put them on another part of the tray.

            Antonio asked, "Would anyone like more Pepsi?"

            "Sure, please," said Michael.  He handed his glass to Antonio, who scooped in some more ice and poured in more Pepsi, refilling the glass.  "Thank you."  Everyone else requested refills.

            "I'll be back in a moment," said Antonio.  He rolled the tray cart back into the kitchen and went to the replicator.  "Replicator," he commanded, "clean the plates, the silverware, and the napkins."  The items dematerialised, then rematerialised.  They were now spotlessly clean.  He put the silverware and plates quickly away and put the napkins where they belonged.  He put the nearly empty Pepsi bottle in the refrigerator, took his glass, and left the kitchen.  The group went out to the living room to talk some more.

            * * *

            Cafeteria, Palace of Power, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy.

            Kevin, Lana, Thomas, and Kelly finished their first meal together.  "The cafeteria still makes good food," said Lana.  All four of them were in high spirits right now.

            Kevin might have liked it even better if Michael could have been with them, but they could get to that pretty soon.  He was still very happy to see two of his best friends again in one day.  Three if he counted Wesley.  "Yeah," he said, agreeing with Lana's comment.  His communicator suddenly chirped.  He tapped it.  "Kevin here," he said.

            "Kevin, it's Steelwill," said the strong Silver Hawk.  "Are you busy?"

            "I'm with my family, but I can talk.  What's up?"

            "Jean-Léonard has agreed to become a Silver Hawk."

            "All right.  Shall I call your sister?"

            "If you don't mind."

            "Very well.  Talk to you later, Will."

            "Talk to you later, Kevin."  The communication turned off.

            Kevin said, "I think I'll go directly to Antonio and Guillaume's home.  Would you guys like to come?"

            "Sure," Thomas and Kelly said simultaneously.

            "Certainly," said Lana.  They stood up and left.  The employees at the cafeteria would take care of the dirty dishes.  The four went to the elevator doors just outside the cafeteria and entered, then told the elevator to take them upstairs to the warp hall.  There, they took the warp to New Thundera and walked to Antonio and Guillaume's home.