~ 50 ~

The group walked slowly through the snowy terrain. They had left the Blader half a kilometer away from the Citadel to avoid any possible defenses that were still active and because they had to find a clearing large enough for them to land. They had been lucky on both counts, and now were making their way back to the old construction, which could be seen from time to time between the trees as they approached it.

X and Alia walked front, Splash Woman and Nina on the sides while Axl and Pallete covered the rear. In the middle of this formation so they could receive adequate protection walked Viktor and Mikhail Cossack, who being only human, were the most vulnerable members of the expedition to the elements and to possible hostile mechaniloids or robots.

This precaution ended up being unnecessary, as the group traversed the forest without any dangerous incidents. Mikhail got tired soon, however, and had to be carried by his father for most of the way until they reached the large open area where the Citadel awaited.

Surrounded by large trees, four majestic turrets crowning the corners of its imposing walls and the tall, main tower rising in its center stood the magnificent Cossack Citadel; a remnant of times long gone that had witnessed a fair share of history unfold around it.

"It still exists, that my family's Citadel still stands…" Viktor Cossack said as he took in his family's legacy, his voice trembling with pride. "Only now, standing so close to it can I believe it."

"You mean that big old castle is really ours, dad?" Mikhail asked, his eyes never leaving the fortress. He knew that his great-grandfather used to live here, but he hadn't realized that meant his family owned it, at least not until now.

"According to the information I have it is over three hundred years old," Splash Woman provided taking a step forward. "It has always been the property of the Cossack family as well so yes, little one, it is yours."

"…That's awesome!" the boy exclaimed running around his father. "You heard dad? We own a castle!"

"Yes, son, I heard," Viktor smiled and then beamed at his wife and his older son, "The Cossacks have finally returned to their ancestral home. Come, Nina, Axl, let's see if we can find a way in."

=0=

The massive iron gates were imposing and, much to the party's disappointment, completely sealed. The control panel on the wall was not operational and not even Splash Woman was able to interface with the ports under it, as they discovered they were also damaged.

"Well, at least the Citadel's defenses are also offline," Nina offered, staring at her datapad as she tried to download a list of maps of similar structures hoping that would be useful, but she discovered it was impossible. "I can't get any signals here. We're completely cut off."

"Something is jamming our communicators," Pallette explained with a note of concern. "I just tried to reach HQ, but I can't."

"Do you have any idea what's happening?" X asked Splash Woman, who seemed to be completely unsurprised about this strange turn of events.

"Doctor Cossack installed a powerful electromagnetic disruptor after his daughter was kidnapped to prevent others from locating this castle," she recalled. The Robot Master crossed her arms and then added, "I'm afraid it won't let you do anything communication wise as long as you're near. It also cloaks the Citadel from radars and satellites so we won't be able to get visual assistance from HQ either. I didn't think the disruptor would still be functioning after more than a century. I would have noticed earlier, but I had no need to use my sonar so I had no way to know."

"Alia, can you use your flight mode to look around the Citadel?" Viktor asked. "You may be able to find another entrance."

"Yes, of course. Please wait here, I'll be back soon," the senior navigator agreed. She then jumped high, summoned her Wyndia Armor and flew up to surround the fortress.

"She'll be alright," Splash Woman offered after perceiving X's evident concern.

=0=

The first thing Alia noticed upon closer inspection was the Citadel was very well preserved. She had landed on the roof near the base of the main tower, hoping to find an entrance there. She did find a door, but it was locked, and she couldn't find any way to open it. No control panel, no lock, nothing. Her sensors weren't working properly either due to the strong electromagnetic interference protecting the castle. Her optics and audio receptors were the only ways she had to obtain information, and she was surprised when she understood this was how humans experienced the world around them. For humans to be able to build all they had being limited to only this… it was truly remarkable.

A sound behind her caught her attention and she spun quickly, but she saw nothing. Intrigued, she walked towards where the sound came from, behind an old rocket launcher, but there was nothing there.

"What is going on?" she murmured as she looked left and right, still finding nothing.

Deciding it was better to go back with the group, Alia took off again, wondering what had caused that strange noise. Had she waited a little, she would have seen an old Telly floating out from under the rocket launcher. The little can shaped robot set its eyes on the winged stranger, blinked to take a photograph and then entered the Citadel through a small gap that opened in the walls to grant it access.

=0=

She returned to find Axl and Mikhail were busy building a snow reproduction of the citadel, which meant Axl had agreed to look after his brother. Pallette and Nina were talking, they both held datapads and appeared to still be trying to get a signal. X and Splash Woman were near the entrance, talking while she pointed at some of the windows on the walls. Viktor Cossack was alone, standing still right in front of the tall main gates.

"Did you find something?" X asked when she landed next to him.

"I'm sorry, no," she said. "Everything is sealed."

"X could use a charged shot to…" Axl started, joining the conversation.

"No, I don't want to damage the Citadel," Viktor said from where he stood. "There must be a way to get in…"

"I do hope we find it quickly," Nina sighed, her eyes on the clouds above. "Because it seems we'll be getting snow soon."

"Do you really not know how to get in?" Viktor asked, staring at Splash Woman with hope filled eyes. "You are the only one of us who knew my great grandfather, there must be something in your memory files that can help us find a way in."

"I never visited the Cossack Citadel," Splash Woman admitted, performing a search for all the information she had regarding the Cossack family. "I do know your ancestor implemented a biometric security system in his factory shortly before the Robot Master War, but I don't know how it worked or if he decided to use it here."

"It's surely not working in that case," Pallette offered. "A biometric system should have recognized Doctor Cossack's DNA signature the moment he approached the gates."

"You can identify a human's DNA signature without a blood or tissue sample?" Splash Woman asked. "We couldn't do that back in my time; I didn't know that technology existed now."

"Yes, we can do that," Nina confirmed.

"It does help somehow," Viktor said after a moment of silence. His knowledge of ancient machines useful again, he decided that he now knew what to do. He just hoped it worked. "I'm going to try something."

Saying nothing more, he removed his gloves, cold wind biting his skin immediately.

"You're going to freeze your fingers," Nina said alarmed. "Put your gloves back on!"

"In a second," Viktor said and placed both hands on the gates. The metallic surface was extremely cold, and he felt his skin sticking to it painfully.

And then, the metal started warming, allowing him to remove his hands. The heavy metallic doors trembled once and then, very slowly, they opened.

"Just as I imagined," Viktor declared while putting his gloves back on. "The whole door is a biometric panel. But it works only by touch."

"You're great, dad!" Mikhail approved, reaching for his father's hand, smiling proudly at him. "I knew you could do it!"

"I agree with my brother," Axl said, his hand on his father's shoulder. "So…"

"Yes, my children," he said with a nod. "Let's go in."

=0=

They entered the ample corridor and the gates closed behind them immediately, trapping them in darkness. Splash Woman reached up, preparing to use the light behind her helmet's crystal but in the end she didn't have to. The lights above them turned on, letting them see the hallway kept going until it elbowed left.

"Well, it seems the Citadel's power generators are still operational," X said. "I'm detecting several robots around us, too. Most of them are not presently active, however."

"One of them is approaching," Axl announced. "But I can't interface with it."

"It's a Bunby Heli," Splash Woman explained. "A surveillance robot from my time. The closest thing you have now are those ugly Jamminger mechaniloids."

"Well, no wonder we can't interact with it," Alia said. "Can you ask it to give us directions or something, splash Woman?"

"I'm trying, but it doesn't listen to my commands," the mermaid frowned. "This is strange."

"Is it hostile?" Nina asked, standing protectively in front of her son.

"No, it's not hostile," Splash Woman assured, her hands on her helmet as she concentrated on trying to control the approaching machine. "But it keeps resisting me, I can't control it."

"Well, I guess we're about to learn why," Viktor said as he pointed to the little machine that flew towards them. "It's here now."

The Bunby Heli, a surveillance robot shaped like a dome with big eyes, flew in their direction until it was in front of them, its propeller emitting almost no sound as it carried the little robot with mechanical precision.

"It looks like it's got big teeth!" Mikhail observed with a laugh. "Robots back then were really funny looking!"

The Bunby Heli flew a little higher, and then it did something that surprised even Splash Woman.

It projected a hologram from its two big eyes.

"Well, this is new," the mermaid said. "I guess someone adapted a holo-projector to it."

The hologram was that of a beautiful blonde woman in her mid-thirties. She wore a red coat and stood elegantly, calmly staring at the camera. The woman smiled and the spoke:

[Welcome to the Cossack Citadel, I am Kalinka Cossack.]

[If you are here then it means you are a member of the Cossack family, and according to the readings in the main computer, you, my descendant, are not here alone. Project X is with you.]

[That you and Project X are here together is the only reason why you are watching this hologram.]

Kalinka chuckled, then composed herself and continued.

[I recorded two other holograms, one in case you are alone and another in case Project X came on his own; they are similar, so you won't be missing much. I imagine you are here looking for answers, there is no other reason why Project X would be here.]

[You will find the answers you seek here, Project X. I only hope that you are ready for them. As for you, my descendant, in this Castle you will find the legacy of our family. My father's final robot is resting here, I am confident you will be able to finally complete it.]

[Follow this Bunby Heli, it will take you to the guardians of this Citadel, they will be glad to assist you as much as they can. They are loyal, and will serve you well, my descendant. Please look after them, for they are also a gift, from us, to you.]

The hologram vanished, and the little flying robot started going back, deep into the hallway. Still a little shocked by the message they had just listened, the group started following it.

"That was great-grandma, right?" Mikhail asked his father. "She was a very pretty lady."

"Yes, she was," Viktor said. "And yes, she was very pretty."

"Is it true her groom died in an accident two days before they married?" Axl asked, wanting to confirm if his research about his family was correct.

"Yes, she was also already pregnant at the time," Nina answered. "She named her son Thomas Cossack, and devoted herself to him."

"She named him after our father," X said, smiling at Splash Woman.

"Hey, dad…" Axl called. "Kalinka did say something about the old doctor Cossack's final robot, and she also mentioned the guardians of this place, do you think that means…"

"Yes, there's a chance that we'll meet some of them."

"Heh… I can't wait!" Axl exclaimed, so excited that he could not walk straight.

"Calm down," Pallette advised. "You'll overheat."

"I can't calm down, Pally!"

=0=

The Bunby Heli led the group to a small room with tall pillars on each corner and then flew up, vanishing from sight once everyone was inside. The room was well illuminated, and there were paintings on each of the four walls; the one in front was a picture of Doctor Mikhail Sergeyevich Cossack and his daughter, Kalinka Cossack. The one to the left showed a beautiful, elegant woman holding a blonde baby girl, obviously a portrait of Kalinka's mother. The one on the right was that of Kalinka Cossack holding a baby boy. The last painting was of Doctor Cossack and Doctor Light sitting inside a lab, both of them enjoying a cup of coffee, a pair of lit cigarettes in an ashtray behind them.

The paintings held the group's attention only for an instant, however, for the door in front of them opened, leading them into a bigger room. This one was full of computers and other machines, the most important of them all obviously being the three robot capsules at the other end. An artificial voice coming from one of the computers spoke then, announcing this:

[All systems online. Initiating reactivation process of DCN-028, DCN-029 and DCN-032.]

The capsules opened slowly, releasing a cloud of smoke as their occupants stepped out.

"Greetings, Master Cossack," one of them said. "We welcome you and your guests to the Citadel."

"This is so effing cool!" Axl screamed, much to Pallette's dismay.

"Calm down, Axl," she insisted.

"I told you I can't!" he repeated, completely starstruck.

Because In front of them stood three of the original Cossackbots. The one to the left appeared to be nimble, and wore orange armor. The one to the right was slightly bulkier, and resembled a skeleton. Finally, standing in the middle was a tall, regal looking robot in white and yellow armor who wore an elaborate headpiece.

"Ring Man, Skull Man and Pharaoh Man!" Splash Woman exclaimed, her voice betraying how happy she was to see other Robot Masters. "You survived the war!"

"Splash Woman?" Ring Man asked, confused. "We…"

"We heard you were destroyed," Skull Man completed.

"Nevertheless, it is fortunate to meet you again," Pharaoh Man said. "However, our main concern at the moment is to learn how we can best serve the current heir of the Cossack household."

"Well in that case…" Viktor started, taking one step forward.

=0=

Notes:

The Bunby Heli and the Telly are both common enemies from the classic Mega Man games.

And of course we have some Cossackbots now. I must admit I really like these three, Pharaoh Man in particular is my favorite from Mega Man 4, with Ring Man and Skull Man being very close.

The first arc of the second season ends here, and we begin a new one next chapter. We'll be seeing some important revelations about the past soon, too.

Thanks for reading!