Chapter 16: Twin Minds Think Alike

Soon Proto was resting in a bed in the infirmary, ironically the very same bed that Mega himself had lain in previously. Mega sat in a chair at the bedside, keeping a silent vigil over Proto. Dr. Light had found a mysterious, foreign circuit in Proto’s system, attached to the red robot’s ear cover and directly to his circuits, nearly invisible, and he had removed it, but the robot was mercifully unconscious from pain. Mega knew Wily had somehow planted the circuit on him, and it made him angry. On the floor at his side were two gifts; his to Proto and Proto’s to him. He hadn’t touched him, wanting Proto to be awake to see his reaction firsthand to what it was. He was curious, but he could also be very patient when he wanted to be.

A soft glowing caught his attention. glancing over, he saw Zana standing at his side, looking down at Proto.

“How is he?”

“Sleeping, thankfully.”

“That’s good.” She glanced at Mega, then looked back at the bed. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Zana smiled a touch wryly.

“Well, I promised that wily would cause no more harm, and here we are.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’re all pretty much used to Wily’s deviousness.” Zana smiled.

“How are you holding out?”

“Okay.”

“That’s good. If I may make a suggestion, I would advise to remain here at his side for a few hours.”

“I intend to stay until he awakens.” Another knowing smile.

“Good, because I have a feeling he’ll awake soon, and seeing your face first will be reassuring.” And she vanished.

“Hmmm...” Mega eyed his brother, then settled back to get comfortable. A few minutes passes in absolute silence, except for the faint noises from outside.

“Uhh...” Mega’s blue eyes flashed to his brother’s form. He was waking up!

“Easy, brother,” Mega coaxed softly. “You’re pretty low on energy, but Dr. Light said you get most of it back after you’d woken up.” Slowly Mega’s voice registered in Proto’s mind, for he hadn’t opened his eyes yet. Realizing his brother was nearby, he opened his eyes, focusing on Mega.

“Br...oth...er...?”

“Right here,” Mega assured, reaching over to squeeze his brother’s hand where it rested on the covers. Proto slowly twisted his hand to return the gesture. Then he summoned up enough strength to ask,

“What happened?”

“Wily somehow planted a scrambler chip on you. When it went off it nearly shut everything down.”

“A scrambler chip, huh?” Proto’s mouth creased in a wry smirk, as did Mega’s. both were recalling how Wily had once told Proto to do very nearly the same thing to Mega. Using that incident to try to lighten the situation a bit, Mega said,

“You know, I always wondered exactly when you planted that chip on me.”

“In the park.” Mega’s face reflected his confusion. Proto smiled and, feeling a little stronger, sat up. “I believe it was right after ‘I just wanted some time with my brother’ and before ‘You little dope.’ When I put my arm around your shoulders, I slipped it on you.” Mega chuckled, realizing how easy it had been for Proto.

“Clever timing.”

“I thought so.” He grinned. “And you’re still a little dope.”

“Bit goof,” Mega countered, and they both laughed just as they had then, only now there was nothing for Mega to consider or worry about. “And I was wrong,” he added when both had calmed down a bit.

“About what?”

“You’re not more twisted than a car wreck.” They laughed again, both secretly

surprised that they could laugh about such a time.

“Since we’re on the subject,” Proto finally said, propping one elbow across an upraised knee, “I might as well admit something myself. Do you remember saying that you’d always wanted a real brother relationship with me?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, you really caught me off guard with that. And up until then, I never thought about is really being brothers.”

“But?” the blue bomber coaxed, sensing something else there.

“But after you said that, I began to think that it might be cool, being real brothers, but I couldn’t go against my programming.”

“That explains the look you gave me!” Mega exclaimed, suddenly comprehending. “When you were about to leave with Wily, you stood atop a piece of pipe high above me and looked down at me with a strange expression.” Proto merely smiled. Accidentally Mega’s foot gently kicked one of the gifts. He glanced down, then grinned. “I almost forgot.”

“What?” Mega pulled out the gifts, handing one to Proto. “You didn’t open it?”

“I wanted to wait. You first.” Proto unwrapped the slender box and opened it. He removed the plaque from its covering tissue paper, and Mega saw his eyes widen slightly as if

surprised. Then he softly chuckled.

“It’s not the gift,” Proto assured his little brother. “I like it a lot. Just open your and you’ll understand.” Slightly confused, Mega turned to the gift he held, then unwrapped it. Soon he opened the slender box, well aware of his brother’s eyes on him, twinkling in anticipation and amusement. What Mega saw in the box made his eyes widen.

In the box rested a plaque with a slot for a picture and a poem engraved on it. the poem read:

Being your bro

is one of the best gifts

I could ever receive.

You’ve been by my side

when I’ve needed you the most,

helped me up when I’ve fallen,

shared my secrets and my sorrows.

For that I thank you,

My Brother, My Best Friend

Love, Your Brother

It was the exact same plaque that Mega had gotten for Proto! Now he understood his brother’s amusement.

“I guess we think alike,” the red raider chuckled.

“I guess so.” Mega smiled at his twin. “And I mean every word.”

“So do I.”