[Coda]

SUBJECT: Robot Master Attacks - Ongoing Coverage
AUTHOR: Chest, CPS Television Network
DATE: June 22, 20XX
FORMAT: Video

"The last Robot Master attack is now a week in the past, and the public is on edge, uncertain when or where the next Robot Master will strike. Analysts have still not identified a pattern to the attacks or any relationship between the targets. However, some speculate that the attacks are a science experiment, and the wide variety of targets is an attempt by an amoral scientist to collect data in different conditions.

"Light Labs has refused to comment on the matter beyond a press release stating that they are actively monitoring for further information and that Mega Man is standing by to intervene in the event of additional attacks. Neither Mega Man himself nor Dr. Wily could be reached for comment.

"We here at CPS Television Network encourage all of our viewers to avoid panicking. Take reasonable precautions, but unnecessary evacuations put a burden on our transportation system and hoarding supplies hurts the people who need it the most. Stay tuned for further updates. If another threat arises, we'll be here to tell you."


SUBJECT: Mega Man: Hero or Villain?
AUTHOR: Patty Leonardo
DATE: June 22, 20XX
FORMAT: Video

"Welcome back to The Patty Leonardo Show!" The camera pans in to focus on the set of a talk show, with a curly-haired woman sitting across from a blond man that manages to look just a little bit crazy despite his professional-looking suit. "We're here today with," she checks her note card, "'Jim Smith' to talk about the recent Robot Master attacks. Jim thinks there's more to it than just a series of terrorist strikes. Why don't you go ahead and tell us what you've been working on?"

"Well, Patty, I think that the general public has overlooked several important details. Last year, when Dr. Wily reprogrammed the Robot Masters, he took full credit for the attacks, even hijacking TV broadcasts to boast about how he was going to show the world how much better it would be if he were running things. This year, we haven't seen hide nor hair of him, and the ONLY evidence that we have that it WAS Dr. Wily is the word of Light Labs."

Patty frowns a little. "But Light Labs has been responsible for stopping the attacks, both last year and this year. Mega Man was able to get involved to stop a threat that even the military was concerned they couldn't put down on their own."

Jim's smirk grows a bit bigger. "Did he? How do we know that? Light Labs TOLD us that. We know that Dr. Wily and Dr. Light worked together on the Robot Master project. We only have the word of Light Labs that Mega Man was created after the attacks last year began. What if Mega Man was PART of Dr. Wily's plan?"

The suggestion prompts a raised eyebrow from the host. "Explain..."

"Well, look, there haven't been ANY human casualties in any of these eight attacks this year. It's all been property damage, or sometimes not even that, and there was always time for evacuation. Whoever was behind these attacks didn't want to HURT anyone. And Mega Man was always there in time to put a stop to it, a couple of times even before anyone actually knew there was a threat that needed stopped!"

"Huh," Patty frowns, "you might have a point."

"And how much of that damage was Mega Man's fault, too? Last I heard the crews are STILL trying to clean up the oil spills from Mega Man smashing machines underwater."

Patty shakes her head. "I don't know about that. If Mega Man really IS a hero, then that would still be Dr. Wily's fault for sending out deadly robots under the bay."

"If!" Jim suppresses a laugh. "We don't even know WHAT the Robot Masters were doing! I've heard rumors that some leaked evidence shows that at least TWO of the Robot Masters were scared of Mega Man, and ONE committed suicide instead of fighting him! Is that the behavior of dedicated terrorists built only to destroy? I'm telling you, there's something weird going on here, and Mega Man is right in the middle of it!"

"Well," Patty interrupts before the conspiracy theorist can continue, "I think that's all the time we have for right now. You've given us all a lot to think about, Jim. And we'll be right back after this message from our sponsors."


SUBJECT: Statement Regarding Robot Master Attacks
AUTHOR: Light Laboratories, Inc.
DATE: June 19, 20XX
FORMAT: Plain Text

We know that the public is rightly concerned about the recent Robot Master attacks. Dr. Wily has a history of violence and terror, but we at Light Labs are committed to protecting the peace and pursuing justice, especially where robots are concerned. To that end, we are dedicating our resources to stopping the Robot Master threat. For the duration of the crisis, we will donate equipment to the police forces and the military as the need arises, and we will be proactively monitoring for Robot Master activity. Mega Man will be standing by to deal with any detected Robot Masters as soon as we know about them.

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Word Count: 879
Total Words: 14595