The Protomen
From MMKB
The Protomen are a rock group based in Nashville, TN that perform a rock opera based on the Mega Man mythos.
[edit] The Protomen (2005)
The eponymous album from the group, The Protomen begins in a future where Albert W. Wily has enslaved all of mankind. The only person who still remembers how Wily conquered the world, and still has the will to fight, is his old colleague Thomas Light. The album mixes the mythos of Mega Man with the sensibilities and imagery of George Orwell's 1984, resulting in a dystopian tale where Mega Man is not a classic champion of justice, but a confused antihero bent on vengeance.
Being a rock opera, the album's tracks tell a linear story. Track 1, Hope Rides Alone, tells the story of the dystopian society ruled by Dr. Wily and Dr. Light's creation of Proto Man, followed by Proto Man's challenge of Wily's regime and his defeat at the hands of Wily's robots. Track 2, Funeral For a Son, is an instrumental piece representing Dr. Light's sorrow over Proto Man's death, his anger at the people for doing nothing to protect themselves from Wily's forces and his eventual creation of Mega Man. In track 3, Unrest in the House of Light, Dr. Light tells Mega Man about Proto Man and how he was destroyed fighting against Wily's army and he forbids Mega Man to fight for fear of losing him. In track 4, The Will of One, Mega Man sees the suffering of mankind and decides to fight, despite Dr. Light's insistence not to.
In track 5, Vengeance, Mega Man confronts Wily's army and its mysterious leader directly and lays waste to most of Wily's forces, only to discover that Proto Man is leading the opposing forces. Track 6, The Stand (Man or Machine), features Proto Man telling Mega Man that his battle is meaningless and that mankind cannot be saved, not matter what he does. Despite Proto Man's words, Mega Man steps forward to challenge him. Track 7, The Sons of Fate, features Mega Man and Proto Man's duel. Mega Man insists that Proto Man can be saved, as can mankind, but Proto Man rejects this. The brothers duel to the death and when Mega Man stands victorious over Proto Man, Mega Man sees the weakness and antipathy of the crowd and realizes that Proto Man and Dr. Light were right; no man or machine can save mankind. In the end, Mega Man walks away from the battlefield and lets what remains of Wily's forces slaughter the crowd. Track 8, the epilogue, Due Vendetta, is a largely instrumental piece alluding to the replenishing of Dr. Wily's army with new robot masters.
[edit] Act II: The Father of Death
The second CD opens with a brief musical Intermission. We are then introduced to a younger Thomas Light, who is lamenting the passing of his father in the mines outside the City. Eventually, he faced by a younger Wily, who points out that with a few changes, one gets a different machine. Wily points out they could use their creations to gain power, take what Wily feels they deserve. Light laments that choice and rebuffs Wily. The latter man is angered by what he sees as Thomas' naiivety, telling Light not to turn his back on that view. (The Good Doctor)
Before long, Light comes to regret his part in building the robots, and tries to find a way to undo the damage he feels his technology has wrought, promising his girlfriend, Emily, that he'll find a way to make it right. Emily, meanwhile, is confronted by Wily, who tells her that Thomas Light will be nothing when his plans come through. Like Light had previously done, Emily rebuffs Wily's advances, telling Albert that no matter how dark the City gets, there will be Light. Wily, now furious, orders a green helmeted robot to slay Emily. Even as she dies, Light finds a letter from Emily addressed to him. (Father of Death)
Emily's body is found, and Wily holds a press confrence to point the blame at the only person responsible: Dr. Thomas Xaiver Light. As he's leaving the press confrence for his control center, Wily gloats over his apparent victory. (The Hounds)
Light is apprehended. As he is tried, he makes no defense of himself. He pays little attention to the court, lamenting Emily's death instead. Even as the jury declares him not guilty, Light mentally condemns himself. (The State vs Thomas Light) Under police escort, he leaves, presued by a vengful mob clamoring for his life. (Give Us the Rope) He boards a train and leaves.
Years pass. The City gives more and more power to the robots, and in turn, that power is amassed by their controller. Dr. Wily now rules the city and the surrounding territories. Old machines are replaced with the new, and telescreens remind the people who they owe their prosperity to, of the man who watches over them. (The World Falls Under Darkness)
A young man, Joe, has grown up in the City under Wily's rule. Finally, after years chafing under the laws set forth by the dictator and enforced by his green-helmeted sniper, Joe stages a one-man revolt. Before he can do anything, he's confronted by the sniper. (Breaking Out) Joe gets its gun away from it, and manages to wound it in the ensuing knife fight. Before he can deliver the killing blow, an old man stops him. The old man is none other than Thomas Light, who claims that he's the only one who can kill the sniper, since it's his creation. Before the sniper can react, Light cuts the power cables that serve as the robot's jugular. (Keep Quiet)
The two plot, eventually finding what they believe to be Wily's weakness: The broadcast tower. If they destroy that, they believe that they could blind Wily and his forces. Scavenging what he can, Light gives Joe a bomb, then the sniper's helmet. Joe dons the helmet and leaves. Both men quietly state their hopes that the plan will be successful, and that the citizens will take the destruction of the telescreens as the sign to revolt. (Light up the night)
Joe arrives and quickly scales the tower. He sets the bomb, but is delayed on his exit by security bots. He fails to make it, and is blown through a window as the bomb detonates. Outside, Light is estatic to see the tower explode and the screens short out. He approaches the inferno where the tower stood, only to see a crowd gathered around both the tower and Joe's remains. (The Fall)
Light sinks to his knees as things continue to get worse: Wily's voice errupts from loudspeakers across the city. Wily declares martial law, even as Light laments Joe's death. He feels the steel arm of Wily's law coming for him, and resolves to face his end with dignity, even though there's nothing he can do to stop it. As he stands, he feels the long-forgotten letter from Emily in his pocket. Reading it, his resolution changes. As he returns the letter to his pocket, he grimly asks for one favor from his late friend Joe: "When you see Emily, tell her to wait for me, 'cause I still have work to do." The construction of Protoman has begun. (Here Comes the Arm)
