Wild Boot: The Net Games

By David Farr

Tenchi Muyo is copyright of AIC : Pioneer LDC, INC. ReBoot is the property of Mainframe. Ranma 1/2 is copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan,Inc. All are used here respectfully for the purposes of fanfiction. This story may be redistributed only if unchanged and no fee is charged.

*****

"Game over." The system voice, normally passive and disinterested, had a sinister tone to it, as if mocking the four sprites standing below. "User wins."

The tall blue sprite spun, looking for a way out, any way. Only the sight of scenery dissolving into purple pulsating energy greeted his eyes. The dark walls seethed and crumbled, swirling away into the energy haze, then slowly the floor was eaten away. Closer and closer the glow came, approaching from all side, till at last even the ground beneath his feet vanished. Then the energy consumed his feet, and the sprite screamed soundlessly as his very code was torn apart.

"RRRRAAAANNNNNMMMMMAAAAAA!!!!!" Akane Tendo sat bolt upright, sending the blankets flying from her. Confused moments passed until she recognised where she was, her own room in the Principal Office.

Sobbing quietly, Mainframe's once proud defender pulled her knees up to her chest and hid her tear streaked face. It was the same nightmare. The one she'd been suffering every time she went offline, ever since... since... she had lost him.

*****

Nabiki: He came from the Net,

Through Systems, Peoples and Cities,

To our home,

Mainframe.

Now,

He's gone.

In the wake of his loss

Comes a new threat,

But also a new hope.

*****

v 2.1.1 : Aftermath

*****

The first explosion surprised everyone, shattering the silence that had followed Akane's scream and sending the assembled CPUs into disarray. Like a hungry pack of nulls the ABCs had risen out of G-Prime and swarmed in towards the vehicles, bolts of blazing death searing the air itself. Many binomes had lost their processes in those first few seconds, others had simply turned tail and run.

Akane's driver was the best Nabiki had been able to find, but even he was having a hard time keeping his car in the air. "Madam Defender, what should..." his words died in his mouth as he saw Akane curled up her eyes wide-open and unseeing of the devastation outside the car.

The communicator flashed to life, and Nabiki Tendo, Mainframe's Indexer, appeared in the panel. "Akane what's happening?! Report!"

The zero binome looked between the communicator and the withdrawn girl in the passenger seat. "Ah, Indexer, ma'am, the Defender is ah... off-line at the moment."

Nabiki glared out at the poor binomee. "What?! Never mind. I'm taking combat command. You get her back here. Understand? Her survival is your only concern."

The driver acknowledged her with a nod and a salute. "Yes, ma'am." He arced the car away and started weaving at high speeds through the lethal energy being exchanged by the two opposing forces.

*****

The Vid window snapped shut, revealing the system displays beyond them. Things did not look good. Akane was down, she didn't know why, but Kasumi had hurried out the moment she had heard, leaving Nabiki with a control room full of scurrying binomes.

With a deep breath Nabiki got to business. "Get the civilian reserves into the air NOW!" she snapped at the nearest binome, who hurried away, grateful for some direction. Nabiki turned to look at the map table that dominated the War Room. Her eyes darted across the images, focusing only momentarily on each of the vehicle icons. "Send a message, I want the first and fourth wings to rally at the grid reference beta-one-three-nine by charlie-nine-two-three, the second and ninth move to Baudway and all others to retreat to shore up the Principal Office's defences."

"Yes ma'am!" the binomes on the floor cried before directing their attentions to their work.

That done Nabiki turned to the binome that had taken Kasumi's place. The spectacles that framed his eye had a loop of tape securing them together and red spots covered the block that held his mouth. It was a look that did not inspire confidence in her. "Enty Esscy, get the Principal Office's shields up as soon as Akane's car's in then I want all emplacements ready to fire."

"Of course Nabiki," Enty replied in a nasal tone.

That done, Nabiki turned her attention back to the windows floating above the system map. Through them she could watch the battle taking place outside and the useless waste of function that accompanied war.

*****

Within the Silicon Tor the virus Kuno stood before a collection of windows smiling in satisfaction. His virals were winning against the poorly organised Central Police Units, and if he knew Akane Tendo, then her only reaction would be to strike back with force, a plan that would lead her to disaster. Yes, everything was finally falling into place. The plans delayed by the Guardian's arrival were once more on track.

A Vid Window popped open, obscuring his view of the battle. Kuno scowled menacingly at the binome general as he reported. "Lord Kuno, the CPUs are on the retreat!"

Kuno smile froze. "That is unlike the defender. Where are they moving to?"

"The Principal Office sir!"

*****

The War Room's door slammed open with alarming force and Mainframe's new charged in, sending personnel scattering. She marched straight up to Nabiki, then paused for a second, collecting herself. Nabiki found the smile directed at her slightly disturbing.

"Nabiki, you've been raiding my workshop," Kasumi accused in her kind voice, sending shivers up the spines of the assembled binomes.

"It seems to be something this family does," Nabiki muttered, not taking her eyes off the windows. "How's Akane?"

"Her bitmap's fine and she's still running, but she's not responding. I've left her in Dr Tofu's capable hands."

Nabiki nodded. "Good."

On the window before her, the wings of CPU's shot over the tramway, followed moments later by a horde of ABCs. Nabiki tensed, watching as the camera followed the ABCs. "Get ready," she directed the binomes. Silence fell, various staffers holding hands over controls. "NOW!"

*****

Baudway was deserted as the twelve CPUs hovered above it. The sounds of battle carried across the distance, growing closer as the ABCs pursued the CPUs heading for the Principal Office. As the echoes of Nabiki's command died in the War room klaxons and the grinding of heavy machinery broke the relative peace of the street.

Passers-by, if there had been any, would've been surprised to see an otherwise solid section of the street suddenly drop a number of pixels down, then grind apart, revealing a massive tunnel leading deep into the system's structure. With a final clunk the doors vanished, leaving only oppressive silence. A silence broken only moments later by the explosive arrival of a massive purple mecha.

Larger than the buildings about it, it was a horrific thing, tall and thin, as if malnourished. The lines of the body looked as if the designer had used a ruler, yet the effect made the monstrous robot appear even more demonic. Its entire form spoke of strength, but also restraint, as if it was something more powerful and that the thin form was all that kept it in check. Along both arms "EVA-01 TEST" was written.

Under the control of its pilot, the mecha lifted the cannon held loosely in one hand and aimed it. Across the city the scene was re-enacted by a second mecha, this one blue and with a more rounded form. On some unheard cue both started firing out towards the swarm of box like ABCs.

*****

Kuno's fist shattered the window. "Nabiki!" he hissed, then turned to face a cowering viral. "Have our forces retreat." The viral saluted and scuttled off. Kuno returned his attention to the cracked pane of the viewing window. "I will avenge myself for this loss Nabiki Tendo, I promise you that."

*****

Nabiki's nose tickled for a moment. "Achoo!"

"Bless you," Kasumi said automatically as the elevator doors opened. She stepped in and turned as Nabiki pushed past her. "Engineering level 4." The doors hissed shut and turbo lift hummed to life. The only sign of movement were the lights flashing past the window on one side. "I do wish you hadn't used the Evangelions."

"It was a desperate gamble," Nabiki returned. "Kuno's little surprise had us overextended and my options were very limited."

Kasumi nodded. "Yes, I understand, but I hadn't managed to stabilise their power source yet. They are quite literally consuming their own resources."

Nabiki let out a string of oaths. "Great, so what'll it take to get them online again?"

The lift came to a halt and the doors hissed open. "I don't kno--" Kasumi's reply was drowned out by the screech of tearing metal, followed by a massive crash. Before them was a scene of utter devastation, both mecha looked like they had been through a war, and lost. The blue one leaned against its support cage, its leg having buckled under its own weight. Next to it the purple EVA had been disarmed, quiet literally, as both of its upper limbs had torn free of their mounts and come crashing to the ground.

Kasumi sighed. "Code degradation is extremely advanced, I'm afraid they're nothing but scrap."

"SPAM!" Nabiki swore. "We'd better keep this quiet. Those things are going to have to be symbols of safety until we find better ones."

"Any candidates in mind?" Kasumi inquired, already knowing the answer.

Nabiki smiled as she answered. "Just one."

*****

"It is not good enough!" The energy blade hissed through the air, its tip stopping just short of zero binome's nose. With a gulp the viral looked up the glowing sword to the massive form of the virus lord. "How dare you say you did not know?! It is your job to know!"

"B-but sir," the binome spy stammered, wishing he could vanish into his overcoat. "Nobody can get into the Lady Kasumi's workrooms. It's simply impossible."

"Nothing is beyond my reach!" Kuno exclaimed, turning and pacing away.

"Except maybe Akane and the pig-tailed-girl," the binome muttered.

The virus spun and fixed glowing red eyes on his servant. "What did you say?!"

"Er, I think I have a plan, sir!" the spy glanced about, thinking fast. "We can track the resources she's using and that'll give us an idea of the size of whatever she's working on."

"Excellent idea, I charge you with carrying it out." Kuno turned his back on the binome. "Do not fail me again, you will not get a third chance."

*****

The sounds of her hurried footsteps echoed off the grey metal walls of the corridor. In the middle of an emergency searching the entire principal office for a single sprite by herself was not something Nabiki wanted to do. Certainly Dr Tofu was surprised to find that he had lost one of the patients from his infirmary. Unfortunately the battle had almost literally filled the room with patients, so no one had noticed Akane quietly slip out the door.

That left Nabiki with a problem. According to both Kasumi and Dr Tofu, Akane was in a bad state and that was something Nabiki wanted to keep quiet. Meaning that a full scale search was out of the question. So it fell to Nabiki to run through the endless maze of the principal office while Kasumi worked with the repair crews.

Mainframe's Indexer glanced down one the darkened corridors, and took another five steps before registering what she had seen. The door to the simulation room. Nabiki shook her head, that was the first place she should have checked for her missing sister. The simulation room was shut down during the emergency, the energy was needed elsewhere, and that made it the prefect place to hide.

The door clanked and groaned open as she approached, revealing the yellow striped black walls, and the gi clad figure standing in the centre. Nabiki stood for a second, watching as Akane struck violently at the air. It took a few seconds for her to realise that her sister was performing one of the basic katas their father had taught them all when they were young, but with such ferocity that it was almost unrecognisable.

"You know, that can't be doing your training any good, sis," Nabiki commented, leaning against the door frame. Akane continued punching the air angrily.

Nabiki gave a deep sigh, then wandered over to her sister. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, stepping in front of Akane, just out of range of the blows. Akane glared silently back then kicked out forcing Nabiki to step back. "Hey, watch it."

"Go away," Akane grunted between thrusts.

"Do you really think beating up empty space will ease the pain?" Nabiki sneered. "He's gone Akane, you've got to deal with it, we have bigger problems."

Akane snorted and stopped her exercises. "Right, he screws up and I have to deal with it. That's hardly fair."

"FAIR?! AKANE HE'S BEEN DELETED!" Nabiki raged.

"So?" Akane pulled her belt tight them turned away. "I never wanted him here in the first place."

Nabiki grabbed the back of her sister's gi and jerked her off her feet. Surprised by both the anger and violence her normally reserved sister was displaying, Akane stumbled across the room until she reached the wall.

"Don't give me THAT!" Nabiki exclaimed, stalking over to where Akane leant. "YOU are a GUARDIAN, REMEMBER! It's was HIS parting gift to YOU!"

Akane turned her face away, refusing to look at Nabiki. "I'm not a Guardian, I'm just a cadet."

Nabiki's eyes tightened. "I'm not basic Akane, don't treat me as if I am. This isn't about your skills. You are missing him and hate yourself for all the insults. You've got to forget about all of that and process!"

Akane sniffed, tried to turn further away.

"You can't abandon the system, it would dishonour his memory. The system always came first with him. Will you let it fall? Unless you want his sacrifice to be for nothing you will learn to live with the pain." Nabiki fell silent, there was nothing more to be said.

Nanoseconds passed, then Akane turned to her tear streaked face to look at her sister. "How Nabiki? How?"

Sadly Nabiki closed her eyes. "I don't know Akane. I simply don't know." With a sad smile Nabiki turned and walked, shoulders slumped, towards the door. Stopping to wait for the door to open, she glanced back she to see Akane there, eyes closed, arms wrapped about herself.

Nabiki stepped through the door and waited for it to close before breaking into a smile. "Guess those drama lessons paid off after all."

*****

Baudway was busier than ever. A yellow repair hut sat in the centre of the road, covering some of the damages from the recent battles. Holding a microphone Mike stepped in front of the camera aimed at the tent.

"Inside this hastily erected tent the zeroes and ones of Mainframe's system works department are busy at repairing the damage caused by the recent viral assault," Mike whispered. "Let's go in and surprise them."

The intrepid reporter grabbed the edge of the tent flap and jerked it aside, revealing two binomes in overalls and hardhats kneeling on either side of a low table. Between them sat two cups and saucers, which one was filling from a kettle. Unfortunately Mike's sudden appearance distracted the pourer, causing her to overfill the cup.

Mike let the flap fall back. "Aha, he he," he laughed weakly. "Apparently they're hard at work on a tea ceremony." A cry of pain issued from the tent behind him.

Recovering Mike turned and started crossing the street, ignoring the vehicles swerving to speed past him. "Why don't we try asking some of the business owners in this area what they think of the problems." He stopped outside the oriental building that was the Nekohanten. "Here we have one of Mainframe's most successful businesses. Unfortunately the business has recently changed hands, so we'll be talking to the new owner--"

The swinging doors of the Nekohanten crashed open as the remains of a table were ejected from the restaurant. Mike had just enough time to do an impression of "The Scream" before being flattened.

Once again the doors opened, this time less violently, as Mousse swung his monitor out. "CLEAN UP!" he yelled before vanishing inside again.

Only moments later the two binomes from the construction hut walked in and picked up the table. "Ya know, I'd 'ave thought they'd go through fewer o' dese with 'er ladyship gone," the man commented as they carted it off.

Mike's hand rose from the hole in the pavement. "Back to you in studio Al," he groaned before the hand collapsed back into the hole.

*****

The doors hissed open with surprising urgency, letting a serious looking Nabiki into the control room. Not even waiting for the doors to finish opening she dove through them and strode purposefully up to her sister. "What is it this time?" she demanded.

"Kuno's attacking again," Kasumi replied calmly, placing a cup of energy tea on the console top.

Nabiki's eyes widened in shock. "ALREADY?! Where?!"

There was an explosion that shook the room, sending Kasumi's mug smashing to the ground. "Oh my," the muttered, looking down at the mess. She returned her attention to Nabiki. "He's attacking the Principal Office directly."

"I guessed." Nabiki spun on her feet and charged towards the door. "Get the CPUs in the air and tell the armoury to expect me. We'll stop him, even if I have to pull the trigger!"

*****

Kuno smiled as he looked across the Access Bridge to the Principal Office. For once his spies had been right, the defenders were indeed unprepared for another attack so soon. The massive robots would be unusable so close to their power source and the CPUs were still recovering from the earlier battle, something he had not needed to do. He hadn't been foolish enough to risk his entire force on a single gambit.

Proudly he strode across the bridge towards the prize, virals on zip-boards flanking him and ABCs cruising above. He reached the foot of the stairs and looked up, straight into the barrel of a very large gun.

"Don't take another step virus!" Nabiki snarled from beneath the weapon. A pair of shaking CPU binomes emerged from behind her and pointed there own little pee-shooters at Kuno.

"Indexer, do you really think that will work?" Kuno asked, arrogance dripping from his words. "You may delete me, but my virals will destroy you and your precious system."

Ominous clicks issued forth from the gun. "Maybe I'm just desperate enough to risk that or maybe I have a plan."

"I'd be surprised if you didn't," Kuno raised his energy sword, "however it'll come to naught." He dove forward, his sword slicing through the weapon and sending the two halves spinning off.

Nabiki stared in shock at her now empty hands. She looked up as the two CPUs cried in pain as viral blasts slammed into them. "Oh, spam!"

"Admit your defeat Nabiki Tendo and grovel for your process!" Kuno snarled.

Instinct alone saved the virus' bitmap. He threw himself back moments before the ground he had been standing exploded in a series of small detonations. All eyes rose to look for the source of the attack. There, hanging onto the wall of the Principal Office like a giant red spider, was the Fuchikoma, its gun ports fixed on the virus below..

A circle of light formed around the top of the mecha's dome and a hiss escaped as the hatch unsealed. Slowly the hatch swung open. At first all that could be seen was the edge of the pilot compartment, but then the operators glossy black hair crested the lip of the hatch. Next followed a serious expression, pure hate directed straight at the virus, and finally the pilot sat up, revealing the navy blue uniform and the gold and black Icon on her breast.

"If you want to function, be somewhere else!" Akane Tendo, Guardian of Mainframe, sneered.

Kuno laughed. "Do you really think one lone mecha can stop my army?! Especially that toy!"

He was answered by a mocking smile. "Fuchikoma, destroy the ABCs."

"Yes MA'AM!" the mecha cried and launched a set of missiles from its rear. Each projectile spun and wove through the air, striking a single carrier, destroying it in a blaze of light.

"As you can see, I upgraded the weapons."

Kuno paused for a moment, then leapt upwards at the red mecha. The Fuchikoma's manipulators spat energy at the virus, however at the last moment a black blur shot past, pulling him from the path of the deadly barrage.

"Got ya boss!" Gosunkugi and Sasuke chorused as the trio shot away.

"I will yet prove my worth Akane Tendo!" Kuno cried as he was carried back towards the Tor, his army following.

The Fuchikoma pushed off from the wall and dropped lightly to the ground beside Nabiki. Its pilot swung herself out.

"So what was the plan?" Akane asked, staring after the retreating virals.

"Ahh..." Nabiki started. "Never mind that, I'm glad to see you're back on-line!"

"Yeah well, some of the things you said made sense," Akane turned and walked back into the Principal Office, Fuchikoma clattering along behind her. "Even if you were just acting."

Nabiki stood, hands on hips, watching her sister leave. "Well, we have ourselves a Guardian again, even if she is just a cadet."

*****

The chapel of full binomes, all murmuring quietly. Akane and Nabiki sat at the front, either side of the podium where Kasumi stood, Akane in her Guardian cadet's uniform and Nabiki in her best business suit. The wore an elegant white dress that accented her quiet beauty.

A boom echoed throughout the room as the doors closed, bringing a silence as the conversation stopped.

"We are gathered here," Kasumi started softly, "to honour the memories of the four sprites that sacrificed themselves to defeat the invading web creature and save our system from the web's infection." Kasumi paused for a second before continuing

"Ranma, as a Guardian, always put the system before himself and it was his fate to quit file in its service. He had found a home and a family, and in the end gave his process to protect them." Sniffs and sobs came from about the chapel.

"Living in the games, RyoGA never knew friendship, yet here in Mainframe, I am glad to say, he found it, at least for a while. He owed us nothing, but gladly joined his new friends in their battles for all they loved.

"Shampoo came to us as a vagabond and settled here to become a successful sprite. Never did we ask her to do more than produce fine food, but she too came to our defence. She deserves much more than we ever gave her.

"Finally Ukyo who, despite the distrust her reputation and skills brought, proved to be worthy of both our thanks and our friendship. What set her on the road she chose we shall never know, but that it brought her to us shows that she was right to travel it.

"In passing these four leave us both weaker and stronger. Weaker in that we can on longer rely on their strength when we ourselves fail, but stronger, having known them and seen what is possible. They have given us something to aspire to, and aspire we must, for now there are none other to aid us." Kasumi, like the assemblage, fell silent.