[A/N]: So yeah, this is a story I've been thinking about for a long time, ever since I started musing about how the Clockman scenario in Operate: Shooting Star could be improved. Such as, actually having a game-wide plot. I have no clue why I'm bothering to try and write this. I'll never finish it, same as my other fics. But the Tumblr RnR fandom somehow encouraged me to try and start writing it, so there you go! Battle, Set! Ride On!


Chapter 1

It's amazing to think that I've managed to make it this far. This hypothesis I've put out, the "Link Hypothesis," it's sure to change the world and bring about a bright future! The future that I've been so lucky to see!

I knew that Rockman and I had an amazing power between us. Seeing that power in the future…it gives me great hope for mankind. But I know, if I want that future to take place, I can't simply wait for it! No, we must work towards it, no matter what! Seeing that future only cemented the resolve that Rockman and I already had!

After all, I promised him that I'd do all I can to bring about his future. In return, he promised me that he would make sure to keep that future bright. I won't let him down!

(0-0-0-0)

"Netto-kun!"

"Oh, everyone!" Netto turned eagerly to face his friends. He had been waiting with pent-up energy at his doorstep for the past fifteen minutes. It was a miracle that he had been able to stand still that long, but it was an important day. To tell the truth, every day in this summer would be important, because this was the summer after their graduation from Akihara Town's elementary school. After this summer, they'd all start going their separate ways. But this evening was particularly special. Apparently, there would be a bunch of shooting stars out tonight, and his friends had resolved to go out on an evening picnic.

Oddly enough, Meiru had a worried expression on her face when she came up to him first, holding her own basket close to her.

"Netto-kun, did you hear the news?"

"Ehhh? What news?"

"The only news that's been going on is that strange epidemic that's been spreading…" Rockman mused from inside the PET, which only made Netto whine.

"Ne, Rockman, don't think so negatively when we're about to go on the picnic-!"

"But that's just it!" interrupted Meiru, just as Dekao and Yaito showed up. "It's Mariko-sensei! She's caught it!"

"What?" Netto and Rockman both reeled back in shock. The epidemic that had been on the news had been going on for the past week. What made it frightening was that it seemed to be indiscriminate-it infected both humans and Navis alike and made them fall ill quickly. Scientists had likened the symptoms to some sort of radiation poisoning, but the locations were too widespread to pinpoint an actual source, and the victims too varied to effectively broadcast any warnings or predictions. All that could be done was to quarantine the affected, and try to salvage any possible evidence before the immediate area around the victims became unsafe-whatever the illness was, it made the victims emit some strange radiation that affected both Navis and humans around it. Trying to analyze the emissions was difficult and slow going, as no one had figured out any way to safely collect it for analysis. Even with the widespread terror, it still seemed like such a distant event. Nobody in Akihara Town had gotten sick yet…until now.

"How…how is she?" Netto, for once, was uncharacteristically quiet. After all, Mariko-sensei had been an important figure in his life during his time at the school.

"We don't know. By the time we got there, they'd already quarantined her up!" Dekao exclaimed, looking every bit as frustrated as Netto felt.

"They wouldn't even let us send up a message for her! How rude!" Yaito sniffed. Netto couldn't help but sigh as the four of them started walking off. What a damper to put on their trip!

"Are you absolutely sure that we can't visit?"

"Absolutely!" Yaito huffed as she was wont to do when she got impatient. "We wouldn't be so late if we hadn't spent so much time trying to get in! I know you like playing the hero and all, but there's no way either you or Rockman could get in to visit her, so you might as well just come with us!"

"But-!"

"Netto-kun, she's right. Besides, do you think Mariko-sensei would want to see us all upset like this?"

"I guess not, but still…"

"Then, let's go!" And before Netto could say another word, Meiru had grabbed his arm and started running, forcing the others to speed up in order to keep up. This started a series of teasing and jokes between the four, and in their laugher, Mariko-sensei's condition was gently shoved to the backs of their minds.

(0-0-0-0)

Waiting for something to happen got boring very quickly, especially since Yaito insisted on quiet in order to be able to "appreciate the rare wonders of nature" more easily. Looking up at the starry sky, waiting and with nothing to distract him, led to Netto thinking about the news he had heard earlier today. Too bad it was some kind of natural sickness, not something like some sort of internet terrorist organization, or some evil harebrained scheme. At least then he and Rockman could work together to beat them. It felt terrible to not be able to do anything…

"Look! Up there!"

"Shhh, Dekao!"

The voices of his friends shook Netto out of his stupor and he looked up, letting out a sound of delight as he saw the first batch of shooting stars streaking through the sky.

"Woah, amazing, right, Rockman?"

"Aah, Netto-kun!"

"Quiet!"

Really, Yaito was being the loudest of all, and everyone had to suppress a sigh in order to not invoke more of her wrath. Instead, they all looked up, and Netto found himself wishing that he could do something about this strange illness. He picked one of the stars that had caught his eye, a particularly bright, blue one, and wished fervently…before he stood up, shocking everyone else and knocking over a few plates of food.

"Guys, look!"

"Netto, what did I say about being quiet-"

"No, you don't understand! LOOK!"

They all looked at the direction he was pointing at, and gasped. The star that Netto had just wished on had separated from the rest, as if it had suddenly started to fall-and it was headed in their direction!

The other three got up, ready to run, but before they could get very far, Glide calculated that it was safer to stay just where they were-the meteor was set to fall in the woods beyond the clearing they were in. Once their safety was assured, Netto immediately wanted to go after it, and did so once they saw the blue streak of light fall past the tree line, despite Rockman's attempts to persuade him not to. Dekao would not be outdone, and eventually the two girls followed as well despite their misgivings.

When they reached the location where Glide had calculated the shooting star should have landed, they were all startled at what they saw.


[[ooc]]: ugh ugh ugh IT'S SO CLICHÉ YOU GUYS IT'S ALL SO CLICHÉ

LOOK AT IT CLICHÉ CLICHÉ EVERYWHERE

But really, writing static characters is surprisingly hard. I want to get into these kids minds and make them come to life, and it's so difficult because THEY DON'T CHANGE. Everything seems stilted and predictable and writing them feels all…dry and eugh. It doesn't help that it's been a fair amount of time since I've played a Battle Network game. Maybe I can ask my little brothers, they played them recently enough. slgskaldgjadsf.

Anyways, I've got a poll for you guys! See, the idea for this game is going to be revisiting past bosses. I've already picked out the boss for the Fire element and Null element, but I need three more bosses, because I'm structuring this out similarly to a video game storyline. So I'm polling to see what you people want to see in this story, if I actually get around to writing it! Any boss from Battle Networks 1-6 are fine! The poll is on my Livejournal account, so I'll put a link up to it in my profile picture, but if you don't want to do that, feel free to just send me a PM! The bosses that are needed is one Elec Element boss, one Water Element boss, and one Wood Element boss!