CHAUD
"I call the meeting to order." Chief Keifer ordered, "We have been getting reports of Darkloids in cyberspace."
I stood, "The ones we know about are Shadowman, Shademan, Lazerman, Burnerman, Novaman, Graveman, Blues, and Rockman." Protoman and Searchman chose to hologram themselves in front of us.
Raika stood next, "Rockman is Megaman."
"Explain." Manuela prompted.
"Lan and I were sent to deal with Graveman and Novaman. I deleted Graveman and sent Novaman packing. Lan was knocked out with a minor concussion but Megaman was hurt far worse. The recovery programs used by Dr. Hikari only made him get even worse. Lan is fine. The Darkloids attacked and defeated Protoman and changed Megaman to Rockman." I explained.
"Someone broke into Scilabs and stole the dark data of five Darkloids, myself included." Protoman added, "They got Shadowman, Shademan, Lazerman, Burnerman, and myself."
"Who wants the Darkloids and what do they plan to do with them?" Raika asked.
"Gospel." Protoman said.
Manuela nearly screamed. Chief Keifer paled. Raika looked like he might be sick. Searchman muttered a few choice words in Sharon, earning himself a reprimanding look from Raika. He blushed.
"What can we do?" Manuela asked.
"We have to go to Gospel's grave to try and stop this, without Megaman." Protoman replied.
"When did they ah, change Megaman to Rockman?" Chief Keifer asked.
It happened roughly two hours and three minutes ago." Protoman said.
"I'm sending Protoman and Searchman to investigate the scene of Gospel's near awakening. Go now!" the two Navis gave a roger and pixilated out to cyberspace, "I'm sending you two to Scilabs to back them up! Go! Report to me as soon as you can!" Chief Keifer barked orders.
Raika and I ran. We got back to Scilabs in record time and connected to our Navis. Lan pounced, and pestered us with questions about what was happening. Raika barked orders left and right as we each took a computer.
"I'm coming too." Roll pixilated onto my screen along with Iceman, Glyde, Gutsman, and Rush.
"So are we. De gutsu." Gutsman added.
"But its dangerous!" Protoman sputtered, "This is the Darkloids we are talking about!"
"We're coming." Roll gave him one of her Looks. Protoman sighed.
"Stay out of trouble." He said.
Very few people could resist one of Roll's Looks. Protoman I knew, had given in to avoid a fight that would have wasted time. Raika gave the order and the Navis entered Cyberspace. First thing that Rakia and I did was slip into the familiar warmth of Full Synchro. Full Synchro is when the Operator and Navi become one in a sense. It is also a double edged sword. Anything that happens to the Navi happens to the Operator. Full Synchro is like Crossfusion in the Cyberworld. My body settled back into the computer chair. Raika made the stupid mistake of standing while entering Full Synchro. His body ended up crashing to the floor, which he would have hit if Lan hadn't caught him. Maylu slid a pillow under Rakia's head, while Yai kept one eye on the screen and one eye on me.
Protoman
Searchman and I were in the front with me leading as I knew where Gospels grave was. Chaud had stepped back and let me have control. He would join me if we had to fight. Raika had taken control of Searchman. I focused on my task, nothing else. We reached Net City and from there hit the Undernet. After a few more twists and turns, we reached the graveyard.
"Hi guys!"
I shot about a mile into the air and came down sword out as I spun to face whoever spoke, "Trill?"
Trill looked different, older. He wore a yellow robe with a white cross on the front. His white hat was gone, replaced by a pair of white antennae. He only smiled.
"What brings you to the Graveyard?" he asked, "Where is Megaman?"
Searchman and I shot each other looks, and I had to remind myself that it was Rakia I was looking at, not Searchman. Chaud made his presence known, wanting to take control. I stepped back and gave it to him. It is a very odd feeling. You can still see and hear, but your operator has control of your body. Also, your operator's voice comes from your mouth. First time I let Chaud take control, it had taken everything I had to not enter a full blown panic attack.
"Trill, why are you here? I thought you were staying in Beyondard." Rakia broke the silence.
"I'm not Beyondard like I originally thought. I'm a Cyber Elf. I'm here in the Graveyard to fight off a slew of viruses that keep popping up everywhere. Why are you here?" Trill asked.
"We are here to visit Gospels Grave." Chaud explained, "Bad things have happened and we are trying to stop it. Wait a minute, did you say you were a Cyber Elf?"
"yes, I am a Cyber Elf." Trill said.
"Then you may know Cyber Elf X." Roll said.
"I do know him. I've been living with him in the Ethernet. X has been training me to use my powers. Gospels Grave? Is it starting again?" Trill asked.
"I'm afraid so." I replied, having taken back control. Chaud didn't complain. He was actually used to me staying in control.
"Where is Megaman?" Trill asked again.
I explained and Trill paled.
"Then you'll need my help." Trill said.
"Let's get going." Searchman said, looking pleased with himself over having taken control away from Raika, whom we could all hear complaining about being useless.
I led them to Gospels grave, and my core dropped into my boots. We were too late. The ground was covered in scorch marks and there was a gapping hole where the grave used to be. Searchman groaned in defeat. Roll looked pale. Iceman was sweating, Glyde and Gutsman both were in shock. Even Trill looked like he were in shock. Rush gave a scared bark and dug himself a hole, leaving us behind.
"We're too late…" Glyde broke the uneasy silence.
"We have to go back." I turned to walk away, and tripped over one of Rush's holes just as the aforementioned dog virus popped up barking frantically. Next thing any of us knew, Rush made his hole bigger and we were falling. We all immerged at Net City.
Something wasn't right. Navis ran left and right screaming. Fires burned out of control. Something black circled overhead, laughing evilly. It landed in the street and strode toward me. It was a Navi made of pure darkness. He was all black with a red stripe running down his sides. His Navi mark was red with an outline of an inverted cross in black. He was tall, his boots and gantlets were black outlined in red. His helmet was black with a pair of black wings mounted on ether side of it. In the center of the helmet was a faintly glowing red crystal. Three pairs of long black wings tipped in red completed the look. Dark Lord Gospel growled. Rush yelped and disappeared.
"You! You will give Megaman back to us!" I threatened, "Now!"
"You and what army?" Gospel's voice was sickly sweet.
"I don't need an army!" I charged, and promptly tripped over Rush who growled at me. I growled right back, sending him diving back into the hole he'd come from.
"You call that an attack?" Gospel asked, "Pathetic. I expected better from an Inner Guardian of the Chosen One."
"Inner Guardian of the Chosen One? Protoman?" Chaud asked, wrenching control from me for a few minutes. Lord Gospel only hissed in response. I took back control.
"You want an attack? Fine." Making sure Rush was nowhere around me, I charged again with my sword out. Gospel yawned, and flicked his wrist. I ended up slamming into a building, leaving a very nice Protoman shaped hole behind as I slid back to the ground. Chaud winced, feeling the same hit.
"Boring!" Gospel promptly vanished, "Rockman, deal with him! My Darkloids! Waste this place! No one lives!"
"Yes, Boss!" Rockman dropped from the sky.
'Chaud, let me handle this. I'll need chips. Break free of Synchro, now!' I thought.
'No! Together, we are better then any chip I can give you!' Chaud thought back, 'I am not leaving you!'
'Chaud, If I get hurt really bad, or worse, deleted, it will affect you too. Please, for me, break free.' I reasoned.
'No, Protoman. I'm with you to the bitter end.' Chaud replied.
Rockman unleashed a barrage of charged shots which I was barely able to dodge. A few of the shots passed close enough to leave behind painful burns. Chaud took over and called forth a cyber sword. He blocked the next shot, but Rockman was quicker with a powerful M-cannon. I took control but the shot hit me in the left leg. I heard Chaud screaming, and our Full Synchro snapped apart. Wincing, I forced myself back to my feet.
"Had enough?" Rockman called forth a cannon, a Hi-cannon, and another M-cannon.
"Megaman! I know you are there! Fight it!" a cyber sword, and a wide sword appeared in my hands. A window opened behind me to reveal Dr. Hikari.
"Protoman, I'm covering for Chaud. That last hit did a number on his leg. He is being taken over to the infirmary for treatment. Dream sword, go." he replied, "Here comes a long sword."
"But that is your son! Hub is in there somewhere! The advance could end up deleting him!" I protested.
"We are doing the advance, or else, Chaud is going to find a crispy Navi when he wakes up." Dr. Hikari replied, "He is using a forbidden advance called the Z-buster."
"How is the dream sword going to help defend me against the shot?" I asked.
"Just trust me." Dr. Hikari sighed.
"I'm trusting you." I raised the two swords in my hands, forming the dream sword.
Rockman finished charging the Z-buster and gave me a cruel smile. Then all hell broke lose. Rockman fired the buster as Hikari screamed now. I brought the sword down, watching in shock as the blade cleaved the blast in half, protecting me, and creating the usual wave of light. The wave swept Rockman off his feet, but he was up in seconds.
"Megaman! Fight it!" I called out, dodging an uppercut to my jaw, but a round house kick connected to my gut, forcing me to double over gasping for breath. I barely managed to sidestep the following punch. Rockman suddenly froze, his eyes going green.
"Protoman!" Megaman cried out, his eyes going red again as Rockman took back control. His movements were slower. I was able to stay out of reach. Rockman grabbed his head and screamed.
"Dr. Hikari, what about the vaccine chip? Would it help?" I asked.
"No." It was Medic who answered, "The chip heals damage done by a dark chip. Megaman has a Darkloid controlling him. It would probably end up killing him. The light chip won't work ether, so don't ask."
"Protoman!" Megaman's voice broke into our conversation, "I can't fight it anymore! You have to delete me! It's the only way!"
"Not happening!" I protested.
"Augh! Please, Protoman!" Megaman screamed, "Delete me!"
"No! We'll save you!" Lan appeared on the screen, "You just have to fight it, Megaman!"
"I can't!" Megaman's eyes flickered from green to red and back, "Rockman is too strong! Please, just delete me!"
"No!" Lan's and my voice became one, "Stop this, Megaman!"
Megaman screamed again, Rockman regaining control.
"A pity." he hissed, "You, an Inner Guardian of the Chosen One, a failure. You couldn't protect him!"
What?" I asked, "I'm not what you think I am!"
"Lost, are you? Such a shame. Too bad I have to delete you. At least the boss will be happy to know that I took down an Inner Guardian." Rockman hissed, an M-cannon pointed at my chest.
"Megaman, you need to fight for control now." I reasoned, finding myself with no escape, "Please, fight for control."
"You don't even realize that all hope is gone!" Rockman inched closer, "The one you swore to protect, wrenched from you, lost in chaos, the one who was prophesized to save both worlds, is already taken from you, and you don't even realize it! Ha!"
I was frozen in place, staring at the cannon. I squeezed my eyes shut, thankful that Chaud wouldn't see me being deleted. It fired, but the blast of pain never came. I cautiously opened one eye, and the other eye flew open in shock.
"Bass?" I whispered.
"Hells Rolling!" Bass released another attack, driving Rockman back, "Megaman, I can't believe I'm saying this, but fight back! You can do it! I made a promise to protect you eons ago, and that promise still stands!"
"Megaman is gone, you fool!" Rockman let lose with another M-cannon, but before he could use it, Bass shredded it into data.
"Megaman, you have to fight back! This is serious! Our worlds are in dire peril! Please, fight back! I know I did some horrible things, even deleting you once! My memories are back, and I know what I am now! You have to fight back! Please!" Bass pleaded, "You can do it!"
Megaman's eyes flicked to green, "I can't!" then to red, "You fool. Can't you see that all hope is gone?"
"Megaman, I am trying to help you!" Bass looked deep into the red eyes, "Don't give up hope."
"Megaman, I can't believe I'm saying this, but, listen to him!" I broke free of my trance, "Bass, where did you come from?"
"Rush found me." Bass turned to the cyber dog, who looked pleased with himself, "This is far worse then Lord Gospel. Far worse. You don't even know a thing about it."
"Delete me! It's the only way to stop Rockman!" Megaman cried out, "Please!"
"I can't delete you! You are my best friend!" I responded.
"I can't delete you ether! You are our only hope!" Bass reasoned.
Rockman retook control, and brought up three M-cannons. They merged into the powerful MZ cannon. Bass and I both gulped. Being hit by an MZ cannon met instant deletion, even if you were at full health, and were wearing a full suit of titanium armor.
"We have to take him out, now." Bass whispered, "I'm charging up as fast as I can. I'm not going to make it in time."
I knew what Bass was asking. Feeling sick, I called up my default sword and charged. My mind screamed at me to stop, that this wasn't right. I brought up the sword and brought it down hard on Rockman's helmet. The helmet would protect his head, but it would be enough to knock him out. Rockman staggered backward, his shot going wild. It still passed close enough to me to deal damage. I reeled backward as Bass let lose with a Darkness Overload. The attack slammed into the ground scant millimeters from Rockman, sending him tumbling backward into a heap. He stayed down.
I stumbled backward and my injured leg gave out on me. I expected to hit hard ground, but strong arms caught me. I looked up at Bass as he held me. Exhaustion rolled through me as my injuries let themselves be known. I was close to blacking out and I knew it.
"Bass, is Megaman okay?" I asked.
"Well, he took some damage from my attack and your hit is going to leave him knocked out for a while. I'm more worried about you." Bass replied.
"This is nothing. I'll live." I responded, "I'm going to black out in a minute. Can I count on you to get me and Megaman to Scilabs?"
"Of course." Bass agreed.
Already out, I didn't answer.
BASS
I continued to hold him as he slept.
"Rest, Inner Guardian." I watched him sleep.
"BASS! WHAT DID YOU DO?"
I jumped, nearly dropping Protoman, to see a very angry Roll. Behind her, weapons ready, stood Glyde, who looked like he wanted nothing else but to leave a Bass shaped stain on the ground, Gutsman, looking ready to incinerate me, Iceman, who managed to look intimidating despite his short size, and Searchman, whose machine gun I found myself looking at the business end of.
"I didn't do anything!" I protested, "In fact, I saved Protoman from a painful end by M-cannon held by Megaman! Honest! Protoman needs repairs at Scilabs, and we need to lock up Megaman!"
"Why should I believe you?" Searchman lifted my chin with his machine gun so I was looking into his eyes.
"You are going to have to believe me! This affects all of our worlds!" I reasoned.
Searchman snarled, "Lies!"
"I'm not lying! I have proof! There is a stone tablet with all of your marks on it!" I cried out.
"Stop! Bass does not lie!"
"Trill!" Glyde cried out.
Trill stepped in front of me, "Bass does not lie. He is telling the truth. You have to believe him. He is our ally."
"But Trill!" Searchman moved his gun aside, "Bass has always been our enemy!"
"He is not the enemy this time." Trill looked up at him, "I know this is hard, but Bass is on our side."
"I will not trust him, but I trust you. Let's get them to Scilabs." Searchman said, "Trill, are you coming with us?"
"I am, after I report to X." Trill said, "I'll see you later at Scilabs." He turned, created a portal and left through it.
Searchman took Protoman from me while Glyde picked up Megaman. Rush opened a hole and barked. Without hesitation, I leapt through it. I was instantly surrounded by security Navis as I appeared inside Scilabs. The others appeared after me.
"It's okay. He is with us." Glyde ordered.
The Navis backed off as we reached the Repair Lab. Searchman dropped Protoman into the waiting repair rings next to Medic, who went to work. Glyde took Megaman over to quarantine where Hikari and Lan were waiting.
"Burns and a leg injury. I am not needed here. The repair program I've selected can handle the needed repairs." Medic pixilated over to Megaman, "Let's see here. Blast wounds. This one I'm going to heal because of the reaction from the repair programs last time. First, I am going to restrain him. Oh good, Prismman, you are here." Medic sat back to let the purple and white Navi through, "Can you restrain him safely?"
"Yes, I can." Prismman's hands glowed as diamond cuffs appeared around Megaman's wrists and ankles, "That should hold him. I can't believe he is a darkloid. The Megaman I know would be fighting this. It hurts. He set me free from the hold of the Darkloids. Did he at least fight?"
"I don't think Megaman really knew what was happening. He was badly injured and Hikari and I pulled an all nighter working on him." Medic looked up from healing Megaman, "The Darkloids came in mass and Protoman was forced to log out to save his skin. They healed and changed him into one of their own."
"That is low, really low, even for the Darkloids. They must ether be desperate or they needed him. Man, I should have been there." Prismman replied, "My Netop doesn't need me for a while so I can stay and help out."
"That's right, your Netop, Misaki, is in a coma still. How is he doing?" Medic asked.
"He is stable, but there is still no change." Prismman replied, "I have been talking to him, and I think he hears me. Will Megaman get better?"
"Hopefully, he'll expel Rockman from himself and recover on his own. You did, with Megaman guiding you." Medic said.
"Maybe I'll finally get to repay that favor." Prismman said.
CHAUD
"Chaud?"
"Chaud, can you hear me?"
"Chaudy, we need you to open your eyes."
Only one person calls me Chaudy. Blazeman, dads Navi. I opened my eyes to see Yai holding dad's PET where Blazeman stood watching. Relief was written on their faces. Yai was holding my hand. I felt stiff and bruised. My left leg was wrapped in an ace wrap and propped up on several pillows. Several ice packs laid on top of the leg. I felt drowsy.
"They drugged me, didn't they?" I asked.
"Actually, they gave Protoman an EPI. You are feeling the effects of what Protoman is feeling." Yai said.
EPI stands for Epiderine, a pain killing medicine designed for use on Navis. It is not safe to use on every Navi, but Protoman tolerated it well so I wasn't worried. Some Navis like Megaman couldn't tolerate it well. Megaman had several scary reactions to it in the past. In fact, Megaman is allergic to it.
"That explains it. Sometimes I think they give it to him just to knock me out." I replied, "How is Protoman? I'm going to be feeling this tomorrow. No wait, make that today."
"Protoman suffered some burns, and a leg injury like you did. He is being repaired." Yai smiled, "I called your dad. He came by earlier and left Blazeman to watch you. He is worried about you."
"I've been hurt worse then this. How is Raika?" I asked.
"Right here and fine. I'm physically restraining Lan here. You ready?" Raika asked from outside the room.
"Send him in? Oof! Lan! Ow! That was my bad leg! Calm down! I'm fine! How is Megaman?" That calmed Lan down.
"Sorry! I was worried about you! Protoman is fine! Megaman is back, but he is still a darkloid." Lan said, "Gospel's Grave?"
"You didn't see huge and ugly flying around Net City? We were too late." I told him.
"That's bad." Lan replied.
There was a cry from Blazeman's PET. We all looked. Glyde and Blazeman had their hands full trying to calm Trill down. He was shaking and crying. Glyde hugged him.
"Is that Trill?" Lan asked.
"Trill, what is wrong?" I asked.
"Gone!" Trill sobbed, "He's gone!"
"Who is gone?" I pressed.
"Cyber Elf X is gone! He's not in the Ethernet! I looked everywhere!" Trill sobbed.
"Trill, it's going to be okay. We will find him. Calm down. You need to calm down so you can sense for him properly. Remember when we played hide and seek with Iceman, Spoutman, and Protoman?"
Trill stopped crying and nodded, "Protoman always found us under five minutes flat and we could never find him. I remember now. He sensed for us." Trill took several calming breaths, "I think I can find X now." He closed his eyes, "He's here in the internet?" Trill pixilated out.
Using crutches, I followed Yai and Lan out to the repair lab. I first went to Protoman, who was groggy, but awake.
"Morning, lord Chaud." his voice slurred badly, making it sound more like mooring, load Chaud.
"Morning to you, too." I smiled, "You rest. I'm fine."
"Okay." Protoman replied, drifting off. The EPI always made him drowsy. I settled in a chair with my leg up on another chair and closed my eyes. The buzz of the lab lulling me to sleep. The calmness didn't last for long.
"Help! I need help!" Trill screamed, pixilating onto a computer screen with someone thrown over his shoulder. Famous and Hikari rushed over with Medic and Zero close behind him on the computer screens. They got to Trill and Zero lifted the blue robed figure off of Trill. Medic blocked my view for a minute. When she stepped over a bit, I caught sight of who it was and gasped, remembering the time before, when I was trapped in the Ethernet with Lan, Yai, Maylu, Dex, and Tory. We had met up with the blue robed figure there.
"Who did this?" Hikari turned to Trill.
"What happened?" Famous asked.
"That's Cyber Elf X!" I called out.
Hikari turned, "I know him."
"I found him at the gate of the Undernet!" Trill cried, "He was standing there, then he collapsed! He's not supposed to be in the internet! Cyber Elves can't exist in the Internet!"
"Trill, if you are a cyber elf, wouldn't being in the internet affect you too?" I asked.
"I'm not affected because of who created me and where I was born." Trill explained, "Is X going to be okay?"
"I don't know." Medic answered, "I have to examine him first."
"Where do you want me to put him?" Zero asked.
"Zero, can you go get me more information about the make up of the Ethernet? Right here is fine. He isn't going to recover unless we can create an area of Ethernet space. Hikari, we may need the DA field for this." Medic knelt next to her patient.
"I'm gone." Zero pixilated out.
I limped over to them, "What happened to him? I can't think of any Virus capable of hurting a Cyber Elf. X can delete a virus with a mere thought, Navis too."
"What about a swarm of Viruses?" Famous asked, "Bass, any new Viruses in the Undernet?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Bass asked.
"You are the ruler of the Undernet, and you don't know what lives in your realm?" Famous asked.
"I know, don't ask. Every time I think I've seen all viruses, a new one pops up." Bass came closer, "Those wounds look like they were dealt by a Cutter."
"A Cutter is?" Famous prompted.
"Think of a caterpillar with blades for jaws and it's all green, and it has several long black tentacles along its back." Bass replied, "They must have attacked as a mass so he couldn't delete them all. I'll get somebody on why they suddenly attacked like that. They are usually calm and can be ignored."
"I don't think so. These wounds were inflicted by a Navi." Medic looked up, "Is that DA field up yet, and what is keeping Zero?"
"The field is up, but it is useless until Zero gets back." Hikari answered.
"Then set it to these codes." Bass recited a short list of numbers.
"That's the make up of the Undernet!" Hikari realized.
"Use it." Bass said, "The Undernet was made when a part of the Ethernet merged with a part of the Internet. It will help him."
Hikari inputted the codes and the DA space turned slightly dark. Medic pixilated herself and the wounded Cyber Elf into the space. The change that came over X was almost instantaneous. His colors brightened and he seemed to be starting to wake up. Medic helped him sit on a cyber chair that Hikari had thoughtfully provided.
"Cyber Elf X?" Medic asked softly, "Can you hear me?"
"Yeah… I'm okay. Just give me a few minutes to heal." X looked up at her, emerald eyes meeting lilac eyes.
"I sent Zero to get the make up of the Ethernet for you. Right now, we are in a space blanketed by the Undernet." Medic replied.
"What? No! The Ethernet is gone!" X cried out, "Where is Trill?"
"Right here, Sire." Trill materialized into the DA space, "I mean, X."
"Ethernet gone?" I asked, limping over to sit in a chair in front of the DA space.
"It's gone. I barely got out in time. The codes by the way are 5928-7;45-2806." Cyber Elf X told Hikari who punched in the code, reverting the DA space to that of the Ethernet, "Thanks, doctor. The Ethernet is no more. I was waiting for Trill to return with his report about Ethernet Viruses appearing in the Internet, namely, the graveyard. I felt a tremor and looked up to see a mass of darkness consuming everything in sight. I ran and just made it out when the Ethernet collapsed. I raced toward the Undernet to warn Bass, but a swarm of Cutters blocked the path to the internet, even the one in Koto. I decided to take a chance with the main entrance and the swarm attacked me so fast I couldn't think. All I had time to do was scream. Then I was waking up here." X explained, "The mass I saw is a black hole. It will destroy the entire Net in six months, but I could be wrong. Once the net is destroyed, your world will be next."
At that moment, Zero stumbled back in.
"The Ethernet is gone, and the Undernet is under attack!" He called out, "X! You're awake! I'm fine, Medic. I had to do some running."
"We heard it from X." I turned to him.
"X is right. We have six hours until the net is destroyed." Famous said, looking up from a computer.
"Megaman is awake!" Prismman called, "He's really fighting the restraints."
"I'll be there in a second!" Medic called back, "Any ideas on how to stop this?"
"I have one, but you are not going to like it. The codes that make up the Internet lay inside me. When the black hole reaches the internet, I could dive into it and cause the net to collapse, thus destroying the black hole and saving your world." X replied.
"That would delete you! Any other ideas?" Medic pixilated over to Prismman, "He's really thrashing. Megaman, it's okay. Calm down."
Megaman stopped thrashing and lay still, looking up at Medic, his eyes red, Rockman.
"Let me go!" he hissed at her.
Medic ignored him, "What if I were to attack it?"
"Medic, I'm not losing you." Zero and Hikari glared at her.
"Can anybody come up with an idea that doesn't involve the loss of life?" I asked.
"Here's one. Sic Titaniumman on it." Prismman answered, "He's literally made of titanium. Add stone body and I doubt even X could delete him."
"Prismman, we know you don't like Titaniumman! You can't use the black hole to dispose of him!" Bass scolded, "There is a way."
"Of course, but six months isn't enough to locate all of the guardians and get them assembled. Plus you have to locate the one they guard, too." Cyber Elf X shook his head.
"Already ahead you on that. All of the Inner Guardians are here in this room along with the one they protect. We only have to locate the six missing Outer Guardians." Bass said.
"Who are the Inner Guardians?" Cyber Elf X asked.
"They are Protoman, Roll, Glyde, Iceman, and Gutsman. Megaman is the one they protect." Bass answered, "I'm one of the Outer Guardians."
"Um, mind cluing us in?" I asked, limping over to the computer where Protoman was just waking up.
"It might be possible then." X replied.
"Who wants the honor of telling them?" Bass asked.
"I'll do it. Trill knows the story too." Cyber Elf X closed his eyes and sighed before opening them again, "This isn't a pleasant story to hear. Long ago, back when I was a Maverick Hunter, Zero and I were sent to scout an island in the Pacific Ocean for the possibility of building a base there. The island looked very promising. Then Zero found the tablet. We both analyzed it and came to the same conclusion. This tablet was from Earth, but it was from a time long before ancient times. On one side there were 13 symbols. On the other side, there was writing. We spent the night deciphering it. It told a terrifying story. Before ancient times in a place called Atlantica, there were net Navis and an Internet. It wasn't like the Internet of today. It was in fact, a highly advanced security system. Protecting this system was a Navi made entirely of light. Protecting him were a group of five Navis called the Inner Guardians. Protecting all of them is a group of seven Navis called the Outer Guardians. Their job was to protect the one who protected Atlantica. The world was peaceful. Then it all ended in a terrible cataclysm. Eight malevolent Navis woke a terrible darkness that cast a pall over the world. Disasters struck both the internet and the world. Within the bowels of the Internet came a terrible being called Gospel. The Guardians and the Navi of the light went into battle against Gospel. They won, but it cost them the outer Guardians. Things began to calm down a little until they made a shocking discovery. The Internet was being devoured by a black hole. Again, the Light Navi rose to stop it. He didn't succeed. He did succeed in slowing it down so the humans could get off the island. All Navis were left behind because there was no way to take them along, no PETS, or other devices. They all joined the five remaining guardians in a final desperate battle against the black hole which ended with the Light Navi entering it and blowing it up. He survived and as the last of the net collapsed, he sacrificed himself to allow every Navi still alive to live on, as Cyber Elves."
LAN
I listened with half an ear, my focus on my beloved Navi. I hated seeing him like this. He turned his red eyes to me and grinned.
"My operator, useless now, are you?" he asked.
"Get out of him, Rockman!" I snapped, "If you leave him quietly, I'll have him spare your life!"
"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. You would love that, wouldn't you? If I leave, Megaman's body will return to the state it was in when I entered. Since you asked me to leave, I will." Rockman sneered.
Megaman's body began to rez horribly. I gasped in shock. Then his body returned to normal and his eyes opened.
"Horrible, isn't it?" Rockman grinned, "I'd rather stay since I'll die if he dies."
"Lan, don't listen to him. He is a darkloid. Darkloids lie." Raika joined me.
"I am not lying." Rockman snarled at Raika.
"Just ignore him." Raika said again.
"I am." I forced myself to turn from him. Zero was now inside the DA space with X and was in a deep conversation with him. I moved closer, hearing the word Biometals, and Lightloids. Intrigued, I crept closer.
"I still have my Biometal. So do the others." Zero said, "Are you sure he is ready for this?"
"With Megaman down, this may be the only way to counter whatever Gospel sends us." X replied.
"Are you sure you can trust Bass?" Zero asked, "What if he is lying? What if it is not them?"
"Bass speaks the truth. I tested him myself by letting him see the tablet in the Undernet. He is an Outer Guardian." X replied.
"I understand, X." Zero answered.
"Can you locate the six other Lightloids in time?"
"I'm not sure, but I'm going to try."
"Lan?" X turned to me, "You listened to what we were saying, didn't you?" His voice wasn't angry, but I still couldn't help but squirm under those intense emerald eyes of his.
"Um, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to listen," I felt myself sweating.
X smiled, "You are curious now. You'll understand soon enough."
"Understand what soon enough?" I asked.
It was then that all hell broke lose.
Queen Sunstar: Chapter two is finished and things are going to really pick up now. Coming up next chapter, we will see Gospel attack Scilabs forcing the three remaining cross fusions to fight the Darkloids. Rockman chases Lan, finally cornering him. Just as he goes for the kill, CF Protoman appears and must make a split second choice. Damaged takes place after Deletion, and I may not update again until Deletion reaches it's conclusion. Not to worry. Deletion is only going to be five to seven chapters long. I'm almost finished with chapter 3. Damaged will be a lot longer.
Update: I live! I made a small change, changing six hours to six months. I am continuing this story. I am also making another change. Instead of CF Protoman making a harrowing choice, it will be Medic making that choice. Here is a taste of what is to come.
"Lan, this is called a Biogate. Let me see your pet." X took the pet from Lan. It opened up in his hand. X focused, the Biogate adding itself to the pet, which reconfigured itself. X handed the pet back to Lan. "The Biogate allows its user to use biometals. See that chip in your hand? That is a biometal. A biometal is a specialized chip that will allow you to bio evolve. Bio evolution grants you armor and the abilities of the one who created that chip. You can only spend two hours in bio form. After two hours are up, you will revert to normal. You also can fight using the Net Gate, which you already know how to use. Why don't you try it which that chip? Call out Axl, Bio Evolution."
"Okay." I said, "Axl, Bio Evolution!" I plugged the chip into my pet. White light erupted from the pet. It felt similar to cross fusion. Nothing seemed to be happening as I hung in the white field.
"Hi, I'm Axl!" A teen with carrot colored hair and sage green eyes popped up in front of me, "You are using my chip! I'm so excited!" Axl wore gray, navy blue, and red armor, "I was a maverick hunter a thousand years ago. I worked alongside X and Zero. After X got badly hurt, I took over the 17th unit for him, and later got my own unit, the Sky Squadron. Enough about me, lets bio evolve!"
My cloths tightened around my body. A gray bodysuit formed on my body. Navy blue gauntlets, and boots formed on my hands and feet. White pelvis armor formed on my pelvis and a pair of red straps grew up over my shoulders. A white helmet with cat like ears formed on my head. I felt a jetpack form on my back. A pair of pistols dropped from the sky. I caught them. My hair changed style and gained orange streaks. I opened my eyes.
"You look just like me!" Axl said from inside my mind. I did the most logical thing I could. I jumped with a yelp. "Oh sorry, I forgot to tell you that while in bio form, I get to join your mind, much like Megaman does when you cross fuse. That is all there is to it!"
There is a lot more coming. I have not forgotten this story, nor Corruption and Deletion. They will update, and I'm going to do my level best to keep the updates coming weekly. First new update will come on Friday, I promise, no, I Pinkie Pie promise. See you all then!
