Beyond the Network: A New Hero

Author's note: I'm working on three stories at the same time. Juggling them can be a bit hard sometimes, but it's nothing I can't handle.
Still, three entries for the Navi contest but no story reviews? I think that shows something.


Chapter 2: Virus Busting
After his visit to SciLab, Patch hopped the train to ACDC Town. It had grown in the last twenty years, but it still retained some of its old charms, such as the park with the pink squirrel statue. Right next to it was Higsby's Battle Chip Shop.

Being in the mood to stop by, Patch approached the automatic glass doors, and they sensed his approach and opened. Inside, a brown-haired girl with a slide rule in her hair stood behind the counter. "Good afternoon and welcome to Higsby's," the girl said. "I am Fibonacci Higsby. How may I help you?"

Fibonacci took another look at Patch. "Oh, hello, Patch. I didn't recognize you at first. Back when my father owned this shop, your father shopped here regularly. I guess bloodlines really do carry on."

Patch laughed. "Yeah, they do. Today, I think I'll buy an AreaGrab S."

"Very well. That'll be six thousand Zenny. I'll ring it up on the cash register."

With that, Fibonacci carefully transmitted a signal from her PET to the register. Her Net Navi, NumberMan (the shop wasn't the only thing she inherited from her father!), was in the register's CPU in the blink of an eye.

While NumberMan was processing the order, Patch took the opportunity to chat with Fibonacci. "How are things going, Fibonacci?"

"Quite well, actually," Fibonacci replied. "This shop is competing strongly with AsterLand over in Cyber City. The owner, Tab… I think he used to be friends with your father."

Patch nodded. "Yes. He tells me bedtime stories about that all the time."

At that moment, the register beeped. NumberMan's voice spoke up from Fibonacci's PET. "Master Fibonacci, the register isn't working properly. I think there are viruses inside it."

Fibonacci sighed. "Oh, dear. I'm terrible at virus busting. Patch, could you jack in to the cash register and get rid of the viruses in here?"

"No problem," Patch replied. "It'll be a cinch for a Hikari. Besides, I just got a new Navi from my dad. This'll be a perfect chance to try him out!"

Patch approached the register and aimed his PET at it with the same zeal that his father would. "Jack in MegaMan X! Execute!"


In an instant, X was standing in the computer-generated floor of the RegistrComp. NumberMan was surrounded by a few high-level Mettaur viruses, and he looked scared. "Master Fibonacci!" he yelled out. "The viruses have me surrounded! Jack me out, quick!"

"Right away, NumberMan!" Fibonacci yelled, and she pressed the JACK OUT button on her PET. Instantly, NumberMan disappeared in a vertical stream of light, leaving the viruses slightly confused.

Seeing his chance, Patch ran two Cannon chips through the PET, one after the other. The chip data was instantly sent to X, who fired two powerful blasts at the Mettaurs, killing it and shattering it into zeroes and ones.

The other two Mettaurs turned to face X just as Patch was setting up to send down a WideSwrd S chip. As soon as X got the chip data, he rushed up, jumping over a shock wave one Mettaur sent out with its axe, and let out a wide slash that chopped that Mettaur squarely. It, too, exploded.

Only one Mettaur remained now. This time, Patch sent down a FireHit1 A and a Cannon A. Normally a PET couldn't process the differing data types of two different Chips this quickly, but these were of the same code, so they were fine. A flaming punch shot out of nowhere and slapped the Mettaur just as it was about to attack, hitting it with its guard down.

Bang! That successful hit sped up X's programming- the computer equivalent of an adrenaline rush- and he let loose the Cannon blast with extra power. The last Mettaur went down in a flash.

"Viruses all taken care of!" X reported. His first-ever battle with Patch operating him had been a success. Patch nodded, and hit the JACK OUT button on his own PET.


Fibonacci breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks a bunch for taking care of those viruses in the cash register. It should work now. Tell you what, take the AreaGrab S for free. It's the least I owe you for cleaning up the register."

Patch took the Battle Chip from Fibonacci's hands and stowed it in his backpack. "Thanks, Fibonacci. I'll make good use of this. Just brush up and practice hard, and you should be able to take care of those viruses yourself next time."

With that, Patch turned and left the shop, heading straight home. His mother, Mayl, was right in the middle of cooking. "Hi, Patch," she greeted him. "How were things at SciLab?"

"They went well, Mom," Patch replied. "Dad gave me a new Net Navi that he designed himself. His name's MegaMan X. I'll tell you more during dinner. For now, I'm going upstairs to do a little Internet browsing." And he rushed up the stairs, only stopping when he tripped on the last one.

Mayl looked on as Patch made his exit. "Ah. Like father, like son."


Like father, like son indeed. I hope you'll stay tuned for the next chapter! That virus busting sequence may not have been my best work, but I think it turned out reasonably well. If this were an actual MMBN game, that cash register sequence would be the virus busting tutorial.