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Lucario: Dark Hub didn't rebuild SoulNet; there was a backup network that was made in its image as a fail safe if I remember correctly. Don't worry, Dragar will start doing stuff soon enough. Eh, that would possibly only make Dragar stronger. And or possible end up getting Pixel killed even at this point.

Chapter 3 - Unwanted Guest

The Undernet was renowned as one of the darkest places on the Net, home of terrifying and villainous navis. However, as time moved on, this place of dread had become less and less frightening. With the return of the Undersquare, navis from the other regions of the Net began to return back to the Undernet mainly to trade bug frags. Plus, there was also the debunking of every single organization that took advantage of the Undernet's secrets. WWW, Nebula, Gospel, and CHAOS (despite Dawn's nonuse of the area) were no more and any small time criminals were normally found pretty easily.

With the new increase in navis, the scare factor that the network had began to decrease. Such as the peace times allowed it, the Undernet was no longer the sole place for criminals to hide. However, it's expansive area made it a good place to get lost in….or sometimes a good place to find someone.

"Hey Strike! I think I found it!" a pink and green navi smiled brightly as she pointed to curtained off door or rather the remains of them. She had thought her mom had told her that all the fabrics had disappeared off the Net a long time ago. But she always had a sneaking suspicion that her mother wasn't completely right. Sometimes she forgot little things like this.

A brown and black navi yawned as he walked up to his sister, "Geez Trace, I swear you act like a little six year old when it comes to finding treasure." Strike commented as he stretched himself out. For being the brother of the Net renowned treasure finder, he was pretty passive about the whole search. Then again, it was never finding the items that intrigued him but rather the fights they would have to get in along the way.

Trace rolled her blue eyes, "What can I say, I love finding this stuff! And plus, I'd be wasting my abilities if I didn't do this!" She winked as she focused. When she opened her eyes, she could see a blue line illuminating the path for her. She smirked as she walked up to the panel and pulled it up, revealing the data she was looking for.

The pink navi had been specially designed to find any item as long as she had its signature. Originally, she and her brother had been designed as a bounty hunter pair. Trace would locate a navi and Strike would finish them off. For the female navi, those had been the worst years of her life. She had never asked Strike about them, but she knew that she never liked leading her brother to a mark. It always made her feel….icky inside.

And then one night, her brother had taken her hand and they had run off into the Undernet. He had unregistered them from the PET and they were gone. For days, they had wandered around just looking for a place to at least stay without being jumped by someone.

And then they had found Mom; it was then the rules had changed. After meeting her, the two deserted their original names and became the treasure hunting duo, Trace and Strike. It had taken quite some time to get over the pain it took get over what had happened and even now it was still a battle. But the point was the fact they could restart and live new lives. And the two were never happier for it.

"So whad'ya find this time?" Strike asked as he looked at the blue orb in his sister's hand. The program in her palm seemed to pulse with its own sort of energy. It was actually kinda cool.

Trace cocked her head, "Mom said it was something the humans used to use to make that Holy Dream chip. But since all the Dark Chips were destroyed, it was used less often. Nowadays, apparently a better form of it used at SciLab. At least that's what I heard about from those people in the Undersquare. Anyway, Mom called it Holy Power." The pink navi explained as she got back up to her feet.

Strike raised his eyebrow as the two began to walk back to their home, "And how the heck did those people in the Undersquare now about that? I highly doubt a SciLab navi would just tell you all this and they barely come down here anyway."

Trace smirked, "Don't ask a girl her secrets, bro. Man, I've really got to teach you about women otherwise you'll never get a girl." She stated, shooting him a pointed look.

"What? You wouldn't want a chance to be with this guy!" He said as he pulled a pose, although he couldn't hide his embarrassment too well on the account that he pretty much looked like an idiot either way.

"May someone help whoever falls in love with the treasure hunter's bodyguard." his sister joked as she bumped into him. He was so easy to goad. It wasn't really much of an ego more so that pride that normally got into his head, but the navi could easily be shy when no one was looking.

However, as the two walked back to the Secret Area, they didn't notice a white navi hovering in the air behind them. The navi smirked as they walked. Their power had been drastically reduced to the point that it almost wasn't there, but the white navi could sense their Dark Power. While she couldn't find Dark Power from long distances, she could sense them up close. But then again, that was why she was following them. If she took them now, it was safe to assume that someone would look for them. So, she planned to trail them until they finished their job or got into a more suitable location.

It was no surprise that they lived in the Undernet; after all where else would a treasure hunter crew would go other than a place in which their were untold secrets hiding in wait to be found. So, the white navi had found her way there and then waited until she found the Dark Power signals she was looking for. And besides for the prey she was going for, she was going to need some lackeys to get the job done.

"Mom! We got the Holy Power! Where do you want us to put it?" Trace said as she and Strike walked into Secret Area 3. The network looked the same as it had several years ago, only that now instead all the objects like the security system and obelisks were still torn down. Mom had never felt like fixing the place up since Secret Area was a placed not often traveled to anymore, "Sorry we took so long to get back. Strike had to stop by the Undersquare and see if they have any new ability parts."

"I was wondering what happened to you two. Why would you need ability parts?" the dark skinned navi asked, confused by her two "kids" as she walked up to them after looking at yet another shamble of an obelisk.

Strike shrugged, "I don't know. Figured we put some decorations up here since we haven't switched out all those broken obelisks yet. Which does lead to the question, why didn't you change them?"

Serenade put a finger on her head, "There's nothing much to really change them out with. After Bass's and Megaman's final showdown in here, I guess I just didn't feel like it. Though, this place has gotten quite boring since that Megaman debunked the ranking system. No one wanted to be in as long as he was the Number One." She sighed; she had sorta liked that system. At least people would come by more often.

"I wonder what that guy even fights like. I mean not that I really would want to fight him," Strike stopped as his sister gave him a baffled look. However, the glance was humorous enough on Trace that it caused Serenade to laugh.

"Since when do you back down from a fight?" Trace asked as an embarrassed Strike rubbed the back of his head.

The brown navi smirked, "I'm not afraid for myself. I mean he would probably go down so easily if I actually tried. I'd just hate for the savior of the world to meet the mighty Strike!"

Serenade walked over the male navi, "So you mean that you'd just hate to get your pride damaged," She said as she flicked the navi, "You know it's bad to be so prideful. You'll hurt yourself. Or possibly turn yourself into a lion navi. Whichever one happens first." The ex-Underking spoke as Strike rubbed his nose.

"Yeah, yeah. I know, I know." He said as he turned to the left. Little did they know that Megaman had a much bigger effect on him than he liked to let on. He knew he didn't stand a chance against that blue navi which was why when his NetOp got the contract for him, he took Trace and ran for it. Much better than dying trying to take out the savior of the world. Strike was almost about to roll his eyes when he realized that they weren't alone. He put his arms out in front of his mother and sister. When the heck had she gotten there?

The white navi smiled as Strike finally noticed here. However, the smile soon turned to a grimace as she looked at Serenade, "Don't tell me that the legendary S's skills have gone down so much that you hadn't noticed me this whole time?" She asked.

Serenade shook her head, "I noticed you but I just thought that you would go away since clearly everyone here is busy talking."

The white navi gave the navi an incredulous look, "So, you choose not to take me seriously?"

"Are you giving me a reason to?" Serenade asked before she gave the navi a hard stare, "Now what do you want with us? Not that I normally mind navis coming here but you don't seem to be the normal kind of navis I'm used to." She stated.

The white navi stepped forward, "In fact I am. You, pink navi. Come to me, there is something I require of you." She demanded in a commanding voice.

Serenade walked in front of Strike, "And why do you think you can just come here and demand my daughter to do anything for you? Look, I have no idea why you want her, but you can't have her!" The dark skinned navi growled, beginning to actually become more irritated by this navi's presence. But there was something about her that worried her. She definitely wasn't the run of the mill navi.

"Oh what? Is she a possession of yours? And why do you call her daughter? You two look nothing alike." The white navi pointed out, ignoring Serenade's obvious discomfort about her request.

"Hey instead of asking twenty questions, why don't you start answering some of 'em! Who are you and why are you after my sister?" Strike yelled, also agitated by the her presence.

The white navi closed her eyes and smirked, "My name is Slur and as one of Duo's watchers I demand that your precious sister be relinquished to me. I have a much needed warning that must be sent to Duo and she is vital to the plan I have in place in order for him to head my word. Though I must admit I'm impressed that you two have lowered your Dark Power levels so well. I wonder what makes that possible?"

Serenade stepped forward in front of Strike and Trace, "I think we're done with this game. For being the watcher of a judge like Duo, don't you think you're being a pretty big bad guy right now? I don't know why you're after her, but like I said earlier," An orb began to float over to Serenade's side, "You can't have her."

Slur smirked, "So are you prepared to fight for your "daughter's" protection? It seems like a rather pointless quest to me. To put it in terms you'll understand, you have no idea what you're getting into. And for what? A couple of navis with dark souls?"

The ex-Underking waved her hand as the orb flew out and began to swivel towards Slur, "You can feel free to shut up now."

"I think we're safe in here…." Strike said as his sister walked lifelessly next to him. Once again, the two had run off from another gang that had cornered them. Being ex-bounty hunters had caused them to have a lot of enemies. Luckily, they had stopped chasing them after they had jumped into whatever this network was called.

Trace looked down at the ground, noticed a bug frag, and then kicked it, "How long will we have to stay here? Or do you think they'll just stay out there until we come out?" She asked, her voice sounded like everything had been beaten out of her. Then again, those guys had gotten some good shots in on them.

"Hey, you hurt? Like really hurt? I'm not sure where we'll find some sub chips but if you need anything," Strike started, ignoring her question. Right now, he didn't even want to consider the other options. His sister shook her head and he made a silent sigh of relief, "Look, we'll just stay out here and then run right past them before they even know what's going on!"

Trace shot him a wry look, "You know the odds of that even working are in the negatives rights?" She said as Strike gave her a strange and surprised look, "Look, why don't we just continue going into this network. We may just find someone who can help. And what's with that face?" Trace pointed her thumb down the road. However, her voice soon caught as she realized that her thumb had hit someone.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Serenade asked.

Since that point, they had become a family and each of them had sorta adapted to each other. Trace was mostly a timid girl with some amounts of sarcasm still in her while Strike was a prideful fighter although he was easily embarrassed. He still possessed quite a bit of power while Trace possessed to the skill.

Serenade on the other hand had learned to become a little more...personable. Eventually, Trace and Strike started to call her mom and Serenade hadn't stopped them. In truth, she actually liked it. She was able to take care of someone (or someones in this case). She hadn't had much time to stay with Mamoru and take care of him in the way she had wanted to. He had spent so many days in the hospital without a friend while she was condemned to watching that stupid Forbidden Program.

By the time Megaman had come to claim it, she had been unfortunately unable to find her PET. Apparently, it might have been smashed one day when her old NetOp was having a seizure and her registration data had never been recovered. So, she had returned back to the Secret Area and stayed there for years unknown to her NetOp. It had been quite the bore until Trace and Strike had come into the place to escape those gangs.

And now, someone was coming for them again. The difference was that now, she was also there.

"Trace! Strike! Get behind me!" Serenade yelled. There wasn't any place they could go since they were already in the back of the network but they could at least get out of the battle area. The two navis nodded as they retreated as far back as they could.

Slur smirked as she saw the two navis flee, "Sending them back there won't save them. You'll barely be able to save yourself by the time I'm done with you. Meteor Wire," Strands of light extended from her wrist as she grabbed Serenade's Saint Light and flung it back at her.

Serenade put up her arms as her attack hit her and a Sonic Boom fired, striking Slur since she wasn't suspecting that Serenade could counter and attack. After all, her Counter Program was developed for just such a time. It was more or less created so that she could protect Mamoru from anything she could or more so to prevent herself from being overrun by viruses.

Slur landed back on the ground as she smirked, "Impressive. I guess I'll actually have to try," She said as she summoned an Life Aura, "It'll take quite some power in order to destroy this."

Serenade smirked, "Easy enough. Holy Shock!" She said as a gust of wind blew away Slur's aura and she was blasted by a barrage of blasts that cracked the panels they landed on. Not that they had much of an effect of Slur since she could hover. But still, the attack itself was enough to knock the white navi down on the ground. Impressive, with that kind of power it was easy to see why Serenade was known as the Underking.

The dark skinned navi walked closer to the downed white navi as her Counter Program reactivated, "You might as well give up. Only two navis have ever defeated me before and I don't think that you will be the third. Unlike either of them, you seem to not have power nor mercy. I think it'll be pretty hard for you to even give me a challenge." Serenade boasted, hoping that her words would cause Slur to back down.

"Shut up, you ignorant navi," Slur said as she climbed up to her feet, "Meteor Blade!" The strands of light formed into that of a two sided sword as she ran forward and rammed into Serenade. The dark skinned navi's Sonic Boom flew at her as Slur's sword slammed into her. However, the white navi used her blade to split her Serenade's counter into two, "You have no idea just what I'm capable of.

"I may not be able to pierce that defense of yours, but just imagine what I can do. There isn't a single way you can attack right now and I'll bet that when you attack that guard of yours must drop when that happens. So, I'll give you a choice. You can surrender or I'll blast those two brats," Slur smirked as the blade became wires once more and wrapped around Serenade's wrists, ultimately handcuffing her.

Serenade gave her a hard look, "You wouldn't."

Slur watched her for a moment before smiling, "Oh, I'm sure they'll survive….if they run. Meteor Strike!" She yelled as meteors began to fall from the sky and hit random parts of the network.

"NO! Holy Shock!" Serenade said as her attack began to cancel out Slur's. Luckily for Trace and Strike, the dark skinned navi's blasts had managed to take out a few stray meteors that had been heading in their direction.

However, she realized too little too late that she played right into Slur's hand, "Meteor Halo!" The white navi bounded back as the ring of wires that surround Serenade's wrists began to glow brightly. The explosion that occurred after left a damaged dark skinned navi lying on the ground groaning due to the attack. The white navi breathed hard as she tried to catch herself.

That attack took quite a bit of her own energy, but it was a special one used to counter powers like Serenade's. They would disable programs for a short period of time and normally worked well to confuse dark navis since they would be at odd with their lighter and darker selves giving her time to strike. On a navi like Serenade, it meant that her Counter Program wouldn't rearm after her attack for about a minute.

"Meteor Strike!" Slur yelled, now focusing the attack to only hit the area where Serenade was. The white navi smirked as she noticed the dark skinned navi was still alive. She was as tough as the rumors said, but she had lost this battle.

Slur grabbed Serenade and threw her over to the side of the network. The white navi opened a panel and the purple gate activated, locking Serenade in, "You can stay there for now. Don't worry, the effects of that attack should be over soon but if you try anything I will kill those two."

"Stay….away…." the dark skinned navi groaned.

Slur merely smirked, "I'm sorry, but that is unlikely." She said as she walked off towards Trace and Strike. The two navis merely stared in disbelief at the white navi before them as she gave them both an even stare.

"Disobey me and I will kill your dear mother. Understand?" She spoke firmly to the two navis. Grudgingly, both agreed.

Serenade tried to get back up, but the movement took up to much energy. Geez, just how much energy did that thing take from her. Or perhaps it was because her system were so busy reinstalling her programs back into her. Either way, it wasn't long before Serenade fell back on the ground and passed out.

'Trace….Strike….'

Slur kept silent as the navis began to walk through the Undernet. The brown and black navi kept on trying to shot her death stares but she didn't care what that Dark Power navi had to say to her. She was going to exterminate him, his sister, and all other Dark Power on the planet. Which only strengthened her confusion over Duo's decision to not act.

Several days before Duo's presence became known by the humans, he had sent her ahead of him in order to see whether or not the planet known as Earth was to be destroyed for its sins. When she had landed on the Net, she had immediately felt the presence of the dark forces that roamed the cyber world. Following her protocol, she had found a spot on the Net and entered into a hibernation state after sending the signal to Duo that Earth was ready to be destroyed.

However, she had woken up now several years later to find that indeed this planet still lived. Dup had spared them! But before the rage of thinking that this world had lived overcame her, she questioned as to why she had awakened. Only two things could wake her out of her state, an unprecedented surge of Dark Power or Duo himself. It hadn't taken her long to figure out what had broken the protocol.

For the last four years, she had been trying to contact Duo and get him to return to this world to destroy the planet. But he had been silent and as far as she could tell, he hadn't changed his course at all. He had ignored her. Despite the warnings, he had decided to leave the planet alone. And that alone seemed to drive her insane.

Why? What made this planet more special than any other. He was the eliminator of evil and he refused to listen to one who had been appointed to inform him that a world needed to be destroyed. And before its last moments, he would cast the final judgement. But he had never spared a planet before today. And now….he was refusing to recognize that a force unlike any ever seen had risen.

So, she was going to make him see. The flare that Dark Power navi had released had been enough to wake her out of her sleep. She was going to make her release more. If one of these navis existed, there was no telling if someone would try and duplicate it. It had to be destroyed. All of it! Only then would the universe be safe. Only then could goodness start again and pave the way for life.

Since that time of awakening, Slur hadn't been able to get a fix on this navi but she had learned of one's ability to track down any treasure. Surely, she should be able to find a navi using the same approach.

Slur clenched her fists. She had waited long enough. The more they waited, the more likely that darkness would rule. So, she had decided to go against protocol and take matters into her own hands. Duo would show up to do what he hadn't done in the past. She would make sure of it.

Update: Sunday

Ghost: Finally. Man, the powers of a laser pointer sure do wonders. Anyway, whad'ya know I lost the bet. I guess I'll um...I guess I'll...I don't know what I'll do. I didn't put money up. Guess, I'll just write I LOST. Yeah, that works right? Heh...bye! Ghost501 logging out!