Geo and Gutsman faced each other from opposite sides of the battle field, surrounded by hundreds of spectators. "We're gonna win this, right Gutsman?", Dex asked.
"That's right, Guts. No way we'll let you win, Guts."
"Sorry, but losing is not on my to-do list.", Geo retorted, "Let's Go!
Rockman vs. Gutsman: Battle Start!
"Battle Card! Predation! Break Saber!", Omega-Xis' head was replaced by a white sword with purple rings circling around it.
"Would you look at that!", Ribitta dramatized, "I've never heard of such an attack! And what's a Battle Card"
The realization hit Lan and Megaman like a cannonball going through a snowman. "You know, she's right. I didn't realize it until now, but that Rockman guy has used unknown attacks all this time...", Lan said.
"And what is a battle card?", Megaman asked.
Geo launched himself at Gutsman, swinging the saber in a wide arc. Gutsman dodged the attack, albeit barely. "Mega Guts Punch! Slot-IN!", Dex said.
Gutsmans right fist grew to three times its normal size. The rather large navi swung at Geo. The EM-Human jumped to avoid the attack, but the fist hit him in the leg, literally flipping Geo in the air. "Let's finish this, Gutsman! Long Sword! Slot-IN!", Gutsman slashed out with his newly acquired sword, but Geo rolled out of the way before the blade could connect.
"What do you think of it, Chaud?", Lan asked his rival, via phone.
"I'm not sure. To be honest, I didn't notice that until now, either. But there is one I did notice, recently."
"What's that?"
"Take a look at him. Doesn't he look an awful lot like that Geo kid you met a few a days ago?"
"Well, now that you mention it, he kinda does..."
"And his head-hand. Doesn't it look like Geos navi?"
"Wait. What are you trying to imply? Are you trying to say that Geo and Omega-Xis have somehow fused in the Cyber World? I hate to break it to you, Chaud, but we don't HAVE that kind of technology yet."
"There's somthing you should know."
"Uh-oh... I've seen movies like this before. I suppose now's the time you're going to tell me that we DO have such technology and that it just hasn't been revealed to the public yet, right?"
"Well"
Geo stood up, took aim, and shouted, "Rock Buster!" Omega-Xis shot out a purple beam from his mouth, and the sheer speed of it kept Gutsman from being able to dodge it.
"Mega Card! Predation! Wolf Woods!", A hologram of a vicious looking wolf, standing on two legs, with long, sharp claws appeared in front of Geo. The hologram ran up to Gutsman, who was too slow to react, and slashed twice with its claws, doing heavy damage to Gutsman.
"Okay, Gutsman! PROGRAM ADVANCE!", Dex shouted.
"Uh-oh...", Geo mumbled.
"PROGRAM ADVANCE, Guts!"
"Time Bomb! Triple Slot-IN! Time Bomb +!!"
A HUGE bomb appeared in Gutsmans hands, and he threw it a Geo full force. Gutsman might not be the brightest guy around, but he was definitely strong. The bomb flew through the air so fast that Geo didn't even know that Gutsman had thrown it until he had crashed into the arena wall over fifty feet away, and was trying to recover from the powerful explosion.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures, Geo.", Omega-Xis said.
Geo nodded his agreement, and stood up, his legs still wobbling. "I can't believe he got up from that!", Ribitta yelled, "Ladies and Gentlemen, it looks like we have one stubborn competitor on our hand here."
"Darn...", Dex muttered.
"So let me get this straight.", Lan said, "A few weeks ago, your company, in conjunction with the Sci-Labs and, for the first time, Yai's company, completed construction on the prototype of a new synchro chip that allows an operator and navi to fuse together in the Cyber World. Then, a few days later, five of the fifteen you made were stolen right under the noses of security."
Chaud nodded, "Yes. And if my guess is correct, your friend Geo might be the thief. Or one of them, anyway."
Lan frowned, "I don't know... I mean, yes, Geo and Omega-Xis look too much like Rockman for it to be ignored, but Geo doesn't really seem like the type to do such a thing..."
"Nevertheless, when you see Geo again, confront him."
Lan opened his mouth to object, but Chaud interrupted, "Or at least try to get him to come down to the Science Labs for questioning."
"...Fine..."
"Look, I'm not saying it's him. He looked like a good person to me when I met him, too. But think of this: whenever one of them isn't around, the other is."
Lan nodded his consent, "Fine, I'll talk to him. But you know it's against my personality to force someone into doing something against their will."
"We'll see what happens when the time comes.", Chaud hung up.
"Megaman, what do you think?"
"Well...", The blue navi said, "considering all the facts, I think yes, Rockman could be Geos and Omega-Xis' crossfused form. But like Chaud said: we'll see what happens when the time comes. I just hope they aren't guilty of anything"
Geo, still a bit shaken up, lifted a battle card that was glowing red, "Star Break!!" Omega-Xis' head disappeared, leaving a regular arm, and Geos blue Ice Pegasus Transer, "Fire Leo!"
Geo slotted in the Star Force card, and when the ensuing red light died down, Geo was left standing with red armor, that seemed to be a little bulkier than before. Omega-Xis' head was also different, now shaped somthing like a lions head.
"What the?", Dex started. Geo brought Mega's head down to his side, allowing the energy to charge up. A moment later, he thrust his hand forward, and a giant laser of fire and lava shot out at Gutsman, "ATOMIC BLAZER!!!". The dull-witted navi didn't stand a chance. The blast hit him quite hard, and he went flying all the way to the wall on the other side of the arena. He hit it, and fell in a heap to the floor. He tried to get up, but fell right back down on his face.
"And that's it! Ladies and Gentlemen, this battle is OVER!!", Ribitta shouted. The crowd went nuts, cheering and chanting "Rockman! Rockman"
Geo and Gutsman met up with the rest of their friends in the stands. "Nice match, you two.", Protoman said.
"That was really cool, Rockman.", Megaman said, "What was that transformation?"
"It's called the 'Star Force'.", Geo replied, "There are three of them, in total. The one you saw me use is called the 'Fire Leo'. I'd tell you the other two, but I'm probably gonna have to use them in the finals. No use giving your opponents an advantage."
"True. I'm interested in seeing what they're like."
Zero didn't say anything, as usual, and Numberman was too busy glaring at Zero to give Geo a compliment, "It's our turn now, Zero. I'm going to win."
Zero took the taunt with the usual calm demeanor.
Zero vs. Numberman: Battle Start!
"Battle Chip! Dice Bomb! Slot-IN!... Huh.", Mr. Higsby said. Numberman threw the bomb at Zero, who didn't even bother to move.
The bomb exploded, and when the smoke cleared, Zero was nowhere to be seen, "Where did he go?", Numberman asked.
"Right here...", Zero gave Numberman a very hard punch to the back the head, and the processing navi fell, obviously down for the count.
Protoman sighed, Gutsman laughed, and Megaman was struggling to keep himself from joining Gutsman. Lan and Chaud weren't even trying not to laugh. Geo gave a smile, "Well that was ridiculous. I swear, if this was some sort-of anime or fan fiction, I would be sweat-dropping, right about now..."