Chapter 14: Black ops
22:04 PM (Japan Time), Thursday January the 17th…
"… Huh… Unh… Huh… Huff!"
Saito was tossing around inside of his bed and rolling over: he looked like he was having trouble sleeping.
All those exams…! Even though I could clear all of them with 10s if I wished to, I purposely set my recent memory routines at random to make it fairer: even so, I always get 7s and 8s like Yaito – chan… And suddenly becoming Netto – kun's "lover" has changed me, too… Now we tend to make out once per day… And even though we always end up relaxed and everything after it… I don't feel like it tonight. And to think we cleared those exams about two weeks ago, yet they keep on chasing me… I should ask Vadous – san if there's a way to lock or delete unnecessary data…
He tossed some of the covers out and tried to place his body facing towards Netto's bed, at his left: he spotted his open mouth and he was snoring.
Netto – kun. There he goes. He's surely thinking about that "Maha Special" dish. Those guys have been behaving well, but I don't feel like trusting them 100% yet. I know that the Net Police are keeping tabs on them, but… Grah. That face makes me wanna sneak downstairs into the kitchen and having something as a snack! Netto – kun! Why couldn't you think of something else which wasn't food? Anyway… I've heard that IPC is gonna release a new model of PET! The PET II came out in August, it hasn't been half a year yet and they wanna bring another one out! They sure must be desperate to beat Yaito – chan's games…
He then placed his body face-up and his hands behind his head: he managed to close his eyes and seemed to be slowly relaxing.
Finally! I feel relaxed enough to fall asleep. Good night, Netto – kun!
He formed a grin on his face and soon began to breathe like he did when sleeping: Netto's PET II screen flashed purple for a split second before resuming its normal coloring.
# Status Report *3A89*#
DATE & TIME: 17/01/2010, 22:07:33 PM (JAPAN TIME)…
ALL SYSTEMS NOMINAL…
INITIATING THREAT SCAN…
WARNING!
UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL DETECTED OUTSIDE OF SECURITY GATE #1!
INCREASE SECURITY MEASURES TO LEVEL 5!
SCANNING THREAT…
ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT "DARK POWER" COMPOSES 75% OF THE THREAT…
CONCLUSION: BLACK HAT!
SEND EMERGENCY SIGNAL TO UNITS B, O AND S…
SIGNAL RECEIVED…
UNITS B, O AND S EN ROUTE…
ETA: 55 SECONDS…
INTRUDER STOPPED AT SECURITY LEVEL 3: USING "MAZE" SUBDEFENSE: INTRUDER CONFUSED: "MAZE" SUBDEFENSE EFFECTIVENESS IN REAL INTRUSION STATUS CONFIRMED…
UNITS REPORTING IN…
DISPATCHING THROUGH LEVELS 1, 2 & 3…
UNITS ENGAGING THREAT…
CALCULATED RATE OF SUCCESS: 100%
CALCULATED RATE OF FAILURE: 0.00%
THREAT RETREATING THROUGH AUXILIARY WI-FI CONNECTION: UNITS CANCELLING COMBAT MODE…
\\\\ OS V 2.5.2 \\\\
WRITING SECURITY REPORT…
REPORT COMPLETED…
SENDING COPIES TO SECURITY UNITS AND TO OWNER EMAIL ACCOUNT…
COPIES RECEIVED…
ANALYZING ENTRY MODE…
THREAT USED "WI-FI PET LINK" TO TRY AND GAIN ACCESS…
RECOMMENDED ACTION: INSTALL DNA SCANNER FOR 'WI-FI PET LINK' TO REDUCE PROBABILITIES OF FUTURE INTRUSIONS…
DAMAGE SUSTAINED: NONE TO CRITICAL SYSTEMS GIVEN HOW INTRUDER DID NOT MAKE IT PAST SECURITY LEVEL 3…
SLIGHT DAMAGE TO SECURITY GATE 3…
TYPE OF DAMAGE: LEVEL 2 CLASS DAMAGE…
DEFINITION OF LEVEL 2 CLASS DAMAGE: BUSTER – TYPE ATTACK CLOCKING AT 5 HP PER ATTACK… NUMBER OF ATTACKS: 5 ATTACKS… TOTAL DAMAGE: 25 HP…
DISPATCHING REPAIR NANOMACHINES…
ESTIMATED REPAIR TIME: 2.8 SECONDS…
DAMAGE FIXED…
SECURITY UNITS LOGGING OUT THROUGH EMERGENCY HI-POWER ENCRYPTED VPN TUNNEL…
ALL SYSTEMS NOMINAL…
NO FURTHER ABNORMALITIES DETECTED…
WRAPPING UP NIGHT SCAN…
SYSTEM HIBERNATION…
22:11 PM (Japan Time)…
"… Vr~um…"
Delta's throne was empty: the only sounds were the humming of the capsules and the rest of the lab's lighting had been dimmed down: it looked devoid of life.
"Huff, huff!"
Some data suddenly formed and assembled to give way to Delta: they sat down on the throne while panting: they then looked at its tunic's sleeves and seemed to be nervous.
"… Crap. What security…! Where the heck did that "maze" pop out from, anyway? Luckily enough there was an auxiliary route… I managed to run out before those three Navis could corner me…! Close, way too close for my taste…! Okay… That info I got from that guy before he died didn't take security into account…!" Delta muttered.
Delta stepped down from the throne and walked through the alley while stopping to look at each capsule for some seconds: Delta then glanced at a cubicle built directly north of the throne.
"Well… Given how this place is built upon a secure server… I don't have to fear any "unwanted" visits. I better go and rest: the days ahead of me will be busy enough trying to pull off my "Scheme". Hmpf. Official Net Battlers…! Come at us and fall for that smoke curtain. By the time you guys get here… I'll have a "welcome committee" eagerly waiting for you guys… Heh, heh, heh." Delta muttered with a hint of amusement.
Delta stretched and headed towards the cubicle: it contained a small bedroom with a bed and a small desk: they let out a yawn.
"Anyway… Let's hit the sack… I feel tired and it's no wonder. I fired 5 attacks in a row and was about to go for higher-power stuff when I was forced to run out… Yeah… Tomorrow will be a fresher day… And good stuff is waiting… Heh, heh, heh…"
This is just the beginning, Officials!
07:55 AM (Japan Time), Friday January the 18th…
"… Found you."
"Crap!"
"Speak."
"Go ahead! Delete me!"
"I won't fall for that trick."
"Clever bothersome guy!"
"Do you lowlife know who I am?"
"The Official's Ace Net Navi: Blues EXE!"
Blues had cornered a Reverse Internet Navi somewhere within it and was aiming a Long Sword at its neck as the guy leant his back against a column and looked panicked.
"Hmpf. My reputation didn't get rusted, then." He muttered with a hint of sarcasm.
"Go ahead! Delete me!"
"Not yet. You lowlife are useful."
"Not – gonna – talk!" The Navi challenged.
"Oh? Maybe you prefer you lowlifes' creditors to me?" Blues offered with a hint of sarcasm.
"No~! I'll talk!" He gasped.
"What is you lowlifes' goal?"
"Our "Wonder Weapons" will allow us to gain control of the Reverse Internet and then invade the upper Internet!" The Navi boasted with some confidence.
"Hmpf. What rubbish."
"What!"
"Before even getting control of the Reverse Internet, you'd have to challenge "S"… Did you lowlife knew that?"
"Uo~h! Challenge "S"…? I thought S – sama would agree with it!" The Navi gasped.
"His interest is to keep you lowlifes controlled to some extent."
"Damn!"
"So? Who is you lowlifes' leader?"
"Specter Man – sama: the Envoy of the Afterworld!"
"I'm so trembling in fear by now." Blues dully told him.
"How dare you!"
"Where is that guy?"
"Dunno! Ask S – sama, since you seem to be so friendly with His Grace to begin with!" The guy challenged.
"Hmpf. The creditors are waiting out there."
"Uo~h! G… Gospel HQ!"
"What? Didn't that place get deleted after the servers blew up?" Enzan muttered.
"I dunno! But the place is still there! However! Specter Man – sama foresaw this. He's set up a "Dark Power" door which only "Dark Power" Net Navis can open!" The guy announced.
"Crap. We'll have to find a way to open that." Enzan muttered.
"It's impossible! Heh, heh, heh… Hah, hah, ha~h!"
"Blues. Return. Leave that guy like that: the creditors will save us the bothersome time of having to delete him."
"Roger, Enzan – sama."
"O-oi! Wait!"
"There it is!"
"Get his head!"
"Dismember him!"
"Behead him!"
"Mutilate him!"
"He stole 5.000 off me!"
"7.500!"
"12.400!"
"He tricked us with a new "Ultra Perfect Camouflage Device" which doesn't do anything!"
A crowd of about ten Reverse Internet Net Navis was marching towards him while sporting all kinds of weapons: the Navi ran for it while Blues looked on from an upper platform.
"Pit lowlifes against themselves: And Then There Were None. I find fitting somehow." Enzan muttered with a hint of irony.
"What are we going to do about that "Dark Power" door, though, Enzan – sama?" Blues asked.
"Good question. Guess we'll have to find a way to open it." Enzan sighed in defeat.
"… You people! Settle it down! I am Rank #7: and, by the rules of the Reverse Internet, I forbid any mutilations! You! Give them back their money and then get outta here!" A voice exclaimed.
"Shoo! You guys are too stiff! This is the Reverse Internet!"
"If you don't like the rules, then go elsewhere. But no mutilations are gonna happen in our watch."
"Don't mind them, Blues. Plug Out."
"Roger, Enzan – sama."
07:59 AM (Japan Time)…
"… Fua~h…! I slept perfectly. Yo! Niisan! Good morning."
"… Morning."
Netto woke up to spot Saito sitting next to the computer and holding the PET II on his right hand: he looked concerned.
"What's up?" Netto asked.
"Here. Read." Saito sighed.
Netto picked the PET II and read something: he gasped and looked up from it.
"Somebody tried to posses your body this night?" Netto was stunned.
"And it had Dark Power on him or her. But it was not an absolutely "Dark Soul" Navi: the scans showed that just three quarters of it had the Dark Power." Saito explained.
"What a nice surprise that Vadous - san foresaw that scenario and developed a powerful security system. We should thank him when we see him." Netto sighed in relief.
"Yeah… But let's not tell Mama. I don't wanna fret her."
"O. K. You look like you didn't sleep much, though."
"Your face, Netto – kun! That face when dreaming of curry… I couldn't focus!" Saito protested.
"Ops. Heh, heh, heh." Netto scratched the back of his head and blushed a lot.
"Jeez! You almost tempted me to sneak out and steal a snack off the kitchen! I had to look at the ceiling to avoid it!" Saito sounded exasperated by now.
"Sorry, sorry!" Netto apologized.
Saito sighed in defeat while Netto blushed…
11:11 AM (Japan Time)…
"… Delta – sama? Are you alright?"
Specter Man was knocking into Delta's door.
Master must've been working too much.
The door suddenly opened and Delta stepped out: the hood had partly fallen and it revealed that a mask was covering their face.
The mask was colored white and it had a circular shape: two narrow slits allowed for two red eyes to see.
A speaker was set on place of the mouth.
"Uh… Specter Man… What's up?"
"You seem tired, my Master." Specter Man pointed out.
"Huh? What time is it, anyway?" Delta let out a large yawn.
"11: 12 AM." Specter Man announced.
"A~RGH! SO LATE~!"
Delta ran forward in a blur and quickly began to type into each capsule's control panel at a mad speed to bring out several holographic screens which hovered in the air.
"What's wrong, Master?"
"I went to sleep late. I tried to infiltrate a system with very advanced security and had to run out before the security corps cornered me: the whole sprinting took a lot of energy outta me."
"Oh. I see. By the way… One agent was exposed."
"Whatever. They'll keep on believing we're show-offs, anyway. They won't take us seriously!" Delta shrugged.
"Roger."
"Officials… My "Scheme" will overwhelm you guys…"
12:09 PM (Japan Time)…
"… Someone with 75% of Dark Power tried to hijack Saito's body… Who the hell could it be?"
Vadous was reading the status report on the big LCD screen inside of the largely unlit room which seemed to be part of his base of operations: he was sporting his body armor sans the helmet.
"When the three Musketeers got at the scene, they'd already fled through the Auxiliary Route… Hmmm… Care to give out any ideas, Omega?" He asked.
Omega, who'd been invisible, became visible: he was standing right behind Vadous' revolving chair.
"It cannot have been any normal grunt: that's for sure. Maybe it's a secret Dark Power Navi Regal had programmed as a backup or someone who survived by hiding in the Nebula Hole Area?" Omega suggested.
"Hmmm… Maybe… We should tip the Net Police into having a look into Nebula's computers just in case." Vadous suggested.
"Okay. I'll go check on the men. See you later, Boss. And do tell Mr. Brutus to shave his Mohawk hair." Omega grinned.
"I get the irony." Vadous muttered.
"Heh, heh, heh. Channel ZZZ V2 strikes anew."
"Jeez. Stop making up silly names." Vadous grumbled.
"Call Silly Man."
"Silly Man… What originality, really…" Vadous rolled his eyes.
"Nope! Brutus Man and Brute Man will fight to the death in the most epic duel of the Covenant's history!"
"Sigma is starting to influence you, even… What a crew." Vadous muttered with a hint of defeatism.
Omega made a broad grin while Vadous slapped his face in defeat…