Chapter 20: Below Duo's Comet
11:48 AM (Moscow Time), Wednesday October the 28th…
"… Scope Gun!"
"Gyro Cutter!"
"Hmpf!"
"Heh."
The "Darkloids" put up smug smiles and dodged the incoming attacks from both "CF" Laika and "CF" Airstar.
"Cosmo Buster!"
"Swallow Cutter!"
The two "Net Saviors" dodged: "CF" Airstar chased Swallow Man while Netto was climbing a ladder to reach the control cabin.
Otouto!
Gotta Plug-In into the excavator while I can!
I get your logic!
"… Cross Spark!"
"Cosmo Gate!"
"Swallow Cutter!"
The two "Net Saviors" still held their ground.
"Charlie! Take care of the sky guy!" "CF" Laika instructed.
"Okay!"
"CF" Airstar flew towards Cloud Man.
"Target… Locked On! Gyro Shooter!"
Cloud Man moved out of the way as "CF" Airstar shot at him and dodged an incoming attack.
"Search Grenade!"
Dr. Hikari was running an analysis of the bucket wheel excavator: Viruses filled the Cyber World of the excavator.
"What a huge amount of Virus signatures!" He gasped.
Netto reached the control cabin.
"Let's go, niisan! Plug In! Rock Man EXE, Trans…!"
A hole opened and a "Dimensional Converter" popped out in a 45º angle thus pushing him off the machine.
"Ua~h!"
What! Somebody catch him! Freeze Man gasped.
"CF" Laika spotted this and caught Netto in mid-air by the back of his vest's neck.
"Heh, heh… Thank you, Laika!"
Laika had a hostile glare to him as if he was going back to his attitude of reprimanding Netto.
"I'm not a cat! Handle me with more care!" Netto yelled to no one in particular as he waved his arms and legs around, enraged.
Several "Dimensional" Converters popped out of the excavator all of a sudden.
"…"Dimensional Converters"…!" Netto muttered.
"Heh, heh, heh."
Umbra leant both forearms on top of the desk while a hand pushed a red button which seemed to be part of some control console somewhere: it looked like a Navi's hand.
Some trick which Cousin has come up with?
The "Dimensional Converters" activated and a second "Dimensional Area" smaller than the first one surrounded the excavator.
"A "Dimensional Area" has formed around the excavator's radius!" Pride gasped.
"What is gonna happen?"
The excavator started up again and it moved towards the limit of the first "Dimensional Area": the two "Dimensional Areas" collided and created an energy reaction.
"What?" Even Dr. Hikari was baffled.
The second "Dimensional Area" opened a hole on the first and the excavator moved on.
"It's going to break through the "Dimensional Area"!" Netto was astonished and so were his partners.
The Devil! Freeze Man inwardly cursed.
Ah, the rascal! Cheat codes! "K. S." cursed as well.
"What! They synched the wavelength of our "Dimensional Area" with theirs to eliminate the effects of our "Dimensional Area"…!" He gasped.
The "Darkloids" were still present, however, and they didn't waste their chance.
"Air Dive!" Swallow Man brought his face-mask and dived towards them.
"Cosmo Buster!"
The two "Cross Fusion" fighters shielded Netto but got kicked aside by the attacks: the three "Darkloids" moved in for the kill.
"NETTO!" The four companions shouted inside of the control center.
"Dimensional Area: Cancellation!"
The first "Dimensional Area" faded and the Darkloids were forced to leave: they all sighed on relief: Laika and Airstar broke out of "Cross Fusion" and groaned in pain.
"… Laika! Charlie!" He gasped.
Otouto! The excavator…!
The machine had reached another city and was wrecking everything on its path.
"The city…!" Netto gasped.
"The city's gonna be wrecked!"
"STOP! STOP IT! Hell!" Netto yelled in anger.
Laika and Airstar had stood up as well as a helicopter flew over them and then began to land.
Hell! What lowlifes! Freeze Man cursed.
"One city has been wholly annihilated!" Jasmine gasped.
"If it keeps this course, next time it'll… intrude Sharo's capital city!"
"Hikari – hakase: let me fight as well! I just can't stand seeing this and not doing anything to help!" Rokushakudama requested.
"I will fight, too! I swear to Totem – sama! I'm gonna beat those dudes to a pulp!"
"I will fight, too!"
Yuuichirou clenched his right fist and turned around.
"I understand! You guys will join the battle, too!" He told them.
"… You three should go to the medical room." The pilot of the chopper that brought the trio back at the lab suggested.
"That will not be necessary." Laika replied.
Netto got out of the chopper while Laika and Airstar stayed.
"Oh boy… Your piloting is horrible: I almost got sick in this chopper!"
Meijin was proceeding with the repairs of the micro-components of the "Synchro Chip" using special precision devices.
"Meijin – san!" Netto called out as he ran in and stopped next to him.
Meijin looked like he was totally absorbed in the task and didn't hear Netto: he inhaled.
"MEI – JIN – SA~N!" He yelled.
"A~H! Please don't scare me! Netto – kun…" Meijin gasped.
"Meijin – san! How's my "Synchro Chip"?"
"San wa iranai, Netto – kun… It took a brutal amount of damage. I guess it'll still take another hour…"
"Another hour? Sharo's capital city will be in danger the next time if we don't hurry it up! Where's Papa?" Netto exclaimed before asking.
"He's making Dingo's group of four carry out their last-stage experiments to do "Cross Fusion" and…" Meijin replied.
Netto's PET beeped.
"Netto! The Sharo Army is on the move!" Laika reported.
"The Sharo Army?"
Three fighter planes took off and chased the excavator, which was cutting through a forest.
"Objective: spotted. We are preparing to attack. Follow me."
Their cursors locked on the structure.
"Fire!"
They shot missiles but the "Dimensional Converters" popped out and the "Dimensional Area" acted as a shield.
"Hell! They actually used the "Dimensional Area" as a barrier!" Laika scoffed.
"It doesn't matter how much we attack because it'll be in vain like this!"
"So the Army is powerless to halt this, too…" Airstar muttered.
Netto clenched a fist and made a grimace.
Don't try to recklessly charge in, Hikari… Freeze Man tried to keep his calm as he monitored them.
Someone appeared outside of the facility: Dark Miyabi.
"Hum."
The excavator moved forward and was reaching the capital city.
"Excavator: currently at five kilometers from the capital city!" Search Man reported.
"Five kilometers, you say?" Netto exclaimed.
"Has the citizens' evacuation been completed?" Laika questioned.
The citizens ran for it.
"Half of them are still there." Search Man replied.
"Curses!"
Laika started to walk out.
"Laika!"
"I know that going there is pointless! But every minute and second of time I can buy counts!" He exclaimed.
"Then… I will come, too!" Netto announced.
"You wait until the repairs of the "Synchro Chip" are finished." Laika ordered.
The door opened: Dingo, Pride, Nenji and Jasmine walked in.
"Laika." Pride called out.
"Princess Pride!" Laika greeted back.
"We're going to fight as well." Pride announced.
"However… But if something were to happen to Princess then Cream Land would…!" Laika argued without losing his manners and with a hint of worry.
Are those both personal and political fears, Mr. Laika?
"I won't sit back and keep seeing how Sharo is in a crisis."
"The final tests have just finished. They too have become excellent "Cross Fusion" members!" Dr. Hikari announced.
"Papa!"
"Netto! I'll fight harder to make up for you not being there!"
Jasmine nodded while Pride clasped Laika's hands, making him blush: she also leant closer.
"Let us battle together, Laika." She rallied.
"Princess…"
Someone whistled and they both turned to see Airstar toying with the contact key for his chopper.
"I've got a chopper in standby."
Meijin kept on with the repairs but didn't see someone walking from behind: he took a break.
"Another little bit…" He muttered.
Miyabi suddenly moved beside him and pressed his left hand against the right side of his neck thus knocking him out cold while the six fighters (having coats on) left on the chopper.
"I'm counting on you, guys …" Netto muttered.
Alarms blared around the facility all of a sudden.
"The manipulator room…?" Yuuichirou wondered aloud.
"Meijin – san!"
Netto and Dr. Hikari ran out to find Meijin walking erratically and holding the side of his neck.
Huh? What happened? "K. S." wondered.
"Meijin – san!"
"What happened, Meijin?" Dr. Hikari asked.
"Dark Miyabi…!" He announced.
"Dark Miyabi, you say?" Netto was surprised.
Shadow Man's new Operator? They're here? "K. S." was visibly surprised at the news.
"He stole the "Synchro Chip"… Fled upstairs…" He reported.
"Papa! Please help Meijin – san!"
"Netto!"
Netto ran out towards the roof.
"The roof…!"
Three kunai flied towards him: he dodged and the door closed behind him with the kunai holding it locked.
"Dark Miyabi! Gimme my "Synchro Chip" back!" Netto demanded.
"Hikari Netto!"
"Miyabi!"
"Your "Synchro Chip" is here."
Netto spotted him standing on the support tower for a "Dimensional Generator" antenna.
"If you wish to have it back then you will battle me! Hikari Netto! Plug In! Shadow Man, Transmission!"
"Hell! Let's go, Rock Man!"
Let's show this guy who the boss is, otouto!
OK!
"Plug In! Rock Man EXE, Transmission!"
"Ha~h!"
Shadow Man appeared behind Rock Man and he barely dodged.
"Shadow Man!"
"As I thought: you and I keep on being enemies… Rock Man!"
"Battle Chip, Samurai Sword! Slot In!"
Rock Man clashed blades with him while Yuuichirou had tried ramming into the door but it didn't budge: he banged on it.
"Netto! Saito!"
"Hikari – hakase! I'll break the door!"
Meijin had brought an electric saw and two soldiers accompanied him.
"Please leave it to me! Hakase! Go and contact Laika – kun and the others!" He requested.
"I'm counting on you!" Yuuichirou told him.
"… Why, Miyabi? Why are you fighting me? You helped us the other day!"
"Don't get the wrong idea. I am not either your ally or enemy. I'm a worker who'll undergo requests with a juicy reward."
"Requests…?" Netto asked.
"Indeed… Requests like deleting Rock Man, for example!" He announced.
"To delete me, did you say?" Rock Man questioned while struggling in the deadlock.
"That's exactly it!" Shadow Man replied.
Shadow Man attacked but Rock Man jumped out of the way.
"Just who issued such a request? The "Darkloids"?" Netto demanded.
It could be. Cousin could want to play antiques.
"The "Darkloids"? Hmpf." Miyabi scoffed.
"I'm wrong, then?"
"The requester was the Tesla of the "Neo WWW"!" Miyabi let out.
"Did you say - Tesla? But…! The "Neo WWW"…!" Netto gasped.
"I took up this request before their annihilation. The requester has vanished but the payment has already been inserted into the bank. My style is to always accomplish all jobs I accept!" Miyabi announced.
Che. Magnets Jr.! Messing up again!
The electrical saw was cutting through the door while the excavator continued its mad rampage.
"Are we too late?"
Laika was eyeing the situation from the chopper.
"We must stop them before they reach the city center!"
"I'm gonna land!"
"Wait! The "Converters"…!" Pride warned.
The chopper had to ascend quickly to avoid colliding with the top of the "Dimensional Area" dome.
"Hakase!" Laika requested.
"Don't worry! Let's shot the enemy's trick back at them! Dimensional Area: Activate!"
The circuit in which Rock Man and Shadow Man were fighting glowed with blue light as it powered up.
"Huh?" Both wondered.
A "Dimensional Area" bubble surrounded the chopper which then made contact with the main "Dimensional Area": Yuuichirou increased the energy output and the chopper safely entered the excavator's "Dimensional Area" bubble.
"Success!"
The chopper landed: both Laika and Airstar came out.
"Synchro Chip, Slot In! CROSS FUSION!"
"Hmpf. How incorrigibly…" Swallow Man muttered aloud.
"So you showed up. You're daring." Cosmo Man taunted.
"I wonder about that! Get ready for a fight, guys!"
"Okay!" Dingo confirmed.
"YEAH!" They all exclaimed.
"Synchro Chip, Slot In! CROSS FUSION!" Four persons yelled at the same time as they discarded their coats.
Heh, heh, heh. Let's look on! First: Ms. Princess!
"CF" Pride's design was a total remake of Knight Man's body because it became a vanilla – white armor with a skirt and an integrated helmet instead of something bulky and big.
To be more precise, the helmet had that grid-shaped protector over the eyes and nose plus a reddish crest spanning from the middle of the helmet to the back: its color was white and it left Pride's mouth and lower jaw exposed.
A simplistic piece of gray armor started at the shoulders and stopped around the center of the body: it had a triangular opening and Knight Man's emblem was inserted on the middle of it along with a patch of brighter purple armor.
The shoulders were simplistic and their shape was reminiscent of foot-balls with a purplish piece of armor spanning across their length: purplish "skin" formed over her arms: the left forearm was covered by a tulip-like shape colored white with a bluish edge while the right one ended as a metallic circle with dots on it and the characteristic wrecking ball installed there.
The upper suit ended with a slight bluish edge and then formed a cylindrical skirt which extended past her feet.
Her hair had been formed into a combination of two circles and a cone aiming downwards.
Talk about original designing! Let's check Mr. Dingo next.
"CF" Dingo didn't break the pattern of Tomahawk Man's design: over 90% was just identical and the only esthetical changes were adding red coloring to the front and soils of the boots and some feathers spreading from the waist belt.
The hair decoration and the shape of the armor remained largely unchanged save that the shoulders now had a different design because the chest armor formed some odd edges: the wrist armor was brown but that was a minimal change too.
No big surprise. Ms. Jasmine next. Let's see if they've redone their whole design or not.
"CF" Meddy's form retained the bodysuit design but it now included partial sleeves for the shoulders which ended before the elbows: the gloves' design was simplistic too with a half-sphere-shaped armor segment over the wrists having an outer red edge.
Her helmet's "antennae" now aimed upwards along the nurse cap and the shades were a transparent cyan shade.
The boots had changed slightly, too, and they gained bluish focalized soils: the stockings' upper edges were red too.
Her back gained an integrated backpack there to replace Meddy's usual medical case.
Intriguing. Mr. Rokushakudama's last. Ah! His design seems to have been remade to fit him too.
"CF" Rokushakudama was another example of an interestingly redone design too.
To begin with the helmet had a round disk shape and was composed of main purple armor and a smaller orange disc atop it: green thick shades hid his eyes and a grayish circle surrounded the neck.
Purple armor with two curved pieces colored purple and orange had formed over his upper body: Napalm Man's typical guns were aiming upwards and rested atop the shoulders.
Thick purple armor covered the forearms (with a white circling band at their start) and some of it surrounded the shoulders along with a curved metallic band.
The rest of the body was unadorned save for two parallel orange/reddish stripes running down the length: metallic circlets were placed over his hips too.
The boots' form was enlarged and thickened but they remained identical to those of Napalm Man.
Heh! Six VS Four. But we'll fight fair! "K. S." smiled.
Impressive! The number of "Cross Fusion" members is soaring! These six, Hikari, Ijuuin, Sakurai, Yuriko, Magnets… 11 of the known 12 "Crest" holders can use "Cross Fusion" by now! Freeze Man smiled too.
"… I don't care how many of you guys come at us: it doesn't change anything!" Swallow Man yelled as they moved forward.
"Let's go! Scope Gun!"
"Tornado Arm!"
"Tomahawk Swing!"
"Royal Wrecking Ball!"
"Fire Bomb!"
"Medi Capsule!"
Rock Man's and Shadow Man's duel kept on: explosions rang out and Shadow Man quickly dashed around Rock Man.
"Battle Chip, Vulcan! Slot In!"
Shadow Man easily dodged by jumping position in a very quick manner which made it hard to catch up.
"That's the real one!"
He aimed and hit Shadow Man: he seemed to be deleted by the attack while a blade suddenly emerged from the ground behind Rock Man.
"Here!"
The real Shadow Man jumped in for the kill.
"Saito – niisan!"
"We did it!" Miyabi exclaimed.
A needle shot out of nowhere and it intercepted the blade so Shadow Man lost the window and had to land in the ground: he looked behind Rock Man.
"Who's that?" He questioned.
"Shah, shah, shah, shah, shah! Me!" Needle Man announced.
"Needle Man!" Rock Man exclaimed.
"You lowlife!" Miyabi hissed.
"Yuriko!" Netto gasped.
Yuriko was on the scene.
"Stop this meaningless battle! Dark Miyabi!" She commanded.
Yuriko and Needle Man? What's going on? Saito wondered.
Hum! Intriguing. "K. S." grinned.
Tell that dog a lesson or two.
"CF" Pride shot the Royal Wrecking Ball but Swallow Man dodged: Cosmo Man tried to punch "CF" Jasmine but failed.
"Vulcan Gun!"
"Tomahawk Air Raid!"
The attacks were not damaging the excavator at all.
We need another strategy!
Four of the "Cross Fusion" fighters faced forward: "CF" Laika was climbing up the ladder using his stealth camouflage ability: "CF" Airstar faced Swallow Man in an aerial battle again.
Keep them distracted!
"CF" Laika entered the control cabin and plugged Search Man inside the Cyber World: he was greeted by a horde of Water-type Viruses.
"Scope Gun!"
Three kunai flew towards Yuriko: she dodged them and then stood up.
"Hear out what I have to say! If my hunch is correct then you too…!"
"Shut up!"
Miyabi jumped off the antenna and grabbed Yuriko from behind.
"Yuriko!" Netto exclaimed.
Some light burst out of Miyabi's right hand all of sudden: he let go due to the surprise and dropped the "Synchro Chip" in the process.
"W-what the…?" He hissed.
"…That's… "Duo's Crest"!" Netto exclaimed.
"As I thought: you too are one of those who have been granted Duo's trial!"
"Did you say "Duo"?" Miyabi gasped.
Meijin kicked the door out its frame and he entered the roof followed by three soldiers.
"Netto – kun!"
"Grah! Shadow Man!"
Miyabi retrieved his Navi and dropped a flash bomb to escape.
"He vanished…!" Netto exclaimed.
"Miyabi was… He was the 13th "Crest" owner, then!" Meijin grasped.
You're kidding me. Freeze Man was taken aback.
How ironic! "K. S." grinned.
"Correct!"
Yuriko tossed Netto back his "Synchro Chip" and retrieved Needle Man next.
"That's why I've been tailing Miyabi. I'll chase him." She announced.
She easily jumped over the fence to everyone's surprise.
"Netto – kun! What about the city?" Rock Man called out.
"Niisan…!"
Netto looked up with a serious face as if he feared the worst: explosions kept on ringing out around the excavator.
How is it?
More explosions rang out inside of its Cyber World as Search Man finished the Viruses off.
"The power core!" He reported.
"Destroy it! Program Advance! Vulcan, Triple Slot In!"
"Mugen Vulcan!"
The attack destroyed the program and the excavator came to a halt.
"What?" Cosmo Man was baffled.
They all gasped and stared at the immobile machine.
"Double Gyro Cutter!"
"Tomahawk Rolling!"
"Kingdom Crusher!"
"Napalm Bomb!"
"Chemical Flash!"
The three "Darkloids" were forced to flee: the "Dimensional Converters" retreated and the "Dimensional Area" faded: everyone retrieved their PET IIIs next.
"We did it! We beat 'em!" Dingo yelled in victory.
"Our first victory!" Jasmine added.
"Princess! You aren't hurt, are you?" Laika asked while walking over to her.
"I'm fine."
"… Human holders of my "Duo's Crest"!" A commanding voice boomed out of nowhere.
Duo! Is that Duo? Where's he talking from? From the comet? Freeze Man gasped.
Duo! So that's their voice! "K. S." gasped.
The "Crest" holders scattered all over the world paid attention (Meiru in Japan, Enzan in Ameroupe, Tesla from a room inside of the "Neo WWW" HQ), including Barrel: he was using the Time – Space distortion to get a hold of the events in his "future".
"When you humans' "Crests" become one… With that power… Will you humans be able to overcome my trial? Earthlings! The day of judgment is close by!" Duo announced.
"Duo…" Netto muttered.
Umbra was sitting on the table of "Neo WWW" HQ when a purple column of light appeared: he jumped off the table and stood firm as a familiar figure formed inside of it: the light vanished.
"Heh. We've gathered the 13 "Crest" holders. That Duo is slower than a turtle! Whatever… The next stage is beginning." A familiar voice rang out.
"Yes, sir." Umbra confirmed.
He was looking at the ground and his gaze was hidden by his helmet's shade.
"It's been interesting. But the time of harvest has come. You know what needs to be done, Comrade." The figure commanded.
"I understand… Twilight – sama."
"Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh… Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh… Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah! Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah! Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah! Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah…!"
He laughed like a madman and vanished as quickly as he'd showed up: Umbra sighed in relief.
"My. So Cousin showed his actual hide around and he didn't employ a hologram, eh?"
A holographic screen opened behind Umbra to display the face of "K. S." who had an amused look to him.
"W-who…?" He questioned.
"K. S." The man announced.
"K. S.?" He asked.
"Be careful, Umbra – kun… Cousin only created you to be a pawn in a chessboard: he is the player… The white player." "K. S." announced with a hint of amusement.
"A pawn… in a chessboard…" Umbra muttered.
"Are you really "evil" per se? Or are you just dancing to Cousin's flute? Think. Use your intelligence, Umbra – kun. I know you have hidden potential. Bring out your full power!" K. S. told him.
"… Am I really evil? Can I really decide things? Can I think?"
He sat down on the table while looking unsettled.
It's true that I owe my life to him but… Could I still live without him? What could I do then…? I gotta think about this…!