A/N: Hello, everyone! I want to thank you all for you patience. A lot of issues have sprung up recently, which makes it hard to keep according to a decent writing schedule. I'm going to do what I can, but, to reiterate, it will take awhile.
As for the answer to Chapter 20's trivia question (In which episode was the Skidbladnir destroyed?), the answer was Episode 93: "Down to Earth".
And, without further ado, I bring you, Chapter 21!
Lan had heard that darkness—and all beings attributed to it—were unstable, like a person balancing on one foot. However, he hadn't imagined how contrasting Night MegaMan's personality traits were. One minute, he was hanging his head in shame, describing the tragic story of MegaMan's conversion to XANA's servant, and now, he was mirthful and confident, casually talking to the Lyoko Warriors as if they were discussing the weather.
"And that's basically the situation now," Night MegaMan concluded, his expression nearly unreadable. He either could have been so joyous that people were listening to him, or he could've been lamenting, guilty of the fact that his actions caused the entire farce.
Lan, however, noticed one key fact: Night MegaMan had neglected to mention that he now held MegaMan's remaining soul data. Was that deliberate or accidental?
"Wow," Odd commented. "Just. . .wow. I never expected Hub to. . .do something like that."
"I know," Aelita said quietly, awed as if she was eulogizing a death. "And not many people would be willing to make that kind of sacrifice."
"My fault," muttered Jeremy.
"Huh?" the others all turned to the computer genius.
"It's all my fault!" Jeremy wailed. "I should've. . .I should've put some sort of defense into Mega to prevent the Scyphozoa from getting him!"
"There is no defense for that, Jeremy," Aelita pointed out. "If MegaMan hadn't done what he did, XANA wouldn't have spared anybody."
"You may be right, Aelita," Yumi piped in, just entering the factory laboratory. "But, now what? There's no way to set MegaMan free now. He. . .he's just like. . ."
Ah, they had reached the forbidden subject: William. Out of the Lyoko Warriors, Yumi had taken William's imprisonment by XANA the hardest, and the fact that William had not been encountered recently was worrying her. Did XANA just kill him, now that he has hundreds of other Darkloid minions by his side?
"Ah, my dear humans, all is not lost," Night MegaMan said reassuringly. "You are aware that I contain MegaMan's stolen soul data?"
"You never told us that!" Odd protested.
Night MegaMan seemed genuinely baffled. Was his face displaying his true feelings or had he omitted that piece of information on purpose? Lan wondered, not voicing the nagging thoughts in his mind.
Night MegaMan gave a polite bow. "Oh, I forgot? As you humans say, my bad."
His tone may have been mirthful, but yet it carried an arrogant quality, as if Night MegaMan considered humans a separate, inferior species, not worth being studied. Jeremy made a wry face, forgetfulness a trait he dearly opposed.
"You forgot," he deadpanned.
"Whatever," Night MegaMan replied. "I told what you wanted, so what's the harm? Or are you saying you still suspect I am under the employment of XANA?"
Jeremy glanced at Aelita and the two exchanged nervous expressions. That notion was not completely absent from their brains, and it seemed like a logical possibility.
"Well, for all you know," Night MegaMan went on, "I, the mutated clone of the glorious MegaMan, might be leading you right into a trap!"
He said that sentence with such a ludicrous, sing-song voice one would be entirely convinced of the opposite; the accompanied laughter also would have helped dissuade one from the notion of Night MegaMan's loyalty to XANA.
Lan was taken greatly aback; Night MegaMan had been so emotional before, looking so melancholy and miserable it seemed he was about to burst into tears any minute. Yet, now, he was so perky, so upbeat that his jolliness could have competed with Lan's. Was this normal?
"Well, now," Night MegaMan said. "It all comes down to this: are you going to trust me? And, if I may remind you, I clearly demonstrated I have enough power to counter a XANA-fied MegaMan. You would lose a great support if you reject me." He nodded in Lan's direction. "And Lan already trusts me. You would do an injustice if you didn't believe in Lan's judgment."
Another exchange of nervous glances; clearly, the Lyoko Warriors felt unhinged by the forgery of their one-time ally MegaMan. Yet, as the clone pointed out, it all came down to the vital question:
Should they put belief in what they knew to be a trap?
O``````````````````````````````````````````
If one were to watch a horror movie, such a film would not be enough to prepare one for this heart-panging sight in reality.
Deployed in single file like dominoes were hundreds upon hundreds of rows of undead Undernet navis. Though they came in several different colors—navi, violet, and dark purple—they were all the same; disk- like heads, spike-held shoulders, beady, narrow eyes and large, buff body armor.
Each Undernet navi, also called Heelnavis by fear-filled outsiders, had their eyes steeled shut, keeping their body in a slouching position. They were inanimate, only activating once they received orders from their commander, who was currently striding along the many rows, taking the well-earned pride of kidnapping and manipulating these minions.
The Undernet was not governed by humans, and missing Heelnavis would therefore go unnoticed by the authorities. XANA had taken a liking to that convenience and, since the Undernet was filled with plenty of potential minions, it was the perfect place to set up base, as well as a wonderful area to gain more followers if need be. Willful joining or manipulation, XANA didn't care; as long as he attainted his goal, any means justified the successful end result.
He smiled as he stalked to the far-off exit of the room.
Standing several feet from the wall was his most prized capture. MegaMan stood with his head tucked down, eyes clasped shut as if in stasis. His veins were clear-colored, so see-through that they were invisible unless one was looked closely.
From afar, he seemed to be in a normal sleep-mode state, but XANA knew he was gazing at his most powerful and loyal minion. He did not have the brain, nor soul, to rebel. XANA's smirk became even wider and he laughed, a cold, spellbinding sound that so resembled the evil of his caliber.
It was such a glorifying feeling, having a sworn enemy your slave; it was the perfect way to disgrace and punish him for all the trouble he gave in the past. True, perhaps MegaMan was more of a recent nuisance, but XANA knew that had the navi persisted longer, he would've reached the abominable level of a Lyoko Warrior; this method of eternal servitude was much more convenient.
"You should not have employed him."
XANA turned. There, standing at the corner of the chamber, was LaserMan, holding his arms folded as if reprimanding a minion's failure.
"What are you referring to?" XANA asked, voice let down in an undertone.
LaserMan tilted his head, as if trying to say the answer was straight in front of him. "MegaMan. Lord XANA, he is unlike us. He cannot be trusted."
"You have misgivings about my choice?" XANA said mockingly. "MegaMan has nothing left in him to resist me. He is my servant now, just like that William boy."
"Perhaps that is so," LaserMan replied. "But I firmly believe that no incarnation of MegaMan can be trusted. Even Night MegaMan, whom we created from pure darkness, betrayed us. MegaMan would surely be tempted to do the same."
An expression of amusement surfaced on XANA's face. "Night MegaMan had a weak heart; he is no loss. Even if he planned to strike back at us, he is little to no threat." XANA paused, eyes slinking back and forth, awaiting for the counterargument from his lieutenant; LaserMan, however, seemed to be aware that the opening XANA provided him with was not a favorable one. He therefore remained silent.
"Furthermore," XANA continued. "I personally find it wasteful to kill an enemy, especially a powerful one. Why kill someone who could help, if manipulated to the right degree? Much more convenient to gain an ally than slay one, don't you think? MegaMan opposed us so many times, I think it's right that now he serves us."
LaserMan coughed, clearing his voice for the retort. "You were most ingenious in stealing MegaMan's soul data before seizing control of him, my lord."
"Your point?" XANA demanded, knowing full well that LaserMan was not taking the time out of his day to compliment him; this was part of the counterargument.
"The soul data has been stolen," Laserman said simply.
XANA did a double take, eyes narrowing on LaserMan then widening, as if to challenge him in saying, April Fool!
"It's true, Lord XANA. Haven't I already made my suspicions clear to you before?"
"Night MegaMan," XANA rasped. "Night MegaMan stole the data and betrayed us?"
LaserMan was smirking under his helmet. He knew that such a concept would unhinge XANA; the danger of employing former enemies was the chance of them returning to their old mind frame. Darkloids were much easier to work with.
"He always had a soft spot for the Hikari boy," LaserMan explained. "He'll want to bring MegaMan back just to find favor in Hikari's eyes. He's on their side now, with the data that can break your hold on MegaMan. Do you want to take that chance?"
"No," XANA insisted. "Night MegaMan is too weak! He would not have enough strength to perform such treachery!"
"He is the only one who can, however," LaserMan confirmed. "A navi's soul data can only be absorbed by another navi with the same signature code. And Night MegaMan was the one who intervened by the Skidbladnir. He has betrayed us; you yourself said this was not such a loss. He is only threatening because of the data he holds. If we kill him, our problems will be absolved."
XANA's expression was agitated; it was clear he was looking for a loophole in order for which to counter, but there was none.
"Fine," XANA spat, containing his emotions so that LaserMan couldn't later claim he had struck a weak spot. "Deploy the Darkloids. Give them the order for the full-out assault. And LaserMan. . ."
LaserMan grunted. "Yes?"
"Do not fail me. If you fail, the threat the Warriors will pose will be far greater than anything I could ever hope to intimidate you with."
D`````````````````````````````````````
As for the following two weeks, Lan blandly decided he had the worst luck in the ongoing history of children.
First, his brother gets possessed by the ever-irritating nuisance called XANA; next, his brother's evil clone, sorry—formerly evil clone—settles into his PET; then, Lan gets the front row seat of a fight between his friends and his XANA-fied brother, only to see that MegaMan now has a web of veins coiled around his body; after that, Lan gets treated to seeing the movie of zombie Jeremy, a version of the computer genius who constantly mutters to himself, pulls out multiple all-nighters, and is completely subject-obsessed, only talking about one thing for the duration of the zombie period.
Finally, as if his luck couldn't possibly go further downhill, Lan gets mistaken for Hub by his oh-so- clever gym teacher, Jim Morales, and is forced to do 65 push-ups as a consequence for missing multiple P.E. classes on a daily basis.
"But, Jim, I'm LAN! L-A-N! LAN!" the Hikari protested.
"Yeah, right!" Jim countered. "You think cosplaying as your brother can fool me, Hub? I know your tricks, I'm onto you, Hub! Now do those 70 push-ups!"
"You said 65!" Lan retorted.
"75!" Jim bellowed. "More complaints, and I'll raise it to. . .um. . .1,000!"
"That's not even possible for a human being!" Lan shouted, still on the ground and only half-way through the desired push-up amount.
"Well, MAKE IT POSSIBLE, Hub! You shoulda thought twice before messing with Jimbo!"
"Jimbo?" Lan asked. "That's your name?"
"Um. . ." Beads of sweat dripped down Jim's forehead. "I'd rather not talk about it."
Lan felt as if his arms had suddenly transformed into jelly. Push-ups were tiring, but the true thing that was wearing him out was the stress over Hub.
Hub's absence was starting to get noticed by the teachers, and, some were getting suspicious. Most notable, however, was Sissi Delmas, who relentlessly pestered Lan with the nagging request of revealing Hub's whereabouts. She was disappointed, time and again, by Lan's vague and sometimes negative answers, but that did not deter her from the aggravating and tedious question-flinging activity.
She would not rest until she knew Hub's location, as well as the reason why Jeremy and the others were hiding him.
Lan regarded her like a mosquito constantly flying around a person's head; annoying, unnecessary, and a complete pest. And, like all pests, Sissi found time in her day to act like that irritating mosquito Lan had compared her to, and she approached the young brunette once he had satisfied Jim by performing the desired number of push-up exercises.
Lan, who was currently drying the sweat from his forehead with the iconic Hikari-symbol bandana, was in no mood to talk to her.
"I know what you're going to ask," Lan snapped. "And no, I'm not telling you anything!"
"I never even began asking the question," Sissi said snidely. "If Jeremy's doing his wacko experiments on Hub—"
"Will you give it a rest, Sissi!" Lan shouted, "Jeremy's not a mad scientist! He's not doing any wacko experiments!"
"Then how come I haven't seen Hub for days?" Sissi countered. "How come he's always absent in class? In fact, where has Jeremy been? He hasn't been in class either."
"Urk. . ." Lan swallowed a gulp; Sissi had put him in check. How was he supposed to explain that Jeremy was spending all his time in the factory, trying to formulate a plan for freeing his manipulated comrades from XANA's control?
That reason wouldn't buy him an excused late note, that's for sure. Lan resorted to the easier idea; playing the delinquent. Rudeness was the best option for pests like Sissi Delmas.
"Are you a teacher, Sissi?" Lan retorted indignantly. "Because, last time I checked, the teachers were supposed to do roll call. Or did you skip 100 grades and you're our homeroom teacher now? If that's the case, I see why Hub not's here."
"LAN!" Sissi's face twisted with fury. Her eyes bored into Lan, as if trying to incinerate him with a single glance. "YOU—YOU—"
"Whatever you're thinking, right back at ya," Lan cut in. "Look, if you're just going to keep arguing with whatever I say, let's just not have this conversation. We're getting nowhere."
Sissi's enraged expression did not soften. She opened her mouth to spew more insults, but Lan rose his hand into the air, in the manner of someone trying to direct a street-crossing. He walked straight past Sissi, ignoring her insults and anger, and headed for boys' dormitory. Sissi could not follow him there, and Lan felt he deserved a break from the principal's daughter.
He had enough on his plate to deal with already, especially measuring it with the luck scale. Maybe, perhaps, his luck was so bad, the scales would weigh even and decide to tip over to his favor?
Lan dearly hoped the answer to that question was yes.
D`````````````````````````````````
No.
Everything was going downhill, once again, as destiny would have it.
Assembled at the factory for tactics talk and arriving at a loss of ideas, the Lyoko Warriors (with the exception of Yumi—she couldn't afford to stay late without taking the danger of aggravating her parents into consideration) were more than happy to accept Night MegaMan's advice. However, when the clone navi revealed the information he had, (or at least some of it, as Jeremy was convinced Night MegaMan knew much more than he let on) their emotions switched to the morbid side.
"The Undernet?!" Lan exclaimed, complete and utter shock evident in his tone and expression. "That's where MegaMan is being held?!"
Night MegaMan slowly nodded. "XANA prefers hiding out there. It's dangerous enough as it already is."
"What's the Undernet?" asked Odd. "Is it. . .under the net? Ha ha! Get it?"
"Skip the jokes, Odd," muttered Ulrich, frustrated.
"He does have a fair point, though," Night MegaMan chimed in. "The word Undernet is a pun of the mythological Underworld, as it plays the same function the Underworld had."
"So you're saying the Undernet is where dead navis go?" Aelita asked, sounding repulsed.
"Not exactly," Night MegaMan said enigmatically. "It's more like the place that retains the ghost images of them. Navis don't have the same kind of souls humans have. The Undernet is just the place where their bitterness, their pain, their evil gathers. It's unpredictable and is always changing layouts, as the energy there retains no exact form. Plus, it's the only part of the Net not policed or controlled by humans. That's kind of the silent message to stay away. But, of course, XANA doesn't abide by any rules. . ."
Lan nodded, as all these facts were things he had already knew and learned the hard way.
However, he noted that Night MegaMan's tone was gleeful, affectionate even; was that his opinion of darkness and evil?
"It sounds like the place XANA would enjoy," Aelita commented, her expression and voice filled with disdain. "No wonder he's holding MegaMan there. He wants us to go a place that no one can predict—in other words, a trap."
"Correct," Night MegaMan confirmed. "Oh, yes, did I mention that all outward connections are nullified by the Undernet's interception signal? Venturing in there means no operators—and no Jeremy, either," he added quickly, just for Aelita's reaction.
"Interception signal?!" Jeremy said harshly (Aelita had fallen into silence). "You mean that there would be no factory connection at all?"
"That's what I said," Night MegaMan replied swiftly.
"But what about the Transfer protocols?" Jeremy persisted. "If there's no access to them, what would happen if someone gets de-virtualized?"
"Oh, the Transfer programs should work," Night MegaMan reassured him. "The Undernet leaves a signal similar to the replicas; therefore, as the de-virtualization worked there, it would work in the Undernet. Direct contact, on the other hand. . ."
"Okay, we get it." Jeremy was frustrated now. (How much knowledge was Night MegaMan withholding from them?) "How do we get to this Undernet?"
"Oh, well your Skidbladnir should be more than worthy for such a journey," Night MegaMan advised. "You would have to travel through quite a few networks before arriving at the Undernet. However, the Skidbladnir is more than capable for finding a direct access. Of course, there remains the matter of a guide to the Undernet. . .as none of you quite know where it is. . ."
"Okay, fine, you're coming with us," Jeremy intercepted, "Just no tricks, understand?"
"Requirements accepted," Night MegaMan sing-songed, tone jolly.
The Lyoko Warriors all glanced at each other and exchanged nervous looks, adding a confused shrug at the end. None of them were thrilled for their self-proclaimed tour guide, and, in fact, his offer made them feel unhinged; his thoughts had deviated to the Skidbladnir so quickly—had XANA just sent him here, under the false show of truce, for a trap? True, he had repelled MegaMan by the Skid, but that didn't mean he was trustworthy.
Night MegaMan could very well have had his own interests in mind—and presently, for whatever it was worth, he was still driven by those ulterior motives even now.
"Wait," Lan said suddenly, seizing his chance with the awkward silence that Night MegaMan had caused. "Jeremy, I'm going, too."
"What?!" Everyone gaped at the young Hikari, mouths hanging open and stances stock still.
"Lan, what are you thinking?"
"Are you crazy?"
"You've never gone to Lyoko!"
"This isn't funny."
"Randomness for the win!"
That last statement was Odd's—his voice rose above the rest, and he smiled without shame as his outcry had created yet another awkward silence.
"Guys, Lan deserves a chance," Odd said, voice not as mirthful as it was before.
"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Ulrich.
"Um. . .well. . ." Odd took a deep breath, calming himself down and speaking up once more. "Lan's basically useless if he stays here, and, well. . .this is his brother we're talking about. I think he deserves a fair shot at saving him."
Lan felt a surge of gratitude towards Odd. He hadn't expected anyone to stick up for him, and especially not a joker like Odd Della-Robia. It finally occurred to Lan that perhaps under that façade of laughter and jokes, Odd was a sensitive person—of course, now was not the time to get all mushy. Lan couldn't expect Odd to do all the work for him.
"C'mon, Jeremy." Lan said. "Odd's right. I can't do anything here, and I'm not gonna sit around while MegaMan's stuck with XANA. He's my brother, and he never abandoned me when I needed him!"
Okay, maybe he could get a little mushy.
"And how would you use the Skid, then?" Jeremy challenged. "We only have one extra Nav Skid and that's reserved for Night MegaMan."
"Yumi isn't here!" Odd retaliated. "Lan can use her Nav Skid!"
"Odd!" Ulrich said threateningly.
"No," Night MegaMan protested. "Lan, you can't come to Lyoko."
"Huh?" Lan was confused now. He thought Night MegaMan, out of people, would understand and agree with him. "Oh, c'mon, not you too."
"Lan!" Night MegaMan shouted, suddenly sounding anxious, as if Lan's entry to Lyoko would cause a great and deadly peril, "Just stay in the Real World. If you gain a virtual form, XANA will—"
"What? What will XANA do?" Lan cut in. "If you don't want me getting a Lyoko form, it's too late. I've been virtualized there once already."
The Hikari neglected to mention that he'd been Cross-Fused with MegaMan at the time, but that was information unrelated to the subject—he was not affected by the returns to the past, which was a sign that the super-computer recognized him as an eligible Lyoko Warrior.
Night MegaMan's eyes widened, scarred with sudden anguish, and his stance tightened, as if that piece of information frightened him much more than a trip to the Undernet.
"Then there's nothing more I can say," the clone navi said quietly. "Except: Come to Lyoko at your own risk."
"Then it's decided!" Odd half-shouted. "Lan can come to Lyoko!"
"But—!" Jeremy wanted to argue against that, but then he realized that this entire debate was delaying the entire mission.
Every second was crucial, and the determination reflected in Lan's eyes clearly told Jeremy he was willing to argue from here until next Tuesday for entry into Lyoko. And they didn't have until next Tuesday.
"Fine," Jeremy conceded. "Lan, go the scanner room. I'll begin the Transfer."
A/N: Before you all complain that connections work perfectly in the Undernet, I just want to point out I'm using the NT Warrior Manga's version (yes, I am a notorious manga/comic book reader) of it, where the characters clearly state that normal strategies and contacts aren't worth a thing there.
*catches breath* And now for the trivia question: XANA is not the first to use the Undernet as a safe haven/hiding place. Who else has used a similar tactic for the Undernet? (Note that this question has multiple answers, and character incarnations ranging from the anime, manga, or games are all eligible as answers.)