Chapter 28: Ending

11:07 AM (Japan Time), Friday January the 18th…

"… Hiya."

"Ah. Blood. Welcome."

"By the way, Blood… What happened to Yuriko?"

Netto and Saito were talking with Blood Shadow after he'd popped out in Saito's PC during break time.

"She's behaving and being of help: Needle Man is still under surveillance just in case but insofar he's been pretty quiet and the only thing he's done is pull rather weird puns on the Police Navis."

"Speaking of which…" Netto turned serious.

"Dr. Regal. What about the guy?"

"Huff. Yuriko and Dr. Wily have been pressuring but he's trying to put all the blame in Dr. Wily… Wily does have some degree of blaming because he did that of stuffing their heads with that "villain" stuff and using them as guinea-pigs but… They're trying to have him at least admit that what "Nebula" did was because he wanted to but…"

"Damn it. They shouldn't have let them loose."

"The guy must've pulled some favors."

"I know." Blood Shadow sighed.

"At least try to stop them from bringing up the ghosts of the past and trying to annoy us in purpose!" Netto growled.

"We don't need those."

"I know, I know… Cool it down, guys… We're doing what we can and the Committee is trying to figure out the extent of the favors but it'd seem the "Neo Gospel" guys are messing around with the data too…"

"Lovely. "KO" must find Regal's presence helpful."

"No use crying over spilled milk."

"Oi! You two! What was that maze thing in the store?" Dekao suddenly rushed to their desks.

"Jeez. The store was a cover to hide the Warp Point to the Subspace HQ and the maze is the defense system. There! Sigma didn't want to fight you 'cause he's a friend so he lured Guts Man out!" Netto sighed.

"Not fair! I was gonna get the treasure!"

"Oh! The treasure rumor! I started it up!" Yaito admitted all of a sudden.

"Wha! Why?"

"To see if ya could use yer brains, big boy~…"

"And I guess he failed. Searching an H&M store… Do you expect a fashion brand to be hiding a treasure?" Meiru grinned.

"Of course not…" Hikawa rolled his eyes.

"Devil! Oi, Brad!"

"Blood! Buraddo! And don't blame me for the system either!"

"Where's the treasure?"

"Ayanokouji – san just told you: it doesn't exist! She made it up to see if you'd really chase that believing it was real!"

"Oi, Yaito! Not fair!"

"Baka! All's fair when it comes to testing ya~…" She shrugged.

"Next time send the guy to chase "Ego Man"…" Meiru giggled and whistled a tune.

"Please…" Hikawa found it to be pretty stupid.

"Well…" Netto didn't seem to know what to say.

"I'm not sure if that'll work…" Saito trailed off.

"We can't know for real…" Blood Shadow sighed.

11:14 AM (Japan Time)…

"… Gentlemen! The crisis is officially over. I guess this was worth a celebration, so I brought some champagne over."

"By the way… Captain Freddie! Don't mess with Daniel Redford again if you may."

"… Very funny, gentlemen!"

"Heh, heh, heh!"

A meeting of the Justice Council had been organized: Davis held out a bottle of champagne while Charles directed a smile at Captain Sommerston: he didn't find it funny while the rest of the council laughed.

"Mamma mia! Captain. You had no right to pick on Senator Komero: and you knew it!" Pingole argued.

"Internal strife leads to no good ends." Commander Alamantz warned by lifting his right open hand.

"Yeah. Look at the patent wars." Senator McIrranay lifted his eyebrows and looked amused.

"They're eternal." Senator Lopez sighed.

"But not as eternal as a traffic jam in rush hour, I'd say!" Komero added.

"Ah? Aha – hah!" Captain Soomerston directed a suspicious glare to him.

"Oi, oi! What's with that look, Captain Sommerston…?" He asked.

"There's something called "complot" in here!" He warned.

"Captain Sommerston! This is being outrageous." Commander Alamantz warned.

"Crap." He muttered.

"I guess this rivalry won't end anytime soon." Charles muttered and rolled his eyes.

"I can see why." Davis sighed.

"Totally." Nokay sighed.

"Oh come on." Senator Kaygon sighed as well.

"But let's not forget: "Neo Gospel" and "KO" still lurk out there, somewhere, and we must try to counter any of their incoming attacks! Is that clear enough?" Davis reminded them.

"Of course!"

"Good! And now… Listen to the new banner! "The road stretches, twists, and returns to being a road"…" Charles quoted.

"Doesn't that mean it's a closed loop?" Komero frowned.

"Of course it is…" Sommerston fumed.

"Don't blame us!" Charles grinned.

"It's not like we're telling Mr. Dragon Hell which banners to pick up from time to time either…" Commander Alamantz told them.

"We knew. By the way, those ID-locked weapons keep on increasing and now it'd seem there's a new version which will work together with bodily nanomachines to make sure the lock will only be released if they're authorized to by the control center… But if this spreads you'll need a huge computer center with tons of servers to store up data and be looked up live anytime anywhere using either satellite band-width, 3G or just plain old radio…" McIrranay reported.

"How curious… Oh! I see! If someone were to take control of the center they could lock all issued weapons and render soldiers powerless. It's a double-edged thing! Maybe Twilight came up with it and discreetly sold it off to those who advocate for gun control…" Davis gasped.

"Heck. Trouble already…!" Nokay grumbled.

"But nothing will make us stray from our mission: to fight them back with all possible manners! Let's go for it, everyone! For Justice!" Davis stood up to rally.

"YEAH! FOR JUSTICE!"

11:17 AM (Japan Time)…

"… Phew. I managed to run away from those two. Luckily, the homeroom teacher is catching up and they're getting more pressure. But… Why haven't the police told me anything yet? I know: I couldn't facilitate much clues expect for the name, but…"

Arushi Masuko was sitting in a bench placed in the corner of a middle school's front yard: some students were playing soccer and others talking while he seemingly tried to stay out of sight: he looked down.

"… They told me those people had already been dismantled and that it was most likely a solo culprit placing the blame on them… And even I thought it wasn't much taller than me and it wouldn't have an alibi for that time of night… It might be a foreigner who was just passing by…"

He looked at his black wristwatch and shrugged.

"If I had power, then I could have them arrested…" He sounded frustrated.

His Link PET beeped and he picked it up to look at the screen.

"Phone call… Hidden number…? It must be another phone company…"

He pressed the "REPLY" button and brought it close to his right ear.

"Arushi Masuko… You need power? I can grant it to you." A distorted man's voice rang out.

"W-what?" He gasped.

"In exchange… You will become one member of an organization I'm starting to build up. It'll most likely take time to shape and finish but I can give you power to crush those lowlifes who do that stuff to others like you around the country." The man told him.

"… I accept." He calmly decided.

"Good reply. Call me "Priest". I'll soon grant you a custom Navi and material to carry that out. Listen: you'll be building a "mask" around your persona. This mask will hide your new nature and set eyes off you: but one day you will be able to crush those idiots who look down on you."

"… I understand, Priest – sama." He began to form an evil grin.

"I can notice determination on your voice. That's good. It won't be even a month from now when you'll soon set upon chaos and confusion amongst those before the police wrap them up: they're an eyesore and need to be removed from the way." "Priest" told him.

"Yeah. And I'm going to be leading a double identity life, then? It sounds better than being consumed by depression for the next half a year. I'll carry on any jobs you order me to, Priest – sama." He closed his left fist.

"Heh, heh, heh. You will have companions whom you will work along but you'll be acting independently at first to prove your worth and power: hold nothing back. Let those flames of fury burn inside of you and draw power from them! Use the Dark Side and stab a sword through the neck of that worthless woman who treated you like garbage! Then you will achieve freedom and power! Feed on them and you'll evolve into a Sith warrior which can't be brought down by any Jedi!" "Priest" rallied him.

"By your orders… My Master." He improvised the last two words.

"You pledge obedience to me, Kobe's Arushi Masuko?"

"Forever. My flesh will serve Master forever. Only death will stop me from serving Master." He looked ready to do anything.

"Excellent! But cool it down for the time being. Go back to your class and act like everyone expects of you: nothing can be suspected yet. I'll contact your further on with instructions. Let "Dark" guide your road!" "Priest" encouraged.

"Roger."

Arushi pocketed the Link PET while quickly putting on his usual face: he inwardly chuckled and headed over to the entrance as the front clock read 11:25 AM: he joined the other students, who didn't notice anything unusual.

I've been granted power! I was chosen! Heh, heh, heh!

He chuckled under his breath and his eyes shone with malice…

13:21 PM (Japan Time)…

"… Phew! I did it! I completed Super Mario Bros. DX. We'll soon see if Omega will mark a record."

"Consider it done, Danna."

"There you go again… You really like sneaking on everyone!"

"Can't be helped, I'd say."

Vadous had finished the game and Omega appeared behind him with a broad grin on his face.

"Anyway… Nothing weird happened out there." He reported.

"Good. By the way… Did you come up with this?" Vadous asked.

He selected a JPG file displaying Sidier being chased by Michelangelo: he was seemingly swimming as fast he could while looking behind with a face of angst as Michelangelo opened his jaws.

"Yeah. I did." Omega grinned.

"I guess I'll have to reprogram Michelangelo to only swim around…"

"Guess I had a fit of irony. But his mere name is ironic." Omega shrugged.

"Yeah. I know. The irony is that Higure Yamitarou has the yami Kanji on his name yet he never did anything really "evil"..." Vadous muttered with a hint of sarcasm.

"True. He just danced the hula-hoop." Omega laughed.

"Oi, oi…"

"And then Dragon Hell told him that money and Chips make a dangerous combination so he fled to the mountains and began serious training to try to purify his hide and become a "shining" man to impress Mariko – sensei and kick Commander Beef around over and over again." Omega laughed.

"You really need to have that glitch thing fixed and SOON."

"Soon! Coming soon! Soon! In the monsoon!"

14:28 PM (Japan Time)…

"… Ah… Nothing exciting has happened anymore, de masu… I want some thrill, de masu… Mariko – sensei~! De masu~!"

"Why don't you try to become a shining man, Yamitarou?"

"De masu?"

Higure had been leaning on his store's counter while looking totally bored or depressed when Number Man had made a suggestion: he lifted his head and looked at his hologram.

"This way… Maybe even Mariko – sensei will take notice of you." Number Man told him.

"Really, de masu?" Higure gasped and quickly stood up.

"Pick the weekend and go make some spiritual exercises." He suggested.

"Heh, heh, heh… I see. That's what it means!" A familiar voice rang out.

"A~h! De masu~! The enemy, de masu! Prepare for battle! De masu~!

Higure picked a broom and jumped over the counter: Dark Miyabi showed up in front of him and Higure lost balance: he collapsed behind the counter with a loud CRASH sound.

"Sengoku Ninja Tactic #13: force the enemy to fall for their own setup and save yourself the trouble of falling yourself on it." He quoted.

"Heh, heh, heh…" Shadow Man chuckled.

"De masu~…" Higure looked dizzied.

"Yamitarou…" Number Man grumbled.

"I'll leave you two to strangle each other. Farewell." Miyabi grinned.

"Tactic #2: make a flashy escape." Shadow Man quoted.

Miyabi dropped a smoke bomb and vanished from the room while Higure muttered something under his breath: Number Man sighed in defeat and looked elsewhere…

16:48 PM (Japan Time)…

"… Freeze Man DIDN'T appear, you say? You gotta be pulling my leg!"

Hinoken looked skeptical once the twins had told him the news: Miyabi, Enzan and Laika were there, too: Miyabi was sitting on a stool next to the counter while Enzan and Laika shared the table.

"Well! He didn't show up, yeah. You'll have to look for him and you'll find "KO" along. No pain, no gain, Hinoken." Saito grinned.

"Yeah. Do us a favor and figure out that guy's ID!"

"You never change, Hinoken?" Enzan asked.

"He's a walking volcano." Laika added.

"Worse: a walking H – Bomb." Miyabi countered.

"LOOK WHO'S TALKING! WHO DO YA THINK YE ARE? SOME KIND OF NINJA FANATIC? I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS SHOW! GO AND GET LOST IN GUNMA, YOU CREEPS!" He roared.

He tossed his handkerchief in the counter while running out and climbed into the van before speeding away with a loud sound: everyone looked towards the street door with surprised faces.

"He will have to pay for the spent oil." Blues smiled.

"There's no doubt about it: this month's red numbers will grow." Search Man added with a smile as well.

"Let's hope it's under insurance." Shadow Man chuckled.

"Who knows?" Sigma chuckled.

"Maha does!" Blood Shadow joked.

"Ah… This young man and his anger…" A familiar voice commented while sounding resigned.

"Ah. Dr. Wily." Enzan grinned.

Dr. Wily wore a green raincoat, blue pants and his leather cap today.

"It's been three years already… The ghosts of the past sure torment his burning soul! Heh, heh, heh." He chuckled.

"Yes, sir! There's no doubt about it! Take that, bearded guy!" Count Elec laughed.

"My, my…" Madoi looked unimpressed.

"A great catastrophe will soon begin." Maha grimly muttered.

"Hinoken – sama…" Fire Man sighed in defeat.

"Count Elec…" Elec Man rolled his eyes.

"Tee, heh, heh! This is gonna be fun!" Colored Man teased.

"I don't think so!" Magic Man grimly muttered.

"Maybe Feng Shui is the answer to it?" Laika suggested.

"That reminds me… I should practice it more…" Miyabi brought his right hand to his chin.

"Buy a cheap Xing Dynasty vase copy." Shadow Man chuckled.

"The local Choina bazaar has a million of them, anyway." Blues looked rather amused.

"And they're all sold at just 500 Credits." Search Man concreted.

"That's too cheap to be good." Blood grinned.

"Guess a tornado will shatter 'em all." Sigma shrugged.

"Who cares? It's curry time!" Netto announced.

He started to devour it at his usual mad speed.

"Netto – kun! Don't go so fast or you'll choke!" Saito scolded him.

"Uh-huh!" Netto did not slow down.

"You're such a blockhead…" Saito rolled his eyes.

Everyone laughed at the jokes…

03:33 AM (Honolulu Time), Thursday January the 17th…

"… Cloud Man: any abnormalities? Over."

"No, Freeze Man – sama. Over."

"Cosmo Man: any abnormalities? Over."

"Not really, Freeze Man – sama. Over."

"Swallow Man Man: any abnormalities? Over."

"Of course not, Freeze Man – sama. Over."

"Yamato Man Man: any abnormalities? Over."

"Hum. No."

"Alright. I just want to be careful and sorry if I'm pushing you guys but I want to be wary: you never know when anyone might drop by here or how much have those guys figured out ever since August… Those weird guys who ended up bringing up a lot of publicity seem to be gone from the picture so… I guess Mister "KO" will work on his plans but he wants to wait until the summer to execute them."

Freeze Man was using a holographic screen in a Cyber World somewhere to check on the other "Darkloids": he distractedly gathered at a statue of a panther colored in jade color before sighing.

"Beat Victor Fries." A voice rang out behind him.

"I know, Mister "KO"… Huh? Wait. He should be asleep! Ah! Cloud Man: don't try to play with me."

"Huh? But… Freeze Man – sama… I'm on my assigned patrol post: my live is feed!" Cloud Man argued back.

"Heh, heh, heh… Heh, heh, heh…"

"That voice…! OH!"

"Could it be…?"

"Yeah! I'm back! Return of the Twilight!"

"Twilight – sama!"

A Net Navi had shown up behind Freeze Man and he quickly saluted while the other four warped into that spot and saluted as well.

"You must've missed me!"

Twilight was over a meter and eighty in height.

His form's design was highly reminiscent of Rock Man's one.

He wore a helmet with a mouth guard activated: his eyes' irises were visible and it could be seen that they were colored crimson red.

His chest emblem consisted on just two shades of black and white split by a horizontal grey line: he had two curious shoulder pads which were shaped as two split halves of a diamond: his main body's color was navy blue although the forearms and his boots were colored in purple.

A black smooth cape hung from the back of his shoulders and reached all the way to the floor as well as an add-on to his bodysuit.

"Where were you, sir?" Freeze Man asked.

"Huff. Well. I poured out TOO MUCH of my power back in August and ended up pretty drained so I needed a while to recover. I had some fun in Brazil stirring up the underground there… And I've been visiting IQ – sama as well. Their Grace doesn't mind how long we must wait until taking them out of there…" Twilight smiled and shrugged.

"Now that Twilight – sama is back… Those fools will know to fear us!"

"Well said, Cosmo Man! Oi, Swallow Man! We'll go all out on 'em!"

"Of course, Cloud Man! What about you, Yamato Man?"

"Hah! Let them realize their own powerlessness!"

"Good, good! I see you guys passed the test with flying colors."

"Of course, Twilight – sama! We didn't intend to disappoint you, sir!"

"Heh, heh, heh…! Heh, heh…! Mwah, hah, hah…! Hah, hah, ha~h…!"

21:21 PM (Japan Time)…

"… Phew! We had a hot afternoon with Tooru – kun."

"Yeah. Our threesomes are exciting: we tried "raw" today and it felt good nevertheless."

Netto and Saito had changed into their pajamas and were about to cleanse their teeth given the toothbrushes on their right hands and how they were looking at the bathroom's sink mirror.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

"Go!"

They both began to brush their teeth at a mad speed before swallowing some water from cups and spitting the paste out: they resumed cleansing before they finished.

"Heh, heh, heh! Guess we're at a match, Netto – kun."

"Sure, Saito – niisan."

"I don't care about what those jerks come up with next. They can't do much by now and they'll run outta ideas."

"Obviously. They'll resort to send Viruses to do the work for them while they start hacking games." Netto grinned.

They came out of the bathroom and got into the bedroom: Sigma and Blood Shadow were discussing over an image of a Chinese-written banner with Sigma grinning and Blood Shadow grumbling.

"…it's totally lame and you came up with it this time around!"

"Mwah, hah, hah! "Adventure for the road bad illness is"… It's superb, grand and splendid!"

"Oh come on! Stop trolling me, Sigma."

"Mwah, hah, hah! I win this round, Bloody~ Shadowy~!"

"I gotta admit it: that motto's lame." Saito grumbled.

"Sure thing… Sounds like some attempt to imitate Master Yoda!"

"Well! I'm off to stand watch near the firewall. Bye-bye!"

"Jeez. I hope Boss fixes Commander Omega's glitch. I really do."

"Of course… We prefer his serious persona."

"And we still dunno why "Anger God" is the only thing which can seem to change the mood of Dragon – san…"

"Dunno. Maybe it's because he fears being sacked."

"Guess that. Fua~h… We're gonna nap but set the alarm clock at 9 AM 'cause we don't want to oversleep either."

"OK!"

"Good night, guys."

Netto and Saito climbed into their beds and fell asleep while Blood Shadow smiled and got inside of the PC: he sat on a corner of the ground and leant his back against a wall while mumbling.

"Sigma will warn me of anything which comes or the alarm system will do so… And we set up a device to disable any attempts to form "gateways" and "Dimensional Converters" so… No danger on that part. The night-shift "Committee" agents will take care of the street too…"

"Bloody~ Shadowy~! Let's go to Dragon Hellish party~!" Sigma suddenly called out.

Oh come on! Sigma! Just nap and let the sensors wake you up if something mysterious comes close by! Oh well! All's well if it ends well, I guess!

"Mwah, hah, hah! Time to go nap! My aibou~!"

Sure, sure. You and your sword go to sleep… Anyway! Good night!

He formed a broad smile as he finally fell asleep…

THE END