Disclaimer: I do not own Rockman/Megaman. It belongs to Capcom. I wish I did own Axl but sadly he too belongs to Capcom (for those of you that don't know, he comes from the upcoming Rockman/Megaman X7 game for the PS2). I do own Ryu Shingure and all other non Capcom characters. This story takes place several years before the Rockman.EXE series.

The Road Not Shown
By David Knight

Chapter Four: An 'Innocent' Night of Hacking

'It's been a week now since Gramps gave me Axl. We don't call each other by name with using –kun or –sama, just doesn't feel right to us. We feel more equal and comfortable just calling each other by our first names.'

'Ever since we beat Hirokazu, we've kind of gained a name for ourselves and have attracted quite a bit of people challenging us to Net Battles. Some were from Hirokazu's former gang, while others have been just other classmates from the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth year classes. We have yet to be beaten. Most of them were fairly easy, which gives further proof that Gramps really did a hell of a job in making Axl the fighter that he is.'

'There have been a few that were challenging; however, we find that our best and most rewarding battles have come from sparing with Gendo's Centaurman and Kaede's Artemis. Axl's been training a bit with Artemis this week, learning how to fight with swords with a level higher than average. Using guns and blaster type weapons Axl is a master at, but he wants to be able to use sword chips better than he can currently. Artemis can beat him in a purely sword to sword fight, though he is getting increasingly better with each day training with her. I can see the wisdom to why he's doing it though. There are Navis that specialize in sword use and we would be at a disadvantage fighting them. Better to have Axl have a wide range so that he's able to adapt to the situation as it warrants it.'

'The same applies to me, as this last week I too have been learning, on how to be an operator. I haven't had Axl for a long time, not as long as Gendo, Kaede or even our new friend Madoi has had hers, but I feel very much attached to Axl. He's now become a part of my life, a constant companion that I don't ever want to lose.'

'Speaking of Madoi, Axl sometimes kids to me that I look at her strangely sometimes. I just go back and tell him 'What about you and Minerva? You're spending time training her in how to fight?' He denies any such human notion that I would have about what he's doing.'

'In either case, life is definitely not boring for us. I think I'm going to turn in for now though. Gramps already left the lab an hour ago to get sleep and I should get some too. I do have class tomorrow... I'm actually wondering if Aoshi is going to pop up out of nowhere. I haven't seen him since I heard Hirokazu was going to be suspended and I know he had a hand in it. I just don't see the connection though. Why would a Student Council President associate himself with a thug like Hirokazu?'

'I'll worry about it in the morning. Better to think after having gotten some sleep. Ja ne.'

Ryu shut down the journal program that he had on lab computers and relaxed back. He knew he should get some sleep, but he just felt like checking the net a little bit. _Just five minutes, then sleep._ As he was looking through the Net though, he ended up seeing something on the lab computers directory.

_What is this?_ He wondered as he clicked on it.

Suddenly the screen showed net travel and when it was done Ryu saw where he was linked in.

"SciLabs?!" he breathed, "There is a link into SciLabs?!" _I don't believe this! How! Why! Why would Gramps have something like this on his computer?_ Ryu tried to figure out why, his mind trying to wrap around it, _... Gramps has hacked into other places before. Nothing really dangerous, mostly to find out about new research that's going on in the field... it really isn't illegal so long as you don't get caught..._

The more he thought about it, a smile started to form on his lips, _And SciLabs is second only to Cassock Labs in Navi projects. There could be a lot going on in there. A lot that I could learn._

As he stared at the screen he came to a decision, "What's the harm in just taking a peak... just this once?" He went over to his PET, "Axl?"

"Yeah?"

"I got a job I would like you to do for me."

* * *

When Axl materialized into the SciLabs system, he wasn't very impressed by what he saw. "Place looks pretty basic to me. Almost like a ghost town though. There aren't any programs at all running. Not even security ones."

'Well it is past midnight now,' Ryu said, 'If Gramps knew I was hacking into SciLabs right now, I think he'd have a cow.'

"Can I ask what exactly the point of hacking into here was again, Ryu?" Axl asked.

'Well, for one thing, I'm kinda interested in seeing just what new Navi projects are being cooked up here. A lot of Navi work comes from SciLabs and not much gets released to the general public.' Ryu explained. 'I'm kinda hoping to take a peak.'

"You mean you want to download anything you find interesting and study it?" Axl quipped. "You do realize that if we get caught, we are going to be so screwed."

'Which is why I really don't want to look into protected areas,' Ryu replied, 'Try doing searches for failed programs or discontinued projects.'

Axl caught on to that. "Like to tinker with junk do you?"

'Like my father always said,' Ryu said fondly of his father, though there was a pang of sadness when remembering him, 'One mans junk is another man's treasure.'

* * *

Unbeknownst to Ryu and Axl, they were not as alone in the SciLabs system. Another Navi soon materialized in a different section of the system. This Net Navi was definitely designed to look like a ninja, that much could be seen by his dark purple attire and the katana strapped behind his back. He had a lean build but the way he stood showed his strength. Nothing could be seen of his face save for two dark eyes.

"I am in. Instructions?" the Navi asked his client.

'Downloading the schematics to you now. Be certain not to set off the silent alarm systems that have been marked. If you do you'll have SciLab Security on top of you in sixty seconds.'

"I am a ninja. I don't get caught." The Navi retorted.

'Yes, but that was because you were designed that way.' The client spoke, 'Time is wasting Shadowman. I expect results.'

"And I always deliver to my clients what they want," Shadowman complied before blending in with his surroundings. Though it seemed like he had vanished from sight, he had in fact camouflaged himself with his present environment.

All the better to steal what he had been contracted to steal.

* * *

"I'm in," Axl reported to his operator as he went sorting through the files of the 'Shelved Projects', " 'Virus Bait Program', 'Navi Baby System'... Ryu all of this is junk!"

'... I had to admit it but you got a point. Most of this stuff does sound like really useless stuff,' Ryu replied.

"I'm almost ready to pack it in," Axl muttered, "I mean it is so slagging not worth getting caught all over pieces of junk like..." he trailed off as he was shutting the drawer shut, yet his eyes caught sight of one file in the back. He opened the cabinet up and went looking into it.

'What is it Axl?'

"I think I found what you were looking for Ryu." Axl's lips formed into a smirk, "How does 'Virus Breeder Project' sound to you?"

'Virus Breeder Project?' Ryu blinked, his shock definitely shown in his voice.

"Apparently it was a project set up to take in Viruses that were Benign on the Net and raise them in a machine called a breeder. Once caught, a chip could be created to summon the captured Viruses," Axl read off the file, "In this machine, the viruses could be made stronger by feeding them Bug Fragments. In theory weaker versions of a virus could be made as strong as their more advanced versions."

'Are the schematics for the Breeder in that file?' Ryu asked.

"No. There in another section, but it's still not sensitive material," Axl replied, "Apparently they don't think this idea could work."

From his end Ryu had a smirk on his face, 'It would be a really big deal if a teenager managed to get a project that was deemed a failure by people twice his age to work, now wouldn't it?'

Axl matched the smirk, "I'll get started on finding the Breeder schematics once I finish downloading all of the research data they have on the project here."

* * *

In the more secure sector of SciLabs, Shadowman had just made his way into the mainframe system. There was the most advanced security system that they had, a laser light system in which if even a single bar had been touched it would set off the entire system and alert the Net Agents to come at once to SciLab.

For Shadowman, he couldn't help but feel that they could have made it just a bit harder for him as he gracefully glided through the bars from one end of the room to the other. Once at the terminal he was able to disengage the bars so that his return trip would be easier.

_So this is their mainframe,_ the Ninja Navi mused. He pulled out a Kunai blade and jammed it into the screen. Normally the blade would have damaged the system. This Kunai however was designed to act as a hacking tool, allowing him to interface into the system even further and take what he wanted.

It took him all of two minutes to download the desired files.

"It's done," Shadowman reported.

'Excellent. Return back to your original entry point. Plugging out immediately will only bring attention.'

"As if there was anyone to see me to begin with," Shadowman shook his head as he walked back the way he came, thinking this job would run as smoothly and as dully as all the others.

He had no way of knowing he would be proven wrong ninety seconds later.

* * *

In yet another sector of the SciLab system...

"What a haul!" cried out a youthful voice.

"Hey quiet!" said a basic Net Navi, one of three who looked like they were down on their luck. "Just because you cleaned us out yet again doesn't mean you can jump for joy."

"Yeah, if someone one sees us here, my gambling spot will be compromised," another one said to owner of the voice.

It was a custom Net Navi that wore golden boots but that was it as most of his body was white while the upper part of his torso was pixilated black to look like he was wearing a black t-shirt. His hair was spikey and gold. His eyes were two blue orbs and in the center of his forehead was a circle that was red and blue with a white star in the middle of it. He just smirked at them, "You guys just worry too much." Holding up a glowing card he saw the number reading now on it. "Wahoo!!! I'm up to two hundred and seventy five thousand zenny!"

"Can't we just ban him from coming back?" the last of the basic Navi's asked.

"And lose my chances to get my zenny back from that kid," the gambling operator asked, "You're nuts."

"Well it's been fun boys," the Custom Navi smiled wide, "Let's do this again next week. Seeya!" With that the Navi just started flying off and away. _Oh wow! Those guys really suck at playing poker! They'd even suck worse at fighting! I'd much rather beat the bits off them in a game of poker and rob them of their zenny then beat up weaklings. Much more profitable that way._ The navi closed his eyes as he hummed a little ditty, "No one's gonna stop me, no one's gone to stop me now! Oh-oh! No one's gonna--"

*THUD!*

The next thing the Navi realized was that he had literally run into something. As he started to pick himself off the ground he saw that he had run into a ninja type of Navi who had… well he couldn't say surprised since his face was covered by a mask. He was a stoic that was for sure. The Navi scratched the back of his head, "Heh-heh. Sorry about that man. Name's Starman. And you are?"

"Omae o Korosu!" was the only reply Starman got as the Navi slashed at him with his very long sword. Seeming to cut him in half, however Starman reappeared behind him.

"I take it saying I'm sorry isn't going to help here is it?" Starman asked. The Ninja slashing at him yet again was his answer. "Guess not."

* * *

Axl was now at a terminal that had virtually no security at all protecting it. It was here that the blueprints for building a Virus Breeder in the real world were located.

'How's the download coming?'

"About 90% completed. I should have the rest in less than a minute," Axl replied, "You want me to log out immediately once I got it?"

'No. Even though we've run into lousy security thus far there's no reason to tempt the fates,' Ryu said, 'Better to go back through the gateway entrance you came through and then I'll plug out.'

"Understood." Axl acknowledged as he withdrew his disk from the system. "File's fully downloaded."

'Good. Now start heading back towards...'

*BOOM!*

"What the?" Axl muttered.

'Axl what is it?' Ryu asked.

"I think someone else is here," Axl said as he had his default weapons materialize. He was cautious as he walked out from the closed in area that he was into a more open area...

Where he was greeted to the sight of ninja type Net Navi trying to slice and dice a smaller golden haired Navi.

"Hey I said I was sorry for bumping into you!" the kid sized Navi snapped, "Don't you think you're going over board with trying to delete me because of that!"

"You won't live to tell about me being here, kid," the ninja Navi said coldly as he tried again to slash through the other Navi but he just vanished to another spot.

Axl had a blank look on his face as he just watched the almost comical chase. "Ryu... are you getting this."

'... You know this reminds me of those old Roadrunner and Wild E Coyote cartoons,' Ryu muttered.

"What?" Axl asked, not knowing what his operator was talking about.

'Forget it.' Ryu shrugged, 'So what do you want to do?'

"What do you want to do?" Axl asked.

'Hey I asked you first, Axl. I asked you to go into SciLabs for me,' Ryu returned, 'Now I am asking you what do you want to do?'

Axl just looked on at the scene for a few moments until a smirk formed on his face, "I'd like to have some fun if you don't mind."

He could feel the excitement in his operator's voice when he gave his reply, 'I have my folder at the ready. Have a party.'

"Thanks." Axl said as he started to make his way toward the scene, intent on taking a side in this fight he was seeing.

* * *

_Kuso! Why doesn't this little rat stay still and die?_ Shadowman thought as he tried yet again to attack with his sword, and yet again to see Starman vanish before the blow could be delivered.

"Missed me! Missed me! Now you gotta kiss me!" Starman jeered.

_I'll admit this little brat is more skilled than I gave him credit, but now his luck is going to run out._ Shadowman decided it was time to pull out all of the stops as he decided to try again to attack with his sword, only this time he was the one to vanish.

"Huh?!" Starman blinked as he looked up and saw three Shadowmans come down at him, he flew fast yet this time one of the Shadowmans threw a large throwing star at him. It grazed his backside and he fell to the ground. "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOUCH!!!" he cried out in pain as he turned around slowly to see the Shadowmans, "That actually hurt..."

"You were supposed to be deleted," all three Shadowmans returned, pulling out their swords. "I can assure you though, I won't miss this time."

Starman thought this might be an end to him, however neither he nor Shadowman was expecting blaster fire to come down upon the Shadowmans, which went through the middle and right ones, making them dissolve into after images while the one on the left, the real Shadowman, staggered forward a bit.

"How about you fight someone that can fight back?" a new voice spoke out.

Shadowman looked up and saw a black and red Navi come down from another building, two guns in his hands, looking at Shadowman. Shadowman looked back in turn, "You shouldn't have attacked me. Now you'll have to be deleted as well."

"I doubt that," the new Navi returned, "Most people that have said that to me have usually ended up defeated. I'm hoping you'll give me more of a challenge, especially since you look like you aren't all talk."

"Hmph. I am Shadowman," he said as he threw out three small throwing stars at the Navi with incredible speed, "and I let my actions speak for myself."

The Navi, to his surprise, actually managed to dodge them at the last split second. "You can call me Axl. Do me a favor and take me seriously."

Shadowman nodded, as he could see in this Navi's eyes the desire to fight, to test himself and had power to back him up, "So be it."

* * *

Axl saw Shadowman coming at him with his throwing stars and he knew he had to run to avoid them. He tried firing off his default weapons at Shadowman but the ninja navi was able to avoid them by pulling a trick or two. _He's good. A lot better than most of the Navis I've gone up against._ Looking around for his opponent he saw he had disappeared. _Where is he?_

"Above you!" the kid Navi shouted out to him.

"Huh?" Axl blinked as he saw three Shadowmans come down upon him. Axl jumped away but felt a slash come down at him across his left shoulder. The Shadowmans decided then to each throw at him a very large throwing star. "Uh-oh..."

'BATTLECHIP! BARRIER! SLOT IN!'

A protective field protected Axl just as the three stars impacted upon it. The field fell then but it had served its purpose. Axl slightly smiled, "Thanks for the back up Ryu," he looked grimly at Shadowman, "However this guy is definitely the toughest Navi we've come across just yet."

'I know,' Ryu agreed, 'Your default weapons won't work in this type of fight. Our only chance is to fight him in close quarters.'

"Figured as much," Axl muttered as he looked on at the three Shadowmans coming his way. "However I'm going to need to even the odds up a bit here since he's got me at a distinct disadvantage. I need a Sword Chip."

'And I got just the one for you,' Ryu smirked, 'BATTLECHIP! VARIABLE SWORD! SLOT IN!'

On Axl's right hand, the sword program had been downloaded to him and the image of a bright translucent sword appeared attached to it. _Perfect! Now here's to seeing how my training with Artemis using Sword chips has paid off._ He flashed a smirk to Shadowman, "There's one too many of you for my tastes. Let me make the odds a bit more even. Wave Slash!"

Shadowman was unprepared for the black red wave of energy that came right from Axl's sword. It crashed into all three of them, dissolving all but the center one, who crashed into a building structure. He didn't give off any pain however as he got up. _Impressive... I can't remember the last time someone actually got off a hit like that on me._ Still he wasn't going to lose. He had a job to finish. Vanishing again, he came up above Axl, but not with any of his copies. "Let's see if you can stand up to the power of my Muramasa!"

"Fighter Sword!" Axl called out, and the Variable Sword changed to that sword, clashing against Shadowman's sword. Energies started to spark as it was becoming a test of will, whose will was stronger, who wouldn't give up. Both Navis eyes locked on to the other, and in each other they saw their strengths and there was a mutual respect for the other's skills.

_Still, I don't have time to play fair... a pity._ Shadowman mused as he prepared to pull out a kunai with his free hand to strike at his foe.

"Uhuhuh! Didn't you ever learn to play by the rules?"

Shadowman looked up to see the kid Navi up in the air and right in his face.

"Payback time," the kid smirked, raising his right hand,  "Star Arrow!"

Shadowman had to vanish at once to get out of the way of the attack, dropping his own sword in the process, when he reappeared in the air, he spotted his weapon and went immediately to retrieve it.

Only problem was that he had become a sitting duck.

"Wave Slash!" Axl smirked as he used the Variable Sword's attack yet again, hitting Shadowman hard and sending him crashing into a building structure. "I think that did it."

"Hey man." Axl turned around to see the kid Navi behind him. "That was a way cool fight! You sure aren't a weakling. Thanks for helping me out. By the way, you can call me Starman."

"Mind telling me why that ninja was trying to delete you?" Axl asked.

The Navi shrugged, "All I did was bump into him by accident and he went all postal. Other than that I don't know why."

"It was because you saw me..." both of them turned to face Shadowman, "Both of you have seen me here and I cannot allow anyone to tell my being here in SciLabs."

"So you hacked your way in here then," Axl realized.

"As if you two didn't do the same," Shadowman retorted.

Axl blinked and looked at Starman who was now in the air, "Yeah well think it's obvious you are the real bad guy here, so say good bye, ya jerk!" He raised his hands up as he threw them down he yelled, "Star Rain!"

For the first second nothing happened. But then hundreds of stars started to fall from the sky and were hurtling towards Shadowman, in disbelief but knew to get the hell out of the way before he got hit. However even with his skills, he was damaged somewhat by the attack.

"Oh dang it... I missed," Starman sighed.

"YOU IDIOT!!!" Shadowman roared, his own temper getting the better of him. "Look at what you just did!"

Starman looked as if he didn't do anything wrong but then looked at where his attack had gone... and saw that he had wrecked a sizeable chunk of the area that had been hit by his attack.

"Matrix..." Axl muttered, a bit in disbelief that a Navi of Starman's size had that much power. _That'll teach me not underestimate anyone based on size for keeps._

Starman's eyes bulged out a bit, "...uh-oh!"

Suddenly before anyone of the three Navis could move several other Navis started teleporting into the area. They looked normal but as more Navis started to appear they could see one or two custom models.

"Freeze!" was the command from one of the Navis, "As members of SciLab security we order you to remain where you are! You will be interrogated and held until we find the illegal Navi that hacked into the central mainframe."

Axl and Starman looked at each other, without words just asking themselves the same question. When they got the answer they both pointed to Shadowman, "He did it!"

"Oro?!" Shadowman blinked.

"Huh?" the security navis looked as confused as Shadowman did.

"Hey come on here! Do we look sinister and evil to you guys?" Starman laid it on thick, "I mean I'm almost kawaii, black and red here looks heroic," he glared at the Ninja Navi, "But this guy just screams evil! I saw him blow up that sector! He tried to delete me so he could get out of here without leaving any witnesses! He's the one you want!"

Shadowman looked on at the security Navis, "... Oh don't even tell me you are going to listen to this obnoxious half pint brat who..."

"He's definitely sounds like he comes from the Ura Net," the lead security Navi declared, "Get him before he escapes!"

"I don't believe this..." Shadowman muttered, as he had to avoid blaster fire from all sides.

Starman laughed as he saw Shadowman trying to get away, "Now this is fun." He turned to Axl, "Don't ya think?"

"Well..." Axl was about to give his answer when he saw he and Starman were surrounded. "Slag."

"You said it," Starman agreed.

"You two are also going to be taken for questioning as well." The Security Navi said.

"I think not..." Axl returned. _Anytime now, Ryu..._

'BATTLECHIP! MINI BOMBS! SLOT-IN! BATTLECHIP! AREA STEAL! SLOT-IN!'

Axl felt the Mini Bombs in his hands and threw them to the ground creating the smoke screen for him. Taking Starman with him, he used the Area Steal to get far outside of their range.

"Whoa... now that's twice you've helped me." Starman muttered. _I don't get it, why did he help me? No one's ever stuck their neck out for me before. Why this guy?_

"I need a way out of here, buddy," Axl spoke to his operator.

'Not good. There are too many Navis by the entrance that you jacked into. I had to disconnect that gate otherwise they would have found it and made their way here.'

"So I have to find another way out of here and back home," Axl groaned, "Perfect."

"Hey what's your problem?" Starman asked innocently, "You want out just follow me."

"Huh?" Axl asked as he saw Starman create an arrow like star, which he stepped onto.

"Get on already," Starman told him. Hesitantly but seeing no other options Axl did that. "Now hold on!"

"What do you—" was all Axl got to say as they took off like a shooting star, the arrow they were on was like skateboard with rockets.

"Stargate Activate!" Starman smirked. A sonic boom accompanied them and suddenly they were gone, out of the SciLab systems.

* * *

The next thing Axl knew, they were in a totally different net area. The arrow slowed down and once the two Navis got off the arrow vanished. "What in the Matrix was that?!" he asked Starman.

"My little built in trick. One of a kind ability. By flying fast enough on my Star Arrow, I can travel into any system undetected, provided I've left a Star Marker there first." Starman explained.

"And how did you get into SciLabs to begin with?" Axl asked.

"Oh I've been going there for a year now," Starman said nonchalantly.

"A year?" Axl blinked. "For what?"

"To gamble of course," Starman smirked as he held up his card, "I'm up to two hundred and seventy-five thousand zenny now. Granted I've spent half of that amount during this last year but I made it enough to get it back. Winning at poker is so easy for me."

"...You were in there just for money? Nothing else?" Axl asked in disbelief.

"Yeah... say want to play me?" Starman asked with a smile.

"Eh... think I'll pass on that," Axl scratched the back of his head.

'Axl, you okay?'

"Yeah I am, Ryu," Axl said. "Thanks to Starman."

"Ryu... whose's Ryu?" Starman blinked.

"My operator..." Axl paused, realizing something, "So, what about you? What's your operator like?"

Starman waved his hand dismissingly, "What operator? I'm my own Navi."

'What... a self-operating Navi... unbelievable...'

"Ryu?" Axl asked.

'I had heard about Navis existing on the Net without Operators, but until now I never met one.' Ryu muttered.

"Anyway Axl, you so totally rock." Starman said.

Axl had a slight smirk on his face, "You're not bad yourself Starman. That Star Rain of yours is pretty cool."

"Hey I still owe for helping me out back there. If there's anything I could do..." Starman trailed off, "Well anything that doesn't involve me giving you any zenny..."

'Axl. Ask Starman if he'll come with you to my computer.'

"Why not the lab computer?" Axl asked.

'Rather I do this on my computer and not on the Labs, because then there will be a record of it and then Gramps will figure out what we did tonight.' Ryu replied, 'I got an idea on how Starman could pay us back and it wouldn't cost him a single zenny.'

Axl soon felt his operator leave and knew he was heading to his own computer so he decided to relay the offer to Starman.

The reply: "Won't cost me any zenny?!" Starman said, mouth gaping, "Well what are we waiting for, kemosabe! Lead the way because this I have to see!"

* * *

Ryu had only got his computer up and running and set to the default system when he saw Axl arrive along with the Navi he assumed was Starman.

"So you're Starman," Ryu said, "Nice to see you in person."

"You flatter me," Starman beamed, "I like you already. So what's this idea you got in mind. I mean anything that doesn't cost a zenny is either worthwhile or a wild goose chase.

"Well your attacks are pretty impressive," Ryu started to say as he plugged his PET into a black system box that was connected to his computer. Once that was done he pulled out several blank chips, "So I was wondering if you could send Data of your attacks to me. I'll use these blank Battlechips to create a battlechip for that attack."

"A Battlechip, chips, based on my attacks?" Starman blinked.

"Well yeah," Ryu said, "If you aren't alright with that..."

"What are you insane?!" Starman snapped, "I love that idea! It's great! Chips made of me! It's like a form of immortality! Best form of flattery! Hey Axl, don't ever lose this human! He's great!"

"Um... don't ever plan on it..." Axl muttered, not believing how happy go lucky Starman was acting now. _He really does act like a child a lot yet he's got power to match it._

Ryu was similarly in shock but got over it as he had a smile on his face, "Well let's get started."

"Yeah!" Starman agreed.

It took a while, but once they were done Ryu ended up with four new Battlechips, each of them having Starman's image on them doing different things. The chips were Hexagon Arrow, which could be used to fire off arrows out in eight directions but they travel slowly; Star Rain was a definite chip to have, seeing as how the stars rained down from the sky and seemed almost impossible to avoid. Star Arrow, which was a single arrow attack that traveled very fast, but could also be used to ride on as a mode of transport. Finally, there was Star Warp, for a limited time one could instantly teleport from one position to another, but only in a limited area so it was more or less geared for use in battle when trying to confuse an enemy.

"Thanks, Starman," Ryu said.

"Hey the pleasure was mine," Starman smiled, "Well I gotta get going." He looked over at Axl, "Catcha around, Axl. We definitely gotta meet up again some time."

Axl smiled back, "Sounds good friend. Maybe next time I can show you to the rest of my friends."

Starman blinked at that, "... friend... are you saying... we're friends?"

"Well... yeah," Axl said, not understanding the confusing, "There something wrong?"

_No one... no one's ever asked... ever said they were my friend... maybe..._ Starman shook his head, _No not maybe. It would be nice to have a friend, rather than Navis you can beat the bits off of in poker._

"Starman?" Axl asked.

Starman got back to reality when hearing his name called, "Sorry man. Kinda went drifting for a moment... but yeah. I'd like that." Calling up his Star Arrow, he got on it and flashed a wide smile, "Catcha later, friends!" With that he left them as he gated out of Ryu's system.

"Think it's time to call it a night," Ryu yawned.

"Definitely. You go get some sleep while I download the files on the Virus Breeder." Axl said.

"Yosh! I totally forgot about that during all of this," Ryu exclaimed, "But it was a great night, got some new chips, a new project to work with..."

"And I got a new, albeit slightly weird, friend ... but you're still worried on something aren't you?" Axl stated.

"Yeah," Ryu admitted, "It's Shadowman. Just what was he doing in there, and what did he take?"

"I don't know, but it does make me wonder," Axl said.

"With any luck, the security Navis got him," Ryu replied.

"Do you honestly believe that?"

"... See you in the morning Axl. I definitely need to get some sleep." Ryu sighed as he went to bed.

Though he didn't give an answer, Axl knew what his operator would have said. It was the same thing he believed.

It would have been no.

* * *

He was late and he knew it.

_Stupid security Navis... the sheer number of them was a problem in itself._ Shadowman growled as he had gained moderate damage in his escape from them. The only reason he had even that damage from such low level Navis was because of that brat Navi's cheep shot, but more so it was because of his fight with Axl.

_Its been a while since I went up against such a worthy opponent._ Shadowman mused. _What concerns me though is that he feels like he's a newborn. How can a newborn be that good?_

'You're late.'

Shadowman looked up at the monitor in his personal space on the net, the place he called his home. On there was his client, kept in the shadows, "I ran into unexpected variables."

'Net Agents?'

"Unknown. Perhaps you can tell me," Shadowman showed images of Starman and Axl to his client.

'I have never seen them before. They don't work for us; however, we will keep record of them.' The client said, 'It never hurts to keep a list of possible annoyances.' He folded his hands. 'I am assuming you have the package.'

Shadowman nodded as he then began to transmit what he stole. "I'll expect my payment for the data in the account we discussed."

'Of course. I shall contact you again if I or anyone in my organization shall require your special services.' The client then hung up.

Shadowman laid down on his futon, resting and healing from his injuries. He didn't care what his clients did with the data he gave them. It wasn't his job to care. Times like this he was glad to be a mercenary. It meant he didn't belong to any one side of anything.

It was that freedom that granted him and others like him immunity from people like his now ex-client. Men like him were only concerned about one thing.

Power... and they could care less about who they stepped on to get it.

To Be Continued...