OMFG, I finally updated!
And thank you Vulpix1000 and ClampLover for the reviews!
Chapter 3: First Task
Disclaimer: Capcom owns MegaMan et. al. I only own this story.
"It is time… for me… to discover… the truth… I want nothing but the clear, cold, dark truth…"
School starts again… It's like, something that you can completely predict… over and over again… Luckily for me though, there's something for me at the end of all this!… I think…
"Davy!"
"JunkMan!"
"Hey." both replied.
"Wanna talk to everyone else? There's 15 minutes until roll call starts." I answered.
"Sure."
Now to Tech Block…
"Hey, James, you want to have a NetBattle with me?" Damn, it's that fatass Kye again. Never mind, let's smash him, then wait for WoodTech to start.
"Battle – start!"
"Let's go!" shouted Façade, as he shot a couple of buster shots at Kye's completely standard NetNavi. At least I made a couple of changes to mine.
"CrossGun, download."
"Guard BattleChip, download." The exploding shot bounced harmlessly off the shield and sent a shockwave forward.
"StepCross, download!" Façade stepped forward and performed a blindingly fast cross slash, then returned to his original position.
"Where'd you get that chip? I want it!" said Kye, after downloading three Spreader chips. "Program Advance: Hyper Burst!"
"Too bad; you're not getting it. Shadow1, download." As quickly as the exploding shots appeared, Façade blackened into a shadow and the bursts harmlessly passed through him.
"Blaster2, download!"
"CrsShld1, download!"
An explosion was sent towards the opponent, but just as it hit, a Dominerd appeared in the front and chomped at Façade.
"Ow."
"Let's end this quickly. Triple Hi-Cannon, download! Program Advance: GigaCan2!" A powerful cannon appeared in front of Façade, which blasted the opposition to oblivion.
NORMLNAVI #0684695 LOGGING OUT"Huh? Doesn't your Navi have an actual name?"
"Actually, it does. I never got to update it 'officially'."
"Yeah, that list is a complete joke." I commented. "Anyway, I wonder when our teacher will arrive. Now what was her name again..."
"I'm sorry, but school has been cancelled today," said a female voice right behind me. "We will take the roll, then we will organize methods of transport to take you home, et cetera."
"Why?"
"Don't know actually." she frowned. "Usually, isn't there an assembly of some sort to sort out and explain these matters?"
"Yeah." chimed in a voice ahead of me.
As soon as my name was called out, I called my dad to pick me up.
"Hey... Dad... Listen, school has been cancelled today. Yes, you'll have to talk to my teacher about it... Ok, it's all good... What! Hang on. It's ok. Pick me up from the front of the school in half an hour, alright? Thanks. See ya then."
"Let's go Façade. It looks like... this might be our first task." I whispered.
FAÇADE LOGGING OUT"Dr. Hikari. Request to access File #09473, Code Calcium."
"Dr. Parsons. Request granted."
"Dr. Hikari. Request to access File #09473, Code Calcium."
"Lan Hikari. Request denied."
"DAD! DAD!" shouted Lan. "Why can't I access the information on the new and final NetSavior?"
"Yeah, same here!" added Dex. Dave and Chaud were also confused, as were Masa, Sal and most of all, Miyu.
"I'm sorry. Tell this to everyone else: only a few dozen scientists, their Navis, and Rush are allowed to know his identity. Before anyone could open their mouths, Dr. Hikari added: "And don't even try to get it from anyone."
"Rush..." Lan turned to the Popup virus who had just appeared.
"Grrr..."
"This ain't about any NetSavior." piped up Mr. Match. "We jest need you ter do sum scoutin'."
"Aup!" barked Rush, suddenly cheerful again. A moment later, Rush appeared back outside ACDC, where he sent out Fishys. Rattys, Flappys, etc, anything that was a good scout.
"So, who's actually working on the new NetNavi?" said Lan.
"The Net Agents, us, and a few odds and ends, including Chaud." said Mr. Famous.
"You know, Lan, I'm actually a bit worried about Bass." said Maylu, as the group walked down back to the main entrance.
"Why? If he's deleted, there's another every powerful evil that we don't have to face. Wait..."
"You see, Lan Hikari? If we could – somehow – have him to work for us, then just perhaps somehow, fighting against these rogue NetCriminals would be much simpler... How is another matter entirely…" drifted off a rather intense 'Speedy' Dave, who was obviously thinking about something other than anything relating to netbattling.
"I'll get to the UnderNet. Maybe Zero and Ciel would know something about this – this is what Rush sent me, anyway. Anyone else coming?" said Lan.
"I'll go," said Maylu.
"Me too," added Dex, rather too quickly.
"I will too." said Chaud.
"You all ready? Jack in, MegaMan!"
"Jack in Roll/GutsMan/ProtoMan, power up!"
Four beams of light of varying intensity shot off to the jack-in ports, where they landed in SciLab Square. From there, they travelled to Den Area 3, where they accessed the link to Netopia. Upon entering, however, they found quite a pleasant surprise.
"TurboMan!"
"Ring!"
"Master Lan, you there? Vroom!" called a childish, but all too-familiar voice.
"Kai!" answered Lan.
"Hey Maylu. So... how is it going so far?" giggled Mary, who cuddled up with her boyfriend of six months.
"Both of you doing well?" said QuickMan.
"Really good, yes."
"Tee-hee, they're looking good together. Maybe Lan, we could actually learn something from them..." said Maylu, who was leaning closer to Lan at this point.
"Wh-what are you d-d-doing? G-g-get off me!" shouted Lan, who was wriggling out of Maylu's tightening grip. GutsMan and Dex looked on, becoming VERY red (though no-one really noticed) and Chaud were exchanging looks and smirking. Dave and QuickMan were looking on emotionlessly, yet thinking about... something.
"Sooo... TurboMan, you managed to get that Charged Sword Rush technique working?" asked MegaMan.
"It worked to perfection, vroom!" said TurboMan.
"Mary, did you receive my email about my next lesson?"
"Yes, I did, actually, Maylu. It was on..."
"Next week, Saturday! Yippee!" interrupted Ring, who was now spinning like crazy.
"Kai wonders what Master Lan and his friends are doing."
"Actually, we were off to the UnderNet to check up on Zero and Ciel. Want to come?"
"Sure, why not? TurboMan, my dear, you coming?" said Ring.
"I'll race you there!"
"Hey, wait up the rest of you!" shouted Roll.
"Guts can't keep up!" said GutsMan.
Ten minutes... and still nothing. Sigh...
"James, my dad has a meeting and won't be out for another hour."
"Good. That'll buy us some time." I muttered. 'Okay, where else haven't we checked? All the computers, server, toilet blocks, classrooms, cars, lamps, blackboards, everything!"
"Hey, James, you might want to check the heater." Indeed, Façade was right: the heater had stopped working. It usually ran for most of the year, even in the stifling heat of summer.
"Jack in, Façade, Execute!"
Façade landed in the heater network, where an odd emptiness surrounded the area.
"This isn't right. Remember we jacked in at the end of last year?"
"Yeah, and there were programs every few metres. Okay, I'll look around."
"Be careful!"
Up a slope... down a slope... take the S-Slider across the boiling water (A/N: An upgraded version of the C-Slider from MMBN4)... nothing...
"There isn't anything here, Façade. Let's jack out." I said.
"Hang on. Something's not right here."
"You are correct." Suddenly, a red metallic-looking Navi appeared, standing tall and firm, with a stream a fire boiling up from his neck. His logo was an asteroid, which was fixed on his chest. On his shoulders were fixed metallic plates, which were currently red-hot.
"I am MeteorMan. My job is to clean out everything here."
"But... that's... bad? Isn't it?" Façade stuttered.
"This is what my master told me to do. I have nothing personal against you, but... your time is up now."
"Okay, let's fight our way through. Ready to use those new chips & tricks?"
"Battle routine set, execute!"
"Meteor Smash!" MeteorMan's right fist suddenly grew to at least four times its usual size, and slammed into Façade.
"SnglJump battlechip, download!" Façade somehow managed to evade the punch by leaping into the air.
"Okay, let's cool this bitch down! AquaMan, download!" Instantly AquaMan appeared, and produced a water gun, that sprayed into MeteorMan, dousing him.
"Meteors!" A flaming volley of meteors bombarded Façade's area, which left quite large craters as they fell.
"Watch out, Façade!" Façade then tried to dodge the next few attacks, but got hit quite badly a few times. Shit.
"Again! Meteor Thrash!" A huge fist, similar to the one before, only it was flaming, struck right into Façade, who only survived because I downloaded an UnderSht chip earlier.
"Façade! Work harder!"
Finally, the special program worked: suffering a bad burn, Façade nevertheless (or because of it) doubled all his stats instantly, allowing him superior agility, attack, and increased hit points. Temporarily.
"Sword, download!" Façade's right arm transformed into a short sword, and, due to the extra power granted by the special program, it sliced right through MeteorMan's shoulder blade, which disintegrated.
"Let's finish this now! Go forth, my FullFire-"
"COUNTER1!" As soon as MeteorMan leaned back to summon the deadly horde of viruses, Façade immediately struck back, paralysing the enemy.
"Let's get 'em! RockCube, triple download!"
A couple of rockcubes appeared on the battlefield, surrounding MeteorMan, who was now unable to run away. Good.
"Lightning1, download!"
Lightning struck and surged from the rockcubes, allowing electricity to surge through his body, causing severe damage.
"MetalGear1, download! HawkCut1, download!"
Damn these chips rock! A gear appeared from MeteorMan's rear, which smashed right into his back, and Façade performed a wide swipe and a long swipe, which cut right through his middle.
"You haven't seen anything of me yet!" shouted MeteorMan as he started to dissipate.
METEORMAN LOGGING OUT"Anything left behind?"
"Nope. Let's get out of here before anyone notices."
"Agreed."
Phew. Guess I am quite good after all.
FAÇADE LOGGING OUT"There has been an attack in Australia's Net, close to where James Li is." said Mr. Famous.
"You absolutely sure that he isn't in any danger?" replied Dr. Hikari.
"No, it was just a rogue attack. He did extremely well with the mostly Level 1 chips we gave him."
"Did he? I'll check the Official reports later."
"According to the news, it was said that a 'mystery Navi' deleted the offending Navi."
"And?"
"Nothing else."
"Good. Okay, let's have a break now."
"I have failed, Master."
"Hmph, MeteorMan. Beaten by a standard NetNavi. Have you any shame?"
"Yes, Master. I will do better next time."
"Whatever." a sinister voice answered. "There were not any real targets in Australia's Net, anyway. We shall strike at... next. You got it?"
"Understood."
"Now is... the time... I will... avenge... the death of Gospel!" roared a voice from the shadows of the now defunct World Three Area, outside UnderNet 4.
Anyone else, please review. Next update should be up in approximately a week... or two. Or three. Maybe a month. Okay, definitely not that long.