Disclaimer: Capcom owns MegaMan et. al. I only own this story.

Also, to avoid any confusion, a correction of the disclaimer in Chapter 4: I only own the characters Façade, James and Davy. MegaMan, Lan, etc all belong to Capcom.

Well, seeing as I'm getting the impression that people are reading this but not reviewing, I'll FINALLY get on with it!

Chapter 5: Greater Menace, Greater License

"Bass... I've never seen him this strong before... What power..." mouthed MegaMan. Indeed, Bass was floating ahead of them, looking simply furious, more than ever before, and looking ready to destroy anything in his path.

"I come... not simply to battle... Yes... I wish, once more, to become stronger... however... I am avenging... too..."

With almost no warning, Bass aimed both his air-burst gun and his shooting buster gun and, after charging, let loose a flurry of shots, injuring some Navis and deleting most of the viruses that Rush generated. QuickMan, TurboMan, and Roll simply sped away, GutsMan was able to take the hits without suffering too much damage, Ring deflected the hits with her rings, ProtoMan deflected them with his sonicbooms and MegaMan blocked with his HubShield.

"Hmph. Not bad. But let's see if you can withstand my next attack!" roared Bass, as suddenly and swiftly he equipped both his Dark Arm Blades and swiped right through a pack of Navis, forcing many to log out.

"Ready, all of you?" shouted Lan. "Battle routine, set, execu-" but he was promptly cut off as Bass let off a massive roar and sent a black energy ball slamming right at the entrance, narrowly missing GutsMan's head and smashing the area behind him.

"Sheesh, you'd think he'd allow us to go with the formalities," muttered Lan.

"I would believe he's more interested in... deleting... stuff." answered Chaud in his own blunt manner.

"GutsPnch3, double download!" With exponentially increased fists GutsMan aimed both at Bass, who angrily shoved him off, and was now looking in the opposite direction.

"NorthWind, download!" Roll sent a freezing wind towards Bass that stripped him of his aura. Bass tried to pretend not to notice her, but gave in and fired a few air-burst waves at Roll, who summoned a Mettaur3 to block the attack.

Bass was infuriated.

"Prepare to die!" Bass aimed multiple dark energy wheels in MegaMan and ProtoMan's direction, who were attempting a forked attack with QuickMan and TurboMan in the rear, being the speedy Navis. However, as MegaMan dodged the wheels, Bass once more equipped his dark arm blade and swung several shots at MegaMan/ProtoMan, severely injuring both at the shoulders.

"Damn it!" Chaud hissed. "VariableSword, download! Elemental Slash Wave, now!" ProtoMan equipped the magical blade and swung several sonicbooms at the now auraless Bass, who roared in pain.

"Something's... not right... with Bass." said Lan. "BigWave, download!"

Bass dodged the energy wave, still looking at MegaMan.

"Mega Buster!"

MegaMan fired a few charged buster shots at Bass, but he didn't even wince as he headed straight to MegaMan, charging his fist.

"DARKNESS OVERLOAD!"

"MEGAMAN!"

Just as the darkness was about to envelop MegaMan, multiple ice towers stopped him in his tracks.

"Blizzard!"

"Tory!"

"IceMan and I saw you guys during our trip to the Netopian Castle. We figured that you might need some help." said Tory, connecting his intercom to Lan's P.E.T. "Ready, IceMan? Black Hole battlechip, download!"

"Cannonball, download!" shouted Dex.

"AquaUp3, download!" shouted Mayl.

"AirHoc3, download!" shouted Tory.

"Z-Saber, download!" shouted Chaud.

"Quake3, download!" shouted Lan.

"Yo-yo3, double download." said Dave, very calmly.

Bass tried to dodge these attacks, but was struck hard by the yo-yos, the hockey puck, and the aqua towers. Worse, he could not regenerate his aura – the black hole had distorted his programming temporarily.

"DjangoSP, download!"

With the hot pile of sunlight hitting him, Bass was left with absolutely no choice but to warp away, muttering under his breath.

"He is seeking easier targets to battle. This has never occurred before. Surely something is troubling Bass greatly." said Dave.

"Ok, Mr. Famous and papa are already analysing the battle data. Everyone, log out now?" asked Lan.

All the Navis nodded.

MEGAMAN.EXE LOGGING OUT

PROTOMAN.EXE LOGGING OUT

QUICKMAN.EXE LOGGING OUT

ROLL.EXE LOGGING OUT

GUTSMAN.EXE LOGGING OUT

"IceMan, jack out?"

"Sure."

"Roger that!"

ICEMAN.EXE LOGGING OUT

"Ring, let's go! You coming, Kai? Turbo?"

RING.EXE LOGGING OUT

TURBOMAN.EXE LOGGING OUT

"So, anyway, how did our top-secret NetSavior go?" asked Lan, visibly curious.

"He did very well – performed very well indeed. Also, Lan, everyone, if you wish to refer to our top secret NetSavior, just refer to him as 'J'."

"Ok," replied Lan. "Want to go back home now, MegaMan?"

Well, the Netsaviors and Officials definitely did a fine job around the world. I don't think I really did much worse myself... Façade, watch out! Behind you!

"VariableSword, download!" Façade rapidly performed three sonic booms, which were boosted up by the Double-ColourPoint I gave him earlier. In a flash the rest of the Swordys were gone.

Uh-oh. An official. I don't want to do any tedious explanations or whatever– after reprogramming Façade slightly and reading that manual, I'm sooo tired now.

"Invis3, download!"

Okay, let's get away, because the effect'll fade eventually.

FAÇADE.EXE LOGGING OUT

"So, James, you know what'll happen to me after your 'real' I.D. is revealed? I mean, sometime a disaster will strike here, and you'll need to... y'know..."

Nah, don't sweat about it man. I'm your friend, y'know, and I'll make sure you get a REALLY good NetOp in case that ever happens.

"Okay, then. Sure. Huh? James! You got mail!"

Hmmm.

Dear Son

I'm in an unexpected conference with all other public servants and, in fact workers from around Canberra. Similar events are occurring in all major capital cities like Sydney, Melbourne and in fact, I heard from your mum, around the world, even! Maybe not, but I also heard from your grandparents that it's in China too. I have no idea what it is about, but you should watch the news a couple of hours later.

Be good, ok?

Dad

Ok. Now how about we get that S-License... after I eat?

1 hour later

That frozen dinner was actually pretty good! Now, where is my PET... Oh wait, I already jacked him in the computer. Okay Façade, another go on the S-Slider and we're off? Ok?

"Hang on! I've nearly perfected this cool technique... Damn. This won't work. All right. I'll get back into the Government Centre."

Back to the License Area...

"To receive the S License, you must defeat 10 batches of viruses in a row."

That's it?

"That's it."

Sounds easy enough.

"I will replenish your HP before and after the problem. Are you ready?"

Let's go! Now what do we have here? ... Mettaur3s. Let's try this.

"MtlGear2, download! LavaCan2, download!

There they go. Okay, there's Elespheres/hornets and Killy's... Oh, and there's a Sparkler.

"Rockcube, triple download! PlantManV3, download!"

This is a lot harder than the previous challenge! Flappys, Rattys, Slimeys of all kinds... even a Totum! And a Metrod!

"JunkMan, download! Navi+40, download! Navi+20, download!"

Same strategy used last time – ok, they're gone. A trio of Yarts! Uh-oh – now this is bad. Very bad.

"Stonebod, download!"

That'll hold 'em off for a moment.

"ProtoMan, download! SideGun, download!"

Now the last bit – Shit! Façade doesn't have much HP left! Ah! That'll 'save' me. For now.

"Barrier, download! AquaAura, download! Roll, download! Program Advance: Lifesaver!"

It's weak, but that buys me some time. Well, let's look for some good combos – Here's one!

"Fan, download! CustSwrd, download!"

Wait until it nearly fills upppppppp... NOW! Yay! They're all deleted!

"Congratulations! Here is your S License!"

Ok... Now to find that 'ArmyData' or whatever... Brrrr! It's in the UnderNet! Let's watch the news instead. What is it on?

"James, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" piped up Façade.

Well, at least I'll know what the public sees and thinks.

"In breaking news tonight, there have been reports from the NetSavior's Headquarters in Electopia that a top-secret 'final and strongest' NetSavior has been elected a few days ago. Only specially handpicked SciLab Officials by Dr. Yuuichiro Hikari and Mr. Mejin Famous have been allowed knowledge, including, ironically enough, the Former World Three, who are now reportedly running a successful curry restaurant business. Rumours have been circulating that he – or she – is in either Netopia or Yumland. This is TEN-AND-ONE-TENTH News."

Well, that wasn't too bad, although the curry restaurant bit might alert some more suspicious types of people. Anyway, Façade, you ready to get the 'ArmyData' and go after the SS license?

"Sure! C'mon! Let's go! Gogogo!"

Okay, okay, calm down already!

"Jack in, Façade! Execute!"

Okay, where's the nearest link to the UnderNet? Via the secret link to SciLab I created this arvo, of course. Now to UnderKoto... UnderNet 3.

Brrr... What kind of a place is this?

"Hey kiddo. What'cha doing here? Get back to the surface unless you want to be deleted by... THE BLACK SHADOW! RRAAAHHHH!"

Okay. These guys are scary. That also must have been a reference to that 'Bass' character that was here earlier.

Man, this is scary.

"Hey! Pick on guys on your own size, bitch!" Ah. He's that undercover Navi Mr. Match happened to mention. Let's get to a safer spot, now.

"You wanna fight it out?"

"BAM!"

Woah, these guys ARE SCARY! Let's withdraw to a corner, Façade.

"Wow... amazing... so fast... strong..."

Yeah, Façade, that's why we're training. No shit.

"Well, Crusher certainly 'crushed' him." said a shocked Façade.

"Heh. Façade. You and your operator seems to think that these Navis are scary – you'll have to get more than used to it," Crusher chuckled, rather darkly.

"By the way, I already know that you obtained the S-License – I spotted your battle from the GCHQ (Government Centre HeadQuarters). Guess Dr. Hikari is really good at spotting great talent like yourself."

Haven't heard compliments like that for awhile. Not that I've needed any to keep me going, anyway.

"So, you were the 'unwilling' force in a net mafia but is now a secret agent working in a bakery?" I said.

"Yeah, that's it." said Riki, his NetOp, who was this 'tough' guy who, deep inside, was a total softie... And I thought people like that were only in books and stuff!

"You won't need to go to the WWW Area 1 to get the ArmyData – anyway, I wouldn't recommend it."

"Why not? Is it because of Ba-"

"Yeah. Try not to say his name either."

Ugh. He must be really bad.

"Here. Take this."

Yay! The 'ArmyData'! Now that we've got it, let's get the SS License!

"By the way, have you heard about a reverse-engineering operating competition that's going to held in a few weeks? I heard they're using the most recently disused one, 'Doors IXP'."

Yeah, sure, why not! Haven't been to a comp like that in ages!

"I guess... I'll see you later then."

"Okay. Façade, I'll jack you out, then jack you back in."

CRUSHER.EXE LOGGING OUT

FAÇADE.EXE LOGGING OUT

"Jack in, Façade! Execute!"

"Mr. Famous."

"Yes, what is it?"

"The same Navi that 'J' defeated – he is in Swapopolis, ravaging the Net over there. Tora is investigating this, with the help of Chaud and some others."

"Make sure that nothing happens over there. The world's been already ravaged by Nebula – we don't want anything happening again."

"Understood, Famous."

"By the way, while you're getting some dinner, can you get me some of those 'Porkiest Morsels'?"

"Ewww... Mr. Famous... they have a lot of fat... you don't want to get fat... do you?"

"So? Does it really matter?"

"That's a reasonable answer."

"Exactly."

"INSOLENT NETNAVIS!" Bass was drained of all power, and not a single virus or black navi remained in the area he was in.

"I... WILL... GET... YOU... ONCE... AND..." Bass suddenly collapsed from all the charged power inside him. In the centre of Black Earth 2, not a sound could be heard.

Well, if you can be bothered to review, please do so.