Starfire leaned against a rock, panting. "How long have we been running?"
ProtoMan did a couple of mental calculations. "I'd say we've been running for maybe two and a half hours."
Starfire caught her breath. Two hours and no sign of him. Not even a footprint! Not that they'd been expecting any, the target usually floated.
Looking up, Starfire spoke. "If we've been running for two and a half hours, that means its six thirty. What do you think our Net Op's are doing?"
For a moment, ProtoMan pondered this question. "Chaud is probably eating dinner or working on a project."
Stretching, Star replied thoughtfully. "Sam probably ate around five thirty, so she's either doing homework or playing guitar. Or she's somewhere with Chaud."
Settling her gaze on the horizon, Starfire caught a movement about a half-mile away. Since she was a Net Navi, she had better vision than most humans. "ProtoMan! Focus on that pile of boulders out there! What do you see?"
ProtoMan silently adjusted his visor and the boulders leapt into focus. On top of the pile stood a cloaked Navi.
The target had been found.
Bass. EXE.
"Let's go!" Star cried, her fatigue forgotten. Bounding across the landscape, Star used the rocks and potholes to her advantage, boosting herself forward.
ProtoMan actually found himself straining to keep up with the little orange Navi. If Star puts her mind to it, He thought, She can be a real speed demon!
When they were about 100 yards from the rocks, Star spoke. "We've been spotted ProtoMan. Bass has come down from the rocks and just dove into a little cave."
ProtoMan grinned like a fox in a henhouse. "Checkmate."
Bass stood atop the pile of rocks. He had spotted the two Navis from a mile and a half away. He knew they were coming for him. The trap was already set.
FreezeMan approached. "Don't forget the plan Bass! We want them alive. You're the bait."
Over the years, Bass had become very good at shooting glances that could kill without moving a hair. Now, he treated FreezeMan to his best. "I know what I'm doing."
Everyone there knew better than to mess with the black Navi. But he was about to get a little more than he expected.
TorchMan opened a private line to his operator, Mr. Match. "Mr. Match, are you sure this is wise? If the legends about Bass are true…"
Mr. Match grinned sinisterly. "Look at it as killing two birds with one stone! Or in this case, three birds with a whole pile of stones."
TorchMan was about to laugh at his operators joke but Bass moved, the first time all day.
"It's time."
He leapt down, using the rock ledge to swing himself into the cave below.
Starfire and ProtoMan arrived at the mouth of the cave a couple moments later. Peering in, neither could see their target.
"Right," ProtoMan said matter-of-factly, "Cyber sword!" He turned to Starfire. "I'm going in. You stay here."
As he took half a step Star grabbed his ponytail. "You go alone? Not a chance mister! I'm coming with you, no matter what."
With a sigh, ProtoMan shook his head. Star was beautiful, but very headstrong and stubborn. "All right Star, just stay behind me. But if this is a trap…"
Starfire let go of the ponytail and stepped next to her partner. "Then we'll meet it best we can."
With ProtoMan in front and Star a couple steps behind they entered the cave.
"Bass." ProtoMan said quietly.
The cloaked figure was sitting on a boulder. He moved now so he was facing the two warriors.
"So. You found me." Standing, Bass spread his arms wide. "Now come and get me"
Above, the two Net Navis heard the signal phrase and let loose a shower of rocks and rubble. But this rubble wasn't ordinary. It had been laced with programs that would repel anything that was thrown at it.
Below, all three Navis were reacting differently.
"What the-?" ProtoMan gasped, looking up at the rocks plummeting towards him. No matter what his common sense told him, ProtoMan couldn't bring himself to move from the spot.
Bass watched in astonishment. This wasn't right! They were supposed to wait for him to get out of the cave! "TRAITORS!" Bass roared over the thunder of the falling rubble.
Starfire watched in horror as the rubble fell. If she took a step or two back, she'd be out of the line of fire, but ProtoMan would be crushed. Things began to slow as Star threw herself on ProtoMan, using herself as a human shield. A rock bounced off her helmet as they careened to the cave floor and everything went black.
