CHAPTER 8

"Two Hikari's On One Mission"

"Or about my PHD?" He asked.

"A little of both." Megaman answered.

"Yes, she knows I'm working on them and no she doesn't know about my PHD." Lan said.

"Hey, dad." He said smiling.

"Hello. Son." Dr. Hikari greeted.

"Let's get to work huh?" Lan asked and sat down.

"Right." Dr. Hikari said.

Lan got to work.

"Ho, how are the babies?" Dr. Hikari asked.

"There fine. I actually jacked in earlier and held Talla." Lan said.

"Really?" Dr. Hikari asked.

Lan nodded.

"Yeah." Lan said.

"Bet Megaman loved watching that." Dr. Hikari said.

"She was so cute. Huh, Megaman?" Lan asked.

"Yup, especially the way YOU kept tickling her." Megaman replied.

"I couldn't help it." Lan said.

"I know." Megaman teased.

"Wonder how you'd act if I did the same thing to Kat!" Megaman grinned.

"I don't know." Lan said.

"Probably you'd laugh your head off." Megaman said.

Lan chuckled.

"Probably." Lan said.

"I KNOW you would" Megaman shot back.

Lan smiled.

"See." Megaman said.


"Yeah." Lan said.

"Knew it." Megaman grinned

Lan cleared his throat and went to sciencetist mode.

"Want me to help?" he asked.

"Let's continue on with the task at hand. Certainly Megaman we require all the assistance we can get." Lan said.

"Okay, great! Where did you leave off?" Megaman asked in order to be brought up to speed.

They explained what they had done so far.

"Hmm, you managed to get the flaws dealt with when the girls came?" Megaman asked.

"Well he had help." Dr. Hikari chimed in.

"What do you have in mind father?" Lan asked.

"I was just recalling how the equipment left you drained at first and I've been trying to correct it." Dr. Hikari said.

"And..." Lan prompted.

"I think I know where the problem was." Dr. Hikari said, bringing up a computer-generated model of the device.

Lan walked over so he could get a better look.

"See the problem?" Dr. Hikari said, pointing to where the interface was located

Lan looked and nodded.

"How can we fix it?" Lan asked.

"A damper." Dr. Hikari said.


"Like what?" Lan asked.

"A circuit could be made to accept your brain patterns and limit the strain the device puts on you." Dr. Hikari said.

"The question this poses is what sort of circuit to use." Lan said.

"That's where in the problem lies." Dr. Hikari said.

"So how can Megaman help?" Lan asked.

"He'll be to attach the connections in a safe alignment from the mainframe." Dr. Hikari said.

"What do you say pal?" Lan asked.

"Of course I'll help, do you really gotta ask?" Megaman asked.

"Just making sure." Lan said.

"Mm-hmm" Megaman said.

"I'll jack you into the mainframe." Lan said.

"Right" Megaman replied

"Jack in Megaman! Power up!" Lan exclaimed.

Lan leaned on the table a second.

"Lan, are you okay?" Dr. Hikari and Megaman asked in unsion.

Lan was a bit flush.

"Maybe we should wait, you don't look so good." Dr. Hikari said.

"I'm fine." Lan lied.

"Uh-huh." Megaman replied.

"Let's just do this Megaman." Lan said.

"Alright." Megaman said worriedly.

Lan looked at his dad.

"We have to fix this no matter what." Lan said his body shaking slightly.

"It won't mean anything if you endanger your health son." Dr. Hikari said.

"We have to fix it." Lan said.

"I know, but AFTER you get some rest." Dr. Hikari coaxed.

"I-I-I have to..." Lan started as he started to pass out.

"LAN!" Dr. Hikari shouted as he caught his son.

Lan looked very flush.

"Lan? Can you hear me? I NEED A MEDICAL TEAM TO THE MAIN LAB NOW!" Dr. Hikari called out to the security over phone.

MEANWHILE WITH MAYLU

Kat started crying.

"Oh sweetie, it's alright. Shh, no need to cry shh." Maylu cooed, trying to calm the baby girl.

Kat kept crying.

'Oh Lan...' Maylu thought not knowing of the bond.

MEANWHILE AT SCILABS

Lan groaned still unconscious.

"Lan?" Dr. Hikari asked softly as they were now in the infirmary of Scilabs.

Lan groaned and slowly opened his eyes.

"Hey, Lan." Dr. Hikari said.

"Dad?" Lan asked groggly.

"I'm here, son." Dr. Hikari said gently.

"What happened?" Lan asked a bit more awake.

"You collapsed in the lab." Dr. Hikari said.

Lan looked at his father. Then he looked around and frowned.

"Kat's crying." Lan said.

"What?" Dr. Hikari asked, confused.

"Kat is crying." Lan repeated.

"How do you know she's upset and crying, son?" Dr. Hikari asked.

"I can sense it." Lan said.

"Really? Well I think you better go home and rest anyway." Dr. Hikari said.

"OK." Lan said in defeat.

Lan slowly stood.

"Take it easy, going home." Dr. Hikari suggested.

Lan nodded.

"Oh, where's Megaman?" Lan asked.

"Lan? You don't sound so good." Megaman called out.

"I'm fine." Lan said.

"Maybe we should go home." Megaman said after Dr. Hikari had retrieved the PET and handed it to his son.

Lan nodded.

"Later, dad." Lan said started for the door.

"Bye son." Dr. Hikari said.

Lan walked out of Scilabs and towards his home.

"Something wrong, Lan?" Megaman asked.

"No, I just need to lay down." Lan said as he walked into the house.

"LAN? thank heavens you're back!" Maylu exclaimed, still holding a fussy Kat.

Lan went right to Kat.

"I'm here now, sweety." Lan said softly.

Kat cooed in his arms.

"Lan, are you feeling alright? You don't look so good." Maylu said.

"I just need to lay down." Lan said.

"Alright." Maylu said, deciding to leave the baby with her father.

Lan layed down with the baby on his chest and the two fell asleep.

"Aw Lan." Megaman said quietly as he watched his brother and niece.

A FEW HOURS LATER

Lan woke up.

"Feeling better?" Maylu asked.

Lan nodded.

"Yeah." Lan asked.

"So, what happened back there?" Megaman asked who now had little talla in his arms.

"What do you mean?" Lan asked a tad confused.

"At Scilabs." Megaman prompted.

"I'm not sure. It felt like the whole room was spinning and all my strength was suddenly gone." Lan said.

"Hmmm, think you pushed too hard?" Megaman asked.

"Maybe." Lan said.

"Lan?" Maylu chimed in upon hearing the two of them.

Lan looked at Maylu.

"How you feeling?" Maylu asked

"Better." Lan said.

"That's good." she said.

Lan smiled.

She too smiled at him and their little girl.

"At least, he's feeling better." Megaman said to himself.


Lan carefully got up trying not to wake Kat.

"I'll take her, hon." Maylu offered.

Lan nodded. Maylu gently coaxed the child from him. Lan let out one of those 'I just woke up' kinda yawns. Lan streagth. Maylu giggled.

"Maylu, just so you know. We fixed most of the problem with these things at the lab." Lan said pulling out the emersion glass, holding them up.

"Really?" she asked.

"There's only one repair left and for that Megaman gonna help." Lan said.

"Seriously?" Maylu asked, confused.

Lan nodded.

"Yeah." Lan said.

"How?" Maylu asked.

"You gonna tell her or what?" Megaman prompted.

"It's hard to explain." Lan said.

"He has to aline to connection in a safe manner he can do that from the Scilab's mainframe. When we get back to the lab that is." He said.

"I see." Maylu said.

Lan smiled.

"Don't worry, it's not gonna take long." Lan said as he stood up.

"You hope." Maylu teased.

"I should finish." Lan said.

"You ready, pal?" He asked.

"Yep, whenever you are." Megaman said.

"We'll be back soon. I promise." Lan said and ran out.

"See you soon." Maylu said.

Lan nodded.

"Yep." Lan said.

With that Lan ran out of the house and headed to Scilabs.

"Hi son, feeling better?" Dr. Hikari asked when he saw his son.

Lan nodded.

"Yep." Lan said.

"That's good, and Kat?" Dr. Hikari asked.

"She calmed down as soon I was holding her. To be honest I think she sensed something was wrong with me and got worried." Lan said.

"Amazing." Dr. Hikari said.

Lan nodded.

"I know." Lan said.

Lan pulled out Megaman PET.

"You ready pal?" Lan asked.

"Yup." Megaman said.

"Jack in Megaman! Power up!" Lan exclaimed.

'Okay, now let's see.' Megaman thought as he looked at the blueprint.

Lan sat down thinking.

"Something on your mind, son?" Dr. Hikari asked.

"One of these days I want Kat to actually met Megaman, Roll and Talla." Lan said looking at Dr. Hikari.

"It's only fair, the girls are technically cousins after all." Dr. Hikari said.

Lan nodded.

"I think it'd be cute." Dr. Hikari said with a chuckle.

"It'll happen someday." Lan said chuckling as well.

Dr. Hikari nodded. Lan smiled a moment in rememberence.

"I was just remembering that day when that Dimesional area showed up and I actually met Megaman face to face." Lan said.

"I remember that and I'm almost done." Megaman said.

"Good." Lan said.

"So, you gonna test them again?" Dr. Hikari asked.

"When he's done yes." Lan said with a nod.

"I'll never forget that day." Lan said.

"There, got it!" Megaman said, rather pleased.

"Good." Lan said.

"So, gonna give them the old college try?" Dr. Hikari asked.

"You better jack out first Megaman." Lan said.

"Alright." Megaman said.

"I'm gonna wait until he jacks out to test them." Lan said.

"Go for it, Lan!" Megaman called from the PET.

Lan put them on and pulled out Marriorman PET. There was that flash and Marriorman appeared in Dr. Hikari's computer.

"Yes!" Megaman excliamed.

"Good, it worked." Marriorman said.

"How do you feel, son?" Dr. Hikari asked.

"I'm fine, dad." Marriorman said.

"Looks like it works now." Dr. Hikari said with a grin.

Marriorman nodded and the mask came off. And he was smiling.

"I can see that" the doctor's grin got bigger.

"Marriorman logging out"

Lan took off the glasses. Soon the building shock with a major explosion and a massive fire start blocking the door to Dr. Hikari's lab. The two Hikari didn't notice the fire at first and tried to stay standing with the building shaking it soon passed.

"Did you guys feel that?" Megaman asked.

Smoke had started to bellow into the room from the door. Lan started coughing really hard.

"D-D-Dad." Lan pointed to the doorway.

"I-I-I know. We must get out!" Dr. Hikari said.

Lan fell to his knees coughing.

"Hold on son!" Dr. Hikari said, helping Lan to his feet.

"M-M-Megaman, there's a fire blocking the door." Lan coughed out.

"Don't worry, I activated the sprinklers." Megaman said.

Lan was already on the verge of passing out.

"C'mon Lan, stay awake! We're almost out." Dr. Hikari said as the sytem came online.

MEANWHILE

Kat started crying. Lan's vesion started to blure.

"Kat?" Maylu asked, as she held the baby and knew Lan was in trouble!

Lan passed out and fell from his father's grip.

"C'mon Lan, you gotta get up think about Maylu and Kat! They need you!" Dr. Hikari urged.

Lan started shaking and twitching.

"Lan? Can you hear me?" Dr. Hikari asked trying to help him stay awake.

Lan kept shaking a twitching; his eyes were rolled back slightly.

"DOC, I THINK HE'S HAVING A SIZURE!" Megaman shouted from the PET.

Lan kept shaking and twitching. His eyes were still rolled back in his head.

The doctor remembered what to do in this situation as he tried clear his son airway.

"DOC! I alerted EMS! They're on the way." Megaman told him.

Dr. Hikari nodded. Lan kept shaking and twitching. Kat kept crying.

"Oh Lan, please be alright." Maylu begged quitly.

"Anyone in there!" Came a shout.

"Hurry!" Dr. Hikari shouted.

"We're almost through." Came the voice with great effort in forcing the door.

"Hang on, Lan." Dr. Hikari pled not knowing if he could even hear him.

Lan kept shaking and twitching. The door was smashed opened. Mrs. Hikari ran into Maylu and Lan's. Dr. Hikari looked away from his son and at the door.

"Please help him." Dr. Hikari said stepping back from Lan.

"Don't worry sir. He's in good hands, can you tell us what happened?" An ambulance worker asked.

"Maylu! Where's Lan!" Mrs. Hikari demanded.

"He was exposed to that smoke. He got a lot of it." Dr. Hikari said sadly.

"Last I saw him, he was heading to Scilabs." Maylu said worriedly.

"I see." The medic said as he worked on getting Lan stable.

"That what I was afraid of." Mrs. Hikari said looking down.

"Why?" Maylu asked who becoming frightened.

"There was an explosion..." Mrs. Hikari started.

"No..." Maylu said, understanding the behavior of the baby, who once knew her daddy was in trouble.

"Lan's father and some other people where trapped by a fire...and if Lan's there he's probably trapped along with his dad." Mrs. Hikari said then noticed the baby was crying.

"She knew." Maylu said, trying to calm Kat down with no luck.

"Please, son. Please be OK." Dr. Hikari pled letting the medic work.

Megaman also hoped Lan would pull through. Lan stopped shaking. The medic sighed as the young man's vitals started to return to normal. Lan groaned as his eyes slowly open.

"Lan?" Megaman asked as he heard the groan.

"Megaman?" Lan asked.

"Looks like he'll be fine, but we'll keep in the hospital as a precaution." The medic said as he observed Lan.

"I'm here." Megaman said softly.

"What happened, Megaman?" Lan asked in confusion.

"You inhaled a lot of smoke and it caused you to have a seizure." Megaman said.

"Kat must be screaming her head off." Lan said smiling.

"You're probably right, for a baby…she always seems to know when you're in danger...want me to see Maylu?" Megaman asked.

Lan nodded.

"Maylu?" Megaman called when he returned to their home PC.

"It's Megaman." Mrs. Hikari said.

"Megaman, is Lan alright?" Maylu asked.

"He's been taken to the hospital." Megaman said with a sigh.

"What happened?" Mrs. Hikari asked.

"There was an explosion and it caused a fire. Lan inhaled a lot of smoke which cause him to have a seizure." Megaman said.

"Is alright, through?" Mrs. Hikari asked with concern.

"He should be, but he'll be in the hospital as a safe guard." Megaman said.

"Good." Mrs. Hikari said.

Megaman nodded as he looked at Kat. Kat was still crying.

"Aw Kat..." Megaman cooed, knowing WHO could calm her down.

Lan frowned

"Dad, she's crying again." Lan said looking at his father who'd come with him.

"You heard her?" Dr. Hikari asked.

"Like I told you before I can sense it." Lan said.

"I better call Maylu." Dr. Hikari said.

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