Chapter 8- Nightmares all round

A figure emerged from the shadows, but its face remained hidden.Blues looked up, "What is that?"
"I don't know, all I can pick up in the coding is that there is something similar to the Darksoul inside it, but its different at the same time."
"Is that it?"
"No, it's a he and is as tall as Gospel…"
"Gospel wasn't that big!" Rockman interrupted..
"…on his hind legs." Iris finished.
"Oh."
"Well, well, the famous Rockman, scared of ghosts?" the mysterious program taunted, "And his demon-fearing bird."
"No one calls me a bird and gets away with it!"
The thing laughed, a deep laugh that vibrated on the ground, "You think you can touch me, I can make your worst fears a reality."
"Just get to the point, we were in the middle of something."
"I am Nightmare, and you'd do well to show me respect!"
"Yeah well, my worst fears are far behind me."
"And you can't afford to recreate mine!" Blues replied.
"I do not have time for this, for I will seek out my revenge!" Nightmare declared, before thudding away into the shadows.
"What was he on about?"
"There is only one way we can find out." Rockman replied, "And that is dropping in on the Undernet."
Everyone repressed shudders, Roll in particular failed.
"In the meantime we have to alert the press."
"Metool 963 at your service!"
Blues looked at him, "Where did you come from?"
"The back door."
Iris sighed, "I should've known."
963 was scribbling on a piece of paper, "I can see it now, 'Mysterious figure attacks IPC party, exclusive story!'"
"It won't be exclusive by this time tomorrow, it's an international crisis."
"Oh, in that case, scratch that."
Iris looked at Fireman, "Is something wrong?"
"My neck has been sore since just before the mummies turned up."
"Let me see." Sure enough, there was some kind of bee-like bug, "This might sting a little, no pun intended." Iris told him, removing it.
"Ouch!" Fireman doubled over in pain.
"It can't have hurt that much!"
"It felt like it wormed its way into my memory banks and stuck itself there."
"What is it Iris?"
"Some kind of bug, 963, get a picture of this as a warning."
"Ok." 963 replied, pulling out a small camera and taking photos of it.
"You sound like an official."
"If only, Nia was considered too pretty for pursuits."
"And two-toned hair stops Enzan-Sama?"
"Doesn't mean we don't fight for what is right Blues, you don't want to know what we've been through,"
Rockman was looking at Roll, "You've got one too."
"No need for you to be checked Rockman, almost everyone knows you're afraid of ghosts." Blues said, smirking.
Rockman glared at him, but didn't say anything.
"Relax, all we can do is report that everything is back to normal and continue the party."
Everyone nodded and returned to the lounge.

"Everything is cleared up, but be on your toes." Enzan told everyone, who nodded and things returned to normal, until Shuuseki stood up.
"Ladies and gentlemen, apologies for this incident, it was a matter completely out of my control, the media will be alerted and soon precautions will be taken to put an end to it."
There was a nervous murmur and this.
"On a lighter note, I have a very important announcement to make." Shuuseki continued, "Tonight is IPC's 40th anniversary, but it is my last as president of the company, but I leave you in able hands that I have trained since their owner could walk. As of tomorrow, my son, Ijuuin Enzan, is the new president of IPC!"
There was a polite, scattered applause, only Netto, Meiru and Nia were enthusiastic.
"I'm sure my son would like to tell us his plans for the company."
Enzan looked at everyone, "Ladies and gentlemen, when I was younger I imitated my father, but as I grew older, I began to rebel, in my teens I did so more. And in light of these recent responsibilities I intend to revolutionise the company after a full examination. The future will be bright, because I intend to improve the atmosphere for employees and much more besides. By this time next year, the company will be completely different, but better than ever. Thank you."
The four sat down and finished their meal. Netto felt like he was going to have a panic attack when he realised that it was his mother's cheesecake.

Afterwards Enzan and Nia walked out and they were bombarded with questions about the announcement. "It is something that has been expected, however, there is a more important matter on our hands." Enzan replied, "A mysterious program known as Nightmare has revealed himself, and if a navi complains about being stung, they must report to the nearest science labs, the Program Emporium or an official IPC repair shop."
"What can you tell us about this Nightmare?" a reporter asked.
"Only that he is as tall as Gospel on his hind legs, but nothing else."
"Why stung?"
"Nightmare uses a bee-like bug to find a navi's worst fear and make it a reality, but as a Netsaviour I intend to do everything I can with my colleagues to help."
"What is his purpose?"
"No idea, he mentioned something about revenge, but that is it, Blues and Rockman, along with a couple of friends, intend to go into the Undernet for answers."
"Why there?"
"Because Iris, Nia's navi, recognised coding like, yet unlike, that of the Darkchip."
"Yet unlike?"
"Similar in some ways, but significantly different." Nia explained, "But with 963 hounding me we will be able to release details as they crop up."

The next evening 963 was walking around the Undernet's new city, which looked like a dark version of Internet city, "Why did I do this?" he asked.
"Because Iris blackmailed you." 857, his companion and trusty cameraman, reminded him, dodging viruses that were flying everywhere. "This place is chaos, even if it looks like a rundown Internet city."
"Shademan!" 963 exclaimed, the vampire-like navi turned around, discarding a virus like a broken toy.
"What was that about?"
"I've been living off viruses recently, don't worry, you aren't worth my time and effort. Your helmets are tough and you taste like compost heaps."
"I don't know whether to take that as a good thing or bad, but that's beside the point, what do you know about Nightmare?" 963 asked, putting the microphone up to his face, which, if it weren't for the fact that it was extendable, would've been difficult.
"Nightmare? You mean Silver?" Shademan asked.
"Silver? This is an interesting twist, I must inform Iris!" he exclaimed, running to the nearest phone and punching a number, "Come on come on! I don't want to spend more time in here than I need to!"
"Hello Program Emporium!"
"Iris! It's 963!"
"I told you a dozen times that I am not increasing the sponsorship!"
"That's not what I'm phoning about, I'm in the Undernet and I found Shademan! What's more he called Nightmare Silver!"
There was a moment of silence, "Stay with him!"
"Please, he's unbearable! HE EATS VIRUSES!"
"That's not why, I can track your data signature and find him."
"Err…he disappeared completely after I asked him a question."
"Stay there anyway, I might find some of trail, contact Blues and Rockman ASAP."
"Right!"

In no time the three navis were there, Roll, who was with Rockman anyway, came along. "This place gives me the creeps." Rockman muttered."Doesn't it everyone?" Blues asked.
"Push that aside boys, the sooner we find Shademan the sooner we get out."
"IRIS!" yelled a voice, it was 963, and he was as white as a sheet, "I've been attacked four times! I'm NEED to get out of here before I go crazy!"
"Too late for that." Rockman muttered.
"We're here now, so you can go." Iris replied, shrugging.
"FINALLY!" the metool yelled, making them jump, then charged to the nearest portal out of there, 857 close behind.
"Why was he here?"
"I have access to their uncut footage, and he's been beaten up on camera before."
"Who by?"
"A number of people he ticked off, but he's also had some embarrassing situations, and I can take them whenever I feel like it as one of their sponsors, I reminded him."
"So you blackmailed him? I'll forget you said that."
"I don't think there's anything about blackmailing viruses in the law."
Blues was about to say something, but stopped, "Officially, the book says Internet citizens, but since the metools were originally programmed as a virus it can go either way, but I get your point."
Iris smiled, "Navis don't get left out during the study programs at Ameroupe Ultima Institute of Honours and Masters."
"They don't get left out at Akihara University either." Rockman replied, and Blues looked like he was hit in the face by something he didn't see.

Next time:

Between moments about mentioning Nia's old school life and information obtained as a Netsaviour, the gang locate where Shademan has been lurking since Nebula disbanded, but can they get any information out of the navi?

Hang tight and prepare for surprises as you read chapter 9- 'Shock and Darkness'