Activation!
By StarWulf.EXE
Chapter 12: Fragment Arena Part 2
"I'm going to have the Curry Surprise. What about you guys?"
"I'll order the extra spicy curry."
"Just a diet soda for me."
"The chicken curry sounds good to me."
The four placed their orders and took a seat at the counter. Yai smoothed her dress out as she looked at the crowd of people gawking over a new PET model.
"So, Chris, what brings you to Dentech?" she asked.
Chris stared in amazement. "How'd you know my name?"
Yai just smiled. "I was one the same plane you where. You made quite a ruckus when those BattleChips got scattered."
Chris shifted in his chair. "I…Um…"
"So that explains why you had a SyncroChip!" Lan said, laughing.
Dex scratched his head. "What are you two talking about?"
Lan and Chris quickly exchanged worried looks. "Uh…Well-"
"Mind if I join you?"
The group turned around to see a pair of blue eyes staring at them.
"Sure, have a seat."
"Thanks." he said, sitting down next to them. His pale skin looked even whiter under his short black hair. He was wearing a dull, zipped-up, orange jacket and a pair of crisp black cargo pants. His vibrant blue eyes where intensified by his thin-rimmed glasses. "So, have you guys entered the tournament yet?"
The four friends nodded as they watched their orders being prepared.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Axel; Axel Daine."
A woman with pink hair tied into pigtails walked out from behind the counter. She had on a white shirt with orange sleeves; her Navi's symbol on the front. Her shoes where hidden under her light blue jeans. She ran over to them and gave them their curry. "Well if it isn't Hakari!"
The brunette looked up at her and smiled. "Maddy, I didn't know you'd be here!"
"I suppose you're all here for the tournament, eh?" Maddy as she sat down sat down next to Axel. "Match, Yahoot, Zap, and I are all registered too. Maybe we'll face each other!"
Lan's response was undecipherable because of the enormous amount of curry he was shoveling into his mouth. Chris and Axel looked at each other, trying to figure out how a human stomach could take in so much food at once. Yai, Dex, and Maddy seemed used to it, seeing that there where busy catching up since they last met.
At that instant, the building's P.A. system sparked to life. There was a few seconds of static before a woman's voice spoke up. "Welcome, one and all, to the Dentech Expo Center! I'm your official announcer, Ribbita! All contestants need to report to the fourth floor and everyone else should head to the fifth. This is Ribbita signing off!"
"Well, we better get going!" Dex said as he got up and pulled out his PET. "We don't want to be late!"
Lan, finishing his meal, did the same. He pointed his PET at #1 Curry's cash register. "Jack in, MegaMan-"
Maddy shook her head. "This one's on me." she called out, already halfway to the nearest elevator. Trailing behind her was the rest of the original World Three team. "See ya later!"
Yai, Dex, Chris, and Lan got up from their seats and ran off to find the stairs, leaving Axel behind. Sparrow, who had be monitoring the contestant info, logged back into Axel's PET. "What's wrong?" he asked, noticing the unusual look his operator had on his face.
"I forgot to order my curry."
- - -
-TEN MINUTES LATER-
The rooftop of the expo center was buzzing with activity. The weather outside was bright and sunny, making it perfect for battling. Bleachers had been set up around the middle of the floor where eight state-of-the-art Net Battle hologram machines rested next to a large area cleared off for the Fragment battles. Most of Dentech's population was already seated or walking around on the rooftop.
However, back on the fourth floor, sixteen contestants where gathered around an official reading the tournament rules. Apparently, everyone else who signed up chickened out or was disqualified.
"…So after the first half of the battle, you enter Fragment mode. A sealed off area in the net has been set up so you can relax while your Navis continue the battle. Whoever has the least damage when the timer goes off is the winner. Behind me is the bracket that will be updated after each battle. You may want to glance at it before the contest starts so you can be prepared." The official said, finishing up. "Battles will start in about five minutes. Get your Navis and BattleChips ready." he said, leaving the room.
"Let's find out who we get to battle." Yai suggested, pointing to the bracket. Almost all of the contestants where already reading over the list. Those who weren't looking where talking to their Navis, flipping through their BattleChip folder, and discussing strategies with other NetOps.
The group walked over to bracket, pushing past the crowd of people. "Found us." Chris announced, pointing to their Navi's names. "MegaMan is up against ChainMan, Glyde gets to take on IllusionMan, Wulf has a battle with FortressMan, and GutsMan verses Sparrow."
Dex looked at the list himself. "I guess we don't get to battle each other till the very end." he said, turning back to his friends.
"Attention all participants." the P.A. system's robotic voice echoed throughout the building's lower levels, now empty. "The battles are about to begin. Contestants may watch other fights once their battle is over. Please head for the rooftop so everyone can begin."
"All right!" Lan shouted, twirling his PET with his fingers. "You guys ready?"
"Lan, I'm getting dizzy!" MegaMan yelled, clutching on to his helmet. "Stop before I puke!"
"Sorry Mega."
"It's okay. By the way, everyone else left."
"What!"
- - -
By now, everyone was on the rooftop. Chris, Dex, and Yai where shaking hands with their opponents while the other battlers did the same. Just as Lan came running up from the stairs towards ChainMan's NetOp, the speakers crackled with static.
"What a fine day for Net Battling! I'm Ribbita and for those who don't know, I'm today's official announcer. Hundreds of people registered to battle but only sixteen where chosen. Now, without future ado, let's start the tournament! Our first battle will be….Lan Hakari and MegaMan verses Austin Yunda and ChainMan!"