Activation!

By StarWulf.EXE

Chapter 13: All Chained Up

Previously on "Activation!"…

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!"

Chapter 13: All Chained Up

"You ready, Lan?" MegaMan asked, activating his mouth guard and Mega Buster.

"Ready and willing!" replied Lan, fingering the BattleChips in his pocket. "'Bout time we got use those upgrades in a real Net Battle!"

Meanwhile, Ribbita was hovering over the rooftop aboard a DNN blimp. She quickly adjusted her frog-like hat before pulling out her lime-green PET. "ToadMan, are you all set up?"

"We got all of our broadcasting programs monitoring the battles, ribbit. If anything thing happens, ribbit, we'll see it!" said a small green Navi that resembled a frog.

Ribbita smiled and grabbed a nearby microphone and switched it on. "Good work. Start the cameras in three…two…" The newscaster slipped her PET back into her pocket and glanced out of one of the blimp's windows. She took a deep breath before practically screaming into the microphone.

"This is Ribbita once again; ready to bring you the most up-to-date coverage on today's battles! Now, NetOps, take your position!"

"May the best Navi and Operator win!" Austin called out. He had short blonde hair with long sideburns that looked like they needed to be trimmed. He was wearing a dark green sweatshirt with his Navi's icon on the right sleeve and dark blue jeans that where slightly faded around his knees.

With a quick nod, Lan and Austin walked over to one of the Net Arenas and aimed their PETs.

"Jack in, MegaMan! Power up!"

"Jack in, ChainMan! Power up!"

Two red beams hit the jack-in sensor on the side of the arena, dropping off the two Navis.

BATTLE START!

"Mega Buster!" MegaMan shouted, firing two energy balls at his opponent. ChainMan simply jumped over the shots, landing several feet away.

ChainMan snickered. "Without armor, my agility is increased tenfold." It was true; he wasn't wearing any armor except for a pair of dark green gloves and boots over a navy-blue bodysuit. Without a helmet, his semi-long hair reached down to his shoulder-blades. Hooked on to his hips where two chain-like whips. "My speed and long-attacks make me unstoppable!"

"Unstoppable, eh? Well, try this, MegaMan! Green Rope 2 BattleChip, in! Download!" said Lan, sliding a chip into his PET.

MegaMan smashed his hand against the ground. "Green Rope!" Vines sprung up from under ChainMan and wrapped around his legs, tapping him. "Now! Mega Buster!" the blue Navi shouted, firing rapidly.

"Heat Buoy BattleChip, in! Download! Bee Arrow 1 BattleChip, in! Download!" Austin said, downloading two chips. As soon as he did, ChainMan's hand morphed into a red and white cannon. He pointed the barrel down at the vines.

"Fire!" The burning plasma ball disintegrated the vines, freeing the Navi. He raised his arm and pointed at MegaMan. "Bee Virus!"

An electrified hornet materialized in front of MegaMan, blocking all of his shots.

MegaMan smiled weakly at the virus. "Lan, I need a BattleChip!"

"I've got your back! Ice Cannonball BattleChip, in! Download!" Lan said, inserting another chip.

A blue and black sphere the size of a baseball appeared in MegaMan's right hand. He chucked the projectile at the virus, freezing it instantly. It crashed the ground, shattering into a thousand glittering shards.

"Piece of cake!" MegaMan shouted triumphantly.

"Not quite, MegaMan. Chain Whips!"

Before the MegaMan could fire his buster, two chain lengths rapped around his waist from behind. The blue Navi turned his head around to see face opponent.

"Hit him with this!" Austin shouted. "ElecReel 3 BattleChip, in! Download!" ChainMan's hands started to spark and crackle as they charged up with energy.

"Reel Shock!" The electricity that ChainMan was storing traveled from his hands down the chains, shocking MegaMan. His opponent let him fall to the ground with a sickening 'thud'.

Ribbita grabbed her microphone and started shouting again. "Well, this is interesting! Looks like ChainMan might win! If MegaMan doesn't get up soon, this battle will be over!"

Lan reached into his pocket and grabbed a chip. "Recover 300 BattleChip, in! Download!" MegaMan stood up and his wounds where instantly healed. "We need to come up with a strategy or we'll never win."

MegaMan thought for a moment before getting into a battle-stance. "ChainMan seems to favor elec-type attacks. I got an idea but I'll need some wood, air, and trap BattleChips."

"Rodger. Downloading BattleChips now!" Lan quickly shoved a few chips into his PET. "Bamboo Sword!" MegaMan yelled before gaining a glowing green sword. He activated his mouth guard before charging at ChainMan. But before he could attack, the buzzer sounded.

"Net Battlers, activate the Fragment programs." shouted Ribbita.

Fragment Code! Activation!

Both opponents' PETs shook before turning into computer code. It swirled around them, initiating the transfer.

Execute!

The NetOps closed their eyes as they jacked into the Internet. When they opened up their eyes back up, they where in what looked like a lounge.

"Welcome!"

Both operators turned around to see a small toad-like Navi.

"I'm ToadMan, Ribbita's Navi. According to her, both MegaMan and ChainMan made it to the real world safely. You can watch the battle from the monitor over there." he pointed to an oversized window displaying an aerial view of the arena. "You can also keep in contact with you're Navis with these." he pulled out two devises that looked like earpieces with microphones attached. Both teens shrugged before grabbing the devises and turning their attention to the battle.

- - -

Back in the real world, MegaMan and ChainMan took their battle positions. MegaMan donned the sword and ChainMan had his hands on his whips.

RESUME BATTLE

"ChainMan, evade and attack!" Austin shouted from the net. With a slight nod, ChainMan jumped over to the other side of the arena and pulled out his whips.

"Poltergeist BattleChip!"

Just as ChainMan was about to attack, an unseen force took control of his whips. "What the-" he yelled as the chains wrapped around his body.

"Let's end this!" MegaMan shouted. "Fan BattleChip!" A blue fan appeared in front of MegaMan and started sucking in his opponent.

"No!" ChainMan cried out, trying to escape. But it was too late. He was already within range of MegaMan's sword. The blue Navi brought it down on ChainMan, slicing him in two.

ChainMan, Fragment transmission disconnected. Logging out.

ChainMan disappeared from the battlefield and was soon replaced when Austin appeared out of thin air. MegaMan gave a thumbs-up to the crowd before returning to the Internet.

"We did it, bro!" Lan said as he reappeared. Austin walked over to Lan and shook his hand. "That was a great battle. ChainMan and I don't get many opponents like you."

Ribbita, who was busy talking to ToadMan, finally noticed the battle was over. "Looks like we have our first winner of the day! It's Lan and MegaMan!"

- - -

1 Hour Later…

"WackoBall!"

"Final Beam!"

WackoMan, Fragment transmission disconnected. Logging out.

"That was certainly a most stunning battle." Ribbita shouted. "But in the end, Glen and her Navi, Sachi, won. That about wraps it up for Division A. We'll be taking a half-hour break before the Division B battles start. Anyway, stay tuned for more action when we get back! "