Hi everyone! Sorry, it's been so long, but you know what time of year it is and stuff, so I won't bother writing down my excuses and waste your time with them while you could just be going on and reading this chapter. In fact, let's do that. Read on!

Lan's first reaction after getting over his shock was to run down and jack Megaman in, but surprisingly, Chaud stopped him. "Why can't we go help?" Lan demanded. "He's a Darkloid!"

"Who foolishly chose to attack an area filled with Netbattlers." Chaud added. "Besides, if we're going to find any new recruits, they're going to have to be able to handle a Darkloid, much less one that's supposedly been deleted already."

"Yea, I guess," Lan conceded. "But as soon as it gets bad, I'm going down there."

It took a few moments for many to realize that an unauthorized navi was attacking one of their fellow competitors, but when they did, many rushed to the aid of Lee and Cypher.

"Ooo, a challenge!" Flashman commented. "And I thought that I'd only get to delete one puny navi today. What luck!"

"You bet it's going to be a challenge!" Cypher said, standing at the front of a formidable group of navis. "A challenge for you to survive!"

"Enough of this banter, let's get things started shall we? Neon Light!" Flashman sent several colored orbs of electricity shooting across the ground toward the group of navis.

"Watch out!" Cypher warned as he and several others jumped into the air to dodge. Some who weren't so quick to do so were hit. "Net navis, logging out."

"No way." Lee said. "He just took out each of those navis with one hit! Stay alert down there, Cypher." He turned to the group of Ops standing behind him. "It's obvious that this guy is really strong, so if you don't want to risk your navis, I suggest you log out now."

None moved to do so, one person commenting from the back. "We're not backing down. We'll show this guy what happens when he interrupts our tournament!" A general shout of approval followed.

Lee nodded. "Alright then, let's take this guy down together!"

"Boomerang, battlechip in, download!"

Several navis launched Boomerangs at staggered intervals so that one would be heading towards Flashman from both directions at the same time. Surprisingly, he dodged them all. "Is that the best you've got?" he taunted.

"Not even close." Cypher muttered.

"Then I'm sorry that I won't be able see it. Spark Arm!" Waves of electricity shot toward the group. All but four were logged out. Cypher remained but had taken some damage.

"We need a plan." Lee commented. Quickly, he came up with a solution and whispered it to the other three remaining Ops. "Alright, everybody clear?" Three nods. "OK, then wait for my cue." He turned back to his PET. "Cypher, can you still fight?"

"Are you kidding?"

"Then what are you waiting for?" Lee said, but then added whispering, "Draw him out and I'll have a chip ready when the timing's right. Oh yeah, and tell everyone down there to stay in a line."

"OK." Cypher passed on the information, and then brought out his Shock Blaster. "Charge!" The remaining four charged, firing their primary weapons.

"You call this a challenge?" Flashman asked, smirking. "As if."

"Elec Spread!" Cypher hurled balls of electricity toward him, following his path as he jumped to dodge.

"This is it." Lee warned as he saw Flashman jump. "Ready…" He waited until Flashman reached the apex of his jump. "NOW!"

"Mud Wave, battlechip in, download."

Four consecutive Mud Wave attacks hit Flashman as he descended, because he was unable to shift his movement while he was in the air.

Lee and Cypher congratulated each other and the others around them.

"Wow, they actually beat him." Megaman said.

"Yea, I guess Lee I pretty good after all." Lan responded.

"I don't think Flashman is out yet." Chaud warned.

"Huh?"

"Watch."

Cypher glanced back behind him at the clearing explosion. In the middle of it all, there still remained Flashman, though he was heavily damaged. "Uh, Lee…"

Lee glanced down at the screen. "What…no way! How could he survive that?"

"Well, it seems that I underestimated you." Flashman was saying. "But that won't happen again." He raised his arms painfully. "Flash Light!" Two light bulb type structures came up out of the ground on either side of Cypher. Before he could react, a dangerous electric current gripped him.

"Cypher!" Lee shouted. He checked Cypher's stats on the PET screen. His health was dropping rapidly and the electric current paralyzed all his motor skills. Logging out wasn't working either; the electric current was interfering.

Flashman was laughing. "Say goodbye," he said.

A strange light suddenly broke from the current. Everyone stopped and watched, entranced. "That's a bright light," Flashman commented.

From the light burst… "Cypher?" Lee asked. He turned to Mac behind him. "Did you jack Surgeman in?" Mac shook his head. "Then why does Cypher look exactly like him?"

Cypher did look like Surgeman. His armor colors had changed and there was an odd yellow light coming from him. The current around him began to ricochet off of him and destroyed the two light bulbs.

"No way!" Lan said, stopping in the middle of running down to assist. "He's reflecting the attack!"

"Cypher? Are you OK?" Lee asked. Cypher ignored him and dashed straight for Flashman at an amazing speed. Lee checked his PET again. "His speed stats are off the charts!" he said, amazed.

Flashman was getting nervous now. "Neon Light!" He sent electric orbs shooting at Cypher, hoping to slow him down. No such luck. Cypher burst through them, maintaining his speed level and without taking damage.

"Shock Blaster!" Cypher brought out his primary weapons and began firing.

Something on the PET screen attracted Lee's attention. "He's losing health? But he hasn't gotten hit yet!" Then it hit him. "When he attacks, he loses health! Cypher, stop!"

Surprisingly, he did. In fact, he stopped completely. The light faded and his armor returned to its normal coloration. But then Cypher collapsed for some unknown reason.

Flashman regained his confidence. "I don't know how you did that, but I'm going to make sure you don't do it again! Neon Light!" More attacks sped toward a now defenseless Cypher.

"Megabuster!" Megaman arrived on the scene and shot out the attacks. "You'd better log him out." Lan advised. "We'll take it from here."

Lee nodded. "Cypher, logging out."

"Well, well, if it isn't the blue boy? Sorry I didn't know you were coming or else I'd have brought you gift. But I just suppose I'll have to make due with what's here." With that, Flashman's data dematerialized and disappeared.

"He's gone?" Lan asked.

"Yea, but what he said didn't sound like a parting threat. It sounded like…" An ominous crash was heard outside, followed several more. Pretty soon, a dome composed of hexagonal sections formed around the warehouse.

"A dimensional area!" Lan exclaimed, as if it needed to be said. His PET rang suddenly. Without even bothering to see who it was, he picked up and said: "I know, I'm here, and I'm on it." Then he hung up.

Back in his office, Famous sat stunned. "OK…"

Meanwhile, Flashman made his appearance. "Well, how long has it been since we've done this?"

"Too long." Lan replied. "Ready, Megaman?"

"Uh-huh."

"Synchro-chip in, download!"

It's those ominous words! You know what's coming next! Lan/Cross-fusion Megaman vs. Flashman live and in person! Reserve your seats now 'cause they're goin' fast! All tickets sold within the next 48 hours are half price! Oh wait, they're free anyway. NEVER MIND! On a side note, what was up with that whole thing with Cypher? Only two people know and they're not telling. (And if the other one does, I'll… do something I might get kicked off for if I wrote it down here.) Stayed tuned, review, all that junk. Later days!