The next morning, Chaud looked up as Proto entered Sam's kitchen holding hands with Starfire. He nodded approvingly before turning back to his food. "Glad you two have made up."

Winking at ProtoMan, Bass scooted over to make room for the duo. "And not a moment too soon. Look what I found this morning!" From beneath his cloak, which he had put back on, Bass produced a throwing star. "Found this right by my head when I woke up. Our hiding place is revealed. Plus a note. It was in rhyme and I'm not gonna bore you with it, but in essence it said we're all gonna die today at eight."

"Pleasant." Muttered Starfire, helping herself to a bagel. "Did he name a place?"

Shrugging, Bass stood. "No, but I can guess where he'll attack." He growled. "The Undernet."

Deciding to be ahead of the game, the group was about to head out when a knock came at the door. Sam turned and sighed. "When will they realize, I don't use that door!" Striding over, she opened it. "Hello?"

Sweeping in, Mr. Famous looked directly at Starfire and Bass. "You two are under arrest for attempt to undermine my operations!"

Looking at his sister, Bass laughed. "What, didn't you hear?"

The chief Netbattler seemed uneasy. "Hear what? I daresay if there's something you know that I don't fugitive…"

Chuckling, Star looked at her boyfriend. "Shall you tell him Proto, or shall I?"

"I think I shall." Smiling, ProtoMan looked at his superior. "They aren't undermining you Mr. Famous."

"Lies!" The brunette officer roared. "You told me yourself!"

Grinning even wider, ProtoMan perched on the windowsill next to Starfire. "Well, I lied. Now excuse us, we've got some unfinished business with a little Navi named ShadowMan."

This seemed to send Mr. Famous into shock, which gave our heroes time to climb to the roof of the building, laughing uproariously.

Wiping a tear from his eye, Bass was having a hard time to stop laughing. "Oh man, did you see the look on his face? That was priceless!"

Star nodded, still grinning and helping Sam up. "Pure gold! Now, Sam and Chaud, you two should stay here. It's gonna get dangerous out there."

Now it was the Navi's turn to be stunned when Sam and Chaud spoke at once. "NO FREAKING WAY."

Stepping forward, ProtoMan tried to appeal to his partner's reasonable side. "Chaud, think about it. This is a huge battle! You could be killed!"

Snorting, Chaud jammed his hands into his pockets. "You think that'll stop me? After all we've been through, you think I'm going to ditch you now?"

Star was also concerned. "But Sam, how will you defend yourself?"

With a smirk that eerily resembled Bass's, Sam strode over to the fire escape, kicking out two metal poles and tossing one to Chaud. "I've always said this thing needs repair…Anyways, we've got weapons now! We'll be all right."

Sighing, Bass said his two bits. "We can't change their minds, so let them come along."

After some griping from ProtoMan, the group headed out into the Undernet, only one destination in mind. After an hour of walking, they gazed upon a cave.

"We're here." Stated Bass, who climbed onto the top of the cave that had stared it all.

"Hey!"

The trio of Navis turned and found themselves gazing at a small gathering of friends and comrades, with MegaMan himself leading.

"You thought you'd be taking ShadowMan alone?"

Roll stood next to MegaMan, clinging to his arm. "We saved you from him once, why not help out again?"

Behind them stood GutsMan, who seemed to be cowering in fear of Bass, who was shooting him a dangerous look. Also, SearchMan from Sharo was there with the 13th cybernet corps.

ProtoMan approached SearchMan and saluted. "SearchMan. Good of you to join us."

Saluting as well, the camouflage colored Navi looked at ProtoMan. "ShadowMan has not only affected you ProtoMan. Although I will let you three," He nodded at Proto, Star and Bass, "Take care of him."

Bass smiled from atop the cave. "Ya know, for an official, you're not so bad."

Star approached the back of the group, where Mr. Famous' Navi Punk was standing. He stared down at Starfire. "I'm sorry for pushing your friend to spy upon you."

Smiling, Star gazed up at the large Navi. "Don't worry about it. No harm done, eh?" She stopped, listening.

"STARRY!" Bass called from atop the cave. "You and Proto might wanna have a look at this!"

Climbing up, the trio looked out only to see an army of millions of viruses following behind a single ninja-like figure.

"ShadowMan!" Roared the Black Shadow, "We finish this now! Receive my ultimate attack!" Holding out his hands, a form began to take shape and eventually the head of a giant dog-like creature known as the Gospel Beast was formed, it's giant jaw open. "BANISHING WORLD!" From the mouth of the beast a monstrous amount of gold energy shot forth.

Turning aside, ShadowMan seemed to smirk before holding out his own hand to counter with a deep purple colored Earthbreaker like attack. When the blast had subsided, he bounded back, and beneath his feet a great plateau rose up beneath him. "You say it is the end, my dear Bass, but let's see you make it happen!"

As Bass rushed forward with the others, Star stood with ProtoMan. "ProtoMan…"

He did not look at his partner. "Yes Starfire?"
She smirked, blue eyes dancing. "Let's raise some hell."

Leaping down, ProtoMan stuck his fingers in his mouth and let out a piercing whistle. Through the crowd of viruses, two Spikeys bounded over, eventually stopping by ProtoMan, who stroked the nearest one. "Nice to see you too Zero. Now, see those two over there?" He pointed to Sam and Chaud, who were dually working to take down a few Mettaurs. "Go protect them, okay?"

Licking his master, Zero bounded off, with Treble right behind him, grinding to a halt and snapping their jaws at the viruses surrounding Sam and Chaud.

Holding his metal pole before him, Chaud eyed Zero and Treble. "Whadda you think Sam, friend or foe?"

"I dunno, but I think they're offering us a lift." Replied the brunette, who was staring at Treble, who seemed to be bowing so she could get on.

Zero swung his head around to look at Chaud, orange eyes glittering.

Placing a hand on Zero's flank, Chaud cocked his head at the virus. "You want us to ride you, don't you? Well, who am I to refuse such an offer?" With that, the white haired Netbattler swung up onto the virus's back.

Elsewhere, Bass seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, attacking with both hands at any virus foolish enough to get near him. Battle lust glimmered in his eyes as he laughed wildly, tearing through the ranks of smaller viruses.

MegaMan was using his perfect synchro with his Net Op, Lan Hikari and became MegaMan Hub Style.

Using Muramasa Style, ProtoMan almost looked like a dancer on the battlefield but far more deadly.

Starfire was patient, saving her secret weapon for when the trio reached ShadowMan. Even so, she was doing just as well as Bass or MegaMan Hub Style. Backing up, she felt Proto against her. "We're pretty badly outnumbered Proto." She stated, using a Cyber Sword to parry a shockwave coming her way.

Slicing at a menacing Spikey, ProtoMan nodded. "Yeah…it'll take all day to bust through this!"

A burst of golden light ripped past them, with Bass in hot pursuit, bounding upon any virus unfortunate or stupid enough not to get out of the way.

MegaMan tore past on the other side, spurts of pale green energy shooting from his palms.

"At least we've got those two on our side. They lessen the amount of viruses greatly." Remarked Star, kicking at a moloko.

"Split up?" Asked Proto, deflecting a shot from a VolGear.

"On three. One…" Star started, but dashed off. "Three!"

Joining Bass's charge, Star pummeled the viruses on Bass's left side. "How're you holding up Oniichan?"

Panting, Bass skidded to a halt, sending a ring of Air Bursts rippling through the horde. "Been better." He gasped. Then a familiar determined look crossed his face. "I'm gonna end this once and for all. Cover me."

"Wait, BASS!"

But the black Navi was already rising into the air. Bass regenerated the Gospel Beast. "HEY SHADOWMAN!" He grinned. "EAT THIS! BANISHING WORLD!" Once more, the golden light erupted forth, but ShadowMan again seemed unconcerned.

Not even bothering with a witty reply, ShadowMan brought up his Aura, allowing the attack to harmlessly flow past his bubble of protection.

Curses! Thought Starfire. He still is utilizing that false Ultimate Program he got outta that copy of me!

The Black Shadow remained hovering, his red eyes narrowed. "Okay, so you can deflect me! I can still take you down the old fashioned way!" He began to soar forwards.

Pointing a finger at Bass, one word sounded from ShadowMan's mouth.

"Die."

The beam of purple energy struck Bass full on in the chest, and Star watched in horror as her brother's body fell into a mob of viruses.

"BASS!" Sprinting over, she knocked back the viruses that were attempting to swarm her sibling's body. Taking his head in her hands, Star was horrified to see the condition he was in.

Spitting a little blood out of his mouth, Bass groaned, managing a grim smile. "Bastard…. using my power against me…" Looking at Star, he coughed and wiped away the blood by his mouth. "Take care of yourself Starry, okay? I can't be around to watch ya anymore…" He sighed. "Just promise me you'll be the one to send ShadowMan to hell, all right?"

Feeling tears prick at her eyes, Star nodded. "All right Bass. Just take it easy, the Get Ability will help you heal any moment now…"

Weakly laughing, Bass reached up and tried to ruffle Star's hair, but couldn't reach. "That's what makes you great Starry…always optimistic." His eyes began to dim and close. "D-Don't cry…death…isn't the end…just another…beginning…" With that last note, Bass sighed and his eyes closed.

A long howl sounded and Star looked up in time to see Chaud slide off of Treble, who was tearing viciously at viruses. The young boy knelt by her. "Is he…?"

Starfire nodded. "He's gone."

Bowing his head, Chaud grimaced. "Treble and I will stay here and make sure nothing happens to Bass's body. You go help the others. ProtoMan is making his way to the plateau."

Wiping blood from a cut on her cheek, Star stood, her eyes cold. "Thank you Chaud." Bounding off, Chaud could still see her path by the falling viruses and many explosions along the way.

ProtoMan met Starfire a fourth of the way to the base of the plateau. "What happened, where's Bass?" He called over the roar of battle.

Viciously slicing at a Billy, Star felt the tears running down her cheeks. "Dead!" She called, parrying an attack from a Boomer.

Growling, ProtoMan used a barrier chip to block an attack by a rather large Kilby virus. "Well, ShadowMan has some sort of cannon up there that he's using on us! Half of SearchMan's group has been eliminated by it, and we don't know how to stop it!"

Stabbing at a virus over ProtoMan's shoulder, Star thought for only a moment. "Right, I'll go disable the cannon if you can hold things down here."

Briefly grasping Star's hand in a sign of agreement, ProtoMan nodded. "All right. Take care of yourself." With that, he rushed off.

Heading to the base of the plateau, Star found that the deeper she got in, the more powerful viruses she encountered. Upon reaching the base of the plateau, Star looked up to see ShadowMan pointing his hand like a gun down into the crowd. Then the villainous Navi looked down, smirked and fired.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Mwe hee hee…. You will have to wait until later this week to find out who ShadowMan's victim is! Why? Because I'm evil like that. Keep up the reviews! I like getting them often, not just when I've finished the story.