"Star!"

Looking up, the grief-stricken Navi saw Chaud and Sam running towards them, Bass's lifeless body slung over Treble's back. Lowering Proto to the ground, Star was silent as Chaud dropped down by his faithful partner's body.

"Oh God… Proto!" Although his emotions were usually in check, tears made their way to the Netbattler's eyes. "No!" He moved Proto so that the red Navi's body was supported on his lap. Shaking, Chaud pulled the red Navi close. "No…you weren't supposed to go…we weren't done…"

Slowly sinking to her knees, Sam wrapped her arms around Chaud, who silently cried over his lost friend.

At long last, Starfire stood, her objective clear despite her grief. "I have to go." She stated simply, turning to look at the plateau.

Nodding dumbly, Sam looked at her partner. "Oh…I saw your Dad…he said to go to that old power plant ASAP. That's where the generators are…"

Lowering her eyes, Star considered it. "No, he'll have to take care of them himself. I need to do something." Closing her eyes, Star initiated her secret weapon, Forte Style.

As the light faded, the change was obvious. Two smaller blue fins like Bass's were produced, along with a purple five-pointed star between them. Along Star's cheeks were two purple stripes like her brother's, and a tattered, dusty brown scarf was tied around her neck. The long mane of golden hair was now streaked with purple as well as two purple shoulder pads that looked like MegaMan's. Another gold band appeared by Star's wrists and a thick stripe of blue color connected the two. Two diagonal blue bands of color connected at the crest on Starfire's chest and the bathing suit like bottom changed to purple. The knee-high boots turned purple and triangles of 3D gold extended upwards, bordered by thick bands of blue color. Starfire's whole body and helmet had changed from orange to a pitch-black shade.

Taking off like a shot, Starfire did not waver in her path, not even when she reached the base of the plateau. Using the jagged rocks, the now dark colored warrior ascended to the top to face her nemesis.

"ShadowMan!" She growled once she had reached the flat top.

Chuckling, the ninja did not turn to look at his opponent. "So…you have come. I am surprised."

Barely containing her fury, Star was ready to rip out ShadowMan's jugular. "Shut it ShadowMan. We both know why I'm here. I want some answers. Why are you, a solo Navi able to appear here?"

Smirking, ShadowMan finally turned to face Star. "Did you not know?"

"Know what?"

Again, that annoying smirk. "I was not always a Solo Navi. I had a net op until he suffered an…unfortunate accident, shall we say?"

Although she was still enraged, Star could put two and two together. "You killed him?" She growled, disbelief hiding beneath her anger.

Still casual, ShadowMan waved a hand. "It was so easy too. Once I heard the rumors of how Solo Navis were more powerful, especially the rumors of your dearly departed brother, I knew I must become one. So I orchestrated his death and left."

"My brother was right…" Snarled Starfire, clenching her fists. "You are a bastard!"

Narrowing his eyes, ShadowMan spoke as though addressing a small child. "Ooh, such hostility. Now why do you have to be that way Starfire?"

Standing tall, Star set her jaw. "My name is Starfire Tara Cossack Rebena. You killed my brother and my boyfriend. Prepare to die."

And then Starfire attacked with the speed of condensed lightning.

Catching the two fists thrown at him, ShadowMan raised his eyebrows. "What can you do? You're a girl."

Grinning a grin that would make any other opponent retreat, Star stared up at her opponent. "I can win because you are a fake. I, on the other hand, am the real deal." Shifting her weight, Star tried to throw ShadowMan into the earth.

Rolling with the punch, ShadowMan released a fist and prepared to hurl an earthbreaker.

Noting the warning sign, Star tried to slide back but got nailed with the attack.

Straightening, ShadowMan smirked. "Too easy."

A purple booted foot flew out of the smoke, which caught ShadowMan in the jaw, closely followed by the rest of Starfire, who landed on her feet. "Nice try." She wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. "Now let's dance."

Scowling, ShadowMan sped forward to attack, slicing up with his hand in an effort to attack Star's head.

Bringing her arms up in an X position, Star parried the blow but skidded back a few feet. Grinning, she rose into the air and beckoned at her adversary, who leapt up to meet her in a clash of energy.

Looking up, Sam cringed at the explosions of purple and gold energy. "That looked bad…" She murmured, not wanting to interrupt Chaud's grieving.

"Sam!"

Turning, the brunette spied MegaMan headed towards her. She raised a hand in greeting as he skidded to a halt next to Treble. "What happened?" He turned and gasped at Bass's pale body. "Is he…?"

Bowing her head, Sam nodded. "Yes. ShadowMan got Proto too."

Placing a comforting hand on Chaud's shoulder, MegaMan closed his green eyes. "He was a good man Chaud. You should be proud." Then he turned his attention to the fight between Star and ShadowMan. "Is that…?"

"Starfire." Confirmed Sam. "She should've gone after the Dimensional Area generators though…"

Intrigued, MegaMan looked at the girl. "Dimensional Area generators?"

Nodding, Sam explained. "They're keeping the Navis here in our world. If we disable them, all the Navis will disappear. Cossack is over at the power plant waiting for us." She pointed over to the distant speck that was the power plant.

Thinking for a moment, the blue bomber nodded. "Right, I'll get SearchMan, he's good with this sorta stuff. Maybe he can find Raika and he can help. You can stay here with Chaud, he needs you most."

Smiling her gratitude, Sam patted MegaMan's shoulder. "You're a great guy Mega, you know that? Thanks."

With a wave, the blue bomber dove back into the battle, steering clear of Zero, who was making sure no viruses came near the humans.

A gigantic purple explosion drew Sam's attention back to the top of the plateau. Checking her PET clock, Sam glanced back up. "Fifteen minutes…be careful Star…"

Grimacing, the Navi in question winced in pain at the last blow. Rage had blinded her, making her do stupid things in the last fifteen minutes.

ShadowMan stood over her, a mocking ring to his voice. "You, win against me? Don't make me laugh."

Struggling up, Star was pushed back by ShadowMan's foot. "Get off me…" Snarled the blonde Navi.

"You say you can fight, but you can't. Give up and my takeover of both worlds will be sealed by your death." Gloated the ninja-like Navi.

Finally getting to her feet, Star swayed, dangerously battered. "You'll take over this world when I lay cold and dead alongside my brother."

Powering up another Earthbreaker, ShadowMan sneered. "So be it. DARKBREAKER!"

"CYBERSWORD!" Lunging into the blast, Star sliced and the energy flowed past her. "Darkbreaker? What kind of a name is that?" Charging through the barrage, Star scored a deep gash in ShadowMan's side.

Growling like a wounded dog, ShadowMan turned to face Starfire. "You'll pay for that…" Shooting out, he grabbed Star by the scarf and lifted her in the air, with Star grasping his wrists.

Choking for air, Star had a desperate idea. Glaring down at ShadowMan, Star's hands began to glow with Earthbreaker power.

Yelping in agony, ShadowMan released Starfire, who bounded upon him, one hand at his neck, the other pulled back over her shoulder, still glowing with unearthly power.

"You wouldn't dare…" Said ShadowMan in a low voice. "You don't have enough strength left to erect your aura. If you fire from that angle you'll kill us both."

With a slightly twisted grin, Star cocked her head. "They say there's nothing more dangerous than a person with nothing to loose."

Realizing how dangerous Starfire had become, ShadowMan's eyes went wide. "No, wait…" He pleaded. "I'll give you anything you want! Money, fame, power…a position at my side when I take over! Anything!"

Leaning close, Star raised her eyebrows and half smirked. "Anything?"

"Anything!"

Then her mouth became a determined slash. "You can tell the people in hell Starfire sent you."

And then the power was released, all consumed in the blinding light.

Below, Sam shielded her eyes at the sight. "Curse it Star…What did you do?" She muttered.

As the light subsided, ShadowMan was derezzing horribly, his face turned to the sky. "I've…lost…?" And then he vanished; becoming nothing more than a burst of white light and a shockwave that seemed to run through the air and into the dark clouds that had been gathering thought the battle.

Wavering, Star dropped to her knees, hands brushing the ground. Chuckling weakly, she turned her gaze to the sky as well, although she couldn't see the clouds. "We…gottem…guys…"

A ghostly figure placed his hand on Star's cheek, a smile crossing its angelic face.

Blinking slowly, Star reached up to the figure. "Wait for me…Proto…" With a sigh, the battered, yet victorious frame of Starfire fell face first into the dust. Above her, a light drizzle began.

Looking up, Chaud continued to hold his partner's body as though if he did so Proto would come back. Catching a drop on his palm, Chaud examined it. "Silver…?" He muttered, and indeed, the rain was a silvery color. With a yell of surprise, he felt the body in his hands take a shallow, shuddering breath.

Sliding Bass down from Treble's back, Sam looked at the rain. "Life force…this must be ShadowMan's life force and has the power to heal!" Pulling back the cloak, Sam allowed the rain to mist the Black Shadow's body.

Like Proto, Bass began to breathe weakly.

Lowering Bass to the ground, Sam stood and began to run to the plateau. "STAR!"

Abandoning Proto, Chaud dashed after Sam. "Sam! Wait up!"

On top of the plateau, the blonde Navi's breathing became slow and shallow despite the healing rain, her life force slowly sliding away.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Whoo, that was something. And we're still not done with the story yet! Keep reading and reviewing, I'll have more up soon. ((Hee hee…you didn't really think I'd keep those two dead, did you?))