Disclaimer: "I do not own MegaMan. Capcom owns him.
MegaMan Network Transmission Hunter
Chapter 3: Field Training
Over the skies of Akihara, two helicopters were transporting our young heroes to their designated buildings. Inside one of them, Lan and Chisao were enjoying the view, and they had put their PETs to the window so that MegaMan and Kicker could see as well. Dex was sitting across from them, discussing a strategy for getting through his test. In the other copter, Chaud was quietly anticipating his own test. Mayl and Yai were busy chatting and talking about various topics.
"So Yai," Mayl began with excitement, "Do you think this next task is going to be easy or what?"
"Definitely," the shorter girl replied in a slightly cocky tone, "Net Battling won't be any problem, and all I have to do is move around the maze. After all the time I've spent with you, Lan, and the others, I'm a little used to… Mayl? What's wrong?"
Chaud opened his eyes just then. Mayl was finding the helicopter's floor very interesting. She was very sad for some reason; and it didn't take long for either Yai, or Chaud, to figure out why, "Oh, I know… it's Lan, isn't it?"
Mayl nodded, "We were the best of friends… ever since we were in preschool. I was really sure he cared about me… the same way I about him. So why… why didn't he?
"Simple. He's a dimwit," Yai said trying to help, "He wouldn't know love if it bit him in the butt."
"Then why did have to fall in love with Jasmine?" the red haired girl shouted with tears in her eyes.
The last question left Yai speechless. For once in her lifetime, she felt like she couldn't help the situation with her brains. Chaud, however, wasn't affected in such a way.
"I may not have known Lan nearly as long as you did," he began, "but I do think that he really does care about you, Mayl"
"How so?"
"When Lan's twin brother, Hub, died, I bet he was alone with no one to play with. Then you came along, Mayl. How did you two become friends anyway?"
Mayl thought for second, "Well, when Lan and I were in kindergarten, a bully had taken his backpack, and I had managed to get it back for him. Ever since then we were friends." (A/N: I know that this scenario happened in the anime, but since I couldn't think of anything else, I'm using this.)
Chaud nodded, "I see. Without knowing it, you filled the void that Lan had without Hub. I think Lan thinks of you as a sister who he wants to look after; and believe me, I know of some guys who care a lot about their sister. Either way, Mayl, you two have a very strong friendship, and I think he doesn't want to ruin it."
"…a sister? ...So you think Lan cares about me the same way he does for MegaMan?" she asks.
Chaud nods again, "Exactly. He loves you, but he's not in love with you. Unlike me," he says, thinking the last part to himself."
"Thanks a lot, Chaud," Mayl said smiling brightly, "I feel a whole lot better now!"
"Wow! I didn't know you had a caring side," said Yai. She was clearly impressed.
"Humph. Well… don't get too used to it. It takes a lot to bring that side of me out."
"sniff…sniff… That was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard," said a girl's voice. The three looked around for the source and looked at the pilot. "Heh? It wasn't me," he said. Why did they ask him anyway?
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm in Yai's PET." The trio then glances at the PET's screen and sees a female Navi. She had a white bodysuit; with a red, and mostly blue, dress that consisted of a red and blue top and a blue skirt with red fringes that went to her knees. Her gloves and boots were thin like Roll's and were red with blue trim. She had no helmet, which let her long brown hair flow down to her knees where it was tied by a green ribbon.
"Who are you?" Yai asked bluntly.
"My name is Iris.exe, Manabe's Navi," said the Navi, "I will be guiding you throughout the rest of the exam. I hope I will be a great to you all."
"So will you be watching us during our missions?" Chaud asked. Iris nodded, "For the most part. If you any need, just ask me… Ms. Ayanokouji, we are about the reach your test area. Please prepare for landing."
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Once Yai was dropped off at the empty building, she goodbye to her friends and enter the roof door. Inside, the rich girl entered a room with three doors in front of her. "Let's see. According to the map, each door would take me to a different route; so which route do I take?" She asked herself.
"Well, I won't tell you which door to take, but…" Iris chimed in, "I will tell you that one of the route is the easiest to take, while one is the hardest."
"Then I hope I make the right choice," Yai gulped and picked the door in the middle. She closed her as she went in and shut the door behind her. While her eyes were still closed, Yai felt a little weird, as if she was lighter than air. When she opened them, she knew why…
There was no floor underneath her. "AAAHHHHHHH!"
"Miss Yai," Glyde spoke up, "grab on to something!"
"Why?"
"There an electric net below us!"
"WHAT?"
Sure enough a brightly glowing net was less than a mile below Yai's feet. To her left a metal ledge was sticking out. Thinking quickly, the girl grabbed the ledge and held on for dear life.
"Hey, Iris! Are you trying to kill me?"
"No, of course not. This is part of the test."
"Well you could have fooled me!"
Glyde then told her there was a jack-in control port right above the electrified net.
"Miss Yai, jack me in!"
"Got it! Jack in, Glyde! Execute!"
Almost immediately, the butler Navi spotted a Mettaur in front of him, and it was carrying some kind of data. Thinking that it was the deactivation program, Glyde immediately chased after the virus to grab the data, only to be stopped by three Spikeys who shot fireballs at him. The Navi evade the fire and struck back using his Glyde Cannon and deleted them all.
He then spotted the data-carrying Mettaur running far away from him.
"Miss Yai, I need a Battle Chip."
"Sorry, Glyde; I can't hold on to the ledge and download a chip at the same time. Try firing from where you are right now."
Heeding his mistress's advice, he took aim and fired, scoring a direct hit and deleted the virus.
"Great job, Glyde! Is that the data to turn off this net?"
"Let me see… I do believe it is."
"Great! Jack out, now."
Glyde, logging out.
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Outside, in the shaft, the electric net shut off appearing to be harmless. At the same time a door behind Yai opened.
"I believe that that passage will take us further."
"That's very nice in all," said Yai, "but how am I suppose to get to it."
"The net is strong enough to support your weight," her Navi replied, "Just let go of the ledge."
"…I think my arm fell asleep." But after a few seconds, she let go and fell onto the net and it did support her weight. Yai then crawled through the doorway and entered into another room.
The room was just a long, well-lit hallway with a door at the end of it the walls were all white, and the floors were made with odd rectangular marble tiles. There was a jack in port next to it. Yai scratched her head in confusion, "This has to be the strangest building I have ever been in," she said. Glyde shrugged his shoulders. They soon felt rumbling coming from the floor. When Yai looked behind her, she saw the floor tiles open up. She knew that she would fall through if she didn't make it to the door, so she the only smart thing to do…
Glyde: "RUN LIKE THE DICKENS!"
Yai: "…Jack in, Glyde! Execute! Disable that lock!"
Once he entered the system, there were five Malmocos (the sheep virus) and one of them was carrying some data, apparently the door's key code spotted him and started to run away. Glyde shot out one of them with his Glyde Cannon, but the other were too far away and Glyde didn't have time to aim like before.
Glyde: "Miss Yai, I need some fast Battle Chips!"
Yai: "I've got it! Battle Chip! Step Cross, Area Steal, Gaia Blade! Triple Slot-in!"
Using the boost of speed from the Step Cross sword-chip, Glyde caught up to two more Malmocos and deleted them a single swipe. The two remaining viruses keep on running and, from the panic Glyde could hear in his operator's voice, she was running out of time. Activating the Area Steal chip, he dashed past the sheep viruses and slashed them with the Gaia Blade. He quickly packed up the data and opened the door in the real world, allowing Yai to call him out of Cyberworld, and jumped through the door.
This time the room was small, with a console in front of the door.
"Hey! There is something written on the screen…" Yai noted, "It looks like a riddle."
"What does it say?"
"It says: I am never dark, and I am never cold. I am always warm and soothing, and I bring happiness to many people who are sad. I also stand for truth and I stand for hope. Though some disguise themselves as me, I always find a way to guide others. I have many names. Some call me 'Luz', some call me 'Lumière', while others call me 'Hikari'; but I have one true name. What am I?"
"Hmm… Never dark, or cold… Always warm, and bring happiness…"
"Stands for truth and hope… and has many names… I know!"
Yai typed in 'light' on the console and then more words appeared on the screen, "Now that you know what I am, it is time to share with my light with you… Hmm, I wonder what that means?" she asked herself before she opened the door.
It took her outside where the helicopter was, and Manabe was standing in front of it, "I see you figured out the riddle, Yai."
"Ms. Manabe…" she said in slight disbelief, but then became angry, "Your Navi is a psycho! You know that?"
"Sorry about that," she giggled, "Iris does get a little eccentric about stuff like this?"
"Really? You think so?"
"Well anyway, the important thing is that you passed the test; and therefore have earned the Class-AA License and the Dimensional Chip. You are hereby promoted to Net Officer."
"Thank you, Ms. Manabe."
As they entered the helicopter, Yai reminded herself that she was going to kill Iris eventually. Once they returned to the Official Headquarters, Yai noticed Mayl, Dex, and Chisao were in the lobby lying on the couch, half-sleep. They were a mess, but they still passed their tests. Yai crossed her arms and shook her head, "Did any of you guys get the 'easy' path too?"
"No! Dex and I got the… medium level path," Mayl panted, "while poor Chisao got the hardest route; he barely made it." Chisao was knocked out.
"Say, where are Lan and Chaud?"
"They haven't gotten back yet," said Dex. Just then the two mentioned Net Battlers walked… well trudged in, followed by Yuichiro and Regal who couldn't help but look at Manabe funnily. Poor Lan could barely walk as he had to be helped up by Chaud; and as the two guys made their way in, they collapsed onto the floor.
"Well, seeing as all you are too tired to continue right now," Kifune noted as he stepped in, "I'll let you get some rest, and some therapy, before proceeding to the Class-AAA test. But I'm afraid Chisao is too young to qualify for this next one."
"Hooray," They all said in a low monotone voice.
"I should really have Iris's head examined," Manabe said to Regal and Yuichiro. They both nodded.
"Oh give me a break!" Iris protested.
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Four hours later…
A Net policeman had brought Dex into an empty portion of Densan City.
"Dr. Regal," Manabe said, "will you please activate the Dimensional Area Generator?"
"Right away." he replied, "Initiate the Dimensional Area now!"
In the block around where Dex stood, a large energy dome formed. Dex was perplexed by the force field's changing colors and touched its side, only to be electrocuted.
"Yeee-ouch!" Dex yelped in pain, "Hey what gives?"
"Be careful Dex," Dr. Regal said, "That Dimensional Area, or DA, is very powerful. It is designed to keep any attack, virus, or Navi from getting out into the open and harming any innocent people, but it also keeps anyone from getting in as well."
"So that means you're going to use this whenever DS Bass or any other Navi attacks?"
"Well, not necessarily. You see the DA Generator uses a high amount of energy, and so using it will be too risky. Therefore, the DA Generator will have to be used only for an emergency."
"With that said, here is your next mission," said Iris, "There are numerous viruses spread around inside the Dimensional Area. You're job is to delete them all and reach the goal inside the building at the other end of the area, without getting hit more than once. Your Navi will be the one who has to protect you and delete the viruses."
"Dex is a big coward," Lan laughed in Dex's PET, "so he'll have no problem running from the viruses."
"CAN IT, Hikari!" Dex shouted back before closing the communication link, "Grr… Dimensional Chip! Slot in!"
"I'm ready, Dex! Guts," said GutsMan.
"We'll show Lan who's the coward! We're ready, Iris!"
Iris: "Okay. Battle routine, set!
Dex/GutsMan: "EXECUTE!"
Dex: "A group of Beetanks are straight ahead of us.
GutsMan: "Any ideas?"
Dex: "Yeah! Let's hit them with their own power! Battle Chip! Cross Bomb! Triple Slot-in!"
Three Cross Bombs appeared in GutsMan's hands as he threw them into the herd of Beetanks, deleting them. They then spotted three Lavagons coming straight for them. Dex downloaded an Aqua Shot, a Wide Shot, and an Aqua Tower. GutsMan quickly shot one of them with the Aqua Shot, hit a charging one with the Wide Shot, and sent the last one sky high with Aqua Tower.
Before Dex and GutsMan could go any further, two Flamies – side by side - destroyed the ground in front of them, so they took a detour through an alley, behind a building, where four KillerEyes waiting for them.
Dex: "Battle Chip, Bamboo Sword! Double Slot-in!"
With just two slashes, GutsMan deleted them all, and the duo went on. Once they went around the structure and reached the open, Dex and GutsMan saw dozens of Shrimpies.
Guts: "Dex, I can't take all of them at once!"
Dex: "Not a problem. Battle Chip! Anti Aqua! Slot- Whoa!"
Before the overweight Net Battler could download the chip, one of the shrimp viruses blow out a bubble aimed for him. But GutsMan moved in front of him and took the hit.
Dex: "GutsMan, are you alright?"
Guts: "I'm fine. How about you?"
Dex: "Never better, but why did you take that attack?"
Guts: "I had to. That's the mission: the protect you and get to the goal."
Dex: "Oh yeah, that's right. Then I guess we should start looking out for each better, huh?"
GutsMan nodded and got up. He then aimed his Guts Machine Gun at one of the Shrimpies, and blasted it with a couple of rounds. Ironically, it was the same one who hit him before. In response, some more fired Aqua Shots.
Dex: "We're ready this time! Battle Chip, Barrier 100! Slot in!" The shield withstood the attacks. "Now, let's try this again! Battle Chip, Anti Aqua! Slot-in!"
Just as another virus fired, the Anti attack took effect and made the bubble explode and delete every single Shrimpy. As they proceeded five Moles appeared and tried to attack GutsMan, but surprisingly they didn't leave a scratch. The large Navi simply smiled and smashed them all with his Guts Hammer.
Dex: "Not bad."
Dex suddenly recognized the building he and GutsMan were heading for when they reached the steps to its grounds.
Dex: "Hey! I remember this place. This is the Densan Dome, where the Akihara Tournament was held."
They decided to go in the front door first, and even though there viruses guard the door to the seating area, the door itself was locked. As the Operator and Navi were going outside to get inside from the contestants' entrance, they encountered a BigBrute. GutsMan struck first with his Guts Punch, then followed up with his Guts Machine Guns, and finished the offensive with his Guts Hammer.
When they went inside and ran up the stairs, a TinHawk incepted them.
GutsMan: "At least we're heading the right way."
Dex: "Yeah! Battle Chip, Z-Saber! Slot in!"
The large gold Navi cut the TinHawk to pieces before its data dispersed. Finally they reached the arena and, where the NetBattle machine would be, a control panel was in its place; but before they could get to it, they had to get rid of a Bladian that stood in front of it.
Guts: "We need a guard-breaker for this one!"
Dex: "I've got you covered! Battle Chip, Air Hockey 3! Slot in!"
The metal disc ricocheted off the sides of the platform and repeatedly hit the virus, weakening it enough so that GutsMan could finish it off with his Rocket Guts Punch. With the last virus gone, Dex was free to push the large button on the panel; and with it, the Dimensional Area disappeared.
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"DEX!" Chisao shouted gaining the other's attention, "Did you make it too? Huh? Did you?"
"Sure did. We kicked those viruses' butts clear to next week!" Dex said raising his fist in triumph, "So how'd you guys do?"
"My mission with MegaMan was sort of a déjà vu of what happened in Endo City five months ago," Lan said scratched his head, "There was one point where we had to delete 100 viruses and make to that Buddha statue. I was using a kendo stick and MegaMan had to use a Sword."
"Wow, that pretty cool! Roll and I had to get through Ameurope Castle and we had to make it up to the watchtower."
"It sounds simple enough! ProtoMan and I were sent to Hades Isle," said Chaud, "We had to activate four control panels
"I didn't make it," Yai pouted, "Glyde and I were in Akihara Town Square and we had to reach Miyuki's shop… but got lost, so we ended up fighting virus after virus and running out of Battle Chips, then I ended up getting hit a couple of times."
The four adults, Kifune, Manabe, Yuichiro, and Regal, had walked in, with Commander Kifune at the front. "I must say - Lan, Chaud, Mayl, and Dex – you all did very well out there. You depended on your Navis, and they depended on you; and in the end your trust wasn't misplaced. Sorry about what happened out their, Yai. If it's any consolation, I've gotten lost out there quite a few times myself."
"It's okay Commander," Yai said cheerfully, "Maybe next time."
Kifune nodded, "To you who passed, I present to the Class-AAA licenses and the Battle Chip Gate. With it you can use Battle Chips without the use of a Net Navi. You will be known from this day on as the Net Saviors. Now for the final test… It will be very difficult. It may even be dangerous. With that in mind, do you all wish to proceed?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Very good. That will be all," Kifune sighed and then left.
"Lan, are you sure you want to continue on?" MegaMan asked from the PET, "You don't even know what you have to do"
"Don't worry, MegaMan," the boy said with confidence, "I've been in tough spots before, and those were aimed at taking my life, so this one shouldn't be a real problem."
"I hope you're right."
What final test lies ahead for Lan and his friends? And will they be able to succeed? Find out in the chapter of MegaMan Network Transmission Hunter.
To be continued…
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Navi Profile
Name: Iris.EXE
Navi Gender: Female
Physical Age: 20
Operator: Manabe
Element: None
Signature Chip: Iris Blade
Attacks: Buster, Iris Cut, Variable Cannon
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Lan: "MegaMan and I now have to battle with an Operator, who seems to be related to Baryl, and his Navi in a tag-team match."
MegaMan: "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Lan: "Quit worrying, bro. I'll be fine."
MegaMan: "Alright, it's your funeral."
Lan: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lan/MegaMan: "Next time on MegaMan NT Hunter! Final Exam! Battle routine, SET!"
What do you all think? Sorry if it took my so long to update my fanfic, and if it was a little too long, but tell me what you think. Remember, I accept constructive criticism, but not flames.