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Chapter 19: The Asteroid's Return
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'' Dimensional Chip, slot in!'' Ace shouted as he inserted the blue chip into his PET.

A pillar of light appeared in front of him, then it expanded, and when it faded away, there was Pyroman, standing in the real world, glaring at them all with malicious intent.

Karla backed up, a look of shock upon her face. '' I can't believe it... He really came into the real world...''

Terry backed up as well. Humans were much weaker than navis. At least, they were when they didn't have weapons. How would they be able to fight back?

'' Well, now that I've done that, I'm outta here.'' Ace smirked, turning to leave, then said, '' Oh yeah, Pyroman! I'll be sending you battlechips. Have fun rebels! Ha ha ha!'' He walked to the end of the walkway, and disappeared through a door.

'' Get back here you!'' Terry shouted angrily, but of course, Ace didn't listen.

'' Now listen up!'' Pyroman said, pointing at them. '' I'm not going to spare any of you, not even the little brat!'' He put his hands together. '' Combustion Ball!''

He threw another fireball at the rebels. It sailed over their heads, but the detonation shook the building, and the shock threw the humans to the floor.

Terry collided painfully with one of the robots, knocking it over and spilling its cargo all over the floor. He picked up one of the chips and gazed at it. The Dimensional Chip appeared to be made from blue glass. In fact, the only metal part was the PET connector strip. It was the only way they would be able to fight Pyroman, the only way...

'' Slot in! Dimensional Chip!''

Dash vanished from the PET screen, and, in a pillar of light, he reappeared in front of Terry.

Terry slowly got to his feet. '' You... you're in our world...'' he said, amazed.

'' Yeah...'' Dash said, looking at his hands as if he had never seen them before. '' It's so weird...''

Terry picked up three more chips and threw them to his companions. '' Use these!''

Slate didn't need a prompt, he instantly inserted the chip. Karla and Saito examined their chips for an instant, then they too inserted theirs. Soon, Tyria, Zero, and Rockman appeared in the real world with looks of either surprise or wonderment on their faces.

'' Looks like you're outnumbered again, you can't beat all four of us.'' Slate told Pyroman.

'' At my current power level, you are correct, I probably can't.'' he admitted. Then he began to sneer, always a bad sign. '' But once my operator finishes transmitting it to me, you're all doomed!''

'' Finish transmitting what?''

'' The Extra Code.''

'' And that is?''

Pyroman's sneer grew broader. '' It's a rather obsolete, but effective, way to increase a navi's power. A password is entered, which activates the program. Extra Codes can do all sorts of things. Increase power, defense, it can give me any kind of ability, as long as the corresponding code is entered.''

'' And it gave me the Aqua Custom Style Change...'' Rockman muttered, apparently refering to an event in his past.

'' Extra Code or not, we will still delete you!'' Zero said angrily, pointing his saber at the larger navi.

'' I think you'll be changing your tune...'' Pyroman retorted, '' ...once you go against my new powers!''

He screwed up his eyes like he was having a migraine, then arched his back back and let out a shout. He staggered, panting heavily, then sneered. '' It's... over.''

He straightened up, then said, '' Now, it's a little too crowed in here. We can't afford to destroy all of the machinery. Fortunately, my operator has just sent me the perfect chip to take care of that: Going Load!''

Panels with arrows pointing away appeared beneath the rebels' feet. Then it started, to transport them back down the hall that they had entered from, just like a moving sidewalk at airports, but much, much faster. In the blink of an eye, they were outside, in the grassy area between the factory building, and the enclosure.

'' Hey! The pickup truck's gone!'' Karla noticed when the panels faded.

'' Hmph, the operator has left the navi to do all the work.'' Tyria said indignantly.

The sound of a distant explosion was heard, and part of the wall of the building was blown apart. Pyroman stepped out of the hole and surveyed the group. '' Are we all here? Good, now you will die.''

Rockman, Zero, Tyria and Dash assumed battle stances as their operators readied to support them.

Pyroman brought his hand to the ground, '' Fire Tower!''

A column of flames leapt into the air. Slate decided not to use the clichéd Fire/Aqua tower trick, but instead slotted in an Oceanseed and a Come on Rain!.

Zero lobbed the blue bulb into the air. It broke when it landed, creating an ankle deep puddle around the navis. Then, storm clouds appeared, and let loose their downpour. While the flames were extinguished however, Pyroman appeared unharmed.

'' I hit you with an aqua attack, and I used a powerup for it beforehand, so why are you unhurt?'' Zero asked, confused.

'' With the Extra Code backing me, a little drizzle won't hurt me!'' Pyroman declared. He then vanished, then reappeared in front of Zero. '' It also increased my speed.'' He then kneed Zero in the stomach, who went down with a grunt.

'' You really are dumber than I thought Zero. Now all of you are wet, which calls for a Custom Bolt!''

His hand was replaced by a lightning conductor, and a bolt shot from it and hit the large puddle, which all four of the navis were in.

'' Are you okay!'' Terry shouted. '' Ugg, I'm okay... Terry.'' Dash groaned. '' I think- Ahhhgg!'' Pyroman had just punched him, sending him flying.

'' His raw physical strength has increased exponentially...'' Slate growled, gritting his teeth in frustration. How the devil could they win?

The Quaker virus fragmented as it was hit by a buster shot. '' That's the last one...'' Beta sighed. That battle had seriously worn him out, as he wasn't designed to fight like that. The fact that his operator had had to find cover from the real world Pyroman certainly hadn't helped either. He looked up at the core. '' The core still needs to be destroyed...''

'' Think you can handle a program advance?'' Vick asked.

'' I'll try.''

'' Very well then! Cannon, Hi Cannon, Mega Cannon, triple slot in! Activate Zeta Cannon!''

Beta aimed the multi barreled, cube shaped cannon at the core, and fired. Multiple energy blasts flew from it, completely obliterating the silver sphere.

All over the factory, machines began to shut down. Manufacturing machines, lights, robots, everything.

Vick sighed in relief. '' Plug out Beta.''

Just then, a hand clamped down on his shoulder. He tensed up, but then a familiar voice spoke. '' Relax man. It's me.''

'' Don't scare me like that Butch, I thought you were Ace.'' Vick grumbled, twisting out of Butch's grip.

'' Ace left. The others are fighting Pyroman.'' Butch told him. '' We should go find them and help out in anyway we can.''

'' Will we be of any use?'' Vick asked. '' Your navi was deleted, and Beta won't be any use until he's recovered his strength.''

Terry reached the top step of the stairwell and climbed up onto the factory's roof. The battle had moved up there, and it was not going well. Tyria had been forced to log out, while the others, Dash, Rockman, and Zero, had all taken extensive damage. Pyroman had taken some damage as well, but that hadn't slowed him down much. If the rebels were going to win, something needed to happen, and fast.

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Originally, Pyroman was going to be Darkchip'd, but the Extra Code is more original.

I'm not 100 sure if that is how it worked, but for the purposes of this fic, that's how

it does.

There are only two chapters left, almost done…