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Chapter
3: The White Spear
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Vick yawned sleepily as he inputted commands into the computer. '' Okay, begin scan...'' he sighed, pressing a red button. Silver rings began to rotate around Dash's prone figure, scanning him.
An outline of his body appeared on a small monitor with the word Dash.EXE next to it. If there was any bug or glitch in his programming, it would show up on the monitor. The next step would be to vaccinate it.
The door creaked open as Terry entered. '' How's it going?''
'' Just started.'' Vick said, taking off his glasses and rubbing his sleepy eyes. '' Did you notice anything different about him before you noticed this?''
'' No.'' Terry shook his head. '' He keeps insisting that he's fine, and he looks alright too, it's just... I was talking to him, looked away, and when I looked back he was like this.''
'' Do you think he's lying to me?'' he added.
Vick shrugged. '' Well, the navi may lie, but the scan won't. If there's anything wrong, it'll show up.''
beep beep beep
Vick glanced back at the monitor, the words SCAN COMPLETE were being displayed.
'' Let's see... Battle Program intact, Emotion Program intact, Thought Program... What the heck? Everything reads normal!''
'' What? But we know something's wrong.'' Terry scowled. '' Dash, do you feel alright?''
Dash opened his eyes. '' I am perfectly fine, nothing is wrong with me.''
Vick thought. '' I suggest that we wait. If anything else happens, we'll scan him again.''
'' I suppose. There's nothing else we can do here.'' Terry sighed, plugging out his navi.
'' Come on.'' Vick said. '' Let's go see how Lloyd is holding up in his... interrogation.''
Several rooms away, in the conference room, Slate was grilling Lloyd. '' Do you have any family members?'' he was asking when Vick and Terry entered.
'' I have a sister...'' Lloyd said, devoid of energy. He had a bored expression on his face, as if he thought that this whole process was a complete waste of time.
Seated at the table near Slate was were Butch and Karla, both of whom were exhibiting various signs of sleep deprivation.
'' And what's your navi like?'' Slate continued.
Lloyd took out a red and white PET. '' Plug in...'' he said lazily, pointing it at a monitor port.
His navi materialized in the net. He was of medium height, and had a white body suit with blue armor. His boots reached up to his knees, while his gloves reached up to his elbows. There was no visible navi symbol on his torso armor. His helmet was fairly traditional. It too was blue with a white ridge running vertically from front to rear. His eye color was gray.
'' What's his name?'' Slate asked.
'' My name is Ryn.'' the navi answered.
Slate nodded. '' How does he fight?''
In response to this, Ryn raised a hand, and a white spear appeared in it.
Without warning, Slate whipped out his PET. '' Zero, plug in!''
Zero materialized in the net, Z-Saber already in hand. He charged forward, bringing his sword down for a diagonal slash. Ryn raised his spear to block it, then neatly sidestepped.
'' What's this about!'' Lloyd demanded angrily.
'' Consider this your entrance exam.'' Slate said evenly. '' If you can hold out in a fight against Zero, I'll accept you. This is also a good way to test your operation skills and your ability to act under pressure.''
'' Fine!'' Lloyd shouted. '' Shotgun, slot in!''
Ryn's free hand morphed into a small blue buster. He fired several shots from it, but Slate was ready.
'' Wood Aura and Aura Head, double slot in!''
First, Zero was surrounded by a hazy green aura that blocked the Shotgun blasts. Next, a Megalian virus appeared before him. It glowed green, then shot its head forward like a missile, smashing into Ryn, bowling him over.
Slate was quick to press his advantage. '' Panel Shoot, slot in!''
Two chunks of the floor rose up into the air and flew towards the downed navi. Lloyd was prepared though. '' Metguard, slot in!''
A shield appeared in front of Ryn, blocking both chunks of debris.
'' Pity that chip is underrated.'' Lloyd sighed. '' Attack!''
'' Right!'' Ryn shouted. '' Matador Thrust!''
He thrust his spear forward at Zero's torso, but he managed to twist out of the way.
'' Two can play at that game!'' Zero said, the first words he had spoken all battle. His saber vanished, and a spear with a green point appeared in his hand instead. '' Triple Rod!''
'' Supervulcan, slot in!'' Lloyd shouted.
Ryn fired the golden machine gun at Zero, but he managed to block the shots with his spear.
He closed in on Ryn, and thrust his spear forward. Ryn jumped back, out of range, but then the spear's length increased, so that the tip was at his throat.
'' Soko made yo, Zero.'' Slate ordered.
'' Hai, Akira-sama.'' Zero said, backing off.
'' So, did we pass?'' Lloyd asked expectantly.
Slate plugged Zero out, then stood there looking very solemn.
'' Lloyd, Ryn.exe...'' he said at last. '' You've... passed.'' He smiled, he actually smiled! then held out his hand.
Lloyd shook it. '' Thank you sir, thank you so much. I swear that you won't regret this.''
'' Now, I'll formally introduce everyone.'' Slate said. '' You already know Terrence and Butch. I am Iwasaki Akira, Vick is over there, ( Vick gave a weak wave ) and she is Karla.''
Lloyd gave a deep bow here. '' Ah, una bella ragazza, sono fortunatissimo!''
Karla went a little pink, '' Um, what did you say?'' she asked, a little embarrassed. '' Nothing.'' Lloyd said, turning away.
'' Hmph.'' Terry muttered. '' Flirt.'' While he hadn't understood what had been said, he had at least gotten the gist.
'' What, you have a crush on someone?'' Vick asked, looking a bit more awake now.
'' N-no! O-of course not!'' Terry stammered, blushing as well. Dash sniggered from his PET. '' Shut up!'' Terry growled.
Slate ignored this little incident and continued on. '' Butch, show Lloyd to the spare bedroom, we'll brief him on the mission tomorrow.''
'' Oh! We're going on a mission?'' Lloyd asked excitedly.
'' Yeah.'' Butch said. '' But we should be getting to bed now, or we'll be too tired.''
Vick nodded. '' Yeah, I need to get back to bed, it's nearly two in the morning...''
Slate nodded, and dismissed them.
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Soko made yo means '' That's enough.''
The bit Lloyd said was Italian for '' Ah, a beautiful girl, I am very fortunate!''
Matadors are Spanish bullfighters.
See you.
