"Thank you all for coming on such short notice. It's really appreciated."
It had been awhile since X found himself in the digital command center of the Net Savers headquarters.
If he had his way, he would never have to come back to this place and forget it entirely.
Not because he had any animosity towards them or the work they did.
Far from that.
Rather… he just wished there could be peace for both humans and net navis.
But alas… if there was always peace, then we wouldn't be able to appreciate it.
He was on a large platform with other navis around him, working at computer screens, projecting his face onto monitors that surrounded the area and onto monitors in the real world to the human leaders of the Net Savers.
X looked to the navis below him, a full assembly of well trained and well programmed security navis, all dressed in the iconic green and tan armor with the symbol of the Net Savers as their crests.
His eyes were drawn to the navis that stood on platforms above them. Four individuals who were various colors unlike the navis below. He was glad to see they were still functioning and still able to do their jobs of keeping the net safe for all in their own ways with their divisions.
I need to remember to catch up with them later.
They're family after all.
X took a deep breath, finding the words he needed to say.
"As you all know, there have been suspicions of rising net terrorism once more. While not as grand as the Great Cyber War from years past, it is still a pause for concern." X raised his hand. "My fellow navis, I fear an old enemy has returned."
On the screen, the symbol of a "w" with a "3" under it appeared.
"WWW has reared its ugly head once more."
There were looks of alarm, some getting an annoyed look.
"What is the current threat level?" One of the navis on the platforms asked, a serious look in their eyes. "Start the hunt or increase security?"
"Easy now, Commander Fefnir." X mainted a calm composure. "At the moment, we do not know how high of a level threat they are to the people. All we know is they are here to disturb the peace."
X changed the images of the screen, showing footage of the oven fires… and Megaman's battle with Torchman.
"The oven fire crisis has come to a halt. We haven't had any reports in the following weeks and it all stopped as soon as this fire based navi was defeated. And from what the navi you see here that defeated him reported, there was no chance this was a rogue navi. They logged out too quickly to be a rogue. I believe this navi is linked with WWW. Reason I say this, is everyone who was affected by the fires received an email with the WWW logo attached before they were struck by the crisis."
"Data scum.." Fefnir muttered under his breath. "Then we can start by tracking the remaining data. If WWW is marking targets before causing calamity, we can go through the IP addresses of those affected."
"We've attempted that after this incident. They were able to cloak their navi's movements." X narrowed his eyes. "They aren't playing by the same rules we do. However, that doesn't mean we're going to readily allow them to cause havoc either."
"Oooh I'd love to get that navi alone for a few minutes." A navi with a blue helmet that had a fin like attachments said, a small growl escaping her. "Just a few minutes in the cyber ocean."
"Easy now, Leviathan." X gave her a stern look. "That won't be needed."
I hope.
"Then, what do you propose?"
"I propose that we tighten net security as well as deploy an agent in the area of the known attacks. On the net, that's our territory but private homes and public establishments have their own issues with being foreign terrain. I'm sure we all recall how bad some places got during the war."
The navis in attendance fell quiet, shifting uncomfortably. The war had not been easy on any of them.
To think, a new crisis was arising quickly… It was uneasy.
"Well, we're not going to send out just anyone." Leviathan gave X a curious look. "Who's going? I doubt SciLabs will want to loan out Aile and Vent."
"No, no we need them… I have someone else in mind… Or rather, two."
"Oh? Pray tell, X." The green navi on one of the platforms asked.
"Simple, Harpuia." X smiled. "Agents Grey and Ashe, present yourselves."
Two net navis appeared next to X, giving a salute.
"Reporting for duty!" They said in unison.
"These two will be able to search the more private areas without causing a disturbance. They are fast and efficient, very much like our own Aile and Vent. Also, the Net Savers will be deploying their undercover agents along with their navis." X looked to the 4th navi on the platform that was dressed in armor that was various shades of purple. "And Commander Phantom will be doing his own private investigations with his division."
Phantom remained quiet but gave a small nod.
"Other than that, security for Net City will be required to be on high alert. Net Savers, it'll be your duty to look out for any suspicious activity as you always do. Commanders, lead your divisions as you see fit and maintain the peace. Understood?"
"SIR YES SIR!"
"Perfect. I believe we're done here."
Just let this go on without anything else happening to my own family… I don't know what we'd all do if anything targeted them again.
The live feed to the Net Savers headquarters was cut, as X allowed his stance to relax. He let out a sigh, rubbing the side of his helmet.
"Swear, that never gets easier."
"KYA!"
He yelped as he was tackled, falling back on the platform.
"LEVIATHAN!"
"I missed you!"
He chuckled, patting her head, looking up at the other guardians.
"What? Not gonna say a proper hello?"
"Oh that's it. Get him!"
And this is why I love my family.
X laughed as the commanders came around him, all giving him an embrace quickly before they parted, smiling at him.
"Glad to see you're still holding up well." Harpuia chuckled. "You're still able to command a room effectively."
"Yeah. Not bad for a lab head." Fefnir smirked. "You really should come out with us some time on the field. For old time's sake."
X shook his head but still smiled.
"Sorry but I'm going to have to politely decline. I'm too old for battle now. You all know that."
"Still, you got that spark in your eyes." Harpuia crossed his arms. "I bet if you had to, you could still show the full fury that everyone knows of the legendary Megaman X."
"I'd prefer not too." X's smile didn't falter. "And I'd rather it doesn't get to that point." X folded his arms behind his back. "I need to return to the lab now. You all know your assignments. Make me proud, my warriors."
"We will." Leviathan smiled for a moment before it faded. "Though X… I recognized that navi that took out that fire navi. Isn't that your nephew?"
X frowned, giving a nod.
"Unfortunately, yes. That's his second run in with that one as well. The first was an oven fire in his home."
"Maybe you should brief him as well, like you did us… He's not like normal navis. That fire navi was a custom job but we know how special he is." She lowered her voice. "Hub is a risk to them because he's built like us not like a normal navi."
"And that's why he's getting briefed in a different manner and increased training with Zero and the others."
"You swear?"
"Have I ever betrayed my word?"
She shook her head.
"Just… stay safe. I don't want anything to happen like… back then." She frowned, before hugging X quickly again before pulling back. "Keep yourself and our little cousin safe."
"I will." X looked to them all. "Now, back to work, all of you."
All gave a nod before disappearing into bits of data, leaving X by himself.
X lowered his head, sighing
I really had hoped WWW had just given up.
Then again… when has the fight against net terrorism ever been simple?
oooooo
Megaman was taken aback when Zero had asked him to go out with him to SciLabs private server without Lan. Not that Lan was aware of this. The boy was currently fast asleep in his room, exhausted after a long week of school.
Regardless, it was a bit surprising… and concerning.
Usually whenever Zero wants a moment alone with me that means something serious is going on.
The two were currently sitting on a bench that was off to the side of the private sparring server. They were watching as Aile and Vent combated with each other, both testing their specialized weapons… and their abilities to change their form.
"Z form! Engage!" Aile shouted, her armor changing from her blue armor to a set of red and tan armor that resembled Zero's. She drew out a sword, clashing it with Vent's. "Hya!"
So cool…
Megaman looked to Zero, seeing the navi was watching the two intently, his fingers laced together, his chin resting on top of them. He could see concern riddled in his eyes and body language. He was slouched over a bit, which wasn't normal. He usually had a strong yet somewhat relaxed posture when he was sitting or standing.
He glanced to Megaman, causing the navi to look away.
Zero sighed.
"... Hub. There's a very… very important… and somewhat dire reason I brought you here tonight."
Megaman looked back to him, worry coming to his eyes. To hear his true name like that, it wasn't normal. He couldn't even remember the last time anyone aside from his own mother calling him by it.
"What's wrong?"
"This involves the last two major netbattles you got into during those fires."
Immediately, the navi looked away again, nervously, choosing to focus on what Aile and Vent were doing.
"What happened?"
"It wasn't random and it wasn't some nut who was being a petty criminal. It's bigger… Hub, I want you to pay attention carefully to what I'm going to tell you. Alright?"
He looked back at Zero, worry in his eyes, his stance tense.
"Alright."
Zero sighed.
There was no easy way to break the news and he hated worrying the kid.
"There is an organization of net terrorists that are on the rise. They're known as WWW." Zero pulled up a screen with the logo. "This, appeared in Yuichiro's email the same day the fire at our home happened. With some investigating, we also found it in Mayl's email folder as well. These are how they targeted you both."
"What!? Why?!" Megaman's eyes widened in horror. "They could've killed Mayl and Lan!"
"Hub… that's what I think they wanted to do in the first place. They're a danger to the public, both on the net and off with what they cause to happen."
"But… Why!? What would they have gained from murder!?"
"Presence." Zero's eyes narrowed. "Net terrorists gain power from fear… and so, murder is a way to go. No matter who it is, it will get their message across that they are a force to be reckoned with."
"So… what do we do?"
"We prepare." Zero's look turned gentle as he brought an arm around Megaman. "Hub, I don't know what will happen next. Maybe WWW will leave you alone and you and Lan can go about your days in peace… But… there's a chance you will cross paths with them again. And when that happens, I want you to be ready."
Megaman had fear flickering in his green eyes for a moment before it faded, seriousness coming to them.
"What do I do then?"
"I will train you personally to be ready for harder battles. That means coming to this server during the night while Lan is asleep. Nothing too different from what we usually do."
"Got ya… and what about Lan?"
"For now, we say nothing. The boy has enough to worry about. We come clean when the time is right. Understood?"
Megaman was quiet, uncertainty flickering across his gaze.
Keeping secrets from Lan wasn't abnormal but he was hoping to keep them to a minimum.
"I... " Megaman let out a sigh, looking away. "I don't like this… but I understand. Lan doesn't need to know… I just feel bad. Like I'm lying to him.."
"You're not. You're keeping him safe. The less he knows the better for his own safety."
"And if WWW targets him?"
"Then he gets to know. But, let's not worry about that happening yet. For now, we need to get you up to speed." Zero stood, helping him up.
Megaman took a deep breath, giving a nod.
He's right. The more Lan knows about this, the risk of him getting attacked will go up. Especially since he's a Hikari…
After all, that's why no one outside of our family can know I'm Hub.
Megaman sighed.
I just… wanted to tell him this year.
I guess that'll have to wait again.
He narrowed his eyes, looking to Zero.
"Well… let's get started then."