Count Zap grinned as he finished setting up his little stage in his private home.
Many people had ways of operating their net navis. Sure, there was a standard, but for him, he had a more fun way of doing things. Least, to him. Especially when he was putting on a performance like he was doing tonight.
He checked the tuning on his electric guitar, sighing happily as it played a perfect chord.
Sweet… Sweet music.
He put his black tinted visor with yellow EL wire designs on it over his eyes, the area around him transforming into a magnificent cybernetic stage with lightning designs, all with the help of holographic projectors around him.
"So, Elecman." He grinned, looking to where his PET was on a microphone stand in front of him. "Are you ready to electrify the boys and girls?"
Elec smirked, crossing his arms.
"Let's give them a night to remember."
"Haha! That's what I like to hear!" He struck a chord, holding it. "First, we'll stop by the data bank for Wizardman and Torchman and then…"
He chuckled, seeing the image of a large mansion appearing on another screen.
"The holding area for Rockman Legends 3."
oooooo
The timer was running out, the kids waiting eagerly, their PETs and game controllers at the ready.
After years of waiting, they were finally going to get the answer. The game company logo flickered across the screen as the intro music began.
"It's here." Lan whispered, excitement in his eyes. "Just a few more seconds…"
"It's finally here!"
The logo for the game appeared on the screen as the start menu was opened.
Yes… YES!
"Who wants to go first?"
"Lan. He's better at the boss fights." Mayl nudged him. "Your little "training" runs paying off."
Lan chuckled, blushing a little.
"Weeelll, if you insist. Heym Megaman! Ready?"
Megaman was trying to appear composed... but he was bouncing in place, just as eager to enter the game and get a chance to play too.
"Yes!"
Lan grinned.
"Alright, Megaman. Jack in-"
Just as the connection was about to be made, the screen's image flickered, before it burst into pixels, causing the monitor to go blue.
"Wait… was that supposed to happen?" Lan sat up, confused. He looked to Yai. "Hey, Yai? Your system's not broken, right?"
"Of course not!" She growled, picking up her own PET. "Glide? Reboot the game please."
"Yes, Miss Yai… and remember to breathe."
"This is a matter of utmost importance. We've dealt with this cliffhanger since middle school."
After a moment, the game's logo appeared again… before it began to warp into one that was unfamiliar. A "w" with a "3" under it.
"What the…?"
"What logo is that?" Mayl asked. "I've neer seen it before."
"It's certainly not from the game." Dex scowled. "Not that it matters since it's getting in the way!"
Megaman's system went cold at seeing this logo.
WWW… What are they doing here?
Megaman shook his head.
Regardless, I need to disarm whatever is in the system. They can't be too far off.
Megaman looked around, seeing the other navis were busy trying to fix the system, finding this the opportune time to slip away.
I'll handle this myself. I don't want them to get involved.
Megaman slipped into a data stream, heading towards the storage system in the mansion where he knew the game was supposed to be broadcasted from. As he approached it, he noticed the data stream around it was lined with blue and yellow electricity, the data corrupted and damaged.
Definitely not good.
He was at the entrance for the system. The security gates had been broken, the sides of them burnt and practically destroyed.
Before entering, he brought out his Mega Buster, charging up a shot, prepared for what would be on the other side.
The data stream faded, his eyes being greeted with the sight of the system.
It was in shambles. Yellow and blue electricity was dancing around data storage towers, causing data to fly out of control. Security navis that were supposed to be guarding the system were on the ground, their frames burnt and pulsing with electricity.
In the center of all the madness, was a net navi with black armor that was adorned with yellow and blue glowing lighting patterns. His red eyes gleamed with amusement as he held an orb of data that had all the contents for Rockman Legends 3.
"Just take this home and we can hold a ransom for this beauty. I bet the stupid CEO would pay top dollar to get this back."
Megaman narrowed his eyes.
"How about you give that to me and we can forget this ever happened?"
The navi looked up at him, sneering.
"Oh, look, i's the blue pipsqueak that took down Torchman."
… Oh great. They're friends.
Megaman kept his buster trained on him.
"The name is Megaman… and I'm not asking again. Return that data to me and I'll let you go back to whoever your netop is without problem. Trust me, you're better off that way."
"Sorry, Megabrat, but I, Elecman, don't take orders from kids." He narrowed his eyes. "Though if you're looking for a fight." He tossed the data up, containing it in a cage of electricity. "I'm more than happy to provide." An electrical sword formed on his arm. "That is, unless you're too much of a coward to face me."
Megaman smirked, getting into a ready stance.
"I warned you." He charged, firing a buster shot right at his chest. "And I'm no coward!"
Time to test out that training Zero's been putting me through.
Elecman sliced through the shot with ease, laughing as he jumped forward, raising his sword in the air and aiming it at Megaman.
"Then let's put on a show!"
oooooo
"Glide, what's the report?" Yai was fidgeting in her resting spot.
"Well… it seems the data for the game is missing. I tried contacting the navis over in the data storage area but have had no response. I tried checking security cameras of the area but they're all malfunctioning. I fear… someone has stolen the game."
"ARE YOU FOR REAL!?" Dex shouted. "WHY WOULD SOMEONE DO THAT!?"
"Ransom, if I had to take a guess." Tori reasoned. "I've heard stories of data ransomers who will steal things from people and then ask for loads of money in order to give it back and even then it's not guaranteed they'll give it back." Tori crossed his arms. "People like that are just scummy."
"Well, this is just wonderful." Lan grumbled. "What do we do?"
"I'll have to go into the system myself and see if I can trace the IP address of the thief." Glide answered. "After that, it's just a matter of finding them."
"I think someone's already ahead of you on that."
The navis in the system all turned to Roll, seeing she was looking around the area.
"What do you mean?" Iceman tilted his head.
"Anyone else notice Megaman is gone?"
The other navis took a glance around.
"... He didn't."
"I think he did." Roll narrowed her eyes. "And he's not letting us miss out on getting a piece of the action either. Glide, can you track where he's gone?"
"Of course."
Roll nodded.
"Let's get going then. We got some netops to avenge!"
The navis nodded, heading straight for the data stream.
"Wait, Megaman's not in the system?" Lan pulled out his PET, seeing if he could track where his navi was.
To his chagrin, the connection to Megaman was currently cut off.
"What the-!? Did that idiot disconnect me so I wouldn't follow him!?" Lan's face turned red with anger. "THE HECK MEGAMAN!?"
"And apparently so our others wouldn't either." Mayl rubbed his shoulder. "Once they find him, you can chew him out."
"Good, cause that… That just… UUUGH!"
Did X teach him that trick!?
oooooo
"AUGH!"
Megaman skidded across the ground, using his blaster to guard a slash from the sword. Elecman was standing over him now, trying to break through.
"Get… OFF OF ME!"
Elecman shook his head, pressing down harder.
"Sorry, like I said, I don't take orders from a kid like you, Megabrat." Elecman chuckled, forcing Megaman's arm down to his chest. "You know, I expected a lot more from you, considering how much the boss was so insistent that you be deleted. I don't see what all the hoopla is about."
Megaman's eyes widened.
"What!?" He yelped, forcing his arm up only to get it pinned back down. "What are you even talking about!?"
"Oh, just how you're a very interesting navi." Elecman grinned. "Don't think we don't know you're special, Megabrat. Everyone at WWW knows." His eyes gleamed with amusement. "The magnum opus of Dr. Yuichiro Hikari's work. And with you ruining Torchman's little escapade, you're now very much a valid threat to our cause…" He leaned in closer, whispering into his ear. "As is your pathetic, little, netop."
Megaman snarled, headbutting him as hard as he could, causing Elecman to stumble back.
"DON'T YOU EVEN TRY!" He roared, kicking up at his chest. "STAY FAR AWAY FROM LAN!"
They know… They know…
Elecman growled, regaining his balance.
"We'll do… as we please!"
Elecman brought out his arms.
"Jack! More power!" He shouted. "Let's rock this place!"
"Right away, Elecman!"
The system shook as the area blasted with rock music, electricity coming out of the data towers, going right into Elecaman. Elecman grinned as power coursed through his frame, his injuries healing.
"Let's finish this."
He gathered all the electricity together, firing it all right at Megaman.
"ELECTRIC WAVE!"
Megaman braced himself for impact, praying his frame would still be intact at the end of this.
A figure jumped down in front of him.
"MAYL!"
"Barrier battle chip in! Download!"
A shield formed up around them as the electricity raged on around it, before dissipating. Megaman stared up at the navi before him in shock, his jaw dropping open.
"R-Roll!?"
Roll looked down at him, crossing her arms.
"You just had to get into trouble, didn't ya?"
Megaman gulped, lowering his head a little.
"I'll explain later. Let's just finish this guy." He got up, wincing a little at his injuries. "A-Ack."
"You only have Lan to answer to." Roll got into a ready stance as the shield dropped. "Ready?"
"Yeah." He smiled. "Thanks Roll… I'll make it up to you later."
"And to us."
The two were joined by Glide, Gustman and Iceman, all ready with their own weapons.
Megaman chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Noted."
Elecman narrowed his eyes at this, seeing the now assembled group.
"Well, this is just annoying."
"And so are you." Roll lifted her arm up, transforming it into a bow. "Gentlemen, shall we?"
They all nodded, drawing up their weapons.
"I'll get the game data." Glide whispered.
"And we'll take care of the jerk." Iceman growled.
Roll fired an arrow, setting things into motion.
Glide flew into the air where the data was while Iceman and Gutsman gave their own barrage of attacks on Elecman.
"Blizzard Chill!"
"Guts Stomp!"
Elecman was sent flying by the attacks. He landed on his feet, skidding to a halt.
"Ugh… This is NOT what I had in mind for how tonight was going to go."
Megaman moved forward, aiming his buster.
"That's one thing we can agree on." He narrowed his eyes. "Well team? How mad are you all?"
"Livid."
"Gonna hear about it for weeks, guts!"
"I think we're done here then." This time… he stepped back, crossing his arms.
"GET HIM!" Roll screamed, firing another arrow.
"Get out of there, log out!" Count Zap yelled.
Elecman brought his arms over himself, his body fading into a data as the words "logging out" appeared.
Just as he disappeared, the attacks all hit where he would've been, leaving a rather large crater.
"Hmph. Good riddance, guts!"
Megaman sighed in relief.
"Good work, everyone." he smiled. "Seriously, you all saved my butt back there."
"Just don't do it again, okay?" Roll bumped shoulders with him. "Friends help friends after all."
"Right… Though… What am I going to tell Lan? I imagine he's going to be livid."
"I'm sure we can get him to calm down."
Glide came down, the game data in his hands.
"Especially with a proper game session."
Megaman sighed in relief.
"Whew… Yeah you guys are right. How mad can he get?"
oooooo
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?"
Megaman winced.
Lan was indeed still livid as he glared down at the PET screen, worry present in his eyes as well.
"I wanted to get the game back?"
"Forget the game, you could've gotten hurt!"
"Now you sound like X."
"If that'll make you NEVER do that again then great! Who taught you to disconnect like that?"
Megaman decided to keep that to himself.
"How about we just uh… get back to the game?"
Lan shook his head, logging him in.
"The silence does not spare anyone at SciLabs."
"Trust me, I'm not. I promise, I won't ever do anything that dumb again."
Lan took a deep breath, composing himself.
"Right… Now, let's see the end of this game once and for all."
"Yeah."
Megaman mentally sighed in relief.
I don't need to tell him right now.
He smiled, making his way forward into the game world.
Right now… I just want to relax.