He was alone.

He looked around him, the area appearing to be like that of the computer. EL wiring running through the ground, creating an eerie glow around him, data blocks and programming bits flying by his head.

"Hello?" He called.

Where is everyone?

"... an! LAN!" Megaman's voice echoed from off in the distance. "LAN!"

Lan whirled around, eyes widening.

"Hang on!"

He didn't care how, he didn't care WHY he was here but his net navi needed him.

He lunged for the nearest data port as he was flung into a data stream, code flying around him, bits and pieces of information swirling around his body.

"LAN!"

"Just hang on!"

He landed in a crouch, breaking into a sprint.

He yelped as a flame rushed past his head.

"No!"

Lan's eyes widened in horror.

Megaman was on the ground, Torchman standing over him, a maniacal grin on the fire navi's face.

Megaman looked up at him weakly, reaching a hand out, bits of data flying off of his fingers, his body covered in cyber burns.

"Help me…" He pleaded, his eyes dulling.

"No… NO!"

Lan shot up with a start, a sharp gasp escaping him. His heart was pounding like crazy in his chest.

He looked around, finding he was back in his room. He sighed in relief, falling backwards into his pillow.

That… was messed up…

"Megaman…?" He called quietly.

No response came from the PET.

He checked the clock on it, rolling his eyes.

3 AM… He already could take a guess where his navi was. He typed in a code, bringing up the feed on Megaman's end.

He was locked in combat with Zero, cyber sword to cyber sword. Zero was pushing back against him, steadily forcing him back as his boots skidded across the floor.

"Ngh…"

Lan rubbed at one of his eyes, reaching around blindly in the dark for his battle chip collection.

Maybe this was dumb but after that nightmare… he wasn't letting him fight alone.

Zero kicked Megaman right in the chest, spinning as he swung his blade out.

"Air Shoes! Battle chip in! Download!"

Megaman yelped as he was lifted upwards, the cyber wind created by the saber rushing through his audio sensors.

"W-WHOA!" He looked at Zero wide eyed. "I didn't mean it!"

Zero narrowed his eyes, looking behind him at Lan. The kid was staring intently at the PET, another battle chip in hand.

"Kid, go back to bed. This isn't your turn."

"Nightmare. Not going back to sleep." He mumbled tiredly, shaking his head to wake himself up more.

Megaman landed on the ground, turning to him.

"Are you okay?" He placed a hand over the screen. "Do you want me to go back?"

"I will-" Lan paused to yawn. "Be. Just let me distract myself from it for a while."

"That's not gonna save me against Zero." Megaman grinned sheepishly.

"Too bad. We're doing this together." Lan narrowed his eyes, determination coming to them. "I need to learn to netbattle better. It's pointless if we're not in sync."

"True…"

"Then you two can lose together." Zero smirked, breaking into a run, his forearm transforming into his buster.

Megaman yelped, backflipping out of the way, transforming his arm in the process, charging up his buster.

"Ah ah ah!" Lan smirked. "Area Steal! Battle chip in and download!"

Megaman sped out of the way, the blast creating a mark on the floor.

Now things are getting interesting.

I was gonna have to train the kid too, might as well get it over with…

Airi is so gonna delete me tomorrow though.

He wouldn't deny, it was a good chance to monitor how well they fought against a stronger enemy. Netbattling on the servers or in local competitions wasn't the same as fighting a foe that wouldn't hesitate.

Megaman kept a fair bit of distance, firing blasts at Zero's feet to keep him away.

"That's a neat trick." Zero propelled himself into the air, kicking the smaller navi across the training ring.

"AUGH!"

"But I'm still faster."

"Grr... " Lan looked at his chips. "Let's see."

"Let's sweeten the pot a little." Zero rested his sword over his shoulder, catching the duo's attention.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"You tire me out… and I'll show you two a REAL impressive move we used to do during the war."

Megaman and Lan exchanged a look, mischief gleaning in their eyes.

"You're on!"

ooooo

"This is quite the scheme, Ms. Maddy."

Lord Wylie smiled as he looked at the simulation that was being presented before him on one of the giant monitors in his lair.

"Should be a big enough distraction for you to collect the data you need for the virus." Maddy grinned. "Funny that the data you need is from the aquarium of all places."

"It's a matter of the environment that data comes from."

Lord Wiley changed the display of the monitor to show the virus that was encased in digital crystal. What was new to the scene were the two pillars that sat on its sides, that had the insignias of a lightning bolt and a flame. From these pillars were wires that were hooked into the crystal that the virus slumbered in.

"In order for a good virus to exist, it must have little to no weakness." Lord Wiley sneered. "You are familiar with the basic elementai in battle chips, yes?"

"Yeah." Maddy rubbed the back of her neck. "The base ones like Fire, Aqua, Elec, Wood and Null. Then additionals like Recovery, Sword, Wind, Cursor, and Break. But… what does that have to do with what I'm doing… and what the others have done so far?"

"Simple." Lord Wiley smiled. "Collection of data. With all the fires Torchman caused, I was able to have my little agent collect all the fire data I needed from fire type viruses and the environment in general while everyone else was distracted. Same with Elecman's fight. While his was a distraction, my little agent was still able to gather some from his fight and from the data storage facility we stole from… which was a place that happened to have all sorts of data on elec type viruses and environments."

Maddy raised an eyebrow.

"Little agent? I don't think any of us have heard of this "little agent" till now."

"More so you haven't heard of them, my dear." Lord Wiley chuckled. "But, with your mission coming up, it is time you do meet him."

Wiley had the display shift from the view of the virus to something that was resting on above the virus on a floating panel.

It was a net navi with dark grey armor with gold and blue accents. Most of it was covered with a tan colored cloak that draped around the navi's frame loosley. His eyes were closed, resting. He was sitting crossed legged, meditating. He was small in size but he did look intimidating, especially with those blue marks that adorned his face like war paint.

"This, is Bass." Lord Wiley explained. "He's been a helpful little navi since he came crawling to my side of the net."

"A rogue?" Maddy crossed her arms. "Isn't that a bit risky?"

"Ah, he's no rogue, my dear." Lord Wiley smiled. "He was considered defective by his creator and society, so he ran away and found himself right at home here in WWW. Especially since it meant he could get revenge on those that mistreated him."

"I see… So, what do I need to know in regards to him?"

"While you're causing your mayhem at the aquarium, Bass will be collecting data from the surrounding cyber space from viruses and the flooding Colorman will cause in the system. I ask that you please leave him some room so that he won't get caught on camera or get caught in the waves. Do I make myself clear?"

"Sure do… Did Match and Zap know about this guy the whole time?"

"They only learned of him till I sent them out. The only exception was Yahoot since he was able to help the navi stabilize himself. He's powerful, but needed help focusing his power and anger. Mainly so that it didn't turn on us."

"Got ya."

Maddy eyed the navi, seeing he was still resting, not even moving pixel.

"Well, I'll make sure the water isn't too high so he can do his job and I'm gonna assume this, because I got to hear all about it from Match and Zap, if I see Megaman in there, delete on sight, yes?"

"Yes… and also." Lord Wiley turned to her, a sinister smile on his face. "If you happen to come across this child."

A new display appeared, showing a photo of Lan.

"This, Lan Hikari. Dispose of him at once by whatever means possible. Understood?"

Maddy smiled.

"Loud and clear, Lord Wiley."

"Good. Now, go, prepare. You have work to do."

Maddy left with a swift nod, disappearing into the shadows.

Wiley turned his attention back to the monitor that had Bass displayed on it, a gentle expression coming to his face.

Soon… we'll both have our revenge, my dear friend.

And nothing will stop us.