"Uggghhhh, we're chasing our tails at this point."
Ashe was lying out on the ground of the server she and Grey were currently in. It was a place that supposedly had some questionable navis in it, according to civilian reports anyway, but all the two found was a calm system with some navis wandering around and the occasional nuisance that was a meattaur.
"And what would a criminal get from a greenhouse system anyway?" She threw her hands up. "Not saying gardens aren't valuable in some regard but data wise?"
She gestured to their surroundings.
"It's just a bunch of digitized flowers, trees and all kinds of nature for navis to enjoy! What could some shady person possibly want here!?"
"Beats me." Grey offered a hand. "Though please get up. You look undignified just lying there on the simulated dirt."
Ashe gave a flat look.
"I do what I want, Grey. Besides, we're not in uniform. I have no image to uphold."
"Ashe…"
"Don't suppose you'd listen to me, would you?"
Both straightened up at hearing a familiar voice. They looked to the side, seeing a net navi in red armor with white and gold accents. While his eyes were concealed behind the black visor of his helmet, they could just see the amusement that would be dancing in them.
Ashe kicked up, both she and Grey saluting the net navi.
"Always will, Protoman." Ashe smirked. "Least, most of the time."
"Ashe!"
"Now, now." Protoman chuckled. "At ease, both of you. Were you two able to find anything from the report we got?"
"Sadly, no." Ashe placed her hands on her hips. "All we found was peace… and some annoying mettaurs that would not delete."
"Helmets were too strong to break. They eventually ran off screaming though." Grey shrugged. "But yeah, we had no luck finding any suspicious navis. Everything is just all quiet here."
"I see." Protoman sighed. "Well, it's better to find peace than chaos. Can't exactly take reports lightly right now."
"I just wanna find some freaking answers." Ashe huffed. "And I want some action!"
"And I'm sure you will get it eventually."
"It better be soon." She held up a hand, clenching it into a fist. "I wanna show WWW the wrath of Ashe for messing with our world!"
"I certainly want to put a stop to them." Grey crossed his arms. "Mainly just so we can have some peace and quiet again."
Beep beep beep!
A holo screen appeared to the side of the net navis, a boy appearing on it that had white and black hair and piercing blue eyes.
"Protoman, we have a problem." he said.
"What is it, Chaud?"
"Viral outbreak at the AC/DC Aquarium. The robotic marine life are all out of control and are terrorizing patrons. Dr. Hikari's son is there as is his niece."
"Lan and Ciel!" Ashe and Grey blurted at the same time.
"Yes. I need you three to hurry there and put a stop to it. I'll be meeting you there as soon as I can."
"Right away, Chaud."
The screen disappeared, the net navis all looking to each other.
"Well, looks like you got your wish, Ashe."
"Yeah."
Ashe looked around, seeing no one was watching before transforming into her fight mode.
"Just wish it didn't come at the cost of those kiddos being in trouble."
oooooo
"Keep moving! Don't stop!"
It was chaos. Pure and utter chaos. Robotic marine life rushing at patrons, chasing them around, trying to attack them.
Lan was so glad they had left the shark tank when it cracked, avoiding most of the water that had come out of it. Now, it was just a matter of getting to the exit.
He pulled Ciel behind him, his PET in his other hand.
"Megaman, I need a route!"
"There's an employee only hallway that leads to the back of the aquarium. There should be a fire exit there."
He looked behind him at Ciel, worry in his eyes.
"You holding up alright?"
"Trying!" She panted, her hair hanging limp around her shoulders, her eyes exhausted.
They had avoided getting showered in glass but it hadn't been an easy escape route.
"ACK!"
"HANG ON! DON'T LET GO!"
Lan tightened his grip, making a beeline for the route Megaman had pulled up.
"You're almost there, hang right!"
The two bolted around the corner, stopping short at what was patrolling the area, swimming in circles.
Lan had grown up watching this very bot swimming around in wide arches of the shark exhibit…
The great white replica looked lifelike. Sleek artificial skin, dark optics… a powerful set of jaws that held the same bite force.
He swallowed hard, keeping CIel close.
"Stay near the wall." He whispered.
"Hee! Look Daddy, it's followin' me!"
"That's because of its special sensors. It can tell when you're moving around."
Even if we're not in the water…
He noted near the doorway was a port.
I can't afford to lose Megaman right now though…
"Lan…"
Lan looked to Ciel.
She had unshed tears welling up in her eyes, her form shaking with fear.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Go."
Her eyes widened.
"What…?!"
"I said…" He took off his headband, waving it in the air, catching the robot's attention. "RUN!"
The robot turned its direction, dashing towards him.
He swallowed hard, breaking into a run, clicking his skates on as he did so. The ground was wet, so it was hard to maneuver but he at least was keeping just ahead of the creature.
"LAN!" Ciel cried out.
"I'll be fine!"
Just keep it away from Ciel. Get it away from the public.
He whistled, whirling around, skidding backwards over fragments of glass.
"COME ON JAWS! I know you want a piece of this!" He yelled louder, getting the attention of the other robots in the area.
Good. Keep it up.
He moved faster, ditching his skates partway through. Majority of the water had flooded out of the building's entrance by now.
"Lan! You gotta jack me in somewhere. I can stop this!" Megaman pleaded. "Duck into the gift shop or something for cover and I can work."
"I'll be fine-"
He yelped, ducking as a large manta ray replica nearly collided with his head. He spotted the cafe, now devoid of any life, bolting inside, jumping over the counter for cover.
He looked around, spotting an internet port.
"Megaman, jack in!" he whispered. "Power up!"
The inside of the system was just as bad as the outside.
It was flooded completely with cyber water, aside from a few fallen platforms and screens that were fizzing out.
A piranha virus charged him, aiming for his leg.
Megaman lunged up, flipping over it. As his presence was made known, out of the water lunged a horde of viruses.
… Oh… Crab.
He thrust his arm forward as it transformed into his Mega Buster.
"That's it! You ain't getting away with this one!" He shouted as he started blasting.
He leaped from the platform he was on to the next, buster blazing the whole time. While some went down… numerous others came up to replace them.
"Cannon battle chip in! Download!"
Megaman sighed in relief, firing a ranged shot this time, taking out a few.
Just keep up the pace. Get those things away from Lan.
"Try this on for size! Air shoes battle chip in! Cyber sword battle chip in!"
Megaman grinned, floating above the water, rushing through, his sword deleting a good dozen viruses as he went.
It didn't stop them though as a fishy and a puffy virus slammed into his side, sending him flying backwards, slamming into the water.
He floated back up before falling onto another platform with a THUD as the airshoes effect wore off.
"Lan! I need a way to get rid of these guys in one-"
"AUGH!"
He whirled around, pulling up a screen, eyes widening in horror.
Lan was struggling against several robotic eels as they forced him to his feet, pulling him along.
"LEGGO OF ME!"
A stingray replica looped its long tail around his ankle, pulling him to the ground as it rushed off.
Somehow he didn't lose grip of his PET but time was of the essence now.
"A-Area steal battle chip in and wide sword-ACK!"
"Lan! Just hang in there, I'll make this stop!"
"JUST GET ME OUTTA THIS MESS!"
Megaman had never moved so fast in his life, viruses that got in his way were quickly deleted on sight. His system flooded with pure anger at what was happening.
You can hurt me…
A puffy was sliced to data ribbons as it was deleted.
Megaman panted, looking around him.
"Who else wants to get deleted today!?" He called out to the system.
Mess with me, fine. Try to delete me… Fine.
Hurt my brother?
That's it…
THAT IS IT!
"Watch out!"
"Huh-AUGH!"
A large colorful ball collided with his body, sending him flying.
"Ack…" He looked up. "What the…?"
There was an odd looking net navi in front of him now. They were balancing on a large ball they had summoned, a maniacal grin on their face.
"Hope you liked the start of the show!"
"Don't tell me…" Megaman got up. "WWW?"
The net navi laughed, giving a dramatic bow.
"Colorman at your service!"
Great…
"Hey Lan how you-"
CLATTER!
Megaman's eyes widened in horror, rushing to the screen.
The PET's view was skewed, aimed towards the door.
"HELP!"
Lan was being pulled away from it, right towards the predators that circled the main lobby. Terror in his eyes, as he reached out for his PET.
"MEGAMAN!"