After all was said and done, it was straight back to SciLabs… Although, Lan didn't remember most of the drive over after drifting off in the car.
"Lan… Lan, c'mon, we're here." Ciel shook his shoulder.
"Mn… Five more minutes…" He tried to shrug her off.
Ciel huffed, crossing her arms before looking to Lan's PET.
"Would you care to assist?"
Megaman nodded.
"Sure thing. Cover your ears."
Ciel quickly did so, Chaud giving them a confused look before doing so as well.
Megaman took a deep breath.
"LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! YOU'RE LATE FOR SCHOOL AGAAAAAIIIN!"
"AUUGH!" Lan sat up, letting out a sharp gasp. "I'M UP, I'M UP!" Once it clicked where he was, he gave Megaman a dark look. "Oh… real mature."
"Pfft… it got you up at least."
"Does this… happen usually?" Chaud asked as they got out of the car, heading in.
"Too often." Ciel shrugged. "Uncle Yu was like this too, according to my parents."
"I… see…"
Though, knowing our parents… they're not gonna be happy about what almost happened...
"There you are!"
Ciel and Lan jumped as X's holo form materialized before them, concern written in his features.
"Are you alright?"
"Ack! A little warning huh?"
"We-We're fine, Uncle X… Prairie's message got through?"
"Loud. And. Clear." He ushered them into one of the meeting rooms. "This way, your parents are waiting."
They exchanged a look.
"... We're so dead."
"You are. That wasn't my idea."
Soon as they entered the room, both teens were nearly tackled over by their respective parents.
"Oh, thank goodness you're okay!" Haruka hugged Lan close. "Oh, my baby boy."
"Both our boys." Yuichiro stroked Lan's hair, eying his PET. "You both okay?"
"Y-Yeah. Spooked but we're okay. Right, Megaman?"
There was a muffled noise from the PET. Lan glanced at the screen, seeing Megaman was buried in a hug with Airisu and Zero. He was able to sneak out a thumbs up.
"See?"
"Still, you really had us scared."
"Yeah… not on purpose, we promise."
Lan looked over to Ciel, seeing the teen huddled up to both her parents.
"We really didn't mean to scare anyone, we promise." Ciel said, closing her eyes. "It just… got insane real fast."
"We know." Alia kissed her daughter's head. "Just let us be parents right now. We all almost just lost our children today to net terrorism."
Lan and Ciel nodded, relaxing into their parents' arms.
"I'll give a full report when you're ready." Chaud cut in. "We need to start preparing for another potential attack… and possibly arrange special security for these two since it's pretty clear now WWW has their eyes set on both of them."
Yuichiro nodded.
"We'll discuss this soon. You may tell what you know to X and then… we'll discuss matters. Just give us a moment."
"Of course." He looked to X. "Shall we?"
"Right this way."
X led the boy out, leaving the Hikari family alone. Yuichiro brought his son to arms length, giving him a stern look.
"We're going to have to tighten things up around here. I hope you know that."
"Yeah... " Lan sighed.
Yuichiro let out a sigh of his own, rubbing his head.
"Well… I guess I'll just have to give something to you early."
Lan raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
"Come this way. Haruka, if that's all right?"
"Hand me over that PET and I'll let you go."
Lan shrugged, handing it over before Yuichiro led him out.
"We'll meet up with X and the others in a few minutes… I was going to save this for your birthday but… times are a bit different."
Lan kept quiet, noting they were heading into one of the lab areas. Yuichiro went straight over to his desk, punching in a few commands as one of the cabinets nearby opened.
Before the boy could react, a set of optics lit up within before they rushed right out. He let out a yelp as he was tackled to the floor.
"H-Hey!"
He got his bearings back as he noted… it was a dog. Or at least, appeared to be one, made entirely of metal, in tones of copperish red. Its optics were a bright blue as it nudged him playfully.
"Rarf!"
"You got me a dog!?" Lan laughed, reaching up, giving the robot a pat on the head.
Yuichiro chuckled, crossing his arms.
"We call him Rush. He's a dual unit AI. He can help keep an eye on you when you're out and about, like a guard dog… and he has a net counterpart that can jack in to help Megaman when he needs to." He explained, pulling up a holo screen of Rush's specifications. "Of course, I fully expect you to take care of him - he's still a dog but he's intelligent."
"Sure!" Lan sat up, hugging Rush around his neck.
He was sure he was going to be grounded or told he would have to come straight home from school… not get something like this!
He said no for years about getting a dog! This is even cooler!
"Rush, you'll be a good dog and watch him, right?"
Rush nodded, keeping close to him. Lan grinned, getting up, dusting himself off.
"This is so worth nearly getting chomped on by a shark-Em, I mean thank you!"
"I will be hearing about THAT later but for now, I'm glad you like him." Yuichiro brought his arms around his son again. "And again… I'm just so glad you're safe."
Lan huddled close to his father.
"We'll… get through this, right?"
"Yes. We're Hikaris."
Lan smiled.
"We never back down from a fight."
"That's right…"
I just never wanted you to inherit a war though… But he's right.
We never back down.
oooooo
"It's all coming together."
Lord Wiley smiled as he watched data from the towers around the virus encased in crystal flowed into it. It was perfect. With all the elementai installed, the virus was devoid of any possible weakness to battle chips of all kinds.
However, he knew there was still one last matter of business to take care of.
"Yahoot."
"Yes, My Lord."
Lord Wiley turned around, facing the man.
"As you understand, we have a blue nuisance that has yet to be taken care of."
"I do. Megaman, yes?"
"Yes. Him and his netop do pose a slight problem… as does the rest of the Net Police. Reason now is the perfect moment to strike."
A holo screen appeared between Yahoot and Lord Wiley, displaying Bass.
"I want you, Magicman and Bass to eradicate that navi and his netop once and for all. They're all shaken up and weak. You delete that navi and we will have made our statement clear. We'll even have the legendary X quaking in fear."
"Shall I do away with the Net Police as well?"
Lord Wiley grinned.
"Do as you please to strike fear into all their hearts."
Yahoot bowed.
"As you wish, My Lord. Come, Bass."
Bass gave a nod, disappearing from sight as Yahoot exited the room.
Lord Wiley turned his attention back to the virus.
"Pharaohman, run diagnostics. We need to be sure everything is just right for our take over."
"Yes, Albert."
Lord Wiley gave a small laugh, his eyes glinting with joy.
"Soon… all of Tadashi's work will have all been for nothing."
oooooo
Lan was still reeling from the events of the day even at home. Though what definitely wasn't helping was who was joining him and his family for dinner.
Sitting right across from him was Chaud Blaze.
It was surreal, to say the least.
The guy I've always talked about wanting to kick butt in a net battle is in my house. Having dinner with us… and this is supposed to be seen as normal.
… What even is normal anymore?
Lan was knocked out of his thoughts as Rush hopped up into his lap, curling up. Lan chuckled, petting his head.
Well, at least this part I can certainly get used to.
He turned his attention back to Chaud, who had kept mostly quiet during dinner, enjoying the meal and saying a few words here and there.
"I've been asked to discuss Net Police matters with you when we get a moment. So, after dinner, we'll talk."
He's about my age yet he talks a lot like an adult.
Lan eyed his PET, seeing how things were for Megaman. He could see the net navi having a conversation with Protoman though it was muted so he wasn't entirely sure what they were talking about but it was probably Net Police matters.
I just wonder if they're getting along.
"Gotta say, never expected our paths to cross like this."
Megaman folded his arms.
"Honestly, I thought we'd meet through a net battling tournament or something."
"That probably would've been the most normal way to meet." Protoman chuckled. "Though life can be strange in the way it works for us in the Cyberworld and Earth."
Megaman grinned.
"You're telling me. The Cyberworld especially." He let out a small sigh. "Seriously… I can't even begin to thank you enough for today." His gaze darkened. "I…"
I haven't trained enough for this. Even doing it nightly wasn't enough…
"Don't start blaming yourself. You were one navi who was fighting after exhausting himself." Protoman squeezed his shoulder. "You held out until we could step in. You did your job."
"Right… So, anything you're allowed to say on your end oh great Net Police navi?"
Protoman shook his head, chuckling.
"Now, now, just Protoman will do. As for what I can say, I can say this. I and Chaud will be stepping in to help with training. We know Zero has been training you, but it helps to have more than one teacher. Also, Lan will need training himself to prepare for anything that will happen on his end. I can't explain all the details but that is the basic plan. Also." Protoman snapped his fingers. "You'll be working with my comrades."
Ashe and Grey appeared, giving a salute.
"At your service!"
Well… this shouldn't be too bad. I've sparred with Giro… Aile and Vent too. Can't be too different, right?
"You two will be training with Megaman here, to get him up to speed. He's had experience with the best… but that fighting style could use some upgrades. Care to assist?"
"Of course!" Ashe grinned, mischief gleaning in her eyes. "We'll do whatever you need us to. Just say when."
Megaman smirked.
"How about right now?"
"Oooo. You got spunk. I like that." Ashe grinned, stepping aside, a blaster materializing in her hand, twirling it. "Alright, let's see what you got, Blue Boy."
Grey and Protoman exchanged a look, stepping out of their way.
"I'm not responsible for her. I'm just putting that on record, Sir."
"Oh, I am NOT taking the blame for her either."
Megaman summoned his buster, charging forward, firing a warning shot.
"Don't hold back!"
… He's doomed.
Ashe grinned, side stepping around him, her form changing.
"... That's… That's not fair!" Megaman gulped.
"Oh, I think it's plenty fair. You said…" Ashe lept upwards, kicking him square in the chest as he skidded across the server.
"AUGH!"
"Don't hold back!"
Ugh… I'm getting flashbacks to my first sparring session ever…
"Ngh…" Megaman got up, his Mega Buster forming on his arm. "Alright. Let's do this."
Megaman charged forward, firing multiple blasts at Ashe.
Ashe danced around the blasts with ease, humming to herself.
"Hm… strong blasts, just need to work on your aim."
She tossed her blaster up into the air before jumping up, grabbing it, firing a blast at Megaman, sending the net navi flying across the floor of the server once more.
"A barrage does work, but a concentrated blast is something that can help shorten a battle." She dived down, pinning Megaman to the ground.
"Ngh.. Okay, point made." He struggled.
"Also, don't always rely on your chips either. Us solos don't have that luxury, so we have to figure out different techniques. You'll survive a lot longer if you're not worried about Lan picking out the right combo."
"Got it, now..." He kicked upward. "GET OFF!"
"OOF!"
Ashe jumped away, holding her midsection.
"You learned that from Zero, didn't you?"
Megaman kicked back up, Mega Buster ready.
"Only one of many."
Ashe grinned.
"Well, let's see some more then!"