Hey everyone!
Well, here it is! Chapter 13. Lan has gotten Amnesia, and it is up to his family and friends to help him regain the memories that he has lost. This isn't going to be easy, especially for Megaman!
So, without further delay, here is Chapter 13!
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Chapter 13 – The New Lan
Lan sat on a table-chair, one of the many that doctors use in their examination rooms. He didn't know exactly was it was, but from the angle of the back part, as it was at about a 30 degree angle, he could guess that it folded flat. A layer of thin, white paper was placed on it from one edge to the other, both ends of the paper tucked into small slots to keep it from shifting while a patient sat or laid on it.
The lighting in the room was rather bright. There were multiple rows of florescent lights on the ceiling, all of which were turned on and shining brightly. Lan wasn't sure if his eyes could take the strain from the light the bulbs were giving off. Thankfully, the paint on the walls of the examination room was rather dark. So, to Lan's luck, it absorbed a lot of the light that was coming from the bulbs overhead.
He looked around the room in confusion. The room he was in did not seem familiar to him in any sense, and it was starting to make him uneasy. Actually, everything from when he was taken out of another room and moved into this one was all stuff he didn't remember. He was told by some of the doctors and nurses that he was in the hospital. So, he knew that much, and, oddly enough, he trusted their word. He knew what a hospital was for, however, he did not feel sick. Aside from his head aching beyond words, he didn't think that he needed to be here, wherever "here" was.
The door to the room slowly opened as a tall man wearing a long white coat walked in. Lan's attention immediately focused in on the new being entering the enclosed space. He was able to spot that the man had a dress shirt and dress pants on under the white coat. He wasn't entirely sure, but he guessed in his mind that he was a doctor of some kind.
"Hello, Lan. How are you feeling today?"
"Ummm...hi..."
The doctor looked at the boy sitting on the table-chair. He could see in Lan's eyes that the boy was very uneasy about his surroundings. After such a sharp blow to the head, the doctor wasn't going to disregard the possibility that Lan might extremely disorientated, but he needed to make sure he was 100 percent certain that he knew what Lan's condition was before he made any conclusions.
"So, how are you feeling today?"
"I'm...feeling ok, I guess. My head hurts a lot, though."
"Well, that's to be expected. Before you came here, you took a really sharp blow to the head."
"I did? I...don't remember..."
The doctor gave Lan a bit of a stare, then picked up a clipboard that had some paper on it, grabbing a pen in the process, and then started to write stuff down. Lan wasn't sure what the doctor was writing. In truth, the boy wanted to know exactly what the doctor was writing down. If it was something that had to do with him, Lan wanted to be the first to know.
"Tell me something, Lan. What do you remember before you were brought in here?"
"Well, I...I don't remember much."
"Can you tell me what you do remember?"
"I remember...someone else was there when I opened my eyes."
"Do you remember what this person looked like?"
"He had these really green eyes, almost like emeralds. And he was...crying."
The doctor continued to jot down whatever he was writing on the piece of paper attached to the clipboard. Lan had leaned his head back in the a thoughtful manner, trying to remember what he could after he woke up. He did remember Megaman being there when he opened his eyes, but he didn't know who Megaman was. All we could recall was the fact that the person right there by his bed had emerald green eyes, and he was crying.
Lan tilted his head back down, looking at the physician across from him. The doctor was periodically looking up from his clipboard at Lan, then went back to writing whatever it was he was writing. The doctor could only be thankful that Lan was still responding to his name. He was still aware of who he was, which was always a good sign.
"Am I...sick...or something?"
"Well, that is what we are trying to figure out right now."
"But...I don't feel sick. My head just hurts a lot."
"I know, Lan. However, not every sickness can be felt. So, we have to check to see if you are sick and can't feel that you are."
"...ok"
The older man started to feel sorry for Lan. The boy had no idea who his family was, who his friends were, or anything of that nature. All he knew was his name and that was it. His current state showed him as being extremely uneasy, as everything around was still unfamiliar. He could even see Lan's hands shaking every now and then. The doctor knew that it wasn't cold enough in the room to make him shiver the way he was. He could only conclude that Lan was frightened or nervous about the situation.
The next few minutes passed by quickly, as there was little to no talking between the two in the room. The doctor did various examinations on Lan, such as blood pressure, mouth check, ear check, ocular check, and several others that were considered routine. Each time, Lan would start to flinch a little bit. The doctor took note of this, and explained what each exam did, hoping that his explanations would help to put the boy's uneasiness to rest. It worked, for the most part. Since he was still unfamiliar with it all, Lan was still worried about everything that the doctor was doing to him.
"Alright. That just about does it." The Doctor wrote down a few more things on his clipboard, looking at Lan with a smile. However, the smile was only something to put the boy into a false sense of security. The truth was that the older man knew what was wrong with Lan, and nothing that the hospital or prescription drugs offered with help him with what was wrong. He knew from the talks he had with Lan.
The boy was suffering from a case of Amnesia.
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The waiting room was nearly full. Almost everyone that Lan knew was in there, waiting...waiting for the doctor to come and, hopefully, give them good news. Aside from a few people that were in the same waiting room for other people, everyone else there was waiting for Lan to emerge from the other side of the doors. He was being examined by his primary physician, and was expected to be released today...3 additional days since he woke up.
His parents were the most notably worried, however, Dex, Maylu, Yai, Dingo and Tory were right up there, as well. Miyu, Sal, and Maysa were also present and accounted for, all in their non-Net Agent clothing. Ms. Mari had gotten word from Lan's friends that he was awake, rushing down the hospital, picking up the children in the process. However, the most surprising of people to show was up Chaud. Additionally, of all the people to call him about it, it had to be Yai that called him up regarding Lan's status.
And, naturally, Megaman was there, as well. He sat in a chair, which was much more comfortable than the chair he was in during Lan's extended recovery. It had much more cushioning on it, giving off such comfort that he didn't want to move from his spot, which he didn't. He was too busy staring down at his lap, knowing full well what had happened a few days earlier. Lan woke up, but didn't remember a thing. While Megaman was sure that the doctors knew what was going on by now, he didn't tell anyone that he already knew what was happening. He already knew that Lan had Amnesia.
It was only a matter of time before the doctor came out and gave everyone else the bad news.
Which, unfortunately, happened all too soon for Megaman. As he was still deep in thought, Lan's primary physician came out from the doorway leading to small examination rooms. Lan had been moved from the Extended Recovery rooms to another floor in the hospital used for regular recovery.
Lan's parents were the first to speak when the doctor came out.
"Is Lan alright? Will he be ok?"
"What happened to my little boy?"
Lan's friends wanted to say something as well, but with the current emotional state which his parents were in, this was the time that they needed to speak to the doctor the most. Everyone else could wait their turn, or even just be present for emotional support for the middle-aged parents.
"Well," the doctor began. "I am going to be straightforward with you. The hit on the head that Lan sustained caused some most undesirable effects. Aside from a moderate concussion, the blow to his head also has caused Lan to go into a state of forgetfulness. In other words..."
"Amnesia." Dr. Hikari interrupted the physician, finishing off the other man's statement. A look of dread washed over Mrs. Hikari, as well as the rest of the people in the room. This wasn't good. No, this wasn't good at all. How was Lan suppose to do anything when he couldn't even remember who his friend's were? How was Lan suppose to perform his duties as a NetSaver if he didn't know who the criminals were? How was Lan suppose to be able to NetBattle if he couldn't even remember basic Navi operation?
The physician continued. "Unfortunately, yes. He has come down with a moderate to severe case of Amnesia." The doctor's words finally solidified any unspoken and unexpressed worry, fear, dread, and, to say the least, fright. Mrs. Hikari was ready to burst into tears once everything that was said finally sank in. Everyone else in the room was just in plain shock with the news that was just told to them.
"Is there anything that can be done? Is there a treatment plan that exists?" Chaud's question grabbed the attention of the physician.
"I was just about to address that, as well," the man said, not changing the look on his face. "The problem with Amnesia is that it cannot be treated with drugs, surgery, or a change in the patient's lifestyle. While there are drugs to cause Amnesia for short period of time, like when a patient goes into surgery, there is nothing that will help to get the patient's memory back faster."
Dr. Hikari spoke up when he figured that the physician was done. "So, in other words, it is like a hangover. Time is the only cure for it." Several of the children look at Lan's father, hoping that he was right. The physician simply nodded his head, thereby showing that the other man was correct in his assumption.
"That's correct. There is no drug or treatment that the medical industry can offer Lan that will assist in the recovery of his memories. Amnesia is something that has to run it's course completely before it will dissipate," the physician said, looking around the waiting room. He saw several nods from the group, showing that they understood what he was talking about. 'That should make things easier.'
Unable to just stand around and listen to everyone else, Maylu finally spoke up. "Is there anything that we can do that will help Lan?"
The older man smiled down at the girl. "Yes, there is. Research has discovered that Amnesia patients can recover almost all of their lost memories if their surroundings are not changed. In other words, when Lan leaves the hospital today, everyone here should try their best to make sure he gets back into his regular lifestyle."
He got several more nods from the people in the room as he continued on. "Surrounding him with familiar people, places, and objects, is the best way that you can help him during this time. However, I will have to caution and warn you..." The physician stopped in the middle of his sentence, as though he didn't want to finish it. Everyone in the waiting room stared as him, waiting for what he was about to warn them about.
"Amnesia isn't just physical, but it is also psychological in some aspects. Should Lan experience a traumatic event while he still has Amnesia, such as another accident, a hostage situation, or even the death of someone close to him, he could regain all of his memories back in only a few seconds."
A few eyes in the room shimmered with some hope, even though they did know what such a drastic event would mean for the boy. Megaman's attention was still focused on the physician, but his mind wander on whether or not Lan would ever remember that they were the best of friends, the best NetSaver team around...the best to love the other. The Navi couldn't shake the feeling that Lan would never remember the talks they had, the adventures they went on, or the nights they shared.
"That doesn't sound like such a bad thing, except for it being a traumatic event." Ms. Mari finally decided to speak up, after standing idle for longer than she had wanted.
"It's actually a double-edged sword," the physician began. "While he can overcome his Amnesia in such a very short time, the psychological effects of such an emergence of memories could cause him to enter into a state of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder...which may never go away. He would have to live with it for the rest of his life."
Somber feelings could be seen in the faces and eyes of everyone in the room. It would have been such a blessing for Lan to get his memories back so quickly, but the consequences of such a blessing seemed to outweigh it's merit. It certainly was not an option to put Lan through some type of traumatic event, even if it was fake, to get him to be cure of his Amnesia.
The physician smiled reassuringly at everyone in the room. "But, we shouldn't think about that. As long as he gets back into his normal routine, he should get back almost everything he lost. Time will only tell."
Mrs. and Dr. Hikari looked at one another, then to everyone else in the waiting room, then finally at the physician. They simply nodded their heads in understanding.
Seeing that everyone in the room was on the same page, the physician left them and went to get Lan from the Exam Room. He walked through the double-doors that went to the interior of the building, then down another hallway which lead to the out-patient exam rooms. Like most hospitals, the hallways were well-lit with white light, as well as white paint along the walls, and even ceiling.
It was a rather short walk, as the physician finally arrived at the exam room he was just in only 15 minutes ago. He opened the door to see that Lan was still inside, still sitting on the table-chair in the middle of the room. He seemed to be staring off into space, perhaps thinking about what was going to happen to him once he was released from the exam room, not to mention the hospital itself.
"Lan. Would you please follow me?" The physician's words tore Lan out of his thoughts, causing him to look around and pinpoint exactly where the sound came from. It only took him a few seconds before he realized that his physician had returned to the room. The boy didn't even realize that the older man had even walked into the room. He was completely absorbed in his thoughts.
"Oh...sure."
"Alright, then. This way, please."
"Where are we going?"
"We are going to the Waiting Room, where you will be signed out of the hospital, and be taken home by your family and friends."
"Family and friends?"
The two left the room and walked down the hallway. The physician truly felt sorry for Lan. To be so young and come down with an almost life-changing condition like Amnesia...it was a sad sight to see.
"Of course. Everyone has family and friends. They are the people who care about us."
"I...I...I don't remember who mine are."
"Don't worry, Lan. In due time, we hope that will change."
Lan simply nodded his head a little bit as the two approached the doors to the Waiting Room. The physician slowly opened one of the doors for himself to fit through, then proceeded to open the other one for Lan to go through. The sound of the doors opening made everyone in the Waiting Room stand up and look in the direction of the doors. Initially, they only saw the physician emerge from behind the doors, which caused a few of Lan's friends to worry that he was still back in the Exam Room. However, only a second later, Lan came from the other door, guided by the physician.
Everyone had a joyful expression on their face. However, it was Mrs. Hikari who was the first to do anything besides stare at Lan has he walked into the room.
"Oh, Lan! How are you feeling?" Just like any other mother, Mrs. Hikari's first instinct was to run up to her son and give him a hug after such an ordeal. And, naturally, it was exactly what she tried to do. She moved quickly to her son, only to be greeted by a look of shock and even a little bit of fear. She saw this, and slowed in her approach until she was only standing in front of the boy.
"You...you don't remember, do you?"
"N...no. I don't remember you."
Mrs. Hikari let out a silent sigh, regained what composer she had lost, and smiled at her son. "Well, I guess that's to be expected. But, I'm sure you will remember soon." Her hopes in making such a comment was to ease the confusion she could see in Lan's face. The way his eyes gingerly shook and the expression on his face let Mrs. Hikari know exactly what her son was feeling at that moment.
Behind her, almost everyone else was ready to try and help Lan on his road to recovery. However, Dr. Hikari noticed that something was out of place. He knew in his mind that Lan needed to be eased back into his normal lifestyle, but something in his immediate surroundings was setting off alarms in his mind. 'Something is out of place. What could it be?' His turned to head to the left and noticed exactly what his mind was telling him: Megaman was still in the human world; outside his PET.
Taking Lan's current distraction into account, he concluded that if Lan's recovery were to go smoothly, Megaman couldn't be in the human world, lest Lan get the wrong impression about NetNavis.
Making sure that he spoke as softly as he could, Dr. Hikari turned his attention to the Navi standing beside him. "Megaman. You should probably go back to your PET."
"I can't be here?"
"Exactly. We need to make sure Lan's recovery is smooth. While I hate to say it, you being here in the human world won't be the best thing to help that along."
"Why not? I was...am part of his normal lifestyle."
"That may be true, but he may get the wrong impression of NetNavis if one is in the human world while he recovers."
"Oh...I see."
"As his recovery goes further and further along, we can include you back in the human world. But, until then, you should probably stay in your PET."
"Yeah. It's probably for the best."
Wasting no more time in talking, Megaman noticed that Lan was still distracted, then used the NetLine to get back to the PET which was held by Dr. Hikari next to him. However, something wasn't right with it. Right before his pixilated and went back into the PET, Megaman noticed that it took more effort than usual to complete the transition.
'No. I can't worry about that now. Lan needs everyone to help him. I can't worry about me and him.' Shrugging off the transition delay as being caused by stress, Megaman sat quietly inside the PET Cyberworld and waited to be handed off to Lan.
Megaman could hear everything that was going on outside of his PET. He could tell that everyone was still in shock over the news the doctor had given them, but they were all trying to do their part to the best of their ability. He could hear comments from Maylu, Yai, Dex, Tory, and Chaud, as well as Maysa and Sal. He didn't, however, hear a single word that sound like it came from Miyu. He could only assume that she was keeping quiet, like she normally did unless it was necessary for her to speak.
All of the other talking seemed to be nothing more than everyone introducing themselves to Lan. While listening to the boy's voice, Megaman could tell that Lan was a little overwhelmed by everything coming at him at once. He was actually surprised that the physician did not say anything about what was going on. Personally, Megaman thought that everyone introducing themselves this quickly was something that would have caused more harm than healing to Lan at this point in time.
Suddenly, Megaman's curiosity peaked when he heard Dr. Hikari taking to Lan, amongst other things that he heard.
"I know this is probably a lot for you to take in right now, Lan. However, there is one more person that you need to meet."
"Really? But...there's no one else in the room."
"Not in visual sight. However, he is right here."
"What is that?"
"It's called a PET, short for Personal Terminal. Inside most PETs is a program called a NetNavi."
"NetNavi?"
"It's an artificial intelligence program, designed to provide assistance to NetOps, who are people that operate a PET."
Dr. Hikari lifted the device so that it was at eye-level with Lan. The boy looked over the device, somewhat dumbfounded that something so small had a program that he could talk with. Even though he has amnesia, he still remembered the basics of what an artificial intelligence program was.
"So...inside the PET is a NetNavi?"
"That's correct, Lan. Inside this specific PET is your NetNavi."
"My NetNavi? I have one of them?"
"Of course. I programmed him myself and you got him as a gift for getting into the 5th grade."
"Will I...meet my NetNavi soon?"
"Of course."
Dr. Hikari looked down at the device, making sure that his voice was directed at the PET so that Megaman knew he was being addressed by the older man. "Alright. You can introduce yourself to him, now."
Megaman prepared to be re-introduced to his NetOp. He stood up and planted his feet firmly on the ground of the PET's Cyberworld. He knew that he couldn't put a smile on his face out of joy or happiness. He was too overcome with grief and sadness to even try to change his mood. So, Megaman resorted to the next best thing that he could do at a time like this, the only thing that his mind was able to do; feign a smile.
In front of the Navi, who had been waiting for a few moments, appeared a small screen. On the screen was the face of Lan, who was looking right at the PET monitor, still with a dumbfounded look on his face.
"Are...you my NetNavi?"
"I am. My name is Megaman."
"Megaman?"
"You bet, the one and only. And, like your father said, he programmed me himself."
"Yeah, he told me. He sure is really smart."
"Ha-ha. That's for sure."
Everyone was surprised and happy to see what happened next. Lan, who was completely unaware of everything that has happened to him, smiled and let out a small chuckle. Megaman and Lan looked at each other, exchanging their smiles and small laughs. The boy kept looking down at the device and the face on the screen. Lan couldn't shake the feeling that Megaman wasn't just his NetNavi. He had a feeling that Megaman was something more...like his best friend or something to that effect. 'My very own NetNavi...programmed by my dad. I guess he's someone important.'
The introductions continued as Lan was then introduced to the rest of the people present, which happened to be everyone else's NetNavis. Maylu introduced Roll, Dex did the same for Gutsman, as well as Yai and Tory for Glide and Iceman. "Maysa" didn't have a NetNavi, but Commander Beef did. However, being a Net Agent, he couldn't show Lan, or anyone else for that matter, that he was Sharkman's NetOp. However, Miyu and Sal were still able to let Lan meet Skullman and Woodman. Finally, Chaud took a few moments to show Protoman to Lan.
Dr. Hikari soon put his hand on Lan's shoulder. "I know this has been a lot for you to take in. But, we are done for the day. We should get you home so you can eat and rest." The boy looked at the older man whose hand was still on his shoulder. He wasn't sure if should smile or just nod his head. However, Dr. Hikari saw what Lan's eyes were saying and simply smiled.
Dr. Hikari turned to everyone who was present in the room. "Thank you for coming, everyone. We'll make sure Lan is taken care of." Everyone else in the room, save for Lan, Dr. and Mrs. Hikari, all nodded their heads as the family of three walked to out of the waiting room, down a wide, but short hallway, and into an alcove where the elevators were located. Dr. Hikari had already signed Lan out of the hospital while the physician was bringing the boy to the Waiting Room. No was going to object to them leaving. It was a stressful day for everyone, especially Lan. So, taking him home right away so he can eat and get some rest was probably the best thing that could be done.
The elevator moved down the shaft, heading for the parking garage, where Dr. Hikari requested a SciLab van to pick him and his family up. The doors opened to a view of solid concrete all around, for as far as the opposite wall on the other side of the lot. Many of the parking spots were vacant, notably the ones that were visitor parking only. Spots that were close to the elevators had signs posted by them, half were blue, while the other half were white. Lan peered at them all, discovering that the blue spots were handicap parking, while the white signs indicated reserved spots for top hospital staff, such as Chief of Surgery, Chief Resident, and the like.
"There it is. Right on time, actually." Dr. Hikari's words redirected the attention of Mrs. Hikari and Lan to the van pulling into the parking garage, which then came to a slow and calm stop in front of the trio.
"Alright. Everyone in."
"Is this our van?"
"Ha-ha. No, Lan. This van belongs to SciLab."
"SciLab?"
"That's short of Science Laboratories. It's where I do all of my work."
"You're a scientist? I guess that explains why you are so smart."
"Ha-ha. Actually, I get that from my father. But, we can talk more about that at home."
"Ok..."
Lan still wasn't sure about everything going on around him. He wasn't sure where he lived. He wasn't sure what town or city he was in. He wasn't sure what school he want to. He wasn't sure if these people were really his family. He couldn't remember a damn thing. All he knew was that he might get some answers at wherever this van was going to take him.
So, even with his doubts in mind, Lan nodded his head and climbed into the van. He was followed closely by is mother and then his father, who gave the driver the signal to proceed out of the parking garage.
Once everyone was in a seat and had their seat belts on, the driver shifted back into Drive and starting to move towards the exit of the garage. The van moved at a slow rate, as the speed limit within the parking garage was low, probably around 25kph. Lan could tell that the exit was in the same direction as the entrance, since the van took a few turns while on it's way. He saw several parked cars go by while looking out the window of his seat, trying to sort out everything that had happened so far that day, as well as envisioning what was still to come.
The van finally left the parking garage and was now on a city road. Lan continued to look out of his his window, now staring at the pedestrians on the sidewalk. He looked around, noticing that there was no sunlight on the ground, no shadows. However, there was no water on the ground, which meant that it hasn't rained. He looked up at the sky and saw a thick cover of gray clouds, creating an overcast-type of look.
"Hey, Lan. Are you ok," Megaman called from the PET. He seemed to have noticed that Lan was becoming distracted by what he was seeing outside. The boy looked around for the source of the statement, but to no avail. However, afterwards, he realized that it was Megaman who was speaking to him, and he lifted the PET to look at the monitor.
"Megaman...Yeah. I'm fine."
"You seemed to be a little distracted. Are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine. I'm just...just trying to make sense of this all."
Megaman wasn't sure on how he should respond to that. While he would be there for Lan when the boy needed him, there would be times when he would be of no use to Lan. Perhaps that was one of those moments. Perhaps this was one of those times that Lan needed to think about something on his own. Or, maybe it was something that he needed to help Lan with. Regrettably, even if this was one of those times when he needed to help Lan, he didn't know how.
Instead, he simply nodded his head in agreement with Lan, who then lowed the device back to his lap and continued to look out the window, watching more pedestrians and now, some vehicles, go by. 'This is a big city. Do I really live here?' As more and more people and cars passed by his window, Lan looked on at the shear amount of buildings that were in his sight. It was an absolutely stunning sight to behold. The boy briefly pulled his eyes away from the window, looking down at the device in his hand.
'Megaman...guess I have a lot to look forward to.'
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"Here we are. Home sweet home," Mrs. Hikari exclaimed as her, Lan, and Dr. Hikari exited the SciLab van.
Lan looked at the house that was now within his eyesight. It was, to his eyes, one of the most unique houses he had ever seen. Comparing the house in front of him to the neighboring houses, he could tell right away that it was most likely a one-of-a-kind design. The painting on the house was especially unique. The siding was colored in white, while the trimming was a mildly dark blue. At the top-center of the house was a half-circle piece that was colored orange. He had to admit to himself that all of the colors did blend together quite well.
Mrs. Hikari was the first to get to the front door of the house, most likely because she had a key. Even though Lan did not know it, his father was very forgetful when it came to where he put things. And, it just so happened that today he had forgotten his house key, well, inside the house.
The front door was opened as Mrs. Hikari stepped inside, followed closely by Dr. Hikari and then Lan. 'Wow. This is a nice place,' Lan thought as he walked threw the front door. The décor was mostly modern for the time. He looked into the Living room to see a corner sectional with a rectangular coffee table in the middle. The TV was situated in front of and parallel to the part of the sectional against the back wall of the room.
Lan's eyes explored the house even further as he peered into the kitchen. He took notice that there was one entryway into the kitchen, aside from the back door. Between the Living room and kitchen was an open wall where a small breakfast bar was. Inside the kitchen, Lan noticed that the appliances were all updated, from the microwave to the dishwasher and even the trash compacter. He could also see a small island in the middle of the kitchen.
"Well, Lan. Welcome home." Dr. Hikari's voice brought Lan's attention to the older man standing behind him. He had a smile on his face, most likely trying to reassure the boy that this was his home, and that the two people with him in the house were his family.
"T..thanks. I guess it's good to be home."
"He-he. It always is."
Dr. Hikari appeared to be walking into the kitchen when he suddenly turned to face Lan once again. "Oh, I almost forgot. I wanted to show you something before we ate dinner." The older man turned around and went to a small nightstand by the staircase. He grabbed a rectangular-shaped object from the nightstand and proceeded to move in Lan's direction. By now, Lan wasn't as timid as he was when he first met everyone for the second time in his life earlier that day. He knew by now that everyone was polite and had a deep level of care for him.
Lan looked on as Dr. Hikari gave him the object. The older man simply smiled, not giving an explanation as to why he had just given the object to the boy, and then went into the kitchen. Lan looked down at it, discovering that it was a photograph of him, Mrs. Hikari, and Dr. Hikari. Any doubts that Lan had about the older couple being his family vanished from him mind. 'So...this is my family. We all look so happy.'
The boy was so caught up in his thoughts that, at first, he didn't realize that Megaman was trying to get his attention. "Hey, Lan." He finally snapped out of his trace, took the PET out of his pocket, and looked at the device, noticed that Megaman's image on the screen.
"You look a little sad, Lan. Everything ok?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Just looking at a few things."
There was a brief moment of silence between the two before Lan spoke once again. "Hey, Megaman. Were...we a happy family?"
"Lan?"
"I mean...did we ever fight with each other?"
"Well...you and I have had our share of conflict, but it was always resolved."
"What about my parents and me?"
"Not that I can remember. Everything around here was always peaceful."
Lan kept staring at the screen of the PET, looking directly into Megaman's emerald green eyes. The Navi shifted slightly, not sure why he was getting such a look from Lan. It was as if the boy was trying to see threw him, like there was something inside the Navi that Lan needed to see. All Megaman could do was stare back, noting what facial expressions Lan would display on his face from time to time.
However, the staring would not last long. Lan pocketed the PET and continued to look at the picture. 'A peaceful life...' He couldn't finish his statement. He wanted to say that it was something that he remembered, but...he couldn't. He couldn't remember anything, and whether he cared to admit it or not, it bugged him to no end.
Megaman look out of the PET's monitor, seeing nothing but darkness now that the device was inside Lan's pocket. It was a sight that he was use to. Before the Link PET was created, every time that Lan wasn't using the device, it was slipped into either his pocket or a holster designed for the PET, both of which covered up the video input camera. However, with the Link PET, the hologram projector made it easy to always see what your NetOp was doing.
Needless to say, Megaman was not really happy that he was just stuffed into the pocket of Lan's shorts. He wasn't angry, but he wasn't happy. He was feeling, more or less, disappointed. After everything that had happened over the past 2 weeks, seeing Lan actually functional and moving about was something that he was looking forward to. Needless to say, being stuffed in the pocket of the boy's shorts wasn't sitting well with him.
"Hey, Megaman..." Lan reached back into his pocket and pulled the PET out once again. "I'm just wondering...where is my bedroom?" He looked at the screen of the device to find that Megaman was not on it.
"Megaman? Megaman? Are you there?"
"I'm right here, Lan."
"Where? I don't see you."
Lan looked around and peered at different parts of the PET. It wasn't until he started looking at his surroundings did he finally discover where Megaman had went. He looked to his right and scanned the Living Room. He then turned himself even further and looked behind him, hoping that the sound was coming from the front door. However, his search was to no avail. Finally, he looked to his left and at his shoulder...only to discover a transparent Megaman standing on his shoulder.
"Megaman! How did you get there?"
"Wait, Lan! Don't overreact. I can explain!"
Dr. Hikari heard their elevated voices and turned around to face the Living Room. His first thought was that Megaman had accidentally used the M-Program and got back into the human world. That would have caused such a setback in Lan's recovery at this point in time. Luckily, Dr. Hikari looked and saw that Megaman was only being projected as a hologram via the Holographic Projector on the PET.
"You can explain how you got out of the PET?"
"That's the thing. I'm not. I am just projecting myself using the PET's Holographic Projector."
"Holographic Projector?"
"It's a device on the PET that allows NetNavi to appear as translucent holograms," Dr. Hikari interjected. Both Lan and Megaman looked at the scientist who had already approached them from the kitchen.
"You mean...Megaman can get outside the PET?"
"Ha-ha. Not exactly. His program is still inside the PET, but the Holographic Projector allows him to interact with others."
"What is a hologram, anyway?"
"A hologram is a projected image, either 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional, that carries traits similar to real objects. For example: A holographic NetNavi can speak, and the sound will come from the hologram, not the PET."
"But, if it is just an image, how does it make sound?"
"It's a bit difficult to explain. But, I'll try my best. When the NetNavi talks, a signal is sent through the projected image, which then produces sound waves equivalent to what the NetNavi is saying."
Lan gave off a perplexed look. Even before he came down with Amnesia, something like this was completely new to him. He never looked at the technological aspect of how a PET worked. All he was how to turn it on, operate it, and what it's basic features where and how to use them. He never took the time to understand HOW they work. He just wanted to know IF they worked.
Dr. Hikari saw the look Lan was giving, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't think too much about it, Lan. It can be difficult to explain, and even more difficult to understand." Lan simply nodded his head and looked at Megaman's hologram. The Navi looked back at him and smiled. Megaman hoped that Lan understood enough so that nothing like this happened in the future. Even if he couldn't see Lan face to face in the human world, he at least wanted to see Lan as a hologram.
"Dinner's ready. Come and eat, you two."
Dr. Hikari and Lan heard the call from Mrs. Hikari and made their way to the dinner table. The older woman had prepared a meal with all of Lan's favorites...at least, food that he had liked beforehand. When she was making the food that morning, she wasn't sure what to expect. It wasn't until they got to the hospital that her and her husband were told that Lan had Amnesia. Now, with everything that she had prepared, Mrs. Hikari wasn't sure Lan would even like all of his old favorites.
Nonetheless, she took a seat at the table across from Dr. Hikari, with Lan sitting at a middle section. Megaman looked on from his holographic body, and wished so badly to be at the same table. Since he had experienced food in the human world, most of Lan's favorite foods were now Megaman's favorites, as well. The only thing the Navi liked more than Lan was the homemade salad Mrs. Hikari normally put together for whatever meal they were having on any given day.
Lan's eyes scanned the variety of food that had been placed on the table. The aroma of the foods filled his nostrils with heavenly smells. It didn't take long for the boy to stick his nose out even more, almost completely over the food, just to get a better sniff. It seemed to have been the greatest thing he had ever smelled, as he soon cracked a small smile while inhaling deeply.
"Feel free to eat something, Lan. I cooked as many of your favorites as possible."
"Thanks, mom. It smells really good."
Megaman's attention was perked when he heard Lan address his mother as "mom." To the Navi, that meant that Lan was either feeling comfortable with his surroundings, or he was starting to remember his family already. 'That's definitely a good sign.' Megaman smiled to himself only briefly before seeing Lan start to fill his plate with the meal on the table.
"It looks so good. I can't wait to try it all!"
"I'm glad your excited about it."
Lan took another sniff of the food he had put on his place. "Mmmmm.." Mrs. Hikari smiled at her son, hoping that everything was cooked to the way he liked it, which she also hoped would help him remember why these were his favorite foods.
"Hmmm...what to eat first..."
"Well, you can have some Curry Rice, some of the salad, the chicken, or some of the baked salmon."
"I guess I'll start with the curry. It looks really good."
The Navi heard Lan's words, and smiled even more, but was unable to keep his thoughts to himself. "And, curry happens to be your absolute favorite. You would probably eat it day and night if you were given the chance." Megaman didn't mean to say those words aloud, but it had already happened, and it couldn't be removed. His statement got Lan's attention, who only smiled at the Navi and continued to look down at his food.
"Well, here goes..." Lan took his spoon, scooped up a medium-size portion of the Curry Rice, and stuffed the delicacy into his mouth. Both Dr. and Mrs. Hikari, as well as Megaman, looked on to see Lan's reaction to the meal which he had just eaten. The boy removed the spoon from his mouth, devoid of the edible sustenance. As the three onlookers observed, Lan didn't seem to have any objections to the Curry Rice. 'I guess his love for Curry is something that cannot be forgotten. Hehe.' Megaman laughed to himself. He wasn't able to keep that thought out of his mind.
Until...
It seemed that the unthinkable happened. As Lan's parents started to turn away and concentrate on eating their dinner, it happened. Lan started to make a face, as thought he had just eaten something that wasn't quite as good as he had though. Megaman was the only one to have noticed this, and looked on with an intense look on his face. Megaman knew that look on Lan's face. It was the same look that he made when he first tasted Curry in the human world.
The sensation in the boy's mouth got more intense, far more intense than he thought it was. At first, he thought that the spiciness was something that would go away, or would be mild, at least. However, that turned out to not be the case here. Without further hesitation, Lan grabbed the glass of water in front of him and started to down the clear liquid.
The older couple saw what had happened. They couldn't believe it. Megaman looked on with awe, struck with the exact same feelings that Dr. and Mrs. Hikari were both feeling. It was very apparent to them as to what just happened. It was something that they never thought would happened, not in a million years.
Lan did not like curry.
"Lan, honey. Is everything ok?"
"Woah...that was way too spicy."
"That's the way that Curry is made. You normally like it with a little extra spice."
"I actually like that? It's so spicy."
Megaman wasn't sure to react or respond to Lan's comment. He was still struck with feelings of shock and awe. He had never seen Lan turn down curry, not in the 2 years he had known the boy. This was the first time Megaman had ever seen Lan react the way he just did when he ate curry.
The Navi finally shook off what feelings of awe still lingered around him and spoke. "Yeah. Curry is your favorite food on the entire planet. You went crazy when we visited Namaste last year."
"Namaste? What's that?" Megaman didn't realize until it was too late. He mentioned place Lan didn't remember, and now it was up to him or someone else to inform the boy as to what Namaste was and what it was famous for. Luckily for the Navi, Dr. Hikari stepped in and took over this part of the discussion.
"Namaste is a country that is located southwest of Japan, the country we live in."
"I see. Why would I go crazy in a place like that?"
"Well, Lan. Namaste is famous for being the country where Curry was created. Needless to say, with your extreme liking of the food, Namaste was probably your 'heaven on earth,' so to speak."
"I can tell you right now. It may take some time before I get use to curry again."
Megaman quietly snickered to himself, as he knew how getting use to curry normally went. "Don't worry, Lan. I'm sure you'll rediscover why it is your favorite." The Navi was able to silence his snickering long enough to have gotten that comment out and into the open. Lan looked at the translucent hologram of Megaman. However, it didn't seem like he was just looking at the Navi. Once again, to Megaman, it felt like Lan was trying to stare into him, into his very soul.
But, that feeling soon past as Lan finally cracked a smile.
"I guess you're right. Well, the only way to get use to it is to have some more."
"That's right, Lan. Keep at it, and something good will come of it."
"Thanks, Megaman."
With a smile, Megaman continued to watch everyone eat their dinner.
~~!~~
~~!~~
"Good evening, everyone. This is your news reporter, Ribitta, giving you all the news that you need to know!"
Everyone had finished dinner and went into the living room to watch the evening news. It was yet another interesting sight for Megaman to see; Lan watching the news of his own accord. Normally, he would have gone up to his room to talk with the Navi, maybe do a little NetBattling, or even read some of his favorite comic books. All the while, Megaman would nag at the boy to do his homework, which Lan would creatively ignore the entire time or brush it off. It was like second nature to him.
"Today's top story: Earlier rumors that circulated around the Net may have proven to be true. A tip from an anonymous source may have revealed a new project that is currently in development by the Ministry of Science here in DenTech City."
Dr. Hikari and Megaman's hologram immediately focused all of their attention to the news report that Ribitta was in the middle of. They looked at each other and came to the same conclusion, silently; someone must have told the news station about the M-program. There wasn't anything major that SciLab was working on other than the program.
They continued to listen as Ribitta went on. "According to the source, the project in question is a new program that is suppose to be able to be placed into a NetNavi, and then allow them to pass between the Cyberworld and the human world!" Ribitta's comment solidified Dr. Hikari and Megaman's suspicions. Of the two, Dr. Hikari seemed to be the most visually upset. If Megaman was upset over this news report, he was doing a good job of hiding it.
"How in the world could they have known about it?"
"Maybe someone from the tour said something to someone."
"That can't be it. Honestly, what news station would take a 12 year-old's word on something like this?"
"Hmmm...I guess you have a point."
"SciLab? Hey, dad. Isn't that where you work?"
The discussion between Megaman and Dr. Hikari was cut short when Lan interrupted them with his question. "I do, Lan. SciLab is where I work." The tone of Dr. Hikari's voice was a little coarse, even though he tried his best not to make it sound like it did. Nonetheless, everyone in the room, including Megaman, continued to watch Ribitta's news report.
"The DNN was also sent this voice recording of one of the scientists of SciLab. From what we have gathered and what our voice analysts have concluded, we believe the voice on this recording to be the voice of a Mr. Famous, the NetNavi recovery specialist on staff at SciLab."
"Unlike other programs that create solid holograms, the M-Program doesn't just make the NetNavi into a solid hologram. Rather, it is like the NetNavis is being removed from Cyberspace. Basically, it is re-writing its data to match that of an actual human being. Through the M-Program, a NetNavi is brought out of the Cyberworld and into the Human world…in living flesh and blood."
Megaman and Dr. Hikari simply stared at the TV in awe. They were in total disbelief with what they just heard. There was no way that Famous would have recorded himself and then submitted that recording to the news under an anonymous source. Additionally, even if it was a student from the 6th grade, how were they able to get such a great quality recording if their PET was in their pocket? Surely, the sound would have been muffled since it had to travel through their clothing to get to the PET mic.
Dr. Hikari just continued to stare in disbelief. "How...how could anyone have gotten that? We didn't mind when the rumor was spreading. That is how word gets out. But...hard evidence to support rumors isn't what we wanted released this early." There was an obvious hint of frustration in his voice as he spoke. Megaman and Lan were able to pick up on it. To Lan, apparently, whatever this "M-Program" was, he had already figured out that it was something his father and everyone else that worked at SciLab were trying to keep a secret. For what reason, he did not know.
Mrs. Hikari heard her husband's comment and immediately turned the TV off. It was even obvious to her that he was considerably upset over what just happened. "I guess that's enough TV for one night." She looked over at her husband, who finally seemed to be calming down after what he just saw, and listened to, on the TV.
Mrs. Hikari finally turned to Lan. "Oh. It looks like it's your bedtime, Lan. You should go and get ready."
~~!~~
~~!~~
Lan was upstairs in his bedroom, still a little damp from the shower he had just taken not too long ago. He was still in awe over the whole day. To find out that he had so many friends that cared about him, loving parents, and his own NetNavi, Lan was, for lack of a better phrase, blown away.
The boy took a seat at what he assumed was his desk. It had a computer on it, as well as a small dock for his PET, which he had figured out only a few minutes earlier, placing the device into the dock, causing a small red light to turn on, with the word "charge" written under it. 1 cord came out of the dock and plugged into the back of his computer. Lan was a little confused as to why the cord plugged into the computer. He did remember that something needs to be plugged into a wall socket or power strip to get power, and he was sure that this charge dock was no exception.
"Hey, Megaman. How come there's only one cord for the charger?"
"It acts as both a power cord and network cable."
"Network cable?"
"A network cable is what allows data to travel from one thing to another. It's plugged into your computer so that when the PET is on the charger, I can move from the PET to your computer."
"Does the charger get power from my computer?"
"Your dad set it up so that the charger gets its power from your computer's power supply."
"Oh. I see."
Upon further investigation, Lan discovered that there was a cord that came out of his computer and plugged into the wall. He bent over his desk to get a better look at it. Megaman wasn't sure what the boy was doing and decided to use the holographic projector to get a better look.
The Navi appeared next to Lan's shoulder, which was just about touching the back edge of the wooden desk. "Hey, Lan. What are you looking at?" The boy look over his shoulder to be greeted by the sight of the translucent Navi.
"What is this cord for?"
"That's another network cable. It's plugged into the wall so that your computer can surf the Net. It also let's me leave my PET and go to NetCity, a place for NetNavis to hang out and have fun."
"Does it do anything else?"
Whether Megaman wanted to admit it or not, he was starting to get a little annoyed by all the questions Lan was asking. He felt like he was teaching a 6-year old what the most basic functions of today's technology was. However, Megaman kept reminding himself that Lan wasn't himself and that he had to do everything within his power to help Lan become himself again.
"Yeah. Around the house, your dad put in small monitors. When either your mom or dad need to talk to me, they press a button, and I go to that monitor's computer system."
"Oh. So, it's like an intercom system, but with a NetNavi."
"Exactly. It comes in handy sometimes."
"Like when?"
"Well...sometimes, you never really seem to finish your homework. When they think that you are slacking off, they call me to see what is up. Most of the time, you don't even know I am gone."
"Wait...you're also my babysitter?"
"Ha-ha. I don't think of it like that. I think of it as more of being a concerned friend."
Before Lan could respond, Megaman heard a beeping sound. The Navi recognized that sound as the same one that is made when Dr. or Mrs. Hikari call him. "I'll be right back, Lan. Someone is calling me downstairs." With a quick nod, Megaman left his PET and traveled to the monitor which was located in the kitchen downstairs.
When he appear on it, he was that both of Lan's parents were on the other end of the camera. Dr. Hikari was the first one to speak out of the two. "There you are, Megaman. You're just the person we needed to talk to." Megaman noted that Dr. Hikari's voice was just about his "normal" voice. It wasn't too cheery. It wasn't angry. It wasn't frustrated. Just like in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the older man's voice was "just right."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, not at all. We just need to talk to you about the coming days and what it will mean to Lan."
"I see. What exactly did you have in mind?"
"Well, according to his physician, we need to expose him to familiar surroundings slowly, but gradually. Thankfully, tomorrow is Saturday. We can use it to get Lan together with his friends, so he can become familiar with them once again."
"That sounds a great idea. We can probably get him to go to Yai's house and maybe NetBattle. I'm sure would be love to get back into that."
Dr. Hikari snickered to himself. "It does seem like NetBattling is in Lan's blood. There's no debating that point." Megaman looked at the other man and gave a gentle smile. Considering that he had not had any substantial NetBattles in almost 2 weeks, Megaman was itching for a little action, even if it was just a small sparring session with Dex and Gutsman.
"Going over to Yai's does sound like a good idea to me. I'm sure it won't be long before Lan remembers her." Mrs. Hikari finally said her first statement since Megaman appeared on the monitor. True, Yai's personally wasn't one to be forgotten for too long. Not to mention that she was one of the wealthiest children in DenTech City, next to Chaud, that is.
"We can have Lan be with his friend's tomorrow, but he probably shouldn't stay too long."
"You're probably right, Dr. Hikari. After all, we also need to find out how to get Lan back with the NetPolice."
"That's a good point, Megaman. We can probably do that Sunday, or even Monday. Lan will be back in school by then. Hopefully, being in school will help him, as well."
"Sounds like a plan."
Dr. Hikari looked Megaman straight in his emerald green eyes. The Navi stared back at the older man's chocolate-colored orbs. "Oh, one more thing, Megaman. I know we talked about it at the hospital, but I believe it needs to be addressed again." The Navi heard those words from the man in front of him. It was the moment Megaman had not wanted to be mentioned, but it would inevitably would be, and that was a much more in-depth discussion about Megaman and his usage of the M-Program.
Megaman slowly nodded his head and waited for Dr. Hikari's lecture to begin.
"I know you must want to see Lan a lot right now, being his best friend. However, we still don't want to give him the impression that all NetNavis can travel between the Cyber and human world. We should probably wait for about another week before we start to mention that you, specifically, have such a program that will allow you to move between the worlds."
With a slow nod, Megaman indicated that he understood what the scientist was going with his lecture. "I know this may be a lot of ask of you, but it would probably be best to avoid mentioning it to Lan or using the program until we feel the time is right."
That last comment felt like a stab in the heart for Megaman. He wanted to be with Lan, face-to-face, hand-in-hand, since the boy woke up from his semi-coma. Now, it was evident and inevitable that he would have to wait even longer before he could give Lan something as simple as a handshake, let alone a hug or a kiss.
"I understand. We can't bombard Lan with too much, or else something bad will happen."
"Thank you for understanding, Megaman. I'm sure Lan will be back to his normal self in no time. We just have to do our part."
"We will, Dr. Hikari. Lan will get better. I'm sure of it."
The two parents and Megaman exchanged brief smiles before the Navi returned to his PET upstairs. Immediately wanting to see what Lan was up to, Megaman used the holographic projector on the PET to get a look around Lan's room.
Once his translucent image appeared on top of the PET's monitor, he discovered that Lan had already changed into his pajamas and was lying in his bed. Interested to see if Lan was actually asleep, Megaman's image moved off of the PET and went over to the bed. Luckily for him, the range of the projector was 50 feet. So, even while the device was on Lan's desk, Megaman was able to move around the boy's room when needed.
The sight that Megaman witnessed was a shock to him. Lan was actually laying in bed, asleep. The Navi snickered as quietly as he could to himself, seeing the irony in the situation. He knew that Lan would almost always complain about having to go to bed at a certain time, even the weekends were no exception. However, since his lost his memory...
Megaman's thoughts stop in their tracks. The mere thought of Lan having Amnesia saddened the Navi to no end. In actuality, it not only made him depressed, but it also gave him fear.
He feared that Lan would never truly remember everyone who he met. He feared that Lan would never truly remember his old habits that Megaman had grown fond of, even the bad ones. He feared Lan would never truly remember the friendship that he shared with Dex, Yai, Tory, and Maylu. He feared that Lan would never truly remember the love they both shared with each other, and the wonderful and perilous adventures they both endured.
Seeing no reason to try and wake Lan up, Megaman decided that it was also time for him to retire for the night and go into sleep-mode. The Navi deactivated the holographic projector and appeared back in the PET's Cyberworld. Megaman let out a sigh, having gone through what he would classify as an exhausting and emotional day.
Before going into sleep-mode, a tear slowly rolled down Megaman's left cheek, as he closed his eyes.
~~!~~
~~!~~
*Cries* Lan finally got Amnesia, and he doesn't remember anything that is truly important to him! The good part is that...well...there isn't a good part. :( Nothing good comes from getting Amnesia! How are Megaman and all of Lan's friends going to deal with this new challenge? You'll find out soon enough!
Well, as I said in a review-reply I put in for this story, I have another major announcement to make! So, here it comes!
*Drum roll*
I would like to announce that I am currently working on a storyboard for a SEQUEL to Megaman NT Warrior: Memories! That's right, folks! After I complete this story, I will begin writing another story following the same timeline and chain of events!
ALSO! As a special treat: at the end of Chapter 14 (after author comments and whatnot) I will have a special SNEAK PEAK of the next story for you to read! It will be about 5-6 paragraphs long (or, however long I will have it), so it won't be anything too major (it's only a sneak peak. Lol).
As such, with the addition of another story which falls onto the same timeline as this one, I am also officially announcing the creation of the "Network Evolution" story series! This series will including Megaman NT Warrior: Memories, the upcoming sequel, and any other stories I create that fall into the same timeline.
Finally, the poll is now officially CLOSED! However, a user brought to my attention that others may have wanted another option added to the poll (An option where Megaman has conflicting feelings, not just one or the other). I had realized that such an option was missing a while ago, but there were already 8 votes in, and I didn't want to change anything. However, because this was brought to my attention, the mystery third option will be the "winner" of the poll, but, ultimately, Megaman will "get it on" with Lan.
A new poll should be up soon, and, as always, it will be in my profile. Please make sure you drop a review when you can. All comments are looked over and taken into consideration!