Chapter 7

Meet The King

"You'll never get away with this." Manuela said, "People are going to miss us, they're going to be suspicious-"

"And I've already accounted for that," Regal said cutting her off, "Manuela, would you come in here please?" he asked.

"Man-?" Manuela started to say when she saw herself open the door.

"Yes sir?" Manuela asked as she came and stood by Regal.

"Could you please make sure any suspicions that may arise in the city are taken care of?" Regal asked.

"Yes sir," Manuela replied in answer as she turned and walked away, but before she did Manuela was sure she saw a crimson and deep purple color flash from underneath her green eyes.

"See Miss Secretary I have everything under control," Regal stated as he ran his gloved hand across Manuela's cheek. "Dark Megaman, Protoman, can you please escort our guests to a "safer" area of the building?" Regal asked as the two darkloids appeared.

"Yes master," the two answered as they walked toward the bound group, who decided to get up on their own and follow the two, they did have some dignity left after all.

Dr. Hikari took this time to start to observe his captors and he was surprised to see that besides the crimson eyes how Dark Megaman looked exactly like his son. As he looked a tad deeper he was also intrigued that he didn't see any hate… or resentment. All the while Famous looked around their surroundings noticing that one of them was missing.

"Guys, where's Dr. Javedson?" he asked.

"Chaud where are you taking me?" Terra asked as Chaud continued to hold onto her by her hand and run ahead of her.

"You'll see, just be patient," Chaud replied as he finally came to a stop.

"A bus stop?" Terra asked as she looked at where she was.

"And a bus," Chaud replied as one turned the corner at the top of the street. When he turned to Terra he noticed she had a quizative look on her face. "Trust me you're going to like this." He said trying to reassure her.

"Ok," Terra replied still sounding unconvinced and keeping her eye on him.

"What?" Chaud asked.

"Well I was just wondering – none if this fits with you Chaud, the spontaneity, the vacation, the dyeing of your hair, even if it is henna, and you've been throwing me for a loop since we got here." Terra finally admitted, " I was just wanted to know if this is all for real or if your just trying to teach me a lesson, main one being "don't try to change people"?"

A smirk found its way across Chaud's face as the bus came to a stop in front of them and opened it's doors. "You'll just have to wait and see," he answered as he boarded leaving Terra to follow him.

As she boarded and took her seat Terra looked around the bus slightly surprised that it was practically empty for a summer morning. There were a few people here and there and like good ol' city folk they were keeping to themselves so the bus was pretty quiet. After a while Terra came to the conclusion that she was board, dazed, and confused so she soon found herself listening to the conversation of two nice looking older women who were sitting a couple of rows a head of she and Chaud on the left side of the bus.

"Oh, did you see that? They looked so cute!" one stated.

"Yeah," the other replied, "I remember that, that summer love. I also remember when a relationship like that would be frowned upon. Times sure have changed haven't they?"

"That they have," the first answered, "that they have."

After that the ladies conversation changed and Terra's mind turned away looking for some other type of stimulation. She couldn't help but smile at the irony though, even two complete strangers thought that she and Chaud were a couple. She looked over at Chaud and found that his expression was unreadable. A few seconds later the smooth breaking of the bus stopped her thoughts.

"This is our stop." Chaud stated as he stood up.

"This looks like the business district," Terra said as she leaned over and looked out the window.

"It is, come on," Chaud replied as he stepped out into the isle with Terra behind him. Before Terra stepped off the bus she looked back at the two ladies and found them both smiling at her, she smiled back. Once the bus was gone and out of sight Terra turned her attention back to where she was.

"Ok now that you've got me out here you mind telling me what's so special about the business district that was worth ditching everybody? She asked.

"Why don't you take a look around and see?" Chaud replied.

Terra did what she was told and looked around until her eyes fell on the building that was directly in front of them. "The U.S. branch of Blaze Quest?" Terra asked, "Why are we here?"

"We need to borrow something," Chaud answered as he started to walk toward the back of the building with Terra following.

"You're not worried about getting caught?" Terra asked as she followed Chaud down the side ally until they reached a door and he slid an access card through the lock and the light turned from red to green.

"Not in the least," Chaud replied as the door opened.

"Ninjas?" (as in the motorcycle) Terra asked as she walked into a well-lit garage.

"I though we could use some transportation." Chaud stated.

"We aren't even licensed to drive back home, how are you going to drive here?" Terra asked.

"Pray we don't get caught." Chaud answered.

"Oh..." Terra replied.

"WHOOOHO!" Terra exclaimed as she and Chaud speeded away from the building on one of the sleek red and black bikes with Chaud at he controls and Terra behind.

"What dose Blaze Quest use these for over here anyway?" Terra asked.

"Messengers." Chaud replied.

"So where are we going now?" Terra asked.

"You sure are asking a lot of questions." Chaud replied.

"You're forcing me too." Terra said back.

"Nothing special, just somewhere where we can-" Chaud started to say when he abruptly hit to breaks when a huge explosion of one of the mammoth advertisement screens happened a few blocks away causing the traffic to come to a stand still.

"What was that?" Terra asked.

"One of the screens exploded." Chaud replied as he pointed to the screen that was currently in flames.

"Yeah but what caused it?"

"I don't,- know…" Chaud replied as he trailed off in his answer when the remaining screens suddenly turned to static and a cracking laughter came over them that sounded strangely southern.

"This is The King speaking." The voice stated, "Sorry for the inconvenience but I had a vendetta to repay. And to avoid any further inconvenience I would avoid driving on West Point Ave. and 63rd, good day now." With that the static ended and the screens resumed their display.

"Well that's a first," Terra said, "for the first time in my life I've encountered a polite and considerate villain. What are you doing?" Terra asked when she noticed Chaud was looking down at his PET.

"Checking out the owner of that sign," Chaud replied as he punched something in, "It belongs to a company called "Nashville Records."

"What about that address?"

"Same company," Chaud replied as he revved the engine back up and drove onto the sidewalk and down another street.

"Are you doing what I think your doing?" Terra asked when Chaud made the sudden detour. She didn't know exactly where he was headed but she had a feeling.

"If you mean going and taking down that freak you better believe it." Chaud replied in a serious tone.

"Why?" Terra asked surprised at how fast Chaud had switched over from crazy-normal to his old self in a matter of seconds. "Need I remind you we are on vacation, not to mention we are far from our jurisdiction and the last time I checked big city American police chiefs don't appreciate rouge agents, especially ones from overseas. Besides we can't even battle, we ditched Sky and Emery."

"Have you forgotten about the dematerialization program already?"

"No...but I hoped you had." Terra admitted.

"You wouldn't still be nervous about using the dematerialization program would you?"

"You're telling me that you don't find the fact that your flesh and blood gets converted into lifeless, inanimate, data just a little bit disturbing?" Terra asked in reply. "No offence to our siblings."

"It doesn't really bother me that much," Chaud replied, "and I got the impression that you were staring the get use to the thought of using it."

"Faking it till I make it."

"Well there's no time to get over your fears like the present," Chaud said as he made the final turn and arrived at his destination at Nashville Records. When they arrived all of the buildings advertisement screens and neon lights were all exploding or very near, sending colored sparks down like rain. It wasn't very long before Chaud found a place to jack in with Terra begrudgingly following him.

"If we get stuck in the net it'll be on your head," Terra stated, "and I still think that this is a bad idea."

"Duly noted," Chaud replied as he held his PET toward the sensor activating the dematerialization program and setting it to auto. "Jack in Protoman power up!"

Terra watched as Chaud's body started to break up and phase like a navi that was jumping to another site, she couldn't help but cringe. Once he was gone Terra thought she heard the sound of sirens pretty far away off and turned to the source of the noise. Unable to see anything she pointed with her PET to the sensor and uttered the fateful words, "Jack in Whisper power up!" Terra exclaimed suddering as she felt her body change as well.

"You're late," Chaud stated once Terra's crossfused form uploaded into the system and she dropped through the air landing solidly on her feet next to him.

"Sorry for the inconvenience." Terra replied as she kneeled behind the wall that she and Chaud were currently behind, "What's the situation?"

"Whoever's doing this damage is attacking the primary power system. That's why all the screens are overloading; with all neon and lights in this place the whole building's going to go up before long, and there are people still trapped in here. The doors locked on them and the access codes keep changing so they can't get out."

"Whatever we do we have to do it fast. I heard sirens right after you left."

"This is LA."

"In the year 2032 and in the business district?" Terra asked, "It's not 2007 anymore."

Chaud was about to make a reply when suddenly another voice sounded.

"Bass-shock!" a voice called out when an attack of sonic vibrations ripped through the air, shattering the wall that was shielding Chaud and Terra and sending them flying into the next one.

"I guess it's safe to say that someone has the drop on us." Terra mentioned as she picked herself off the floor. The smoke still thick in the air.

"Bass-shock!" the voice called out again as another sound wave came their way.

"Sonic Boom!" Chaud exclaimed as he raised up his hand as it transformed into a variable sword sending out a second wave pattern which split the one heading for them causing them to strike either side.

"Well it seams as if I have underestimated the two of you." The same voice called out once again as a figure started emerging from the smoke. As the figure came nearer Terra realized that the voice was the same as the one that had spoken over the static. She knew the voice was familiar and kept trying to rack her brain as to where she had heard it before. When she recognized the voice she was totally confused.

"Elvis?" Terra asked as the figure finally came into view.

"Terra, Elvis Presley died 54 years ago." Chaud stated.

"Ugh, you might want to tell him that." Terra replied as she pointed to the figure that was directly in front of them. Fully decked out with a 50's rocker style and thick black gelled hair and a guitar slung over his shoulder was non other than the founding father of Rock & Roll.

"Now that is sad." Chaud commented, "They use to have human Elvis impressionist and now they're making navi?"

"That's "The King" to you, and my op and I are here to to avenge an agrievous wrong that befell my namesake; Bass Shock!" the navi called out as he strummed his guitar sending out another deadly sound wave. The two netbattlers only had a split second to react, taking the opening that they had they streaked out of the way in two different directions causing the attack to harmlessly strike the wall.

"I don't think so, long sword, battle chip in, download!" Chaud called out as he came to a stop behind the navi activating the sword.

"Likewise," The King replied when he turned around as Chaud came toward him. "Wall of sound!" he called when Chaud neared him sending up a wall of sonic vibrations causing Chaud and his sword to stop in their tracks and causing his weapon to bend and snap as if it were a toy. "When will you people ever learn?" The King asked, "Nothing's more powerful than sound."

Terra watched as The King focused all his attention on Chaud leaving her an opening. 'Well almost nothing,' Terra said to herself as she started to come at him. However The King wasn't as focused on her partner as she thought and he saw her coming out of the corner of his eye.

"Wall of sound!" the navi called out again as he held out his other leather-clad hand sending out another sound barrier.

"Not a problem!" Terra exclaimed as she held out her hand, "Laser blast!" she called as her hand transformed sending out the blinding light that sliced right through the forcefield and then striking her opponents guitar disabling it. "Physical Science 101: light's faster than sound." Terra stated as she landed.

"Oh, you're going to pay for that little lady." The King replied as his guitar phased out and he replaced it with a gleaming sword.

"Make me." Terra said back.

"You asked for it," The King replied as he stepped forward, "Sound sword!" he exclaimed as he flew toward her.

"Wide sword battlechip in!" Chaud called out as he stepped in between Terra and the navi, their swords clashing as they met. The harder The King pushed the harder Chaud pushed back. Terra decided to make the most of their deadlock and her freedom by questioning the opponent.

"Why are you doing this?" Terra asked as she stepped out from behind Chaud.

"Revenge," The King replied as he tried to advance his sword but finding that it wouldn't move. "Nashville Records denied Elvis his big break."

"But he make his way to fame anyway, why strike against them now?"

"They ruined him." The King replied, "They poisoned his deals, sabotaged his performances, and drove me over the edge; all out of jelousy. Nashville Records looked like fools after they passed on Elvis, so they figured if they couldn't have him no one would."

"But all these innocent people-"

"Innocent they're not!" Another voice bellowed as a webcam screen appeared displaying a guy that had to be The King's operator. Chaud and Terra couldn't help but cringe, guy was clearly obsessed; he was dressed in impersonator attire and from his surroundings they could see he owned a plethera of Elvis perafinellia. "Nashville Records has always been kept in the family and their descendants are going to pay for that, right King?"

"Yes, sir." The navi replyed as he pushed once again with his sword and this time forced Chaud back. King seemed to respond to his op's anger and he began to glow in an aura that neither Chaud of Terra had witnessed before. It then hit Chaud that he may have gotten Terra and himself in over their heads.

"Whisper I can't hold him off for much longer we need to reverse the overload now!" Chaud exclaimed once he felt himself losing ground.

"Consider it done," Terra replied as she took off in the direction of the main power directory.

"NO!" the impersonator naiv exclaimed once he noticed that his plan might be in jeopardy pushing against Chaud even harder.

"Not going to happen," Chaud said with resolve as he miraculously held his ground.

Terra watched the whole scene from the core system before she pressed her hands against it until they started to sink in and draw off the excess energy. Once the levels were in a safe range Terra picked up the sound of clanking boots. 'Police navis," Terra breathed, "Protoman we have to get out of here, there's going to be a wall of blue here any second."

"You're not netsavers?" The King asked in surprise.

"Not for this country at least," Chaud replied taking advantage of the navi's surprise and pushing him back. "Webbing battlechip in," he called out as he shot out the sticky substance at the ceiling and watched as it dropped down and picked up the rouge navi sending him back up with it. "That ought to hold him." Chaud commented as Terra walked over and conducted a quick scan with her shades.

"That's great," Terra commented in a sarcastic tone emphasizing their tight situation ever more so, "because we need to go."

"And in other news a rouge netnavi was captured today after his attack on Nashville Records earlier this afternoon. Officials are baffled at the discovery of the culprit hanging from the ceiling via a cyber spider-web raving how two young netnavis caused his defeat; his operator was arrested a short time later. An official inquest is being made into the matter as the criminal was detained before any net-agents arrived. Now we go to Chix Mark for our weather."

"What do you know LA has their own Ribbita." Terra commented as she sat on a bench looking at the large plasma screen that was mounted to a marble wall in the middle of the park that she and Chaud were in and currently tuned in to the local news. The anchor girl was wearing a tigress theme like Ribbita's frog and her netnavi was a neko/tiger/humanoid cross.

"Well their inquest won't go anywhere. No one's going to believe he was detained by two netsavers from Japan. Might as well be chasing a ghost." Chaud mentioned. Terra just looked at him as if he were half alien. "And you have to admit that you enjoyed yourself."

Terra thought back to the moment right after she and Chaud had logged out. The rush she felt when they heard the police sirens so close, and the thrill of escape, knowing that you probably did something you weren't suppose to but something that wasn't entirely wrong in it's self. Terra couldn't help but eye Chaud strangely again.

"What?" Chaud asked.

"You're just freaking me out again," Terra replied, "Usually I'm the one asking that question." After a moments pause she continued. "So what were you fixing to tell me when that screen exploded? You started to say "Just somewhere where we can-and then you got cut off."

"Oh, I was just going to say somewhere where we can talk."

"Oh," Terra replied, thinking how those were some of the most scary words in any language because what usually followed were the words 'I love you,' or 'I'm going to war.' "About what?"

"Am I freaking you out again?" Chaud asked in reply to Terra's odd pause.

"Ha, yeah…that would be an understatement, which is why I'm thinking that you're trying to teach me a lesson more every second."

"Well I am," Chaud replied, "Just not the one you're thinking of."

"So what are you teaching me?"

"Have you ever felt like you wanted to be yourself but you couldn't?"

"Vaguely I guess, why?" Terra asked.

"Because that's the way it is with me Terra, I couldn't be normal even if I wanted to, not back at home. The old man, the company, they've already decided what I should be like. And you've had the plan of making me normal ever since you've moved to Dentech, I just thought I should tell you why it always seemed that if you got me to take one step forward why I would take two back."

"Well something must have changed," Terra stated, "You may not be that picture of normalcy you were when we were kids but you've certainly mellowed out in the past few months. You're not that same ice-cold boy I avoided at the N1 Grand Prix. What caused that change?"

"So that's why you didn't say hi?" Chaud asked.

"Yeah," Terra replied, "It's not like you went out of your way to see me, not that you would have had to, I must have at least seen you fifty times."

"I was a little one tracked minded back then."

"You could say that again," Terra replied, "So what's your answer going to be? What turned on the defrost?" Terra asked since it seemed for once that Chaud was open to conversation.

"For a while nothing," Chaud said, "Then I got involved with Lan. At first I hated him, then I guess he grew on me. Anetta though was the one who really started to break the ice though, she was so persistent, a lot like you. But nothing really changed until you came."

"Me?" Terra asked trying to sound surprised.

"Yes you," Chaud replied, "and you can stop your act. When you came back all the memories came back with you. And along with your bold way of repeating it I noticed for once just how much I had changed. Before I hadn't cared, then that changed, especially when I remembered being different."

"And now you're saying you really can't do anything about it?" Terra asked.

"Unless I want I cause the financial collapse of Blaze Quest."

"By being normal?" Terra asked in reply, "and by being normal, I mean normal, you know, in your own version of average. Not crazy normal."

"Think about the things that the average teenager dose these days, do you think that consumers would trust their stock in the hands or a normal teen?"

Terra thought about it for a second. "Come to think of it, no." she replied, "and I honestly want to know, please tell me that your "normalcy" isn't what you've been doing for the past 72 hours."

"It isn't I was just trying to freak you out."

"Ok good," Terra said letting out a breath of relief but then thinking how that in it's self was freaky. "So now what?"

"Well you haven't seen the whole city yet, how about we take a tour?" Chaud asked.

"This has gone too far already, what are we going to do?" Dark Whisper asked. She had just given a press conference by impersonating Manuela reassuring the city that there was nothing wrong after the dismissal of the while Scilab staff roused suspicion. Her eye's warm with genuine care. "Those kids parents are in there. Not to mention Dr. Javedson. There's no telling what Dr. Regal is going to do to him."

"Don't worry, an opening will appear, we just all have to hold on." Dark Protoman replied.

"Hold on? For how long?" Dark Megaman asked. "Regal's not a patient man. He may speed up the process. Plus we have other problems on our hands."

"What?" Dark Protoman asked.

"I think Dr. Hikari knows something, or at least he's suspicious. He was looking at me funny.

"Maybe it's because you look exactly like his son." Dark Whisper offered.

"No, that's not it," Dark Megaman replied, "it was something more. Almost like he could see I wasn't a threat." When he said that the other two navis looked up at him alarmed. "Now you see why I'm worried?"

"He must have been taken somewhere else, who knows where." Cheif Keifer replied as he noticed that the docter was missing as well.

"Dr. Hikari what is it?" Famous asked as he looked over at the scientist. He had started to stare out into space and hadn't returned.

"Something's going on here," Dr. Hikari stated continually thinking about the lack of hate and sense evil in Dark Megaman's eyes. "There wasn't any hate in Dark Megaman's eyes."

"But how could that be possible?" Manuela asked.

"I don't know," Dr. Hikari replied, "but I have the felling we're about to whiteness a revolution."

Dr. Javedson groggly opened his eyes, he was in some darkened room somewhere, when he tried to move he noticed that his hands were tied and he was bound to a chair. The last thing he remembered was Whisper comming into his office saying that Dr. Hikari needed him. He had followed her for a moment when he relized that Whisper was out of town along with her sister, the impersonatior had stopped in her tracks as if she had senced his realization. The last thing he remembered was her turning around and looking into his eyes with her own.

"Good your awake." Came a voice ourt of the darkness, Dr. Javedson recognized it right away as Regal's. "It's time you pay for your crimes."

TBC