Chapter 14

Before The Dawn

Famous and the others all looked around in confusion. The last thing Famous could remember was hearing the bomb go off and the bunker slowly filling up with smoke and starting to black out, but there was no evidence that any of that had happened. What was going on?

"Dr. Hikari?" Famous asked in question.

"I know," Dr. Hikari replied, "I know."

Yuuchiro was just about to say something else when the door to the bunker suddenly opened and an attractive auburn-reddish haired woman was pushed through; once she was in she fell to the ground, Regal smiled as he stood over her.

"I've brought you a new cell mate," he stated, "hope you enjoy her company as much as I have, enjoy it while it lasts." He then closed the door.

"Good grief who has he taken now?" Famous asked as he and Yuuchiro rushed over to help the woman to her feet. Yuuchiro was struck when he saw who it was.

"Catherine?" he asked, his face turning deathly white.

"Yuuchiro?" the woman asked back as she recognized the voice. "What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."

A few seconds passed before the man spoke, "Well truth be told-"

"No," Catherine interrupted, "don't say it."

"Say what?" the doctor asked.

"That everything that man said, the one who took me, its true, he said that I was dead, that he knew Chaud and how he had turned out alright after having to be without a mother for eight years. And that Proto, Emery, has been with him all this time but hadn't told him the truth, until Chaud found out and he was forced to admit it. And my husband…." Catherine trailed off as it all became too much. "Tell me it isn't true."

Yuuchiro looked down at the young woman, "I can't lie to you Catherine." he replied, "What Regal said was true."

Catherine began to tremble as it all sank in, "But why?" she asked, "Why would he bring me here if this really is the future? To torture me? Make me see all the things that I've missed? To show how my world and family's fallen apart?"

"He doesn't want to torture you," Dr. Hikari stated, "he wants to torture Chaud and Emery."

"Chaud…" Catherine said as she uttered the name in a low tome. "how old is he now?" she asked.

"Fourteen," Dr. Hikari replied, "he has his father's features but your heart."

"But why?" Catherine asked, "Why would anyone want to hurt Chaud? His connections?"

Dr. Hikari smiled, "It is his connections but it's not what you think."

"If it's not about the company, what is it them?"

"You'd be so proud of him Cathy, he's a netsaver, one of the youngest in the history of the trade."

"Netsaver? At fourteen? How'd that happen?"

"Your husband," Yuuchiro replied, "But Chaud's not the only one, my son is on his team; so is my niece and Terra Javedson is as well."

"Awful young to be in that kind of danger aren't they?"

"They're the best we have, and they've handled it so far," Dr. Hikari replied, "and as far as danger goes, Lan's been throwing himself in harm's way for the good since he was eleven. The Chief just made it official this year."

"Fourteen," Catherine said in a whisper as she thought about how her children would have changed over the years. "I would give anything to see them."

"You will," Dr. Hikari replied as he looked into the woman's eyes to reassure her, "if anyone can get us out of this it's them. And you don't have to worry about the cancer anymore," Dr. Hikari continued when he saw sadness reenter the woman's face. "Nine months after you passed they found the cure for your form of cancer, you're safe."

Catherine gave a weak smile, "How is this possible?" she asked.

"I'm not sure, "Dr. Hikari replied, "But I'm positive we'll find out soon enough."

"OMG, how did you guys manage this?" Terra asked as she looked at the Blaze Quest jet on the tarmac before her, the group's new allies smiled.

"It wasn't very hard," Dark Protoman replied, "when you look almost identical to the navi of the vice president, people tend to do when you ask."

"That must have been some impression." Whisper stated.

"It wasn't half bad," Dark Protoman replied as he walked ahead opening the door for everyone.

"Chivalry and brains," Terra commented as she walked in, "anymore of this and I'm going to have nightmares."

"Then I just guess your future's going to be one big fright fest." Dark Whisper stated as she came up from behind, "because we're not going anywhere." A few seconds later the pilot entered the cabin just as everyone else walked in.

"Welcome aboard everyone," the young man stated as his eyes rested on Chaud, "we weren't expecting your call until later in the week, homesick already?" he asked.

"Well you know Adam there's always something," Chaud replied, "in any case we need to take off as soon as we can."

"No need to worry about that sir, Adam replied as he began to walk back to the cockpit, "we're next in line to take off, just sit tight and we'll be out of here on no time."

Terra looked around as everyone began to take a seat somewhere taking hers next to Mega, as she got near him she picked up on his concerned air.

"Worried?" she asked as she sat down next to her friend.

Mega sighted, "More than you can imagine," he replied, "its hard enough losing your father twice without losing him a third."

"But that's not all."

Mega smiled, "No," he said as he looked to the far end of the plane catching sight of Roll, "I still don't know what to do about her."

"How about talk to her?" Terra suggested.

"You make it sound so easy."

"Why are you making to so hard?"

"Because…" Mega stated as he slightly trailed off, "It's complicated, this whole situation is just weird, humans dying and being brought back as navis, and then developing feelings for a program. Life isn't black and white anymore; there are millions of shades of gray."

"Well sitting here brooding isn't going to make it go away either." Terra sated as she looked at Roll. She wants to talk to you, you should find out what she wanted to tell you the first time we went up against Regal."

"Scared?" the girl asked when her friend still hadn't moved.

"That should be quite obvious." Mega replied.

"Well then buck up cowboy," Terra said as she nudged her friend in the right direction.

"Fine," Mega said as he got up, "I'll talk to her."

Terra smiled, "That's all I ask," a few moments later Terra could feel the plane begin to move forward and before she knew it they were in the air heading for home.

"So….he's taking the big plunge is he?" came a voice in question, "he must be going out of his mind trying to guess what she must be thinking," it was Dark Megaman. Terra gave the navi a weird look. "What?" the boy said, "a guy can't make pleasant conversation to a contemporary?"

The girl replied with a long blink and a flutter of the eyes, "I think you're trying too hard," she said as the neoloid took a seat beside her as she picked up a magazine from an adjoining table flipping it open. "Wow," she breathed as she turned it to a familiar page, "I guess we really did take a time travel."

"What makes you say that?" Dark Megaman asked.

"Because this is a completely new glossy, but I've seen it before." Terra replied as she handed the newfound ally the commercial booklet, having it open to a certain article.

"Wow," Dark Megaman commented with a slight chuckle, "I had completely no idea that Chaud could dance."

Terra allowed a genuine smile to escape when she took the mag back, "And if I were you I wouldn't say anything about it," she replied, "for your own sake."

Roll looked silently out of the window at the passing clouds as the plane flew through them, it looked so peaceful outside, unlike the feelings that were running through her. Mind and matters didn't improve when she saw Mega's reflection in the glass.

"You ok?" came the blue bombers question.

Roll looked up at the boy, the confusion evident on her face, "Maybe I can answer that question in about a week?" the girl offered.

Mega gave a weak smile, "Sure," he replied as he answered his friend, and sat down next to her. "You know I didn't mean to throw all of this on you right? If there was any other way I could have done it I would have."

"I know that," Roll replied, "but there was no other way you could have, you did it as gently as you could."

"But?" Mega asked.

"But it still doesn't change or take away the confusion. I mean I'm not confused about what happened, that part's clear, but it's everything else…the fact is, I'm not sure how I should take you now." Mega paled slightly at hearing this, "What? Have I said something wrong?" Roll asked.

"No, no," Mega reassured her, "you haven't done anything wrong; it's just that you've touched down on one of my greatest fears. It's actually one of the reasons it took me so long to come to you with the truth once it was out."

"And what's that?"

Mega looked at his friend before he answered, "Fear," he replied, "I was afraid I would be treated differently if the truth were known. Like a freak or an abomination."

A look of alarm came over the pink navi's face, "Why would anyone think that?" she asked.

"Roll," Mega replied, "I'm a kid who died and was brought back as something that most people don't even consider alive. Most people would have a problem with that."

"Well whoever they are they're crazy," Roll replied, "it must have been hard for you."

"What?"

"The change, what you had to go through, the way you had to lie to Lan, it couldn't have been easy."

"It wasn't," Mega replied, "but all that's over, now that you know."

Roll gave a shy smile as she snuggled closer to him, "I appreciate you telling me when you could, you're a great friend, you deserve to have the same."

Mega sighed as he felt overwhelming relief poor through every essence of his existence as he head Roll's words. "You know what?" he said as he looked down at her, "I think I already have."

Dark Megaman smiled at the scene as he watched Mega give Roll a big hug. "Things seem to have resolved themselves well." He commented. "Everything's right again in the world."

Terra looked up from the pad of paper she had been doodling on and smiled too, things did seem to be getting better. At least for now anyway, the gang's situation was far from ideal. As the girl's thoughts began to wonder her eyes soon fell on the navi next to her.

"What?" Dark Megaman asked when he picked up on the girl's gaze.

"I was just thinking, about what you told us," the girl replied, "about what Regal did to you, the erasure program? You don't still have it do you?"

A look of concern came over the navi's face in the flash of a second, "Why do you want to know?" he asked.

"Just wondering," Terra replied, "I mean if it's still there Regal can take you out at any time he wants, and if he does that the rest are going to be screwed, even more then we are already."

The navi hesitated for a bit before he replied. "We didn't want to worry you," he said, "you guys already have too much to worry about."

"You still should have said something."

"Why?" Dark Megaman asked, "What would have been the point in adding to your problems? You have enough to worry about without having to worry about us too."

"Because," Terra said looking into Dark Megaman's eyes with genuine concern, "we need you, and if you really have changed, it wouldn't be fair for you not to be able to experience life on the other side. We can help you. I can help you."

"How?" Dark Megaman asked.

"Easy," Terra replied, "find that code and delete it, since you're a copy of Mega it shouldn't be that hard to find."

"And if it's integrated into our programs?"

"I have a feeling that that's not going to be an issue, somehow I don't see Regal going through all that trouble, you should be safe, I don't think you have anything to worry about-" After that Terra gave a long pause, and after that an embarrassed smile.

"What?" Dark Megaman asked in question.

Terra continued with the same expression on her face, "I want to call you by your name," the girl replied, "but somehow 'Dark Megaman' doesn't seem to fit the bill anymore."

Dark Megaman smiled, "Yeah we've had that problem too, we just started calling each other by our initials."

"Well I think we can do better than that- come on," Terra said as she stood up holding her hand back to the neoloid, "let's clean up some codes."

"You sure this is going to work?" Dark Protoman asked as he, Dark Whisper, and Dark Megaman logged into one of the planes systems along with the originals.

"No," Terra replied as she began pulling up her sister's system information and Dark Whisper's alongside as she began to search for discrepancies, "But we don't have anything to lose by trying and everything to gain if we can fix it. Have you come up with a name yet?"

"No," the neoloid replied, "I never imagined that it would be so hard, it's like giving a teenager free reign on a decision or giving them an option to do whatever they want. They always crave it, but then once they actually have it they don't know what to do with it."

"You mind if I give a suggestion?" Proto asked, as he gave his double a look over, noting the darker colors of his suit, especially the red. Dark Protoman gave him a wary glance; there was an obvious lack of trust. "How about Garnet? It's short easy to remember, and it sounds like a name a navi could have."

"Garnet?" Dark Protoman asked, "Like the stone?"

"I think it suits you," Terra commented, "your armor's about that color. Garnet EXE…" Terra continued as she mused over the name, "and Rhett for short."

"Rhett?" Dark Protoman asked.

Terra smiled, "I'm not going to call you Garnet all the time, it's too much of a mouthful, even if it is a short name, "So what? Object? Other suggestions?"

Dark Protoman thought it over, "I'll take it," he said finally.

"So," Terra asked as she continued to key in several commands, "any other suggestions?"

"How about Amethysts for me?" Dark Whisper asked.

Whisper turned the name over in her mind, "Nooooooo," the girl replied, "the name doesn't fit, it's too long, plus Amethysts to me sounds like a name that depicts something light and airy, you're nothing of the kind. How about Onyx, Onie?"

The neoloid smiled, "that's perfect. I like it."

"Well," Terra said as she turned to look at Dark Megaman, "that only leaves you, what'll it be? What's your pleasure?"

"How about 'Jade'?" Maylu asked, "Since we seem to be on the theme of gemstones?"

"Jade's a girl's name." Whisper commented.

"It can go either way." Maylu replied.

"No," Terra said shaking her head, "no it doesn't, not anymore."

"Well do you have any ideas?" Maylu asked.

"Yeah, actually I do," Terra admitted as she looked at the nameless navi again, "are you any good at decoding?"

Dark Megaman gave a sly smile, "Anything Megaman can do I can do better."

"Can you make out with Roll?" Lan asked, the question causing both Mega and Roll to blush.

Maylu started, "Lan the originals haven't even done that yet."

"It was just a question," Lan replied.

"Yeah..." Terra commented as she dragged out the word, "Anyway, I was thinking of something like Zypher, kind of twist on the word cipher, Mega's always been good at breaking and making codes, and if your just as good...What'd you think?"

"Cryptic and unique..." Dark Megaman said as he mused over the new title, "it's not half bad, I'll take it."

"Good," Terra replied as she keyed in a few more commands, "now, we have at least that out the way."

"Is there anything else that's going to be placed out of the way?" Garnet asked.

"In just a few seconds," Terra replied with a smile as she keyed in a few more commands and then hit the return key, "there, that's it, you're free."

"Seriously?" Onyx said.

"Yep, Regal has no hold over you know, you're free as a bird if I say so myself."

Zypher smiled, "Thanks."

Terra smiled back with one just as big, "You're welcome."

A few hours later the gang found themselves safely back in Dentech City.

"So," Lan asked as he looked down at the glittering town from the airport observation tower, "What do we do now?"

"Right now I'd just enjoy the fact we got back here without another catastrophe occurring." Terra stated as she leaned back again against the railing that was placed in front of the glass.

"Well yeah," Lan agreed as he thought it over, "But you know what I mean."

"In any case now matter what we do, we need to get you two home first- come on" Chaud stated as he directed his speech to Roll and Maylu, "We can't stay here forever." With that everyone filed out of the glass room, Terra last, as she spent a few more seconds gazing on the sparkling city below, hoping that whatever lay before them, that at least this was a good sign.

Regal grinned as he watched the city form the network of monitors set before him, spotting the extended gang leaving the airport. It was time.

"So...how has your life been going lately?" Cathrine asked, her excitement, panic, and confusion had passed and she was much calmer.

"Pretty hectic actually," Dr, Hikari, "But there'll be plenty of time for that later." the doctor continued as he gestured to the other people on the room, "I'd like you to meet my colleague-" however Dr. Hikari never got that far as he was interrupted.

"To bad you won't have any time for it," Dr. Regal stated as he interrupted the scientist. "I'm in need of the young ladies assistance."

"You're not going to take her anywhere," Dr. Hikari replied as he stood in front of the woman.

"Somehow Dr. Hikari I don't think you have any choice in the matter," Regal said back as he suddenly removed a pistol from his back, "unless you want to make your sons fatherless boys ahead of schedule, at least my way you can still have an open casket."

Cathrine started, "Yuuchiro I'll go," the woman said quickly before anyone made another move. "You're children can't lose you, at least mine don't know I'm alive."

"Good choice," Regal stated as Cathrine walked over to him, "although by the end of the day they'll be no end to what they know."

"Are you really sure you guys are ready for this?" the question came from Maylu as she and everyone else stood on the girls porch, they had dropped her and Roll off and were getting ready to face Regal.

"Maybe, maybe not, but we don't have a choice in the matter do we?" Mega said in reply.

"No, I guess not, but we still want you to be safe, promise us you'll be careful."

"We promise," Mega and Lan replied simultaneously with that smile that was all too familiar. In the process Mega's eyes fell to Roll's who's seemed to be chained to his.

Zypher cocked his eyes, "Sure don't worry about the rest of us," he stated. Terra looked up at the boy from where she was sitting.

"Young love," she stated, "you've gotta love it."

"Yeah and even though how touching this moment is, we do need to get going, we don't have much time." Chaud added as he looked down the street toward the city.

Maylu looked back to her childhood friend from the blue haired boy, "Be careful," she stated in a tone almost no higher than a whisper.

Mega continued to look back as he and the others began to walk away, Maylu's hand slipping from his own, he was in the back of the group and soon his eyes fell on Roll, whom had remained in the background, she gave him a weak smile. What happened next caught the pink navi totally off guard, and it happened so fast it was a blur.

Mega broke away from the group before they had barely make the curb, bounding up the stairs two at the time, the sensation of his warm lips against her cheek, then it was over, and he was gone. Roll touched her cheek where she had received the kiss, blushing madly. Had that really happened?

"So what now?" Lan asked as he and the others made their way into town, "what do we do?"

"You're honestly asking that question?" Proto and Garnet asked simultaneously, catching themselves but saying nothing about it.

"That's not what I meant," Lan said back, "I know what we're going to try to do, but what I'm asking is how are we going to do that. Just go up to the door and beg Regal not to kill our parents?"

"Of course not Lan that would be stupid, and exactly what Regal wants," Onyx replied as she walked ahead of the brown eyed teen, "you're going to do something way better, you're going to say 'hi'.

"Hi?" Lan and back as well as everyone else excluding Garnet and Zypher.

"Yes," Onyx said back as she reformed her right arm and hand into a zeta cannon, "hi..."

"WHOOMBOOM" that was the sound created as Scilab's entrance doors were blown in by three fully charged zeta cannons. When the smoke and dust cleared nothing remained but the carnage and refuse, twisted red hot metal and smoking wood. But in the mist of all this chaos Regal stood just as calm, as if face offs like this were an everyday occurrence for hum. The madman looked down at his watch.

"You're late," he stated as he looked over at the children. "With what you're facing I would have expected you to arrive earlier, but then again collecting free labor from the gutter always takes time." Regal continued as his eyes fell upon his ex-minions, "I would have thought you'd have better taste."

The remark had more effect on the neoloids than anyone would have realized, in the blink of an eye their calm demeanor almost vaporized, their anger rose and a burning fire came into their eyes. Thankfully for them this was noticed.

"No," Whisper stated sternly as she placed her right hand across Garnet's chest, "he not worth it, he just trying to goad you."

Regal chuckled as he continued his mental assault, "How long do you think this is going to last?" he asked, "this faulty friendship you've attempted? They're never going to trust you, they'll always be looking over their shoulder, they're never going to turn their back, you'll never be fully trusted. You were better off with me."

Dark Whisper scoffed at the man's remark, "Better off with you?" she asked, "the man who implanted an erasure program inside the ones he's suppose to care so much about? I don't think so."

Regal grinned, "At least you're strong," he commented, "that might help you get through."

Chaud gave the man a sideways glance, "You're awfully calm for someone whose life is over."

The doctor's demeanor didn't change, "Son I think you'll realize that my life is far from its end, in fact I'm going to walk right out that door."

"Heh, somehow I think you'll find that a hard feat with a plasma shot in your back."

The doctor eyed the duel haired boy "You'd shoot me?" he asked.

"Give us one good reason not to." Proto stated, "You're a murderer, there's not a jury in existence that'll convict."

"Especially when it's self defense," Chaud added.

"I'm glad you've convened yourself of that," Regal replied as he steeped closer to a nearby doorway, "but I'm not so sure your mother will see things the same way."

"My mother?" Chaud asked in question, "Regal my mother dead; and she's been dead for the past eight years."

"You're sure about that?" Regal asked as he walked back a few steps reaching into the doorway and pulled someone. "I believe that she would disagree."

Regal had the woman gagged and her hands were tied, but there was no denying who it was, at first the young woman struggled and fought against her captor but as soon as she laided her eyes on the children she stopped.

Chaud was in shock, this couldn't be happening, it wasn't possible, his mother was gone. In fact Chaud was so put out that at that moment he lost his crossfusion. And Catherine was no less affected; her eyes welled with tears as she set eyes on her two children, her baby and her eldest. They had both grown so much.

"Mom?" Chaud asked in question.

"Yes," Regal stated as he stroked the woman's hair, speaking in a smooth and even tone, "You can't even begin to imagine the things that second chances can afford you," Regal continued as he drew the mother closer giving a deadly glance to Chaud and Proto before speaking again, "or take away, you have two choices, you either sacrifice you boss and colleagues...or you give up you mother...either way you still risk the chance that whoever you chose will still die."

Dr. Hikari shivered as a rush of cold ran down his spine, and the atmosphere seamed to suddenly change, he looked around at the others seeing that they were all thinking the same thing.

They were here.

Either way you risk the chance that whoever you chose will still die. The words rang throughout Chaud's mind, he was frozen, there had to be another way. Seeing their leader in his weakened state Lan took charge.

"Let go of her...now," Lan stated in a low and dark tone that mimicked the one that he had when he had faced Timeman, as he activated his mega buster and began charging it. Everyone but Regal noticed the change. Lan wasn't that happy go lucky kid anymore, he meant business and he wasn't going to back down now.

In the mist of all this Whisper was able to steal a glance at Proto, who although outwardly looked strong, was sure to be in pain because of his lack of action.

Regal grinned maliciously as he whipped out his pistol placing the barrel to the woman's head cocking the hammer, "Sure whatever you say, I'll let her go...with a one way ticket to her grave."

Lan's eyes widened as large as saucers as he saw death loom so close to the woman and he instantly dropped his weapon. This was a fight that they couldn't win. Regal's grin widened even further as he began to walk up to the group and toward the exit behind them.

"Now do you understand when I said I was going to walk right out of here? The nine of you may be strong, but you lack to do what's necessary, you'll never be able to protect the world that way...if you even live that long." Regal said as he passed, "maybe if you're fortunate you'll be able to save everyone, but that's a risk you'll just have to be willing to take." Regal continued highlighting the fact that the building was still rigged to blow and the clock was still on its steady downward spiral.

"Don't worry Chaud we'll get your mother back," Terra whispered as she tried to bring her friend some comfort, she looked back to look at Regal, "You won't harm her?" she asked, "We have a deal?"

"Of course," Regal replied as he drew the woman even closer making her a shield, just in case anyone got any nerve to drop him where he stood. "You know what my word means."

"Yeah," Terra replied, "nothing."

Regal grinned as he reached the exit, "Exactly," he stated darkly as he suddenly slung Chaud's mother to the ground redirecting his gun, it all happened so fast, and yet it seemed as if it was all in slow motion. The movement of Regal's finger on the trigger that if pulled would place a bullet in Catherine Blaze's heart. But that didn't happen, and what did, seemed to occur so fast that within the blink of an eye it was over, Regal was down, for good. Megaman's cannon barrel smoldered.

"MOM!" Chaud and Proto exclaimed as they rushed to the fallen woman. Chaud knelled down next to her as he placed her head on his knees. "Mom, are you ok?" he asked. However the reply wasn't what anyone was expecting.

"HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa," came the psychotic laughter and chuckling as the woman turned to face her child with eyes that were devoid and empty of any life, "Of course dear? Why wouldn't I be?"

"AAHHH," Chaud yelled as it came out short, his eyes wide, as he was back in his feet within the same second.

"What's the matter Nathaniel dear?" the woman asked as she rose to her feet, "don't you want to see me? HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa." the mad laughter came again, it had such a haunting sound that it would shake almost anyone to their core, and it continued right up until the woman faded out of existence the sound disappearing right along with her yet lingering on the ear. Glancing around the gang could see that Regal's body had vanished as well.

"It was all an illusion?" Whisper asked.

"Of all low down dirty tricks," Zypher stated between clenched teeth, "that bastard, that son of a-"

"AhAhAh," came another voice interrupted the neoloid, "there are ladies present."

"Witch," Zypher finished as he and everyone else looked up at the large wall monitor that had just sprang to life with none other than Dr. Regal gracing its screen.

"Did you enjoy the festivities?" the man asked.

Terra was as disgusted as ever, "Festivities?" the girl asked, "You should know that whatever trick you're trying to pull- it's not going to work."

"Oh, on the contrary dear it already has," Regal replied an extra smug tone, it was at that moment that the gang became aware of a sort sound in the backgrounds, that of helicopter blades. Onyx looked the man strait in the eye, "You're not in the building."

Regal smirked, "And you'll never get out," he stated as he made an unseen movement and suddenly the emergency lock down activated sending the fire doors down over the windows and doors. "I hope you've formed a good relationship with your parents because if I have my way you'll be with them for eternity. HaHaHaHaHa." Regal said as he ended the transmission and the screen faded to blank.

"Oh we'll just see about that," Terra stated in a determined tone as she reshaped her right hand into a plasma cannon walking over to the nearest fire door that was between them and freedom. "There isn't a metal on the world that can hold against a plasma cannon." Terra closed her eyes as she concentrated her power and energy refocusing the blast making it as potent as she could, then releasing the energy stream sending it dead strait for the door, but for what happened next no one could have seen coming nor could anyone any really explain. The energy flew to the door but instead of blasting it open the energy seamed to pool onto the door only going so far before it came flying back to the person who sent it.

Terra's eyes widened as she saw the energy stream heading straight for her, and even though she wanted to she couldn't move. It was like she was in a trance.

"Get down!" Garnet exclaimed as everyone dived to the floor, taking it personally upon himself to tackle Terra to the ground. The blast whizzed right over their heads and crashed into the wall behind them imploding on contact, the sound was deafening.

"What was that?" Whisper asked as picked herself off the floor looking at the carnage that had been left behind, "that blast had to have been increased by at least ten fold at the minimum, there isn't one of us that can handle that much power."

Onyx smiled as she picked herself off the ground and walked over to the fire door, "Actually you all can, you just need the proper training; force field." Onyx said as she touched the door feeling the pulse. "Must be some inter dimensional space, seems as if Regal's starting to use all his smarts."

"If that's true then we're totally screwed," Mega and Zypher added simultaneously catching each other as they did.

"And that's not the only reason you're screwed, "Neon lights!" a new voice excitement as an energy orb beared down on Onyx, the girl only barely missed the implosion as she ran up the wall flipping over the blast. Turning around it was no surprise to see that the attack had come from Flashman, "Needless to say when we're done with you you're going to be nothing more than a team of charred crisps."

"We?" Protoman asked looking at the lone darkloid.

"Yes." came his answer in a culmination of eight more voices as a host of darkloids steeped out of multiple shadows and materialized in the room. "We."

"Oh no," Terra breathed as she looked at the group, some of the most formidable darkloids they had ever faced were there before them, they had all been re-resurrected, materialized, and they were out for blood, she looked at the faces that stared back at her and her friends: Flashman, Sparkman, Burnerman, Vineman, Savageman, Novaman, Videoman, Bowelman, and Desertman. Their eyes pulsed with hate.

"You're all dead..." Burnerman stated in a dark and dangerous tone as he pointed his blaster at Terra and Whisper, "There's no way you deleting me this time, this time you're the prey."

"Ohh, I'm so scared," Terra replied in a childish sacrificial voice as she held her ground.

"You should be," Burnerman said as he executed an attack, "Burner!" the darkloid exclaimed as he transformed his hands into his two duel jets sending the burning flames toward the girl.

"Watch out!" Onyx and Whisper exclaimed as they pushed the third girl down, the fire passing right over them and striking the wall behind them. The wall seaming to disintegrate on contact.

"Now do you believe me?" Burnerman asked as he began to advance toward Terra again, this time with Flashman, and Sparkman at his side.

"Oh I think they'll find out soon enough," Sparkman stated as he raised his cone like limbs, "SparkWave!" the navi exclaimed as he released an extreme amount of energy directly above him. As it rose toward the ceiling it struck an unseen energy layer, which sent down several force fields, separating the gang from one another. Terra with Whisper and Onyx, Lan with Mega and Zypher, and lastly Chaud with Proto and Garnet.

"What?" Lan asked as he brought up his hand to the field receiving quite a jolt as he did so.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, unless you want to get fried," Savageman stated, "although that would be fine with me."

"What is this?" Proto asked as he activated his sword striking the field which resulted in a number of volts being sent into his frame which for a few seconds disrupted it, he fell to his knees, Garnet catching him before he completely collapsed.

"A specialized force field, one of my own creations," Flashman replied, "no one can come in or out except us," the darkloid continued as he stepped through the field in which Terra was trapped. Followed by Burnerman and Sparkman. The remaining darkloids doing the same: Videoman, Bowelman, and Desertman, with Lan's group, and Vineman, Savageman, and Novaman, with Chaud's.

"Welcome to the game..."

"Neonlights!" Flashman exclaimed as he released another storm for energy orbs at the girls, "let's see you dodge this!"

"Especially when they're this special, SparkWave!" Sparkman added as he supercharged Flashman's orbs.

"Eagle-shield, DreamAura, LifeAura, battlechips in!" Terra, Whisper, and Onyx called out accordingly throwing up the shields in defense as they continued to run down the hall, the barriers held but they were in serious damage when they fell.

"I can't believe this!" Terra exclaimed as she ran down the hall suddenly jumping on the wall propelling herself, shooting off a couple of rounds from her Vulcan before continuing, "We don't have time for this, we still have to find those timers!"

"Well if that's the case we should get these guys off out tails first, wouldn't you agree?" Onyx asked as she looked over at her two partners.

"I couldn't agree more," Whisper agreed as she suddenly spun on her foot turning around. Being followed by Onyx and Terra, all three leaping into the air ready to deliver solid kick to the three darkloids.

"Oh the three kiddies are ready to play?" Sparkman asked when he saw the three prepare to attack, "well let's see how they can handle hard ball, SparkBomb!" the darkloid exclaimed as he created three of the electrified bombs.

The three girls weren't even concerned.

"HeavyGage, muramasa, battlechips in!" the girls called out simultaneously as they a received the said weapons slicing the sparkbombs rendering them harmless.

"Please tell me that isn't all you've got?" Onyx asked as she and Whisper descended upon Flashman and Sparkman giving them a midair spin kick across the face, "I find that disappointing," Terra however landed solidly on the ground, Burnerman was nowhere to be seen.

Where is that coward? Terra thought just as she caught a red fist coming at her from behind, "Peek-a-boo," Burnerman stated as he swung. The darkloid may have been fast but Terra's reflexes were light-speed, and she effortlessly dodged the blow, irking the navi even more when she flipped herself up on his outstretched arm, "Peek-a-boo yourself," Terra sated back as she swiftly kicked Burnerman across the face, doing it so hard in fact that she spun his head clear around. This was all too easy. She jumped lightly to the ground.

"Oh what's wrong Cupcake?" Terra asked as the darkloid turned his head around, "did I hit you too hard?' the navi's face turned beet red.

"Don't you ever...ever...call me Cupcake, Burning Jet!" the darkloid exclaimed as he flew toward the girl burners blazing.

Terra smiled, Perfect...

"Well this is going quite well don't you think?" Onyx asked as she and Whisper continued dodging neon blasts and sparkwaves.

"Well maybe you should have thought about that when you decided to attack the two energy navis." Whisper replied as she threw up a barrier.

"What can I say? Great minds think alike?"

Whisper slightly grimaced, "Yeah don't remind me..."

"Tisk tisk tisk, you shouldn't get distracted," Sparkman commented as he noticed the girls divided attention, "Shadow-maker!" the darkloid exclaimed as he raised his limbs above him causing the bright light to shine forth. Onyx and Whisper glanced back as they watched their shadows lift themselves off the ground.

"Oh crap..."

"Stand still you little brat!" Burnerman yelled as he continued to come after Terra the girl was being successful in eluding him. She smiled as she turned around.

"Oh don't tell me I'm running too fast for the little sugar-pie?" Terra asked sing-songingly as she continued to run keeping her target in sight. Just a couple more seconds.

"Custom-sword battlechip!" Onyx and Whisper exclaimed as they activated the weapon together attacking each other's shadow clone, however the switch didn't seem to have any effect, it was still like they were fighting themselves.

"LongSword battlechip in!" Whisper called out as Onyx's double came at her, the shadow forming one too, this was getting them nowhere.

"This is seriously getting us nowhere!" Whisper exclaimed as she continued to spar, "we're wasting time!"

"Yeah I know!" Onyx answered back as she nearly missed a strike, she was fixing to say something else when she was stopped by another voice, turning around she saw it was Terra. And at that exact moment both Flashman and Sparkman decided to make a pot shot at Onyx and Whisper.

"Look out coming through!" Terra exclaimed as she suddenly seemed to come from nowhere, still being followed by Burnerman, his jets blasting.

"Whoa!" Onyx and Whisper exclaimed together as they broke away from the fray jumping up on the side walls and managing to catch Terra by one arm each when the girl jumped up to avoid the collision that was coming. Their shadows receiving the darkloid's attack instead.

"I've got you now you brat!" Burnerman exclaimed when it seemed as if the girl was beginning to tire, little did he know what was actually awaiting him.

Terra smiled, "Think again Sparky," Terra replied when she suddenly jumped up revealing Flashman and Sparkman dead ahead, their attacks being at their fullest, and there was no way he could avoid them.

"Nooooooooooooo!" Burnerman exclaimed as he collided with the other two darkloids, quickly losing control of his powers. The explosion was blinding and when the light faded, the three darkloids were all but deleted. And the shadows were gone.

"Wow," Whisper breathed as she released her sister jumping down to the ground looking at the derezing darkloids.

"When will you ever learn?" Terra asked as she walked over to Burnerman, "You can never win." the darkloid was about to say something to the girl in reply but she never got to hear it.

"Come on," Onyx stated as she put her hand on her shoulder, "we have work to do, we've wasted enough time already."

"You've got any ideas?" Terra asked as she continued to gaze at the fallen villain. The neoloid smiled.

"I've got one."

Catherine Blaze opened her eyes weakly as she took on her surroundings once again finding that she was bound. Looking around the room she didn't find much, it was empty except for her. Suddenly a loud sound interrupted her thoughts as she began to feel the air in the room start to move. It took her a few seconds to realize that the air was being ciphered out, slowly but surely. The woman's eyes began to tear.

"No..."

"PlantWeed!" Vineman exclaimed as he sent his sentient vines the netsaver's way, the greenery shooting out like lances.

"Fire-sword battlechip in!" Chaud exclaimed as he cut down the dangerous tendrils regrouping with Proto and Garrett, glancing at the darkloid before him, Vineman, Novaman, and Savageman. They were in for a serious battle; this wasn't going to be easy.

"SavageClaw!" Savageman exclaimed as he made an attack of his own, the beast like navi separated his arms from his body, throwing them like gauntlets.

"Long-sword battlechip in!" Proto exclaimed as he wielded the blade stopping the limbs cold, but not before they started tearing through his weapon, slamming the two hands into the ground; Savageman howled out in pain as he recalled them.

"You're going to pay for that," he growled as he called froth his virus hoards. "Get them!" the exclaimed.

"I don't think so," Garrett said as he jumped to the front throwing up a fire aura barrier repelling the viruses to which they came. "What?" the neoloid asked when he received a strange look from Chaud and Proto.

"We're not in need of your help." Proto stated as he threw up a second shield when another wave of viruses came, "we're perfectly capable of handling this in our own."

"Oh really?" Garnet asked cocking an eyebrow watching one of Vine man's tentacles coming up from behind the navi.

"Really," Proto replied as he slashed the vine into oblivion so fast that the movement was all but invisible.

At this time sensing a division in the ranks, the darkloids decided to take a back seat, after all this was a rare occurrence, and who knew? Maybe they would destroy each other.

"You're pretty confident for a guy whose battle stats have plummeted in the past few months." Garnet commented.

"Excuse me?" Proto asked.

"You're telling me you haven't noticed? Ever since Chaud found out who you were, your partnership has been coming unglued at the seams. You've been able to make it this far but how long so you think it's going to last before it all comes crashing down?"

Protoman could only stare, and Garnet continued.

"I know you don't like me," Garnet said, "but you need to listen, all these feelings that have been unearthed and left unchecked have begun to affect your performance, and you're not only becoming a danger to yourself, but to your friends as well. Is that what you want?"

Chaud gritted his teeth, "You have to right," he hissed, "no right to be churning any waters."

Garnet didn't stop.

"And you have no right to be avoiding them when it's becoming this dangerous, you owe your mother that much. After all she went through to keep the two of you together, you think she would be happy if she saw the two of you like this?"

Proto activated his default sword, "Don't you dare bring our mother into this." he threatened.

"I don't plan to," Garnet said, "but the two of you need to face your fears; you don't trust each other anymore."

"That's not true," Chaud stated.

"It's not?" Garnet asked, "You're not afraid that Emery resents you? That because your father considered you perfect that he somehow on some level hates you? And you," Garnet continued as he looked at Proto, "you're not afraid that Chaud secretly looks down on you?"

Both brothers looked at each other in silence; the lack of any response was an answer in its self.

"You need to work on that."

"That may be true, but we don't have time to worry about that at the moment, we have an audience," Chaud commented as he glanced at the darkloids observing them with great interest.

"What?" Novaman asked as he sat with his legs crossed, "no fight, no bloodletting? I'm disappointed."

"You enjoy the show?" Proto asked as he began to walk dangerously up to the darkloids activating a long-sword, "because it's the last laugh you'll ever get."

"Oh, the tough man has a threat," Vineman stated as he rose to his feet, the vines that had served as his seat rising threateningly around him, "lets see what you've got, PlantWeed!" the darkloid exclaimed as the botanical technicals flew toward the boy ready to string him up, but sadly for him they wouldn't get that far.

"BambooSword!" Proto exclaimed as he transformed his hand accordingly slashing through the fauna, his famous smirk spreading across his face, "Is that all you've got?" he asked.

"Shot star! SavageClaw!" Novaman and Savageman exclaimed as they called out their separate attacks making them one, Novaman's shooting stars raining down upon the net agent and his doppelganger, and Savageman's claws serving as a razor sharp surprise. However the new attack didn't faze their two opponents.

"Black hole!, GoldFist," Proto and Garnet exclaimed as they activated their defenses, Protoman's black hole swallowing up the stellar attack while Garnet's GoldFist did incredible damage to Savageman's claws as he punched them head on. Proto and Garner met back to back.

"This doesn't make is friends," Proto said, making his distrustful feelings known to the neoloid, as they both began to defend themselves against Savageman's attack, his claws coming at the two from every side with deadly accuracy.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Garnet asked as he brought up a CyberSword catching Savageman's mouth with it as the darkloid came in for a bite, kicking the navi to break free.

"Well let's see," Protoman said thinking as they two continued the defense, "you're a being born of darkness from my captivated soul, "What more is there to say?"

"Somehow I doubt that that's the reason."

"Oh you're a mind reader now?" Proto asked.

"Your mind sure," Garnet replied, "You're still afraid of your past, what you did when you were under Regal's control, seeing me brings back those memories back, but you can't hold that against me, I managed to escape from darkness's grasp."

"Then why couldn't I?" Proto asked his mind drifting for a second, one dangerous, deadly second, Savageman locking onto it like a missile.

"Emery watch out!" Garnet exclaimed he shoved Proto out of the way of Savageman's hold.

"Thanks," Proto stated the gratitude being genuine.

"Don't thank me yet." the other navi replied as he quickly threw up a shield, "we've still got a ways to go."

"So you think you can handle me do you?" Vineman asked as and Chaud continued to battle, "I think that you'll find that that assumption was quite premature, RoseThorn!" The darkloid exclaimed as his vines once again raised themselves this time shooting out rosethorns with the aim of making Chaud their own personal dartboard.

"I don't think so, take this! NedoMachine, battlechip in!" Chaud exclaimed as a bug like machine appeared before him sending out of a needle barrage of his own, the thin weapons intercepting the darkloid's with even a few managing to get by and striking the darkloid lodging themselves into his frame.

"HaHaHaHaHaHaHa!" Vineman chuckled as he brushed the needles from his skin, "that tickled, now let me try, BambooLance!" the darkloid exclaimed as the ornate stalks shot up from the ground trying to squarer their target.

"SonicBoom!" Chaud said as he counteracted activating his NeoVariable-Sword releasing the sound energy obliterating Vineman's attack allowing Chaud to land safely on the ground, defeating this guy was proving harder than he though, he was going to have to go about this a different way.

"You ready to surrender?" Vineman asked as he walked toward the netsaver sensing his waver, "I promise I won't you...much."

"When I've gotten this far?" Chaud asked activating another blade, "I've only gotten started."

"And that shall be your downfall, PlantWeed!" Vineman exclaimed once again as he sent out his botanical minions attempting to string Chaud up each, time nearly missing him.

That's the way," Chaud thought, "keep following me."

"StarArrow!, SavageClaw!" the two darkloids exclaimed as they once again attacked together.

"This ends now," Proto thought as he and Garner ran into the fray, their speed aiding them in being able to avoid both the darkloid attacks. "You're through," Protoman stated as he appeared before Novaman giving the darkloid a solid punch to the face, knocking him back.

"We'll just see about that," Savageman stated as he once again raised his clawed hand, however he stopped for a moment when a quick movement caught his eye next thing he was being restrained by Vineman's tendrils, "What the?" he asked.

"Surprise," Chaud said as he appeared from nowhere equipped with a GoldFist punching the navi, disorienting him first before he grabbed hold of his claws snapping them clear off.

"My claw-" Savageman stated to say before he was cut off when Chaud shattered his crest, and that was the end.

Savageman deleted...

"Now..." Chaud said as he looked at the two remaining darkloids, "who's next?"

Novaman and Vineman looked to each other before making their decision; needless to say they valued their lives more than they did a victory.

Vineman logging out, Novaman logging out.

The whole thing had happened like a breeze.

"Good job," Garnet commented.

Chaud looked over at the neoloid. "Thanks." He replied.

"So, what's this big idea of yours?" Terra asked as she and Whisper ran down one hall after another following Onyx. "And where are we going?"

"Just trust me," Onyx said as she looked over her shoulder continuing to run as she led them to a room they had never been to before, firing up the computers in the blink of an eye.

"Where are we?" Whisper asked as she looked around at her surroundings.

"Archives," Onyx replied as her hand flew across the keys.

"What are you looking for?" Terra asked as she looked over the girls shoulder.

"Blueprints," the girl replied, "Regal's smart and that's actually one of his downfalls, there are only a few places in this building that he would create his desired effect, and this should help is find where those are." the girl continued as her hands continually flew across the keyboard and within a few seconds she found what she was looking for: a plan of the building that had several blinking pulses- structural weaknesses. Onyx smiled.

"Is that what you're looking for?" Whisper asked as she walked closer.

"Yeah it is," Onyx said as she then raised her hand to the monitor and, just downloading the last bit when it seemed like the computer imploded. Onyx jerked back shielding her face from the blast.

"What the?" Terra asked in question as she looked at the melted machine when another voice caught her attention.

"Well just look at you, you found the secret," the voice commented as a dark figure walked into the room followed by two others, "To bad you won't be able to use it." It was Burnerman, the darkloid made a second attack directed toward the neoloid however Terra quickly blocked it.

"How is this possible?" Whisper asked, "When we left you-"

"Were what? Half deleted?" Sparkman stated finishing the navi's sentence, "You should have finished the job."

"And that mistake shall be your end, NeonBlast!" Flashman added as he sent out an attack toward the girls. They tried to block it however this time they weren't fast enough and the blast struck them head on, Onyx received the most damage.

"AAAAAHHHH," all the girls groaned as they raised themselves to their knees.

"Is everyone ok?" Terra asked as she looked around.

"Yeah, I'm fine" Whisper replied with a weak smile.

"But I'm not," Onyx added as she raised herself further revealing a sizable wound in which her data was starting to break.

"OMG," Terra breathed when she saw it.

"And that's what's going to happen to you, BurningSwords! Burnerman exclaimed as he released his twin fire jets.

"NetGuard, battlechip in!" Terra exclaimed as the fire flew toward them the metamare helmet dropping over them just in time, serving as a refuge. The girls could hear multiple attacks trying to break through.

"Here," Whisper said as she activated a number of healing chips applying them to Onyx's wound.

"Thanks," Onyx said gratefully when she was able to breathe easier.

"How's this happen?" Terra asked as she looked at the girl, "How were you-"

"So easily damaged?" Onyx asked finished the other girl's sentence for her, "It's the darkness, or more likely the lack of it. Believe it or not as twisting as it was it served as a protection, and now without it...let's just say Garnet, Zypher and I are still adjusting to the change, its left us really weak and extremely vulnerable to attacks made with dark matter. So if I don't make it out of this, you're going to need this," Onyx stated as she released a data stream giving it to Whisper, "Whatever happens to me you need to save your father, and give him another chance." Onyx concluded her eyes falling on Terra.

Terra looked down at the girl and then back at the cracks that were growing all the larger in the guard. The darkloids were going to break through any second. "But it's not going to come to that...hopefully." Terra said as she looked back again. "They're throwing a lot of power out there; it's probably going to take everything we have to get out of this one."

"Maybe, maybe not." Onyx stated in a stronger tone.

"You have a plan?" Whisper asked.

Onyx nodded, "If you're up to it, it's only a theory I have, but if it works we'll have those darkloids out of our hair in no time."

"Well I have to admit you're on a roll," Terra stated, "what's the plan?"

"Amplify and conquer." Onyx replied.

"Amplify and conquer?" Whisper and Terra asked simultaneously.

"Hang with me here," Onyx said noting the twin's confusion, "it has to do with your link and the way it's behaving now, the data and power transfer, you're just like a charge and a conductor."

"And I'm the charge?" Whisper asked.

"Exactly," Onyx replied, "you can send your powers now to Terra with your link, and with crossfusion that action has always multiplied your strength but now because the truth is known that power level should jump up immensely."

"By how much?"

"At least a dozen times over, maybe more."

"And a human body can withstand that?" Terra asked.

"The human body is an amazing creation," Onyx replied, "It's not nearly given the credit its due. You can do this."

"I hope you're right," Terra said looking at the last crack form before the helmet shattered, "Because we're out of time."

"Well, well, well," Burnerman said as he cooled his jets, "playing hard to get are we? I hope you're ready to take you punishment like a man."

Terra eyed the darkloid as she rose to her feet, Whisper doing the same taking her place directly behind her sister preparing herself as she gathered a great deal of energy from within her frame, her gloved hands beginning to grow softly. Terra chuckled.

"Why should I?" the girl asked with a smirk, noticing the force field that was just outside the door, that gave her an idea, "I'm not a man."

"Oh right," Burnerman replied as he raised his two arms transforming them for his final blow, "I apologize, BurningSwords!" the darkloid exclaimed as he unloaded his attack on the small band of heroes finding that it would have no effect as it was quickly extinguished by a crystalline force field that appeared before them.

"No," Terra stated in a calm and even tone as she raised her own hands as they began to radiate with energy, "I apologize."

"You ready?" Whisper asked.

"Ready." her sister replied.

"Ready for what?" Flashman asked.

Whisper smiled, "This," she answered as she suddenly released all the energy she had built up sending it to Terra who in turn poured all the amplified force onto the shield that floated in front of her, some of the energy was so great that the light engulfed the room leaving everyone blind except for the netsavers who had their shades placed over their eyes. The darkloids soon found themselves being forced back.

"Kicking us out are you?" Sparkman asked not aware of the precariousness of his satiation, "we'll see about that." The darkloids then trying to use their own power to push the barrier back but it had no effect.

"Sorry," Onyx said giving out a false apology, "but you won't be regaining any entry here, or anywhere else for that matter."

"What do you mean?" Flashman asked.

Onyx smiled, "Why don't you look for yourself?" she replied, but by that time it was too late.

The darkloids looked behind them only to see their demise, but there was nothing they could do. Within a second they were grading against the force field and their data was beginning to disintegrate. There was nothing left to do. They didn't even scream.

When it was over Terra looked at the spot where the dangerous navis once stood. She shook her head with a small smile.

"At least they went out with dignity." she stated.

Onyx and Whisper walked over to her place both placing a hand on her shoulders.

"Come on," Onyx said with a grin, "we have family to save."

"LifeAura battlechip in!" Lan, Mega, and Zypher exclaimed together as they all activated the same barrier simultaneously creating three force fields in a row. However it didn't have the desired effect, Bowelman's, BowelingBoomer still smashed all three into smithereens. It did however buy them a little time, and time was something they desperately needed.

"How can this get any worse?" Lan asked as he ran for his life, "I feel like Indiana Jones."

"Don't say that!" Mega and Zypher exclaimed together both chasing the younger boy, "Things are bad enough all ready we don't need any more problems."

"To late," Lan replied as he pointed ahead of them where Desertman was lying in wait for them.

"HeavySand!" the darkloid exclaimed as multiple sand cubes appeared over the trio ready to crush them.

"EagleShield battlechip in!" Zypher exclaimed as he erected the barrier above them as they jumped back, the cubes bouncing off leaving it to run Desertman over.

"Hey watch what you're doing with that!" the darkloid yelled.

"Well at least that's one shot we won't have to make," Lan stated as he, Mega, and Zypher landed back on the ground.

"But it is the last move you'll ever make, WindCutter!" another voice exclaimed as a third darkloid joined into the fray wrapping multiple rolls of negatives around the netsavers, it was Videoman.

"You spoke to soon." Mega commented as he fought to free his hand. The tape getting tighter all the time.

"Now, now, now," Videoman said as he held his ground, "be good boys and give the audience a tear jerking ending."

"UUGh, I don't think so," Mega replied as he somehow managed to free one hand and then the other, "BubbleShot, Babbler, battlechip in!" he exclaimed as the two water type cannons appeared on his arms and freed then at the darkloid who instantly released the three and retreated back a ways to avoid getting wet.

Lan, Mega, and Zypher regrouped when they were released, facing off once again against the three darkloids.

"You're just three slippery little suckers aren't you?" Bowelman commented.

'Well we should be," Lan replied, "we've managed to escape the three of you enough times."

"Maybe, but that surely won't be the outcome this time, Fast-forward!" Videoman exclaimed as he disappeared in a blur.

'I don't think so AreaSteal!" Mega, Lan, and Zypher called out together as they vanished as well, all reappearing indifferent places, however it just so happened that Videoman and Lan ended up in the same place.

"I've got you now…" Videoman stated as he prepared for another attack.

"Think again loser," Lan replied as he counteracted, "PanelOut!" Lan exclaimed as he called forth the emergency exit and jumped through.

"Where…where did that little brat go?!" Videoman exclaimed wildly in frustration as he searched madly for the boy.

"Oh you miss me already so you?' Lan asked as he reappeared directly over the darkloid ElectraSword in hand, "I'm touched, now eat this!" Lan exclaimed as he slashed the projector that rested on Videoman's head in two. The darkloid screamed in horror.

"My projector!" he yelled, "the main piece of equipment of an artist such as myself, how dare you! You haven't seen the last of me I'll be back!" Videoman exclaimed as he quickly logged out vanishing in a shower of pixels.

"Now," Lan continued has he thrust his sword forward, "who's next?"

The two remaining darkloids were about to make a reply when a transmission window began to open however it was ridden with static and it took a while before it cleared.

"L…an…n…La…n…Lan, Lan where are you?" the voice of the message said as if finally came through and lastly the picture, it was Terra.

"Terra?" Lan asked in question.

"Lan?" the girl asked back, "Lan where are you?"

"I'm in the middle of a battle where you are?" Lan asked as he and the other dodged another one of Bowelman's bowelingboomers.

"Lan we found it!" Terra said "Onyx found the coordinates where the timers are most likely to be, we've got Chaud and the others but we need your help, you need to hurry-" after that Terra got cut off as the transmission was terminated.

"Interruptions are so rude don't you agree?" Bowelman asked as his gatling pins came back to him.

"What happened; is he coming?" Chaud asked.

"I don't know I got cut off, but we can't wait on him," Terra replied as she looked ahead of the group at the impasse where they would have to split up. "Good fortune," Terra said as she looked at her friends.

Chaud smiled as he looked back.

"Same to you."

Dr. Hikari looked at the clock that was in the bunker, the time was running out…again.

"TowerBall!" Bowelman exclaimed as the giant bowling pin appeared right beneath the netsavers feet, however they were ready for it, after all the attack was unoriginal, the three back flipped and were out of harm's way soon enough.

"Guys we have to do something…NOW," Mega sated as the three landed, "we can't fight them anymore and we can't leave them here."

"We need to take them out in one blow," Lan suggested as he and the others dodged Desertman's lion-heads, "but how?"

"Program advance," Zypher said out of the blue.

"Against two darkloids?" Lan asked.

"Three program advances all executed simultaneously? We don't need to delete them; just log them out."

"He has a point," Mega added. "But we would need to do it on my mark."

"Hey heroes!" Bowelman exclaimed when he got the feeling that he and his partner weren't getting the attention they deserved. "You going to yap until this place blows or are you going to fight?"

Mega smiled, "Actually were going to take you out of here, here and now."

Desertman chuckled dryly, "I'd like to see you try, Great-LionHead!" the darkloid called out as the two feline sand monsters headed toward the group.

"Never say we didn't warn you." Mega said as he, Lan, and Zypher once again propelled themselves into the air to avoid pulverization, "program advance execute!" the navi exclaimed as he and the others prepared for the attack placing themselves on sync with each other. "AquaSword, FireSword, BambooSword, ElectraSword, battlechips in! ElementSword!" they are called out together as the multi toned blade appeared in their hands, the energy rolling into a tidal wave, the darkloids never had a chance.

Desertman deleted, Bowelman deleted

Lan looked over at his two partners and for once in his life he was speechless.

"Wow…"

"Come on guys tell me you've found something I've come up empty." Terra stated as she checked yet another perspective location finding it timerless. Fifteen perspective weak points and only five of them would hold the explosives. So far they had only found two.

"Sorry cuz," Onyx said as she joined in the conversation, "I've still only found one."

"And I've found zilch," Whisper added as she rounded another corner, "wait make that three down and two to go, I've got one." The navi corrected as she spotted the timer pressing three buttons on the explosive's side in quick succession disarming it.

"Finally some good news," Proto said as he chimed in, "does anyone know where Lan and the others are?"

"We're right here," the chocolate eyed teen replied as he joined in the conversation as well, "well technically not here but you know what I mean."

"Took you long enough." Chaud added.

"No one ever said that deleting darkloids was pie either." Zypher commented.

"Ok all unnecessary talk ends now, we have don't have time for any arguments," Garnet said as he interrupted, "Lan where exactly are you?"

"Northeast wing.'

"Well you need to get to the southeast wing as soon as you can we've still got two timers that are AWOL. Chaud, Proto, and me are trying to track down the last ones and we'll be there to help as soon as we can."

"No problem I'm on it," Lan replied as he headed down another passage way. Onyx almost had a cow when she could still hear Lan and the others feet against the tile floor.

"Lan don't try to run you, you don't have time," the girl said franticly, "these things are going to blow any minute, you have to use an AreaSteal."

"Already on it." Mega replied.

Regal grinned coolly as he looked down on Scilab from a safe distance away in the mountains to the south of the foundation. It was time, any second now; he looked down at his watch counting the final seconds, 3, 2, 1…"

But nothing happened, there was no explosion, no fire, all was still, the birds sang; and it stayed that way until Regal heard a gun cock, then all became dead silent.

"Don't move, put your hands in the air, and turn around slowly, no sudden moves."

When Regal turned around he was faced with about twenty cops, both civilian and net.

"Alexander Regal you're under arrest, it's over." Came the words of the cop who had first spoke still holding the gun as another one walked up and hand cuffed the wayward scientist. "Welcome to justice."

Lan breathed heavily as he slid down the wall to the ground it was over, all over, and to think that history has come so close to repeating it's self.

Flashback…

"Lan run! You have to hurry, there's still one left, we're running out of time!" Onyx screamed at the boy as he areastealed through the building checking all the unchecked locations as fast as he could, no matter how fast he went it still didn't seem as if it was enough.

"How do you know?" the boy asked.

"The timers," Onyx replied, "they're equipped with a sound system, something that Regal set for only navis to hear, that way the darkloids would know when to bail, and the frequency and repetition has been climbing constantly higher, they have to be about to blow Lan, you have to find it or it's all over, we won't have another chance!"

"I'm going as fast as I can, I've got two other places to check!" Lan exclaimed, "make that one," the boy continued when the first place turned up empty.

"Lan you have to get there!" Onyx exclaimed extremely frantic at this point.

"Don't worry I'm already there!" Lan replied, "and it's here, how do I disarm it?" he asked.

"Don't worry about that now, you don't have time, just slash it! Use a LifeAura; that should be enough."

"Should be?"

"Just do it!"

Lan closed his eyes activating the barrier as he did what he was told cutting the timer down, surprisingly there was no explosion, just stillness.

End flashback…

"Lan, Lan you ok?" Came concerned cries as everyone suddenly appeared where Lan lay on the floor. "You did it."

Terra looked up at the place where they were, the central hub, she chuckled to herself, leave it to be that the most important place in the whole building to be one of the most vulnerable.

Lan smiled, "Just call me a hero."

"You," Mega and Zypher stated as they ruffled the boy's hair, (he had taken off his helmet) the neoloid catching himself as he did so. Lan slightly cringed.

"I can't believe it's really over." Chaud stated.

'What do you mean over?" Proto asked, "Regal's still out there."

Chaud smiled, little did they know.

"Well at least we know he won't try something like this again," Whisper said, "he never does the same thing twice."

"At least that," Mega commented, "so everyone ready to do the fun part?"

Lan smiled "Dad."

"Well I wish us good hope," Terra stated as she began to walk away, "hopefully Regal didn't kill them anyway, and this had been a ruse and an attempt to destroy us anyway all along."

"Hopefully," Lan said, "where are you going?"

"See our dad," Terra replied, "he wasn't with the others, remember."

"You want me to come with you?" Onyx asked as she stepped closer.

The two sisters looked at one another.

"No thanks," Whisper said, "I think it'll be better if we do this alone. You understand?"

Onyx smiled, "yeah…"

Dr. Hikari looked at the florescent lights in confusion for a time. All was still; it wasn't an eerie stillness, but a peaceful one."

Could they have done it?"

Whisper stared at the door with her sister beside her, still as a corpse, they knew what they were going to find and it wasn't going to be pretty.
"You ready for this?" she asked.

"No," Terra replied, "maybe we should have let Onyx come along."

"Why?" Whisper asked, "She's not really family."

Terra sighed. "Yeah your right; do it."

"Ok," Whisper said as she twisted the knob, the door falling away reveling a sterile room with blinking lights, in the center sat their father, bound to a chair, shirt torn, wounds apparent. He shuddered.

"Please…no more."

Tears came into his children's eyes.

"Daddy?" Terra asked as she stepped tentatively forward.

The man became suddenly still, unsure when he heard the voice. "Terra?" he asked as he slowly raised his head.

"Oh Daddy!" Terra exclaimed as she ran forward and embraced the torn man, tears streaming down her face, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry…" the words kept being repeated.

Dr. Javedson winced slightly at the pain that he hug was causing, looking down he could see his blood slowly transferring its self to his daughter's suit, but she didn't seem to care. "Whatever for?" he asked.

Terra looked up with a start, her eyes most with tears, "For everything," she said, "For not forgiving you, in the end it wasn't worth it."

"Maybe not," the estranged father replied, "but I deserved it, I stole your memory, destroyed a relationship; I've come to terms with that now...but we can start over. What do you say?" Dr. Javedson asked lifting Terra's chin wiping her tears.

Terra's mind went back to when she and Skyler were little. How they just seemed to knew when Daddy was going to come home, even though they couldn't read a clock. How they would look out the window, craving that attention, that love. She wanted that again. The saddened girl looked back.

"I want to." she replied.

"I can't believe it," Famous commented as he looked around him, the room and his body were still intact, "they did it, how is that even possible?"

"I've learned not to ask that question." Manuela said as she spoke up.

"Well I'm just glad the kids are safe." Dr. Hikari added, "they must have gone through a lot...seeing us all dead."

The room fell silent once more until Keifer spoke.

"After all this is finalized I think it's safe to say they need a break."

"A break?" Famous asked surprised. "that's big coming from you, I'm surprised you're not mad for them skipping out this time, after all that's why we're here in the first place."

"I'm very well aware of that." Keifer replied, "but I can't blame them, I did have them on quite a heavy schedule, and I think they've learned their lesson."

"You've got that right," came a sudden answer, as a new voice was added into the conversation. The group hadn't even seen the kids come in and it was Lan who had spoken. "Dad," Lan stated as he hugged the older man, "I thought I'd never see you again."

Mega looked at the scene, hanging back with the others, it was bittersweet. He was glad that his father and the others were alive, but was depressed that he couldn't celebrate that fact like he wanted to. Or at least he thought, a few seconds later Dr. Hikari offered him his hand, embracing him as well.

"Thank you for keeping him safe," the father of two said aloud, "and thank you for coming home, Hub." he whispered.

After the family reunion was over Dr. Hikari took notice of Chaud and the others. There was still something they needed to do and they were going to have to act fast if they were going to get it right.

"Chaud there's something you need to know-" the doctor began to say when he was cut off.

"We don't have time," Chaud interrupted "you can tell me later, but for right now I think it's best we get out of here, Regal may have had more than one way in mind for bringing this place down, it's better to be safe than sorry, come on." Chaud continued as he walked out.

"Chaud-" Dr, Hikari said again but it was too late, the boy was already gone.

Before Keifer walked out of the room he noticed something as well, the darkloids.

"Chaud you need to listed to me, it's important," Dr. Hikari stated as he caught up to Chaud, but someone else already had his attention.

"Terra, Whisper," the teen exclaimed as he caught sight if the two girls who were helping their father out of the danger as well, supporting the man as they walked.

"Hey you found them, that's great." Whisper said with a smile as she caught sight of Dr. Hikari, Famous, Keifer and Manuela all unharmed.

"For now at least, but we need to get out of here," Chaud replied before looking over at Mega and Zypher, "Give the two a hand." he said.

"Thanks," Terra stated with gratitude as the two boys took her father off her and her sister's shoulders. When the two did so Zypher noticed the weird look he was getting from the chief, and following the neoloid's gaze Mega saw it too.

"Don't worry," Mega stated, "he'll get use to you soon enough."

Zypher looked back at the aged man's hardened gaze. "You sure about that?" the boy asked. Mega was about to reply, when a group of people unexpectedly came through what was left of Scilabs' doors.

"Hands on your head Regal," A net officer stated as she kept her firearm at the scientist's back.

"Is the gun really necessary?" The captive asked.

"For you?" The woman asked in reply. "Absolutely, and you should consider yourself lucky, the orders were "dead or alive.""

"You could never kill me," Regal whispered under his breath as he faced forward for the first time noticing his advocacies and his once captive. While he wasn't surprised to see them, some of the others were, but there he was in police custody.

"It was you..."Regal stated slowly as he looked Chaud dead in they eye. "There could be only one who could have had such a level head in the face of such pressing tragedy that could have had the forethought to call the police."

"Of course it was." Chaud replied with his famous smirk, "Who else would it have been? Lan?"

Terra looked over at her childhood friend surprised. "You called the police?" she asked. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't want to jinx it," Chaud replied, "And I wasn't for sure that it would even work, but I figured that Regal would stay somewhere nearby for the fireworks and to confirm firsthand that we were all dead. And if that were the case, he'd be venerable for capture."

"Well it looks like we was." Lan said.

Regal chuckled darkly with a smile, "You're pretty full of yourself right now aren't you?" he asked as he continued to look at the dual haired teen, "To bad you're about to deflate."

"What are you talking about?" Chaud asked calmly even through his chest seemed to tighten for no logical reason.

"Aren't you missing someone?" Regal asked as he looked back at the group of adults. "You better hurry, she's running out of time, if she hasn't already."

"She?" Chaud asked as his voice began to shake, it couldn't be, not again. Proto's jaw clenched.

It took a while, but soon enough everyone realized what Regal was getting at. Everyone was in shock and disbelief as, Mega, Zypher, and Whisper and Terra verbalized that horrid truth.

"Regal."

"has"

"Chaud's"

"mother."

And it was for real this time.

"You..." Proto stated in such a dark tone that it didn't even do Dark Protoman any justice, fire burned in the boys eyes as he lunged forward, sword ready aiming at the man's heart.

"Proto no!" Whisper exclaimed as she threw herself in front of the scientist's shielding his heart with her own, the navi stopping just in time.

"You cant do this, think about Chaud's mom." The girl continued as she pleaded, whispering her next words. "Think about your mom."

Regal grinned as he took notice of how the group was talking care not to use certain words. Someone didn't know.

Whisper sensed the doctor change in manor. "I wouldn't push your fortune if I were you." she stated. "Proto may have his own personal reservations but I can guarantee, there's someone else who doesn't, don't push it."

"Guy's?" Lan asked as he began to look around noticing that someone was missing. "Where's Chaud?"

Chaud's fatigued breath came out hot and heavy. He wasn't going to let Regal do it, he wasn't going to take away his mother, not now when he now had a chance to save her.

"Seams as if the handsome hero is going to save his mommy, two bad she'll be dead by the time he gets there-" Regal began to say with a smirk before it was quickly erased from his face, and he was thrown to the ground complete with a busted lip.

"Boy that felt good!" Whisper commented as she unclenched her first, before she reached down grabbing Regal's long hair, bringing the doctors ear to her lips. "And no one's dying on our watch." The girl then let go as she walked away.

Regal looked up at the net police around him. "Well?" he asked, "Aren't you going to do something?"

"About what?" the Captain asked, "I don't see any civil rights that have been violated.

"We need to do something and fast," Mega commented, "Chaud's mom can't have a lot of time, and I doubt Chaud would be fortunate enough to find her blind. This complex is too big, she could be anywhere."

"I have an idea," Zypher said as he spoke up. "But we're going to need a lot of man power, and someone who knows the system like the back of their hand."

A smile came to Dr. Hikari's face, "Of course."

"What's the plan?" Lan asked as he looked over his father's shoulder, as the man's fingers flew over the keyboard that was before him, multiple windows layering themselves on the monitor's screen. While at the same time a number of the net police separated themselves into teams and began to fan out through the building.

"To find Chaud's mother anyway we can." The brunet doctor replied, "maybe we'll be fortunate enough that one of the search teams will find her, but if not we'll find her by using the system."

"How?" Lan asked, "it's not like we have heat sensing cameras."

"But we do have the next best thing," Terra commented, "A life support system." When Lan still looked confused the girl continued. "It keeps track of all the environmental controls in the place; Regal had to screw with one of them, and this sweep should be able to find it."

"Yeah, that's the upside," Onyx commented, '"The downside is the sweep is extremely through, and therefore as slow as molasses in the middle of winter—in Siberia. If she's not nearby, it'll take a while before the computer picks up on any anomaly."

"So," Lan began, "There's a chance that-"

Terra cut the boy off before he could finish.

"Yeah, there is."

Catherine began to wheeze as the air in the room began to become scarce, and the carbon dioxide that was building up was beginning to burn her lungs. She was running out of time. By now the tears were rolling freely down her cheeks as she tried to picture the children she might leave behind. If someone didn't find her quick she'd need to have the chance to see what young men her sons had become.

"Ok, that should do it." Dr. Hikari stated as he completed the specifications for the sensor sweep. "Now all we have to do is wait."

"And we need to get going." Garnet added as he looked at a map of Scilab on a separate screen, taking note of the area that hadn't yet been covered by the ground teams and the places that the sensor sweep would reach last. "There's a lot of ground we can cover."

Terra phased through another door and yet again another empty room; she was relived, and at the same time terrified, because if Aunt Cathy wasn't here where was she? No ground team had found her yet, and the sensor sweep hadn't picked up any anomalies. The team hadn't ever taken into consideration the size of the Scilab complex, but now that there was a life on the line it seemed to stretch for miles with no end in sight. It was big enough above ground, but below it stretched almost as wide. Terra moved onto the next door slower than she should have been. She should have been flying, using every AreaSteal and every PanelOut that she had until her body couldn't take anymore, but she found that it was taking all her vital force just to make herself walk. It was fear that was paralyzing her. The fear of phasing through that one door and finding…

A second later Terra's com link activated, derailing her train of though. It was Lan.

"Hey Terra, you found anything yet?" the teen asked, it was obvious from the sound of his voice that he hadn't and his own listlessness seamed to be over coming him as well.

"No," Terra replied, "I've come up empty handed."

"You haven't made much progress." Lan commented as he carried on the conversation, taking notice of his friend's position, as opposed to where she startled.

"I know," Terra mentioned with a measure of guilt, "I just can't bring myself to move any faster, what if we're too late? What if I open that door and I find-"

Lan interrupted her.

"Terra you can't think like that," Lan stated as he intervened, "we might find that but, she also might be safe and closer than we think, she might be near you, and if you don't move faster, we might lose her."

"But if it does happen Regal'll win. This will destroy us. It'll snuff out our soul."

Lan thought over Terra cryptic statement but quickly caught on.

"They might be listening you know."

"I'm very well aware of that Lan, but I'm not in the mood to sugarcoat this reality. If we don't make it, her dying a second time will wipe Chaud and Emery off the map. And we won't survive as a team without them. A body is dead without it's soul, it'll be like having a Justice League without a Batman. And truth be told I won't be able to handle seeing Chaud's broken again."

"Then do something about it." Lan said in a tone so serious and firm it rocked his friend to her core. It was something that neither one of them had ever heard before.

Terra's hand was about to touch yet another door knob when a second voice came through her com link. The message making her heart begin a marathon.

It was Zypher.

"We got her."

TBC