Disclaimer: I don't own any Battle Cards and Star Force characters. I do own a few original characters.

Chapter 10: Thoughts

At a bank in the city of Echo Ridge, the workers are confused at what's going on with their computer system. The money within the bank's computer is slowly dwindling away. They have no idea what's going on as they try their best to prevent the money from being stolen. However, the system isn't responding to their commands.

Inside the bank's computer space, two EM Wave Beings are duking each other out. The two beings are Yusei in his Mega Man form and the Jammer. Why is Yusei fighting against the Jammer? He happens to be in the area during his training and saw the Jammer entering the bank's computer space. He enters the computer space to stop the Jammer for whatever it was doing, which is stealing money.

"I'm not letting you to steal any money!" Yusei shouted as he inserts the Wide Sword Battle Card to transform his arm into a wide, double-edge, green energy sword.

The Jammer cackles like a mad man. "Money is everything! Money is life! If I don't have any money, I will die!" The Jammer transforms his arm into a machine gun and rapid fires at Yusei.

At the speed of those rapid firing bullets are coming, any normal person wouldn't dodge them as fast as those bullets. However, thanks to the weeks of training against many viruses, Yusei can see the bullets slowing down in his perspective and quickly dodges and use his sword to block the bullets coming at him. Then he runs towards the Jammer while blocking the bullets. When he got close to his enemy, he uses his sword to cut the Jammer's machine gun arm off.

The Jammer screams, "No! My arm! My arm! You cut off my arm!"

"Yusei!" Omega-Xis shouted. "Don't hesitate! Keep on the pressure!"

Yusei gritted his teeth as he inserts the gold Battle Card into his Transer. His body glows along with the belt as the belt's voice shouted, "Sword Finisher! Mega Slash!"

In a blinding speed, Yusei slashes the Jammer to the point where the Jammer fell onto his knees in pain. When Yusei gives the Jammer a final slash at the chest, which finishes his enemy off. The Jammer explodes into bits of data until there's nothing left of that person, leaving Yusei to be sadden at what he have done.

"That person is going to be fine," said Omega-Xis. "But right now, I think we need to return the money back to where it belongs."

Yusei sighs as he responds, "I don't need you to tell me that."

He walks up at the main internal system of the bank's computer space and started to type in some code. After a few typing, the system returns back to normal and the money that the Jammer stole returns to where it belongs. Omega-Xis activates the Pulse-Out command to get Yusei out of the bank's computer space as his body glows blue and he transforms a beam shooting up at the sky.

Yusei transforms back into his human self and he is currently walking next to a public park. He sighs and said, "Mega, what's the difference between the Jammer and the FMians?"

"We fought Taurus three days ago and you never even bother to ask me that!" Omega-Xis exclaims.

Yes, it's true. It has been three days since the Taurus incident and it's now the weekends, which Yusei takes advantage of by training. Since he took three days off resting his body, he thought that using the weekends to train is a perfect idea, until the Jammer shows up and ruin that idea.

Omega-Xis explains, "Unlike FMians who would find their hosts to take over, viruses immediately fused into their hosts without talking to them. Though it depends on the host's emotion."

"Their emotions…?"

"Yes… You fought two Jammers and did you notice their behavior."

Yusei scratches his cheek as he remembers the Jammers' behavior. The first one he fought was a car thief and the recent one was pretty much a robber.

"Humans are emotional creatures. If their emotion blinds their judgment, then they can be easily taken over. FMians can do the same thing, but they can't fully taken over their host like the viruses; they need to take their time to slowly taken full control of their host's body during the fusion."

"Does that mean that you can take control of me just like your FMian enemies?"

"Unfortunately, no. For some reason, I can't steal your body like my enemies can. There must be something that blocks my ability to do so." Then the alien continues his explanation about the Jammers. "Another difference between the Jammers and FMians is how they're defeated. Remember when you rescue Bud. The Jammers can't leave behind their human host to where they're defeated, but rather leave them back in the real world thirty feet away from where they're defeated."

"Thirty feet?" Yusei is shock to hear that. "If that's the case, I would've seen the Jammer's host to know if he's okay."

"You don't need to be worried about their injuries. If they do get injured, then it would have been all over the news by now."

Yusei sits at a nearby park bench and just stares up at the sky. "But still," he said, "it would be good to know that sort of information. By the way, this has been bugging me for a while now. How do the Jammers and FMians pick their hosts?"

Omega-Xis answers, "They pick their hosts from their Wave Frequency."

"Their Wave Frequency? I guess I understand that human brain waves are a bit similar to EM Waves, but I'm pretty sure that their Wave Frequency don't add up with the whole EM Wave Change thing!"

"You're forgetting that there are many different types of EM Waves with different Wave Frequencies. Who can say anything about EM Wave aliens?"

"… You do have a point there." Yusei feels a bit dejected when he starts to think about the different EM Waves with different Wave Frequencies.

"However, you're different from the rest of the humans. You don't emit any sort of Wave Frequency."

Yusei tilts his head. "I don't have a Wave Frequency…? Why is that?"

"I don't know," the alien spoke, "but without a Wave Frequency, you can EM Wave Change with other EM Wave Beings like the FMians."

"Really?" he yawns. "That's interesting… How come I have this sort of regret of not getting something out of Taurus when I defeated him?"

Yusei starts mumbling some things that are popping out of his mind, which made him too distracted to notice someone approaching him from behind. This mysterious figure slowly approaches Yusei without making any loud sounds. The figure's hands slowly approaches over Yusei's head as that mysterious person covers his eyes, which surprises him.

"Who is it?" Yusei gasps at the fact that he lets his guard down for this person to cover his eyes. "Why do you blind me?"

He heard that person giggling and it sounded like a young woman's voice. This person whispers, "I know that you are Sonia's classmate who just treat her like a normal person. She's a famous person, yet you treat her like that. So I'm curious what kind of a person you are."

Yusei thinks this person may be a fan of Sonia Strumm and just jealous of him being friendly to her. He grits his teeth and asks, "Who are you?"

The person lets go of his eyes as he turns to see the person is a teenage girl. She wears a grey hoodie, a black skirt, black shoes, black-tinted glasses, and a green Transer on her left arm. She giggles and said, "I'm Nao Iwatani! It's great to finally meet you, Yusei Light!"

"How do you know who I am?" Yusei becomes a bit defensive as he glares at the girl, Nao.

Nao, not knowing why he's on the defense, tilts her head. "Your sister told me your name and I kind of ask Sonia about what you look like. I think your sister must have told you about the collaboration event the other day."

Yusei lowers his guard and gain his calm composure. He said, "Oh yeah! My sister did told me about that event… I'm sorry for my early behavior, I just don't like people sneaking up on me."

Nao giggles at Yusei's response. "Your reaction to my surprise attack is funny though. By the way, what are you doing here?"

"I was just taking a little stroll to kill some time," he lies with a smile on his face. "What about you?"

"Same here, since today's my day off." She sits next to Yusei and continues the conversation. "It's kind of weird coincidence meeting each other like this."

Yusei scratches his head. "What are the odds?"

"It's too bad that Sonia doesn't have a day off like me, but I guess being world famous is extremely stressful. I'm amazed that Sonia still keeps her self together!"

Yusei chuckles. "I can't help but agree with you, despite that I have no idea that she was that famous before!"

"Say what?" Nao gasps out of shock. "Wait! Why am I surprise? Sonia did tell me that you have no idea how famous she is!" Then she moves a bit closer to Yusei and just stares at his face.

He becomes a bit startled of her approach as he asks, "Why are you moving a bit closer to me?"

"You're a good person! I can tell from your eyes!" She giggles when she said that.

His eyebrow twitches in response. "What do you mean by that?"

She explains, "I can judge a person's character from their eyes. And by judging from your eyes, I can tell that you would never betray Sonia's trust!"

"Why would I betray Sonia's trust?"

"It's because you're a teenage boy and your hormones would probably hurt her feelings," she just bluntly said.

Yusei sighs. "I understand your point, but I will never do such a thing. Though it will be hard for me to be her true friend because of her idol status. I really don't like being hounded down by fans and paparazzi."

Then a chiming sound came from Yusei's Transer. Yusei knows that he receives an email as he decides to check the contents. The sender who sends the email is Geo Stelar, Yusei's best friend. The email said:

Yusei!

I have finally got my dad to give me the concepts of the Matter Wave Project so I'm attaching them to this email. He was really surprise when I told him that you want these concepts to create your own assistant. Dad and I hope you don't cause an explosion in your new home.

After reading this email, Yusei just laughs out of enjoyment, which surprises Nao. "That guy thinks he's so funny!" he exclaims. Yusei remembers when he first brought Geo to his old home in Echo Ridge and the two boys got caught in an explosion when Yusei was showing off one of his inventions to him.

Nao has no idea why he's laughing like that. "Um, are you okay?"

"Oh! I'm sorry for my laughter! I just received an email from my friend, Geo… that's all."

"I understand." She smiles like a child as she somewhat understands why he is laughing. Then she saw something up at the sky and ask, "What's that?"

Yusei looks up and saw a person with wings that is flying at the height of 50 feet. At first he thought that he saw an angel or something, but looking at that person carefully, that person is wearing a backpack with big wings. The two teenagers both wonder what's going on as they continue to watch the flying man. Then they notice the flying man is wobbling as if he's losing altitude, which he is and they saw him falling.

Nao screams, "He's going to fall!"

Yusei runs as he pulls out a blue tennis ball from his vest. He squeezes the ball until white stripes appear on it. He tosses the ball at the ground where the man is going to fall as that ball absorbs the air around it. The ball then expands into a huge blue air cushion and it is able to save the man's life from falling. Nao felt relief to see that the man is safe as she catches up to Yusei.

As Yusei pulls the man out of the big air cushion, he checks his pulse to find that it is normal. He also places his ear on the man's chest to hear that his heart is beating normally and he's definitely breathing. Then he pushes a button to turn that big air cushion back into a ball and puts it back into his vest pocket.

"Yusei!" Nao calls his name. "Is that man, okay?"

Yusei smiles. " Don't worry, he's fine. It seems like he fainted during the fall." He inspects the man's clothing to find out that he's wearing an AMAKEN uniform. "What's an AMAKEN worker doing out here?"

He takes a closer look at the backpack with wings to notice that it is some sort of jetpack with wings. Yusei figures that this man must be testing out this jetpack, but he wonders why doesn't the man put in some sort of safety device that saves him from falling. As Yusei tries to inspect the jetpack, the man wakes up and immediately stops him from inspecting the device.

The man screams, "What are you doing?" And he immediately grabs the jetpack away from Yusei and holds it in his arms.

Yusei takes a step back from the scream. "Whoa! Calm down! I'm just inspecting your jetpack, there's nothing to worry about."

"Yeah right!" the man exclaims out of disbelief of Yusei's words. "I bet you try to steal it, weren't you? I won't let you have my Flappack!"

Hearing the device's name, the two teenagers think it's a stupid name. Both Yusei and Nao explain to the man that Yusei saves his life before he dies from falling. Then they introduce their selves to the man, but the man is being too defensive. They even try asking for his name, but he refuses to say anything.

Yusei rubs his temple because the man's outburst is irritating him. He calmly asks, "Is that the way to treat the people who saved you from falling? If I hadn't saved you, you would have been dead with a concussion and your invention would be stolen after your 'death'."

The man looks down in a sad way as he thinks that Yusei's reasoning is right. He said, "I'm sorry… My name is Tom Dubius and I work for AMAKEN. Thank you for saving me."

Nao smiles. "There… was that so hard?"

"Well then, Mr. Dubius… can I ask you one thing?" Tom looks at Yusei who puts on a gentle smile on his face. "How come your Flappack didn't have a safety device? I mean you would have died if I hadn't been in the area, so I thought that I should ask."

Tom looks at his device. "That's strange… I could have sworn that I did install the safety parachute…"

"Maybe it malfunctions…" Nao spoke the first thing that pops out her mind.

"That could be it…" Tom nods in agreement of Nao's words. But then he gasps and shouts, "It's not like I'm agreeing with you, thieves! I won't let you steal my invention!" The man leaves the area in a quick pace, leaving the two teenagers dumbfound.

Nao looks angry as she said, "What's his problem? He acts like a paranoid nutcase!"

Yusei couldn't argue with her, but he couldn't be angry at Tom's behavior. He knows that there are times when people's creation got stolen and being credited by someone else. He remembers reading reports about many owners got call out to court about their creations. Some have succeeded with their defense, while others lose their business. Yusei understands Tom's behavior, but he wishes that Tom could put some trust into people.

"What's the device that you have just thrown?" Nao asks and according from her tone, she has calm down.

"That was my Cushion Ball," he answers, "like my Spy Birds, this can be activated when I squeeze the ball. Once the ball is thrown, it absorbs the air to expand the ball to the size of a safety cushion."

"But why do you bring it with you?"

Yusei scratches his head as he answer, "I was planning to test its water-riding capabilities, but it looks like I can't use it again because it's a one-day use. It needs to be recharge for 24 hours after being used, but I got school tomorrow."

Nao smiles, but then becomes sad when she notices the time. "I'm sorry, Yusei, but I have to cut our time hanging out short because I promise my mom that I will help her clean the house before noon. However, before I leave, can I form a Brother-Band with you?"

Yusei gasps, "Huh? Why me?"

Nao giggles at Yusei's reaction. "I just find you a bit interesting since you're friends with Sonia."

"Even though you say that, I didn't even form a Brother-Band with Sonia. I form Brother-Bands with Geo's friends, but never with Sonia."

She tilts her head. "How come?"

He smiles as he answers, "It's because I don't want people to get the wrong idea. If rumors were to spread about my relationship with her, then her image as an idol would be ruined and I would be harass by her fans."

"I don't think Sonia would care about her idol image."

"But that doesn't stop the fans from harassing me because of my relationship with her. I know that sooner or later, I would be harassed by the students at my school."

Nao becomes a bit afraid at the moment she sees Yusei's serious face. Even though she understands his reason, she wanted to know why this guy makes a face that screams out intimidation.

Yusei notices her reaction and quickly relaxes his face. "I'm sorry for that, I didn't mean to make that sort of face. Also, I don't want to form a Brother-Band with you because of my reason."

"I understand, but can you promise me one thing. Can you please be with Sonia whenever she's down?"

Yusei smiles as he answers, "I promise. I may even break my reason and form a Brother-Band with her if I want. So you don't need to worry." Nao thanks Yusei and left the area with a satisfied look on her face.

As soon as he's alone, Omega-Xis spoke, "You also scared me when you make that face and I'm from a warring planet where my kind keeps killing each other."

Yusei didn't respond to that remark. In fact, he chose not to respond because even he's surprise that he made such a face. He wonders if he is just venting his anger out on someone or he is just subconsciously doing it for no apparent reason. It is unlike him to scare people like that, unless it's for a Halloween Party or if his friends drag him into something he doesn't want to do. Yusei decided to go back home and look at the data that he recieves from Geo.

When Yusei returns home, he heard his sister's voice. "Welcome home, Yusei!" she shouted. Ayane has the day off today to relax her six-day workload at Times Square's clothing store.

"Welcome home, Yusei!" said another voice.

Yusei gasps because he and his sister are the only ones living here. He also notices the black shoes in the entranceway and that voice doesn't belong to Geo or any of his recent friends. But he does know whose voice it is and he is happy to hear that voice again.

He rushes to the living room to see his sister talking to a young man. The man has short black hair with a white streak on his bangs and he has pale skin. He wears a red leather jacket, black shirt, and long cargo pants. On his waist is a leather belt that has a skull on its buckle and a red Transer on his left arm.

"Alan!" Yusei happily shouts as he runs up to him.

This man is Alan Pryde and he's a twenty-year-old Satella Police officer from Harmony Town. Yusei met him when he first started middle school and Alan was in training. They hang out most of the time, though most of their time together was actually Alan asking Yusei for some blunt advice whenever he was stuck on a problem. The last time they saw each other was at the airport when Yusei and Ayane move to Echo Ridge City. Yusei wonders why Alan is here as he asks him his reason.

Alan answers, "The higher-ups from Harmony Town's Satella Police transfer me to Each Ridge City's Satella Police. At first I want to refuse, but I thought that I may need your help soon."

"When you get here?" Yusei asks.

"Just last night, so I may be a bit sleepy right now. By the Ayane, where do you get this oolong tea? It's delicious!"

Ayane giggles. "I didn't get them. Yusei bought them from the supermarket yesterday and I appreciate him for getting them."

Yusei chuckles and mutters, "They were on sale though, that's why I bought them."

"Did you say something, Yusei?" Ayane asks, but Yusei rapidly shook his head.

Alan decides to change the subject by asking, "Ayane how are you paying for this house? I know you got a job, but I don't think a weekly paycheck would pay for it. Even your life savings couldn't afford it. Are you using your parents' life insurance?"

Yusei glares at Alan and that made him jump from his seat. "Don't interrogate my sister!" he said as he grabs Alan's shoulder and squeezes it as if he's crushing it.

Ayane finds this situation amusing and just laughs to see Yusei acting so intimidating. She stops her laughing and she ends the situation by answering Alan's question. She said, "I am using our parents' life insurance because there's no way I can afford this house. I pick this house over a small one because I know my brother need some spaces for his inventions and other things he received."

When Alan and Ayane turn their gaze at Yusei, he scratches his head and just looks away. He looks a bit embarrass because he knows what the two grown-ups are remembering that his uncle gave him a room-sized laboratory for him to make some inventions, though most of his inventions are from his friends' requests and/or his interests. He left behind those inventions when he moves to this household, but he did bring the smaller ones because they don't take too much space. However, that doesn't mean that Yusei would probably end up making even more crazy inventions.

They continue to talk some more, but during at that time, Omega-Xis is watching through Yusei's Transer. He notices something odd about Alan, which is that he is not emitting any Wave Frequencies. The alien doesn't understand why that Alan is the second one to be not emitting any sort of Wave Frequencies. He wonders why he Alan is like Yusei with Wave Frequencies, but he shrugs it off as he just takes a short nap.

Tom Dubius returns to AMAKEN with his Flappack in a package box. When he goes into the laboratory room, he saw Aaron talking to Kevin Stelar. Kevin is a muscular man and he has slick, brown spiky hair. His face looks like an older version of Geo Stelar, his son.

Kevin notices Tom entering the room and he said, "Hey, Tom! Do you need any help with that box?"

Tom looks away Kevin's smile and he replies, "No, that's okay. I can handle this myself." He walks in the room with the box, but he trips and Kevin quickly stops his falling, preventing Tom from dropping the box and its content.

Aaron spoke, "Tom, you can't do things on your own. There are times when you need friends to help you out."

Tom pulls out the box away from Kevin's hands and said, "Stop lecturing me! I don't need friends! I can't trust anyone with my projects!"

Kevin sadly looks at him and he sighs as if he's telling him some bad news. "Tom… I don't know how to say this, but the Chief Director is not too happy with your performance lately."

"Huh?" Tom gasps in shock. "Why? I demand an explanation!"

Kevin explains that some of Tom's inventions haven't impressed the Chief Director for the three years that he started working in AMAKEN. Some of Tom's inventions have keep him from being fired, but the Chief Director doesn't like how Tom isn't impressing him with some new innovative inventions for the general public. Kevin warns Tom that if he doesn't create an innovative invention within the four weeks, he's fired from his job.

This shocks Tom as he fells down to the floor. "No way…" he's voice trembles. "I'm going to be fired… But that can't be… Where on Earth am I going to work now? I lost my previous job at Astro Tech Company and if I get fired, who would take me…"

Both Kevin and Aaron are worried about Tom. They try to approach him, but Tom shoves them away and runs into the deepest parts of the laboratory.

"Poor, Tom…" Aaron sadly spoke. "If only he could let us help him…"

"It can't be helped, Aaron…" Kevin stares at the place where Tom has run with a serious look on his face. "You remember how Tom lost his previous job. He lost his job because his colleague stole his invention and gotten all the credit, while Tom lost everything. If you hadn't met him that one night of going into an restaurant, he wouldn't have gotten this job."

Aaron nods his head. "Yeah… and he was grateful at the time, but now he has a tough time to trust in people. He's doubting his coworkers because of that traumatic experience of someone you trust ends up betraying you."

Kevin decides to change the subject. "I heard that Geo's teacher, Mr. Shepar, asks the Chief Director for a field trip here."

"Yeah," Aaron spoke with a smile, "I told him that it's a great idea since it we would be debuting an outer space display! It would definitely amaze your son and his friends!"

Kevin chuckles. "So the outer space display has been completed for the public! Now everyone can experience space just like all of the astronauts did!"

According to Aaron, the field trip is going to happen in the next four days, so it gives them time to prepare the exhibits. He tells Kevin that he has to go and prepare the exhibit for the field trip and the things he needs to speak. Kevin, on the other hand, decides to talk to Tom about his situation.

He walks to the place where Tom is and he saw Tom slowly removing his Flappack out of the box. "Tom, what are you doing?" he shouted, which surprises him and made him jump a little.

Tom quickly hides the Flappack in the box and turns to Kevin. He becomes a bit wary of Kevin as he said, "What do you want, Mr. Stelar? If you're going to lecture me about getting help, then just leave me alone!"

"Tom," Kevin gently spoke, "I understand that you can't trust anyone, but looking at your current situation, getting help is one of the options to prevent your fate." Tom didn't say anything to retort Kevin's claims. "Do you know the reason why the Brother-Band system existed in the first place?"

"So that people can keep in contact with each other… I don't know…"

"Well, there's that… but that's not the only thing that the Brother-Band can do. The Brother-Band exists to help people to form a powerful bond between them. That bond gives us the strength we need to face the dangers of the future. I know that you don't want to trust people because of what happen before, but I want you to trust me and Aaron and let us help you, okay?"

Kevin raises his hand towards Tom with a warm smile on his face, which made Tom warier. Although Tom admires Kevin's passion about the Brother-Band, he doesn't want to put his trust in him and Aaron because he doubts their kindness. However, seeing Kevin's smile has warm Tom's heart and he shakes his hands.

"Fine, I let you guys help me." Tom smiles with Kevin as he shows Kevin his Flappack.

After having dinner at Yusei's place, Alan leaves and thanks the two siblings for having him for dinner. Ayane drops at the couch and turns on the TV. On the TV is the news channel telling a breaking story of a mysterious cyber bank robbery that has happen earlier today. The bank workers were baffled to see the money was slowly draining away from their cyber safe, but they were relief that the money have gotten back. No one knows why the money was slowly being gone and then later to be returned, but Yusei knows the truth because he was there.

"At least the news have stop talking about Mega Man," Ayane spoke in a happy tone. "I swear the news likes to shove this Mega Man person down our throats so we see him as a hero."

Yusei chuckles at his sister's honesty and started to ask her a question. "What do you think about this Mega Man guy?"

"I think he's a great guy for helping people when they're in danger, but I sometimes wonder about his family. Do they know about what Mega Man has been doing? And if they do know, would that worry them?"

Yusei knows what she's talking about. What Mega Man, or Yusei for that matter, is doing means that he's risking his life. If something were to happen with him, his sister would be worried, which is pretty evident from when she saw his injuries from before.

She turns to Yusei and she asks, "What do you think about Mega Man?"

Yusei doesn't know what to say about Mega Man since he and him are one of the same people. Deep down in his mind, he wants to voice out his opinion about his Mega Man self, but he wonders what he should say. He knows that he has some faults and he wants to try his best to fix them.

"I got nothing to say about him," he answers in a solemn manner. "I really want to voice my opinion about him, but I don't want the media to influence my judgment. So until I can say anything about this Blue Warrior, I must gauge him through my own eyes and my knowledge about heroes."

Ayane is happy to hear that her little brother is acting mature for his age. Even though Yusei lies to her, he manages to worm his way out of the conversation in the hopes of not revealing his Mega Man identity. Omega-Xis finds it interesting to hear that from Yusei and he wonders what is going in his mind. Yusei heads upstairs to his room and he goes to sleep.