Lan retrieved his bag, moaning as he lifted it from the carousel.
"My arms still ache." he said. Megaman stretched his, pulling them back as pain ran up and down them.
"Well, you can't say we weren't warned!" he said. Lan mumbled something unintelligible under his breath. He tugged his bag across the airport floor.
"Where is everybody? I thought my friends said they would meet me when I came back." he said. Megaman scratched his cheek.
"The Mirage is still up, Lan. They're probably worried about more mechanaloids appearing and stayed home." he said. Lan groaned. Model H sighed.
'Is he always like this?' he asked.
'Lan can seem dense at times, but he has a good heart. I trust him.' Model X said. Model H made a small scoffing noise, but once again, Megaman couldn't help but feel that Model H knew what Model X was saying was right. Lan pulled his bag towards the entrance when the flight board started buzzing with static. Lan groaned.
"Now viruses? I'm done!" he complained. Several other people in the airport looked up at the screen and the face slowly clearing through the static.
"*Kzzt* Chosen One. *kzzt.*" Lan nearly dropped his bag.
"Eh?!" he said, staring at the screen. The static cleared entirely, revealing a figure with green hair staring down at him with red eyes.
"I know your names. I know you stopped the plane. You've stopped too many of my plans." he said. Lan gritted his teeth.
"Who is that?" he exclaimed. Megaman tensed too.
"I don't know, be careful, Lan!" he said. The green-haired figure stared.
"Tch, the only thing that will be useful from you is your genetic code." he said. The windows and doors of the airport all burst open with a mass of shattering glass as mechanloids piled in. Everybody started screaming and running away. Lan spun around, eyes going wide.
"What are all of these doing here?" he asked. Arms still aching, he reached into his pockets.
"Model X! Model H! Double-" Lan cried out as a mechanaloid slammed into him from behind. The Biometals flew out of his weakened grip and slid across the floor.
'Lan!' Model X called out. He and Model H floated up and cried out when a mechanaloid grabbed them. Lan forced himself up.
"Guys!" he exclaimed. Megaman wished he stayed outside the PET.
"Lan! Above you!" he called out. Lan rolled aside from a mechanloid's punch just in time. He looked up at the big things, gritting his teeth. A metallic claw grabbed him by the cuff of his vest and yanked him up. Lan struggled.
"Hey! Put me down!" he said, looking down at the taloned mech. The mechanaloid smacked him on the side of his head. Megaman felt worry growing inside him as Lan fell silent.
"Lan? Lan! Lan answer me!" he exclaimed. He looked over to the side, seeing the mechanaloid holding onto Model X and Model H. Model X 'looked' at him, flashing his glow worriedly.
'Megaman, you have to protect Lan. You have to-' The screen turned off, and Megaman's eyes started feeling very, very heavy. He struggled to stay awake, but the PET wouldn't give him energy anymore. He slumped to the ground without anything to cousin his fall.
"Lan... Model... X..." he whispered and let the darkness wash over him.
Lan woke up with a splitting headache.
"Ah! What was that for? They didn't need to whack me on the head!" he said. He paused, looking around. He was in a clean, small, cell-looking room. Only one light was on, and it glowed dimly. Lan stood up, setting his hands on the thin bars keeping him from the hall. He felt them tingle with electricity, and cried out when they zapped him. Lan stuck a particularity buzzed finger into his mouth.
"What is this place? Eh? Megaman?" He looked down at the PET holder, finding it empty. Instantly he started to panic. "Megaman? Megaman where are you?" he called out.
'Quiet down.' Lan stopped. The rough, battle-ready voice sounded really close this time. 'Your friend has been taken away by Grave's Chosen Ones, as have the Biometals.' Lan turned around, facing into the room.
"What? Who are you?" he asked. The flap of a small air vent was nudged open, and a red Biometal floated into the room. He stared at Lan with powerful blue eyes.
'I am Model Z. You probably haven't heard of me. Knowing Model X, he doesn't talk about the past very much.' he said. Lan stepped towards the Biometal.
"No, not really. He did mention you, once." he said. He reached out his hands to hold Model Z, and the red Biometal pulled back.
'There's no time for talk. As we speak, Grave has sent out his Chosen Ones against Electopia and is trying to use Model W to corrupt your friend, and your Biometals.' he said. He floated past Lan. Lan got the feeling he was ignoring him. 'If we work together, I can get you out, and we can rescue them.' he said. Lan stepped up to the bars.
"Model Z? How come you know all this?" he asked. Model Z turned around.
'I was discovered by Grave's leader before this even started to build a tracker of sorts. Model W has been leaning heavily on his shoulder for the past few months. Fortunately, that Biometal hates me so much it doesn't feel like corrupting me. I've been stuck in the base's premises ever since. Grave doesn't have a new use for me. Yet.' he said. He slipped through the bars, ignoring the electricity. 'I can lead you to your friend first. Will the two of you be able to get to Model X together?' he asked. Lan grinned.
"Definitely!" he said. Model Z glowed, almost smirking.
'I'll hold you to that.' he said, and the bars slid up. Model Z floated next to Lan's shoulder. 'Now hurry. Grave's going to try corrupting you once he's done with everybody else.' he said. Lan pulled his skates out from his bag and slipped them on.
"I won't let them do that to me, or anybody else close to me. Let's go!" he exclaimed, and pushed off from his skates.
Megaman felt the tendrils of darkness snaking in. He fired his MegaBuster again and again, trying to hold them back.
'Give up... Give up...' the dark voice whispered. Megaman kept firing, body rigid.
"No I won't! Not while Lan is still out there! I know he'll come!" he exclaimed. The tendrils twitched for a moment, mindlessly.
'Give up!' the voice yelled, tendrils shooting out much more forcefully. Megaman cried out as them slammed into his body. He rolled some ways, panting as he struggled to get up. He aimed the MegaBuster, watching the tendrils get closer, and closer and-
"Barrier!" Megaman laughed in relief as he heard Lan's voice.
"Lan!" he exclaimed. A screen popped up, covered in static, but it was definitely Lan.
"I'm here, Megaman!" he said.
'The system trying to corrupt him has a central core. If that can be destroyed, the PET will release from its lock.' the rough voice said. Megaman's face lit up.
"Lan! Did you find a Biometal?" he asked. Lan's grin made it through the static.
"Yup! His name is Model Z, and he helped me get out. Now, let's get you out!" he said. He slid in some Battle Chips. "Vulcan! Slot in!" he said. Megaman raised his hand up as the tendrils cracked through the Barrier. He fired off the rapid-fire shots, pushing them back. Megaman dashed forward, feeling almost invincible now that Lan was here. The dark voice still tried to get through to his mind, and it got louder as the area got brighter.
'Give up! Give up! G*kkk*iiiiiiivvvee *kkk* u-u-u-u-up!' It whirred with a high-pitched noise that made Megaman want to cover his ears. He fought back the noise, slicing forward with a WideSword. The tendrils wriggled and twitched before they disappeared into data specks. The voice pitched louder and louder, burrowing into Megaman's mind. 'Gi-i-i-i-i-i-i-vvvvvvvve u-u-u-up!' Megaman saw a pulsing, red core wrapped in tendrils. He raised the MegaBuster, ready to take a shot.
"Lan! I see it!" he said. He looked back to see a screen covered in static. Megaman felt his eyes widen ever-so-slightly at just the wrong moment. The tendrils, stronger than ever, wrapped him up. The voice screeched in his ears.
'Give up!' Megaman cried out as the buzzing got louder and louder.
"No!" he said. The screen still fuzzed, but Megaman trusted Lan was on the other side. Lan had never given up on him before, and there was no reason for him to do so now. Power came into Megaman in small bursts.
'Sword.' His crest felt warm even as the tendrils tried to crush into it.
'WideSword.' Megaman stared hard at the core, and at the one spot not covered in tendrills.
'LongSword!' Megaman called out, knowing Lan was calling out too.
"Program Advance! LifeSword!" he exclaimed. He pulled his arm up as hard as he could. His shoulder ached from earlier, but the glowing blue edge of the LifeSword still cut through. The static started to clear up on the screen, letting Lan's face appear in bursts.
"Go!" he exclaimed. Megaman landed on the ground, and raced forward as the tendrils chased after him. He leapt as they whispered at his feet. He and Lan called out a battle cry as he dove the LifeSword down into the core.
The voice screeched in pain, in loosing control.
A white crack snaked through the core, and light started welling up inside.
An explosion of light made it shatter, blowing Megaman back with the energy of bonds.
He breathed, letting the LifeSword dissipate. The core's fragments twirled in the air, almost suspended, before they shattered. The dark area started fading away to the gentle green-blue, data-streaked sky of the PET. Megaman stared up in amazement.
"A whole dark world, in my PET." he whispered. The screen cleared up entirely, and Lan hugged the PET to his body.
"Megaman!" he exclaimed. Megaman laughed, and met the hug as best he could from behind the screen.
"Lan!" he exclaimed. Model Z huffed a laugh.
'You two really are close. Reminds me of myself and Model X.' he said. Lan tilted the screen of the PET so Megaman could see the new Biometal. Model Z's eyes flashed at him. 'You deserve the name Megaman.' he said. Megaman rubbed behind his head.
"Thank you." he said, feeling the slightest bit embarrass. Model Z floated up.
'Alright, now that you're back together, it's time to free the other Biometals.' he said. Megaman looked up, meeting Lan's confident face.
"Battle routine, set!" Lan said. Megaman's face brightened.
"Execute!"
Lan slid in Battle Chips effortlessly.
"Get that virus up there!" he exclaimed. Megaman lept into the air wielding a WideSword, and cut a flying virus in half. He landed on a Fishy, riding it towards the rest of the hoard. Lan slid in some more Chips. "MiniBomb!" he exclaimed. Megaman threw the MiniBombs, wincing as the last one left his hand. Lan rubbed behind his head.
"Ah, sorry. I forgot your arms still hurt. Here's a Recovery!" he said. Megaman smiled back towards him.
"Thanks, Lan." he said. He stepped up to a security panel, bringing it up. "This might be tripped with an alarm. If something goes wrong, we'll have to run right away." he said. Lan nodded, face tense.
"Got it." he said. Megaman typed carefully, testing the limits of the program. Model Z hovered closer.
'I can sense the others behind this door.' he said. He hovered right next to the door, almost like he was setting a hand on it. Lan looked at Model Z.
"Model Z? How come you didn't talk to me and Megaman very much?" he asked. Model Z turned his gaze towards Lan.
'It's because I still miss my Chosen One.' he said. Lan smiled a little.
"We can try and find him if you want!" he said. Model Z glanced aside.
'No, it's not that simple. My Chosen One died a long time ago. I lent my powers to Vent, Model X's original Chosen One, by his dying request.' he said. He looked up. 'It's hard to find somebody I'm compatible with. I didn't speak out much. Only to tell you things that I thought were important.' he said. Lan stared.
"Like finding Model X." he said. Model Z 'nodded,' and turned towards the door.
'We're good friends. Save him.' he said. Lan nodded. A cheery ding came from the PET, and Lan looked down. Megaman smiled wide.
"I've got it, Lan! Try the doors now!" he said. Lan reached out a hand for the doorknob, and twisted it open. He smiled.
"Yes! We did it!" he said, jacking Megaman out. Model Z pushed open the door cautiously. A scream ripped through the room, making Lan and Megaman wince. Lan shoved the door open, and stared at a giant machine that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Two glass tubes were stuck in a console, and purple sparks arced through them. Model X and Model H, looking worse for the wear, hovered in the tubes, trying to fight against the sparks. Model X looked at Lan, glowing.
'Lan!' he said. He cried out again as another spark coursed through his body. Model Z hovered over.
'Model X!' he said. Model H pulsed a glow.
'Model Z? What? No, nevermi-augh!' Lan raced up, yanking out the jack-in cable.
"We're going to stop this right now! Jack-in, Megaman! Execute!" he exclaimed. Megaman raced through the connection, landing in an unstable dark world. He fired off the MegaBuster at some tendrils.
"It's just like what was in my PET!" he said. The tendrils turned slowly away from the two lights they were working at shattering, and stared at him. Lan slid in some Battle Chips.
"AreaSteal! FlameSword! Slot-in!" he exclaimed. Megaman jumped into the air, gaining ground with the AreaSteal. He got behind the tendrils, and slashed them at their base with a blazing blade. The lights pulsed, still struggling. Lan glanced up, hearing alarms blaring. He gritted his teeth. "Hurry, Megaman! Something set the alarm off!" he said. Megaman raced forward, searching for the core. Bigger tendrils erupted from the shifting ground. Megaman fired off shots at them.
"Roger!" he said. He jumped over a tendril, and slammed his hand down on the ground. "WoodTower!" he exclaimed. Spikes of wood jutted up from the ground, clearing a path for Megaman as they sunk back in. Megaman dashed towards a pulsing, evil light. Lan slid in three Cannon Chips.
"Program Advance! GigaCannon!" he exclaimed along with Megaman. Megaman fired the pulse at the core, shattering it with light just as the last one. Now the alarms blared in full. The sparks stopped zapping Model X and Model H, and they tiredly fell to the floor. The cases pulled up, and Lan climbed onto the console to pull the Biometals towards him.
"We've got you!" he said. Model X and Model H pulsed faintly.
'That was too close.' Model X whispered. Model H's glow was the slightest bit harsh.
'I have an awful feeling of deja vu.' he said. Model Z hovered over both of them.
'You don't have to remind me.' he said. Model X seemed to smile.
'Model Z! You're alright.' he said. Model Z bumped Model X like a friendly shoulder thump.
'Like always.' he said. Model H sighed.
'Model Z.' he said curtly. Model Z looked at him.
'Model H.' he said back. Model X just sighed at the both of them. Megaman waved in a panic from the computer screen.
"The alarms, remember! We need to get out of here, wherever 'here' is." he said. Lan jacked out Megaman.
"Ah! Right! Let's Double Megamerge and fly out!" he said. Model X was quiet.
'...Lan, that machine took away a lot of my energy. It's not enough to fight our way out of here.' he said. Model Z looked up.
'I'll lead the way, get you out of here.' he said, and floated towards the door. He turned around. 'Are you coming?' he asked, giving Lan a glare. Lan stowed Megaman's PET carefully in its place.
"I'm coming I'm coming!" he said, and skated after the red Biometal. Model Z lead him past the blaring alarms. Shimmering lights started to appear all throughout the room. Model Z did not look pleased.
'They'll be coming any moment.' he said. He bumped against a door. 'Open it.' he ordered Lan. Lan shuffled Model X and Model H to one hand so he could get the door open. A dimly-lit staircase stood below him. Model Z nodded. 'Down there. There's a parking garage underneath.' he said. Lan sprinted down, holding one Biometal in each hand.
"A parking garage?" he asked. Model Z hovered next to his shoulder.
'I think the place is an old apartment, or department store. I don't know for certain.' he said. Lan sprinted down the stairs, ignoring Megaman's attempts to get him to take off his skates. Lan skipped the last couple steps on the stairwell, panting hard. He pushed off from the floor, seeing huge, concrete pillars supporting the ceiling overhead. Mechanaloids started swarming the garage, one of them lifting a car and trying to toss it at Lan. Lan swerved out of the way, skating behind a pillar. The car hit it, cracking it slightly. Model H pulsed.
'Do you want to bring this whole building down?' he asked. Lan grimaced sheepishly.
"Sorry! I didn't mean for that." he said. He skated even faster towards a steel, rolling door. "The exit!" he exclaimed. They were nearly there! Footsteps away from making it to the door, three figures appeared in front of it. A big, bulky one, a short, shadowy one, and a slight, graceful one.
"Lan." the graceful one said. Lan skidded to a stop, and gaped. He knew this voice!
"Maylu?" he exclaimed. He looked at the big figure and the way he smirked at him. "Dex?!" he said. He looked at the short one, and the way her scarf trailed behind her like a pair of huge braids. "Yai!" he said. Megaman gasped.
"Lan! They're all Megamerged!" he exclaimed. Dex cracked his knuckles.
"That's right!" he said. Yai smirked her slight smile.
"All this power, it feels so good." she said. Lan stared.
"Power?" he said. He looked at Maylu. She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Her eyes...
"We can't let you leave, Lan, it goes against our orders." she said. Her eyes were tainted red. Lan took a small step back.
"Orders?" he asked. Model Z floated in front of him.
'All three of them are under the influence of Model W. Sorry, I didn't know they were friends of yours.' Model X gleamed slightly.
'Model L, Model F, Model P, I can't hear their voices.' he said. Lan held the Biometals tightly.
"Ne, how much power can you guys give us?" he asked.
'Enough for a straight burst through the door, and enough flight to get you far away from this place. That's only if you don't get stuck fighting.' Model H said. Megaman frowned worriedly.
"Lan, leave me behind. I can stall your friends and give you enough time to get away." he said. Lan stared at him.
"No way, Megaman! I'm not leaving you!" he said. Maylu twirled the ice-blue spear she was holding.
"We all know you wouldn't. Come on, Lan." she said. Dex pumped a fist.
"You know about all this power, we can do anything we want with it!" he said. Yai nodded proudly.
"I just wish you weren't so stubborn, then you'd just come to us without fighting." she said. Lan gritted his teeth. Model Z's eyes gleamed.
'Completely corrupted. I have no issue bringing you down.' he said. Model Z started to glow. Model X weakly looked up.
'I should stop being surprised at this, Model Z...' he said. Model Z's glow intensified.
'You should. Lan! Megaman! I'm paralyzing these three for as long as I can. Use it!' he said. Lan and Megaman stared. Megaman tightened his fists.
"But what about you?" he asked.
'He's somehow always fine. Do it!' Model H said. Lan reluctantly crossed his arms, and raised the Biometals.
"Model X! Model H! Double Megamerge!" he exclaimed. Model X's and Model H's eyes gleamed.
'MEGA System, online. Overdrive Invoke System active.' they said. The flash pushed back his friends just long enough, and Lan spread his wings. He looked at them all, and their wide, paralyzed eyes.
"Everyone..." he whispered. He gritted his teeth, and turned on the sabres. He charged right at the door, slashing it open in an x-shape. The sky ahead was dark, and glittery with stars. Lan stared down, not even quite sure where he was. Megaman appeared with the hologram.
"Lan, I'll navigate us. You just worry about flying." he said. Lan nodded, not all there.
"All of them... Where did they get Biometals?" he mumbled as he soared away into the night sky.
Lan stumbled, and tripped as he landed in the park. He practically collasped on the ground, panting heavily as the Megamerge came undone. Model X and Model H fell to the ground, color faded. Megaman looked at all three of them worriedly.
"We should see if Aeolus or Thetis knows how to recharge the Biometals. We're going to need that power to stop Grave." he said. Lan panted hard.
"They've really gone and done it now! They took my friends!" he said. Megaman frowned.
"I wonder if everybody's Navis are okay." he said quietly. He couldn't imagine Roll being forced to fight him, or any of them. If he felt like that... Megaman looked up at Lan. He couldn't imagine how Lan must be feeling about all this. Model X almost seemed to struggle to breath.
'Maylu... She had Model L... Thetis'... Biometal...' he said. Lan weakly collected the Biometals.
"Don't try talking. Let's talk tomorrow." he said, letting out a huge yawn. "I'm exhausted." he said, walking back home almost automatic. He weakly knocked at the door. It swung open instantly. Mama looked down at him, and gasped.
"Lan!" she exclaimed, hugging him tight. "Oh, sweetie, are you alright? I tried calling you, telling you that I wouldn't be at the airport, and Papa's tied up at the lab with work. Why didn't you answer the phone? Lan?" Lan started snoring, much to the relief of Megaman.
"Mama? Lan's really tired." he said. Mama's worried expression faded just a little bit to concern. She helped guide Lan into the house, and onto a couch. Lan stumbled down on it, automatically stuffing a pillow under his head. Mama brushed aside a strand of hair, sighing worriedly.
"Oh, Lan..." she whispered. She picked up his PET and looked at Megaman. "I am so glad the both of you are alright. When you didn't answer, I, I feared the worst." she said, turning away with a small bit of tears. Megaman pressed his hands against the screen.
"It's okay, Mama. It's just been one thing after another today. Somebody turned my PET off, but Lan made sure I wouldn't get hurt." he said. He still wasn't sure how to tell her everything, even though his whole body told him he needed to. Mama smiled gently.
"Oh, Hub." she whispered, and held the PET carefully. Megaman started to drift off himself as she rocked back and forth.
"I'm going to sleep." he mumbled, curling up on the floor much more gracefully than he had earlier. He barely registered it when Mama covered Lan in a blanket, or when she found a blanket accesory Chip for him. He did curl up a little tighter though.
