Biometal In Network

by GammaTron

Dying in one world is a heartbreaking experience, especially when you reincarnate with all your memories of that past life. It only gets worse when you die with another reincarnation whom you knew in both lives and fell in love with in both. For Vent and Ashe, this only leads to new things in life as their second deaths led them back to where they started all over again. Only now..

12. Recovering and Final Preparations

GT: And here's what happens next after last time. Let's see what's been going on, hm?

---

"They knew?" Wily asked in disbelief, turning to look at Yahoot.

"If what that young lady Ciel said was true, then those two NetNavis belonging to Lan Hikari and Maylu Sakurai know who our members are," Yahoot replied, "While my imitation of a gazelle allowed suspicion to be thrown off, it is still troubling."

Wily scowled, "...What if they knew of our plans? That they were already aware of us long before?"

"Lord Wily," Fireman spoke up from Match's PeT, the man holding it up to show the NetNavi, "...Vent…he…he knew my name and knew that I was the one who was in his oven's Network."

"He was?"

"Come to think of it…he knew our names before we even introduced ourselves," Colorman noted.

"He knew it was me in the dog robot," Elecman added, "Just what is with this guy?"

"Do we have a mole?" Maddy asked, glancing around in suspicion.

A laugh went out from the speakers, "Oh please…They would've been done in before they could even get a try at getting any info out!"

Everyone but Wily tensed on that voice, the leader of the organization instead smirking as he turned to a screen, showing a figure, "I must say, whatever you sent had quite the impact. Those two brats are in the hospital."

"Yeah, I sure wasn't expecting that. I was hoping Vulturon would have killed them and not the other way around," the figure noted, "But still…it's quite the surprise how they did it."

"Hm?" Wily raised a brow before the screens behind him changed, replaying Lan and Maylu fighting Vulturon, "What in the world…?"

"Those Biometals that Ciel Oda created are special…far more special than anyone knows," the figure noted, "I'm honestly excited for what comes next from them…if they're still alive after the drawbacks from pulling that off without cybernetics infused into their bodies."

---

Lan and Maylu blinked before jumping back from the other. Lan tried to speak, only for nothing to escape his lips. Maylu tilted her head, opened her mouth, and nothing escaped either. The two grimaced before Lan rubbed the underside of his chin in thought before snapping his fingers…with no sound coming from that action either. He looked at the hand in annoyance for a moment before smiling at her. He gestured to the both of them, made an 'X' with his arms, then pointed at his mouth. 'We can't speak.' Maylu nodded before looking around with a small shudder. They were in a large cave of sorts, possibly a mine even given the discarded tools around them that had long since been claimed by nature. Yet…there was bits of wiring melding with the natural cavern, as if growing out of the stone itself. She pointed at it while looking at Lan in curiosity. Lan shrugged before a hissing noise made them look to the right to see Vent entering through a sliding door of sorts to the left, looking to be his current age. He walked by them and they turned…before freezing. Before them, ominously connected to several cables growing from the walls…was a monolithic metal item of sorts. It was jagged, looking as if it were missing bits and pieces of itself. Its surface was a tainted silver of sorts, almost an off-white even, with gold detailing scattered about it like the surface of a computer chip. All of it led to a part near the top of it where its surface was expanded to a jagged circle of sorts. Resting in the center of that was a glowing red and purple crystal of sorts, the glow pulsing in and out like a slow heartbeat. Vent narrowed his eyes.

"Of course it's another Model W and not the others," Vent noted.

[We'll find them, Vent, X] Model Z's voice assured.

[Indeed. But for now, we need to take care of this part of Model W] Model X's voice advised.

Model W? The two kids looked at one another in confusion. Ashe and Vent never said anything about a Model W before. Lan pouted, realizing that there's another Biometal aside from the one called Model…A hiss made them look at the door to see Ashe, armored up in Model A, running in. She skidded to a halt upon spotting Vent. Both kids smiled, knowing that their NetNavis were…

"Who are you!?" Ashe demanded, causing Vent to turn around to look at her in confusion.

"What's a girl doing here?"

…What? The two kids looked in confusion at the two as they didn't seem to recognize the other. It felt…wrong…that they didn't know who the other was with how close they've always been. Model X and Z floated out of Vent's pockets.

[Careful, Vent! I sense Biometal on her] X warned.

[I've never sensed anything like this before. What is she?] Zero pondered.

[Two Biometals!? A Mega Man!?] Model A asked in disbelief.

The two traded looks. Was this…how Ashe and Vent met?

"It looks like you beat us to it. Whaddaya say you be a gentleman and let me have the Model W?" Ashe asked, giving a flirtatious wink.

"What do you want it for, huh?" Vent casually pondered, yet his posture spoke louder to the two as an opening stance for a fight…which Ashe also noticed given the scowl she gave him.

"Alright, I'm done with the nice approach. I'm gonna take that Model W with or without your permission. Your choice," Ashe declared, aiming her guns at him.

"Sorry, no deal," Vent declared before grabbing the two Biometals, "Model X! Model Z!" he swung his arms down, bending the elbows, "Here we go!" he swung his arms up into the air, crossing them over his head, "Double Megamerge!"

[Biolink Established! MEGA System Online!] the two declared before, in a flash, Megaman ZX stood before Ashe.

"I don't want to hit a girl, but there's a reason I can't give it to you," Megaman ZX spoke, Z-Saber at the ready, "I will become a Mega Man that can protect everyone!"

The two kids froze, realizing that they were about to fight. Lan ran in front of Megaman ZX, holding his arms out, as Maylu ran to Ashe and tried to grab her…only for her hands to phase through her body. Maylu stumbled back, bumping into Lan. He gave a muted yelp and tumbled forward…only to phase through Megaman ZX. He looked over at Maylu in shock as she ran over and helped him up. Before either could try to communicate with gestures, a pair of voices broke into their minds.

'Lan, Roll…please keep watch over me in this fight…' Vent's came forth.

'Mega…Maylu…please…Lend me your strength wherever you are…If you'll let me…' Ashe's pleaded.

The two gawked as they looked at the two as Megaman ZX was swift to lunge at her only to bounce off the shell of Chronoforce, who quickly set off Time Bomb. Megaman ZX's eyes widened as he felt his body becoming sluggish. A flash made him look to see Buckfire firing several flaming arrows at him. He managed to turn his sword into its gun mode and managed to get several shots off, destroying several arrows. His jump during the shooting let him avoid the rest. Buckfire switched to Ashe, who unleashed a Giga Crush. Just as the shots were about to hit, the Time Bomb's effects ended and Megaman ZX vanished. Ashe screamed as several slices formed on her armor and bodysuit, causing blood to come out of the cuts. Maylu tried to run for her only for Lan to hold her back. She turned to look at him only to flinch, seeing how he was struggling hard to not run out there either. All the two could do was watch, seeing flashes of light from Ashe's A-Trans intermingle with the very elements raging upon shots and slashes of plasma. Maylu covered her mouth when she noticed several shots from Ashe and Megaman ZX had struck parts of the 'Model W.' Eventually, the two stood across from one another, panting a bit. A glow came from Megaman ZX's helmet, revealing a familiar twinkling 'star' Maylu had gotten familiar with lately. It flew over to Ashe and went into her helmet…before she began to scream in pain.

"Aaaaagh!"

Maylu moved to run over to her…only to collapse, holding her head. Lan moved to help her, only to stumble and grab his own head as he let out a mute scream.

"Gyaaagh!" Megaman ZX stumbled back, grabbing his own head, "What's... this!?"

[She's resonating...! Could it be because of her Biometal?] Zero questioned.

[Be careful, Vent! There's some kind of data pouring out from her Biometal!] X warned.

The world felt like it was turning to white to the two kids as their eyes squeezed shut from the pain. Slowly, the light faded, revealing a shadowed figure with long hair holding their arms out as if acting as a priest of sorts…with a monolithic structure bigger than DenTech City floating ominously within the setting sky.

=EXTRACTING FROM CODE AC196 TO TC2343. EXPANDING REPORT DATA. This is the last cipher. You, who knows all about the plan. You have earned the right to receive the ultimate Biometal. Sleeping Model Ws everywhere feed on the fear of humans, waiting for their day of awakening. And when all Model Ws have combined, the ultimate Biometal will be born. Its name will be Ouroboros... The one who holds the Ouroboros will evolve beyond the mere fusion of man and machine. What I seek is to become the ultimate Mega Man. My name is Master Albert. And I decide how things are going to be. You, who will usher in a new way of life in a new world... I hope that one day my research will pave the way to a new course of evolution=

Slowly, the light returned and then that faded as well alongside the agony pounding in their heads. Lan and Maylu slowly sat up, backs pressed against the other, and saw the two had lost their transformations with the Biometals hovering around them.

"Ouroboros and the ultimate Mega Man... That's Albert's plan!" Ashe grit her teeth.

[Now I get it... The reason why we were created. Why you can Megamerge with me…]

"Model A...? What did you say just now...?" Ashe pondered, looking at Model A.

"Can someone explain it to me, too? When I resonated with you just now, I saw a lot of data. That man, Master Albert, created Model W, right? So who are you?" Vent questioned.

[That's kinda hard to explain…] Model A noted…before the fragment of Model W suddenly broke from the wires and fell down several stories.

[Uh oh! Model W!] X panicked.

[It must've taken some damage in the fighting] Zero noted, making the two grimace and making Maylu facepalm.

"Tell me, Model A, who am I? What do you know?" Ashe demanded.

[I'm sorry... I can't tell you now…]

"Model A!" Ashe snapped, looking ready to break the Biometal with her own bare hands before Vent moved before her.

"Okay, that's enough. There might be a reason Model A can't say anything right now," Vent scolded, "While we're standing here, that Model W is making more Mavericks, which is going to make it tough to get close."

"And who made you the big brother all of a sudden!?" Ashe demanded, poking him in the chest.

"Someone has to be the adult here," Vent replied with a shrug.

"...Tch. …Anyway... I'm sorry…"

"Let's call a truce for now. We should both focus our attention on that Model W," Vent warned, turning to leave after the fragment only to stumble and Ashe caught him.

"Can you move? You must have overdone it. I'll go ahead," Ashe informed.

"...You believe what I say so easily. I should finish you off…" Vent noted, narrowing his eyes while keeping his lackadaisical smile.

"Gimme a break. You're gonna make me lose my concentration," Ashe huffed, merging with Model A before picking him up and placing him on a part of the ground they hadn't destroyed before giving him a strange canister filled with a glowing liquid, "Drink up."

"Thanks. The scenery could be a touch different though, Doc."

"Oh, you are so cheeky, ain't ya?"

"I like to think I am, yeah. Well…like an old friend used to say…" he picked up the canister, "A light atmosphere makes the medicine work better."

Ashe blinked a few times as the two heard her thoughts once more, 'What the hell? How does he know what I used to say before the amusement park? It…It's probably just a coincidence…' she shook her head and ran off deeper into the mines, leaving him to start drinking the canister…as Lan followed her and leaving Maylu there.

"..." Vent put a hand to his chest, the girl hearing, 'Why is my heart racing like this from interacting with that girl? …I…I'm not starting to crush on her, am I?' he grimaced as he grabbed his stomach as a phantom pain lanced through him, the red head stumbling back as she swore the sights changed to the Network showing two NetNavis in shadow with one shooting the other through the stomach before showing the figure curled up on the floor of Lan's Network with everything a mess and then to them doing something on a screen that Maylu couldn't make out before changing back, '...I…I don't deserve love or affection…I lost my heart a long time ago because of a dumb action…I…I should've jumped back then…you stupid coward, Hu…'

[Vent?] X pondered, noticing tears prickling his eyes [Vent, what's wrong?]

"It…It's nothing important, X. I think she hurt me a lot harder than I expected, is all," Vent lied as he took another swig of the drink and his injuries began to fade away, 'I don't know how I can ever face you or Maylu in the next life, Roll…if you're still there or wanting to ever see me again…I…I want to lock them up again…it was easier on me when I couldn't…couldn't…'

Maylu's eyes teared up as confusion and questions filled her head as she just watched the somber Vent recover. Meanwhile, Lan managed to-somehow-grab onto Ashe's back, stifling noises (even if he couldn't make any at the moment) whenever they got caught in a fight against strange humanoid machines and mechanical spiders and rodents.

'What the hell? What the everloving hell is with my heart? Every time I'm thinking about that guy…' Ashe's thoughts were heard loud and clear by Lan, 'I…No, I don't deserve love…I never deserved it…especially with my actions that day…' Lan flinched, seeing the same vision of the two Maylu saw and then it shifted to the shooter having a posture of shock as a screen showed a slightly older Maylu screaming at the figure and then to the figure lying in a strange-looking PeT, being blatantly ignored by Maylu…with a broken look in the figure's dulled jade eyes, 'I…I just hope what I'm doing here…it'll help with you forgiving me…Maylu…Mega…e-even if I don't deserve it…that I'll never deserve it for the hell I caused…'

[Ashe…?] Model A tentatively asked, the silverette pausing in her running to start wiping the tears out of her eyes.

"I…I'm fine," Ashe croaked out, "Just…Just thought of something from the past that I'll never get back…" he slapped the sides of her face, "W-We need to keep going!"

Lan frowned, his body having fallen off her due to phasing through it. Ashe…did something to make Maylu so mad she didn't forgive her? Does she still not forgive Ashe for whatever it was? And…And what was with those images? He couldn't make Ashe out at all! He took a step forward…only for the floor and area to shatter like glass, causing him to fall into the abyss.

---

Beeping was the first thing that breached the darkness. Further piercing it was an intense smell of bleach and a faint copper. Light began to make its way next as chocolate brown eyes opened. Things were nothing but a jumbled mess of blurs for a few seconds until everything focused, revealing a white ceiling with several lights. Slowly, the eyes moved to see a set of windows and a medical bed…with a familiar face occupying it.

"M…M…Maaaayyyy…" a hoarse voice escaped parched lips.

"Lan!" The eyes darted to see a PeT, Vent within with a look of relief.

"Oh thank goodness…" Vent spoke, "Hold on. Don't do anything. I need to send out the message that one of you has…"

"Mmmmmnnn…."

"Correction: both of you have woken up," Vent noted in relief before quickly sending off an email, "You missed Mama. Visiting hours just finished not even a minute ago."

'Visiting hours?'

[You're in the hospital. You and Maylu needed an emergency operation] X calmly explained.

[We severely underestimated the repercussions of what would happen to you two] Fafnir admitted [You have the potential, but the drawbacks caused so many problems]

"Don't you dare move, Maylumai Alouette Sakurai!" Ashe scolded, "You are going to lie still and wait for the doctors like a good girl will!"

"Roll…" Vent sighed.

"I-I'm sorry, alright?! They've been asleep a whole week! And you know how many times their old hearts needed to be restarted!"

'Old hearts?'

[Um…Yeeeeaaaaah…You guys needed a surgery to end all surgeries from the drawback] Axl explained [Just, uh…Just gotta be careful of magnets and the like…]

[Axl, don't make up lies. You know those things won't be affected by the stereotypical issues] Harpuia sighed before, after several minutes, a doctor entered quickly.

"..." he looked at the two and sighed in relief, "We were all worried. The procedure is brand new and we were all worried about the results. Luckily, a nurse stopped Mrs. Hikari just as she was about to leave. She's on her way back here…"

"Lan! Maylu!"

"...now," he chuckled, moving out of the way to let the brunette ran in and take hold of Lan's hand before zipping over to Maylu and back, "Mrs. Hikari, please. I need to follow the standard procedures." He walked over and looked at the two, "What are your names?"

[...Uh…Does he not know you two?] Axl asked.

[Sometimes people have temporary amnesia after traumatic experiences or after intensive surgeries] X explained.

"L…La…n…Hi…ka…kar…i…"

"Ma…maa…ma…y…lu…saaa…aa…ku…kuu…rrrrr…ai…"

"Do you two need a drink of water?" He asked, earning nods, "Alright."

"I'll do it, doctor," Haruka assured, already pouring a cup and having Lan drink it while she held it before repeating for Maylu.

The doctor waited for them to finish drinking and clearing their throats, "Okay…do you remember what you were doing before waking up here?"

[Ciel made a cover story. You got separated by hypnotized people and ended up seeing a screen with Magicman. You saw a bright light and remember nothing] Phantom informed.

"...crazy hypnotized people and…and then that wizard Navi on a screen…" Lan spoke, Maylu nodding.

"He put you two under hypnosis and made your bodies wreck themselves something far worse than any other case that happened," he explained, "We…had to restart your old hearts several times."

"...Old?" Maylu repeated as she looked down, tugging a little at her medical gown…only for it to rip completely, "?!"

"Yeah…Ciel did warn us…" he sighed as Lan covered his eyes while Maylu scrambled to cover herself with her blanket.

"What was that?" Lan asked.

The doctor and Haruka shared looks before the former spoke up, "Kids, I'll be blunt: you were going to either die or be rendered like the late Stephen Hawking. However, thanks to the Ayano Family and your friend Ciel, you won't have to fear that."

"..." Maylu looked at her hand, "Does it…does it involve what just happened?"

"Yes," the doctor confirmed, "You two were given a brand new life-saving operation. Your bodies…are now partially cybernetic."

"...We're cyborgs?!" Lan gawked, his hand coming off his face to look at him in shock.

"In a way, yes," the doctor replied.

[Think of it as you two are like Vent and Ashe as if they were humans but had their NetNavi physique] Harpuia compared.

"...Hah?!" Lan exclaimed.

"Easy now," Haruka advised, placing a calming hand on their shoulders, "Let the doctor and your father explain when he arrives."

"H-Huh? Papa?" Lan asked.

"He was one of the scientists that helped with making the new parts in you two, though we didn't tell him until after everything was done about who he was making these for so he wouldn't be unnerved," the doctor explained.

"Wait, he was?!" Vent gawked.

"You didn't know that?" Lan asked.

"I didn't want to add anything else to Vent and Ashe since they were already worrying over you both," Haruka explained.

'Yeah. We not only moved some rocks…we caused a goddamn flood!' Vent thought.

Several minutes soon followed before the door opened, allowing an older man to enter. His hair was much like Lan and Haruka's, but just a lighter shade of brown compared to the two. He sported a pair of glasses while he wore an orange and cream long-sleeved shirt, light-brown slacks, and brown slip-on shoes. He looked at the two kids in relief before fully entering with Ciel following.

"Sorry, I had to get Ciel out of a meeting with the other doctors of the hospital," he apologized for the wait.

"Papa!" Lan beamed.

"Hello, Dr. Hikari, Ciel," Maylu greeted.

"Oh thank goodness you brought her," the doctor sighed in relief.

"Ciel, what's going on with us?" Lan asked.

"Well…" Ciel grimaced, "Your bodies were, basically, killing themselves due to the accident. Organ failure, muscular deterioration…it's as if you two were put under something that a normal human body could never handle and your immune system was registering everything as a threat." Both grimaced as A and F felt immense guilt going through them, "So…we had to use a surgery that only succeeded once before by Dr. Black Jack."

"Does it involve why we keep breaking things?" Lan asked, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head while glancing at the broken plastic cup shards in the trash.

"Yes," Dr. Hikari sighed, "Basically…you two had to have parts inside of you replaced with stronger artificial ones. Hearts, lungs, kidneys…even most of your bones."

"Hah? Doesn't that mean we're stuck at this size?" Lan asked.

"No. The new ones still grow like your original ones and do everything your original bones do since it was more of a fusion to them instead of simply replacing," Ciel replied, "You'll still grow like any other human, but you're stronger, faster, and more durable." She shot Dr. Hikari a dirty look, who glanced away with a blush, "And, despite what I said not to do, your right eye and Maylu's left eye are actually connected to the Network."

"Huh?!" Maylu gawked, looking for a reflective surface before Haruka held up a pocket makeup mirror to let her see that her eyes didn't look all that different.

"Yeah…on the way to the hospital, those eyes actually popped," Ciel grimaced, "Do you see the tiny icon in the corner?"

"Icon?" Both repeated before yelping as a set of data appeared in their respective eye, "Ah!"

"What is this?"

"Life gauge," Vent explained, "Don't let the green vanish because you'll die due to the implants being unable to function anymore."

"Gh!"

"Vent," Haruka scowled.

"Sorry, Mama. I just want them to take all this seriously. Their lives are changing and they need to understand that I am worried and want them safe."

"Same here. We couldn't do a thing and…" Ashe grimaced.

"Roll…" Maylu whispered, seeing the tears in her eyes, before the two yelped as a red ball bounced off their heads.

"These let out a sound when you squeeze too hard on the setting they're put at so you can adjust," Ciel explained, "They're set to the point of crushing an empty soda can at the moment. I'll adjust them as needed."

"You'll also need to spend about…three days here to make sure nothing is wrong with anything," the doctor added.

"Um…How do these even work?" Maylu asked, "Do we need a battery or…?"

Ciel giggled, "Nope! They use the body's natural energies. Sure, it means you'll have a larger metabolism but it's worth it to not need batteries."

"..." Maylu grimaced.

"Are…No, no. Bad idea to ask that," Dr. Hikari shook his head as he walked over, "Would you share what's on your mind?"

"...It…It's not all that important, sir," Maylu replied.

"..." Ashe glanced at the two Hikari parents and gave them a subtle nod before they all winced on the loud noise that quickly went out the moment Lan dropped the ball in his hand.

"...Oops…" Lan sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

"Well…it is rather late," the doctor noted, looking at the clock, "I know it's against policy, but you're welcome to sleep here tonight."

"Thank you," Haruka thanked before everyone jumped at another alarm from Lan's ball.

"Sorry!" Lan apologized, blushing heavily.

"That…That's going to be something for the next few days," Ciel sighed before giving the two an individual hug, "I'm glad you're both awake. I need to head back to that meeting before I can finally go home to my little sister and my dad. Genius I may be, but I still have school in the morning."

"...Aw shoot…" Lan groaned, falling onto his back on the bed and letting the ball roll away from his hand, "Homework aplenty…once I can hold a pencil without snapping it."

"Oh, that is gonna be bad…" Maylu groaned, facepalming before blinking a few times and looked at herself, "Um…where are the needles and things?"

"Virus attack while I was here," Haruka explained, "They had to remove them and should have replaced them by now…"

"They probably were before they woke up," Ciel replied, giving a wave as she left.

[Look on the bright side, you two] Leviathan noted [You're not waking up behind bars again]

"...Bad joke, Model L," Maylu muttered.

"Huh?" Yuichiro raised a brow.

"She means the Biometals Ashe and Vent have," Haruka replied.

"...Vent?"

"I told ya hiding was a bad idea," Ashe sighed, giving Vent an annoyed look.

"Well, last time he saw me, I didn't look like how I do now."

"Huh? M-Megaman? Why do you look like that?" Yuichiro asked in surprise.

"I wanted to try a new look," Vent explained, scratching his cheek.

"Huh? You weren't meant ta look like that, Vent?" Lan asked.

"Nope. Honestly? I looked kinda like you in a bodysuit and armor."

[Our fault entirely] Zero spoke up [His old look just didn't fit]

---

"Guess Father is busy at work today," Ciel noted as she walked down the hallway and arrived to a room filled with plushies, Alouette wearing pink pajamas while lying in the large cat-themed bed, "Hey, Alouette."

"Hi, big sis," she greeted, "You missed Daddy. He got called out." She looked worried, "Are they still sleeping?"

"No. They woke up two hours ago," Ciel noted.

"That's good. I don't like seeing Mrs. Hikari so sad," she noted, "She gives the best hugs and shouldn't be so sad because she gives the best hugs."

"I'm relieved. Lan was one of the two who helped save me," Roze spoke up from Alouette's PeT.

"..." Alouette looked at Ciel, the childish features looking far older and something that shouldn't be on a child her age, "How far do you think their lives have been extended by?"

"I'd guess another hundred years," Ciel replied.

"I still get headaches from when you do this, Alouette," Roze sighed.

Alouette Prairie Oda giggled, covering her lips with a hand, "Well…it makes sense. My body may be that of someone just two years Yai's junior, but my soul is several centuries old." She picked up the PeT and hugged it, "It just lets me appreciate you far more, Roze." She looked at Ciel again, "Lan and Maylu…will they…?"

"Knowing Lan? He'd have to get a horrible sickness like a bad cold to keep him away from a tournament," Ciel replied, "Maylu, however…she may be wanting to avoid acknowledging what's happened to her. I hope this doesn't…"

Alouette hugged her, "Big Sis, it's going to be okay. She won't go down that path. She has Ashe, Vent, Lan, you, and all their friends. You just need to have a therapist on standby."

"I do. I intend on having them meet as soon as they can," Ciel replied, returning the hug.

"Right. Now then…" Alouette dropped her older features and held up a storybook, "Please~?"

"..." Ciel struggled to not laugh as she accepted the book, "You are spoiled, you know that, right?"

"And who's to blame for that, hm?" Alouette asked before holding her cat plush up, "She means you and Papa, meow!"

Ciel rolled her eyes as she sat on the bed with Alouette, letting the younger girl cuddle into her as she started to read the story.

---

Maylu managed to stifle a loud yawn from her lips, making sure not to disturb the others. She glanced at the clock to see it was her usual wake up time of six in the morning. She frowned a little as she remembered where she was.

"Pssst…" Maylu turned her head to the side table, where her PeT was set up on a charger with Ashe waving at her.

"Roll…" Maylu whispered.

"It's uncomfy, isn't it?"

"...A…A little…"

"Cybernetic implants tend to be for the first month," Ashe noted, "What's important is that it will go away, but…" she bowed, regret heavy on her face, "I'm so sorry, Maylu."

"S-Sorry?"

"I…I couldn't do anything to stop what happened to you and Lan," Ashe explained, tears prickling her eyes, "We could've done something, anything, but…but Magicman's hypnosis a-and we never…" Maylu reached out and put her finger on the screen, managing to barely move the stand, "?!"

"Not your fault," Maylu argued, "Lan and I were the ones who stayed and distracted Vulturon…We're the ones who did a Megamerge with Axl and Fafnir…" she looked down at her hands, "I…I'm just trying to deal with what the consequences are. I…I'm not…"

"You're a human being, Maylu. You're no different from anyone else who's had an incident that caused a body part to be changed," Ashe spoke, "People who have gone to war, been in accidents, or a disease can understand what you're feeling on losing a part of them. You're still a human being, you just have parts of you that had to be replaced."

"..." Maylu nodded.

"...The CID has a therapist on their payroll," Ashe noted, "I…I know it'd be rough and all…"

"...I…I think that may be for the best," Maylu replied.

[Maylu…?]

"Axl?"

[I…I'm really sorry. I…I didn't know that this would've happened a-and…]

"...It's alright. I don't think any of us would've known," Maylu assured the Biometal, "And doing it…it saved Lan and I. I…I know that we would've been dead if we hadn't. So…thank you for saving me, Axl."

Axl sniffled as Ashe swore that if the Biometal could, he'd by crying rivers at that point.

"Okay, okay…We'll see if Ciel can get an appointment for you. But for now, you gotta take it easy," Ashe spoke, "You gotta practice on holding things again with that stronger grip you've got."

"Do you know what else Lan and I will need to be ready for?"

"Mmm…You'll be able to move faster, jump about twice your original jumping height, your body is a lot tougher and could probably tank a small car hitting you and you wouldn't even fall over," Ashe noted, "But mainly, it's meant to keep you alive and healthy. You'll find that it's harder to get sick now and things like carpal tunnel or arthritis won't be an issue. Sure, you'll sprain yourself, but it will take a lot more effort to have that happen. If your bones break, they'll heal like any regular bone would, but it'll take at least three times the pressure to break yours." she tapped her cheek, "In all honesty? You'll be back to how you were before the surgery in about two days."

"T…Two days?" Maylu repeated.

"Yep. Muscle memory is a lot stronger now and faster to adapt."

"A-Amazing," Maylu softly gasped, "Just how smart is Ciel?"

{Smarter than you'd think} many of the Biometals thought as one noticed a subtle shifting in the redhead.

[Even though you're different, you're also still the same Maylu Sakurai] Leviathan spoke up [You still love the piano, relishing in the thrill of the parkour…wanting to strangle Vent each time you and Lan run through the gauntlet that is the Ayano Family Mansion's Security System because he's the one who asked for that for you two to do…]

"Wait, she what?" Vent quickly asked, sweating now, and causing Maylu to start giggling.

[You know Lan's wanting to do the same exact thing] Zero huffed.

[Speaking of…How long are going to pretend to sleep?] Phantom asked, keeping the link solely to the brunette.

'...Just a few more minutes,' Lan replied, his back to Maylu's bed as he looked at the wall, 'We…really messed up, didn't we?'

[You couldn't escape from the Pseudoroid and you would've died from your injuries. This may have been the better alternative, but it is still saddening and infuriating] Phantom responded.

[It sucks, but…I'm in the same boat as Model A] Fafnir noted [I'm sorry, too. Should've thought more 'bout the consequences, remembered that you are just a kid!]

'It's fine, Fafnir. I…I honestly liked working with you like that,' Lan noted, '...But…I…um…'

[Do you want to see whoever the therapist is?] X asked.

'...Please…' the Biometals belonging to Vent felt the desperation in his tone, 'I…I don't…I just…'

[It's going to be okay, Lan] X gently assured [We'll get through this together. Remember: you are never alone when you need help the most]

Eventually, Vent and Ashe went out to do a bit of Virus Busting. Megaman X fired at several Viruses resembling mushrooms while Roll A leapt over one resembling a bush sporting an iron tribal mask to shoot at it from behind to rip through it. Once the last of the viruses were ripped to pieces and their data harvested, the two sat down on a bench Roll A made.

"...He would've been in the Himalayas by now," Megaman X noted.

"Hm?"

"Papa. In our old timeline, he left yesterday for the Himalayas for a project," he explained, taking a glance to check the camera of his PeT to see Yuichiro jumping as Lan set off his ball again before they both jumped and nearly fell over when Maylu triggered hers as Haruka stifled a laugh, "But he's here instead."

"And we're still no closer to figuring out how Vulturon was out there on Earth," Roll A scowled, "...You don't think…?"

"It would make sense given how the two of us, our Biometals, Ciel, and Prairie are here," Megaman X sighed.

"Yeah, that-Prairie?"

[He means Alouette. He knew her as Prairie AKA the woman who led the Guardians until Biometal Models F, H, P, and L were stolen and she was killed] Zero explained, causing Roll A to grimace.

"Yeesh…" Roll A muttered under her breath.

"Yeah…a…a lot of people on the ship at the time…" Megaman X sighed, looking down in regret, "I should've stayed when that alert went off in Sector D-1…"

[If you had, there would've been far more lives lost to the Mavericks] X reminded.

[Vent, we've all had something like that happen. All we can do is just move on and keep their memory alive through us and our actions] Zero added [And who knows? Maybe some are out there in either the Network or on Earth]

"Maybe…" Megaman X noted.

"It…It would be nice if they were, living lives they should've had in a time of peace," Roll A noted, looking to the distance.

[Yeah! And who knows what's gonna happen next? Well…aside from the N1] Axl noted.

"Seriously?" Roll A asked in a deadpan tone.

[Oh, like you don't know Lan won't wanna participate still] Axl huffed.

"...Fair point," both sighed.

---

"Okay…doing better…" Maylu mumbled, holding the ball she had been given, before jumping at a loud horn, causing her to squeeze hers and cause it to let out a loud horn, "Lan~!"

"Sorry!" Lan apologized, placing his on the table in the room-his parents having left for a change of clothes and get a change of clothes for the two kids-, "Got distracted."

"Huh? With what?"

"Just…what we did," Lan replied, causing Maylu to tilt her head, "...Using Megamerge when the Biometals are supposed to be programs?"

"O-Oh! Yeah, that…That is a bit startling now that I'm thinking about it," Maylu admitted, walking over and sitting down with him, "I mean…How did we even do that?"

[It's because you're Chosen] the two looked at Lan's PeT to see Model P in it.

"Phantom?" Lan raised a brow.

"...What does that even mean?"

[Chosen are the names of those who can both naturally hear us…and can perform Megamerge with us] Phantom informed [This was before your time, but…I feel that you need a history lesson. One hidden by the world's governments for the stability of the world]

"Huh? H-Hidden?! But…"

[No, Lan. What Fighting Fafnir and Axl did was reckless. You two needed a surgery that hasn't been used in this world for countless eras] Phantom informed.

"Huh?! C-Countless…?" Maylu began before shaking her head, "S-Sorry, Phantom. It's just…"

[I understand the confusion] Phantom assured [Perhaps it's best to tell you…what the Biometal really are] the two tilted their heads [We…are the physical embodiments of great warriors of the past, living machines that were so advanced we'd seamlessly blend into society if we could. Ciel is not fully aware of this when she made us, but we are from a Hyper-Advanced Prehistoric Civilization, one that surpasses the age of any society that is known]

"!?" Maylu covered her mouth in shock.

"Hypno what?" Lan tilted his head, causing Maylu to fall over.

[Ms. Mari gave a lecture on them last week. Many of you laughed when Dex questioned about Mu and Atlantis] Phantom replied [...Oh wait. You were asleep at your desk]

"Aw come on…" Lan groaned.

"So Ciel didn't make you?"

[No, she did…but didn't at the same time] Phantom replied [Fairy Leviathan, Fighting Fafnir, Sage Harpuia, and I were once four guardians of an ancient civilization known as Neo Arcadia. Our father was X, handmade by his own two hands. One day…Father vanished, having sealed a great evil within his own body to protect our nation. But…my siblings did not notice it…that a duplicate made by a female scientist had taken the place of our father. When an energy crisis broke out, this 'Copy X' declared that it was our kind-Reploids-that were the issue and began to have us exterminate our own brethren. In desperation, a rebellion formed…a resistance. They went out and found Zero, who had been sealed away during the earlier days of Neo Arcadia. He was unleashed by the leader of the resistance…who was the very scientist who made Copy X. Tides shifted and I sacrificed my own life to try to stop the war, but to no avail. Zero slayed the imposter and the war continued for a few more years…until…] the two kids leaned closer [...Until Dr. Weil emerged. He was…a monster…one that wore the skin of a human, yet was not. He was sentenced to live an eternity in isolation and it was done by an earlier version of what you two went through that left just his head the only organic part of him, sealed within an orange glass dome with the rest made of robotics. His crimes were numerous and horrific to the point they were unspeakable. He wanted to glass the whole planet and remake it into his image…One by one, my siblings fell to him and our father, who had kept a great evil sealed within him, was destroyed to unleash that evil. All that remained at the end were Zero and Dr. Weil. They fought and Zero killed him…but he did not die. His greatest creation…a massive structure known as Neo Ragnarok, was set to destroy the world. Zero destroyed it at the cost of his life…but Dr. Weil's corrupted, forsaken soul…would not die. Instead, he infected all of the pieces of his creation, twisting and turning them into monstrous constructs known as Biometal Model W…Biometal Model Weil. They twist the user, filling them with disgust and hatred to the world and wanting to remake it in their…or rather Weil's…image. The scientist, stricken with grief, found our souls-our Cyber Elves-and, on our agreement, created a unique vessel for us: the Biometals. We found that only certain people could hear us and those that could…could wear what we once wore and battle as we once did when we lived]

"..." both nodded.

[We called these individuals the 'Chosen' for what else could be called those capable of working alongside us. However…the fragments of Model W took notice…and learned to do so as well. Many 'tragedies' in this world? They were caused by Model W's influence on those who were allured to its lies, but were covered up by those who used us in those times to face those influenced by Model W.]

"Wait, wait, wait. If that's real, then…then how'd Ciel make you guys?" Lan asked, picking up his ball.

[...Our last encounter with the last fragment of Model W that we knew of was…a disaster. We destroyed it, but…we also ended up destroyed and our partners at the time are…no longer around…] Phantom replied [Our spirits entered the Network, where we were found by Ciel. She gave us new Biometal forms here because we believe that if we were able to get in here…]

"That Weil guy is, too?" Lan asked in concern.

[His hatred will just not die] Phantom sighed [Of course…you know that while we were released to find a Chosen, Axl was instead taken by someone else and eventually came into Ashe's hands. It's their story to tell]

"Right…" Maylu nodded before grimacing, "That robot…Vulturon…Ashe can turn into him."

[Model A's power, the A-Trans, allows him to take on the forms of those he's defeated in the past, but he often takes on the power of those he wants to take on or needs to for situations] Phantom informed [If he has Vulturon…then it means Ashe fought him in the Network in the past]

"Like Vent and that Fistleo guy!" Lan recalled, "But…how did they come back?"

[It is likely the influence of Model W within the Network] Phantom replied {As much as I don't want it to be true, the evidence is laying out that Model W followed us to this world…}

"...But what does that mean about how we were able to do that?" Maylu asked.

[That one is simple enough…Fafnir and Axl used your PeTs as mediums, making them pseudo-Biometals, to bypass the gap between the Network and Earth] Phantom explained [But we are refusing to do so again. Ciel has yet to examine them to see if there are any repercussions, so no trying to Megamerge with them or any of us]

"Right…Wait…Any of you?" Lan asked.

[We have our preferences, but any Chosen can use any Biometal] Phantom replied [You two just focused on Axl and Fafnir. If Ciel permits it and the studies on the two you did that with along with your PeTs shows more positives than drawbacks, then we can see if the others will want to experiment]

"Wow," Lan awed.

"It's…kinda scary…" Maylu admitted.

[You were in a difficult life-or-death situation with the power you used to survive causing you to need life-altering surgery to save you both. It is understandable that you are worried about using that power once again…and commendable] both blinked in surprise [Sometimes, power just isn't worth it. As the saying goes: Power corrupts and Absolute Power corrupts absolutely. You are wary of it and it's commendable that you do. Never forget that and power will not corrupt you. Also…excellent job, both of you]

"Huh?" both pondered.

[You've held those balls this entire time and not once have you set the horns off] Phantom noted.

"W-We have?" Lan looked at his hand, "Huh…we have."

"...Lan, don't you dare squeeze it on purpose," Maylu warned.

"I wasn't, I wasn't!" Lan assured before looking at Phantom, "Wait…did you tell us that on purpose just so we'd stop focusing on these things?"

[Not fully. I wanted you to understand us better, but this is also a needed benefit] Phantom replied before floating away from the screen.

"I just can't get a read on him," Lan sighed before a knock came from the door, "We're good if you want to come in."

The door opened and Yai entered, "Guys!"

Dex followed in with Tory, the former grinning, "Ciel sent the word out about you two waking up! We were all worried, ya know?"

"My dad and I got these for you two," Tory said, walking over to the table and placing a vase with flowers on it before handing the two envelopes, "Iceman got you these."

"Huh?" Lan pondered, opening his, "Oh! BattleChips?"

"He spent a whole night Virus Busting with my dad at the Waterworks," Tory explained.

"Thank you, Tory. You and your family," Maylu thanked, looking at her own.

"Good timing, too," Lan chuckled, "We just got our hands working right again."

"That's a relief," Yai sighed in relief before hugging the two, "You had me worried sick…"

"Sorry about all this," Lan apologized.

"We'll try harder if there's a next time," Maylu assured, returning the hug, "Mrs. Hikari said that your family paid for our operations."

"Of course we did! You've been amazing to us and we couldn't do enough to repay you both!" Yai replied, "Really glad your dad ran a business that sold several pieces of the material needed, Dex."

"No worries," Dex assured, "I'm just glad you guys are fine again."

"Um…"

"We're kinda fine. Having to relearn some muscle stuff so we don't hurt ourselves," Lan explained.

"Huh?" Dex tilted his head.

"It makes sense. From what I've been told, you guys pulled a lot of muscles," Tory noted before a knock came from the door.

"Enter," Maylu replied before it opened, letting Ciel enter with Alouette, "Oh! Hello, Alouette."

Alouette giggled, holding up a large box, "Hi! We brought cookies!"

"Oh! H-Hi, Ciel…" Tory greeted, a pink tint appearing on his cheeks.

"Hey, Tory. Sorry we were late. There was a glitch in the register at the store," Ciel explained, "I had to temporarily remove the restrictions on Alouette's PeT."

"Roze beat 'em up really good!" Alouette giggled in glee.

"It…It was just basic Mettaur…" Roze sheepishly noted.

"Lan, Dex…I blame you, Gutsman, and Vent," Ciel stated, giving the two an annoyed look.

"...Huh?!" Lan gawked.

"What did we do?!" Dex demanded.

"She was not this gung-ho about NetBattling until she watched you two, Vent, and Gutsman NetBattle!" Ciel complained.

"Dahahahahaha~! We're inspirations, guts!" Gutsman laughed.

"I don't think she agrees," Lan noted, sweating a bit at the annoyed look Ciel gave them.

"We're back~!" Ashe cheered, "Oh man, we got a ton of Booty from the Hospital's Network! So many plants and a totem-looking Virus that burns and heals and…" she trailed off on seeing the others, "Oh! We've got guests? Maylu, why didn't ya say somethin'?"

"Roll," Maylu sighed as Glyde, Gutsman, and Glyde entered the Network.

"Been a while," Iceman greeted.

"How you holding up?" Ashe asked, offering a handshake.

"It's been alright. Tory and I have been practicing for the N1!" Iceman beamed before looking out at the room to see Dex being pulled into a chokehold by a livid Ciel, "...I'm really relieved they're alright. I was terrified when Tory and his Papa started acting like dogs."

"I am truly sorry, Sir Vent, Lady Roll," Glyde apologized with a formal bow, "I could not recover any of the footage of the cause of their grievous injuries so as to find the perpetrator."

"Mmm…Gutsman thinks dat stupid Magicman got to dem before dat red guy was on him," Gutsman grumbled.

"Red guy? Had a sword as his default weapon? Black pointy visor like sunglasses? Attitude problem?" Ashe listed, earning a nod from Gutsman, "Yeah, Vent and I know him."

"You do?" both asked.

"We do," Vent confirmed, "His NetOp and Lan do not get along at all."

"Yeah…Both guys are real jerks, but Ciel trusts 'em," Ashe noted.

"Lady Ciel knows them?" Glyde asked.

"How do you think Lan and Maylu met the jerk?" Ashe huffed.

"Jerk?" Iceman repeated.

"Chaud Blaze and Protoman," Ashe supplied.

"Blaze? I do believe that is the family name for the people who founded and run IPC," Glyde spoke, rubbing his chin in thought, "...Yes, I do believe that is their family name."

"IPC?" Ashe tilted her head.

"I think I made a delivery to them for Papa once on some components for the current model of PeT before I became Lan's NetNavi," Vent recalled, 'Right…Should've expanded the search from just stuff around here to previous friends. Need to check on other countries, too…'

[Hiya, Glyde! Is it working? Is it? Is it?] Model A asked, floating over to the butler NetNavi.

"Hm? Oh, one moment, Model A," Glyde spoke as his eyes flashed, "Were you attempting to speak to me?"

[Yeah! Is it working?]

"Hmm…I was able to hear a 'yeah' and 'working,'" Glyde noted, "Lady Roll?"

"You heard the first and last things he said. The whole thing was 'Yeah! Is it working?', so…sorta, Model A."

"Huh? What's working?" Iceman asked.

"A program to let others hear the Biometals," Vent explained, his own floating over.

[It's coming along faster than one would expect] Model X noted.

[Hey, I'm gonna do something fun] Model F spoke up.

[Fighting Fafnir Light, you are not cursing at Glyde] Model X scolded.

[Rats]

"I am so sorry for them, Glyde," Vent apologized with a sigh of exasperation.

"It is quite alright, Sir Vent," Glyde assured, a smile on his face, "I am just glad at the improvements on the program so far."

---

"Okay, so think of it like…um…oh! Think of it like the notes for your piano," Lan compared, the two working on their homework.

"Huh? Notes?"

"Yeah, the ones on your music sheets," Lan elaborated, "The 'X' in these is a missing note from the music."

"Think of it like a note that's missing…" Maylu mumbled, thinking about it, "...I think I'm starting to get it."

"Great!" Lan beamed before a gentle knock came from the door, "It's unlocked."

"Come in!" Maylu called before the door opened and allowed Sal and Miyu to walk in, "Oh! Hello!"

"It's good to see you two out and about," Sal noted in relief as she placed a pot with several flowers in it on a different table in the room from the one with their homework on it, "I brought you some flowers that are meant to symbolize health and recovery."

"Masa tried to accompany us, but…he got too into his normal cover role and was banned from it for a period of time outside of ER visits," Miyu added.

"M-Miyu! We weren't supposed to tell them that!" Sal gawked as Lan snickered while Maylu giggled.

"Hence why I said it," Miyu stated before bowing to the two, "I'm sorry."

"Huh? Sorry?" Lan pondered.

"What do you mean?"

"I had two fortunes that could have come true that day. One of a simple mission…or this," Miyu explained.

"You thought it'd be the safer one," Maylu guessed, "Hence why our fortune that day was 'beware animals.'"

"...You saw this?" Sal asked.

"Something like it," Miyu admitted, looking down at the crystal ball in her hands, "I saw…junk, debris of sorts…and a monster that should not exist in this timeline of Tadashi Hikari instead of Thomas Light."

"H-Huh?" Lan blinked a few times, "Grandpa? Why are you talking about him? And who's this Tom guy?"

"Would it be alright if I give you a long-term fortune?" Miyu responded with a question of her own.

"Miyu! What did you…?" Sal began in growing anger.

"It…It's alright, Sal," Maylu assured before looking at Miyu, "I'd be alright with one."

"I don't really get much about fortunes…but yours do seem to really work," Lan noted, "But…long-term?"

"It is a fortune that connects to you for between a year to five years," Miyu explained, "Often, women come to my shop for those and focus on one subject: their love life."

"Ech…" Lan stuck his tongue out, "Leave that outta mine please."

"I'll try," Miyu assured, a ghost of a smile on her lips, as she laid the crystal ball on the table before the two and began to run her hands over it, "...The Game of Destiny approaches. You who dons the draconic wolf of flames and the sinful ocean's fae that emerges pure…you are but the first of many that come, cursed with that which should not exist in this path formed from the life of the Genius born of two nations of two names. Existence itself decrees a path must be followed. The more the Blue Bombers and the Shifting Anomalies continue to defy that which comes, the stronger it shifts to enforce that path…yet the path no longer flows for it is gone. A beast of humanity's damnation awakens and hungers. It devours those that threatened this before, now altered from the rivers that have overflown from the actions of those who should not exist and those who exist who should not as they are now." the three humans couldn't hide the fact they had gulped in uncertainty at what Miyu spoke…the way her already pale skin had grown paler…the way her eyes had lost all color…of the ethereal echo they swore was in their ears, whispering to them, "The Pharaoh arises after the three worlds collapse from the demise of that which should not arise in this river. The Chaos Lord has arisen, his existence paradoxical for he exists in a river when he should not yet. The Son of the Genius Born of Two Nations and Two Names is not alone in his Sin against God. A girl who should not exist has and walks amongst the realm of this river's Original Sin. The Grim Reaper bares its scythe upon those it should not. You cannot fight the flow of the Pharaoh's Rise and the Scythe that slays the Original Sin." their eyes widened as the crystal ball began to crack, "The Anomalies which should not float upon this river have flooded the rivers to the point none have been left untainted with their existence. Their Game of Destiny has pulled in the Fated Lovers. Should either die before the Child is born, the rivers will dry and all shall perish. The Power of Links shall not exist, the Murklands consume all, a Shooting Star shall not rise amongst the stars, and it will destroy all which the Rivers connect." pieces fell from it as she 'gazed' directly at Lan and Maylu, "Do not falter in your choices, ye who are the Heart and Soul of the other. The rivers will dry should either truly perish before the Child is born. Do not falter in your fate. Do not yield to powers of might for none can overcome that which is born of when the Heart and the Soul act as One. Do not let the River go dry as the ill-fated fall created so long ago that led to their tainted flow. Do not let that old taint ruin that which you regained that was lost to ill-timing and stubbornness. Overcome it, Anomalies of the other River reborn from the original River of this path…overcome and Duo shall fall…" the crystal ball crumbled and Miyu collapsed into Sal's arms, a trail of blood dribbling from her nose as she slowly blinked and her eyes returned to as they were, "...gh…m…my head…"

"Miyu, are you okay?" Maylu asked in worry.

"We can get a nurse in here if you need one," Lan added, "Vent, Ashe…"

"N-No…just…just need to rest…" Miyu assured, "S-Skullman…"

"Sent," Skullman replied before Lan and Maylu's PeTs buzzed, "Lan…Maylu…Never delete the EMail you've been given for it contains something that They spoke of through her. I've only seen this happen once before…so do not get rid of them, but do not obsess over it like that first time."

'It…It's a copy of what Miyu spoke of…' Vent thought.

"I'll take her to a nurse, you two, don't worry," Sal assured, helping Miyu to the door, "I'll be sure to be here to see you two getting out, alright?" the two waved at her as they left, "...Okay, talk to me, Miyu. What was that about the Heart and Soul thing?"

"...Lan and Maylu…are a Canon Couple," Miyu softly replied, managing to get herself looking as if she was walking beside Sal and holding her close.

"!" Sal tensed, "A…Are you sure?"

"'I' have seen it often in other Rivers…when they do not…when the Child is not conceived..." Miyu softly confirmed, "When they are not…the River dries and the next who inherits 'Mega Man' as their title…does not exist because the Child does not. Their stories end in tragedy and dissolve into the ether…"

Sal couldn't hold back the groan of exasperation and dread, "You just had to bring the crystal ball…"

"It was…the only way to see past Vent and Ashe's lies…"

"...Huh?"

"Skullman…"

Sal's PeT buzzed before Skullman spoke, "It is done. Neither will know of their personal fortune you saw at the same time as Lan and Maylu's. It will be just us four. Not even Masa and Sharkman."

"'Your actions have flooded the River with others. Your mere existence has caused that which should not to now exist in a time they shouldn't. Your daming against the river shall escalate the eruption that comes with that dam that falters in the River's path. Do not repeat the mistakes of your original River, Blue Bomber and Pink Rabbit. You know of why the Judge came to the false conclusion due to the actions of you and the broken Canon. Reign the rage and hate within and keep the Heart of the Soul from damning her love with hatred the Soul moves away from. The Game of Destiny comes in a River it should not flow through…and the Pharaoh shall ignite it with the demise of the Blue Bomber once more,'" Woodman read.

"...Oh god, we're gonna have to keep an eye on Vent and Ashe, too, aren't we?"

"Zzz…"

"..." Sal sighed, moving to sitting down on a bench and allowing Miyu's head to rest in her lap, "Great…just…just great. A 'Canon Couple' we have to help get together or everyone and everything dies and some sorta 'Game of Destiny' is approaching that they're involved with…" she slumped, "I miss the days I was an eco-worker without being part of the police and didn't work with a woman with dangerously accurate fortune telling skills, a fishmonger that hides his coolness behind idiocy and a fake beer belly, two kids in the hospital that are a 'Canon Couple' and don't even understand that or know of it and are now essentially cyborgs, and the son of a powerful businessman who wants to stay out of his old man's shadow by being an Official before he's even in middle school while we all follow the leadership of a girl not even hitting puberty for another year…"

---

"Looks like everything is alright," Ashe noted, looking over Maylu as she slept.

"Same with Lan," Vent agreed before he hastily muted the PeT's alarm for an EMail, "Oh great…what now?" he opened it and blinked a few times, "'Vent, can you and Ashe come to this spot in the Network? We need to talk about what happened last week. Gutsman.' Was wondering when they wanted to talk about that."

"Well, may as well not keep 'em waiting," Ashe noted.

The two quickly made a note, explaining Gutsman wanted to chat in private, and left into the Network. Several minutes passed before the two came upon the digital duplicate of ACDC Town's park's infamous squirrel statue. Sitting before it, Gutsman looked up to see them first. Glyde and Numberman looked away from their chat to see them walk over.

"Numberman?" Vent pondered.

"Greetings," Numberman greeted.

"So what's up?" Ashe asked.

"Lady Roll, Sir Vent, when we were heading to confront the ruffian Magicman, Numberman spoke of something that…well…" Glyde was unsure how to put it.

"He says dat youse two shouldn't have been all wolf and cat, guts," Gutsman bluntly stated.

"Huh?" Ashe tilted her head.

"Indeed. Magicman's hypnosis only works on humans," Numberman explained, "For it to affect NetNavis…it is highly illogical."

"..."

"I have run the data through many different possibilities," Numberman continued, "But…the conclusion…it shouldn't be logical or even feasible."

"...And what is…?" Vent asked.

"He's bein' all big talk and sayin' dat yer somehow humans," Gutsman huffed, "Gutsman thinks dat it's just 'cause yer more human-looking den other Navis."

"..." Vent looked away, a troubled look on his face, as Ashe grimaced.

"...Wh-What?" Gutsman gawked.

"Y-You two are…?"

"Will you let us explain before rushing to a conclusion?" Ashe pleaded.

"..." the three looked at one another before nodding.

"Your NetOps aren't listening in, are they? No recording apps or the like running?" Ashe continued, "Because let me tell you that if this gets out…" she looked away, fear and worry in her expression, "...it…it won't end well for anyone involved."

"...I certainly do not have anything of the like on," Numberman informed, "And Higsby is resting at the moment. He intended on upgrading me tonight to prepare for the N1, but I requested to delay that."

"Lady Yai is resting at this moment in time," Glyde replied.

"Dex is snoring loud and proud, guts," Gutsman snorted.

"..." Vent inhaled deeply before sighing, "Hub Hikari."

"?"

"Numberman, World Three probably knows that name as a footnote, right?"

"Indeed. It was in the developing dossier Lan has," Numberman confirmed, "Hub Hikari, deceased at the age of one due to Heart Bypass Disorder. …" he took a step back, "Y-You're…!"

"Guts?" Gutsman tilted his head as Vent nodded.

"My name is Hub Hikari, son of Haruka Hikari and Yuichiro Hikari…and Lan's older twin brother," Vent introduced himself.

"?! Gh-Ghost?!" Gutsman panicked.

"No, no, no. It's not that convoluted," Vent replied quickly, "I…" he inhaled before exhaling, "I was converted into data through a program called 'Spectrum.' It is a top-secret project, one that was deemed forbidden from ever being resumed years before Lan and I were born."

"...Your father!" Glyde realized.

"Yeah. Papa used the forbidden project to save my life and turned me into Megaman. It wasn't until recently that I was finally allowed to do more than just be a delivery guy with others keeping an eye on me for Papa," Vent went on, "I was under orders to not divulge this secret unless someone figured it out on their own, such as the case for you three."

"...And Ashe?"

"I…I don't fully know," Ashe replied, "If…If you say that only humans could be controlled like this, Numberman…"

"Then you may unknowingly have similar origins to Vent," Numberman presumed.

"Probably," Ashe replied, "Geeze…That's gonna bother me now."

"So…you were both human, but ya got turned into NetNavis?" Gutsman pondered, "..." he shrugged, "Meh."

"Sir Gutsman?!" Glyde gasped.

"What? So dey were humans before, don't mean dat matters today. Dey're NetNavis like us, guts," Gutsman huffed as he held a fist up to the two, "Ah ain't much fer deep thinkin', but youse are my pals and have helped me and Dex tons with thinkin' ways of becomin' tougher t' help others. So who cares? Hub and some girl…Vent, Ashe…Whatever! Yer my pals and dat's fine fer me, guts!"

"..." Vent tried to not cry as he bumped his fist against Gutsman, "Thanks, Gutsman. I…I needed that."

"Same here, especially with that realization," Ashe added, following Vent's lead.

"...While not as spoken as Gutsman, I, too, agree that it matters little when you think of it," Glyde noted as he bowed to them, "We are friends. It matters little where our origins lay, for our actions show who we are."

"..." Vent smiled, "Seriously, you guys…you're gonna make me cry."

"Too late," Ashe giggled, making a tissue form and dabbing his cheek, showing him the tears it soaked up.

"You, too," Vent pointed out, accepting the tissue to repeat Ashe's actions on her.

"I can see if there is a way to figure out your origins, Ashe," Numberman noted, "Do you remember when you first activated?"

"Mmm…It was Maylu's sixth birthday. The first person I saw was her mom," Ashe recalled, thinking of her previous life before becoming Ashe, "She said that I was going to be Maylu's sister and for me to look after her while she and her husband couldn't."

"I see…" Numberman nodded, "This is going to be rather bothersome…"

"You said it," Ashe agreed as Vent blinked a few times.

'I never really did ask her about her origins,' Vent thought, 'Always thought she was just a NetNavi her parents paid for a customization for Maylu. Never did ask who made her or the like…' "So…what about you guys?"

"Hm?" Glyde pondered as they looked at him.

"Do you guys know who made you?"

"Er…D-don't tell anyone, alright?" Gutsman pleaded, blushing, "Gutsman is well…from an older model, guts."

"Huh?"

"Gutsman was Dex's dad's NetNavi 'till his job had him upgrade t' a new one," Gutsman explained, "Felt really bad 'bout it 'till Dex started to learn how t' work on my code and ya got who I am now, guts."

"Lady Yai's father paid several programmers for their services in creating myself as a gift for Lady Yai two years ago," Glyde explained.

"Higsby made me originally to help crunch numbers to make sure we had a roof over our heads and still get a rare BattleChip or two," Numberman spoke up.

"Huh…So Gutsman…is Grampsman?" Ashe joked.

"Ack!" Gutsman froze up and fell over from the shock, "N-No! Gutsman isn't an old man, guts! Gutsman fit as fiddle!"

"Okay, okay," Ashe giggled.

Vent chuckled, shaking his head, 'These guys…' he glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the hospital's Network, "...Hope everyone's ready for when they're let out of the hospital."

---

"You see 'em yet?" Masa whispered as he biked along the normal routes schoolkids took to get to ACDC Elementary.

"Mmm…" Sharkman glanced around, using the tiny camera on Masa's apron disguised as a fish pin to look around, "...There! Coming up!"

Masa glanced and his smile grew on seeing Lan and Maylu moving along on skates and scooter respectively, Maylu wearing a blue open vest over a pink short-sleeved shirt and red shorts while Lan had his usual shorts, but his vest was black with flame decals and a red short-sleeved shirt. He nodded before pedaling along.

"Well howdy there, kids! Done worried 'bout y'all!" Masa greeted, "Hope y'all weren't in that there hospital 'cause of a lack of calcium!"

"Hi, Masa!" Lan greeted.

"No, small accident when everyone thought they were animals is all," Maylu assured.

"Oh don't remind me 'bout that," Masa grimaced, "Done woke up with a horrible pain in my back from all that wiggling I did as an eel!"

"Maylu thought you were a snake," Lan snickered.

"Lan~" Maylu groaned.

"You'd be amazed at how often folks mistake eels for them in the water," Masa sighed before whispering and dropping his accent, "In all seriousness, though…how are you two?"

"..." the two shared looks.

"We…We're both going to start attending some therapy sessions on…on what happened that day," Maylu replied after a few moments, "A-And on what we're gonna have to deal with from now on."

Lan nodded, "It's…It's kinda weird, but…but feels like nothing's changed, too."

"Just wait until you're approved to resume parkour practice, you two," Ashe noted.

"Better yet, going through the Security System," Vent joked.

"Evil…You, sir, are evil," Maylu hissed as the male NetNavi.

Masa nodded, "It's nothing to be ashamed about going to a therapist. It's just a sign of times changing from the old to the new. Don't be ashamed of it, because a few members of the CID need it for the troubles we've experienced in our career."

"Kids~!"

"Gh?!" Masa froze up as Ms. Mari ran over.

"Oh, I'm so glad to see you both out of the hospital!" Ms. Mari beamed, "It was really worrying the few times I could go there."

"We're both glad to be out of there as well," Maylu assured.

"The beds were comfy, but the food was nothing good," Lan grimaced jokingly.

"Thank you so much for sending the assignments and homework they missed," Vent thanked, earning an annoyed look from Lan.

"I'm glad to hear you're both doing better and that you got them done," Ms. Mari noted in relief.

"Of course we did, Ms. Mari! Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to compete in the N1!" Lan replied.

"You're still doing it?"

"Yep!" Lan replied, "Only way I'd not do it is a family emergency or if I got sick."

Maylu rolled her eyes, "We both are really excited for it and wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Well, I'll make sure to come cheer you and the other students who are competing on," Ms. Mari assured before seeing Masa, "Oh! Hello, Masa."

"M-Ms. Mari, howdy!" Masa greeted in glee, "Ah! Yes, was just checkin' up on these kids! Some of th' best folk in town and was mighty upset over what happened to 'em!"

Lan blinked a few times in confusion, 'What's wrong with Masa?'

[Oh to be a child again…] Leviathan giggled.

'Huh?' Lan pondered.

"Oh, that's so nice of you," Ms. Mari complimented.

"He's always been a good guy, Ms. Mari," Ashe noted, "Eccentric, but a pretty good guy who has the best darn deals with his fish. Ah, that reminds me. We need to buy some for dinner tonight, Maylu."

"Roll…" Maylu sighed.

"There you guys are!" the four looked to see Ciel coming over on her push scooter, "Mmm…I told you two to wait for me, didn't I?"

[Lan did it] Fafnir and Axl quickly blamed.

'I did not!' Lan argued.

Ciel sighed, "Why am I not surprised? You two probably forgot it since I did say it when you two were likely tired." she turned to Masa, "Oh, Masa, sir. I heard someone saw a shark by the coastline."

"Hm? Anything to note about it?" Masa asked.

"Yes, it had a shredded tire stuck between two teeth and was quite nasty."

"Not to worry, kiddos! Ol' Masa has got this shark handled! Hope I get a good deal from a customer for it!" Masa declared as he got on his bike and sped off.

[Before either of you asks, that is a standard code for 'aquatic enemy found near a vital water source in the area. The tire means that electricity won't work on them. And the last part, 'quite nasty' means 'get there immediately'] X explained.

[Seems we'll be having lessons on learning the lingo] Fafnir noted [I know we can all agree on one thing…]

[If you make a jab about me, you will regret it, brother] Phantom warned.

[Kids, no arguing] X scolded [Lan, Maylu, Ciel, don't forget you're going to be late if you don't get a move on]

"We'd better get going to class," Maylu noted.

"That is true," Ms. Mari nodded before sighing, "We've had to modify the curriculum while you kids were out after that crazy day."

"Huh? Modify the curriculum?" Lan repeated.

"Yes. While some classes are going to be a bit shorts, Virus Busting will be longer," Ms. Mari explained.

"Meaning more homework for the other courses, right?" Ciel guessed before Lan could give a cheer.

"Indeed," Ms. Mari confirmed as Lan slumped in defeat.

---

Oda frowned as he looked over the medical reports once more as he had been throughout the week, "It's hard to imagine my daughter could be this ingenious."

"Hmm…Yes, it is rather startling."

"?!" Oda looked up to see a man entering his office sporting semi-long brown hair pulled back into spikes in green-rimmed sunglasses, an orange and red shirt, a lab-coat/jacket fusion, brown baggy pants, and orange and white running shoes with red fingerless gloves on his hands, "Famous! Finally back from your trip to Netopia, I see."

"Indeed. I was able to get things done after I managed to create some new NetNavis to help. Gateman for transport, Punk for defense, and Kendoman for a relentless offense," Famous replied as he spun the papers around to let him glance at them, "Ciel really has come far since that accident she and Alouette were in."

"The doctors did warn me that due to the head trauma both had, they'd likely have changed in personality," Oda noted, "There are times when Alouette is a bit more mature than other kids her age and Ciel is quite the genius and even got several doctorates in the first two years after it!" he smiled, "I'm just happy she's gone back to school. Because two of her agents may be kids that are attending school at the same grade she should be in while the other is already doing high school-level classes online, I still worried about her finding friends her age."

"Yes, that is true," Famous nodded, "I'm no parent myself, but that kind of worry for a kid is bound to happen to anyone our ages." he raised a brow, "And these medical reports are from a procedure Ciel created?"

"Yes. It was actually successfully performed by Dr. Black Jack himself once before she presented it to us when Agents Hikari and Sakurai needed it the most," Oda replied.

"The Black Jack? I swear, your daughter is gaining connections that we never would've expected," Famous noted, "The grandson of the late Tadashi Hikari and the son of Yuichiro Hikari and Haruka Hikari, the daughter of the world's best medicinal business owners that have to work in different parts of the planet, the son and Vice-President of IPC, the heiress of GABCOM, son of the Prime Minister, son of the head of the Waterworks…It's staggering to know what she's built up in such few years." he tapped the papers with the back of his knuckles, "And now this: a new method to not only save lives, but also make humans far more endurable and even expand our life expectancies to be well over a hundred years, possibly more."

"You noticed that as well," Oda nodded, "It is surprising how developed it is. But…I can't help but be both proud and worried for Ciel. Especially when this can be performed more later on."

Famous nodded, "Then there's the NetNavis of your new agents. Vent and Ashe, correct?"

"Yes. They go by those, but their designations are MegamanEXE and RollEXE. 'Vent' and 'Ashe' are just nicknames they go by," Oda replied, sharing a pair of digital folders with Famous, "Their data analysis as per standard procedure for the CID."

Famous opened the two folders up, "...Both have quite the intricate programming. Possibly enhanced by the Biometals Ciel made and sent out that they've obtained." he raised a brow, "But other parts of them…the complexities are quite unusual. It's almost like they were trying to completely digitize a person's brain." his eyes widened as he looked over Ashe's, "Wait…this coding…"

"Hm?"

"I know this quite well. It's only used by one man who's long since been banned from leaving his home country of Sharo until it gets lifted in a few months," Famous replied, "But was this done before or after he was barred from ever making NetNavis?"

"B-Barred? Wait, you couldn't mean that Ashe was made by him, do you?"

"It may be a possibility," Famous replied, sending a copy of the folders to his PeT, "I'll take a deeper look into this, Oda. Their coding honestly intrigues me."

Oda nodded, "You may very well be meeting them this afternoon unless Ciel wants them to be the kids that they are after getting out of the hospital."

"That's fine. I'll introduce myself when the N1 happens," Famous assured.

"You're competing?"

"Yeah. Gonna use Punk for it," Famous replied, earning a nod from Oda.

'Some of the best of the best we currently have in the CID are part of this…Here's to a good tournament,' Oda thought before grimacing when his coffee cup cracked before he could take a sip, spilling its black contents upon the floor, "...Tch…Of course."

---

"Okay, are you all ready?" Ciel asked, laptop in lap as she sat in a recliner in the Treehouse.

"Yeah!" Lan, Maylu, Yai, and Dex replied.

"And all of you?" Ciel looked at the holographic screen displaying the Network.

"Indeed, Lady Ciel."

"Gutsman ready!"

"Bring on the training!"

"We're all set, Ciel," Vent assured.

"Okay. Beginning Level 7," Ciel declared.

In the Network, several slim NetNavis in pure white outfits with only a pair of sharp eyes discernable appeared. Their arms glowed before gatling guns replaced their hands and lower arms. A flash went off and Gutsman used Chronoforce's back to block the barrage. Megaman HX and Glyde used his shoulders as platforms to jump over him and unleashed a barrage of buster shots and an electrified tornado at the enemy Navis. Gutsman reeled a fist back with another flash going off. He swung and rammed his fist into an yellow metal wheel with orange spikes sticking out of it, sending it right at the NetNavis and caused them to be bashed away. The wheel uncurled to reveal it to be a robotic hedgehog of sorts that quickly unleashed balls of lightning around it to zap them midair. Megaman LX swung his staff and a massive ice dragon 'roared' as it was sent at more of them. Nearby, Glyde was swift, taking a step and vanishing only to appear before several NetNavis and sliced them down with a WideSword. Another flash and all four had their backs to one another with the remaining NetNavis surrounding them. With a roar, Roll A unleashed a Giga Crush. By her, Megaman X unleashed a pair of Charged Shots. Glyde slammed a hand on the ground and a massive wave of magma erupted from the ground while Gutsman brought his hammer down to unleash a shockwave. The blank NetNavis panicked as the attacks struck before they could even fire, forcing them to LogOut. All four looked around before smiling at one another.

"Level 7…cleared," Ciel informed, causing all of them to sigh in relief.

"Thanks so much for doing this, Ciel," Yai thanked, "Otherwise, Glyde and I would've had to be the ones and wouldn't get a chance to partake in the fun."

"No worries," Ciel assured with a wink, "I'll be cheering you guys and Tory on when the time comes. And fair warning? I will cheer the gals here on if you boys fight them."

"Hah?!" Said boys exclaimed in shock.

"Girls Code. Just like boys, we've got our own," Ciel winked at them.

'So that's where Prairie got it…' Vent thought with a drop of sweat going down the back of his head.

"Okay, let's start up Level 8," Ciel spoke as an army of the strange standard NetNavis appeared…with missile launchers replacing their arms.

As the simulation began, Lan closed his real eye while his replacement eye softly glowed, unseen due to the lights of the projector. It was odd at first (and to his last days to his great-great-great grandkids, he'd admit it was still odd), but the vision in his new eye was good…really good. Even if it was just a projection and he wasn't using FullSynchro, he could easily make out every single piece of detail he couldn't with his normal eyes. He also took note that he was seeing some key details like he was in a real life RPG. Above all the NetNavis were their names, their Attribute, and HP. He tried to not look at Megaman X or Roll A. He always got headaches when he looked at them when he was using solely his cybernetic eye because it was also registering several names at once. By him, Maylu shut her cybernetic eye at the same time. She couldn't handle the things it showed her. Why did they modify them when Ciel specifically told the scientists to not do that? Just because she was around their age didn't diminish the fact how smart she was. Eventually, the Level finished and the two opened the eye they closed.

"Okay, that's enough for today," Ciel clapped her hands twice, causing the lights to turn back on.

"Aw come on. Can't we do a little more?" Dex complained.

"Yes, you could…but then you'd be too tired for the N1 and likely sleep in," Ciel replied, "And then there's also factoring in how your NetNavis would be." she smiled at all four of the humans and all four NetNavis, "I want you guys at your best for the N1. So you all can have fun and get as far as you can. So tomorrow should be a day of rest for everyone. A chance to unwind and recover before the N1."

"Huh…That does sound like a good idea," Yai admitted.

"A little rest won't hurt anyone," Ashe agreed, "You don't wanna be exhausted before a big event, otherwise you're gonna be all sloppy in whatcha wanna do and goof up."

"Speaking from experience?" Lan asked.

"Urk! Er…"

"I can. I stayed up too late at night once when I was a delivery boy for SciLab. I…well…took the HeatData to a Mr. Prog in a vending machine…" Vent admitted, grimacing, "The whole floor had to be evacuated because the vending machines all broke out into flames. The Mr. Prog was destroyed completely and the whole floor was shut down to be repaired for fire damage." he sighed, "I got such a scolding and put under heavy monitoring for months after that."

"Oh, I remember that," Ciel recalled, "Father was dumbfounded by you and how that happened. He chewed out the scientist for not double checking if you were fully functional that day because even he could see you were exhausted…"

"Um…That was Dr. Hikari…"

"Hah?! Even adults like Papa get scolded?" Lan gawked.

"They do, yes," Ashe confirmed, "Not as often as you kids do, but yes. Their mistakes are often rarer…but bigger. Their mistakes can lead to bad things like shutting down the Waterworks or causing NetNavis from being able to get into the Network for hours on end. They have very important things to do that you kids don't have to deal with yet."

Ciel held back a giggle, 'It's nice…Even if they're doing this because it's an assignment, the way they're able to be excited for it…'

---

Maylu stared up at the ceiling, wearing a baby blue sleeping gown with Gow in her arms. She closed her cybernetic eye, grimacing. She looked over her railing to look down at her PeT's charger stand, the screen facing up to let her see Ashe sound asleep in her bed with the sheets kicked off, showing her in her bodysuit and an orange and cream nightgown that was snug on her curves. Maylu opened her eye and closed it swiftly, another ache going through her head. She climbed down, thinking a few aspirin would help. She walked by her balcony…and backtracked to see Lan wide awake and looking at his computer. She frowned before opening the door. She got onto her balcony and, after a few calculations, she jumped over the tree and safely landed on Lan's balcony. She knocked on it and Lan nearly fell out of his chair. He did a double take and quickly opened it, letting her in.

"Maylu? What's up?" Lan asked.

"I…I can't sleep. My head's aching because of this stupid eye," Maylu explained, pointing at her closed eye, "There's too much showing on it."

"Too mu…Oh, all that," Lan realized.

[Oh, sweetie] Leviathan said, her tone strong in sympathy, [Information Overload is never a good thing. It's simple enough to take care of. We even adjusted Lan's to keep that from happening]

"Just sit here," Lan ordered, having her take a seat, "X, Zero?"

[Just keep your eye on the screen and just on X and I, Maylu] Zero instructed [Vent…]

"Staying off-screen and putting up a backdrop for you," Vent replied as the background turned to black to let X and Zero be the only things on the screen.

"Just keep your new eye on them and they'll adjust it," Lan explained, petting Gow on the head.

"...I…jumped over the tree," Maylu noted, keeping her cybernetic implant focused on the screen as X and Z's gems glowed.

"You did?" Lan asked.

"I…I've never been that strong…" Maylu whispered.

"They did say we'd have big changes," Lan reminded her, "We haven't even tried parkour yet, so that…yeah, that should've been done earlier…" he looked at her waist, "No Ashe?"

"She's asleep," Maylu replied.

"Ah," Lan nodded before looking at the ceiling, "...It's weird, huh?"

"Hm?"

"Two months ago, I was just a regular kid with a dad who has a very important job that keeps him away for weeks at a time, a stay at home mom who makes the best curry, and couldn't beat Dex whatsoever in NetBattles," Lan noted, "Now I'm an agent for the CID, Masa turns out to be a competent super agent, Dex hasn't beaten me in a NetBattle, and I'm a cyborg."

"...Before all this, I was just a normal girl with parents who often have to leave the country for their jobs, practiced the piano on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Parkour Wednesdays and Saturdays, and was the one who was there to listen to your troubles and new strategies to beat Dex and Gutsman," Maylu replied, "I can't believe Masa is who he really is either and I'm still shocked about how Sal is an agent as well. But…" Lan looked down to see her hand holding his before looking to see she had a small smile on her face as she kept her eye on the Biometals on the screen, "...I don't regret my choices. It…It's going to take me a…a while before I accept what happened to me…to us."

[You're good now, Maylu] Zero informed as the glow from them faded.

[We've disabled everything but picking up small statuses on NetNavis so you can keep better track of Ashe's health in a NetBattle] X added.

"Thanks," Maylu thanked before looking at Lan, "Sorry for this."

"Hey, it's no trouble with me," Lan assured, grinning at her, "I'm always gonna try to be there for you when you need me or one of the Biometals or Vent."

"L-Lan…" Maylu stammered as she started blushing before Lan's PeT buzzed.

"EMail for you, Lan. It's from Ciel," Vent spoke up, "She wants you and Maylu to go to Beach Street tomorrow near the docks near DNN."

"Hm?" both looked at one another.

---

The next, an older boat came to a stop by a rock formation that resembled a ramp of sorts. After a few moments, Lan, Maylu, and Ciel got off it and the former two looked up and gulped. Before them on the small island was a massive, towering rock formation, the top of it shaped as the head of a demonic visage with gargoyles scattered around it on varying levels.

"Hades Island," Ciel's voice made the two look at her, "It's nowhere near where the N1 is taking place on the artificial island developed by a joint project between several companies and the Electopian government." she turned to the two, "You're both wondering why I called you here, right?"

"...Is it because of the implants?" Maylu asked.

"Yes, but also…you two using Megamerge with the Biometals," Ciel replied, making the two flinch, "Lan, Maylu…this operation you two went through saved you…but it also made it so you can safely Megamerge without nearly dying."

"H-Huh?" Lan blinked a few times as Maylu's eyes widened.

"Since today is meant to be a rest day for the N1, I thought it'd be a good idea for you both to not fear this power," Ciel informed before reaching into her pink backpack and pulled out a pair of strange devices that caused Vent and Ashe to nearly choke on their spit because they were identical blue and pink devices resembling rectangles with the ends curved into half-circles, "I scanned your PeTs while you were in the hospital. And, Lan?"

"Yeah?"

Ciel smiled at him, "When I was helping your mother with getting you some pajamas, I found your rough drafts for a wireless jack-in device."

"Ack! Y-You saw those?!" Lan asked, blushing.

"I'm sorry, a what?" Maylu looked at Lan.

"It-It was just something I was thinkin' on," Lan replied, "A way to not have to be at the danger but still send BattleChips to Vent."

Ciel nodded, "Honestly, after looking over your rough draft and design, if you had been able to assemble it, it would've worked immediately." she handed the two the devices, "As such, I hope you don't mind what I did."

"What you did?" Lan repeated.

"I incorporated it into these new PeTs," Ciel explained, "They're highly experimental and only you two and Chaud will have these."

"R-Really?!" Lan gawked.

"Yes, because you three can hear the Biometals," Ciel replied, "If Chaud gets the surgery, even he could do what you two now can."

"Aw seriously?" Lan grimaced.

"I know you two had some bad first impressions, but…there is more to Chaud than what you saw," Ciel assured, "He's just…" she shook her head, "A-Anyway…these new PeTs I've built will let you safely Megamerge with the Biometal you choose. When I scanned your original ones, I found they're on the verge of breaking from the energy strain caused by the Biometals using them as mediums to fuse with you two. With these new models, you don't have to worry about them suddenly breaking."

"Let's give it a try," Vent offered.

"Right!" Lan nodded as he plugged his PeT into a port on the back of the new model, causing his old model to shut off and the screen to turn on on the new model…before Vent appeared above it in a hologram, "Whoa!"

"Whew! Feels pretty spacious!" Vent complimented as Maylu did the same.

"Yes! More space for some sweet sweet booty!" Ashe beamed.

[Oh finally. I can see more than just what the screen faces] Phantom sighed in relief as his Biometal appeared in holographic form and looked around above Vent's head.

[It does feel quite nice] Leviathan noted…from Maylu's new PeT.

[Ah! What's going on?! How'd you…?!] Axl gawked.

[A lady has her ways] Leviathan giggled.

"Do you two want to try Megamerging here?" Ciel asked, "Or do you need some more time before trying it again?"

"..." Lan and Maylu looked at one another.

"I…I'm worried about what would happen," Maylu admitted, "Wha…What if I wake up and most of my body is metal and steel? I…"

"...I don't mind trying it again," Lan offered, earning a startled look from Maylu, "It was pretty cool combining with Fafnir. This is meant to see if the operation was a success and can let us handle the strain, right?" Ciel nodded, "And…" he narrowed his eyes, "I don't want a repeat of the station to happen. We barely survived thanks to Fafnir and Axl letting us use their powers. I want to be ready if another one like Volturon appears on Earth and not in the Network. I don't want to have what if's swimming in my head or have a single regret if doing this can save another."

[A good belief] Zero commented [...Alright. Try me this time, Lan]

"You sure?" Lan asked.

[Yeah] Zero affirmed.

"Okay," Lan nodded, moving away from the girls and held his new PeT up, "Model Z! Megamerge!"

A red flash went off at that. The light faded and Lan stood, wearing a black bodysuit with the fingers and thumbs of his hands all white. He wore a white armored belt with green gems on the sides of the middle of the waist while bulky red armor covered his lower legs, feet, torso, and lower arms. His shoulders were covered in white blocky guards with a stylized 'Z' on both with a tiny spike on the sides of the slant of them. His head was covered in a black helmet with red curved spikes and a green triangular upside-down gem in the center with white bits framing his face as he opened his eyes, showing they had changed to a jade green. He looked around, causing his long blond hair to move with his head.

"Oh!" Ciel gasped.

"That looks a lot different from Model ZX," Ashe gawked.

{He looks like Zero did before the Elf Wars} Axl thought.

"How…How do you feel?" Maylu asked, approaching with a slight trepidation.

"..." Lan looked at himself, "...Not too bad." He did a few stretches, "I feel that rush from first working with Fafnir, but…different, too."

[It's because your body isn't being strained to the point of breaking down. The surgery seems to be a success. Congratulations, Lan] Zero noted.

"..." Maylu reached out and gently cupped his cheek, "..." she released it, "I…I'm glad. But…I…Is it okay if I wait until after the N1 before I try anything?"

"..." Ciel walked over and held her hand, giving the red head an assuring smile, "You do this at your own pace, Maylu. Nobody should force you to do something you don't feel comfortable with, so take as much time as you need."

"Thank you, Ciel," Maylu thanked, a relieved smile on her lips before yelping as Lan picked her up, "Lan?!"

"Huh…You feel lighter than normal like this," Lan noted…before blinking a few times as Maylu, Ciel, and Ashe all glared at him, "Huh?"

"Lan…did you just call me fat?" Maylu growled.

"What? H-Huh?! What?! N-No! I'm just saying you're really light when I'm borrowing Zero's power! It's like you're a feather," Lan replied, rambling.

"Laaaaan…." Maylu seethed.

[Oh you are in deep trouble, young man!] Leviathan seethed as Maylu gripped her PeT tight.

"Megamerge!" Maylu snapped.

A light blue flash went off and Lan screamed as a blast of water sent him crashing into the island's namesake. Maylu let out a noise of annoyance as she glared at Lan with ice blue eyes, wearing a bodysuit like Lan's. Unlike him, she had a blue 'swimsuit' of sorts over her body with a white armored belt on her waist. Over her chest was an armored top while her feet were covered in armored high heels with slender armor covering her lower arms. Over her head was a white and light blue helmet with a heart-shaped gem on the center of it and a water jet shaped like a ponytail on the back of it. She thumped the butt of the cybernetic polearm in her right hand on the ground, the teal plasma blade of it shaped like an upside-down heart.

"...Well…I guess you're ready now…" Ciel muttered, a drop of sweat going down the back of her head as she tried hard to not feel the burning jealousy in her increase by focusing more on Maylu's face than the neck below.

"Are ya tryin' ta drown me?!" Lan shouted.

"Go soak your head, you jerk!" Maylu barked, shaking a fist at him.

"I'm just saying you're lighter when I'm suited up!"

"GO DROWN!" Maylu shouted as she swung her polearm and a dragon of water erupted from the sea.

"GYAHAHAHAHAHA~!" Lan screamed as he scrambled to flee from the water dragon, scaling up the mountain-like structure with ease and then running down it.

"YOU GET BACK HERE! I AM NOT FAT!" Maylu roared, sending more at him, "I'M JUST AN EARLY BLOOMER, YOU JERK!"

"HAAAAAALLLLLP~!-!-!-!" Lan screamed.

'Well…Lan unintentionally got Maylu going…' Ciel thought, facepalming and trying hard to ignore the dragons that were assaulting the temporary blond as he finally got a sword in hand made of plasma to slice through them while still fleeing from the infuriated armored girl, 'Does…Does this count? I…I guess it does…'

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GT: I think this was the longest chapter yet that I've written. That confrontation with the three to Vent and Ashe was something I wasn't planning on. Neither Oda and Famous, but things happen. Also, no crazed Numberman this time so no being fashionably late for the N1. Next chapter we'll get to the N1 Grand Prix at last. So please Read and Review!

Oh, and for those who want more Battle Network and ZX(A) goodness? Check out Light the Future by EmeraldtheLynx or Digital vs Analog by Midas_king_of_gold. They're really good so far, so take a chance to read 'em.