GT: What comes this way is not what they planned for.
"How exciting! The First Round of the N1 Grand Prix, the world's first International NetBattle Tournament, has come to an end! Everyone is burning with anticipation as we head on to the next Round with many people here shouting out in excitement for the next battle to start!" Ribitta cheered on television…in an empty Alpha Dome, "But~as you can see, nobody's here but me and Toadman!" she grabbed her outfit and pulled it off, revealing a pair of black and green stockings, an orange pair of shorts, a pink sweater, and a blue open vest replacing her outfit…aside from her hat, "That's right! Today's a day off for all our competitors moving on to the second Round!"
The footage changed to Higsby in the empty Beta Dome, "Our NetBattlers who have made it to the next Round are being given this day to not only rest and recuperate from the two days of NetBattles so far, but also be given the chance to work on their BattleChip collections and strategies." he held up a hand and a screen on the TV popped up, showing various locations on the island, "For many, they will have a chance to stock up and trade at various facilities on this artificial island. You can even use the boats to head for nearby Electopia's DenTech City's Beach Street to see some local excitement." he adjusted his glasses with a small smile, "As for the next Round, I predi…"
"STOP!" Ribitta shouted, suddenly at his side, "Don't go predicting the next Round without me, Mr. Higsby!"
"Ah, I had a feeling trying to do it would get you here quick for it," Higsby chuckled in sheepish amusement, "Any predictions?"
"Yep! We're gonna be seeing some hot-blooded competitive battles for sure!"
"Indeed! There are many who have moved on that will be of great interest to watch!"
"So glad they're doing a day off to rework the systems for double battles and basic system updates," Ciel noted, wearing a formal pink and white dress with her hair pulled into a bun, "Okay…" She turned off the screen and looked out at the members of their team, assembled in their secret base in the hollowed out abandoned arcade, "Masa, Miyu, Sal, are you three ready to be on standby?"
"Sure as a yellowtail is delicious!" Masa replied, "Sal and I have stalls set up on the property, selling bento boxes and fish respectively. We'll keep track of folks coming in and outta SciLab through a hidden camera on our stalls that Woodman and Sharkman will operate."
"Meanwhile, Miyu is going to be in the lobby, working as a receptionist," Sal added.
"Good, good," Ciel nodded before looking at Lan and Maylu, "Meanwhile, we'll be down there because of Dr. Hikari and my father being presenters and guests respectively, so we'll be the second line of defense if WWW agents bypass our trio above. Lastly, Chaud will, after spending enough time fulfilling his company obligations, move down to the Power Plant, where he will be the last line of defense. If anything happens, Lan is to go down to the Power Plant to provide backup. Any questions?" Lan raised his hand, "Lan?"
"Why are you dressed up?" Lan asked.
"Lan, this is a formal event. Your current attire is not good enough for this event. Therefore, I've asked Yai to help you, Maylu, and the others to get fancy," Ciel replied.
"Fancy?" Lan tilted his head.
"Is everything prepared for tonight?" Wily demanded, looking at Yahoot and Count Zap.
"Of course, Lord Wily. Using my status, I was able to earn a spot amongst the guests for the event being held. Using that, I will leave an opening for Count Zap to enter SciLab and progress to the Power Plant," Yahoot informed.
"It's gonna be a real shocker for them all when I have Elecman cut off all power to that floor and lock the elevators and vents!" Zao laughed, "Only one that's gonna survive is Yahoot with that hidden oxygen he'll be stashing!"
"And if Vent and Ashe interfere and stop all that?"
"?!" All three looked to a monitor, a shadowed figure on the screen.
"I would prefer to plan for them and their NetOps," Wily admitted.
"Heh. Don't worry, Doc. I've got someone that Zap will have to carry in," the figure chuckled before a crackling electrical noise made them look up and their eyes go wide.
Chaud calmly tugged on the collar of his formal, dark red suit, standing in the lobby of SciLab a bit out of the way to avoid detection. He frowned, looking at the black tie in his hand, untied. He began to work on getting it on before a pair of gloved hands took it. He looked to see Ciel in her dress, giving him a small smile. Wordlessly, she properly did his tie for him.
"You look troubled. Is it your father again?" Ciel asked in concern.
"No. It's something I've been dealing with for weeks now."
"...Lan and Vent?" Ciel guessed, earning a nod.
"It's hard to believe that one person has all of your Biometals aside from Model A," Chaud admitted, "A Civilian of all people having that kind of power…Let alone two if you include Sakurai and Ashe…"
"They're tempered by their NetNavis, being guided by them and their skills already with them," Ciel pointed out, "You remember when I deployed them all after Model A was stolen, right?"
Chaud nodded, "It was a few weeks after Protoman and I activated FullSynchro in that three-on-one your father and you had me unknowingly go under which necessitated the need for the CID to purchase that abandoned arcade building that became the base of operations for DenTech's branch."
Ciel smiled at that. While she had made all the Biometals together in her last life, this one she had made Model A shortly after her reawakening from the lightning bolt that hit her as a child, only for him to have vanished just when she had looked away for a few moments, and then made the remaining ones after the coma she and Alouette had been in from the fatal car accident. The memory of what Chaud talked about was still fresh in her mind.
-flashback-
"I was wondering what you were up to being here so late," Chaud's voice nearly made Ciel let out a scream.
"Ch-Chaud! Stop doing that! You and Model Z are terrible at doing that!" Ciel scolded, spinning around as Chaud walked up and sat beside her, several bandages on his body, "And you were using your family home's security system to train again, weren't you? I keep telling you to just give me time to make one upstairs!"
"These are them?" Protoman asked, appearing in the Network before capsules containing the Biometals minus A, and earned an exasperated sigh from Ciel as the two ignored her question.
"Yes. Biometals Model X, Zero, Fighting Fafnir, Fairy Leviathan, Sage Harpuia, and Hidden Phantom," Ciel responded, 'It's not the ones I made and they're really just basic AI based on the personality data I could remember when I originally made them with the Cyber Elves of them all, but…'
"So what now? Do you plan to distribute them to us?" Chaud questioned, looking at Model Z.
"...No. With Model Axl stolen a few years ago and incomplete because of it, I worry for the denizens of the Network."
Model A sneezed, [Sorry…]
"It's alright, A," Maylu assured…despite her eye twitching as she looked at the collapsed stack of cards she had been making into a tower of sorts, "It's all…peachy …"
Model A gulped {I shoulda just stayed in that computer instead of freaking out on waking up and going off on my own to find Ashe several years ago…}
"You're just sending them off?" Chaud asked in disbelief.
"Only those with the potential to use them will be able to see them or even hear them. The fact you and Protoman can is quite amazing already," Ciel noted.
"So why can't you just…"
"Because I want them to find their partners, not be given like pieces of candy. You're welcome to find them after I send them out," Ciel replied, giving him an all-too familiar sharp look.
"..." Chaud sighed, "Fine, fine. Do you want me to Jack Protoman out to make this all the more fair?"
"Of course," Ciel replied, "You can send him in after two minutes have passed."
-end-
"In the end, I never found one…and they all were found by one NetNavi," Chaud frowned.
"After Viruses grabbed onto all but X and Zero," Ciel pointed out, "And even then, Zero was found by someone else before Vent and was given to him as a tragic final gift."
Chaud grimaced at that, "Yeah…"
"...You really wanted Model Z."
Chaud nodded, "It seemed to be amazing to me from the first moment I saw you finish it. And then to be on the other end of it…" he clenched his fists, recalling the pain in his body from the devastating strike that had gotten through FullSynchro, "..." he shook his head, "What about that last one you made?"
"Vent has it."
" What?!" Chaud hissed.
"It escaped the container I had it stored in and he found it and I don't know what he's done to make it no longer be a threat."
"What is with that NetNavi?" Chaud groaned in disbelief, bringing a hand to his head as a headache went through his mind, "And why a Civilian?!"
Ciel shrugged, "Maybe they see something in them that you can't."
Chaud frowned, "Maybe…"
Ciel nodded, "Chaud, remember that the ones inside of the Biometals are older than anyone you know, be it in person or from history books. The way they choose someone is all to their own preferences."
"I still can't believe you lied about that."
"They asked me to until they felt like telling someone else," Ciel spoke, "They trusted me enough to make them new bodies; I couldn't betray that trust, even if it was to you and I really wanted to tell you so badly for years."
Chaud sighed, scratching the side of his head in frustration, "And Model O?"
"That one was unintentional and shouldn't have been built," Ciel scowled, "How Vent's keeping it and somehow not going berserk I have no clue on…"
Chaud nodded, "I'm heading down to the Power Plant to prepare for WWW's attack. After that, I'll come to the restaurant to do business for IPC."
"Make sure to patch the ElecCode with the tracker," Ciel reminded him, earning another nod from him as he left.
Once he was gone, Ciel slumped, 'Oh Chaud…After WWW is gone…I promise I will come clean to you about everything.'
"It's so weird. Why is there all this water under this building?" Dex asked, looking at a map of SciLab in another part of the lobby.
"That's because the Power Plant is underneath us," Tory explained, "The water helps deal with any heat it produces. This also helps the waterworks beside here because the steam that is produced helps the purification process for the water we use in town. The waterworks has non purified water dumped into this part to refill the water that is evaporated so that the cycle continues."
"So the waterworks brings water to SciLab to help keep the power plant from overheating so that SciLab and the power plant can help the waterworks give people fresh water to use, but this also lets SciLab and the power plant do what they can do to help people," Lan summed up for himself, "It's pretty cool when you think about it."
"I still have a question," Dex noted…before he motioned to the black suits with either green, yellow, or orange button shirts beneath that he, Tory, and Lan were all in, "Why are we butlers?"
"That depends. Are we serving food to folks we don't know?" Lan asked.
"No."
"Then we're not butlers," Lan nodded.
"It's a formal event, Dex. Just be glad Yai was ready for something like this happening," Tory noted, "And don't make a mess on the clothes."
"Speaking of…Where are the others?" Lan asked.
[Greetings, Ms. Sakurai] Phantom spoke.
"..." Lan slowly turned around and sighed in relief, seeing she wasn't behind him this time, "Not falling for a third time."
He looked to the doors…and his brain momentarily rebooted. He wasn't focused on Yai in her strawberry pink shoulderless dress with white gloves reaching halfway past her elbows. He didn't really notice the lavender formal cheongsam with dark green elbow-length gloves worn by their new friend Jasmine with her hair done in a braided ponytail with chopsticks holding it in place. His eyes were settled upon Maylu, wearing a navy blue backless dress held up by a collar on her neck with a silver necklace. Over it was a white long-sleeved, short jacket fully open. While her bangs still framed her face, lightly touched with makeup, the rest of her hair was pulled into a small bun with a flowery comb-like piece holding it in place.
[Oh my goodness! You look so beautiful, sweetie!] Leviathan cheered [Doesn't she look beautiful, Lan?]
"Ah! U-Um…well…" Lan stammered.
[You've left the boy speechless! That's the sound of success!] Leviathan laughed.
"O-Oh…Um…" Maylu stammered, blushing as much as Lan now.
"Whoa~! You girls look great!" Dex praised.
"Y-You all look very nice!" Tory added.
[Lan!] Zero barked in a private link, making Lan jump and snap out of his dazed state.
"Ah! Um..Y-You look great!" Lan complimented.
[Well…One step forward, I suppose] Leviathan sighed.
[Wish I could have some popcorn for this] Fafnir chuckled before a muted alert for access permission went off in the PeT.
Vent accepted it and Ashe entered. She was wearing a similar outfit to Maylu, but the blue was in a lighter shade and the jacket the same orange as her normal one. The one thing she made sure was evident on her was the necklace Vent gave her. She gave a small, awkward smile at the young man wearing a similar suit to Lan with his necklace on, the buttons blue in color.
"You look beautiful, Roll," Vent complimented, muting the speakers.
"Thank you. You look amazing yourself, Hub," Ashe returned.
"Glyde was insistent on us looking fancy as well," Vent replied, "...How are you holding up?"
"I'm…I'm doing as best I can after that talk we had," Ashe replied, "You?"
"Handling it as best as I can. We both needed to say all that," Vent replied as he held her hands, "But we can get through this as a team."
Ashe nodded. Vent leaned in and gently kissed her, earning a small smile from her and a return kiss.
[Lan, your father is coming this way to your right] Phantom informed.
"Huh?" Lan looked and saw Dr. Hikari walking up, "Papa!"
"Lan, did you and your friends wait long?"
"Not at all, sir," Tory replied, the others nodding.
"You all look great!" Yuichiro complimented before looking around, "Um…Where's Mom? Didn't she come with you?"
"She's coming! She just had to get dressed!" Lan assured, earning a chuckle from Yuichiro.
"Well, that'll take a while, if I know your mother!"
Yai, Maylu, and Jasmine shared looks and giggled. The doors to SciLab opened a moment after that.
"Sorry! Here I am!" all of them turned to see Haruka walking up, wearing a modest lavender dress with a cut on the right side to show some of her leg and a green short jacket over it, a gentle application of makeup enhancing her natural beauty, "Honey! How have you been today?"
"I-I'm doing alright!" Yuichiro replied, "You look stunning."
Haruka giggled, "Why thank you! Now then…let's go downstairs to the restaurant floor and eat!"
"Alright!" Lan and Dex cheered as the group headed for the elevators, passing by the reception desk with a woman with silver hair was working.
"..." she glanced down at a crystal ball in her lap, hidden behind the counter, 'The overflown river…upon green wings and generated lightning, Death has come tonight.'
An elevator dinged and the group stepped out of it. As they walked through a hallway, a few took the time to awe upon seeing thick reinforced glass panes set up on some of the walls, showing they truly were underwater with several robotic fish swimming around, acting as filters to help with the process. Lan and Maylu both let out silent sighs of relief when they saw no signs of anything too big and dangerous swimming out there. Yuichiro presented his ID card to a pair of strong-looking men in suits at a pair of double doors, who nodded and gave each of them a pass before opening the doors for them, revealing a rather large banquet hall with tables filled with various dishes and a stage where several items were ready to be presented.
"I haven't been to a good party in years!"
"Those PeTs on display... Are those really the latest thing in technology?"
"I heard that they're recycled from plastic bottles…"
"I think that we have the best technology, but it's important to keep abreast of the latest trends from overseas. We'll fall behind if we don't watch out!"
"What do you mean, what am I doing here? I'm the chef!"
"Whoa~! This looks so cool!" Lan awed, "Oh! Ciel, look! These really are made from recycled materials!"
"Not bad, not bad at all," Ciel noted, looking them over, "They do look durable."
Lan nodded, "But I like the ones you built for us more."
[Agreed] Phantom agreed, using the hologram function to keep vigilance.
"Glad you're enjoying it," Ciel smiled before seeing Jasmine waving her over at one table with Yai, Alouette, and Maylu, "Try to enjoy things, alright?"
"Gotcha," Lan nodded before she walked off and Yuichiro walked over, "Hi, Papa."
"It's been a while since we've talked, Lan. Actually, there is something I've been meaning to ask you and Megaman."
"Huh? What's that?" Lan asked, Vent appearing on his shoulder.
"Well for Megaman, why did you change your appearance?" Yuichiro asked.
"Huh? Oh right! You said that when we were in the hospital, right?" Lan recalled.
"Yes," Yuichiro replied as he showed Lan his PeT, showing an image of Vent as Megaman, "This is what he used to look like."
"That'd be the fault of me using a Biometal, Papa," Vent replied, "The power in them is so strong that my Ultimate Program went off to adapt my body to it."
"?! It triggered?" Yuichiro asked.
"Huh? What's an Ultimate Program?" Lan asked.
"It's a rare anomaly that can develop inside of a NetNavi, giving them a power far greater than anything seen before," Yuichiro explained, "Megaman's is called Hyper Adaptability, allowing him to undergo extreme changes when a situation calls for it. If his body could access the power of StyleChange, I'm sure that he'd be able to interchange between any Style he'd want with a command from your PeT."
"Whoa~" Lan awed as Vent nodded, "So…what about me?"
"Well, it's about my research…" Yuichiro replied.
"Sounds difficult! How would I know anything about that?" Lan asked, titing his head.
"Well, it's connected to you and Megaman," Yuichiro replied, earning a nod from Lan, "You see, I made your previous PeT. It was different from normal ones. And Megaman, too…"
Vent's eyes went wide, 'Wait…Does he…?'
=Bing bong bing bong! Dr. Hikari, paging Dr. Hikari... Please report to the Lab immediately. Dr. Hikari, please report to the Lab immediately=
"Whoops! I'm sorry, it looks like I have to go! Lan, we'll finish where we left off next time!" Yuichiro spoke.
"G-good luck, Dad!" Lan waved as Yuichiro ran off…before he sighed, " ...So much for dinner together…"
Haruka shook her head, seeing the sad look on both her son and husband, before walking over and giving Lan a side-hug, "Well, we'll just have to enjoy the food all the more. Let's eat!"
Lan nodded as they went over to enjoy the meal with his friends. Meanwhile, Vent quickly went into the Network and popped up on a screen in the elevator with Yuichiro.
"Dad."
"Hello, Hub," Yuichiro greeted, "I…"
"It's okay. I know you have something important going on in the Lab at the moment," Vent assured, "But…were you about to tell Lan about…me?"
"No, I was going to explain my concern over you and him with FullSynchro," Yuichiro replied, "It's dangerous, especially when it comes time to give you HubBAT."
Vent nodded, "The data that will remove that 0.001 percent difference to keep Lan safe. Still…Lan's smart. I think he's going to figure it out sooner than later that I'm more than what I say I am."
Yuichiro sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I should've guessed from the wireless Jack-In that he's smarter than he shows to others." a few moments passed, "...After the N1."
Vent blinked a few times in surprise, "You sure?"
"No, but…You're sure he's getting close?"
"Yeah. It also doesn't help that…FullSynchro may be letting him see random memories of mine."
"?! Wh-What?"
"I…think it's because I was human before. It may be causing a feedback that, when he sleeps, he's starting to see random memories," Vent noted, causing Yuichiro's eyes to go wide.
The evening sky was quite beautiful, the setting sun's rays reflecting off the glass windows of SciLan and the Waterworks just nearby. In a small park before the two buildings, people were gathered and partaking in Sal performing ikebana, explaining to some of the children still there with their parents what she was doing. Nearby, Masa's hands were swift, slicing into a fish, grabbing sticky white rice and sheets of seaweed, and making sushi and sashimi, giving interesting facts about the fish he was using to folks who were watching him. On a hidden camera atop both the stalls' flagpoles, Sharkman and Woodman were taking note of anyone approaching SciLab and occasionally sending a message to Oda or an Official that was on standby in SciLab on one person or another that felt suspicious. A man in a SciLab janitor uniform approached a backdoor and felt the handle. He grinned as the door opened. With a grunt, he hefted up the green metal suitcase and rolled it inside. He looked at the cameras, seeing them working but knew that they were put onto a small loop to prevent him from being detected. He got into a service elevator and pushed two buttons. He removed his hat and Count Zap grinned and looked down at the suitcase.
"Tonight is gonna be a real shocker for these folks," Zap noted, "Hope you're ready to amp up the fear and chaos that will happen tonight, because Yahoot confirmed that those brats are here." the elevator opened and Zap, his hat back on, put the suitcase out and against the wall beside it, "The moment the power goes out up here…have a wonderful concert of chaos and mayhem!"
He laughed as he went back into the elevator. Once it was on its way, the suitcase twitched and began to hover in the air. It floated off and into a hidden corner of the hallway behind a pair of vending machines.
"Wait…so these bruises and scratches I get at times when Meddy fights…is from this phenomenon?" Jasmine asked, standing in line at a buffet with Maylu and Ciel.
"Yes," Ciel replied, "Maylu is another who is capable of using that power with Ashe."
"It was a shock when we first fully went into it knowingly," Maylu admitted, "It's like I'm seeing both where I'm at and where Ashe is from her point of view."
"The power boost from it is pretty nuts, too," Ashe added, "Maylu's faster on the BattleChip use, too."
"Come to think of it, lately it has been feeling like Jasmine has been faster on giving me them when we're in an intense Virus Busting battle," Meddy thought aloud.
"That's because she is," Ciel noted, "I know of a few others that can help you with handling it if you want to meet them."
"Well, I kinda have to if I agree to being part of this initiative you've offered to us," Jasmine replied.
"We just need a few days to think it over," Meddy noted, earning a nod from Ciel.
"Take your time, Jasmine," Ciel assured as, nearby, Lan was finishing off a plate of food and sitting with Dex and Tory.
"Man, this is pretty sweet! Thanks to your dad for this," Dex noted.
"Yeah," Lan nodded, "Still wish he didn't get called out, but I know that there are some really important things he has to do here and if he gets called over the speakers then it's a major thing."
"The same with my dad and his job," Tory sympathized, "Being someone high up in these places has a ton of responsibilities for them."
Lan nodded before looking out and blinking a few times, "Raika?"
"Huh?" the two looked to see the Sharo soldier approaching them.
"Didn't think you'd be here," Lan noted.
"A few of my fellow soldiers and myself have been assigned to be the protection detail of one of the scientists from Sharo that will be presenting tonight," Raika explained, "I will admit that this place confuses me."
"You mean how it's connected to the Waterworks, right?" Lan noted.
"Yes. We have nothing like this in Sharo. We use nuclear energy and geothermal energy for our power supply," Raika explained.
"That does make sense," Tory noted, "Sharo is closer to the top of the planet and normally covered in snow, so having places like this wouldn't really work out."
"I remember my mom telling me 'bout nuclear power plants once," Dex recalled, "You gotta be super careful with those or a whole city could be unin…unih..uni…er…not be able to be lived in."
Raika nodded, "May I have a moment of your time, Lan Hikari?"
"Huh? Uh…sure," Lan nodded, waving to Dex and Tory as he walked over to a corner with the taller boy, "What's up?"
"Is everything okay?" Vent asked, appearing on Lan's shoulder.
"I have been curious…How long have you been able to use FullSynchro?" Raika asked.
"You know FullSynchro?" Lan asked in surprise.
Raika nodded, rolling up his jacket sleeve and this his button shirt sleeve, revealing several faint scars from FullSynchro feedback, "Searchman and I have been using it for two years now."
"...We only found out we could a few months ago," Lan explained, "Just a few weeks after I got Vent."
"Has Inspector Oda approached you?" Vent questioned.
"No. A man named Famous did," Raika replied, "So you are a member of the CID's Special Forces then."
"That's correct," Vent confirmed.
"No wonder you're this skilled," Searchman noted as Raika nodded.
"My superiors and the CID have come into agreement that should there be a need for it, I am to assist the CID while I am here in Electopia," Raika explained.
"Great! That means we'll be working together!" Lan beamed, "You and Searchman are really strong, so you'll fit right in!"
Raika blinked a few times at the enthusiasm Lan was giving off. The boy was completely different to what he had been expecting. What he thought was just a cover personality…really was an honest and excitable civilian child. Yet, he could also tell how Lan's posture was subtly ready to go into immediate action.
"Do either of you know of anyone else that may have been spoken to during the Tournament?" Vent asked.
"Not to our knowledge," Searchman replied.
"Oh, quite a few that both moved on to the next round and didn't make it."
"GRK!" Lan jumped as Raika merely looked behind Lan, the brunette spinning around to see Famous, "Wh-Who are you?"
"I'm Famous."
"You are? But I don't know you," Lan tilted his head.
Vent chuckled, "Lan, this is Meijin Eguchi. His nickname is 'Famous,'" Vent explained, a memory of his life here and his previous going through his mind, showing different ways he's met the man before him.
-Flashback-
"MEN! DOU! KOTE!"
"Hah! Hah! Hah!"
"MEN! DOU! KOTE!"
"Hah! Hah! Hah!"
An eight-year-old Megaman repeatedly swung the wooden katana at a straw dummy on a wooden post, hitting the three spots he was being ordered to strike. Standing near him was a tall NetNavi donned in navy blue and crimson armor resembling the uniform for kendo, sharp amber eyes focused on the child-sized NetNavi's movements. On a nearby floating screen, Yuichiro looked at the sight in concern as Famous stood by him.
"I must say, Yuichiro, your NetNavi is a fast learner," Famous noted.
"Thank you for helping with teaching him some techniques for Virus Busting, Meijin," Yuichiro thanked.
"It's no trouble. I was hoping to find someone to be Kendoman's first test at teaching the sport," Famous assured.
"HALT!" Kendoman barked and Megaman used the sword as a crutch to stay standing, "Ten minute rest then we resume. Breathe through your nose and out your mouth to recover your breath quicker."
"O-Okay, Mr. Kendoman…"
"It is Sensei when we are training, my student," Kendoman replied.
"O-Okay, Sensei…"
"Kendoman, remember that Megaman is a fast learner. Use him as an example of what a fast learner is capable of but not as a standard student," Famous advised.
"Understood," Kendoman bowed.
"Um…Papa…Wh-Who is this mister with you?" Megaman asked.
"This is an old friend of mine, Meijin Eguchi."
"Please call me 'Famous.'"
"Mr. Famous?"
"Just Famous."
-end-
"It's a pleasure to meet you again, 'Just Famous,'" Vent greeted with a bow and small chuckle, "How is Kendoman?"
"He's doing well. Currently teaching some NetNavis and kids the art of kendo," Famous replied, "Currently, I'm using a new NetNavi named Punk."
"Yo," Punk replied, "Huh…So yer da guy dat Kendoman talks 'bout at times? Da kid who was his first student?"
"That I am," Vent confirmed, "Many of my sword techniques can originate from his teachings." 'That and you guys, Zero, Harpuia, Leviathan, Phantom.'
"Huh? You know him?" Lan asked.
"Papa asked him to help with my Virus Busting training a few years ago," Vent replied, "Kendoman was a strict teacher and very good at it."
"Glad to see you have more fond memories than fearful ones," Famous noted.
"Whoa~" Lan awed as Raika made a mental note on this information.
"Perhaps we'll face one another in the N1," Famous spoke.
"You're in it, too?" Lan asked, "It's really fun, huh?"
"It has been. There are many who have quite the potential to go far as NetBattlers," Famous replied before a few chimes went off from the speakers.
=Everyone, thank you for waiting. We'd like to welcome our Master of Ceremonies for the evening=
"Master of Ceremonies?" Lan pondered.
"Odd. There shouldn't be one," Famous noted before the screens all over flickered before revealing Zap's face, "!"
=Ladies and gentlemen thank you for coming here this evening. To our...WWW Party of Death!=
"That's…!" Lan gasped
=We'd like you to know that the WWW has just taken over the underground power plant! So, let's get the party started with a little...No, a really big...blackout! ElecMan! Zap to it!=
At once, all the electronics but the screens turned off.
"Ah! Hey, who turned out the lights?!" Dex yelped.
"Ah! It's too dark!" Tory panicked before both boys ran into each other and knocked themselves out.
"A power out!? Oh no! The air vents have stopped! If we don't fix them, the air will…run out…a-and…" one of the scientists trailed off with a worried gulp.
=Now, relax and enjoy your last breaths! Ahahahahahah!= Zap cackled as the screens shut off.
"No good! The power won't turn on!" A technician called out from the newrby fuse box, "The generator... Someone go check the power plant below us!"
"Lan, let's go!" Vent spoke, remembering their orders.
"Easy for you to say, Vent! It's pitch black in here! ...Wait, my eye's adjusting…" Lan muttered as he blinked and his cyber eye turned green, "I can see with it. Must be night vision!" he pumped a fist, "Okay, Vent! Let's go!" he looked over at the approaching Maylu, her own eye showing it was in night vision mode as well, "Maylu, can you stay here with everyone?"
"I can," Maylu replied, "Be careful, alright?"
Lan nodded, "Promise."
"Raika and I will come with you, Lan," Famous spoke, his sunglasses' lenses glowing with night vision as well, "If there's no power, it means the elevators won't be working, but I know a way down to the Power Plant from here that doesn't need one."
"Right," Lan nodded, giving Maylu a smile before the three left and ran down the hallway with Famous in the lead.
"Why is his eye glowing?" Searchman quietly asked.
"He was in an accident and had to get a surgery. The eye is a robotic one with several functions," Vent quietly replied, earning a nod.
A handle rattled several times in rapid succession before it slammed open and Lan gasped out as he crawled out, "Ugh! Gross~!"
"Not the worst I've gone through in training, but I must agree," Raika agreed as he got out next, grimacing as he removed a rotting banana peel from his shoulder and tossed it back into the garbage chute…before Famous poked his annoyed face out, the banana peel on it.
"..." he removed the peel and tossed it away before pulling out some kleenexes to wipe his face, "If we're done being juvenile on that, it was our safest way to get down here." he pulled out his PeT, "Agent Chaud, report."
"I'm stuck in the Power room of the Power Plant. They've sealed the door shut and there's nowhere for me to send Protoman into the Network," Chaud informed.
"Were you able to install the patch in the ElecCode?"
"Affirmative," Chaud replied.
"Then rest until we can open the door," Famous replied, "Once done, you are to send Protoman into the Network to assist with the WWW threat. Even if we have that patch in the ElecCode on the chance it is stolen, we cannot allow them to steal it no matter the cost."
"Understood," Chaud replied.
"Wait, can't he turn on the power in there?" Lan asked.
"What?" Chaud questioned.
"The entire floor above us and the elevator are without power," Famous informed.
"Then the issue lies in someone manipulating the power pathways. Because I am standing before the breakers for everything and they are all on," Chaud informed before the call ended.
"Then that means WWW is specifically targeting the floor above," Raika scowled.
"How good is Searchman's scope?" Lan asked.
"He's able to strike a Mettaur fifteen Areas away from his current one," Raika replied.
"What are you planning, Agent Hikari?" Famous asked.
"We need to understand what's going on. With Searchman, we can find exactly where the WWW is messing with things in the Power Plant's Network," Lan spoke.
"Once that's done, we can perform a pinching maneuver," Vent added, "Punk and I can pretend to be the only two in the Network and confront the WWW NetNavi. We'll keep an open comm with Searchman. Upon confirmation of him having the ElecCode or not, Searchman is to take the shot and aim for the head or the Core." he narrowed his eyes, "It also depends on what has been done to alter the Power Plant's Network. If it will take more than five minutes for us to reach the WWW NetNavi, disregard previous orders and Delete that NetNavi without our distraction, Searchman."
"Understood."
Raika quirked a brow at Lan, who shrugged his shoulders, "Vent is really good at planning for operations like this. If he has a strategy for this, then I de…um…I just listen to his idea and make sure to be ready with BattleChips and FullSynchro if the plan flops."
"Hey, don't sell yourself short, Lan. You come up with amazing plans on the fly while I tend to go for mid-to-long term plans," Vent assured, "Now hurry! The more time we waste, the less time everyone upstairs has for oxygen!"
"Bingo," Oda smirked after opening a door, "We've got oxygen tanks."
"Good thing this floor also doubles as storage," a scientist sighed in relief as she and another looked them over.
"All are full and if we set them off slowly, there should be enough oxygen to prevent us from passing out for a good two hours," the other spoke.
"Those WWW people are monsters," Jasmine grit her teeth.
"Too right," Haruka agreed, "If I ever meet one in person, I'll give them one of my favorite combos from my old boxing days. A set of jabs to the stomach and then an uppercut to the underside of their jaw."
"We need to figure out how to get the power back on," Yai frowned.
"Lan is already handling it," Maylu assured, "I saw him go with Raika and someone else."
"Who else?" Ciel asked.
"Um…a tall man in a lab coat, fingerless gloves, and I think he was in sunglasses," Maylu replied.
"! …Oh yeah. We're going to be in safe hands then," Ciel nodded, "The man they're with is named 'Famous.'"
"Wait…As in Mr. Famous, the Pro NetBattler and researcher?" Yai asked.
"The one and the same," Ciel confirmed.
"Amazing," Jasmine awed.
"There's a crowbar over here!" a waitress called from another storage space and ran over to Oda, holding it up, "We could maybe use this to open the elevator door to get oxygen in here?"
"Well?" Oda asked, looking at the two scientists.
"Yes. If the elevator is at the bottom or at least three stories above us, then there's an opening to allow air inside the building without the systems in place needing to run," the male replied.
"We have a second elevator that way with the same build in case the first breaks down," the female added.
"Gotcha. I'll open the backup elevator first," Oda informed, "Were there any other crowbars in there?"
"Yes," the waitress replied.
Oda nodded, "I need some strong folks, men or women, to lend a hand! Grab a crowbar and follow me!" Oda ordered loudly.
"Mmm…" Alouette whimpered as she held her doll close, "Too dark…" she lightly tugged on the doll's tiny tail, causing the 'wings' to light up, "Phew…Thank you, Beep."
"That's pretty handy," Yai complimented.
Alouette giggled, "Big Sis made Beep for me. I don't like the dark, so Beep makes things shiny enough so I can sleep easier."
'Even as an adult, she couldn't sleep unless she had Beep or a window in her bedroom,' Ciel thought, gently petting the top of her little sister's head.
In the hallway, the suitcase rolled out of hiding and began to make its way down the hallway. As it began to approach the doors to the restaurant, its plating began to open and shift about. Engines hummed as electricity began to crackle along mechanical wings encased in plasma blades.
In a bleak-looking Network, scattered platforms of gunmetal panels surrounded by black, red, or blue borders floated amongst a 'sky' of darkness. Electricity crackles along the borders of the larger panels, sporting lightning rods on them. A trio of beams shot down, forming into the trio of Searchman, Vent, and Punk. Searchman held up his sniper gun and grimaced.
"There's too much electrical interference. I can't get a lock on the enemy NetNavi," Searchman informed.
"Tch," Vent scowled, "So much for the swift and safe method for saving the people upstairs."
"Uh…How's we gonna get to da core of da place?" Punk asked, looking at the small platform they were on.
[Vent, there seems to be more to this place than meet the eye] Phantom advised.
"I'll try something," Vent spoke, pulling out X and P, "Double MegaMerge!" in a flash, Megaman PX stood and looked around, his left eye behind his mask glowing, "...Invisible pathways. Of course."
"All of you, follow Vent," Famous advised, "Whatever they've done to the Network is affecting our PeTs as well. They seem to be draining the batteries for myself and Raika since we have to directly plug them into the system."
"I'll look for backup PeT batteries for them. Vent, you got this without me for a few minutes?"
"I'll do my best, but please hurry back," Megaman PX replied before nodding to the two, "Follow me, guys."
"Gotcha/Understood."
"Mmm…They're taking too long back there," Jasmine scowled, looking to where the people who followed Oda had run off to.
"There's still a few crowbars left," a recovered Dex noted as he picked one up, "Maybe we can get the other elevator shaft opened?"
"Good thinking, Dex," Tory agreed as he picked one up.
"It's easier than just staying here and being worried," Jasmine noted as she picked one up.
A few others grabbed one of the remaining crowbars and the group started to head for the doors before they were roughly slammed open, knocking everyone back. Dex and Tory hit a wall, knocking themselves out from the impact, as Jasmine landed on Yai headfirst with Yai's large noggin, knocking both girls out.
"Oh? Trying to delay the inevitable?" a voice smoothly spoke from the darkness of the doorway before plasma blades illuminated light green, white, and gold armor adorning a lanky, raptor-like frame, "Well…I can't just let that go."
Alouette softly gasped in fright, earning Ciel's attention as the little girl whispered under her breath, "Hivolt the Raptoroid…"
"Have no fear. It'll all be over soon. You'll all just feel a little jolt before you sleep… forever!" the machine screeched as electricity erupted off its body.
Several people screamed as they scrambled to run only for Hivolt's legs to detach and bend to resemble talons that fired off beams of electricity. Several people were stuck, electrocuted and crumpled to the floor. While a few were stunned, others no longer moved. His legs reattached and Hivolt flew up into the air in the larger room and his wings began to shine.
"Perish, bags of flesh!" Hivolt declared, unleashing bolts of lightning from his wings in the form of beams of light, "IMPERIAL RAYS!"
People screamed as they tried to avoid the bolts, overturning tables to hide behind. A few were unfortunate to not reach cover and were struck, screaming in agony as the amperage coursed through their bodies for several seconds until collapsing as charred husks. Alouette yelped as she tripped and fell to the floor while trying to run with Ciel, trying to reach the table that they had been at near the corner of the place. She got up slowly, wincing in pain growing on her knees and nose.
"Alouette!" Ciel shouted, spinning around to try to grab her.
Alouette's eyes went wide as one of the bolts came at her. She felt something press against her and she was behind an overturned table with Ciel…as a scream echoed in the room. Ciel gasped and Maylu turned as pale as a ghost in horror. Alouette blinked as she looked at the still body of Haruka Hikari, the back of her dress and jacket burned away…exposing a horrific burn on her back. Screaming had reached her ears…and it soon registered with her that the scream was coming from her own lips. A flash of light went off behind her as Maylu, donned in Model A, roared in fury as she unleashed a barrage of shots at Hivolt, who swiftly flew out of the way. A flash went off and a spinning yellow wheel slammed into Hivolt, knocking him out of the sky and onto the floor where Maylu A, now replaced with a woman wearing Model F, shot down from the air and slammed her buster down hard onto the Pseudoroid, unleashing its charged shot and creating an explosion of flames. Hivolt shot out of them with A-Aeolus chasing after him, blades ripping into the right wing. A final flash went off and Maylu A slammed her guns into Hivolt's chest.
"GIGA CRUSH!" she screeched, letting out the strongest attack she had.
Plasma bullets ripped and tore through Hivolt, the Pseudoroid unable to even produce a sound as his vocals were the first to be torn into. Within seconds, his body was shredded and managed until it was fully evaporated by his core exploding. A twinkle of data hovered where he had been and went into the bolt on her helmet, but Maylu A didn't care. She ran over to the two, a final flash going off and letting her collapse before Haruka and holding her with a fit of sobs escaping her lips. Up in the lobby, Miyu sighed, hearing a faint whistling over the busy lobby.
"A life harmed when it needed not be," Miyu whispered, "Scars formed in a time they should not…"
"I swear that if I see another battery puzzle, I am going to lose it," Megaman PX growled as they ran across a pathway made of hard-light red, green, and blue panels.
"You and me both, bub," Punk grumbled as they soon approached a large space with Elecman standing on the other end of it, smirking at them.
"I thought you'd come here, Megaman. Hrm...You did good coming this far, but you're too late…" Elecman sneered, "I just finished downloading the ElecCode!"
"Dammit!" Megaman PX grunted before Elecman grunted as a pair of sniper rounds hit him in the forehead and emblem one after the other within a second.
Elecman stumbled back before bolts of lightning slammed down from above and struck him. His wounds vanished and he corrected himself, glaring at the distance where Searchman was looking at him in shock.
"It didn't work?!" Punk gawked.
"Electricity is my power! As long as there's power generated, I can't be stopped!" Elecman declared before swinging his hands out, his right hand shaped into a circle and the left wrapped around it, "ElecRail."
A yellow light shined before PX and Punk were forced to the sides, barely avoiding the concentrated beam of electricity that shot out at Searchman. He grunted as he rolled out of the way with only his sniper arm being the only casualty of the hit. Elecman roared, swinging his arms out and a wave of lightning roared to life and rushed at the two. In a flash, FX slammed his fist down hard on the ground, creating a blast of flames that warped the lightning around him, as Punk collapsed into the shields on his shoulders into a spiked wheel of sorts, letting the attack bounce off them. He spun and charged at Elecman who slammed a foot down hard on the floor. Punk yelped as he shot up into the air, opening his wheeled state up and received a blast of lightning from the impact and sent flying into Searchman.
"You used electricity to reverse the gravity around Punk," FX noted.
"Sorta. The panels we're on are made of metal, so I turned them into magnets to repel him," Elecman replied, "And now…there's just you, Megaman." he aimed his hands at him, "ElecRail!"
The railgun attack shot out and FX swung his fist, engulfed in a charged buster. The two collided and an explosion ripped out from the impact. Elecman cackled in glee…before the wind picked up. His eyes widened as the smoke was blown away as Megaman HX floated in the air, a green aura erupting off his body.
"Overdrive…Model HX," Megaman HX intoned, cold, calculative eyes focused on Elecman.
A blast of lightning shot down towards Elecman. It nearly struck only for it to curve away and hit HX's blades. He swung the blade…and seven massive tornadoes ripped out of it and tore into the area, all coming for Elecman. He fires several blasts of lightning only for the vortexes to suck them up and send them to HX as he calmly walked towards Elecman. The WWW NetNavi froze from his shock long enough for the tornadoes to get him, the sharpened winds ripping into him and sending bits of his data scattering. He landed roughly on his back with a cry of pain…before gagging as HX impaled him through the core with both blades. Before he could do anything, HX flexed his arms and the swords became a makeshift pair of scissors, slicing through Elecman fully.
=ELECMAN: DELETED=
"Gaaah! Elecman, no~!" Zap wailed in abject horror, "Ghh…We have the ElecCode, but I won't forgive or forget what you brats did! I hope my partner slaughtered everyone upstairs!"
"Wait, what?" Megaman HX gasped.
"Slaughtered?! Vent, we…!"
"You kids head up. I'll focus on restoring the systems," Famous ordered.
"Thanks, sir! Vent, log out!"
"Yes! Yesyesyesyesyesyes! All four codes! All gathered together at last!" Wily cackled, "Excellent job, Zap!"
"Now that we have assembled all the pieces, we may now proceed with the next step, correct?" Yahoot questioned.
"No," Wily replied, "It will take time for the program to be completed. During that time, I want you to still partake in the N1. Get Match and Maddy back into it against Lan Hikari and Maylu Sakurai. Meanwhile, Yahoot…" he held up a BattleChip showcasing a demonic emblem, "Deliver this to the girl. Disguise it how you like, but make sure that she uses it and synch it to your PeT."
"Lord Wily, I have a request," Zap spoke up.
"Yes, Zap?"
"Allow me to be the one to hijack her NetNavi," Zap spoke, narrowing his eyes, "Megaman Deleted my beloved partner Elecman. What better way to torment them than making her destroy him physically and then emotionally with ripping her own Core out and crushing it in his face when he's too weak to fight?"
"...Heh. Impressive, Count Zap," Wily complimented, "Do so. I believe by the time of the semifinals will be when It will be complete."
"Your wife's jacket was what saved her life," a doctor informed Yuichiro at the hospital, "The materials it was made of acted as an insulator for the worst of it. She'll make a near full recovery."
"N-Near?" Yuichiro repeated.
The doctor nodded as he looked over at the small group inside of the hospital room, Lan holding his sleeping mother's hand with a despondent look on his face, "She'll have that scar for the rest of her life and there will be moments where her body will lock up for a few moments."
Yuichiro grimaced, 'Haruka…'
"But those moments will fade away so long as she follows the proper physical recovery exercises we'll be prescribing her alongside her medication," the doctor went on, "Nurse Akane will deliver everything you'll need for your wife's recovery to you before you leave tonight."
"Thank you, doctor," Yuichiro thanked as the man walked off and Oda and Famous walked over to him, "...It…It was just meant to be a simple night, something to let the kids unwind from the N1 and a way to just spend time I haven't had with my family…"
Oda laid a hand on Yuichiro's shoulder, removing his fedora to look the man in the eyes, "She's still alive and will recover. Take it from a man who's lost his wife: hold what you have close to your heart and cherish every moment you have with them, be they good or bad."
Yuichiro somberly nodded at that. Inside the room, Lan sniffled as he struggled to not cry. Vent 'sat' on his shoulder, his eyes seemingly vacant as he gazed at the sleeping mother, while Lan held her hand.
"It…It's my fault. I should've stayed…"
"We both should have," Vent agreed.
[Boys, don't think that way] Zero scolded [The attack was too fast for anyone to react fast enough. Be thankful that she was wearing something that saved her life and that she'll live]
"But…"
[No. You two understand that these things can happen. None of us expected Hivolt to appear like Vulturon did. It's wrong to blame yourselves for something you have no control over] X added [Vent, you especially know this]
Vent grimaced as Lan blinked a few times.
"Huh? What do ya mean?"
"...He means Giro, Lan…" Vent sighed, some color returning to his eyes, "You're right, guys, but…but it still doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt and tear at my very existence that this happened…"
"...don't…"
"!?" Lan and Vent looked to see Haruka's hand managing to grip onto Lan's as she was managing to look at two.
"...don't…blame yourselves…"
"Mama!" Lan gasped, holding her hand in both of his.
"She's awake?!" the doctor gawked, "She should still be unconscious for another three days given her injuries!"
"Doc, I've learned to never underestimate a Hikari," Oda replied, a small smile on his lips.
"Gah! Mrs. Hikari, you need to lie down still!" the doctor panicked as he ran inside when he saw her trying to sit up.
"Mama, please don't try to get up," Lan pleaded, "You're hurt and…"
"It's...not your...fault," Haruka huffed, trying to get up only for the doctor to make her lie down, "I took...the hit so...Alouette would be...safe. You kids…are the most important...thing in life." she managed to tap Lan's nose with her pointer finger, "Understood?"
"...Y-Yeah," Lan nodded, "But…you're just as important to me and Vent, so you listen to the doctors and get better, alright?"
"Lan's right, Mama," Vent agreed, "Please take it east for now. We want you to be as healthy as can be."
Haruka couldn't help a giggle escape her lips, "Alright, alright. But…you boys have to...do one thing for me, too."
"What's that?" the two asked.
"Get as far as you can in...the N1. Even if I can't be there in person, I'll still be watching," Haruka spoke.
"..." Lan blinked a few times before smiling, "Okay, Mama! Just you wait! Vent and me are gonna win this!"
"We're gonna get as far as we can. If it means we win it, then that's what we'll do!" Vent agreed.
"That's my boys…" Haruka smiled.
"...What's the total?" Ciel asked as she, Chaud, Famous, Commander Beef, Madam Rose, Mysteriyu, and Oda stood in the secret base for the NetSavers Division of the CID.
Oda took in a drag of his cigarette's smoke and exhaled, "...8 injured…and 21 dead."
"This is the worst incident they've done since the hypnosis incident before the N1," Madam Rose grimaced, "And one of the injured was one of our own's mother."
"Mysteriyu, what's our future look like?" Masa asked.
The skull-themed woman looked at her crystal ball, "The river has mixed up so much that events have become muddled for most things. I feel that during the N1 there will be those injured, but no deaths on our end."
"A mixed up river?" Famous asked.
"It's what she calls the timeline," Madam Rose explained, "Something happened and it seems other timelines mixed into ours."
"Many events have altered from their intended paths long before the ones who unintentionally altered things were even born. That is how strong their presence caused alterations from what once was," Skullman added.
"..." Chaud frowned, "It was unintentional, so do not blame them for these things. If things already happened before they were even born, then it just means you're looking in the wrong 'river' then." everyone looked at him in surprise as he walked towards the exit, "I'll turn in my report in the morning. I need to be up in six hours to be at a business meeting for IPC." He looked over his shoulder at Ciel, "Make sure Alouette is alright for me, Ciel."
'Chaud…' Ciel thought as she nodded.
"You'll be able to track them down now, Ciel?" Oda asked.
"Yes," Ciel replied, narrowing her eyes in determination, "It will take two days to be accurate, but we will have the location of their base. I refuse to allow murderers like the WWW to get away with their crimes."
Oda nodded, "But first…get some rest. You had a rough night. I'll give some final words here then meet you in the car."
Ciel nodded, giving him a hug before leaving. Once she was gone, Oda scowled.
"Miyu."
The fortune teller nodded at Oda's unspoken command, "Lan and Maylu are a Canon Couple. So far, that has been stable and actually being improved upon by these changes to the river."
"Sonuvabitch," Oda growled in exasperation, "FullSynchro capable, powerful NetNavis originating from one of the founders of NetSociety alongside the son of one of the founders, being the grandson of that same founder, and now those kids are a Canon Couple…"
"All we've done is just encourage them to be themselves around one another," Madam Rose noted.
"Wait…You know and neither of you told me?" Commander Beef asked.
"Your persona outside of disguise and the base is rather…discouraging to allow you to help in building their relationship," Mysteriyu bluntly stated, making him slump.
"Anything else?"
"...You must understand that there are names in existence that are far more vital than one would think," Skullman spoke, "Names like Rock Light, Dante, Zero, Ryu, Volnutt, Django…" he narrowed his eyes, "Vent's title of 'Megaman' is one associated with the very embodiment of the world's protection against an oncoming storm that cannot be halted, but help reinforce protections already in place. The call failed before due to outside factors and they were reforged to better readily answer the call in this second chance. We are not who was meant to be, but what we are now to maintain the precarious balance of existence that would drastically tip too far in one way without the overflow."
"Skully…Some days you make sense, others? You make yer NetOp sound perfectly clear," Sharkman bluntly put it.
"Being clear would interfere with the balance," Mysteriyu stated, "The more clarify forms, the thicker the veil becomes for the future."
"If you are blunt with your predictions and not vague, you start losing it," Famous guessed, earning a nod from the teal-haired woman, before he sighed, "So…we're dealing with something coming that fate itself needs us to he ready for but we can't fully handle it…only Lan and Vent can."
"Alongside Maylu, Ashe, Chaud, and Protoman," Mysteriyu stated, "The trinity of Rock, Roll, and Blues has always been a vital trinity in the rivers we live through…"
"..." Oda grimaced, 'To think…we have to rely on children because existence itself needs to rely on them. If there is a God, they can be cruel and all we can do is be there to support them all and help with what may come…'
GT: Nobody expected this, huh? Yeah, the build-up and background stuff was a major part of why it took so long. I always planned on Hivolt doing that to Haruka. It is a warning to them of the consequences of what their actions have caused. While, yes, most has been the same…not everything will be due to what they've unintentionally brought with them.