L & L: Season 3: Episode 14

[Haly K]

Poor Torchy getting turned into SmokeMan. T_T Hey, Smokey! *bricked* Er, anyways, keep up the good writing! ( Wow, your chapters/'episodes' are so long. Not that I have a problem with it... :puku: )
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MegaMan Kilobit
My Own City

[Zodiac]

[soberflight]

Awesome chapter! Interesting to see such tenderness in the enemy camp, and I actually feel a lot of sympathy for Maniac. I do have a question. I understand the Cruel/Vicious navis being able to merge, but it appears that John and Cameron also merged, or I've misconstrued something. Whose human body survived?

[Featherdust]

[Midnight]

Interesting. Very much so.

The backstory that you cited throughout the first portion of this chapter is reminiscient of the the style of Lost; it is certainly quite detailed, and thus very dramatic for much of its span. You did well in making the crisis situation that much more real--if not a little confusing to read as well.

Great job.
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Serenade.exe/HotShot]

Wow...I almost feel quite a bit of pity for the members of Zodiac...certainly for Maniac...but then again... Its hard to stir any pity out of me toward psychopaths/sadists.

Keep up the great work! And I eagerly hope to see my newest contribution soon!
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Sig by Hikari Angel

[Megawoman.EXE]

Episode 5: Jealous Assassin Challenger

~17 January 20XX ~ SciLab Server~

A black armored navi with red gems and long blond hair snuck up to a corner and peeked around it at her destination. She noticed a pair of security navis guarding her exit point. “This girl must be as important as Dr. Wily said she was,” the female navi spoke, seemingly to nobody.

“Yes, it seems that way Saratu,” a voice replied from inside her. Man, Bass’ signature is all over the place, the inner voice thought to herself as she ran some scanners, unbeknownst to her operator. It feels like he was just here a few moments ago. “Let me take care of those two,” the inner voice offered. “We need to make this quick.”

“Okay Ayra. I know you’ve been itching for some action,” Saratu replied. “AI Switch.” As the NetOp allowed her personality to move to the background, a black visor covered her face, hiding the sadistic smile that crept across it.

Saratu was now Ayra-S, who activated her Dark Blade and sprang into action. In one quick motion, both guards were down and starting to pixelate, and no alarm went off. “Ahh, the wonders of data,” Ayra cooed as she played with the broken up pixels of the guards’ data, twirling them around her hands. She then absorbed them with a smile of delight on her NetOp’s face.

“C’mon, we don’t have all day. And I really hate it when you do that with my body,” Saratu complained. “I’m going to be feeling ill when we log out now.”

“Okay, I’ll focus on the mission now,” Ayra-S replied as she walked up to the link out point. She scanned it for a moment before she took her hand away from the opening. “There’s an active Dimensional Area already on the other side Saratu,” she said as she finished her scan.

“Well then, let’s go get her and then get back to Wily,” Saratu ordered her navi as Ayra-S jacked out of the net, into Lyne’s room. Ayra-S then went to the door and peeked out into the hall from inside the DA to see if there was anyone keeping an eye on the room. Finding nobody in the hallway, she snuck over to the bed and looked over the girl sleeping in the bed under some covers.

Ayra took the covers off and looked at the sleeping girl in shock. “Whoa, she’s already in full navi armor.”

“Yeah. That makes our job easier. I couldn’t figure out which navi to use on her,” Saratu said as she observed the sleeping girl. “She also looks too injured for transport.”

“Nah, she’s fine, but I’ll do a check up on her though,” Ayra-S said as she placed her hand on Lyne’s to do a scan. As she did, she tensed up. “Huh?!” He’s touched her, she exclaimed in her thoughts. How dare he… Why did he do such a thing? She then smiled as a thought came across her mind. She activated her Dark Blade once more. “No matter. He won’t do it again. Never again,” she said as she poised it, ready to strike Lyne in her icon.

“Ayra! What are you doing? Wily needs her alive,” Saratu tried to reason, feeling jealousy fuming from her navi. Just in that moment of distraction, Ayra-S’s arm got grabbed and dragged to the ground in a quick purple flash. Ayra-S and her NetOp then heard a growling noise accompanied by Saratu’s arm being vigorously shaken. The girl let out a short scream of shock and pain which rang in Ayra's mind.

Ayra-S lifted her head to notice a virus dog, no wolf, latched onto the lower part of her arm. She then deactivated her Dark Blade and activated her buster to smack the virus on the muzzle, making it let go. Damn that Saratu, she cursed mentally as she used a recovery chip on her NetOp’s arm. I was completely caught off guard by this little trap. I wonder if you left it here Bass? she asked herself. You’re very clever, but I’m smarter, “AI Switch,” she ordered, giving control of Saratu’s body back to her. “Exit the DA. It won’t be able to follow.”

Not so easy, Saratu thought while focusing on the virus. I’ll have to get past this first. Gospel leapt at her suddenly with his jaws open, expecting to latch onto another limb, but Saratu jumped out of the way. Gospel crashed into a cart that had some bandages and medicine on top of it. The crash aroused a smaller virus that was balled up on top of Lyne’s helmet. Once aroused and aware of the situation, Spirit started squeaking loudly. This made some noise go off in the hall as Gospel got up. “Great, there’s also an alarm,” Saratu growled as she avoided another lunge from Gospel. She then made a break for the outer wall of the DA, passing through it easily. She breathed out a sigh of relief as she dropped out of her cross fused state and caught her black PET. “Nah! Nah! Can’t follow after me you stupid virus,” Saratu teased by pulling down her lower right eyelid and sticking her tongue out at the virus wolf.

Gospel glanced back at Spirit, who made a squeak of reassurance. Gospel nodded and growled at Saratu before charging through the DA himself. “What?!” she exclaimed while jumping off to the side to avoid his lunge. “No way is that possible.” She took off running away from the virus. The commotion Gospel caused with his barking drew the attention of a few lab assistants and even Yuuichiro as she ran down the hall past the labs.

“Saratu,” he said in shock as she raced past him, still being chased by Gospel. “Why is she here?” Then his mind registered the virus that was chasing her and realized where she’d come from. “Oh no, Lyne,” he said as he ran off to check up on his daughter.

At the end of the hall, Saratu noticed a ladder. “Good. Dogs can’t climb that well,” she said got to it she started climbing up it, only to have her pants leg caught by Gospel. “Let go of me you mangy mutt.” She kicked him in the muzzle a couple of times, and then suddenly her pants leg ripped off at the knee. Gospel dragged it off her, allowing her time to race up the ladder to the safety of the air ducts. “*Whew* at least I was right. It can’t climb,” Saratu breathed out in relief as Gospel shook the pants leg vigorously.

“Looks to me like it’s distracted more than anything. Let’s go,” Ayra suggested.

“Agreed.” Saratu then crawled her way to an outer vent cover, kicked it open, and jumped out. She was now outside SciLab and made her way to the outer woodland area to meet up with her ride.
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~Lyne’s Room~

Yuu came to a mess. Things were strewn all over the floor, and Lyne was left shivering with a whining virus wrapped around her shoulders. Yuu picked up her cover off the floor, but saw that it was too wet to put back on her, so he pitched it into a laundry basket and grabbed another one from the cupboard above the sink.

Once she was covered again, she stopped shivering. Yuu stroked her hair gently and got her into a more comfortable position, even though Spirit protested to her being moved. Yuu then scratched the little virus on the head. “It’s okay. You did good in trying to keep her warm.” The little virus licked his hand before he wrapped back around Lyne’s shoulders. Yuu then sat beside his daughter and stroked her wings. “Famous might be right,” he said, taking note of their softness and warmth. “Heh, but it’s not like I was going to keep it away from you forever.”

Just then, Gospel returned with his prize, placed it in front of Yuu, and wagged his tail. Yuu reached down and picked the pants leg up off the ground. “*Sigh* This isn’t good. Saratu being back in Dentech means that Regal has something in mind, and it has to deal with Lyne. But what?” Yuu pondered as he dropped the ragged piece of denim back to the floor. Gospel then placed his head in Yuu’s lap and whined. “Thank you, but she’ll be fine. I have to go back to the lab and finish something up. Stay here and keep an eye on her for me Gospel.” The virus nodded and took a post near the end of Lyne’s bed as Yuu exited the room.

“Squeak,” Spirit sounded as he got up and looked down at Gospel.

Gospel nodded but kept up his guard. Yes, we did a good job.

“Squeak, peep?”

Gospel growled a little as he covered his face with his paw. We don’t get bugs until Dark Element Master comes back.

“*Chirp*,” Spirit replied in understanding before he went back to sleep, snoring very quietly.

Babies, Gospel snorted as he jumped up on the bed to get comfortable before returning to his guard duties.
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~ACDC School ~ Lunch Time ~

Bass had Lyne’s PET tuned in to a local news station. He listened to it while he ate his school lunch. Lan was sitting beside him, paying attention to it as well. He ended up there because Mayl suggested it. She told him that Bass looked depressed due to Lyne being injured and thought that he’d be able to cheer him up, but it wasn’t working so far. So far, they hadn’t even said a word to each other. They just ate in silence. Then a late breaking news report was starting. “Hey Connor,” Lan said, tapping the older teen on the arm. “They’re showing SciLab on the screen.”

Bass turned his head to look at the screen as the report started. “Hello. This is Ribbita reporting live from SciLab,” the familiar female news reporter started. “Where a break in has occurred.”

“What?!” Lan exclaimed, drawing attention to their table, and making Bass pause the report.

Bass then popped him in the back of the head. “Stop being so loud. I was paying attention to the report,” he said as he un-paused it. “Man, you gotta’ love internet channels.”

“Sorry,” Lan apologized as he paid attention to the report too.

“Minimal damage was done to the facility, and nothing was reported stolen,” Ribbita continued. “But the culprit that snuck in was not caught. So far Police and NetAgents don’t have a description of the culprit and will give us this information at a later time. Thank you for tuning in. Ribbita signing out,” the reporter said before Bass turned off the net channel.

“Darn right,” Bass said before he drank down his juice. “Thought that bastard would pull something. Heh, heh I sure out-processed that old coot,” he said as he threw the empty container into the trash from his seat. He then grabbed his tray and walked over to the drop off window to return it.

Lan followed after him, doing the same. “What do you mean Connor? You knew something was going to happen today at SciLab? And who do you mean by old coot?”

Bass sighed as he finished putting his tray away. “Only a bastard who didn’t listen to me and tried to kidnap Lyne,” he responded as he placed his hand on Lan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it though. I left whoever tried to take her a little surprise,” he boasted as his PET went off. He then unclipped it from his belt and turned on the screen. Famous’s face showed up on there.

“I need to see you after school at NSHQ. We have a mission you might want to assist in,” Famous spoke in a calm tone.

“What for?” Bass asked in annoyance. “You put me on suspension while Lyne is recovering.”

“I just revoked it a few minutes ago. We really need your expertise on this mission,” Famous said as Bass rolled his eyes at him. “Just come to the briefing and see if you want to help out, okay?”

Bass exhaled loudly before he glared at Famous. “Fine I’ll come. Later relation,” he said as he turned off his PET screen. Just then the bell rang, making Lan bolt past him.

“Later Connor,” he called as he was halfway up the stairs.

“Yeah, whatever,” Bass said as he grabbed his backpack and went to his own classes.
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~After School~ ACDC Campus~

Bass walked out into the courtyard of the school and saw the table the NAT 001 teen agents hung out at. He really didn’t want to talk so he ignored them and started his long trek to NSHQ.

“I feel sorry for him,” Jackie spoke to DJ and Ken.

“Yeah, Zodiac blindsided them with that attack on Lyne,” DJ commented as Lan and Mayl ran to catch up with the purple haired teen.

“Oh injured beauty of ACDC School,” Ken spoke as he jumped up on the table. “Away, to her we must go to aid in her recovery.”

Jackie and DJ pulled him down off the table. “You pay too much attention in Drama class,” DJ growled.

“Yeah, and we were going to check up on her anyway,” Jackie agreed. “Let’s go DJ.”

“Coming,” DJ said as they left Ken there.

Ken then shook his head before he chased after them. “Hey, wait for me!” he exclaimed.
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~On the way to the Hikari Home ~

Bass huffed as Mayl hugged onto his arm, trying to comfort him. “Let go of me, or I’ll mess up Roll’s hair,” Bass growled making the young red head let go of him and hold her PET defensively.

“You know he’s kidding,” Lan broke in, trying to put Mayl at ease, but earning a glare from Bass. “So… What do you think the mission is about?”

“Why should you care? Famous didn’t ask you,” Bass replied with a snap.

“Jeez you don’t have to be so mean. He only asked a question,” Mayl spoke for Lan’s defense.

“I was asking because you knew someone is after Lyne. You’ve got to have some insight or gut feeling what it’s about,” Lan said.

“Yeah, so what if I knew old decrepit Wily was after Lyne?” Bass replied with an irritated sigh.

“What?! Wily? Why?” Mayl gasped.

“Don’t know, but that old freak doesn’t like to get his hands dirty, so I bet he sent someone. And they weren’t expecting Gospel to be watching over her. Heh, heh clever idea if I say so myself,” Bass bragged before his scanners picked up on a familiar navi signature. He turned his head slightly to look behind him.

He saw a car following after them with a familiar pink haired woman behind the wheel. Curses. Why did she have to get nosy? Bass pondered as he returned his focus forward. At least Wackoman gave them away, but this is going to call for some clever planning to get her to stop following after me. “I have to go. I’ll see you both at school tomorrow,” Bass said before he headed off to the subway station at a calm pace.

Just then, Maddy’s car passed Lan and Mayl. “I sure hope he has fun,” Lan said before Mayl slapped his arm and pointed at the vehicle.

“You better hope he’s careful,” she said. Lan just nodded. “Lan I’m serious. World Three is tailing him.”

“I know, but he has to deal with them on his own,” Lan said as he led Mayl inside. “Famous knows he started this mess with Wily and said he had to finish it.”

“Don’t worry Mayl. As Lan said, he’ll be fine,” Megaman said with a smile. “I think he plans on out smarting Maddy this time.”

“Yeah,” Mayl agreed. “She needs to be out smarted.”
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~ACDC Subway Enterance ~

Maddy smiled as she saw her target, Connor Cosako, enter the metro terminal. “Hee, hee. The kid doesn’t even know I’m following after him,” she spoke as she parked her car, then exited it with her PET in hand. She then followed after him into the underground terminal.

She watched as Connor got into a subway train heading to ElecTown. “That’s odd. If he’s who I think he is, why is he traveling this way?” she pondered aloud. She had a sneaking suspicion that this kid was actually Bass in disguise. The idea hit her earlier in the morning when Bass showed up at World Three headquarters and jacked out of the net. She almost peed herself when she saw him do it too. And the fact that he got all defensive about Lyne didn’t stop her suspicion. This kid has got to be Bass. He’s even got his attitude, she thought as she got onto the same train and watched him and reflected on the first time she met the kid. He was a rude little bastard. He had no right calling me a witch.

“Ahem, maybe he’s just a normal human kid,” Wackoman spoke up from his PET.

“I dunno. His last name is also a little fishy. Who ever heard of Cosako in the first place as a last name?” she asked her navi, only getting Wackoman to shrug his shoulders. “Anyway, I still say he’s Bass, and I’m going to make sure I’m right.”

“Fine then, but if you’re wrong, I get to go chip shopping. I need a new ball,” Wackoman said as he brought out his punctured ball.

“Agreed. If I lose, I’ll find you a new ball chip before I have to pick up that brat Saratu from the ice cream store,” she said as the train took off.
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~Near World’s Finest Curry~

Bass glanced quickly behind him using the reflective surface of Lyne’s PET to aid him. Damn, he mentally cursed when he saw Maddy still following after him. I can’t shake her and I’m almost to NSHQ. “Combit,” he spoke as he lowered Lyne’s PET to reattach it to his belt. “Can you transfer to my PET for a moment? I’m being followed.”

“Uh… sure thing Connor,” Combit replied as she did so. “I’m all transferred. Who’s following after you?”

“Someone from World Three,” Bass spoke as he looked around him to make sure nobody but Maddy was watching him. He then entered the alley beside World’s Finest Curry. “But I don’t think Wily sent this witch after me. I think she suspected on her own.”

“Really? What are you going to do about it? NSHQ is on the other side of this alley,” Combit reminded him.

“I know. I want you to use your morph program for a moment,” Bass spoke, lifting his PET up to see her confused face. “You know, use it to look like me and then use your RJP. I know Lyne installed it into your programming a little while ago.”

“What did you do?” Combit asked, tapping her foot.

“I may’ve logged out in front of Wily this morning, but that old coot wouldn’t stop asking for me to help him get Lyne. So I had to threaten him,” Bass replied in defense.

“So you want me to do this so you appear human?” Bass nodded and glanced back, feeling his hackles rise.

“Please do it now,” he requested. “She’s getting closer.”

“Okay, here goes nothing,” Combit replied as she used her RJP and her Morph program at the same time to form outside Bass’s PET wearing his armor and appearance. “Alright now what?” she asked in his voice while crossing her arms over her chest.

“We talk, but you act as me,” Bass said, getting a smile from Combit.

“This is going to be easy.”

“And there’s a few more things,” he said as he started explaining the plan even further.
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~Outside the Alley~

Maddy watched as Connor stopped beside an alley, looked around, and entered. “Alright now he’s going to reveal himself,” she exclaimed in a quiet, excited tone. It took her a few moments before she was at the mouth of the alley he had entered. She got into a good watching position before she looked in.

What she saw was shocking. “No way,” she breathed out in disbelief. She saw her target talking with Bass outside the net, just like had appeared before them earlier that morning.

She then listened in on their conversation. “Don’t worry human she’s safe. I saw to it myself,” ‘Bass’ spoke.

Now it was ‘Connor’s’ turn. He breathed out in relief. “I was worried when I saw the report on the news. That’s why I called you.”

‘Bass’ shrugged his shoulders. “Why doubt what I said? I was true to my word.”

“I know but people have said that you’re not that trustworthy.”

‘Bass’ looked at his fingers before looking back at ‘Connor.’ “I’m helping protect that human girl for my own means.” ‘Bass’ then pointed at ‘Connor.’ “Which is none of your concern.”

Bass smiled before he decided to complement his acting partner. Damn you’re good, he thought to Combit.

Why thank you. Now lets continue, she thought back in her own voice, cueing that it was his turn to respond.

“What if it is my concern? Lyne is my friend. A fiend like you might be using me to get to her,” ‘Connor’ pointed out as he poked the floating navi in the chest.
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Man that kid must be really gutsy to even attempt to touch him, Maddy thought as she watched, waiting to see what would happen.
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Bass managed to flash his PET screen to catch Maddy still watching. Okay, do what we discussed now Combit.

Without hesitation Combit went into action, placing Bass in a head lock. “I don’t need to use you to get to her. I can delete her anytime I need too. Just like I can kill you NetSavior.” ‘Bass’ then threw him to the ground.

“Owww!” Okay that was uncalled for, Bass grumbled mentally as he got back up off the ground.

I’m sorry. Now what? Combit asked as she floated in mid air once more.

Log out, duh, he thought to her while rubbing the back of his neck. Combit did as she was told and disappeared back into Bass’ PET.
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“Ouch!” Maddy spoke as she watched ‘Bass’ throw ‘Connor’ into the ground. “Looks like Bass means business.”

“Yeah. Ball chip shopping sounds good now,” Wackoman spoke. “And telling this to the boss would be good too.”

“No, Wily doesn’t need to know. But ball chip shopping does sound nice.”

“Agreed.”
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After a few minutes Bass laughed uproariously. “*Whew* That was great. Old Wily definitely won’t mess with Lyne now.”

“Yeah, that was fun, but I’m sorry for throwing you into the ground like that,” Combit apologized, still in her morph form.

“No prob. It made it believable for her. I’d better get going to NSHQ and find out what my relation needs my help with,” Bass said as he raced further down the alley, towards NSHQ.
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~Roof top of World’s Finest Curry~

“What a lying navi,” Saratu spoke as she watched ‘Connor’ speed off. “Your hunch in following after Maddy when she got back in the area was sound.”

“Of course it was and I did tell you he was a big fat lair,” Ayra spoke from her PET. “But I want to know what is wrong with him. He’s actually helping out the humans in protecting this girl. He will pay dearly for this,” she fumed as she composed an e-mail so she could send it to the e-mail address she managed to scan from Bass’ signature.
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~NSHQ~

Once Bass hit the lobby, he teleported all the way up to Famous’ office to avoid using the crazy elevator. When he appeared in the office, he ended up in one of the comfortable chairs in front of his desk and then propped his feet up on top of the desk in cocky relaxation.

“You look chipper today. Thinking about the mission?” Famous asked as he looked up from his terminal.

“Oh no. I took care of something else for amusement’s sake,” Bass said. “It’s put me into a good mood for now. Can we get this briefing over with?” Bass asked as he narrowed his eyes at Famous.

“My, whatever happened to being in a good mood?” Famous spoke, earning a glare from his cousin. Famous then shoved his feet off the desk, making Bass moan. “I need you to pay attention… Alright, as you are aware, there as a break in at SciLabs.” Bass rolled his eyes as Famous brought up a file and activated a wall monitor. “I have a copy of the surveillance video of the break in,” he said as he selected for it to play from his terminal.

Bass paid attention when he saw the playback was from Lyne’s room. He remembered before he left that a DA had been put up in Lyne’s room. That was to aid in the speed of Lyne’s recovery. As he watched though, he felt something odd and out of place.

Just then on the video, a black clad navi appeared on the screen. Bass now leaned forward in his chair and looked at the screen intently. He watched as the navi investigated Lyne. In an unexpected rage of fury she activated a sword chip of some kind before she poised it to strike Lyne. This had Bass’ jaw drop as Famous paused the digital recording.

Bass was wordless for a few moments before he spoke, “Nooo… Is she alright?”

“She’s fine,” a voice spoke behind him in a cool tone. “The navi in question though. Do you recognize it?” Bass turned about to see who the voice belonged to. The person he saw was none other then Leon Atlian, one of Brightland’s premiere NetSaviors. With him was the former Nebula agent, Ademu Osaka.

“Why are you two here?” Bass growled as he sat more upright in his chair.

“Answer the young man’s question Connor. Do you know who this navi is?” Famous asked, pointing back at the screen.

Bass glanced at it quickly before he hung his head and looked away from the screen. He remained quiet for a moment before he decided to talk. “Yes. Regal made her.”

“So, you do know some thing about her. Do you know anything else about her though?” Leon asked as he took up a chair and looked at Bass, staring him straight in the face.

Bass remained silent once again, and then Ademu’s impatient foot tapping broke the quiet. Bass, already agitated, found that he couldn’t put up with even a minor irritant. “Stop that!” Bass demanded with a glare at the raven-haired boy. This made Ademu stop. Bass then looked back to Leon. “She’s a clone of my programming. Ahhh… Wily managed to spare one of them by giving it to Regal who turned it into that…” he said, standing up and pointing at the screen, “disgrace of my programming. Rotten bitch!” he shouted before he slumped back down into his chair, covering his eyes to hide the fact that he was crying. “Ayra tried to kill Lyne. Why?”

“Maybe ‘cause she’s jealous,” Zero offered his two cents about the situation from his PET on Leon’s belt. “That usually happens when female navis fight over me,” he boasted, sticking his chest out.

“What females?” Dragoman, Ademu’s navi, asked.

“But why would Regal want Lyne?” Ademu asked.

“Not Regal,” Bass spoke up, getting their attention. “Wily. Regal is his son. Wily’s forces are so low thanks to Zodaic. That made him call in for help. This is my fault,” he moaned. “I tried to deter the old fart with a threat, but it only piqued his curiosity,” Bass growled as he started smacking his head on Famous’ desk. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”

“There isn’t any time for degrading yourself. I already knew you went to the World Three Server this morning. We had a surveillance team watching you this morning,” Famous spoke, making Bass glare at him angrily. “With Lyne injured, we have to make sure Zodiac doesn’t make an attack on you. Anyway… with this information we were able to deduct that Wily would plan on trying to capture Lyne, but Regal’s assistance was an unexpected factor,” Famous said, glaring at the trio of NetSaviors. “What we have to focus on at the moment is bringing in Ayra and her NetOp, Saratu Keshiro.”

“What?! The Saratu Keshiro, Dr. Keshiro’s daughter?” Bass asked as Famous nodded.

“And you are to assist in the capture,” he ordered.

“Me! Why me?” Bass asked as he pointed at himself.

“Cause you’re best suited to deal with this navi,” Famous said, holding up his index finger. “Besides, you have Leon and Ademu, who know Saratu’s methods, and DA assistance from SciLab. Both of them are qualified cross fusers.”

Bass hung his head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I should handle Ayra on my own. She’s dangerous enough by herself, and if she cross fuses with that girl, she’s even more dangerous. I don’t want to risk anyone getting hurt,” Bass said, remembering what happened during the Havock incident. His power almost killed his friend Treno, and damaged his best navi friend, NeoKnight.

Before anyone could say anything else, his PET went off. He unhooked his it from his belt to check up on it. He had just received an e-mail which made his eyes go wide in shock. “How’d she?...” he pondered as he opened it up.

~It read~

Hello Bass,
Long time no see. Well, that was until a little while ago when Maddy watched you. I feel you’ve gotten a lot stronger than when we last met, and uhm… so dark empowered. But that won’t do. Why are you working with a human? What has come over your programming? And I’m really angry that your virus… whatever it is, bit my NetOp! For that and the fact that you’re helping the humans guard that human girl, I challenge you and your human to a NetBattle. If either of you refuse, your human’s girlfriend/ angelic navi will be deleted for real, and my NetOp will not hold me back. Meet me at these coordinates at 7:30 pm. See you both then.

*(Cordinates)*

Ayra

~End E-mail~

Bass hung his head and slumped back into his chair after he finished it. He then tossed his PET up onto Famous’ desk. “I have no choice but to participate in this mission now,” he sighed as he saw Famous read over the e-mail he had received. “She threatens to delete Lyne if I don’t challenge her.”

“Yes, how convenient,” Famous said sarcastically as he passed back Bass his PET, earning him a glowing angry glare from Bass.

“Famous, that wasn’t funny. This is a serious matter,” Leon spoke in concern.

Famous then returned his attention to his terminal. “And it’s at the Dentech Museum. I can let them know about his challenge and have them clear out the building for the fight. That way they can protect their displays.”

“I don’t think they can do that in less then three hours,” Bass scoffed as he sat there, that he’d gotten dragged into this mission by Ayra in the first place. He then noticed Famous had a bright grin on his face.

“Let’s go set up for the mission you three. The curator will be ready for us shortly,” he said as he got up from his seat and guided the trio out the door.
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~Dentech Museum ~ A little while later ~

Famous brought his van to a stop as they pulled into a parking spot in front of the rather large building. The trio of boys looked at it in awe due to its size. “Are you going to just sit there or are we going in?”

“Sorry sir,” they all apologized as they filed out of the van. They then walked up the great expanse of stairs that led to the entrance. As they were ascending them, a huge group of people which looked like the typical tour group, along with a few scientists, passed by them.

Shortly after that, they entered the main lobby to be greeted by the curator and a few security guards. “Hello Mr. Famous. It’s good to meet you in person,” the curator greeted. “I’m surprised that your other group of boys aren’t here.”

“They’re busy doing other missions around the globe,” Famous replied, realizing who the curator was talking about.

“That’s okay. I managed to only get one wing completely cleared out,” the curator spoke as he motioned them to follow him. The curator was a short man in his late fifties. He had short white hair, and a small goatee to go with it. He wore simple business attire: black shoes, business suit, and a tie. When they got to the wing in question he had his guards unlock it. They then opened the doors to reveal a large empty room which looked like it was once the Egyptian exhibit due the block texture of the walls and pillars.

“I told you that they’d be able to clear it out,” Famous said as they entered. “This should be plenty enough room. Right Connor?” he asked as his curious cousin started to look around the room in a daze. “Connor!”

“What...?” he said, snapping his attention back to his relation.

“Is this enough room?”

Bass looked around once more. “Oh yes. More then enough. He said the whole wing was empty right?” Bass asked as he went around, checking doors that connected to the room.

“Yes the whole wing has been cleared lad,” the curator spoke as he watched the active teen earnestly search the premises. He then turned to Famous. “There won’t be too much property damage like last time when your other boys were here investigating the sword exhibit thief?”

“Let’s hope not, but if there is, your government funding should cover the damage,” Famous said as he watched Bass check the place out. “At least the exhibit displays are safe.”

“Right. I’ll leave you to prepare what you need for your dimensional area,” the curator spoke as he left with his guards. Bass returned to their group after his search of the area.

“I want to check something before we start,” he said as he stood before the other two. “Ademu, cross fuse with your navi,” he demanded as he activated his own armor and crossed his arms. Ademu looked at him silently with a puzzled expression. “NOW!” Bass shouted impatiently, getting a startled jerk from the group.

“You’re kidding,” Ademu laughed. Bass glared at him seriously. “Now…?!” he asked as he pointed to the ground in front of him, getting Bass to nod. “We don’t have a DA up and running yet. How do you expect me to cross fuse?”

Famous then placed his hand on Ademu’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about that now. Connor knows what he’s talking about. You three have fun and I’m expecting a full report when you’re through here Leon,” Famous spoke as Bass managed to take Ademu’s PET to look at it unbeknownst to its owner.

“Understood Famous,” Leon said their commander left the trio of teenage boys behind in the empty wing. When Ademu turned around, he saw Bass had his PET in his hands, examining it.

“Damn… This won’t work at all. You have too much shoulder armor,” Bass huffed at the navi resident of Ademu’s PET.

“Hey, gimme’ that back,” Ademu demanded as Bass dropped out of his armor in disappointment.

“I’m going to have to wait,” he said as he handed Ademu’s PET back to him. “But I do want to know something else that has me puzzled, even though they taught us in school about it. How does cross fusion really work?”

Ademu was visibly surprised by the question, but recovered from that and answered. “Uh, well, it’s quite simple really. First, a NetOp has to be issued a Syncro Chip. Second, there has to be a DA active around the NetOP and their navi. Thirdly, they have to be in sync with each other before activation of the Syncro Chip.”

“I already know about that. But what are the effects of this fusion between the two, and can it be forced upon someone who is unwilling?” Bass asked in a serious tone.

This question had Leon stumped, making him look at Ademu, who was equally confused on how to answer. Then Dragoman spoke. “The navi relies on the NetOp’s energy to provide them protection and the NetOp uses the navi’s strength to fight,” he started explaining. “But yes, the process can be forced on someone. Through the power of the Dark Syncro Chip.”

Bass glanced down at Ademu’s PET. “Regal made a Dark Syncro Chip?” he asked, now looking up at the other two teens, getting affirming nods from them. “This makes things difficult. Has Saratu to your knowledge used this chip already?”

“Yes, according to Lan Hikari. He watched her use it in a cross fusion battle they had. She also has access to a chip called the Data Sync Chip. Regal also developed it at the same time as a few independent mercs we know of,” Leon spoke. “That is why it’s so important that we capture Saratu and separate her from this Ayra navi, so she won’t be damaged by either chip physically or mentally.”

Bass placed his hand on his chin. “I know what dark chips can do to the human mind and body. I’ve read the Misaki reports. This isn’t going to be easy to pull off if she cross fuses. We need a plan.”

“We have a few hours to think this over before Famous activates the DA,” Leon spoke before all three of them sat down on the ground. Then Leon got an idea. “From what the e-mail Ayra sent you said, she doesn’t know that you’re a half navi, right?”

Bass looked up at the older teen. “Yeah, what are you getting at?” Bass asked, wondering why Leon had brought that up in the first place.

“What I’m getting at is that you should fight as you to create confusion,” Leon suggested. It took a moment for the other two to catch on to what he was meaning.

“You mean fight her without any armor?” Bass asked, getting a nod from Leon. “Or weapons?” Leon nodded again. Bass waved his arms out wide in front of him. “Out of the question.”

“It would create the element of surprise,” Leon hinted in a sly tone.

Bass was about to protest further when he thought about it and then nodded in agreement. “Yes, that would. Ayra wouldn’t know what hit her when I turn things up a little. Brilliant,” he said, slapping Leon on the back and unintentionally knocking him down to the ground.

“Owww…” Leon moaned as he got back up.

“Sorry,” Bass apologized.

“It’s okay. We at least have a plan now,” he groaned as he returned to a sitting position.

“Not entirely,” Bass said as he made a display hologram appear on the floor.

“Cool,” Ademu spoke as he looked it over. “Hey, this is a map of the area.”

“Yep, these are all the rooms we have access to,” Bass pointed out the many rooms that lined the wing. “But I’m not too concerned about them. I plan on keeping Ayra in this room. This is what I want you two to do…” he said as he started to explain the rest of the plan while drawing locations on the hologram.
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Next Episode Preview

~Lounge~

Bass: You know, I think I needed this.
Author: What do you mean?
Bass: Two months without a fight for me. I was looking for one too. Now I get to let out some frustration.
Saratu: Hey now. Remember I’m just on loan here.
Bass: I’m not gonna’ hurt you. Just Ayra.
Ayra: Hey, I’m on loan too!
Saratu: Well, as long as you don’t hurt me.
Ayra: Oh that’s nice! Where’s your loyalty?
Saratu: I probably coughed it up along with the data fragments you forced me to absorb. I’ll probably still be sick for the next episode.
Ayra: Well, you sure don’t have an iron stomach, do you?
Bass: You know, I could beat her up now if you like.
Ayra: What a jerk!
Zero: Not to worry. I assure you that chivalry is not dead.
Bass: Uh, Zero? You do realize that she’s kinda’… well, me?
Zero: … Oh right. *Removes arm from Ayra’s shoulder.* Clone of your programming. I was just…
Bass: Being a playa?
Author: Be nice Bass. Zero didn’t do anything wrong.
Leon: No, I’d say he was kinda’ wrong.
Zero: What? You’re not going to stick up for me? Well, see if I’ll cross fuse with you then.
Author: Well, I guess I can write that out of the script if you don’t want to. And that’ll help with the budget too. Thanks!
Zero: What? Wait a sec! That’s not right! Author, don’t write me out.
Bass: Probably for the best. He’d waste too much time trying to look cool instead of actually doing something.
Zero: Hey, you shut up!
Bass: Wanna’ make me?
Zero: Fine!
Ayra: Yay! A fight, a fight!
Author: Oh great. Guys, save your energy for next episode. Bass, let go of his hair!
Ayra: Hey, how come you never wrestled me like that?
*Dead silence*
Ayra: Why’s everyone staring at me like that? Hey, why aren’t you fighting anymore?
Saratu: Ooooookaaayy. While we all try to get that disturbing thought out of our heads, let’s get ready for the next episode of Lan and Lyne Season Three, Episode 6: Showdown.
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"NetAngel Style Change Activate"
Megawoman (Lyne)

Avatar made by Serenade.exe

And feel free to post here too artists if inspired
Lan and Lyne Art Thread

[Megawoman.EXE]

Sorry for Double Post. Puters in desert are crazy.
_________________
"NetAngel Style Change Activate"
Megawoman (Lyne)

Avatar made by Serenade.exe

And feel free to post here too artists if inspired
Lan and Lyne Art Thread

[Featherdust]

Once again, well written, and though not much happened in this chapter, perhaps that's alright- there needs to a be a break in the action at sometime. This proved so, and led way to more anticipation of the next chapter. I vaguely remember a mention of Ayra way back in Season 2 by NeoKnights, I think... but anyway, I hope the battle between her and Bass will be a good read. Nice job.
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[Midnight]

Very interesting setup you have here for the next chapter.

As always, this was quite well-written, and a welcome break from the end of the previous season. The scene with Maddy stuck out especially, as I found Bass's tactic to throw her off to be rather well-executed, even if a bit predictable.

Great job.
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Megawoman.EXE]

Episode 6: Showdown

~17 January 20XX ~ Evening ~

Ademu and Bass looked out at Dentech City from the roof of the museum. Ademu slumped forward and grumped, “Damn Saratu. She’s late.”

“Not your psycho girlfriend’s fault. It’s Ayra’s,” Bass mumbled back without facing him.

“What was that?! Saratu is not my girlfriend. She’s a girl and my friend, but that doesn’t make her my ‘girlfriend’,” Ademu huffed back. “Sides I like Kuri more.”

“Still Ayra’s fault she’s late,” Bass mumbled back as he lay down on the roof. “What possessed you both to work for Regal anyway?”

Ademu glanced down at Bass, but turned his attention back to the cityscape before he answered. “For Saratu, her family was at stake, but for me, Regal turned my sister into a navi and held her body captive.”

“I know what that’s like,” Bass exhaled.

“What what’s like?”

“I was once a full human.” Bass sat up and looked at Ademu. “But I was made into a navi by my father in order to continue my life. I also know what it’s like to be forced to do things. For one: this mission. Lyne’s life still hangs by a thread and I’m here when I should be protecting her from Zodiac.”

“I heard about that. One of the Zodiac navis attacked her when you both least expected it.” Ademu looked back at him. “NSHQ has really given you both a really tough nut to crack.”

“So? We’ll crack them one day,” Bass boasted. “It must be really tough for you though since your sister died on your first mission. You can’t save them all,” Bass pointed out.

“That’s none of your concern. Ayra was the one who killed her and she will pay,” Ademu growled. Bass understood what the growl meant.

“So you’re looking for a bit of revenge yourself?” Bass asked, getting a nod from Ademu. “Trust me kid, Ayra isn’t the one you should be seeking it against. It should be Regal for making her in the first place. He’s even more twisted than his decrepit old man.”

“Yeah.” Ademu knew Bass was right and sighed quietly, feeling a little deflated. It surprised him actually to hear such wise words from Bass, who’d once been the Network’s greatest enemy. He then reflected on when he’d first seen Bass as a human at the ball Princess Pride threw a few months before, and compared it to now. “You’ve changed a lot since we last met.”

A moment of silence fell over them before Bass responded. “Maybe so. People always tell me that. Yeah, I guess I know I’ve changed. Still changing. Not like I can stop it,” he said as he lay back down on the roof.

“True… Man I wish she’d hurry up,” Ademu moaned as he placed his head onto his knees.

“Saratu isn’t one of those, you know… girls that like to take a while in the bathroom, is she?” Bass asked.

“No she doesn’t put makeup on before a battle. That’s just stupid,” Ademu said, waving his hand at Bass as he was sitting up.

“That’s not what I meant. Lyne doesn’t use that stuff. She… just takes too long in the bathroom.”

“How do you figure?”

“Well when I go it takes about 1.35 minutes to go including washing my hands. Lyne takes 5.37-6.05 minutes when she used to take 1.36 minutes.”

Ademu blinked in mild confusion at the way Bass was talking, then started laughing, realizing this was just like something a navi might do. He then patted him on the back. “All girls are like that.”

“Really?”

“Really, but I hear that the girls that do wear makeup take 2 to 3 hours in the bathroom,” Ademu said, making Bass look at him in shock. He had seen some of the girls at his school that did wear ridiculous amounts of makeup but he hadn’t wanted to guess how long it took them to put it on. Now he knew. His attention was caught when he felt a presence in the area. Bass did a quick look around the area as he placed his hand on Ademu’s mouth.

Ademu removed it and looked around too, but Bass was the one who actually saw the shadowy figure on the rooftop move past them without noticing them. “What’s going on?” Ademu whispered.

“Time to go. She’s here,” he replied quietly as he teleported them both inside the museum to appear in front of Leon.

“So she’s finally here,” Leon stated and Bass nodded in response. “Okay then. Ademu and I will take our positions. Good luck Agent Connor.” Leon saluted before he and Ademu disappeared into the shadows of the museum wing.

“Thanks,” he breathed out quietly as he approached the center of the room to wait for his opponent to strike. He knew exactly where she was as she moved around the room, sensing her PET. Her stealthy maneuvering was obviously going for a position behind him. Yep, that’s one of Ayra’s techniques. Bass could sense her now behind him and starting a quick approach. She was treading as lightly as she could, but Bass could still clearly hear her feet scuffing on the ground with his keener-than-human hearing. Once she was close, he spun around and grabbed her arm, surprising her. “It’s not tactful to be late to a challenge,” he spoke as he let go of her arm. “Did your navi teach you this?”

Saratu was shocked that he had blocked her attack and mouthed silently for a moment before she came to her senses. This was indeed a challenge and she knew she had to answer. “No actually,” she said, taking her ginger coat off, showing a plain, black shirt underneath. “I went to the wrong museum first before Ayra yelled at me. I don’t happen to have the convenience of a vehicle.”

“Heh, if you were five more minutes late I would’ve left. Bass doesn’t like having to wait,” Bass replied, pointing at his PET.

“He’s not even there,” Ayra growled from her PET.

Bass then shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say? You were taking too long, so he already left. He said he had more important things to do.”

“What?! This is a challenge! He just can’t skip out on it!” Ayra shouted angrily.

“Why do you think I’m here? He told me wait for you and let him know when you got here,” This is so weird. I’m really wishing Famous didn’t take Combit away from me, he thought as he sent an e-mail over to Leon on an encoded connection, so the DA could be created around the wing of the museum.

“Fine, then at least one of you is here, so we can start the fight,” Ayra spoke as she felt the DA form around the building.

“Ayra, he’s human. Fighting him cross fused is unfair,” Saratu protested as she looked at her PET.

Ayra smiled evilly. “You’re forgetting one thing. You already slotted in the Data Sync Chip and the Synchro Chip, and I say we start,” she spoke as she forced the Synchro Chip to activate. Saratu was shocked that Ayra would force the activation of the Synchro Chip like this, and even more shocked that she succeeded in activating it without her consent. Ayra had never done this to her before. Once the transformation was complete, Ayra activated the Data Sync Chip and switched AI’s with her NetOp, before she activated her buster and pointed it a Bass.

“Fear me human slave of Bass,” she demanded as she held him at blaster point. “With you out of the way, I’ll be stronger than him and I will be able to delete him.”

Bass laughed with his arms crossed over his chest in defiance. “You’re dense, aren’t you? I wouldn’t be here if he didn’t think I could take care of you while he was away.”

“… He sent you to fight me,” Ayra said with shaking fury in her voice, then pointed at herself. “He dares to insult me by sending you to fight me!? You shall perish human!” Ayra shrieked. Saratu tried to calm her navi down and regain control, but found that she was locked back by Ayra. All she could do was watch as her navi now leapt into action, attacking the male teen that she knew worked for Bass.

Ayra started off with a volley of shots from her buster. Bass avoided every shot of it, and then made his own attack. He charged forward, ducked under her fire, and drove a foot into her gut, knocking her back and getting her to cover the area struck.

“Quick little pest,” Ayra spoke as she steadied her stance while deactivating her buster. “If that’s how you want to play, so be it.” She obligingly charged into unarmed combat with him, but was still having far less success than she’d expected. She would swing and he would block. She would go to kick him and he would trip her up.

This is actually fun, Bass thought as he fought with Ayra, blocking her attacks with ease. He had been using his navi strength of course, but not to its full extent. As Ayra’s anger rose, she started to strike harder and quicker. He had to do something quick or she’d gain the upper hand.

She charged in with a cross chop aimed at his neck. Bass shifted his balance slightly and countered her attack by grabbing her arm and flipping her over his back. She landed hard on the ground, leaving her half stunned and very confused as she forced herself back to her feet, then stepped back somewhat dizzily as she reassessed the person she was facing. No way is he even possibly that strong. No human is that strong. Ayra mentally growled to Saratu as she wiped some blood from the corner of her NetOp’s mouth. She’d bit her lip with that last impact.

Good to see that you’re talking to me now, Saratu huffed. Martial Artists can be strong. Remember, Wily said that Bass has connections and zenny. This human may’ve been hired.

But humans have their limits. This one hasn’t even broken a sweat, she thought back, then noticed a dark spot on the back of his shirt. Okay, so maybe he is human, but this ends now. Bass was facing her and bouncing on the balls of his feet. He had a taunting smirk on his face. I’m so wiping that smirk off of you. Ayra charged forward without any telling indication and Bass had dropped his guard enough that she actually did manage to land a blow against the side of his face, sending him to the ground. Accidentally, Bass ended up letting off a burst of yellow energy from his hand, and Ayra threw herself to the ground to avoid it. What the hell was that!? The bolt went over her head and burst against the wall of the Dimensional Area.

“Whoa!” Ademu breathed out from his hiding place.

“I think his cover’s blown,” Leon spoke back to him.

“We might have to intervene.” Ademu poked his head out of his hiding spot.

“No not until he gives us the signal,” Leon ordered as Bass recovered from the blow he’d received.

Bass waved back at them, telling them he didn’t need their help yet. He wiped his mouth, which was now bleeding a little. “Damn that hurt,” he cursed as he held the side of his face. He rotated his jaw a little until it didn’t hurt anymore. Meanwhile, Ayra looked from him to her own hand.

That should’ve done more damage. Like broken his jaw or… something, she thought as she noticed something on the back of her gloved hand. “Hey what’s this?” She rubbed whatever it was off her hand. It’s a powder of some kind. I don’t need you right now, she thought, pushing her NetOp back away again. And it’s flesh colored. Her hand darted out behind Bass’ head to grab onto his hair. “Okay, who are you?” she demanded while shaking his head to make him look at her. Where she had struck him, she saw the exposed purple mark and gasped in surprise, then shook in fury.

Bass put his hand up level with her head. “Surprise,” he said as he powered up an Earth Breaker attack and pressed his palm right in her face.

“BASS!!” she shrieked as she scrambled back and made a blind swipe with a hastily activated Dark Blade. He rolled out of the way and activated his armor while Ayra stopped to rub her eyes.

“You really pack quite a wallop Ayra.” Ayra made another wild swing at his voice while she blinked open her dazzled eyes. “Regal must’ve given you a few upgrades.”

“So what… You Bastard! How dare you take over a human before me,” she exclaimed as she charged towards him, now able to see clearly where he was.

He avoided her charge easily hiding his body with his cloak. “I didn’t take over a human. I am human.” He spit a bit of residual data from his now-healed wound onto the ground. “Well part human anyway,” he clarified as he noted the not-entirely-bloodlike property of his spit. “I’m surprised to you couldn’t see through my little lie about me not being here. Shows how smart your AI is. When have I ever turned down a challenge?” She glared at Bass, then turned her face down in frustration.

After a moment of silence, she lifted her head up with a much different expression on her face. She was smiling pleasantly at him, and the smile looked genuine. She then deactivated her weapon and approached Bass. Bass took a couple of steps back, but Ayra didn’t seem to be looking to fight anymore. She got up close to him while looking him over. “Well… then if you’re already human, I can be too. Then we’ll be together again.” She ran her finger up his chest, making Bass step well away from her at the unexpected touch.

“What are you talking about?” Ayra jumped at him and hugged him tightly around the chest.

“I mean we can cause chaos on the network and the real world together. I’ll renounce Regal and join you.” She slid one hand from behind him and ran it across his cheek and down his chest. “Oooo…”

Bass finally broke out of his horrified paralysis and shoved Ayra away from him. “You’re freak’n crazy. I’ve never liked you. Not now or ever,” Bass growled while creating safe distance from her.
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“Okay, this is getting confusing,” Ademu spoke as he and Leon watched from the shadows.

“Well, no actually. It makes sense to me,” Leon replied.

“How so?”

“Well, that Bass knew who she was. They seem to have a history, and he must’ve known her before Regal gave her to Saratu to be operated.”

“Oh… Then what is up with all the touching?” Ademu asked, pointing at Bass, who was still dodging Ayra’s repeated attempts grab him again.

“Can’t you see she’s hitting on him?” Zero asked from his PET. “Girl navis have feelings too. Seems that Bass is the one playing hard to get.”

“Hush, we have to wait for the signal. I just wish he would stop playing around,” Leon spoke as he bit his lip out of nervousness.

“Oh why don’t you hush. This is quite amusing,” Dragoman spoke. He got affirming nods from Ademu and Zero. Leon just rolled his eyes and continued watching Bass and Ayra’s interaction.
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“Oh c’mon Bass,” Ayra spoke as she finally caught Bass around the waist. She then walked her finger up his leg. “We made wonderful chaos together before.”

“Mainly ‘cause I was trying to get away from you!” Bass argued while trying to pry her off his waist. “Hey get off!”

“C’mon please,” she pleaded as she rubbed her head against him and looked up at him with begging eyes. “We can start over.”

Okay, I’m really wanting to run away right now. That made me feel really weird, Bass thought as he pressed his hands against Ayra’s face. He then got an idea, but wasn’t sure if it was going to work. He placed his right hand gently on Ayra’s left shoulder, then lightly curled his index finger into the pressure point at the base of her neck. “Ayra,” he said quietly, and she smiled up at him.

“Yes Bass?” she replied gleefully.

“When I said I never liked you, I meant it,” he spoke as he applied pressure to the point. “I’ve had enough of your data touching me. Be gone.” Ayra tensed up and reflexively drew back from Bass to escape the discomfort he was causing.

“What are you doing?” she asked when he let go, feeling her control over her NetOp slip. Shortly after that, Saratu’s body lost consciousness and the connection with Ayra, forcing her to drop out of cross fusion with her. Saratu slumped limply against Bass as her PET formed behind her and fell to the ground with a clatter.

He noticed that she was injured on her arm and was missing a pants leg. Jeez Gospel, Bass thought as he gently dragged her away from the black and red PET and laid her on the ground. He then signaled for Leon and Ademu to assist him with her.

Once Leon got there he noticed what he had done to her. “Smooth move,” he commented as he checked up on her, then started to prop Saratu up against himself. “How’d you know to do that?”

“Well, I wanted to see if anyone could be forced out of cross fusion,” he responded. The other’s cocked their heads, waiting for him to continue. “I was only guessing, and I couldn’t test it out earlier. ‘Sides you said that Saratu had to be separated from Ayra, so I thought this was the only way, okay? And it made me very uncomfortable,” Bass said before he shuddered at the thought of Ayra touching him like that. He definitely wanted Lyne here with him at the moment to make him feel better. He then looked down and saw Ayra’s PET. He smiled as he walked up to it and kicked it far away from Saratu. Now that was settled, he felt better and had to wait for Saratu to regain consciousness.
___________________________________________________
~Zodiac Base~

Seer looked up as Prophet got up from his Jump Chair. He walked to the refrigerator that they’d put in the room, got some water, and then washed a palmful of vitamins down with it. He finished the water as he went back to the Chair, and Seer slouched in disappointment when he immediately hooked back up and jump-linked to Maniac. This had been his behavior pattern since his Cruel side had taken full control yesterday: no rest and the bare minimum of food needs. Alpha had ordered the refrigerator put in to minimize the amount of time he needed to maintain himself. Seer would have been angry at Alpha, but she was fairly certain Prophet had requested it himself. “This is Lyne’s fault,” she grumbled as she got up and approached her console.

“Damn right,” Toxyn agreed from the monitor of her console. “But what are you going to do about it? Mope or capture her for Alpha while she’s still weak?”

“The SciLab security will be too tough for us to slip in. Remember, there was a break in today. There’s nothing we can do while she recovers.”

Toxyn looked at her operator slyly. “Well if we can’t go there, what about a virus? We’re the resident expert at viruses. Let’s infect her for what she did to Vicious and hold the antidote ransom, demanding them hand her over to us. They’ll have no choice.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Let’s see what we’ve got…” Seer said as she opened her virus files to see what she had that was unique only to them, but she wasn’t inspired to use any of them. Besides, SciLab may’ve already had a cure waiting over there. She then decided to see what kind of stuff Maniac had hidden in his share files.

One of the folders got her attention: Ghosts and Dark Souls. She opened it up to see that it was full of detached navi AI’s. She leafed through them until she saw a small, dark pink girl navi with short, red hair and black accents on her armor. She was holding what looked like a wind up toy. Seer selected the little ghost and read the specs on it. “You’re not serious. You plan on sending that puny thing after Lyne?” Toxyn said, looking over the specs as well.

“Of course, and it has a virus that Maniac so conveniently provided a cure for,” Seer pointed out. “‘Sides, I don’t think SciLab would be expecting a ghost attack from us.” She selected and activated the little navi and the virus it held.

The semi-transparent navi rubbed her eyes as she still held onto her little virus with her other hand. Toxyn then placed her hand on the little navi’s shoulder startling it. “Shhh… I’m a friend. What is your name little one?” she asked, showing a friendly smile.

“*****”

“Eh? Machine Code. Seer, her language program is malfunctioning. She can’t translate her thoughts into language.”

“Can she understand you?”

“Yes. She said her name is Heart…”

“Then you understand her too. So it doesn’t matter if she can’t speak normally. Just give her the job,” Seer huffed angrily.

“Yes Seer,” Toxyn said bringing the little ghost navi in close. “Well then Heart, we have a little job for you if you’re up to it.” Heart chewed nervously on her finger and nodded while Toxyn went into details about what she was supposed to do.
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~Dentech Museum~

Things were calm and quiet now that Bass’s confrontation with Ayra was over. As the trio of teens breathed out a relaxed sigh, Saratu came too. Ademu immediately checked up on her. “Saratu, are you alright?”

As her eyes came back into focus she recognized him and hugged him. “Ademu!” she exclaimed as he hugged her back before she started crying. She was happy to be released from her navi’s block and to have control of her body back. After she calmed down a bit she looked up and saw the navi that Ayra forced her to fight and Leon, one of her close friends. She lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry… B-”

“No need,” Bass interrupted her apology. “I did you a favor. Personally, you should’ve stuck with your mom as a navi,” he spoke as he turned away and scanned the room.

“My mother as my navi…” Saratu reflected for a moment before she realized who she was talking to. “How’d you know she was my mother?”

“Let’s say Dr. Keshiro is an old friend of mine,” he replied, quickly glancing back at Saratu before scanning again.

Saratu felt a little odd and paused for a moment before she spoke again. “Was that girl I saw this morning Lyne Hikari one as well?” she asked in an odd tone. She had shocked fear on her face and slapped her hand over her mouth. Bass wondered at that for a couple of seconds and realized that Saratu hadn’t been the one asking the question.

Ayra still has some control over her, Bass thought. He realized the link signal between Saratu and Ayra didn’t connect to the PET. Instead, Ayra’s end of the connection showed that she was hiding in the shadows. “Yes she is, and she’s a lot more valuable than you could ever understand without overloading.”

Ayra then moved behind him, disconnecting her link with Saratu to hide her navi signature. “You like her a lot, don’t you?” she asked from her new spot, slightly startling him.

Bass recovered quickly and turned to face her. “A lot more than you,” he replied as he blocked her attempt to strike at him in the back. She made another strike with her other hand and the two of them ended up in a grapple.

“So you admit it. How dare you care for her more than me? We’re the same program,” Ayra growled. She made an unexpected twist and managed to throw Bass to the ground.

Bass quickly kicked off the ground to avoid her attempt to stomp on him. “No we’re not. You’re not even what you once were. Regal had a chance to alter your program. We’re completely different.” He ducked under her fist and swept her legs out from under her.

“That still doesn’t change the fact that I’m still one of your clones,” Ayra spoke as she did a hand spring back up into a standing position. “Delete me and we shall see who is right.” She took a firm stance and called up the dark blade which she pointed at Bass in challenge.

“So you want to be deleted.”

“Maybe, but I’m not going to make it easy,” she said, slicing at him to force him to jump back.

“Get out of here,” Bass ordered Ademu and Leon. He activated his dark aura and sent a pulse of energy out of it, pushing both them and Ayra away from him. Getting the point, they both grabbed Saratu and ran off with her.

After they were a good distance off, Leon shoved Saratu on Ademu. “Ademu, take her and hide,” he ordered as he readied his PET.

“What gives?”

“I’m going to help Bass,” Leon spoke as he slotted a few chips into his PET.

“But I want to help too,” Ademu spoke, letting go of Saratu.

“Me too,” Saratu agreed.

“No. Hide,” he ordered once more. “If Ayra gets hold of Saratu again, she’ll take the opportunity to fuse with her once more,” he spoke as he slotted in his synchro chip. “Cross Fusion,” he and his navi called in unison. Zero’s armor formed around him, showing the minor cosmetic alteration of red stripes on the black sections of armor.

“Now go,” he said, pointing at one of the open rooms.

“Yes Commander.” Ademu grabbed Saratu’s hand and went through the door.

When Leon joined the fight, Ayra and Bass were in a grapple again. Bass noticed him stand there and shoved Ayra off of him, slamming her into a nearby pillar. He then got up in Leon’s face. “I told you to leave,” Bass growled as he shoved him back. “This is my fight.”

Leon threw off his shove and stood his ground. “Not anymore. Ayra is an international network criminal and has been separated from Saratu. That mean’s it’s my duty to assist in this fight,” he said as he slashed at Ayra using Zero’s Z Saber, halting her charge at Bass.

“Bass is right NetSavior. This is his fight. Interfering breaks the rules,” she said, wagging a finger at him. “It seems I’ll have to take this elsewhere, maybe to see a certain someone who barely hangs onto her life. Or should I say, is about to lose it,” Ayra said, drawing her finger across her throat before disappearing from sight.

Bass fumed with anger and shoved Leon into a pillar. The force could have broken his arm if it weren’t for Zero’s armor. “What were you thinking, honestly?” Bass shouted at him. “She’s going to go kill Lyne now.” He vanished as well, rather than waiting for a response.

Leon just sat there on the ground in shock. “What did you expect him to do?” Zero asked. “He cares about her.”

Ademu poked his head out from the entryway of the room he was told to take Saratu, and it seemed he was struggling to hold her back in the room. Leon could see one of her hands grasping at the door edge. “Hey Leon… There’s no more noise out there. Is it safe to come out? Saratu wants to know.”

“Yeah,” he called out as he dropped out of cross fusion with Zero. Ademu took Saratu out of the room and came up to him. “Man that’s going to leave a bruise,” he complained as he rotated his shoulder. “Ademu, I need you to do something and you’re the only one who can do it at the moment.” He held up Ademu’s Data Sync Chip to illustrate what he wanted done.

Ademu took it and nodded. “It’s my turn.”

“Good luck, and be careful. I’ll take Saratu back to SciLab,” Leon said as gently grabbed Saratu’s hand.

“Yes sir,” Ademu spoke before Leon left with Saratu in tow. He then slotted in his chip. “Let’s do this Dragoman.”
________________________________
~SciLab Server~

Bass appeared in the server area that was linked to Lyne’s room. It seemed that he’d beaten Ayra there, and shortly she appeared, confirming the suspicion. He stood off to the side of the exit link leading to Lyne’s room, then locked it before her eyes in one swift motion. “I won’t let you harm her,” Bass said as he stared back at Ayra.

“What is that little trollop of a human to you anyway?” Ayra burst out. “You hate humans. Your very wish is to destroy them for betraying you, and you have the power to do it too.”

“I think differently now,” Bass spoke, un-phased by what she said.

“Or maybe you’ve just become as weak as they are since you’re now one of them,” Ayra spat. “You’ve interfered with Regal’s plan to make a half navi with that little trick you pulled back there, but I plan on getting my NetOp back and completing the process.”

Bass then approached her. “Well you see, I can’t let you do that either. And it’s kind of a little late. You see, we’re in one of the most secure servers there are in the Network, and when you entered you activated a security protocol,” Bass said as a barrier formed around them with the link on the outside. “Well, more like a barrier.”

Ayra ran up to the edge of the barrier and pounded her fist on it. “Nooo…” she moaned. “You… you did this.”

“This is where it ends Ayra. Prepare to be deleted,” he growled as he activated his dual dark blades. Ayra responded by activating her own dark blade, and then she waited for him to make the first move.

Bass didn’t make an attack. Instead, he stepped sideways, keeping his eyes leveled on her. She matched his deliberate side step and the two of them began a slow circling. It lasted for more than a minute, and Bass wasn’t showing any lack of patience. Finally, unable to take any more, Ayra shrieked and leapt into action, slashing at Bass who blocked her strike with both his swords in a cross pattern. Their matching red eyes locked, fury in Ayra’s and determination in Bass’, but even in her anger, she didn’t give away that she was raising her foot.

The next thing Bass knew, he was on the ground with a throbbing pain on the side of his face. She just kicked me, he thought as he recovered. He noticed she was coming in again with another kick, but he managed to swing his body completely around to dodge the attack and counter hers by sweeping her legs out from under her again. He quickly got to his feet and swung at her, forcing her to block the strike and try to kick herself backward along the ground to gain room to maneuver. Rather than making another swipe, he jumped forward, putting a knee in her gut to halt her attempt to retreat.

“So now you want to get personal?” she grunted, trying to force him off of her.

“Well, I don’t consider this pleasurable,” he said as he used his other foot to pin her throat down. “This is strictly business I should’ve taken care of a long time ago, when we first met.” He stabbed down with his right blade, but didn’t get a clean strike as she managed to twist herself sideways. However, the stab did get her arm before she kicked him in the side to get him off.

He stumbled away a little, then threw himself into a controlled roll and hopped back to his feet, baring his teeth at her. “You bug-ridden fool. You do realize what will happen when you delete me,” she grunted in pain. “I become a part of you and will alter your programming. Same thing happens if I delete you.” Bass stepped back from her next slash at him, but he received a gash on the side of his face. It leaked a little bit of data before it healed. “I love that little quirk about our systems,” she cooed as she got into a stance. “I will make your data flow into me.” She ran her finger across the blade before pouncing into action once more.

In mid leap, she got knocked down to the ground by a navi in knight’s armor styled like a red dragon. Bass was a little shocked at the sight for a moment before he regained his senses. “Dragoman, what are you doing here?” Bass asked as he grabbed his facial armor, dragging him face to face.

“Leon sent me,” Ademu’s voice responded. Bass’ eyes widened a little and he let go when he recognized the voice and the face he could see behind the face armor.

“You know this is dangerous.” Bass took a quick glance back at Ayra. “How’d you…” he trailed off, motioning towards the barrier.

“I had an access password given to me, but I can’t pass back through,” Ademu replied. “And I know this is dangerous, but I owe you for sparing Saratu from that navi and Regal.” Their conversation ended when Ayra made a slash at them.

“I should’ve deleted you along with Heart and that sister of yours,” Ayra spat as she slashed at Ademu again. This time he blocked, creating sparks of energy when the two swords collided. “You’re a filthy traitorous human fuser like the rest of your kind.”

Bass felt somehow unsettled as he watched them fight. Was I really once like that? he pondered as he watched. So full of hatred and distrust for humans to the point of their destruction. He shook his head, trying to not believe it. That was no use. He knew it to be true. However, while he remembered how he once was, he somehow wasn’t able to recall anymore how it had felt to be like that. He pondered why for a moment before he somewhat figured it out. Maybe ‘cause I’m human now and understand feelings and emotion. Ayra has realized that and has been messing with my emotions the whole time we were fighting. Ah, this isn’t the time for all this! Ademu came to help me out at the risk of his own life. He’s right he owed me, but now I owe him the same.

Ayra’s fury seemed to have turned itself over to Ademu, and she was putting every effort into destroying him. She’d scored multiple strikes on him and he was in a forced retreat, parrying her attacks as well as he was able. Seeing that he was in serious trouble, Bass decided he had to take advantage of her distraction. Ademu had his sword ready to block another wild attack from Ayra when Bass’ blade suddenly and forcefully pierced through her icon, making Ademu jump back in surprise. “You’re through,” Bass spoke quietly. Showing distaste on his face at the dishonor of having resorted to backstabbing his enemy, Bass put a foot up on Ayra’s lower back, twisted his blade, and yanked it out, sending his enemy to the ground.

Ayra convulsed weakly as she lay there on the ground, and then she looked back at Bass. “F-fool,” she breathed out. All at once, her body broke apart into a shower of pixels, but instead of dissipating, the pixels struck out at his icon with the swift surety of a snake. Bass felt a sudden cold dread wash over him as Ayra’s data remains attacked him.

You’re protected, a ghostly male voice projected to him. She’s not the only one who’s changed.

Bass didn’t have time to wonder about the words as the data struck him in the chest. The stream of pixels split around him, then slowed its movement and doubled back around him. The pixels continued to swirl around him, moving more and more sluggishly while getting noticeably dimmer and duller in color until they drifted off listlessly and faded out. Bass and Ademu stood there in shock. trying to figure out what they had just seen.

“She’d said something about becoming part of your programming,” Ademu spoke. “Did she?”

Bass searched his programming as he took notice of a robe trailing off in the shadows. “No, she didn’t.”

“Then what about the glitch Wily put in your system?”

“It only works if I had bugs in my system…” Bass said with wide eyes. “I purged my system a long time before this and have an anti bug program.” Thank you Cynan.

No problem. Just remember that Connor, the Ancient replied back before his voice faded. Bass nodded, feeling glad that the whole thing was over now.

Just then a loud shrieking chirp of desperation came from the other side of the link leading to Lyne’s room. This caught Bass’s attention immediately. “That’s Spirit.”

“Who?” Ademu asked.

“Lyne’s virus. Something’s wrong,” Bass said as the barrier fell around them. He immediately opened the portal. Once it was open, a pink figure sped into, then through him. Already having had enough freaky things happen to him in one day, Bass froze up at having something passing completely through him like that. Ademu had to shake him to get his attention back.

“Bass, that’s Heart,” Ademu said, pointing at the barely visible, fleeing navi. “I wonder what she’s doing here?”

Bass scanned the navi, trying to catch its signature. He wasn’t able to get a solid reading however, and what he could read lead him to one conclusion. A ghost navi. Hmm… I have what will do the trick.

“Bass,” Ademu spoke, getting his attention.

“Hey, I don’t know why she’s here, but we’re about to find out. Detainment Program,” he commanded, creating a barrier around the small, transparent navi. She tried to escape, but her hands could only phase through for only an instant before they were forced back inside the barrier. “Heh, took me a week of begging to get Lyne to teach me that program.” Bass then frowned and put his hand to the side of his head before kneeling on the ground.

“Bass, are you alright?” Ademu asked before Bass pushed him away.

“Guah… I’m fine. Go check up on her,” Bass spoke as he motioned towards the bubble prison he had made for Heart. He then pulled out a Half Energy Subchip from his program storage. “Drat, this is my last subchip too. I’m going to have to go chip shopping tomorrow.”

Ademu did what Bass had asked him too and walked up to the barrier that contained what was left of his sister’s navi. He had a hope that something was left of his sister as well. When he walked up to the side of the bubble, Heart was laying there on the bottom, curled up in a ball and mumbling incoherently. “Heart, look at me,” he spoke gently as he kneeled beside her prison. “It’s me, Ademu, your brother. Michirure, please speak to me?” he begged gently, getting the little navi’s attention.

After looking at him quietly for a couple of seconds, recognition lit up in her eyes. She hopped up to look at him eye-to-eye, leaning her hands on the barrier wall. “**** ****** ** *** ******”

“Um… Bass do you have any idea what she’s saying?” Ademu called back as Bass rose up off the ground.

Bass then walked up to the barrier himself to listen to what she had to say. The only problem was that she was speaking too excitedly for his translator to decipher her damaged attempt at speech. Plus, the tone was getting annoying. “Quiet,” he demanded of the small navi, making her suddenly flinch back and become silent. “I know you’re a little excited to see your brother, but I need you to talk in a calmer tone so we can both hear you. Okay?”

“****,” she replied with a nod before taking a small deep breath.

“That’s good,” Bass said as he leaned against the barrier.

“What is?” Ademu asked.

“That she understands normal speech. I hate speaking machine code, but it’s not as bad as demon script.” Ademu looked at him funny. “Don’t get me started, okay? Go on with your message Heart.”

The pink ghost nodded before she spoke again. Ademu frowned as she went on. “Dragoman, do you understand her?”

“Sorry Ademu,” his navi replied. “A navi has to be skilled with programming or hacking to understand raw machine code. I hadn’t realized Bass knew any of that.”

“Yeah, I’m full of surprises, huh?” Bass remarked casually. “So, you’re sure of that Heart?” She nodded up at him.

“What’d she say?” Ademu asked eagerly.

“Michirure is alive. Ayra didn’t delete her and she managed to return to her body and escape Nebula Headquarters. She’s currently at the Carnation Home for Children in Cress, Brightland.” He noted that Heart was rubbing her right hand, which looked like it was encased in some kind of clear, hard substance.

Ademu stood there dumbfounded. “But how? Ayra deleted her.”

“Not if Heart purged your sister out of her system before Heart was deleted,” Bass spoke as he tried to scan the substance while dropping the barrier. “That’s a navi basic function.” He knelt down beside Heart to examine her buster more closely. “Who did this to you?” he asked, pointing at her buster arm which looked like it was struck in mid transformation.

Tears were starting to form in her eyes as she began her reply, which as far as Bass could translate was, “A white snake. It was protecting the one I was sent to infect by order of Zodiac. But it shrieked and screamed at me. I did wrong… Whaaaaa… Ademu forgive me.” Ademu didn’t know why Heart had begun bawling, but he held onto her when she threw herself against him.

Bass stood there shocked for a moment before he turned heel and raced towards the NP leading to Lyne’s room. He stopped before the opening and pointed at Heart. “Don’t let her leave.”

Ademu picked up Heart who continued crying into his shoulder. “Okay, but what’s wrong?”

“She tried to infect Lyne with a virus is what,” Bass spoke before he disappeared through the portal.

Ademu took up Heart and held her out at arm’s length. “Shame on you. I swear you and my sister have the same ambitions with viruses, and it better not have been that blasted wind up virus you both infected Neta with,” he scolded, making Heart wail even louder. “Oh great,” he said, hugging her in close once more before rushing through the portal after Bass.
_______________________________
Next Episode Preview

~Author’s House~

Author: Isn’t it done yet?
Editor: Almost. I’m just putting the finishing touches on it.
Author: It’s late Editor. Do I have to pull out the whip on you?
Editor: *Looks at her and waggles eyebrows.* Why Author my dear. You are so demanding.
Author: *Smacks Editor upside head.* Grow up! I want to get it posted already!
Editor: Owww. Alright already. I’m just working on the Preview now.
Author: Really? What’s it going to be? Can I read?
Editor: Calm down Hon. I was just thinking maybe it would be you complaining to me about the episode being late.
Author: You mean like how I am now?... Wait a sec, are we in the middle of it!?
Editor: Yeah, kinda’. Why?
Author: *Sigh.* Alright, but what do you have to say about the next episode then?
Editor: I think I’ll need your help for that. *Grabs her hand and stands up in a pose.* Wonder Team Power, go!!
Crickets: Chirp. Chirp.
Author: … You actually hired crickets for a sound effect?
Editor: Hey, they were cheap, and the cats can play with them when we’re done.
Bass: Enough already! Coming up in the next episode, we find out something surprising about Spirit and try to learn more. In the process, we learn some unexpected things about me too.
Author: My God! That sounds like something that a preview would actually say. It’s a miracle!
Editor: Nooo! You’ve ruined everything. Whaaaaaaaaahhhh!!
Author: Yay! A real preview!
Bass: Oh, what a headache. We get back to business in the next episode of Lan and Lyne Season Three, Episode 7: Discovery. And I’m gonna’ hurt someone if it’s late!
Editor: Ruuuiiiiiiinned!!
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"NetAngel Style Change Activate"
Megawoman (Lyne)

Avatar made by Serenade.exe

And feel free to post here too artists if inspired
Lan and Lyne Art Thread

[Featherdust]

This chapter turned out to be really good. The fight between Bass and Ayra was eventful and interesting, and quite truthfully, I was actually expecting Ayra to do something like that. XD; It's a good thing Bass had his system purged, or we might've had some trouble. Once again, awesome job, and of course I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

EDIT: Actually, I forgot to mention this. One of Ademu's lines sounded vaguely familiar- "Saratu is not my girlfriend. She’s a girl and my friend, but that doesn’t make her my ‘girlfriend’.” There was a very similar line in the 2nd Pokemon movie. "Ash is not my boyfriend. He's a boy and he's a friend, but that doesn't make him my boyfriend." I was just wondering if you got the line from that. Either way, it's still a bit funny. XP
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[soberflight]

Super chapter, but you teased me with such brief hints of Cruel being involved in some big project.

[Midnight]

This is rather interesting chapter...if not a bit confusing at points.

That's the main things I have going against the fic--at times, it just gets rather thick with detail and plot, and it gets clouded at times. Other than that, I thought you did a great job with this chapter.
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Megawoman.EXE]

Episode 7: Discovery

~Lyne’s Room ~ SciLab ~ 17 January 20XX ~

Bass felt Ademu’s presence behind him when he entered Lyne’s room after him. “I told you to…” he scolded before he noticed that Ademu had Heart in his arms. “Fine.” Not really satisfied, he turned around to investigate the room.

What he could see appeared normal. Gospel was sleeping on the bed on top of Lyne’s legs. Bass popped him, making his virus wake up in surprise. He made a sound half yawn and half whine before jumping down off the bed. What was that for?

“For being Baka,” Bass growled before Ademu shook him, getting his attention. “What?!” he snapped while spinning towards Ademu. Once he’d faced the other teen, he noticed what he was getting Bass’ attention for. One corner of Lyne’s room was covered with what looked like the same clear substance that covered Heart’s arm. In the middle of the mess, Spirit was laying down in front of a hardened blob which seemed to be holding something captive.

“Whoa,” they spoke in unison, and Gospel agreed with their assessment. Bass walked to the wall and placed his hand on it. He felt the surface, noting the texture was now slick and smooth. He then kneeled down beside the solid blob in the middle of the mess. Odd. The captive of the block looked like a little wind up monkey toy that he had seen in an old store Lyne had taken him to before.

“Bass, don’t touch that,” Ademu cautioned.

Bass looked back at him. “Why not?” he demanded.

“That’s the virus that infected Neta.”

“And how would you know that?” Bass asked, now standing up and glaring back at Ademu.

“I was there when Heart infected her with it. I guess that’s the virus that bonded with her when she was deleted,” Ademu spoke. “That’s usually what happens when a navi becomes a ghost.”

“I know that,” Bass said gruffly as he kneeled down beside the virus. “But it should be fine if it is encased in this stuff.” He rapped his knuckle on the top of the squareish block. Jeez this stuff is really hard. What is this stuff anyway? he pondered as he tried to pick up the virus. Must be some powerful crap if it can stop a navi ghost from forming it’s buster. He grunted as he tried to pick the block up, then settled his feet and grit his teeth as he tried again to lift the virus off the ground, but had no success.

“Is it that heavy?” Ademu asked as Bass got up and stretched his back a little.

“I don’t know about its weight. It seems to be sealed to the floor pretty securely though,” he replied as he went to check up on Spirit. I can’t believe that he did all this. I wonder what element he is anyway. He’s not ice since that stuff isn’t cold, but it isn’t hot either, so that also rules out fire, he thought as he picked up Spirit, who hung limply in his hands.

“You okay?” he asked the exhausted virus, who raised his head a little, then puffed out a little cloud of dust at him which formed into a little brick of the hard substance and fell hard onto Bass’ foot. Bass responded by dropping the little virus and hopping up and down on the other foot. “Oww!” He bounced around a bit, then stopped and put his foot carefully back on the floor. Satisfied his foot wasn’t actually injured, he went back to Spirit and picked him up along with the little brick. He then looked them both over carefully.

“What’s wrong with the little virus?” Ademu asked.

“Don’t know. Probably exhausted,” he said as he walked over to Lyne’s bed and placed Spirit down beside her. “I should have this analyzed,” he said, tossing up the brick of clear substance and catching it. “But first we need to find a place for Heart to be held until we can fix that.” He indicated Heart’s imprisoned buster arm. “And believe me, when you’re fixed, we’re going to have a little chat,” Bass warned as he opened up a portal and forced Ademu to go through it.

“What do you mean fixed?” Ademu asked as they went to the SciLab sleep capsule room.

“Ghost navis can be brought back stupid,” Bass said, slapping him upside the head. “Don’t play baka on me. That’s common knowledge.” He opened up an empty sleep chamber when they got to the room and gestured at it.

Ademu eyed him suspiciously. Bass has become really weird, he thought, holding Heart away from the chamber. “Why do you care to help anyway? I want to know why you’ve changed so much,” he demanded, keeping Heart away from Bass.

“You really want to know?” Bass asked, getting a glaring nod from Ademu. “I changed because I wanted to. Same thing with you,” he said, pointing at Ademu. “You once served Regal faithfully due to your sister becoming a navi, and what do you do when you think she’s dead? You switched sides for revenge. Revenge is a choice too.” He turned away from Ademu and paused for a moment before he decided to speak once more. “Kinda’ hollow when you realize your sister is alive and well. Heart gave me these coordinates,” Bass said, holding out a suspended file.

Ademu walked up and took it. He scanned over the file quickly and hung his head in shame. Bass was right. This victory was hollow. He then hugged Heart tightly before he placed her in the chamber. “I’ll check on Michirure, and then I’ll come back for you. I promise,” he said as Bass closed the chamber.

“Go do what you promised. Heart will be fine here. She’ll be repaired before your return.”

“What about the report?”

“Leon was told to handle that,” Bass said, shoving Ademu towards the exit. “Now go,” he ordered as he logged out of the internet himself.

Ademu smiled. “I don’t really care why you changed now Bass. I’m glad you did,” he spoke softly before he opened up the file and linked over to Brightland.
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Bass appeared in the hallway outside Lyne’s room, just across from Yuu’s lab. He looked back at the peaceful scene inside. From where he stood, nothing looked wrong. Except one thing. Gospel was asleep again. Bass walked in, passing through the DA that surrounded her room and threw the brick at him, knocking the virus wolf off the bed. “What is wrong with you?” Bass demanded as his virus looked back up at him.

I’m tired, Gospel thought back as he stretched and yawned. I’ve been doing this guard duty thing all day without a break or a snack. You owe me a lot of bugs.

Bass rolled his eyes as he took out some bugs, getting Gospel’s attention. “You know you don’t really deserve this,” he said, holding them above the virus wolf in a teasing manner. “Spirit did a better job at protecting her than you did. I came back, and you were sleeping on the job.”

Gospel then jumped back up on the bed and picked up a piece of tattered denim cloth. I did my fair share. I kept a psycho off of her earlier, he said, dropping his trophy in front of his master. Bass picked it up, remembering the state he had seen Saratu in.

“Yes I saw the results of your handiwork earlier,” Bass spoke, throwing the pants leg down onto the ground. “You do realize that you attacked a human?”

At first, no. Not until she passed through the DA. I thought she was actually a half navi like you and Master Lyne, Master, he thought back, cowering a bit, prepared to be hit by Bass.

“Well, you know different now,” Bass said as he walked over to check up on Lyne. He grabbed her hand, feeling it was still warm. He scanned her to see if she was infected and found no sign of infection from the virus. Spirit did a good job protecting you. I’m glad you’re safe, he thought as he held her hand to his face to feel it’s warmth. The touch made him feel better after all that had happened, but he knew there were more problems to be solved. He then picked up Spirit and the block of clear substance off the ground. “I’ll be back later. Eat those and return to your current function,” Bass ordered as he dropped the pile of bugs on the ground.

Gospel hung his head, noting his Master’s angry tone before he ate the pile quickly to return to his guard duty. Bass then exited Lyne’s room, deactivated his armor, and entered Yuu’s lab. He made certain to extend some digital energy to the things he was carrying. Yuu noticed him walk in before he looked up at the clock. “What are you doing here so late?” he asked the young male half-navi.

“This,” he said, placing Spirit on the table in the middle of the room, making Yuu rise up and come over to investigate. “Lyne almost got infected by a virus.”

“Spirit didn’t attack her did he?” Yuu asked, examining the little dragon virus over.

“No, but the virus that Zodiac sent almost did if, it wasn’t for his efforts,” Bass said, placing the brick down beside Spirit. “One of the corners in Lyne’s room is covered in this junk, and the virus is trapped in it.” Yuu glanced up at him, then rushed out of his lab, entered a code into his PET which opened a door-sized opening in the DA that surrounded Lyne’s room, and went inside to investigate Bass’ claim.

Once inside the room, he saw what Bass had meant. He then saw the virus and recognized it right away. “Oh my, that’s the virus Neta is infected with,” he gasped in shock before a smile came across his face. “We finally have a sample. She’s good as cured. This is a great day.”

“All except for the fact that it’s encased in that stuff,” Bass pointed out as Yuu tried to lift the virus off the ground. “And seriously, if I can’t lift it in my navi state, what makes you think you can?” Yuuichiro glared back at him. “Yes I did try to pick it up,” he replied to the glare as Yuu gave up on lifting it.

“This is only a minor setback. I’m sure this can be easily resolved,” Yuu spoke as he placed his hand on his chin. He then came up with an idea. “It’s stuck to the floor. Maybe a blaster shot will knock it lose,” he said, looking back at Bass.

Bass shook his head. “No way. Lyne’s in here. What if the shot deflects and hits her. Jeez, don’t you even care about her? I refuse to activate my armor.”

“I’m sorry. I was caught up in the moment,” Yuu apologized. “And you’re absolutely right. We’ll have to find a way to either melt it or dissolve it. Come on,” he spoke as he raced out of Lyne’s room, followed by Bass. Once they were out, Yuu tapped the command to close the DA breach into his PET. He then entered his lab and stopped when he looked at the table. “Wha? Where’s Spirit? And the brick?” Bass cleared his throat and Yuu looked back to see him holding those things in his hands again.

“You’ll need to have a Dimensional Area to keep them in.”

“Oh, right,” he said sheepishly. He examined the brick of stuff in Bass’ hand, carefully keeping it near the half navi as he prodded it and turned it over. “Hum… This is definitely some kind of crystalline structure. Could you log it into this terminal over here?” Bass nodded and followed the doctor over to the indicated terminal.

“Well then, if it’s a crystal, the only option is to dissolve it, right? Melting it might make her room too hot,” Bass commented as he logged the substance in.

“Precisely,” Yuu replied as he began an examining program. “Or we can find something to cut it.” The two of them waited while the system analyzed the substance, then Yuuichiro read the results and looked back at Bass. “This is solid diamond.”

“No way,” he breathed out. “Is it pure?”

“No, it’s a digital equivalent, but a lot purer cubic zirconium, and a lot stronger than Prismman’s crystals. I bet Misaki’d be jealous to see these results. But a diamond bladed saw should be able to cut that block loose from the floor.”

“Okay, then how are you going to get the substance off the walls and the virus, let alone the ghost navi I caught?” Bass asked.

“You caught a ghost navi too?” Bass nodded. “Is it bonded to the virus in there?” Bass nodded again.

“She’s Ademu’s sister’s navi, Heart,” Bass spoke. “I put her in one of the stasis chambers here at SciLab.”

“Hum… Ademu you say. I’ll have to look into that later,” he said. “I’m going down to chemistry to get this worked on.” He loaded the substance from the terminal to his PET and turned to leave before stopping and turning back to face Bass. “Stay here with Spirit. I’ll be right back to scan him,” he said before disappearing from sight.

Bass looked around the lab, bored out of his mind when he noticed a familiar purple and blue PET in a charger located on Yuu’s desk. “So this is where you ended up after Famous took you away from me,” Bass spoke as he walked up to it.

“Yeah,” the byte inside replied. “Dr. Hikari can be really boring when he gets going on a project. I wish he stuck me in Lyne’s room, but the PET needed to be recharged.”

Bass then looked back at Spirit, getting an idea. He hummed a little to himself before grabbing Lyne’s PET out of the charger.

“I don’t like the sound of that hum… What do you plan on doing? And it better not involve me. Her PET isn’t even fully charged,” Combit complained, making Bass look down at her.

“I’ve got an idea,” Bass replied as he brought up a list of Lyne’s bookmark links.

Combit watched him as he did so. “I can see that. What are you doing?”

“Looking for something,” he replied as he continued to scroll through them. “Jeez, she has a lot of links. Almost puts my list to shame,” he spoke before noticing that Combit wanted him to get to the point. “Ahem… Anyway, Spirit is a new breed of virus to the regular network, so I figure Lyne’s father has been dieing for the chance to scan him for a while, and at the moment he’s a little too weak for a full scan without being hurt by it. Catch my drift so far?” he asked while continuing to search Lyne’s bookmark list.

“Actually, no I don’t,” she replied as he found the link, copied it, and then opened an NP in Yuu’s lab.

“Okay,” he said, placing Lyne’s PET back into the charger. “It’s quite simple. I’m going to see Dran. She’d know more about Spirit and maybe know how to revive him. You stay here and cause a distraction.” Without waiting for her to reply, he activated his armor and entered the NP with Spirit in hand.

“Bu…” she protested as the NP closed. She threw her arms up. “Great, now what?” she asked herself, now being all alone in Yuu’s lab.
_____________________________________
~ Virus Capital ~ Virus Realm ~Undernet ~

The Net Portal that Bass exited through ended up being in the middle of the street in the capital, giving him easy access to the realm. He breathed a sigh of relief before he noticed two vi-navi guards a good distance off from him, and they were coming his way. He took a quick look around before he found an alley to duck into.

Once he entered it, he remained still as the two guards pass him by. After they passed, he slammed his fist against the wall. “Damn, why didn’t she bookmark were Dran is?” he pondered aloud before covering his mouth as a light was shined in his direction. He ducked down quickly as the light reached his spot.

“What you doing that for?” one of the guards asked the one shining the light.

“I thought I heard something,” the other guard responded. “Must’ve been a raton. Those pests always have me on edge.”

“Yeah. One ran off with my lunch yesterday,” the other laughed before they continued on.

Bass snuck to the edge of the alley and watched them leave. Whew, that was a little too close for comfort, he thought as he went further down into the alley. I’m going to have to activate my NetDemon style change if I’m going to have any chance of fitting in.

He stood still and quietly activated the alternate form, then gasped as power flowed through him. His hands involuntarily flexed open as his back and wings tensed, then he slammed one clawed hand into the wall next to him, clinging to it as he bent forward, gasping and shuddering. He rhythmically opened and squeezed closed his free right hand while he forced his breathing to slow, consciously calming himself. It took more than a couple of minutes for him to get to slow, deep, calm breaths, but he finally did manage. He pulled his left hand back out of the wall and slowly flexed and relaxed his wings, looking at them out of the corner of his eyes. He reached one hand back to gently feel the texture of the feathers on his wings.

It’s still a little overwhelming, now that my NetDemon form is complete. I guess I’ll have to be careful with it, and maybe practice with it. Bass then glanced down and leaned over to pick up Spirit and put him up on his shoulders. He’d accidentally dropped the little virus after transforming. I’m lucky I dropped him. I could have hurt him just then, he thought nervously, then jumped up to grab onto the edge of the roof above him now that he felt ready.

Once he’d pulled himself up on top of the roof, he turned towards the castle and used the roof tops of the town to travel towards it. He stopped short when he saw that a moat surrounded Merova’s castle. “Great,” he breathed out when he saw there were guards on the only bridge that lead out to the castle. He then looked out into the moat and saw there were water elemental snake egg juveniles swimming around in it.

“Jeez this place has some pretty tight security, but that isn’t going to stop me from getting in,” he spoke aloud as he stretched out his wings, preparing to take off from the rooftop he was on. He leapt into flight and made quick progress to the castle. He almost made it until Spirit slipped off of his shoulders and plummeted towards the moat. Crap! Bass mentally cursed as he dove down to the little virus’ rescue, snatching him up before the jaws of a snake egg could claim him for a meal.

“Okay, I got you,” Bass groaned before he realized he was a little close to the outer wall. This is just not my day, he thought as he did a quick movement to correct himself so he could grab onto the wall with his claws. Once he latched onto the wall, he slid a little before he came to a stop. “Okay,” he said as he slung spirit over his shoulders again while he kicked a young snake egg that was jumping up at him. “This has got to be the – worst – trip I’ve ever taken on the network,” he complained as he dug his claws into the solid wall and easily started scaling up it.

And this form does come in handy. These claws work ten times better than using the dark blades to scale walls, he thought as he climbed up the wall, being as quiet as he could to keep the guards that walked along the top of the wall from noticing. When he was near the top, he poked his head up to see if anyone was coming. Noting the coast was clear, he took to the sky for a moment before he dove down over the wall to land in the courtyard.

He took a look around and saw that he was in the stable yard. At least I’m in the right part of the castle, he thought as he scanned the area for Dran. To his luck, he saw her tending a few of the stables that had a few normal sized lavagons in them. He snuck behind a stall and watched her take care of the dragon viruses.

“How are my triplets doing today,” she asked as she petted each one of them on the head. They all grunted with glee as they accepted her touch. “That’s good. I’ll see you three in the morning,” she said as she gave them some buckets full of computer bugs before she left the stable yard to enter a small, sturdy-looking house at the far end of the stable yard.

So that’s her homepage, Bass noted as she entered the house. I’ll have to remember to bookmark that place before I leave, he thought as snuck from shadow to shadow until he was close to Dran’s homepage. He exited the shadows and crept towards her house until his foot found a brittle stick on the ground which cracked, making him curse to himself.

“Who’s there?” Dran called out from inside her home. Bass quickly hid in a nearby pile of hay.

Why’d I do that? Bass pondered as he hid. I’ve never been afraid of being caught before. Why am I acting so silly? Dran is a friend.

“Lady Dran, is there a problem?” one of the guards called down to her as she exited her house and grabbed a pitch fork.

Great, now the guards are involved. Smooth move baka, Bass thought to himself as he stayed still inside the haystack.

Dran just stood there and sniffed the air while looking around. She then let out a smile when she identified a familiar smell. “No, there’s nothing to worry about. Carry on with your business,” she called back to them as she stabbed the pitch fork into the pile of hay.

The guards did as she requested and continued to patrol the castle walls. Satisfied with their return to their duties, Dran giggled as she lifted the pile of hey a few inches. “You can come out of hiding my young demon friend,” she said, lifting it a few inches more.

Bass just sat there frozen in fear. She had almost speared him in the head when she first stabbed the pile. “That was a little too close for comfort Dran. You almost stabbed me,” he exclaimed in a quiet voice.

“I know and it did get your attention,” she replied before placing the hay back down and putting the pitch fork away. “What brings you to honor my humble home Lord Connor?” she asked with a formal bow.

“Um… Don’t call me that. Connor is fine, or even Bass, but not Lord. That title gives me the creeps. Anyway,” he spoke as he took Spirit off his shoulders. “I have a virus problem.” He held out Spirit, who hung limply before him in his hands.

Dran gasped, “Oh the poor thing. Inside quickly.” She grabbed him and dragged him inside, only to get him caught in her entryway.

“Oww!” he complained as she tried to continue pulling before she let go.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized as Bass struggled for a bit, trying to get unstuck. “Usually the winged guards avoid my hut because of my door. I should’ve warned you, but this is an emergency,” she said as she took Spirit from Bass before the small virus got hurt by his struggling.

“Yeah, that would’ve been nice,” he grumbled as he finally pushed himself back out of the doorway and deactivated his ND armor. “That’s much better. Now can you help or not?” he asked as he reentered Dran’s home.

Dran gave Spirit back to Bass for a moment before she took a large flat rock out of her fire place and placed it in a metal box that was lined with cloth and had a heat lamp above it. When she finished, she covered the rock with the cloth in the box and turned on the lamp above it before claiming Spirit back to place in the box. What happened next was amazing. For the whole time Bass was transporting him, Spirit hadn’t moved. He was just limp, but now that he was on the heated rock and under the warm lamp he squirmed about a little before curling up into a ball and going back to sleep.

“Aww,” Dran breathed out as she watched him get comfortable while taking a seat beside the box. “He must’ve breathed for the first time. Isn’t that sweet?” She looked back at Bass with starry eyes. “Diragon breath is very beautiful.”

“Hurts though” Bass mumbled.

“Oh, so you’ve seen it?” Dran asked, looking up intently at Bass who nodded.

“Lyne got attacked by a ghost navi and it’s virus. Spirit defended her, but now I have a room with a corner that has been plastered with this malleable crystal stuff and a virus encased in it as well,” Bass started to explain. He then got eye level with Dran. “This virus is very valuable to SciLab too. It’s the only one they’ve been able to find and with it they might be able to cure a navi they have there of infection.”

“Sounds to me like you have more than one virus problem,” Dran said as she got up off her seat. “Come this way Connor.” She lead him to a flight of stairs that led down to what looked like a cellar.

Bass paused at the top of the stairs. “What’s down there? I thought you said this was a hut.”

“The space I need to sustain myself is my hut, but my research area is down here. Come and see for yourself,” Dran spoke before she disappeared from sight.

Bass fidgeted for a moment before he went down the stairs to find a most impressive virus research area. There were many various virus samples kept in suspension capsules. Bass looked around the whole room and noticed there must be hundreds of these capsules. “Dran not to sound rude, but …how old are you?”

“20, why do you ask?” she asked, coming up to him with a huge book in her arms.

“Really?” asked, looking at her wide eyed in surprise.

“Well, physically I’m 20, but I’m actually 200,” she then eyed him, noting his reaction. “You’ve seen my collection I see.” She looked around at it as well. “I didn’t actually collect all of these. It’s been more like a family trade,” she said as she cleared away a pile of papers on a table beside her and placed the book in their place. She then sat down again and opened up the book. “Now please take a seat and describe this other virus for me,” she requested while gesturing at a seat beside her.

“Umm…” Bass sat down absentmindedly while ordering his thoughts. “Well, it’s small, and looks like a wind up monkey with cymbals on its hands,” Bass said, clapping his balled up fists together.

“Ahh…” Dran flipped a few pages in her book. “Is this it?” she asked, lifting up the book to show him what she had found. The picture of the virus was exactly what he had described.

“Yeah, that’s it,” Bass said as Dran put the book back down in front of her.

“Windus Oupous,” she spoke, reading from the language written below the picture. Bass tried to read over her shoulder, but he wasn’t able to decipher it. Dran saw he was trying to read. “This book is written in an ancient virus dialect developed by the first vi-navis. I’ll give you a program to learn it later, but for the moment let me read,” she said, making Bass slump down in his seat. “Ahem... Basically the Windus virus is a type of metal element virus. They are very scarce on the main network and even down here, mainly ‘cause they don’t like to be bothered and also are very shy.”

“Why? They look harmless,” Bass asked, looking back at the picture.

“They are highly infectious. They can even infect other viruses with what program they have.”

Bass looked up at her. “What does their program do? Entirely,” he asked, motioning his hands in a circle.

“Well, it starts out with stiffness, then moves onto altering the appearance of the navi or virus infected to look like a toy of some sort. This includes clothing appearance if that is applicable. Next the navi or virus will start to shrink until it is about the same size as its infector, and in turn they become a Windus themselves,” she said before Bass slammed his fist on her desk, making the pile of papers fall to the ground.

“I can’t let this happen to her. Is there a cure?”

Dran looked back down at the book before she rose up and grabbed another big book, leafing through it before moving onto another book. She returned after she had leafed through a whole row of books, shaking her head. “None in my books down here. My ancestors must’ve deemed that it’s an easy virus to cure. I’ll have to go over Grandfather’s notes since he was the last to encounter a Windus and successfully cure the infected navi,” Dran said, picking up the papers that had fallen. Bass looked away from her, frowning in frustration. “Don’t worry. It will take a full year for the virus to take hold of Lyne. How long has she been infected?” she asked, placing her hands on his shoulders.

Bass shook his head. “Oh no, Lyne’s not infected. Another navi friend of mine is. She’s more like a family friend I guess. Dr. Deniure Keshiro.”

“Oh, and how long has she been infected?” Dran asked.

“Not sure, but at the least six months, maybe seven at the most,” he said, looking away from her again. “I just don’t want her to become a virus. She’s a really old friend of the family.”

“Yes, a top virus researcher in her day too, but cases of a Windus intentionally attacking a navi are rare, and aren’t really worth noting as I’ve seen, so what that’s telling me is that they’re a simple fix. Especially now that you have a sample back at SciLab, right?” she asked, letting go of his shoulders. Bass started nodding, then shook his head.

“But the virus is encased in that clear stuff that Spirit can breathe out,” Bass pointed out. “How are they supposed to do research on the virus if it’s in that stuff? And how can Spirit do that?”

“He’s just basing how he fights on thousands of years of instinct,” Dran said, facing him. She then tilted her hand back. “A Diragon in a fight is known for not being a direct aimer. They tilt their head back and aim their breath slightly above their target so a weird chemical reaction occurs. Inside, they have a chemical paste. It’s stable like that, but it liquefies when heated, and that’s when the reaction can occur. Once it cools, it becomes a hardened crystal, a digital equivalent of earth’s hardest substance: diamond. And thus, that is what their name is derived from: Di for diamond and ragon from dragon,” Dran spoke. Bass placed his hand on hers to get her attention.

“That’s the obvious stuff,” he said, removing his hand once he caught her attention. “What I need to know is if that breath is harmful to Navis or viruses.”

“Oh no, not at all,” she said, waving her hand at him. “It’s harmless. But as I said with how the Diragon fights, it does put its opponent at a disadvantage. And with the proper training, their breath can be lethal, but since Spirit is still a young virus, his breath is harmless.”

“Then tell me how he was able to encase an entire room corner in this crystal stuff?”

“As I said before, it’s malleable, thus the reason they aim above their target. The chemical they breathe comes out as mist. Kinda’ like a pressurized aerosol can. Inside is liquid, but it comes out as a mist. Same for Diragons. Once out, it expands as the mist for a moment, then condenses into a blob as it falls onto its victim, thus your encasing effect.” Bass tilted his head as she explained. “I said it was a weird chemical reaction.” Bass nodded in agreement. “It takes heat to keep it liquid. If they aim too high, the blob has a chance to cool and become solid.”

Bass slid his feet back under the chair. “I’ll remember that for future reference.”

“I do have a solution to your other problem though,” Dran said, grabbing her book and leading the way back upstairs, grabbing a jar that had a few long sticks in it.

“What are those for?” Bass asked as they exited her lab and entered back into her home.

She placed her book down on the table beside Spirit’s box along with the jar. “You’ll see,” she said as she placed her finger up to her lips, motioning Bass to be quiet. He did as he was told as Dran grabbed one of the sticks and spun it in a pile of fluff that was also on the desk. Bass watched her pull it out, and she noted his look of surprise. “Home made cotton swabs. This is moloko wool, the softest substance in the network.”

“And the most sleep inducing,” Bass added.

“That’s not true. That’s only if it’s attached to the moloko itself. Harmless when it’s not,” she said as she gently opened the little sleeping dragon’s mouth and inserted the cotton swab.

“Hey what are you doing? You’re going to wake him up,” Bass asked as he watched her do so.

“Just a second. I’m getting a sample of that chemical paste I was telling you about,” she said as she gently rubbed the swab on the bottom of Spirits mouth and stroked down the back of his neck. Shortly after she started that, a small squirt of sticky liquid covered the swab.

“Ahh… That is gross,” Bass complained as he watched it happen.

“That’s a good boy,” she said while petting the little dragon. She took the swab out and showed it to Bass. “From this I can make a solution that will dissolve the solid form of crystal. This is what it looks like before being heated up and becoming a mist, activating the expanding catalyst.”

“That will help you make a solution to my problem?” Bass asked, motioning to the swab. Dran smiled and nodded. “How?”

“Well,” she said as she found an empty jar and put the swab in it. “Each Diragon’s breath is unique. So I need this to make a solution that will only dissolve his breath and no other digital material. Acid programs are really tricky to make unless you have the proper components. Understand?” she asked, looking up at him.

Bass nodded. He didn’t get all of it, but he didn’t want his processor to ache due to all the new information he had acquired. He then looked back at Spirit, who seemed relaxed. “Is he okay?” he asked as he knelt down beside the box to look inside it at the sleeping baby dragon virus.

“He’ll be safe enough for travel again in a few minutes. All he needed to do was warm up. Diragon’s are one of the few viruses that are tri-elemental,” Dran said as she started to work on the solution.

“Tri-elemental?”

“Yes. Fire, Ice, and Earth,” Dran spoke as she looked back. Bass looked back at her oddly. “Don’t think it so odd. It’s possible, since there are tri-elemental navis out there. If I’m not mistaken, you and Lady Lyne are able to manipulate elements as well since you’re both master elements young lord.”

“What is up with the title giving?” Bass growled in his and Lyne’s defense.

“I can’t help it Bass. I was raised as a servant to royalty all my life. I’m not really used to a lord refusing to be called by a title.”

“Well, you better get used to it. I refuse to be called a lord. I’m not one and don’t deserve to be,” he spoke, turning away from Dran, who noticed something odd hanging from around his neck.

“I’ll send the solution to SciLab when I finish it. But um… Connor, what is that around your neck?” she asked as she stopped her work and turned to face him. Bass then closed his cape defensively. “What’s the matter? I’m your friend.”

“It’s silly. Why did you look?” he demanded.

“I just asked ‘cause that necklace looks very familiar. May I see it?” she asked, holding her hand out.

“I can’t take it off,” Bass replied, hanging his head.

“You don’t need to take it off. I just want to examine the pendant on it.”

Bass stood there, hesitant for a moment before he opened his cloak, allowing Dran to see the strand of gold and pendant that hung around his neck. “Oh my… Who gave that to you?”

“My cousin,” Bass said, looking away as she gently took up the pendant.

“Did he explain why he gave this to you?”

“No.”

“This pendant is made out of moon rock, and has a few demon runes etched on it. It says…” She stopped for a moment and retrieved a small magnifying eye piece. She then proceeded to translate. “In loving memory of Marian Yudi Mouguroi. To protect her youngest son, my grandchild. You’re Marian’s son?” she asked, letting go of the pendant.

“My mother had that name, but her last name is Cossack,” Bass replied as he drew back from Dran.

“I knew your mother. That necklace was made by her father, your grandfather, for you. Are you sure you received that from Famous?” Bass nodded. “Be careful. This means that the Mouguroi have an eye on you.”

“What? Wait a minute. Who are the Mouguroi? I deleted a vi-navi that looked like a lizard yesterday that tried to eat Lyne, and he called me by such a name.”

“You killed a Squeshsque?” Dran asked in shock. Bass looked back at her, curious about her reaction. “The vi-navi you thought you deleted wasn’t a vi-navi. It was a demon, not unlike yourself.”

“What?! No way.”

“I warn you, don’t get involved any further with the secret war they hold,” Dran pleaded, holding onto his shoulders.

“What war?”

“The Squeshsque and the Mouguroi have been at war in your home country for many a millennia now. Why do you think your mother left the Mouguroi to marry your father?”

“I don’t know. You tell me,” Bass replied.

“I can’t, but take Spirit and my warning with you,” she said, forcing the little dragon into Bass’ hands. “Avoid the secret war, both you and Lyne, and never take that necklace off. It will protect you.” she said. Dran seemed to fade from sight as she finished speaking, but he soon realized that he was the one leaving.

“Oh great, she pushed me into a NP,” he growled in disappointment. “I didn’t get a chance to bookmark her place.” He thought about going back to do it, but decided it was time to get home. He considered the pendant while he traveled the data stream. So this was actually made by my grandfather, eh? he thought as he looked at it. I wonder why she’s so worried about me taking it off in the first place? I can’t. I’ve tried to, he thought as he tried to take it off again. This thing is so irritating.

You shouldn’t do that, a voice projected to him quietly. The voice gave Bass the feeling of an eerie presence.

“Who are you?” he called out into the emptiness of the data stream.

Do you really need to ask who I am? the voice asked, now sounding familiar. The necklace is to protect you from your true form, and to keep your relatives from using you. I’d be more worried about the necklace breaking than it being taken off. While it is intact, the magic will still work on you while it is off.

“What magic Cynan?” Bass asked as he finally realized who was talking to him.

The left over life force of your grandfather, the Ancient replied. His dieing wish was to make sure you weren’t exploited by the rest of your family along with your mother. Accept his protection as a gift of respect for his daughter and your father, he continued as his voice faded while Bass approached the exit of the data stream.

Once he hit the end of it, he was back in Yuu’s lab. The Doctor himself was standing in front of Bass, tapping his foot. “What part of stay put do you not understand?” he asked as Bass reoriented himself with is surroundings.

“Um… Well I understand it. Doesn’t mean I’m going to do it.”

“Why do you have to be a smart ass? What were you doing with Spirit anyway?” Yuu demanded, waving his arms around.

“Virus research,” Bass replied with a cheesy smile. “I have a friend who’s offered to make a solution to dissolve the crystal stuff.”

Yuu stopped his ranting and looked at Bass in surprise. He then crossed his arms over his chest. “Okay, and how is this friend of yours going to do it?”

“That’s a secret, but she will e-mail it to SciLab when it’s finished.”

Yuu held his hand out. “Wait… You mean this is a digital solution?”

“Duh… It wouldn’t be able to be sent over e-mail if it wasn’t,” Bass spoke as he left the room to go across the hall. He went straight into Lyne’s room to place Spirit under Lyne’s covers so he could keep warm. “Spirit made this digital crystal,” he said as he gestured at the corner while walking out of Lyne’s room.

Yuu stopped Bass when he came out. “You don’t mind telling me everything this contact of yours knows about the crystal substance, do you?”

Bass eyed him for a moment. “Does this mean I don’t have to go straight home and get to stay up for this?”

“Sure,” Yuu spoke as he wrapped his arm around Bass’s shoulders.

“Okay, plus she even knows about that virus Spirit caught,” Bass pointed at the corner of Lyne’s room from the outside. “It’s called a Windus.”

Bass definitely had Yuuichiro’s attention now. “Okay, keep talking. Does she know anything about the symptoms?” he asked before he and Bass entered his lab to discuss his little adventure more.
_______________________________
Next Episode Preview

~SciLab~

Yuuichiro: Okay, that’s it for today. So what now?
Bass: I guess we wait to find out what the Episode Preview’s gonna’ be.
Author: Oh, don’t worry about that. Editor’s still sulking after the last preview. Just go ahead. Camera’s rolling.
Yuu: What happened last time.
Bass: I was tired of how things were going, so I said something about this episode. Editor acted like it was the end of the world.
Lan: He can be such a child.
Bass: Yeah. Hey, what are you doing here?
Lan: Hanging out.
Bass: Well, go over there to hang out.
Lan: Why? Aren’t we supposed to be hanging out?
Bass: Uh, no. Go bug that Chaud kid or something.
Lan: Hmm… no, I’m pretty sure that’s not in the script.
Bass: Then go… wait a sec. Are you saying the script has you hanging out… with me?
Lan: Yeah, great huh!?
Bass: No that’s not great! Why would I hang out with a bratty punk like you?
Yuu: Well, you are both NetSavior’s, so it’s expected you’ll end up spending some time on missions.
Bass: This isn’t a mission. We’re on break.
Yuu: But you need to be ready for missions too, and being able to get along with your fellow NetSaviors is important.
Bass: I get along with my fellow NetSavior just fine. And once she’s medically cleared, I’ll be happy to hang out with my fellow NetSavior.
Yuu: Connor, you don’t want to annoy your fellow NetSavior’s father, do you?
Bass: … uh, no, I don’t think so.
Yuu: Then stop arguing with him. Next time on Lan and Lyne Season 3, Episode 8: MiddleNet Search.
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"NetAngel Style Change Activate"
Megawoman (Lyne)

Avatar made by Serenade.exe

And feel free to post here too artists if inspired
Lan and Lyne Art Thread

[Featherdust]

I like how you make calmer chapters in between to balance out the action- it makes the story very well-rounded and gives way for more room for the more important details. This was another great chapter, if not a bit slow-paced, and Spirit's power to generally breathe diamonds is pretty cool. The pendant's purpose is interesting, even a bit foreshadowing... I'm kind of eager to know more about it. XP Again, can't wait for the next chapter.
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[Haly K]

:O Wow... The plot is so deep, there's a lot of suspense, and you have so many uniqe characters! This fic is just... amazing, so far. ( Note: This is coming from a novince Fan Fic Writer.) Oh, I can't wait for the next chapter! :D
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MegaMan Kilobit
My Own City

[Megawoman.EXE]

Thank you Haly K. It does help to have beta readers and an editor/co-author that has taken college english. If you need any help with stuff just PM me and I'll be able to help.
_________________
"NetAngel Style Change Activate"
Megawoman (Lyne)

Avatar made by Serenade.exe

And feel free to post here too artists if inspired
Lan and Lyne Art Thread

[Midnight]

I have to echo what has been said already about this fic--it's getting to the point of being as finely written as a good novel.

What struck me most about this chapter is that you have created your own branch of "pseudo-science" for this fandom. Although for many fantasy fandoms, this is commonplace, most notably for the Star Trek series, I found that this one, although it hasn't been developing for long, still is quite intriguing and somewhat deep. And as a science student at heart, I find this to be a point that keeps the reader (me at least) wanting to continue to read.

Good work.
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Megawoman.EXE]

Thank you guys for the comments. I'm glad this still makes for an interesting read for all of you fans out there. It really helps to have the support while I'm away from home. And without further adu .......
__________________________________
Episode 8: MiddleNet Search

~ SciLab ~ 19 January 20XX ~ Early Morning ~

“Careful now. Don’t use too much of that stuff,” Dr. Hikari said to one of the lab assistants. “We don’t want to free the virus. Just cut the block around it-”

“So we can safely transport the virus out to a lab to work on it,” the one on the left, Miaka, interrupted him. “We know to be careful. We’re taking our time to get this done right Doctor.”

“Sorry. I can’t help feeling a little anxious. Eh? Spirit, cut it out!”

The little diragon virus had been hopping around the room excitedly, making tiny squeaks with each jump, and had now hopped up onto Miaka’s shoulder and head. She herself gave a startled squeak and leapt to her feet, with Spirit responding by hopping off of her, onto the diamond block that imprisoned the Windus virus, then up onto the head of the second assistant, Taka. He ended up dropping the instrument he was working with, luckily not breaking it, and falling backward onto the floor. Yuuichiro went over to try and grab Spirit, but he slipped away nimbly and stopped a few feet away, hopping and twisting in place like he was trying to form a figure-eight in midair. The diagon’s antics reminded Yuu strongly of a very playful ferret.

“Spirit, please don’t interrupt their work,” a quiet voice said from off to the Doctor’s side. He saw that Lyne was sitting up and looking at her virus companion. “Come over here.” Spirit didn’t have to be told twice. He leapt at Lyne’s bed and pulled himself up onto it, then threw himself into Lyne’s lap. After curling up, he looked up at Lyne and squeaked quietly, getting his requested petting.

“How are you feeling this morning Lyne?” Yuu asked, immediately going to look at the monitors while grabbing up some instruments to examine her with.

“Better than yesterday, but that doesn’t say much.” She gently put her hands on the stethoscope Yuu was readying to use and pushed it away. “Dad, do you really have to think of that first? I think I’d be better off with a hug than a physical.”

Yuuichiro sighed and let his shoulders drop, his tension easing off of them at his daughter’s smile. He put the instruments aside and held onto Lyne for a few quiet moments. When he let go, she laid back down on her bed. She’d only woken up late yesterday, and had only been conscious for about half an hour, but at least she was out of her navi armor. “You still look exhausted. I guess I should put this off and let you rest.”

“No, it’s fine. Connor will be here shortly, so go ahead and exam.”

“Well, could you sit up then? I need to check your breathing.” Lyne nodded, and her father gave her a hand back to a sitting position. She twitched a little when the cold metal of the stethoscope touched bare skin on her back. “Breath deep… good. Your breathing sounds a little bit labored, but only a little. You’re feeling tender I guess?”

“Yeah. I probably had fractured ribs, but I get to heal really fast. I’ll be healing slower, now that the worst of it’s taken care- Dad! Eeee, warn me before you check my ear with that thing.”

“Um, sorry.”

“Why are you checking my ear anyway? They weren’t injured. Hi Connor.” Yuu turned to see that he was at the door. He heard movement beside him and saw out of the corner of his eye that Lyne had pushed herself off the bed. He had to quickly catch her when her legs wobbled weakly. “Ohhhkay. Maybe I shouldn’t try standing just yet.”

“Well, you’re more awake than you were yesterday,” Bass commented as he walked into the room. “But you should try to take it easy, at least a little longer.” He froze up when Lyne pushed away from her father and let herself fall against him.

“It’s good to see you. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay awake yesterday.”

“Uh, don’t apologize. It’s fine. Sh-shouldn’t you stay in bed?”

“Mmmm, you’re right. Help me up?” Bass awkwardly complied, lifting her so she could roll back onto the bed. “Oh, who’s with you?”

“Hm?” Bass turned to look at the door. “That’s Saratu. She’s here to see her mother.”

“Saratu, hi!” Lyne waved at the other girl and smiled. “Wow, it’s been forever. How are you?”

“I’m, um, I’m alright. I’m really sorry,” Saratu replied.

“Don’t be sorry. It’s not you’re fault I got attacked by some crazy navi. Saratu? Hey, where are you going?” The other girl had suddenly blushed uncomfortably and run down the hall. Bass started after her quickly.

“Dr. Hikari. Could you explain what Saratu was apologizing for? Hey wait up!” Bass called as he chased after Saratu.

“What she was apologizing for? Dad, what’s up?”

“Well, long story short, Saratu’s navi tried to attack you while you were unconscious,” Yuu explained. Lyne looked at him quietly for a moment.

“I think you’d better tell me the long version Dad.”
_______________________________________

“Saratu! Hey, quit running already!” Bass shouted after her. She didn’t stop, but she couldn’t outrun him. He grabbed her and forced her to halt, being careful not to injure her accidentally. “She wasn’t referring to you. She doesn’t know anything about what happened. Look at me!”

“You’re sure? She doesn’t know about Ayra?” Saratu asked quietly.

“No she doesn’t. Dr. Hikari should be explaining it now-”

“Oh great! Now she is going to know what I did and, ow!”

Bass had forced her to turn around and face him. He knew he’d been a little rough about it but forced himself not to think about it. “Whatever you’re worrying about, don’t. What happened was because you were under someone else’s control. I know how that is, and so does Lyne. She’ll forgive you for what little part you had in things.”

Saratu looked at Bass like she was about to cry. “You, sure? She won’t be mad or anything?”

“She’s not the type. Now, you wanted to see your mother, right? We’re going the wrong way for that.” They turned about and proceeded in the opposite direction. Saratu was nervously quiet, and Bass wasn’t about to break the silence. He wasn’t even sure if she was nervous about Lyne or if she was nervous about seeing her mother again. Once they got to the room, Bass used the access code he’d been given to open a door in the Dimensional Area Deniure was kept in.

“Hi Mom. Good morning… Mom?” Saratu spoke when she neared her mother, but Deni didn’t move or speak. “Mom, can you hear me?”

“Rush, where are you!?” Bass shouted angrily. “Get in here!”

“Aou!” Rush came out obediently and saw that Deni had frozen up again. He quickly went to her and wound up the key in her back.

“Thank you Rush,” Deni said when she could move again.

“Aou, aou!” Rush gave a thumbs up and grinned. The grin dropped when he saw the scowl on Bass’ face.

“Aren’t you supposed to have a regular schedule for winding her? Where were you?” Bass demanded.

“It’s okay Connor. Calm down. Rush, go on now and… well, do whatever it is you do when you’re not here,” Deni said as she started moving her arms around, trying to get rid of the stiffness. “Ah, no use. I won’t be very mobile until that cure is made. Well, that pretty much sums up how I’m doing, so how are you Saratu?”

Deni’s daughter shifted uncomfortably and cleared her throat. “Um, better now. I actually hadn’t realized just how sick I’m been getting because of Ayra. Oh, I’m sorry Mom!”

“I don’t blame you for how mad you were at me. I should have expected it, considering how long I hid who I really was from you. And it’s not like you were the one who made me end up like this. Honey, don’t cry. Oh, I wish I could give you better comfort, but my arms are to short for hugging anymore. Connor, could you hug her for me?”

“What!? I, what? Hug?”

“Hah, hah, hah, hah! No, that’s fine,” Saratu said, covering the smile on her face. “You do know how to make me feel better Mom. That look on him is great!”

Bass fumed quietly for a couple seconds before he started shouting, “Oh, shut up! Don’t make fun of me! Grr, stuff I have to put up with. I’ve gotta’ go to school. Saratu, find Dr. Hikari when you have to leave. And don’t forget about your flight.”

“Flight?” Deniure asked curiously. “Where are you going?”

“Brightland. I’m going to join up with Ademu there to see Kurisutaru.”

“Oh, wonderful! Give her my love dear.” Saratu was nodding and about to speak when Bass let out a sneeze at the room’s doorway. “Goodness! Bless you Connor. You’re not sick, are you?”

“No. That just came on me all of a sudden. Weird.”

“Maybe someone’s talking about you somewhere.”

“Yeah right! That’s just an old wives’ tale.”

“Now Connor, why would you call me an old wife? I’m only about Yuuichiro’s age you know.” Deni said with a smile. Bass backed into the hallway with a sly look on his face.

“Wow, I had no idea you were that old Dr. Keshiro. See ya!” He took off running leaving Deni’s indignant shouting behind.

_______________________________

Tadashi Hikari yawned and stretched as he exited his comfy little network residence. “Oh… What a beautiful day to go fishing,” he spoke as he continued to stretch.

“I agree,” a voice said as a vid window appeared beside him while he made a hot cup of coffee data.

“I’m glad you do Guardian. Any word on Lyne’s condition?” he asked while opening up his e-mail account.

“Lyne’s out of critical state, but will require more rest. She is due to be out of the medical bay by the end of the week,” the large navi replied.

“That’s good to hear. Thank you for the good news Guardian,” he said as he took a seat in a rocker on his deck and the window closed. He then called the cup of coffee data to his hand so he could consume it. “Ahh…” he breathed out after he took a sip before concentrating on a few articles dealing with current problems on the net.

Such as:
~Mysterious Navi Assists in Capture and Arrest of Assailants Involved in NetBurglery of the United Bank of DenTech ~, ~Unknown Navi Assists in Rescue of Infected Section of NetCity After an Outbreak~

“Tut, tut. Sounds like someone doesn’t want credit for his good deeds,” Tadashi said, hanging his head as he read that most of the credit in the articles went to his grandson Lan.

“Yeah, too bad,” a voice said beside him as a form filled the rocker on the opposite side of the deck that Tadashi was sitting on. “I remember when the lad would boast about all the good deeds he had done. That drove all of us nuts. I’d thought I’d never see him in the paper again.”

Tadashi glanced over at the figure that had just appeared before looking back at his paper. “It’s about time you got here William,” he spoke to the man beside him. “I sent that invite three days ago.”

“What can I say?” the older man replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Traffic in NetCity has become quite atrocious. I almost got ran over ten times today, and the invite was for today to play that game your dear son gave you for your birthday,” William said, waving his finger at Tadashi. William had the same snow white color hair that Tadashi had, but had light green eyes and wore a long, dark green robe that was lined with red trim. “Maybe it’s about time I contacted the boy. Famous did report that he was doing good lately, and I did sneak into the IDC server to check his report.”

“Shame on you Will,” Tadashi said, pushing his paper to the side.

“Hey, what can I say? Being a NetSoul has its benefits, and my IDC pass hasn’t expired yet,” Will replied with a smile. “‘Sides, I was going to ask your wonderful granddaughter to come with him, but it’s too bad she’s on suspension from any Network travel.”

“She’s doing better now, but after she’s finished recovering, she’s going to help Deniure get back on her feet,” Tadashi said, going back to his paper.

“That’s right, the poor lass. Glad she’s doing better. ‘S about time one of your grandchildren had an interest in viruses. So…” he dragged out as he leaned forward in the borrowed rocker. “When are we going to start the game? I plan on getting a better score than you this time.”

“After I finish this new technologies article. The new PET my son helped IPC develop is fascinating. Holographic projection screen, drag drop chips, and a ton of new features. It’s a little smaller than the Progress PET too,” Tadashi spoke in subdued awe. “Wonder what’s next. Solid holographic projectors and PET’s the size of MP3 players?”

“Heh, heh, maybe my old friend,” Will said, standing up and patting Tadashi on the back. “Let’s go since you’re done now.” He walked off of the deck and headed towards the lake.

“Alright. I’m coming,” he said, making his digital paper disappear and following his old friend down to the lake so they could play his fishing game.
_______________________________________
~Famous’s Office ~ NSHQ ~ 20 January 20XX ~ Late Afternoon ~

“I’m not watching him this time,” Chaud started an argument with the other male agent in the room right before Famous. He then pointed at his fellow partner. “It’s your turn.”

“I have an assignment back in Sharo that demands my attention,” Raika replied as he sat in his chair calmly.

Protoman hung his head along with Searchman as they watched Chaud jump up out of his chair. “That’s not for two days!” he exclaimed angrily.

“Stop fighting Boys!” Famous shouted, getting their attention. “Chaud, have a seat too,” he gestured at the seat that Chaud had jumped out of. The young teen did as he was asked before Famous continued. “Now Chaud, this is just a test to see if the chip works. Lan has volunteered to test the copy Treno helped me make, even though his father doesn’t really want him to, but nobody else volunteered,” he said eyeing the two males that sat before him, making them avert their eyes.

“We’re sorry about that sir. Is there a way to delay the test?” Raika asked.

“No, the commissioner wants the results of the test in by today,” Famous spoke, “Or this program will not be pressed forward.”

“But Lan as the test subject?” Chaud interjected. “I’m sorry, but Lan gets a little too excited about testing stuff out Famous. He broke the last program he tested. Besides, I have a meeting back at IPC about the publicity on the new Progress PET we made available to the public in about an hour, and then a commercial to shoot after that,” Chaud said, looking at his watch.

“So you’re both busy. What do you suggest then? If this test doesn’t get done it’s going to be my butt on the line as well as yours,” he said, pointing at the two of them with a pen. “‘Cause you’re both his partners.” Just then a buzzer went off at the door. Famous opened up the camera monitor on his computer screen to see Bass was standing there. “…Okay, never mind that. I think I may’ve found a solution. Come in!” he said as he pressed a button on his desk, allowing his cousin entry.

“Okay, what is this about?” Bass asked as he entered. “You said you had something urgent to show me.”

“And an assignment,” Famous added as Bass took a seat before him and placed his feet on the desk. “Raika and Chaud won’t be able to handle it, so I need you to do it.”

“Whatever,” Bass said as he lowered his legs. “Just show me what you have for me.”

“That’s fine with me. Chaud, Raika, you both may leave,” Famous spoke as both boys got up to leave the room.

Raika paused to place his hand on Bass’s shoulder. “Good luck. Dasvidanya,” he spoke quickly in his native tongue, knowing Bass would understand, before he exited the room after Chaud.

Bass sat more erect in his chair, “Okay… What is this assignment about anyway?”

“Well, you’re going to be teaming up with Lan on a case,” Famous spoke as he looked over some files on his desk.

“What?! NO!!! Absolutely not! He’d be in the way,” Bass exclaimed as he rose up out of his chair. “Get those two back in here!” he demanded, pointing at the door.

“No can do. Raika has customs paperwork to fill out, and Chaud has a CEO meeting at IPC. You do remember that the Progress PET goes out on the market tomorrow,” Famous reminded him without looking up from his papers.

“Yeah whatever,” Bass said, looking away from him. “What does this mission entail? You still haven’t answered that.”

“You’re to just watch him. That’s all,” Famous said, leaning back in his chair.

“So it’s not a case at all. It’s a babysitting mission,” Bass grumped at hearing this news.

“Well if you remember, Lyne’s on suspended duty, plus his mother is out on errands, but as I said before I do have a legitimate task I need you to do at the Water Works Plant. But first I have something to give to you,” he said as he sent a beam of light from his desk to Bass’ PET.

Curious to see what data he’d been sent, Bass took up his PET and looked at it. To his surprise it was an e-mail with an unknown sender. He scanned it for viruses since it seemed suspicious. Finding no signs of viruses, he opened it up to read it.

~It read~

How ya doing lad? I’m fine as you see since I’m sending you an e-mail. Your old e-mail account wasn’t responding, so I sent this to Famous, knowing this would get to who it needed to go to. I’m glad to see you’ve made a full recovery from the curse since we last saw each other. As you see, I’m rather forgiving for what you said before, and would like for you to come visit me. I still live in the same homepage I have for all these years. I have something important to give you and also discuss with you.

Later,
Dr. William M.

~End E-Mail~

Bass lowered his PET after he had read it, Mordechai?! That old net soul is still alive? he asked himself as he sat there in shock. And he wants me to visit him. This definitely isn’t going to be a cheap trip, that’s for sure. He then put his PET away and stood up. “I have to go take care of this right now,” he said, heading towards the door.

“You have a mission to do first,” Famous said as Bass heard an audible click come from the door.

“Do I have to do this?” Bass asked as he looked back at his cousin with disgust in his eyes.

“Yes. You and Lan have to go check the Water Works Plant out and interview Froid Kikawa,” Famous said as he unlocked his door. “I’ll be expecting a full report from the both of you when you finish. Lan is downstairs waiting. Now get going.”

Bass glared at his cousin angrily before he relented and exited his cousin’s office, rather disappointed at the task that lay before him. He entered the elevator and shortly arrived at the lobby floor. Once he exited, he saw a few familiar females out in the lounge: Princess Pride of Brightland, Ribbita, and Mayl. There were also two other females that he didn’t recognize.

The princess was being interviewed by Ribbita, and looked really pleased to talk to the reporter. Meanwhile at the same time Mayl was fighting about a box with a Chinese girl in a white Chinese-cut dress with embroidered flowers on it. Bass shook his head at this. I will never understand why females fight all the time amongst themselves, he thought as he then looked at the last female, a woman that looked like she was in her mid twenties. She was sipping on some tea, calmly oblivious as to what was going on around her. She wore what looked like common venders clothes and had what looked like a saw blade in her black hair. Bass’s only thought on that was, I won’t understand their fashion statements either.

Just then a movement across the room caught his eye. A potted bush was making its way over to the door. He hummed to himself as he considered this phenomenon before he walked up to it and blocked its path.

“Omph,” the bush grunted before a head poked out of it to see what was blocking it.

Bass stood there tapping his foot with his arms crossed over his chest. “What are you doing Lan? Seriously,” he asked as he glared down at the younger Hikari.

“Sneaking outta’ here so I can wait for Chaud,” he replied as he quickly looked over at the group of females before ducking back into the bush to start moving it past Bass, but no matter what he did Bass still stood in his way.

“C’mon Connor let me pass,” Lan moaned from inside the bush.

“And why should I?” Bass asked as Lan tried to escape.

Lan then poked his head back out and pointed at the group of females. “Mayl and Jasmine are fighting, Tamiko will challenge me to a NetBattle, and Ribbita wants to interview me, I can just feel it. I beg of you let me go so I can wait for Chaud in peace.”

“Ahem… Chaud’s not coming,” Bass said, turning away from him.

“Why not?”

“Why should that matter? I’m his replacement,” Bass grumbled as he reached into the bush. “So let’s go and get our mission over with.” He yanked the younger boy out of the bush by the scruff of his orange vest. Once he did they were instantly surrounded by four of the five females. Pride stayed in the seating area, now sipping on tea of her own.

Bass tried to think of something to say, but was only able to make confused and uncertain noises as he held Lan up in the air. He had never been swarmed by females before except on the network. Those, however, were the unsavory type most of the time and were instantly deleted if they touched him, but that was the old him and these were human females.

“Smooth move,” Lan huffed, then yelped when he felt two pairs of hands latch onto him, one set on each arm. Mayl and the Chinese girl, Jasmine, had grabbed him and were yelling either at each other or at Lan, Bass couldn’t tell which and girls fighting like this just sounded like nonsense to him anyway. They then proceeded to do tug of war on him while the vender, Tamiko, was outside the little tussle asking Lan to challenge her to a NetBattle for something free from her shop. Bass had to admit that Lan’s predicament was rather amusing until he felt a mike pressed into his face.

Bass turned to see the familiar red haired news reporter, sporting her trademark frog hat, on the other end of the mike. “You must be Connor Cossako,” she spoke with a smile.

“So what if I am?” he asked, confused as to why she would want to talk to him anyway.

“Well, I’ve been meaning to interview you for a while now,” she said as she took out her PET and pressed what looked like a small red button on it. “Being a survivor of a Digital Hostage Situation, I would like to know what it was like,” she asked, pressing the mike in his face once more.

Bass just glared at her, realizing what she meant. She wanted to know about what had happened at the end of the Navi/Human ball on Halloween. He then relaxed his face. “I’m sorry I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I have a policy of not talking to journalists,” he said, pushing the mike away with his other hand. He then yanked Lan out of the tug of war Mayl and Jasmine were having.

When they realized that Lan was taken away the trio of females all pouted at Bass. “I’m sorry, but we have a mission to take care of and we don’t need fighting females tagging along,” he spoke before Mayl and Jasmine now tried to jump up and grab Lan from him. As he stepped away, dragging Lan with him, Tamiko stood in his way. “Grrrr, what is up with you females?” he grumbled as he hid his face behind his hand in frustration.

“I challenge you for the chance to leave,” Tamiko responded. Mayl and Jasmine agreed as they readied their PETs.

“This is ridiculous,” he spoke as he raised his free hand. In it was a small round object. “I said no. We’re leaving. That’s final,” he said as he threw the small ball at the ground, creating a cloud of smoke. Once it cleared, both Lan and him had disappeared.

Mayl collapsed to her knees. “Why is Connor so mean?”

“I guess that’s how older boys are. All business and no fun,” Jasmine spoke as she comforted her. “He had no right in taking my Lan away.”

“Your Lan…” Mayl growled before they both got into a fight again. Tamiko and Ribbita went back to the lounge area and started to sip tea.

“That young man can handle himself rather well,” the princess spoke as the other two females nodded their heads in agreement. “I just hope Lan can learn a few things from him.”

“I still wanted my interview,” Ribbita pouted before sipping her tea once more.
____________________________________
~ElecTown Square~

“Whew,” Lan and Bass breathed out in unison.

They stood back to back and collapsed onto the sidewalk. Lan then laughed, “Where were you when I needed to do my mission yesterday?”

“Doing my own things,” Bass said, getting up off the ground. “I suggest we get this over with. I have things to do, other than to baby-sit you,” Bass growled as he led the way to the Metro leading to the ACDC area.

“Hey can you show me how to make one of those smoke things?” Lan asked as they entered the subway.

“No,” Bass growled as the subway took off.
___________________________________
~Outside Water Works Plant ~ After Inspection ~

Bass walked out onto the snowy street grumbling, “That was pointless.” He hung his head and continued to walk away from the Plant.

“Not really. Inspections are important,” Lan said as he followed after Bass.

Bass stopped and turned to face him. “That wasn’t an inspection. That was a tour of tubes,” Bass complained as he pointed at the Plant. “And all you did was talk to your friend, Tory, not Froid, his father, like we were supposed to. I was the one stuck doing that. Some partner you are,” he huffed as he brought out his PET.

Lan just ignored him he put on his skates. “You know, we should hang out. This was all Famous wanted us to do today anyway,” Lan said as he got up and wheeled around Bass.

Bass then put his PET away. “No. I’ve just finished my report and am going to do my own thing. I’ve had enough of your company,” he said angrily as he pressed past Lan.

Lan stopped skating and watched as Bass left him, surprised at what he had said. “Does he really hate me that much?” he asked himself aloud.

“Well you did goof off during the inspection,” Mega piped up from his PET. “You have to remember that Bass isn’t too familiar with how the human world works, and he did look rather disgusted when Froid showed him the water treatment part of the plant.”

“But Connor looks like that all the time,” Lan said as his PET went off.

Famous as usual showed up on the screen. “So I take it your inspection went well according to Connor’s report. Now it’s time to start the test. You didn’t tell him about it did you?”

“Uh… he just left me,” Lan replied as he rubbed the back of his head.

“Then catch up with him before he links into the network. I made sure he would do so too,” Famous spoke as he typed on a few things.

“How?”

“Never mind that. You’d better hurry up before he completely leaves you behind,” Famous said as he closed his connection with the young teen.

“Alright,” he said as he skated after Bass, almost catching up with him until he disappeared into an alley.

“Hurry up Lan, before we’re too late,” Mega encouraged as Lan, who increased his speed before slowing to turn into the alley. Bass had already formed a portal and disappeared into it, letting it close behind him.

“Damn,” Lan cursed as he slammed his gloved hand against one of the walls of the alley.

“What do we do now? If we call in a DA, it would attract too much attention here and on the Network, definitely getting Bass’ attention,” Mega spoke as Lan paced back and forth around the area Bass had disappeared. “And we don’t want that do we?” he asked, in concern.

“No we don’t. He would mess up the test,” Lan said as he twirled the test chip in his fingers. “And we need it,” he moaned as he leaned against the alley wall he had punched earlier. Just then a crazy idea hit him. “Hey Hub, come out here for a second.”

“Okay,” Mega replied nervously, but complied with his sibling’s request and appeared by his side.

“Alright, now see if you can find the Net Portal he used. It should be right around here,” Lan gestured at the area in front of him. Mega did as he was asked, waving his hand around in front of him, scanning for the NP. He paused over something Lan couldn’t see, but to Megaman, there seemed to be a kind of hole in front of his hand. Curious, he touched it, making it enlarge into a visible opening with swirling data inside it. “Awesome,” Lan exclaimed. “Now we can cross fuse.”

“What? But you said we shouldn’t call in a Dimensional Area.”

“I don’t think we’ll be needing one.”

“What!?” Megaman couldn’t think of how to protest that one. They needed a DA to cross fuse. Lan knew that, right?

“Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but trust me on this. I figured that Lyne’s Reality Jump Program she gave you would do as a good replacement for a DA,” Lan explained.

Mega stood there and thought about what his brother had said. Well I was able to find that NP with no problems at all, he thought to himself as he calculated over what his brother had said. “You know, this might work,” he said as his calculations finished, though there was a hint of dubious uncertainty in his voice.

“Of course it will. Are you ready?” Lan asked as he slotted in a few chips, ending with the test chip, and readied his synchro chip.

“Okay,” Mega breathed out to calm his nerves. “Let’s do this.”

Lan then slotted in the chip and they both spoke the command, “Cross Fusion,” in unison. Mega glowed brightly along with the PET which turned into data as normal and formed around Lan as protective armor. After the process was done Lan looked down at himself. He felt his balance go with the attempt.

“Whoa!” he exclaimed as he braced his arms against the wall in front of them. “Ohh, that’s not righ’.”

“Lan, are you okay!?” Megaman all but shouted in concern for his brother. Lan’s breathing was labored and his arms and legs were shaking unsteadily.

“‘S more draining than trying to use a Soul Unison while cross fused. Let’s hurry and go,” he said as he pulled his arms back and threw himself at the portal. He collided ungracefully with the wall and fell back to the ground. “Owww…” he moaned as he sat back up.

“You were supposed to activate the data sync chip first Lan,” Megaman reminded him. “Clear your head and activate it. You’ve gotta’ hurry.”

“Yeah, got it,” Lan replied as he got off the ground and placed his hand on the NP. “Data Synchro Chip, Activate.” Disorientation hit him like a hammer. The world around him broke apart, or at least that’s what his vision told him, and he suddenly and violently rushed forward without an accompanying sense of motion. He tried to flail out his arms to get a sense of balance, or really to get a sense of anything at all, but for the initial transference into the Net, he had no body to control. He couldn’t even scream in his sudden panic.

All of that happened in less time than he could measure, and far more time than he ever wanted to contemplate. Suddenly and completely, he reformed inside the Data Stream that was connected to the NP. His time in there was too short for him to do anything other than make a single syllable of fuzzy-headed comprehension that he was still alive. Scant seconds later, he was unceremoniously dumped out into the network into a pile of junk data.

Close to a minute of silence passed before Megaman spoke up. “Lan, you’re still alive right? Can you hear me?”

“Yeah… and yeah.”

Lan was still unusually quiet, and Megaman was getting worried. “Are you hurt? How are you feeling?”

“Oh, I’m not hurt. That felt so weird.” Lan pulled himself up and looked around. “I was broken into pieces, but it didn’t hurt, then put back together and thrown in the dump. Where are we?” The scenery was fairly unsavory-looking, marked by some decrepit buildings and disreputable-looking vendors serving customers who somehow seemed to lack a certain something, like honesty perhaps.

“I have no idea Lan, but it doesn’t look safe,” Mega commented as he scanned the area around them. “Man will you look at all the Shadow HellNavis and Virus Dealers. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea,” he spoke quietly as Lan brushed himself off. “Can we leave?”

Lan was inclined to agree with Mega for a moment before he saw Bass further down the way, talking with a Shadow HellNavi. “Not yet bro. We’re supposed to check out all the features of this new program.”

“It gets you onto the Net? Check. Severe, crippling disorientation? Check. Any other features you need to know?” Megaman asked in anxious worry.

“Puts me at risk. Check,” Lan stated irreverently to Mega’s annoyance. “Now that I think about it, Treno told me I should close my eyes before using the chip.”

“I don’t think its safe here Lan,” Megaman said in frustration. “And I know you saw Bass. Please don’t follow after him in this place.”

“No worries, no worries,” Lan said as he looked around. Megaman groaned at Lan’s traditional lack of concern. “Nothing we can’t handle, but I don’t want Bass to know I’m here. Do we have a disguise?”

“I’m not programmed with disguises Lan,” Mega responded as Lan started looking though the pile of junk data he had landed in.

“So, we can cross fuse without a DA, huh?”

“Not that it’s practical for battling. You almost passed out Lan. And who would we ever need to battle outside a DA?” he asked reasonably.

“I dunno’. Man I didn’t think the network would have junk like this,” Lan commented as he sifted through the junk.

“What are you doing?”

“Making a disguise,” Lan responded as he grabbed up a black piece of cloth-like data and wrapped it round his shoulders. It was about as short as a shawl and wrapped around his shoulders, falling over the icon on his chest. He then found what looked like a dark brown baggy hat and tried to fit it over his helmet, but found it didn’t quite fit right. Getting frustrated with the hat, Lan took off his cross fusion helmet and had Mega store it in his program storage. He then placed the hat on his head and looked into a cracked fragment of reflective data. “What do you think?” he asked Mega as he posed in front of it.

“If you ask me, it looks stupid,” a voice spoke behind him. Lan jumped up, startled that someone was watching him disguise himself. He didn’t feel all that relieved when he turned around to see that it was Bass who was behind him. “What are you doing here in the NetCity Slums? This place is dangerous. And how did you get here in the first place Lan?” Bass asked as made his cloak fly out to hide them from onlookers.

“I followed after you,” Lan replied sheepishly.

“I see that. Now I’m going to send you back,” he said as he grabbed Lan and dragged him into a nearby alley. He formed a NP and then threw Lan at it, only to see him bounce off the NP as if it was a barrier. The half navi angrily grabbed Lan up off the ground and held him by his scruff. “You didn’t follow after me Lan,” he said as he pinned him up against the wall. “Or else that would’ve sent you back. Now tell me how you got here. I want the truth.” He shook the younger NetSavior for emphasis.

“I used a data synch chip,” Lan gasped before Bass let go of him.

“Damn, that means I can’t send you back ‘cause I wasn’t the one who brought you here. Hub did. I hate that chip. Did Treno give it to you?”

“No Famous did. I volunteered to try it out,” Lan replied as Bass started to pace about. “That’s what the mission was supposed to be, not some silly trip to the Water Works Plant.”

Bass stopped and glared at him. “It would’ve helped if he told me outright instead of this happening,” he said, throwing his hands up in the air. “And I don’t have time to watch after you either. I have other things to attend too.” Bass turned and began to walk off, looking over his shoulder at Lan as he went. “Go home. You don’t belong here,” he demanded. Then he smacked his fist into the wall of the alley he’d gone into. He hit the other wall and stomped on the ground a couple of times before moving forward and repeating the process. Lan watched him for a few minutes before he decided to follow Bass and copy his actions. Bass continued for a bit, first trying to ignore what Lan was doing behind him, but patience was a difficult virtue to cultivate. He whirled about and grabbed the other boy by both shoulders. “Stop that! Do you even have any idea what I’m doing?”

Lan froze for a moment in surprise, then regained his composure and replied. “Something shady ‘cause you were talking to a Shadow HellNavi.”

Bass glared and then walked past him and went back to what he was doing. “I’m not doing anything shady. I’m finding the entrance to the MiddleNet baka. My business is down there, and I was talking to that navi to find out which alley had the entrance. And you made me lose my place!” he exclaimed as he punched the wall. “Aha!” He looked pleased as his hand went through the wall, then he saw that he hadn’t actually found the portal. All he’d done was make a hole. “Hmm, weak spot,” he muttered as he extracted his fist.

“It looks solid to me. Do you really have to hit things that hard just to search?” Megaman asked.

“Oh, shut up!”

“What’s the MiddleNet? ” Lan asked.

“I’m workin’ here. Megaman, please explain it to your brother,” Bass replied and started hitting the walls again, though he was a little more gentle about it now.

After close to a minute passed, Lan asked, “Well Megaman, could you tell me what the MiddleNet is?” Bass paused in mid-swing, realizing what the question, and Mega’s conspicuous silence meant. He turned sideways slightly to look at the cross fused pair.

“Don’t tell me… You both don’t know that the MiddleNet is?” He didn’t get a reply from Megaman and Lan didn’t repeat that he didn’t know. “You don’t know. Guahhh. The MiddleNet is the space between the main network and the Undernet,” Bass explained while gesturing to the sky and to the ground.

“But those are already connected,” Mega protested as he tried to figure out what he knew about how the network was connected.

Bass then turned to face the pair. “What would you know? You can’t find your way around the Undernet without a guide.”

“That’s not true,” Mega piped up in defense.

“Then tell me where the Middle Pillar is,” Bass demanded of the younger navi.

“In the middle of the Undernet,” Mega blurted out, basing his answer on the obvious.

“Wrong,” Bass said as he pointed at him. “It’s 1.5 navi miles away from the entrance of Serenade’s maze leading to Sanctuary. Sanctuary is the middle of Serenade’s section of the Undernet. I’ve seen more of the net than you, so don’t argue with me. Now get out of here and leave me be,” Bass demanded as he stomped down on the ground really hard. He blinked once and looked down at his feet, and Lan looked there as well. They were both surprised to see a panel which had opened there unexpectedly.

Lan looked back up at him eagerly. “Can I come? Please.”

“No. The MiddleNet is really difficult to navigate. You’d get lost,” Bass said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’d stay right behind you, even hold onto your cloak,” Lan begged as he reached for it.

Bass drew the cloth protectively around him. “My cloak is off limits. And the answer is still no. Besides, there are viruses down there three times your size that can easily delete you in an instant. Remember, you are data at the moment, not flesh and blood,” Bass pointed out as he pushed Lan back from the hole in the ground.

“So what? I can take them on,” Lan growled as he fought against Bass’ push.

“Lan,” Mega protested, though it was because Lan was leaving him out, not because he was acting reckless again.

“‘Sides, if Bass leaves us here to figure out how to log out of the net, Lyne will find out,” Lan huffed as he walked away from Bass’ outstretched arm.

“Yeah.”

Bass jerked at the mention of Lyne. He ground his teeth in annoyance, not wanting to give in to such a cheap ploy, but he really didn’t want to cross Lyne and hung his head in defeat. “Fine you can come,” he exhaled before he jumped down into the hole. Lan stopped walking and grinned to himself. He’d thought it would work, although he hadn’t been completely sure, and he had to suppress a snicker. “You coming!? I don’t have all day y’know!”

Lan jumped a little when Bass shouted and quickly went to the hole. He gulped nervously now that he was looking down into it. “Yeah,” he replied, mustering enough courage to jump down there himself. He hit hard ground at the bottom. He then got up and looked around, but it was pitch black down there. “Bass where are you? It’s really dark down here,” he spoke, reaching his hands.

“Turn on your night vision infrared you dummy,” Bass scolded from the darkness.

“Uh, ho-”

“Have Hub activate it for you,” Bass ordered impatiently. “That’s what he’s there for. And get out of that ridiculous get up. You’ll need your helmet down here.”

Lan did as he was told as his world came to life in shades of green and black. He was now able to see clearly and noticed Bass had been standing in front of him the whole time. He was then caught by how his surroundings looked. “Net City has sewers?” he asked as he saw a flowing river of data beside them.

“That’s right, and the Virus Factory is somewhere down here,” Mega spoke up.

“No, that is actually part of the network,” Bass spoke as he drew Lan’s attention to a wall. “As I said before, the MiddleNet is difficult to navigate.” He made a tiny orb of heat between his fingers and scorched the wall with it, drawing out two lines. “There are pockets all over the place down here. Some huge and connecting to the main network, thus they are part of the network. Some connect to the Undernet. And some pockets are huge enough to connect to both. These are what make up the MiddleNet,” he said, drawing out the various examples as he mentioned them. “But all of these are connected to each other through NP links and tunnels.”

“Um, so where are we on this?” Lan asked as he leaned in and pointed at the diagram, which was slowly fading from its current bright green as it cooled.

Bass thumped him on top of the head. “It’s not a map baka! This is just an example of how things are connected.”

“Owww. You didn’t have hit me Connor.”

“I don’t apologize! And don’t call me Connor on the Net.” Lan mumbled an agreement as he tried rubbing his head, but the helmet was in the way, so that wasn’t really effective. It only stung a moment anyway. Bass looked down the sewer-way with a frustrated glare and was going to get on his way, then paused when he thought of something. “Actually, the Virus Factory is a good place to go at the moment. I have some Zenny I need to collect. You ready to go?”

“But Yai destroyed that place,” Lan protested.

“Yes, and it was quite an impressive display of a rare chip,” Bass agreed before looking back at Lan. “But that doesn’t mean that viruses don’t still live there.” He looked up to be sure of where the opening was, then from his program storage, he pulled out a small spike which he stabbed into the wall. Lan glanced at the spike, then looked curiously at Bass. “What? You’ve never seen a bookmark before?” Lan shook his head. “Well now you have. Let’s go,” he said as he teleported them to the VF.

Lan stood there, dumbfounded at how quick they had arrived. “Wow, that was fast. How’d we…?” Lan asked as Bass pointed at a spike that was stabbed into the wall.

“We teleported to this point since I had already marked this place a long time ago,” Bass explained. “Bookmarks are about the only way to travel around here quickly other than vehicles, but this is the preferred method,” he said as he walked into the ruined facility.

Lan, realizing he was being left behind, ran after Bass to catch up with him. The half navi stopped at the outer edge of a huge pit, which Lan would’ve walked into if Bass didn’t stop him. “This place is huger than I remember it being,” Megaman observed.

“That’s ‘cause it was larger than what you were able to see,” Bass said as he scanned the pit. “This is the basement level of the factory. Perfect. Now to find a few bugs and we’re in business.” Bass said as he started ripping some purple and red speckled rocks off the pillars that lined the area and started throwing them into the pit.

Lan decided to help him by doing the same. He saw a movement of something red out of the corner of his eye and turned his head to see Protoman between him and Bass. “So how’s the test going?” he asked as he watched them work.

“Terrible,” Bass replied as he continued to work.

Lan stopped his work and stood up to face Protoman. “Don’t listen to him. It’s fine. What is Chaud up too?”

“Shooting the commercial for the new Progress PET,” Protoman replied.

“That’s right. That thing goes out on the market tomorrow. I wonder how jealous people getting those would be if they knew we already had Link PETS.”

“Speak for yourself,” Bass growled. “I still have an Advance PET. Famous could at least afford to give me one of the ones you guys have. They just gave one to Lyne.”

“I’ll talk to Chaud about it, but what are you two doing anyway?” Protoman asked, noting they were collecting bug frags.

Lan paused for a moment before he looked over at Bass. “Yeah, what are we collecting these frags for anyway?”

“I told you I had to get some zenny, and this the easiest way to collect lots of it,” Bass spoke. They all felt a vibration under their feet and Bass smiled when he heard something crumbling down in the pit.

“You did not just do what I think you just did,” Protoman spoke, looking over at Bass. The half navi turned his smile to Protoman.

“I suggest you two start climbing or flying,” Bass said as he floated up into the air. Protoman leapt nimbly away from the pit. Lan meanwhile decided to try out a feature of his cross fusion armor which was newly upgraded with the switch to the Link PET. He switched his backpack to booster mode and flew upwards away from the rapidly filling pit.

“You’re a jerk,” Protoman shouted at Bass. “Why’d you subject him to this?”

“Hey,” Bass said, holding his palms out. “He didn’t tick me off like you did. If he did, he’d be down in the pit with bug strapped to his back like you were.”

“What?” Lan exclaimed, quickly turning his head to look at Bass. The movement changed his balance, making him panic and overcorrect, sending into a sideways lurch. He almost ran into Bass and nearly smacked his head straight into a pillar, but managed to twist and only his backpack bumped into the pillar. The impact damaged his booster and it shut down. His breath was knocked out explosively and he flailed wildly before jerking to a stop in midair.

“You really are more trouble than you’re worth,” Bass growled in his ear, then made sure that Lan was securely holding on to the pillar before he drifted back away.

“Yeah, well… You wouldn’t dare use me as bait like you did with Protoman.”

“No, I wouldn’t. ‘Cause you’re a tattle tail,” Bass replied as he stuck his tongue out at Lan. The cross fused NetSavior returned the gesture. Grrr. The brat’s a bad influence on me. Gotta’ stop letting him get me to act immature. After a couple of moments more, the viruses stopped pouring into the pit. “Okay, we now fire on them while they’re distracted,” Bass said as he dove down at the horde of viruses that covered the area and filled the pit. He activated his dual busters and rained rapid fire down on the viruses.

Lan aimed his shooting arm down and started firing as well while Protoman got back down to ground level and cleared the area around him with wide sweeps of his sword arm. “Uh, Mega, I think I’m gonna’ need those boosters!” Lan said when he realized he was losing his grip.

“It’s not working Lan. Just stop shooting and hold on!” Megaman replied, but Lan was already just sliding down the pillar, unable to find firm purchase.

Bass noticed this and signaled Protoman to go assist Lan while he powered up a few Earthbreaker attacks. He released them one after another, deleting the viruses in huge groups, eventually eliminating them all as Protoman helped Lan to the ground. Bass reactivated one of his busters and snuck over to the edge of the pit to see if there were any viruses remaining. He whistled appreciatively when he looked down. “What a haul,” he spoke as he jumped down into the pit himself.

“What’s he doing?” Lan asked as he got up off the ground.

“He’s collecting his Zenny,” Protoman said as he helped him up to stand.

“What do you mean?” Lan asked.

“Well, remember after the first mission we had against Zodiac?” Protoman said as he looked around. “You know, when he inadvertently asked your sister out on a date?”

“Yeah,” Lan replied with a nod. “But that didn’t really count. Mom went with them.”

“Well he was broke so he decided he need some quick Zenny, so he took me and strapped a computer bug to my back, watched me run around as tons of viruses chased me, and then he deleted them himself so he could have all the zenny and chips,” Protoman explained as Bass came back out of the pit. He had an open window beside him which he was interacting with while casually toying with a sack of zenny.

“Okay, that’s a fair price. Sold,” he said as he closed the window and sent a few chips with it. In its place, another sack of zenny appeared. “Higsby is always a nice person to do chip business with,” he said as he combined the two sacks together.

“You just sold all the chips you got?” Lan exclaimed in shock.

“Chip programs can be sold a lot faster than chips themselves,” Bass pointed out as he examined a few rare ones he had found. “But these ones are mine. I have a few extras if you want to look at them later.”

Lan perked up at the idea of looking at chips. “Okay,” he agreed.

Bass then tossed his bag of Zenny up and caught it again. “‘Sides, I think we have enough to appease that old fart. Now it’s time to go find him. Lan, we’re going back,” he spoke to Lan, getting him to follow after him.

“Now where are you two going?” Protoman asked in a stern tone. From what he had seen in the past, Bass and Lan working together relatively peacefully aroused his suspicions that they were up to no good. Or that Bass was trying to get Lan hurt.

“The Mi-” Lan spoke before Bass’ hand covered his mouth.

“That’s none of your business. You’re not involved with this mission. Neither should he be, but since he’s stuck here for the moment, I have no choice but to watch him,” Bass growled back at the red clad swordsman. “Now why don’t you be busy like your NetOp and leave us to our mission?” He made a shooing motion at Protoman.

The swordsnavi shook his head. “Fine, but don’t expect me to come help if you get in trouble.”

“Believe me, you won’t be able to handle where we’re going,” Bass mumbled as he led Lan away from him and disappeared a few second later.

“Whatever,” Protoman grumbled, feeling that he was going to miss out on something cool. “I have to be in the commercial anyway.” He linked back to his PET to join his NetOp.
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Next Episode Preview

~IPC Building~

Protoman: Please tell me you have a better line for the commercial than “Plug in your heart.”
Chaud: Yes. I insisted on a better line this time. I couldn’t take Lan laughing at me again.
Protoman: Don’t forget, Bass laughed too. And I think Raika did. And-
Chaud: Okay! Yes. Enough. Thank you for reminding me why I insisted on doing this commercial differently. Are you ready for the shoot?
Protoman: I guess so. They are going to put makeup on me, are they?
Chaud: No, why would they?
Protoman: It’s just that I don’t remember your cheeks being quite so red-
Chaud: Shut up! It’s common practice in acting. I’d look really pale on film without touching up.
Protoman: You are pale.
Chaud: I don’t need reminding about that either. Can we role now?
Commercial director: We’re ready to role. Okay everybody. On three, two, one.
Editor: New for the public! Replace your advance PET with the one NetSaviors use, the Progress PET!
Protoman: Oh, no. Chaud, good luck. *Escapes to the Net.*
Chaud: Traitor!
Editor: Yes, the Progress PET, with, ahem, Advanced capabilities.
Chaud: Please God, make it stop.
Editor: Give your navis better access to the Net, including the MiddleNet, which we’ll be seeing some of in the next episode of Lan and Lyne Season Three, Episode 9:Where Merc’s Roam.
Director: What are you doing!? We’re shooting a commercial here!
Chaud: Please bear with him. It’ll be over soon and we won’t have to see him for another week at least.
Editor: Now that’s not very nice to say. Are you trying to make me feel unwanted?
Chaud: Uhh, no comment.
Editor: Thanks a lot. So, what is your line for the commercial anyway?
Chaud: *Sigh* Advance your PET with Progress.
Editor: … Well, I guess it’s an improvement compared to the other one. I’d get a new writer though. See ya!
Chaud: … I hate my job.
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