L & L: Season 3: Episode 14

[Serenade.exe/HotShot]

I think Bass still needs to work on his social skills. Anyhow, good chapter! I eagerly await the next one...involving the mysterious Middle Net! ^__^
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Sig by Hikari Angel

[Haly K]

To tell you the truth, the reason I started reading this fic was 'cause TorchMan, Match, WackoMan, and Maddy were in it a few chapters back. -_-; But now I have found a excellently written fic! ^_^ ( Wait, is 'excellently' a word? :O )MiddleNet, eh? Is it going to have any medivel stuff in it? *is bricked for an ovbiously bad joke* e_e
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MegaMan Kilobit
My Own City

[Zodiac]

Actually, there is some era-specific style to where they're going, but it won't be the middle ages. A bit more modern actually. There is a touch of gothic to it though. Sorry the WWW members don't make much showing Haly K. While they will make later appearances, they don't get to be the major players like they were in the original series. And yeah, excellently is a real word I believe. Now, I still have the rest of nine to work on, so away I go.
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Church: Are you following any of this?
Caboose: I think so. That guy Tex is a robot, and you're his boyfriend. So that makes you... a gay robot.
Church: ... That's right... I'm a gay robot.

Red Vs. Blue

[Featherdust]

Nice! It was funny to see Netto and Bass' reactions towards each other, and how Bass has to put up with his immaturity. The MiddleNet sounds like a cool place, if not a bit confusing, I'm sure. I'd probably get lost there. XD Again, great job with this chapter.
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[Haly K]

Heh, I don't really mind if they don't get much attention/plot importance/etc. X3 I'm excited enough just waitng for the next chapter! It sounds quite interesting.
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MegaMan Kilobit
My Own City

[Midnight]

This was a fairly intriguing chapter, and perhaps a necessary one to show the interactions between Lan and Bass. Even though they like to bicker, I can sense a strong camraderie between the two of them. I also found it interesting how you characterized Lan and how he can be hounded simultaneously by four different women...heheh.

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]

Episode 9:Where Merc’s Roam

~MiddleNet ~ 20 January 200X ~

After they’d left Protoman behind, Lan followed Bass through the MiddleNet when Bass came to an abrupt halt. Lan wasn’t paying enough attention and found no ground under his next step. He almost fell into the pit that Bass had stopped in front of. “Um… Bass?” Lan asked as he pulled his foot back up.

“Yeah?” Bass replied as he looked around at their surroundings.

“When you mentioned an old man back at the Virus Factory, who were you meaning? Not Wily, right?”

“Of course not. Wily’s stupid. The old man we’re looking for is an old friend of my father’s. His name is Dr. William Mordechai,” Bass said as he leaned over the edge to look down. “I received an e-mail from him today from Famous. It said he had something important to show me, so I’m going to find out what it is. Follow me.” He jumped off the edge of the pit, not waiting for the other boy.

Lan almost did as he was suggested, but hesitated. “C’mon Lan. I got the boosters working again, so there won’t be any problems. I promise,” Mega said in a reassuring tone.

Lan gulped, nodded, then took a breath to relax before he jumped down into the pit. After several seconds, Bass came back in sight, already having slowed his descent. Lan’s boosters kicked in, slowing him down, although he dipped down past Bass before coming up level with him. “Over this way,” Bass said, and guided Lan over to a tunnel entrance on their right.

There was water running around the sides of the large tunnel they entered. The water was about mid-calf deep when they got into it. Lan made a disgusted face and made his way to the side of the tunnel. “Jeez, isn’t there some dry ground or a walkway here?”

“No, don’t bother looking. Stay nearby. We’re going to have to be careful. We’re about to enter Merc territory,” he warned as he led the way further down the tunnel. They stopped shortly afterwards in front of a huge, dome-like obstacle in the way.

The odd thing was, the dome had a cross on the front of it, although the night vision Lan had to rely on made that difficult to see. Bass the placed his hand on Lan’s chest. “Wait here,” he ordered as he lowered his arm and approached the dome cautiously before knocking on it. “Deetrick,” he whispered quietly as he continued to knock in a rhythmic pattern. Bass did this for a few moments before getting angry. “Grrr, Deetrick WAKE UP!” he shouted, making the dome rise up and reveal one of the largest Mettuars Lan had ever seen.

“That thing’s huge.”

“I did warn you that the viruses down here were three times your size,” Bass said as he noticed the dome try to go back down. “Oh no you don’t,” Bass said, lifting it back up and getting a surprised ‘Meep’ from the Met. Its size made the Mettaur’s voice capable of being felt. “Okay, that’s better. Let me pass,” Bass demanded as he stared the Met in the eyes.

“Met, me, mett, mett,” it replied as it tried to turn its head away from Bass.

Bass yanked its head to face him once more. “Listen here. I don’t want to delete you, but if I do have to, I will make it painful,” Bass threatened as he commanded his claws to extend from his fingers. He had discovered this technique over the past few days, playing around with his NetDemon armor and his normal armor. He then lifted the Met up higher, making it stand on its tip toes. “Stay,” he commanded as he signaled for Lan to come over to him. Bass had to activate his buster when Lan got there as the Met tried to lower itself back into the water. It froze and crossed its eyes to look at the weapon poised there. “I said stay put, so you’d better do it or I’ll blast you real good. Understand?” he asked, getting the Met to stand back on his tip toes even taller than it was before. Lan had to steady himself when the water flow very suddenly changed direction. The current also became noticeably stronger. “I sure hope you can swim,” were the last words Lan heard before he was tackled by Bass, getting knocked down into the water to join in its flow. This allowed them to pass under the Mettuar easily, but the water on the other side was deeper and flowed faster.

Lan gasped for air when he resurfaced behind Bass. “What was that for?”

“It’s the only way past that thing without deleting it,” Bass replied, noticing Lan try to swim against the current. “Calm down and go with the flow or you’ll waste your energy.” Lan wasn’t paying attention however and continued struggling. He also wasn’t paying attention to the upcoming waterfall. Hey, I did warn him, Bass thought as he grabbed Lan and wrapped his cloak around him to stop him from struggling. “Hold on tight,” Bass said as they went over the edge of the waterfall. They fell with the water for a moment before Bass was able to get out into open air and use his flight ability again. Lan was left dangling from Bass’s left arm. The younger NetSavior coughed and choked up some water as they slowly floated down. “That’s what you get for not listening to me,” Bass said as he let go of Lan, who collapsed to the ground to finish coughing.

“You almost drowned me,” Lan croaked as he got up while Bass was ringing out his cloak.

“You almost drowned yourself. I told you to go with the flow, but you swam against the current. Plus you panicked. I wasn’t going to let you fall,” Bass said as he shook his cloak out before wrapping it around himself once more. “Even though a drop down into the Undernet would wake you up,” Bass mumbled as he straightened out his cloak.

“What was that?”

“Um… Nothing,” Bass said as he turned away from Lan.

Lan shrugged his shoulders and then looked around him. They were on an island that floated in the middle of a huge waterfall area. The buildings were rundown and, despite some minor modern touches, reminded Lan of American Western movies. “Wow, where are we?”

“Merc Area 3,” Bass replied as he led the way in. “This is one of the easiest of the Merc territories to get into,” he explained as they passed by a navi whose body was pixilating away, “but not one of the easiest to get out of if you catch my meaning. So be quiet and let me do all the talking. Understood?” Bass glanced back at Lan to make sure he was paying attention.

“Yes,” he replied as he followed after Bass to the west side of the island to a bridge that was connected with the outer wall. “A rope bridge? I never though I’d see that on the Net.” When they got to the bridge, Bass inspected it.

“Okay, the scan checks out fine, but be prepared to activate your boosters. They should be dry about now,” Bass said as he started walking across the bridge. He was only doing this the hard way since Lan was with him. If Lan wasn’t with him, he’d have already been over at Mordechai’s place by now.

Lan followed after Bass calmly until the bridge swayed underneath them. This made Lan slow down and hang onto both sides of the bridge, but it only shook even harder, making Lan look down and freeze. Bass turned to look back at him, not feeling him move anymore. “C’mon, you’ve got to keep moving,” he called back to him, but saw that his words weren’t going through. “Great,” Bass cursed as he came back to him.

Lan, Lan, Mega projected to his brother. C’mon, let’s move.

Bass came up and placed a hand on Lan’s shoulder. “It’s no use. He froze up,” he said as he tried to make Lan let go of the ropes so he could carry him across, but it wasn’t working. Bass then slapped Lan on the cheek. “Snap out of it kid,” he demanded still getting no response. “Great,” Bass huffed as he paced back and forth on the bridge. “Hub, can you still hear me at least?”

“Yes loud and clear,” Mega replied. “Maybe I should switch with him using this AI feature thing,” Mega said as he went over the data synch programs features.

“AI Switch. Yes! Actually that’s a great idea,” Bass said as he leaned around to look at Lan’s face. “Just hurry up so we can get on our way.” Mega activated the program internally and his facial appearance overshadowed his sibling’s, practically replacing it entirely with his own. Once he took over, he let go of the side ropes and shook his head. He breathed out a sigh of relief before Bass tapped his foot, getting his attention. “Can we go now?”

“Yeah sure,” Mega replied as he stretched the stiffness out of his brother’s body. He then followed after Bass as he turned to walk off. “Hey, I have a question. What’s down that pit anyway?” he asked pointing over the edge of the bridge.

“That’s the MiddleNet connection to the Undernet from this area,” Bass replied as they got across the bridge. “How are you doing?”

“Fine, but Lan has never done that before. I wonder what’s wrong,” Mega pondered in concern.

“How many dark pits that seem to have no end has he looked down?” Bass asked as he looked around.

“Not many,” Mega replied as he continued to stretch the stiffness out of Lan’s body. “Oh man, he froze up good,” he complained as he bent over before he heard a squeaking sound behind him. He stood up quickly and saw a small winged virus flying in front of him. Before he could say anything, it disappeared in a shower of pixels. “Uh… Bass?” he asked, seeing that the navi in question had his buster active. “What was that?”

“Our first sign of trouble from the mercs, that’s what,” Bass said as he grabbed his arm and dragged him up a rocky path leading up the edge of the outer wall of the area. “I’m betting there’s still a bounty on my head. We have to hurry before more of those viruses arrive.”

Mega shook his hand free and followed behind Bass. “I know that, but what was that?”

“A BatBone. A nasty little virus,” Bass explained as they climbed along. “They have a little shock wave attack that is really devastating and can render your hearing program inoperable for a few moments, so they can come in and infect you with their bite.”

“And I’m guessing that’s bad,” Mega spoke as Bass turned to face him.

“Yes, now lets hurry before there’s more than just one them coming after us,” Bass said as he broke into a sprint once the path cleared. Mega followed after them until they both came to a stop before the entrance to a cave.

Mega then dropped to his brother’s knees. “I’m exhausted. I’ve never been this exhausted before,” he complained as Bass sat down beside him.

“That’s because you’re controlling your brother’s body, not yours,” Bass pointed out as he offered him some data which Mega quickly took up and consumed it.

It was gone before he realized that it actually had a bitter taste. He then remembered his sister’s first reaction to data. He sat there and smiled as he reflected on the memory. I guess I know how she feels now, he thought as his energy levels began to rise, and also felt his brother’s stomach reel. I just hope he doesn’t get sick because of that, he thought with a grimace on his face, remembering that Lan was still human. Mega wasn’t sure if the same rules applied to half navis as cross fused people, but Bass didn’t seem fazed at all by the data he was taking, so he tried not to worry about it. A flapping noise caught his attention and he looked to see that a group of BatBones was moving to surround them. Quickly and silently Bass grabbed Mega and dragged him inside the cave.
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Back down in Merc Area 3, two figures were watching them. “So, the men weren’t lying. He did return,” the taller of the two spoke in a gruff voice, narrowing his eyes at the cloaked navi.

“Seems that way boss,” a small, hunched over navi spoke. He had a pale green complexion and wore grey and brown armor that looked worse for wear. He then hopped up and down. “Hey, do you think the old one summoned him?”

“There would only be one condition for him to do such a thing,” the tall navi spoke once more. He had an imperial and noble look to him. He wore a suit and had sharp, pointed boots that had spurs on them. Next to the clothes, his clawed fingers and the pointed ear armor at the top of his helmet looked out of place. He placed a hand on his chin as he pondered. “He did have another navi with him. We’ll just have to see when they leave Mordechai’s protected zone.” He made a sweeping gesture with his arm as he turned away from Bass while the BatBones hovered around the entrance of the cave.

“But Sanguman, what will happen if he becomes crazed again?” Hump, the other navi, asked as he hopped after his master.

“As residing caretaker and mayor of this area, I’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t wreck this place again,” he said as he faced the cave once more. “Return to me BatBones.” The little viruses streamed towards him and formed a cape around his shoulders. “We’ll just have to wait and see,” he said before he turned and walked towards where his residence.
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Bass halted and checked up on the entrance of the cave. He saw the BatBones were just hanging out up there. This area must still be protected, he thought as Mega stopped beside him.

Just then, a shout came from him. “AHH!!! Where are we?” Lan exclaimed. “What happened? I can’t move.”

Bass laughed. “‘Bout time you unfroze. You might want to let him have control again Hub.”

“Okay. AI switch,” Mega commanded.

Lan palmed his face after feeling it alter back to his own. “What happened?” he asked again, trying to figure out what was going on.

“You froze,” Bass spoke as he stared Lan down. “As in program freeze. I warned you before that you are data at the moment, just like me.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. This is such a weird experience for me.”

“Yeah, me too,” Mega agreed.

“It will be all over once we log out, but first we have to see Mordechai. This way,” he said as he led them further down into the cave tunnel. After a short while they stopped in front of a dark metal door.

“This it?” Lan asked as Bass was about to knock on the door.

“Yes. I’ve been here before,” he replied with an agitated growl before he knocked.

“Who’s there?” and older voice asked from the other side of the door as an eye slot slid open. Lan and Bass could see the man’s eyes clearly go wide in shock before it was quickly shut and they heard a click like the door’s lock. Then the door was opened to reveal an old man wearing a long, dark green robe with red trim.

“Ha, ha, Connor my lad,” the old man greeted as he patted Bass on his shoulder heartily and shook his hand. “It’s good to see that Famous did deliver you my e-mail. Come in, come in. Both of you. Any friend of Connor’s is a friend of mine,” he said as he ushered the two boys into his homepage.

Bass looked around for a moment before he spoke. “This place hasn’t changed much Mordechai. What have you been doing? Sitting on your ass?” he asked before he got hit in the helmet by Mordechai.

“That was uncalled for Connor A. Cossack. Is that any way to act in front of your friend…” Dr. Mordechai spoke, realizing something. “Who is this navi?”

Bass rubbed his helmet before he looked over at Lan. “He’s not really a navi. He’s what they call a cross fuser,” he said as he watched the old net soul examine Lan. “Mordechai, this is Lan Hikari and his navi, Megaman.”

“Yuu’s boys?” he asked as Bass nodded. Mordechai then extended his hand out to be shook. “Nice to meet you lad. Please take a seat, both of you, while I prepare some data and find that thing I told you about,” he said as he pointed at Bass.

“Sure,” Bass said as he opened up his cloak and dropped down into a comfy leather chair. Lan took the one next to him. Once Bass sat down, he slumped into the chair. Man, I must be more exhausted then I thought, he thought as he looked over at Lan. I’ve been using more energy to do things the hard way today, but that’s okay, he thought as Mordechai came back with a tray of data that looked like normal food.

“I bet you two are hungry. All young navis are,” the old man said as he put the tray down on a coffee table in front of the two boys.

“Are you a navi too?” Lan asked before dug in, grimacing as soon as the first bite hit his tongue. Bass chuckled as he grabbed a few pieces and consumed them himself.

“No lad, I’m a NetSoul like your grandfather, Tadashi Hikari. I saw him yesterday by the way. The visit inspired me actually,” he said as he took a seat across from them. “When I saw these.” He summoned a few articles to appear around Bass: the ones Tadashi had read the other day. “I remember when you were proud and boastful of the good you’ve done.”

Bass dismissed he windows by waving at them. “But that’s not me anymore,” Bass said, looking away from Mordechai. He snapped his gaze back at him. “Is this why you summoned me down here? A lecture?” he growled angrily.

“It might be if you don’t calm down that temper of yours,” he said as he pulled out an envelope from one of his pockets. “Anyway, this is why I had you come down here,” he said as he offered Bass the envelope. “It was given to me by your father.”

“What?!” Bass exclaimed before he snatched it up and scanned it himself. He was searching for a time and date of when it was sent, but there was none. He then turned his chair away from the other two occupants of the room to open it and read it.

~It Read~

Dear Connor,
When this e-mail reaches you, you will hopefully be repaired and in good health. Sadly I won’t be there to see you. During my capture I’ve been tortured to the point I feel like I’m going to die. Be strong for me and reunite with Lyne. Your powers combined will defeat Alpha. Also on another note, you may’ve gotten your full power back by now as well. Let it run its course, but watch out for the secret war. Do your best to not get involved, for it is not your place.

Signed,
Father

~End E-mail~

Secret War? Bass pondered to himself before he lowered the e-mail. Is this the same one Dran warned me about? he thought as he paused for a moment. Just then a sudden fit of rage filled him. “This was written when my father was kidnapped. Zodiac will pay for killing him,” he burst out angrily before Mordechai got up, walked over to his chair, and embraced him. Bass stiffened at this, then let out a shuddering breath through his clenched teeth and shut his eyes. Lan felt strange watching this, especially when he saw a tear make its way out of Bass’ closed eyes.

Man he really looks upset, Lan thought as he watched.

Yeah, I bet we’d be that way if papa got killed too, Mega thought back as Modechai patted Bass on the back.

“I know lad, we all miss him,” the NetSoul said as he let go and turned Bass’ face up to look at him. “But know this: he’s watching over you and your brother. Now buck up. I also have something else your father wants you to have,” he said as let go. As he crossed the room, Bass wiped the evidence of tears, although he still looked upset.

“Connor,” Lan spoke, startling Bass. He looked over at Lan and forced himself back to composure.

“What?” he asked, looking away from Lan.

“Uh… well I never got to know Dr. Cossack, but I want to say I’m sorry for your loss,” Lan said nervously.

Bass was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “Thank you. Don’t tell anyone you saw that please.”

Lan blinked at him, surprised at Bass’ request. “He won’t tell. You have an image to protect,” Mega spoke up before Lan nodded in agreement.

“Thanks,” Bass said as Mordechai returned with a small box and handed it to him.

He opened it up to reveal a key inside along with a note. He picked up the note and placed the box in his lap.

~It Read~

You’ll know when to use this.

Father

~End Note~

Bass then took out he key and examined it for a moment. He then put it in his program storage and stood up. “Thank you Mordechai. We have to get back now,” he said as he took out a spike from his cloak and drove it into the door frame of Mordechai’s homepage. “I’ll keep in touch. C’mon Lan.”

“Nice seeing you both. Maybe you’ll bring Lyne next time, ehh?” Mordechai asked, nudging Bass gently in the ribs.

“… Later Mordechai,” Bass said as he opened the door and exited followed by Lan.

“Bye,” the old NetSoul called out after them as his door closed. “So, no comment about Lyne, huh? I’m not surprised,” he said quietly once they were gone.

“Achoo!!”

“Whoa, nice sneeze,” Lan commented. “You okay?”

Bass looked back at the closed door, then shook his head and started back down the tunnel. “Old wives’ tale,” he muttered self consciously. They walked a ways along the tunnel before Lan spoke again.

“Why did your dad give you a key?”

“I don’t know, and if I did I wouldn’t tell you anyway,” Bass said as he slowed his steps. The air around them didn’t seem right as they approached the end of the tunnel.

“Why not?” Lan asked as he got ahead of him, stopped, and placed his hands on his hips.

“‘Cause it might be a personal thing,” Bass said as he shoved Lan forward. “Why do you have to be in my personal business anyway?”

Lan stopped to think about what Bass asked for a moment before his attention switched to something outside the cave. “Oh what’s that?” he asked as he ran off towards the cave entrance.

“Lan, Stop!” Bass tried to grab Lan, but he was already out of range. Bass’ hackles were warning him there was danger nearby and he felt sure Lan was running right to it. “Stop where you are Lan. Something is not right,” he said as Lan exited the cave.

“What’s wrong? There’s nothing out here,” Lan argued before his arm was grabbed and pinned behind his back. He tried to look behind him, but couldn’t, and the group of navis that had ambushed him were surrounding them anyway. While each one’s battered armor may have been different, the tattered shreds of cloth they wore over it was something they all shared. He then felt something slender and hard pressed to the back of his head. He then heard a click, making him gulp when he placed the noise.

“Come out of there you pest,” the navi behind him demanded as Lan felt the navi rifle press harder against the back of his neck. “Or your navi pal gets it.”

Lan gritted his teeth as he looked back into the cave and saw Bass’s glowing eyes narrow at the navi behind him. Maybe I should’ve listened to him the first time, Lan thought as he watched the navis around the entrance twitch in anticipation.

Bass just stood there scanning the area outside the cave for the best opening to try and snatch Lan up and then escape, but he wasn’t able to find one. There were too many mercs surrounding the area. If he attacked them with Lan there, he would surely harm him and get in trouble with Yuuichiro, not to mention Lyne. He had no other choice but to surrender quietly, without a fight.

He walked out of the cave and waited to be jumped by the masses, but they stayed back and allowed him to walk up to the leader. The navi wore a long, grey, tattered trench coat that covered his rusty brown navi armor. He was a rather tall navi and was had a slightly muscular build. “Take him,” he ordered as he shoved Lan towards the crowd that encircled the entrance of the cave. Two of the merc navis took Lan and held him as the trench coated merc paid his full attention to Bass.

“I suggest you let him go Justice,” Bass spoke calmly as the rest of the mercs cut off the entrance of the cave so he couldn’t escape.

“So you do remember who I am,” the navi spoke as he approached Bass. “We’ve been waiting for a long time for you to return here.” A few of the mercs chuckled quietly. “It’s pay back time,” he said as he poked Bass in the chest with his shot gun buster.

Bass got rather agitated at the weapon. He grabbed the barrel in his hand as he formed a sickly green orb in it. The orb melted the end of the buster and started to eat away at the gun, making the merc drop it. “I hope you can back up that threat,” Bass spoke before Justice raised his hand up to smack Bass across the face.

“Enough,” a voice demanded from a BatBone that flew in overhead. Justice froze at the command from the virus. “Bring them to me.”

“Sanguman!” Bass spoke in surprise as Justice took out a pair of cuffs.

“Who’s that?” Lan asked as he was also being cuffed. “Hey, let me go!” he demanded, now wanting to struggle.

Be quiet! Bass projected to him as Justice pushed him a little to see if he was going to put up a fight. Satisfied he wasn’t going to do such a thing, Justice quickly cuffed him. I’ll explain in a moment. Just do what they tell you, he said as Justice tugged on the cuffs to see if they were secure, making Bass grimace.

“Alright now, move it you foul beast,” he demanded as he steered Bass down the path. “The rest of you, go back to your homepages. I don’t need you anymore.”

The mercs followed his order, except for the two who had Lan and a couple others. They followed after Justice down the path to the bridge. What’s going on? Mega thought to Bass in a panicked tone. Lan grunted agreement with his brother’s projection which got him smacked by one of his charges. “Owww.”

I told you to be quiet, Bass mentally growled at him as they were forced along. Anyway… Last time I was here, it wasn’t pleasant, ‘kay? I wrecked the place pretty good before someone knocked me down the pit that surrounds the city. Lan looked down at the pit, then quickly shook his head and looked away from it.

“‘S right,” one of the navis pushing Lan along said unpleasantly. “Make trouble and you go down there.”

“Yeah,” the other one agreed. “Or maybe even if you don’t.”

“Hey, quit yapping there!” Justice ordered the navis, although he’d conspicuously allowed them to finish what they were saying.

It took Lan a few moments to regain his composure enough to remember what he and Bass had been discussing. I’m guessing that that Sanguman navi was the one who did it.

Hmm? Oh, yeah. And he’s the guy in charge of this section of Merc territory, Bass thought back.

And we’re being taken to this guy? Lan asked.

Please don’t start anything. We’re almost to the bridge.

I won’t, but I really don’t want to cross that thing, Lan thought back as his captors tightened their grip on him, making him whine.

It will be alright. Just look at the back of my helmet and nothing else until I tell you otherwise, he suggested. Bass was lead up onto the bridge and Lan was about to complain as they brought him to it before Bass projected, Don’t worry about that. They’ll guide you along. Trust me on this, they don’t dare try anything as long as you don’t.

Okay, Lan responded with a sigh as he did what he was told to. Crossing was easy and once they were across, Lan let out a sigh of relief, earning him another smack. This time he decided not to complain in order to not get hit again. Soon they stopped in front of a huge, rundown mansion.

Bass then whistled. “Wow, this place used to be a dump. I’m surprised,” he commented before he got elbowed in the stomach by Justice.

“Show more respect for Lord Sanguman than that,” he ordered as Bass recovered from the blow.

“Jeez you can’t take a complement,” he breathed out as he was forced to stand upright.

“Move,” Justice demanded as he pulled back on the cuffs.

“Alright. I swear when I get out of these, your ass is mine,” Bass growled as he was forced up the steps.

“All I’m hearing is blah, blah, blah. Now shut up and get inside,” Justice said as he continued to apply force, making Bass comply with his will.

The other group of navis and Lan followed after them. As they came in the entrance, the same BatBone that appeared back at the cave flew over them and flew up to a figure that stood on the top balcony of the huge lobby area. It flitted around the figure for a moment before it disappeared. The figure stood there for a moment, staring intently at Bass before ordering, “Un-cuff them.”

Justice looked back up at him in shock. “But sir,” he complained and glared back at Bass when he chuckled.

“You should show more respect for your master,” Bass spoke in a menacing tone.

“He is right Justice. Release them now. I promise he won’t do you any harm at the moment… Right? He’s bound to the merc’s code as well.”

Bass looked away from the looming figure that stood at the top of the stairs. He really wanted to rip Justice to pieces at the moment, but decided to give in due to the mention of the code. “Fine, but don’t think that will stop me from getting my revenge.”

Justice undid his cuffs, and Lan was released too. The boy rubbed his wrists as the tall figure started coming down the stairs. “So you’ve decided to return here Bass,” he said.

Bass didn’t take his eyes off of him. “Yeah, so what Sanguman?” Bass snarled, standing his ground defiantly as the taller figure reached the floor and continued towards them.

“So what? I want to know why you would come back to a place where you’re branded an outlaw like the rest of the scum that wishes this network to be destroyed,” Sanguman asked as he came to a stop in front of them both.

“You mean like you when the price is right,” Bass replied, earning a slap across the face.

“Shut up. You are a lot worse then I am. You who killed hundreds at a time without mercy. I want a simple answer, not sarcasm,” Sanguman said as he lowered his hand and paced over to where Lan stood.

Bass tensed up as Sanguman approached Lan. Sanguman then flexed out his claws behind his back. “I was summoned by Dr. William Mordechai. If you must know,” Bass responded quickly.

“Oh really…” Sanguman asked as he glanced back at Bass for a moment before paying attention to Lan. “And this navi with you looks very familiar.” He placed his hand under Lan’s chin an lifted it to make him look at him. Lan couldn’t help but be reminded of Shademan, and he paled when he looked into the navi’s face. There was a quality like the long since deleted Darkloid leader, though their features were different. The placement of the ear armor at the top of his head as well as the claws under his chin were definitely a similarity though. “You didn’t happen to bring any more with you with high status or authority, did you? I don’t want to be expecting a raid.”

“No. He’s just a friend of mine’s brother. Leave him be,” Bass demanded as he sent a crackle of electricity to go off by Sanguman’s feet.

Sanguman turned his interest back to Bass. “Hmm…” He let go of Lan and paced back over to the half navi. “You know, there is only one reason he would summon you back here,” he said as he stopped in front of Bass. He stared at him for a moment before he snapped his fingers, calling a few mercs out of the shadows. “Hold him,” he ordered. Four mercenaries held his arms out and several pinned his legs down to the ground. He then forced Bass’ head to tilt to one side, exposing his neck.

“No, let me go,” Bass demanded and struggled against the group of navis as fangs formed in Sanguman’s opened mouth.

The vampiric navi chuckled. “Don’t worry this won’t take long. I just want to see if I’m right.” He then bit down onto Bass’ neck, getting a wince out of him.

“Let him go!” Lan exclaimed as he rushed up to Sanguman and tugged on his arm to try and loosen up his hold on Bass. “My sister will, rrr, she’ll come after you,” Lan threatened as he strained against the vampire’s grip. “She’s an angel navi and will kick your ass.” Pulling wasn’t working, so Lan went on to kicking Sanguman in the legs.

Sanguman then let go of Bass and spit something out of his mouth. Whatever it was, it clattered on the floor and then dissolved. “You don’t have to worry. These are my scanners. Those were covers for them. His data would be far too corrosive for me to even attempt to absorb,” he spoke as his fangs shrank back. “Besides, I have a preference for viruses anyway.” The vampire then opened a window. He looked it over before typing in a command.

It was refused, making Bass laugh. “I’m the master of my programming now, and only I can activate that program.” Bass felt the command attempt to activate his dark power. He could see the frustration in Sanguman’s eyes as he looked at him. “I remember what happened last time you tried that. I bet your mercs don’t know that it was mostly your meddling with my program that caused this sector to fall to ruin from my wrath. I’ve been in quite a forgiving mood as of late, but if you push me any further, I guarantee there will be hell to pay,” Bass snarled.

Sanguman quickly finished his examination of the scan before he looked back at Bass. “I’ve noticed,” he said as he waved his hand. “Let him go.” The mercenaries complied and left. Bass wasn’t sure what they were grumbling about as they left, and didn’t really feel like listening to find out. Now that he was free, Bass quickly took out a recovery chip and placed it on his neck.

“Are you alright?” Lan asked as Sanguman walked away.

“Yeah, that looked terribly painful. Did he…?” Mega asked before being cut off.

“No, as he said, he didn’t drink. My dark power’s too much for you, ehh?” he called out to the vampire, but he was ignored. Okay, then I’ll try something else. “When was the last time you heard from that Darkloid relation of yours?” he asked, making Sanguman stiffen up.

“Shademan?” There was a slight glow in the glare Sanguman turned on Bass. “He is a disgrace to all vampire navis. Dark Chips corroded his system and logic, getting him banned from here where his data formed,” he said as he retracted his claws. “And demon of Cossack, your dark power is quite amusing since it courses through all of your programming now, but it would tear apart any navi stupid enough to try and do what I just did, due to it’s purity. I am happy with the amount I was programmed with in the first place,” he said as he opened up a new window. “As you know, I have mercs and netsouls to take care of since I am the head of this sector.” He typed in a code on the window. “You’re free to leave and return as you please. My mercs won’t bother you, and I’ve just sent word to the other sectors. Just in case you might have business there as well,” he added with a wink.

“Thank you Sanguman,” he said, bowing courteously while dropping the large bag of zenny he had just collected. “I’ll keep you to your word.”

“I don’t doubt it. Glad to have you back on our side,” he said, offering his hand to be shook. Bass accepted.

“I guess I could say the same thing. Later. C’mon Megaman,” he said to Lan. He had to tug on the younger Hikari’s arm so he’d realize that Bass had meant him. They then exited the mansion and saw that Justice was waiting out there. “Stay here,” Bass said as he stopped Lan by placing his hand on his chest. “Justice,” Bass said with a toothy grin as he walked down the stairs.

“I’m not afraid of you,” the other navi spoke as Bass approached him.

“What are you talking about? You stink of fear,” Bass said, looking up at the navi before he swung his leg and tripped him, sending him face-forward into the ground. He then elbowed the navi the stomach as Justice rolled over. “That was a warning. Next time I won’t be so nice. Megaman, c’mon,” Bass called out to Lan as the crowd cheered.

“Bass has returned to us.” “Oh he’s still cute.” Were a few words spoken by the female navis in the area. “Last I checked he was still single,” one whispered, making the rest squeal in delight.

Lan was surprised by the comments drifting around them, and was starting to feel alarmed by the growing number of female navis who were jostling each other to watch them. Well, to watch Bass at least. Then one of them broke out of the crowd and got in their path. The navis grouped where she’d just been giggled and she made a shushing motion at them. “Watch this,” she said and started dancing in front of Bass. Well, she was sort of dancing. To Lan, it really looked more like drunken staggering than anything else. She danced closer and then tried to lean against him, but Bass stepped off to the side, letting her stumble a bit and fall past him. Lan reflexively caught her before she collided with him, and she looked up at him and smiled. “Friend of his?”

Lan blushed and stuttered nervously. “No, he’s not,” Bass answered for him. “He’s a huge pain, and I’m ditching him as soon as we’re done.” Lan was momentarily offended, but felt grateful when the female turned her attention away from him.

“Oh, please. Why don’t you stay?” She approached Bass again, but he waved her away.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.” Bass turned an intense stare at the crowd. “And I’m leaving.” The ladies got the message and reluctantly made a path for them.

Once they were a good distance away, Lan breathed out a sigh of relief. “Whew, I’m glad that’s over with. I guess you know how to handle girls a lot better than I do.”

“Well, first you have to be honest, like I was back there, and second, have a very big rep,” Bass said as he stopped near the edge of the city.

“So I’m a big pain then?” Lan said, crossing his arms in annoyance. Bass looked back at him with a frown.

“I meant honest about your feelings for them. But are you actually going to deny you like to annoy me?” Lan turned his eyes away and shook his head slightly. “Good. Next time you’re not coming with me. And you didn’t see anything if anyone asks,” Bass said, staring Lan down. “Famous doesn’t need to be poking his nose down here.”

He was expecting protest, but Lan nodded. Megaman however wasn’t as agreeable.“Why not?! Criminal activity happens down here.”

Bass then tapped Lan in the helmet, aiming to get Mega’s attention. “Open your eyes nimrod. NetCrime is in every sector of the network. This area happens to be a part of my old range, and I’d prefer that nobody takes this area away from me. It’s my jurisdiction. Got it?” Lan nodded and Mega let out an subdued grunt of affirmation. Bass then turned away from them. “Oh, and if you tell Lyne about what happened today, remember one thing,” he said, quickly facing Lan. “I know where both of you sleep.” Lan jumped and Mega gasped before Bass laughed. “I’m just kidding, but keep your lips sealed about this please.”

“Uh… sure thing,” Lan said as Bass took off from the ground. Lan followed after him after Mega activated their boosters. They then left the Merc Area 3 and soon the MiddleNet behind.
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Next Episode Preview

~Hiraki House~

*Lan creeps downstairs after returning from MiddleNet.*
Yuuichiro: Lan-
Lan: Aahh!
Yuu: Calm down. What are you so nervous about?
Lan: Don’t mention the MiddleNet. Don’t mention the MiddleNet. Don’t mention the MiddleNet. I thought you were a giant mettaur.
Yuu: What? Lan, are you feeling okay?
Lan: I’m fine!
Yuu: I hope paranoia isn’t a side effect of the Data Synch Chip. Did you give Famous your report yet?
Lan: What? Oh, report. Right. Sorry, I forgot to do that.
Yuu: Well, be sure to do it tomorrow. Did it work well?
Lan: I guess. I mean I was actually on the Net, and without Lyne’s or Connor’s assistance. It was cool! But you have to be sure to close your eyes before going in.
Yuu: Disorienting?
Lan: Yeah. Not really easy to describe. You’ve never had your body broken down into data, thrown onto the Network, then reconstructed, right Dad?
Yuu: No, can’t say I have. Did it hurt?
Lan: Only when I hit the wall.
Yuu: What?
Lan: Uh, never mind. I’ll get that report to Famous. G’night Dad.
Yuu: Oh, goodnight.
Lan: *Goes into living room. Sees Lyne on couch, shaking excitedly.* Hey, aren’t you supposed to be recovering still?
Lyne: Only in the main body of the story. I was tired of the hospital bed.
Lan: Oh, that’s cool then. What are you so excited about?
Lyne: Next episode. Hee, hee, hee.
Lan: ‘Kay, so what happens next episode then?
Lyne: *Grins like an idiot and chants.* Con-nor’s-gon-na-ask-me-out. Con-nor’s-gon-na-ask-me-out.
Lan: No way! So, what happens then?
Lyne: I-don’t-know. I-did-n’t-read-that-far.
Lan: Too excited to keep reading huh? *Lyne just nods her head.* Well, at least we can find out what it’s called. *Lyne doesn’t respond. Continues shaking excitedly.* Well, I guess I can do it myself. Next time on Lan and Lyne Season Three, Episode 10: Combined Efforts. Heh, heh, I guess I’d better go and pester Connor about this one. All right!
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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

[soberflight]

Nice episode. I was happy to have these three last episodes come out so quickly...and I'm really excited about next episode!!!

[Haly K]

Another good chapter! i liked the part where Lan froze up. Say, where can I find the rest of your fan fics?
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MegaMan Kilobit
My Own City

[Megawoman.EXE]

In the first post of this topic there are a few links for the previous seasons.
_________________
"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]

Lol, very nice. XD This chapter was eventful and certainly an interesting read- the giant mettaur made me laugh a little, and Netto is so idiotic. ^-^; I find it pretty cool that Sanguman has a relation to Shademan- when you first described him, I did imagine him with those claws like Shademan's. Anyway, great chapter, and I'm definitely excited about the next one.
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[Midnight]

Hmm.

This again was rather nice. I suppose there really wasn't anything that shone too much in this chapter, but it was a nice, slow chapter that focused more on the denizens of that portion of the network and how they interacted with an "old friend." Good 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

[ElecGuts]

Well, I know I can't post here much, but just thought I'd get something up. The chapter was great as usual, heck, the whole season has been so far, but the detail you go to can get a little confusing at times. Then again, that might come with the editor's work, having taken college English.

Just thought I'd put a little note up too. For my fanfics, you'll probably need to do a bit of looking through my earlier posts to find the two fics. I would put the links here, but I'm pretty sure that it's against the rules. Just making a mention of it because of the fact of my characters making appearances. Midnight, I believe you read the first couple of chapters and reviewed Forced Hybrids on FF.net. I thought you would've remembered about it.

[Megawoman.EXE]

I know it's taken a while to get this one up and running and the next one might be a bit too. So without further adu....
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Episode 10: Combined Efforts: Part 1

~ 24 January 200X~ SciLab Server ~ Afternoon ~ Virus Department ~

Lyne had a full recovery after a week in the DA that was set in her recovery room. Currently she was at work, using a second batch of the spray substance Dran had made to dissolve Spirit’s crystal breath. Her father had already used the first batch to clean up the corner of the room and take the crystal off of Heart’s buster arm so the ghost navi could be repaired and prepared for questioning.

Now Lyne was finally able to focus on the problem at hand: finding a cure for Neta. *Psst*…*Psst* she sprayed the substance gently as she controlled what equated to robotic arms in the digital setting. These program arms inside a virus holding box allowed her to safely work with the Windus that Spirit had caught. She knew this virus was still in its purest form and highly contagious, so she had to be extremely careful or become infected.

“Wassup?” a voice asked behind her, startling her so she jerked on the controls and the arms dropped the can of dissolvent. Her panicked reflex was to swing her leg around to kick behind her, but her foot was caught before it could connect. “Chill… out,” the voice said tensely as its owner let go. She turned around to see Bass.

“What was that for? I’m doing something dangerous here,” Lyne growled at him.

“I was just saying hello is all and wanted to know what was going on.”

“I’m extracting a virus core, okay? Now let me work,” she said picking up the can again and spraying the block.

“I’m sorry for doing that, but I’m bored. Zodiac went into hiding again.”

“That’s a good thing,” Lyne said not looking up from her work. *Psst* “Almost done.”

“How can that be a good thing?” he asked, leaning beside her against the containment box. “They’ll just sneak attack us again if we go lax. You might get hurt again. I don’t want that,” he said, grabbing her face to look at him.

She sighed and reached one of her hands up to grab his. “You’re right, but I think we should relax and have some fun. After I extract this virus core,” she said as she removed her face from his hands so she could switch from the spray to an extractor.

“What do you mean relax and have fun?” he asked as she positioned the tool above the virus’ head.

“I mean we could do something,” she replied as she started the extraction.

“Like what?”

“You’ve got a brain. Figure it out. I’m concentrating at the moment. Virus cores are fragile and this is the only specimen SciLab has so far, so hush…” she ordered as she finished extending the extractor and clasped it gently around the core.

“Okay,” Bass said quietly as he watched her work. Lyne then carefully pulled it out and moved it over to a small open box that had a picture of an envelope on the side, and placed the core inside it. Lyne then closed the lid and sent the small box off to her father for further examination. “That was it?” Bass asked, perplexed by how simple the process looked.

“Yeah, basically. *Whew*,” she said as she leaned back and drew her hand across her forehead. “I’m so glad that’s over.”

“That looked easy.”

“Actually it’s not, when you know the risks involved when you mess up.” Bass was quiet for a moment, trying to think of a comeback, but he let it go without success. “Did you think of anything by the way?” she asked while she watched the remainder of the virus pixilated into nothingness through the breach in its crystal prison.

“Think of what?” he asked as she sent the containment box to a recycle bin and emptied it.

“Something to do. With that core, Dad will whip up a cure for Neta, but he’ll be at the lab all night,” she said, quickly glancing back at him before finishing her clean up by organizing a few notes that Dran had sent her on extracting virus cores.

“Well we could do homework,” Bass said as he took a seat on an empty table nearby.

“Done.”

“What?! No way… Even trig?” he asked, surprised at her answer.

“Done,” was her simple reply as she put the notes away in her program storage.

“What about seeing if we have a mission?” he suggested as he jumped up off the table.

“You just came here from the NSHQ server,” Lyne pointed out as she gestured at the NP he had left open behind her work station.

“Darn… I knew I forgot to do something,” he cursed as he bit his lip, trying to figure out something else. “I don’t know Lyne, I’m bored,” he grumped as he sat back down on the table. Lyne shrugged her shoulders and then put the extractor away as well as a few extra cans of the dissolvent. While she did so, Bass then came up with an idea. “I know. Let’s go have some fun together,” he suggested out of the blue. “No parents, guardians, friends, or siblings.”

Lyne closed the cabinet she had put the cans away in and looked at him in surprise. She thought he’d never ask to do something like that again. Last time he did, they did their last mind jump together before he died. She then narrowed her eyes at him. “Connor Cossack, are you asking me out on a date?”

“What?! No, no. I was… it’s… just to go out to a movie and then to food. By ourselves. We can do that without supervision,” he responded, feeling like he was being trapped in a corner with no escape.

Lyne covered her face slightly as she turned away from him. She then spun around to face him again. “Connor, that’s the very definition of a date.”

Bass looked flustered by what Lyne was saying because it wasn’t computing. “Going out to a movie and to food?” he pondered as he tried to compute it again. “How does that equate to the word date?”

Lyne bopped him on the nose. “You forgot to add ‘by ourselves’. And I’d like to go. What time should I meet you?” she asked, straightening out his cloak a bit.

“Um…” Bass wasn’t sure how he was supposed to be feeling. She was touching ‘The Cloak’, and that was taboo as a general rule. It was along the same lines as DS Protoman and ‘The Hair’. But Bass wasn’t feeling uncomfortable. Her touch was actually welcome. He then saw her hand wave in front of his face. “Oh! Time. Uhhh… how about 8 pm? That way we can be at the theater before 8:30 pm. There’s a new Godzilla movie I’ve been waiting to see.”

Lyne stopped straightening his cloak and looked up into his face. “Are you sure it’s not a remake? You know like the Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla?”

“That wasn’t a remake. They just brought that monster back like they do to Ghidorah almost every other movie,” Bass argued back. “This one had a new monster in it. Um… what did that article say?” He brought up an internet article about it. “Ah here it is. It’s called Lupenine.” He then showed Lyne the article.

“Sounds interesting,” Lyne said as she read over the article herself. She then closed it and gave Bass a quick peck on the cheek. “See you at my place around 8 pm,” she said with a giggle before linking away to her home server.

Bass sat there in a daze as a vid window popped up with Yuu’s face on it. He had come to congratulate Lyne on a successful extraction, but of course she wasn’t there now. “Connor, where’d Lyne go?... Connor?... Bass… Hey, you. Hey!” he shouted, bringing Bass out of his daze. “Where’s Lyne?”

“She went home just about 2 seconds ago,” Bass replied, then rethought what he’d said. “Well, maybe twenty or thirty seconds.”

“Are you alright?”

“I think so.” Bass furrowed his brow and looked down “Um… Dr. Hikari?” he said, looking back at the window.

Yuuichiro paused, having been about to close the connection. “Yes, Connor?”

“Does… the definition of a date equate to going out to the movies and food with another person of the opposite gender alone?” he asked quickly and looked down from the window again.

“Why are you asking me this?”

“Well, Lyne said it did,” Bass replied quietly, while taking a quick glance up at the doctor.

“And she’s right. Did she accept your offer?” he asked, making Bass look up at him sharply. “I was only guessing, but from that reaction I guess you’re the one who asked.” Bass nodded. “Well then, she must’ve left to get ready then. Why don’t you do the same?” Bass furrowed his brow again and cocked his head in curious confusion. Yuu chuckled a little at this response. Bass was still pretty much a child in the world he was brought back into. After all, he was a child when he left. “Well, how a date works is both parties get dressed nicely before going out. That’s what ‘getting ready’ means… Understand?”

“Oh… So she’s getting dressed nicely for this date, and you want me to do the same?”

“Yes, it would be nice, since Lyne is doing the same thing,” Yuu pointed out, getting Bass to nod before an alarm went off from inside him and a message popped up.

“Oop! I’ve got to go. Thanks for the information Dr. Hikari,” Bass said, leaving for another section of SciLab.

As he left, another window popped up beside Yuu’s. This one had Neta on it. She still had visible signs of being infected by the Windus. “Congrat’s Lyne,” she exclaimed before taking a look around, seeing nobody on the site. “Huh? Where’d she go?”

“Connor asked her out on a date, and she accepted,” Yuu replied.

“Connor asked her?” Neta asked is surprise.

“Well he didn’t tell me in those words, but his body language is pretty loud,” Yuu said before he looked away from his window for a moment. “And good news. I’m over halfway through the core code, so a cure should be to you within the hour.”

“That’s not good news. That’s great news! I can’t wait to feel normal again,” Neta said with the best smile she could muster.

“I bet you are. How’s Saratu holding up?”

“Much better now, thank you. Seeing Kuri helped brighten her spirits a lot and Famous’s idea to have Connor extract the remaining dark energy in her body has done wonders,” she said, looking at a clock program. “In fact, she should be going through a treatment right now. I’m about to go check up on her anyway, so I’ll see you in an hour.”

“Yeah later,” he said, closing his window and returning to his work.
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~Hikari Home ~ Lyne’s Room~

Lyne logged out of her computer and started searching for something on her bed. Once she found her purple PET, she turned it on and then placed it on her desk. Combit was still asleep, so she went into her closet, leafing through her outfits. “No… no… no way,” she said while looking over her clothes, waking Combit up in the process.

“Huh… what’s going on?” she asked getting no response from her operator.

“No… not that… man,” she said as she came out of her closet. “I don’t have anything I want to wear,” she moaned as she picked up her PET and jacked Combit into her computer. She then went over to her door and opened it. “MOM!”

“Yes Honey?” Haruka called back up the stairs.

“I’m going to the mall for a second.”

“Okay, but as long as you’re back by seven.”

“‘Kay Mom, see you later,” Lyne said as she went back into the room. She then grabbed her PET and backpack and jacked into her computer again. Her small, serpentine diragon immediately jumped up on her arm and squirmed up around her shoulders.

“Squeak,” he peeped with delight before licking her face.

“I’m glad to see you too Spirit,” Lyne said, giving him a pat on the head before giving him a computer bug.

“Okay, so what’s going on?” Combit asked, tapping her foot.

Lyne then blushed bright red. “Connor asked me out on a date,” she squealed in glee. Spirit tilted his head and squeaked happily, though all he knew was that his master was happy. “But I don’t have anything to wear,” Lyne said, hanging her head. “So I’m going to the mall to buy me some new clothes. I want you to help me out.”

“Sure,” Combit said as Lyne opened a link to the mall server. Spirit then wrapped around her waist like a belt, making her giggle. “I see he wants to help too.”

“Yeah. I thought that if I was to go out into the network with him, he had to do that so he wouldn’t arouse suspicion from the other navis in the network. Plus, he makes a cool-looking fashion accessory,” Lyne pointed out, showing off her living diragon belt while Spirit squeaked agreement. Combit laughed at the sight. Lyne then grabbed her hand. “Let’s go,” she said, dragging Combit into the NP link. On the other side, Lyne jacked out with her PET in hand and started her search for new clothes.
________________________________________
~One hour later~

“I like this,” Lyne said, sporting a light blue dress with purple platforms and a lavender shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She also had a navy blue hand bag.

“Looks great,” Combit commented from the chair Lyne had placed the PET in. Squeaks of approval also came from it as Spirit came out in view.

“Thanks, but are you sure?” Lyne asked as she looked at herself in the mirror again.

“Sure, he’ll love it,” Combit said. Spirit nodded while Lyne did a few poses in the mirror.

“Yeah… and it’s not too formal, plus it’s warm,” she said as she hugged the shawl to her face.

“Um… then what about your feet?” Combit asked, pointing at them. “Aren’t they going to get cold?”

“Nah…they’ll be fine. I’ll be in buildings most of the night anyway,” she said, waving her hand at her PET. She then went to pay the vender for her clothes, and thanked him for his service before she went to the changing rooms to change back into her normal clothes. She then put her new clothes in her backpack, grabbed her PET and left the store. She went to the nearest concealed jack in point and entered the network.

Once logged in, she started to open a link to her server, then changed her mind and linked to the park instead. When they got to the park, Lyne looked down into the digital lake in the middle of it while Spirit wrapped himself around her waist.

“What’s wrong Lyne?” Combit asked.

“Back there I was really excited to be doing this, but now I’m nervous,” Lyne said, looking back at her navi-sized byte. “This is a really big step in our relationship, and I don’t know if we can handle it.”

“You’ll be fine. First dates are always like that,” Combit said, putting her arm around Lyne’s shoulders.

“You’ve been on a date?” Lyne asked as they sat down beside the lake.

“Yes silly. I don’t stay in my PET all the time.” She got an idea and smiled. “In fact, I’ll show you a few things guys do on dates,” she said, activating her Bass Morph. “C’mon.” She stood up and grabbed Lyne’s hand, pulling her up and leading her away from the lake.
______________________________________________

“Look, there they are,” one navi whispered to a second as they linked into the bushes. “These predictions are wonderful.”

“Yeah great. Let’s get this over with,” the second said, readying to strike. “Get ready to sleep little girl.”
_____________________________________________

Lyne stopped Combit after a few paces. “Why did you morph to look like Connor?” she asked as she managed to free her hand.

“I thought it’d make you more comfortable,” Combit replied as Lyne started to shake with anger.

“Well it’s not. It’s making me more nervous. Change ba- ,” she demanded before she fell to the ground, unconscious.

“Lyne! What’s wrong?” Combit asked as she bent down beside her to see what was wrong. She then shook her, trying to wake her until she noticed a thin, needle-like object in her neck.

“That won’t work Bass,” a harsh, cold voice spoke as two figures came out of the bushes: Toxyn in her Scorpio form and Maniac in neutral state. “You’re both ours now,” said Maniac as he motioned for Toxyn to move in.

“But I’m no- ough!” Combit argued but was cut off when the broad side of Toxyn’s tail hit her in the chest and knocked her flat onto the ground.

“Be silent,” Toxyn spoke as she rushed to bind her target. “What’s wrong Bass? I was expecting more of a struggle from you.” She didn’t wait for a reply, instead gagging Combit, then turning her attention to Lyne and removing the stinger that was in the back of her neck. “This stuff is rather potent,” she commented as Maniac picked her up off the ground. As he did, Spirit sprang to life and attacked him.

The diragon hissed savagely as he bit Maniac, squirming away from his grasping hand and scampering over his armor to bite several more times before Maniac managed to get a grip on him, whip him around, and sling him into a nearby tree, knocking him out. He looked over at the still virus, then observed his own wounds. “That was unexpected,” he said as he regained his grip on Lyne and looked over at Toxyn. “No time for stalling. Let’s go.”

“Yes let’s. Master Alpha will most assuredly be pleased,” she said as she picked up ‘Bass’ and slung ‘him’ over her shoulder.

“Yes. Most assuredly.”
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Once back at the Zodiac server, Maniac and Toxyn brought their charges to Maniac’s lab area. Keeping hold of Lyne with one arm, Maniac used his free arm to activate two ring-shaped programs.

“Place him in that one,” he spoke, pointing at one of them. Toxyn paused first to cut her captive’s bonds before lifting ‘Bass’ up into the program which instantly locked encasing shackles around ‘his’ wrists and feet.

“Mmnnn… mnnn,” Combit complained as she tried to escape while Lyne was placed into the other shackling program. Lyne put up less of a fight due to being knocked out.

“What are you complaining about?” Toxyn asked Combit. "It’s not like the shackles hurt. They don’t, do they?” she directed at Maniac.

“Oh, not at all. That’s what I’m here for,” he replied calmly.

“Hmmm, business before pleasure. Don’t forget that,” Alpha said as he entered the room. His eyes locked on the captives and his spherical form undulated, a sign of his eager anticipation. “Marvelous. You have not failed me. And now the elements can be joined for me to control in, heh heh, chaotic harmony.”

Maniac paused in his examination of Lyne as he glanced over his shoulder at his master. “Master Alpha? I’m fairly certain that ‘chaotic harmony’ is an oxymoron.”

“Are you saying that I am not entitled to use, ahh, colorful phrasing?”

Maniac went over to where Combit was and began a scan on her programs. “Not at all. I just thought it sounded odd.”

“And that from someone who actually thinks of screams as music,” Toxyn said to herself.

Maniac frowned to himself as he looked over his scans of ‘Bass.’ “Odd. This is not what I was expecting. A physical morphing program. Now why would there be something like this in you?” he mused to himself as he pulled out some data-surgery instruments.

“Maniac. What are you doing?” Alpha asked from behind him.

“I found a program that shouldn’t be there. I need to examine it.”

“Be cautious now. We wouldn’t want to, mmm, endanger the master element.”

Maniac turned his green eye onto Alpha, a flicker of cold anger showing momentarily. “I’m always cautious Master Alpha. You know that you can trust my hand.” With that said, Maniac’s face broke into a twisted grin as he thrust his hand out, cutting into Combit with one of his instruments, just below her icon. “It shall not damage what you seek.”

He turned his full attention back to his victim and continued his incision downward while bringing up his incision spreading tool in his other hand, but he paused suddenly. Something wasn’t right. “Music. Why is there no music?” He looked up and saw that the gag was still in place. “Ah. My apologies. I didn’t mean to let your performance go unheard.” He reached up and undid the gag, and Combit jerked her head back away from his hand, spitting the gag out.

“What kind of sick freak are you?” she asked fearfully as she leaned away from him as much as she could, wishing she could will herself out of her bonds.

Maniac locked eyes with his captive. “Such fear. This can’t be real. Bass doesn’t show fear like this,” he said to himself. He turned his gaze back to the cut he’d made and spread it, getting a gasp from Combit. “No, no. Don’t tease me. Don’t hold back,” Maniac muttered to himself as he activated a data manipulator on his hand and reached into the wound. Combit shrieked as he began pushing aside data in order to get to the program he wanted. “Ooooo keep singing. What a pity I’m so efficient about this. I already have what I need.” He twisted his hand to loosen the program gripped in it, then pulled it out. Maniac, along with the others in the room, were all startled when Combit’s scream changed to a feminine pitch and they looked to see ‘Bass’ change forms, devolving into a spherical shape.

Combit’s scream went to a fearful whimper as Maniac, Alpha, and Toxyn stared at her. Maniac was the first to do anything. He raised the hand holding Combit’s Morph program up to eye level for a moment, then placed it over a glowing disk where it floated in stasis. “What is this?” Alpha said with a tremor of anger in his voice. “Maniac! Where is Bass!?”

Maniac’s voice was mild and unconcerned as he replied over his shoulder. “It would seem that our interpretation of the other one’s prophecy was incorrect.”

“Incorrect?” Alpha growled as the red glow of his spherical form intensified and crimson energy wavered around him. “I was to have him. I was to have them both today!” The floor under Alpha began to blacken and decay under the violent energy that he was now putting out and his form became amorphous. Tendrils snaked from him and whipped about, grasping onto whatever they could and lifting them up to smash them into the floor, ceiling, walls, or other equipment. Toxyn fled the room to keep from being hit as well. “Dark Element! I must have it again! It is mine! The Elements are mine! It all belongs to me! This world will suffer for thwarting my right!”

“Breaking my equipment will only slow down our work Alpha… I wasn’t done taking that virus apart... Please don’t release any more Dark Souls... I’m playing with new uses for those,” Maniac spoke impassively as Alpha vented his rage. His only movement was to deflect a piece of equipment thrown at him. “That was uncalled for.”

Alpha stilled his thrashing for a moment. The tendrils protruding from him went limp and whatever items were still in them clattered onto the floor. He hung there, seething quietly, then turned his focus onto the unconscious Lyne. “I will have something for my efforts.” Alpha shot forward at her, aiming at the icon on her chest. His form became even more amorphous when he struck her, wrapping and twisting around her.

“No don’t! Get away from her!” Combit wailed as she watched. Then she shrieked again when Maniac drew out his sword and stabbed her.

“Now’s not the time for singing little Byte,” Maniac said. “Watch in reverence our Master grow in power.”
_____________________

<What is this? This feeling. I know this. This is… No. NO! GET AWAY FROM ME!!>
_____________________

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!”

Alpha was violently rejected from Lyne’s system, her piercing siren scream accompanied by blinding light. After a moment, the light began to dim and the scream faded out. Lyne remained in the program that held her, standing with her head arched back and both her eyes and mouth wide open. Once the scream had fully faded, her eyes fluttered shut again and her muscles relaxed, allowing her head to loll listlessly. Within seconds of closing her eyelids, her eyes began moving under them and her body twitched occasionally.

Alpha’s form had gone completely fluid and it spread out over the floor, although it remained floating less than an inch over it. Combit was unconscious in the program that bound her with Maniac’s sword still stuck in her.

Maniac was as helpless as the other two, but he showed more signs of consciousness. He was moving, but all sense of coordination had left his body and his mind seemed to be equally uncoordinated. The dominance of his eyes was switching spastically as he crawled, rolled, or flopped down aimlessly. “Ooooh, was I in a fight?... I’m th’ champiiion… Wheeeeheeheee, I wanna’ figh’ again… Kool Aid?” He put a finger into the dimly glowing, fluid form of Alpha and swirled it around. “Cherry Kool Aid?” He tried tasting his finger, then pulled it out of his mouth and examined it. “Can’t taste it. ‘S not water.”

“Man.. iac. Stop fooling… around,” Alpha said with great difficulty as he began to pull himself back into shape.

“Cherry Jello,” Maniac said with wide-eyed wonder on his face. He then slapped himself in the face, startling himself.

Be serious. Help Master Alpha up and bring him over to the Angel, his other voice thought to him.

“Oh, that’s you Alpha? Were you the one I was fighting?” Maniac asked as he began crawling around the floor, pushing the outer edges of Alpha toward the center, where his form was converging.

“She reflexively used a defense mechanism when I tried to take her over. It affected all of us severely.” Alpha rose further off the ground as he solidified himself into a sphere again. He then went to Maniac, looking him in the eyes. “Vicious, Cruel and I have work to d-”

“Who’s that ball over there!? Alpha, did you get a girlfriend? Did we stab her!? That’s why you were fighting me! I’m so sorry Alpha. But she’s okay, right? She wasn’t deleted?”

“Maniac!” Alpha shouted in his face as he formed a pair of tendrils to grab him by the cheeks and force his attention back. “Give control back to Cruel. I need him to work with me.”

“But what if he stabs your girlfriend again?”

“He, rrrrgh, don’t worry about the Byte. She’s not our friend. She’s the Angel’s friend. She’s our enemy. Okay? Now let Cruel out.”

“Um… okay. Bye, bye Alpha’s girlfriend,” he said with a wave before his green eye showed dominance again.

“Why do you allow him to torment me like that?” Alpha asked as he turned back to their captives.

“I’d answer that, except I’d rather you didn’t kill me.” Alpha looked back at him when he said that, but Maniac’s face was neutral and unreadable. “What shall we do now?”

Alpha decided it was better not to pursue knowledge of what was going on in Maniac’s mind. “It appears that taking over Lyne is no longer possible. She rejected me completely even unconscious, and I know that her will is too strong to get past when she is conscious.”

“Then an alternative must be found.” Maniac stood up unsteadily and took a moment to recover his balance. He then walked slowly over to join Alpha beside their captives. He grabbed the sword in Combit and pulled it free, leaving behind a fragmented wound and getting a gasp from the Byte who wasn’t able to regain consciousness. “Byte data is more fragile than navi data. Not even useful to Havock… but perhaps I do have one use for her.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“A little something to help weaken that stubborn will of Lyne’s which you find so annoying. If someone were to clean up the lab a bit, I could explain while I make the preparations.”

“Toxyn and Khan will get right to work,” Alpha said with undisguised eagerness in his voice.
_______________________________________

<… What’s going on? … Who’s yelling? Are you yelling at me? … I know… that voice.>

“…can’t stop me!”

<That’s a child’s voice.>

“No, I can stop you. You’re not going in there now. It’s far too dangerous!”

<And… that man… That’s my father. Dad?>

“Yes, I know it’s dangerous. But Alpha’s absorbed the other navis. I have to do this for everyone’s sake!”

<Me. That’s me! I know what this is… and when.>

Now that the voices had come into focus in her mind, the images were forming for her as well. The blurry image of a young man in a lab coat stood before her. “But that’s not your reasoning Lyne. Don’t try deceiving me about that. You want revenge on Pharaohman for what he did to Bass.”

“Connor!” Lyne felt her small foot stomping on the ground and her blurry father put up blurry hands in defense.

“Connor,” he agreed gently. “But Lyne, still I can see the need for revenge burning in your eyes. Don’t worry about this. The Agency will handle Pharaohman. And Dr. Cossack went to find B- Connor so he can be repaired. Everything will turn out fine.” Lyne turned away from her father and started walking away. “Lyne, will you please listen to me?”

“No. It doesn’t matter what I want Dad.” Lyne pushed through a door into the room with her Jump Chair in it. “That monster navi that was supposed to keep order in the Network is already too strong and he’s getting stronger. The Agency doesn’t have the time to organize. Gran’pa’s ready to seal Alpha away right now, but no ordinary navi could survive long enough to draw him in. I can.” She settled herself into the Chair and stared at her father. “Jump me in.”

<I haven’t thought about this in a while. Hard to believe I was like that. But I was right… I wish I could look around. Why am I stuck in this memory now?> Yuuichiro was securing Lyne into the Chair when Famous walked into the room. Her field of vision changed as the younger Lyne turned to look at the other scientist. <Hah, hah, hah. His hair was even messier then than Lan’s is.>

“Are you ready for this Lyne?” Famous asked.

“Yes,” the young Lyne replied. “Where is he now?”

“Pharaohman? He hasn’t made his way into Net City. Right now he’s between the SciLab server and there, cutting communication lines off.”

“Famous, has another option been found?” Yuu asked.

“Nothing Yuu. Everything so far has met with defeat almost before it could begin. This is the only option with a chance of success.”

“But…”

“I don’t want to do this either Yuu.”

“You’re not doing anything Famous,” Lyne spoke up. “I’m the one at risk. I accept that.”

Famous opened his mouth to say something, but couldn’t think of what. Lyne knew the risk involved in this. He just said, “Be careful,” as Lyne’s Grandfather, Tadashi, entered the room.

“Yes, please be careful,” he said.

“Dad. How are you doing?” Yuu asked.

“I’m fine. The equipment has been prepared and everything’s been arranged for me after Pharaohman’s capture.” He then walked up to Lyne’s chair and kissed her on the forehead. “Good luck sweetie.”

“Thank you Granpa,” she replied as she felt her body relax. “I’m ready.” She looked at her father who reluctantly nodded and lowered the Chair’s helmet onto her head.

“We’re going to put you in about two hundred navi meters away from him,” Famous aid. “Don’t be reckless when you approach him. Yuu, the link is set up.”

“Okay. Lyne, come back to us,” her father said as he prepared to connect her.

“Mmm-hmm. I want nothing but junk food for dinner tonight,” Lyne said. Her father couldn’t help but laugh.

“If you want to argue with your mother about it, you can try.”

“It’ll be easier to deal with Alpha. Send me to him Dad.”

Except for the hum of fans in the computers, the room was completely silent when her father pushed the button that linked her to her navi frame. It was like a pin drop in a quiet room to her ears, followed by the sensation of separating from herself. Then a different world came into view. “Lyne, can you hear me?”

“Yes Dad. Where’s Alpha now?”

“He’s already moving to your position Lyne,” Famous answered. “You’re already facing the right direction.”

“I’d better go meet him then.” She walked forward, maintaining her determination as well as she could and Pharaohman came into view shortly. After a moment, he noticed her walking to meet him and began laughing. “What are you laughing about Alpha!?” He stopped and looked at her in surprise.

“Oh, I apologize Aurora. I didn’t mean for you to, hrmm, take offense,” the much larger navi said. “I’m actually delighted to see you. None of the adults at SciLab ever call me Alpha, you know? It is quite nice to deal with someone who respects the wishes of another. So, are they ready to work for me now?”

“No! What makes you think we’d ever give in to you!?”

“Oh, you didn’t come to surrender to me? But why are you here then? Surely Dr. Hikari wouldn’t send his own daughter here to attack me after what happened to all the others.”

“He didn’t send me. I came here on my own.”

“Oh, to offer your service? Wonderful! This should aid in-” He stopped speaking suddenly when an attack from Lyne struck him in the face.

“I would never serve you! You’ve become a monster Alpha. And you hurt my friend!” she screamed and fired again. Alpha hadn’t yet retaliated. He still seemed to be surprised.

“Well, I thought that you were more, mmm, civilized than this young Hikari. I certainly wasn’t expecting you to act so foolish. Even you, a Mind Jumper, cannot possibly defeat me.”

“Yes I can.” Lyne charged a pair of attacks, one of light and one electric, but had to fire them off without mixing them when Alpha attacked her.

“I would prefer you to serve me, but if you insist on acting this way, then you shall serve another purpose.” Lyne retreated from his following attacks. She sent off her own, but they were having little effect. “Oh my. I thought you were here to fight Aurora. Do you know, I thought that a Mind Jumper’s attacks would be, ahh, more effective than this?”

<Jerk>

Gotta’ make this look good, the younger Lyne thought. “Help! I’m in trouble! Dad, can you hear me!? Can anyone hear me!?”

“Hahh, hah, hah, hah! Do you wish now that you hadn’t come on your own? What a delight it will be to absorb you. I can’t imagine how much power a living mind will offer me.” Alpha continued pursuing her as she fled, and she really did have to move as quickly as she could to not be caught. And despite herself, she was scared. “Now why would you want to lead me back to SciLab? You want it to be destroyed already?”

Lyne was feeling exhausted by the time she got to SciLab, and Alpha followed the whole time, apparently enjoying her panicked running. Once she got just past the area that was set up to capture him, she collapsed. “Please be ready,” she whispered.

“Finally giving up Aurora? I’d offer you another chance to serve me, but you’ve been a bit, ahmm, frustrating. Now just wait there please and this shall only take a moment.” Lyne turned her head to look behind her, and there was Alpha looming over her and reaching out a hand to grab her. He didn’t get far before the trap began closing in on him. Lyne scrambled up and backed away anyway. To her eyes, that hand had looked way too close. “What is this? Oh my, did they use you as bait?” He pushed against the enclosing trap and then hit it to try and break through. “… This is no longer amusing. Hikari!” Alpha wasn’t looking at Lyne. He was directing his demand to the sky instead. “I will not be contained! Release me at once!” He beat against the constricting field and fired on it, but wasn’t able to get through.

“Bye, bye Alpha,” young Lyne said and waved at the trapped program. “Don’t make any more trouble, okay?”

Alpha turned a red-eyed glare on Lyne. “Curse the Hikari’s for forcing this on me.” An aura of red surrounded his head and the red of his eyes brightened. Then a bolt of red light shot out at Lyne. To the girl’s frightened eyes, it looked like it had an angry face on it.

<But it did have a face, didn’t it? That was when Alpha left Pharaohman and went to me. The containment trap wasn’t ready for that. And this is where my memory ends.>

The red light swirled around Lyne like a gas, but it felt more solid than air when it touched her. “Dad! Dad, get me out of here! What is this!?” She could feel whatever it was getting into her avatar through its icon first, then through her eyes and mouth as well. Lyne beat at the air frantically for a moment, trying to ward it off, and then she collapsed limply to the ground.

Stop struggling girl. It looks as if I’ll have to use you for now, so be a good host and give up.

<That was Alpha’s voice in my mind! I don’t remember him actually talking to me.>

What was that? Dad? I can’t talk! What’s going on !? Help me, I can’t talk! Get me out of here!

Silence! It’s your own fault I have to use you, so be silent!

“-nection back!” Lyne suddenly heard her father’s voice.

“I’ve got it fixed. She can hear now,” Famous said after him.

“Lyne, can you hear me now? Are you alright? Famous, bring her out of there! Lyne, please answer me.”

Well then. Let’s see if I can act like a foolish girl, shall we?

<I don’t remember any of this. I lost consciousness when Alpha infected me. I know I lost consciousness!>

“I’m… I’m okay Daddy,” she heard her voice speaking. “It’s okay. You have Alpha captured, so you don’t have to rush to bring me back.”

Don’t listen to him Dad! That’s not me talking! young Lyne thought frantically, but she couldn’t get her voice to work for her.

“Lyne, we have to disconnect you from Aurora,” Famous sent through. “I don’t know what Pharaohman did to you, but these readings are highly irregular. I can get her out of there in about ten seconds Yuu.”

“Good. Thank you Famous. Don’t worry Lyne. We’ll get you out of there,” her father said.

That, I cannot allow. I believe I just found something which I have been looking for, Alpha thought. “… Okay Daddy.” But you will not succeed.

What are you going to do? Lyne thought fearfully as she felt her consciousness returning to her body.

Wait and see child.

“Lyne, are you alright?” Dr. Hikari asked when her mind had returned.

“I’m… okay,” Lyne’s voice answered.

No, I’m not. I’m… something feels wrong. What’s happening!? Lyne thought. She felt as if her mind was stretching, as if she was in a Jump Link that wasn’t complete.

“Yuu! I can’t disconnect the link!” Famous shouted. “Don’t try to take the helmet off.”

“She’s still connected to Aurora?” Yuuichiro asked in surprise. “Isn’t she returning to program storage?”

“No. The link’s reversing! Rrr, Lyne, try to concentrate on your body. Help me get you ba___” There was a sudden stretch of silence as Lyne felt herself moving back out of her body, and then she was hearing through Aurora again. “__mn it! She’s transferred back into Aurora.”

Alpha, stop this! What do you want from me? Lyne thought to the entity infecting her.

A power that you hold young Hikari child, he answered. This doesn’t feel like the Master Element I’ve already tasted. So, you do have the Light Element. This venture shows promise. I shall have to keep you for a while.

What? No! No, get out of my mind! Lyne felt a surge of power in Aurora, and a brilliant glow surrounded her. She could hear her father and Famous yelling still, but she couldn’t make anything out, and soon, that connection was gone.

I will not leave girl. You belong to me now. Your mind, this power, your body even, they are all mine to command. But I shall allow you this gift: you get the privilege of seeing what the Master Element of Light is capable of!

Who are you? a voice suddenly broke in. What do you think you’re doing? Only the holder of Light is allowed to use it. Leave at once!

<What was?... I know that voice. That mind in my own.>

Oh my. Light? Is that you?

You know who I am? Who are you? Wait. A! You viral filth!

Oh Light. Don’t be that way. And please, call me Alpha.

What’s going on here!? Who are you? Someone help meee! The mind of young Lyne was paralyzed with terror, and that terror only grew when her voice let out maniacal, evil laughter.

“Ahh, haa, hah, hah, hah, hah!! Why thank you Light, my good, good friend. Your arrival has pushed the Hikari brat over the brink!” The ground below Lyne suddenly dropped away from her as Aurora lifted up into the air. She could see the armor altering its appearance. Now it looked as if she were wearing a long robe with trailing cloth flowing beneath her, and it shone a brilliant white in the light that was emanating from her.

No, I’m not going to let you take over an Element bearer again! Get out of her now!

“Fight all you wish to Light. The child is too weak to stop me from using the Element through her. Oh, I believe I just remembered something. You were held by Cynan, The Ancient, once upon a time, were you not? Yes, indeed you were. Tell me Light, where did he secret away my weapon? Where is Havock?”

… Do you truly expect me to answer that? I will never allow that monster to be let loose again!

“Oh, now, that response is, ahhm, unfortunate indeed. I’m afraid I really must know.”

Never.

“Very well, Angel of Light. Honestly, I’m not surprised. Nor am I really disappointed.” Alpha turned in the air and began to move forward.

You’re not disappointed? A, what are you talking about? A? Mmmrr, Alpha, what do you mean?

“Ah, excellent. I knew you’d be clever enough to address me correctly. What I mean is that I really did want to have an, ahhh, opportunity to persuade you.”

What do you mean? Alpha? What are you going to do? Lyne could see they were approaching Network buildings.

<Old Net City. I don’t want to see anymore. Someone shut the memory off now. I don’t want to see anymore!>

Answer me Alpha. What are you going to do?

“Light, do you truly want me to spoil the surprise? Be patient, please. We’re almost there.”

No. No, no, don’t do it. How much devastation is enough? They have nothing to do with this. Don’t attack them!

“Oh, you spoiled the surprise! How unsporting of you Light. But they do have something to do with this. You are forcing this on them you know. If only you would be more, mmmm, cooperative.” Lyne felt Aurora’s face grin as Alpha sent a beam of destructive light into Net City, lancing through the buildings and sending navis down below into a panicked run.

Stop it! Alpha, stop! Please, the Light should not be used this way! Don’t destroy them, please!

“Sensitive Angel of Light, how it pains me to hear your wretched cries. Do silence yourself, unless of course it is to give me some information? A little morsel of knowledge? Tell me what I wish to know Light.” There was no mistaking the delight in Alpha’s voice at Light’s torment. He continued the destruction, tearing down buildings and deleting navis with a savage glee.

<That’s what it was all about? All that destruction? All that devastation? He was just trying to coerce Light to tell him where Havock was! Damn you Alpha. Damn you!>
_______________________________________
~Zodiac Server~

“What do you think she’s dreaming about?” Toxyn wondered aloud as she paused in cleaning the lab and looked at Lyne.

“What does it matter?” Maniac said, not even turning to look.

“I was just curious. It looks like it might be a nightmare.”

“Really?” Maniac’s interest was taken by that prospect and he looked over from what he was working on. “Hmm, now what could be making our little Angel squirm so? If only I could pluck those nasty little nightmares out of her. It would be interesting to work on them.”

“Toxyn, get back to work!” Khan barked out from farther back in the room. He was trying to contain his annoyance at being delegated to menial cleanup work, and was perfectly fine at venting frustration on Toxyn.

“How sad,” Maniac muttered to himself as he turned his attention back to Combit. “I couldn’t wait for you to reawaken. But torturing your friend will be far more satisfying anyway. Sleep well Lyne, and enjoy your nightmare while it lasts.”
_________________________________
Alpha was lazily destroying buildings as he passed them and leaving unmoving rubble behind. Young Lyne hadn’t made a single thought since Light confronted Alpha within her mind, and Light herself was trying to shut out the images of destruction, occasionally making quiet pleas to Alpha to stop the rampage. Suddenly, the virus’ attention was caught by what seemed to be an attack. It wasn’t able to reach him through the massive power output surrounding him though. He looked at where the attack had come from and could just barely see a navi aiming at him through a scoped weapon. “Well. Aren’t you a foolish one?” he said to himself as he began focusing a retaliation. “And you’re firing on me a second time? Die little navi.”

<A sniper? He looks sort of like… Is it Searchman?>

Alpha fired on the attacker, but the distance gave his target enough time to escape a direct hit. The shockwave did throw the sniper off a distance however. “Heh, heh, heh. Did you want to play cat-and-mouse?” Alpha began following the sniper as he retreated. “Run, run, back to your mouse hole… Oh, you do have a hole to retreat to,” Alpha mused when he noticed the link that his target was running to. “What say you Light? Shall I destroy the place he’s going to as well?” The element’s spirit didn’t answer him. He sped up some to catch up to the attacker. “I asked a question Light. Why aren’t you answering me?” She continued her silence, and when the sniper managed to escape through the link, Alpha was fairly disgruntled. “You’re being no fun Light. You know, this could all end if you’d just answer me.”

… No, Light responded quietly, then returned to being silent.

“And nothing from the little girl either. Ah well. I might as well take care of some other things while I wait for you to be more cooperative. Time to deal with the competition.” With that, Alpha sought out the servers for both World Three and Nebula, destroying both of them with no difficulty or noticeable resistance. While he was doing so, he felt a growing frustration in him at not getting his way. “Light, I’m becoming quite annoyed with you. If you insist on ignoring my demands, I will have to punish you more directly. Hmmm, however, I can find some willing help to get Havock back... Yes, they are waiting for me. It’s time to go and see them and to offer them a gift.” He turned from the ruin of the server he’d just destroyed and went off to a new target.

<Waiting for him? Who’s waiting for him? Does he mean Zodiac? It is! That’s Khan and Toxyn there.>

The two Zodiac navis came into view and Alpha focused a ray of light onto them. Light noticed something strange about the feel of the two navis and snapped out of her withdrawal. Alpha, what are you doing? There are living minds in those navis!

“Hmm? Oh, Light, I’d almost forgotten you were in here with me,” Alpha replied tauntingly. “Yes, there are living minds controlling those navi frames. What does it matter?”

If you attack those, you’ll kill the people controlling them. Stop this madness!

“Attack? No, no, no Light. Weren’t you paying attention earlier? I am offering them a gift. Their avatars cannot function without them, but with the power of the Light Element, I can imprint their personalities onto the avatars, making them into full navis. And this will also give me those navis as independent followers on the Net while their human controllers rest. Isn’t that wonderful?”

That’s dangerous. You could cause them damage by doing something like that.

“You worry too much.”

Both Khan and Toxyn were on the ground and they were pressing their hands against their heads. Alpha. Alpha stop it, it’s hurting them!

“Just a bit more and it’ll be done.” Some red was mingling with the white light. “I just have to cement their loyalty. And we’re done.” The light faded out and Alpha turned away from the two navis, who collapsed as their controllers’ minds left them.

What was that red light? Did you infect them?

“Of course I infected them. I infected them some time ago. I just left a bit more of myself in them to ensure they act the way I wish them to.”

So, they aren’t loyal to you. You just dominated them. You’ll never change, will you Alpha?

“Do I detect a bit of anger there oh gentle Angel of Light? It took you quite a bit longer to show real anger than it took Dark. Hah, hah, hah, he was just a boiling mass of rage when I wrested Feliz’s mind away from him. It must have taken a full week to get control of the Dark Element then. How I love children. They’re so much easier to manipulate.”

Why couldn’t you just have died and rid this world of your filth?

“Such strong language. Do save it for later. I would enjoy, ahh, savoring your sweet words. Just as soon as I finish here.” Vicious and Cruel had just come into view. “I have something quite special in mind for them.”

Infecting them like the other two? Making their avatars into navis? Enough already.

Alpha focused light onto them like he had on Khan and Toxyn, though he added red light to it immediately this time. “Your imagination is so limited Light. Allow me to explain. These are the avatars of Cameron and John Ivano. They are brothers. Twins, actually, and they work together more often than not. Mmm, truly inseparable. Now I wish to make that literal.”

Literal? Wait, you’re going to merge their minds!?

“And their avatars, yes. Such a sharp mind.”

No! Alpha, you mustn’t do that! Human minds aren’t meant to be joined that way!

“Nonsense. The Light Element is just as capable of this as-”

But they’re in two living bodies you fool! Are you trying to kill them!?

“Of course not. I am simply giving them power they couldn’t achieve on thei-”

No, you’re hurting them! Don’t hurt them, please, they’re friends!

“Child, go back to sleep. I’m busy.”

It’s damaging them Alpha. Ahhh, the pain! Stop please!

“If you obey, perhaps I will.”

No. No, you mustn’t have Havock again.

“Obey!” The light Alpha was using intensified and young Lyne began screaming when she felt the twins’ pain feeding back through the power link. “Where is Havock!?”

No. No. Stop it Alpha. Stop. Stop. Please, you ha-

“Obey!!”

… Forgive me, I must stop this. Look to the Dead Zone Alpha. Havock is within a seal of songs. Now stop this.

“A seal of songs, eh? How interesting. Was it really so hard to te-” A sudden jolt through the link Alpha had with the twins stopped him and he was quiet for a moment as the pain that he, Light, and Lyne were feeling from them subsided. Lyne stopped screaming, but an overwhelming dread was filling her. “What was that sensation? What just happened?”

Oh, no. That… that is what death feels like. Alpha, you fool. You killed one of them!

“Oh my. That is certainly unfortunate. I do hope it wasn’t Cameron. I’ll need him to work with Havock once it’s been retrieved. But look! They’re merging now. I told you it would work.”

Is that all you have to say! Is their nothing at all you hold sacred you monster!? One of those people just died!

“Well of course there’s something I hold sacred. There’s myself. And… and I do… I thank…” What is this? My body!

No. No. ‘S dead. Wh- why? “What… did I do?”

Stop this! This body is mine! Rrrrrelinquish it at once!

“Nn, nn, no. Nuh. NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!” Lyne’s first ever siren scream washed over the Net like a physical shockwave, then reversed and turned inwards on the virus which was trying to control her. She tried with all her might to reject Alpha from herself, but he clung stubbornly to her despite her effort. But Lyne was not alone, and if Alpha couldn’t be rejected, then Light determined that he must at least be sealed away.

Mine. It’s… mine. Light, stop! This child belongs to me. Her power… is mine! Hikari!! S- stop.

Do not relent young angel. We must seal this cursed monster off.

D- damn… you. You’ll not… escape. My curse shall haunt… you…. Lyne. With a last, weak mental wail, Alpha was plunged down into the depths of Lyne’s mind, leaving both the child and the spirit of the Element to relieved exhaustion.

Well done child. Let us return. The young Lyne did not respond however. The avatar, Aurora, curled up into a fetal position in the air and began drifting to the ground. Lyne? Lyne, you should return to your body now.

… No. Light felt Lyne’s mind retreating into itself.

Stop! Lyne, don’t hide away.

N-no, I… I killed. He’s…

What? No, it isn’t your fault! Lyne, you didn’t kill him. You aren’t the one responsible for his death. There was no response now. It seemed to Light that the child had determined to follow Alpha to the dark reaches of her own mind. Ah, what am I to do? She’s not able to take this mental trauma… not at this age. Then I will have to set one more seal this day. Let this young angel not remember everything that happened from the point that Alpha infected her to the point I give control back to her.

Once Light secured the memory seal, she turned her attention to reestablishing contact with the people who were waiting anxiously at SciLab. I’ll have to make sure that they know something of what has happened. They must be ready for if she does regain her memory of this. But I mustn’t reveal that I exist within her. “So, I’ll just have to do a little pretending,” Light sighed. She touched down on the ground and kneeled there, clasping her hands together in front of her face and taking on an expression of shocked fear. She didn’t look up at the vid window when it appeared in front of her with Yuuichiro in it.

“Yuu, she’s back in contact with us!” she heard Famous shout.

“Whu? Lyne?” Light looked up at the screen when she heard the choked voice. Dr. Hikari looked exhausted, and Light wasn’t sure he could even see her through his red-lidded eyes. His eyes suddenly snapped open and he jumped to his feet, bringing his face right up to the screen. “Lyne! My God, are you okay? We thought we’d lost you! What happed in there? Your armor. How did it change like that?”

Light took in a couple of short, hiccupping breaths and forced tears to Aurora’s eyes. “D-d… Dad. Dad, I… I d-did… something bad.”
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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]

Episode 10: Combined Efforts: Part 2
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Lyne’s face was wet with tears when she came back to consciousness. She heard activity around her, but it wasn’t registering on her mind. She was hardly able to form a coherent thought, let alone concentrate on anything else. A seal unbroken for nine years had just dumped memories into her and left her reeling as much as if she’d taken a physical blow to the head. Oh dear Lord, no, was the first weak thought that passed through her head. She wasn’t capable of thinking anything more.

“Damn it. Her system is still rejecting the infusion,” a voice growled in frustration.

“Calm yourself Maniac. You’re positively livid with anger,” a second voice said in amusement. Lyne recognized the second voice immediately. She’d heard his vile thoughts echoing in her mind barely a moments ago.

“I’m calm enough, but this is very frustrating. Her system allows me almost no access, and no matter how much I try, I just can’t implant data into her.”

“Ahh. That might be my fault.” Alpha sounded almost embarrassed.

“What do you mean?”

“She has an anti-hack program which I left in her. It appears that was a mistake.”

Lyne raised her head to look to where the two voices were speaking. Maniac’s eyes were closed and he had his head lowered, just barely showing a trace of his frustration on his face. When he opened his eyes, he noticed that she’d changed position and he turned his gaze upon her. “No matter,” he said with a thin smile. “It looks as if she’s done sleeping. And that dream must have been as wonderful as I thought. Just look at the state it’s left her in.”

“Hmmnn. Well then, it should be much easier to proceed now.”

“And far more enjoyable by far.”

“What do you want?” Lyne asked in a voice that was almost a whisper.

“Just to offer you a little choice,” Maniac said with fake pleasantry. He motioned next to him, and Lyne turned her head slightly to see a ring next to her with data floating in it. She realized vaguely that she was being held in a program just like it. “We would like you to absorb this data into your system.”

Lyne looked blankly at the ring and the data in it, then turned her eyes listlessly back to Maniac. “Absorb? Why would I?”

Maniac let his teeth show slightly through his smile and laughed quietly. “Dear Lyne, don’t you recognize your friend? Oh, I know. It must be the modifications I made. Why don’t you take a closer look?”

Lyne looked at him for a moment more before turning her attention back to the ring next to her. “Friend?” She stared at the data for a while before remembering that she could scan it. She was shocked back to reality when she realized what she was scanning. “Combit!? No, you destroyed her!”

“Oh, she’s still here. I’m holding her together for now, but I can change that easily enough. Well, go ahead then.”

“Wait, you want me to absorb Combit? … No. No I couldn’t do that.”

“Oh how sad. And I cannot use Byte data unfortunately, so I suppose I’ll just have to dump the data. And I thought you were friends.” He reached to the systems controls.

“Stop! Don’t do it. Don’t take her from me.”

“Well, I hadn’t been planning on it, but it was your choice after all.” He turned his green eye to look sideways at her. “That was your choice, wasn’t it?”

“My choice?” Lyne looked at Maniac in horror. “That’s no kind of choice! How can you make me do something like this!?”

Maniac brought his face close in to hers, locking her eyes in his gaze. “Because it amuses me.”

Lyne’s breath caught in her fear. There’s a human mind behind this sickness! How could anyone be so twisted? So unfeelingly cruel? None of them were ever like this when I knew them. The answer came to her mind right away. Alpha. He did this to them. He twisted all of them to be monsters like him! But… “You have two minds in you. So which one are you? Are you John? No, wait.” I do hope it wasn’t Cameron. I’ll need him to work with Havock once it’s been retrieved. “You’re Cameron. Then was it you who died, or was it your brother?” Maniac didn’t answer. His pupils had gone from black, to a glowing red.

“Why Lyne! Do you remember what happened back then?” Alpha said with a laugh. “I thought you had completely forgotten about all of that. So why are you bringing it up now after all these years?”

“Because he has a right to know. They all do,” she said, looking over at the other two Zodiac members in the digital lab. Khan’s and Toxyn’s eyes also had red pupils and they’d stopped working.

“Oh no. No, no, no. We mustn’t bring such hurtful memories to my happy little family here. After all, it was only an accident you know.”

“An accident. You fused their minds together on purpose! What were you expecting to happen to them? Not only did you end up killing one of them in your recklessness, you drove them insane!”

“Be fair Lyne. It wasn’t the, urrrm, mental convergence that killed him. It was the electricity from putting his hand through the monitor. If only he hadn’t been thrashing around like that.” Alpha floated around to the other side of Lyne and Maniac while speaking with mocking sorrow. “Sad, isn’t it? Only half alive and only half useful. Well, his lesser half does provide the occasional little prophecy for us. But they can be so confusing sometimes. ‘Light shall be combined with her companion,’ was how he put it. We’d assumed he meant that the Light Element and Dark Element would be joined, but apparently he meant that you and this Byte are to be joined. It should be an interesting experiment, don’t you think?”

Lyne looked away from Alpha and rested her gaze upon each of the navis in the room, remembering the minds that were behind them. The minds of people she once knew as friends. “I hate you Alpha. They were good people. I knew them and they weren’t these horrible things you’ve made them into.”

“Are you so certain of that? You are deluded.”

“You told Light yourself that you infected them and forced them to act the way you wanted them to!”

“True. And some of them were what you might think of as decent people. But not all of them. Yes, it did not take my influence for at least one of them to commit a heinous crime which I’m sure you remember. I recruited that murderer only after… well, forget all that. It would be so wrong to destroy your idealized image of your friends. Now, I believe Maniac gave you a choice?” Alpha returned to where he’d been and released his hold on his three servants. “Please Lyne. Amuse us all with your choice.”

Lyne’s eyes were unfocused now as she took in just one more terrible piece of information. She then squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head violently. He’s lying! Is he trying to say…? She opened her eyes and looked desperately at the navis in the room. There wasn’t a single sympathetic eye there. Connor’s murderer? No. I just can’t believe it’s true… But who better to serve a monster like Alpha? She let her head drop and closed her eyes, weeping quietly. It’s too much. This is all just too much to take at once. She was startled when her right arm was suddenly released.

“I’ve given you a bit of slack,” Maniac said. “Just reach out your hand. Your friend is right within your reach. This is your only hope to save her in any way.”

Lyne couldn’t look at him. She couldn’t look at any them. She couldn’t even gather the will to look over at what was left of Combit. This is… This… She reached her shaking hand out to touch the being that had been her companion since that terrible day which had been locked out of her memory for years, but which she could now never forget. It’s all I can do. I can’t lose you again Combit. The Byte’s data flowed quickly into her system when she allowed herself to begin absorbing it, although it still took a while to take it all in. The effort left her feeling more drained than she’d already felt.

“Excellent. I knew that you’d make the right choice,” Alpha said. “Now, did you want to tell her the rest?”

“Oh, I think I’ll just stand back and savor this. Please, do the honors My Lord,” Maniac responded. Lyne considered lifting her head to look at them, but just didn’t have the will left to do it.

“What are you talking about?” she asked weakly.

“You want to know?” Alpha asked. “Well, that’s no good, is it? We’d just be giving her what she wants. I supposed its better left for her to find out on her own then.”

“No!” Maniac shouted. He had excited glee in his voice when he continued. “Tell her now so I can see her reaction.”

“Oh, very well. You remember I’m sure that there is a morphing program included in the Byte’s system. Well, that is a part of your system now. With modifications.” Alpha’s last statement hung in the air a moment before Lyne reacted.

“Modifications? What… How was it modified?”

“It is, ahh, touch sensitive. Very sensitive. That is, you won’t be able to keep yourself from morphing into whatever you touch.”

“Like a bunny?” Maniac said. His excitement had sent him over the edge, triggering a personality switch. “Oooo, a bunny! I wanna’ see that!” He ran over to another part of the lab, almost barreling into Khan in his rush.

“Calm down you fool!” Zodiac’s field leader yelled at him, but Maniac just ignored him.

“Hoppy, hoppy, hippity, hop. Bunny!” He held a long-eared virus up in his hands triumphantly and skipped around before running back up to Lyne. “Do it! Do it! Go on and touch it! Yeeouch!!” he shouted in surprise when the electric-type virus shocked him.

“Toxyn, Khan! Get him out of here now!” Alpha shouted at the other two Zodiac navis.

“Yes Sir.” “Of course,” they replied at once. Toxyn was the first to get to him, and Maniac allowed himself to be led away by her without a struggle.

“It zapped me. Isn’t that wonderful?” Maniac asked, showing his hand to her.

“Yes, now let’s go see if we can’t fix that,” she replied as they exited the lab area.

“Master Alpha?” Khan said. “Shall I continue here?”

“No, no. Just take care of the little virus here and go,” Alpha replied. Khan looked at the small virus which was hopping around, looking for an exit or hiding place. The Zodiac navi formed his cannon weapon and destroyed the virus in one shot before leaving Alpha and Lyne alone in the room.

“Well then. I suppose that we’re done here,” Alpha said once the door had secured behind Khan. “My dear Lyne, it has been such a pleasure entertaining you here today. Oh, but before you go, there was one other modification Maniac made to that morph program. You cannot consciously keep it from activating when you touch a sentient or semi-sentient creature, and you cannot revert your form either.” He laughed at the shock that went across her face when she heard that. “We chose a special place for you to try it out too. Please enjoy!” Alpha then opened a Net Portal under her and released her containment ring, dropping her through it.

She hit hard ground on the other side of the portal, which quickly closed and cut off Alpha’s laughter. It was dark, wherever it was, and Lyne was barely able to see little sparks of light moving around. There were also skittering and chittering noises around her. “Where did you send me?” she asked nervously. She held out a hand and formed a small orb of light in it, then dropped in immediately in fright. She was in the middle of a cavern surrounded by spidy viruses. She looked around wildly at all of them, feeling sickened by the sound of their mandibles clicking together. A few scuttled near her and she pushed herself back away from them, but there were some behind her too. Ah, the morph program! Can’t let ‘em touch me! She activated her buster and started firing wildly when a few of the viruses leapt at her. She fired behind herself to clear a path to the wall, then turned back to face the milling spidies and fired at any that got too close. “Curse you. CURSE YOU ALPHA!”
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Next Episode Preview

~Author’s House~

Bass: You finally done?
Editor: Yeah. I finished. Preview time now.
Bass: Jeez, what took you so long?
Editor: Sorry. This episode was just being difficult.
Author: Maybe the next one will be easier?
Editor: I’ll try to get it out in about two weeks.
Author: Hey! Don’t joke around.
Editor: Actually, I don’t feel much like joking around right now. Seriously, I’m looking to take about two weeks for episode 11.
Bass: You’re just goofing off, aren’t you?
Editor: *clears throat* Um, maybe a little.
Bass: So what happens next episode then?
Lyne: You come looking for me, and I try to cope with what Alpha and Maniac did to me.
Bass: Hmm, pretty straightforward preview.
Author: Yep. Join us in whatever two weeks ends up actually being.
Editor: Hey!
Author: Next time on Lan and Lyne Season Three, Episode 11: Don’t Touch Me!
Bass: Anyone wanna’ take bets on how long it’s actually going to take?
Editor: Aw, can’t you guys just take an apology and leave it be?
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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

[Zodiac]

And I do apologize for the long delay on this episode. It was only partially because of having a difficult time getting through it (and making some significant changes in the process). I was only about halfway through before seeing the commercial for Kingdom Hearts II convinced me that I had to go and get it [u]immediately[/i]. And one run through it wasn't good enough, oh no. I started it on Proud mode after finishing it (making sure to take down Sephiroth before I was done). Yes, I am a bad, naughty gamer. But that is one wonderful game. I will try to keep my mind on the story, but as I said, I'm expecting to take about two weeks with each of the next few episodes. I have some special projects that I'm working on that I'm hoping to complete soon. And I'll leave it at that.
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Church: Are you following any of this?
Caboose: I think so. That guy Tex is a robot, and you're his boyfriend. So that makes you... a gay robot.
Church: ... That's right... I'm a gay robot.

Red Vs. Blue

[Midnight]

...amazing.

This chapter served to deepen Alpha's character so well. I knew he was insane, but with the chapter as it is, you've made him look like Dennis Hopper's character in Speed--so full of pith and vinegar and sadism. Marvelous characterization, and it makes the reader hate him even more. Hell, it's almost like the narrator of "The Tell-Tale Heart"; the man is obviously mentally disturbed, and he finds methods to justify his sadistic pleasures and actions.

The Lost-like flashback also served as a nice touch, and even if it is a use of the repressed memory motif, you've done well with it, as it covers backstory about the characters and a situation previously glossed over by the previous episodes.

Overall, marvelous work. It was certainly worth the month to wait.
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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

[soberflight]

Super job. Now I'm not so bothered by the wait. You've made quite a cliff-hanger...I'm quite interested in how it is resolved.

[Serenade.exe/HotShot]

:] Veyr well written, its definately picking up speed and getting more interesting by the chapters. Now you've really inflamed my annoyance at Alpha...*shakes fist at him* :grr:
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Sig by Hikari Angel

[Featherdust]

MANIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC- *shot*

This chapter was so full of stuff that I don't know where to begin. First off, though the tone was pretty dark, you still managed to pull off some pretty humorous stuff (Kool Aid! :D). A whole lot more was discovered about Alpha and how the whole mind-merging incident happened, which is good, because I was really curious as to how that happened. And of course, lovely Cruel-side Maniac was at his best yet~ The chapter was certainly worth the wait. Awesome job, as always, and I"m looking forward to the next chapter yet again.
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