Rockman.EXE Link (G) [AA/SF] <WIP,OC>

[FusionDragon2099]

This fic essentially takes what I did with my "MMBN - The Saga Continues" fanfic in the spring of 2003 and expands it into the anime continuity. It takes place after Stream. Enjoy!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode 1: Full Synchro!

Three months had passed since the coming of Duo. The threat of the Neo World Three had passed, and the Asteroid Navis were all but deleted now. Netto was now twelve, and as a birthday present, got a PET from his father. While it was available to the public, the version his father gave him was different in the programming of its operating system.

As he opened the blue plastic case of the new "Evolution PET", he looked in awe on its features. Most PETs had a solid coat of paint up to now. Now, Netto's PET had a cobalt paint job. It looked somewhat like the Progress PET from before, but it was different at the same time. He noticed that the handgrip and chip slot were interchangable, and briefly experimented with this. There was a slide-out keyboard underneath the PET itself, which had not been used for several models. Along the front of Netto's new PET were plugs for connecting with his computer and an infrared transmitter for plugging in.

Netto went into his room attached the Progress PET into his computer along with the Evolution PET to transfer Rockman into the new PET. This would take some time, so he went downstairs. His father was sitting at the table with some birthday cake.

"Now, Netto," Yuuichiro reminded him, "this is very important. The Evolution PET's programming is incompatible with Synchro Chips, so you and Rockman are no longer to perform Cross Fusion. Do you understand?"

Netto was shocked. The only reason he was able to beat Nebula and the Neo World Three was with Cross Fusion.

"I understand, but what about Rockman? If an even stronger enemy comes along, what will we do?"

Yuuichiro was highly aware of his son's concerns, and as a scientific mind, he was prepared for every situation.

"The reason Cross Fusion was so powerful was because of the bond between you and Rockman. Never forget that. That bond makes you strong, and will keep you strong."

"Thank you, Father."

Netto sat down for some cake with his father before he left for work. By this point, Rockman was fully transferred to the Evolution PET.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, on Black Island, a small island off the coast of Densan City, an evil plot was beginning...

Several technicians were in front of a console. Sitting in a chair behind them was a man in a gray jumpsuit and parachute gear, and standing in a monitoring room above them was a young brown-haired woman dressed in a black business suit with a blond-haired man in a trenchcoat beside her.

One of the technicians started entering commands into the computer.

"Power at seventy-five percent. Data recovery sequence T minus one minute." The skydiver behind them grinned.

The woman's voice came over the intercom.

"Good. Activate the Matrix Core at critical mass."

A second technician slowly turned a dial.

"Matrix Drive power at eighty-five percent... ninety-five percent... critical mass! Data recovery imminent!"

In the cyberworld, a green wireframe sphere started glowing and bits of data started getting pulled towards it, forming a humanoid shape. The shape started taking on a birdlike form. Black bladelike wings sprouted from the Navi's back. A gold jet engine and shoulder pads took shape next. A black glow started to surround its torso, morphing into a cobalt breastplate. A red mask shielded the Navi's face, with a long spikelike nose. Half-white half-black gloves covered its limbs, and on its left arm was a fanlike sword.

The woman's voice spoke again.

"Behold... Matrix TenguMan. The incarnation of the wind. This power is yours to command, Robin. Serve the Black Matrix syndicate well, and you will be rewarded as such."

The screen of skydiver's PET took on a purple glow, and then the Navi appeared on it.

"I shall not fail you. What is my mission?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So, how do you feel, Rockman?" Netto was wondering how his Navi was feeling in his new surroundings.

"Pretty good. Remember, Yaito's moved back to Densan and is hosting a charity auction to celebrate her return."

"I know, I know. I'd better stop by Akihara Import Foods to get some strawberry milk. Please tell me we have some money."

"You have 750 zenny on your card. I hope that's enough."

Ten minutes and a good amount of Netto's allowance later, he and Rockman were at the doors to the Ayanokouji mansion. Knowing that Yaito set a lot of traps, Netto decided to knock rather than risk using the doorbell.

The doors opened and Yaito came out. She was now only half a foot shorter than him, despite being younger than him. She took the bottle out of his hands and motioned for him to follow her inside.

"It's been a while, Netto. Have a seat, I need to get a corkscrew for this bottle."

Yaito left for the kitchen while Netto seated himself into the burgundy leather couch she recently purchased in Kingland.

On the end table was a gold-painted Evolution PET in a charger. Glyde was on the screen sipping tea.

"Good afternoon, Netto. Yaito will be back as soon as she finds the corkscrew for her strawberry milk. You know as well as I do that she is very irritable without it."

Yaito returned, sipping a glass of strawberry milk.

"I have a charity auction tonight, and I would be honored if you came. I've already sent an invitation to Meiru. Dress formally."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a hangar on Black Island, a small plane was being fuelled up. Robin was in the field behind the hangar repacking his parachute in preparation for his mission.

The trenchcoated man from before walked towards him.

"Watch what you're doing, you'll tangle the lines!" Robin was somewhat nervous about his equipment.

"Here's your mission." The man pointed a black PET at Robin's and transmitted a file. "There's a charity auction in Densan City tonight. Valuable goods will be on the premises, ready to be stolen. We've already loaded the gas canisters onto the plane."

"Good."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Dress formally? Dress formally?!" Netto was surprised. "Do I even have anything formal?" Then he remembered that his mother forgot to read the "Dry Clean Only" tag on his father's wedding tuxedo and shrunk it, so he asked if he could wear that.

That night, he and Meiru had arrived at the auction. Yaito stepped up on the stage of the house's auditorium.

"Tonight we're having an auction to support the Densan Fine Arts Foundation." Yaito stepped down and let her butler take over.

"Our first item is a suit of armor from Ameroppa. Bids start at 150,000 zenny. Do I hear 150,000 zenny?"

An Ameroppan woman raised her hand first.

"180,000 zenny!"

A man from Sharo followed.

"250,000 zenny!"

Netto, in his tuxedo, and Meiru, in a red dress, were sitting near the back of the auditorium.

"Meiru, that would look nice in my house. Wouldn't that look nice in my house?"

"I've done the math, and you'd have to save your allowance for a long time to outbid him."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A light plane was flying over Akihara at that moment. Robin positioned himself over the edge of the plane and leapt out, with a gas canister strapped to his waist. He descended through the clouds for several thousand feet before opening his canopy and squarely landing on the roof of the Ayanokouji mansion.

Robin climbed down a hatch into the maintenance room went to the ventilation control box and unscrewed the cap to the fumigation intake. He inserted the canister of knockout gas and opened the valve.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Sold, for 500,000 zenny!" the auctioneer exclaimed, giving the suit of armor to a man from Ajiina.

At that moment, a grayish gas drifted through from a nearby ventilation fan, causing the auctioneer to collapse and a panic to start.

Yaito realized what was going on.

"Someone's trying to rob us. They're at the ventilation controls!"

Yaito, Netto, and Meiru rushed up a service stairway to the ventilation control room. When they got there, they saw Robin at the control console. Netto knelt behind a box and pointed his PET at the computer.

"Plug in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman was immediately in the cyberworld of the ventilation computer. He noticed a Navi at the system core and ran toward him.

"Stop!" Rockman was going towards the Navi but was blown back by a tornado.

"Do not interfere, or I will have to delete you."

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Rockman inquired.

"My name is TenguMan, and I have dominion over the wind and skies. I am here to plunder and conquer." TenguMan followed with an ear-piercing shriek.

"I'm not going to let him do this..." Netto was ready to fight. "Longsword, slot-in!"

Rockman's arm turned into a glowing blue sword, which he swung at TenguMan in vain, as the birdlike Navi was able to evade all his attempts to strike.

"Weren't you paying attention? I have dominion over the skies! Nobody can touch me in the air!" TenguMan was laughing with delight. "Now that you've wasted your time with that pathetic attack, let me show you what I can do. Tornado Hold!"

TenguMan started rapidly spinning, creating a tornado which came towards Rockman, slamming him into the ground. After what seemed like an eternity, TenguMan finally pulled back.

"Rockman... no..." Netto was shocked. "If only we could use Cross Fusion... no, I can't think like that. We can still win!"

Rockman got up from the crater TenguMan's attack formed in the ground.

"We can still win!" he shouted triumphantly.

Suddenly, Netto's body started to tingle. Rockman started to glow with power. Netto and Rockman simultaneously put up their fists, as if they were one entity.

"What's... happening?" they both asked.

Netto put out his arm.

"RockBuster!" Rockman yelled. An energy blast shot out and hit TenguMan, leaving a scorch mark.

"But... but... nobody touches me in the air!" TenguMan was shocked by the fact he could be damaged. "No, I won't allow it! Tengu Blade!"

TenguMan swung his sword at Rockman, who swiftly dodged as Netto darted to the left.

Netto was amazed at this new power, and decided to use it for all it was worth.

"Cannon, slot-in!"

Rockman put his left hand over his right as Netto inserted the chip, then his right arm turned into a cannon. He proceeded to fire at TenguMan, knocking him out of the air.

"No... no... I refuse to believe I can be defeated by such a pathetic Navi... I shall return, Rockman... mark my words..."

With a screech, TenguMan logged out.

Robin turned around, furious.

"No! How could TenguMan be defeated, especially with this new power? I'll be back, you just wait and see!"

Before Netto could stop Robin, he darted up the latter, retrieved his parachute, climbed down from the roof and darted off into the night.

"Don't worry about it," Meiru was consoling Netto. "You'll get him next time."

But Netto wasn't paying attention. He was preoccupied with what had just happened during his battle.

"That power..." Netto was looking at his hands. "What was that power..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robin was sitting in a chair in front of the woman overseeing the reconstruction of TenguMan earlier.

"You failed, Robin. You know the Black Matrix does not tolerate failure."

"I am fully aware of that, Lady Black. I would have succeeded... if it weren't for Rockman..."

"Rockman, you say..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto went home that night, still wondering what happened with him and Rockman. Yuuichiro was sitting in a chair in the living room.

"Papa, something strange happened tonight. I was battling a Navi when Rockman and I started to make the exact same moves..."

"I expected something like this to happen," Yuuichiro started to explain. "It's a phenomenon I've dubbed 'Full Synchro'. If you remember correctly, this happened when you fought LaserMan in the real world. When a Navi forms a strong bond with its operator, the bond will strengthen to a point where the two act as one entity. This will happen if either of the two are threatened with harm. In this case, this is exactly what happened. It's similar to Cross Fusion in its nature, but it doesn't require a Synchro Chip or a Dimensional Area to occur. Because of the bond between you and Rockman, Full Synchro will be a very powerful weapon in the future."

"Thank you for explaining, Papa. Good night." Netto thanked Yuuichiro for his time and walked upstairs.

"The Navi and operator act as a single entity..."

END CHAPTER

I'll start on Episode tonight. I won't exactly spoil anything for you, but you'll want to "check it out" if you catch my drift.

Comments are welcome.

[Hikari no Namida]

Wow, this is a really good start! I can't wait to see what happens next!

[Gigaman.EXE]

Wow, this is really good. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Giga
_________________

Avvie & siggie by Spork-Queen

[FusionDragon2099]

Here's Episode 2. I delayed posting it so I could write Episode 3, but I'll delay posting to finish later episodes. It's a safety valve in case I procrastinate.

Episode 2: A New Enemy! The Black Matrix!

Netto was pondering his victory over TenguMan the night before while sitting at his desk at school.

Mariko walked towards his desk and stared at him, as she did for any of her students should they fail to pay attention in class.

"...the square root of sixty-four is eight!" Netto belted out instinctively.

"Very good, Netto," Mariko complimented. "but this is science class."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Matrix Core power at critical mass!"

A Navi formed in the cyberworld. Plugs extended outward from the backs out of its head, and bulbs from its front. Its armor turned yellow and orange.

"Matrix BrightMan is operational."

A young blonde woman stood behind the terminal holding a bright yellow PET. She wore a khaki coat wired with lights and black high heels.

"Sumashingu!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto, Meiru, and Yaito were sitting in the cafeteria at lunchtime.

"Full Synchro?" Meiru was confused.

"Rockman was being attacked during a battle... and the next thing you know, we were both doing the same thing at the same time." Netto was trying to explain as best he could, and that wasn't very good.

"It's very unpredictable. I don't know when or if Rockman and I can use Full Synchro again. It seems to depend on our bond. Only time will tell."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Now, Lumina, our plans are threatened. It seems that Rockman has gotten involved. And with him involved, the Net Saviors are soon to follow. I need you to delete him."

The blonde-haired young woman stood at a desk in front of the head of the Black Matrix syndicate.

"Lady Black, I hear and obey. I already have a perfect plan to draw him out."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto was back in class when the lights suddenly turned extremely bright, then went out.

"What's going on?" Meiru was confused.

Netto turned on his PET's backlight, a handy new feature from the Evolution PET.

"Rockman, what's going on?"

Rockman came up on the screen with a map of Densan City.

"It seems that someone or something is draining electricity from the power grid. I've traced it to the Densan Marina, about 20 blocks east of here. With the trains shut down from the outage, it's going to be a long walk. Hope you brought your skates!"

Netto raised his hand.

"Mariko-sensei, may I be excused?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lumina sat on the seat of her scooter, wearing a brown helmet with goggles. Her PET was pointed at a traffic light.

"BrightMan, how long until that kid gets here? It's almost lunch and I really want some fish and chips right now."

BrightMan popped up on the PET, his eyes glowing with excitement and his fingers snapping with joy.

"Check it out! Anyway, since the trains are out, we're going to have to wait a while. Calm down and have a spot of tea."

"I guess you're right. And will you please stop saying that? It's starting to get on my nerves."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto finally got to the Marina, exhausted from the run.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman arrived in the Marina's network. He had trouble seeing due to the sheer amount of light in the area. Taking a step forward, he heard a snap of fingers and a familiar voice.

"Check it out! If it isn't Rockman. Long time, no see." BrightMan's eyes were like spotlights, shining into the air at random.

"BrightMan?! But I deleted you! Twice!" Rockman was surprised at the sheer inability of a Navi to stay deleted.

"I have the power of the Black Matrix to thank. They gave me life once more, and the only price I had to pay was to face you once more. I wanted to destroy you anyway, so why not?"

Without any warning whatsoever, BrightMan dashed at Rockman.

"Plug Lariat!" BrightMan started wildly swinging his plugs, shocking Rockman and knocking him to the ground.

"Bright Laser!" A beam of light shot from BrightMan's eyes, knocking Rockman into the ground.

"Wide Beam!" A wave of light sprayed out, knocking Rockman's head back.

"Rockman... don't give up! You can do it! We can do it!" Netto was trying to encourage Rockman to get up.

"It will do him no good..." Lumina was laughing. "Even if your Navi gets up, BrightMan will merely strike him down again. And again. And again. And so on until he is deleted. Are you watching, Father? I will restore pride our family once more!"

"Don't listen, Rockman! Get up! We will win!"

"We will win!" Rockman got up, and he started glowing.

"Full Synchro!" Netto and Rockman yelled simultaneously.

"Check it out! What's this?" BrightMan was surprised that his opponent could still have any fight in him.

"Spreadgun, slot-in!"

Rockman's arm turned into a cylindrical gun, which he proceeded to shoot repeatedly at BrightMan. When the smoke cleared, one of BrightMan's eyes was cracked and dimming.

"No... my eye! My beautiful eye! I'll get you for this!" BrightMan was about to attack RockMan until Lumina plugged-out.

"For my family pride..." Lumina was furious. "I'll get you next time." She got on her scooter and drove off.

"The power grid is returning to normal. You can relax now." Rockman was satisfied at their success.

"I know... but something's bothering me. What's this Black Matrix that I keep hearing about?" Netto was troubled.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lumina walked into the head office of the Black Matrix syndicate. A disappointed voice came from behind a desk.

"You failed, Lumina."

"I know that I failed, Lady Black. I merely underestimated him. Next time, I'll be prepared." Lumina was nonchalant in her tone, even though she knew the consequences of her failure.

"I hope so. For your sake, I hope so."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto walked into the Science Labs and went up to his father's lab.

"Papa, there have been a series of attacks recently... the 'Black Matrix' is behind it. I need to know..."

"I don't know either, son."

At that moment, an elevator bell rang and Meijin walked in.

"Meijin-san!" Netto, dense to the fact he was not supposed to greet him formally, shook his hand.

"San wa iranai!" Meijin was flustered. He'd spent an entire year struggling with the boy for naught. "Anyway, I have orders from the Net Savior main office. We're to immediately start investigating the Black Matrix crime syndicate, which was responsible for the power outage earlier today and the attack on the Ayanokouji mansion last night. The only information we have so far is that they seem to be using a device called the 'Matrix Drive' to revive deleted Navis, which they then proceed give to people they can exploit for their operations. Netto, I need you to find out more."

"I'll do my best, Meijin-san," Netto responded. "If there is an enemy, I'll stop it."

"San wa iranai! Anyway, we need to work together, all of us, to stop this new threat. If we don't, who knows what will happen..."

END CHAPTER

[Gigaman.EXE]

Woah awesomeness. Can't wait for teh next chapter. I like how you brought TenguMan into your fanfic.

Giga
_________________

Avvie & siggie by Spork-Queen

[FusionDragon2099]

Here's Chapter 3.

Episode 3: Power Chord! The Guitarist's Wrath

"Matrix Drive at critical mass!"

A Navi started to take shape. Purple shoulder pads formed over a black suit. Purple gloves and boots took form. A gold belt and wristbands wrapped around the torso and limbs. Slung over the Navi's shoulder was a purple electric guitar, and attached to its back was an amplifier.

The trenchcoated man walked into the lab.

"Matrix MusicMan, awaken!"

A man with slick purple hair, lavender shades, a black vest over a white T-shirt, and denim jeans stood by the console. His most distinctive feature was not his clothing or his hair, but the fact he was missing his right arm.

"It is time for my revenge. The world shall regret having ever forgotten Slash Marshall!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto was investigating the Marina district for clues to the previous attack by the Black Matrix for Meijin.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman returned to the Marina's network.

"Rockman, look for clues. It might help us find out about the Black Matrix."

Rockman walked around until a glimmer caught his eye. A chip of glass lay on the ground. It had broken from BrightMan's eye during Rockman's previous battle.

"Netto, I think I've found something. I'm sending it to Meijin."

Netto plugged out Rockman and returned to the Science Labs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Lady Black, I am ready for my mission." Slash stood at the desk of the leader of the Black Matrix organization.

"Rockman is starting to become quite an obstacle to our plans. Drawing him out will no longer be sufficient. We need to attack him on his own ground. Find out where he is, and destroy him. I'm counting on you, Slash."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I'm back, Meijin-san. Were you able to analyze that data?" Netto asked.

"San wa iranai! Anyway, I analyzed the piece of Navi data you gave me, and it's quite bizarre. It seems fragmented at several points, like it was reassembled from bits of the original Navi. They seem to be taking deleted Navis and reviving them."

"Is that even possible?" Netto asked. "When Rockman was deleted, it took a lot of effort to rebuild him... but the Black Matrix seems to be doing it like it was a walk in the park."

Meijin started explaining the structure of a Navi and how this applied to what the Black Matrix did.

"A Navi is made up of memory data and a frame. The memory data holds its personality and memories, and the frame holds its shape and physical characteristics. When you revived Rockman, you had to get a new frame to install memory data in. However, the Black Matrix seems to be able to pull data for the frame together from the cyberworld to form a Navi from deleted data, along with minimal amounts of memory data."

Suddenly, a rock song came over the Science Labs' public address system, along with maniacal laughter.

"Oh boy. What now?" Meijin sighed.

"I'll deal with it, Mejin-san!" Netto blurted as he ran down the hallway.

Meijin turned around.

"SAN WA IRANAI!" Meijin yelled.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Do you think he'll come?" MusicMan yelled through Slash's PET.

"He'll come! He always comes!" Slash shouted back into the PET's microphone. Trying to talk over his Navi's guitar solo was very difficult to do.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto was in the main office that the public address system was connected to.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

When Rockman arrived, he was surrounded by La-La-Pa-Pa and La-La-Chyo-Pa viruses.

"La-la-pa-pa! La-la-chyo-pa!" The viruses, despite looking like horns, sounded like synthesizers and drums.

"Let's make it quick, Rockman. Stonecube, slot-in! Airshoot, slot-in!" Netto called.

A massive block of stone dropped out of the air. Rockman fired a blast of air at it, causing it to crush the viruses. However, the only noticible change was the music lost its drum and synthesizer tracks to become a guitar song.

"Hang on... hang on... Netto, it's coming from the auditorium!"

Netto ran into the Science Labs' auditorium to see Slash on the stage, holding his PET.

"So you've come, Netto." Slash was laughing.

"Slash Marshall? The famous guitarist?"

"Famous former guitarist! But it wouldn't be so if it weren't for that terrible accident... during a concert... the pyrotechnics malfunctioned due to viruses in the system... MusicMan was overpowered trying to stop them... and I lost my hand... Without my hand, I was nothing. I couldn't play the guitar anymore... my life had been taken away from me. But the Black Matrix will give me a new arm, a new life! Now do you see, Netto? Why I must defeat you?" Slash was in a fervor, his eyes burning with fury.

"Slash, you've been lied to! The Black Matrix is using you! You won't get anything!" Netto was trying to reason with the man in vain.

"No. You've been lied to. Do you really think you can stop the new order that's coming?"

"We'll see."

Rockman had followed Netto to the auditorium, and was now face to face with MusicMan.

"Rockbuster!" Energy blasts went toward MusicMan, who swiftly dodged them.

"Power Chord!" MusicMan pointed his guitar forward, shooting a music note at Rockman and stunning him.

"Guitar Smash!" MusicMan, in a gesture common of rock musicians, lifted his guitar in the air and ran towards Rockman.

"Hang on, Rockman! Barrier, slot-in!"

Rockman was surrounded by an energy barrier. When MusicMan slammed his guitar down, it bounced off the shield harmlessly as it dissipated.

"Time for my finale. BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE!" MusicMan started rapidly jamming his guitar, releasing energy waves upward. Debris started raining down on Rockman, who was nearly crushed.

"Are you okay, Rockman?"

"Yeah, I think so..." Rockman got up and out of the pile of debris.

"Let's do this." Netto started getting the tingly feeling that signaled that Full Synchro was happening. "Yo-Yo, slot-in!"

A bladed wheel shot out from Rockman's arm, cutting the wire that connected MusicMan's guitar to his amplifier.

"No! My guitar! I'll get you for this!" MusicMan then proceeded to plug out.

"As will I." Slash leapt off the stage and ran out of the building.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Remind me never to underestimate these things again." Meijin was pulling earplugs out of his ears. "You did a good job, Netto. Who knows what could have happened to the lab if you didn't stop him."

"He wasn't after the lab, he was after Rockman."

"The Black Matrix seems to be after you now." Meijin was starting to be concerned. "I want you to be careful, Netto."

"I'll be as careful as I can."

Netto walked out of the lab.

"I seem to be making a lot of enemies. I'd better watch out..." he pondered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Slash returned to Lady Black's office later that day.

"Slash, you failed."

"I am fully aware. But next time..."

Slash left the office.

"Hmph. I can't seem to get any use out of these people. Looks like I'll have to get some hired help if I want to deal with Rockman..."

END CHAPTER

[FusionDragon2099]

Here's the fourth chapter. I got Sims 2: University so there may be some problems updating. You have been warned.

Episode 4: The Blazing Mercenary! Blues' Return

At the Black Matrix headquarters, Robin, Lumina, and Slash were standing in front of their boss.

"You incompetent fools! You can't even delete a child's Navi! I ought to have you beaten senseless..." Lady Black was pondering. "...actually, that's a good idea. Ken, get in here!"

The trenchcoated man walked in with a baton, and struck Robin, Lumina, and Slash each in the leg.

A red-haired man in a camouflauge jacket and cargo pants wearing a patch over his left eye walked in.

"One-Eyed Jack, mercenary and hitman. You called me?"

"Jack, I've hired you because it seems my current staff are unable to deal with... a problem."

Robin, Lumina, and Slash growled with contempt, while trying to restore their balance from the hits they took. Lady Black continued to speak.

"Anyway, the Net Saviors are starting to get involved. We must stop their intervention. however, the main cause of our problems is the Navi Rockman, and his operator Hikari Netto. I will pay you an initial fee of five hundred thousand zenny, and four and a half million zenny when you successfully complete your mission."

"Five million? You're either crazy or desperate. Either way, I'll do it."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto and Meijin were examining a piece of wire from MusicMan.

"It's just like the last piece of data... it's fragmented due to being haphazardly reassembled." Meijin was magnifying the data on the computer.

Suddenly, a familiar figure walked in.

"Enzan!" Netto was ecstatic. He hadn't seen Enzan since the Neo World Three incidents.

"It's been a while, Netto..." Enzan responded. He pulled out his PET. "Blues, how are you doing investigating that tip?"

"It's a dead end, Enzan-sama. Probably just a hoax."

Netto was confused.

"What's going on, Enzan?"

Meijin turned around in his chair.

"We had a tip earlier today that someone is planning to attack Net Savior Navis, so I had Enzan investigate. It's likely that it's nothing, however."

Now that Enzan was back, Netto had another question.

"What about Laika? Where are he and SearchMan?"

"We got a mail from him saying that he's taking a leave of absence to help repair the damage done to Sharo in recent incidents. He won't be around this time."

Suddenly, a distress signal came on Enzan's PET.

"Enzan-sama! A team of Net Police Navis was attacked in the downtown network. We've lost contact."

Enzan rushed out of the office.

"Netto! Are you coming, or what?"

"Sorry!" Netto immediately followed after him.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The severed remains of multiple Net Police Navis lay scattered in the cyberworld. Standing in the middle of the carnage was a lone Navi. His white suit was complemented by red boots and gloves, shoulder pads, and a crimson breastplate and helmet. His face was completely obscured by a dark green-tinted blast visor attached to his helmet. His weapon was a silver tetrahedron-shaped device that was attached to his left arm, at the ready.

The Navi was getting very impatient. And from his appearance, getting impatient would be a very dangerous thing.

"Bah! This is too easy. Where's that Navi that's giving our client so much trouble? I want to see if he's truly as powerful as they say."

Jack called over the PET.

"Calm down, CrashMan. They can't, in good judgement, not respond to the deletion of so many Navis. That kid will come. And when he does, we get our pay."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto and Enzan finally arrived downtown.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, Blues! Transmission!"

Rockman and Blues entered the network to find what looked like a battlefield. Blast craters wracked the landscape, and disembodied Navis lay everywhere. If Navis could bleed, the sight would be only even more terrible.

"What sick mind would do such a thing?" Rockman asked in horror.

"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear." An explosion suddenly shook the system, knocking Rockman and Blues back. "Or shall I say CrashMan? You've been a naughty boy, Rockman, making so many enemies. And do you know what I do to naughty boys?"

"Let them off with a warning?" Rockman gulped in terror.

"Nice try." CrashMan was lauging. "No. I delete them. In the most painful way I can think of. Frankly, I think blowing you apart limb from limb is most fitting for you. And entertaining for me." CrashMan proceeded to break into insane cackling.

"Sadist." It was not in Blues' nature to stay quiet when an enemy could be degraded.

"Hmm... Blues, too, huh? My client's been looking for you."

"Client? Do you work for the Black Matrix?" Blues asked.

"I'm just part-time." CrashMan always had a clever euphemism for being a mercenary.

"A mercenary? Hmph." Blues wasn't exactly fond of mercenaries. He only put up with ShadowMan because he eventually helped them.

"Mercenary AND hitman. I get paid by the deletion. I'll make this a two-for-one, so just stay still! Crash Bomber!" CrashMan proceeded to detach the tetrahedron from his arm and launch it into the air, where it unfolded into a large triangle with a spherical bomb attached to its top.

The triangle landed in front of Rockman and Blues, who jumped back before the bomb detonated. A new tetrahedron formed on CrashMan's arm.

"Vulcan 1, slot-in!" Netto inserted a battlechip, and Rockman's arm turned into a machine gun.

"Widesword, slot in!" Blues's arm morphed into a larger sword.

Rockman started firing at CrashMan, who unfolded the tetrahedron into a shield and blocked the shots as Blues ran at him with a sword. However, CrashMan put up the shield and blocked the sword as well.

"That shield!" Blues yelled in frustration. "We can't attack him with that shield!"

"Hah! You can't hurt me! Crash Bomber!" CrashMan threw another bomb at Rockman and Blues.

"Hang on, Blues!" Rockman had an idea. "CrashMan can't use his shield when he throws his bomb!" Blues nodded.

"Crash Bomber!" CrashMan threw another bomb at Rockman and Blues.

"Fumikomizan, slot-in!" Netto yelled.

"Fumikomi Cross, slot-in!" Enzan responded.

Rockman and Blues immediately warped in front of CrashMan and slashed at him while his bomb exploded harmlessly in the distance.

"Ha! You really think you've won? I am just a taste of what is to come if you interfere with the Black Matrix..."

CrashMan was immediately logged out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto and Enzan returned to the Science Labs.

"So the Black Matrix is using a mercenary, not just revived Navis..." Meijin pondered.

"It doesn't matter to me. I'll fight the enemy no matter who they are!" Netto yelled triumphantly.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Netto." Enzan retorted. "Don't think you've gotten this far alone."

"Sorry, Enzan. Got a little carried away."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack stood in front of Lady Black.

"CrashMan failed, didn't he?"

"I'm sorry to say he did."

"Fortunately, I don't have to pay you more than I already have. Next time, however, don't expect the same payment up front."

Jack walked out of the office. As he did so, the head of the Black Matrix turned around in her chair and started thinking.

"Why is good help so hard to find? It looks like I'll have to bring out the heavy artillery now."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Enzan, can we count on your help to deal with the Black Matrix in the future?" Meijin asked.

Enzan responded as simply as possible.

"Yes."

"Thank you, Enzan. I knew we could count on you. Hmm... new e-mail. 'Due to the inherent threat of multinational syndicates and the need for an international organization to combat that threat, the Net Savior organization will be reorganized and combined with various national anti-netcrime organizations to form INCISOR, the International Network Crime Investigation Shared Operations Resource. The organization's founding will be announced tomorrow.'"

"What's going on, Meijin?" Enzan asked."

"What's going on is that we're getting new titles."

[Hatsuya Kanzaki]

Good fic! But may I borrow some of your fan characters?
_________________
Rockman.EXE Level-Up! coming soon! Work in progress to be exact!

[FusionDragon2099]

[Hatsuya Kanzaki]

all of them.
_________________
Rockman.EXE Level-Up! coming soon! Work in progress to be exact!

[FusionDragon2099]

[FusionDragon2099]

Here's Episode 6. I'd appreciate comments and/or constructive criticism.
Episode 6: Favor for Nero! Obtaining Virus Data

Netto got up and took his PET from the charger.

"Good morning Rockman! How are you?"

"Not too bad." Rockman was stretching his arms when there was a loud pop. "Aah! My shoulder! Must have put it out of place fighting GravityMan. I think I can get this fixed up at the Science Labs."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto was walking to the Science Labs when an electronics shop caught his eye.

"We might be able to get you fixed here. Come on!" Netto rushed into the shop.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Netto-kun..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A young black-haired man wearing black-framed glasses and a black T-shirt with the PET logo on the back was sitting at a computer in the back room when windchimes went off.

"We have a customer."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Is anybody here?" Netto asked. "I need some data repaired."

The black-haired man came up to the counter.

"Hey there! Name's Nero "Mancer" Gibson. You need data repaired? I'm your man. Come into the back room with me."

Netto followed Nero into the back room.

"I still think this is a bad idea..." Rockman warned.

"Okay. Here we are." Nero told Netto. "Just plug in your Navi and we'll be ready to work."

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Netto appeared in Nero's computer. In front of him was a Navi slightly taller than him. He was wearing a black suit etched with glowing green circuit patterns along with dark green boots and gloves. Transistors covered his shoulders and attached to his back was a transparent green computer case.

Nero called to his Navi.

"CyberMan, diagnose his Navi and repair it."

"Can do. Analyzing..." CyberMan put out his hand, causing a green square to appear on Rockman. As it moved closer to his shoulder, it started taking on a red tint. "It's your shoulder. I'm going to defragment your data. This might feel a bit strange."

A ray of green light shot out from CyberMan's hand and Rockman's shoulder came back into place.

"Thanks, CyberMan. I owe you." Rockman was grateful for his shoulder being fixed.

Nero looked at Netto.

"1500 zenny ought to be owing enough."

Netto briefly turned out his pockets and looked through his PET's financial management programs.

"I don't have any money..." he giggled nervously.

"Then you're going to have to do me a favor, then. I'm trying to improve CyberMan's strength by combining his attack data with the attack data of various viruses." Nero handed a list to Netto. "This is a list of the viruses I need data from and where they can be found." He opened up a small compartment on the side of Netto's PET and slid a memory stick in. "This will allow you to collect the attack data. Good luck, Netto. If you succeed, return by closing time."

Netto walked out of the store.

"The first virus Nero needs data from is a Swordin virus... which can be found at Densan Museum..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto walked into the Densan Museum, and walked in front of a sword display.

"Well, if we can't find a Swordin virus here... Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman arrived in the museum's computer, where Swordins were laying inactive. When they saw Rockman, they immediately rushed him.

"Rockbuster!" All of the viruses were swiftly destroyed.

Rockman then used the program that Nero gave him. He held out a three-chambered jar which absorbed data from the viruses' remains.

"Where do we go next, Netto-kun?" he asked.

"Let's see... Akihara Toys. Plug-out!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman arrived in the toystore's computer where Yo Ship viruses were waiting for him. He swiftly dodged the blades coming at him.

"Minibomb, slot-in!" Netto called.

Rockman tossed a bomb at the virus, destroying them all. He took out the jar, collecting the attack data.

"Next we have... the Science Labs?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman had arrived in one of the forgotten systems of the Science Labs that had been left dormant for months.

"Anything could be in here... look out, Rockman." Netto called. "Do you think this was a trap?"

"I don't know, Netto-kun. But I did think this was too easy. I'll stay on my toes."

There was an ominous whistle in the distance. Suddenly, a Navi Shadow appeared. It looked like a standard mass-produced Navi, but it was a frightening transparent purple.

"Rockbuster!" Rockman opened fire, but the shots went harmlessly through the ghost.

"Let's try something else. Minibomb, slot-in!"

Rockman tossed a bomb at the spectre, but both it and the resulting explosion faded through it.

"Okay, one last try. Flame Sword, slot-in!"

Rockman's arm turned into a blazing blade, which he proceeded to swing at the phantasm in front of him. He was expecting it to pass through without effect, but to his suprise, it did damage.

"Netto-kun! Swords seem to damage the Navi Shadow!"

"I hear you. Aqua Sword, slot-in!"

Rockman's other arm turned into a blue sword with a canister of water for a hilt, and he started spinning, cutting the Navi Shadow in two and destroying it. Rockman discarded his swords and returned his arms to normal, then removed the jar and took the attack data of the Navi Shadow.

"We did it, Netto-kun. Now to return to Nero."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto walked into the back room of Nero's shop. Opening the PET, he gave Nero his memory stick back.

"Thanks, Netto." Nero turned to his computer. "This will really do a lot for my research into Navi programming. I don't think we're quite even yet, though."

"What? We went to all that trouble..." Netto was frustrated.

"I think you should have this for how much you helped me. Then we'll be even." Nero gave Netto a memory stick. "It has a special system I'm working on that allows you to enhance a Navi's abilities with various programs. I call it the Component Drive."

"Thanks, Nero." Netto then walked out of the store.

You know what, Rockman? I think I made a new friend today... he could be a great ally against the Black Matrix."

[Hatsuya Kanzaki]

"Nero"? Did you ripped off his name by taking his name from Nero Express software made by Germany? But it sounds unique though!
_________________
Rockman.EXE Level-Up! coming soon! Work in progress to be exact!

[Neko]

Okay, I love this fic so far. Really interesting and your OC's are great.

Keep on writing! I can't even think of any advice to give you XD
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[FusionDragon2099]

[FusionDragon2099]

I forgot to do my last bidaily update, so here's a two-episode special.

Episode 7: Icy Trap! Contact Lost!

"Dr. Kelvin Frost, I presume?" Lady Black was facing a scientist. Under a lab coat was a black turtleneck and blue slacks. The man's noticible facial features included a brown goatee.

"Yes. You requested my presence?"

"That I have." Lady Black handed Dr. Frost a photograph of Netto. "This is the boy who operates Rockman, the Navi that has repeatedly foiled out plans. I want you to eliminate him."

"Just give me my Navi and he'll be on ice..."

"Matrix ArcticMan has been prepared for you. He should be well prepared for your task."

A Navi appeared on Dr. Frost's PET. His body was a transparent blue, like ice. His torso was covered by a black vest with gold trim. For want of a helmet, spiky icicle-like hair stuck out. Attached to his back was a light blue hemispherical device. His limbs were covered by black boots and gloves.

"I shall complete my mission, Lady Black." Dr. Frost started eerily laughing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto was on patrol in Densan's industrial district, acting on a tip sent to INCISOR that there might be an attack.

"Is there anything suspicious, Rockman?"

"Nothing I can see, Netto-kun. I'll look around some more."

"Okay, Rockman. I'll investigate another factory." Netto walked into a refrigeration plant.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Frost stood at a maintenance console in another part of the plant.

"He's here, ArcticMan. It's time to 'ice' him, so to speak." the scientist ordered with a sinister laugh.

"It shall be done." ArcticMan walked towards the controls for the freezer units. "He's in Area 1. Beginning circulation of ammonia..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto walked into the freezer to inspect it.

"Nothing here either..." Netto thought out loud.

At that point, the freezer door closed and the cooling units turned on.

"Did it just get colder in here?"

"Netto-kun! The freezer just came on! Get out of there!" Rockman warned.

Netto ran to the door, and tried to pull it open, to no avail.

"It's locked. I'm going to have to use the emergency console. Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman arrived in the plant's computer. Running to the main controls, he was nearly hit by an approaching icicle.

"Trying to delay the inevitable, are you?" ArcticMan cackled. "Don't even bother. Your operator will freeze to death in a matter of minutes, and without his aid, deleting you will be a simple task."

"Who are you, and why are you doing this?" Rockman asked.

"I... am... ArcticMan. Because of your interference, you are delaying the coming of the new order, something I cannot allow. I am doing this to save humanity from its destruction."

"Save humanity from destruction?"

"Humanity is depleting the resources it needs to survive. The amount of energy it needs to maintain this modern society is going to result in its collapse. By replacing the current society, we can save civilization!"

"You're delusional!" Rockman yelled.

"We shall see. Ice Tower!" Frozen spikes pierced the ground and skewered Rockman.

"Rockman! Hang on!" Netto called. "Flame Jet 1, slot-in!"

Rockman's arm ignited, spraying ArcticMan with fire and partially melting his left arm.

"That was luck, Rockman. We'll see how well you do without your operator..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The freezer room was starting to get colder and colder.

"Can't... handle... this... cold..." Netto whispered weakly. "Flame Sword, slot-in..." Netto inserted the chip into his PET and then fainted.

Watching through the window of the freezer room was a young red-haired woman. You could tell she was interested in fire by the way she dressed. She wore a red flame-patterned jacket over a yellow tank top, and black pants with flames on the bottoms of the legs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rockman's arm turned into a burning sword, which he jabbed at ArcticMan, leaving a hole in his right arm.

"Pathetic..." ArcticMan laughed. "But then again, what are you going to do withoug your operator to guide you? He's already unconscious, and he'll be dead soon. You're no challenge to me now. Ice Breath!"

ArcticMan inhaled, and sprayed out a white mist, freezing Rockman's legs to the ground.

"I can't move!" Rockman shouted in panic.

"That's the idea. Don't worry, I'll make it as painless as possible, for you and your operator." ArcticMan laughed as loud as he could. "Ice Lance!" ArcticMan started reshaping his arms into long points and pulled them back to attack.

Just before ArcticMan could impale Rockman, a fireball came out of nowhere and burned away his right arm.

"What was that? When I find you..."

Coming from the corner was a Navi. He wore red plate mail and a plate skirt over an orange suit, a yellow headband and belt, along with red gloves and boots. In lieu of a helmet hairlike flames burned free from his head. A black fuel tank attached to the Navi's back was connected by hoses to orange and yellow pistols holstered on the belt.

"You looked like you were outnumbered. Name's InfernoMan." The Navi broke Rockman free of the ice as ArcticMan recovered.

"Try to interfere with me? I'll destroy both of you! Deep Freeze!" ArcticMan fired a beam of white light at Rockman and InfernoMan.

"Rockbuster!" Rockman pointed his arm cannon at the ice Navi and fired.

"Inferno Blaster!" InfernoMan drew his pistols and started shooting fireballs.

The energy blast and the fireballs cut through the beam of light ArcticMan fired and struck him, forcing him to log out. The freezer shut down and the door opened. InfernoMan's operator rushed in and dragged Netto out.

"He's still alive. Looks like I made it in time." The woman slapped Netto across the cheeks in an attempt to wake him up.

"What did I do now, Meiru-chan..." Netto mumbled in a daze as he woke up. "Who are you?"

"Name's Blaze Emberley, INCISOR Northwestern Ameroppa Division. Netto, I presume?"

"Uhh, yeah." Netto was still partially dazed. "Thank you for helping me out back there, I think. Is Rockman okay?"

"I got there at the last minute. He might have taken some damage, you might want to check on him."

"Okay. Thanks again, Blaze. I guess I'll see you at work."

"That you will. By the way, you're still probably cold. I recommend some curry for that."

"Good advice." Netto responded as he and Blaze parted.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hmph. Netto is still alive. That means you have failed, Dr. Frost."

"I am sorry, Lady Black. I had some interference by an INCISOR operative."

"You don't say. I have a plan to deal with them, don't worry."

END EPISODE



Episode 8: Retirement from Curry! GutsMan's Triumphant Return!

Netto was at the Maha Ichiban with Meiru, Yaito, Tohru and Chisao for lunch. Dekao came in to serve them.

"I have something to tell you. I don't like this job anymore... I'm quitting."

"Dekao? You're quitting? Does that mean you're coming back with us?" Netto asked.

"Yes."

Chisao started jumping up and down in joy.

Maha walked into the room.

"You're quitting, Dekao? I am very disappointed. However, there's nothing I can do. You are free to go." Maha then left into the restaurant's kitchen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, in Net City, an unusual Navi was walking into a bank. He had a black body, a red slot machine on his torso, dice for elbows and knees, a roulette wheel on his back, and the Ace of Spades and Queen of Hearts playing cards for shoulder blades. The Navi proceeded to walk up to the counter.

"This is a stick up!" he yelled.

The teller Navi started to panic and security Navis rushed at him. The robber removed the cards from his shoulders and tossed them at the guards, logging them out. The cards returned to the Navi's shoulders as he jumped up on the counter.

"Allow me to decide your fate. Vulcan Slots!" The Navi pulled the handle on his torso, causing the reels of the slot machine to spin. All three of them landed on the number seven.

"It's my lucky day. But sadly, it's very unlucky for you." A machine gun slid out of the coin catch, firing seven times into the chest of the teller Navi and deleting it.

The Navi jumped down and ran towards the vault.

"Dice Detonator!" The Navi threw out a die, which landed on a six. When it exploded, it blew out the door to the vault, allowing the robber entry.

"Millions of zenny... all mine for the taking!" The Navi started laughing. He picked it up and started running out of the bank.

"If you must remember my name... it's ChanceMan."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rockman and GutsMan were battling for the first time in a long while.

"Rockbuster!" Rockman opened fire, only to have Gutsman block the shots using his fist resulting in not even a scratch.

"Guts Hammer!" GutsMan formed a hammer with his arms and slammed dow, creating a shockwave that knocked Rockman down.

"Wow, he's gotten a lot stronger..." Netto pondered. "But we can still beat him! Mega Cannon, slot-in!"

Rockman's arm turned into a red gun, which he fired at GutsMan, causing him to stumble.

"Pretty good." Dekao was impressed. "But I have a few tricks of my own. Guts Impact, slot-in!"

GutsMan's fist grew in size. Dekao pushed multiple buttons on his PET, and GutsMan started rapidly punching, striking Rockman multiple times.

"Hang on, Rockman! Spreadgun, triple slot-in! Program Advance, Hyper Burst!"

Rockman's arm turned into a massive cannon, which fired on where GutsMan was standing. The large Navi ducked under the blast.

"Guts Machine Gun!" GutsMan's arm transformed into a machine gun, which opened fire on Rockman and forced him to log out.

"I can't believe it..." Netto was shocked. "I haven't lost to Dekao since before I got Rockman..."

"I've been doing a lot of training." Dekao told his opponent "Every morning before work, every night after work, every break betweek work, I trained..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ChanceMan walked through the alleys of Net City until he arrived at Maha Ichiban's network shop.

"Hmmm... this little place seems to have quite a bit of cash."

ChanceMan got behind the counter and picked up the register, just as FireMan walked out of the kitchen.

"Stop! What are you doing?" FireMan rushed at ChanceMan, who logged him out with an Ace of Spades to the chest. The commotion attracted ElecMan, ColoredMan, and MagicMan.

"Hmph." ChanceMan sighed. "This just isn't your day. Dice Detonator!" ChanceMan threw three dice at the Navis, all of which landed on a six. The explosion logged out the Navis.

"That should do it," he laughed. "Now back to work."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto, Dekao, Chisao, Meiru, Yaito, and Tohru were in a park just outside the restaurant catching up just as Maha rushed out in a panic.

"This is terrible! We're being robbed!"

"What's going on, Maha?" Dekao got up. Although he no longer worked for him, Dekao still had a duty to his former boss.

"A Navi in Net City is robbing our restaurant. We couldn't stop him."

Netto and Dekao ran into the restaurant. Hinoken, Count Elec, and Madoi were nervously watching the cash register.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, GutsMan! Transmission!"

Rockman and GutsMan arrived in the cyberworld, while ChanceMan was still trying to empty the cash register in the Net City restaurant.

"Who are you, de gutsu?" GutsMan was very angry that someone could attack his former employer.

"They call me ChanceMan. And now that you've seen me, it's your unlucky day."

"We'll see about that, de gutsu. Guts Machine Gun!" GutsMan started opening fire on ChanceMan.

"Hah. I can do better. Vulcan Slot!" ChanceMan pulled the handle on his torso, starting the slot machine. The reels landed on a seven, a seven, and... a lemon. "Oops."

While ChanceMan was being pelted by GutsMan's attack, Rockman prepared to fire.

"Stay out of this, de gutsu." Rockman was forced to respect GutsMan's decision. "Guts Hammer!"

A shockwave came at ChanceMan, knocking him down. As he got up, he reached for the wheel on his back.

"Russian Roulette!" The wheel started spinning, and landed on zero. "Ooh, I'm so sorry, but it looks like it's curtains for you." Several cards appeared in front of ChanceMan and started flying at GutsMan, cutting and slashing at him.

Rockman ran towards GutsMan.

"I'll stop him for you. I don't care what you say, I'll stop him."

Netto pulled out a familiar chip from his backpack and inserted it into the PET.

"Soul Unison, Guts Soul!"

GutsMan's data overlapped Rockman's. Rockman's armor took on the familiar metallic armor and massive fists.

"Your time has come, ChanceMan. Prepare to be deleted. Guts Machine Gun!" Rockman opened fire on ChanceMan, putting holes in the slot machine, roulette wheel, and cards on his body.

"Guts Punch!" Rockman slammed his fist into ChanceMan, making several cracks on his body.

"Please... have mercy!" ChanceMan screamed.

"Give back the money you stole, and I'll let you go." Rockman told him. Nearing deletion, ChanceMan had no choice. He dropped the zenny he was holding and started to hobble off. As he did so, GutsMan's data split from Rockman.

"You did a good job, de gutsu..." Exhaused, GutsMan keeled over and logged out.

"So did you, GutsMan..." Rockman thought.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto and the others were walking home.

"So, Dekao, will we be seeing you again?" Meiru asked him.

"Yeah, I guess." Dekao responded. "See you at school tomorrow."

"That reminds me..." Meiru pondered. "Netto, did you remember to do your homework."

"Of course I did!" Netto was smiling nervously. "Only a fool would forget to do his homework!"

"You don't say..." Rockman chuckled.

Netto put on a sinister smile and put his face up to the screen and microphone of his PET.

"If I can forget to do my homework, I can also forget to put you in the charger, so you just be careful Rockman..."

END EPISODE

[Neko]

Nice, I like Blaze, she's cool.

Poor Netto! I hope he doesn't get in over his head here, keep up the good work.
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[FusionDragon2099]

As of this episode, the Dark Chip Arc begins. Enjoy! Comments welcomed.

Episode 9: The Dark Chip's Untamed Fury!

"Robin, I've decided to give you a second chance. Rockman has become a major threat to our plans. In order to stop him, we will need the power of the Dark Chips, but to make them, we need special equipment. Go to the IPC building..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enzan was guiding Netto through an IPC factory in Densan City's high-tech manufacturing district.

"This is where we manufacure chipsets for the Evolution PET. The blueprints for the machinery are kept on the top floor of the main office, protected by a security grid leading to the upper floors. Unless a thief suddenly sprouts wings, they aren't getting in without us knowing about it."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robin was desending by parachute onto the roof of the IPC main building. Walking down the emergency stairs, he entered the computer room of the 80th floor.

"TenguMan. Find the blueprints to the chipset assembly line."

TenguMan opened a data cabinet marked "A-F" and started shuffling through file folders.

"Central Computer Schematics, CF-E Readings, Chip Design Specifications, Chipset Assembly Line Manual, Chipset Assembly Line Schematics... found it!" TenguMan copied the folder to Robin's PET.

"Good." Robin went up to the roof, repacked his main canopy in record time, and leapt off the roof while reopening it, gliding onto the back of a truck prepared for him.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enzan was leading Netto to another assembly line when his PET beeped.

"Hello... yes... yes... I understand... goodbye." Enzan turned to Netto. "I'm going to have to cut this short. There's been an incident at our main office.

"Okay then, Enzan. I'll see you later." Netto walked out of the building.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robin was sitting in the cab of the truck next to the trenchcoated man, Ken.

"I have the blueprints, Ken-sama."

"Excellent job, Robin. We have the equipment, but now we need a base to make the Dark Chips from. The headquarters of INCISOR are storing Dark Chips in an evidence vault. It will be risky, but once we have the Dark Chips, we will be unstoppable!"

Ken's truck stopped in front of the INCISOR building. Robin got out and entered through a ventilation shaft in the side of the building.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto was walking home when his PET beeped.

"It's me again." Enzan called. "Someone stole the blueprints to chip manufacuring equipment."

"Why? What could they hope to do with that?" Netto asked.

"We use the equipment to make circuits for PETs. However, they could be used for battlechips. Not just battlechips... Dark Chips."

"Dark Chips? No..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robin pushed out a grate in the shaft leading to the evidence vault. He shuffled through several piles, finally finding the Dark Chips.

Watching over a security camera was Meijin and a blonde-haired young man. He was wearing a yellow T-shirt, jeans, and a black leather jacket.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto was still walking when his PET beeped.

"What is it now, Enzan?"

"Netto!" Meijin answered. "We have a situation at INCISOR headquarters."

"Meijin-san? What's going on?"

"San wa iranai! We have someone breaking into the evidence locker and trying to steal Dark Chips."

"No..."

Netto immediately rushed in the general direction of the INCISOR building.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto rushed into the INCISOR building and ran up to a terminal in the lobby.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman arrived in the INCISOR network, to find TenguMan waiting for him.

"It's time to have my revenge, Rockman! Blade Wing!" TenguMan dashed at Rockman, who narrowly avoided being slashed by his wings.

"Widesword, slot-in!"

Rockman started swinging at TenguMan with a sword, managing to make a few scratches before he pulled back.

"Not bad. If I remember correctly, you couldn't even touch me last time. A moot point, however. Tornado Hold!" TenguMan started spinning, but Rockman managed to dodge.

"Minibomb, slot-in!"

Rockman tossed a bomb into the storm, causing an explosion to disperse through it and scuff TenguMan repeatedly.

"This isn't going well..." TenguMan was frustrated. "Robin, it's time."

"I hear you." Robin called over the PET. "Dark Tornado, slot-in!"

TenguMan's sword arm turned into a massive fan as he launched into the air, and TenguMan's body overall started to darken as a massive black spirit hung over him.

"No..." Netto cried. "The Dark Chip!"

"Your end has come, Rockman!" TenguMan was cackling without end. "Dark Tornado!"

A massive gust of wind came out and struck Rockman down.

"You cannot defeat my power!" TenguMan laughed.

"He may not be able to, but I can." A voice and a lightning bolt came out from the distance. TenguMan's wing was seared off by electricity.

"Ha! Is that all you've got?"

"Now, TenguMan..." Rockman asked. "Without your wing, how are you able to fly?"

Just as TenguMan realized this fact, his other wing was becoming unable to support him and broke off. With little lift, TenguMan dropped like a stone.

Coming out of the distance was a strange Navi. His green spherelike body and the glass dome covering his head were complemented by limbs that were completely insulated. The Navi's head was encased in metal, and out of the darkness engulfing his face, the two electrical sparks of his eyes and the squiggle of his mouth could be seen. Golde electricity-covered antennae pointed from his shoulders to the sky.

"Now to finish this..." the Navi told TenguMan in a high-pitched voice. "Lightning Bolt!"

Another searing bolt of lightning came down from the sky and struck TenguMan, logging him out. After this, the Navi then grabbed Rockman's hand and pulled him up.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm DynamoMan."

Coming up to Netto was the man in the jacket.

"And I'm his operator, Sparky Watts. Northwestern Ameroppa Unit."

"Pleased to meet you, Sparky." Netto shook his hand. "I can't believe the Black Matrix got away with the Dark Chips, though. We're going to have to be really careful now..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Despite your defeat, Robin, you've done exceptionally well. The blueprints to the chip assembly line and some Dark Chips to act as templates and to use until we can start production."

"Thank you, Lady Black. I am honored to serve you."

"We are not done, however. We still need rare metal to build the chips, and data to infuse with the Dark Chips themselves..."

END CHAPTER

[FusionDragon2099]

I continue the Dark Chip arc with a new episode and a new Soul Unison. Enjoy!

Episode 10: The Dark Light! BrightMan's Revenge

"Lumina, I am giving you a second chance and a new mission. We need battle chip data to manufacture the Dark Chips. A chip expert named Higure should suffice. Break into his shop and do whatever it takes to get the data."

"I understand, Lady Black."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto was walking to the Higureya with his PET in tow.

"Rockman, what should I get this time? I was thinking a few more Flame Jet chips."

"Acutally, I think we need some more support chips. Get an Attack +10."

Netto opened the door to the Higureya and walked to the counter.

"Good afternoon, demasu! How can I serve you?"

"I'll buy an Attack +10. Here's 3800 zenny that I've saved up for it."

Higure took the money off the counter and handed Netto a chip from behind the counter. At that point, a recent friend of Netto walked in.

"Nero! What brings you here?" Netto asked him.

Nero walked up to the counter and placed a bag on the counter. Opening it, the contents were revealed to be blank chips.

"I heard you needed some. I'll give you five hundred blanks for an Vulcan 3 chip."

"That's more than fair to me, demasu." Higure responded as he and Nero exchanged merchandise.

Nero turned to Netto.

"I never got to Netbattle you last time we met. Let's go, Netto."

Nero and Netto went to a battle console Higure had set up in his shop for exhibitions and tournaments.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, CyberMan! Transmission!"

Rockman and CyberMan appeared in the console, ready for battle.

"Rockbuster!" Rockman tested the waters by opening fire on CyberMan, who somersaulted over the blasts and prepared his attack.

"Disk Thrower!" CyberMan threw out a floppy disk at Rockman, who swiftly leapt back.

"This is pretty challenging." Netto commented. "Minibomb, slot-in!"

Rockman threw a bomb at CyberMan, who sidestepped the attack entirely.

"It's time for our special technique, CyberMan!" Nero shouted into the PET. "Arm Change, Sword!"

Despite not having recieved a battle chip, CyberMan's arm transformed into a sword.

"Netto!" Nero turned up to face Netto. "Remember that virus data I had you get me? Well, now you see what I've been doing with it! I've been experimenting with a way to allow Navis to use attacks without battlechips, and now you see the result."

CyberMan rushed at Rockman.

"Attack +10, slot-in!" Rockman's fists grew slightly. "Longsword, slot-in!"

A slightly larger sword than usual came out of Rockman's arm. He swung it at CyberMan, deflecting his sword into the ground and transforming it back to normal.

"You're pretty good." Nero complimented.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lumina walked towards the employee entrance to the Higureya.

"BrightMan, find whatever data you can. I'll make sure nobody interferes."

BrightMan was in the shop's database, copying chip data to the Black Matrix server. NumberMan was on watch and started to approach.

"Don't even bother. Flash Stopper!"

BrightMan's eyes strobed with light, and NumberMan froze in place.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto and Nero were continuing their battle when Higure ran out to them.

"It's terrible, demasu! I'm being robbed!"

"Rockman, we're going to have to cut this short. Plug-out!"

"Same here, CyberMan. Plug-out!"

Netto and Nero ran with Higure to the shop's stockroom computer.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, CyberMan, Transmission!"

Rockman and CyberMan arrived in the shop's database, to find NumberMan unconscious and BrightMan copying chip data.

"Charge Shot!" Rockman fired a massive blast of energy, which BrightMan sidestepped, only to get hit in the arm.

"What was that for?" BrightMan screamed as he looked at the scorchmark. "You've ruined my beauty!"

"It's not over yet! Code Breaker!" CyberMan fired a datastream at BrightMan's torso, scuffing it.

"No fair! I haven't even attacked yet!" BrightMan was fuming.

"Oh, you will." Lumina was giggling. "Dark Thunder, slot-in!"

The neon green lights on BrightMan's body suddenly turned to an ominous glowing magenta, and his body darkened.

"Dark Thunder!" BrightMan fired two balls of electricity from his eyes, striking Rockman and electrifying him.

"That'll teach you." BrightMan chuckled.

"Rockman... Rockman!" CyberMan ran towards Rockman, as both of them started to glow.

"Soul Unison, Cyber Soul!"

The electricity around Rockman dissipated, and he had taken on a new form. His body was black and engraved with circuit patterns, and the input/output unit on his back had changed into a transparent green computer case.

"It's over, BrightMan. Arm Change, High Cannon!"

Rockman started firing on BrightMan until hairline cracks started forming in his eyes.

"No... my eyes... my eyes!" BrightMan was screaming as he logged out.

Rockman returned to normal as CyberMan walked up beside him and NumberMan came to his senses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You did a good job, Netto, demasu." Higure told Netto as he put installed a Cyber Soul on a blank chip.

"I have to go now." Nero told them both. "It's a shame we weren't able to finish our battle today. Maybe some other time."

"Yeah, some other time, Nero." Netto responded as Nero walked out of the store.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Lumina, despite the interruption, we have chip data to spare." Lady Black was somewhat pleased. "Now all we need is raw materials for Dark Chip manufacturing. I have planned how to obtain these materials, and Slash will be sent for them."

"Thank you. It was my honor, Lady Black." Lumina walked out of the office as Lady Black turned around.

"Soon, the Dark Chips will be ready, and ultimate power will be mine!" Lady Black started cackling.

END CHAPTER

[FusionDragon2099]

New episode. Read and review.

Episode 11: Race Against Time! Battle on the Harbor!

"Slash, for the final phase of our manufacturing operation we need a rare metal to build the Dark Chips out of. I have ascertained that a ship with this metal will be arriving at Densan Harbor in one hour. Go there and bring me the rare metal!"

"Yes, Lady Black.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto and various other INCISOR operatives were in INCISOR's briefing room, where Meijin and Higurata were standing in front of a massive display screen. Meijin started to explain the situation.

"The Black Matrix syndicate has begun manufacturing of Dark Chips." Meijin tapped a key on the computer hooked up to the screen, displaying an exploded view of a Dark Chip. "The organization has an assembly line to make chips, Dark Chips stolen from this very building to use as templates, and well as chip data to infuse with the Dark Chips being manufactured. The only item they need to start producing is a rare metal, a shipment of which is arriving in Densan Harbor within the hour. We predict that the shipment will be stolen, and we cannot allow that to happen. We need two volunteers to go to the site."

Netto's hand shot up instantly.

"We will send Hikari Netto..." Meijin pointed to Netto. "...and Azure Waters." Meijin turned to point at a young woman in the back row. She was wearing a light blue T-shirt with a wave pattern along the waist and denim jeans. Her black hair was blue with hair dye and reached down to her shoulders.

Netto and Azure got up and walked to the door.

"Azure Waters, Northern Ameroppa Unit. Just be aware that any relationship we have will be strictly professional." Azure sternly told him as she shook his hand.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A black speedboat pulled up to Densan Harbor. Slash got out of the boat and removed his life jacket back to Ken.

"Don't screw this up, Slash..." Ken warned him. "...this is really important to our plans, and Plan B is the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"Believe me, I won't screw up." Slash smiled as a Dark Chip glinted in his hand. "Now, how do I put this in with one hand?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto arrived at Densan Harbor, only to realize that he'd lost track of Azure. He was starting to worry about where she was when she climbed out of the water in a navy blue wet suit, complete with mask and air tank. She removed the outfit to show her street clothes, then took her PET from a waterproof case clipped to her waist.

"I took SCUBA training back home. Come on, let's go." Azure motioned Netto to follow her as she ran towards the ship.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Slash had made his way to the crane, and plugged in MusicMan.

"MusicMan, find the rare metal and take it."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto and Azure were making their way to the ship when the crane abruptly turned.

"Azure, head to the ship. I'll go find out what's happening at the crane."

Netto rushed to the bottom of the crane and at an emergency access console.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman arrived in the crane's computer, to see MusicMan at the control system.

"Don't even bother, Rockman." MusicMan cackled. "Power Chord!" A music note struck down Rockman.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure ran onto the deck of the ship, seeing the crate of rare metal. To attempt to reach the crane, she gripped the side of the crate and held on tightly.

While Rockman was down, MusicMan turned the crane and lowered the hook onto the crate of rare metals, lifting it up.

Azure swung herself upward and climbed to the cab of the crane.

"Plug-in, WaveMan! Transmission!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arriving to join Rockman was a second Navi. He was clad in a navy blue wet suit with a yellow stripe along the side. On his back was a yellow air tank connected to a breathing mask. Adorning his forehead was a golden anchor. His left hand was similar to Rockman's arm cannon, but loaded with a harpoon.

"Harpoon Launcher!" WaveMan fired his harpoon and cut the cord on MusicMan's guitar. Rockman got up to watch.

"No!" MusicMan gripped his now useless guitar in his hands and started weeping.

"Hang on, MusicMan!" Unable to grip both his PET and a chip at the same time, Slash grabbed the Dark Chip with his teeth. "Dark Sound, slot-in!"

An ominously black La-La-Pa-Pa virus appeared in front of MusicMan, fusing with his guitar. The instrument's cord was restored, and the guitar turned black.

"Your end is at hand, you pathetic fools. DEATH METAL!" MusicMan started rapidly striking his guitar, aimlessly releasing energy bolts at Rockman and WaveMan and knocking them back.

"Let me handle this, Rockman! Water Wave!" WaveMan put his hands to the ground, and a massive wall of water came up and doused MusicMan, shorting out his guitar.

"I'll... get... you..." MusicMan was constantly interrupted by shocks from his amplifier. "...for... this..." Injured, he was forced to log out.

"Good job. WaveMan, plug-out." Azure climbed back to the crane's hook. Without MusicMan to control the crane, the crate of rare metal plummeted to the ground and shattered, along with its contents. Azure stopped a foot short of the ground, avoiding injury.

"I hope they have insurance." she commented, looking at the shards of metal and splinters of wood on the ground as she got back on the ground.

"Thanks for your help, Azure." Netto complimented as she put her wet suit back on.

"No problem. I'll see you again, Netto!" she told him as she dived backwards into the water.

Netto waved into the sunset to Azure and realized something.

"Where'd Slash go?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Slash, not only were you unable to get the rare metal, you destroyed the crate entirely!"

"Yes, Lady Black."

"Now I'm going to have to use Plan B. And I don't like Plan B."

"Yes, Lady Black."

"Will you stop saying that?"

"Yes, Lady Black."

END CHAPTER