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

[FusionDragon2099]

Here's Episode 12, a turning point in the series.

Episode 12: INCISOR's Combined Force!

"Lady Black, I have arrived." Standing in the office was a tall black-haired scientist wearing rectangle-framed glasses. Under his lab coat were grey coveralls.

"Dr. Rutherford, I need a final element to start producing Dark Chips. Due to interference, we were unable to obtain the rare metal needed for manufacturing. However, I foresaw this and came up with an alternate plan. A geologist from Northwest Ameroppa has arrived at the Science Labs, and he is an expert in the locations of rare metal mines. Bring him to me, alive. Your Navi has been prepared."

Appearing on Rutherford's PET was a short Navi. His gold, comically comically bulletlike robot head poked out of a brown alarm clock. Under the bells on each side small golden robotic arms toting arm cannons pointed out. Stubby golden legs pointed out from underneath his body.

"Will Matrix ClockMan be sufficient?" Lady Black inquired.

"Oh, yes."

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Netto was in INCISOR's briefing room. Meijin stood by the display monitor.

"Due to the failure of the Black Matrix to obtain rare metal at Densan Harbor, we believe they will try an alternate plan. A geologist with knowledge of rare metal mining locations in Northwest Ameroppa has arrived in Densan City, and we believe the Black Matrix may kidnap him to use his knowledge. I'm assigning Hikari Netto and the Northwest Ameroppa Unit. Reed Green will be in charge of the mission. All personnel, assemble in the lobby for instructions from your commander."

"Ready, willing, and able, Meijin-san." Netto responded. He then went to the INCISOR lobby.

"SAN WA IRANAIIIII!" Meijin yelled into the hallway.

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Netto, Manny, Blaze, Sparky, and Azure were sitting at a table by the lobby when Reed walked in. He was a young man with brown hair and green eyes. Reed wore a bright green shirt printed with pink flowers under a dark green vest along with navy blue shorts and rectangle-framed sunglasses with lavender lenses. His white sneakers were faded from an entire year of walking and packed with what looked like garden soil.

"Reed Green, leader of the Northwest Ameroppa Unit. Hikari Netto, right?"

Netto shook his head.

"A van's been prepared in the parking garage for us." Reed continued. "Manny, you're driving."

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Dr. Rutherford was standing in the underground garage of the Black Matrix compound. A black truck was parked with its bed aligned with a conveyor belt. Being loaded into the truck was a machine consisting of a chrome orb nestled between tubes connecting four black towers. A black strip marked the top of the orb. Once the machine was secured in the truck's bed, Rutherford started the truck, drove down a series of ramps, and left the complex through an underwater tunnel connecting Black Island through the mainland.

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Except for Manny, who was driving, the INCISOR team was in the back of the van conversing. Reed was tapping a stylus to his PET when Netto looked over his shoulder.

"Do you mind?" Reed was mildly annoyed.

"I only want to know what you're doing." Netto responded. "I'm sorry if I made you mad."

"Don't mind him." Azure sighed. "He's never exactly been social. We're the only people he seems to talk to."

"Except for the stuffed bunny-" Sparky was cut short when Reed kicked him in the shin.

"If you must know," Reed finally gave up hiding what he was doing. "I'm turning on the watering sprinklers for my flowers. They need a lot of water."

"Oh... you do gardening?" Netto asked. He'd seen his old friend Saloma tend to flowers many times.

"Keeps me calm." Reed commented. "Barely."

Netto then noticed Sparky was holding his shin.

"I can't believe the Black Matrix is trying to abduct someone just to make Dark Chips." Blaze pondered. "They're going to pretty extreme measures to get rare metal."

The van stopped and Manny turned around.

"Next stop, Science Labs. Please exit the vehicle in an orderly fashion."

Reed gave his orders.

"Netto, Manny, you guard the main entrance. Blaze, take the parking garage. Sparky, keep an eye on the elevators. Azure will watch the stairways. I'll find the scientist and make sure nothing happens."

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Dr. Rutherford arrived in the parking garage of the Science Labs. He lifted the device out of the truck bed, and switched it on. The black stripe lit up with red.

"The virus generator is on, good. Now to find the scientist while they're diverted. ClockMan, get a reading of the building."

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InfernoMan was watching his post when ClockMan appeared.

"Stop! Inferno Buster!" InfernoMan drew his pistols and opened fire.

"Spacetime Fracture!" ClockMan raised his arms, and in a bright flash of light, InfernoMan stopped. "Your time is up, sadly. You're defenseless against the approaching viruses."

Blaze's PET displayed 'SIGNAL LOST'. She was forced to contact the others.

"I've lost contact with InfernoMan. Send your Navis to the parking garage area of the network, I think we have a problem..."

DynamoMan and WaveMan joined the fight to see Handies attacking the motionless InfernoMan.

"Those bombs can't be allowed to go off." WaveMan explained.

"Their timers won't reach two before I take them out." DynamoMan laughed. "Spark Chaser!" He fired a ball of lightning out, which circled around to hit each and every bomb and cause it to harmlessly detonate.

"And now for the viruses. Kanketsusen, slot-in!" Azure inserted one of her most powerful chips, and WaveMan shot out a fountain of water that struck down all of the viruses.

ClockMan walked out from behind the smoke created by the attacks and laughed.

"Very good. But the time has come to test your strength against me!"

DynamoMan and WaveMan charged at ClockMan.

"Time Distortion!" ClockMan yelled. He fired a wave of energy at his two opponents, slowing them down.

"Pathetic. How do you expect to beat me if you can't withstand a simple distortion wave?" ClockMan warped to another point in the system.

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Rockman and MechanicMan had their hands full with Canogod and Metall viruses. Rockman got between a Canogod and a Catank, causing the cannon to lock onto the other virus and destroy it. MechanicMan had a more conventional approach.

"Wrench Toss!" MechanicMan flung a wrench in a boomerang-like fashion and struck several of the viruses, destroying them. Any virus remaining retreated.

ClockMan suddenly appeared before them.

"Your interference is unwelcome. Therefore, it is time to destroy you. Chronal Vortex!" A massive void appeared in front of Rockman and MechanicMan, sucking them towards it.

"Hah! All those who fall into the vortex wind up where time and space are nonexistant. You'll never get out."

"We'll never get in, either." MechanicMan snickered.

"I'm an auto mechanic, not a quantum mechanic." Manny's wordplay was quite obviously up to par. "But if I've watched enough sci-fi movies in my lifetime, overloading a vortex is a sure way to stop it. Stone Cube, Stone Cube, God Stone, slot-in! Program Advance, Mother Quake!"

Rocks started raining down from above, and were sucked one by one into the vortex. Soon, there was a loud popping noise and the vortex collapsed in on itself.

"And they say television teaches you nothing." MechanicMan jested. "Care to do the honors, Rockman?"

"Don't mind if I do." Rockman's body started glowing, as did MechanicMan's. Rockman's suit and helmet suddenly turned red with white trim, his input/output unit turned into a tool chest, and his boots and gloves turned gray.

"Mechanic Soul?" Netto was amazed. "Let's see what it can do.'

A wrench appeared in Rockman's hand.

"Wrench Toss!" Rockman threw the wrench at ClockMan.

"You won't put a wrench in my plans! Time Distortion!" ClockMan fired a wave of energy, slowing the wrench, MechanicMan, and Rockman.

"Nobody can stop my power!" ClockMan laughed. Suddenly, he was struck in the back by a rose and logged out.

"Correction. Almost nobody can stop your power." A Navi walked out from behind where ClockMan stood. He was a tall Navi in a dark green suit. His golden helmet was endowed with pink flower petals. Like a plant's stem, two leaves were along his hips. His golden belt was endowed with his emblem, a flower with eight red, yellow, pink, and light blue petals. The Navi was wearing pink gloves and boots.

"Who are you?" Rockman asked. MechanicMan turned to him.

"That's FlowerMan. Address him with respect, he's our commander."

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Dr. Rutherford had made his way to the room where the geologist was working and grabbed him. Reed, who was monitoring from an observation deck, ran down into the lab.

"Stop!" Reed showed his INCISOR badge.

"You are the one who is going to stop. ClockMan!" Rutherford barked.

A sudden flash came from Rutherford's PET and Reed's eyes glazed over with an almost hypnotic stare. Rutherford left the room with one arm around the gelogist's neck as Reed toppled to the ground.

Netto and the others came in through the elevator.

"Reed, where is he? Reed?" Netto called out.

"He seems to be out of it. Let me try." Manny opened a backpack he had been carrying with him and pulled out a white plush rabbit with the size of a full-grown man's head, not including the ears. He dangled it in front of Reed's face. Reed's eyes suddenly snapped back to normal and his arms suddenly reached to grab it.

"Bunny!" He suddenly looked up to see Netto, who was laughing.

Reed got up off the floor and wiped off the drool he built up in his hypnotic state, and proceeded to backhand Manny.

"Not in front of the new guy. Not in front of the new guy!"

"So, where is the geologist exactly?" Azure was the only person able to focus on the mission.

"Uhh..." Reed's head pointed to the floor. "I tried to stop him from being abducted, but the guy used a weird flash and that's when you got here."

"Oh no, oh no." Blaze was worried. "Now they know exactly where to find rare metal, and soon they'll be able to make as many Dark Chips as they want."

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"You've done well, Rutherford. You're dismissed for now." Lady Black was quite satisfied with her subordinate.

Rutherford walked out of the room.

"Now, Professor, you're going to tell us where to find rare metal. Your cooperation is going to be what makes your time here pleasant or unpleasant."

"Please don't hurt me. I'll tell you whatever you want!"

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The INCISOR team was back at headquarters after being debriefing.

"Netto, you saw nothing relating to a stuffed bunny today." Reed slid his sunglasses to his nose and glared ominously.

"I saw nothing..." Netto responded nervously. He'd seen how Reed had kicked Sparky and backhanded Manny, and he wanted to do everything possible to avoid being hurt. "Anyway, thanks for your help today. We don't know what we would have done without FlowerMan."

"Think nothing of it, Netto. I'm just doing my job." Reed told him. "I think you've earned this." He unlocked a metal cabinet and handed a gold badge to Netto.

"Welcome to INCISOR, Hikari Netto."

END CHAPTER

I'd really appreciate some comments.

[Neko]

Nice chappy, I like Flowerman he's cool. I've been watiting for a Flowerman and he's the leader! Great plot twist there.

Fear the stuffed bunny.
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[FusionDragon2099]

Thanks for the comments, Neko.

Future updates will take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday (because there's too much good TV on Friday)

[FusionDragon2099]

Episode 13: To Northwest Ameroppa! Stop The Mining!

Netto was in coach of an airliner to Northwest Ameroppa with his backpack next to him. Manny and Blaze were sitting in the seat in front of him.

"Why are we going to Northwest Ameroppa again?"

Manny turned around.

"We got a tip earlier this morning that there's been suspicious activity around an abandoned iron mine on the Northwest Ameroppan Shield."

Blaze picked up where he left off.

"The Black Matrix may be trying to obtain rare metal for Dark Chip production using the information from the geologist. INCISOR sent us to stop them."

The plane landed at Diefenbaker International Airport in the city of Otonoroto.

"Ahh... home." Blaze sighed.

Once Netto, Manny, and Blaze got off the plane, Manny explained how they were going to get to the mine from the airport.

"The mine's two hours away. I'll rent a truck, we'll travel along the highway to the town of Rubidus, stop for coffee, and we'll be about five minutes away."

Manny went to a kiosk in the airport and joined Blaze and Netto who were waiting outside with a set of keys.

"Let's go!" Netto, Manny, and Blaze entered a robust red pickup. Manny pushed into the driver's seat, Netto wedged himself into the middle, and Blaze fit herself into whatever space was left in the cab. After belting in, Manny started the vehicle, which let out a soft purr from its engine. The truck pulled out from the parking lot and onto the highway. Netto fell asleep.

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The darkness of a mineshaft whose time had gone was pierced when the planks blocking the entrance were removed. Two figures stood, shadowed by the sunlight flowing into the mine.

Dr. Newton and Dr. Frost walked into the mine with a drilling machine. Lady Black's orders came over their PETs.

"If the geologist's information is correct, and he should hope it is, there should be a deposit of rare metal at the bottom of this mine shaft. Be careful. The mine may be slightly unstable due to deterioration after being shut down in the 1990's. Do not fail me."

Newton and Frost nodded and pushed the machine towards a lift towards the end of the tunnel.

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Manny, Netto, and Blaze had arrived in the town of Rubidus, a short drive away from the mine. Manny stopped in the parking lot of McLane and Berry's Coffee and Donut Drive-Thru.

"McLane and Berry? Who were they?" Netto asked.

"They were hockey announcers in the late half of the last century." Manny was starting to go into a long-winded explanation. "Before retiring, they opened up a chain of donut shops across Northwest Ameroppa, and bought out the Tom Hobson's chain. Tom Hobson's, now they made good donuts. Reed agrees with me, but he's on a diet. Cryin' shame, I tell ya. Anyway, do you any of you two want anything?"

Blaze turned to Manny.

"Soup of the day." Blaze told him.

"Hmm... I guess I'll try a donut while I'm here." Netto decided.

Manny turned to the sign, which was a hockey stick with a puck bouncing off it.

The cashier came over the speaker.

"McLane and Berry's. What would you like?" a female voice spoke.

Manny smiled and spoke into the microphone in the puck.

"One large double-double, one medium Soup of the Day, one glazed."

"That'll be 564 zenny, sir."

Manny drove up to the window, passed the cashier two 500 zenny bills and took two cups, a plastic spoon, a small bag, and change. He reached one cup and the spoon over to Blaze, and passed the bag to Netto. Manny rested his cup in the truck's cup holder while Blaze went into her soup and Netto opened the bag.

He could see why it was called a donut. It was a ring of dough, in the shape of a nut. It was layered with a glossy coat of sugar. Netto took a small bite, and was satisfied. He took another bite, and was impressed. He finished the donut on the third bite.

"So, what do you think, Netto?" Manny asked as he took a sip of his coffee.

"I like it. I've never had one before."

"And that's just glazed. There are so many kinds. Jelly, sprinkle, custard-filled... I like the custard-filled.

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Newton and Frost had entered the bottom of the mine and started the drill. Purplish-black metal was coming up to the surface of the rock.

"So this is the rare metal that makes Dark Chips..." Newton commented.

"Magnemetal. A power even greater than that of uranium, possibly... Man's ability to exploit what exists in nature to increase its destructive power is one of the most amazing and disturbing things I have ever witnessed..." Frost was shuddering.

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The truck stopped just outside the mine. Blaze and Netto slide out to the right, and Manny exited to the left, holding his coffee in his right hand and his PET in his left hand.

"Do you still need to have that coffee with you?" Netto asked.

"What can I say? The guy loves his coffee." Blaze told him.

Manny turned to the mine's entrance to see it was disturbed.

"Someone's in here or was in here. Come on, we need to see what's going on.

Netto, Manny, and Blaze walked into the mine, Manny still sipping his coffee. The sound of the drill sounded through the elevator shaft.

Blaze drew her PET.

"InfernoMan, bring up a map of this place and find a route to the bottom besides the elevator."

A three-dimensional tower came up on the PET screen.

"There's a track along a slope that leads to the bottom." InfernoMan called.

Blaze motioned Netto and Manny to follow her, and walked into the darkness, pointing a flashlight at the ground.

About five minutes later, the group was at the bottom of the shaft, behind a rocky outcropping.

Netto, Manny, and Blaze pointed their PETs out toward the drill.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, MechanicMan! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, InfernoMan! Transmission!"

Rockman, MechanicMan, and InfernoMan appeared in the drill's computer to see GravityMan and ArcticMan guarding the core.

InfernoMan came up with a plan.

"Rockman and I will take the living ice cube. MechanicMan, you dismantle that freak over there. Bonus points for whoever can take out the core." The three Navis nodded in unison and rushed the enemy.

"Drill Arm 1, slot-in!" Manny set his coffee on the ground and inserted a chip into his PET.

MechanicMan's right arm transformed into a a conical drill, which he punched into the ground. He leapt into the air, and the rotation of the drill drove him into a spinning kick which hit GravityMan's head multiple times.

InfernoMan leapt into the air over ArcticMan and drew his pistols.

"Flame Jet 3, slot-in!" Blaze inserted a chip into her PET.

The barrels of InfernoMan's pistols doubled in length with knoblike extensions. A massive flame burst out at ArcticMan, melting away a thin layer of frost on his body.

"Hmph! Your old tricks are useless! Ice Lance!" ArcticMan's arms morphed into spikes and he jumped up at InfernoMan, freezing his arms with a touch and knocking him down to the ground.

Newton and Frost had caught wind of the infiltration and were now trying to stop it.

"Poltergeist, slot-in!" Newton called.

GravityMan raised his arms, and the ground broke up and rose. He put his arms forward, and MechanicMan was bombarded with debris.

"Time for Plan B. God Stone, slot-in!" Manny inserted one of his best battlechips.

A massive statue rose from the ground, and equally massive boulders rained over GravityMan. He put up his arms and an energy field blocked the rocks.

"I think I know your weakness, GravityMan." MechanicMan chuckled. "You can't defend two places at once. So, are you going to block my next attack and be struck down by my rocks, or vice versa? Wrench Toss!"

MechanicMan threw a wrench at GravityMan's chest, logging him out.

InfernoMan fell to the ground in front of Rockman, landing with a hard thud.

"Don't tell me they've been increasing their power with Dark Chips." Blaze muttered.

Rockman ran up to InfernoMan and started glowing. His armor, and helmet suddenly turned red with orange trim and his hair was set ablaze. His gloves and boots turned a bright orange. The input/output unit attached to his back transformed into an orange fuel tank, which was attached to his buster by a black hose.

"Inferno Soul... I don't believe it!" Rockman was looking at his hands, amazed. He then pointed his buster at ArcticMan.

"It's time I paid you back for what happened last time we met. Inferno Buster!" Rockman fired a quintet of fireballs, aimed at ArcticMan's limbs and torso. They all hit squarely, forcing him to log out in a mass of steam.

"Now for the core." Rockman charged up his arm cannon. "Flame Blast!"

A burst of orange flame shot out, incinerating the core of the drill's computer and shutting it down.

"Look's like we've been had!" Newton yelled as he and Frost retreated, leaving the drill behind but leaving with a crate of rare metal.

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Netto, Manny, and Blaze were at the surface again.

"They took some of rare metal." Blaze was reviewing how the mission turned out. "But they could have taken a lot more if we didn't arrive. Good job. We've haven't stopped their Dark Chip manufacturing, but we've put a dent in it for sure."

Manny was shaking his fists in anger.

"They had the nerve to come here to execute their plans? I will not forgive them for this. I will defend the soil of Northwest Ameroppa!"

Netto was shocked.

"Calm down, Manny. Anger won't solve anything."

"You're right, Netto." Manny sighed. "Maybe I'm taking this too seriously. Come on, let's go back to headquarters. We're needed there more than anywhere."

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"Are you sure this is all the metal you could get?" Lady Black was perplexed.

"If we weren't interrupted, we could have gotten more..." Newton noted.

"With all due respect, this should be enough to manufacture at least a modest number of Dark Chips." Frost commented.

"Very perceptive. I'll contact the plant immediately. You are dismissed." Newton and Frost left the office.

Lady Black turned around in her chair.

"This is excellent. We're now ready to produce Dark Chips, and now that we are, INCISOR is no longer an obstacle." A sinister cackle emnated from her office.
END CHAPTER
Questions? Comments? Don't hesitate to post.

[Neko]

Nice chappie. I love your new charachters, they're very funny and have very human personality with is kind of hard to do in an OC. Trust me there is no greater temptation then to make your OC perfect XD

I can't wait to read more, keep up the good work
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[FusionDragon2099]

[FusionDragon2099]

Here's another update for you all.

Episode 14: Full Sychro Fails!

The core of the Densan Photovoltaics plant's security system was functioning at normal capacity, glowing a calm blue when suddenly a tetrahedron clamped around it.

CrashMan detached his hand and stepped back, cackling.

"It's time."

The tetrahedron exploded, taking the core with it and shutting down the system.

One-Eyed Jack, who was standing outside the factory, walked up to and lifted a garage door. A black tractor trailer driven by Ken backed into the factory, and Jack loaded crates of solar panels into the back.

"Good. This should be enough for the first ring." Ken called from the back of the trailer. Jack closed the trailer, got into the truck, and rode off.

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"A theft of solar panels from Densan City's industrial district has police perplexed today..." Kero was in front of the plant that had been robbed.

Reed switched off the TV in the INCISOR briefing room.

"I don't believe it. My initial report from Kifune says the security system was entirely shot. Core was vaporized, but by what, we have no idea."

"What would anybody want with solar panels?" Netto asked from the front row.

"Power, that's what." Reed responded. Everybody in the room groaned at his pun. "Humor notwithstanding, whoever took the solar panels obviously needs energy for something. My guess is the Black Matrix."

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"Excellent work, Jack. Here's your pay. Catch." Lady Black through a wad of 10000 zenny bills and three Dark Chips towards Jack. He caught the money with one hand and the Dark Chips with the other.

"I have a question. What exactly do you need those solar panels for, anyway?"

Lady Black's eyebrows shot up.

"You really expect that I would reveal my top secret plan to a mercenary who technically does not even work for my organization in the first place? You have much courage to show such insolence."

"My apologies."

"That is irrelevant. I require large batteries for our operations. Go to the Volta Industries warehouse and bring me as many as possible."

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Reed was now trying to explain the logic of solar power.

"Solar power is intermittent. Without the sun, you have no power. Which is why batteries must be used to store power when the sun is unavailable. I predict that the Black Matrix will attempt to attack this warehouse to obtain a large quantity of batteries. Netto, I'm sending you in."

Netto walked into the lobby to see Meiru at the desk.

"Netto, I was looking for you!" Meiru told him. "I heard you were going on a mission alone. If you get in over your head, Roll and I are there for you. Remember that."

Netto nodded in reply and walked out of the building. Meiru looked up to the sky.

"Netto... be careful."

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Netto arrived at the Volta Industries warehouse and walked up to the computer.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

Rockman arrived in the system.

"Keep an eye out, Rockman."

Meiru walked up from a short distance away.
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Jack walked to a security console behind the warehouse and plugged in.

CrashMan entered the computer and looked around.

"I think we have company. I'm going to stop them."

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Rockman was looking around for intruders when CrashMan jumped him.

"Crash Bomber!" CrashMan lobbed a bomb at Rockman, knocking him off his feet.

"There's only one way to do this, Netto." Rockman called out. "Full Synchro!"

"Full Synchro!" Netto responded. He and Rockman started glowing. "Wide Sword, slot-in!"

Rockman swung a sword at CrashMan, leaving a large scratch in his chest plate.

"Huh?" Rockman was amazed that Full Synchro could do so little damage.

"Cute," Jack taunted over his PET. "but you'll need a lot more. Dark Bomb, slot-in!"

CrashMan's arm turned a dark maroon, and he proceeded to lob a black spherical bomb at Rockman, which exploded in a magenta flash.

Rockman reeled in pain, and due to Full Synchro, Netto was feeling the effects of the blast as well.

"Netto!" Rockman was horrified about what was happening to his operator. "I've got to terminate the synchronization!" Rockman's glow vanished and Netto started to recover.

"Your weakness is pathetic, Rockman." CrashMan laughed. "The power of darkness outperforms the power of the friendship with your operator? If so, then your destruction will occur in no time. Dark Bomb!" CrashMan lobbed another bomb, but it was cut through by a heart before it could hit Rockman.

"What is this?" CrashMan asked in frustration.

"It's the power of friendship," a familiar female voice called out. Roll somersaulted in fromt of Rockman and drew her bow.

"Unfortunately for you, my dear..." CrashMan taunted. "Chivalry is dead, and you will be too if you don't get out of my way." He pointed his launcher towards the duo.

Roll's resolve was unwavering as she remained in front of Rockman.

"Roll... get away..." Rockman warned.

"No. I cannot stand by while you are attacked like this!" Roll told him. Suddenly, the two of them started glowing.

"Soul Unison! Roll Soul!" Netto inserted a chip with a heart emblem into his PET.

Rockman's armor turned pink and a magenta vest formed around his torso. Four transparent yellow antennae formed around his head. His boots got longer and gained a ring of gold trim.

"I should be afraid of this?" CrashMan was laughing. "Dark Bomb!" CrashMan fired off another bomb.

"Roll Arrow!" Rockman's arm turned into a bow, which fired a heart-tipped arrow at the bomb. On contact, the arrow vaporised the bomb.

"No! This can't be!" CrashMan shrieked.

"Roll Arrow!" Rockman fired another arrow at CrashMan's arm. The arrow stuck in CrashMan's arm, sucking out the dark energy and turning the arm back to bright red. The arrow snapped off and its heart tip popped out, a dark purple.

"Do the honors, Roll." Rockman called.

"Heart Flash!" Roll blew a kiss in the form of a heart-shaped energy sphere towards the blackened arrowhead, destroying it.

"It's time, CrashMan..." Rockman called out.

"Aqua Tornado 1, slot-in!" Netto and Meiru called.

Rockman and Roll sent out spirals of water towards CrashMan, slamming him into the ground and logging him out.

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"Meiru, thank you." Netto was rubbing a bruise from the effects of Full Synchro.

"Netto, are you hurt?" Meiru was concerned.

"Not too badly."

"Good. You've got to be more careful, Netto! If something happened to you..."

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Jack walked into Lady Black's office.

"My apologies, but I was unable to get the batteries due to... interference."

Lady Black was exasperated.

"I can't believe this. Every single person I send fails. What will it take to finally get rid of Rockman?!"

"I did notice something interesting, however. When I attacked the Navi, his operator was harmed as well."

"You don't say. So in theory..." Lady Black started cackling.

END CHAPTER

[Neko]

O_O

Woah my god, what is that woman thinking! Great chapter, I love how Roll and Meiru fought in it! \o/

Keep it up! (Even if I am the only one reviewing, I'm sure there are others who like this fic just as much as I do)
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[FusionDragon2099]

Episode 15: CyberMan's Secret! The Net Vigilante!

CyberMan was standing on a rooftop in Net City.

"So he's coming?" CyberMan asked his operator.

"I arranged the meeting myself." Nero responded.

A Heel Navi carrying a black suitcase came up the stairs.

"So, you have the virus data?" the Navi inquired.

"If you have the money, I have the data." CyberMan pulled out a vial.

The Heel Navi opened the briefcase to show a large amount of money.

"Is this enough?" the Navi queried.

"As in enough evidence to prove your guilt in attempting to purchase a controlled product? Yes." CyberMan told his client slyly.

"A deleted Navi tells no tales." the Heel Navi said as he drew his buster.

"A laughable attempt at best. Arm Change, Mega Cannon!" CyberMan's right arm turned into a red cannon, and a transparent green visor came over his face. Using his left arm, CyberMan plugged a cable from the computer on his back into the cannon.

"Targeting... locked on... fire!" CyberMan fired the cannon and hit the Heel Navi square in the chest, knocking him
onto the ground and putting a hole in his chest.

"Why... did you betray me?" the Heel Navi asked.

CyberMan walked up to the Heel Navi and showed him the vial up close.

"The vial... was a fake? It... was empty? Why?" the Navi asked, seconds away from deletion.

"I needed a way to bring you here." CyberMan commented.

"You... will pay... I have... friends... in high places..." the Navi laughed as he disintegrated.

CyberMan looked up to the sky.

"Justice served again..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Netto walked into Nero's shop and went up to the counter. Nero came out from the back room.

"Hey, Netto! It's been a while."

"Just what I was thinking." Netto responded.

Nero reached under the counter and pulled out a silver chip.

"Remember when I gave you the Component Drive?" Nero asked.

Netto nodded in response, and Nero continued.

"Well, I finally finished my first ability chip for it. The Shield chip will allow your Navi to use block attacks." He handed Netto the chip. "Try it out and see."

Netto put the chip into the PET.

"Shield Component, activate!" Netto called.

A bright yellow circular shield with blue trim appeared on Rockman's right arm.

"Like it?" Nero inquired.

"I'll take it." Netto told him as he put a 1000 zenny bill on the counter.

Suddenly, the screen of the computer in the back room turned a bright red.

"We've got a problem. Plug-in, CyberMan! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!

CyberMan and Rockman appeared in the shop's computer to see a Navi at the core. He was wearing a black suit, dark brown boots and gloves, a light brown vest and cowboy hat, and a red handkerchief.

"I see I rustled you out of the grass nicely, CyberMan," the Navi laughed in a froggy voice as he turned around. "My client wishes to speak to you in person..."

"Are you working for the Black Matrix?" Rockman asked furiously.

"Don't flatter him, Rockman." CyberMan snapped. "That's BanditMan. He's no more than a pathetic bounty hunter. Give me one minute with him and I'll reduce him to source code."

"You won't have the chance." BanditMan told CyberMan. "Six Shot Salvo!"

BanditMan drew a silver revolver and fired six bullets at CyberMan, who turned sideways and evaded them.

"Pathetic, just pathetic...." CyberMan taunted.

"I have to bring you in alive... so I shall! Laser Lasso!" BanditMan threw a ring of energy at CyberMan, binding him. "Now, come... we have matters to discuss..."

BanditMan teleported off with CyberMan, leaving an ominous laugh.

"CyberMaaaan!" Nero yelled into his PET.

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

BanditMan and CyberMan appeared in a dark backroom in one of Net City's shadier stores. In front of them was a black
Heel Navi. BanditMan threw CyberMan on his knees in front of his client.

"Now, CyberMan, we have some business to discuss..." the Heel Navi stated in a businesslike tone. "You've been causing an awful lot of trouble for me. How am I supposed to run a syndicate if you keep deleting all my subordinates like that?"

"You're not." CyberMan responded. "Navis like you are what give network society a bad name. I am merely restoring the peace."

"Restoring the peace? Ha!"

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

"Think," Netto told Nero. "Do you have any idea where BanditMan would take CyberMan?"

"Actually, I do..." Nero thought. "He mentioned he was working for somebody. CyberMan and I have been trying to stop a crime syndicate in Net City, and we were about to confront the Navi in charge when BanditMan intervened. I think I know where he is. Go to this address in Net City and..." Nero started rapidly typing on his computer. "You'll go there instantly when you plug-in. Get ready, Netto."

"All right, Nero. Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

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

The Heel Navi was continuing his rant.

"You're no-"

Rockman suddenly appeared behind him.

"Rockbuster!"

The Navi was deleted in one shot.

BanditMan walked away from CyberMan and went towards Rockman.

"Hmph. Now I'll never get my pay. We'll settle this with a duel, ten paces. I'll be waiting outside." BanditMan walked out the door to the shop.

"I don't trust him, but I'll do this." Rockman told Netto as he went into the street to join his opponent.

"Ten paces. Last one standing wins." BanditMan explained.

Rockman nodded as both Navis turned around.

"One... two..." Rockman counted as he stepped away.

"Three... four..." BanditMan continued.

"Five... six..."

"Seven... eight..."

"Nine... ten!"

Both Navis turned around, and in a fraction of a second, Rockman opened fire. Before BanditMan could even fully pull the trigger, he had been knocked down.

"I never thought I would lose a duel to another Navi... I guess this means you win..." BanditMan told Rockman as he toppled back.

Rockman was amazed, but suspicious.

"This was too easy..."

"And it was." BanditMan laughed as he got up. He pointed his revolver towards Rockman. "Six Shot Salvo!"

Netto intervened.

"Shield Component, activate!"

Rockman blocked all six of BanditMan's shots and prepared his counterattack.

"Soul Unison, Cyber Soul!" Netto inserted another chip into his PET.

Rockman transformed into a mix of black and green and prepared to attack.

"That was a dirty trick, BanditMan. It's time you faced justice. Arm Change, Vulcan 1!"

Rockman's arm turned into a machine gun, which he fired at BanditMan's chest, deleting him.

Without BanditMan to support it, the lasso around CyberMan dissipated, giving him the opportunity to see what was going on. He saw Rockman going back to normal.

"You did very well, Rockman." CyberMan complimented.

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

"I never asked you, Nero. What were you and CyberMan doing trying to stop a crime syndicate by yourselves anyway?" Netto inquired.

Nero responded slowly and nervously.

"CyberMan and I... we're part of a team known as the Net Vigilantes. We use whatever means necessary to stop criminals. We will go outside the law to enforce it."

"Is that really right though?" Netto asked.

"Sometimes, you have to do wrong in order to do right..." Nero told him.

Netto walked out of Nero's shop, pondering his words.

END CHAPTER

[Neko]

I love Nero and Cyberman! Seriously, they rule! And Banditman was a good oneoff too. Nice job as always, can't wait to see what the Black Lady has planned for Netto
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[FusionDragon2099]

[Neko]

Yeah, I was actually wondering if that was going to happen, nice plot twist.
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[FusionDragon2099]

Episode 16: Ambush! The Twin Attackers!

"You are two of my greatest operatives. Apart from Ken and myself, you hold the highest rank in the Black Matrix organization." Lady Black was facing two essentially identical women. One had a green dress, green eyes and short green hair, the other had a blue dress, blue eyes and short blue hair.

"We're flattered." The green-haired woman spoke.

"We will do whatever it takes to earn our esteem." the blue-haired woman continued.

"So you say. Amy, May, your reputations are well-earned. Go to the lab. Your Navis are being prepared."

Amy and May walked onto a catwalk overlooking the lab. Several scientists were surrounding a large console.

"We're at critical mass! Data recovery imminent!"

Bits of data came into a single mass, which split in an ameobalike fashion. Resulting from the transformation were two identical Navis. Both of them had a glimmering turquoise crystal chestplate over a navy blue suit. Their light blue helmets were adorned with five crystal points. Every one of their sleek white boots and gloves were covered with a crystal at the joint. Their emblem, the Roman numeral II, marked their golden belts.

"Matrix GeminiMan and Matrix GeminiMan are online... this is going to be a grammar nightmare..." one scientist noted.

Amy and May's PETs came alive each with one of the twin Navis.

"Now," Lady Black's voice came over their PETs. "I've set up a mission I want you to carry out."

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

Netto had got a day pass for Meiru to visit the INCISOR offices, and she was sitting next to him in the break room.

Reed walked by holding a cup of tea.

"So, Netto. Is this your girlfriend?"

Netto shook his head while Meiru blushed. Reed got back to the topic at hand.

"Anyway, I'm going through some leads right now. I'll come back and tell you if I find anything. Want me to bring either of you some tea when I get back up here?"

Netto shook his head, but Meiru nodded.

"Okay then. I'll be back in twenty minutes." Reed sauntered out the door, sipping his tea. "I have to write down where I got this tea."

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

"I've sent a tip to INCISOR with the location of a fake Dark Chip warehouse." Lady Black was explaining her plan to Amy and May. "When they arrive, they'll have arrived in a trap. You'll be waiting there for them, and I've set up a state-of-the-art security system for the plan. Go to the warehouse, and do not fail me."

Amy and May bowed, then walked out of the office.

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

"We've got the location of a Dark Chip warehouse, Netto." Reed came up to the breakroom, handing an envelope to Netto and a cup and saucer to Meiru. "I'm sending you and the rest of my team there to investigate."

Meiru looked up at Reed.

"What about me? What do I get to do?"

"You go with them too. I'll monitor the mission by remote and do some paperwork."

Netto and Meiru nodded, and walked out of the office. Reed sat down at the table.

"Paperwork? That's rich. I've finally got time to myself, nobody to look over my shoulder and tell me to work." Reed took his PET out of the pouch on his belt. "FlowerMan, get out my tools. We're doing some gardening."

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

Netto, Meiru, Manny, Blaze, Sparky, and Azure were assembled by a derelict warehouse downtown.

"We'll divide into two teams." Azure decided. "Netto, Manny, and... what's your name?"

"Meiru." Meiru waved her hand.

"And Meiru. The first team will look around the warehouse for Dark Chips. My team of Blaze and Sparky will search the system. Ready to go in?"

The six operators walked into the building. Manny was taking slow, steady steps to avoid spilling his coffee.

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

A slow, low-pitched droning emmited from the system's core. The GeminiMan twins stood still, waiting and watching.

"They're coming, brother."

"It's almost time."

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

The team had entered the warehouse when the doors slammed behind them with a loud clang. Bright red lasers came out of small holes in the wall, blocking off the exits.

"What was that?" Netto asked.

"We're sealed in here, obviously." Azure pointed out.

The sound of footsteps on metal echoed from the second floor of the warehouse.

"I hear something." Sparky commented. "I'm going to check it out."

"No!" Azure grabbed Sparky by the collar of his jacket. "We can't afford to take unnecessary risks. Someone's obviously set a trap for us, and our best bet is to stay together."

"We can still check out the system though." Blaze suggested.

"You're on to something. Let's do that so we know what's going on." Azure ordered.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, Roll! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, MechanicMan! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, InfernoMan! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, DynamoMan! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, WaveMan! Transmission!"

The six Navis appeared in the warehouse's system, when the GeminiMan twins came down above them.

"It's time, brother!"

"Attack! Gemini Laser!" The two Navis pointed their arm cannons at the team, and fired bright blue lasers.

One beam pierced through MechanicMan's arm, bounced off the ground, and hit InfernoMan in the hip. The second was refracted through DynamoMan's dome and hit WaveMan and Roll. After the carnage, the only Navi left standing was Rockman.

"What... what is that?" Rockman was horrified.

The two GeminiMan brothers touched down on the ground.

"We are GeminiMan..." the two Navis introduced themselves. "We share one body, one mind, one spirit. We shall destroy all who oppose the will of the Black Matrix. Spectrum Gun!" The first twin threw the second into the air, who fired a small rainbow-colored pellet downward.

"This doesn't look like much..." Rockman thought. "But then again..." He shuffled back.

The pellet hit the ground, exploding in a massive burst of white light.

"We've got to fight back!" Netto exclaimed. "Cannon, slot-in!"

Rockman fired a cannon at the first twin, who simply stood there.

"He's not even dodging... why?" Netto was confused.

The blast chipped off the center of the twin's chestplate, leaving a glowing mark.

"Brother, lend me your strength!" The second twin pointed his arms at the first twin, and the chestplate was restored with a stream of light.

"They can heal each other..." Rockman was shocked.

"Then we've just got to hit them both. Minibomb, slot-in!"

Rockman tossed a bomb, but the first twin batted it towards the second twin, who shot it with a laser and destroyed it.

"They won't let us hit them both at once!" Rockman realized.

"We'll need to try something else. Soul Unison, Guts Soul!" Netto inserted a Soul Unison chip into his PET.

Rockman's armor transformed into a combination of gold, black, grey, and red.

"It's time to pay for what you've done to my friends!" Rockman yelled. "Guts Machine Gun!"

Rockman opened fire on the twins, who simply took the hits.

"A fine effort to try and attack us..." the first GeminiMan laughed.

"But it will do you no good with your timing." the second twin chimed in.

"No!" Rockman yelled in frustration. "They can't be beaten!"

"Rose Stinger!" a familiar voice yelled from the distance.

A green and pink blur shot through the air and then two GeminiMan brothers were abrubtly logged out.

When the blur stopped, FlowerMan stood next to Rockman.

"It looked like you needed help, so I came by."

"Thank you, FlowerMan."

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

The lasers blocking the exits fizzled out and the doors opened. Reed walked in through the door.

"You're not the Netbattler I seem to have heard you were, Netto." Reed scolded. "You're going to need to be able to deal with any enemy. You're going to need some training."

"Training?" Netto asked.

"I'm going to have the team train you until you can battle at the level of any Navi the Black Matrix sends. Anyway, back to business. What did you find at the warehouse?"

"Nothing." Azure pointed out. "The warehouse wasn't just a fake, it was a trap. The Black Matrix ambushed us."

Reed looked up at the sky.

"This is my fault. I should have checked out the tip myself. Instead, I just sent you there on your own and stayed back to do gardening."

"You what?" Netto grabbed Reed at his collar. "Rockman could have been deleted, and you were gardening?"

"I'm sorry. I was... irresponsible." Reed replied as Netto let go of his collar. "I'll start training you tomorrow, Netto."

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

"So, you weren't defeated by Rockman?"

"No. We had Rockman on the ropes." Amy responded.

"And then some strange flower Navi attacked us." May continued.

"I think I have a clue what you're talking about..." Lady Black thought. "Reed, after all this time, we'll meet yet again..."

END CHAPTER
Episode 17 may not be ready for Wednesday. In that case, I'll post trivia for the series.

[Neko]

:D

Black Lady knows Reed. Nice, can't wait to hear that backstory. This chapter seemed a little rushed, but an overall nice idea.
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[FusionDragon2099]

Episode 17: Reed's Test! Five Tier Battle

Netto had just gotten out of class for the day when Reed accosted him outside the school gates.

"Your test starts now. The others are waiting for you back at the office."

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

Manny, Blaze, Sparky, Azure, and Reed sat at a circular table in front of Netto.

"Now, Netto." Reed started his inquisition. "Do you know why you are here?"

"Because my battling skills are not enough to fight the enemy." Netto answered.

"Correct." Reed told him. "We will test Rockman under several conditions. If you are able to beat each of our Navis, you have passed the test."

Manny stood up.

"Your first lesson will be with me. Follow me to the training room upstairs." Manny and Netto walked into a stairwell, and entered a hallway two floors up. Manny guided Netto through the second door to the right, into a small carpeted room with a Netbattling console in the center.

"Here we are. Are you ready for your first lesson?" Manny asked.

Netto nodded.

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmisson!"

"Plug-in, MechanicMan! Transmission!"

MechanicMan and Rockman appeared facing each other.

"Your first lesson will be dealing with disadvantageous terrain." Manny explained. "Deathmatch 2, slot-in!"

The ground started to shake, and then almost all of it crumbled below Rockman and MechanicMan's feet, leaving them standing on two separate platforms.

"Your ability to dodge will be highly limited. Try to rely on a direct defense." MechanicMan lectured. "Wrench Toss!"

A wrench started flying at Rockman. Unable to sidestep it, Rockman and Netto were forced to choose a different tactic.

"Shield Component, activate!"

Rockman's arm turned into a shield, which the wrench harmlessly bounced off of. He caught it in his hand, and threw it back.

"Very good, Rockman." MechanicMan applauded as the wrench knocked him off the platform, logging him out.

"You're done the first lesson, Netto. Well done." Manny told Netto as he left. "Now to get some coffee."

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

Blaze walked into the room, clutching her PET to her hip.

"You did an excellent job with your first lesson. Your second lesson will be dealing with extreme-temperature combat. Plug-in, InfernoMan! Transmission!"

InfernoMan took MechanicMan's place on the field.

"Time to heat things up." InfernoMan chuckled. "Inferno Wave!"

The flame on InfernoMan's head flared up, letting out a blast of heat. The air started to shimmer.

"Will you able be withstand the heat long enough to be able to attack?" InfernoMan asked as Rockman wiped the sweat from his head.

"This should cool things down. Aqua Tornado 1, slot-in!" Netto inserted a chip into his PET.

Rockman fired a spiral of water from his arm cannon, dousing InfernoMan. The temperature started to cool down.

"It worked!" Netto cheered.

"Not bad. But you'll need more." Blaze retorted. "Lava Stage, slot-in!"

The massive void below Rockman and InfernoMan was replaced by a pit of magma.

The sweltering heat of the magma charred Rockman's suit.

"We're going to have to turn this around!" Netto called. "Soul Unison, Inferno Soul!"

Rockman's armor changed to red and orange, he gained a fuel tank and pistols, and his hair ignited. Rockman dove into the lava in front of him, and before InfernoMan knew what was going on, a fireball shot out of the boiling pit and struck him in the chest, logging him out.

"Excellent job, Netto." Blaze congratulated. "Sparky, it's your turn!"

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

Sparky walked into the room to take Blaze's place, and pulled out a green and yellow PET.

"Plug-in, DynamoMan! Transmission!"

DynamoMan appeared in front of Rockman, who returned to normal.

"This magma will not do for our next lesson." Sparky told Netto. "Panel Return, slot-in!"

The ground returned to its original condition.

DynamoMan explained the circumstances of their next battle.

"You will now deal with high-speed projectiles. Spark Chaser!" DynamoMan shot out a ball of electricity from his hand, which sped towards Rockman.

Rockman somersaulted over the spark, which shot past. When Rockman landed, the ball curved back and changed direction towards Rockman again.

"Stone Cube, slot-in!" Netto called. A large piece of rock landed on the ground, and the electrified orb homed in on it instead of Rockman.

"You dodged my first attack." DynamoMan commented. "Now for my next one. Lightning Bolt!" DynamoMan raised his hand in the air, and electricity started crackling in the air.

"Rockbuster!" Rockman fired on DynamoMan's dome, creating a crack.

"Great idea, Rockman. Since I need a vacuum to generate power, damaging my dome will weaken me." DynamoMan applauded as he logged out.

"You've passed this test. Azure will be here shortly." Sparky told Netto as he walked out.

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

Azure entered the room half a minute later.

"Plug-in, WaveMan! Transmission!"

WaveMan appeared in front of Rockman.

"This will be an underwater battle." WaveMan explained. "You will have to surface for air, and your attacks will be limited due to the water."

"Ocean Stage, slot-in!" Azure inserted a chip into her PET.

The field flooded with water, and Rockman and WaveMan were now underwater.

"Harpoon Cannon!" WaveMan opened with a salvo from his speargun, which Rockman was narrowly able to dodge.

"We'll have to use electricity for this one, Rockman. Elec Sword, slot-in!" Netto inserted a chip into his PET, unaware of what was about to happen.

Rockman's arm turned into a blade of electricity. However, due to being underwater, the electricity in the sword dissipated and shocked Rockman instead of his instead of the intended target of WaveMan.

"Guess that didn't work." Netto sighed. "Are you okay, Rockman?"

"I think so." Rockman responded.

"I'll try something else. Wide Sword, slot-in!"

Rockman's arm turned into a regular sword, which he swung at WaveMan, severing his air hose.

"My air!" WaveMan gurgled as he logged out.

"Pretty good for an underwater battle, I'll say." Azure complimented. "Reed, it's time."

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

Reed walked into the room, holding his PET to his chest.

"The time has come, Netto. Are you ready for the final test?"

Netto nodded.

"Plug-in, FlowerMan! Transmission!"

FlowerMan landed in the water along with Rockman.

"This excess moisture is bad for my petals, you know!" FlowerMan yelled.

"This is a Netbattle, not a pool party," Reed sighed. "Panel Restore, slot-in!"

The ground returned to normal as FlowerMan shook the excess moisture from his body like a wet dog.

"Your final lesson will be dealing with a highly agile Navi able to evade a majority of attacks." Reed explained. "Let's go!"

Rockman opened fire on FlowerMan, who simply cartwheeled through the blasts.

"Flower Dart!" FlowerMan leapt up into the air and threw a sharp-stemmed flower downward, narrowly missing Rockman.

"Time to fight... flowers with fire!" Netto struggled with an analogy. "Flame Jet 1, slot in!"

Rockman's arm shot out a burst of flame, which FlowerMan basked in from afar like it was sunlight.

"If you're not going to bring that closer, it's just a suntan." FlowerMan taunted.

"We're going to need more range, Rockman." Netto realized. "Sword, Widesword, slot-in!"

"Not very impressive. Rose Stinger!" FlowerMan pointed out two sharp flowers, and broke into a dash towards Rockman.

"Now!" Rockman started rapidly spinning, connecting with FlowerMan the second he hit Rockman and logging him out.

"Excellent setup, Netto." Reed applauded. "You've completed our training, but just know that we were just taking it easy on you. A real enemy will pull out all the stops. In reality, we have only given you a place to start with your own training, Netto. Good luck."

Netto shook Reed's hand.

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

Netto walked out of the INCISOR building, pondering Reed's words.

"A place to start with my own training? What does he mean?" Netto asked.

"Reed's training only covered a few things." Rockman explained. "You're going to have to find out a lot of things on your own, Netto-kun."

"I won't be on my own. I have you with me, remember?"

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

Reed sat down at his computer with a cup of tea.

"I didn't teach him much, only what he needs to know to fight the Black Matrix. Black..."

Reed looked onto a picture on his desk, of a brown-haired girl in a black coat.

"Angel... after all this time..."

END CHAPTER

[Neko]

O_O ANGEL? Woah, that is a great name.

Okay, this chapter seemed a little rushed and Netto was a little OOC, he would comply with training that easy.

I LOVE the forshadow though. Great work ^^
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[FusionDragon2099]

Episode 18: The Betrayal of A Friend! Reed and Angel

Lady Black was sitting at her desk, when her personal assistant Ken walked in.

"Ken, you got my call, I see. I need to see... an old acquaintance of mine. I have a contact at INCISOR, Theodore Benedict. He should be able to bring him to us."

"I'll talk to him." Ken responded.

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

Theodore Benedict was in the underground parking garage of INCISOR when Ken arrived. He was a slender man with long blond hair whose body was completely concealed by a black trenchcoat, except for the bottom of a pair of black jeans.

"My boss needs to talk to one of your co-workers." Ken reached into his trenchcoat and pulled out a photograph of Reed.

"Reed Green, huh? He's doing gardening in the atrium." Benedict answered nervously.

"Thank you for your cooperation. Here's your reward." Ken threw a wad of bills at Benedict, and walked into the elevator.

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

Reed was in the INCISOR building's atrium, planting flowers in the garden soil. He got up to wipe the sweat off his forehead when a shadow cut out the sun from the skylight. He turned around to see Ken standing over him.

"My boss would like to speak with you, Green-san." Ken told him.

"You stepped on my tulips." Reed pointed to a line of trampled flowers.

"You're not being very cooperative, Green-san."

"You're ruining my garden. Get out before I call security."

At that point, Ken knocked out Reed with a baton and flung him over his shoulder.

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

Reed woke up to find himself in a dark but extravagant office. The wallpaper was adorned with black roses; the computer was a custom-built case on an oakwook desk with a black finish.

The person Reed had come to meet eventually arrived.

Angel Black was a young woman, not yet twenty-five. She wore long black jacket, and a pair of suit pants complimented her outfit. Her short brown hair and gold-framed glasses drew attention to her face.

"Angel, it's been, what, five years?" Reed asked. "I haven't seen you since we graduated from high school."

"I still remember how big a fool you made of yourself at the party." Angel chuckled.

"I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, I didn't know the punch was spiked."

"But that's all in the past, Reed. So this is how we meet after all this time. You, a high-ranking member of an international law enforcement organization, and me, the head of a notorious crime syndicate? What's keeping you from arresting me right here, right now? Your loyalty to me. Plus the fact you'd be beaten to a pulp if you tried."

Ken was standing behing Angel, patting his baton against his hand.

"Reed..." Angel took on a sudden serious tone. "I want you to work for me."

"Wha-wha-wha-what?" Reed stuttered in confusion. "You know I can't do that. I'm an official now. If anyone found out, we could both go down, and you know it!"

"That's why nobody will find out." Angel chuckled. "You're going to be doing... subtle sabotage. You'll need this."

Reed's eyebrows shot up as Angel handed him a Dark Chip.

"You want me to betray my employer? How much do I get..."

"A million zenny a month. Starting now. Just in case you betray me, I can't let you know where I am, so... Ken?"

Ken knocked out Reed with his baton again.

"Take him to his office."

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

The next morning, Reed was sitting in the briefing room with a cup of tea on the table when Netto walked in.

"I know you like stuffed bunnies Reed, and I was at the store, so I got this for you." Netto pulled a large brown toy rabbit out of his backpack, its nose twitching to and fro.

"Netto, you shouldn't have..." Reed was giggling happily. "I'm going to name this one Twitchy. Just look at its nose! You're going on my desk with Wiggles."

"Wiggles?" Netto asked.

"You remember the bunny from the other time, right?" Reed told Netto. "That's Wiggles. I named it that because its ears wiggle. Thanks again, Netto." Reed was bouncing his gift in his arms like a child.

Meijin came into the room.

"Reed, put the bunny away or I'll have to take it." Meijin scolded.

Reed set Twitchy down on the table and turned to Netto.

"If you knew how many times my teachers in school told me that..."

"Anyway..." Meijin started explaining the situation. "We've found the real Dark Chip warehouse. Not like that last one. I'm not going to put any blame on the incident..."

Reed was being stared at by everybody in the room.

"I told you I was sorry!" he yelled.

"Again..." Meijin was tiring of interruptions. "We're going to send a team to the factory, and try and retrieve as many Dark Chips as possible."

Reed smiled.

"We'll all do our best, Meijin-san." Netto called out confidently.

"San wa iranai!" Meijan responded.

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

Netto, Manny, Blaze, Sparky, Azure, and Reed were outside the warehouse entrance.

"I'm going to take a look around this place." Reed told everybody. "Don't contact me. They might be monitoring our communications."

Reed walked off into a dark hallway.

"Anyway, let's shut down the security system." Azure took over for Reed. "Plug-in, WaveMan! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, DynamoMan! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, InfernoMan! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, MechanicMan! Transmission!"

"Plug-in, Rockman! Transmission!"

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

Reed had turned his vest inside-out to wear it as black. He flipped open his PET and called out.

"Angel, it's me. I'm at the warehouse..."

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

Rockman and the others walked forward through the system.

"There's nobody guarding the system." Rockman noted.

"Probably another trap." WaveMan pointed out.

When they got to the core, they saw FlowerMan standing in their path.

"I'm so sorry, but there's been a change of plans." FlowerMan chuckled.

"FlowerMan, what are you doing?" MechanicMan asked.

"We're working for the Black Matrix now." Reed laughed. "I ran into an old friend, and got an offer I couldn't refuse."

"What were you thinking, Reed!" Azure yelled into her PET. "This is against everything you stand for!"

"I stand only for loyalty to Angel Black now..." Reed responded.

"Angel Black? Her?" Sparky was disgusted. "You remember what happened the last time you were friends with her! Are you willing to risk everything for someone who never even acted like a friend?"

"Things have changed now... with what she's paying me, I'd be a fool not to do this." Reed laughed maniacally. "FlowerMan, attack!"

"Flower Dart!" FlowerMan flung a rose out, barely missing Rockman.

"I don't want to have to do this, but..." Netto realized his friend was now an enemy. "Spread Gun, slot-in!"

Rockman opened fire on FlowerMan, who leapt back to avoid getting hit.

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Angel was watching the situation from her office.

"Beautiful, simply beautiful. Destroy them, FlowerMan! Destroy them all!"

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"Binding Vine!" FlowerMan threw his hand to the ground, and a thorn-covered vine ruptured out toward InfernoMan.

"Inferno Buster!" InfernoMan threw his pistols and burned the vine.

"Rose Stinger!" FlowerMan rushed at DynamoMan and WaveMan, only to miss them completely.

"Wrench Toss!" MechanicMan flung a wrench at FlowerMan, who somersaulted out of the way.

"You're not really trying, are you, FlowerMan?" DynamoMan asked.

"You're usually a lot better than this..." WaveMan commented. "Unless you're not really trying to hurt us."

FlowerMan clapped.

"You figured it out." he chuckled.

"Angel, I'm not working for you anymore." Reed spoke into his PET. "And your Dark Chip? I'm using it as evidence."

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Angel spit out the tea she was currently drinking at what she heard.

"You!" She started shaking her computer monitor. "You double-crossed me!"

She turned to Ken.

"I don't care what it takes, I want the head of him and his Navi on a platter!"

Ken nodded and walked out of the office.

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"Now that we're back on your side..." Reed chuckled. "Let's shut down the security system. Gaia Sword, slot-in!"

FlowerMan's arm turned into a dull silver sword entwined in vines.

"Now for some more power. Minibomb, slot-in! Cannon, slot-in! Saboten Ball 1, slot-in!"

FlowerMan's sword pulsated, then grew in size.

"Now. Gaia Sword!" FlowerMan swung at the core of the system, destroying it in an explosion while the others watched in awe.

Reed came back into the room.

"The security system's down. Take as many Dark Chips as you can for evidence."

Netto looked at Reed.

"I was worried... worried that you betrayed us."

"I couldn't betray you guys. You mean so much to me! Manny, who reminds me to change the coffeepot without speaking?"

Manny looked at everybody else.

"I don't jitter that much, do I?"

Reed continued his heartfelt speech.

"Blaze, who makes curry as good as Maha Ichiban's for half the price?"

"You make curry?" Netto asked. Blaze simply nodded.

"Sparky, who helped me set up the lights in my greenhouse?"

"I only did it because you didn't want to pay for a professional." Sparky responded.

"Azure, who makes the best tuna salad at the office?"

"You did the salad, I simply did the tuna." Azure was trying to keep Reed from flattering her.

"Twitchy, Wiggles..." Reed looked at the stuffed bunnies in his backpack. "Whose warmth and fuzziness helps me sleep at night?"

Everybody just stared at Reed.

"And lastly... Netto, who was the only person I've ever been able to tolerate in less than three hours?"

"It took him a year to get used to me." Manny whispered.

"I couldn't leave you after all we've been through." Reed spoke with all his heart. "Besides, INCISOR's office is within walking distance of a place to get takeout. Come on, if we hurry we'll be back in time for supper. Who wants curry?"

"Curry!" Netto was smiling with glee.

"Reed..." A voice came from above.

Everybody looked up to see Ken standing on a catwalk.

"Ken..." Reed grumbled.

"Ken Ankokuno... a notorious arms dealer. How come you didn't tell me this earlier?" Azure asked Reed.

"After he knocked out... twice, I might add, I didn't really think it was a good idea to ask."

Ken stared down at Reed.

"Reed! Know this. Your actions have made you a great enemy in our eyes, and you should be careful if you wish to avoid... an accident. We'll be watching you." Ken raised a black and gold PET to his shoulder. "By the way, the first... accident... is about to happen."

Ken tapped a stylus to the PET screen, and there was a loud sequence of beeps.

"We might want to run." Reed noted.

Everybody ran out of the warehouse just in time to see it explode. A black motorcycle sped away from the back of the building as it crumbled.

Reed looked up at the sky.

"Angel... you have changed, so has our friendship. I won't rest until I've put an end to the Black Matrix!"

END CHAPTER

[Neko]

May I say :O

That was awesome. One of your best written chapters yet, I'd say. Great job and the bunny thing is too funny XD

Keep it up!
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[FusionDragon2099]

[Neko]

Well, I like it XD

Great job with the bunnies.
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Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

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