L&L:S.2: Misadventures of Lyne and Bass: Episode 26

[Pyroman.EXE]

lol... that was a really good chapter.

Funny to see the cameo of that met with the arrow in the helmet, too.

[Megawoman.EXE]

Episode 10: Exercise Accomplished. Have a Gift!

~ 20 Oct 200X ~

Lyne finally landed on the other side of the Remote Gate after what had seamed like forever. Her landing was not what you’d call graceful, leaving her sprawled out and disheveled on the ground.

“Oww, My head!” Lyne moaned as she got up into a sitting position.

“So, you’re the one who opened my chest,” a voice boomed behind her. She turned to face a navi wearing a cloak, semi-hidden by the shadows of a fire-lit room.

“Huh?” Lyne responded as she tried to make the navi out. It continued to speak, not hearing her sound of confusion.

“I didn’t expect you to get this far Megawoman,” he finished, getting a very confused look from the tiny navi. The navi then crossed his arms over his chest. “So you thought you could use my gate system to get to your objective?”

“Uh… Well yes,” Lyne admitted to the strange navi. “I saw what happened to Mega when he stepped on one. I thought I’d use the system to my team’s advantage.” That voice sounds so familiar, she thought. She got up off the ground and patted some dust off, then turned back to look at the navi as he spoke again.

The navi nodded, “And you’re resourceful like your brother program. Possibly more so, since you’ve had experience with stealth missions before,” he stated placing his hand on his chin.

“Hey, how’d you know that?” Lyne protested as she backed away from the navi.

“You should know who I am.” the navi replied as he took his hood off.

“Gateman! ... So you were the moving remote gate Kid picked up in the system. Damn, I should’ve known better,” Lyne scolded herself, hitting the sides of her head for being so stupid.

“Precisely,” he replied as the walls of the room shuddered. “What was that?” Gateman asked in irritation as he wobbled his way over to the window to look out.

As the room continued to shudder Lyne hit a solid surface that she hadn’t noticed before. It prevented her falling off the table she was on. She looked upwards to see the lid of the capture cell she was in. This one was sized for smaller viruses, so she fit in it easily. This isn’t fair. Lyne pounded her fist against the wall of the cell that held her as she started to mist at the corner of her eyes. Ohhh, they’ve started the attack. I have to get out of here. I’ve got to finish my objective, but how? she pondered while the room still quaked. Her cell suddenly slid towards the edge of the table. “Alright!” Lyne exclaimed as she forced it with all her might to the edge of the table. The sliding noises got Gateman’s attention.

“Hey! What are you doing?” Gateman asked as she finally got it over the edge of the table, creating a gap big enough that she could teleport though to reach the ground. “Hey, get back here. You’re supposed to remain captured,” he cried out as she teleported down to the ground. “Oop!” he yelped as he fell to the ground face first after another violent shudder of the room which sent him tripping over the cloak he was wearing. Why’d I wear this? he thought angrily as Lyne blew a razzberry at him while bolting at the door. “Guah! Get back here!” he cried out, bringing three navis to the entryway.

“Are you alright? What’s wrong?” one of the navis asked in concern as Lyne tripped over one their feet and tumbled into the hallway, breaking her style change.

“Stop her. I’m tangled up at the moment,” Gateman replied as Lyne was getting up off the floor. She looked up and saw Megaman, Protoman, and a navi she didn’t recognize. They approached a step and made her back away from the trio.

“So that’s your sister program. She’s kinda’ small, isn’t she?” Zero asked in a joking manner, getting a slight chuckle from Protoman and Mega.

Lyne balled up her fist and shook it at the stranger. “NetAngel Style Change Activate!” she called out, shining brightly as she changed form.

“Uh Oh!” Megaman muttered, backing off as Lyne shot upwards at them and kicked Zero hard in the face.

“Don’t make fun of me!” she shrieked as she kicked him a few more times around the helmet. The beleaguered navi tried to swat his assailant away, but couldn’t connect with the rapidly flitting Lyne. Eventually, she broke off her attack on Zero and rested on the wall high above them.

“Come on Lyne; he didn’t mean it,” Mega called out before she went on the attack again.

“Damn! That’s no sister. It’s the firefly from Hell,” Zero said as he brought out his sword hilt, activated his Z Saber, and started slashing at his small assailant. “Stand still!” he shouted at her and made another swing. His time, the miniaturized flier didn’t move, but she did activate a barrier and used the force of Zero’s swing against it to give her a nice push towards the end of the hall and the remote gate located there. She flitted there for a second, taunting the red-clad, blonde navi.

“Nah, Nah,” she called out as she pulled down her lower eyelid and stuck her tongue out at Zero before turning away, waving her rear towards him in one last taunt. She then activated the remote gate and slipped through.

“Damn little bug,” Zero chased after her through the gate, ready to strike at her on the other side. “I’ll cut your wings off!”

“Oh boy! And I thought I was worried about his viruses going insane,” Protoman commented mildly as Mega started to drag him along down the hall, towards the gate as it was starting to close.
_____________________________________________

Once on the other side of the remote gate, Lyne opened up her audio e-mail to make contact with her team. “Whew! I made it,” she commented as she looked around her objective area. She noticed what looked like a large virus in the middle of the area. It looked familiar, but Lyne couldn’t figure out why. “And it looks like World Three made a large virus. Eep!” Lyne exclaimed as she dodged a slash from Zero’s sword.
_____________________________________________

“Report your situation,” Searchman called over the e-mail as Lyne continued to make screaming noises. “Meg, what is your situation?”

“She’s in trouble Baka!” Bass shouted over the e-mail.

“I know that. And don’t call me that,” he said as he shot off a round right between Bass’s helmet crests for emphasis, “Drop and give me thirty.”

“But!...” Bass protested just before another shot went off above his head. Without further hesitation, Bass dropped to the ground and gave Searchman thirty pushups, counting them out loud.

“Send help!” Lyne pleaded as she avoided sword slashes and hand grabs. “I have a three against one situation here. Please.”

“29… 30,” Bass finished before he got up off the ground.

“Now, it’s your turn,” Searchman said getting a grin in response from Bass.
___________________________________________

“Stand still Bug!” Zero shouted as he over swung his sword and got it stuck in the ground.

“Zero stop!” Mega reached out and spun his friend to face him. “This is an exercise,” Mega said, “She got to the center. Now we have to ward off the other team from joining her.”

Suddenly the doors the center area burst off their hinges, sailed through the area, missed the virus shell, and made a hole on the other side wall. “You were saying,” Zero commented as he shook free of Mega’s grip.

“Well, why didn’t they just do that before?” Protoman pondered as he scanned the dust cloud with his visor. “Uh Oh… Megaman.”

“What?” Mega asked as Protoman pointed at the clearing dust cloud. Mega’s eyes went wide with shock “Oh boy. Looks like you made him mad Zero.”

“Huh? Me? Who are you talking about?” Zero asked, confused.

“Him.” Mega pointed at a cloaked figure that was becoming more visible in the clearing dust cloud.

Lyne looked relieved as she glided her way over towards the figure and gently landed on his shoulder.

Zero gulped nervously as he finally recognized the cloaked figure. “I didn’t think he still had that much power without bugs in his system.”

Lyne just sat there and glared at Zero before she heard a system warning go off inside her head. /Reboot/. No not now! I’m in the middle of a mission. she thought as she fought the urge to shut down. She didn’t last long against her programming and started to feel light headed. “Connor,” she said meekly, hoping to get an answer as to why she was feeling that way before she fell off his shoulder.

Bass caught her quickly and tried to wake her. “Lyne, wake up please,” he said as he rubbed her cheek, “C’mon, wake up. Huh?” She’s shut down. They must’ve hurt her. “Grrrr… GOSPEL!” he called out, summoning his virus.

Yes Master, his virus companion replied as he materialized. I’m ready to attack anythi- Gospel thought as he felt something placed on his back.

“Watch her while I kick some ass,” Bass commanded as he scanned over the trio. “Which one of you hurt her?” Bass demanded as he scanned them over, looking for any weapons. He then saw a sword hilt on one of the navis. Wait, I know that hilt… Zero, Bass thought as he narrowed his eyes at the navi he now deemed as a target. “You…” Bass rumbled as he pointed at Zero, “Zero DemonNavi! You did it! You hurt Lyne!” he cried out as he charged at Zero while activating his Dark Blade.

“I’m surprised you remember me, Bass. You won’t win this time!” Zero replied as he blocked Bass’s strike.

“Grrr…” Bass snarled at Zero as he shoved him back. “You attacked me to get some glory added to your name.” *Clang* “Now you hurt what is mine. How dare you?” *Clang, clang, Slice*

“Protoman, do you think you can separate them? I’m going to go check up on Lyne,” Mega asked as they just stood there and watched the two warriors fight.

“Not sure about that. I could try,” Protoman said as the two navis crashed to the ground in front of them. “Or maybe not. Go check up on your sister.” Mega nodded and went over to see how she was doing.

Gospel had removed her from his back and was fanning her off with his tail. “Good boy. She doesn’t look hurt,” Mega commented as he scratched Gospel on the top of his head, making the virus wolf wag his tail even harder. “I wonder what’s wrong with her. It was enough to make Bass really angry at Zero.”

He messed with Master’s possession. I should know; I get in trouble for messing up his stuff all the time. Gospel thought as he grunted and whined while continuing to fan Lyne off. Of course, Mega didn’t hear him, but understood his whine of understanding. Shoes, clothes, and his slippers. Those are fun to chew on, Gospel thought happily as he plotted on what he was going to chew on next, while wagging his tail even faster.

“DIE!” Bass cried out as came in for a kill strike while Zero was still on the ground. “Hells Rolling!” he shouted as two purple buzz saw wheels formed and charged at Zero.

“Oh Boy! That looks like a new attack,” Zero said as he stared at the attack in shock.

“Sonic Boom!” Protoman called out as he attacked Bass’s Hells Rolling attack.

Bass picked him up by the collar of his armor. “You stay out of this,” he said as he pointed at Zero, “This is between me and him.” Bass then threw Protoman off to the side and charged at Zero.

The sight of his friend being thrown like that made Zero angry. “Why you… Z Slash!” Zero called out as he sliced upwards at Bass’s retreating cloak, not managing to tag Bass’s body, but still exposing his armor through the tear he made. Zero noticed something strange about Bass’s icon. “What happened to you?”

“None of your business,” Bass hissed in disgust as he took his cloak off and repaired it quickly before putting it back on. “Fight me Zero Demon,” Bass taunted as he got into a fighting pose.

“With pleasure,” Zero replied as he charged at Bass.

“Damn,” Protoman moaned, pressing his hand to the side of his head, “That’s the last time I try to break up a fight that Bass is in.”
__________________________________

Lyne slowly stirred as she came out of her reboot state. She then started to pick herself up off the ground, “Wha’ happen?” she pondered as she dazedly held her head up.

“You shut down for a little bit,” Mega replied to his sister’s voice while keeping his eyes on the combating navis. He then turned to check up on her and jumped in shock. “L-Lyne you’re normal again,” Mega stammered, still in shock, as she rose up off the ground to stand. Lyne observed that he was right as she stood up over her sitting brother and Gospel.

I’m no longer tiny. This is awesome, she thought as she looked herself and her surroundings over. She saw that Bass was fighting Zero while Protoman sat on the ground, holding the side of his head.

“Meg… Meg do you copy?” Searchman said over Lyne’s audio e-mail.

“Oh, I forgot I left this on!” Lyne started in surprise, “Yes, I copy.”

“Oh good. Meg, you have to finish the mission while Bass keeps them at bay. Kid and Sonata already got the hostages out,” Searchman ordered.

Lyne nodded in acknowledgement as she was about to take off before Mega stopped her. “Hub, let go. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Sis, you did that already. I want to wish you good luck. Those Life Virus Shells are difficult to delete,” Mega said as he let go of her and smiled.

“Oh, so that’s why it looks so familiar,” Lyne said as she looked at the virus shell. “Thanks Hub.” She gave him a hug before she launched herself into the sky over the area. The Life Virus readied itself for battle as she entered its area. Once Lyne was high enough, she powered up an attack. “LIGHT OVERLOAD!” she commanded as she released a large ball of white energy at the virus shell.

Her shout got the attention of the two fighting navis, making them stop in mid strike. “Lyne,” Bass said in an exasperated tone while Zero stood there with his jaw dropped at the blindingly bright attack. The ball of energy struck its target and engulfed it in a mass of crackling destruction. When the light died down enough for anyone to see the result, there was no virus shell to be seen and a large crater was left where it had been standing. The words /End Exercise/ formed over the ruin of the ground and a computer voice announced it through the rest of the exercise area.

“Huh,” Megaman muttered quietly, “Well, I didn’t have an easy time against the Life Virus. Maybe I should have tried slowing her down.”

The area around the navis disappeared as Lyne touched down beside Bass and deactivated her NetAngel Style Change. “Showing off, huh?” The cloaked navi commented dryly.

“What do you mean showing off? That was just an efficient way to handle the situation,” she disagreed with a grin.

“Whoot! We did it,” Sand shouted excitedly as the rest of the team joined Lyne and Bass.

“Nice job you two,” Searchman said as he wrapped both his arms around Lyne and Bass’s shoulders, getting nervous looks from both of them. “In my opinion, you two have what it takes to work together and with a team. But you need to learn a little more respect,” Searchman said as he rubbed the top of Bass’s helmet, getting a scowl from Bass.

“I agree,” Serenade said as she joined them, gently removed Searchman’s arm, and placed Bass in a head lock.

“Stop! Serenade!” Bass pleaded as she rubbed the top of his helmet.

“What? I’m congratulating you for doing a good job,” Serenade said as she finished.

“Can’t you do it another way?” Bass asked as he narrowed his eyes at the Undernet Queen. Serenade replied with a hug, making Bass blush and Lyne smile before she too hugged Bass.

While the two ladies were tormenting Bass, a table linked into the area in front of them all. They cut their celebrations short and looked over to see that the observers and examiners for the exercise were there.

“NAT 001 Navis, Flashman, Sandman, and Scorpion, come forward,” a navi that resembled a half humanoid, half shark said as he stood up from behind the table.

Flash shrugged his shoulders at the other two NAT navis before the trio of them went to the front. “You three and your NetOps are now fully active NetAgents,” Sharkman said as he brought up three files in front of him. “These are your access codes to get inside NAHQ.” The files streamed over to the NAT navis and stopped. They all three downloaded the files as another Navi stood. This one was wearing what looked like Kendo gear. Sharkman took his seat, surrendering the floor.

Mega started to show signs of great excitement on his face.

“Ahem… You three can stand back now. Now would Lyne Hikari and Connor Cossack come forward,” Kendoman requested of the half navis as he walked around the table and stood before it.

“Huh? Why is he calling out human names?” Zero asked with a furrowed brow.

“Sush…” Protoman hissed, “Watch,” he commanded. Zero obeyed the advice and watched as the navis he knew were called Megawoman and Bass approach the table to stand before Kendoman.

“You both are now active NetSaviors,” Kendoman said as he tapped them each on the right shoulder with his kendo stick. “You both will be the ones in charge of any cases involving the NetTerrorist group known as Zodiac. Understood?”

“Yes, Kendoman,” the two half navis saluted in response, arousing applause from the observers and examiners.

“Now we party!” Punk shouted. Digital refreshments appeared on the table as the room around them morphed into something more like a lounge. “Uh, just watch out for the hole.” Many eyes glanced over to the crater that still smoked where the Life Virus Shell once stood.

“Eh, heh, heh. Maybe I should fix that, huh?” Lyne said nervously.

“Nonsense,” Famous said from a nearby vid monitor, “A little damage was to be expected. We’ll just have to get it fixed later on. A repair team’s already prepared for it.”

Relieved by this, Lyne joined in on the conversations going around. Several vid monitors appeared all about the room, allowing both navis and operators to interact.

“Well how does it feel having a job again?” Serenade asked Bass as she offered some data to Lyne and him. “Your father would be proud of you.”

“Good I guess,” he replied as he accepted the gift gratefully. He looked over at Lyne who was already consuming hers in delight. He then looked down, “Yeah, I guess my father would be huh?”

“Of course he would. I am. Enjoy the festivities,” Serenade said as she left them to join another group of navis. After she left, Zero came up to apologize to Lyne for attacking her earlier, but Bass got in his way.

“You’re not going to touch her again,” Bass growled before Lyne placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Connor stand down,” Lyne commanded as she stepped around him to meet this new navi, Zero.

“Connor? I thought your name was Bass,” Zero asked, perplexed by the name Megawoman had called the cloaked navi by.

“Bass is my name, but she calls me by my human name. Hers is Lyne, and she’s the only one I allow to call me by that name while I’m on the Net… Well other than the humans that are my friends.”

“Heh, heh. Since when are you not on the Net?” Zero asked in a joking manner.

“When I don’ wanna’ be. You have a problem with that?” Bass rumbled in a low tone as he got up in Zero’s face.

“Uh... No I guess not,” Zero said waving his hands in front of him. “Besides, I came over here to congratulate you both and to apologize.” Bass narrowed his eyes at Zero’s statement.

“For what? You didn’t hurt me,” Lyne said, causing Bass and Zero to look at her and blink twice in disbelief.

“Huh?” They both said in unison.

“Nope, not one scratch. I just rebooted because the Mini Chip finished installing. That’s the reason I’m back to normal,” Lyne explained with a smile on her face.

Bass slapped his forehead, “I completely forgot about the chip.”

“That’s Okay,” Lyne cooed as she patted him on he back. The trio of navis started to converse as Mega, Protoman, Searchman, and the NAT 001 navis joined up with their group.
__________________________________

In the shadows of the room, Hackman and Disk were watching the group of NetSavior Navis.

“Do you got it?” Hackman asked Disk.

“Of course I have it,” Disk responded, “Which one am I supposed to give it too?”

“Um…,” Hackman looked their instructions over, “The instructions that King Steven gave me say the one called Megawoman or Lyne.”

“Oh, the little purple one. Got it,” Disk responded in confirmation as she looked her target over. “Don’t forget what you’re supposed to give the Demon Bass.”

“I know,” Hackman said bringing up a file as he frowned at it. “I wonder why King Steven wanted me to give this to him anyway. This will affect both of his systems.”

Disk shrugged her shoulders, “Don’t know. Maybe to make him stronger or something like that. Let’s go,” she said, dragging her partner over to where the group of conversing navis were. “Remember the plan. Hand shakes and disappear,” Disk said as Hackman let go of her arm.

“Well hello,” Hackman said as he gently grabbed Lyne’s hand, “and who is this charming little angel navi?” he asked as he kissed it. “That was an Atlantian greeting.”

He didn’t listen to me,Disk thought to herself as she palmed her face in exasperation, while Bass started to fume with anger.

Lyne was recovering from the shock of the unusual greeting. “Uh… Oh… You were asking me a question. I’m Meg. Who are you?” Lyne asked as she looked the red and orange armor clad navi.

Hackman let go of her hand and bowed to her. “Pardon my rudeness. I am Hackman, and this is my charming friend Disk. We’re citizens of Atlantis,” he said as Bass dragged Lyne away from Hackman.

“Atlantis? Isn’t that a myth?” Bass asked, obviously more at ease with Lyne by his side. Lyne looked sideways at him as she was about to voice the same question, and then looked back at the two Atlantian Navis for an answer.

Hackman waved back at them, “No, not at all. All that’s left of Atlantis is its network server. That’s where we came from.”

“Ah… So is the Atlantis you come from also considered a country?” Lyne asked nervously.

“Well… Now that I think about, it’s kinda’ both a server and a country. We’re here representing the King of Atlantis. He apologizes for not being here in navi,” Hack said as both he and Disk bowed at them.

Megaman shot a glance at Bass as he thought, Nights mentioned something about a King of Atlantis.

That’s right, and Alpha cursed at the King, so Alpha has others that want him deleted too, Bass thought back to the blue navi as he narrowed his eyes at the duet before closing them.

“Well thank you for coming in his stead,” Lyne said in a nervous, grateful tone as she looked over at Bass.

“You don’t need to bow. Uh… We understand and accept his absence,” Bass said in nervous understanding.

“Well, it was nice chatting with you two, but we have to go and return to our network and get back to work,” Hackman said a both he and Disk shook the hands of their respective targets. As they shook their hands, Lyne and Bass felt something.

“See you ‘round the Net,” Disk said as they both let go and disappeared from their sight.

Connor, I felt something odd, Lyne thought in a worried tone.

Me too, “Trace Teleport,” he commanded, but didn’t disappear. “Damn! Jammed again.”

“That’s the same thing that happened when you tried to go after Nights,” Protoman said in reminder.

“That’s right, so that means my brother does work for this King of Atlantis. Why did this guy not send him instead?” Bass asked in annoyance while pounding his fist into the ground.

“Maybe Nights had a more important tasking to do,” Lyne suggested as she helped Bass up off the ground.

“Yeah, maybe, and I bet that King sent him on it too,” Bass grumped.
______________________________
~Palace of Atlantis~

Hackman and Disk appeared inside the throne room. “Mission Accomplished,” Hackman and Disk said as they bowed in King Steven’s (Nights's) presence.

“Thank you. You are dismissed,” Nights replied and the two HackerNavis disappeared. Satisfied that he was alone, he returned his attention to round sphere. “Little did you know brother, I was watching the whole time,” he said as he watched the images that appeared on the floating orb, “Thanks to this gift from the Ancient. I’m going to need your help soon. I’m not sure how soon, but I know it’s soon,” he commented quietly as he continued to view his brother fume with anger and then suddenly snap at Lyne.

“No, no,” Nights shook his head in disappointment. “That’s not how you treat her. Maybe I should teach you a little lesson in respect,” he said as he brought up a keyboard panel, “Besides, I need to help make you stronger,” he commented as he opened a window, “Your immune system is a little on the weak side.” He took his attention away from the orb and looked over the window he had open. It displayed a digital reading of the program that he had Hackman install into his brother’s system. “Alright, here it goes,” Nights said as he stretched on his throne. You shouldn’t be so mean, he thought to Bass.
__________________________________
~ Lounge Room ~ NSHQS ~

Bass stopped in mid argument as he heard the voice inside his head. He looked around quickly, with darting eyes, in search of the voice’s owner. The other navis around him looked on in confusion at the way he was acting.

“Good. I got your attention,” the same voice spoke as a round orb sailed from its hidden location.

Bass scowled at the orb, It looks like a byte, but it doesn’t feel like it. “Who are you, and what right do you have to scold me?” Bass demanded of the orb. A silhouette appeared on the orb.

This is going to take some acting, Nights thought as he got ready to speak. “I am the King of Atlantis,” the voice replied in a rumbling tone. “And I have every right to scold you Young Demon. You shouldn’t be mean to an Angel. You should treat her with respect,” the voice said in a more gentle tone as it floated over to where Lyne was standing. After it stopped, Lyne looked it over curiously as Bass looked over at her.

He had just blamed her for not telling him that Atlantian Navis were trouble. He then looked back at the orb. “Make me. I’m mad at her right now,” Bass huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the orb defiantly.

“*sigh* Why do you have to be so stubborn sometimes?” Nights quietly muttered shaking his head. “Fine I will. And may this be a reminder that you asked for it,” he said pausing for a moment, taking in a calming breath, “Uznaolfne! Atuvotcu!” the young ruler commanded, causing Bass to feel suddenly strange and unwell.

The half navi felt his temperature rising and his stomach reeling. “Ugahh… What did you do… *cough, cough* to me?” he asked with a confused look on his face. Lyne ran up to him to see what was wrong. It didn’t take her long to realize what had just happened.

“No, you made him sick,” she said as she looked back at the orb puzzled, “Why?” she asked the King with drops of moisture forming at the corner of her eyes.

Oh man. Don’t look at me like that, Nights thought nervously as Lyne glared at him, demanding an answer. “Well, one reason is his immune system is weak compared to yours Lyne, and another is because he was being rude to me and you.”

“But you had no right to be mean back,” Lyne protested as she started to cry while looking at the orb. “Make him better right now!” she shouted at the orb while pointing at Bass, who was covering mouth to hide his coughing.

Now I’ve done it. I can be a major Baka sometimes. “I’m sorry Lyne; I can’t do that. Please take care of him,” he said, then paused and sighed. Well, now for the fun part of my act. Here goes. “I’ll send his brother to check up on him about mid week next week,” he said before the orb disappeared. Serenade, who was in the back ground talking with some other navis, excused herself and disappeared as well.

“Damn! That guy su- *cough, cough,*” Bass began, then quickly covered his mouth again. “I’m not weak,” he said as he struggled to stand. “Ugahh…” He poisoned me! he thought indignantly as he started to lose his balance.

Lyne caught him before his knees buckled. As she held him, she checked his temperature, “You’re burning up. Time to log out and get some rest,” she commanded as he righted himself.

He shoved her away, “No! I’m fine. Leave me alone.”

“She’s right. You don’t look so good Bass,” Sonata commented. “You might have a virus. Maybe Famous should check him out before you log out,” he suggested as he watched his half navi friend glare angrily at him, showing no apparent signs that he was getting better.

“Right. C’mon Connor. We’re going to see your cousin,” Lyne said as she started to lead him off.

“I said I’m… *cough, cough, cough*…” Bass protested before he had a coughing fit.

“Fine. Right,” Lyne said, narrowing her eyes at her charge while she gently wrapped her arm across his back and placed his free arm over her shoulders. “C’mon,” she said as she teleported them both over to Famous’s Work Page.

After they were gone, DJ, on his vidscreen, looked puzzled, “Um… Is it me or did the King of Atlantis speak a command in DemonScript?” he asked his navi.

“Yeah, he did actually. He said ‘influenza activate’. I think,” Sonata responded as he went over the word in his head. “Yeah, that’s what he said.”

“How would…?” DJ questioned as he shook his head, “That’s not possible.”

“That’s not so unusual DJ,” Chaud commented, “I bet that he copied a viral DNA code for that virus and made it into a program, but where would he get it? Maybe a hospital.”

“Yeah! And it worked since Bass is now half human,” Lan burst out in understanding, not thinking about what he was saying.

“What?!” Leon and Zero exclaimed in confusion. Chaud glared over at Lan, who shrunk away, realizing that he had made a mistake.

“Well, now that Lan has managed to not keep his mouth shut, we might as well show you,” Chaud said as he and Raika both glared at Lan.

“Smooth Move Lan,” Mega commented from his PET.

“Well doesn’t Brightland know about everything?” Lan asked as he got a confused look from Leon and a death stare from Chaud. “*gulp* I guess not.”

“Princess Pride knows, but not everyone that works for her does,” Raika responded. “You two go ahead and show him, I’ll debrief the rest of the group,” he said as he shooed them away.

“Follow us Leon,” Chaud said as he started to shove Lan out of the room. Once out of the room they went down the hall until the arrived at Famous’s office. Lan pressed the buzzer.

“Come in,” came a response from the other side of the door as it opened. Once they were inside, the trio saw Famous looking at his computer terminal. “Yep, he did contract a virus. Log him out. It’ll be easier to deal with that way since it’s the flu,” Famous commanded an unseen navi.

“Yes Famous,” the navi with a feminine voice replied.

“No! I said I’m fine, *cough,*” a male voice protested.

“Quit being such a baby. Megawoman, Bass, Log Out!” the female voice commanded causing a stream of pixels to spill out of one of the jack in ports and form two figures in front of Famous’s desk. One was sitting down in a chair and one was standing. Once they finally finished forming, Leon’s jaw dropped.

Bass turned to look at the shocked Brightland NetSavior. “Wha’ you lookn’ at?” Bass asked, sounding stuffed up. “*Cough*.”

“Uh…” was all that Leon managed to get out. He was still in shock at seeing Bass in the real world instead of the digital one.

“Connor, be nice. Deactivate your armor,” Lyne ordered him, getting his attention.

“Nuh uh,” Bass said as he shook his head from side to side while he hugged his cloak tighter around him.

“*sigh*,” Lyne breathed out as she deactivated hers before she grabbed an ice pack, shook it up to activate it, took off his helmet, and placed it on his head.

“Hey! Ahhh,” he trailed off as he realized that the ice pack felt good where it rested. He removed one of his arms out from underneath his cloak to hold it in place. Lyne then placed the back of her hand on his forehead while he was distracted by the relaxing ice pack. She shook her head as she grabbed an object Famous had placed on his desk earlier.

Bass opened his eyes and took notice of it, grabbed his helmet, placed it on his head, and held onto the tops of his helmet crests to pin it down. “C’mon it’s not going to hurt,” Lyne said as Bass curled into a ball by drawing his knees into his chest while still sitting in his chair.

“No, no, NO! I’m not sick!” Bass replied before he had another coughing fit. Once he was finished, Lyne got level with his eyes, which were barely looking over his knees.

“You brought this on yourself, Connor. Now are you going to cooperate or be forced to cooperate, and believe me, you don’t want to be forced to cooperate,” Lyne warned him while she stared him down.

Bass gulped as she glared at him coldly, knowing she wasn’t kidding. He then narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re not being fair,” he said in a really quiet, hoarse tone as he deactivated his armor.

“Of course I am. You’re just being stubborn.” Bass’s face then contorted and paled. Lyne, noticing this and guessing what it meant, grabbed Famous’s trash can in enough time as Bass bent over to throw up his breakfast into it.

“EEeeehhh…” the trio of boys said as they watched Bass.

“I despise that King guy. Gulah…” Bass commented before he started retching into the can again.

“After he’s done, take him down to the Med Bay to get checked out, and take the can with you,” Famous said as he looked up from his console at the two half-navis.

“Yes, Famous,” Lyne responded.

I wonder how come she can get it right and Lan can’t, Famous thought as he watched his cousin look up from the can. Lyne was wiping his face off with a tissue she took from his desk.

“You okay, Connor?” she asked in a concerned tone.

“I feel like I lost my insides,” he replied, holding his arm over his mid section.

“Nope, just breakfast. Alright, let’s get you checked out,” Lyne said as she helped him up out of the chair and out the door. Surprisingly, he didn’t argue as she hauled him out of the room.

“Damn, she forgot the can,” Famous growled as he got up from his desk and placed it back where it had been. He returned to his desk and pressed a button that sent the can down through the floor. “Now I have to get a new can. Oy,” Famous groaned as he sat back down.

“Now you see what Lan was saying?” Chaud asked Leon.

“*Gulp* Yeah. It’s kinda’ weird. How’d it happen?” Leon asked in a calmer tone.

“That my friend is a long, long story,” Lan replied. “I’m hungry!”

“You’re always hungry, Lan,” Mega and Zero commented.

“Care to join us for lunch?” Chaud asked Leon. “If we don’t go soon, Lan will go crazy.”

“Sure, as long as I get to hear this long, long story,” Leon stated as he set his conditions for joining the two NetSaviors.

“Probably best to take Raika with you guys too. He knows more about it then you two do. Plus, this can be a briefing session for you two as well,” Famous suggested. “And Lan, watch your budget or no more food allowance from headquarters.”

“Yes sir,” Lan said, hanging his head before snapping it back up. “Let’s go to Yang’s. Jackie’s parents own that place, plus they’re cheap,” Lan said excitedly as he dragged the other two boys out of the room.

“No need for formalities,” Famous sighed out. He then turned his attention back to his terminal. “Why’d you do that Nights?” he asked the terminal.

“I did it to make him stronger,” a voice answered in reply. “Oww! Serenade, why’d you hit me?”

“You were saying he was being rude. What were you doing?” Serenade scolded.

“Well, I can tell you I wasn’t lying; I can’t cure him of the flu. And I was protecting my image too. Oww! Bass doesn’t know I’m the King of Atlantis and I’d like to keep it that way for now.”

“Oooo, I swear Cossack boys are just stubborn,” Serenade huffed angrily.

“It’s fine Serenade. I have to talk with Connor anyway about his behavior today. I noticed something that he may not realize. Believe me, I’m not looking forward to talking to him about it too.”

“Oh,” Serenade said in understanding. “I really wish his father was around to explain this to him instead of you.” Famous nodded in agreement. Serenade then turned to face Nights. “And you practice using your power as a ruler more carefully. I thought I already taught you that.”

“Yes ma’am,” Nights replied as he hung his head in chagrin.

“Good day you two,” Famous said as he closed his e-mail. “Oh boy is this going to be a long week,” he moaned as he got ready to leave his office.
________________________________________
Next Episode Preview

~Author’s House~

Editor: Good evening. We at the Lan and Lyne production office would like to offer an apology. Due to unforeseen circumstances…
Author: *from back* Editor’s lazy!
Editor: ... Ahem, anyway, we were unable to make an actual episode preview this week.
???: Nyu.
Editor: That being said, we’ll be sure, hmph, that tickles… we’ll be sure to return to you next week with a normal preview.
Ball of Fluff: *clambors into view up along his leg* Nyu? Nyu!
Editor: Well, at least as normal as our previews ever are. Cut that out!
Ball of Fluff: *swats at his ear* Nyuu!
Second Ball of Fluff: *scrambles along arm and latches onto Editor’s shoulder* Nyuu!
Editor: *winces* Ah, and here’s another of the unexpected circumstances. So, did you two want to introduce yourselves to the audi- OWW!
Balls of Fluff: *latch onto Editor’s ears* NRRR!
Editor: Cut that out! Stop biting me! Hey AuthAAAHHH!! *gets knocked over as a wave of kittens overtakes him* Eeee, get them off. Ow, ow, owie!
Author: *still from back* Hon, don’t forget to feed the kittens. You know how they get.
Editor: *getting dragged of to The Dark Lair of the Kittens* Yes, I know! Please rescue meeeee!
Author: Only if you promise not to goof off so we can post the next episode of Lan and Lyne S2, Episode 11: Stunts, on time. I’ll see you there, but he might not be here anymore.
Editor: That’s not fair! I promise to behave. Please get me out of here!!
_________________
"NetAngel Style Change Activate"
Megawoman (Lyne)

Avatar made by Serenade.exe

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

[Pyroman.EXE]

That was a random chapter preview. XD

Good chapter. I wish I could give my step-brother the flu.

And, if that preview means you got some new kittens, congrats to the two of you.

[ElecGuts]

The new chapters (5 - 10) were good.

ChibiLyne was random, but still funny.

[Megawoman.EXE]

Episode 11: Stunts

~Morning ~ 22 October, 200X ~ Famous’s Apartment~

Bass was sitting up in his bed with his arms crossed over his chest, grumpily putting up with his cousin checking up on his condition. He winced as Famous slid a thermometer in his ear, bracing for the noise that was about to follow. It didn’t really surprise him as much anymore, but he still thought it was some kind of torture. “Beep!” the device toned before Famous took it out of Bass’s ear.

“98.6. Looks like your fever finally broke,” Famous said as he stood up from Bass’s bed side. “You should be able to eat solid food again.”

“And that’s a good thing, right?” Bass asked, getting a nod from Famous, “Good, but how much longer am I going to be sick? You said the fever was a symptom of being sick. I don’t like it.”

“Maybe one more day Connor. It’s hard to tell with the flu. And I sure hope you learned your lesson: Don’t make the King of Atlantis angry. I can’t afford any more days off to stay here and watch over you. ”

“You could’ve worked this week. I’m fine by myself,” Bass huffed as he watched Famous leave for the stairs.

Famous narrowed his eyes at him, “Right. You can’t even operate an appliance without it blowing up in your face.”

“Can too,” Bass protested as he pointed at his TV.

“That’s not what I meant Connor. I meant cooking appliances.”

“Oh,” he replied in understanding, “You could’ve had Lyne come over and watch me. She can cook.”

“And that was out of the question too, and you know it. Do I have to talk to you about that again? ‘Cause it seems that it hasn’t sunk into your noggin that you’re a teenager, not a navi.”

“I know that, but I still don’t see why Lyne and I can’t be here without supervision. We’re responsible and wouldn’t do any of that gross stuff you told me about. I don’t see how humans can stand that,” Bass commented as he shuddered at the thought of Famous’s earlier explanation in the week.

“Trust me, people do, and that is why Lyne is not to be here alone with you without an adult in the apartment. And how else were your school assignments supposed to get here?”

“E-Mail,” Bass replied.

“Now you’re being a smart ass.” Bass grinned in response. “Oy. Anyway, since you’re feeling better, I can take you and Lyne off of suspended duty and put you on backup status. That way, I can get back to working on something important for next weekend.”

“So I’m back to working for you, even though I’m still sick?” Bass asked in a grumpy tone.

“Yes. Now go ahead and drink your broth down. I’ll call Lyne up and have her cook you something to eat, since you did point out that she can cook. I know that I can’t at the moment.”

“Your cooking is nasty,” Bass said with a grimace on his face.

“I could cook if you’d like and not call Lyne over.”

“NO!”

“Then I’ll go call Lyne and start my work,” Famous said as he descended the stairs. “Drink your broth,” Famous called out, getting Bass to look at his night stand where there was a steaming glass of liquid and a small container with a dark purple substance in it, “And your medicine,” he added, making his cousin moan in complaint. “See what I mean? You can’t take care of yourself. You’ll take it or I’ll have to force it down your throat with Gospel’s help,” Famous bellowed up the stairs as Gospel whined while nosing it over towards his master.

Bass breathed out a heavy sigh before he took it. He looked at it with a scowl on his face before he drank it down, “Guahhh! This stuff is nasty,” he complained before he took a drink from his cup of broth to wash away the awful taste. He then reached back to the nightstand for his remote and turned on his TV.

“Plug in your heart,” a voice projected from the screen where Bass could see the vice CEO of IPC showing off the newest PET on the market.

“Buhaha, ha, ha,” Bass laughed uproariously as he saw the end of the commercial. “Lan was right. That’s funny. Why did Chaud allow himself to be in such an embarrassing commercial?”

Suddenly the screen changed and showed a woman sitting behind a desk.

“Hello, and welcome back to the 8 o’clock news. I’m Rita Len,” the woman started to speak, “Today’s late breaking news takes place in the Pacific Ocean, where rescue efforts are underway for a sinking cruise liner that was returning to the United States from its three day voyage to the Jawaiian Islands.”

Almost as entertaining as natural disasters, Bass thought as he watched the report with interest.

“Reports from the scene indicate that the ship’s computer system was hacked into late yesterday by a group of World Three Net Terrorists.”

“Really?” Bass pondered, Haven’t seen the old man in action for a while now. I’m surprised he’s not dead yet. Probably doesn’t know how to stay dead. Well, then again, that’s Wily for you. He took another drink from his cup of broth.

“The terrorists forced the engine to explode, causing a hole in the outer hull.”

That’d be Bomberman’s handy work there.

“Luckily for the passengers, the hole wasn’t that big and rescue efforts started right away. Next late breaking story…” the woman said as Bass’s attention drifted from his TV to think about what he’d just watched.

Then, why would World Three attack a cruise liner? That’s kinda’ low for them. Maybe they just wanted the world to know that they’re not through yet. Well, whatever. Lan and Chaud will be probably working on that one, so its none of my business.

“Travel News: Earlier today, Sharo Space Center’s Control X had been hacked into. Flights going into and out Sharo have been canceled due to the system being repaired.”

And it looks like Raika’s got his hands full too, Bass thought as a familiar smell came floating up the stairs Food… he thought as he started to drool before shaking his head, It’s too early for food to be made. Famous better not be cooking. I’d have to delete him.

“No need for that. How are you doing?” Lyne asked, drawing his attention to the top of the stairs where she was standing with a plate of okonomiyaki. “May I enter?”

“Of course you can,” Bass said eyeing the plate of food as Lyne came up to him, “And I’m definitely much better now. How about you?” Bass asked as he took the plate of hot food and started to wolf it down before he paused for a moment, “Man this great. I’m getting sick and tired of having nothing but broth and medicine.”

“Glad you like it. That’s leftover from yesterday. Lan wanted some before he got rushed out for the cruise line rescue in the Pacific.”

“*Gulp* I just saw that on the news. World Three was behind it,” Bass commented before he started on the other half of his okonomiyaki.

“World Three? But Zap and Yahut told me that World Three disbanded,” Lyne exclaimed in shock.

“There’s a difference between disbanding and quitting Lyne. Besides, one of the World Three lone navis did the attack: Bomberman.”

“Oh,” Lyne quietly replied as she sat down in a chair beside Bass’s bed. “How’s your homework coming along?”

“Boring,” he said as he gestured to his desk which had a pile of books and papers on it, “I finished it all yesterday. Except for the chem. labs. I’ll have to make those up. I figured they’d send your brother along on that mission anyway.”

“Really? Why?” Lyne asked in a curious tone.

“He was the one who took down World Three in the first place and knows their techniques.”

“I see,” Lyne said in understanding as the TV interrupted their conversation.

“And now for the Action News: Ribbita,” the news woman said as a window off to the right hand side of the screen came forward and filled the TV screen.

“Hey, where’d Rita Len go?” Bass asked, confused by disappearance of the news woman.

“That’s just computer editing Connor. She’s still at the broadcasting station,” Lyne replied with a smile before their attention was taken by the TV once more.

“Oh.”

“Yes Rita. I’m Ribbita reporting live from the Dentech Stadium, where famous stunt man, Hal Shroder, also known as Crazy Hal, will be performing a new bungee stunt on a structure that he’s recently designed.”

“This whack job’s been in the news a lot lately. If not him, then some NetTerrorist group. World Three, Nebula, Neo World Three, but no Zodiac.”

“That’s a good thing. I don’t want to face them again,” Lyne commented as she stared forward at Bass’s TV.

“Me too.”

“The structure is about 500 feet off the ground over a stunt mat. The jump is scheduled to start anytime now,” Ribbita said as screams filled the air. “It’s getting really exciting right now since the stadium is full of Crazy Hal’s fans. He’s done stunts for major movies, like the soon to be released “Double Agent” starring Swane Ko as our favorite Japanese Spy, Chin Hun. Oh, he’s so dreamy,” Ribbita commented with a starry eyed expression on her face.

“She thinks anyone is dreamy,” Bass scoffed as he took another sip of his broth, “As long as they’re a star or famous.”

“Yeah, but at least she likes reporting too. I couldn’t stand in front of a camera like that,” Lyne commented, “Let’s hope we never have to see a camera while we’re investigating.”

“Agreed.”

“And it looks like he’s ready to jump. Ladies, Gentlemen, Navis, and television viewers,” Ribbita said as she winked at the camera, “Crazy Hal!” Ribbita announced as a tall man with black hair and bangs died electric blue, wearing star shaped shades with yellow lenses and a black body suit that was accented with neon red, blue, and green markings. On his chest was a stylized ‘X’. “His navi Extrememan will also be performing the stunt on the Net for the audience’s navis,” Ribbita continued as a smaller window appeared in the corner showing Extrememan waving. His navi armor was similar to the body suit that his NetOp wore. It was difficult to tell who was copying whom.

“Well this oughta’ be interesting,” Bass commented as he leaned forward and Lyne nodded in agreement.

Crazy Hal then jumped off the elevated platform to plummet towards the ground. As he fell, he spun and tumbled with grace similar to a dancer until he hit the extremity of the bungee cord’s elasticity. He shot back up into the air rapidly as if her were flying before he lost momentum and dove towards earth once more.

Both half navis watched this for a while, speechless, before Lyne felt something. “Connor, something’s not right,” she spoke in a concerned tone as she scanned the screen. Just then, the top part of the real tower exploded.

“Whoa!” Bass exclaimed as they watched the stuntman fall and land on the stunt pad before pieces of the broken tower fell on top of him.

“Oh my! Is he okay?” Lyne gasped as the scene on the TV went into absolute chaos with panicked fans rushing in to check up on their star.

“This just in. Crazy Hal has been injured due to some accident in the tower’s computer system. We’ll have more on the situation as the story develops,” Ribbita said as the screen switched back to Rita Len, who was basically repeating what Ribbita had just said.

“Jeez, that sucks. And that stunt was getting interesting too,” Bass said as he turned off his TV. Just then, the phone rang downstairs.

“Hello Famous and Cosako residence,” Famous answered the phone.

“COSSACK!!!” Bass shouted angrily. He absolutely hated that fake last name.

“Hush Connor!” Famous called back up stairs. “Say that again… Who was that? My cousin… What?!... How soon do you need help?... Now… Okay. I’ll send someone over right away.” Famous hung up the phone. “Lyne, Connor, get down here!” he called out in a stressed voice.

“Yes Famous,” Lyne replied as she rose up out of her seat.

“Do I have to get out of bed? I’m comfortable,” Bass moaned in complaint.

“C’mon lazy bum. Your cousin sounded angry.”

“Oh fine,” Bass scoffed as he threw his covers off of him, got out of bed, and followed Lyne down the stairs.

Once down there, they saw Famous sitting down at the dining room table, massaging his temples. Do you think we’re in trouble? He usually does that when he’s angry with me, Bass projected to Lyne. She shrugged her shoulders in response, clueless as to why they were called downstairs in the first place.

“Good. You’re here. I have a mission for you two. It may be out of your jurisdiction, but Lan, Chaud, and Raika are out of the country, dealing with other problems.”

“We saw that on TV,” Bass huffed. “Anyway, what’s the mission? I’m ready.”

Famous looked up at Bass and then shook his head, “You’re not leaving in your PJ’s Connor. Get upstairs, change, and shower. Then we’re leaving. I’ll explain the mission on the way,” Famous ordered causing Lyne to giggle, and that sparked off a blush on Bass’s face. He then swiftly turned away from them and rushed back up to his room. After about fifteen minutes, he returned wearing a black, long-sleeve, flannel shirt, a yellow t-shirt underneath it, a black pair of jeans, and black tennis shoes.

“You look nice Connor. Special occasion?” Lyne asked curiously as they walked out of the apartment.

“Yeah, I guess. It’s our first mission,” Bass said with a slight smirk as they entered the van. Shortly after that, they were rolling down the streets of ACDC Town with Famous explaining the situation and mission while Lyne was applying foundation to Bass’s face.

Finally, after crossing the Dentech Bridge and passing through downtown ElecTown, the van came to a stop. “We’re here. Now remember, I’ll be back to pick you guys up in an hour, and e-mail me if you find anything,” Famous said as he looked back at the two half naivs.

“Yes Famous,” they replied as they exited the van and Bass slammed the door shut.

“So, all we’re supposed to do is talk to this guy and find out what happened?” Bass queried Lyne as they approached the entryway to the building. Lyne nodded in response. “I don’t see the point. We already saw what happened on TV this morning.”

“I know, but there has to be more to it than what we saw. C’mon, let’s get inside,” Lyne said as the glass entryway doors slid open. After they got a good ways into the lobby, Bass stopped in his tracks and sniffed with an odd look on his face.

“Wait, this is a hospital!” Bass exclaimed as he turned about and rushed towards the entrance. His escape plan was cut short when Lyne grabbed him by the collars of both his shirts. “Don’t! Leggo! I hate hospitals,” he cried as she dragged him up to the front counter in the middle of the lobby.

“Yes Miss. How may I help you?” a female nurse asked from behind the front counter.

“We’re here to see Hal Shroder. We have a few questions to ask him,” Lyne said, showing the nurse her NetSavior Badge, then elbowing Bass in the ribs to make him show his to the nurse as well.

“Ah yes. NetSaviors,” she said before looking down at the terminal and bringing up Hal’s room information. “He’s in room 265.” She stood up from her terminal and pointed down the hall, “Just go down the hall until you reach the elevators on the right hand side of the hall and ride it up to the second floor. On the second floor, take an immediate left and the number to the room will be posted on the door.”

“Thank you ma’am,” Lyne said in gratitude as she dragged her unwilling partner down the hall. Bass struggled the whole way, not making it easy for Lyne. Once outside the room, Lyne stopped and turned Bass to face her.

“What’s your problem? We’re not here for a medical appointment,” Lyne huffed as she let go of him.

“I know that, but I still hate hospitals. The smell gets to me. It smells too clean.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean, but they have to be so nobody gets sick while they stay here. I promise, we won’t be here long,” Lyne said as she reached out for the door, paused, and turned to face Bass once more. “Maybe a piece of gum will calm your nerves.”

“Maybe. Do you have any?” he asked, willing to do anything to keep his mind off being in a hospital in the first place. Lyne took her backpack off her back and searched through its contents.

“Yeah. Here you go,” she said as she handed him a piece. “Remember to, chew not swallow, and spit it out when there’s no flavor. I don’t want half my new pack missing because of what happened last time.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t worry about it Lyne. I learned my lesson about that,” Bass said as he popped the piece of gum in his mouth and started chewing on it.

“Ready?”

“Yeah let’s get this over with,” Bass said before Lyne knocked on the door.

“Come in,” a hurt voice replied and Lyne opened the door and looked at Bass.

“After you,” Bass gestured towards the room, holding the door open for her.

“Thank yo-” Lyne started until she saw the injured stuntman lying on his bed. His left arm and right leg were suspended in slings and in casts, and his neck was in a neck brace. Lyne just stood there, frozen at the site of him, feeling pity and horror seeing the end result of the accident.

“I said come in,” Hal moaned. Bass pushed Lyne on the shoulder to get her to enter the room. “You two must be the NetSaviors the NetAgency called in for me. I’m Hal Shroder.”

Lyne shook off her shock before she spoke. “We already know who you are Mr. Shroder. I’m Lyne Hikari and this is Connor Cosako.”

“Cossack,” Bass muttered under his breath.

Lyne ignored him. “Ahem… Can you tell us what happened during the stunt, Sir?” Lyne asked as she brought out her PET. “Combit, get ready to record.”

“Yes Lyne,” came the byte’s reply as she opened up Lyne’s recording program in her PET.

“I’m a person who’s more casual, like your commander Famous, so just call me Hal.” Lyne and Bass looked confused at Crazy Hal. “Oh, we were college buds. Anyway, I can’t tell you much, but my navi can,” he said as he turned his eyes left to look at his PET, which was in a charger, “Extrememan, tell these two what you saw.”

“Yes Hal,” Extrememan replied before he was stopped by Lyne’s hand gesture at him.

“I’m sorry about that. Just a sec… Combit are you ready now?”

“Yes, but you need to do a virus sweep on this when we get home.”

“Okay, noted,” Lyne said, nodding her head and making a mental note to do so later. “Record,” *Bweep* “Now you can start Extrememman.”

Noticing that she had started her interview, Extrememan cleared his digital throat. “Ahem… Well, this thing started when Hal got what we thought was a prank e-mail until we had a practice for the recent stunt a few days ago. Hal’s bungee cord slacked about 5 feet, so he ended up on the mat. Remember that Hal.”

“Yeah, I remember that,” Hal replied, “It wasn’t fun, and it didn’t happen only once but three times during the same practice.”

“Yeah, and I and the security system couldn’t figure out who was tampering with the controls. Hal and I went over the calculations for the jump at least twice before he and I attempted to do it each time.”

“Yeah, and after the practice was when I had Extrememan call in some local NetAgents for my protection during the actual broadcast. And as you see, that didn’t work out too well. I won’t be able to do stunts for at least a year,” Hal growled as he gestured wildly at his injuries.

“Calm down Mr. Shroder, um… I mean Hal,” Lyne cooed in a calming tone.

“Yes Crazy Hal,” Bass said as he pinned Hal down to prevent him from hurting himself.

“I am calm!” Hal rumbled, “Those bloody agents didn’t protect me!” he howled as he relaxed in his bed, too exhausted to move. Bass then returned to his standing position beside the bed.

“And did more damage than his prank attackers,” Extrememan added, getting Bass’s attention. Bass then pulled up a chair, sat down in it, and leaned in close to the stuntman’s PET.

“Please do tell,” Bass requested.

“Well, on this Net Agent team, they have a pair of demolition navis. They rigged up a trip bomb meant to blow up whoever was going to attack Hal. I myself thought it was stupid, and so did Hal, but they insisted that it was the best way. Instead, when the pranksters came, the top of the tower got blown off in the digital and real worlds. I have safety features installed, so I came out fine, but Hal wasn’t as lucky.”

“We can see that. So you’re saying that this accident was caused by the team assigned to protect you, not the one who sent the e-mail?” Bass summarized, getting a nod from Extrememan.

“Which NAT was assigned to protect you?” Lyne asked, hoping to not hear ‘NAT 001’.

“I believe their NAT code is 002,” Extrememan said as he shuffled through an e-mail that he and Hal received form the Net Agency. “Yes, NAT 002.”

Lyne and Bass looked sideways at each other with matching frowns on their faces. What they had heard about NAT 002 from their friends wasn’t exactly good. They supposedly blunder through most of their assignments, doing more harm then good. Their silence confused the injured stuntman.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, perplexed at how long they remained quiet.

“Nothing at the moment,” Bass said, breaking his gaze with Lyne. “Can we see that e-mail you received from these ‘pranksters’?”

“Sure… Here it is,” Extrememman said as he opened up the e-mail on his PET screen.

~It read~

He he Crazy Human,
Go splat and we do it 2. We have fun wit twrouble, a wat of fun wit twrouble.

Mischief Makers free (3)

~End E-mail~

Bass shook his head as he finished reading it while Lyne made a copy of it. Mischief Makers Three, not World Three. That’s odd. Maybe these guys were just pranksters after all. Beh, their spelling skills need serious work, he thought as he closed the e-mail. His eyes then opened up wide in shock. Wait! MM3. I know them. They couldn’t harm a mettuar if they even tried. Heh, heh, maybe it’s time to pay them a visit. Oh, this is going to be so fun. Bass then rubbed his hands together. “I have a plan, but we’re going to need Extrememan’s help.” Lyne looked at Bass quizzingly, “Trust me, this will work.”

“Well, whatever the plan is, I trust you more then that Net Agent team,” Hal replied surprising Lyne with his response. “You may borrow my navi, but take good care of him. He’s not designed for NetBattleing.”

“Thank you for your time Hal. Combit, stop recording.” *Bweep* “We’ll bring your navi back in one piece,” Lyne said as she waved a farewell at the hurt movie stuntman. I hope, she thought as Bass jacked Extrememan into his PET.

“Yes. Thank you Crazy Hal,” Bass said as he led the way out of the room. After they had walked down the hall to the elevator, Bass turned to Lyne as they waited for it. “Shoot an e-mail to my relation to come pick us up now.”

“Uh… sure,” Lyne replied, opening up her e-mail function on her PET. “You wouldn’t mind filling me in on this, would you Connor?” she asked while she composed it and sent the e-mail off.

“When we get to the stadium, I’ll explain everything,” Bass said as they entered the elevator to go down to the lower level of the hospital to wait for Famous outside.
_____________________________
~ Later ~ Outside Dentech Stadium ~

Famous’s van pulled into the now vacant parking lot. Bass saw that one of the NAT 002 members was standing guard at the enterance of the scene of the accident.

“Oh boy. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to deal with them too,” Bass moaned as he palmed his face.

“I know. I’ll get you guys inside. Jack in,” Famous said as he held up his PET.

“Huh?” Extrememan exclaimed in shock, “But humans can’t digitize.”

“You’ve never met a half navi before, have you?” Bass asked as Lyne jacked into Famous’s PET, and as Bass jacked Extrememan into it as well.

“Hi! I’m Meg,” Lyne greeted when Extrememan showed up in Famous’s PET. Extrememan backed up in surprise at the sight until he bumped into another navi. He turned around and his jaw dropped in shock as he took notice of a familiar, cloaked navi standing there.

“And I guess I don’t have to introduce myself,” Bass replied, seeing his shock.

“He’s Bass,” Extrememan said as he looked over at the navi who had introduced herself as Meg. She nodded in response with a smile on her face. “I’m beginning to think this was a bad idea.”

“You have nothing to worry about StuntNavi. You’ll be doing what you were designed to do in my plan. Famous, we’re ready to go,” Bass said to the vid window with the scientist’s face on it. Famous then exited the van, holstered his PET, and walked up to the enterance with his hands in his lab coat pockets.

At the entrance, a tall, very muscular man stood guard. He had white hair tied into a pony tail, brown eyes, dark tan completion, and was wearing a black muscle shirt, beige dress pants, and dress shoes. “State your business,” the man demeaned in a booming voice, “Oh, it’s you Famous. Can I help you?”

“Yes. I’m here to check up on the accident scene,” Famous said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m sorry, but this isn’t your department’s investigation,” the brute said and seemed to fill the entry point even more, barring Famous.

“Read it and weep,” Famous said as he pulled out a printed order from his lab coat pocket and held it up so the brute could read it.

“Uh…” the bouncer-like man said as he gawked at the paper.

“C’mon Butch, I know you can read. Even though it may be 5th grade level. I’m here due to your team’s incompetence.”

“We’re not incompi… whatever. I’m not letting you in,” Butch huffed angrily.

Just then a woman approached them. “Butch! Let the man in. I called him here.”

“Uh… Yes Ma’am,” Butch replied as he stepped out of the way to reveal Cassidy Liron, the Net Agent Commander of Team 002.

“Welcome Famous. Come this way,” the blonde woman gestured for the scientist/ NetSavior Commander to follow her. Famous did as he was requested, calmly walking past the lumbering brute of a guard.

“I don’t understand this. Every time I’m not with them, they mess up majorly,” Cassidy said as they walked further into the stadium.

“So who was in charge this time?” Famous asked as they strolled along.

“*sigh* Rose. I just don’t understand it Famous. She’s usually not this bad. Any more incidents like this, and I might be forced to disband this team. I don’t want that to happen. I’ve worked hard to become a Net Agent Commander, and this is how my team treats me behind my back. I wish I had a team like Nina’s now. We used to be the best. I don’t know what happened.”

“*sigh* I understand perfectly Cassidy, but you can’t help being away when you also have NetSavior duties. How did your assignment in Heavens City with Raoul go?”

“Fine. We put Daryl back behind bars again. Can’t that guy just stay there? He’s ruined enough lives while he was Mayor.”

“That’s American politics for you,” Famous said as he stretched.

“Famous! Are we in yet? It’s getting cramped in here,” Bass moaned in complaint.

“Ah, I see you brought them along. Their first case?” Cassidy asked.

“Yeah. Connor insists he can get the Pranksters that had originally planned to attack Hal Shroder.”

“Quit telling my plans to the enemy,” Bass hissed at Famous from his PET.

“She’s a NetSavior too if you were listening. Cassidy, can you try and make sure that your team doesn’t get in the way of their investigation?”

“I’ll do my best, but I haven’t seen Rose or Laura around,” she said as she looked back towards the entrance, now seeing no sign of Butch. “Great, he’s missing too. I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try,” Cassidy said as she left Famous in search of her missing NAT 002 agents.

“Thank you,” Famous said as he walked up to a jack in port. “Bass, Megawoman, Extrememan, Jack in,” he commanded, sending a beam of light into the jack in port. “You’re on your own from this point on. When you’re through, return to the apartment and return Extrememan to his NetOp.”

“But he-” Bass protested before Famous held up his finger.

“Extrememan is very good at keeping secrets. Who do you think designed him? Lets say Hal owes me one big time. Isn’t that right Extrememman?” Famous asked, winking at him.

“Yes Famous, I understand. Same as usual?” Extrememan asked Famous.

“Yep, but when he’s out of the hospital. Good luck Connor,” Famous said as he left the jack in port and walked out of the stadium.

“What was all that all about?” Bass asked, confused as to what his relation and the stunt navi had arranged.

“Don’t worry about that. It means that your secret is safe with me. Now what did you want me to do?”

“Yeah, Connor. We’re in the stadium. Now fill me in on what you were planning,” Lyne pleaded. Bass then went into an explanation of how the plan was supposed to work to Extrememan and Lyne. After he finished, Extrememan nodded.

“Yes, that’s very clever,” Extrememan replied. “I’m willing to do anything to get rid of these pranksters once and for all, for Hal’s sake. This way to the stunt control system,” he said as he led the way to the digital bungee platform.

"I thought it was destroyed in the stunt," Lyne said confused.

"Oh that's an easy fix. Trust me," Extrememan said as they continued to walk along.

When they arrived, Bass scoped out the area. “OK, you know what to do Extrememan.” The Stunt Navi started to ascend to the top of the tower to prepare for another jump.

Bass led Lyne behind a large pillar to wait for their prey to take the bait. Lyne watched intently for a moment before she asked, “You sure this will work? Maybe your information about these guys is wrong.”

“My memory cannot fail,” Bass said in a quiet tone, thinking of his father.

“What?” Lyne asked confused.

“Oh never mind. You wouldn’t understand. Anyway, I know how they work like Lan does World Three. Besides, I can still smell their fowl stench in the area. When we logged in I could smell it,” Bass said as he scanned the area for any signs of MM3.

“I understand. I guess your old net criminal skills will come in handy,” Lyne commented and Bass shuttered.

“Don’t say that. It sounds so filthy. I’m not a net criminal and never was,” Bass said as he glared at her. “I was… not me. At least I’d like to think of it that way. Okay?”

“That’s fine with me Connor. I’ll stand beside any decision you make about that. Just try to not be so closed up about it. I’m your best and oldest friend. You can trust me.” Lyne smiled as she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Thank you Lyne,” Bass breathed out in relief, “Alright, there’s one right now.”

Sure enough, there was what looked like a large, lumbering navi standing in front of the platform. He was entirely green in color and his armor was ill-fitted and darker green with mottled spots on it like rust. He had overly long arms and his face was hideous, like a monster that walked its way out of a fantasy novel. “Eeii! Omph-” Lyne screamed before Bass covered her mouth.

“Suhhh…” Bass hissed as he pressed his finger over his mouth. “We don’t want to let them know we’re here. Think of it like virus hunting, remember that.”

“But I was used as bait whenever we did that together,” Lyne said as she removed his hand form her mouth.

“Well this time you’re not going to be bait. That one is called Goblin.”

“He looks like one,” Lyne said as she leaned out of their hiding spot to get a better look at him.

“Get down,” Bass said as he placed his hand on top of her helmet and pulled her down. “Suhhh… We’re going to split up. You take him and I’ll handle the tower. OK?” Lyne nodded, then moved in a half crouch toward where Goblin was. Bass, satisfied that she was in position, teleported to the top of the tower. “We’re ready,” he said as he materialized on top of the tower.

Extrememan dove off the top of the tower gracefully, getting Goblin’s attention. “ ‘Ey. Dey dooin de stunt again,” Goblin called out in a slow voice into the shadows from which two figures crept. One was small, not even waist-high to an average navi, and had dark-orange colored armor, a horned helmet, and was flying. The other had an overly wide and toothy grin on its face and his armor was mottled brown and dark blue.

“Ahh… I sense an opportunity to cause trouble. Shall we partners?” the small one asked.

“Yeah Imp,” Goblin replied, “ Jus’ ah lon’ as I get to bash ‘em around a bit.”

“He he he ha he, he,” the grinning navi laughed.

“C’mon Gremlin. Let’s go,” Imp said to the taller, blue-armored navi. They both immediately started to climb the tower to get to the top and mess with the controls.

Lyne, seeing they’d gone, snuck up on Goblin. Jeez he’s an awfully big navi, but I know I can take him on, Lyne thought as she snuck up behind him. She then tapped him on the shoulder.

“Huh?” Goblin grunted as he looked down at the smaller, purple-armored navi. Lyne then gave him an upper cut, sending him to the ground.

“Wow! That was easy,” Lyne said as she got ready for the big brute to strike back.

“Owww!” the large navi yowled as he backed off from her to cower. “Don’ hur’ me pwease. You win.”

“Huh?” Lyne looked incredulously at the larger navi, who was holding his arm up defensively, and let her aggressive stance relax. “You’re just going to surrender like that?”

“Yes ma’am. You see,” he started as he looked up at her before he hung his head, “I can’t wreally fight, and… I’m a coward. Besides ‘s not nice to hi’ a girl.”

Lyne looked him over before she fully let her guard down. She walked up to him and placed her hand on his cheek where she hit him, “Aww, you poor navi. Okay, I won’t foce you to fight.”

“Fank you miss,” Goblin said in a grateful tone.

“But you’re still under arrest,” Lyne added.

“Bua’ I didn’t do anyfing wong,” Goblin complained.

“I know, but you helped do something earlier to a fellow navi and his NetOp. I’m sorry,” Lyne said as she activated a detainment field around Goblin and linked it over to NSHQ.

As he was leaving Goblin called out, “Sorrrrrrrrry,” which got Imp’s attention.

He flitted his way over the edge of the tower to look down at the ground, seeing Lyne way down there. “Shoot. It’s the Net Agents. They’ve found us. Hurry up Gremlin,” Imp ordered in a panicked tone as he skittered around in an erratic flight pattern around the top of the tower.

“I’m not sure about doing this only to the navi this time, but it seems fun,” Gremlin said as his grin became bigger, “This one Imp?” Gremlin asked as he pointed at a tensing bungee cord.

“Yeah that’s it. Hurry,” Imp replied, paying no attention as Bass came out of the shadows. Gremlin started cutting the bungee cord with a Small Sword chip program.

“What are you doing?” he demanded of the two MM3 navis. Gremlin stopped for a second before he started working on cutting again.

“B- B- Bass Uh… Hi! Long time no see. Wassup?” Imp managed to greet the cloaked navi. Bass stared back at him coldly. “Uh… Yeah. We’re going to mess up the bungee navi’s stunt,” Imp replied as Gremlin finished cutting the cord, causing Extrememan to plummet towards the ground a lot faster then his safety features could react.

Shoot. Lyne, use an Area Steal on him, Bass thought, getting a nod from her as she threw a chip at Extrememan. Once it impacted with his armor, he disappeared and reappeared beside her.

Bass smirked. “Aww, looks like your plan was foiled Imp. Now what ya gonna do?” Bass queried the small flying navi, who was showing signs of great worry.

“Uh…” The smaller navi looked down at the female navi in fear, “I know. I’ll ask you to protect us from the girl navi agent. Sick em’ Bass please?”

Bass laughed through his nose, “This is your mess, not mine. I was just curious.”

“Please Bass. Help me!” Imp pleaded as he hung on Bass’s cloak. “You owe me one.”

Bass shoved the navi off of him with great force, “I owe you nothing, not anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Imp asked, “Are you going to delete us?”

“No. You don’t deserve such a fate,” Bass said as he grabbed the flying navi by one of his wings, damaging it enough it started to pixelate. “You’re both under arrest,” Bass said, tossing Imp down.

“Ah- un- under arrest?” Imp asked in shock. Then Gremlin started laughing uproariously, though his mouth never actually opened, instead remaining its ever-present grin. Imp looked over and then laughed slightly as he turned back to look at Bass. “Eh, heh, heh. What he says. You’re joking with us.”

“No Imp, I’m not. I’m placing you under arrest.”

“But come on!” Imp exclaimed, “You’re not telling me you’re a Net Agent or something?”

“Oh, no, no. I’m not one of those,” he replied, waving his hand dismissively. Imp’s face relaxed in sudden relief. “I’m a Net Savior.”

Imp’s eye twitched convulsively, and a matching twitch tugged at the corner of his mouth when he realized that Bass wasn’t kidding around with him. Gremlin had stopped laughing, though of course his grin was there as always. Imp suddenly brought out a Mini Boomer and cocked his arm back. “There’s no way you’re taking me in! Forget it!” he yelled and readied to throw the bomb, but was stopped by the glare on Bass’s face.

“Now Imp,” the cloaked navi said with menace dripping from his voice, “You don’t really want to make trouble for me, do you?”

Imp looked at Bass quietly for a moment, then lowered his arm and deactivated the bomb. “Um, no. No, I don’t think I want to make trouble for you.”

“I do,” Gremlin cheerfully said, then made a popup hole and dropped into it.

“No! Darn it,” Bass exclaimed as he lurched out to try and stop Gremlin, but too late. He pounded his fist into the floor of the tower in frustration. “I should’ve remembered he was able to do that.” Suddenly the tower shuddered and shook as if it was hit with something.

“Connor, are you alright?” Lyne called up to the tower.

Bass leaned over the railing and called back down, “Yeah. What was that?”

“We have company,” Lyne said as she pointed at three navis charging towards their position.

A dart then zinged by the left crest of Bass’s helmet. He looked at the charging navis and recognized one of them. “Pixy,” Bass breathed out as he took notice of the light pink-clad navi getting ready to take aim at him again. “I’m done up here,” Bass said as he teleported down to them on the ground with his remaining detainee.

“What happened to the third one?” Lyne asked as Bass stared to drag her into a run.

“He got away,” Bass said as he opened two NetPortal links. “Thank you for the help Extrememan. That one will send you back to your PET.”

“Thank you Bass, Meg. See you ‘round the Net,” Extrememan said as he disappeared into the link that Bass had pointed at.

Bass then picked Lyne up off the ground, flew into the other portal, and closed it.

“Great, they’re gone,” Pixy huffed as they finally got to the bottom of the tower. The other two navis accompanying her came to a stop as she did. One was a large and muscle bound male, military looking navi wearing cammo that had two shades of grey in it, black and white on his gauntlets, dark grey boots, and he had beige hair and grey eyes. This navi was called Bouncer.

The other navi was wearing soft-looking, flat black armor, similar style to a lady ninja. Her hair was magenta in color and she had cat yellow colored eyes. Her name was Raider. Pixy had similar features to her NetOp Rose, except she had short, lavender colored hair and her eyes were light blue.

“Did you get the tracer round on him, Pixy?” Raider asked as Pixy deactivated her dart gun and Bouncer deactivated his buster.

“No, he dodged it,” Pixy replied as she hung her head.

“Another failed mission. That’s two today,” Bouncer said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“We’ll do better next time. That net criminal is going down,” Raider said as she shook her fist in the direction Bass disappeared.

Pixy narrowed her eyes, “We’d better. Leave me!” she ordered. Raider and Bouncer followed her command and linked back to their PETs.

Pixy then kneeled on the ground. “I failed, Rose, Khan, and Alpha,” she cried as she pounded her fist into the ground, making a dent.

“Nonsense,” a cold voice replied from the shadows. “The demon is of no use to us now. But you did find me something I could use. Return to Rose. I’ll handle things from here.”

“Yes Sir,” she replied as she too left the Dentech Stadium’s Network.
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~Undernet ~ MM3 Hideout~

A hole formed in the middle of the main room and a grinning face popped out of it. “Heh, heh. I got away to cause mischief another day,” Gremlin said as he jumped out of his hole. He then skipped about joyfully for a bit before he stopped.

“Imp!... Gobs… Did you get away too?” he called out as he started searching their hideout for them. “Where are you guys?”

As he passed by one of the walls in the final room, a set of hands reached out and grabbed him. “NO! Leggo Bass!” Gremlin cried as he struggled in his captor’s grip.

“I’m not that demon,” he quietly said as he threw him to the ground.

Gremlin hit the floor and tried to use his popup ability to escape, but it failed. “Huh?” he grunted in confusion. He then got up off the ground and tried to link somewhere else. That too failed. “Wh- what’s going on?” he stammered out. His face still held its exaggerated grin, but that had ceased to convey any amusement.

“I’m afraid you can’t get away my friend,” the mysterious navi said, coming out of the shadows to reveal himself. His armor did not match from one side to the next, as if someone took two navis, split them in half, and then attached one half from each navi to make him. On his chest was a stylized ‘Z’ icon.

Once out of the shadows, he reached behind his head to unsheathe a sword strapped to his back. “You have something I want,” he said, gesturing toward Gremlin with the weapon. The shorter navi backed off as his assailant started to advance on him. “So, I’m going to take it.” The intruder lunged out and Gremlin scrambled out of the way of the attack.

“Eeee, I’m gettin’ out of here!” Gremlin cried out, but barely took two steps before the intruder got in front of him to block the escape. “Get out of my way!” the grinning navi squeaked in panic. He activated a small buster weapon and fired at his attacker, who lazily bent his body out of the way of the erratic attacks as he advanced.

“Tut, tut. Just behave and I promise this won’t hurt a bit.”

“You’re crazy,” Gremlin said as he morphed the buster into a cyber sword to block his attacker’s next thrust. While they were in a sword lock, the cold eyed attacker stepped forward on Gremlin’s foot, and the smaller navi lost balance and fell over.

“*Sigh* how unfortunate that you don’t know how to fight. Pitiful. You’re even less skilled than the other one is.” He then thrust the sword through Gremlin’s shoulder and into the floor. “So little that I can use, my little puzzle.”

Gremlin was gasping in pain and frantically reached over to try and dislodge the weapon that was stuck in him. The attacker calmly kicked the grasping hand away and pinned that to the floor with his foot, grinding it under his heel. He smiled thinly as his victim squeezed his eyes shut and croaked out a, “Please stop.”

“I apologize profusely, little puzzle, but I cannot stop until I’ve attained my goal.” The strange navi then brought out an assortment of what looked like a cross between human surgical instruments and electronic instruments. He whistled slightly as he spread the tools out on the ground beside his captive. Then he turned his gaze back to look directly at Gremlin’s eyes and let a nasty grin spread across his face. “I apologize for one other thing,” he said as he brought forth a scalpel-like device in one hand and a clamp of some sort in the other. He secured the clamp to Gremlin’s icon, a yellow-toothed grin in a dirty blue background, then set the scalpel to it. “I was lying before. This is actually going to hurt quite a lot.” He then roughly shoved the sharp instrument under the icon and started to tear it away.

“GUAAAAGHHH!!!” he cried out in pain as his eyes widened in shock and terror and his body convulsed reflexively under his tormenter’s weight.

“Keep singing, puzzle. I love that song,” his attacker commanded with excitement in his voice, “Let us sing throughout the night!”
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Next Episode Preview

~Net Savior Headquarters~

Bass: *coming in through portal* Arrgh! That little jerk! I can’t believe he managed to slip away.
Lyne: Calm down. We’ve got these two after all.
Goblin; Whu. Arright, Bass i’ here now. He gon’ ged us ou’.
Imp: Nope, it looks like he’s on there side.
Goblin: Huh? Wha’ you mean?
Imp: Bass. He’s apparently a Net Savior now. Ow. *flexes damaged wing*
Goblin: *blinks at Imp* Uhhh, he a wha’? I don’ geddit.
Imp: *slaps hand to face as Lyne leads him to the containment cell, then begins to explain slowly* Bass. Is. A. Net. Savior. He’s on their side. He’s not on our side. He captured me. He won’t rescue us.
Goblin: Oh. *scratches his nose and sniffs* Tha’s no’ good, is i’?
Lyne: *smiles* I think it’s a good thing. It means I’m not enemies with him anymore.
Bass: Yeah, it’s sure good to have my friend back. But Gremlin still got away!
Lyne: *goes over and puts a calming hand on his shoulder* We’ll get him. Don’t worry about it. I’m sure these two can help us figure it out.
Imp: Eh? *raises eyebrow curiously* What’s this. Bass, you have a girlfriend now?
Bass: *blushes* Wh- what? No, I don’t! She’s my partner. You shut up!
Goblin: He real mad. Maybe you righ’ Imp.
Bass: He’s not! He’s not! That’ll never happen!
Imp: Oooo, he’s really mad now! I bet you two hug and kiss all the time.
Bass: *face now bright red* Y’know Lyne, these two we’ll help me find Gremlin, ‘cause I’m gonna’ beat it out of them! *rushes at holding chamber, flailing his fists wildly*
Lyne: *grabs Bass to stop him* Connor! Hey, cut it out! Oh, great. He’s going to be like this for a while now. But maybe he’ll be calmed down by the next time you see us on Lan and Lyne S2 Episode 12: Invite.
Bass: Let go ‘a me! I just want to ask some questions. Some really painful questions! Grraaahhh!!
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"NetAngel Style Change Activate"
Megawoman (Lyne)

Avatar made by Serenade.exe

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

[Serenade.exe/HotShot]

:O NO WAY! WE GOT TRAITORS!!!! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!!!! Hope someone finds out soon or they're all going to be in big trouble!
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Sig by Hikari Angel

[Rex]

[Midnight]

Traitors make a story interesting...

Anyway, I am very much liking what I am reading so far. It seems that you are intent on characterizing your two protagonists the most, and not focusing so much on the action between them and their antagonists. It's this focus on their day-to-day lives that sets this apart from the others and draws the reader in. Keep it going. This is prime material.
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

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

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

[SamBarry]

TRAITORS?! TRAITORS ARE THE WORST KIND OF SCUM! TRAITORS MUST BE DESTROYED! (best read in a deep masculine voice)

Megawoman.EXE, can I donate a character for that cause? :]
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Please comment about my work. I don't care what you say. Like my art? Hate my art? Wanna express feelings of undying love to me? Wanna express your intent to murder me in my sleep? Comment.

[Megawoman.EXE]

Episode 12: Invite

~Undernet ~ MM3 Hideout ~27 October 200X~

A navi appears outside a structure like a shoddy, roofless house. The somewhat tattered-looking cloak around the navi flutters open in the digital breeze to reveal the armor underneath: black as obsidian with gold and silver accents. He strides forward with confidence in his red eyes, though his movement is cautious and silent to keep from alerting the occupant of the building.

“I sure hope those two were right about this place,” Bass said to himself as he looked the exterior over, “This guy isn’t going to get away this time.” He knelt down and activated a chip he had just made: Anti Popup. He then slowly approached the enterance, activated one of his busters, and entered. He carefully checked each room for any traps or his escapee. He knew what being a cornered beast felt like, and hoped his prey wouldn’t attack and force Bass to delete him.

For some reason, he didn’t really want to hurt the navi unless it was necessary. After he searched most of the rooms, finding no sign of Gremlin, he became irritated. “When I get back to NSHQ, I’ll delete those two for lying to…” Bass growled as he entered the final room, “…me,” he finished quietly and his jaw dropped at the site he beheld. There were fragments of floating data everywhere.

“Oh boy,” Bass quietly said. He saw that much of the data had kept its shape, despite how broken it was, so he was able to recognize some of the fragments as navi armor. “Who or what would do such a thing to a prankster? Hrmm…” He deactivated his buster to touch and examine the data. “Odd,” he said as he turned his attention towards the ground, scanning for digital footprints with a Search chip he had borrowed from Searchman. “What would cause so much data spread?” he pondered as he looked over the results as they were still calculating.

He felt some slight shock as program the finished its running cycle. “Huh. It was a navi that did this. But who?” His eyes flicked around as he tried to sense where the navi was. “Shoot. I can’t pick up its signature in this mess,” he complained as he batted at some of the loose data, scattering it around the room even more. “Guahh!” he cried out as he slumped down to the floor.

Damn, how do I figure this out? he pondered as he sat there. Hum… I could try to put him back together. Nah, too complicated. Hum… but Jackie could. “That’s it. Time to call in a favor,” Bass said as he sprang up while pounding his fist into his open palm. Wait! I’ll mark this place so I can return here, he thought as he threw a small, sharp rod into the ground. After it fixed itself into the ground, a flashing, purple light started emitting from the top of it. “Alright!” Bass smiled as he opened a link, entered it, and left the MM3 hideout.
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~Flashman’s PET~

Flashman was snoring contentedly when Bass reached his PET. He was in sleep mode on a comfortable-looking couch that Jackie had obviously made for him. Her work was always exquisite. “Jackie… mmm…,” he mumbled, obviously dreaming about his NetOp.

“And I thought Ken was bad,” Bass said, rolling his eyes as he approached the couch. Well, yeah, he is, he thought to himself, But which one’s worse? He then cracked a smile. “Time to get up!” he shouted as he kicked the couch over.

Flashman frantically scrambled to his feet and formed an orb of energy in his hand, ready for a fight. “Who? Wha’?” Flash blurted out as his eyes whipped around and he used the couch for cover.

“It’s me,” Bass said, drawing his attention, “I need you and your NetOp’s help.”

“Jeez man. You didn’t have to wake me up like that,” Flash replied as he deactivated the orb, righted his couch, and then stretched, “*Yawn* Why do you need our help anyway?”

Jackie opened up a vid window to check up on her navi. “Flash are you alright? I heard a crash while I was in the hall.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. We have a visitor,” Flash said, motioning to Bass.

“Oh! Hi Connor. What brings you here?” Jackie asked, wondering why he’d be on her PET. It was Saturday.

“I need a data recovery done on a navi,” Bass responded calmly.

“Which navi?” Flash asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Come,” Bass said as he grabbed Flash’s forearm and linked them back to his mark in the MM3 hideout. “This navi!” Bass replied as he gestured about the room at the data scattered there.

“Shew…” Flash whistled, “Looks like someone tried to redecorate in here, heh, heh, or threw a party.”

“This isn’t funny. I need to find out what happened to him.”

“You want a Data Recovery done on this navi? Bass, it’s reduced to junk data. That’s im-” Flash’s sentence was cut off by a squeal from his Jackie.

“This is so cool. I like a challenge,” she said with a twinge of excitement in her voice. “Collection Sphere,” she commanded, activating an orb that started attracting all the loose, floating data.

“Great she’s going to be ignoring me for the next few hours,” Flash muttered under his breath. Once all the data was collected, Bass’s scanners were finally able to detect the other navi’s signature.

“Yes,” he breathed out as he looked over the signature. “Odd,” he commented as he followed the last traces of the second signature. “There definitely was a fight between these two navis ‘til here. The skirmish stops here, but why did the other navi keep attacking?” Bass pondered as he stopped in the center of the room. He ran his hand along the floor until he found a deep hole in the floor. Flash watched him curiously while the Collection Sphere started to compress the data for transfer.

“Gremlin must’ve been pinned here by a Sword chip of some sort,” Bass said as he traced the ring in the floor with his finger. “And then the other navi must’ve de-fragmented him here, but why? It’s not right. It’s downright insane.”

“There are scarier things out there on the Net than you Bass,” Flash commented as he sent the Collection Sphere back to his PET for Jackie to start working on. “You know, it actually looks more like a virus attack than a navi one. Are you sure that it wasn’t a virus?”

“I’m positive. And it’s a really crazy navi that did it too. More insane than I was.”

“Hey, you’ve deleted navis before. Why’s this one so crazy?”

“Yes, I’ve deleted navis in combat, but this wasn’t combat. The real damage was done after the fight was over and the victim was helpless. Me? I like it when they fight back. It made deleting them worth it,” Bass said as he continued to examine the area around the sword stab in the digital floor.

“Yep, you were a real terror back a couple months ago ‘til she happened to you. It’s hilarious seeing you do good, rather than evil for once. Heh, he. Gualk-” Flash croaked as he was dragged down to Bass’s eye level.

“Leave Lyne out of this. Doing this was my decision, not hers,” Bass snarled at Flash before he let the taller, electric navi go.

“OK, OK, but I have a question,” Flash said as he regained his composure.

“Fine, ask.”

“You know, since you’ve changed for the better, do you remember anything at all from when you were evil?” Flash asked in a curious tone and saw Bass’s eyes go cold. Flashman suddenly found himself face-down of the floor with a foot on the back of his neck and his arm wrenched around painfully.

“What does this tell you? Never ask me that again, or I’ll delete you,” Bass warned as he released him and backed off. “E-mail me when the recovery is completed.” Bass then disappeared from sight.

“Yep. I figured that he was still a jerk,” Flash said as he massaged and stretched the stiffness out of his arm before linking back to his PET as well.
_____________________________
~Bass’s Homepage ~

Gospel’s attention was caught when Bass returned home and the virus could tell that his master was angry. This isn’t going to turn out good. He might know about the socks I just ate.

“‘Do you even remember anything at all from when you were evil?’ Peah,” Bass growled as he knocked over one of his homework files. He stopped then, realizing that he had wrecked the data for his English term paper. “Guahh, great! I better have a backup copy of this. Oh good, I have page numbers on these,” he said as he stared to reorganize his paper.

“Arounnn?” Gospel whined, wondering why his master had stopped his fit suddenly.
What happened Master? Gospel asked as his Dark Element Master put away his paper and then started pacing back and forth.

“Stupid Flashman. Why’d he ask that?” Bass snapped at his virus as he stopped pacing.

Gospel cocked his head to the side and looked up at Bass, wondering what he meant. Then the virus remembered what Bass had said when he arrived. Oh, the question you reiterated. Well do you Master? he asked as he continued to look up at Bass, who glared down at his virus, making him wish he didn’t ask the question in the first place.

“Of course I do! I remember every freakin’ thing I ever did. Every word I said. Most of the time, I wish it wasn’t me doing that stuff, but I did and without mercy. It was like I was Alpha all that time.”

“Heh, heh,” a voice laughed behind him, spooking Bass. “You basically were,” the voice added as a harlequin-like navi revealed himself from the shadows of Bass’s homepage.

“Nights,” Bass growled, “How long have you been there?”

“Quite a bit.” Bass narrowed his eyes at Nights. “Anyway, when Alpha cursed you, he locked away not only your memory, but your innocent soul, making you easier to manipulate for his doings. When Lyne restored your icon, she also released your soul, making you the way you were before the curse Bro,” Nights said as he winked and pointed at Bass.

“I’m not the way I was then. I’m different. I don’t feel the same,” Bass said as he pointed at himself.

“Well, that’s because your age is catching up with you Bro, but nothing’s changed about you. You’re still predictable.”

“How so?”

“For one thing, you still tell me your problems,” Nights pointed out.

“Only when you drop in on me like that. Why’d you come anyway?” Bass questioned his brother as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Just to check up on you. That’s all,” Nights said as he approached Bass, “And maybe give you one of these,” he added as he wrapped his arm around Bass’s neck, putting him into a head lock, and then proceeded to rub Bass’s helmet with his knuckles.

“Hey! Cut it out!” Bass complained as he struggled in his brother’s grip.

“I’m not letting go until you say it. Who missed his big bro?”

“NO!” Nights rubbed harder. “Oww! STOP!”

“Say it!”

“No. It’s embarrassing!”

“We’re alone. C’mon, say it!” Nights said, rubbing even faster and with just as much strength as before.

“Aghhh, OKAY! YOU WIN!” Bass shouted, then quietly added, “I missed you.”

“That’ll do,” Nights said as he let go. Bass then took off his helmet and ruffled his hair back into place. “Something’s bothering you other than your memory, isn’t it Connor?” he asked as he formed a digital chair and relaxed in it.

“Uh… Yeah,” Bass said as he placed his helmet back on his head.

“What is it?” Nights asked as he made a chair for Bass to sit in and leaned forward, resting his chin on the backs of his fingers. “Please, sit down and tell me,” he said as he gestured at the chair. Bass complied, taking the seat offered to him.

“Well, it’s my first case. One of the members of MM3 got fragmented by another navi.”

“The one who got away?”

Bass grit his teeth in recalled annoyance that he hadn’t managed to get Gremlin right away. “Yeah, and I interrogated his buddies all week to find out where their hideout was.”

“All week. That’s a long time bro. You sure you didn’t scare the snot out of them?”

“Guahhh! Don’t make fun of me. When I finally got the location I went there and found him all over one of the rooms, like that magic card you liked to play.”

“Cracked Confetti?” Nights asked.

“Yep, that’s the one.”

“Oh, that was always a fun card to play, but not fun to pick up. Who do you think did it?”

“Well I don’t think it’s Alpha. It’s not his style, and it’s not a copy of me ‘cause all his data was still there, and I deleted them all. I wonder how the data managed to stay there that long?”

“Sounds really tough. Then again, I’ve never had your same curious, investigative spirit. Maybe you should let Lyne investigate for a bit,” Nights suggested off handedly. “That’s what partners are for: to share the work load.”

“She’s got her hands full with the NAT 002 reprimands. She’s been working on them all week, trying to make their punishment um… fair.”

“I see. Sounds like you both need a break. It’s been a crazy two months Bro. How do you like being alive again?” Nights asked, changing the subject.

“Ummm…” Bass started unsure how to answer his brother. “I like it kinda’. I’m still getting adjusted to how EarthNet feels compared to the Net. I barely remember what it was like to live before I died, except for normal human functions. How was life for you before you died Nights?”

“Well,” Nights said as he placed his hands behind his head and leaned his head back to look up into the vast sky of the Net on his brother’s homepage. “It was difficult at times, but I pulled through with a smile on my face. I could say I was happy, but the thing I miss the most was seeing Mother’s smile. That made me feel peaceful whenever she did so, and it brightened my day. I also miss Dad. Damn Zodiac and Alpha,” Nights said as he lowered his head to hide his angered expression.

“What did Zodiac and Alpha do?” Bass asked, wondering why Nights was upset.

“You mean you don’t remember?” Nights asked, noticing Bass’s confused look.

Father said my memory cannot fail. Why is it now? Bass pondered as he tried to see if he did remember, but nothing came to mind about his father. “No,” Bass said as he looked up at his brother, “What happened to Dad?”

“I’d just barely been restored, so I couldn’t go anywhere, but the Ancient gave me the means to watch what was going on outside Atlantis. It hurt, not being able to help you, and not being able to Dad. Zodiac killed him after he tried to restore your icon,” Nights said as he hung his head. “You just stood there and watched them kidnap him in front of you. And you don’t remember?” Nights asked. Bass’s face went slack and his eyes lost focus. “Oh! That must’ve been a repressed memory. Sorry Bro. You won’t thank me for bringing this back.”
___________________________
*Flashback*

“I hate humans Creator, especially you. You’re the reason I have this scar,” Bass shouted in a savage voice, “And you can’t even fix this. This is your sign of betrayal.”

“I didn’t betray you Son,” Dr. Cossack replied.

“Don’t call me that. I’m no human child, let alone yours. I loathe you,” he said as he turned away from Cossack.

“Co- Bass. Please don’t turn away from me. I want to help you, but this scar on your icon, there’s something unnatural about it.”

“Don’t make excuses! You can’t make anything better with talk. You can’t fix anything at all, can you?” He turned back to look at Cossack with a hateful scowl on his face. “Humans. You’re all so worthless.”

Dr. Cossack then turned to look at the door behind him, which had burst open, its hinges torn off by the force of a tall and muscular man. A smaller, but no less intimidating woman followed behind him.

“Sarah, Louie? What are you doing here?” Dr. Cossack asked as he recognized the two figures.

“We don’t like what you’re trying to do Doctor. So we’ve come to take you away,” Louie replied.

“Take me away? What are you talking about Louie? What’s going on here?” Cossack asked in confusion as he backed away from the approaching pair.

“You don’t get to have him back Doctor,” Sarah growled with a raspy voice. Cossack looked at her and was shocked by her appearance.

“Sarah, what happened to you? Is something wrong? Whooaf!” he grunted as the woman threw a fist into his abdomen and then grabbed him by the hair.

“Wrong? Yes, something’s wrong!” she shouted at him, then pushed his head forcefully against the wall as he tried to struggle out of her grasp. She narrowed her eyes, which were tired and bloodshot as well as having puffy, red lids. “Our plans have been ruined by you people. Do you know what we lost!?”

“Sarah, stop this please! This isn’t li-aackk*!” the Doctor gasped out as Sarah kicked his legs out from under him and threw him against the console, his face hitting the monitor that Bass was watching him from. He moved out of view again as Sarah gave him another savage kick, this one in the side, which sent him to the ground. “Stop! Bass, alert security, quickly!”

The navi on the screen looked on silently and with disdain in his eyes for a moment as Louie walked over and picked the doctor up by the shoulders and started to drag him off. “No, Creator. You failed me. I have no use for you anymore. I’ve no use for humans at all.”

Doctor Cossack looked at the screen with more hurt in his eyes now then there had been when Sarah had beaten him. “D- don’t say that. Bass, please, I can still help you, I’m sure of it. Wait! Don’t take me away from here, he needs mmmph!” His words were cut off as Sarah taped a gag over his mouth.

“Quiet now Doctor. There’s time for talk later, but you’ll draw too much attention if you’re noisy now,” Louie said smoothly with a nasty smirk on his face, “And we need our demon here to stay just the way he is, until we’re ready. Get his feet, would you?” he asked Sarah, who held on to the doctor’s legs firmly and helped carry him out the door. Bass could see his father’s pleading eyes as they were taking him away, and then he linked away from the computer, leaving him behind.
______________________________

Why’d I say those things? Bass wondered, gasping in shock as he returned to his senses, Alpha made me into a monster without a soul. His eyes burned and misted over, and then tears began to freely flow down his face. “It’s my fault father’s dead. It was my fault and it was my fault mother died too,” he cried out in shame.

“Mother wasn’t your fault Connor, and neither was father,” Nights said as he got up out of his chair to comfort his brother.

“But it was. I didn’t s- stop either of them from *choke*,” he continued to cry, “and- and it was my fault that Gremlin’s in pieces. My fault. Everything’s my fault,” he forced out as he balled up in his chair to hide his face.

“*Sigh* Don’t bring yourself down because you messed up on the case. That was beyond your control.” Bass just sniffled and shuddered where he was, not uncurling from his fetal position to let his brother’s comfort through. What am I going to do here? I had a hard enough time cheering him up when he first became a navi. Hmm, I guess this is a job for someone else. “Connor, its Saturday night. Go see Lyne, watch a movie, have fun for once.” The half navi stayed curled up for a moment, then raised his eyes slightly to look at his brother. Heh, heh. Thought mentioning her might help. “And don’t think about the case or mom and dad. That’s all in the past.” Bass turned his eyes away slightly, but didn’t hide his face again. The tears had stopped and his breathing had steadied as he regained his composure. “You have a bright future ahead of you just waiting to be discovered Bro. Now get going,” he said as he helped Bass up out of his chair.

“Bua-” Bass protested as Nights held up his hand.

“Nuh uh. I’ll hear no more moping out of you. Trust me Bro. Go see Lyne,” Nights said as he brought up a NP link to Lyne’s homepage and shoved Bass through it. “Have fun!” he called out as the NP closed and hid away Bass’s startled face. Nights smiled and chuckled quietly to himself. “Now that I think about it, Bro needs a vacation. Time to talk to Princess Pride,” he said as he stretched and cracked his knuckles, then linked away from Bass’s Homepage.
______________________________
~Data Stream to Lyne’s Homepage~

Bass had been trying to recover form the initial shock of being forced to enter this Data Stream when an incoming e-mail warning went off. “Wonder who that is?” Bass wondered to himself as he compulsively went to open it. However, he didn’t bother to read the message when he saw the topic.

[Navi Data Recovery Completed: Sender: Flashman.]

“Alright!” Sorry Nights, but this comes first, Bass thought as he changed his destination to Jackie’s Homepage.
________________________________
~Jackie’s Homepage~

A Net Portal opened in a burst of light as Bass arrived. When he opened his eyes, he noticed Gremlin intact, floating in the middle of the Homepage. “Excellent! I knew you could do it Jackie. I didn’t know it’d be so fast though. So what’s the diagnosis?” He started examining the recovered navi right away as Jackie answered.

“Well, it was easier to assemble him than I anticipated. He wasn’t just randomly broken apart. His assailant took him apart very carefully.”

“Well, that would explain why the data didn’t dissipate then,” Bass responded. He was starting to feel uneasy as he examined the navi. He felt like someone was watching him.

Jackie chewed on her lip and typed quietly for a couple seconds before continuing. “And… he was conscious.”

“Hmm? You mean when you finished assembling the data?” Bass asked.

“I mean when he was taken apart. He was conscious the whole time. He was even aware of you arriving and of being put back together.” She started typing again with a distinctly uncomfortable look on her face.

“Yeah, it was creepy,” Flash said as he got up from his seat and walked over to Bass.

“Not possible. He was in pieces. There isn’t a navi that exists that stay conscious after being even half taken apart,” Bass protested, looking with wide eyes at the vid screen Jackie was on.

“He was screaming wildly by the time I’d gotten only a quarter of the data back together. I had to force him into stasis so I could continue. No, this isn’t something that any normal navi would be capable of. I suspect it was the attacker that altered him so he’d stay conscious.” She gulped nervously and stopped typing for a moment so her fingers would stop trembling.

“You mean he was tortured,” Bass stated, his jaw slackened in shock.

Jackie took a steadying breath and started typing again. “Yes. He was tortured,” she agreed. There was silence for a moment and then Jackie spoke again. “This Gremlin. He had a popup ability, right?”

It took Bass a moment to get away from his inner brooding and register the question. “Huh? Oh, yeah, the popup program. Yeah, he did. Why?”

“It’s missing. And I don’t mean that there was a fragment of it missing. The entire program wasn’t there.”

“Removed on purpose?”

“That’s what it looks like. Gremlin is fully assembled and functional, but there are some things missing, like that,” she answered and looked at Bass through her monitor. “I’m still trying to figure out what else is gone.”

Bass was quiet for a moment more as Jackie went back to work. Finally he decided, “Release him for questioning. I want to talk to him.”

“Should I take care of that?” Flashman asked his NetOp.

“Go ahead,” she said and typed in a quick command, “We’re secure here, so he won’t be getting out.” Flash nodded and released the field that suspended Gremlin and kept him in stasis.

Gremlin groaned as he regained consciousness and he swayed a bit, but remained on his feet. He looked around nervously, seeing both Flashman and Bass, but ignoring them both as it was something else he was looking for. “Can you tell me what happened to you?” Bass asked, getting the mottle-colored navi’s attention, though his nervous eyes quickly started darting around elsewhere again.

“Uhh, n- no. No, no, no, I can’t. Can’t. Not allowed to talk. He said so. Said he’d hurt me,” Gremlin babbled out fearfully.

Bass glanced over at Flashman and got a shrug from him. Note: Psycho is a male navi. Bass thought to himself as he looked back at Gremlin. “How would he hurt you? You’re in our custody now. We can protect you.”

Gremlin shook his head furiously, then put his shaking hands up to his face, just touching it. The grin was there as always, but there was no humor to it anymore. “No, uh-uh, said he’ll find me wherever I am. Mmmmm, it’s gone, it’s gone, can’t disappear, can’t hide,” he began to whimper.

He must mean the popup program. “Hey, Gremlin, you remember who I am, right? I’m Bass. Do you really think I can’t protect you?” he said with some annoyance in his voice.

“Ehh. Ah, hah, hah, hah, haa. ‘Now don’t you tell the Demon Bass what went on here today,’” he said, suddenly going into a pose, standing up straight now and waving his index finger from side to side, “That’s what he said. Said, ‘You can’t hide anymore. You can’t hide from me and he can’t hide you.’ I, uh, I don’t know if I should be talking. I sh- shouldn’t talk at all,” Gremlin squeaked in a really stressed tone.

“Hum…” Note: Psycho is trying to hide something from me, and knows me, but I have no clue as to who he is. “Well, since you can’t tell me, can you tell my electric friend Flashman?” Bass gestured at the navi by his side, who couldn’t make heads or tails of all this.

“*Gulp* Maybe,” Gremlin replied as he looked at Flash.

“Alright then, now that’s settled. I’m going to cover my ear armor, and you tell Flashman,” Bass said. He put his hands up to block his hearing and slightly turned his face away from the two navis. He then watched Gremlin start spilling what he had seen to the electric navi when a burst of data suddenly exited his icon. Gremlin’s eyes widened in shock and he flailed spastically before he fell to the floor. “What happened?”

“Don’t know,” Flash said as Gremlin got back up off the ground and blinked his eyes for a second.

“Are you okay Gremlin?” Bass asked in concern.

“I can’t see. I- I can’t see! Tell me the lights are out. Turn them on! Turn them on!” the smaller navi shrieked out in terror, stumbling about, then falling over and crawling around uncertainly.

“Jackie, what just happened here?” Bass asked the programmer.

“Ah, damnit, Gremlin’s program just altered itself. That navi must have left a ghost program in him. Give me a moment to figure this out,” she replied, determination on her face as she typed away furiously, searching Gremlin’s programming.

“Weird thing to do. Why’d he blind him? Hey, Flashman, what’d he say?”

“Not a whole lot. He said he was attacked by some crazy navi who said he wanted something from him…”

“Popup program,” Bass guessed.

“I guess. This navi kept telling him to sing. Apparently he thinks of screaming as a song. I asked him to describe how the navi looked and he was about to say something when that burst of data came out.”

Bass had a sudden suspicion and went to ask Gremlin a question. He grabbed the smaller navi by the shoulder to get his attention. “Hey. Hey! Listen for a sec.”

“Mmm, I’m scared. Why am *shiver* I so scared?”

“We’ll fix it Gremlin. It’ll be fine. Now just answer me here. Can you remember what he looked like?”

“No! No! I can’t talk to you! He’ll-”

“Hold it! Just hold it a sec. I won’t ask you to describe him. Just tell me if you can remember.”

The frightened navi’s eyes were practically spinning in their sockets, looking frantically for anything at all. They turned to focus on where Bass’s voice was for a moment, then began randomly looking around again. “Uhh, uh, I… wh- wha?” Gremlin suddenly stiffened up. “No. I don’t. I don’t know what he looks like. Bu- but I saw him. I did, I saw him! He was… he… w- wait. Bass?” he said in a weak voice, then put his trembling hand out, as if he were trying to touch the half navi, “What… what do you look like? Why, rrr, why can’t… I remember? I- I- I don’t eve- even know what I look like! Eeeeee!” Gremlin wailed and curled up on the ground.

Optic system purge, right down to the optic memory. What an efficient bastard, Bass thought with a snarl. “Jackie, that data purge was Gremlin’s visual memory and sight. Can you retrieve it?”

“I’ll try to. It should still be in the area, but it’s a lot more fragmented than the data was originally.”

“This is so weird,” Flashman said, “Why did that other navi go through all this trouble? He could have just deleted Gremlin to keep us from finding anything out.”

“Noooo!” Gremlin screamed and spastically lunged over to Flashman and clung to his leg, “Don’t delete! Nonono, I don’t wanna’, don’ hurt, help please,” Gremlin babbled out, then just mumbled wordlessly as Flashman tried to pull his leg away from the frantic navi.

“I suspect that would have been too kind Flashman. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said we were dealing with an insane navi. If anything, I was making an understatement. This psycho is totally sick. And he’s taunting me.” He looked down at the cowering Gremlin with some sorrow in his eyes. “I’m sorry this happened. You didn’t deserve this.”

“Can I get a little help here?” Flash pleaded with a mixture of disgust and pity in his voice as he tried to pry Gremlin off his leg.

Bass was able to get the navi off with only a little effort and then activated Detainment Program around him. “*Sigh* The safest place for this navi is NSHQ. Maybe they can find more out about the situation. Jackie, you have full permission to examine him.”

“Okay. It looks like I’ve managed to collect all the loose data. I can transfer him directly from here once I’ve made sure I have everything I need,” Jackie said.

“Could you put him back into stasis too? He’s gone through too much trauma already.”

“No problem. Done,” she replied as she activated the command. Gremlin quickly quieted down, closed his eyes, and was still.

“Thank you Jackie. You’ve been a great help. Thank you too Flashman.”

“You’re welcome. Come by anytime, Connor,” Jackie said with a somewhat weary smile.

“Yeah, see you around,” Flashman said as Bass linked away.
_______________________________

He arrived in Lyne’s Homepage finally, but she was diligently working on some files and didn’t notice him arrive. He opened his mouth to get her attention, then stopped, grinned to himself, and started sneaking up on her quietly. He was just inches behind her, raising his arms up in the air and standing on his toes when she spoke. “I know you’re there Connor. Stop sneaking.”

“Aww Lyne, you’re no fun,” he said with a disappointed frown as he relaxed and took a seat on her desk, “How’s your part of the case coming along?”

“Almost done…” she said while putting on the finishing touches. Bass waited quietly while she finished up, gently kicking his dangling feet. “*sigh* There. Now it’s ready to be e-mailed to Commander Beef. How about your side of it?” she asked as she brought up her contacts list.

“I found Gremlin, but…” Bass trailed off uncomfortably.

“What happened?” Lyne asked, looking away from her address list at him.

“Some other navi reprogrammed him Lyne. It was terrible. The navi made him blind and crazed with fear after he told Flashman what happened to him.”

“Well, then this case is closed,” Lyne said as she sent the reprimands to Commander Beef, waiting for what she figured Bass was going to say next.

“Yeah I guess, but I think it’s opened another one. I’m going to figure out who this navi is and make him sorry he messed with my investigation,” he growled.

Lyne nodded as she got up from her seat and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Our investigation. It’s over. Let it go. Besides, I bet you’re hungry,” Lyne guessed with a smile on her face, getting a nod from Bass in response. “Mom’s making Curry tonight. C’mon,” Lyne said as she tugged on his arm.

“Okay,” he said and allowed Lyne to log them out.

When they logged out, they were in Lyne’s room. Lyne deactivated her armor as Bass gawked around. Ooo, this is a nice room, he thought, noting how colorful the room was and how nice it smelled.

“I’ll give you a tour later. C’mon, the kitchen’s downstairs,” Lyne said, opening her door.

“BOO!” shouted a masked figure on the other side, scaring both Bass and Lyne. “Heh, he, ha, ha,” the figure laughed until he saw a buster come into view in front of its face. “*gulp* Uh oh.”

“That wasn’t funny! Who are you?” Bass rumbled in a low tone, getting in front of Lyne to confront the figure.

“Chill out Connor. It’s Lan,” Lyne said, swiping the mask off her brother’s face. “See. He was wearing this stupid mask for Princess Pride’s Masquerade Ball.” Bass lowered his weapon before he deactivated his armor, thankful that the threat wasn’t dangerous. Lyne then popped Lan upside the head. “That’s the third time today. You need to lay off the sugar.”

“See, I told you that it was a bad idea Lan,” Mega piped up from his PET.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help it if I’m too excited. Plus, I didn’t expect to see Connor here. He didn’t come through the front door,” Lan said before he looked at them slyly. “What were you doing in there anyway?” he asked.

“We were discussing NetSavior matters,” Lyne answered in a serious tone.

“But I’m a NetSavior too. Why wasn’t I invited?” Lan asked with a pout.

“ ‘Cause it was about a case that we just closed. Now scurry along and tell mom we have company,” Lyne said as she shoved him down the hall towards the stairs. Bass’s stomach grumbled as she did so, getting a laugh out of the younger Hikari, who then ran down the stairs as Bass charged after him.

“That little punk,” Bass growled angrily as he stopped at the top of the stairs. “He knows I’m not used to being human.”

“That’s okay Connor. Shall we?” she asked while gesturing down the stairs.

“Y-You go first,” he stammered nervously. He had never been upstairs in the Hikari home before and the stairs looked daunting from the top. The steps aren’t as wide as the ones at my relation’s. Lyne giggled and grabbed his arm gently to lead him down the stairs.

They got to the bottom of the stairs and took about two steps away when Haruka called out, “Dinner!” causing them to bolt towards the kitchen to join the rest of Lyne’s family for curry.
______________________________
~Atlantian Palace~

Nights was sitting on his throne, scrolling through his contacts list. “C’mon, I know I have that address,” he grumbled as he continued his search.

“What ya up to Steven?” a gentle voice asked from the throne room entrance.

“Arranging a vacation for my brother Kobito,” he said as she entered the room and crossed it gracefully to his throne to rest her head in his lap.

“That’s nice of you to care for your brother, but you have a trip you have to go on as well,” she said in reminder as she ran her finger down his thigh while looking up at him.

“Stop that! Not right now,” Nights said with a glare at her, making her stop.

“Okay,” she sighed.

“Besides, what fun would the first Dimension Core Human/Navi ball be without the two representatives of both races: my brother and his betrothed?” Nights asked, making his captain lift her head up to look up at him once more.

“But how can the girl be betrothed to your demon brother? They’re way too young to be engaged,” Kobito said as she waved her hand dismissively.

“Through their link… Ahh here it is,” he said as he opened an e-mail channel.

/Connecting…/ his e-mail spoke.

Kobito looked confused by what he had said. “How? That can only happen if the girl is a…”

“Yes my dear. She is an angel,” Nights said as a vid window opened up in front of him. “Princess Poipu, nice to see you. I have two guests I’d like to add to my list.”

“Sure King Steven. Who are you adding?” Poipu Pride answered as she brought up his guest list and readied to add the new names to it.

“One Connor A. Cossack and one Lyne M. Hikari. They need a vacation,” Nights said as he beamed with pride at the deed he had done.

“I’ve got them down and I’m sending the invites as we speak,” she said as she glanced back at him, “When am I expecting you to arrive?” she asked.

“I’ll be in the area maybe tomorrow, but won’t make a full appearance until the party. Maybe we’ll have a dance for ol’ times sake,” Nights replied as Kobito puffed her cheeks angrily at him.

“That would be courteous. I’ll see you then King Steven,” Princess Pride said as she closed the vid window.

“But you’re supposed to dance with me,” Kobito said as she started to form drops of moisture in the corners of her eyes.

“I will, but it’s a courteous act to dance with other royalty as well,” Nights said as he caressed her cheek.

“Okay, but I get the first dance,” she said as she laid her head back in his lap while he ran his fingers through her hair.
_______________________________
~Hikari Home~

Lyne and Bass were seated on the living room couch, watching the news on TV. Just then, Lan ran into the living room and stopped in front of them. “Out of the way. We’re watching TV whelp,” Bass said as he placed his hand on top of Lan’s head and forced him down to the floor.

“Hey!” Lan complained as he looked back at the TV. “You two are boring watching the news. How about this? I get to go see Poipu. That’s news. Isn’t that right Mega?” Lan said as he jumped back into their viewing range. Instead of forcing him back down, Lyne and Bass leaned to the side so they could see the TV.

“Yeah,” Mega said in a sarcastic tone. “Old news.”

“You know, talking about her in that tone will make Mayl upset,” Lyne said with a glance at her brother. “She made you that mask. Remember?”

“Yeah. I do.” Lan got up in her face. “Wait! You wouldn’t tell, would you?” Lyne nodded in response as she sat back up while Bass followed in suit. “Aww! Lyne I’m just excited to see my friend. That’s all sis. I rarely get to see her,” Lan said in a soft tone.

“And Knightman,” Megaman added.

“I know brother, but you should treat her with some respect. She’s a princess so treat her as such. I know mom taught you manners,” Lyne scolded as Bass nodded and then forced Lan back down to the ground.

“Stay put,” Bass growled as he stared Lan down. “Or I’ll hurt you.”

“Yes, Connor,” Lan gulped and decided to watch the TV from his seat on the ground. “Isn’t there a movie on?” he asked as he looked back at Lyne.

“Yes Lan. After the news is over with,” Lyne said as the TV changed to a commercial.

Just then, the door bell rang, “Yay! My ride to the airport is here,” Lan exclaimed as he eagerly got up off the ground and bolted for the door.

“Good riddance. That’ll keep him out of my hair for the weekend,” Bass commented as he watched Lan open the door.

“Hello Mr. Famous, I’m ready to go!” Lan chirped in a cheerful tone.

“Just Famous Lan. Lyne, Connor, aren’t you coming too?” Famous asked as Lan dragged his bags out the door.

Lyne looked over at Bass, who looked back just as clueless before she looked at Famous with a, “Huh?” of confusion.

“What you talking about Famous? We didn’t get invited to no fancy shindig,” Bass replied as he too looked over at his cousin.

“Funny,” he said bringing out his PET, “You’re on the NetSavior invited list. Check your e-mail.” The two then looked at their own PETs. They both had an unopened e-mail, which they opened up at the same time.

“No way,” Bass breathed out as he looked down at his PET.

“Connor, your bags have already been packed and are in the limo, but I don’t know about Lyne,” Famous said as Bass looked up at him.

“Oh my, we’re actually going and I don’t even have a costume,” Lyne said as she bolted up the stairs to pack her bags.

Bass glared at Famous from where he sat. “You didn’t invite us at the last minute, did you?”

“No actually,” Famous said as he approached Bass and sat beside him on the couch. “But you’re not going to believe this when I tell you.”

“Try me relation,” Bass said as he narrowed his eyes at his eyes at Famous.

“Well, the King of Atlantis invited you to the ball. You and Lyne are on his guest list.”

King of Atlantis, huh? I’m really starting to hate this guy, Bass thought as he watched Lyne descend with a heavy bag that she seemed to be having trouble with. “Jeez Lyne. We’re not going to be gone that long. Are we?” he asked Famous.

“Well, it’s more like a three day weekend trip. You miss school on Monday,” Famous said as he rose up from the couch to help Lyne with her bag.

“Yay! I like the sound of that,” Lyne said as she let Famous take her bag out the door. “Don’t you Connor?” Lyne asked as Bass got up off the couch and stretched.

“Yeah, whatever. Let’s go,” Bass said as they exited Lyne’s house.
_________________________________
Next Episode Preview

~Actor’s Lounge~

Author: Okay, everyone just wait here until we can get all the travel arrangements done.
Yai: I can take care of it you know. I have a plane.
Editor: No can do Yai. There are too many people going for that jet to handle.
Author: *smirking with closed eyes* And Editor’s allergic to that much pink.
Editor: Oh, hush. *pouts* You’re so mean to me.
Bass: Wait, how many people are going to this?
Author: Um, everyone is.
Editor: Just look around the room.
Bass: *looks around the room* Lan, Chaud, Raika, Famous, Jackie, DJ, well all of NAT 001, NAT 000… wait a sec. *turns to Famous with a glare* All of them were already going and we were only just invited!?
Famous: *quickly gets up and rushes over to Author and Editor* Let me help you two out! I’ll be back later! *rushes out door followed by author and editor*
Lyne: It’s okay Connor. Calm down. *puts reassuring hand on his shoulder*
Bass: *slumps back in chair* Okay. But it’s still not fair we were invited last. And by someone we don’t even know.
Lyne: Oh, come on. We met him.
Bass: We saw his silhouette on a sphere. I’d hardly call that meeting someone. And he gave me the flu!
Lyne: Well, that was a little mean. But this’ll make up for it. And, hey, your brother works for him. Maybe he asked for the invitation.
Bass: Yeah, maybe.
Lyne: And it’ll be nice to go on a trip. Gee, it wasn’t that long ago I got back from the US either.
Raika: Well, NetSaviors do travel. It’s usually business, but we work as sort of ambassadors as well, so we get to go to things like this.
Lyne: It was cool that you got to be a NetSavior, but we didn’t get to hang out as much after that.
Lan: Hey, you never did mention how you two met. How long have you known him anyway?
Lyne: Well, a while. I guess we could tell that story on the flight, couldn’t we?
Raika: Yeah, that would work. Next time on Lan and Lyne S2, Episode 13: Soldier Story.
_________________
"NetAngel Style Change Activate"
Megawoman (Lyne)

Avatar made by Serenade.exe

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

[Midnight]

Hmmm....it's about damn time that you have the two protagonists in some sort of relationship-fostering situations. That's pretty much what is lacking so far, since it only seems natural that the protagonists would be paired with each other.

Well, the next chapter should be a characterization one, and I look forward to it.
_________________
Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

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

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

[Zodiac]

Apologies from the Lan and Lyne production staff. Due to problems we've experienced with new characters being introduced, Episode thirteen will be a little late this week. Once they've managed to "find their motivations" we'll be able to get their contracts finalized and get the episode fiished. :grr: These actors can be such Prima Donnas.
_________________
Church: Are you following any of this?
Caboose: I think so. That guy Tex is a robot, and you're his boyfriend. So that makes you... a gay robot.
Church: ... That's right... I'm a gay robot.

Red Vs. Blue

[Megawoman.EXE]

Well I guess it wasn't really that long of a delay. Here we go now since the actor finally agreed to sign the contract and his manager was so gracious to let me borrow him for this sequence.
________________________________________________
Episode 13: Soldier Story

~Chaud’s Limo~Later in Evening~29 Oct 200X~

The drive to the airport was almost silent, despite how many people there were in the limo. Bass looked around and noticed that all of Lan’s friends were there, including Chaud Blaze, and Raika, and even NAT 000 and 001 were there. Amazingly, everyone fit inside Chaud’s double seated limo. Once the limo finally stopped, the doors were opened to reveal a private jet liner on a private taxiway. Everyone started to file out, now filled with excitement and chatter. Once most of them were out, they started getting onto the plane.

“Do we have to travel like this?” Bass grumped, slumping back down into his seat. Famous turned around to frown at him, then grabbed his reluctant cousin’s hand and dragged him out of the limo. “Please don’t make me do this,” he complained as he struggled in Famous’s grip. When Lyne got out of the car and passed by him, he cracked a smile and jacked into her PET, escaping Famous’s grip.

“Connor,” Famous growled as he walked over to Lyne’s PET and pressed a few buttons, “You are coming whether you like it or not. Lyne, I locked your PET. Now be a dear and get on the plane.”

“Noooo!” Bass complained as Lyne ascended the stairs to get on the plane. He tried to escape, but to no avail. He couldn’t log out.

“There’s nothing wrong with riding on a plane,” Lyne said, glancing down at her PET while she took her seat inside the plane’s cabin. Bass just sat there with his back turned to her. “C’mon Connor, cheer up. Going on this trip mean we get a break from work and school. You know, give us a chance to relax.” She punched in a command to unlock her PET. “C’mon, get out.” Bass shook his head vigorously with his back still turned. “Please? You get to sit next to me.”

“No. I’m staying right here,” Bass said as he pointed to the spot he was sitting in.

“*Sigh* Why do you have to be so stubborn Connor,” Famous breathed out as he entered the cabin, “Maybe a navi system lockdown will make you change your mind. Gateman,” Famous said as he looked down at his PET.

“NO!” Bass shouted, “I’m fine right here.”

“Yes Famous,” Gateman replied, sending a beam of light into Lyne’s PET which forced Bass out abruptly. He appeared in his normal clothes, now sitting on the floor in front of Lyne.

“Owww! … That’s not fair,” Bass hissed at his cousin.

“Just take a seat. We’re about to take off,” Famous ordered. The half navi grumbled under his breath, but did get up off the floor and sat down in an isle seat beside Lyne.

“You have to buckle in too,” Lyne said as she demonstrated how to buckle in. It took him a few tries, but he finally got it. Shortly after that, the plane started moving, which startled him so that he suddenly clutched the armrests. “It’s okay. We’re just taxiing right now.”

“What’s taxiing?” Bass asked as he started to calm down.

“Taxiing is where the pilot drives the plane out to the runway to prepare for takeoff,” Lyne explained.

“Takeoff!”

“I wouldn’t blame you for not understanding. Takeoff is where the plane takes off the ground, into the air,” Lyne demonstrated with her hand sailing into the air.

Bass narrowed his eyes at her. “Lyne, I know what takeoff is.”

“Oh. Heh, heh. I’m sorry,” Lyne apologized as her face flushed with embarrassment.

“I like linking. It’s faster,” Bass said grumped and shifted around in his seat.

“I know, but this is much more fun,” Lyne said with a smile as the plane’s engines suddenly roared. The feeling of movement pushed everyone back into their seats, which caught Bass off guard. He felt chills run down his spine, making him close his eyes, grit his teeth, and ball up in his seat. He stopped being aware of time passing while he was curled up, but eventually, Lyne tapped him on the shoulder. “It’s okay. We’ve leveled out.”

Bass glanced over at her, “Are we on the ground yet?”

“No. It looks like we’re getting towards the shore of China and are heading in mainland,” Lyne said as she looked out of the window.

“Mmmnnn!” Bass groaned as he un-balled himself and stretched his stiffness away. “How much longer is the flight?”

“Maybe 5-7 hours, give or take.”

Bass yawned as he stretched once more. “Man, I’m tired,” he commented as he relaxed in his chair.

“That’s what you get for eating too much of Mom’s curry. And you’ve been working all day.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he trailed off as he got comfortable in his chair and drifted off to sleep. Lyne smiled at him and relaxed in her own chair before she too went to sleep.

Raika was up doing his rounds since he was designated to run security for the duration of the flight. As he passed by the two sleeping half navis, Lyne shuddered. He reached up and opened up an overhead compartment to look for a blanket. Once he found one, he draped it over her. After that, he returned to his seat in the back of the plane beside the vice CEO of IPC, Chaud Blaze.

“You know, why do you even watch over Lyne still? It’s not your job anymore,” Chaud reminded him.

“It’s still a part of my job, Chaud, even if it really isn’t mine anymore. Get some rest. It’s not your watch yet.”

“I have business to attend to. I won’t be resting,” Chaud said as he rose up from his seat. He went to a room in the rear of the plane and shut the door.

“He’s just as stubborn as his father sometimes,” Raika muttered.

“*Sigh* It’s hard to believe how right General Bastaff was about this situation,” Searchman piped up from his PET.

“Yeah, too true,” Raika breathed out as he looked over towards Lyne and Bass.

“I’ve got the rounds if you want to rest Raika. You did work really hard today on all those reports.”

“Sure, go ahead Searchman,” Raika said as he relaxed in his seat and fell asleep effortlessly. Once he was asleep, Searchman activated his RJP to materialize in the real world. Once he’d fully formed, he went to the back of the plane and took a seat beside the entryway to the aft room. He looked in and closed his eyes with a smirk. Chaud was in there, sleeping despite what he had said earlier.

“I guess we’ve all been working hard today. This was a much needed vacation,” Searchman commented as he listened to the sounds of deep, rhythmic breathing and light snores (heavy snores from Lan) that filled the cabin. He then looked over at Lyne and Bass. They shifted somewhat back to back while they slept. “*Sigh* I remember when I first met her,” Searchman breathed out as he accessed his memory bank, still leaving his external sensors active.
____________________________________
~Nine years ago ~ (Old) Net City~

“My God, the thing’s falling apart,” Searchman breathed out in wonder.

The Sharo Space Station had noted a surge of energy in the network and sent their most advanced military net navi to investigate the cause. Searchman was amazed by what he’d found: Net City crumbling and there was a swath of destruction leading to it.

“Searchman, tell us what you see there,” came an order from the Sharo control center.

“Yes sir,” Searchman said, refocusing on his mission, “Net City is falling apart. There’s something at the center of the destruction, flying in the sky. I’m focusing on that now,” he replied and then zoomed in on the flying figure in the center of the energy, “I see… It looks like a navi,” he breathed out, “An… angelic navi. So beautiful,” he said, even softer now, the last words in an awed whisper.

“Searchman!” the commanding voice shouted, snapping the military navi out of his trance, “Get a hold of yourself!”

“Yes sir! The navi looks like a female-”

“Are you recording it?” the voice interrupted.

“Yes sir, I’m recording. This navi, it’s in pure white and has shining wings. Ah, I can feel its power from here! Its eyes are shining as well. Strange. I wonder why her eyes are red?”

“What’s your condition?”

“Mine sir? I…” Searchman disengaged his zoom for a moment and noted how much closer the navi was. He looked himself over and hissed. “Sst, some surface pixilation already occurring. The structures around me are crumbling too.” Searchman looked down into the Net City streets and saw several navis trying to flee and failing. Their bodies were disintegrating in the fierce waves of energy coming off of the mysterious navi. “This entire area is going to be destroyed sir.”

“Can you destroy it?”

“You mean the navi causing this? Yes sir,” Searchman replied and zoomed in again. He took aim at the figure, going straight for a head shot. He fired and then watched as the shot streaked out and dissipated in the energy field. “… First shot failed sir. I’ll fire again.” Searchman readied his second shot, then paused when he noticed that the navi was looking straight at him. “It may have noticed me sir. Firing again.”

“Wait Searchman. Disengage,” the voice ordered, but Searchman was already firing. The shot streaked out, but went only half the distance of the first. “Searchman, do you hear me? Disengage Now!”

Searchman lowered his weapon and zoomed out to normal view. The spherical energy around the flying navi was looking more focused now and growing lances of energy were forming and converging toward the Sharo navi’s position. All around him, crumbling structures were shattering or being cut in half by beams of bright light. “Yes sir, I hear you. Disengaging now.” Searchman left his position and moved off at as fast a pace as he could manage. The energy beams finished converging on the spot that he’d been, and a sudden, pulsing wave moved down the lances and struck the area, obliterating it. The shockwave threw Searchman far forward until he landed hard and rolled to a stop.

“.e ju.t re….ed .n ….. sp.ke .. yu.. pos…on. S…..m.n, c.n you he.. ..”

“Ghuh, that was not good,” Searchman muttered weakly as he tried to roll to his feet. Half stumbling and half crawling, he continued to retreat from the growing wreckage of Net City and the strange being destroying it.

“Searchm.n, answ… What i. your cond..ion?”

“Injured, and low on energy. Your transmission is distorted sir. If you can understand me, I think I’m going to need a direct link back.”

“… Understood. Cont..ue on your presen. heading. We’re working on your ..nk now.”

“Thank you sir. Proceeding.”
___________________________
~Sharo Space Station~Command and Control Room~

“No further transmissions coming from Net City sir,” the young comm officer at the console informed their commander, Colonel Bastaff, “The energy signature is moving on.”

“In what direction?” Col Bastaff inquired.

“It… it’s moving towards the Sharo network sir.”

“Searchman, respond,” the commander ordered into the communicator on his personal console.

“Here sir,” came the immediate reply.

“Hurry. Your link out is approximately one hundred more navi meters ahead, and the energy source is closing.”

“Understood,” was Searchman’s quick reply.

“Energy source increasing speed sir,” the comm officer said, “It’s heading right for the direct link and will reach it in two minutes, twenty-eight seconds.”

“You need to run Searchman. Do it now!”

“Energy still increasing speed sir! Time to contact now one minute thirty-five seconds.”

“Too close. That’s too close. Lieutenant Mirkal, close that link the instant Searchman crosses it!”

“Yes sir!” the tech officer replied from his seat next to the comm officer.

“Contact time now fifty seconds!”

“He won’t make it sir! I should close it now!”

“He’ll make it. Keep it open!”

“Thirty-five seconds… twenty-five… fifteen… ten, nine, eight,”

“We’re getting contamination!”

“Keep it open!”

“Five, four,”

“I’m through!”

“Close it!”

“Closin- Agh!” The tech officer’s console suddenly sparked up and smoked. Several monitors along the main console briefly flickered and a couple of them went black.

“What happened? Did it get in?” Col Bastaff demanded.

“Oww, no sir,” replied the tech officer, “There was a power surge in the end, but the entity didn’t make it through.”

“Make sure all external access is closed off. I don’t want it finding its way in here.”

“Yes sir.”

“Searchman, I want to see all of the information you recorded.”

“Of course sir,” the navi replied wearily.

“Hmm, but perhaps you need a rest first. Take one hour to prepare.”

“Yes sir. Thank you,” he replied gratefully and went directly into sleep mode.
________________________

“So, this was the fate of Net City,” Colonel Bastaff commented after reviewing the video footage Searchman had recorded.

“Yes sir,” the navi replied, still not recovered from the experience but capable of dealing with the briefing.

“And do you know what caused this?”

“A navi sir. The female navi that I recorded.”

The commander looked at Searchman for a moment before speaking, “Yes and no.”

“What do you mean sir?”

“From what we’ve learned in the last hour, even calling it a navi wouldn’t be correct. Do you know what a Mind Jumper is?”

“No sir, I haven’t heard that term before.”

“A Mind Jumper is a person who links his or her mind into an Avatar, a navi frame that hasn’t had an AI programmed in. SciLab in Japan has been working with Mind Jumping for several years now.”

“So then, the entity I recorded was an Avatar being controlled by a Mind Jumper?”

“Correct. Specifically, it was a Mind Jumper named Lyne Hikari.”

“And they lost control of this person?”

“Yes. She was used to capture Pharoahman. The operation was successful, but before it was over, it appears as if Pharoahman did something to her. What that is, we don’t know.”

“What is the situation now sir?”

“For the moment, things are stable. Lyne has been separated from the network and plans are being made to repair the damage that was done. A navi is being constructed now which will lock away the power she has.”

“What of the Avatar?”

“Gone. It has become part of her now.”

Searchman was aghast at this. Part of her? How can that be possible? “Then, this could happen again, couldn’t it?”

“Potentially. SciLab will not be allowing her to mind jump again for some time. She currently doesn’t have the self control to handle what Pharoahman has done, but once she matures, they may attempt to-”

“Matures?” Searchman interrupted, “Oh, forgive me sir. I didn’t mean to interrupt. Please go on.”

“Ah, yes. I hadn’t mentioned her age, had I? Understandable that you’d be confused by my choice of words then. Lyne Hikari is seven years old.”

He hadn’t expected that there could be any further surprises, but when his commander’s words sunk in, his shock practically doubled. “A child did all of that? But, won’t that power only increase once she’s matured?”

“Possibly, and that’s where you will come in.”

“Me sir?”

“You are the only surviving eyewitness of what happened today Searchman. I want you there to oversee her in the event of her power erupting again.”

“Then, am I to go to work at SciLab then?”

“No. We are going to train someone to work with you, to be your designated NetOp. The two of you will watch over her to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“Who is it to be?” Please don’t say Lieutenant Mirkal.

“That hasn’t been determined yet. We have classes in the Junior Academy now who should prove suitable in roughly four to five years.”

“That’s quite a wait. What shall I do until then sir?”

“We will put you into stasis for some time while repairs are made, and we’ll also install upgrades as necessary to keep you current with advancing technology, but until your NetOp is determined, you’ll be placed on inactive status.”

“Understood sir. Am I dismissed then?”

“Dismissed soldier.”
__________________________
~Sharo Junior Academy~Four years later~

“Candidate Bernard.”

“Yes sir!” the chosen candidate answered the instructor.

“Stand when your name is called!” he bellowed, getting an immediate response from the student, and waking up some of the others, “Why do I have to keep reminding you of that! Didn’t any of the other instructors teach you any discipline?”

“Yes sir! I’m sorry sir! It won’t happen again sir!” the teenager replied nervously.

“Back up your apology with results. Candidate Raika!”

“Yes sir!” the 16-year-old candidate replied, standing up at rigid attention.

“I want both of you front and center.” The two teens moved to the front of the class, Raika marching with formality and Bernard scrambling in a half jog. “I didn’t say double-time Bernard! Remember your D & C (Drill and Ceremonies)!” The nervous boy stopped in his tracks, came to attention, then tried to match his pace with Raika, but was noticeably less skilled at marching. When they reached the front of the class, Raika made a sharp, 90% flanking move to get into position. Bernard attempted to make the same move, but stumbled a bit. Finally, they both reached the instructor and turned to face him. “At ease,” the instructor commanded, “Both of you,” he continued when Bernard remained at attention.

“Alright. Today, the two of you will take part in a strategic net battle. Using your training navis, I want you to use stealth and evasion to gain an access code from your opponent’s base. Heh, heh, think of it like capture-the-flag,” Bernard grimaced slightly at this. He remembered vividly how late all of the candidates had been up last night playing that very game. “I don’t want either one of you letting the other player see you. Now, start up.”

The opponents went into the booths set in the wall so that they couldn’t see each other and jacked their navis in. In the class area, a strategic map of the area the candidates were working in came up on the large screen, and close ups of both players navis appeared on smaller screens above their respective booths. As the game went on, other candidates in the class whispered to each other.

“Who do you think’s gonna’ win?”

“My bet’s on Raika.”

“Hey, Bernard’s a good NetBattler too.”

“Bet?”

“Not with Sgt. Crighton watching.”

“Bernard’s already halfway up the map.”

“What’s Raika doing?”

“He’s being patient. That’s why his team won last night.”

“That’s great. I would’ve preferred going to bed before midnight.”

“Quit whining. You were on the winning team.”

“What’s Raika doing now?”

Suddenly, Raika’s navi opened fire with a Vulcan Cannon attack. Bernard’s navi immediately logged out.

“What the deuce do you think you’re doing Raika!” the instructor, Crighton, shouted angrily.

“Sgt. Crighton, he cheated!” Bernard whined.

“Sir!” Raika responded, going to rigid attention once more, “I was instructed not to allow my opponent to see me. Now that my opponent is neutralized, the path is clear to complete my objective sir!”

Sergeant Crighton glared daggers at Raika, but the side of his mouth twitched ever so slightly upwards, suggesting that he wasn’t entirely displeased. “Thirty pushups, both of you!” he bellowed. Raika immediately dropped to the ground to carry out the instruction.

“B- but Sarge. He’s the one who cheated! Why do-”

“He spotted you! That’s thirty! And you questioned my order! That’s thirty more! Make it an even hundred for calling me Sarge! My name is Sergeant Crighton!”

The terrified student dropped to the ground and started his pushups just as Raika was getting up from finishing his. He stood at attention, waiting for further instructions.

“Well, what are you waiting for Raika? The path is clear, so complete your objective.”

“Yes sir!”
______________________________

“So, what do you think Seachman?”

“I look a little different now.”

General Bastaff chuckled slightly at the navi’s response. “Yes, there have been some cosmetic changes done to you since you were put into stasis. I’m more interested, however, in your take on the young candidate that you’ll be assigned too.”

“I can only assume that you mean Candidate Raika sir.”

“Oh, would you prefer to work with him? Well, I’ll consider arranging that.”

Searchman turned horrified eyes to the vidscreen that showed his commander’s face. “Sir? You don’t seriously… mean…” the navi trailed off, seeing that his commander was laughing loudly, covering his eyes with his hand. Searchman sighed and lowered his head. “You have a cruel sense of humor sir.”

“Ahem, I suppose that could be,” the Sharo General said, regaining his composure, “Actually, that may be the only problem I’d have with young Raika. He’s been strictly serious ever since he began his candidacy here.”

“But he’s efficient and skilled. Hmm, and I don’t have that much of a sense of humor myself.” He heard the General clear his throat and looked to see that he was shifting uncomfortably and scratching his head. “But perhaps you think I should have a sense of humor as well.”

“Ah, perhaps. It really doesn’t hurt, you know?” the General stretched slightly and groaned, “Ooo, I can feel age creeping up on me now. At least being the Headmaster of this academy has been less stressful than commanding the space station was. Still, perhaps I should retire soon.”

“Then who will we be taking our orders from?”

“Lieutenant Colonel Kazuki. He’s got my old position at the space station and will probably be promoted by the time you get back there with Raika. I’ve heard good things about him, so you shouldn’t have any problems. I do have one last order for you though. I don’t want you to mention anything about your knowledge of Lyne Hikari. Her involvement in the Pharoahman incident is to remain the strictest of secrets. Now, are you ready to meet your new NetOp?”

“Yes sir. Whenever you’re ready.”
_____________________________

The next year of Raika and Searchman’s lives went by in a whirlwind of activity. Boot camp seemed to only last days, but both Raika and his newly appointed navi were amazed when they realized that over two months went by from start to finish. They both then went through a rigorous training course in advanced NetBattling techniques and an understanding of the network itself. Searchman felt uncomfortable when Network History touched on an incident which ruined much of the network, but he obeyed General Bastaff’s command not to divulge any of his personal knowledge of the incident. Finally, the ordeal was over, and Raika went gratefully to his assignment at the Sharo Space Station.
______________________________
~Four years ago ~ Sharo Space Station~

/Junior Office Raika, please report to Colonel Kazuki’s office. Junior Officer Raika, please report to Colonel Kazuki’s office/

“Uh oh kid. What kind of trouble are you in now?”

“I don’t know sir. I haven’t been in trouble yet,” Raika answered his supervisor.

“Ah, but the key word is yet. There’s always trouble eventually.”

Raika didn’t have an answer for Lieutenant Mirkal. He was already on his way to the door, saying a quick, “Meet me there,” to his navi before he exited. Raika tried to keep talking with his supervisor to a minimum. He’d never liked the older officer, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. Maybe the fact that he hadn’t been promoted to Captain despite his seven years of service as an officer had something to do with it.

He made a single, solid knock on the commander’s door once he reached it. “Come in!” came the immediate reply from Col Kazuki. Raika entered the room, marched formally to the commander’s desk, stopped at attention, and saluted crisply.

“Junior Officer Raika, reporting as ordered sir.”

“Excellent,” the commander said, returning the salute, “I’m glad that you’ve finally stopped bellowing your report like the drill instructors trained you to do.” The junior officer’s face flushed slightly at this statement, but he kept his expression carefully neutral. “Hmm, please, relax Raika. I didn’t call you in here to chew you out or anything. You’re doing as outstanding a job as your former headmaster promised you would.”

Raika blinked at this statement. “Sir, permission to ask a question?”

Col Kazuki frowned slightly at him. “You may want to drop some of your formality son. The gentleman you’ll be working with soon doesn’t care for it. Now ask your question.”

Raika paused a moment to try and remember what question he’d wanted to ask. What his commander said had brought a whole new question to mind, but he set that aside, assuming he was about to be given the answer anyway. Finally he remembered what he wanted to ask. “Sir, did you say that General Bastaff himself recommended my assignment here?”

“Why yes. He chose you specifically for assignment to the Space Station, along with your navi. Him being the former commander here, I really felt I had no choice but to take the recommendation as an order.”

“But, why me specifically sir? I don’t understand.”

“Oh, no need to understand. I’m sure he would have discussed it with you if he’d had to. Now about your assignment.”

The commander paused and Raika considered pressing the issue to find out what was going on, but decided the tacit command he’d been given was to stop questioning. “Yes sir,” was the sum of his reply.

The Colonel smiled and brought out a package for Raika. “You’ll find all of the details you’ll need right here. Don’t worry if they seem a bit confusing at first. Things will be explained to you in due time.” He handed the package over to the junior officer, who immediately began going through it. “So eager to get on your way, are you? Tired of everyone here?”

“No sir!” Raika replied, immediately shutting the folder. Then he thought of his supervisor and opened his mouth, but closed it again, deciding that tact was the best option.

The commander chuckled at Raika’s reaction. “It’s fine son. You needn’t be so sensitive. Look through your package. You’ll find your orders in there, as well as travel tickets and a passport, weapons permit for your service pistol, everything that you’ll be needing.”

“I’ll be traveling to the United States?” Raika said questioningly.

“Huh, not to Japan?” inquired Searchman, who’d been observing silently from a wall monitor.

“Not to Japan,” Col Kazuki agreed, “Now don’t say any more there,” he admonished, “We wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.”

Raika considered questioning the exchange between his commander and his navi, but his attention was caught by a shiny object that had fallen out of his packet. He leaned down to collect it and stared at the object now in his hand with a mixture of wonder and confusion. “Sir? This?”

“Oh my. Now how did that get in there?” Kazuki questioned with a smile quirking at his mouth, “Well, perhaps that wasn’t a typo on your orders then.” Raika looked up at his commander, then back down at the orders to see what he meant. After a quick perusal, he looked back up at Kazuki, disbelieving what he’d read. “No, no, I don’t suppose that’s a typo at all Lieutenant Raika,” he said with a smile and got up to shake the Sharo officer’s hand.

“Th… thank you sir,” he replied, shaking the Colonel’s hand, then saluting after the handshake was done.

Kazuki returned the salute, then dropped it and scratched his chin in thought. “You know, traditionally an officer’s first salute should be from an enlisted person, so why don’t we forget that salute. Searchman, why don’t you take the honors here?”

“My pleasure sir,” the navi replied, saluting Raika from the screen.

Raika retuned the salute, saying, “This is a little strange isn’t it?” before dropping it.

“Yes sir, it is,” the navi agreed.

“Colonel Kazuki, before I go, who will be in charge of this mission?” Raika asked.

“That’s right there in your orders as well. You’ll be reporting to him once you arrive at the airport in America,” the commander replied, “Do make sure to go over those orders thoroughly.”

“Of course sir,” Raika said, dropping his gaze back to the papers in his hand, “A civilian? So then, I’ll be working with this man?” He looked up at the Colonel, who nodded in response. “He has a very odd name.”
_____________________________
~One week later ~ Long Beach, CA~

“Mr. Famous?” Raika asked upon seeing the face from the picture included with his orders.

“No need for formalities Lieutenant Raika. Simply call me Famous,” came the reply from the man in the lab coat and stylish glasses.

“Um, very well. So then, I understand I’m to assist you in a kind of guard duty?”

“That’s right. She should be arriving here shortly. Now, how much do you know?”

“Not very much sir. My orders didn’t include many details.”

“That’s fine. I’ll brief you on it later. Our ward is coming now.” Raika turned to see where Famous was looking, but there were a lot of people coming. “Lyne! Lyne Hikari, over here,” Famous called, waving his arm.

Lyne. Is that a woman’s name? Raika wondered, Perhaps that one with the reddish hair. She looks sort of like a scientist.

“Famous, hi!” called the young girl running up to them, “I didn’t know I’d be seeing you here,” she said, jumping up to get a hug.

“Hello Lyne. Energetic as always I see,” the scientist replied.

Huh? We’re here to watch over a child? thought Raika in confusion.

“Hey, where’s Mr. Smith? I thought he was going to pick me up,” Lyne asked, looking around.

“He’s still at work right now,” Famous replied, “Meanwhile, I’ll be taking care of you this afternoon, along with my friend here. This is Raika from Sharo.”

“Hi Raika from Sharo. I’m Lyne from Japan,” the young girl said with a grin.

“Um, hello,” Raika said, holding his hand out uncertainly. Lyne accepted the hand and shook it.

“So, do you have a navi?” she asked.

“Yes, right here.” Raika brought out his PET and showed it to Lyne.

So, Searchman thought as Raika showed him to Lyne, This is the force behind all that destruction. I still find that hard to believe. There doesn’t seem to be anything odd about her.

“Cool, you have a military navi,” Lyne said excitedly, “Mine’s military too. Her name’s Combit.” She brought her PET out to show off her navi.

The navi waved and said, “Hello! Ooo, he’s cute. What’s your name?”

Huh? Cute? “Er, my name’s Searchman,” he introduced himself, blushing slightly, She’s kind of cute too.

“So, did Mr. Smith make yours too?” Lyne asked curiously.

“No. Well, actually, I’m not sure who made Searchman,” Raika replied, suddenly realizing that he’d never found out where Searchman had come from.

“You can tell it wasn’t Mr. Smith, Lyne,” Combit put in, “He’s got a nose.” Searchman and Raika suddenly noticed the feature missing from Combit’s face.

“That’s strange. I wonder why he left that out,” Raika commented.

“People have their little quirks,” Famous suggested, “Smith never programs noses in. Well, why don’t we get going now? Maybe something to eat?”

“Do they have curry shops around here?” Lyne asked excitedly, “And ice cream! They have good ice cream, right?”

Curry and ice cream? That’s an odd craving, Raika thought to himself.

“Still the same strange taste in food,” Famous said with a smirk, “Alright, let’s get going.”
____________________________
~One week later~

“Bye guys!” Lyne called out, “Today was fun!”

“Alright Lyne. Don’t forget our appointment tomorrow,” Famous called back.

“Aww, do I have to?”

“Yes. You know you’ve got to have these examinations. Mr. Smith will be bringing you after school.”

“Oh, OK,” she pouted, “Isn’t it bad enough it’s my first day of school?”

“That’s why you’re having the exam. We have to make sure you don’t get any viruses.”

“Yes Famous. I’ll be there. Ow, Jimmy, cut it out!” she suddenly turned on one of the Smith boys, who’d tugged on her hair.

“Battle time Lyne. I’ll get you today!” the boy challenged.

“Hah, you’re so toasted Jimmy. Raika, why don’t we battle tomorrow?” she called while going inside.

“My name’s not Jimmy. It’s James,” the Smith boy said before Raika could make a reply.

“It’s only James if you win today. Or I could call you Jamie hah, hah.”

“No way! Don’t you dare call me that!” he argued, and then the door was shut, leaving the rest of the conversation unheard.

“Well, she does seem to be adjusting well enough,” Famous commented, “That’s good to see. Let’s get going now.”

“Um, Mr. Famous?” Raika said as they got back into the car.

“No need for formalities Raika,” Famous admonished with a glare, “Why must I keep reminding you of that?”

“Ahem, Famous, is there something wrong with Lyne’s health?”

“Ah, not exactly. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it was time to tell you what we’re watching her for, but we can’t keep secrets forever. Let’s wait until we’re back at the apartment though.”

“Alright,” Raika responded, his already piqued interest growing even more, What can be so secret? She’s just an ordinary girl, isn’t she?
_______________________________

“Have a seat please. Oh, I’ll need to borrow Searchman,” Famous said once they’d returned to their apartment. Raika handed his PET to the scientist, then sat down in a recliner in the middle of what would have been a spacious living area if it weren’t for all of the equipment taking up the room.

“What do you need Searchman for?”

“Eyewitness account,” was Famous’s simple reply, “Jack in Searchman,” he ordered after plugging the PET in, “OK Searchman, you know which file we need to see.”

“I can’t open that file without a password first,” the navi replied, looking a bit startled, When was this file password locked? he wondered.

“Of course. CMB49MJLH07. Open file and play.”

Raika watched the monitor as the scene appeared. It looked like it was from the perspective of someone moving into a covert position, but the scenery didn’t look quite natural. It must have been something in the network from a navi’s perspective. Searchman’s perspective, Raika guessed, based on what Famous had said, and his guess was verified when the familiar voice of the navi spoke.

“Alright sir. Searchman in position.”

“Good. Report.” spoke a different voice that sounded somehow familiar as well.

Was that his former operator speaking? But I recognize that voice from somewhere, Raika thought to himself.

“My God, the thing’s falling apart,” Searchman’s voice responded to the other voice’s question. Indeed, the scene showing was of something falling apart: a whole city. Raika got an idea of what this was and looked for the time/date stamp, but that was encrypted out. His guess, however, was quickly verified when Searchman said, “Net City is falling apart. There’s something at the center of the destruction, flying in the sky. I’m focusing on that now.”

Raika gave his whole attention to what was on the screen. This was history playing out in front of him: the collapse of the old network. There was a navi at the center of it? I’d always thought it was a virus outbreak. Further thoughts were left behind as he watched Searchman trying to take the navi out, and fail, then Searchman’s retreat from the network, just barely making it before the link to Sharo’s Space Station was closed off. The file then ended.

“Well, what do you think of that?” Famous asked him.

“Of that? It’s incredible! I hadn’t realized that Searchman was right there. Was that your old NetOp talking to you there? He sounded familiar.”

“I didn’t have a designated NetOp at first. That was the Space Station commander at the time: Colonel Bastaff,” Searchman replied.

Raika nodded at that, then thought about the file some more. While thinking, he recalled what he’d originally asked about. “Wait, I was asking about Lyne’s health. Why’d you show me that file?”

“Because she was the one who destroyed Old Net City,” Famous replied, looking straight at Raika.

He wanted to laugh. At least, the rational part of him wanted that, but he couldn’t because of the way Famous was staring at him. He shifted uncomfortably and hoped he’d get a better answer when he asked, “You’re joking, right?”

Famous breathed in to steady his nerves and went on. “Lyne Hikari is, or was back then, a Mind Jumper. It’s not a well known term. In fact, you’re the first person in the past five years who’s learned the term.” Raika stared at Famous blankly, unable to think of any way to respond. “A Mind Jumper is a very special kind of NetOp, capable of transferring his or her consciousness directly into an Avatar, a navi with no AI. This makes for a very powerful navi, although it puts the Jumper in danger of actual harm.”

“You mean the kind of power that can destroy an entire network?” Raika asked.

“Well, that was actually a severe example and an unusual situation. There was a navi called Pharoahman that had been infected by an extremely strong virus and went out of control. It would only have been a matter of time before it took control of the entire network and, essentially, the world. We had to capture him, and so we did what we could. We used Lyne as bait.”

“What!” Raika exclaimed, standing up, “She was used as bait!? Yo- you said ‘we’. You were part of it?”

“Yes I was. I didn’t agree with the plan, but it was her father’s decision in the end and I stayed on to try and keep things from going wrong. As you saw, I failed at that.”

“What happened? How did she get the power to do that?” Raika asked, motioning toward the screen, even though the video file was not on it anymore.

“Pharoahman did something to her. He imprinted some of his own power, along with some of his consciousness, onto her mind. To be fair to Lyne, it was his mind in control of her.”

The Sharo officer was speechless after all that. He looked away from Famous and back over to the screen where Searchman was still waiting. A person’s mind bonded with a navi? And her mind was overridden by this Pharoahman. While thinking, Raika’s expression went from shock to disgust. No. No! I won’t allow that, he thought, getting up and leaving the apartment.

“Wait!” Famous called, “Raika, where are you going? Lieutenant Raika!” But the Sharo officer’s only response was to slam the door on the way out. Famous stood there a moment quietly before finally saying to himself, “That went very badly.”
______________________________
~Next day~

“Good afternoon Lyne,” Famous greeted as the girl walked into his lab area, “Smith, good to see you.”

“Thanks Famous. Is there anything I can help you with today?” Mr. Smith asked from the door.

“No. I suppose you still have some work upstairs?”

“Yes, there’s always much to do. I’ll be back in, say, an hour?”

“That’ll be fine. It shouldn’t take longer than that.”

“Alright. Bye Lyne.”

“Bye Mr. Smith,” she replied with a wave. She looked around the lab for a moment. “Um, where’s Raika at? Is he OK?”

“He’ll be fine,” Famous answered, not entirely convinced he was telling the truth, “Are you ready to get started?”

“Um, yeah. I guess I’m ready,” she replied, looking down at the floor.

“OK then. I’ll just put Combit into the PET station over there while you get comfortable.” Famous then took the device from Lyne and hooked it up to a small station while Lyne lay down on a table. He came back over to Lyne and started an IV drip before connecting monitors to her.

“Sir,” Searchman called from a monitor above a console, “Is there anything you need me to do?”

“Well, you could keep Combit entertained while I take care of Lyne,” he replied without turning around. He finished connecting the monitors shortly after Lyne drifted off. He worked quietly, looking over the data he was collecting. The only sounds were cooling fans running, indicators sounding, and the murmur of navi voices talking.

“So, does she have a virus?” a voice from the door broke through the ambient sounds. Famous turned to look at the door.

“Raika. I wasn’t sure you’d be coming back. Where were you all night?”

“I was working through some things. I just needed some time to think.” He cleared his throat slightly and shifted his feet uncomfortably before asking, “May I come in?”

“Yes please,” Famous responded, “You’re more than welcome here.”

Raika walked in without speaking. He glanced to the side and saw Searchman rubbing the back of his helmet while Combit talked to him, smiling brightly. He looked back over at Famous and came up to where the scientist was working. “What’s the diagnosis?”

“No viruses detected so far. That doesn’t mean we won’t find one. She’ll have to have regular checkups for a while until we’re sure that viruses here won’t be a problem. Do you want to know why we didn’t tell you about Lyne’s unique situation until now?”

“We? Do you mean you and Searchman? I remembered that before I started this assignment, Searchman had asked why we weren’t going to Japan. I never did ask about it, but he was already aware of this, wasn’t he?”

“Yes, he was aware. He was also under strict orders not to talk about it. We didn’t want you coming here and looking at Lyne like she was a monster. She’s not. She’s just a girl with a very unique condition.”

“A condition that she couldn’t control. What’s to keep it under control in the future?”

“Her,” Famous replied, pointing to the side of the room.

“Me,” Combit said raising her hand meekly.

“*Huff* Bonding with a navi sent her out of control in the first place. How does she keep Lyne under control?”

“It’s what Combit was designed for. She and Lyne share a special synchronization that filters Lyne’s power. The human mind was never meant to directly affect the net the way she can. Lyne still has some access to the power that Pharoahman gave her, but only very limited.”

Raika didn’t look entirely satisfied with that, but decided it was better than no answer. “I… I was horrified by what I saw, once I realized what it was. To think that a program could control a human mind. That a human mind could devastate the network like that. How could I look at navis the same way after that?” He paused, wondering if Famous was going to say anything, but was met with silence. He looked over to the screen and saw that the navis there were quiet as well and looking at Raika expectantly. He looked back at Famous and continued, “I don’t suppose I really can. It’s fascinating and scary at the same time. But it would be foolish to run away from it. And I can’t run away. I’m a soldier and I have a duty to uphold. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

“Yay! That means you’re staying,” exclaimed Combit’s voice from the wall. Raika turned to see that she was hugging Searchman around the neck and kissing him on the cheek.

Navis date!? he thought in shock, “That’s… disturbing.”

“Well, there are a few things you’ll have to get used to with navis,” Famous said, clapping Raika on the shoulder, “So then, you understand now what your duty is with Lyne?”

Raika nodded at the scientist. “Yes, I understand. For starters, I have to make sure that she doesn’t go out of control like that again. More importantly, I have to protect her from anyone who might want to harm or use her because of the power she has.”

Famous smiled and nodded at this. “One other thing though. Lyne is perfectly aware of her power and doesn’t need to be reminded of it. Remember that she’s still a child and needs a friend, not a bodyguard. Just be natural with her like you were for the past week, OK?”

Raika nodded again. “I can do that,” he replied, then thought to himself, I will be a friend, but I won’t forget my duty. I’ll protect you Lyne. I promise.
_____________________________________

I remember that promise. For some reason I could hear him say it. That must’ve been the first time I realized that we were synchronized. Searchman thought as he came back to his senses. And we’ve kept that promise, he continued as the plane started descending.

He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. It’s time to pass on the torch to a more capable guardian, he commented as he then looked at Bass who had Lyne’s head resting in his chest. The passengers on the plane were starting to stir as they noticed the change in elevation. Alpha had affected you both, but you’ll protect each other. Keep her safe Bass, and be her friend, he projected to the sleeping, male half navi while he logged back into his PET.

Bass startled awake and looked back to where he thought the source of the voice was. He noticed a few suspended pixels towards the back of the plane before they disappeared. He then let out a sigh of relief as he returned to his seat, realizing he had something heavy resting on his chest. Searchman, Bass thought to Raika’s PET as he stroked her hair, I promsise I will. The plane then lurched as it turned while it continued to descend.

Shortly after that, Bass looked out the window and noticed what seamed to be bright lights out the window. He shook Lyne, making her stir. “Where are we?” he asked pointing out the window.

She breathed in a heavy, half sigh/half yawn while rubbing her eyes, before looking out the window. “That’s the capital of Brightland. Where the palace is located,” Lyne said as she stretched, “We’ve been there before. I guess from what Lan said earlier in the week we’d be staying there with everyone else.”

“That sounds cool,” Bass said before he looked at her in shock. “Wait, we’ve been here before?”

“Yeah. Summer vacation before you died. There was a ball then too, but it was boring, so I wouldn’t expect you to remember it much. We turned 5 years old in the palace.”

“Ooohhh, yeah. I remember that. That party was awesome,” Bass said before the plane touched the ground, making it shake with surprising violence as it slowed down. “Guahh! I’m guessing that this is called landing.”

“Yeah,” Lyne quietly replied.

“Not what I’d call a landing,” Bass huffed as the plane slowed to a moderate taxiing speed. When the plane came to a full stop, the cabin was unsealed to allow the passengers to get off. They all exited the plane and got into a limo that brought them through the cultured streets of Brightland’s capital. The people in the late night streets mostly wore elegant dresses and suits. Even though it was nighttime, the vendors were still doing business.

The drive to the palace went by in a flash. The limo pulled up to the grand enterance of the palace. “Wow, it’s bigger than I remember,” Bass commented as he exited the limo with Lyne hugging his arm.

“Yeah. It’s been a while since we’ve been here,” Lyne commented as she looked around, also thinking that the huge place had somehow grown over the past… was it really eleven years? They were escorted up the entryway stairs by servants in formal uniforms while still looking. Once inside, they were greeted by the Princess of Brightland, Poipu Pride.

“Welcome to Brightland NetSavors and NetAgents of Japan. I hope the trip was pleasant,” Pride said with a cheerful smile. She looked around at them, only receiving weary and half-hearted return smiles, and her own expression fell to be replaced by furrowed brows of confusion.

“Princess, I think they need sleep more than anything,” Famous replied as he stretched. “Jet lag can be such a drag.”

“Too true. I’ll have Dr. Keshiro show you to your rooms,” Princess Pride said as she left the large group in the lobby.

“Dr. Keshiro?” Bass questioned. He glanced over at Lyne, who glanced back with equal confusion on her face. They then looked over at Famous as Lan finally registered what their hostess had said.

“Neta’s here?” he gasped.

“No Lan. Dr. Reo Keshiro,” Famous said as a man with black hair and green eyes, and dressed in lab coat and brown business suit walked down the stairs. “Reo, nice to see you,” he greeted the man as he came down the stairs.

“Reo… How come that name is familiar?” Bass pondered placing his hand on his chin.

“Mrs. Deni’s husband,” Lyne offered.

“Mrs. Deni?”

Lyne palmed her face. “Neta, stupid!”

“Oh! How could I have forgotten about her? She’s a SoulNavi too, right?” Bass said, getting a nod from Lyne and a glare from Lan’s PET. “What? So what if I completely forgot about her. That would make you the fourth SoulNavi made then, wouldn’t it Hub?”

Mega then came out of his PET and grabbed Bass by the collar. “Don’t slough Neta off like that.”

“I wasn’t. I just forgot, Okay? I’m human after all. I can make mistakes. And I was drunk when I told you about it, remember?” Bass said, glaring down at Mega.

“Cool!” Mayl squealed. “How was Megaman able to do that?” Everyone who didn’t already know turned their attention on the blue navi. He blushed brightly as he put Bass down, before rubbing the back of his helmet nervously.

I’d like to see Hub explain that, Bass huffed as he watched Mega squirm, trying to think of an explanation.

“Well…You see,” Mega started to explain before he was interrupted.

“It’s quite simple really,” Famous said as he pointed towards the center of the ballroom that was adjacent to their location in the lobby. The object he pointed at was a Dimension Core. “This is no ordinary ball you are attending. Navis were invited too,” he explained with a smile.

“Cool,” Lan breathed out. “So how is Neta doing anyway? And Kuri?” he asked Reo once he’d finished descending the stairs and joined them.

“I thought you would know more about how Neta’s doing then I would. I’ve been doing a ton of medical research here in Brightland. And Kuri, she’s fine, but I’ve still had no word from Saratu,” the doctor replied.

“None on our end either,” Famous said, “But my research on Regal’s chip technology is almost complete. You’re always too dedicated to your work, aren’t you Reo?” Famous asked.

“Wait…” Lyne said as she registered what Reo said. “What’s wrong with Neta?” Lyne asked in concern.

“She got infected with a virus. Right before Saratu disappeared,” Reo replied with a lowered head, “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t as dedicated to my job as I am. That way I could keep an eye on my family better. I almost lost Kuri too.”

“That’s okay my friend,” Famous said as he patted Reo on the back. “Let’s get these tired youngsters up to their rooms and you can talk about this more in the morning.”

“Okay… This way. Your rooms are upstairs,” Reo said as he led the way to the ascending staircase.

“What about our luggage?” Raika asked.

“That’s already in your rooms,” Reo replied as he continued to lead.

“Famous,” Reo whispered.

“Yes Reo.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but is that who I think it is?” he asked in a low tone as he darted his eyes back at Bass.

“Yes. That’s Connor Cossack. Why do you ask?”

“Because it’s a medical marvel. How do his vitals check out? Is he actually alive?”

“Of course he is. I sent reports to Brightland a while ago, to the IDC. I’m surprised you didn’t get a chance to read them yet since you’re IDC medical rep for Brightland.”

“Famous, since when do they tell me anything?”

“Good point. Still, check them out when you get a chance.”

“Will do,” Reo replied with a smile. Once up the stairs and a good way down the hall, he stopped. “Here we are. This is where the girls will be sleeping. And the room next to it is where all you chaps will be resting,” he said, pointing down the hall, “Have a good rest. I have some patients to check up on before I go to bed” He walked further down the hall and out of sight. The girls started to enter their room. Lyne was the last to enter, with Bass trying to follow, but the door slammed shut in his face.

“Hey! Lemme’ in!” Bass shouted as he waved his hands around wildly.

“Connor, that’s the girls’ room,” Raika said as the other guys started to head down the hall towards their room.

“So?” Bass growled, aiming a scowl at Raika for scolding him. “Why can’t I enter the girls room? I promised to protect Lyne. How can I do it if I’m out here?”

“Cause you just can’t.”

“Can so. There’s an adult in there,” Bass said, pointing at the door. “Actually, two adults in there: Nina and Alexa-sensei. Famous said I couldn’t be alone with Lyne without an adult present.”

“Oy,” Raika moaned as he walked down the hall. Why didn’t Famous make it clearer for him? I’m not going to spell it out for him right now. I’m too tired, he thought as he opened the door to guys’ room and went in to sleep.

“Well, if I can’t enter the room, I’ll guard the outside,” Bass huffed as he leaned against the wall next to the door to the girls’ room.
_____________________________________
~Inside Girls’ Room~

“Isn’t this going to be cool?” Mayl asked excitedly, “Our navis get to go to the ball too.”

“Yeah. It’s going to be great,” Yai replied. “I wonder if our navis will be able to wear costumes too.”

“Ms. Yai, you’re not going to make me wear that tux again are you?” Glide asked.

“Of course. You’re going to look your best.”

“I can actually dance with Mega in the real world,” Roll squeaked in excitement, blushing bright pink in her cheeks.

“Yeah, this is going to be exciting,” Jackie said as she looked down at her PET. “Flash, what are you doing?” she asked as she noticed him looking at a file.

Flash sat there, fuming with puzzlement as he looked at the program. “I found a new program, and I don’t know what it does. It says I’ve had it for a while now.”

“Well, then why don’t you activate it,” Jackie said offhandedly as she returned to her conversation with the other excited girls in the room. Suddenly, a flood of pixels came out of her PET. “What’s going on?” she shrieked as the pixels started to reform themselves. When the pixels finished forming, they revealed Flash.

“AAAEEEIIII!” a chorus of screams went off in the room.
__________________________________
~Outside Girls Room~

“Alright! Trouble!” Bass said excitedly as he got ready to rush into the room. The door opened suddenly and a blurry, bluish, yellow, and silver figure got shoved out of it and fell on top of Bass. “Owww! Get off you oaf!” he complained and the figure quickly complied. When everything came into focus, he narrowed his eyes at the figure. “Flashman,” he rumbled in a low tone.

“Bass!” Flash replied in shock mixed with sorrow.

“What are you doing out here?”

“I got kicked out of the room,” Flash said as he started to stream tears from his eyes.

Oooo, If only I had access to my navi system. I’m guessing he found his RJP though. “Wait! What were you doing in there?!” Bass asked as he pointed at the girls’ room.

“I don’t know. First I was in my PET and next thing, I’m out of it in a room full of girls, and they kicked me out. Jackie!” Flash cried as he banged on the door. No reply came from the other side. “Oh man, I guess I get to hang out with the guys tonight. Not fair,” he sulked as he walked down the hall towards the guys’ room and entered it.

“*Humph* Well now back to guard duty,” Bass commented as he leaned against the door. His eyes started to shut involuntarily and his head dipped before he shook it to dispel the urge to fall asleep. I’m on guard duty. I can’t afford to go to sleep. He stood up and stretched to refresh himself. Okay, I’m awake. I’m awake. Five minutes passed, and his eyes started to flutter again. He caught himself when his knees started to buckle and started slapping at the sides of his head, then hopped in place to get his blood moving. I’m awake! I’m awake! He crossed his arms defiantly and looked around the empty hall, seeing nothing there and hearing nothing but his own breathing.“*Yawn*” He leaned back against the wall and started to slowly slide down against it. Can’t sleep, he thought, but wasn’t able to make the effort to energize himself and his eyes shut themselves off from the world.

Lyne opened the door a crack to check up on him. “Aww, I guess you were really tired. Gospel,” she said as she tapped Bass’s PET, “Can you take him to the guys’ room?” Bass’s virus materialized in the real world and started dragging the dead weight down the hall.

Reo came back down the hall and encountered an odd site: Bass being dragged down the hall by a dog, no a wolf, which seemed to be having trouble carting him to the guys’ room. Oh, yeah. I remember who this is. “Let me get him Gospel,” Reo said, getting the virus’s attention. “I promise I won’t hurt him.” Gospel backed away slightly, allowing Reo to pick his master up.

“Wow,” he huffed as he lifted the male teen up off the floor, feeling his heartbeat and watching him breath. “Famous wasn’t kidding. I wonder how this happened to the kid. I remember giving him the diagnosis when he got sick. Doing this reminds me of picking up after Deni, Yuu, and Senior Cossack,” he breathed out as he remembered taking care of Lyne and Bass, and the staff’s children when they had nap time at SciLab. “At least your son has returned Senior Cossack. He looks so much like his mother, Marian. He even has her marks,” he commented as he noticed smudged makeup on the boy’s face. “I definitely have to read that report.” He finally reached the guys’ room and had Gospel scratch at the door.

Tony came to the door in his PJs, rubbing his eyes. “Who’s there?”

“You guys left something in the hall. I’d thought I’d return him to you,” Reo replied as he passed the sleeping boy in his arms to the sensei, “I’ve got to get to my own room and sleep. It was a long day.”

“Oh, thanks I guess,” Tony said as he accepted Bass into his arms. Once his task was finished, Reo disappeared down the hall. “This is going to be one strange vacation,” Tony commented as he closed the door, laid Bass down on his bed, changed him into his PJs, and placed him under the covers of the bed. He let out a yawn and stretched beside his bed before crawling under the covers himself to sleep.
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Next Episode Preview

~Actor’s Lounge~

Lyne: So that’s what happened before we met. Wow, I didn’t know you tried to delete me Searchman.
Searchman: Uh- Ah- Hey, we didn’t know what was happening. I mean, we had to act on what we knew.
Combit: I think she’s just teasing Searchy. *pinches his cheek.*
Raika: I still find that disturbing you know.
Combit: Why? What’s wrong about it?
Raika: It’s just… I- I just…
Lyne: He’s really old fashioned. Can’t understand that you’re a modern navi girl.
*Lyne and Combit laugh about this and Raika blushes and frowns.*
Lyne: *gets up and gives Raika a hug.* I’m sorry Raika. I didn’t mean to embarrass you, really.
Raika: Hrm, fine.
Bass: *walks into lounge, looks around, and glares at Raika.* Hey Lyne, weren’t we going to go get something to eat?
Lyne: Yeah. *gets up.* So where are we going anyway?
Bass: I wasn’t really sure yet. Did you want to get some okonomiyaki?
Lyne: Ooo, I know a place that sells okonomiyaki and Italian pizza. We can split.
Bass: Sounds great. Let’s go. *leads Lyne out the door.*
Raika: Wait, weren’t you supposed to… um, announce the next episode? *sighs* I guess I can do it again. Next time on Lan and Lyne S2, Episode 14: Lessons.
Combit: But we might skip that one, right Searchy? *starts tickling Searchman.*
Searchman: Ah! Stop thahaht. Noo, hahah, Combit, I surrender hahh.
Raika: That really is… so disturbing.
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"NetAngel Style Change Activate"
Megawoman (Lyne)

Avatar made by Serenade.exe

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

[soberflight]

Good work on the story and imagery. The characters are becoming very solid.

[Midnight]

*applause*

Fantastic. The setup of the episode was reminiscent of "Lost"--focusing on the characters' backstories and retelling them in the chapter. Although the flashbacks were not intermittent, the one unbroken vision helped immensely in setting up the story. Now that you have put a take on the life of everyone's favorite Sharrian soldier, it makes the story that much more entertaining.

Even if Raika has "passed the torch," so to speak, I hope that means that you will still include him in the main circle of protagonists.

Hmmm...even the little bout of comedy at the end. It's simply icing on the cake.
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

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

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

[Wackoguy]

Another awesome chapter!

So much happened between this chapter and the previous one,way to go! And they're at Brightland! That beats any hotel. (Not so sure about resorts though.)

Keep it up! :stonecube:
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"When it rains,it pours. When it pours,get out of the rain." -quoth me!

Megaman Melee! HUTTAH and HUZZAH!


"I ate your siggy..."

[Megawoman.EXE]

Episode 14: Lessons

~Mr. Wily’s Office ~ CCC ~ Dentech, Japan ~ Morning ~ 30, October 200X~

Mr. Match and Maddy had been standing in front of Mr. Wily’s desk for quite a few minutes, waiting for him to turn his chair around and tell them why they were called there. They tensed in anticipation once said chair began to swivel.

“Good to see that you’re both here,” the old man greeted his two agents, “I want you both to keep your minds focused on this mission. This Ball is supposed to have several special guests, including our target: Lyne Hikari, who owns that marvelous NetNavi, Megawoman. I want you to retrieve this navi for me.”

“Yes Sir. Delete,” they both replied.

“Not this navi!” Wily shouted, “Delete any that get in your way though. I’m sending the stealth agent with you as well. He should prove to be a great asset to this mission.” Wily’s eyes darted to the right, pointing out a young, male teen standing off to his side. “The private jet is waiting for you three at the Airport. You should arrive sometime today, and will be staying in the palace as guests representing this company. Gather as much information as possible before you strike.”

“Yes Sir,” the trio replied as they left Wily’s office.

Mr. Wily twined his fingers together and leaned his chin onto them. “There’s no way Megawoman can get away this time.”
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~Brightland Palace ~ Guys’ Room ~ Morning of the Same Day ~

The bright beams of the morning sun were streaking through the window and glinted off the surface of a blue PET. Megaman yawned quietly and rubbed his half-opened eyes. After a relaxing stretch, he saw that the others were gone. Most of them anyway. “Hum… Must’ve gone to breakfast already. Lan! Time to get up,” Mega called out. The still sleeping boy stirred a bit, but as usual, remained in the bliss of sleep’s embrace. “Great, I guess it’s time to start down the list of ways to wake him up. Too bad the Dimensional Area isn’t active in the bedrooms.” Mega took a breath to make a second attempt to wake his brother, then suddenly slapped himself in the forehead. He appeared a moment later standing next to his PET with his hand still against his head. “How could I forget about this program? I used it last night! Whatever,” he finished in a mumble as he started over to Lan’s bed. When he noticed that Bass was still asleep, he slowed down a little to quiet his movements. He reached his oblivious target and in one swift move he yanked the covers off the bed and had Lan in a standing position.

“Huh? Hub? Wha?” Lan asked in a puzzled tone as he tried to do several things at once: keep his balance, open his eyes, and think. Unfortunately he was hardly awake enough for the first two actions and completely incapable of the third. No surprise.

“Lan. It’s time to get up and eat breakfast,” Mega reiterated what he tried to tell him earlier.

Lan’s eyes snapped open. “Food! Where? … Hey what are you doing out of the PET?” he asked as reality caught up with him.

“Remember the Reality Jump Program?” Mega asked. His brother nodded a couple times, blinked at Megaman, then shook his head. “Program Sis gave me.”

“Oh! Okay, I remember. You go ahead. I’ll get dressed and join you down in the dining hall,” Lan said as he started to take off his clothes and change into clean ones. Mega linked into a port on the wall as Lan started to brush his hair and teeth.
__________________________________

“I trust he can get down to the dining hall on his own,” Mega said to himself as he traveled through the castle’s system to the dining hall. He reached his destination and saw that breakfast had already been served and the guests, NetOps and navis alike, were seated and happily digging in. He took a seat in between Lyne, who was enjoying a bowl of fruit salad, and Roll, who immediately hugged his arm.

“Where’s Lan?” Lyne asked when she noticed him sitting.

“Back upstairs. He told me to meet him down here,” he replied.

“Well then that’s fine I guess. Man!” Lyne exclaimed with a starry look in her eyes, “This is really good. Better then mom’s.”

“Don’t let mom hear that,” Mega said as Roll offered him something to eat off the table.
_________________________________
~Guys Room~

“*Gurrgle. Petuy*” Lan grinned into the mirror, checking his teeth out once they were cleaned. “Now for food,” he said with a smile. He started toward the door, then noticed that someone was still asleep as he passed by the last occupied bed. Gospel, still snoozing at Bass’s feet perked his ears up at Lan’s considering “Hmmmm.”

Uh Oh! he thought as the young brunet made his charge at his master’s bed.
_________________________________
~Dining Hall~

Everyone was happily chatting over their breakfast. Megaman was sharing some data with Roll while enviously eyeing the impressively stuffed omelet that Jackie was attacking. Oh, why do we have to keep that Reality Jump Program secret? That really looks good! He stiffened when he felt something odd though his link with his brother and gulped nervously. “I have a feeling that I shouldn’t have left Lan alone this morning.”

His feeling was confirmed when everyone in the dining hall heard “!!!LAANNN!!!” bellowed loudly throughout the castle.

“Looks like Lan’s found another victim,” Chaud commented as he looked the stocks of his company over.

“GET BACK HERE!”

“Yep,” Raika replied from behind the newspaper he was reading before taking in another bite of the toast he had in his free hand.

“NO! YOU’RE GOING TO KICK MY BUTT!” Lan replied. The now quite audience could clearly hear his footsteps stomping away from his pursuer in the hall just above them.

“DARN RIGHT! AND LYNE ISN’T GOING TO STOP ME!”

Everyone looked over at Lyne. She appeared to be ignoring the noises upstairs and was still engrossed in the fruit-topped crepes on her plate. When she noticed the attention put on her, she looked around before speaking, “He’s right. Lan should know better than to wake other people up. I bet he jumped on the bed too.” She started slightly when she noticed something pressing on her thigh and looked around the table, glad to see that Ken was at a safe distance, then looked down to see that Gospel had rested his head in her lap. “Oh, you’re up too. Are you ready for breakfast?”

“GET BACK HERE!” Bass shouted as they made their second lap upstairs.

“NO!” Lan squeaked, still running.

“Arouu,” Gospel quietly replied with a wagging tail. Lyne went for some of the nutritional data that was on the table for the navis, then saw that there was actually a bowl of computer bugs there; suitable food for a viral wolf.

!!!BANG!!!CRASH!!!CLANG!!!CLUNK!!!CRASH!!! came metallic noises from upstairs.

“Oh no! My display armor!” Princess Pride cried out as she rose up from the table and ran off towards the stairs.

Lyne palmed her face and moaned, “Oh brother,” before she, too, got up, put the bowl of bugs down for Gospel, and followed after the princess along with Mayl, Roll, and Mega.

“Should we go with them?” Raika asked as he looked over his paper at Chaud.

“Nah, Lan will be fine. Famous grounded Bass for the duration of the trip,” Protoman replied for his NetOp.

“That’s right,” Famous said as he took a sip of coffee.
____________________________
~Armor Hallway~

The sight that beheld the search party was of several of suits of armor toppled over on top of two mischievous boys, their eyes spinning dizzily.

“Whew,” Princess Pride breathed out in relief, “At least the weapons didn’t get knocked over.” Her guards, who’d managed to arrive shortly before the group, started to clean up the mess of medieval armor. Once things were cleared up enough, Lyne and Mayl were able pull the two boys out of the mess and check up on them.

“Lan! Why were you being so stupid?” Mayl shouted at him.

Lan held his hand to the side of his battered head and moaned, “Oww! Mayl, not so loud.”

Lyne helped Bass up into a sitting position and looked him over for any serious wounds. She noticed a few bruises which were noticeably healing already, “Aww,” she cooed as he glared over at Lan angrily, “No you can’t kill him. Let’s go get something to eat then you can take a shower.” She helped him off the ground and guided him down the hall, towards the stairs. Before they got there, Reo came running up to them.

“Is everyone alright?” he asked in concern as he looked them over. Bass, being the closest, was his first examinee.

“Stop that, I’m fine,” he said as he batted at Reo’s hands.

“Stop being stubborn like your father Connor,” Reo scolded as he sternly hit the back of Bass’s hand, stopping the teen’s protest. The slap on the back of his hand reminded him of whenever he got in trouble with any of the staff members from SciLab, and that Reo was the boss right now. The doctor continued to examine him and was amazed at how quickly Bass’s bruises were disappearing. I definitely need to get my hands on a copy of that report, he thought as he lowered Bass’s PJ shirt. What little damage was done was almost completely faded out. “Oh my. You’re such a lucky boy. C’mon now, time to get cleaned up,” he said as he started to drag his patient down the hall, towards his room.

“Bua- Lyne said I could eat before I had a shower,” Bass moaned in complaint while trying to get out of his grasp.

“Nonsense. You’re not even fully awake,” he said as he opened the guys’ room. “Now get in there and take your shower and change or I’ll make you take a bath.”

‘Bath’ was the word he didn’t want to hear. He hated baths. “Yes Sir,” he replied as he closed the door.

Reo smiled brightly. “Funny how I just know what to say.” Lyne was dumbfounded at Bass’s sudden change in behavior. When Reo turned to walk back up the hall, he saw the look on her face and commented, “He still remembers to respect his elders,” as he passed by. Lyne found that hard to believe, but couldn’t think of a good argument, so she just followed after him.

Lan’s stomach started to grumble to him, so he finally got up from where he was sitting, eager to get down to the dining hall. Mayl was still scolding him for being inconsiderate and disrespectful while Roll and Mega followed after them. Princess Pride stayed behind, watching the clean up crew finish picking up her collection of armors.
___________________________________
~Around Noon~

Outside the palace, Bass was relaxing on a perch he’d claimed in a tree while he watched all the girls get into one of the royal carriages. They were going out to the Capital to get fitted for their costumes. The female navis weren’t able to follow the girls into the real world, so they were brought in their PET’s. Why does girl stuff have to be private? he pondered as he watched the carriage take off. “Humph,”Stupid girl stuff.

Tony ran up to the tree when he heard the sound. “Whew! There you are Connor. Get down from there. We’re about to get fitted.”

“Do I have ta’? I don’ wanna’ wear a ridiculous pengi suit,” he grumped and turned away from his sensei.

Searchman passed by when he noticed Tony arguing with one of the trees outside the palace.

“Hum… Wonder what’s going on,” he pondered as he joined up with Tony.

“*Sigh* Please come down,” Tony pleaded.

“NO!” came a sharp reply that made Tony jump.

“What’s going on?” Searchman asked as he looked at the tree.

“Connor doesn’t want to come out of the tree to get fitted,” Tony explained to the military navi.

“*Sigh,* I’ll handle this,” Searchman replied as he activated his buster and poked the barrel into the seat of Bass’s pants, spooking him enough that he fell out of the tree and landed on his butt.

“Oww!” Bass hissed as he got up off the ground, rubbing his behind, “What’d you do that for Searchman?”

“Hey it got you out of the tree. Besides, if I have to wear Mess Dress, you have to wear a tux,” he said as he unmorphed his hand and poked the male teen in the chest, emphasizing his point. They started to walk towards the entryway steps of the palace. “Don’t you want to look good for the ball so you can dance with Lyne?” Serachman asked as they started to climb them. Bass suddenly stopped.

“Dance?” he asked in a quite tone.

“What’s wrong Connor?” Tony asked.

Bass looked away and hung his head. “I… I can’t dance,” he replied quietly and hung his head lower.

“Oh. Don’t worry about that I’ll teach you how. That’s what a sensei is for right?” He patted Bass’s back reassuringly while leading him inside.
__________________________________
~Men’s Fitting Room~

Bass stood on a stool in front a mirror, looking his costume over. The fitting maids had left them sometime earlier to allow them time to adjust and relax from all the tucking and pinning they had just gone through. Bass’s costume was mostly a dark velvety maroon over coat with tails, and knickers. Both had embroidered designs in golden and silvery thread. Underneath was a white, long-sleeved shirt, ruffled around the neck and sleeves. Finishing off the outfit were white dress socks and traditional black loafers. His hair was left alone, even though the fitting maids tried to do something to flatten its spikiness. His expression was sour with disgust as he looked himself over. “This isn’t a tux!” he exclaimed angrily as he looked down at his hands. “This is like something out of a history book. And it’s – got – ruffles!” he complained as he turned away from the mirror.

“The theme is 16th century,” Chaud reminded him as he looked his own costume over. It was a deep red with black, white, and silver accents. “At least it’s a lot better than the costume ball a few years ago. Lan came as Goku, Prince of Monkeys.”

“Hey, I thought that was a cool costume,” Lan huffed in reply. “This sucks,” he moaned as he looked his costume over. His was white, accented in blue, red, and gold. “Why does Raika and Searchman’s outfits look more comfortable?”

“Trust me Lan. They’re not,” Raika said as he straightened out Searchman’s medal rack, which was a lot larger then Raika’s. Their tops were dark blue-green with white pants that had a dark green stripe running down the sides. They wore glossy black dress shoes.

“Mine is comfortable,” Flash interjected, now no longer in armor. With his face uncovered, he proved to have a prominent jaw and he had black hair.

“Of course yours is comfortable. It’s a tux. So is Megaman’s, Protoman’s, Tony’s, and Sandman’s,” Bass huffed in increased anger as he looked away from the other navi in disgust. He then looked at Searchman’s metal rack. “You got a lot of medals, like your operator. You ever fall over from all that weight on your chest?”

“No. Actually I’m surprised that Raika was able to find all my medals at the Sharo Base Exchange in this country. Some of these are rare,” Searchman replied as he looked down at his medals. Suddenly there came a knock from the door.

“Come in,” Chaud called out. The fitting maids came in and returned to fussing over their designated persons to make sure they were satisfied with their customized fit.

The head maid then spoke, “You gentlemen and navis are free to change back into your normal attire. Please leave your costumes in here. They will be collected later and brought up to your room when the final adjustments have been made.” The maids then left them again so they could change.

As Bass was struggling to get his costume off, his PET went off. He managed to get his over coat off so he could check it. He opened up his e-mail and read curiously.

~It Read~

Hi Connor,

I’m finished. Are you? Maybe not. Anyway, when you’re done meet me here.

[Picture of a tree near the mountains]

I have something to show you.

Signed,
Lyne

~End E-Mail~

I know where that place is. I think, he thought as he looked the picture over.

Lan was peeking over Bass’s shoulder as he was closing his e-mail. “Hey what are you doing peeking over my shoulder? You’re invading my space,” Bass demanded as he hid his PET by hugging it into his chest. “Back off,” he hissed making the young Hikari jump backwards to hide behind Chaud.

Chaud shoved Lan away from him. “No, Connor is scary,” he wined as he held onto Chaud’s arm, getting a grin from Bass.

“I hope you’re happy,” Chaud said as he narrowed his eyes at Bass, getting an even bigger grin. “Oy, Lan, get off my arm! He’s not going to bite you.”

“You haven’t seen his fangs. They’re huge,” Lan said with a scared look on his face. Bass chuckled and continued changing out of his costume.

“I have to go. See ya,” he said as he finished changing and exited the room, leaving his costume behind.

“What’s his hurry?” Flash asked as he watched Bass leave. The others in the room shrugged their shoulders in response as they returned to changing out of their clothes.
___________________________________
~Outside Behind the Palace~

Bass poked his head out from behind a pillar to see if anyone followed him. He came out from behind it and whistled. “Gospel,” he called out, summoning his virus pet. Gospel appeared in front of him, waging his tail. Bass then pulled out his PET and opened the e-mail he hand just received from Lyne. “I need to get here. Can you take me?” Bass asked as he showed the picture to his virus companion.

Gospel cocked his head to the side. “Arounn?”Master is too big to carry to there. Besides, why does Master need to be carried? Gopsel commented as he looked up at Bass. Bass looked down at him with an angry glare,Heh, heh. That’s right. Master is grounded. So I use the new program Master gave me to help him, he thought as he increased his size to be large enough to just carry Bass on his back.

“That took you a while,” Bass commented as he mounted Gospel’s back. “This navi system lockdown sucks. Thank you for doing this for me,” he said as he got held onto Gospel’s mane. “Now Go,” he commanded, getting Gospel to speed quickly across the countryside.
_________________________________
~Balcony Garden~

There was a pair of people sitting on the balcony, sharing a pot of tea. “*Sigh* There the he goes,” Famous breathed out as the other man finished pouring his cup of tea. He was wearing a green, semi-formal outfit becoming of an officer. He had light blue eyes along with white hair and mustache. Despite those cold colors, there was warmth in his expression along with years of wisdom and an aura of patience. This man was General Marcus Bastaff : Headmaster of the Sharo Junior Officer Academy.

“He’s disregarding what I told him not to do,” Famous huffed as he watched Bass race across the countryside on the back of his virus.

“Da, he takes after his father after all,” the Sharo General replied as he took a sip of tea. “And she already left,” he added with a tone of humor, “I thought that I’d never see the day they’d be reunited. Let them be,” he paused as he too was watching Bass and his virus seemingly glide swiftly over the vast field behind the palace. “You know, she actually wanted revenge against Alpha then,” he continued, and Famous hung his head. “She wasn’t forced to do it. Yuuichiro and Tadashi were.”

“And me,” Famous said, feeling lower then dirt.

“I know, but that is the past and you can’t correct that my friend,” Bastaff said as he patted the younger man on the back. “I’m glad you invited me here Famous. I needed a break from all those whiny teens at the Academy, and I’m glad to see things finally turning in our favor once more.”

“Yes, but Alpha is still out there Marcus. I see why the Ancient Atlantians had a tough time trying to delete him,” Famous breathed out. “Megaman’s Bass Soul and Bass’s Berserk state couldn’t even delete him.”

“That’s because he had enough time to figure out when to tactically retreat,” he said before he took a sip of tea, “He’s pretty darn smart for a virus you know,” he added before finishing off his cup and pouring himself another one.

“I can’t help but wonder what he’s up too though. We can’t afford to be caught off guard again. For their sake,” Famous said, gesturing in Bass’s direction, knowing Lyne was out there as well.

“Da, that is too true. Tea?” He offered the teapot to Famous.

“Yes please.”
_________________________________
~Great Plain~

I haven’t felt this good in a while, Bass thought as he raced to the meeting place Lyne had designated. I feel free, and there’s no one out here to tell me what to do, where to go, what to say. Nothing but beauty. Gospel slowed to a trot while his Master took in the sights and smells around him.

We’re here Master, Gospel said as he came to a stop.

“Good now to find out what she dragged me out here to see,” Bass said as he got off Gospel’s back. “LYNE!” he called out as he walked around. “See the tree’s there and the rock is here. Where is she?” He pulled out his PET to look at the picture she had sent him again.

“Right here!” Lyne called out, and Bass saw her approaching on a borrowed horse from the palace stables. She dismounted it and tied its harness to the tree. “I decided to get some riding in before you came out here.”

“I see that. What did you want to show me?” Bass asked, his interests peaked.

“Nothing really. Gospel, you’ve grown,” she said casually, turning her attention away from Bass suddenly to pet the wolf. Bass slumped forward in disappointment at being called out apparently for nothing. “I just wanted to hang out with you – alone. That’s kinda hard to do in the palace.”

Bass looked over at his companion, who looked back with a smile. “Good point,” he said as he sat down on the ground before he stretched his arms above his head and laid down on the ground. “Ahh. Why don’t they have a place like this in Dentech?”

“Don’t know. Mount Fuji has a park like this. Granfather Tadashi always fished there,” Lyne said reminiscently as she leaned up against the tree.

“Heh, heh. Yeah and we’d go on fishing trips with him and our fathers,” he sighed, “and at the end of the day he’d cook the best catch of the day. Yum… Campfire cooked fish,” he hummed.

“But it was a real chore to get you to eat it the first time,” Lyne reminded him, “It’s not bweaded,” she mimicked in a little-kid voice, “Fish is bweaded. And what was awl the yucky stuff you took out?”

“Hey, I did eat it though,” Bass growled at her, “And that’s after watching them gut it. You weren’t able to watch that part,” he chided with a grin. Lyne maturely stuck her tongue out at him. Bass chuckled and leaned back against the tree with his eyes closed, reminiscing over the old trips when his stomach decided to complain to him. “Grrr… Lyne, now you made me hungry.”

She just smiled. “Where better to have a picnic?” she asked as she sat up and pulled out a basket that she had hidden behind the tree.

“Alright! Food,” he exclaimed as she pulled out two small trays with California Rolls on them.

“I had to make stuff we could eat cold. I made California Rolls, sandwiches, and brought some apples and drinks,” Lyne commented, looking though the basket. Bass ignored her and wolfed his California Rolls down. He then passed the tray back to her and she gave him another one. “I swear that you’ve hung out with my brother too much.”

“Who’d wanna hang out with that whelp?” Bass commented as he took a slower pace with his second tray.

“You do sometimes,” Lyne huffed as she started eating hers. They continued to eat in silence for a moment before Lyne looked at Bass. “Connor I have a question.”

“Yes?” he replied as he looked through the basket and found a drink and a sandwich.

She chewed on her lip for a moment while Bass too a swig of the sweetened ice tea. “I want to be able to NetBattle better. Can you teach me?” she asked, and Bass choked a bit, spraying out most of a mouthful.

“Ehh,” he said in a disgusted tone as he shook off his hand, which had become victim to his spray. “You had to ask me that when I’m on a navi system lockdown, didn’t you?” he asked in annoyance.

Lyne gasped, “I’m sorry. I thought it was only for the plane ride.” She looked away from him self consciously. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

Bass finished his drink, but returned his sandwich back to the basket. “That’s okay Lyne. It only means I can’t demonstrate.”

“Does that mean you’ll still teach me?” Lyne asked with an excited gleam in her eyes.

This look made Bass uneasy. He wasn’t sure what to say, or how to respond. She looked at him pleadingly. “Uh… sure.”

“Yay! I’m ready sensei,” she exclaimed excitedly as she turned to face him, ready to learn.

“Don’t call me sensei,” he said with a glare.

“Okay Connor,” Lyne said with a slight smile on her face.

“I really haven’t seen anything wrong with your NetBattling skills,” he commented making Lyne beam with pride. He then smirked. “But your teleporting sucks.”

Lyne puffed her cheeks. “I can too teleport good. I’ll show you,” Lyne growled in an angry tone while she disappeared from where she was sitting. She then appeared hanging upside down from the tree, suspended by her foot caught in between some branches.

“See,” Bass said as he looked up at her and grinned.

“I meant to do this,” Lyne huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“You honestly think I’m stupid enough to fall for that excuse?” Bass asked as he lay down on the ground so he could see her better. Lyne just glared at him. “Lyne I can still hear your thoughts. You were going to appear over there by Gospel,” he said as he pointed over at his virus while Lyne started to try and get her foot freed. “Do you need help down?”

“Noo,” she moaned, “I’m fine. Ughroh.” Her words lacked any conviction though and she struggled with the branches that held her foot hostage. Bass paid her refusal no mind and he climbed up into the tree to where her foot was stuck.

“Give me your hand,” he demanded as he offered her his. Lyne took his hand as he pried the branches that held her foot apart. Once they were separated, her foot slid out with ease and she started to fall, feeling panic in her gut. She got disoriented when her body suddenly swung around until her feet were swaying underneath her and she was hanging by her right arm now.

No! Now my hand’s stuck. Ohhh. She looked up with a worried frown on her face and saw Bass looking down at her… and still holding her hand. Oh… Right. He then let go of her and jumped out of the tree.

He dusted himself off quickly before he spoke, “You let your emotions get in the way of thinking of where you’re going to end up. Teleporting is simple if you think it through from start to finish, not allowing room for distractions,” he instructed, getting Lyne’s full attention. “Getting stuck is what happens when you become unfocused. Understand so far?” he asked. Lyne nodded and kept her eyes glued on him in her eagerness to learn. “Plus you also have to pay attention to your surroundings. This gives you advantage over your opponent. Since the Net is mostly open, it makes it easier than it does here. There are obstacles all around you have to watch out for,” he said as he gestured at the large boulder and the tree. “You have to have a clear picture of where you are in your mind and then you can go anywhere you want. Basically, look around, remember, and then go for it.”

“OK,” Lyne said as she took a quick look around, quietly repeating what he had just said. She then did a few teleports, managing to get pretty much where she intended to go. Then, feeling drained, she stopped beside the boulder that Bass was now sitting on.

He was fiddling with a rock he had found while Lyne was practicing. “Good. But,” he paused as he tossed it up in the air and caught it, “…can you do that in battle?” he asked as he lobbed the rock at her, making contact with her left shoulder.

“Oww! Connor?!” Lyne yowled in pain as she cradled her arm while glaring at him.

“That wouldn’t have hurt if you teleported,” he said as he threw another rock in her direction.

“EEii!” she squeaked as she barely avoided the oncoming projectile with a quick teleport. When she reappeared, she was in her armor.

“C’mon Lyne. They’re only little rocks,” Bass called out from his seat.

“You’re not being fair,” she cried out, balling her fists into her chest. “I need to rest... Eep!” she squeaked as Bass threw an even larger rock this time.

“You have enough energy for a few more teleports,” he said, hurling more stones at her.

“Connor!” she shrieked as she avoided them to the best of her ability.

“C’mon Lyne. How do you expect to get better if you don’t push yourself?” he asked as she disappeared from sight, avoiding his last stone. When she appeared, she was again hanging upside down in the tree. “Hey! You did that on purpose,” Bass grumped and got a grin from her in return.

“Fine you can have your stupid break,” he huffed, defeated since he was now out of rocks to throw, short of the one he was sitting on. She appeared next to him and grabbed another sandwich out of the picnic basket to snack on.

“Thanks that actually helped out a lot,” she said gratefully before she started to eat her sandwich. “Bua-mum… Excuse me. But your tactic was kind of unexpected.”

“Hey at least it worked,” he stated with a slight edge in his voice. “*Sigh* But you have to remember to stay calm and be focused in a NetBattle, or teleport won’t work in your favor.”

“Okay,” she said before continuing to eat her sandwich.

He scooted in closer to her. “Since you’ve got the basics of teleporting down, I can teach you something else if you want,” he said in a secretive tone. “This will be just for fun.”

“*Gulp* Sure,” Lyne said as she finished her sandwich, feeling energized once again.

“This is a secret move I’m going to teach you. It’s called Duplicate.”

“But isn’t that one hard to do?” Lyne asked with wide eyes, surprised that he would let her in on this secret technique in the first place.

“Not if you know the basics of teleporting. Plus, you do know how to copy and paste right?”

“Of course I do. That’s basic programming,” Lyne said, waving her hand at him.

“Okay. Duplicate is also simple to pull off. First you make a copy of yourself, but,” he emphasized as she was about to start, “before you teleport switch to the paste function. Give it a try.”

“OK,” she said as she followed his instruction and the end result was that Lyne appeared to be in two places. “Cool!” she exclaimed as she ran up to her double, which did the same but didn’t speak. Lyne did a few different movements which her double copied.

“It is pretty neat isn’t it?” he asked as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“Yeah. Can this be used in battle too?” she asked in an excited tone. “Hey! Why doesn’t my copy speak?”

“I’ll try to explain things a bit. This can be used as a confusion tactic. But there are a few things that can counter this move. Do be careful when you use this,” he warned, getting Lyne’s attention.

“What can counter this? I thought it was a secret move,” Lyne asked as she looked over at him. The copy tuned its head too, but it looked at nobody.

“The Search Ability which Searchman and your brother has in SearchSoul, and the Fan Chip. Plus, your copy is just a projected image,” he said as he swung his arm in a slashing motion at Lyne’s double, which bisected where his arm passed through before it disappeared in a shower of pixels.

“Oh I see. Can a copy deal any physical damage to an opponent?”

“No. It’s just for show. Kinda’ like a bluff. If your opponent knows or figures out it’s a bluff, then all you do is make more copies to increase their confusion, and so they can’t locate you.”

“That sound’s cool,” she said as she deactivated her armor. “So basically I use this to gain even more advantage over my opponent,” she stated with an understanding smile.

“See you understand perfectly fine. Hey, how long have we been out here anyway?” he asked, noticing that the sun was hinting at setting.

“Quite a bit I think, and it’s almost time for dinner,” she commented as she looked at her watch. “Race you back,” she said as she ran towards her borrowed steed.

“You’re on,” he accepted her challenge, calling Gospel with a whistle. As Gospel passed by him, he quickly mounted and they were off towards the castle.

“Hey! You’re cheating,” Lyne called out as she commanded her ride to speed off after him with a quick tap of her boot heel.

“Nah, nah,” he taunted and added a razzberry while still in the lead. His PET went off, letting him know he had an e-mail. He immediately opened it and didn’t pay his chaser any mind.

~It Read~

Connor,
After dinner, if you’re up to it, I can teach you what I promised earlier.

Signed
Tony Montana

PS. If you are up to it, meet me in the second floor piano room.

~End E-Mail~

Hum… Now what did he promise? he pondered, then remembered what happened earlier, in front of the palace. Oh, that’s right. He did say he would teach me how to do that. He returned his PET back to side as Lyne finally caught up with him. They continued to race evenly all the way back to the castle.
_________________________________

After dinner, Bass snuck off from the dining area to an almost empty room in the palace which Tony had indicated in the e-mail. He paused before he opened the door to peek inside. Tony was already waiting in the room for him.

“Come on in Connor. I thought you weren’t going to show,” Tony greeted as Connor checked to make sure nobody was watching him enter the room.

“I’d rather learn this and be good at it instead of being made a fool in front of everyone,” Bass said as he quietly slipped into the room and shut the door. “I have an image to protect.”

“Of course you do,” Tony agreed in a sarcastic tone before rubbing his hands. “Well, shall we get started. Alexa, Scorpion,” Tony called out, getting a look of horror on Bass’s face.

“Huh? I thought that we were alone!” he said in surprise as his other sensei and her navi came out of the shadows.

“How are you supposed to protect your image if you don’t practice with an actual partner? Scorpion will be your partner,” Tony said as he gestured to the female navi.

“Not fair,” Sand whined as he streamed tears, drawing everyone’s attention to his presence briefly. They quickly turned back to the task at hand: Teaching Bass how to dance.

“I think he’d be more comfortable with me as his partner,” a voice called out from the door. They all looked over to see Combit standing in the doorway. “He needs someone about his size,” she said as she activated her Meg Morph.

“How’d you know I was here? Does Lyne know?” Bass demanded angrily, not pleased at being found out by Lyne’s Byte.

“Call it female intuition, and Lyne doesn’t know about this. She’s actually asleep right now,” Combit replied in Lyne’s voice, “But am I right?” she asked, leaning forward. “I’m as close to the real thing as you’re going to get at the moment.”

Bass gulped nervously as he looked into her eyes, knowing she was right. “Uh… she’s right. Scorpion is a little tall.”

“Yes!” Sand said, pumping his fist into his chest and getting a few covertly rolled eyes from the others.

“That’s fine, as long as you feel comfortable while you’re learning. Tell me Connor, what kind of music do you listen to?” Tony asked as he looked over at Bass.

“A lot of stuff. Running from Rain, Linkin Park, other punk bands, and classical like Beethoven, Bach, sometimes Rogers and Hammerstein except the musical Oklahoma. That was just stupid,” Bass listed getting a slight chuckle from Tony. “What’s so funny?”

“You listen to classical and don’t know how to dance?” Tony replied amused at the fact that Bass did listen to classical music.

“Could you dance to Beethoven’s Ninth?” the half navi asked with a curious eyebrow. Tony opened his mouth, but closed it without a word spoken when he thought about it. “Never mind. I guess that wasn’t really a fair question. I just never had a reason to dance before.”

“That’s perfectly understandable. Well, dancing can be fairly simple or difficult. Depending on how difficult you want to make it,” Tony explained as he took Alexa by the hand, spun her, and then dipped her. “Since this is a ball, I’ll teach you how to waltz, the minuet, and maybe even the tango,” he said as he smoothly demonstrated each dance as he named them off.

Tony paused before he started to speak again. “We’ll start with the waltz. Get your partner and hold her like this,” Tony demonstrated as he had one of his hands on Alexa’s hip and held her right hand with his left.

Bass looked at Combit and gulped as he copied Tony. “Connor, don’t worry about it. I’m not Lyne. I was just teasing,” Combit said as he hesitantly placed his hand on her hip.

“I know you’re not Lyne. It’s just kinda’ creepy that you sound like her right now,” Bass replied as he finished copying what Tony had demonstrated. “Now what?”

“The waltz is a three step rhythm dance. We’ll start out slow so you can get the hang of the steps and then we’ll practice with music. Okay?” Bass nodded in reply, “And here we go, One, two, three,” Tony lead off with his partner, “One, two, three.”

Bass followed rather clumsily at first, but got the hang of it once he’d watched enough of what Tony was doing and turned his attention to his own footwork. This is easy, he thought as he sped up a little, dancing slightly faster than Tony.

“Looks like he’s having fun,” Alexa commented as she watched Bass and his partner.

“Yes he does,” Tony replied before he stopped and got Bass’s attention. “Now that you’ve got the hang of it, try adding some turns, like this,” Tony instructed as he guided his partner into a few turns before returning to the start position, still staying in step, “And dips,” he continued as he leaned Alexa backwards, “Music permitting.”

“Oh. Like this,” Bass asked as he led Combit into a turn and then an immediate dip. Unfortunately, his partner tumbled to the floor as he lost his grip.

“No. Treat your partner like a glass. Your movements should be graceful, but backed up with strength to cause her not to break or fall,” Tony explained as Bass helped Combit off the ground. Shortly after he helped her up he tried once more, ending up with the same result.

“Nugrah,” Bass grunted in complaint as he helped Combit off the ground once more.

Tony and Alexa had stopped dancing a while ago to watch Bass’s progress. “Maybe we should’ve started with the Minuet,” Alexa commented as Bass dropped Combit again, “At this rate she’ll log out before the tango.”

“Yeah I think you’re right, but at least he’s determined and you know what that means,” Tony said, getting both of them to hang their heads.

“We’re going to be here all night,” they moaned in unison.

“Stop dropping me Connor!” Combit yelled after what felt like the millionth time he did so.

“I’m trying not too. It’s just… you’re too heavy,” Bass said as he helped her up again.

“I’d like to see you tell Lyne that,” Combit huffed as she let Bass hold her once more.

“Lyne’s not heavy. Even in her armor,” Bass said as he started again. “It’s just a matter of all your extra data mass,” he said as he dipped her.

She then slapped him, making him drop her again. “I’m not fat!”

“Maybe not even the minuet,” Alexa added as Combit and Bass started arguing.
___________________________________
Next Episode Preview

~A somber field in Brightland~

Princess Pride: We’re here to remember the life of Editor, and to wish him safe passage into the next life.
*Group is gathered around lone coffin. Everyone has mournful expressions.*
Lyne: I can’t believe he’s gone. Whatever’s going to happen to the fict now? Uh, did you hear something?
Author: It’s really a tragedy. Now I’ll have to go looking for another editor.
Ken: Well, I don’t know how well I’ll do, but I shall take on the burden. *Approaches Author, but gets shoved back by Bass.*
Bass: You don’t even read the scripts unless someone beats you into it. By the way Author, I’m ready for that any time it’s necessary. *doonk, doonk* Hmm? Hey, now I heard something.
Tony: Well, I could probably handle editing. I am a *DOONK! DOONK! DOONK* a, uh, sensei? Did that come from the coffin?
Lan: *Goes to inspect.* Hey, is there somebody in there?
Muffled Noise: Urrmmm urrurr mm mmm urttr. *Doonk, doonk, DOONK!*
Lan: *Jumps back.* Eeee! Night of the Living Dead!
Megaman: It’s not even afternoon Lan.
Lyne: Are you sure Editor’s dead Author?
Author: Ahem, yes. Absolutely he is.
Muffled Voice: MMMM! MMRRM MM RRRH EERRM *DOONK! DOONK! BANG! SLAM!* BWaaah! Gasp. *Editor climbs out of coffin.*
Lan: He’s a zombie!
Maylu: Eeeeee!
Editor: I am not! I’m fine!
Author: Oh my! However did this happen?
Editor: *Glares* Oh, I just wonder.
Lyne: Then you’re alive?
Editor: Yes, I just had a little stomach bug.
Author: Oohhhh, heh, heh. I could’ve sworn you died there.
Editor: You know very well I didn’t. You were just mad that I wasn’t working faster.
Lan: Zooooommmbieeeeeee!
Bass: *Smacks palm against own forehead.* He’s not a zombie Lan. Author was just punishing him apparently. Wait, what was that? *More noises come from coffin.*
Lan: No, there’s more of them!
Chaud: Someone please sedate him. Why do you have to be such a spazz?
Lyne: *Calls out to coffin.* Is there someone else down there?
(Different) Muffled Voice: Drrmmmm Mmrrrmmd. *Dark purple light blazes from underneath the coffin, obliterating it.*
Raika: Wait a sec…
Searchman: Isn’t that?...
Bass: *Pulling himself up out of wreckage.* Pant, pant, what, you mean me? Yeah, it’s me!
Lyne: But if you’re Connor?
Author: Who’s that?
*Everyone looks over at the other Bass, whose eyes dart around nervously at them.*
Other Bass: Eh, heh, heh. Well, perfectly good explanation for that. You see… *Changes form into Combit.* I did get a Bass Morph at the end of Season One after all.
Author: And then, you tried to bury Bass? Why?
Combit: He called me fat!
Bass: I did not call you fat!
Combit: You did too and you kept dropping me!
Bass: I was on navi lockdown during the episode. I didn’t have my full strength. I probably would have ended up dropping Lyne too, ya’ know!?
Lyne: *Eye twitches.* What was that?
Other guys (even Lan): Uh oh.
Lyne: Connorrrrr. Are you calling me fat now?
Bass: Hwwuh? No, I didn’t say anything like that!
Lyne: *Activates armor.* Let’s get ‘im.
Combit: You got it.
Bass: Wait! What are you, ow! Stop shooting! *Starts running.* Ow! I didn’t call you fat, oww! Someone hellp mee ouuuuuut!
Lan: You’re on your own Connor.
Chaud: There are some things a guy just doesn’t do.
Raika: A NetSavior should know that.
Author: Well, time to announce the next episode then.
Editor: Let’s have the gracious hostess handle the honors on this one.
Princess Pride: Why thank you. Join us here for the last night in Brightland in the next episode of Lan and Lyne S2, Episode 15: The Night of the Ball.
Editor: Oh, maann.
Lan: What’s wrong?
Editor: It’s even longer than this one was!
Author: Yes it is, and I suggest you don’t dawdle about it unless you want the same treatment you got today!
Editor: *Squeaks.* Yes ma’am
Lan: Eee, she can be scary sometimes.
Chaud: Just stay on her good side and everything’ll be fine.
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Megawoman (Lyne)

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Lan and Lyne Art Thread

[Midnight]

Another fantasic job there. This chapter was kawaii, to say the least. A very nice exchange between the two protagonists that was bound to happen eventually. It's all too natural.

This is perhaps the best extended fic in this section. Keep it going.
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The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

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

[Zodiac]

Yes it certainly is going to keep going. Megawoman has a lot of plans for this fict. A lot. She's already talking about how she's going to continue it after things have been resolved, and the current series isn't even halfway through yet! We're expecting to go on for two more seasons, so this project truly is long term. Meanwhile, I did get to have some fun working on this one with her. I do apologize for the editing process taking as long as it did, but done it is and we are glad to provide reading enjoyment, Cheers! :]
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Church: Are you following any of this?
Caboose: I think so. That guy Tex is a robot, and you're his boyfriend. So that makes you... a gay robot.
Church: ... That's right... I'm a gay robot.

Red Vs. Blue

[ElecGuts]

Well, I think I speak for at least most of us when I say that we'll be here reading until the fic finishes. Good chapter by the way!