Sorry for the long update! I'm not even going to try and make up excuses. But I would like to thank all of those who have reviewed for me and reminded me "Hey! Lightman's still there!" My hats off to you! And special thanks goes to Fire-chan for helping me on this chapter! Especially !

And as always, I do NOT own . Capcom does.

Chapter 13: The Threat

How the heck had he ended up in this mess? He had woken up like he normally had for the past month or so: ignoring his clock program and doing his best to do the same to his brother. Of course, Rockman was not so easily disabled and before long, Lightman could only relent to his brother's nagging.

From there, they had headed to Sci-Lab just as they had promised their father. Yuuichiro had teased them once they arrived there, especially Lightman, with a surprise. What the surprise was beyond both Lightman and Rockman, but right now neither of them even remembered that there was a surprise. It would be nice if the gift could help them in their current predicament.

How long had this been going on? Surely Enzan and everyone else had not been so careful to keep the troubles of the net to even escape Rockman's notice. Had there been trouble since Myst and Mountainman had made their bold appearance over a year ago? As much as he hated to admit it, he figured they had. After all, they had kept secrets from him even when he had been well. He was still bitter about the whole dimensional area generator secret.

And that did explain Luckman a few days ago.

Man he was going to kill Enzan and anyone else who had left him out of the loop.

After he was done here.

"This is truly sad," taunted as she landed gracefully on a large ball. Rockman and Lightman both grimaced. A battle chip would be really helpful right about now. "Did Blues-kun get so bored that he had to send in you two newbies?" Jester continued sweetly. "Too bad I'll have to delete you both. Otherwise I'd let you be my messengers to tell Blues-kun how much I miss him." She smiled. "Oh well, Razor Card!"

A swarm a cards made their way. Rockman and Lightman jumped to opposite sides just as the first of the cards hit.

"Bravo," Jester said as she clapped. "You really aren't that bad."

"I don't want praise from you," Lightman spat.

"Oh. Are you angry? I'm sorry." Her evil smiled returned. "How about I do some magic to entertain you?"

"Lightman! Watch out!" Rockman yelled, but it was too late. Before Lightman had a chance a cage enveloped him.

Jester squealed as she pulled out a large sheet. "Now watch me make him disappear!"

"LIGHTMAN!" Rockman yelled out.

"Rockman!"

"Papa!" Rockman glanced as a window popped up next to him.

"Use this." Yuuichiro said as a swirl of data began around his wrist before solidifying into a simple silver band.

"What is…?"

"It's a battle chip band. All of Netto's chips are in that. I have one for him too but you have to release him first!"

"Right!" Rockman nodded as he held out his arm. "Samurai Sword!" Rockman called as he jumped and brought the sword down on Jester just before she placed the sheet on the cage.

"MEANIE!" Jester squealed, holding her arm where Rockman had cut her.

"Samurai Sword!" Lightman said in confusion as the cage around him disappeared. He looked down as a swirl of data started around his wrist shortly revealing the same band. "What?"

"It's battle chip data," Rockman explained quickly.

Lightman smiled broadly. "Awesome!" He turned to Jester. "Now we get serious!"

"Oh: but I like play time." She held up a handful of her razor sharp cards. "Oh well, Razor cards!"

Again Rockman and Lightman jumped out of the way.

"Machine Gun!" Lightman called as the data activated.

"Fire Lion!" Jester called as a huge lion-shaped flame formed around Jester and headed toward the twins.

"Bubble Shot!" Rockman cried out as he shot out the attack. The water attack hit the fire one head out, canceling out the fire lion and giving free range for Lightman's machine gun.

" logging out."

Lightman and Rockman turned to a screen where they could see their father. "Is this the surprise, Papa?" Lightman asked excitedly.

The scientist laughed. "Yes, it is."

"Sugoi! Thank you, Papa!" Lightman cheered.

"Rockman nodded in agreement. "Yes, thank you, Papa."

"Rockman, the Beast-Out chips are included in your band." Yuuichiro explained.

"How come I don't get them?" Lightman asked pouting.

"Because Rockman had to, in a sense, evolve to use them," Yuuichiro answered.

"Can Lightman style change then?" Rockman asked.

Yuuichiro nodded. "Yes. He'll be able to activate it through his band."

"Really?" Lightman asked excitedly. "Yatta!" Yuuichiro and Rockman both chuckled.

"But…" Lightman said suddenly becoming serious. Rockman and Yuuichiro stopped laughing and looked at the light blue navi.

"But what?" Rockman asked.

"Was that Myst?"

Silence prevailed as Rockman and Lightman both looked at their father. Yuuichiro frowned.

"Papa," the twins said in pushed in unison.

"Yes," he answered.

"And Luckman too?" Rockman asked. Yuuichiro nodded. "For how long?"

"Well, you know when they made their appearance. They've been here off and on. We think something else has been at their focus since their attacks have been so sparse," Yuuichiro explained.

"And you didn't tell us?" Lightman yelled.

"It's pretty obvious why they didn't," Rockman said. Lightman only pouted in response. "But we can fight now."

"We sure can!" Lightman agreed as he pumped his fist.

Yuuichiro smiled. He feared for them, but when had he not? At least his gift would help in allowing them to come home safely.

Besides, he knew all too well that there was no stopping them.