MISSION 1

The girl blinked. "Yes...that's me," she said, taking the package. "But why would he need to deliver it...hey Jessika, did you forget to reactivate your e-mail account again?"

A second voice, presumably Sonata's netop spoke. "Sorry..." she said.

Sonata sighed. "Don't worry about it right now." She opened the message data and looked at it for a few seconds. "Oh, there's no way that's good," she finally said.

She turned to Bugman. "You might want to get out of here," she said. But before Bugman can do anything, a wave of flames strikes the ground in front of both of them.

"I don't think anyone's going anywhere," came a deep voice as what appeared to be an orange HeelNavi landed a few feet away. This new arrival, however, definitely doesn't look like a customer. Especially not with that flaming knife he just drew.


PhoenixNavi: 1100 HP (EQUIP: FireKnife)

Bugman: 140 HP
Sonata: 140 HP

Terrain: 100% Normal
Objects: RockCube: 200 (Directly behind Sonata)
The little, green navi wasn't hoping for another fight. Come to think of it, this fire guy looks kinda like the birds from before. Were they working together? Are they after the package? If so, it must be something important.

"Beam Study." he whispered.

Bugman closed his eyes. The mirror atop his head glowed a bright scarlet. A bubble of gridlines appeared, surrounding his body. The bubble began to expand outwards, washing over the floor, the column and the two navis. After passing the farthest object, the gridlocked lines collapsed into a tangled mess that seemed to get sucked back into Bugman's headgear.

Bugman contemplated the information about the newcomer and his blazing dagger. His actions (for assumedly, it was a male) and method of introduction obviously depicted an aggressive nature with a tendancy for violence. His past would have seen numerous conflicts, at least one of those involving Sonata or someone related. The firey plumage is a sign of fury and anger, coupled with the HeatKnife, he should boast strong and fast physical strikes.

So, he'd more or less be an Air-Based Berzerker- Faster and more maneuverable than a regular berserker. Anger can make them stronger, but leaves them open to attacks.

Well, that was the first impression. He could also turn out to be suave or cowardly or even chivalrious, though that was doubtful.

He turned and examined the girl with the cleaver. From a physical view, Sonata didn't seem to compare much with the Phoenix. However, this kind of person usually has some kind of indirect, internal or inherant power that either exceeds the need for close combat or enhances the user's fighting abilities.

"I'm gonna go out on a whim here and assume that you can take care of yourself." he explained, turning his back on the phoenix and climbing on top of the column.

"Alright! Listen up you feathery fiend!", he called out from his perch, "You are obviously not welcome by my client! Therefore, I must politely incline that you leave before rabbits eat your face off!"

He brandished his Gut Buster weapon in his right hand, the left holding on to the column, crouching and preparing to spring away from a painful retort.

1,2,3,4- Dodge
Sonata nodded to Bugman, an indication that she could handle the navi herself. She pushed herself away from the pillar, letting her black wings unfurl behind her once more. Blood began to drip from several cuts on her body, wounds that at first glance would have seemed mostly healed. Most of it did not fall to the ground, however, but remained suspended in midair. Some of it, however, did reach the ground, forming a few small puddles underneath her.

It seemed, however, that the fiery navi was not planning on a simple one on one match. No sooner had Bugman called out his speech than the firephoenix-winged navi sprung forward, reaching the pillar in less than a second and swiping the blazing knife at Bugman. The knife missed, melting through part of the stone structure but only striking air above it as Bugman jumped away and landed behind it.

"Smartass little bug," he growled, vaulting onto the top of the pillar.

He couldn't do anything else, however, before Sonata turned to the navi and opened her hand, sending a concentrated burst of bloody bubbles from the palm, which struck the navi in the back.

She followed up by shooting through the air at the navi, just as it had done to Bugman earlier. Her cleaver met the burning knife of the phoenix navi in midair. The fiery opponent skidded backward, but remained on the rockcube as the two blades were forced away. Sonata, however, backflipped through the air and landed on the bloodied ground in front of the pillar.


PhoenixNavi: 1000 HP (EQUIP: FireKnife) (On top of RockCube)

Bugman: 140 HP (Behind RockCube)
Sonata: 140 HP (EQUIP: Sword) (In front of RockCube)

Terrain: 80% Normal
20% Aqua (blood) (in front of RockCube)
Objects: RockCube: 140
Bugman felt the heat from the foe's weapon as it missed him by meer inches, seering the side of his face. He couldn't help letting out a yell while diving off the column. Fortunately, his round-ish shape prevented him from being physically damaged, rolling him across the floor where a timely foot slowed his pace and allowed him to stand. Observing his recent position, now occupied by the cursing figure of the enemy navi, the column looked a lot less stable than he had previously assumed. An idea came to him, followed by a small blink of yellow light from his headpiece.

"Hey, Roy. What have we got that packs a punch?"

<<Packs a punch... Um, well, maybe this?>>

Bugman looked up to see the mysterious woman charge the foe with her large, shiny weapon, taking the attention away from him. Hopefully, that would aid his plan to surprise the blazing berserker and open up a chance for a counter-attack. The mirror in his headpiece glowed green, shooting out six emerald lines which wrapped around the peak of the column. GutBuster in hand, he put his foot against the object, retracted the beams and, using his wings to balance himself, he... well... ran up the side of the pillar. Upon reaching the top, he detached the green ropes and brought his weapon round to face his enemy.

"Falcon..."



1- Strategic Movement
2,3,4- Shotgun x3 to PhoenixNavi (150)
Bugman shot out several lines to grapple the pillar and ride to the top. What he didn't take into account, however, was that the structure was fairly unstable. As he reached the top, the pillar fell over on its side, throwing both phoenix navi and Bugman off.

The navi dashed forward to slash at Bugman again, and successfully did so, only to be hit in the face by three shotgun blasts as retaliation. Sonata took the opportunity to attack as well, rising several feet in the air and diving at the navi. Their blades met in midair again, but this time, the fireknife shattered and the black-winged navi's cleaver ripped through the armor of her fiery opponent.

The phoenix navi swore loudly, then seemed to regain himself as he thrust an arm forward and let fly the signature wave of fire of FirePhoenix viruses. Sonata fell to the ground, just barely avoiding getting a facelift from the flames, and landed on the fallen rockcube column. The azure glow of her cleaver faded.


PhoenixNavi: 770 HP (Behind RockCube)

Bugman: 80 HP (Behind RockCube)
Sonata: 140 HP (On top of RockCube)

Terrain: 80% Normal
20% Aqua (blood) (in front of RockCube)
Objects: RockCube: 130
"Damn. That smarts..." the little navi cursed, massaging the scar on his cheek.

Opposite him, the fiery fiend appeared to be recovering from the mysterious woman's assault. Something that, if victory was to be achieved, should not be allowed. Bugman brought the Gutbuster round to face his opponent, this time squeezing a silver panel on the back of the handle. A single white stream, bulbous at the front, burst from the weapon's central crystal. Four smaller trails followed, spiraling around it. As the shot passed the Phoenix navi, it arced upwards and returned to it's user.

Bugman figured that retaliation was imminent. Without a melee weapon, the foe would resort to using ranged attacks, lest fight barehanded. Dismissing his weapon to the digital ether, he appealed to his net-op for the only melee attack available, the rageclaw chip. He put one foot behind the other and both hands on the ground, similarly to a runner before a race. The green panels along his back split open. White, insect-like wings spread out of the cracks.

A serious look crossed Bugman's docile face, with eyes focused upon the enemy. The wings snapped back, his leg punched forwards and his body lunged into a concentrated sprint. As the navi would attack him, he kicked a foot on the ground and shunted his weight sideways, away from the pillar and into a roll. This would help avoid whatever was thrown at him and would place the phoenix between him and his ally.

His wings balanced the roll, returning him to an upright position. Claws in hand, he lashed out at the navi with a series of slashes and jabs. The paper thin wings on his back buzzed into transparency, keeping Bugman light on his feet as he backed and weaved away from possible counterattacks.


1: Bit Drain to Phoenixnavi (40 dmg / 40 heal to Bugman)
2: Dodge
3: Rageclaw to Phoenixnavi (40 dmg)
4: Dodge


For a brief second as Bugman sent a white stream at the PhoenixNavi, its target's wings flared brilliantly. It didn't move to attack immediately, however, and the stream hit, draining a small amount of energy from it.

The attack itself came when Bugman moved to advance on it, just as predicted. A wave of phoenix fire, much brighter than normal, erupted from the navi's arms. As Bugman dashed to the side, however, the phoenixshot barely missed, but still came close enough that the small navi could feel the heat of the air around it.

The phoenix navi swore loudly, wheeling around to Bugman's new position to fire off another shot. As he did so, however, a familiar dark form appeared close behind him.

A stream of blood whipped out from Sonata's form, lashing the navi across its back and giving Bugman a clear opening for a melee attack, which he took, slashing at it with clawed hands.


PhoenixNavi: 500 HP (Behind RockCube)

Bugman: 120 HP (To side of)
Sonata: 140 HP (On top of RockCube)

Terrain: 80% Normal
20% Aqua (blood) (in front of RockCube)
Objects: RockCube: 130
((Greatly sorry for the delay. Been a little busy during the holiday.))

Bugman, from the close proximity to his foe, could feel the Phoenix navi's pissed off energy. Nothing seemed to be going right for the firey dude, and that would make even the most lackluster of people a little peeved. But this guy, he was about to go bloody berserk. That meant lots of punching, or kicking, or setting Bugmen on fire. Or, heavens forbid, all three. The longer his frustration, the shorter his patience, and that would tire him out.

He took a final swipe at the Phoenix's chest before ducking, kicking off the ground to the birdman's right and bouncing on his rubbery face to avoid whatever the fiend's next move would be. At this point, Bugman was breathing heavily. Although navis do not inhale oxygen, the emote of breathing is programmed to make a more human-like awareness to their current status, which was that the fight was mentally and physically tiring.

He turned towards the Phoenix, tensed for pursuit.

"Don't think I can keep this up much longer." he informed his operator, who was rapidly running out of suggestions. And weapons.

<<You'd be best getting away. Let's see what our mutual friend has up her sleeve.>>

Glad for whatever small reprieve of battle he got, Bugman slowly retreated backwards. He didn't feel like being toasted by a ranged attack and kept a close eye on his foe, tensed for another jump.

1: Rageclaw to Phoenixnavi (40 dmg)
2: Dodge to side
3: Tactical Maneuver
4: Dodge
The phoenix navi reached to the side of his armor, as though attempting to draw another knife weapon, when he was sliced across the chest by Bugman's claw. Now REALLY pissed, he gave up on whatever he had planned on using and leveled his arms at the navi once again. Three waves of fire erupted from his hands at Bugman.

The first two, fired directly ahead, missed as Bugman dodged to the side and out of range of the attack. The phoenix navi spun around to face him again as he fired the third, aiming high.

Though it missed as well, it had still come dangerously close. Close enough that for the split second it took to pass over Bugman's head, it still felt like he had been burned by it.

All this time, Sonata had been suspiciously silent, kneeling on top of the fallen pillar and bleeding from several places. "Looks like you two are out of tricks," the phoenix navi remarked snidely.

"Really?" Sonata returned, holding up her cleaver, which was now completely coated in blood. "I might've said the same about you. But if you really think so..."

Suddenly, she rose from the column and flew directly over the navi, slashing twice as she passed. Blood flew from both the blade and the navi's body as it connected both times, scattering the crimson liquid through the air around it. Combined with that that trailed from her body, all from thin and self-inflicted wounds, it formed a spherical field of blood drops surrounding the phoenix navi.

Sonata held out a hand, palm down and faced slightly toward the navi.

"The end."

She clenched that hand into a fist.

And the blood droplets converged on the phoenix.
___

PhoenixNavi: Deleted (in pieces behind RockCube)

Bugman: 120 HP (To side of RockCube)
Sonata: 125 HP (On top of RockCube)

Terrain: 80% Normal
20% Aqua (blood) (in front of RockCube)
Objects: RockCube: 130


Hey, you win!
GET: 300z

FXP:
+3 with Sonata
Bugman felt pretty queasy when he saw the indescribable remains of his late enemy. He averted his gaze, which fell upon Sonata.

"Er... uh... Thanks for... um... using the... er deliv... ery service... yeah...", he mumbled, slightly awed, slightly shaken and a whole lot more uncomfortable.

He, er, waddled down the, um, street a bit. I think. Er, uh, yeah, and um, jacked out.

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300z Get!

((Sorry for the lates, and thanks for being patient. Mostly. Er.))