AQ: Thanks to my reviewers! ...all three of you. Meh well, I stand by the fact that Anime will one day rule the world!!! Muwahahahahaaa... ehem.
Small word! As I write this I am dressed as a 52 year old fanatical Christian woman as I try to learn my lines for A Level Drama whilst simultaneously writing this...yehh. Anyways, busy days ahead, what with exams and stuff...and I'm also running a drama club during the summer...so just saying that update may not be very...umm...regular. Just warning ya! Now please enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 2

The sound of heels on parquet floor echoed ominously as she made her way to the hearing hall; click-click-click-click. She was privileged, unparalleled, her power and presence was reknowned; She was the book-keeper...and she had a job to do.

Rebels were cropping up here, there and everywhere; Netopia, Kingland, DenTech, Brightland, Amerope, Choina... and it was the book-keeper's job to...rectify this. She was literally the pen which scribbled one's name into non-existence. She wrote the past...and rewrote it, and rewrote it and rewrote it, making sure there was never any document which pointed to SoulCam. Not that it was necessary to cover tracks anymore; SoulCam's power was complete. But...there were enough rebels peppered around the earth's surface to make a great threat should they combine. The point of the book-keeper was to stop those rebels being labelled as martyrs.

The book-keeper finally arrived at the hall, the high security door barring her way. She peered into a laser as they confirmed her retina scan, and the doors slid open in silence.

Click. Click. Click. Click. She walked forward slowly, confused. "I was told I was meeting with the CEO."

The shadowed man shook his head slowly. "I'm afraid the CEO is not available, Yvette. He is...quite disappointed in you."

The book-keeper stiffened her shoulders. "How so?"

"Were you not charged with the disbanding of the Sharo League rebel group?"

"Sir, I-"

"And were you not instructed to bring down what remains of SciLab not two months ago?"

"There were complications!"

He raised his brow. "Would this be the same complication liberating various areas of DenTech City as we speak?"

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "...Sir?"

He pressed a button sequence into the table before him, starting what appeared to be a holographic camera recording. It showed three shadowed figures dismantling the security units of sector 12 in DenTech.

"They are still out there, Yvette. Those who believe they still have a chance of winning." He murmured.

"The rebels." She nodded in agreement.

The shaded man hissed with anger. "You don't get it, do you?!" He pointed viciously at the hologram. "Those three aren't average rebels! They are the same three that have been fighting since year 1, and they show no sign of giving up. They are a threat, Yvette! They are the only thing the CEO is worried about! And he wants them dead, Yvette. Do you hear? Dead!"

The book-keeper stared first at the man, then the holovid. "They're just a group of kids..." she whispered.

"No. They're not. Don't underestimate them..." he pointed specifically at one of the shadows. He was under attack, and had collapsed under the strain. One of his friends dove out to protect him, whilst the other tried to overwhelm his attacker. The shadow was having none of it, and pushed his friend out of the way just as an energy shot was deployed. It hit him right in the arm. It crackled and buzzed in protest as various circuits fried.

"That is their leader. His name is Hub Hikari." He whispered. She paled. "You know what that means." She nodded slowly. "Now you see why the CEO wants him dead." The man cupped the book-keeper face in his palm. "Can you do that for me?"

She nodded.

He sneered. "See that you do." And with that, he threw her to the floor with little care. She whimpered as she landed heavily on her shoulder. "No more chances, Bookie! Do yourself a favour and don't screw up this time!"

Slam! She took a shuddering breath and collected herself, tucking her hair behind her ear. Then, still shaking, she reached up to her earring and twisted it to the left. "Did you get all that?" she whispered.

"Yep." Crackled a hushed reply. "You're doing great. Don't give up yet."

"They're beginning to suspect... I don't know how much longer my cover will last!"

"Then you're gonna have to be convincing this time."

"How am I gonna do that? I'm scared, Tory!"

"Do what you're doing. I'm gonna relay to Chaud what their plan of action is. Tory out."

She sighed, pulling herself off the ground. All in all, a failure. Today she was meant to finally meet and identify the CEO of SoulCam. But the opportunity had slipped from her fingers. And she hated failing.

"Yuro!" she yelled, stepping out of the hearing room. "I need a strong Strawberry White Russian, stat!"

A fragile looking boy hurried away, off to fufill Miss Yvette's drink order. She began fingering her touchpad, sending a note to Chaud herself.

Meeting fell through. No identity. Still no sign of Lan. Will be in touch.

Y

Chaud stared at the email with distaste. "Damn."

"What is it?" Maylu asked, sitting next to him and handing him a mug of coffee. The clearing they had found was ten miles deep into the forest skirting DenTech City. The forest itself was dead; the animals were nowhere to be seen or heard. The trees seemed withered and soulless, and even the wind seemed to be choked and humid, like an old man heaving his last breaths. They sat on a log before a smouldering fire, the remains of dinner burning with the ash-wood.

"Still no lead on the inside; the damn CEO is staying out of the limelight."

Maylu sighed. "She's trying her hardest."

Chaud sniffed. "I know...I still don't like her being in there. She may act tough, but I know-"

"We all do." Maylu soothed gently. "She volunteered, remember. She doesn't 'act' brave, she is."

Chaud nodded, glancing around the campsite. He frowned. "Where's M-Hub?"

Maylu chuckled "I do that sometimes too. He's researching. Apparently a few miles west there's a captured village that is really oppressed. Hungry kids, disease, security groups that couldn't care less...the usual."

"And he can't help but do something about it?"

"Exactly."

Chaud sighed amusedly. "That guy is going to get us killed."

"Well, SoulCam are already after our heads." Maylu replied cheerfully. "A little added danger is no consequence. Especially if we're freeing people."

Chaud shrugged. "I suppose."

Meanwhile, in the campus tent set five foot away from the campfire, Hub Hikari sat limply in front of a collection of monitors. Protruding from the palm of his left hand was a small USB wire, linked to the main monitor. His eyes were dazed as data flowed through him freely. In his mind, he was sifting through information slowly and steadily, plotting routes and linking them to various leads on the whereabouts of the CEO.

As soon as the route was set, the wire detached itself from the monitor as Hub jacked out, his consciousness return. His vision slid into focus and new reasoning processed into him. He got up, donned his black jacket and stuffed his PET into his pocket. It was battered, dysfunctional, and did not hold a navi. In short, it was useless. But it was all that remained of Hub's lost brother.

He strode out of the tent, plonking himself next to Maylu. "Tomorrow we go west."

Maylu smirked "How did I know?"

Hub ignored her. "The village of Readington needs help; SoulCam is taking their resources and leaving them to starve. They are stopping the import of medicine there too. Once we've helped out there, we meet at a rendezvous point with Famous and stock up."

"Can you remember that Lan always called him 'Mr Famous'?" smiled Chaud.

Hub nodded, smiling a little to himself. He coughed, reasserting himself, back to business. "Once we've replenished ammo and food, we'll head to Hakura Air Corps."

"That's controlled by SoulCam!" Maylu interjected.

Hub nodded. "Exactly. We sabotage the Air Corps and hijack a plane. We take the plane to Sharo, where we get a proper plane to Amerope. Unless Raika has a reason for us to stick around." He looked first at Maylu, then Chaud. "Are you okay with that plan?"

Chaud sighed. "Risk our lives helping a village rebel, infiltrate a high security air field and 'sabotage' it, then navigate our way through hostile air to Sharo, where we may or may not be needed for another rebel commission. Sure, sounds like fun. What's not to love?"

Taking that as a yes, Hub turned to look at Maylu. She rolled her eyes. "Do I have a choice?"

"You always have a choice." Hub replied seriously.

Maylu scowled. "Oh yes, great choice! Stay and fight or go home. These days, if I went home I'd be executed. Go home and die or die fighting...what kind of choice is that?!"

Hub bit his lip. Maylu had a point. She crossed her arms, pouting. "How does any of that help us find Lan anyway?"

"There's a leak that the CEO is in Calofinya in Amerope, discussing further technologies. If he's there, it's likely Lan is there too."

"What makes you so sure?" asked Chaud.

Hub shrugged. "The tape."

Their mouths formed a small 'o' at this. The tape. Only the Hikari's saw 'The Tape', which began a lethal and unwinnable game of treasure hunt. There was a time limit; five weeks. Five weeks to find the treasure. If it was found and recovered, the pirates would never come for it again...

Lies. Empty promises. That treasure was never found. Therefore, to Hub's logic, the Pirates must still have it.

"...and what's more it makes sense. Why kidnap a kid for five years and not keep it safe. It'd be a waste of effort." Reasoned Hub.

"I dunno." Chaud thought out loud. "Ever heard about the man with a pot of gold? He kept it outside his house, in plain sight. Anyone could steal it – it was there for the taking. But no one did."

"Why not?" asked Maylu, intrigued.

"Because they thought it was fake. Why else would the man leave it lying outside? They believed it worthless." Chaud met Hub's eyes meaningfully. "Just keep that in mind, okay?"

Hub nodded "Will do – but for now we need to sleep." He gave them both a tired grin. "After all, busy day liberating oppressed villagers tomorrow!"

Maylu groaned, stretching. She turned and made for the campus tent, followed by Hub and Chaud. The tent was a loan from Sharo military. It was light to carry round, sturdy, and easily camouflaged. As he lay on the rough blanket they slept on, Hub thought quietly to himself about Chaud's proverb. Was it possible? Could Lan be hiding in plain sight?

AQ: Dun Dun Duuuuuun! Haha, I like messing with my readers! XP And as an FYI: I already know exactly where Lan is and what has become of him. Let's just say that Megaman will not be hp. *sinister chuckle*. Reviewers get cookies! Ones with soft centers and gooey chips! And they are warm! YOU WANT THESE COOKIES PEOPLE!!!

Reviews are love! - Queenie xx