Bass.EXE (MegaMan NT Warrior manga)

Bass.EXE is a character from the MegaMan NT Warrior manga. He is one of the strongest NetNavis in the series, being infamously known as the strongest Navi in the Undernet who destroys any Navi or virus that he met and absorbs their ability. Bass gets even more powerful after being revived as a Dark Navi and absorbing Serenade's power. However, since Bass became a Dark Navi, his attacks have no effect on Navis made from pure darkness like Nebula Gray, since those attacks only make the latter stronger via absorbing his attacks.

Origin
Around ten years before the start of the series, Bass is created by Dr. Cossak as the first independent NetNavi that does not require an operator. Since the CyberWorld at that time is still in the middle of development, Bass stands out from other Navis and constantly try to prove that the security systems that supposed to protect the CyberWorld are useless by attacking many Navi units, destroying 15 programs and 72 Navi units in total. This caused people to fear him and choose for him to be deleted. The only person who objects this decision is Dr. Cossak, the only person that Bass trust and the only one to come to his defense. They were close to the extent Dr. Cossack refers Bass as his 'son'. To prevent Bass from being deleted, Dr. Cossak reluctantly imprisoned Bass and forced him to wear limiters that restricted his power.

Later, Bass is blamed for disrupting the Net and is ordered to be deleted by the officials. Bass easily defeats them one by one despite the limiters he was wearing. It was at this time Bass ponders why Dr. Cossak didn't clear the misunderstanding soon and began to think that Dr. Cossak abandoned him. One of the Navis slashed him, leaving the trademark scar on his Navi Mark. The Navi's praise for the limiters created by Dr. Cossak makes Bass finally comes to the conclusion that Dr. Cossak has betrayed him. Before he could be deleted, they realized that it was actually the Net itself that caused the destruction and it's not Bass' fault. All of the units jack out, but one stayed behind to delete Bass, holding a grudge against him. However, the limiters that Bass was wearing changed his program and Bass defeated the Navi in a second, swearing he will never trust anyone again.

For the past ten years, Bass spends his life in the Undernet, defeating and absorbing any Navis that he met until he is finally known as the Black Shadow of the Undernet. One day, he defeats several Navis and questions one of them the whereabouts of the King of the Undernet, Serenade, before destroying him when he doesn't know the location. Soon after, Serenade appears before Bass, reprimanding his violent and cruel way. Excited that they finally met, Bass fiercely attacks Serenade, but none of his attacks even put a scratch on him since Serenade dodged them all. Serenade reflected Bass attacks, injuring him. Bass didn't give up, but Serenade tells him that he came not to fight, but to give him a message from Dr. Cossak, much to Bass' shock.

Dr. Cossak reveals that before he could save Bass, he is branded as a traitor and is arrested. He apologized to Bass and wish for him to come back to him after knowing that he's still alive. Serenade shows data that will allow Bass to jack out and goes straight to Dr. Cossak's PET. Bass crawling towards Serenade as he wonders if he could go back to Dr. Cossak. However, Bass, who has already suffered and overcome by his anger and hatred for far too long, decides that he doesn't need bonds with anyone anymore and with his hatred, he will become stronger. Crushing Serenade's hand and keeps him close-range, Bass unleashed his Earthbreaker. Much to his disbelief, Serenade remained unscathed, and instead, it was he himself who got injured. As Bass fell, he warns Serenade that it's not the end of him and one day he will defeat him.

Meeting MegaMan
Bass was first mentioned by Miyu as the Black Shadow from the Undernet. He makes his first appearance after MegaMan and ProtoMan defeated ElecMan and BombMan. He creates a barrier as MegaMan and ProtoMan attacks him until they destroyed the barrier. When the barrier was destroyed, he states that they are weak before going offensive, easily destroyed MegaMan's sword with light velocity speed before preparing to unleash Earthbreaker. However, seeing MegaMan flies straight at him without any fear, Bass decides to spare MegaMan. At the top of PharaohMan's pyramid, he says that he will give treasure and such to MegaMan, deeming him a worthy opponent and wait for him to become strong enough to fight him once again.

Battle at Queen Ocean Cruise
Bass briefly cooperates with Kei Yuki to go the Queen Ocean ferry where Hub Style MegaMan currently battling the Grave Virus Beast (Gospel). By combining his power with Grave, he and the monster produce the Dark Messiah attack, but MegaMan is able to withstand it. Content that MegaMan has become strong enough, Bass attacks, but in the middle of their battle, MegaMan is distracted by one of their attacks; Roll and GutsMan are still present. While he hesitates, Grave seizes its chance and tries to absorb MegaMan Hub Style, only for Bass to destroy the beast in one blow, subverting Kei Yuki's betrayal with his own.

Once Roll and GutsMan flee, both Bass and MegaMan are able to fight on equal footing until Bass gains MegaMan's Hub Style with the Get Ability program, turning the tide in an instant. MegaMan receives damages grave enough to split MegaMan and Lan's Full Synchro, knocking Lan unconscious. Bass continues to assault MegaMan, discussing how he was betrayed by humans and the vast differences in their strength.

On the verge of MegaMan's defeat, Bass taunts him. MegaMan then tells Bass that there was another difference between them, MegaMan has Lan and will never stop believing him. This provokes Bass to show the scar he got from his betrayal, but MegaMan still trusts Lan. As he says this, Lan regains his consciousness and once again uses Hub Style to defeat Bass, but their conditions didn't allow them to perfectly enter Hub Style. Bass prepares to use Earthbreaker to finish MegaMan, but he was eventually defeated when MegaMan focused all of his Hub Style powers into his finger. As Bass starts to disappear, he persisted that his hunger and thirst had yet to disappear.

Revival
Later, Bass is revived through the power of darkness as Bass GS. He becomes so strong enough that he turns his back on both MegaMan and ProtoMan, not considering them a threat. He proceeds to Densan City and prepares to carry out his vengeance by destroying the city. MegaMan arrives just before Bass could unleash Vanishing World with Grave. Bass easily overpowers MegaMan, claiming that the darkness didn't control him, but he was the one who controlled the darkness. MegaMan is saved by Serenade, but shortly afterwards, the latter was absorbed by Bass, deleting him. Having absorbed Serenade's power, Bass continues to fight MegaMan and ProtoMan. As they are fighting, he notices that even though both MegaMan and ProtoMan are badly injured, that instead of getting weaker, they are getting stronger. Bass realizes that the program that Serenade left behind began to react through the power of MegaMan and ProtoMan's unity. Refusing to accept feelings for friends or bonds with others, Bass unleashes another powerful attack to end their battle. But once again, MegaMan, using Double Soul with ProtoMan, easily counters Bass' attacks and turns the tide to their favor.

Bass still refused to give up and claimed how he was able to survive to this day without trusting nor depending on anybody and suddenly unleashes Earthbreaker. While MegaMan defends himself, Bass launches at him and chokes him as he tells him that MegaMan's weakness is that he is always helped and supported by his friends. However, MegaMan counters back that it's not his weakness, but his power, shocking Bass. Bass is punched to the ground and lands near ProtoMan's body. Instead of destroying ProtoMan as everyone thought, Bass floats to MegaMan, telling him that he will defeat him while maintaining his honor. He uses two Graves in both arms and unleashes Double Vanishing World, which MegaMan easily overcomes and defeats Bass. As Bass is falling, he ponders how strangely his hunger and thirst for revenge started to disappear.

The attack, however, didn't kill him and he reveals himself to MegaMan and the others. He tells MegaMan to delete him since he no longer has any power to fight. To everyone's shock, MegaMan instead offers him to fight again next time without any anger or hatred. Before Bass could respond, he senses something and punches MegaMan out of the way, receiving a beam that was intended for MegaMan. Bass then tells MegaMan to keep living until the day he defeated him, declaring he will be the one to kill him and that is their bond. Dark MegaMan attacks him from behind, rendering him unconscious and he is taken away by Dark MegaMan and LaserMan, much to MegaMan's dismay.

Darkloid Battle
Bass is held captive so Dark MegaMan could absorb his power. However, Bass' strong will resist against the absorption, preventing Dark MegaMan from absorbing him completely until MegaMan arrives. Realizing that the source of Bass' resistance is the promise he made with MegaMan, Dark MegaMan seemingly kills MegaMan, nulling their promise. Seeing MegaMan defeated, Bass is finally absorbed completely by Dark MegaMan.

Believing that Bass still exists, MegaMan keeps reminding him of their promise to fight again and what kind of Navi Bass truly is. MegaMan's voice reached Bass, causing him to rebel against Dark MegaMan from the inside. Dark MegaMan can't believe that Bass is capable of it, as Bass' rage should make it easy for him to control Bass. However, MegaMan notes that it isn't hatred that motivates his actions, it's pride. Bass managed to free himself from Dark MegaMan and protected MegaMan from the former's attack before disappearing, telling MegaMan to show him the proof that he is his worthy rival. When MegaMan was unable to move because of Dark MegaMan's laser attack after eating LaserMan, Bass questions him if he has already given up and says that if that's the case, they'll never meet again. This urges MegaMan to fight again as he tells Bass to watch him until the end. After MegaMan finally defeated Dark MegaMan, Bass reminds him that he will be the one who will defeat him and left.

Versus Nebula Gray
Bass appears and fiercely attacks Nebula Gray to defeat him and absorb his power, much to Colonel's shock. But instead of weakening, Nebula Gray only grew more powerful by absorbing Bass' attack and captures him. Unexpectedly, Colonel helped Bass, knowing that defeating Nebula Gray comes first before his revenge. Disgusted when hearing that they will defeat Nebula Gray together, Bass intended to attack Colonel, but is stopped by MegaMan's arrival. Bass reminds MegaMan that he will be the one to defeat him, but after he defeats Nebula Gray first. MegaMan and the others then unleash their most powerful attacks and combine it with Bass' so Nebula Grey won't be able to absorb it. Unfortunately, Nebula Gray has already become strong enough to become immune to their attacks and countered them with his own attack, leaving everyone but Bass, MegaMan, and Colonel to fight.

MegaMan asked for Bass' help to perform Double Soul with him. Hearing this, Bass punches MegaMan, asking if he has gone crazy, reminding that they are enemies and could never work together since they could only reach understanding through fighting. They are interrupted by another attack from Nebula Gray as MegaMan continue to persuade Bass to fight together, but Colonel interjects. Bass persists on his pride and attacks Nebula Gray alone, but Nebula Gray slowly begins to overpower his attack. Just before Nebula Gray's attack hit him, MegaMan pushes him out of the way, taking the attack instead. The attack heavily injured MegaMan to the point that he's near deletion. Shocked by MegaMan's action and hearing that MegaMan wants to fight him again, Bass saves MegaMan's life by absorbing him to prevent deletion with his Get Ability program, reminding the latter of their bond, merging them into Bass Cross MegaMan.

Bass Cross MegaMan easily overpowers Nebula Gray, but his body is unable to withstand the burden of both Bass and MegaMan's power since it was too strong. Knowing his limit, he prepares to unleash a final attack to defeat Nebula Gray for good, but he halts when CosmoMan takes out ProtoMan, TomahawkMan, and GyroMan from Nebula Gray's stomach, threatening that if he attacks, they will be killed as well. At this, Bass Cross MegaMan defends himself instead of continuing attacking to protect his friends. In their subconscious, Bass asks MegaMan if he intends to throw away their victory, which MegaMan replies that victory will mean nothing if he let his friends die. Finally able to trust Bass Cross MegaMan, Colonel opens a path for them to attack with Screen Divide, allowing them to unleash their final attack.

The attack, as it turns out, didn't kill Nebula Gray and it barely survived by fusing with CosmoMan. Realizing this, Bass separates himself from MegaMan and got bitten by Nebula Gray as his power is absorbed. Seeing MegaMan discouraged since he doesn't have any power left to fight, Bass encourages him to keep fighting until the end if he is truly his rival. MegaMan finds a new power to defeat Nebula Gray and use Beast Out to fight. CosmoMan reminds him that he will kill Bass as well if he keeps attacking, but MegaMan continues, making Bass realize that he is indeed his worthy rival. Bass survives the attack and appears in Regal's ship, forcing it to self-destruct, destroying the ship along with Regal.

Final Battle
Iris summons Bass so he could participate in the battle to decide who is the strongest Navi. He protected MegaMan from Falzar's attack and then absorbed it in himself. He then challenged MegaMan to fight him now that both of them had acquired Cyber Beast powers. However, Falzar is not completely absorbed by Bass due to its great power and remove part of himself from Bass and merges with Gregar. Bass goes to fight Falzar and Gregar, but was surprised when they are transported into the real world. Unfazed, Bass attacks the Cyber Beast, but the Cyber Beast was unscathed and immediately defeated Bass. MegaMan then appears and attacks the Cyber Beast with the Ultimate Program, seemingly overpowering him, much to Bass' astonishment.

This didn't last long once the Cybeast started to absorb the real world into the Cyber World, with only MegaMan, Lan, and himself remaining. Bass confronts MegaMan, telling him to give up since it was already too late. Satisfied that he could watch the end of mankind, he challenges MegaMan to finish their battle. Disappointed with Bass' answer, MegaMan goes to confront the Cyber Beast, having yet to give up hope. Bass wonders if this is really the ending he had been hoping for.

Bass finally decides to assist MegaMan in defeating the Cybeast, claiming that he will watch his deletion with his own eyes. Once they finally reach the core of the Cybeast, they are stopped by the last defense system of the Cybeast. When all hope seems lost, MegaMan's friends stopped the Cybeast's movement before it could devour them. Serenade then appears in front of Bass, telling him to give all of his power to his only true friend, MegaMan. Hearing this, Bass interjects that MegaMan is his enemy and breaks free from the defense system. Gathering all the powers he has gathered throughout his life, Bass gave it to MegaMan to give him enough energy to move, telling MegaMan to win as he disappears.

Journey with MegaMan
After the final battle against the Cybeast, Bass got blown away all the way to the end of Cyber World and met with MegaMan who also ended up there after destroying the Cybeast, destroying any virus who get in their way. Bass challenged MegaMan to fight him, but the latter refused because his main priority is to return to Lan's side. Bass reluctantly relented to the temporary truce as he found no meaning in defeating MegaMan who can't use his full power without his operator. While resting at night, MegaMan expressed his relief that Bass is his travelling companion, to which Bass replied there's nothing boring than having a journey with MegaMan because they can easily defeat any enemy together. MegaMan took this as Bass praising him, prompting the said Navi to stomp on him while demanding MegaMan to sleep. When seeing MegaMan able to sleep so peacefully in front of him despite the fact they are supposed to be enemies, Bass contemplated on ruining his peaceful sleep. However, Bass was surprised when MegaMan started to uncomfortably uttering Lan's name in his sleep, reminding Bass of how he used to long for his creator during the beginning of his journey. Bass then promised that he will return MegaMan to Lan's side for the sake of one day killing him.

Even after travelling for a year, they still have yet to find a way to go back, prompting Bass to tell MegaMan that they'll eventually find a way back but it's possible that his Operator, Lan, may have already died considering humans' short lifespan compared to Net Navis. With MegaMan still not giving up hope, Bass tells him that his Operator must have already created a new Navi and forgot about him. This angered MegaMan, and his act of grabbing his cloak due to his anger provoked Bass who decided to kill MegaMan without waiting to return to their original world. However, they are attacked by the remains of Gregar's data. Noticing a Remote Gate connected to the original world attached to its body, MegaMan points this to Bass as they finally found a way back. When the beast attacks MegaMan, Bass protects him by letting his arm got bitten and tells MegaMan to go back first while he takes care of the beast.

MegaMan refuses and tries to free Bass, hitting the beast's teeth. When the beast's mouth finally opened and they evade its attack, Bass tells MegaMan that his current self without his Operator is weak and only serves as a hindrance, but if MegaMan unites his power with his Operator, he becomes a formidable opponent for him. For this reason, Bass then forcefully shoots MegaMan into the remote gate, telling him to return so he can become his enemy again with Bass promising he will come to kill him. As MegaMan has entered the gate, Bass has no reason to keep the beast alive anymore and easily kills it. Finding himself alone again, Bass shrugs it off as he has merely returned to the way he used to be and states he has no need for companions. However, not long afterwards, the revived Serenade appears, prompting Bass to ask since when he was watching. To Bass' embarrassment, Serenade has watched since the beginning of his and MegaMan's journey. Serenade offers to accompany him in MegaMan's place, but Bass ignores and tells him not to follow him as Serenade keeps pestering him to allow him to tag along.

Return of Bass Cross
Four years after the battle against Nebula Grey, a virus called Devil Virus threatened to destroy the world. Team of elite Navis fought against it, but only Colonel, TomahawkMan, ShadowMan, NumberMan, ProtoMan, SearchMan and MegaMan managed to survive its attacks. On their way to confront Devil Virus, MegaMan was critically injured protecting NumberMan. On the verge of being deleted, Bass comes across his unconscious form after years of absence and absorbed MegaMan to prevent deletion. With all hope lost as Colonel and his team failed to destroy the Devil Virus with their weapon, Bass once again merged with MegaMan to recreate Bass Cross MegaMan. This form easily defeated the Devil Virus in one attack. Bass then disappeared.

Personality
Bass's personality is far more sinister and darker than other counterparts. He is arrogant, merciless, and hungry for power. Due to his past, Bass is distrustful towards anybody but himself, viewing bonds with others as a weakness. This, however, seemed to change when he was defeated by MegaMan for the second time, resulting him to acknowledge MegaMan as his rival, finally allowing himself to have a bond with someone for the first time after long times. Also, despite his ruthless behavior, he has never stopped so low as to attack someone who cannot fight back, showing he at least has a form of honor to uphold. When Dark MegaMan absorbed Bass, MegaMan manages to make him break free by reminding him of their bond. Through this, it is not evil emotions that motives him, but his great pride. Serenade implied that behind their rivalry, Bass started to consider MegaMan to be the only person close enough to be a friend, though Bass always denied and insisted that MegaMan is his enemy. Regardless, MegaMan becomes the first person that Bass is able to place his trust in, as demonstrated when he gave MegaMan all of his power to defeat the Cyberbeast and tells him to win. In volume 10, discussing the difference of the series between manga, game, and anime, Takamisaki stated that Bass is "lonelier" than he is in the original game. This may indicate that deep down Bass is actually feeling lonely and his persistence in trusting no one but himself is his way to cope with his loneliness. Furthermore, Bass still has a lingering attachment to his creator, Cossak, despite his hatred for humanity and refusal to return to his side.