The Healing of the Scarred One

Chapter 4

Images appeared from his mind. He was in the mainframe of a laboratory. A little girl who had long, white hair with light blue eyes and wore a sky blue dress walked shyly toward the computer screen where he was. Bass was surprised to find how the girl resembled Naomi.
"Um…excuse me. Do you know where my father is?"
Bass reluctantly spoke, "Who's your father?"
"Dr. Cossack is my father."
"…What's your name?"
"I am Naomi," the girl replied.

Bass gasped as he jerked upright. He was breathing heavily.
"It was all just a dream…or is it?"
"Bass, you okay?"
Bass looked up and saw Megaman, Protoman, and Searchman next to him. Naomi was nowhere in sight.
"Where is Naomi?"
"Dr. Hikari is helping her recover. She's been through so much." Megaman replied.

"You cruel, heartless freak!" Protoman shouted and punched Bass in the face. "You just had to hurt the Navi like that after she wanted to see you so badly!"
"She wanted…to see me?" Bass said in a surprised voice.
"Even though we told her that you were a dangerous Navi she desperately wanted to see you! I've never seen anyone crazy enough to see a wretched Navi like you!"
"Protoman! That's enough!" Chaud ordered.
"Yes, sir..."
"Bass, if you want to see her, you're gonna have to ask Dr. Hikari. He's taking care of her in his lab right now." Megaman explained.

Bass was gone in a flash of light. He found the server where Navis were being repaired. He saw Naomi recovering from her wound. Naomi woke up. Her eyes met his. Her serene eyes made Bass feel he was being engulfed in the blue sea, floating under the mystifying waters.
"Are…you okay?" Bass finally said.
"I'll be fine." She noticed his face and touched his bruised cheek. In an instant, the quivering pain and bruise vanished from Bass's cheek.
"How did you do that?"
"I have the ability to heal." Naomi replied.
"Can you heal your wounds?"
"The bug corrupted part of my data. I can no longer heal myself, but I can heal others."
"…Naomi, tell me who you are. You told me your name, and I feel I've known you before, but I can't remember."
"Maybe this will help you remember." Naomi touched his forehead. Bass body became relaxed and slumped to the floor.

…..
"Where's my father?"
"He went down the main laboratory."
"Thank you. You've helped me so much."

…..
"Dr. Cossack, your daughter spends too much time with the Navi. She's hindering our research."
"She's just making friends with Bass."

…..
"Father… I'm nervous of how this will turn out."
"Don't worry Naomi… I promise you'll make it."

…..
"Father, I promise I'll find him…and we'll be together again."
"Be careful. I want you to be safe and happy."
"I'll do my best."

Many scattered images filled Bass's mind with Naomi, Dr. Cossack, and himself. One particular image caused him to wake up with shock.
"Something wrong?" asked Naomi.
"I…I saw Pharaohman."
"…..Your data fused with his when you were on the verge of being deleted."
Bass shuddered at the thought of how the humans betrayed him and prosecuted him when he really was innocent.

"When Dr. Wily captured Pharaohman and broke his data apart, you somehow managed to break free. The rest of the data mutated into the Virus Beast."
"Then how did you contract the bug?" Bass asked.
"I was searching for you when I almost got caught in the beast's snare. I escaped–barely. I ended up being infected with the bug and it has been slowly consuming me ever since."
"How long have you been like this?"
"It's been nearly 8 years since I became a Navi." Naomi sighed.
"You were… a human?"
"I was diagnosed with a fatal disease when I was 12. Dr. Cossack, my father, found a way to upload not only my consciousness but my soul as well."
"Where is he now?" Bass questioned.
Naomi lowered her head and said with hesitation, "…He's dead."
Naomi's reply stabbed Bass in the heart.
"Because he was blamed for the malfunction of the prototype of the Net, he was sent to Prison Island."
"What…happened…there?"
"…His death sentence was confirmed….He was executed there. He…wanted to tell you how much he loved you. You were a son in his eyes. He wanted you to be happy. He–"
Naomi's words were muffled by Bass as he embraced her tightly. Tears streamed down from Bass's eyes. In her ear, Bass whispered, "Forgive me…"
Naomi answered back, "You are."