Chapter 10: [Universe C] New World, New Friends Act IV

... When the flames of light bring forth destruction instead of peace, the fire of darkness will bring forth salvation ...

- Anahi Sector [North Side] -

Buster and Blade were shielding their operators with the Barrier Battle Chip. "These flames don't seem to let up!" Seimai cried. "They're not any ordinary flames," Roudou said, "In the reports, the fire department cannot distinguish them." "What do we do!" Buster cried. "What's worst is that viruses are approaching us!" Blade added. "Then why don't we attack?" Seimai suggested. "Are you stupid, Seimai!" Roudou scolded, "If we do that then we're prone to get burnt." Seimai sweatdropped.

Suddenly the flames stopped as Netto lands in front of them. He then puts his arms in front of them as his choker begins to glow under his scarf. The area around them slowly returns to normal. "No way..." Roudou said speechless, "How does he do that?"

ScorchGirl was standing on the roof of a nearby convenience store. "Found you, Aaron," she smirked, "Better report back to base." She then leaps off the roof and returns to base.

"Is everyone alright?" Ciel cried as she and the rest of the group catch up to them. "Yeah, we're fine!" Seimai called out, "But Netto I didn't know you can do that!" "Hehehe, guess I'm the Jack of all Trades," Netto said abashedly.

Metto! Metto! "Oh no, the viruses!" Blade cried. "We forget all about them!" Buster added. The viruses were Metools in three different colors, their standard yellow color with green stripes, magenta with blue stripes and blue with yellow stripes.

"There's so many of them!" Natsu cried.

"Can we take them all out?" Bulleta added.

Suddenly high gusts of wind came and blew out all of the Mettools away. "Who did that!"

A female NetNavi carrying two slightly curved, white blades appeared. The helmet was an orchid purple with white scars with red stripes on it and a spike protruding as well as two strips of brown hair that reach below the waist. Her eyes were a dark magenta. Her body suit was both black and orchid purple. Both sides of her neck had a magenta stripe going through, but her legs had orchid-purple scars on the upper thighs. There were yellow diamonds attached to her shoulders, a white pearl necklace with an orange razor tooth as an extra accessory and a white belt fashioned to look like a V with a pouch attached to her left hip.

"Razor!" The Kazami Twins and their NetNavis plus Mei, Rory, Luna, and Lunette cried in recognization.

"What's up guys, its' been a while!" Razor greeted. "Razor?" Netto asks with confusion. "She's a close friend of ours," Rory said, "She seems to be always there when we need her." "Cool but where's her operator?" Frost asked. "She doesn't have one," Lunette replied, "She's a solo NetNavi." "Wait solo NetNavis can materialize in the real world?!" Netto cried in amazement. "That's right," Mei said, "a few years ago solo NetNavis can suddenly appear in the real world without the help of an operator. We're not sure what caused it as it is still a mystery." "And Razor was one of them?" Bulleta asked. "Right," Razor replied, "Although being in the real world made me see so many fantastic places that no pictures on the Net wouldn't duplicate!" "I see," Ciel said. "Ah, I forgot!" Roudou said, "We still haven't figured out who caused those strange fires!"

"That would be us!" Jessica cried as she and Herb leaped off the roof of a small business.

"Who are you!" Netto demanded.

"Jessica!" Seimai and Roudou cried. "Herb!" Buster and Blade added. "Who are they?" Aile asked. "They're members of TIFF," Mei replied. "The terrorist organization you mention earlier?" Bulleta asked. "Yes, their job is to scout potential targets and sometimes challenge them if they feel they're strong enough," Lunette said, "But why are they here? Could they be the ones that started the flames?" "Correct," Jessica said, "This was a test to find the Aaron. Our work is done here as one of our other agents have found him. Isn't that correct, Netto?" Netto's eyes widen as they found out that he was Draco's Vessel. "Aaron, who's that?" Mei asked. "I thought his name was Netto?" Rory added. "Aaron is the name of Draco's first vessel," Ciel corrected, "The one that he connected with the most deeply. All the vessels after him were called Aaron in his honor." "Correct," Herb said, "The same thing for Purity's Vessel, Zeva. All the vessels after her were also named in her honor." "Wait a minute!" Ruby cried out, "How do you know that about the Darkness and Light Legend and their first vessels?" "We have been working with another party for the exchange of custody of our dimension," Jessica answered. "WHAT!" Everyone cried out.

'So does this unknown third party know the whereabouts my sister and her vessel?' Draco mentally thought.

"Farewell, Team OverDrive, Netto and friends," Jessica said. "Wait!" Netto cried. Suddenly white and purple flames appear below their feet. Everyone had to shield their eyes from the brightness. When it was gone, they disappeared. "Unbelievable," Frost said. "Purity and the Zeva are working for TIFF?" Ruby added. "But why?" Netto finished.

The Kazami twins phoned for some vans to take them back to base. They were black with the logo on both sides of the doors just beneath the windows. Inside there were at least three to five rows of seats, each column containing three chairs. The front row was where the driver was.

Netto, Ruby, and Frost sat on the second row of seats at the left side. Netto sat near the window; Ruby was in the middle and Frost was one furthest from the window. Netto was just looking at the window in deep thought, processing the events that take place. The two brunette children just glanced at each other before turning to see the boy's strange behavior. The rest of the trip spent in silence.

- OverDrive HQ -

The OverDrive Team took Netto and pals to the same room that Draga, Briana, Aimi, and Henshin were occupying. Accompanying them was Commissioner Shiori and Dr. Hideyoshi, the Kazami twins' father and creator of their NetNavis. All of them had forlorn looks when they heard what Jessica and Herb said about Netto. The whole staff and their most close associates know his secret.

"Netto," Draga said. "I'm alright," Netto said, "I'm just taking in all the information. It has been a long night."

"I see," Commissioner Shiori said, "Oh I haven't probably introduced myself. My name is Commissioner Shiori; I'm the main head of OverDrive HQ. And this is Dr. Hideyoshi, lead scientist in our department." Hideyoshi gave out the usual greeting.

Everyone introduced themselves, but it was a bit flat due to the events of Purity's Fire. "I understand that everyone is tired, why don't you all retire for the night. It is late." Beep! Beep! Mei's Deep Pink TS PET started to ring. "Good News, the reservations for your housing are complete. Would you like to stay at Southern Section of the Anahi Sector?" "You mean we're staying in the same sector we just saved the people from?" Ruby asked, "What a weird coincidence." "A weird coincidence indeed," Frost repeated.

- Anahi Sector [South Side] Arika Hotel -

Arika Hotel was a ten story building with beige walls and balconies. The logo of the hotel encrusted on the top right side of the building in glowing neon blue.

The rooms on each level had different floor plan layouts. On the 5th floor, all the living quarters had two stories. There was a living room, walk-in kitchen, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The walls in the living room covered with fake foliage with a flat-screen TV sticking out from the right wall. The left wall had a few pictures of tropical flowers on top of it. The floor was a wooden, light beige with a striped rug in different shades of blue. A beige table with some blue and yellow flowers was sitting in the middle of the carpet in front of the TV along with a calming blue bean bags and couch that also acts as a bed. On the side of this sofa was a lamp with the shades resembling lilies. The stairs were a pale blue that leads to a balcony with mirror railings with a simple wooden bar on the top. There was small round, beige table with a few blue tables and magazine rack. There were five doors with a pale blue paint job and white floral patterns, the bedroom doors had two thin, rectangular windows on it while the bathroom and closet do not.

The walk-in kitchen was quite small with dark wooden cabinets to store the dishes, a white refrigerator, a sink, oven, microwave, and a pantry. The countertops are white while the other parts were an earth brown. The ceiling was a teal blue with a simple hanging lamp with the shade shaped like a lily and floor had white tiles.

"Whoa! This place is so luxurious!" The bandana wielding, brunette cried in amazement.

Netto goes upstairs and opens one of the bedroom doors to reveal a bedroom with two white beds and teal pillows. The ceiling and floor were white while the walls were a pastel turquoise with some white diamond patterns on it. The wall facing Netto was a pair of sliding doors with transparent glass that leads to another balcony with a pure white table and blue chairs with a view of the beach, on both sides of the entries were white curtains. The left side of the room had a black flat-screen attached to back, under it was a wooden table with white flowers in a clear vase along with a wooden chair. On the right side of the wall on where the beds were a single dark teal, cushion chair with a clear glass table. The wall behind Netto there were two pictures of a lotus flower.

He then exits the room and looks at the second bedroom. There was only one bed, but it seems like it can fit two people. The walls were white with chain pattern, and the floor was wooden. It was mostly white, but the two pillows had blue tree patterns and a dark blue cloth on it. The headboard striped in two different blue colors. Two blue lamps with a white shade placed on both sides of the bed on top of two simple, clear roundtable. There were windows set on the wall in front of him. In the corner were two dark blue, cushion chairs and a single potted plant. On the left wall was a single dark wooden dresser with fake blue orchids on both ends on it and on the right, was a door that leads to one of the bathrooms.

He enters the bathroom and sees both the walls and floors covered in a peaceful aqua blue. The tub was rectangular and porcelain white. A mirror hung on the left wall with a tulip lamp attached to the right. Underneath was white marble counter and sink with some wrapped soap bars, clear glass cups. The wall on the right contains the standard porcelain toilet, above it, was the towel rack with some white towels.

He then exits the second bedroom and first bathroom to check the second one. It had the same layout as the first bathroom except there was a painting of the beach on the wall behind him and the tiled walls replaced with pale blue walls with white stripe waves on the bottom.

"I guess that's all the rooms," Netto said, "Now let's check the closet." He exits the second bathroom and goes back to the balcony to see the closet. It was a regular closet with some wooden hangers to hang some clothes.

"Are you done searching around?" Frost asked. He was sitting on the couch in the living room. "Yeah," Netto said going down the stairs, "They're two bedrooms, so two of us will sleep in one room." "I call dibs on the second bedroom!" Henshin cried out, "So Netto and Frost you get to sleep in the same bedroom." "Eh? No fair," Netto pouted.

Later that night, Netto and Frost were in the first bedroom. Henshin already went to bed in the second bedroom. "Hey, Netto?" Frost asked, "are you going to bed?"

"Later," Netto said. He was looking out windows overlooking the beach. Frost looks concerned about Netto's behavior; they were was somber and in deep thought. He had a feeling that this wasn't normal behavior for him. "Something bothering you?" He asked. Netto glances back at the brunette with pensive eyes. "It's about tonight's events," Netto said, "Now that they found out that I'm Draco's Vessel, this TIFF organization will do everything to get my hands on me." "I see," Frost said, "Listen, Netto, I know that people might die in this fight to protect you from being put into the wrong hands. However, the reason is that we care about you, me, Draga, Ruby and everyone else." Netto's eyes widen at Frost's statement; he blinks his eyes in shock as this is the first time he sees Frost show general concern for everyone.

He then nods in agreement, "You're right Frost, the reason why everyone's fighting is for my safety. Even though I don't agree with it, I'll still go with it." He then turns back to the window. Frost then turns the light off and goes to sleep. Netto smiles and goes back to looking at the night beach. He was still in deep thought but with resolve in his brown eyes. 'If everyone is going to fight for the safety of the four dimensions then so am I!' Netto thought.

He then takes the oddly, diamond necklace from inside his shirt and vest. It was a lime green diamond with four smaller diamonds (ruby on the top, topaz on the right, emerald on the left and sapphire on the bottom) enclosed by a golden ring. The lime green diamond slightly glimmers under the moonlight. "Onee-san..." Netto muttered, "The first time I met her was in my dreams. I wonder if we meet in person, I may be anxious due to the events but I will protect everyone I care! They care about me to protect me from evil so that I will do the same!"

Draco just looks at Netto from a distance with a genuine smile on his face. 'You have matured these past few weeks, no doubt you're ready to fight this interdimensional war. Now how to get Sapphire-chan to contact us?'

- Unknown Area -

ScorchGirl was kneeling on the ground in front of a dark figure with Raquel and Velvet on the right and Centaurman on the left.

"So you have identified the Aaron?" The obscured man said. "Yes," ScorchGirl said, "The Aaron is identified as Netto Hikari." "Excellent," the man said, "Now that Draco's Vessel has been revealed and located. Have the other Portal Keys been found?" "Yes, Key A has been found but is under the custody of officials and Team OverDrive." Raquel said to the male figure, "But we have a plan to have TIFF create a distraction long enough for OverDrive HQ's security to go low and retrieve both the Aaron and Key A." "Excellent," the dark figure said with a huge grin, "Everything's going smoothly."

Nearby in the shadows, a grey standard Navi was just eavesdropping on the conversation, his blank eyes widening at this revelation. He teleports away before being noticed.

A/N: Whew! I finally updated after all those months. Sorry for the inconvenience, daily life in college has really gotten me busy. Anyway thanks for all my readers for keeping up all these episodes.

Preview: Sapphire meets up with her friends Rasp and Wisely from Ameroupe for a trip to Densan City's Ministry of Science to meet up with Rollen Voorjar. There they meet many old faces as well the heroic new trio, Kaita and TurbomanEXE, May and RingEXE, and Chisao and GutsmanEXE.

However, once she arrives, she finds meets new allies as well as communicating once again with Netto.