~Chapter 13: Eclipse

Sir Kane sat at his desk, staring at his computer screen. The man, who usually never showed much emotion aside from anger was shaking slightly. On his screen was Specter, the dark cloud of a navi had covered the entire area and was glaring right at the human.

"You did WHAT!" Specter bellowed, causing the Net Area to tremor slightly.

"I sent Pluto to take care of the fools that interfered with you."

"You idiot! I had planned for them to arrive, everything was proceeding as I saw fit! Now you've destroyed my entire plan."

Kane leaned back in his chair. "From how you ran off when they arrived I could have been fooled."

Specter's eyes seemed to flare, a powerful anger building in him. "I need all of them alive if I'm to complete my part of our plan…but no matter, Pluto is much too weak to defeat them."

"I wouldn't say that Specter, she has already cornered Demonman, and seems to be having fun with him."

"…I shall remedy that. Kane, you listen carefully! Focus yourself on delaying Megaman as long as you can. My powers will limit him, but I'll need the help of your operatives to slow him enough. I'll focus on finishing our little plan."

Kane turned away from Specter. "I do not enjoy being told what to do…"

"You will do as I command!" Specter yelled, a smile creeping across his false mouth. "…Or would you rather I return you to how I found you?"

Kane's eyes widened, and he quickly turned full away from the navi. "…V-Very well…Go on your way."

Specter left the area in a burst of black light, leaving Kane to stare out the window alone. The human lifted his right hand to his face, slowly pulling off the black glove that he wore. His hand was badly burned, and large black marks covered each inch of skin.

…I can't believe I'm taking orders from that stupid navi! But, I must…at least until I can find a damned cure.

Sir Kane stood from his chair, and clutching his walking stick, slowly made his way to the elevator. Each step seemed to take more and more energy than before, and he let out a raspy cough as he neared the doors.

"The minute I find a cure is the minute that navi is sent packing…"

Demonman roared in anger as he ran at Pluto, his fist drawn. Both navis had taken quite a few blows, large cuts running along Demonman's body, and bruises beginning to take form on Pluto, but even still the two navis continued to fight.

Pluto quickly stepped to the right, dodging the blow from Demonman. With a smile she slashed out with her claws, cutting the arm that had meant to hit her, adding to the long list of injuries that the navis had endured.

Demonman staggered slightly as he turned to face his opponent.

"W-Why don't you give up?" he wheezed.

"I do not know the meaning of surrender!" she cried, throwing herself at the navi.

Demonman brought up his arms to protect him, as the cat slashed at him again and again. Each time she hit at him she was repelled, but her claws still cut into his arms. As the fight had drawn on her claws had dulled, and now they left smaller slices on Demonman's body, however now they hurt more, as they scrapped across him worse than before.

After landing a flurry of blows at the black navi, Demonman kicked out. He landed a powerful kick right onto Pluto's chest, and the smaller navi was knocked off her balance, and went sprawling onto the floor.

"J-Just give up!" Demonman yelled, standing over the purple navi.

Pluto groaned. "Why do you continue to fight me? What have you to gain from this?"

"I'm defending m-my friends!"

"Ha! Friends…how pathetic. If they are your friends, then where are they now to help you?"

Demonman's gaze fell, and he started to speak, when a voice was heard from above them.

"They're right here!"

The duo's gaze shot upward, and they saw that Protoman and Crain where standing there, swords drawn. The two Official navis jumped down from the Area, and where greeted with a roar as guards rushed in toward them. With a few simple slashes and stabs each one of the guards fell, and the saviors ran straight for their friend.

"Crain! Protoman!" Demonman yelled, greeting the two of them as they fought toward them.

Pluto hissed, and jumped up from the floor. With a powerful yell, she stabbed her claws straight outward and pierced through Demonman's back. The claws went in so deep that they pushed out of Demonman's chest.

The large navi screamed in pain as the blades pierced through his chest. His screams caused Protoman and Crain to freeze in their attacks, and stare right toward their friend.

"Demonman!" Tyrell yelled, his voice filled with fear.

Pluto pulled her claws out of the navi, who fell to the floor in a heap.

"Hmhmhmhm, where are your friends now?"

"Right here you bitch!" Crain yelled, his voice coming from behind Pluto.

The purple navi turned to see a navi clad in splendid white armor, two large wings on his helmet. The navi looked like a sort of angel, but his face was clearly not one of joy. He took his sword, set inside a cane he carried with him, and thrust it outward.

Pluto screamed in agony as the sword pierced her body, just as her claws had done Demonman. Crain pulled himself close to the navi, still holding the blade in her.

"That's what friends can do!" he whispered, slicing the blade out from her body.

The purple navi fell to the floor next to Demonman, and the two swordsmen waited to see that she had indeed had enough. With their opponent defeated they turned toward their friend, who was lying on his stomach on the floor.

"Tyrell, jack Demonman out!" Protoman yelled, turning around to see more guards in the area.

"Right…and thank you." He said, his navi porting out of the area.

The two knights pressed their backs against each other, turning to see that the area was filled with guards. The army of agents moved toward them slowly, their own weapons drawn.

Protoman looked upward and smirked. "I believe it is time for us to leave Sir."

"I think you're right Protoman." Chaud said.

In a matter of seconds the army surged forward, crashing toward the navis like a flood of water. But the navis ported out just in time, at the exact moment the armies clashed together. The mission was a success, Demonman had been saved…but would he be alright?

Moments later the Net Area had became dark, and all had since left. The only one who remained was Pluto, who was pulling herself along the area in pain. She had no operator, no one to help her…no friends. Those she worked with where only her comrades in arms, they cared nothing for each other's well being…only getting the jobs done.

The purple navi continued to pull herself along, a few tears running down her face.

I c-can't believe I was beaten! Master Specter will n-not be pleased…

The Area, which had long since been dark, began to darken even more. The strange thick mist that had become common place for our heroes flowed all around the area. The mist slowly converged, and two blood red eyes stared down at Pluto from high above.

"I am not…" a voice called, responding to Pluto's own thoughts.

The female navi shot her glance upward, more tears running along her face. "P-Please Master…forgive me…"

"I have no room for forgiveness my child, you have failed me…"

"I am sorry."

Specter growled. "Not only have you lost to those weaklings, you betrayed my strict orders to NOT fight with them."

"I'm sorry Master, but I was only following Kane's orders."

"Kane is NOTHING! You pledged your alliance to ME!" Specter yelled, the area shaking and the clouds growing darker.

Pluto collapsed onto the ground, but slowly pulled herself up again.

"…I'm sorry my lord…"

"No my dear, I'm sorry." Specter said, the darkness beginning to gather around Pluto.

The darkness grew thicker and thicker, and Pluto could feel herself being gripped by an invisible force. The darkness squeezed her tighter, and tighter, until it became hard to breath. Pluto could feel herself fading, and fade she did.

The last thing she heard was Specter's final goodbye, as he then left her to fade away forever.

"…I'm sorry that you are so weak."