"...So that's it..." Mused Yuuichirou Hikari, Netto's father. It was the next day; He rushed

home from the convention the moment he had heard the news about his son. When he

arrived at the hospital, Plague and Rockman explained everything that happened.

"I'm so worried about him..." Rockman sighed, staring at the boy in the hospital bed.

"This isn't right...I should be sharing his pain..."

"Oniisan," Plague interrupted, "I'm the cause of all this...if anyone should be feeling pain

from the DNA link, it should be me..." He shook his head. "This is all my fault; Papa, I

should have told you about the dreams before you left for the convention..."

Dr. Hikari forced a smile. "Plague, it's not your fault. I probably couldn't have done

much, anyway...that virus is a part of you, I can't remove it without hurting you and

Netto."

"I know..." Plague said morosely. "But maybe you could have taken out enough." Dr.

Hikari shook his head. He'd looked at Plague's programming, and the virus had been too

integral in his systems.

Dr. Hikari watched his son for a moment, then reached down to lightly brush away some

sweaty brown hair. Netto stirred restlessly in his sleep, as if he was suffering a bad

dream... according to the Doctors, he wasn't exactly unconscious, more asleep. But he

wouldn't wake up.

"Is he going to be okay?" Rockman asked quietly, watching. It hurt, knowing what the

virus might be doing to Netto. "Is there any way to severe the connection between Netto

and Plague?"

"I doubt it... but we can see." Dr. Hikari sighed, then picked up the PET to examine

Plague again. He had already found a data flow from the PET, going... somewhere. But

he hadn't found a way to interrupt it without damaging Plague. But perhaps there was a

way.

"This is all my fault..." Plague sighed.

Rockman put his arm around his brother's shoulders. "Come on, Plague...you couldn't

control what was happening."

"B-but if it weren't for me, this would have never happened!" He exclaimed. "I...I wish I

never existed in the first place!" He clenched his fists and tears spilled from his eyes.

"Rockman...we can still sever the virus's connection to Netto-kun..." He looked into his

brother's eyes longingly. "Delete me. Do it now, while there's no DNA link to harm

Netto-kun..."

"Plague, no." Dr. Hikari spoke firmly, blinking back a few tears. "I... I wish that would

work, but the virus has created a data link with Netto. That could kill him as well."

Plague looked up at Dr. Hikari for a moment, his eyes hurt... then gazed back at

Rockman. "I... I..." He suddenly collapses against Rockman, his shoulder's shaking with

suppressed sobs. "It's not right! I..." Fear, grief, and guilt tore at his heart... Fear for

Netto, grief at the damage done... and guilt for his part in it...

Rockman held him gently, looking at the screen. "Is there anything we can do...?"

Dr. Hikari shook his head sadly. "All we can do is wait and see what happens."

Rockman tightened his grip on his brother, slowly rocking the boy in his arms.

"Plague...it's okay. It'll all turn out well in the end..." He cooed in the red navi's ear.

Plague only sobbed harder. "I hate myself." he cried softly.

"I don't hate you." Rockman smiled. "Plague, you didn't have anything to do with this.

There was no way you could have prevented it."

"That's what bothers me most!" Plague sighed and lightly pushed Rockman away from

him. "I'd do anything for Netto-kun....even die. I love him, and...I love you." He looked

up at Rockman longingly, "Please understand...I'd never do anything to hurt you...all

those times-!"

"Plague, I know. I understand." He took the red navi's hand. "I love you too."

Plague's eyes went wide. "You...do?"

"Of course!" Rockman chuckled, "We are brothers, after all..."

Eyes spilling tears, Plague fell into Rockman's arms. That wasn't what I meant... He

thought, but didn't say it aloud. I love you more than that...

Dr. Hikari watched them for a few moments, with a sad smile... then he glanced at Netto

again. Netto-kun... come back to us. We love you. He reached out to touch his son's

forehead again, as the Navi's gently cuddled.

All they had now was hope.

Plague yawned. He'd just finished charging for the day, and he was feeling a little light-

headed. He shrugged off the feeling, though.

Probably just the data transfer. Plague stretched, not noticing a subtle change in his

appearance... He smiled when he saw Rockman, though.

"Rockman... good morning!" Rockman stared at Plague, shocked. The difference was

very clear to him.

Plague's jumpsuit had turned purple in the night.

"Rockman?" Plague asked curiously, "Uh, Rockman? Why are you looking at me like

that?"

"Uh..." Rockman blinked. "Try looking down."

Curious, Plague looked at the ground. "What? I don't see anything...what, did I step in

met poo or something?"

"Uh...no...I mean, look at your outfit."

Raising an eyebrow, Plague glanced down at his jumpsuit.

An akward moment of silence passed.

"DOCTOR HIKARIIIIII!"

The good doctor was awakened with a jolt. "Wha... what?" He blinked, rubbing sleep out

of his eyes.

"My outfit! It's different!" Plague was working up to hysteria. "What's this mean? What's

going on? Ahhh, I LIKED being red! Is Netto okay?!?" Hikari winced, picking up the

PET and looking Plague over.

"This is... odd." He said, staring at Plague. The unhappy Navi had changed to a deep,

royal purple... but it seemed to be gradually lightening. "Your formatting has changed... I

wonder why." He frowned, and began to check Plague's programming.

What he found sent a chill down his spine. "The virus... it seems to be... removing itself

from you. Your program is reverting to the original, the way you were meant to be... a

backup copy of Rockman." He watched the two PET's, wondering how they would take

that.

Plague stared in wonder. "I'm turning into Rockman?" He murmured, staring down at his

jupsuit. He looked up. "And the virus is leaving?"

Hikari nodded. "Unfortunately, that also means that the virus is getting stronger inside

Netto."

Sighing, Plague leaned against a wall that happened to be there. "I can't believe this...it's a

all my fault..."

"Plague, listen to me." Rockman grabbed his brother's shoulders and stared into his

eyes....it was like looking into a mirror. He was changing by the second, but he

continued: "It. Is. Not. Your. Fault."

Plague sighed and rested his head against his brother's shoulder. "For some reason, I just

can't bring myself to believe that..." He glanced back at Dr. Hikari. "But really...the virus

is disappearing, and I'm turning into Rockman...is Plague really a good name for me

anymore?"

Dr. Hikari blinked, thinking about that. "Probably not... but unless you think of

something else, it will do for now." He suddenly smiled. "We can't call you Rockman!

That would be too confusing. We'll have enough trouble, if your appearance gets

anymore similar." And their attitude. Plague's voice was already a bit quieter, less brash

than it had been. It was a noticeable difference.

Dr. Hikari glanced at Netto, his eyes darkening with worry. This did mean the virus was

becoming stronger in him... probably completing it's transference. And what would he

have then?

His son's body would be alive, speaking... but it wouldn't be his son. It would be a

program meant solely for destruction, wanting to inflict devestation on the real world. It

would be easy enough to contain Netto's body... but how could he be helped?

Suddenly, Netto stirred.

"Netto!" Dr. Hikari exclaimed, rushing to the bedside.

"Netto-kun!" Two voices said in unison. Rockman looked at Plague.

Plage looked exactly like him.

This can't be good. Rockman thought. "Dr. Hikari! Is he okay...?"

Netto moaned. His eyes fluttered open, carrying a vacant stare.

"Netto.." Dr. Hikari gasped, "Netto, please say something!"

The brunette stared at the ceiling; his chestnut eyes wide and blank.

He blinked.

He took a deep breath.

"Netto...?"

"Netto-kun?"

The young boy turned his head to stare at his father, a small grin appearing on his face.

"Installation complete."