Disclaimer: I do not own Rockman/Megaman. It belongs to Capcom. This story takes place after Episode 36 of the Rockman.EXE series, which is in the beginning of the Gospel Saga.

The Dark Half
By David Knight

Chapter Two: The Meeting

Blues transited into the Internet City at the location that the message said for him to arrive. He was alone this time, both in the net and without his operator as Enzan was sleeping now.

Still I am curious, why would she ask to talk to me? Blues asked himself.

"Blues-san."

Blues turned around and saw the one that called for him on the boards, "Roll."

Roll walked over to him, "Thank you for coming. I..."

"Why did you call me?" Blues asked straightforward. "And at this hour? Why me instead of someone else?"

Roll sighed before giving her answer, "Because I can't share this with anyone else. I need someone to give me a real objective opinion."

Blues said nothing, but was curious as to what she was meaning.

"You remember the N1, and how during that the World Three ended up taking control me by tricking Meiru-chan into using the Devil Chip," Roll stated, "Right after that, I started to have nightmares... but they faded after Pharaohman was destroyed. But now... now with what Gospel's doing they are coming back..."

"That's what you called me for," Blues snorted, "Tell me about a bad dream." He turned away from her, "What a waste of time."

Roll felt like she had been slapped in the face, her anger rising then along with all of her bottled up emotion, she let loose on the first being available and that was Blues, "Baka! Do you have any idea what it's like to see the ones that matter to you get deleted every time you recharge!" that stopped Blues, but Roll didn't pay it any mind as she just kept shouting, "To see everyone one you could possibly care about be tortured and torn to bits while you were mocked and laughed at, called worthless and pathetic!"

"... what else?" Blues asked, slowly turning back to her, "There's something more to this hell you are telling me, isn't there?"

".... when they are all gone, I hear a voice from inside me, telling me to accept it. Telling me to accept what is inside of me but refuse to use," Roll said slowly, "When I do, I... change. It's me and its not me. Its like I've become the devil all over again. I go in and attack all of the monsters that had hurt me, deleted my friends... and I delete them slowly, painfully, showing no mercy at all!"

She paused for a bit, trying to collect herself again as she wanted to get this all out, "The truth is, I feel it. Even now, there's something in side of me, something I never even knew I had until I experienced the Devil Chip. I'm so afraid of changing, of becoming that Devil again or something even worse. Something that will hate Meiru-chan..." her voice was breaking now, "Or... I become something... that she would hate. That she would want to delete as soon as she saw ..."

"You're being stupid."

Roll looked up at Blues, angered once more by him yet before she could speak, he beat her to it. "No matter what you become, your operator will still care for you, still want you. She proved that during the N1 when you were the Devil. She kept trying to get you back. She cares for you Roll. Just like Netto cares for Rockman... and how Enzan-sama cares for me."

"Blues..." Roll breathed.

"If you ever have any more fears about your nightmares, just remember what I said." Blues said and then he left her alone.

Roll stood there for a moment, letting herself absorb what Blues had told her. It was definitely something to think about.

For now though, it was time to head on home. She needed to finish recharging and Meiru-chan would need her tomorrow.

I just hope everything will be fine. Roll hoped.

-----

Shuryou Gospel sat down in his chair looking at his computer screen, at the man that had the gall to actually try to hack into his own systems to request a meeting.

Shuryou had to admit that the man had initiative. Though as of yet he showed him nothing that gave him reason to do what he was asking for. "Why should I allow you, someone I've never seen before, to join Gospel?"

"Because I am the best at what I do," the man said to Shuryou.

"And what would that be?"

"Deleting Navis." the man said, pulling up a file for Shuryou could see.

"A large delete count," Shuryou admitted, "Yet that means absolutely nothing to me without knowing the strength of all those Navis and their operators. For all I know, they could have been weaklings."

"I wouldn't be trying to contact you if I hadn't deleted at least some extremely experienced Navis."

Shuryou thought about that for a moment before speaking again, "Very well. I shall allow you to join Gospel if you can pass one simple test. One that with your 'illustrious delete record' should be able to accomplish."

"What's the test?"

Shuryou's lips curved into a smile, "Delete Rockman."

To Be Continued...