Chapter Four: Endless Night

"She?" Blues asked.

Amit nodded. "The creator of the virus that now threatens the life of that human you all seek to save. She was the one who gave me the name after Master built me, so that is what I was called."

"Who is she?" Iceman asked.

Amit glanced at the miniature navi, and shrugged. "She is the surrogate daughter of my master and a genius in bio-engineering. However, you'll never find her records in a school. She was trained by Master. He is the one who raised them after they were viciously abandoned by those they called family."

"Poor thing." Rockman snapped with biting sarcasm. Right at the current moment he could care less how the woman was treated. From the way she treated Netto-kun, she deserved the treatment. Blues flinched at the arctic tone Rockman had begun using. He was beginning to feel grateful for the lack of emotions he had to deal with; they seemed to be dangerous. They watched as Amit began to hover over their heads. He smiled at the looks on his faces.

He pulled higher into the air and laughed. "What? You all look so shocked. My master's daughter is good with making battle chips as well." He looked thoughtful. "Well, no, she can't make them, her brother does, but she has great ideas, and this was one of them." He smiled maliciously and pointed his hand in their direction. "And this . . . is another one." He fired a shot that melted into the floor. Everyone looked at the spot where it vanished confused.

Blues did a quick scan. His eyes shot wide open from beneath his visor. "Everyone move!" Rockman shot clear of the area with Blues right behind. The others were stunned by the order and failed to move in time.

"Area Electrocution!"

Rockman and Blues stood helplessly as the chip took affect, shooting bolts of electricity through the area square where their friends stood. Rockman felt numb as he listened to his friends scream in pain. The numbness faded into coldness. He watched his friends collapse as Amit released them from the effect of the chip. Blues shot off towards the group, but Rockman found he couldn't move. He watched Blues help the others up one by one, and watched as they all turned to face Amit.

Glyde had uncharacteristically lost his cool and exploded at Amit, who laughed. "This is so much fun!" He squealed as he kicked his legs up. His shoulder length hair was swishing as he flipped his head in glee. "I had no idea how truly pathetic Net-Opped navis really were. You like little toys that someone else is controlling for my enjoyment."

"You sick bastard." Enzan's voice was strained as he spoke. The navi had nearly killed everyone, and he was acting like a young child who was playing with his toys.

Amit cocked his head at Enzan. "Of course I am, that's what I'm supposed to be." He enuciated each of his words as though he were speaking to small child. Enzan snarled making Amit laugh yet again. Rockman curled him lip in a silent snarl. That laughter was going to have to go as soon as possible or he would not be responsible for what he did. Amit smiled as the navis came at him in an all-out assault. 'This will be fun.'

Rockman stood in the back of the battle. Blues had made it clear that he should not battle due to his emotional state. But he was finding it harder and harder to stay out of the battle. The continual taunts of the navi they were battling ground his patience further and further. The navi known as Amit Ratri was trying his tolerance a little too far. He watched blankly as the navi toyed with his friends, his thoughts growing darker and darker.

Amit pointed his sword at the still form of Rockman. "Poor little navi, so at a loss without his operator."

Something inside Rockman finally snapped. The numbness from before filled his body as his head raised to meet the eyes of his tormenter. His eyes burned with a crimson light. The other navis stopped, frozen by the change, but Amit just laughed.

"What can you do with out your operator?" He laughed again. "That little buffoon lies dying on the bed of a hospital, all at the mercy of World Three." Amit snorted. "Little brat should have minded his own business and stayed out of what didn't concern him-" His last word was snapped off as a furious Rockman tackled him to the ground. Amit's incensed expression was frozen in shock as he came to grips with the sight an electric sword at his throat.

A sadistically amused Rockman was standing behind it. "What can I do without my operator? Well let's start with the sword at your throat, shall we?" With that, the smile vanished and Rockman pulled his arm back, slashing through the overconfident navi beneath him. With a choked gasp, Amit managed to escape serious harm and bolted away from the detached expression on his opponent's face.

Rockman twirled his blade with a bored look. "Oh look, it can dodge." Amit snarled, but did not take the bait. The emerald gaze of the navi before him seemed false. It seemed as though all that Rockman had been was now lost in a void.

Rockman walked toward his prey. Each step was taken with no expression, no amusement; nothing, there was nothing. He felt nothing. Netto-kun wasn't there. Rockman shot forward with no warning and struck his opponent. In the time it took the group to blink, Amit Ratri collapsed to the ground with five wounds bleeding pixels into cyberspace. Two wounds were on his chest, one on his back, and one on each arm. The obstinate navi rose up to his knees before finding a blade at his throat once more.

"How do I help Netto-kun?" Rockman's voice was as empty as the face he had worn in combat. There was nothing to feel.

Amit stared at the sword; then turned his eyes to Rockman. He snorted. "I would not betray World Three. Besides, you can't kill me. You're one of the good guys, all full of that bullshit mercy."

Rockman watched him vacantly, and then stabbed his sword through Amit's neck and twisted it. He leaned close to his opponent. "I am not a good guy. I am Netto-kun's brother, and you hurt him. Suffer the consequence of your crime." Rockman ripped his sword from Amit's neck and jammed it into shoulder, dragging it through the navi's body. Then he watched dispassionately as the body disintegrated into nothingness.

Roll and the others were silent as they watched. This was a side of Rockman they had never seen, and they never wanted to see it again. Roll came forward cautiously. "Rockman?"

Rockman blinked his eyes and turned away from the sword in his hand. Meeting Roll's eyes, his own saddened, and he turned away. He let his back lean against a virtual wall and slid down into a seated position. He pulled his knees up to his chest and hugged them tightly. He wasn't the least bit upset over what he had done. He was scared of losing himself. He was scared of becoming what Forte had allowed himself to become.

"Netto-kun, you have to survive. Please." His quiet voice broke as he sent his plea to the skies. "Please let him live."

A single drop of crystal slipped down his cheek and shattered against the ground.

"Please . . ."

The others had let Rockman be when he requested some time alone. Now he wondered if that had been the best option. His mind continued to travel through the memory of battle. Amit's taunts built a cold pit of rage within him. His mind replayed the scenes at the hospital. The fear in his twin's eyes as the verdict came through, the tears; everything that had happened seemed to coalesce within his heart, driving further into its frigid hell. Worst of all was the silence in his bond with Netto. Netto no longer laughed; he no longer cried; he simply waited, believing Rockman would come through.

And he continued to wait.

"I swear to you, Netto-kun. No matter what it takes, I'll find a way to save you."

Chocolate eyes watched with pain as Amit was deleted. A feminine hand rewound the scene again.

"This shouldn't have happened to you."

A tear slipped from her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

The night had come and Rockman remained quietly in his PET. He may have been given temporary independent status, but he wanted to remain near Netto. Though his brother had recently slipped into a coma, the steady beep of the heart monitors gave him peace. They proved he still had time to hunt for the one who had attacked his brother. Rage burned through him, but he seized hold of it and shoved it deeper, away from his mind. The soft sounds of his brother breathing helped to calm him further. He smiled softly at his brother.

"Don't worry, Netto-kun. Everything will be fine. You'll see. This will all be over soon."