Netto walked into his room and set his PET into its recharge slot near the computer. Then he walked over to the other side of his room and sunk down on his bed looking exhausted. "Netto-san?" Colonel asked hesitantly.
Netto flopped onto his back and stared at the ceiling. "Yeah?" he asked.
"Are you… feeling all right?" Colonel asked.
Netto sighed and sat up giving Colonel a big grin for his benefit. "I'm fine," he said in a cheerful voice that still somehow sounded hollow.
Colonel blinked at Netto's odd behavior and opened his mouth to say something else but Netto stood up and walked to the door. "I'm going to go eat dinner, you can recharge up here, I know I pushed you a lot today," Netto gave Colonel a genuine smile and shut the door behind him with a soft click announcing his exit.
Colonel sighed and called Barrel through Netto's PET. Barrel picked up and nodded at Colonel, "How was your mission today?" he asked.
"It went fine, Netto-san is an excellent operator," Colonel said dismissively.
"Then what's wrong?" Barrel asked, clasping his hands together in front of his face while he peered at Colonel.
"Sir?" he asked.
"You called because you were worried, about what?" Barrel asked again.
Colonel sighed, "It's… Netto-san. He's not acting like he did when we first met, I can't tell what's wrong though."
Barrel smirked, "Isn't it obvious? He misses his navi, poor kid."
Colonel nodded and the link was cut off but he wasn't so sure it was just that.
He waited for a few minutes while recharging his systems. It didn't take him long to get back at full energy and by the time he was done Netto was turning the doorknob to his room. "Are you going to bed, Netto-san?" Colonel asked.
Netto raised an eyebrow, "Are you nuts? It's only 9:30," he said with a small smile. "Does Barrel go to bed this early?"
"Well… no…" Colonel admitted slowly. "But you look tired."
Netto shrugged, "I'll live."
"Netto-san, are you upset about what happened to Rockman?" Colonel asked.
Netto sighed and picked up the PET that Colonel was in. "Well yeah, who wouldn't be?"
Colonel gave him a small smile, "Understandable."
"Why are you so worried?" Netto asked, carrying the PET over to his bed and setting it down. He set it on a small shelf above his bed and then lay stomach down with his head propped in his hands to talk to Colonel.
"I'm not worried, I'm just concerned for your well being seeing as you are my operator at this time," Colonel said. Netto giggled, earning himself a surprised look from Colonel, "What?" the navi asked.
"You sound just like Rockman when he doesn't want to tell me anything," Netto said giving Colonel a 'You're hiding something' look.
Colonel sighed; it was pointless to dance around issues with a 12 year old after all. "Are you really okay, Netto-san? I can't help but feel that you're hiding something."
Netto shrugged, "I'm worried about Rockman but…"
"But…" Colonel pressed.
Netto sighed and a sad look misted over his eyes, "Colonel, you have to understand that Rockman… means everything to me. He's my best friend and possibly one of the few people on this planet who can actually put up with me in the morning," he gave a sad grin. "He's…" Netto seemed to choose his next words carefully, "He's like a brother to me."
Colonel frowned, "Netto-san?"
"I just don't like seeing Rockman this way… I know he's in pain and I can't do anything about it," Netto clenched his fist around his bed sheets. "I hate not being able to do anything."
"But you are doing something," Colonel reminded him gently.
Netto shook his head, "I still stopped you from deleting him, remember? I can't give up on him… not yet…"
Colonel nodded, "I understand."
Netto gave him a small smile, "I'm normally not like this you know."
Colonel nodded again, "I guessed as much."
Netto sighed and flipped over onto his back, lacing his hands behind his head. "I just want Rockman to be back to normal," he said softly.
"That's what we're trying to do," Colonel said.
Netto nodded, "Yeah, I know."
There was a silence for a few minutes. Colonel sat there thinking about what Netto had said about Rockman. It surely was an amazing thing for a Navi and a human to have such a strong bond. "Netto-san?" he asked. When he received no reply he looked out the PET screen to see if he was all right.
Netto was on his bed, fast asleep. Colonel looked at the clock and smiled, it was only 9:45 at that point. Netto had been tired after all.
It very well could end up being a long battle, and it may not have a happy ending but for the time being Netto could hope everything would turn out all right. And Colonel hoped he was right.