Netto's PET rang, it was a call from Meijin.
"Meijin, there are viruses out here! Why?!?"
"I don't know, but we can't let them stay here, they could destroy the project."
"So what should I do?"
"Find a dress, put it on, and hum the tune of 'I Love Lucy'."
Netto and Rockman looked at Meijin quietly for a moment.
"It's a joke." Meijin told them. Netto and Rockman continued to look at him in awe, so Meijin decided to get on with it. "Try getting to the lab. If we can find out what's wrong with the system, maybe we can do something about it."
"Right! I'm on it!" Netto informed him before cutting the connection. "Okay, let's do it Rockman!"
Rockman looked at Netto uncertainly. "I'd like to, but the thing is – how the heck do we get through that many viruses! We're on the roof, and they've already stuffed into the stairway! They've probably filled the whole building!"
"Hm, that can't be good then huh…" Netto stood in thought. "Let's try contacting the others, maybe someone else can get there."
"Good idea!" Rockman said, dialing up Meiru's PET. "Meiru! Are you and Roll okay?"
The screen was almost pitch black, but they could barely make out the silhouette of Meiru. She answered them in a whisper.
"Yes, we're okay, but we've been barricaded into a closet. They've got us surrounded, what's going on?"
"We're not sure yet, but sit tight and we'll do something about it." Rockman said as he cut the connection. He dialed Enzan this time. "Enzan, where are you?"
Netto and Rockman could hear fighting in the background, and the picture was shaking, blurring the view.
"Enzan?" Rockman repeated.
"We're fine." Protoman responded. "We're trapped in the kitchen," Protoman paused to smack a nearby virus with a frying pan. "and no matter how many we take down, they keep coming back!"
"You think you can reach the lab?" Rockman asked. Protoman was pressing a few shrimp-looking viruses onto the fired-up stove, causing Rockman to shiver "Ouch, that's harsh, even for you."
"Hey man, survival for the fittest, and shrimp for the victor!" Protoman grinned. "I doubt Enzan and I will be getting anywhere for some time. You'll have to find someone else." Protoman cut the connection.
"Um, Rockman, I think you'll wanna pick up the pacing a bit!" Netto yelled, trying to barricade the door with his body. The viruses had begun shunting the door in an attempt to get through.
"Uh oh." Rockman began working faster, dialing Yaito's PET. He almost saw something he shouldn't have, and looked away with a red face. "Why the heck are you naked???"
Yaito answered in annoyance. "I was taking a bath when these things attacked me!" Yaito screamed, kicking a Metool away from her. She was still in the bathtub, with Glyde nearby holding off more viruses.
"Hold on, Netto and I will do something about this soon!" Rockman cut the line, doubting they'd be able to even step out of the bathroom.
"Rockman! Come on!" Netto yelled in urgency.
"There's only one person left…" Rockman said with a shudder.
"Who?"
"…Dekao." Netto looked at him in horror.
"I dunno, Dekao's never been good near electrical equipment, and with Gutsman here… it definitely wouldn't be healthy." Netto said, remembering an incidence involving Dekao, an electric fence, and the words 'look at me, I'm Spiderham!' The viruses were shunting even harder, and Netto was losing the battle. "Argh, forget it, just call him!"
Rockman dialed, and Dekao answered very casually. They couldn't see any signs of viruses either.
"Dekao, are you okay?"
"Yeah, Gutsman and I are just hanging around outside the hotel."
"So there aren't any viruses attacking you?"
Dekao stood quietly for a moment. "Is that a joke?"
"Forget it, just get to the lab! We have to see if there's anything wrong with the system!"
"Well, okay, but I want you to explain that joke later."
Dekao cut the line, leaving Rockman and Netto with an uncertain feeling.
"I hope he doesn't do anything stupid…" Netto prayed.
"Let's worry about our own butts right now, Netto!" Rockman pulled out his buster. "On three, move out of the way! One, Two…"
"Three!" They yelled together. Netto threw the door open and leaped aside while Rockman started deleting them as fast as he could.
"What happened, de gutsu?" Gutsman asked his operator.
"We need to check on the lab!" Dekao answered, heading down the stairs to the laboratory.
"I dunno, de gutsu. Remember what happened when you thought you were Spiderham, de gutsu?" Gutsman shivered.
Dekao scoffed and looked away. "That was only once, and how was I supposed to know it was electrified?"
"Well, de gutsu, there was a big sign saying…"
"...Shut up."
They reached the bottom, and arrived at the small lab once again. Dekao started checking the computers.
"Gutsman, look around for any problems, or something that looks broken."
"What does broken look like, de gutsu?"
"…I dunno."
They stood looking at each other blankly. "Well…" Dekao said. "Let's just look for anything."
They began going through the data systems littered around the room. Gutsman stared at a big system with plenty of plugs and labeled names. It was the names of all the Navis on the island.
"Hmm, de gutsu…" Gutsman started toying with the plugs, seeing if this was the problem. He unplugged a plug under his name, and tried plugging another nearby plug. Suddenly, the machine made a booming noise, smoke pouring out, and just as sudden as the smoke, Gutsman felt currents of electricity from the cords go through his body.
"Aaaaaagh, de gutsu!!!" Gutsman said, as he comically rose in the air, his skeleton flashing every once in awhile. Dekao came running at the sound of Gutsman's yell.
"Gutsman!" Dekao hurriedly tried pulling Gutsman off, and succeeded in getting electrocuted with Gutsman. "Aaaagh!"
Finally, Gutsman flew back off the machine, sending Dekao and himself hurtling into the wall.
"Ugh…" Dekao got up in a daze. "Gutsman, are you okay?"
"I'm okay-nyu." Dekao stared at him oddly.
"W...What did you just say?"
"I said I'm okay-nyu. Is something wrong-nyu? Maybe your hearing has been impaired in that last impact." Gutsman wasn't acting like his usual self. His voice had become higher-pitched, and Dekao could see two fluffy ears on his head, along with whiskers on his face.
"Good God, what's happened to you Gutsman?" Dekao said in horror.
"What's wrong Dekao-nyu? Is it something on my nose-nyu?" Gutsman began cleaning his nose playfully, which looked quite disturbing from someone of Gutsman's build. "Is it gone-nyu?"
Dekao dialed Netto's PET with shaking fingers.
"Dekao? How did it go?" Netto answered, with Rockman's buster shots in the background, followed by Rockman laughing like a maniac.
"N-Netto, something's wrong with Gutsman!"
"Wha?"
"He's…He's…HE'S GONE NEKO!" Gutsman yelled.
"WHAAAT???"
END CHAPTER 12
A/N: Well, I've noticed people like Nekos, especially Netto, Enzan, Rockman, and Protoman. So, I thought I'd give Gutsman his own chance! Oh the humanity! Anyway, Merry Christmas everyone!