Disclaimer: I don't own Rockman.exe. If I did, it wouldn't be a successful franchise.
Meddling in and Rolling out
Pre-read by Azn Girl132.
Chapter 3
End of the Garbage Chute
Eventually Netto landed onto a bunch of garbage bags which cushioned his fall.
"Oof! Are you alright Rockman?" asked Netto.
"Yeah, I am. The PET isn't broken. Good thing that dad gave us the indestructible PET case. But Netto, that was at least two stories you fell from! How can you be so calm? Aren't you even worry about breaking your bones?" asked the blue bomber.
"Well I did jump off a one story high building and three stories high building once, remember?" asked Netto.
"Yeah, but you had to do it in an emergency and it was pure luck that there was something to lessen the drop even if it was water," said Rockman.
"Oh well, turn on the lights," commanded Netto.
"All right but you better find an exit soon, I don't like this place," said Rockman as the activated the PET flashlight ability. A shaft of light beamed out of the PET.
Netto walked for a while until he saw a glint in one of the piles. He went to see what it was and saw it was a battle chip. As soon as Netto picked up the chip, some music pops out of nowhere.
Bum Bum Bum!
Netto found an Electric Blade Chip.
"I found an Electric Blade Chip!" exclaimed Netto while making a pose with his fist up.
"Oh God do you have to do that every time?" groaned Rockman.
"Hey, it's not my fault! I was made to do that!" said Netto.
"Yeah, tell me about it. Every new game that comes out, I lose MY ENTIRE HP and all my STATS!" yelled Rockman.
"Tell me about it. I lose my RARE and POWERFUL chips, too. But you do that move too when you get those mystery data crystals. But we have more important things to do. Let's get out of here," said Netto, who wanted to get out of this smelly place.
"Heh, at least I don't have the sense of smell, another reason not to be human," smirked Rockman, which annoyed Netto.
"Shut up or I'll mute you!" said Netto.
This caused Rockman to be quiet while Netto chucked about one thing not be a navi.
Suddenly there was a movement which Netto stopped and quickly shone the light around a certain area but failed to achieve any result. So he shouted, "Who's there? Show yourself!"
For a moment there was no answer, until a light was shown onto a feminine face.
"Ah ha! I finally found you Netto!" yelled a female voice, scaring Netto.
Netto took a good look at the woman. Her clothes were dirty assuming that she somehow landed into this dump. Her hair was a mess and there wasn't any hair clips to keep hold on her long hair.
"Uh, who are you?" asked Netto nervously.
The woman defaulted.
"You don't remember? I'm Tamako, the princess of Ura Inn."
"Princess? Do you know any princess of Ura Inn?" asked Netto to Rockman.
Rockman just shrugged.
Tamako had one of her eyebrows twitched about being unknown. So she showed her navi.
"Do you remember that Navi?" Netto asked pointing to the tin can figure.
"Let me check. Ah ha! It's Metalman according to that icon of his," replied Rockman after shuffling through his collection of souls.
"Oh now I remember, you're that pervert!" exclaimed Netto pointing to the woman.
"WHAT? I'm not a pervert!" screeched Tamako while Metalman sniggered.
"Oh really? What about the time you were stalking me everywhere including when I was taking a shower? Don't think I forgot about that especially when you gave me that greeting the second time I met you. But at least you're an obsessive stalker constantly asking for net battle," said Netto with some accurate information.
"I'm not a stalker. I got here by accident," said Tamako trying to salvage her reputation.
"Mind if you tell us?" asked Netto.
"Uh…." sputtered Tamako.
Flashback
Tamako at some motel in front of the garbage chute
"Damn you, Netto! Because of you, my reputation is ruined! I'll get you for this!" yelled Tamako as she shook her fist into the air after disposing some garbage bags.
"Oh please, this is the umpteenthtime you said it. You need a new line," said Metalman.
"What? Don't you feel any resentment for Rockman beating you?" asked Tamako.
"No, he's a good guy with a good heart. Hey, you're the one who made me battle every tourist you saw at the Ura Inn. But do I get any recognition? No! You make the people buy lots and lots of stuff if they lost at a net battle. It's not my fault that you lost against Netto especially at the N1 Grand Prix in front of millions of people. You're operating skills still need more practice in order to beat Netto," answered Metalman.
"How dare you mock my skills!" shrieked Tamako.
"Hey, don't rant at me since you were humiliated in front of millions of people, especially by a kid," said Metalman.
"Arggh! Take this!" yelled Tamako as she chucked her PET into the garbage chute. Unfortunately, the PET contained her precious Metalman who hollered in terror.
Then Tamako realized she tossed out her money making machine into the wall opening. So she did what most people do, which was to follow the missing item. In this case, she went into the hole and yelped as she enjoyed the ride.
End Flashback
"No, I rather not say," replied Tamako.
"Ah ha! So you are a stalker," said Netto.
"No, I'm not," denied Tamako.
"Denial! You're sure are no princess. You have no balance and no style. Your execution with your navi sucks. You have an addiction and you're repulsive," alleged Netto
That was the last straw for Tamako.
"That's it, Hikari Netto! Nobody gets away insulting me. I challenge you at a net battle!"
"I accept," said Netto.
"Hey, don't you want to get out of here?" asked Rockman.
"Yeah, but I can't decline a challenge. It's against the rules," answered Netto.
"Fine, but once we're done, we're leaving this stink place," said Rockman.
"The battle will happen in my PET," announced Tamako.
"It's fine by me. Jack in, Rockman, Execute!" yelled Netto as the laser connected to Tamako's PET.
Rockman was teleported into Metalman's lair where the entire floor were covered by metal panels.
"Ready Rockman?" asked Netto which Rockman nodded.
"Ready Metalman?" asked Tamako. Instead of a nod, Metalman spoke with sarcasm,
"Oh yeah, get your navi to do your dirty work. It's always the navi's fault if you lose."
"Shut up and fight! Use your Metal Missile and Metal Wheelnow!" screamed Tamako.
So the battle began.
Meanwhile outside of the dumpster, Meiru was outside trying to find her Netto. Yes, HER Netto.
"Say Meiru, why are you acting like this?" asked Roll from the PET.
"Simple, she seemed to be too close to Netto than me! The next thing I need is another Princess Pride who is all touchy-feely with him," spat out Meiru.
Roll just recoiled from her. She did not need to feel her operator's wrath. Meiru, seeing that she was starting to scare Roll, tried to clam down.
"Sorry Roll, I just don't know what's wrong with me. It's not my day," she said.
"Yeah, I noticed the moment when that new girl came here," spoke Roll inquiringly.
"Now you mention about it, that girl had a navi. So why did you get into a fight with the new navi, hm?" asked Meiru.
"Well uh..." stuttered Roll.
"Oh it was something related with Rockman?" asked Meiru.
"No," lied Roll.
"Oh really? I remember you acted like this when somebody was around with him."
"Uh…." Sputtered Roll.
Flashback
"Hey Rockman, where did you get that new vest?" asked Roll.
"What new vest?" asked Rockman.
"Fine the vest jet pack that is on your back," said Roll.
"Oh, that's no jet pack! It's Aquaman!" exclaimed Rockman.
"Eh!" cried out Roll.
"Hello!" said Aquaman cutely as he popped out behind Rockman's back cheerfully.
"Ahhhhhh!" screamed Roll in horror. Somebody got to Rockman before she did!
End Flashback
"Oh yeah? What about the time where that girl was hanging around Netto at Higsby's shop?" asked Roll.
Meiru blushed as she thought what happened some time ago.
Flashback
"Excuse me!" said the purple hair girl as she smacked the red hair girl away from Netto.
"Yeah right, Shuuko-san," muttered Meiru.
Kido Shuuko had her face closed to Netto who went a little red since he never had anybody who went close to his face. Well at least it was peaceful this time. Most of the time when anybody went near to his face, he either got a slap or a headlock. But again she was just looking into Netto's PET at her own navi.
"So what is it? Why are you near him?" asked Shuuko her water type navi who was on top of the blue bomber in Netto's PET.
"You should have seen Rockman. He was like wow! I was like being at the edge of death then POW! He comes and knocks this bad navi into the fire. I sure thought he was a goner but this bad navi came back from the dead. I was screaming 'Rockman, behind you!' But before bad navi was able to land a hit on him, BLAM Rockman beats up the bad navi for good! Rockman is my hero! Rockman saved mepyu! So I'll always be with himpyu! " said Aquaman excitedly.
"Rockman doesn't want that!" exclaimed Roll, who was next to the blue bomber.
"I really don't mind..." said Rockman scratching his head.
"Rockman! It isn't right! Stop acting like a wussy and be a man for once! He can't always be with you!" yelled Roll.
"Pyuuuuuuu..." dejected Aquaman while Rockman winced.
"So, please come back..." begged Shuuko.
"Nopyu! I don't want to come backpyu! I won't go! I won't go!" said Aquaman as he threw a tantrum.
"It's no use...Aquaman refuses to let go," sighed Shuuko.
"He won't!" yelped Netto.
"Nopyu! I won't let Rockman gopyu!" said Aquaman.
"But your PET is your home. I'm sure Rockman was doing something important before you were attacked," Shuuko reasoned.
Aquaman whined.
"That's no good! Rockman was doing his job!" injected Meiru into the conversation, hoping to clue Netto about his duty as a Net Savior.
"His job? You have a job, Netto?" asked Shuuko.
"Uh, no... It was just pure coincidence that I got there," lied Netto.
Shuuko dumbly nodded and accept his reasoning. On the other hand Meiru was fuming about the idiotic boy.
"Rockman is my friend," said Aquaman happily.
Roll, not liking this, decided to pull Aquaman away from Rockman. After all, she didn't like anybody taking Rockman away from her. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to since Aquaman was had a tight grip on the blue bomber and he was screaming, "Rockman is my FRIEND!"
"Aw that's so sweet," said Shuuko, as she puts an arm around Netto's shoulder. "Look at that, the power of friendship is amazing. Perhaps we can be friends too, no?"
Netto just blushed deeper at her comment. But for Meiru, she couldn't take that Shuuko was getting closer to Netto any longer and she exploded in rage.
End Flashback
"Oh that was some trivial affair," said Meiru off handedly.
"I'm sure it was," said Roll with sarcasm.
For a while Meiru kept walking in hoping that she could find her Netto until she saw some bushes. She decided maybe Netto had hidden himself in one of these plants. So she went to check. But before she was able to approach the bushes, somebody pop out from the bushes scaring her, causing her to fall onto her bottom. After she got up, she took a good look at her assailant. This person was the new girl.
"Oh it's you," said Meiru coldly.
Jasmine gave her a frown. Meiru copied the same act as well. This is now the start of a staring contest.
Now back to the battle.
"Well this battle is on the verge of a stalemate. We both know each other strategies," said Netto as the two navis were back to their original starting points panting.
"Indeed, but this time I will not lose!" stated Tamako.
"Why is that?"
"Simple in statement, there are no winners or losers. At least I won't lose without honor."
"Then I'll make sure this battle won't go this way."
"I doubt it. It'll take more than luck to win."
Netto took the last chip he had in the pocket. He realized that it was the very same chip that he had found a couple minutes ago in this very same place. This Electric Blade Chip could turn the tie of this round. He looked at Metalman, then to his Electric Blade Chip once again. He tried to remember what his sensei said about electricity and metal.
Flashback
"Remember class, any metallic material is a very good electrical conductor. The purer the metal is the better. Yes, Netto?" lectured Mariko-sensei.
"So does that mean Elecman can travel through the man of steel?" asked Netto.
"Netto! Stop day dreaming about net battling and pay attention to class!" reprimand Mariko-sensei.
End Flashback
Of course! If Metalman was made out of metal, he could get electrocuted easily. But the question is how to get the blade near to the navi in order to shock him. Metalman could stand the shock for a while before he could easily break the blade thus rendering useless. I have to get the blade somehow into Metalman long enough so that he could become unconscious. But how? thought Netto.
"What wrong, boy? Realize that you can't do anything to win this match?" taunted Tamako as she saw that he was taking too long to act.
Netto, ignoring the comment, whispered to his navi that he was taking over the operation. Rockman was having some quires since it wasn't often that Netto took control. But he didn't protest since Netto must have a strategy.
"I realized that anything is possible. This battle chip will determine the winner," said Netto.
"A wild card, heh? Go ahead but it'll do no good," smirked Tamako.
"Battle Chip, Electric Blade! Slot in!" spoke Netto as he slammed the recently acquired chip into the PET.
An electric blade was formed and was shot out from the hand of Rockman. The blade stopped when he grabbed onto the end. After doing some swings, Rockman was ready for battle. Metalman on the other hand was a little worried. Any weapons that didn't have an elemental property, he could handle well without any worries of getting damaged. But Rockman on the other side of the field had a blade that was crackling with yellow energy. Metalman figured out that he could just break the blade rendering it useless like to the other swords he had done earlier. Then he could give an uppercut to Rockman in order to finish the match.
"Oh, a glowing blade! Is that all you got?" teased Tamako.
"Throw the blade to him now!" shouted Netto which Rockman complied. Metalman was surprised by this action but reacted fast enough to grab the blade from the air
"Ah ha! Rockman, you are a fool! I will beat you with the very same weapon your operator gave you!" exclaimed Metalman as he realized that this was the very last weapon that Rockman had. But before he could do anything, Rockman quickly fired at him.
"Charge Shot!" yelled Rockman so suddenly that Metalman went into defensive mode.
The ball of energy struck onto the blade causing it to shatter. This is exactly what Netto wanted Metalman to do. As the broken pieces of the blade fell, one of the pieces pierced onto the foot of Metalman's.
Now consider that earlier on, the blade was crackling with yellow energy, the panels were made out of metal, Metalman is a metallic navi, and that metal is a good conductor for electricity. There was only one fate for Metalman. It was electrocution with lots of voltages thanks to the bonuses that the metal panels gave.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" screamed Metalman while the others watch.
"METALMAN ELECTROCUTED" proclaimed some announcer as Metalman fell down burnt while Tamako was cursing her streak of losses.
"Wait a minute, shouldn't it be 'Metalman logging out'?" asked Netto.
"Well there no where else for him to log out to, is there?" replied Rockman.
"Guess not… But hey, we won!" said Netto happily.
"Yeah, but now let's leave like you promised," said Rockman.
"Not a problem," answered Netto. But before he could leave, he was stop by the woman.
"Hikari Netto, I am not done with you yet!" yelled Tamako, who blocked his path.
"Say, is it just me that the room here is getting hotter?" asked Netto, who started to feel hot.
Tamako just blinked and replied. "Well usual when one does get angry, one does feel hot."
"Ok, then explain about the sudden steam around here," asked Netto.
Tamako, forgetting her anger, looked around. She did see steam and her surrounding was indeed very humid and hot.
"Say, where are we again?" she asked.
"I don't really know. I think this is some dumpster place considering there are tons of garbage bags here," responded Netto.
Tamako remembered that she fell in the garbage chute and she was trying to find a way out of here until she met the kid. But with the high temperature, she realized she was in really deep trouble. Or in this case, her and the kid. But before she could rejoin the conversation, Rockman spoke about the temperature in the room was rising quickly.
"Well I guess we're in hot water," said Netto as he saw that on one side piles of garbage coming towards him while the other side had walls of fire.
End of Chapter 3
Author's notes:
If you don't know the joke about Tamako, play the 3rd and the 4th game. The answer should be when you meet Tamako again in the Hawk Tournament in Battle Network 4.
If you have been playing the game, you should realize that each new game you have to start over for each game at 100HP and a basic folder.