Cathy led them all out of the large building across the street to a small café that was small and cozy, but didn't seem like it saw too many customers on any given day. "Hey Ted!" Cathy said cheerfully at the man behind the counter.

A rather large man in his mid forties turned around and gave them a big grin. "Hey Cath, hungry?"

"Famished, hour long virus bust this morning to try and save Steve's equipment. Never would gave managed it either if not got these three," she said, motioning to Netto, Enzan and Laika.

The man raised an eyebrow at the kids and laughed. "You must be some good net battlers to get praise like that from Cathy," he said with a slight drawl in his voice.

"Aw Ted, you should have seen it. Ten minutes after they came the viruses were gone," Cathy started.

Neil motioned to Netto, Enzan and Laika. "Come on, they'll talk forever, we might as well get a table."

"Cathy-san knows a lot of people, huh?" Rockman asked.

Neil nodded, "She knows everyone," he said. "I mean, you can go to the south side were the area is… less then friendly and she'll know this person who gives cats free food and milk. Cathy is definitely a people person."

"Sounds like someone we know," Enzan said giving Netto a side long glance.

Netto elbowed him but didn't say anything.

Neil gave a short laugh and picked up his menu. "So, what do you guys want?"

"Hm?" Netto asked, then he saw the menu. "Ah, no idea," he said. "This place probably doesn't have curry does it?"

Neil burst out laughing and even Andrew managed a small smile. "You're funny Hikaru. Nah, this is a diner, mostly fast food and salads. There is a really good curry restaurant on south street if you're interested in going some day."

Netto grinned, "Maybe," he said.

"Don't forget what we came here for," Enzan muttered to Netto.

"Ummm, how could I forget?" Netto muttered back.

Rockman giggled and Blues, Searchman and Laika all managed to hide small smiles at Netto's retort.

"So, what do you want?" Neil asked.

"I guess I'll have a cheese burger," Netto said as he set the menu back down and slouched in his seat.

"That sounds good," Cathy said as she walked over to where they were sitting. "Make that two."

"I'll have a salad," Laika said.

"I'm not hungry," Enzan muttered.

"Cheeseburger for me," Neil said.

"Same as Neil," Andrew said.

"All righty!" said Ted. "It will be coming your way in a few minutes. Hang tight."

Cathy pushed Neil over and ignored his loud protest as she sat down in the chair. "Well kids, we're most likely gonna be given another mission soon, so eat fast, all right?"

They nodded and small talk flowed easily among Netto and Cathy as they compared missions.

After they finished eating their food they returned to the Head Quarters to relax before the next summon on a mission. Netto, Enzan and Laika used this as an excuse to rifle through old transfer data files to see if there was a data signature similar to that they found in Sharro and Jawaii.

"Anything?" Netto asked while going through several week old files on the computer.

Enzan and Laika both muttered "No," at the same time and Netto sighed.

"Manabe-san did say it might take while," Rockman said.

Netto made a face, "Yeah, it'd be hoping too much for a lucky strike when we first look. But still…"

"Yeah, I know," Rockman said.

There was a knock at the door and Cathy poked her head it. "Hey kids, as thrilling as I'm sure this is, we got a new mission."

"Coming," Netto said as he stood up and stretched.

Enzan and Laika stood up as well and followed Netto out of the room.

Red set down a stack of papers in front of him and grinned at them. "Well little lady, I must say it was a stroke of luck when you were sent to us."

Netto, Laika and Enzan immediately became suspicious at what this might mean.

"We have gotten several complaints that a 'Vigilante' of sorts has been sabotaging the Junior Pageant being held here. The latest incident nearly caused a fire that if left unchecked would have burned down the building with several hundred people in it."

"That's horrible," Rockman said.

Cathy sniffed, "A pageant? Dad, I know what that person did was wrong but still…"

"It is your job to protect the peace. Not to mention that many people could have died because of that," Red said in a bark. "I know your distaste for such contests, but those girls' lives are in danger."

Cathy crossed her arms but was silent.

Netto blinked, "A pageant?"

Enzan and Laika both stared at Netto. "You don't know what that is?" Enzan asked in Japanese.

Netto shrugged sheepishly.

Red missed the exchange entirely and put a manila envelope on the desk. "I'd like Hikaru to go undercover and the rest of you with her to try and stop a disaster from happening. This is very serious, and we obviously know this person means business. The next accident may not be so forgiving," he said.

"What…" Netto started. Cathy leaned over and whispered something in Netto's ear and Netto slowly turned a bright cheery red. "WHAT?"

Enzan and Laika both took several small steps away from Netto.

"Dad this isn't fair. You can't just order someone in a pageant, I mean, come on."

"Cathy!" Red barked making everyone suddenly stand up straight and be very silent. "I know what you're feelings are on this kind of thing but the fact remains that if we don't do something hundreds of lives are in danger. Do I make my self clear?"

"Yes sir," Cathy muttered.

"Hikaru," Red said turning to Netto. "I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, but you have to understand what a dire situation this is."

/……but…/ Netto tried to argue with Rockman instead.

/He's right… Netto-kun. Think of it as the Aki-chan contest./

/But Enzan and Laika weren't at the Aki-chan contest/ Netto said.

/Netto, do whatever you think is right/ Rockman said.

Enzan and Laika took one more step away from Netto but watched him closely. It was a mission and he knew what that meant.

"I'm not forcing any of you to take this mission, although I strongly suggested that you were the best team for it," Red said. "No one is making you do anything."

Netto sighed and rubbed his forehead, "I know…" he said in a soft voice. /Damn I hate it when you're right/ Netto hissed to Rockman.

Rockman just smiled.

Netto made a face, "Fine…" he said.

Red gave them a broad grin, "All right." Then he turned to his daughter, "Cathy you know my policy, I don't make anyone do anything or go anywhere they don't want to. You can refuse this mission and I can have another team help them."

Cathy shook her head, "No, I'm staying on. Only because I want to help, not because I think it's right."

Red nodded, "Fair enough. Well kiddies, I wish you luck. And…" he lowered his voice as Cathy stormed out of the room. "Keep an eye on my daughter; she tends to let her emotions get the best of her sometimes."

Neil and Andrew nodded and followed Cathy out the door. Netto, Enzan and Laika followed a little ways behind.

"I can't believe you agreed to that," Enzan muttered.

"Well… it's not like I could let several hundred people be in danger…" Netto muttered.

Enzan gave Netto a small smile and patted him on the shoulder, "You're insane, you know that?"

"I know it!" Rockman said loudly.

"Shut up," Netto muttered.

Everyone gave a small grin and then they picked up their pace to catch up with Cathy, Neil and Andrew.

"All right everyone, are we ready?" Cathy asked.

"Yes…" everyone answered a little unenthusiastically.

"I know this isn't the world's best mission but hey, people's lives are in danger and we need to help. That's what being a Net Savior is about, right?" Cathy asked almost as if she was trying to pep talk herself.

"Right," Netto said.

Cathy smiled at him then turned to everyone else. "Okay, you four are undercover so I want you to go to your posts and stay there. If you see anyone or any thing suspicious tell me and we'll come to help, otherwise I want you to stay still and have a sharp eye out."

They nodded and split off. Cathy put a hand on Netto's shoulder and sighed, "Well kid, looks like we're on our own."

"Right," Netto said apprehensively.

"Let's try and get this solved before any thing gets out of hand, okay?" Cathy asked.

"Yes!" Netto said.

"Okay then, let's go in the back and see what is going on, maybe we can figure out something there," Cathy said.

They walked into the back dressing room where Netto immediately cast his eyes on the ground in an effort to not look at anything. Cathy laughed nervously and it became apparent to their navis that they were both very uncomfortable in there. "Oh dear," Rockman said.

Sky smiled nervously, "Cathy doesn't like these kinds of things."

"I noticed," Rockman said.

"Is Hikaru all right?" Sky asked.

"Hikaru… is fine," Rockman said evasively.

Cathy grinned and put a hand on Netto's shoulder, "Don't worry, let's just get to your room and get ready for the dinner."

"Dinner?" Netto asked.

"Yeah, it's a dinner where the contestants can meet the judges; there is no doubt that whoever is trying to stop this pageant will sabotage the dinner."

Netto exhaled slowly, "But if that happens then everyone at the dinner will be…"

"Exactly," Cathy said. "Don't worry; I'm sure we can handle it."

Netto grinned and nodded as they made their way towards the back door.

Netto held up the dress and sighed. Cathy looked at it, "Well it's not too bad," she said.

"It's a dress," Netto said simply.

Cathy nodded, "Yeah, I know that feeling too. Tell you the truth, I hate dresses."

Netto glanced at her, "Really?" he asked.

Cathy nodded, "I find them to be very uncomfortable, however for tonight…"

"You have to wear one too?" Netto guessed.

"Yeup," Cathy said tightly. "Well you know what they say," she sighed,

"No, what?" Netto asked.

"Misery loves company," Cathy finished.

"Oh," Netto looked down cast.

"I'll go change in the next room, okay?" Cathy asked.

Netto nodded and watched as Cathy walked into the room conjoined to his. He held up the dress again and sighed, "This sucks," he muttered.

"Well, at least there's a point to it," Rockman said.

Netto nodded, "Yeah, I guess." He glanced at Rockman, "Turn around."

Rockman sighed exasperatedly and did as he was told while Netto pulled off his clothes to change. "So, where do you think the person will attack?" Rockman asked.

"I'd attack the main power core if I was trying to crash a dinner," Netto said thoughtfully. "But that would be hard, wouldn't it?"

"Hmm…" Rockman mused silently.

Netto tried to pull on the dress but found he was really having no luck. He turned sharply and fell to the ground with a loud crash and a yelp that could be heard throughout the hallways.

"Was that Netto?" Enzan asked.

"Netto can take care of himself," Laika said simply.

There was another crash and silence. Enzan looked at the door worriedly, "I'm going to go see what's wrong."

"Enzan…" Laika tried to stop his friend but Enzan was already heading towards the door.

"Owwww…" Netto groaned rubbing the back of his head.

"Are you all right?" Rockman asked with his back still turned to Netto.

Netto nodded, "I'm fine I think."

Just then the door to his room opened and Enzan came inside looking slightly worried. "Netto are you……" he stopped dead.

Netto and Enzan stared at one another for several moments before Netto pulled the fabric of the dress in front of himself and yelled, "GET OUT OF HERE, MORON!"

Enzan was a healthy shade of pink as he slammed the door and hightailed it away from the room.

"You forgot already?" Laika asked as Enzan turned a corner.

Enzan was still bright pink as he held his hand in front of his nose, "Do you have…" he asked.

Laika held out a tissue and Enzan took it gratefully, "Thanks," he said.

"I tried to warn you," Laika said with a touch of amusement.

"Oh god…" Enzan muttered.

"Enzan-sama…" Blues sighed.

Ten minutes later they all converged in the hallway. Netto was wearing a sky blue Chinese style dress with gold and silver embroidery in various Chinese characters. He wore pale blue slip on shoes and someone must have twisted his arm into letting them do his hair because it was gathered in a small blue hair piece that kept it out of his eyes. Around his wrists were thin blue and silver bangles to offset everything else and he carried his pet in a purse made out of the same fabric as his dress.

Cathy was wearing a red dress similar in style to Netto's only it was longer and reached the floor where as Netto's hem hovered just above his fingertips. Cathy's hair was pulled back in a simple pony tail and she had red and gold bangles on as well as red slippers. She also carried her PET in a purse but it was slightly open to tell people that she didn't want to be messed with.

Enzan, Laika, Neil and Andrew stared openly at them while Netto turned a bright pink that clashed wonderfully with his dress.

"You look nice," Andrew said finally.

"I feel like an idiot," Netto muttered.

"I second that," Cathy growled.

"Well, you're playing as Hikaru's mentor so you have to look nice," Neil reminded her. "And Hikaru, I think you look very nice."

Netto sighed, "Thanks Neil but still…"

Neil nodded, "I know, I know, but if we catch the person tonight then we don't have to deal with anything else."

"Then let's catch them," Netto said.

"That's the spirit," Cathy said while slapping Netto on the back.

Netto grinned and felt a little better. /One step closer/ he said.

Rockman nodded in his PET/Yeup, these are all steps./

/I still feel like an idiot/ Netto said.

Rockman giggled/All right, you can feel like an idiot and still do your job though./

Netto almost laughed but caught himself in time/Thanks nii-san/ Netto said.

/Any time/ Rockman replied.

"Well kids, let's go," Cathy said while walking towards the door. "The Net Criminal isn't going to wait for us to strike."

They all nodded and followed Cathy down the stairs into the ball room.

When they went inside the massive ball room even Netto had to stop and take a double glance. It was big, impressive, elegant and really not his kind of thing but it was just best to suck it up and go with it. "So, who does what?" Netto asked.

"Well it's either undercover or in hiding, so who wants to be with Netto and Cathy and who wants to keep an eye out from the back ground?" Neil asked.

"I'll be undercover," Enzan said catching Netto's eye and getting a smile from the brunette.

"I…" Andrew said softly.

"All right, I'll go with Laika and we'll find a good stakeout spot. If anything happens e-mail us and we'll do the same," Neil said while taking over his friend's decision for him.

Andrew smiled and nodded and Neil. "Good luck," Cathy told them.

"Bye!" Netto said cheerfully as they left.

Cathy sighed, "All right, so what do you think we should do from here?" she asked them.

"You're asking us?" Enzan asked. "Aren't you the leader?"

"I'm asking for your opinion," Cathy said, "And yes, I am the leader so my word is final."

"I think we should back up Laika and Neil from below," Neil said softly. "Plug in our navis and make sure that nothing is going on down here."

Cathy nodded, "Okay good plan, but whose navis?"

"Rockman and Blues can go," Netto said automatically.

Enzan nodded, "They're used to working independently of us," he explained.

"Fine with me," Rockman said in response to the comment. "Blues?"

"I don't mind," Blues answered.

Cathy grinned, "All right, sounds like a plan. Meanwhile we bide our time down here and wait for a signal from Laika and Neil. Oh and Hikaru, no hiding," she said.

"Damn," Netto said.

Enzan gave him a slight smile, "Take it as it comes," he said softly.

"Like when you snuck in on me earlier?" Netto whispered back.

Enzan turned a bright red, "Sorry," he said quickly.

Netto eyed him, "Just… don't do it again."

"Fine with me," Enzan answered.

"What are you two whispering about? What are you, a love sick couple?" Cathy asked.

Netto and Enzan sprang about three feet apart instantly. "No," they both said with a blush.

"Relax kids, it was just a joke," Cathy said while eyeing them. "Unless you really are…" she said with a devilish grin.

"We're not!" they both said stiffly.

Andrew looked a little put out during this conversation but seemed to brighten up by the end of it. "So, where do we go?" Netto asked.

"We wait until they open the doors to the dining room and then we go inside while the judges walk around pretending to get to know the contestants. It's really a way of scoping out the competition," Cathy said darkly.

"You really don't like these things, do you?" Netto asked her.

"That I do not," Cathy's lips twisted in an effort to look somewhat excited.

"So, how would they sabotage the dinner?" Enzan asked.

Cathy shrugged, "Food poisoning, some kind of trap, I don't know, there are tons of ways to sabotage this kind of thing."

"What about setting a trigger on the door to make it explode when opened?" Netto asked while glaring darkly at the big oak doors that led into the dining room.

Cathy shrugged, "It's certainly viable, why?" she asked.

Netto pointed at the door where a small wire could be seen wrapped around the elegant door handles. "I think we just found the plan."

Cathy took in a quick breath and regained herself. "All right, you three stay here, we're undercover and we can't blow it. I'll contact Laika and Neil to diffuse it and we'll continue with things as planned."

"All right," Netto said.

"Did Rockman warn you of that?" Enzan murmured into his ear.

Netto gave him a small smile, "He figured it would be less conspicuous then me taking a PET out of my purse," he muttered back.

"Clever," Enzan said.

"He says 'thank you,'" Netto replied.

"That was a really good move, Hikaru," Neil said softly.

Netto smiled at him, "Thanks, but that's what were here for, right?" he asked.

Neil nodded, "Yeah. But I've only been doing this for about six months, father's orders," he made a face.

"What does that mean?" Netto asked.

Andrew sighed, "My dad is a police captain and thinks I should have experience in fighting for people. Only…"

"What?" Netto pressed.

Andrew rubbed his arm in an uncomfortable way, "I don't like fighting very much," he said. "I don't like seeing Jade in danger."

Netto gave him an encouraging smile, "There's nothing wrong with that. Why don't you just tell him that?"

"My dad isn't someone you can just, 'talk to'" Neil said with a small sigh.

"I know what that's like," Enzan muttered.

Netto gave Enzan a small glance before looking back at Andrew, "Well, then are you going to keep doing this?" he asked.

Andrew shrugged, "I don't know, maybe. I like fighting viruses and helping people but when it comes to fighting other navis… it feels like I'm fighting a person, you know?"

Netto nodded, "Yeah, I know what that's like. And I know what pain a navi can feel too, but I prefer doing something then just sitting back."

Andrew smiled at Netto, "That's why I like you, Hikaru. You're strong and you can take things into your own hands, like Cathy. But I…" he drifted off.

"What?" Netto pressed.

"I prefer to make a difference with words," Andrew said dreamily. "I like writing stories and poetry. My dad says that's a girly thing to like though…"

"Forget what your dad says," Netto said simply. "Care about what you say, and what you think."

"I've been telling him that for years," a voice said from his PET and it was presumed it was Jade. "But he is so scared of that blowhard…"

"Jade!" Andrew said with a surprised look on his face.

"He rules your life Andrew. If you don't want to be here then he isn't a very good father for forcing his child to do things he doesn't want to. Besides, your poetry is really good and I kinda wish he could see that."

Andrew sighed, "He doesn't like it because it reminds him of mom," he said suddenly. "He doesn't care if it's good or not."

Netto and Enzan were really at a loss of what to say and they were glad when Cathy came back. "Okay kids, they took care of it."

"Thank god," Netto said. "Can we go now?"

Cathy gave a short laugh, "Oh I wish. But we've got to see this through, sorry," she said.

Netto sighed and someone at the front of the room clapped their hands, "Okay everyone! I'd like to have your attention as we are about to open the main doors."

They all watched the door open with out incident and they all filed inside into the dining room.

Everything after that passed without incident. Enzan helped Netto to not get too upset when a snobby girl insulted him and Andrew managed to say more then 'yes' and 'no' the whole evening. All in all it wasn't too bad but Netto was happy when he was able to go into his hotel room. "I'm so tired," he groaned.

"It's all right, at least we avoided disaster," Rockman noted.

Netto yawned, "Yay," he said dryly. "Now to get out of this damn dress," he hissed but he was interrupted by a knock on his door.

He opened it, "Hello?" he asked.

"Hi…" Andrew said shyly, "Um I…" he turned a bright red.

"Yes?" Netto asked, oblivious to his apparent body temperature change.

"Would you… like to go on a walk with me?" he asked finally.

Netto sighed, "I kinda wanted to get out of this dress," he admitted, then he saw a small journal in Andrew's hands. "What's that?" he asked.

Andrew looked at the journal and tried to hide it behind his back, "N-nothing," he said quickly.

"Aww, come on, what is it?" Netto asked.

Andrew blushed, "It's kinda like my journal, I write a lot of my poetry and short stories in it."

"Oh, can I see?" Netto asked.

Andrew continued to blush, "Well, I… are you interested?" he asked.

"Sure," Netto grinned, "But first, can I change?" he asked.

Andrew smiled, "Sure."

Netto got out of the evening attire and pulled on a loose shirt and a pair of sweat pants. He went back out into the hall where Andrew was leaning by the door. "So, what are some of your stories?" he asked.

Andrew gave him a small smile and opened the book, "Well, this is one of my favorites…" he started and pointed to the page. "I thought of it on a bus ride to school."

OOOOOOOOOOO

Longish chapter. Enjoy.