Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Rockman.exe or any of its characters.
Mark of the Beasts
Nettos telepathic communication 'blah'
Saitos telepathic communication "blah"
Chapter 5
After arriving back at Sci-Labs Dr. Hikari and his team of discreet professionals gave the twins a full workup. All the test results indicated a massive change in the boy's physical and mental abilities. For instance Netto's strength had increased to over one-hundred times greater than that of an average human being, he was able to move faster than the human eye could track, and he was able to learn a lot faster than he had in the past. With Saito his strength was only about seventy to eighty times greater than the average human, his speed however allowed him to fly fast enough to create a huge sonic wave, and his mental capacity now accommidated his increased speed with faster reflexes.
After all the tests they were told by their father that under no circumstances were they to leave the facility without his express permission to do so. Neither of them liked this, but they agreed to his terms as long as they were allowed into the building's network and could eat anything they wanted.
Laika had been recalled immediately after their father had remembered him and he was majorly PO'd. The human NetSavior did nothing but glare at the doctor for several days when he'd check up on Netto and Saito. "Well Netto, how much trouble have you cause today?" he teased the younger boy.
The faceguard retracted revealing a sharp set of fangs on display as the hybrid yawned before he replied in an all too innocent voice, "I didn't cause any trouble. Sure I 'accidentally' knocked that one physician through a wall when he was running his tests on me and you guys never let me forget about it. How is that guy doing by the way?"
The iron faced teen smirked and said, "He's sporting a broken arm and wounded pride, but that's all. He should be ok in about a month or two." He paused for a brief moment before resuming, "You do realize that your still letting your new instincts get the better of you at times."
The younger boy let confusion show on his face and had to ask, "When do I let it show that much?"
Sharo's NetSavior raised a blue brow and then answered, "When the phsician was testing your strength he inadvertently challenged your power. You thenallowed your other nature to take over and used a lot more strength than was necessary when you got even. It can't be said that it was pride as in the past you would never have hit anyone over something so trivial." He then let his usual cold tone assert itself, "Your life has changed forever, now you must be strong enough to handle this power on your own. If not then you will hurt those that you can the most about."
Netto couldn't disagree with the statement. He had been all to eager to injure the man and regretted it later when his human side had managed to wrestle control back from the beast within. The teen also thought of all the times he'd caught himself growling lately and sniffing everything around him.
-Flashback-
"Netto what's wrong", asked his father.
The young boy turned and scrunched his nose, "Just the smell of everything."
This confused the doctor as he couldn't smell any offensive odors. "What smells in particular?"
The teen sighed and looked at his feet. Both feet no longer had five toes; but now he had three, thick claws per foot. He decided he'd have to tell the scientist eventually so it might as well be now. "I can smell all the people here...most of them stink. I know they can't help it with my super sensitive nose, but it really bothers me."
Yuuichirio didn't know what to say to this. Still his curiousity got the better of him and he asked, "Does my scent offend you Netto?"
The teen immediately felt guilty for what he didn't know. He decided it best to just go with the truth, "Your scent doesn't bother me...I mean to say you don't stink. I find your scent, moms, Meiru's, and Saito's to be comforting."
Smiling Dr. Hikari hugged his son and whispered to him, "It might just be because your other nature knows I'm your father and someone important to you. Regardless of the truth of the matter I will always love you and your brother."
-End Flashback-
Laika shook the other boy out of his thoughts only to watch as he transferred himself into the cyber world. "Will ever truely be ok again Netto?" he thought before leaving the room.
Saito meanwhile could be found in his father's office eating chocolate icecream. "There's nothing better than this. Chocolate Rules!" the red navi thought. He knew he was behaving like his brother, but then again he'd never had real food before. Even when he'd been an infant all he was ever given was formula. Now he finally able tounderstand his sibling's love of food. Speaking of his brother he knew something was bothering him and what, but at present neither could really do anything about it. The two boys didn't have to be each other all the time, even though the preferred it, since they were strongly connected in spirit.
"Roc-...Saito." came a voice from the terminal infront of him. He looked and found Roll staring at his face. Saito couldn't help the blush and quickly put his faceguard back up to hide it.
Roll spotted the blush despite the former blue navi's attempt to conceal it. She was glad he still cared, but not quite sure what she needed to do. "Saito...I...I just wanted to talk with you." Gathering up her courage she went to say, "I missed you and had to see you again for myself."
The beast navi entered the computer and appeared right next to her. "I missed you too. I have to admit I didn't think you'd want to see me again after you found out that I was human before becoming a navi."
Shrugging it off as best she could she hugged him gently. "This must've been eating you up inside all these years. For what it's worth I forgive you and want to stay by your side." The pink navi felt him tense and explained, "Part human or not I still lo-...care about you."
He caught her about to say love and was disappointed that she had said care, but he really couldn't blame her. He had a monster contained within him and he could delete her in a nanosecond. She feared him, his power and he was aware of it. "Thank you Roll. It means a lot to hear your say that." he covered while he returned the embrace to his love. At that time he swore he'd make sure she was happy even if it wasn't with him.
The two lovers held each other as they contemplated their situations. One was a navi that could only enter the human world through a dimisional area and the other was a mess. He was human, then navi, and finally something in between. It was not likely to workout and they knew it even if they didn't want it to be so. For now atleast the two could be together if only for a time.
At NetSavior HQ several workers were finishing up reports on recent netcrimes. One such person went to type up his report for review when he noticed the monitor flicker. "Must be a power surge." he thought. Going about his business he moved the mouse to click on the icon for the the report templates when the icon moved away. He was certain he must need sleep as he was seeing things now. He moved to the icon again and it moved away from the mouse to the other side of the screen. He knew something was up and decided to find out what. He quickly sent his navi into the monitor and motioned for him to look the icon over.
The navi complied with his NetOp's silent order. He quickly found the problem. "So you disregarded orders.", he said in an annoyed tone.
Inside the system another navi quickly turned around and looked him right in the eye...or visor rather. "Blues? Then that must mean that I pranked...?" mumbled the intruder.
The red netnavi smirked at the expression on the other's face and said in smug tone, "Yep...you were messing with Enzan. Now come out from back there."
The NetOp's left eye twitched rapidlyas he saw the Greiga beast emerge from behind the icon. "I take it you've been harassing people like this all day! Didn't you promise your father you wouldn't leave Sci-Labs."
Netto cocked his head to the side and smiled, "I didn't leave. See this part of the network is a part of that network. So I didn't really break my promise."
Enzan wanted to strangle the hybrid, but knew that was impossible. "Reading between the lines..." he mumbled before giving instructions to Blues, "Escort him back to Dr. Hikari...and make sure he knows about this little breach in security."
"Yes sir." responded Blues. He then turned to Netto, "Come on lets go."
"Fine...fine.", grumbled the annoyed beast navi.
Back at Sci-Labs Yuuichiro Hikari was in his office with Saito, Meijin, Laika, and Meiru. Searchman was currently performing routine security checks around the facilitiy and Roll was on Dr. Hikari's terminal in full view of the former blue navi. Meiru had agreed to bring her so that she could see Rockman and she wanted to check up on Netto, but nobody had seen him lately. All eyes were currently on the available twin and they knew he was aware of his brother's location thanks to their link.
"He's on his way here. I promise.", said the bird navi. He knew his younger sibling had been caught and was headed back...with escorts. A few minutes later the door flew open to reveal a head of multi-colored hair.
The blue-eyed NetSavior looked the oldest Hikari right in the eyes and stated, "I believe I have something of yours." He then motioned for Blues to log himself and Netto into the nearby terminal.
Yuuichiro was greatful that his son was ok, but wondered why Enzan and Blues had him. "Where did you find him?" he asked politely dreading the answer. The teen didn't reply instead he seemed to be waiting for the guilty party to confess. Shifting his gaze to his youngest son he awaited an answer.
"Papa...he...I mean to say...I was in his terminal at NetSavior HQ.", the beast navi said while finding the floor very interesting.
He knew his boys were tired of being cooped up in the building and wanted to get out to have some real fun. Still he couldn't just let this slide by. "I've disappointed in you, Netto. I expected you to keep your word."
The youngest Hikari felt awful about having broke his promise even if in a way he didn't. He knew he had manipulated the wording to get what he had wanted. To make matters worse his father's words really piled on the guilt and Saito was feeling every bit of it. "Papa...I'm sorry..."
Being the loving father he is he wasn't about to punish him too much for this small infraction. He had already figured out what his boy had done and he knew the guilt the teen must be feeling now wa punishment enough. "I'll let it go this time, but you must promise to never do something like this again. A man's word means everything in this world.", he lectured.
After he gave his son a long speech about honesty and such he smiled and hugged the twins, "I have a suprise for both of you." The scientists pulled a metal case out of his jacket pocket and opened it. Inside were two battlechips that looked a lot like synchro chips. The twins moved their heads closer to the casing and had a curious look on their faces. "These chips contain a new program I've spent the last few weeks working on with Meijin. Good ahead and load them.", stated the doctor. He and Meijin were excited as they watched the teens picked up the chips.
The battlechips glowed a beautiful gold and then disappeared in a shower of pixels into the hands of their holders. The office occupants watched as the two boys started glowing gold as well and were forced to shield their eyes. After a few minutes the glow receeded and everyone looked to see two human kids in front of them, but one of them quickly became the center of attention as he stated, "It feels a little drafty in here." Said teen looked down and his eyes widened as he realized he was wearing nothing. He face started glowing bright red and he quickly lept towards the coat rack to swiped the available lab coat to cover himself.
Present company stood dumbfounded at what disturbing sight they'd just received. Of course Laika and Enzan did a very good job covering up their discomfort of the incident. Meiru and Roll took longer to recover, but when they did they noticed that the fully clothed Netto was just as red as his brother. The pink navi had to ask, "Why are you blushing? It was Saito who was exposed?"
Netto managed to look towards her, but not in the eyes and said, "Well...we're twins right?" All present nodded and the teen went on, "We're identical twins, so..."
Enzan caught were the younger boy was going and finished it for him, "So we might as well have seen you like that, huh?"
The usually cocky NetSavior could do nothing, but nod in agreement. This broke the ice causing everyone except Laika and the twins to laugh.
After having a good laugh Yuuichiro verbilized his theory behind the occurence, "I think the reason Netto had his clothes reform is because he was wearing them before he changed. Keep in mind Saito hasn't been human since he...passed away years ago. Everything he's had since then has been composed of data. I should have thought about that..." he finished casting his oldest child an appologetic look.
"It's ok papa. I know you didn't mean for that to happen.", Saito replied. He still felt uncomfortable and tightened the coat around him.
"Now that was embarassing."
'Tell me about it.'
"Could you get me something to wear? Please little brother?"
'Sure. Just wait here.'
Netto had managed to get some color other than red back into his face turned to the door and ran through it. The remaining occuptant ,save for one, looked at the opened door and wondered what that was all about. Their answer was supplied when the hybrid came back into the room carrying a bag out of his father's locker. You see Dr. Hikari had made his son keep a spare set of clothing around since he tended to show up after crossfusion with destroyed articles of shirts and pants. It's true he hadn't needed them in a while, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Netto handed the bag to his brother and Saito thanked him before going into Yuuichiro's personal bathroom. Saito was glad his father got such an office, especially now when he really needed it.
When the older twin emerged from the bathroom the humans in the room took in his and his brother's appearance. True enough the twins were identical, but their traits had changed somewhat. They both had emerald green eyes and Rockman's dark blue hair. Saito's hair was no longer neat, but spikey like Netto's always was. The only difference between them was Saito had a deeper voice whie Netto had a more cheerful voice. Other than these changes they were exactly alike and you couldn't tell them apart easily if at all.
Yuuichiro was only able to tell them apart with some difficulty because of small things like their smiles, body movements, and the looks in their eyes. "I guess I should tell the two of you...Both of you will be returning to school tomorrow.", the scientist stated causing his sons to groan.
