Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Rockman.exe or any of its characters.
Mark of the Beasts
Netto's telepathic communication 'blah'
Saito's telepathic communication "blah"
Chapter 9
Yuuichiro worked diligently at Meijin's terminal and within an hour he'd managed to find traces of Eugene. When he started searching foreign records for the man he finally found something important. "So that's who you really are!", he said as he transferred all of the data to his PET. "Now I've got you.", he thought as he rushed out of the office.
He managed to make it to his vehicle without getting caught, but his luck ran out when some of his colleagues caught sight of him attempting to leave. "Hey isn't that Dr. Hikari?", one of them shouted. The others looked in his direction just as he managed to start the car. Leaving nothing to chance Yuuichiro floored it and nearly hit one of them on the way out.
As he approached the main gate he sent his NetNavi into the system and told him to override the gates. Being created by Dr. Hikari the navi easily completed his task just as the scientist reached the gates. The call was close enough that the sides of the car were scratched and both side mirrors were removed. "That was too close for comfort."
With the twins and Meiru they had managed to make it out of the school without drawing the attention of all those still searching the buildings. Knowing that the main roads were not safe for them right now they went through the back alleys and run down old roads.
'When I get my claws into that nosy reporter I'll...'
"I know what you mean Netto."
'Huh?...I thought for sure you'd scold me for comments like that.'
"Not when somebody is screwing with my family and especially my little brother."
'They're after you too ya know?'
"True. However when someone messes with you that's all I think about. We will deal with that man as soon as we get the chance."
'Now your talking.'
As they ran towards an abandoned factory they found a strange car waiting there. The license plates were covered with a black covering and the windows were heavily tinted. "Something about this isn't right.", the bird hybrid stated as they approached.
Netto cautiously moved closer to the door and stopped just as the door swung open. He immediately recognized the driver and he heard her, in a no nonsense tone, demand that they all "Get In!" "But Man...", he tried to say, but was cut off again by a stronger demand of them getting in.
Knowing they had no choice but to get in or get ready for a fight they consented to obey...for now. Once they were in the driver waited for them to buckle-up and they were off for some unknown destination.
'We're going to be dissected! I just know it.'
"For starters they don't have the power to do something like that. Secondly it's not in her nature to pull something like that."
'Then what do you think she's going to do?'
"Wait and we'll see. She won't harm us...I'll see to that."
Enzan and Laika arrived at Dentech school to find the facility in total chaos as students, faculty members, press, and even parents were tearing the place apart searching for the Hikaris.
"Well, shall we begin?", Enzan said as he exited the vehicle. Laika did the same and they both walked towards the large mob. Before the could enter the teens caught sight of Meijin running from a swarm of reporters...the problem was he was running towards them.
"Run for it!", he shouted as he neared the NetSaviors. He watched as the young men followed his instructions without question as they dived back into the car. "Drive!", he demanded as he himself made it into the back seat.
Laika had a reported pressed up against his closed window bombarding him questions like, "How do you know the Hikaris?", "Were you aware of their family secret?", and "How do you feel about Yuuichiro?" The last question struck a nerve in the silent NetSavior and he was about the chew the reporter out just as Enzan started the car and drove off. "Vultures...Every last one them. Not an ounce of honor in the whole lot of them.", he stated.
The other two occupants were surprised at the normally emotionless teen getting so angry. They knew that Laika had developed a close bond with the twins...well as close as he ever gets with anyone. For outsiders one would think Laika hated them and their ways, but that was simply not true. In his own strange way he was friends with the 'annoying' NetSaviors, but they couldn't help but sense that his response towards the reporters stemmed from something deeper.
Meijin's PET broke the silence as it came to life. "Hello. Com...", he was saying before being cut off.
"Come to this facility...Be sure to bring Enzan and Laika with you.", the man said from the other end and then terminated the call. Meijin gave the address to Enzan and they changed course to that direction.
When Yuuichiro reached Meijin's home he found a car parked outside the residence. He quickly decided it was best if he left, but he was too slow as an older man knocked on his window, "Hello Dr. Hikari. We need to talk, but not here." The man made Dr. Hikari move over into the passenger seat so that he could drive.
The man silenced the scientist with a hand motion before they left. The entire trip was quiet giving Mr. Hikari plenty of time to think. He knew the other man was extremely pissed judging by his tone, facial expression, and other body language. "I better get this right.", he thought as they approached a NetSavior safe house.
Yuuichiro noticed two other cars out front and had a bad feeling about what was going on. He was cautious as they entered the building, but that caution turned to complete surprise as he met the other occupants of the safe house. Inside was Laika, Enzan, Meijin, Haruka, Manabe, Meiru, and the twins. "Netto, Saito your both ok?", he asked as he caught both teen in a strong embrace.
"We're fine papa. Though Netto's already complaining about no curry.", Saito informed. He then pulled back from the hug and sat down next to his brother.
"Commissioner Kifune, what is going on?", the scientist questioned uncertainly.
"That's what I'd like to know...Oh but wait I do. You've been publicly exposed for unethical experiments...on your children no less.", the plump man snapped. His eyes echoed his feelings of anger and what appeared to be pain. "Do you have any idea how bad this looks Dr. Hikari? Did you even think about the repercussions of your actions? What made you think that I shouldn't, at the very least, know about this? Have you any idea how bad this makes me look..Hm?", were just a few questions he fired off at the young scientist.
"Commissioner...I'm sorry, but I had to protect my family.", he managed to say in between Kifune's rantings. He truly didn't mean to cause the other man trouble, but in his quest to protect his sons he had inadvertently brought many other people into this mess he'd created.
The Commissioner heard his apology and was not particularly inclined to accept it. The press had tied up all lines to NetSavior HQ and additional reporters were in the lobbies trying to get up to his office when the newscast was finished. "Do you really think 'sorry' is going to fix any of this? If you had at least the courage to inform me of this in advance we could've prepared something. Instead you perform experiments that are a clear breach of ethical protocols..." he scolded the programmer.
The other occupants kept quiet as they watched to see how this would play out. Netto and Saito were having difficulties not tearing into the man verbally abusing their father. Haruka held her boys back knowing her husband felt he must handle this himself.
"I just have no idea...what were you thinking?", the graying man asked of the doctor.
Finally the well mannered father could take it no more, "YOUR RIGHT! YOU DO HAVE NO IDEA! YOU GOT NO IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE TO CREATE TWO BEAUTIFUL BABY BOYS ONLY TO HAVE ONE OF THEM SNATCHED FROM YOU! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HOLD A LIFE YOU YOUSELF HELPED CREATE IN YOUR ARMS AND KNOW THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO SAVE HIM! YOU'VE NEVER WATCHED AS SOMETHING AS PRECIOUS AS YOUR OWN CHILD DIED A LITTLE MORE EVERY DAY UNTIL A TINY GENETIC FLAW KILLED SOMEONE YOU LOVE WITH YOUR ENTIRE BEING. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WATCH AS THE MONITORS PLACED ON SAITO FLATLINED AND UNTIL YOU DO YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU HAVE ABSOULTELY NO RIGHT TO JUDGE ME!", he accused as he poked Kifune with his finger at the beginning of every sentence.
For several minutes after Yuuichiro's outburst the room was completely silent. Minus the doctor everyone in the room including Laika had their eyes and mouths hanging wide open.
"Go papa!"
'I never thought he had it in him.'
"You and me both. I guess it comes from his parental instincts."
Kifune managed to pull himself out of his stupor and apologize, "I'm sorry Yuuichiro, but you've put me in a awkward position. I was caught with my guard down because you withheld vital information from me."
The scientist nodded in agreement and said, "I did what I thought was best to protect my loved ones. If you were a father you would be able to understand the motivations behind my actions." The doctor had surprised even himself when he'd exploded and he didn't want to do that again in front of his kids.
"Now we must find a way to clean up this mess. It'd help if we knew just how much Eugene really does know.", the commissioner said as he took a seat.
Kifune's words made something click inside the doctor's mind, "I found some interesting things about Eugene Hughes."
Manabe finally spoke up, "What did you find on him?"
Yuuichiro took a seat on the couch with the rest of his family and began, "Eugene Hughes was a reporter for the NewYork Times back in the States several years ago, but one of his articles got him fired and he was banned from journalism back in his homeland." Eyes widened throughout the room and he continued, "He published a story about a Mafia investigation that had been going on for twenty years and the FBI had finally got a break in the case. The organization was finally brought down after killing several DA's and over forty-seven federal agents."
"I see so now Eugene is trying to get back into journalism by using Saito and Netto.", the Vice President of IPC spoke. He looked over to Laika to see the taller teen balling his hands into tight fists and knew he wanted a piece of that journalist.
Dr. Hikari scoffed as said, "It's gets better...Eugene's story tipped the Mafia remnants off to who the government's informants had been. His story got thirteen people, all of whom were in the Witness Protection Program, killed. After that his boss fired him and nobody else would touch him. My best guess is that he came here to start over and my family just happened to be his ticket back to the top." The last part he snarled as the Sharo NetSavior punched out a nearby mirror.
"Who the hell does this guy think he is?", Laika demanded as Haruka tried to look at his injured hand. He wouldn't allow her to touch him and eventually Mrs. Hikari gave up in favor of catching him off guard later.
Meijin had been quiet up until now playing through different scenarios when he came up with an idea. "I do believe we can use this to our advantage.", he said smugly.
All eyes turned to him and Kifune asked, "What exactly do you have in mind?"
"You'll see, but I need to make a few calls first. I'll be back shortly.", he replied as he picked up the keys to Enzan's car and walked out the door.
Enzan took several minutes before he realized the crazed programmer just left with his ride. "MEIJIN GET BACK HERE WITH THOSE KEYS!", the teen shouted. Alas his words fell on deaf ears as the scientist drove off into the night. When they returned to the main room they found that Laika had slipped away during Meijin's escape.
From Beyondard Greiga and Falzer had been watching things unfold in the human world. Both began preparing their armies as the time for battle drew near. The two huge Beast navis would undoubtedly fight each other, but their primary target had finally shown itself.
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