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 10

"This is absolutely perfect. I've got all the proof I need to expose 'the truth' and now this city's heroes are my chance at redemption.", Eugene said pleased with the earlier broadcast. He knew the real truth was he wasn't interested in redemption, but rather being the journalist with the most sensational story of the century. "Who would've thought I find what I wanted and more in those two little brats?", he thought to himself as he walked out of the DNN building.

When the smug prick reached his car he felt a strong slap to the back of his head. Turning around he came face-to-face with the one person he'd hoped never to see again, "Hello...Jenrya. It's been a long tim-..."

Jenrya watched as the little fool curled over in pain and tried to recover from a particularly nasty punch to the stomach. "You heartless bastard. Do you even care how many lives your story may have destroyed!"

Smiling as he lifted to his head, "I didn't my formed Newspaper Editor cared? What would you have suggested then...a cover up perhaps." He managed to get to his feet and leaned back against his car before he continued, "Oh that's right! Your all for stories as long as the heroes remain heroes and the 'innocent' are spared. Well let's get one thing straight...THERE ARE NO INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD! THERE'S ONLY 'THE USED' AND 'THE USERS'."

Jenrya shook her head and the used...'THE LOOK' (Yes folks it's the look that does what most countries can't do...Make the Marines turn and run away), "YOU WORTHLESS SCUMBAG! THIS IS THE REASON WHY I FIRED YOUR SORRY HIDE AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT YOU TO COMPETITORS! YOU DON'T CARE WHO YOU HAVE TO HURT AS LONG AS YOU GET YOUR STORY...IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY AND FAME WITH YOU!" She was absolutely infuriated by that man and was coming very close socking him again..."Oh, what the hell.", she thought just before unleashing an extremely combo attack on the object of her frustration.

Eugene now had a black eye, nose bleed, three lost teeth, and several cracked ribs, "Hah! You always were the bleeding heart type. I'm surprised you got to be the Editor of any paper let alone the New York Times. You didn't deserve that kind of attention and power...I DID!", the battered man shouted at his former boss. He became uneasy as he watched the Editor start laughing at him despite his bold declaration.

She continued to laugh for a good ten to twenty minutes before she managed to speak again. "You always did have a huge ego...too bad you could never deliver on anything, but you should know I'm no longer the editor of the New York Times..."

He was confused as to why she'd laughed if she lost her job, but he quickly brushed it aside and tried to hurt her for firing him. "Serves you right. I always did deliver, but you wouldn't allow me to do things my way because 'People could get hurt'.", he mocked before turning around and opening his car door.

A hand shot out from behind him and forced the door shut. "I wasn't fired...I left and came here where...I took over...DNN. In other words you aired that unapproved story on my channel without my ok."

He knew exactly what the woman was about to do and he knew there was nothing in his power that could stop her. Eugene felt ill and could see the pleased expression on his former employers face.

"Yes Hughes. I'm going to clean up this mess and make sure this disaster of yours doesn't get anyone else killed", she said as she turned to walk away. Just as she reached her bright red Mustang she looked back at him and said, "And I don't ever want to see you on DNN property again...or I'll have you arrested for trespassing." She finished sounding like she was having an everyday conversation with one's best friend.

Eugene punched the top of his rundown old car as he watched her drive out of the parking structure. He knew he didn't have long before she shut him down, but right now he had to worry about the getting out of there before security removed him. He felt a shiver travel down his spine and throughout his entire body for several minutes before it lessened to an extent that he could drive safely. "What was that feeling?", he asked entering his vehicle and then driving off.


Across the street on the top of a nearby building a fine tuned sniper rifle was aimed directly at the heart of one Eugene Hughes. The sniper waited patiently for the man to look at him as people often do. Kinda of a sixth sense people have just before death comes for them.

"Damn you woman move!", the gunman snarled as a young woman he recognized as the current owner of the DNN Channel and all affiliates. Using the scope the sniper made out almost every word that was spoken and he had to admit to himself Eugene was definitely making a lot of enemies as well as getting exactly what he deserved. "Now if only he'll look right up here. I want to see the right into his eyes as he meets his maker. As they say 'The eyes are truly windows into the soul'.", he thought as monitored the verbal exchange.

He was surprised that Jenrya had actually hired someone like Eugene even if only for a little while. "Must have been when she was still green.", he decided as Jenrya entered her car and drove off.

"Now look at me and meet your end.", he whispered to his target while watching the journalist look around.

His finger began pulling the trigger and he was about to shoot when another voice broke in, "You know your career is over once you go through with this."

Looking towards the PET attached to his upper arm the gunman said, "After what he did to me...THERE WILL BE NO MERCY!" Before he could fire he thought about how his family would feel with him turning out to be a murderer and it took away his stone walled will to dispose of this scum. He lowered the gun as he turned his sad icy blue eyes to his navi's holographic figure.

"Thank you Sir!", said the being now projected on the would be assassin's shoulder. The navi's own red eyes glared at the person who destroyed his NetOp's life. "You will pay, but I won't allow him to dirty his own soul removing you from this world.", he thought before the two packed up the rifle.

The NetOp cast one more glare at the retreating vehicle and sighed, "Thank you for helping keep my head. I still think I would've been doing to the world a favor, but first we have to help our friends."

"That's right. We have to saving them and I think Jenrya can help us there...", the navi stated as he began formulating a plan of attack. He knew he must keep his NetOp away from Eugene for his own plans for the reporter to happen, "Your Uncle will be proud of you...Laika."

Laika had dismantled the gun and had it's parts stored back in a duffel bag as he walked to the door back into the building. "I don't know if I can agree with you on that Searchman, but I'd like to think he would be if he knew.", the teen whispered to his navi.


At the safe house Commissioner Kifune and the others were waiting patiently for Meijin to return. "How long is he going to be gone?", grumbled the youngest hybrid.

Understanding why his brother was feeling so anxious Saito laid a hand on Netto's shoulder and said, "Give him time little bro. He's got to work out any kinks in whatever crazed scheme he's got going to get us out of this."

The younger boy smiled and laid his head on the arm of the couch. About that time Meijin burst through the door with a smile on his face, "Well everyone this predicament will be over very soon."

Yuuichiro and Haruka nearly knocked him over as they asked what he'd done. The twins gathered around him along with Meiru and the now awake Trill, "Where's Laika and Enzan?", he asked after reviewing all those present.

Dr. Hikari grinned and said, "Enzan ran off chasing after you and Laika disappeared sometime in between." He then pulled his boys to himself and his wife as he awaited his friend's news.

"Well your looking spiffy as always Manabe.", he joked as she had just woke up and had her hair sticking up in the back.

Glaring at the programmer she retorted, "I'm tired, my nerves are shot, and my back is killing...If you value your life you'll leave me alone." Manabe looked around the room to see everyone refusing to meet her gaze and the twins struggling to not laugh.

Haruka grabbed Meijin's shoulder and demanded, "News! Now!"

"Well for starters the current owner of DNN is going to revoke the story.", he said as he picked up a cup of coffee. "It seems as though she's had dealings with Eugene in the past, though she wouldn't tell me what, and after I explained to her that I need her she agreed that the best thing for the world right now is to have it's heroes back."

"So she's going to help us. That's good, but why? Wouldn't she want this story for herself?", came a voice from behind them. Turning around they saw Laika and Enzan standing just inside the door.

"No Laika. She doesn't want the story because it would hurt too many people. I believe her own words went something like 'I won't allow a story to be aired that has no regard for the innocent lives it could destroy. Netto and Saito have saved this world many times over and now it's our turn to return the favor.'", Meijin said Sharo's NetSavior. He looked both boys over and could see that they had apparently been in a fight, "Probably caught by one of those mobs or something.", he thought as he continued, "She's not our enemy Laika. Jenrya is a well respected businesswoman that has always followed the morally correct path despite the hardships this created for her."

The blue-haired teen accepted this, but was still a little skeptical. "So what exactly does she have in mind for the Hikaris?", he asked.

Meijin turned his attention back to Yuuichiro and answered, "She's going to need your family to come in and help clean up the mess. By now Eugene's found that all his evidence was 'lost' from his vehicle and hotel room. Everything he had at DNN Jenrya has confiscated and she's going to talk with one of her friends." He knew they'd guessed that he was the one that had 'borrowed' all of Eugene's proof and he had to admit he enjoyed the rush of pulling something like this. "She's going to have an expert announce that the documents and pictures have all been tampered with by Mr. Hughes. To add to that she wants to publicly apologize to you and your family, Yuuichiro, for all the problems this story has generated."

Dr. Hikari could feel an intense weight leave him and he pulled his entire family into a loving embrace, "It's going to be alright. It's over." Though he knew that someone like Hughes would not take this lying down and he would no doubt try to expose them again, but he would be prepared for that.

Commissioner Kifune spoke next, "I have to agree with you Dr. Hikari. The world just isn't' ready for the truth of Saito and Netto's existence, but maybe someday they will be ready."

Enzan approached the twins and said, "It's a good thing you didn't assume your navi forms. If you had Hughes would've won this battle, but just because he lost this one doesn't mean you two can get careless. If anything the both of you are going to have to watch your steps extremely close so that this doesn't happen again." He was pleased to see neither teen give any sign of arguing before turning attention to 'Shades', "Now about stealing my car..."


In Beyondard Falzer was preparing to enter the human world once again. "That boy must die for our future to be secure. Go forth Shademan and destroy him. Let nothing in your way.", the large red bird spoke to the resurrected vampire navi.

"Oh course master. I owe him plenty of pain for my humiliating defeat. I won't fail you.", Shademan replied before vanishing.

A projection of Iris appeared before Falzer and she said, "I won't allow you to harm him or any of the others."

The bird laughed at her and snarled, "As though you could stop me. Have you forgotten my power little girl? Do you real need to be taught that lesson again?" He felt pleased as he watched the green eyed girl cringe at that memory before she faded away. "She's up to something. I have to watch my steps carefully or 'it' might come to pass...NO I WON'T ALLOW IT!", he thought.


Back in the human world Iris stood outside the safe house where the NetSaviors were hiding the Hikari family. "You must be strong. I only hope that destiny will not destroy them.", she prayed before walking away. "The race to save both worlds continues as the clock is ticking." she said to herself as she was consumed by the shadows of the night.