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 13

In Beyondard one of Greiga's servants was requesting an audience with his master. "Enter.", the dog Beast growled.

"Thank you, master.", the navi said as he moved into the light.

"What have learned Shadowman?", asked the Beast as he rose to his full height.

Shadowman being a ninja wasn't as intimidated as other navis would be, but he still felt fear starring into those growing red eyes. He knew that he should convey his report quickly and get out of there despite it being something his master could use. "It seems as though the Hikari family has come under siege by the people they protected. Some kind of news broadcast turned their people against them and nearly got them killed."

The giant dog cast his head to the side and said, "I see. What were the repercussions?" Despite the civil war that Beyondard was submersed in Greiga valued loyalty far above anything else and felt sympathy for the Hikari family. To be more accurate he genuinely felt concern for the wellbeing of the twins despite the fact that they had become enemies as a result of the incursion into the human world.

"Master...the twins have abandoned the humans of that world.", hearing his leader growl menacingly he continued, "It gets better...the broadcast was apparently nothing more than a hoax."

As soon as Shadowman spoke those words Greiga released a mighty roar that was heard throughout his entire stronghold alerting everyone to the Beast's anger over this situation. "Your telling me that such a noble family was nearly destroyed because of a lie? Am I hearing this correctly?", he growled in a low tone.

Shadowman was certain that he was about to be deleted if he didn't give the correct answer. "Yes master. I don't understand it either, but those are the facts sir."

Taking his glowing red eyes off his spy Greiga walked around in his chamber for a bit processing the information he'd just been handed. It was several minutes later when the Beast turned his gaze back to the ninja, "I have a task for you Shadowman..."


Back in DenTech city Shademan was searching for the blue runt that had caused him so much trouble when he was leader of the Darkloids. "Now thanks to you I've lost everything I once held and am now slave to Falzer. No matter, as long as I get to delete you then I'm content."

The vampire navi had been flying around the city for the past two hours hoping to find some sign of the former NetSavior's whereabouts, but he came up empty handed. He was really get fed up with this and he had never been one with much in the area of patience. "Time for a more...aggressive approach.", he thought just before unleashing a barrage on the innocent people below him.

Surveying the damage that short attack had inflicted the vampire congratulated himself, "That is sure to force the little blue pest to come running." Just to be certain that Rockman came Shademan continued flying around the city attacking everyone he saw.

Shademan blew up buildings, tossed vehicles around, and even went so far as to walk up to a terrified little boy no more than two years old and stole the sucker his mother had been letting him to suck on. "It'll rot your little teeth out.", he sneered before swallowing the candy, stick and all, in just one bite. The mother took her baby and ran as fast as she could now that she'd overcome her shock at having seen the evil navi appear in a swirl bats just moments ago. "Yes. That's right, run you filthy human.", he said watching the woman trip several times in her clumsy escape.

Continuing on his path of destruction the purple navi turned his attention to the residential district of the city. Knowing how much Rockman loved family this would certainly be a good place to strike, but before he could reach it several trucks surrounded him. He immediately recognized the trucks and knew what the humans were going to try to do. "Haven't we played this game before...", he thought watching as the trucks powered up the generators on board and created a dimensional area.

Expecting to see Rockman and his annoying NetOp the vampire was disappointed when two different NetSaviors appeared. Ms. Yuriko with Needleman and Miyabi with his Shadowman stood outside the dimensional area and charged at it using a stolen vehicle.

"I maybe work with the NetSaviors, but old habits die hard.", Ms. Yuriko thought as she jammed an umbrella between the seat and gas pedal giving her and her ally the needed speed to break through the barrier. Seconds before reaching the wall she and Miyabi used their Synchro chips to crossfuse with their navi's.

CF Shadowman looked back at the car and muttered, "I hope they were insured." He then looked back to see their enemy raise an eyebrow as if to say 'do the Net Police really think this...this duo has a chance against me?' The ninja was furious that the Zoanaroid doubted his skill and he had quickly decided that the navi must pay for that insult to his pride.

Shademan remembered Yuriko from her days working for Dr. Regal and Nebula. That also gave him one particularly nasty weapon to use against his former ally, "So tell me Ms. Yuriko has your dear little sister forgiven you yet? Or is she afraid of you and what Duo made you?"

CF Needleman charged at the smirking navi summoning a cybersword just before she reached him, "Don't try to play head games with me Shademan. I know my sister forgave me for my past and you can't make me doubt her sincerity."

The navi laughed at Yuriko as he easily caught her sword with his bare hands, "Please...is this the best you have to offer?" In retaliation he blasted CF Needleman point blank range with a sonic wave sending her into a nearby truck.

CF Shadowman lept in at this time to exact his revenge for the insult to his skills. Unleashing a barrage of shuriken Shademan was caught off guard and minorly injured. Closing the distance between himself and the vampire Miyabi pulled out his swords, "How dare you attack unarmed civilians? Have you no honor at all?"

The Zoanaroid quirked a brow at the ninja thinking, "Honor? Does he really think I care about such things?" Seeing CF Needleman getting back on her feet Shademan grabbed the ninja by the arm and threw him into his ally hard enough to force them both out of crossfusion. "All out of options now aren't we. Goodbye humans.", he said raising his arm to deliver a final strike to the barely conscious warriors. Before the blow could be delivered the purple navi felt something plow right into him.

Yuriko managed to stay conscious just long enough to see a red blur smash into her would be executioner. "Who is that I wonder?"

Miybai and Shadowman got to see their savior who was none other than Falzer style Rockman. When Rock looked over to his friends Miybai nodded his thanks and watched the fight between the two powerful navis begin.

"Why did you do this Shademan?", the bird navi demanded.

The other navi replied casually, "I wanted to draw you out of hiding." Fixing Rockman's new form with a glare he continued, "And what better way than to use these people as target practice. You should even be thanking me after they turned on you."

Before the Zoanaroid could blink the Falzer beast shot at him again just barely missing him in the process. Once Rock had reached a position hovering over the ground again he shouted angrily, "No matter what they did it still doesn't justify your actions! Even if it did, which it doesn't, it wouldn't be your concern. I'm not a monster like you or Falzer!"

Rockman's response caused the evil navi to almost fall over laughing. The Beast navi was confuse as to why his enemy was laughing, but that ended when Shademan managed to suppress his amusement. "Your not a monster, huh? Tell me Rockman have you looked in the mirror lately?" Seeing the former blue navi tense up he continued, "Perhaps your in denial...Yes that sounds about right."

The Falzer Beast barked, "I'm not in denial. I know that my body has changed, but that doesn't make me a monster." Summoning a red long sword he said, "Becoming a monster would mean giving in to the powerful new instincts I was given or sharpening my talons on those that betrayed my family. I will do neither, but I will become stronger from this experience and every future battle I face."

"Do you really think that it is that simple?", he questioned finding it difficult to believe that the red navi didn't know what was happening. Glancing around he noticed that 'the other one' wasn't with Rockman, "I'm curious where is that NetOp of yours?"

The red hybrid allowed a grin to cross his face resembling Netto's cocky smirk as Shademan received his answer. The Greiga Beast dashed out of a nearby tree where he'd been watching the fight thus far and struck at the Zoanaroid. "Don't you ever call my brother a monster!", Netto growled in a low and dangerous tone just as his claws tore into Shademan's armor.

Rock landed next to his brother and greeted him with a smirk, "I believe you were asking...something about my NetOp..."

'Now who's full of himself.'

"I picked it up from you little brother."

'You chose a bad trait to pick up on.'

"I doubt that. Besides you don't really think that either, your just saying that to pick at me."

'So? Let's finish him.'

"No. Let me, after what he said I just...really need this."

'...be my guest.'

Netto then jumped back into a tree and leaned against it while Rockman resumed his fight with the Zoanaroid. Swinging his long sword Rock missed the purple navi by a mere inch. Determined not to let his enemy get away the Beast hybrid flew up into the air and started picking up speed.

The Greiga beast saw this and knew what was about to happen. "Oh crap. He wouldn't." Feeling his brother's emotions across the 'link' told him otherwise. Wasting no time Netto leaped from the tree and grabbed Miyabi and Yuriko before diving into a nearby ditch. Moments later just as expected Rockman flew right by Shademan producing a powerful sonic boom uprooting several trees and leaving an impression in the ground.

The Zoanariod was damaged badly by the unexpected attack and he opened a tear to Beyondard, "This isn't over you little brat!" To his surprise the bird navi wasn't where he'd thought he was. Looking up Shademan saw Rockman pass by his tear and extend his sword. The next few moments played by in slow motion for the former Darkloid as the Falzer Beast sliced him in half at inhuman speed. "..H...How?", he managed before the Copyroid body he was in exploded.

Miybai watched as the dimensional area collapsed and he looked up at Netto. He heard the kid say, "I apologize in advance." The ninja didn't have time to ponder before the hybrid punched him in the stomach forcing him to lose consciousness like Yuriko.


Two hours later when Ms. Yuriko woke up she asked what had happened. Enzan informed her, "Officially you and Miyabi defeated Shademan. And if anyone asks stick to that story no matter what." When she asked what really happened the Vice-President refused to give her a straight answer, but he did say that Rockman and Netto had saved their lives.

Of course when the ninja came to he demanded..."to speak" with Netto privately. Laika knew that was a very bad idea, but he did tell him that what the kid had done was necessary to protect his family. Knowing that family meant everything to the young Hikari Miyabi didn't probe further, though he was already quite certain that the hoax was actually being covered up. If one wanted proof all they had to do was see what he had seen not too long ago. "Be careful kid. You've got a difficult road ahead of you and I don't know if we will always be able to help you."


On the way back Netto and Saito had split up in order to avoid being followed back to the mansion. To further hide themselves they entered the cyber world when the dimensional area went down. Saito having the advantage of flight reached the temporary home before Netto and resulted in him being bored for half an hour.

Netto was casually jumping from roof top to roof top enjoying the freedom he felt at that moment, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Just outside the entrance to the mansion's computer system Netto felt four sharp pricks coming from his tail and two from the left leg. Feeling woozy and barely able to stand he managed to glimpse cyber darts piercing his armor to deliver their contents.

"I'm impressed. I thought for sure six darts of that would have put you out instantly, but here you are barely awake.", a voice said smugly. Netto fell to the ground and was unable to see his attacker. "Darn I got careless. Saito help me! Please!", he mentally called out. The assailant moved into the hybrid's line of sight, however all Netto could make out was the color purple and some red.

Saito having heard the call rushed out of the cyber gates just in time to see a shadow entering a tear. It wasn't the figure that he was concerned with so much as the fact that the being was carrying his brother. Flapping his wings as fast as he could Saito tried to give chase, but he didn't make it in time as the tear sealed itself.


In the human world Iris had just arrived at Enzan's mansion and was currently in the process of slipping by the well paid guards. "Amateurs!", she thought as she slipped by them with practiced ease. Before she reached the mansion itself she felt something...something very wrong just happened. Wasting not a second more the green eyed youth made her way into the building where she knew she'd find the problem.