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Chapter 9: The Navi, the Sanctuary, and the Guardian
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The next day dawned cool and gray. A drop of rain fell from the overcast sky, threatening to rain.

The five rebels were going to travel to Akihara, the home of Netto Hikari, to try to find Rockman. They had decided to bring Saito with them, he deserved this more than anyone else did.

The trip did not take long; they simply drove on an old highway system to Densan. Akihara was a mile or two outside of the city center, so it would not take them much time to arrive.

Akihara was typical of many abandoned neighborhoods. Houses that hadn't been broken into were boarded up, paint was pealing, and weeds and other wild plant life reigned supreme.

House #9 was what they were looking for, and it was also run down and neglected, but it hadn't been broken into at least.

''This is it.'' Slate, the driver, said, pointing at a rusted number 9 next to the door.

The door was, of course, locked. Terry raised his foot to try to kick it down, but he was stopped by Vick.

''Easy kid, I have a more practical solution.''

''Oh really?'' Terry grumbled.

Smiling at Terry's indignation, Vick took out a small plastic card and he inserted it into the crack between the door and the wall. He then swiped it downwards, and with a click, the door unlocked.

''Works every time.''

The interior was dark, dusty, and full of stale air. There were no pieces of furniture to speak of, and there were also no electronic devices either.

''Do you remember any of this?'' Karla asked Saito, who was peering around, a look of curiosity on his face.

''Sssorta...'' he said slowly.

''Hmm. This place just creeps me out.'' Butch said, turning slowly around to face everyone. ''It's like there are eyes watching my back our something.''

''There's nowhere to plug in either...'' Terry said in a disappointed voice.

''That's because you've only looked downstairs, there may be a port upstairs.'' Slate said, pointing to a staircase that led, obviously, upstairs.

The upstairs was not much different than downstairs. It was just as dank, dusty, and barren. However, there was one piece of furniture, a desk, which was all alone in what probably used to be a bedroom. And on the desk was...

''A computer...'' Terry said quietly, stepping into the room. Everyone else followed suit.

Then Butch broke the silence with a startling comment: '' Someone died in here.''

'' WHAT!'' Karla exclaimed. ''What on Earth made you say something like that!''

''I... I don't know. I've felt uneasy since we entered here, and when I entered this room...'' he gulped, ''It felt as if my heart was seized in an icy fist.'' This confession was followed by a ringing silence.

''H-Hey!'' Terry said nervously, '' The desk is bolted to the floor!''

''And the computer is attached to the desk as well.'' Slate observed.

Karla opened one of the desk drawers, and let out a small exclamation at its contents. She held up two picture frames, each containing a photograph.
Her face was pale with excitement. ''Saito's...''

The first one showed two children, probably around 11 or 12 years old. The boy had brown eyes and hair, which was a strange combination of mussy and spiky. He wore a blue headband with a red circle on it, bisected by a black line. He was also wearing an orange vest, white shirt, black shorts, and a quizzical expression.

The girl had shoulder length, deep red hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a pink skirt, light green shirt, and a blue vest as well.

The other picture showed the same two people, about 14 years or so later. Meiru Sakurai looked pretty much the same that she had in Saito's photograph; her hair was in the same shoulder length style that it had been when she had been a child, and she was wearing a black sweater and khaki pants.

Netto Hikari was wearing a casual suit, and had tried to tame his hair, with a moderate degree of success. Instead of a headband, he wore an armband. Judging from the couple's attire and tree in the background, the photo had been taken sometime in autumn.

''These are your parents Saito.'' Karla said, handing him the latter picture.

Saito took it and examined it. '' That's Mama.'' he said, pointing to Meiru, '' But who's that guy with her?''

''That is your father, Netto Hikari.'' Karla told him.

''Daddy...''

There was a silence.

''Alright, enough of this!'' Slate suddenly snapped. ''We have work to do!''

Fortunately, he had his back to everyone, so he missed the daggers they were glaring at him.

'' I have inspected the computer, and it is an older model.'' he announced. '' The ports can only handle one navi at a time, and there are only two ports. Naturally, I'm using the first one.''

''Only two huh? So who'll go?'' Vick asked.

''You.'' Slate said, pointing at Terry.

''Me?''

''Yes, you. While you're not the best operator, ( Terry silently fumed at this.) your navi has skill. Dash will accompany Zero.''

He proceeded to take out his purple and red Progress PET.

'' Plug in, Zero.exe!''

''Plug in, Dash.exe!''

TRANSMISSION!

Zero and Dash materialized in the computer's cyberworld, and what an odd cyberworld it was.

Instead of the norm, the floor was pewter gray and extended infinitely in all directions. There was no ceiling, instead there were many bright stars, as if they were staring into the beautiful depths of space. And standing several meters away from the two navis was...

... another navi. Its eyes were closed, and its head bowed. His body suit and armor were various shades of blue, with yellow shoulder pads and yellow squares on his helmet. There was a white stripe running on either side of him from his boots to his armpits. There was a tuft of blue- black hair poking out of the back of his helmet, and his emblem was of a red circle with a slash through it...

''Rockman...'' Dash whispered. After all this time, he really had been hidden away in this old, worn- down house.

''Well, looks like you were right after all.'' Zero said, his back to Dash.

But before Dash could think up a retort, another navi materialized in front of him.

This navi was around Zero's height, with red armor, boots, helmet, and gauntlets. His bodysuit was purple, and his helmet had a spike sticking up into the air. His eyes were covered by a visor, and long gray hair fell down his back. His emblem was half white, half black.

''Who are you!'' Zero demanded. ''Tell me!''

''I'll tell you my name if you tell me yours.''

''Rrrrrrgggggg! I'm Dash.exe and he's Zero.exe!'' Dash shot, exasperated. ''Now who are you?''

The red navi put his fist to his chest.

''I am Blues.exe.''

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Heh, bet ya didn't see that comin', did ya?