If people thought that that was sad, then it means that the words written down had enough feeling in them to move people. I guess that is the greatest complement a writer can receive.

Thank you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 12: Broken Blade
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'' That is why I fight.'' Blues said as he finished his story. '' It was Enzan-sama's last wish that Hikari take care of me, and it was his that I protect Rockman so that his power could be used again.''

'' But that is why we came.'' Zero said. '' The world has changed from what you knew. It is now covered by oppression and discontent.''

'' If you two do manage to defeat me and revive Rockman, what would you use his power for? What are you fighting for?'' Blues retorted.

'' I am fighting because it is, sadly, the only way to restore justice these days.'' Dash answered. '' I know that it will be very difficult, but with my operator Terry behind me, I can't lose!''

So much like Netto and Rockman... Blues thought. He turned to Zero. '' And you? What are you fighting for?''

Zero narrowed his eyes and answered, '' When Akira-sama and I were Enforcers, we witnessed atrocities by the government. We were also forced to do things that neither of us are proud of. We swore that we would try to end the suffering, whatever it took. I will not hesitate. If an enemy appears before me, I will destroy it. And I trust that my operator will support me when I need aid.''

So that's why the two of them are so harsh... Dash thought.

'' And you believe that obtaining Rockman will help you reach that goal?'' Blues said. '' I watched a civilized society fall to its knees! Do you really think that he can help if it is so much worse now, as you say?''

'' Then it sounds like you don't think he is worth it then...'' Zero muttered.

'' Enough! It is time for us to us to finish! I swore that I would protect him, and protect him I shall!''

'' W-Wait!'' Dash shouted. '' There is one other reason, it's... Saito... Hikari...''

'' Saito... could it be...'' Blues whispered.

'' Do you know anything about him?'' Dash asked eagerly.

'' All I know is that that was what Meiru was planning to name her child.'' Blues said. '' But why would that give me a reason to hand over Rockman?''

'' Because he is lost and confused, and he needs a part of his old, almost forgotten family for guidance.'' Dash said, choosing his words carefully.

'' Give it up already.'' Zero said, plucking his saber out of the ground. '' He's not going to hand him over willingly, we must delete him, it is the only logical course of action to take.''

'' I agree.'' Blues said, morphing his arm into his default sword again, '' Enough of this chatter! Woody Tower!''

Dash and Zero both leapt away as the ground they were standing on was pierced by sharp wooden spears. Dash landed a bit more roughly than he would've liked, he was still a little weak from his wounds. Unfortunately, Blues did not give him a break.

'' Delta Ray Edge!''

Dash looked up to see a red triangle flying towards him. He screamed as he was thrown through the air, and he smashed into one of the wood spears.

'' Dash! Are you all right!'' Terry cried.

'' That attack was... so powerful...'' Dash groaned. '' One more hit like that, and I could be... Deleted!''

Meanwhile, Zero and Blues had gotten into another sword duel. After dodging a sonic boom, Zero brought his saber over his head, then brought it down on the ground. '' Saber Wave!''

The blade unleashed a wave of pure energy, which slammed into Blues, and knocked him over. He morphed his left hand into a Bamboo Sword as he got up, then used an Areasteal to warp over to Zero. '' Die!'' he shouted as he brought both blades down on Zero, however, he managed to block with his saber in one hand, and forcefully punched him with the other.

Blues fell again, but when he got back up, he noticed that the Bamboo Sword was gone. He looked up to find Zero wielding both weapons. '' How did you do that!'' he demanded.

'' That's the power of the Z-Knuckle. It allows me to steal a weapon type battlechip that the opponent is using. Now it's time for you to die!'' He rushed over to Blues, and before he could react, he had been run through by both of the blades.

Netto Hikari... Enzan-sama... I've failed you...

His data blew away, like sand in the wind.

'' You didn't have to do that.'' Dash said angrily.

Zero turned his back to him. '' As I said before, deleting him was the only logical course of action to take. You heard what I told him earlier, If an enemy appears before me, I will destroy it. And he was an enemy. Now, let's see about Rockman.''

Dash limped over to where Rockman was, channeling as much malice as possible towards the blond swordsman. Then he stopped, and got a good look at Rockman.

Rockman's features were based off of a boy just beginning to enter his teenage years. Which was surprising, since Dash had imagined him to be older, more powerful looking. Instead, he was gazing at a skinny boy, you looked not only not that tough, but also... relatively average. Dash noticed his emblem and reached out to touch it, to see if it was indeed the same one on Saito's PET.

But when his finger made contact, the emblem suddenly began to glow. Dash jerked his hand back, surprised. '' What the heck...''

'' A reaction to the touch of navi data, perhaps?'' Terry suggested.

The glow faded, and Dash and Zero stepped back, in the real world Vick, Saito, Karla, and Butch crowded around Slate and Terry, to try to see what was happening.

Rockman slowly opened his emerald green eyes, and groggily looked around. Then he spoke: '' Who... are you?''

'' I'm Dash.exe, and he's Zero.exe.'' Dash said, pointing to Zero. '' We're rebels.''

'' R-Rebels? What's going on? Did you two reawaken me? Is this... a dream?'' Rockman asked quietly.

'' No, it isn't a dream. I'm Terry, Dash's operator.'' Terry said through a view screen that had appeared. '' And this is Slate, Zero's operator.'' he added.

He then proceeded to introduce the rest of the group, but before he got to Saito, Rockman asked another question. '' You... deleted Blues... didn't you...'' Terry nodded grimly.

Rockman sighed, and was about to say something, when he noticed Saito, who stood out because of his deep red hair. '' Who is that?''

'' That is Saito Hikari.'' Zero said calmly.

'' Saito-kun! Is it really you!'' Rockman gasped. '' It is! It's me Rockman! My Daddy is Netto, and my Mama was Meiru!'' Saito cried, almost shouting the words.

'' But... I'm so confused...'' Rockman muttered, bringing a hand to his helmet.

'' If you come with us, we'll tell you everything.'' Karla said soberly.

'' You seem like good people... I... I think I can trust you... I-I'll come, but I'll need to be told everything.'' Rockman said, sounding quite nervous.

Saito nodded, and took out his PET, Netto's so long ago... '' Plug out!''

Rockman materialized his familiar PET, it was actually quite comforting really.

'' Rockman...'' Saito said quietly, looking down at the PET.

'' Hello... Saito-kun!''

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zero's '' I will not hesitate speech was taken almost verbatim from the Zero series. His ' Saberwave' attack is supposed to be the charged Z- Saber attack from the games, and the Zero Knuckle was a weapon from Zero4 that allowed you to use a defeated enemy's weapon for a limited amount of time. I tweaked it to fit EXE style battles.

Well, I'm done with the Rockman plot, onto the second half of the story, the Copy Dimensional Chip plot.