Laika stared at his tea moodily. Two hours after their pillow fight. Being a soldier he is accustomed in getting up early in the morning. While the others are sleeping late, he decided to go downstairs to wait for them.

"Laika san, what is the matter?" Searchman asked him.

"This whole ideal of a vacation that's what," he said, pushing his cup away from him. "And it is all Netto's fault."

"What is the matter with that?"

"Netto always gets into trouble without thinking. Do you remember all the missions we went through in the past? He is always gets into trouble and it always has to be me or Enzan to get him out of it. This vacation thing is one of them. He drags us into this without thinking that HQ might need us for some assignment. And we are not there to help them."

"Excuse me Laika san, but you don't have to blame him for getting into trouble, or dragging you and Enzan san into his family vacation. As far as I know, Netto is capable of getting himself out of trouble and one of the best NetSaviors in Japan. He cares for you and Enzan and he wants to give you the best. Besides, I am sure HQ will be fine without us." Searchman added. "Although you do need to relax."

"How can I relax? We have a mystery in our hands and we are on a wild goose chase after this monster that tries to eat Netto." Laika buried his face in his hands. "Why me?" he moaned.

"You know Laika san. You and Enzan san are his friends. To Netto and Rockman, we are considered as part of his family."

"Uh-huh, and I suppose as long as we are here. We are doing nothing. Except for hunting down monsters."

Laika drummed his fingers on the table, his fingers paused in mid-air.

"Unless," he said slowly, "we are doing something. Hm." He murmured staring at his tea thoughtfully. Then he sat up straight.

"Searchman!"

"Hai!"

"We are here for vacation, right?" Laika said excitedly, "Since we are going to be with the Hikari family and Pride and Enzan for two months. What if we could teach Netto how to grow up? The Sharro way?"

Searchman blinked. He never saw his operator look so excited over an idea before. "Eh?"

"Think about it. You said we are going to be here for two months with nothing to do. Correct?"

"Yes I did."

"Well we are doing something all right. Let's train Netto to become a soldier."

"Laika san?"

Laika got up from his seat and picked up Searchman's PET.

"Of course we need Enzan's cooperation as well."

Searchman stared at his Operator worriedly. He had a terrible feeling that instead of helping him find the monster, he created a monster.

Laika opened the door to the room he is sharing with his friends. He sees Netto and Enzan are sleeping in their bed. He walked across the room and opened the window, allowing the sun's bright light into the room.

"Rise and shine!" he bellowed. "Now!"

"Ugh!" Netto yawned as he rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?"

"7:50 a.m." Rockman answered him.

"That early?"

"Yes, since we are going to be together for two months. This is an opportunity for you to learn how to become a proper NetSavior from me." Laika said impatiently. "Get dress now! We haven't got all day."

Hah, serves him right, Enzan thought.

He turned to Enzan. Enzan tried to hide his smile as he snuggled in his bed.

"You to!"

"What?" Enzan bolted up in bed. His eyes were wide open with shock. "Why?"

"I know you came from a well off family. You have servants who made your bed and clean up after you. This means you have to make your own bed and get up and eat with us at the same time."

"You can't!" Enzan said, horrified.

"I can."

Laika is a strict task master. He made sure Netto and Enzan made their beds, clean up their room and do various other chores around the house. If they miss a spot, he would make them clean up again. If they grumbled or faltered, then Laika would forced them to do ten push ups or more.

When Laika finally declared for a break, Netto and Enzan were sitting on the couch in front of the TV with grumpy looks on their faces.

Why did I bother inviting him over in the first place? Netto grumbled to Rockman.

It is your idea. Remember? Rockman reminded him.

I know, but now I wished that we didn't. Netto sighed. He leaned against the arm rest of the couch. I am so tired.

Maybe this will teach you a lesson to think twice before you prank Laika again.

Z entered the living room and noticed their grumpy expressions. He asked, Why are Netto and Enzan so grumpy?

"Because Laika trained them to become soldiers in Sharro style," Rockman answered him.

"Yeah, and he worked us so hard. I could barely move." Netto moaned. He buried his head in his arms against the couch.

I have something to cheer you guys up. Z wrote. I got tickets for us to go to the movie. It's called Star Potter Reloaded.

"Really?" Netto asked him, sitting up a little.

Z grinned, he nodded.

"Let's go!" Netto said.

"Not so fast! Free time is on Saturdays," Laika said appearing from the doorway of the living room.

"Aw man!" Netto groaned.

But Laika, I already got the tickets. Z protested.

"Dr. Hikari and Mrs. Hikari can go with you," Laika answered. "We are about to go on a hike."

Z's eyes widen in alarm.

"Don't worry, we are going on a different trail to avoid the monster," Laika assured him.

What about Pride?

"She agreed to come with us."

Netto noticed Z look worried. Before he could say anything to comfort his friend. Laika interrupted him. "But then again, she can go with you because this kind of training is not for ladies."

"But Pride," Netto protested.

Laika cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Anyway I hope you guys will have a nice time at the movies."

Z reluctantly agreed to take the others to the movies. Laika gave Netto and Enzan heavy bags to carry and lead them up the mountain. By the time they reached to the top. The boys are panting and sweating heavily. Their shoulders ache from the weight of their packs and their feet are beginning to hurt. Netto collapsed against a tree trunk and groaned. Enzan sat on a rock across him and wearily took off his backpack.

Laika took off his backpack and stretched luxuriously. "Well that is easy."

"What!" Netto cried out in horror. "What do you mean easy?"

"Because tomorrow we are going to do the same thing over again, except that I am going to show you how to survive in the wilderness. That means we are going up and down this mountain ten times with these packs on."

Netto groaned loudly. "Remind me to get back at him." Netto muttered to Rockman.

"Hey! Less talking and more climbing!"

Rockman noticed that Netto was about to argue with him. But he stopped himself. He silently fumed to himself. Rockman privately talked to him through their link.

Netto kun.

Hn?

I noticed while Laika has been giving you and Enzan a hard time. You look angry at him but you didn't do or say anything to him. Why didn't you fight back? Knowing you have a very quick temper, you wouldn't hesitate to do so.

I know, but I have been doing a lot of thinking lately if I wanted my friends to have a good time. I have to give up my own interests. After all, this is Laika's vacation too and the most importantly he is my friend.

You have matured a lot, Netto kun.

Thanks Rockman.

"It's getting dark Laika san," Searchman commented. Enzan noticed that he is right.

"We better go," Enzan said suddenly standing up. Netto painfully pushed himself off the ground.

SNAP!

"What was that?" Rockman asked nervously.

"Sounds like a twig snapped," Netto said.

"Guys, I want you two to stay here and act as back up. I am going to check it out," Laika said.

"No way," Netto said. "Wait!" Enzan grabbed his arm. With his other hand, he pulled out his PET.

Laika cautiously walked to the area where he thought the sound is coming from. All he could see nothing but trees. He was about to return to his friends, but he heard a faint gurgling noise. He suspiciously eyed his surroundings. He walked around the tree and almost cried out in shock.

Netto and Enzan heard Laika's strangled cry and ran towards him.

"Stay back!" Laika cried out. But it was too late. Netto and Enzan saw the cause of their friend's distress.

Lying facedown on the ground not far away from where they stood is a huge creature with blood pouring all over the ground. The animal looks like a werewolf with an alligator's tail. It's black eyes stared at them lifelessly.

"Cool," Netto said in awe. "The monster exists."

"No, it could be a person wearing a costume," Enzan said.

Netto slowly approached the animal.

"Netto get back! Whoever it is could be dangerous!"

"No it's not Rockman. I wanted to take a closer look."

Laika reached out to grab his friend. Afraid that thing would jump up and attack him. But it didn't move from the ground.

Netto stroked the monster's dark brown fur. "Hey, there is no zipper on this thing and it's still warm." He said in surprise.

Laika and Enzan warily approached the monster. Laika carefully rolled the body over. He could see a huge gash on the monster's throat with blood still leaking out of it. He gingerly ran his fingers around the head and neck to find a way to remove the person's mask. To his astonishment, it is an actual monster's head.

"Gentlemen, I do believe that we have a real monster here," Laika said finally.

"It appears that someone killed the monster not long ago," Blues observed.

"Yes," Enzan agreed, "Obviously whoever did this must have snuck up from behind the monster and cut its throat."

"A real monster," Netto said quietly, "it is probably the last of it's kind."

"You forget it almost killed you," Laika pointed out.

"What do we do now?" Rockman asked.

"I vote that we buried it," Netto said firmly.

Enzan disagreed. "No I think we should let Dr. Hikari see this and hear what he has to say."

"Enzan is right Netto. Dr. Hikari's help will help us bring some light in this mystery." Then Laika added. "After that we will burry it."

Laika was thankful that he thought of bringing an ax with him. He was even gladder that his friends did not complain as they helped him along. Laika taught them how to cut down trees and their branches with an ax and fashioned them into poles and tie them together in order to build a sled. Enzan pulled out a blanket from his pack to cover the body, Netto pulled out some rope from his pack in order to secure the blanket to the monster. Then they pulled the sled towards their summer home. After they arrived, Netto's parents and Pride were already home.

The boys quickly hid the sled under the basement and tiptoed to the bathroom to change their clothes and wash the bloodstains off their hands.

Laika gathered their dirty laundry and snuck out of the house in order to burry them while Netto and Enzan pulled Dr. Hikari as side to talk to him privately. By the time he came back. Dr. Hikari was already examining the body in the basement. When Dr. Hikari finished his examination he returned to the living room where the boys are waiting for him. His face looked grim.

"Papa, what did you find out?" Netto asked him.

Dr. Hikari sat on a chair. "The creature is a genuine monster. No it is not a man in a costume or a robot. I examined the body carefully and it is a real monster."

"Impossible!" Laika, Enzan, Searchman, and Blues gasped.

Dr. Hikari shook his head sadly. "I wish it is, but it's not. But that is not all that I found. I also found two things as well."

He dipped his hand into his blood stained lab coat. He took out a small white bundle out from his pocket. "First of all I found that monster has a tattoo mark on it's left ear with some numbers on it. This may have indicated this creature was part of a biological scientific experiment, which means cross breeding from two or three different species. How I do not know. Secondly, I found this in it's brain."

He unwrap the white cloth to reveal a small copper wire attached to a small gray metal box.

"What is it?" Netto asked.

"This," he said, pointing at the metal box, "is a device that receives orders from a remote controller, or from any kind of machine which transmitted the message." His finger moved down to the copper wire, "Down through this wire and into the brain. I have seen this kind of machinery before though. A couple of my friends who studied psychology explained to me they used this device to study the animal behavior, and through an experiment they discovered how to modify it to control animals."

"Ew!" Netto shuddered, "I hate to think what would happen if they do this to humans."

Laika silently agreed with Netto, but something was bothering him and he couldn't put his finger on it.

"So do I Netto," Dr. Hikar agreed. "I think I will call Ryuko."

"That's it," Laika said. "Ryuko maybe behind of this."

"Huh?" Netto looked at Laika in surprise.

"Think Netto, who else is looking for the monster besides us? Ryuko. Who suggested that we should go out for a monster hunt before it attacked us? Ryuko of course! And I am not surprise if he is using all of those animals that he has to make those freaks," Laika said.

"Tomorrow we are going to Ryuko's house to find out."

"Jeez Enzan, I hate it when you do that!"

Laika wearily stumbled into his room. He just finished burying Dr. Hikari's lab coat and the monster because Dr. Hikari did not want Hakura to see either one of them and become frightened. In order to avoid suspicion, he sent the younger boys to bed and Laika to hide the evidence. Dr. Hikari already took pictures of the monster, wrote a journal and kept the machine for further use. Where he hid them, Laika did not know. Laika happened to finish his shower and ready for bed. Netto and Enzan along with their Navis are already asleep. Before he went to bed, he heard Searchman's voice from his PET holder.

"Laika san, your uncle is on line now."

Laika sighed wearily. He admitted that he did not wanted to see his uncle now because he was feeling extremely exhausted. Not wanting to disappoint his uncle he said.

"Thank you Searchman. I will talk to him."

Laika picked up his PET and carried to his desk. He sat down on the chair and turned on the desk lamp.

The green background disappeared revealing an older man wearing green uniform.

"Laika, how is your vacation?"

Laika sighed wearily, "Terrible Uncle."

"Oh?" The older man raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Then Laika began telling him about his vacation so far. His uncle smiled as he told him about meeting people such as Grandma, Z and Ryuko. He roared in laughter at Netto's outrageous pranks. Laika omitted their encounter with the monster, thinking it is best to tell him that later. When Laika told him the way he took this as an opportunity to teach Netto a lesson by training him military style. His uncle's frowned disapprovingly at him.

"Laika, I know that you have good intentions and Netto needs discipline and training to become a proper NetSavior. But you have the wrong idea. You can't turn him into a perfect soldier like yourself. Netto is a child and in time he will become one of the best Netbattlers in the NetSaviors."

"True that Netto could be annoying and immature. You needed to overlook his imperfectness in him to see the big picture. In fact, I remember there was a time when I was a young soldier in Sharro, I had a friend who is like Netto in certain ways. He likes to joke around all the time, and he was very bullheaded. I had trouble keeping him in check, but when it comes down to fighting. He is very serious and devoted friend. I didn't like him very much and I tried to force him to become the person that I wanted him to be. During one of the great wars, there was serious fighting going on." Laika noticed his uncle winced. "I didn't know that I was in danger until he pushed me out of harm's way. If it were not for him, then I wouldn't be here talking to you today."

"What happened to your friend?"

"He didn't make it. He sacrificed himself to save me. I didn't realize how much I miss him or what kind of jerk I am. His death made me realized the value of life is so fragile and delicate. It is so easy to take away, but it cannot be returned and that is why I agreed to let you have a vacation Laika. There are many people who are like Netto in some ways, but they can't protect themselves. Many times I wished that I could go back in time and take back all that I said to my friend and treated him differently. But I was too busy focusing on all of his imperfectness to appreciate him."

His uncle stared at his nephew in the eye. "Don't make the same mistake that I made and don't force Netto or Ezan to become a perfect soldier. They will learn from you and in turn you will learn from them." Then the screen went blank.

Laika turned off the light and sat back in his chair to think about what his uncle had said to him.

At the same time as Laika received his uncle's call…

A lone figure lay down on the ground, breathing heavily. Weary from the fight. The figure has been watching the boys for sometime and followed them to their house. Witnessing Laika bury the body before they came. The dark shadow somehow managed to lure them away from Laika until he went back to the house where he will be safe. Knowing that they managed to steal the body, but cannot prevent them from reporting to their master what had happened. If their master knows where the body is being found and examined it carefully. Then the master would become suspicious.

The shadow knew that now it is time to leave to avoid being seen. The figure slowly got up and vanished in the darkness.

Author's notes:

Dear Readers,

As you noticed. This story is actually based on a question such as, who or what. Such as what if Laika is forced to wear different clothes that he never wore before? Or how does Laika spends his summer vacation? Currently, I am trying to imagine how does Enzan spends his summer vacation. Knowing that he has the mentality of a forty year old business man instead of a twelve or thirteen year old boy. I suspected that it would not be easy to make it funny. I am open to suggestions or ideas. My email address is