"Are you sure about this?"
"I am, and if we let you do the talking, you will ruin it."
"Sheesh, why does Enzan have to do all the talking?" Netto complained. He and Enzan were standing in front of Ryuko's house with Laika and Pride. They are planning to confront Ryuko about the monster. Enzan volunteered to confront the older man.
"Because Enzan is more subtle than you?" Rockman guessed.
"Shut up!"
Pride rang the doorbell. The door opened and Ryuko's head appeared through the door.
He blinked his eyes in the bright day light.
"Oh it's you. Well what do you want?"
"Hello Ryuko san," Enzan said casually, "we came here to talk about the monster."
"You found it?" Ryuko asked in surprise.
"Yes we did. But it was already dead."
Ryuko's face turned serious. He grabbed Pride and Netto's hand. "Come inside," he urged them. "It we need to discuss this in private."
Enzan noticed Laika's back stiffened a little. But he followed them inside.
Ryuko ushered them into the kitchen.
"Now tell me what happened."
"Well there is nothing much to tell though," Enzan said, Ryuko leaned forward to listen. "My friends and I," indicating himself and the other two boys. "Went hiking the other day and we found a corpse of a monster."
Enzan watched Ryuko carefully. This is their chance to see how the older man will react to tell if he is the culprit or not.
Ryuko leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily. "I guess I should tell you. There is no point in hiding the truth. A long time ago before the girl died. There was an experiment based on genetically engineering. A scientist discovered how to cross breed two different species. In order to observe their behavior, he put a small machine in their brains. Unfortunately, the society did not accept his animals and so he fled to a secluded area with them in order to live in peace. But that is not all. He had two assistants. One of them was studying robotics and artificial intelligence."
"What does robotics have to do with genetic engineering?" Netto asked.
Ryuko blew his lips in frustration. "Are you listening kid? I said artificial intelligence, that assistant thought that studying biology would help him improve the machine's behavior."
"Who was the other assistant?" Pride asked.
"The other one was me. Animals fascinated me a lot. We went with the old man to live with him and his animals. Until the day they were stolen. I was on an errand for the old man. When I came back, he was killed and the other guy and the animals were gone. After I heard what happened to the girl. I figured that it was the other guy's fault and he must be up to no good and I vowed to do what the old man failed to do. Destroy the beasts."
"And the midnight hike?" Laika asked.
Ryuko nodded somberly. "A trap to lure them out of their hiding place and find the one who is responsible for this. I have been following you guys for a long time and I am the one who killed that monster. I would really appreciate if you would not tell anyone about this. It is a personal matter."
"We will," Enzan said, standing up. "Thank you for your time."
"Your welcome." Ryuko answered.
The NetBattlers left Ryuko's house and walk on the path towards their house.
"What do you think?" Netto asked them.
"It doesn't make any sense," Laika answered, "when we found the monster, it's throat was slit open and it was still warm. Ryuko could use a gun and show his presence to us during that time. But he couldn't use a knife or something sharp to kill a beast that big and heavy single handedly."
"Well maybe he didn't want anyone to know or be alarmed at the sound of a gun," Pride suggested. "Besides, he seems very honest."
"What do you think Enzan?"
"I think he is probably right. Right now we should be more careful."
"You know, for a guy who really loves animals. He would not turn against his friend's creation," Netto said thoughtfully. "If he really means what he said, then why does he have some animals?"
Enzan shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, Netto." He said, "I don't know."
Once they are at their summer home. Netto and Rockman received a pleasant surprise waiting for them.
"X!" Rockman said, "What are you doing here?"
The dapple Navi smiled at the smaller Navi, "Hello Rockman, I came here to do a little Netbattle like I promised. Remember?"
"Oh right," Rockman said sheepishly. "Netto-kun, I would like you to meet X exe."
X bowed politely, "Hello Netto-kun, nice to meet you."
"Same here," Netto said, instantly liking the gray Navi.
"Netto-kun, would you like to Netbattle with us?" X asked him, "I would really like to see how you two work together."
"Sure thing X. Hey guys! Do you want to Netbattle?"
"No, I am going out for a little walk," Laika said.
"Sorry Netto, but I have to write a letter to Creamland."
"What about you Enzan?"
"I have to write a report. Thanks to you I am way behind schedule."
Enzan turned around and went upstairs to their room.
"What is wrong with him?" X asked Rockman and Netto.
Netto shrugged, "Enzan is work obsessed. Whenever he does not finish his work or gets interrupted from his work, he gets cranky."
"Oh," said X understandingly.
Meanwhile, Enzan ordered Blues to retrieve all his files from his PET. He pulled out his laptop out from his suitcase began to work on his report. As he typed on his computer, Netto popped his head at the doorway.
"Hey Enzan!" he called cheerfully, "Grandma invited us over to her house for dinner tonight and it's gonna be a barbeque."
Not looking up from his work he continued to write. "Oh that's nice Netto. Have fun," Enzan said absentmindedly.
"What do you mean "have fun"?" Netto asked in surprise. "Your coming too!"
"I'm not going Netto. I have work to do."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not."
"Are too."
"Are not."
"Too."
"Not."
Soon Enzan found himself sitting outside on Grandma's patio. Netto, Pride and Rockman laughing and playing with the dogs next to the lake. Laika sat next to him, grumpy as ever while the Hikaris talked and laughed with Grandma over the barbeque grill.
"I can't believe he won the argument," Enzan muttered to Blues.
Blues said nothing.
"Enzan, Laika! Come and swim with us!" Netto yelled at them.
"No thanks!" Enzan shouted back and continued to work on his laptop.
Back at the lake, Netto sighed in frustration.
"What's wrong Netto?" Pride asked her friend.
"This vacation is not working Pride," Netto answered her. "All I wanted is Laika and Enzan to have fun and be part of the family and they are not enjoying it."
Pride smiled at him. "Give them some time Netto, you can't force them to have a good time."
Netto sighed dejectedly, "I know Pride, but it feels like forever."
Pride chuckled. "Patience is a virtue and it must be practiced. In fact, I have a plan. Listen very carefully…"
Enzan frowned to himself as he swatted a mosquito. There was an error in the report and whoever did this will pay for this. Especially Netto because he is the one who dragged him into this.
Suddenly he heard a loud commotion from the lake. Enzan looked up from his computer to see Netto and Pride splashing in the water wildly.
"AAH! There's something in the water!" Pride screamed.
Startled Laika dropped his cup and immediately ran towards them; Enzan wasted no time running after him. By the time they reached the lake. Enzan sided into a halt.
Wait a minuet! Enzan thought. Something is not right.
Laika already dived into the water and swam towards Netto and Pride. By the time he reached them, they were laughing and Z surfaced out from the water with a huge grin on his face.
I knew it, Enzan palmed his face. It's one of Netto's pranks, and I can't believe that I almost fell for that one.
Laika was not pleased either. But to everyone's amazement, he began to smile, and then he began to laugh. Soon everyone was laughing with him. Except Enzan.
"Z, it appears that there is only one person from our group who isn't wet." Laika said, "could you please help me?"
Z winked at him and gave him a thumb up sign. They casually walked out the water. Enzan realized what they are up to.
"Oh no. Don't you dare even think about it." He said, backing away from them warily.
"I'll help!" Netto called out running after them.
Enzan realized that he was outnumbered and he turned around and ran. They eventually caught him and carried him to the lake. Z hold Enzan's upper torso, Laika's arm wrapped around his waist and Netto clinging on to his feet in order to prevent him from kicking. Enzan twisted, squirmed, and threatened them to put him down. But the boys ignored him and threw him in the lake with a loud splash.
Pride quickly confiscated his laptop.
"Hey!" Enzan protested, "I needed that."
"If you wanted it you have to play volleyball," Pride answered him with a grin.
Enzan scowled and reached for his PET, but Netto grabbed it before he did.
"Netto! Give me back my PET!"
Netto only laughed and ran with Enzan chasing after him. Finally, Enzan managed to pin him down, only to discover his Navi is not inside his PET.
"Netto! What have you done to Blues?" Enzan said horrified.
"In your computer, Enzan sama," a voice said from the laptop in Pride's hands.
Enzan sighed in defeat. "Alright," he said resignedly, "whose team I am on?"
Enzan had to admit that he has a lot of fun at Grandma's house. He played volleyball with Netto, Pride, and Z. Netto and Z won the game, but even though he lost, he got Blues and his computer back. After the game of volleyball, Grandma called them over for dinner. Everyone was famished and they agreed the dinner is good. They ate corn on the cob, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, spaghetti, and a loaf of Italian bread. There were drinks of soda or water for those who disliked drinking soda, provided with salad from Grandma's garden. For desert, they ate apple pie with ice cream made by Grandma.
Netto flopped back on a hammock.
"Whew! That what a day," Netto sighed.
Enzan flopped on the empty space next to Netto, "For once I agree." Enzan said, "I never had this much fun for a long time."
Netto propped himself on his arm. "Why?"
Enzan shrugged, "Work is forever busy for me. I could never afford to take a break because something always requires my attention."
Netto made a face, "That sucks!"
"It's part of life. New and different problems and challenges arise all the time and it's hard to solve them."
"You know, I couldn't understand why you acted older than you are," Netto commented, "I mean you look like a kid, but you acted more like an adult. I don't understand why. Maybe it's time for you to act like one."
Enzan pondered on this. Then his face split into a grin, "Yeah, and maybe it's time for you to grow up."
Netto scowled at him.
A dark shadow approached the building carefully. Knowing the inhabitants are asleep and they are here right now. Carefully climbing inside through the window it froze as the floor creaked under its weight. Pausing to listen for any movement and it slowly navigated it's way through the dark rooms and found the stairs. Knowing they go to the rooms it began to climb up the stairs and approached the first door.
Netto had a nightmare. In his dream, he felt something crushing and choking him at the same time. He tried to fight back, but he couldn't. He tossed and turned in his bed. Finally he opened his eyes and gasped in horror.
Rockman please wake up! I need you!
Huh?
Help me, I can't breath!
Netto kun?
Saito Nisan!
Rockman opened his eyes and saw what was happening and screamed.
Everyone jerked up from their bed into wakefulness. The small screens lit up as well.
"Rockman!" the Navis cried.
Laika jerked out of bed and looked up at the top bunk where Netto was sleeping. He saw a dark silhouette that is too tall to be Netto.
"Netto!" Laika cried out in horror. He leaped out of bed and tried to climb the top bunk.
The mysterious figure fired twice. Laika cried out in pain and grabbed his shoulder. The second bullet hit the ceiling lamp, shattering it into a million pieces. Enzan and Laika ducked from the glass shards.
"Laika!" Enzan cried out in horror, he was about to help his friend. But Laika shook his head no.
"Enzan, stay there!"
The dark shadow jumped off the bed, ran across the room and disappeared through the opened window.
Laika grabbed his PET and fired his Navie into the nearest plug.
"Searchman Transmission!"
A red laser hit a panel. Searchman quickly dialed 911 and alerted the Hikaris and the rest of the household.
Laika grabbed his shoes and leaped over the broken glass and ran out of the door.
Enzan climbed up the top bunk and looked down and shined his PET at Netto. He didn't flinch as the light shinned at his face.
His eyes were closed and his face was blue. Even worse, he was lying very still.
Enzan felt a cold icy fist clenched his heart. He frantically searched for a pulse, fervently hoping that this was a joke. Expecting his friend to jump up and laugh. But he didn't, Enzan's felt his friend's pulse was low and his breathing was extremely shallow.
Enzan dropped his PET and performed CPR.
Come on Hikari. Breathe, he thought. Please.
Netto coughed and gasped.
Enzan was relieved, but Netto was not out of the woods yet.
"Enzan sama! Where is Rockman?"
Enzan looked around to find Netto's blue PET, but it's not in the holder next to Netto's pillow. Which means the monster got it and Rockman inside of it.
Enzan banged his fist against the wall in frustration.
The medics entered the room and quickly administered to Netto.
Soon Enzan found himself sitting next to Netto in the hospital. Netto was lying on the hospital bed with an oxygen mask strapped on his face. His eyes were closed and he was breathing evenly. Laika went back to the house, Enzan wanted to come but he refused, insisting that he stayed with Netto just in case he woke up. Pride called Grandma to come over to help her comfort the Hikaris.
Enzan stared at Netto. He remembered through the past missions he and Blues always assisted Netto and Rockman in tight areas and at the end they turned into heroes. Enzan chuckled at found memories when Netto was able to make him laugh. He could tell that Blues was probably thinking the same thing about Rockman behind his stoic stare. Since Netto's PET was missing, Blues was worried sick about Rockman.
Enzan thought about the first time he meet Netto. He was an ordinary kid who lives in a simple life. He is very thoughtful, cheerful, fun loving and very mischievous and stubborn. Enzan noticed after Netto and Rockman joined the NetSaviors, they became very mature and serious. Enzan wondered what made him like Netto or willing to help him. The word friend or brother never seems to occur to him.
Friend. Brother.
He heard those words before. Why do they appear in his mind? Maybe after their tag team battle at the Net Grand Prix proves him and Blues that Netto and Rockman were different than all the other NetBattlers they met. After they kicked their butts a couple times, they did not give up. Enzan admitted that even though they did dishonorable things to them. They would simply forgive them by staying with them or help them when they are in trouble, just like friends or brothers would do.
Friends. Brothers.
Enzan knows there are a lot of people who are willing to be his partners or friends because of his reputation. But not like Netto who was and is very blunt in telling him is wrong and he is willing to protect and help him because they cared for them. Because he valued friendship very much, he and Rockman were the first people who performed Cross Fusion and this was a big change in Enzan's life.
Friends. Brothers.
A slow smile spread across his face. Now Netto needed him again. Not as a rival or a partner. But as a brother and a friend.
Laika was outside of their house examining their backyard. He found the body of a dead snake. He never saw a snake that big before, without a head and a broken tail.
"Searchman take a picture of this."
"Hai Laika san."
Laika examined the body carefully and noticed that before the snake died, it ate it's last meal. Laika, out of a hunch, he took off his coat and carefully wrapped the body. He carried it to the kitchen and used one of Hakura's sharpest kitchen knives and cut the body open revealing a blue PET.
Rockman blinked his eyes, "Laika!" He cried out, "Is Netto kun alright?"
"He is fine," Laika assured him, "he is in the hospital right now."
The blue Navi looked relived.
"Rockman could you please tell me what happened last night?"
"I'll tell you later," Rockman said, "But first, we need to see Netto kun and the others first."
By the time Laika arrived Netto's room, he was awake.
"Netto," Rockman cried.
"Rockman," Netto called back.
Once everyone, excluded Hakura and Grandman are in Netto's room. Laika cleared his throat.
"I think we all needed to clear things up first." He nodded towards the blue Navi.
"Last night, I heard a strange noise. I woke up to see a snake strangling Netto. I managed to scream before it eats me."
"But did you see that person before you were eaten?" Laika asked him.
"Who?"
"I saw someone standing over Netto after you screamed last night," Laika explained.
"It is possible, that the same person who sic the monster on us, put a snake in Netto's bed while we were all sleeping last night," Blues said.
"That person removed the evidence as well," Searchman said grimly. "When Laika san and I found the snake, its head was decapitated. We suspected that it's brain contained the same controller as the monster we found in the forest."
"You mean this?" Dr. Hikari asked taking out a small glass jar out from his pocket. Inside the container was the familiar controlling device.
"Where did you get it from?" Laika asked in surprise.
Dr. Hikari shrugged, "I found it in my pocket today. I don't know how it got there. But the doctors told me the ambulance received a distress signal from our house before Searchman called them."
"There is one thing that I don't understand, besides the mysterious caller," Pride said frowning. "Why are all these creatures are targeting Netto?"
"I don't know either," Laika said, "But for now I believe that we must protect Netto and Rockman. Enzan, you and Blues must stay with him, while Pride and I look for answers."
"O.K." Enzan and Blues said.
Netto sat in his bed thinking about the conversation and the events that happened last night. So I am not seeing things, he thought.
See what Netto kun?
Last night, I thought I saw someone standing over me when I woke up. At first I thought I was seeing things before I blacked out, but when Laika mentioned that he saw that person too.
Do you think that person tried to harm you?
No, come to think of it. It seems as if he were trying to help me.
Why didn't you mention this earlier?
I didn't want to risk exposing our link to Laika and the others. Netto replied. After listening to the conversation, I'm not sure what to believe.
What is your decision now? Rockman asked him.
I decided that he is a good guy. But I could have sworn that I have seen him before.
Really? Could you please tell me?
Can't tell, it was dark and I blacked out.
Netto yawned. "I'm bored," he complained.
"Netto kun, you should be resting, that snake attack last night has been very serious and the doctor said that you needed to recover before they could release you," Rockman admonished him.
Netto sighed, "I know, but I am still bored. Where did Enzan go?"
"To a bookstore," Enzan said as he entered the room.
"Enzan, what is that?" Netto asked him.
"It's a Choinese primer," Enzan answered him. "I am going to teach you how to speak in Choinese. Now since we have nothing else to do." Enzan smirked at him, "I got that idea from Laika."
Netto groaned loudly, "Not you too."
Enzan ignored him and gave him the book. Netto reluctantly accepted the book and flipped through the pages. "You will find the translation next to the actual writing in the book." Enzan said helpfully.
Netto stopped flipping and read the translation on the page. Then he started laughing.
Enzan frowned at him. That was unexpected.
"What is so funny? It's not a comic book. In fact, it came from one of the best colleges in Americorps."
"Ha ha," Netto gasped, "But it's…" then he broke into peals of laughter.
Enzan frowned again; he looked in the book and read the book
1"Tzao, nii hao ma?"
"Tzao, woo hair hao. Nii ne?"
"Woo jin tian yeou I deal bushu fwu. Woo jyue de heen ley. Woo de ney-jang chwang yee heen roan, bugow ying. Yeesheu dou tay jiow le."
"Woo de chwang yee heen roan, bugow ying. Yee sheu dou tay jiow le."
"Jeyg suhsheh de utz dou butay hao, nemm sheau."
"Kee sh tzar men de jey-jian jiawshyh butsuoh. Chuang huh tzemm dah, men tzemm gau. Utz yee heen lianq. Suoo yii heen shu fwu."
"Jeyg shyeshiaw de fann jen huay. Tzaofann buhaochy, jongfann buhaochy, woanfann yee buhaochy."
"Sweiran nii shuo buhao, kee shu woo jyue de jeyg shyueshiaw de fann hair butsuoh."
"Hair bugow huay ma? Tzawo tian jong wuu de ji tay sheng, woan shanq de niourow tay yinq, jin tian tzao shanq de jidann yow tay lao."
"Woo jyue de nii de iau chyou tay gau le. Jeyg shyueshiaw sh g hao shyueshiaw, yee sh ig yeoumig de shyueshiaw. Shyue sheng duo, laoshy hao, kee sh nii jyue de hair bugow hao."
"Shyue sheng sweiran duo, kee sh chyouchaang tay sheau, laoshy yee tay shao."
"Jeyg buhao, neyg yee buhao. Nii jeyg ren de shinq chyng tay chyigquay. Nii kann, tzar men de Jonqwen laoshy dwo me hao a."
"Jey-wey laoshy hao sh hao, kee sh ta yeou deal ae, byitz yee bugow gau, jen buhaokann. Ta de yean jing…"
"Bye shuo le. Nii jensh ig huaydann! Ta sh woo muu chin e!"
"Ar!"
After Enzan's face transformed into an expression of pure horror. "I can't believe it," he muttered to himself. "I can't believe that I got this book from one of the best colleges in another country, written by a well known professor and it's funny?"
Netto turned the page of the book and laughed again. "This is great Enzan, I thought it is supposed to be boring and hard to understand. But this is icing on the cake."
"It is supposed to be boring and hard to understand." Enzan scowled at the book.
"Well for once, Netto is enjoying learning," Rockman whispered to Blues.
"And for once, Enzan isn't," Blues said under his breath.
A stranger sat outside of the room on one of the hospital benches in the hallway. A small smile of content from the lively activities from both humans and Navis alike. It is a good sign. It wasn't easy to smuggle the mind controlling device to Dr. Hikari, nor was it easy to keep it away from them. Getting up to leave, with the knowledge of the humans and their Navis will be safe here because their master would not dare to send them in crowded places or else it will ruin his plans. Even if their master is caught, no one would believe him.
Translation for Chinese
A: Good morning, how are you?
B: Morning. I'm doing all right. How about you?
A: I'm not so well today. I'm feeling tired. That bed of mine is too soft; it's uncomfortable.
B: My bed's soft too—not hard enough. Maybe both of them are too old.
A: The rooms in this dormitory aren't very good—they're all so small.
B: But this classroom of ours is pretty good. Big windows like this, a big door, plenty of light—makes it comfortable.
A: This school's food is really terrible. Breakfast is bad, lunch is bad, and dinner is bad too.
B: You may say it's bad, but I think the school's food is all right.
A: It's not bad enough for you? Yesterday noon's chicken was undercooked, last night's beef was too tough, and this morning's eggs were overdone.
B: I think you're asking too much. This is a good school, and it's famous. It has lots of students, and has good teachers. But that's not enough for you.
A: There may be a lot of students, but the playing fields are too small, and there aren't enough teachers.
B: This is no good, that's no good? You're just a strange person. Look how good our Chinese teacher is!
A: The teacher's good, all right. But she's a little too short, and her nose is too flat. Really unattractive. Her eyes…
B: Stop it! What a rotten egg you are! She's my mother, you know!
A: Huh?
Author's notes:
I got this from my brother's Chinese primer. And you know what? It is actually written by a professor in Princeton University.
1 Translation is at the end of this story.
