Disclaimer: I do not own Rockman.EXE sadly.

Zero: A Legend Reborn

Thoughts "blah"

Chapter 2

Two years had passed since Jesse and Hinata were brought to this world with their navis. They had still not found a way to acquire a Synchro-chip when Grave arrived on the scene. Zero and Blaze watched the final battle between Bug-Style Rockman and the Grave Beast with keen interest.

"I'm mildly impressed." stated Zero as Netto managed to bring Rockman back to a sane state of mind. Even more impressive was when the blue navi's Master program rebuilt the entire cyber world.

Blaze just sulked because she couldn't jump into the battle without bringing the attention of the Net police to her NetOp. "I could've done better than that." she thought.

When they arrived back at their new home they found their NetOps in deep thought. "So how are we going to get our hands on Synchro-chips?" asked Hinata.

Jesse and Zero no longer had access to the equipment that they had back home, so they couldn't hope to manufacture the chips. True getting the rare metal would be a simple task, but processing it into a chip was impossible without the right equipment. Said equipment could only be purchased and operated by someone eighteen years of age.

"Well then…I guess that we're just going to have to get creative." said Jesse smiling at the idea he already had forming.

"Alright dear brother", said Hoshi sweetly, "just what kind of insane idea have you come up with this time?"

"...make a deal with the devil." he said cryptically.

The next day Jesse and Hinata went for a walk with Navis in hand. O'Neil led the way into a factory. Oddly enough there was no security in the building and for one of its size Hinata and the navis had been expecting a guard at the very least.

"Jesse what is this place? What are you up to?" asked Zero. He was really getting worried and knowing his NetOp he had good reason to be. O'Neil was always getting into sticky situations.

"That's exactly what I'd like to know." came a voice over the intercom as the doors to the room shut and lock. "Now that I have your undivided attention humans, I think that it's time to explain what two little brats are doing here?"

Jesse smiled knowing that Hinata recognized the voice just as he did. "Why don't you come talk to us in person...Forte?" When silence followed the twelve-year-old said, "What's the matter Forte...cat got your tongue?"

One of the doors off to the left unlocked and the navi said, "Proceed along the central corridor. And don't try to run away, I control everything here."

"Oh I already know that. Just lead the way." said Jesse.

Zero and Blaze were certain that Jesse either had a great plan or a serious death wish. Hinata on the other hand was thinking, "If he does something stupid...I'm gonna kill him assume Forte doesn't. And should Forte kill him I'll resurrect him and then kill him again."

When they finally reached the destination the dark navi had guided them to they found the control room to the factory. Standing in front of the multiple security monitors was Shuryou. "Now then humans explain yourselves. What are you doing here?" demanded the robot.

"That's what I'd like to know." mutter Hinata catching Forte's attention.

"Say again." said Forte.

Jesse butted in saying, "Ignore her for now. She's angry because I didn't tell her what I was planning."

The robotic body looked back at the girl and said, "Pity...you might've lived longer."

"Oh I don't think that you wanna do that. In fact I think that we have much to discuss." said Jesse taking a seat. He was confident that the human hating navi would take the bait and now he would put that gamble to the test.

Forte scowled and demanded, "And just what could you possibly have that could be worth my time?" He was confident that this child was bluffing trying to find some way to escape the factory.

Jess leaned forward and said, "Dimensional Areas."

Now Forte was intrigued and amused at the same time. "And you can offer me such? Don't make me laugh. A child couldn't possibly have the knowledge to create such a thing."

"Don't be so sure Forte. Here's the deal...I'll help you construct Dimensional Area Generators in exchange for you allowing me to use the equipment to create my own Synchro-chips." said Jesse. "We don't have to play nicely with one another and this won't tarnish your reputation of hating humans. We get what we want and you get what you want."

"I'm already in the process of developing my own generators. So why should I-." Forte began before the brunette interrupted him.

"Ah yes, Allegro. Your overly emotional robotic servant. How nice." Jesse stood up and walked over to Forte knowing that the navi could kill him in less than a second. "But you don't really like that robot. In fact I'm betting that you think of him as just an annoyance, but you can't get rid of him if you want Dimensional Areas, which leaves you stuck between a rock and a hard place."

Forte glares at the child knowing that he's right. "And how do you know this human?" It actually beginning to unnerve the dark navi that someone knows so much about him and his current mood of that failure. What's worse is that Allegro is acting like a human four year old and always calling him 'onii-san'

The boy smirked and replied, "I'm psychic. Not always showing me every possible future, but enough to get what I want. And in this case serving both of our purposes."

"Then tell me what my future plans are human? Show me that you're a real psychic.", challenged Forte. He was certain that he had the boy now and the fidgeting girl next to him seemed to be all the proof that he would need.

Jesse leaned in and said, "You're going to resurrect Shademan and give him the means to strike at Dr. Regal." When Forte's eyes widened the boy went on to say, "You do know that if Regal gets control of the world you'll be hunted down and turned into one of his mindless drones like Dark Blues?"

"That fool wouldn't dare try something like that with me.", said the navi with unshakable confidence or so he thought.

"Oh really? A power hungry lunatic with the means to convert any navi he wants into a mindless pawn and one of the world's most powerful navis in sight. I think that that would be too great of an opportunity for the old man to pass up.", said Jesse knowing that he could easily twist the events of the future that he knew to come to make Forte believe him. Deciding to add fuel to the developing paranoia he added, "Don't forget Wily wanted to either control you or destroy you. Which ever was the easiest to accomplish."

"I'm fully aware of that old man's efforts to control me. And if you are truly a psychic then you should also know that I escaped his pitiful power." said the angry navi. The child clearly had some way of knowing exactly what the navi felt and he hated it. Yet if the child was correct, then he would have to start making his moves sooner than expected and the boy was exactly the kind of weapon that he would need. "A psychic would be very beneficial to me.", he thought.

"Well do you accept this proposal?" asked Jesse.

The navi considered the pros and cons of having this human's assistance. "He doesn't want to 'be friends' or 'show' me that humans are not all bad. He's also not looking to control me. He came right out and told me his own goal for this co-venture." He turned to the leading child and said, "I accept your deal, but if you betray me I'll be hunting you down...and I will destroy you."

Raising his hands Jess said, "Hey I've got no problem with that. Did you know that it's said that the lowest level of Hell is reserved for the worst of sinners...those that betray?"

Forte knew where the child must've read that. "Strange that someone his age would be reading 'Dante's Inferno'. I'm surprised that his parents allowed it, given that book's contents." Extending his hand as he knew was human custom for accepting a deal he shook the boy's hand. "Perhaps you could be of further assistance..."

"Yeah, the NetSaviors are soon going to find this place because of Allegro's foolishness. I hope that you've got a backup site to operate from." said Jesse shaking the robotic hand.

"That will be very helpful, but that's not what I was referring to. I might need your power for future use." said the navi pulling something out of one his pockets. He knew that he had something that would secure the help of the psychic for his future goals. Extending the hand where Jesse could see it he opened his hand.

Jesse's eyes widened when he saw what was inside. "Is that a real Synchro-chip?" he asked.

"Bingo." Forte nodded. When Dr. Regal had stolen the ten Synchro-chips developed by Dr. Hikari Forte had stolen one from the Darkloids for his own study. He had no further use for the chip, but he knew these two children would love to get their hands on it. It had become his bargaining chip.

"What's the catch?" asked Jesse expecting nothing less for the human hater.

"Smart boy." thought Forte. "The catch as you put it is simple...any information you have about the future you give to me. Well let me rephrase that...any information useful to my desires you give to me when you get it."

Jesse thought for a second knowing that he'd eventually be exposed as a fraud psychic. "Well I could always tell him about Slur and Duo later. But there's still the chance that he'll bust me and kill me.", he thought to himself. "Deal."

With that the deal had been made with the devil and there was no turning back.

They left the factory that day with a single Synchro-chip in hand. Zero scanned the chip just to be certain that Forte hadn't turned it into some kind of trap. Thankfully the scans turned up nothing.

"So tell me oh mighty psychic how do you intend to keep this charade going? Eventually he's going to figure out that you're not a real psychic and then he's going to kill both of us...or you rather." said Hinata. She was glad when they finally left that place and right now she wanted to kill her brother.

"She's gotta point Jess. That guy gave me bad vibes from all the way in here." said Zero.

"I know, but if we had told him the truth we all would have been killed. It's not something that he'd believe and besides...at present I'm just about as good as a psychic. We know what's going to happen, so why not use it to our advantage?" said Jesse.

Blaze was now fired up and added her opinion. "Use it to our advantage, yes. Get us all killed, no. Next time you do something like this let us help you plan it."

"Sure.", he said knowing that he'd lost that argument.

Jesse had been taught by Zero all about the transporters and Dimensional Area generators since they'd met, so the boy was able to fulfill his half of the agreement easily enough.

Forte wasn't happy working with humans, but it did give him access to the generators that he desired. Which really came as a relief when he destroyed Allegro right in front of the NetSaviors.

Less than a week later Forte had another base of operations up and running. Giving Jesse and Zero anything that they required the duo quickly created a second Synchro-chip and the Dimensional Area generators.

Blaze and Hinata moved some of the equipment to another facility that Forte didn't know or really care about. It was an abandoned chip factory that had been closed down due to previous owners having gone bankrupt when World Three terrorized businesses for money and supporters.

The black navi was aware that Jesse and Hinata had created a second base for their own operations, but he never sought it out. In his mind they were simply prepared in case the NetSaviors found his factory. With a smile he looked down to the area below where forty Dimensional Area generators had been finished. The first contract on both ends had been fulfilled.

During Dr. Regal's rampage as CF Laserman Hinata and Jesse decided to test their abilities in Crossfusion.

Hinata and Blaze were the first to go. The reason for this was that Jesse wanted to monitor the readings to make sure that the chip was functioning correctly and at its peak efficiency.

She raised her hands and followed the motions that the NetSaviors always used. "Synchro-chip in, Download! Begin Crossfusion."

The PET vanished in a shower of pixels and swarmed Hinata's body. Her hands were covered with red gloves that had a blue diamond on the back and yellow feathers coming out of the wrist. Yellow boots covered her feet while the red and yellow body suite encased the rest of Hinata's body. Two huge wings emerged from her back as tail feathers come out of her lower back. A five point yellow star with a red circle around it and an upside down black pentagon in the center formed in front of her and attached itself to her chest. Finally her hair lengthened to her lower back and the helmet formed. The helmet was red and had three feathers coming from the center above the eyes.

After the light died down and Jesse looked the Crossfusion over he turned his attention to the readings. "Zero do you see anything off?" asked the boy.

"No. It looks like it worked. They have a high sychro-rating and no abnormalities detected." answered the red navi. He was proud that he'd taught his NetOp so well about fighting and the technology from his world. "Now all he has to do is develop the same confidence in his fighting abilities." he thought.

"Hinata try using Blaze's special attacks on those barrels." said Jesse.

"Right." This was the moment she'd been waiting for.

"Let's show them what we're made of." said the fire navi. She loved being a phoenix-based navi and was pleased with immunity to certain elements. Before being wished into a navi Blaze had been an ice base Cyber-Elf and now that she was a navi she was immune to fire as well.

"Comet Storm!" shouted Hinata unleashing a volley of comet-shape projectiles from her two guns. Every one of the targets was destroyed and Hinata had a pleased look on her face.

Once Zero and Jesse had collected all of the data they prepared to enter Crossfusion. "What's it feel like?" asked Jesse.

His long time friend looked at him with starry eyes and said, "It's incredible. I don't know how to describe it, but I'll try." She thought for a few minutes trying to think of just how to phrase the experience. Finally she said, "It's like being reborn, I guess. But as a stronger, faster, more agile version of yourself."

That was the final straw. Zero watched his NetOp look to him for his approval. He nodded and prepared himself as best he could for what was to follow.

"Synchro-chip in, Download! Begin Crossfusion.", said both in unison. Jesse felt immense power flood into his body as Zero's red boots covered his feet and red gauntlets covered his forearms. The red vest materialized around his body and constricted snuggly around his upper body. The Z icon formed in front of Jesse and attached itself to his chest before the black bodysuit covered the rest of his body. Zero's helmet materialized over his head and his brown hair lengthened to his lower back before being tied in place in a ponytail.

Finally both kids stood in Crossfusion with their respective navis. It was a new and empowering feeling for all four people.

"Whatcha think?" asked Blaze. She knew what the other two must've been feeling.

Jesse smiled and said, "It's even better than either of you described." He experimentally flexed his gloved hand feeling his and Zero's combined strength.

Zero felt strange being joined together with Jesse and being able to see through his eyes. Now Jess would have to carry his own weight and Zero felt certain that he could do it. "…Or at least he better be able to. I didn't train him that hard for nothing.", he thought.

"Now what will we do? We've got a home, Synchro-chips, and a base of operations. What's our next move?" asked Zero. He'd helped Jesse and Hinata this far because he cared about them, but now he wanted to know what they would do with the power that they'd gained. He felt certain that Jesse wouldn't turn 'to the dark side', but he still wanted to know.

"Well I can't speak for Blaze and Hinata, but…I want to help deal with Duo's Asteroid navis that are coming." said Jesse. He hated the 'The Ultimate Judge of Light' every since he'd first seen him and striking down the Asteroid navis was his way of telling Duo just that.

Zero and Blaze had been told of Duo's coming and they both agreed that they would fight against the alien navi even if their NetOps didn't. Both navis and Jesse turned to Hinata for her answer. "What? You know I'm onboard."

In the coming weeks the 'fun' would begin and they had to be prepared. Duo maybe egotistical, but he was extremely powerful. It would certainly be a test of their combined strength.