Daddy no more please, why must you keep doing this? Mama won't be happy if you keep doing this
.
.
.
This is for your own good, I need find a way to get you better before you get worse
.
But they hurt, please take them off
.
DON'T YOU DARE TAKE THEM OFF!
.
.
Please… they hurt
.
Do as you are told! It… won't be for much longer
.
Daddy… please
.
.
.
ENOUGH!
Once Anny located an exit port in Ayano's home computer did she huff and shake the soot off her hair.
"Anny!" Lan yelled in relief as he pulled the annoyed girl into a hug. "Are you hurt?" Lan asked as he checked her carefully.
"How did you vanish like that?" Dex asked looking perplexed about what took place. She had literally vanished for ten minutes without any part of her being seen.
"Did you end up in the computer again?" Lan asked sounding frantic to Anny's dismay.
"Yeah but it was a reflex" Anny muttered meekly as she looked away shyly.
"It's a good thing too otherwise you could have been seriously hurt" Mr. Ayano said before checking Anny over, beside looking annoyed and covered in soot she appeared unharmed.
"What do you mean ending up in the computer again?" Maylu asked with a concerned look, raising a brow Anny frowned at Lan who now noticed the others.
"Oh… well you see"
"Lan accidently sent me inside his computer once, we still don't know how it happened" Anny commented to the sheepish looking Lan who looked at her with a guilty look.
"Are you okay?" Maylu asked as she and Yai checked her over.
"Nothing bad happened?" Yai asked now calling for a servant to get one of their medical servants to check Anny.
"Besides a shiner I was unharmed" Anny replied with a shrug "I'm fine, just annoyed about being almost blown up by a rogue wire" Anny assured the group before they left the room in order to recover.
Months had gone by quickly for Anny, from finding out about Wily's plan involving the Life Virus to Megaman being Lan's twin brother it almost left Anny's mind boggled at how such things could happen. However the best she could do was speak to her uncle Yuichiro on the phone due to dangers of returning to Sci Lab, even he was against her coming back to the place that would only bring her pain once more.
Sighing Anny rested on a bridge located in the Secret net and relaxed, relief in knowing that this would be a secret place she and Serenade made to get away from the stresses of outside the Cyberspace and inside involving the Undernet. So far to her relief WWW had been disbanded which meant the no problems for now.
"Wily will come back… he won't sit still for long" Anny muttered before closing her eyes, her body relaxed as she laid her back on the bridge while her legs dangled lifelessly against the edge. Her mind slowly started to tune the world out allowing her to close her eyes so she could catch a few winks of sleep. Strangely she felt unnerved, something was going to happen and she was left uneasy. Chaud had driven her insane a few times with his words and had a few times told him he must have foot and mouth disease given how he would speak without thinking of how it affected people. Sure he did look offended but she drowned any feelings of feeling guilty, he was pushing it and today was no better. Sure Lan was trying to be friends with Chaud but that didn't mean she had to like it.
"Why do they always take things away from me?" Anny mused wearily before allowing herself to douse off.
"Strange that you would allow your guard to be down when anyone could attack you" a voice caused Anny to crack one eye open and saw a familiar Navi.
"No one's that stupid to enter the Secret Net, it's guarded and unless they want to lose their heads they stay away from me" Anny muttered to the Navi who stood beside her while observing the lake over the bridge. "What brings you here? I don't have that much info if you're wondering" Anny eyed the Navi who remained quiet.
"Before you ask Serenade is not taking any fights at the moment, he has other commitments at the moment" Anny added causing the Navi's eyes to narrow slightly despite the fact their cloak covered their face slightly.
"Like her family" Anny commented mentally before getting up.
"Sadly I am not in a fighting mood, had an argument so I was trying to lay low" Anny commented before a message box appeared in front of her, concerned she opened it knowing it's from Surf Hacker.
"Big problem, Chaud's here for the chip uncle Maeda's working on. Apparently Blaze Quest is getting impatient" Surf Hacker wrote to her shock.
"Oh hell no!" Anny stood up sharply now showing raw anger on her face to the Navi's surprise. "Ring check on our talk, some jerk is bothering my uncle" Anny said before vanishing leaving the Navi baffled about what took place.
"Why are you here?" Anny asked sharply catching her uncle, Chaud and an employer's attention.
"What are you doing here?" Chaud asked bluntly as she entered the room in a white shirt and black shorts.
"Now now, no arguing" Maeda said calmly before addressing Chaud "please do not upset my niece sir, she comes here mostly to study" Maeda added to Chaud's surprise, looking at Anny's angry look Chaud almost gulped as she sat down near her uncle before grabbing a book so she could doodle.
"What are you doing here Chaud? I'm surprised you would come to such a humble place such as this" Anny bit causing Chaud to frown.
"If you must know-"
"Come now, if you want this program to finish we need to do some odd jobs. Chaud please clean the toilet and the area, Anny please help me with the program" Maeda instructed, not wasting time Anny placed a pair of white headphones on her shoulders and turned up the volume so she could hear what was going on in the computer. Her eyes soon became focused on Maeda's work to Chaud's surprise not believing what he was seeing. Swallowing Chaud soon got to work and before he knew what was happening everything was all completed.
"I did everything" Chaud said to the busy trio.
"I think you need to lower that" Anny said as she pointed to a part of the what appeared to be an oval on the screen.
"But then it will make it off balance" an employer of her uncle commented.
"Worth a shot" Maeda said before noticing Chaud. "Oh finished already?" Anny ignored Chaud as she focused of Starlight who was trying to practice storing and releasing energy with Surf Hacker, Ballara and Fleara.
"We'll be blamed!" a Navi cried shocking Anny who turned to look at a bright light coming from her uncle's screen, turning to give Chaud a foul look he blinked in surprise.
"Dude… that was too much power. Watch where you swing that sword" Anny snarled as the light vanished.
"I was only trying to help" Chaud defended before hearing a sigh coming from her uncle.
"But she's right, that was too much and you can see it here that one part is uneven" Maeda pointed to the ruined oval. Seeing this Chaud bit the inside of his mouth in frustration "power without control is meaningless, despite this would it be okay if we borrow your Navi? Maybe we can have some use for him" Maeda asked while Anny frowned at Chaud who left the room.
"Don't be too hard on him, he's just trying to help" Maeda said softly.
"But he stuck his nose in our business and made the workload longer" Anny huffed.
"Anny please come next door, Starlight wants to check her power levels" Surf Hacker called alerting them.
"Go ahead, we'll be fine" Maeda assured Anny who left with a notebook containing notes. As she entered next door she almost glared hatefully at Chaud.
"I'm doing some work, please leave the room" Anny said sharply as she went to sit down at a single desk computer that was surrounded by books.
"You don't have to be so rude" Chaud muttered.
"Well some people just don't like it when others try to take their stuff away" Anny turned her chair to glare at him "this was my place before you came here, you even tried to take uncle away from me by offering him a job at your company! This is my home, stop taking what I have… you Blazes never think about who you hurt and… you're just like your father" Anny spat before turning her back to him in order to stop shaking. Stunned Chaud narrowed his eyes.
"Don't insult me, you don't even know anything about me" Chaud said only to recoil as she stood up so quickly that the chair fell to the floor. Rounding at him she huffed.
"I know enough to know Blazes steal my stuff, your father did it and now you're doing it. This is my home Chaud, it's all I have left and you're taking it away from me-"
"I'm offering a place where he can work in peace, without any of the problems taking place like now" Chaud defended now liking how she was reacting with him.
"Oh? And Blaze Quest Games can? Let me make this clear Chaud Blaze" Anny snapped she stood face to face with him "if my uncle accepts your proposal then I'll never see him again, your father will make sure of that" Anny warned before turning her back to him and walked back towards the chair, not caring that her hair hit him in the face. Shaking slightly Chaud stared at her in shock.
"What… what do you mean my father will make sure of that?" Chaud asked but she didn't turn round to look at him.
"My father hated him, your father hates me. Always quick to blame it's all the same Mr. Blaze, just leave me alone so I can get some moments of peace" Anny muttered darkly, wincing from the comment Chaud walked towards the door before pausing. His hand rested on the edge of the door before turning to look at Anny.
"Chin up Anny, it might not happen" a male teen's voice alerted Chaud that her Navi was in the room.
"Don't be too sure" Anny muttered.
"Oh Anny…" Fleara sighed.
"Let's just start the test, Starlight are you ready?" Anny asked.
"Ready!" chirped Starlight who started to glow softly.
Sighing Chaud left the room catching Anny's attention briefly before looking at the screen once more.
"Don't take her words to heart Mr. Blaze" Maeda said alerting Chaud that he wasn't alone, spying the man at the coffee table with a cup in his hand Chaud looked down slightly. "She's worried and I think I was too hasty in my decision" Maeda admitted with a sad smile.
"What happened to make her hate my father?" Chaud asked dreading the answer, Maeda eyed the cup that he swirled slightly.
"Something's even a child shouldn't hear, she may be cold but she means well. Even she witnessed things a child shouldn't witnessed, it's true that there's bad blood but for now let's get back to work" Maeda said calmly as he smiled softly at Chaud. Chaud meanwhile remained torn, how could this man smile even after all this? Surely he heard Anny's outburst and even now Chaud still didn't understand why she was so mad at him. If she was mad at his father then why take it out on him?
Chaud froze as he looked at the man who was staring at the room Anny was in with a worried look despite seeming calm.
"I'm stealing her uncle… but I'm just hiring him so he can work without any issues, what's so wrong with that?" Chaud countered looking more uncomfortable.
"Why don't you help us with groceries?" Maeda suggested startling Chaud out of his musing, thankful for the distraction Chaud crossed past Anny's room to hear laughter. Curious he peeked in to see Anny- smiling? Three sets of laughs came from the screen leaving the male surprised at how animated she was towards what he could assume were three Navis until laughter number four entered his ears.
"Try to focus on the target, you're all over the place" Anny said before laughing at how Starlight missed and hit Surf Hacker instead to his dismay.
Smiling faintly he left the building to obtain what was on the list.
Chaud sighed heavily in relief after the employer that Maeda once hired had been taken away for stealing electricity, his eyes soon caught the unforgiving look Anny was giving off towards the male ex employee.
"You know I've been thinking" Maeda said to Chaud once Anny was back in her room sorting out the electricity issue, to Chaud's surprise electricity came back in the rooms.
"Hey… Starlight's actually doing it" Maeda marveled before walking into Anny's room, giggles and cheers entered his ears as he approached the computer.
"Congratulations Starlight looks like I have another member of the team now" Maeda said with a wide smile as Starlight released a shy smile as her bracelets, clips, diamonds and emblem continued to glow in a soft light.
"That's amazing, you did all this?" Chaud's voice caught their attention, startled Starlight took a step back and stopped levitating altogether.
"So what?" Anny asked gruffly causing him to look at her.
"I think I heard that name Starlight somewhere before" Chaud said until he took in Starlight's appearance "Wait a minute, didn't you design her in your book at school?" Chaud asked looking startled by what he was seeing. If this was true then Anny was no ordinary programmer.
"So what if she is? Why are you being so nosy?"
"Okay come now, let's not spoil this mood. Starlight do you think you can keep this going until I pay the bill?" Maeda asked earning him a small smile from Starlight who took a step forward.
"No problem sir, leave it to me" Starlight replied with a bright smile, very soon the lights in the building began to shine brighter allowing them to see the room more clearly.
"Atta girl, come now let's get this program finished" Maeda said before leading both children out the room.
"I'm helping!" Surf Hacker yelled as he moved from computer to computer.
"I wouldn't put it past you to not get involved" Maeda smirked as they sat at the computer and began working.
"Chaud, I've given it a lot of thought and as tempting as it is wanting to work at Blaze Quest Games-"
"You wish to decline?" Chaud asked looking slightly disappointed, to his dismay Maeda nodded his head.
"I have so much to do around here, plus this is home not like those stuffy large buildings. Here there's some freedom regardless of how dangerous it can get, then again I do have some muscle in case things go south" Maeda joked before releasing a chuckle as Anny gave him a dark look.
"Jee… what a nice uncle you are" Anny muttered darkly earning her a laugh from Maeda and a cough chuckle from Chaud who tried not to smile from the comment.
"Oh Anny, you know I wouldn't think of leaving you behind. Besides… this place has memories here, leaving it means losing what's left of them" Anny smiled faintly as she caught on what her uncle meant. Leaving meant leaving behind her father's last memories of the place.
"I see, since I can't do anything to encourage you I could tighten the security here. I can hire some guards so no one can bother you as you work and hire some extra staff if you want" Chaud offered to their surprise.
"Hey, now that's not such a bad idea. At least you'll be able to do some proper homework now, not to mention I can teach you some things your father you're your uncle Cossack once knew. I have a feeling you'll be very happy" Maeda said cheerfully as Anny released an uneasy look, looking at Chaud she frowned.
"Why are you being so nice?" Anny asked bluntly.
"I see potential, it will be a shame to let it go to waste" Chaud replied without missing a beat, staring at him oddly she soon turned to look at her uncle.
"What do you think?" Anny asked to Chaud's relief.
"Well if you're on board then so am I" Maeda spoke feeling more at ease, at least there would be some common ground and on the bright side he wouldn't have to pack up and leave Anny behind.
"As long as I don't have to worry about you going" Anny said before blinking as she noticed Surf Hacker helping Protoman. "Turn the percentage down by five percent, you almost made it worse" Anny called out, to her relief things were now turning out for the better until before she knew it. A week had passed and the program was now completed, ready for the new PET to use once they were operational.
"Hey Sean, I hope you get better soon" Anny said feeling worry for the boy who was now in bed. She mentally winced at how Bass really lost it and almost killed a boy who was nothing more than a puppet to Wily, however to her relief Hub and Lan had managed to save everyone once more.
She watched Sean open his eyes and stare at her with unfocused eyes before falling back asleep. Sadness filled her as she held his hand tightly. It was a disaster to say the least but she was determined to keep an eye on the boy, to lose everything and be used for something that would enrage an old friend of hers left her almost sick in the mouth.
"Once he's better I had better go see Bass, just to see how he's feeling" Anny mused. To her surprise the door opened revealing Chaud holding a cup.
"I thought you would need it" Chaud offered leaving her more perplexed than ever.
"Not coffee?" she eyed it oddly, to her relief he shook his head "tea?" again he shook his head.
"I heard you like hot chocolate" Chaud explained as she sniffed the cup to smell a sweet smell, satisfied but surprised she nodded her thanks before holding it with both hands.
"Why did you come?" Anny asked as she watched Sean with a pensive look.
"I wanted to see how you are, you hit your head trying to get Sean out of danger" Chaud replied causing her to look at him.
"Just a scratch, Lan's more in bad shape than me" Anny commented blankly.
"He'll be fine" Chaud said in an assuring tone resulting in her raising a brow.
"I'm going to see a friend later on, he's in hospital but he's not been so good" Anny explained not knowing why she was telling Chaud this of all people.
"Is he sick?" Chaud asked sounding worried.
"Very, he needs support at the moment and my… niece is trying to help him get through this. He's been in an out of hospital for years" Anny said before sighing. "He'll get better I know it, it's just when they'll get the cure"
"It's not?" Chaud dreaded the answer.
"Not cancer, it's a heart condition called HBD which is very rare. Only few have it and the Hikari family is just as unfortunate to have a relative to be born with it" Anny explained bitterly thinking of Hub and how she helped him through his father.
"I see…" Chaud sat down beside her and looked at Sean with a neutral look.
"You don't have to be here you know, no one's telling you to sit here" Anny commented.
"I know but I want to" Chaud said softly as he relaxed a bit.
"Your father will be mad if you are caught around me"
"For once I don't care, there's nothing going on" Chaud said to her shock.
"Doesn't matter, save yourself the trouble and leave please" Anny said sternly.
"Why do you keep doing this? Putting up walls when I am around?" Chaud asked now growing uncomfortable with how many times she's kept him at a distance.
"It's for your own good, save yourself the agro" Anny replied dryly.
"And if I wanted to chose my friends regardless of whether my father approves of them?"
"Chaud, don't push it. This issue I have with your father is a touchy subject, it's not one to be messed with. Even Tessa Earth knows not to blab about it" Anny commented knowing that he would leave her alone for a bit once a she threw a hint at his direction.
"Tessa?" Chaud's mind went to the kind young woman who served him since the day he was born, always helping him and remained there for him when his father was busy. To his dismay most of his past at a certain age remained spotty, almost as if he was forgetting something important but didn't know what. Regardless of the lack of memories Tessa had been like a second mother to him and if she knew something then taking Anny's advice he would go seek her out for answers.
"Thank you" Chaud said softly.
"Don't thank me yet, she probably won't speak because of him" Anny commented.
"And she won't leave because I asked her to stay" Anny thought while leaning on the chair. Tessa thanks to Anny survived a war that broke out without warning, so many humans and what people would thanks to the comic shows call Reploids died during that massacre. All thanks to Sigma and Lumine. Ever since the rescue Tessa vowed to always remain in Anny's debt, helping her in the shadows even if it meant helping Chaud in secret. Anny was going to keep her distance for sure knowing that she had nothing to worry about. That was unless things went south.
"Do you think Bass is still out there?" Anny asked without thinking, curious Chaud looked at her.
"Who knows, maybe?" Chaud replied with a light shrug. "I'm still surprised he didn't hurt you, he had the opportunity and didn't take it" Chaud commented.
"Maybe he remembered something… humans aren't always the enemy and one did almost die to keep him alive" Anny said with her eyes closed. Surprised Chaud turned to look at her.
"The darkest secret history- the Alpha Revolt, it was covered up by corrupt scientists who arrested an innocent man and were planning to kill a child just to hush her up for knowing too much. Shame Alpha revolted like it did but they still hunt the pair down" Anny commented faintly.
"You sure know a lot about this Alpha Revolt" Chaud commented before hearing her sigh softly.
"I lived it" Anny replied blankly not seeing his stunned look. "I can't enter uncle's lab anymore thanks to them" Chaud almost dropped the cup he was holding in shock, that had to be false. Sensing his skeptical thoughts she sighed.
"Dead man tell no tales, but a fugitive is always on the run. Dr. Light really knows how to cover up a child's tracks… thanks to him I am still alive… for now until they find out"
"What did they do to you? If you don't mind me asking?" Chaud asked feeling edgy, his brows started to sweat as he grew more nervous about her answer.
"Since it won't matter in the end why not" Anny opened her eyes showing a sombre expression. "I tried to stop them killing a friend but they almost killed me instead, Dr. Light got me out of the network in time before I bled to death and then smuggled me into a hospital that wouldn't tell anyone where I was after I was out of the danger zone. Sci Lab Elite Corps wanted to kill me after I was in the recovery room but imagine one of their own turning traitor, then again I doubt he would allow the murder to happen… it would be betraying dad and his code of ethnics. His program went out of control so he took responsibility. I've been living with the Hikaris since ten… bad luck strikes again and I lost two aunts in three years" Anny replied airily, Chaud swallowed thickly.
"I'm sorry for your loss" Chaud said while completely at a loss for words, she smiled wryly.
"First time a male Blaze said that, thanks" Anny said softly but sounded genuine before placing the cup on the table so she could rest.
"S-Sorry about what my family has done to you" Chaud said as he looked at her to see Anny shrugging.
"You didn't ask to have a father like him, it's just bad luck" Anny said as she slowly doused off.
"Doesn't make it right…" Chaud said lowly before looking at Sean, after questioning what would become of Sean. Would he back in the system again? The thought left Chaud uneasy until Anny stirred slightly.
"Uncle said I can take him in" Anny replied startling Chaud.