Words left unsaid

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Treading the net without the aid of a netnavi was something that was hardly ever done in this time and age. This didn't mean it was impossible though, it just meant that everything had been made to fit the netsociaty and the netnavi's actions. The netnavi's did the work, the operators just had to tell them what to do and send chips if nessecary. The only times people had to do any serious work on computers anymore was while creating new programms or functions, and even this was done with the help of netnavis. Like said before, this didn't mean it was impossible to access the net without one. The net just wasn't userfriendly anymore in the way it was when people had to do things themselves and netnavis didn't exist yet. The net was designed to fit the people who used it. And the people who used it used netnavi's. Hikari Netto had no difficulty whatsoever with this. Every night, when the nurses finished their rounds, Netto slipped out of bed to the computer in one corner of his room which was 'supposed' to monitor his health. (sure, getting up hurt like hell the first few days but who cares right?). Once he found his way through the security protocols and had faked all the monitorings that were 'supposed' to happen during those times, Netto accessed the net. It didn't take him very long to notice the scans, the searchattempts looking for Rockmans codes, which seemed to repeat themselves endlessly. Even though Netto was confident that the hidingplace he had designed for Rockman would never be discovered whith this level of search, it never hurt to be careful. Which is why Netto decided to leave severall dummy's spread all over the net which would react to any scanning that hadn't yet been tried before. And these dummy's would have a little… 'present' for the scanning computer as well...

Sighing Netto logged out. He had been here for a week already. After his first visit, his father hadn't returned and even though his mother had visited several times he was getting tired of her insistence that he had to come home. She just couldn't understand it when he said he wasn't ready yet (which was understandable since Netto refused to tell her the reason). Enzan couldn't come over too much since it would be suspicious and when Netto found out about the scans, his plans of secretly contacting Rockman were squashed. This computer didn't have the security or basic functions to create something powerfull enough to keep his father out once Netto loaded exactly what he was searching for (namely Rockman). Sure, he could make dummy's, break in and cover his tracks. His programming rivaled some of the best and he was an excelent hacker. But everything he had done the last couple of days required stealth, not power. Netto knew he would have to wait before he could see his best friend freely again but that didn't mean he had to like it.

"Besides", Netto thought, "once I get back I'll have to tell Enzan about it before I can do anything." Which posed another problem. The things Netto was so good at, for example hacking, were a serious crime in this time and age, for obvious reasons. Which was why he hadn't even told Rockman about it yet. These skills, he had developed them in the years his father had refused to grant him a custom netnavi and later because he sought a way to help Rockman. Creating his own strength somehow. He had kept it a secret. At first it was because he wanted to surprise everyone with what he could do once he was really good (which was one of the reasons why he didn't create a navi for himself… It would have been too obvious). Maybe he'd even be able to help his father at work! Before it came to that however, he had learned about the laws and had to keep his skills hidden. He hadn't stopped develeping them though. He didn't know why himself. Maybe it was because he wanted to be good at something that required brains, something no one thought he even posessed. Maybe it was just because he hated rules. In any case, it sure helped a lot now. But what would Enzan think..? Enzan had saved him. Okay, so Enzan had saved him many times. And he had saved Enzan a few times as well… But this was different. Those other times were more like… work. This time he had chosen to save Netto because he sincerely believed it was the right thing to do… To choose Netto over his orders. Because in fact; he thought the other officials were wrong this time. But Netto knew that Enzan wouldn't support him if he wanted to do something that was against the law… a crime… no matter how good his intentions were. Until now the way he had used his skills was more or less innocent;

Creating completely new kinds of programms without having them officially accepted...

Hacking into hight security computers to see if he could but leaving again right away…

Creating new virusus (oh he would probably flip at that one) only to delete them seconds later..

Writing battlechipdata which he didn't have the power to back up (and which could, at the moment he gained this power, easily destroy complete internetplanes).

If anyone ever found out he had tried to make a replica of the life-virus and succeeded (not without building in a self-destruct sequence though) they'd probably claim him to be a terrorist… Okay so maybe it wasn't THAT innocent but he had never done anything whith his creations and he wouldn't have even if someone had payed him for them.

Now however, the situation was entirely different. The sci-labs, the net police… They were now his opponents and Netto knew he was going to need every bit of skill he posessed if he was going to get himself as well as Rockman through this and still together. And he needed Enzan too. Netto had meant what he told Enzan. If he hadn't been at his side he probably would have been driven back into depression because of this. The fact that his father, a man who he had always wanted to be proud of him, had actually agreed with the order that Rockman should be given to a different operator. Even if he thought Netto to be a burden…Even if he was… It would have been too much.

Enzan would come and get him tomorrow… or today, if you counted precisely since it was already 3 in the morning. And he would probably ask him how he planned to get Rockman back. He probably thought he had just build an internet page with a password secured connection with Rockman's help as a hiding place. But even Rockman himself didn't know exactly where he was at this moment. Netto knew he would have to prepare things to make sure he could work around Enzan if necasary but he couldn´t bring himself to do it… No that was wrong… He just didn´t want to. Enzan had done too much for him to distrust him now. He deserved the complete truth… And that was what Netto was going to give him. He wasn't planning on just dumping it on him though. He'd have to bring it… carefully. Netto almost cringeled as that word shot through his head… That was not his style at al!!! But that was how it would have to be done. If Enzan decided he couldn't stand behind him any longer… Netto would try to think of something when that happened. Though in truth he was somewhat looking forward to Enzans and Rockmans (and Blues´ even though he could only see half of it) faces when he told him. It´s no secret by now that Netto hates keeping secrets (even if this isn´t such a painful one). And just to think; to talk with Enzan about programming. It excited him.

Because Enzan had made Blues himself Netto knew he had to be good, although probably not in the same fields as Netto. And since nobody knew about his skills he hadn´t yet been able to share his interest with anyone else so he looked forward to it. Of course he loved netbattling, but that was different. Especially in the fact that Enzan would always stay his rival first and foremost, which had become clearer with every netbattle they had fought last month. Although they had grown much closer and Enzan had been more of a friend then a rival most of the time… In netbattles their connection had stayed the same. They would always face eachother seriously and there was no room for mistakes. Which was how Netto liked it., especially since he knew he hadn´t even caught up to Enzan completely yet. But still… it would be nice to have another common interest to talk about instaid of only competing. Enzan was a child genius after all. He had not only already finished university but he had a serious job (as vice-president of a big company no less) as well. Which was why Netto had felt, especially in the beginning, that he could hardly reach Enzan. (Although his cold additude and netbattleskills had been at least as important). Their worlds had been so different…

And even though things had changed a lot…

Netto shook his head as if to clear these thoughts from his head as he pushed the final keys of the keyboard before standing up and stretching, the pain of his wound almost completely gone. First things first… His preporations had been made, the final traps set, and his tracks covered. He could probably still get some sleep before the nurses woke everyone up.

Rockman wasn´t back yet…

He still had to talk to Enzan without him flipping out before they could talk about anything like that…

What was he thinking?

Still… Netto couldn´t help smiling as he burried himself beneeth the sheets, slowly drifting off to sleep. It seemed at least his optimism had returned…

If anyone had tips for me on how to improve this story or my writing in general (except for the spelling and gramatics… I already know I suck at that). Please tell me. I know I have just added a new dimension to netto… one that doesn´t exist in the real story so I hope it doesn´t put a damper on it. It was necessary for the storyline (but I´ll probably get some problems with writing details since I don´t know anything about hacking). If you know something you think would help in the story… please tell me… (of course since it is in another time I could just make it up too). Anywayz… till the next chapter and please review…