The small meeting ended quickly with instructions for them to meet at the HQ around 3:30 the next day. On the way out Enzan touched Netto's shoulder gently. "Netto?" he asked.

"Hm?" Netto replied while turning around to come face to face with Laika and Enzan.

"Did you and Rockman 'talk' earlier?" Enzan asked him.

Netto nodded, "Yeah, why?"

Laika shook his head, "I wouldn't if I were you," he said softly.

"Why?" Netto asked.

"Because, they might notice," Enzan said just as softly. "And I don't think you want to explain that kind of thing to them."

Netto blinked, "Oh right. Okay, we'll keep it to a minimum then."

Enzan and Laika both nodded. "Good," they said.

Netto then went up behind both of them and put his hands on their shoulders. "So… a new ice-cream stand opened two blocks away from here about a week ago…" he said slowly.

Enzan and Laika both looked down at him. "And?" Laika asked.

"Wanna go?"

Enzan and Laika both looked a little apprehensive.

"Plllleeeaaaassseeee," Netto begged. "Come on, you two never do anything!"

"That's a bit harsh," Enzan said with a small laugh.

"Please?" Netto asked again.

Enzan sighed, "All right. If you stop whining."

"Agreed," Laika said.

"I'm not whining," Netto protested.

"Yes you are," Laika teased.

Netto crossed his arms and followed his friends out of the building. "Am not!" he retaliated.

Commander Beef chuckled, "Glad to see those kids are still human."

Sharkman nodded, "Indeed."

The next day Netto came into the Net Saviors HQ with his hands behind his head and a tiny grin on his face. The epitome of the average grade school kid without a care in the world. He walked into the room where Enzan and Laika were busily typing away on their keyboards. "Hello," he said cheerfully.

"Hey," they muttered back sullenly.

Netto frowned, but then shrugged and sat down at an extra computer. "Find anything?" he asked them as he put his PET into its slot by the computer.

Laika and Enzan both shook their heads. They both knew that because it was the first day of looking for information it was not very likely that they would really find anything worth investigating, but every journey began with one step.

Netto sighed and let Rockman appear in the internet. "You know the routine," Rockman told him gently. "Let's just stick out the first few days and see what happens, all right?"

His navi's words cheered him a bit and Netto nodded back with a grin, "Right." He entertained the thought of putting on some music for boredom's sake but he knew better then trying to get on Enzan and Laika's nerves so early in the information gathering stage. Their annoyance could wait until they were closer to their goal.

"Hello kids!" a cheerful voice came into the room. Laika and Enzan winced simultaneously while Netto leaned back in his chair until he was looking at Commander Beef upside down.

"Hey!" Netto replied cheerfully. He really did look up to the older man. He was one of the first role models he had aside from his father to look up too when he was younger, him and Masa.

Commander Beef nodded and Netto then took a survey of the room. "Find anything?" he asked.

"No," Laika said tightly. It's not that he didn't have respect for the man in the fish helmet, it's just that he didn't feel like dealing with the whole faux superhero bit for the time being. "We'll tell you when we find anything."

"O-kay," Commander Beef said slowly as he walked out of the room and let the door slide shut.

"You're not going to get them to talk, ever," Netto muttered by his elbow.

Commander Beef jumped back and looked at the child who had just snuck up on him. He never remembered Netto being quite so… stealthy before.

The brunette gave him a large grin, "Don't worry. Give them time, they'll grow on you."

"Aren't you looking for information?" Commander Beef asked him.

Netto shrugged, "I am. But Rockman can do this kind of thing on his own. I don't have to be in front of a computer screen to navigate him." /Isn't that right?/ Netto asked mentally.

/Right,/ Rockman replied, playing along in their little mental game. /Of course if I'm attacked then I'll blame you./

/Rockman, if you're attacked in the sci labs database then we have a lot more to worry about then viruses,/ Netto replied haughtily.

/This is true,/ Rockman admitted.

Netto blinked as Commander Beef waved a gloved hand in front of his face. "Hm?" he blinked and looked up at the taller man.

"You spaced out on me there, kiddo. You okay?" he asked with a touch of concern. He hadn't seen Netto for awhile, so it was only natural to believe that his young protégé could have changed in the past years.

Netto nodded and gave him the smile that he had grown used to over the years that he had known him. "Yeah!" he said cheerfully. "Wanna get something to eat or something?" he asked.

Masa's stomach growled and he patted it. "Do they have fish?"

Netto gave him a skeptical look that read 'I still suspect you' before nodding. "Yeah, lots of fish but its all fried. Not much healthy stuff in the cafeteria."

Masa frowned, "You need your calcium boy," he growled. "Or you're not going to grow up the way you should."

"Uh huh," Netto told him while eyeing him again. "Trust me, I get plenty of food from my mom." This was certainly true, as Haruka had been making sure that Netto had plenty to eat ever since day one of cross fusion.

Masa smiled down at him, "Good. Glad to see that hasn't changed."

Netto crossed his arms, "You talk an awful lot like Masa-san," he muttered.

Masa looked away, "Beeeeffff!" he said suddenly and walked down the hall laughing nervously leaving a very confused Netto behind in the middle of the hallway.

Netto blinked, unsure of what to say or how to react to Commander Beef's rather random action and merely trotted to catch up with him. Together they went into the cafeteria and got food for lunch.

Netto got a salad, hamburger and a chicken sandwich from the buffet line and bought his items at the register. Commander Beef raised an eyebrow at Netto, "Hungry?" he asked.

Netto giggled, "Not this much. I'm getting stuff for Laika and Enzan. I know they probably haven't eaten for awhile."

/From what Blues is telling me, try since last night at the ice cream stand,/ Rockman noted.

Netto blinked/Seriously?/ he asked while grabbing some chip bags for good measure.

/Enough to warrant Blues' worry,/ Rockman replied.

/Huh,/ Netto replied and got several drinks as well. It was best to make it a meal if that was true.

Masa peered over Netto's shoulder. "You care for them don't you?" he asked.

Netto nodded, "Someone has too," he said with a wicked grin.

/Netto-kun!/ Rockman yelped. Netto chose to ignore that reply.

Masa chuckled, "I remember when you and young Enzan were something of bitter rivals, if not enemies."

Netto nodded, "I remember that too," he said kindly while paying for his lunch. "But he changed," he said softly. "Laika did too, but it's harder to tell unless you're around him a lot."

"Maybe they just changed for you," Masa suggested.

Netto blinked and picked up his purchases. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Masa ruffled Netto's hair as he paid for his fish sandwich. "You're a good kid, Netto-kun, and a better friend. Not many would want to give that up."

Netto laughed, "Yeah, but Laika tells me at least once a day that I'm the most annoying person on the planet."

Masa shrugged, "But he's still your companion."

Netto nodded, "That's true. I never thought about it that way."

"You wouldn't," Masa said softly.

"Hmm?" Netto asked.

"Nothing," Masa said quickly as he adjusted his helmet nervously. "Let's head back."

"Okay," Netto said cheerfully as they walked back down the hall.

New chapter hope you liked. As always hugs and cookies to my reviewers and I'll see you next time.