Tabula Rasa

"BLAST HIM TO THE BOWLS OF HELL!" shouted Regal as all of his links to Sean drop dead, with the exception of his heart monitor, which kept going at a steady pace. "How did that little twerp broke free? He was so CLOSE. SO CLOSE!! His soul would have given more power to the Nebula!"

The scientist grinded his teeth in his fit of pure rage. After inhaling deep breath repeatedly until he calmed down.

"No matter, I still have enough data to build; I just need a decent power source… that has to do with the human mind…" Regal suddenly had an epiphany. He raced over to his file cabinet and pulled out a long row of folders, all with 'CLASSIFIED' labels on them. Regal simple took the last one in the drawer out, looking at it with a great grin.

"Father, you chose the right child to carrying on your legacy."

000

Lan slid into the Hospital with skates still on and continued going while taking them off of his shows as he was approaching a closing elevator, getting inside by just a hair.

"Lan," said an annoyed Megaman, "You should slow down before you hurt yourself. Sean isn't going any where outside of the hospital."

"Well, I just want to make sure he made a complete recovery. If he wakes up, I want to talk to him."

"What are you going to talk about?"
Lan hesitated but then said, "I have no idea."

After arriving the on the floor, Lan ran out of the elevator and took a sharp turn around the bend to get to Sean's room. Lan came to a stop when he spotted the two police man outside the door. He then saw Inspector Oda exiting the room and coming to him.

"Inspector Oda," greeted Lan nervously, "Uh… I came here to see Sean…. Is everything okay?"

"Not for him, so far." Replied the officer, implying to Sean, "He's currently under house-arrest for a little while. Until then, the kid is under the radar, the last thing we need is a media circus about the kid. The guards just know that a criminal is that room, but not Shuryou himself. I also had the hospital to remove any data about his whereabouts here to be altered. As an added precaution, I will bring him his food instead of the nurses."

"What about visitors? Can he at least have those?"

"Err," pondered the inspector, "Not now, I don't think it would be a good idea with the guards around. I'll send them away later today. Till then, I'll contact you when the time is right. Why do you want see him anyway, Lan?"
"Uhh… well." Said Lan, sounding a bit ashamed, "You see… I read his journal and Sean lived a pretty harsh life."

"He didn't felt love," added Megaman from his PET, helping his younger brother, "When his parents died and he had to live with wicked relatives. He never received any real acknowledgement from anywhere except on the Net."
"And how did you come to know this, you two."
"I read… his journal. " Answered Lan.

"And what he had to deal through, it's no wonder he just came to crime."
"Really?" said Oda, trying to sound more amazed than he really was, he then started to mutter to himself, "Just like the others…"

"Wait!" exclaimed Lan, "What others?"

"It's currently under investigation, Lan. I can't really tell you anymore than that."

"Well, is there any other way I can talk to him? I sort of… promised Sean that I would be… his friend."

"'His friend?'" said the old man is disbelief. This kid is being charge with crimes against humanity and Lan, the person who busted kid, offered to be his friend? Oda stop and consider the situation if he was in Lan's shoes. He then put his hand on boy's shoulder and said. "Lan, you have a sense of compassion and justice that all-star officers have in the line of duty. If you and that kid were grown up, I would say you were dumb as bricks, but that's not the case here.

"We're bringing in his laptop as part of the integration. We found it at the apartment in Kotobuki. My partner is due at any moment. Maybe you e-mail him."

"But I don't know his address, how am I going to contact him?" asked Lan, then another question came into his mind, "And since when do you have a partner?"

"Since I got promoted," said a voice that Lan was all together familiar with. He turned around to find Chuad, walking, or at least striding, towards the two with the laptop secured under his arm. With a smug smirk and pose, he began to debrief the two of his activates

"I just came back from Gospel's base. This the kid's laptop right here. I sent Protoman in to investigate any booby traps, I would be a really troublesome if this little thing blow up in HQ."

"I trust you had a permit for that," said Oda, agitated by his young counterpart's going over his head.

"I did. I also had a permit to personal investigate the entire contents of the computer."

"So what did you find, Chuad?" ask Lan, wandering what Sean does on his computer.

"That's just it," answered the ace Official, "Protoman and I scanned through ever file in the computer, even ones that haven't been open for nearly five years, and could barely find anything concert to Gospel. There was a Navi Maker program as well a Virus maker, but nothing blameworthy than Gospel's schedule plans and a rooster of its members around the world."

"But he had to be more," protested the inspector, "He must had a command program to make that Bug Fusion to work."

"That's one of the bigger mysterious," said Chaud, sounding almost as baffle as Lan and Oda, "We did find that Command Program, but the thing is, it was a compressed file, sent via e-mail… from someone from Murkland, someone who is not on Gospel's rooster."

"So," pondered the Inspector, "you think this kid not the real head honcho?"

"But, he was, wasn't he?" ask Lan, a bit confused by all of this. "He had the motive, and he was there in the apartment to see the creation of Bass was a success. He had to be a leader of Gospel."

"Or to make us think he was." The Inspector murmured. Lan gave a quizzical look, not sure of anything now. The Inspector sighed and tilted his hat over his brow. "Lan, this is going to be serious police work. LONG serious police work. The kind of stuff you shouldn't be involved with. Go home."

"But what Sean? I want to talk to him."

"You can try again tomorrow. Just go home."

Lan, knowing he can't win, hung his head in defeat and began to slink away. But when was about to walk past Chuad, the thirteen year old leaned towards Lan and bump into him, making the young Net battler to fall to his feet.

"Watch it, Hikari." Said Chaud as he walked with the Inspector to Sean's room.

"Nice for you to care, Eugene." Muttered Lan as he got back on his feet. He then noticed a small slip of paper on the floor, and on it said Lan look at this with a gapping mouth.

"What is it, Lan?" ask the blue NetNavi, concerned for his brother well being.

"I think this Sean's E-Mail address!" Was Lan's answer. The young boy then looked over his shoulder, seeing Chaud walking through the bedroom door.

000

Lan charged out of the hospital almost as fast when he came in, now hoping to get to his computer. On the way out of the door, Lan bumped into a big guy and fall down on his butt. But he quickly recovered and said "Sorry" without even looking at the man's face. Partly half of it was covered by the man's long and messy hair and on was at least One O'clock stubble. The man kept a stern watch on Lan before he disappeared around the bend. The man then walked into the hospital.

000

"I'm telling you," said Sean as he sitting up in bed, answering his two inquisitors' questions, "I don't remember a thing about this Gospel thing."

"If you have no memories of it," said Chuad in a demanding tone, "Then why aren't you denying your involvement with it?"

"I don't know," said the boy, feeling flustered, "It was like a dream to me, but it couldn't be real."

"So you DO have knowledge of your actions as the Leader of the NetMafia. It's just being repressed. Tell me what you know."

"I just… I just… I JUST DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ANY MORE," Sean was at the breaking point. "All I can remember that I was five years old, my hair was brown, my eyes were green, and my parents are dead. Everything else, how I got here and the last five years, all of it was just a dream, I don't know whatever I did or didn't commit those crimes. I just don't know…" Sean held his hanging head in his hands, feeling weak from his emotional outburst.

Knowing that he'll get nothing more from Sean, Chuad got up and left the room, Inspector Oda did the same. With the two gone, Sean laid his head on his pillow. Million thoughts ran around his head. How did five years moved so fast? Why is their a gap in his memory then and now? And why his hair and eyes are no longer of their respective colors?

Sean noticed that when Chaud left the room, had left Sean's laptop in the room. He originally brought it in to help with the interrogation and must have forgotten to bring it. Feeling lost and confused Sean deicide to surf the internet for comfort. Surprisingly, the hospital had a Wireless Signal Modem that granted him access outside the hospital.

000

"Interrogating a kid," said the inspector in disbelief as he entered the elevator with Chuad. "I have done that before down at headquarters, but nothing as serious as his."

"Until more evidence to find him innocent of the charges," stated Chuad, "The kid is going to be punished to the full extent of the law."

"We do have a testimony from someone who actually went through the kid's mind, but I doubt the Lord of the Undernet will have decent creditability in court."

"Is Serenade SURE that whatever took Sean over is really gone?"

"She says there is still a slight trace of it still in him, but other than that, he has a clean slate. So far any time between when that thing was in the kid to his defeat of it last night is just a dream to the kid.

"As long as the kid plays his cards right, he could follow his parents' legacy of being contributors to society."

"And with Lan to back him, Sean will do just that."

"Speaking of which, how did you know that Lan needed the kid's e-mail address?"

"It's a friend thing." Was Chaud's response, giving off of what one would call a 'play-boy smile.'

The elevator came to a stop, and as the door slide open, both the young and old Net Battler found a tall man standing in front of them.

"Mister Oda, Mister Blaze," he greeted, "I was just on my way to see you, I am Colonel Baryl of the Netopia Army. I am here to discuss to you about Sean Obihiro."

000

Sean still couldn't believe how much things had change during his five year 'absence.' In DK comics, his favorite superhero, Hyper-Lad, the hybrid human clone of Hyper-Man, died in comic crossover called 'Infinite Catastrophe,' Another hero, Captain Netopia, from Spectacular Comics, died by a simple snipper attack shortly after Arachno-Dude revealed his secret identity to the world. Also, both the 'Harry Booter' and 'Change-A-Mals' series done and over with.

What surprised Sean the most was that for over five years, he has only one e-mail, and this one was just sent a few minutes ago. Having nothing better to do, the young boy opened it and read the contents

Dear Sean,

How are you? Not too well, I guess. I know you going through a lot of stuff now, and want to keep my promise, but there is so much red-tape in the way.

I know when we first 'actually' meet, you were a different person, but I want to know the real you. Not because of pity, but it is the right thing to do. I mean… what's a really good reason why we shouldn't know each other? Sure, you made some REALLY big mistakes. But like I said before, you're different now, and I want to know the real you.

Maybe sometime, we can meet up at the park or something and have a fun around town, if you are in town at the time. (My Navi is really nagging me on the grammar in the letter :P) Me, my parents, and my friends are planning to go on a campy trip next week to kick off the last day of summer vacation. I still have homework to due, but I'll have it done by then. Maybe, after you cleared up a few things, you can join us.

Please reply soon,

Lan Hikari.

Lan Hikari. The name seemed to echo in Sean's mind. Sean suddenly recalled a moment in his memory gap. It was recent… yesterday? It was in an apartment building… Lan was giving him an open hand… and it made Sean happy. Sean felt that he could truly trust Lan. He then began to start on his reply letter.

He was halfway through when someone door to his room opened. And who would have step in but his dear Uncle Baryl, accompanied by Chuad Blaze and Inspector Oda.

The old, crusty cop tip his hat to Sean, "Kid, did you ever hit the jack pot in the Justice game."

000

Doctor Wily was outside for a change. He usually spends most of his days in his dark lab. But today, he felt like he had to pay respects. He wore overcoat, like a homeless man, pushing a recycling cart across the front of the hospital. He stopped momentarily to look at the sea, knowing that somewhere, out in the big blue, his believe daughter lied.

Tron, he thought, praying if you will, please forgive me. I was a loyal friend to Thomas, even when I loathed his Cyberworld concept when it won over my robot concept. The military fools were too crowdedly to work out the plan, fearing imaginary consequences of robot labors rather than the benefits. It pained me to help Thomas with his work, but I did as his friend. But when he died… I saw it as a sign that my work was to pass beyond Thomas's. I recruited my sons to for cause, but when I offered it to you, you turned it down. Was it because you preferred Thomas as father than I?

All that I could give you children was an education, I let your mother to give you love. But I should for seen the variable of her parting. After that, Thomas was a second father to you. Teaching you his work while you rejected mine.

And what another steak to the heart was that Thomas's son's project to advance that CyberWorld had brought you the love of a husband, and a joy of child.

Now… because of your brother's loyalty to me, he had stolen your son's innocence. Regal broke Sean after he lost you, using as a mere tool. I taught him that nothing else matters but for goal that I thought of.

I know you'll never forgive me. But I will make amends, for Sean's sake. He has never known me, and he'll never will. He has fresh start now, as well as something he lost long ago, his freedom. With hope, he will follow in your footsteps, instead of mine.

The Hospital's main doors opened, as Sean, Baryl, Chuad, and Inspector Oda walked out of the building. Baryl laid a hand on Sean's shoulder. Dr Wily could not help but notice that Sean took a great resemblance to himself. Seeing his grandson for the first time, Wily just walked away.

000

Lan was surfing the internet, checking various things online to pass the time to see if Sean wrote back. It was getting late in the afternoon. From his PET, Megaman looked somewhat annoyed.

"You know Lan," he said like a parent, "You could use this time to get your homework done."

"I'll do it later," Lan said with his eyes glued to the screen.

"That's what you said yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before, and-"

"Hey! Sean wrote back!"

"Well open it up and let's read it." Megaman seemed to forget his lecturing to Lan at the chance to hear from Sean. Lan clicked open the message and read on.

Dear Lan,

Thanks for sending me that e-mail. I've been told that I lost my memory of the last five years of my life, but bits are coming and going, and I'm starting feel that what the authorities been telling me is a bit true. I did a lot things to a lot of people that no kid should do. And if I am responsible to what I am told, then justice needs to be serve. But how? I first thought of taking my life. But then I remember that deal we made, and I had an epiphany. I could have died for my wicked deeds yesterday, but I didn't. I was given a second chance, the kind that not every gets. I've been drowned by sorrow of my parents' passing, chilled to the bone my Uncle's pitiless character, and burned by my own fiery wrath. After taking in some much darkness, I think I understand the world in a way one else can.

You said you want to know the real me. Well, I'm not sure who is the real me. Everything seems all so new to me now. I hardly l hate anything (even spinach) but I don't feel much joy from anything. The only things that seem to matter to me is my other uncle, my departed parents, and you, Lan. It may sound over sentential, and we hardly know each other; but yet, I trust you like a brother.

Anyway, as I was writing this, my Uncle came into my room. He says he been looking for me for sometime now and found me when I was registered at the hospital. He's in the military, so stuff like tracking people down is his forte. He knows of my condition and get this: He is taking me around the world. He says that my grandfather did the same thing for him and made him to what he is. He says he is retired as all of the time in world as for me… I feel like I can take a break from school (I seem to have High School level education. The distance of two points is equal to the square root of Y-2 minus Y-1 squared plus the sum total of X-2 minus X-1 squared) So I can't make it to that picnic you talked about. But when I come back to Electopia, I'll give you a call and meet at the park like you said. I can't wait for it. But until then, I'm heading to Yumland and maybe help a few people. I think that was my problem, I just cared about my problems instead of others. Maybe I can prevent another kid going done the path I made. Maybe I can keep my end of that promise; after all, you have to be a friend to have friends.

Good tiding and best wishes,

Sean Obihiro.

"Wow," was Megaman's response after reading the last line, "Sean seems more peaceful now than when we meet him back in Kotobuki."

Personally, Lan was speechless. He may have saved the world twice, but it felt like nothing like saving a single life by being a good friend…