Ch2

Slur summoned spears of light to break the waves of ice sent after her. Iceman and Colorman were just another series of opponents who she and her operator had fought against.

"Slur are you alright?" Netto asked through the PET.

"I am," she said as she summoned a wall of ice to block a combined attack from Iceman and Colorman. "Nothing I can't handle. Go and help your friends."

"Alright but use this. Firesword slot int!" Netto said.

A flaming sword appeared on her hand. I told you I can handle it. Yet she knew her operator's desire to help her was genuine which was why she didn't protest.

She charged at Iceman, the small navi's eyes widened in fear as she easily melted his ice before slashing him with the sword. Pathetic runt. The tiny navi tripped over himself and stared at her with wide eyes.

"Slur watch out!" Netto yelled. "Barrier slot in!"

She turned to see Colorman launch a fire tower at her. This is getting old. With a sigh, she summoned a pair of light swords in her hand and cut through the fire. Charging at Colorman the navi fired his large white ball at her.

"It'll take more than that to hurt me," she said as she sliced through it. Colorman's eyes widened as she quickly advanced on him and sliced off his arms.

Colorman screams were short lived as she stabbed him in the chest causing him to be logged out. "Now then one more runt to go," she said turning to Iceman. The small navi shook on the ground, fear was in his eyes as she approached him. "Time to meet your maker."

"Slur wait!" Netto said. "Don't hurt him."

She frowned and looked at her operator. "Why not? He also was responsible for this mess."

"I know," Netto said frowning at her. "But his operator was being told to do it against his will. He was only an unwilling accomplice."

"If you insist," she sighed as her swords dematerialized. Personally she didn't care if this pitiful navi was deleted or not but her operator was still too soft when it came to his enemies.

Calm down I am to follow his orders. This was her mission, she had to play the part even if she didn't agree with it. Turning to Iceman she folded her arms. "Go back to your operator before my operator gets second thoughts."

Iceman quickly got up and nodded before logging out. "Come on Slur lets go," Netto said.

She nodded and quickly returned to her PET. It seems these cyber attacks are becoming more and more common. A part of her wondered if it was either coincidence that they happened around her or some kind of fate.

She watched as her operator talked to Iceman's operator. The little boy seemed calm and seemed to open up to Netto and was even smiling by the time it all ended.

I don't know if he is a fool or not for going out of his way to help people. Humans were nothing of significance but it was her duty to follow her assigned operator and she would do this task with the upmost devotion.

"Netto-kun don't forget about finishing your homework when you get home," she said. Despite her operator's desire to help people he was still lazy about certain things like school or waking up on time.

"I know," Netto sighed. "Hey Slur you did a great job. I'm glad to have a partner like you."

She smiled at her operator. "It is a pleasure to serve you."

"You don't have to talk so formally," Netto said frowning at the PET screen. "I know my dad wants you to watch over me but are partners."

Partners. The word was amusing to her but she had to deal with her operator for now. There could be worse. "Of course Netto-kun."

Netto smiled at him. "Come one lets go home."

The rest of the evening was normal. She helped her operator with homework and after everything was said and done he went to bed. As soon as her operator was asleep she quickly went to prepare her report for Lord Duo.

She sent the message telepathically since she had a special link with Duo. "My lord I assisted Hikari Netto in thwarting another terrorist attack."

Duo's presence was faint but she could still feel him throughout her body. "Anything remarks on the people of this world?"

"They are weak and pitiful." She took a deep breath. "Hikari Netto is a sweet child. He is merciful even though I sometimes disagree with mercy".

"Continue with your observations," Duo said his voice and presence reverberating throughout her body. "How well are you bonding with him?"

She froze trying to think of the correct answer. "He trusts me."

Duo paused, she could feel his presence it was calm as if he were debating something big. "How is your relationship with him?"

"I think he is a good boy," She said frankly.

"I see. Do not forget you are to work with him," Duo said. "I expect you to build some sort of relationship with him. This is your trail too don't forget it"

"Understood," she said out loud.

"I expect to hear improvements in that area in your next review," Duo said firmly.

"Yes sir," she could feel Duo's presence dissipate from her body. As soon as it was completely gone she sighed and looked around the walls of the cyberworld.

Looking down at her hands she clenched her fists. He is a nice boy and he does seem to care about other people. She felt the insignia on her chest, maybe it was some residue of whatever program she absorbed when she became Netto's navi but a part of her wanted to be closer to her operator.

Clenching her fist she looked up at the ceiling of the cyberworld. I suppose I could put more effort into getting to know him. A feeling pulsed inside of her, she touched her insignia once more. It was a strange sensation, a part of her felt like she was doing it out of duty to Duo while another wanted to do it out of her own free will.

Calm down it's just a mission. Yeah she felt as if she were in a world made of glass but luckily Netto seemed friendly and willing to work with her.

When it was time for her operator to wake up she activated the alarm. "Netto-kun time to wake up," she said repeatedly. Her operator slowly woke up with a moan. Young humans do require sleep but I think he sleeps to much at times.

Netto woke up and yawned. "Morning Slur."

"Good morning Netto-kun," she said with a smile. "Come on lets get ready for school."

Her operator got out of bed and got ready for the day. She made sure he had everything he needed including his homework.

"Hey Slur remember a few days ago we were talking about that N1 Grand Prix tournament?" Netto asked as they walked to school.

"Yes I remember. It was some kind of net battling tournament," she said. Net battling was one of her operator's passions, he was good but she herself hadn't had a worthy opponent since she got here.

Netto looked down at her from the PET. "I want us to compete what do you think? We'll be going up against many strong opponents but I know we can beat them."

She smiled at her operator. "If you wish to compete and win I'll do my best to not let you down."

"Don't worry with my operating skills and your powers we won't be stopped," Netto said with a grin on his face.

"Of course," she said. Teamwork. This might be a good opportunity to work on that. "To be honest most of these petty criminals haven't been much of a challenge. I look forward to seeing what other navis can do."

"Yeah I noticed that," Netto said with a smile. "Don't worry I know we will face stronger opponents sooner or later."

She only nodded as they approached the school. Her operator quickly went to his friends, to her surprise that boy Tohru and his navi Iceman were now friends with her operator.

"Hello Slur you remember Iceman don't you?" Roll said as she pointed to the small navi who had fear in his eyes as she made contact with him.

"Yes I do," she said folding her arms. Iceman avoided her gaze and nodded.

"Come on we aren't enemies anymore," Roll said with a smile.

Well I guess I should play along. She forced a small on her face. "Of course. Nice to meet you Iceman," She said. Her operator was a forgiving person, it was a decent quality of his.

"Anyway come on lets go to class now," Roll said.

She nodded and quickly went into her PET. It was the usual monotony that she found tedious. From helping her operator with simple problems to taking part in destroying simple viruses, though the latter her operator also found boring.

He is a friendly person. She looked at her operator from the PET, he was enjoying some free time with his friends. If all humans were like him this mission would already be over. Yet she also knew not all humans were like her operator, some like this WWW were intent on causing mayhem and destruction.

Overall though the next few days were relatively quiet. No new cyber attacks occurred, instead continued to hold her punches in net battling the neighborhood kids.

"Hey Slur how are you and Netto doing?" Roll asked one weekend while their operators were hanging out. Apparently a famous Yoga master named Mahajorama was going to do a special performance.

"He is fine," she said with a smile. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh just curious," Roll said. "Netto always wanted a custom navi, I could see that he is really happy to have you by his side."

"Really? Well I do enjoy working with him," she said. Roll was a kind navi who enjoyed speaking with her, probably because she was also a female navi.

Roll smiled at her. "I'm glad to hear it. You two are a great team."

"Yeah he really enjoys net battling," she said. Teamwork I never had a team before. The word was pretty foreign to her. For most of her existence, she existed to serve Duo and execute his orders. Though working with Netto is a mission of its own working with him isn't horrible.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the screams of Roll's operator Meiru. "What's going on?" She asked. Looking up she saw her operator and Meiru were both running from their friends who chased them like animals

"Slur something weird is happening," Netto said. "They were watching that yoga channel and suddenly they started acting weird."

Damn it looks like more trouble. "Hurry to a safe location we'll figure something out there," she said.

Her operator quickly made it to his house with Meiru. "What could have happened?" Meiru asked shaking her head.

"It must be that yoga guy," Netto said as he flipped through the TV. The various news channels should people acting like animals all over town. "Everyone was watching him."

She nodded. "Netto-kun what do you want me to do?" Though she knew her operator already wanted to go if the fire in his eyes were anything to say about it.

"Lets go," Netto said firmly. "We have to help everyone before it gets out of hand."

Meiru nodded. "Lets go. He must be at the TV station."

Netto nodded. "Slur come on lets go."

"Roger," she said. Lets see what this new enemy has in store for us. A part of her was curious to see what this new threat could be, even if she knew she could take care of it by herself.

Her operator and Meiru quickly ran through the city doing their best to avoid hypnotized people. "Slur work with Roll on the inside," Netto said once they made it to the TV station. "Plug in Slur!"

She quickly arrived in the cyberworld with Roll by her side. "Come on lets go," she said summoning a light sword in her hand.

Roll nodded and followed her into TV station's network. They were immediately greeted by a punch of viruses. She slashed a swordy virus with her sword. "Come on this way," she said.

"Got it," Roll said as she defeated some viruses.

They turned the corner and a bunch of ghost viruses came at them. Snapping her fingers light spears sprang from the ground and pierced the viruses killing them instantly. Pitiful defense.

"Slur we are going inside be careful ok?" Netto said.

"Got it," she said while slicing another virus in half. "Be careful we don't know what plans the enemy may have in store."

"Don't worry I'll be safe," Netto said. "Besides I'm not alone. I have you and Meiru."

She nodded. I'm strong enough to protect both of us yet you still put value in your friends. An interesting take indeed. A part of her wondered if her operator's belief in teamwork was due to his age or inexperience. Or maybe he actually cares about other people. She slashed at some more viruses with her swords effortlessly deleting them.

She and Roll turned and entered the control room and encountered a blue net navi that looked like some magician. "Halt," she said drawing a pair of light swords in her hand.

The navi turned to her. "Who do we have here? I am Magicman, you both don't stand a chance against me."

A screen appeared next to the navi revealing the yoga instructor Mahajorama. "Magicman defeat these fools now."

"We won't let you get away with this," Netto said. His screen appearing next to her. "Come on Slur lets defeat this guy. Battle Routine set!"

"Execute!" she said as Magicman summoned a pair of viruses that charged at her.

"I got them," Roll said as she fired some hearts at the viruses.

"I'll deal with the navi you take care of the minions," she said while slashing a ghost virus in half.

Gripping her swords she charged at Magicman who fired a torrent of blue flames at her. "Area steal!" Netto said. She could've dodged the attack but she decided to allow her operator to assist her. Lets see what we can do together. Personally she could take this navi without help but if her operator insisted on helping she didn't mind.

She found herself teleported to the right of Magicman. The blue navi was taken by surprise as spears erupted from the ground and attacked him.

"Damn it," Magicman swore as she tried to escape.

"Vulcan slot in!" Netto said.

She fired the blaster at Magicman but the enemy summoned a blue aura that blocked her attack. "Netto-kun don't worry my spears have him held tight. Do you have another area steal?"

"I do but air shoes should work better if you have him held down," Netto said.

"Sounds good," she said as she snapped her fingers and took out the viruses near Roll with another series of spears.

"Air shoes slot in!" Netto said.

She felt the shoes envelop around her feet. Tapping her heels on the ground she quickly activated shoes and was in the air. Got you now you maggot.

Magicman was still struggling against his binds. The navi summoned another barrier of fire around him but she pierced through it and stabbed him in the chest. Magicman's eyes widened, he let out a scream as he was logged out.

"We did it!" Netto exclaimed.

She smiled at her operator. "Netto-kun enemy has been neutralized."

Roll went up to her. "Thanks for the help Slur."

"Don't mention it," she said with a smile. Her eyes picked up movement out the corner. "Get back!"

She pushed Roll out of the way and summoned her sword in time to counter a red navi's sword.

"Netto-kun a new enemy has appeared," she said as the red navi tried to attack her. His movements were quick and fluid, definitely more professional than these WWW goons.

"Slur be careful," Netto said.

"Don't wory I can handle any goon of WWW," She said as she blocked another attack. "Keep an eye out for anything on your end."

The red navi's eyes were covered but the way he frowned at her was more than enough to know that she pushed a button. He dashed at her quickly, but she was quicker and countered the attack. This navi is more professional, much more viscious. A smile spread across her face. Finally a challenge.

"Don't you dare put me in the same spot as those criminals," The red navi growled.

She laughed. "Well what type of person attacks a lady?" With one quick movement she blocked his attack and kicked him in the gut sending the navi flying.

"Blues that's enough," said a voice. A screen appeared next to the red navi. A boy around her operator's age appeared, he had black and white hair and blue eyes that didn't appear friendly.

"I know you. You're Ijuin Enzan," Meiru said. "Vice President of IPC and an official net battler working for the net police."

She looked at the boy, his eyes were cold and unfriendly as they looked at Netto and Meiru. "What business do you both have here?" Enzan asked. "I'm on official net police business, civilians like you shouldn't interfere."

"Hey we were just helping out," Netto said with a frown. She could tell Netto didn't like this boy, frankly she was in agreement.

What a pest. Looking over Blues she wondered if Netto would give her permission to let her deal with him.

"Whatever," Enzan said. "Just stay out of my way in the future. I won't hesitate to have my navi delete yours. Blues come on."

"Yes sir," Blues said with a bow before logging out.

"What a prick," Netto muttered. "Come on Slur lets get out of here."

She nodded and quickly returned to her PET. After making sure that Netto's friends were ok they returned home and rested. "Man that was something," Netto sighed stretching his arms in the air.

"It was. The enemy was nothing too difficult but that red navi I fear he may be a greater threat if we face him again," she said.

Netto nodded. "Yeah he seems like a jerk." Her operator then turned to her and smiled. "I'm glad we could work together. but I'm glad you are navi. I'm looking forward to fighting with you in the future."

She smiled at her operator. "Of course Netto-kun. I will be by your side and follow your commands."