Ch27
Netto stood in the middle of the chamber holding Rockman's PET. "Alright son do it on three," his father said as he began to count down. "One, two, three!"
"Synchro Chip slot in!" He yelled as he placed the synchro chip into the PET.
There was a flash of light as he felt the familiar energy envelop him his hand also glowing. Rockman's presence enveloped him, it wasn't as strong as Slur's energy but it was still like a powerful armor enveloping him.
When he opened his eyes he looked down and saw that he had indeed cross fused with Rockman. "Cool," he said as he activated his blaster. "Dad I feel good." Taking a few steps he didn't feel as powerful or protected as with Slur but it was still pretty cool.
He looked in the chamber next to him and saw that Gorou Misaki still was having trouble doing it. "Don't worry Misaki-san I'm sure you'll do it."
Misaki gave him a small smile and muttered his thanks as he continued to try cross he could tell by the look in his eyes that he was frustrated.
"Alright Netto how do you feel in comparison to Slur?" His father asked.
"Uh about the same," he said with a nervous laugh. He didn't like lying but he didn't want to tell his dad that he felt more powerful with Slur and then try to look into her some more.
After doing some tests for his dad which involved shooting at targets and doing various exercises he was allowed to leave. As he was about to head to the cafeteria he ran into Gorou Misaki. "Oh Misaki-san would you like to get some lunch together?"
Misaki looked at him and nodded. "Sure if you don't mind."
After they both got their food they sat across from each other on a table. "So how do you like cross fusion?" Misaki asked avoiding his gaze.
"Oh its pretty fun but draining," He said. "I've done it with both of my navis. How about you?"
Misaki avoided his gaze and frowned. "I'm afraid I still haven't gotten it." There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"Don't worry I'm sure you'll get eventually," he said. "You seem like a strong guy and have a cool navi, I'm sure can do it eventually."
Misaki gave him a small smile. "Thanks. I bet you must think I'm pathetic for not being able to cross fuse already."
"Why would I? Only me and you have done it so far," He said. "How about we practice together? I can help you develop your bond with your navi so you can cross fuse. Besides it will be good to have some back up."
Misaki scratched his head and nodded. "Thanks. I want to be a good net policemen but this is really a tough challenge for me."
"Great! Come on lets go and practice," he said.
Miskai smiled at him and nodded. After the two finished eating they went to an area where they could net battle. "Plug in Rockman!"
"Plug in Prismman!" Their navis appeared on the screen facing each other.
"Alright lets go Vulcan slot in!" Rockman fired a Vulcan at Prisman who blocked it with some tonfas.
"Area Steal slot in!" Misaki said.
Prismman teleported to Rockman's right and began to fire the canons on his arm
"Barrier slot in!" He said as Rockman did his best to avoid the attack. "Canon slot in!"
With that the two net battle for about half an hour. Misaki was a fun opponent and he was taking it seriously enough for him to give him a challenge. This is fun. He watched as Rockman dodged Prisman's canons and prisms.
They were doing well when an alarm in the building went off. "Attention Net City is under attack all net saviors please help in the defence of the city." He saw a video of a hoard of viruses followed by that vampire navi Shademan terrorizing Net City.
"Damn it," he swore. He turned to Misaki. "Want to help me defeat these people."
Misaki looked at him and nodded. "I would like that."
"Alright. Plug in Slur! He said. Looking down at his PET he had gotten messages from Shun and Meiru that they were sending their navis to help him. "Alright guys are friends will be there soon lets stop these viruses."
Slur slashed through the array of bat viruses. "Foolish creatures," she said as her chords and spear eradicated them. In the distance Freezeman and Prismman were taking care of the viruses while Rockman and Roll were battling the darkloid Flashman.
Not that leaves you with me. She looked as Shademan descended glaring at her. I could feel his evil, this pitiful creature must die.
"You dare disrupt Nebula," Shademan sneered. "You shall pay."
She laughed. "Insolent creature I shall bring down my judgment on you."
Shademan unleashed a sonic attack. "Area Steal slot in!" Netto said.
She avoided the attack and summoned spears from the ground. Shademan took flight as she thought he would. With a flick of her wrists, she summoned a series of chords, Shademan flew and tried avoiding them but she ended up creating a net capturing the navi.
Shademan snarled in pain as he was electrocuted. She smiled as she summoned her light swords in her hands.
"You'll pay for that," Shademan snarled as she removed her chains.
"Oh really? Tell me how?" She charged at the navi and stabbed him in the chest. Shademan screamed as she lifted him up. Shademan struggled against her grip. "Now then why don't you start talking."
"Never," Shademan spat. "I would pay attention to your ally."
She looked over at Rockman who was having trouble dealing with Flashman since Roll was getting hurt. "Don't worry my operator can handle them," she said gripping Shademan by the throat. She had told Netto to keep an eye on Rockman while she dealt with this navi.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Shademan laughed as Roll screamed.
Turning around she saw a beam of lights head towards her as Rockman lunged to protect her. Netto screamed and she saw a flash of light. Rockman! When the light disappeared she saw what looked like a fusion of Rockman and Roll. Well I guess that works.
She turned to Shademan and sliced off one of his arms. "Now then start talking who sent you."
Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Rockman defeat Flashman with that new power up of his while Freezeman and Prismman took care of the remainder of the viruses.
Shademan screamed as spears pierced him from the ground. "Nebula will you take you down," He seethed his eyes glowing red.
She laughed as she lopped off his other hand. "Oh really? I would like to see you-"
"Screen Divide!"
She swore as she dropped the navi and leapt into the sky narrowly avoiding the yellow blade of a new navi. That attack was more powerful than I thought. She laned a few feet from where she was. Standing between her and Shademan was a black masked navi with a yellow sword and a cape.
"Retreat now," The navi said sternly. "I'll handle this one." Shademan glared at her but nodded before logging out.
"Now who do I have the pleasure?" She asked gripping her swords in her hand.
The navi responded by chagrining at her. She blocked his attack with her swords the navi's movements were precise and deadly. He is no ordinary navi, he has seen combat.
She summoned a series of chains and spears to attack the navi but military navi easily broke through them. Damn it this one is stronger than I thought.
"You're judgement ends her Slur," the navi said coldly.
Her eyes widened. "Who are you?" How do you know who I am?
She parried his sword with hers. The navi's face was concealed by a mask but she could tell that this navi had the intent to kill her. "I'll put an end to you and your lord's schemes," the navi said coldly.
"Slur!" Rockman yelled.
The mysterious navi leaped back as Rockman fired began to attack him with arrows just as Freezeman and Prismman began to attack him.
"Foolish navis stay out of the way," The masked navi growled.
Rockman stepped forward, admittedly he looked ridiculous fused with Roll the way he did. "We won't let you harm her, or anyone else."
"Indeed you this is the end of the line for all of you," Freezeman said as Prismman backed them up.
"Come on guys lets end this!" Netto said.
She nodded and summoned bunch of spears from the ground just as Rockman, Freezeman, and Prismman attacked the mysterious navi. I don't know who you are but I will not let you jeopardize my mission.
The mysterious navi mainly through a smoke grenade at the ground. Smoke spread throughout the area. "Damn it where did he go?" Netto yelled once the smoke dissipated.
She looked around, but the navi was nowhere in sight. Who was he? Her insides turned that navi came at her like a predator pouncing on its prey. He knew who I was and how to fight me. Clenching her fists she looked up at the sky. I'll have to be more careful.
Netto's mind was spinning as he sat in his room with his net navis. The attack on Net City was a lot for him from learning about Double Soul and Rockman gaining Roll soul to that mysterious navi everything was shocking but what Slur told him shook him more than anything.
"He knew who you were?" He asked softly.
Slur nodded. "He knows who I am and who I am working for." He had never seen his navi this unnerved before. Fighting against an unknown variable on equal ground was not something she was used to.
His body shook, he was glad he closed the door and blinds. "How could he know?"
"I don't know," Slur said. "It is possible my Lord had dealings with other humans and they made that navi to deal with me."
"I see," he said softly her words hitting him like an icy wind. Who could know about her? He knew other people wouldn't be as sympathetic as him to Slur. He fought with her and grew beside her and saw her as a friend. Others might not see her in such a good light.
"Don't worry we'll protect you," Rockman said firmly. "Whoever this navi is we will defeat them."
He nodded firmly. "If they are working with Nebula then they are no friend. We'll take them down one way or another."
Slur smiled at him. "Thank you. For now, I will not use all my strength against these threats, the faster I take them down the more likely they will get stronger."
He nodded. "Sounds good. We don't know what traps they are planning but we will be cautious." Caution wasn't his thing but he knew if this navi knew Slur it wouldn't be a good idea to fight him head on right away.
A knock on the door nearly made him jump out of his seat. "Hey Netto are you ok?" Shun asked from the other side.
"Oh its just him," he sighed as he got up and opened the door to see Shun. "Hey I am how about you?"
Shun nodded. "Alright. Freezeman didn't take too much damage." His friend came into the room and pulled up a seat. "That navi though, he was keeping up with Slur."
"Yeah we were just talking about it," he said. "We'll defeat him if he continues to try and attack her."
"Good luck," Shun said. "The way that navi just came at her and his movements they were too well trained to be any net navi. I believe he may be a military-grade navi."
His eyes widened. "Military grade?" Great just great.
"Yeah he fought like a true soldier," Shun said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he were a navi used in special military operations."
It took all his willpower for his face to not turn pale white. Damn it just how deep are Nebula and Wily's plans?
"Did you meet him before with Wily?" Slur asked.
Shun shook his head. "I didn't. Wily had many associates and he only gave me the information he deemed necessary." Shun folded his arms and looked at him. "I think that navi was sent by him to take her out."
His insides turned cold as he clenched his fists. "Well if he wants to get to her he will have to get through me and Rockman. I won't let anyone take my navis."
"Don't worry I'll help you with what I can," Shun said looking him in the eyes. "It's the least I can do after all you and your family have done for me."
"I appreciate the help," he said. "What do you think of our situation so far?"
Shun folded his arms. "This new group Nebula, they have been probing us, you and Slur in particular. I don't know what they want or what their goals with these dark chips are but if I had to guess they want to take you guys down."
He clenched his fists, a wave of nervousness hit him. Nebula they not only spread evil but want to kill Slur. I won't let that happen. If they want her they'll have to go through me.
"Well we have cross fusion we should be able to fight hem just fine," he said. "I have you two so I feel like I'm in good hands."
Shun smiled at him. "Thanks. I'll do all I can to help you. You aren't alone, don't try to do everything by yourself."
He nodded. "I know." He saw trust in Shun's eyes, he was the boy's first friend and deep down he knew he could count on him.
Rockman looked at Slur as they made watched Netto fall asleep. Could I tell him? He looked at his insignia, he knew Netto would still love him but deep down he didn't want things to be different between them.
The sound of the security cube unlocking caught his attention. "Rockman is Roll coming over?" Slur asked her voice cautious.
He shook his head. "No. None of his friends would come this late and they would send a message if they did."
Anticipation spread throughout his body as they looked at the entrance to Netto's personal computer. In the darkness of the PC he swore he heard light footsteps carefully approaching.
Slur stepped in front of him. "Be alert!"
He readied his buster as a small object fell a few feet in front of them. A few beeps from it was all he needed to know.
"Get back!" Slur said as she summoned a wall of chains around them.
There was a loud bang followed by a flash of light. The sound of a rapid fire weapon went off but Slur's cables blocked them.
"Rockman lets go!" Slur said as the chains disappeared.
Activating his blaster he fired at a green navi hunched in front of them with a long rifle on his hand.
He fired at the navi as Slur summoned her chains. "Begone pest!" Slur said.
The intruder was thrown back and swore as he fired at Slur.
"Slur watch out!" He yelled.
However, the female navi flew at the intruder and gripped him by the throat. "Our operator is sleeping," she said coldly before chopping off his rifle arm and one of his legs.
The green navi screamed before he was thrown out of the computer. "Well that's that," Slur said dusting off her hands. "I didn't want to disturb Netto so I took him out quickly."
"S-Slur that was brutal," he said. Not that he disagreed. He would've hurt us and maybe even Netto-kun. His insides boiled at the thought of his operator hurt.
The female navi looked at him and nodded. "He came at me a few times already. I'll keep watch and make sure no one else comes."
He nodded and looked at Netto through the screen. Be safe. He gripped his insignia and thought of his operator. "Slur how do you think Netto would take it if I told him something important?"
The female navi raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
He flinched. "It's just there is something about me. I don't know if I want to keep it hidden anymore but I don't know how Netto would take it."
Slur folded her arms. "From what I know about Hikari Netto is that he is loyal and trusting, as his navi you shouldn't have to fear him not liking you."
He shifted where he stood. "I know. It's just I want to but I don't know if I should."
"Well we both will always care. That's obvious enough," Slur said. "What could this be?"
He avoided her gaze. "I-I don't know to say it." Taking a deep breath he looked at their operator. "I'll just say Dr. Hikari loves his family more than anything."
Slur looked at him curiously but nodded. "He is a good man from what I can tell. But anyway if you feel comfortable you can tell us."
He nodded. How could I do it? How could I tell him that I am different from other navis. Gripping his insignia a warm sensation spread throughout his body. Netto-kun. How would you feel if you knew the truth about me?
