Ch29
For Netto the next few hours were exhausting. Meijin and Misaki both came with reinforcements for a fight that was long over. Once they told Meijin that Shun cross fused they were taken to meet Kifune and Manabe at Scilab.
Who was she and how does Slur know her? He wanted to ask his navi a million questions but he couldn't do it out in public. He looked up at the dark sky through the window as they headed towards a meeting room. She knew about Slur and could cross fuse, she won't be an easy opponent.
They entered a large meeting room where he found his dad along with Kifune and Manabe. "Dad what are you doing here?"
His father smiled at him. "I heard you were in trouble. So tell what happened this time."
"It's sort of a long story," he sighed as he and Shun sat across from the adults. "I thought Mariko sensei was in danger but in the end it was a trap." He took a deep breath talking about the basics of what happened without going into any details.
"It was obviously Nebula," he said his heart racing in his chest. "They even had a woman pretend to be Mariko sensei, she could cross fuse."
Kifune frowned. "So Nebula has agents who can cross fuse too. This isn't good."
His father nodded. "Maybe that's why they stole some of the synchro chips?"
"That could be a possibility," Meijin said as a projector was pulled down and a video of the fight appeared on the screen. "We analyzed your video, this woman knew what she was doing. If I may ask though did you have any prior dealings with her?"
"Uh no," he said quickly his body turning rigid. "I never met her before. I thought it was Mariko sensei so that is why I helped. I don't know what she wanted."
He could feel everyone's gaze on him his heart raced in his chest as the video of his fight. "Yeah she seemed like she just wanted to target us," Shun said. "Probably because we foiled their plans in the past."
"That is possible," His father said. "To be honest it doesn't surprise me that the enemy would become bolder."
Kifune nodded and turned to Shun. "That is the reason why we have Net Saviors. Obihiro Shun you wish to atone for your mistakes. I would like to extend to you an offer to become a Net Savior like Netto over here. You would be helping the net police tackle crime and help defeat the threat of Nebula."
Well we could use the help. Shun looked at him and nodded. "Fine I'll be a Net Savior. I want to help people like Netto does."
Meijin and Kifune smiled as if they had completed some personal objective. "We gladly welcome you," Kifune said firmly. "With your expertise, I hope we can improve our networks and better coordinate our defenses against any threat."
"I'll do what I can," Shun said firmly.
Kifune smiled. "In these tough times we will need to work together more than ever. With the threat of Nebula and their agents we will need all of the tools at our disposal." The chief then turned to face him. "Netto-kun you and your navis are strong and work well together. We have a great interest in them."
"I-I see," he said his heart beating in his chest as he felt the man's gaze on him.
"Netto-kun Slur is a very powerful navi. By herself she was able to stand up against two enemy navis. What is her secret?" Kifune asked. "Did you make the programming for her?"
He swallowed as he slowly rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants. "You could say that," he said carefully. Calm down I can do this. Just play it carefully. "Me and her worked together for a while. Our bond is built on mutual trust that is why we are strong."
"Her skills are exemplary," Meijin said. "She took on those two navis as if it were nothing."
"Indeed. Netto-kun may we examine her?" Kifune asked.
"Sorry but no," He said quickly much to the surprise of everyone but his dad and Shun. "Slur doesn't like other people looking into her and as her friend and partner I respect that."
Kifune frowned. "But we could learn so much from her, we can build stronger navis and better defend the world from other threats."
Stronger navis. That's exactly why people shouldn't look into her. His blood boiled and it took all of his energy to not get angry. Slur wasn't a weapon she was his friend.
"Sorry but she says no and as her operator I respect her wishes," he said firmly.
The room was silent as Kifune and Meijin frowned at him. Thankfully his dad spoke. "Kifune-san as much as I am also interested in Slur's programming I think we should respect my son's wishes. If he doesn't want to we shouldn't force him or his navi to be put on the operating table."
He breathed a mental sigh of relief. Thanks dad.
Kifune sighed. "Fine. We'll discuss this at a later date. You are all dismissed."
Thank goodness. He got up and bowed and said goodbye to his dad.
Slur was still on edge even as her operator locked the door to his bedroom and closed the curtains. That woman. The memory of that lady who looked like her operator's teacher still flashed in her head. A clever disguise but I'm no so easily fooled.
"It's alright Netto-kun," She said as her operator sat at her desk.
"Slur that woman who was she?" Netto asked.
"My lord often has agents working for him. A while ago he selected her and another man. She looks like your teacher Mariko but I could tell the difference," She said.
"Sounds complicated," Netto said resting in his chair. "Do you think the other person is working with them?"
"It wouldn't surprise me at the moment," She said folding her arms. To think those chosen by my lord would corrupt methods and taint the world with evil. Clenching her fists she wanted to nothing more than to punish that unruly subject, and teach her about defying the will of her lord.
"Well don't worry we'll keep your secret anyone," Netto said. "I think a part of the reason Keifer and Meijin both want me in the net saviors is to have access to you. I don't mind helping them but I won't let them do anything you aren't comfortable with."
"I appreciate that," She said.
Rockman appeared next to her and nodded. "Yeah. We'll keep you safe from anyone."
She nodded a warm fuzzy feeling spread throughout her body as she looked Rockman in the eyes. They've both grown on me. She was both flattered and honored that her operator and Rockman wanted to protect her.
"Anyway those two military navis they were definitely something else," Netto said.
"Indeed. The green one I could've take by myself but that black one, for some reason I feel like he knows moves a little too well," She said frowning at the ground. "This group Nebula they are oddly prepared to fight me. We will have to be cautious."
"I won't let anyone hurt you or Rockman," Netto said firmly. "We will fight them and put an end to their plans." Her operator shifted in his seat.
Rockman nodded. "True. Slur you are our friend and partner. We'll need a lot of them now, especially if a lot of people want to harm you."
Allies. Normally she would've scoffed at the idea but right now they were facing too many unknowns. They needed allies more than anything at the moment.
"Oh Netto-kun I know Shun is an inquisitive boy," She said. "If you feel like you can trust him with my identity I give you my permission."
Netto looked at her his eyes wide with shock. "Are you sure?"
She nodded looking him in the eyes. "If you trust he can keep my secret I'll allow it. With these emerging threats it will be good to have allies. Plus I feel like he is a boy who can do great things. He can be a great asset."
"True," Netto said resting in his chair. "He was asking me some questions on the way home but I dodged them to the best that I could. I'll try and talk to him tomorrow." Her operator yawned and stretched his arms.
His navi also shifted in where she stood. "You can tell your father if you want?"
He nearly fell out of his chair. "S-Slur what did you say?"
She looked him in the eyes. "You can tell your father under secrecy the truth about so long as if he doesn't try to dissect me."
"A-Are you sure?" he asked.
"Your father is a good man," She said. "I've seen him work tirelessly, I trust he wouldn't use me as a weapon. The others though I'm not so sure."
He nodded. "True. I'll think of the right way to tell him. Well I say today has been a long day, we should get to bed now."
She smiled at him. "Good night Netto-kun."
"Good night Slur. You too Rockman," Netto said.
Rockman nodded, for a second he stayed looking at him through the PET as if wanting to say something.
"Is something wrong Rockman?" He asked.
For a second a pained look spread across his face. "N-Nothing Netto-kun." His quickly left leaving him puzzled.
Slur could feel her lord's anger on her as she recounted the story.
"I fear they may have been corrupted by evil and wish to do you harm. They attempted to kill me and harm my operator but me and Rockman stopped them," She said clenching her fists. No tricked her and got away with it.
In an instant Duo's mood changed. She trembled as she could feel the anger in their connection. Her lord didn't like being tricked, deceived, or betrayed.
"Slur if you find it true you know what to do. Eradicate evil. Treason is one of the worst evils," Duo said coldly.
"I understand my lord," she said with a bow a satisfactory smile spread across her face. I'll teach those traitors what it means to betray us. They'll suffer for their betrayal.
"Anyway keep your operator safe," Duo said. "Continue your mission and do not fail in your undertakings."
"Understood," She said with a bow.
As soon as the connection ended she breathed a sigh of relief. I won't fail. I'll continue to protect Netto and Rockman until my last breath. She looked at her sleeping her operator a smile spreading across her face. I'll make sure we are ahead of the game. I won't let our enemies entrap us in their ploys and there is no way in hell would I let them harm me or you.
"Hey Slur you ok?" Rockman asked.
She turned to the blue navi and managed to smile. "Just checking on Netto."
Rockman looked at their operator through the screen and nodded. "He works so hard for everyone. I know he sleeps in a lot but sometimes I think he deserves it."
The blue navi sighed. "We have so many threats, but I know we can defeat Nebula if we work together."
She nodded. "Netto has made many friends in his battles, I'm sure they can be of use to us. Personally I don't know about these net saviors but our operator has a good heart."
Rockman nodded. "He does." The blue navi sighed and gave a longing look at their operator. "We all have our secrets we want to keep."
She stared at Rockman, for a moment his gaze had more affection than usual towards their operator with a hint of longing. "What do you mean?" She asked.
Rockman sighed and shook his head. "It's nothing," he muttered. "Some secrets aren't worth talking about."
She raised an eyebrow. A part of her was curious, there was something going on with her blue comrade and she couldn't tell what it. "Well if you need to share him then we are here."
Rockman avoided her gaze. "Dr. Hikari is a good man, he loves his family more anything. I know it isn't easy for you but I'm glad you are trying to get to know him."
"I do my best," she said. He isn't the worst human. She decided to trust her operator, and so far Dr. Hikari seemed like a decent man whose only flaw is that he is a workaholic.
"After all he made me," Rockman said softly.
She raised an eyebrow. "Of course he did."
Rockman froze as he stared at Netto. "I-I know." The blue navi gripped his insignia his gaze looking outward.
Laika stormed into General Makarov's office. "General we need to talk," he said firmly.
General Makarov nodded and dismissed the staff. "Laika what is it?"
He took a deep breath. "Sir that operation you've been having me do. Why was I on the same side as those darkloids?"
It mad his blood boil. He was a soldier who followed his orders to the T. He stood up for the side of good yet he had Searchman fight alongside some suspicious people and a known darkloid.
"I know you're upset and understand your frustration," General Makarov said resting in his chair. "But that navi Slur must be deleted at all costs, she is an existential threat to Sharo's national security."
He stared at his body. Searchman was badly wounded during that fight and even though the other navi who he didn't know helped they were still defeated as if it were nothing. "But what about our reputation? The Japanese will make inquiries into Searchman."
"Don't worry I've seen them. I'll make the excuse that it was a communication error on our end and your navi was supposed to target someone else," General Makarov said firmly. "But next time you get the chance you have to defeat this navi."
"I understand," he said firmly. He could see how Slur could be a threat, a navi that strong could easily be weaponized against any nation. Besides I follow my order thoroughly. "I won't let her get away next time."
General Makarov nodded his brow furrowed. "In these changing times we need to act quickly. We'll take care of this navi, we won't let her be a threat to Sharo anymore."
He couldn't agree more.
