Ch32

Barrel sighed as he looked out at the window at the dark sky. "We'll defeat them somehow," he said softly.

Sitting down on his chair he winced as the memories of his past entered his head. "Colonel how long as it been since we met that being?"

"About a decade now," Colonel said from his PET.

His navi was with him when it happened. It was during a tour in the Middle East when he saw the large asteroid in the sky.

Closing his eyes his body tensed up as he remembered that day. The bright light that took him up to the sky and in front of him he saw the being named Duo.

A being whose presence sent shivers down his spine. Duo's very gaze made him realize how small he was in this world.

Then the memories hit him. Memories of various worlds destroyed and eradicated in a blink of an eye. The memories nearly drove him mad as he heard laughter, the laughter of Duo's righthand servant Slur. The images he saw of her destroying countless worlds sent shivers down his spine.

"You are a curious man," Duo said his voice reverberating throughout his body. "Feel my strenght and power. One day your world will face my judgement I won't claim you as a disciple for your heart is too dirty. Maybe in the future if I have need of you I shall call you. In the meantime prepare for my inevitable arrival.

For the first time in a long time he felt fear. The presence of that being and the images of the worlds he destroyed nearly made him catatonic.

Judgement. Images of Slur passed through his mind. A navi whose creation as beyond his comprehension. A navio who could easily destroy any navi of Earth as if it were nothing. Images of war and carnage passed through his mind. Countless people and civilizations destroyed by Slur at Duo's command. I will do anything to prevent it. To save the world from that man and his servant.

When he opened his eyes and took a deep breath he was surprised to see that his face was wet. "We won' let them win," he croaked as he grabbed a tissue and cleaned his face.

"I'll do all I can to destroy her," Colonel said firmly.

He nodded. "Humanity must prevail. Even if we must work with Regal Duo cannot prevail on this planet."

"The darkloids aren't having much luck with her," Colonel said. "We must take drastic measure to take them."

"Regal has a lot of cards in his hands," He said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small package. Unwrapping it he took out a synchro chip. "We must be prepared to help him at all costs to delete her."

"Understood," Colonel said. "I will do as you command."

He nodded. "Whatever it takes I destroy her and save this world."

The door opened and Wily came in. "You've been working hard."

He rubbed his shoulder. "This enemy isn't easy to deal with."

Wily chuckled and sat across him on the table. "This new threat is something I haven't face before, she is a tenacious one this navi."

"Her tenacity will be the end of this planet," he said. "Any new schemes?"

Wily poured himself some coffee and grinned. "I have many plans, but for now I prefer to be on the sidelines. You and Regal are sufficient enough, I have my own back up plans in case things truly go south."

"What do you mean?"

Wily sat back in his chair his gaze hardening. "I know Regal well, he has always wanted his own place in the sun at the expense of others." The scientist sipped his coffee. "I'm no fool to trust his words completely."

Netto sat at the computer and looked at the blueprint his navis made. "So this is the new synchro chip?"

"Yes Netto-kun," Slur said. "The current compacity of the synchro chip your father's lab is decent, if fused with the technology the dimensional chip it can become more powerful and even allow you to cross fuse with me and Rockman simultaneously. Hypothetically of course."

"Cool," he said looking over the design. It looked complicated but the implications were limitless.

Rockman nodded. "Also according to Slur it would be possible to cross fuse without a dimensional area."

"Yeah but that would create problems on its own," he sighed. "Anyway good job both of you. We'll need all the resources we can get to defeat Nebula."

His navis nodded as he received a notification from his PET. "Crap another Nebula attack," he sighed.

"Netto-kun Shun said he is on his way along with Misaki-san," Rockman said.

"Alright lets meet them there," he said as he quickly gathered his things and made sure the blue prints were secure.

Nebula whatever their connection is with Duo and Slur I will stop them. Racing through the streets towards the coordinates. "Hey Slur you said that you suspect a connection between Nebula and Duo right?"

"I do," Slur said. "My lord would never tolerate evil but that woman Yuriko is a fool to be working with Nebula. I don't know her personally but if she and this other disciple have turned evil we must stop them at once."

He winced noticing the hint anger in her voice. "Who is the other guy?"

"A man with long black hair and an injured eye," Slur said. "I remember he was very crafty. His name was Dr. Regal he was a scientist."

"I see," he said as they arrived at the factory. "I wonder if my father knows him."

He saw Shun and Misaki at the front door their PETs in hand having an intense conversation. "Guys what's going on?"

Misaki turned to him. "Netto-kun darkloids were using this factory to make dark chips, we are dealing with the viruses now."

"Freezeman is taking care of Needleman be careful his operator might be nearby," Shun said.

"Good to know," he mumbled as a dimensional area activated around them. "Slur lets cross fuse. Rockman can you watch over the network for any surprises?"

"Roger Netto-kun," Rockman said.

Slur nodded her gaze determined. "Lets do this."

He turned to Misaki whose frowned looking at the synchro chip in his hand. "Misaki-san come on I know you can do it."

Gorou Misaki smiled at him. "Thank you Netto-kun. I've been working hard for this day."

He smiled at him. "Then show me what you can do."

"Synchro Chip slot in!" They said in unison.

In a flash he was crossfused with Slur. In front of Shun was fused with Freezeman and surprisingly Misaki was crossfused with his navi Prismman

"Good job Misaki-san! I knew you could do it," he said. Misaki wore purple armor and his hands had large gauntlets around them.

"Thank you. Come on we shouldn't waste time," Misaki said as viruses began to appear around them. "Prism!" Misaki threw a small object at the viruses that quickly turned into a large prism that flattened the viruses

He was about to congratulate Misaki when Shun pulled him back. "Ice Wall!" Turning around he saw a woman cross fused with her navi on the rooftop.

Yuriko He clenched his fists as she fired a few more needle shots at them before leaping onto the ground. Shun countered the attacks with his eyes as Yuriko gazed at them with a cold stare hidden by her helmet.

"Guys be careful," he said steeping forward. His heart raced in his chest as he summoned a flurry of chains and ordered them to attack her.

Yuriko yumped through the air dodging his chains as the viruses around them began to advance. He snapped his fingers summoning spears from the ground to destroy the viruses around them.

"Guys back me up," he said summoning his light swords in his hand.

Shun and Misaki nodded as he charged at Yuriko. I won't let you harm her or Rockman. Yuriko activated a sword battle chip and met his blade.

Glaring at her the two exchanged blows with their blades. "I won't let you guys win," he said in a cold low voice.

Yuriko only smirked as they both exchanged blows. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw the flurry of a black ape followed by the motion of a yellow sword. "Screen Divide!"

Shit. He leapt out of the way and barely avoided the attack. Turning around he saw Colonel except it wasn't exactly the net navi. Great his operator can crossfuse too.

The man who was crossfused with Colonel landed next to Yuriko. "I'll handle her," He said his voice low and cold like an animal about to lunge at his prey.

Netto be careful this man has military training. Slur's voice betrayed the fear in her voice, they had fallen for another trap from the enemy.

Don't worry together we can handle him. He turned to Shun and Misaki. "You two handle Needleman, this one is personal."

"But Netto this guy looks tough," Shun said.

"Don't worry I got this,' he said trying to sound as confident as possible.

Shun gave him a concerned look but nodded. Alright lets do this. Turning to face Colonel he summoned a series of chains.

Colonel and Yuriko separated. Shun and Misaki went after Yuriko while he charged at Colonel with his sword on his hand.

His sword met Colonel's. The man behind Colonel's vizor glared coldly at him. "This isn't a game boy," he growled. "Do you know what she really is?"

"Slur is my navi and partner," he said his body shaking as Colonel's saber hit his swords with all of his might. "You know nothing about her.

"You're a fool!" Colonel yelled brining his sword down on him so hard he was thrown back. "She is evil just like her master."

"She is not evil," he said through gritted teeth. "I won't let you guys hurt her!" He summoned a series of spears and chains, Colonel easily dodged and broke them before summoning a large canon on his arm.

"Barrier!" he yelled just as a loud shot reverberated throughout the area.

His eyes widened as he saw the barrier creak before breaking. Damn it. He swore as he was thrown back.

Netto-kun are you alright? Slur asked.

"I'm fine," He said breathing heavily. Summoning his swords he charged at Colonel who summoned to rapid fire machine guns from the ground. He dodged the attacks and summoned spears to take care of them.

Colonel then lunged at him with his sword. He glared at the man as they exchanged blows. "I don't what you think she is boy but she is bad news for this planet," The man said as he slashed at him with his sword.

"That's not for you to decide!" He summoned a series of chains but Colonel easily broke them. Calm down I have to be calm to face him.

Taking a deep breath he summoned spears from the ground in an attempt to corner Colonel. However, the black navi avoided them with ease.

"You're predictable," Colonel said as he slashed at him with his sword.

He blocked the attack and summoned spears from the ground. Colonel's operator swore as some of the spears grazed him. "You're a fool. Don't you know the destruction she will bring on everyone?"

He clenched his fists glaring at the man. "You don't know what you are talking about," he said coldly. Standing firmly he eyed the man defiantly. "I don't know who you are but I won't let you harm my net navis."

The man gave him a cold look and assumed a fighting stance. "Then you'll perish with her."

Gripping his swords he was about to block his attack when a flash of red passed in front of him blocked the attack.

"Enzan!" He stared in shock as Ijuin Enzan cross fused with Blues bock Colonel's blade.

"Sorry for being late," Enzan said. "Lets finish this."

He nodded. "Yeah lets do this."

Taking a deep breath he summoned a series of chains and spears aimed at Colonel. Enzan charged at the military navi.

Colonel slowly got injured by their combined attacks while in the distance he saw Shun and Misaki slowly push back Yuriko.

Using his light swords he slashed at Colonel's arm while Enzan slashed at his neck. The black navi lunged back as Yuriko was blasted away by a blast of ice.

"Retreat!" Colonel swore as he fired a blast at the ground.

Smoke filled the air as the dimensional area dissipated and cross fusion ended.

"Damn it," he swore as the smoke dissipated and they were all left alone. "They got away."

Enzan frowned. "I'll have the police search the area. Are you all ok?"

He nodded. "I am. Thanks for helping out."

Enzan looked at him and nodded. "We'll report them to Kifune and Meijin. That is the navi who was after Slur right?"

"Yeah," he said shifting where he stood. "They want to destroy her."

"Well I won't let them," Enzan said firmly.

He looked at the dual haired boy in shock. "Um thanks." Looking into Enzan's eyes he could see sincerity in his words, a part of him still wasn't completely warmed up to the idea of working with him but he knew he would need allies.

Enzan extended a hand. "If anyone gives you any trouble I'll deal with them."

"Thanks. I'll do the same." He smiled at Enzan as the two shook hands.

Slur took a deep breath as she felt the connection with her lord. Lord Duo I am present.

Duo's presence pressed upon her. "Slur you seem off, what is troubling you?"

She winced, what could she say? Would she be branded a traitor and killed on the spot if he knew that she loved her time with Rockman and Netto. I have been learning about bonds and emotions as I supervise this planet.

Her lord's presence was calm as if thinking of something deep. "I understand. It pleases me to know that you are working with bonds. You are my loyal servant but even I expect you to learn and grow."

She winced. How would he take it if he learned how much she had changed? How much this world had grown on her?

"I understand my lord," She said softly.

"I will come eventually," Duo said. "I expect you do make your own decisions about this world and yourself with your own agency."

She slowly nodded, a part of her was surprised by his words but on the other hand Lord Duo was a being who even she couldn't comprehend. "I understand my lord."

Agency. It was a word she still grappled with. All her life had revolved around serving Duo, up until recently she hadn't found another being she cared about.

As she left the PET she found Rockman watching over their operator. The blue navi acknowledged her with a nod. "You're still up?"

"Couldn't sleep," She muttered as she watched Netto sleep. "Still thinking about telling him?"

Rockman looked down and nodded. "I want to, I just don't know the right time." He shifted awkwardly. "Also, I don't know how I'd go about it or how he'll take it."

She paused and looked at their operator sleeping in his bed. "Do you want to?"

Rockman nodded. "I do." His voice was soft with a hint of emotion in it.

"I never really had a choice in what I did with my life," she said softly. "To be honest all I ever did was fight for my lord, now that I have a choice in the matter I feel it is strange." Taking a deep breath she at Rockman. "If you want to you should, I know he won't reject you."

The blue navi's eyes lit up as a smile spread across his face. "Thank you."