Ch16
Slur looked over the information available of the latest Gospel attacks with Rockman and her operator. "All these operators we faced suffered personally things one way or another," she muttered.
Rockman nodded. "Gospel claims to want to destroy net society. These people all have reason to hate the world and did the things they did."
"Yeah I know," Netto sighed from his screen. "These attacks are getting more and more deadly. Gauss was arrested but the guy who tried to attack Yaito was killed by a bomb. I just wonder who could have this much hate in them."
"Sometimes people make bad decisions," Rockman said. "I guess they were all desperate for one thing or another."
Her operator nodded, a sad look spreading across his face. "Well despite these attacks we will defeat them. I won't allow them to harm people." His expression was still resolute as always, she had to admit she found the way he still held wanted to help others regardless of their situation admirable.
Just how far will you go to forgive someone? She was curious about that; her operator held no ill will against these terrorists. In fact he seemed more determined to help others than ever. For example a few days ago they helped Princess Pride have a fun day off while her maids chased after them. It was entertaining and a break from chaos of their Gospel problem.
"Well we'll just continue working with what we can," Netto said. "Our friends will help us, with their help I know we can keep up with these attacks."
Rockman nodded. "Our friends and allies will be of great help. If we continue to work together we can win."
Netto smiled at both of them. "True. I'm counting on both of you too. Anyway lets call it a night."
She and Rockman both nodded as they closed the window screens and made sure everything was safe and secure in the computer. "Slur what were you adventures with Netto like?" Rockman asked once Netto had gone to bed.
"They were interesting," she said. "He has a big heart and is reckless but he means well." Looks like you are the same way. Rockman like her operator like to help others and unlike always seemed to push Netto to do more good which she found interesting.
Rockman smiled and nodded. "Yeah he does care for other people. I enjoy being his net navi a lot."
"Me too," she sighed looking at the blue navi in his eyes. Staring into them she felt a flicker in her chest. "We have our mission and you are a part of it. Many people are riding on us completing this mission."
Rockman avoided her gaze. "What exactly is this mission? I mean you both say you have to prove the world is worth saving but what do you mean by that? Who is judging you?"
Her posture stiffened. She debated telling the blue navi her true origins but for now she didn't know surely if she could trust him. "We are being judged by a powerful person," she said softly. "I can't disclose the details yet but you cannot let anyone know."
Rockman looked at her and smiled. "Fine respect your decision. If you are ready you can tell me, I'll trust you."
She was taken aback by the words but only nodded before excusing herself. I took your original copy's data, in a way your data also flows through me. Gripping her chest she took a deep breath. What a curious navi, what exactly did Dr. Hikari do to create a curious navi?
Rockman's words weighed on her that night. She knew Rockman had good character and was loyal and honest. A part of her wanted to confide in him, yet she knew that revealing her lord's identity was no trifling thing. When the right time comes I'll reveal the truth. Frankly it wouldn't hurt to have allies
Taking a deep breath she was about to return to her PET when she felt the powerful presence of Duo connect to her.
"Slur how are things?" Duo asked telepathically.
She nodded. "All is well sir. I assist Hikari Netto in dealing with these criminals." She responded using her telepathic connection, she couldn't afford to have Rockman seeing her and wondering why she was crazy.
"I see. How are these humans?" Duo asked.
"Still the same. A lot of them are pitiful insects," She said the words seeming hollow in her head. Deep down a part of was resistant to saying that. There were good humans, her operator being one of them.
"How is your operator? Are you continuing to bond with him? Duo asked.
She nodded. "We work well together. He has another navi but the three of us make a good team."
"Good. Continue to observe him and see how he reacts when things happen," Duo said. "Unleash my judgement on those who deserve it. For now I'll watch you from afar."
"I understand," She said as her lord's presence disappeared. Well at least he won't be testing us again with another asteroid navi.
She sighed as she returned to her PET. Come on Netto-kun. I know we can do this. We both can pass and survive his test. She clenched her chest insignia, a warm feeling spread throughout her body. We won't lose we'll find something.
Deciding that she needed some air she left her PET and was about to head out of Netto's computer when she noticed Rockman.
"Slur where are you going?" Rockman asked.
"Oh I was just going for a walk," she said. "What are you doing up?"
"I was just making sure Netto's things were organized for tomorrow," Rockman said. "Just double checking everything."
"Well he can be forgetful," she said. "Would you like to join me?" She really wanted to clear her mind at the moment and figured a walk with Rockman could do that.
"Um are we going anywhere in particular?" Rockman asked as they exited the PC.
"Just around Net City," She said as they walked through the quiet internet. Many navis were heading home and the area was less hectic than usual.
Internet City was still bright and shining even at night. Various navis and other people walked around while the few shops open served those who entered.
"It sure seems peaceful despite all that is going on," she muttered.
Rockman nodded. "Gospel has been causing havoc. Hopefully we can take them out soon."
She looked around the city at the various navis walking around. Such simple minded navis, many do not know how small they really are in the grand scheme of things. "Rockman can I ask you something?"
"What is it?" Rockman asked.
"Do you enjoy helping others? Like these navis that may not even want our help," she said as they passed by a group of navis.
Rockman paused as he looked up at the sky. "I know not everyone wants to be helped but I don't mind helping people. It's the right thing to do." They passed by some dimly lit buildings. "I was made to help Netto-kun but I honestly do what I do because I want to help others and protect those I love."
"So it isn't something you were just programmed to do?" She asked.
Rockman shook his head. "No. I have my agency and am free to do what I want. I choose to help Netto-kun because I want him to be the best version of himself. If he were to ask me to do something illegal or something I was against I would say no."
"I see," she said softly. Agency what a curious concept. For her all that existed was following orders and bringing judgment. What she wanted never really was an option, it was always her lord's will. Agency. What a curious concept. Despite being her own person she always devoted herself to Duo
"Do you enjoy helping others?" Rockman asked.
She paused and looked up at Net City's skyline. "It isn't something I'm against doing," she said softly. "Netto-kun wants to help others so I decided to do it. I admit it has been somewhat rewarding."
Rockman looked at her and nodded. "I understand that. It isn't easy forming bonds for some. I hope I can form a strong bond with you and Netto-kun."
The blue navi then looked down his brow furrowing. "I wish one day we can share all of our secrets openly."
All of our secrets? She looked at Rockman and noticed a flicker of fear in his eyes. I guess we all have our secrets.
Rockman took a deep breath. "I have a special connection with Netto-kun. His dad asked me to keep it a secret for now and to tell you both when ready."
"I see," she said raising an eyebrow.
"But I do want to work with you and Netto-kun," Rockman said firmly. "I want to help you both save people and help others."
A small smile spread across her face. You are a curious indeed navi Rockman. "I look forward to working with you," she said. "Me and Netto-kun plan on helping this world." To save it. She wouldn't fail for if she did it would be a humiliation as one of Duo's servants.
It was then she felt something, the presence of someone watching her. Turning her head slightly she looked over at a tall building and saw a black navi with a brown robe around his body. The navi stared at them with a tense gaze. Something deep inside of her warned her to be ready to fight as she stared at the dark navi something inside of her told her to prepare for a fight.
"Slur is something wrong?" Rockman asked.
She turned to Rockman and back to the building but saw the figure was gone. "No nothing lets go."
Shun Obirio sat at his desk looking over information. Hikari Netto and his navis have been a constant thorn in our side. He frowned at the picture of the boy who was around his age.
Why does he bother helping others? The memory of him asking if he needed help flashed through his mind. He clenched his fists, his family helped make this make this damn society.
Yet remembering the look of Hikari Netto's eyes, they seemed honest. Why did he offer to help me? He didn't know him, in fact he thought he was originally suspicious of him. That must be it, he must have suspected something.
Shaking his head he returned to his computer and saw a message from Wily. "Focus on taking out Slur at all costs," he muttered as he read the message.
He frowned as he sat back in his chair. Why is he so insistent on me deleting that navi? Yeah she was strong but the blue navi was strong too. Yet there was urgency in this message, and every message his benefactor had sent him was the same. They all told him to take out Slur at all costs.
Rubbing his head he responded with I'm working on it before sending the message. Honestly why is he so focused on it? He went to his other computer screen where another program was working. She maybe strong but the ultimate navi I've been working on is stronger.
A smile spread across his face. Forte was supposedly the strongest net navi who didn't need a operator. The navi was deemed so strong Scilab ended up trying to delete him but they failed and no one has seen him since.
I'll make so many copies of him that the internet will know the meaning of fear. He was typing away working on his programs when his computer chimed to let him know he had another message.
"What now?" he sighed as he turned to the email.
"I have another operative ready," he muttered as he read the email. "She will strike at a hospital soon. Try to take out Slur then and there."
He sighed and replied to the email. "Understood. Why is she so important?" It was strange Wily cared more about her than Rockman. "He is already forcing me to work faster than usual, I'm having a harder time to cover my steps."
The reply came back instantly. "She is a threat to all of us. Take her out immediately and at all costs nothing else matters," he sighed as he rubbed his eyes. He responded with understood and rested in his chair.
"Freezeman what do you think of this navi Slur?" He asked.
His navi appeared on the screen and bowed. "She is tough. To take her down will not be an easy feet."
He nodded. "I understand that. Still Wily is insistent on deleting her. I wonder if its some sort of personal vendetta?" He knew that Hikari Netto and Slur had defeated WWW, could that be the reason? It was possible yet a part of him wondered if anything else was different.
"Shall I prepare to fight her?" Freezeman asked.
"Well go together," he said as he read the coordinates Wily sent him. "Wily is sending us the coordinates, we'll support whoever it is."
Looking at the profile of the operator he saw that it was a girl with the navi Plantman. Anetta a girl whose family suffered great financial loss at a hospital. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Get in touch with her, we'll coordinate an attack."
"Yes sir," Freezeman said with a bow
He nodded. Gospel will win. We'll destroy this putrid society one way or another. The world will face retribution for how they treated him.
Forte destroyed another virus. The Uranet was quiet in his usual corner but the viruses still came. "How pitiful," he muttered as his cape fluttered with each step he made.
"To think a human can try to clone me," he muttered as he destroyed another virus that came across his path. He had heard the rumor along the grapevine, at first he questioned the rumors that someone was trying to recreate him. Then when he found out that they were real he laughed before destroying a bunch of viruses
He had gone personally to verify the rumors, Net City had a lot of people willing to gossip. They tried to delete me for being too powerful. I'll show these fakes whose boss. Clenching his fists he slammed it against the wall causing it to crack. Humans are just lying insects.
Walking through the Uranet his mind was focused on one thing. Gospel. If these fools think they can copy me then they have another thing coming.
Enzan was woken up by his parole officer. "Enzan-kun there is someone to see you," Meijin said.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "What is it?" He mumbled.
Meijin smiled at him and handed him his old PET. Taking the PET his eyes widened as he saw a familiar face in it.
"Hello Enzan-sama," Blues said with a bow. "What are you orders?"
His body shook, tears welled up in his eyes as he hugged the PET. Various emotions spread throughout his body. Happiness filled that hole that was inside of him for the first time in a long time. "Blues you're back."
I won't let you go this time.
