Ch17

Netto was getting his things ready for the trip he was going to take with his family and friends. "Alright that's about it," he said as he went and got his PETs. "Come on guys dad should be ready."

He ran downstairs where he found his parents loading the car. "Come on Netto are you done?" His father asked.

"Yeah I am," he said dragging his suitcase and putting it in the car.

"Great are we forgetting anything?" His mother asked as they did a final check to make sure everything.

His dad shook his head. "No I believe we are good. Come on lets get going, your friends are going to meet us there right?"

"Yeah they are going with Yaito-chan," he said as they got into the car.

"Great lets go then," his dad said as he started the car. "Okuden Valley is about two hours away."

He sat in the car as they drove towards Okuden Valley. "Oh Netto how is Slur doing?" His father asked.

"Oh she is well," he said tensing up a bit. It wasn't that he didn't trust his dad but he had to be careful around him concerning her.

"That's good," his dad said eyeing him through the mirror. "She seems like a strong navi, whoever created her must be skilled."

He laughed nervously. "Y-Yeah she is special but I also worked on her a bit." His heart raced in his chest, the last thing he wanted was for his dad to insist on examining her. "But she is also a private navi so I give her the space she wants."

The car sped out of the city. Instead of buildings there were woods and plants all around them. "Good," his father said. "How is it working with two navis?"

"Oh good," he said. "Rockman and Slur get along. I enjoy both greatly." It was true, Rockman and Slur were both like family to him. We will pass this trial. With both of their help we can do this.

His father nodded. "That's good. I'm glad you can work well for them. By chance does she know who her creator is?"

"No she doesn't," he said quickly his heart nearly leaping out of his chest. "But she doesn't mind being with me, we work well together."

"I can see that," his dad said as the car drove through some dark trees. "Well if you ever have a problem with her I don't mind having a look at her."

He swallowed a lump in his throat, he could already feel Slur's frown at that idea. "Th-Thanks but she is my navi and if something is wrong with her I will help her," he said as calmly as he could.

His dad only nodded as they drove through the countryside. The dam was in the distance, he could already see it towering in the distance. The area was surrounded by lush vegetation and other people on their vacation.

"Well if you ever need help with her I can do it," His father said. "Anyway there is something you should know. There is someone here who I want you to get along with."

"Who is it?" he asked curiously.

His father sighed. "It is Ijuin Enzan."

"Him?" He asked incredulously. He wanted to say multiple things about that pompous douche but he didn't want to use bad language in front of his parents.

"Yes him," his father sighed. "He is trying to make amends for what he did, please give him another chance."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine. I'll do my best." Hopefully he isn't a pompous ass. I wonder if this is part of Duo's test? It wouldn't surprise him but if had to prove that humanity was worth saving he could put up with Ijuin Enzan.

When they arrived at the campsite his dad quickly pulled up in front of their cabin. In the distance he could see Yaito's cabin and the other cabin she rented for Dekao and Tohru. He quickly helped his dad unload the car when he heard a knock at the door.

"Coming," he said as he opened to reveal Meiru and his friends.

"Netto-kun you're here," Meiru said with a smile.

"Hey guys glad you all made it here," he said.

Yaito nodded. "Yeah our cabin is nice and ready as always. Come on the day is nice outside."

"Alright my dad wants to set things up outside first," he said.

With that they went outside to help his dad set up the grill and other things for them all to use. They were in the middle of setting things up when his dad stood up to greet two people approaching them. "Meijin nice of you to bring Enzan here."

The joyous atmosphere quickly turned tense as his friends glared at Enzan. Meijin smiled at them. "Yuuichirou glad to be here, our cabin isn't far."

Enzan avoided his gaze. A part of him still wasn't happy with him for all that transpired between them but for now he was willing to make peace. Come on lets just get this over with. Taking a deep breath he went up to Enzan and extended a hand. "Long time no see."

Enzan looked up at him and nodded his blue eyes looked dull. "Likewise," he said his voice soft. "I decided to come for some fresh air."

He looked down at Enzan's PET at his side. Enzan took it out and showed it to him. "I uh also got Blues back thanks to Meijin-san." He stared at Blues in shock, the red navi was recovered.

"Wow um nice to see you have him again," He said as calmly as he could.

"Monster," Dekao grumbled causing Enzan to flinch and glare at his friend.

"Well um glad you could join us," he said. "Let's all try to have a good time."

He could still feel his friends glaring at Enzan who appeared unphased by their dislike of him. He is a pompous prick but I'll try to be civil with him.

"Don't worry I don't sense my lords presence," Slur said softly. "That is a normal netnavi."

"Good to know," he said as he went to help his parents unpack.

For the rest of the evening, Enzan mostly kept to himself. "Netto-kun is he the guy you had problems with?" Rockman asked while he was taking a break in the cabin.

He nodded. "Yeah he was a pompous prick, his navi deleted the navis of my friends." He sighed as he sat down on a chair. "Though to be fair he may have been under the influence of his asteroid navi."

"Asteroid navi?" Rockman asked.

Slur nodded. "Powerful navis that cause havoc. We haven't found any since but we should still be careful. They shouldn't be known to the world."

Rockman looked at Slur curiously. "I see."

"Anyway looks like dad wants us to be nice to him," he said as he got up and stretched.

He walked outside and enjoyed the fresh air while looking at the dam in the distance. "Wow that's a big dam," he said as he heard various wild animals chirp in the distance. Looking at the impressive structure he marveled at the amount of water it must be caring.

"Looks nice doesn't it?" Said a familiar voice.

Turning around he saw Enzan walked up to him. "Y-Yeah it is," he said as Enzan came up next to him. He shifted awkwardly next to him, he didn't know exactly what to say. I mean did he even know where Asteroid Blues came from?

"So um Blues is back?" He asked trying his best to sound casual.

Enzan nodded. "Yeah. I thought he was gone for good though." His voice was softer, gone was that condescending tone that he was used to hearing instead his words were that of a person who lost everything. "But Meijin-san helped bring him back."

"I'm glad to hear about it," he said scratching his head. "Have you um you know been ok?"

Enzan winced and rubbed his head. "To be honest bits of our last fight remain hazy in my head."

"I see," he said doing his best to hide the fact he was beginning to shake. "You don't remember our last fight at that arcade?"

"Oh I do its just it feels foggy in my head," Enzan said rubbing his head. "It's strange I compelled like someone was whispering things in my head. It's hard to explain half of the memories aren't all there." Shanking his head he looked him in the eyes. "Anyway I do hope we can reach some sort of truce in this. I'm still under house arrest but I want to do what I can to help defeat Gospel."

He nodded. "I see. I look forward to working with you." He didn't really like Enzan a lot but deep down he could tell he was sincere in offering his help. "Come on lets-"

The sound of a siren blaring caught him off guard. "What the hell?" The ground shook as he turned to the dam and saw some. "The dam what's going on?"

"People of Okuden Valley," A voice said over the intercom. "You have long sullied nature. Gospel will now cleanse the world of your impurities."

"Gospel damn it," he said as he saw another explosion. The dam rumbled and shook as water began to break through the walls

"We have to stop them," Enzan said. "If that dam breaks up we along with many others will die."

He nodded. "I know lets do this."

Enzan nodded and to his surprise extended a hand. "You have no reason to trust me but I want to make up for what I did."

He looked Enzan in the eyes and shook his hand. "Glad to have you. Come on lets stop this thing."


Slur cut through a virus as they made their way through the mainframe of the dam's operating system. We have to act quickly. If the dam broke Netto and the others would drown. Snapping her fingers she summoned a series of chords to destroy the viruses as Rockman fired his blaster at them.

Turning her gaze to Blues she was still surprised he was with them. He may be a normal navi but it would be wise to keep an eye on him. Her operator seemed to want to try this temporary alliance with Enzan. I could tell he doesn't like the guy but he is doing his best to forgive him for his crimes. Admirable in a way. I personally would've told him to beat it after all he was horrible to us before his navi got deleted.

"Slur lets get going," Rockman said as he defeated the last virus in the area. She nodded and summoned a series of spikes to delete the viruses.

Blues nodded. "The control room shouldn't be far. The enemy navi must be there."

"Let us proceed onward then," she said.

The three of them advanced through the network. To her surprise Blues stayed close to them. Is he spying on us or trying to work with us? She couldn't tell personally but either way she wasn't going to let her guard down.

He isn't a total fool. This navi and his operator are definitely crafty. We should be on guard, especially if they try to get close to us. She already knew that Blues and his operator were people who probably wouldn't take her mission here well. Even if they weren't with the net police she wasn't going to take her chances.

Clenching her fists she did her best to not think of this mission failing. We are doing ok for now. Just lay low and defeat these terrorists. We'll do our best to not attract the attention of anyone who would want to put me under a microscope.

That was easier said than done of course since her operator's dad was a major scientist. The memory of his father asking about her made her clench her fists. Netto stood up to me but hopefully is father doesn't get too pushy with trying to see him. I won't let some human look me over in such a humiliating way.

"Slur we are close to the main frame," Rockman said.

She nodded. "Lets end this now."

With their weapons drawn they quickly stormed into the room. Inside was an orange navi with yellow boomerangs on his arms and one on his head.

"Halt!" Blues said.

The navi turned to them and raise an eyebrow. "What are you three doing here?"

"Quickman what is it?" The navi's operator said through the intercom.

"We have some guests," Quickman said summoning a pair of boomerangs in his hands. "Don't worry I'll deal with them."

"Good. Do it quickly I want this dam to flood this valley," The operator said.

"Are you crazy? Many people will die," Netto said appearing on a screen next to her.

Quickman's operator appeared on a screen next to him. He looked like a young college student but his gaze was anything but friendly. "This dam is oppressive to nature. With its fall nature shall be free!"

"You're nuts!" Netto said. "Slur Rockman take this guy's navi down now! Battle routine set!"

"Execute," she and Rockman said at the same time.

"Blues lets end this quickly," Enzan said.

"Roger," Blues said.

Quickman threw a series of boomerangs at them. "Area Steal slot in!" Netto said.

They were both teleported out of the way while Blues avoided the attacks. Rockman fired his blaster and Quickman but the navi easily dodged his attacks and avoided Blues's sword.

"A tricky bastardy," she muttered as she observed his movements.

"Vulcan slot in!" Netto said.

A blaster appeared on her arm along with Rockman's arm. The two fired their weapons, Quickman easily dodged their attacks and countered with a series of boomerangs.

"Barrier slot in!" Netto said.

A barrier appeared around both of them as they managed to dodge the attacks. "Slur do you think you can get him with your chords?" Her operator asked.

She nodded. "Already on it Netto-kun." With a flick of her wrists she summoned a series of chords. Quickman's eyes widened as he tried to avoid the chords but she managed to grab him by the food. Got you.

A smile spread across her face as she electrocuted him with her chord. Quickman screamed as he felt to the ground and spears pierced his body. "Alright he won't get away now lets end this," she said summoning a light sword in her hand.

Blues and Rockman nodded. Rockman fired first hitting the navi square in his chest. Quickman yelled but didn't have time to react as Blues came at him with his sword. She came next naturally, She could feel Blues' gaze on her as she matched his speed and plunged her sword into Quickman. Try to compete with that. Quickman screamed as he was logged out and pierced by both of their weapons.

"Not bad," Blues said looking at her with a calm gaze.

She nodded. "Thank you. It was a pleasure working with you."

Blues nodded. "It was. Come on we should prevent the bombs from going off."

With that they were able to deactivate the remaining bombs in the dam. The rest of the evening wasn't as hectic but it wasn't exactly peaceful. Quickman's operator was quickly apprehended and jailed and it wasn't until the evening when her operator could final relax.

"Slur you and Rockman both did a good job today," Netto said.

"I strive to do my best," she said with a shrug.

Rockman nodded. "We worked well together. Blues seems cold but I think we can cooperate with him in the future."

She raised an eyebrow and looked at her operator. "You'll be working with him more?"

Netto sighed. "I'm not sure. But with all that's going on it would be good to make peace with him. Besides he doesn't have that Blues with him anymore."

"What do you mean by that?" Rockman asked.

She and Netto exchanged a look. Well I guess we could let him in on it. "Rockman remember our secret mission that no one can know about?" she asked.

Rockman nodded. "What about it?"

She looked the navi in his eyes, they were calm and sincere. "We are being tested by someone powerful," she said softly. "He occasionally sends navis to corrupt and test people. The boy Enzan he received one such navi and tried to delete me and harm Netto."

Rockman's eyes widened. "They tried to harm you both?"

She nodded. "These navis are called asteroid navis and can influence their operators do to bad things. No one must know about those navis," she said firmly.

Rockman nodded. "But who makes them? Is it a group like Gospel and WWW?"

She shook her head. "No. It is someone much more terrifying. I promise we'll reveal it to you at home. It isn't something we should talk out in the open about."

"I understand," Rockman said softly.

"We'll tell you eventually," Netto said. "But right now there might be too many prying eyes. Enzan apparently doesn't work with the net police but we shouldn't let our guard down."

"Do you want to give him another chance?" She asked.

Netto looked down and nodded. "To be honest I never gave him one. But right now with Gospel going around we need all the help we can get."

Figured you would say that. She knew her operator cared about his friends and family and it didn't surprise her at this point he would be willing to work with a boy who mocked him to do it.

"I agree," Rockman said. "If it means we can help more people maybe we should give them both a chance."

"Very well," she sighed. "Lets just not let our guards down."