AN: Hello! For this chapter, I finally introduce a very important character that I wanted to introduce. He is truly significant and teased in ABD. He has a very horrifying side, which I love. Still no sign of Enzan. Sorry Enzan fans, it's not yet your time. I'm introducing many underrated characters who deserve to be loved, actually. But here it is, a chapter filled with mystery for you!
Chapter 23: He won't change, continuing to save people in need
Saito slowly awakened, engulfed in overwhelming fatigue. The ambient heat was understandable, considering the child snuggled against him. As he gazed more closely at Netto's sleeping face, a gentle smile formed on his lips. With a delicate gesture, he tucked a stray lock of hair behind the child's ear, then got up from the bed.
Casting one last glance at the boy, Saito realized he had to hurry and leave. He put on his jacket and shoes, then once again observed the child before opening the door to exit the room. As soon as he stepped outside, a chilly breeze tickled his nose, causing a sneeze-like sensation in the pre-adolescent. Rubbing his nose quickly, he gathered his courage and began walking rapidly toward the exit of this strange city that lay before him.
This city reminded him more of Internet City, but an upgraded and refined version, where vegetation blended harmoniously with omnipresent technology. Saito understood that this metropolis was much more than just a place focused on modernity. However, he had to remain vigilant as he found himself amidst the Navis and didn't want to arouse suspicion. The sun was about to rise, so it was imperative for him to leave this city as quickly as possible.
After a while, Saito froze, overwhelmed by an oppressive sensation. He felt as if a heavy gaze was fixed on his back, sending shivers down his spine. Had he been spotted by Variety? Was it...that boy with his Navi who had scared him to the point of triggering a crisis? He stayed on guard and abruptly turned around, attempting to control his gaze. But he was surprised to see nothing. He thought he had briefly caught sight of a Navi in a different manner, but nothing alarming. His breath calmed, and his heart stopped pounding. He let out a soft sigh, convincing himself that it was just temporary fatigue.
As he prepared to resume his journey, a child's laughter suddenly echoed in his ears, like a piercing warning. Saito started running again, without looking back even once, determined to leave this city as quickly as possible.
"Ah!" exclaimed the butler Navi as he was chased by the little girl. Netto opened his eyes at the sound, sat up slowly, and wiped his head. He directed his gaze towards Yaito, whose hair was disheveled, while Glyde prepared bacon and eggs in the kitchen.
"Oh, good morning, Netto-san!" responded the brown Navi, turning his head as his operator stared at him while wiping her head. "I'm sorry for waking you up! Would you like to eat?"
Netto yawned before responding and nodded, letting his feet hang off the bed.
"Very well, I'll prepare bacon with an egg for you too!" he immediately replied. Before cracking the egg, he noticed the boy's bed and opened his mouth. "Is your friend not here anymore?"
Time passed as Netto processed the question, taking more than five seconds. He turned his head to look at his bed and indeed realized that he was alone. His gaze remained fixed in emptiness for several seconds, negative thoughts beginning to take shape in his mind.
"Don't worry..." he began in a weak voice. "He always does that..."
Glyde didn't immediately understand, cracking the first egg and letting out a soft sigh. "I'm quite troubled, I thought you would stay for the day while your PET is being repaired. I was counting on him to watch over Yaito-sama so she wouldn't get into trouble."
The girl frowned upon hearing this. "What are you implying?! It's not even the first time you've left me alone, after all!"
"I know!" he replied, slightly panicked. "But today, I would have felt more reassured knowing that you were accompanied rather than being alone at home... Especially if you're trying to go out."
Netto tilted his head, grimacing for a moment. He yawned for a second time and realized there was nothing he could do. After all, no one could control Saito.
Breakfast went on, Glyde picked up his PET from the table before heading towards the door.
"Well, you've probably figured it out, Netto-san, but I have to go to work! I'm counting on you not to bother my dear Yaito-sama too much; you know her by now, after all!" he explained, ending with a nervous laugh. He made a final gesture and opened the door. "And above all, be careful if you ever go out! Children are never completely safe!" He went out and closed the door.
The two children found themselves in an awkward silence, with Yaito rudely drinking her tea. Netto avoided looking at her, trying to think for a moment, then he glanced at the food on his plate, eating slowly with his utensils.
"Shall we go get my PET?" he suddenly asked without looking up from his plate.
The blonde girl raised her eyes, lowered her cup, and looked at him with a weary expression.
"I'm not sure it's finished yet," she replied, trying not to sound aggressive.
He shrugged. "We can still go and check, right? That way, I'll know when Higure-san is done."
Yaito didn't respond. She took a sip of her tea and swallowed it slowly. Then, she abruptly placed her cup back on the table.
"We can do that," she said with a slight smile.
After washing up and getting dressed, the two children set off in the city. While Netto felt perfectly at ease walking in the town, Yaito, on the other hand, wasn't very reassured about being without an adult. She stayed close to the boy who was "supposedly" younger than her. It was understandable that she felt this way, considering all the recent child abductions. She had the right to be worried about going outside with only a young boy by her side.
They arrived at the shop, which was a bright green with Higure's name written prominently—a detail that Netto hadn't noticed the day before. The two children entered and spotted the shopkeeper at his small workshop, manipulating an electronic circuit between his hands. Higure looked up upon seeing his two young customers.
"Oh, hello to both of you!" he greeted them.
Yaito returned the greeting, while Netto approached a little closer, a hopeful look on his face.
"Is my PET ready?" Netto asked, his eyes lowering as he noticed the machine's blue casing open, revealing its circuitry on the outside. He swallowed hard upon seeing it.
"Well, let's just say I did get some sleep last night-demasu," the adult replied humorously, scratching the back of his head. "I studied your PET last night, and I'm surprised to find that it's quite similar to the official ones."
Netto stared at the man, his eyes slightly widened by this information.
"In fact, it seems that these PETs are slightly less powerful than ours," the bespectacled man continued.
This news furrowed the child's brow. What did that observation mean? He felt slightly offended.
"In any case, it'll be a piece of cake to fix it-demasu," Higure admitted with a smile. "I should have it finished, probably by this afternoon."
Netto parted his lips, disappointed about having to wait, but accepting that he would have to come back later, eventually nodding his head. He then turned to Yaito, who responded with a simple shrug.
"Do you want to do something?" she asked with a sincere smile.
Netto didn't immediately respond, searching for an answer, but before he could find his words, a new person hurriedly entered the room. It was a girl, a teenager with purple hair. The boy immediately recognized her as Shuuko, who in his world was Higure's assistant. Surprised to see familiar faces, Netto remained silent, listening attentively to what she had to say.
"Higure-san!" she exclaimed, almost rushing towards him.
The man leaned back in his chair, already quite surprised to see her.
"Oh, there you are, Shuuko-chan!" he replied, trying to maintain a cheerful tone.
However, the young girl didn't seem receptive to his demeanor; she appeared desperate to the highest degree.
"I can't work today either! I still haven't found Aquaman! I don't know where he is!" she continued, her voice growing louder.
Higure raised his hands, trying to calm the situation. "Please, calm down. Maybe he just got lost outside, you know, the city is big!"
"But I've searched everywhere! I've asked everyone, no one has seen him!" she finished by shouting before letting out a sob and covering her eyes with her hands.
"Shuuko-chan..." Netto murmured softly, feeling sorry for her.
Situations hadn't changed for some people. Shuuko often lost her Navi in his world, and it was usually Rockman and Roll who found him. But here, this wasn't the Shuuko he knew, and she had no friends to help her, except maybe Higure if he decided to put his own work on hold.
"Shuuko-chan, you should ask for a patrol to be sent out. They will find him, I assure you-demasu," suggested Higure, trying to be a support for her.
However, the young girl bit her lip and placed her hands back over her eyes, her head shaking back and forth. Higure sighed and patted her shoulder before getting up from his chair and stepping away.
"I will call them for you. Can you give me some clues, though? In case you have any idea where Aquaman might be-demasu?" Higure asked, picking up the receiver of an old telephone.
Shuuko sniffled several times, wiping her tears. She looked up at him, trying to speak with a clear voice.
"I've been to all the places Aquaman could go... Except maybe..." She started thinking, recalling something that, judging by the expression in her eyes, frightened her. "He kept telling me that one day he would go to the sanctuary..." she confessed, her voice filled with fear.
This time, Higure finally reacted with alarm when Shuuko uttered those words. Even Yaito, who had been observing the scene from the beginning, started grinding her teeth. Only Netto remained perplexed.
"He's crazy! What does he want to do there?" Higure asked, looking at her with a grave expression.
"He..." she began, looking at the floor. "He kept saying that he wanted to understand why people were afraid to go there and that he wanted to confront the 'monster' in that place." Shuuko suddenly fell silent, her voice breaking as she leaned forward. "I kept telling him not to go!"
Despite the compassion Higure felt for his young assistant, he couldn't contain his frustration. He approached her, trying to remain understanding but measured in his words.
"If he really is there... I fear that no one will dare to go and find him..." he said with a brave voice, although he could sense that his own words were fatal.
This information only added to Shuuko's distress, and she nearly collapsed to her knees on the floor. Higure tried repeatedly to comfort her, attempting to make her believe that Aquaman might not really be there, but nothing seemed to ease the young girl.
The two children finally left the shop, no longer wanting to stay after what they had just experienced. Yaito sighed and cast one last glance at the shop before furrowing her brows.
"Well, that girl is really unlucky to have her Navi end up there," she said into the wind, without looking at the boy beside her.
Netto was lost in his thoughts, keeping the memory of what he had just witnessed. His jaw was slightly clenched. He eventually looked at the girl beside him, his eyes filled with determination but also curiosity.
"What is the sanctuary?" he finally asked.
Yaito put her hands on her hips, looking away. "It's some sort of ancient temple or ruins, I'm not exactly sure," she said thoughtfully. "It was related to the Cybeasts. It got destroyed about a year ago, and since then, it's been infected with the Beast Factor. No one goes there anymore."
She glanced sideways for a moment, taking a breath.
"The Navis that venture there get infected," she continued, "And humans... We don't really know what happens, but, well, we could easily be attacked by the creatures of the Beast Factor." She explained at length.
Netto lowered his gaze and started to think. He and Rockman were used to saving Aquaman in extremely dangerous situations, but in this world, they had already faced situations where they had come close to death multiple times. What could he do? Shuuko was his friend in his world, and Aquaman was precious to Rockman. He couldn't leave him here, even if they didn't know each other in this world. While pondering, he remembered Meiru. He clenched his fists one last time and nodded.
"Where is it located?" he asked seriously.
"To the southeast of the city..." Yaito vaguely replied, not realizing what she had just said until she noticed the almost serious expression on the child's face. "Um... What do you have in mind?"
"I'm not going to sit idly by. Nobody will probably help her Navi, so I will," he replied with determination.
The little girl's eyes and mouth widened. "What?! You're completely crazy!"
Netto bit his lip, realizing the gravity of his decision, but he had chosen to do it. "Maybe I am, but I have to go help him!" he continued with determination.
"But you're going to get yourself killed!" she almost exclaimed, trying to bring him back to reason.
He immediately calmed down, a strange flash crossing his mind. It felt like his heart was being torn apart. He placed a hand on his chest and let out a deep sigh.
"Listen, I know it's madness, but I have to go. I have no valid reason to do it, but if I don't, I'll regret it forever." He turned around, his fists clenched. "Where is the nearest exit from the city that leads to the sanctuary?"
Yaito didn't respond immediately, her eyes wavering. She could understand how serious he was. With a resigned sigh, she finally pointed in a direction.
"Take this path, and you'll reach the exit that leads to the sanctuary... You'll see several signs telling you to turn back, that might give you an idea of where it is," she replied sarcastically.
Netto nodded and gave her a fleeting smile. "Thank you, Yaito-chan!"
He started running in the direction she had indicated, not looking back. Yaito watched him leave with a sigh, now finding herself alone. She closed her eyes for a moment, lost in her thoughts...until she felt a cloth soaked with an unpleasant smell against her mouth and nose, and then the world turned black.
Netto quickly reached the exit, scanning his surroundings. He decided to pull his hood over his head to go unnoticed. Staying on high alert, he carefully searched for the path to the sanctuary, but it took him some time. He heard a heavy sound behind him that made him jump, almost causing him to fall to the ground. However, when he turned around, he was relieved to see his own Navi, Rockman, a few meters away from him, as they had agreed to avoid any "accidents."
"Rockman!" he exclaimed, both relieved and scared.
The Navi stood still, knees bent, looking at the child with half closed eyes, partially hidden by his helmet. Netto swallowed hard, searching for his words.
"Hmm... We're not leaving the city just yet," he began as the Navi tilted his head. "Actually, I found someone to repair your PET, and it will be available this afternoon!" he announced, trying to sound enthusiastic.
The Navi didn't immediately react, as if he was trying to understand what Netto had just said. His menacing face gradually calmed down. The child tried to maintain a smile, his fingers lightly touching each other.
"Yes, I'll finally be able to use it. Maybe it will help you on your end too? And, by the way..." Netto's voice trailed off as he looked at the ground, memories of his encounter with Colonel flooding back. He sighed softly. "It's not...Duo who gave you this form, is it?"
Rockman stared at him as if his gaze was penetrating deep into Netto's soul. The child didn't expect his remark to have such an impact. He swallowed slowly, realizing the tension he had just created. He shook his head, raising his hands to try to ease the situation.
"I mean... I guess... No? But the PET is about to be repaired, so maybe..." Netto looked at him hopefully, hoping that Rockman wouldn't react negatively. "I want to believe..." he murmured.
Rockman tilted his head, continuing to examine Netto while making strange growling sounds. Netto chuckled softly.
"By the way, do you know who is repairing the PET? It's Higure-san!" he said with amusement.
Rockman's eyes suddenly widened, as if he was shocked by this information. He started shaking his head vigorously while emitting more growls.
"Don't worry!" Netto tried to reassure him. "Nothing will happen to him, he seems to know what he's doing!"
The Navi stopped moving, once again looking at the child with curiosity. Netto let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his hands against himself.
"And since Higure-san is here, Shuuko-chan is also his assistant," he explained softly. "And... Aquaman..." He looked up, observing if the Navi would react to hearing that name, but there was no reaction. "Aquaman...is in trouble here too... And I would like to help him while we wait for your PET to be repaired," he suddenly added to get the point across more quickly.
Unexpectedly, Rockman opened his mouth and roared like a tiger, a sound he hadn't made in a long time. Netto squeezed his eyes shut and tightened his arms around himself, trying not to look at his Navi.
"Please, Rockman, he's in trouble. You've always helped him without hesitation, so why not here too?" he continued with a bit more courage.
But once again, he was met with another roar. Netto clenched his lips and decided to face his Navi's menacing gaze.
"Rockman! I can't just stand by, especially when it comes to our friends!" he began shouting. "I know this isn't our world, I know Saito said we should stay back, but I can't!" He bit his lips as tears welled up in his eyes. "I can't abandon someone...not after what happened with Meiru-chan..."
The young boy started sobbing softly, holding his hands against himself, his eyes closed, letting the tears stream down his cheeks.
"Please..." he pleaded, his voice trembling.
Rockman looked at him, Netto's tears falling onto the ground and mingling with the dirt. His eyes remained cryptic, but eventually, he took a few steps toward the child, not really approaching him. He made a guttural sound, and Netto lifted his head after wiping his face several times. Observing Rockman, he saw that the Navi seemed calmer than a second ago. A smile slowly formed on the young boy's face, understanding his Navi's stance.
"You agree...to go and save him?" Netto asked, seeking to make sure that was indeed what Rockman wanted.
Rockman nodded, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings. If the circumstances had been different, like when they were at Meiru's, Netto would have surely jumped into his arms. However, this time, he didn't do any of that. Instead, he simply offered a conspiratorial smile and nodded in approval.
"Let's go, Rockman!" declared Netto enthusiastically.
The young boy walked ahead on the path, closely followed by his Navi who never took his eyes off him. As Netto marched with determination, eager to save Aquaman, Rockman, on the other hand, carefully noticed the numerous signs scattered around—all urging visitors to leave or not proceed any further, signaling the danger of the area. He observed his operator's back, his eyes half-closed, partially concealed by his helmet. A strange negative emotion began to stir within him.
They arrived at labyrinthine ruins, and a bit further, a building that had miraculously survived the destruction, albeit riddled with holes. The two structures were almost juxtaposed, and Rockman seemed very uncertain about this seemingly peaceful place. Netto, on the other hand, tightened his arms around himself, attempting to smile, convinced that nothing bad would happen.
"Come on, let's go!" he said with an encouraging voice before taking a step forward.
However, before he could do anything, the Navi growled, pushing him away, displeased with his proximity. Panic-stricken, the child quickly stepped back. Rockman had removed his mask, and through his facial features, his anger was clearly visible. Netto tried to force a smile.
"W-what's wrong, Rockman?" he asked with little acting talent.
The Navi growled once more, and Netto averted his gaze, his face reddened by fear. Rockman raised his arm and pointed in the opposite direction, which the child observed attentively before opening his mouth.
"You want me to..." Netto didn't finish his sentence as Rockman vigorously nodded. The child's lips tightened, his brows furrowing. "I don't want to stay behind, I want to come with you," he declared with determination.
Rockman roared fiercely, slamming into the ground and threatening the child with his fingers planted in the earth. Netto took a few steps back, terrified by this unprecedented reaction. Over the past few days, he had developed a deep fear towards his own Navi. He felt powerless in this situation, unable to fight against him. However, the thought of the poor little lost aquatic Navi somewhere never left Netto's mind. He couldn't give up now.
With trembling eyes, he held Rockman's gaze, whose eyes reflected growing rage. Eventually, Netto let out a difficult sigh and turned around to take a different direction, retracing his steps. As he moved away slowly, the wild Navi calmed down, standing up straight on his bent legs as if regaining his composure.
However, unbeknownst to him, a silhouette swiftly passed by him like a bowling ball. Rockman abruptly turned around to see the boy running away, heading towards the sanctuary he had stopped looking at. Wide-eyed at this sight, the Navi growled and roared fiercely, launching himself in pursuit of the disobedient child.
Netto ran as fast as he could, delving into the labyrinth of stone, trying to shake off his Navi gone mad at the thought of his disobedience. However, he knew he couldn't escape him indefinitely. He only had so much time. As he reached a corner, the boy spotted a few large rocks scattered against a wall. He carefully observed and heard the traces of Rockman approaching. Netto climbed onto the rocks and hid among them, as if finding refuge in a crevice. He heard Rockman arrive, scanning the surroundings but being too far from the rocks to detect the presence of the child. The Navi resumed his path, roaring in frustration.
Netto breathed a sigh of relief, finally feeling safe. He emerged from his hiding place and surveyed the surroundings. He sincerely hoped that when he and Rockman would reunite, the latter wouldn't harm him. Even if he had reverted to his wild self as before, maybe he wouldn't hurt him...unless it was like the last time when Rockman had shoved him down. Netto tried not to dwell on it and continued his advance, desperately searching for the little aquatic Navi.
Tightening his cape around him, Netto observed the devastated landscape, feeling a slight migraine that froze him for a few moments. He then resumed his walk, gritting his teeth, and noticed drawings on the walls. Although rare, some depicted human figures, similar to those he had seen in the mountain some time ago. A growing curiosity seized him, urging him to follow each increasingly scattered drawing. There was a mystery in this place, a secret that was hiding, just like the one connected to Duo and Cross Fusion.
The boy recalled the time they had ventured south of Amerope to explore ruins. It turned out that only the chosen ones by Duo could enter in order to uncover more about the origin of this world and the program. And now, with this evident connection between this world and Duo, as evidenced by the drawings in the mountain, he was determined to learn more. 25 15 21 1 1 11
Without wasting a moment, Netto entered the large building. He was enveloped by a glow emanating from the thousands of holes dotting the walls, while the cold dampness caressed him. He observed the walls and discovered even more depictions of people or Navis. These recurring images sparked numerous questions in him about their origins.
The child then recalled the moment he had returned from the ruins, his father providing him with new explanations about the discoveries made there.
"A civilization of aliens..." commented Netto as he observed the screen in front of him.
His father nodded, continuing to type on his keyboard. "It brings us much more than answers about Duo."
Netto felt troubled, twisting his mouth and tilting his head. "He destroyed his creators simply because he deemed them flawed due to their imperfections..."
"We are facing an entity devoid of sympathy. It makes no nuanced distinctions, only two extremes," replied Yuichiro. He glanced at the screen, then flashed a brighter smile. "But this could be evidence of the existence of Atlampia."
Netto raised his head, confused about what he was talking about. "Atlampia?" repeated the young boy.
"It's an ancient civilization that vanished thousands of years ago. No traces of this civilization have been found, except for the recurring mentions made by a philosopher from Amerope," he explained, ending with a small laugh. "It is said that he would be one of their descendants."
Netto blinked. "Why would this civilization have disappeared?"
"It is said that the gods were jealous of this civilization and submerged it under the oceans. After all, they possessed formidable technology, and with the arrival of these extraterrestrials on Earth, one could think they discovered and used their technology to their advantage," Yuichiro explained, turning to his son with a smile. "It is a legend that has always fascinated my mind. It is also said that this is how Uranet appeared, as well as the origin of the Lord of Ura."
"The Lord of Ura?" Netto heard from his PET, where Rockman had spoken.
Yuichiro nodded. Netto looked at him, impressed, and approached his father eagerly. "Have you ever met this Lord of Ura?" he asked, a wide smile illuminating his face.
Yuichiro lost his smile and looked at his hand, seeming lost in thought. He furrowed his brows, gritted his teeth, then averted his gaze. "It's just a fairy tale...nothing more."
Netto vividly recalled that moment. He wondered if this world also had its own fairy tale? He ran his hand over the drawings adorning the walls, exploring the crevices that formed these images. He finally arrived in front of a symbol that sparked a moment of clarity. A semicircle inside a complete circle, the alleged signature of the person who created these drawings. He slowly raised his head, his mouth slightly agape in astonishment.
And then, a presence. He felt a gaze upon him, his wide eyes quickly searching for the origin of this observation. But it wasn't Rockman, it wasn't a Navi he knew. A body of very light beige, almost white, with gray patterns on the arms and legs, long antennae on each side of the head, and most strikingly, bright red eyes. Netto briefly wondered if it was an alien, straight out of those old science-fiction movies.
The creature stared at him, seeming surprised to see him here, while Netto retreated, his back against the wall, eyes wide open. Neither of them reacted, and the young boy took a deep breath, noticing that it still hadn't done anything.
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"I..." he began softly, seeking an exit. "I'm looking for a Navi..."
The strange being in front of him did not react, simply continuing to observe him. Netto maintained his forced smile but couldn't help letting out a nervous chuckle. He made a hand gesture, as if indicating a small size.
"He's small and all blue... He's a water Navi," he continued, hoping that it might help in some way.
"What are you?" he finally heard in a childlike voice emanating from the creature before him.
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Netto slowly opened his mouth, surprised that he was actually speaking and especially that he could ask him such a question. He straightened up and tried to catch his breath.
"I... I'm Netto," he replied, raising his hand towards the creature, attempting to establish a connection. "And you?"
The white being did not react to his gesture, remaining unresponsive. "No. What are you?"
Netto felt lost, but he waved his arms, causing his cape to flutter. "Well, I'm a human, as you can see..." he explained naturally. "And you, you are..."
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He lowered his gaze and caught sight of the emblem on his chest, realizing that it was a Navi. However, what surprised him was not so much that, but rather the symbol present on the emblem, identical to the signature on the walls.
"You are..." Netto began in a weak voice, realizing what he might be facing.
The Navi leaned forward, getting closer to the child's face. "Human? Are you really sure?" he said in an enigmatic voice.
Netto gasped upon hearing those words, his mouth hanging open.
"I... Yes?" Netto lowered his head, unsure of what else to say. He was bewildered by the question and the strange turn of the conversation.
The Navi leaned back slightly, sporting a strange smile. "I like that," he commented to himself, causing Netto to raise his head. "What do you mean?"
"You seem fascinating," he replied with the same smile that sent shivers down the young child's spine.
"If... If you say so," Netto replied, lowering his gaze, clearing his throat, and furrowing his brows. "And who are you?"
The Navi leaned back further, wearing a smirk. "I am..."
"Cache."
Netto blinked, repeating the name he had heard. Cache stepped to the side, wearing a slightly mysterious smile. The child chewed on his words, wondering if he had truly stumbled upon the wrong person, but the emblem on the Navi reignited his questions.
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Then, they were taken by surprise when they heard a terrifying scream. In that moment, Netto first thought it was Rockman, but further ahead, he saw a genuine Zoanoroid in its Beast form. The child remained silent and terrified while Cache seemed unperturbed. The monstrous Navi approached them, running towards them to attack. Netto fervently prayed for Rockman to appear out of nowhere. However, the white-clad Navi raised its arm, and beams of light rained down on the Zoanoroid, reducing it to a thousand pieces.
Netto let out a loud exhale, as if he had been holding his breath for long minutes. He looked at his "savior," realizing that this must be an ally.
"Thank you..." he replied softly, expressing his gratitude.
Cache didn't respond, merely turning his head towards Netto. Despite his attempt to smile, the child felt a wave of pain in his head, almost losing his balance. Like a faulty video cassette, he felt a kind of static electricity coursing through his body. He instinctively stepped back, gritting his teeth. The pain quickly dissipated, and when he raised his head, the white Navi had completely disappeared. Mouth agape, Netto frantically searched, turning his head in all directions, but found nothing.
"Cache?" he called softly, hoping for a response.
The child turned to the drawings on the wall; the white Navi had left without giving him time to ask all his questions. He shook his head, trying to refocus on what he originally had to do. He turned around and resumed his path, doing his best to set aside thoughts about Cache for the moment. Netto continued examining the drawings on the walls of the temple with great curiosity, seeking to understand every detail.
Once again, the pain in his head made itself known. What was happening? Could it be...the Beast Factor, perhaps? He tried to dismiss the idea from his mind by shaking his head, but the pain persisted. Suddenly, he felt something dripping from his nostril and quickly wiped it away. On his thumb, he saw blood. His eyes trembled and he gritted his teeth, doing his best to wipe his nose to prevent a heavy nosebleed.
Looking at the ground, the child noticed water trickling, possibly coming from a nearby source. He thought he could splash his face to clean up. Despite the migraine tormenting him, Netto followed the stream and arrived in a room filled with rocks. And there, not far away, was the source of that water: a small blue Navi with a fountain above its head.
The child's eyes widened, and he rushed toward the Navi. "Aquaman!" he exclaimed, gripping him by the shoulder.
The poor little Navi seemed to be in agony, his eyes closed. Netto noticed something strange on Aquaman's emblem, some kind of scar or glowing mark. The little Navi opened his mouth, almost feeling the pain. He now understood why Aquaman couldn't react; he seemed to be in a coma-like state.
Netto made the decision to carry him on his back, finding him rather light despite the heaviness in his head. He adjusted Aquaman properly and resumed walking. He could feel the water trickling from the Navi's head, giving him an uncomfortable sensation as it fell onto his body.
As he continued walking, Netto felt the blood from his nose flowing again. He made a sound of annoyance, but his hands were occupied, preventing him from wiping it away. Strange noises could be heard, urging him to pick up the pace, eager to get out as quickly as possible. His nose continued to bleed, and the pain in his head persisted. The child breathed heavily, overwhelmed by the pain.
He suddenly caught sight of something ahead and was surprised to see Cache waiting for him a little further away. Netto struggled to breathe, the migraine preventing him from thinking clearly, and, most importantly, he was no longer able to ask Cache questions about this mysterious temple.
"Cache..." he began, trying to express himself despite the pain. "Can you help me get out of here... I think the Beast Factor is doing something to me..."
The white Navi approached Netto, wearing a slight smirk. He raised his hand and wiped the blood from the child's nose, leaving him perplexed. "Humans are weak," he began, observing his finger stained with Netto's blood, which intrigued the boy. "But you, it seems like you are exceptional."
Then, without caring about Netto, the white Navi turned around and began to walk, leaving the child with Aquaman still on his back. The boy almost called out to him but was struck by a new headache.
"Wait!" he exclaimed, catching up to the white Navi who had abandoned him. "Please, tell me how I can find the way out. That's all I want to know!" he pleaded, desperate.
He followed the white Navi to a vast room with two large thrones. He noticed the symbols of Gregar and Falzar engraved on each of the thrones. Netto furrowed his brows slightly, surveying the surroundings. Cache sat on one of the thrones, leaning to the side with crossed legs.
"Where are we?" Netto asked softly as he approached Cache, who looked at him with a somewhat manic expression.
"And to think this is a temple created by humans who worshipped both Cybeasts at once," he chuckled. "They believed that one day, they would put an end to their rivalry. How naive these humans are."
Netto looked at the symbols of Gregar and Falzar on the thrones, feeling a sense of sadness as he observed the rivalry symbolized by these two figures.
"What would happen if... the Cybeasts had never been rivals?" the young child innocently asked, revealing a glimmer of hope.
Cache tilted his head, seeming to ponder the question. "The greatest dream of humanity," he murmured before striking a theatrical pose. His voice took on a strange tone. "The Great Peace."
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Netto felt a shiver run through his body upon hearing Cache's words. He bit his inner lip, trying to grasp the hidden meaning behind those words. He looked at the countless drawings that covered the walls and locked eyes with the white Navi.
"Is it you who made all these drawings?" he asked, eager to finally get an answer. "What are you trying to say exactly?"
Cache straightened up, leaning slightly forward, maintaining his almost arrogant smile.
"I was bored, so I've been drawing every human and Navi in this world for the past thirty-five years," he replied calmly.
Netto made a sound of surprise, almost shocked. "Wait, you've sparked the curiosity of so many people...just because you were bored?!"
The white Navi tilted his head to the side. "This world was dull, but since the disappearance of the Cybeasts five years ago, things have changed. And now, here you are," he stated.
He rose from his seat without advancing, exposing his chest as he let out a slight sigh.
"Originally, I wanted to meet the reincarnation of Gregar and understand the anomaly he was... But you, I didn't anticipate you, and you are...much more interesting," he added, pointing his finger at Netto while maintaining his peculiar smile. A chill ran down the child's spine.
"We will meet again, Netto. I'll be keeping an eye on you," he concluded in an enigmatic voice.
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Netto quickly backed away as he heard an explosion that destroyed the roof, revealing a deranged Zoanoroid whose original form was unrecognizable. The white Navi had mysteriously vanished behind him. Panicked and afraid of this new threat, the child tried to escape, but the persistent pain and the weight of Aquaman on his back hindered his mobility.
The Zoanoroid prepared to attack, but it was abruptly halted when Rockman suddenly appeared and tackled it to the ground. Netto took a few steps back, disturbed despite the unexpected rescue by his Navi. Although he had managed to remove the infected Navi's emblem, it vanished into a myriad of data particles.
Rockman came to a halt, his expression filled with confusion and concern. He observed the blood flowing from Netto's nose, his eyes filled with anger. He almost growled, ready to roar in frustration, but the child grimaced and quickly confronted him.
"N-no, Rockman! I'm fine! I found Aquaman! He's with me!" he hurriedly said, although he was growing increasingly weak, teetering on the edge of collapse. He thought he would fall to the ground, but he felt a presence catch him. Weakly raising his head, he saw that Rockman had wrapped his arm around him and held Aquaman in the other hand. Though he knew the wild Navi wanted to help him, a gentle panic overtook him.
"N-no... Rockman..." Netto pleaded in a voice so weak. "D-don't... Don't touch me..."
"Don't kill me..."
Netto slowly straightened up, his eyes still hazy. He realized he had been laid on the ground, and the pain in his head gradually subsided. After a few moments, he opened his eyes and saw the dimensional area of the sky stretching out before him. He slowly got up and noticed that he was near Cyber City with Aquaman lying next to him. He turned his head in the direction of Rockman and saw him standing there, knees bent, watching him closely.
A faint smile of gratitude appeared on Netto's lips. At least Rockman hadn't reprimanded him for what he had done. He let out a soft sigh, then turned to Aquaman, trying to grasp him by the shoulder. That's when he heard a weak sound coming from the small Navi's mouth.
"S-Shuuko-onee-chan..." he murmured weakly.
Netto nodded, trying to reassure Aquaman despite his own worries. He gently placed his hand on the globe that housed the blue Navi's head, seeking to convey his support.
"Don't worry, Aquaman, you'll see her again soon," he said in a soft, comforting voice.
Aquaman slowly opened his eyes, looking at him without surprise but unable to react further due to his weakness.
"W-who are you... Pyu?" he weakly asked.
Netto opened his mouth to respond, but a deep sadness overcame him. "I'm nobody... I'm going to take you back to your operator," he said, trying to grasp Aquaman's shoulder to lift him. However, Aquaman grimaced in pain, which stopped Netto in his action.
"It hurts!" exclaimed Aquaman with more force.
Netto looked at him, his eyes trembling, feeling powerless to alleviate the little Navi's suffering. His gaze fell upon Aquaman's emblem, where he noticed a kind of glowing scar, plunging him into panic. Without saying another word, he lifted the Water Navi and placed him on his back, preparing to continue their journey to bring him back to his precious operator.
Higure finished removing the last of the bolts, observing with curiosity this strangely unique PET. Meanwhile, Shuuko remained leaning against the counter in the room, her head buried in her arms, unable to recover from the loss of her beloved Navi. The doors of the shop swung open violently, breaking the somber silence. At the sight of the child, covered in sweat and gasping loudly, the young girl quickly straightened up. However, despite his breathlessness, a forced smile lit up his face.
"I..." Netto began between breaths. "I found this Navi, and since he specializes in water, I guess he's yours?"
Shuuko approached slowly until she recognized the Navi in question hanging on the young boy's back.
"Aquaman!" she exclaimed as she came closer to him and embraced him, relieving the child of a heavy burden.
"Shuuko...onee-chan..." the poor little Navi weakly murmured.
"Everything will be alright, Aquaman!" she said, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm here, you're safe now!"
"It hurts..." he continued.
Shuuko gasped abruptly and lowered her head as she saw the emblem marked with a trace. Panic-stricken, she quickly took out her PET from her pocket and placed it next to the small Navi. "Go back inside, Aquaman. I'll take you to see a programmer," she hurriedly declared. The Navi disappeared, returning to his PET.
She turned to Netto, bowing to express her gratitude. "From the bottom of my heart...thank you!" she replied, still hunched over.
Netto blushed slightly and scratched his head. Shuuko straightened up, her eyes almost sparkling. "What can I give you in return? Money? I have three bags of rice if you want..." she began speaking rapidly, lamenting as usual.
"Oh!" reacted Higure this time from his side, holding the blue case in his hand. "That was easier than I thought-demasu," he commented. He then handed Netto the PET.
Netto looked at the PET, delighted to have a new screen. His joy was almost explosive as he saw the screen light up, but his smile faded when he saw the Gregar logo spinning in a corner. He furrowed his brows, sighed, and eventually just pressed his PET against his chest, happy that his machine was finally repaired.
"Thank you so much for the work, I'm sure my Navi will be better!" Netto declared, his cheeks slightly red.
Before he turned to leave, Shuuko caught up with him one last time.
"Wait! Please, I just want to know where you found Aquaman!" she asked eagerly.
He looked at her, his eyes slightly widened, unsure of how to respond.
"I..." He stared at the ground, then sighed. "At the sanctuary."
Both adults displayed a shocked expression, Higure's mouth nearly hitting the floor.
"What?!" exclaimed Higure.
"You went to get Aquaman there?!" Shuuko asked, equally astounded.
Netto slowly nodded. "I...had to, I couldn't leave him there."
"But...you're just a child! You shouldn't be doing that!" Shuuko stated.
Netto grimaced in anger but held back, clenching his fist. He tried to look at the young girl with a softer voice. "It's alright... And besides, I didn't have any problems... Everything went fine," he explained, keeping his emotions under control.
He finally turned around and left the shop, ready to leave the city and reunite with Rockman.
Netto let out a sigh, diving back into his thoughts about everything that had happened. This mysterious Cache was surrounded by an aura that felt strange to him, but as he had told him, they were destined to cross paths again. Perhaps he would find answers from him.
Netto walked while looking at his PET, displaying a satisfied smile. Finally, something positive had happened: his PET was repaired! He would finally be able to use Rockman and no longer feel useless. He should also closely examine the machine, understand what it had become. Perhaps he would find answers there.
Raising his head, he gazed at the city and thought about Yaito. Should he bid her farewell before leaving, at least let her know that he had successfully saved that little Navi without any issues? But he suddenly realized that he had lost the way to her house.
"Netto-san!" A voice called out to him from behind.
Ah, speak of the devil! Turning around, he saw Glyde approaching him, looking panicked, which made Netto raise an eyebrow.
"Glyde-san, what's going on?" he asked.
"Netto-san, where were you? Have you seen Yaito-sama?!" exclaimed Glyde, growing more and more worried.
"Well...I was out...running an errand. I think she went back home," Netto replied.
"No! I searched everywhere in the apartment, I can't find her anywhere! Please, where were you the last time you saw her?" Glyde asked, increasingly anxious.
"I... Somewhere in the city...and then I...left her there. I had something important to do..." Netto explained slowly.
"Is...that the last time you saw her before her disappearance?" Glyde asked, gradually realizing the implications of his own words.
Netto's eyes slowly widened, realizing his own words. His heart tightened, pierced by a sense of guilt. Unbeknownst to him, he had abandoned a friend, leaving her in danger...once again.
To be Continued…
AN: And that's how this chapter ends, damn it, there you have it! Cache is here! Cache finally appears in my fic after being teased in ABD! Yes, it was him, hehe! I found his involvement in the anime really minimal, considering he has everything to be such an important character for a story like this. I guess a lot of people are happy with Yaito's fate? Unlike Meiru, after all. But well, even when there's good news, there has to be bad news too. One of my favorite chapters of this part comes to an end.