Enzan ran into the billows of the fake fog that were just beginning to dissipate in the room. He couldn't even begin to know where to go and so he was completely reliant on Blue's voice and direction to keep him on the right track and out of danger.
"Enzan-sama, I've located Rockman's signal," Blues said. "It's to your far left."
Enzan nodded and waved the opaque air out of his eyes as he looked around. Finally he saw something that looked like someone lying on the ground. He ran over to the figure and knelt down and saw that it was Netto. He hissed unhappily and checked for a pulse and breath. Both were there, but Netto's breathing was shallow and Enzan knew he was on borrowed time himself.
"Netto?" he asked calmly.
Netto groaned but didn't wake up, however he heard a small sound that told him Rockman managed to log back into his own PET.
Enzan picked up Netto and cradled him because of the dress that he was wearing. He slowly made his way first to a wall where the air was thicker then he pulled Netto out of the room to the nearest door. The door led into an empty hallway but Enzan didn't care. By that time he was also weak and he just wanted to breathe for a few minutes. Blues noted this and sent an e-mail to everyone else saying that Enzan and Netto were fine but incapacitated at the moment.
Enzan set Netto down against the wall, and then he slid to the floor himself. After a few minutes Netto coughed and began to come around. Enzan looked down at his friend and gave him a small smile, "You okay?" he asked.
Netto blinked, "What happened?"
"Well, we finished the mission," Enzan said.
Netto took in a deep breath before saying, "Oh thank god."
Enzan shook his head amusedly and then said, "Are you sure you're all right?"
Netto coughed, "I'll be fine, just give me a few minutes and a pair of pants."
Enzan snorted in a horrible effort to cover up a laugh and Netto eyed him, "Oh, I made you laugh?" he asked innocently.
"Shut up," Enzan said in a light voice.
Netto laughed and leaned against the wall. "Well, I for one am glad this is done."
"Yes indeed," Enzan agreed.
Later that evening, after Netto had gotten into more comfortable clothes and everyone else calmed down Cathy told them what had happened and thanked everyone for their help. "Well kids, the mission is over," she told Netto, Enzan and Laika. "Can I count on you to work with us again maybe?"
Enzan gave them a tiny smile, "Possibly," he said with the barest hint of amusement on his voice and it took all of Netto's self control not to punch him.
Cathy smiled back, "Well then, did you find what you were looking for?" he asked.
Netto opened his mouth when his PET began to ring. "Hello?" he asked.
Manabe looked relieved, "There you are," she said. "I think I may have pinpointed the location."
Netto's eyes widened, "Really?" he gasped.
Manabe nodded, "Really."
Netto punched a fist into the air, "YES!" he cheered.
Laika sighed, "I think we just found out," he said.
Cathy laughed loudly and took Netto into a one armed hug after he hung up, "We'll be seeing you again, right?" she asked.
Netto smiled, "Um… actually…"
Enzan shook his head, "It all depends. Maybe," he cut in.
Andrew looked a little put out. "So, it might take awhile?" he asked.
Netto straightened up. "Well, I'm not usually here persay…" he said slowly.
Enzan coughed, "What she means is, she isn't part of our group normally, we don't know whether we'll be sent here on assignment again or not."
Netto nodded, "Right."
"Well, if you're ever in town, look us up!" Cathy said cheerfully.
Netto nodded, "All right."
Andrew blushed as Neil pushed him forward. "B-bye," he said slowly.
Netto grinned, "Bye Andrew. Do me a favor and try something for yourself in the next few weeks. See how you like it."
Andrew's blush deepened and he nodded at Netto happily, "All right!" he said cheerfully.
Netto waved good-bye cheerfully as Laika and Enzan gave their own special, sullen good byes to their new friends.
On their way back to the hotel Netto linked his hands behind his head and sighed, "Well that was interesting."
Laika and Enzan both turned to give him wide eyed looks. "What?" Netto asked.
Laika resigned to merely shaking his head while Enzan said, "Nothing."
"So, what did you find?" Netto said the second he set foot into the hotel room.
Manabe sighed heavily, "Well, I had to call in some favors," she said while Yui laughed in the background. "But I got a lock on a warehouse in the downtown area. You want to go check it out."
"Yes!" Netto said.
Enzan and Laika finally made it into the room. "That would be helpful," Laika said dryly.
Manabe smiled, "All right, let me get into some different clothes and we'll go."
"How was the mission?" Yui asked.
"Don't ask," Enzan, Netto and Laika all said at the same time.
Yui blinked several times before giving them a puzzled smile and backing away slowly.
New chapter because I love you XD
Within the half hour all five of them were out of the hotel and at the warehouse from which the signal was coming. "All right, we can't blow this," Manabe said softly. "So be careful and go in on my signal, understand?"
Netto, Enzan and Laika nodded quietly and separated to separate doors of the warehouse. "Okay," Manabe's hushed voice came through their PET's. "On my signal…" Netto drew in a sharp breath and waited. "Now!"
Netto plugged Rockman into the electronic lock and it flashed red twice before turning green. He pushed against the door and ran inside the warehouse. In front of him was a man in his late forties typing furiously on a computer, oblivious to all around him, even after he was surrounded on all sides by Netto, Enzan, Laika and Manabe. "Um… hello?" Netto asked softly.
"Shhh…." The man said softly while continuing to type on his computer.
Netto growled angrily and walked over to the computer in three quick steps. Enzan and Laika watched with a small level of respect for Netto and pity for the man as Netto pulled the cord out of the wall. "Pay attention, old man!" he snapped.
"AH!" he yelped at the screen went blank. "Who are you?" he gasped looking up.
"I'm Netto Hikari from the Net Saviors and we've been trying to find you for weeks," Netto growled.
"I just lost five hours of work," the man said stiffly.
"Tough," Netto said hotly and gave the man a glare that made him back off from the impending argument.
Manabe cleared her throat, "Dr. Cunningham, we wish to seek your help in the recapturing and development for a cure of a virus you created."
The man pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked puzzled. "Virus, I've never created any virus."
"Your transgender programs left abandoned on your computer in Electopia devolved after being infested for three months," Manabe said calmly.
"Oh," the doctor replied. "Well the, I should fix that huh?"
Netto resisted the urge to yell out in frustration while Laika and Enzan made sure to keep wary eyes on him.
"Yes, everyone would be very grateful for your help," Manabe said in her same calm voice.
Dr. Cunningham nodded, "Of course, of course, but first we need to catch the mutated program first."
"I'm afraid we have no way to locate it," Manabe pointed out.
"Hum," Dr. Cunningham cupped his chin in his hand and looked thoughtful. "Mind plugging my computer back in, dear? I have an idea."
Netto glared at him again and did as he was told, "Call me Netto," he said in a low voice and walked around to the other side of the computer.
The man blinked then smiled at Netto, "All right dear," he said simply and looked at the now glowing screen.
Enzan stepped forward and put his hands on Netto's shoulders. He whispered something in Netto's ear that made him calm down enough to reconsider what he was about to do and relax a bit. Yui breathed out softly and Manabe shook her head.
When the PC was fully booted up the doctor began to type furiously on his computer and look at several screens. "I always install a signal into my programs so they're never copied, even if it's disfigured or mutated. So, with luck this signal should appear if I activate it," he said slowly as if talking to himself.
"All right," Manabe said softly.
He typed a bit more then pressed the enter button. Shortly after a big yellow blip appeared on the screen. "The program is there," he said.
"In relation to where?" Laika asked.
"The New Amsterdam main page. It's big but I can guide you to it," Dr. Cunningham said.
Netto nodded, "All right," he said and held up his PET letting Rockman into the net. Laika and Enzan followed suit.
A link appeared in front of the three navis. "First take this link to the page," the doctor's voice told them.
The three navis jumped into it and appeared on the other side. Almost immediately they were ambushed by a wave of oncoming program traffic. "Wow, busy," Rockman said softly.
"No kidding," Netto replied. "Well, it's here somewhere."
Rockman nodded, "Right. So where to next?"
"The program signal is coming from the main square, I'm going to have to leave the specifics to you," Dr. Cunningham said.
/Of course/ Netto sighed.
/Be nice/ Rockman said and linked into the crowd.
/I'm trying, but who knew someone could be so scatterbrained/ Netto asked.
/You and papa come to mind/ Rockman teased.
/Okay, papa isn't that bad and I'm definitely not like that/ Netto retorted.
A small smile appeared on Rockman's lips. /Of course not/ he said slowly.
"What did he say?" Blues asked Rockman softly.
"Nothing," Rockman replied as they landed in the square.
"Hm," Blues said skeptically. Very few things made Rockman smile like that and it was normally not something very pleasant. It was only natural that the small blue navi had a devious side to him as well.
"See anything?" Searchman asked.
Blues and Rockman both shook their heads. "There's so many people," Rockman sighed.
"Damnit," Netto hissed. "Is there anything else you can help us with?" Netto asked Dr. Cunningham.
"I'd look in the northern area," he replied.
"Well?" Netto asked.
Rockman walked over to that area and looked around. "I don't see anything…" he said slowly. "Hold on, I'll send you a visual."
Netto looked at the screen as Rockman scanned the area. All of a sudden a small female navi popped up in front of Rockman. "Hello!" she said cheerfully. She was dressed in a small pink dress with pale blue boots and gloves and no helmet. Her blue eyes held a very devious look in them as she played with her blond hair.
"H-hi," Rockman said slowly.
The navi girl giggled, "What's you name?" she drawled.
"Rockman," Rockman replied.
"That's the program," Cunningham said suddenly.
"What?" Netto and Enzan both gasped while Laika gaped at the small navi.
"Yeah, that's definitely it," Cunningham said.
The navi giggled annoyingly as Blues and Searchman ran over. "Oops, looks like I was discovered!" she cheered and vanished.
"She's headed south," Cunningham told them.
"Damnit," Netto hissed. "Catch her," he yelped while slotting an area steal battle chip into his PET.
Rockman nodded and vanished as well.
At once Rockman, Blues and Searchman all took after the fleeing virus. The small girl like virus was jumping from point to point so quickly that it seemed as if she was teleporting. "Rockman, where is she?" Netto asked when she disappeared from the screen.
"She's nearly twenty meters ahead," Rockman replied. "She's really fast."
"That's new," Cunningham murmured.
Netto let a slow breath hiss through his teeth as he gave Rockman another area steel chip to catch up. Enzan and Laika blinked at him then slowly edged to the side just enough that it was noticeable by Manabe and Yui. "I don't think he likes the scientist much," Yui whispered.
Manabe shook her head slowly. "No, I don't think so."
The TG virus cackled as she jumped from place to place in the busy square as Rockman, Blues and Searchman barely managed to keep up with her. "You're fast!" she giggled and vanished in a hidden link.
"Ah!" Rockman yelled as he crashed into a passerby. He grumbled at Rockman and went on while Blues helped Rockman to his feet.
"Where's the link?" Enzan asked.
Laika scanned for it with his PET while Searchman scanned with his helmet. "There," he pointed to thin air.
Rockman shrugged and tried to jump into it, followed by Blues and Searchman. The link was small and impossible to enter unless you knew exactly where it was so it took Rockman several tries before he got it. Finally all three navis made it through to see the small child thing on the other side.
"Hnnnn?" she grinned maliciously. "You're pretty good."
"Haven't you caused enough problems?" Rockman asked her.
"But making problems is fun! Everyone runs around and I laugh at them," she cheered.
Cunningham stood behind Netto and gazed at the odd creation of his. He observed it for a few minutes then took Netto's PET, much to Netto's anger, and addressed her. "Hello?" he asked.
The girl blinked as a face screen came up and Cunningham looked at her through it. "You!" she squeaked.
"Ah, so you are the Transgender Programs," he said amiably as if saying, 'You're a girl.'
The virus glared at him then crossed her arms in a cutesy way. "I don't like you!" she announced.
Cunningham looked a little put out. "Why not?" he asked.
She eyed him then resumed her stuck up position. "Because!" she announced.
All three navis lowered their default weapons, which had been out for some time and blinked confusedly.
"I'm confused," Cunningham murmured.
"You left an AI program plus the TG files on a virus ridden computer!" she announced. "And I was lonely! So I don't like you."
Cunningham rubbed the back of his head, "I'm…sorry," he said slowly.
"Ha! You think that's good enough!" she snapped. "Well let me tell you, it's not! You should be less scatterbrained and more nice to your creations." She struck a dramatic pose and sniffled, "We have feelings to you know."
Cunningham gaped at the odd little program. "You made her," Netto muttered.
"R-right…" Cunningham mumbled. "I'm… really sorry?" he tried again.
Netto, Enzan and Laika all stared blankly at him, at a loss for words.
The child teared up even more. "Y-you don't love me, do you?" she sniffed. "I'm nothing, even though you created me!"
"Th-that's not true!" Cunningham insisted. "I'm sorry I abandoned that computer, I didn't realize so much time has passed since I've been to Electopia."
The girl stopped sniffling but large tears still remained in her eyes. "You love me then?" she asked cutesily.
"Sure…" Cunningham replied.
The child gasped, "REALLY?" she squealed in a high pitched voice that made everyone wince.
Cunningham nodded a bit more firmly, "Yes, I do."
The girl cheered, "Yatta!" she laughed and linked into Rockman's PET. "Then can I stay with you?" she asked.
Cunningham smiled warmly at her, "I don't see why not," he said.
"After we create the vaccine," Manabe said in a firm voice.
Cunningham nodded, "Sure," he replied.
"And we need to make sure this doesn't happen again," Netto added.
The navis all nodded, "Yes," they agreed in unison.
Manabe nodded, "We'll keep that in mind."
/
Three days later in Sci Labs everyone was returned to their proper gender and seated around a table with Cunningham and the girl at the head. "Well?" Manabe asked. "What should we do?"
Netto sighed while Cunningham continued to stare at him. He still wasn't over the shock of Netto turning back into a guy. "I don't mind as long as it can't do the gender switching things again."
Rockman nodded in agreement, "I don't mind either."
Enzan and Laika both shrugged silently but didn't offer anything beyond that.
The virus crossed her arms in her new PET. "I'm a girl, little boy, not an it. How rude."
Netto's eyebrow twitched but he didn't reply.
"I agree with the children. As long as something to this scale never happens again, I believe it is fine," Manabe said.
"I've removed the corrupted data so it won't spread as a virus this time," Cunningham said. "I couldn't remove the TG programs, obviously, because it's what makes up her data frame."
"That's fine. Just use her as a re-search navi then."
Cunningham nodded, "I won't battle anyways."
The girl giggled, "Well now that I can stay with daddy, then what should my super cute name be?"
"Daddy?" Netto asked.
"Well, he made me, right?" she said while putting a finger to her lips.
"Yes," Rockman answered.
"So he's my daddy!" she replied.
Cunningham shrugged, "I don't remember creating her AI program but I don't mind."
"See!" she snapped. "Now, I want a cute name!"
Cunningham took off his glasses and cleaned them thoughtfully. "How about Stephanie?"
"Yay!" Stephanie cheered. "I like!"
Manabe closed a book that was spread out in front of her. "That's settled then. I'll keep you under occasional surveillance to make sure you don't abandon any more computers."
Cunningham nodded, "Thank you very much."
/
Netto skated slowly towards his house with Laika and Enzan walking on either side of him. "Finally, it's over," Netto sighed.
"Thank god," Rockman agreed.
Laika gave a side glance to Enzan who glared back and Netto remained oblivious. Laika sighed and said, "I'm going to go back to my dorm and file a report with my government. I'll see you two tomorrow," he said and walked down another street.
"Hmm…" Netto said as he watched Laika's retreating back. "He left quickly."
Enzan sighed, "Subtle as a rock," he muttered.
"Huh?" Netto asked.
"Nothing," Enzan answered quickly.
Netto skated in front of Enzan and began to skate backwards in front of him. "Sooo, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know," Enzan admitted.
"Want to get ice cream?" Netto asked.
Enzan looked at Netto's face and smiled. "Sure," he replied. "That sounds nice."
Netto cheered, "Awesome. You're treating!"
Enzan laughed, "Fine."
Netto blinked and looked at him. "What, no fight?"
"I'm not in the mood," Enzan teased.
Netto laughed and resumed his skating next to Enzan. Enzan glanced over at Netto and smiled softly, maybe one day he would admit his feelings, but for that moment in time he was perfectly content.