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Post by Beast on Nov 17, 2007 10:47:57 GMT -5
Eww.... The full title wasn't posted...(but that's OK)Warning! [R] Rated "Whispering Evil" Tragedy/Angst/ActionThis is a story I would like to share with some people, but it isn't written by me.  This was written by Bookman from the FreezeCracker forums. freezecracker.com/forum/index.php?topic=721.0
Go there if you want to read it with comments hammered between each chapter. ALL MY POST WILL BE IN YELLOW.
First Post (warning and stuff) by the author(He had certain colors for certain text below, but since some of the colors won't show, I replaced them with another color.):Another story I am writing, another stereotype I will challenge... This time, the common scenario of ‘RockMan gone bad’, his fight with his DS and temptations. I’ll add my own touches to it, but I can’t promise too many original solutions. RockMan and DarkRockMan will become Netto’s enemies... and later go on quite a killing frenzy. Be warned that this story can and will eventually get pretty brutal. That, and even in the early scenes it can be dangerous for other reasons. Remember kids: evil is bad and gets you into trouble. 1) [R] Age Rating. I’ll be taking a few liberties in areas of language, violence, drug themes (the Darkchip disease is an addiction afterall), some sexual themes perhaps... and a highly corrupting logic. Listening to DarkRockMan can win you for the Darkness... Or maybe that’s just me bragging. xD You’ll get to judge if I do good work at it. BTW, I asked Geoff himself for permission to write this. And may I quote... That’s that... now, onto other elements. 2) Themes: Tragedy (main), Angst, Action/Adventure, Romance (subplots that will surface on occasion). 3) RockMan.EXE reality. I’m mixing the game and anime storylines, so in order to avoid confusion, keep these facts in mind. - The Prologue begins at the end of EXE4/Axess, with the final battles against Regal and LaserMan. Then the EXE5 storyline enters, then we’ll see. - The EXE4 tournaments took place. All of the operators whose Navis gave RockMan his Soul Unisons were given Net Saviour status as runner-ups. EXE5 characters also already appeared, gave RockMan Soul Unisons and became Net Saviours. The EXE6 heroes are absent, however. So far, still only two teams can Cross Fuse: Netto+RockMan and Enzan+Blues. - The Axess Darkloid attacks and Darkchip distribution took place. Regal did manipulate ShadeMan to steal control over the Darkloids, but got rid of him by providing RockMan with the weapon for the task, rather than outright deleting him thanks to LaserMan. - The Castillo event happened and Netto used a Darkchip so that RockMan could delete ShadeMan. Since then, a DarkSoul started growing inside RockMan. - The scientists don’t know about Duo yet, but are aware that an asteroid is on collision course with Earth. Discovering a network present in the asteroid, they want to override its controls and change the trajectory. 4) Present Tense reference, mostly. 3PP narrator, but RockMan and DarkRockMan tend to barge in with their internal dialogue to comment on the action. Sometimes, both say the exact same lines together - this is their ‘dual voice’. 5) This story tends to lean towards the anime style more. The chapters are called ‘episodes’, start with an opening song and end with an ending song. There’s also a preview of the next episode after each chapter and a review of the previous one before any full episode. Obviously, the prologue and epilogue are cut short on one side, review and preview respectively. 6) WIP. And I’ll only update it when my ‘dark mood’ comes and leaves. This isn’t high on my priority scale... I can’t promise anything.
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Post by Beast on Nov 17, 2007 10:49:24 GMT -5
It'll take me a while for me to post each "episodes" due to changing the text colors and stuff... and I think I'll be posting one episode a day. Too much work coding one episode...>< took me like one hour... and I bet I made some mistakes. and later I realize the message is too big so I have to split it.
EDIT: Ok.... My computer froze when I was gonna post the other part of this episode.. so maybe a little over an hour. x_-
***********
RockMan.EXE: Whispering Evil
Prologue: Starting with the End for a Change
***********
‘Incredible... Can Earth really be destined for destruction? Will we lose the war against the Darkness?’ Barrel wonders in the empty void of space, gazing from a cosmic distance at the planet he calls his home.
‘RockMan...’
***********
“RockMan, Regal is coming. Get ready for the toughest battle yet!”
RockMan acknowledges his operator’s warning and concentrates while they’re chasing the advancing villain. Hidden inside the giant form of his Navi, LaserMan, Regal safely marches towards the Science Labs, marking his track with burning buildings and ruins of the city. Netto slots in five Soul Unison battlechips and then picks one more chip, with a green globe planted in its core piece.
“This is it! Synchro Chip slot in!” he yells and loads up their trump card.
CROSS FUSION!
***********
“Hakase! Netto and RockMan are engaging LaserMan! They’re fighting him in Cross Fusion!” Meijin announces.
Yuuichirou raises his head at the mention of his sons. “Netto, Saito... Hang in there. It’s all up to you now...”
He and a dedicated team of his fellow scientists are typing furiously in order to align their galactic transmitter with the asteroid they have found. Recently, it picked up speed and unless they change its route fast, it’ll hit Earth... Or, to be more precise, Electopia!
“Manabe-san, how is Laika’s team doing?” Yuuichirou questions the brunette.
“They’ve broken past the initial defenses, but they can’t advance with the amount of viruses attacking them. Regal had to prepare good for this...” Manabe replies, monitoring the situation.
“And without them destroying the source of his Dimensional Area, its interference won’t allow us to lock the coordinates of the asteroid.” Meijin remarks.
Yuuichirou looks at his screen again, but realizes that he cannot concentrate. ‘It’s taking too long... unless a miracle happens, some help comes, we’re doomed. He’s stalling us on all fronts...’ he judges in his mind.
“Hakase! Enzan and Blues have joined the battle!”
***********
“Elemental Sword!”
Netto stirs awake. That last attack took too much from him, his energy is running out. “Impossible... He’s just too powerful. At this rate, we’ll never inflict enough damage to stop Regal.”
I can’t listen to that anymore! “Netto-kun, don’t give up! We have to believe, there is still a chance to stop him! We can do it!”
Netto tries to get up, but keeping his balance is too much for him, not to mention fighting right now. Then, the piercing scream of pain paralyzes them both with fear.
‘Enzan...’
The liquid blue beam fired by R-LaserMan carries R-Blues at its front, digging through several sky scrappers and obliterating tons of matter before it explodes upon contact with the ground, accompanied by an atomic crater and a sea of smoke. In the dreadful silence broken only by the cyclops’ further steps, all traces of their partner seem to be lost...
No... Enzan, Blues... They weren’t ready yet, why did they have to come now? They saved us, but in their condition... We’ve only recently extracted the Darkness from Blues. How can he be awake?
Hey, good question Rock! The very same topic’s been bothering me since the moment they arrived...
! YOU!
Yeah, me. So what? You expected SuperMan to arrive and save the day? Sorry to disappoint you but that just ain’t-gonna-happen. We have a rampaging giant in Den City heading towards the Science Labs with a madman pushing the buttons and it looks like our hero count is down to zero. Quite the nasty predicament if you ask me.
“RockMan... I...” Netto tries to rise one more time. He stands up, then falls over onto his back, outspreading his hands and panting loudly. “I’m sorry... I, just... don’t feel, any... energy, left, in me... anymore...” he announces. He’s not aware of it, but RockMan does notice he just accidentally mimicked what the Blue Bomber said just before his deletion in the first N1 Grand Prix. The same words, now coming from his brother and operator, carry an ominous ring to them.
No, no... Netto-kun is...
Dying. At least that’s what it looks like judging from the fact he’s put in 5 Soul Unisons ignoring the strain without a second to think and then got blasted by Regal head on. Face it Rock, when you challenge the Darkness you have to be ready to lose. You need to have written your last will, said ‘bye bye’ to all of your friends... ****, why not arrange and pay for your burial in advance while your at it?
Stop it Dark! Netto-kun... won’t die...
And that’s where your weakness lies, Rock... You don’t know when it’s time to quit, stop fighting and admit you have lost. Game Over man, no more Continues. He’s only human, he had to reach his limit at some point... and you knew it.
***********
While Netto is fighting for life, Regal progresses mercilessly towards the Science Labs. Not too far away, Laika and a group of Netto’s friends are trying to access the server controlling Regal’s worldwide Dimensional Area. Everyone who knows RockMan, his close and those more remote friends, have joined forces to do all in their power to help save the planet.
“Fin Cutter!” SharkMan announces, launching multiple energy shots from his dorsal fin that rip apart the Vulgear viruses. “There’s no end to them! At this rate we’ll run out of energy!”
“I wish RockMan was here with us...” Roll whispers to herself, then raises her bow at a charging Fishy virus. “Roll Arrow!”
***********
Away from the nightmare and yet able to witness it directly, Barrel grows more anxious as his hope abandons him. “Why are you showing me this?” he suddenly asks.
For a moment, Barrel turns to direct his question to the one who summoned him to the show. The galactic colossus delays his answer, perfectly motionless like a marble statue of unblemished, white glory, being Him who calls Himself Justice Incarnated. And when the giant finally judges he has Barrel’s full attention, he replies with a voice that fills the empty cosmic void with an echo that booms beyond the limits of human perception.
“You must see the proof of my words with your own eyes. Only then will you believe the truth I entrust you with, oh human of little faith, whose eyes demand evidence... Only then will you see your greatest Navi hero for whom I judge him as.”
“RockMan, a champion of Darkness?” Barrel repeats the suggestion he heard. “Unthinkable... No, that cannot be, it must be some mistake...”
“... not RockMan...”
***********
With every step taken by R-LaserMan, the ground under his feet shakes in pain. R-RockMan appears to be losing Cross Fusion and Netto can’t even move a finger. His Navi, equally helpless, panics over his condition.
“Netto-kun... Netto-kun!” No good, he’s not reacting.
Poor, poor Netto. He has his bad sides, but for being a liar, lazybones, heavy sleeper and proud possessor of an oversized ego, surprisingly he’s someone of whom I can say it won’t ever be the same again without him around.
You’re talking as if it was certain. Not yet... “AAAAHH THAT’S IT NETTO-KUN WAKE UUUUUP!!!”
Just then, something changes. Suddenly in the ink black sky something appears, a small breach, washing the exhausted hero in warm light. His eyes, previously closed, now open once more. The golden radiance grows brighter and supplies him with energy he never tasted before... “Rock... RockMan...”
Oh look, he heard ya.
Netto still appears confused, uncertain what happened to him. He gazes at his hand as if he saw it for the first time. “I feel as if every cell in my body was overflowing with the energy of a thousand souls... Is this what it’s like in heaven?”
He thinks he’s in heaven! “No Netto-kun, you’re alive! Come on, we have to get up. We can’t give up, Regal has almost reached papa at the Science Labs!”
“Regal...” Netto clenches his hand into a fist, addressing his words to their merciless opponent. “... this time, you’re going down.”
Wow. It must be the power of all those Navi Souls Regal used as fuel for his Dimensional Converters. I had no idea they could prove useful for anything else. Guess they must really want revenge on him to grant us all this energy, eh?
... ? What are you still doing here? “Netto-kun, let’s go Full Synchro!”
You want to silence me? Fine, you’re no fun anyway. I know where there’s a real battle going on...
Hm? What do you mean?
None of your damned business. **** ya later, sucker!
The moment RockMan stops feeling the presence of his evil counterpart, he and Netto shout “Full Synchro!” and unite their brain wave frequencies. This time however, it feels different than before... The extra energy from the tormented Navi Souls pushes them to the next level!
“Netto-kun!”
“I know, Saito-niisan...” Netto curiously replies. “It’s not the same. This is...”
His form vanishes and reappears on top of the nearest building, tracing the path with a storm of dust. The run from the bottom didn’t last even 5 seconds and he still feels the potential for more. And that mood of euphory... This is... “... PERFECT SYNCHRO!”
All this time, R-LaserMan has been marching towards Regal’s destination, the Science Labs - or to be more precise, that large satellite dish outside their building, which is the galactic transmitter. “It’s too late...” he confidently announces, grinning at the prospect of an easy victory. “Nothing can stop me now!”
BLAZZ-AST!
The destruction of R-LaserMan’s left shoulder blaster marks the end of Regal’s happy attitude. “What? Who dares?!” he roars in amazement, looking for the bold opponent challenging him. Standing nearby, with the Scope Gun he can finally fire, is R-RockMan. He puts away the weapon with uncommon grace and a determined, serious look showers from his eyes. His body emits an aura so powerful it defies the very laws of physics...
“I dare, Regal. Time to pay!”
***********
“Metal Missile!” MetalMan calls out, showering rockets onto a row of Molokos. The rockets paint the floor pink with fluffy fur before the explosions completely delete the sheep viruses. “Don’t back down! More are coming!”
What a pathetic sight... They’re taking way too long to reach the Dimensional Core. They need a push... I’ll show them how you deal with viruses. “Mega Charge Shot!”
Ka-Ble-WEE! One of the Metools hearing the noise turns back just in time to see an overwhelming brightness approaching the viruses. Along with it large groups of many other viruses from the back lines begin to disappear. One after another, they are engulfed and consumed in a flood of plasma, drowning all kinds equally.
“Junk Cube!” JunkMan hurls a number of heavy objects, drowning the Gaia viruses under a load of trash. “Hey, who’s deleting the viruses at the back? A latecomer I don’t know about?”
“Guts Hammer.” GutsMan, finally tired of the Spooky viruses escaping him, sends an earthquake that levels all of them with the ground. “Don’t know, de gutsu... But he’s strong. How did he get there, de gutsu?”
Ah yes, the perfect sniping position. Nothing but viruses on the horizon, nobody to spot me or get in the line of fire. Now, I need to work fast and return to dealing with the reinforcements. “Dark Bomb! Dark Spread Gun!”
The next moment a huge explosion and a mutilating shower of shots suddenly clean a full two thirds of the viruses guarding the path. Immediately afterwards, ThunderMan and ElecMan cry “Thunderbolt!” and shoot lightning at the frontlines, stunning most of the viruses and zapping a group of Larks into deletion.
That’s when SearchMan notices the way is clear!
“Good job, now it’s my turn. Stealth Mode.” the military Navi announces and becomes invisible, sneaking through the crowds. Seeing that the enemy forces are running out, new hope enters the Navis and they focus all their remaining power to hold on, just for a little longer. Victory is at hand!
***********
“Supersonicboom!” R-RockMan yells, slashing with his golden weapon. The energy arc produced by the Neo Variable Sword slams into R-LaserMan so hard it sways the cyclops, already standing on shaking feet!
“Way to go Netto-kun! Let’s finish him off!”
Netto mentally nods and flips over to control their fall. He lands on his feet on the edge of the Science Labs’ outer defense wall, which survived the battle safely thanks to his efforts. “Rock Buster!” The moment he speaks the command, several metal pieces clasp together and replace his hand with an arm cannon. “Chaaarge...” The energy gathering at the barrel starts pouring out and circulates faster, faster...
“No, this... cannot be the end!” Regal cries.
In answer to what Netto merely releases the shot.
***********
Barrel watches in surprise how two shots fired in synchronization fly towards their respective targets. The difference between SearchMan’s blast that destroys the Dimensional Core and R-RockMan’s final attack reaches a fraction of a second 27 digits long! “But Duo... Netto and RockMan have just saved the world. How could they turn against their kind?”
As before, the galactic judge delays his answer until he decides he has Barrel’s full attention. “Watch and you shall see, human... As long as the Darkness exists, your planet will never truly be safe.”
***********
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Post by Beast on Nov 17, 2007 10:50:04 GMT -5
Piece by piece, the rainbow hexagons painted in the sky vanish quickly. Netto exits Cross Fussion and catches RockMan’s PET, quickly breaking down under the urge to laugh. “We won... We did it RockMan! We defeated Regal at last!”
“We sure did, Netto-kun!” It feels so good to win...
Is that right? Probably you rarely get the chance to feel it, eh?
“RockMan?” Netto exclaims, confused at the sudden change of his Navi’s look. At that moment, however, the galactic transmitter starts shifting. “Oh, looks like papa can use it at last...”
“Netto!” A screen with Yuuichirou pops up on the PET. “We can’t control the galactic transmitter! It’s moving on its own!”
“What?!” the bandana boy exclaims. “How can it move when you’re not controlling it?”
“Its network was penetrated. It appears LaserMan took over from inside.” the terrified scientist guesses. “If he fires it his way, the asteroid might accelerate even further. Netto, RockMan, you must plug in and stop him at all costs!”
“Roger that papa!” Netto announces and runs in search of a plug in port.
Dark, could this be by any chance your doing?
Mine? How? I’m your DS Rock, there’s a limit to what I can do.
Hmm... You say that but sometimes I feel like you’re hiding your true power...
My oh my, Rock... I can’t believe it. You actually told me a compliment!
“Here’s one! Get ready to ROCK!” Netto cries upon spotting a plug in port. “Plug in, RockMan, transmission!”
***********
Another firewall gets blasted to smithereens. Walking through the newly opened entrance, LaserMan finally reaches the signal encoding program. All that stands between him and a worldwide catastrophe are a few inches of cyberspace and a simple procedure of rewriting the instructions. However, as the Darkloid nears the defenseless console, a fast plasma shot stops his progress - he turns around to see none other but the Blue Bomber himself!
“LaserMan! Take one more step towards that program and you’re deleted.”
The Darkloid turns fully towards him and replies with confidence “And if I do... Who’s going to stop me? ... You?”
Dumbass. I don’t see any other heroes around, do you?
LaserMan’s narrow eye flashes and he continues “I see you have grown a lot since our last encounter. Now you bear powerful Darkness inside you... I can see the truth of your soul...”
He can see I am truly powerful! Man it feels GREAT to be recognized at last!
“Shut up!” You too, Dark! “I didn’t come here to talk, LaserMan. I’m here to disrupt your plans and stop the asteroid from striking Earth. Your mind games won’t fool me... I’ll destroy you once and for all!”
“Oh, but do you have what it takes?” the cyclops urges further, emanating a dreadful aura of hatred and viciousness. “Do you have the power to put an end to all of the Darkness? Try all you want, RockMan, but as long as humans hold our Darkness in their hearts, we will never leave, but will haunt you time and again... until you see the vanity of your efforts.”
Actually he has a point. I mean, how could you get rid of me?
“I will take the chance!” Especially if it means getting rid of you!
Ouch. Rock that hurt my feelings. I thought we were the best of buddies, partners, brothers even!
I have only one true brother! “Netto-kun, let’s show this villain what the two of us can do!”
“Roger that RockMan!” Netto agrees, flipping out a battlechip from his pocket and loading it right away. “Battlechip Mega Cannon, slot in!”
Whether you like it or not, make that the THREE of us!
It takes only a second for RockMan to aim the weapon and send a shinning blast at LaserMan, but the Darkloid manages to phaze out at the last instant. The explosion initially looks like a hit, but when struck with a cross shaped, golden beam from behind, the realization of his mistake dawns on RockMan with absolute clarity.
He surprised me!
Or maybe it was you who disappointed him?
The Blue Bomber grits his teeth and leaps back to full feet, then jumps backwards in time to dodge a second Cross Laser attack. Netto hurriedly sends him more weapons. “Battlechip Flame Line, Wide Shot, Mag Bolt, Side Bamboo, slot in!” The two Navis jump back and forth as RockMan dances in accordance with his foe’s movement pattern. Finally LaserMan takes a break to attack, but the hero is faster.
An opening, now! “Flame Line!”
The hand of the Blue Bomber transforms into a Vulgear virus and triggers a line of fire to erupt under LaserMan. The cyclops flinches midway his attack, entirely engulfed in flames, giving RockMan the chance to strike again and wash him off his feet with a Wide Shot.
While he’s still distracted... “Mag Bolt!”
After two attacks, the tides suddenly turn. When the hero activates his magnet weapon, LaserMan takes one more step and blasts him off his feet with Cross Laser. “Your efforts aren't enough-ugh!” the cyclops comments before bending over, hit in the side by a branch.
“Ahh.. Like you’re doing any better?” That hurt, but, I hit him back as well.
Rock, you suck. You fight like a pussy, get serious and give that fuckhead the *** whoopin’ he deserves! If I was in control, he’d be long deleted by now!
The branch withdraws to reveal a glaring hole in LaserMan’s torso. Both Navis rise again, assuming combat stances. The Darkloid takes his chance to lean further back than necessary - before RockMan can tell what that means, he shoots from the shoulder blasters at the ceiling, triggering a shower of debris. As the hero focuses on dodging it, he prepares a different attack.
What’s he doing?
I don’t know but I like the feel of it!
“Dark Laser...” the ominous voice of the Darkloid precedes the next attack, this time from an ink black beam. RockMan dodges it at the last moment by falling over backwards, but the floor that was hit starts to transform. The attack appears to warp the very fabrics of the cyberworld, molding it into a swirling void that clearly serves some wicked, evil purpose. From first sight, it is obvious that the hole is somehow linked with the primal, pure Darkness.
Consequently, LaserMan starts to regenerate his wounds. The damage he received vanishes, the holes are filled by a black substance that outlines him in a thin, shadowy aura. “... Now we can continue, RockMan.”
He... he recovered from the damage! All of it! He made that hole so he could regain energy!
Congrats, Captain Obvious. That Dark Hole connects this world with that of the Darkness. Essentially he brought in a piece of his world so we’re now fighting on his territory. I hope you have a brilliant idea at hand or else this next part is going to hurt like ****...
“Battlechip Long Blade, slot in!” Netto announces as he slots the battlechip. The moment RockMan creates the weapon, LaserMan phazes out of sight.
! Where’d he go?
Behind you!
The Darkloid returns and tries to catch RockMan off guard, but the Blue Bomber stabs backwards without looking. The reflex works perfectly and the blade dives deep into LaserMan’s stomach. “It’s hopeless. Your power may have grown but you still fight like the weakling you always were...” he mocks as black goo starts to pour out of the wound, taining the blade and trapping the hero!
Who are you calling a weakling?!
“RockMan! You must... What the?” Netto stops talking and just watches the scene, wondering whether what he sees is real or just a figment of his imagination. The substance LaserMan used stops progressing, in fact it lifts and disconnects from the sword. Through minute gestures of his free hand, RockMan seems to manipulate it... He orders it to rise and gather into a sphere!
What in the world are you doing, Dark?!
Saving your ungrateful ***. Now if you could please pull out that blade and step back, I’d be most thankful. I don’t want the explosion to reach us when I let that thing loose!
RockMan nods, though only he knows who he’s nodding to, and withdraws the blade from LaserMan’s body. As he closes his free hand and swings it around, the globe of goo reacts and begins to circle the Darkloid, blurring into a ring of black with purple ‘streams’ ‘flowing’ on the surface. Then the hero blinks and it tightens around the cyclops, then explodes while he can’t escape!
Now who’s the weakling, huh?!
Watch out. He’s not down yet!
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Post by Beast on Nov 17, 2007 10:50:34 GMT -5
The smoke of the explosion clears slowly to reveal the silhouette of LaserMan, still standing. A pool of the goo remains underneath him, hardened like cement, binding his legs with the ground. The upper body, although free, appears to be a little fuzzy. “So, you used your... inner Darkness... the ability to mold Dark Matter... I’m impressed, RockMan. You’re stronger than what I expected from you...”
Oh yeah! Who’s your daddy?
Dark, get a grip on yourself... Since when are you finally useful for something?
Hello? In case you haven’t noticed that pile of rubbish insulted us! Rock, this isn’t just your battle, this is OUR opponent! So let’s show a little maturity for a change and let out our anger on HIM rather than argue with each other.
Hmm... You know Dark, for the first time I feel like following your advice...
About FREAKING time!
“Rock... RockMan!” Netto chokes out, finally regaining his voice. “Look out!”
Although he can’t move, the Darkloid doesn’t give up. Netto’s warning comes just in time for the Blue Bomber to avoid the Cross Laser. He swiftly jumps back and decides what to do next.
We’re running out of time! The asteroid... “Netto-kun! Send me the battlechips for the Dream Sword Program Advance!”
“But, are you sure? What if LaserMan attacks before you’re ready?” the bandana boy asks back.
Leave him to me.
“It’s alright Netto-kun, trust me.” Okay Dark, but you better do it right.
Oh, I will. The last thing I want is to screw up and get OUR body deleted. After all I feel all the pain you receive, and speaking of pain, I prefer causing it to taking it.
While they were chatting, LaserMan managed to prepare another attack. “Hand Laser.” The Darkloid stretches his hand forward and fires a blue beam from his open palm. Right when it seems the attack will connect while RockMan is concentrating on the Program Advance, he deflects it with a wave of his hand!
Nice. “Wide Sword...”
Heh, thank you.
“I must recognize your power, RockMan... However, even you won’t be able to withstand this attack. Dark Cannon...” the cyclops threatens, summoning a purple version of the cannon weapon, this one powered by Darkness and pure Hate. “Prepare to be deleted by the ultimate Darkloid...”
He fires. Netto gasps, the size of that shot is so huge it could wipe out a dozen of RockMen at once! ‘If I send a Barrier, we’ll lose the Program Advance... And it could still break under the force of this attack. But, unless I do something, RockMan will...’ the bandana boy panics.
The Blue Bomber appears totally focused on his own attack. Watching to get the timing right, he raises both swords above his head and joins them into one, electric blue blade of cackling energy. The blast nears him and he seems calm. At least on the outside...
It’s too fast! It’ll hit me before I can counter it!
**** NO IT WON’T!
A new force exits RockMan to defend him from the attack. An energy shield in the shape of his face, but ten times bigger in terms of size, projects forth from the Blue Bomber’s body and stops the Dark Cannon shot. The two forces press on against each other, but the shield cannot be breached! And then, it cackles, filling the network with an echoing cry.
“Know your place, LaserMan! You, the ultimate Darkloid? Please... Wasn’t there anyone else to choose instead? Someone who wouldn’t suck for a change?”
“Don’t make me laugh...”
The shot and shield die down, but the echo of that creepy laugh doesn’t. While LaserMan is shocked, RockMan takes the chance and swings the Dream Sword in a cleaving arc, slicing the Darkloid in half. The two pieces fall over and shatter like porcelain, then its tens of thousands of pixels all begin to evaporate away...
Netto appears to have suffered the same shock as LaserMan, but before he can recover from it, a new sight amazes him. “RockMan?!” he exclaims and freezes, watching how his Navi waves his hand in an inviting gesture and opens his mouth wide, inhaling all of the pixel dust. Once all trace of LaserMan’s data has been absorbed, RockMan stirs and blinks, like someone who has only recently awakened.
Oh no... Dark, tell me you didn’t do what I think you did...
Why the grim look, Rock? Peace out, that’s one Darkloid we won’t have to worry about anymore.
Won’t have to worry?! If I knew you’d do that, I’d never have allowed for it!
Oh, so that’s your gratitude? I see you’d rather let LaserMan freely escape, reform and challenge us again, causing more pain to the innocents. I like your way of thinking...
I never said anything like that! But, stored in my body isn’t a good solution either!
Chill out Rock. His Darkness is now merely a part of my power. That’s one Darkloid who won’t ever come back.
I don’t trust you...
You don’t trust even your closest twin, who shares your body and feels all your pains? I pity you, Rock... Who do you trust then, and why? Think about it. Think and see if you’re not making any... mistakes.
“Netto-kun... Netto-kun!” Yuuichirou’s voice makes the bandana boy wake up. “Time is running out and we still can’t control the transmitter!”
“But, we’ve already defeated LaserMan!” the nut haired boy replies. “Why won’t it work then?”
“It should be operational... Oh no...” Hikari-hakase suddenly discovers the problem. “The signal’s power program doesn’t function. It appears to have been damaged during the battle.”
RockMan looks at the program in question and feels guilt stinging him. The console governing power distribution has a hole in it marking his initial Mega Cannon, which LaserMan avoided... Somehow he didn’t think of collateral damage...
“Um, from the looks of it, we need some substitute power source instead...” Hey... Dark...
Only if you say ‘please’...
Please... COULD YOU GET SERIOUS AND HELP ME HERE?!
Tcht, I will lend you my power... But that makes us even for LaserMan. Also, be thankful I’m in a good mood...
Okay I am, but, HURRY!
Hurry we will... It’s that ring over there, isn’t it?
RockMan looks up to see an amber ring levitating above the device, marking the asteroid. They have secured its position, all it takes is one good shot... He then transforms both hands into busters, left blue, right purple... aims them high and...
***********
“He... Stopped LaserMan just like that... I never knew RockMan could manipulate Dark Matter.” Barrel comments in awe. Suddenly, although they appear to be held in empty void, their space shakes powerfully like during an earthquake! “What in the world was that?!”
The quake is so powerful it feels as if the world was ending. It passes away harmlessly though, and once it’s gone for good Duo chooses to reply. “That tremor you felt was a consequence of RockMan’s shot. His power managed to strike this asteroid off balance and enter new coordinates, altering its trajectory. From now on, it’ll safely orbit your planet.”
“He has that much power?!” the soldier exclaims in shock. The only answer he receives is a meaningful silence.
Instead of replying, Duo returns to his matter of concern. “Now that you have seen all this evidence, will you accept my mission? You must warn your fellow humans of the danger they can’t see... before it’s too late.”
Barrel looks at his Navi, Colonel, who stood in perfect silence all this time, watching the events with Barrel and keeping his operator company. Now, the soldier has to decide... And the image of RockMan absorbing a Darkloid persists in his mind so strongly he doesn’t hesitate for long...
“Alright Duo... I’ll do it.”
***********
Why is The world like This?
Why did it change So Much? (so much...)
Why am I now a Foe
Of those I loved BeFore? (before...)
Ho-ne-stly, if there Was
Some other, Better Way... (no way...)
One Day! One single Day!
To Live my Life aGaaain! ...... My friend...
............. You...
... Yes. ME...
*U-a-u-u-a-o-U-a-u-u-a-o... !!*
I am your Whispering E-Vil-Side (side)
Just listen to Me (me)... I know what is Right (right)...
I am the Darkness which You-De-Ny (why?)
Accept me at Last (fast)... Nobody but I (aye)...
Knows. Your. Paaain... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA! (screams) *t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t*
I Am Your Evil (that’s me)
I Want Your Good
If you just Gave In! OOH! The things we COULD DOOO!
I Am Your Darkness (that’s true)
I Want Con-Tro-oo-ol
Trust me this One Time! LET’S Accomplish MY GOOAAL!
Aooou-Aooou-Aooou-Aooou... (moaning)
*!!*
You are my Whispering E-Vil-Side (side)
Just listen to You? (yes)... You know what is Right? (right)...
You are the Darkness which I-De-Ny (why?)
Accept you at Last? (fast)... How could I? Then I... I!
Knows. Your. Paaain... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA! (screams) *t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t*
I Am Your Evil (that’s me)
I Want Your Good
If you just Gave In! OOH! The things we COULD DOOO!
I Am Your Darkness (that’s true)
I Want Con-Tro-oo-ol
Trust me this One Time! LET’S Accomplish MY GOOAAL!
Aooou-Aooou-Aooou-Aooou... (moaning)
*!!*
You Are My Evil (that’s me)
Yet Want My Good...
If I just Gave In! OOH! The things we Could Do!
You Are My Darkness (that’s true)
You Want Con-Trol...
I’ll trust you This Once BUT! Betray me AND AAALLL...
I know... I know... I know... I know...
WE KNOW!
***********
Hey Dark! Next time we meet Barrel and Colonel.
They say they were sent by Duo to prevent a disaster.
And you’re supposed to be the cause! We cannot allow the Darkness to conquer the world.
No, Rock! You’re crazy! You want to be deleted with me?!
Next time on RockMan.EXE: Whispering Evil
Episode 1: Sacrifice for the Greater Good
I don’t wanna DIEEEEEE!
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Post by Beast on Nov 17, 2007 17:30:23 GMT -5
Previously on RockMan.EXE: Whispering Evil
Regal’s plan to take over the world thanks to a Dimensional Area covering the entire planet was stopped through joined efforts of Hikari Netto, RockMan and their friends storming Regal’s server. After it was brought down, LaserMan escaped to the cyberworld, where RockMan fought him in one final battle.
During this fight, RockMan and his evil counterpart, DarkRockMan, joined forces to defeat LaserMan and stop a huge asteroid from crashing into Earth. However, the danger is not over yet. Duo, the intergalactic judgement force residing in that asteroid, foresaw the end of the world unless DarkRockMan is stopped.
Now, Barrel and Colonel return from Duo’s domain, having seen RockMan deleting and absorbing LaserMan, convinced that they must warn everyone, especially Netto, that the one they trust most is in fact Pure Evil Incarnated.
***********
Feeeear me...
You ego-I-Stic Foul and cowardly Punks
Fiiiiight me...
You could At Least preTend you are resisting Me
Seeeek me...
My power Is the One you dare not reach For
Haaaaate me...
If you can’t Then I’ll Gladly give you Reasons Good!
Stop It!
Shut Up!
You Are
Not Me!
Are You
That Sure?
Through Lies
I See!
I Would
Never
Betray
My Friends!
Of Course
Since They
First Used
Their Chance!
Roaaaring e-mo-tion...
Sinking-In-The-Pitch-Black-O-Cean.
Open your eyes Rock...
Why is-It-For-You-Such-A-Shock?
End of the heeero...
They Treat-You-As-Less-Than-Ze-Ro.
We Must Survive...
Because at least I Want to STAY ALIVE!
It’s All
Your Fault
You Fiend
From ****!
Guess What?
Your Heart
Is Where
I Dwell!
This Is
Torture!
Why Can’t
We Split?
Accept
Your Fate
We’re One
That’s It!
Roaaaring e-mo-tion...
Sinking-In-The-Pitch-Black-O-Cean.
Open your eyes Rock...
Why is-It-For-You-Such-A-Shock?
End of the heeero...
They Treat-You-As-Less-Than-Ze-Ro.
We Must Survive...
Because at least I Want to STAY ALIVE!
Roaaaring e-mo-tion...
Sinking-In-The-Pitch-Black-O-Cean.
I am awake, Dark...
All I Need-Is-Just-That-One-Spark.
End of the heeero...
I’ll teach-Them-How-Strong’s-This-Ze-Ro.
We Must Survive...
Because I Also Want to STAY ALIVE!
***********
RockMan.EXE: Whispering Evil
Episode 1: Sacrifice for the Greater Good
***********
The trip back to Earth may last a mere few seconds but it still exhausts both Barrel and his Navi greatly. Returning as suddenly as he had disappeared, he exits a blindingly white, octangular portal, launched out like by a blow and hitting a row of chairs. Summoning the last of his energy, he opens his eyes and recognizes the main corridor at the Science Labs.
“RockMan...” he groans and holds his hurting head. The point where he hit those chairs quickly grows a worthy bump.
“Barrel-sama... We have to... hurry!” Colonel speaks with a certain difficulty. His energy levels are low and the PET’s network appears to be unstable, turned into a sea of static.
“Yes... We must, warn... them, before... What?” Barrel removes his hand and notices a faint sensation, like a touch of wetness. He takes a look at the inner side of his hand and discovers a shiny symbol he knows he didn’t have before, now glowing like a star, although it feels like paint.
The same crest he saw on Duo’s glorious body.
***********
Meanwhile, everyone else is gathered in the biggest conference room in all of Science Labs, the only one that can contain all the scientists and operators that worked for their success. Bottles of champagne pass from one crowd to another, except among the underaged ones who get lemonade instead.
“At last, after four long months! Regal is no more!” Meijin cheers, loudest of them all.
“We never could have done it alone.” Yuuichirou humbly answers him. “Thanks to the kind cooperation of all our allies, including Netto and his close friends, we can now enjoy peace. This victory is your success!”
“OH YEAH! It was amazing! It felt awesome to fight Regal with that power boost!” Netto makes sure to express his happiness in a fashion nobody can fail to notice. “And you also did great RockMan! LaserMan didn’t stand a chance!”
“Pipe down Netto-kun! Everybody’s staring at you!” It feels so good to be able to laugh again, like this...
You could say that again. He parties as if the world was ending tomorrow.
RockMan freezes. There are periods when his DS stays silent for a pretty long time, almost to the point RockMan starts worrying. Each time he speaks up after such a break, reminding of his existence, it startles the hero enough to put him off balance. “RockMan? What’s wrong?” his pink friend questions.
“Nothing Roll, I just, thought of something...” What do you mean, Dark?
What do I mean? Have a look at him... He’s fooling around and yelling like the idiot he is, all because of your temporary victory. You won the battle but the war isn’t over... or have you already forgotten of the Darkness still out there?
“RockMan... is there something worrying you?” Roll asks again, surprised that the Blue Bomber’s smile disappeared.
What now? We defeated Regal and stopped a disaster. And if another enemy appears, we’ll take him down!
I'm merely warning you, since when you’re relaxed you lower your guards awfully. The Darkness never stops her quest for destruction, Rock. If you underestimate her forces, I promise you that the consequences shall be dire!
“RockMan?!” Roll cries louder, attracting his attention at last. “Wha... were you angry?”
“Me? No, of course not...” Listen Dark. Everybody did their best and now they deserve a bit of peace to rest and enjoy life. I won’t let you ruin it! “Hey, who wants to play a few games now?”
Fine by me. You can stay ignorant and have fun all year long for all I care... just don’t say I didn’t warn you...
“I propose a toast!” Meijin shouts happily, raising a full glass of champagne. “For our heroes, who never fail to save us when we need them!”
“FOR OUR HEROES!” everybody replies in a choir.
“For Netto!” Yuuichirou now announces. “The one who defeated Regal!”
“FOR NETTO!”
“For papa!” the bandana boy returns the favour. “It’s thanks to him and his genius we are now here!”
“In fact, in your and RockMan’s case it is twice as true!” Meiru joins in, taking her chance to glue herself to the boy.
“FOR HIKARI-HAKASE!”
“For RockMan!” Enzan announces this time, to everyone’s surprise. “Without whom Netto alone wouldn’t win, or get here in time, for that matter!”
A universal roar of laughter explodes in the room. Netto’s eyebrow twitches from irritation. “Not funny, Enzan... but yeah, for RockMan!”
“FOR ROCKMAN!”
“Ha ha! But it’s true, Netto-kun!”
... There’s no chance that I’ll get any credit here, is there? What a grateful folk... Appreciation always skips those who work the hardest.
FOR DARKROCKMAN! There, happy?
Hmm... Maybe!
“For world peace!” Commissioner Kifune proposes when his turn comes. “So I can retire and finally go on my well-earned vacation!”
“FOR WORLD...”
The door slams open and everybody holds their breaths, shocked. Barrel enters on shaking legs and alarms them with a whisper perfectly audible in the general silence. “Danger... Disaster... We are doomed, unless... RockMan...”
And he collapses right there.
***********
The next day, Barrel wakes up in a hospital bed. Sunlight enters through the open window and forces him awake, falling on his face. He rises and feels normal, if only hungry, but the events of yesterday now seem unreal. “Was it a dream? Could Regal actually cover the planet with a Dimensional Area and RockMan be a champion of Darkness? Was I transported into space and sent back?”
He looks around the room and finds it odd that he’s in a hospital. “Why would I be here, unless... !” His eyes catch a glimpse of a blue light shining against the fluffy whiteness of clouds and gentle sky blue firmament. He steps out of bed, walks over to the window, opens it wide and looks outside. Somehow he can see a blue point burning warmer against the background... And when he looks straight at it, suddenly he can see all the details, as if he was looking through a microscope after finally getting the focus right.
The burning blue object is Duo’s asteroid.
“So it was... it was true!” Barrel concludes, slowly feeling a new burden replacing the old fear. He looks at his right hand and on the inner side spots the crest of Duo. “I have to warn everybody about RockMan.” he decides and turns to exit the room, but then realizes something is missing. His PET.
At that point Meijin enters. “Oh, you finally woke up? You gave us quite a scare last night, Barrel-san. Vanishing just like that, then returning in your condition, speaking of disaster...”
“Meijin...” the black haired soldier steps closer and grabs the shirt of his colleague. “The world is in grave danger. I need to talk with Hikari-hakase, his son, and all the head officials of Electopia. How long will it take to arrange such a meeting?”
“Whoa, Barrel!” Meijin exclaims. “Calm down, it can be done of course, but you just woke up. I was supposed to give this back to you...”
Barrel looks at his hand, which holds the PET with Colonel. The soldier snatches it without a word, but lets go of Meijin. His Navi seems to be fine now, after the repairs performed at the Science Labs. “Besides, Barrel... We already defeated Regal and avoided collision with the asteroid. They’re no longer threats...”
“That’s not all. We’re not finished yet, there is one more danger left you don’t know about." Barrel reveals. “Meijin, I have to talk with them and warn everyone. If we ignore it, then all our efforts up until now will go to waste. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but... impossible...” he answers and shakes his head slowly, still unconvinced. “Barrel, what happened with you that night? Are you absolutely sure you’re not, you know...”
Then a flash of recognition appears in Barrel’s eyes. “You think I am crazy, don’t you?”
“Oh, not at all! But, please understand, the circumstances are rather... mysterious...” Meijin tries to excuse his doubts.
“Do I look like a lunatic to you, besides saying things you find hard to believe?” Barrel asks with an ironic smirk, but actually, he’s worried. ‘He already questions my words. What will happen after I tell them about RockMan?’ he wonders.
“Barrel-sama.” Colonel guesses what his operator is thinking about. “I can show them everything we saw. They will believe.”
“Heh, thanks Colonel.” the soldier chuckles, then turns towards Meijin. “Call for a meeting. At the very least I should explain my disappearance, right? I don’t ask for much... And this, disaster, forget about it for now. I’ll explain that too, as long as you’ll be willing to listen.”
For a longer moment, Meijin hesitates. In the end, he leaves announcing “I’ll send you an e-mail about the meeting after the details are arranged. Try to get some rest until then and take things easy.”
He closes the door. Barrel sits on the bed’s edge and asks Colonel “I wasn’t too convincing, eh?”
“Don’t worry, Barrel-sama. We have enough proof to convince them we didn’t make up the story.” Colonel replies.
Outside, Meijin leans against the door after closing it. “Scary... and I don’t mean the mention of a disaster... But, he was so certain he was telling the truth... Could there be something we overlooked?” he mutters to himself, then decides “I’ll make sure everyone important comes to hear what he has to say.”
***********
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Post by Beast on Nov 17, 2007 17:30:58 GMT -5
Two days after Barrel’s awakening, on a busy Saturday afternoon, Barrel, Yuuichirou, Netto, Enzan and many other officials, both agents and leaders, meet at Net Saviour HQ to discuss the subject of Barrel’s theory. They’re curious and some perhaps a little impatient.
“I’ll move straight to the point.” Barrel announces with a strong voice. “I wasn’t at the Science Labs when Regal attacked because I was investigating one new topic. I learned that the asteroid which was meant to collide with Earth was occupied.”
A murmur of interest passes among the crowds. Barrel takes a new breath of air. ‘So far, so good. Now it’ll get harder.’ he thinks, then continues “The asteroid’s host introduced himself as Duo... He believes that our planet will soon face a new disaster and chose us... me and my Navi, that is... to deliver this warning. If he is right, then the Darkness which Regal relied on still presents a threat.”
I told you. The Darkness doesn’t give up that easily.
Would you please hold back with your comments when nobody’s asking you?!
Aww, what an attitude you have there, Rock...
This new message moves the people more than the previous one. Netto questions from his place “But, didn’t we defeat Regal and LaserMan?”
“As far as I know, you did. However, that’s still not everything.” Barrel replies, bravely meeting Netto’s look. “There’s one more Navi who can also use the Darkness as he wishes... and he’s even stronger than LaserMan. Duo foresaw that unless something is done, the Darkness of that Navi will destroy our world... Colonel, play it now...”
A Navi stronger than LaserMan? That’s not good...
Then the monitor starts showing RockMan’s battle with LaserMan. Everybody gets to see how the Blue Bomber deflects his beam, stops the DarkCannon with a face-shield, and afterwards absorbs the smoke his opponent became. By the time it ends, everybody seems utterly stunned.
Hey Rock, you know what? I think that I may be the target of Duo’s prophecy.
It’s true! Dark, you are a threat to the world!
Thank you, really. It ain’t easy to build your reputation with a good counterpart like you in control. It takes a lot of hard work! I’m glad you recognize it...
“Barrel-san...” Commissioner Kifune is the first to ask him. “... Does this mean that... the Navi that is supposed to destroy the world... is RockMan?”
Barrel exhales and replies “Sadly, yes. The Darkness is strong in him... Strong enough to destroy us all. As long as this continues, he poses a threat we cannot afford to ignore.”
“Then, what do you suggest we do?” Netto bravely asks, although he is in fact very scared.
This time Barrel finds his gaze unbearable and, lowering his head to look down and let his black hair cast a shadow over his eyes, he finally announces “We must do all in our power to ensure RockMan doesn’t cause the damage Duo foresaw. The future of all humanity and our planet is at stake. If there is no other way, then...”
I know where this is headed...
“... RockMan will have to be deleted.”
***********
The rest of the meeting isn’t important enough to present it in detail. Shortly put, Barrel’s information moved the minds of everyone who heard him and saw Colonel’s record of the battle. Some people accepted it and supported the solution of deleting RockMan. Others, and among them also Yuuichirou and Enzan, objected and argued that there must be some other way, a way to eliminate the Darkness but avoid losing their hero.
Netto wasn’t sure what to think. He was closer with RockMan than any other human, he knew him better than the others, he was his operator and twin brother. And yet, didn’t he worry earlier when he saw that battle himself, saw RockMan absorbing a Darkloid just like that? Netto saw it with his own eyes... and also experienced how they were growing gradually more distant.
“RockMan... Why didn’t you tell me? Why did I have to hear it from Barrel first? I thought we had no secrets...” Netto complains in quiet solitude. He is now on the roof of the Net Saviour HQ building, seeking comfort in loneliness. Just him, his Navi... and... that DS...
“I’m sorry, Netto-kun... In truth, ever since our second battle with ShadeMan, when you used that Darkchip on me... a DarkSoul grew in me that I can’t remove. I was afraid of your reaction...”
Way to go, Rock. What an award-worthy confession... But seriously, he knew the consequences of that move. Why is he surprised now?
“RockMan... It was all my fault...” Netto whispers.
“No Netto-kun! It was my fault!”
Geez Rock, do you honestly have to claim every guilt that Netto deserves? He slotted the Darkchip, it was his choice! Stop whining like you could do anything to avoid it!
”There was no other way!”
Frankly, I say it was ShadeMan’s ‘fault’, or rather his success. He prepared for all forms of attack except Darkchips, I’m sure it was purposeful. What a clever way to ensure you would have to use the power of Darkness. You fell for it, now you have to live with the consequences. Namely, me!
“RockMan...” the bandana boy’s voice indicates he is holding back from crying. “I don’t want to lose you... But, if your DarkSoul can kill us all... What should I do?”
“Having doubts, Netto?”
The boy turns around and sees Barrel, walking up to him. The soldier’s sudden presence is a surprise. “Barrel-san? Why are you here?”
“I came to apologize. It’s because of me that you are now torn apart between the will to keep your Navi and the wish to save the world.” the adult replies.
Netto turns away and looks at the ink black night sky. Barrel walks up to him and stops on his left, staring at Duo’s asteroid. “I feel like the angel of death... always bearing bad news, heh.” Barrel tries to joke around, but neither of them feels like escaping this sorrowful mood. It fits the occasion, at least. Gloom to match a gloomy decision.
“Barrel-san... If you were me and Colonel was your twin brother, who died as a baby, but was reborn as your Navi... closer to you than anyone else... What would you choose?” Netto asks, revealing their secret.
“You mean, RockMan is your twin brother?” Barrel asks back, amazed by the situation he never thought possible. As the bandana boy nods, the scope of the situation widens - it looks even worse. “I, I’m sorry... I didn’t know... Then, unlike some common Navi you could delete and replace, RockMan is...”
“I would be a killer...” Netto cries, very quietly though, and tears begin to wash his face. “If I let them take him, it would be as if I personally murdered my own brother... I can’t let that happen... There must be a way...”
Netto-kun... I wish I could help them somehow.
Um, hello? How do you imagine that? They’re debating whether or not to destroy you. What, would you obediently lie down and let yourself be deleted?
... Hey, Dark...
Oh no... Don’t say it, I know what you’re thinking about! Don’t you dare tell them...
“Netto-kun!” Oh yes I will! “If it’s to save the world, then please, don’t worry about me!”
“Sniff... What?” Netto looks up in surprise.
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Post by Beast on Nov 17, 2007 17:31:34 GMT -5
Are you crazy? Rock, you want to let them rip you apart, just to make sure I don’t cause some trouble? Think about it! Deletion hurts more than you can imagine!
I don’t care! “Let’s let them try if they can remove the Darkness from me without hurting me... but, if all else fails... I will be happy to sacrifice myself to ensure you and everyone else stay safe.”
You should rather say ‘throw away our life’! It’s not fair, I’m the one they want and you get to decide we’ll give in without even a fight!
I would never hurt my friends!
But instead you’ll let them delete you, eh? Don’t you see anything wrong with this picture? I do!
“RockMan... You mean it? Hey... What’s with you?” Netto asks in amazement. His Navi appears to be making some strange moves.
Stop it, Dark! “Netto, it’s my DS, trying to take over... But I won’t allow it! I’d rather be deleted than know the world was destroyed because of me!”
How noble of you! But, if you are deleted, you won’t be there to appreciate the happiness of your friends!
Avoiding pain is better, I’ll see nothing rather than seeing them suffer because of you!
You don’t understand, Rock. Sacrificing your life is wrong in so many ways! Don’t do it! Is it okay to suffer for a lie masked as an ideal? For a world without you, a future you won’t see? Where’s the logic in that?!
Netto watches in horror how his Navi appears to grapple some invisible enemy. In the end, RockMan falls tired onto the floor, panting heavily. Barrel puts a hand on Netto’s shoulder, hoping to comfort him, but then they both feel an odd wetness. “What... What is it?” Netto asks, discovering a glowing blue symbol seemingly ‘painted’ on the inner side of his right hand.
“This is the crest of Duo.” Barrel explains, giving the bandana boy a strange look. They look at each other, then the soldier points at the sky. Netto sees Duo’s asteroid for the first time... and it ensures him the danger is real.
“RockMan... No, Saito-niisan...” he speaks with a vibrating voice, sending an abundance of tears generously. “... I’ll make sure to do it... If we can’t save you, then, you won’t suffer... you are, a true, hero...”
“Netto-kun...”
No way... He’s really gonna do it?! That’s it. We’re screwed.
***********
For the next month, Yuuichirou and all his colleagues work relentlessly, studying RockMan’s condition, his DS and the qualities of Darkness itself, researching ways that might divide them, allowing only DarkRockMan to be destroyed.
They test out many theories... But it seems it’s impossible. Either the Darkness reforms in RockMan from scratch, or his DS refuses to exit at all. They even try pinpointing his location inside RockMan, securing him and deleting that, but he won’t stay in one place... and each time they try that, RockMan has to recover from the damage.
Ahh... This is taking too long. Why won’t you finally give up, Dark?
What do you think I am, stupid? The moment I part with you, they’ll take their chance to delete me - and, unlike you, I don’t have a death wish!
“Hakase, let’s begin the next stage of data extraction.” Yuuichirou narrows his eyes and slowly nods. His face appears serious and determined, devoid of smile, but behind this mask he is considering giving up on the experiment. “Maybe this time we’ll finally succeed...”
But Dark... We can’t go on like this. I won’t take back my word. If it’s for the well-being of others, I won’t hold back. I’m ready for anything.
The Blue Bomber is tied up to a table in the cyberworld, the way he had asked for. A metal sphere flies over him, aiming the barrel of a gun downwards. Slowly the laser activates and starts burning his raw data. He is in sleep mode, so he can’t react or even wince, but the pain is still there.
... Rock, are you a masochist?
What?!
The laser shifts to follow surges of Darkness circulating through his body. They bear no visible characteristics, only a sensor can track them down. However, the Darkness instinctively avoids contact with the laser, hiding behind other, vulnerable programs.
That’s what it seems like to me. Unless you’re enjoying the pain they’re inflicting on our body, then I don’t know how you can put up with this. It’s pointless, can’t you see?
Netto is watching. He, his friends, just about everybody who knew RockMan. He saved them so many times and yet, they can only watch his torture now... they can’t do anything.
I’m not doing it for myself! I’m doing it for my friends’ sake!
Meiru takes a moment to check her pink PET. Roll can’t watch, she cries nonstop. "Please, don’t let that... That has to hurt him... I know it does..." Meiru sighs. If there was another way, they’d jump at the opportunity. But, what else is there that they can do?
For the sake of those brats who won’t even lift a finger to help you in your pain? Don’t make me laugh! If they were real friends, they would never allow for this!
And just why exactly? What could you know about friendship, you, who are just my DS? You only know how to cause suffering!
... Oh, is that right? Well, think what you will, but I don’t have to convince myself those who cause me pain do it for my good! That’s bullshit!
Although he is asleep, RockMan does sweat. His torso is littered with an ash black spiral, zigzagging back and forth, with a fiery red trail marking the freshmost damage. Enzan watches without a blink. He grits his teeth hard, although neither he nor Blues speak a single word.
They’re doing it for the sake of the world!
They’re doing it to save their own sorry asses! And if it means they’ll have to delete you, they’ll do it without hesitation! Open your eyes!
The gauge on one of the monitors reaches the red area, indicating critical damage. “Enough! Stop it at once! Turn it off!” Yuuichirou orders. Nearby, Barrel gives off a heavy sigh. They’ve been going back and forth through this without making any progress for far too long. Unless they come up with something better, they should best just give up now.
The metal sphere stops firing and escapes. Several programs dash over to RockMan to repair his damage.
... You’re... wrong...
... We’ll... see...
***********
The sound of the door opening attracts everyone’s attention. Yuuichirou closes it after him and leans against it, exhaling and closing his eyes. “Hikari-hakase... Is there really no hope?” Enzan asks with a falsely calm voice.
“There is one more method we haven’t tried yet. I wanted to avoid this, but it’s the last chance we have.” Yuuichirou announces, looking over their scared faces. “If we use a backup file for RockMan, deleting him little by little and uploading him into it at the same time, we might destroy his DS without losing him. But, if something goes wrong we might delete him in the process, or fail to erase the Darkness. Whatever the end result, it’ll be a torture for him, and I’m afraid nothing can change that. It’ll hurt just like if he was really deleted.”
Silence follows this dreadful statement. It is as cruel as the sentence to capital punishment itself. “Papa... But, there is a chance RockMan will survive and be cured from the Darkness?” Netto asks with dry, bloodshot red eyes. During the last month, he has cried way too long...
“Yes... Albeit small, we may succeed. If this works, then he will be good as new, as though you never used that Darkchip on him.” Yuuichirou answers.
Netto looks down and carefully considers his options. In his left hand, he is holding his bandana with RockMan’s emblem. The other hand, tightly clenched into a fist, reminds him through slight wetness of Duo’s warning. Pondering over those last words from that night before, the bandana boy decides “... We always went against the odds... And I’m sure RockMan would want to take this chance no matter the risk...”
He looks up, everyone is staring at him. Though he can’t cry anymore, the way the words can hardly get through tells he deeply regrest having to make this choice himself. “Papa... Do it.”
***********
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Post by Beast on Nov 17, 2007 17:32:31 GMT -5
Crap... This’ll be even worse than I feared. Not merely deleted, but over a long period of time? That’s sadistic! Somebody stop this torture at once!
... “Serenade...”
The dark skinned, white clothed, golden haired ruler of the Ura Internet has arrived specially for this day. “RockMan... we meet again... Unfortunately, under circumstances I wished never to have to encounter...”
On one platform lies the true RockMan. Next to him, on an identical surface, his backup duplicate is already waiting for the transfer. The body is motionless and bears striking resemblance, except its eyes are closed and it seems to be asleep. Nobody else besides these three is allowed into their sealed network.
Curses, that Navi sure is powerful enough to delete us...
Yuuichirou breaks the silence and announces “This is it... Initializing data transfer...”
A spiraling thunderbolt of blindingly bright blue hue shoots upwards from RockMan’s body, curves high in the air, and returns to strike the hero’s copy. Pixels of data begin to swarm and pour out of him, flying in a rainbow stream over to the other body. Serenade watches over it, seeking black data that could want to creep out and corrupt the new form.
Is this what you wanted, Rock?!
It hurts! But... I know... it’s for the greater good.
SCREW YOU AND YOUR GREATER GOOD!
Among the rainbow trail begin showing extremely small black pixels. Serenade waves her left arm in an arc and they are blasted out of the mainstream, deleted. Then, suddenly a geyser of Darkness erupts from RockMan!
“WAAAAAH!”
“I’m not dying here without a fight!”
“Begone, Darkness.” Serenade calmly announces, clasping her hands together. All of the Dark Matter is suddenly locked in a transparent, crystalline sphere. Guiding it through hand gestures, she pulls it out of the mainstream and starts to make it shrink, to implode and delete itself.
She’s... This strong? Impossible...
The orb suddenly stops shrinking! Everybody holds their breath. Serenade repeats her gesture and it continues to shrink, but then quickly stops again. It seems it just won’t get any smaller. Not glad with the apparent resistance, she brings her hands together and the sphere does explode. However, the Darkness trapped inside bursts free and rains out in every direction...
.. Before turning to fly madly at RockMan’s new body!
“RockMan!” Netto cries out, terrified. If the copy they prepared gets corrupted, all of their efforts will fail!
Serenade materializes a barrier, encasing the target body in an opaque, golden dome, covered in majestic and impressive runes. The black data appears unable to penetrate it, but then it tries another approach - focuses on Serenade and tries to drown the ruler of the Ura in its mass!
Dark, stop it! Don’t do it!
No way Rock! My life is at stake - not like you could possibly understand what that means to me!
Serenade struggles against the Darkness and the black layer encasing her begins to shatter. One crack after another, white beams shoot out in all directions, finally dispersing DarkRockMan’s data and freeing her. However, during that one moment of weakness, the barrier she kept up gets thinner and a few data bits manage to slip through!
YES!
NO!
“Leave that body... It is not meant for you...” Serenade announces, opening her hands towards the hero’s copy. Several pink thunderbolts shoot from her fingertips, dancing around and surging back and forth through it. The body squirms, its eyes shooting open and showing mere empty whites with no pupils whatsoever. A few bursts of data later, the black data escapes and vanishes for good, deleted.
An ear-breaking screech fills the network. The remaining data of DarkRockMan gathers again and tries to enter the backup body as a flooding river. In turn, Serenade spins around and surrounds the hero’s copy with a whirlwind that forces the data back!
“You shall not corrupt the new body prepared for RockMan...” she states. “I shall not allow it.”
Damnit she’s right... There’s no way I can move to that body. Because... It’s a copy...
What... are you plotting?
Exactly this!
The Darkness gathers anew and forms a sphere higher up the data stream. Serenade creates a new barrier and sends a burst of holy energy to disrupt the Dark Matter. The black globe does break, but it clouds the whole network in shadow, slowly congesting back in one point... creeping back into RockMan’s body...
"Hakase! DarkRockMan’s data is returning to RockMan’s original body!" Meijin announces.
"But, the transfer isn’t over yet! If he absorbs so much Darkness now, it’ll overflow RockMan’s remaining data and consume him!" Yuuichirou cries.
"ROCKMAN!" Netto screams as loud as he can.
This is... unthinkable... Every piece of my programming tells me it’s being deleted... Is this what pain really means?
Welcome to the club, Rock... Now you know what I meant. It’s too late now, though... We’re both going to be deleted.
What are you doing? Why did you come back? This body will disappear, do you want to be taken with it?
You want to know that badly? Fine... I’ll tell you... If you are deleted, I will be too... I am your DS Rock, I need you... Whichever one of us is destroyed, the other will share his fate... And besides, I’m an easy target out there. Why would I want to stay in the open and be blasted to shreds if I can stay here? It makes no difference.
It doesn’t... except you share my pain in here...
I always share your pain Rock. We are one, so why don’t you show a little compassion for the only one who knows how you truly feel?
By now, most of RockMan’s body has been erased, leaving only a hollow shell of his torso and limbs with several holes spread all over them, through which the data has escaped. Serenade has healed the damage she inflicted on the new body by extracting the Darkness, but it still wouldn’t wake up. Even the head has vanished from the original... But a piece around RockMan’s heart... That piece still didn’t open to release any data yet.
A few more small surges of the Darkness leak out, which Serenade deletes quickly, but then the data stream suddenly ceases to flow.
“What’s happening?” Enzan asks.
“I... don’t know...” Yuuichirou confesses, awestruck. “It looks like a piece of RockMan refuses to be transferred from his original body...”
“Saito... Oh no!” Netto cries out.
Dark... I feel heavy... Why can’t I fly away? What’s holding me down?
Not me. You know what will happen and you don’t want it either... The moment we exit this body, we’ll both be deleted!
Really? ... And not because you’re scared to part with me and you’re holding me as your hostage?
Clever idea Rock. I would do it with anyone else, but with you, there’s another reason. All your ‘friends’ already left you... If I abandoned you too, then you’d really be alone. Who would you argue with? You’d go nuts without me!
I thought I was going nuts BECAUSE of you!
Nah, I’m just opening your eyes... If you could look at this whole mess from my point of view, you wouldn’t be so quick to judge me.
The shell also disintegrates quickly, leaving just the central portion intact. Serenade walks over to that which was once RockMan and places her open hand on his emblem. A surge of electricity that could awaken the dead rocks his body, but to no avail!
“We must extract RockMan’s data from his body and cleanse it of all Darkness. Quickly, before it’s too late...” the ruler of the Ura Internet announces and takes three steps back. She begins to wave her arms madly, drawing incredible shapes in the air. A couple dozen hand seals later, four pillars emerge around RockMan and an altar appears. In a flash, his body is engulfed in holy fire!
AAAAAAAAAAA!!!
The audience can do nothing but watch. The emblem melts down like ice under the summer sun, a glowing sphere of data emerges from the flames... One globe, but changing its colors. Once blue, once purple...
“The Darkness is still strong in him...” Serenade comments and joins her hands, then slowly starts to pull away. The interpolating light starts circulating, like the ying-yang symbol in 3D, a liquid sea of opposites... And it stretches along the horizontal dimension. Serenade is trying to pull them apart.
I can’t stand this anymore!
Rock, don’t leave me! If we split, it’s the end!
For you! They’re doing this to save me!
You blind fool... Still trusting that lie... I don’t wanna DIEEEEEE!
... Are you... crying? Since when can DarkSouls cry?
But it’s too late to answer. The stretch Serenade puts them through dangerously nears the height of just a few pixels, vanishing from sight. Sweat pours down her back, it requires all of her power and concentration not to release them too early... or delete them by accident.
And then her control ends abruptly.
The substance slaps together at the middle point and immediately shoots skywards, pulled along the streak of the thunderbolt. Its velocity is so great that, accelerating on the way, it breaks off at the peak and hits the virtual sky! Serenade helplessly outspreads her hands. “He’s... gone...” she says, shocked that it all ends like this.
The lightning descends from the high point of turning and strikes the backup body that has received the rest of RockMan’s data. It squirms, stirs a bit, but still doesn’t wake up. Although the eyes already obtained the hero’s green pupils, their gaze is empty, showing how hollow the form is inside.
“Serenade... What happened to RockMan?” Yuuichirou hesitantly asks.
“I couldn’t separate him from his Darkness. It was bound with his heart too closely.” she admits in a sorrowful mood. “My moment of weakness... deleted RockMan...”
Netto drops to his knees. He hadn’t cried in days, but right now he knows his eyes are ready to begin anew. “Rock... Man...” When they stop, only God knows.
***********
Why is The world like This?
Why did it change So Much? (so much...)
Why am I now a Foe
Of those I loved BeFore? (before...)
Ho-ne-stly, if there Was
Some other, Better Way... (no way...)
One Day! One single Day!
To Live my Life aGaaain! ...... My friend...
............. You...
... Yes. ME...
*U-a-u-u-a-o-U-a-u-u-a-o... !!*
I am your Whispering E-Vil-Side (side)
Just listen to Me (me)... I know what is Right (right)...
I am the Darkness which You-De-Ny (why?)
Accept me at Last (fast)... Nobody but I (aye)...
Knows. Your. Paaain... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA! (screams) *t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t*
I Am Your Evil (that’s me)
I Want Your Good
If you just Gave In! OOH! The things we COULD DOOO!
I Am Your Darkness (that’s true)
I Want Con-Tro-oo-ol
Trust me this One Time! LET’S Accomplish MY GOOAAL!
Aooou-Aooou-Aooou-Aooou... (moaning)
*!!*
You are my Whispering E-Vil-Side (side)
Just listen to You? (yes)... You know what is Right? (right)...
You are the Darkness which I-De-Ny (why?)
Accept you at Last? (fast)... How could I? Then I... I!
Knows. Your. Paaain... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA! (screams) *t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t*
I Am Your Evil (that’s me)
I Want Your Good
If you just Gave In! OOH! The things we COULD DOOO!
I Am Your Darkness (that’s true)
I Want Con-Tro-oo-ol
Trust me this One Time! LET’S Accomplish MY GOOAAL!
Aooou-Aooou-Aooou-Aooou... (moaning)
*!!*
You Are My Evil (that’s me)
Yet Want My Good...
If I just Gave In! OOH! The things we Could Do!
You Are My Darkness (that’s true)
You Want Con-Trol...
I’ll trust you This Once BUT! Betray me AND AAALLL...
I know... I know... I know... I know...
WE KNOW!
***********
Great going Rock! We’re deleted, happy now? You wanted this!
Netto-kun! He needs me! I have to go back!
Regal is returning. Told you the Darkness doesn’t give up easily!
No! They abducted papa!
Next time on RockMan.EXE: Whispering Evil
Episode 2: Saving the world Without the Hero!
Guys! I’m right here! Doesn’t anybody care about me?
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This was written by Bookman from the FreezeCracker forums. freezecracker.com/forum/index.php?topic=721.0