A Life Best Not Lived: PG *Stream Spoilers* *Finished*

[Neko]

Blues spun around and glared at her. “So you’re behind this,” he hissed.

Everyone else and their navis immediately sunk into defensive positions. “Is she real?” Netto asked Rockman quietly.

Rockman scanned the data around Slur, “If she’s not, we’re in trouble anyway,” he said.

“Powerful?” Netto asked.

Rockman nodded.

“Great,” Netto hissed.

Slur looked at them with interest before holding up her hands, “So, crest holders, do you think you can escape this fake world? Do you have what it takes?”

Blues and Searchman didn’t even reply to her challenges. Instead Blues leapt into the air and brought down his sword while Searchman took several shots from behind. The other’s followed his suit and slowly, each navi attacks Slur at the same time.

Slur gritted her teeth and pushed away the attacks while summoning a nasty looking sword.

“We’ve got to find a way out of here!” Enzan yelled. “This isn’t real, none of it is. That means there has to be a back door somewhere.”

“How are we going to find it?” Meiru asked. “Our navis are fighting.”

“And loosing,” Miyabi added as Blues cried out in pain while he was stabbed through his arm.

Enzan winced at the sound of his navis cry but without battle chips or programs, he was as good as useless. The battle chips provided to them in the illusion world disappeared with everything else. All that remained were their PET’s. Even the syncro chips were gone.

Netto looked around nervously, he knew with Rockman’s help chances were they could find such an opening but it was a big risk.

/Does that really matter right now?/ Rockman asked him quietly.

Netto sighed, /I guess at this point, not really. All right, can you scan the area while you’re fighting?/

Rockman gave Netto a small laugh, /No idea. But I can try./

Netto watched as his friends argued with one another in any kind of attempt to save themselves and their navis. Finally, Laika noticed his odd quietness and walked over to where he stood. “What are you thinking?” he asked.

Netto blinked, his blank stare replaced by shock. “Hm? Nothing, I mean…” Netto looked at the battle raging over them. “I’m trying Laika,” he said stiffly.

Laika nodded, “I know. Any progress?”

“They can’t keep this up, she’s too powerful. Without battle chips…” Netto said slowly.

/Netto-kun, I found an opening!/ Rockman said excitedly.

/Where?/ Netto asked him.

/I’ll send the coordinates to your PET. You have to try and get the thing to open./

/I understand, good luck, nii-san,/ Netto said with a small laugh.

/All right, go!/ Rockman said.

Netto looked at his PET where the coordinates flashed. “Laika?” he asked.

Laika looked at the screen, “That’s where we can escape?”

Netto nodded, “In theory.”

Laika sighed, “It’s the best we’ve got. Come on,” he said and ran off.

Netto ran after him yelling at everyone else to follow. Slur watched the humans with a small smile. “Oh, I wonder what happened?” she asked and flew at Rockman. “I’m sure you and your little brother had something to do with it,” she murmured in his ear before sending him into the ground with a vicious blow.

Netto felt it as if he was the one thrown into the ground and he staggered for a few seconds to regroup his thoughts. “Netto?” Charlie asked.

Netto blinked, trying to get the pain to fade. “I’m fine,” he hissed and started to run again. Before Charlie could inquire further they came upon a large fissure in the ground.

“Is this it?” Jasmine asked.

“I hope,” Tesla snapped. “I want to get out of here.”

“Well?” Meiru asked, “Who’s going first?”

Netto scanned it with his PET, “It’s definitely the only way out of here,” he said finally.

Behind them there was a loud crash where Slur finally managed to send Blues and Searchman into the ground with one hit. All the other navis were forced to back away from her blade while she laughed. “Awww, your little humans can’t decide…” she jeered.

“Go,” Netto said and turned around.

“Netto,” Enzan growled.

“I need to get Rockman,” Netto said softly. “If you go then your navis will plug out because they are tethered to your PET’s. After what happened here I’m not so sure Rockman is held to my PET right now.”

Enzan sighed, “All right, but I better see you soon so we can talk about this.”

Netto gave him a thumbs up, “Of course!” he grinned.

Netto smiled back and then looked around. “All right then, let’s get out of here,” he said and looked at the wide crack. “Okay… here I go,” he told him self softly and jumped into it.

Behind them Blues logged out.

“Well?” Laika asked.

One by one the crest holders jumped in and their navis logged out until it was only him and Laika. “You better get your butt back to earth soon,” Laika hissed.

Netto nodded, “I know. Enzan already threatened me.”

Laika nodded back and jumped in.

Netto then turned around and ran to where Rockman, Gem and Stone stood alone against Slur. “Leave him alone!” Netto yelled and ran in front of his navi before Slur could land another blow.

“Netto-kun…” Rockman said in a stunned voice.

A small grin played on Slur’s lips as she looked at them. “So by some miracle you all figured it out. Congratulations,” she jeered. “And why didn’t you run away?”

Netto lifted his chin, “I would never leave Rockman behind.”

Gem and Stone gaped at the scene before them, unsure of what to do.

Slur laughed, “Well then, I guess you’ll die together, that much I can do!” she yelled and got ready to thrust her sword forward.

“Enough!” a voice boomed.

The remains of the world melted around them to reveal space and Duo around them. “They have passed my challenge Slur. Stand down.”

An ugly look passed over Slur’s face before she said, “Understood,” and vanished.

“You two have certainly defeated many expectations I may have had of human kind. However my judgment will wait until my final test,” he boomed.

Rockman shook, “It wasn’t enough that you toyed with us. Our thoughts and emotions for days, that wasn’t your final test. It was just a game!” he yelled.

Duo looked impassively at the small blue navi, “You still have much to learn about the way human kind works,” he said. “And until you know, you have no right to judge me.”

Rockman glared at the large navi, but he was gone. They were alone, in space looking at the blue planet known as earth.

“Netto-kun, Rockman-kun?” Gem asked slowly, trying desperately to wrap her mind around what just happened.

Netto gritted his teeth, “This isn’t fair,” he said.

Rockman shook his head, “No, it’s not.”

Gem smiled and walked over to Netto, pulling him into a hug, “It’s sweet that you stayed behind though.”

Netto at first looked surprised then just a little sad. “I couldn’t leave…” he said slowly.

Rockman nodded, “I noticed that too.”

“Noticed what?” Gem and Stone asked together.

“The way out of that world depended on the human leaving and the navi logging out,” Rockman said.

“Because our existence in there wasn’t as operator or navi then nothing would have happened if I tried to leave,” Netto finished.

“Oh,” Gem said.

Netto grinned, “I wouldn’t have left anyways,” he said.

Rockman smiled and nodded to Netto. “I know,” he said.

“The final judgment will be soon,” a voice said in the dark.

“What?” Netto and Rockman asked.

There was no answer, instead a bright light surrounded them and Netto felt himself fall asleep before he knew nothing more.

“Netto-kun…” a soft voice said.

Netto groaned and pushed his face into his pillow. “Hm?” he asked.

“Netto-kun,” Rockman said again.

Netto tried to will the voice away.

“Netto-kun!” Gem’s voice split the air.

Netto sat up, “What?” he gasped.

“You’re awake,” Rockman said with a grin. “Good, Enzan-san just sent you an e-mail. He wants to meet with us.”

Netto groaned, “Oh boy.”

Gem and Stone both smiled, “So this is your world?” Gem asked.

Netto looked at them and nodded, “Yeup. Don’t worry, we’ll figure out something soon.”

Rockman nodded, “Right, we will.”

“But now,” Netto sighed. “We’ve got some explaining to do.”

“I can’t wait to hear this,” Gem said dryly.

Stone nodded, “I know what you mean.”

Netto laughed shortly, “Don’t worry. You’ll hear it, soon enough.”

Above them the comet glittered, promising the final judgment’s wake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So.... tired... *faints*
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Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Midnight]

Interesting ending.

I'm sorry, but the way that you have Duo characterized in this fic is utterly reminiscent of Q from the Star Trek series, or The Architect from the Matrix trilogy--supernatural beings willing to play a little game. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you--it helps the reader draw parallels to other characters and cement them in the head.

I do wonder, though--if Gem and Stone were manifestations in the false universe, then why did they get transferred over to the seemingly "true" universe?

It did seem to be a tad rushed towards the end, but the rest of the fic helps to compensate for that. Other than that, congratulations on finishing another fine work.
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Plantman]

This leaves quite a few questions unanswered, such as the fate of Gem and Stone, but otherwise I think it's a very interesting ending for this fanfic. I admit I like it when the endings leave some stuff for the reader to figuire out. X3 I really liked it, Neko!
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Hecha en MÉXICO - Avatar by Me.
"Logic is the Ultimate Weapon."

[Plantman]

This leaves quite a few questions unanswered, such as the fate of Gem and Stone, but otherwise I think it's a very interesting ending for this fanfic. I admit I like it when the endings leave some stuff for the reader to figuire out. X3 I really liked it, Neko!
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Hecha en MÉXICO - Avatar by Me.
"Logic is the Ultimate Weapon."

[sugoi sukafu]

And yet another great fic ends, but at least there will be more coming soon in one form or another, hmm? As always, your gift for writting the characters so in-character with a well balanced mix of dialogue and description blows me away. The thing now is what to do with Gem and Stone and how many of the other Crest Holders will find out about the link? And how long were they actually gone? Did anyone notice they were gone? Keep writting! :]
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Fear the scarf! It's a mite peckish at the moment...

[kuro-kitsune]

aww.

but still... i'm glad you kept gem and stone. drawing them was fun, but the doujin and your banner hates meh. *nods*

~kuro-kitsune~

[Digigamer]

Nice fanfic! I loved it!
I still wonder what happens to Gem and Stone though.. But i guess i'll just leave that to my imagination. :]
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"Gah!!"
"What's wrong?"
"It's peeing in the break room! I repeat, It's peeing in the fucking break room!!"

[Kitty-Chan]

Yay! Gem & Stone came, too! :D That's the end?! I think an epilogue is in order. *unleashes her Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*
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Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*