Standing Strong - One-shot, EXE5 Spoilers

[Sol]

There was heavy breathing as footsteps loomed closer to a figure slumped down on the ground. The figure was clad in a purple bodysuit as he looked up, his red eyes glaring at the approaching navi. The navi was in some sort of black outfit with a blue cape, and had a long green blade extended from his right hand. The navi was also staring at him with some sort of resigned look; like he was being forced to do it.

“Heh…” the downed figure chuckled bitterly, “So, this is how it ends, huh?”

The caped navi nodded solemnly. “Indeed it does, Rockman…”

Rockman, or rather, Dark Rockman chuckled again. “Feeling pity for me? How weak of you, Colonel...”

Colonel narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. Elsewhere, another voice spoke out.

“Rockman…” it breathed out, “Why did it have to be like this?”

“Ah, is that you Netto?” Dark Rockman questioned, amused. “How fitting…the very one about to delete me is my own operator.”

”It isn’t like that!” Netto exclaimed from the other side of the PET’s screen, “Do you think this is what I wanted?!”

Dark Rockman smirked. “Well, that doesn’t matter now, does it? I’m finished either way, so just talking with you two is irrelevant,” he commented, “All I know is that I have served my purpose; I have served Master Regal to the very end.”

Netto lowered his head. “It really seems that you’ve totally been taken by the darkness, Rockman…”

Dark Rockman growled audibly. “Don’t you dare call me that weakling’s name! I am no longer him!”

“Yes, it seems you aren’t…” Netto said, “Forgive me, Rockman…no, Saito-niisan…” The brunette then closed his eyes in anticipation about what he was going to do. “Colonel!”

“Right!” Colonel cried as he raised his sword, his face taking on an expression of remorse. “I’m sorry, my friend…” he murmured as he began charging up some energy. Dark Rockman kept on smirking even as the blade came down.

“Screen Divide!”

That was when Netto woke up, gasping deeply and sweating. That nightmare seemed entirely too real…

Turning over, he looked at his bedside clock. It read two thirty in the morning as he groaned and got up. He wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep after that nightmare. He slowly got up and off his bed so as to not make any noise as he crept to his door. He needed to get his mind off things.

“Netto?” came a voice from his PET. Netto looked at the blue device on his desk, half hoping that it was Rockman in it. However, he came upon Colonel’s visage as he looked into the screen. “What are you doing up at this hour?”

Netto frowned as he decided to take the PET with him to the kitchen. “I couldn’t sleep,” he offered as an explanation as he quietly opened the door, “Too many things on my mind right now for me to do so anyways.”

“I see.” was Colonel’s only reply. Netto quietly crept down to the kitchen and poured himself some water. The brunette turned on the counter lights as he sat down, just looking at his glass under the dim light. He could see that it was still really dark outside due to it being early morning, but he didn’t take much notice of it.

Colonel decided to speak up. “Netto, you should really get some sleep. Tomorrow is a pretty important day.” he said sternly.

Netto sighed. “I know Colonel, but…” he trailed off as he took a sip of water and looked at the caped navi, “I can’t really sleep with the way things are now.”

“Ah…you’re thinking about your father?” Colonel queried, his eyes softening as he stared at the boy.

“Not only that, but Rockman as well.” the brunette answered, “It just hurts to think that Regal has both of them right now, and I can’t do anything about it.”

“You have to be strong for the both of them,” Colonel admonished, “They wouldn’t want you to give up.”

“I know that,” Netto said, “But…I’m worried about the upcoming encounter with Rockman.”

Colonel sighed. “I know how you must feel. It isn’t easy to fight a loved one, especially one you know isn’t in control of their actions.” Netto sighed again.

“I promised both Barrel and myself that if Rockman was truly lost to the dark power, I would delete him…” he trailed off as he looked at Colonel, “But the more pressing question is if I will be able to make that decision when it really counts.”

Colonel’s eyes softened as he stared at the brunette. “Is that what’s been bothering you?” he asked quietly, “That you might have to delete your navi when it comes to it?”

“That, and…” Netto started before silencing. He curiously glanced at the caped navi, who shifted slightly inside the PET. “Colonel, do you and Barrel know everything about me and Rockman?”

“What?” Colonel asked in surprise, taken off-guard by the question. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Colonel. It’s been bothering me for a while, but I’m asking you to answer truthfully. Do you and Barrel fully know about me and Rockman?” Netto questioned, staring at the PET.

Colonel closed his eyes and nodded. “Yes, we do. We were given a briefing just as we entered the Science Labs.” he admitted, looking slightly away while doing so. Somehow, the boy made him feel guilty for keeping something like that from him.

Netto sighed again. “Don’t worry, I’m not angry,” he said, “I understand that you had to know about me before you decided to recruit me to your team, right?” The brunette saw the caped navi nod before continuing, “So now you know why I can’t really sleep.”

“Indeed,” Colonel said while nodding, “You’re actually fighting against your very own brother. That isn’t a pleasant experience at all.”

“Colonel,” Netto said after taking a huge gulp of water, slightly grimacing at how cold it was, “I may have to delete my own brother…and if it comes to that, how will I live with myself afterwards?” he asked softly as he finished off the glass and put it in the sink. Colonel remained silent.

Netto suddenly let off a low chuckle. “Colonel, I’m sure you’ve experienced the feeling of fighting someone that you didn’t want to fight at all, right?” he questioned, “Is this feeling of just wanting to run away and not wanting to confront someone normal?”

Colonel hesitated. He was about to say no, however he took one look at the boy’s face and sighed. “Well…I can’t say I have ever come across a situation like yours, Netto,” he remarked, “but I would call that feeling normal…I would know, since I sometimes felt it myself many years ago.” Colonel said softly, remembering to times long ago where he was forced into battle with old comrades.

“Yeah…” Netto said as he took the PET and headed back upstairs as quietly as possible. “Colonel, I’m not going to give up hope of getting Rockman back,” he stated, “But…I will delete him if he cannot be recovered.”

Colonel nodded. “Good to see that you’re telling yourself that, but you have to believe it as well,” he said, “Otherwise, you’ll falter at the last moment, when everything counts. I know you don’t want that.”

Netto hesitantly nodded. “I know…” he said while yawning. “I’m going to try and head back to sleep now. We need to get on that ship tomorrow and look for that agent.”

“Indeed…good night, Netto.” Colonel said as the boy slipped into bed and fell into an uneasy slumber. The caped navi then sighed.

“A kid like him shouldn’t go through so many things like this. He’s so young, and he’s already been through more things than adults three times his age…” he murmured softly, “To stand strong in face of such adversity takes courage, but to truly question about what he’s going to do takes real strength.”

Colonel sighed. “I really hope we can get Rockman back, Netto. I don’t want to have you be the one who orders the execution…” he said as he shut off the PET.

Netto frowned as he curled up under his covers for warmth. “Rockman…” he murmured softly, “Please…I don’t want to be the one to kill you…”

The night proved to be a restless one, as Netto continued thrashing around in his bed until dawn approached.

---

It's amazing what one can think up of while doing an essay, isn't it? XD

Anyways, this takes place during a certain scenario during EXE5 if you don't know when it takes place. \o\~
_________________


<3 Planty~
Art in icon done by Raburabbit.

[Sol]

There was heavy breathing as footsteps loomed closer to a figure slumped down on the ground. The figure was clad in a purple bodysuit as he looked up, his red eyes glaring at the approaching navi. The navi was in some sort of black outfit with a blue cape, and had a long green blade extended from his right hand. The navi was also staring at him with some sort of resigned look; like he was being forced to do it.

“Heh…” the downed figure chuckled bitterly, “So, this is how it ends, huh?”

The caped navi nodded solemnly. “Indeed it does, Rockman…”

Rockman, or rather, Dark Rockman chuckled again. “Feeling pity for me? How weak of you, Colonel...”

Colonel narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. Elsewhere, another voice spoke out.

“Rockman…” it breathed out, “Why did it have to be like this?”

“Ah, is that you Netto?” Dark Rockman questioned, amused. “How fitting…the very one about to delete me is my own operator.”

”It isn’t like that!” Netto exclaimed from the other side of the PET’s screen, “Do you think this is what I wanted?!”

Dark Rockman smirked. “Well, that doesn’t matter now, does it? I’m finished either way, so just talking with you two is irrelevant,” he commented, “All I know is that I have served my purpose; I have served Master Regal to the very end.”

Netto lowered his head. “It really seems that you’ve totally been taken by the darkness, Rockman…”

Dark Rockman growled audibly. “Don’t you dare call me that weakling’s name! I am no longer him!”

“Yes, it seems you aren’t…” Netto said, “Forgive me, Rockman…no, Saito-niisan…” The brunette then closed his eyes in anticipation about what he was going to do. “Colonel!”

“Right!” Colonel cried as he raised his sword, his face taking on an expression of remorse. “I’m sorry, my friend…” he murmured as he began charging up some energy. Dark Rockman kept on smirking even as the blade came down.

“Screen Divide!”

That was when Netto woke up, gasping deeply and sweating. That nightmare seemed entirely too real…

Turning over, he looked at his bedside clock. It read two thirty in the morning as he groaned and got up. He wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep after that nightmare. He slowly got up and off his bed so as to not make any noise as he crept to his door. He needed to get his mind off things.

“Netto?” came a voice from his PET. Netto looked at the blue device on his desk, half hoping that it was Rockman in it. However, he came upon Colonel’s visage as he looked into the screen. “What are you doing up at this hour?”

Netto frowned as he decided to take the PET with him to the kitchen. “I couldn’t sleep,” he offered as an explanation as he quietly opened the door, “Too many things on my mind right now for me to do so anyways.”

“I see.” was Colonel’s only reply. Netto quietly crept down to the kitchen and poured himself some water. The brunette turned on the counter lights as he sat down, just looking at his glass under the dim light. He could see that it was still really dark outside due to it being early morning, but he didn’t take much notice of it.

Colonel decided to speak up. “Netto, you should really get some sleep. Tomorrow is a pretty important day.” he said sternly.

Netto sighed. “I know Colonel, but…” he trailed off as he took a sip of water and looked at the caped navi, “I can’t really sleep with the way things are now.”

“Ah…you’re thinking about your father?” Colonel queried, his eyes softening as he stared at the boy.

“Not only that, but Rockman as well.” the brunette answered, “It just hurts to think that Regal has both of them right now, and I can’t do anything about it.”

“You have to be strong for the both of them,” Colonel admonished, “They wouldn’t want you to give up.”

“I know that,” Netto said, “But…I’m worried about the upcoming encounter with Rockman.”

Colonel sighed. “I know how you must feel. It isn’t easy to fight a loved one, especially one you know isn’t in control of their actions.” Netto sighed again.

“I promised both Barrel and myself that if Rockman was truly lost to the dark power, I would delete him…” he trailed off as he looked at Colonel, “But the more pressing question is if I will be able to make that decision when it really counts.”

Colonel’s eyes softened as he stared at the brunette. “Is that what’s been bothering you?” he asked quietly, “That you might have to delete your navi when it comes to it?”

“That, and…” Netto started before silencing. He curiously glanced at the caped navi, who shifted slightly inside the PET. “Colonel, do you and Barrel know everything about me and Rockman?”

“What?” Colonel asked in surprise, taken off-guard by the question. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Colonel. It’s been bothering me for a while, but I’m asking you to answer truthfully. Do you and Barrel fully know about me and Rockman?” Netto questioned, staring at the PET.

Colonel closed his eyes and nodded. “Yes, we do. We were given a briefing just as we entered the Science Labs.” he admitted, looking slightly away while doing so. Somehow, the boy made him feel guilty for keeping something like that from him.

Netto sighed again. “Don’t worry, I’m not angry,” he said, “I understand that you had to know about me before you decided to recruit me to your team, right?” The brunette saw the caped navi nod before continuing, “So now you know why I can’t really sleep.”

“Indeed,” Colonel said while nodding, “You’re actually fighting against your very own brother. That isn’t a pleasant experience at all.”

“Colonel,” Netto said after taking a huge gulp of water, slightly grimacing at how cold it was, “I may have to delete my own brother…and if it comes to that, how will I live with myself afterwards?” he asked softly as he finished off the glass and put it in the sink. Colonel remained silent.

Netto suddenly let off a low chuckle. “Colonel, I’m sure you’ve experienced the feeling of fighting someone that you didn’t want to fight at all, right?” he questioned, “Is this feeling of just wanting to run away and not wanting to confront someone normal?”

Colonel hesitated. He was about to say no, however he took one look at the boy’s face and sighed. “Well…I can’t say I have ever come across a situation like yours, Netto,” he remarked, “but I would call that feeling normal…I would know, since I sometimes felt it myself many years ago.” Colonel said softly, remembering to times long ago where he was forced into battle with old comrades.

“Yeah…” Netto said as he took the PET and headed back upstairs as quietly as possible. “Colonel, I’m not going to give up hope of getting Rockman back,” he stated, “But…I will delete him if he cannot be recovered.”

Colonel nodded. “Good to see that you’re telling yourself that, but you have to believe it as well,” he said, “Otherwise, you’ll falter at the last moment, when everything counts. I know you don’t want that.”

Netto hesitantly nodded. “I know…” he said while yawning. “I’m going to try and head back to sleep now. We need to get on that ship tomorrow and look for that agent.”

“Indeed…good night, Netto.” Colonel said as the boy slipped into bed and fell into an uneasy slumber. The caped navi then sighed.

“A kid like him shouldn’t go through so many things like this. He’s so young, and he’s already been through more things than adults three times his age…” he murmured softly, “To stand strong in face of such adversity takes courage, but to truly question about what he’s going to do takes real strength.”

Colonel sighed. “I really hope we can get Rockman back, Netto. I don’t want to have you be the one who orders the execution…” he said as he shut off the PET.

Netto frowned as he curled up under his covers for warmth. “Rockman…” he murmured softly, “Please…I don’t want to be the one to kill you…”

The night proved to be a restless one, as Netto continued thrashing around in his bed until dawn approached.

---

It's amazing what one can think up of while doing an essay, isn't it? XD

Anyways, this takes place during a certain scenario during EXE5 if you don't know when it takes place. \o\~
_________________


<3 Planty~
Art in icon done by Raburabbit.

[Midnight]

That was absolutely astounding to read. I envy you, you know--being able to simply write and come up with all these fantastic ideas heedless of everyhting that is going on in your real life.

I'm a bit surprised that you chose Colonel as the side of choice to tell the story from--I was actually somewhat expecting to see someone take Blues's vantage point, but it does not matter here. The prophetic dream is a rather overused motif, but in this case, because of the detail practically oozing from every pore, it can be forgiven.

I just...well...I'm left speechless yet again by your work. Excellent job.
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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

[Neko]

*drooooolll* Wow that was good.

I love Colonel X3 he's so... easy to brood with. He makes for a great person for Netto and Rockman to look up to. Barrel as well. Great Job Sol ^^
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Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Plantman]

Ahhh I love this particular time in the game, made it one of my favorites. You wrote a eally nice interpretation of what netto had to go through and especially Colonel's own view and feelings about it. Excellent read, Sol.
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Hecha en MÉXICO - Avatar by Me.
"Logic is the Ultimate Weapon."

[Plantman]

Ahhh I love this particular time in the game, made it one of my favorites. You wrote a eally nice interpretation of what netto had to go through and especially Colonel's own view and feelings about it. Excellent read, Sol.
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Hecha en MÉXICO - Avatar by Me.
"Logic is the Ultimate Weapon."

[Kitty-Chan]

Interesting; Kitty most definitely likes.
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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)*