[bamthedoc]

Act IV
Project SIGMA is...?

After an unusual greeting by Nathanial Extravar, Rockman and company are still standing in very vacant area of the Net -- the Red X Homepage. Not knowing what to expect, Rockman.EXE and Roll.EXE cautiously proceed as Netto and Mairu prepare to back them up.

Netto: Okay, Rockman, you heard the crazy man.
Rockman: Yeah...I know. There's nothing there, though...
Mairu: What did he mean by the "Heart of the Internet"?
Roll: I suppose we'll find out...

As they continue to make forward progress, they start to see further and further advanced programming. Nathanial X watches, with a smug smirk upon his face as he watches and guides their progress. Project SIGMA, hidden in a dark room just a page away by now, seems to be humming in expectation as it, too, watches Rockman approach.

Nathanial X: If you wish to see what you have come to see, you should take that next transporter pad. You'll be warped to Project Sigma, and you will see the very Heart of the Internet!
Mairu: There's that "Heart" statement, again...
Netto: I don't care! I'm going! Rockman, are you ready?

Rockman.EXE looks to Roll.EXE, right quick, and they nod to eachother. Netto smirks as he waches Rockman.EXE step onto the pad Nathanial X has led them to. The next thing Rockman.EXE and Netto see is a dark room that seems unoccupied. Rockman.EXE turns back to await Roll. However, when she steps on the pad...she gets logged-off.

Mairu: What?! What happened, Roll?
Roll: Huh? I don't know... What happened to Rockman?
Netto: He's still in there... What's going on?!
Nathanial X: What do yout think? The Roll.EXE program is unnecessary to my plans.
Rockman: Uh-oh... There's something here!
Mysterious Voice: I am power.
Netto: Woah! Who's there?!
Mysterious Voice: I am the Net.
Rockman: *looking around* I don't know! It's not centered anywhere...
Project SIGMA: Project SIGMA is what I have been called.

The room is suddenly flooded with light, and, right in front of Rockman.EXE, a monsterously sized sphere is revealed. The sphere pulses with power as it seems to actually be looking at Rockman. It doesn't move, and there are wires running into and out of it. Electrical surges carry data to and from this...central source. Rockman.EXE is taken aback, even if it's only momentary, by the immense power from within the sphere. No! It is the sphere, itself.

Rockman: What...What are you?!
Project SIMGA: I am the Source. You...I did not create you or your code. You are a Vaccine Navi.
Rockman: How did you know?!
Netto: Rockman?
Rockman: I'll explain later.
Nathanial X: Hmm? I've given the Hikaris less credit than they are due.
Project SIGMA: You will be deleted, now, and your code will be added to my own. Saito...Rockman...you should say your good-byes now.
Netto: I don't think so! Hero Sword! Slot In! Download!
Rockman: Execute!

Rockman.EXE rushes the giant sphere. However, when the Hero Sword touches Project SIGMA, it seems to be immediately dispersed -- dealing absolutely no damage to the gigantic sphere of an enemy. Netto quickly sets up a distraction as he downloads five Mini Boomers into the P.E.T. so that Rockman.EXE has a chance to escape. However, they quickly find out that Project SIGMA, seemingly, could care less for the distraction as it fires an intensified non-Elemental beam at Rockman.EXE. He can't even dodge as he is quickly pushed to the ground.

Netto: Rockman!
Rockman: Ugh... Did anybody get the number to that Truck Program?
Netto: If you can joke, you can fight. Variable Sword! Slot In! Download!
Rockman: Execute!
Project SIGMA: You may come with whatever you want. I created that data code. I can defeat it.

Rockman.EXE dodges beam after beam of Elemental energy that Project SIGMA shoots at him before he brings his sword to bear. When Rockman.EXE brings it down, it is, instead, met with a shield. It's a Barrier Chip! Project SIGMA activates it without anybody noticing, and Rockman.EXE is thrown back. He's still holding the Variable Sword, however.

Rockman: That...could have gone better.

As Rockman.EXE gets up, Dream Aura goes up around Project SIGMA. Rockman.EXE sighs as he charges Project SIGMA again, dodging beams as he makes his approach. He then sets to work to take down the Dream Aura with rapid swings of his blade. Project SIGMA laughs as Rockman.EXE wastes the Variable Sword's energy on Dream Aura. Both cut out at the same time, in fact.

Netto: This is insane!
Nathanial X: You now see why it is fruitless to fight my creation. You should just give in. It's only a matter of time.
Rockman: No! Nothing's impossible!
Netto: Right!
Project SIGMA: <What is this? Why do I feel torn?> I will defeat both Netto and Saito!
Netto: Wait! Saito.BAT!
Rockman: It's our ace in the hole, save it.
Nathanial X: There is no batch file you can use to help you.
Project SIGMA: What do you wait for?!
Netto and Rockman: Nothing!

Without further waiting, Netto activates the Saito.BAT. With it active, Rockman.EXE, seemingly suddenly, becomes difficult for Project SIGMA to track. Project SIGMA, it seems, cannot properly see, let alone track, Rockman.EXE with Saito.BAT active. Afterall, it changes Rockman.EXE's overall source code so that he is "synced" with Netto. It is, however, difficult to say what exactly the Saito.BAT does. When it was first used, it made Rockmna.EXE 100% DNA based upon who he was before he died -- Hikari Saito.

Rockman: Let's do this!
Netto: Right! It's time for the Program Advance!
Rockman: Heh! You know it!
Netto: Here it comes!

Nathanial X looks in confusion as his creation does nothing to attack Rockman.EXE or defend itself from the sure-to-come attack. As he is trying to find a solution to the problem, Netto starts the download of Dream Sword V3. Smirking, Rockman.EXE feels the coming power and immediately grips the sword once it appears. Netto then starts downloading GigaBomb. Rockman.EXE grips that PA, as well. With both in hand, he rushes Project SIGMA. He tosses GigaBomb at Project SIGMA, and he actually manages to send the massive sphere realing as it takes no defense against the massive explossion.

Netto: Go! Rockman!
Rockman: You've got it!
Nathanial X: This...This just can't be! Project SIGMA!
Project SIGMA: <Why am I torn?> You can't survive!

With a massive explossion of light and energy, the Dream Sword V3 makes contact with the center of the massive sphere that is Project SIGMA. However...Rockman.EXE doesn't seem to make any progress. In fact, wires, much thinner than the wires connecting Project SIMGA to the Net but similar, start running up the sword as it tries to penetrate the thick armor of the sphere. As they make their way to Rockman.EXE, Netto looks at his P.E.T. with worry in his face.

Mairu and Dekao gather around Netto to give him their support as the wires finally creep onto...and into Rockman.EXE. However, Netto and Rockman.EXE's connection, as sibblings, begins to empower the Dream Sword V3's blade. Then...the very PA code seems to enhance itself. As the blade becomes stronger, Project SIGMA lets out what seems to be a cry of pain. Then...as suddenly as all this began, the shell of the massive sphere begins to crack. The wires receed from Rockman.EXE and Red X Homepage as Nathanial X looks at the scene in horror.

Netto: Go!
Rockman: This ends now!
Project SIGMA: *in two voices* This is not the end. This is the beginning.

With that, the sphere is cut directly in half. Two balls of pure light are created and rush in opposite directions. They are two different colors, in fact. One is white, and one is black. The black ball or light rushes towards the Undernet -- to parts that have yet to be discovered. The white ball of light rushes towards the Net -- one that none have knowledge of even existing.

At the same moment, the Virus Navis that were created by Red X awaken. The Zero Virus, near where the white ball of light lands, looks up with a smirk. Though his data has been corrupted, a nearby data cube has the lost data and some more created, in fact, by that white ball of light. At the same time, the black ball of light creates another data cube. This one contains data to save another Navi -- this one is infected to be a Virus Navi rather than created to be.

Nathanial X: No! What have you done to my...
Familiar Voice: I recommend you stop there!

Netto doesn't have time to respond as a very familiar Net Agent takes Nathanial Extravar away. The battle between Rockman.EXE and Project SIGMA gave the Net Agents to find and aprehend several members of the Red X organization, including Nathanial X, himself. Netto is left, a bit baffled, as he looks to a weary Rockman.EXE with his P.E.T., lieing on the ground as he breaths, heavily.

Netto: You did nicely, Rockman!
Rockman: I say we go home now...night-night...
P.E.T.: Rockman.EXE Logging Out!
Netto: *blink; blink* Uh...okay... Let's go home, then!

With that, the main character in this drama has been introduced. No! He was not destroyed! As he said, it has only begun. Is a bad-guy the main character in this story? No! As Netto, Mairu, and Dekao head for their respective homes, they laugh amongst themselves. This has been an interesting adventure. Chaud and Blues, interestingly enough, stayed out of it. They, however, look upon the friends with smiles. They know this is a good day.

To Be Continued...