[bamthedoc]

Act V:
Push Comes to Shove

After an intense battle with Project SIGMA, Rockman.EXE has little opportunity to rest. They are immediately enthralled in a battle agains Kid Gospel...which occurs shortly after yet another battle against several Virus Navis released by Red X, including Alpha. However...they have played out their rolls, for now. It is now time to tell the tale of a hidden force of guardians. They are the most hidden members of Net society.

???: *sigh* Well, Veri...we have our work cut out for us. It seems Rockman has gained quite a bit of power.
Veri: Yes, Master Mamoru. However. I fear he may have unleahsed more than even we can handle.
Mamoru: You mean the Dragons of Light and Dark? I can only hope such a threat will be resolved.
Veri: I've been thinking, Master Mamoru. Why is it their code is written in that strange draconic?
Mamoru: Dragons are oft refered to splendid, magnificent, and powerful creatures of unsurpassed intellect. Have you seen the power ratings the Council has given them?
Veri: Yes... It is disturbing. They far surpass even the Virus and Vaccine Navis.
Mamoru: Nay! They far surpass even Forte and the Life Virus.

Mamoru looks at Veri.EXE over the P.E.T. terminal. He knows what Veri.EXE is thinking, afterall...they've been working together for so long. Mamoru shakes his head as he sees Veri.EXE very much vissibly shudder. It is then that a code message flashes across the P.E.T. screen. Mamoru closes his eyes and sighs. He smiles as he opens his eyes.

Veri: They have no idea what they are, do they?
Mamoru: They've identified at least twelve points of power. Does that sound familiar?
Veri: I would hope so. We should get started. The Council does not arbitrarily decide to get involved, afterall.
Mamoru: I'll log you to the last point of the Dragon of Light's whereabouts.
Veri: *heaving a sigh* I'll do my best.

Veri.EXE disappears from the P.E.T. screen as Mamoru does just as he says. He uses a skill the secretive guardians have aquired. Veri.EXE is able to go where he normally would not due to Net paths. Upon arriving, the Navi immediately withdraws his two blades and extends his sheilding. He looks around, for both clues and possible enemies. He, instead, finds a field completely devoid of any signs of even virus activity.

Veri: Master Mamoru! This area is much purer than any other I've ever been to! The Council Chambers don't even compare to this!
Mamoru: It may be a side-effect of the Dragon of Light's presence. It would seem he is either able to vanquish weaker virii all at once...or simply keep them away with a powerful aura.
Veri: What is his secret?! What could have possibly created this kind of force?!
Mamoru: You know, as well as I, what the Council has determined to be the central cause of these Dragons. Project SIGMA was split in two. The Dragons were the results of the spheres of Light and Dark.

Veri.EXE, of course, knows this information. He is still surprised by it, however. He carefully moves in this strange zone that seems both lifeless and full of life. He senses a pressence always watching...following, but he can never find it. Mamoru is perplexed by this, as well, as he keeps recieving blips as if something were detected in the area. Veri.EXE keeps looking, but he cannot find what he is looking for.

In the meantime, their quarry is watching. He has no reason to show himself for he neither sees need to defend the strange territory nor attack the intruder. He is curious as to the Navi's powers, so he watches and waits. He looks over his shoulder from time to time as he wonders of the encroaching darkness. He is silent, and he is perfectly able to move without being fully detected. He knows he is only a blip to them, and he knows that there may soon be a dangerous battle.

???: *thinking* I should draw the battle away from him. I do not wish to bring innocence into a strange fraternal battle.

The figure hiding himself is the strangely classified "Dragon" Navi. He is Vaccine in nature, but there are none who know this as none have seen him nor been able to study him. He fears his brother's approach as he is Virus in nature. Though neither is inherrently good or evil, they have taken these rolls from the little bit of conciousness that had originally divided Project SIGMA.

The "Dragon" Navi runs away from Veri.EXE and towards his dark half. This, however, gives a much clearer signal to Veri.EXE and his operator. Mamoru gives the word, and his NetNavi is off. What he sees when he catches up leaves him devoid of speech. There are two Navis, nearly identical, standing with swords of indescribable power.

Veri: Mamoru...I've found the Dragon...Navis...
Mamoru: This isn't good... Light and Dark meet.

The two Navis do not see or hear Veri.EXE, but the certainly do sense them. The Dark Dragon Navi smirks as he looks between the Light Dragon Navi and Veri.EXE. He seems confident, and the sword with a dark aura certainly adds to his evil appearance.

???: It seems you found me, Sigma...

Veri.EXE is taken aback by the Light Dragon Navi's quick words to the Dark Dragon Navi. His name is Sigma?! That must confirm that they are from Project SIGMA... As all this is happening, Mamoru swallows hard. This is not a good situation.

Sigma: I have indeed, Ryu. We have company.

The Dark Dragon Navi called the Light Dragon Navi by the name of Ryu. Veri.EXE now has a name for both, but they don't seem anything like normal NetNavis. Are they *.EXEs? Are they solo programs? What are they is the mystery...

What neither Veri.EXE or Mamoru realize is that they have just stumbled across a battle to which somebody...isn't leaving alive. Ryu and Sigma are facing off, and Veri is about to get stuck in the middle of an epic battle.