“Marty? Did’ja find her?” A tall muscular man stepped out of the shadows towards a shorter female in a black dress.

“Holly? No. But she can’t be too far from here. I assigned lil’ green to the job. If anybody can find her, it’s him.”

“Good job. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop searching. Find her! And bring her to me…”

“So, uh, Lynn. Tell me about yourself.” Ace sat on the edge of his desk next to her. Lynn gave a confused look before Ace continued. “Uh…For case info, of course.” He gave a weak chuckle.

“Oh, well, you already know my name. I’m 24, and single.” She glanced at Ace. “I sing at “Le fantasie Renard” and live with my…lived with my sister.” She took a few deep breaths, but could not stop that tear from escaping.

As I looked at her, I saw a loving, caring person who had lost someone, and needed to be loved. I longed to be at her side, but with Ace there, things are awkward for me. I wasn’t exactly Casanova.

“I understand what it’s like to lose someone you love. But you have to remember that they’ve gone to a better place!”

“Do you really think so?”

“I know so.”

When I saw her blush I knew I’d never have a chance with her, so long as Ace was in the picture. So why should I delve into fantasy when I’m stuck with reality?

“Miss Montana. Can you show us where you found the body?”

“It was at our apartment. Her body was…splattered all over our kitchen floor.”

“Let’s go.” I grabbed my coat and stormed out of the office. Ace and Lynn followed.

“What am I doing here? I shouldn’t have come.” Chaos was sitting on the floor in one of the Principal Offices hallways. She took a deep breath, when her icon started to beep. She double clicked it and a holographic image was produced.

“Chaos!” She jumped to her feet in surprise.

“Uh, Yes Master.”

“Have you located Guardian 452 yet?”

“Uh…”

“Do not lie to me. The consequences are severe.”

“No. I don’t think he’s in this system.” The sprite narrowed her eyes and hit a button next to her window.

“Tell me the truth, Ninja!”

“Bob is here! He’s in this system. He’s in a game right now.”

The sprite gave a vicious smile, then an evil glare. “I love this truth button! But you know the consequences of deceit!” The sprite hit another button, which sent electric spasms throughout Chaos’ body.

“AAA!!!” Chaos fell to the floor in agony and pain. “Make it stop! Make it stop! I’m sorry! Please, just make it stop! Ahh!!”

“*Hmph* I suppose you’ve learned your lesson. I want you to bring him to me! Immediately!”

“Bob will never go! He won’t leave this system knowing that you’re out there!”

“I suppose you are right. After all, you’ve known him longer then I have. This wouldn’t be your way of stalling, would it!?”

“Of course not! I will bring him to you, just not right away. I need to regain his trust and lure him to you.”

“I want the other guardian too!”

“Matrix? The renegade?”

“Yes! Him! They must both be infected for me to take over!”

“I understand. But Matrix will never leave this system with me, even if Bob was with us. He doesn’t trust me. He would rather see me deleted.”

“If that’s what it takes…”

“I will bring them both. I just need time.”

“Very well. You have one second.”

“One second! I need more time then that!”

“How much more?”

“I don’t know. They’re in a movie maker game!”

“No! they could be in there for hours!”

“I know.”

“Wait…This just might prove useful. By the time they escape the game…or rather, if they escape the game, I’ll have already taken over everything!”

“Don’t underestimate Bob. He’s a lot smarter then he looks. He’ll get them out of that game ASAP! I know it!”

“Hmm…very well. You have one cycle. If they are not out of the game before then, I want you to destroy it.”

“But it will kill them too!”

“I know.”

“Yes master.”

“But if they manage to escape, I want you to bring them to me. Gain their trust however you must. But bring them here before I take…matters into my own hands. Understand?!”

“But—“

“Do you understand!”

“Yes master.”

“Good.”

And with that, the holographic image disappeared. Chaos slunk down to the floor again and began to cry.

“I can’t disobey her, but I can’t betray Bob. What do I do?”

“So this is your place?”

“Yes. Me and my sister shared an apartment. We were so close, and now…”

Her voice trailed off, as her tears became fresh again. It hurt me inside but I knew if I was to get the job done, there would be no time for cheesy sentiment. I would have to find the killer, and find him fast. I’d have to do this case without Ace somehow; if I did that, then Lynn would be indebted to me, and only me. I had to win her heart somehow and this seemed like my last chance. Now if I could only find someway to keep Ace busy, and away from Lynn Montana!

“Where’s the body Miss?”

“Over there, in the kitchen.” Lynn pointed towards the kitchen then gave a small gasp as she saw the chalk line on the ground. She clutched to Ace’s jacket as she began to sob.

“I see. And she was murdered how?”

“A…butcher…knife…to the…back!”

“I see. Well, Ace and I will start looking for clues. Why don’t you go back to the club and sing your blues away. We’ll be around later to discuss this in more depths.”

She gave a worried look as I shooed her away, and then as in desperation she grabbed Ace’s sleeve and began to beg.

“Don’t let me go alone! I’m…I’m too afraid that the killer will come back after me! Mr. Spade, you can stay and look at clues, but since Ace is only your sidekick, maybe he –“

“I happen to be a very important part of this company!”

“Of course you are sweetie. But maybe you could escort me back to the club for safety. Pretty please?”

As she batted her eyelashes I knew Ace would go. So much for him staying away from her. But at least I would get the chance to do some snooping on my own. But I couldn’t let their blooming love get full effect.

“Alright Ace, you can escort her back to the club, but make sure you come straight back here after you do. I’m gonna need your help. Understand?”

“Of course Red. Later.” Ace and Lynn left the office and Red began to look around for clues.

“Phong, sugar. We need to get rid of that girl. I’m getting all kinds of negative vibes ever since she arrived. I think we should just send her away, regardless of what Bob wants.”

“Mouse. We don’t know why she is here, and she seems like a harmless friend of Bob’s. We should be polite and courteous towards her, especially since she is our guest.”

“Do you really believe all of that?”

“Of course I do – not. I cannot help it! She has such a horrible reputation; I cannot help but wonder if she has any plans for our little system! And allowing her into the Principal Office! We’re not even sure where in here she is! What are we to do!?”

“Calm down Phong. She left the office half a millisecond ago. She said something about meeting a virus?”

“A virus? Hexadecimal? What would she want with Mainframe only and not to mention chaotic virus?"

“You don’t think she’d try and use Hex against use? Do you?”

“We must get to Lost Angles! We cannot allow that sprite to cause us any damage!”

“Knock, knock. Anybody home?” Chaos looked around Hexadecimals dark lair trying to make out any distinguishable figures. As she turned around she suddenly found herself face-to-face with the virus herself.

“What a surprise. A visitor, in more ways then one.”

“Hexadecimal?”

“Why of course. How ever did you guess?”

“Let’s just say a little null told me. Now I’ve heard many things about you.”

“I hope they were all good.”

“They were astounding. He says you have one of the most highest power levels in all of the net.”

“My, my. How kind of that little null to say.”

“Is it true?”

“Why don’t we find out?” Hex threw a massive ball of energy right at Chaos, but surprisingly fizzled out without leaving a mark on her. “What happened?” Hex tried several more times, all with the same result. “I don’t know who you are! But what have you done to me!?”

“Nothing at all. I just sucked up your energy to measure its level. You’ll be happy to know it ranked a 4.7.”

“Out of…?”

“5. There aren’t many sprites, or viruses with that kind of power.”

“How wonderful to hear. Now why would you want to know a thing like that about me?”

“I’m also a 4.7.”

“That’s nice to know.”

“I need your power to merge with mine so I can be the most powerful being in all of the net.”

“You want me to give you my power? I’d love to, but then I’d have to delete you.”

“Look, I don’t want any handouts.”

“So you don’t want me to give you my power?”

“No way! That would spoil the fun of everything. I’m going to take your power and there’s nothing you can do to stop me!”

“If we’re so evenly matched, what makes you think you can defeat me?”

“Simple. Remember those power spikes you threw at me?”

“Yes?”

“I sucked them up into a power container, so it’s time to return the favor!” Chaos pointed the small glowing jar in Hex’s direction, and a huge burst of Hex’s energy came flying right back at her, knocking her and her throne over.

“How dare you use my power against me! You shall pay dearly for this…with your life!”

“Save the speech! Any power you throw at me, I’ll collect and toss it back to you. You can’t beat me. I already have some of your power in this little jar! So make it easy on yourself; give me your energy.”

“What the user is going on here?” Bob looked around the now empty apartment trying to figure out his next move. “The user is controlling me. I have no free will of my own. How am I supposed to win this game if I can’t even control my own thoughts?”

Bob sat down in one of the chairs and went over the past few moments in his head.

“I’ve got to find everybody and somehow escape this game before who knows what else happens…I’ve got to follow Ace, er, Ray! He went to that club with Lynn…AndrAIa? I’m in love with AndrAIa! Now this is really weird…and kinda creepy! And where’s Dot? I've got to get out of here! Maybe if I find them and refuse to obey the user, we’ll escape! It’s worth a shot! Now where’s a phone book? I gotta find an address!”

Bob rifled through the mess in the apartment, finally finding the address he was looking for.

“Are you sure the club is this way?” Ace looked around but only saw dark alleys and dangerous streets.

“Of course I’m sure. Now you can see why I was scared to go alone.”

“Don’t you worry Lynn. I’ll protect you from whatever comes along!”

“Is that true?”

“Of course it is beautiful!”

“Wonderful. Then let’s see how you hold up against him.” Lynn pointed towards a tall muscular man hidden in the shadows. He took a step forward and slammed Ace with a rock hard punch.

“What the—“ Before Ace could even finish his sentence, the man hit him again. Ace didn’t understand what was going on but he could hear Lynn chuckling.

“Lynn! What it this?”

“Welcome to the club baby.” And with those last words, Ace was slammed unconscious by a club held from Lynn’s own hands.

“Come on Phong. Doesn’t this hunk of junk go any faster?” Mouse referred to the vehicle that Phong had used to drive them to Lost Angles.

“We must be patient my child. All good things come to those who wait.”

“That’s a pretty thought Phong, but if we don’t get to Hex’s Lair soon, who knows what might happen!”

As the words left her lips, an explosion was heard and seen emanating from Lost Angles. Phong and Mouse exchanged a quick look and sped forward as fast as they could. Who knew what surprises would be waiting for them.