["That's the entire report,'] Springer said. ["Start to finish.']

"It's still unusual,' Red Alert said. "How was it that we almost didn't find you three?'

["No idea. That's not my place to know. I heard that some others were injured. Can I have a status report?']

"Very well,' Prime said. "Sideswipe's left arm is in pieces; it'll be a few days before he'll be fit for duty again. And of the two Teams sent specifically to find you, only Grindor is duty-worthy at the moment. Scavenger is recovering; it seems that all his damage was superficial.'

["Damn. Anyting else' Like how Artmetal knew what was going on' And what about the humans who found us?']

"Skydive?' Prime asked.

"Classified debrief,' Derek said. "Paperwork is in your computer, A-4 encryption.'

"And what about Artmetal?' Red Alert added. "He's your son's Mini-Con.'

"Like I said,' Skydive replied. "The symbiote process is out of my hands. Find out who did it and ask them.' *****

["I just don't know what to do anymore,'] High Wire said, slowly walking along. ["With everything that's gone on in just these last few weeks.....']

"I know how you feel,' Alexis said. "Trust me. I know how you feel.'

Slowly, the two kept walking down the corridor. For some reason, they both felt the need to talk with each other but didn't know why. Just that they had to.

["Ladies?'] someone said from behind them. Turning, they saw Mirage in the middle of flexing his muscles. ["Like it' Just got through buffing. Look at these pecs! And check out those biceps!'] Mirage kept at it, unaware that they weren't impressed.

["Move over,'] Downshift said, pushing Mirage out of the way. ["Check out this."]

"Still not impressed,' Alexis said.

["What are you two doing'!'] Dirt Boss shouted as he rushed down the hall. Hastily, he grabbed Mirage and Downshift and began to drag them away. ["I don't know where you got all those weights from but they're going right back!']

["Got "em for free!'] Mirage protested.

["Yeah,'] Downshift added. ["Some gym was just gonna toss them out, so we grabbed "em. And they're ours!']

["You two are idiots.'] With much grunting and protesting, Dirt Boss managed to drag the other two off.

Shaking their heads, Longarm and Sparkplug came down the hallway. ["At it again?']

["Yeah,'] High Wire said. ["They won't leave me alone now. And Jolt tried to make a pass at me. No idea what brought it on, either.']

["I swear,'] Longarm began, ["It's as if we're all just characters in a story written by some sick freak who needs a job and a date.']

Sparkplug looked over at Longarm. ["I thought that I was the only one who felt like that. Wierd. We must be psychotic. Anyway, gotta go. Guard duty. See you two!']

Alexis sighed. "Speaking of dates, I have to go home and get ready.'

["Rad?']

"Yeah. There's a new dance hall in town that caters to teens as well as adults that don't like to drink. I promised Rad that I'd go with him tonight.'

["Well, have a good time, I guess.']

Alexis paused. "Isn't there someone you'd like to spend time with?'

["I'm not sure anymore. I just don't know.'] With a sigh, High Wire walked off in the other direction.

"There's always Overrun!' Alexis shouted, half-heartedly. High Wire walked on as if she didn't hear her.

*****

"So I hear that you got a date with Alexis,' Fred said. "Lucky you.'

"Yeah, sure.' Rad said, looking up from his bike. "Hand me that wrench over there.'

"This one?'

"Yeah. Thanks. I can't believe I got a flat today.'

"It happens. So, what's going on tonight?'

"You're curious about it why?'

"You've got one of the richest, smartest, popular, and most attractive girls in school running to you at every problem. Most guys I know would be rampantly jealous of you.'

Rad stopped what he was doing. "Would that include you?'

Fred stopped for a few seconds. "Yeah, yeah it would.'

"Thought so. Ever bother trying to talk with her' Tell her that you would like to have her run to you every once in a while.'

"A few times.'

"A few' Doesn't sound like you put much thought into it after all.'

Fred knelt down, the bike between them. "Is that supposed to mean anything?'

"I never saw you make a single attempt. I'm just wondering. You said you liked her but then you made it sound like you really didn't try. We all care for her; it's no secret.'

"But you just had to take it one step further' Maybe Refute was right.'

"You've shown no signs at all before all of this that you liked her like that. Why now?' A pause. "Is is because someone finally did what you couldn't do?'

Another pause. "Yeah. I didn't want to admit it. I just kept pretending like nothing was going on.'

Rad stood up. "If it'll make you feel better, than hit me.'

"Huh?'

"Hit me.'

"All right.' Standing up, Fred threw a punch towards Rad. Rad easily sidestepped it and sent a hard blow to Fred's chin. Fred spun around before falling to his knees.

"Now you can tell everyone we fought over her and that I got a cheap shot on you. Your pride's intact and the results are still the same. Happy now?'

"Not quite.' Putting his hands in front of him, Fred went to perform a mule kick. Rad leapt up, and with the forward momentum brought his elbow down. Fred didn't quite roll in time, and took the full blow to his right arm. Fred screamed as they both heard a popping noise. Rad stood up and backed away.

"Now are you satisfied?'

Fred thought for a second before speaking. "Yeah, I'm finished.'

Rad helped him to his feet. "Now hold still; sounds like I dislocated your shoulder. This might hurt.'

Fred grit his teeth as the joint was popped back into place. "You were right. I was a little jealous. And I guess I should have just let it go.'

"Little late for that. Now, what's really on your mind?'

*****

"Lazerbeak told me everything,' Alexis said as she and Rad got off the bus. "He even had the footage. Plus commentary. Why did you do that?'

"Pride,' Rad said.

"Over your victory' Is that it?'

"Not my pride. His.'

"I'll never understand this.'

"Be grateful you don't. Come on, it's just a block away.'

"I'm not sure I understand you, either. Look, I know that you just want to do something special before we go back to school;.....'

"Weren't you told?'

"Told what?'

"Home school. I can get both semesters done by Thanksgiving, and I'll have my degree by Christmas. Full semester to work, train, and head to college.'

"No,' Alexis said, turning her head. "Rad, what's gotten into you?'

"Alexis, what do you mean?'

Alexis turned her head, and began to pout. "Never mind..... Say, is Chirico still in town?'

"Chirico Toriyama' Headed back to Osaka.' A pause. "That was a lame attempt at changing the subject.'

*****

High Wire found Overrun sitting on top of the mountain, simply staring at the town. He barely even registered that he noticed her. Ignoring this, she sat down next to him.

*****

Alexis tried her hardest to ignore the hard pounding of the music. It sounded to her as if the speakers were going to blow out at any minute.

"This way,' Rad said. "Food's in a seperate area. Did it to keep stuff off the floor.'

"How do you know?'

"Parents thought it would be a nice place to visit. They wound up spending the evening in the buffet area while I spent it in the dance area.'

"In that case how's the food?'

"It's an all-you-can-eat job. Decent food, but not always worth the price. It's seven dollars per person. Lets you eat all evening so long as you save your receipt and show it each time you walk in.'

"In that case I can wait. I think. What do they have to drink?'

"Let's see what they have tonight.'

*****

High Wire knew that she had to say something to Overrun. But she couldn't think of anything. It was all that she could do just to try and look him in the face. She just didn't know what to do.

*****

"What is this music, anyway?' Alexis asked.

"New Order. That's the name of the band. The DJ up there always plays something of theirs. Hence the name DJ Order.'

"I see. Which song is this?'

"Bizarre Love Triangle, I think. I only heard it once.'

"Fitting song.'

"What's that supposed to mean?'

*****

["They do anything yet?'] Mirage asked.

["Details, man, details!'] Downshift shouted.

["Keep quiet!'] Lazerbeak said. ["They hear us we're toast.']

["You guys are toast already.'] Looking up, the three saw the form of Dirt Boss standing over them. ["What are you three doing?']

["Birdwatching?'] Mirage tried.

["Let's go,'] Dirt Boss said. ["All three of you.']

["Make me,'] Lazerbeak said.

["Gladly,'] Grindor said as he came out from behind an outcrop and picked the bird up.

*****

Alexis stopped to stretch her muscles. For the first time in a while, she felt alive somehow.

"Told you you'd like it,' Rad said.

"Yeah, I guess I did. Too bad we gotta get home. How much time before the bus gets to the stop?'

"Twenty minutes. We got a little bit of time to kill.'

"How about you kill it with us?' a voice said from behind them. Turning, they saw a group of random street thug types. "This is our territory, thank you very much.'

Rad sized them up. Mostly teenagers, but he couldn't be sure; these guys had parts of their faces covered. And they all had knives. Wasn't looking very good.

"Tell you two kids what. Give us some money and we'll let you go.' The leader let out a smile from beneath his mask. "Give us the girl and you can come through here any time you want to.'

"Hell no,' Rad said in a quiet, firm voice. Quickly, he motioned for Alexis to get behind him. Scared, she did just that.

"Hey look! Kid wants a fight!'

"I'll take him!' one of the thugs said. He lunged at Rad, only for Rad to grab the arm with the knife. Caught off guard, the thug wasn't prepared to take a hard elbow to his jaw. Alexis winced as she heard the sounds of bone breaking. Rad flipped the thug around, dropping him chest first on the ground. He wrenched the thug's arm until he let go of the knife.

Rad stood up, rotating the knife to where the blade was now pointing down at an odd angle. "Who's next?' he asked in that same voice.

"How about we take you all on?' the leader asked.

A hammer cocked. "How about not?' a voice said from behind the group, a light Scottish accent flowing through. "This is a Colt thirty-eight caliber detective model. Six shots. Who I don't kill with this I can kill with my hands. Believe me when I say that I've done it before.' In shock, the thugs dropped their knives. "Now be good little punks and wait here until the cops arrive.'

"Who are you?' Alexis managed.

Slowly, the figure stepped into the light. "Robert. Robert Campbell. Formerly of the British Intelligence. Telling you which service would result in your deaths.' He looked up at Rad, who was still on the defensive. "I know that stance. Archangel tagged you too, huh' Figures.'

"They're on their way!' a female voice said. "They should be here..... Another protege, I take it.'

Alexis looked at Rad, stunned. "What do they mean' What are they talking about?'

"He didn't show it to me,' Rad said, cooly. "I picked it up on my own.'

Robert caught Rad in the face with a full backhand. "I've seen him take someone's head with that move. It's impossible to simply duplicate it out of thin air. You were going to open someone up tonight. Admit it.'

"And if I was?'

"You're a ****ing psycho at heart, kid. No wonder the Angel of Death took a shining to you. Annie, get the car.'

*****

Patiently, High Wire sat there. Overrun still hadn't even noticed her. Nothing. Nothing at all.