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ìWarning. Incoming game. Warning. Incoming game.î A purple cube began to descend upon the citizens of mainframe. The binomes scattered themselves to avoid being trapped in the game, while Guardian 452, quickly sped towards it on his zipboard.

ìBob! Wait up!î The rugged voice of Enzo Matrix, commonly known as Matrix, rang out, as he rushed to capture the game cube also.

ìThis game shouldnít take long, with Bob and Matrix working together.î AndrAIa, a former game Sprite, commented on their teamwork to no one in particular.

ìI know what you mean, mate. The only excitement around here lately, are those game cubes, but even so, they fly by like that!î Snapping his fingers for emphasis, Ray Tracer, a search engine of the next generation, replied as he stared at the busy game.

ìYou know, sugar. You donít have to stick around here, if life in Mainframe is to dull for you.î Mouseís southern drawl sounded in her impatient voice.

ìI know. But, I like it here. Very relaxing from what Iím used to.î Rayís voice carried the same tone as Mouseís. He re-fixed his gaze on the cube, waiting for it to disappear.

After a few nanoís, the game resided. ìGame over.î

As Bob and Matrix flew towards their friends, a bright flash engulfed mainframe. A small, gold, transparent sphere fell to the ground. There, it opened and emerged a beautiful woman dressed in a black leather body suit, with a mask covering her face from her nose down.

ìWhat in the net was that!î Dot, exclaimed astonished. Dot was Matrixís older sister. She was also the older sister to Enzo Matrix who was a copy of Matrixís former self.

ìI donít know, but something tells me that youíre about to get your excitement!î AndrAIa worriedly but curiously commented.

ìPixalicious!î Enzo excitedly exclaimed. ìLetís go check it out!î He was about to jump on his zipboard, when Dot interrupted him.

ìHold it Enzo!î Dot commanded while Enzo jumped off his board. ìI think we should let Bob,î She quickly glanced at Matrix. ìAnd Matrix go first. Afterall, we donít know if itís dangerous!î

ìAw, Dot! How come I always miss out on all the fun!î Enzo whined.

ìDonít worry Dot.î AndrAIa quickly added on Enzoís behalf. ìIím sure itís just a tear that Bob can easily fix. Iím sure he wonít get in the way!î She glanced at Dotís contemplating face, to Enzoís enthusiastic nodding head. ìBesides. We can take care of him!î

ìWellÖif itís just a tearÖî you could tell immediately that Dot had changed her mind about letting Enzo go.

ìUnless tears can move, I doubt it is one! Plus, itís headed straight for us!î Matrix had used his mechanical eye to scan the tear, but found the woman instead. ìLetís move!î

ìYouíre right! I think we have a problem!î Bobís overconfident voice was followed by Hexadecimalís.

ìYou are absolutely right, Bob!î Hexadecimal seemed to appear out of nowhere, but this was not unusual for her. îPoor Skuzzy isnít feeling well.î

ìSorry, Hex. Weíre in a rush! Skuzzy will have to wait!î Bob said impatiently as he jumped back on his zip board.

ìBut Bob! I donít think you understand!î As Hexadecimal continued, Bob glanced in her direction, only to see Skuzzy had grown 50 times his normal size!

ìWhat in the net! HowÖHow did this happen, Hex?î Bob stared bewildered at Skuzzy. ìUhÖYou guys go ahead. I haveÖOther problems to take care of!î Bob stated while continuing to stare at Hexadecimalís pet.

The others gave a wary look at Skuzzy before heading off to investigate.

ìThere she is! Just up ahead!î Mouse yelled to the rest of the group. ìLetís prepare to attack!î

ìShoot first. Ask questions later.î Matrix added with a grin.

ìWait!î Dot interrupted with a stern face. ìWhat if she needs our help! Or if sheís here to help us!î

ìWe donít need any help!î Matrix snarled.

ìSorry sugar! She might be with the Guardians! We canít take that risk! To much at stake!î Mouse shot back her concerns to Dot.

ìGun. Command line. Full Delete!î Matrix pointed his gun in the intruderís direction.

ìMatrix! No!î Both Dot and AndrAIa shouted at him to stop.

The woman, sensing the oncoming attack, paused and placed her palms together. A golden beam of energy emerged, and shot out at Matrix. It stopped his gun from firing, and tossed Matrix into the nearest building behind him!

ìRandomÖî Enzoís voice trailed off, as he stared from the woman to Matrix.

ìNo!î AndrAIaís scream mingled with Dotís silence, and Mouseís shouts of anger.

ìAttack!î Mouse raised her sword, as AndrAIa flew to Matrix, hoping to catch him before he fell to the ground.

The woman, once again, placed her palms together, as an energy beam shot out. Mouse dodged the first three attacks, while Ray and Dot dodged the fourth.

ìStop! Stop fighting!î Dotís desperate pleas finally grabbed Mouseís attention. ìShe only attacks when you do!î

ìYou know love. Sheís right! Maybe we should back off! She might stop attacking us!î Ray remarked as he dodged another energy beam. ìI donít know about you, but I donít want to be nullified!î

ìWhat do you mean back off? This is exactly what she wants you think! If we back off, sheíll nullify us all!î Mouse shouted disbelievingly. ìLetís give it all we got! For Matrix!î

ìIím with you on that, Mouse!î The four sprites looked behind them. Matrix and AndrAIa were behind them, sharing a zipboard. The had come up while they were arguing.

ìAlphanumeric! How did you-ì Enzo excitedly began to speak, when Dot abruptly cut him off.

ìEnzo! What are you still doing here? This is a dangerous place to be! You should be hiding, or getting help! Not getting in they way of danger!î Dot began to worry for Enzoís safety once again. She tried hard to convince Enzo to hide.

ìBut Dot! This is most exciting thing to happen, for cycles! I have to stay, and at least watch!î Enzo pleaded.

ìNo way, Enzo! I wonít have you staying here! I want you to go find Bob; and-ì Dot was cut off by a misdirected energy beam!

ìSis!î Matrix and Enzoís scream mixed Dotís own. Enzo desperately attempted to catch Dot. He was unsuccessful, but luckily, she landed on some binomes watching the fight from below.

ìSis.î Matrix lowered his eyes for a moment, before looking up again, with determination brimming from his eyes. ìThatís it! This invader is a goner! Surfr! If you donít help me destroy her,î Enzo glared at Ray. His voice suddenly becoming sinister. ìYouíll be next!î Matrix looked at the remaining sprites, daring them to object.

ìNo.î AndrAIa placed a hand on his shoulder, and put on her most stern, of stern expressions. ìDot wouldnít have wanted that!î Matrix looked into her eyes for a moment, and then brushed her, and her concerns aside.

ìGun. Command Line. Full delete.î Matrixís gun fired off several rounds, but the intruder was to quick to be caught. She avoided every shot, adding to Matrixís hatred.

Frustrated, Matrix pointed his gun out at Ray. ìIf you donít shoot her with your energy beamÖ Iíll shoot you with my gun!î AndrAIa tried to lower Matrixís gun, but she couldnít penetrate his stubbornness.

ìTough choice! Okay, mate. If youíre sure thatís the right thing to do. No regrets.î Ray looked to see if Matrix changed his mind. He kept his gun in held firmly in place. ìRight.î Ray muttered to himself, as he tapped his icon. He immediately transformed into the Websurfer.

ìWhereís Bob when you need him?î Both AndrAIa and Surfr muttered this. Ray got ready to use his own energy beam, when Bob appeared.

ìRight here! Did you find out who she i-ì Bobís voice trailed off as he and the woman locked eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, searching.

ìAhh!î the woman fell backwards, and slammed into a building, creating a huge dent. Her tortured screams continued. Ray had thrust his energy beam at her full force, and held it there, to ensure she didnít escape.

ìNO!î Bob cried out. ìSurfr! Stop it! Youíll kill her!î Bob yelled at Ray, in attempt to stop him.

ìWhy, mate? She tried to hurt all of us! Why shouldnít she get a dose of her own medicine?î Ray challenged.

ìYeah Bob! She deserves it after what she did to me and Dot!î Matrix yelled back.

ìI agree!î Mouse added.

Bob looked down at Dot and Enzo below him, and lowered his eyes. ìOh, Dot.î He muttered before looking at the Sprites before him.

ìRay! Stop it please!î AndrAIa begged. ìI agree with Bob. If we hadnít attacked first, she wouldnít have defended herself!î

ìNo!î Matrix yelled. ìShe deserves to suffer, and be deleted!î

ìNo! No one deserves that! No matter who they are! Especially her!î Bob yelled back, desperately trying to stop Ray from continuing.

ìNo? Then why!î Matrix challenged.

ìBecauseÖî Bob lowered his head. ìSheís my best friend!î

ìYour bestÖî

ìFriend?î

Bob Nodded at Matrix and AndrAIaís disbelieving faces. Surfr stopped his energy beam, and quickly caught the invader on his surfboard.

ìJust bring her down to the ground, Surfr! We need to see if sheís all right!î Bob instructed Ray, desperately hoping that the woman was okay.

ìIím sorry, mate! I was only doing what Matrix ordered!î Ray apologized, while he laid on the ground and stared disgustedly at Matrix.

ìMatrix!î Bob whipped around, and stared spitefully at Matrix. Matrix looked uncomfortable, and meekly tried to explain.

ìBob, IÖI thoughtÖif I had known! Öî Matrix didnít know what to say. ìI thought I was doing what was best for Mainframe!î Matrix finally explained.

ìWhat you thought was best. What you thought was best! You donít delete sprites just because they enter your system! When you were game hopping, did people nullify you! Just because you entered their system? She came from the games just like you! Did you even try to figure out why she was here!î Bobís sudden angry outburst was a shock to everyone.

ìI just didnít think that-ì

ìExactly! You didnít think!î Bob yelled at Matrix, who furiously narrowed his eyes. ìHow could you be so irresponsible! Do you even have the slightest idea of what you may have done!î

ìI donít ha-ì

ìUh, mate.î Ray, interrupting Matrixís fury, urgently spoke to Bob. ìWeíve got a slight problem. She isnít breathing.î Matrix whirled around and began to stalk off.

ìNo.î Bob whispered to himself. ìNo. Not her. Not now.î Bob lowered his head. ìQuick! We have to get her to emergency! She has to live! If she doesnít make itÖî As his voice trailed off, he looked into the distance.

ìBob! Bob, Dot needs help!î Enzo shouted anxiously and hurriedly. ìShe canít move!î

ìNot now Enzo! We have more important things to take care of! Weíll send an ambulance later!î

ìBut Bob!î

ìIíll help! Iíd do anything for my sister!î

ìSurfr! Wait up!î Bob called out to Ray, while Matrix and Enzo ran towards Dot. Tracer had taken the girl and left as quickly as possible, with AndrAIa, knowing you canít live long without air.

ìDot. Dot, are you okay? Whatís wrong?î Matrix, concerned, reached for her limp hand.

ìEnzo? Is that you?î Dotís voice sounded so weak, so helpless.

ìUh, yeah. Itís me. Matrix.î He lowered his eyes momentarily as he lifted her up off the ground.

ìBob. Whereís Bob?î She looked around with hope in her eyes, only to sadly look at the disappointment in Matrixís. She knew he hadnít come. ìWhy?î

ìThatÖThat girl! He-ì He gave a sigh and looked away. He couldnít stand looking at Dotís sad face any longer. His chest swelled with rage at Bobís actions. ìItíll be alright. Everything will be fine. Nothingís going to change.î Matrix talked more to himself, then to Dot.

ìLetís just go, okay?î

ìHuh? Oh sure Dot.î Matrix hopped on AndrAIaís zipboard with Dot and sped away, not noticing the single tear slide down Dotís cheek.

ìIs she going to be okay?î Bobís voice rang with anxiety.

ìThanks to the Surfr, sheíll be just fine. Sheís sleeping now, but you can go in. Surfrís already in there with her.î Bob pushed the doctor aside as he strode into the room.

ìOh Cherry. Cherry, itís all my fault. Forgive meÖAre you alright?î Bob paused briefly before turning towards Ray. ìThank-you Surfr. You helped save her life! Even if you did help destroy it also!î

ìWho is this girl, Bob?î AndrAIa inquired as she walked in the room also. She looked perplexed as she tried to determine the womanís origin. She didnít notice her flinch momentarily.

ìOhÖI think we should get her outside. Better then being cooped up in here, right? Iíll check with the doctor, and see how Dot is.î Bob looked away in embarrassment, then took off, passing a enraged Matrix.

ìHey Matrix! You can help us carry her outside!î Ray called out to Matrix, which snarled in his direction.

ìHowís Dot, sugar?î Mouse peered over Rayís shoulder at Matrix, who glumly lowered his head before defiantly looking back.

ìSheís okay. No thanks to you and your attack!î

ìMy attack! Sorry, honey. But it was your attack also! ìShoot first. Ask questionís later.î Remember that!î Mouse shot back angrily. AndrAIa intervened before anymore harsh remarks floated through the air.

ìCalm down guys! Itís over now. So letís just put it behind us. And help Bob out by bringing this woman outside for him. Okay?î

ìFine by me, love. I donít know about them though.î Ray gestured towards Matrix and Mouse. ìI think Frisket, Phong, and Hexadecimal are outside waiting to see what she is!î He pointed his thumb at the woman clad in black.

ìLetís just get this over with. Iím sick of her messing things up!î Matrix picked her up and stormed out of the building to where Phong, Frisket, and Hexadecimal waited.

ìOoh! What is it!î Hexadecimal looked with interest at the new sprite.

ìItís not a what. Itís a who. And we have no answer to that one.î AndrAIa replied.

ìI canít wait ëtil sheís gone! All she does is cause trouble!î Matrix decreed.

The group discussed the woman, and her possible origins. The woman then blinked and quickly glanced around. In a motion to quick to be seen clearly, she jumped out of Matrixís arms, and bounced off his head into the air. She hovered there momentarily, while the group stared in shock.

ìWhoÖWho are you! What are you?î Ray burst out in amazement.

ìI am Chaos. The Stealth Ninja.î