Z/N: I am going to graduate valedictorian in the school of 'All those things they would never let on an episode', Cyberchase style. None of the characters herein belong to me, they belon to PBS/OPB. You all know what I would do if it did belong to me, so it's obvious it doesnt.

-

"Khh..."

Moonlight Sonata still played in the background. Motherboard bent her head down closer to the dying woman. "Ssh, it's okay." She stroked back the vibrant hair caked with blood.

"Try to relax, Wicked."

--

Inevitablities.

Cause and Effect.

Emotions.

Things you would never expect someone to do.

All of them sometimes melt into one faceless, nameless thing.

Death by the numbers, paint the ground with blood.

The worst of all is the simplest. One thing, pushed too far.

--

She sat with them, but her heart was not in it. Not today. And she knew why. Still, she flicked back some hair, sighing as Hacker continued. Perfect, beautiful melodies were all that spun through her head.

"Wicked! Are you paying attention?"

"Of course Hackie-poo."

"Alright then. As I was saying..."

Delete was looking at her in a concerned way. Could they really sense, being closer to the circuitry-no. She was being paranoid. The first step in being found guilty is being paranoid. Hacker continued waving the copy of the latest news in front of them. It wasn't having the desired effect. Buzz and Delete were confused. Wicked knew all too well.
"We have to find him and bring him back here for interrogating! And perhaps even a little torture. If Motherboard cares all that much about him, she'll surely aceed to my will if we capture him."

"Okay, Boss. Just one thing."
"What?"
"How are we gonna find him?"
Hacker was at a loss.

"Just-ask around! Get a good description and we'll go from there!"

"Okay Boss!"

"Good! Now get going, both of you!"
They hurried away, content with the vague instructions. Hacker let loose a deep sigh. He turned to her.

"You must know something else about this!"

"Why should I know Hackie?"
"You're around a lot of people! Surely you know something."
Wicked didn't respond. Hacker groaned, throwing the paper on the counter and exiting the room. Wicked glanced at the headline below a dark picture of Motherboard's cyber form.

Motherboard caught! A few days after her succesful solid hologram form, Motherboard was caught in a tryst with a mysterious stranger. No further pictures were found. 'I was lucky to escape with my life', says reporter. Who is this mysterious man? Possible speculations on page two.

Wicked walked out. She grabbed her broom, and left the Grim Wreaker and the Northern Frontier far behind in minutes. It was almost dark. By the time she got to the Headquarters, it would be. And Motherboard would be waiting for her.