A/N: Hey all, just a short story based on tonight's ep, "Computer Date"- which I completely loved, by the way. Let me know what you think and I'll have the next chapter up asap!

Disclaimer: I do not own and am not making any profit from the use of these characters.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

Bailey Pickett frowned to herself as she stepped onto the Sky Deck. Despite the fact that it was a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon, there was not a single student, passenger, or crew member in sight. Jets burbled happily in the empty hot tub. A single spilled smoothie stained the surface of the unattended Easy Squeezy counter. Every few seconds a drop would fall, dripping into the slowly spreading pink puddle on the deck.

A balmy breeze curled itself around the ship, and Bailey shivered despite the heat. What was going on? Where was everybody?

Wrapping her arms around herself subconsciously, Bailey called out. "Hello? Anyone here?"

There was a thump to her left, and then movement, and just as she turned toward the sound she was tackled to the ground. She felt herself being dragged behind the towel counter, and she screamed, only to be muffled by a large hand clapped over her mouth. Her assailant spoke to her in a loud whisper. "Whoa, hang on, I'm not going to hurt you. Bailey, right?"

Bailey continued to struggle. It took her a minute to recognize the tall, lanky, jump-suited man who had attacked her. Shaking his hand off her mouth, she gasped, "Arwin? Zack and Cody's friend from the hotel?"

Arwin released her. "Hey! You do remember me!" he said, pleased. "I know we haven't exactly met in person but I feel like I know you! You're just as pretty as Cody said. Well, used to say." he grinned sheepishly. "So I'm Arwin."

"Right..." Bailey was finding herself slightly overwhelmed by Arwin's enthusiastically chaotic personality. "So, now that we know each other... would you mind telling me what's going on? Where is everybody? Why did you just tackle me, and why are we crouched behind a towel stand?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! She'll hear you!" Arwin reprimanded in a hiss. "Her audio sensors are very... well, I mean, they're sensors. They're sensitive."

"Who?" Bailey whispered back, starting to feel uneasy. "Is everything okay? Are we in danger?"

"Danger..." Arwin scoffed. He mimed a laugh, then stopped abruptly. "Okay, yeah, we might be in danger. Oh, this is all my fault! Stupid!"

"Arwin!" Bailey hissed, trying to get him to focus. "Tell me what's going on!"

"Oh!" Arwin looked as if he'd nearly forgotten she was there. "Right. Sorry. Here's the short version: I came on board two days ago to set up a computer system that would completely automate all of the ship's functions."

"Wait." Bailey stopped him. "Are you the reason the toilet's been flushing by itself?"

Arwin actually blushed proudly. "Yeah."

"Cool."

"It's kind of an experimental setup, the first one of its kind, but Mr. Tipton insisted that the S.S. Tipton be the first to get one, you know, really it's just to increase engine efficiency, simplify passenger re-"

"Arwin?" Bailey interrupted with a nod, indicating that he could move on.

"Oh, right." Arwin said sheepishly. "Anyway, yesterday the system was working fine, but today, things started to go... well, a little... haywire."

"Haywire... how?" Bailey was almost afraid to ask.

"Well..." Arwin grimaced, trying to find a way around the issue. "Let's just say that the computer developed its own personality, fell in love with a passenger, threw a tantrum, and locked down the ship."

Bailey just blinked at him. "Are you... serious?"

"Deadly." Arwin replied. "People all over the ship are locked in their cabins, the dining halls, the gym... wherever they were when Callie lost her data drops. Luckily, I was able to override the electronic lock in my room. Now I've just got to figure out how to shut her down."

"The computer's name is Callie?" Bailey questioned. "Is that an acronym for Computer-"

"I just like the name!" Arwin cut her off. "How did you get up to the deck?"

Bailey shook her head. "My door wasn't locked. I just walked up." She bit her lip, thinking. "Maybe Cody can help you. He's really good with computers."

"Yeah, a little too good." Arwin muttered under his breath. At Bailey's questioning look, he steepled his fingers and cleared his throat reluctantly. "Here's the thing about Cody... He's the one Callie's in love with, and she's kidnapped him."

"What!" Bailey cried, causing Arwin to slap his hand over her mouth once more. "Sorry!" she whispered, moving his hand. "She what? How? I... He's okay, isn't he? Arwin?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure he's fine. Callie is crazy about him, I don't think she'd do him any kind of physical harm." Arwin hastened to reassure her. "Maybe 'kidnapping' wasn't the right phrase. It's more of a... oh, I don't know. Hostage situation?"

"Well, what are we going to do?" Bailey asked anxiously, not reassured. "Do you know where Callie took him?"

"Well, yeah." Arwin said. "The control center adjacent to the engine room. That's where all her equipment is. It's like her base of operations. Or, you know, like, her apartment."

"So... we have to go down there." Bailey guessed. "Somehow we'll have to get in there, rescue Cody, and find a way to shut her off."

"My thoughts exactly." Arwin said approvingly. "But here's the thing- and here's why I was hiding- she's everywhere. She's connected to every electronic device on the ship, and she can monitor any passenger from anywhere. If she sees us coming she can find a way to trap us, too."

Bailey took a deep breath. "Well we can't hide back here for the rest of our lives." she pointed out. "What do you suggest?"

Arwin bit his thumb. "I suggest... we split up." At Bailey's frightened look he explained, "If we try to get at her from two different directions, one of us might distract her, leaving the other to shut her down."

"But I don't know how to shut her down!" Bailey protested.

Arwin shrugged easily. "Cody will help you."

"If we get there in time..." Bailey murmured softly. She and Cody weren't dating anymore, but that didn't mean she couldn't be worried about him, right?

Arwin rested a hand awkwardly on her shoulder. "We will." he reassured her. "Look, you start working your way down to the control room. I'll take the service elevator down to the lowest deck and approach from the opposite direction. It'll be hard for her to keep her eyes on both of us... especially when she has to watch out for Cody."

Bailey nodded bravely. "Okay, let's do this."

Arwin nodded back. "All right. We've got this. Move out!"