~Warning: character death and dark themes.~
Jackie came though the portal holding her broken arm.
"What happened?" Inez asked, concerned as her and Matt ran to Jackie.
"Hacker is way worse than we realized. He was draining the Buzz and Delete's energy, he tried to drain Motherboard to, but luckily we saved her before any serious damage could be done. During the fight, Hacker thew me against the wall and broke my arm." Jackie whispered to Matt and Inez, she didn't know how to tell Digit just how far Hacker had gone in his madness.
"Hacker done that to you, didn't he, where is and is Motherboard okay?" Digit asked those three questions in one breath.
"Yeah, there was a bit of a fight in control central. and Motherboard are fine. just needs to take Buzz and Delete to the hospital because Hacker drained a bit too much of their power." Jackie replied as gently as she could. Digit still looked shaken up.
"Here, I'll ask my dad to drive you to the hospital. We'll just say you fell or something. Would you be okay staying here with Digit, Nezzie?" Matt said.
"Yeah, and don't call me Nezzie." Inez replied. Matt and Jackie left the barn.
"To be honest, I actually kind of like it when Matt calls me Nezzie." Inez confided to Digit.
"Then why do you always tell him not to?" Digit asked, relieved to have something relatively normal to talk about.
"Because I know he won't listen. It's just... have you ever had those friendships where you seem to get along better by teasing each other?" Inez replied.
"No... but I think I understand." Digit mused.
"You do?" Inez asked. Digit nodded.
"You like like Matt, don't you?" He asked. Inez blushed.
"I do not!" Inez objected. Digit laughed and Inez laughed along with him, it felt good to see Digit happy, even if it was just temporary. Suddenly a portal appeared and Hacker came though it.
"I knew I had enough power to generate my own portals now." He smirked. Digit and Inez jumped back and prepared to run.
"Ha! You think you can escape The Hacker!" Hacker yelled. Inez stepped in front of Digit.
"You're not going to get Digit, no matter what you do. I won't let you." She said defiantly.
"I always wondered how the weakest member of the Earth brats could be so stubborn." Hacker said walking towards him. Inez and Digit ran across an empty field near the farm. Though hiding in the city would be a safer option, they couldn't risk Digit being seen by the public.
"I bet you're wondering what I'll do when I catch you, Digit! When I catch you, I'm going to drain all your power, just like I did to Buzz and Delete." Hacker called.
"We just have to ignore him Digit." Inez instructed gently. Due to the chargins that Hacker gave himself, he was now really fast and soon caught up to Inez and Digit. Digit gasped loudly. Hacker laughed.
"Just come with me, Digit, I could easily overpower you and the Earth brat that's foolishly tying to help you. You belong to me." Hacker taunted.
"No, I don't." Digit objected. Hacker laughed and grabbed Inez roughly.
"You know, Buzz and Delete weren't the only borgs I've drained. There were so many. I could so easily crush Inez's skull if I so chose." Hacker threatened, a wild look forming in his eye. Inez began to cry.
"Run, Digit!" Inez cried. Hacker grabbed her tighter and began to choke her.
"I wouldn't suggest that." Hacker taunted as he tightened his grip an Inez's neck. Her face began to turn blueish and soon, Inez fell unconscious.
"Hacker, you must stop this at once!" A voice called from behind Hacker. Dropping Inez, Hacker turned to face the person who dared to object him. It was .
"You!" Hacker yelled.
"Yes, Hacker, it's me! And you must realize the devastating affect your invention has on not only others, but yourself as well!" Marbles yelled.
"There's nothing wrong with me!" Hacker said as he walked to him.
"You're sanity is fading due to this chargins, surely you have noticed this!" Marbles yelled. Hacker laughed.
"I just need more power." Hacker replied. Hacker soon became sluggish after chasing Digit and , the latter was carrying Inez, so Hacker wouldn't be able to harm her.
"I just need to recharge, I'll be the most powerful..." Hacker muttered, he opened a portal using his remaining energy, to the Northern Frontier. Inez woke up, gasping for breath.
"Are you two alright, and where did Matt go?" Marbles asked concerned.
"I'll be fine and Matt's just taking Jackie to the hospital." Inez said, still trying to catch her breath.
"He... He tried to kill you." Digit breathed out, looking concerned at Inez.
"Yes, there is something troubling about Hacker's... condition. He does not appear completely in control." Marbles mused.
Hacker passed out shortly after entering the Grim Weaker. It was hours before he came to.
"Buzz, Delete?" Hacker muttered, momentarily forgetting what he had done to them earlier that day, in fact, the day itself was a blur. Slowly it all came back to him. He killed his them for personal gain. There was no regret in his thoughts, however, just a single thought.
"I need more energy." He muttered. Pulling himself off the floor, he looked out his window for his next victim when he saw Erika, the reporter. Hacker opened the door.
"Ah, Hacker, I just came to discuss the rumors I've heard about your new charging system." Erika reported.
"Yes, it's quite amazing, would you care to have a look?" Hacker offered.
"I would, thank you." Erika replied. Hacker led her in and Erika gasped when she saw it.
"Guess what it runs on." He taunted.
"I don't know." She admitted, "Would you care to tell us?" Erika said, holding the microphone. Hacker smiled.
"I'll show you." He replied. He grabbed Erika's wrists and flung her into the charging cell.
"Hacker, What are you doing?" Erika yelled. Hacker pressed a button on the control panel and climbed into the station next to her. There was a humming noise and Erika began to feel weak and tired she dropped the microphone.
"What's happening?" She asked. She tried to force her way out if the cell but was too weak.
"Works quickly, doesn't it?" Hacker asked.
"Murderer." Erika muttered as the last of her energy flowed into Hacker.
One thing that Hacker was not aware of, was that Erika was filming live-all over Cyberspace. Motherboard, who makes a habit out of watching the news, cried Erika's fate.
"Hacker, this must stop," She muttered in horror.
~Alright, that was it for this chapter. Just so there's less confusion, the charging system that Hacker made has the ability to store or transfer energy, when Hacker was draining Erika, he was running on leftover energy (Similar to how some electronics run for a bit when you turn them on, even if the batteries were dead.) There will be more.~