4.

Discovery

The Grim Wreaker hummed silently along the known borders Cyberspace. Onboard, Buzz and Delete were hard at work in the ship's kitchen, making a large batch of their favorite donuts.

"Add one egg or two, Buzzy?" Delete asked, clasping an egg in one hand, ready to break it.

His shorter companion shook his head, looking up from their recipe book. "Neither DeeDee, you add four eggs. We're making a double batch."

Delete was hesitant. "I dunno, Buzzy, remember what happened last time we made a double batch?"

"No." Buzz replied arrogantly, adding some sugar into their mixing bowl.

"Well I do." Delete said. "Last time it all blew out of the mixer, splattering all over the kitchen. The boss had us cleaning for weeks."

"That won't happen this time, DeeDee," Buzz assured him, "I know exactly what to do to prevent that."

"All right then, four eggs coming up." Delete said, trusting Buzz completely.

What Delete didn't know was that Buzz had no idea why what happened last time they made a double batch even happened, much less how to prevent it. Still, having his pride to uphold, he didn't say anything, and Delete, always ready to take someone at their word, didn't think another thing of it. Neither noticed that their batter was far too big to fit in the mixer.

Elsewhere on the ship, in the Wreaker's control room, Hacker sat in his recharger chair, thinking hard. It was becoming very difficult to come up with new plans to conquer Cyberspace, having all but exhausted his well of ideas, so he needed as much brain power as he could get.

He had skimmed through the Wreaker's library twice already, looking for something he could find or make that would give him the advantage once again. With the Encryptor chip gone, he had to find something else to hunt for that would give him what he wanted.

Only it seemed he had found it all already, only to have it taken away, destroyed, or stopped by those pesky earth brats that seemed to be constantly haunting him. He almost didn't know where to go from here. He had talking to consultants and others, to try and get inspiration or instruction, but never succeeded.

He sat there thinking even harder until his rechargeing was complete. He still had no ideas.

"Food." he murmured to himself, glancing at the clock. "That's what I need, food. Can't think on an empty stomach, and it's well past lunchtime."

He thumbed a switch next to a microphone. "Buzz, Delete, it's lunchtime. Have something ready for me to eat by the time I come down there." he ordered, then cut off the transmission before he could get an answer.

He was The Hacker, after all. He always got what he wanted. No matter what.

Back at the kitchen, Buzz and Delete waited outside the kitchen door with a tray laidened with food in hand. They were covered in flour, from head to toe, and were grinning guiltily.

Hacker instantly saw something was wrong that they didn't want him to know about as he walked down the hall towards the kitchen.

"Here Boss." Buzz said, holding out the tray as Hacker strolled up.

"Got lots of yummy food for you to eat." Delete said, cheerfully, "Enjoy!"

Hacker glanced at the tray. "I wanted to eat in the kitchen." he told his henchmen.

The two robots glanced at each other. "But...uh...You're The Hacker, Boss." Buzz quickly began saying, "Future ruler of Cyberspace. You deserve to eat in far better places than the kitchen."

Hacker folded his arms. "And where exactly might that be?" he asked.

"Uh, we don't know." Delete answered, getting a look from Buzz, "But that's why we put it all on a tray, so you could take it to the place you choose."

"Well, I choose the kitchen, if you don't mind." Hacker said, taking the tray and moving to open the kitchen door.

Buzz and Delete held it closed. "We insist Boss, consider this your chance to eat wherever you want. Take it up to the observatory where you can see all of Cyberspace rush by at your fingertips." Buzz suggested.

Hacker pretended to think that through. "You know what, Buzz, I think that has been your best idea all week." he said. "I think I will do that."

He took the tray and made to leave, with Buzz and Delete quickly high-fiving each other while Hacker's back was turned, but Hacker quickly turned around and came back.

"While I'm here, better get some wig gel out of the storeroom." he said, again going to open the kitchen door.

Buzz and Delete quickly gave each other a tense look. "uh, don't worry, Boss, uh, we'll get it!" Delete said, opening the door just far enough to slip behind it. Buzz started to follow.

"I'll get my own wig gel, thank you, Delete." Hacker said, trying to force the door open. Delete held it closed on the other side.

"Uh, really, Boss, don't worry about it. We'll get it for you." Buzz insisted, looking worried.

"If I say I'll get it myself, I most definitely will!" Hacker exclaimed. "Now stand aside!"

He flung the door open, pinning Delete between it and the wall, and strode inside. He didn't get farther than a foot when he slipped and fell on the donut batter that was strung all over the kitchen. Quickly jumping up and regaining his composure, he swung around to face his clumsy henchmen and opened his mouth to start yelling at them.

Only he never got that far.

The Wreaker suddenly jerked to a halt, throwing all three to the floor.

"What was that?" Delete asked, picking himself up.

Hacker was already up and was running down the hall. "Let's find out, shall we?" he asked, leading the way to the control room.

By the time they got there, the ship had already made a report and had it displayed on a computer screen. Hacker sat down and scanned it. Buzz and Delete tried to read over his shoulder.

"What happened, Boss?" Buzz asked.

"We ran into something." Hacker replied bluntly. "Looks like some kind of beacon. It's transmitting something."

A new set of text appeared on the screen. Hacker scrolled through it. Slowly, a smile spread upon his face.

His henchmen saw it. "What is it, Boss?" Delete asked, curious.

"This beacon was left behind by the Founders of Cyberspace." Hacker explained happily, the plan that had been evading him now coming to mind, "And can you guess what's in it's computer core?"

The two robots thought for a moment before shaking their heads no.

"The location of the lost cybersite of Cyantis." Hacker replied joyously. "Oh, it's going to be a good day after all!"

"Why Boss?" Buzz asked.

"Don't you see? Cyantis contains all of the secrets of the Founders. With their knowledge and technology at my hands, I'll be unstoppable!"

Hacker let out a cruel laugh. Yes, he did always get what he wanted.

No matter what.