It had been years since he had last seen Matt; last seen the skills on a board that the Radopolis native possessed or heard the laugh that made him smile ever so slightly. When Motherboard contacted him about plans that he and Matt drew up concerning a communication device with some rather high-tech modifications, he gave them to her without complaint. He was delighted that something that they had worked on together was going to be brought into reality. Something was going to be concrete proof that Matt had existed, that he had been there with him.

When a package arrived that contained the finished product, he cried. There in front of him was the device that he and Matt had slaved hours over, perfecting every detail. The one device that gave him hope. That hope was short lived, for not even hours later another package arrived. This one from an unknown sender. Inside was a video tape.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he put the tape in a player. After setting for what seemed like hours, fixated on the contents of the tape, he wished that he had never opened the package. His Matt had betrayed them, betrayed Radopolis, betrayed Motherboard.

His attention cut to the device lying on the workbench, on the exact spot that used to be Matt's. He stalked over and picked it up. Clutching it, he sank to his knees. Tears rushed down his face once again, repeated questions of why passed through his lips. He didn't understand. Why would Matt, hater of all things Hacker, willingly go to work for the man? Didn't the boy understand that ever since he had lost his father, Matt was all that he had left? Why did Matt choose to leave him?

Looking at the device clutched in his hand, a red hue began to cloud his vision. Anger from the depths of his betrayal took over his actions as he threw the thing against the far wall of the workshop. He had a certain satisfaction when he heard that telltale crunch that said it was broken. His anger left him as he realized what he had done. He had effectively destroyed the one thing that told him Matt would be back, the one thing that Matt had left behind aside from a broken heart. He walked over and gently picked up the device. Cradling what was left in his hands, he took it to the workbench and began reparations. Matt may have betrayed him, but there had to have been a reason. He would keep the secret of the betrayed for now, until Matt was there to defend himself, to explain. Little did he know that the tape was sent to more than just himself. Every person who Matt was close to received a copy. What chaos that would cause would be unknown until the day Matt truly returned.


A/N: I seem to be apologizing on every chapter that I put out. I am just so busy, that I can't find the time to write. I still have those other chapters to put up, but they all seem to be lacking in something. I can't bring myself to put up work that I am not proud of. I would never read what I have written, and I will not force you to do so. I am determined to continue this story, to see it to the end. I plan on this being a very detailed story, and as soon as I get the time, I will give you all a well deserved reward for staying with me, even this far. I am more than capable of making a comeback on my fanfictions, and I swear that I will. But I can tell you that Matt will run into an old friend in the next chapter, but I'm not sure which one I will post as the next chapter (so it would be one of two...) We've been introduced to a new character, so maybe I can move this along. This has to be the shortest chapter that I have ever written and will be the shortest chapter of this story. My goal is to clear 2.000 words next chapter... which is usually easy for me, but I just can't seem to focus. Next chapter will be out tomorrow.