A/N: Whoa. Long time no see, everybody. Sorry for the HIGHLY long absence, but I'm back, and hopefully, able to make more chapters.

Kabloom! The inner wall of Death the Kid's house fell with a mighty explosion. Liz ran into the destroyed room, her face red with rage.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF DEATH ARE YOU DOING?!" She screamed at Kid, who was sorting through the rubble.

"Hm? Oh, this." He said, brushing his hands off. "The wall was 3 inches off from the other one. I refuse to live in such a disgusting house."

"But you didn't have to blow up the freaking wall!" She roared.

"It's hardly my fault if the builders of this house..." Liz and Death went on bickering for a bit, when Patty came bouncing into the room.

"Hey guys! Whatcha-" She noticed the huge hole in the house. "Ooooh! That's a cool window!" She began kicking around some rubble, when she heard it.

Beep

Patty stopped. "Did someone beep at me?" She asked the other two.

"Not now Patty!" They yelled back in unison. Patty shrugged and continued kicking around, when she heard it again.

Beep

Now she knew something was up. She got on her hands and knee's as she inspected the rubble. Something shifted form underneath the rocks. She began digging the rubble out, attempting to catch what was there. When she cleared a small patch of land, there was nothing but broken pipes and charred rocks.

"Awwwww… that's no fun." She turned away from the area, when she heard it coming from a pipe.

Beep Beep

She looked back immediately to find a little silver rat poking it's head out from a pipe. It quickly scurried back in. Patty's eves lit with excitement. She ran up and put her face to the hole. "Come on….. here little silvery thingy…" She tried to coax it out of it's little hole. Eventually, the little silver rat poked out and scurried up to Patty. "There you go!" She laughed and played with the rat in her hands as if it was her newest baby pet.

As Patty played by the destroyed rocks, Liz and Death continued arguing. Retorts of "Symmetry!" and "Payment!" flew through the air like arrows towards the other. Liz hung her head in defeat and sighed. "Well, if you insist on doing this, then don't even touch my room, or there'll be hell to pay!" She said. "C'mon, Patty." Liz marched towards the door. Patty sat slouched in the rubble, not moving. "Patty, let's go!" Liz shouted.

Nothing.

"Patty?" Death spoke up, pacing over and tapping Patty's shoulder. Immediately, she stood up, neck stiff and arms square at her side. "You okay?"

"…et.." Patty mumbled.

"What?" Liz asked, concern growing on her face.

"De…te.." Patty once again spoke inaudibly.

"Speak up!" Kid commanded.

Patty turned around to face her friends, and Death and Liz stepped back in horror. There, on her face, imbedded in her skin, was the silver rat. She spoke again, her voice sounding processed and electronic.

"Delete."

Soul and the Doctor struggled to push everyone up to the surface through the hole. The group sped through the streets, heading straight for the Academy.

"What's the plan?" Tsubaki yelled, now in weapon form.

"We need to make it to a place that the cybermats can't infiltrate!" The Doctor yelled, dodging passerby's and running around corners. "And the only place I can think of that has no wires or pipes is…"

"The Death Room!" Maka yelled, finally getting it. "Come on!"

The Team Rushed up the stairs of the academy, dodging students along the way, until they came upon the expansive death room. When they arrived, they were shocked to find it empty.

"Where's Lord Death?" Black Star asked.

"A good question…" The Doctor asked. "Where would you go when your city was under an invasion…"

As the Doctor and the others were burning their brains for answers, Black Star stood away from the rest of them, distracted by his thoughts.

"What's the matter?" Tsubaki asked, jumping out of his hands. "Feeling scared?"

"Me?! Never! The great Black Star would never feel fear!" Black Star struck a flashy pose. "It's just that…" His bravado faded slightly, "this whole thing… it can't be real… I mean, what if any of our friends get hurt? Who'll worship my stardom then?" He let his head down a bit, clearly in deep worry.

Tsubaki pat him on the shoulder. "It's alright to feel concern for your friends." She smiled warmly at Black Star, relieving some of his stress. "It shows what a big man you really are."

Black Star gave an affirming nod. "Now, let's go!" the two turned to join the group, but something caught Tsubaki's attention. More than that, something caught Tsubaki's leg. She looked down to find small silver rat's scurrying up her legs. She let out a piercing shriek that interrupted the group's concentration. Black Star looked back in horror. "Tsubaki!" He yelled as he rushed to her aid.

"Don't!" The Doctor shouted, trying to stop Black Star but it was too late. A second silver rat jumped off of Tsubaki and on to Black Star's face. Maka and Soul tried to rush to their aid, but the Doctor held them back. "It's too late! The conversion process can't be stopped now!"

The Doctor was right. Tsubaki and Black Star stood bolt upright, and turned to face the group. The silver rats had already settled their way onto their faces. They both spoke in monotone unison.

"Delete."