NOTE: Anything associated with Cyberchase clearly doesn't belong to me. But it will always have my love! (Lame. I know.)

My One and Only: A Cyberspace Story

By LaurenShort-DisneyFan

Chapter 12: Confrontation…


"Of all the rotten, despicable, low-down, ruthless, cold-hearted things I've ever done to attempt world domination, this disgusts even me!"

Hacker had wasted no time in rushing down to the Wreaker's bridge to intercept the three arrivals, first demanding to know what they'd done with Ivy, only receiving an explanation as to where she currently was and why she'd been abducted in the first place. This did nothing but add fuel to the fire.

"Look, there wasn't much we could do," Jackie explains. "I mean, we found a random little girl running around The Northern Frontier all by herself, saying she never wanted to come back." She places her hands on her hips. "If that's not someone who needs rescuing, I don't know who is!"

Inez nods. "Plus, we had no idea who she was, let alone who her parents were." She frowns. "Can't really blame us for crossing you off that list, can you?"

"That doesn't give you the right to show up out of nowhere, unannounced, and justify kidnapping a distraught child!" Hacker shouts, jabbing a green finger at each of them. "Now where the hell is Ivy!"

"We've already told you," Matt gets in his face angrily. "She's with the Doc, and he's doing everything he can to help her-"

"That bulb headed twit won't be able to do anything for that girl." He pushes past the teens, leaving the argument to take control of The Grim Wreaker, nearly stepping on Buzz in the process. "The fact that he's clearly not qualified for something so complex doesn't help things, either."

At that moment, Wicked rushes in, scanning the room frantically. "Ivy? Ivy, Honey, where are you?" She looks to the Earthlings. "Where is she?"

"Don't bother, they left her with Marbles," Hacker states over his shoulder, forcing himself to sound bitter rather than panicked. "Now thanks to Motherboard's little heroes, we may not reach her in time."

The Wicked Witch doesn't respond, only sharing mixed emotions with a glance to each of the three. She knew it wasn't entirely their fault. After all, if she'd never met Ivy she'd even be concerned at the sight of a five year old girl suddenly popping up in The Hacker's territory.

Rather than add to the tension of the already stressful situation, she holds her tongue, joining Hacker at the control consol. Keeping her voice low, she asks, "how much longer does she have?"

He stares intently at the large monitor, shaking his head. "Impossible to tell. But from what I could gather from those equations, I'd say at least a day…maybe less."

"Poor little Ivy," Delete bawls into his hands. "It's not fair, Buzzie. We didn't even have her that long!" He shakes his head. "Why her…why now. I-It's too soon."

Buzz gives his brother a consoling pat on the back. "I know Deeds. I know."

"Will you idiots keep it down!" Hacker glowers over his shoulder. "She's going to be fine! We'll make it there in time. Just, shut up for now!" He turns back around, lowering his voice to nearly a whisper. "We'll make it. I'll…I'll make it."

Matt, Jackie, and Inez are wide-eyed at the scene before them, looking to one another for some kind of explanation as to when it was The Grim Wreaker became subject to The Twilight Zone. They can only shrug, going into a huddle.

"Okay," Jackie began, taking in a breath. "Can someone please explain to me how we ended up in a parallel universe where all the bad guys suddenly have a heart?"

"I know, right?" Inez glances to her left, noticing a worry stricken Wicked placing a comforting hand on Hacker's shoulder. She shudders. "It's kinda creepy."

"So what do we do?" Matt asks. "Obviously there's a lot more going on with Hacker than we thought. It sounds like he actually," he can't help but grimace. "Cares about Ivy."

Jackie shakes her head in disbelief. "Didn't see that one coming."

"Well, regardless of how, unexpected this all is," adds Inez, still watching as Hacker returns the gesture, reaching his hand up to rest on hers. "Just remember why we came looking for him in the first place. He's Ivy's only hope…and obviously he knows that."

Matt brightens. "Hey, yeah. This just makes our job way easier!" He blinks when he sees the cold looks he receives from the girls. "What? It does?"

"Stop joking around, Mattie," Jackie hissed. "This is serious."

"Okay, okay," he swipes a hand down over his face. "Now going serious."

Jackie rolls her eyes, socking him in the arm before they break up their sidebar. Together, they move up behind their worst enemy. Inez, having lost a brief game of "rock, paper, scissors", clears her throat rather loudly, hoping to get the tyrant's attention. When there's no acknowledgement, her team mates gesture for her to try again. She does, choosing another approach.

"So, what um…what exactly do you have in mind…?" She stumbles. "For Ivy, I mean."

"That's none of your concern," he barks, still operating the Wreaker's controls. "It never was. And now because of your constant need to butt into my affairs, Ivy may be out of time!" He turns slightly, almost growling. "Because of you three I might lose the only thing that-"

"Hacker," Wicked cautions, tightening her grip on his shoulder. "There's nothing that can be done about it now…please." She locks eyes with him, almost pleading. "Just, getting to her on time is all that matters right now."

He scans her expression, picking up on the warning tone she uses. He throws another death glare back at the group before giving her a brisk nod, getting back to the mission at hand. Since the first time she'd worked alongside The Hacker, over the years she'd learned his patterns, especially when it came to his determination. If there was anything about him that hadn't changed, it would be the dedication to his work, willing to risk everything for the success of his plans…and Ivy was his greatest creation.

Wicked gives him one last consoling pat before moving towards the Cybersquad, nodding to the back of the control room. Without a word, they catch on to her unspoken gesture, following her out of ear shot of the cyborg and his grieving minions. Once there, she speaks to them in a hushed voice, all the while the sincerity never leaving her tone, making the conversation all the more alien.

She takes a breath. "Now, I know what you're thinking-"

"Oh, I seriously doubt that!" Jackie blurts, surprised at the glares she receives. She shrugs, crossing her arms. "What? We were all thinking it…I just said it first."

Wicked ignores the comment, continuing. "This is all very, unexpected. And totally out of place, I know. Believe me, I thought the same thing when I found out." She glances over at Ivy's father, always amazed at his die-hard focus. It was a part of him that didn't come out very often, but it was definitely a surprise whenever it did. He was an entirely different person when he got this way, the behavior only intensified with Ivy acting as motivation.

"Look," she sighs, struggling to find the right words. "There's a lot more to this than you know…Ivy isn't like his other creations she's, so much more. She's not just another experiment or, plot for world domination…and no one knows that more than Hacker." She began to tell them of the past few months, filling them in on the chain of events that would lead to the reason why Ivy had ran away in the first place, and how it had pained him to hide the truth from her, despite that being the reason for her creation. She may not have turned out exactly how he'd planned, but he wouldn't trade Ivy for anything in Cyberspace…not even the throne itself.

He only wanted to protect her, and lying about who he really was had been his only option, despite Wicked's warning him she would find out eventually, and that he couldn't hide her from the truth forever. Hacker had always meant well by the girl, and he always will. Regardless of what happens between them.

Once Wicked had finished, the three are slack jawed from shock. She wasn't surprised. She'd acted about the same when she'd first laid eyes on Hacker's little girl.

"So," Inez croaked first. "Ivy isn't a distraction at all." She looks to Matt. "She's, just an accident. A really good one, but still…an accident."

The red head shakes his head in disbelief. "I just can't believe that Hacker actually has good intentions this time. Who knew he could care about someone other than himself?"

Wicked nods, unable to hide a small smile. "I know what you mean. But, now do you understand what he's been going through? All he wants is what's best for her…whether he's in the picture or not."

"This is just nuts," Jackie interjects. "Yer making it sound like he doesn't even wanna take out Motherboard anymore. Sorry, but, I'm not totally convinced Hacker is just throwing in the towel. Not after all these years!"

"I hate to admit it, but I agree with you on that," Wicked had to confess. "I've known him too long to believe he'd just up and quit on wanting to be in charge. It's just not who he is." Her tone is earnest and straightforward. "But he loves that girl more than…well, anything! Even more than ruling over Cyberspace. It's all hard to swallow, but it's true…for the first time in his life, The Hacker cares more about someone else's happiness besides his own…even if that means giving up on everything."

She watches them as they exchange skeptical glances before adding, "I don't blame you for having doubts. But whether or not he's turned over a new leaf isn't the main concern right now. It's that girl…and if anything happens to her?" She paused, watching Hacker mournfully as he struggles to hide his emotions. "There's no telling what it will do to him. He's just barely able to cope with this right now. Losing her will have a strong effect on him…something he may not be able come back from." She looks to them, expression unchanged. "I doubt I need to remind you how Hacker can get when he's upset. I'm almost scared to imagine what he'd be like distraught over losing something he cares for so much."

The group is quiet, obviously not expecting this new bit of information brought to their attention. Before it had been a simple quest to help a misfit experiment created by their arch rival. Now there was so much more to it that they hadn't been aware of until that moment. No one at Central Control had known; not the squad, not Digit, not Dr. Marbles or Motherboard…not even Ivy.

Finally, Inez speaks first. "We…didn't know, we…were just trying to help."

"Yeah," Matt murmurs. "I mean, If we'd really known, then-"

Wicked holds a hand up. "It's best to not bring any of that up now. If anything it'll just make him even more upset."

Jackie nods. "Good point. So, what can we do to help, then?"

A sharp response from Hacker makes them jump. "You've done enough 'helping' for one day. If it's something useful you're looking to contribute, why not try leaving…it's always been my favorite thing about our encounters; watching you three brats turn tail and stay out of my affairs!"

Jackie looked as though she has a retort in mind, but apparently keeps it to herself. Instead, Matt takes the floor. "There must be something we can do to make up for this."

Hacker doesn't respond, only starring off into the blackness of Cyberspace.

"Hacker," Inez pleads. "We never meant for this to happen. We just did what came naturally; a child wanted to leave, so we helped her. We're sorry that we hadn't tried to learn more about who she was before acting so, irrational." She paused. "I wish we could go back and change it but, we can't…now, please, just, give us a chance to make it up to you. To Ivy."

Still, he says nothing, his look of anger not faulting as he tightens his grip on one of the levers before him, knuckles turning white.

Wicked places a hand on Inez's shoulder, preventing her from saying anything else. When the girl looks to her, the woman shakes her head.

"I don't think there's anything you three can do at this point," she says quietly, looking to Hacker sadly. "Now, all we can do is…just, hope we reach her in time. It's all any of us can do."

The cyborg lets out a scoff, throwing another fierce glance back in their direction, grumbling. "Would've had more time were it not for these damn hitchhikers."

Wicked goes quiet with the rest of the room. Now wasn't the time for childish banter, even if it was Hacker's only way of managing feelings he didn't fully understand. He was frightened, that was all. Masking it with anger was all he could probably think to do. Lucky for him, the ones he hated most in the world were right here in the same room, giving him a suitable target to vent his frustrations. She just hoped he would be level-headed enough when it really mattered.

Wicked's thoughts are interrupted by Jackie finally stepping up, breaking the sympathetic atmosphere as she approaches the cyborg angrily. "Hacker are you really that selfish!" she shouts at his back. "Has it even occurred to you why we're here now? Has it!"

As expected, he doesn't respond. She answers her own question heatedly. "Because we care about her, too! We came looking for you because you're her only hope, and we care what happens to her! Obviously, so do you! But you're not the only one in Cyberspace that does." She gestures around the control room, despite him not being able to see her. "Wicked cares, Buzz and Delete care!" She glares at him. "Believe it or not, Ivy told us that she feels the same way about everyone here…even you."

At hearing this, Wicked decides not to stop the girl in mid rant. Instead she stays put, wanting to see where it was going. Hopefully in a better direction.

Hacker doesn't move, urging the African-American to storm up beside him, now in his line of sight. Her voice dangerously low. "Do you know the first thing to come out of her mouth when we asked her if you'd found out she was there yet? If she was in any danger? Before we knew who she was?"

This at least grabs his attention, earning her a side glance before she continues slowly. "She said, she never wanted to see, or talk to you 'never, ever again'! And later on she told us that you didn't want her, but whatever weird experiment it is you were working on, to come out of that stupid pod you built! That she's just another failure-"

"Does this lecture have a point!" Hacker bellows, briskly turning to stare down at her. "Once again, you're only interfering where it's none of your damn business!"

"She thinks you don't want her!" Jackie yells back. "Of all the times you told her how much she meant to you, she thinks you lied to her because she was a mistake. She thinks you still want someone to take over for you as the big honcho bad guy whenever you're gone! That she's not good enough to fit into your dumb plans for ruling over Cyberspace!"

"Because she was never meant to!" Hacker argues, gritting his teeth. "Someone else was suppose-"

"Why, because you don't want a girl as an heir? So you really don't think she's good enough."

"I never said that! Again, it's none of your concern!"

"Then you admit she's not who you want as a successor! What is it about her that's not good enough for your topsy-turvey vision of world domination?"

Hacker jabs a finger at her threateningly, his temper rising. "Stop twisting my words! That's not what I mea-"

Jackie's hands are on her hips. "Then why didn't you just tell the truth from the beginning! Why let her find out on her own that she's supposed to be one of the bad guys?"

"I never told her she was-"

"What makes it worse is that you lied about who you were! It would've been easier for her to just tell her everything? Why bother keeping it a secret from her if you didn't think she wasn't good enough?"

"You don't understand, it's not-"

"Why not tell her the truth?" she shouts. "Don't you think she deserves to know everything? Who you really are?"

"No!"

"Well why not!"

"Because she's my DAUGHTER!" Hacker slams his fist down onto the consol, leaving a generous dent, the vibrations shaking the metallic tiles beneath everyone's feet. "And she deserves BETTER THAN THIS!"

A dead silence envelopes the room, everyone staring at the green tyrant in shock. Jackie is the most taken aback, having almost stumbled onto the floor from surprise. Hacker breathes heavily, hands still balled up into shaking fists. He glares down at the girl before realizing his outburst. He pales, looking to those around him, only seeing expressions of disbelief. Though the least surprised is Wicked, if anything her look of worry only intensified from the argument.

The fact that he'd suddenly gripped his chest, due to a short stab of pain, probably didn't help things. Hacker takes a breath, struggling to regain his demeanor, attempting to push the random sensation coming from his H drive into the back of his mind. Probably just a software malfunction due to all the stress.

"Look," he begun once he's caught his breath. "Now's not the time for this…It doesn't matter what I'd intended to be her original purpose, or if that's what I still have planned." He directs this at his two henchman. "She…she's dying," he almost chokes, turning back around to continue guiding the Wreaker to its destination. "If she no longer wants anything to do with me, fine…but not before I have a chance to fix what I could've prevented from day one."

He pauses in his attempts at trying to busy himself with the controls, glancing back to catch Wicked's solemn expression. Finally, he sighs.

"I suppose," Hacker adds, a bit reluctant. "If you wanted to help…" He turns his head just enough to catch Jackie's eye. "I imagine it will be rather difficult for me to gain access to her while she's in Central Control…with my reputation, I doubt I'll be allowed to just walk right through the front door."

When all she does is blink up at him, he rolls his eyes in frustration. "Calling ahead and putting in a good word couldn't hurt." He states loudly to get his point across, then raising his brow. "Ya think?"

He hears a light cough from behind him. He looks back, seeing a now stern Wicked, her expression mirroring his own. She crosses her arms defiantly, as if to say, "it won't kill you to be a little nicer."

After a brief attempt to plead back at her with, "do I really have to?", he lightly groans, looking down at the still ever confused Jackie standing next to him. It takes a moment, but he manages to soften his gaze, choosing a more appropriate tone to go with this time. He breathes deeply, suddenly feeling very awkward.

"Please," he struggles. "I, can't do this alone…and, you're the only ones that, Motherboard will listen to." The words feel foreign coming from his own mouth, as though someone else were speaking through him. He gives his request a moment to sink in, noticing a somewhat relieved Wicked out of the corner of his eye.

When Jackie looks at him strangely, he adds earnestly, "she needs me…and I'll never be able to live with myself if anything happens to that girl…please…"

There's a mixture of reactions from everyone in the room. Buzz and Delete's jaws have been dropped since the shouting match between the two had began. Inez and Matt exchange wide-eyed looks, still not sure what to make of all this. Wicked, though still visibly worried, is unable to fight back a small smile, tearing up slightly at Hacker's sudden outburst. Jackie's confusion remains the same, mainly from the beseeched stare her worst enemy continues to display, waiting for some kind of response.

After a moment, she wrinkles her nose, turning to her two friends. She shrugs her shoulders uncomfortably, face going a bit crimson. Probably from regret. "Well?"

Matt does the same, coming back with, "hey, yer the one that has mixed feelings about all this, remember? If anything, I'm all for it."

Inez agrees. "And, technically, he is asking you." She shakes her head, a hint of a smirk on her face. "Not us."

Jackie groans, making the mistake of glancing over at Delete just as he'd clasped his hands together, looking up at the teen with those innocent puppy-dog eyes, almost begging.

"Pleeeeaaaaase, Miss Jackie?" the bot pleads. "Will ya do it fer Ivy."

"Uh, yeah, diddo." Buzz mimics, though it's a little more awkward for him. Being cute was never his strong suit. "Pleeeeeeaaaase?"

Lastly, she looks to Wicked for an opinion, who nods in Hacker's direction, her tone firm but gentle. "I doubt he has anything left to lose…even if this was some kind ploy to take over the Cyberspace."

Once out of options, Jackie lets her head droop forward in defeat, pinching the pressure points between her eyes. She sighs before only grumbling something that sounds close to "fine, whatever."

Inez rolls her eyes, still unable to hide a smirk as the two small bots cheer excitedly while chanting, 'We're gettn in Central Control! We're gettn in Central Control!'.

She shakes her head at the sight. "Definitely not a normal day in Cyberspace."

"That's definitely an understatement," Matt adds, cocking his head to the side.

"Tell me about it," Wicked states, instead watching Hacker as he gives the teens a nod of thanks before preparing their arrival to Motherboard's main site of operation. They may have gotten lucky in finding an easier way to get to the girl, but she's far from relieved. Getting to her was now the easy part. Saving her life was still undetermined. Although the truth was frightening, it was now all too clear; Hacker may already be out of time.

And so was Ivy.


Oh my god! This is getting ridiculous!

And yes, this story will eventually come to an end. Whether or not you like it, or expect it, is still WAY up in the air!

Stay turned…