Hallways and corridors, and then a defined door. Mouse opened it, and it seemed to be a command center of sorts inside. binomes running around, others examining terminals, and a Green sprite directing them all.

"Hiya, Dot," said Mouse.

The green-skinned sprite looked at them, "Oh, hey Mouse. Starwell. What brings you here?"

"We're going on a night on the town, and you're joining us."

"What? Mouse, I'd love to, but I can't-" Dot prattled on about System stuff that Mouse would have none off. The Hacker took the Command Dot Com by the arm, and began to drag her away.

"Mouse-!"

"Dot, you've been working for Minutes without a break, I'm sure nothing is going to fall apart while you're gone."

Starwell actually giggled a little in spite of herself as she watched the two interact. As the Hacker proceeded to drag the Command Dot Com out of the command room, she followed along. "So where should we go first?" Starwell asked aloud, starting to get into the spirit of things.

"Have you been to the Diner yet?" asked Mouse.

"Don't think so," Starwell commented. "But that sounds like a really fancy place... like a place people might dress up all fancy to go. Isn't there somewhere a little more wild we go to?" Starwell wasn't sure what she was asking for or what she was getting herself into. Maybe she just wanted to see more of this world, and she wanted something exciting. Just... anything to keep her mind off the news Matrix had told her.

Somehow... the Diner sounded boring.

"Someplace a little 'wilder', huh?" The three sprites turned to see AndrAIa coming toward them. Starwell looked a little startled. "Where'd you come from?" the User asked.

"I just got back from Welman's lab, I was helping out a little in there," AndrAIa replied. "I couldn't help overhearing you guys talking." The former Game sprite folded her arms. "If you want to go someplace 'wild', I know just the place."

"Oh boy," said Dot.

"What?" Starwell asked, intrigued now.

"It's this place near the docks that Matrix and I wandered across when we were kids," AndrAIa said. "It's... a little different from most places in Mainframe. Right, Mouse?" She smiled, as if remembering something specific.

"Right, and you two kids had no business being there." Mouse gave a bemused look.

"I'm not a kid now," AndrAIa winked. "And I think Starwell is old enough."

"Think. Just how old are ya sugar?" asked Mouse.

"I'm sixteen years old," Starwell immediately announced, almost proudly.

"Years?" AndrAIa did a double-take. "Did you say years?"

"Yeah... why?" Starwell asked, looking at her oddly. The way AndrAIa reacted, Starwell felt as if she'd said she was six hundred years old or something.

Both Dot and Mouse looked taken back. "...I think she's old enough," Mouse remarked.

Starwell blinked at their reaction. It took her a nano to remember where she was and how differently time work, then her mouth formed an "O" shape. "Yeah, time is a little different in the User world,'' she said, scuffing her shoe a bit awkwardly on the floor.

"Huh. You'll have to tell me about it sometime, Sugar."

"Can we go?" Starwell asked, not wanting to give them a chance to change their minds.

"Sure... should I call a cab, or are we gonna use zip boards?" AndrAIa asked.

Starwell made a face. "Please not the zip boards..." she groaned.

"Cab it is. Let's head out-where's Dot?" Mouse was glancing about.

"Huh?" Starwell glanced at the spot where Dot had been a nano again.

AndrAIa sighed. "Here we go," she muttered, placing a hand on her hip. "She probably went back into the control room. Mouse, could you go get her? I'll call the cab."

"Can do."

AndrAIa smirked as Mouse headed off. Starwell watched her go, and then followed the former game sprite as she walked a short distance away. AndrAIa called up a VidWindow to summon a cab, instructing the driver to wait for them just outside the Principal Office. A nano later, the VidWindow vanished and AndrAIa folded her arms. "Hope Mouse doesn't take too long," she said. "The meter is probably already running."

"Does Dot even know how to relax?" Starwell quipped.

"Sometimes I wonder," AndrAIa replied.

"-But Mouse, I still need to calibrate the shipments, and schedule the-"

"That's nice and all, but you need to learn to relax." Mouse was leaving the Principal Office, heading towards AndrAIa and Starwell, holding on to Dot's arm and dragging her. "Sorry we're late!" called Mouse.

AndrAIa smiled. "Alright, everybody get in," she said, gesturing toward the cab.

Starwell took a tentative step toward the cab. She was still trying to get used to flying cars. She hopped into it and scooted over so that AndrAIa could get in next to her.

Once everyone was in the car, the cab driver turned in their direction. He was a One-Shaped binome with a red jacket and a cap on his head. "Where are you ladies headed?" he asked.

"We're going to Maxwell's Club, near the docks," AndrAIa told him.

The driver's single eye blinked a couple of times. His mouth dropped open and a piece of chewing gum fell out. "...If you ladies say so. You look like you can handle your own." With that he revved the engine, and then they were off.

Starwell stared curiously at the back of his head for a moment, then glanced at the other girls. "So what kind of place is this, anyway?" she asked softly.

"Well, it's run by Maxwell," AndrAIa answered. "He's... well, he used to live in Mainframe's twin city before it was destroyed. He's the only sprite who survived that explosion. But he keeps to his business mostly, and..." She lowered her voice. "Be careful around him. He's... not someone you should turn your back on."

The Cab was partially cramped. Buildings passed outside, and grew few in number until there was a defined view of the Digital Sea.

The Entrance to the club was almost covered in Neon. At the door, stood a bouncer- No. Two bouncers, two 1 version binomes. One standing on the other's head, though neither seemed to notice or care. When the Cab finally pulled to a stop, Starwell leaned forward to peer at the place before them. "Is that it?" she breathed aloud as AndrAIa paid the driver.

"That's it," the driver responded before anyone else could. "Watch yourselves, ladies." He accepted his payment and then gave Starwell a meaningful glance. "Don't let Max get too close to you," he muttered.

"Why not?" Starwell asked warily as she slowly got out of the Cab.

"Oh, wait a nano, I need to go check-"

"Dot..."

Starwell shot Dot a glance as the Cab driver gave them all a wave and began to drive away. Starwell cast a curious glance toward Mouse, and began to move toward the entrance. "Come on," AndrAIa urged Dot and Mouse, and followed Starwell.

The User-Sprite slowly walked past the Bouncers, flinching inwardly as they looked at her. Starwell walked alongside AndrAIa as they entered a hall that lead to the main door. Loud music could be heard emanating from within, which got louder the closer they got.

"Maybe I should have brought earplugs," Starwell muttered, but her voice was lost as AndrAIa opened the door and they stepped inside.

It was a large place with a lot of tables and chairs. Some binomes were seated and chatting or drinking, others were dancing, some were passed out on the floor.

"Uh... wow," was all Starwell said as she entered.

"Let's sit... Here." Mouse gestured to one of the few empty tables, though there seemed to be suspicious stains around it. As the four sprites took their seats, Starwell took care not to touch the table; she kept her hands folded in her lap.

A couple of nanos passed, and a sphere-shaped binome approached them. "Well hello there," she greeted. "May I take your-" Her eyes flickered in recognition. "Oh, it's you," she deadpanned.

"Hello, Cadence," AndrAIa acknowledged.

"You two know each other?" Starwell asked, raising her voice to be heard over the music.

Cadence leaned closer and spoke out of the corner of her mouth. "You didn't bring that boyfriend of yours, did you?"

"No, Matrix isn't here."

The binome gave a heavy sigh of relief. "Thank the User. The last time he was here..." She shook her head.

"What happened?" Starwell asked.

"I think its got something to do with some sort of fight," said Mouse, "I never heard most of the details."

Dot looked away.

The waitress cleared her throat. "Ah, just get us the usual," AndrAIa told the binome, and then Cadence nodded and moved away.

"So how wild does this place get?" Starwell asked, leaning forward slightly. So far she didn't see much except for a lot of drunk binomes, some of them quite noisy.

Perhaps it was due to her shock, hurt and anger over the news that she couldn't go home, but... she simply felt like she didn't want to leave this place without something happening. Even if it was just getting a little drunk.

As if to answer her question, a large figured-someone shaped like a large Nine-was thrown across the bar, landing heavily in the middle of the neighboring table. It fragmented under the impact. Several bouncers immediately responded. Starwell sank a little lower in her seat, staring wide-eyed at the broken table.

"This ain't nothing," said Mouse, "You should see the afternoon rush."

The waitress reappeared a nano later with four drinks, each of which were set in front of each sprite. "Enjoy," was all that Cadence said before she walked away again.

Starwell carefully picked up her glass and sniffed it. She then took a long sip and raised her eyebrows. It actually tasted... somewhat bittersweet. She gulped the rest of it down and began to feel a "buzz" inside her head.

Mouse downed hers, and muttered something about wanting a bottle instead of a glass. Dot took momentary sips, and then asked, "So Starwell, how has Mainframe treated you?"

"I'll get some more," AndrAIa said, already rising. She planned to get a couple of bottles if she could; she headed toward the bar.

"Uh... it's been weird," Starwell admitted straightforwardly. "But I like you guys, and I guess I'm getting used to it."

"That's good." Dot seemed pretty good at holding her alcohol.

Mouse tilted her head, "Quick question, how do you live 16 years and yet act younger than Matrix?"

"Well... uh..." Starwell seemed hesitant. She was afraid that if she explained the truth to them, they might make her leave. She knew her parents, even her Uncle Frank, would kill her if they knew she came to a place like this. Even in the Net. "Users can live about a hundred years," she finally answered. She hoped they wouldn't ask her to further explain how time worked where she came from.

AndrAIa returned to the table, a bottle in each hand. "Here we go..." She set one bottle down in front of Mouse and Dot, and popped open the other to refill hers and Starwell's glasses.

Dot had that science spark in her eyes as she eyed Starwell.

Mouse was just staring, "...That long huh?" She refilled her and Dot's cups, and downed hers.

Starwell drank down her second glass in a couple of gulps. The "buzz" in her head intensified, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash through her. She felt... odd. Was this what it felt like to be drunk? At least the beginnings of it? "Yeah..." she said, and then she grinned. "I feel funny." Then she guffawed.

Mouse laughed, "Sixteen years, and never even drank before!" She was on her fourth at the moment.

Starwell was grinning. "You know something? Your hair looks like its on fire... all glowy and everything," she said. Then she giggled.

"Heard that before." Mouse glanced skyward as if to roll her eyes, but didn't quite finish the mannerism. She finished downing her fourth shot.

"Slow down, on the drinking now," said Dot gently.

"Why? I feel great!" Starwell raised her third glass to her lips. After the User took a hearty sip, AndrAIa reached over and placed her fingertips around the rim of Starwell's glass. "Take it easy, Starwell. Set it down, let it breathe."

Starwell lowered her arm shakily-and spilled the contents of her glass on the table. "Oops." She giggled again.

Dot sighed and rose. "I'll get a napkin or something."

Just then someone different headed in their general direction. He was tall and wiry, wearing a black pair of slacks, something that resembled a dark leather jacket, and a white undershirt. When he spotted the female sprites sitting at one of the tables, he smiled in a sleazy sort of way and approached them. "Why hello there," he greeted in a friendly, cheerful fashion. "How are you lovely ladies doing this find second?"

"Just fine, thank you," AndrAIa acknowledged. "How are you, Max?"

"Just fine," Max replied chipperly. "Ah..." His smile became frozen, forced. "Matrix isn't here, is he?" Somehow he spoke without even moving his teeth.

"No, Matrix isn't here," AndrAIa chuckled, rolling her eyes.

"Oh thank the User," Max breathed, and visibly relaxed. "Well now, I recognize our lovely Command Dot Com and the feisty Hacker." He winked flirtatiously at Mouse. "But who is this?" He looked at Starwell.

Max seemed to be avoiding eye contact with AndrAIa. Apparently whatever happened before, when Matrix and AndrAIa had been there, he wasn't taking any chances. Anyone who'd tangoed with Matrix and Gun definitely knew better.

"She's vistin' from another system," said Mouse with a lop sided grin, showing just one fang.

Max didn't take his eyes off the girl. "Well now, she's got a nice bitmap... can't say I've ever seen a young lady like her before." He moved smoothly toward the table and put himself between Starwell and AndrAIa, with his back to the latter. He rested one elbow on the table and smiled down at Starwell. "What's your name, sweetheart?" he asked.

Starwell scooted her chair back a bit, staring at him. She might have been more than a little drunk, but she was still alert enough to get a creepy vibe from him. "Starwell," she said simply, and stared down at the table.

"Starwell... now that is an exotic name if I've ever heard one," Max grinned. "It makes me think of a glimmering goddess, with the beauty and grace of a Game Cube shooting from the sky."

"...You're comparing her looks to a Game Cube?" AndrAIa blinked.

"Games are beautiful, exotic, full of energy and power..." Max sucked in a breath. "I think there's more to this young lady than meets the eye."

"How corny," Mouse emphasized, "And I wouldn't get too flirtatious, I believe Big Brother Wolfy wouldn't like you messing with his Pup."

Max continued to stare at Starwell, though his eyes darted briefly in Mouse's direction. "Big what? What are ya talking about?"

"Starwell is a good friend of Matrix," AndrAIa supplied.

Max's smile once again became frozen. "Oh," he said with a forced chuckle, and moved away from the table as if Starwell was Viral.

"By the way, how's your ASCII?" AndrAIa asked, eyeing him from behind. Max gave her a look, which changed back to a forced, charming smile in a flash.

Starwell's eyes darted around the bar, as though feeling awkward. She refilled her glass, taking extra care to keep her arm steady as not to spill the body. She succeeded, but not without considerable concentration.

"...Here's your napkin," said Dot to Starwell as the sprite returned, "How about you take a quick break from drinking?"

Starwell stubbornly finished downing her fourth drink, then took the napkin. "Yeah... okay," she finally said. "I do feel... a little... weird." She swayed a bit in her seat, then slumped against it.

"Are you okay, Starwell?" AndrAIa asked.

"Yeah..." Starwell said, staring up at the ceiling. "Just feeling kind of weird. And... I think I see a purple giraffe up there." She giggled, and then cracked up. She suddenly found herself unable to stop laughing.

"Glad to see you ladies are enjoying yourselves," Max said, moving away from the table. "I'll check in again in a while." He winked, and walked away.

Starwell was still laughing.

"... Sly, if I didn't know better, I'd say he was Viral," said Mouse, with a smile that held no amusement.

Starwell finally managed to stop laughing. She opened her mouth to speak, but then quickly clamped her hand over it. She seemed to be trying to prevent another attack of explosive giggles. She tentatively stretched out her free hand, with the napkin, shakily toward the table.

"Here, I'll get that," AndrAIa said, gently taking the napkin from her. She then carefully wiped up the spilled beverage.

"Thanks." Starwell's voice sounded muffled through her hand.

"That was Max, wasn't it?" asked Dot, though by her tone, she knew the answer.

"The one your brother had a run in with," said Mouse.

"Yeah," AndrAIa said with a nod. She eyed the male sprite as he walked back behind his counter. "Looks like he still walks a bit... off."

Starwell was leaning forward on the table with her arms folded in front of her and her chin resting on top of them. "What... what did Matrix do to him?" she slurred with a grin.

"Don't ask," AndrAIa said.

"Did he hurt Max's leg?"

"Not his leg..." AndrAIa smirked. Mouse started laughing. Dot covered her mouth. Starwell released a short fit of giggles, then seemed to compose herself. She looked dizzy, and a bit exhausted.

"Hey... is there a bathroom here?" Starwell gripped the armrests of her chair, standing shakily.

"Hey now, just stand still for a moment before you move." AndrAIa helped the girl stand, and supported her as she leaned against the table.

"Okay..." Starwell took her advice and stood still for a moment. She waited for the waves of dizziness to ease down.

"Well, I ain't leaving you alone," said Mouse, getting up.

"I agree," AndrAIa said. "This is the kind of place where you shouldn't go anywhere alone, Starwell."

"Yeah... okay." Starwell said.

"Can you walk? The restroom is right over there." AndrAIa pointed to a nearby sign.

"Yeah... I think so." Starwell carefully began to walk around the table, keeping one hand on it for support. The moment she let go of the table, she fell against Mouse.

"Don't worry, sugar, I got you."

"Okay..." Starwell breathed deeply in and out as she and the Hacker began to move toward the restrooms. Starwell leaned heavily on Mouse for support. "You are really nice," Starwell said as they moved carefully. "All of you are so nice. Really, really nice..." She chuckled, and then her face fell. "But I... can't go home." Apparently even the drinks couldn't make her forget that entirely.

"It was Bob who said there's no such thing as the no win scenario," said Mouse, "We'll find a way to get you back."

"You really think so?" Starwell staggered a bit, nearly stumbling over Mouse's shoe. She felt the Hacker gripping her arms, steadying them both. "You really will get me home... won't you? Qsa Linex said she'd wait for me, no matter how long it takes..."

"I don't know who this Quicks person is, but yeah, we'll get you home."

"Oh, she... my Uncle Frank made her. She was so nice." Starwell stumbled a little, and then she wrapped her arms around Mouse in a clumsy hug. "You're really nice, too, Mouse. I like you a lot."

"That's nice, sugar."

Just as they started moving again, a group of binomes began to pour through the side entrance. They were pushing and shoving their way towards the bar, intent on forcing their way through instead of waiting or asking nicely to get through. They weren't nice-looking binomes, either. They had punkish hairstyles and a few of them had odd-looking makeup on their faces. In fact, they looked like some kind of gang.

When they got close to Mouse and Starwell, one of them hit the back of Mouse's leg firmly with a metal crowbar. "Move, lady," the feisty punk snapped.

Mouse sighed. She kicked the binome across the room.