A/n: Yes, finally, I'm posting the final chapter. The lyrics in this chapter are from the song 'Alone' by Sanctus Real. I do not own them!

Sparx, for the second time that day couldn't think of anything to say.

Random had told the whole thing with his eyes firmly shut, as if he could somehow see it all playing out in his mind and was simply telling Sparx exactly what he saw. He was still standing there with his eyes closed a full minute later.

"I'm sorry, we never should have left you," Sparx finally said.

"You guys had nothing to do with it," Random replied softly.

"But we're a team! We all should've been there when the bomb malfunctioned!"

"Sparx, the bomb was working fine. The only thing broken was the timer."

"That wouldn't cause it to blow up," Sparx protested. "That would just mean…"

"… it would have to be set off manually," Random finished for her. He finally opened his eyes and looked up at her, and saw her eyes filled with fire.

"So you did it yourself! Without telling us!"

"It only takes one person to press a button. Ace would've wanted to do it himself if I'd said." Random looked down at his metal claw, glared at like he'd rip it off if he could. "He doesn't deserve this."

"Well neither do you!'

"That's debatable."

"What?!"

"I told you what Mech said. This thing only uses what's already there. Everything I am now I've always been."

"You dumb lugnut! What does Mech know? That's wrong and you know it!"

"Like I'd know the difference between right and wrong."

"Well I know you do, and so does Ace. You don't deserve this and it's not your fault. It's Mech's. He had no right to do that to anyone."

"I can deal with what happened that day," said Random after a moments pause.

"See," Sparx smiled, "told you talking about it would help."

"But probably only because it seems so pathetic compared to what I have to live with everyday…"

Sparx's smile faded.

"Have you tried living in a junkyard?! With no one to talk to? Just your own mind screaming at you, every second? You turn your back for a moment and it's on you. You're losing control, you try to push it back but it's like it's dug its claws in and you can feel them tearing you apart every time you try and fight. Then you let it take over, because you believe it, or you just want the pain in your head to go away… it never goes away." Random stopped, trying to pull himself out of the downward spiral. He only managed to by looking back towards Sparx. "Except it went away today. Sparx… I, is something happening between us?"

Sparx seemed to have gone all shy again. She looked down at the ground, scuffing her boot through the dirt. "Well, I did have fun," she admitted. She looked back up to see Random smiling back at her.

"If there was something going on," Random said cautiously, "it wouldn't be all fun. I've really messed up. I'm really messed up. You'd be able to do a lot better."

"Yeah, maybe I'll go find Lord Fear!" Sparx said sarcastically.

"Hey!"

"… Kilobyte?" Sparx continued, mischievously.

"You want someone with tentacles?"

"Why would I when I can have someone with wheels?"

Random went to retaliate but just stopped and hung his head. "Thanks."

Sparx looked at him just standing there. Deep down inside she felt something click into place. Her unnatural shyness vanished, replaced with a sudden resolve. She walked up and took Random's claw and hand in hers, then waited until he looked up at her.

"Random, something is happening. I want something to happen. Do you want it to?"

She was looking into his eyes searching for the answer. Random could feel himself getting lost in the blue. "Sparx, I don't know if I could tell you how much I want it to…"

"What, now you're playing hard to get?"

"You really want to know exactly how I feel about you?"

"Yeah…" Sparx trailed off, one of the cars had started blaring music.

"Did you do that?" she asked.

Random just grinned at her. "Maybe this can tell you how I feel."

True love exists, yes I know this
My heart was waiting for you
And when we met I felt my chest
Pound fast racing for the chance
To know you, to hold you
To open up and show you
The way it feels when you know…

You are not alone
Know that I would fight the tides to be together
When you feel alone
Listen to this song to make your heart feel better

Two hearts entwined, yes you are mine
And I'll be yours forever
I've done the maths, I'm less than half
We're better off together
And I want you here by my side
As much as you are on my mind
When I'm gone you should know

You are not alone
Know that I would fight the tides to be together
When you feel alone
Listen to this song
Let it make your heart feel better

Sparx looked at Random as the music faded. "You know I didn't really pick you as the romantic type."

"It only takes the right person," said Random, still looking into her eyes.

Sparx laughed.

"What?" asked Random, blinking himself back to reality.

"We really sound like love-sick mortals, don't we?"

"If love is what it is, then we do."

"Hey, Sparx! Where are you?" It was Ace.

Sparx and Random looked up as he came in and landed.

Ace looked confused for a moment; he could've sworn Random and Sparx had been holding hands.

"Hey, Ace. What's up?" said Sparx.

"Ah… are you alright? Kat was worried."

Sparx's eyes widened. "Whoops! I forgot about her. Sorry, Ace. I was just hanging out with Random.

"For five hours?" asked Ace, even more confused.

"Don't worry, Ace," smiled Random. "I didn't do anything to her."

"I didn't mean… can I talk to you a minute?"

"Sure."

"I'll go tell Kat I'm okay," said Sparx, seeing her, Mark and Chuck coming into the junkyard. Ace seemed to want to talk in private.

"What's on your mind?" Random asked when Sparx had gone.

"Chuck found a… some records about stuff that happened in the sixth dimension a while ago. Basically, we found out what happened to you, how you…"

"… got messed up?"

"Yeah."

Random gave a half-smile. "I guess I didn't have to tell Sparx then."

"You told Sparx?" asked Ace, feeling slightly hurt. "I didn't think you'd remember."

"You remember stuff like that," Random said simply.

"Then I guess the only thing I want to know… why'd you lie to me about the bomb?"

Random hadn't expected that. It threw him off balance and made him actually think about it.

"I'm not sure. I'm sorry, but I couldn't let you set it off yourself." Random stopped and shook his head. "You know what, it probably didn't even need to be set off manually."

"But the timer was broken."

"It might have been. I tried to fix it. Maybe I did. But I didn't have time to check it. So I just assumed it was still broken. I guess I just didn't trust myself."

Ace sighed. He felt that statement should've hurt him more, but he'd been hit with too much already. It was bad enough if Random had been messed up for a reason, but for none at all? Why does if matter? Ace thought. It's just a game. The only real reason he's messed up is because some programmer thought it'd make it more exciting.

"It doesn't matter. I'll work it out."

Ace looked up at that. Random was looking over at Sparx, who was talking to Kat rather excitedly. Mark and Chuck were rolling their eyes, at the same time trying to listen to Sparx, but still act as if they weren't really interested.

"I think I might be alright."

Ace started to smile. He'd seen that look before. The same look he'd seen on his own face, reflected in Lady Illusion's eyes.

"Alright, Random Virus. Spill."

"What?"

"You and Sparx?"

"Yeah…" said Random slowly, but then suddenly couldn't hold it in. "Ace, I never thought I could defeat my evil. But when I look at her, I can. Not just that, but there's something in her eyes… I need."

Ace put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Good on you, buddy. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

"Go on. You'd better take Sparx back to the thunder tower before she makes me do something else crazy."

"Couldn't have that! Sparx! C'mon!"

"Spoil sport," grumbled Sparx. She whistled the lightning flash down. "Bye, guys. See you soon, Random!"

Ace and Sparx flew off into the night sky.

"Who would've thought? Sparx and Random Virus!" said Chuck as he, Mark and Kat walked back home.

"What's wrong Chuck?" teased Mark. "Did you think that 'thanks for the rescue' kiss meant something?" He was feeling less worried about Ace, who'd seemed pretty happy after talking to Random.

"No! I have a girlfriend. I don't need another one."

"Stop fighting you two," cut in Kat, smiling. "Mark, do you want to get pizza or something? I haven't had dinner yet."

"Yeah, okay. I didn't have much to eat, someone ate my dinner."

"Pizza, sweet!" said Chuck, not realizing Mark was talking about him.

Mark rolled his eyes.

"I leave you alone for one day and look what happens!" said Ace, flying up beside Sparx.

"Hey!" Sparx complained, seeing the mischievous look in Ace's eyes. "Glad to see you're in a good mood. You know, you've been a bit distant for the past few days. You alright?"

"I am now. I just had some stuff on my mind," he replied.

"Lady Illusion'll be fine. She can look after herself."

"Well, I didn't expect that from you."

"I guess I can kind of understand how you feel about her. Sort of."

"And you feel that way about Random?"

"I guess. I've never felt this way before!"

"Sparx, I know he does about you. Today he actually looked like he knew he could defeat his evil. He knows he needs to for you and him to work out. He's got something, someone, he thinks is worth fighting for."

"Thanks, Ace," Sparx smiled back at him.

"I'd say he's pretty lucky."

Sparx looked away for a second, embarrassed, but then looked back up with a mischievous grin. "Well, duh!"

Ace couldn't help laughing at that.

Random Virus stood in the junkyard. He was looking at the stars. He'd never really bothered before and wondered why he'd never taken the time.

His evil side reminded him, the cold darkness sweeping into his mind. Stronger than usual, it had been waiting all day.

Machinery reacted violently across the junkyard, set off by the inner struggle.

Random felt like his mind was ripping apart but he held on.

A few headlamps shattered, the car stereo flicked on, skipping through a dozen channels, finally spewing out a warped rendition of fight the tides to be be be be, then blew its speakers.

He was getting confused, his mind was contradicting itself, no longer able to differentiate between which side was saying what, or who it was supposed to listen to.

Sparx flashed across his mind. She was good. She loved him. Did she? She'd only love him if he was good. No she didn't. Yes she did. She does. Doesn't matter, she's weak. I love her.

Random opened his eyes. The cars and machinery were just shutting down.

It was only one battle. But somehow, he'd won.