Virtual Insanity!

To Chiomon: Hey there, Chiomon! Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Yup, Rahne showed that you can't beat a born werewolf, heh heh. I'm sure she'll do just fine in Cyberopolis. She's a tough old chickie. Just remember who's she's lived with. Well, Ace is a lion boy, no doubt about it. The nickname fit, so I had to use it. Don't worry, Ace'll save the day? What did Siryn see? I didn't want to permanently injure Siryn, so no Virus in his boxers. Find out next! Enjoy the new chapter!

To Sparky Genocide: Hey there, Sparky Genocide! Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! I like your idea, but I don't know too many cartoon wolves. Enjoy the new chapter!

To Aaron: Hey there, Aaron! Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Yeah, Ace found a sound plan there for whupping Virus, not to mention it's so much fun driving Virus completely crazy! I enjoy torturing Virus in my fics. Enjoy the new chapter!

To Raliena: Hey there, Rae! Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Yup, Ace pulled a classic play. Virus is one of those people that will let his temper get the better of him, if you know what really angers him. Enjoy the new chapter!

To Dante Tigerwolf: Hey there, Dante! Nice to hear from you! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! No, Virus is not pretending to be a cyborg version of Theresa's father Sean "Banshee" Cassidy. To be quite honest with you, I'm not sure what you meant? Where was I talking about Buffy? Oh well. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for new chapters of "The Z Project"!

To Red Witch: Hey there, Red Witch! Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for more new chapters of "Evolution XMJ" and "Cry Havok"! I know what the XMJ stands for!

To todd fan: Hey there, todd fan! Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Yup, Cyberopolis is the final level. It's Virus's own personal city, through his twisted eyes. You can bet all amphibious life was the first to go. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for new chapters of "Slugs and Snails", and "Random Tales of the Magic Roundabout"! It sucks that songfics are banned, I quite enjoyed "X-Men: Evolution, the Musical!", especially Bobby's tribute to Queensryche, Lucas singing Queen, and the Liz Hurley Devil singing to Logan! Those were hilarious moments, lost forever! What a shame.

Disclaimer: "Welcome to the party, pal!" - Bruce Willis as Det. John MacClaine, Die Hard

Chapter 11: The Hunter!

The virtual rock club

The virtual patrons whooped in delight at the victor of the big fight. Ace Starr gave his beloved crowd a bow.

"Thank you, thank you!" Ace grinned a wide feral grin as he bowed. "I'll be here all week! Be sure to tip your lovely waitresses."

"Ohhhh…hoooo…" The metal-skinned Virus moaned. He was sprawled out over a table, groaning. "How…"

"Easy, Virus…" Ace grinned, picking up the Heavy Metal Chain. "You see, you're way too predictable, bro." He started to glow. "What the-?" He disappeared in a flash of light.

Cyberopolis

Ace appeared in the purely mechanical city, carrying his chain.

"What in the world?" The guitar-playing feral blinked. "Man, this place looks like something out of the Terminator." A crash was heard. "Whoa!" He saw Rahne in her werewolf form and John Proudstar fighting a robot that looked like a futuristic six-wheeled tank. "What in the world?" He clutched the Heavy Metal Chain a little bit tighter. "Maybe if I give Rahne and Johnny a hand, I may be able to find out where I am and what's up with this place."

The virtual Dublin-inspired city

Theresa snarled at what she saw. She saw what appeared to be a cyborg version of Virus, dressed in futuristic golden armor with a Gaelic style to it. He carried a futuristic-looking golden spear with a tip having jagged edges and a rectangular shield.

"You like it, Miss Rourke?" Virus smirked. "I did a little research on Irish folklore, and you can guess who inspired me." Theresa scowled.

"Kukullen, the legendary warrior." The Irishwoman snarled. "What was your research, watching an episode of a cartoon show about world-traveling gargoyles?"

Nuts! Virus mentally grumbled. "No. I just thought it would be nice for you to die by a legend."

"You're sick, Virus!"

"Actually, I also wanted to spit on your culture a bit, as long as we're being honest about each other." Virus smirked. "You know, as a Brit, I don't think too highly of you Irish."

"Irish people don't like you either, Virus." Theresa snarled. The blonde opened her mouth and took a breath. She tried to fire her sonic scream, but it was just a normal scream. "Me scream! Me sonic scream! It's gone! What did ye do?"

"Here, you're powerless, mate." Virus smirked. He pointed his spear at Theresa. "No sonic scream, no flight. As for me…" The spear's tip started to glow, and a humming sound erupted from it. The glow increased in intensity and the hum turned into a high-pitched whine. "Here…I'm the king. Hail to the king, baby." Virus's spear fired a golden beam from its tip. Theresa's eyes widened, and she barely managed to roll out of the way in time.

"Oh me God!" Siryn exclaimed. "Ye lunatic!"

"Me psychiatrist said the same thing…before I rebuilt him into an alarm clock/FM radio." Virus smirked, continuing to try to blast Theresa into little itty-bitty pieces.

This guy is majorly sick! "Yipe!" Siryn yelped as she dodged another blast.

Need help, Blondie? A familiar voice snickered in her head. Theresa blinked.

Hi-Tech? What're ye doing in me head? Theresa mentally exclaimed.

Thank Virus for that. Hi-Tech chuckled. He didn't seem to realize that my own special abilities, I was able to escape the little twisted twit's virtual trap.

How can ye help? Theresa asked. I got that little twit impersonating a legendary warrior from me home country, and I have no powers!

No problem. Hi-Tech nodded. There's an object in this level called the Screamer's Bell. It's basically a green-and-yellow bell with a wooden handle. Once you get your hands on it, you'll have your powers back. I'll help you get to it. Theresa nodded and raced into an alley. Virus whooped.

"The hunt is on!" Virus crowed, raising his spear in the air.

Cyberopolis

"Cyberopolis, huh?" Ace confirmed.

"Yup." John nodded. "Evidently, the little psycho trapped us in a video game."

"Aye." Rahne agreed. "This Cyberopolis place is supposed to be a city that is mostly pure machine. Robots and androids and the like rule this place."

"Kind of fun if you're into the Terminator flicks." John quipped.

"No kidding." Ace agreed. He noticed something: A huge fortress-like structure in the center of the city. It dwarfed the tallest buildings in Cyberopolis.

"Are there any people here?" Ace asked. Rahne shook her head.

"We've had no time to check. The Joes are in danger, ye know." Rahne reminded.

"Of course." Ace smirked. He pointed at the fortress. "Maybe we should go to that fortress. The bad guys always hide out in the fortress."

Well, well, well! Looks like the West Coast Misfits have a plan! What insanity will happen next? Will Siryn get the Screamer's Bell? Can our heroes make it into the fortress and save the day and the Joes? Will Virus lose it again? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!