Sorry about not re-submitting this chapter, i took it off because of a problem and then forgot to submit it again. I havent changed anything at all.

Enjoy!

'I need to jack in. Protoman needs my help.' Chaud said quickly. He turned back to Emma, but she was staring at the screen of her PET in shock. 'Emma.'

'Emma?' Angel X asked.

'It's him…' Emma stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. 'It's him…'

It's my…brother…Bass… She thought.

'What? Him?' Chaud asked quickly, he was in a hurry. Emma looked up at him with confused eyes before returning to a sense of normality.

'Forget it.' She said quickly, getting up from her chair. They walked together out of the restaurant. The waiter came up to them as they were leaving.

'Excuse me but…are you dissatisfied?' He asked.

'No. Charge the meal to my father's account.' Chaud said quickly and pushed past the waiter, through the doors.

'I'm sure we'll be back another time.' Emma smiled as she followed him. She stepped out into the street and was hit by a wall of cold air. 'Chaud! Where are you going!' She ran to keep up with him, struggling because of her shoes. He turned to look back at her.

'I need a jack in port that isn't in a public place!' He cried back. She pushed on, desperate to get level with him. She looked down at her PET which was still in her hand.

'How's he doing?' She asked.

'I'm going to go and help him. Bass is interfering with my video link.' Angel X said, there was a tone of concern in her voice. She disappeared from the screen and Emma concentrated on running again. Chaud turned a corner and Emma followed, twisting her ankle slightly. He didn't slow, pushing ahead. He turned again, heading for a warehouse. She followed, ignoring the ache in her ankle. He burst through the doors of the warehouse and ran up to an old computer, jacking in, connecting to Protoman. Emma also jacked into the computer and kicked off her shoes. They made a loud bang as they hit the floor that echoed around the near empty warehouse. They saw Angel X, Protoman and Theo all attacking Bass, struggling.

'Chaud…' Emma whispered with her teeth practically chattering. He looked at her. She was so cold. He took off his suit jacket and slipped it onto her shoulders before returning his attention to the computer and his PET. Emma couldn't help but look into his eyes, they were determined and hurt.

'Protoman.' He said. 'Let's get started. Full-syncro!'

'Angel X! Full-syncro!' Emma cried. The jacket was heavy on her shoulders and she felt herself shift into sync with her navi. She saw Bass right in front of her, with power overflowing from him.

'Bass…' Emma whispered. Protoman leapt forwards with a life sword and swung at Bass. 'No…I can't do this.'

'Emma, we have to help them.' Angel X said. 'We HAVE to.' Emma watched as Bass played with Protoman and looked over at Chaud. He had a cut on his face reaching from his jaw up to just below the corner of his eye. She dropped to her knees.

'I'm sorry Chaud…I can't.' She gasped. Full-syncro broke off and Emma's gaze dropped to the floor. Chaud didn't have time to look at her. Bass was toying with Protoman, as if waiting for something.

'Protoman!' Chaud yelled and he slammed a battle chip into his PET. ……… Bass dodged the attack with ease and went for Angel X who was standing watching Protoman.

'Emma!' She cried. There was nothing she could do. She couldn't even run. 'Emma!' Emma snapped to attention and stood up quickly.

'Angel X full-syncro!' Emma yelled and she jerked into it. She could see Bass still coming at Angel X and she could also see Protoman desperately running for Angel X.

No, I won't let this happen. I won't let you hurt everyone. She thought as she raised her arms with Angel X. I won't let you hurt Chaud and Protoman. Suddenly Bass stopped in his tracks, just millimetres from Angel X.

'I have to thank you Bass.' Emma said. 'You blew up that lab where my father was didn't you?' Chaud looked at Emma, she was shaking violently and her skin had gone an unnatural deathly white.

'I had to.' Bass smirked. 'He was holding you back.' He reached out and placed his hand on Angel X's face. 'But this is not you. You make me wait. Why?' Emma felt herself jerk and her stomach lurched. Chaud looked away, but he could hear her being violently sick. 'Tell me what's happening Bass.' Emma barked as she wiped her face. Bass let out a wicked laugh.

'You should know. Or did he do something else to you too?' Bass asked with a frown. 'What else did he take from you?' Chaud and Protoman could only stand and watch.

'He didn't take anything from me.' Emma replied.

'Heh. Soon you will see. Soon you will remember.' Bass muttered. 'I will find you again and by then you may have gained more of yourself.' He stroked the side of Angel X's face and disappeared. Emma and Angel X shifted out of full-syncro but Chaud and Protoman kept their guard up. Angel X glared at Emma.

'What the hell was that all about!' She screeched.

'He's gone Chaud.' Protoman said. 'I don't think he's coming back.' Chaud sighed and released full-syncro. Emma dropped back down to the floor and took a deep breath.

'I don't know but…' Emma started. She looked up at Chaud with a weak smile. 'He's gone.' She turned back to her PET. 'I think you should jack out. I want to run some tests.'

'You too Protoman.' Chaud ordered. Both navis returned to their PET's and Angel X submitted herself to the PET's normal tests. Emma looked at her dress and then and Chaud's suit. They had got pretty dirty from the warehouse.

'I don't think we can go back to the restaurant like this.' Emma said softly. It took Chaud a few short seconds to realise what she meant. She laughed when he eventually reacted, which just confused him. 'Maybe I should just go home.' She stood up again and took Chaud's jacket off. Her shoulders were attacked by the cold but still she passed it back to him. He put it on even though he could see that she was cold. 'Ummm…I don't know how to get home from here…'

'I'll take you.' Chaud said quickly before his brain had a chance to think. They left the warehouse and started back down the maze of streets they had gone down earlier. The pain returned to Emma's ankle and she winced with every step. It took Chaud only a few moments to notice. 'Are…are you okay?' She looked over at him with a fake smile.

'I'm fine Chaud.' She smiled but her smile broke as soon as her foot hit the ground.

'You're not okay.' He said quickly. 'You shouldn't be walking if you've hurt your ankle.'

'It's not like there's anything we can do about it right now.' Emma replied. Her ankle gave way and she started to fall. Chaud grabbed her wrist and pulled her in towards him and wrapped his other arm around her waist. 'Ch…Chaud…' Emma's face flushed a deep red, and so did Chaud's.

'I don't want you to get hurt.' He whispered. Their faces were so close. Emma was completely lost in his eyes and she could feel his warm breath against her skin. Chaud's hand was moving before his brain could think, it moved up her back, pulling her as close as possible. A thousand thoughts raced through Emma's mind but one stuck out, kiss him, kiss him you fool, but her body wouldn't move.

'Chaud…' Emma murmured. She summoned the energy to move her arms and wrapped them around his shoulders, and buried her face in his neck. 'Thank you.' He smiled softly and simply held her.

It had taken them an hour to reach Emma's house after their long pause in the street. As soon as they had arrived Chaud had made sure to make Emma rest her ankle and they were sitting together on the sofa, Emma was leaning up against Chaud, who was sitting normally, she had her legs stretched out and her bad ankle was on the armrest. Chaud's arm was around her stomach and her hands were resting on his arm.

'Chaud, it's getting late. Don't you have work in the morning?' Emma asked. Chaud squirmed. He did need to go back to the office in the morning. She sat up. 'I've got to work too.' She turned so that she was looking at him. 'I don't want you to get in trouble.' She got up off the sofa and pulled him up to. She didn't let go of his hand until they were at the door.

'I'll come by and see you soon.' Chaud whispered softly in her ear. She kissed his cheek quickly before stepping back.

'I hope you do.' She smiled. He walked out of the door, gave a half-awake wave and then walked off. Emma shut the door and ran back to the computer. 'Angel X! Angel X!'

'What?' The navi responded. 'It's late. You've got to get up for work soon.'

'I want you to find everything you can about Bass!' Emma yelped. Angel X's eyes sharpened.

'What.' She said quickly. 'Why?'

'I need to find him again. There is something I have to ask.' Emma muttered.

'You can't ask me?' Angel X asked harshly.

'I know that it is possible for a human mind to enter the network…but…how long can it stay there before it is trapped?' Emma asked quietly.

'Why would you be thinking about that?' Angel X asked anxiously.

'It's nothing. Don't worry.' Emma laughed.

'You should be more concerned about Chaud than Bass.' Angel X said. 'I mean, I saw you give him a kiss goodbye.' Emma blushed and turned away from the computer.

'My relationship with Chaud is none of your business.' Emma answered.

'Huh? So there is a relationship?' Angel X said slyly.

'Just look for Bass.' Emma mumbled.

'Fine…fine…' Angel X muttered. She opened a link to the internet. 'See you soon!' Emma watched Angel X leave and the sighed. She knew Bass, but yet everything was hidden from her. She sat down on the sofa, her thoughts of Chaud and Bass were clashing and it was giving her a headache. Something, that niggling feeling, was telling her that she would have to choose between them. Chaud was great, he made her feel special, but he was cold at times. Bass on the other hand, seemed to know about her past even if he wasn't telling her everything. She hung her head forward, this was too much. She couldn't choose until she knew more about Bass.

Chaud turned on his computer and Protoman moved from the PET to the PC.

'Sir?' Protoman asked tentatively. 'How did your evening go, before the incident?' Chaud's mind flicked back to the instant when she could have only been half a centimetre from his face. He could remember everything about her face, her long eyelashes, the way she smiled, her beautiful eyes and the way her expression softened when she looked at him. 'Sir?'

'It was quite pleasant Protoman, she is rather good company.' Chaud said quickly.

'Rather good company?' Protoman repeated. He thought about it for a moment. 'Why don't you just admit to liking her?' Chaud didn't respond and so Protoman decided that he was right, Chaud did like Emma.

Emma was distracted at work, she couldn't concentrate. Theo wasn't helping either.

Sister! You saw him didn't you! He called out. Emma was glad that only she could hear him.

'Yeah.' She muttered vaguely. The others had got used to random words being spoken. They had all got used to Theo wanting to talk to Emma the most.

Isn't Brother wonderful? He only wants you to go home… Theo said. Emma merely nodded when Angel X appeared on the screen.

'There's a video file waiting for you at home. It's from…your brother.' Angel X said, nearly whispering the last part.

'Yeah.' Emma muttered. She couldn't concentrate on anything, her mind was still racing, calculating. Theo knew what she was thinking, he knew what Bass had said.

I don't know how long you would last in the network Sister. He said, almost saddened by his words. He didn't want her to be this tense. But Brother will tell you why he wants you.

'I hope so. This is driving me nuts.' Emma muttered.

'Erm, Emma…' Daniel muttered, poking her with his chewed up pen. Emma leaned back in her chair with a dazed expression on her face.

'Huh?' Emma groaned. Daniel pointed at his screen.

'There's a video message from Miss. Yai.' He said, 'She wants to know how things are going.' Emma flung her head back and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Stress was building. She reached for a button on the panel in front of her and pressed it, barely reaching. Yai's face flickered onto the screen and Emma pulled her head back up.

'Emma. I haven't heard from you in a while.' Yai said calmly.

'I email you every other day.' Emma mumbled.

'Yes but you don't tell me too much about what you are actually doing.' Yai added.

'Oh, right. Well, how about a demonstration?' Emma asked. 'Tomorrow any good for you?' Yai nodded. 'I'll meet you in the west arena around 2 then.' Emma pressed the button again, cutting Yai off before she could rebuke. Alex got up from his station and walked over to Emma, leaning over her.

'Angel X, didn't you say Emma had a video file waiting at home?' He asked.

'Yeah, I would transfer it, but when I try to the file become corrupted.' Angel X explained. She was being completely honest. Bass had obviously done something to stop it being witnessed in public.

'Okay okay.' Emma grumbled. 'I'm going to head home. I'll see you guys in the morning to finish up the chips we've been working on so that I can show them to Yai.' She rose from her seat and Angel X disappeared from the screen. With her net navi gone, the guys all looked at Emma.

'Is everything okay?' Jake asked as he tossed her coat across the room. Emma caught it with a weak smile.

'Okay. I mean, I'm used to being alone but it's weird not having my father watching my every move.' She muttered darkly. She walked off, out of the lab and they guys sighed. There was nothing they could do if she wouldn't tell them what was wrong. Emma started down the street despite the rain. It wasn't too heavy but she was getting soaked pretty quickly. She looked up at the clouds as she walked. Her eyes were heavy. There were so many questions she needed answers to. It didn't take her long to get home. She dropped the sodden coat onto the floor and she headed straight for the computer despite being soaked. Angel X had turned on the computer beforehand and had the video file waiting for her. Emma sat down silently and nodded to Angel X who, without saying a word, played the video. Bass came into the open window with a fuzzy black area behind him which looked somewhat like a night sky.

'Sister, I come to you to tell you what your 'father' failed to.' Bass said. 'Firstly, you were not human to begin with.' A picture of her parents appeared on the screen. 'Your parents, as you know, were scientists. Your grandfather worked on the Alpha project with Dr. Hikari. It was discovered, thanks to me, that you had been created by the information networks instability. You are the first AI to be created by the will of information. To begin with, you were a silent being who merely watched as the world passed by. It was only when the Alpha project ceased that you awoke, determined to find yourself a new place to live.' The image changed to a laboratory filled with test tubes and odd looking experiments set up. 'It took them years to build you a body. At first, they accelerated the body's aging process to match your actual age. But the body couldn't cope. Eventually, you accepted a body, the body of a baby girl. Do not worry sister, each body created for you had no mind of its own, it was not true life.' A picture of Emma as a baby with her parents came up on the screen and Emma's eyes filled with tears. 'There was only one problem, your mind suppressed itself causing you to become reclusive and withdrawn, and there was nothing that anyone could do. Your mother died trying to find a way to release some of the information in your mind. There was an energy surge in the equipment she was using which caused the explosion that killed her. Your father on the other hand, tried to force other people to continue her research. He even went as far as to threaten Mr. Blaze. But nothing became of it. It was then when he finally gave up on you. I then decided that the only way to save you, and your beautiful mind, was to invite you back into the world where you came from.' The windows with the images closed and Bass closed his eyes and gave a slight bow. 'I leave you now my sister. You may begin to remember things now.' Emma sighed as the video stopped.

'So… what do you think?' Angel X asked. She perched herself on the edge of a folder, leaning lazily. Emma rubbed her temples. They were sore, throbbing even.

'It hurts.' Emma muttered as she ran her hands over her head.

'Learning something like this will hurt. I'm not sure I even believe it all.' Angel X added. Emma clutched her head tightly, digging her fingernail into her scalp.

'No…not that…my head…' Emma gasped. Blood seeped from behind her eyes and oozed down her cheeks. It also ran from her ears, running warm down her neck.

'Em…Emma?' Angel X asked.

'Agh!' Emma groaned, shutting her eyes quickly. The blood was flowing faster and faster and the pain was burning. It scorched her brain. Images flashed up inside her brain. She opened her eyes and tried to push the images back. But she couldn't, there were too many. The blood stopped suddenly and Emma looked at Angel X who had already contacted Protoman. He was already on Emma's computer.

'Is everything alright?' He asked despite seeing Emma dripping in her own blood.

'No!' Angel X cried at the same time Emma said 'Yes.' Angel X glared at Emma.

'I'm fine…just… a little shocked.' Emma explained. 'Don't worry about me. And don't say anything to Chaud. This is nothing.' Protoman nodded before turning to Angel X.

'If anything happens again, let me know.' He said and then he left. Angel X shot a look at Emma who tried to shrug it off.

'What was that for?' Angel X asked coldly.

'Nothing. Nothing is wrong. Why did you go running to him?' Emma asked.

'Why not! He only wants to help! Both of them do!' Angel X yelled.

'I don't care.' Emma muttered.

'What?'

'It doesn't matter. I'm going home. I'm going back where I belong.'

'What!'

'I remember things. I know how to go home.'

'You can't!'

'I can.'

'What about Chaud!' Emma froze. Chaud was now the only tie she had to the physical world. 'Will you leave him just because your so called 'brother' has told you to go home?' Emma stood up to leave.

'You don't know how this feels.' Emma hissed. 'Everything I have ever known as a human is a lie. I don't even know if these feeling I have for him are real.'

'Of course they are! You love him!' Angel X yelped.

'I'll see you when I'm myself again.' Emma said quickly. 'And when I do, I will be how I was born.' She grabbed her wet coat and walked out. Angel X's face dropped.

'Why…?' She cried, tears trickling down her face. She didn't know what to do. She looked out of the computer at the room and the blood stained carpet. There was nothing she could do.

'Wait…' Angel X thought aloud. 'You need a lab. Yai!' She immediately connected herself to Yai's home computer and began to transfer herself. She had to get help.