Sitting in the limo, ProtoMan looked around curiously. "But how? How did all this happen?" He asked, running his hand along the leather seat.

Chaud shook his head. "We have no idea. All I know is that moments before the Navis started to appear, an image of Net City pulsed in my vision and then…" He shrugged. "You know the rest."

ProtoMan stared at his hands. "Then…if I'm not in the cyber world any more…what am I?"

Smirking, Chaud considered his Navi. Always typical of ProtoMan to ask a rhetorical question like that. "ProtoMan, we're going to see Sam."

Looking up, ProtoMan blinked. "Sam? Star's Net Op?"

"The same."

"But why?"

"She might be able to help us out on this issue."

The limo pulled put to a tall brick building and Chaud stepped out. Proto wasn't far behind him. Quickly, he surveyed the building. "This is where Sam lives?" He questioned.

Chaud nodded and headed not for the front door, but for the fire escape. "Yep. C'mon."

Following Chaud, ProtoMan looked at the metal fire escape. "Umm… Not to sound like I'm pointing out the obvious, but shouldn't we use the front door?"

Shaking his head, Chaud eased the ladder down. "Nope. After I started coming around a little more often Sam's aunt and uncle decided I shouldn't be let on the premises, so I use the fire escape now." He began to climb up. "Sam's on the top floor. C'mon."

When the two reached the upper floor, Chaud rapped on the window. Sam's face appeared, smiled and unlatched the window. "Hey! Chaud! I was wondering when you'd stop by." She got a look at ProtoMan and sighed. "You too? C'mon in."

ProtoMan lowered himself down onto the carpet. He could hear water running somewhere else in the apartment. "I think you left the water on Sam." He whispered for fear of giving away his presence.

Sam smiled. "Don't worry, I soundproofed my apartment so I could play my music as loud as I want and nobody complains. And that would be Star using the bathroom. She said she wanted to comb her hair." Rolling her eyes, Sam wandered towards the kitchen. "Typical."

Following Chaud's lead, ProtoMan went to the kitchen. "Star's here too?"

"Of course! You didn't think you were the only Navi to appear here, did you?"

Shrugging, the red Navi looked around, curious. "Well, no but…"

Just then, Starfire catapulted into ProtoMan. "PROTO!"

Stumbling forward, ProtoMan almost choked, then smiled. "Nice to see you too Starfire."

After everyone was seated, Sam served hot drinks for everyone since the weather was turning colder. Then she began answering questions. ProtoMan was first up. "What are we? I mean, we're not data any more…"

Starfire answered. "Proto…I…I think we're human."

Stunned, the red Navi sat back. "H-Human?"

Chaud was thoughtful. "That would make sense, I mean, you are humanoid Navis…why wouldn't you become real humans now that you're in the real world?"

Dropping some marshmallows into her hot coco, Starfire grinned. "It makes perfect sense. But do you think this is ShadowMan's doing?"

Sam was grim. "Who else could it be? It would explain the map we found at the crime scene."

Looking up sharply, Chaud seemed curious. "Map? What map?"

"We found a file that contained a map of Dentech city." Explained Sam.

The silver haired Navi slammed his fist down on the table. "He's going to take over the human world!"

"That seems to be the only logical outcome." Chaud remarked thoughtfully. "But, perhaps he only intended for himself to come through to this world. What if everyone else came through by accident?"

The weight of this statement hit Starfire. "You mean to say…he doesn't know that Proto and I are even in this world?"

"And Bass too. If ShadowMan can travel here as a solo Navi, then Bass can too." Pointed out the white haired boy.

Taking a sip of her tea, the young brunette considered the situation. "You two will have to go undercover. It's the only way he won't notice you."

Starfire fished a marshmallow out of her drink with a spoon. "You mean…dress and act like humans?"

"That's what I mean. But some things will have to change."

Suddenly uneasy, ProtoMan looked at Sam warily. "What do you mean by change?"

"Well, no offense ProtoMan, but your hair is a little noticeable."

"That's just because it's silver!"

"No, people dye their hair all the time. I'm talking about the length."

Scooting away from the table, ProtoMan was on the defense. "No way, you are NOT cutting my hair!"

Chaud remained calm. "Proto, what if ShadowMan recognizes you?"

"I don't care! Just leave my hair out of this!"

Sighing, Chaud set down his drink. "I didn't want to use this, but ProtoMan, if you keep it that length, someone might mistake you for a girl."

Freezing, ProtoMan thought about that option and frankly, the thought of being mistaken for a girl scared him more than the thought of getting his haircut. "Fine…" He sulked, slumping back into his chair. "But I won't like it."

Starfire grinned. "Ah, cheer up Proto! When we're back in the cyber world it'll grow back like that!" She snapped her fingers to emphasize her point.

So, almost an hour later, ProtoMan found himself staring in the mirror, running his hands through his new short silver hair. Looking at it from both sides, he spoke aloud even though nobody was there to hear him. "I don't like it."

Chaud had equipped ProtoMan with a black leather jacket, a pair of blue jeans and a red t-shirt as his new human attire. And before anyone asks, yes, he's wearing underwear. As much as Sam had tried, ProtoMan wouldn't give up his sunglasses.

Starfire poked her head in. "Hey, looking good!" She said, stepping in fully. Sam had let Starfire wear a pair of green gym shoes, blue jeans, and a lime green long sleeved t-shirt. Since she was a girl, Star was allowed to keep her long hair. Pushing her blonde bangs out of her eyes, Starfire reached up and ran a hand through ProtoMan's new short hair. "I think it looks pretty good on you."

Giving Star's hair a jealous look, ProtoMan shrugged. "I don't like it. My head feels too light without my ponytail. And how come you get to keep your hair?"

"Because I'm a girl and it's okay for girls in this world to have long hair. Oh! You said you had a splinter, let me take care of that." Removing the wood, ProtoMan watched as a dark drop of blood made its way to the surface. Starfire wrapped a small white strip of cloth around his finger. Leading ProtoMan out of the bathroom and into the family room, Starfire grinned. "Besides, it's only until we defeat ShadowMan."

ProtoMan smiled. "I suppose, but how is Bass supposed to recognize us in these getups?"

Biting her lip, Starfire stood with her back to the window. "I don't know. He should've found us by now. I'm getting worried about him."

Peering over Star's shoulder, ProtoMan felt his grin widen. "Don't worry Star. He found us."

The blue-eyed Navi stared at her partner. "Don't you mean 'he'll find us?'"?

"No, I mean he found us." Pointing out the window, the silver haired Navi could barely keep from laughing.

Standing on the railing of the fire escape, Bass had his back to Star and ProtoMan, cape flapping in the wind.

As her partner cracked up, Star strode over to the window. "Drama queen…" She muttered.

AUTHORS NOTE: Happy Sweet Sixteen HydraMan! May all your birthday wishes come true and may Bass never get his hands on that car you want. Heaven knows that if that happens it won't be good.