Thanks to my reviewer Lady Kyra 13 and my beta Angels 'n Dreams. Thanks especially to Angels 'nDreams for getting this chapter back to me quickly.
Verdana: I might mention that they both have very good stories too!
Me: right, thank you. They both have good stories as well. So, read them!
Viv: What happened to my caffe mocha I left sitting around?
Me: -looks around innocently- What caffe mocha?
Jordan: Viv, did you give her coffee? You know not to do that.
Viv: Sorry, I meant to drink it later.
Verdana: Oh come on already! This is not a story about coffee, it is an adventure story!
Me: Right! Here it comes then, impatient little characters
Odd: If it's coming, then stop babbling on and get to the story!
Me: Here it is:
Viv climbed out her window carefully, as not to awaken her Aunt, who was a very light sleeper.
"You ready?" she whispered under her breath as the others joined her. She was answered with a bunch of nodding heads. She jerked her head to indicate that they follow her. The gang crept slowly to the edge of the forest. Viv gave a few owl hoots then turned to the others.
"Let's get further into the cover of the trees before lighting the lamps." Aelita whispered back.
"Great idea. That way we won't wake them up." A hand brushed Viv's. If she hadn't known it was going to show up, she would have screamed. The hand locked around hers and led her into the trees. As she passed, Viv grabbed Aelita, who in turn grabbed Jeremie, who in turn grabbed Odd, etc. As soon as they had gone about a half mile, Viv stopped. She fumbled in her bag for a lamp and lit it. She nodded for the others to do that as well. Only then, they saw who had been guiding them. It was Carlos. He muttered something in very fast Spanish to Viv, who nodded.
"Carlos says we are almost to the mysterious cave. It's a good bet that no one will be inside. Come on, he says he'll lead us the rest of the way." Jeremie had been spending the trip thinking about how the Shadow could come back. He voiced his question aloud to the quiet forest, in French. Carlos turned and laughed.
"You French idiots. You find back up and load." Ignoring the stunned expression on their faces, Carlos continued. "I not stupid you know. Just because I wear less than you does not mean I know nothing of your culture." Touching Carlos on the arm, Viv said,
"Why don't we go to the cave now, Carlos." He nodded and headed off into the trees toward the cave. Jeremie felt like a complete idiot. It was so simple and yet none of them had thought about it, except, maybe Odd. Maybe. He frowned and tried to remember if Odd had ever mentioned that.
Meanwhile, Odd thought to himself- - didn't I tell Jeremy that he should try that? I was right and Eienstein was wrong! Score one for Odd Della-Robbia!- - While he was doing a sort of modified victory dance because of the trees, the others started after Viv and Carlos.
"Eep!" he called when he lost sight of them. Aelita, who was last in that line, reached back and grabbed Odd's arm and pulled him along, rolling her eyes. Eventually they were all standing in front of the cave entrance. Viv gulped and said,
"Well, then, let's go." She stepped into the dark hole and the others followed. No one noticed that Carlos had slipped back into the trees. It got lighter as they went down the tunnel. As Viv turned the last corner, she noticed the group of people kneeling on the floor, backs to them. She pulled up short and Jordan ran into her.
"Mmmph!" he said as he collided. She turned back and glared at him. Then she motioned for he others to get behind the rock that formed the corner.
"Just my luck; the one time I actually come in, I run into a meeting of criminals. Just wonderful"
Far, Far, Far Away
"Have you made my travel preparations, Enrico?" The Shadow was standing at the entrance to his lair. "It's time we pay my old home a visit, don't you think?" Then he laughed while the man next to him smirked. They disappeared in a flash of light.
Back in Puerto Rico
"Now my subordinates, let's get down to business. I want that computer operational within 24 hours, understand?" The man on the raised platform glared down at the others grouped around his feet. "Group two, I need that gem in order to proceed with the operation. It had better be here by tomorrow night."
Jordan, hidden behind the rock, recognized the thinly veiled threat and shuddered. He would hate to meet this guy face to face.
"Move it people!" the man shouted. Jordan's virus sensor was going wild, there was no doubt that this man was a virus. He heard footsteps up the tunnel and turned to warn the others.
"Uh, Viv…" Jordan tapped her shoulder. She slapped his hand away.
"What is it?"
"I think we have a problem…" she turned and found one of the man's minions standing over them. He gave a menacing laugh and prodded them all out form behind the rock.
"My Lord Panther! I found some little birdies." The man on the platform was turned away from them, but as they neared him, he turned around.
"You!" he sputtered at Viv. "You're supposed to be dead! I slit your throat myself; I watched you die!" Viv raised her eyebrows, looking very puzzled. "Never mind. I'll make sure you die this time. Lock them away in the back room!"
"But, my lord, is that wise? I mean, they could destroy the computer..." the man who had brought them in said in a nervous, agitated voice. "They are American. They could know how to break it."
"Fool! There is nothing they can do to the computer. None but one from my world can. Anyway, that is the only room with one exit. You will put them in there or suffer the consequences!"
The man huffed and said, "What about the scann..." he trailed off as the man turned and resumed his business. "Damn fool! His carelessness will be the end of him." the man mumbled under his breath as he escorted them from the room.
Outside the cave
Carlos moved toward the packs. He rummaged through the closest one and found what he was looking for. In his hand was a rectangular object wrapped in yards of very soft cloth. As he faded into the forest again, a few men made their way out of the cave and picked the bags up. Carlos surmised that they had been caught. He watched from the shadows of the trees; watching and waiting.
Inside the cave
The door clickes shut behind them and they could hear the lock. Viv glanced around for cameras and turned to Aelita. "If this is the computer Verdana came form, there should be a back up of her on it. Every time you use the scanners, the system creates a backup. If you can't access the one here, try getting the one from the laptop." Aelita nodded and went to the computer. Jeremy dug in his bag for the laptop.
"It's a good thing that they didn't search us." Viv smiled at Jeremie's remark. "Why search us, we're only kids, after all. It's not like we carry sharp objects around all the time."
"Verdana did." Odd mumbled.
"I'm in!" Aelita called and broke the awkward silence. They all crowded around the screen as Aelita typed in a code. The screen filled with a list of all the backups ever made on this unit. "There. That's her." Aelita pointed to a name in the lower half of the screen. "I'll just devirtualize her and we're good to go." She pushed a few buttons and something began to whir quietly. Suddenly, one of the scanners opened, and out popped Verdana, who collapsed. Odd ran over and sat her up.
"Uhnng." she mumbled. She shook her head and opened her eyes. "Odd? What are you doing here?"
"Ummm...you died and we had to bring you back from your back up...ummm-" "I remember. It's a common misconception that backups do not have all the memories of their original. Seeing as I'm the one you decided to resurrect, I'm now Verdana, with all her memories, might I add." The others nodded.
"This saves us loads of time." Viv said excitedly.
"Who would this girl be?" asked Verdana, noticing Viv for the first time.
"I'm Viv...your replacement of sorts" she smiled weakly, hoping that Verdana had understood the meaning.
"Ohhh...That makes sense. They couldn't just not have a new student show up that day, now could they?" Viv let out the breath she had been holding.
"Whew. I thought for a moment you wouldn't understand."
"Verdana, I'm afraid that I've got some bad news. Your brother has returned." Jordan told her as he helped her up.
"Thanks. This is disturbing news. I'll just have to make sure and get it right this time, now won't I?" She beamed at them. "I'm just glad that I get to see you guys again." she glanced around confused "Where are we, by the way?" Jordan stepped forward and answered.
"Ahh, well, as far as I can figure we are trapped in a room with the computer you came out of in the lair of a bunch of viral maniacs."
"Can you describe the head honcho to me? I might be able to identify him." Ulrich answered this question. "He was tall and had greenish black hair. Other than that, I don't know."
"I believe he was wearing a necklace with a claw on it." Yumi added.
"Oh! I think he had what looked like a crease for a third eye on his forehead!" Odd exclaimed. Verdana and Viv rolled their eyes in unison. Only Odd could think of something like that.
"From what you tell me, I believe it is SIRS."
"Sirs? What the heck is that?"
"Nasty little virus with a horrible temper. Not one of the big guys though. Not like X.A.N.A. How is he, by the way?"
Jeremie spoke up."Well, you see, we destroyed him about two months ago. Jordan is finally free, thanks to the info you gave me."
"It think I know my brother's plan. He wants to get all the viruses I destroyed to become his servants and take over the world, or universe, something like that. Anyway, he only needs one virus to complete his power. SIRS. I wondered why he was hiding in the real world. What do ya say to a bit of fun? I think we should make SIRS job a little harder, don't you?" Her eyes got that glint that they always had when she was ready for fun. She walked over to the computer and typed a series of very complex codes. Laughing, she went behind the computer and fumbled with some wires. She crossed some of them and put the others in the wrong places.
"That should keep him busy. You say the door is locked?' They nodded, "No problemo" She walked over to the door and pushed it aside, lock and all. Startled, the guard froze allowing Verdana to neutralize him. "Let's get out of here!" The gang fled down the hall and out into the main chamber. SIRS was shouting orders to a large number of his underlings.
"-what do you mean, it is not in the bags! She would not go anywhere without it! Find it you fools!" Five or six men left the group and went into a room off to the side. Viv felt terror grip her heart, knowing exactly what he was looking for, but scared that someone or something else had found it. Verdana crept around the wall, following the men to the room that held their packs. They others followed, not wanting to be left behind. A short while after they had disappeared down the hallway, SIRS decided to oversee the men's work personally.
Meanwhile, Verdana was dispatching the men with the help of Jordan and Ulrich. Viv and Yumi were searching for the packs, while Jeremie and Aelita looked for another exit. Once everything had been accomplished, they were about to leave when SIRS showed up.
"What the hell? Two dead people alive again! You, I felt you die! And you, I slit your throat!" He stopped raving for a moment and realized that they were not where they should be.
"How did you get out!" Verdana nodded to the others, who edged out of the room.
"SIRS, how nice to see you again. Hiding from my brother, I take it." With that, she made a lunge at him. In mid-lunge, she spun away and sprinted out of the room as SIRS flinched back. Seething with anger, SIRS leapt after her. Viv nodded to Verdana and led the group into the trees, with Carlos guiding them of course. They vanished into the forest as SIRS came out. Cursing wildly, he sprinted after them. No sooner than he was one with the shadows, a flash of bright light enveloped the clearing. The Shadow and his servant, Enrico, stood in front of the cave mouth. He wandered in and found the computer room. He touched the keyboard and it spit sparks at him. He gave a snort and wormed his way behind the unit. Seeing the crossed wires, he laughed.
"So you think you can outsmart me, SIRS. We'll see about that. Oh, we'll see about that!" He stood up and left the room. If he would have turned on the computer and seen the codes, he would have recognized his sister's style at once. As it was, he had no idea of her existence, but a slight twinge at the back of his neck.
"Enrico, round up as many of his servants as possible. We've got some conversions to do." He laughed sadistically.
Me: Back again!
Verdana: Can't you leave the poor people alone?
Me: No. Anyway, I'm having a poll about something. Which of you girls would like to explain it?
Odd: Poll? Really? Can I anounce it?
Verdana: Odd, GIRLS! Not you.
Odd: Oh.
Viv: I will! Okay thisis to find out which pairing you like best for the end of the story.Verdana and Odd, Viv and Jordan or Verdana and Jordan, Viv and Odd.
Me: please let me know in your review!
Odd: Viv, you left your coffee out again didn't you?
Viv:Yep!
Verdana: Okay, you know, read and review people! And make sure not to leave and virtual coffee laying around in your reviews, you never know where it might go...