A/N: Wow, I'm so, so, SO sorry for not updating sooner than this. Sometimes life just seems to have it out for me. :P Technically, I probably shouldn't be spending time on this right now, either, but I didn't want to delay it any more than I already have. Things will be a lot less chaotic during the next two weeks (hopefully), so I'll be making up for this by updating more often during that time. In the meantime, thank you so much everyone for being so patient with me!

This chapter contains quite a bit of exposition, unfortunately, but I promise it's not just filler. Everything said during this chapter will be coming into play much later on in a very important way. So, yeah, if you skim past the "boring" parts, you won't understand anything that's happening later on. Sorry.

I don't have time for individual review replies today. But I hope you all still realize how much your reviews mean to me. They are appreaciated much more than I can ever say. So big thanks to Dirtkid123, PurpleNicole531, Stardust16, BluePeach007, Sarcasmisinmyblood, and BasketballQueen (and Katrine!) for reviewing last chapter. Thanks so much! And a huge welcome to CrazyChristianCowgirl! Thanks for joining the story and I hope you enjoy!

"Never fear shadows. They simply mean that there is a light shining somewhere nearby."

Chapter 7: St. Louis

The sun was just peeking over the horizon when they pulled into St. Louis, Missouri, over five hours after leaving Lexington. They needed to acquire some funds before purchasing a ticket to Kansas City, so they headed into a small shopping district in search of any kind of pawn shop. Because of the early hour there weren't a lot of shoppers out yet, but there were still quite a few people running errands and grabbing breakfast before heading to work. Luckilly, they were all in too much of a hurry to pay any attention to two teens wandering down the sidewalk - although Andy did manage to draw a few odd looks from people thanks to his habit of staring curiously at everyone he passed. Chase finally decided to leave the android contently staring into the window of a restaurant and continued the search on his own.

After selling off the small assortment of items Andy had collected during their trip - except for the broken watch, which Andy had refused to part with - Chase left the pawn shop and headed back down the street to retrieve his traveling companion. Unfortunately, the thrift store owner hadn't been willing to pay too much for the sunglasses, yo-yo, Sharpie markers, toy dinosaur, and other fairly useless junk, but at least they had enough to get to Kansas City.

Chase found Andy still standing at the window. "Okay," he said. "We'd better head to the bus station."

"Humans are fascinating," Andy commented as he fell into step beside Chase. "However, I fail to see why they are so prone to anger and frustration."

"Most people don't like being stared at while they eat," Chase told him.

Andy's forehead wrinkled slightly. "But it is customary for them to stare at each other during other times. For instance, when making speeches or playing sports."

Chase nodded, barely focusing on the conversation at this point. He was getting used to Andy's total failure at understanding basic human concepts.

"So, how would one determine whether or not it is an appropriate time to stare?"

"It's just something that comes naturally."

"There should be a guide book on proper human interactions." The android was about to comment further on the topic when he looked up and noticed Chase's expression. "Are you alright? You look... disconcerted."

"I'm fine."

"You do not look fine."

Chase sighed. "Okay, I think something is going wrong with my bionics and I'm trying to deal with it the best I can right now."

"Would you mind being more specific?"

There was something in Andy's voice that made Chase hesitate in answering. "Why do you ask?"

"We are about to embark on a trip that will last a minimum of three hours," Andy said, his tone implying that the answer should be obvious. "In light of the fact that our means of transportation is a bus filled with dozens of other people, it would be inadvisable to enter those circumstances without being certain that you will not have what I believe is referred to as a glitch. In other words, I wish to ascertain whether or not it is safe to travel on the bus."

"Of course it is." Chase's stubborn side refused to let him slow down their progress, but he also needed to consider what Andy had pointed out. It was true that he should be completely sure of himself before leaving St. Louis. He definitely didn't want a repeat of what happened in Mt. Sterling. With a sigh, he admitted, "Okay, I think that when I hit my head in the warehouse I must have jarred something loose with my bionic chip. My system seems overly sensitive. And I've also had a few weird things going on with my thoughts."

"Interesting," Andy said. "The best course of action would be to run a diagnostic. Unfortunately, I know very little about bionics."

"I know pretty much everything about them," Chase told him. "I've helped my dad and uncle a lot when they have to adjust our chips. We'll need a computer, though."

"It is still early in the day," Andy pointed out. "Perhaps we can locate a computer store that has not yet opened."

Chase looked at him in surprise. "You are actually suggesting breaking into a store?"

"I do not see an alternative in this situation. And we shall not be taking anything, merely using a computer for the duration of the diagnostic."

"Okay, then let's go find a computer store."

Nova Base
Training Facility

As she walked casually through the large training gym, she couldn't help noticing all the furtive glances sent her way. It didn't matter to her. She really couldn't care less what they thought of her. Reaching her favorite place in the room, she leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms in front of her chest. With her black baseball cap pulled down almost over her eyes, she watched intently as the various trainees sparred in the center ring. Several of the younger recruits were doing rather well. They were quick and agile and were being taught all the best techniques. Still, she knew that there wasn't a single one of them she couldn't take down.

"Hey," one of the trainees called to her from the fighting area. "Instead of just watchin' us all the time, why don't you come try to take one of us?"

Without moving her head, she gave this challenger a cursory glance. He was young - probably no more than ninteen - and he stood at least six feet tall. He was wearing a tight tee-shirt with the obvious intent of showing off his enormous muscles. A cocky grin seemed to be ever-present on his rather blank face.

A dumb jock.

The apraisal finished, she simply shook her head and remained where she was. It was almost pathetic how little of a challenge this guy would be for her. The fight would be over before he even realized he was on the floor. And if there was no challenge, there was no interest in it for her.

Several of the trainees scoffed and made whispered jokes to each other. She knew what they were saying. She didn't care. She knew she was the best; it didn't matter who else knew it. The certainty that she couldn't be beaten by anyone meant that she also did not feel the need to prove it. It would simply waste time and energy that she'd rather be putting into something useful. Something exciting.

Ah, speaking of exciting...

A small man with dark hair was approaching. She immediately recognized Cowan and it actually took a little effort to keep from looking too eager when he suddenly walked up to her.

"The target has been sighted in St. Louis," Cowan said, keeping his voice low so no one would overhear. "Take your squad and scout out the whole area. As soon as you get a positive sighting, put a tail on the target and then report your findings back to us. You ready to leave right away?"

A pair of brown eyes glared back at him from under the rim of that baseball cap. Of course she was ready. She was more than ready to get out of this stupid facility and back in the field.

Knowing he wasn't going to get a verbal answer, Cowan said, "Okay, then grab your squad members and get out there."

She nodded and walked as casually as possible out of the main training room. Pausing in the hallway outside, she allowed herself one quick smile of victory before she pulled out her communicator and pressed the transmit button. "Blackbriar Squad, this is Blackbriar One," she said into the device. "We have a mission. Prepare to head out."

"Alright, I'm going to start the scan now," Chase said.

They had set up their work station in the back work area of a computer repair shop. Together, they'd assembled their own diagnostic station using various components from around the store. Andy was now seated on a stool in front of the makeshift computer, getting it ready to receive the data from Chase's chip; he had to stack a couple of phone books on top of the stool before it was high enough for him to reach the keyboard properly. After typing out a few commands, he nodded to Chase.

"You may begin now."

Chase set up a wireless link with the computer and began the diagnostic scan, feeding the results onto the monitor for Andy to evaluate. It took several minutes and the android's expression never changed as he scrolled through the long columns of information. As soon as the scan was complete, he began sorting the data to pull out the most important facts.

"Well?" Chase asked, leaning in to get a look over Andy's shoulder.

The little android turned to him and paused as if trying to choose his words correctly. He finally began, "The scan shows that your bionic chip is mostly intact and operating excellently. However, it appears to be out of its proper alignment and, as a result, its link to your nervous system has been greatly compromised." He turned back towards the monitor to point to a few lines of data. "It appears that your system became damaged a few days ago and this damage led to a faulty connection between you and your bionics. That would explain the change in your heightened senses. The signals they are sending to your brain are being tampered with by your chip, so the signals come through less muted than they would have previously. It is also the most likely reason for your slowed healing rate."

"You said my bionic chip is mostly intact. What happened to it?"

"It appears to have been harmed as well. Thankfully, the damage is minimal and only a few minor apps were affected. However, the memory log on the chip has lost its link with the memory core of your human brain, which would account for your failure to overcome your partial amnesia. Ordinarily this link would prevent such an occurance, but your brain must now recall these lost memories without the aid of your backup log. This is not a task which it is accustomed to, so it may take some time. As for the amnesia itself, I believe we can blame the injury on your head for that."

"Which apps were damaged?"

"I am currently attempting to figure that out. It appears that most of the damage was centered around this app," he pointed to a file on the screen, "which is a form of personality alteration."

"Personality alteration?"

"Correct. The app appears to contain latent personality traits which are triggered by certain changes in the chemical levels in your brain."

Chase suddenly realized what Andy must have discovered. "My commando app," he said. "It's a defense mechanism that someone gave me. What damage was done to it?"

"It appears to have been slightly destroyed. The app is no longer active and cannot respond to stimuli from your brain anymore. In other words, it has been deactivated. As for the programming itself, that has been partially transferred into the chip's connective network. Specifically, it seems to have shifted to the part of your chip responsible for linking your bionic and biological systems."

"So, I now have part of that program permanently active in my system," Chase said quietly. His mind wandered back to the previous night when he'd almost hurt those teens. "It couldn't possibly take control of my system, though, could it?"

"As stated, I have very little knowledge in the field of bionics," Andy reminded him. "However, I do not believe that is possible. The app which would have taken control is no longer active. The programming that was 'leaked', if you will, to the rest of your system is simply a protocol program. It contains nothing more than the personality traits contained within the original app. You may feel those traits in the form of strong emotions, mood swings, and hostile inclinations, but you will still be in full control."

Chase nodded slowly. That meant that he was still morally responsible for anything he might do as a result of that aggression. He began to wonder what he might have already done because of it. Remembering his dream about Adam, he asked, "Does the computer log say when all of this damage occurred?"

Andy scanned through several more files before finding something useful. "According to this, the chip became damaged two and a half days ago. More specifically, on Sunday night shortly before midnight. It was mostly caused by a serious displacement of the bionic chip, presumably the result of some form of blow to the head. I recall that you did have a rather severe head wound when I discovered you later that night."

"Yeah, I think I might have fallen through a roof." Chase was a little concerned by that information; it meant that his system was still operating perfectly when that fight with Adam happened - if it happened at all. His eyes scanned over the information on the computer screen once again as he tried to take in everything he'd learned. "So, to sum this up, my memory might take longer than usual to come back, I have a slower healing rate, and my commando app has been deactivated. In addition to that, I now have heightened super senses and a new aggression-based personality disorder."

"That would be an accurate appraisal," Andy replied.

"Just great," Chase said sarcastically. "So now I have to worry about all of that in addition to being the center of a manhunt."

Techinically, he knew he was lucky that his system hadn't taken more of a beating after all he'd been through, but the nature of the damage was what concerned him the most. He often helped Mr. Davenport fix the students' bionics whenever they became injured during training sessions or any of the many mishaps at the academy, but he'd never encountered something like this before. There was no way of knowing whether or not the damage was permanent without a more thorough scan. He needed Mr. Davenport and Douglas to take a look at this.

But first I have to find them.

They took apart their makeshift computer and scanning tool - Andy also insisted that they return everything to its proper place in the shop - before exiting the building and hurrying to the bus station. Their newfound cash was barely enough to purchase the bus tickets to Kansas City. Chase took the window seat so he wouldn't be as visible to the other passengers and Andy happily took the aisle seat where he immediately began observing the people in the seat across the aisle. Unfortunately, neither of the boys noticed they were also under observance the entire time. As soon as the bus pulled out of the station, a teenaged girl in a baseball cap slipped out of the crowd and turned on her wrist communicator.

"Nova Base, this is Blackbriar One," she said quietly, never taking her eyes off the departing bus. "We have visual. The targets are heading for Kansas City."

Nova Base
Central Facility

Cowan walked up to the desk less apprehensively this time. "Leader," he said, "Blackbriar Squad has sighted the target and the accomplice leaving St. Louis on a bus. They sent one of their squad members on that bus to keep an eye on them."

"What is their intended destination?"

There was something unsettling about that cool, smooth voice and Cowan couldn't help an involuntary shiver. "Kansas City," he stated. "So they are heading west. It looks like you were right."

A thin smile spread over the Leader's face. "They are coming home after all."

A/N: BluePeach007, you had it mostly correct when you said Spike was deactivated. Btw, I apologize to any Spike fans for doing that, but he really would have gotten in the way later on. Besides, this will all become important near the end of the story.

Thanks for reading! Again, I hope to be updating more frequently, starting next week. Once things settle down a bit, I'm hoping to start following an actual schedule (like once a week, or maybe twice a week) but I'll have to see what happens. Thank you so much for your patience everyone!