Sorry everyone! I have been doing a lot of studying and have had a lot of deadlines at work. Here is a chapter on Mouse. Thank you my Guest reviewer (G) and medwards245 for your love of Mouse and making sure I hadn't been kidnapped. Please let me know what you think my reviewers. Love you all!3

Chapter 12

Mouse's POV

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I let out a loud breath of disapproving air. As I ran my fingers through my hair I said, "Green." both in disbelief and in chastisement.

Green hair seemed like a good idea when I had it done. I hadn't sported that color in a long time and all the green cloths I had were gathering dust. Not to mention I wanted to wear my Incredible Hulk Tee. I figured Bruce was moping around and I thought the Tee, along with a change of hair might lighten his mood. Like I said, it seemed like a good idea until, I got out of work and found a voice message from Lucas aka Cronus.

He had left me a message asking if I was free to go to a club or bar hopping tonight. I instantly text him a "Hell Yes!". To which he replied "Perfect! Pick you up at 8:30".

I flopped down on my bed. Lucas was one of the first people to realize that I wasn't one of those rich kids that got in to M.I.T by having her parents make a sizable donation. He noticed I had the skills and brought me into to the world of the Titans. The Titans were a group of hackers that got together every two weeks to talk Tech and hack into the latest installed security systems. The thought of all of us gathered around our computers, eating pizza, trading secrets, and improving our skills, made me smile.

There were seven of us, including myself and Lucas. I was the only one that didn't have a Greek Titan nickname. I kept Mouse but when we weren't around the other Titans Lucas always called me Andrea. I didn't like it when people used my real name, I preferred Andy. Andrea was my Grandmother who I remembered as being the kindest and wisest person I had ever met. Even though I was honored to be named after her, I knew I could never live up to her name. However, being around Lucas made me feel I could get close.

And YES I fell head over heals for him. I rolled my eyes at the ceiling. It wasn't love at first sight. It was something slow like a virus or hidden code. It was the little things. He was so kind to everyone around him. He always found time to help with the struggling students. I had seen him more than once helping some unsuspecting stranger with small things, like opening the door, or helping an older couple with a package that was more than they could manage. He was good. Even when we hacked he had a rule, everything we did was to gain knowledge and we were not allowed to alter anything. Everything we did had must undone and put back just the way we found it. He was different from the other boys at school who had to show off how much they knew. He knew how smart he was and that was enough.

I let out a slow sigh. No, I didn't know I was in love with him until I had a system meltdown. And that meltdown came in the form of Penny Taylor. Lucas's college girlfriend. She was perfect. She had that tennis body and tan. Completed with blond hair and bleach white smile. Lucas had brought her to one of our meetings when they started to go out and the pain I felt for the four hours while I was there was acute. When he introduced her to me I couldn't help but compare myself to her. She had perfect manners and she was wearing a khaki skirt and a baby blue fitting polo shirt. I was wearing black cargo pants, baggy Star Wars T-shirt, and my hair was a mix of blue and red. We were as different as night and day.

There was only one other girl in the Titans beside myself and that was Katie aka Phoebe. She and I had most of our math classes together. She had walked me out that horrible night and the moment replayed in my mind.

"You ok?" Katie asked.

"Yeah" I said with a smile "Why wouldn't I be?" I asked. Hoping I could keep up my pretence for a few more minutes.

"Look Mouse, I know you and Cronus hang out a lot. And we all kinda thought you two were hooking up on the side. So, if you want to..."

I cut her off, "We never hooked up. It's never been that way between us." I noticed my voice was low during the next sentence. "It's not like I am his type anyway, obviously. I'll catch you later, ok?"

I didn't wait for a response. I had gone to my apartment and ran into my room. I hadn't noticed I was crying until pulled my covers over my head. I stayed under there for the entire weekend. When I did drag my ass out of the covers from my privet pity party I had remembered something my Grandmother had told me when I started middle school. I had come home that day with six pink streaks in my hair, my first color. My mom and dad didn't know what to think but Grandma always knew what to say.

"Andrea, you are a smart girl. And you know yourself better than most of the girls your age." She slid her hands gently around my cheeks and smiled. "You have so much energy and light that you can't keep it to yourself." She grabbed a pink strand in her fingers and smiled. "Never keep your colors locked away. There will be people who won't understand but don't change Andrea. The people worth having in your life will except you just the way you are."

That memory was as hard to swallow the day after my pity party. I wanted Lucas to be attracted to me. But at the same time I knew my grandma was right. He had to like me for me.

Last month over our monthly beer, I had found out that Lucas and Penny had stopped seeing each other four months earlier. When I had ask if he was ok and why they had stopped dating, more to make sure she didn't break his heart than caring what happened to Penny, Lucas just shrugged, "She just doesn't understand the passion I have for the work I do. And why I don't have time for her any more. No one understands me like you.". And ever since then my hope that we could be a couple burned bright in my heart. I took a deep breath and pushed off my bed determined to throw Lucas for a loop.

Forty-five minutes later I was standing in front of the mirror in a green and black glittering tight halter top, black plaid mini skirt, and green glossy high heels. I was about to put on my blood red lipstick when my cell rang. The ID read Hyperion.

"Hyperion!"

"Mouse! How's it going? Staying out of trouble?" his voice was laced with fatherly concern.

Hyperion's real name was Dave. He was the eldest of all the Titans. He was married before he started M.I.T and had his first kid a month after graduation. He and his wife, Laura, were really cool and looked out for us like parents.

I giggled slightly, "I cover my tracks and watch my back. Haven't heard from you since graduation. How's Laura and the kiddo? Is he a chip off the old block?"

"Laura is good. She doesn't miss you guys raiding the fridge on Tech nights. And you should see Mike, he is growing up so fast. I'll send you pictures." I could hear his smile in his voice. Which brought a smile to mine.

"As far as raiding the fridge, you guys have the twins to blame for that. I don't think they ate all week until Tech meetings." I giggled again.

But Hyperion didn't laugh. Suddenly, I could feel the other side of the line get tense. I waited in the silence.

"Did you hear about the twins?" he said carefully.

"No... What happened?" I sat down on my bed.

He was thoughtful about the next words he used. "I don't know the whole story but the word is that they were hacking into government systems. I heard they were doing some major Blackhat activity. Well, about a month ago, they call me and tell me they got out hacked by a government watchdog!"

There was a deep tone of sarcasm in my voice "A watchdog? You can't be serious."

"I know. It's not the norm. Whoever this dog is, he is good. I've tried to get in contact with the twins since then but couldn't reach them. So I called Susie, the girl who Mac was dating. She was so happy to hear from one of the group. Apparently, she was hanging out with the twins when a couple of black suits, claiming to be the cops, showed up. They said that the twins had to come with them and that they were under arrest. But when Susie asked where she could post bail or see Mac, the cops gave her the silent treatment and took the twins."

My mind was trying to work through everything I had just heard. And before I could stop my self my theories started to spill out.

"CIA?...FBI?"

"Not sure. But it sounds government to me." he confirmed.

Oh guys what did you get your selves into? "Do you know what government systems the twins were hacking into?"

I heard Hyperion blow out a long breath, "No idea. Why?"

"Just thinking I would like to meet this dog." the last word was a curse.

"Leave it alone Mouse. The twins weren't exactly standup guys. The reason I called was to warn you. I know how much you like using other people's software. Just lay low for awhile." the fatherly advice was poring out of him.

"No one deserves to be dragged out their home. All I got to say is that this watchdog better not cross my path." I wasn't even sure why I was so upset with the whole situation. Hyperion was right the twins were jerks.

"Mouse, just be careful. huh? I do not want to hear that you got abducted by some black suits."

I take a deep breath and smile because I know he means well. "I will be careful. Tell Laura hi for me will ya?"

"Sure thing. Catch ya later." And then the line was silent.

The phone call suddenly gave the night a bad feeling. I shivered slightly. So many questions had been brought up and so few answers. I didn't like it.

I jumped almost off the bed when the door bell sounded loud in the silence. Lucas was here. I went to the mirror and straightened out my skirt. The watchdog would have to wait. This was my night. mine. and Lucas's. I smiled with exhilarating anticipation.