The computer screen blinked to life. Captured in its ominous glow was the scene of Principal's office. Battlefront members moved back and forth on the monitor.

That computer's light was one of many, creating a dim, ghostly sheen of artificial light in the room. From every screen a different view was visible: a busy hallway, laughing students on the track, the empty principal's office. A screen displayed spiraling green programming scrolling across the black background.

Something moved in the unclear illumination. A figure, neither short nor tall, not fat nor thin. The figure drew near the screen showing the assembly, and paused, details masked by the shadows. Something moved, and a mouse began to click, the minute sounds the only disturbance of the total silence.

The output was becoming more then troubling. The output was approaching unacceptable.

In the distance, a tremor shook through the earth, causing the room's monitors to shudder slightly. Computers quaked. Osiris didn't shift.

In recent days, he sometimes thought the shakes intensity was increasing. But considering their source, that was illogical. And therefore, impossible.

Osiris was quite displeased with the Battlefront. As the organization had grown in size, his displeasure had increased accordingly. The Battlefront had begun to exhibit exactly what he had been placed here to prevent.

But then, there was the being known as Angel. Thanks to the conflict between it and the Battlefront, balance had been maintained, and Osiris was able to rest.

Another quake rumbled under him, he didn't blink. To his right, a glowing screen dipped down a degree. A pearly white appendage reached out, and restored it to perfection.

But now, stimulus had created an irregularity. Some other entity had arrived on the plane, and since that point, order had deteriorated. The balance between the Battlefront and Angel had been lost, and the attempt to remedy the issue had similarly failed. All of because of the same, encroaching threat.

The virus. Every day that passed, its hold on this world grew firmer. He was called by the syntax of his creation to destroy it, to preserve this world. So it had been ordained, by his maker. The Creator.

B: And Men

"Fred, I'm hungry," Luke whined.

"We haven't completed an Operation tornado in several days," Elliot noted. "Food-money is becoming dangerously low."

"We wouldn't be out if you guys didn't pig out all the time," Julie nagged. "If you're not careful, you'll all get really fat. You'll get bloated, and you'll thighs will blow up like balloons-"

"I bet you've had a lot of experience with that," Harry crowed. "Hehe-HACK-" his laughter was interrupted by the sudden attempt of a pillow to force its way down his throat.

"Easy, you two," Richie chastised, gently lifting Julie away from Harry's heaving form. "Lack of food is no laughing matter."

Grumbling to herself, Winnie brought up their mission-program on the projector. Mike smiled at her. It was so nice being back with all of the Battlefront, like waking from a bad dream. Now, he could clearly remember what it had been like back when he was alive. It had been a struggle to talk to anyone, to get to know anybody, simply because he hadn't cared enough to go through the trouble. Getting to know people was hard.

But know, he couldn't image not taking the trouble to get to know all the people around him. They were amazing, slightly exuberant, but they were his friends. What had changed? He was still the same person, wasn't he?

As the projector blinked on, Mike looked at his hands. He didn't feel apathetic. Honestly, apathy just sounded really boring.

"All right, chumps," Fred barked. "Change of plans. Today, we execute Operation: Monster Stream." Behind her, the screen flashed the title.

"Monster stream!" came the gasp.

"Look'en at all the lonely people, man," TK whistled.

Mike gulped. M-monster stream? "Wait, hold on! You mean, this world has monsters!" he whimpered. His imagination immediately supplied with a sufficiently disturbing image of toothy, vicious looking creature. At least that part of him hadn't changed.

"Indeed," Elly solemnly replied.

"Oh, totally," Julie sniped, glaring at Harry.

Harry ignored her. "In Monster Stream, we go down to the river to collect food."

"But that's…" Mike blinked. "But… that's fishing."

"Yep. Got a problem with that?"

One of these days, Mike seethed to himself. One of these days, I'm not going to let them carry me away like that, and I am going to be cool and reserved. And I won't imagine something stupid.

"Two tickets to paradise, dude!"

"You're certainly happy," Emmanuel observed wryly. "You have a good breakfast, or something?"

TK only danced happily. Hoping up, he slid down the stair's railing, chuckling in appreciation.

The rest of the Battlefront's combat division trooped down the stairs after him. The concrete groaned and stretched beneath them as it warmed up, insects buzzing from spot to spot. The gymnasium cast a shadow over the tree's to their left, leaving the leaves a dark green.

"Hey, has anyone seen Hannah?" Luke asked, looking around. He glanced up at the building roofs above them, as if Hannah might at any moment swoop down on them.

Julie frowned. "Maybe she's sleeping? Honestly, that's what I think she's up to when she disappears like this. Taking cat naps!" With a loud snore, she began to mimic the action.

Winnie strode ahead of the group, hands behind her back as she marched. "Actually," she called back in a serious tone. "Hannah is out on a special mission. There's a very important task I asked her to complete. She-"

"Fred, you know you're really cute when you act all serious like that," Harry smiled from beside her. "Like one of those chicks from James Bond, only not as tall-"

The noon day sun shimmered down on the company as they left behind the last school building and started through the gardens. Harry rubbed his bruised shoulder, muttering something about ingratitude.

Richie the fifth was informing them about the various types of fish in the school's river, and which went best with butter and lemons, when Mike stopped. He squinted, seeing a shimmer of white moving out among the rows of basil and mint. He started as he recognized the shape, and broke away from the group. They slowed as he left, looking after him in confusion. They only came to a shuddering, total halt when they saw his destination.

Mike came within a few feet from Angel. Then he stopped, and swallowed.

Kneeling, her shoulders were buried in the twisting leaves of the flower bed. A straw sun hat winked back at him, perched on her head. After a few moments, she paused. With one fluid motion, she stood up, brushing off her hands on an apron.

Angel appraised him for a moment. Her face was barely visible under the visor of her hat. "Hello, Mr. Carter," she spoke. She glanced behind him at the rest of the Battlefront, gaping at her in various degrees of horror. "And your friends? Are they all alright? There is no more danger?"

"Oh-no, Mrs. Robinson!" he stammered. "No, we're fine. We've sorted it all out; the new Student Body President is actually a human, just like us. We're all really thankful for everything you did to help. Aren't we guys?" he called back. They gaped back at him in disbelief.

Mike grimaced, and scratched the back of his neck. "So, what are you up to? You know, now that you don't have to run the council anymore."

She held the trowel in her hand up to the light. "I am working for the gardening club. The garden needed to be weeded."

All by yourself, Mike thought. That isn't fair! "But, wait," he protested. "Isn't weeding, like really tough? I mean, you get thorns in your hands, and dirt gets everywhere, and well… I suppose you being the way you are, little things like thorns wouldn't be able to harm you. But still, you shouldn't have to… I mean, you shouldn't be here, all a…"

He trailed off. Angel stared at him blankly. Her brow creased.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand," she said eventually.

Mike nervously toed a vine. He had to do something. Even angels could get lonely. "Well, look… Wanna come with us? We're going fishing, at the river. I'd love it if you came along."

Angel blinked. "The river? But, the river is out of bounds to students. It is dangerous."

"Aw, don't worry! You're not on the student council anymore, remember? It's fine to just relax, and go and have fun once in a while."

"But I am still a student, and the river is out of-" Angel began to protest, when Mike leaned forward to catch her wrist. "Come on," he smiled, and pulled her off with him.

At the arrival of their enemy, The Battlefront immediately shifted into a defensive formation. TK, Richie, Jake and Emmanuel formed a defensive line, their weapons gleaming in readiness. Behind the bristly wall of blades, the others popped up, guns gleaming nervously. Julie was having a panic attack at the rear.

Winnie stood in front of the group, pistol trained on Angel's forehead. "Mike, get over here," she hissed. "I don't want to have to clean you up off of the path."

Aw, geez… Mike nudged Angel for reassurance, but she didn't seem overly concerned. In one motion, she blinked. Clumps of weapons tittered with her movement.

"Come on guys, calm down," Mike said quickly. "This isn't necessary! Look, I'm still alive. She isn't going to hurt anyone."

"What if it's a trap?" Richie's nervous voice rang out from the huddle. "She's using you as some kind of twisted bait, and the moment we get to close…. ZAP!" The others nodded in rapt agreement.

Mike knuckled his forehead. "Have you forgotten that she saved all of our butts, back when Albert tried to depress us to death? No offence Albert."

"Um…" the new Student Body President muttered.

Winnie narrowed her eyes. "That's just because she was trying to maintain order." She glared across the path at the shorter girl, her lips curling in fury. Mike wasn't sure, but he thought he felt Angel shudder beside him. "We can't trust her, Mike. Because of who she is, and what she represents."

Mike swallowed. "I understand that. But… I think she's lonely. She's different from us, so what? What's wrong with her going fishing?"