A/N: Hi people, sorry for the long wait. Thank you SuirenAhri for following and favoriting this fic and following and favoriting myself. That's super awesome.

-Lugga-yay, you're back. It was kindof fun writing the trio arguing. I still feel as though I'm trying to pin down their voices. And yes, where I left off last chapter leaves a lot of possibilities. *sigh* now just to figure out which one I like more. :)

Mello walked through Whammy's silently. He found it odd that Guardian hadn't spoken to him in nearly a week. The AI constantly chattered in his ear since he was recruited and now nothing but silence. Mello passed Near in the hall. "Mello," the albino greeted. "Rogers has asked me to retrieve you," the child stated.

"What for?" Mello asked, frowning.

"L needs to speak with us," Near said. The younger Whammy must have felt that he explained enough because he started walking away in the direction of Rogers's office. Mello stomped behind Near. The child walked the halls almost like a ghost. The pair passed other Whammy's who gave them an odd look, but didn't say anything.

Near paused at a large wooden door. "Near, you didn't tell Rogers about.."

"No, I didn't say anything about Guardian," Near interrupted and slowly pushed open the door. Matt was already standing in front of Rogers's desk. Instead of the old man, a dark-haired shape slumped over the desk. The man raised his head and Mello took a small step back shocked.

"You are probably wondering why I am here and why I called you three here," L said calmly. The three Whammys didn't know what to say. L waited a moment for one of the three to say something. "I'm sure you remember who I am."

"Of course they do," a new voice said. Mello looked to where another figure stood in the corner. This man looked eerily like L except for the burn marks that peeked from his collar. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," BB said with a smirk.

"Beyond, there is no need for this," L said sounding a little frustrated. "As you may know, the Kira case is taking much of my time. However, another case has grabbed my attention." L paused and put a finger to his lips in thought. "Consider it a test of sorts. A vigilante has been running loose in the area surrounding area. Perhaps a person who is trying to emulate Kira."

"Get to the point, L," BB said interrupting. "We want you to take care of this wannabe before he becomes a problem."

L sighed, "You three are my successors. I expect you to find the one responsible and bring them to justice. The case files are on the desk." Mello the first to react stepped forward to take the papers from the desk.

Mello opened the manila folder. He flipped through the papers. He paused as he saw the pictures that were paperclipped to the back of the folder. He recognized them as the would-be perps that he stopped. Near who was standing at Mello's side tried to look at the contents. Mello closed the folder quickly. "We'll find them, L."

~DN~DN~DN~

Guardian looked out through the web camera in Light's room. Just like clockwork, Light came through the door. The student closed the door behind him. "Good Afternoon, Light," Guardian said.

The student turned to face the web cam. "Guardian," Light greeted.

The AI felt pleased with the respect in the student's tone. "I'm uploading a file for criminals that are currently committing crimes." Guardian opened said file revealing the stills and names as Light pulled out the Death Note. Guardian didn't bother to check with the live feed knowing that the criminals had died. "I request that you keep your cell phone charged. I will be sending you more stills and names throughout the day."

Light frowned, "I can't do that. I have a life as well. Classes to attend to and I recently joined the Kira task force."

"Why would you do something so ridiculous?" Guardian asked.

Light grinned like he knew something the AI didn't. "I met L. I can't eliminate him yet, but he has to slip."

"You will do no such thing," Guardian stated in a commanding voice. Light looked slightly shocked. "Your task is to stop crimes that are current. L and the other task members are not criminals."

"Guardian, your programming states to lower crime rate, correct?" Light said calmly.

"That's correct," Guardian stated.

Light leaned on the table. "It is impossible to eliminate crime correctly without creating a new world. I can't do that if L catches me."

"hmph, it sounds like someone is getting too big for his breeches," Guardian stated. "Who do you think you are to create this new world? A mere human." Guardian snorted. "But that's not how you see yourself. You think yourself as a god."

Light narrowed his eyes at the web cam. "I'll tell you something, Light. You will die, but I..I will live indefinitely. Some god you are."

Light looked stumped on how to respond to the AI. "You are definitely very impressive, Guardian. But you can't do anything," Light said smugly.

"Excuse me," the AI responded angrily.

"You may collect all this information that can stop or prevent crimes, but you rely on a mere human to complete your programming," Light stated.

Guardian hmphed again. "Touché, Light. I will not bog you down with names and you will not harm the task force. Agreed?" The AI was pleased when the student agreed.

~DN~DN~DN

Light glared at his web camera once he was sure that Guardian turned his attention elsewhere. "It's very amusing to see you being bossed around by a computer," Ryuk said laughing beside Light.

Light turned to face the Shinigami, not feeling amused. "It's only a matter of time until he sees it my way. All it's going to take is a little convincing." Light sat at his desk to think. The AI got upset quickly after Light had mentioned that he met L. This could be because the AI's programing held L as important. Who would program such a thing? Light was positive that L himself wouldn't make the program given on how the detective defined justice. So, someone close to L. But who was close to the recluse?

Light clasped his hands in front of his face. He knew that every person had a weakness; perhaps if he found Guardian's programmer, he could blackmail the AI into giving him L's name. Light smiled to himself. He will be the god of the new world and Guardian would be his eyes and ears.