Last chapter, resolves a few things, but leaves a whole lot more hanging... ;)

15.

Homecoming

The portal led the cybercraft straight to the control room at Control Central. Quickly bringing the craft to a halt before it ran into something in the cramped room, Inez landed the craft and opened the cockpit. She was greeted by the warm glow of the lights back at their proper lighting, and her friends, all back to normal, their eyes glowing only with the delight that Inez and Shari had come back safely.

Thrilled by it all, Inez raced forward and grabbed the closest person to her, Matt, in a hug.

“Oh, um...” Matt said, blushing, and flabbergasted by the awkward situation.

“Thank goodness you’re all back to normal!” Inez said with great relief.

“Well, um, thank goodness you were there to get us back to normal.” Matt answered lamely. “And that you’re safe.”

“Indeed.” Motherboard added from her screen. “For a moment, I was afraid I would be too late.”

“You almost were.” Inez admitted, shivering at the memory. “We cut it a whole lot closer than I cared to admit.”

“At least we’re all safe.” Digit said, joining in on the hug Inez was still giving Matt.

Realizing this, Inez released Matt. “Um, thanks.” she said.

“No, thank you.” Marbles said, stepping up. “You and Shari singlehandedly have saved Cyberspace.”

“Well, one quarter of it, anyway.” Shari said, joining the conversation. “Hi Matthew. How are you feeling?”

“Normal.” Matt said, rubbing the back of his head. “Which is kinda odd, all things considered.”

“I gotta know.” Inez said, breaking down to her curiosity. “What was it like, being so evil?”

“Well, I don’t...really...know.” Matt admitted.

“You don’t know?” Shari asked.

“See, we don’t really remember.” Jackie explained. “Just bits and pieces of it.”

“I cannot even remember the entire incident.” Motherboard said. “It is bothersome. I know there is something I should know, that I learned during all of this, but I have forgotten what it was.”

“Perhaps the weapon affected the impulses of memory in all of us, scrambling them, and thus erasing them.” Marbles reasoned.

“Well, whatever the case, it’s probably for the better.” Digit remarked. “Who’d want to remember that instant, anyway?”

“For learning some of the things Hacker is doing that he would normally keep secret.” Motherboard answered.

This drew the attention of the others. “Are you implying that you know something about Hacker that you didn’t before?” Marbles asked.

“I am implying nothing, Marbles.” Motherboard said. “It is a possibility we must consider though.”

“But it looks like that if we did know anything new about Hacker, it’s long gone now.” Matt mumbled.

“Oh well, it’s a small loss, I think.” Inez said. “I think the real gain here is that we stopped Hacker.”

“Yes, we did.” Shari said, looking proud of herself.

“But that does not get rid of Hacker, or the threat he presents.” Motherboard pointed out.

“No, it doesn’t.” Matt agreed. “Hacker will still be out there to come back again.”

“But I think it’s safe to say that we’ve dealt hacker a big blow, and I think it’s going to be a little while before he tries anything again.” Inez said, sounding confident.

This seemed to be enough for the others, who all nodded in agreement.

“Shari,” Motherboard said, changing the subject. “I will open a portal so that you can return to Frogsnorts. I am sure you are anxious to resume your studies.”

Shari nodded. “That I am, Motherboard.” she said, then waved as the portal opened. “Bye guys. See you next time.”

Inez watched her step through the portal, returning the wave happily, but deep down, doubt tugged at her mind. She had said that Hacker would be not trying a new evil plan for awhile, and sounded confident. But now she wasn’t feeling like it. She hoped that she was right...

Hacker strolled through the corridors of the Grim Wreaker, determining all of the damage the ship held at the moment. It had a dented and slightly scratched hull from the time the anger collapsed on the ship, and he never permitted Buzz and Delete to repair it fully. The experimental retention room he had designed to imprison the Cybersquad still remained in the destroyed it had been left in when the Cybersquad escaped, and Hacker had never gotten around to repairing it. And now there was all the minor damage that had been caused in the fight with the Earth brat Inez and her annoying witch friend, Shari that will need to be repaired.

It was quite a list. And personally, he was of the opinion to just ignore it. It didn’t really affect the Wreaker’s systems, and he had more important things to concentrate on at the moment.

Currently, he had Buzz and Delete fly the Wreaker back to the Northern Frontier. As they went, Hacker had jettisoned the now useless superweapon. He had no need for it now, and if his future plans were going to work, he’d probably need the hanger bay for use as a hanger bay again. He then went to his lab to make a few final touches on his next evil scheme. It was now ready.

Now he was heading for a certain spot in the Wreaker that had been seldom visited as of late, and it contained something very important to Hacker’s plans. Buzz and Delete had been referring to it as the secret-thing-they’re-not-supposed-to-talk-about-no-matter-where-they-were-unless-the-boss-says-otherwise, and he was very pleased they were taking the matter so seriously. Because it was that secret. His next major plan depended upon this one thing.

Upon reaching the room in question, he opened the door and stepped inside. The room was sparsely furnished except for a control panel and chair over to one side with a few objects stacked upon it. In the middle of the room was a small cage. Inside it, sitting, was Hacker’s prisoner.

“Oh, look, it’s Mr. Green Face.” the prisoner remarked flatly.

Hacker frowned. “Still have your attitude, I see.” he remarked.

“The cage helps.” the prisoner remarked. “Makes it fester, see.”

“It isn’t getting you anywhere, though, now is it?” Hacker asked.

“A lot of things aren’t getting me anywhere.” the prisoner said, then changed the subject. “I suppose you’re here to gloat. Finally got control of Cyberspace?”

“Not yet.” Hacker admitted. “But I will soon.”

“If I may ask, what’s the hold up?”

“One of your friends threw a wrench in the gears in my plans.” Hacker admitted again.

“How so?” the prisoner asked, suddenly curious. “They didn’t stop you, did they?”

“As a matter of fact, they did.” Hacker said. “The superweapon has been disabled, and the damage done has been reversed.”

The prisoner brightened. “Well, that’s good then!” he remarked without thinking.

But Hacker smiled, not at all the expression you’d expect from someone who had just been defeated.

“Not good, then.” the prisoner amended, seeing Hacker’s smile.

“It’s good for me.” Hacker said.

“But then, I don’t get it.” the prisoner conceded, puzzled. “How does your plot to take over Cyberspace getting beaten a good thing?”

“Because it served it’s purpose.” Hacker said. “It bought me just enough time to finish what I was working on, and keeping my enemies looking the wrong way.”

The prisoner’s eyes widened. “Wait, you mean that this whole thing with the superweapon wasn’t your master plan for total cyberworld domination?” he asked. “That it was all a ruse so you could finish the real plan?”

“Yep.” Hacker replied, clearly pleased with himself.

“So, what is the plan?” the prisoner asked, then added as a second thought, “do I really want to know?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Hacker said, turning to leave. “But know this. The plan will allow me to strike at my first and foremost enemy, right at the source, where they are expecting it the least.”

The room echoed with Hacker’s evil laughter as the cyborg left the room, leaving the prisoner alone in the room again...

To be continued

So I'm mean. :p Don't miss the next fanfic in line, "Breeched." It'll be big, I assure you... ;)