(The sequel to Girls' Night Out)

By RoeBoot

Mouse and AndrAIa had made plans. They dragged Dot away from her work for a needed down time. The Game sprite and hacker wanted a day together of "just the girls" fun in Mainframe. Bob liked the idea as well, thinking the guys could do some "male bonding" of their own. Phong promised to keep all informed of any major problems and wished them all to have a good time.

After a millisecond, Dot let all her worries slip away, especially when the suggestion of going shopping got for wardrobe upgrades. By the time power down was coming, the ladies were walking along Floating Point Park, eating frozen data cones, and laughing about the fun they had.

"You see," AndrAIa said between licks, "this was a good idea."

"I've gotta sit a nano," Mouse chuckled. "Let's find a park bench."

"Good idea," Dot agreed. "My feet are tired. It's been a great day. What do you think the guys have been doing?"

"Who knows?" AndrAIa shrugged.

"Who cares," Mouse said.

"MOUSE!" The girls scolded but then giggled. They located a park bench and sat down.

"You know what would have made this day prefect?" Dot asked.

"A game!" Mouse exclaimed.

"She plays just once and she's hooked," AndrAIa smiled. "But didn't Ray tell you no more game's unless he came along?"

"Yeah. So I did." Mouse licked her data cone to hide the smirk on her face. "Think we should find out what the boys have been up to anyway?"

Dot thought it over. "Why bother. I've got a pretty good idea of where they are."

* * *

Bob and Ray were leaning on they're pool cues, trying to be patient as they had been most of the day. Matrix had been on a roll since they came to the game park.

"Remind me again mate," Ray said to Bob. "Who's idea was this to come here?"

"His," Bob looked at Matrix.

Matrix lined up his shot. "And why not? I played lots of billiards while AndrAIa and I were game hopping. It's a great way to keep prepared and its much safer then Circuit Racing with Ray."

"Matrix we've had this conversation already," Bob said. "Ray only needs more practice."

"I only thought because he's a Search Engine, he'd know how to drive." Matrix sank the eight ball to win the game.

"Are ya' still blamin' me for the crack up late minute that broke your leg?" Ray became angry.

"Maybe I am."

"Well I'm sure your not," Bob corrected, "because we were all at fault."

Matrix calmed down. "Why don't you too play the next round alone? I'll be at the bar."

"Sure. But no I/O shots."

"Come on Bob! It's almost half past power down. A game cube never comes this late."

"Sorry. Didn't notice the time. We have to stick to the rules. Have the bartender send us over a couple of ROMs okay?" Matrix walked away. Bob turned to Ray. Surfr was leaning on the table, tapping at the icon on his belt. "Want me to rack them up?"

"What? Oh sure," Surfr said.

"Bob," Matrix had returned. "You won't believe it! Phong just called. There's a Cube coming! It going to land in sector 1001 of Floating Point Park."

"A perfect way to end our downtime. We'll see you later Ray?"

"Yeah. Later," Ray said acting a little disappointed. Surfr waited for them to leave. He figured they deserved a good head start.

* * *

Dot looked up at the coming Cube from the girls' hiding spot. She whispered to the others, "Bob is not going to be too happy about this."

"You can leave," Mouse suggested, "but yah said a game would make this day perfect."

"No way. This is going to be fun."

"Games aren't supposed to be fun. They're dangerous," AndrAIa repeated in a deep, Matrix sounding voice.

The ladies snickered. The Cube came down over them. There was no getting out now.

* * *

"Not bad," Matrix admitted admiring it all. "At least until the User shows up. What is the game?"

"Reboot and find out," Bob said wanting to keep it a surprise.

Matrix double clicked his icon. "REBOOT!"

When the green glow faded, Matrix looked himself over. He wore a gray two piece suit, a black shirt and matching black silk tie. It seemed to contradict the sawed off shotgun he held in his hand. Matrix looked under his suit jacket. There was a badge pinned to the lining. "A cop game. Cool!"

"Glad you approve. I was thinking you might find it boring." Matrix noticed Bob had rebooted as well. He wore a white leisure suit with a blue tee shirt that almost blended with his skin. Bob was inspecting a silver handgun that he placed in a holster under his jacket. "The game is called Smuggler's Blues. The User has stolen a shipment of weapons. He has to deliver them to a buyer in a penthouse in the city in exchange for a bag of diamonds. He then must escape from the airport to win the game."

"Sounds interesting. Now all we need is a car."

A pair of headlights appeared in the alleyway beside them. The horn honked a quick tune to keep their attention. The sprites looked at each other before going closer. A dark blue sport car with silver trim sat in the alley. The engine revered. Both doors opened automatically. Someone walked up behind Matrix and Bob. The sprites drew their weapons ready to shoot.

"Hey! Guys! Don't! It's me!"

Matrix squinted at the figure who had raised his hands. He didn't believe it. "Ray? What in the Net are you doing here?! A Search Engine isn't formatted...to...play?"

Ray wore a black leather racing jacket, dark pants and a mock turtleneck shirt which glowed in the familiar waves of blue energy. Ray Ban sunglasses covered his eyes, fitting snugly over his game character's ears. Ray smiled and pointed to his belt buckle that held a flat black and gold icon.

Bob bent over laughing and holding his stomach.

Matrix only sneered not finding the revelation in the least funny. "I take it this was Mouse's idea?"

"I told her she wasn't gonna play no more games unless I went too."

"And you thought you could just come in without telling us?! You don't know how to play!"

"Neither did Mouse!"

"That was an emergency! Games are dangerous!"

"Guys! Time out!" Bob interrupted. "Arguing only wastes our Game time. Ray is here and his game character can help us. He stays with us and follows the rules."

"And our orders," Matrix insisted. "He once told me I had to do what he said in the Web. Games are our digital domain."

"Checkmate," Ray conceded. "So where do ya guys need ta go? You said you needed a car."

The headlights on the car flicked on and off to mimic blinking eyes. The car crept forward on its own and beeped the horn. Bob couldn't keep from smiling. "Its Surf Baud."

"Just call us StingRay," Surfr said as he thumbed through a booklet. "I still haven't read through most of our owner's manual."

"Your going to have to wing it for now Ray."

Ray grinned. "I can't wait until Mouse sees this."

"Let me guess," Matrix grumbled. "She's in the game too."

"I saw the girls when I snuck inside. So I'm not the only one who broke your rules."

* * *

"Shall we reboot?" AndrAIa suggested.

"After you," Mouse said. AndrAIa, Dot and last Mouse rebooted to their game characters. Dot wore a red evening gown, AndrAIa a blue one. Mouse had on pants with s white blouse and a pretty vest. "You're all dolled up with somewhere tah go. But what am I suppose tah be?"

"We'll have to figure it out. We don't exactly have Bob or Matrix to tell us what to do."

"Is that a good or a bad thing?"

"GOOD EVENING ANGELS!"

The girls looked around the room. Dot recognized the voice. "Mike?!"

They looked the TV sitting in the far corner of the room. Mike called out. "Not there. Over here."

The girls kept looking around the room as Mike directed them. "Little lower ladies. Down more. Over here! ON THE TABLE! ON THE TABLE!"

They looked at the coffee table. On it sat a small white speaker phone. It had two little black eyes and a mouth on it. AndrAIa exclaimed. "Oh Mike! You look so cute!"

"Cute?! CUTE!?! Really?" Mike batted his eyes. "Even cuter then Matrix?"

"No."

"Darn!"

"Mike is there something you need to tell us?" Dot interrupted.

"Yeah. I know something you don't know!" Mike sang.

"Mike! Quit that. Just tell us."

"Okay. Sit down."

"Why?"

"It's part of my game character." The girls sat on the couch. Mike cleared his voice and spoke in a very suave tone. "The User has stolen a shipment of weapons. He has to deliver them to his buyer in a ritzy penthouse downtown in exchange for a bag of diamonds. Your mission is to steal those diamonds before the User can get them to prevent him from winning. AndrAIa will run interference, Dot will get Mouse the pass codes, and Mouse will sneak away from serving party drinks to steal the diamonds."

"I'm a waitress?" Mouse was appalled.

"Sorry. It's part of your game character. The floor plans, your accessories and car keys are in the briefcase under the table. I'd advise you to put your radio receivers on. They'll go very nicely with your outfits. And don't forget you serving tray Mouse. It will come in real handy. Any questions?"

"Yeah. How do we get there?"

"The map in the car. It's the red one outside. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"TAKE ME WITH YOU?! PLEASE?! I don't want to stay here!"

"It's part of your game character," Mouse said standing up. "Sorry Charlie."

The girls quickly left to play the game. Mike complained. "Oh very funny. HA HA HA! Pick on the poor TV stuck as a Passive Game Sprite. Rejected! Alone! Abandoned!"

AndrAIa came back in, picked up Mike and gave him a kiss. "Thanks for the info Mike."

She put Mike down. He sighed. "I love my job."

* * *

"Which way now Bob?" Ray asked.

"Make a left at the next light," Bob told him.

Surf Baud did so a little too hard for Matrix's liking. He snapped, "Will you quit that?!"

"What am I doin' now?"

"You should have you hands on the wheel! It will help in your steering! That's an order!"

"Oh so orders include tellin' me exactly how ta drive. Your the one who belongs in the back seat!"

Bob leaned forward in his seat. "Now if you kids don't stop fighting I'm turning this game right around! The User's are main problem. Let's concentrate on that." Matrix and Ray both got quiet. A moving van drove through the intersection ahead of them. "Its the User Ray. Follow him."

* * *

"Al closed up early today. We came to the park and didn't get out of the cube's way. Right Al?"

"WHAT?"

Al stocked her tray with drinks. "Have fun."

"I'll try." Mouse began walking around the room, letting game sprites help themselves to drinks.

Dot and AndrAIa were mingling among the crowd too. Dot flipped open an oriental fan. There were mirrors built into the flaps allowing her to look behind her. She acted as if she were primping her hair. She whispered into her watch. "Mouse. Can you hear me?"

"Ouch. Yeah. The volume is a bit loud." She spoke softly into the lapel of her shirt. Mouse put her hand to the earring clipped to her lobe and placed it lower on her ear. "I hate this. How much longer do I hafta play waitress?"

"I can see the doorway." Dot said spying on the reflection in the mirror. "I have to wait until a game sprite uses the pass code to relay it to you."

AndrAIa played with the pendent around her neck. She put the charm near her lips and spoke. "None of these game sprites are above basic programming so I can't get us any help. I'm going to head back downstairs. The User could show up any second."

"Okay AndrAIa. Be careful," Dot said.

* * *

"One User but with an Game Sprite army to help him," Bob said.

"Great." Matrix aimed and fired. The shotgun blast fell short. "Ray. Get me closer to them."

"You want me to get shot?!" Ray complained.

"Ray. This is no time to be-!"

Another volley of weapon's fire raked the night air. A bullet ricocheted off the windshield, cracking the glass. Ray cried out in pain. He turned the wheel with his hands, ignoring the injury. Bob touched his hands to the car seat in front of him. His energy shield spread over Surf Baud to protect it as more bullets bounced off the hood. The cracks started mending themselves as Surfr kept going.

Ray grimaced, "You were sayin' somethin'?"

"I forgot. Sorry Ray," Matrix said. "We've got a new problem. I can't fire though the shield."

"I'll get us closer," Ray suggested. "When ya ready ta fire, Bob'll drop the shield."

"It's risky Ray," Bob warned. "Are you up to it?"

Ray nodded. He accelerated the car until the bumper almost touched the van's rear. The bullets were bouncing off the shielded hood. The game sprite emptied the clip and tried to load another.

"Now Bob!" Matrix shouted. Bob lowered the shield. Matrix stood up in his seat and fired. The pellets hit both the sprite and the tire. The sprite fell back into the van. The van shuttered as the tire started to go flat. Matrix smiled. "I got you!"

The User had thrown something. It thumped off the car's hood and landed in the back seat beside Bob. The guardian saw a grenade sitting on the floor. Bob grabbed the device and threw it behind them. The shock wave propelled the car forward causing Ray to loose control. He screamed as the front tire blew and skidded Surf Baud into a light pole. Ray slumped over the steering wheel.

"Ray!" Matrix pulled Ray to sit up. The bright energy waves on his shirt were dark.

Bob jumped out of the back seat to examine the damage. The hood had crumpled and the bumper was pushed in. "Matrix. We have to push him off this light poll and into that alleyway."

Matrix came to the front of the car and helped push Ray into hiding. Bob returned to the driver side of the car and touched Ray's forehead. Matrix asked, "How is he?"

"He's in repair state. He won't be back on line for a while. We'll have to go on without him."

Matrix wanted to argue but knew Bob was right. "I damaged the truck so the User can't have gotten too far on three good tires."

"He might not have much further to go," Bob looked up in the distance at a building with a well lit penthouse. "He's going to get his payment."

* * *

As she cautiously followed him, she whispered, "He's here ladies. I'll try to stall him."

* * *

"I don't have the codes yet. Wait a nano..." Dot stared into her mirrored fan. She saw a sprite approach the door. As he punched in the numbers, Dot concentrated hard to decipher the reflection.

"The pass code is 2904."

"I'm on my way'," Mouse walked over to Dot and offered her a drink. Dot took the lone, tall glass of champagne and replaced it with a perfume bottle. Mouse keep going to towards the doorway.

"Be careful Mouse. The sprite is still in there."

"We don't have time for him tah come out. Don't worry. I'll be out in a nano," Mouse replied. Mouse keyed in the code and opened the door. She walked in and closed it behind her. The sprite who had entered before her stood beside another security panel in the hallway. He turned and saw her. She asked politely, "Did you order a drink?"

The sprite reached under his suit jacket. Mouse snatched the perfume bottle off the tray and then threw the tray like a frisbee. It sliced through the air and hit the sprite in the head, bounced off the wall and returned to her. Mouse caught it and smiled. "Mike was right 'bout this tray."

* * *

"Oops," she batted her eyes. The User turned his gaze up to see the elevator stop on the third floor. The doors open and closed. The elevator stopped on the fourth floor, then the fifth floor. The User noticed all the buttons were pressed. AndrAIa faked innocence but said. "Oops I did it again."

The User got off. AndrAIa stayed on the elevator until it stopped on the next level. She peeked out and listened. The User was using the staircase. He had twenty more floors to climb. AndrAIa spoke into her radio necklace. "Dot? If you can hear me, the User climbing the stairs. I don't know how long it will take him to get there."

"At least you slowed him down," Dot answered. "Wait in the garage for us."

AndrAIa went down the staircase, aggravated for the first time by here long evening gown. She tore the skirt to make it shorter only to discover she had a pair of pants underneath. When she went to discard the skirt, she noticed it had changed into a suit jacket. She shrugged and put it on. "Mike should of warned us about the rebootable clothing. I wonder what else can happen?"

As AndrAIa exited the staircase and walked towards the little sport car she thought she saw a shadow move. It made her stop in time. The car blew up, knocking her to the ground. If she hadn't paused for those few seconds she might have been deleted. As she tried to get up AndrAIa found herself surrounded by a bunch of hoodlum game sprites working on the User's behalf.

"Oh and I thought I'd be bored waiting for the User. Bring it on fellas!"

* * *

Mouse ran forward, somersaulting into a handstand. She then back flipped into a crouching position and slipped under another laser beam before jumping onto the table. It held her weight. She delicately removed the painting off the wall. The safe door had two separate tumblers for the combination. They had to be turned at the same time to open. Mouse put one hand on each tumbler and put her ear against the door. She listened carefully as she turned them, concentrating on the particular sound she needed to hear. When she got the right response, she reversed the direction she turned the dials. In less in a minute, the lock clicked. She swung the door open.

"So many goodies, so little time." Mouse said. Cash, gold bars and jewelry for the picking. The hacker felt like her old self for a moment, thinking of what she could do with all this wealth. She snapped herself out of it. When the game ended, so did the riches. She removed a small velvet bag. She opened it to check the contents. Sure enough, the diamonds were inside. "Hello little darlin's. Yah comin' with me."

* * *

Now she heard the sounds of her fighting. Someone held a drink tray out to her. She saw the lone champagne glass was filled with ice. No not ice. Diamonds! Mouse asked. "Did you order this drink sugah?"

"AndrAIa's in trouble," Dot said talking the glass of diamond from her. "We have to go."

Dot lead the way toward the elevator. The staircase door was right beside it. As if on cue, the User came out. Dot tensed slightly but kept going. The User noticed her but kept walking in the opposite direction until he saw the glint of the ice in the champagne glass. The User turned and reached under his jacket for a gun. Mouse stuck him over the head with her tray. The gun discharged, the bullet hitting the floor. The crowd of party sprites panicked and scattered. Dot poured the diamonds in her purse. "We'd better take the stairs."

The girls headed down the staircase. Mouse took point since Dot's was slowed down by her gown. Mouse warned her. "Dot! Yah gotta ditch that dress!"

Dot paused to rip open the skirt. Mouse didn't turn around until they entered the garage. When she looked back, she saw Dot wearing a two piece black pant suit. Mouse's jaw dropped. "How...?"

"Don't ask." Dot heard the ruckus of fighting close by. "It's AndrAIa! We'd better hurry!"

The two sprites found AndrAIa in a rancorous battle. Game sprites came at AndrAIa from every direction only to get kicked or karate chopped to the ground. Mouse faked disappointment as she called out, "Come on AndrAIa! Save some for us!"

Several of the sprites turned toward them. One drew a handgun and fired. Dot leaped one way while Mouse somersaulted the other to avoid being shot. Dot landed beside one of the enemy sprites. She delivered a crippling kick to his abdomen and struck another with a chop to the neck. Mouse discovered the tray made a great extension of her hand. She whacked several sprites in the head and throat without having to get too close. A sprite who dared to fire at her almost point blank, had the bullet bounce off the tray and hit him in the shoulder. Two thugs managed to grab AndrAIa by an arm. They tried to hold her while a third came at her with a tire iron. A red target appeared on the dark sprite's chest before a gun blast knocked him into deletion. Bob and Matrix were at the opposite end of the garage, there weapons drawn and aimed.

"If you guys want to join in you'd better hurry," AndrAIa said as she broke loose of her captives and jumped into the air in a split kick that knocked out both attackers, "you'd better hurry! There aren't many left."

"Why do we worry about them?" Bob asked Matrix as they changed into the fight.

"We have to show them we care!" Matrix replied as he hit a game sprite in the face with his fist.

The bad guy games sprites dispersed only to keep from being wiped out by gunfire, but the thinning ranks pressed back into battle, their programming acting as the final directive. Mouse asked Bob. "Why do these guys have a beef with us and not the User?"

"Games sprites go after you if you take something they don't want you to have." Bob explained. "Have you done something to upset them?"

"Does stealing diamonds meant for the User qualify?"

"Pretty much."

"Oh," Mouse tried to locate Dot. The hacker saw her friend dispatch another sprite as the User snuck up on her. "Dot! Behind you!"

The User caught Dot in a choke hold and placed a gun to her throat. The User spoke harshly. "Give me what I want and I'll go away."

Dot made eye contact with Bob. The Guardian ordered her, " Give him what he wants Dot."

Dot reached inside her suit jacket and removed the red purse containing the diamonds. She reminded the User, "This doesn't go with your outfit."

"I'll buy a new one," the User said slowly removing putting away the gun and taking the bag.

Dot gripped the User's arm and twisted herself free. The User winced but instead of hitting Dot he pulled her by the collar of her jacket and rudely kissed her cheek. Dot recoiled in disgust as the User ran.

Snarling like Mouse, Dot started to go after him, only to have Bob hold her back. Dot was enraged. "Let me go Bob! I'm going to delete him!"

"He wants you to flow him," Bob tried to justify his actions. But before he spoke further, three black clad sprites armed with machine guns blocked the way the User had gone. Bob concluded, "Because he has more friends."

As the sprites looked around, they saw they were encircled by more of the bad guys, all heavily armed with the weapons the User stole in exchange for his payment of diamonds. The User blared the horn of his car as he drove away, signaling for his helpers to finish them off. Bob put his hands up as if he were surrendering but instead he encompassed himself and his friends in his energy shield. The bullets bounced off. They were safe from being deleted but they were prevented from pursuing the User.

"We have to find a way tah follow 'im," Mouse shouted over the gunfire.

"They blew up our car," AndrAIa complained to Matrix. "How did you guys get here?"

"We hoofed it. Our car is sort of out for repairs."

"Maybe not," Bob corrected hearing the sound of a car racing down the entry ramp.

"StingRay" barreled into the garage and plowed over the attacking sprites, sending them flying like a set of bowling pins. He managed to pick them all off without suffering any injury. Ray braked beside the group and smiled. "You fellas need a lift?"

* * *

Ray giggled. "Mouse! Quit blowin' in my ear!"

"When am I ever gonna get this chance again?" Mouse teased. "And you drive pretty good."

"I'm glad you think so."

"Guys? I know its your first Game together," Bob said. "but we have to concentrate on the User."

"Right," Ray focused on driving. "The airport exit is comin' up."

Now Bob got distracted. He looked back at Dot. She had her arms crossed and was visibly angry. Bob put his hand out to her. "I'm sorry Dot. I only was following my programming."

"I can't believe he kissed me!" complained Dot.

"I can't believe it either," AndrAIa added. "After I did everything to get his attention-."

"YOU WHAT?!" Matrix exploded.

AndrAIa sank down in her seat. "It's part of my game character lover. Sorry."

Dot laughed took Bob's hand. "Just remember, I want a chance at pay back."

Bob smiled. "I won't get in your way."

"Bob? Which way now?" Ray had exited at the airport ramp.

"Follow the sign to the cargo terminal."

Ray did as told, racing right through a cargo hanger, avoiding three trucks and a fork lift before exiting out the other end. The sprites saw a Leer jet taxing down a runway. Bob pointed. "There he goes! You have to cut him off Ray!"

"It figures he'd be escaping this level in a jet!" Matrix said to AndrAIa. The jet accelerated its speed, making it impossible for Ray to get in front but he managed to catch up enough for Matrix to aim and fire at the plane. The blast damaged the engine, slowing it down. However, the User remained determined to take off. Matrix ordered Ray, "Get us under the wing!"

Ray followed as instructed. Matrix grabbed onto the wing and pulled himself up. He figured he'd be going alone but company quickly joined him. AndrAIa climbed on beside him. And so did Dot.

"Dot!? What in the Net are you doing!?!" Bob yelled at her. "Don't get basic!"

The jet wasn't about to allow for any more unwanted passengers. The plane lifted off. Bob tried to think of what to do when he heard Mouse say, "Ray! Your running out of room!"

Bob saw the end of the runway coming closer. Beyond it was a chain link fence, a small pier and the water. Ray kept going. The Search Engine smiled. "Trust me!"

The car plowed through the fence and off the pier. It splashed into the water and sank.

* * *

* * *

A large object popped out of the water beside them. It was a power boat the same colors as the car that had crashed into the bay. Ray still sat behind the driver's wheel, soaked to the skin but unhurt. He waved to Bob and Mouse. "Do ya' guys need a lift?"

Mouse swam over ad climbed in. "Ray? How did you do that?!"

"It's in the owner's manual."

"Are you serious?"

"Sure. I just had to push that button," Ray showed her the bright red button on the dash board.

Mouse looked at Bob. The Guardian shrugged. "It's part of his game character."

Ray gunned the engine and the boat raced across the waves, following the jet plane. Bob warned them, "If that plane escapes the bay, it game over for us."

* * *

* * *

"Is this good or bad?" Mouse asked.

Bob saw where the jet was limping towards. A gas refinery on the waterfront. "Very bad!"

* * *

The User tried to pull out his gun but Dot karate chopped the weapon from his hand and kicked him towards the open door. The User grabbed the doors edges to stop himself but left himself vulnerable for the next attack.

Dot stepped forward and reached under the User's jacket to remove her purse. "I told you it doesn't go with your outfit."

Dot pulled the rip cord on the parachute. The User got swept away from the plane. Dot blew a kiss after him.

Matrix chuckled. "You enjoyed that."

"Every nano second."

The jet shuttered. Matrix came inside the cockpit as AndrAIa struggled to keep the plane steady. She told him the bad news. "We lost one engine."

"I shot it, remember?"

"I know Sparky. You didn't think we'd be on it."

Dot entered the cockpit. "Why isn't this game ending?"

"Maybe the game wants us to go out with a bang," AndrAIa said as she saw the gas refinery straight ahead of the plane. "We have to bail out."

The plane shook again. This time slowing down to a near stand still. A shield of golden energy cascaded over the windows. Dot ran to the open exit door and looked down. Bob was below them, standing at the bow of the Baud boat, extending his shield to hold on to the plane. Bob winked to her. Dot yelled to the others, "Guys. We have a ride waiting."

AndrAIa put the jet on autopilot and the three sprites climbed back out on the wing. Matrix put one arm around AndrAIa and one around Dot and the trio jumped in the water below. As they swam to the boat, Bob let go of the jet, but not before lowering its nose a few degrees. Mouse pulled her friend aboard as Ray turned the boat away and went full throttle. The jet blew up on impact with the water, not causing as large an explosion as could have been. Still the shockwave sent a rush of waves after the boat. The group cried out as they heard those two familiar words.

"GAME OVER."

* * *

As Bob found his footing, Dot splashed him in the face. "Hey! What's that for?"

"Calling me basic!"

Bob splashed her in return. "That's for going in the game."

"Why you-!"

The sprites were in a free for all of splattering each other. The noticed Ray standing high and dry on Surf Baud and collectively sprayed him with the data too. The Search Engine laughed and asked, "Did I pass yah little initiation?"

"You did real good Ray," Matrix said. "If we ever need you again, you can play."

"Bowling!" Dot exclaimed.

The sprites looked at her. AndrAIa raised her eyebrow. "Bowling?"

"Ray's wipeout move on those Game Sprites. It reminded me what I forgot to put at the Game Room. A bowling alley!"

Bob shook his head. "Same old Dot."

Bob got another wave of data in his face.

"GOOD EVENING ANGELS!"

Mike waved to the girls from the shore of the lake.

"MIKE!" The ladies squealed in joy to see him. They waded there way out of the data to greet him, fawning over him with thank yous for doing a good job and giving him friendly kisses of gratitude.

The guys were a little dumbfounded.

"What do ya think he did?" Ray asked.

"I don't know," Bob answered. "So where were we before all this started?"

"Billiards at the Game Room?" Matrix reminded them.

"Thought you'd never ask."

THE END