To the Moon, Alice!, Part 6

<Hard_Drive> :: sitting at his heavily cluttered desk in his super cruddy apartment, downloading something on his computer. Yawns and looks at the time, seeing that it’s nearly 4 AM :: Hrm, I need to fulfill my weekly 17 hours worth of sleep… :: yawns ::

<StaticSK> ((<Hard Drive> ::used his newfound moola to buy a new PS2 game, failed to notice the trip to the moon or the hordes of UCs in the street, is gonna beat the thing yet::))
<Hard_Drive> ((::DIES!::))
<Protocol> ((::DIES::))
<Hard_Drive> :: gets up from his seat…only to wind up launching himself into his cheapo ceiling :: Gah!
<JosieLyons> ::since Prot is busy with Driver::
<Hard_Drive> What in all that is cybernetically sound is going on here? :: rubs his head, then opens the shutters on his windows :: <Window Shutters> :: dust and cobwebs fall off ::
<JosieLyons> ((::laughin’ HD::))
<Hard_Drive> :: sees well, you know what. Blankly stares, rubbing his eyes now as he looks again ::
<JosieLyons> ::mmm she probably went with the Megs ‘n stuff earlier to HQ. sighs at it all, as she peers out one of the windows at EHQ::
<StaticSK> ::is searching all over for Frequency, having no clue where he might be… if he’s even here! tho’ she figures he probably is if Driver got zapped up too::
<Hard_Drive> Ooooookay…:: closes window shutters, goes back to his computer ::
<StaticSK> ((<Hard Drive> I gotta lay off the Jolt, man…))
<JosieLyons> ((::DEAD::))
<JosieLyons> ::watches the Enforcers head off. is tired, and confused and just all around unnerved at all this. mun wonders if DK’s made it daytime yet.::
<Hard_Drive> ((<DK> :: wants to sleep in, thus eternal darkness ensues ::))
<JosieLyons> ((::dies::))
<Protocol>::hey! don’t you go ruining my moment with Driver you nosy cyberkat::
<Hard_Drive> I must be dreaming, it’s all just a very bad…insomnia derived hallucination…
<JosieLyons> ::decides to sneak about the city ‘n see if she can go find someplace that might be open to eat at. issa hungry. hurries out of n4cer HQ ‘n down the streets::
<JosieLyons> ::makes way to HD’s neighborhood. its eerie out with it being so quiet::
<Hard_Drive> Maybe I should just…go out for a walk. Yeah, that’s it. :: grabs his coat, puts it on and heads out the door. :: Heh, it almost looks real :: seeing a buncha UC’s chasing people around ::
<StaticSK> ((<UC> ::nips Hard Drive:: <Hard Drive> Wow, I almost felt that…))
<JosieLyons> ::avoids UC’s slinking along spots HD. blinks:: <Is that… Hard Drive? O_o;>
<JosieLyons> ((LOL))
<StaticSK> ::flits about the bad side of town where Hard Drive lives, checking out, Freq does pick odd hiding places::
<Hard_Drive> Maybe a midnight snack at MacDoogal’s is the best thing at the moment :: ducks as someone gets tossed by over his head :: Wow, I could feel the wind on that one.
<JosieLyons> ::bites her bottom lip. wonders if HE had anything to do with this. rumors are that DK needed some help… and Agent Jeffries said DK needed some technological aid on this…::
<Hard_Drive> :: walks a short distance to MacDoogal’s…to see it ran sacked and overrun by UC’s :: Maybe now isn’t the best time then…
<StaticSK> ::flitting in and out of powerlines, popping into random apartments and other rundown businesses, visible from time to time as a blue glow when she emerges, leaving in her wake a trail of gunshots, screams, and yelled obscenities depending on the mood of the various tenants::
<JosieLyons> ::blinks as some yelps and gunshots are heard. was that a blue glow? O_o;… debates on following HD or checking this out.::
<Hard_Drive> :: hears a gun shot, ponders :: <What would Bill Gates do? :: thinking ::>
<StaticSK> ::zipzipzip, yelling Freq’s name everytime she appears:: Frequency? *bam!* How rude! ::zip::
<Hard_Drive> :: comes to a conclusion :: Bill Gates would… monopolize! :: powers up and clears out MacDoogal’s of the UC’s ::
<JosieLyons> ::races towards one of the buildings:: Hey! ::doesn’t want UC’s comin’ over there but that’s one of those cyberkat things! She’s being awfully disruptive ‘n well doesn’t want her getting hurt.::
<Hard_Drive> :: zapping them left and right as he shocks em’ to heck and back ::
<StaticSK> ::spies Josie, ooooh, Meg type person, they find people, don’t they? well, at least they don’t shoot at people for no reason, zaps out by her:: Hey, have you seen Frequency?
<JosieLyons> ::blinks:: Uh… I don’t think so, are you one of the MBI cyberkats?
<Hard_Drive> :: panting, slightly angered as he walks up to the counter and reaches over to grab something :: A Snicker’s Bar? Well, I guess that’ll have to do :: takes a seat at one of the surviving booths and proceeds to munch on his candy bar ::
<Hard_Drive> ((“GODZILLA, GODZILLA, GODZILLA, and Godzooki!” ))
<StaticSK> Uhm… Well, sorta. I know them. ((They’re like family. Except Matrix. I’m not related to him cuz I wanna marry him.))
<JosieLyons> Look, I need your help… I just saw Hard Drive walking towards that MacDoogals, and I’m wondering if he’s had something to do with this… if you help me with this I might be able to help you find this Frequency?
<Hard_Drive> ((<Matrix> Darn!))
<JosieLyons> ((LOL!))
<Hard_Drive> :: munch munch :: The service here is horrible :: mildly ::
<StaticSK> Oh, well, alright… But, I need to find him pretty soon. Of course, I might as well tell you guys too. Driver’s actually gonna work with Protocol!
<JosieLyons> ::blinks:: Who’s going to work with Protocol?
<JosieLyons> Another cyberkat?
<JosieLyons> Right?
<JosieLyons> ::met him briefly mun thinks::
<StaticSK> ::nodnodnods:: One of the ones that supposed to be on our side and not working with… *her*.
<JosieLyons> ::sighs:: Oh joy. ::walking with Static towards MacDoogals?:: Why is he doing that? I thought some of you hated her and Purple Butt?
<Hard_Drive> :: sitting in the booth, head propped in one hand as he munches on the candy-bar with the other ::
<StaticSK> She wants to get Dark Kat and you guys to kill each other off so she can rule the city with him.
<StaticSK> ((<Static> She promised him the moon. And, she means to deliver.))
<JosieLyons> … oh that’s comforting. ::slowly approaches. notes several KOed UCs::
<JosieLyons> ((LOL! <Prot> ^_^))
<StaticSK> ::shrugs:: I thought he *liked* you guys. Dark Kat I understand, but…
<StaticSK> ::ignores anything that isn’t moving, isn’t too worried about Hard Drive, worked with him once for a while… then kinda walked out on him::
<JosieLyons> I wish I could understand you guys…
<Hard_Drive> ((<HD> :: only friend in the world left him without a world, becomes a reclusive computer hermit…er, more so even :: ))
<JosieLyons> ((LOL))
<StaticSK> ((<Hard Drive> Dangit! Only woman’d that’d ever date me. <Matrix> She’d date anything male. <Hard Drive> I don’t have a problem with being chosen so arbitrarily. Whatever works.))
<JosieLyons> ::peers in the window, spots HD:: There he is and he’s… eating a… candy bar. O_o;
<StaticSK> That’s pretty typical.
<JosieLyons> ((::dies::))
<JosieLyons> What is? Him just sitting there ignoring everything?
<StaticSK> Well, that too. I meant the junk food.
<JosieLyons> Oh… how do you know that?
<Hard_Drive> :: munches, finishes it. Then stands up and stretches ::
<StaticSK> I used to work with him ’til he got to be a drag. Let’s steal this file, let’s steal that file, wanna join me for chips and a game on the computer? ::makes a face::
<JosieLyons> ::blinks ‘n shakes her head:: Well then, maybe he’ll tell you what’s going on exactly, and spill it on how Dark Kat accomplished this. ::heads to the door::
<StaticSK> ((<Static> ::then waves to Hard Drive thru the window:: Hey, Drivey! <Hard Drive> ::terrified face:: She’s found me!!!!! ::bolts::))
<StaticSK> Why not? ::follows along::
<JosieLyons> ((::dies::))
<Hard_Drive> :: walks up to the counter again, closing one eye and biting his lip as he reaches around for something else ::
<StaticSK> ((<Hard Drive> ::indulges in a guilty pleasure… drinks all the grease outta the bottom of the fry vat::))
<JosieLyons> ::goes in MacD’s:: Hard Drive! ::tryin’ to sound all tough ‘n confident. is sleepy and hungry which is throwin’ off her normal ‘tude::
<JosieLyons> ((::EEEW dies::))
<StaticSK> ::waves from behind Josie:: Hi, Drivey!
<Hard_Drive> :: is caught off guard, jumping…and hitting his head on a shelf thingy next to the counter :: Urgh! :: rubs his head. ::
<JosieLyons> ::tries not to laugh at that:: Agent Lyons, MBI. We have a few questions for you.
<Hard_Drive> :: *siiiiiiighs* ::
<JosieLyons> ::blink blink::
<StaticSK> ((<Static> And, I’m Static, Matrix’ sweetie-pie. <Josie> Static… Me talk. You zap as needed.))
<JosieLyons> ((::laughs!:: <Stats> Hrmph! Okay ::zaps Josie::))
<StaticSK> ((LOL!))
<Hard_Drive> Can’t you see that I’m eating? :: has candy bar crumbs all over him ::
<JosieLyons> Look… just be a nice guy for once and tell us if and how you helped Dark Kat. ::<oh yes, like that’ll work…>::
<StaticSK> Clearly, hun.
<Hard_Drive> :: reaches over and grabs another candy-bar, opening it and taking a bite. :: M’not M’talking :: whilst chewing ::
<JosieLyons> You DO realize that you have a warrant for your arrest don’t you?
<Hard_Drive> :: thinks :: m’not m’really, m’no :: takes a seat at a booth, munches ::
<StaticSK> ::stalks over there and yanks away his candy bar:: Drivey, I’m inna hurry. Answer her questions so I can find Frequency. ::has a one-track mind::
<StaticSK> ::and, for once, it’s not on the well-played “Matrix” track::
<Hard_Drive> m’hey! m’That’s m’mine! :: reaching ::
<JosieLyons> Well M’Just M’ANSWER M’ME.
<JosieLyons> ::lol usually doesn’t resort to mocking but… makes an exception::
<StaticSK> ::pulls it back::
<Hard_Drive> :: crosses arms, “hrmphs” ::
<StaticSK> ((<Static> ::takes bar acoherent:: <HD> ::pouts, then gives her a triumphant look:: Good thing I downloaded tons more! ::”retrieves” one from his suit:: Ha!))
<JosieLyons> Did you or did you not assist Dark Kat in this whole scheme?
<StaticSK> Awwww… Aren’t you cute when you pout?! ::sliiiiiide into booth with him, plays with his mohawk::
<JosieLyons> ((LOL!!))
<Hard_Drive> What scheme? :: still has his arms crossed :: And stop playing with my hair!
<StaticSK> Whhhhyyyyyyyyyyy?! ::gets it all in disarray::
<JosieLyons> -_-; Gee, I don’t know, maybe him taking the ENTIRE city to the MOON?!
<Hard_Drive> What are you talking about??? <Darn this wretched insomnia!>
<StaticSK> ((<HD> ::laaaaffs:: You’re crazy! We’re not on the moon! ::laughlaugh:: What do they put in you peoples’ cof… ::pauses, notes the Earth rising in the sky::))
<JosieLyons> ::flops in the seat:: Listen are you STUPID or just BLIND!? Kat’s alive, look outside! ::points at the earth::
<StaticSK> ::char gets an idea from mun, grabs his head and turns it to look out the window:: See that?
<Hard_Drive> So what? It’s just an illusion derived from my lack of sleep. :: squints at them :: And I think that what you two are too
<StaticSK> ::zaps him lightly right on the noggin::
<JosieLyons> … ::stands:: Come on, he’s clueless… and if he’s not I don’t feel like chatting with this dead battery for a brain criminal.
<StaticSK> Alright. ::slides out of booth::
<JosieLyons> ::turns on heel feeling a headache coming on. heads to the door:: So is Frequency a cyberkat too?
<Hard_Drive> :: siiiighs…then falls asleep, head landing on the table :: Zzzzzz…
<StaticSK> Yeah. He’s Driver’s Dad. If anyone can talk sense into his head, he can. ((Or just threaten to spank his little bottom. Whatever works.))
<JosieLyons> ((LOL <HD>::forget laying off the jolt… needs redbull!::))
<JosieLyons> ::blinks exiting MacD’s:: His… dad?
<StaticSK> It’s… really weird and hard to explain. But, Driver answers to Frequency… at least usually.
<StaticSK> ((<Driver> No, I answer to “Driver.” Sometimes “Hey, you.”))
<JosieLyons> Well good! Authority. Hmmm… can’t you home in on him via a link or something? Or maybe you can try his other known places of living?
<JosieLyons> ((::dies::))
<StaticSK> I’ve searched all the old places I knew. He moves around a lot. He’s afraid Dark Kat will find him and the other CyberKats with him.
<StaticSK> ((<Static> And, I don’t know the 29-symbol alpha-numeric password he’s currently using on incoming messages.))
<JosieLyons> hrrmmm… say do you know any other cyberkats under Frequency that might tell you?
<StaticSK> ::shakes head:: They pretty much jump when he says, “Jump” and pick up and leave when he says, “Time to pick up and leave.”
<StaticSK> Augh… It’s soooo annoying!