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-I've been so erratic about this... does it even count?

*The computer started to whir and soon the other computers around it began to light up and run. Numbers and Letters flashed across their screens as information seemed to be passing from them to the main computer.

*All over the building, other computer systems shut down and power was rerouted to the main control system. Other computer systems ceased to function, VR Rooms shut down in the middle of whatever they were running, leaving the poor Angels lifeless on the powerless layer, and Practice Arenas shut down, their Spheres fading out as the Layers lost their power. It seemed as if everything in the Piffle Princess system was feeding into the main control computer...*

((No, you''re alright Bob! That''s awesome!))


*Early the next morning, like he always did, Oogata showed up early and went up to the Main Computer Lab, so that he could have test results ready to show Chief Mihara and Misaki when they arrived. He also planned on having a demo in place, because he knew what a ''hands on'' people the Chief and Misakichi were.

*When he entered the Computer lab, he was shocked to find the computer terminals all on, with numbers and letters flashing across them at an alarming rate.*

"I''m sure I didn''t leave these on last night," he declared, as he dropped everything he was holding and raced over to the main terminal to see what was going on. "Oh the hellish Penalty Game the Chiefu will inflict on me if he finds out that I did this, "he began to fret as he sat down and franctically tried to figure out what was going on. "I''m certain I wasn''t that tired last night...."

*His voice trailed off as he made attempt after attempt to lock onto the Main Terminal, but every time he got the same message:

*He tried everything he could, even the main override, but nothing would let him in. He then spent the next hour or so, trying to dig into the main protocols for the computer, but he found himself blocked out of everything.*

*Then he remembered his laptop that was in his briefcase, that he''d dropped in his frantic rush. He ran over, gathered up the briefcase and all of the papers that had scattered on the floor, and rushed back to the main computer. He plugged in his laptop and began running a system diagnosis. The diagnosis took another hour, and all that time, Oogata found himself doing everything he could to keep the Main Computer from integrating the laptop into it''s programming systems. The diagnosis was just coming back, beginning to explain something about a replicating program, when he heard the doors to the lab open. He glanced up and saw Mihara Icchan just entering the lab.*

"Mihara Chiefu, we have a really big problem..."

*Just then, the Main Computer overrode the programmers codes and suddenly the same alphanumeric blur began to flash across the screen of his laptop.*

"Noooo!"
*Poor Oogata slumped down in his chair, feeling defeated as all hope drained out of him along with any chance of avoiding a Penalty Game.*

*Icchan steps up to the Main Computer and tries many of the same things that his assistant had, just hours ago.*
"What have you done, Oogata," the chief asks, an evil glint in his eye, while typing away furiously at the keyboard.

"I haven''t done anything Chiefu. When I came in this morning this is how I found everything. When I left last night, the changes in the programs were working perfectly, and everything was turned off and shut down for the night. When I got back this morning this is how I found things. I''ve tried everything, but the computer won''t let me in. I was just running a diagnostic program from my laptop, but when you entered the Main Computer seems to have taken control of it as well," Oogata whined, afraid of what his boss would do to him.

"Did the diagnosis come up with anything before you lost it?"

"It began to say something about a Replicating Program, but I couldn''t get anymore details...."

"Oh no....
"Oogata, I need you to run to the other computers in the building and see if any of them still work. They''re all part of the same network, but let''s just hope..."

"Right away, sir!"
*Oogata raced out the door, glad that Icchan was too busy to think of a Penalty to pick on him.*

*After racing around the whole building, Oogata finally returned to the Main Computer room, sweating and gasping for breath. He found Icchan still trying everything he could to regain control of the Main Computer, but it didn't look like he'd had any luck.*

"Chiefu, all of the other computers on the network have been taken over by the central computer...except..."

"Except...?"

*Icchan paused long enough to cast a worried look at his assistant.*

"Well, deep in the basement, there is a very old computer where we keep the backup files. It runs on it's own dial-up modem since it's never used for more than data storage. It's very old and very slow, but it doesn't seem to have been corrupted by this 'virus', for lack of a better word."

*He slumped against the wall.*

"Well then, that's where we'll need to go. I've gathered some data and I have an idea.... it's a risky idea, but it's crazy enough it just might work."

*Icchan gathered up his notes and headed out through the door.*

"Please bring down a large VR Layer to the Basement and then I'll need you to round up as many Deuses and their Angels as you can find. We'll need their help."

*The door slid shut behind him as he disappeared around the corner to the elevator.*

*Oogata threw his hands up in frustration.*

"Oh no! What does the chief have planned now."

*He was very afraid of this new planned, but with a heavy heart and leaden feet, he drug himself to the main VR Room to get a Layer for the Chiefu. He was dreading the outcome of all of this...*

Shrugging, David plugged in his VR monitor to the VR layer, and set Shion on it, closing his eyes as the Virtual World was implanted into his brain. Opening his eyes as Shion, she looked around at her surroundings, waiting to see who else would come, fiddling with the prototype MWS system that floated as a hologram in front of her, adjusting bits here and there while thinking.

Raising one hand to Wizard, Shion went back to work, keeping one eye on the glowing path leading deeper into the VR realm. "So, from one adventure to the next, eh Wizard?" She slipped the hologram MWS onto her arm, testing for a fit, then removed it to add some notes that floated in the air.

*Bob arrived after a bit and after seeing someone initiate the VR sequence thought he had better do the same. Taking a deep breath to settle himself he took some action*