I fell too fast, like lightning,

To the group's surprise, they were not taken back to their cell but led from the Capitol down into the city before being simply abandoned in the streets. But before the escort left them, Mary whispered a few words in Omega's ear, "She's waiting for you," before disappearing into a wisp of the fog that drifted through the city.

"What did she say?" Trigger asked.

"I don't think it matters," retorted 5. "We have to get moving before they hunt us down for sport."

"Why would they do that?" Switch laughed.

Omega interrupted him, "She told me to find her."

He began walking slowly through the city streets, absently making his way by one block, then another while the others followed him, arguing among themselves.

The eventually found themselves near the old centre of the city, where age-beaten ancient houses were slowly falling into the ocean. The disaster that had occurred here was well-recorded. Never before had an earthquake done so much damage to such a wealthy population. Every year a monument was built as close to the original centre as possible, but erosion coupled with time always forced another to be laid the next year. It was only a matter of a decade before the entire city would be underwater.

Trigger bent down to read the names that were inscribed on the walkways. Even five hundred years after their deaths, these people were as well-known and popular as they had been then. More so perhaps if you consider each had a new film come out almost every year. It wasn't that current actors couldn't play the parts as well or that these original heroes couldn't be brought back to life. It was more of an artistic choice by directors to use a figure from classical history. "These stars," they said, "represent the epitome of the human spirit, their originality, their poise, their style, cannot be duplicated." But they could be duplicated, quite easily actually by specialized programmers and their computers.

"A city filled with dead stars," Omega murmured.

"What was that?" Switch looked at him quizzically.

"Oh. . . nothing."

The group stood around for a few moments, each internally debating what the next move might be. Trigger contemplated which item in eyesight he could destroy for maximum satisfaction while 5 was already eyeing the holographic windows of the building behind them. Omega gazed out over the ocean that was still eating away the city while Switch tried to figure out what his own thoughts were. Kernel's thoughts were concentrated on a signal he was receiving from the city itself but decided against sending the nature of the message to Switch, as it was obvious they would soon find out anyway.

"Well if it isn't the Omega," a voice boomed out from behind them. The five immediately froze in shock. That voice could only belong to one person. Trigger spun around to look directly into the eyes of the most feared man on the planet. And he did not look happy.