It was getting dark.
Cynthia cast a glance around her, scanning the landscape for any sign of company, but she was alone.
Slowly and carefully, she picked her way across the gravel and patchy grass to the derelict building which had once been the Star Drive Through Theatre. Pausing at the door to run a hand along the crumbling plaster, a sense of nostalgia washed over her and a sad smile touched her lips.
"I may not come here again." She murmured. "Not after this is all over, anyway. But I will always feel at home here. And, if my plan is to work correctly, this is far enough away from the Starlight Mansion that it will not put others in danger. I just hope that I have taken everything into account. Athena's signal is strong and vibrant - she is a powerful computer system. And I...am not at my best."
She slipped into the abandoned building, hesitating for a moment as she worked out how best to carry out her plan. It had been a long time since the days when her mainframe had been powered here, and the power outlet had begun to rust in places.
"But there is still power, and I know how to fix that, thank goodness." She murmured, setting to work as she carefully replaced the old, rotting sockets with new ones. "I am counting an awful lot on Athena's inexperience. If I can convince her that Synergy's signal comes from the Star Drive Through, then we shall be ready and waiting for her. And if that works, then it leaves my spy the opportunity to locate Athena herself."
"What are you doing here?"
A voice startled her and guiltily she swung around, apprehension on her face. At first she could see noone, but then a figure stepped out from the shadows and Cynthia let out a sigh of relief.
"You made me jump, Stefana." She said reproachfully. "Did you follow me here?"
"No, Aaron told me where I could find you." Stefana flicked off her torch, making her way carefully across the floor. She glanced up at the cracked ceiling, suppressing a shudder. "This place is creepy and dangerous. Are you sure it's a good idea to be here?"
"Yes, for those reasons." Cynthia nodded her head, finishing her task and getting to her feet. "I am glad you are here...but why are you here? I did not contact you to meet me."
"No, but I have some information I thought I should give to you."
Stefana fumbled in her pocket, pulling out the dogeared scrap of paper. "Here. Sophie and Ingrid are feeling a bit sorry for themselves at the moment, realising how in over their head they are. I told them Athena tried to kill Rory disguised as me and that it was personal now - I made them tell me where she was. And they did."
"I see." Cynthia pursed her lips, glancing at the address. At length she nodded.
"I believe she might well be." She admitted. "I have traced several signals to that area of town - but never anything too specific. I think she knows that I am trying, and she is able to deflect my probing."
She gestured to the pile of wires and circuits she had brought with her. "That too is my task. I hope that, by wiring up the Drive Through, I will convince her to look for me here. I do not want a confrontation at the Starlight Mansion. There are too many people there who could get hurt."
"Makes sense, I guess." Stefana tucked a lock of curly hair behind her ear. "So, well, I'll leave you to it. I mean, I've given you the address. And, well, this place creeps me. Especially at the moment. And in the dark."
"Wait a moment, Stefana." The guitarist turned to go, but Cynthia called her back. "I had hoped to speak to you on another matter tomorrow morning, but as you are here now, I may as well mention it. After all, time is growing ever more pressing, and the further I go into this, the weaker my capabilities become."
"Okay..." Stefana looked wary, but she leant up against the wall, casting the hologram a curious glance. "What about?"
Cynthia pulled her toolbox closer to her projection, rummaging through it. At length she pulled out a thin plastic sleeve, holding it out.
"I wanted to ask of you a favour." She said solemnly.
Stefana took the wallet, glancing at it, then back at her companion.
"I don't get it." She said finally. "What's this about?"
"I told you that I would be working on a virus to decimate Athena's program." Cynthia said slowly. Stefana nodded.
"Yes...so?"
"So I finished it." Cynthia gestured to the wallet. "Inside that is a computer disk. What I have to ask is a big imposition, and also a dangerous one. But it seems to me that you are the only one who might be able to undertake it successfully."
"I don't know as I follow." Stefana bit her lip. "What can I do with a computer virus? I barely know how to run a computer!"
"You don't need to do much." Cynthia looked grave. "But you have seen Athena and you know what we are up against far better than any of us. Plus...and I realise this may not be appealing to you, but she already has some interest in you and your fate. I think...well, I want you to make sure this disk loads into her system. That is all."
"You think that I have a chance in hell of sticking a disk into a computer who's on the rampage and threatening to zap people?" Stefana demanded. "You have to be kidding. Why can't you do it? I can get hurt, Cynthia! You can't - or had you forgotten that little fact? Why can't you confront her? Or are you afraid of her?"
"Are you?" Cynthia countered.
"You damn well know that I am." Stefana dropped the wallet back on top of the box of tools. "Count me out on this suicide mission. If you want her poisoned, do it yourself. I'm out."
"I can't do it." Cynthia bit her lip. "Stefana, I am asking you to do this for more than just me. Listen. You know that I am not as strong as I have been previously. I am losing power and I am losing strength. I am not even sure that I can stretch my projection to the limits of the city in this way...and even if I could, she would detect my signal and block it as soon as I reached her hiding place. I am ineffective in those circumstances. I do intend to confront her - in fact, this is what all this work tonight is in aid of. But I need someone to go behind enemy lines whilst I am distracting her attention. I will engage her hologram here. While she is busy focusing on me...it should be possible to get this disk into her mainframe. And once it is inside, it will do its work swiftly."
Her hologram flickered slightly, and Stefana's expression became grave.
"Sheesh, you really are gonna be scrap metal after all of this, aren't you?" She asked softly. Cynthia spread her hands.
"Will you help me?" She asked. "I could ask one of the others...but they have not seen her. You have. It may mean everything."
Stefana let out a heavy sigh. Then, slowly and reluctantly she bent down, picking up the wallet and glancing at it. She shrugged.
"Guess when you put it that way, I have to." She said quietly. "I brought you all into this mess, after all. Coulda kept my jaw shut, but I didn't. I wanted your help. You're pretty much killing yourself to resolve all of this...so I guess so. I guess I have to."
Relief touched Cynthia's violet eyes and she smiled.
"Thank you." She responded. "That being done, then, I think that we should aim to do this as soon as possible. Tomorrow, if we are able. I already know Athena is keen to find Synergy - and will pursue a strong signal to find her. Will you meet me here, at the Drive Through in the morning - at ten o'clock? Aaron will also be there - he has promised to see this through to the end with me."
Stefana sighed again.
"I'll be there." She agreed. "But I hope you have this all figured out, Cynthia. Strikes me that she's a whole lot stronger than you are right now. Those ain't good odds."
"I am hoping that perhaps my experience will outwit her technology." Cynthia looked rueful. "I am unsure that it has yet, in truth...but I think it is worth a try."
"And if it doesn't? If she blows you up and then comes after me? Or if Techrat's there? What about him?"
"That is the other reason why I chose you." Cynthia said comfortably. "Aside from myself, I do not know anyone as adept at lying in a tight situation."
"Well, I think that was a compliment." Stefana snorted. "Sometimes I think Los Angeles will miss you and then, when you say things like that, I'm about ready to come to your funeral."
"Just ensure she takes the disk. However it has to be done." Cynthia turned her attention back to her work. "And I will see you here tomorrow. Oh...and take this."
She scooped up the finished transmitter, holding it out. "It's rudimentary, but I think even your limited technical skill will not be foxed by a machine with only one button."
"So funny." Stefana grabbed at it, grimacing at her companion. "What's it do?"
"You already know where to find Athena, but she can look like anything or anyone." Cynthia explained. "And this will warn you when her hologram is nearby."
"All right. Guess that'll help." Stefana admitted. "Fine. I've got the disk and I've got your geeky little box of wires. I'll be here tomorrow morning - for now I'm going home to pretend to my roommates that I haven't lost my mind and that nothing huge is going down in Los Angeles."
She paused, then,
"And if I don't come home tomorrow, someone's got to tell them that I wasn't just screwing up again. That this time I was doing something important."
"If I am here to convey it, I will pass on the message myself." Cynthia looked rueful. "But I feel that you are far more likely to see out tomorrow's encounter than I am. I do not know what the confrontation will call on me to do, Stefana - but I have a feeling it will take a lot of power. She is strong and she is wily - she will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. And I...I must be willing to do the same."