* * *

Reaper set down three small bowls on the table in front of each of the girls. They looked down at its contents in dismay. The bowls held some kind of cream-colored substance; it was thick, like applesauce, and there were larger chunks spread throughout it, like it hadn't been blended carefully enough. "The lumps are the best part," he told them, sitting down across the table and starting on his own bowl.

Blossom lifted a spoonful of the stuff up, examining it for a moment before finally tasting it. Even if it looked like applesauce, it certainly didn't taste like it. She forced herself to swallow it, even through she felt more like spitting it out. Bubbles and Buttercup didn't seem to care much for it, either. The other members of the crew--except for Tripwire--were seated around the table, eating with no problem whatsoever. They're probably just used to it, Blossom thought.

"This is supposed to be good for us?" Buttercup said, stirring her meal up in an attempt to make it not so thick.

Daedalus nodded, "It's a base nutrient supplement. It contains everything you need to stay healthy. We have to stay efficient like this, since food is so scarce."

Blossom set her spoon down for a moment and said, "So, what's our next move? We know they're up to something…"

"We need to locate their test site," Query told them. "Once we do, we can observe them and find out what this 'Project 978' is. Until then, our hands are tied."

"Right," Blossom said. "Hey, if it's all right, I'd like to go back into the training program after we eat. I need some more practice…"

"It's perfectly all right," Daedalus told her. "That's what it's there for." As he resumed eating, a panel on the wall next to him beeped…he reached over and pressed a button on it, saying, "Yes?"

Tripwire's voice came from the device, "Daedalus…I think I've found it. There's a concentration of five agents in a single area, plus…" His voice trailed off for a moment.

Daedalus said, "Plus…?"

"…plus something I've never seen before," Tripwire continued. "I don't know what it is. Maybe it's a new Matrix construct, or perhaps just another agent…I can't tell." There were glances around the table. They all knew…whatever it was, it was related to Project 978.

"Understood," Daedalus said. "Bring the ship into transmission range; we're going in…"

* * *

The black van headed down the busy street through Townsville. Photon was at the wheel, with Daedalus in the seat next to her. In the back, everyone else was seated: Query, Reaper, and the Powerpuff Girls. The girls were wearing different clothes for this trip, however. They didn't want to draw any unwanted attention with their usual brightly-colored superhero outfits, so now all three of them wore outfits similar to the others: simple black clothes, with small black trench coats and sunglasses.

Bubbles stared out of the window as they drove on, and sighed, "I'm still not really used to it…"

"What?" Buttercup asked.

"Just the idea that everyone's trapped like we were," Bubbles remarked. "An' no one knows. Seems kinda like more people should figure it out…"

"Look around, Bubbles," Buttercup told her. "You know this all isn't real, but doesn't it look like it?"

Bubbles nodded, "Yeah, I guess you're right."

The van pulled to a stop in front of one of Townsville's skyscrapers, easing into a parking space. "We're here," Photon announced. "From the top floor, we should have a good clean view of their test site in the next building over."

"Fine," Daedalus said. "Photon, you stay with the van, in case we need to get out of here in a hurry. Everyone else…let's move out."

The group departed the van and made their way into the building. The elevators took them up to a small visitor observation lounge on the top floor. Thankfully, it was early in the day, and there wasn't anyone around to watch them, so they went over by the windows to get a good look at the activity below.

Outside, they could see them, on the roof of a slightly shorter building next to theirs. Four of the figures standing there were obviously agents, wearing the same simple gray suits as they usually did. Two others were standing with them, however. One was another man…he was slightly taller than the agents by about a half-foot or so and was wearing a black suit and sunglasses. Even though the others were moving, he remained completely motionless. The last figure, standing next to him, was instantly recognizable…

"Mojo," Buttercup muttered under her breath. "Looks like they got to 'em."

"Yes," Daedalus agreed. "I'm more concerned with that other one, though." He watched as the agents talked, although there wasn't any way they could make out what they were saying from this distance. "I wish we could move in closer," he added, "but it's too risky."

"Maybe for you," Blossom said, "but we could give it a try. We'll stay low, out of sight…"

Query shook her head, "I don't know…if something were to go wrong…"

She didn't get to finish what she was saying, because at that moment, all four of the agents below put their hands up to their ears, listening closely to the radio connection they have there. All at once, they cast glances up at the building, directly towards the observation area. Mojo looked as well, although the mysterious black-suited figure stayed perfectly still.

"We've been spotted!" Daedalus shouted. "Let's move!" The group turned and started heading quickly for the elevator. About halfway across the room, though, the elevator doors opened, and three of the agents stepped out. Daedalus froze, and cursed under his breath…they transferred over here so quickly.

The Powerpuff Girls weren't afraid, however, and the three of them flew up in the front. Buttercup beckoned them and said, "All right…bring it on." The agents each wordlessly lifted a pistol and began firing. Without so much as batting an eye, the girls' arms moved quickly, knocking each bullet aside harmlessly.

By this time, Daedalus, Query, and Reaper had their own weapons drawn and were taking cover behind the girls. They leaned out and fired back, but the agents easily dodged their onslaught of bullets as well. After only a few moments of this gunfire exchange everything suddenly fell silent, as everyone's weapons ran out of ammo. There was a brief silent exchange of glances between them, then everyone tossed their weapons aside, readying to go hand-to-hand.

None of them got the chance, though, as in a blink of an eye, the Powerpuff Girls dashed across the room, each landing an uppercut to the jaw of a different agent and knocking them into the air. They followed them up quickly with a quick kick each to the side. Two of the agents landed against the wall, while the one Buttercup kicked crashed through a window instead, plummeting down towards the street below.

"They are faster," one of the agents said to the other as he got back up. "We need assistance."

"Help is arriving," the second one said, nodding.

Another window to the observation room crashed open, and this time it was a more familiar sight. It was Mojo, wearing a jetpack, with one of his typical energy rifles in his hands. He gritted his teeth in the same evil stare that he usually did, but this time, his eyes seemed different…not full of anger and hatred, but more of a coldness.

Reaper was closest to him…he fell into a quick fighting stance and swung a powerful kick towards the side of Mojo's head. With amazing speed, Mojo ducked and grabbed the leg, pulling Reaper up off the ground and throwing him aside, right through the hole in the window that Mojo had made in his entrance.

"Reaper!" Query shouted, but before she could act, Bubbles leapt up from the ground and dashed out through the hole in a blur. As Reaper fell towards the ground below, Bubbles managed to reach him and catch him by the ankle, a mere second before impact. Reaper was a little shaken, but nodded a quick thank-you to her.

Now that their attention was split, the two remaining agents rushed forward to attack again. Blossom wasted no time in leaping up between them. She kicked sideways with both of her legs, easily knocking them both in opposite directions. She smiled a little to herself as she though, This is getting easier…they're right, we are more powerful than them now…

As she landed, Mojo took aim with his blaster and fired a shot at her back. Buttercup spotted this and tried to knock Blossom out of the way. It worked, but the blast ended up hitting her instead. The blast slammed her against the wall with tremendous force.

With the other agents knocked aside, there was a clear path to the elevator now. Daedalus and Query rushed into it as fast as they could…Daedalus pulled out a cellphone and dialed it hastily as they entered. "Tripwire," he said into it. "We need an exit, fast…"

Outside, Bubbles had dropped off Reaper by their van outside…he said, "They'll need your help up there…hurry back!" Nodding, Bubbles took off towards the top of the building once again.

Mojo was about to advance towards the elevator, but Blossom interposed herself between them. Buttercup managed to pick herself back up again and flew over next to her. The elevator doors closed behind them, and an instant later, Bubbles appeared by the window. Everyone stayed still…after all that commotion in the last minute, there was finally a moment of silence as the remaining occupants of the room stared each other down.

"Your friends may have gotten away," Mojo declared, "but you will not be so lucky. You see, I have been specially prepared to deal with you, and this time I know that I have the ability to destroy you utterly!"

"Well, you're going to have to do it without your buddies," Blossom told him. Then she shouted, "Bubbles, now!" and covered her ears, along with Buttercup. Bubbles took a deep breath and unleashed her sonic scream, even louder than before. The soundwaves ripped through the observation area, shattering all the windows. Both of the agents jerked to a stop, twitching for a moment, before the powerful waves literally tore them apart. They exploded in a shower of green electrical energy, dissipating into the air.

Mojo, while he cringed at the sound, did not react similarly however. Once Bubbles finished the sonic scream, he grinned wickedly and said, "I have taken special precautions to protect myself from your ability. You will find that I am a much more formidable enemy than I ever was even before. Behold!" He bounded backwards once, leaping right out of the window and igniting his jetpack. The girls immediately flew after him.

Hovering out in the sky, he stretched his arms and legs out to the sides, and the air began to ripple around him. A moment later, something solid materialized…it looked like a robotic suit of armor. It had an oddly alien look to it, although it was definitely Mojo's style. They could see him through the transparent bubble on the top…portruding from the right arm of the suit were two long serrated blades, and a blaster not unlike the one he had been carrying was mounted on the left arm.

The girls were shocked at this for a moment, and Mojo immediately took advantage of this, blasting Blossom head-on with a wide blue beam from his blaster. Blossom tumbled through the air, and saw that she was heading right towards the side of a building. She was unable to stop, but then she focused, and thought, The building isn't there…it's just programmed code. No building. I'm hitting nothing…

She closed her eyes softly, and came into contact with the building. She didn't impact…she passed right through it as though it wasn't even there. When she opened her eyes again, she was clear on the opposite side. Blinking a few times, she hovered to a stop and looked at the building she had just passed through. It worked, she thought.

Bubbles and Buttercup were both staring at the spot where she disappeared in disbelief. Even Mojo seemed startled. A few seconds later, Blossom emerged again from the same spot, passing right through the wall like she did before. Her expression was determined.

"Blossom! You're okay!" Buttercup exclaimed. "How did you…"

"Daedalus was right," Blossom told her. "We do have even more power than we thought." She flew towards Mojo, who raised the blades on his arm and began swinging. His movements were incredibly fast, and were little more than a blur. Yet, Blossom wove between his swings easily.

In the next instant, she swung both of her arms out, lashing out at the side of each of his arms. One punch struck the blades on his right arm, snapping them off entirely, and the other smashed his blaster to pieces. Mojo immediately flew backwards, trying to gain some distance, but Blossom responded by firing her eyebeams.

He saw them coming, and flew quickly to one side. Blossom narrowed her eyes, though, and suddenly the eyebeams made a ninety-degree turn, hitting him anyway. The beams sliced into the chest of the suit, causing bright blue streamers of electricity to jolt out from it. The back half of the suit broke open and fell away, and Mojo leapt out from it moments before the whole suit finally exploded.

Mojo hovered back up with his jetpack and growled, "How did you do that? You should not have been able to do that!"

"It was easy," Blossom said, truthfully. "Amazingly easy…" Bubbles and Buttercup glanced at each other, and both of them smiled. They were beginning to feel it as well…they knew it was possible, and they realized that they too had the ability.

Mojo drew a couple of weapons and began opening fire on the three of them without hesitation. They zipped from place to place, avoiding the shots. It was child's play, now…

* * *

Daedalus opened his eyes, coming out of the Matrix. As Query disconnected him, he sat up and looked over at the other tables. Photon, and Reaper were also out safely, but he saw that the girls were still in. Quickly, he headed for Tripwire at the operations computer and asked, "How are they?"

"Absolutely amazing," he said, watching the Matrix code roll by the screen. "Their speed is incredible. And it looks like they're completely ignoring the rules of solid matter constructs now. Two agents have been completely deleted, and a third is temporarily out of commission. And this 'Mojo Jojo' agent is looking like he's having problems as well."

"You mean," Photon asked, "they're actually winning?"

Nodding, Tripwire answered, "Looks like they never stood a chance."

"I knew it," Daedalus said, watching the Matrix code from over his shoulder. "These three could win the war for us…"

* * *

Mojo couldn't understand it…he had received an upgrade, and had the best working knowledge out of any of the agents on how the Powerpuff Girls thought and operated. So why was he having such a hard time fighting them? It just wasn't logical. He continued trying to hit them with his weapons, but wasn't coming anywhere close to succeeding.

Blossom circled around behind him, kicking him square in the back. As he lurched forward, Bubbles and Buttercup both gave him an uppercut to the jaw together. Mojo was definitely starting to worry…despite his upgrade, he did have one flaw that the other agents didn't possess: he had no ability to transfer himself. In what was nearly panic, he suddenly decided just to retreat…

The girls zipped ahead of him and blocked his path, however. Blossom smiled and said, "Normally, we'd just take you to jail, Mojo…"

"…but we know you're an agent…" Bubbles added.

"…so instead, you're goin' down," Buttercup finished.

All three of them powered up their eyebeams…Mojo was too battered from their earlier attacks to dodge. The beams fired, all three intersecting onto him, and he was blasted out of existence. Electricity surrounded the area where he was once at, and the girls could swear they heard a voice echo from it, saying, "Cursesss!!!" before the energy disappeared altogether…

* * *

The last remaining agent watched from a safe distance on the street. He cast a cold glance momentarily at what was left of the businessman on the street next to him, having transferred out of that body after impact. Looking back up again, he saw that the Powerpuff Girls had defeated Agent 91881. It didn't really matter, though…at least they had not interfered with Project 978, and it was finally ready.

Another agent appeared at his side, the one that had not joined the battle. He said, "We have proven ineffective against them now. This will complicate our plans."

"Not to worry," he replied. "The ACA prototype will take care of them. They will not escape us." He placed his hand over the radio in his ear, listening to the final pieces of data come in, and silently gave the signal to begin. Now, with nothing more for him to do here, the two of them turned and started back

* * *

"…an' that's the last we'll see of him," Buttercup remarked, staring at the spot where Mojo was just a moment ago.

"Good job, everyone," Blossom said. She reached into her trench coat and found the tiny cellphone that Query had given her before they set out on the mission. She dialed it up and waited.

Tripwire's voice came from the other end, "Operator."

"Tripwire, it's us," Blossom said. "We did it…I'm sure whatever they were planning, they won't be able to succeed now,"

"Yeah, really," Tripwire said with a slight chuckle. "Not with four less agents. But there's still two unaccounted for."

Nodding, Blossom said, "I want to check out what that other guy was, too…the one that was standing on the roof with them. Find out anything new about him?"

"Not a thi…" Tripwire began, but then hesitated. "Hold on, something's happening…"

"What?" Blossom asked.

There was an even longer pause, and Tripwire's voice finally came again, breathlessly, "My God…"

* * *

High above, on the rooftop, the figure in the black suit stood, still motionless. A couple of pigeons had even set down on him, and he didn't so much as twitch a single muscle. His eyes remained closed, and he was completely oblivious to their presence.

An instant later, the radio in his ear came alive. His eyes flew open, and he lifted a hand to cover it and listen carefully. The pigeons flew away from him with his sudden motion. He ignored it and focused on what he heard. Narrowing his eyes, he turned his gaze off to the sky in the distance, spotting his targets even from afar. The Powerpuff Girls. He carefully removed his sunglasses and tucked them away into his suit pocket, and casually straightened his tie. It was time.

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