CHAPTER 2

	Skuld frantically tried as many programming tricks and shortcuts as
she could remember, but nothing seemed to work.  She would look up after
each attempt, only to see the same image on the map screen above
her--Japan was still highlighted in flashing red, indicating trouble.
Skuld placed her head in her hands, tired and frustrated.  *Why should I
have to do this,* she thought, angrily.  *This is all Urd's fault
anyway.*

	All around her, various indicators and alarms began calling for
attention.  Skuld looked up to see the crimson marks begin to grow
brighter.  *Uh oh...*  Frowning, Skuld let her hands hover over the
controls for a moment while she decided upon a course of action.
Finally, reluctantly, she reached down and activated her telephone.

	"C'mon, c'mon, pick up..."  After a second or two, Skuld heard Urd
pick up the other end of the line.  "Urd...I think we've got some
problems."

***

	"No kidding," Urd replied, gripping the phone with her free hand. 
She had a protesting Megumi in a headlock with her other arm, hand
clamped firmly around her mouth.  "Look, Skuld, I've got something I
have to deal with immediately.  I'll call you right back."

	"But, Urd--!"  Before Skuld could say another word, Urd dropped the
handset back onto the phone and hustled Megumi outside.  She didn't let
go of her until they had reached the steps of the temple.

	"Urd, what are you doing?!" said Megumi, more confused than angry.

	"I didn't want Keiichi to hear you," Urd replied, sitting down upon
the steps.

	"What?"  Megumi planted her fists on her hips.  "Why shouldn't he
hear me?  I mean after all, Bell IS his girlfriend, y'know!"  Urd was
making urgent shushing motions, but Megumi went on regardless.  "In
fact, where is she, anyways?  I mean, you'd think that Bell would be
over here helping Kei--"  She stopped, puzzled.  "Oh, wait, I remember
now.  Bell had to go home, or something..."  Megumi raised a hand to her
forehead, trying to think.  "No, that's not right...Kei and I moved in
with you to save on dorm fees, right?  But...but Bell lived here,
though...I, uh..." Megumi had sat down next to Urd, head in her hands,
now really confused.  "I, uh...Urd...what's going on?  What's wrong with
me?"

	Urd sighed inwardly.  She could just erase Megumi's memory again.
That's what she should do.  Had it been a few weeks ago, Urd would have
done so without a second thought.  But, for some reason, it just didn't
seem fair to just delete the confusion and go on as if nothing happened.
And...Urd had to admit to herself, she really felt the need to share her
burden with someone else, even if she then had to make her forget about
it right away.

	On the other hand, that would make that much more for Megumi to
forget afterwards.  No, better to take care of it now, when Megumi's
confusion was still fresh in her mind...and an easier target.  Urd
grinned ruefully to herself.  *With all this practice I've been getting
on my accuracy, I should be a goddess first class in no time,* she
thought. Urd turned a bit away from Megumi -- who was too lost in her
own confusion to notice -- and began to gather the energy she needed
into a glowing sphere in her hands.

***

	"Well, of all the nerve...!" shouted Skuld, slamming the
"disconnect" button with excess force.  "Where does she get off, hanging
up on me like that!  I ought'a just let her deal with it on her own --"

	Skuld took a deep breath, leaning her head against the console. 
"It's not fair," she whispered to herself.  "You're down there, I'm up
here, we're both trying to do these huge jobs by ourselves...."

	The screen image shifted beneath her head.  "Huh?"  As Skuld looked
up, a spark traced a glowing path across the screen.  "What was that?"
Manipulating controls, she rewound and watched again.  Before her eyes,
a bright spot suddenly appeared in the center of the red area.  After a
moment, it changed into a streak, launching its way eastward.  Skuld
rewound again and froze the display.  The short-lived streak was now a
glowing line, stretching from the red area across the ocean.  She could
barely make out the object causing the glowing trail.  Frowning, Skuld
magnified the image, until she could see it more clearly.  It was small
and roundish, with what appeared to be several arms or legs protruding
from it --

	Skuld's eyes widened.  "Oh no!  It couldn't be!!"

***

	Megumi looked up suddenly.  "What's that?"

	Urd followed Megumi's gaze and saw what looked like a rabbit
crossing the courtyard...but rabbits don't normally have six legs.  Even
as Urd's mouth dropped open in surprise, she launched the energy she had
gathered at the creature.  Megumi gasped as the ball of power
soundlessly detonated, causing the creature to disappear.  In it's place
was a meter-wide hole scorched into the ground.

	"What was that?" Megumi said again, eyes wide with surprise.

	"It was a bug, a system bug...it's a long story."  Urd stood, and
began to rush back to the house.

	"No, I mean, what did you just do?  Hey, Urd...wait up!"  Megumi
scrambled to her feet, chasing after Urd.  She burst into the house to
find Urd dialing what appeared to be way too many numbers on the phone.

	"Skuld, we've got bugs down here!" Urd shouted into the phone. 
Megumi heard a pained groan from Keiichi's room.

	"Way ahead of you, sis," answered Skuld, hurriedly.  Urd could hear
much activity in the background.

	"So what are we doing about it?"

	"I'm trying to isolate the bug port on the surface world, but I
can't seem to pin it down -- I think I'm going to have to get Bell to
help -- you're gonna have to keep a lid on things down there."

	"What!  How am I supposed to do that by myself?"

	"I DON'T KNOW!  I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN!"

	Skuld's voice rode the edge of barely controlled hysteria.  Urd
heard this and took a deep breath.  *If I push too hard, she'll be no
use for anything.*  "Skuld...Skuld, I'm sorry.  I know you're doing your
best." She rubbed her head with her free hand.  "Give me the details."

	"Umm...okay.  It looks like the bugs are appearing in the Tokyo
area...and from there after a little while they can launch anywhere in
the world.  There aren't many of them, but I think that the rate that
they are popping up is increasing."

	Urd waited a moment.  "That's IT?"

	"Well, what do you expect?  This all only just started a few minutes
ago..."

	Urd mentally reined in her irritation.  "Okay.  Okay, how are they
getting the energy to appear here?  A bug exhaust port doesn't just
appear out of nowhere, you know."

	"Hold on, let me see..."  Urd heard more computer activity in the
background.  "They seem to be tapping into the system force, somehow.
There's a leak in the system...."

	"Okay, Skuld.  I'll nail the bugs that are already here, and you tie
up the power drain, right?"

	"Yeah.  But Urd, one of them might have already left the area!"

***

	Late evening, San Francisco.  Although rush hour was supposedly
over, traffic in the Bay Area was still slowed to a crawl.  The holdup
seemed to be around the bay area, as cars on the bridges crossing the
bay screeched to a halt. What apparently had been a tremendous
underwater explosion had caused waves that rattled the deck of the
Golden Gate Bridge.  At that same moment, the lights illuminating both
the Golden Gate and the Bay Bridge went out, some of them explosively.

	Beneath the water, a bug crouched close to the bottom, slowly
regaining its strength, wondering what mischief to do next.  It _liked_
this game!

***

	"Right.  Let me know if that one causes too many problems."

	"Okay..."  Skuld's voice sounded tired and scared.  Urd sensed that
she was on the verge of shutting down.

	"Come on, Skuld.  You and me against the forces of Chaos, right?  No
problem.  At least," Urd said in her best arrogant voice, "I'll hold up
my end.  I'd better make some plans just in case I can't count on you,
right?"

	"What?!"  Urd smiled as she heard Skuld's voice perk up with anger
and injured pride.  "I bet I'll have this cleaned up before you make it
out of the house!"

	"I hope you do, little sister.  I hope you do."  Urd decided to
relent. "Look.  Let the automatic systems try to track the exhaust port
for a while.  Get yourself some rest."

	"But Urd, it looks like there's at least four or five bugs down
there. How are you going to catch them by yourself?"

	"Who said I was going to do it by myself?

	"It's not like I can go down there!  Do you want me to get Bell to
help you?"

	"No, you need her more up there with you."  Urd looked up at the
door, where a still-confused Megumi was standing.  "I'm going to draft a
deputy."

	"WHAT?!  You CAN'T!  Urd--"

	Urd slammed her fist down.  "Do you have a better idea?"  Now Urd
felt herself skating close to the breaking point.  She paused for a
moment to calm down.  "We can discuss it with Father later," she
continued.  "In fact, why don't you mention it to him right now?  You
can see him on your way to your chambers."

	"Thanks a lot," muttered Skuld under her breath.

	"What was that?"

	"I said..."  Skuld sighed.  "Good luck, Urd.  I think you're gonna
need it."

	"Thanks, Skuld."  Urd heard a click as Skuld disconnected.  "Good
luck to you too."

	As Urd put the phone down, the sound of a door sliding open made her
look up.  Keiichi stood there, cold pack against his head.  "Keiichi!
How are you feeling?"

	"I'm feeling...better, thanks.  What's all the shouting about?"

	Urd privately decided that Kei didn't look much better.  "Uhh...I
need to go shopping in town for a bit.  Is it okay if Megumi and I
borrow your motorcycle for a while?"

	Keiichi looked from Urd to Megumi.  "Well, sure, I guess."  He
fumbled in his pockets, then handed his keys to Urd.

	"Thanks!"  Urd ran into her room, ran out again with a backpack, and
grabbed Megumi's arm.  "See you later!"  She hustled Megumi out into the
courtyard.

	The haze in Megumi's mind had finally begun to clear a bit, and she
found her voice again.  "Urd, hold it," she said, shaking her off. "Tell
me what's going on!"

	Urd handed Megumi her helmet.  "Here.  It's a long story.  You're
driving.  I'll try to explain on the way."

	"Where are we going?"  Megumi asked, as Urd climbed into the
sidecar.

	"I'm not sure yet," she replied, taking several objects from her
pack. "Just drive.  Oh, and you might need this."

	Megumi looked at the object Urd handed her with some interest.  *A
hammer?*  She shrugged to herself as she got onto the bike.  *This
explanation had better be good...*  Aloud, she said, "Are you ready?"
Megumi looked over her shoulder to see Urd frowning at something on a
device she was holding.  "Hey, when did you start wearing glasses?"

	Urd looked up, adjusting the scanners that Skuld had built into the
frames of her glasses.  "They're just for...technical work."  The
display in the left lens flashed, causing Urd to look back across the
courtyard...where a certain tree was highlighted with an unhealthy glow.

	As data began to scroll across Urd's vision, she murmured, "Oh,
that's not good."

	Puzzled, Megumi followed Urd's gaze.  "What's up?  I don't--" 
Megumi stopped for a moment, and shuddered, as if a chill had come over
her.

	"Megumi?  What is it?"

	"I...I don't know....  Something...."  She could feel the confusion
rising again in her mind.  "Something from...over there...that
tree...something came from there, and hit me...."

	Urd placed her hand on Megumi's shoulder and concentrated.  Megumi's
shivering eased off.  "Don't worry.  Whatever was there seems to be gone
now."  Urd looked back at the tree, and at the information her
instruments told her.  It seemed that, although a bug exhaust port had
formed by the tree, it had...moved?  *This is NOT good,* she repeated to
herself.  To Megumi, she said, "Let's go."

	Megumi paused for a moment before she started up the motorcycle, her
mind still confused by some of the things she was starting to remember.
After all, how could she forget someone as nice as Keiichi's girlfriend,
Bell...?  Megumi shook her head, trying to clear it.  Unable to fit her
recollections together, she decided to just not think about it for a
while.

	Keiichi heard them go, the motorcycle roaring away.  The sound made
his head throb, but it seemed that his headache was receding.  *Well, I
can't let a headache put me behind in class, can I?* Keiichi thought to
himself.  He returned to his room, and sat down at his desk.  As he got
out his books for the class that he missed, Keiichi happened to glance
at a picture sitting in it's frame on a shelf.

	*That's funny...what an odd picture,* he observed.  The photo was of
Keiichi, but for some reason he was on the left side of the shot.  The
space to his right was empty.  Keiichi paused, looking at the photo some
more.  *There should be someone...there....*  In his mind's eye, a face
began to appear, the face that was missing from the photo.  It was a
friendly face, with a gentle smile and eyes that were full of--

	*OWWW!!*

	The stab of pain came suddenly, the shock of it driving Keiichi into
unconsciousness.

***

	"Umm...Father?  We seem to have a problem....  Another bug exhaust
port seems to have formed.  We can't locate it precisely, and I can't
seem to pin down what's powering it...."

	Kami-sama spoke before Skuld could continue.  "Yes.  I have been
monitoring the situation for some time now."  Skuld noticed images from
her work floating around the Heavenly Throne.

	"Oh.  Right.  Um.  Well...."  Skuld placed a hand behind her head,
nervously.

	Her father held up his hand, interrupting her half-formed statement.
"Although I do not entirely approve of everything you and Urd have
done," he began, "I understand why you have chosen this particular
course of action.  I will have others of the heavenly host exploring
different options for dealing with the new exhaust port, but for now,
you may continue your efforts."

	"Ah....  Thank you, Father!"

	"But remember:  I WILL be watching."

***

	Skuld was walking down a vast hallway, absentmindedly scooping fudge
ripple ice cream from a quart container carried under one arm. *Continue
our efforts, huh?  Great.  But what should our next step be?* She
stopped for a moment to ponder.  *Maybe I can just let some of the
others try to come up with a solution.*  This seemed like a good course
of action, but for her father's last words....  Skuld paused and
shuddered at the memory.  She shoveled another spoonful of ice cream
into her mouth to boost her energy a bit more, and kept going.  *I know!
I could ask Belldandy for advice!*

	Skuld rounded a corner and approached the doors to Belldandy's
chambers. Her sister had been in seclusion ever since the recall notice
had taken effect, and Skuld hesitated to disturb her now, but...she
needed her help.

	Putting the spoon back into the ice cream and closing the container,
Skuld gingerly knocked on her sister's door.  "Um...Belldandy?"

	There was no response.  Skuld knocked a little harder.  "Sister?"

	Still nothing.  Skuld came to a decision, and gently opened the
door. She cautiously stuck her head in and looked around, her eyes
slowly adjusting to the dim lighting.  Bell sat in an overstuffed chair
by the fireplace, knitting needles in one hand, the beginnings of a
scarf in the other.  *Oh, she's asleep!* Skuld noticed.  *She's probably
exhausted.  It'd be a shame to wake her....*  Skuld sighed.  "Bell?" she
said gently, so as not to startle her.

	Belldandy slept on.  Skuld tapped her on the shoulder.  "Belldandy,
it's Skuld.  Wake up, please, big sister, I need your help..."  Bell
didn't respond.  Frowning a little, Skuld tried again. 
"Belldandy...BELLDANDY! Please, wake up!"

	By now, Skuld had begun to shout, but Bell didn't even twitch.  She
just sat there, deeply asleep.

	*Geez!* thought Skuld.  Belldandy seemed to be really out of it. 
She was so deep in sleep that it seemed nothing could rouse her. 
*Hmmm... Bell only sleeps this hard when she has to recharge her
energy,* mused Skuld, as she looked at her sleeping sister.  Just as
Skuld used ice cream for emergency recharges, Belldandy had to sleep to
regain her strength.  *Like when she's totally drained herself...
power... drain... Power?  For the -- oh, no.  No.  Nononononono....* 
Skuld backed up to the door, then turned and ran out of the room,
calling, "FATHERRRRR!!!"

***

	Sayoko Mishima believed herself to be a very down-to-earth person. 
She didn't usually go for a belief in luck or destiny or mystic powers
or things like that, she would tell herself, unless of course said
mystic happenings would be in her favor.  So, she didn't really have an
explanation for some of the odder things that seemed to be happening
while she was around today.  It all started earlier, at the motor club,
when the engine Tamiya and Otaki was working on flew apart.  Next, she
saw Megumi just fall over at the entryway to the house she and her
brother shared.  As Sayoko got out of her car and walked across the quad
at Nekomi Tech, she was so preoccupied with the day's events that she
forgot to snub the group of admirers that had hung around, hoping she
would return to campus.

	At that particular moment, Sayoko had noticed the campus clock had
begun to spin backwards.  As she walked past, the clock had frozen
completely, just before the mechanism popped out and fell to the ground
with a crash.  Sayoko backed away from the wreck of the clock and leaned
against a metal sculpture nearby.  *Good thing I wasn't under that --
hey!*  Behind her, the sculpture had suddenly collapsed under her
weight, the steel framework bending as if it had turned to jello.  *What
the heck?!*

	Suddenly, Sayoko saw what looked like a small animal hopping around
the base of the sculpture, trapped by the bent metal.  "Ohh, how cute! 
Are you a bunny rabbit?" Sayoko said in reassuring tones.  "Don't worry,
we'll have you out of there in a jiffy."

	As she reached down to pick up the creature, she heard a shout.
"Sayoko!  Look out!"  Sayoko fell back in surprise, as something flew
past her ear and hit the "rabbit" square on the head.  She was outraged.
"Hey, what do you think you're --"  Before Sayoko could finish the
thought, the creature burst into white light, which bubbled and swirled
out of sight.  *Funny, I don't think I've been drinking today...*

	"Nice shot, if I do say so myself," said Megumi, picking up her
hammer from where it had fallen.

	"I could have taken care of it, if you hadn't gotten in the way,"
replied Urd.

	Megumi remembered the scorched ground in the temple courtyard. 
"Yeah, but you probably would've taken care of Sayoko, too!"  Urd
"hmphed" in annoyance.  Megumi turned to Sayoko, only to see her in a
faint, laying on the ground.  Shrugging to herself, Megumi moved Sayoko
into a more dignified position against a nearby tree.

	Urd had put on her glasses again, and was scanning the quad.  "So,
do you believe me now?" she said.

	Megumi looked up.  "I don't know, Urd.  You've got to admit, that
story you told me was pretty bizarre."  Urd rolled her eyes.  Megumi
went on, "So you say that you're a _goddess?_  And that reality is a
computer program?"

	"No, I just wanted you to _think_ of reality that way.  It's a
metaphor!"

	"A metaphor for what?"

	"Look.  I'm a goddess, and my job is to troubleshoot any glitches
that crop up in reality."

	"Oh, and these glitches manifest themselves as six-legged rabbits?"

	"Hey, it was the most harmless thing we could think of!"

	"Harmless?" asked Megumi skeptically, looking at the wreckage of the
clock and sculpture.

	Urd smirked.  "Okay, mostly harmless."  The scanner in her hand
pinged, then pinged again.  Urd frowned a little.

	Megumi shook her head in disbelief.  Far too much was happening far
too fast for her to really take it all in.  She decided to herself that
things like this couldn't really be happening, the evidence before her
notwithstanding.  *Surely there's some rational explanation for all
this.  Or maybe I'm just delusional.*  Megumi sighed, as she decided to
just go along with whatever Urd was playing at, until the right
explanation came along.

	Switching off the scanner, Urd grabbed Megumi by the arm and headed
towards the nearest building.  "We've got to go.  It looks like a few of
the bugs have teamed up downtown..."

	"Hey, Urd," Megumi protested.  "We parked over _this_ way!"

	"Not fast enough."  Inside the building, Urd found a classroom that
was currently vacant.  She switched on the television monitor hanging in
one corner.

	"Urd, what are you do-- EEEE!!!"  Megumi's words dissolved into a
wordless shout, as Urd grabbed her arm and leapt into the screen. Megumi
was helplessly drawn after.

***