"I dial in to this computer and find a location, and at this location is the Nina Project?" Suzie asked as she sat on her bed, the paper in hand. "Theo?"

Theo looked toward Mike as he nodded, Theo smiled. "Exactly."

"And the Nina Project is the code name for a video game?" Suzie frowned her eyebrows together.

"It's a video game console." Mike went on alongside Theo.

"It's basically America's answer to Nintendo." Will added in.

"Americantendo." Argyle hummed.

"Word." Locke cleared his throat and flashed a thumbs up.

"That's a stupid name." Suzie stared, looking at Theo as she sat on her bed with her. "How'd you end up here with them?"

Theo and Mike shared a look. "Testing out the smart people life style."

"And how are you liking it so far?" Suzie rose her eyebrows at her in questioning.

"Well, tell me if this answers your question." Theo leaned closer with wide eyes. "It's Sixteen-bit."

Mike grinned at how well Theo had caught on, giving her a little grin when she met his she. Locke very much noticed and shared a look with Will.

"Sixteen-bit?" she gapped at her. "Why have I never heard of it?"

"Because it's top secret." Mike nodded his head, his proud smile mistaken for kindness.

"That's why we're doing this." Will pointed out .

"For the promotion!" Locke added in, elbowing Will with a wink to show he also could play along. Will just gave an odd look and looked away.

"The first people to find the receiver get a-" Mike started.

"Americantendo?" Argyle suggested.

"Uh, an Amerucantendo." Mike sighed with a nod of his head.

"So you drive 3,000 miles over your spring break so I can help you get a new video game console no one has ever heard of?" Suzie nodded her head.

"And I wanted to meet you." Theo shrugged with a little grin. "Duh."

"Aw, I'm glad you did." Suzie put a hand on her heart.

"But it's not for us. It's for Dustin." Will shook his head to answer her previous question.

"For Dustin's birthday, which is..." Mike trialed off.

"In two months, three days, five hours." Suzie nodded.

Theos eyebrows shot up as Locke walked over, sitting next to her and tossing his arm around her. Out of pure jealousy for seeing her bomd so well with Suzie.

"Suzie, I don't know what you're doing but I am not spending my entire day babysitting." Eden pushed the door open quickly. "Pull your damn weight!"

"Language." Suzie scolded her.

"Oh no, am I gonna burn in hell now?" Eden gasped as she clutched her heart. Theo and Locke shared a look.

"You tell her, Eden." Argyle stared in memorization.

"Out of my room!" Suzie shoved her.

"Don't touch me, you little shit!" Eden yelled as the door was slammed in her face.

"Okay, so can you help?" Will gave her a hopeful look.

"I would do anything for Dustybun, but i'm afraid there's been an unfortunate development." Suzie sighed as she messed with her fingers. "After changing Dusty grades, I was wretched with the most awful guilt. Father could see my soul was tortured, and he wrenched a confession out of me. Not only was I breaking the law, I was dating an agnostic. An agnostic! I've never seen Father so angry. Naturally, after learning the terrible truth, he confiscated my computer. And Father is not one to change his mind. I'm as likely to see it again as I am my poor Dustybun."

"Where is it?" Jonathan gapped.

"His study." Suzie answered. "He uses it for work now. And Father's always worked, and his door is, like, permanently locked."

"I'm pretty good at convincing fathers to give me whatever I want." Theo smiled with a wiggle of her eyebrows. "Maybe I can try to talk to him?"

"Theo!" Mikes jaw fell. "No'!"

"I'm really sorry." Suzie sighed. "Truly. But it looks like you came all the way here for nothing."

The power shut off again. "Cornelius!"

The power came back on as shriek echoed. Suzie gave a look. "Unless.."

"Unless?" Mikes eyes widened in hope.

"There might be a way." Suzie looked at them. "But we're gonna need help."

"We can be help." Locke agreed.

"I mean a lot of help." Suzie looked at the group.

"All right." Argyle nodded.

Mike pulled on Theos arm when they were all running down the hallway to get to the study. He forcefully pulled her behind one of the hallways before anyone saw. "What-"

He cupped her face and kissed her the way he always did. Like it was a goodbye. Theo missed when he'd kiss her, she missed when they had their own little time together. He pulled away as she laughed. "What was that for?"

"For how smart you just were." he grinned. "How'd you know to say all that about the whole 16-bit?"

Theo shrugged. "I do listen to you, you know?"

Mike grinned, rubbing his thumbs across her face. "I hate this polo."

"Me too." she laughed before they hurried to catch up before anyone noticed their absents.

"Where's Argyle?" Will looked around when they got into the study.

"Shit, I don't know." Jonathan looked around.

"What if someone snatched him up?" Theo sat down on the desk as Suzie typed away. "90% of the time, the murderer is someone you know."

"Theo, not the time." Locke shook his head. "Let me remind you who's house we're in."

"Oh, let her talk. I quite enjoy it." Suzie grinned up at Theo as she gave her a wink from the table.

"And three, two..." with a pull of the breaker, the computer came on.

"Oh my god." Mikes eyes widened. "Why to go, Cornelius."

He held his hand out and got a high five from Theo.

Suzie began to type on the phone, looking back at the computer with a single click. "And we're in."

"Yeah, we are!" Theo cheered as she shook Suzie.

"Yes!" Locke and Will cheered and hugged each other without realizing.

Mike cheered as well. "Holy sh..heck. Oh holy heck. You did it."

"Hold your applause. I don't see an address." Suzie went to typing once again.

"Office." Jonathan pointed. "Try office:"

She listened, clicking quickly as the computer flooded with multiple bar codes. "What is all this? Theo?"

"That would be...all the 16-bit." she cleared her throat, terms about as far as she knew.

"Maybe it's hidden in the code somewhere?" Jonathan suggested.

"What you just said makes no sense." Mike rolled his eyes. Theo rose her eyebrows at Jonathan.

"You gonna take that?" she laughed, nodding at Mike. "All that attitude he just gave you?"

"Hold your butts. I'll just trace the IP." Suzie shook her head.

"The..The I-what?" Will blinked.

"The internet protocol address." she said in return. "It's a unique numerical label given to all information technology connect to the Internet."

"What's the internet?" Locke asked.

"Sounds kinda...hot." Theo nodded with a suggestive look, Mike gave her one of disbelief.

"Don't worry about it." Suzie said casually. "It's just gonna change the world."

"What's happening now?" Mike questioned as she typed a little faster

"I'm running the IP through a geolocation software." she answered, not taking her eyes off the screen. "Basically a form of data mining."

"See, why would I need to know anything when i've got her?" Theo shrugged her shoulders.

"You don't got her, you've known her all of five minutes." Locke rolled his eyes, once again from jealousy.

"Bingo." Suzie smiled as she hit return, location shown.

"Nevada?" the group all asked on sync.

"Can you print this?" Mike looked down at Suzie.

"No, my skills end at IP geolocation." she said sarcastically, turning to hit the printer button. Mike looked at Theo as she held back a comical grin.

"We gotta get to Nevada, save the superpower chick." Locke announced as Theo jumped off the desk.

"Yeah, I kinda miss her." Theo agreed, being around Suzie making her realize how much fun it would be to have a female friend that wasn't constantly competing or finding a way to put her down.

"Hi, Father. You look like you need a nap." Suzie spoke, running down first as the man eyed all four of the boys and Theo.

"Slow down!" he called over the staircase.

"Dustin's right." Mike panted as they got outside, taking the paper from Suzie. "You're a certified genius."

"Yeah, i'll have to call you when I need my grades changed." Theo grabbed her wrist and pulled a pen from Mikes front pocket. "This is my landline. Let's talk."

"Can't wait." Suzie hugged her tightly. "If you don't answer, go to the Gospel station."

"You got it." Theo confirmed, Mike put his arm around her in joy.

"I think we just spooked a skunk." Suzie gave a sniff of the air.

Jonathan pulled the back door open, revealing Argyle and Eden smoking in the back. Theo laughed loudly. "Oh, fuck me!"

"I thought we were in a religious house?" Locke yanked Theos flannel off as she tossed him his polo. "Oh, how i've missed you!"

"Yo. My dudes." Argyle laughed as he sat up some. "Any luck?"

•

kylie speaks

suzio, wheeleo, and lyers
have my heart confirmed