The team eventually rejoined outside the collapsing firewall.

"So.. what's the big deal with this Virus person, anyway?" Poppy asked curiously, making Headphones and Earbuds freeze.

"...y'really wanna know?" Headphones said solemnly.  Poppy nodded once.

The robotic cat took a deep breath.  "Okay, I'll tell you what I know:

"They used to be one of us.  They lived with us; they worked with us... and they had an evil intent to destroy us.  They worked at the lab and were one of the leaders' closest and most trusted friends.

"This turned out to be a huge mistake.  One day, they had a plan to destroy the Heart and rushed to fulfill it.. but the leaders stopped them and banished them.

"The corruption intended for the Heart corrupted them instead.  They vowed they would one day get revenge and fulfill their plan after all."

Poppy hesitated as she listened to the story. "That...that's kinda upsetting."

Headphones nodded solemnly. "But, no time to worry about that now. Let us be off to find them!" she exclaimed, trying to lift the mood.

"But... how? We aren't ready to fight." Poppy pointed out.

".... well then... training start!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PC gave a quiet moan as she woke up.  It took a moment for her memories to sort out and her vision to clear.

The events of what had happened before flashed in her mind.  Virus... the Heart...

... oh no...

She blinked.  Her vision cleared, revealing the bars of a cage.  She immediately jumped up.  "Where are we!?"

She noticed three other cages with the other rulers inside it.  Her ears went back.

Virus looked at her with a wide smirk.  "Well, well.  Look who's finally awake...

"...just in time for the show."