Finally, Trixie and the girls arrived at the hotel. The taxi came to a stop, the engine idling as the driver waited for them to exit.

Piper let out a heavy sigh, breaking the silence. "Well, at least we had a good time for a little while. It's better than nothing, I guess."

Trixie nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of resignation and regret. "Yeah, you're right. We made the most of it while it lasted. Let's get our stuff and head out.”

They climbed out of the taxi, the weight of their interrupted vacation hanging over them like a dark cloud. Unlocking their room, Trixie began packing up everyone's belongings, moving on autopilot as the reality of their situation sunk in. The sense of freedom and relaxation they had briefly tasted now felt like a distant dream.

"Um, why are you packing your stuff? Weren't we staying here for a few days or so?" Stephanie asked innocently.

Trixie paused, letting out a long sigh. "I...got a call from my boss. She wants me to bring Piper back and hook her up to the Meteor Corp HQ's supercomputer, so we have to leave immediately.”

Stephanie's innocent gaze shifted between Trixie and Piper, her youthful face now etched with concern. "Why? What's going on? Is something wrong with Piper?”

Trixie knelt down to be eye-level with Stephanie, hating having to break the news to her. "Piper's just fine. It's...more complex than that. It's just that my boss wants her hooked back up to the supercomputer like before. It can't be done here, so we have to go back to the HQ for a bit.”

Stephanie's frown deepened, her youthful face betraying a deep sense of worry. "But...what about me?”

Trixie forced a brave smile, gently ruffling Stephanie's hair. "You'll come with us, of course. We won't leave you here alone. You just need to be patient for a bit, alright?”

Stephanie nodded silently, her eyes fixed on Trixie. The concern in her eyes mirrored something much older and wiser than her age.

Trixie continued packing their belongings, the task weighing heavy on her shoulders.

Stephanie nodded silently, her eyes fixed on Trixie. The concern in her eyes mirrored something much older and wiser than her age.

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Trixie continued packing their belongings, the task weighing heavy on her shoulders. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Trixie turned her head to see Esther standing at her side with a curious gaze, holding a note to her that read: "Excuse me, but how will you bring Stephanie with us? She's not from our country, and they won't let us take her with us on the plane.”

Trixie took a moment to consider Esther's question, realizing she had overlooked the legal complexities of traveling with a young child from another country.

Trixie let out a frustrated sigh, her mind running through different possibilities. "I don't know. I haven't thought that far ahead yet. But we can't just leave her here alone. We need to figure something out.”

Esther nodded, her eyes reflecting the uncertainty of the situation.

Trixie glanced at Piper, who looked deep in thought. "Piper, any ideas?”

Piper stood motionless for a few seconds, her robotic eyes flickering as she processed the situation. Then, her words came out in a calm, calculated voice.

"I have a potential solution, but it's not without risk.”

Trixie and Esther exchanged glances before focusing on Piper again. The intensity in her voice had both of them on edge, knowing Piper wouldn't offer a risky solution unless it was necessary.

"Really? What's the solution, Pipes?" Trixie asked cautiously, her concern for both Stephanie and Piper heightened by Piper's words.

"I can create a temporary identity for Stephanie," Piper responded, her voice still eerily calm. "It would require some delicate manipulation of government databases, but I should be able to give her a passport and other legal documents that will allow her to travel with us.”

Trixie and Esther exchanged surprised glances. The idea was risky, involving government tampering and potential legal consequences. But the alternative – leaving Stephanie behind – was unthinkable.

Trixie spoke up first, her voice a touch uncertain. "Can you really pull that off, Piper? Wouldn't they catch on eventually?”

"It's possible," Piper admitted. "But I can create a thorough cover for her. I'll fabricate a past for her, create documentation, and fabricate records that will stand up to scrutiny. The chances of getting caught are low, but not zero.”

Trixie bit her lip, the weight of the decision resting heavily on her shoulders. "And if we get caught, what then? We'd be facing serious charges – fraud, government tampering, and who knows what else. Ohh, Sarolta would hate me forever if I got caught, getting her tangled up in foreign troubles…”

Piper's expression remained stoic, her eyes fixed on Trixie. "The risks are real, but the alternative is abandoning Stephanie. I've analyzed the situation extensively, and the risk of getting caught is minimal if I cover our tracks thoroughly.”

Trixie sighed deeply, a mixture of fear and determination in her eyes. "Alright, let's do it. We don't have any other viable options. But you need to be extra careful, Pipes. We can't afford any mistakes.”

Piper nodded, a hint of satisfaction in her expression. "Leave the details to me. I'll start working on the false identity for Stephanie right away."

With that, Piper turned away and began connecting herself to a nearby computer, her artificial fingers dancing across the keyboard as she initiated her scheme.

Trixie watched her, her anxiety still high. The weight of the situation was overwhelming, but she held onto the desperate hope that Piper would succeed.

Esther stood by, her eyes fixed on Piper, silently watching the digital prodigy at work. Minutes of silence passed, broken only by the rapid tapping of keys. The tension in the room was palpable. Piper's eyes were fixed on the computer screen, her fingers moving with uncanny precision.

Finally, she finished her task, disconnecting from the computer and turning back to Trixie and Esther.

"Done," she affirmed. "Stephanie now has a fully fabricated identity. Her documents should hold up to any security checks at the airport.”

Trixie let out a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Okay, good. That's one problem solved."

Uni nodded in agreement, a small sigh of relief escaping her lips. "Now we just have to get through the airport without any hiccups.”

But the relief was short-lived. Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed out of the room, followed by a harsh knock on the door. Both Trixie and Esther immediately tensed, a sense of dread coursing through them.