Bob, Dot Matrix, Enzo Matrix, AndrAIa, Matrix, Mouse, Ray Tracer, Frisket, and Phong are all property of Mainframe Ent. They are not real people with real lives. They do anything that the writers and the animators have them do.
Ryan Quinn, Marc Peterson and Yvonne LeBlanc are people that I have created. They came out of my imagination and do not really exist.
Silv, Shay are real people and appear in this fic with their permission. Now! On with the fun!
Summary: You know what happens when Users
visit Mainframe. What if it was the other way 'round?
Chapter One: The Exodus
SCENE: Mainframe Entertainment - Vancouver, BC
Ian Pearson walked quickly down the corridor towards the conference room. He was carrying a folder filled with new story ideas for the Shadow Raiders tv show. Ian had spent all night thinking up new plots for the new CGI program produced by Mainframe Ent. Mainframe Productions was doing excellently with its two new seasons of Beast Wars and Shadow Raiders.
The first CGI program had been ReBoot, a story that takes place in a small town within a PC computer. The first two seasons of ReBoot had been very successful and the third season had been fun to create, but the funding had dropped, so a fourth season was almost out of the question. Ian wasn't worried. They had two shows with strong ratings so they had lots to work with.
As Ian walked through the double doors of the meeting room, Gavin Blair greeted him warmly. "Hey Ian!" Then Gavin saw the exhausted look on Ian's face. "Whoa! You look really beat!"
Ian let out a small 'grunt...' with a hint of a smile and sat down next to his companion. "I hate those all nighties. I swear, I'll never do it again!"
"Oh, I'm sure you'll have plenty of them in the future." Gavin smiled evilly.
Ian smiled wearily. "That's what I'm afraid of."
One by one, more people began to file into the conference room and sitting in their usual spots. The meeting was going to be starting very soon, so Ian got up from where he was sitting and went to his place near the head of the long rectangular table.
After several minutes, everyone who had to be there had had arrived,
taken their seats and prepared to present their ideas for the Shadow Raiders
and how the production of the episodes were coming along. Soon the meeting
was in full swing.
Ryan Quinn looked inside the PC monitor at the jungle of wires and switches. Wow! I can't believe that I actually got this job with Mainframe. This is incredible. Ryan had loved CGI ever since he had seen the movie Tron when he was six. It had seemed so real, so life like. Since then, he had watched computer graphics greatly improve and when ReBoot, the first CGI program came out a few years ago, he'd been hooked on Mainframe Entertainment Productions.
Ryan reached inside the monitor to find the problem in the wiring.
He missed his family back home in Halifax, Nova Scotia but he had travelled across Canada for this job. He wasn't going to quit because of homesickness. Mainframe had asked for a computer programer to program and repair broken machines; Ryan could do that! Here's my chance! he thought when he had first read the advertisement in an Animation Magazine and applied for the valuable position. "Well, here I am," he said so quietly that only he could hear. "Now let's try and fix this hunk of wire and plastic."
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SCENE: System of Mainframe
"So what's wrong Phong? Why is the system all shut down?" Glitch Bob asked the old sprite.
"There is something wrong with the core..."
"What?!" everyone exclaimed.
"A core malfunction?!" Matrix shouted over the sudden commotion. "This is bad..."
Phong raised his hands to quiet the startled sprites. "Do not worry, my children. It is not serious. It in being repaired as we speak. Binomes are working around the clock to get the city back on-line. All we can do is sit and wait."
Matrix, who hated waiting, let out a deep breath and quickly strode out of the room. Little Enzo hopped off a stool and ran after him.
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Matrix sat outside of the Principle Office, looking at the sky. What does the User look like? he thought. This question had been going through his mind ever since he was a young sprite. Younger than little Enzo. The thought had popped up in his mind more frequently when he AndrAIa, and Frisket had been game hopping. He didn't want to know what the User looked like in the Games, he already knew that. He wanted to see the one that was said to live outside the Net and input games for pleasure. No one was completely sure of this, but it seem extremely possible. Why else would the User keep doing it?
Matrix was so deep in his thoughts, that he didn't hear young Enzo quietly walk up beside him. "Um... Matrix?"
Slightly startled, Matrix quickly twisted around to see who it was. Seeing the younger, smaller version of himself made him smile. "Hey..." he said softly.
"Hey" Enzo repeated just as quietly. He smiled nervously and scratched the back of his head. "Um... you busy... you know... doin' anything, well... important?"
Matrix's smile grew a little and gently shook his head. "No. Have a seat." he said as he patted the spot beside him.
Little Enzo sat down and began swinging his legs. There was an awkward silence for several nanos, then Enzo broke it with... "What are the games like, Matrix? I mean... game hopping, what's it like?"
Matrix looked at the young sprite in surprise. He hadn't expected that question. "What's game hopping like?" Matrix repeated the question while trying to think of a reply. "Well, it's like being in a strange place - say it's a Game - you defeat the User, then you're in another strange and different place."
"No," Enzo shook his head quickly. "I mean, what's it like living in the Games? Not living in a system."
"Oh..." Matrix looked at his back-up with a little more understanding. "It's hard to describe. When the Game leaves, it seems like the whole world disappears and you disappear with it." Then Matrix grinned. "It kinda tickles too." Little Enzo smiled back at his answer.
Matrix continued. "Like when your foot falls asleep, but it's only for a nano." Then he stared off into the sky again. "It feels like you're floating, half conscienceless." Matrix's gaze went back to Enzo. "Another thing is... you don't really have to eat, but you get hungry and thirsty in the systems really fast! Then the game starts again. Whether it's in the same system or not. Usually not, but there are some Users that would play the same game repeatedly." Matrix scowled and looked over the silent city. "That would get my back-up everytime!" A nano-second passed before Matirx realized what he had just said and he looked apologetically at his back-up. "Sorry. That just slipped out."
Enzo let out a small laugh. "It's ok. I have to get used to the idea that there's two of me too, and" a little quieter, "that I'm not the original."
"Don't worry Enzo. Actually, you are more of an Enzo Matrix than I am. I changed a lot after I lost that game. I wish I could go back and change things that I did. You still have your life ahead of you..." Matrix lowered his head as he let his voice trail off.
Silently, Enzo placed his little hand on Matrix's muscular shoulder and there they sat, side by side, sharing a comfortable but sad silence between them.
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SCENE: Mainframe Entertainment
Ryan scratched his head and looked down at the tangled mess he had made with the circuit wires and plastic pieces that had been, a few minutes ago, a computer. "The new ones are so different to the ones I'm used to fixing, but there's nothing I can't do" he thought to himself. "Alright you dipswitches!" he said quietly, quoting his favourite of Bob's sayings, on ReBoot. "Prepare to meet your programmer... me!!" With that he began to reassemble the computer monitor.
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Ryan sat back, and drank the last of his third mug of coffee. "Finally!" he shouted happily, inside his head, "Now you can take a nap." he thought jokingly to himself. He sat forward, and flicked the computer on.
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SCENE: System of Mainframe
A deep low boom sounded as the system came back online. The sky brightened to the cyan blue from the mix of purple and orange. The information started flowing, cars and zip boards started working again, and the city became alive once more.
In Dot's Diner, seven sprites enjoyed their free energy shakes. AndrAIa, Matrix, and Little Enzo sat in a booth together. Little Enzo, feeling slightly more comfortable with the older, larger version of himself, was rattling off question after question to Matrix. "How many games have you been in? What did the user look like? In each game? Can I go with you next time... if there is a next time?" Matrix could only smile and shake his head, Was I really like this? he thought.
Bob, Dot, Mouse, and Ray sat in another booth. They were telling stories, catching up on news, and listening to Ray tell of the different places and systems he had visited. The tales he told made the group roar with laughter.
After only a few stories, Dot's sides ached. "Ray," she sighed. "Please no more. I can't take it."
"You've 'aven't heard anythin' yet, Love. I've got lots more where they came frum." he grinned.
Bob took a sip of his shake, just as Ray told one his funniest anecdote yet. Bob had to stop himself from spitting out energy shake and spreading it all over the table.
"Ray, sugah, save some for later." Mouse giggled while holding her sides. They felt like they were going to burst if one more tale slipped from the surfer's mouth.
Bob agreed. "We have to think of a more pressing matter, "he said, suddenly turning serious. "like the Super Virus infecting the entire Guardian collective and in doing so, taking over the Net." The smiles disappeared from all of the faces of those who were sitting at the table and nodded grimly. "We have to think of a battle plan."
Matrix's ears perked up at 'battle plan', but not wanting to worry Enzo, he pretended he didn't hear it.
Dot was about to speak her mind on subject when a thundering crash interrupted her. It echoed around the system until it died down.
Dot stood up. "What in the Net...?!"
A vidwindow appeared in front of her. "Dot!"
"What is it, Phong?" she inquired quickly. "What's wrong?"
"The core!" Phong managed to choke out in his panic. "Power fluctuations. It is highly unstable! It going to crash!"
All of the sprites stood straight up. "We're on our way, Phong!" Bob said, peering sideways into the vidwindow. The vidwindow closed and all the sprites were outside.
Dot took out her zip board. "Enzo." she said sternly. Matrix and Enzo both turned and looked at her. Remembering then that she had two brothers with the same name, she turned to the younger one. "I want you to stay at the Diner. We will contact you.."
Feeling left out again, Enzo let out a disappointed "Awww..", threw up his hands in exasperation and began walking obediently towards the diner.
Matrix's eye followed him, sympathetically. "Enzo, wait." he called after him. Enzo stopped and slowly turned. Matrix turned back to his sister. "Let me look after him. He won't get in the way. I promise." A smile appeared on his face as he looked again at little Enzo.
Dot's gaze ping-ponged between her bothers and she made a face. Enzo, seeing that he might actually be able to go, folded his hands and walked toward Dot.
"Please Dot. I'll be on my best behaviour. You won't know that I'm there."
"Alright," she said slowly but finally and quickly turned to the others. "We've wasted enough time. Let's move it people!"
Enzo looked at Matrix who smiled and winked.
Everyone hopped onto their zip boards and headed towards the Principal Office.
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Dot , Matrix and Bob stood bent over the system map of Mainframe, looking for any disturbances and further trouble. AndrAIa, Mouse, and Phong scanned the core, searching for solutions that just seemed out of reach at that moment. Enzo quietly stood out of the way, gathering what information he could get without saying a word.
"This is not good." Bob was worried. Nothing like this had ever happened before, but then again, he had never been in a system that was crashing before. There had to be a way to survive this. He looked at Dot. Her face was filled with concern, for the system and the ones she cared about - that meant everyone in Mainframe. Bob smiled. She made a terrific Command.com.
All of a sudden, the room rang with a shrill siren, warning that something else had just gone wrong.
"Phong..." was all that Dot could say.
"I am checking, my child!" Phong replied frantically as he typed with speed he had never accessed before. "Oh dear..." His voice was a frightened whisper. "The core is over-heating. There is nothing we can do."
Fear appeared on everyone's face. Nothing? The siren was deafening amongst the sprites' silence. There was no time to evacuate the system. Everyone was doomed to deletion.
Dot walked towards Bob and they held each other close. Matrix had his arm around AndrAIa's waist and squeezed. It wasn't exactly the end he had pictured, but the end comes when it comes.
Mouse and Ray held each others hands tightly. They had only known each other for a few seconds, but they had many things in common, so it almost felt as if they had known each other forever. Ray looked at the mauve sprite. She glanced at him, then got a certain look in her eye. This look had come into her eyes once before; when the system was crashing. She and Ray had kissed for six nanos. It was the first time they had kissed, but not their last. Ray smiled, he knew what was coming. He was ready for it. Mouse took him by the shoulders and held him in a long embrace.
Enzo looked down at his shoes. He had nobody to comfort him. He was alone again. This is what Matrix must have felt... he thought. Enzo let out a sigh and waited for the inevitable.
Matrix kissed the top of AndrAIa's head, heard Enzo's sigh and looked up. Seeing him on the control board by himself made Matrix sigh. At least he had AndrAIa now. Enzo didn't have anyone his age. "Enzo" he called quietly.
Enzo sadly looked up and saw Matrix making a motion to come beside him and AndrAIa. He got down off the control panel, hurried over to Matrix, grabbed his hand and squeezed.
Matrix smiled. This was like having a younger brother; something he had always wanted. Matrix looked down at Enzo, and squeezed back. Frisket ran into the room and bounded up to Enzo. He tilted his head and whimpered.
"Warning! Core temperature reaching critical levels" the system voice announced the oncoming doom.
Mouse finally let go of Ray and both of them walked out of the Core Control Centre to look over the system one last time.
Bob watched the group of three spites and a dog left across from him and Dot. Matrix had come so far; looking for Mainframe from across the Net, finding him in the Web and now this. And poor young Enzo; he was scared. In fact, Bob himself was scared. What was after this? He didn't have much time to think about it, because a blinding flash of light filled the room, consuming everyone in it.
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SCENE: Mainframe Entertainment
Ryan sat in front of the computer screen, testing the former faulty program, when Yvonne LeBlanc walked up to him. She was an CGI animator for Mainframe from Ottawa, Ontario. He computer had crashed early that morning and needed to get back on it to continue working on the Shadow Raiders series. "Can I use my computer yet?" she smiled. "Or is it still out of comish?"
"I'm just checking it right now." He said without looking up. "Everything looks pretty good so far." He said more to himself then to Yvonne. "I think it's ready to continue animating." he said as he stood up and let Yvonne sit down in her chair.
"Thank you very much Ryan. Now I have to stay in a few extra hours to get caught up, but that's ok. I love it here!" She smiled warmly and started up Softimage to begin working again. Suddenly, her computer started to smoke, spark and all around noise making. "Aw, cripes! What's wrong now?"
Ryan's eyes widened. He grabbed Yvonne and moved quickly away from the giant fire hazard. Just then, Phil Mitchell rounded the courner with Gavin Blair. The meeting had gone well and they were just continuing the discussion and they were on their way back to their offices to finish up the work for the day.
Gavin saw the smoking terror first. "What in the world? What's going on?" He coughed from the ever accumulating smoke.
"I don't know, Gavin." Ryan replied through his shirt. He was using it as a smoke screen but it wasn't a very good one. "I just thought I fixed that thing and then it just went haywire!"
"Well, someone get that computer to stop!" Phil shouted over the noise. Suddenly, a huge white light exploded out of the top, sides and screen of the computer monitor. The group covered their eyes and prepared for the explosion. Then just as quickly as it had started, and the light was gone, the computer ceased to spew smoke and sparks.
The four humans opened their eyes and looked at the burnt mess. To their shock, six figures were standing beside the computer surrounded by smoke and they were coughing.
Ryan tried to peer through the smoke to see who had rotten to the computer. Two of the figures were really tall and seemed to be male, two others looks like female and there appeared to be a small child and a ...dog??!
The figures began speaking. "Where are we? Are we dead?" choked the tallest one.
Ryan paused. He knew that voice! But from where?
"I don't think so." said a female beside the tall one. "I think we'd know if we were completely deleted."
All four Mainframe employees looked at each other. "Deleted??" They said in unison.
The smoke cleared and standing in the room was ...Bob, Dot Matrix, AndrAIa, Matrix, Enzo and Frisket.
"Oh my..." was all Gavin could muster.
"What in the world??!" Phil exclaimed.
"This can't be...." Yvonne was stunned.
Then the five sprites saw the humans standing across the room, staring at them. Their eyes widened as well.
"What in the Net??!" Bob gasped.
Ryan stepped forward. "No... not in the Net. You're outside of the Net.
And I have an idea that I'm to blame...."
