ActiveX

Summary: Immediately following the explosion of the Twin City, Dot finds herself at the center of the media frenzy from her father's failed experiment. Struggling with her sudden fame, she looks to a new friend for companionship.

Chapter 1: A Friendly Face in the Crowd

What are you doing here? Go home.

No, I want this.

This is not where you should be right now.

I'm safe, it's a busy establishment.

What would Phong think of you out here?

He won't be thinking anything, he's with Enzo.

What would your father think?

He doesn't think… anymore.

The argument ceased. Dot stared at her reflection, eyes reflecting her pain. But that was the reason she was there, waiting outside the Applet Café: to cope with the loss of her father.

Unconsciously, she rubbed her right arm where she landed after the Twin City explosion. Luckily, Enzo was unhurt. Physically, anyway. He didn't fully understand…

The eighteen-hour-hold sprite sighed. The past cycle flashed through her mind: the explosion, ambulances searching for survivors, enforcers showing up. No, that wasn't right. Guardians. That's what they called themselves, sprites from some place called a SuperComputer. Four of them had arrived through silver spheres, armed with gadgets that could repair system tears with a flash of light. They were the first visitors to Mainframe and the Twin City… or what was left of it.

But they weren't the last.

Within microseconds, more of those spheres appeared, sprites and binomes alike pouring through. First medical units, treating the wounded. Then construction teams, repairing damaged buildings. Lastly, the feeding frenzy of media attention: reporters.

And she was the wounded animal hounded for the kill.

They swamped the Principal Office for pictures of the 'mad scientist's' children. Dot and Enzo couldn't get into the shelter of Phong's office fast enough, and for countless nanos her world was all flashing cameras and screaming questions. Enzo cringed in her arms, crying for her to make them go away.

He refused to leave her side that night. Enzo didn't know what to do when people started screaming at him, and he couldn't understand where Welman Matrix had gone and why he wasn't coming back.

Dot's eyes stung with the threat of tears, her heart pleading that somewhere, somehow, her father was still alive. The emergency teams recovered no bodies, after all… maybe he was just somewhere else, magically teleported to another system, now that she knew they existed…

But he wasn't in Mainframe, and life had to carry on. That was something Dot knew she could handle: business first. Born with a knack for building structure and staying ahead of the game, she threw herself into handling funeral arrangements, repair of her Diner, and diffusing the media attention. She quickly learned how to handle rowdy crowds and divert negative attention from herself and others, such as her father.

Within seconds, Dot became the spokesperson for Mainframe. She was the symbol of hope, fortitude, and the epitome of the system motto, "we stick together." The media loved her, the Mainframers adored her, and soon the citizens stopped blaming her for her father's experimental failure. Dot Matrix had become a survivor, and for many, a role model.

But late at night, with Enzo tucked away in the makeshift bed at the Principal Office, Dot cried quietly. She missed her father so much, and despite all of the adoring attention she received, she'd never felt so alone. Sure, she was tough on the outside, in front of the cameras and the citizens of Mainframe; at night, she couldn't escape the fact that she was still barely an adult, now with a child to raise, and everyone looking to her for the support to carry on.

In the nanos before she fell asleep, she silently begged the User for someone to support her to carry on.

Bringing her here, to the cafe.

Dot looked up again. She gazed at her reflection. Green and rainbow hair stylishly done, purple dress clinging to her body in all the right places, different colored stockings advertising her rebellious side, tattoo visible on her thigh… she looked good. Even the slight red in her eyes only enhanced the violet shade, but the tears were already fading.

Fading because she was meeting someone who wanted to support her.

She smiled as a small thrill went through her stomach. He had shown up after the explosion, and he had acted different towards her than all the rest. He was polite, soft spoken… and very handsome. Unlike the others, he treated her with respect for the loss of her father, and didn't push her for information or to talk about her feelings because 'it would help.' He just let her be herself… and that was exactly what she needed in her life again.

So when she learned he was leaving Mainframe to head back to the SuperComputer (where ever that was) she asked him to dinner. She figured her smile could provide full wattage to light every sector in Mainframe when he said yes. He suggested the Applet, and she suggested 1900.

Now, at 1855, she fidgeted nervously in the window, her hands smoothing out her dress and adjusting her hair as she debated on whether or not she should go through with it. She was nervous… but with a guy like him, who wouldn't be? And yet, that overly intelligent side of her kept arguing that she was going for the wrong reasons...

But Dot was never wrong. In the window, her eyes laughed at her as she smirked. No, she was in complete control. She needed this, she needed him, and everything would be fine. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and entered the restaurant, confidence exhibited in spades from her small and attractive frame.

It didn't take long for her to find her date, tucked away in a quiet booth in the back, a menu in his hand and two drinks on the table. She slowly made her way over to him, taking time to observe his hair neatly combed back, his clothes clean and pressed, his face casually set in mild interest as he scanned the dinner selection. As if feeling her eyes on him, he turned and caught her gaze, smiling widely as he stood to greet her.

"Hello, Dot."

She smiled back. "Hello, Don."

He beckoned her inside the booth. Her breath caught as she brushed arms with the young, aspiring reporter. Not much older than she, he was on his first assignment outside of the SuperComputer. He was reserved and a little backwards, a feeling she could relate to lately. It immediately put her at ease.

Dot smiled as she thought about the conversations they shared over the past few cycles, about how they seemed to have more in common than they realized. They quickly navigated through the dinner with comfortable conversation and warm companionship. Encouraged by their growing closeness, she took his hand at one point, and neither seemed inclined to let go. The simple touch, gentle but firm, brought such comfort to Dot that for the first time since the explosion, she felt safe again.

Four milliseconds later, Dot finished washing her hands and adjusted her hair in the restroom mirror. Her smile was so bright it almost hurt to look at it. She had never felt as happy as she did right then. Who would have thought?

Not her father.

Her smile faltered. Despite the enjoyment of the evening, she still couldn't stop the stab of pain in her heart.

"No more of this," she whispered. She smiled again, this time without the twinge of pain, and walked back out to their table. Don was just paying the bill as she sat back down.

"Thank you," she said.

He grinned at her and put away his wallet. "It was worth it." He reached across the table and took her hand. "Even if I can't afford to eat for another cycle."

Dot's face paled with shock. "What?!" He laughed, causing her cheeks to turn pink.

"I'm teasing, Dot."

"I knew that." She blushed harder as he laughed again… or as his hand tightened around hers. The slight pressure caused a thrill to run through her, spreading the warmth from her cheeks down to her toes. He rubbed the back of her knuckles and her mouth went dry.

"As much as I hate to bring this night to a close, I think it's time I take you home." He reached for his drink. "Why don't you finish your glass and we'll go?"

Moments later, Dot was leaning against Don as they walked down the quiet street. A slight breeze blew back her hair and she shivered. Don wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. The young Matrix felt another surge of heat where his hand touched her shoulder.

They stopped at an intersection. "Which way from here?"

Dot paused and looked around. In the distance, she could see her apartment complex, but she hadn't been there since the explosion, preferring to stay in the confines of the Principal Office. But that was a long walk from here, and much farther away from Don's hotel room.

"Why don't I walk you to your room and then I'll head back to the Principal Office?"

"Absolutely not. I'm not letting you walk these streets by yourself after dark."

"But it'll be a long walk back for you. Your motel is right down the block." She stepped away and raised herself up to her full height. "Besides, I'm a big girl; I can take care of myself."

Don backed up in mock defeat. "Oh, I know, I've seen how you've handled the media." He chuckled. "Ok, how about a compromise. You walk me back to my room, keep me safe from the random sprites of Mainframe, and I'll pay for your cab ride back to the PO."

"I can pay for the cab."

"Not under my watch."

Dot raised any eyebrow at him, crossing her arms in defiance. He mocked her pose, looking adorably silly, and another breeze made her sigh in defeat. She walked back into his embrace to ward off the chill and agreed. "All right, proposal accepted."

"Good."

Inside the nicely decorated room, Dot walked over to the heater and put her hands out. "I can't believe my fingers feel like ice cubes!"

"I can't believe you wanted to walk back to the PO when it's this cold at night! I thought Mainframe had perfect weather all the time! That's bad advertising!"

"We do have seasons here, ya know."

"We don't, in the Supercomputer. Unless you request it." He chuckled at Dot's confused stare. "Climate control, it's a beautiful thing."

"You sprites and your crazy advanced technology."

"You wouldn't say that if you came out to visit. I think you'd like the SuperComputer." As the heat finally warmed the room, Don flopped down on the bed, stretching out with a loud sigh. "You'd do well there, if you wanted to open your own business."

Dot sat on the bed, pulling her legs up crisscrossed under her. "I don't know, it sounds like there's a lot of competition out there, what with all those systems connected and such."

Don rolled onto his side, looking at her with that smile that made her want to melt. "Is that a hint of fear I hear in your voice?"

"No!"

"Admit it; small system girl is afraid of the big city."

Dot crossed her arms with a huff. "You're a dipswitch."

"And you are beautiful when you're angry."

Her eyes darted away from his, her mouth struggling not to smile. "I don't believe you." She squeaked when he grabbed her arm and pulled her down next to him. Suddenly, his face was only centimeters from hers. Her heart began pounding in her chest.

"Ms. Matrix, are you calling me a liar?"

Her eyes stared at his lips as he spoke, her tongue darting out to wet her own before she even tried to focus on his words. "Yes."

"Ok." He moved closer, his lips barely touching hers. "Then here's another lie. I don't want to kiss you right now." He searched her eyes. "What do you have to say to that?"

Dot's breath caught, her fingers suddenly itching to touch his skin. "I hope you lied about calling that cab."

His face grew serious. Carefully, his hand lifted to her face, his thumb running down her cheek. He watched her, looking for something.

"Don."

He closed the gap between them, pressing his soft lips gently to hers. Dot's eyes fell closed, the soft pressure creating a tingle in her stomach. Slowly, the kiss grew harder and Don's body was suddenly over hers.

The sensations trailing up and down her body were completely new to her. She'd been kissed before, but she'd never felt a reaction like this. The only word she could think of was longing, and it was almost painful to her. His kisses burned fire into her lips, his weight crushed her into the mattress, his hands reached for her dress.

Nausea.

It hit her so hard she pulled away with a gasp. He mistook it for a sound of pleasure and began sucking on her neck. "Don, wait." She put her hands on his shoulders, pressing up. "Don, wait, I- Don, I don't think I'm ready for this."

His head lifted and he looked down at her. After a moment, he carefully leaned down and kissed her again, gently. His tongue swept across her lips and slowly tasted her, the caress relaxing Dot's stiff form.

The fire was building in her again, and she could feel herself curl into his kiss, looking for more. Then his hands moved down her body, over her hips, up her skirt…

He landed on backside with a grunt. Dot sat up on the bed, panting and looking surprised at her own strength.

"I- I'm sorry," she stumbled. "I can't… this isn't me." She jumped to her feet, the sharp movement making her slightly dizzy, and headed for the door. "I'm sorry, Don."

She opened the door and he slammed it shut. Dot spun, her body suddenly pinned against the door. Don's hands forced hers up over her head.

"It's not safe out there, and I didn't call you a cab. You should stay here."

"No, st-." She was cut off by his lips possessing hers, ruthlessly taking from her something she didn't want to give. Desperately she kicked out, hitting him high up the leg, pushing him back enough for her to get another solid kick to his stomach. His grip loosened on her wrists and she shoved him away as hard as she could; he stumbled over the bed and she ran out of the room, into the darkened streets.

The pounding of her feet echoed in her ears, soon to be overcome by the second set of heavy footfalls, rapidly gaining on her own.

Her voice rang out into the frigid air, desperation nearly making her shriek. "Help me! Somebody, please!"

Dot's fear, now fueled by panic, turned into full blown terror when she misdirected and sprinted into a dead end alleyway.

She spun, panting, as Don stopped behind her. Eyes cold, he backed her trembling form against the wall. She screamed.