Survivors 01 - Exiled
~part 1
by Ora Lynx
---------------------------------------------------
"NOOOOOO!!!"
Bob banged against the thick walls of his prison, not caring that the outside atmosphere would be lethal. The pod spun, out of control, spinning endlessly in the swirling energy. Without gravity or anything to hit, there was no chance of stopping it.
He strained against the window, wishing with all his might he could turn the pod back into the portal. Another spin brought him one last view of Mainframe.
The portal closed.
Bob backed up until he hit the curved wall behind him, forcing himself to stare where only a nano before had been his home. His breath came in short gulps as he suppressed the cry that welled within him.
"Damn you, MegaByte." he whispered. "Damn you to every User hell there is."
He looked around the small, cramped pod, looking for a loose...*anything* he could use to open the door with. The walls were smooth and tightly built, and nothing more than himself resided in it.
"So, did you trap me to die in the Web, MegaByte? Or to die in here first?"
A politely sinister voice seemed to echo from the ceiling. "Really, Bob. I don't think it matters all that much."
Bob narrowed his eyes. _That virus wouldn't have a chance to be talking to me now--not with the Web creatures and dealing with my friends..._
"Oh, come now. The great Guardian? Speechless?"
"You can't be MegaByte."
MegaByte's chilling laugh haunted him. "But Bob, when have I ever *not* taken the chance to torment you? Really, I thought you would have it all figured out by now."
Bob smiled coldly. "You downloaded a copy of your program into the pod, for the sole purpose of teasing me? That's low MegaByte, even for you."
"Yes, well, I hope you appreciate all that I do for you, Bob. I want the last voice you hear before you are deleted to be *mine*."
Bob pressed his back against the wall, pushing with his feet against the window. "Fat chance, MegaBreath."
MegaByte's voice took on a taunting tone. "Bob, are you stealing names from Enzo now?" A pause. "Well, I guess it fits, what with little Enzo being the only Guardian around Megaframe now. I hope you didn't give him too much training, Bob. It will make my job so much easier."
Bob stopped pushing for a moment, recalling guiltily how long he had waited to make Enzo a cadet Guardian. The thought of Mainframe now unprotected- _No, they *are* protected. Just because I'm not there..._ He forced the words out. "Enzo's not by himself. Everyone in *Main*frame will fight you, MegaByte. You won't win."
The voice chuckled. "Ah, but you'll never know, will you, Bob? Because you'll never make it back to *Mega*frame. Go ahead, kick out the door. What would you rather deal with--lack of oxygen, or Web degradation? Either way, you *will* be deleted, and I have WON!" he laughed cruely.
Bob clapped his hands over his ears to shut out the evil laughter. He kicked again at the door, feeling it begin to give. "You forget, virus. I'm a Guardian. I don't delete all that easily." His bravado sounded false, even to himself.
"This is the Web, *Guardian*. Your precious motto and protocols can't save you here. Can you hear the hissing air, Bob? That's the Web, welcoming you to your fate."
"Glitch - We-" Bob inhaled sharply as MegaByte resumed his laughter. His hand fell of it's own accord to his left wrist, where his keytool had resided since his graduation from the Academy. He leaned his head against the clear door. watching the Web spiral around him. Outside, a herd of low-class Web creatures screamed by, failing to attract the distracted Guardian's attention.
_Dot...I'm so sorry,_ Bob thought to himself, staring sightlessly at the world around him. _I *had* to trust MegaByte--he was the only one with the hardware we needed. We needed his help, even...even at the cost of me. At least Mainframe has a chance now; you've fought MegaByte before, you can win! I know it. The lesser of two evils, Dot. There was no other way; no other way to save Mainframe from *my* fate._ He shook his head, trying not to laugh aloud where the viral copy would hear him and start taunting again. _Mouse warned me so many times, and even Phong told me I was random. But I was right, and so were they._
Bob was jarred from his thoughts by a rough shaking, tossing him around in the small pod. He tried to sit up, looking up through the window.
To stare straight into the compacted eyes of a *very* large Web creature.
"Ahh!" Bob would have backed away, but he was already pressed against the back of the pod. The creature stared at him for another nano, then passed from his sight. Quenching the fear that had rose within him, he pushed himself back to the window. All around his pod, various Web creatures flew/floated around him, of almost every class he had ever heard of. Most were smaller than the Class M destroyers that had nearly decimated Mainframe. He could even spot a few of the larger, unnamed beasts that were regularly used for riding by the Net-famous Web Riders: sprites who had entered or been trapped in the Web, unprotected from the lethal elements that almost instantly started to degrade codes and sprite. Specially trained Guardians were assigned to the Web, to gather these sprites together and show them how to live in the Web, as they were not generally welcomed back to their original systems.
_Will I become one of them?_ Bob thought absently, feeling already the start of degradation around his temples. The leak had brought him much needed air, but also gave the Web access to him. _Guardians are protected longer, but I don't have the upgrade for Web survival._
Something else hit the side of Bob's pod, spinning him into the far wall, then rolling him around. He tucked his head to his chest, trying to protect himself from any damage. The pod finally rolled to a rest, and Bob could feel up and down again, instead of the weightless feeling of the last hour. He kicked once more at the door of the pod, satisfied when it finally dented and swung roughly open. He hefted himself out, sinking down right next to the smooth outside walls, feeling the renewed, sharper bite of the Web degradation now.
Looking around, Bob found himself inside a dark cave. Shadows seemed to move and fluctuate around him, changing shape wherever he looked. Focusing straight in front of him, Bob watched warily as a shapely figure emerged from the shadows.
Bob stood shakily, trying to identify the sprite before him. Her skin was a dark violet, highlighted with glowing veins the same yellowish-lime color of her shoulder length hair. A thin silver tiara held all but two locks of hair away from her face, brushing it back to reveal more veins on her neck, and glowing lime-green eyes that stared into his own.
"State your name and format." Bob steadied himself, uncomfortable with the way the sprite was studying him.
She grinned at him, pursing her lips. "My name is Dai; my format is my own. And who are you, to invade my camp?"
"Guardian 452, of the system Mainframe. And I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."
"Ooh, a Guardian? How special. Though I don't believe I've ever been to Mainframe."
The girl came farther out of the shadows, revealing the cause of the constantly shifting shadows. Six long, barbed tentacles were attached to a very well-formed body, waving behind her. Even in the dim cave, the scaled limbs caught the light, making the shadows bend and shift even more. Bob looked from the tentacles to the glowing veins and back, years of training screaming through his mind. "You-you're viral...merged with a Web creature? How random are you?" He backed quickly away from her offered handshake, eyeing the sharp, curled fingernails.
Dai grinned at him. "No, Guardian--not merged and not just any viral. I'm a Web virus; formatted to survive and conquer the Web. I rule this sector, and all creatures within it." She took note of Bob's roaming eyes, and glanced around at the Web creatures that were gathering around them. "They really are quite remarkable, and can be infected just like any other sprite." Dai eyed the Guardian hungrily. "Though many choose to join me freely, without being infected. Would _you_ care to join me, Guardian? Your home is gone, and you obviously have no protection from the Web."
The violet virus approached him, swinging her body seductively. "Come now, Guardian. I rule the Web; I can make it worth your while." She reached for Bob's neck, but he moved away from her, careful of her tentacles and the shadows behind him.
"No way, Dai. I'm a Guardian; it's my job to stop you. Web or not, I won't allow you to infect this place."
Dai laughed, licking her full lips. "Are you sure, dear Guardian?" She seemed to consider for a moment, then smiled at him. "I'll allow you to remain uninfected if you agree to join me. Just think; together we could rule the free Net--a Guardian and a Virus working together? No one could defeat us."
Bob shook his head again, his neck starting to burn from the air. He took another step backwards, from the searching tentacles. "No way. I'll delete you first."
For the first time, Bob saw anger in the lime eyes, reminding him of Hexadecimal and her more angry masks. Eyes narrowed and tentacles curled angrily, Dai turned away from the now concerned Guardian. "So, " her voice came lightly, but with an undertone that made Bob flinch. "You won't help me at all?" She shrugged her thin shoulders, looking back to Bob. "If it was only that, I wouldn't mind...too much." Her hands locked together, her entire body seeming to freeze in place. Only her voice continued. "But you threatened me, Guardian. And even though you are in no place to back that up, I will have to make an example of you."
Bob suppressed a shudder at her tone. "What, no automatic deletions?"
Her long tentacles whipped out faster than his eyes could follow, striking him across the chest, flinging him back. Before he could rise, more tentacles wrapped around his limbs, drawing him further into the shadows. One glimpse of the creatures that grabbed him was all Bob needed to identify them.
"Class S." he whispered.
Dai turned and grinned at him, her body relaxing again into it's supple form, sugar-sweet again. "Ah, you're very well educated, for a Net Guardian. Yes, these are Class S Web creatures, merged with the various sprites and whatnot that have had the unfortunate luck to get trapped here."
Bob closed his eyes, trying not to think about the creatures beside him; Web creatures that bore slight -if not horribly maimed- resemblance to what had once been Net-sprites. "S Class," he recited, more for his own benefit than the virus'. "Merge with sprites, destroying the body, but able to retain codes and all information stored in the central memory banks."
"Very good, Guardian! And did they also tell you at the Academy what a properly trained Class S can do for an interrogation?" Bob refused to reply, but Dai watched as he visibly paled. "Yes, I see that you do. Now, fortunately for you, I just happen to have a properly trained Class S at my disposal. So what will it be, Guardian? Will you help me now, or do I get what I want the hard way? I control your fate now--either way."
Bob had no room to struggle against the Web creatures, and almost no will left to fight. _At least she doesn't know where Mainframe is. Dot, I'm so sorry. I never meant-_
Another, younger creature stood in front of him, feeling his head with soft, leathery tentacles. Bob tried to flinch away, but it only grabbed his head, holding him tighter. Dai shrugged, still smiling. "Have it your way, Guardian. Wysiwyg, you know what to do. Be gentle now."
Bob stared in horror as the creature *nodded* to the virus. Three of seven eyes stared into his, intelligence shining brightly within them. A long, barb-tipped, toothy tentacle reached out to caress his cheek, then reached down to wrap around his neck. Every breath brought a tickle to his throat, and the knowledge that he wouldn't see his home again. Closing his eyes, he missed Dai's knowing smirk.
"Now Whysi, be nice to the Guardian. I want to infect him after I have access to the SuperComputer."
Bob's eyes snapped open. "The SuperComputer? Never!! I can't let you have those codes!"
Dai laughed as he struggled against the restraining tentacles, only succeeding in tightening their grip. "For a Guardian, you're pretty basic. Did you honestly think I wouldn't get what I want? You can't stop me!"
Bob strained against the choking bonds. "You'll...never...get them. I'll...delete first.."
Dai frowned, trying to figure out if he was serious or not. "Wysiwyg, now! Get me those codes. And don't destroy him!"
The creature *chirped*, then latched its tentacle into Bob's neck, burying the pincer beneath the flesh. Bob gasped, not even able to draw in enough breath to scream from the pain, *feeling* the alien codes prying at his own. Slumping in the loosening tentacles of his captors, he fought a losing internal struggle, attempting to shutdown before any important data could be accessed. _This would be so much easier with Glitch_, he thought desperately. _Have to...shut...down..._ He moaned aloud when he felt his RAM being accessed, vaguely hearing Dai's triumphant laugh. Memories seemed to scroll though his mind, as if a media player had been initiated. He fought the creature to the last files, fighting for control, knowing that he couldn't allow *anyone* to get...
A sharp pain lanced through his head at the creatures' touch, an invisible barrier made to protect at all costs; washing through both his mind and the creature's. Bob *felt* the creature's pain with his own, then all was darkness and silence.
~part 1
by Ora Lynx
---------------------------------------------------
"NOOOOOO!!!"
Bob banged against the thick walls of his prison, not caring that the outside atmosphere would be lethal. The pod spun, out of control, spinning endlessly in the swirling energy. Without gravity or anything to hit, there was no chance of stopping it.
He strained against the window, wishing with all his might he could turn the pod back into the portal. Another spin brought him one last view of Mainframe.
The portal closed.
Bob backed up until he hit the curved wall behind him, forcing himself to stare where only a nano before had been his home. His breath came in short gulps as he suppressed the cry that welled within him.
"Damn you, MegaByte." he whispered. "Damn you to every User hell there is."
He looked around the small, cramped pod, looking for a loose...*anything* he could use to open the door with. The walls were smooth and tightly built, and nothing more than himself resided in it.
"So, did you trap me to die in the Web, MegaByte? Or to die in here first?"
A politely sinister voice seemed to echo from the ceiling. "Really, Bob. I don't think it matters all that much."
Bob narrowed his eyes. _That virus wouldn't have a chance to be talking to me now--not with the Web creatures and dealing with my friends..._
"Oh, come now. The great Guardian? Speechless?"
"You can't be MegaByte."
MegaByte's chilling laugh haunted him. "But Bob, when have I ever *not* taken the chance to torment you? Really, I thought you would have it all figured out by now."
Bob smiled coldly. "You downloaded a copy of your program into the pod, for the sole purpose of teasing me? That's low MegaByte, even for you."
"Yes, well, I hope you appreciate all that I do for you, Bob. I want the last voice you hear before you are deleted to be *mine*."
Bob pressed his back against the wall, pushing with his feet against the window. "Fat chance, MegaBreath."
MegaByte's voice took on a taunting tone. "Bob, are you stealing names from Enzo now?" A pause. "Well, I guess it fits, what with little Enzo being the only Guardian around Megaframe now. I hope you didn't give him too much training, Bob. It will make my job so much easier."
Bob stopped pushing for a moment, recalling guiltily how long he had waited to make Enzo a cadet Guardian. The thought of Mainframe now unprotected- _No, they *are* protected. Just because I'm not there..._ He forced the words out. "Enzo's not by himself. Everyone in *Main*frame will fight you, MegaByte. You won't win."
The voice chuckled. "Ah, but you'll never know, will you, Bob? Because you'll never make it back to *Mega*frame. Go ahead, kick out the door. What would you rather deal with--lack of oxygen, or Web degradation? Either way, you *will* be deleted, and I have WON!" he laughed cruely.
Bob clapped his hands over his ears to shut out the evil laughter. He kicked again at the door, feeling it begin to give. "You forget, virus. I'm a Guardian. I don't delete all that easily." His bravado sounded false, even to himself.
"This is the Web, *Guardian*. Your precious motto and protocols can't save you here. Can you hear the hissing air, Bob? That's the Web, welcoming you to your fate."
"Glitch - We-" Bob inhaled sharply as MegaByte resumed his laughter. His hand fell of it's own accord to his left wrist, where his keytool had resided since his graduation from the Academy. He leaned his head against the clear door. watching the Web spiral around him. Outside, a herd of low-class Web creatures screamed by, failing to attract the distracted Guardian's attention.
_Dot...I'm so sorry,_ Bob thought to himself, staring sightlessly at the world around him. _I *had* to trust MegaByte--he was the only one with the hardware we needed. We needed his help, even...even at the cost of me. At least Mainframe has a chance now; you've fought MegaByte before, you can win! I know it. The lesser of two evils, Dot. There was no other way; no other way to save Mainframe from *my* fate._ He shook his head, trying not to laugh aloud where the viral copy would hear him and start taunting again. _Mouse warned me so many times, and even Phong told me I was random. But I was right, and so were they._
Bob was jarred from his thoughts by a rough shaking, tossing him around in the small pod. He tried to sit up, looking up through the window.
To stare straight into the compacted eyes of a *very* large Web creature.
"Ahh!" Bob would have backed away, but he was already pressed against the back of the pod. The creature stared at him for another nano, then passed from his sight. Quenching the fear that had rose within him, he pushed himself back to the window. All around his pod, various Web creatures flew/floated around him, of almost every class he had ever heard of. Most were smaller than the Class M destroyers that had nearly decimated Mainframe. He could even spot a few of the larger, unnamed beasts that were regularly used for riding by the Net-famous Web Riders: sprites who had entered or been trapped in the Web, unprotected from the lethal elements that almost instantly started to degrade codes and sprite. Specially trained Guardians were assigned to the Web, to gather these sprites together and show them how to live in the Web, as they were not generally welcomed back to their original systems.
_Will I become one of them?_ Bob thought absently, feeling already the start of degradation around his temples. The leak had brought him much needed air, but also gave the Web access to him. _Guardians are protected longer, but I don't have the upgrade for Web survival._
Something else hit the side of Bob's pod, spinning him into the far wall, then rolling him around. He tucked his head to his chest, trying to protect himself from any damage. The pod finally rolled to a rest, and Bob could feel up and down again, instead of the weightless feeling of the last hour. He kicked once more at the door of the pod, satisfied when it finally dented and swung roughly open. He hefted himself out, sinking down right next to the smooth outside walls, feeling the renewed, sharper bite of the Web degradation now.
Looking around, Bob found himself inside a dark cave. Shadows seemed to move and fluctuate around him, changing shape wherever he looked. Focusing straight in front of him, Bob watched warily as a shapely figure emerged from the shadows.
Bob stood shakily, trying to identify the sprite before him. Her skin was a dark violet, highlighted with glowing veins the same yellowish-lime color of her shoulder length hair. A thin silver tiara held all but two locks of hair away from her face, brushing it back to reveal more veins on her neck, and glowing lime-green eyes that stared into his own.
"State your name and format." Bob steadied himself, uncomfortable with the way the sprite was studying him.
She grinned at him, pursing her lips. "My name is Dai; my format is my own. And who are you, to invade my camp?"
"Guardian 452, of the system Mainframe. And I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."
"Ooh, a Guardian? How special. Though I don't believe I've ever been to Mainframe."
The girl came farther out of the shadows, revealing the cause of the constantly shifting shadows. Six long, barbed tentacles were attached to a very well-formed body, waving behind her. Even in the dim cave, the scaled limbs caught the light, making the shadows bend and shift even more. Bob looked from the tentacles to the glowing veins and back, years of training screaming through his mind. "You-you're viral...merged with a Web creature? How random are you?" He backed quickly away from her offered handshake, eyeing the sharp, curled fingernails.
Dai grinned at him. "No, Guardian--not merged and not just any viral. I'm a Web virus; formatted to survive and conquer the Web. I rule this sector, and all creatures within it." She took note of Bob's roaming eyes, and glanced around at the Web creatures that were gathering around them. "They really are quite remarkable, and can be infected just like any other sprite." Dai eyed the Guardian hungrily. "Though many choose to join me freely, without being infected. Would _you_ care to join me, Guardian? Your home is gone, and you obviously have no protection from the Web."
The violet virus approached him, swinging her body seductively. "Come now, Guardian. I rule the Web; I can make it worth your while." She reached for Bob's neck, but he moved away from her, careful of her tentacles and the shadows behind him.
"No way, Dai. I'm a Guardian; it's my job to stop you. Web or not, I won't allow you to infect this place."
Dai laughed, licking her full lips. "Are you sure, dear Guardian?" She seemed to consider for a moment, then smiled at him. "I'll allow you to remain uninfected if you agree to join me. Just think; together we could rule the free Net--a Guardian and a Virus working together? No one could defeat us."
Bob shook his head again, his neck starting to burn from the air. He took another step backwards, from the searching tentacles. "No way. I'll delete you first."
For the first time, Bob saw anger in the lime eyes, reminding him of Hexadecimal and her more angry masks. Eyes narrowed and tentacles curled angrily, Dai turned away from the now concerned Guardian. "So, " her voice came lightly, but with an undertone that made Bob flinch. "You won't help me at all?" She shrugged her thin shoulders, looking back to Bob. "If it was only that, I wouldn't mind...too much." Her hands locked together, her entire body seeming to freeze in place. Only her voice continued. "But you threatened me, Guardian. And even though you are in no place to back that up, I will have to make an example of you."
Bob suppressed a shudder at her tone. "What, no automatic deletions?"
Her long tentacles whipped out faster than his eyes could follow, striking him across the chest, flinging him back. Before he could rise, more tentacles wrapped around his limbs, drawing him further into the shadows. One glimpse of the creatures that grabbed him was all Bob needed to identify them.
"Class S." he whispered.
Dai turned and grinned at him, her body relaxing again into it's supple form, sugar-sweet again. "Ah, you're very well educated, for a Net Guardian. Yes, these are Class S Web creatures, merged with the various sprites and whatnot that have had the unfortunate luck to get trapped here."
Bob closed his eyes, trying not to think about the creatures beside him; Web creatures that bore slight -if not horribly maimed- resemblance to what had once been Net-sprites. "S Class," he recited, more for his own benefit than the virus'. "Merge with sprites, destroying the body, but able to retain codes and all information stored in the central memory banks."
"Very good, Guardian! And did they also tell you at the Academy what a properly trained Class S can do for an interrogation?" Bob refused to reply, but Dai watched as he visibly paled. "Yes, I see that you do. Now, fortunately for you, I just happen to have a properly trained Class S at my disposal. So what will it be, Guardian? Will you help me now, or do I get what I want the hard way? I control your fate now--either way."
Bob had no room to struggle against the Web creatures, and almost no will left to fight. _At least she doesn't know where Mainframe is. Dot, I'm so sorry. I never meant-_
Another, younger creature stood in front of him, feeling his head with soft, leathery tentacles. Bob tried to flinch away, but it only grabbed his head, holding him tighter. Dai shrugged, still smiling. "Have it your way, Guardian. Wysiwyg, you know what to do. Be gentle now."
Bob stared in horror as the creature *nodded* to the virus. Three of seven eyes stared into his, intelligence shining brightly within them. A long, barb-tipped, toothy tentacle reached out to caress his cheek, then reached down to wrap around his neck. Every breath brought a tickle to his throat, and the knowledge that he wouldn't see his home again. Closing his eyes, he missed Dai's knowing smirk.
"Now Whysi, be nice to the Guardian. I want to infect him after I have access to the SuperComputer."
Bob's eyes snapped open. "The SuperComputer? Never!! I can't let you have those codes!"
Dai laughed as he struggled against the restraining tentacles, only succeeding in tightening their grip. "For a Guardian, you're pretty basic. Did you honestly think I wouldn't get what I want? You can't stop me!"
Bob strained against the choking bonds. "You'll...never...get them. I'll...delete first.."
Dai frowned, trying to figure out if he was serious or not. "Wysiwyg, now! Get me those codes. And don't destroy him!"
The creature *chirped*, then latched its tentacle into Bob's neck, burying the pincer beneath the flesh. Bob gasped, not even able to draw in enough breath to scream from the pain, *feeling* the alien codes prying at his own. Slumping in the loosening tentacles of his captors, he fought a losing internal struggle, attempting to shutdown before any important data could be accessed. _This would be so much easier with Glitch_, he thought desperately. _Have to...shut...down..._ He moaned aloud when he felt his RAM being accessed, vaguely hearing Dai's triumphant laugh. Memories seemed to scroll though his mind, as if a media player had been initiated. He fought the creature to the last files, fighting for control, knowing that he couldn't allow *anyone* to get...
A sharp pain lanced through his head at the creatures' touch, an invisible barrier made to protect at all costs; washing through both his mind and the creature's. Bob *felt* the creature's pain with his own, then all was darkness and silence.