Obligatory Disclaimer
Hack is red
Slash is blue
I don't own ReBoot
So please don't sue
Concept
This story takes place during the beginning of Mousetrap, where everyone is having a fun old time, enjoying the reuinion of Matrix and Bob. It's sort of a 'behind the scenes' story, the whole of which would not affect the overall plot of the show itself. I don't know where I got the idea from, probably some fangirl wet dream or something. Enjoy, and please R&R!
Matrix paced in his quarters, his large hands trembling, and his broad shoulders sagging. He should have been positively ecstatic. He had been reunited with his childhood hero after spending what seemed like hours searching for him. AndrAIa was awake and fully-functional after what could have been her deletion. He could finally take a moment to breathe and enjoy himself. This should have been his happiest second in a very long time.
But it wasn't.
After a mighty battle with the Web Riders, AndrAIa wasting away in the Saucy Mare's lower deck, Bob boarded the ship and intuitively descended to the room where AndrAIa was being held. With no more than a quick energy transfer and an icon re-format, she became opaque again and woke up.
"Oh, Bob... we found you."
The mysterious Web Rider that AndrAIa instantly recognized as their missing companion removed his protective helmet and revealed what everyone on board had secretly been hoping. Bob had returned, slightly degraded, but still entirely recognizable as Mainframe's saviour. And with that moment, the rejoicing began.
After a hardy evening's partying, everyone had become mindlessly intoxicated and proceded to make complete ASCIIs of themselves. Including, but limited to, using things that are not normally considered to be hats as hats, eating things not normally considered to be food, and sleeping on things not formatted to be slept on. There was happiness and friendship and all kinds of raucous behaviour in the air. Truly, it was a great night for everyone. Then why was Matrix so disheartened?
As happy as he should have been for finding Bob, for AndrAIa surviving her potentially lethal encounter with the Web creature, he simply couldn't bring himself to truly be happy. Because even though he had gained many new friends and been reuinted with those he had previously though lost, there was something far heavier weighing on his memory. Matrix was in mourning.