A/N: Once again I do not own ReBoot or any of it's characters, the belong to their respective and talented creators. Any original characters that happen to appear in this story are belong to me.

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Discordia – 001
When Hope Wears Thin

A particularily loud crack of thunder did little to help the headache that was already pounding in Dot's temples. Her face was illuminated by the series of VidWindows displaying various odds and ends of information all at once. The rain patting methodically against the window beside her booth in the diner was calming, almost welcome compared to the bedlam that was inside with her. It was so tempting to just rest her head against the cool glass, just for a moment. Let her heavy lids close, just for a nanosecond. Instead she opted to run a hand through her hair and massage her temple. She couldn't afford to doze off. Not now.

The diner, much to Cecil's dismay, had become the new makeshift war room. It was no match for the one the Principal Office offered, but that was something they would have to deal with. She quickly pushed that thought from her mind, it made her feel sick to her stomach to think about Megabyte having control over the Principal office. After all it was only a matter of time before he broke the codes keeping him from the Core. That thought in itself gave her chills,

We can hardly beat him as it is—No, that's no way for a Matrix to think...

Dot cast her gaze over the diner, younger Enzo waiting for his heroes to come home—Mouse working on a VidWindow—Cecil complaining about one thing or another -- military personnel rushing about everywhere, always preparing for the next raid, the next attack, next fight—This wasn't right, weren't they supposed to be happy? Wasn't she just reunited with her father? Wasn't she supposed to be married to Bob? As if oarrn cue a cheerful ring of a bell announced the arrival of Matrix and Bob returning from the recon mission. It took her a moment to register the green blur that past her before,

"Enzo! No!"

It was too late. She winced as Enzo made contact with Matrix and they slid across the ground. Their was a pang of nostalgia for the times when Matrix used to do the same to Bob, things were so much simpler then. Those times seemed so far away. These days, she felt trapped, nowhere to turn. She wanted to run somewhere To her father, but they failed to rescue him out of the Principal Office when they all escaped. She could rush to Phong for answers either, not with him slowly recovering from the injuries he'd received after putting defences up on the core. The virus was too fast, Phong had almost been deleted, would've been if Matrix and AndrAIa weren't there. Dot couldn't even confide in Bob anymore. Every time she looked at him she was overwhelmed with guilt. She chose the fake Bob, she chose Megabyte over the real Bob.

She could never forgive herself. Dot couldn't even begin to understand why he didn't hate her. He still was the same happy guardian, perhaps made a bit wiser through his travels in the web. She was hardly deserving of it. She resented him for it, she just wanted to see him angry. That would at least justify the pain, the guilt that was tearing at her chest.

"Dot?" Bob's familiar voice, it had been restored when he was reunited with the code the virus had stole, she hated the fact that all it made her think about was Megabyte "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" All she could hear was Magebyte (lieslieslieslies)

"Yes, I'm fine."

"When was the last time you had a break, sis?" Matrix had walked up and joined the conversation with AndrAIa at his hip.

"Do you think we can afford to take breaks?" She slammed her hands down on the table for empathise. Dot immediately felt horrid, her tone came out harsher than it meant to, "I'm fine. Really."

"Overworking does no one any good, Dot." AndrAIa said

Dot gave her a look that clearly said the conversation was over before turning to her brother, she couldn't bare to face Bob, not right now, "Did you find anything?"

Bob and Matrix exchanged a look, before Matrix gave a laboured sigh and complied to his sister's wishes, "No. Well, not really..."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"We haven't been able to find a reason Megabyte has stopped his assault. However we do know that he is sending various patrols to Level 31."

"Level 31?" Dot raised an eyebrow, "What's in Level 31 that needs a regular patrol?"

"Yeah, we thought it was strange too." Bob jumped in, "Unless they aren't patrolling..."

"...they're searching..." Dot finished, her mind racing, "But what..."

"I couldn't tell you."

"Well if they are searching for something. Wouldn't it be a good idea to find whatever it is before he does?" AndrAIa said.

"But what could be in Level 31, that he doesn't already have? Megabyte has always had control of that sector?" Dot asked.

"We should do a little searching of-"

"No." Dot interrupted her brother, "It's dangerous enough sending scouting teams for short amount of time. We cant afford to take the risk of doing a search."

"It's war, sugar." Mouse approached them, obviously listening in on the conversation, "You have to take risks if you want to win. You know that."

"This time it's different. We don't even have the Principal Office anymore." A pause, "Level 31 is off limits until further notice."

"Dot."

"I mean it little brother."

AndrAIa put a hand on Matrix's shoulder, leaning up to his ear she whispered, "Let it go, for now."

He looked at her hard, searching her eyes for some sort of answer he couldn't seem to find, he didn't look happy about it, but he caved and turned on his heel to go else where. Dot gave her a silent thank you as she took her seat amongst the VidWindows once more. AndrAIa took this as a dismissal, and was quick to follow after Matrix's retreating back.

"Are you sure you're going to be alright?"

"Yes, Bob. I just need time." There was more subtext in that than either of them knew, she still couldn't meet his eyes.

"Alright." He looked disappointed, or at least that's how she imagined it, "I'll be here if you need me."

She heard him walk off in the direction of Matrix and AndrAIa, the only left remaining was Mouse. She knew the sprite well enough by now to know what exactly what she wanted to talk about.

"Alright say it."

"You need to forgive yourself, Dot." She said, "No one could tell the difference."

"It doesn't matter! I chose Megabyte over Bob, based on ... on appearance and availability. I chose the wrong Bob!"

"We were all fooled, sugar. And Bob doesn't hold it against you."

"I know..."

"I sense a 'but' there."

"But... I wish he did. It would make me feel better, know that all this is justified."

"Dot, Bob loves you. And you love him don't you?"

Hesitation.

"I don't know how I feel anymore."

Mouse was effectively struck speechless, "Dot... you-"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore." With that she went back to working on her VidWindows.

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End 001

A/N: I know the chapters so far have been quite short. This is being done on purpose. They will get longer, much longer I assure you. In the meantime, please bear with me. And leave me a review while you are at it. It'll mean a lot to me.