Chapter Two: Traitors and Trust

Mainframe: G-Prime

G-Prime was bustling with activity as viral binomes were working on a special project of their master Megabyte who was watching them.

Megabyte sat in his throne, watching as his troops and scientists were constructing a cage that would soon house his new tenants. "Herr Dockor," he called.

"Oh mine grossenbiter," Herr Dockor answered his master's call. "All is in readiness for the prisoners and in parameters of what you have requested."

"Excellent," the virus replied. "Now all I need is the User to drop a game and all of the command staff of the Principle Office will be helpless. Then I will take control of Megaframe and my Viral Dawn shall begin."

"Not so fast," a voice called out to him.

He looked to see Damien Triad behind him, standing with the rest of the Shadow Riders.

"No one is going to be doing anything until we get our final payment," Triad said.

"Ah the Shadow Riders," Megabyte said. "Equally opportunistic as I once was when I was your age. The rest of the currency shall be delivered to you once you do one more small task for me. You will be doubly compensated for both chores I assure you."

The five Shadow Riders drew their large staffs that had sparkling power boosters on them.

His viral troops were also prepared to fire on the riders if they attempted anything.

"I won't go on my word, I tell you," he told them. "When the next game lands, take hostage the Command-dot-Com of this system, her annoying childish brother Enzo, and Phong, then take Matrix and AndrAIa once they exit the game and your services to me will be complete."

"And why should we?" Helicon ordered an answer from him.

"Since you cannot prove to me that Paige Dyson was indeed deleted," Megabyte insisted, pounding his hand on the console, "this small errand will make up for not showing me her destruction."

Triad was upset, but they lowered their staff weapons. "So, how often to you get games around here?" he asked.

Megabyte smiled with content.

Mainframe

"Warning, Incoming Game," the announcement came overhead. "Warning, Incoming Game."

AndrAIa was searching for Matrix and found him out on one of the walkout ledges into Mainframe. He was playing with Gun without a care in the world.

"Uh lover," she called and glided over to him. "It's time for some fun."

"I don't feel like going," he replied. "It's going to be another tournament style game. It's seems to be the fad that the User is on lately."

"Come on Matrix," AndrAIa said. "You either come with me or you get to do maintenance duty that Phong is trying to pass it on to someone else."

"Marvelous," he groaned and got on his zipboard to leave with her.

They entered the game cube near Level One just before it landed.

The game was just as Matrix said it would be; another tournament style fighting game. Worst off, it was one that they had played during the time they were lost in the games.

"So what, you were right again lover," AndrAIa said. "All we have to do is make our way to the User and we'll be out of here. Then you and I are going to head away for some rest and relaxation."

Matrix came close to her body, sending his hand through her aqua hair. "You mean it?"

"Promise."

They shared a brief kiss before rebooting.

Principle Office

Dot Matrix was finished with her work and then looked to the screen to see the game cube, spiked high into the sky of Mainframe. It sparkled and now it was the long wait until her older brother and AndrAIa emerged safely.

Phong entered the command chamber and stood by her.

"Your mind is uneasy child," he said to her. "Feel like sharing?"

"It's just, I'm worried," Dot answered.

"About Matrix and AndrAIa?"

"No. Bob, Mouse, and Ray," she replied.

"And Paige?" Phong asked.

"Well yes, her too," she stated. "She needs to be rescued so she can go back to the Web and join up with the Knight Surfers. They'll be constantly around until they do come back."

"Commander Matrix," Specky called for her. "I have the Knight Surfers asking for conference."

"Speaking of them," Dot said. "Put them on the main screen."

On the screen, the golden skinned with navy blue hair girl of Lana Vesper appeared and stared at all that were in the command center.

"Hello Commander Matrix," the young surfer greeted them.

"Interesting that you are calling us Ms. Vesper," Dot greeted her. "What can we do for you?"

"We're looking for Bob," she said. "Paige was supposed to check in with us and she hasn't returned to her apartment in a couple of cycles. Any idea where I can find the two of them?"

"They journeyed to the Supercomputer and we haven't heard from them in as long as you have," Dot said. "Anything that would concern any of us?"

"Actually yes," Lana replied. "We found out from a source that Megabyte contracted the Shadow Riders for a job recently; what it was we have no idea, but Grendar is pushing the source for more."

"When Matrix and AndrAIa come out of the game," Dot told her, "we'll go after Megabyte and see if we can find your Shadow Riders for you."

"Be careful commander," she warned. "The Shadow Riders can be really crafty when the money is good."

The command center was shaken by a powerful blast that rocked the Principle Office.

"What in the Net was that?" Dot shouted. "Get me a visual."

Outside the main Principle Office doors, the five surfers who she assumed were the Shadow Riders were outside; blasting with their staff-like weapons.

"Lana," she called onto the screen. "They're here. How fast can you get to Mainframe?" The Principle Office was rocked again as shrapnel fell from the ceiling.

"We're in a system on the other side of the Net," Lana told them. "We can be there in sixty nanos."

"Make it quick!" she shouted and then the communications were terminated.

Outside Principle Office

Helicon was at the outside control junction and disconnected a few wires inside the box. "It's amazing when you don't pay your VidWindow bill what can happen?" he said.

Damien Triad was watching as brothers Crix and Crayis Garneau and Max Vector were almost blasted through the main door to the Mainframe Principle Office.

"Keep it up boys," he ordered. "The lovely Ms. Matrix has an appointment to keep and we don't need to be keeping her host waiting."

The five of them blasted at the same time and took out the doors.

Dot was scared when she saw the doors blast open.

"Patch me through to the Supercomputer," she told Specky. "We need help."

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