Bob led the way with Matrix close behind me. I felt his eyes boring into the back of my head. During the walk, I asked what kind of creature the jailor was. After a weird look, Bob said they are binomes. We came to a shady looking building, a restaurant I wondered at first. Inside, Matrix pushed me into a booth and sat next to me while Bob sat on the other side of the table. A box binome approached the table and asked, "The usual again today?"
"Yes, please," Bob said. "And one for her, too." He gestured to me. She nodded and skated away. Turning to me, Bob continued, "You don't seem like the type to take pleasure in the destruction your games cause. What gives?"
I shook my head, "Destruction? From the games we play? How?"

Matrix leaned over me, glaring and talking quietly, "Don't play stupid, User."
I shrank against the wall, holding my hands up in surrender, "If you mean our games are causing harm, I did not know. Honest!"
"Calm down, Matrix," Bob told him. Matrix straightened and Bob continued, "So, if you didn't know, what kind of User are you?"
I wasn't quite sure what he meant. As I thought about it, the binome came back with what looked like milkshakes and slid one to each of us before she left. "I'm not sure how to answer that," I finally said.

"I tell you what," Bob said thoughtfully. "Matrix, you'll keep a close eye on her while we figure out if she can be trusted."
Matrix growled, "We should just delete her."
"Mend and Defend, remember?"
"Fine, alright. Tch."

An interesting woman entered the diner and came to our table. She stared in wonder at me before asking, "Dot sent me to get you two." Bob scooted over for her, she sat and continued, "This her? She looks like just a game sprite."
"Don't be fooled, AndrAIa," Matrix peered at me.
"I'm AndrAIa," she offered a hand. "Don't be intimidated by the big green man next to you. He's a sweetheart when you get to know him." She winked as I reached for her hand, but Matrix slid his shake between our hands. I withdrew mine and AndrAIa frowned at him.

Instead of Matrix following me around, AndrAIa volunteered while the men left to see whomever that Dot was. We walked a good distance before we overheard two voices. AndrAIa sighed, giving me an exasperated look.
"Hack! Slash!" She called.
Two robots clamored from an alley. "Hack-" "and Slash, reporting-" "for duty!" "What can we do for you?" I peered at them. What peculiar robots.
"Shouldn't you guys be up in the Office?" AndrAIa inquired.
"We were!" "Yes, but, Bob told us to tail Megabyte." They both stared back at me. "Who's that?" "I don't know, Slash. Does AndrAIa know?"
AndrAIa grinned, "She's a User, but don't tell anyone!"
Both the robots seemed suddenly afraid and shocked. "Wh-what!" "A U-u-u-user!?" They seemed panicked and started to scramble, but ended up slamming into each other and falling backwards onto the ground.

AndrAIa sighed softly and chuckled. "They'll be fine," she assured me. The robots quickly got back up and AndrAIa said, "You two get back to what you were doing."
"Aye-aye!" "Yes ma'am!" They sped away.
"Are they always like that?" I asked. "Uh-huh." "They sure could use an upgrade and an adjustment in spacial awareness."
AndrAIa stared at me peculiarly, "They aren't the smartest, but they are good friends nonetheless."

A window suddenly appeared and I nearly jumped out of my skin. The green woman from before was on the screen, "AndrAIa, sorry to be abrupt, but can you bring, uh… her, to the office?" She frowned and added, "Phong wants to meet her and ask her questions, too."
"Sure thing, Dot," AndrAIa replied.
"Thanks," Dot said. The window closed.
"Looks like you get to meet the rest of the gang. Just don't try anything funny, User."
I sighed, "I'm Sam."

A sinister laugh echoed through the area that sent chills up my spine. Hack and Slash hurried back towards us, looking panicked. They cried, "Megabyte!" They clamored behind us, hugging each other. When I looked back to were they were, the large, blue monster that attacked me in the game stood before us. It's eyes glared down at us as AndrAIa demanded, "What do you want, ugly?"
"I want that," it pointed at me.
"You're not taking her."
"Watch me." It roared and lunged. A second before it could grab me, a large vehicle crashed into it from above, smashing it onto the ground. A hatch opened, revealing a purple woman with orange-red hair and wearing golden armor.

"C'mon!" the woman commanded, making way for us to jump in. I didn't hesitate. AndrAIa and the robots were on my heels. Not a second after we boarded, the woman slammed her hand on the wall, the hatch closed and we hurtled into the air.
"You must be the talk of the Principle Office," the woman winked at me. "I'm Mouse."
"S-… Sam," I stammered. "What was that down there?"
"Who? Megabyte? He's just a pain in the-" Mouse narrowed her eyes at me, "Say, he seemed rather interested in you, hon."
"I wish I wasn't," I said. "I don't like him already."

When the hatch opened again, we were in a hanger just big enough for the vehicle and some room to navigate a few large things for loading or unloading. AndrAIa went first, I followed with Mouse and the robots in tow. They didn't seem inclined to fully trusting me for a while.
We went through a few hallways and around a few corners before we entered a large room. There was a large platform about as tall as my elbows in the middle of the room. Bob, Matrix, Dot and another robot-like being surrounded it. Hack and Slash stood behind me when we joined them. Their constant dial-up noises were slightly distracting.
The other robot approached me, adjusting its glasses on his face, "You are… not as tall as I imagined. And not as fierce as I thought."
"Thanks, I guess," I said. "Who are you?"
"Oh, forgive me. I'm Phong."
"Phong, may we begin," Dot asked.
"Oh, oh of course, my child." He returned to his previous place.

"User-" "Sam." Dot paused, shifting uncomfortably. Matrix glared at me as she continued, "Right, Sam. Will you step onto the platform? We would like to examine you."
I stared at her for a long moment. They wanted to examine my avatar. I wondered what it would reveal. "C'mon, Sam," Bob said. "It doesn't hurt."
"I should be examining all of you. Meeting you all," I shook my head, "it's impossible, yet here we are."
I stepped back, but Hack and Slash grabbed my arms. "Hey, now." "Nope, nope!"
"Computer, master controls," I whispered hoarsely, half expecting them to appear.
A woman's voice toned overhead, "Command not recognized." A gasp resounded around the platform.
"Computer!" I cried, "What are my-!" "Glitch! Silencer!" Bob's gadget on his arm launched and hurtled towards me. It changed shape and covered my mouth, silencing me. Matrix's gold eye glowed, his gun in hand pointed at me, "We should've deleted her!"
"Glitch!" Bang!