Disclaimer: Don't own Automan. (Boy do I wish I did, though! ) Don't own Tron, either. (Any "Tron"-like elements are a part of my very overactive imagination. ) For rest of my disclaimer see chapter one.
A/N: Sorry for the delay. On with the story...
Ch. 7--Recruiting Crucial Help
Wally arrived in Terri's apartment complex and anxiously stood outside her doorway. He had never told Terri that he had actually succeeded in creating Automan. How was he going to explain Automan to her? Her brother knew him as Federal Agent Otto Mann.
He put aside his fears and loudly knocked on the door. "Terri! Terri, it's Wally! Please, I need your help!" pleaded Wally.
A young, dark-haired Hispanic woman a couple of inches shorter than Wally in a pink, cotton, loose-fitting robe answered the door. Her wavy black hair was ruffled from sleep. "Wally?" she asked in a sleepy voice.
"Please, Terri, can I come in?"
She didn't say anything. She just opened the door wider so he could step inside and closed the door behind him. Once inside, she glanced at a clock on the wall in her living room. It said four o'clock. She turned scrutinizing him. He seemed unhurt, so what could he possibly need help with that couldn't wait until later that morning? "What's wrong?" she asked with concern.
Wally decided the best course of action would be just to come out and tell her the truth. "I really need your help. Remember the holographic game I was creating in college called Automan?"
Terri had some idea of what he was referring to. "Yeah, sort of. What about it?"
"Well, I created it--him. He's real, but he's also in a lot of trouble. He's been infected with a lethal virus. I need your help," explained Wally quickly.
"Hold on," said Terri. Her sleep-deprived mind tried desperately to understand what he was saying. "You created him? A lethal virus? Wally, what are you talking about?"
Wally forced himself to slow down. He knew that at the rate Automan was deteriorating he didn't have much time to convince her to help him, but he desperately needed her to understand him. He drew a quick breath and tried again. "The Automan program? I created him, Terri. He's real, but he's in a lot of trouble. He's been infected with a lethal virus." He paused. "I need your help defeating this virus before it kills him," pleaded Wally.
Mention of the Automan program a second time finally clicked the pieces together for Terri. She remembered helping Wally in college create a program called Automan. Now, Wally's saying he's already created the program? And Automan's been infected with a lethal virus that's killing him? She scrutinized Wally's face to see if he was sincere. She realized he was deeply in earnest and very obviously desperate. "What do you need me to do?" asked Terri.
"We need to go to your laser lab. I need you to digitize and send me into my computer."
"'Digitize and send you into your computer'?" She knew he had to be referring to her digitizing project, which had been successful in digitizing some inanimate objects. She was still wary of trying the technique on a living person. "That's too dangerous, Wally! We're still perfecting digitizing inanimate objects!" objected she.
"Please, Terri. I have to help him," Wally passionately implored.
Terri could understand how Wally might become somewhat attached to the programs he had created, but his depth of caring for this particular program seemed to extend far beyond that level. Seeing his sincerity, Terri asked, "You really care for him, don't you?"
Wally briefly looked down before focusing on Terri's face and softly admitting with conviction, "Yes, I do." He continued in a more urgent tone, "I need your help. Please. Before it's too late."
She saw the absolute desperate pleading in his eyes for her to understand and help him and conceded, "All right. Let me get dressed, and we'll head for the lab."
Wally relaxed slightly as he quickly realized she not only believed him but was willing to help him. He nodded before saying, "Please hurry. We don't have much time." Wally quietly thought to himself with some concern, 'Just hang on, Auto. I've just recruited us some crucial help.'
A/N: Again sorry for the incredibly looooooooooooooooong delay. Please keep those reviews coming! Keeps me writing :)
