Hey there guys…so another chapter released and a lot more will happen as the story is moving at a steady rate or at least I hope so. I hope things aren't moving too fast, if they are do let me know and I'll recalculate this en-route that I have planned. Thanks heaps to everyone who keeps supporting me and a huge thanks to White Eevee for betareading this for me - this girl is an amazing betareader, I recommend her to any other struggling newbie.
Chapter 7: What Hurts the Most
Matt and Delete managed to free Buzz by adding in a few security codes, which was basically adding and multiplying even numbers. Luckily, Matt still had his Squack-Pad on him and it helped to solve the problem a lot quicker by laying it out visually. They had Buzz out of his prison within fifteen minutes. Unfortunately, he wasn't as grateful as Delete had expected him to be.
"Buzzy, I'm so glad you're okay!" Delete said happily reaching to hug him albeit Buzz pushed him away. The smile on Delete's face turned into a frown of confusion as he looked at his best friend.
"You're such an idiot, Delete!" Buzz said, harsher than Delete had ever heard him. "Helping Digit has caused us nothing but trouble. We were naive to think we could stand up to the boss. We can't so let's just give him Digit and save ourselves."
Delete couldn't believe it. Digit had become a dear friend to them both over the years hadn't he? He didn't understand how Buzz could be willing to give up on him like that. He may not know much about friendship but he definitely had learnt a thing or two from Digit. The way he had held on for the sake of his three Earth friends was proof enough and their happiness at getting him back.
"How can you suggest that?" Delete said flabbergasted. "Digit is our friend! I won't let him suffer any more, Buzzy! He's been through more than anyone should ever have to go through!"
Buzz frowned, a small part of him did care about Digit but he cared about himself and Delete a lot more than that. Hacker was a dangerous force to be reckoned with and he didn't want to help Digit if it meant getting himself hurt in the process.
"Even he is a friend, he isn't worth enough to sacrifice ourselves," Buzz said gruffly. "Are you helping me get that cybird or am I on my own here? I bet even he," He pointed at Matt, causing his expression of shock to shift to defensiveness. "would give up Digit for his own gain. He didn't try to fight more against Digit's decision to give up to the boss, did he?"
Delete's expression turned downcast and doubt filled his gaze. That was true, the Earth kids hadn't fought too hard against Digit's decision but it wasn't really to save themselves. They had made that sacrifice to save Motherboard hadn't they? Though it had still been selfish on their part considering all Digit had to suffer because of it. He glanced at Matt.
Matt looked alarmed that Delete would even consider that and his fists clenched at his sides.
"I would never give Digit up for my own gain!" Matt snapped defensively. "He's my best friend! I never wanted him to surrender to Hacker and if I could make that day repeat itself, I would've forced Digit to stop from giving up. Dige means a lot to me, Inez and Jackie. I know we failed him back then but that's a mistake we'll never repeat! It was a mistake that I've regretted since the day I made. I just wanted to respect Digit's wishes and last request as he asked of us but I haven't forgiven myself since then. Delete, a true friend may not give up one of his friends but he also tries to do what their friend wants." He hung his head, the day that Digit had went with Hacker, replaying inside his head like a film without sound. He didn't want to cry as that would show weakness but why didn't they understand he never wanted that and he was horrified at the fact that Buzz would sacrifice Digit to save his own skin and technically Delete's as well. He suddenly felt Delete's fingers wrap around his hand.
"I believe you, Matt," Delete said softly. "I don't want Digit to go through anymore pain. I want to protect him for everything. Buzzy..." He turned back to his best friend, his eyes pleading silently asking him not to leave his side. He didn't want the two of them stuck at two ends of a spectrum, it just didn't seem fair. They had been through so much together, between working for the Hacker to even sneaking behind his back when they didn't approve of something he did or when they just wanted to have some fun. "Let's help Digit. He's our friend too, we always helped him after the beatings and I know he means something to you too."
Buzz turned his body away from Delete, not wanting to look into the other's pleading eyes and be persuaded by them. He couldn't do this anymore. He had almost died trying to protect Digit. They weren't even friends, they had just been brought together by the circumstances of the occasion. Delete did mean a lot to him but he couldn't support his own friend in something that was much too life-threatening.
"I'm sorry DeeDee," Buzz said honestly sounding sorry. "But I'm going back to our old boss."
The borg turned around, beginning to walk away knowing if he listened to Delete now, it'd only end in failure. He could hear Delete's wails and cries, his attempts to grab him but he pulled away, walking out of Control Central.
"Buzzy! BUZZY!" Delete screamed, trying to grab his best friend. His hear felt like it was cracking into a million pieces as Buzz just turned around and left. Memories blinded his vision and tears threatened to pour out of his eyes. How could his best friend just do this to him? It was like all the time they spent together, all the moments they shared didn't matter at all. As the sliding door to Control Central shut behind Buzz, Delete felt his legs weaken and he sunk to the ground. No...this couldn't have happened. Buzz, his best friend and dearest companion had turned his back on him without a second thought.
"Delete..." Matt's heart broke for the little Borg and wished he could do something to make the other's pain less but he didn't know how nor did he understand how Buzz could abandon his own friend like that. It seemed the friendship he had shared with Digit wasn't enough to treasure the little bird, something which Matt couldn't wrap around his head. How could anyone want to hurt Digit after all he'd done for Cyberspace? Sure, Hacker had cheated once again to get his way but he wouldn't have hold over Cyberspace for much longer, he would make sure of that.
"Matt?" Delete asked, snapping Matt out of his thoughts causing the boy to look over at him. "I don't understand...Digit was always so loyal to you guys even...though you weren't there when H-Hacker was beating him...why isn't Buzzy..." He hung his head, unwilling to move not sure what to say or do. It was too hard to even think about not ever spending time with Buzz anymore. A part of him wondered if Buzz was being jealous again, like he had when Delete was paying more attention to Gigabyte rather than him. Maybe he felt he was choosing Digit over everything but he couldn't help him. Digit had come to be quite dear to him and he couldn't abandon him now matter what it took.
"I don't know Delete," Matt admitted, unsure of how to guide Delete in something he himself was unsure about. "Dige's always been really loyal to us, and the four of us have been through some rough patches together so I guess that helps. But I guess friendship is kinda tricky at times. But don't worry, we'll fix things I promise. Thanks for defending Digit back there, I'm sure he'll appreciate it." The redhead smiled at the borg, wishing he could do more but comforting wasn't really his forte. He managed to give Digit strength but that was only because they were the closest. He wondered how his friend was doing back there but decided to focus on Delete for now. After all, Digit wouldn't want the one borg who had helped him keep his sanity to be feeling hurt over this.
"Alright," Delete said trying to compose himself and managed to stop the tears that had begun cascading down his cheeks. He couldn't afford to give up now. He had taken a stand for Digit and he'd stick by his friend no matter what. "Let's go find your friends, Matt. We'll need all the help we can get."
Matt smiled a little. Although he was concerned about Delete, he knew the borg was stronger than he let on. If he hadn't been, then he wouldn't have the courage to take such a stand for Digit and get him out of that hellhole he was staying in. He nodded in agreement although wondered how they were going to get there. He voiced this out loud and Delete smiled.
"Don't worry, I have this bike I used to take Digit out sometimes," Delete assured Matt. "Hacker would turn up the temperature in the Wreaker and Digit would begin to suffocate so I'd sneak him out on a bike so he could get some fresh air and then get him back before the boss err...I mean Hacker noticed it."
Matt was astonished. Delete was a lot braver than he had ever thought him to be. Not only had he helped Digit escape but he had tried his all to make Digit's life with Hacker as pleasant as he could. It made him feel guilty once more for not being there for his friend. It should be him doing all that for Digit, not Delete. It should have been him protecting Digit from Hacker's evil reign. Hacker had a lot to pay for and the Cybersquad would make sure he paid for all the crimes he had committed. However, he didn't let Delete see the emotions on his face and simply nodded in agreement. The two of them then headed to Radapolis.
"Someone's heading this way, Slider!" Creech gasped out and Slider frowned, trying to make out who it was and his eyes widened slightly as he managed to. It couldn't be…but it was.
"It's Matthew and Delete!" Shari said, looking happy to see Matt after so long. It had been awhile and she rushed over to where they were. "Matthew! It's so good to see you!" The boy had changed, he had grown even more handsome over the years although that wasn't much of a surprise considering he had been cute even as a child.
Matt flushed at this as he always did before when she looked so glad to see him back then but knew right now he couldn't focus on that. He allowed his eyes to travel and looked around at all his friends. His heart ached at seeing the scars and bruises he could see on their faces and arms. In Motherboard's absence, they were supposed to look out for Cyberspace but they had been so selfish in their own pain of losing Digit that they hadn't even thought of anything else.
"You guys," he breathed softly. "I'm so sorry you guys had to deal with all this."
"Do you have some sort of plan?" Slider asked a little curtly which was surprising. "I mean, as nice as it is having your sympathies, we really could use a plan right about now."
Matt looked at him but Slider did not meet his gaze. He was almost as distant from him as he was in their first meeting and that was not a good sign. He had begun to open up to them since their missions against Hacker but now he was so closed off again like they didn't know one another at all.
"Slider," Matt said quietly. "Is everything alright? It's not like you to be so distant."
Before Slider could reply, an evil cackle filled the garage and everyone but Matt and Delete gasped as the shield that had been on the place wore off to reveal Hacker and besides him, Buzz standing there.
Matt felt the fury that was in the pit of his stomach rise as he glowered down at the villain who had caused his dear friend so much pain. It took all possible self-restraint to not lunge at the monster with a few punches. To be honest, he wanted but just by taking a look at Hacker, he could tell he had definitely changed.
"Hacker," Matt spat, the venom in his voice apparent no matter how much he tried to keep his voice controlled.
Hacker blinked a little, almost as if caught by surprise that the Earth brat was here but then he simply smirked. "Ah if it isn't Motherboard's old helper…tell me how's the cyberturkey? Is he having nightmares or blowing into that pathetic whistle of his?"
"SHUT UP!" Matt snapped, Hacker's mocking voice made him clench a fist as he thought of Digit's helplessness, his terror, his plea to be protected from this monster that had hurt him. Losing his self-restraint, he lunged forward, not thinking of the consequences and would have managed to get a punch in if someone hadn't pulled him back. Struggling against whoever it was, he squirmed to break free. "Let go of me! He needs to pay for what he did to Digit! I promised Dige I'd make Hacker pay…let me go!"
"Matt, get a hold of yourself!" Slider snapped, yanking him further backwards. "You won't be able to do anything if you get killed!"
"But…" Matt wanted to scream, he wanted to protest that he couldn't listen to any mockery towards his best friend after seeing how much he had suffered however saw a look in Slider's eyes that made him quieten down. There was a similar pain in his eyes and somehow he had a feeling there was more to Slider stopping him than he knew.
Hacker cackled at this. "Listen to Slider, Matt! You don't want to go the same way as Coop do you?"
"Don't talk about Coop!" Slider snapped, eyes practically bloodshot as he glowered at Hacker. Matt understood though and squeezed Slider's wrist now pulling him back to stand beside him. It wasn't completely clear but he got the message that something big had happened to Coop. However, unfortunately right now he couldn't reassure Slider with the enemy so close.
Hacker shrugged. "Whatever. I would suggest not getting in my way, Earth brat and giving Digit back to me quietly. It's for your own benefit." He raised a hand and a net fell on top of Delete. "I, on the other hand need to take my henchmen back and have a few words with him." The duncebucket was going to pay for his betrayal dearly…
Delete's eyes widened and he tried to squirm free, his legs quivering. He knew he would be punished for sure. He didn't regret what he did for Digit but at the same time, he didn't want to be shut down or tortured to the point that he was no longer himself anymore. "Buzzy help me!"
Buzz turned away from him although Delete thought he saw him flinch but couldn't be sure. However, his former friend's answer was clear and that was what hurt the most right now. That his oldest, closest friend didn't seem to care that Hacker was going to hurt him…
"Let him go Hacker!" Matt cried, eyes widening as Hacker trapped Delete. No way was he letting Hacker hurt Delete for defending Digit. But what could he do? There had to be something he could do to help him but there was no way smarts were going to get him out of this one then what could he do? He wished Jackie, Inez and Digit were here, without them, he felt at a loss of what to do but knew it wasn't safe for Digit to be here. I shouldn't have brought Delete with me either…I have to save him no matter what.
"Oh are you going to stop me?" Hacker mocked him. "With what? Brainpower?"
"Not exactly, Hacker," Slider said pulling out some sort of spray and spraying it. Black smoke surrounded Hacker causing the Borg to be blinded. "Matt, hurry! Get Delete using these safety glasses so you can see through the smoke."
Matt took the safety glasses and hurried but only had time to pull the net with Delete in it to him before the smoke faded away. He didn't even have time to react as Hacker reached to grab them both.
"Stupefy!" Shari cried running forward and shooting a spell at Hacker, sending the Borg flying back even though she knew it wouldn't be enough even as Matt pulled Delete away. "Professor Stumblesnore…we need that portal!"
"It's an old version, Spotter," Stumblesnore said weakly. "It might not work as well."
"Just hurry!" Shari cried, not meaning to be rude but they had a situation here as Hacker had gotten back to his feet. The witch shot another spell in order to keep Hacker busy. Stumblesnore handed it over and everyone gathered around Shari.
"Hurry, Shari!" Matt encouraged, unable to believe he was running away but Hacker was a lot more powerful than they remembered…they definitely needed to regroup and think about this. As Shari pressed the button and they were sucked into the Cyberportal, Matt felt something smash into his side and a rasp of pain left him, cutting through his arm like sharp knives as they landed back at his house. His vision blurred as he looked at the blood dripping from a large gash on his arm and the last thing he heard was Jackie and Inez screaming his name before his world went black.
