Title: Partial Code
Author: Interface
Rating: T
Summary: With Bob and Glitch mysteriously parted it's time to restore order amongst the chaos. Megabyte isn't the only one causing trouble. Something sinister is growing in the heart of Mainframe.
Author's notes: Mild (in my opinion) violence. The speech which appears in italics is Modem. Basically the beeping noise with which Bob communicated with the Web Riders at the end of Season3; I'm not too worried if that's not exactly what it was referred to as in the series. 'Modem' which does not appear in italics will simply not be translated.
What are imaginations for if we don't use them? =P
Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one.
Chapter 10: Welcome to Dell (Hell)
"You just can't talk in these things," Dot's muffled voice complained behind her web helmet.
"That's ... why you... neeeed... to speak Modem," Bob beeped happily from behind his Guardian Web suit. Dot frowned at him from behind her mask though he couldn't see it. Bob turned away as Glitch obediently melted up to the surface of his armour, "Glitch, scan," he commanded in Modem, "See Dot, we'll be home before you know it," the blue sprite turned back, "Dot?...Dot!" In the distance he could see her limp body being dragged further into the darkness that surrounded them. She was being dragged by,
"What in the web!?... Glitch!" he took aim, "Tracker!" The powerful upgraded Keytool fired the red dot at lightning speed, accurate to within half a pixel. Bob could do nothing but stare as Dot was dragged further into nothingness. He was quite surprised by his actions; he'd been more reckless in his youth.
"Shut up Bob, you haven't aged in Cycles. Let's do this!" He took after Dot on his trusty Zip board, already the tracer was nearly out of range. No matter how hard he willed it, the board would not go any faster. Suddenly the tracer stopped moving on Glitch's display.
"Now I've gotcha," Bob grinned. He doubled clicked on his gold and black icon, flashed green and Rebooted into his uniform as he entered the open system. He looked around, shocked at how desolate this system was; lost corner of cyberspace; most likely permanent unusable web space. It was dark with an undetectable source of dim light that cast misleading shadows around him. He stepped from the Zip board into the soft dust and rubble which seemed to line the ground. He turned slowly the stranger stood watching him, partially hidden in the darkness. Between them on the floor, lay Dot, she was barely conscious.
"I am Guardian-452. State your name and function" With no reply Bob raised Glitch,
"I am Guardian-452. State your name and function," he repeated in universal Modem. The stranger stood perfectly still in the darkness; with still no reply. Bob slowly made his way over to the half conscious sprite on the ground. He'd just knelt down to check her vitals when the stranger dived through the shadows at him. Bob struggled against the strong grip with no luck. The grip tightened; Bob's eyes widened looking into the hollow bleeding sockets. The gruesome creature thrust a familiar weapon into the Guardian's cheek. He couldn't get a good look at the weapon but recognised it instantly as the Gibson Coil Pike. Bob froze, his eyes darted back to look once more into those damaged sockets. Surely not; this creature wasn't from the Web; he was from the Net.
"What's happened to you?" he whispered, he put a hand up and pushed the Gibson Coil away gently. Lens' speech COM was broken beyond repair. Once his feet were set firmly back on the ground Bob consulted Glitch,
"Scanners," he commanded of the Keytool. Everything about Lens was one hundred percent Code Master. Bob's eyebrows furrowed, he frowned at the stats Glitch was providing; his eyes flicked to look at the mutilated Lens. Without warning the Code Master dived towards the green sprite.
"Hey! Hey hey! Stop!" Bob yelled, with a silent command Glitch fired a protective shield around Dot. Lens let out a spine tingling screech.
"Lens you don't want to do this!" Bob cried turning his Keytool on the Code Master. The uncontrollable creature let out a shriek and launched himself at the Guardian.
Everything suddenly moved in slow motion. Bob stared at the monster charging at him; then to the Keytool he had aimed at it. To delete right now would be easy; too easy. He bit his lip and lowered Glitch slowly. Lens wasn't a monster; he was a Code Master, an ally, a friend. Deletion couldn't be an option. They clashed suddenly; Bob let out a gruff groan as the force sent him skidding backwards, his heels dug deep into the ground. He wouldn't last long in hand to hand combat with a Code Master, especially one as insane as Lens seemed to have become. Bob held onto the Code Master's wrists as hard as he could. Staring fiercely into the blood soaked sockets made his processor turn; he needed to do this. His muscles for the first time bulged under the immense force being exerted upon them. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he fought to keep in control. Lens shrieked into his face making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Bob's brown eyes dared to shoot a glance towards Dot. She was sat upright slowly removing the web helmet and shaking off the daze she was currently in. At least she was still processing, that was the main thing.
"Lens," Bob said through gritted teeth, "Listen to me. I'm going to attempt a partial voice COM repair. Modem only; you understand? Lens do you remember Mainframe? The game we won together? We're on the same team Lens" The head cocked to one side mechanically in reply to the Guardian's words.
"Bob!" Dot cried from inside the shield. Lens turned his head suddenly; no longer interested in what the Guardian had to say. He fought and struggled against the Guardian's immensely powerful grip; desperately trying to reach the green sprite. Without warning Bob released his grip.
"Glitch Mend!" he yelled as a blinding white light erupted from his bracer. He fell backwards under the pressure. His whole body relaxed as the light faded, he was too exhausted to do any more. Bob shut his eyes tightly as he felt himself being lifted from the dusty ground.
"Beeeep. Beep. Beep. Beeeeeep"
"You're welcome old friend," Bob smiled, "Glitch, release"
Dot scrambled up from the dusty, dirty ground and rushed into Bob's waiting arms. She steadied him and looked cautiously up at the damaged Code Master. He looked less terrifying now his big friendly eyes were sat safely back in their sockets.
"Miss Matrix," he beeped in Modem through the almost useless voice COM. He holstered his Gibson Coil as he respectively bowed low in front of her.
"What happened to you Lens?" Bob asked quietly.
"Not here... Guardian...we muuust get somewhere safe. It...is...toooooo dangerous here"
The two sprites looked at each other in silent agreement. A safe place sounded good right now.