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.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one.

Author's notes: I hope it's not moving too quickly or too slowly. Feedback is always appreciated whether positive or negative or neither.

Chapter 12: To delete or not to delete

Bob fled. He fled so fast that to him; his legs were just a blur. Sweat pumped from him, his hair, now no more than a tangled mess flailed behind him. He was breathing so fast his chest hurt, adrenaline was surging so fast through him; the pain barrier was far beneath him.

"Cursors," he panted, being forced to change direction. Tears streaked his cheeks as his eyes tried to compensate for the dryness the wind was causing them. As if a few moments without being clumsy was too much to ask, he tripped. He fell face first into the dusty matter, "No," he whimpered, hearing staggering footsteps racing up fast. He rolled, instinctively onto his back raising his legs to catch the monster before it threw itself upon him. Pushing the soles of his boots into the creature's chest his knees almost buckled under the force. Bob stared wide eyed, unblinkingly at the...the... whatever it was.

Its mouth hung open, baring uneven razor sharp teeth, bloody spit leaked out onto Bob's uniform. Its eyes, hollow, like Lens' had been. Tendons hung out and stuck in tangled disorder on the thing's face. Its skin was pale and blotchy as if it was bruised in many places. It screamed down at the Guardian drenching him in more stale smelling blood and gunk. All breath had left him, he couldn't scream, he could speak, he could barely move. The sight... the sight terrified him. It was like nothing he's seen before. It was... heck... user knows what the hell the thing was. Bob's legs were tiring as the thing continued to lash out at him. Its form was the shape of a sprite. From a distance he supposed, aside from the painful looking walk, it could easily be mistaken for a naked sprite.

"A Sprite," Bob thought silently. With an almighty push he launched the creature into the air. It landed with a whimper, giving the stunned Guardian time to scramble to his feet. He watched the creature getting up slowly; he paused hearing shuffling behind him.

"Oh great," he sighed, "You brought friends" He turned his head to look over his shoulder, "Plenty of them"

He stood still, listening to them shuffling nearer and nearer. He detached the ball containing his board from his belt and dropped it into the sand between his feet. With a deep sigh he wiped the sweat from his face once more. Sweat. That's all he seemed to do lately, perhaps when he got back to Mainframe he'd see Phong about that. As if he had all the time in the world he casually detached the ear piece from Glitch and began putting it into his ear. He sniffed and took one last deep breath.

"Go!" he yelled the Zip board burst open beneath his feet and forced him at speed into the air. He rose high enough to ensure he couldn't be reached by the deformed, mutated Sprites. Bending his knees he held on to one side of the Zip board, looking down at the vast number of them.

"Glitch, Mend," he aimed downwards.

--

Dot shielded her eyes from the bright light that she'd seen erupt from Glitch.

"Lens what are they?" she asked quietly now watching the cured sprites lying unconscious. She waited patiently giving the Code Master a chance to gather the words to describe them to her. After a long pause she began to turn, "Lens..?" A croaking noise in the darkness confirmed her fears. The Command . com bolted for the door, it crashed open as she dived out into the open. She scrambled crawled and panicked to get to her feet,

"Bob!" she screamed flying in his general direction as fast as she could, "Bob!"

Bob heard the scream and turned in time to see Dot running towards him with the mutilated Code Master in hot pursuit.

"That is... not good," he muttered rising into a standing position, "Dot! I'm coming!" he cried springing from the safety of his Zip board. He landed with a loud thud and roll; heading directly towards the green Sprite, "Get down! Duck! Anything!" he yelled waving his arms as he sprinted at her. Glitch burst into light, a small beam protruding from it. Dot threw herself to the ground her hands clamped firmly over her head. The Guardian leapt over her, and ran head on at the Code Master.

"Stay frosty!" he called over his shoulder.

The Code Master's Gibson Coil was unholstered and being brandished menacingly at the oncoming Guardian. The pair clashed furiously. Dot cringed and winced hearing the weapons strike one another.

"Arrggh!"

She jumped up quickly. She'd do anything to protect Bob if she could. Why she'd even take on a Code Master for him. She'd go to the edge of the Web for him. She'd give up her own code for him. She'd... she'd...

"Bob?" he was on one knee before the Code master, he held Glitch's illuminated blade out far to his left, his head was hung low, "Bob!?" The Code Master burst into a bright blue light and faded into streams of code. The Gibson Coil fell to the floor with a clatter. As the light faded and darkness returned the shaking Guardian unsteadily found his feet. He was shaking uncontrollably, so much so that he stumbled to one knee as he tried to turn around. Dot grabbed his shoulders and helped him up. He was an unusually pale shade of blue, even in this light, "Bob," she said again uneasily, "What is it?" He pulled her closer, and put his shaking lips to her ear. The Guardian clenched his eyes shut tightly; struggling to find the words he thought he'd never have to say.

"I deleted Lens," he choked.

Dot stared back, words failed her, and thoughts failed her. This wasn't her Bob, surely.

"Don't worry Bob. You're not well, he wasn't well either. Lens wouldn't think any less of you. I don't think any less of you. It's going to be alright Bob. I promise" Bob lowered his face into Dot's neck; they sank to the ground in a tight embrace. The Gibson Coil lay beside them. Metres away the cured Sprites were slowly beginning to come around.

Dot ran her fingers through his hair, held him as close to her as she could. They were together, it would be okay; but how in the Web were they going to track down his code with things growing progressively worse?