Chapter Twenty-Five: Showdown
"That was so frosted cool, double sided, high density!"
Released from their rooms, the group of five followed Phong back to his office, in order to hopefully discuss what they had learned. It was night by now and probably pass their downtimes, but the wise sprite had been unable to find their parents in order to tell them what he had planned. He couldn't even find Dot, whose second home was that of the Principal Office. And there had been no sign of Matrix and AndrAIa either. He figured with the state they were in, they had all gone home for some much needed rest. He put the oddness of it in the back of his processor, the current problem taking center stage.
"Phong, please, please tell me I can now control fire?!" Chip pleaded, finding the whole element thing to be the coolest thing since discovering his powers.
"Oh User." Sabrina muttered. "You're bad enough as is, the last thing you need is to be controlling a dangerous substance like fire."
Phong chuckled. "Unfortunately, Young Chip, none of you control the element for which you are given."
"Nulls." mumbled Chip.
"It's merely a metaphor for what our personalities and strengths are, right Phong?" Kit asked.
"That is correct." the wise sprite replied. "And again I apologize for not recognizing this sooner, but even I was skeptical about the legend of the elements."
"So now that we know all this, what do we do now?" asked Nikki.
"It is imperative that you have learned something from your time in your element." Phong said. "Only then, can you use that knowledge to hopefully defeat Gain."
"Hopefully defeat him?" Chip exclaimed. "That ain't boosting my confidence level none."
"Have you been hanging around Mouse again?" his sister asked. Every time he did, he'd come back with an accent that he never had.
"I learned this, Phong," Kit replied, ignoring his cousins' bickering. "In order to stop Gain, we've to be able to have clear and calm heads. We can't just go in fighting. We have to use our elements against him, without him taking them away from us."
"I learned we have to work as a team." Jet said. "If we hold together, then he'll have a harder time trying to get us."
"I learned I can hold my breath for an extremely long time." Sabrina replied, grinning. "No, really. I agree with Kit and Jet. We've got these powers and these...elements for a reason. We can't screw them up."
"I learned surprise is the best way." Nikki said, examining her container. "And, a little know how doesn't hurt."
Phong took the jar from the girl, smiling in surprise and glee. "I see you contained the wind, my child."
Kit and Jet looked at her. "How did you get wind in a little bitty jar?" Jet asked.
Nikki just grinned. "If I told you, then you'd be the element of wind." she teased. "Wouldn't you?"
"I learned I'm totally cool." Chip said, nodding. At everyone's looks, he said, "No, I mean it. I'm the man. You can't beat fire and if anyone's gonna take Gain down, it'll be me."
"I'll hit him if you say so, Phong." Sabrina said. "I'll hit him even if you don't. He just needs to be hit."
Phong shook his head. Some of them understood, most didn't. It seemed only in battle could they truly understand. Just as he was going to tell them that, a knock came to the door. "Enter." he called. The door slid open and Alex walked in, a very worried and concerned look on her face.
"Sorry to interrupt." she said, her breathing slightly quick. "I was just wondering if you've seen everybody."
"What ever do you mean, my child?" Phong asked.
"I'm waiting for Enzo to come over and he never showed." she began. "So I called over to Matrix and AndrAIa, to see if he's there, and there's no answer. Then I try the Diner. Maybe they're just chilling over there. Cecil says he hasn't seen Dot since this morning and if she was anywhere, she'd be here. So, hence why I'm here."
"What do you mean, there's no answer?" Sabrina asked, she and the others suddenly worried themselves.
"I mean what I said, Bri." Alex huffed. "I called your folks, no one's answering. I called the Diner and the apartment, no body's home. That's why I came over here. Look, I'm just as worried, you know."
"He's got them." Jet whispered. "I know it. I just know it."
"You mean Gain?" Alex asked.
"One in the same." Kit muttered.
"Then where are they?"
"That, my children," Phong replied, rubbing his hands nervously. "Is something we don't know at the moment."
***
A small binome nurse started
her rounds a little before 2100. She checked all the scheduled rooms and
next headed for the room harboring the virus, Hexadecimal. Though she hated
going to the room, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the virus turned
sprite. Everyone in the system, except for those that worked in the Principal
Office ~and even that was a divided bunch~ all hated her. She swore she
had turned over a new analog, but still the system remembered the seconds
of Megaframe and how she had helped to send their Guardian to the Web and
then tried to blow up the P.O.
The nurse entered the
room quietly, the only sound coming from the machine hooked to Hex. They
had tried everything to help her, but even the nurse knew that they couldn't
keep the virus there any longer. What ever had happened to her, the doctors
and nurses couldn't do anything to help. They could treat binomes, they
could treat sprites, even Frisket, but viruses they had never dealt with
on a friendly level. Only Bob and Phong could tell them what they needed
to do and even they were concerned with some other problem that they
couldn't talk about right now. The nurse took our her fileboard and began
looking at the codes in front of her. It was a routine thing that she didn't
even notice the movement next to her.
"Excuse me, dear," came the voice.
The nurse turned, surprised and slightly afraid to see Hex awake and attempting to get out of bed. She screamed and cowered in the corner.
"That really wasn't the answer I was looking for." the virus replied, sitting up. She looked around and then stretched, ignoring the terrified binome. "Now...I wonder what's been happening. You there..." she said, pointing at the binome. "Where's Phong and Bob? What about the others?"
"The...the..last I heard, they were at the Principal Office." the binome squeaked.
"Thank you." she replied, before disappearing before the eyes of the nurse, who then fainted from the excitement.
***
"You really don't think you're going to get away with this, do you?"
Dot and the others stood, invisibly tied, by their tormentor. She wasn't even sure how they had all gotten there. She had been in her office and must have dozed off again, but somehow when she awoke, she found herself standing next to Bob. When she looked around, she found Matrix, Enzo, and AndrAIa also in the same state. Dot's eyes noticed the throne immediately and at first, she thought Hex was finally showing her true colors. The virus was just playing possum, waiting for an opportunity to strike. But when the throne finally faced them, she saw the culprit.
Alexander Gain.
Dot wanted to say something, scream, but she couldn't. Her mouth was dry and it felt like she had a sock in her mouth, but she knew nothing was there. She listened as Gain began talking to Bob, calling him by his Web name. She hadn't heard that name in at least 22 hours and the fact that this stranger would even know it sent shivers down her circuits.
Gain walked over to her and looked at her. "You know," he said. "All the good guys always say that and you know what?"
"They usually win?" Matrix muttered.
Gain walked away from Dot and stood in front of the group. "Well, this time Mr. Matrix," he said. "The villain is going to win. In fact, I'll let you in on another little secret." Within a nano, he was face to face with the renegade, astounding even him. "You are going to cease to exist and I'm going to use your own children's powers to destroy you and your system."
The virus smirked and walked away, leaving the five to their thoughts. "Do you think he can do that?" Enzo asked. "Could he really get that powerful?"
"Who knows?" asked Matrix. "I just know this whole thing is not going to get better with us just standing here."
"What're we gonna do then?" AndrAIa asked. She then turned to her brother. "Bob?"
Bob was just looking down at the floor, his thoughts going a mile a nano. Like Dot, he too had been shaken up to hear the name Interface again, especially after all this time. But it wasn't just the knowledge of the name, but the mere fact that Bob knew who this was, knew the person behind the cold and evil eyes. The eyes that glowed a light green when angry.
The light green of a viral.
The same viral green eyes he had seen and remembered from the Web.
"Bob?"
"We're in trouble." he whispered, his eyes slowly looking up to view Gain. "More trouble than I wanna admit right now."
"I can guess this is gonna be bad." AndrAIa replied.
"Very bad." Enzo echoed.
***
After calling every place they
knew and sending out people to look, Phong and the others still had no
idea where the Lans and Matrixes were. After a huge argument and debate,
Chip Matrix volunteered himself to go to Lost Angles to see if they were
there. The boy was the fastest, Phong surmised, but he certainly couldn't
go alone. Phong suggested he take Frisket for protection and even though
the boy resisted, the feral red and yellow followed him out of the Principal
Office.
It was finally dark outside
and the street lamps were on. Chip walked slowly, his dog right beside
him. The boy didn't want to do what he was thinking, but he was a big boy.
Besides, there was no one in L.A. anyway, now that Hex was in the med ward.
With his speed, he would just need to check and then he'd be done. He didn't
Frisket to watch his back. He'd be okay. "Hey Frisket, wanna race?" he
asked the dog, jumping up and down. Frisket barked and got ready. "On your
mark. Get set. Go!" Chip took off and was way ahead of Frisket, who was
doing his best to keep up with the boy. Chip took a few short cuts, making
sure he lost the dog and then took off for the Gilded Gate, the bridge
that lead to L.A. and the last remains of the Twin City.
Taking his zipboard, Chip rode
the rest of the way, keeping out of sight from Frisket. He made his descent
into the darkened city and gulped. He was starting to have second thoughts
about this. Why oh why, did he leap before he looked? Shaking the fear
off his shoulders, Chip jumped from the zipboard and minimized it. He gulped
again, summoned his courage, and take the few steps that would lead him
into Lost Angles.
And into a trap.
Chip didn't think his bravery would last too much longer. He had never been in Lost Angles at night before and it was now he noticed how creepy and scary it was. The misshapen buildings looked like the scary monsters a boy his age would find in his closet. The streets were deafly quiet and the only sound was that of his rapid heartbeat. After he had gotten at least to the middle of the deserted isle, Chip decided he had seen enough and his parents weren't there, so it was time to go. As Chip turned around, he had the growing sense of danger. A feeling he usually tried to ignore in order to prove himself brave and strong. His dad wouldn't run away, nor would his mother, but even this sense of fear was making his insides freak.
Worst of all, it was coming from all around, especially behind him.
"Nice of you to join the party, Chip."
The boy gulped, knowing who the voice belonged to. A trap! A very clever and well laid trap and he had walked into it. "I hate to chat and run, but," he replied, never turning to see the figure that awaited him. The boy took off like a bullet and headed straight for the bridge. He could see it in the distance and the safety of his home system as well, until something snapped him up and the immense pain he had felt before was back and this time with increasing ferocity.
"Game over, little man." Gain replied, watching as the boy flickered for a moment then suddenly went limp. Gain dropped the boy on the ground, his little body twitching with pain. "Now," he continued, kneeling by the small figure. "When you recover, you'll be calling the other elements to me."
"Byte me." Chip whispered, squeezing a few tears from his eyes.
"You'll do it or I delete your parents." Gain whispered back. Getting by the boy's ear, he said, "Your mother is very beautiful, you know. I would hate for you and your father to watch what I could do to her." The virus grinned, saying, "Wouldn't you like a younger brother?"
Chip tried to quell his anger, the fury only making his pain worse. He turned slowly to look at his tormentor, his blue eyes moist with tears, but seething with ire. "When I see you again," he whispered. "Your ASCII is mine. And believe me...you're gonna pay."
"Call them." Gain stressed. "And we'll settle things. You believe me, boy. Things will be settled and taken care of."
***
"First our folks and now Chip's missing too."
The group of seven was now down by one and Sabrina's impatience was just masking her worry over where her parents and baby brother were. Phong too was worried. The boy had taken Frisket, but when the dog came back, looking worried himself, the wise sprite knew the boy must've walked in to something highly dangerous.
"Five gets you ten he's in L.A." Nikki said.
"Duh." Jet replied, rolling his eyes. "That's where he did go."
"My children," Phong interrupted. "Now is not the time to fight. We must recover young Chip Matrix and quickly. I have a terrible feeling he's in danger."
"So do I, Phong." Sabrina whispered.
"So, if he's in L.A., why not just send someone to find him?" Alex asked. "Simple right?"
"Not really, Alex." Kit responded. "We seem to be in...a situation."
"You mean the situation Enzo and I have no clue about?" the young guardian retorted.
"I am sorry for the lack of communication, my child." Phong replied. "With all that was going on, we felt as though the situation could be controlled. Of course, in this thinking, we have failed."
"All right. Okay." Alex said. "From the beginning, what the Net is going on? And is there a reason why Kit and Bri are out a least a cycle and a half before the rest of the SC? And why Phong, did you feel it necessary to get them out?"
"Come my child." Phong replied, rolling past her and out the door. "There is much I need to tell you."
Alex looked at Phong, then turned her attention to the five siblings. "Why do I have the unshakable feeling something is terribly wrong?" she asked.
"If I told you, yes, Alex, there wouldn't be anything you could do about it." Kit said, honestly.
"We'll see about that." Alex challenged, before finally following Phong out the door.
"So what now?" Nikki asked. "If Gain's held up in Lost Angles, how do we go in and get everyone back without him getting to us?"
"We have to take a chance." Sabrina said. "Our folks are with that guy, I know it! We can't just sit and plan out something. We've gotta get moving!"
"We can't just walk into whatever trap he's got, Bri." Kit retorted. "That's how he got Chip. That I know for certain. If we just waltz in, we're his for sure. We gotta this!"
"And I say we're wasting our time." she challenged, looking her cousin in the eye. "You wanna sit around, strategize, go ahead. I, on the other, am going after my brother and my parents. If the three of you care about yours, I suggest you come with me."
There was an unbridled silence in the room, as Nikki and Jet contemplated what they should do. Kit and Bri were so stubborn, each certain their way was right and now they were basically asking the twins to chose. "I agree with Bri." Nikki said, her eyes on her older brother. Sabrina smirked, knowing one of them had to feel the same way she did.
"I agree, too." Jet whispered. "At least if we all go to Lost Angles, we have a better chance. Don't you think?"
Jet gulped as the tension and silence remained. All the little boy could do was think back to what Phong had told him. In unity, there is strength. He just hoped the wise sprite was right. He couldn't let his cousin and sister out into L.A. by themselves, especially if Gain was there. And he had their parents, not to mention Chip as well. He had to keep everyone together, even if they didn't want to be together.
***
The same feeling of the creepiness of Lost Angles spread to the quartet as they stood at the edge of the small island. The dark made buildings look larger than normal, shadows appeared to move at will, and even the bright shine of the stars played against them. "Should we split up?" asked Nikki, who hoped against hope someone would say...
"No way." Jet whispered. "We'll be so vulnerable if we do. Then who knows what will happen!"
"Well, what now?" Sabrina asked.
"Should've thought of that before you wanted to storm the Super Computer?" Kit retorted. "Shouldn't ya?"
"Not a word from you, Christopher." Sabrina replied, pointing at the teen. Kit knocked the hand, causing another stand off between the two.
"Can the two of you calm down for just one nano?" Nikki exclaimed. "It's like walking around with two angry nulls, I swear."
"Guys, don't fight." Jet said, his system dreading another fight.
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Gee, thanks." the boy muttered, knowing this could be hopeless.
Despite his fears, they did split up. Kit went one way, Sabrina another, and Nikki and Jet headed straight. The whole time, Jet didn't like how things were going. They couldn't be apart from each other and it was bad enough they didn't have Chip there with them. They needed to be five strong and the way things were going, Gain was just gonna pick them off one by one. As they walked along, both children in their own thoughts, a hole opened in front of them, causing both to fall. Jet teleported himself out, landing on the ground in Hex's darkened lair, while Nikki hovered over him.
"Now that's a rush." Nikki replied, landing safely next to her brother.
"Guys!" a voice shouted, causing the two to turn. There, the first five missing sprites stood, excitement in their eyes as the two recognized them.
"Mom! Dad!" the two chorused, running over to their parents. Jet hugged his mother's legs, glad she was safe.
"You guys okay?" Enzo asked, his binds making it hard to see them.
"As good as we're gonna get." Nikki said, looking around. "Hey, where's Chip?"
"What do you mean, Where's Chip?" asked Matrix. "And what're you two doing in here? Gain's looking for you."
The twins looked at each other. "Uh oh." they said.
"Kit and Bri are out there." Jet reported.
"And if Chip's not in here, that means he's still out there." Nikki surmised. "Not good. This is so not good."
***
Sabrina strolled down the street, out in the open, waiting for Gain to appear. She hadn't even met the sprite yet, but she knew she hated him. She really didn't need to know anything else. As she walked, she felt the presence of someone watching her. Stopping in the middle of her walk, she yelled, "I'm tired of playing hide and go seek! Why not come out and show yourself? Unless you're too scared to take on a girl."
A figure appeared out in front her, at least seven feet away. It was a scene right out of one of those spaghetti westerns Mike the TV always showed. "Alex Gain, I presume." she said, smirking.
"You presume correctly." he said. "And you, are Sabrina Matrix."
"Cadet Sabrina Matrix." she corrected. "Don't worry. You'll remember it."
"I'm sure I will."
The two stood in a classic showdown, each waiting for the other to move. Sabrina stood, arms to her sides, just waiting for the moment Gain made a move. She would catch it, of course, and put him down for the count. That would show Kit. Just because he was the scientist, he thought he was so very smart. So very smart, he couldn't trap a simple sprite bent on Net domination. She smirked. This would be so easy. Gain looked at Sabrina and also smirked. He could sense her thoughts. Certain, cocky, confident, just like her brother. But her brother had gone down. Not once, but twice now. And now, he would have her and her power.
There was no movement and then things moved quickly.
Gain made the first move, just to see what she would do. True to form, Sabrina had her nails ready and sailing through the air, aimed for the virus' head. Gain of course, dodged every one, stunning Sabrina and not preparing her for what was about to happen. She sent out another wave, but Gain grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. He stood behind her, brandishing his claws before her face. "Don't forget my name." he said, before his hand came down upon her...
As a scream went out in Lost Angles, three people heard it. One was a small boy who still lay on the cold concrete, trying to regain the strength and energy he had just lost. Another was the girl's mother, who alerted the rest of the prisoners and occupants that Gain had another element in his arsenal. The third was just a spirit in the wind, who had taken time out to rest, due to her own injuries. She now pushed herself faster in order to destroy the villain and culprit who had put her in the Principal Office's medical unit.
***
Kit walked alone down the lonely streets of Lost Angles, lost in thought. He hated this, the uncertainty of what could happen. He wished he had just stayed in the Principal Office with Phong and thought up a reasonable plan before he left, but no. Sabrina was always doing that, working up his dander, getting him to do things without a solid plan in their arsenal. Kit couldn't help but laugh. He guess he was just a little, male Dot Matrix. He needed to be organized, have a plan ready, and most times he did, but lately, more often than not, he was coming up empty. Things were just surprising him left and right and he wasn't prepared.
Kinda like now.
Kit walked until he got to the familiar spot where Hexadecimal's entrance to her lair was usually found. This time though, he didn't see it. he couldn't help but think of the virus, laying that hospital bed. They still weren't sure what happened to her, but Kit knew his father had a bad feeling that Hex wouldn't be able to make it out of the condition. Whatever Gain did ~and Kit was sure Gain had something to do with this~ he would have Dell to pay if Hex ever awoke.
"Dr. Lan, how good of you come over."
Kit turned and saw Gain, standing a top of a nearby building. "Where're my parents?" Kit asked.
"They miss you, you know." Gain replied, smiling down at the teen. "So does Sabrina. And your siblings."
At this, Kit's eyes widen.
"Come get them." Gain sneered. "And me, if you can."
With that, Gain was gone in a flash, almost like before. With frustration and determination, Kit started to do something he swore he would never do. Outstretching his arm, he quickly made tear where the hole usually was. Using hands, he started to form a portal, hoping that Hex didn't keep a lock on her door.
***
A portal opened and an enraged Kit stepped through, closely the gateway behind him. Gain smiled, seeing the boy. He moved aside and Kit saw his first glimpse of his parents, uncles, and aunt since the last time he had seen them. They were invisibly tied, unable to move or even attack their jailer. What Kit didn't see were his siblings and cousin. As he stood, he felt someone beside him, someone who was just as mad as he was.
"You okay?" he asked.
Sabrina rubbed her chest, all the while glaring at Gain as he stood and watched them. "When I get my hands...on that low...down...son of a viral..."
"Precisely." Gain smirked. "But to know about my father, ask your Uncle Bob over there. Oh, that's right. He's in no position to talk. Or at least, after I take care of you, he won't be."
"I've had enough!" Chip exclaimed, poised for a fight. "This ends right now! Let's go!"
"Do you really think you're up to try and take me on?" Gain snickered. "You're 0 for 2, Chipper. You don't want to fail in front of your family, do you?"
"Third time's the charm." Chip hissed, determination beating out any other feelings.
"Chip, you can't take him alone." Jet insisted.
"Just watch me."
In an instant, the two were running at each other, each a blur, and seemingly disappearing. "Where'd they go?" Nikki asked, searching for them.
"They're just moving really fast." Sabrina replied, watching the fight take place. It seemed only she and her mother could see the battle happening.
Finally, the two broke, making a way for Chip to get a kick in Gain's midsection. But the virus just shook it off and sent an energy blast towards the boy, who ducked. It was just a decoy though, as Gain was quickly behind Chip and sent another blast at his back. The boy stumbled forward, more incensed than even. He turned back to Gain, who was smiling. His smile was lost though when an energy blast hit him square in the chest. He stumbled back and looked at the sprite to have the audacity to hit him.
Nikki put her arms down. "Told ya to fear me." she smirked.
Gain fumed, lunging at the girl, who was saved by a blast from Kit. But Kit wasn't saved when one came his way, throwing him off his feet. Gain again went for Nikki, but the girl was saved by Chip, who by the time he got her away was on his knees, his breathing erratic. Another blast kept Sabrina away, taking whatever energy she had left away from her. Everyone was hardly saved, just away from the villain. All except one.
Jet.
Gain turned and saw the boy and the boy saw him. Jet was trying to get himself out there, but with the excitement and impending doom, he just couldn't think. He couldn't close his eyes, he knew Gain was coming for him. "Jet!" came the cry. He wasn't sure who had shouted it, but it came from all around him. Things were just slow. Before he could react, Gain had him, his hand around his throat and he was suddenly in the air. Jet could see Kit forming the ball of light in his hand, but the view was blocked by the claws coming down on him.
***
"It's quiet, my child, but there's also an uproar going on."
Phong stood in the empty command room,
cup of cocoa in hand. Alex stood next to him, looking at the vidscreen
of a silent Mainframe. She remembered the last time she was in this room.
Kit had been taken by the Ultimate Fighting League, though at the time,
the staff didn't know that. And the time before, though many hours ago,
days it seemed like, she was in here, learning about the history of Mainframe
when the evil Megabyte had re-entered the system. And now, she was there
again, watching a seemingly silent city rest, while elsewhere, a huge battle
was happening.
Specky, the only other person in the
room, had been looking at system scans and said the readings of energy
were nearing off the chart records and they all stemmed from Lost Angles.
If that wasn't enough, the binome doctor called and said Hexadecimal had
left the medical ward and they had no idea where she could be. Normally,
a sprite nor binome could handle the kind of torture she been through,
but they were unsure about Hex. The doctor thought she might be suffering
from a concussion and that could only spell danger in her present state.
"Do you think they handle this, Phong?" Alex asked, softly. "They're just kids. I mean, Kit and Sabrina are the oldest, but..."
"You believe they lack the fighting skills of their parents." Phong finished. "I am inclined to agree, my child, but that was on purpose. You must believe we didn't things would get like this. We, as their parents and I, truly thought the fight was over."
"It's not just that." she continued. "They don't need the battle scars their parents have."
Phong bowed his head, knowing full well the scars she referred to. Though Alex knew the information, she hadn't been there, except for the recent events. She couldn't understand the war beaten heroes. "This is true, Alexandria." Phong sighed. "And I'm afraid everyone will be more affected by this than anything else."
***
It was perfect.
Just perfect.
Gain had never felt so powerful in his whole life. This was incredible. He could feel the power surging through his body, through his circuits. He had four of five elements coursing through him. If it felt this good, what would the fifth feel like? He knew it would be glorious. And even better was the look on Bob's face as his son was lifted in the air and struck down, his energy and power drained. Gain hadn't deleted the boy. That was much, much later. And he would make sure the guardian watched. Watched as he deleted his children, his friends, his wife...deleting the ex Rider's wife would be trilling. Gain even thought about taking young Chip on that earlier offer.
Conquest always came with power.
It was a given.
He thought about even letting the women
live. After all, he had his own son to co-process, in order to spread his
destruction after he was gone. But he needed to punish the guardian, bring
justice for his father's murder. What batter way of knowing that your wife
is pregnant, with the son of a virus. The thought was arousing and erotic
and something he would plan later. Right now, he had one more element to
get and a family and system to destroy.
He stepped over Jet, who lay
on his side and was in terrible pain. He faced the four other scattered
children, who looked up at him in awe. He seemed bigger, taller, stronger.
And meaner. He gave them a smile before showing his palms, aiming straight
at Chip and Nikki. Chip saw this and grabbed Nikki, just a nanos before
the powerful blast ripped through the wall, exposing the darkness outside.
Chip saw a way out, but knew they couldn't let Gain loose, not when Mainframe
was just beyond the bridge. Kit combated with a blast of his own, that
didn't even seem to dent Gain in any way. Gain turned to the teen, setting
his sights on him.
Kit managed to dodge at least four
blasts until one side tracked, pushing him towards Sabrina, who now groggily
getting her bearings. The two crashed to the ground, both stunned. "Hey!"
Chip exclaimed. "Why don't you pick on a real target?" he asked. Gain was
only too happy to oblige.
"Chip, what're you doing?" Enzo exclaimed. "Have you completely flipped your motherboard?'
"Trust me, Zo." the boy said, flashing his uncle a smile. "I know what I'm doing."
"You had better." his father whispered, his statement seconded by his wife's nod.
Chip took the little energy he had to basically run circles around Gain. Gain tried his best to shot the boy, but Chip always managed to be one step ahead, though a few times were too close to comfort. He was able to reach Jet though, which had been the plan, and whisk him away to where Kit, Bri, and Nikki were. Gain watched as the boy stopped short, dropping to one knee.
"We can't keep this up." Nikki replied, looking up at Gain, as he observed them and smiled.
"I hate to be a null, guys," Sabrina muttered. "But I think we've had it."
"Enjoying the show so far?" Gain taunted, throwing a look over his shoulder at the five children.
"You know what?" Enzo said, his eyes narrowing. "You're a not so nice guy."
Matrix rolled his eyes. "Great comeback, Zo." he said. "Now tell him that he's tall, but that's a not a good thing. It's a bad thing."
"Look at him." Kit muttered. "Taunting us, knowing we can't win."
"Makes you sick inside, doesn't it?" Nikki added.
"We're not giving up, are we?" Jet asked.
"Man, Jet Pack," Chip groaned. "We are out of ammo here. It's like my dad being surrounded by fifty viruses and no Gun. He could take out about ten by himself, but then the rest would gut him alive."
"How's it feel, Interface?" Gain teased. "Knowing you and your family are about to delete."
"Feels a little gooey." Bob retorted. "Like melted chocolate."
"Make all the jokes you want, Guardian." Gain sneered. "Let's see how much of a joking mood you're in when you see what I do to your children." Walking over to him, Gain whispered in his ear, "And your wife."
"You stay away from her." AndrAIa seethed, hearing the last statement.
Gain turned and smiled. "You wait your turn."
Gain turned back to the five children who either sat or lay on the ground, watching his every move and unable to do anything. He smiled, sensing their fear and hatred for him. It only made the task he was about to perform just as good. Maybe a full blast, but then that would be too quick, too easy. He wanted them to suffer, like he had. What could he do to them, to make them feel pain? The girls he had an idea, but the boys...he wanted something special for them. Wanted them to feel the same pain he had felt. Just when he figured out the perfect way of torture, a voice silenced them.
"Who told you you could come in here?"
Gain's head snapped up, while the others smiled.
"Looks like we're gonna get some help, gang." Kit replied, watching Gain look around for the unknown voice.
"I asked you a question!" the voice roared.
"Here's my answer." Gain replied. "Byte me."
"How rude."
A blast struck Gain hard in the chest, throwing him back against a wall. "Hurts, don't it?" Sabrina taunted. Gain shook his head clear and tried to focus. When he did, he saw the smooth white face of the woman who he had met and tried to murder his first second in the system. She was staring face to face at him, a small smile on her lips. "Hello." she said. Suddenly the smile turned to a harsh and raging look, as Hexadecimal lifted in the air and shot downwards. Gain moved from his place, but did not escape a partial blast from the impact.
"Should we give her a hand?" Sabrina asked, watching as Hex began a long whoop ASCII session on Gain.
"Yeah." Jet agreed. "But we gotta attack him all at once. Phong said, in unity there's strength. If we keep attacking him separately, he's gonna get the upper hand again!"
"Jet's right." Kit said. "We attack him with everything we got, understand? No one gets out of here until he's taken care of."
The group nodded and began to advance on Gain, who had struck Hex and had her down. "You shouldn't hit girls, you know." Jet replied, standing to Gain's side. Gain turned and smiled, allowing Hex to stand and began focusing her energy.
"No Hex." Sabrina said, from behind the virus. "This is our fight. And this time, no more nice kids."
"if you could be so kind as to release our parents, though." Kit replied, standing in between Hex and Gain. "That could be helpful."
"You're taking on a powerful virus, young sprite." Hex replied.
"Well, he's taking on five powerful kids." Chip retorted. "No more games. Time to kick some virus ASCII."
"Let's go." Nikki said.
Gain was now surrounded, but that didn't lessen his mood. He laughed, straight away. "I'll give you all credit for your persistence." he chuckled. "You're not so easy to take out. You've really given me a challenge with my stay here. It'll be an honor to watch you all die!" The virus exploded in a rage, his energy focused clearly on Kit. Then came the attack, from all sides. Gain was hit by repeated blasts and now he was being stung by something. As he turned, Chip ran a well placed kick by the virus, stunning him, but angering him even more. But the assault didn't stop. All five put everything they had into knocking Gain off his feet, while Hex freed the others.
There was nothing they could do but watch.
Gain tried to hold off the onslaught,
but losing strength. The powers he acquired were slowly taking a toll on
his circuits and were causing some slight discomfort. The others as well
were losing too. Their energy already drained, it was taking a great toll
to keep up their attack. The four stood, hands trained, powers blasting
their way at Gain, while Chip ran the circles, keeping him occupied in
case someone dropped out. But even he was becoming weak and he wasn't going
as fast as he had. With an enraged scream, something in Gain gave way and
he slowly fell to the ground.
The first to fall was Jet, who fell
backwards on the floor, breathing deeply. In succession, it was Nikki,
then Sabrina, then Kit and Chip, all exhausted from their ordeal. It was
slow, but finally a round of happy cries and hugs went around. "Mom, did
you see me? Did you see me, Mom?" Chip questioned, as AndrAIa gave him
a once over. The boy looked out of it, but yet he still wanted to make
sure his parents had seen him in action. Sabrina laid her head on her father's
chest and closed her eyes.
"I'm so wiped out right now." she sighed, letting Matrix wrap an arm around her.
Dot hugged her two small children tightly, needing to hug them. Bob slung an arm around his eldest son and hugged him lightly, not to hurt his already fragile body. "You okay?" he asked. Kit nodded, wiping his forehead.
"Just out of it, I guess." he whispered. He looked over at the limp, but breathing body of Gain. "What're we gonna do with him?"
"We'll figure that out later." Bob replied. "Right now, I think we should just relax, get some downtime. We'll take care of him later."
Right now, I need to spend time with my family.