~Chapter Thirty-Four~

Abaddon sat in his study room thinking of some new way to get back at Cyberspace for removing him from his ruler-ship, to strike fear into their circuits as they wondered where these occasional attacks came from. He couldn't believe a task that should've been so simple as finding the prism of Penguia, and then stealing it, was such a failure.

"Why? Why? WHY?!" the aging cyborg shouted as he slammed his fist against the desk.

After just one year on top of the cyber-world, some young cyborg from who-knows-where shows up and takes his position as ruler of Cyberspace, forcing Abaddon and his army to flee or else they would be given the death sentence. But less than half of his army had escaped the prison. The ones left behind had to face the electric chair. It infuriated Abaddon that he had been put in this situation. And it was failures like this that would make his past flash before him. He would remember all those who had mistreated him.

"I bet they're all laughing at me right now," Abaddon said to himself, "Just like they always used to."

One hundred forty cyber-years ago

The young radster couple knew this house was a foster home, which was why they were leaving the two-week-old child here. How foolish the young woman had been to think that she and her boyfriend were ready for a child. And even if they had been ready, this was NOT the type of child they wanted. The baby had repulsively ugly red eyes and was terribly thin with disgustingly deformed feet.

"Come on dude put the thing down," she said to her boyfriend who was holding the child in a basket with his name tag on it, hesitant to drop it off at the doorstep.

"I don't know," he said looking at his son, "He IS still, like, my son and, like, we said just two weeks ago that we were gonna be these totally cool parents and make this narley cyborg. Doncha think we should, like, follow through with it?"

"Like, that was before it came out of the pod shell," she shuddered remembering how excited they were to make their first cyborg child and how they didn't care how their parents kept telling them to wait until they were older. Only to see the most disgusting baby ever and realize that they really were too immature to be parents.

The father sighed and kissed his son good-bye.

"Ew!" the mother exclaimed, "Like, don't kiss it!"

"HE is my son!" the high school drop out argued, "Like, I don't care if he's bogus-looking. He's still my son!"

"Ugh! Look just put it on the doorstep, ring the bell, and let's go!"

"Ok ok!" he said before looking at his son one last time, "Good-bye Junior. I do still love you. Remember that."

With that the boy did as his girlfriend told him and they disappeared into the night.

Present

Unfortunately, Abaddon was too young to remember his father's words nor had he been given any proof that there was someone out there that cared.

Flashback

Ten-year-old Junior had spent a month in his new foster home at Cybersite Nowhere. Ever since he was first abandoned at the foster home in Radopolis, he had been moved around to new homes every year or so. Each time the reason was the same.

None of the foster parents could be bothered with raising such a grotesque looking child.

Junior ran out to the playground and hid under a slide from a group of older boys that were chasing him.

"Oh what's wrong Junior?" the leader of the pack said crouching down so that he was at eye level with him, "Trying to hide your ugly face from the world?"

"You're so ugly," another boy said, "If I didn't know better I'd think you were a demon!"

"Yeah we oughta call you Abaddon," said the third, "Cuz only the destroyer could look so repulsive!"

"That's exactly what we're gonna call you," the leader said to the now crying boy, "From now on your name is Abaddon!"

End Flashback

"Looks like you picked a pretty fitting name buddy," Abaddon said to himself as if the gang was actually there in front of him.

Yes, ever since that day he had been known as Abaddon. Even his various foster parents called him that. Everyone hated him even though he hadn't done anything...

...Yet...

Flashback

Abaddon celebrated his 100th birthday alone, in an alleyway that was his home. His last foster parents were more than relieved to be rid of him when he reached eighteen. They literally packed all his belongings the night before so the moment he woke up, they could send him right out the door. He had held only a few cashier positions throughout his adulthood and never kept them for very long. It was the only job he could get, for he had no diploma. He had flunked out of high school because he was always hiding in the restroom to avoid bullies, rather than going to class. And even the least judging customers couldn't bare to let his early-aging hands touch their money, so his managers very quickly fired him.

One hundred years of life and so far nothing worth while. He sighed heavily as he sat against the alley wall looking up at the sky. Suddenly a cloaked figure approached him.

"Hey man," the mysterious stranger said, "What's got you down?"

"Oh nothing," Abaddon replied sarcastically, "I've just lived the most miserable life anyone could imagine all for something I can't help!"

"That's a shame," the stranger said, "I can tell you have a lot of potential."

Abaddon looked at him uneasily. "How?"

"I know a lot more about you than you think Abaddon. Or should I say Junior?"

Abaddon's red eyes widened. "You know both my names?"

"I know a lot of things," the stranger said, "And I also know how you can finally be happy."

"How?"

"Rule Cyberspace," the stranger answered, "You'll have everything: Money, power, fame. People will both look up to you, and fear you. And I know you can do it."

"That sounds great," Abaddon replied, "But how can I ever become the ruler of Cyberspace when nobody will even look twice at me?"

"A rebellion of course! Just gather an army of cyborgs that hate the government and you'll be at the top in no time."

"Again, who will want to join forces with me when nobody likes me as is?"

The cloaked figure smiled. "Its very simple. I can show you how, for a price."

"But I don't have any snelfus at all," Abaddon replied.

"I don't want snelfus Abaddon," the stranger said, "I just need you to sign this agreement."

The man pulled out a contract and pen from his cloak.

"There must be more to this," Abaddon said, taking the contract and signing it.

"Oh there is," the stranger said evilly as he took back the signed paper, "There's much more."

End Flashback

Yes. Abaddon had sold his soul that day and didn't even know it until a year later. But he was too angry with the cyber-world to really care about the eternal consequences anyway. He had been given all the strategies on how to build the rebellion, who was best suited for his army, and who would stand in his way the most. Still, evil never wins and Abaddon hadn't read the fine print. So now here he was, trying to regain the "keys" to Cyberspace.

"For now we just make them miserable," Abaddon said to himself, "But when the time is right, I'll show them. I WILL defeat Williams just like I defeated Dalhart, and I'll get anyone who comes after the man too!"

"Sir," a voice said while knocking on his door and snapping him out if his thoughts.

"Come in Biff."

Biff opened the door and walked in.

"Sir Abaddon," he said formally, "The men have received my discipline and have been in the solitary confinement rooms for an hour now. I will leave you to do what you must with them."

"Thank you general," Abaddon answered, "And I will see to it that they are punished severely. Now go."

Biff saluted his boss and left, cringing. For he knew what Abaddon was about to do to them.

And it was a lot more painful than the whips Biff gave out...

Location: Cyber University:

"And then you divide the square root by half of the original number," Melissa said to her friend Artemis as she wrote down the steps.

It was evening now and Artemis had her Complex Cyber-Analysis exam in the morning. Unlike the two Bensons, she wasn't exactly an expert in mathematics so Melissa was helping the older girl study.

"Thanks Motherboard," Artemis said, addressing Melissa by her new title, "I don't know how I could get through this class without you tutoring me."

"What are friends for?" she said smiling.

Artemis smiled back and hugged her younger friend tightly. Melissa returned the hug.

"So," Artemis began, "Just one more year and we're done with college forever!"

"I know," Melissa replied, "Its gone by so fast!"

"Are you thinking about grad school?"

"Possibly. Though my professors say there's really nothing they can teach me anymore," Melissa laughed.

"That smart huh?" Artemis teased.

"Apparently," Melissa answered before changing the subject, "So what are your plans for Christmas?"

"Well, my family and I are going to visit my cousins in Happily-Ever-After and possibly see a Christmas play that Little Red Riding Hood and some of the other fairytale kids are in."

"Really?" Melissa said, interested, "What part does she have?"

"Red is starring as Mary and Jack as Joseph," the Mt. Olympian answered, "And my youngest cousin, Goldi, is playing one of the angels."

"Oh that sounds so sweet!"

"And your plans?" the twenty-year-old asked.

"My brother and I are going back to Helping Hand Land with Ada," she answered, "Nothing special is being planned at the moment. But I believe our church is also putting on a play starring the Sunday school kids. I remember they had one last year. Marbles and Ada are going to see a production of the "Nutcracker" and Antoine and I have tickets to see "The Messiah" at the St. Frances Cathedral on Christmas Eve."

"Did I hear my name being called?" A masculine voice said from outside Melissa's dorm.

Blushing, Melissa went to open the door and let her boyfriend in, who had a bouquet of Cyber-Stephanotis' and Cyber-Geraniums for her, already in a vase. For these flowers represent good luck and calmness, respectively.

"For you Motherboard," Antoine said handing her the flowers and kissing her hand.

"Oh Antoine!" Melissa exclaimed as her cheeks turned an even brighter red, "You shouldn't have!"

"Consider it a belated best-wishes-for-your-finals present," he said smiling at his beautiful girlfriend.

"Well I was just helping Artemis prepare for her Complex Cyber-Analysis exam," Melissa said as she placed the vase on her desk, "I know you're taking the exam with her tomorrow."

"Yes I am," Antoine replied, "And yes, I would very much appreciate it if you would help me prepare for it."

"Well let's get started," Artemis said.

Antoine and Melissa sat down with Artemis on the edge of Melissa's bed. Antoine actually had come, in part, to have Melissa tutor him so he already had his textbook with him.

"So where are we starting?" Antoine said opening the textbook.

"We were on chapter thirty-four page 1210," Artemis explained.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The three studied until midnight, when Artemis and Antoine had finally had enough math for one day.

"Goodnight Motherboard, goodnight Antoine," Artemis said walking out the door to her dorm next door.

"Good night Artemis," the couple said simultaneously as the door shut.

"Well dear," Antoine said heading towards the door, "I best be going now too."

"Wait Antoine," Melissa said stopping him in his tracks, "I have something to tell you."

"What is it dear?"

"You know how I was doing more experiments with the portals yesterday?" she said getting up.

Antoine nodded.

"Well," Melissa began, "I finally did it!"

"You mean?..."

"Yes Antoine," Melissa finished for him, "I've opened a portal from Cyberspace to the real world!"

"Motherboard that's fantastic!" Antoine exclaimed before picking his girlfriend up and spinning her around, while kissing her at the same time.

"I know!" she said as he placed her feet back on the floor, "And it was so beautiful there, even if they don't have the binary constellation."

"So you actually stepped foot in that dimension?" her boyfriend asked with widened eyes.

Melissa just nodded her head excitedly.

"Did anyone see you though?"

"Not a human in sight," she answered, "I opened the portal on an uninhabited piece of land called Antarctica. Its a lot like Penguia, except the penguins can't speak."

"You know you amaze me more and more each day of your existence," Antoine complimented.

"Oh Antoine," she laughed.

"Its true Motherboard," he interrupted, "I love you so much. More than words can say."

Melissa smiled before kissing him, this kiss lasting a bit longer than the last.

"Well goodnight Motherboard," Antoine said and turned towards the door.

"Good night Antoine dear," she said opening the door for him.

The nineteen-year-old walked out of the dorm room and Melissa closed the door behind him. She let out a lovesick sigh before going back to her textbook and reading for the sheer fun of it. In that aspect, she truly was her father's daughter.

So there's chapter 34. Lemme know what you think in the reviews and if you know what from this chapter is inspired by the plot of Broadway's longest-running musical of all time.

"See ya in Cyberspace!"-Digit