*crawls out of cave* Well I told you it would be a while...
Seriously though, I was actually planning on abandoning this story for good. College is getting busier and busier, plus I thought "This story is so long most people probably won't bother to read it." So I would like to thank Guest for his/her review. Had I not read such a sweet review I probably never would have touched this story again. Thank you!
So without further ado, here's chapter 44. (And yes, that is the cyber-ized version of the U.S presidential oath.)
~Chapter Forty-Four~
Location: A Distant Unknown Cybersite:
*"I, Melissa Sara Benson," the female cyborg said on the television, "Do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of leader and protector of Cyberspace."
Abaddon immediately turned off the TV in anger. He recognized that face, those eyes, that name.
"I thought you took care of that family twenty years ago?" He seethed at General Biff, red eyes burning with rage.
Biff shook with fear. "Well, they were unarmed and injured. And then there was this portal. We thought for sure they wouldn't have-"
"WHEN I GIVE YOU ORDERS, I EXPECT THEM TO BE CARRIED OUT IN FULL!" The cyborg shouted, "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE DEAD!"
Abaddon began to pace about the room angrily.
"That pesky know-it-all couple had been in our way since day one! I wouldn't be surprised if their little brats were in on us too. THIS IS WHY WE FAILED!"
"Sir that's impossible! They were just children," the general argued.
But Abaddon was beyond the point of reasoning. He grabbed General Biff by the throat, nearly strangling him.
"This is all your fault!" He hissed.
"Sir!" The younger cyborg choked.
"I know why you spared them! Because of your precious Eileen! Just had to keep something of hers alive, didn't you? You're pathetic!"
With that he threw General Biff to the ground.
There was silence for a moment. Biff said nothing, in fear that words would only increase his superior's rage. Finally, Abaddon spoke.
"I WILL have Cyberspace back in my grasp. This Benson offspring... this Motherboard as she calls herself... will be eliminated. The last of my strongest opponents will be gone and I WILL have Cyberspace BACK!"
"How?" the general dared to ask.
"Oh you'll see," Abaddon answered, "Now here's what we're going to do..."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Location: Control Central:
"The complete history of Cyberspace is in this room," Richard explained to his new superior and co-workers as he led them into the Control Central library, "We also store any equipment or hardware for the main supercomputer in here."
"Its huge," Antoine remarked.
Although Marbles and Melissa had both been to Control Central before, neither had gotten the full tour and would need to have one in order to know how to run the place. Melissa hired Antoine as her personal assistant and bodyguard, so naturally he joined them for the tour.
"Indeed," said Richard, "You'll never believe how long it takes me to find things sometimes."
"Everything going alright?" asked Gerald, walking in after packing the last of his belongings.
"Yes Gerald," Richard answered, "I've shown them the whole of Control Central."
"Alright then," the former leader replied, "Come with me Motherboard. I'll show you to your living quarters."
"Alright, are you ready?," She asked the two men with her.
"I'd actually prefer to have a further discussion with Richard concerning the main supercomputer Motherboard," Marbles said, "If that's alright with you."
"Oh yes, of course," his sister answered.
With that, the now ex-leader of Cyberspace led Melissa and Antoine outside and across the bridge that led to the private housing sector that had been occupied by so many cyber-rulers of the past. On the way, cyborgs walked back and forth as they moved in Melissa's belongings.
"Are you sure you don't need our help?" the female cyborg asked one of the movers as he walked by with two large suitcases.
"Positive Ma'am. This is our job after all!"
"Here we are," Gerald said as they walked through the already opened doorway, "Your new home."
Melissa and Antoine took in their surroundings. The entrance of the housing sector led them into a large living room that had a 70 inch flat screen plasma television against the wall. Across from it, against the opposite wall, was a very expensive looking blue sofa with a glass coffee table in front of it.
"I'll let you two explore the place," Gerald said with a smile, "My work here is done. Good luck Motherboard."
"Our work here is done as well," a cyborg said as his fellow movers left the housing sector, "All of your luggage is here and the rooms have been vacuumed and cleaned."
With that, the couple was left alone.
"Shall we my dear?" Antoine asked in a posh tone, playfully offering his hand.
"We shall," Melissa said, taking his hand as they began to look around her new living space.
They were impressed with what they saw. The housing sector was about the size of a high class apartment, safe within a protective glass bubble that kept the area heated. The living room was connected to a small but quaint balcony with two chairs and a small table. Through the glass bubble one had a lovely view of the cyber constellations and the nearby cybersites floating by. There was a dining room with a wooden table and well crafted chairs. Said dining room led into a kitchen with an electric stove, a large fridge, and an island in the center. There were two large, furnished spare bedrooms, each with its own adjoining bathroom. The third room was the master bedroom. It had a king sized bed in the center with a polished nightstand on either side. There was a polished white dresser next to the large walk-in closet. The adjoining bathroom included a stand in shower stall and marble bathtub. Above them, a crystal chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling.
"This place is incredible," Antoine commented as his girlfriend began to unpack her belongings. "But I suppose you're used to such finery after living with the Lovelaces for so long," he added with a smirk.
"I'm not picky Antoine," Melissa said as she found the suitcase containing her bed sheets and comforter, "There are more important things then what my living quarters look like. Now are you going to help me or not?"
"Of course dear," he said as he walked over and took one side of the bed sheet she was holding.
Together they began to set the bedroom to the new cyber leader's liking, all the while discussing the events of the past week.
"Sir Gregory has certainly been taking all this well," Melissa commented as she hung her clothes in the closet.
"He certainly is," said Antoine, "The way he spoke to us at the inauguration ball last week, you would think he was never all that interested in the job to begin with!"
"At least he didn't bombard me with questions about my childhood like everyone else."
"That's the press for you," laughed Antoine, "Though you have to admit some of those questions were pretty funny."
Melissa sighed as she recalled one such interview. "Whatever you say dear."
Flashback
It had only been a few hours since she was sworn in, but as soon as her full name had escaped her lips, people were able to put two and two together. Clyde and Eileen Benson were by no means celebrities during their lifetime. Being a spy, Clyde certainly could NOT allow himself or his family to become some sort of household name. It was one of the main reasons they had chosen to live in Pompadoria, as "Benson" was an entirely common last name there. But all that had changed upon his and his wife's untimely death. The public wanted to know why the then-leader was suddenly surrendering. What was so important about this mysterious couple that their demise had pushed Sir Dalhart over the edge? So in time their life story was discovered, as well as the fact that they had managed to have two children who had died that night as well.
Or so they thought...
Thus, the reason for this interview that was taking place when Melissa should have been enjoying herself at the inaugural ball.
"Motherboard, let me start by congratulating you on your new position as the leader of Cyberspace," the interviewer, a relatively new news anchor named Erica said, beginning the interview.
"Thank you Erica," she answered politely, "And allow me to congratulate you for your new position as a news anchor."
"Oh thank you!" the young cyborg gushed, "Now everyone has been asking the past few hours. We noticed you swore in as Melissa Sara Benson, which was the full name of the daughter of the late Clyde and Eileen Benson. Really looking at you now, you do look a lot like she might have if she lived. Is there something you haven't been telling us Motherboard?"
"Well this is it," Melissa thought with a sigh before answering, "Yes. The truth is I am the Benson's child and Dr. Marbles is my younger brother."
"People have often asked about your relationship with Dr. Marbles," Erica continued, "We all assumed that Margaret Lovelace had adopted you both from different homes. Or that she was running a sort of foster care system. Why have you both been hiding this big secret from us?"
"Unfortunately with Abaddon still not found and destroyed, we were still in danger of his wrath," she explained carefully, "If we had ever told the public who we really were, we would run the risk of being hunted down by him. We absolutely could not have our full identities revealed until we were sure he was defeated. Now that Abaddon and his army are gone, we can finally live in peace."
"In that case Motherboard, can you finally tell us more about your childhood?"
Melissa explained as much as she could as quickly as she could. She had promised a short interview with five different news stations before returning to the ball, including this one. She told Erica a few happy memories of her life before living with the Lovelaces, hoping it would be enough for now.
"Did you actually know your boyfriend, Antoine, back when you lived in Pompadoria?" the young new anchor asked, "It seems awfully coincidental that you would meet a love from your home site in college."
"No," Melissa answered with a smile, "Like I said before, we lived a very isolated life. After I was pulled out of public school I never left the premises of Forever Forest. Not even once. My boyfriend being a Pompadorian was pure fate."
"Are there any other big secrets you two haven't told us?" Erica asked, "Maybe a third sibling?"
Melissa shook her head. "Just Marbles and I."
"Unless maybe they were sent away before you could know them?" Erica suggested.
"I'm certain our parents would have told us if they were planning on booting and then sending away a third child," Melissa said.
"And your portals? Did you actually know how to create them back then? And did your parents use them to keep their lives more secretive?"
"No, I-"
"Are you even you? Are you sure you're not actually a clone of your original self and the original you really did die that night?"
"You must be joking," was all Melissa could think.
End Flashback
"I thought I was going to die laughing," Antoine said, laughing again at the memory of the clone question as he fluffed one of his girlfriend's pillows.
Melissa crossed her arms in frustration. She certainly didn't find it funny.
"Oh come on," Antoine said seeing her frustrated look, "You know it was funny."
"I will agree to disagree on this subject," Melissa said as she came to sit on the bed, sighing with exhaustion from the events of the past week.
Antoine sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her delicate frame.
"Get used to it Lissie. Life is only going to get harder now."
"Don't call me that!" Melissa said, "I wish Marbles never came up with that name!"
"Well it could be worse," Antoine said, "I could be calling you that every day."
"I'm sure you would if you were given the chance," Melissa remarked.
"I would love the chance to see you every day," said Antoine.
"Well now that you're my assistant and bodyguard you probably will see me that often."
"If you'd give me the chance," Antoine said, taking his arm away to reach for something in his pocket, "I'd like to be more than just that to you."
"Sweetheart I don't know if I can give you a bigger job than-" Melissa's words caught in her throat though as she saw what Antoine had taken out of his pocket: a small black velvet box.
"It couldn't be," she thought as tears formed in her eyes.
Antoine got down on one knee.
"Melissa Sara Benson, my one true love... Will you marry me?"
... So... do we like it?... Have I still "got it"? Leave your reviews. At the moment I'm not sure what the next chapter will be like, but I will tell you this. The story IS coming to its end. I can't imagine there being more than 10 chapters left, but seeing as its been taking me FOREVER to come up with new ideas that probably means it'll be another year until this fic is completed. Anyways, please review. In fact, here's a deal: If I get 5 or more reviews within a week's time, I'll get right into the next chapter and have it updated by Thanksgiving. If not, well, I'll still try to have a new chapter up by Thanksgiving. Ok, that's enough jabbering. Please review!
See ya in Cyberspace!
