Chapter IV
*****
Heightens each sensation...
Darkness stirs
And wakes imagination...
Silently their senses
Abandon their defenses...
Slowly, gently
Night unfurls its splendor...
Grasp it, sense it-
Tremulous and tender...
Turn your face away
From the garish light of day,
Turn your thoughts away
From cold, unfeeling light
And listen to
The music of the night...
The Music of the Night, from the Phantom of the Opera
*****
Such dark things for a girl her age to wear... and why would she need such dangerous weapons? AndrAIa stacked the weaponry in the locker at the foot of the bed. As she picked up the girl's coat, something fell out. AndrAIa picked it up. It was a jpg of a family; of a proud pair of parents. A little girl a little younger than AndrAIa's own children stood in front of them, grinning broadly. AndrAIa glanced to the figure lying still on the bed; there was a striking resemblance. I wonder what happened... Unwilling to probe further, the woman carefully replaced the jpg in the hidden pocket in the coat and hung it up.
*****
Dot swiveled around in her chair as Enzo poked his head in her office. "Gotta as nano, Dot?," he asked. "What is it?," she asked as she turned back to the various vid-windows and charts she had open. "Though you might like to know that Matrix and I found a wounded girl in the game."
*****
Morgan awoke, but did not open her eyes. She could sense someone nearby, so she pretended she was still off-line. Cursors... I need to think up a story. Let's see... I guess I could tell them I'm game-hopping. Good thing I got that game sprite icon from my last job.
She breathed in and fluttered her eyes open as if waking from a deep sleep.
"Oh, good. You're awake."
Morgan turned in the direction of the pleasant voice. She saw sitting next to her was a female sprite, but unlike the other citizens of Mainframe Morgan had seen. The woman was very beautiful; she had long, green hair and orange skin, which seemed to have a shiny, scaly look. And if Morgan was not mistaken, the woman had fins on her arms. But this didn't surprise the mercenary too much. She had seen a few like this one.
"Welcome to Mainframe," the woman said, smiling. "My name is AndrAIa. What's yours?"
"Uhhh... I'm Morgan."
"Now that you're awake, how are you feeling?"
"Kinda sore..."
"Well, I'm not surprised, seeing how bad you got hurt." Morgan narrowed her eyes in worry. "Oh, don't worry," AndrAIa said reassuringly, putting a hand on the younger girl's arm. Morgan looked up at her, an almost malevolent look in her eyes. She did not particularly like people touching her. AndrAIa cautiously drew her hand back. "Uhhhh… Phong said you should be out of the infirmary within a couple of cycles."
"Phong? Who's that?"
"He's... the former Command.com. He likes to know everything that goes on in Mainframe, even though he doesn't need to. He'll probably want to talk to you later."
"Oh." Morgan didn't particularly like that idea. "Who's the new person in charge?" Morgan already knew the answer, but she found herself wanting to know more?
"Dot Matrix. You'll probably won't see her unless she you make an appointment or she comes to see you directly."
"Oh, I don't think I'm important enough to meet her."
"Don't be silly.. Dot will want to meet you anyway; she sees everyone who comes to Mainframe."
Morgan gulped. This is getting more and more complicated.
Unexpectedly, a vid-window popped up in between Morgan and AndrAIa. "AndrAIa!," a deep voice said, in almost a whining tone. "Isn't she awake yet?"
"Matrix!," she scolded. "She's right here."
"Oh, um, sorry. Are you gonna make dinner when you get home?" AndrAIa rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't know what to do without me, would you?"
"Whatever... you're gonna be home soon?"
"All-right, I'll be right there. You clean the kids up." AndrAIa closed the vid-window. Morgan smiled, in spite of herself.
"Married?," she asked. "Yeah," AndrAIa replied. "With him, it's almost like having a third child." The woman grinned. "Well, I have to go. Otherwise he'll *never* get anything done. You'll be all right by yourself?"
"Of course," Morgan replied. "I'll fine."
"Okay. A doctor should be around soon to check up on you." AndrAIa turned to walk out.
"Wait a nano!," Morgan called out. AndrAIa looked back over her shoulder. "Where's my stuff?," Morgan asked.
"It's in that locker," AndrAIa answered, pointing to the container at the end of the bed.
"Oh, thanks. Bye." AndrAIa waved and disappeared out the door.
Finally, she's gone! She's right though... I'll still need some time to regain my strength...
Morgan sighed and turned over on her stomach. "Ouch!" That was smart... I don't ever want to get any of my ribs broken again. She turned over so that she was lying on her back again. I wonder how long this will take. And why didn't... *AndrAIa* ever ask me how I got into the game.