Bob, Dot Matrix, Enzo Matrix, AndrAIa, Matrix, Mouse, Ray Tracer, Frisket, and Phong are all property of Mainframe Ent. They are not real people with real lives. They do anything that the writers and the animators have them do.
Ryan Quinn, Marc Peterson and Yvonne LeBlanc are people that I have created. They came out of my imagination and do not really exist.
Silv, Shay are real people and appear in this fic with their permission. Now! On with the fun!
Summary: You know what happens when Users visit Mainframe. What if it was the other way 'round?
by Al's Waiter
Chapter Three: "Users, Users Everywhere..."
"This is so weird!" Matrix and Enzo sat on Phil Mitchel's couch watching tv. Matrix had the clickers and was changing the channels every few seconds.
"What's weird?" Matrix asked his younger self without looking away from the screen. "That we survived a core meltdown, got pulled out of Mainframe in the User world and I was a User today?"
Enzo nodded. "That and that this tv isn't talking. You know, the way Mike always did."
A smirk appeared on the renegade's face and he chuckled. "I'm not missing Mike at the moment though..." he tuned to face Enzo. "How about you?"
Enzo hopped off the couch and lay on his stomach on the floor. "Not really."
Matrix continued to rapidly change the channels and then finally stopped. "It's nice to have a remote control again. I can actually turn this tv off."
Enzo laughed and leaned on his elbows; propping his head up with his hands. "Try and find something about the Users... er... humans." The child suggested. Matrix leaned forward, picked up the tv guide and began flipping through the pages.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Oh... life style, history, sitcom... anything!" Enzo replied as he turned around. "What's on?"
Matrix read for a while, then announced. "Okay... we could watch The History Channel, The Life Network, Home and Gardens, Space: The Imagination Station, The Family Channel, The Country Music Network, Woman's Television Network..." Matrix paused, looked at Enzo and grinned. "Woman's Television Network?" Both sprites burst out laughing.
"I wonder what's on that channel," Enzo said after he finally could talk again.
Matrix wiped a joyful tear from his eye. "I don't think I want to know." He let out a sigh and flipped the channel to A&E (Arts and Entertainment)
"What's this?" Enzo asked as a show began.
"It's called Biography. It's about a guy named 'Robin Williams'."
"What's a biography, Matrix?"
"It's the telling of someone's life. If the person themselves write it, it's called an autobiography. I once saw a biography on Emma Fee. Boy, she's lived a sheltered life."
Enzo smiled. "Maybe she was infected by BSnP at a young age."
"Maybe," Matrix grinned. After Biography, both Enzo's watched The History Channel; a special playing was on Earth's 19th and 20th century history.
* * *
Bob looked around Ryan's one bedroom apartment. "Cozy."
Ryan smiled as he took off his jacket, placed it on a hanger and hung it up in the hall closet. "Yeah. I like to call it home. Have a seat." he said indicating the couch in the living room. Bob sat down while Ryan walked into the crawl space that served as his kitchen. "Are you hungry?"
With all the days events, Bob hadn't noticed that he was hungry. "Yeah, I'm drained. Do you have any energy shakes?"
"Um..." Ryan stuck his head out of the doorway. "...no."
"Silicon chips? Quantum shakes? Anything?"
"Well I don't have any of those but I was thinking of ordering pizza; maybe two."
"Oh... okay." Bob's stomach growled.
Ryan walked into his small living room, studying the pizza flyer. "What would you like on it?" As Bob started rattling off his favourite toppings, Ryan made a face; the sprite was naming computer components and terms that were definitely not eatable. Ryan had forgot about the type of food sprites ate. "I'll see what I can do..." Ryan said slowly as he walked back into the kitchen and picked up his phone receiver.
* * *
Bob held the door open as Ryan carried the two large pizza boxes and on top, eight soft drinks, into the small apartment. (The pizza deal that Ryan got was that if he picked up his pizza, he would get eight pop free.) Ryan placed the boxes on the coffee table, walked to the kitchen and brought out a small pile of napkins. Both men sat down on the couch as Ryan picked up the remote and turned on the tv. "Want to watch some hockey?"
Hockey? Bob thought. I've played hockey! In the games...! "Uh... sure... I guess." he said out loud.
Ryan changed the channel to a Vancouver Canucks game; they were playing against the Montreal Canadiens. Ryan bent forward and opened a pizza box. The aroma of the pizza had been filling the room for the past few minutes, making two mouths water. Ryan picked up a couple of the triangular pieces, place them on a serviette and handed the package to Bob. The sprite took it hungrily - looked at it, sniffed it, picked at it - and asked "What is this? I thought we were going to have pizza."
Ryan stopped taking a bite of his supper. "It is pizza. Think of it as 'User Pizza'." Ryan began to explain the toppings. "...hmmm... Maybe I should have ordered plain cheese instead of combination..." he mused as he took a bite.
Bob shook his head. "I'm up to trying now things..." he took a bite; moving it around his mouth as he chewed. Ryan waited for Bob's final verdict on the pizza when the sprite swallowed. A moment later, Bob smiled. "Mmmm..."
"Glad you like it!" Ryan sat back and watched the hockey game on the tv screen. The television spectators were cheering loudly when a goal was scored.
Both men sat in silence until Bob broke it with "Do all Users like hockey?"
Ryan shook his head. "Not everyone, no. And not everyone is a user. Different humans like different sports and activities. For example, lots of guys love the game of golf..."
"Golf.." Bob interrupted with disgust. "I'm sick of that game. I've lost track on how many times I've played golf and had to win it... because if I lost..."
"...You'd get nullified," Ryan finished. Bob nodded. Suddenly Ryan got an idea. "Do you want to watch a movie or something instead?"
"Sure. Beats this game I've played too many times." the sprite said indicating the television set. Ryan walked over toward his tiny entertainment centre and pulled out his brand new copy of The Matrix movie.
"You're from a computer, right? This movie is kind of about the reverse. It puts a twist on human reality and you might be able to relate... a little..."
"Great! Put it in."
* * *
Matrix finished arranging the bed sheets Phil's wife had placed on the basement couch and then turned to fix his own on the floor. As Enzo quickly walked down the stairs, said "Your bed is ready, Enzo..."
"Aw Matrix!" the child whined, "Do I have to?"
Matrix sighed deeply. "Yes, you have to."
Enzo put his hands on his hips. "You can't tell me what to do... you're not Dot..."
"No, I'm not Dot; I'm you, and what I needed when I was your age was sleep. Hey... you don't want to be tired tomorrow; you'll want to be awake for..." Matrix searched for a reason and not finding one, finished with "...whatever we're going to do."
"Oooo... good reason, Matrix," Enzo said sarcastically with a smirk.
"Log off," Matrix scowled teasingly "and get into bed."
Enzo turned his icon, changing his day clothes into a plain white T-shirt, red shorts and white socks; his pyjamas. With his hat gone, Enzo placed his icon onto an end table at the edge of the couch and climbed in-between the sheets. Matrix pulled up the sheets to cover his back-up. "You too warm?"
Enzo shook his head. "I'm fine. Frisket!" he called. The red and yellow dog bounded down the stairs and jumped onto the couch.
"Hold on, Enzo," Matrix cautioned. "Frisket," he said now to his dog. "do you have to go outside?" Frisket cocked his head to one side, listening then shook his head, indicating that he didn't. Matrix walked to the stairs and flicked off the lights. "'Night Enzo." he said softly.
"Good night, Matrix." came the quiet reply, followed by a small whimper from the sprites' four legged companion. Matrix smiled.
"Yeah, you too boy." with that, the renegade made his way up the stairs.
* * *
A tall figure walked down the dark streets alone. The sound of his footsteps were heavy and metallic. His eyes glowed with a strange light and the smug smile he wore remained hidden in the shadows. Megabyte looked around at the buildings looming over him. I wonder how big this User world is... he mused. Where should I begin infection?
As he rounded a corner, he nearly bumped into two young females.
"I can't wait 'til the tour tomorrow, Silver!"
"I know Tora! Finally, we get to see the six... foot... Mega..." The girl stopped speaking; she was staring at the virus. Both girls mouths dropped open in amazement.
Megabyte spoke. "Excuse me ladies, but do you know where the largest Super Computer is?" Neither girl moved. Megabyte cleared his throat. "Well... do you?"
One of the girls tapped the other on the arm. "Tora, do you see and hear what I do?" she whispered.
"And what is that?" the other asked.
"Megabyte - asking if we knew where the Super Computer was," was the reply.
The other nodded. "Yup. That's what I thought and yes I did, Silv."
'Silv' stepped forward. "Excuse me..." was all she said then poked the virus in the stomach.
"How does it feel?" Tora inquired.
"Solid. So our ReBoot marathon that we just watched rules out hallucination."
"Beg your pardon," the virus spoke again, "but why did you do that?"
"To see if you were real," Silv said plainly.
"Indeed?"
Tora's face lit up. "Quick! Get your camera, Silv!"
A huge smile spread across Silv's face. With lightning speed, she put her shoulder bag down, shuffled through it's contents and pulled out her camera. "Umm..." she looked around. "Who'll take the picture?"
"Just get someone!" Tora began to look around as well. An innocent pedestrian named Rick, was suddenly grabbed by two girls.
"Take my money!" he cried. "I don't have much, but take it anyway!"
"We don't want your money, but we'll take it if you really want us too." Silv grinned.
"All we want is for you to take a picture for us." Tora added.
"Oh..." the young man said, calming down and feeling a little embarrassed.
Silv showed Rick how to use her camera and then she and Tora and herself placed themselves next to the bewildered virus. Both girls took an arm each and linked elbows. "Smile!" Rick said as he raised the camera up to his face and looked through the sight. Both girls smiled and tried not to grin like idiots. The flash lit up the three in the front of of the camera then the light faded, leaving them in semi-darkness.
"Thanks very much!" Silv retrieved her camera from Rick.
"You know..." Rick said thoughtfully. "I've never seen that statue there before. I'd think it should be in front of the Mainframe building; he's from that show, isn't he?" Both girls eagerly nodded. "Oh well," Rick said as he walked around Megabyte, "Have a good night."
"Thanks! I bet we will." Tora called as she grinned at the blue virus; Megabyte just looked back at her. "How did you get out of the Net?" she asked him, her eyes sparkling.
Megabyte shook his head. "I don't know. One nano I was floating in the Web, the next I'm standing in a room surrounded by smoke."
"I'll be your slave!" Tora said quickly.
"Beg your pardon?" Megabyte wanted to be sure he had heard right.
"I'll be your willing slave. I'll do what ever you want me to do!" she answered.
Megabyte raised an eyebrow. "Indeed?"
"I'll follow you around!" Silv joined in the fan adoration.
Users being slaves to a virus? The idea has merit. But I wonder if I can infect Users... the virus mused. I better not chance it, I'm not exactly sure what they are capable of... he concluded. Besides, I don't have to infect these two females... they already ready to obey any order I give them. "Yes," he said out loud, "I will keep that in mind, but now could you please tell me where the Super Computer is?"
"Well..." Tora stopped "There really isn't any super computer," she explained.
"Oh," the virus' face fell in disappointment.
"But there is a superly huge computer company though." Tora said, trying to make the virus feel better.
"Oh?" Megabyte's face lit up. Tora nodded.
"Yeah!" Silv agreed. "It's absolutely huge!"
A pleased smile spread across the virus' green lips. "And where is this 'superly huge' computer company based?"
"Near Seattle."
"And how would I get there?"
"Hold on! I'll be right back!" With that, Tora ran into the closest corner store. Megabyte and Silv just stared blankly after her.
"Well, personally," Silv said to her blue tin companion. "I don't know how to get there but I have a feeling that Shay does, Meggy."
Megabyte looked down at her. "Meggy?"
Just then Tora ran out, gasping for air, and holding a road map. "Here..." she choked out. "I'll show you where it's based..." Breathlessly, Tora highlighted the highways and state that Megabyte had to take to get there.
When the virus had memorized the interstate numbers and directions, he graciously thanked the girls. "Is there any way I can contact you for your... services later?" Both girls squealed with delight at the question. Silv dropped her bag and began searching desperately for a pen and paper. Frantically, she wrote down her street and e-mail addresses, her phone number, and any other information he might need to contact her, then handed the sheet to Tora for her to do the same.
Megabyte smirked. Watching these two girls was amusing. They could be useful in the future... After the girls were finished, he took the addresses in one hand, the road map in the other and politely thanked his two new employees. "I will be sure to contact you in the future." The two girls giggled with excitement.
"Could I take another picture of you, Meggy?" Silv asked bringing out her camera again.
"Certainly." he said.
"Could you do an evil pose?"
Megabyte raised an eyebrow. "An evil pose?" he asked.
"Yeah." Silv grinned. "Slyly look at the camera and steeple your fingers or something."
"Like this..." Tora said as she demonstrated the pose that Silv had just described.
It was a strange request to the virus but he decided to humour them; they were, after all, his faithful followers. Megabyte struck the pose a Silv took two pictures; one for her, one for Tora.
"Thank you very much ladies, but I must be on my way to this computer company that you have so graciously told me about."
"Awww!" Both girls pouted at this news.
"Please stay!" Silv said dropping to her knees and she grabbed onto his leg.
"I am very sorry, but I can not. I must obey my function." he explained. "And please do let go of my leg." Reluctantly, Silv stood up.
"But how are you going to get there?" Tora asked the virus. "You have no transport."
"I am sure something will pop up." Megabyte answered. "If not by itself, then I will make it pop up." The girls smiled at the comment but were sad to see the virus go.
"Good night ladies." Megabyte called as he walked further down the street. "I will be sure to contact you."
"Bye MB!" Silv shouted after the quickly disappearing virus.
"He's awsome..." Tora sighed dreamily.
"We better get back to our hotel room; it's getting late and we are going to the Mainframe building tomorrow for the tour." Silv said as she took hold of Tora's arm. Shay only nodded, her gaze not leaving the spot where Megabyte was last seen.
* * *
The sun slowly rose over the Mainframe building as Phil Mitchell, Matrix, Enzo and Frisket got of the car in the parking lot. Slowly they strolled up to the impressive structure, through the doors and into the lobby.
Matrix took a sip of his hot Tim Horton's "double-double" coffee. He could still taste the chicken salad sandwich he had just finished; it had been good. He took another sip and looked at Enzo. Enzo held in one hand a sticky Boston Cream donut and in the other he held a plastic cup of peach juice.
Like he needs more sugar... Matrix thought.
The Mainframers congregated together for their third meal in the User World. During the morning they had been watching different morning shows, the news, sports scores and some talk shows. They all wanted to learn as much as they could about humans. They also wanted to know about the "beings" that they would be talking to after the tour; what they liked, what they didn't, what their society was going through and to have some sort of knowledgeable connection with them.
In the lunchroom, the five sprites sprites sat around a circular table, and a large dog sat on the floor beside his master. Matrix and Enzo were testing their chicken noodle soup, Dot was trying a potato salad, AndrAIa was enjoying a BLT sandwich, and Bob was quickly eating his french fries and hamburger. Frisket ate the crackers that Enzo dropped for him.
Dot and AndrAIa were talking excitedly about something, so Bob inquired. "Oh we're just talking about movie that we watched last night with Yvonne on WTN." Dot explained.
"WTN?"
"Woman's Television Network" AndrAIa answered.
Both Enzo Matrix's had to stop themselves from spitting out their soup with laughter. Enzo ended up choking between his chuckles and Matrix managed to swallow before he laughed deeply. AndrAIa looked that them.
"What so funny? Did we miss the joke? Or is it just between you two and do you wish to share?" Both Enzo's shook their heads and just grinned at each other.
After lunch Mairi told the sprites to act the way they normally did, so it would appear as though they were just actors hired for the special occasion.
"So let me get this straight," Enzo spoke up, "I'm suppose to pretend to be a kid who's pretending to be me?"
Mairi smiled and nodded. "You got it."
Enzo gave the thumbs up. "Coolness!"
Ten minutes later the group was lead into the conference room. After the Mainframers had entered the room, conversations of animation fans grew louder. The Beast Wars, Shadow Raider and Weird Ohs fans complained as to why characters from their favourite shows weren't there; the ReBoot fans were ecstatic. As the sprites took their seats at the front, Dot overheard some of the conversations from the audience. "It's Bob! Look, it's Bob!" "He's so cute!" "They've got Frisket!" "That doesn't look like Matrix..." and so on. Dot laughed.
* * *
The Q&A session was almost coming to a close when a look of realization spread across Tora's face. She whispered something into Silv's ear something about Matrix on #reboot yesterday. Both girls suddenly realized something; the sprites at the front were real. They were real just like Megabyte was the night before.
"We have time for one more question." Mairi announced. Silv put up her hand. "Yes?" Mairi asked, pointing to Silver.
Silv stood up and cleared her throat. "I was just wondering if Bob or Dot or Matrix know where Megabyte is." She sat back down.
Bob answered without hesitation. "The Web and probably deleted." Both Silver and Tora glanced at each other and smirked. Matrix saw this and raised an eyebrow. What did these two girls know?
* * *
The Conference Room was emptying, and Mairi plus the sprites were watching them go. Matrix searched the crowd of humans with his cyberoptic eye. Where were they? The way the girls had looked at each other and smiled had made Matrix uneasy. They knew something, he could feel that.
AndrAIa saw the look of determination on Matrix's face and that his right eye was turned. "What is it?" she asked quietly.
"That girl who asked about Megabyte. I'm looking for her and her friend."
"Why?"
"I want to ask them a few questions."
"Enzo," AndrAIa said warningly. "I don't think that would be a good idea. The humans don't think that we're real. Ian asked us not to-"
"Forget Ian!" Matrix snapped. "I'm going to talk to them... if I can find them." With that said, Matrix walked away from his girlfriend and began politely picking his way through the crowd. AndrAIa shook her head and turned to talk to one of the ReBoot fans.
* * *
Matrix scanned the lobby in search of his two targets. Mainframe fans were trying to engage themselves in a conversation with the Renegade. Matrix tried to ignore them but they persisted.
"Excuse me." Matrix had to say repeatedly trying to be as polite as he could without exploding in a rage. He pushed through the dispersing crowd and into the gift shop.
There they were, buying two Megabyte action figures... each? Matrix exhaled, attempting calm his raw nerves. He walked up to the two girls and tapped them on the shoulder. They both turned simultaneously and looked at the sprite. Matrix frowned.
"What do you know?" he asked in a low tone.
"Excuse me?" Silv asked.
"What do you know about Megabyte? Where is he?" he demanded.
Tora smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know," she said and turned away.
Matrix grit his teeth. These girls were not going to give the information easily. Matrix grabbed both girls but the arms and pulled them protesting outside. "Listen," Matrix growled quietly as to not draw attention. "I'm not a very patient sprite, as you know. Why don't you just tell me what I want to know, and I'll leave you alone."
The girls crossed their arms determined to protect the location of the virus Matrix stood back in frustration. These girls were not budging, and threatening them with his gun would be disastrous, not to mention childish.
The renegade cross his arms and thought. Something that he had seen the day before surfing the internet popped into his head. The WBE. The Worshipers of Bob's Eyebrows. Maybe these were Bob fans. "Would you tell me if Bob was here?" he asked.
Silv just laughed. "'Course not!"
Matrix frowned again. They weren't giant Bob fans. Matrix was desperate. "Alright, what if I got you a bunch of Megabyte merchandise, would you tell me?" Tora and Silv uncrossed their arms and looked at each other.
Tora glanced back at the green sprite.
"How much stuff?"
Matrix felt tired, but he was glad he was getting somewhere. "All you want. I'll put it on my tab." The two girls returned glances again, half smiling.
Silv shot Matrix a look. "You have to promise that you won't delete Megabyte."
Matrix exhaled deeply. "Fine, I promise I won't delete Megabyte."
"Or Bob. Bob can't delete him either. Or AndrAIa. Or Dot. Or..."
Matrix rolled his eyes. "Alright. Fine, where is he?"
The pair of girls finally relented. "Megabyte is out of the computer just as you are." Silv explained.
"And he's headed to Seattle." Tora added.
Matrix's eyes opened wide. "He's not in the Web?" The girls shook their heads. "He's out of the Net and now out of Vancouver?" The girls nodded. "This is bad." Matrix growled. "He has to be stopped!"
"So..." Silv interrupted the Renegade's audible musings. "When do we get our stuff?" Matrix just looked at her.
To be concluded...