Yeah, the next part. Aren't you happy? My thanks to Millennium Queen for being a spiffy betareader (thanks, sugha!), and to everyone who reviewed the first two parts.
Sentra wearily opened her eyes. It seemed like she had just fallen asleep. What had woken her?
The door to her quarters abruptly flung itself open, and a huge figure filled the doorway: Quicken.
She rolled over quickly and sat up. "What is it? Did Cobalt relapse?"
"No, he's fine," his rough voice stated. "It's that Guardian of yours."
"What are you talking about?"
An eerie scream pierced the moment of silence.
"Well, there's that," Quicken said. "He's been screaming every so often for the last minute. When we tried to quiet him, he managed to knock two of us flat on our bitmaps."
"Spam it." Sentra sprinted to the door as Quicken stepped out of her way, and down to Bob's room. She found most of the other Riders standing outside, looking quite displeased, or as well as they could manage with their distorted features. The woman ignored their glares and hesitantly entered the room.
The Guardian lay on his back, eerily still and silent. Only the slight movement of his breathing told her he was alive. Sentra kneeled down next to his bed, and felt the pulse at on his wrist; it was beating wildly. Probably should wake him now before he starts again… She bent over him, placing her hands on his shoulders. She shook him gently. "Bob, wake up," Sentra said softly. There was no response. She called again. "Bob…"
A small moan escaped his lips. It sounds as though he's in pain… Sentra started to shake him again, but one of his one hands clamped itself on her arm, pulling her closer.
"Dot?" a wretched voice asked.
"No, Bob, you need to wake up. It's only a dream." She shook him again, roughly.
Brown eyes opened slowly. They scanned over her face, then Bob quickly sat up, loosing her arm. "What's going on?"
Sentra stood up. "You were screaming."
"I was?" There was a look of genuine bewilderment on his face. He stared at his feet. "Sorry. I hope I didn't bother anyone."
Sentra glanced to the figures outside the doorway. "Well, actually…" The others, seeing the Guardian had awoken, scowled at the two once more, then departed.
Bob gave her a diminutive smirk. "I take it I'm not too popular around here."
"Not in least bit. The Riders…really, everyone doesn't like outsiders too much," Sentra answered. "They only accept foreigners if they can contribute their skills to the community."
"Such as healing?"
He was fairly intelligent; for a Guardian. "You got it." She glanced to the chronometer on the wall. "It's late. You need your rest." The young woman got up once again. "You're going to need it."
"For what?"
"You'll see." She eased the door shut.
He thought he had had it bad in the Academy. There, Bob had spent innumerable nanos studying and doing physical training, and was often drained by the end of the cycle. But this…this was much worse.
The Guardian grimaced as he slid the gloves on his hands, feeling the texture rough against his skin. He cautiously sniffed one of them. "Is it supposed to smell like this?"
"Everyone get used to the smell of Web armor sooner or later," Sentra laughed.
She handed him his boots and he tugged them on. "I would prefer sooner." He stood up and picked up his helmet. "Ready."
"Good." Sentra lead him to the airlock. "I hope you brushed up on your Binary." She tapped her own helmet. "Can't talk in these things." She started to pull on her helmet, but paused. "Be careful."
"I'll stay frosty."
Sentra looked him curiously, but didn't question the Guardian's quirky saying, as she pulled on her helmet and sealed it. Bob looked at his helmet, staring at the red eye piece that stretched across it. He then pulled it on, and followed her to the airlock. She pushed down on the lever, which controlled the airlock's two doors. The inner closed and sealed itself, then the outer one opened with a rush of cold air. Even with thick protection of his armor, Bob could feel the Web's frigid atmosphere seeping into his body.
A Rider, whom Bob knew to be called Ion, rode up to the platform outside the airlock on a large, vile-looking web creature that was used as a steed, holding Sentra's own steed, Beta, in tow by its reins.
Ion handed Sentra the reins, and she pulled herself onto the creature, then reached a hand to Bob. [Ready?]
[I sure hope so.] Silently thanking his ancient languages professor, Bob grasped the offered hand, pulling himself up behind Sentra. She tugged on the reins and started forward, then stopped and looked back at him.
[I don't know how timid you're around women, but you'd better hold on to my waist if you don't won't to fall off. I don't go back for drifters.] She immediately felt his arms attach themselves tp her waist with a vise-like hold. Satisfied, she pulled on reins and let out a shrill whistle. They jerked forward as Beta flapped its leathery wings.
They rode in silence for a time. Bob became used to the movements of the creature, and relaxed ever so slightly. Sentra's question caught him off guard.
[Bob, who's Dot?] She felt him stiffen behind her.
[A friend.] He was glad his Binary didn't betray the tremble he could feel in his voice. [Why do you ask?]
[When I tried to wake you last megacycle, you called me 'Dot'.] Sentra regretted asking him about; she felt had wandered into unwelcome territory. [Should I have not-]
[She's someone I lost. A very…good friend.] Bob sucked in a breath through his teeth, the sound unusually loud inside his helmet. User, I wish she had been more than just a friend.
Sentra pulled on the reins, turning back toward the base. Still feeling guilty about prodding Bob, she played the tour guide, pointing out what the various colors and shapes meant.
Bob tried to pay attention, though his thoughts sporadically drifted back to a certain green-skinned sprite. But a speck on the horizon caught his attention.
He tapped Sentra on the shoulder and pointed. [What's that?]
She pulled Beta to a stop, peering the speck, which appeared to be moving toward them, growing larger. [Oh, FAQ.] She pulled on the reins, and they took off at a much faster pace than before.
[What is it?]
[It's a scouting mission from the Vector clan. We haven't wandered into their territory, but they are very hostile to anyone they meet.]
The speck had grown to several riders that were approaching at an alarming rate. The piercing screeches of their mounts were faint but growing louder.
Bob ducked as laser fire shot over his head. [Great, they're shooting at us now. Can't this thing go any faster?]
[This 'thing' is called Beta, and no, we can't go any faster.] Sentra swung her head around to see the six riders gaining on them, shouting out shrill warcries in Binary. She abruptly swung Beta to the left to avoid more laser fire.
Bob leaned around her and snatched up the laser pistol that was tucked into the holster on the saddle.
She saw the movement out of the corner of her eye. [Hey!]
[You just get us back to the base. I'll take care of these guys.] Bob precariously managed to swing himself around to face their pursers. He slid the switch on the grip and heard the satisfying whir as it powered up. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he took aim, gripping the pistol with both gloved hands.
It's been awhile, hasn't it? he asked himself.
[Make sure you shoot at the Riders, and not their web creatures] Sentra called from behind him. [Their steeds have nearly impenetrable hides, and are resistant to laser fire.]
[Got it.] The Guardian trained the sights on the nearest Rider and squeezed the trigger. He was rewarded with a high pitched scream of pain as the Rider tumbled off its steed. The others wailed and let forth a volley of laser fire as they spurred their mounts to accelerate.
He fired on the next one, and the wailing increased in volume, screeching what Bob guessed to be numerous Binary obscenities. Still, the gap between the Vector riders and the two sprites was dwindling rapidly.
The erratic laser increased. Several shots glanced off Beta's tough hide. Bob swiftly leaned to his right to avoid a shot. He snapped his head around as Sentra practically screamed in his ear.
[Where'd they get you?] he demanded, swinging back around in the saddle.
[My shoulder. I'll be fine as long we get back before they make null food out of us.]
She abruptly pulled on the reins, moving Beta to a much slower pace.
[What are you doing?!? We can still make it back to base!]
[No need to. Reinforcements have arrived.]
Ten of the base's Riders sailed overhead, while three more pulled to a stop before Sentra and Bob.
[What happened here?] one of them demanded.
[We were attacked by a troop of Vector scouts, Quicken] Sentra answered. She motioned to Bob, the laser pistol still gripped firmly in his hand. [Bob managed to take out two of them before you all got here.]
Bob stiffened but did not turn around as several shrieks accented Sentra's explanation. The Riders had began slaughtering the Vector scouts.
[You learn quickly, Guardian] Quicken said. Though Bob couldn't see the wickedly sharp eyes of the other, he could feel Quicken's gaze as he looked Bob carefully over. [You may survive here yet.]
With a swift gesture, Quicken commanded the Riders to head back to the base, with Sentra and Bob shielded within the cluster of web creatures. Behind them, the Guardian knew they left behind half a dozen departed sprites.
