Episode Three
The SuperComputer
Guardian's meeting room
Ten high ranking guardians sat around the board room table. The lights were low, as they seemed to prefer the darkness... not unlike a web creature. "It seems we've got a problem on our hands," the shadowed figure at the head of the table said. "It appears Guardian 452 has returned to System Mainframe!" His voice was quiet, and he spoke with a southern accent.
"WHAT?!" A yellow-skinned female Guardian shouted angrily. She scratched the four small scars on her neck, "We must take care of him! His girlfriend did quite a number on me in that other system."
The shadowed leader looked at her, "His girlfriend? What are ya talking about??" then he remembered, "Ahh.. you're mistaking Guardian 452 with the boy.. Matrix!"
The female guardian narrowed her eyes, and yellow veins pulsed angrily at her temples, "Whoever she was.. she nearly deleted me! Her dog took care of my men!!"
"Well.. next time ya should be more careful!" the head figure snapped impatiently.
"Tell me.. how are you gonna go about capturing 452, Turbo?" A female guardian with dark, violet eyes spoke.
"As far as he knows, ah'm fighting off the infection. As long as he believes ah'm still on his side, ah'm sure I can catch him unaware!" Turbo explained.
"Hmm.. that's quite an endeavour, Turbo! But how long can you keep up the pretense of being on 452's side?!" A grey-skinned guardian asked. He narrowed his red eyes, "I doubt you're that good of an actor!"
"Hush up, Tower! Ah can take care of Bob! You just do your part! Tell me, how is the corruption of the Shadow system coming?" Turbo asked.
"There doesn't seem to be much resistance... the command.com is frightened, and he seems willing to follow our new commands and punish those who do not!" Tower explained.
"Good!" Turbo thought for a moment, "At least that's ONE problem taken care of. Now for Mainframe..." he sighed heavily, "As long as Mainframe has 452, I think we may run into some resistance. They are well known for their rebellions! And the new command.com is a tough sprite! She will be difficult to intimidate!"
"Perhaps we should take care of HER first..." muttered the violet-eyed Guardian.
"Ah'm afraid that won't work, Paige.. ya see... her and 452 are rather close! But.. if Daemon can get hold of 452, then the command.com will be easier to break!"
*** Mainframe
Al's Wait and Eat Diner
Captain Capacitor sighed as he chugged down his third cup of ROM, "Oh, Mr. Christopher... what are we going to do without the Saucy Mare?!"
"I don't know, sir, " Mr. Christopher began as he entered some information into his organizer, "But... judging from my records, we can't gain any profit without a ship!"
Captain Capacitor took this moment to hit Mr. Christopher over the head with his cup, "I KNOW that! By gar! I'm not stupid!"
"Er.. sorry sir..." Mr. Christopher muttered.
"Hey... Gavin.. why so down?" a gentle female voice said.
Captain Capacitor looked up to see Dot coming through the door with Bob, "Dot, m'lady! How are ye?!" he said.
Capacitor noticed Dot had gone back to wearing normal clothing instead of the blue camouflage fatigues. Today, she was wearing a sports top with suspenders, and a mini-skirt. "I'm fine, Gavin.. but you look a little upset... what's wrong?" Dot asked as she sat down. She had a good idea what was bothering him.
Capacitor sighed, "It's me ship, girl. I miss 'er..."
Dot nodded, and took off her glasses. "We all appreciate your great sacrifice, Gavin..." she said kindly, her eyes sympathetic. "...and if there was any way we could make it up to you..." she stopped and narrowed her eyes, thinking of something. A small smile began to play at the corners of her mouth
"I know that look..!" Bob began as he watched her, "What are you planning, Dot?!"
She smiled widely and put her glasses back on, "Well.. you'll have to wait and find out.. I.. have to go.." She stood up, gave Bob a quick kiss on the cheek, and zoomed out of the diner.
*** Old Man Pearson's Data Dump
Little Enzo stared off into space as he pet Frisket. "Why does there gotta be another Enzo?!" he asked the dog. "I mean.. it's so strange!! Though.. it IS kinda' cool.. but still!!" Then he whispered to Frisket, "Ya know.. I heard Matrix going random the other night! He woke me up! He was actin' all weeeeeeird!! He went all freaky on Dot.. sumthin' about some sort've log.." he shook his head. "Geez.. I really hope I don't end up like HIM!"
Suddenly, a bright light formed in front of Little Enzo. He shielded his eyes for a moment, and the light became a portal. A figure walked out of it. "What in the 'net??!" Little Enzo gasped. Then he saw the figure more clearly, "Oh!! ALPHANUMERIC!! You're a GUARDIAN!!"
*** Dot's Diner
Dot sat in a booth beside an open Vid Window, "Ok.. you got the schematics?" she asked the binome she was talking to.
"Yes Commander Matrix," he said. "We'll build it just like you specified,"
"Thanks! I know someone who will REALLY appreciate it!"
The binome nodded, and Dot closed the Vid Window. At that moment, Bob came through the door, "Slow day at the Principle Office?" he asked as he sat down beside Dot.
"Oh.. well..." she shrugged, "There's really not much to do now. Basically, we're just doing our regular scans to make sure everything is running as it's supposed to. If there's anything wrong, they'll call me.." she sighed, "Being command.com is so much responsibility! I don't have time to run the diner, and my businesses.."
Bob thought for a moment, "You know.. you could always ask someone else to run the diner for you and that will give you more time to tend to your businesses.."
"But.. WHO could take over this place?" Dot asked.
Just then, Cecil zoomed by on his rail, "Ah.. Mz. Matrix.." then he looked with disdain at her guest, "Guardian..." he muttered, then looked back at Dot, "It is good 'zat things are back to normal, non?" Dot and Bob looked at Cecil, exchanged glances, then looked back at him, "Pardon moi??" he started, "What are you looking at me like 'zat for?"
Dot smiled, "Cecil.. how would you like to acquire a successful diner?"
*** Old Man Pearson's Data Dump
"Hi, son.. do you know where.. BOB is??" The guardian began.
Enzo looked up at him with awe, "Oh WOW!! You're like a really high ranking guardian.. aren't you?! I can tell by the way cool uniform!"
He nodded, "Yes.. Ah'm Turbo.. Prime Guardian."
"Oh.. wow.. Mr. Turbo sir! Prime Guardian!! That's soooo cool!! Alphanumeric! Bob will really be happy to see you!"
Turbo smiled to himself, "Yes.. I'm sure he will..."
*** Dot's Diner
"What.. are you talking about, Mz. Matrix?!" Cecil began.
"Well... you take such good care of the diner when I'm not here.. I was wondering if you wanted to take it over full time,"
"But.. are you.. SURE, Mz. Matrix?!" Cecil asked.
Dot nodded, "Very sure.. I'll still be the owner.. but I just don't have time to run it day to day.. so.." she shrugged.
Cecil smiled, "Zank you, Mz. Matrix.. I am honoured zat you zhink zo highly of my capabilitiez..!!"
Dot smiled, "Yes.. I DO! So.. is it a deal?!"
Cecil nodded, "Oui! Merci beaucoup!!" And the two shook hands. Cecil then continued on his rounds.
Suddenly, a Vid Window appeared in front of Dot. "Commander Matrix!" The binome in the Vid Window looked frantic as he sloppily saluted Dot.
"Yes... what is it?" She asked.
"Our sensors found portal energy near Old Man Pearson's Data Dump!" the binome explained.
"Can you get a lock on where it originated from?!" Dot asked.
"Uh.." the binome punched something into the control pad. "This is .. odd.. it originated from.. The Super Computer!!"
Dot and Bob looked at each other, "Oh oh!" they said in sync, and headed off to the Principle Office.
*** The Principle Office
Main Control Room
"Ok.. let me see what's going on here.." Dot said as she rushed into the control room. She went up to the binome that had called her, and looked at the readouts on his panel. Then she looked at Bob, "Only one life form came through the portal, thank the user!"
"We should be relatively safe.. we can handle one." Bob said. Dot nodded.
Then, a thought came to her, "Oh.. no!! Old Man Pearson's junk yard! That's where ENZO is!!"
Bob looked at her, "You're worried about Matrix?!" He asked.
"No!! ENZO!! LITTLE Enzo!!" Dot explained.
"Oh.. ! This is ba--.." he was interrupted.
"COOL!!" It was Enzo's voice. "Isn't it cool, Bob?! It's TURBO! Prime Guardian!"
Dot, Bob, and the rest of the Principle office turned in the direction of Enzo. Sure enough, he was accompanied by Turbo. "Uh.. Turbo! Hi..!" Bob began as he walked up to the Prime Guardian. He saluted, then looked at his mentor carefully. The physical signs of the viral infection were strong. Bob began to wonder HOW successful Turbo was in his attempt to fight the virus, "What brings you here, sir?"
Turbo looked around at the room of binomes, "This ain't the place ta talk, son… can we go somewhere more private?! Ah need to speak to Miss Matrix as well."
"Oh.. sure…" Dot began, "Here.. we can use my office.."
Turbo looked at the command.com, "Ah highly doubt mini-skirts are regulation uniforms for command.coms…" Turbo began with a small smile.
Dot smiled back, "Sorry.. I came here in a rush, and didn't have a chance to change…" She quickly tapped the icon on her chest, and ReBooted into her old, peach jumpsuit.
"Your sensors found my portal energy… is that it?" Turbo asked.
Dot nodded, "Yes, sir.. and since we weren't sure what it was, I came here right away.."
Turbo nodded, "I admire your professionalism…" he said. "And.. I must admit.. not many command.coms are as pleasant to the eyes as you are, Miss Matrix…"
Dot blushed slightly, "Um.. thank you, sir.."
Bob narrowed his eyes at Turbo slightly, then looked at Dot and spoke quickly, "Uh.. let's go into your office, Dot…"
"Yes.. right this way, boys…" she said, and lead them into her private office.
*** The SuperComputer
Guardian's meeting room
"Turbo has entered the Mainframe Principle Office," Paige reported to an unseen party.
The Guardians had fitted Turbo's keytool with an observation device, which would double as a means of communication.
"The observation link works well! Does he realize we can see him flirting with the command.com…?" Tower snorted, "That's very tactless of him..."
"Apparently you haven't OBSERVED the command.com!" A red Guardian commented.
"Boys.. quit it! THAT kind of observation is rather unproductive!" Paige snapped, an angry blush coming to her porcelain white face.
The yellow-skinned Guardian looked closely at the observation screen, "So.. THAT is Guardian 452 then??" She asked as she looked at Bob. "Then.. who was the other one? Matrix?!"
Paige punched the query into her console, and read the information it relayed, "Apparently, Enzo Matrix is the younger brother of the command.com. Guardian 452 made him into a cadet.. but when 452 disappeared, it was up to the boy to protect the system. He was trapped in a game he couldn't win, and switched to game sprite mode. He traveled from system to system… compiling up in the games. That is when you saw him, Taarna. He was carrying 452's protocols, and this is why our instruments recognized him as 452. According to my information, Matrix is only supposed to be 1-1."
Taarna let out a quick, harsh laugh, "He looks rather old for his age, doesn't he?!" She muttered dryly.
"A side effect of the game travel," Tower explained.
Turbo sighed heavily, "Ah need to ask you both a favour… it's a big one,"
"What is it, sir?" Dot asked.
"Ah need to ask you if you can grant me refuge..." Turbo began.
"Refuge?!" Dot gasped.
Turbo nodded, "Yes.. ya see.. the other Guardians.. they found out ah'm fightin' Daemon's influence.. and.. they're tryin' to get me to submit.."
"That's awful!" Dot said. She looked at Bob. He seemed to be eyeing Turbo suspiciously. She sighed, "Of course.. what you're asking is …"
"Ah know.. it's a lot ta ask of ya…" he interrupted politely, "Ah'll give you two time to talk about it," Turbo began, and he stepped out of the office. The door closed behind him.
Dot looked at Bob, "What do you think..??" she asked.
Bob took a deep breath, "I know he says he's fighting the infection…" Bob began, "But I can't help but feel he's already lost the battle… I.." he stopped and shook his head, "I don't know if I can trust him.." It was the hardest thing for Bob to admit, but it was true. He had lost faith in his former mentor. He wished he hadn't... but Bob couldn't help how he felt.
"I know.. I understand… believe me…" Dot began, remembering how she had lost faith that Bob would ever return from the web.
"But… if he IS still fighting the infection.. we can't leave him to fend for himself against the Guardians…" Bob said.
Dot nodded. "It's decided then. We'll grant him refuge."
*** Principle Office
Main Control Room
Bob and Dot walked out of the office, and turned towards Turbo, "Ok… we'll grant you sanctuary, sir.." Dot said.
Turbo smiled, "Thank ya, dear! Ah'll be forever grateful to ya.."
Dot made herself busy preparing for Turbo's stay.
Bob looked at Turbo. He remembered something Phong had said when Bob had first come to Mainframe – Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. And Bob was planning to do just that. Bob watched as Turbo walked out of the control room.
*** Principle Office
Main corridor
Turbo looked back at the control room, "Bob.. you were always a careful one, " he said to himself when he noticed Bob staring at him. He turned to his keytool. "Copeland, open a communications channel to the supercomputer," Copeland did so.
Paige's face appeared in place of the keytool, "Do you have a report, sir?" She asked.
Turbo nodded, "Yes... ah'm in.." He smiled as the yellow vains pulsed brightly by his temples.
Disclaimer: All ReBoot (tm) characters are property of Mainframe Entertainment.
The character of Paige is property of Joey Cruz
All other new characters are property of ME.. ^_^
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