Chapter 5
The Mysterious Member's Lab...
"And that's the full story of Reg's first appearance," says Pkmatrix, taking another sip of his coffee. After Pkmatrix had arrived, their mysterious 'partner' had no use for them yet, so they just sat down and started talking. They each had a passing knowledge of eachother, basically what they heard of eachother on the news.
"I never knew Red Dragon had so much to do with it," replies Preventer, who'd been listening to Pkmatrix's explanation of what happened. After the real Reg had first appeared about a year ago, Pkmatrix had been part of the team that examined Reg's structure. Sadly, though, that same team accidentally fouled up Reg's genetic structure, preventing them from creating an anti-virus in case of a second Reg.
"Yeah, well, I still can't explain why they had such a bond. Or why it suddenly broke after Reg was reduced to his current state. What is a bit more surprising is how close Reg is to Stephen," says Pkmatrix, putting down his coffee.
"Do you know any of the Moderators?" asks Preventer, a bit curious.
"Not really...I've met them, but I don't really know them," replies Pkmatrix. Suddenly, there are three loud bangs at the lab door.
"Oh good, Fire is back," says Preventer, running to the door and letting him in. It had started raining a short while earlier, so when Agent Fire walks in he is soaking wet. So is the thing he is carrying in his arms.
"...REG?!" says Pkmatrix, yet another surprise to add to the list.
"That is not the real Reg, Mr. Matrix. It is a clone created by Preventer Agent to help him defeat the moderators," says the mysterious member, who is now double checking all of the equipment.
"You cloned Reg? Wait...I remember hearing something about that while at the Research Center today," says Pkmatrix, walking over to get a closer look, "Red Comet gave him a physical and found that he is mentally and genetically younger than the other Reg."
"What do you mean he is genetically different?" asks the mysterious member, suddenly taking an intrest in the group.
"According to what I heard, this Reg has a perfect genetic structure. Like the original Reg before we accidentally fouled it up," replies Pkmatrix, looking over the sleeping Reg to make sure he is all right.
"Oh...I see," says the mysterious member, who then thinks to himself, "Perfect." Preventer Agent, though, seems to not to care at all that his Reg had been returned to him.
"Why did you have Fire get that pathetic thing? My Assistant is more useful than him!" complains Preventer as he sits back into his seat. Pkmatrix can only give him a scornful look.
'You created him...how could you say that?' thinks Pkmatrix as Fire carries Reg to their mysterious 'partner'.
"Put him down in there," he says, pointing at a door on the far side of the room, "then come back in here. All of the preparations are complete."
"We're going to use your machine now? Great...I have to see the results of this!" says Pkmatrix, walking toward the glass tubes in the center of the room.
"You are not going to the other worlds, Pkmatrix. Preventer Agent and Agent Fire will do that. I want you to stay here and help me run the machinery," says the mysterious member. Fire walks back from the room and heads toward Preventer, who is still sitting at the table.
"Preventer...why the hell do you treat him like that?" asks Agent Fire.
"Treat who like what?" asks Preventer with little intrest as he takes a bite out of a bagel.
"You know damn well who I'm talking about!" yells Fire, drawing the attention of Pkmatrix.
"Oh...Reg," replies Preventer, acting as if he is recalling a long forgotten memory.
"Yes, why do you treat him like he doesn't even exist?" asks Fire in an annoyed tone. He is getting tired of asking the same thing over and over. All Pkmatrix can do is watch the scene unfold as their mysterious partner just types away on the computer.
"He's just a clone...not even a human clone. Besides that he has absolutely no strategic use, Reg is totally worthless. I'm not even sure why I've kept him around this long," replies Preventer, drinking some more coffee. Fire can't figure out what to make of his friend's answer...is his friend really this cold?
"Now that your little drama has concluded, it is time for some work to be done. Preventer Agent, Agent Fire, take these," says the mysterious member, walking over to the two and handing them Palm Pilots.
"What are these for?" asks Preventer, turning it on.
"You two are going to be the first humans to ever travel between two universes. Step into the tubes in the center of the lab while Pkmatrix and I activate the machine," he replies, walking back over to his computer console, while Pkmatrix sits at another on the far side of the lab. The two follow their instructions, stepping inside of the tubes, whose doors quickly shut behind them.
"After you arrive in the next universe, you are to follow Instruction A. Is that clear?" asks the mysterious member. Both men nod their heads in agreement, then the mysterious member hits enter on his keyboard. The tube is suddenly filled with a bright white light and the two Agents are gone.
The Mysterious Member's Lab...
"And that's the full story of Reg's first appearance," says Pkmatrix, taking another sip of his coffee. After Pkmatrix had arrived, their mysterious 'partner' had no use for them yet, so they just sat down and started talking. They each had a passing knowledge of eachother, basically what they heard of eachother on the news.
"I never knew Red Dragon had so much to do with it," replies Preventer, who'd been listening to Pkmatrix's explanation of what happened. After the real Reg had first appeared about a year ago, Pkmatrix had been part of the team that examined Reg's structure. Sadly, though, that same team accidentally fouled up Reg's genetic structure, preventing them from creating an anti-virus in case of a second Reg.
"Yeah, well, I still can't explain why they had such a bond. Or why it suddenly broke after Reg was reduced to his current state. What is a bit more surprising is how close Reg is to Stephen," says Pkmatrix, putting down his coffee.
"Do you know any of the Moderators?" asks Preventer, a bit curious.
"Not really...I've met them, but I don't really know them," replies Pkmatrix. Suddenly, there are three loud bangs at the lab door.
"Oh good, Fire is back," says Preventer, running to the door and letting him in. It had started raining a short while earlier, so when Agent Fire walks in he is soaking wet. So is the thing he is carrying in his arms.
"...REG?!" says Pkmatrix, yet another surprise to add to the list.
"That is not the real Reg, Mr. Matrix. It is a clone created by Preventer Agent to help him defeat the moderators," says the mysterious member, who is now double checking all of the equipment.
"You cloned Reg? Wait...I remember hearing something about that while at the Research Center today," says Pkmatrix, walking over to get a closer look, "Red Comet gave him a physical and found that he is mentally and genetically younger than the other Reg."
"What do you mean he is genetically different?" asks the mysterious member, suddenly taking an intrest in the group.
"According to what I heard, this Reg has a perfect genetic structure. Like the original Reg before we accidentally fouled it up," replies Pkmatrix, looking over the sleeping Reg to make sure he is all right.
"Oh...I see," says the mysterious member, who then thinks to himself, "Perfect." Preventer Agent, though, seems to not to care at all that his Reg had been returned to him.
"Why did you have Fire get that pathetic thing? My Assistant is more useful than him!" complains Preventer as he sits back into his seat. Pkmatrix can only give him a scornful look.
'You created him...how could you say that?' thinks Pkmatrix as Fire carries Reg to their mysterious 'partner'.
"Put him down in there," he says, pointing at a door on the far side of the room, "then come back in here. All of the preparations are complete."
"We're going to use your machine now? Great...I have to see the results of this!" says Pkmatrix, walking toward the glass tubes in the center of the room.
"You are not going to the other worlds, Pkmatrix. Preventer Agent and Agent Fire will do that. I want you to stay here and help me run the machinery," says the mysterious member. Fire walks back from the room and heads toward Preventer, who is still sitting at the table.
"Preventer...why the hell do you treat him like that?" asks Agent Fire.
"Treat who like what?" asks Preventer with little intrest as he takes a bite out of a bagel.
"You know damn well who I'm talking about!" yells Fire, drawing the attention of Pkmatrix.
"Oh...Reg," replies Preventer, acting as if he is recalling a long forgotten memory.
"Yes, why do you treat him like he doesn't even exist?" asks Fire in an annoyed tone. He is getting tired of asking the same thing over and over. All Pkmatrix can do is watch the scene unfold as their mysterious partner just types away on the computer.
"He's just a clone...not even a human clone. Besides that he has absolutely no strategic use, Reg is totally worthless. I'm not even sure why I've kept him around this long," replies Preventer, drinking some more coffee. Fire can't figure out what to make of his friend's answer...is his friend really this cold?
"Now that your little drama has concluded, it is time for some work to be done. Preventer Agent, Agent Fire, take these," says the mysterious member, walking over to the two and handing them Palm Pilots.
"What are these for?" asks Preventer, turning it on.
"You two are going to be the first humans to ever travel between two universes. Step into the tubes in the center of the lab while Pkmatrix and I activate the machine," he replies, walking back over to his computer console, while Pkmatrix sits at another on the far side of the lab. The two follow their instructions, stepping inside of the tubes, whose doors quickly shut behind them.
"After you arrive in the next universe, you are to follow Instruction A. Is that clear?" asks the mysterious member. Both men nod their heads in agreement, then the mysterious member hits enter on his keyboard. The tube is suddenly filled with a bright white light and the two Agents are gone.