CHAPTER 7
CONVICTIONS
The present
Hex's club Medusa, was alive with chatting voices,
loud music, and the hum of excitement that always permeated the
establishment. People made room for the
commanding figure that moved purposefully through the crowd.
Tall and muscular, Enzo Matrix known only as 'Matrix' to
everyone else but family made his way to the rear of the room.
Sprawled in her private booth surrounded by the finest
foods and drink, Hexadecimal seemed apparently at ease with her guest. The moment Matrix saw the man named Laroux,
he didn't like him and Matrix's instincts were never wrong.
He had promised Bob he would have a little chat with the
man people were beginning to refer to as Hex's boyfriend, although they had
only been seeing each other for a cycle. Matrix hadn't gotten a chance to approach the man until now.
He wanted to make this quick and get back to AndrAIa as
soon as possible. He was worried about
her. Eight minutes pregnant and the
doctor had told them she could go into labor any second.
Matrix allowed himself a rare smile. If anyone had told him seven hours ago that
this would be where he was in life he would have thought them random. No, things hadn't worked out like he
planned. He was older and he liked to
believe a little wiser. He wouldn't
change things even if given the chance.
As he stepped up to the booth both occupants looked up at
him. Laroux's face registered mild
interest, but Hexadecimal beamed at him.
"Colonel Matrix!" She clasped her hands, "What a pleasant surprise! What brings you to my establishment?"
"Actually," Matrix's eyes fell on Laroux, "I'd like to
speak to your dinner guest for a moment – alone."
"Oh really?" Hex
tilted her head in her classic look of intrigue. "Well then you'd better go in back. I'll be waiting her for you Golden One."
Laroux slid from the booth, took Hex's hand and kissed
it, then with a glance at Matrix, preceded him out the rear door.
Outside in the cool night air, Matrix leaned against the
wall. The beat of the music pulsed
around him. "Enjoying Mainframe so far,
Mr. Laroux?"
"I'm here on business."
"So I've been told," Matrix said, "And is Hex part of
that business?"
"No, she's – relaxation."
"She'd better be more than just relaxation." Matrix said. "A lot of people care about her you know."
"So I've seen," Laroux said, "What is it that you really
want Colonel?"
Matrix smiled, a sure sign that the recipient of that
smile was in trouble, "I want you to conclude your business and get off my
system, but until you commit a crime, there's little I can do. So be warned, when you do whatever you
really came here for, watch your back, because if I catch you well --,"
"Your warning is noted," Laroux said. "Don't worry. I won't be here for much longer."
"That's nice to know," Matrix smiled, "Good night Mr.
Laroux." And Matrix turned and walked
off into the darkness. He would have to
keep an eye on this one. Matrix's
instincts were telling him that he would soon be confronting Laroux and on very
different grounds.
***
Raven didn't return to the club immediately. He leaned against the wall and closed his
eyes. The one thing he noticed about
this system was that everyone was always in somebody else's business. He supposed that was their way of showing
they cared. To Raven it was annoying.
So far, Hex had not said anything that would indicate Dot
Matrix was involved in any illegal business practices and his observances of
Mainframe's Command.com also didn't seem indicative of such.
He had wanted to make a search of the database in Hex's
Gallery. That had been an experience in
itself. Raven had stolen into her
office under the pretext of leaving her a gift. He had opened the door and fallen into a dark abyss of light,
sound and geometric shapes. Apparently,
no one entered Hex's office without her permission. He didn't know how long he had been in there before Hex had
rescued him. He didn't try it again.
His next move would be to break into the Bookmark Tower
when the opportunity arose and download their database to his ship's
computers. He knew he was running out
of time. People had been shadowing him
for the past few seconds. He had to
make his move now. He already had his
plans in place.
Raven re-entered the club and Hex smiled when he approached
the table. "Now my dear what were we
discussing?"
"Well you were discussing my business associates and I
told you I wanted to talk about something else."
"I just finds the aspects of your business fascinating,"
Raven said. "Hexadecimal, gallery
owner, club owner. Is there anything in
New Lost Angles you don't own?"
"Maybe," Hex smiled, "Who wants to know?"
***
Seven hours into the past
It had been a long night. Bob drank his third cup of java and looked over the reports once
more. Still no sign of the viral
presence. Surely they couldn't have
been pre-warned this quickly?
"Prime Guardian?" Rule walked in, "There's a lady here to see you."
"What time is it, Rule?"
"Oh seven hundred," she said.
Bob muttered an oath. He had a feeling he knew who it was. He hadn't gotten a good nights downtime and in one millisecond, he was
supposed to appear before the Citizens Council.
"Who is it?"
"A Desdemona from the Citizen's Council."
Bob sighed, "Show her in."
"Prime Guardian," Desdemona strode in, "I demand the
immediate release of Captain Lynx."
"Do you?" Bob
said mildly.
"Why is he being held?"
"We've been informed that Web Alliance has a contact
within this Hall and I want to know who."
"Did Lynx tell you that?"
"Is it true?"
Desdemona was silent.
"Thought so. Desdemona, I will release Lynx but if you or your organization do
anything to hinder or disrupt my investigation you'll all end up in the
detention center am I making myself clear?"
"Crystal, sir," Desdemona said. "But the people deserve to know."
"Since you know next to nothing about this investigation,
you're not qualified to be the one to inform them and if you make the attempt
to spread rumors and cause a panic I will have you incarcerated. Rule?"
"Sir?"
"Inform the guards at the detention that Captain Lynx is
to be released immediately,"
"Yes sir."
"Good day, Desdemona."
"See you in an millisecond, Prime Guardian."
Bob contacted Matrix and Tempus. He had just enough time to get ready and
meet them at Outlook Center. It was the
last thing he wanted to be doing. A few
micros later Rule entered his office again. "Um sorry sir?"
"Yes Rule."
"Captain Lynx left you a message." She said. "He said the meeting for today has been
cancelled and he requests that it be rescheduled for tomorrow at the same
time."
"Fine," Bob said. "I'm going home to get some sleep, if any new reports come in --,"
The ringing of the vid-phone cut him off. With an exasperated sigh, Bob opened a
window. "Yes? Mouse."
"Sugah, we've got a problem here," Mouse said. "SiRCe has gone missing."
"Oh no," Bob said.
"Dom's taking it pretty hard. She's not the only one missing though. That girl, Pixel Shim, is also missing."
Bob lowered his head fighting his exhaustion. "Any clues?"
"None yet," Mouse said. "The last we saw of her, she went to bed late last night. She lives here at the factory in one of the
offices, so we thought she'd be okay. She didn't show up for work this morning. Dom went to get her and found signs of a struggle in the
room."
"Nobody saw or heard anything?"
"No."
"Can you and Ray handle it? Do you need assistance?"
"Not yet. Hey
sugah, shouldn't you be going to that meeting?"
"They cancelled it. Which reminds me, I have to call Matrix," Bob looked up as Katiyana
entered. The Keytool Mistress sat
without speaking. Bob gave her a tired
smile. "Mouse keep me informed of any
new developments."
"Sure Bob and I thought we told you to stick to Matrix?"
"He's with Tempus assisting in the search. I'm safe here."
"Sugah, it ain't safe nowhere."
When the connection closed the first thing Katiyana said
was, "Have you slept at all?"
"Sleep? What's
that?"
"Get some rest Bob. You know you have quarters here you can use. Just sleep a little. I can
watch things here."
"No," Bob said. "Now that SiRCe has gone missing I'm more determined than ever to get
some answers. I just wish there was
something more I can do."
"You have the investigations going, what more can you
do?" Katiyana said. "I understand that
the meeting was cancelled?"
"Yes, thank the User," Bob sat heavily down and yawned,
then reached for the now cold java.
"You're working too hard."
Bob chuckled, "I never thought anyone would say that to
me." He leaned back in his chair and despite
himself, his eyes drifted closed. He
heard Katiyana rise. The ringing of the
vid-phone jarred him into wakefulness. "Yes?"
To his surprise, Peg Walrod's face appeared, "Bob, I need
you to come down to my sector right away."
Always forward, "What's wrong Peg?"
"You had better see this," Peg said and bring a team with
you. "Come as quickly as you can."
***
It had been a long night, but Peg Walrod continued to
work to get her sector online.
She smiled at that. Her sector. She would
have never thought it. Peg stood on the
steps of Aunt Judy's clinic and smiled.
"Peg!"
"Yes, Aunt Judy?"
"You've been up all night. When are you going to get some downtime?"
"Later, I'm too excited," Peg said.
"Don't tell me 'later' young lady you need to sleep."
"I will later, Aunty, I promise."
"Peg!" One of her
binome foremen approached her, "We've got a problem over on Hyper Drive."
"Now what?"
"There's a ditch full of muddy water there, caused by the
bombings. Kids have been playing around
it. They're still there, but they won't
tell us who their parents are or where they're supposed to be," he said. "We also need you to unlock the storehouse
so we can get the drainage pump."
"All right."
"Can't someone else do that?" Aunt Judy asked.
"Aunt Judy, you know I'm the only one with the codes to
the storehouse lock," Peg said. "Besides I believe I know who this group is." Peg decompressed her zip board. "Aunty I promise as soon as I finish this, I'll get some rest."
"Oh all right," Aunt Judy threw her hands up in
exasperation and walked back into the clinic.
Peg skimmed over the city streets followed by her
foreman. The ditch on Hyper Drive was a
gaping jagged hole where a building once stood, the unfortunate victim of a
plasma bomb. From her vantage point,
Peg could see the group of children sitting on the ground well away from the
ditch and it was who she first suspected. First she went a few blocks down the street to the storehouse they had
been using and punched in the codes. Several workers came to assist in getting the pump running and
transporting it to the ditch. Peg flew
back and landed into front of the small group of children varying in ages from
eight to eleven.
Peg approached who she knew to be the ringleader, "Well
Rich, what have you got to say for yourself?"
"We weren't doing nothing." Rich pouted.
"Anything," Peg corrected. "And I think playing around a ditch filled with dirty water is
something. What if someone had fallen
in?"
"Nobody would of fallen in," Rich said sullenly.
"Now don't you backtalk me young man," Peg said. "I'm responsible for you
all -- ,"
"Nobody asked you to be," Rich muttered.
"I know nobody asked me to be but I am so deal with
it. As long as I am you'll abide by my
rules, got it?" She eyed them all.
"Yes Peg," they all said in unison.
"Peg?"
"Yes?"
"Can we watch them drain the ditch?"
"Yes, you may," Peg said. "And to make certain you don't get near I'm staying right by
you."
Rich sat and sulked for a few nanos but was soon caught
up in the activity.
Peg was mildly interested for a time then her mind began
to wander, particularly to a handsome green-skinned sprite. She smiled slightly, knowing she shouldn't,
but she imagined those strong arms around her and that grim mouth pressed against
her --,
"Hey look at that!"
Rich's exclamation brought her out of her guilty
fantasy. She looked at where he was
pointing. The water level in the ditch
was surprisingly low but what caught her attention and the attention of
everyone present was a large shape bobbing on the surface.
"Pixelacious! What's that?"
Peg stepped forward and squinted at the shape, then her
hand flew to her mouth, "Get the kids out of here now!"
"Peg, what is it?" Rich asked. "What is it?"
One of the workers began to herd the kids away, even as
they protested.
"I want this area blocked off immediately!" Peg screamed. "No one goes in or out, understand?"
Workers ran to do her bidding. Peg watched as the water level decreased and the thing
disappeared below the surface for a time, then reappeared. Peg's eyes never left it.
When finally, there was nothing left in the ditch but
ankle-height muddy water, a group of shocked and horror-struck people saw the
shape for what it really was. But even
more disturbing was the sight of a second smaller one.
"My User," Peg said. "What a horrible way to delete."
***
I'm getting really sick of seeing this place, Bob
thought, bitterly. In his exhaustion,
everything around him seemed unreal. Sharp edges were softened; people's faces were blurred images. Bob watched Rose at her work as she examined
the bodies.
It had taken some time to retrieve them from the
ditch. The thick mud had hindered their
efforts. Bob had supervised the
operation while Peg had kept her people calm. Bob knew there was no way they could hide this incident. They had called for a special transport and
Bob had accompanied them to the medical center.
He didn't know what time it was, sometime past fourteen
hundred. He hadn't eaten or slept, and
both things were of little concern to him now.
"Bob!"
The Prime Guardian turned at the sound of Matrix's
voice. Colonel Tempus closely followed
the renegade.
"Bob what --?" Then he saw through the window. "Oh no."
"It's them," Bob said, his voice was hoarse. "The missing father and son."
"Peg found them in her sector?"
Bob nodded mutely. "She acted quickly. The area was
sealed off and I left a security team there."
"Bob are you okay?" Matrix asked.
Bob looked at Matrix as though seeing him for the first
time, "Look at him, Matrix."
"Who, Bob?"
"The little boy." Now everything around Bob looked to be shrouded in fog. He couldn't understand what was happening to
him. "The bodies don't look like the
other ones but they didn't fragment either."
"Prime Guardian, I'll go and see to the team guarding the
sector," Tempus suddenly said.
"All right Colonel," Bob didn't even glance back at
him. He eyes were riveted to the scene
playing out before him.
"What do you suppose it means?" Matrix asked.
"I don't know," Bob was surprised at the hoarseness in
his voice. "Look at him Matrix." He turned to the renegade, then back to the
window. "He's so young. No more than ten hours. That – could be – Little Enzo."
"Bob? Bob you
don't look well. Are you all right?"
"Enzo --," Bob suddenly felt his knees buckle.
"Bob!"
The room spun crazily and a wave of dizziness engulfed
him. Bob heard a groan, realized it was
coming from his throat and then there was nothing.
***
Surreal shapes and blurred images suddenly came into
clarity. Bob squinted against the light
from the setting sun falling over his face, "What in the net?"
"Welcome back, sugah."
He was laying in a bed and a quick examination of his
surroundings told him he was in one of the rooms at the medical center. His gaze fell on his flame-haired mercenary
friend, "Mouse? What happened?"
Mouse grinned, "You fainted, sugah."
"Fainted?" Bob said incredulously. "I don't 'faint', Mouse!"
"Okay, you want a more manly description?" Mouse said, "You lost consciousness. Passed out. Blacked out. Collapsed --,"
"I get the picture, Mouse."
Her expression turned serious, "You were lucky,
sugah. It was exhaustion, according to
Rose. She's had you admitted here for a
second or so."
"What?" Bob
struggled to get up, "She can't do that! How long have I been out? What's
been going on?"
"Quite a few milliseconds. Bob, will ya calm down?" Mouse said, "Ya need your rest."
"Don't patronize me, Mouse."
"I wasn't!" Mouse
snapped, "You ain't gonna start that pissy stuff with me again are ya?"
Bob sighed, "No. Sorry Mouse."
"As to what's been happening, Matrix returned to the Hall
to contact Dot," Mouse said. "Colonel
Tempus is leading the team investigating the area where the remains were found. Rose is still running tests but since I last
asked, she hasn't come up with anything new. Ray stayed at the factory. We
started hacking into SiRCe's records for clues to her disappearance. You know, seeing if she has any
enemies. I came here when Matrix
called."
Bob sat up, "Dot's going to be worried out of her mind."
"That is an understatement."
Bob looked up to see Dot, Matrix and AndrAIa standing in
the door.
"Dot!" Bob said.
"Sorry Bob," Matrix smiled apologetically. "They insisted on coming."
"Are you all right?" Dot crossed the room to him.
Although he was glad to see her, he was somewhat
embarrassed as well, "I'm fine – they say I fai – collapsed from exhaustion."
Mouse turned and walked to the door, "Come on you two, we
have work to do."
"Matrix told me about SiRCe, Mouse," AndrAIa said, "I
want to help somehow."
"I figured you might."
Mouse ushered them out of the room.
"Bob," Dot sat on the bed, "Enzo told me what
happened. They found the boy and his
father?"
"Yes," Bob lowered his eyes, "I have to stop this
Dot. I have to find the answer."
"You will Bob," Dot said seriously. "But you're not going to do yourself or the
investigation any good if you work yourself to deletion – and don't say
it. I sleep!"
He smiled slightly, "Let me finish things here and I
promise I'll come right home and get a good night's downtime."
"I'm holding you to that, Prime Guardian." She kissed him.
Bob moaned softly and cupped her face in his hands. He deepened the kiss, needing the feel of
her.
The door came open and a nurse strode in, "Sir I have
your – oh!"
Bob and Dot parted. Both began to blush.
"Sorry," the nurse muttered and departed.
Bob smiled and shook his head, "I want to see how the
investigation is going at Sector 1018. I should be home later this evening."
"All right. Well
it's back to the system dignitaries."
"You left them for me, hmm? I'm flattered."
"Don't let it go to your head."
***
Matrix was in the waiting room when Bob and Dot walked
in.
"Bob?" Matrix
approached, tentatively. "Are you all
right? I mean are you staying?"
"I'm fine, Matrix. No I'm not staying. I got them
to release me. There's nothing wrong
with me that a good nights downtime won't cure," Bob eyed him critically, "And
when was the last time you slept?"
"I don't need to sleep," Matrix muttered.
Bob turned to Dot, "He'll be home when I come home."
"Just make certain of it," Dot said.
"Bob!"
"No arguments now, cadet," Bob said. "Did Mouse and AndrAIa return to the
factory?"
"Yeah. Mouse said
to stick close to you."
"Figures," Bob said. "Right now, we need to see Dot home, then I want to check out the
progress of the investigations and the searches."
"Okay Bob," Matrix seemed relieved. Bob figured it was because he wasn't immediately
sending him back to Mainframe.
Upon arriving back at Council Hall, Rule immediately
approached and told him there were several messages waiting for him. Bob took them into his office.
"She's pretty," Dot commented when the door closed.
Matrix coughed discreetly.
"Hmm, what? Oh
yes, I suppose," Bob said. "I hadn't
really noticed."
"Good, Prime Guardian. Very good."
Bob grinned at her.
The first message was from Mouse, reporting that there
were no new developments in the search for SiRCe and Pixel Shim. Dom was beside himself with worry. Bob felt a tug of sympathy for the former
rebel leader. By the time on the message
Bob knew it was an old one, so he deleted it.
The second, much to Bob's annoyance was from Lynx.
"Prime Guardian," Lynx said, "This is to verify that the
representatives of the Guardian Collective are to report for the second meeting
of the Citizens Council tomorrow at oh-eight hundred. In addition, we respectfully request that the virals Hexadecimal
and Melissa be present as well and Dot Matrix and the mercenary know as Mouse."
"What?" Dot said,
"What in the net does he want me there for?"
"I don't know, but it's bound to be trouble." Bob said.
"Are you really going to bring Hex and Melissa?" Matrix said.
"I'm going to see if they're willing to go," Bob said,
"But I won't force them. Lynx will have
to deal with it. Mouse, however, won't
have a problem with it."
Bob replied to the message stating his intentions. It was then that Colonel Tempus called to
advise them that the situation was relatively calm considering the seriousness
of the events. The team was searching
for clues and Peg's people cooperated or steered clear. Peg requested a security team, which of
course, Bob supplied. Tempus stated
he'd stay with the team until they finished their examination. Bob informed him that he was going back to
Mainframe, but would return in the morning, something to which Tempus heartily
agreed. He was annoyed that Bob had
worked himself into a state of exhaustion.
"Even a soldier knows when to rest," Tempus had scolded.
Once Bob was certain everything was in order they
portalled home. Bob checked in with
Phong before saying his goodnights to Dot and returning to his apartment. It was dark when Bob arrived. He was feeling grungy so he took a quick
shower and collapsed into bed.
*
Bob slept, waking only once to check the time; surprised
to find it was almost twenty-one hundred. He contemplated checking his messages, then decided if he had any really
important ones, they would have awakened him. He drifted off.
*
Something, he didn't know what, jarred him awake.
Bob lay still, sprawled on his back across the bed. His core-com was a rapid beat against his
chest and a shudder raced across his body. Something was horribly wrong. Someone – something was there in the room with him.
A paralysis gripped him. Bob struggled to move. As he
lifted his right arm, something black and oily wrapped itself around his wrist.
"User, no!" Bob
jerked his arm forward only to have the black thing pull back, pinning his
wrist to the bed's surface. Bob went to
reach for the thing with his left hand and felt another cold tendril wrap
around his left, securing it down.
"No!" Bob cried
again. He kicked out as he saw a dozen
of the tendrils come snaking over the bed, to seize his legs, tying him
down. Bob cried out in defiance, his
back arched as he struggled. Muscles
pulled taut.
"Why do you struggle my Dariem?"
The sound of that voice stole his power of speech. His eyes went impossibly wide. His breathing was labored. Movement within the darkness that Bob sensed
more than saw and the accompanying stench of evil decay that Bob was so familiar
with sent a shudder of revulsion through him.
She came from the darkness. She stood at the foot of the bed and smiled maliciously at
him. Her eyes burned with feral hunger.
"Did you believe death would keep you from me, my
Dariem?" She whispered. "I will always be a part of you. You belong to me."
"Never!" Bob
screamed.
Her amused chuckle infuriated him, "Try to escape your
bonds."
Somehow, Bob knew he had no power, yet he called to it
and growled in frustration when nothing happened.
"You see?" She
said. "You are completely helpless and
at my whim."
"You're not real," Bob said. "This is a nightmare." He
struggled to wake from his slumber.
"It will do you no good," she walked around to the right
side of the bed, "Ah, my Dariem."
"I'm not Dariem! I'm Robert Lan – Prime Guardian of the New Collective."
Again that amused chuckle. She held both her hands over him. Her claws extended. Bob's
breathing became erratic, his struggles intensified. The tendrils constricted viciously around his limbs, cutting off
his circulation.
"Don't touch me!"
She laid her hands on his chest and Bob was
repulsed. With her claws she tore
gashes across his skin and Bob flinched against the stinging pain. Blood began to pool from the wounds. Powerless and immobile, Bob could only
endure it. Daemon withdrew
unexpectedly. She moved away from the
bed. For a brief moment Bob hoped – he
prayed to the User that it was over.
She began to laugh.
And a pain like he had not experienced in a long time set
every nerve on fire. The wounds on his
chest suddenly seemed alive. Things
moved within them, writhing and twisting, sending Bob into agony and to his
complete and mind-numbing horror, yellow worms burst forth from the wounds.
*
"User, NO!" Bob
came awake sitting upright in bed and his scream borne of fear and agony
shattered the silence.
He was covered in cold sweat and his whole body trembled
violently. His lungs were on fire and
no matter how hard he tried he couldn't seem to take in enough air. He was trapped in that state for a few
nanos, before he tore himself from his daze and slammed his hand down on the
control box on his nightstand. A
vidwindow opened and after a few nanos, a sleepy Dot answered, "Yes?"
"Dot!" Bob cried.
She was instantly awake, "Bob? Bob what is it, what's wrong?"
"Dot," he couldn't seem to form any other words.
"Bob, what happened? You look terrified!"
Still Bob couldn't form the words that raced through his
processor, please come now! I need
you Dot! Oh User, I need you!
"Nothing," Bob forced the word out, "It was nothing Dot,
I'm sorry I woke you."
He closed the connection before she could reply. Bob just sat there in the darkness staring
at nothing.
Unexpectedly, an image of the dream flashed before
him. His stomach gave a violent lurch
and Bob dashed into the bathroom. When
his heaves quieted, Bob pulled himself up by hanging on the edge of the sink
and stared at his face in the mirror. Face pale and gaunt, dark bruises under his eyes. "Bob, you are such a wuss."
Bob turned on the cold water and splashed some on his
face, then washed the foul taste from his mouth. He was only in boxers and he
shivered a little. Then he tossed a
robe on, not bothering to tie it and walked into the kitchen. He wasn't about to go back to sleep. Just as he was reaching for a can of java
his doorbell rang.
"Now who in the net is that?" Bob hurried to the door and was shocked to find it was Dot. The Command.com was wearing a baggy blue
sweat suit; "Mainframe U" was printed on the sweater. Still she looked even more beautiful to Bob.
"You going to stand there all night or are you going to
let me in?" she spoke into the lengthening silence.
"Oh!" Bob stepped
back and closed the door when she was inside. Realizing his robe was still open, he hastily tied it closed,
"Sorry. What are you doing here?"
"You asked me to come, remember? Oh not in so many words, but I got the
message."
"Dot," Bob felt his face grow warm, "You didn't have to
come. I really wish you hadn't." He didn't think he could be more
embarrassed.
"It was horrible this time, wasn't it?" Dot whispered and wrapped her arms around
him, "The nightmare."
How did she know him so well? How could she always seem to read him?
"Dot, please --,"
"Don't you dare tell me to leave," Dot said, "Come on,
let's talk about it."
She led him into the kitchen, "Were you fixing java?"
"Yes," Bob said, "Would you like some?"
"All right."
Bob reached for a mug from the cupboard, acutely aware of
her eyes on him. He had to play it
cool. He was already embarrassed beyond
belief. The mug slipped from his
shaking hand and shattered as it hit the floor.
"No," Bob whispered.
Dot was by his side in an instant, "Bob?" She took his hand. "Bob you're trembling."
He shook his head in useless denial. "I'm sorry Dot."
Dot lifted his chin with two delicate fingers so he would
look into her eyes. It was too much for
Bob, as much as he needed her now. He
pulled her to him and kissed her, almost roughly, "Dot."
"Yes, it's all right Bob," she whispered against his
mouth.
Bob lifted her into his arms and carried her to his
bedroom.
***
His clock said oh-two hundred, yet Bob was
wide-awake. He had tried to sleep
several times after their lovemaking but each time he sensed himself being
pulled into a dream, he awoke with a start and in turn would wake Dot. So he instead pulled her warm soft body
close to his and stared up into the darkness.
He knew he should see her home. Enzo might need her and he didn't want her catching any grief for
spending the night with him, although it was nobody's business.
"What are you thinking of?" Dot's voice drifted out of the darkness.
He smiled, "How did you know I was awake?"
"Oh I have my ways," Dot rose up and traced a pattern
across his chest with one finger.
Bob tensed.
"What is it?" Dot
asked.
He shuddered involuntarily, "N-nothing."
"It has to do with the dream, doesn't it? Will you tell me now?"
Bob sighed in resignation and pulled her to him and began
to speak. When he finished, he felt her
shudder.
"Oh sweetheart, how awful for you," Dot said, "Is there
anything I can do?"
He laughed slightly and kissed her hair, "Darling believe
me, you've already done everything."
She laughed too, "Don't ever keep things from me again."
"I promise."
"I'd better go," she said after a time.
Bob sighed with resignation as she pulled away.
"Try and get some sleep and if you need me just call all
right?"
"All right." Bob
pulled on his robe and walked her to the door. "Thank you."
She smiled at him and kissed him and then she was gone.
Well sleep was out of the question for him now. He knew it was probably way too late to be
doing this but Bob changed into his own sweats and left the Eight Ball Arms,
heading for Level 31.
Al's Wait and Eat was open as usual. The only people there were two binomes and
to Bob's astonishment someone he hadn't seen in ages, Captain Syn. Bob had known the captain was stranded in
Mainframe until his ship was repaired, although where he would go once it was
was a mystery to the Prime Guardian. Since his bid to discredit Dot had failed, people basically ignored
him. Another sprite male Bob had never
seen before was sitting in the far corner.
Bob approached the bar and Al's Waiter gave him a look of
surprise.
"Hey Al, Bob's here. Fire up the grill."
"What?"
Bob shook his head, "I'm not here for food. Just a bottle of I/O shot, please and a
glass."
Needless to say, the waiter was shocked, but he complied,
setting the bottle and glass on the counter before Bob.
"Thanks," Bob said and carried his drink back to a booth
in the shadowed far corner.
Bob poured his first shot and tossed it down, cringing
against the burning in his throat. He
leaned against the vinyl surface of the booth and closed his eyes as the liquor
took effect. Maybe if he got drunk
enough, he could sleep and the dreams wouldn't matter to him.
"Room for one more?"
The voice startled him. Bob opened his eyes to find Matrix standing before him. Bob hadn't even heard him come in, much less
approach his booth.
"Or did you want to be alone?" Matrix said.
Bob motioned for him to sit, "Hey, another glass here."
Al's waiter brought one over, look from Bob to Matrix,
shrugged and departed. Bob filled
Matrix's glass. The renegade tossed it
down, much like Bob had done. For a
while the two sat in companionable silence.
"AndrAIa still at the Super Computer?"
"Yeah."
"Guess I don't need to ask why you're here."
"Same reason you are," Matrix leaned back and closed his
eyes as well. "So what are you're
nightmares about?"
"Daemon," Bob said. "And you?"
Matrix actually chuckled, "Would you believe Little
Enzo?" His mirth faded.
"That's irony for you," Bob said, "Little Enzo's are
about you."
"Figures," Matrix said, "And before you ask, no I haven't
talked to him."
"I wasn't going to ask. I know you haven't," Bob refilled their glasses. "I was talking to Enzo the other night."
"Bob the kid runs the other way every time I'm near him."
Bob frowned, contemplating telling Matrix what Enzo had
told him. Enzo hadn't said it was a
secret, "Well I wouldn't recommend cornering him or anything, but you'll have
to be in a situation when he can't run away."
"The only other time is when he's with Melissa, and she
looks at me like she wants to turn me into null-bait every time."
Bob couldn't help but chuckle, "Who does she remind you
of?"
Now it was Matrix's turn to laugh, "AndrAIa, with
me. I still can't believe he fell for a
virus."
"Matrix," Bob warned.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Matrix muttered. "I can't help how I feel, okay?"
"Yes you can," Bob said. "It would be like my blaming her for Daemon's actions."
Matrix leaned back and tossed back his second shot, then
reached for the bottle and poured a third.
"There's someone else you need to talk to," Bob chose to
sip his second drink.
"Dot."
"You're hurting her."
Matrix slammed a balled fist on the table, drawing
attention from the other patrons.
"Why won't you talk to her?"
"I don't want to talk about this," Matrix said.
"You're going to have to Matrix. You should know by now you can't run away
from problems forever."
"I know," he said it so quietly, Bob barely heard.
"I won't pressure you, Matrix."
Silence ruled for a time, then Matrix spoke, "Did you
ever think that you and I would be sharing a quite drink?"
Bob smiled, finished off his second, and poured a third,
"Nope or at least not for another twelve hours."
"Is this weird or what?"
"Actually, it's kind of nice." Bob said.
Matrix raised an eyebrow, "Nice?"
"Okay, lets think up another word."
Both men laughed at that. Matrix raised his glass, "To our renewed friendship, Bob."
Bob smiled and joined him in the toast.
***
Captain Syn watched with all the loathing in his core-com
as the two sprites shared a drink at the booth across the room. He spent most of his time in this dive of a
bar now. Where else could he go? Even when they did repair his ship his
system had been destroyed, his crew had deserted him and he was still reeling
from the fact that his first mate had been a spy for Daemon.
He could hop a shuttle somewhere. They arrived periodically now, although one
wasn't due for a while. He could ask
that old coot at the Principal Office to portal him to the Super Computer but
doubt his request would be granted.
It was all Dot Matrix's fault.
"May I join you?"
Syn looked up. The sprite had been sitting a few booths down from him. He was a bald, orange-skinned dwarf of a man
with a pinched face. "No," the captain
muttered.
"That's too bad," the sprite's voice was amiable. "Because I thought you might be interested
in assisting us in our endeavors."
"What in the net are you talking about?"
"We know all about you, Captain Syn. How Dot Matrix ruined you," his voice
lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. "Wouldn't you like some payback?"
"Who are you?" Syn hissed.
"Oh, let's just say I'm part of a group of people who
don't like the Prime Guardian or Dot Matrix very much."
"Leftovers from the war, eh?" Syn smirked, "I know they didn't catch all of you."
For a moment, the man's face changed to something menacing,
"Would you listen to my proposition? If
you're not interested in revenge --,"
"Now I didn't say that," Syn said. "Let's go somewhere and talk friend."
The dwarf smiled, "Call me Ripper."
