Aftermath18

CHAPTER 18

END AND MEANS

The present

Megabyte.

In all his processing, Matrix didn't expect to see the loathsome virus again. Had he survived the web creature that had claimed him? How was it possible?

Why can't you stay dead? Why do you continue to haunt me?

The blood rage of the crowd increased a hundred times. Curses and obscene gestures were thrown out at them. Units and credits were being waved wildly in the air and the shouts of the bet takers rose above all else.

But it didn't matter to Matrix. All his rage was focused on his hated enemy.

"How did you escape Megabyte?" Matrix circled the virus who imitated his actions, "How did you get back?" And how was it that the virus looked exactly as he did when Matrix was a child? There was no sign of the injuries he received during their last confrontation.

Megabyte didn't reply, which struck Matrix as odd. The virus had always delighted in taunting him and this would be an opportunity Megabyte normally wouldn't have passed up.

With a cry of rage, Megabyte lunged at him and caught Matrix off guard, he rammed violently into the former renegade. Matrix went sailing backward and smashed into the arena wall. He slid down into a heap and for a moment, everything spun crazily and Matrix shook his head to clear it.

Then Megabyte was over him, raising both his fisted hands. Matrix rammed his fist into the viral's groin, Megabyte threw his head back and cried out – his voice different somehow – and Matrix regained his feet and slammed his fist into Megabyte's mouth. The virus toppled over onto his back.

Now Matrix knew something wasn't right. First off, his hadn't expected the groin punch to work, considering Megabyte's body makeup not to mention the fact that Megabyte hadn't used his claws or tried to infect him.

The virus was climbing ponderously to his feet. He wiped the blood from his mouth and grinned with shattered teeth. They circled again.

Megabyte charged and swung, which Matrix ducked and the brawny sprite landed three more devastating blows, then smashed a foot into Megabyte's chest with a lethal martial arts move. Now it was Megabyte who went careening back.

Again Megabyte came to his feet and Matrix could feel his opponent's rage as a tangible presence. The muscular sprite wiped the sweat from his brow.

"You're dead data, do you hear me?" Megabyte spoke at last and Matrix knew without a doubt that this was not his old enemy.

Matrix trained his infrared on his opponent's form. Whoever it was apparently had the ability to mask his true form and worse yet, to make himself appear to his opponent as someone he knew. If he spoke, the person would know he wasn't the genuine article. Megabyte – or this imposter – had taunted Matrix in his rage and thereby spoiled the effect. Matrix could now see Megabyte as merely a transparent aura, surrounding the true appearance of an ordinary sprite, not quite as tall and muscular as he and certainly not as good a fighter. It had all been his power that had helped him be undefeated.

Matrix grinned confidently, "Well what are you waiting for?"

The imposter rushed him again, Matrix dodged, stomach punched him then twisted around and slammed his cupped hands on the back of his opponents skull and even before he went down, Matrix took hold of his arm, twisted it behind his back and drove him forward with his own weight and slammed him three times against the arena wall.

Matrix stepped back and his enemy fell like a lead weight flat on his back. There was a shimmering effect, like heat rising from asphalt and the form of Megabyte vanished completely to reveal the sprite within.

The crowd went into a hysterical frenzy as a voice announced above it all, "The winner! The Cyclops!"

Matrix ignored it all and started for the exit. Both gates were opening as he reached the one from which he had entered, several other fighters spilled out, each held a look of murderous rage. Matrix turned to find himself facing several more coming from the second gate and the muscular sprite realized that it must have not been appreciated that a stranger had defeated one of their own. He could take on a few of them but at least a dozen?

Matrix thought of his daughter and of AndrAIa and the child in her womb. The child he'd never live to see. A moment of regret before he went into his fighting stance, all his concentration on the battle to come. The group converged on him.

Then there was an explosion above him and Matrix leapt our of the way as timber and stone rained down and his assailants also ran for cover. A figure, bathed in light came down from above on a zip-board, clad to head to toe in familiar armor, a helmet obscuring his face.

People were screaming and falling over each other in their attempt to escape. The combatants in the arena were shoving to get out of the gates and only succeeded in congesting the area.

The armor clad figured tossed him a zip board just as someone started shooting which sent the crowd into a panic. Matrix wasted no time decompressing the board and following his rescuer out the hole in the ceiling.

As the two rose above the building Matrix saw CPU's converging on the area. His rescuer was flying ahead of him. Matrix searched the ground below him until he saw his quarry. They were escaping down an alley. Matrix couldn't lose them now.

"Wait! We have to stop Flame!" Matrix pointed. Then descended quickly on the zip board. A few blocks over a limousine was waiting and Flame and Cracker were heading right for it. Matrix dropped down right in their path.

"Stop!"

"Well look who it is," Flame smiled then looked up, "And you brought a friend."

Cracker drew his war hammer.

"We had a deal!" Matrix growled.

"So we did," Flame said. "And I never renege on a deal. Bad for business you know. I must say I'm impressed. You discovered Shankar's little secret. I'm curious as to who you saw, but we'll save that for another time."

Flame reached into her belt and drew out a computer card, "Program these coordinates into your ship," she handed it to Matrix. "Raven could be in one of these three places. He has hideaways in each of them."

Matrix nodded grimly.

"You made me quite a lot of money today. More than I've ever dreamed of," Flame said. "You sure you and your friend don't want to stick around and help me spend it?"

Matrix turned away without another word.

"Your loss," Flame said.

Matrix heard the door to the limousine open and close. It started up and drove away.

"I guess we should stop them," Matrix said, "But they're unimportant."

There was a low hiss as the helmet clamps of his web armor unlocked and Bob pulled his mask off, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, sure," Matrix smiled at him, "What are you doing here? I thought you were on the other system?"

"I was," Bob said. "I arrived at the system and the Command.com just happened to be monitoring the illegal pit fight. He said it was for a undercover operation he had going."

"Yeah, right," Matrix said. "You portalled here?"

"He let me use his portal generator and just happened to have the coordinates programmed in, now isn't that something?"

"Thank you Bob," Matrix said, "You saved my life – again."

"No problem," Bob said. "We'd better get moving. Even thought we're innocent, I don't want the CPU's to catch us. It would just take way too long to explain."

They hopped on their zip boards again and made their way to where Matrix had his ship, "She gave me the coordinates of three possible places where Raven may have taken Enzo."

"The Command.com said System 998," Bob said. "It has ports to the net."

"Good," Matrix said. "We have to find Enzo quick Bob. I have a feeling we're running out of time."

***

The limo moved slowly past the scene of the raid. CPU's dragged out spectators and combatants alike.

Flame watched through the tinted windows with a slight smile. It would take some time but the proprietors of the pit-fighting tournament would have things up and running again in a few cycles so Flame wasn't overly concerned.

She had been telling the truth when she said the green hunk had made her more money than she had ever seen in her lifetime. Lucky for her, it had been deposited immediately into her account upon the winning announcement. She leaned back against the butter-soft leather seat and smiled contentedly. A plan had formed in her processor and she thought she knew exactly how to implement it.

"What are you thinking of?" Cracker asked her.

"Ah Cracker, you know me so well," Flame smiled. "I am thinking of a way to possibly make us more money."

"With that bet you placed I thought you'd have enough."

"You can never have enough money," Flame licked her lips. "You have no idea who that green guy was do you?"

"Somebody important?"

"Oh yes," she said, "You see the word is, Raven recently made as a guest of his, the younger brother of the Command.com of System Mainframe, who also happens to be the brother-in-law of the Prime Guardian of the New Collective."

"Whoa, wait a nano," Cracker said, "Where did you hear that?"

"Really Cracker, if you'd keep your ears open more," Flame said with a hint of exasperation. "That man was his older brother, known as Matrix. I don't know who is friend was. I'm guessing the Prime Guardian himself, although I could be wrong."

"Okay," Cracker said, "So Raven stupidly took a VIP's little brother and now probably has every law enforcement agent and their mother after him."

"Yes, not like Raven at all," Flame said, "unless that was the job, to kidnap the brother. I think I know how we can find out though."

"Okay, so what if we do? Then what? Do you even know where Raven is?"

"Well – I know where he isn't," Flame said. "He isn't in any of the places I gave Matrix. I do know where his other hideaways are and by process of elimination we should be able to find him."

"Why do I have a feeling you've got one hell of a devious plan up your sleeve?"

"Well, Cracker, think of what we could get if we had the Command.com's baby brother?" Flame said, "We could collect whatever fee Raven is getting. We could ransom him off to the Command.com or the Collective get the money then dump him somewhere or maybe send him back home – piece by piece."

"Nasty," Cracker said.

Flame smiled, "Wouldn't that just burn Raven's ASCII?" She had a score to settle with that pretty boy mercenary. And Enzo Matrix may be the key to her getting back at Raven once and for all.

***

Seven hours into the past.

AndrAIa entered the smoke-filled bar and wondered why couldn't these bozos ever hole up some place nice? All eyes turned to her immediately and she received more than one leer, catcall and whistle. AndrAIa ignored them all.

She instead checked the locator given to her by Katiyana, programmed to home in on Cooper's protocol. It was a device similar to the ones the infected Guardians had used to track Bob.

Bob. She worried and hoped he was all right. She wanted to get back as soon as possible. It was late and she had been tracking Cooper all second.

AndrAIa moved through the room, past tables and rank bodies until she came to the bar. The signal was coming from a closed door behind and at the other end of the counter.

"What can I get for you, sexy?" The bartender approached and AndrAIa smiled sweetly at him.

"How about a look at what's behind the door?" AndrAIa purred.

"Now you don't want to know that," the bartender said nervously, "Unless you're Sasha?"

"I might be," AndrAIa said. "If I say I am, will that get me into that room?"

"You have to be her," the bartender smiled, "You're just like they described you. A smart mouth and a body to delete for."

"That's me," AndrAIa gave him a dazzling smile.

The bartender moved his bulk down the length of the bar and knocked softly five times on the door before opening it and slipping through. AndrAIa leaned against the bar and waited.

"Hey gorgeous," a rank and stumbling drunk binome approached her, "How about a little tumble?"

AndrAIa smashed his face in.

The patrons stepped over the binome as though he didn't exist and the stares and leers abruptly ceased. A few nanos later, the bartender peeked his head out the door and motioned AndrAIa over.

"Now your party is in the back room," the bartender said, "Don't worry, no one else will bother you. Just tell the man at the door who you are."

AndrAIa stepped past him and nearly gagged on the air that was thick with narcotic smoke. She barely had room to move through the press of sweaty bodies but amazingly, no one made an attempt to touch her. Several pool tables were within the room, along with various other tables with games of chance and cards. AndrAIa continued on, ignoring the muted conversations and the click of pool cues.

At the rear of the room was another door and an armed sprite stood guard. "I'm Sasha," she told him. The guard nodded and opened the door. AndrAIa stepped through into a dark foyer. She could hear several voices and she stepped forward to peek around the corner.

Cooper Black sat at the table in the midst of the room with four other sprites. The Guardian was highly agitated and drummed his fingers nervously on the tabletop. One of the other sprites, a weasely crimson-faced man pushed a box towards him.

Cooper opened it, his eyes widened. "That's it?"

"The cost just went up," the sprite said. "How bad do you want it?"

"This is – you can't --!"

"I can do whatever I like, Guardian," the sprite sneered. "Since you can't live without this."

Cooper sighed and laid a handful of units on the table. From the box he lifted a small vial with a dark liquid. Cooper tipped the bottle up and drained its contents. Almost immediately, his face relaxed and he clutched the vial in a pale hand.

"As good as usual?" The weasel-sprite smiled maliciously.

Cooper wiped his mouth, "When can I get more?"

"Anytime, if you have the units," the weasel said.

AndrAIa stepped forward. Cooper looked up and caught sight of her.

"No!" the Guardian cried out and all the occupants of the table turned towards her.

"Who the hell are you? How did you get in here?" The weasel demanded.

"Your bartender let me in," AndrAIa said, "He thought I was Sasha. Your security needs a lot of work."

The four sprites rose from the table, "I asked you a question," the weasel sneered.

"Her name's AndrAIa," Cooper stood on trembling legs, "She's a friend of the Prime Guardian's."

"What?" The weasel drew a laser and his companions at the table followed suit.

"No! Don't shoot are you insane? Do you want the whole Collective down on you? Not to mention her boyfriend!"

"Relax everyone," the weasel gave her a thin-lipped smile. "You're here by yourself aren't you cutie?"

"Cooper," AndrAIa ignored the weasel, "I have orders to bring you back to Council Hall immediately."

All eyes were on Cooper now.

"Looks like you're busted, Cooper," the weasel said.

"I'm not going anywhere with you, AndrAIa," Cooper said.

"Look at yourself Cooper," AndrAIa looked at him piteously, "You need help. I can get it for you. You know Bob will see that you get the best care available. You're a fellow Guardian."

"I haven't been a Guardian since I was taken by Daemon," Cooper said, "Do you think I'm basic? Do you think Bob really wanted me on the Council? I know it was a token gesture. I bet it shocked the chips out of him when I took it."

AndrAIa shook her head, disgust replacing pity, "You really hate Bob don't you?"

"Yes, I do," Cooper said.

"Enough to try and kill him?"

"What?" Cooper said, "What are you saying?"

"Now isn't this interesting?" The weasel spoke again, "I'm glad I'm here to see this little drama unfold."

Again, AndrAIa ignored him, "You're coming back with me."

Cooper laughed bitterly, "Leave AndrAIa. I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Cooper, if I have to drag you out of here unconscious, I will."

"Smiley," Cooper addressed the weasely sprite, "If she leaves here, the Guardians will be busting up this place by morning."

"Now we can't have that can we?" Smiley leered at her. "Cooper I didn't know you were associated with such a babe."

"I'm not, I told you she's a friend of the Prime Guardian," Cooper said.

Smiley motioned with his hand and the three other sprites moved away from the table, "Still, I would have tried to get a piece of that."

"You haven't seen her boyfriend," Cooper muttered.

"Gentleman," AndrAIa said, "As much as I'm enjoying your repulsive company, I've got better things to do. Cooper, you can come with now, or Matrix and I hunt you down later and you know how much that will annoy him."

"Now there's no need to threaten," Smiley stepped forward and his three companions made to surround her. "We can have a good old time – before we send you back to your boyfriend in pieces."

AndrAIa extended her trident. "Now boys you're going to be pretty embarrassed when I send you running home crying to your mothers."

"Bring her here," Smiley ordered.

AndrAIa swung her trident at the first man who came near and cracked him across the skull; he fell back without a sound. The other two rush, her, she blasted the second, but the third barreled into her and they both went down, his hands closed around her trident and he jerked it from her grasp, tossing it across the room. He raised his fist to strike her and AndrAIa drove her claws deep into the side of his throat.

He gave a strangled gasp of surprise and pitched on his side. AndrAIa was up and barely had time to dodge Smiley's assault. He came at her brandishing a knife. Smiley lashed out and AndrAIa turned and leapt backward but the blade cut across her side above her hip.

AndrAIa cried out in pain as Smiley lunged for her again. AndrAIa twisted around, raised both hands and sent all ten claw tips into Smiley's chest. A look of horrified shock crossed Smiley's face. He looked down at the claws protruding from his chest, looked back up at AndrAIa, then pitched forward on his face.

Breathing heavily, AndrAIa leaned against the wall and pressed her hand to the wound on her side. He looked worse than it was. That didn't mean it hadn't hurt like hell.

The sound of applauding drew her attention back to the only conscious occupant of the room.

"Very good AndrAIa," Cooper said. He held one of the vials between his thumb and forefinger. "Guess I'll have to find another supplier."

AndrAIa shook her head, "Have you truly sunk so low?"

Cooper looked at her for a time with a myriad of emotions playing across his face, "I believe even lower than you could imagine."

"Someone made an attempt on Bob's life," AndrAIa said.

Cooper laughed bitterly, "Look at me, AndrAIa. Do you really think I'm capable of doing that?"

AndrAIa crossed the room and retrieved her trident. "I'm assuming you're not the informant either."

"No," Cooper said, "I may hate Bob but I despise Lynx even more. I wouldn't give him the clock speed if he asked me for it."

Cooper opened the vial and drank the liquid, "Now that you know my dirty little secret, I supposed there's only one thing to do."

AndrAIa tensed. Surely he wasn't going to try an attack her? When Cooper reached for his keytool, AndrAIa went into a fighting stance.

"Meta release," Cooper said. The Guardian laid his keytool down on the table. "Do me favor will you? See that the Prime Guardian gets this."

Cooper slipped the box inside his jacket and without another word left the room. AndrAIa made no move to stop him. She never saw him again.

***

Mouse dashed down the alley, her footsteps echoing through the darkness. She turned sharply and came to an abrupt halt.

Her quarry was just attempting to clamber over a fence.

"Halt!" Mouse cried dashing forward

The aging binome gave a start of surprise and fell heavily from the fence. As Mouse reached him he turned and drew a laser pistol.

"Whoa!" Mouse dove behind some garbage cans as Lynx fired. She heard him begin to climb again and she was up and running.

"Didn't you hear me? I said halt!" Mouse screamed, "Damn it, why don't one of these pixel brains listen to me for once?"

Mouse literally vaulted over the fence and continued her pursuit. The alley opened up into a wide avenue that was thankfully almost free of traffic at this late an hour.

Lynx dodged the oncoming traffic, then was nearly run down by a transport. Across the avenue was a park and Mouse sprinted after him not wanting him to get to the cover of the trees.

She could sure use Ray's help right about now.

She hoped her love was all right. They hadn't expected Lynx to have bodyguards but she trusted Ray would handle the situation. Lynx had been their one objective.

The captain stumbled and was up again but it gave Mouse the opportunity she needed to close the distance between them. Lynx hit the tree line but the park was brightly lit with decorative lamps and Mouse still had a clear view of him. The captain made no use of the cover the park afforded and continued to crash trough the bushes making him an easy target.

They hit pavement and Lynx turned down the path and Mouse figured he was either the most basic sprite imaginable or was just too terrified to be thinking clearly.

And why would he be terrified if he were innocent?

The path led to a bridge where couples stood enjoying the warm summer night. Lynx dashed across, pushed past a young couple, but his effort slowed him.

Mouse glanced at the couple as she ran by to make certain they were safe. She crested the bridge and stopped abruptly when she saw Lynx standing still at the other end and Mouse saw why.

Ray was standing there smiling confidently, Baud propped up at his side.

"No!" Lynx cried as he raised his weapon, Mouse tackled him from behind.

Ray strode forward and helped Mouse haul the struggling binome to his feet.

"How dare you!" Lynx cried, "How dare you treat me --,"

"Shut your hole!" Mouse screamed. "I've had just about enough of you!"

"First you hunt down the members of Web Alliance and detain them," Lynx said, "Now you accost me! I will not stand for this --,"

"Sugah, if you don't shut up right now you're going to be spitting out teeth, got it?"

Lynx shut up.

"You okay, sugah?" Mouse asked Ray.

"As okay I can be after taking on two binomes," Ray moved his arm back and forth.

Mouse used her ring to seal Lynx in a containment field. She reached out and gently touched his shoulder, "You're hurt."

He smiled cockily at her, "Just a little injury, love. Let's get this ruddy wanker back to Council Hall."

***

Lynx sat on the bench inside the detention center cell. The captain sulked like a five-hour-old child.

"Why did you run from us?" Mouse calmly sharpened her katana.

"Why have I've been brought here?" Lynx asked.

"I believe the lady asked you a question," Ray said.

"Of course I ran! You were rounding us all up and I didn't know what for," Lynx said, "And what have you done with Desdemona?"

"What do you mean what have we done?" Mouse said.

"She's gone from the hospital," Lynx said, "No one has seen her since."

"Well we don't know anything about that," Mouse said, "but we'll check into it."

"Liar! Where is she?" Lynx cried, "Did you delete her like you're going to do me?"

"You can't possibly be that basic," Mouse said.

"You see, captain," Ray said, "We figure you ran for a reason. Maybe something you've done that you know you'd be in serious trouble for?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Tell us something, Lynx," Mouse said, "Ever dabble in poisons?"

"You're not making any sense."

"Then let me spell it out for you, sugah," Mouse hissed. "An attempt was made on the Prime Guardian's life."

Lynx's single eye went wide, "Someone tried to delete the Prime Guardian?"

"And right now you ruddy null-face," Ray said coldly, "you're our prime suspect."

"What? Are you random?" Lynx screamed, "You think I tried to assassinate the Prime Guardian?"

"You or someone you hired," Mouse said. "You didn't exactly make yourself look innocent by running from us."

"I told you why I ran!"

"A lame excuse if we've ever heard one," Ray said. "Do you know what the penalty is for an assassination attempt?"

"But I didn't do it!" Lynx said, "Please you have to believe me!"

"We don't 'have to' do anything but let you rot in this cell," Mouse said. "You confess and maybe we'll go easy on you."

"So I'm to be coerced into confessing to something I'm not guilty of?" Lynx demanded, "The Collective goes too far!"

"This has nothing to do with the Collective," Mouse said, her voice was deadly, "It's us you gotta deal with, sugah." Mouse glanced to the left when she saw someone approaching the cell. Bob's young assistant stood waiting. "You consider what we've said and when you feel like talking, give us a call."

Mouse and Ray left the cell, all the while Lynx screamed threats after them. The mercenary and the search engine approached the young cadet.

"What's up, Rule?"

"I have a message from your friend, AndrAIa," Rule said, "She's at the medical center right now. She wants you to meet her there. Apparently, she was in some kind of skirmish. She called for backup and I took the liberty of sending some CPU's to assist her."

"Good work Rule, signal her we're on our way," Mouse said.

"Yes ma'am and thank you."

"What do you think happened?" Ray asked.

"Guess we'll find out soon enough."

***

AndrAIa touched the bandage that covered the wound on her side.

"Stop it," Rose said for the third time.

"Sorry," AndrAIa smiled. "Now you're saying Desdemona left on her own?"

"That's what I was told," Rose said.

The A.V. had come up into the emergency room when she had heard AndrAIa was there. Just how she had heard was a mystery to AndrAIa and quite frankly, the game sprite was too tired and sore to care. The two women were in the small room where AndrAIa had been treated. AndrAIa was just finishing getting dressed, "How are things going?"

"They're not," Rose rubbed her eyes tiredly, "Damn it AndrAIa, the answer is there, I know it! But I've looked at those test results so much my head hurts."

"You'll find the answer though," AndrAIa said.

"I have to," Rose said, "Would you like to visit with SiRCe while you're here? Dom hasn't left her side for more than a millisecond and I'm worried about him to."

"What about the tests on SiRCe?"

"Now her case is a simple viral infection," Rose said, "I'm a lot closer to finding a cure for her than – I'm just waiting for the results of my most recent testing."

"I'm going back to the Hall to report to Bob," AndrAIa said. "Did you need him to contact you?"

"Not yet," Rose said. "There's really no need."

AndrAIa could see the pain on Rose's face. She squeezed her friend's shoulder, "It's going to be all right." AndrAIa looked up as Mouse appeared outside the window she waved to someone outside; Ray AndrAIa guessed, before they entered the room.

After the greetings were exchanged, Rose excused herself and returned to her work.

Mouse said, "Sugah, we had a time finding you. What happened?"

"Well I found Cooper," AndrAIa said. She related her story.

Mouse shook her head when AndrAIa finished, "Pity. I mean, what else can you do about something like that but offer to help? You can't force people to take it."

"Mouse see that Mistress Katiyana gets this keytool?"

"Aren't you coming back to the Hall with us?"

"I'll be along, I'm going to visit SiRCe."

"Um – what should we tell Matrix?" Ray asked.

"Tell him I'm fine," AndrAIa said, "Don't worry Ray, it'll be all right."

Ray snorted, "Just don't want him miffed at me that's all."

Mouse smiled, "I protect you honey."

"Then I've got nothing to worry about," Ray smiled.

The friends parted company and AndrAIa made her way to SiRCe's room.

She knocked softly before entering. SiRCe was lying deathly still in the bed, the amber glow of the containment field washed over her skin. Dom was sitting in a chair beside her, apparently dozing.

"Dom?"

He came awake abruptly. The former rebel leader didn't seem to recognize her at first, "An – AndrAIa?"

"Dom when was the last time you got a good night's downtime?" AndrAIa pulled up another chair, "Or a good meal?"

"I'm not hungry," he muttered and his gaze went back to SiRCe, "She sleeps most of the time, but sometimes when she's awake --,"

"Does she say anything?"

"Just incoherent babbling," Dom said, "She's made no indication that she recognizes me."

"I know she does Dom," AndrAIa said, "I know she sees you."

"I hope so."

AndrAIa got up without a word and left the room. She headed for the cafeteria and bought a meal that she carried upstairs. Dom seemed to be dozing again or it could have been the lack of food. He came awake when she set the tray down on the table.

"Eat," she said.

"I can't," Dom said, "I haven't been able to keep anything down."

"Try and nibble on something," AndrAIa said, "You won't do yourself any good if you starve yourself. Who will take care of SiRCe?"

After a moment, Dom reached for a spoon and tasted some soup AndrAIa had bought. She took her place again at SiRCe's bedside. Unexpectedly, her friend's eyes came open. AndrAIa started slightly, alerting Dom who leaned as close to the containment field as he dared.

"SiRCe?"

She looked at him, "Dom?"

Dom broke into a grin, "Yes! Thank the User!"

"Release me," SiRCe said hoarsely.

"Oh --," Dom looked at AndrAIa.

"We can't just yet, SiRCe," AndrAIa said. "When Rose finds a cure --,"

"Let me out of this thing you game sprite wench!" SiRCe cried.

Dom reeled back with an astonished cry. AndrAIa managed to mask hers with an air of calm. "I know you're ill SiRCe. Don't worry, we're getting you help."

"I will delete you for this!" SiRCe screamed, "And that traitor Valadare! You will all suffer such torments --,"

"SiRCe, please stop!" Dom said.

SiRCe smirked at him, "As for you – did you think I'd ever be remotely attracted to you? A wretched man-child sprite?"

"Dom --," AndrAIa said, "She's not well."

"I know," Dom whispered. But AndrAIa could see the pain in his eyes.

"I know my master has struck the fatal blow against the Prime Guardian," SiRCe said, "What would happen if people found out the truth? That the Prime Guardian is a dead sprite?"

"Where is your master, SiRCe?" AndrAIa said, "Lead us to him."

SiRCe laughed bitterly, "You would like that wouldn't you? It won't be that easy."

AndrAIa knew that Bob had wanted to question SiRCe when she came to, "I'll be back later SiRCe. Dom, stay with her. She's going to need your strength."

Dom nodded, "I will. Thank you Dre."

"Yes AndrAIa run in fear from me," SiRCe said, "Deleting you will give me great pleasure."

AndrAIa ignored her. Stay strong Dom. We'll all have to lend SiRCe our strength.

***

By early morning, the first signs of Bob's illness made itself known.

After sitting all night with Little Enzo, Bob awoke, lying on the floor next to the couch, a blanket over him and a pillow under his head.

"Dot," he said aloud and smiled.

Then he saw his hands.

Bob breathed in sharply. His skin was covered with patches of rust discolorations. They itched terribly and Bob knew they would only get worse. He'd have to call Rose for the medicine she had mentioned. The Prime Guardian stood and stretched his aching muscles.

"Bob?"

Bob turned to find Enzo staring at him, his eyes wide.

"Enzo --,"

"It's okay Bob," Enzo smiled slightly. "Really."

Bob knelt in front of him and the little sprite hugged him around the neck, "It's going to be okay."

They heard the door open behind them and Bob stood abruptly. Dot walked in briskly, carrying several bags from which the scents of breakfast permeated.

"Good --," then she halted and like Bob gave a sharp intake of breath.

Bob turned away, feeling the flush on his face, "Dot."

"Bob it's okay," Enzo spoke into the ensuing silence, "Dot doesn't care how you look. Do you Dot?"

"No I don't," Dot said softly. "I knew you two would be hungry so I brought breakfast."

"All right, thanks Dot," Enzo hopped off the couch, then stopped to stretch before approaching Dot's desk where she had set the bags.

"Bob?"

He still couldn't look at her, despite her assurances. She moved to stand before him and held up a cup of java, "Just like you like it."

He smiled nervously at her, "Thanks."

"Matrix is at the CPU headquarters," Dot volunteered, "He's going to come right here after he finishes the questioning."

"Good," Bob sipped the java, then sighed as it started his stomach roiling, "How goes that?"

"You know the old saying, about rats deserting a sinking ship? Many of them are keeping quiet but quite a few are giving up their comrades. It's slow going but at least we have a few of those loonies off the street."

"Hey Dot there's a message coming in," Enzo said around a mouthful of breakfast sandwich.

Dot came around the desk and activated the console, "It's Mouse and Ray."

The vid-window opened to reveal his two friends in Bob's office. Mouse was in his chair again.

"We were getting worried about you two. Get out of my chair Mouse."

Mouse hesitated before obeying. She glanced at Ray with consternation before she spoke, "We expected you to be here, sugah. What happened?"

Bob was grateful they hadn't mentioned the discolorations, "Um – extenuating circumstances. Where's AndrAIa?"

"We left her at the medical center," Mouse said, "She wanted to check on SiRCe."

"Why were you at the medical center?"

Matrix took that opportunity to walk in just as Mouse said, "She was in a minor scuffle dealing with Cooper Black."

"What?" Matrix demanded, "Where is she? Is she all right?"

Ray cleared his throat but Mouse said, "She's fine, sugah, just some cuts and bruises. She's at the medical center right now checking on SiRCe. She asked us to tell you she was fine."

"I'm sure she's all right, Matrix," Bob said, "Did she find Cooper?"

"Afraid so," Mouse relayed the story AndrAIa had told them about her encounter with Cooper. When she was finished, Mouse laid an object down on Bob's desk. "Cooper gave this to AndrAIa. He wanted to return it."

Bob looked at the object on his desk. It was Meta.

"She said Cooper used a release command."

Bob didn't reply. He stared at the keytool for a few nanos, a myriad of thoughts darting around in his processor about Cooper. What could he say at this point? To release a keytool was akin to cutting off your arm. Bob knew what it was like to suffer but his releasing Glitch was never an option. He didn't know what he would do if he couldn't be a Guardian.

Finally Bob expelled a belabored breath, "He was once a good Guardian. I wish he had come to me for help. I feel as though I've failed him."

"You haven't, sugah," Mouse said gently.

"She's right, Bob," Dot placed a hand on his shoulder. "There was nothing you could have done."

"Would you see Mistress Katiyana gets Meta?"

"Of course, sugah," Mouse smiled softly.

Through the vid-window, the door to Bob's office opened and AndrAIa walked in.

"AndrAIa, are you all right?" Matrix demanded.

"Of course I am," AndrAIa said. She turned to Mouse and Ray. "Didn't you tell him?"

"Yeah but well you know how he can be," Mouse smirked.

Matrix grunted.

AndrAIa noticed Bob for the first time, "Bob is everything all right? So how goes it there?"

"We're rounding up the members of Daemon's Chosen here," Dot said.

"I'll be there soon. Is SiRCe well enough to talk?" Bob asked.

AndrAIa's sigh could be heard through the vid-window, "Yes, but – well you'll have to see her."

"All right," Bob said, "Have them get the portal room --,"

Suddenly Bob wasn't in Dot's office anymore.

The telltale shower of silver light engulfed him and in an eye blink as before, he was standing in the midst of Hex's Lair, the single beam from the fire hydrant cast his shadow before him.

"Well don't just stand there Prime Guardian, join me," Hex's voice came out of the darkness. A second light appeared to illuminate the Chaos Virus as she sat in the comfortable chair facing the java table.

"Well this has a familiar ring," Bob said.

Melissa moved out of the shadows carrying a tea service. She set it on the table and began to serve. Bob moved to the second chair, facing Hex. The virus crossed her shapely legs and titled her head to the side.

"Cream and sugar?" Melissa asked.

"Sugar please," Bob said.

"Melissa wants to apologize for what happened with Enzo," Hex said.

The girl-child virus looked at him earnestly, "I am sorry Bob. I hope you're not mad at me."

"I'm not Melissa," Bob said, "You have to learn to consider other people's feelings though. You'll remember that next time, won't you?"

"Yes Bob," Melissa said. "Biscuit?"

"No thank you," Bob said.

"Melissa, would you excuse us?" Hex said.

Melissa turned and seemed to Bob to fade back into the shadows.

"Why do I have a feeling you brought me here for a reason other than Melissa's apology?" Bob said when he was sure they were alone.

"Now Prime Guardian, would I toy with you on such a serious subject?"

You're toying with me now, Bob thought, "And that subject is?"

"Why your illness silly boy," Hex said, "I assume you're having that antivirologist woman looking into this?"

"She is," Bob said.

"You're running out of time you know," Hex squinted at him.

"I know, look Hex what's this about?"

"I'll excuse your rudeness Prime Guardian," Hex said mildly. "Question. How much do you want to live?"

Bob gripped the chair arms fiercely and his face twisted in a sneer, "What do you think?"

Hex leaned back, "I asked the question because I'm curious to know what lengths you'll go through to live. What are you willing to sacrifice?"

She was starting to sound way too much like Daemon at that point and Bob repressed a shudder of revulsion, "Hex what are you saying?"

"I'm saying," Hex leaned towards him, her mask intrigued, "That I may have the means for you to survive."

"What?" Despite himself, a glimmer of hope came to life in his core-com. "Are you saying you know how to cure me?"

"I'm saying I know what may cure you," Hex said, "But, my dear Bob, you must be willing to make an ultimate sacrifice. What I am purposing could quite possibly save your life – but doom you as well. I need to know if you're willing to take that chance."

"Depends on what you want to do," Bob said.

"No, it depends on what you want to do," Hex said, "Very well, Bob dear. Listen carefully. I will tell you my idea and you can decide between processing and deletion."

***

Twenty CPU cars surrounded Hex's Lair.

Dot paced back and forth in her office. Five vid-windows were open, each awarding a different view of the virus tower.

Matrix was there now, commanding the CPU's and AndrAIa, Mouse and Ray were on their way from the Super Computer. Little Enzo was sitting on the couch, watching her worriedly.

The rest of her friends entered her office along with Phong and Dot apprised them of the situation.

"Any word from the Lair?" AndrAIa asked.

"None yet," Dot turned one of the windows to reveal Matrix's face, "Anything happening?"

"Nothing yet, sis," Matrix said. "We haven't been able to locate any entrances or exits."

"Why did she do it this time? Why did she take him? Didn't she know we'd know it was her?"

"Don't worry Dot," AndrAIa placed a hand on her shoulder, "Bob will be all right. He can handle Hex."

"I know but --," Dot said, "Matrix, I'm going to arrange for some equipment to --,"

"Dot!" Enzo's surprised cry wretched her attention away from the window.

A curtain of silver sparks had just coalesced into Bob.

"Bob!" Dot ran to him and threw her arms around him, "I was so worried! What happened? Why did Hex take you?"

"I thought you'd know it was her," Bob said quietly.

Something in his voice disturbed Dot, "What's wrong?"

Behind them, AndrAIa was appraising Matrix of the situation.

"Let's wait until Matrix gets here," Bob said. "I have something I need to tell you all."

***

Bob couldn't, not even for a nano, envision doing what Hex suggested. Her idea was so unbelievably -- reckless? No, there had to be a stronger word for it. Dangerous? Horrifying? Bob wasn't sure.

And yet here was actually considering it. He had to be going random already.

And then there was Dot, standing before him, her face full of concern. How would this affect her and all his loved ones? If he took the slim chance Hex had given him, he might very well be sacrificing all.

Bob waited until his friends were all gathered. He wanted them to hear this. He needed to see what they thought. This monumental decision wasn't something he wanted to make alone.

He wanted to sit next to Dot, have her hold his hands and reassure him but instead he chose to stand facing the wall. With his back to them, his arms crossed in a defensive gesture.

"So what happened?" Mouse asked when Bob didn't speak immediately.

"Hex had a – proposition for me," Bob said, "It concerns my illness."

He heard what he knew to be Dot rise and approach him. She laid a hand on his shoulder and made him turn.

"What did she say Bob?"

No need to draw it out, "She said she had the means to cure me."

"What?"

"Are you certain, my son?"

"Bob!"

"You serious, mate?"

"What cure?"

"Please everyone," Bob interrupted their questioning, "What she proposes isn't exactly safe."

"Maybe you'd better sit down and tell us everything," Dot led him over to the couch and sat next to him. Little Enzo was on his other side.

"Hex told me that it's quite possible another type of viral energy could slow or even destroy the progress of Hybrid-X," Bob said. "I thought she was suggesting at first that she infect me but she said that probably wouldn't work. She told me, in her own unique way, that the viral energy has to be inherent in me."

"But you're not a virus, Bob," Enzo said.

"Enzo --," Bob began but Matrix interrupted.

"No," the renegade whispered, "You're not saying what I think your saying."

"I was a virus once," Bob couldn't seem to speak above a whisper.

No one said anything and when Bob couldn't stand the silence any longer he said, "Hex says she has to the power to cause my viral side to --,"

"You don't have a 'viral side'," Dot cut him off. "You're a sprite. Robert Lan. That's it."

"Dot," Bob said.

"No, I don't want to hear the rest," Dot's voice broke.

"Dot you know what I'm going to say."

"Bob you can't be serious!" Matrix stood.

"Now wait a nano, sugah," Mouse said, "So we can all be in this conversation to? What exactly did Hex want to try and do?"

Bob stood and turned away again. He couldn't bear to see the look of distress on Dot's face, "Hex says that if I were a virus, I'd have an excellent chance of beating the infection. To put it bluntly, she wants to use her power to reawaken my virus side."

Bob turned to face his friends, "She wants to bring back Dariem."