CHAPTER 23
A SILENT LITTLE WAR
The present
Enzo watched Raven load the last of the supplies on his ship before turning to where Flame and Cracker sat. The two mercenaries were still contained, and sat propped up against the side of Flame's ship.
"We're going to release you after we leave," Enzo said, "Then I suggest you get as far away from here as possible. Raven has plans on blowing this place up in a half a millisecond."
Flame leered at him, "You realize I'm going to have to spank you for being such a naughty boy."
"You realize you disgust me?" Enzo turned away at Raven's approach.
"Are you certain they won't be able to follow us?" Raven said.
"Not in that ship," Enzo motioned towards it with his thumb. "Mouse would be proud of the job --," He broke off, thoughts of Mouse, leading to thoughts of Melissa, Dot, and Mainframe.
"We're ready to leave," Raven turned to Flame, "We'll meet again I'm sure Flame."
"Sooner than you think," Flame said.
Raven's eyes narrowed, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I think it means we should leave – now," Enzo turned and ran for the Nevermore. Raven hastened to follow.
"Ignition!" Enzo heard Raven say from behind him as his feet hit the entrance ramp and he rushed into the cool darkness of the ship as it powered up.
"Raven," the computer voice announced, "Several unidentified ships have breached our outer perimeter."
The mercenary yelled an epitaph that would have made a grown man blush. "I should have known Flame would bring help."
"Can we get away?" Enzo already had his organizer open and was plotting the fastest course and whether or not they could out fly the ships. "I'll feed the coordinates for the quickest route into your system."
Raven nodded and achieved liftoff. The Nevermore turned, too slow for Enzo's liking, and they were off.
"They're increasing their speed," Enzo fed more calculations into his organizer, "At this rate, they'll overtake us – let's hope they have no fire power."
"Computer prepare for net travel," Raven said.
"There's not enough --," Enzo began, "Damn, incoming!"
The first shot clipped the left wing, sending a shudder through the ship. The second was accompanied by an explosion that sent burning metal flying past their front view and to their horror; the Nevermore went into a dive.
Raven was screaming commands into the computer. Lights were flashing and alarms were sounding and the computer in a calm and almost reassuring voice, counted down the nanos to impact.
"Brace yourself!" Raven yelled as the tree line rushed to meet them.
Enzo's last conscious memory was that of glass shattering and a deafening roar of wind before he was thrown violently forward.
***
Enzo came to slow painful consciousness. Gingerly he examined his many cuts and bruises, before allowing himself to open to eyes and take in his surroundings. He was alive, thank the User. As far as he could tell, there were no bones broken, but he wished the little man who was pounding on his skull with a sledgehammer would stop.Carefully, he picked himself up, realizing he had somehow ended up behind his chair, which ironically was in better shape than he was. He managed to pull himself up to stand by the chair back.
His vision blurred for a time and he squinted his eyes shut, and when he could finally see straight, he saw Raven.
The mercenary was lying unconscious across the control panel. Blood seeped into his golden hair.
"Cursors!" Enzo activated his organizer, which had also miraculously survived. Enzo was beside the mercenary in a nano and gently lifted his head from off the panel. "Don't delete on me you sorry son of a null."
Although loath to move him, Enzo wrestled with Raven's inert body, dragging him clear of the cockpit, the laying him down on the floor. He stood up and rubbed the back of his neck and took more time to examine his surroundings.
Apparently, they had managed to land -- that is, Raven had managed to land them in a small clearing in the trees. Things were in disarray on board, but otherwise, the interior was undamaged.
He hoped he had enough time to treat Raven. Whoever had shot them down was probably on their way and would no doubt look for a landing spot before coming after them. Enzo hoped that would take awhile. Even as the thought occurred to him, he heard the unmistakable sounds of ships passing overhead.
"Level One diagnostic," Enzo programmed the float command. "Well you seem to be processing – looks like you'll live."
As if in reply, Raven moaned softly.
"BRB," Enzo went to the rear hold and after much searching, found the medical supplies he needed. Then he went about treating Raven. His injuries weren't as bad as they could have been. When he was done, he treated his own as best he could. Enzo was so into his work, that he didn't notice the sound until it seemed right outside of the ship. The young sprite looked up with a start, when he realized the sound had been that of a rocket cycle, and his worst fear was confirmed when an obviously magnified voice said, "Raven, you processing in there?"
Flame.
Enzo froze, indecision gnawing at him. He looked down at Raven, then back out the window. Enzo couldn't see their pursuers and obviously, they hadn't seen him yet. Maybe they were afraid to approach. But he knew one thing; Flame would delete Raven on the spot.
With a sigh of resignation, Enzo knew what he had to do.
He approached the window as close as he dared, "I'm here! I'm coming out!"
He wasn't certain if they heard him. "Don't fire, I'm alone!"
"We're waiting for you," the tone of Flame's voice sent yet another shudder of revulsion through him.
Working quickly, Enzo dragged Raven back to the room where he had been held captive when he made his journey. With much effort, he wrestled Raven onto the bed. Then again, turned to his organizer. When he was eleven, Bob had taken him on the promised tour of the Super Computer, although a brief one, because of Bob's duties. One of the places they had visited was the armory and Bob had allowed Enzo to select one item of defense. He had it zip stored within his organizer and he activated it now. When he was done, he stood, quickly examined his handiwork, praying to the User that he was successful, then went to meet his enemies.
Without the computer, he was forced to manually open the door. It only took him a nano or so to figure out the controls. The ramp wouldn't come down either, so he leapt lightly onto the grassy earth.
At least ten people -- each looking more vicious than the last – surrounded him. It was Flame who approached him.
"Well, well, now isn't this a fortunate return of events?" She leered at him, "File lock him."
Cracker walked forward and Enzo tensed, expecting to be struck or worse. But Cracker merely drew a rectangular device from his belt and pointed it at Enzo. There was a flash of light and bright orange bands of energy surrounded his torso. Enzo didn't bother to struggle.
"I still owe you for my war hammer," Cracker said.
"Aw – did the little boy throw a tantrum because his toy broke?" Enzo mocked.
"You little," Cracker drew back his hand to strike him.
"Cracker!" Flame warned, "We need his face intact."
Cracker muttered a threat and withdrew. Flame approached him, "Where's Raven?"
"Deleted."
"What?" Flame said, "How?"
"From injuries he sustained in the crash," Enzo said, hoping they'd take his word for it. They didn't.
"Search the ship," Flame said. "If you're lying – well there are ways I can make you suffer without marking that pretty body of yours."
Enzo didn't reply.
After what seemed like an entire cycle, the three mercenaries who had went to obey Flame's orders returned, "The ship's empty."
Flame looked at him, "So he did die."
"I told you he did," Again Enzo found himself hoping but that Flame didn't destroy the ship.
"We'll come back later to salvage what we can," Flame smiled, "In the meantime, we've got some serious plans to make and then even more serious celebrating to do. You see before you, Enzo Matrix, our ticket to units and power."
The gathered men cheered. Enzo closed his eyes, "Goodbye Melissa."
***
Seven hours into the past
"It's all here," Mouse said, "Now alls we have to do is talk to the portal room technician, examine the Portal Generator log, talk to that binome who caused all of this, and we'll have our answers."
Ray lifted his goggles and rubbed his eyes, "Is it safe to assume we'll be ordering in?"
"Yup, looks like this is going to be an all-nighter," Mouse smiled at him. She and Ray were holed up in a file storage room off of the Operations Center, going over time logs for the last second. The two sat at a workstation, the soft blue light from the console the only illumination in the room.
"Thought so. Want to check on Bob first?"
"Yeah, sugah, I'm real worried about him," Mouse said, "But first, lets go talk to Zif and find out more about the binome that ruined things. Maybe get some background info on him."
"Sounds like a plan."
The Operations Center was just changing shifts. Zif was away from the center at that time, attending to some technical emergency that had arisen. Mouse went to the door and called to one binome and asked her to contact him, then she returned to the workstation, opened a vid-window and contacted Bob's office.
"Is Bob still in his office, sugah?" Mouse asked, when Rule answered.
"He was when I last checked and he hasn't come out at all, Constable," Rule said, "I was about to call you, we've received a garbled message from Mainframe. I'm running it through the system to try and decipher it but --,"
"Keep trying," Mouse said, "Ray and I will be there in a few nanos."
The binome Mouse had spoken with entered the room, "Zif instructed me to give you all the information you needed."
"That binome that caused all that ruckus," Mouse said, "We need all the personal information you have on him."
The woman looked at Mouse as though she had just had a litter of nulls, "Ma'am?"
"You hard of hearin', sugah?" Mouse said, "We need the personnel file."
Another strange look from the binome woman, then, "All right ma'am."
"Now just what was that all about?" Ray asked.
"I'm not sure, sugah but I don't like it."
The binome took her time returning. When she did, she handed Mouse a file folder, "This is everything, may I go now?"
Mouse wondered about the binome's attitude towards her. Defensive, with an undercurrent of nervousness to it. It had her instincts screaming. "Thank you, sugah."
After the binome departed, Mouse looked at Ray, and saw that the search engine's feelings mirrored her own. Mouse rose and said, "BRB, sugah."
She followed the binome back out to the Operations Center, the woman was just exiting the room. Mouse frowned, then followed. The woman was making her way down the crowded hallway, but Mouse managed to keep her in sight. Apparently, the binome woman was confident no one would follow her, for she didn't once look back. After a time, the woman slipped through a door leading to the fire stairs. The alarm went off abruptly, then stopped, and Mouse figured that by working in the Operations Center, the woman would obviously have the code.
Mouse continued her silent pursuit, using the woman's footfalls to mask her own. After a time, Mouse heard a door opening and leaned over the stairwell in time enough to see the woman exit.
They were in the lower levels and Mouse knew that her instincts had once again served her well. The flow of people decreased dramatically here. Now they traversed halls where there were storage rooms of all sorts. Soon the hacker found herself in the basement.
She lost sight of her quarry amongst the stacked boxes and exposed pipes, she did, that is until she heard the voices.
"You've got to get rid of him now!" the woman was saying.
"I can't, I'm not a murderer," a male voice replied.
"What did you think, that you could keep him here forever?" The woman said, "They just asked me for your personal records. If they find out about us --,"
"I don't like this," the male said, "Not one bit. To hell with what he said. He didn't need to do what he did to Mistress Katiyana."
He? Mouse thought. So, Katiyana's attacker was a man.
"He was protecting you and himself," she said. "So what are we going to do about him?"
"I don't know," the male said, "This is getting so out of hand."
"Do you realize what we'll have if we succeed?"
"I don't care about that anymore," the man said, "I just want this to be over."
Mouse stepped from out of her hiding place. "It is over, sugah."
The two both stared at her in opened-mouthed shock. Mouse stepped forward then a noise distracted her, drawing her attention to a dark corner of the room. Another binome, bound and gagged, stared pleadingly at her with his single eye.
"What in the net --," Mouse began.
Movement out of the corner of her eye had Mouse turning swiftly back to the miscreant pair of binomes. The man had a laser drawn.
"Cursors!" Furious with herself for such a rookie mistake, Mouse dove as he fired and cried out as the shot glanced off her forearm. Mouse hit the floor hard rolled, then dragged herself behind the nearest pile of crates. She pressed her hand over her wound and felt the blood seep through her fingers. A rush of dizziness claimed her and had the room spinning.
"Don't just stand there, get her!" The woman was screaming. "If she gets away --!"
Mouse remained silent.
"I told you I'm no murderer! I didn't mean to fire!"
"Give me that then," the woman said. Mouse imagined she had taken the laser from her companion. "I'll take care of her, and the technician."
"Technician?" Mouse muttered. Carefully, she raised her wrist, bringing her communicator close to her lips. If she spoke into it the woman might pinpoint her voice. There was a hum from machinery, could it mask her?
"Ray," the dizziness took fierce hold of her and Mouse fought to remain conscious.
***
Ray stepped from within the room, "Has Constable Mouse returned yet?"
Once of the night crew, a sprite woman looked up at him, "No sir."
Ray rubbed his chin and frowned thoughtfully, "Be a love and page her now, would you?"
The woman blushed, but said, "Yes sir."
When there was no reply, Ray stepped back in the room and activated his own com link, on his belt, "Mouse, this is Ray, do you read?"
"Ray," her barely audible voice came through.
"Mouse? I can barely hear you, where are you?"
"Quiet! I'm in the basement, and I'm in big trouble."
"Activate your tracking signal, I'm on my way --,"
A sound came through the communicator that had a cold feeling settling in the pit of Ray's stomach.
Laser shots.
***
The binome woman smiled maliciously at Mouse, "Whoever you called will be too late."
Mouse glared her defiance at the woman, "So you'll delete me and that poor binome, what did he do to you?"
She shrugged, "Not a thing, he was just doing his job for once. He doesn't normally, that's why no one missed him."
Mouse knew she had to keep her talking, "His job?"
"As the --," the woman began, then her smile widened, "You're good mercenary, very good, but your stalling won't save you now."
"No!" Then the binome male was there, knocking into her. The shot went awry and the laser flew from her grasp. Mouse didn't waste time watching them struggle. She hauled herself up and crawled to where the laser had fallen. She snatched it up and fired once into the air.
The two stop struggling.
Fighting dizziness and nausea, Mouse pointed the laser at them, "Start talking you two, what's this all about?"
"It wasn't my idea!" The man said.
"Shut up!" the woman screeched at him.
"On second thought, why don't you both shut up for now," Mouse said, she leaned against the nearest crate, "You, go untie that binome."
The man obeyed. The woman gave her a hateful glare. After a nano, voices were raised in the other room.
"Get out here, both of you!" Mouse yelled, while never taking her gaze from the woman.
The two binomes walked out. "Thank the User you came!" The binome who had been a prisoner said, "I thought they were going to delete me!"
"Don't play so innocent!" The woman snarled.
"Didn't I tell ya ta shut up?" Mouse snapped.
They all did. It seemed like forever before the sounds of many footsteps came and the sound of a familiar voice calling her.
"Mouse!" Ray came around the corner followed by several security guards, "Love are you all right?" Then his eyes widened when he saw her injured arm, "Bloody hell! Get a medic down here, now!"
"Ray, sweetheart, I'm fine."
"You're not fine!" Ray said, "What about these blokes?" Ray motioned to the three.
"Detention center for all of them," Mouse said, "Ray --," The dizziness came again, and Mouse stumbled towards him.
Ray managed to catch her before she fell, "It's all right love, I'm here, I have you."
***
"Love are you sure you're all right?" Ray asked her for the nth time as they exited the infirmary.
"I've already told you honey, I'm fine," Mouse said, "We've got to get to the detention center. This may be the break we've been looking for --,"
"Would Constables Tracer and Mouse, call the Prime Guardian's Office immediately," Rule's voice came over the PA system.
"Oh my User, you don't suppose Bob --?" Mouse began.
They rushed to the nearest vid-phone. When Rule's face appeared in the window, she said, "That message from Mainframe was an emergency signal – we've received another – they need help urgently, they are under viral attack."
"Bloody hell!" Ray said for the second time, "Get the Portal Room ready, now!"
"Has the Prime Guardian been informed?"
"No ma'am," Rule looked uncomfortable, "I didn't want to --,"
"Inform him of what's happened, we're on our way," Ray said.
He and Mouse were already rushing down the hall.
***
The door closed and Bob was once again left alone in the darkness. Someone had entered and spoken. Bob had no idea who it was and didn't even acknowledge their presence. Somewhere within the last few millisecond's he had ceased to care about anything.
The pain was inconsequential. It was now such a familiar part of him that he welcomed it. Anything to break the cycle of depression. When he slept he had nightmares, but even they meant nothing. He went through them, watching or participating with an almost bored indifference. Friends and loved ones were horribly deleted. Sometimes it was himself committing the act, and each time he didn't care.
The room was suddenly flooded with light once again. Someone was speaking to him but he ignored them.
"Bob!" The voice was insistent and familiar.
"Come on, sugah, you gotta snap out of it!"
Leave me alone; Bob didn't have the strength to say it.
Suddenly, he was being pulled up, and the red-gold light of the setting sun filled the room. His vision came into focus. Two people were there, a man and a woman. They looked so familiar. The man had opened the blinds and the woman had him by the shoulders, her large brown eyes stared at him with a fierce intensity.
"Bob, can you hear me?"
Finally, her voice seemed to breach the fog in his brain, "Yes?"
"Crash it all, we shouldn't have left him this long," the man said, "We should get him to the medical center now!"
"Call Rose, have them come get him," the woman spoke, "Bob, we're gonna get you to the infirmary, all right?"
What was this woman's name? He was sure he knew her, "Mouse?"
"Yes, Bob, don't worry, we'll handle things in Mainframe."
Mainframe? The mention of his beloved system cleared away more of the fog,
"Mouse – what's going in Mainframe?"
"I told you we'd handle it!"
Bob fought the pain and the depression and used what was left of his strength and his will to push it back one last time, "What in the net is going on Mouse!"
"We received a message from Mainframe, they're under viral attack," Mouse said, "I've already mobilized our forces and --,"
"Can make a portal large enough for our troops --,"
"Are you sure you're up to it?"
"I have to be," Bob felt the depression fighting for control again, "How long have I been out?"
"All second, sugah," Mouse said.
"Don't let me do that again, understand?" Bob said, a harshly, then he modified his voice and said, "I – I might not come back next time."
"All right, I promise."
"You can fill me in on what's happening on the way," Bob said. He couldn't let it take him just yet. He had a job to do.
***
He was cold again.
Enzo shivered violently and reached for something, anything to bring him warmth. Something was there. Solid and living, Enzo moved closer even though it was painful, absorbing as much of the warmth as he could.
He tried to figure out where he was. Everything was dark, and he heard an odd "thumping" sound. Actually, he heard two sounds, identical beating in a steady rhythm. They sounded like two core-com.
A new sound invaded the darkness. A voice speaking to him. Enzo struggled to wakefulness and as sensation returned he realized he was being carried. Muscular arms held him with surprising gentleness.
"Stay with me, Kid," A familiar voice said.
Enzo squinted his eyes, then managed to pry them open just a little. His lids felt too heavy to move, but he needed to know what was going on.
"Enzo can you hear me?"
The blurred image of a face looking down at him slowly focused into –
Valadare.
Enzo opened his mouth to scream but nothing emerged. In his mind, he did scream, "No, no, NO!" The thing he had been drawing warmth from was the same thing that had tried to delete him and was now trying again.
Enzo pushed against the solid muscular chest. It was a feeble attempt. He was surprised he had the strength to do what he did. But he wouldn't let this thing hurt him again. Valadare looked down at him and spoke, but in his panic, Enzo didn't hear what he was saying. Again, the little sprite struggled even as his strength ebbed. When the last of it was spent, Enzo moaned softly, "Please don't hurt me again."
"I won't," Valadare said, "I promise I won't ever hurt you again."
"M-Matrix?" Finally, Enzo truly saw the face of the person who held him. It wasn't Valadare. That thing was gone, thank the User, "It hurts."
"I know, just stay with me, okay?" Matrix said, "We're getting you to the infirmary."
"Melissa – is she okay?"
"She's fine, she's right behind us."
"Chaos --,"
"He got away, but don't worry, I'll get him."
"Don't let him hurt Melissa."
"I won't."
Enzo reached for the warmth again. That part of his processor that told him he was supposed to hate Matrix was quieted by his need to feel safe. He snuggled closer to that warmth and strength, making himself as comfortable as possible in Matrix's arms and allowed the blissful darkness to take him again.
***
Was I really this tiny? Matrix thought as he looked down at the little sprite he held. Amazingly, Enzo was lighter than Matrix had expected. He lifted the little sprite easily into his arms and hopped on his zip board that he had already decompressed.
"Can you follow me?" He asked over his shoulder to Melissa.
"Yes," Melissa said.
It was getting dark and Matrix wanted to be within the safety of the Principal Office not to mention he wanted to make certain AndrAIa and Dot were all right. The renegade looked down at his charge when he moaned softly.
"Stay with me, Kid," Matrix said.
Enzo began to struggle, Matrix couldn't figure out why, "Stop struggling, I'll drop you!"
Then Enzo whispered, "Please don't hurt me again."
And Matrix knew and understood.
"Don't worry," he hastened to assure him, "I won't ever hurt you again." And he realized he meant it. How could he hurt this tangible part of him? Seeing him like this, so vulnerable? That had been him not so long ago. Who had protected him then? No one. Perhaps there was a reason his other self was here? So that he would have the chance to protect him?
Enzo finally ceased his struggling and in fact, moved closer to him and Matrix continued speak encouragement.
Matrix looked up suddenly and halted.
"What's the tin skin doing up on the big bulb?" Matrix asked.
Melissa flew in beside him and pointed below, "Look!"
Something, Matrix wasn't sure what covered, all four walkways to the Principal Office. Whatever it was seemed alive, as it shifted and vibrated.
"What is that thing?"
"Bugs," Melissa whispered, "Viral bugs."
Matrix looked again in morbid fascination. "Guess contacting the P.O. is out."
Matrix looked down at Enzo. The little sprite seemed to be taking a turn for the worse. His breathing was shallow and his skin was pallid. "There must be a way to get in."
"Hexadecimal could portal us in, couldn't she?" Melissa said.
"Not while the tin skin is up. We'd have to get them to lower it and there's no chance of them doing that."
For the first time in his processing, indecision gnawed at the brawny sprite. He needed to get Enzo help but also, the problem with the bugs had to be dealt with. "This is Chaos's doing isn't it? He controls the bugs?"
"Yes," Melissa said, "But he's been injured, he may not be able to exert control for very much longer."
"What will happen if he loses control?"
"I --," Now it was Melissa who was indecisive, "Almost anything."
Little Enzo shifted restlessly in his arms. He had to do something. Could Hex help them? Well Matrix doubted it since Hex had made no move to help them yet. Little Enzo groaned in pain, which pretty much made his decision for him, "I'm going to take Enzo to Mr. Pearson. Maybe his serum will help. I want you to stay with him."
Melissa gave him a strange look, but said, "All right. What are you going to do?"
"Mobilize our troops," Matrix said, "I don't like this one bit. The CPU's should have been here the moment the tin-skin went up. Where is everyone?"
"I don't like the way this feels one bit," Melissa said as they flew towards the Data Dump. When they landed in from of Pearson's shack she said, "Please be careful, Matrix."
Matrix looked at her in surprise, then he gave her the barest hint of a smile, "I will, Melissa."
Mr. Pearson opened the door at their insistent knocking, "Now what be going on here?"
"Enzo's been infected, Mr. Pearson, we need your help."
"Bring him in quickly," Pearson's whole demeanor changed. "Lie him on the bed. Melissa, go to that cabinet and fetch the two green jars."
Matrix laid Enzo across the bed and pulled the blankets over him.
"Wait a nano," Pearson eyed him critically, "Who infected him?"
"A virus named Chaos," Matrix said, "Can you help him?"
Melissa handed Pearson the jars, "I'll do me best, lad."
"Take good care of him," Matrix said.
"And just where would you be going?" Pearson asked.
"We have an emergency situation at the Principal Office and the CPU's haven't arrived, I'm going to their headquarters," Matrix said, "Melissa will stay here to."
"Then good luck to ye lad, and take care."
"Thanks," Matrix hesitated for a moment, then he leaned over Enzo and brushed back one of the spiky bangs, "I'll be back soon, Kid, I promise."
***
Mr. Pearson went about treating Enzo as best as he was able. He was no doctor – at least not in the normal 'formal education' sense. What he had learned he had learned by very different means, which he wasn't about to elaborate to anyone.
"Help me here, Little Missy," he instructed the girl-child virus.
"Will he be all right?" Melissa asked at length.
"Hard to say, Little Missy, he needs a true doctor, but my serum should help some," Pearson said. He leaned over Enzo to check his temperature.
"You'll take care of him won't you?"
"Of course I will Little Missy," Pearson said, "Now don't you fret Enzo's in good hands. Now do ye want to tell me --,"
Pearson turned as he spoke and realized he was alone in the cabin. Melissa was gone.
***
The absence of people outside and the oppressive silence had Matrix's nerves on edge. He zipped past Baudway, descended into Sector 1002 and was shocked to see when he came upon the CPU Headquarters that they were indeed mobilizing. Still Matrix wondered what the delay had been.
He was seen, as several of the sprites and binomes pointed in his direction as he approached. As he landed, a binome sergeant approached him.
"Sir!" The sergeant saluted him.
"What's the situation here?" Matrix demanded.
"We're mobilizing to move on the Principal Office, sir," the sergeant glanced nervously behind him. "Perhaps you'll want to come inside and speak with my superior?"
Immediately, Matrix knew something was wrong although he wasn't certain what. His cyber-eye activated with a mechanical whirl and his infrared scanned the building, focusing immediately on the dozens of viral binomes within. He had waltzed right into a trap.
The renegade tensed, preparing himself for whatever was to come. The binome before him wasn't viral, which probably meant he had been kept for the express purpose of greeting people like him basic enough to approach without taking any precautions.
"Why don't you have him come out here?" Matrix said between clenched teeth.
The binome looked like he might faint dead away. "Um -- uh – um --,"
"When I say now, you hit the ground, no hesitating, understand?"
"Y-yes sir."
"Gun -- command line – multiple target acquisition – viral protocol."
The binome made a noise of terror.
"Now!" Matrix yelled, diving as the binome did.
All hell broke loose.
Matrix belly-crawled to the nearest cover – a transport, knowing it was suicide to stay there. The air was filled with deadly flashes of light, yelling voices and acrid smoke. Matrix called to Gun and his weapon flew into his hand. He was up and running and was down again when a shot tore across his thigh. He was crawling again, until he was beside a utility shed, and pressed his back against the wall.
To his horror, the sky was suddenly filled with armored transports. Groups of both viral and clean binomes were quick marching away from the scene. Towards the Principal Office. Obviously, he wasn't as important to them as their true objective but that didn't mean they wouldn't come for him.
A group was coming for him now. Matrix clutched Gun in his hand. "Gun –,"
Matrix cried out as pain tore though his shoulder, followed by the acrid scent of his own burning flesh. The female sprite that held a wrist cannon on him smiled. She had managed to take him by complete surprise coming from around the opposite side of the tool shed.
"Drop the gun," she said.
Matrix let Gun fall from his grasp.
"Mmm," the woman smiled and ran her tongue over her lips, "You are impressive."
"So I've been told."
"Maybe I won't have to delete you. Maybe if you're really nice to me, I'll let you live."
"I'd rather delete first."
"That won't be a problem!" She raised the cannon.
The portal that suddenly appeared overhead startled them both. It was Matrix who recovered first. Although he had his chivalrous side, he wasn't about to let this woman delete him. Matrix tackled her and held her down by the wrists while she struggled and screamed curses at him. He dare not look up at what was coming through the portal.
"Let her up!" A voice suddenly said and Matrix looked to see several sprites and binomes had surrounded him. He did what they said. Matrix raised his hands and backed against the wall of the utility shed.
The woman stood before him. Matrix guessed she was someone of high rank within the Chosen. She smiled ferally at Matrix and the look she gave him made a shudder of revulsion run through him. Above him, the army transports dwindled to mere shadows in the sky.
"Looks like our help is coming," the woman nodded over to the flickering portal. "Mainframe is ours! The Chosen have won!"
***
"Sir, Ma'am!" Specks suddenly cried, "Sensors indicate a portal opening in Sector 1002!"
Dot wiped the perspiration from her forehead and licked her dry lips, "What's coming through?"
"Looks like fighter class," Specks said, "I'm also picking up several squadrons of CPU's heading our way."
"Finally!" Dot said, "AndrAIa, how goes the repairs on the com?"
AndrAIa looked up from within the open control panel. Her beautiful aquamarine hair was now damp against her forehead, "Still working on it. Maybe I can divert to another power source."
"Try and hail the CPU's," Dot said, "Maybe get can get a --,"
"Sir, ma'am, I'm reading a large convergence of people headed this way – at least several hundred," Specks said.
"On vid-window," Dot said. And was astonished to find Specks was right. "Magnification fifty – one hundred."
As the window zoomed in on the group of people approaching the P.O., Dot drew in a sharp breath, "Viral sprites and binomes."
The heavily armed group continued seeming to ignore the bugs, which scattered as though an unseen force had commanded them.
"Somehow, I don't think they have our best interests at heart either." AndrAIa had joined them and now motioned to the other vid-window where the CPU cars were approaching.
The binomes piloting the CPU cars were also infected.
"My User," Dot's eyes went back to the first window when she noticed the diminutive man at the forefront of the crowd, "Who is that at their lead?"
The man stepped confidently forward and as though by magic the bugs parted to make a path for him. Dot noticed the bandaging around the stump that was his arm. Blood seeped through the cloth and Dot realized his injury was new.
"He appears to be signaling us," Phong said.
"AndrAIa?" Dot turned to her friend.
AndrAIa knelt again and the panel, tinkered with the insides a bit, then said, "Try it now."
"Attention occupants of the Principal Office," the man said, "I am the wild virus Chaos. Your unconditional surrender is demanded."
"He's got to be kidding," Dot said, "All guns power up!"
"Dot wait," Phong said, "Look closely at those people."
Dot came around from the console and examined their would-be attackers with a critical eye. Then she saw what Phong saw, "They're just ordinary citizens – probably forced into serving him. I see what you're saying Phong, if we can avoid firing on them, we will, unless they attack. Maybe we can stall for time."
"AndrAIa," Dot said, "Try and contact the Super Computer again. Specks, I want a readout on that portal. Keep those guns powered up to be safe."
"Sir, Ma'am, multiple signatures emanating from the portal -- they appear to be a fleet of fighters."
"What?" Dot cried, "We need a visual in Sector 1002 now!"
"I'm on it," Specks said.
AndrAIa looked up from her work, "You can make outside contact now."
"Attention, virus Chaos," Dot said, "This is Dot Matrix, Command.com of this system. Surely you realize the futility of challenging us?"
"Oh I don't believe my challenge is futile at all," Chaos smiled. "I know you won't fire on these poor hapless infected people, since we've made no hostile move against you and I know my bugs have you trapped so you can't get out. I'm betting you've sealed off all the air ducts to keep the bugs from getting in. Hot enough for you in there, Ms. Matrix?"
Dot resisted the urge to draw the back of her hand across her forehead, "You won't get away with this."
The look in Chaos eyes was one of triumph, "I already have. Did you really think your pathetic brother and his slut could catch us all? We are thousands strong."
"Slut? Did that basic null brain just call me a slut?" AndrAIa hissed.
"We'll be more than happy to wait, Ms. Matrix, I think in time you'll realize surrender is the only option," Chaos signaled to his 'troops' to fall back.
Dot's fists clenched, "Would someone care to tell me where these arrogant-ASCII virals come from?"
"Sir, Ma'am!" Specks suddenly pointed to the vid-window, which showed Sector 1002.
"Wait, zoom in on those ships," Dot said.
"I believe those are New Collective fighters," Phong said.
But Dot wasn't listening to them anymore. Her eyes were on the figure riding alone on a rocket cycle, his silver armor glistening with ethereal light. He led the forces that came to their rescue.
"Bob," Dot whispered.
***
"What in the net?" The woman who held Matrix prisoner asked in confusion at what emerged from the portal. Her hand, which held the laser, lowered.
Lunging forward, Matrix cried, "Gun!" Just as he tackled her. His weapon flew into his grasp and he was up, barreling into the nearest man before he had a chance to react. Matrix turned, faced several gun barrels, he raised his own weapon just as his captors fired on him. Matrix faced his end with grim acceptance.
The familiar golden light, which suddenly surrounded him from head to toe, saved his life. He looked up, as did his would-be assassins and grinned at the sight of Bob, on a zip board. Matrix gave a cry of triumph.
A single sweeping blast of Bob's power rendered the enemy unconscious. At that moment, Matrix saw something moving out of the corner of his eye and turned in time to see the woman dashing off towards the CPU building. Matrix took off in pursuit.
He saw her run into the narrow space between two buildings and keeping away from the entrance to the alley, Matrix made his way over and pressed himself against the wall, before continuing to follow.
"Look," Matrix called, "Surrender now, and I promise, I'll go easy on you."
When he received no reply Matrix dashed down the alley and as he stepped out from the other end, something smashed down between his shoulder blades, sending him to his knees.
From his position, Matrix looked up to see his former captor standing over him holding a length of pipe. "You may not go rough on me, but I'm sure gonna go rough on you!"
Matrix smiled as something else caught his eye, "I don't think she'd appreciate that." He said, nodding behind her.
"What in the net --,"
Mouse stepped from within the shadow of the building and the woman had only a moment to react before Mouse's katana went down, cleaving the pipe in two. The mercenary's fist shot out, and the woman's head snapped back with a satisfying crunch of bones.
"You okay, sugah?" Mouse extended her hand.
"I'm fine," Matrix rubbed his eyes, giving his vision a chance to clear, "We've got to get to the Principal Office now!"
Mouse pointed her ring at the unconscious woman and locked her in a containment field, "Then lets stop waistin' time here."
***
"Sir! Sir!"
Chaos turned as the zero binome stumbled towards him, panting and sweating with exhaustion.
"What is it?" Chaos demanded.
"Enemy forces are headed this way!"
"What do you mean enemy forces?"
He turned to point and Chaos saw the ships coming towards them, mere dots on the horizon but drawing steadily closer.
"They liberated the CPU office and captured our forces!" The binome cried, "We have to get out of here!"
Chaos said, "You sniveling little coward, have our air forces intercept and delete them."
"But sir --!"
"Do it, little man," Chaos said, his claws extended, "Or I'll skewer you myself!"
The binome swallowed and nodded, making his escape.
"There must be a way inside," Chaos, for the first time, experienced a stirring of panic. "I'm too close to lose now!"
Focusing his power on the image of the bugs in his processor, Chaos sent a command to them – find any opening, any entrance and delete anything in your path.
Then Chaos turned to his troops and began issuing orders.
***
Sitting in the passenger seat of Ship, Matrix watched Bob through the cockpit window as he flew at the forefront of their forces. He had been worried, not having seen Bob for so many seconds. Now, after learning from Mouse that Bob had portalled them here, he feared for his friend's health and safety. Not that he hadn't before, but Matrix could imagine how much energy it must have taken to bring the cavalry in.
"You said Zif created the tear?" Matrix asked Mouse.
"That he did, sugah, using core energy, but it depleted the resources at the Hall," Mouse said. "We have to get back there ASAP, it's pretty vulnerable right now. Ray stayed behind to continue helping in the Operations Center."
"But who's in charge now?"
Mouse expelled a breath, "Colonel Tempus."
"Great, just great," Matrix muttered.
Mouse was examining the console, "Our sensors have picked up several dozen fighters on an intercept course."
"Our enemy attacking?" Matrix said. "They must know we'd clean their chronometers."
Word was passed along the convoy. The binome who piloted Bob's rocket cycle relayed orders that all ships were to come to a full stop. The fact that Bob had not spoken the orders himself caused Matrix ever-greater distress.
"It would be too much to hope they're surrendering," Matrix muttered.
"Wouldn't that be sweet, sugah?"
As the ships came within visual range, a giant vid-window opened to reveal a rather nervous looking zero binome.
"Attention, enemy forces," the binome said, "By order of his Lord Chaos servant of Daemon, we request – um – I mean – we demand your unconditional surrender."
Matrix and Mouse exchanged a look that clearly said, "Who is this bit-brain kidding?"
Then a voice Matrix barely recognized spoke over the com, "Where is that traitor, Chaos?"
Matrix gaped at the sound. The harsh rasp that had come over the airwaves couldn't possibly have been Bob? He looked at Mouse and saw a look of shock equaling his own.
"What did he mean by 'that traitor'?" Mouse asked.
"I don't know," Matrix said, knowing that wasn't entirely true. He did know, just as well as he knew the voice that had come from Bob.
The binome was speaking, "He's at the Principal Office – he's keeping them trapped inside."
Mouse shook her head, "Now doesn't he just put the 'ick' in 'pathetic'."
"Contact him, if he has the circuits to face his better," Bob hissed.
"That doesn't sound like Bob at all," Mouse said.
"It's not," Matrix said. It sounded like –
"Chaos told me to handle it," the binome said.
Bob laughed. It wasn't a pleasant sound, "Then you have two choices, surrender or be deleted."
"What in the net?" Mouse said, "What does Bob think he's doing?"
"Let me out, I'll go talk to him," Matrix said.
Mouse activated the cockpit release, "Be careful, sugah."
Matrix decompressed his zip board and flew towards the rocket cycle. Bob's voice continued over the com.
"Well, little man, what's your answer?"
"I – I don't want to delete," the binome said.
"Then call him," Bob said.
Matrix was only a few feet behind the rocket cycle now. He slowed to a halt and waited. There was a pause; Matrix guessed the binome was conferring with Chaos over a private channel.
"Chaos told me – I mean – you won't delete us – see all these people? They're just regular citizens that Chaos infected or we forced to fight," the binome said. "You'd be deleting innocent people. So you'd better just back off!"
"Damn," Matrix muttered. What could they do now? He figured Bob would need time to formulate a plan –
"So you won't surrender?" Bob was saying, "That's your final word?"
"Yes," the binome said.
"Fine," Bob said. There was something in his voice that turned Matrix cold.
"Delete them all."
