CHAPTER 26
MUCH NEEDED HEROES
The present
It took all of Matrix's will not to delete him on the spot.
The sight of his "M" targeting bulls-eye on Raven's forehead had given Matrix a great deal of pleasure.
The first hit had released much of then tension he had been feeling. Seeing Raven squirm also gave him a great deal of pleasure.
He asked the question, "Where is my brother?" and hoped Raven gave him an answer he didn't like.
"Flame has him!"
Definitely not the right answer. "What?" Matrix holstered Gun, was before Raven in a few powerful strides and grabbed him by the collar, shoving him against the nearest stack of crates. "You gave him up to Flame?"
"No!" Raven said, "I – he – Enzo – was just being Enzo."
Bob approached, "Explain yourself."
Raven quickly described the events up until then. When he was finished, Matrix threw him onto the deck.
"Your right about one thing, you sorry son of a null," Matrix said, "Saving your worthless ASCII was Enzo being Enzo."
"Flame took him to System 998," Raven went on, "I can take you to her."
"We know the way to System 998." Bob said.
"So you're of no use to us," Matrix said.
"You don't know where she'd take him and I do," Raven said, "Let me – assist you."
"Why?" Bob said.
For a moment, it seemed as though the mercenary wouldn't answer then -- ,
"Because I owe him."
"That's an understatement," Bob said. "All right Raven, here's the deal, you lead us to Flame and don't try to double cross us because we will hunt you down and find you again and I may just conveniently forget my Guardian Protocol when I get my hands on you. Understood?"
"Yes," Raven said.
"I'll ride shotgun with him," Matrix said, "Make sure he doesn't try anything."
"All right," Bob turned to Gavin, "I need to send messages to Mainframe and the Super Computer."
Matrix watched as Raven wiped the blood off his face. "I don't need to tell you what I'll do to you if anything happens to him."
"No, you don't." Raven said.
"After you, Raven," Matrix motioned him forward. For now a temporary truce but later…
***
Raven had not been truly terrified since he was fifteen and he had witnessed his mother's deletion. Since then he had always tried to keep fear at bay but now, it was impossible. This random sprite was going to delete him.
He had been angrier with himself for being caught and apprehensive when it seemed the crew of the Saucy Mare II would do him harm. The sight of Gavin Capacitor and a handsome sprite woman who spoke in soft voices momentarily distracted him. While in Mainframe, he had heard of the binome captain's sprite wife. It had stuck him as curious. Binome and sprite pairings were rare. There could be no children and very little intimacy. Raven could only figure they loved each other a great deal.
When Matrix pointed Gun at him and that sinister eye glowed red, Raven's core-com dropped into his stomach. Then the weapon was pointed at him and Raven couldn't stop himself from crying out, "No, don't!"
"Where is my brother?" Matrix had asked him. Strange, Enzo insisted Matrix was not his brother but here the man was willing to delete Raven over him. Raven had decided that there were times to lead and times to follow and this was definitely one of those, 'following' times. Besides, he had been telling the truth. He did owe Enzo and the raven always settled his debts.***
All around him, System 998 held a myriad of strange and often grotesque sights. Things that would give Enzo nightmares for cycles to come as well as ones that piqued his scientific curiosity.
Unfortunately, he was also hopelessly lost.
He had been searching and trying his best to stay out of sight. He purchased a different clothing format, since all he had on his icon besides the clothes he had been wearing since his kidnapping was his PDA uniform. And that wasn't exactly discreet.
He had been trying to avoid most people but when it became apparent that he wasn't going to locate a net port anytime soon, he began by asking the shop owner who sold him the clothes.
"Oh well, you've got a ways to go, lad," the sprite man had told him, "Only the filthy rich, and I mean that literally, get to use the portals – unless you know somebody or got enough money."
He thought of Bob, but somehow he figured telling people he was the Prime Guardian's brother-in-law wouldn't garner too favorable a reaction. "Can you tell me where the port is and how to get there?"
"For a price."
Enzo sighed, "How much?" And cringed at the amount but he paid it, with silent apologies to Dot. He didn't have the time or the patience to haggle. The man drew him a makeshift map and Enzo programmed the data into his organizer, then destroyed the copy in case the shop owner had the urge to rat him out.
He purchased other supplies as well, and a backpack to place them in. If his situation weren't so dire, he thought at one point this would remind him of one of his summer trips. But he was on a mission. "That determination thing", Bob had said to him once, "You inherited it from your sister."
So, he was ready now. He'd tried to buy transportation, if not he had a long walk ahead of him. But he would take care. He wasn't going to assume Flame and Cracker were gone.
***
"Whoa what happened to you, Flame?"
Flame glared at the fat mercenary who sat leaning his chair against the scarred table.
"She lost her get rich quick scheme," someone called from the other side of the room.
"Shut up before I smash your skull in," Cracker yelled at him.
"With what?" The man called, "Heard you lost your hammer, Cracker!"
"Shut up, all of you!" Flame eyed them. Gathered here in a backroom of a 'friend's' home were some of the most vicious criminals residing on System 998. And they were all as greedy, if not more so, as Flame. "Do you want in on this, or not?"
"Sure, sure," the first man said, "So what's the deal Flame?"
"A twenty-five percent cut for the man who brings me the boy – processing."
There was some grumbling at that.
"Fifty," the first man said.
"It's twenty-five and it's not up for negotiation. Anyone who's not satisfied with that leave now."
Two people did. The rest; the smart ones who realized that any amount of extra money was a good thing; stayed.
"Stealth is the key," Flame said. "I don't care which one of you does it, just get it done and not a mark on him, understand?"
More grumbling but the men filed out of the room.
"Of course," Flame said, once they were alone "If we find him first, we won't have to pay them anything."
"So of course you have a plan?" Cracker said.
"Of course," Flame said. "My guess is he'll head for the net port. We just need to get there first and wait for him."
Flame examined the many cuts and bruises she received in her escape from the web creature. Fortunately, the beasts had been more interested in their jailer then in her; "I owe that little null-face for this." And she was going to make certain he paid.
***
Seven hours into the past
Quicksilver brooded as he paced back and forth across the room.
"Tempus is not my concern at this point," Quicksilver finally spoke. "He more than likely told them where to find me, or at least the general area. We will leave of course."
"Whatever you say," Desdemona said.
Quicksilver turned to her, "Come now my dear, being viral isn't as bad as all that is it?" Quicksilver reached out and caressed her face where the streak of silver marred her features. "It will take a few cycles for the transformation to be complete." His hand then lowered to her stomach, "And you will insure my victory in the future in the unlikely event our attack does not go as planned."
"Yes," Desdemona said dully.
"And with the Prime Guardian's imminent demise," Quicksilver said, "and I am very appreciative of your bringing me that news, there is no one to stop us."
"Yes."
Suddenly annoyed with her, Quicksilver said, "How tiresome you are becoming. Have our forces meet at the designated location. We will abandon this place but I'm going to leave a little gift for the New Collective."
***
Matrix stared grimly across the expanse of buildings and warehouses of Sector 3003. AndrAIa flew beside him on an identical rocket cycle. She didn't speak, knowing he was trying to sense where the virus might be. Right now, Matrix had an awareness of his presence in the area. He was here, of that Matrix was certain.
"Sir!" A binome sergeant approached, breaking his concentration, "We've searched the outlaying buildings and they appear to have been abandoned for some time. We will begin to move into the interior."
"Has the perimeter been secured?"
"Yes sir! No one's getting out of this sector, unless --,"
"Unless they were alerted before we got here," Matrix said, what with all of the spies that seemed to be pervading Council Hall, it was a possibility.
"Search, every interior building, don't leave a single door unopened, understand?"
"Yes sir!"
"We're doing no good staying here," Matrix said, "Let's do our own interior search."
"It would stand to reason they'd need a place with fairly updated systems," AndrAIa said as she flew alongside him, "Hold up, Sparky."
AndrAIa began to program the mini-computer on the cycle. "We're looking for buildings that were just recently constructed, that weren't damaged in the war, what type of products were stored there and what systems they have and if they've been updated --,"
Matrix marveled at his beautiful girlfriend's intelligence. Where would he be without her?
"Here," she said, "I've narrowed it down to five possible places, let's try those first."
"You got it gorgeous," Matrix said.
She smiled at him, "Flatterer."
The first four buildings of course, yielded nothing. Although the systems were fairly new, it was apparent nothing out of the ordinary was there. Matrix felt frustration mounting and they exited the fourth building.
"Don't lose hope yet, Sparky," AndrAIa indicated the fifth building, "This place is far removed from the rest, not to mention being near aqueduct through which they could escape."
"Let's do it," Matrix said and they mounted their cycles again.
As they neared the warehouse, the feeling began again in the pit of his stomach, but quickly permeated every nerve in his body. The closer they came, the surer he was.
"Why is it always the last place?" Matrix yelled.
"Is this is, Sparky?"
They landed, "Call for backup," Matrix had Gun out and was running for the entrance.
"Matrix doesn't go in alone!" AndrAIa called.
To his surprise, the nearest door came open easily, which aroused his suspicions. But then again, what need would they have to lock it? It was totally dark, but his eye showed a clear path down the wide corridor. No one was there; at least he saw no heat signatures. Matrix continued down the hall.
He continued down the hall, went through many twists and turns, until he came upon the large open room. He knew immediately that he had found what they were looking for. The stink of the virus was strong here. It made Matrix want to gag.
Remnants of several types of scientific apparatus lay smashed on the floor. Glass from a dozen beakers and bottles. Dark stains from what Matrix hoped were chemicals turned the glass into many colored jewels. A computer console, smashed beyond repair was against the wall.
"Matrix, where are you?"
"Here," Matrix called and AndrAIa entered the room. "Do you think Rose will
want to have a look at this stuff?"
Cautiously, AndrAIa approached the shattered glass and dark liquid, "Most definitely. Some type of experiment was going on here. This is without a doubt a – wait, did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
Matrix turned, and trained his infrared around the room and saw what he hadn't noticed before. A door in the far right corner of the room led to an even smaller room, no bigger than a storage closet and inside, a form crouched. Their heat signatures glowing like beacons.
"Someone is in that room over there," Matrix said, pointing Gun, he slowly approached.
AndrAIa drew her trident, "I don't think they're making that sound. It's like a steady beeping."
Matrix, put his hand on the door handle, then with a violent jerk pulled it open and pointed Gun first into the room yelling, "Don't move!"
The woman crouched against the wall screamed, "No, don't delete me, please!"
And the baby she held began to cry.
Matrix looked at the cowering woman, "Who are you?"
In reply, the woman said, "They just left me here. I didn't know what to do. I'm no soldier. Please don't delete me. Think of this child --,"
Matrix's eye went wide. Could it possibly be --? "Is that your child?"
"No," the woman held the child up to him and Matrix recognized the toddler immediately. Catherine Lalto's son.
"Give him here," Matrix said gruffly and the woman obeyed. The baby started to cry and Matrix turned for AndrAIa but found she was no longer in the room. He saw her outside searching no doubt for the source of the sound she had heard. Matrix held him against his shoulder, "Ssh, it's going to be okay. I'm taking you home to your mommy now."
"Matrix!" AndrAIa's frantic cry had him running outside. He saw her in the far left corner of the room, "What is it?"
"We've got to get everyone out of here now!"
Even as she said it, their team entered. The sergeant took the woman into custody, Matrix approached AndrAIa, "What's wrong --,"
The device that sat in the corner with wires connected to a clock counting down left no doubt as to what it was.
"Move! Out, now! It must have been activated when we came in, I said every body out!" Then they were running for the exit.
"Get all teams to fall back now!" Matrix yelled into the com as he ran. "Clear this sector! We've got a live one! Let's move!" Then they were outside on their cycles again and flying for all they were worth.
"Five," AndrAIa counted, "Four – three -- two --,"
It came with a rush of wind, a deafening roar, and a blinding light. AndrAIa looked back and screamed as flaming debris shot high into the air.
"Down now!" Matrix screamed and both sent their cycles into a steep dive, taking cover amongst the buildings.
Debris rained down. Matrix grabbed hold of AndrAIa pulled her close and kept the baby between them. The terrified toddler cried. When it was over there was little left but smoldering boards. Everything had been lost.
Matrix and AndrAIa looked over the scene afterwards. They had the teams search but there was nothing left. Both renegade and game sprite were each thinking the same thing. With the destruction of the warehouse and its contents went Bob's only chance of survival.
***
It was the one good thing in the midst of the chaos. Within Bob's office, Mouse had set up her command center. She had tried to do what she thought was right and hoped she had learned from Dot.
Intelligence reports were coming in. People were fleeing the city. Mouse could hardly blame them. It was always the common populace who knew what was happening beforehand. No one wanted to be in the city with a battle threatening so soon after the last.
All sectors were secure. The only thing she wanted to do was contact Mainframe and see –
A vid-window came open, "Commander Mouse!" It was Zif.
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry – I should have taken greater precautions. We've caught another Chosen member in our midst."
"Damn it!" Mouse said, "How much damage did they do?"
"They tampered with communications but didn't get far. With your permission, I'm going to do throughout investigations on all the O.C. Team members and go down to a skeleton crew of only my most trusted people."
"Do whatever you need to do," Mouse said, "Wait, you said they tampered with communications?"
"Yes, but only succeeded in disabling inter-system communications. You'll have full communications within the S.C.," Zif said.
"So I can't call Mainframe?"
"Not at this time, but I'm working on it."
"Damn," Mouse muttered. There went her idea to get Hex here. "What about the portal generator?"
"Still not operational. Working on that too," Zif said.
"Forget it for now. Make the shield strength your top priority, understand?"
"Yes, commander."
Mouse looked up when the door came open. Ray walked in.
"You just getting' back, sugah?"
"Yes, what's our status?"
"We've got all available forces at the ready," Mouse said, "Intelligence reports state they may be amassing outside of Sector 9009. We're going to make out stand here. Protecting the Hall is top priority."
"Agreed," Ray said.
"We've got trouble," Mouse went to the desk console as a message came in, "Someone sabotaged the inter-system communications."
"So no Hex," Ray said bitterly.
"'Fraid not, sugah, we're on our own." Mouse opened a vid-window, "Matrix?"
"Mouse, we're coming in," Matrix said, "We found the warehouse."
"Good work, sugah, and the virus?"
"We just missed the null-face and he just missed us," Matrix said, "He set a trap for us Mouse. Blew up the whole place – along with all the evidence. We found the lab where the virus was made – everything and now it's gone."
"No," Mouse bowed her head. Ray moved up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Do you know what this means for Bob?"
"Of course I know!" Matrix fought to modify his tone, "Look, we've found Catherine Lalto's baby."
"That's good news, sugah, I'll have her waiting here at the office."
"Affirmative, Matrix out."
"He'd better watch his tone with you," Ray muttered.
"We're all pretty stressed right now," Mouse said and went back to her vid-windows.
*
"He's a cute little boy, isn't he?" AndrAIa asked Matrix as they walked towards Bob's office.
"Yeah, he is," Matrix agreed. He nodded to Rule.
"Kind of gives you ideas don't it?"
Matrix looked at her and felt the heat building in his cheeks, "I – ah – I --,"
"Relax, Sparky," AndrAIa gave him a mischievous smile and reached past him to open the door.
Matrix released a calming breath and stepped into the room.
"Baby!" Catherine Lalto leapt from the couch where she sat next to her daughter. She crossed the room quickly and Matrix placed her son in hers arms. The reunion was tearful as mother kissed and embraced her child.
Shell shyly approached and looked up at Matrix. She crooked a tiny finger, beckoning Matrix closer. The renegade knelt down to her level and she kissed him on the tip of his nose, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, sweetheart."
When he straightened, Catherine thanked him with a kiss as well. Everyone was smiling at him. Ray was wearing the biggest grin of all.
"Eh, what are you all grinning at?" Matrix grumbled.
***
"Storm clouds are brewing," Mouse said quietly. She remembered the saying often used by her mother when trouble was coming and as the flame-haired mercenary looked out the window of Bob's office, she knew it to be so.
She wished Dot were here. She had been going over intelligence reports all day but deep down inside her she knew that was Dot's field of expertise. She'd rather strap on a sword and fight more than anything.
But Dot was with Bob, where she needed to be in case – but Mouse quelled those thoughts immediately. She was waiting to hear from Matrix, AndrAIa, and Ray, who, with a select team of soldiers, were doing one last reconnaissance sweep, but the intelligence reports all said the same thing.
So Mouse stared out the window and waited. As soon as she received word, there was one more thing she needed to do before facing what was to come.
"Love?"
Mouse turned at the sound of Ray's voice. He stood in the doorway; the light spilling from behind outlined his muscular form. Mouse in a million hours never imagined finding someone like him. She was glad he was here. "Hi there, sugah."
He crossed the room, "Everything's ready," he said, touching her lightly, "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I just hope I can do this."
"I'm sure we can," Ray smiled at her.
"Sugah, there's one more thing I have to do before --,"
"Bob?"
"Yes."
"Come on love, I'll give you a lift."
***
One-two-three-four---
The steady rhythmic beep of the machine had become some type of mantra to Dot. In the milliseconds that she sat at Bob's bedside, the sound helped her keep her wits about her. Sometimes she counted along, just to keep her mind occupied so she wouldn't burst into tears.
She wasn't totally alone. At times, Dom would come down to see her, checking up on her and at times she would go up to see him. His own condition was improving, for the prognosis for SiRCe had been good. Unfortunately, that was not the case for Bob.
Dot stopped looking in the mirror. She had become well acquainted with the dark bruises under her eyes and the gaunt condition of her face. Yet, she wouldn't leave him.
She heard the nurses talking. She wished they wouldn't. They said things like, "Not much longer for him now." And, "It's only a matter of time." She'd pay good units if they'd just shut up.
She tried to remember Bob as he was. His handsome face and those gorgeous brown eyes. That quirky half-smile of his that always made her feel warm inside and although she had never admitted it to him, she had always loved his, 'acting on the fly, living on the edge,' attitude.
She dozed for awhile and was awakened by the sound of the door opening. Mouse stepped around the curtain.
"Mouse," Dot rose stiffly from her chair.
"Aw honey, you look terrible," Mouse said.
"Thanks a lot, Mouse."
"You know what I mean," Mouse chided gently, "When was the last time you slept or ate?"
"I eat," Dot said, although she couldn't tell anyone what she had.
"Sugah --," Mouse sighed, "I just wanted to see how you were doing before --,"
"Before what?"
"Nothing."
"Mouse, what's going on?"
"Well looks like the enemy is mobilizing to strike. We're not sure where or when, so we're making our stand at the Hall," Mouse said.
"What?" Dot immediately went into Command.com mode, "Do we know their numbers? Their weapons capabilities? Any battle plans or --,"
"Whoa, sugah," Mouse said, "You let us worry about that."
"No offense Mouse, but you're a fighter not a tactician," Dot said, "Like it or not, you need me."
"N-no I don't," Mouse said, "And besides if I did, Bob needs you more."
Dot turned back to look at her one true love. Her hands entwined in a nervous gesture. "I – I know he needs me. And I need him."
She approached the bed and reached out to gently brush back a wisp of Bob's hair, "But I think he would rather for me to help defend his city. I want to help, Mouse."
"I – I wanted to ask you but --,"
"I know," she smiled at her friend. Then she turned back to Bob and bent, touching her lips to his, "Don't leave me, love. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Dot twisted her icon and donned her battle armor, "Let's go."
***
"Dot," Matrix started in surprise when his sister walked into the hangar bay, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm needed," Dot answered simply.
"But – what about?" Matrix broke off, "All right. I think I know the deal here."
"Mouse tells me the portal generator is still out."
"Yeah, and if our intelligence reports are true, we could use Hex," Matrix said, "We still have saboteurs in our midst. Inter-system communications are out. We can't even call Mainframe. Zif is working on it right now, but there won't be enough time."
"We know," the command center will be transferred to the Operations Center and a relay will be set out on the frontier tower. I'm glad Bob – I'm glad the towers were repaired and we have full shields."
"Dot Matrix to the Operations Center."
"That's me," Dot smiled wanly, "You be careful out there, little brother."
"You too," Matrix said, "Dot?"
"Yes?"
"For Bob?"
"For Bob."
*
"You ready, sugah?" Mouse said when Dot entered the Operations Center. "We just got word, they're mobilizing. Time to get out there." Mouse donned her armor.
Dot nodded grimly, "What's our status?"
"The perimeter of the city is secured. It's lights out and as soon as we get to the tower, radio silence. Ray and his men are already out there. Matrix and AndrAIa are on their way out and that little surprise you planned is all ready and waiting for the signal."
"Then let's do it," Dot said.
*
In the right frontier tower, Dot and Mouse, planned and waited and prepared. Matrix, AndrAIa, Ray and their soldiers waited at their positions. Peg Walrod and her Aunt Judy manned the medical facilities. Zif kept the Operations Center running and seven sectors away a surprise waited for the enemy.
And not far beyond that, the enemy was on the move.
***
If it was not necessary for him to directly engage in battle, Quicksilver avoided it if at all possible. That is what one has minions for.
His army was not as impressive as he would have liked it to be. He wanted to strike fear into the core-coms of his enemies. Make them lose heart and bow to his will. They were stronger than he had anticipated. He had expected the deletion of the Prime Guardian to break them. No matter, they would all die anyway.
Quicksilver rode in an armored transport at the rear of his 'armada'. The several hundred ships they had appropriated should still be enough. If the reports of Collective's military status were true, (and who would know better than Colonel Tempus?) his forces would be more than enough to take the city. His enemies had the warships but neither one was operational. Desdemona had volunteered to take point, but Quicksilver had refused. Nothing must happen to the woman now. She was too important.
"Sir!" His transport pilot announced, "We're nearing the city. It appears to be in blackout status."
"Of course," Quicksilver said, "Proceed with the battle plan."
"Yes sir!"
Quicksilver smiled with supreme satisfaction. He was about to accomplish what his mistress could not. He would dominate and destroy. And there was no one to stop him.
***
"Here they come," Mouse whispered as they examined the moving lights on the map.
"Tower guns power up," Dot said, "Air and ground forces stand ready."
"Wait for it," Dot said, "Almost in range."
When the blinking lights crossed a certain point on the map, Dot said, "Now, all forces attack, all guns fire!"
The sky was suddenly alive with lightening and fire and smoke as the tower guns fired and Matrix, AndrAIa, and Ray led their forces to meet the encroaching enemy.
Taking on Specks' role in battle, Zif monitored all the action, "Sir, ma'am! Sensors indicate enemy ground forces approaching!"
"That's my cue, sugah," Mouse said. "Hold down the fort."
"Be careful Mouse,"
"All ground forces, attack, engage the enemy!"
Several vid windows showed the battle that turned night in day and caused metal and fire to rain down on anyone hapless enough to be out. The fire and flood lights revealed the enemy transports as they converged on the Hall, coming from all sides and the forces of the New Collective rushed to the defense.
Dot watched the map and the vid-windows, her eyes on enemy and allies alike and with the information Zif was supplying she directed her forces.
"Matrix, enemy forces approaching from Sector 1001, all forces engage," Dot's eyes never left the map, "Mouse, watch your back! Ray, ground forces need your assistance." And it went on like that, as the battle raged for it seemed to Dot many hours but was only nanos.
"Ma'am! Our ground forces are being overwhelmed in sector 1003! They request backup!"
"Can anyone assist out ground forces in Sector 1003?"
"Sugah, we've got our hand full here!"
"I'm on my way!" Ray came through the com, "I need the coordinates!"
"Sir, ma'am, tower guards reporting in --,"
An alarm sounded in the tower,
"We have enemy forces converging on both towers!"
"Keep those shields up! Tower guns, target the enemy ground forces and fire!"
"Sector 1007 is open, we need back up to --,"
An explosion rocked the tower, throwing Dot onto the floor, "What in the net was that?"
A frantic call came through, "We need help down here!" The main power generator -- blown! Sabotage -- we'll loose shield --,"
"Zif!"
"I'm on it!"
"Enemy forces have entered the tower!"
Suddenly all eyes were on Dot. "No, it can't be!" Were their ranks filled with traitors?
"Seal off this room," Dot said, "I need a team with me. Under no circumstances are you to let them take this command center understood?"
"Yes Sir, Ma'am!"
Dot donned her amour and checked her weapon as the team gathered, "You all come with me."
And Dot went to face the enemy.
***
Quicksilver examined the console with an air of smug satisfaction. They had set up a temporary command center in the basement of an outlaying building and the viral assassin turned military general watched as their forces prevailed.
He realized he would need another right hand man and confidant. He figured since Dot Matrix was here, that Chaos was either deleted or incarcerated. He couldn't have cared less. When the sky lightened with the damn, Quicksilver was confident that they would be victorious. I
It would be a grand day. The beginning of his domination.
***
The gauntlet stretched around the entire complex. It was constructed of anything the New Collective forces could find. Boards, bricks, and furniture, vehicles and transports. Dot Matrix, sporting a dozen wounds, lay atop an overturned transport and kept her laser trained on the approaching enemy. They had beaten back the ones who had entered the tower and now stood guard against additional forces. Zif was barely managing to keep the shield integrity to full, but somehow he continued to surprise her. Above them, their air forces continued to engage the enemy.
But reinforcements were on the way. Dot only hoped they arrived in time. Their air forces were badly decimated. The enemy had suddenly pulled back their ground forces, which didn't bode, well for the New Collective fighters.
"Dot!" Zif's voice came over her headset, "Reinforcements are on the way!"
"Yes," Dot said, "Just a few micros longer!"
*
"Prepare my transport," Quicksilver said, "I shall join the battle. The ground troops are to fall back until my arrival, understood?"
"Yes sir!"
*
"Looks like they're fallin' back to regroup," Mouse said, "Let's get it together ourselves people! This ain't over yet!"
The enemy air forces came at them again and the battle continued.
*
"Sir, our air commanders are going in for the final attack," the soldier reported.
Quicksilver stood in the front of the transport, "tell them to obliterate the air forces, then bombard the force shield from above. Perhaps they can weaken it enough to bring it down. Are the ground forces at the ready?"
"Yes sir – wait!"
Quicksilver turned fiercely to the man, "What do you mean, wait?"
"Our sensors have indicated two large ships approaching."
"What?"
"They're coming from behind."
"Alert the air forces now! Have the ground forces stand ready!" How could this be possible? Their intelligence reports had confirmed the Collective ships weren't battle ready! Had this been a trick all along?
No matter, Quicksilver thought, we will still take them. "Proceed."
*
"Dot!" Zif's voice came again, "Patching through a message from the captain's Irina and Covar."
"Dot," Mai's voice came over the com, "We will be within weapons range within 2.5 micros – have your air forces fall back."
"Acknowledged," Dot said.
"Commander Matrix!" A nearby soldier pointed beyond the gauntlet at the approach of enemy transports.
"Looks like we've got our hands full down here," Dot said.
*
Two immense shadows passed overhead. Enemy and ally forces alike looked skyward. Some cheered and the others felt fear.
"This is Captain Maiandra Irina of the Libertas," Mai's voice rang out with all the authority of her station.
"This is Captain Max Covar of the Mercurius," Covar's voice was equally forceful, "Enemy fighters, you will cease and desist and surrender now. Any further resistance will be met with deadly force, do I make myself clear?"
The enemy fighters in what could only be described as a suicide strike turned on the two ships and attacked.
Within twenty nanos, the air forces of the enemy had been completely destroyed.
*
"No!" Quicksilver lashed out at the nearest man and slashed him across the face with his claws. The next man unlucky enough to be in the way of Quicksilver's fury got his neck snapped, "I'm too close! I won't be defeated now!"
He strode to the front of the transport, "All ground forces converge on the tower gauntlet." An evil idea formed in his head. "I don't care what you do to anyone else, but bring me Dot Matrix, alive."
*
Zif looked up at Mouse who stood across the console from him. Once the air forces had been destroyed, the remaining air forces of the New Collective had joined their comrades on the ground. With Dot's permission, Mouse had hacked into the enemy forces communications systems, in time enough to hear Quicksilver's order.
"I'm going down there," Mouse said, "Call Dot, warn her. Tell her I'm on my way!"
*
Dot had also heard the command.
"Don't worry sis, we're not going to let anything happen to you." Matrix nodded to AndrAIa who was on Dot's other side.
Dot gave him a slight smile and squeezed his arm, then turned her attention back to the advancing enemy.
"Room for one more, sugah?" Mouse, keeping down low, joined them.
"Bob," Dot whispered.
Matrix looked at her, "Yeah."
Mouse nodded, "He would be kicking some serious ASCII."
AndrAIa nodded her agreement.
Dot said to Matrix, "So where do you think he is?"
"Quicksilver? All the way in back. He's not going to put himself were the fires are hottest."
"If you get the chance --,"
"Don't worry," Matrix said. "I'll do it."
"All forces, stand ready," Dot said, "Here they come!"
They did, spilling from behind the buildings and pouring down the street like raging flood waters, their weapons setting the air on fire on again. Ten armored transports came behind them.
"All forces return fire!" Tower guns take out those transports!" Dot screamed.
Most of the enemy was mown down on the spot as they charges but those that got through, rushed the gauntlet, while above them the tower guns fired, but because the trajectory of the shots were off, the transports managed to get off a few shots, which hit the gauntlet, obliterating huge sections and anyone who was unlucky enough to be in the area.
"The gauntlet had been breeched, all forces converge and defend!" And Dot was down and running. Someone leapt into her path, pointing a laser at her.
"The master wants you alive," the man snarled.
He was so intent on Dot he didn't notice Mouse come up behind him until it was too late. Then Dot, with Mouse at her side, was heading for the opening in the wall.
One transport exploded in a cloud of fire, taking several of the enemy forces with it. The tower guns fired again, this time hitting their marks. For a time there was mass confusion as Dot could concentrate on nothing but fighting and staying alive.
Slowly, the Collective forces pushed the enemy back. They took one transport, disabled two others. Dot order soliders to stay behind and continue to defend the gauntlet, while she and her people continued to converge on the enemy.
Then strangely, Dot felt eyes watching her. She was certain many eyes were on her, but she was suddenly gripped with a feeling of being closely scrutinized by a malevolent being. She turned and through the smoke and fire saw a man standing atop a transport, staring down at her as though she were nothing but null fodder and Dot knew that it was Quicksilver. Then man responsible for all this. The man who had murdered Bob.
He beckoned to her.
"You arrogant son of a horse's ASCII!" Dot checked her weapon and started resolutely forward.
*
There was nothing now but fighting and death and blood. Yet, Matrix pressed on. Somewhere in the fighting, he had lost track of Dot and although he continued to fight, he fought towards a goal. To find his sister.
Then through the smoke, he saw a lone figure standing atop a transport beckoning someone who turned out to be Dot.
"Dot!" Matrix rushed forward and was halted when he was attacked, fought his way through, screaming Dot's name, "Dot, stop! Don't do it!"
*
When Dot was within shouting distance of the transport, Quicksilver leapt nimbly down and at last, Dot was face to face with a man she truly despised. Dot drew her laser as everything and everyone else around them faded into nothing until there was only her and the viral assassin.
"I'm pleased to meet you at last," Quicksilver said, "Although I expected you to remain at your love's bedside. He's at deletions door is he not?"
Dot began to shake, her finger tightened on the trigger.
"So will you kill me now? And avenge your lover's death?"
He's in your sights, Dot. Pull the trigger! He murdered Bob! Pull the damn trigger!
"Of course you won't do it," Quicksilver smiled and raised his palm and a ball of white-hot fire came to life. "But I have every intention of killing you."
"Dot, look out!"
The yell came, distracting her, and at that same instance, Quicksilver hurled the ball at her. Dot fired and dove to the right, the shot glanced across Quicksilver's face. The ball exploded in the air around her, throwing her back and she hit the ground hard, the air rushed form her lungs and stars burst into her line of vision.
"Dot!" Then Matrix was there, lifting her in his strong arms. "Dot, are you all right?"
"No!" Dot cried, "Quicksilver, where is he?"
"He's --," Matrix went abruptly silent and stared.
Dot looked in the direction he was looking and her jaw dropped. Impossible! What she was seeing couldn't be true!
Quicksilver was standing there and even from the distance, they could see the incomprehension in his eyes and the fear.
A man stood blocking Quicksilver's path. Dressed from head to toe in his web armor, his face shielded by the mask. Still it was impossible not to sense his fury. It was there in his clenched fists and rigid stance. A feeling of pure hatred for the man who had murdered him. Dot and Matrix saw him and were as uncomprehending as Quicksilver. It was unfeasible for him to be there but he was.
Bob.
