Second part gets the story moving- sorry its
lagged a bit so far! Keep reading its getting good! Honestly!
"Ooooh, you're
here!" Hex cooed as Mouse, Ray and Dot found themselves in front of
Hexidecimal in the main chamber of her lair.
"Ah can never get
used ta that," Mouse said aloud.
"Hey Hex. Thanks
for inviting us here," Dot greeted her pleasantly, although she felt
increasingly uncomfortable in the ex-virus' presence.
"It's quite alright
my dear. Now- oh the rest of my guests have arrived!" Hex exclaimed
delightedly, and with a wave of her hand three more figures appeared in the
chamber.
"Hi Hex, how's it
going?" Bob asked her.
"I feel great,
Guardian." She replied in a low voice, moving close enough to put an arm
round his neck. "Even more so for seeing you here," she added
quietly. Bob found himself glancing at Dot, who seemed to be avoiding the sight
and looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"I'm glad."
Bob replied, trying to gently remove Hex's arms without causing an even bigger
spectacle of himself. When she didn't let go he glanced at Dot again and caught
a look on her face that looked suspiciously like a mix of jealously and
longing. Bob smiled apologetically at her, making her realize he had seen her
and she flushed a deeper green.
"Anything we can do, Hex?" Dot asked awkwardly, trying to break the embarrassed silence.
"No it's alright my
dear. So sweet of you to ask though," she replied warmly, but the look she
gave Dot made her want to shiver. 'She's up to something,' Dot thought
suspiciously. 'And she's making moves on Bob for my benefit as much as hers.'
"Now my darlings,"
Hexidecimal addressed them, making Matrix scowl and several others flinch. "The
entertainment will begin soon."
"Entertainment?" Bob
repeated, relieved that the once-virus had finally let go of him.
"Why yes, my Guardian!
No tea party is complete without something we can all have fun taking part in."
"If this is karaoke, ya
can count me out right now." Mouse spoke up, earning herself a curious glance
from Ray.
"I bet you've got a
great voice, love," Ray told her, which in turn got her grins from both
Bob and Dot.
"And Ah dunno what
you're lookin' so smug about, honey. Ah take it you'll be first up 'cause of
experience, will ya?" Mouse directed her irritation at Dot, who flushed
again at the thought of last time.
"No, it's
okay." She replied quietly, and then caught Bob giving her a sympathetic
look and she glanced away.
"Now now,
dears," Hex clicked her fingers to get their attention. "It's much
better than that."
"What is it?"
AndrAIa spoke for the first time since they'd arrived, sounding a little
anxious.
"I think some
nourishment is in order before the games begin." Hexidecimal went on,
ignoring her question, obviously enjoying the mystery she was creating.
"Games?" Came
the simultaneous echo from Bob and Matrix. Hex didn't reply, instead she waved
a hand in the direction of the left side of the platform where her throne
stood. A long, dark red table appeared, complete with a rather fancy looking
buffet.
"I wonder what this
lot's made from," Ray mused, intending his comment solely for Mouse. Dot
heard and had to stifle a laugh with her hand.
"What are you laughing at?" The red virus
narrowed her eyes, venom obvious in her voice.
"Nothing.
Sorry," Dot apologized quickly, but couldn't keep a smile off her face.
Hexidecimal seemed to
dismiss it after that, but Dot kept catching Hex giving her looks that would
defiantly kill when she said the wrong thing. Just as Dot moved away from a
conversation with AndrAIa- something to do with Matrix's inability to think
things through, she saw Mouse and Ray looking cosy to the side of the room.
Unfortunately, Bob came up beside her just as she turned in time to see Matrix
bending down to kiss AndrAIa. Feeling a whole cluster of emotions she didn't
want just then, Dot recognized the familiar sensation of tears as she turned
away. She'd already scolded herself once that second about crying so much- it's
pathetic, she told herself.
Bob watched as Dot
caught sight of her brother and his girlfriend, trying to work out what she was
thinking. Not having seen Bob approach her, Dot turned and bumped straight into
him.
"Oh, sorry
Bob." She said quietly, brushing some of her jet- black hair out of her
face and looking flustered. "I'm just gunna go..." Dot darted round
him and headed for the doors, hoping she could find her way out without the
place 'shifting' and sending her all over the place.
"Dot wait!"
Bob put his glass down and hurried after her.
"Thank goodness she's gone!" Hex was saying, then
seeming to notice Bob's intended exit, she snapped her fingers and the open
double doors disappeared.
"Oh dear."
"Yes, oh
dear," a pair of voices came from behind Hex. Hack and Slash were looking
around worriedly at their sudden new surroundings.
"What? I did not do
that!" Hex fumed.
"Mebe ya power's
givin' out on ya, sugah." Mouse suggested innocently, but smirked at Ray.
"Hey Hex, put the
door back will you?" Bob asked sounding annoyed.
"I do not think we
are meant- " Hack started.
"…To be here."
Slash finished.
"You don't want to
leave yet do you?" Hex asked airily, batting her eyelashes.
"Sorry Hex. Dot
looked upset, I got to go find her."
"Fine." She
replied, sounding bored again as the doors reappeared.
" Why does my
Guardian bother with her?" Bob
heard Hex say before he left, and paused long enough to hear Matrix reply
haughtily:
"He's not 'yours'.
He's already in a relationship with Dot and you know it."
Bob smiled inwardly.
Matrix didn't know much about the relations between himself and Dot since the
restart, so he must have assumed they were together after that kiss. That's
what he thought too...
Bob searched for ages
but between getting teleported to different places if he stepped wrongly, and
not being able to get an energy trace- he wasn't having much luck. Half a
second passed and he was about to give up when he heard something clatter to
the ground.
"Dot? Is that you?"
Stepping forward carefully, he was able to make
out a figure in black sitting on the floor. He took another step forward but
was encased in light and teleported.
Muttering something, Bob found
he'd only been moved about twenty feet from where he had been, and was now
standing in front of Dot. She was huddled up on the floor, knees drawn up to
her chest defensively, her face buried.
"Dot?" He crouched down beside her,
noticing she was trembling and resisting an urge to embrace her. As she lifted
her head, the soft moonlight from above lit the tear tracks that stained her
face.
"Why did you follow me?"
"I was worried about you." Bob answered,
not sure why she'd asked. He reached out to rest a consoling hand on her
shoulder, wishing desperately that she would let him comfort her.
"Why? Why do you give a damn about what
happens to me? I've done nothing but hurt you and the rest of Mainframe!"
Dot stood up, violet eyes blazing. Her voice was raised and she was deadly
serious.
"Dot, that's not true. You know it's
not."
"Do I? Well it's me who let Megabyte send you
through that portal! It's me who let my 1.0 brother go into games!"
"Don't say that! None of that was down to
you. Surely you know that!"
"I don't know anything anymore. I should be
one of the happiest sprites in the Net after the last hour- but I'm not.
Everyone else copes perfectly alright and I've not been through nearly as much
as them- or you." Dot turned away from him, fresh tears glistening in her
eyes.
"Hey, stop putting yourself down. You had to
run the whole of Mainframe_ defenceless, and stop a virus taking over the
system. I'd say that was going through a
lot." He reached out to place his hand on her shoulder again but
thought better of it, brushing her arm as he brought his hand down.
"Besides, they've got someone to share it with." Bob stated sadly,
remembering the two couples together in the throne room.
"You've got Hexidecimal." She replied
with a half smile.
"I'm in love with someone else," Bob
replied seriously, staring at the back of her head and then into her eyes, as
she turned round. He couldn't believe the expression on her face- complete
surprise. Maybe because he'd just come out and said it.
"I don't deserve you, Bob. I'm not good enough
for you.... I mean you're a Guardian and I'm just a basic data sprite!"
Tears unwillingly spilled down her cheeks as she turned away again. Bob moved
round her, placing himself in front of her again, and reaching out to touch her
cheek tenderly.
"One thing you are not, Dot Matrix, is basic."
Dot smiled slightly at that and looked down, not
sure what to say. Bob hesitated a moment, then pressed his lips against hers
gently, not wanting a repeat performance of earlier that second. To his
surprise he felt her return the kiss and circle her arms round his neck as it
became more heated.
'Please, please don't change you're mind now!' Bob
thought desperately as she pulled away. Dot smiled through her tears and closed
her eyes, looking tired now. Bob cupped her face in his hands and wiped away
all traces of crying.
"Bob.... I.... I didn't mean for any of this.
I'm sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean..." Bob stopped her, placing a
finger to her ruby red lips.
"I love you, Dot. I don't want you to ever
think any of those horrible thoughts ever again, okay? None of what happened
was in any way your fault, understand?" Bob said in a stern tone.
Dot opened her mouth to reply, but was silenced by
the look on Bob's face. She nodded and whispered;
"I love you too."
"Good," he grinned and gathered her up
in his arms, hugging her tightly to his chest.
"I'm really sorry, Bob." Dot repeated
again, feeling fiercely guilty now, as she returned his embrace.
"Hush. It's forgotten." Bob looked down
at her, unable to overcome the giddy happiness exploding in his heart. Dot
tilted her head back as he bent to kiss her again.
After that, all time and surroundings were
forgotten, neither caring enough to notice a figure that shifted in the shadows
just to the edge of Hex's lair.