The Saucy Mare II rocked in the choppy seas as she plowed back toward the Net. Her instruments scanned the seething Web, but except for the roving Web Riders that were her escort, there were no signs of life.
On board the ship, safely beneath the Web plating, Mouse finally broke off her welcoming kiss to Ray.
"I've missed you, Sugar," the hacker said breathlessly.
"So we noticed," Davic drawled derisively.
Mouse narrowed her eyes at the scowling Guardian, and Ray lifted a questioning eyebrow.
"We are all glad to see you, lad," Captain Capacitor broke in.
"The feeling's mutual," Ray answered. "Once the wave passed, I opened up a Portal and started looking around." He nodded at the screens, where the Web Riders wove and sang across the turbulence. "You're the first processing sprites I've seen since I left Dagobah System."
"Dagobah?" Mr. Christopher asked.
"Little system about sixteen relays from here. The Command.com is some sort of relic who lives in a swamp, but it's better than getting deleted." Ray changed the subject. "Did we lose anyone?"
"That's a long story," Davic interrupted. "What we need to know now is whether or not there's any sign of that virus out there."
"I don't think we've been introduced," Ray said coolly. "Who are you, besides another virus-obsessed Guardian?"
Davic's eyes narrowed to near slits, and Caen buzzed softly. "I'm Davic, Guardian 467, and being obsessed with viruses is part of my job."
"I guess you'll have to find a new job description, then," Ray told him. "Because this is all that's left of Megabyte." He fished something out from under one of his shoulder pads and held it out. Mouse, Captain Capacitor, Davic, and several members of the crew gathered around to look.
Glinting in Ray's palm was a single, serrated tooth.
Matrix focused on the spoon in his right hand, watching the green jello on it tremble. "You sure about this stuff?" His hand wobbled dangerously as he spoke, and Matrix's eyebrows lowered as he returned his attention to controlling the spoon.
"Yes," AndrAIa answered. "Eat. You need the energy."
Matrix obeyed, and finished the jello before asking, "How long have I been out?"
"Almost three cycles," AndrAIa said apologetically.
Matrix digested that. "What's happened?" His brows twisted. "Where's Megabyte?"
"We don't know," AndrAIa said slowly. She leaned forward and put her hand on top of Matrix's. "We've had more important things to worry about."
"Megabyte," Matrix murmured, his eyes distant. He shuddered.
"Matrix?" AndrAIa asked. "Enzo, stay with me." She squeezed Matrix's hand. "Listen to my voice, Enzo."
Matrix shook his head, sucked air through his teeth, and grabbed AndrAIa's wrist. "AndrAIa?" His eyes focused on her again. "AndrAIa." He pulled her closer. "AndrAIa. Don't go. Please."
"I'm not going anywhere, Enzo," the Game sprite said soothingly. She put her free hand on Matrix's arm, casually setting her fingernails against his skin.
"Don't leave me alone," Matrix begged. "I need you."
"I had to go, Matrix," AndrAIa told him gently. Her lovely features creased. "I had to think about things on my own for a while."
"You can think right here, with me. You don't have to go," Matrix insisted.
"Yes, I can," AndrAIa agreed.
"Whatever you want, I'll do it," Matrix said, ignoring AndrAIa's words.
"Matrix, come back to me." AndrAIa said. "You're in the past."
"Don't go, AndrAIa," Matrix pleaded. "I love you."
The Web Riders escorting the Saucy Mare II sang, and several of them peeled off, turning their mounts in assorted directions.
"If I didn't know better I'd say that sounded like a requiem," Mouse observed.
"They're looking for something. Survivors, probably," Davic supplied.
"They're going to have to go a long way before they find anything," Ray said.
Davic's eyes narrowed. "And how are you so sure of that?"
Ray's reply was quietly matter-of-fact. "I felt it in the waves."
"Is that how you find new systems?" Mr. Christopher asked.
"That's one way to do it," Ray answered without looking at the first mate.
"Must be convenient," Davic growled. "Knowing where everyone and everything in the Web is."
"I wouldn't be much of a search engine if I didn't," Ray replied, leaning against the deck rail.
"Huh," Davic grunted. "I'm watching you, Surfr." He stalked off toward the bow, swinging and slapping Caen like a CPU's nightstick.
"He's giving Matrix a run for his money in the charm department," Ray commented.
Turbo was waiting on the dock when the Saucy Mare II docked. "How soon can you be ready to leave again, Capacitor?"
"The Mare is not at your beck and call, Guardian," the Captain answered from the rail.
"Actually, she is. Copland!" Turbo barked.
Copland beeped a reply, then clicked several times. With each click, a ship's system went down, finally leaving the Mare rocking silently at her moorings.
"Mr. Andrews! What is the meaning of this?" Captain Capacitor roared.
"You didn't think I spent all that time aboard twiddling my thumbs, did you?" Turbo asked.
"Diagnostic controls are offline, and override access is locked, Captain," Mr. Andrews reported. "We can't even tell what he's done, sir."
"You scurvy, treacherous, misprocessed blaggard!" Captain Capacitor bellowed at the Guardian standing on the dock. He drew his sword, and several of the crew standing along the rail leveled hand weapons at the Guardian standing on the dock.
There was a high whine and a clang, and the captain's sword went flying across the deck. Caen came to rest with its brightly glowing tip a hair's breadth from Captain Capacitor's eye.
"Go ahead, captain," Davic hissed. "Give me another reason." Something brushed his ear, and his eye slid warily sideways.
"Now I'd sure hate to chip a good blade on your thick head," Mouse drawled. The tip of her sword slid gracefully down Davic's jawline, then came to rest with the razor-sharp edge pressing lightly against his throat.
"Stand down, Davic," Turbo ordered softly.
Davic's eyes narrowed to slits, and Caen buzzed angrily. Davic held his stance for a long moment, then withdrew Caen and sidestepped Mouse's sword in one swift motion.
Captain Capacitor straightened his hat, and accepted his sword from the penguin who had retrieved it. "Well now, Guardian," he said in a businesslike tone as the crew relaxed. "Why don't you come aboard so we can discuss the price of your passage?"
"You're in no position to bargain, Capacitor," Davic growled.
"On the contrary," Captain Capacitor said smoothly. "If you had the wit to process a thought you would understand the power I hold."
"We're wasting time," Turbo interrupted.
"And that is my power," the captain said in satisfaction.
"You won't make much profit trading if there's no one sane enough to trade with left," Turbo told him. "It's in your best interest to work with me instead of against me, Capacitor."
Captain Capacitor stroked his chin. "So it would seem, Guardian. But there is the matter of those outstanding warrants…" He trailed off, and gave Turbo a speculative look.
"Yes, there is," Turbo said blandly. "We can talk about them on our way to the Supercomputer." He lifted his keytool. "Copland, call Bob and tell him to get moving."
Copland beeped.
"There is another matter…" Captain Capacitor began.
"Yes?" Turbo asked.
The ex-pirate's eye slid toward Davic. "My crew is far more efficient when there are no passengers underfoot," he told the Prime Guardian. "Perhaps you could arrange to keep my decks clear. In the interest of a swift voyage, of course."
"I think I could do that," Turbo agreed.
"Turbo—" Davic began.
"File it, Davic," Turbo cut him off. "Get below and think about the GIGO law for a while."
"But—"
"That's an order, Guardian." Turbo glared up at the Net Guardian. His lined grey face spoke volumes. Davic met Turbo's eyes for a long moment, then dropped his gaze and stalked toward the hatch.