CHAPTER SIX

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Author's Note: In the wrestling Game, the phrase "Let's get it on!" is reminiscent of "Celebrity Deathmatch." *shrug* Just wanted to let you know. Now, if I got the fighting moves for any of the cartoon heroes wrong, it is because of my ignorance and the fact that I probably don't pay much attention to that show – live with it. =)

Dot listened to the series of high-pitched bleeps from the communications systems as they set up the long-distance call. She crossed her arms and waited patiently until they formed a connection, the bleeps blending into a low hum. Mouse's face appeared on the screen a few nanos later.

Mouse smiled when she saw her friend's face. "It's been almost a minute, eh, Dot? How're things in Mainframe?"

"They're good," she answered. "We're wrapping up with the preparations, and we've got a big mission up ahead. I'll keep you posted.

"How are you, Mouse?" Dot added. "Are you and Ray all right?"

The hacker blew out a long breath. "We've had our share of action," she answered with a small frown. "Just had a huge escape from a system."

Static interrupted her statement. Dot adjusted her headset, touched a button, then asked, "What did you say, Mouse? I missed that last part."

Mouse decided not to repeat the information about the escape; she had only so much time to report to Dot, and Dot didn't need to know anyway, with everything in Mainframe. "Nothin', Dot. We've gotten through almost all the livin' systems," she said. "There were at least a few people left in each, and we passed on the message. Uploadin' list of systems now."

Dot waited as the information was transferred to the window she had open. A small disk popped out. "Got it," she said.

"Good. Now we're gonna go on ta the rest of the livin' systems. Unfortunately, there aren't that many left. Then it's on ta the other systems that are probably dead. Ah'll get you the second list soon." She didn't add "If there is one," but they were both thinking it.

"All right. Good luck to both of you, and tell Ray everyone in Mainframe says hello to both of you," Dot said.

Mouse gave a small laugh. "Will do. Be seein' ya, Sugah."

Dot turned off the communications. She picked up the disk and inserted it into a machine and scrolled down through the names of the systems Mouse and Ray had visited. She read some of the notes that Mouse had written, mentally devising her plan.

Mouse turned the throttle, and Ship slowly circled around until she was aimed for the rest of the systems. After she was in position, she called to Ray, drifting outside, "Ya got the next system in yer sights?"

"Yeah, but –" Ray sounded puzzled.

"But what?"

"There's another system right nearby. Check the map – it's northeast of Paix."

Mouse did, and grimaced at what she saw. "Sugah, the system northeast of Paix is among the dead ones."

"I'm positive that a signal for help was just sent from the system," Ray said, his voice fiercely confident.

"All right," Mouse sighed. She circled the blip on the map and turned Ship to pilot down towards the system. "On to System Ocard, then."

Ocard was a sorry sight from the air. The city had the same factors as many of the others Mouse and Ray had seen: abandoned buildings, broken cars in the middle of the street. The system seemed abandoned. There were no signs of the Guardians, either. Maybe everyone was deleted, Mouse thought. But when she consulted the life-scan on her ship, she located a very strong signal coming from a spot in the center of the system. As they flew over Ocard, she traced the signal to the system's (surprisingly) intact Principle Office. Mouse brought Ship in, Ray beside her.

She met him outside the doors of the Principle Office. They exchanged short looks, then they went through the doors. Inside, the walls seemed unusually sturdy, as all the other buildings had been demolished. The two sprites went through a few hallways before they came into what must be the P.O.'s main room. A sprite in his 5.0s was crouched in a command chair, talking in hushed tones into a headset. He was dressed well for this system; he was wearing a clean outfit, and even a hat on his head. The console next to him had been turned on – the help signal that had been sent.

Mouse cleared her throat. The sprite looked up, and he smiled warmly at them. He slowly rose from his seat and came over to them. He stood there smiling, as if waiting.

Ray cautiously stepped forward and held out his hand. "`m Ray Tracer, a Web Surfr."

The man shook his hand, as he spoke. "Nice to meet you, son. Name's Galero. I'm the Command.com of this system, Ocard."

From the looks of things, more like was the Command.com, Mouse thought.

Galero turned to her and shook her hand as well. "And it's nice to meet such a ravishing young sprite. If I may request to know your name?"

She raised an eyebrow, but answered, "Mouse."

"Welcome to Ocard," Galero said, gesturing around them. "How long are you planning to stay?"

"Not long, actually," Mouse replied. "We came here because we received yer signal."

"Ah, I see." Galero nodded. "Well, no one's come by because they think we're all deleted." He smiled again. "But as you can see, we're all not."

The two sprites looked at one another. Ray asked Galero, "What happened to your system?"

"Oh, that." Galero waved a hand. "Those confounded Guardians came. You know, the ones who say to mend and defend.'"

"We know who they are," Mouse said hurriedly. Then she hesitated. "Ya mean the ones infected by Daemon, right?"

"Daemon? Daemon Who?" Galero asked. "Oh! That Daemon!" He chuckled. "A joke, a joke, you see? Yes? Well. Where was I – oh, yes. The Guardians destroyed our homes and took most of the sprites for slaves. A couple of us got away, though, and we've been sending out a beacon for help."

"There are more of you?" Ray asked in surprise.

Galero nodded. "Oh, yes. My friend Trunc is here. Actually, he's out there." He nodded at the doors. "He's a little shy – he doesn't like to talk to strangers. The others are with him. I volunteered to come back here because I had the most knowledge of the Principle Office, and we need to get some files." He shook his head sadly. "The devastation was horrible, really. This never would have happened if we had been with Freenet, you know."

"Where?" Mouse asked.

"Freenet," Galero repeated. "It's a beautiful system, hidden away so that Daemon couldn't find it. It was our sister system, actually, until we got separated." His face took on a dreamy look. "It was gorgeous – the most peaceful spots with waterfalls and huge parks; strong, intelligently-built structures – oh. And there were so many citizens; sprites and binomes, young and old, male and female. The most wonderful system I've ever known."

Ray looked at Mouse with raised eyebrows. What Galero said sounded too good to be true; but what if it did exist?

"How can we get to Freenet?" Ray asked Galero.

"Like I said, it was Ocard's sister system, so only we have the codes available," the sprite answered. "What do you want with it?"

Mouse realized that they had not yet explained their purpose for going around systems. She explained as Galero listened intently. Finally, he nodded and said, "Well, miss, sounds like a stellar plan. I know all those at Freenet would be very happy for you to help us all. Let me go get those codes."

As he searched through the computer, Mouse leaned over to Ray. "Ah'm not sure he's got all his circuits, if ya know what Ah mean."

He nodded. "He does seem a little funny. But did you hear how he mentioned Freenet? That place is definitely real."

Mouse nodded, but she didn't feel she could believe what the old sprite said as easily as Ray. How could a whole system be out there, and Daemon hadn't taken it over yet? Well, there was Mainframe.

"Here we go," Galero said, handing her the codes. Mouse gave them a quick run-over, and found that they were indeed valid. Her mouth dropped open in shock, and she wordlessly handed the file over to Ray. He looked at the codes, then smiled at Mouse, knowing there was hope.

Ah don't believe it, Mouse thought in disbelief. But the codes are all here; this place really exists. By the Code. . . .

Galero told them, "You go and warn them in Freenet, and I can bet they'll be able to get in touch with everybody else and pass on the message."

"Thanks a bunch, mate," Ray said as they prepared to go. "Are you sure you're okay right here? Won't Daemon's troops come back?"

Galero shook his head. "They think we're all deleted, thank the Net. You two need to go on to Freenet, and you don't need us holding you back. `Sides, I need to finish up on this work. We'll be ready by the time your friend the Command.com comes."

He shook each of their hands again and waved as they left the Principle Office. In a low voice, he murmured, "Ooh, the Guardians are gonna get them, the Guardians are gonna get them."

Galero pulled off his hat and dusted it off. On the back of his head there was dried energy from a head wound, and a cluster of yellow-green veins that seemed to clutch to the back of his skull. The veins pulsed slightly as they were exposed to open air. Galero ignored them as he pulled his hat back on and patted it in satisfaction.

"Oh, Trunc, you're here," Galero said. He turned to the doorway. There was no one there.

Galero went on talking to the air. "You wouldn't believe the story I have to tell you. It all starts with these two sprites who were just here. It's too bad you missed them. . . ."

"How are the plans for your trip to the Supercomputer?" Dot asked as Bob entered the War Room. Matrix and AndrAIa already stood with her, waiting with Dot as Bob had gone off to contact his "friend" from the Supercomputer.

"Everything's working out," Bob answered. "Our informant's there, and totally trustworthy. Well," he added a moment later, contradicting himself, "trusty enough that he'll guide us to where we need to go without many questions. The only thing left to decide is . . . disguises. I know I'm going to have to change my appearance, since the whole Net probably knows what Guardian 452 looks like." He smiled in a half-hearted attempt for humor. "What about you two? Did Daemon's Guardians see you?"

"I don't know," Matrix answered with a shrug. "Turbo and I shot against them, but we were hiding in the bar and they may not have seen our faces."

"They saw me," AndrAIa confirmed, "but Frisket and I dealt with them. Nonetheless, we should be careful, Sparky."

"All right, then. We know when and how we're going to get there and find the Academy; we just need proper disguises. How does that sound, Dot?" Bob asked, turning to his girlfriend.

Dot had crossed her arms over her chest in a familiar gesture of defense. "I don't like you all going to the Supercomputer when it's as dangerous as it is," she answered, then sighed. "But you have to. It's a great plan."

"WARNING: INCOMING GAME. WARNING: INCOMING GAME."

Bob grinned up at the darkening sky. "Some things never change. See you in a little while, Dot." The three sprites left the War Room. Dot opened a VidWindow and watched them fly up toward the Game, Matrix and AndrAIa on zip-boards while Bob floated. The Game landed smoothly with all three sprites under it, but Dot wasn't ready to breathe a sigh of relief. Only when the spammed Game was over; then she could relax.

Using his Glitch powers, Bob relayed to Matrix and AndrAIa the basic information about the Game they stood in. They stood beside a huge wrestling ring, but none of the Game sprites or the User had appeared. "It's one of those tournament-style Games, called Cartoon Heroes' we'll reboot into characters that the Game chooses. The object is to defeat the User, in whatever forms he chooses."

Matrix's brow furrowed, and he and AndrAIa exchanged worried looks. The wounds from their fights with Zaytan hadn't completely healed, and this Game served as a fresh reminder of that bleak doom.

"In this fighting, though, we're pretty evenly matched," Bob continued, and his companions breathed sighs of relief. "Looks like the fighting is a tag-team style; if one of us gets injured, we can tag another in. The User has unlimited characters –"

"We'll be fine," AndrAIa interrupted. "Three of us, against the User and whatever his forms are? Easy."

"Magnificent." Matrix grinned wolfishly, rubbing his hands together. "I could use some action."

"Reboot!" Bob said, tapping his Guardian icon, and the other two followed a nanosecond later. There was the familiar feeling of green energy washing over his code, then Bob had changed into his Game character. His hair was yellow, and spiky – it extended far over his head. He wore loose-fitting, gray clothes, heavy boots, and wrist protectors. "Hey, this is cool!" His comment was directed toward the huge sword – nearly his own height – that he held in his right hand. After inspecting his weapon, Bob touched his hair, then stared intently at the pale, peach-colored skin of his hand. "I must be some sort of User character."

"Bob, is that you?" Matrix asked in surprise. "I barely recognized you." He looked to his right. "AndrAIa – whoa!" Matrix had rebooted into a lean young man with brown hair and pale skin. He wore a tight-fitting dark blue bodysuit, with a communicator on his wrist. He patted himself down, but it seemed he possessed no weapon. Matrix frowned deeply, but there was no way he could argue with the character he had rebooted into.

But what was most surprising was AndrAIa; Matrix's exclamation had come from the sight of the game sprite's character. AndrAIa's hair, now dark brown, was set in a thick braid that hung down her back. She wore a sleeveless, aqua-colored shirt and gray shorts that exposed her slim thighs; her skin, like the others', was a pale peach color. Two large guns were holstered on her hips, and dark shades topped off her outfit. "Well, we know who's the coolest," she commented with a grin.

Bob narrowed his eyes. "Let's play."

The User had chosen his first form: another User-player, who had black hair and dark, piercing eyes. He wore a skintight red-and-blue outfit with a red cape over his back. On his chest was a huge "S".

"Me first," Bob said, and jumped into the ring. As soon as both players stood in the ring, a voice boomed, "Superman versus Cloud Strife. Gentlemen, don't be gentle – now, let's get it on!"

The User floated up into the air, hovering over Bob. Suddenly, his eyes glowed green; two lasers shot from his eyes, heading at an impossible speed toward Bob. Bob whipped out his huge sword and deflected the lasers back to Superman. The User dodged his own bolts and sped toward Bob. His momentum knocked the sprite to the ground, and the User wrapped his hands in a steel grip around Bob's neck.

Bob slashed wildly with his sword, and he landed a blow, tearing the front of Superman's suit. Gathering his strength, Bob plunged his sword into the User's chest and twisted it roughly, while flipping them over so he was on top of the character. The User screamed out in pain and tried to back away, but Bob pushed the sword deeper, using his leverage to keep pressure until finally the User cried out and disappeared in a flash of bright light.

Bob stood up, using his sword to support himself. He closed his eyes and breathed heavily. The referee's voice called out: "Cloud Strife is triumphant! Next players."

AndrAIa pulled herself up into the ring as the User decided what his second character would be. Matrix gave Bob a high-five, but he looked disappointed when AndrAIa took the second round.

AndrAIa gave him a grin. "Don't worry, Sparky – you'll get your chance."

Just then the announcer said: "Demona versus Lara Croft. Let's get it on!"

The User's new form appeared: a female with blue-gray skin and huge, leathery wings protruding from her shoulders. She had talons on her hands and feet, and she wore a tattered top and loincloth. Her eyes burned red, and she gave a low growl as she studied AndrAIa.

"Another flying User," AndrAIa muttered to herself, flexing her fingers. Though she didn't have her paralyzing fingernails, she still had two very lethal guns at her side and her fighting skills.

Demona started towards AndrAIa, taking long strides with her taloned feet instead of using her wings. AndrAIa tensed in preparation. Suddenly, the User darted toward AndrAIa and swiped with her claws. AndrAIa jumped back, keeping her balance as she dodged out of the User's way. She gauged the character's movements and possible weapons, her eyes remaining on her opponent's face. The User flung herself at AndrAIa again, but the game sprite grabbed her arms and wrestled her away.

The two women wrestled together. Demona lifted up one foot and kicked AndrAIa sharply in the stomach. With a cry, she fell on her back. The User lifted her foot to kick AndrAIa again, but the game sprite rolled to the side and shot out a leg to trip the User. The User's character stumbled but soon regained her balance. She yanked AndrAIa up by her hair and raked her foot talons down AndrAIa's back. AndrAIa yelled and pulled out of the User's grip. She pushed herself to her feet, immediately taking one gun out of the holster.

Demona turned and climbed on top of one of the posts at the edge of the ring. She crouched and let her wings unfurl. Then, with an animal shriek, she launched herself at AndrAIa, her eyes blazing white. She tackled AndrAIa, but the young sprite regained her balance and kicked Demona away.

AndrAIa pulled up her gun and shot at the User. The bullet punctured Demona's left wing, and it began to bleed. The User howled and clutched the gaping wound; her wing furled and unfurled again, and her eyes rolled back into her head.

After much screaming and stumbling about, Demona finally relented and crumpled to the ground. Panting in agony, the User flung her arm out toward the edge of the ring, where a hand appeared to grab it and pull the User out of the ring. AndrAIa let out a sigh of relief and slowly made her way to the edge of the fighting ground.

"Tie!" the announcer declared. "Neither Demona nor Lara Croft wins!"

Matrix would have carried AndrAIa out of the ring if she hadn't protested that she could take care of herself. "Are you okay?" Matrix asked nonetheless, worry evident in his eyes.

AndrAIa touched his arms gently. "I'm fine," she replied. "Now go, quickly," she added, pushing Matrix toward the ring. He hoisted himself up to face the final of the User's players.

A man slightly older than Matrix was crouched in the User's corner of the ring. He didn't appear to have any power; he just sat there, wearing a normal outfit.

Matrix scoffed. "This is a cartoon character? You've got to be kidding me," he sighed.

The referee announced the opponents one more time: "Toad versus Max Steel. All injuries are welcome – let's get it on!"

The User's character opened his mouth, and a five-foot tongue snapped out and wrapped around Matrix. Startled, the youth struggled against Toad's tongue, which was wiry as well as sticky. Toad tilted his head and lifted Matrix off the ground, slowly tightening his grip. Matrix gasped for breath as he was squeezed, and he had no weapon with which to fight.

As Matrix struggled, AndrAIa's gaze darted over his outfit. "What's your power?" she yelled.

"I don't know!" he shouted back. He too looked over himself for an available weapon, but he found none. Finally, his eyes fell upon the device he wore on his wrist. It wasn't a communicator, but some sort of power charger.

The User was squeezing harder, and Matrix knew he had to do something soon. Suddenly, the knowledge came to him. He pressed his palm over the charger and yelled, "Going turbo!" Waves of static electricity charged through his body, and Matrix gritted his teeth as his energy level jumped.

Filled with an extra-high level of energy, Matrix grabbed Toad's tongue with both hands. Electricity scorched the tongue and traveled along its length as if through a wire, until it reached Toad. He gagged, and his grip on Matrix slackened. The smell of charred flesh rose into the air.

The User flipped back to his feet and turned to Matrix. Energy still surging through his veins, Matrix readied himself. Toad headed for Matrix in a walk that was really a series of hops, but Matrix was ready. He pulled his energy-filled fist back and punched the User full in the face. The User stumbled back.

Before he could recover, AndrAIa yelled, "Matrix!" His head snapped around, and he saw AndrAIa yank one of her guns out of the holster. Matrix easily caught the small but deadly gun as she tossed it to him. He spun back around and pointed the gun at the User. Toad kept advancing. Matrix pulled the trigger, and the shot plowed into the User's chest. The User flew back twenty yards and lay on his back, blood seeping from the wound in his chest. A few core-pounding nanos later, the User's form disappeared.

"Max Steel wins! Tournament over," the referee announced. "User's score: zero wins, two losses, one tie."

"GAME OVER."

The Game cube retreated into the sky, leaving the three breathless players a little distance away from the Principle Office.

"Good job, Matrix," Bob congratulated the younger man, "and AndrAIa – you both fought well."

A small smile crossed over Matrix's face. "Thanks Bob." He took a few nanoseconds to gaze at the city around them, and he commented, his voice thoughtful, "Funny how, no matter what, we always play Games; it's never changed, after all we've been through."

AndrAIa smiled at him, but the smile soon faded into a weary expression. "We still need disguises," she reminded Bob and Matrix. They nodded tiredly, and the three started back for the Principle Office.

"We just need to find really good disguises so no one can recognize us," Bob thought out loud.

"It's not as if there's a hidden closet in the P.O. with everything we'd need for disguises," Matrix joked.

"But why go to all the trouble when we have it right in front of us?" AndrAIa pondered, the beginnings of a plan coming to mind. Bob and Matrix turned to her questioningly, but AndrAIa's eyes had taken on a faraway look. Her forehead creased, fighting through her thoughts to form a logical plan. She soon refocused on the other sprites. "Matrix, you couldn't recognize Bob at first in the Game, right?"

"Right. He looked very different than he – Oh." Matrix had caught on to AndrAIa's idea; a nano later, Bob had too.

"Let's take the appearances of the characters we had in the Game," AndrAIa explained. "We already have their names. . . ." She closed her eyes, then reopened them in half a millisecond. "I remember the names."

The two of them stared at her for several moments. Finally, Bob grinned and said, "Great idea, AndrAIa."

Matrix even smiled. "I've got a beautiful and smart woman," he murmured, gazing at her affectionately.

"As if you didn't know it before," AndrAIa teased. "Let's get back to the P.O."

Dot started to greet them when they came into the War Room, but Bob, AndrAIa, and Matrix rushed past her toward another doorway. "How was the Game?" Dot called after their retreating backs.

"Fine," Matrix tossed the answer over his shoulder. When Dot stood in the middle of the War Room, her arms crossed and tapping one foot, the other sprites stopped in their tracks and slowly turned to face her.

"What happened?" Dot asked again, in a no-nonsense tone.

"It was fine," Matrix repeated. "We beat the User, and we may have figured out what to do about our disguises."

"We've got just the thing for the Supercomputer," Bob added. "We've gotta go now; we'll check back in a micro, okay?"

"All right," Dot conceded, a little uncertainly; Bob had never had a plan in his life. She hoped those three knew what they were doing.

Enzo wandered into the Principle Office. It was surprisingly deserted; only a few binomes worked on maintaining the system's shields, and Dot sat in a chair against the wall, as if waiting for something.

"Hey, Sis, what's up?" Enzo asked, shedding his school supplies and coming over to stand with her.

"Hey, Enzo," Dot greeted him with a smile. "Bob, Matrix, and AndrAIa think they have an idea for the disguises they'll need for the Supercomputer."

"Really? Cool," Enzo said. "They're so lucky, to get to go to the Supercomputer – even if it is all infected and stuff." A small smile graced Dot's lips at her little brother's endless enthusiasm.

After half a micro, Bob, Matrix, and AndrAIa returned to the War Room. Enzo bounded toward Bob, yelling the Guardian's name. He tackled his hero and asked, "So, what'd ya find? Oh, sorry," he realized, and he helped Bob up.

Bob showed Dot and Enzo a small clothing file he held in his hand. "We got the idea from our Game characters. This is my disguise." AndrAIa and Matrix had their own formats, which they showed to Dot and Enzo.

Dot nodded appreciatively. "Impressive," she commented.

Enzo nodded enthusiastically. Then the expression shifted into thoughtfulness. "Since you've got everything you need . . . does that mean you're ready to go to the Supercomputer?" he asked.

"That's right," Bob answered, though no one looked at all happy about it.

There were no more reasons to put off Bob, Matrix, and AndrAIa's departure. The next second, when Enzo went straight to the Principle Office after school, he found Dot alone again in the War Room.

"Hey, where are the others?" Enzo asked.

"They're changing into their disguises," Dot answered. She waved Enzo over to sit on her lap; he complied, a little puzzled.

Dot wrapped her arms around Enzo's shoulders and rested her head against his. "Enzo, under normal circumstances, I would never mention this; but, with the . . . war . . . with Daemon going on, I want you to always be close to me. I think you should stay at the Principle Office from now on. You don't have to go to school – because, if something happened to us and I couldn't get to you in time, I – Besides, I don't think your school will be open much longer, what with all the activity going on here."

"Okay," Enzo replied calmly. Dot hugged him tighter, then let him go.

Enzo kept checking his watch for the time as ten milliseconds passed, then twenty, then thirty. Finally, the door opened and three strangers stepped out, all with pale skin and strange hairstyles.

"Dude," Enzo breathed. "Is that . . . ?"

Dot looked at the three, frowning. It was as if she had never seen the sprites before. What perfect disguises.

"What do you think Dot?" If Dot looked very carefully, she could see the shape of Bob's face under the hair and skin coverings; but anyone who didn't know Bob personally would have trouble recognizing him. She tried to point out each sprite in their disguise. "Bob? AndrAIa, and Matrix?"

"Yep," the brown-haired male answered, looking satisfied with himself. "Didn't recognize me at first, did you, Sis?"

Dot shook her head. "Not at all. So, these are your disguises? What will you say if they ask for names – and they probably will."

"We already thought of that," AndrAIa – looking more buxom than usual – replied. "I'm Lara, Matrix is Max, and Bob is Cloud."

"Alphanumeric!" Enzo shouted.

"We talked about what to do with our icons," Matrix explained, "because we can't go around the Supercomputer with Guardian icons, or Mainframe ones. AndrAIa and I already have game-sprite icons, and Bob just changed his." With a triumphant smile, Bob tapped his icon, and it transformed into the circle-in-a-triangle style of a game-sprite icon.

"I'm impressed," Dot admitted.

After her comment and the realization that it was finally time to let Matrix, AndrAIa, and Bob go, the five sprites stood still, feeling unsure of what to say next.

"Well," Bob sighed, breaking the awkward silence, "no time like the present. We should get going."

Dot expelled a heavy sigh. "All right."

They left the War Room and exited the Principle Office. Now they stood in an empty spot before the P.O., abandoned except for a ruined CPU they had set up to be used for a tear, which would become a portal.

Dot embraced Bob and held him close for several nanoseconds. "I don't like this," she reminded him sternly.

"I know," Bob replied with a smile, and kissed her on the lips.

Enzo groaned at the display of affection. "Are you guys finished?" he demanded. When Bob and Dot finally broke away, Enzo stepped between them to hug Bob. "Be careful," he ordered, his wide eyes betraying the worry he felt but was determined not to show.

Enzo turned to AndrAIa. "You be careful too," he said, glancing down at the ground shyly. He looked up and smiled slightly, mimicking Matrix, though neither sprite realized it at the moment.

AndrAIa smiled gracefully. "Stay here till we come back, okay?" she said, bending to give Enzo a hug. She pulled back and received a touch on the shoulder from Dot, to which she smiled again.

Dot stared uncertainly at Matrix for a moment. Then she gave him a small hug around the neck. "And you be careful too, Little Brother," she said.

Matrix gave a rare smile. "Thanks, Dot."

The only sprites who hadn't exchanged good-byes were Enzo and Matrix. Both sprites stood uncomfortably, a dead silence growing between them. Two sprites, the same code, yet they didn't even know one another.

"Um . . ." Enzo muttered, lifting his head, "good luck."

"Thanks," Matrix replied gruffly. "Uh –" He cleared his throat. "See you later."

"Later," Enzo echoed softly. Dropping his eyes to the ground again, he slowly backed up until he stood by Dot's side again. She slid her arm over his shoulder.

"You're sure you know the plan?" Dot persisted Bob, AndrAIa, and Matrix. "Just go through the portal, meet your informant, get into the Academy and set up communications, and get back to Mainframe. Stay safe, and no side-trips."

"We know, Dot," AndrAIa laughed. "We've been over it."

Dot smiled wryly. "All right," she repeated, seeming to need to convince herself that everything would go okay. "Well, it's time to get that portal open."

"I can do that," Matrix said. He pulled out Gun, resting in its regular place on his leg, and shot it at the ruined CPU. The blast from Gun turned the scrap heap into a bright, pulsing tear of energy.

Bob drew in a deep breath and gathered his Glitch-energy between his hands. He thrust it at the tear; the golden light swirled around before it changed the tear into a portal. They couldn't see much through it, only a few dark buildings.

"Let's do it," Bob sighed. Together they stepped through the portal, and it closed behind their backs.

They were halted before they reached the Supercomputer. Bob immediately shut off his Glitch energy; if any traces of keytool light were seen around them, they would be deleted sprites. Luckily, no one had given any notice of the three who had sneaked in by a portal.

The three sprites stood at some sort of limbo between systems; it was like a small bubble suspended in the Net. In the distance they could see their destination, and in front of them stood a chrome-skinned female standing beside a sleek, silvery vehicle: a search engine.

"State your name and occupation," the search engine ordered.

AndrAIa's core-com skipped a beat when she recognized the search engine as Maxine. AndrAIa kept her gaze on the dirty ground and didn't exchange eye contact with Maxine, just to make sure she wasn't recognized.

Matrix and AndrAIa glanced questioningly at Bob. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to be calm. He could remember running into some of these bubbles before the Supercomputer; they were used as a way to identify some of the shadier sprites that tried to pass through without notice. He gave a small nod, and Matrix and AndrAIa understood the silent message: Continue with the plan.

"State your name and occupation," Maxine repeated when they hadn't answered.

Bob quickly glanced around them. There were a few other sprites in this same inter-system spot, giving information so they could go on to the Supercomputer. What was more important, infected Guardians patrolled the perimeter of their bubble, with their faces hard and their hands gripping their deadly guns tightly. Bob looked back to the search engine.

"Cloud Strife, Max Steel, Lara Croft. All mercenaries," he answered, hoping that would be all it took.

"Authorization codes." How was it that security had tightened this much after a super-virus took over? But they had been prepared for this, and each sprite handed their game-sprite icon to Maxine. Because the icons had been set in another mode, they would still function but be unable to link back to Mainframe.

"Permission granted. Proceed on to the Supercomputer," Maxine told them. Bob, Matrix, and AndrAIa started forward, then halted. Bob drew in a sharp breath as he realized their new predicament: though they had sneaked in using keytool-energy, they couldn't repeat the process without arousing too much suspicion from the guards.

"What is it?" Maxine asked, her hands on her hips.

AndrAIa answered, in a casual tone, "Oh, we haven't got a ship. We were travelin' with some other sprites, but they dropped us off here."

"Get on. I'm just leaving for the Supercomputer," Maxine told them, making a "shoo" motion with her hands toward her ship. The three sprites climbed into the ship, silently thanking the grace of the User.

Maxine spent another five milliseconds briefing some other sprites heading for the Supercomputer. Finally, after two more sprites had settled themselves in her ship, Maxine took up the pilot's seat. "Do you have a strong constitution?" she asked her passengers. "Otherwise, you find another way."

"We can hold our own," AndrAIa answered with a small laugh; then she fell silent, remembering too late that she had said the same words the first time she met Maxine.

The search engine glanced back at AndrAIa, Matrix, and Bob for a lingering moment. "Have I met you before?" she asked AndrAIa.

AndrAIa swallowed and quickly covered her slip. "Prob'ly not."

Maxine shrugged and turned back to the controls. "Hold on," she instructed the passengers. The next nano, the engines came to life, and Maxine's ship streaked through the bubble towards the Supercomputer.

The trip was over in less than five milliseconds. Maxine's ship hovered in the Supercomputer's shipyard. The five passengers climbed out and set foot on the streets of the Net's biggest system. They started off in different directions, neither group giving as much as a wave back to their driver.

Maxine readied her ship to return to the bubble, muttering to herself about "what the Net has come to."

Matrix remembered glimpsing the Supercomputer -- a long time ago, when he had still been a naïve young boy. The majesty of the Supercomputer had been present in the small bit he had seen; but now it was as if the former glitter of the Supercomputer had faded to darkness. What had been a bright golden sky was now the color of charcoal, with slate-gray clouds that scuttled across. Highlighted against the black sky were eerie green veins that shimmered in the near-darkness and gave the impression of jagged claws.

The buildings that surrounded them were charred husks of their former brilliance. The cement of the sidewalks was broken, the cracks filled with bright green growths. Homes had been burned to the ground, and ragged, thin sprites darted between alleyways, always casting a paranoid glance behind them as they waded through the trash that filled the streets.

Bob swallowed hard. As much as he loved Mainframe, the Supercomputer was his home, and the destruction he saw made his core writhe in his chest.

"Where are we, Bo – Cloud?" AndrAIa asked quietly, shaking Bob out of his reverie.

The Guardian briefly concentrated, using his Glitch energy to send out a sweep of the sectors nearest them. "We're in Sector 3," he explained in a soft voice to his companions. "There are twelve sectors in the Supercomputer; if my memory serves me correctly, there are four sectors for the rich, six for the middle-class, and two for the homeless. We would be in one of the sectors where the average people live. That's good."

"Where's the Guardian Academy?" Matrix asked.

Bob didn't bother using Glitch to answer. "Sector 8, which actually isn't too far from where we are. This is my home; I know every sector by heart," he explained with a touch of pride.

"Come on, let's go find our contact," Bob said. His bravado faded as he again looked around at the homes of the middle-class citizens. Determination quickly replaced his grief, and he led the way toward the sector where they would find their mysterious informant.