For once Welman wasn't cooped up in his office. Sprites in white coats frantically raced around the lab, comparing notes and findings with one another. Welman stood in front of a whiteboard, marker in hand. He had been working all night and found the longer he stared at the problem the more complicated it became. There were too many variables in the equation before him, too many unpredictable outcomes. Admittedly he was a little rusty. It had been a while since he actually had an urgent problem to solve. He had a very capable team and any issues with the ports were usually dealt with in a nano. But what they were currently dealing with was quite the conundrum.
Every scientist was on high alert. They huddled together in groups; some over beakers, others tackling difficult equations. Over by the computers several sprites rifled through code, desperately trying to search for a solution.
"Excuse me sir, this lab is off limits."
"I'm just here to see Welman."
After recognizing the voice Welman turned from his board and looked over. Bob stood in the doorway, being barred from entry by one of the scientists. He didn't blame her for not letting him through, what they were working on was confidential.
"It's all right!" Welman called.
"Dr. Matrix, we can't-"
"I understand, but at this point we need all the help we can get. Come in, son." He said, waving Bob in.
After some hesitation she stepped aside and Bob went over to his father in law.
"Wow, and I thought guardians kept things under wraps."
"How's Matrix doing?" He asked, eyes glued to the whiteboard still.
"He's managing."
"Good, good. I haven't had a chance to go out and see him yet. I fear it'll be a while before I can leave the lab… What brings you here?"
"I haven't been able to send or receive any messages to the Supercomputer."
"I know."
"And now I'm hearing the ports are out of service."
"Yes."
"What exactly is going on?"
"There seems to be a high energy containment field encasing the entire system." He scribbled a few numbers down and then promptly erased them, not satisfied.
"Excuse me?"
"It's very powerful- powerful enough to withstand web radiation. We are completely isolated from the rest of the net… and potentially the web as well." He said, trying to hide his excitement, "I've never seen anything like this before. The signal is strong enough to keep us offline. What is powering the containment field is a mystery. It would have to be something infinitely strong, perhaps it is being charged by the web itself-"
"Welman, please slow down."
"My apologies," He turned to face the guardian, "Simply put, we are all trapped inside of Mainframe. No sprite can log in or out of the system. Transmitting messages is also not currently possible."
"How did this happen?" Bob looked at him stunned. He had come to a similar concussion already, but hearing it said out loud was terrifying.
"That is what we are trying to figure out. This is clearly not a natural occurring anomaly." Welman paused, deep in thought for a moment. He never imagined he'd see anything like this in his lifetime. The scientist in him was enthralled.
"Meaning?"
"... Someone is deliberately targeting Mainframe, for what reason I don't know."
The gravity of the situation was just starting to sink in. There would be no backup, at least not until the containment field was taken down. Bob couldn't help but wonder if its sudden appearance had something to do with what Megabyte was working on. He had hoped that the destruction of Silicon Tor was the end of it, but that could have only been the beginning.
"What can I do to help?" Bob asked.
"Keeping the populace under control would be a start. We need time to figure this out. I've posted at the port that we are experiencing a temporary delay due to a data storm near our system."
"A lie?"
"A lie that you'll keep going as long as necessary." Welman said with a stern expression.
"... Of course. We don't want to cause a panic."
"The less they know the better."
Bob didn't like it, but he saw Welman's point. It would be complete chaos if all of Mainframe really knew what was going on. It was best just to put out fires as they arose. He was no programmer or scientist; the best Bob could do was keep the peace.
Bob sighed, starting to walk away when a thought came to him. He had read a bit about containment fields when he was at the academy. It was something guardians often used to apprehend powerful viruses destined for deletion.
"Containment fields can be reprogrammed." He said, more to himself than anything. "Can you hack the containment field?"
Welman looked over at him.
"Come again?"
"Can you hack the containment field?" Bob spoke up.
"...Yes, but the fail safes are preventing us from taking it down."
"So don't take it down."
"I don't follow."
"Alter the code and create an opening, one just big enough to send a message through."
Welman grabbed the eraser sitting on the whiteboard ledge and quickly rubbed away everything he had written. He started scribbling down possible alterations that could be made.
"It'll be tricky, but it's not impossible." Welman said in a low voice.
"All we need to do is send a distress signal to the Supercomputer. The guardian collective should be able to trace it in seconds."
"Everyone, stop what you're doing!" Welman shouted and everyone in the room came to a halt, "We have a new plan."
# #
Maxine wasn't proud of it, but she was living with her parents since returning home. After everything that they learned she knew that AndrAIa was stranded. She couldn't in good conscience let her sleep out on the street. The only option was to bring her home to mom and dad's. After the initial awkwardness wore off it wasn't too bad. Maxine actually found herself enjoying AdnrAIa's company.
After dinner they walked up a set of stairs leading to the roof. It was the one place that Maxine could guarantee privacy, and they had a lot to talk about. She hadn't told her parents the whole truth about what happened in Mainframe. If they had known the full story they definitely would have deleted her.
AndrAIa took a deep breath, appreciating how cool it was outside compared to earlier that day. They both took a seat on the flat concrete roof, side by side, and looked up at the stars. The sky in the Desert Port System had a red hugh to the darkness. It made the stars look brighter and added a richness to the background. All these things AndrAIa was appreciating for the first time Maxine had taken for granted her whole life. She had spent enough nights on that roof for the scenery to not seem so special.
"Wow, what a view." AndrAIa smiled.
"You know, when I was younger I was so fragile. Any little cold or virus had me out of commission for weeks."
"Really?" AndrAIa found it hard to believe after everything Matrix told her. Maxine seemed very capable.
"Yeah, as a result my parents never let me go outside and play with the other sprites." Maxine paused, looking off into the distance, "During the day I'd watch them through the kitchen window, and at night I would sneak up here. I'd watch them for hours, until the sun went down and they all went home. Then I'd sit here and look up at the stars, make wishes."
"What did you wish for?"
"New toys, a dog, usual kid things… But also, i wished for friends."
"Sounds lonely."
"It was." Maxine smiled sadly, "But, with each upgrade I got stronger. I got accustomed to watching other sprites live their lives and go on adventures. I guess I got used to being an observer, I never really lived or did anything exciting. After meeting Matrix, everything changed. I felt like I had to be bolder just to be in his presence. Next to him I wasn't scared, even when I should have been."
"He tends to have that effect on people."
"Really?"
"I don't think I'd be the sprite I am now if I never met him. He's made me stronger, and it sounds like he did the same for you too… Or maybe he just showed us who we already were."
Maxine smiled. AndrAIa had managed to put into words exactly what she was feeling. She knew now that she was never in love with Matrix, she just liked the idea of having someone so strong by her side. Maxine was finally accepting that she was strong enough for herself. She wasn't that sick little sprite she used to be, now she needed to start acting like it. She wasn't helpless.
"He is something special."
"He is… Which is why I have to find a way back to Mainframe." AndrAIa said.
There was a silence that fell. They both looked out at the horizon, deep in thought. After a moment Maxine spoke.
"How badly do you want to get back to him?"
"I'd do anything."
"... I think I know how to get you home, it won't be easy though."
"My life's never exactly been easy."
"The web isn't a friendly place."
A chill ran down AndrAIa's spine. Just mentioning the web made her apprehensive, but the thought of never seeing Matrix again scared her more.
"I have to get back to him."
"I expected no less." Maxine smiled. "Things have been too quiet around here; I think it's time for another adventure."
# #
Matrix sat on the couch, looking up at the ceiling. He wanted more than anything to beat up the User and let out some of his rage. Since Silicon Tor got nullified there hadn't been any game cubes. He found himself just waiting around for something to happen.
Pearson had been understanding about the whole situation and gave him some time off work. He had no intention of going back though. Matrix hadn't told his dad yet, but he planned on moving back in once he ran out of money. He wasn't particularly motivated to do much of anything anymore.
A vidwindow appeared, and he sat up straight.
"Dad?" He was genuinely surprised. Given everything that had been going on, he assumed Welman was too busy to talk to him. He had heard about the ports not working and knew his dad must have been in a state of panic. Welman smiled back at him.
"Hi, Matrix. How are you holding up?"
Matrix shrugged.
"... I'm sorry I haven't seen you yet in person."
"You're a busy man."
"Yes," Welman cleared his throat nervously, "Can I confess something?"
"Sure, dad. What is it?"
"I've always been a little intimidated by you, even when you were a boy."
"Really?"
"Really. You were just so different from me. You were bold and impulsive- all the things I was too afraid to be."
Matrix looked at his father, listening to every word. Welman continued.
"I knew even then that there wasn't much I'd be able to teach you, except maybe calculus."
"Dad, that's not true."
"It is… But now I do have a lesson to teach. I may be one of the few sprites who know exactly what you're going through right now. When your mother left my entire world fell apart. I could solve any equation in under five minutes, but I had no idea how to mend a broken heart. Even though I knew she was out there, the loss I felt was still so real."
"Dad, about that…"
"Just let me finish," He smiled through tear filled eyes, "Matrix, I was selfish. I was so consumed by my own grief I never raised you and Dot the way I should have. I just shut down. I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did. I know things are still fresh, but you have family who cares you."
"I know, dad."
"Mainframe is in trouble, I have to stay here at the lab. Promise me that you and Dot will take care of each other."
"Dad-"
"Promise me."
"... I promise."
"And when this is all over, we'll have a proper funeral for AndrAIa. I'll take care of everything."
Matrix stared at him for a moment, not sure what to say.
"She was going to be a Matrix after all."
"Thanks dad." Matrix smiled.
An alarm went off in the distance behind Welman. He smiled apologetically.
"I have to go."
Matrix nodded and ended the call, a sudden relief washing over him. His time to mourn would come, but his dad was right. They had to stick together, for Mainfame's sake.
# #
Mouse stood face to face with Daemon's creation. A few weeks ago she would have said that she'd seen it all. Mouse had done everything from petty theft to deletion and tangled with the worst the net had to offer. She was well respected, not just because of who her boss was, but because she was fearless. Yet she found herself trembling. The metallic structure seemed so imposing to her. Maybe it wasn't just the machine itself or what it could do, but what it represented. Her time as a sprite was coming to an end, and so was her time with Daemon. Part of her was not ready for the infinite possibilities the future held. She had gotten so comfortable with the way her life was. How could she willingly step into the unknown when she was already so happy?
Suddenly one of her shaky hands was filled with warmth. Daemon stood by Mouse's side, interlacing fingers with hers. It was a small comfort, but still appreciated. They both looked at the machine.
"Are you ready?" Daemon all but whispered.
Mouse stayed silent. She knew she wasn't ready, but didn't want to admit it to Daemon. The silver structure gleamed in the dim light.
"Mouse, look at me."
Mouse did as she was told.
"I need to know that you will be okay," Daemon said, "even when I am gone. It's the least I can do to repay your kindness."
"... I never expected any payment."
"I know, but good service must be rewarded."
"And this is my reward?" Mouse said, trying hard to hold back tears.
"It is… If you choose to accept it."
"And if I don't?"
Mouse held her breath. The last thing she wanted to do was disappoint Daemon.
"I will love you all the same." Dameon smiled.
A single tear trickled down Mouse's cheek. She had waited a long time to hear that word 'love', even if Daemon didn't truly understand the emotions behind it.
"You will?"
"Of course."
"... But changing my code is what you want? Changing me…"
Daemon gently cupped Mouse's head in her hands.
"Mouse, sprite or virus you will still be the same. The net will hear the word; everyone will become a virus eventually. You will always be my Mouse."
Mouse smiled. Deep down her heart was breaking. Everything Daemon said sounded as if she was saying goodbye. It would take some time, but once unity was restored Daemon would fade away. There was no telling if it would take cycles, or only a few months to accomplish her goal. Their time together would be but a distant memory soon enough, and Mouse had to accept that. As long as Daemon achieved her goal, she would be happy. Bringing the net together was what Daemon was destined to do. Mouse knew first hand how cruel the net could be. How cruel sprites could be. The net needed a reset.
"Sorry I'm late, this fortress of yours is a maze." Hex exclaimed as she entered the room. Instantly she picked up on the tension, "Am I interrupting something? I can come back later."
"No, it's all right," Mouse said, wiping away a few stray tears, "I'm ready."
"Oh, goodie!" Hex smiled.
Daemon waved her hand gracefully and the door opened. Mouse stepped into the large cylinder. She smiled at Daemon as the door shut, sealing her in complete darkness. Mouse took a few calming breaths and closed her eyes. She was done being upset. All she could do was help Daemon fulfil her function. As much as she enjoyed their time together, nothing lasts forever.
Outside the machine Hexadecimal picked up the helmet. It was large and bulky. Inside she could see how intricate the wiring was. Out the top several cables were bound together, leading to the machine. It was a great improvement from Megabyte's setup.
"Thank you, Hexadecimal." Daemon said, "none of this would have been possible without you."
"No need to thank me. I'm entirely in it for the fun."
Hex placed the helmet over her head. The moment it was in position she could feel the energy being pulled out of her. She felt instantly weak and stumbled to her knees. Daemon watched as bright red viral energy flooded out of Hex, travelling along the cable and towards the chamber. Hexadecimal cried out in pain, but kept the helmet in place. Once enough viruses were made they would have other options to power the machine.
The sprite inside stayed silent as the transformation took hold. It took only seconds. Mouse barely felt a thing. Hexadecimal, however, was in worse off shape. The moment the door opened Hex threw off the helmet, revealing a crack running down her mask. It had taken a lot more out of her than she anticipated.
Daemon stepped past Hexadecimal who was crumpled on the ground, weak. She extended a hand towards Mouse, not taking her eyes off of her.
"Come," Dameon smiled, "let us go spread the word."
End Log