Crossing Bridges
Disclaimer: Reboot and all its characters are the property of Mainframe Entertainment Inc. This story is inspired by Osama Tezuka's movie Metropolis all the rest are based on my twisted imagination.
The Supercomputer
Turbo walked down the hidden passage to Laboratory 18 where she hid. Megabyte was back and if there was any time Bob needed her it was now.
Inside the tiny lab were his most trusted Guardians and the med staff entrusted with taking care of Hexadecimal. The room was quiet. The only sounds Turbo could hear were the hissing and bubbling of the life support equipment.
"How's the patient?" he asked the blue skinned doctor.
"Her source code or codes is rather unusual. Her regeneration couldn't even begin until I fixed the degradation on all separate 2000 codes."
"When can she leave the tank?"
"Not now her regeneration is almost complete, but you can talk with her," with a flourish Dr. Apple pulled down the screen revealing the naked form of a young female barely one one younger than Daemon. Her skin was white and her black hair had grown into a small cap. She looked waiflike and innocent a far cry from what Turbo knew of her.
"She, ah, looks different younger," said Turbo.
" Yes, thanks to my great skills heh, heh, I was able to get rid of all the effects of the toxins by regenerating her entire body. I had to replace her missing code sequences so yes she is different looking."
Right now the doctor definitely reminded Turbo of Bob.
"And mentally how is she Dr. Chandra? Will she ever be able to use her powers?"
"I've corrected the neurological damage. In essence I gave her a brand new brain. She can't even walk right now let alone use her powers but she can answer questions," said Chandra as she tapped on the glass.
Hex's eyes snapped open causing Turbo to jump back, " Hexadecimal I need your help Megabyte has taken over Mainframe-"
The young virus wailed in fear. The two doctors did their best to comfort her through the glass.
"This is hopeless I need her up and running to defeat Megabyte."
"Hexadecimal isn't ready to face the world let alone Megabyte. I've personally scanned her memories seen the suffering she's been through. All her life she's been treated like a tool not a person and unless she receives counselling she'll never live an even halfway normal life."
"Do you have a copy of her memories in a read me file?"
"Yes but they're hardly coherent."
"Never mind that! Give them over to me I have an idea."
**************************************************************************** ****
Mainframe.
"It is no use Guardian I now see and control everything in Mainframe. Resistance is hopeless," crowed Megabyte.
"Don't count us out yet Megabyte!" shouted Bob. "Mouse cut this room off we need to make up a plan."
They had holed up in the boardroom. Under normal circumstances it was large and quite roomy but not today. It was only meant to hold about a dozen people but now it held much more. Bob tried not to wrinkle his nose at the stink of cold sickening fear reeking from everybody.
"Ah'm already working on it! Bob Ah've got bad news we already are that virus has locked us in and all the encryption codes on the doors have changed."
"Can't we get past it?"
"Sugah that wouldn't give us enough time. Megabyte and his flunkeys would be all over us as soon as we open the first door. We have to leave now."
"No Mouse, we can't little Enzo he's trapped in there. User knows what Megabyte doing to him," cried Dot.
"Sis we can't help Enzo until we help ourselves," said Matrix softly.
Suddenly a vid window popped open.
"Bob is this a secure channel?" asked Turbo. He looked around furtively.
"It is now!" said Mouse.
" Bob, status report."
"Megabyte has infiltrated and taken over the principle's office, he's infected Phong and Dot's father and taken a minor sprite hostage. All the doors' encryption codes have changed and Megabyte's troops have occupied the building."
"Then I've got you just in time. Bob, Hexadecimal is alive and is being treated by my most trusted men. While's she's not able to fight Megabyte yet I've gotten valuable information to help you.
"Hexadecimal was afraid of Megabyte and the inhabitants of Mainframe. She stockpiled Lost Angles with weapons and equipment to defend herself. There is a catch however, the place is absolutely riddled with traps, and so you'll need a guide.
"Scuzzy!" blurted out Bob.
"That's right, find that cat or her kittens. I'm downloading you all the stats I can of Lost Angles this should help you. I wish you the best of luck. I'm initializing procedure 37. Turbo out."
"We can't go there its - infested with nulls and there are still those traps we could be deleted," said Dot almost shouting.
"Calm down, Hex promised to get rid of all the lethal traps," said Bob.
"And you trust her?" said Dot incredulously.
"Dot I don't like it any more than you do," said Matrix softly. "But if we're to help Dad and our brother we have to help ourselves first."
Bob said firmly, "All right people! Let's form a chain I've got a fix on Scuzzy, it's very close. We'll leave this building via the waste chutes."
And so they left holding hands as they walked through the sewers. Except for the occasional complaint about somebody on something the group kept silent. The sewers stank for obvious reasons. It was hot and humid as the waste energy dispersed around them and the water was often waste deep. Bob secretly thanked the user that it was so dark he did not want to know what it was that was swimming past him.
"Bob, we've got to slow down I nearly twisted my ankle," complained Dot.
"Hang on Dot we're almost there, she's at Old Man Pearson's data dump," said Bob. He ripped off a panel opening a hole to the dump.
A fully charged Gibson pike greeted Bob in the face.
"Stand back virus, I'm a level 10 Codemaster assassin," roared Pearson.
"I'm not Megabyte, let me through we've got no time for this," ordered Bob.
"Prove it!"
"Glitch, binders!"
The Key tool transformed into a set of ropes, wrapping the unfortunate binome from head to toe. Bob stepped out. The place was a dump Pearson no doubt had barricaded all the doors with the heavier pieces of garbage. In the far corner he could see a large group of terrified binomes cowering.
"It's okay I'm looking for Scuzzy."
The binomes all pointed to a large box. There inside Frisket lay seriously hurt as Scuzzy cared for him. The others by this time had left the hole. Matrix raced up to greet his dog. Scuzzy hissed him a warning. Hulking giant of a sprite stopped and pointed his gun at the cat.
"Stop it Lover! Scuzzy's why we're here!" said AndraIa soothingly.
The cat flashed on her screen a picture of Matrix slashing Frisket with claws he didn't have. Megabyte had ruined another relationship.
"Alright Dre pick up Frisket and let's all move out people," ordered Bob.
**************************************************************************** ****
Clarece half dragged, half carried her toddler son, a little one binome as she and the rest of their family ran for their lives to of all places Lost Angles. It was dark and several times little Bobby would trip over something.
"Momma why we no go in car?" asked little Bobby.
"The car's too noisy. Megabyte might find us."
"Momma where we go?"
"Lost Angles we'll be safe there!"
Little Bobby started to cry, "No, no I don't wanna go that's where the Bad Lady lives."
"Bobby, Hexadecimal wasn't bad she was just very, very sick. When Bob made her all better she saved us all."
Bobby kept on crying, "I'm still scared of the Virus Lady."
"Bobby Hex went away she doesn't live in Lost Angles," said Bobby's father finally.
They finally stopped at the bridge. It was as twisted and as warped as its creator ever was. On the other side across the heaving sea stood Lost Angles. It was in even worse shape than when Hexadecimal lived in it. Bob and Scuzzy walked in a few feet and noticed that the group had shrank to two.
"What are waiting for a written invitation? C'mon Megabyte and his cronies could be here any nano." Said Bob his hair whipping in this wind that had come up.
The crowd still did not budge. There was an awkward silence. Finally Ray stepped forward and walked across the bridge. Then AndraIa walked across, followed reluctantly by Martix. Finally over half the group were on the bridge ready to take the next step. Clarece looked back at her separated family Bobby and his father decided not to cross. Clarece beckoned them to come over but Philips just shook his head.
Bob was not ready to give up, "C'mon this is your freedom we're talking about! Can't you put your fear aside for one nano? Look I know Hex did some horrible things while she was ill but she was one of the bravest, most honourable people I've ever met when she was cured. No? Well if you don't cross this bridge right now we can never trust you again."
The Guardian then did the hardest thing in his life. He turned his heel and walked across the bridge. Several stragglers changed their minds and followed them but Little Bobby and Philips were not one of them.
"At least little Chartreuse is safe," thought a broken hearted Clarece as she held her baby. The binome mother had no idea how wrong she was.
When they got there a familiar figure suddenly appeared. She swayed seductively towards Bob stopping just a few feet in front of him. Hexadecimal give him a welcoming smile. In her black leather corset and boots she looked exactly the same as the second Bob cured her.
"Hello Gorgeous I'm so glad you came over!" she said in a husky voice.
Matrix stepped in front of Bob, pulled out his gun and shot her.
**************************************************************************** ***
The Supercomputer
The one duty that Turbo hated the most as Prime Guardian was holding press conferences. Since Daemon left the Prime Guardian spent most of his time trying to win back the trust of the people and press conferences were just one step. The crowd of reporters assaulted Turbo with questions. He held up his hand for silence.
"Quiet please one at time. Okay how about you?" asked Turbo to a seemingly harmless young lady.
"Mr. Turbo there are rumours that Daemon was the result of a sprite viral hybrid program sponsored by the Guardians is that true?"
"No, Guardians would never risk the lives of innocents in that way. Daemon was created by a User not us next?"
"Mr. Guardian tell us what's in Lab 18?"asked another reporter. It was Coney that woman had a way of asking the most difficult questions.
"There is no Lab 18," lied Turbo.
"Mr Guardian rumour has it that the cure for Daemon's infection was given to a virus who was much worse than her is that true?" asked another reporter.
"No virus in her right mind would sacrifice her life for another it just isn't in their programming"
"How do you know it was a she?"
"Oh FAQ!" thought Turbo as the reporters assailed him a new barrage of questions.
**************************************************************************** ****
Mainframe
Enzo's eyes bulged he watched the Bob and his friends cross the bridge on the view screen. The expression on his face was priceless.
"T-they're leaving me!" the boy squeaked.
"Well obviously they felt a mere copy was not worth the trouble of rescuing," said Megabyte nonchalantly
"No, no they'll be back I know they will."
"They've crossed the bridge, left their home and you. It appears I underestimated Bob.
Megabyte grinned horribly and leaned towards him. Enzo struggled in his father's grip as the virus cut a line down his check with his claw. The boy did not make a sound.
"I have an excellent idea, Herr Docktor come here I have a job for you."
This time Enzo did scream as the binome doctor brought his probes towards the young boy.
**************************************************************************** ****
Lost Angles
The virus looked down at the hole in her chest that the Renegade had created. "Bob, if all your friends are going to be this rude, I must ask them to leave."
"Relax guys it's just an alias," said Bob. "Hex, Megabyte's taken over Mainframe we, I need your help."
"Of course, I would do anything for you, well almost anything. I'm here to guide you safely through Lost Angles."
"Can you take us, all of us, to the command centre? We need to set a barrier."
"Follow me," said the alias.
Disclaimer: Reboot and all its characters are the property of Mainframe Entertainment Inc. This story is inspired by Osama Tezuka's movie Metropolis all the rest are based on my twisted imagination.
The Supercomputer
Turbo walked down the hidden passage to Laboratory 18 where she hid. Megabyte was back and if there was any time Bob needed her it was now.
Inside the tiny lab were his most trusted Guardians and the med staff entrusted with taking care of Hexadecimal. The room was quiet. The only sounds Turbo could hear were the hissing and bubbling of the life support equipment.
"How's the patient?" he asked the blue skinned doctor.
"Her source code or codes is rather unusual. Her regeneration couldn't even begin until I fixed the degradation on all separate 2000 codes."
"When can she leave the tank?"
"Not now her regeneration is almost complete, but you can talk with her," with a flourish Dr. Apple pulled down the screen revealing the naked form of a young female barely one one younger than Daemon. Her skin was white and her black hair had grown into a small cap. She looked waiflike and innocent a far cry from what Turbo knew of her.
"She, ah, looks different younger," said Turbo.
" Yes, thanks to my great skills heh, heh, I was able to get rid of all the effects of the toxins by regenerating her entire body. I had to replace her missing code sequences so yes she is different looking."
Right now the doctor definitely reminded Turbo of Bob.
"And mentally how is she Dr. Chandra? Will she ever be able to use her powers?"
"I've corrected the neurological damage. In essence I gave her a brand new brain. She can't even walk right now let alone use her powers but she can answer questions," said Chandra as she tapped on the glass.
Hex's eyes snapped open causing Turbo to jump back, " Hexadecimal I need your help Megabyte has taken over Mainframe-"
The young virus wailed in fear. The two doctors did their best to comfort her through the glass.
"This is hopeless I need her up and running to defeat Megabyte."
"Hexadecimal isn't ready to face the world let alone Megabyte. I've personally scanned her memories seen the suffering she's been through. All her life she's been treated like a tool not a person and unless she receives counselling she'll never live an even halfway normal life."
"Do you have a copy of her memories in a read me file?"
"Yes but they're hardly coherent."
"Never mind that! Give them over to me I have an idea."
**************************************************************************** ****
Mainframe.
"It is no use Guardian I now see and control everything in Mainframe. Resistance is hopeless," crowed Megabyte.
"Don't count us out yet Megabyte!" shouted Bob. "Mouse cut this room off we need to make up a plan."
They had holed up in the boardroom. Under normal circumstances it was large and quite roomy but not today. It was only meant to hold about a dozen people but now it held much more. Bob tried not to wrinkle his nose at the stink of cold sickening fear reeking from everybody.
"Ah'm already working on it! Bob Ah've got bad news we already are that virus has locked us in and all the encryption codes on the doors have changed."
"Can't we get past it?"
"Sugah that wouldn't give us enough time. Megabyte and his flunkeys would be all over us as soon as we open the first door. We have to leave now."
"No Mouse, we can't little Enzo he's trapped in there. User knows what Megabyte doing to him," cried Dot.
"Sis we can't help Enzo until we help ourselves," said Matrix softly.
Suddenly a vid window popped open.
"Bob is this a secure channel?" asked Turbo. He looked around furtively.
"It is now!" said Mouse.
" Bob, status report."
"Megabyte has infiltrated and taken over the principle's office, he's infected Phong and Dot's father and taken a minor sprite hostage. All the doors' encryption codes have changed and Megabyte's troops have occupied the building."
"Then I've got you just in time. Bob, Hexadecimal is alive and is being treated by my most trusted men. While's she's not able to fight Megabyte yet I've gotten valuable information to help you.
"Hexadecimal was afraid of Megabyte and the inhabitants of Mainframe. She stockpiled Lost Angles with weapons and equipment to defend herself. There is a catch however, the place is absolutely riddled with traps, and so you'll need a guide.
"Scuzzy!" blurted out Bob.
"That's right, find that cat or her kittens. I'm downloading you all the stats I can of Lost Angles this should help you. I wish you the best of luck. I'm initializing procedure 37. Turbo out."
"We can't go there its - infested with nulls and there are still those traps we could be deleted," said Dot almost shouting.
"Calm down, Hex promised to get rid of all the lethal traps," said Bob.
"And you trust her?" said Dot incredulously.
"Dot I don't like it any more than you do," said Matrix softly. "But if we're to help Dad and our brother we have to help ourselves first."
Bob said firmly, "All right people! Let's form a chain I've got a fix on Scuzzy, it's very close. We'll leave this building via the waste chutes."
And so they left holding hands as they walked through the sewers. Except for the occasional complaint about somebody on something the group kept silent. The sewers stank for obvious reasons. It was hot and humid as the waste energy dispersed around them and the water was often waste deep. Bob secretly thanked the user that it was so dark he did not want to know what it was that was swimming past him.
"Bob, we've got to slow down I nearly twisted my ankle," complained Dot.
"Hang on Dot we're almost there, she's at Old Man Pearson's data dump," said Bob. He ripped off a panel opening a hole to the dump.
A fully charged Gibson pike greeted Bob in the face.
"Stand back virus, I'm a level 10 Codemaster assassin," roared Pearson.
"I'm not Megabyte, let me through we've got no time for this," ordered Bob.
"Prove it!"
"Glitch, binders!"
The Key tool transformed into a set of ropes, wrapping the unfortunate binome from head to toe. Bob stepped out. The place was a dump Pearson no doubt had barricaded all the doors with the heavier pieces of garbage. In the far corner he could see a large group of terrified binomes cowering.
"It's okay I'm looking for Scuzzy."
The binomes all pointed to a large box. There inside Frisket lay seriously hurt as Scuzzy cared for him. The others by this time had left the hole. Matrix raced up to greet his dog. Scuzzy hissed him a warning. Hulking giant of a sprite stopped and pointed his gun at the cat.
"Stop it Lover! Scuzzy's why we're here!" said AndraIa soothingly.
The cat flashed on her screen a picture of Matrix slashing Frisket with claws he didn't have. Megabyte had ruined another relationship.
"Alright Dre pick up Frisket and let's all move out people," ordered Bob.
**************************************************************************** ****
Clarece half dragged, half carried her toddler son, a little one binome as she and the rest of their family ran for their lives to of all places Lost Angles. It was dark and several times little Bobby would trip over something.
"Momma why we no go in car?" asked little Bobby.
"The car's too noisy. Megabyte might find us."
"Momma where we go?"
"Lost Angles we'll be safe there!"
Little Bobby started to cry, "No, no I don't wanna go that's where the Bad Lady lives."
"Bobby, Hexadecimal wasn't bad she was just very, very sick. When Bob made her all better she saved us all."
Bobby kept on crying, "I'm still scared of the Virus Lady."
"Bobby Hex went away she doesn't live in Lost Angles," said Bobby's father finally.
They finally stopped at the bridge. It was as twisted and as warped as its creator ever was. On the other side across the heaving sea stood Lost Angles. It was in even worse shape than when Hexadecimal lived in it. Bob and Scuzzy walked in a few feet and noticed that the group had shrank to two.
"What are waiting for a written invitation? C'mon Megabyte and his cronies could be here any nano." Said Bob his hair whipping in this wind that had come up.
The crowd still did not budge. There was an awkward silence. Finally Ray stepped forward and walked across the bridge. Then AndraIa walked across, followed reluctantly by Martix. Finally over half the group were on the bridge ready to take the next step. Clarece looked back at her separated family Bobby and his father decided not to cross. Clarece beckoned them to come over but Philips just shook his head.
Bob was not ready to give up, "C'mon this is your freedom we're talking about! Can't you put your fear aside for one nano? Look I know Hex did some horrible things while she was ill but she was one of the bravest, most honourable people I've ever met when she was cured. No? Well if you don't cross this bridge right now we can never trust you again."
The Guardian then did the hardest thing in his life. He turned his heel and walked across the bridge. Several stragglers changed their minds and followed them but Little Bobby and Philips were not one of them.
"At least little Chartreuse is safe," thought a broken hearted Clarece as she held her baby. The binome mother had no idea how wrong she was.
When they got there a familiar figure suddenly appeared. She swayed seductively towards Bob stopping just a few feet in front of him. Hexadecimal give him a welcoming smile. In her black leather corset and boots she looked exactly the same as the second Bob cured her.
"Hello Gorgeous I'm so glad you came over!" she said in a husky voice.
Matrix stepped in front of Bob, pulled out his gun and shot her.
**************************************************************************** ***
The Supercomputer
The one duty that Turbo hated the most as Prime Guardian was holding press conferences. Since Daemon left the Prime Guardian spent most of his time trying to win back the trust of the people and press conferences were just one step. The crowd of reporters assaulted Turbo with questions. He held up his hand for silence.
"Quiet please one at time. Okay how about you?" asked Turbo to a seemingly harmless young lady.
"Mr. Turbo there are rumours that Daemon was the result of a sprite viral hybrid program sponsored by the Guardians is that true?"
"No, Guardians would never risk the lives of innocents in that way. Daemon was created by a User not us next?"
"Mr. Guardian tell us what's in Lab 18?"asked another reporter. It was Coney that woman had a way of asking the most difficult questions.
"There is no Lab 18," lied Turbo.
"Mr Guardian rumour has it that the cure for Daemon's infection was given to a virus who was much worse than her is that true?" asked another reporter.
"No virus in her right mind would sacrifice her life for another it just isn't in their programming"
"How do you know it was a she?"
"Oh FAQ!" thought Turbo as the reporters assailed him a new barrage of questions.
**************************************************************************** ****
Mainframe
Enzo's eyes bulged he watched the Bob and his friends cross the bridge on the view screen. The expression on his face was priceless.
"T-they're leaving me!" the boy squeaked.
"Well obviously they felt a mere copy was not worth the trouble of rescuing," said Megabyte nonchalantly
"No, no they'll be back I know they will."
"They've crossed the bridge, left their home and you. It appears I underestimated Bob.
Megabyte grinned horribly and leaned towards him. Enzo struggled in his father's grip as the virus cut a line down his check with his claw. The boy did not make a sound.
"I have an excellent idea, Herr Docktor come here I have a job for you."
This time Enzo did scream as the binome doctor brought his probes towards the young boy.
**************************************************************************** ****
Lost Angles
The virus looked down at the hole in her chest that the Renegade had created. "Bob, if all your friends are going to be this rude, I must ask them to leave."
"Relax guys it's just an alias," said Bob. "Hex, Megabyte's taken over Mainframe we, I need your help."
"Of course, I would do anything for you, well almost anything. I'm here to guide you safely through Lost Angles."
"Can you take us, all of us, to the command centre? We need to set a barrier."
"Follow me," said the alias.