Chapter 11 Preparations
Mainframe the Prison
In front of Megabyte's ruined face Dot had placed a vid window showing the step-by-step construction of the new deletion chamber. It was an exquisite act of cruelty, as the virus couldn't help but look.
Now however, the virus had something else to look at. A few micros ago the guards brought in a kicking and screaming Hexadecimal into the small cell in front of him. The girl tried in vain to break out of the cell, ripping up the sink, smashing the bed into the force field but nothing worked. After it was all over she fell onto the ruined mattress and sobbed.
Megabyte couldn't believe how weak his sister had become. Not one fireball was thrown, not one item teleported. It was better than he expected, now he could indulge in his own brand of cruelty.
The damage his sister did was extensive, tubes and wires stuck into the virus. He looked more like a car wreck than his old self. All around him stood equipment designed to keep him alive until the big day. He could not move as the guards had strapped him to his bed partly for his own good. He had lost the power of movement but not the power of speech.
"Sister, I am glad to see you finally put in your place. So the citizens of Mainframe have betrayed you? Well that is to be so for we are viruses. We are not meant to be loved. We are to be hated and feared. It is our lot in life.
"You think that by saving the entire Net and these people twice would earn you love and respect? No you are chaos itself and people love order no matter how cruel it is.
"You think that Bob loves you now. You are a child. Did you know that after I had seduced Dot, after she rejected him when he came pleading at the altar he made love to her on your bed no less? You were a pet project to him, an experiment, the only feelings he had for you were pity. Nothing you could do could change that.
"You should have known better, our function is to destroy not preserve. You truly are an abomination at least I will have the last laugh as they destroy you."
The girl stopped snuffling, wiped her nose and sat up. She turned to her brother, "You can no longer hurt anyone like you did Dot and me."
Megabyte sneered at this statement. He tried changing shape but it didn't work then he tried changing colour but that didn't work. Finally the realization sunk into him his power was gone and Hex had something to do with it.
He threw back his head and howled in grief and rage.
Mainframe Baudway Square
It was early in the morning when the Guardians left for home. All of the citizens of Mainframe stood in the town square cheering. Dot stood proudly by the Prime Guardian, his second in command and her beloved Bob. Thanks to these fine people their system had been restored and upgraded. And now with their work done the Guardians were all leaving except for two.
Buttercup Charger turned her commander with a look of concern on her face, "Are you sure you don't want to change your mind? There's still a lot of work to be done at home." A small binome child bumped up to the pair and gave Buttercup a bunch of flowers.
Turbo waited as Buttercup politely thanked the young binome girl, " No Hex still needs me for the upcoming trial. This system has charged her with several crimes not in the least the murders that Gigabyte caused. Besides I have complete faith in your abilities to run things while I'm gone."
Buttercup frowned at this statement, " I understand sir, I may not entirely agree with you but I have to respect it. At least you don't cut your friends loose when they're down!" She said looking directly at Dot.
After Buttercup had left, Dot flushed angrily, "Excuse me I have a trial to organize."
The Majoor, Turbo's Houseboat.
"All right the first thing we need to do is get Hex a lawyer. I have a couple of ideas, for one thing I'll try Megabyte's lawyer," said Bob.
"Megabyte had a lawyer? We're only having a trial for Hexadecimal because we convinced Dot that as a sprite Hex was entitled to have one," said Turbo in amazement.
"I have a feeling it was more than that. Hex's arrival opened old wounds for her. Look I better go to the archives at least. I can get some read me files on the legal system."
"I'll organize her defence. I still have a copy of her memories on file. I'll see if I can get them into some coherent fashion, I hear Hex is pretty bad."
"I heard, I don't even know if she'll be fit for trial."
"I doubt it will stop this bunch, son remember these people are afraid of her. She did some pretty crazy things."
"Then it is up to us to remind them of the good things she's done." With that Bob marched off.
Mainframe the Principal's Office
In the middle of the afternoon, the two Guardians met up with Dot and her party in the conference room. Dr. Chandra was there as well and she did not look very happy. They all sat uncomfortably around the large black table trying to look as businesslike as possible with this emotionally charged issue.
"As all the lawyers in this system are dead, we're going to have to improvise," announced Dot. She wore her black and white business dress in an effort to look as professional as possible. "As I am one of the injured parties here, I leave it up to Phong to act as judge."
Phong bowed, " I would be honoured to act in that capacity and I promise to make sure justice is carried out in a timely fashion."
Matrix still looked all the part of a renegade in his leather vest but he had taken the effort to shave. " I volunteer to act for prosecution. I have had plenty of experience with justice systems from around the net."
His lover AndraIa rolled her eyes at this statement for indeed Matrix had experience with the justice system- as an offender.
"Hold on before we get started on anything, my patient is nowhere near ready to stand trial," said Chandra as she opened a vid window.
Inside the window they could see Hex pacing in her ruined cell like an animal trapped in a cage. She muttered to herself as she played with her hair, "Must make plan," said one persona. "Trapped like an animal", "Can't live like this, want to feel again"," Must do something, do something," the girl clamped her head and screamed in pain. Chandra closed the window as guards rushed into her cell.
There was silence as the group digested this scene. Then Dot spoke, "If we don't at least give the appearance of justice we'll have rioting again. Dr. Chandra it will now be your exclusive job to get her fit for trial. Now what about her defence, Bob do you have any ideas?"
"We haven't found anybody yet. The person who does defend her will be a pariah in this system. I've put an ad in the Mainframe Chatter, we'll see if we can get any bytes. So far nobody has been brave or stupid enough to volunteer."
As if on cue Hack and Slash barged in. The two bumbling idiots almost knocked into each other as they tried to reach the conference table were everyone was seated.
"Cooee, it the position for public defender taken?" said Slash.
"Yeah, we're here to volunteer to be Hex's lawyers," said Hack.
"I just said that."
"No you asked if the position was taken,"
"Well I implied the we were interested."
"Guys, guys, you're not really qualified to act as lawyer for Hex," said an exasperated Turbo.
"Yes we are, indeed very much so."
"We have had plenty of experience in the Mainframe justice system."
"Boys how do I put it, you're not smart enough," replied Turbo.
"Even for a defence lawyer?" asked Slash.
Turbo sadly nodded.
The two robots started to wail loudly.
"We know, we know"
"We're tried of being goons."
"Everybody treats us like idiots."
"We want a chance at respectability."
"Yeah we figured if we got real jobs people would treat us better."
"Well Turbo, I'm prepared to do my duty," said Bob reluctantly.
Turbo's eyes widened, " Bob, no if you do this you'll loose your home, not to mention your position."
"I know, but my format is to mend and defend not matter what the cost." Said Bob solemnly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if waiting to be struck down.
"Waahh! Bob won't be welcome in Mainframe anymore," wailed Slash.
"This is our fault if only we were smarter," cried Hack.
Suddenly, Glitch, Bob's key tool, started to beep and sputter in its own code. The two Guardians looked down at the black box listening intently.
"You mean you can do that?" said Turbo in amazement.
The key tool bleeped an affirmative. The Guardians looked at each other in amazement, their jaws dropped. Then Turbo stared at the two dim-witted robots.
"Boys, how would you like an intellectual upgrade," asked Turbo.
The Mainframe Archives
After the procedure was over, the two robots immediately flew straight into the Mainframe archives. They hovered in their jet backs as they furiously read the files in the legal section looking for a legal precedent. Everywhere around them they had opened vid windows. The archives were held in huge underground chamber, row upon row data and files stored ever since the systems start were held here but no furniture. The place was designed for storage not comfort.
"We better work fast, Dot wants to have the trial start next minute," said Slash. He looked tiny in the huge grey room were they floated. No other word was spoken by either of them the entire second they spent there.
Mainframe Prison Visiting Room
Bob watched behind the glass as Hex played vid games with young Enzo. He turned to Dr. Chandra who was standing beside him watching.
"Whatever you did was amazing, Hex seems so much calmer now," exclaimed Bob. The single lamp above them glared harshly.
"Hack and Slash are the ones you should thank," replied Dr. Chandra. "They petitioned the court to get rid of the sonic null repellent around her cell. It caused her a lot of pain."
"But still, the last time I saw her she was as random as ever. Now she seems almost sane."
"That is only due to a drug cocktail I mixed up. Due to her metabolism she is quickly adapting to the drugs. Once this trial is over I fear she will never even enjoy a halfway normal life."
He looked at the pair playing down on the hard grey floor. Enzo's eyes were now back to their proper spritely colouring now his treatments were over, the physical ones anyway. As a patient of Chandra's he wore a pair of hospital pyjamas, while Hex wore a large prison uniform. If it weren't for the harsh surroundings and the guard with his baton ready the pair looked like two young kids playing a morning vid game while their parents had a lie in.
"Right now I think Enzo is the most calming influence on her. Dot isn't too happy about their friendship," sighed Chandra.
"I don't particularly care about what makes Dot happy right now!" said Bob harshly.
"Interesting you should say that."
The guard signalled that time was up. The boy picked up what appeared to be his father; a green null and then hugged Hex. The girl held the null for a little while as if to say goodbye to it as well.
After the three left the passed by the null barrier placed on the outside of the prison. Dot marched right up to the three of them.
"What the Dell are you doing having my baby brother visit that Bat in prison," said Dot.
"That Bat happens to be my friend, my only playmate!" shot back the boy.
"Enzo in a few seconds she's going to be on trial," said Dot.
"Only because you want it, you always get your way. I hate you!" shouted Enzo.
"You don't mean that," said Dot.
"Yes I do everybody is pussyfooting around to keep you happy. You're selfish you hate Hexadecimal. You don't really love Bob if you did you wouldn't have almost married Megabyte!" shouted Enzo.
Dot's face clouded over in anger. She clamped onto Enzo's wrist, "That's it we're going home."
The boy struggled and protested as Dot tried to drag him away. Dr. Chandra didn't like this at all. She motioned to Bob get a hold of Dot while she pulled Enzo away. Finally after getting Enzo free of his sister's grasp she noticed the bruises already forming in his arm. Bob held Dot by the wrist as Chandra took the boy away.
"Next time you hurt Enzo like that again, I'm leaving you, understand!" said Bob as he twisted Dot's arm.
"Bob let go you're hurting me!" cried Dot.
The Guardian did so. He stalked away in disgust. Dot saw that he didn't leave a mark but the pain was still there.
Mainframe the Prison
In front of Megabyte's ruined face Dot had placed a vid window showing the step-by-step construction of the new deletion chamber. It was an exquisite act of cruelty, as the virus couldn't help but look.
Now however, the virus had something else to look at. A few micros ago the guards brought in a kicking and screaming Hexadecimal into the small cell in front of him. The girl tried in vain to break out of the cell, ripping up the sink, smashing the bed into the force field but nothing worked. After it was all over she fell onto the ruined mattress and sobbed.
Megabyte couldn't believe how weak his sister had become. Not one fireball was thrown, not one item teleported. It was better than he expected, now he could indulge in his own brand of cruelty.
The damage his sister did was extensive, tubes and wires stuck into the virus. He looked more like a car wreck than his old self. All around him stood equipment designed to keep him alive until the big day. He could not move as the guards had strapped him to his bed partly for his own good. He had lost the power of movement but not the power of speech.
"Sister, I am glad to see you finally put in your place. So the citizens of Mainframe have betrayed you? Well that is to be so for we are viruses. We are not meant to be loved. We are to be hated and feared. It is our lot in life.
"You think that by saving the entire Net and these people twice would earn you love and respect? No you are chaos itself and people love order no matter how cruel it is.
"You think that Bob loves you now. You are a child. Did you know that after I had seduced Dot, after she rejected him when he came pleading at the altar he made love to her on your bed no less? You were a pet project to him, an experiment, the only feelings he had for you were pity. Nothing you could do could change that.
"You should have known better, our function is to destroy not preserve. You truly are an abomination at least I will have the last laugh as they destroy you."
The girl stopped snuffling, wiped her nose and sat up. She turned to her brother, "You can no longer hurt anyone like you did Dot and me."
Megabyte sneered at this statement. He tried changing shape but it didn't work then he tried changing colour but that didn't work. Finally the realization sunk into him his power was gone and Hex had something to do with it.
He threw back his head and howled in grief and rage.
Mainframe Baudway Square
It was early in the morning when the Guardians left for home. All of the citizens of Mainframe stood in the town square cheering. Dot stood proudly by the Prime Guardian, his second in command and her beloved Bob. Thanks to these fine people their system had been restored and upgraded. And now with their work done the Guardians were all leaving except for two.
Buttercup Charger turned her commander with a look of concern on her face, "Are you sure you don't want to change your mind? There's still a lot of work to be done at home." A small binome child bumped up to the pair and gave Buttercup a bunch of flowers.
Turbo waited as Buttercup politely thanked the young binome girl, " No Hex still needs me for the upcoming trial. This system has charged her with several crimes not in the least the murders that Gigabyte caused. Besides I have complete faith in your abilities to run things while I'm gone."
Buttercup frowned at this statement, " I understand sir, I may not entirely agree with you but I have to respect it. At least you don't cut your friends loose when they're down!" She said looking directly at Dot.
After Buttercup had left, Dot flushed angrily, "Excuse me I have a trial to organize."
The Majoor, Turbo's Houseboat.
"All right the first thing we need to do is get Hex a lawyer. I have a couple of ideas, for one thing I'll try Megabyte's lawyer," said Bob.
"Megabyte had a lawyer? We're only having a trial for Hexadecimal because we convinced Dot that as a sprite Hex was entitled to have one," said Turbo in amazement.
"I have a feeling it was more than that. Hex's arrival opened old wounds for her. Look I better go to the archives at least. I can get some read me files on the legal system."
"I'll organize her defence. I still have a copy of her memories on file. I'll see if I can get them into some coherent fashion, I hear Hex is pretty bad."
"I heard, I don't even know if she'll be fit for trial."
"I doubt it will stop this bunch, son remember these people are afraid of her. She did some pretty crazy things."
"Then it is up to us to remind them of the good things she's done." With that Bob marched off.
Mainframe the Principal's Office
In the middle of the afternoon, the two Guardians met up with Dot and her party in the conference room. Dr. Chandra was there as well and she did not look very happy. They all sat uncomfortably around the large black table trying to look as businesslike as possible with this emotionally charged issue.
"As all the lawyers in this system are dead, we're going to have to improvise," announced Dot. She wore her black and white business dress in an effort to look as professional as possible. "As I am one of the injured parties here, I leave it up to Phong to act as judge."
Phong bowed, " I would be honoured to act in that capacity and I promise to make sure justice is carried out in a timely fashion."
Matrix still looked all the part of a renegade in his leather vest but he had taken the effort to shave. " I volunteer to act for prosecution. I have had plenty of experience with justice systems from around the net."
His lover AndraIa rolled her eyes at this statement for indeed Matrix had experience with the justice system- as an offender.
"Hold on before we get started on anything, my patient is nowhere near ready to stand trial," said Chandra as she opened a vid window.
Inside the window they could see Hex pacing in her ruined cell like an animal trapped in a cage. She muttered to herself as she played with her hair, "Must make plan," said one persona. "Trapped like an animal", "Can't live like this, want to feel again"," Must do something, do something," the girl clamped her head and screamed in pain. Chandra closed the window as guards rushed into her cell.
There was silence as the group digested this scene. Then Dot spoke, "If we don't at least give the appearance of justice we'll have rioting again. Dr. Chandra it will now be your exclusive job to get her fit for trial. Now what about her defence, Bob do you have any ideas?"
"We haven't found anybody yet. The person who does defend her will be a pariah in this system. I've put an ad in the Mainframe Chatter, we'll see if we can get any bytes. So far nobody has been brave or stupid enough to volunteer."
As if on cue Hack and Slash barged in. The two bumbling idiots almost knocked into each other as they tried to reach the conference table were everyone was seated.
"Cooee, it the position for public defender taken?" said Slash.
"Yeah, we're here to volunteer to be Hex's lawyers," said Hack.
"I just said that."
"No you asked if the position was taken,"
"Well I implied the we were interested."
"Guys, guys, you're not really qualified to act as lawyer for Hex," said an exasperated Turbo.
"Yes we are, indeed very much so."
"We have had plenty of experience in the Mainframe justice system."
"Boys how do I put it, you're not smart enough," replied Turbo.
"Even for a defence lawyer?" asked Slash.
Turbo sadly nodded.
The two robots started to wail loudly.
"We know, we know"
"We're tried of being goons."
"Everybody treats us like idiots."
"We want a chance at respectability."
"Yeah we figured if we got real jobs people would treat us better."
"Well Turbo, I'm prepared to do my duty," said Bob reluctantly.
Turbo's eyes widened, " Bob, no if you do this you'll loose your home, not to mention your position."
"I know, but my format is to mend and defend not matter what the cost." Said Bob solemnly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if waiting to be struck down.
"Waahh! Bob won't be welcome in Mainframe anymore," wailed Slash.
"This is our fault if only we were smarter," cried Hack.
Suddenly, Glitch, Bob's key tool, started to beep and sputter in its own code. The two Guardians looked down at the black box listening intently.
"You mean you can do that?" said Turbo in amazement.
The key tool bleeped an affirmative. The Guardians looked at each other in amazement, their jaws dropped. Then Turbo stared at the two dim-witted robots.
"Boys, how would you like an intellectual upgrade," asked Turbo.
The Mainframe Archives
After the procedure was over, the two robots immediately flew straight into the Mainframe archives. They hovered in their jet backs as they furiously read the files in the legal section looking for a legal precedent. Everywhere around them they had opened vid windows. The archives were held in huge underground chamber, row upon row data and files stored ever since the systems start were held here but no furniture. The place was designed for storage not comfort.
"We better work fast, Dot wants to have the trial start next minute," said Slash. He looked tiny in the huge grey room were they floated. No other word was spoken by either of them the entire second they spent there.
Mainframe Prison Visiting Room
Bob watched behind the glass as Hex played vid games with young Enzo. He turned to Dr. Chandra who was standing beside him watching.
"Whatever you did was amazing, Hex seems so much calmer now," exclaimed Bob. The single lamp above them glared harshly.
"Hack and Slash are the ones you should thank," replied Dr. Chandra. "They petitioned the court to get rid of the sonic null repellent around her cell. It caused her a lot of pain."
"But still, the last time I saw her she was as random as ever. Now she seems almost sane."
"That is only due to a drug cocktail I mixed up. Due to her metabolism she is quickly adapting to the drugs. Once this trial is over I fear she will never even enjoy a halfway normal life."
He looked at the pair playing down on the hard grey floor. Enzo's eyes were now back to their proper spritely colouring now his treatments were over, the physical ones anyway. As a patient of Chandra's he wore a pair of hospital pyjamas, while Hex wore a large prison uniform. If it weren't for the harsh surroundings and the guard with his baton ready the pair looked like two young kids playing a morning vid game while their parents had a lie in.
"Right now I think Enzo is the most calming influence on her. Dot isn't too happy about their friendship," sighed Chandra.
"I don't particularly care about what makes Dot happy right now!" said Bob harshly.
"Interesting you should say that."
The guard signalled that time was up. The boy picked up what appeared to be his father; a green null and then hugged Hex. The girl held the null for a little while as if to say goodbye to it as well.
After the three left the passed by the null barrier placed on the outside of the prison. Dot marched right up to the three of them.
"What the Dell are you doing having my baby brother visit that Bat in prison," said Dot.
"That Bat happens to be my friend, my only playmate!" shot back the boy.
"Enzo in a few seconds she's going to be on trial," said Dot.
"Only because you want it, you always get your way. I hate you!" shouted Enzo.
"You don't mean that," said Dot.
"Yes I do everybody is pussyfooting around to keep you happy. You're selfish you hate Hexadecimal. You don't really love Bob if you did you wouldn't have almost married Megabyte!" shouted Enzo.
Dot's face clouded over in anger. She clamped onto Enzo's wrist, "That's it we're going home."
The boy struggled and protested as Dot tried to drag him away. Dr. Chandra didn't like this at all. She motioned to Bob get a hold of Dot while she pulled Enzo away. Finally after getting Enzo free of his sister's grasp she noticed the bruises already forming in his arm. Bob held Dot by the wrist as Chandra took the boy away.
"Next time you hurt Enzo like that again, I'm leaving you, understand!" said Bob as he twisted Dot's arm.
"Bob let go you're hurting me!" cried Dot.
The Guardian did so. He stalked away in disgust. Dot saw that he didn't leave a mark but the pain was still there.