Chapter 15 Storm Clouds
Another time, Another Place
The Wise One, literally a bearded one, stood in the town square with his little red car and a teenaged sprite. The One handed over the keys to his car to the boy. The teenager had long flowing dull green hair and golden skin. He wore a leather vest and had fashioned a makeshift gun like his idol Matrix. The boy swaggered importantly not even giving the numeral the slightest look of gratitude.
"Backup, soon you will be fully compiled but not yet," said the wise one. "We have tried our best with you but it is obvious that we cannot teach you how to be a sprite. You don't listen to us anymore, you think you know everything but hey you're a teenager. Anyways take my car. Go search for your friend Matrix. Let him teach you how to be a man and don't trash the car."
Backup smirked, leapt into the car, created a portal and sped off into the Web not even bothering to look back. When he was gone a one binome crept up to the Wise One.
"Wise One was that a wise thing to do? Do you think you'll ever see the car again?" asked the binome.
"See my car again? No, but it was worth the price of getting that boy off our backs! User there were times when I wanted to give him such a- ah good riddance to him!" said the Wise One.
Mainframe the present
Bob sat in the backroom of a discrete beauty parlour as a couple of binomes applied makeup to his face. The room was small and harsh light glared above Bob's face. It looked more like a storage room, with boxes and equipment on shelves than what it was. The only thing that revealed its true nature large barber's chair the Guardian sat in.
"I really don't see why you want wear makeup," said the purple binome who happened to be a male. " You look absolutely yummy without it."
The other binome nodded in agreement.
"I'm not concerned if you like it. I'm doing this for Dot," said Bob.
The vid window popped open unexpectedly. Bob leapt and the binomes quickly left the room. Inside the window was Dr. Chandra with a very worried expression on her face.
"Bob I need your help Hexadecimal's missing. She's left the hospital and I have no idea where she is," Chandra's skin was practically black. She was hyperventilating.
"Calm down tell, me everything right from the top," said Bob.
"Is that makeup? Never mind, it started early in the morning I was teaching Hex how to read facial expressions when she ran out of the room sobbing. We had gotten to contempt."
"Oh"
"Oh is right, she locked herself in her room. I left her alone to cool off after telling the nurses to watch her. When I came back later the one of the nurses told she had been released to Welman few micros ago. Physically she's almost healed but mentally she's still so vulnerable and I don't trust the people of Lost Angles."
"I'm on my way, don't worry I think I know where she might be."
Lost Angles Café Downtown
Hexadecimal sat in the café patio looking at the world outside. She liked it here, while Mainframe was quiet and boring this place had a hustle and bustle that she found interesting. A shadow fell over her. She looked up.
"Here we go one energy shake for my special girl," smiled Welman Matrix. He sat down beside her with another energy shake.
"What about my future- Dad. What I'm I going to do?" asked Hex.
"Don't you worry about a thing. I'll take care of you, in fact I've got a room ready just for you," said Welman as he gently ruffled her hair.
It had turned out to be an excellent second after all. Here she found a father she didn't even know she had and he had released Enzo and her from that boring hospital. She thanked Welman sincerely and thought about the future.
Her thoughts were interrupted has young Enzo ran to them. He was practically crying. The boy plopped down in another chair, frowning.
"None of the other kids will play with me. They say I'm not real," sniffed the boy. " I mean what does that have to do with anything. Bob's a copy too and every body likes him."
"Don't worry I have an idea," soothed Welman. "Hex are you okay? Good I'm taking Enzo, we're going to buy some new stuff for his room."
As he left with his son he nodded to a small group of teenaged boys. The group entered the patio and surrounded Hex.
"Hello, who's this pretty girl," smiled one as he took her hand.
Hex smiled back, enjoying the attention she was receiving from these boys. They were very, very cute and best of all they weren't dating Dot.
Unnoticed Bob watched the drama unfold. He did not like this system. The inhabitants seemed odd. For one thing the father of a teenaged daughter would never signal a group of boys to swarm in on his daughter like that. Hex obviously was enjoying the attention she received as they flattered her and did all the right things. Bob was not.
For one thing there was a coldness in the boys' eyes that the young girl was not equipped to see. And another thing was even though Hex was extremely beautiful the boys did not compete for her attention in any way rather they were cooperating to keep her busy. Whatever they wanted with her it wasn't sex.
Finally Hex had made her choice, a mop topped punk. The others left quietly as the boy stroked her thigh and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.
Bob could see where this would go to so he marched across the patio just as the happy couple were about to leave. Before he got there another group of boys intercepted the couple and started making the moves on her themselves.
The four were obviously strangers to the system as everybody in the café gave them clear berth. They were dressed like a Matrix fan club and their leader a lanky youth with long green hair had some sort of makeshift crossbow on him. This group of kids did want sex.
By the time he got there Hex's old favourite had left but Bob couldn't blame him. These kids looked dangerous.
"Excuse me, Hex, Chandra is looking for you. You haven't finished today's lessons," butted in Bob.
Their leader him flashed him an ugly look, "Who the Dell are you? Her dad?"
"I'm this system's Guardian and a friend of the young lady here. You're not from around here are you? You should report immediately to the Principal's office over there and get yourself registered," said Bob firmly.
"Why the Dell should we do what you say?" said one a dull-grey skinned boy. He fingered a knife.
"Because if you don't you'll have nowhere to sleep tonight. And by the way I'll be watching," with that he gently guided Hex back to the Lost Angles Hospital.
Mainframe, Matrix's Quarters
Matrix lay on his couch and flicked through the channels on the vid window feeling sorry for himself. It was early in the morning and a bottle of beer sat in front of him on the beat up coffee table. The Renegade scratched at his bandaged chest. AndraIa seeing this slapped his hand.
The doorbell buzzed and Matrix looked to his girlfriend.
"You go get it, you need to get some exercise," she said.
Grumbling Matrix shuffled to the door as it buzzed a couple times more. Behind it were four teenaged boys. One of them had a huge smile on his face, which quickly disappeared upon seeing Matrix.
"Mr. Matrix you look terrible what the Dell happened to you?" said Backup.
"Backup is that you, what are you doing here?" exclaimed Matrix. He leaned against the door as his heart just wasn't quite up to this surprise.
"Long story, look can my friends and I come in I'll tell you all about it."
Over the next second Backup told his life's story to Matrix. How he became a champion game fighter in his home system, how he left home as the binomes were way too basic, his adventures in the Web as he searched for Matrix and how he found his friends. All this time AndraIa listened discretely and smiled to herself.
"- so basically we went from system to system wasting viruses. It was really cool but then we found the coordinates to your home and landed in Lost Angles. The place is like so last nano and I'm from 16-bit system and everybody's so stuck up there except this one girl. She's cool but that's not why I came. Matrix can we crash here and learn the ropes?" Backup leaned forward with a pleading look in his eyes.
"Okay but I'm recovering from open heart surgery so keep it down and help out around the house. Dre can you teach these boys the ropes?"
Dr. Chandra's log
Hexadecimal's therapy has suffered a set back, Welman Matrix and the community of Lost Angles have taken her in with open arms. This would be fine under normal circumstances but I do not trust the people of Lost Angles.
Despite the fact that a virus for had absorbed them over a year, they readapted to their new life well, a little too well. The people of Lost Angles are showing no signs of emotional distress, no loss of mental capacity or even loss of physical coordination. The only sign of aberrant behaviour has been the injuries many of them have suffered in a series of bizarre accidents. They are cooperating to keep Hexadecimal happy and in Lost Angles for what reason I do not know. What I do know is that they are a bad influence on her.
Before Hex risked her life carrying the cure throughout the Web, Bob observed that the virus appeared to be very arrogant. In hindsight it is easy to see where she got it. The people of Lost Angles have some very old- fashioned views on the ways of the Net. They are disdainful of all binomes and any sprite who was not born into their city. In fact, no binome is allowed into Lost Angles without a permit. Now this arrogance is seeping back into her again.
I have tried to warn Hex of this but she does not want to hear of it. Also she hardly appears for therapy anymore as she has acquired a new boyfriend. The boy is an outsider who is staying with the elder Enzo Matrix. From what Bob tells me the boy is a thug but I am far more worried about what Welman and his people will do. For fear of alienating her I cannot take Hex into my custody again. All I can do for the moment is try my best to teach the girl the social skills she needs to survive and hope. In the meantime Bob is keeping a close watch on her.
The Supercomputer
Turbo the Prime Guardian sat in his office looking at the report an aide had given him. He did not like the news that it contained.
Firstly due do the destruction Daemon caused, Net and Web travel was nearly impossible. Opportunist bandits were searching the data seas looking for easy prey, something the Prime Guardian knew first hand. Turbo sent out his best surviving people to put down the raiders but due to the damage that Daemon caused on their reputations they encountered heavy resistance both from the bandits and the people they were trying to save.
Secondly recent signs of the User's behaviour indicted that Mainframe was becoming obsolete. Any time now the system would shut down and anyone trapped in there would be deleted. Such a system didn't need a Guardian, let alone one of Bob' calibre. There was only one reason why Bob should stay - Hexadecimal. The young girl's safety was paramount if the Net was to have any chance of surviving.
The big sprite let out a large sigh. He won't tell Bob this not yet. First things first deal with the bandits make Net travel safe again. Then when that's done Turbo could arrange an evacuation of Mainframe.
Lost Angles, somewhere quiet
A boy and girl ran into a forest clearing. The boy looked around to see if any eyes were watching. When he was satisfied there weren't he held the girl and give her a deep kiss. The girl responded eagerly. Backup's hand went to the catch on her blouse. Hex held his hand away.
"Backup we can't not just yet. The doctor said I shouldn't engage in any strenuous activity," she said firmly.
"Why not? I thought this was the reason you brought me here?" he whined.
"Backup some psycho shot me," she pulled open her blouse. Backup's eyes bulged as he looked down. Instead of two perfect breasts he saw heavily bandaged torso.
"Who did this? Why?" said Backup angrily. Someone had hurt the coolest chick in the Net and he couldn't stand for it.
"The sprite is respected and powerful. It is better you do not know. As to why it is because I saved the system."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"I told you he was psycho. Anyway I brought you here to give you this," she pulled out a burgundy vest. "It can withstand a pulse cannon blast at point blank range. I made it myself. Wear it as a promise."
"What promise?"
"That in a few seconds I will take off the jacket myself."
She pulled him back to her and resumed kissing him. Behind a bush the thing that passed itself off as AndraIa watched as the two teenagers made out. Soon it would be the time to strike.
A few micros later after Hex had safely left, Backup staggered out the forest clearing. His clothes and hair were dishevelled and as well as his new vest he wore a crooked grin on his face. He did not wear them for long. AndraIa stood outside waiting for him.
"Take off that vest and wipe your face," ordered Matrix's women grimly. " I have something to tell you about your new girlfriend.
Lost Angles Welman's Home
A few seconds later Hexadecimal sat on her bed reading a book in the room she inherited from Dot. It was a bland colourless room with boring conservative furniture but Dot, her sister, still freaked out when she found out what their father did. Well tough luck, Dot owed Hex a lot. Giving up a room she no longer used was the least she could do.
The vid window pooped open interrupting Hex's thoughts. It was Backup. She threw the book she was reading aside.
"Backup, you haven't called me in seconds. Where have you been?" she cried
"Um, I couldn't control myself around you. Listen are you now able to, to you know?" he asked. The poor boy seemed to be blushing.
"Yes. The bandages are off now."
"Good meet me at these coordinates as soon as you can. I'll be waiting for you."
By following said coordinates she found herself in Lost Angles warehouse district. Not the most romantic place, large ugly buildings loomed everywhere she looked. That should have been her first clue. The place was quiet and deserted. She looked round trying to find her boyfriend. Then Backup waved to her from one of the large empty buildings.
She quickly adjusted the small top her outfit in the hopes of hiding her scars. When she was satisfied she rushed inside the building. Backup stepped out from the darkness. He was not wearing the vest she gave him.
"It figures a Bat like you would wear the clothes of the virus you iced," said Backup coldly. He stepped forward.
"How did you know?" she gasped. The girl took a step backwards as she heard the door closing behind her.
She whirled round as Backup's friends appeared from the darkness and surrounded her.
"Matrix and AndraIa told me everything, virus," continued Backup. " How you terrorized this system, how you're holding the entire Net hostage. I can't believe I almost. Well no more, it ends now and maybe me and the boys will have some fun while we're at it."
The boy pointed his crossbow at Hex's head. She couldn't believe it. She thought that he loved her. That he would turn on her so quickly. Shaking her head she backed away, Tech one of Backup's friends held her from behind stopping her.
When he was satisfied that Hex was held firmly Backup came forward. Very gently as if nothing had happened he stroked her face. Then he ripped open her blouse.
The girl screamed in rage and kicked him across the room. Startled Tech let go of her. She shoved him aside knocking him into a pile of wooden crates and raced towards the door. Backup rose slightly from where he landed and shot his cross bow at her. It missed her barely. The virus not even stopping ran right through the door. Leaving a girl shaped silhouette.
Backup stood up and frowned at the cartoonish sight. He cocked he crossbow on his arm. "Let the hunt begin."
Hex raced frantically through the now inhabited streets of Lost Angles. Though she ran far faster than any sprite had a right to her attackers were not far behind. They sped as fast as they could on their zip boards as the citizens of Lost Angles gawked at them. They had almost reached her when her father ran in.
"Stop them for User's sake! Don't let them damage the virus," cried Welman.
Upon hearing this, the sprites in down town Lost Angles went into action. One of the sprites tossed nothing at the boys as if expecting to shoot a fireball at them. Another simply steeped off his balcony without a zip board dropping like a stone becoming yet another victim in a series of bizarre accidents that plagued Lost Angles. They acted as if they still had Hex's powers. When they came to their senses, the boys and their virus were gone.
"Somebody inform Dr. Chandra and my daughter Dot," snarled Welman. He punched a nearby wall in frustration.
Meanwhile Hex raced through the streets trying to get to the bridge and safety. Her chest hurt, she had no powers and she was totally and utterly lost. She turned into a small street trying to lose them. Suddenly she crashed to the ground splitting her lip. Somehow she had tripped over a rock. She dusted herself off.
"There she is, I've found her," cried Mondo one of Backup's crew.
Hexadecimal immediately ducked into an alley. It was a dead end! There was nowhere to run anymore. She had to do something but what?
Outside the alley Backup and his crew landed by a spot of viral blood. His heart was pounding in anticipation of what was to come.
"C'mon boys we've got her now," shouted Backup. The thugs ran into the alley where she hid. And came face to face - with nothing.
Backup scratched his head for a while. Then an idea came to him, " Tech scan this area for any viral traces now!"
Mainframe Bob's Apartment
While Backup and his crew tore apart Lost Angles looking for Hex. Dot was in Bob's apartment. She paced uneasily in front of Bob as he sat on his couch trying desperately trying to watch the foot baud game.
"- And it's not that I don't like what Hexadecimal is doing. For once she's behaving herself. It's my Dad, Bob, he should hate viruses as much as me. Instead he's taking Hex into his home treating her like a daughter! It's scaring me. It's like he's not the same sprite anymore. Bob tell me what I should do?"
"Well for starters you should get out of the way. Dr. Chandra's on the vid window."
Now instead of a stupid foot baud game there was that fat old Bat. She looked tense.
"Bob, Dot thank the User I found you. Hex is in trouble," said Chandra. Then the middle -aged sprite told Bob and Dot everything that had happened. By the time she was done even Dot felt sorry for Hex.
"I'll have my men detain these boys, Bob," said Dot.
"I'll go organize a search party right away," replied Bob as he charged out the door.
It wasn't until dark when they finally found her.
Mainframe Hotel Ritz
Late into the night Bob gently but firmly guided his old teacher up to her room.
"But Bob, I can't sleep, not now, when we don't even know where Hex is," protested Chandra.
"Look we've done everything that we could. We searched Lost Angles and Mainframe. I myself, interrogated those boys twice."
"Do you think they'll recover?"
"I don't care. The point is that unless you get your rest you'll be of no use if, no when we find Hex."
"And what about you?"
Bob pushed open the door to Chandra's bedroom, " I'm going to do organize a Net wide search. The poor girl could be anywhere - like right under our noses."
Where she was is curled upon Chandra's bed quietly sobbing. The young girl was a mess. Her eyes were puffy and snot ran down her nose from all that crying. Her clothes were torn and filthy and an ominous dark stain soaked the sheets and what was left of her blouse.
Chandra raced towards the bed, "Sweet Billy Gates, she's reopened her wounds, Bob call the hospital, get a med team here right away."
When the Guardian had left the room. Hex sat up. Dr Chandra gently pushed her down.
"Sweet User, this has all gone so terribly wrong," sobbed Hex. " I thought I found my place, people who actually loved me. Doctor what am I going to do? As soon as people find out about what I am they either try to kill me or exploit me. And I can't hide what I am not if I truly hoped to be loved. That's all I ever wanted and I can't get it, not here."
"Don't worry about that, what you need to do is get well, prove yourself to them," soothed the older woman.
"But I've done that already. Face it, takes a rare person to accept a virus into their life. This system knows what I am and they can't handle it! It's like I'm in an abusive relationship with this system. I don't like it here anymore, I want to leave, now!"
"That's the sanest thing I've heard you say. I'll talk it over with Turbo and we can make some arrangements."
Hex sighed and sunk back into the bed, "Thank you Chandra you're a true friend. Please don't tell anybody in Mainframe, even Bob, about this. Some nice person might decide to 'warn' the Net about me."
The quiet moment did not last long. As soon as the girl stopped speaking the med team burst in and started to work on her. There was no room in the ambulance for either of her friends so Hexadecimal rode alone along with a crack team of nurses and a car full of equipment.
It was well into the early micros of the morning when they finally stopped. They left her in a small hospital room surrounded by monitoring equipment. The only sound was the beeping of the various machines as she fell asleep.
In the morning Dr. Chandra awoke her gently. Daylight streamed in from the windows making the room seem golden.
" Hex you've reopened your wounds, it's quite serious. For the sake of your health stay in bed this time. I won't be staying long I'm going back to the Supercomputer to make arrangements for you," said the kind old woman.
"Can't I come with you?"
"It isn't safe for you to be moved and the Net travel is extremely dangerous. Bob will take care of you for now."
"I like the sound of that!" smiled Hex weakly. There was one sprite capable of loving her. If played she played her cards right, by the time she got ready to leave maybe he could love her as much as she loved him.
Dr. Chandra left the girl as she lay back on her pillow and fell asleep again. Bob came in and watched her as Hexadecimal smiled to herself and dreamed of the new possibilities that awaited her.
The End
If you've read the entire story please critique it. I am at cmercer@sprint.ca
Another time, Another Place
The Wise One, literally a bearded one, stood in the town square with his little red car and a teenaged sprite. The One handed over the keys to his car to the boy. The teenager had long flowing dull green hair and golden skin. He wore a leather vest and had fashioned a makeshift gun like his idol Matrix. The boy swaggered importantly not even giving the numeral the slightest look of gratitude.
"Backup, soon you will be fully compiled but not yet," said the wise one. "We have tried our best with you but it is obvious that we cannot teach you how to be a sprite. You don't listen to us anymore, you think you know everything but hey you're a teenager. Anyways take my car. Go search for your friend Matrix. Let him teach you how to be a man and don't trash the car."
Backup smirked, leapt into the car, created a portal and sped off into the Web not even bothering to look back. When he was gone a one binome crept up to the Wise One.
"Wise One was that a wise thing to do? Do you think you'll ever see the car again?" asked the binome.
"See my car again? No, but it was worth the price of getting that boy off our backs! User there were times when I wanted to give him such a- ah good riddance to him!" said the Wise One.
Mainframe the present
Bob sat in the backroom of a discrete beauty parlour as a couple of binomes applied makeup to his face. The room was small and harsh light glared above Bob's face. It looked more like a storage room, with boxes and equipment on shelves than what it was. The only thing that revealed its true nature large barber's chair the Guardian sat in.
"I really don't see why you want wear makeup," said the purple binome who happened to be a male. " You look absolutely yummy without it."
The other binome nodded in agreement.
"I'm not concerned if you like it. I'm doing this for Dot," said Bob.
The vid window popped open unexpectedly. Bob leapt and the binomes quickly left the room. Inside the window was Dr. Chandra with a very worried expression on her face.
"Bob I need your help Hexadecimal's missing. She's left the hospital and I have no idea where she is," Chandra's skin was practically black. She was hyperventilating.
"Calm down tell, me everything right from the top," said Bob.
"Is that makeup? Never mind, it started early in the morning I was teaching Hex how to read facial expressions when she ran out of the room sobbing. We had gotten to contempt."
"Oh"
"Oh is right, she locked herself in her room. I left her alone to cool off after telling the nurses to watch her. When I came back later the one of the nurses told she had been released to Welman few micros ago. Physically she's almost healed but mentally she's still so vulnerable and I don't trust the people of Lost Angles."
"I'm on my way, don't worry I think I know where she might be."
Lost Angles Café Downtown
Hexadecimal sat in the café patio looking at the world outside. She liked it here, while Mainframe was quiet and boring this place had a hustle and bustle that she found interesting. A shadow fell over her. She looked up.
"Here we go one energy shake for my special girl," smiled Welman Matrix. He sat down beside her with another energy shake.
"What about my future- Dad. What I'm I going to do?" asked Hex.
"Don't you worry about a thing. I'll take care of you, in fact I've got a room ready just for you," said Welman as he gently ruffled her hair.
It had turned out to be an excellent second after all. Here she found a father she didn't even know she had and he had released Enzo and her from that boring hospital. She thanked Welman sincerely and thought about the future.
Her thoughts were interrupted has young Enzo ran to them. He was practically crying. The boy plopped down in another chair, frowning.
"None of the other kids will play with me. They say I'm not real," sniffed the boy. " I mean what does that have to do with anything. Bob's a copy too and every body likes him."
"Don't worry I have an idea," soothed Welman. "Hex are you okay? Good I'm taking Enzo, we're going to buy some new stuff for his room."
As he left with his son he nodded to a small group of teenaged boys. The group entered the patio and surrounded Hex.
"Hello, who's this pretty girl," smiled one as he took her hand.
Hex smiled back, enjoying the attention she was receiving from these boys. They were very, very cute and best of all they weren't dating Dot.
Unnoticed Bob watched the drama unfold. He did not like this system. The inhabitants seemed odd. For one thing the father of a teenaged daughter would never signal a group of boys to swarm in on his daughter like that. Hex obviously was enjoying the attention she received as they flattered her and did all the right things. Bob was not.
For one thing there was a coldness in the boys' eyes that the young girl was not equipped to see. And another thing was even though Hex was extremely beautiful the boys did not compete for her attention in any way rather they were cooperating to keep her busy. Whatever they wanted with her it wasn't sex.
Finally Hex had made her choice, a mop topped punk. The others left quietly as the boy stroked her thigh and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.
Bob could see where this would go to so he marched across the patio just as the happy couple were about to leave. Before he got there another group of boys intercepted the couple and started making the moves on her themselves.
The four were obviously strangers to the system as everybody in the café gave them clear berth. They were dressed like a Matrix fan club and their leader a lanky youth with long green hair had some sort of makeshift crossbow on him. This group of kids did want sex.
By the time he got there Hex's old favourite had left but Bob couldn't blame him. These kids looked dangerous.
"Excuse me, Hex, Chandra is looking for you. You haven't finished today's lessons," butted in Bob.
Their leader him flashed him an ugly look, "Who the Dell are you? Her dad?"
"I'm this system's Guardian and a friend of the young lady here. You're not from around here are you? You should report immediately to the Principal's office over there and get yourself registered," said Bob firmly.
"Why the Dell should we do what you say?" said one a dull-grey skinned boy. He fingered a knife.
"Because if you don't you'll have nowhere to sleep tonight. And by the way I'll be watching," with that he gently guided Hex back to the Lost Angles Hospital.
Mainframe, Matrix's Quarters
Matrix lay on his couch and flicked through the channels on the vid window feeling sorry for himself. It was early in the morning and a bottle of beer sat in front of him on the beat up coffee table. The Renegade scratched at his bandaged chest. AndraIa seeing this slapped his hand.
The doorbell buzzed and Matrix looked to his girlfriend.
"You go get it, you need to get some exercise," she said.
Grumbling Matrix shuffled to the door as it buzzed a couple times more. Behind it were four teenaged boys. One of them had a huge smile on his face, which quickly disappeared upon seeing Matrix.
"Mr. Matrix you look terrible what the Dell happened to you?" said Backup.
"Backup is that you, what are you doing here?" exclaimed Matrix. He leaned against the door as his heart just wasn't quite up to this surprise.
"Long story, look can my friends and I come in I'll tell you all about it."
Over the next second Backup told his life's story to Matrix. How he became a champion game fighter in his home system, how he left home as the binomes were way too basic, his adventures in the Web as he searched for Matrix and how he found his friends. All this time AndraIa listened discretely and smiled to herself.
"- so basically we went from system to system wasting viruses. It was really cool but then we found the coordinates to your home and landed in Lost Angles. The place is like so last nano and I'm from 16-bit system and everybody's so stuck up there except this one girl. She's cool but that's not why I came. Matrix can we crash here and learn the ropes?" Backup leaned forward with a pleading look in his eyes.
"Okay but I'm recovering from open heart surgery so keep it down and help out around the house. Dre can you teach these boys the ropes?"
Dr. Chandra's log
Hexadecimal's therapy has suffered a set back, Welman Matrix and the community of Lost Angles have taken her in with open arms. This would be fine under normal circumstances but I do not trust the people of Lost Angles.
Despite the fact that a virus for had absorbed them over a year, they readapted to their new life well, a little too well. The people of Lost Angles are showing no signs of emotional distress, no loss of mental capacity or even loss of physical coordination. The only sign of aberrant behaviour has been the injuries many of them have suffered in a series of bizarre accidents. They are cooperating to keep Hexadecimal happy and in Lost Angles for what reason I do not know. What I do know is that they are a bad influence on her.
Before Hex risked her life carrying the cure throughout the Web, Bob observed that the virus appeared to be very arrogant. In hindsight it is easy to see where she got it. The people of Lost Angles have some very old- fashioned views on the ways of the Net. They are disdainful of all binomes and any sprite who was not born into their city. In fact, no binome is allowed into Lost Angles without a permit. Now this arrogance is seeping back into her again.
I have tried to warn Hex of this but she does not want to hear of it. Also she hardly appears for therapy anymore as she has acquired a new boyfriend. The boy is an outsider who is staying with the elder Enzo Matrix. From what Bob tells me the boy is a thug but I am far more worried about what Welman and his people will do. For fear of alienating her I cannot take Hex into my custody again. All I can do for the moment is try my best to teach the girl the social skills she needs to survive and hope. In the meantime Bob is keeping a close watch on her.
The Supercomputer
Turbo the Prime Guardian sat in his office looking at the report an aide had given him. He did not like the news that it contained.
Firstly due do the destruction Daemon caused, Net and Web travel was nearly impossible. Opportunist bandits were searching the data seas looking for easy prey, something the Prime Guardian knew first hand. Turbo sent out his best surviving people to put down the raiders but due to the damage that Daemon caused on their reputations they encountered heavy resistance both from the bandits and the people they were trying to save.
Secondly recent signs of the User's behaviour indicted that Mainframe was becoming obsolete. Any time now the system would shut down and anyone trapped in there would be deleted. Such a system didn't need a Guardian, let alone one of Bob' calibre. There was only one reason why Bob should stay - Hexadecimal. The young girl's safety was paramount if the Net was to have any chance of surviving.
The big sprite let out a large sigh. He won't tell Bob this not yet. First things first deal with the bandits make Net travel safe again. Then when that's done Turbo could arrange an evacuation of Mainframe.
Lost Angles, somewhere quiet
A boy and girl ran into a forest clearing. The boy looked around to see if any eyes were watching. When he was satisfied there weren't he held the girl and give her a deep kiss. The girl responded eagerly. Backup's hand went to the catch on her blouse. Hex held his hand away.
"Backup we can't not just yet. The doctor said I shouldn't engage in any strenuous activity," she said firmly.
"Why not? I thought this was the reason you brought me here?" he whined.
"Backup some psycho shot me," she pulled open her blouse. Backup's eyes bulged as he looked down. Instead of two perfect breasts he saw heavily bandaged torso.
"Who did this? Why?" said Backup angrily. Someone had hurt the coolest chick in the Net and he couldn't stand for it.
"The sprite is respected and powerful. It is better you do not know. As to why it is because I saved the system."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"I told you he was psycho. Anyway I brought you here to give you this," she pulled out a burgundy vest. "It can withstand a pulse cannon blast at point blank range. I made it myself. Wear it as a promise."
"What promise?"
"That in a few seconds I will take off the jacket myself."
She pulled him back to her and resumed kissing him. Behind a bush the thing that passed itself off as AndraIa watched as the two teenagers made out. Soon it would be the time to strike.
A few micros later after Hex had safely left, Backup staggered out the forest clearing. His clothes and hair were dishevelled and as well as his new vest he wore a crooked grin on his face. He did not wear them for long. AndraIa stood outside waiting for him.
"Take off that vest and wipe your face," ordered Matrix's women grimly. " I have something to tell you about your new girlfriend.
Lost Angles Welman's Home
A few seconds later Hexadecimal sat on her bed reading a book in the room she inherited from Dot. It was a bland colourless room with boring conservative furniture but Dot, her sister, still freaked out when she found out what their father did. Well tough luck, Dot owed Hex a lot. Giving up a room she no longer used was the least she could do.
The vid window pooped open interrupting Hex's thoughts. It was Backup. She threw the book she was reading aside.
"Backup, you haven't called me in seconds. Where have you been?" she cried
"Um, I couldn't control myself around you. Listen are you now able to, to you know?" he asked. The poor boy seemed to be blushing.
"Yes. The bandages are off now."
"Good meet me at these coordinates as soon as you can. I'll be waiting for you."
By following said coordinates she found herself in Lost Angles warehouse district. Not the most romantic place, large ugly buildings loomed everywhere she looked. That should have been her first clue. The place was quiet and deserted. She looked round trying to find her boyfriend. Then Backup waved to her from one of the large empty buildings.
She quickly adjusted the small top her outfit in the hopes of hiding her scars. When she was satisfied she rushed inside the building. Backup stepped out from the darkness. He was not wearing the vest she gave him.
"It figures a Bat like you would wear the clothes of the virus you iced," said Backup coldly. He stepped forward.
"How did you know?" she gasped. The girl took a step backwards as she heard the door closing behind her.
She whirled round as Backup's friends appeared from the darkness and surrounded her.
"Matrix and AndraIa told me everything, virus," continued Backup. " How you terrorized this system, how you're holding the entire Net hostage. I can't believe I almost. Well no more, it ends now and maybe me and the boys will have some fun while we're at it."
The boy pointed his crossbow at Hex's head. She couldn't believe it. She thought that he loved her. That he would turn on her so quickly. Shaking her head she backed away, Tech one of Backup's friends held her from behind stopping her.
When he was satisfied that Hex was held firmly Backup came forward. Very gently as if nothing had happened he stroked her face. Then he ripped open her blouse.
The girl screamed in rage and kicked him across the room. Startled Tech let go of her. She shoved him aside knocking him into a pile of wooden crates and raced towards the door. Backup rose slightly from where he landed and shot his cross bow at her. It missed her barely. The virus not even stopping ran right through the door. Leaving a girl shaped silhouette.
Backup stood up and frowned at the cartoonish sight. He cocked he crossbow on his arm. "Let the hunt begin."
Hex raced frantically through the now inhabited streets of Lost Angles. Though she ran far faster than any sprite had a right to her attackers were not far behind. They sped as fast as they could on their zip boards as the citizens of Lost Angles gawked at them. They had almost reached her when her father ran in.
"Stop them for User's sake! Don't let them damage the virus," cried Welman.
Upon hearing this, the sprites in down town Lost Angles went into action. One of the sprites tossed nothing at the boys as if expecting to shoot a fireball at them. Another simply steeped off his balcony without a zip board dropping like a stone becoming yet another victim in a series of bizarre accidents that plagued Lost Angles. They acted as if they still had Hex's powers. When they came to their senses, the boys and their virus were gone.
"Somebody inform Dr. Chandra and my daughter Dot," snarled Welman. He punched a nearby wall in frustration.
Meanwhile Hex raced through the streets trying to get to the bridge and safety. Her chest hurt, she had no powers and she was totally and utterly lost. She turned into a small street trying to lose them. Suddenly she crashed to the ground splitting her lip. Somehow she had tripped over a rock. She dusted herself off.
"There she is, I've found her," cried Mondo one of Backup's crew.
Hexadecimal immediately ducked into an alley. It was a dead end! There was nowhere to run anymore. She had to do something but what?
Outside the alley Backup and his crew landed by a spot of viral blood. His heart was pounding in anticipation of what was to come.
"C'mon boys we've got her now," shouted Backup. The thugs ran into the alley where she hid. And came face to face - with nothing.
Backup scratched his head for a while. Then an idea came to him, " Tech scan this area for any viral traces now!"
Mainframe Bob's Apartment
While Backup and his crew tore apart Lost Angles looking for Hex. Dot was in Bob's apartment. She paced uneasily in front of Bob as he sat on his couch trying desperately trying to watch the foot baud game.
"- And it's not that I don't like what Hexadecimal is doing. For once she's behaving herself. It's my Dad, Bob, he should hate viruses as much as me. Instead he's taking Hex into his home treating her like a daughter! It's scaring me. It's like he's not the same sprite anymore. Bob tell me what I should do?"
"Well for starters you should get out of the way. Dr. Chandra's on the vid window."
Now instead of a stupid foot baud game there was that fat old Bat. She looked tense.
"Bob, Dot thank the User I found you. Hex is in trouble," said Chandra. Then the middle -aged sprite told Bob and Dot everything that had happened. By the time she was done even Dot felt sorry for Hex.
"I'll have my men detain these boys, Bob," said Dot.
"I'll go organize a search party right away," replied Bob as he charged out the door.
It wasn't until dark when they finally found her.
Mainframe Hotel Ritz
Late into the night Bob gently but firmly guided his old teacher up to her room.
"But Bob, I can't sleep, not now, when we don't even know where Hex is," protested Chandra.
"Look we've done everything that we could. We searched Lost Angles and Mainframe. I myself, interrogated those boys twice."
"Do you think they'll recover?"
"I don't care. The point is that unless you get your rest you'll be of no use if, no when we find Hex."
"And what about you?"
Bob pushed open the door to Chandra's bedroom, " I'm going to do organize a Net wide search. The poor girl could be anywhere - like right under our noses."
Where she was is curled upon Chandra's bed quietly sobbing. The young girl was a mess. Her eyes were puffy and snot ran down her nose from all that crying. Her clothes were torn and filthy and an ominous dark stain soaked the sheets and what was left of her blouse.
Chandra raced towards the bed, "Sweet Billy Gates, she's reopened her wounds, Bob call the hospital, get a med team here right away."
When the Guardian had left the room. Hex sat up. Dr Chandra gently pushed her down.
"Sweet User, this has all gone so terribly wrong," sobbed Hex. " I thought I found my place, people who actually loved me. Doctor what am I going to do? As soon as people find out about what I am they either try to kill me or exploit me. And I can't hide what I am not if I truly hoped to be loved. That's all I ever wanted and I can't get it, not here."
"Don't worry about that, what you need to do is get well, prove yourself to them," soothed the older woman.
"But I've done that already. Face it, takes a rare person to accept a virus into their life. This system knows what I am and they can't handle it! It's like I'm in an abusive relationship with this system. I don't like it here anymore, I want to leave, now!"
"That's the sanest thing I've heard you say. I'll talk it over with Turbo and we can make some arrangements."
Hex sighed and sunk back into the bed, "Thank you Chandra you're a true friend. Please don't tell anybody in Mainframe, even Bob, about this. Some nice person might decide to 'warn' the Net about me."
The quiet moment did not last long. As soon as the girl stopped speaking the med team burst in and started to work on her. There was no room in the ambulance for either of her friends so Hexadecimal rode alone along with a crack team of nurses and a car full of equipment.
It was well into the early micros of the morning when they finally stopped. They left her in a small hospital room surrounded by monitoring equipment. The only sound was the beeping of the various machines as she fell asleep.
In the morning Dr. Chandra awoke her gently. Daylight streamed in from the windows making the room seem golden.
" Hex you've reopened your wounds, it's quite serious. For the sake of your health stay in bed this time. I won't be staying long I'm going back to the Supercomputer to make arrangements for you," said the kind old woman.
"Can't I come with you?"
"It isn't safe for you to be moved and the Net travel is extremely dangerous. Bob will take care of you for now."
"I like the sound of that!" smiled Hex weakly. There was one sprite capable of loving her. If played she played her cards right, by the time she got ready to leave maybe he could love her as much as she loved him.
Dr. Chandra left the girl as she lay back on her pillow and fell asleep again. Bob came in and watched her as Hexadecimal smiled to herself and dreamed of the new possibilities that awaited her.
The End
If you've read the entire story please critique it. I am at cmercer@sprint.ca