Oh My User: Chapter Two
by: Ryuu-sama (karma_aster@yahoo.com)
Rating: PG (language, implied violence)
Disclaimer: All the characters used in this story are the property of Mainframe Entertainment with the exception of Callista Anderson, Packard, Kali, and other original characters. Those are my creations. For the more complete disclaimer, the time scale I'm using in this thing, and to find out just what the heck is going on, please read chapter one of this fic. Thank you!
Notes: Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to keep writing on this thing! I'm amazed at how many people actually liked the first chapter of this thing. I devoutly hope this next chapter lives up to your expectations. Big "thank you's" go to my proofreaders: Haru, Charisma, Drem-chan, Amber, Norcumi, and Morning Cereal. Did I forget anyone? I'd also like to give special thanks to the readers at Fanfiction.Net, the mighty Hanako Breithaupt (whom I hope doesn't ever use my fic as examples of how not to write!), and the wonderful and zany group at the ReBoot LiST. You guys rock!
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Principal Office- Infirmary
"Excuse me? What on Earth is a…a user?" asked Callista, "And just how does being from Boston make me one?"
"You really don't know?" Bob asked, surprised.
"Well, I wouldn't be asking if I did, now would I?" the girl asked, caustically. "I assume from context that it's not a good thing."
"That all depends on whom you ask, I guess," remarked Dot. "We don't know much about them…er…you, but Users live outside the systems. They download the games, send upgrades…some even say that they create viruses."
"Download games…outside the system…wait, then that would mean that I'm…that this is-no way! There's no freakin' way! That's insane!" Callista put her hands to her mouth. "Are you trying to tell me that-that I'm inside a computer system?"
"Well, yes," Dot answered, slowly.
"But…but that's just not possible! Look, I work with these things for a living, and I know that computers are just circuits and wires and electricity...there are no people in them! That wouldn't happen outside of the Twilight Zone and bad X-Files fanfiction!" She shook her head emphatically. "This isn't real. None of you are real!"
"You…" Matrix growled. His cybernetic eye glowed red. "You've been responsible for the nullification of countless sprites and binomes and you claim we're not real?" His knuckles whitened as his hands clenched into fists. Callista shrank back as he loomed over her.
"N-nullification?" she stammered. "But, I don't-"
Bob touched his shoulder. "Matrix-" he began.
He pulled away from the Guardian and pointed to his eye. "Your kind did this to me!" His fist slammed down. "How dare you destroy so many innocent lives and then deny we even exist?"
"I-I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice shaking, "please, I-"
"You're sorry?" he spluttered. "Sorry? You-" He raised his fist, but then spun around and stormed from the room.
"Matrix, wait!" AndrAIa called out. She ran out after him. "Matrix!"
Dot turned to follow after the two, then stopped, clenching her own hands into fists. "Spammit!" she hissed, very quietly. Bob walked over and put an arm around her shoulders. She gave him a small, half-smile.
Callista seemed ready to burst into tears. "I-I don't understand! What's nullification? What did I do?"
Phong patted her hand again. "Calmness, my child," he advised. "Things are often said in the heat of anger that are not really meant."
"But why is he angry at me? I've never seen any of you before in my life! I didn't even know that you existed! No one in my world does!"
"So the Users don't even know about us?" Bob asked.
"No!" The girl wiped at her eyes irritably, "And I wish I didn't either! I just want to go home!"
Dot opened her mouth, but before she could speak, a vid-window opened in front of her. Packard was displayed, wearing an anxious expression.
"Yes?"
"Commander Matrix, sir? Perhaps you should come up here and look at this." The young binome bit her lip. "I think we have a bad situation developing."
Dot nodded. "I'm on my way." The vid-window closed. She turned to Bob. "Uh, Bob, could you-"
He nodded. "I'll take care of things here. Go deal with this!"
She nodded again and squeezed his hand. "Thanks. I'll make this up to you later, I promise," she said quietly, to only him, and then left.
Principal Office-Communications:
Everyone looked up as the door slid open, admitting the command.com. She strode over to Packard's workstation.
"Now what is this all about?" Dot asked.
Packard brushed a strand of her cropped, blond hair away from her eye and hesitantly answered, "The sensors have picked up two viral energy signatures, Sir."
"What?" Dot looked over the printouts. "Oh, this is just what I needed," she muttered under her breath. She closed her eyes, gathered her thoughts and said, "All right. I need an armed team to investigate this."
"One is already being formed, Sir," Specks interjected.
"Excellent. The second thing we need to do is keep this intelligence quiet. I don't want to create a panic. And third, find Mouse and the Surfer. We might need them."
"Yes, Sir. I'll get right on it," a zero replied.
"Fine. I'm going to inform Bob of the situation. Packard, get a printout on those virals and follow me to the infirmary."
"Yes, Sir," Packard replied, turning back to her console.
Dot turned on her heel and left. In the corridor, she stopped for a moment, shook her head, and sighed. "We'll deal with this," she murmured, "We'll find a way to cope. We always find a way."
Principal Office-Infirmary
Callista, Bob, and Phong looked up as Dot walked in. The girl's eyes were red and puffy, as though she had been crying, but she seemed calm.
"Dot, what's wrong?" Bob asked, seeing the expression on her face.
"We have another problem," Dot answered. "Two viral energy signatures have been identified within the system."
"Viruses?" Bob said, feeling a freezing sensation settle in his guts. "Two viruses?"
"Yes."
"Have they been identified?"
"Not yet."
"What, computer viruses?" Callista asked. "I assume this is, uh, bad?"
"Very bad," answered Bob. "We expelled a particularly nasty one from this system not too long ago."
She bit at her lower lip. "So, this means I'm not going home for a while, huh?"
"That would appear to be the case, child, but we will do what we can, when we can. Do not lose hope," said Phong.
The door opened, admitting Packard, who carried a stack of printouts. She handed them to Dot. "I have the information you asked for, Sir."
"Thank you, Packard," Dot replied, handing over the sheets to Bob for his perusal.
"You're welcome, Sir."
"Um, so what are you going to do with me?" Callista asked, "I mean, should I go wait in a corner somewhere or what?"
Dot looked up at the User-girl. "Well…I would say to put you in a holding cell until we've sorted some things out…but, you don't really seem that dangerous. Still…"
"Actually, Dot, that is a good idea. Callista would be in a safe place until we can decide what to do next," said Phong, "Unless, you have an objection, child?"
Callista blinked. "You mean, I get a choice?"
Phong nodded, "Indeed, my child."
Callista thought about it, "Well, I can't say I particularly like the idea of being locked up, but worse things could happen, I guess."
Dot nodded. "Fine. Packard, would you please escort Ms. Anderson to one of the holding cells?"
"Of course, Sir." Packard walked out the door, followed by Callista.
Bob handed the printouts back to Dot, his expression grim. "I recognize one of those energy signatures." He sighed, "It looks like Megabyte's back in town."
Mainframe, Level 31:
A teenaged binome male ran through the darkened streets with a few angry adult binomes in pursuit. He put on an extra burst of speed and ducked into an alley, silently snickering as he heard his pursuers run past. "Basic old fools…"he muttered, sitting down and catching his breath. He pulled one of his stolen energy bars out of his pocket to munch on. "They couldn't catch energy in a data storm."
"Is that so, boy?" The voice was feminine and mocking.
The binome looked up at the sudden comment from the other end of the alley. "Who's there?" he asked, suspiciously.
"Oh, no one of any consequence." The female virus moved into his sight. She gave a nasty smile at his horrified gasp.
The boy leapt to his feet and started to back away, an action impeded by a large form that blocked him from behind. He turned and screamed, seeing a face that he'd hoped to never lay eyes on again.
"No…no," he babbled. "You were deleted…you can't be here…"
Megabyte laughed cruelly. "Do you really think it's that easy to destroy me?" He gripped the boy's collar and yanked him into the air. "I am surprised at very little now, but I would like to know how a system I left in ruins is now peaceful and functioning."
"Let me go! Let me go!"
"I would answer him, boy," The female commented, "Unless you wish to suffer a slow, painful deletion, of course." She examined her claws.
"It was the…Guardian," the boy gasped out. "He l-lost a game…and forced the User to reboot."
"Most resourceful…but then I would have expected nothing less of Bob." Megabyte dropped the binome. He hit the ground with a sickening thud. The navy-blue virus unsheathed his broken claws.
"Don't take this personally, boy. But I can't have you talking to anyone and you are simply not worth infecting." He raised the claws above his head, poised to strike.
"Oh, Megabyte! Why should you have all the fun?" the female protested.
Megabyte considered her for a moment, then shrugged. "Very well, Kali. Just don't take too long." He turned and walked away, followed by her laugh and a short scream that was abruptly cut off.
Principal Office-Exterior:
Matrix slumped on one of the ledges around the exterior of the PO and looked out over the city. A few nanos later, he heard a set of familiar footfalls behind him. AndrAIa sat down next to him with her usual grace. They were silent for a few moments, both simply taking in the view. AndrAIa placed a hand on his shoulder and he turned to look at her.
"She's scared," the former game sprite said quietly. "She's been ripped away from her home and everything that's familiar to her and she's scared. She didn't mean what she said."
"How would you know?" Matrix grumbled half-heartedly.
"Because I know that people say and do a lot of things they don't really mean when they're scared or angry," she answered, looking at him pointedly.
He looked away, not wanting to admit that her words made a lot of sense. AndrAIa sighed and put an arm around his shoulders in a half-hug.
"No one said you had to like her or be her buddy…but could you at least give her the benefit of the doubt until she proves herself as an enemy? I agree with Bob. She just seems to be a scared, lost kid." She turned to look into his eyes. "Please do this for me, Enzo?"
Matrix sighed and returned the hug. "All right…for you."
She grinned. "That's my Sparky."
His only response was to roll his eyes. He got up and helped her to her feet. Then the two walked back inside.
Principal Office-Security:
Packard opened one of the holding cells and stood aside to let Callista enter. The girl did so and looked back at Packard with a bemused expression on her face.
"Er…can I get you anything?" asked Packard, not entirely sure how to deal with the situation.
"No…I think I'm okay for now…" Callista fiddled with the end of her braid and stared at the floor. "Uh, I hope this doesn't sound rude, but…what are you?"
"Me? I'm a binome. The Guardian and the command.com are data sprites."
"And…Phong?"
"He's also a sprite." Packard bit at her lower lip. "So, you're really a User?" she asked hesitantly.
"I guess so…that's what you all tell me I am, at any rate." The girl shrugged. "I'm still very confused about all of this," she said, looking forlorn.
Packard felt a sudden surge of sympathy for the girl. "Tell you what…when I get off duty later, I'll come here and tell you a bit about Mainframe," she offered.
"You'd do that?" Callista asked, surprised.
"Sure," said Packard with a smile, "and you can tell me about the Userworld."
"I'd like that." The girl gave a sudden shy smile. "Thank you, er…it's Packard, right?"
"Yeah. You're welcome, Callista. I'll see you later, then." Packard shut the door and walked away. Callista watched her leave and walked over to lean against the wall. She slipped to the ground and buried her face in her hands.
