1.1.1.1 Chapter 4

Blu flew away from the P.O. of Mainframe. He had wanted to help these people, but Malestorm had warned him that if he talked, she would delete everyone she had captured. He looked back and saw that the blue guy who had held him in the P.O. Blu sighed. At least they were persistent. The Mainframers were also growing annoying. Blu flew forward, ignoring the plea in the blue man's eyes asking him to come back.

Turbo paced his office in the Super Computer. All cycle he had been receiving calls blaming him and/or the Guardian Collective for what Daemon had forced them to do.

" Turbo, you need some rest," stated a voice from behind him.

" Kerry. I didn't hear you come in," Turbo stated, returning his gaze to the window.

" That's because I portaled in. I've recently been in System 438 scanning their damage, and I was nearly kicked out. Turbo, they're still scared of us, and they are so certain that Daemon is still here ready to infect their families, their friends, themselves, that they refuse any Guardian help," Kerry said, a plea forming in her eyes.

" Karry, I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do about that," Turbo sighed, rubbing his temples, " Now, please, try it." Kerry nodded, then left. Turbo signaled his secretary.

" Kal, hold everyone and everything for the next five microseconds," he ordered, then closed the window. He closed his windows that overlooked the Super Computer, then locked his doors and deactivated the security monitors. Only now did he feel comfortable and stepped out of his uniform. He stood around his office naked and stood at the mirror. He looked at the patch of skin closest to where he had his icon. It was crusty and flaky. Turbo sighed, laid down on his bed, and fell asleep.

Once more, the woman called to Turbo. Once more, he felt an uncontrollable urge to do what she asked.

" Turbo, how many Guardians do you have on the net?" she asked, gazing in his eyes.

" I have five hundred, each one looking for possible Guardian material. I also have fifty on personal leave."

" What do you feel like doing right now?" she asked, batting her lashes, and truthfully, Turbo replied,

" Whatever you want me to do."

When Turbo awoke, he was different. Not only physically but mentally as well. His only thought, his reason of existence, was to do Malestorm's bidding. He quietly removed his icon, now unable to be of any use to him. Turbo looked in the mirror, taking a good, long look. His eyes were pure yellow, with just a hint of gold. His fingers were now claws. He had two fangs protruding from his mouth, and he walked on just the tip of his feet. He could also walk around without the normal sense of clothing, as his body from the chest down was covered in a strange purple metal. His hair now was long and well lower than his shoulders. He also had a chest plate with Malestorm's red symbol of two glowing eyes. Turbo- no, now it was Terror- destroyed the window of the office, jumped form it, and raced toward the nearest portal.

Bob felt a power within him diminish as Turbo succumbed to Malestorm's infection. He fell straight down from the point he was from the game sprite, trying to soften the impact of his fall by putting his hands down in front of him, but it was no use. The air was blowing to fast and to hard for him to keep his hands steady enough to cushion his fall. Bob ordered Glitch to use one of his bubbles to help to cushion the fall, but he had too much air blowing through.

Why me? Blu thought as he watched the blue guy fall. Blu went and caught him.

" This is only 'cause I don't like death," Blu said, placing Bob on a roof. Blu then flew away. Blu decided that now it was time to go. " If you'll get me a portal to anywhere than here, I'll take it. You owe me that."

" First, answer me some questions," Bob asked.

" Won't give me a portal? Fine. I'll bum my way outta here," Blu growled, then flew away.

Malestorm smiled. Finally, she could get new toys. She opened her portal, and emerged eleven hours ago.

" Enzo, are you going to be all right?" the girl asked. Malestorm smiled. Two easy targets. She made the reach, but suddenly,

" Blitch, cutter!" Malestorm's tentacles were slashed. Malestorm looked over, and saw a Guardian cadet. The saw that had sliced Malestorm's tentacles returned to a device on the Guardian's arm. The female sprite glanced in her direction and pulled up her arm which had a harpoon on it. Malestorm hissed, showing her fangs.

" Lady, I ain't impressed," the Guardian glared, " Now, put your arms, tentacles, and whatever down, and back away- Slowly." Malestorm obeyed, but them sent her tentacles out and grabbed the girl, the cadet, the growling dog, and the boy on the bed. Then, all of them vanished as she disappeared.

Kerry paced outside of Turbo's office when she collapsed. As she was the Assistant Prime Guardian, she was also among the first to recover.

" Turbo!" she gasped. " Kal, get me in there!" Without waiting for Kal to respond, she ordered Gardro to blast the door down. She entered, and saw his icon and the broken window. " No," she whispered, picking up his icon. A whirring came from behind Turbo's desk. " Copeland!" she gasped again. She picked Copeland up, and saw he was definitely broken- from a viral stepping on him. " Kal, take Copeland down to the Keytool Tower."

" Where are you going?" Kal said, guessing her next move.

" Mainframe."

2 Thirteen and a half hours ago.

Vixen strolled down the corridor, knowing that the cadet was already there. Suddenly, there was a crash. She turned, only to see two tentacles grabbing her. She passed out.

Malestorm saw the Guardian falter. Her Keytool fell to the floor. She smirked, then vanishing. If she'd stayed a moment longer, she would have seen the Keytool fly up to it's old stationary position, glow gold, and another Vixen appearing, continuing on as if nothing had happened.

3 Now, In Mainframe.

Dot sighed, seeing the sprite fly off again. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared; the kind she'd only seen twice before. She turned her head, and saw a Guardian appear, only this one was wearing red with black cuffs at her shoulders, knees, and elbows.

" Are you Dot Matrix?" she asked. Dot nodded.

" My name is Kerry. I'm the Assistant Prime Guardian. It is imperative I speak to Guardian 452," she said.

" You mean Bob?" Dot asked.

" Yes. If the Net ever needed a Guardian like him and his allies, it is now," Kerry said.

" Mainframe is at Turbo's command. Just tell us what we need to do," Dot said.

" Turbo has been infected. As Assistant Prime Guardian, I currently have command of the Guardians," Kerry sighed, a tear appearing in her eyes. Dot put a hand on Kerry's arm.

" He means very much to you, doesn't he?" Kerry nodded. Just then Mouse entered.

" Dot, we've got an emergency," she stated, then took a look at Kerry.

" Mouse," she glared.

" Kerry," Mouse said coldly.

" Good, you two know each other. Mouse, you and Kerry need to handle this. I've got bigger things to worry about," Dot said, then shoved Mouse and Kerry outside, closing the door. Then, with all the binomes in the waroom looking at their consoles, she sighed and smiled. " One more blow-up in the waroom avoided."

Kerry glared at Mouse. Mouse glared at Kerry. The two sprites glared at each other. CPUs were walking around, all rounding up Neo-Virals.

" Mouse. I heard you were in Mainframe, but I had no clue Dot would let you anywhere near the Principal Office. She must be incredibly gullible or incredibly trusting," Karry glared.

" Even with that promotion, you still haven't given up that biased attitude of yours. Just because I made a few attempts to hack into the Super Computer-"

" And you even sunk low enough to side with a virus! I was smart enough to push Turbo to enforce Protocol 999 by planting a bomb in your wristband, but Turbo had to get sentimental and give Mainframe another few nanoseconds. Sure, we would have lost Bob, but it would have been a small price to pay for getting you out of the Net," Kerry growled.

" I've had enough with this, Kerry! We'll settle this here and now!"

" Kerry!" Bob cried, interrupting the tiff.

" Guardian 452. It is good to see you," Kerry said, still glaring at Mouse. Bob sighed.

" Kerry, I know how much you hate Mouse, but you must be here for a reason, and that should mean that Mouse is second to your hatred," Bob said, stepping in between Kerry and Mouse. Kerry's glare turned to Bob for a moment.

" All right, Guardian 452. You have a point," Kerry said, her glare fading away. All three entered the waroom. Dot turned at the sound, but softened when she saw Bob.

" Bob. Report," she ordered.

" The game sprite got away. All he wanted was a portal out of here," Bob said.

" I thought so. All right, now, we need to get down to business," Dot said, taping he icon and returned to her battle garb. " Mouse, what's the emergency?"

" Ray and I checked out the system Matrix entered. We couldn't find his icon," Mouse said.

" Where's Ray? Is he sure?"

" Positive. But I don't know where Ray is."

" What?"

" Ray opened a portal here, tentacles flew toward us, Ray pushed me threw and closed the portal."

" Then he's been captured by a viral," Kerry glared.