Chapter Four: Surprises In Store
"Can we infect other people?" Dot asked, leaning against her desk.
"What does it matter?" Matrix asked. "You're the Command.Com, Enzo is the guardian of the system, I'm head of the CPUs. We have all the power here, we don't need any other sprites or binomes in on this."
"I agree." Enzo replied.
"That doesn't solve one problem." Dot said, matter of factly.
"Which is?" Matrix huffed.
"Have you both forgotten about out System Administrator?"
The two looked at each other. "Phong." Enzo whispered, feeling a twinge of regret. "I forgot about him."
"Obviously." Dot said.
"He patrols these halls like an armory soldier." Matrix said. "How're we going to get past him?"
"Hence why I asked about the infection."
"It would give us an unbelievable edge if we...recruited the old sprite." Matrix said.
"No." Enzo said, struggling to keep a hold of his viral side, while pushing his real self away. "We'll just dispose of him. Put him somewhere until this system is ours."
"He'll fight back, you know." Dot replied. "He won't do anything short of deletion in order to keep virals from taking this system."
Even as she said this, the three were silent, contemplating what
they were about to do. Each waged a private battle of control, their former
selves crying out against the fact that Phong, a person they viewed as
a father figure, a mentor could possibly be hurt, by one of them no less.
Dot woke with a start, her breathing halted than started again. She looked around her surroundings and realized she was in her room, staring at her organizer. Dot sighed, knowing she had fallen asleep at the desk. Not only that, but she was remembering things she had long buried deep inside. She turned the organizer off and set it aside. She removed her glasses, closed her eyes, and sighed once more.
Feeling familiar hands on her shoulders seemed to relax her. Any other time, she would've jumped, been on alert, but she and Bob had been married long enough she knew his touch above anyone else's. The blue guardian stood behind her, massaging the shoulders he knew were tense with worry, fear, and whatever else was causing the emotional roller coaster to run again. He could feel her relax slightly, which he knew was the best that was going to happen. At least with her.
"Why don't you come to bed?" he whispered.
"Not tired." she said, then instantly yawned.
"You were saying?"
"Get that smirk off your face." she retorted. "Okay, so maybe I'm just a little tired. Can you blame me?"
"No." he said. Bending over, he kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry for yelling at you today." he said. "I'm certainly not the one who should be telling you how to do your job."
"You were right though." she said. "I did need to talk to the witnesses, tell them they didn't need to feel guilty for telling the truth. I was being selfish."
"I can't blame you for that." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Everything's going to all right." he said. "I promise."
"You can't make a promise like that."
"Hey, I'm Prime Guardian now." he joked. "If I promise this thing is over, then this thing will be over."
Dot smiled slightly. He always did know how to make her feel better. "Well then, Prime Guardian Lan," she said, wrapping one arm around his neck. "What say we head off to bed?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." Leaning over, he kissed he gently on the lips and then again, slightly more passionate. "I love you, Dot." he said.
"I love you." she echoed. "Come on, Guardian." She stood, took him by the hand, and lead him towards the bed.
Bob happily followed.
The next second began another twelve milliseconds of testimony and witnesses for the prosecution. In the defense corner, things had not been settled with most of the group, leaving them tired and slightly unprepared for what was about to take place. Peters, all smiles, had delivered the message to the defense that he had surprise witnesses come forward who would surely condemn the sprites at the table.
But first, he had to finish with his other witnesses.
The first three binomes were those living in Mainframe at the time of the viral takeover and were also nonresidents of the system. They had been there vacationing or visiting when the event occurred, leaving them believing the sprites in charge of the system were trying to take it over for a higher viral power. When Kit finally did a cross-examination on the three, they were secretive about their whereabouts and their reasons for coming to Mainframe in the first place. All it did was frustrate the young counselor in training.
The next shock just floored him.
"I call...Vance McMillian to the stand."
The suave businessman entered the court, all smiles. He walked with a sense of flare and smiled evilly at the defense. "What in the Net is he doing here?" Roscoe whispered, harshly in Kit's ear.
"If I knew that, he wouldn't be walking to the stand right now." Kit whispered back.
"Keep your cool on this." Enzo said, knowing they would all need to be on alert.
"Please state your name and occupation, Mr. McMillian." Peters stated.
"Vance Kennedy McMillian." he replied. "I...run a little business, a sporting business is you'd like."
"Come come now, Mr. McMillian." Peters said. "Isn't it true you are the owner, or at least former owner of something called the Ultimate Fighting League or a UFL?"
Some spectators gasped.
"In my past, yes." Vance admitted. "But I don't believe I'm the one on trial here, Mr. Peters."
Peters smiled. "True sir, you are not." he said. "Mr. McMillian, a few hours back, were you still the owner of the UFL?"
"Yes I was."
"And during those few hours back, did you have one or more members of the defense involved in your matches?"
"Definitely."
"Objection." Kit said. "The circumstances to which members of my clientele were involved in the UFL were not only forced, but illegal as well."
"Over ruled, Mr. Lan." Riley said with a not too caring sigh. "As Mr. McMillian pointed out earlier, he is not the only on trial here."
"Do you remember those members who participated in the UFL, sir?" Peters asked.
"Well, young Roscoe Bettyoskin there had been with us for a whole hour before he left." Vance replied. "In fact, he left as the Web champion, a very high honor. Kit Lan there come to us and stayed for about a minute, and then his uncles, the Matrix boys, were with us for the same amount of time."
"Isn't your...sport...if you will, illegal?"
"It's all in the way you look at it." Vance replied.
"It most certainly is illegal, Mr. McMillian." Turbo stated. "In fact, it was the Super Computer and the Guardian Collective who busted up your first UFL. They are barbaric scenes of violence."
"No further questions." Peters said, walking calmly to his seat.
"Your witness, Mr. Lan."
Instead of Kit, Jetison Lan decided to have a go with Mr. McMillian. "Mr. McMillian, will you explain to the council how you managed to...obtain the services of the four fighters mentioned?"
Vance gulped. "I don't believe I seem to recall..."
"Exhibit A." Jet replied, holding up a data file. "This Mr. McMillian, is a sworn statement by my brother, Christopher Lan, that states that you not only kidnapped him, but coerced him into participating in the fights you yourself scheduled." Jet went to hand the file to Riley, but then pulled it from the judge's grasp and handed it to the other members of the council table. "I have three others from those mentioned, as well as at least ten more from those...'willing participants' of yours."
Vance said nothing,
"Isn't it also true, Mr. McMillian, that certain members of your own staff have seemingly 'disappeared' soon after the UFL was raided?"
"Objection!" Peters exclaimed. "Mr. McMillian is not the one on trial here."
"I'm just trying to show the character of the witness, your honor." Jet replied. "Vance McMillian is the last person to be testifying against my clients."
"Over ruled, Mr. Peters." one of the council members replied. "Continue, Mr. Lan."
"Thank you, sir." Jet said, turning back to McMillian. "Answer the question."
"I don't know where they went." McMillian said, through clenched teeth.
"Exhibits B and C, one through six." Jet continued, taking more files from his table. "Medical reports from both the Dudleyville Hospital and that of the Super Computer med ward that state various injuries to both Matrix brothers and that of Roscoe Bettyoskin. Also, CPU reports filed against members of a group known as the Degenerate Order, along with Joey Numbers and Viper, who are all once under your command I believe, filed by those same three sprites. It states, that those individuals under your leadership sought to do undo harm to all three sprites mentioned."
Jet stood before the court spectators. "In order words, assault with a deadly weapon and assault to delete." he said. "Any of this ringing any bells?"
Vance glared at the teenager. "What's your point?"
"My point, sir, is this." Jet replied, turning to face him. "You've come before this council with the intent of showing that members of my family voluntarily joined your group of fighters, when in fact, they were kidnapped and then forced to do your bidding, all the while making money for you. Sound about right?" When Vance refused to answer, Jet replied, "No more questions." The teen returned to his table, giving a high five to his brother as he sat down, and getting pats on the back from other members.
"You may step down, Mr. McMillian." Turbo replied.
Vance gave the council an evil glare, before leaving the stand. As he passed the defense, he sneered at their gloating grins and smiles. "We finally score one for our side." Nikki whispered, patting her twin on the back.
"We just gotta make sure the good luck holds." Kit reminded her.
"Call your next witness, Mr. Peters."
Peters stood, obviously still upset at how one of his 'star' witnesses
had gone down in such flames. He couldn't afford to have them win. He had
his career to think of. If anything, it was better if they could damage
themselves. Smiling at Riley, he said, "I call Enzo Matrix, the third to
the stand."
The space in between downtime and start up was usually quiet. Most sprites and binomes were nestled in their beds, unaware of what the new second would bring them. This was also the time Phong took time out for himself for some good downtime. After he had checked and re-checked the status of the city, the system administrator would retire with one last cup of cocoa.
It was in this time the viral takeover began.
Three infected sprites, all members of the system's staff, had everything planned to a byte. They were already in the Principal Office, their positions allowing them access to the very heart of the system, and they knew the habits of the resident sprite like the backs of their hands. Getting rid of the wise sprite was challenging. They didn't want to infect him, despite conflicting feelings, but yet they couldn't delete him or some of the only secrets he knew would be lost to them.
Waiting until the small sprite had gotten his last cup of cocoa, the trio struck. It seemed so very easy, perhaps too easy to take him. He was shocked to say the least, that his three favorites, sprites he viewed as his own children, could turn like this. But he knew it was because of something he didn't like and didn't put up much of a struggle when they captured him. File locking him until further notice, the three began. As the start up process began, the city heard the announcement on the PA system.
"Citizens of Mainframe. This is Dot Matrix, Command.Com, alerting
you all to a change of command. This new order will go smoothly if you
all just co-operate. The first order of business is for you all to hand
over your PIDs..."
"State your name and relationship with the defendants."
Chip cleared his throat and replied, "Enzo David Matrix, III. I'm the senior Matrix's son."
"Mr. Matrix," Peters said, pacing in front of the teen. "We've already established that you were apart of the assault to a Mr. Alexander Gain. What was your role in that assault?"
"Objection." Kit said. "I'm not sure I understand the relevance of Mr. Peters questioning my witnesses."
"I would like to remind Dr. Lan that his cousin is on the stand as a hostile witness." Peters defended. "I'm trying to show the council of the depths this family can stoop to."
"He's a hostile witness, Dr. Lan." Riley replied. "You can recall him again if you wish." To Chip he said, "Answer the question."
Chip looked at Riley and over to Kit. He knew anything he said could be very fatal to his family's case. "I..." he started. "I was the look out guy."
Some of the spectators made sounds of disapproval.
"The look out guy." Peters repeated. "Isn't it true you've been in some trouble yourself, Mr. Matrix?"
"Objection!" Jet cried. "Chip Matrix is not on trial here, to use a saying famous by prosecution."
"Over ruled." Riley yawned.
"I don't know what you mean." Chip replied.
"Prosecution's own exhibit A." Peters said, smirking at Jet. "This, Mr. Matrix, is a CPU report out of Mainframe." He handed the file to Chip. "Care to tell the council what it says."
Chip looked at the file and up at Peters. "I already know what's in it." he whispered.
"Then share it with the council." Riley demanded.
Chip silently fumed, wondering how Peters had found the report and how he could sufficiently repay Peters for his deed. "I was arrested for arson." he said, causing many spectators, and even council members, to gasp in surprise.
"And?" Peters asked, looking over the file.
Chip kept a loose reign on his temper, which he could feel starting to explode. "Property damage."
Peters nodded, hiding the small smile on his lips.
"They were all my fault, I'll admit." Chip cried. "But they were also accidents."
Peters looked at the teen. "Really?"
"Yes, really." Chip said. "I was fooling around trying to make a go cart in the data dump and I kinda set the place on fire. To teach me a lesson, I was arrested, but that CPU report isn't even real!"
"Hmmm..." Peters said. "And the property damage?"
"My dad and I got into an argument and I stormed out." Chip exclaimed. "I was hitting stuff, it didn't matter what or who it belonged to at the time. I paid my dues for that."
"Yes." Peters said. "So, do you and your father fight often?"
"Objection."
"Over ruled. Answer that."
"A lot of kids and parents get into arguments." Chip said. "No file."
"But do you fight often?"
"Every once in a while." Chip said.
"He's a pretty big guy." Peters continued. "You're not nearly as big."
"What're you trying to say?" Chip asked.
Peters shrugged. "You must've been pretty mad about that fight and you must've been scared that your dad might be mad about the fire. He's a pretty big guy."
"And you're a pretty big jerk." Chip said, through clenched teeth. "What's your point?"
"Objection!" Jet cried, clearly seeing his cousin was starting to lose it.
"You were a little kid." Peters continued on. "You're dad's big and tall and strong and I'm sure you made him mad. And you argue often..."
"I didn't say that."
"Hello?" Nikki replied. "Objection!"
"Well, then why'd you do all that damage?" Peters asked. "And there's a lot of damage here. Smashed some car windows, put holes in a few buildings..."
"I was really mad okay?"
"Sometimes when someone is...really mad, as you say, or even sad, they tend to...act out." Peters stood in front of Chip. "Your parents getting along? Are they fighting?"
"Objection, damn it!" Kit exclaimed. "What the Dell is wrong with you?"
Chip stood from his seat on the witness, his control on his temper going out the proverbial window. "There's nothing wrong with my parents!" he exclaimed. "Everything is fine! And you wanna know something else? I took a couple shots on Gain myself, cause the FAQing son of a null deserved it and I'd do it again!"
The crowd erupted in scandalous questions and whispers and murmurs. Riley banged his gavel, trying to regain some order. Peters smiled, loving the reaction he had gotten from not only Chip Matrix, but the defense as well. Both boys were livid, Chip at Peters, and Kit at Peters as well, but especially at Chip. He had let Peters egg him on, giving the exact effect Peters wanted.
From both of them.
"No further questions." Peters said, once some order had been restored.
There was a hightened state of panic.
Binomes and sprites alike were confused by the morning announcement. Their own Command.Com, whom they loved dearly, was ordering for their infection at her brothers' hands. The system was slow to act, something that Matrix and the CPUs took care of right away. It was their choice to either surrender or refuse. Those that surrendered were congratulated, those that refused...
The Matrix brothers took care of them.
Dot had demanded those that refused be thrown in the holding cells, in order to avoid serious shedding of energy. She knew her brothers could lose control, especially at the upper levels of aggression their infection seemed to have on them. Even she had to struggle with keeping her viral side away from her normal nature. The viral side wanted everyone, everyone, deleted. Dot Matrix, the sprite who had lived here practically all her life, who had raised a family here, didn't want that. Not at all.
A vidwindow popped up in front of her, blocking her view of the chaos going on outside. Facing her was Bob and AndrAIa, both looking confused, angered, and slightly worried. "Dot, what're you doing?" Bob asked, tyring to read her expression, but it was one of heartless emotion.
"Taking care of some lose ends." she replied, calmly. "I was saving you for last. I'm hoping you'll just surrender for my sake."
"And what of the sake of Mainframe, Dot?" AndrAIa asked. "What about everyone who lives here?"
"They have the choice of living or deleting." Dot said. "I'm giving them life, so to speak. But with a snap of my fingers, I can make sure my brothers take that away." She sighed and shook her head. "Don't fight me on this." she whispered, her old self trying to make a plea for rescue. "I don't know what will happen if you do."
"We have to, Dottie." Bob replied. "We gotta stop you and get you, Matrix, and Enzo back to us." He paused, caught staring at the sprite who meant so much to him. "Above anything and whatever happens, I love you, Dot." he said. He then closed the connection.
"Bob..."
"She's not Dot." he said, trying to convince the game sprite, and
mostly himself, of that fact. "She looks like Dot, but she's not. Not right
now." He turned to AndrAIa. "The same's true with Enzo and Matrix, Andri."
he said. "It's not them. We gotta stop them with any means necessary. It's
the only way to save them. And ourselves."
Peters smiled triumphantly as the court went for the first recess of the second. He had been looking to shatter the wholesome image those sprites showed off and it was paying like a million units in a lottery. He had wanted to show how Matrix's own son was taking to the life of crime and it resulted in some spectactors asking questions that Peters had hoped they would. How could a parent, especially a father, want to involve his son in illegal activites? And why didn't his mother stop it? Worse yet, Chip Matrix was the nephew of the Command.Com, who over saw everything in Mainframe. Why didn't she come to the rescue?
Better still, those in the court were able to see not only the temper of Chip Matrix, but the temper in Dr. Christopher Lan as well. It was a surprise blessing for Peters. He never thought Kit would even threaten him, let alone yell and curse at Riley like that. Peters knew before the trial was over, Kit Lan would find himself in contempt. Peters still had a few more aces up his sleeve.
Ones that would be potentially devastating to the defense.
On the other side of the hall from Peters, was a small discussion taking place between the defense. Kit angrily paced back and forth, waiting for Chip to exit the court room. Nikki was doing her best to calm her brother down, with no such luck. When Chip, accompanied by Sabrina and Jet walked out, something in the air said the bits were going to hit the fan.
"Get over here." Kit growled, seeing the trio exit. Chip, still in a foul mood, stepped up to Kit with no fear in his eyes. "Do you have any idea how your behavior nearly costed us this case?"
"You need to get away from me, Kit." The teen growled himself. "And if you wanna talk about someone screwing up this case, perhaps you need to look at our lawyers, Counselor."
"You better be damned grateful I'm even doing this."
"Oh, I'm sorry Dr. Lan." Chip replied, sarcastically. "I"ll be more supportive. Thanks for not cross-examining everyone the prosecution brings up. Thanks for letting your little brother take over questioning cause if it wasn't for Jet, this case might be over cause of you."
"You take that back, you little shit." Kit said.
Chip pushed him backwards, saying, "Make me."
The two lunged for each other, only being stopped by the girls and Jet. Peters smiled and calmly walked over to the dispute. "If you run the rest of your case like this, I'm a shoe in to win." he said, earning deletion looks from the quintet. "Please," he continued. "Don't let me intrude. Continue tearing each other apart." He chuckled and walked away, taking a last look before breaking out into laughter.
Chip struggled against Sabrina before she finally let him. With a deletion look towards Kit, he stormed off. Sabrina too glared at her cousin. "Get this case on track." she said, before going after her brother. Kit wrenched free from his siblings' hold.
"That's it." he said. "I'm done, I'm through. I quit."
"You can't quit!" Nikki exclaimed. "What about Mom and Uncle Matrix and Uncle Enzo?"
"FAQ it!" he said. "I'm tired of this! I'm packing my bags and heading home."
"Giving up so easily?" asked a voice.
The twins looked at each in confusion and turned to see the owner of said voice. Kit already knew it, though he hadn't heard it for at least 13 hours or so. "No." he whispered, in some slight shock. The sprite who made the comment seemed to come out from the shadows and stand in front of the trio. His hair had gone completely gray and he now sported a salt and pepper beard, but it was him. Kit knew it.
"Must be a trait in the family." he continued. "Ah, Christopher. You were always one to change your processor at the drop of a hat."
"Who the Dell are you?" Nikki asked.
The sprite turned to look at her. "You must be Phoenix." he said.
"Nikki." she corrected.
"Spitting image of your mother, I must say." He then turned to Jet. "And you're Jetison."
"That I am." he replied. "I do believe my sister asked you a question."
Who the FAQ is this guy? Nikki asked.
I don't know, Jet responded. But we're going to find out.
"A very rude one at that." the sprite said. "I didn't think you'd know me. I'm not so surprised your father and mother haven't said anything, but Christopher, et tu? I would at least think you'd tell your siblings about me."
"You mean how you're a greedy, cold hearted son of a..."
"Temper, temper, I see." he replied with a smirk. "That was evident of your performance in there. And that Chip Matrix. Talk about an evil clone running around."
"Hey!" Nikki interrupted. "I asked you a question, Mister. Who the Dell are you?"
"Same ole manners passed down." he tsked. "I'm Robert Packard, but I don't think you'll recognize the name. But you might know this one. Robert Packard Lan."
"That's our dad's name." Jet said.
"It's my name too." said Packard. "I'm your grandfather."
