As usual, Bob was patrolling the outskirts of mainframe, checking
security and ensuring that there were no threats to their isolated bubble
of safety and tranquillity. Only the User could know what lay beyond their
carefully preserved world, so delicately returned to its former glory. He
was about to head back in to the Principle Office when and urgent call
crackled into his communicator.
"Bob?"
Before he could respond, Dot spouted off the information.
"There's a - well, it looks like a portal, but it can't be - opening up off of Sector Twelve. You have to get there - and hurry!"
She didn't have to say that twice. Bob sped off towards the growing disturbance, desperately hoping that he could get there before anything bad could happen.
Enzo, or Matrix as he preferred, was already there, grimacing menacingly at a form coming through a small portal. The inner artist in Bob had to pause for a moment to observe the tightly focused and perfectly sized portal the figure was entering through, but he quickly snapped back to business and surveying the situation. A squad of armed officers had already surrounded the portal, probably at Dot's command. He had to admire her ability to think clearly in times of crisis. Once again redirecting his attention back to the problem at hand, Bob saw the figure fully emerge from the portal and nonchalantly allow it to snap close behind him or her. He couldn't tell much about the sprite standing tall in front of them, a glistening metallic staff gripped tightly, but not aggressively in a gloved hand. From head to the tops of heeled black boots, the stranger was garbed in a hooded cloak crafted entirely of crackling energy shielding. A stray breeze gently blew part of it aside, momentarily revealed a vaguely feminine form. Her face, excepting glowing almond-shaped aqua eyes, remained hidden beneath the cloak's hood.
She relaxed her posture, carefully directing her staff away from any of the sprites before her and binomes surrounding her. She slowly and gently exposed another gloved hand from beneath the cloak, and pushed the hood away from her face. Something about her was familiar, and Bob gasped quietly when it hit him. Even Matrix seemed slightly disconcerted, lowering the barrel of his gun. Another breeze blew a curl of red hair, shot through with light and flickering static, across her brow. She gave an amused smile, giving them the distinct impression that she knew exactly what was going through their minds and found it terribly fun.
"Now, now boys. Won't you be kind enough to take me to your leader?"
Her voice was honey smooth and gently cultured, and entirely void of the familiar twang Bob had found himself expecting to hear. He glanced over to Matrix.
"I think we should escort her to the Command Dot Com, Matrix."
"Is that wise?," Matrix growled, raising his barrel again to firing level.
Bob gave him a command look. Matrix sighed agreeably, but kept his weapon aimed at her chest. She shrugged and strode behind them. Something in her stance let Bob know, without a doubt, that she did not need to be shown the way.
"Bob?"
Before he could respond, Dot spouted off the information.
"There's a - well, it looks like a portal, but it can't be - opening up off of Sector Twelve. You have to get there - and hurry!"
She didn't have to say that twice. Bob sped off towards the growing disturbance, desperately hoping that he could get there before anything bad could happen.
Enzo, or Matrix as he preferred, was already there, grimacing menacingly at a form coming through a small portal. The inner artist in Bob had to pause for a moment to observe the tightly focused and perfectly sized portal the figure was entering through, but he quickly snapped back to business and surveying the situation. A squad of armed officers had already surrounded the portal, probably at Dot's command. He had to admire her ability to think clearly in times of crisis. Once again redirecting his attention back to the problem at hand, Bob saw the figure fully emerge from the portal and nonchalantly allow it to snap close behind him or her. He couldn't tell much about the sprite standing tall in front of them, a glistening metallic staff gripped tightly, but not aggressively in a gloved hand. From head to the tops of heeled black boots, the stranger was garbed in a hooded cloak crafted entirely of crackling energy shielding. A stray breeze gently blew part of it aside, momentarily revealed a vaguely feminine form. Her face, excepting glowing almond-shaped aqua eyes, remained hidden beneath the cloak's hood.
She relaxed her posture, carefully directing her staff away from any of the sprites before her and binomes surrounding her. She slowly and gently exposed another gloved hand from beneath the cloak, and pushed the hood away from her face. Something about her was familiar, and Bob gasped quietly when it hit him. Even Matrix seemed slightly disconcerted, lowering the barrel of his gun. Another breeze blew a curl of red hair, shot through with light and flickering static, across her brow. She gave an amused smile, giving them the distinct impression that she knew exactly what was going through their minds and found it terribly fun.
"Now, now boys. Won't you be kind enough to take me to your leader?"
Her voice was honey smooth and gently cultured, and entirely void of the familiar twang Bob had found himself expecting to hear. He glanced over to Matrix.
"I think we should escort her to the Command Dot Com, Matrix."
"Is that wise?," Matrix growled, raising his barrel again to firing level.
Bob gave him a command look. Matrix sighed agreeably, but kept his weapon aimed at her chest. She shrugged and strode behind them. Something in her stance let Bob know, without a doubt, that she did not need to be shown the way.