Viceroy : um sorry about taking so long with the chapters folks, I promise to be better about that from now on..........PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!"
Also, I don't use Reboot time, I can't figure it out..so live with it"
Descending into darkness part 2
"Dot's sweater is red....Dot's sweater is red........SWEATER IS RED....red...RED"
Matrix shifted uneasily in his chair. They really weren't designed for people as large as he was. His legs had fallen asleep hours ago and he could feel a crink forming in his neck from staring at the floor. He gave a sigh looking over to the clock, He'd been here for several hours now, a whole day wasted sitting in this boring room. He sighed again, slumping down low in the chair, hoping that maybe that would stop the tingling that was starting to creep up his legs.
From across the hall he heard a screaming binome child beg to be saved. He gave a scowl, "You and me both kid"
"huh" a voice next to him inquired.
"Nothing" he said gazing back at the floor, at least he wasn't alone. Bob had agreed to come with him. The guardian stared at him a few more moments before going back to his book.
Matrix yawned, wondering how the hell Bob was staying so damn quiet. The guardian was usually a live wire, almost impossible to keep still. He watched the small blue sprite continue to read, and realized he was glad Bob was here with him.
After his rather embarrassing incident at the diner, Dot, and Andraia had insisted that he go to the Principal office and see Phong.
There was the whoosh of a door opening, and Matrix looked up to see the old sprite enter the waiting room.
"Ah young Matrix, Guardian Bob.. Please come in, come in," Phong, greeted them pleasantly as he showed them into his room. "Now tell, what brings you here to the Principal office?" The old sprite asked.
'Well Phong we were hoping you could help us out with something" Bob began.
"Ah, I see. And how might I be of service to you?"
"We need you to examine Matrix's eyes," Bob explained.
Matrix, kept silent, staring at his feet, as Bob and Phong continued to talk about him.
He didn't really mind being left out of the conversation,. But he was starting to get a little nervous, and the fact that their voices went lower whenever they turned to him was making him suspicious.
// What's going on?......what's happening?.......// he wondered.
"Hmm, very well, young Matrix. Have a seat and we will get started"
Phong gave him a kind smile has he held a small device next to his eyes and began to shine a strong light into them.
"Humm" he gently guided Matrix's head to rest on a platform and brought another machine down in front of his face. The machine whirred back and forth, scanning his eyes slowly.
Matrix, shifted, he was starting to get a little uncomfortable.
The machine let out a small beep as it finished and came to a halt.
Matrix, got back up, greatly relieved.
"Well?" He asked "What's wrong?"
"Patience, young Matrix," Phong said ""I'm afraid that it'll be at least 2 days before the results of your optics scan are complete.
"What!" Matrix jumped up. "2, days!!"
"Yes..I'm afraid these take time" Phong replied.
"I can't wait that long, I need to know now!!" Matrix shouted, pacing the room like a man gone mad.
"Patience , young Matrix" Phong attempted.
"NO!" Matrix replied , knocking the chair over with a mighty kick.
"Matrix!!" Bob cut in. He turned to the guardian, who was giving him a glare. He righted the chair again, but his temper hadn't cooled.
"This is just great!!" he scowled. "So in the mean time what do I do?" he glared down at the old sprite.
"You deal with it......one day at a time" Bob said curtly, stepping in between the two. "Thanks Phong, give us a call when the results are back." And with that the small, blue guardian pushed his green companion out the door.
****************************************************
Dot sat a stack of dishes in the sink to soak, before turning back to Mouse.
"I don't know Mouse," She was saying. "But don't you find it a little odd?" she watched her friend ponder over all she had told her.
"Well Dot, I really don't know what's wrong......sorry hun"
Dot sighed, she didn't think Mouse really would know, but she had needed to talk with someone.
After the whole bizarre incedent with her sweater. Bob had taken Matrix to the Principal office. Andraia had confessed that her brother seemed to be tripping or running into things a lot as of lately.
She took a seat at the bar, rubbing her temples . She knew she shouldn't be worrying like this. Matrix was a big boy, he could take care of himself. He was probably just tired, or stressed.
Or knowing Matrix a combination of the two. Yes she shouldn't worry........but still she did.
*****************************************************
"For Users Sake Bob, What's come over you !!" Matrix growled as soon as they were out of the principle office.
Bob kept walking a couple steps in front of him, not letting on that he'd heard.
" You didn't have to be so damn pushy, I can walk on my own you know !!" Still, Bob refused to answer him.
"Ooh" Matrix seethed, when he realized he was being ignored. "That's it Bob, you listen up, I ..unnnggg!!" He gasped in surprise as he was suddenly pinned to the wall. He looked down to see Bob's face inches from his own. The deep brown eyes blazing at him.
"No...YOU listen up. You had no right to behave the way you did at the principal office !!" Bob snapped, his voice harsh. " Your not a little sprite anymore Matrix, these people are trying to help you....so do everyone a favor and drop the " I Am Greater Than Thou Art crap.. NOW!!!"
Bob let go of his collar, and Matrix slid to the ground , slowly.
"When your ready to act your age, you know where to find me.." With that Bob walked away without so much as a backwards glance.
Matrix, sat where he'd fallen watching him go. // Bob? //
He'd never seen Bob so angry before.......angry at him.
"Bob......Bob wait...." He struggled to his feet. "I...I'm sorry..." He stood in the alleyway, watching and waiting at the entrance . But Bob did not return.
Slowly. Very slowly, he turned towards the diner.
*******************************************************
Andraia returned to the diner later that day. After having run an errand for Dot. She took a seat at the bar next to the command.com and the resident hacker, Mouse.
"So how'd it go?" she asked glancing around for Matrix.
Mouse gave a shrug, "We don't know yet sugar. Bob and Matrix haven't come back"
"Really?" Andraia, mused.
"I'm sure they'll be back soon" Dot stated, "I'm sure everything is fine "
"Dot, honey...don't worry yourself" Mouse chided " Matrix will be fine, we'll get to the bottom of this just wait and see."
"Ya, Sparky's been in some tight spots before. He'll be ok" Andraia agreed.
The door to the diner opened, and Matrix walked in looking around briefly, before walking to the bar.
"Matrix," Dot smiled.
"Hey Sparky, how'd it go?" Andraia asked.
"I...um...it could have gone better I guess." Matrix replied lowering his gaze.
"What do you mean? What's wrong ?" Dot asked, grabbing his arms.
"Matrix, is it something serious?" Andraia, gave him a look of concern.
"Huh...wha. .. no..no...I mean I don't know.." Matrix stammered.
"You don't know?" Dot asked.
"Phong, said it'll be about 2 days before I know anything" Matrix replied glumbly.
"Then what are you talking about sugar" Mouse drawled, "How could things have been better, if you don't know how they are yet?"
Matrix sighed, "I ... guess...I wasn't really a model patient....Bob and me kinda had a fight....Is he here?"
"Sorry Sugar, we haven't seen him since he left with you" Mouse said.
Matrix sighed again. "Alright......I'm going over to Bob's , I'll be back later," he waved goodbye and started towards the door.
"Wait, I'll come with you," Andraia said, getting up from her seat at the bar. " I was going to go over to Kits later today anyway, we can go together."
Matrix nodded, wrapping an arm around her waist as they headed out the door.
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"So ....what happened?" Andraia asked casually awhile later as they walked through Kits sector.
"Um...nothing.... much" the large green sprite shrugged.
"Come on Matrix what did you do?" she pushed.
"Hey why do you assume that it was me that started it huh!" he snapped.
Andraia gave him her *get serious * look " So your going to tell me it was all Bob's fault right?"
"Oh....Ok,..ok." Matrix softened. "I'm sorry Ani....I....I know I've been acting like a bit of a bone head latley........" he took one of her hands into his own squeezing gently "..I.................I guess I just got scared .." he whispered, looking away from her, as his voice cracked.
"Oh Enzo," she gave him a hug wrapping her arms across his broad shoulders. "It's gonna be ok"
"ya....I know...I .."
WARNING INCOMING GAME ....WARNING ..
"Some things never change," he groaned, giving Andraia a smirk, as the purple cube fell on them.
**************************
"Oh please" Matrix rolled his eyes. "It's a standard racing game. This was basic when I was a little sprite."
Andraia laughed , she knew playing games always made Matrix happy"Ok then, reboot"
"Reboot"
The two sprites were suddenly sitting in a red sports car, dressed in racing suits and helmets, and behind the starting line of a race course with several other cars.
"ON YOUR MARK GET SET GO !!! The game voice announced.
"Ya lets let 'em have it Matrix,!!" Andraia cried, taking aim, from the gunners seat. Matrix, gave an approving nod, as he revved the engine and took off down the track.
The user, came up close behind them, firing a missel as he started to pass.
"Matrix, torpedo at 3:oo o'clock " Andria warned. As the missel approached from the green sprites blind side.
Matrix maneuvered the car expertly, throwing the seeker off their trail and into the rear end of one of the other unfortunate opponents.
"HA ha !! What'd I tell ya...Basic !!!" he laughed.
***************************************************************
From his apartment, Bob had been watching as the game had come down. He'd seen Matrix and Andraia enter and had held back to let them have their fun and tackle the game alone.
That had been almost half an hour ago.
Now watching the purple cube , he felt an uneasiness rising in his stomach. It was oppressive, like thunder. As though something was about to happen...something serious.
And so he stayed by the window watching.........and waiting.
****************************************************************
"FINAL LAP" the game voice announced.
"All right Matrix, this is it!!" Andraia laughed, as another opponent was sent sailing into the ditch.
"You bet," Matrix affirmed, swing the car into a hard bank. He stepped on the gas shooting into the lead.
The user's engine roared as it pulled up beside them, trying to gain the lead.
Matrix stared the user down as they made the last turn, "Not today user!!!!" He floored the gas, gritting his teeth. All that was left was the dead run to the finish line. His brows came together in fierce determination, as he focused on the finish line. "Huh..what!?"
Andraia turned to taunt the user as they gained the upper hand, and passed him on the course. Had she been watching Matrix, she would have seen his look of determination vanish moments before they crossed the finish line, winning the game , to be replaced by a look of sheer horror.
"GAME OVER" The voice announced.
Matrix allowed the other racers to pass him as he slowed the car to a crawl.
"Great job, Matrix,...but can I ask why we're going so slow...all of a sudden?" Andraia laughed turning about to face him. "Matrix?...." she asked, seeing the fear written on his face.
The car came to a stop as Matrix spoke in an oddly calm voice
"Because I can't see Andria........................I can't see anything at all"
To Be Continued.............................................