Chapter Three: Recovery
"Anything?" Shadow asked. They were back in the real world and searching the Matrix for their comrade.
"Nothing." Hero sighed. "He was last seen over here." He showed them on the screen. "Then he just disappeared."
"How did he just disappear?" X had to ask.
"In the Matrix, it usually means one of two things: they're either dead or unconscious. Seeing how Pyro is still breathing, we can bet on the latter. His mind is inactive, therefore we cannot find him. Once he wakes up, we will."
"But the question is when will he wake up?"
"We'll just have to wait and see." Riley admitted.
"Okay, was he knocked unconscious or drugged?" Shadow finally grumbled. It was very late and there was still no sign of Pyro.
"I don't know about you guys, but I am ready to sleep." X yawned.
"I'll stay up and keep searching every now and then." Hero volunteered.
"No, you need your rest too." Riley corrected. "We'll go in shifts. Hero, you take the first two hours, then I'll take the next two, then Shadow, and X will finish the night.
"Then good night, all." X said. "My shift is early."
"Sleep best come easy." Shadow said. With that, they went.
All through the night, the crew searched. Hero left the computers after his shift in frustration and wonder, and thus found it difficult to sleep.
Riley, too, went to sleep with no answers. He'd tried super-thorough searches on certain, small parts, trying to improve the scanning, yet nothing was found.
Shadow kept checking out everywhere in the Matrix every minute of his shift. He did not want to leave the computer with no results. However, he soon had to retire to bed, for he was still quite sleepy. He hit Pyro's body on the way out, hoping it would stir him.
X racked his mind, trying to fiddle with the computer in order to find Pyro, but even he could not get it to work for him. It became quite apparent that the computer could only find Pyro if he were awake. After over an hour, X was ready to just call it quits.
Brriingg!!
X's eyes shot open.
Brriingg!! The phone rang again. X looked around, wondering if Hero would come in and answer it.
Brriingg!! He wasn't coming. X picked up the headset, put it on, and pressed the answer button.
"Uh...Operator."
"I have reached the Genesis, have I not?"
"Um . . .maybe . . .who's calling?" The voice sounded familiar.
"Why, X, is that you?"
X's eyes widened. "Siren?!"
"It is you! Hey, you recognized me!"
"Uh, heh, well, yeah."
"Why are you answering the phone?"
"Uh, our operator is asleep."
"But why are you up?"
"Well . . ."
"Don't answer. I think I already know. It's your comrade, isn't it?"
"How do you know that?"
"Long story. I know where he is."
"What?! How?!"
"Even longer story. Let's just say I know a source."
"Fine, whatever. Where is he?!"
"Whoa! Calm down. Cool off a little. Haste could ruin everything, you know."
X tried to calm himself. "Is he hurt?"
"A bit, but nothing too severe. But I suggest you act quickly."
"Why?"
"Well...it's complicated. Have Pyro explain it when he gets back."
"Whatever. Where is he?"
"Meet me in the Matrix and I'll show you where. It's easier that way."
"Oh . . .okay."
Her tone of voice changed. "Then I look forward to seeing you again."
X had to blush. "Heh, you too."
"Don't worry. I'll be wearing the same tight outfit."
Click. X slowly took off the headset, eyes wide open. "Must hurry! Must hurry!!"
"Just how does she know where Pyro is?" Shadow asked again. He and X were in the Matrix, waiting for Siren to show up.
X sighed. "Once more, I don't know!"
"You've known this girl for less than twelve hours and already you trust her?"
"It may have been foolish, but what other lead have we?"
"You talk of her beauty. Perhaps it had affected your mind?"
"Perhaps, and perhaps I just want to find my friend before he should die."
Shadow couldn't argue with that one. "Alright, so how should we recognize her?"
"Look for the really hot chick."
Shadow rolled his eyes. "That can be a lot of people."
X shook his head with a wide smile. "No way, man. She excels, physically, beyond any female I have ever seen."
Shadow got curious. "Hair color?"
"Blonde, and it's long."
"Height?"
"Um...about...5'8" or so. Don't know for sure."
"Legs?"
"Long."
"Butt?"
X looked at him. "Ti-hi-hight." He froze.
Shadow probed further with a devilish grin. "Cup size?"
"D."
Shadow suddenly realized why X had frozen in place ever since he turned around. The voice that answered him wasn't X's. He slowly turned and beheld the hottest chick he'd ever seen.
"Any other personal questions?" She asked him.
A red-faced Shadow shook his head.
"Alright, then." She walked over to X with a smile. "So, you came. I was afraid you wouldn't trust me."
"Well," X was caught up in her body again. "You, uh, you did save my butt back there."
She nodded. "Indeed I did. And speaking of butts, it's nice to know you think so highly of mine."
X had no reply for that-probably for the best. Siren just kept her seductive smile.
"So shall we go?"
"Where?"
"To your friend!"
"OH! Yeah. Lead on."
"Right." She turned and walked off with the boys behind her. Both of them found themselves eyeballing her. Shadow's hand even reached out. X smacked it away and gave him a joking punch to the shoulder.
After a moment of walking, Shadow was reminded of an earlier question.
"So, Siren, how exactly did you find Pyro?"
"I have a source." She said.
"A source." Shadow repeated. "Lovely. So what happened to him, anyway?"
Pyro's eyes fluttered open. His head never hurt so badly. Everything was a blur.
"Ah . . ." He groaned. He stayed put to allow his mind to pull itself together. He lifted up his hand and touched the side of his head. He quickly removed it. It hurt even to touch. He looked around and his mind kicked back in.
He didn't know where he was.
Pyro sat up and looked around. He was in a bedroom, a rather small one. It was kind of drafty. He looked and saw that he had no shirt on at all. It was over on a chair...as were his trousers.
"I wake up in a place I don't know wearing nothing but my boxers...have I died and gone to prison?"
He got up and put his pants on, then looked himself over in the mirror before putting on his shirt. He had a number of bruises and cuts on his upper body and had seen-and felt several more on his legs. Some wounds were bandaged.
"How nice." Pyro said sarcastically. But the most obvious thing was the bandage around his head. He fixed his hair so it fell over it, making it look like a cool bandana. "Gotta look good." He chuckled.
Pyro put on his shirt and picked up his trench coat. As he slid it on, he noticed it felt strangely light. Plus, he felt nothing pressing against him on the inside. He opened his coat and looked at it.
"No way." He said. His guns were gone. He patted himself down and looked all through the coat, but found nothing. He looked around the room, but couldn't find his weapons anywhere. "Wonderful."
Pyro slowly, but surely opened the door to the bedroom and looked around the outside of it. It was an apartment, judging by the size. He slowly slid out of the room, trying to be as quiet as he could. The door to the other bedroom was open and he peered inside, trying to get a look at who had taken him. But they were gone.
He decided he best leave, then call Hero. He headed for the door. At that moment, the door swung open. Pyro instinctively reached for a gun, but found it still empty. The person walking in was as surprised to see him as he was to see her.
"Oh." She said. "You're awake!" She was a young woman with fairly short brunette hair and wore sweat clothes. She looked like she'd just come from an early-morning jog.
"What?" He asked.
The female walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottled water. "Huh?"
"You said 'you're awake', so you knew I was here at some point, asleep?"
"Yeah." She was too calm.
"What happened and where am I?"
"You don't remember anything?" She asked, cocking her head.
"The last thing I remember is being tackled by . . .someone and hitting my head. Then I woke up here. And I suppose you can finish the story?"
"I can. You see, I was sleeping when I heard gunshots. In this neighborhood, that's not unusual, but they were really close this time." She unzipped her sweat jacket, under which she had a sleeveless shirt. "I tried to ignore it, but I saw flashes outside my window and heard a thud. The flashes, I later deducted, were from the gunfire. I opened the fire escape window to see what had happened and found you and your dead buddy. You were alive, so I brought you inside to check on you."
"That would explain the clothing situation in which I awoke."
"Sorry 'bout that. I was checking for injuries."
"Thank you for that, but in any case, you didn't call the cops?"
"Death is too common for that around here. I just threw the body over the fire escape."
Pyro raised a brow. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, you can check if you want."
"No thanks. One more question: Where are my guns?"
"Ah, yes, those. I took them."
Pyro's eye twitched behind his shades. "You what?!"
"Hey, it was strange enough having a stranger in my home. You think I'm gonna let you walk around with guns, too? Crime may be common, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna just throw myself into danger."
"Not to insinuate anything, but I can cause damage without my guns."
"I'm sure you can." She said, unafraid.
"Give them back."
"I'm afraid I can't."
"Any why not?"
"I disposed of them."
Now, Pyro was angry. "I may have needed those."
"What for?" She took another sip of her water.
"My own business."
"What, are you a hit man?"
"If need be." He smartly replied.
"So why shouldn't I call the cops on you right now?"
"Because crime is all too common in this neighborhood." He smiled.
The girl nodded. "You catch on fast." She cocked her head. "Where are you from?"
Now the conversation was turning friendly? "Why?"
"I want to know something about the guy who crashed into my apartment."
"You own your own apartment?" He was a bit stunned. "You look a little young."
"I'm seventeen."
"Then I'm surprised you haven't been mugged and killed already if things are as bad as you say they are."
"I don't give them a chance. And if they try, I'm a red belt in tai- kwon doe."
"Really?"
"Mm-hm. My instructor says I'm a very fast learner."
"Good." He said. "I was a black belt."
"Was?" Pyro realized he'd slipped.
"Well, I still am."
"You looked like you were active." She noted.
"More than you know."
The girl got back to the original question. "Where do you come from?"
He pondered this. "Someplace far from here, you could say."
"And why does a black belt walk the streets in a trench coat loaded with guns wearing dark glasses, trying to act like a tough guy?"
Pyro had to chuckle at this. "It's hard to say, really. Let's just say there are certain individuals out there who would prefer that I were dead."
"So you fight for protection."
"Sometimes."
The girl's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
"You can call me Pyro."
"And you can call me Veronica."
He nodded in acknowledgement.
"So how does someone who's seventeen come to own an apartment?"
She walked over and sat on the couch, and patted the seat next to her. Pyro was hesitant, but sat down anyway.
"First of all, I don't own this apartment. My boyfriend does."
"Why do you live out here instead of at home?"
"'Home' isn't the word I would use for my household."
"Rough time?"
"You wouldn't believe it. My dad was always drunk and abusive. My mother just got drunk with him and did nothing. They spent all their money on beer and other junk. Then I met Scott. He and I ran off together and came here. We both work and keep this place going."
"I think I saw this movie." Pyro responded. Veronica hit him lightly.
"Shut up."
"So this Scott fellow. Where is he?"
"He had to work overnight last night."
"Sounds like a good guy."
Veronica looked away. "Yeah, he is."
There was a silence. "Veronica, I have to know something. Why did you take me in?"
"Why not?"
"I could've been a murderer, a rapist, who knows what?"
"Well, that's why I took your guns. I wasn't sure."
"But you still let me into your home in a town of violence."
Veronica shrugged. "I don't know for sure. I guess I just saw you all beat up and in need of some help, so I did. Maybe I thought you'd return the favor by not killing me."
"That's a lot of trust for a stranger."
"It was a long shot, I know, but I suppose I figured I could handle you if needed." Then, she added, "Besides, I'm not afraid of death."
"But do you invite it?" He pointed out, half-jokingly. Veronica didn't respond.
Bzzzt. The intercom buzzed. "Hey, babe." A voice on the other side said.
Veronica's eyes shot open. "Oh, no!!"
"What?" Pyro asked.
"I'm comin' up now. See ya in a few seconds." The intercom shut off.
"That was Scott!" Veronica said.
"Ah." Pyro nodded.
"You have to leave!"
"What?"
"Scott won't take kindly to my letting you in!"
"Then explain it to him."
"I can't! You just have to leave!"
"Alright! Alright!" He headed for the door. Suddenly, the doorknob rattled against the lock. Pyro froze. As he heard the latch unlock, Veronica shoved him into the side wall just when the door opened. Pyro kept quiet.
"Hey, babe!" The man said. He was a lean, tough guy in a white, sleeveless shirt and blue jeans with spiked brown hair. He looked like he was in his twenties.
"Hey!" Veronica replied awkwardly. They kissed.
"Miss me?"
"Y-yeah." She said. She stole a quick glance at Pyro.
Scott moved in and put his hands on her hips and pulled her close. The kiss he placed upon her face seemed somewhat awkward for Veronica and she didn't exactly seem too comfortable with where his hands were.
"Kept thinkin' 'bout ya."
"Mm, really?" She asked, not seeming too interested in where that was going. She looked at him and waved her arm, signifying he should leave.
Pyro was reluctant. Something about this guy just didn't seem right. But she kept waving him off. Slowly, Pyro slid over to the door. He kept watching as Scott moved his hands in ways Veronica didn't exactly seem to appreciate, and yet she did nothing to stop him. He moved his kisses down to her neck and she looked over his shoulder at Pyro and waved him again. Pyro sighed, not liking the situation, but still reached down and put his hand on the knob.
Brrriiiiinnnggg!!!
Scott spun around and looked at Pyro, who could only stand frozen in disbelief.
"Hey, who the heck are you?!" Scott demanded.
Pyro sighed and shook his head, then reached for his phone.
"I said who are you?!"
"Scott!" Veronica put in. "It's okay!"
"What?!" He demanded.
Pyro pulled out his phone. "Your timing sucks . . .mm-hm . . .yeah, I'm alright . . .yeah, someone took me in."
Scott looked at Veronica with a questioning and angry look on his face. "What did he say?"
"Alright. I'll meet them here or nearby at least. Alright." He hung up. "Don't worry, buddy. I won't be here for long. My people are coming."
Scott was more interested in Veronica's voice. "You let him in here?"
"I, uh . . ."
"What were you thinking?!"
"H-he was hurt, so I brought him in to help him."
"What are you, an idiot?! He could've killed you!"
"He didn't seem like he would."
Scott wasn't moved by that, of course, but his mind wandered to another factor. "So just what were you two doing while I was gone?"
"What?!" Veronica exclaimed. "Nothing!"
"And how am I supposed to know that?"
"Scott . . ."
"How am I to know that you haven't been sleepin' around behind my back?"
"Don't you trust me better than that?!"
"Not really!" He was unbelievably blunt with that last remark.
"Hey." Pyro said. "Ease up; we didn't do anything."
"Oh, and I'm supposed to believe you?! Buddy, I want you out!"
"Scott, hold on." Veronica protested.
"Hey, shut up!" He commanded. "I don't wanna hear any more from you."
Pyro's eyes narrowed and he looked at Veronica. "Is he always like this?"
"He . . ." She began.
"I said SHUT UP!!" Scott blasted. Pyro was liking this guy less and less as the seconds passed.
"Are you just gonna stand there and take that?!" Pyro asked her. Scott laughed.
"What is she gonna do about it?"
Pyro ignored him and spoke again to Veronica. "You're a tai-kwon doe red belt! Beat him down!"
Veronica's eyes shot open as Scott's narrowed. He slowly turned and to face her. "Tai-kwon doe?" Veronica looked fearful. "I thought I told you to stop taking those lessons!"
Pyro mentally punched himself. Of course. A commanding boyfriend wouldn't want his girlfriend to learn to fight. There was a chance of losing dominance.
"I told you over a year ago!" He hissed.
"Scott . . ." She began. Then, Scott made a mistake. He swung his back hand and struck her across the face.
"Hey!" Pyro snapped. "Back off." Scott was boiling now.
"Listen, I want you out of my apartment. NOW!!"
"And leave her to your bidding?" Pyro snorted. "I think not."
Scott then made another mistake. He reached forward and grabbed the collar of Pyro's trench coat. "Listen, you-"
Pyro grabbed his wrist and twisted it. "Don't be any more of a fool than you are."
Scott swung his other fist. Pyro ducked and sung with the first fist and spun the man in the air. He landed on his stomach. Scott got up and charged at him. Pyro jumped off the counter and delivered a spinning kick to Scott's head, knocking him to the ground.
"Wanna try again?" Pyro threatened.
Scott crawled away and ran to the door. "YOU JUST WAIT!!" He slammed the door behind him.
Pyro looked over at her. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, it was nothing."
He sighed. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay . . .you didn't know."
"Do you just stand there and let him control you like that?"
"What else can I do?" Pyro couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Fight back! You know you can!"
"He's still strong. What if I can't beat him? It'll just make him angrier! Then what?"
"Leave!" Pyro suggested. "Go! Right now!"
Veronica looked him in the eyes. "And where would I go?"
Pyro found himself at a loss of words.
"Listen, you should go. The cops will be here soon."
"Cops? Did Scott call them? I thought they wouldn't bother to come."
"Scott IS a cop!"
". . .oh . . ."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
"He's in an apartment complex a little ways from here." Siren was finally explaining. "We believe someone in the apartment took him in after finding him on the fire escape."
"What was he doing there?" Shadow asked.
"That's where he was knocked unconscious by an attacking program. He killed it, but just too late."
"I see. But he's alright?"
"Yes."
"Alright." They were coming to an alley corner.
A chill swept over X's body. He'd had enough bad experience with corners. Just to be safe, he pushed the switch forward on his dark glasses. The world changed into a world of green and black. Being able to see the code means being able to see everything around you. Seeing through coded objects was a bit difficult, but X was used to it.
He peered through the building to their right and further still to the next alley.
"Wait!" he commanded. Everyone froze.
"What is it?"
"Come with me!" He quickly ran back. Shadow and Siren followed him.
"What's going on?" Shadow asked again when they hid behind another building.
"Programs." X said. "Around that corner."
Siren was amazed. "How can you tell?!"
X pointed to his glasses. "Little gadget of mine. Turn it on and I can see the code. I did so and saw about six programs."
"Really?" Siren responded, still shocked.
"Yep. C'mon. There's gotta be another way."
"Whoa, wait." Siren grabbed his arm. X liked the contact. "This is the fastest way. Don't you think we can take them?"
"They have guns . . .lots of guns." X said.
"It's safer just to go around." Shadow had to agree. Siren seemed reluctant.
"Alright."
"Itching to fight?" X smiled.
She chuckled. "Like you wouldn't believe."
X, with his improved vision, led the way, running far from the alley and going around two more buildings and passing more streets in order to avoid the programs. They made a wide semicircle, ending up right near the apartment building, where X turned off Neovision.
"Alright." Siren said, producing a key. "This'll get you past the security door. It's on the sixth floor. Apartment fourteen A. Good luck."
"Good luck?" Shadow repeated.
"I was told to only lead you here. Now, I have other business to attend to."
"Oh . . ." X seemed disappointed.
"Aw, don't worry, X." Siren said, stepping forward. She stroked his face with a hand and pressed up against him. "We'll meet again." She moved in and planted a kiss on his lips. It was a rather DEEP kiss, X noticed, not that he objected. She slid the key into his pocket, then she parted with a smile.
"Uh . . .wow." Was all X could say.
"Farewell." Siren turned and trotted off. X stared after her.
"Keep it in you pants, man." Shadow said, whacking him upside the head. X snapped back to attention.
"Right." They turned and headed for the front door. A cop car was in the front, its owner, a twenties man, was sitting in the driver's seat, blaring into the radio. He wasn't in uniform, so he must've been off-duty. X and Shadow were going to pass him, but he said something interesting.
"He's about six foot one." He said. "Brown hair, black shades, black clothing. He's wearing a trench coat."
The comrades spun around and looked as the cop. He was calling for backup. Apparently, he'd been attacked. A little over the edge? Well, no, but to someone still plugged in, yes.
"Excuse me." X said, walking up to him.
"Busy!!" He blasted. He shot them a double-take, looking at their outfits.
"We heard you describing someone."
"You're with him!" The cop exclaimed. "Two more!" He shouted into the radio, while reaching for his gun. "There are two more!" He aimed his gun. "FREEZE!"
Shadow and X looked at each other. Yeah, right. Shadow was faster, so he struck. He jumped into a backflip, kicking the gun out of the cop's hand and caught it. While he did this, X brought his foot up and kicked the cop against his car. He hit his head and was knocked out.
"Officer Harris, what was that?" The radio questioned. "Officer Harris, come in!"
"There'll be more." Shadow said.
"Then let's make this quick." X finished. They went inside the apartment and went through the security door with the key Siren gave them. They ascended to floor six and found apartment fourteen A. X knocked.
After a moment, the door opened and Pyro shot his fist out, stopping an inch before X's face.
"Well, it's nice to see you're feeling well." He said, looking cross- eyed at the fist.
"Sorry." Pyro withdrew. "I thought you were someone else."
"Wouldn't happen to be an off-duty cop, would it?" Shadow asked.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"He was describing you to his radio. We knocked him out for you."
"So come on." X said. "There'll be more."
Pyro hesitated. "Hang on." He shut the door. X and Shadow looked at each other. What was he doing?
Pyro turned to Veronica with a heavy sigh. "I don't want to leave you to Scott's bidding."
"Don't worry about me." Veronica said with a small, fake smile.
Pyro thought long and hard, then grabbed a piece of paper and wrote two numbers on it, then handed it to her. "These are numbers where you can reach me should things get too intense . . .or if you just need a friend." He gave a small smile. Veronica's smile became real.
"Thank you." She wrapped her arms around him. It was good to be around a man who wouldn't try to dominate her.
Pyro nodded. "Farewell." And he left.
"What were you doing?" X asked. Neovision had been activated.
"Nothing." Pyro lied. "Let's go."
X still wondered about the paper he'd given her. He hadn't seen the writing, due to the angle and couldn't know what they were saying. Spoken words aren't inscribed in code.
"One floor up." Hero told Shadow over the phone. "First door on the left once you go up the stairs."
The three of them ascended the stairs and turned to the door.
"GET DOWN!!" X exclaimed suddenly. They all dove from the door just in time as it exploded in a flurry of bullets. The opposite wall was shredded along with the door as the automatic weapons inside continued to fire. Shadow and X each pulled out an automatic handgun.
"Got a spare?" Pyro asked.
"What?!" X replied.
"She took my guns."
"Geez." He tossed him a gun.
"What do you see?" Shadow shouted over the bullets.
"About five programs." Finally, the bullet rain stopped. They all knelt down; guns up, ready to fire once the programs came out.
Then, the firing started again, but no bullets came through the door. At first, it was just one gun, but several others quickly joined it. The shooting was all going on inside.
"What now?" Pyro asked.
X looked. "They're all just shooting around at . . .something. Programs are dropping. Three down . . .four . . .they're all dead, but someone else is in there."
Pyro, tired of waiting, spun around the corner, gun aimed. He was truly surprised.
"Nobody here."
"Well, it would seem that way." X said with a small smile. "She's a spy."
"She?" Shadow's eyes shot open.
"Who?" Pyro asked.
"Shade." X chuckled. Shade deactivated her cloaking field, revealing herself.
"Oh." Pyro said, lowering his weapon. "Hi there."
"Hey." She replied. "You must be Pyro."
"I am."
"Pyro," Shadow said, "This is Shade. We fought with her crew last night. The Beta Neb."
"Ah." Pyro nodded.
"So where'd you come from, anyway?" X asked, turning his shades off.
"I've been following you." Shade casually explained. "Morpheus gave the Genesis a call to see if you guys had found Pyro. They explained the situation and Morpheus thought I should follow in secret."
"Good thing." Shadow said. "Thank you."
Brriiingg. Pyro opened his phone. "Pyro."
"You guys alright?" Hero clarified.
"Yeah, a bunch of programs popped outta nowhere and attacked us." He looked around. "They sure tore everything up."
"Including the phone." Hero sighed. "Don't worry. I have another exit. It's a little ways away, but you should be able to make it." He told him where it was, Pyro explained it to the rest, and they were off. They had to jump buildings in order to avoid the police, which were coming in large amounts. Then, they headed for a nearby parking garage in order to steal a ride.
Riley paced back and forth, uneasy.
"What do you think, Sir?" Hero asked.
"I don't know." He replied. "There are several things I don't like." He rubbed his chin. "Keep your eyes on them. We'll talk to them once they get back on the ship."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Things finally starting to get a little interesting. What did you all think? Please review.
"Anything?" Shadow asked. They were back in the real world and searching the Matrix for their comrade.
"Nothing." Hero sighed. "He was last seen over here." He showed them on the screen. "Then he just disappeared."
"How did he just disappear?" X had to ask.
"In the Matrix, it usually means one of two things: they're either dead or unconscious. Seeing how Pyro is still breathing, we can bet on the latter. His mind is inactive, therefore we cannot find him. Once he wakes up, we will."
"But the question is when will he wake up?"
"We'll just have to wait and see." Riley admitted.
"Okay, was he knocked unconscious or drugged?" Shadow finally grumbled. It was very late and there was still no sign of Pyro.
"I don't know about you guys, but I am ready to sleep." X yawned.
"I'll stay up and keep searching every now and then." Hero volunteered.
"No, you need your rest too." Riley corrected. "We'll go in shifts. Hero, you take the first two hours, then I'll take the next two, then Shadow, and X will finish the night.
"Then good night, all." X said. "My shift is early."
"Sleep best come easy." Shadow said. With that, they went.
All through the night, the crew searched. Hero left the computers after his shift in frustration and wonder, and thus found it difficult to sleep.
Riley, too, went to sleep with no answers. He'd tried super-thorough searches on certain, small parts, trying to improve the scanning, yet nothing was found.
Shadow kept checking out everywhere in the Matrix every minute of his shift. He did not want to leave the computer with no results. However, he soon had to retire to bed, for he was still quite sleepy. He hit Pyro's body on the way out, hoping it would stir him.
X racked his mind, trying to fiddle with the computer in order to find Pyro, but even he could not get it to work for him. It became quite apparent that the computer could only find Pyro if he were awake. After over an hour, X was ready to just call it quits.
Brriingg!!
X's eyes shot open.
Brriingg!! The phone rang again. X looked around, wondering if Hero would come in and answer it.
Brriingg!! He wasn't coming. X picked up the headset, put it on, and pressed the answer button.
"Uh...Operator."
"I have reached the Genesis, have I not?"
"Um . . .maybe . . .who's calling?" The voice sounded familiar.
"Why, X, is that you?"
X's eyes widened. "Siren?!"
"It is you! Hey, you recognized me!"
"Uh, heh, well, yeah."
"Why are you answering the phone?"
"Uh, our operator is asleep."
"But why are you up?"
"Well . . ."
"Don't answer. I think I already know. It's your comrade, isn't it?"
"How do you know that?"
"Long story. I know where he is."
"What?! How?!"
"Even longer story. Let's just say I know a source."
"Fine, whatever. Where is he?!"
"Whoa! Calm down. Cool off a little. Haste could ruin everything, you know."
X tried to calm himself. "Is he hurt?"
"A bit, but nothing too severe. But I suggest you act quickly."
"Why?"
"Well...it's complicated. Have Pyro explain it when he gets back."
"Whatever. Where is he?"
"Meet me in the Matrix and I'll show you where. It's easier that way."
"Oh . . .okay."
Her tone of voice changed. "Then I look forward to seeing you again."
X had to blush. "Heh, you too."
"Don't worry. I'll be wearing the same tight outfit."
Click. X slowly took off the headset, eyes wide open. "Must hurry! Must hurry!!"
"Just how does she know where Pyro is?" Shadow asked again. He and X were in the Matrix, waiting for Siren to show up.
X sighed. "Once more, I don't know!"
"You've known this girl for less than twelve hours and already you trust her?"
"It may have been foolish, but what other lead have we?"
"You talk of her beauty. Perhaps it had affected your mind?"
"Perhaps, and perhaps I just want to find my friend before he should die."
Shadow couldn't argue with that one. "Alright, so how should we recognize her?"
"Look for the really hot chick."
Shadow rolled his eyes. "That can be a lot of people."
X shook his head with a wide smile. "No way, man. She excels, physically, beyond any female I have ever seen."
Shadow got curious. "Hair color?"
"Blonde, and it's long."
"Height?"
"Um...about...5'8" or so. Don't know for sure."
"Legs?"
"Long."
"Butt?"
X looked at him. "Ti-hi-hight." He froze.
Shadow probed further with a devilish grin. "Cup size?"
"D."
Shadow suddenly realized why X had frozen in place ever since he turned around. The voice that answered him wasn't X's. He slowly turned and beheld the hottest chick he'd ever seen.
"Any other personal questions?" She asked him.
A red-faced Shadow shook his head.
"Alright, then." She walked over to X with a smile. "So, you came. I was afraid you wouldn't trust me."
"Well," X was caught up in her body again. "You, uh, you did save my butt back there."
She nodded. "Indeed I did. And speaking of butts, it's nice to know you think so highly of mine."
X had no reply for that-probably for the best. Siren just kept her seductive smile.
"So shall we go?"
"Where?"
"To your friend!"
"OH! Yeah. Lead on."
"Right." She turned and walked off with the boys behind her. Both of them found themselves eyeballing her. Shadow's hand even reached out. X smacked it away and gave him a joking punch to the shoulder.
After a moment of walking, Shadow was reminded of an earlier question.
"So, Siren, how exactly did you find Pyro?"
"I have a source." She said.
"A source." Shadow repeated. "Lovely. So what happened to him, anyway?"
Pyro's eyes fluttered open. His head never hurt so badly. Everything was a blur.
"Ah . . ." He groaned. He stayed put to allow his mind to pull itself together. He lifted up his hand and touched the side of his head. He quickly removed it. It hurt even to touch. He looked around and his mind kicked back in.
He didn't know where he was.
Pyro sat up and looked around. He was in a bedroom, a rather small one. It was kind of drafty. He looked and saw that he had no shirt on at all. It was over on a chair...as were his trousers.
"I wake up in a place I don't know wearing nothing but my boxers...have I died and gone to prison?"
He got up and put his pants on, then looked himself over in the mirror before putting on his shirt. He had a number of bruises and cuts on his upper body and had seen-and felt several more on his legs. Some wounds were bandaged.
"How nice." Pyro said sarcastically. But the most obvious thing was the bandage around his head. He fixed his hair so it fell over it, making it look like a cool bandana. "Gotta look good." He chuckled.
Pyro put on his shirt and picked up his trench coat. As he slid it on, he noticed it felt strangely light. Plus, he felt nothing pressing against him on the inside. He opened his coat and looked at it.
"No way." He said. His guns were gone. He patted himself down and looked all through the coat, but found nothing. He looked around the room, but couldn't find his weapons anywhere. "Wonderful."
Pyro slowly, but surely opened the door to the bedroom and looked around the outside of it. It was an apartment, judging by the size. He slowly slid out of the room, trying to be as quiet as he could. The door to the other bedroom was open and he peered inside, trying to get a look at who had taken him. But they were gone.
He decided he best leave, then call Hero. He headed for the door. At that moment, the door swung open. Pyro instinctively reached for a gun, but found it still empty. The person walking in was as surprised to see him as he was to see her.
"Oh." She said. "You're awake!" She was a young woman with fairly short brunette hair and wore sweat clothes. She looked like she'd just come from an early-morning jog.
"What?" He asked.
The female walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottled water. "Huh?"
"You said 'you're awake', so you knew I was here at some point, asleep?"
"Yeah." She was too calm.
"What happened and where am I?"
"You don't remember anything?" She asked, cocking her head.
"The last thing I remember is being tackled by . . .someone and hitting my head. Then I woke up here. And I suppose you can finish the story?"
"I can. You see, I was sleeping when I heard gunshots. In this neighborhood, that's not unusual, but they were really close this time." She unzipped her sweat jacket, under which she had a sleeveless shirt. "I tried to ignore it, but I saw flashes outside my window and heard a thud. The flashes, I later deducted, were from the gunfire. I opened the fire escape window to see what had happened and found you and your dead buddy. You were alive, so I brought you inside to check on you."
"That would explain the clothing situation in which I awoke."
"Sorry 'bout that. I was checking for injuries."
"Thank you for that, but in any case, you didn't call the cops?"
"Death is too common for that around here. I just threw the body over the fire escape."
Pyro raised a brow. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, you can check if you want."
"No thanks. One more question: Where are my guns?"
"Ah, yes, those. I took them."
Pyro's eye twitched behind his shades. "You what?!"
"Hey, it was strange enough having a stranger in my home. You think I'm gonna let you walk around with guns, too? Crime may be common, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna just throw myself into danger."
"Not to insinuate anything, but I can cause damage without my guns."
"I'm sure you can." She said, unafraid.
"Give them back."
"I'm afraid I can't."
"Any why not?"
"I disposed of them."
Now, Pyro was angry. "I may have needed those."
"What for?" She took another sip of her water.
"My own business."
"What, are you a hit man?"
"If need be." He smartly replied.
"So why shouldn't I call the cops on you right now?"
"Because crime is all too common in this neighborhood." He smiled.
The girl nodded. "You catch on fast." She cocked her head. "Where are you from?"
Now the conversation was turning friendly? "Why?"
"I want to know something about the guy who crashed into my apartment."
"You own your own apartment?" He was a bit stunned. "You look a little young."
"I'm seventeen."
"Then I'm surprised you haven't been mugged and killed already if things are as bad as you say they are."
"I don't give them a chance. And if they try, I'm a red belt in tai- kwon doe."
"Really?"
"Mm-hm. My instructor says I'm a very fast learner."
"Good." He said. "I was a black belt."
"Was?" Pyro realized he'd slipped.
"Well, I still am."
"You looked like you were active." She noted.
"More than you know."
The girl got back to the original question. "Where do you come from?"
He pondered this. "Someplace far from here, you could say."
"And why does a black belt walk the streets in a trench coat loaded with guns wearing dark glasses, trying to act like a tough guy?"
Pyro had to chuckle at this. "It's hard to say, really. Let's just say there are certain individuals out there who would prefer that I were dead."
"So you fight for protection."
"Sometimes."
The girl's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
"You can call me Pyro."
"And you can call me Veronica."
He nodded in acknowledgement.
"So how does someone who's seventeen come to own an apartment?"
She walked over and sat on the couch, and patted the seat next to her. Pyro was hesitant, but sat down anyway.
"First of all, I don't own this apartment. My boyfriend does."
"Why do you live out here instead of at home?"
"'Home' isn't the word I would use for my household."
"Rough time?"
"You wouldn't believe it. My dad was always drunk and abusive. My mother just got drunk with him and did nothing. They spent all their money on beer and other junk. Then I met Scott. He and I ran off together and came here. We both work and keep this place going."
"I think I saw this movie." Pyro responded. Veronica hit him lightly.
"Shut up."
"So this Scott fellow. Where is he?"
"He had to work overnight last night."
"Sounds like a good guy."
Veronica looked away. "Yeah, he is."
There was a silence. "Veronica, I have to know something. Why did you take me in?"
"Why not?"
"I could've been a murderer, a rapist, who knows what?"
"Well, that's why I took your guns. I wasn't sure."
"But you still let me into your home in a town of violence."
Veronica shrugged. "I don't know for sure. I guess I just saw you all beat up and in need of some help, so I did. Maybe I thought you'd return the favor by not killing me."
"That's a lot of trust for a stranger."
"It was a long shot, I know, but I suppose I figured I could handle you if needed." Then, she added, "Besides, I'm not afraid of death."
"But do you invite it?" He pointed out, half-jokingly. Veronica didn't respond.
Bzzzt. The intercom buzzed. "Hey, babe." A voice on the other side said.
Veronica's eyes shot open. "Oh, no!!"
"What?" Pyro asked.
"I'm comin' up now. See ya in a few seconds." The intercom shut off.
"That was Scott!" Veronica said.
"Ah." Pyro nodded.
"You have to leave!"
"What?"
"Scott won't take kindly to my letting you in!"
"Then explain it to him."
"I can't! You just have to leave!"
"Alright! Alright!" He headed for the door. Suddenly, the doorknob rattled against the lock. Pyro froze. As he heard the latch unlock, Veronica shoved him into the side wall just when the door opened. Pyro kept quiet.
"Hey, babe!" The man said. He was a lean, tough guy in a white, sleeveless shirt and blue jeans with spiked brown hair. He looked like he was in his twenties.
"Hey!" Veronica replied awkwardly. They kissed.
"Miss me?"
"Y-yeah." She said. She stole a quick glance at Pyro.
Scott moved in and put his hands on her hips and pulled her close. The kiss he placed upon her face seemed somewhat awkward for Veronica and she didn't exactly seem too comfortable with where his hands were.
"Kept thinkin' 'bout ya."
"Mm, really?" She asked, not seeming too interested in where that was going. She looked at him and waved her arm, signifying he should leave.
Pyro was reluctant. Something about this guy just didn't seem right. But she kept waving him off. Slowly, Pyro slid over to the door. He kept watching as Scott moved his hands in ways Veronica didn't exactly seem to appreciate, and yet she did nothing to stop him. He moved his kisses down to her neck and she looked over his shoulder at Pyro and waved him again. Pyro sighed, not liking the situation, but still reached down and put his hand on the knob.
Brrriiiiinnnggg!!!
Scott spun around and looked at Pyro, who could only stand frozen in disbelief.
"Hey, who the heck are you?!" Scott demanded.
Pyro sighed and shook his head, then reached for his phone.
"I said who are you?!"
"Scott!" Veronica put in. "It's okay!"
"What?!" He demanded.
Pyro pulled out his phone. "Your timing sucks . . .mm-hm . . .yeah, I'm alright . . .yeah, someone took me in."
Scott looked at Veronica with a questioning and angry look on his face. "What did he say?"
"Alright. I'll meet them here or nearby at least. Alright." He hung up. "Don't worry, buddy. I won't be here for long. My people are coming."
Scott was more interested in Veronica's voice. "You let him in here?"
"I, uh . . ."
"What were you thinking?!"
"H-he was hurt, so I brought him in to help him."
"What are you, an idiot?! He could've killed you!"
"He didn't seem like he would."
Scott wasn't moved by that, of course, but his mind wandered to another factor. "So just what were you two doing while I was gone?"
"What?!" Veronica exclaimed. "Nothing!"
"And how am I supposed to know that?"
"Scott . . ."
"How am I to know that you haven't been sleepin' around behind my back?"
"Don't you trust me better than that?!"
"Not really!" He was unbelievably blunt with that last remark.
"Hey." Pyro said. "Ease up; we didn't do anything."
"Oh, and I'm supposed to believe you?! Buddy, I want you out!"
"Scott, hold on." Veronica protested.
"Hey, shut up!" He commanded. "I don't wanna hear any more from you."
Pyro's eyes narrowed and he looked at Veronica. "Is he always like this?"
"He . . ." She began.
"I said SHUT UP!!" Scott blasted. Pyro was liking this guy less and less as the seconds passed.
"Are you just gonna stand there and take that?!" Pyro asked her. Scott laughed.
"What is she gonna do about it?"
Pyro ignored him and spoke again to Veronica. "You're a tai-kwon doe red belt! Beat him down!"
Veronica's eyes shot open as Scott's narrowed. He slowly turned and to face her. "Tai-kwon doe?" Veronica looked fearful. "I thought I told you to stop taking those lessons!"
Pyro mentally punched himself. Of course. A commanding boyfriend wouldn't want his girlfriend to learn to fight. There was a chance of losing dominance.
"I told you over a year ago!" He hissed.
"Scott . . ." She began. Then, Scott made a mistake. He swung his back hand and struck her across the face.
"Hey!" Pyro snapped. "Back off." Scott was boiling now.
"Listen, I want you out of my apartment. NOW!!"
"And leave her to your bidding?" Pyro snorted. "I think not."
Scott then made another mistake. He reached forward and grabbed the collar of Pyro's trench coat. "Listen, you-"
Pyro grabbed his wrist and twisted it. "Don't be any more of a fool than you are."
Scott swung his other fist. Pyro ducked and sung with the first fist and spun the man in the air. He landed on his stomach. Scott got up and charged at him. Pyro jumped off the counter and delivered a spinning kick to Scott's head, knocking him to the ground.
"Wanna try again?" Pyro threatened.
Scott crawled away and ran to the door. "YOU JUST WAIT!!" He slammed the door behind him.
Pyro looked over at her. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, it was nothing."
He sighed. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay . . .you didn't know."
"Do you just stand there and let him control you like that?"
"What else can I do?" Pyro couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Fight back! You know you can!"
"He's still strong. What if I can't beat him? It'll just make him angrier! Then what?"
"Leave!" Pyro suggested. "Go! Right now!"
Veronica looked him in the eyes. "And where would I go?"
Pyro found himself at a loss of words.
"Listen, you should go. The cops will be here soon."
"Cops? Did Scott call them? I thought they wouldn't bother to come."
"Scott IS a cop!"
". . .oh . . ."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
"He's in an apartment complex a little ways from here." Siren was finally explaining. "We believe someone in the apartment took him in after finding him on the fire escape."
"What was he doing there?" Shadow asked.
"That's where he was knocked unconscious by an attacking program. He killed it, but just too late."
"I see. But he's alright?"
"Yes."
"Alright." They were coming to an alley corner.
A chill swept over X's body. He'd had enough bad experience with corners. Just to be safe, he pushed the switch forward on his dark glasses. The world changed into a world of green and black. Being able to see the code means being able to see everything around you. Seeing through coded objects was a bit difficult, but X was used to it.
He peered through the building to their right and further still to the next alley.
"Wait!" he commanded. Everyone froze.
"What is it?"
"Come with me!" He quickly ran back. Shadow and Siren followed him.
"What's going on?" Shadow asked again when they hid behind another building.
"Programs." X said. "Around that corner."
Siren was amazed. "How can you tell?!"
X pointed to his glasses. "Little gadget of mine. Turn it on and I can see the code. I did so and saw about six programs."
"Really?" Siren responded, still shocked.
"Yep. C'mon. There's gotta be another way."
"Whoa, wait." Siren grabbed his arm. X liked the contact. "This is the fastest way. Don't you think we can take them?"
"They have guns . . .lots of guns." X said.
"It's safer just to go around." Shadow had to agree. Siren seemed reluctant.
"Alright."
"Itching to fight?" X smiled.
She chuckled. "Like you wouldn't believe."
X, with his improved vision, led the way, running far from the alley and going around two more buildings and passing more streets in order to avoid the programs. They made a wide semicircle, ending up right near the apartment building, where X turned off Neovision.
"Alright." Siren said, producing a key. "This'll get you past the security door. It's on the sixth floor. Apartment fourteen A. Good luck."
"Good luck?" Shadow repeated.
"I was told to only lead you here. Now, I have other business to attend to."
"Oh . . ." X seemed disappointed.
"Aw, don't worry, X." Siren said, stepping forward. She stroked his face with a hand and pressed up against him. "We'll meet again." She moved in and planted a kiss on his lips. It was a rather DEEP kiss, X noticed, not that he objected. She slid the key into his pocket, then she parted with a smile.
"Uh . . .wow." Was all X could say.
"Farewell." Siren turned and trotted off. X stared after her.
"Keep it in you pants, man." Shadow said, whacking him upside the head. X snapped back to attention.
"Right." They turned and headed for the front door. A cop car was in the front, its owner, a twenties man, was sitting in the driver's seat, blaring into the radio. He wasn't in uniform, so he must've been off-duty. X and Shadow were going to pass him, but he said something interesting.
"He's about six foot one." He said. "Brown hair, black shades, black clothing. He's wearing a trench coat."
The comrades spun around and looked as the cop. He was calling for backup. Apparently, he'd been attacked. A little over the edge? Well, no, but to someone still plugged in, yes.
"Excuse me." X said, walking up to him.
"Busy!!" He blasted. He shot them a double-take, looking at their outfits.
"We heard you describing someone."
"You're with him!" The cop exclaimed. "Two more!" He shouted into the radio, while reaching for his gun. "There are two more!" He aimed his gun. "FREEZE!"
Shadow and X looked at each other. Yeah, right. Shadow was faster, so he struck. He jumped into a backflip, kicking the gun out of the cop's hand and caught it. While he did this, X brought his foot up and kicked the cop against his car. He hit his head and was knocked out.
"Officer Harris, what was that?" The radio questioned. "Officer Harris, come in!"
"There'll be more." Shadow said.
"Then let's make this quick." X finished. They went inside the apartment and went through the security door with the key Siren gave them. They ascended to floor six and found apartment fourteen A. X knocked.
After a moment, the door opened and Pyro shot his fist out, stopping an inch before X's face.
"Well, it's nice to see you're feeling well." He said, looking cross- eyed at the fist.
"Sorry." Pyro withdrew. "I thought you were someone else."
"Wouldn't happen to be an off-duty cop, would it?" Shadow asked.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"He was describing you to his radio. We knocked him out for you."
"So come on." X said. "There'll be more."
Pyro hesitated. "Hang on." He shut the door. X and Shadow looked at each other. What was he doing?
Pyro turned to Veronica with a heavy sigh. "I don't want to leave you to Scott's bidding."
"Don't worry about me." Veronica said with a small, fake smile.
Pyro thought long and hard, then grabbed a piece of paper and wrote two numbers on it, then handed it to her. "These are numbers where you can reach me should things get too intense . . .or if you just need a friend." He gave a small smile. Veronica's smile became real.
"Thank you." She wrapped her arms around him. It was good to be around a man who wouldn't try to dominate her.
Pyro nodded. "Farewell." And he left.
"What were you doing?" X asked. Neovision had been activated.
"Nothing." Pyro lied. "Let's go."
X still wondered about the paper he'd given her. He hadn't seen the writing, due to the angle and couldn't know what they were saying. Spoken words aren't inscribed in code.
"One floor up." Hero told Shadow over the phone. "First door on the left once you go up the stairs."
The three of them ascended the stairs and turned to the door.
"GET DOWN!!" X exclaimed suddenly. They all dove from the door just in time as it exploded in a flurry of bullets. The opposite wall was shredded along with the door as the automatic weapons inside continued to fire. Shadow and X each pulled out an automatic handgun.
"Got a spare?" Pyro asked.
"What?!" X replied.
"She took my guns."
"Geez." He tossed him a gun.
"What do you see?" Shadow shouted over the bullets.
"About five programs." Finally, the bullet rain stopped. They all knelt down; guns up, ready to fire once the programs came out.
Then, the firing started again, but no bullets came through the door. At first, it was just one gun, but several others quickly joined it. The shooting was all going on inside.
"What now?" Pyro asked.
X looked. "They're all just shooting around at . . .something. Programs are dropping. Three down . . .four . . .they're all dead, but someone else is in there."
Pyro, tired of waiting, spun around the corner, gun aimed. He was truly surprised.
"Nobody here."
"Well, it would seem that way." X said with a small smile. "She's a spy."
"She?" Shadow's eyes shot open.
"Who?" Pyro asked.
"Shade." X chuckled. Shade deactivated her cloaking field, revealing herself.
"Oh." Pyro said, lowering his weapon. "Hi there."
"Hey." She replied. "You must be Pyro."
"I am."
"Pyro," Shadow said, "This is Shade. We fought with her crew last night. The Beta Neb."
"Ah." Pyro nodded.
"So where'd you come from, anyway?" X asked, turning his shades off.
"I've been following you." Shade casually explained. "Morpheus gave the Genesis a call to see if you guys had found Pyro. They explained the situation and Morpheus thought I should follow in secret."
"Good thing." Shadow said. "Thank you."
Brriiingg. Pyro opened his phone. "Pyro."
"You guys alright?" Hero clarified.
"Yeah, a bunch of programs popped outta nowhere and attacked us." He looked around. "They sure tore everything up."
"Including the phone." Hero sighed. "Don't worry. I have another exit. It's a little ways away, but you should be able to make it." He told him where it was, Pyro explained it to the rest, and they were off. They had to jump buildings in order to avoid the police, which were coming in large amounts. Then, they headed for a nearby parking garage in order to steal a ride.
Riley paced back and forth, uneasy.
"What do you think, Sir?" Hero asked.
"I don't know." He replied. "There are several things I don't like." He rubbed his chin. "Keep your eyes on them. We'll talk to them once they get back on the ship."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Things finally starting to get a little interesting. What did you all think? Please review.