Chapter Eight: Search
X felt a little loopy, never having been in the Matrix as long as he did.
"So let me make sure my clock is still on track. We infiltrated a club, I got captured by Siren, I almost had sex, Shadow and Pyro rescued me, Abyss attacked us, I was recaptured, they rescued me again, and I met the Oracle all in one day?"
"Yep." Shadow said. "Crazy, isn't it?"
"You alright?" Riley asked.
"I will be. I'm just gonna go rest for a while."
A sentinel got his attention and showed the screen. "When you wake, we have questions about your X-virus and its usage one week ago."
X nodded and walked off to sleep.
X was only able to sleep for about an hour and a half, and then tossed around for another half hour. But soon enough, a heavy knock came on the large metal door. X got up and opened it. Shadow and Pyro were standing there.
"Hiya." Shadow said.
"Hey." He turned and sat back down on his bed. The quarters were rather large, giving them room enough for a bed for each of the boys. They each sat down on their own beds.
"Sorry if we woke you." Shadow said.
"No we're not." Pyro put in.
X laughed. "It's alright. I couldn't sleep well enough anyway."
"Good, cuz we guys have to talk."
"Let's start from the top." Shadow said. "Why is it that I dawdle with a girl and get suspended, but you nearly get us all killed and get squat?!"
X laughed. "Shade wasn't a programmed seductress."
". . .She could be."
"So what happened after you were taken?"
"Siren threw me on a bed and we started going at it, then a couple guys burst in and take me off. Siren wasn't happy. Apparently, part of her deal was she got to fool around with me. Hey, I met the Merovingian. His wife's kinda hot, but I think he's gay. Anyhow, that's how I learned that 'Giovanni' wanted me. But I didn't learn much before Siren wanted to finish off her end. I learned a lot about her . . .a LOT."
"She's a sexy whore, what more do you need to know?" Pyro asked.
"Hey, at least she was attracted to me." He thought about that. "She said I was different."
"That's what all the girls say." Pyro waved his hand.
"She meant I resisted her more than any other guy. Somehow, that turned her on."
Shadow shook his head. "Women are strange and complicated."
"Yeah . . .and very aggressive."
"How close were you?"
"X," Pyro spoke up. "If you answer that, we can no longer be friends."
They all laughed.
"But before we actually did it, the agent came in and we went from there. What happened to you two when we split up?"
"I got attacked by Abyss on the freeway and fought on a truck for a while. Hero recorded it, by the way, if you wanna see everything."
"He jumped off the truck, onto an agent's car, and then bounced back up to the same place!" Shadow said in amazement.
"It's more incredible when you see it first-hand." Pyro assured. "I was almost knocked off the truck, but I stabbed the sword into the side of the truck and hung there until Shadow saved my rear."
"How casual that sounded." X noted.
"As for me," Shadow said, "I jacked a cab, but Veronica was in it. She wasn't getting out? Her fault. Hero called me and I picked up Pyro, then you. You had a run-in with Siren?"
"Yeah, and she about killed me. I saw the cab coming, so I pushed her out into the street. Didn't know it was you, though! Guess I was lucky you happened to be there."
Shadow laughed. "When I saw Siren in front of me, I floored it." They all laughed. "I really don't like her."
"But I was the one who had to explain to Veronica." He thought "I wonder what happened to her."
"How do you plan on explaining it to her?" Shadow asked.
Pyro sighed. "I don't know. If this was happening before the peace, we'd have to free her or she'd be agent-fodder. What do we do now?"
"Don't tell Riley, that's for sure!"
"Man, that was your own fault. What were you thinking?"
"Well, where else am I gonna get to hang out with her?"
"Uh . . .Zion?"
"But we're not gonna be there that often, and only for a day or two!"
Pyro gave him that one.
"And don't tell me you wouldn't like to see Veronica more."
"Hey, I'm helping her."
"Just helping her?" Shadow inquired.
Pyro didn't answer the question. "Anyway, what happened after Abyss captured you?"
"He put me to sleep. I woke up in his apartment. Shut up, Shadow. Anyhow, I tried learning about him, but then you guys came along."
"Hey! We were trying to help!" Shadow said in his defense.
"I know, but still. I was so close!" He raised his arms in frustration.
"But what did the Oracle tell you?" Pyro wanted to know.
"First, you tell me what she told you two, then I'll fill in the blanks."
"She told us where you were and that you would need our help for a while."
"She said I'd need your help too, until some time when I have to work on my own."
"What does that mean, anyway?" Shadow asked.
"I don't know," X sighed, "But the Oracle was never known for being too straightforward, was she?"
"Nope." Pyro agreed. "So anything else?"
X thought for a minute, wondering if he should tell them. Well, how could they help if they didn't know?
"Alright. Have any of you heard of the program Smith?"
"You kidding?" Pyro snorted. "He's only the most infamous program in the history of the Matrix!"
"Why?" Shadow asked.
"Smith is who Abyss used to be."
There was silence for a minute.
"So what you're saying," Pyro finally spoke up, "is that Abyss and Smith are one and the same?"
"Sort of. Abyss made modifications to his Smith program to become what he is."
"But how is he still around after Neo destroyed him?" Shadow asked.
"He had a backup."
Pyro caught on. "Then who's to say he doesn't have another?"
"Exactly." X said. "According to the Oracle, he hid the backup of himself within a human."
"So we find the human and destroy the backup, then kill Abyss?"
"I guess."
"How do we find the human?"
"The code won't tell, but the human can apparently do things similar to Abyss."
"Similar to Abyss?" Shadow groaned. "Just what we don't need."
"That's what I thought."
"And how do we defeat Abyss even after his backup is destroyed?"
None of them knew the answer to that one.
"A Sniper Shot to the head couldn't kill him." Shadow said. "What can?"
"More firepower?" Pyro wondered.
"I doubt it." X said.
"Then what?"
Again, there was silence. What was powerful enough to destroy the greatest program known to man?
A little while later, a Sentinel came in and projected a screen.
"If you are ready, we would like to talk to you about the incident a week ago."
"Oh, yeah." X said, "Alright."
Three sentinels came in and began asking questions. They were fascinated by the boy's intelligence.
"Why have you not used the virus before?" One sentinel asked.
"No real use." X lied.
"We could use this as a weapon against the rogue programs." Another machine said.
X's blood ran cold. "I, uh, I don't think I can mass-distribute the virus."
"But we can." The main sentinel said. "If you can make us one copy, we can make hundreds. They can be used to improve our agents and stop the programs once and for all."
"Um . . .I . . .don't think I can do that."
"Why not?"
"Because . . .because . . ." He trailed off, leaving everyone lingering.
"Because . . .?"
"Because . . .it, uh . . .the virus is . . ." Finally, X caved. "The virus is too dangerous."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I made it too powerful."
"How do you make something too powerful?" Pyro asked. Everyone wanted to know.
"Simple" X said. "I succeeded." He sighed. "But that was the problem. It's so powerful that if I slip up just a little when I'm using it, it could backfire tremendously."
"Just how tremendously?" The head sentinel asked.
X spilled it. "If commanded so, the virus could delete the entire Matrix."
The Sentinels looked at each other, amazed. "How is this possible?"
X shook his head. "It's just as powerful as I wanted it to be."
"And you used it anyway?" Another sentinel asked.
"I saw no other option."
"Is there any way of stopping the virus?"
X shook his head. "I designed it to be unstoppable and irreversible."
"One more question." The head sentinel asked. "How is it that you, a human, designed such a monstrosity?"
"Honestly, I really don't know. It just happened by accident, really."
The sentinels conversed amongst themselves, then turned to X. "Thank you." Then, they floated out of the room.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Shadow asked.
"Didn't want to scare you."
"X," Pyro said. "If that virus is that powerful, maybe it can stop Abyss."
X groaned, afraid he would say that.
"Pyro, we still have to find the backup." Shadow said.
"But if it works, Abyss will be gone and the backup will show itself, then we destroy it too before it makes another backup. Problem solved!"
"It's too risky." X protested.
"X, when Shadow was about to be killed, you were frantic, but you still pulled it off!"
"I was lucky."
"Bull." Pyro snorted.
"How would we find Abyss anyway?"
"Shadow and I will draw him out."
X jumped up. "No!"
"When he attacks one of us, you strike!"
"Pyro, if I slip up, I could kill you."
"If I wasn't ready to die any minute, I wouldn't be here."
"He's right." Shadow said. "We'll find him and you kill him."
"C'mon," X said. "There has to be another way."
"I really don't think there is, X." Pyro disagreed.
X could continue his argument, but it wouldn't hold too well. He'd only be delaying the inevitable.
"Alright." He sighed. "Let's tell the captain."
"You're all crazy!" The captain responded. "You risk your necks twice in there, nearly getting killed, and now you want to go back?!"
"As decoys." Pyro said. "Just long enough to give time for X to act."
"And how do we know that it'll kill him?"
"We don't." X admitted.
"But if it does," Shadow said, "we'll be one giant leap closer to stopping the programs."
"And if it doesn't you're both dead!"
"We'll set up and exit, or X can make up one again."
The head sentinel spoke up. "X, you said yourself that the virus was risky."
"Then I'll have to be extra careful." X defended.
"And if you fail?"
"I won't."
Riley shook his head. "I don't like it. How on earth are you going to draw yourselves out, anyway?"
"I think he'll be looking for us after our last encounter." Pyro pointed out.
There was definite tension within Riley. He was conflicted. The plan might work, but he didn't want to take such a huge risk.
"I don't like it." Riley said.
"We have to do it." Pyro said, almost defiantly.
Riley paced back and forth. "And you think that this backup will make itself known?"
"Yes, and that's when we strike."
"Better yet," Shadow said. "X's virus could make him tell us right who this person is so we can find them."
"X, can you destroy the backup without killing the human?"
"I think so." X admitted.
"You think?" Riley repeated. "Wonderful."
"Sir," Hero said. "I think they may have a point. I mean, what other options do we have? Abyss is a lethal menace and if we have to stop him."
Riley leaned on the table and thought long and hard.
"Alright." He finally said. "Let's do it."
X rested his head on the table.
"Now here's the tricky part:" Hero said. "Finding him."
"I should be in there." X said. "He's looking for me."
"But you're the only one who knows how to work your virus and it's too dangerous for you to be in there."
"I know." X said. "I just hate this, all of it."
"Who likes it?" Riley had to ask.
"I believe Abyss does." A sentinel said.
Shadow and Pyro had split up already.
Shadow walked along the streets, looking all over for Abyss. How to find what can hide so welll? Shadow leaned against a wall and stared off into the street for a while. He felt it. Someone was close. Abyss? No, he didn't think so. It didn't feel the same. Shadow slipped into and alleyway and turned on his cloak.
"What is he doing?" X wondered.
"Oh, shoot." Hero sighed. He pointed to the screen. "How does this always happen?"
"Let it ride." Riley said, to everyone's surprise. "We need Abyss to find them, so he'll have to stay in there for a while. Let him at least enjoy himself."
Shadow slowly and silently slid around his invisible intruder until he was sure he was behind her. Then, he sprung. He grabbed her arms and twisted them around her, switching off her cloak in the meantime. Shade was revealed.
"Ow! Hey! Let go!"
"Stalking me?" He asked her.
"No! I was just in the neighborhood and decided to follow you while remaining invisible." She grinned.
Shadow let her go and turned off his cloak. "You can't stay away from me, can you?" He teased.
"No, not really." She replied.
There was an awkward silence.
"Look, Shade," Shadow said. "I...I don't know if it's good for us to be here . . .together."
"Why not?"
"You remember why."
"That won't happen again, I know it."
"No, you don't. When I'm around girls I like, I get all weird and sometimes can't control my actions."
"Whoa, what?"
"What?"
"You said 'around girls I like'." Shadow froze. "You like me?"
"I . . .uh . . .well, I . . ."
"Shadow, don't be afraid." She blushed. "I've kinda had a crush on you for a little while."
Shadow's eyes shot open. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, that's why I was glad I found you today. We don't see each other that often."
"Y-yeah, I know. I, uh . . . I wanted to spend more time with you here, but . . .you know."
"Yeah, I know." She was walking closer to him. "We're here on duty- only. Speaking of that, I heard you had a pretty nasty run-in with the legendary Abyss. You alright?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine now."
"That's good." She was right up close with him. "Wouldn't want anything happening to you."
"Yeah, uh, me neither."
They were silent for another couple of seconds. Then, they dove at each other, wrapping their arms around each other and kissing furiously.
"Get a room." X groaned.
"You should talk. All that action between you and Siren? Sickening."
X thought. "Wait, were you watching what she and I were doing?"
"Had to." He snickered.
"What?"
"She had you in the palm of her hand, X."
"Shut up. What's Pyro doing?"
Pyro had his sword under his trench coat, ready to chop off Abyss's head at any given second. But that would have to wait.
Brriinnngg. His phone rang. Hero or Shadow must've found Abyss.
"Pyro." He answered.
"Oh, you're finally answering."
Pyro froze.
"Hey, Veronica."
"Where have you been? I've been calling for hours!"
"Been unavailable." Pyro said.
"We have to talk. Where are you?"
He looked. "Just outside of Eddy's diner."
"Alright, meet me in the park, it's about a mile south of there." Then, she added, "Please come, and please hurry." She hung up.
Pyro knew he shouldn't dawdle, but then again, he was supposed to stay in the Matrix for a while, so he had a lot of time on his hands. He made another call.
"Operator."
"Am I gonna get canned for talking with Veronica?"
"Nah, Shadow's with his girl too. You guys have some time to burn. Just keep your eyes peeled and we will too."
"Deal. Which way's south?"
"You're facing it."
Pyro hung up and shrugged. "Okay." He walked off the mile southward. The park was easy enough to find. Sitting at a table alone was Veronica, still holding on to the duffle bag she'd had in the cab before bailing. She looked up and saw him.
"Well, well." She said, obviously with a lot on her mind.
"You called?" he said, sitting down across from her.
"I did." She rested her elbow on the table, holding her hands together, resting her chin on them. Her eyes searched him. Pyro became confused.
"What?" He asked.
"So are you gonna tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"What the heck happened only a couple of hours ago?!" her voice instantly rose.
"Oh, that. Uh . . .what do you want to know?"
Veronica threw her hands in the air, frustrated, but went with it.
"Alright, alright, um, who was that guy?"
"Nobody, just a psychopath."
"Just a psychopath." She repeated.
"Yeah."
"And why, might I ask was he chasing you?"
"He doesn't like me, or anybody for that matter. He's a very disturbed individual."
"You ticked him off, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but he'd have killed me anyway."
"What exactly is it that you do?"
Pyro froze. "Do?"
"Yeah. What do you do that involves psychopaths?"
He thought fast. "Well, I have to deal with individuals like him, trying to bring them down."
"Uh huh." She said.
"Yeah. But he's the toughest yet."
Veronica nodded slowly. "That is the biggest load of baloney I've ever heard."
"It's true!" He said.
"Oh, yeah? So, what are you, a cop? C.I.A.? A Power Ranger?!"
"No, sorta, and what?!"
"What title would you give your job?"
He thought for a moment. "Infiltrator."
"Of . . .?"
"Anything and everything."
"What do you mean?"
Pyro went to his last resort. "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm not supposed to talk about what it is that I do."
"And if you do, I'll be in danger?"
"No . . .well . . .maybe."
"Pyro," She sighed. "Why can't you just tell me the truth?"
"Trust me, I am!"
"How do I know?"
"Have I given you reason to doubt before now?"
She gave him that one. "Alright." She sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Whatever. At least you're alright. I thought that guy would kill you."
"So did I." Pyro admitted. There was a silence between them for a moment. "So what about you?"
"What about me?"
"What's with the duffle bag?"
She looked nervous. "I took your advice."
His eyebrows perked. "You left?"
"Yep."
"Did you fight him?"
"No. He wasn't home. I just packed what I could and I left."
"You found somewhere to go?"
"Nope."
"Oh . . ."
"I figured it was better to die alone on the streets than spend my entire life under his iron fist."
"I should think so too."
"But . . .it's not like I WANT to die alone on the streets." He hesitated. "That's partly why I wanted to talk to you. Is it...possible that...I could stay with you? Just for a little while!"
Pyro found himself at the toughest spot in his entire life. He lowered his head in grief and defeat. His assistance could only go so far.
"Veronica, believe me, I wish I could help you, but . . .I can't give you a home."
She looked down. "I see."
"No, you don't, trust me. It's physically impossible for you to stay with me. In any other case, I'd do it."
She looked at him. "You really mean that?"
"Of course."
She gave a small smile. "That means a lot."
Pyro smiled. "I do what I can . . .but unfortunately, that's all I can do."
"I understand . . .you know you're the first person I could really confide since . . ."
"Scott?"
"Yeah . . .don't take that the wrong way."
"It's alright." Pyro said. "Is there anything I can do?"
Veronica thought for a minute, and then looked up at his face. "Take off the glasses."
"What?"
"I want to see your eyes."
Pyro didn't quite get it, but he slid the shades off. Veronica smiled.
"I like your eyes."
"Um . . .thanks."
"Scott never quite looked at me the way you do."
"The way I do?"
"Earnest to help. Even from the start, he was mostly just into what he wanted. I was so stupid to follow him in the first place, but I wanted out so bad that I didn't take the time to think straight."
"Everybody makes mistakes."
"But how many can correct them?"
"You just did."
"Are you sure? Where am I going to go?"
Pyro sighed. "I really don't know."
They both looked down.
"So . . ." Veronica began, "What is it exactly that you're doing here?"
"Still looking for the psychopath, whose name is Abyss, by the way. He's around here somewhere. I just have to find him."
"Just look for a tall, white, bald guy jumping on cars."
"He's a master of disguise, he can make himself look like anyone."
"Anyone?"
"Anyone."
"Pyro!" A voice called. He turned and saw Shadow flag him down, then go into an alley not far away.
"I'll try to come back." He said. He ran over to the alley and looked around. "Shadow!" he called. But to his surprise, he couldn't find Shadow anywhere. He called his cell.
"Shadow here."
"Hey, where are you?"
"Uh . . .don't really know, why?"
"What did you want?"
"Want?"
"You signaled me, now what did you lead me back here for?"
"Lead you where?!"
"Quit playing games, Shadow, where are you?!"
"Uh . . .behind the Dawson building."
Pyro raised a brow. "That's miles from here."
"Pyro what's going on?"
"I saw you signal me to come back into an alley here, but when I got here, you weren't there!"
"Pyro, I haven't seen you yet."
"Well, if it wasn't you, then he sure looked like . . ." Both boys figured it out at the same time. "Oh, no."
"Pyro, where are you?!"
"I'm in the park, and so is he!"
Veronica only had to wait a moment before Pyro came back with a troubled look on his face.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"I think Abyss is around here."
Her eyes darted around. "Where?"
"Who can tell? I told you he's a master of disguise. Keep your eyes open."
BOOM!! The alley exploded when Pyro had just been a moment ago. They both jumped up and looked at the wreckage.
Veronica instinctively grabbed Pyro's arm. He looked at her, then put his hands on hers.
"It's alright." He said, gripping her hand.
"S-sorry." She said, sheepishly.
"It's alright."
"Um . . .you can let go of my hand."
"Not until you answer me one question." Pyro disagreed.
"What's that?"
"I would much like to know the numbers Pyro gave you to call him."
Veronica told him both numbers, then re-thought the question. "Wait a minute. Why were you talking in third person? And . . .you should know those numbers."
Pyro smiled. "Remember the psychopath who could disguise himself as anyone?"
Veronica's eyes widened. "You're . . .?"
"I am."
"Then . . ." She looked at the wreckage from the explosion. "Pyro!!"
Abyss felt a gun to the side of his head.
"Too late, Abyss."
Abyss-Pyro chuckled. "Too late for you, my friend."
Pyro pulled the trigger, blasting his head open. Veronica jumped and shrieked as his lifeless body fell.
"Get out of here." The real Pyro ordered. "I'll try to find you later! Go!" Veronica's eyes widened as Abyss got back up, shaping himself back into his original form.
"GO!!" Pyro repeated, firing again. Abyss dodged this one and charged at him. Pyro jumped over him and fired a few more rounds into his back. He flipped open his phone.
"Got him!!"
"I know!" X replied. "So do I."
Abyss got up and looked at Pyro, who was smiling.
"And just what are you smiling about?"
"Do it, X. Do it now!!"
X glared at the screen and began working. "So long, psycho." He typed in "delete".
Abyss twitched, just as the other programs had done. His whole body jolted nervously, but he shook his head a little and that was it.
"Uh, X?" Pyro said. "Hurry up!"
"He's fighting me, trying to block me off. Just give me a minute, I'll crack him!"
X was working furiously, overriding everything Abyss threw at him, but everything X threw was overwritten as well.
"How's it going?" Riley asked him.
"Geez, he's fast and he's strong, but he has no idea what my virus can do!"
Abyss was twitching like mad now. He was sent into constant spasms, fighting X back.
"I think it's working!" Pyro told him.
X's fingers were about to fall off. "Ho, man, he's good!" Sweat was sliding down his face. "Delete! Delete, darn it all! Delete!!"
Suddenly, the entire screen glowed a bright crimson red.
Abyss suddenly stopped and smiled at Pyro. He reeled back his hand and Pyro jumped aside. Abyss threw a glowing red ball, which barely missed Pyro and hit the tree behind him. The tree exploded in fragments of red code.
Shadow had just come up a few seconds ago, having stolen a car and he saw the tree get destroyed. It was the same as the programs whom X had deleted. But Abyss still stood.
"What happened?!" Riley demanded.
X stared in confusion. "He . . .he re-routed the virus!"
"He WHAT?!"
"He changed the target! It would've killed Pyro had he not moved."
Riley shook his head. "So Abyss is immune . . .great. Get them out of there!!"
Pyro jumped at him, spinning his sword to plant a few slashes, but Abyss countered with a powerful punch that sent him flying across the park and into a wall.
Brriiinngg!!
Pyro weakly looked up. A phone? His eyes shot open. He jumped up and grabbed it. He exited the Matrix and the phone vanished instantly after.
"What happened?" Pyro demanded, rubbing his sore stomach.
"Isn't it obvious?" Shadow asked, sitting up. "It didn't work!"
"How didn't it?!"
"According to X," Riley said, "Abyss overrode him."
"I just don't get it." X said, rubbing his head. "How did he do it?"
"I don't get it either." Shadow said. "I mean, you're the Ultimate Hacking Machine!"
"Yeah," X muttered. "But so is Abyss."
X suddenly jumped straight up from realization.
"It can't be . . ." he whispered.
"What's up?" Pyro asked. X stood, staring at the computer screen, eyes wide.
"You okay, man?" Hero asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
X's hand twitched. "I . . .I . . .h-have to . . .I have . . .t-to think . . .for a while." He turned and slowly walked out of the room and into his own quarters.
X whispered to himself. "It was so obvious..."
Author's Note: What's gotten into X? And just why didn't the X-Virus kill Abyss? And what of the backup program? All those answers will given tomorrow. So, what do you think so far?
X felt a little loopy, never having been in the Matrix as long as he did.
"So let me make sure my clock is still on track. We infiltrated a club, I got captured by Siren, I almost had sex, Shadow and Pyro rescued me, Abyss attacked us, I was recaptured, they rescued me again, and I met the Oracle all in one day?"
"Yep." Shadow said. "Crazy, isn't it?"
"You alright?" Riley asked.
"I will be. I'm just gonna go rest for a while."
A sentinel got his attention and showed the screen. "When you wake, we have questions about your X-virus and its usage one week ago."
X nodded and walked off to sleep.
X was only able to sleep for about an hour and a half, and then tossed around for another half hour. But soon enough, a heavy knock came on the large metal door. X got up and opened it. Shadow and Pyro were standing there.
"Hiya." Shadow said.
"Hey." He turned and sat back down on his bed. The quarters were rather large, giving them room enough for a bed for each of the boys. They each sat down on their own beds.
"Sorry if we woke you." Shadow said.
"No we're not." Pyro put in.
X laughed. "It's alright. I couldn't sleep well enough anyway."
"Good, cuz we guys have to talk."
"Let's start from the top." Shadow said. "Why is it that I dawdle with a girl and get suspended, but you nearly get us all killed and get squat?!"
X laughed. "Shade wasn't a programmed seductress."
". . .She could be."
"So what happened after you were taken?"
"Siren threw me on a bed and we started going at it, then a couple guys burst in and take me off. Siren wasn't happy. Apparently, part of her deal was she got to fool around with me. Hey, I met the Merovingian. His wife's kinda hot, but I think he's gay. Anyhow, that's how I learned that 'Giovanni' wanted me. But I didn't learn much before Siren wanted to finish off her end. I learned a lot about her . . .a LOT."
"She's a sexy whore, what more do you need to know?" Pyro asked.
"Hey, at least she was attracted to me." He thought about that. "She said I was different."
"That's what all the girls say." Pyro waved his hand.
"She meant I resisted her more than any other guy. Somehow, that turned her on."
Shadow shook his head. "Women are strange and complicated."
"Yeah . . .and very aggressive."
"How close were you?"
"X," Pyro spoke up. "If you answer that, we can no longer be friends."
They all laughed.
"But before we actually did it, the agent came in and we went from there. What happened to you two when we split up?"
"I got attacked by Abyss on the freeway and fought on a truck for a while. Hero recorded it, by the way, if you wanna see everything."
"He jumped off the truck, onto an agent's car, and then bounced back up to the same place!" Shadow said in amazement.
"It's more incredible when you see it first-hand." Pyro assured. "I was almost knocked off the truck, but I stabbed the sword into the side of the truck and hung there until Shadow saved my rear."
"How casual that sounded." X noted.
"As for me," Shadow said, "I jacked a cab, but Veronica was in it. She wasn't getting out? Her fault. Hero called me and I picked up Pyro, then you. You had a run-in with Siren?"
"Yeah, and she about killed me. I saw the cab coming, so I pushed her out into the street. Didn't know it was you, though! Guess I was lucky you happened to be there."
Shadow laughed. "When I saw Siren in front of me, I floored it." They all laughed. "I really don't like her."
"But I was the one who had to explain to Veronica." He thought "I wonder what happened to her."
"How do you plan on explaining it to her?" Shadow asked.
Pyro sighed. "I don't know. If this was happening before the peace, we'd have to free her or she'd be agent-fodder. What do we do now?"
"Don't tell Riley, that's for sure!"
"Man, that was your own fault. What were you thinking?"
"Well, where else am I gonna get to hang out with her?"
"Uh . . .Zion?"
"But we're not gonna be there that often, and only for a day or two!"
Pyro gave him that one.
"And don't tell me you wouldn't like to see Veronica more."
"Hey, I'm helping her."
"Just helping her?" Shadow inquired.
Pyro didn't answer the question. "Anyway, what happened after Abyss captured you?"
"He put me to sleep. I woke up in his apartment. Shut up, Shadow. Anyhow, I tried learning about him, but then you guys came along."
"Hey! We were trying to help!" Shadow said in his defense.
"I know, but still. I was so close!" He raised his arms in frustration.
"But what did the Oracle tell you?" Pyro wanted to know.
"First, you tell me what she told you two, then I'll fill in the blanks."
"She told us where you were and that you would need our help for a while."
"She said I'd need your help too, until some time when I have to work on my own."
"What does that mean, anyway?" Shadow asked.
"I don't know," X sighed, "But the Oracle was never known for being too straightforward, was she?"
"Nope." Pyro agreed. "So anything else?"
X thought for a minute, wondering if he should tell them. Well, how could they help if they didn't know?
"Alright. Have any of you heard of the program Smith?"
"You kidding?" Pyro snorted. "He's only the most infamous program in the history of the Matrix!"
"Why?" Shadow asked.
"Smith is who Abyss used to be."
There was silence for a minute.
"So what you're saying," Pyro finally spoke up, "is that Abyss and Smith are one and the same?"
"Sort of. Abyss made modifications to his Smith program to become what he is."
"But how is he still around after Neo destroyed him?" Shadow asked.
"He had a backup."
Pyro caught on. "Then who's to say he doesn't have another?"
"Exactly." X said. "According to the Oracle, he hid the backup of himself within a human."
"So we find the human and destroy the backup, then kill Abyss?"
"I guess."
"How do we find the human?"
"The code won't tell, but the human can apparently do things similar to Abyss."
"Similar to Abyss?" Shadow groaned. "Just what we don't need."
"That's what I thought."
"And how do we defeat Abyss even after his backup is destroyed?"
None of them knew the answer to that one.
"A Sniper Shot to the head couldn't kill him." Shadow said. "What can?"
"More firepower?" Pyro wondered.
"I doubt it." X said.
"Then what?"
Again, there was silence. What was powerful enough to destroy the greatest program known to man?
A little while later, a Sentinel came in and projected a screen.
"If you are ready, we would like to talk to you about the incident a week ago."
"Oh, yeah." X said, "Alright."
Three sentinels came in and began asking questions. They were fascinated by the boy's intelligence.
"Why have you not used the virus before?" One sentinel asked.
"No real use." X lied.
"We could use this as a weapon against the rogue programs." Another machine said.
X's blood ran cold. "I, uh, I don't think I can mass-distribute the virus."
"But we can." The main sentinel said. "If you can make us one copy, we can make hundreds. They can be used to improve our agents and stop the programs once and for all."
"Um . . .I . . .don't think I can do that."
"Why not?"
"Because . . .because . . ." He trailed off, leaving everyone lingering.
"Because . . .?"
"Because . . .it, uh . . .the virus is . . ." Finally, X caved. "The virus is too dangerous."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I made it too powerful."
"How do you make something too powerful?" Pyro asked. Everyone wanted to know.
"Simple" X said. "I succeeded." He sighed. "But that was the problem. It's so powerful that if I slip up just a little when I'm using it, it could backfire tremendously."
"Just how tremendously?" The head sentinel asked.
X spilled it. "If commanded so, the virus could delete the entire Matrix."
The Sentinels looked at each other, amazed. "How is this possible?"
X shook his head. "It's just as powerful as I wanted it to be."
"And you used it anyway?" Another sentinel asked.
"I saw no other option."
"Is there any way of stopping the virus?"
X shook his head. "I designed it to be unstoppable and irreversible."
"One more question." The head sentinel asked. "How is it that you, a human, designed such a monstrosity?"
"Honestly, I really don't know. It just happened by accident, really."
The sentinels conversed amongst themselves, then turned to X. "Thank you." Then, they floated out of the room.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Shadow asked.
"Didn't want to scare you."
"X," Pyro said. "If that virus is that powerful, maybe it can stop Abyss."
X groaned, afraid he would say that.
"Pyro, we still have to find the backup." Shadow said.
"But if it works, Abyss will be gone and the backup will show itself, then we destroy it too before it makes another backup. Problem solved!"
"It's too risky." X protested.
"X, when Shadow was about to be killed, you were frantic, but you still pulled it off!"
"I was lucky."
"Bull." Pyro snorted.
"How would we find Abyss anyway?"
"Shadow and I will draw him out."
X jumped up. "No!"
"When he attacks one of us, you strike!"
"Pyro, if I slip up, I could kill you."
"If I wasn't ready to die any minute, I wouldn't be here."
"He's right." Shadow said. "We'll find him and you kill him."
"C'mon," X said. "There has to be another way."
"I really don't think there is, X." Pyro disagreed.
X could continue his argument, but it wouldn't hold too well. He'd only be delaying the inevitable.
"Alright." He sighed. "Let's tell the captain."
"You're all crazy!" The captain responded. "You risk your necks twice in there, nearly getting killed, and now you want to go back?!"
"As decoys." Pyro said. "Just long enough to give time for X to act."
"And how do we know that it'll kill him?"
"We don't." X admitted.
"But if it does," Shadow said, "we'll be one giant leap closer to stopping the programs."
"And if it doesn't you're both dead!"
"We'll set up and exit, or X can make up one again."
The head sentinel spoke up. "X, you said yourself that the virus was risky."
"Then I'll have to be extra careful." X defended.
"And if you fail?"
"I won't."
Riley shook his head. "I don't like it. How on earth are you going to draw yourselves out, anyway?"
"I think he'll be looking for us after our last encounter." Pyro pointed out.
There was definite tension within Riley. He was conflicted. The plan might work, but he didn't want to take such a huge risk.
"I don't like it." Riley said.
"We have to do it." Pyro said, almost defiantly.
Riley paced back and forth. "And you think that this backup will make itself known?"
"Yes, and that's when we strike."
"Better yet," Shadow said. "X's virus could make him tell us right who this person is so we can find them."
"X, can you destroy the backup without killing the human?"
"I think so." X admitted.
"You think?" Riley repeated. "Wonderful."
"Sir," Hero said. "I think they may have a point. I mean, what other options do we have? Abyss is a lethal menace and if we have to stop him."
Riley leaned on the table and thought long and hard.
"Alright." He finally said. "Let's do it."
X rested his head on the table.
"Now here's the tricky part:" Hero said. "Finding him."
"I should be in there." X said. "He's looking for me."
"But you're the only one who knows how to work your virus and it's too dangerous for you to be in there."
"I know." X said. "I just hate this, all of it."
"Who likes it?" Riley had to ask.
"I believe Abyss does." A sentinel said.
Shadow and Pyro had split up already.
Shadow walked along the streets, looking all over for Abyss. How to find what can hide so welll? Shadow leaned against a wall and stared off into the street for a while. He felt it. Someone was close. Abyss? No, he didn't think so. It didn't feel the same. Shadow slipped into and alleyway and turned on his cloak.
"What is he doing?" X wondered.
"Oh, shoot." Hero sighed. He pointed to the screen. "How does this always happen?"
"Let it ride." Riley said, to everyone's surprise. "We need Abyss to find them, so he'll have to stay in there for a while. Let him at least enjoy himself."
Shadow slowly and silently slid around his invisible intruder until he was sure he was behind her. Then, he sprung. He grabbed her arms and twisted them around her, switching off her cloak in the meantime. Shade was revealed.
"Ow! Hey! Let go!"
"Stalking me?" He asked her.
"No! I was just in the neighborhood and decided to follow you while remaining invisible." She grinned.
Shadow let her go and turned off his cloak. "You can't stay away from me, can you?" He teased.
"No, not really." She replied.
There was an awkward silence.
"Look, Shade," Shadow said. "I...I don't know if it's good for us to be here . . .together."
"Why not?"
"You remember why."
"That won't happen again, I know it."
"No, you don't. When I'm around girls I like, I get all weird and sometimes can't control my actions."
"Whoa, what?"
"What?"
"You said 'around girls I like'." Shadow froze. "You like me?"
"I . . .uh . . .well, I . . ."
"Shadow, don't be afraid." She blushed. "I've kinda had a crush on you for a little while."
Shadow's eyes shot open. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, that's why I was glad I found you today. We don't see each other that often."
"Y-yeah, I know. I, uh . . . I wanted to spend more time with you here, but . . .you know."
"Yeah, I know." She was walking closer to him. "We're here on duty- only. Speaking of that, I heard you had a pretty nasty run-in with the legendary Abyss. You alright?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine now."
"That's good." She was right up close with him. "Wouldn't want anything happening to you."
"Yeah, uh, me neither."
They were silent for another couple of seconds. Then, they dove at each other, wrapping their arms around each other and kissing furiously.
"Get a room." X groaned.
"You should talk. All that action between you and Siren? Sickening."
X thought. "Wait, were you watching what she and I were doing?"
"Had to." He snickered.
"What?"
"She had you in the palm of her hand, X."
"Shut up. What's Pyro doing?"
Pyro had his sword under his trench coat, ready to chop off Abyss's head at any given second. But that would have to wait.
Brriinnngg. His phone rang. Hero or Shadow must've found Abyss.
"Pyro." He answered.
"Oh, you're finally answering."
Pyro froze.
"Hey, Veronica."
"Where have you been? I've been calling for hours!"
"Been unavailable." Pyro said.
"We have to talk. Where are you?"
He looked. "Just outside of Eddy's diner."
"Alright, meet me in the park, it's about a mile south of there." Then, she added, "Please come, and please hurry." She hung up.
Pyro knew he shouldn't dawdle, but then again, he was supposed to stay in the Matrix for a while, so he had a lot of time on his hands. He made another call.
"Operator."
"Am I gonna get canned for talking with Veronica?"
"Nah, Shadow's with his girl too. You guys have some time to burn. Just keep your eyes peeled and we will too."
"Deal. Which way's south?"
"You're facing it."
Pyro hung up and shrugged. "Okay." He walked off the mile southward. The park was easy enough to find. Sitting at a table alone was Veronica, still holding on to the duffle bag she'd had in the cab before bailing. She looked up and saw him.
"Well, well." She said, obviously with a lot on her mind.
"You called?" he said, sitting down across from her.
"I did." She rested her elbow on the table, holding her hands together, resting her chin on them. Her eyes searched him. Pyro became confused.
"What?" He asked.
"So are you gonna tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"What the heck happened only a couple of hours ago?!" her voice instantly rose.
"Oh, that. Uh . . .what do you want to know?"
Veronica threw her hands in the air, frustrated, but went with it.
"Alright, alright, um, who was that guy?"
"Nobody, just a psychopath."
"Just a psychopath." She repeated.
"Yeah."
"And why, might I ask was he chasing you?"
"He doesn't like me, or anybody for that matter. He's a very disturbed individual."
"You ticked him off, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but he'd have killed me anyway."
"What exactly is it that you do?"
Pyro froze. "Do?"
"Yeah. What do you do that involves psychopaths?"
He thought fast. "Well, I have to deal with individuals like him, trying to bring them down."
"Uh huh." She said.
"Yeah. But he's the toughest yet."
Veronica nodded slowly. "That is the biggest load of baloney I've ever heard."
"It's true!" He said.
"Oh, yeah? So, what are you, a cop? C.I.A.? A Power Ranger?!"
"No, sorta, and what?!"
"What title would you give your job?"
He thought for a moment. "Infiltrator."
"Of . . .?"
"Anything and everything."
"What do you mean?"
Pyro went to his last resort. "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm not supposed to talk about what it is that I do."
"And if you do, I'll be in danger?"
"No . . .well . . .maybe."
"Pyro," She sighed. "Why can't you just tell me the truth?"
"Trust me, I am!"
"How do I know?"
"Have I given you reason to doubt before now?"
She gave him that one. "Alright." She sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Whatever. At least you're alright. I thought that guy would kill you."
"So did I." Pyro admitted. There was a silence between them for a moment. "So what about you?"
"What about me?"
"What's with the duffle bag?"
She looked nervous. "I took your advice."
His eyebrows perked. "You left?"
"Yep."
"Did you fight him?"
"No. He wasn't home. I just packed what I could and I left."
"You found somewhere to go?"
"Nope."
"Oh . . ."
"I figured it was better to die alone on the streets than spend my entire life under his iron fist."
"I should think so too."
"But . . .it's not like I WANT to die alone on the streets." He hesitated. "That's partly why I wanted to talk to you. Is it...possible that...I could stay with you? Just for a little while!"
Pyro found himself at the toughest spot in his entire life. He lowered his head in grief and defeat. His assistance could only go so far.
"Veronica, believe me, I wish I could help you, but . . .I can't give you a home."
She looked down. "I see."
"No, you don't, trust me. It's physically impossible for you to stay with me. In any other case, I'd do it."
She looked at him. "You really mean that?"
"Of course."
She gave a small smile. "That means a lot."
Pyro smiled. "I do what I can . . .but unfortunately, that's all I can do."
"I understand . . .you know you're the first person I could really confide since . . ."
"Scott?"
"Yeah . . .don't take that the wrong way."
"It's alright." Pyro said. "Is there anything I can do?"
Veronica thought for a minute, and then looked up at his face. "Take off the glasses."
"What?"
"I want to see your eyes."
Pyro didn't quite get it, but he slid the shades off. Veronica smiled.
"I like your eyes."
"Um . . .thanks."
"Scott never quite looked at me the way you do."
"The way I do?"
"Earnest to help. Even from the start, he was mostly just into what he wanted. I was so stupid to follow him in the first place, but I wanted out so bad that I didn't take the time to think straight."
"Everybody makes mistakes."
"But how many can correct them?"
"You just did."
"Are you sure? Where am I going to go?"
Pyro sighed. "I really don't know."
They both looked down.
"So . . ." Veronica began, "What is it exactly that you're doing here?"
"Still looking for the psychopath, whose name is Abyss, by the way. He's around here somewhere. I just have to find him."
"Just look for a tall, white, bald guy jumping on cars."
"He's a master of disguise, he can make himself look like anyone."
"Anyone?"
"Anyone."
"Pyro!" A voice called. He turned and saw Shadow flag him down, then go into an alley not far away.
"I'll try to come back." He said. He ran over to the alley and looked around. "Shadow!" he called. But to his surprise, he couldn't find Shadow anywhere. He called his cell.
"Shadow here."
"Hey, where are you?"
"Uh . . .don't really know, why?"
"What did you want?"
"Want?"
"You signaled me, now what did you lead me back here for?"
"Lead you where?!"
"Quit playing games, Shadow, where are you?!"
"Uh . . .behind the Dawson building."
Pyro raised a brow. "That's miles from here."
"Pyro what's going on?"
"I saw you signal me to come back into an alley here, but when I got here, you weren't there!"
"Pyro, I haven't seen you yet."
"Well, if it wasn't you, then he sure looked like . . ." Both boys figured it out at the same time. "Oh, no."
"Pyro, where are you?!"
"I'm in the park, and so is he!"
Veronica only had to wait a moment before Pyro came back with a troubled look on his face.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"I think Abyss is around here."
Her eyes darted around. "Where?"
"Who can tell? I told you he's a master of disguise. Keep your eyes open."
BOOM!! The alley exploded when Pyro had just been a moment ago. They both jumped up and looked at the wreckage.
Veronica instinctively grabbed Pyro's arm. He looked at her, then put his hands on hers.
"It's alright." He said, gripping her hand.
"S-sorry." She said, sheepishly.
"It's alright."
"Um . . .you can let go of my hand."
"Not until you answer me one question." Pyro disagreed.
"What's that?"
"I would much like to know the numbers Pyro gave you to call him."
Veronica told him both numbers, then re-thought the question. "Wait a minute. Why were you talking in third person? And . . .you should know those numbers."
Pyro smiled. "Remember the psychopath who could disguise himself as anyone?"
Veronica's eyes widened. "You're . . .?"
"I am."
"Then . . ." She looked at the wreckage from the explosion. "Pyro!!"
Abyss felt a gun to the side of his head.
"Too late, Abyss."
Abyss-Pyro chuckled. "Too late for you, my friend."
Pyro pulled the trigger, blasting his head open. Veronica jumped and shrieked as his lifeless body fell.
"Get out of here." The real Pyro ordered. "I'll try to find you later! Go!" Veronica's eyes widened as Abyss got back up, shaping himself back into his original form.
"GO!!" Pyro repeated, firing again. Abyss dodged this one and charged at him. Pyro jumped over him and fired a few more rounds into his back. He flipped open his phone.
"Got him!!"
"I know!" X replied. "So do I."
Abyss got up and looked at Pyro, who was smiling.
"And just what are you smiling about?"
"Do it, X. Do it now!!"
X glared at the screen and began working. "So long, psycho." He typed in "delete".
Abyss twitched, just as the other programs had done. His whole body jolted nervously, but he shook his head a little and that was it.
"Uh, X?" Pyro said. "Hurry up!"
"He's fighting me, trying to block me off. Just give me a minute, I'll crack him!"
X was working furiously, overriding everything Abyss threw at him, but everything X threw was overwritten as well.
"How's it going?" Riley asked him.
"Geez, he's fast and he's strong, but he has no idea what my virus can do!"
Abyss was twitching like mad now. He was sent into constant spasms, fighting X back.
"I think it's working!" Pyro told him.
X's fingers were about to fall off. "Ho, man, he's good!" Sweat was sliding down his face. "Delete! Delete, darn it all! Delete!!"
Suddenly, the entire screen glowed a bright crimson red.
Abyss suddenly stopped and smiled at Pyro. He reeled back his hand and Pyro jumped aside. Abyss threw a glowing red ball, which barely missed Pyro and hit the tree behind him. The tree exploded in fragments of red code.
Shadow had just come up a few seconds ago, having stolen a car and he saw the tree get destroyed. It was the same as the programs whom X had deleted. But Abyss still stood.
"What happened?!" Riley demanded.
X stared in confusion. "He . . .he re-routed the virus!"
"He WHAT?!"
"He changed the target! It would've killed Pyro had he not moved."
Riley shook his head. "So Abyss is immune . . .great. Get them out of there!!"
Pyro jumped at him, spinning his sword to plant a few slashes, but Abyss countered with a powerful punch that sent him flying across the park and into a wall.
Brriiinngg!!
Pyro weakly looked up. A phone? His eyes shot open. He jumped up and grabbed it. He exited the Matrix and the phone vanished instantly after.
"What happened?" Pyro demanded, rubbing his sore stomach.
"Isn't it obvious?" Shadow asked, sitting up. "It didn't work!"
"How didn't it?!"
"According to X," Riley said, "Abyss overrode him."
"I just don't get it." X said, rubbing his head. "How did he do it?"
"I don't get it either." Shadow said. "I mean, you're the Ultimate Hacking Machine!"
"Yeah," X muttered. "But so is Abyss."
X suddenly jumped straight up from realization.
"It can't be . . ." he whispered.
"What's up?" Pyro asked. X stood, staring at the computer screen, eyes wide.
"You okay, man?" Hero asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
X's hand twitched. "I . . .I . . .h-have to . . .I have . . .t-to think . . .for a while." He turned and slowly walked out of the room and into his own quarters.
X whispered to himself. "It was so obvious..."
Author's Note: What's gotten into X? And just why didn't the X-Virus kill Abyss? And what of the backup program? All those answers will given tomorrow. So, what do you think so far?