Chapter Seventeen: The Digital Inside
(Zika meets Reboot)
"So, we can't do anything?" Aranyakas asked, staring up at all the taller Guardians. She scowled, hating being the smallest Guardian in all existence. Then she remembered that Karma was going through an evolution, and was currently the size of a human baby. This made her less bitter, but only a little. "She destroyed my matrix! I spent a lot of time setting that up! Think about the waste of life! The people inside of it! The plot! The action scenes! The special effects!"
There was a collective sweatdrop from the rest of the Guardians. Aranyakas looked around.
"What?"
"Well, isn't this interesting?" Zika stared out at the landscape below. She smiled to herself, obviously enjoying something. Jova wondered whether she would tell him. He doubted it though. Zika had a strange sense of humour to begin with.
"uh, Zika, what are we doing here? This doesn't look like much," he said. She ignored him, her gaze travelling. "There," she said finally, pointing to the black island on the other side. "I feel a companion there."
"Um, Zika, that's a virus, and we're in a computer! I should know!" Jova pointed out.
"Ah, but don't you see, that's what's ironic." Zika smirked. "And there's nothing wrong with having a little bit of fun, don't you think?"
She didn't wait for Jova to reply, and started out, floating above the place called Mainframe.
"Zika, could you tell me, what is so interesting about a world inside a computer?" Jova asked.
"Worlds, inside computers," she corrected, almost absently. "And it's interesting because it requires have a two level-awareness of spirituality in order for the worlds to run inside the computer. The Guardian of this dimension is very talented; I wonder about the reasons for this dimension." Then she laughed. "Anyways, because of the electronic awareness, it's very similar to home, don't you think?"
"Similar?"
Zika smiled. "Jova, you just don't get it. I'm like a god here." She drew closer to the twisted spirals and landscape of the island, casually observing the infected area.
"Um, might I ask, what are you planning to do here?"
"Why Jova, how silly of you to ask!" she exclaimed, with a slight British accent. "We're going to have some tea!"
She darted down among the spirals, humming cheerfully to herself. Finding an entrance, she invited herself into the virus' lair.
"Knock, knock, I'm knockin' at your door!
I'm here t'save you from a-terrible bore!
Come, let sit an' with you, I stay!
For I come a-visiting you this day!
If tea be served in this place,
Then come o hostess, show thy face!" She sang as she flew straight into the throne room.
(Somewhere else)
"Hey, is it me, or has it been quiet for a while now?"
"Hmm, now that you mention it, it is."
"Too quiet."
"…"
"Maybe we should check things out"
"Now look, to you, a second is a very long time. But to certain entities, like users, a second is a brief point in their lives; not even worth mentioning, it's so small."
"So, there are larger units of time?"
"Yes, to users, there are sixty seconds per minute, and sixty minutes per hour. In a day, there are twenty-four hours. There are about thirty days in a month, and twelve months in a year. A 'user', as you would call them, lives around seventy years, sometimes to a hundred years, depending on healthcare."
"Interesting," Hex put down her delicate cup of tea. "And you say that the users are responsible for creating Mainframe and the Net?"
"And the Web, other systems, programs, functions, even viruses," Zika replied. Oh God! I feel like a missionary or something! She was going to go on with descriptions on how systems were put together, and what hackers were, when she became aware that she wasn't the only cross-multi-dimensional being there anymore.
"Excuse me," she said as she stood, trying to pinpoint the source. "It seems like we have some uninvited guests." She turned and grinned. "Why, hello Ikeda, how are you? Would you like some tea?"
"A pleasure, as always, I'm sure," Ikeda replied sarcastically. "And no thank you, dear, I just came to see how you were doing. Oh look! You've found a new pet! I'm sorry dear, but you can't keep her."
"A new pet?" Zika smiled. "You don't seem to understand. She's not a pet; I'm just visiting my people and planting my roots. By the way, where's your dear partner?"
"Oh, he's around," Ikeda pointed. Zika turned to see Pewter standing behind her, trapping her between the two hunters.
"Well, since I don't see a ball, I doubt we're playing Monkey-in-the-Middle, are we?" Zika remarked, trying to move into a position where she could look at both of them at the same time.
"No, Zika dear, we're not playing anymore," Pewter said. He shifted his position as she moved, reaching behind him. Zika's eyes narrowed.
"Hmmm, but it seems you have a toy you want to share with me," she replied, glancing at Ikeda. She made a dismissing motion of her hand towards Hex, keeping her eyes on the Hunters. "Hex, dear, you can go play somewhere else, I think I have business to attend to here."
There was a flash of something dark, and then Hex was gone. Zika was sure that she wouldn't bother the three of them anymore.
She appeared to relax, and tilted her head in Pewter's direction. "So, what do you have there? Some nasty little surprise for me? Something that will let you leash me like a bitch and drag me to wherever you want?" Her face darkened. "I don't think so."
And then she dodged Ikeda's attack, jumping into the air and landing behind Pewter. He attempted to whirl, his hand reaching, but she grabbed and twisted. Pewter withered against the pain shooting down his arm.
Ikeda froze in midair.
"Now, what have we got here?" Zika inspected the glow surrounding Pewter's hand. "Nasty piece of work, this is. A limiter? Really! I guess I really pissed you guys off." She smirked, and raised her eyes to met Ikeda's. "Do come down from there, Ikeda, I've been thinking about something, and I want to know whether I'm right."
She watched unblinkingly as Ikeda floated to the ground. "Good. Let's see here, you two were sent by Delilah, right? This means you have some sort of connection to her timeline, and you're really pissed at me. Actually, from what I did back there, I can hardly be surprised, eh? Hmm, I think I know what you two really are." Zika smiled, not kindly, at Ikeda. "You, dear girl, is the compression of those I killed in space, and you here, Pewter, those I killed on Earth."
"And what are your reasons for thinking that, Dark Angel?" Ikeda asked her expressing showing nothing.
"Oh, simple! In your dimension, plants are the main life support systems," Zika replied, lightly if it wasn't for the tinge of disgust. "Therefore, it is the planet that can produce and harness the most energy. Pewter here" - She gave his arm a yank – "has been using mostly Ki attacks against me. Yours are mainly physical, with a little Ki added for spice." Zika gave them a knowing look. "Besides, your auras reek of agony. Dead giveaway."
"What's your point, Zika?" Pewter managed to hiss out.
She looked mildly surprised. "My point? None really, I just wanted you two to know that I'm responsible for creating you."
"Since you know that, then you know that it's your responsibility to pay for your crimes!" Ikeda yelled, and rushed forward. Zika released Pewter, and kicked him. He stumbled away, almost smashing into Ikeda. Ikeda dodged, reaching for Zika.
Zika laughed, swatting Ikeda into a wall. As the Hunters picked themselves up, Zika smirked at them. "Really, you know by now that I've been tapping into each dimension that I visit, getting stronger all the time. So why do you bother?"
"It is for the good of everyone that we fulfill our duty and bring you to justice," Pewter said as he nursed his arm.
"I'm being played like a fool by your fucking Guardians! Delilah's so-called justice is because of a sibling rivalry! Ha!" Zika fumed. "Don't waste my time, little Hunters. Don't pretend that your purpose is to rope me in and drag me back to my own dimension, because it's weak. I ask again, what is your purpose?"
"We're wasting your time, is it? Well, you're wasting time yourself! You're causing more damage than is necessary to fulfill your own purpose!" Ikeda shouted angrily.
"My, purpose?" Zika's expression did not change, but she took a step back and paused. "Jova, remind me again, why did I start this little trip?"
"Um, vacation?" Jova's disembodied voice replied, sounding puzzled.
"True, that's what I thought," Zika said, stroking her chin and looking thoughtful. "Seems I was wrong. Yet I was right, I am being played like a fool, towards a purpose I'm supposed to perform. And these two are to drive me before them like a bitch gone astray, am I right?"
"More or less," Pewter reluctantly admitted. Zika snorted.
"Figures, and you have an excuse to do so too. Justice, time runs differently, I'll get there when I'll get there, with no time lost. See, there's plenty of time, and I'm not wasting it."
"My butt we do," Ikeda muttered.
"And what a lovely ass it is," Zika countered. "Back to what you said though, about me causing more damage than necessary. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? I do exactly what needs to be done; it's my purpose, after all. And yes, it's horrible, terrible, brutal, and all that jazz, but let me put it this way; in the matters of the Guardians, nothing that I have done can not be fixed. Sure, I messed up a lot of plans; I've stepped on their toes, whine whine whine! Go back to them and tell them I say to deal with it!" With a burst of rage, she began gathering her energy, reaching for her armlet.
Light started to rise around her, energy crackling, and suddenly Ikeda was there, grabbing onto her with Pewter close behind. A surge of power nearly threw the Hopper. Zika stared at the, shocked.
"You aren't getting away this time, Zika!" Ikeda growled.
FLASH!
And the hall was left empty.
A/N:
It's been a very long time since I've updated, eh? I'm very sorry. I've been busy with school. Gee, it's been about two years since I've started this thing. Originally, I have a lot more to go, but I think that I've figured out how to wrap it all up. cracks knuckles I WILL finish this!
Neko Baka
