Virts, she hated virts. She didn't have the patience for them, nor did she give them the time of day. If she was approached by one of them she'd most likely have her guards deal with them. It may have seemed rude but Byte was a part of the Technos, an integral part of the tribe to say the least.
Upon entering the mall, Byte carefully stepped into the entrance. She noticed the various forms of graffiti plastered on the walls and then the giant phoenix statue in the middle of the mall. She tied her wavy, dark brown hair up into a neat pony tail as her grey eyes looked into the mall for Salene, some red haired chick with a mother-hen attitude. She stared down at the ground for a moment then looked back up to see a small girl staring back at her. The little girl looked familiar to her. She thought she'd seen her tagging along with Salene once or twice before.
"You're Mouse, aren't you?" Byte asked, carefully approaching the girl so as not to startle her.
However, Mouse wasn't scared of Byte. She figured that if anything were to happen, she could just scream. "Yes…I am," the little girl replied and stared at Byte awkwardly. "You're a Techno, right?"
"Yes, I am. Now could you go on and get Salene for me?"
Mouse looked up at Byte once more. This Techno didn't seem scary like the others. Perhaps it was because she wasn't as old or as ferocious as Java. "If you're a Techno…and you're a girl, then why aren't you one of Ram's wives?"
"I'm too young for him," she replied, slightly annoyed. The only thing keeping her from biting the kid's head off was the fact that Byte was once a curious kid like Mouse.
"How old are you?" she asked fearlessly.
Byte looked down at the little girl. The annoyance was clearly expressed in her face. "Sixteen, now go!" she said loudly.
Mouse's eyes widened. Now she knew that the Techno meant business just by the tone in her voice and within a few moments, the City Leader was standing in front of Byte looking less than enthused. She didn't even have to call for Salene, she just showed up.
Byte looked at the woman for a moment and raised a brow. "Are you serious? This is who they chose to represent the virts?" she thought. "What do you want?" Byte heard her ask. She smirked then nonchalantly tapped her hands on the box. "Don't worry, I'm not here for anyone. Ram just wanted me to deliver this to you."
"What's in it?"
Byte shook her head and shoved the box toward her. She began to go back in the direction of the hotel. "What is it with virts and questions?" she muttered under her breath.
Back at the hotel, Java stood idly in her room. She starred out her window to make sure there weren't any virt-related discrepancies outside. There weren't any. She heard her door creak and looked to see who it was. It was Byte. "The kid looks upset," she thought. Java figured that it may have been caused by the visit to the Mallrats or the game. It had to be the latter. Virts usually didn't bother the kid. "Byte…you sure you're okay? Max didn't hurt you did he?" she asked. Her concern for the kid had to be diluted. She simply did not want to seem overbearing and overprotective of the girl. She kept a nonchalant expression on her face as she asked the girl that question. More so, she even continued staring out the window.
Java did a poor job of hiding it because Byte saw right through her. "I'm fine…what is it with you today?" she asked.
If anyone else had asked her such a question the way Byte just did, she'd have them punished. Byte just happened to be her closest friend so the manner in which she spoke didn't irk her. Before replying though, she turned back to the girl. "Nothing's wrong with me. I'm just concerned that the game might have a few bugs in it for the virts," she said defensively.
"So you're concerned as to whether or not they get hurt?" Byte asked. "I didn't know you had a heart."
Java scoffed before taking a seat in a black leather chair across from the girl. "You see, if one virt dies in the game then it's over, tribes would be after us. If they play and don't get hurt, they'll feel invincible. Trust me on this one, kid. Pretty soon we'll have the virts eating right out of our hands. But as far as today went we just wanted to see how far we could take it. When we tested on you, Byte, we actually turned some of the safeties off."
"'How far you could take it?' What do you mean?" Byte asked.
"Only a percentage of what you feel in Reality Space corresponds to what is actually happening in real life. Say if I punch you in the face, you would definitely feel the blow in reality space but you wouldn't really feel the pain and after effects in real life. But if I started punching repeatedly, you'd start feeling the effects in both worlds," she patiently explained.
"But why me? Why did I have to be the one testing this out?" Byte asked and crossed her legs. "Why couldn't you guys pick out a virt like Lex?"
"Lex, like the rest of them, is weak. Come on, he can't handle it like you can. You've been trained and he hasn't. Of course, of course we only wanted to test on the best of the best."
Meanwhile, Lex pressed his lips against Siva's and grinned from ear to ear. His face clearly expressed his current happiness with this woman. He loved her and it was obvious. Ever since Tai-San had gone missing, no one had ever seen him happier. "Do you have to go?" he asked before kissing her on the forehead.
Siva rested her head on his body with a sigh, "Yes I do, unfortunately." She really had to leave for she had been gone for at least two hours now. By this time Ram would already be asking for her, especially since she claimed she had another "headache".
"Just stay for a couple more minutes." Lex protested.
Siva got up and wrapped a white sheet around her slender body. "Sorry, honey," she said. She went to the very back of the apartment to put her clothes back on. Afterwards, she turned back around to find that Lex was gone. "Where'd he go?" she asked herself while he stood right behind her, out of sight. He wrapped his arms around her quickly as she screamed and gently threw her on the bed then kissed her, "Lex, I really have to go."
"Now will you go?" he whispered in her ear.
Siva smiled and finally gave into his plea. "I can spare a few minutes." she said.
Back at the hotel, Byte walked down the halls as a way to keep her busy. She spotted Mega, who then spotted her. He gave her a slight smile while she gave him a smirk.
"Aw c'mon, Byte. Don't be like that," he said. After noticing that Byte was really up to nothing, he decided he'd drag her to the courtyard. He felt that the kid needed a break and he just wanted someone to walk with. "Talk to me. What's up?" he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Mega, I don't know what to do about this game thing. I'm scared that something will go seriously wrong," she sighed. "I spoke to Java earlier and all she said was that we'd have total control over the virts if the game happens."
He shook his head slightly. "The game is going to happen. We've got all the safeties in check so the only thing anybody has to worry about is performing well. You know I wouldn't let anything happen to you, Byte. Ram knows what he's doing, trust him. If not, trust me."
After a few minutes, the two of them came to a stop in the courtyard. Here was the pool and here was the bar. Now if memory served her right, ever since her fourteenth birthday she was allowed to drink. An informal rule made up by both Java and Mega allowed her to do so.
"Alright, sis, I have to go. I just thought you could use a drink after what you did this morning." He looked over to the bartender and leaned towards him. "Don't let her have anymore," he whispered. He looked back to her and brought out a starter drink for her, a mimosa.
Byte sat down on a lawn chair and began to sip on the sweet cocktail. She leaned back, enjoying the sun and the quiet environment around her. She needed to take her mind off Reality Space for a bit and this was the best way to do it.
Two boys watched her from the bushes. How they got past security was a mystery. They were part of the Aphasias and their names were Sam and Quaid. Now what were they doing there? That was a mystery as well. "Hey do you wanna get her or should I?" Quaid asked. He was the older and much stronger one of the two. Sam was a different story. He was younger but much smarter. Well…to Byte, smarter for virts just meant that they were less stupid.
"You go," Sam replied. He peered out from the bushes and confidently looked to his friend. The moment was just right. The girl was alone and the guards were far away enough so they could get an attack in. "It's show time," he grinned. He watched Quaid quietly climb over the bushes and stealthily sneak up behind the girl.
Quaid crossed his arms as he towered over her. He smirked slightly before he spoke. "Come for a dip?" he finally said.
Byte's eyes widened. She couldn't believe this was happening now of all times…on the one day she wasn't working. She stood up quickly and faced the guy who just spoke to her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, demanding an answer. Before she could call over some guards, the guy landed a punch in her stomach which caused her to falter. He tried doing it again but this time she caught his fist and twisted it hard. It made a sickening "crack" as she did so.
"No!" Sam yelled. Quaid deviated the plan. Originally they were just supposed to attack her from behind instead of making a show of jumped out of the bushes and grabbed the girl from behind. He held her so that his partner could get a nice headshot in.
Byte saw his fist coming towards her face and at the last moment she moved her head out of the way. Now instead of a headshot for Byte, it was given to Sam. She was released from Sam's grip.
It was now time for them to have a taste of their own medicine. Just as Sam was brought to his knees she grabbed him by the hair and slammed him face first against the metal frame of the chair.
Quaid tried to hit the girl once more but he missed and Byte got a grip on his arm. She twisted it and folded it behind against his back. The boy was then brought to his knees. She then pushed him down on the ground so that he was on his stomach.
This position was short lived though. Sam got up quickly after remaining on the ground for some time. He came at her and tackled her to the ground. The two of them weren't on the ground for too long. Byte got to her feet quickly and stood in front of the two boys.
Ram came out of the building, along with Java and Jay. "Jay, Java, stop this," he commanded upon seeing Byte and the two other boys.
Just as the two sides were about to attack Jay got right in the middle and blocked both sides from attacking. Java grabbed Byte by the arm quickly while Jay and a guard detained the boys. "Stop, kid. You'll only make things worse," Java muttered, her grip on the girl's arm tightening.
Jay ran out to the fight and quickly grabbed both boys by the arm, "You, virt!" he yelled. "What's the meaning of this?" he asked and gave a hard look at the both of them.
Quaid glared at Byte then gritted his teeth, "She knows damn well."
"Yeah, she would know. Why don't you ask the Lieutenant?" Sam asked sheepishly.
"Why don't we just delete them both?" Byte asked, already getting her phaser ready.
Jay looked back at her, "Byte, you mind telling me what this is all about?"
Byte clenched her fists then sighed. "I do mind," she muttered angrily then stormed back into the hotel.
Java looked back at Byte then furrowed her brows, not understanding what got her so mad. "I'll get her," she said to Jay then followed after her.
"Byte!" Java called. The kid didn't turn around. "Hey!" she yelled, now stopping the girl in her tracks. "Mind telling me what that was all about, now that you're not in front of the boys?" she asked as she caught up to her.
She crossed her arms then leaned against the wall and gave a sigh. "Back when we joined up with the Technos, I did something to the Aphasias," she began, "long story short, I actually disbanded them by taking the leader to the virt camps. He's back though and he's craving revenge."
Jay walked back in the hotel and found the two girls. "I let them go," he said, slowly approaching the girls.
Byte shook her head as she shot a look at Jay. "You let them go?" she asked angrily.
"Yes. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Yeah, there is. They're going to be back, Jay, and god knows what they'll do next. We should've deleted them when we had the chance."
"The girl's got a point," Java said before glancing at Jay.
He sighed softly then placed a hand on Byte's shoulder, "Alright fine, we'll have an extra guard standing by."
"I don't think that's gonna do," Java interrupted then leaned against Byte, "Why don't Byte, Siva, myself, and a few guards pay a visit to the Aphasias?"
"And what are you guys going to do there?"
Byte smiled slightly after hearing Java's suggestion. She couldn't agree with her more. What Java usually meant by "taking care of business" was that she'd deal with them her way. Her way was usually a method of negotiating that would make the mafia jealous. "Do business ourselves," she replied. Java nodded in agreement.
"You guys can go ahead and do that. But remember, we're trying to befriend these people...so keep the fighting to a minimum."
"Oh, we'll definitely keep the fighting to a minimum," Java smirked.
"General, Commander Java, Lieutenant Byte, Lord Ram would like to see you," a guard called out.
The three turned to the guard and were quick to follow. Upon entering the computer room Java took her place next to Ram as the other two stood in front of them
"Yes Ram?" Jay said.
Ram turned around and shot a glare at Byte. "You go and fight the people we are trying to befriend."
"They attacked me first, what was I supposed to do?"
"You were there, weren't you, Siva?" he asked after seeing Siva walk through the door.
Byte looked over to Siva and gestured to her as if to say, "Come on and cut me some slack."
Siva saw Byte's signal and nodded. "Yeah, they provoked the fight."
Ram sighed. "If that's all they did, fine. But let this be a warning to you, Byte, the next time you cause a discrepancy amongst our soon-to-be allies, you're gonna pay for it. Got that?"
"Yes, Ram," she replied quietly.