The three teens stood around examining the avian-hybrid that was on standby. He stood with his head bowed and hands resting on his sides. A constant beep sounded from Digit as it indicated his standby status.
"Slyder turned Digit into an android." Matt paced around the renovated avian-hybrid.
"For the past four Cyberdays this is what he's been working day and night doing?" Jackie asked the android. Max fixated his glance on the girl.
"Yes, yes you could assume that." Max said sarcastically. Jackie's face grew darker.
"Why is he on standby?" Inez wondered.
"Recharging. Slyder must've set him on standby mode so he could reload his systems and memory bank. This probably began a few hours ago so it's going to take a few more until he wakes up." Max said. '
Matt sighed, placing his hands on his hip, "Well, what are we going to do? Just wait?"
"Yes." Max ordered. Matt turned. He wasn't sure if it was a demanding attitude he picked up from Max or more of a plead. Why would Max order them to stay? They had plans to find the civilians.
"What do you mean stay? You're taking us to the location right?" Inez checked.
"I did say that. But I have other business to take care of. In the meanwhile I suggest Matt should contact him. And maybe formulate some plans" Max said. "I'll be back later."
Max didn't say another word and teleported without bothering to hear Matt's response. The squad; Matt, Inez, and Jackie stood around, then paced with their thinking caps on.
/
Max landed on the deserted site of the control center. He glanced around at the destroyed headquarters that once belonged to the infamous scientists. There was still one thing that still bothered him. And it lied solely inside.
He activated his jets and began to levitate, realizing a short-circuit from under his feet. He disregard this and continued to fly up to the top. He could see the many levels of what used to be databases and confidential records from the past few hundred cyberyears. He sometimes wondered what it was liked before the Hacker took over.
"Your destination is approximately 234 cyberfeet above." The AI Lyros recorded. Max nodded as he made his way up. Then his security systems automatically turned on as his arm turned metallic.
"1200 cyberfeet is an unknown identified form. Gaining at a speed of 90 mpch. Closing in at 1191 feet, all defense systems are online." Lyros reported. Max whirled to see in the distance his arch-enemy gaining speed with a kamikaze attack. Max activated his boosters to level two and escalated higher up. He didn't have time or possibly the energy to take him down again. He took more than half his charge; who's to say Hacker upgraded his systems so he could take out 80% of his energy. He couldn't risk hitting lower than 15%.
"Identified form; Atreides Socray." Lyros stated. Max growled.
"Lyros can you give me an overview on his stats?" Max hurried as he managed to take cover behind a deteriorated wall inside the old center. He laid low, aware Atreides was no more than 100 feet away looking back and forth. He waited until he took off and began circling.
Max leaned up.
"Atreides Socray: half-cyborg and wolf. Endurance increased by 30%, Speed at 25%, Strength at 30%, Intelligence at 15%. Armor readings showed that it is 40% less penetrable than before; giving us a 30% chance of being able to set him in hibernation." Lyros stated.
"I see. But his weakness is his intelligence. That's all I have to focus on; just outsmart this guy. But for now I need to get to the top. Update me as usual." Max told his AI.
"Of course Maximus." Lyros obeyed. Max looked back and forth and then got up, sprinting into the dark tunnel of the upper level.
/
Dr. Alvin was awoken by the steady explosion nearby his hideout. His cobalt eyes flashed opened as he clawed his way up and dragging himself to the window that cut off any outside light. In the distance, he saw Hacker's drones assembled and heading west from where he was, and by the seconds Dr. Alvin was more awake than before.
He gritted, "Too soon. I needed Max here...just two more days."
He whirled as he grabbed his coat and headed downstairs to his laboratory. Inside were 600,000 synced drones about 10 feet tall with white armor glowing under the light. They were built to mimic the human bodily structure, but with maximized strength and more abilities. Dr. Alvin's eyes widened at his creations; four years it took, and then at his greatest one that stood above the rest; he called it Embrox.
Embrox was built like the other white drones, but he had a builkier structure, smarter AI, greater endurance, and an extended life expectancy than the rest. He was the beacon to leading the army into battle. If Max and Jet were to go one-on-one, he was sure Embrox would be able to take down Max.
Dr. Alvin smiled, I won't be needing Max after this. I'll just go along with things until it's ready.
He pressed a hand over where Embrox's core would be and made his way to his control center to test his super-hyperactive noise cannon. It was his second biggest weapon which could wipe an entire region in 20 seconds. It's powered by a quarter of electricity Cyberspace uses. With this, any more than one blast would wipe all the power in Cyberspace and possible sever the connection between Earth and here forever.
Not yet. Dr. Alvin stared at the thousand-feet wide cannon; glinting with titanium and blue.
/
Dr. Terabyte was never going to give up getting back. He knew he had only a few more chances before he had to resort to last-minute procedures. But his son would contribute greatly in stopping Hacker.
He hesitated, but pressed the touchscreen to dial his number.
And it dialed.
As he waited.
Someone picked up the call, along with a long silence and distant noise in the background.
"Dad?" His voice was almost forced, as well as bitter.