Quick Thursday update because I'm trying to post five this week. Just to keep me organized.
And yes I have finished typing the last few chapters! Now to work on the cover later!
R&R people; much appreciated really.
"Come here Jacks'" Slyder veered her attention away so they could walk off elsewhere. He place his good arm around her, hoping to somehow calm her down. Digit hesitated, but he followed behind; knowing he was better off staying away from the tension.
Inez was angered. How could he? Didn't he trust her? Have even a bit of faith? Why didn't he tell her at all? He was going to sit around and let it fall on him without anyone knowing.
"Why?" She could barely speak.
"Because, Inez, if I told you, I would have to tell everyone. Why would I put that kind of mental stress on all of us when where in this shit?" Matt retorted. "And I got scared. I choked when I had to tell you. And I just decided it was better to leave it alone."
"You lied to me." Inez shook her head. "After times I asked is everything ok. You didn't tell me about your father calling you, and now this? Do you care about what I feel about you!?"
Matt's entire body was burning with so many emotions, "Of course I do! I always did! And I had to step back and think about somethings weren't just worth telling. Because of this."
Inez couldn't speak. "After all we've been through...you still don't understand."
Matt's fists clench, "That's not-" As Max stepped up and shook his head.
"Perhaps the rest of you may need to reconsider your plans now...or sometime to adjust to this." Max told Inez. "This does not mean that it's for certain Matt will die. Anything is possible." As Max turned to his brother, "We need to see your father. It will only be a short amount of time, but I have picked up on his location."
Matt didn't respond, but only gestured with a shrugged shoulder as he walked off. Max turned to the mortal girl.
"The rest of us will be fine." Inez barely said, with her back to Matt.
"Like I said, things may change." As Max hinted and followed Matt outside.
/
It was no time Max teleported himself and Matt to the location of his father's lab. It was covered in moss and other plants as if it was abandoned. Max gestured to Matt to follow him.
He opened a hatch near a shed and went down. Matt checked and shortly followed behind.
Down the hatch was a tunnel way, damp with freshwater streaming on the wall and lightbulbs. The closer they got to meeting his father, the more anxious Matt got. He could feel his mind over thinking things and formulating ridiculous questions. More importantly, he wanted to be as formal and harsh as possible because his father deserve it for abandoning him for this place.
"Here." Max placed a hand on a large steel door. He stood there, not moving.
"What are you doing?" Matt raised a brow.
"Thinking." As his glance shifted, "It's nothing."
"If Dad really knows how to save our worlds we need to know everything Max. Are you willing to choke him out if he doesn't?" I smiled wickedly. Max rolled his eyes as he pushed the doors.
Inside was a very large room. It was not only large, but also pitch dark with only the dim light from TV screens flickering. Then a single lamp sat on the table with piles of paper and equipment. Matt stepped forward, descending further in the room and taking a breath:
"Father?" Matt said out loud.
Nothing.
Max scanned the room, his eyes flickering blue as he examined each square inch. Further towards the end of the room, was his father slouched over a laptop, breathing slowly.
"Down there." Max pointed straight ahead and walked. Matt followed, shoving his hands in his green jacket. By a visible distance, Matt stopped as his throat went dry and his hands became clammy. Then his body began to shake and shiver with heat.
He was furious.
With cautious steps, he made it about 10 feet closer until he sat in a swivel chair, hands on his knees and back straight. Max stood on the other side; best not revealing himself to his own creator yet.
"Dr. Terabyte." Matt said bitterly as the doctor raised his head. "Or should I say, Dad? No, that's too informal."
/
Dr. Kenneth "Terabyte" McCann turned around fully facing his son. He was certainly Matt's father, with looks passed down to him despite being 30 years older. His reddish hair was pulled back into a ponytail as he wore rounded goggles on his head and had deep green eyes; worn from years of staring at computer screens. He had a few wrinkles along his forehead, lids, and jowl.
"Matthew..." His voice was sad. He wanted to play catch-up, but as soon as he saw the bitter look from his 17-year old son's face, he knew he wasn't the frivolous little boy he was about 5 years ago. And he had every right to despise him.
"I'm not interested in bonding and spending quality time, Dad." Matt said.
"We have other issues to take care of. Like Earth." Dr. Terabyte nodded.
Matt scoffed, "Earth? You're saying it as if Earth is your home. You practically abandoned Earth. You abandoned us."
"I left that year because Doctor Marbles called me. And he needed help." Dr. Terabyte tried to explain to his son. "Your mother didn't know I was travelling between dimensions, and even if I tried to tell her she'll name me as a nutcase. And I know you haven't told her either."
"I haven't. Because I never really see her anymore." Matt retorted. "God, what awesome parents you are raising me."
Dr. Terabyte silent sat in a wooden chair.
"Now, since I'm here, I might as well tell you how my fucking life has been as of now. Your smartass son is getting full scholarships to the most prestigious tech schools. He's about to graduate as second of the senior class, but I don't think you really care about that now."
"Now Max-" Dr. Terabyte stopped as Matt's face stretched with anger.
"Max...MAX?" Matt got up. "YOU CALLED ME BY MAX?"
Dr. Terabyte hung his head. Matt threw whatever was on the desk on the floor.
"I'm not even fuckin' done with my story! In fact, after middle school I was isolated from my best friends for three fuckin' years. Those three years were hell. I did drugs before, I had sick damn migraines that wouldn't go away because I later found out a nutcase called Hacker wanted to mind-control me! Then, THEN, when Doc calls, suddenly, my best friends decided to form back the old squad!"
"Matt...please." Dr. Terabyte tried. Matt stepped towards his old man, jerking his neck collar.
"I wasn't DONE!" Matt yelled at him. Dr. Terabyte grimaced.
"And now, I'm hearing so many twisted stories that all revolve around me, and now I'm waiting to die REALLY soon. It's thanks to you that now our lives are revolving around two worlds that need fuckin' saving. Because of YOU, you pissed off Hacker, and that YOU created Max and now...NOW?! You REPLACED ME!" Matt shoved his dad back into the table as his hip hit the edge. He hissed, gripping.
"Stop it Matt." Max stood out from the shadows. "That's enough."
"You shut up. Who gave you any right to try to make peace? All this time you're been a complete asshole." Matt snarled at his face. Dr. Terabyte glanced up at his creation, marveled and at the same time disoriented.
"We're not going through this. If you're going to waste time to slowly kill your father you might as well kill yourself so you can leave Cyberspace to me." Max hissed.
"No." Matt said.
"Okay then." Max snarled. Then he half-turned to his creator, a long stare that reflected a silent conversation between the two.
"We don't have time for family feuds. I need to know how we can save Cyberspace. And it has something to do with stopping Dr. Alvin and Hacker." Max said.
"Alvin...? He's alive? No...he's the worse..." Dr. Terabyte shook his head as he typed away.
"Sir." Max said formally. " I'm aware that Dr. Alvin was planning to betray me for a while. But I'm not aware of his power really...why is Dr. Alvin a threat?"
Dr. Terabyte shook his head. "He's planning the biggest revenge. Hacker is opening the portal, but as soon as he does that, Alvin is going to trample him with his own army and then...Hacker is no longer the biggest threat. Alvin doesn't want to rule both worlds; he was to combine the two to create a 4th dimension and with that, he wants to start an apocalyptic war between Earth and Cyberspace." He ran a hand through his hair. "You have to stop him if not Hacker. Because when he's on the other side, there will be no escape."