The rest of the time with Dr. Terabyte, AKA Matt's father, was a blur for Matt. He occasionally glanced back at him consulting his clone son as he listened intently. It was the most calm Matt had seen Max ever.
At the same time he was jealous.
How could his own father easily show more affection for HIS clone more than him? Matt could feel the knife drive deeper into his chest as he stood in the dark and watched.
"Will you be able to help carry out my plan from the outside?" Dr. Terabyte asked Max. He nodded. Then to conclude the meeting he placed a hand on the android's shoulder as a sign of respect. Matt's eyes narrowed.
But Max shrugged him off. "It's better not if you gave me any sort of affection. We both know what's going to happen."
Matt stopped halfway through the door before turning around. He tuned in more on their conversation.
"It was the only way you would be perfect. Without that DNA, you would not be the person you are." Dr. Terabyte explained.
"Sir. There's a lot I think about actually. I don't know who I am because I'm someone who was made with a bit of someone else's DNA. But because they exist already, I am nothing but an extra. But now knowing that you built me with DNA that could reconstruct my entire system by the steady growth of human emotions, I am torn between hatred and gratefulness." Max told his creator. "I'm both weak and powerful."
"I cannot imagine how painful it it...or will be later." D.r Terabyte apologize.
"Please, it will only get worse. After the plan is carried out I won't have to worry about this anymore. I know my purpose." Max stared straight at his old man.
"I'm sorry...Max..." He apologized once more before the doors closed behind them as Max walked ahead with a stale face. Matt shoved his hands in his pocket, unaware that his vintage yo-yo was on him. He took it out and began to flip it.
Max turned to his brother, "You heard our conversation."
"Sure." Matt answered nonchalantly.
"Then I suggest not mentioning it to them." Max kept it simple.
"Why? Why are you dying?" Matt asked. "I thought my father built you to live twice my lifetime."
Max stopped, and he turned, "That was the plan before my destiny was to prevent the inevitable future. If I never handed you those watches I would've found a way to finish Hacker and Alvin myself."
Matt was nose-to-nose with this brother, "Then...why?."
Max groaned in irritation, "Because, I couldn't change the future. That's why."
The two brothers did not speak after that. After a moment, Max lifted his head and signalled that it was time to go back and confront the squad.
/
Max and Matt returned to Slyder's garage in Radopplis, Max entering first with the rest of the gang contemplating. Digit was worried about his friend Inez and Matt. Matt sank into a seat and said nothing.
"Well?" Jackie asked.
"It was a rough reunion. But he only gave me more information that were needed for us to stop them." Max said as he slowly reached into his jacket for the confidential package. Digit's eyes glowed.
"How did you find that?" Digit's jaw was slack. Marbles told Digit where it was, but he swore no one else knew. That was the key. It was the foundation for saving Cyberspace.
"The old control center...locked away. I also scanned you before." Max told the avian. He grimaced, folding his pale arms.
"What is it?" Slyder asked.
Max stared at the glowing white package, "I have a hunch, but it's better if we wait a while." His eyes trailed back to Inez. She did not soften her glanced at the android, as he also felt his brother's eyes bored into his neck. He shrugged off to the next room, the two fighting teens pouting on opposite sides of the room. Inez paced as Matt trailed his yo-yo string with a finger.
"How did it go?" Inez said bitterly. Matt glanced up with tired, depressed eyes.
"As expected, no good. He seemed to favor Max more. Typical." Matt bit his tongue angrily.
Inez leaned against the workshop, "And you didn't do anything to provoke him?"
"Of course I did." Matt growled. "He was my father. He left me! And Mom..." Matt buried his head into his hands. "The more deep the problem gets, the more pain I feel. I feel like I cannot enjoy a bit of happiness." As he looked right at Inez.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I've meant to tell you I had this feeling for the longest...ever since the park. I choked. I just...couldn't..." Matt collapsed, leaning down on the workbench.
Behind all the hurt Matt gave Inez, for not trusting her; for not telling her the secrets he had, she always felt like the burden. Remembering all the past years he's been practically isolated and shadowed with bad dreams and sorry misunderstandings. He would tell her how his Mom was never home, working overnight and out-of-town. She only dropped by to leave money or pick up a few things. And as of that, he's not sorry for seldom remembering quality family time with both parents. He wished once he was dead.
Inez's heart sank at this thought. What I would dream to take everything back...
She walked over to him, leaning down to stare into his watery, sapphire eyes as he had nowhere to retreat from his girlfriend. He couldn't tell if she was still mad at him or actually forgave him. Until she wrapped her arms around his waist, embracing her boyfriend into a tight hug.
Burying his head into the crook of her smooth, olive-skinned neck, he felt once again that he belong in someone's heart at least.
"Better?" Inez gazed at him. Matt lifted his head, his forehead touching hers. He gave her a small smile.
"For now at least." He stroke her cheek with a cool hand. With a gentle pull, he was lifted back up to his feet standing taller than her.
/
The rest of the squad stirred as they saw Matt and Inez approached them in the next room with no tension in the atmosphere.
"Is everything okay with you two?" Digit asked. He knew now that the Earthlings have grown...much closer to one another and it was not a surprise that is.
"Yeah big guy." As he ruffled his head, "Just, minor stuff."
"So what now?" Slyder asked.
"Max said he knew where everyone was. So we need to find them and prove to them it wasn't our fault." Inez said with each pound on her hand. Max folded his arms.
"You need to convince them it was not your fault. And I need to stay out of the picture. That means you're limited to any more help from here on out from me." Max said. He walked outside, running his hand over his ship and opening the hatch to jump in the pilot's seat.
"I think we can handle that much." Jackie said as the rest of the gang followed hopping into the ship. Replacing Inez's old seat by the pilot, was Digit. He knew better to not touch anything. Max turned on all systems with three switch flips and switched on the map.
"We should be there in half an hour. We'll be taking detours to avoid Hacker's men." As he switched on his camouflage and ascended to the depths of Cyberspace. And for old times sake, Matt reached out to grip Inez's hand.