Six months. It had been six months since Hacker had hijacked the Grand Council meeting meant to decide how the sites would band together to combat the villainous borg. Six months since the members of the Council had all found themselves held hostage and had their sites threatened. Six months since anyone had even shown up at a meeting Motherboard had called.
They were all still shaken up, traumatized. Marbles could understand, sympathize even, but that was still no excuse for hiding from the issue at hand. Hacker wouldn't pull back from his plans just because they refused to take action.
The technician drummed his fingers against the table, fruitlessly waiting for the door at the opposite end of the council room to slide open and the first admin to enter. It had been six months. Someone had to have worked up the courage to return by now.
Motherboard watched over the room as always, her expression unreadable. Was she worried as well? Of course she was, even when she didn't show it. The AI had a way of hiding her emotions when she wanted, especially when she was deep in thought. Marbles waited quietly for her instructions, each moment of silence growing increasingly louder as it became clear no one was coming.
He reached for the phone in front of him on the table. It was time someone held these "Council Members" responsible. First up would have to be Zeus. What excuses would the Ruler of Olympus have?
After a minute or two, he slammed the phone back onto the receiver. "He said he would have come but is required to judge some sporting event, I didn't catch the name." The God must have been desperate if he thought such a flimsy excuse was the least bit believable. "It would be easy enough for him to create a stand in if he had the least interest in doing so."
"Relax, old friend. Our allies will return if given time."
"I'm just not sure how much time we have. Before Hacker decides to make his next move. His latest attack on Mt. Olympus nearly succeeded in toppling it." He pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "I can not comprehend why Zeus still refuses to see the necessity of acting. What good is a cyber council if it disbands when it is most needed?"
"If we force them, it will only push them away further. Hacker has caused their alliance with us to waiver through fear. In order to win them back we must provide something stronger. And so far, I'm afraid we have not done enough."
"Then? What?" He glanced up at the cyber ruler, hoping she had an answer, or plan of action, or… anything.
Silence.
"We need to find you a cure," said the technician, rising from his seat. "That's the only answer. Once you're back to full strength. Nothing else will matter. There will be no more need for allies. And no need for fear."