"I just don't understand it," Hacker mumbled as he stared at the screen. It showed recent power levels for Control Central, including the power spike. "Motherboard should be destroyed, I left practically nothing intact."
It was driving him crazy. He wanted to know what caused the power surge but he also wanted to move on and take over Pyramida. Buzz and Delete watched him obsess over the screen. They knew what the surge could mean, and secretly hoped Motherboard had somehow been rebooted. They had never meant to take over Cyberspace this way. A little sabotage and uprising yes, murder no.
"Buzz! Delete!"
"Yeah, Boss?"
"I'm going to declare myself King of Cyberspace in one hour. After that we'll pay Pyramida a little visit to make sure they know who their new ruler is."
"Good idea, Boss. What d'ya want us to do?" Buzz asked.
"I want you two to keep an eye on that silly cyberturkey and these screens. I have a feeling it won't be long before a certain group of goody-goodies attempts a rescue," Hacker said.
"Uh, Boss?" Delete said.
"What?"
"What goody-goodies?"
"The earth brats!"
"Oh," Delete said quietly.
"Don't worry, Boss. Nothin's gonna happen," Buzz tried to reassure him.
"Nothing better," Hacker growled.
"Alright, so we're going to use this shaft to get in," Inez said, pointing it out on the floor plan. "Then, while two of us go find Digit, the other will find Hacker and see what he's up to."
"This is easier when Digit's here. There's four of us then," Matt said.
"If Digit were here we wouldn't be doing this," Jackie pointed out.
"Oh yeah."
"Come on, we'll need our spy gear," Inez said.
"Third room down the hall on the left. Check the closet," Motherboard called.
She was attempting to help Doctor Marbles locate her cure, a mineral called Alganite. There was only one recorded sighting through the centuries, so while it was rare at least they knew it was real. Unfortunately, the citation of the mineral was brief, and made no mention of its location at the time of discovery. While searching they had uncovered many legends about its healing properties, but no actual evidence, though the myths were quite promising provided they could be proven true.
Shrugging, the trio followed her directions, finding their outfits hung neatly in the closet. They each took their own, spreading out to change, Inez choosing the bathroom, Matt the farthest corner of the room, and Jackie the closet.
"This is kinda cool," Matt called as they changed.
"Yeah, it's like we have our own room," Inez agreed.
"Too bad we can't redecorate it," Jackie said, glancing around at the plain furnishings.
"I'm sure Motherboard wouldn't mind if we did, as long as we ask first," Inez said.
"Great! Add it to the to-do list after 'rescue Digit, cure Motherboard, and defeat Hacker'," Jackie joked.
The other two rolled their eyes but couldn't help smiling. At least Jackie was trying to lighten the mood.
"Come on, Jacks. Let's get started on that to-do list," Matt said, a ghost of a smile lingering on his lips.
They headed back into the main room, double and triple checking their gear. Motherboard and Doctor Marbles were bent over books and the skwakpad, lost in their own world.
"We're taking the cybercoop," Inez called, wanting to at least let them know they were leaving.
"Be careful. Remember, Hacker is more dangerous now than ever," Motherboard said, looking up momentarily.
They nodded before heading into the hanger, grabbing the keys for the smaller two-seater coop. Luckily it had been modified so that four could travel in it, but it was still a bit cramped. After a quick discussion it was decided Inez should drive, as she could handle the craft the best. They took off, anxiety twisting their stomachs into knots.
The Wreaker wasn't hard to spot, and Inez landed on top without a sound. They waited to be sure they hadn't been seen before piling out and looking around.
"There!" Jackie said, pointing out the opening to the ventilation system.
They grouped around it, each taking one side to pull loose. It gave way much easier than any of them expected, and before long they were staring into a black abyss.
"Okay, Jackie and I will find Digit. Nezzie, you're on spying duty," Matt said.
"Fine. And don't call me Nezzie!"
"Sorry."
They crawled inside, parting as the vents split. Inez continued down the left shaft, rapidly growing confused at all the split-offs. She wished she had thought to take a picture of the floor plan, then she'd be able to get an idea of where to go. She groaned as she realized she could still get it. Pulling out her skwakpad, she opened a communication link.
"Motherboard, come in Motherboard," she whispered into her skwak.
The screen crackled for a few seconds before Motherboard's face took up the screen.
"Inez? What's wrong? What happened?" she asked, her worry and panic nearly tangible.
"Nothing, nothing!" Inez was quick to reassure, feeling slightly guilty at the relieved sigh that followed. "I just need some help. Can you take a picture of the Wreaker's floor plan and send it to me?"
"Of course."
There was rustling and then a picture popped up. She quickly sent it to Jackie with a note telling her to use it as a rough guide.
"Thanks, Motherboard."
"Anytime, Inez."
Matt and Jackie's luck was no better, but they at least had less options.
"This would be easier if we could see where we are!" Jackie whispered in frustration. Her skwak pinged, distracting her. She pulled it out, grinning happily at the message. "Matt, look! Inez got the floor plan!"
"Where are we?" he asked, turning his head back to face her.
"Um, close to the bridge it looks like. Maybe we should head toward the jail cells?"
"I dunno. That's sort of obvious, and I kinda have a feeling Hacker would want to hold him somewhere different."
"Like where?"
"Like-" he broke off, something catching his attention.
"Matt?"
"Shh!" Matt hissed, hearing something. "Do you hear that?"
"Other than the sound of this place crying to be cleaned? No."
"Listen."
She did, and could just make out a faint hum.
"I hear it," she said. "It sounds like electricity. Where's it coming from?"
"I think it's this way," he said, pointing to a shaft a little ahead and to their right.
"Let's go!"
"Oh man, I'll never find him!" Inez complained to herself, backing out of yet another dead end.
The map had helped, but unfortunately it didn't show her the exact location of the Wreaker's occupants, just rooms. She had already gotten turned around attempting to get to the control room, and now she suspected she was somewhere near the living quarters. She sat back, frowning as she tried to figure out which path to take next. A voice reached her ears, one she'd recognize anywhere. 'Hacker,' she thought. She began going toward the voice, her groan deepening as she got closer. He seemed to be gloating to someone, and she got a bad feeling in her stomach.
"Furthermore, from now on, Motherboard is never to be mentioned unless you're discussing my amazing victory. I am the future! Me, and only me, the handsome borg you all know!"
Inez gasped as she realized he was addressing Cyberspace. She slipped out her skwak, sending a message to Jackie about what was going on.
"Inez says she found Hacker," Jackie read, "and that he's addressing Cyberspace!"
"Good, maybe he'll be busy for a while," Matt responded, fiddling with the grate that separated from the room they suspected Digit to be in.
It fell to the floor with a clang and they froze, worried it had alerted Hacker that something was amiss. When no one came to investigate they hopped out of the shaft, making sure to be as silent as possible. They crept around the room, staring a various pieces of machinery, some of which unnerved them.
"Matt, I think we're in Hacker's lab," Jackie whispered.
They split up, wandering around the seemingly endless space. Something large caught Jackie's eye and she gasped once she got a closer look, alerting Matt to her find. They stared up at a large bird cage dangling about five feet off the ground, the bars and frame crackling with electricity. Bolts and wires littered the ground around and underneath the cage, causing both of them to get an uneasy feeling in thee stomachs, especially since oil was leaking out of the bars and onto the floor.
"Matt, do you think?"
"Yeah, it's the type of thing he would do."
"How are we supposed to get up there without getting shocked?" Jackie asked.
"I don't know, but we better figure something out. I don't like the way this looks."
"Wait, don't our gloves have rubber pads on them?" Jackie asked, turning her hands over to stare at her palms.
Sure enough, the pads of her hands and fingertips had a thin coating of rubber.
"Of course! We can open the cage and not get hurt! Good thinking, Jacks!" Matt said.
"Give me a boost."
Matt cupped his hands and lifted her up, taking her offered hand once she was balanced. They gripped the bars and peered inside, hearts stopping.
"Digit," they breathed out.
Inez gasped as Hacker cut the broadcast, not taking nearly as long as she thought he would. She waited until he had left the room before removing the vent cover and following him. For a moment she thought he would lead her to where he was keeping Digit, but at the last second he veered left and headed to the bridge. She crouched outside the door, barely peeking around the frame.
"Buzz, Delete, have there been any changes?" Hacker asked.
"No, Boss, everything's the same," Buzz answered.
"No power surges? No attempts to regain power?"
"No Boss, it's just like you left it."
"Good. This means that Motherboard hasn't been rebooted. Marbles must not yet be aware of what's happened. Keep it that way!" he snapped.
Inez couldn't help but smirk as she learned they'd managed to keep Hacker in the dark.
"Right, Boss! We'll watch the screens, won't we Dee Dee?"
"Yeah, just like you said!"
"Good! Don't move from this spot! I'm going to pay a visit to that sniveling cyberturkey."
Inez blanched and backed away, ducking into a small unlit hallway. She held her breath as Hacker passed, relieved when he didn't notice her. She pulled out her skwak.
"Inez to Jackie! Come in Jackie!" she whispered.
"Here, what's up?"
"Have you found Digit?"
"Yeah, and it doesn't look good."
"Hacker's heading your way, you have to hurry!" Inez hissed.
"We're on it! Meet you back at the coop."
Inez ended the call, biting her lip worriedly before working her way back to the vent she had come out of.
"I hope they make it," she whispered to herself.
"Matt, you heard her we have to hurry," Jackie said, putting away her skwak.
"I know, but this lock is gonna be tricky. And honestly, I'm sort of a fraud to move him."
"We have to, Matt. We can't leave him here."
"I know. Okay, just be ready to go when I get it off," he said, pulling out some bolt cutters and a metal pin, hoping he could just pick the lock.
"You think you can get him by yourself?" Jackie asked, watching him work.
"Maybe, why?"
"Because I'm going to get all his parts off the floor."
"Yeah, yeah I'll be fine. Just make sure you get everything."
She jumped down, quickly gathering all the parts and circuitry and shoving them in her backpack. She winced as her hands cot covered in oil, and she tried desperately not to think about where the slick substance had come from.
"I got it!" Matt yelled as the door swung open.
He slipped inside, nearly slipping in the oil. Digit looked even worse up close, oil still leaking from his inner cavity, wires poking through and out, gears loose. He went toward him, hesitant to pick him up.
"Be careful, Matt!" Jackie called, unable to see what was happening.
"I know, I got it," he called back.
"Do you now?" a familiar voice growled from the doorway.
"Hacker!"
"Hello, children." He swept into the room, bolting the door behind him. "Going somewhere?"
"Yeah, out of here!" Matt yelled, scooping Digit into his arms, rougher than he would have liked.
"Not so fast!" Hacker yelled, throwing a switch.
Digit began to thrash around, his core popping and sparking.
"What's happening?!" Jackie yelled, seeing the flashes and hearing the circuitry sizzle.
"Take one more step and I'll fry his circuitry, just like I did to your previous Motherboard."
Matt and Jackie glared.
"You don't get to talk about her," Matt growled.
Seeing he had hit a sore spot, Hacker grinned, a manic gleam in his eyes. Jackie took a step back, the look setting her on edge.
"What, the little kiddies miss their mommy? Boo-hoo." Matt's eyes flashed. Hacker grinned, enjoying the boy's reaction. "Don't you like her upgrade? It suits her uses so much better."
Digit continued to twitch and thrash, Matt not moving. Getting an idea, Jackie began to creep toward the lever while Hacker was distracted.
"Shut up," Matt growled, the urge to punch the cyborg in the face growing stronger by the second.
"Ooh, I'm so scared," Hacker said, his words drenched in sarcasm. He laughed, the sound chilling. "Put the bird back."
Jackie threw the switch, shutting off whatever he had done to Digit.
"Matt, run!" she yelled, already heading for the vent.
He jumped off the cage, dodging Hacker's surprisingly coordinated grab. Jackie grabbed a length of rope, throwing it up and looping it around one of the screws that had attached the vent cover. She climbed up, Matt hot on her heels. He grabbed the rope and she began to pull him up. The boy gasped as he felt Hacker grab his foot.
"Not this time, you meddling miscreants!"
Matt, in desperation, kicked back with his other foot, hoping to free himself. He connected, though he didn't look back, Jackie resuming pulling as soon as he felt the borg's grip slacken. He pushed Digit into the vent first, Jackie taking him as he crawled in.
"Come on, we've gotta hurry!" she said, crawling as fast as she could.
Inez was pacing back and forth nervously as she waited for her friends. She had the worst feeling in the pit of her stomach, the sensation telling her something was about to go horribly wrong. She was just about to call them when she saw Jackie's head pop out of the vent, her body and Matt quickly following. She rushed to open the door to the coop, jumping out of the way as soon as she had done so. Matt and Jackie rushed inside panting.
"Oh my god," she whispered as she saw Digit. He was still twitching, sparks flying and oil leaking down his body. A small black box caught her attention, and she hesitantly reached for it.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Dunno," Jackie panted.
"Inez...go!" Matt wheezed.
"But-" she began to protest.
"Hacker caught us, go!"
She rushed to the controls, needing no further motivation. She took off just as alarms began to blare throughout the Wreaker. She wasted no time hitting hyper speed, getting as far from the Wreaker as quickly as possible. It wasn't until they were sure that Hacker wasn't following them that Inez turned on the autopilot and spun in her seat. Matt and Jackie were leaned over Digit, examining the small box.
Smoke was pouring out of his chest cavity, sparks shooting from his internal core. He was barely breathing.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Hacker threw some sort of lever and shocked him. Before that we don't know, but some of his parts had been pulled out," Jackie answered.
"I hope Doctor Marbles can fix him," Inez said.
"I think he can. I picked up all the parts I could find," the older girl answered.
"I think this is what Hacker used to shock him," Matt said. "I'm gonna get it out, just in case it will still work even though we're away from the Wreaker."
He gave it a tug, and it came free, taking some wiring with it, along with causing a spurt of oil. Matt cringed, upset that he had further damaged his friend.
"Did you find out anything?" Jackie asked Inez, unable to look at the cybird any longer.
"Hacker's watching Control Central. Apparently transferring Motherboard caused a huge power surge. I don't think he knows anything, but he's definitely suspicious."
"Great," Matt groaned. "Can this get any worse?"
"I think we're about to find out," Jackie said as they pulled into a nearly pitch black Control Central.