Chapter 5 - Infection
"We'll never surrender to you Megabreath!"
"Never is a long time child. You are rats caught in my trap! I await your unconditional surrender."
Enzo & Megabyte / episode - To Mend and Defend
Mainframe - The Principal Office Arboretum
Phong always wanted to do gardening in his spare time. With Dot full acting Command.com, he wanted to show his appreciation for the valiant fight his friends made to save Mainframe from utter destruction. So did all the citizens of the city. A memorial would be put up, a living one to show growth out of the ashes of Megabyte's viral war. A section of the Principal Office quickly got converted to serve as an indoor park simply called The Arboretum. It would be for the private use of those who came and went from the Principal Office, a simple garden to visit and a quiet place for the sprites of Mainframe to meet.
The old sprite was up very early to supervise the arrival of now add ons to the garden.
"Careful!" Phong directed several construction binomes carrying in a stone bench. "Those are very delicate."
"They're also very heavy," a zero binome griped as they put it down in the garden's center.
Phong smiled, trying not to become too overwritten by pride. The B-trees were planted. Grass had already been rolled into place. Light came in through a series of artificial lanterns with some additional vidwindow hook ups from Floating Point Park to create the illusion of a sky inside the structure. All Phong had to do were plant flower beds. Daisywheels and prism blooms were the best choices. He also wanted a small white fence around the largest B-tree called the Peace Tree. It served as the center piece for the garden, a symbol of growth and endurance for all of the people of Mainframe. The binome's finished putting the benches in a circle surrounding the Peace Tree. One of them warned Phong. "We've got company."
Frisket wandered into the Arboretum. The dog still had a file patch around his neck to cover his recent wound. Phong spoke to him. "Frisket. You are not supposed to be up yet."
The dog admired the trees and barked in an excited manor.
"Oh dear," moaned Phong.
The binomes scattered as Frisket bounded towards the Peace Tree. His nose bumped against a shield of energy. Frisket snarled and backspaced, turning to look at Bob. The Guardian's Glitch powers had intercepted Frisket in time. Phong let out a large sigh of relief.
"Sorry Frisket," Bob said, "but that tree is not for your personal use."
Frisket snorted as Little Enzo ran in. "Frisket! You still need to rest. I'll take you to Floating Point later. Then you can have all the trees you want."
The dog came to the child and let Enzo pet his snout. Little Enzo looked at Bob. "I forgot to say thanks Bob. You really helped Frisket out. Even if he doesn't know how to thank you."
"It's never a problem Enzo."
"Are we going to play Jet Ball soon?"
"It's early Enzo! I still have to have breakfast with your sister. We'll be on the court soon enough."
"Good! We're going to clean Matrix and AndrAIa's clock speeds out! Come on Frisket."
The cyberdog woofed and followed his master out. Phong dismissed the binomes from their work and turned to Bob. "Ah youth! It is nice to see some innocence in Mainframe again."
"Copy and paste that Phong," Bob walked over to the Peace Tree.
"Thank you for your assistance. I'm going to have to put the fence up. Today of possible. And I'll ring it with flower beds."
"Daisywheels?" Bob asked as he touched the tree's bark.
"Of course. The fence will only be for decoration. I don't want to hinder anyone from being able to touch the tree."
"Except Frisket."
"Truly. We needed a beacon for the Mainframers to relate to. Something to show them the worst is behind them."
"No Phong. The worst is still coming."
"Daemon."
"Yes. And something else is troubling me, old friend. I made a promise to Dot. I can't keep it."
"What promise my son?"
"She asked me never to leave her again. I told her I promised but...It's not possible. Not after what happened yesterday. I have to go back, Phong."
"Where? Not the Web I hope. The Super Computer?"
"No. Questworld. I know it sounds self-centered."
"You miss them, don't you?" Phong smiled. "I wish I could have seen them in person myself. They are such wonderful children. And quite a blessing to all of us."
"But Phong, it's more then that. I'm worried. I don't trust the clone. When I was trapped in Questworld the loneliness was deleting me inside faster then the poisoning of my program. Something isn't right about him. I think he might be dangerous."
Phong stroked his beard. "That is rather disturbing news since you are the reason for his existence."
Bob sat down on one of the benches. "I know. I'll feel responsible if something goes wrong. But am I over reacting on purpose just so I can have a reason to return? It could be I've missed Jonny and Jessie too much and I'll try anything to go back."
"They are more than friends to you."
"We share loss. Jonny needed someone to understand how he missed his mother. And I felt for him. I miss my parents."
Dot had crept in the Arboretum and listed to half the conversation. Becoming guilt stricken, she revealed herself and said, "I miss my parents, too."
Phong quickly dismissed himself with a flurry of excuses. "I think I left my tea pot boiling. And I have to order the daisywheels. And find out about the fence. Pardon me."
The old sprite wheeled away to leave Bob and Dot alone. Bob stood up and put his arms out. Dot learned from the first time Bob had wanted her to hug him, not to reject any appropriate request for affection for him. She came to him, letting Bob hold her tight around her waist. Dot put her arms about Bob's neck, her fingers brushing the silvery scars under his Web worn hair. They kissed. When they finished, he spoke. "Dot. I love you. You know how much I do now. I never want to leave."
"You asked me yesterday if you could go. I said yes, remember?"
"Actually you said you'd think about it."
"But I can't tell you no. And you can take me with you."
"No way! Not with him there!" Bob blinked and wondered again, "Am I jealous of myself?"
"It sounds like it. But you also said you sensed something else."
"Spying, Miss Matrix?" He teased. "It's not like you."
"Do you think something is wrong?"
"We'll discuss this over breakfast. I'm going to have to deal with a mixed doubles match of Jet Ball in a few milliseconds."
The Real World
As a usual habit, Jonny, Jessie and Hadji were up early the next day to go to the Lighthouse but held off going until late in the afternoon for Estella's sake. She still had a wellspring of uneasiness about her only child being friends with a strange, almost alien creature. To relieve Estella's anxiety, Race volinteered to go inside Questworld.
The four of them walked slowly to the Lighthouse talking about everything.
"After what happened yesterday," Race reminded them, "you have to consider the risks your taking logging in. I hate to mention Surd but if you had just logged out at the first sign of trouble, Estella might not be so on edge now."
"They needed us Race," Jonny interrupted. "And we needed to be beside them. We aren't users and sprites to each other. We're friends. We'll always be friends."
"Take it easy Jonny. Bob and I are very close. When I call him a buddy I mean it. I only figured to keep peace with Estella, I'd better keep an eye on you two for the rest of her visit."
"It's no big deal Race. You could use some game practice."
"I'm no game player Jonny. Bob, Matrix and AndrAIa are."
"I feel sorry for Enzo."
"Me too," Jessie thought about the brutish sprite. "He was such a cute little kid."
"Now he is a wounded tiger," Hadji compared, "trying to still be what Bob wanted."
"But he is a Guardian? Isn't he?" Jonny wondered.
"He has skills Jonny," Race said, "but it looks all rough cut. I mean how do you train to be a Guardian with no one around to teach you how?"
Jonny became glummer. "I'm glad we swore off of games like the one we played yesterday. I never want to treat sprites the way the rest of the world does."
"Maybe beating me at Zip Drive will make you feel better," Jessie said.
"Hey! Beating you isn't even half a battle!"
"We'll see."
They entered the Lighthouse computer room. Hadji froze at the door's threshold mush the way Estella had the previous day.
"What's wrong Haj?" Jonny asked.
"I got the strongest sensation as if we were being watched."
"Hadji. You sound like a Bugs Bunny cartoon."
The eldest teen used his dark eyes to study the security cameras in the room. They were pointing at them, a normal response. Then why did it make him so nervous? "Let me run a diagnostic of the computer."
"Whatever," Jonny shrugged to Jessie, confused by Hadji sudden compulsion for intense caution.
Hadji placed himself at the main terminal and booted up Questworld. He said, "IRIS? Please respond?"
"Good morning Hadji Singh."
"Run system check."
A pause. "All systems running normal."
"Check again."
Another pause. ""All systems running normal."
"Okay. Where is Bob?"
"Guardian 452 is in the main game grid."
As if he knew we were coming, thought Hadji. "Let me talk to him."
Bob's image appeared in the monitor windows. He appeared normal. Bob smiled. "Hey guys. You're a bit late today. Race! Did the kids convince you to play?"
"Actually it was Estella's idea. I hope you won't take it the wrong way."
"Not at all. I'm pleased you'd come in for a game. I have something special in mind. I've been working on it since last night."
"What's it called?"
"Megaworld."
The users all looked at each other in shock. Jonny asked. "Uh...Bob? Isn't that name a bit...well...viral?"
"Hey! I believe you had a game called MegaQuest once. I never got insulted by it."
"You weren't here to play it against Surd."
"Come on you guys! Lighten up! It's only a game! It'll be fun!" Bob emphasized.
"Okay," Jonny sat in one of the VR chairs. As Jessie sat beside him he whispered. "Do you think Bob's upset because of Dot?"
"Wouldn't you be if your girlfriend was going out with someone else?"
"The only difference is, that someone else is Bob."
Race sat in the third chair and placed the VR helmet generator over his ear. "Let's try to keep this game brief, Bob."
"Trust me, Race," Bob winked. "It will all be over before you know it. Hadji. Start the count down."
Hadji did so without voicing any more reservations. "Questworld log on! Subjects, Jonny Quest, Jessie Bannon and Race Bannon. Countdown. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Going hot!"
Megaworld
Jonny, Jessie and Race stood in the middle of an arid, sun scorched plain. The earth under their feet was cracked from the lack of water for what seemed miles. Vents of steam escaped from fishers in the ground. Desert mountains loomed over the landscape as if it were locking them in.
"What kind of game is this?" Race asked.
The teens were equally disturbed and perplexed. Jessie commented, "This is nothing like we've ever written. Even with Bob's help. It feels so negative."
"Oh man! Look at that!" Jonny pointed to a rocky cliff towering over the landscape. On top was a prefect Questworld replica of Silicon Tor.
Race cuffed his hands above his eyes to shield him from the glare as he studied the structure. "It looks like a cobra's head."
"Dad," Jessie explained. "It's Silicon Tor. It's the place Megabyte lived in when he infected Mainframe."
"Then what is Bob trying to do? Recreate Mainframe?"
"If so why do the Tor? And create this desert?"
"The Tor would be the last thing Bob would make," Jonny said. "Bob said Megabyte was erased from Mainframe. So if Megabyte got taken out of Mainframe, the Tor would be gone. And now its here..." Jonny thought. "How come my flesh is starting to crawl."
Jessie called out. "Hadji? What's our stasis?"
No answer.
"HADJI?!"
Nothing.
"I don't like this," Race said.
"IRIS. Please respond," Jonny requested.
The computer replied in a cheerless tone. "Welcome to Megaworld. Are you ready to play users?"
"MEGAWORLD!?!" The three users repeated. Even though Bob used the reference before they logged in, they never expected IRIS to say it. And in such a cryptic way.
Race became very angry. "This had better be some sick joke Bob's playing."
"If it is, it's not funny," Jessie's words came out shaky as fear stared to set in.
"IRIS!" demanded Jonny, "Where is Bob?"
"The Guardian of Megaworld is approaching your location. Please stand by."
"I'm not going to stand here and wait," Race started walking towards the Tor. As he did long octopus style tentacles began to burst out of the ground around them. "What is this?!"
"Surd virals! I remember fighting these things. They're Level 4!"
As more tentacles broke out of the ground Race screamed. "Run kids!"
The vents burst open. Mini volcanoes started to throw up plums of fire. Jessie thought of her nightmares. She saw a Level 2 Surd viral among the growing tide of octopus tentacles.
**BOB!** she thought.
Mainframe - Dot's Diner
Bob almost choked on a swallow of java. He coughed into his napkin.
"Bob?" Dot worried. "Are you okay? Was it too hot?"
Bob shook his head. "No. I thought you yelled at me."
"No. You must have been hearing things."
Little Enzo burst in the Diner. "Come on Bob! Let's go already!"
"Coming," Bob got up. "Talk about playing early Enzo! I'd almost think Matrix isn't up yet."
"Bob? Are you sure you're up to it? You look ...scared."
"It's nothing," he kissed her cheek. "I'm sure it's nothing."
Bob didn't believe his own words.
The Real World
Dr. Quest and Estella were in the living room drinking coffee and talking about her archeology finds of the past few weeks. Bandit slept in front of the fireplace, wishing it were a colder day so he could bask in the hearth's warmth.
The intercom buzzed. Dr. Quest got up to answer.
"Yes Hadji?"
"Dr. Quest. You had better come to the Lighthouse. We have a problem."
Megaworld
The eruptions of flames and tentacles kept driving the users towards the Tor. The sky turned to a bloody red to emphasizing the infection over running Questworld.
"Jonny!" Race shouted. "I can't access any weapons!"
"Neither can I! Everything is offline! Our access has been denied!"
IRIS told them, "All weapons systems are under Megaworld's control. You didn't say please!"
IRIS laughed. Jessie tired hard not to grow hysterical. She run on beside he father, still believing he could protect her from what was here. She pressed back her fear by saying angrily, "The best antiviral technology and its all gone!"
"Look!" Jonny yelled.
They saw Bob, now repainted to Megabyte's colors. The tentacles stopped pursuing the users and formed a wall behind them to prevent any retreat. Race stood between the teens and Bob, not knowing if the worse threat was behind them or in front.
"Hi guys," Bob waved, "It's nice of you to come in and stay for a while."
"Where is Bob?" Jessie demanded.
"Awww Jessie! It's me. I know I've had a bit of a makeover, but Megabyte loves these colors. Its a viral fashion statement. He let me keep the hair the same." Bob tapped his silicon tresses but all Jessie focused on were the green and red eyes.
"But you were fine minutes ago!"
"Questworld is its own reality. It didn't take much to fool you into thinking nothing was wrong. Megabyte's been here for days, waiting for the final infection to overwrite IRIS so he can start reshaping his new home. Megaworld!"
"How could you be infected?" Jonny marveled at the change. "You're a Guardian. You told me guardians were immune."
"Bob was immune! When IRIS created me she recreated a new body from your Questworld technology! You left me with only Questworld antiviral protection! It wasn't good enough!"
The ranting were not from the infection alone. There were truthful statements within the anger. Race asked straight forward, "What do you want?"
"Megabyte has most of what he needs right now. You were an add on Race. I figured I could lure the kids into Questworld again after I failed to access them yesterday."
"You were infected and yet you helped the kids and the others?! Why?"
"I fought the infection because of Dot. I didn't want her to be nullified. But those last fragments of reason are now removed. I am totally under Megabyte's control now and he expects the children to be sent to him immediately."
"I won't let you take the kids anywhere!" Race clinched his fists, ready to fight hand to hand.
"Oh boy. You want to do this the hard way," Bob came closer. "Okay. Gloves are off!"
Bob's right hand morphed to an anvil. He sent in slamming into Race's stomach. The blow lifted him off the ground and deposited him several feet away. Jessie screamed. "DADDY!"
The teen kneeled beside him. Race moaned and told them, "Run..."
Race's VR form passed out. Jonny grabbed Jessie's arm. "Come on! We have to get out of here!"
Each of the teens felt their shoulder grabbed by vice like hands. Jessie saw electric blue skin and yellow nails on her shoulder. She winced. Tears came out of her VR eyes.
Jonny turned his head to see Megabyte's face only game inches from his own. The virus's eyes glowed.
"Leaving? That would be very rude, boy!"
Mainframe - Kits Sector
Bob grabbed his head, feeling a headache come on him for a moment. He heard crying. He looked at Enzo, puzzled.
"Hey Bob? You sure you're up to playing?" the child asked.
Bob concentrated. The sensation vanished. "Were you crying about something?"
"Bob? Are you going random on me? Do you have to see a diagnostic program?"
Bob thought. "No. I'm sure it's nothing."