Chapter 6 - File-Locked
"Why are you keeping me alive?"
"So you can witness my final triumph Dr. Quest."
"I'm relieved. For a moment I thought you might be letting greed overshadow your megalomania!"
Dr. Zin & Dr. Quest / episode - Nemesis
The Real World
Dr. Quest stood behind Hadji, looking over Hadji's view screen monitor for Questworld. There was only static on the screen. Hadji gave an over view of what happened. "After logging them in I lost all contact. No visuals or audio input. The fail safes have broken down. A neural lockout has activated. If I try to remove them from Questworld, the computer will fry their nervous systems."
"It's Surd's style."
"But it can't be Surd."
"Can't it?" Estella stood beside her daughter holding the girl's hand. Jessie had tears rolling down her cheeks, a sign of severe distress. "He has every reason to attack them. Especially Jessie. She imprisoned him in Questworld in the first place. What if he escaped?"
"No," Hadji insisted sadly. "It's not Surd. I heard them speaking only a few minutes ago. And they said-"
"Megabyte," Jonny said. Estella glanced as the blonde haired teenager as he continued, "You won't get away with this!"
Megaworld- Silicon Tor
"Deja vu!" snickered Bob.
"Indeed," purred Megabyte. "But this time things will be quite different!"
Megabyte and Bob dragged Jonny and Jessie to Silicon Tor. Megabyte enjoyed pulling Jonny along by the hair. The teenager fought hard to keep his footing so the forceful yanking wouldn't hurt so much. Jessie only faired a little better. Bob had Jessie's arm twisted behind her back, pushing her along. Jessie's face winched from pain. Thinking of Race unconscious in the game grid among the virals must have also spurred on the tears in Jessie's eyes.
On the inside, Silicon Tor looked exactly like the one in Mainframe. All it lacked were the viral binomes to administer to Megabyte's needs. In there stead were Surd virals. Several Level 2 Evolution viruses came up to Megabyte. The biped creatures were as blue as their new master. One brushed up against his leg like a cat. Two Level 3 virus, huge nightmarish bull monsters with glowing eyes and rows of sharp teeth stood on either side of Megabyte's thrown.
"Ah. Home sweet home!" Megabyte sighed. "I wanted it to look much the same as before but I opted to use Surd's viral creations for a new touch. I'm sure you find them quite interesting my young Mr. Quest."
"I eat Surd's virals for breakfast, Megadope!" Jonny grimaced. "I'm not scared of them or you!"
"Still as spirited as ever. I'll have to rectify that! Bob's clone told me all about your encounter with certain detestable foes of mine."
"Yes!" spat Jessie, trying to find her strength to oppose Megabyte. "You tried to erase them! And you failed!"
"And in the game too!" Jonny still pried at Megabyte's hand. "You couldn't keep full control of Bob! I still don't believe you can! Even after what he said!"
"I am in control boy. Of every pixel of you precious Questworld now! All I need is to convince you father of the same thing." Megabyte threw Jonny into a glass cylinder shaped in the same ominous fashion as the pod he put Bob it before sending him to the Web. It door slid shut, sealing Jonny in.
Jessie was placed in a second glass cage beside him. Jessie pounded on the container. "What about my father! You can't leave him out there! He'll die!"
"Oh Jessie!" Megabyte rolled his eyes. "That's the idea!"
"Awww! Come on MB!" Bob's clone begged as a child. "Can't I have some fun with him first? I promise I'll delete him when I'm done."
"Well..." Megabyte petted the top of one of his Level 3 Evolution virals. "All right. But don't disappoint me again Bob. This time erasure is the only acceptable result. Understood?"
"Yes!" Bob pumped his fist. "This is one fight I'm going to enjoy! Dusting off Race Bannon! Lorrenzo would be so jealous!"
"No!" shouted Jessie. "Please let my father go! You have me and Jonny!"
"Sorry little girl. No mercy rules are in affect. I promise I'll make the end as quick as possible. Unless your father puts up too much of a fight. Of course he's got no weapons. And I don't intend to give him any!"
Bob walked out of the room laughing.
Jessie sunk down to the floor of the cylinder crying.
"If you two will excuse me," Megabyte said, "I have to put in a call to Dr. Quest. It's only fair that I inform him of my intentions to stay permanently in Questworld. I mean Megaworld. IRIS! I need access to the holographic interface!"
"Complying."
Megabyte left the thrown room. His pair of Level 3 virals stayed to guard the teens. Jonny's mind worked at trying to figure a way out while Jessie's fell deeper into a despair only one sprite could save her from. And he was in Mainframe.
Mainframe - Jetball Courts
Long ago Jetball was a game the original Enzo enjoyed playing against Bob. It only seemed further away because of the game acceleration that aged him prematurely. Back then he used his youth and small stature as an advantage over Bob's skill. Now his size and bulk make him much slowed and unskilled then her used to be. The jet pack felt heavier on his back even though it created a zero g's affect within the spherical court. The mitt however felt much lighter on his hand. Meant to grasp and fire the neon ball, the device delivered the object towards the opponent at such high speeds goggles were required equipment along with a light suit of white padded body armor.
Matrix looked over at AndrAIa, admiring the view as it were. She looked good in the white Jetball outfit and amber goggles. She turned to him and winked, before gesturing for him to pay attention to the game. Bob and little Enzo were winning but not by much. Bob appeared distracted and not up to his usual skill. The guardian made a half hearted launch of the jetball towards AndrAIa. She caught the glowing orb in her mitt and returned to quickly to young Enzo. The child intercepted it before it could reach the goal bucket.
AndrAIa hovered closer to Matrix and whispered, "Bob's not all here."
"I know," Matrix answered.
Enzo fired a return shot. Matrix made the catch. Little Enzo looked at Bob. "Bob? What is it? We should have finished them off already." Bob seemed to be listening for something. Enzo said louder. "Are you sure you can keep going, Bob?"
"What?" Bob noticed Enzo taking to him.
"Bob. Come on. Matrix is waiting to serve the ball. He could have blown it right past you if he wanted."
"Oh. Okay." Bob set himself and waited but his thoughts kept racing along. I heard crying. No. I hear crying. It's so faint. Before I heard someone shout my name. But no one else heard it.
Bob caught the ball and returned fire still thinking, the weeping is getting louder.
Megaworld- Silicon Tor
Jessie had fallen into a grief-filled sleep. She all but willed it as a way to escape what was going to happen but it only grew worse. She saw her dad trapped among the tentacles of a Level 4 virus unable to get free. Questworld Bob came at him, laughing like Megabyte, eyes glowing green. Bob activated his gatling gun and shot Race in the chest.
Mainframe - Jetball Courts
The return shot from AndrAIa hit Bob in the face. The guardian reeled from the impact more then he should have. A quote popped in his head among the images he saw spin through his mind.
"I say, Bob. Nice block!"
"NO!" Bob shouted.
"Bob?!" Matrix flew over to Bob holding his friend by the shoulders. "Bob?! What is it? What's wrong?!"
Bob started breathing hard from anxiety and overwhelming grief. "Questworld! I have to go to Questworld now! Jessie and Jonny are in danger! And Race! I'm going to kill Race!"
"What? Bob you're acting random! Calm down! You're not going to delete Race!"
Little Enzo cuddled up to AndrAIa, scared by how the Guardian acted. Then the child saw Bob do something he never did before. Bob began to cry. The overwhelming truth of what was occurring and his ignorance to have known of it sooner, made him distraught and fearful.
Matrix was moved by Bob's weeping. He spoke calmly to Bob. "Bob. It will be all right. We'll go to Questworld and help. Just tell me what's wrong? Is it Surd?"
"No," Bob sniffed. "It's worse than that. I knew something was wrong with my clone and I refused to see it. My clone's been virally infected! I should have listened to my instincts! I was blind because I wanted to believe everything would be fine for all of us. Now instead of having to plan to fight Daemon, I have to-to-"
How to say it? To tell Matrix the sad fact? To tell his sweet Dot their worst enemy was alive and in Questworld?
"Bob?!" Matrix wanted to shake him. "Tell me!"
Bob swallowed. "I have to go back to Questworld because Megabyte is there."
The Real World
Hacking the system became more and more difficult for Hadji after every attempt. "It appears IRIS keeps reinforcing her lock outs at each attempt I try to get in."
"It would seem Megabyte is as formidable an opponent as Surd," Dr. Quest said glumly. "If only Bob were here."
"He is here Dr. Quest. The problem is he is as much a prisoner as the others," Estella said. She continued to hold her daughter's limp hand in her's while staring at Race, knowing her ex husband was in more danger then her only child.
"I was referring to the original sprite." Dr. Quest redirected. "Apparently our Bob lacked the ability to keep the virus from infecting Questworld."
"But if your Bob couldn't stop him, how can Mainframe's Bob do it?"
"It's something I would even want to know if we were here. Hadji. Keep trying to access Race's sprite form. He needs weapons to defend himself."
Estella screamed. Dr. Quest and Hadji looked up. Megabyte stood in the room. "Dr. Benton Quest? I've come to talk."
Megaworld - Silicon Tor
Jonny pounded on the glass of his prison. "Come on Jessie! Snap out of it!"
Jessie opened her eyes. The fresh nightmares made her more pessimistic. "What's the use Jonny. Bob can't save us. He was my white knight. He even looks like one now. I think he even knows what's going on. But he can't come back."
"Jessie please remember your dad. We got to get out and help him."
"It's so enclosed in here," she sobbed. "I want to get out."
"I'll get you out Jess. Both of us. With a little viral help." Jonny tapped on the glass to get the closest Level 3 viral's attention. "Hey bullface! Want to play China shop?"
The Real World
Megabyte stared for a long moment at Estella, recognizing her facial features and hair color. He smiled making Estella feel a chill crawl up her spine. The virus spoke in a soft, sinister tone. "Ah! Jessica Bannon's mother. What an added bonus. I'm very pleased to meet you."
"What kind of creature are you?!" Estella demanded to know. "What have you done to my daughter?! And Race?!"
"Estella," Dr. Quest came over to her and put his arm around her shoulder. "I'll deal with this. Try to stay calm."
"Dr. Benton Quest," stated Megabyte in admiration. "This is an unforeseen honor. To meet the user responsible for such a magnificent creation as Questworld. And this holographic interface! IRIS was so kind as to inform me of its existence.I had no idea how to communicate with you until then. It is a magnificent display of your talent. You have great genius!"
"Jonny was right. You are as eloquent as you are evil. Surd must have been impressed."
"Do well not to mention that distasteful creature Dr. Quest. He...annoys me."
Bandit walked in the room wanting to find his master. When he saw Megabyte, the brave little dog charged at the virus, snarling and barking. Bandit discovered his teeth clamped down on nothing when he tried to bite Megabyte's ankle. Megabyte glared at the dog in destain. "I thought your son's mongrel would be larger. Like Enzo's cur, I find him a nuisance!"
Megabyte leaned over and hissed at Bandit. The dog yelped and ran to Hadji, jumping in his lap. The teenager gathered the bull dog in his arms and stood up. Hadji said, "You never like picking on anyone your own size. You'd rather throw them into voids or turn them to slaves."
"My dear Hadji. I am a virus. It's my format!"
Dr. Quest went to the point. "What exactly do you want from us Megabyte?"
"My dear doctor, I have practically everything I need. Your Questworld is to be my new home. Your children are to be my guests to make sure you don't interfere. I will retain them until you five me a guarantee you will allow me to remand and I can truly call it Megaworld."
"They can't stay in Questworld indefinitely."
"Nor do I wish to keep them forever. As soon as my hold is secure, I will let them go. Baring of course they behave themselves. There are other issues I want to address."
"Go on."
"I want access."
"To what?"
"Everything, Dr. Quest. Your world is full of computers. They control your military, your transportation, your medical facilities. I intend to take over everything."
"I can't let you do that."
"You will have no choice. Your children maybe hostages but I can erase one of them if you don't do what I say. And since I've a softer spot for Jessica..." Megabyte extended his nails, "I may have to hurt your son!"
Dr. Quest deflated a little. "Every computer has protection against viruses Megabyte. If you try to access and infect other, people will stop you. I can't convince them to let you rule every Network in the country."
"I'd make them listen," Megabyte's eyes glowed a bit greener. "Or I'll do things the hard way."
"What about my husband?" asked Estella.
"Husband? According to Jessica's Questworld logs you are divorced. It's a stranger word. I've never heard it before. IRIS explained it as file separation on mutual terms. Oh well you need not worry about Race much longer. I consider him expendable. Bob is going to delete him for me."
"NO!" Estella wanted to strike the virus but knew he was only a hologram.
"It will show you I am serious about what I want! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to check up on the prisoners. Get me access to the Net Quest. Today!"
Megabyte disappeared back into Questworld. Dr. Quest turned to Hadji. "Keep hacking. Race needs weapons to protect himself."
"I'm on it."
Dr. Quest went to the wall phone. Estella asked him, "What are you going to do Benton."
"Try to get Megabyte enough to satisfy him without giving him what he wants. I'm calling Commander Bennett."
Megaworld - The Game Grid
Race finally came out of his unconscious state. He moaned and attempted to move. His arms were tied tight behind his back. He used his legs to help him sit up. When he did, he saw Bob sitting on a rock, sharpening his power sword.
"Good, You're awake," Bob stood up and walked over to him. "It's about time, sleeping beauty. I have to erase you."
"Where are the kids?" Race asked.
"In bad hands. Megabyte will take care of them. They'll be kept prisoner for now. You on the other hand will not. I'm going to kill you. I hope there won't be any hard feelings."
"There won't be. It's not your fault Megabyte infected you. Your under his control. I only hope Jonny and Jessie will forgive you."
"If your trying to find a sympathy pathway in my mind Race, I'm sorry to say you won't access one. I'm sure you remember the deadly holographic jungle full of traps you and Jonny faced together? Let's try it again. Only this time you'll have no Jonny to help you." A tropical jungle appeared over the desert landscape before Race's eyes. Bob pulled Race to his feet and untied him as he kept explaining. "I'm going to give you a ten minute head start. User minutes, not Mainframe minutes! Then I'm coming to get you so don't wait for me."
Race pulled away from Bob. He wanted to fight then and there but Bob quickly activated his gattling gun. Bob's evil grin chilled him all the more to what he had to do. "It's going to be either you or me."
"Exactly, Race. If you don't delete me, I'll delete you. And dead will mean dead. Better get moving."
Race ran into the jungle.
Bob looked at his gattling gun. He put it away and picked up the power sword. "Aw, man. I should have warned Race about the virals. Oh well. His game loss."
Mainframe - The Principal Office Arboretum
The sprites had gathered around the Peace Tree. Bob sat on one of the stone benches as Dot, Phong, Enzo, Matrix and AndrAIa listened to the Guardian explain himself clearly and as precise as the jumble of sounds and images he received allowed.
"When Jessie dreamed I got more steady images of what her subconscious was seeing. When she was awake they were so faint, I thought I was hearing things. I'm still getting a residue. Which means she's awake and most likely trapped in Questworld."
"Are you sure she's not only dreaming?" Dot almost pleaded. "This can still be a nightmare she's having. It can't be true. Not Megabyte..."
Bob took Dot's hand in his. "I'm going by feeling and by instinct. I have no proof. But I am absolutely sure. It's Megabyte."
"But Surd could be playing a trick?"
"It is possible Surd escaped his confinement in Questworld."
"It's has to be!" Dot insisted. "There is no way Megabyte could get to Questworld."
"I got in. So could he. When I go there, I'll find out."
"Don't you mean we?" Matrix corrected.
"No, Matrix. Someone has to stay here to protect Mainframe if the User drops a game cube."
"But you can't fight Megabyte by yourself!"
"I've done it before."
"But I have to go with you! I'm the one who let him go! If it's him in Questworld, it's my fault he's there! I'm the one who should have deleted him!"
"Matrix. You didn't want to. It goes against the code."
"I'm no Guardian! I'm a renegade! I deleted dozens of viruses while trying to get home! Megabyte wasn't any different!"
Matrix's rage grew with every word he spoke. Phong intervened by asking. "If this is the case, then why didn't you delete Megabyte, my son?"
Matrix hesitated in giving his answer. He gazed at AndrAIa. The game sprite's eyes possessed the same look she had when he had Megabyte pinned and helpless. Matrix then stared at Bob and said, "He...he wouldn't have been punished enough. Deleting him was too easy! He had to suffer!"
"I can tell you from personal experience, Megabyte would have suffered," Bob replied. "I most likely would have spared him too. For other reasons." Bob stood up to face Matrix. "I told you I was proud of you Matrix. I'm still proud of you. You did things to survive the way I fought to keep alive in the Web. Neither experience was pretty, but we made it through. And we'll make it through this. You never lost sight of your first duty. To mend and defend."
"So it means I stay here?"
"I know you'll do fine Matrix. You'll keep an eye on things for me," Bob still had Dot's hand in his. She held it very tightly. He felt it tremble. "You're very good at it."
AndrAIa said, "It's still not a good idea for you to go alone Bob. You need some back up."
A familiar white mask like face floated down among the group. Hexadecimal popped into existence, blinking the eyes of her brand new face that clashed with the risque outfit her brother's virals put her in. She smiled. "That's what I'm here for!"
"No way Hex," Bob rejected the idea. "Just delete the thought of it."
"And why not?"
"Short or long list?" Dot offered in a cold tone.
Matrix moved little Enzo behind him and placed his hand on Gun. Young Enzo still did not understanding why Hex got the privileges she had now. Even though Enzo had received an explanation, Hex still looked very dangerous, icon or not. Matrix made a snarling sound. He wasn't about to trust her either. The only person in Mainframe willing to give her a chance was Bob. Bob attempted to keep the peace. "Hexadecimal. You don't know how the restart will affect your powers. What capabilities you have now aren't going to be enough to help me beat Megabyte."
"If it's Megabyte at all," Dot still hoped.
Hex reminded Bob. "You know my brother's style of combat Bob. He prefers a hands on approach. And so can I," Hex extended her nails. "It runs in the family too, you know."
"It's never been your way of fighting," Bob said.
"It is now. What I have will be more than enough."
AndrAIa spoke up, "Bob. You'll only waste time arguing. You have to go and if she wants to, then let her."
"What?!" Matrix was disturbed at AndrAIa saying such a thing.
AndrAIa only continued. "The longer we argue-"
"The more damage my brother will do," Hex finished. "I remember quite clearly how Surd turned me to stone. I expect no more nicer treatment from Megabyte. Or most likely worse then before." Hexadecimal traced the scar on her neck, another memento of her mistreatment by Megabyte."I only want to acknowledge what you've done for me by protecting you. Its my way of repaying you."
Bob never saw the harm done to Hex until he came back from the Web. They both wore scars from Megabyte's cruelty. Bob wanted to spare Hex anymore. If only he could spare Dot as well. "If you really want to help, then stay here and look after Dot for me."
"No!" Dot argued. "I don't need her to protect me!"
"Splendid!" Hex put her arm around Bob. "Then I'll go with Bob!"
"NO!"
"Dot!" Bob raised his voice before calming down and whispering, "Can we take a nano in private format? Excuse me, Hex."
"Hurry back love!" Hex called after her.
Bob guided her to the other side of the Arboretum and said, "Dot. You have to trust her. No one in Mainframe does."
"Exactly! We don't know if she's changed."
"I know she has. I repaired her insanity."
"But she's still acts random."
"Mike acts random. Is he dangerous?"
"Mike isn't a virus!"
Bob paused. "I'm waiting for another but."
"But," Dot said, "she had feelings for you. Serious feelings. I never liked competing for you with Mouse. Now I have to worry about her and it's worse to me! She's nearly killed both of us."
"Hex apologized. We have to forgive her and move forward not keep back spacing every other millisecond. Maybe I have to make another step forward. I'm taking her with me."
"Bob!" Dot's anger surfaced.
"I want her to know I still trust her as much as she trusted me. Dot. Please."
Dot shook her head. "I don't want this."
"Dot. AndrAIa's right. I have to go."
"I don't want you to."
"I've got no choice."
"I know."
"I'll be back before you can miss me," he tried to smile.
"It's too late," Dot sobbed.
"Don't cry, baby."
Dot looked shocked. "I'm not a cry baby!"
"No. It's a user term for telling someone you love them."
"By calling me a baby? It sounds silly," she wiped away some tears.
"Dot. I have to go."
"Okay. I'll cry more after you leave."
If not for the seriousness of the situation, Bob might have laughed at Dot's statement. He hugged her thinking, hang on, Jonny and Jessie. I'm coming.
Megaworld - Silicon Tor
Jonny shouted at the Level 3 Evolution virus once more. "Come on, you ugly monster! Hit it right here!"
Jonny kicked the cylinder. The virus charged and butted the glass. It cracked.
"That's it, you moron! Hit it again!"
The virus roared and struck the glass prison, this time shattering the container. Jonny ducked, then leaped out of the way as the Level 3 swung its horns around. He grabbed a large shard of glass and threw it dagger style, hitting the creature's eye. Howling in pain, the virus charged again. Jonny side stepped the virus. It plowed over the edge of the throne room platform.
"One down. One to go."
"Jonny!" Jessie screamed from her glass prison. "RUN!"
"I'm not leaving you, Jess!"
"Jonny please! When Megabyte finds out he'll-"
The other Level 3 viral came at Jonny. This time as Jonny tired to elude it, he fell off the platform edge. The virus fell after him.
"JONNNNNNNNNNNY!"
Mainframe - The Principal Office Arboretum
"BOOOOOOOOB!" Dot screamed.
The sprites came running at Dot's cry. Bob had collasped on the floor, holding his head in his hands, trying to control the fear he knew wasn't his own. He pleaded to his friends. "Get me to the tear. Now."