The Daemon Conflict
By: LadyBard
Chapter 12 - Turning of the Tide
"Casualty report,
Mouse."
"We've suffered
heavy losses," Mouse smashed her fist down on the consol and grunted with
disgust. She wiped the remains of insect away. "The enemy has occupied
twelve sectors so far. We estimated over one hundred hostages have been taken.
"The good news is
--,"
"There's good
news?"
"They still haven't
cracked my codes yet."
"Then that's
something." Dot said. "How many of our forces remaining?"
"Approximately two
hundred."
"And theirs?"
"We estimate, four
hundred or so."
"Still twice what we
have," Dot said. "Have Ray and Gavin reported?"
"They're on their
way with the refugees."
"Have all CPU's and
the lead ships fall back to the Principal Office. Prepare to lower the shields
on my order."
"You got it."
Dot rubbed the space
between her eyes. The more time that passed, the more difficult it was for her
to concentrate. And always, Enzo was on her mind. If anything happened to him,
she would never forgive herself. To lose him twice would be more than she could
bear.
"Dot, honey?"
"Yes? I'm sorry
Mouse."
"Message coming in
from Ray."
"Put him
through."
"We're coming
in!" Ray cried over the sound of explosions. "Get those ruddy shields
down!"
"Are our ships in
position?"
"Almost."
"Power up outside
guns! Take out anyone who comes within a sector!"
"Yes Sir,
Ma'am!"
Dot cocked an eyebrow at
her friend.
"All ships in
position," Mouse said.
"Phong, lower the
shields."
Transports and foot
traffic converged on the P.O., led by Ray and Gavin and his crew. Several enemy
fighters came near, only to be blasted from the sky by the ground to air
cannons. Dot watched anxiously on the vid-windows, so she (and everyone else
present) was totally surprised when a high-pitched whine filled the room. A
burst of electrified light appeared before the startled Command.com. It seemed
familiar, although Dot was too astonished to give it much thought. It was Mouse
who went into action.
"Security team to
the War Room, now!" Mouse screamed into the comm. The mercenary drew her
katana, leapt over her workstation and landed on the floor within striking
distance from the light.
They were in for yet
another shock. Mr. Pearson stepped through the doorway. He wore his Codemaster
armour and held the whole Gibson Coil Pike clutched in his hand.
"Well what are ye
all starin' at?" He demanded. "Help me here!"
His voice broke Dot from
her trance and she quickly approached. Pearson handed her two metal strong
boxes.
"Pesticide for the
bugs," Pearson said, "and the correct hardware for the machine."
"Yes, sugah, it's
about time!" Mouse said.
"Mr. Pearson
--," Dot began then stammered to a halt when Enzo stepped through the
doorway.
"Enzo!" Dot
cried. She grabbed her little brother in a crushing embrace.
"You, red-hair, come
through and help me, now!"
Mouse gave him a
quizzical look, but followed Pearson back through the doorway.
Tears, streamed down
Dot's face, "Oh Enzo, do you know how worried I was about you?"
She looked into her
brother's eyes and saw - nothing.
"Enzo?" Dot
caressed his cheek. An uncomfortable feeling bloomed within her core-com,
"What is it?"
Phong rolled up.
"Enzo?" He reached out his spindly fingers and touched Enzo on the
arm. The little sprite flinched.
"Dot," Enzo's
voice was hoarse.
The doorway rippled and
Mouse stepped through backwards. Mr. Pearson followed them.
They carried between
them, the unconscious form of a little girl.
"What in the net
--?" Dot began.
Mouse and Pearson laid
the little girl down on the floor.
"That's Melissa,
Enzo's friend," Pearson said. "I'm going back to my Dump for a little
peace and quiet. Call me if you need me."
"Mr. Pearson, wait
--,"
"Look, something
happened to the lad. I don't know what, he wouldn't talk. But he needs
ye."
Then the old binome
stepped through the doorway and was gone.
It was suddenly very
quiet in the War Room.
"Hey!" Ray's
voice came through the comm, shattering the silence, "What in the ruddy
net is going on?"
Mouse rushed back to her
workstation, "Shields are down, bring in the refugees. Look, sugah, can
you handle this? We have a small problem here."
"What type of
problem?"
"I'll tell you when
you get here love, just take care of your end of the job." Mouse said,
"Medic to the War Room!"
The door opened and two
armed Security Guards rushed in.
"It's all
right," Dot stood next to Enzo. "Stay outside." The guards
nodded and exited.
"Enzo --?" Dot
brushed back her a wisp of his hair and to her utter dismay, her brother burst
into tears.
"Help her Dot!"
Enzo cried as he knelt down beside the girl. Her brother cradled her head in
his lap. "Please help her! I don't want her to delete."
"All right, sweetie,
we'll do everything we can, I promise. Mouse, do you think you can hold down
the fort for a few nanos? Raise the shields the moment our refugees are in."
"You got it
boss."
The Medics came in and
Dot took control as usual, with her special brand of efficiency, "Take her
to the infirmary. She's to have the best of care, understand?"
The Medics loaded the
girl - what had Pearson said her name was, Melissa? -- onto the stretcher.
"I want to go with
her," Enzo said.
"All right, sweetie,
we'll go."
Dot and Enzo followed the
medical team out. A thousand questions swirled around in Dot's mind but she held
them back. It was obvious Enzo cared about this girl whoever she was. It was a
few nanos later that Dot realized with a large measure of concern, that the
little girl reminded her of Hexadecimal.
* * *
Enzo sat in the waiting
room of the infirmary able to do little more than stare at his hands. He
thought he should be mad or scared or something but he didn't feel anything.
Shouldn't he be happy to see Dot? Shouldn't he be glad to be safe within the
Principal Office?
But he wasn't and he
couldn't dredge up enough emotion to care.
Dot's arm tightened
around him, "She'll be all right sweetie."
Enzo didn't reply.
"Mr. Pearson said
something happened to the two of you," Dot's voice was soft. "Do you
want to talk about it?"
Enzo shook his head.
"All right. Tell me
when you're ready."
Milliseconds passed.
Mouse called to say the refugees were all safe inside and for now, the enemy
had fallen back to their base to regroup. The Mainframers were allowed a brief
respite.
Finally, Dr, Chancery
approached them.
"I'm not even going
to ask where she came from," was the first thing he said, "but she
could be Hexadecimal's sister."
Enzo took a deep breath,
"She is."
"What?" Dot
gaped at him.
"Is she all
right?"
"She will be but
she's very weak. She was exposed to some sort of anti-viral field?"
"Yes."
"I know of an
antivirologist in the Super Computer. A Dr. Norton. Too bad we can't contact
him. Whatever treatment she received helped immensely."
"Mr. Pearson did
something."
"Did he?" Dr.
Chancery mused on this for a nano. "Ms. Matrix, I want to try something
but I hesitate to as it can be detrimental for Hexadecimal."
"Yes?"
"I want to try a
code transfusion. If this little she-viral is Hexadecimal's sister, then it
should work. The problem is, I need someone to give me permission to do so and
also, it may slow Hexadecimal's recovery."
"I told you she
is," Enzo said. "Would Hex be all right? They both would be?"
"They should, unless
Hex is in worse shape than we believe. I'm not an A.V., so I can't be
certain."
"Dot?" Enzo
turned to her.
Dot sighed, "She
means that much to you?"
"Yes."
"All right doctor.
I'll take full responsibility."
"Very well,"
Dr. Chancery turned away, "Would you like to come to, Enzo?"
"Please," Enzo
said.
"I'm going to head back
to the War Room, will you be all right, little brother?"
"I'll be fine,
Dot."
"You tell me the
moment there's a change, understand?"
"I will," Enzo
followed Dr. Chancery down the hall.
* * *
The laughter came at her
from all directions out of the darkness. Melissa shuddered at the familiar
sound of it.
"Failure!" The
voice hissed. "Pathetic, weakling!"
"No!" Melissa
yelled.
"You couldn't even
follow a simple order! You couldn't even delete your sister."
"I won't do it! Do
you hear me? I won't be afraid of you anymore!"
"Little whelp you
had best be, you have no power!"
"I do," Melissa
felt her claws and fangs extend. She felt infused with a strange power. Her
body took on a reddish glow.
"What is this?"
The voice said. "What is happening?"
Melissa had no idea where
the power came from. It flowed through her, strengthening her. It was wild,
untamed.
Chaotic.
Melissa laughed. It was a
high cackle that she knew struck fear into the core-com of the taunting voice.
"Don't you
know," Melissa hissed in a voice not quite her own, "that Chaos will
always triumph over order?"
Melissa sent a red-hot
blast into the darkness and the voice screamed in agony. Flames came back at
her and washed over her and Melissa laughed at the feel of the energy.
Then she was awake and
staring into the eyes of a number six nurse.
"Well, welcome back,
little one." Nurse Six said kindly. "We thought you were going to
leave us."
"Enzo?"
"I'm right
here," Enzo took her hand, "How do you feel?"
"Well," she
said. "Enzo, something happened, I had a dream --,"
"Ssh -," Nurse
Six said. "Rest now."
"No," Melissa
struggled to sit up. "What did they do? How did they cure me? I felt
power."
"They did a code
transfusion," Enzo said. "You have some of Hex's power in you
now."
Melissa pondered the news.
"Who said you could do that?"
"I did," Enzo
said. "Well Dot gave permission, but I think Hex would have wanted us
to."
"How is Hex?"
"About the
same," Nurse Six said. "Looks like the transfusion had no ill
effects."
"Can I see
her?"
"Young lady, you should
really rest --,"
"Please?"
"All right,"
Nurse Six sighed. "We'll get you a wheelchair."
"No need,"
Melissa climbed from the bed.
"Are you sure?"
Enzo held her up.
"Yes."
With Enzo's help, the two
made their way down the hall. A CPU was sitting at the door. He stood and
looked quizzically at them, but he admitted them into the room.
It was cool and dim in
the interior. Hex lay motionless on the bed. Her mask was a blank face. Tubes
and wires were connected to various points on her body. She was however,
breathing easily, which gave Melissa hope. She walked near the bed, then stood
looking at her older sister. The tears came them. The numbness she had felt
earlier fled and was suddenly replaced by the unfamiliar emotions of remorse
and regret. She felt Enzo's presence beside her, comforting her. When she was
able to control her emotions, she kissed Hexadecimal gently on the forehead.
"I'm sorry. I promise, I'll make it right."
Melissa turned to Enzo,
"I suppose we should go to your command center. I bet your sister has a
lot of questions."
* * *
The moment Ray walked
into the War Room, Mouse practically tackled him, Enzo-style. The two sprites
proceeded to kiss for a full ten nanos.
Dot didn't hide her
smile, she did however, keep her eyes on the map. Phong whipped out his camera
and snapped a picture, then shrugged and smiled at Dot's raised eyes brow.
"Sugah," Ray
said when they parted.
"You don't know how
worried I was," Mouse said.
"I have an
idea," Ray said. "I was pretty worried myself, love."
Ray approached the consol
and saluted Dot. "Ray Tracer reporting for duty, sir, ma'am."
Dot smiled at him,
"Welcome back, Ray."
"I hear there's been
quite a lot going on since I've been away."
"Like you wouldn't
believe," Dot said. "Are all the CPU's accounted for?"
"Yes," Ray
said. "Gavin went out to bring in more refugees. I'll join him soon. The
enemy retreated to their base. I think they may call for reinforcements."
"Mouse," Dot
said, "the device?"
"All ready,
Commander," Mouse said, "this may decide it for all of us."
That declaration was met
with silence. The War Room door sliding open broke the tension. All eyes turned
to the small sprite and viral who entered the room.
"Hi Dot," Enzo
smiled.
Dot noticed the little
girl stayed behind Enzo.
"Cursors, who's
that?" Ray said.
"Everybody,"
Enzo smiled, "I'd like you to meet Melissa. Hexadecimal's sister."
Again, a tense silence
filled the War Room. It was surprisingly Phong who broke it, "Welcome, my
child." Phong rolled up to Melissa.
"Phong!" Dot
warned.
"It's okay,
Dot," Enzo said. "She's my friend."
"I am?" Melissa
said.
"It would seem so,
young Melissa," Phong adjusted his glasses. "Tell me how you came to
be in Mainframe?"
"Um --,"
Melissa hesitated. "I came with Nemesis."
"You what?"
Mouse started forward.
"Mouse," Enzo
stepped in front of her.
"You're the other
viral aren't you? The one with Hexadecimal's code similarities."
"Yes."
"And you're the one
who nearly deleted Hexadecimal."
Melissa lowered her eyes,
"Yes, but I'm sorry about that."
"You should
be," Mouse said. "Enzo, why'd ya bring her here? Do you realize what
she could do?"
"Yes," Enzo
said. "And you won't will you, Melissa?"
"I won't do
anything," Melissa said.
"How can we be
sure?" Mouse said. "For all we know, she could let the enemy waltz
right in here!"
"It's good to see
you again, Mouse," Melissa unexpectedly said.
"What?"
"I'm glad you got
away from Nemesis back in System 998. I didn't think my plan would work."
"Your plan?"
"Yes," Melissa
said. "Controlling your ship was pretty good, don't you think?"
"Wait a nano,"
Mouse said. "The guns on Ship, that was you?"
"Yes," Melissa
said. "I infected Ship and fired the guns. It's one of my talents."
For a third time, silence
reigned. Mouse and Ray exchanged a long look. Then Mouse slowly approached
Melissa and knelt before her.
"Melissa,"
Mouse said, "I want to thank you for what you did. Nemesis would have
carved me up like a Christmas goose if it wasn't for you."
"The Mouse,"
Mouse went on, "never forgets a favor done for her. She never lets a debt
go unpaid. So I'll tell ya this. You want or need something, you just ask me
and it's yours. As far as I'm concerned, you're okay."
"Thank you,"
Melissa blushed. "Turbo said I should help."
"Whoa," Dot
interrupted. "Turbo?"
"He was on Nemesis'
ship with me," Melissa said.
"Wait a nano,"
Dot's voice was incredulous. "Turbo's not on the lead ship? Where is
he?"
"Far out to sea. He
was to wait for us until we both finished our jobs."
Dot bent over the consol,
"Where?"
"About fifty
kilometers off shore from the Data Dump."
Dot began programming
into consol. "Yes, sensors are picking up a ship in that area. Is Nemesis
on that ship?"
"She might be,"
Melissa said. "I don't really know. The last I saw of her was at the Data
Dump. She can't leave Mainframe, not with the remainder of the armada right
outside the system. General Ashar would delete her on sight since she failed to
--,"
"Guess you were
right, Mouse," Dot said into the uncomfortable silence. "All right,
lets get some CPU's out there --,"
"No," Mouse
said. "Dot, let me go. I've got a score to settle with that viral
witch."
When Dot hesitated, Mouse
said, "Please."
"All right Mouse.
Just be careful."
"I'll come with you
love," Ray said.
"No," Mouse
said. "You're going to be needed here, love. This is something I have to
do."
Ray sighed, "All
right, just be careful." He kissed her.
As Mouse strode from the
room and as the door opened, sounds of a commotion came from outside.
"What in the net's
going on here?" Mouse demanded as she stood in the doorway blocking the
view.
"I must speak to Ms.
Matrix, immediately!" A familiar voice said.
"Why?"
"It's about Daemon's
spy," the voice said.
"Mouse," Dot
called, "It's all right, let him in."
Mouse stepped aside and
Captain Lynx strode in. Mouse gave him a warning look before departing.
"Ms. Matrix,"
Captain Lynx bowed.
"Yes?" Dot
crossed her arms.
"I must speak with
you on a matter of great importance in private."
"Whatever you came
to say, you can say it right here."
Lynx looked around the
room, "Very well, although you won't like what I have to say. You are
aware that the escape ships have both been sabotaged? Mine and Syn's?"
"I am."
"Daemon's spy is
responsible, although it's not the sprite I thought it was. Then again, he's
still probably one of them."
"Wait a nano, what
does that mean?"
Lynx sighed, "I was
sent to find and apprehend Daemon's spy."
"What?" Dot
said, "You mean to tell me you're a spy too?"
"I suppose I
am," Lynx said. "My apologies for deceiving you, Ms. Matrix, but I
had to be certain you also weren't involved. You see, I was sent here by a
faction dedicated to resisting Daemon."
"You're a member of
the Resistance? Why didn't you say so? Bob could have --,"
"No," Lynx
interrupted. "I am a member of a resistance faction, but not the one
you're involved with. Surely you realized that there would be more than one
faction again Daemon?"
"Fine," Dot
said between clenched teeth, "Whom in the net do you work for?"
"Well we have no
official name," Lynx said. "We are citizens from thirty or so of the
one hundred and forty odd systems that Daemon has subjugated. We are
unofficially calling ourselves the Web Alliance."
"Web Alliance?"
"Yes," Lynx said,
"It came to our attention that a spy was operating out of Mainframe and
that they would soon be sent to the Super Computer. I was sent here to try and
stop that from happening and if I didn't get a chance, another operative was to
stop him once there."
"You said the spy
wasn't who you expected," Dot said.
"Yes," Lynx
said.
"It was Kurt
Daverage," Enzo suddenly said.
"How in the net did
you know that?" Dot gaped at him.
"Because we battled
him when we were in the city. He was leading a detachment of enemy
soldiers."
"The young one is
correct," Lynx eyed Enzo for a nano. Then his eyes moved to Melissa.
"I know who you are, daughter of Daemon. What will you do now? Destroy
this place and all of those in it?"
"No," Melissa
said.
Lynx turned back to Dot,
"Watch this one, Ms. Matrix. You have allowed a wolf into the sheep
pen."
"Hey," Enzo
stepped forward.
"It's all right,
Enzo. I don't care what he thinks of me."
"I do," Enzo
muttered.
Lynx ignored them both,
"Daverage was the one who sabotaged both ships. I have no idea where Syn
is. He escaped during the confusion."
"Cursors and
crashes," Dot said. "Enzo do you have any idea where Daverage might
be?"
Enzo shot a fearful
glance at Melissa. Melissa's face remained impassive.
Dot frowned at them both,
"Enzo?"
"Dot --," Enzo
began.
"You don't have to
worry about Daverage anymore," Melissa said. "I deleted him."
Again, Enzo glanced at
Melissa and Dot saw that the emotion was surprise. Either Enzo hadn't known
Melissa had deleted Daverage or -
"I see," was
all Lynx said to that declaration. "Not surprising."
"My mother would
have deleted him anyway," Melissa said evenly, "if General Ashar
hadn't done so first."
"Melissa," Dot
said, "We'll discuss it later."
"I don't understand,
what's there to discuss?"
Dot couldn't remember a
time before now that she had been so totally stunned.
"You shouldn't be
surprised, Ms. Matrix," Lynx said. "She is Daemon's daughter."
Again, Dot examined the
little sprite and virus, searching their faces. Enzo's was pale and Melissa's
remained expressionless. Dot had a feeling there was more to the story but she
wasn't going to pursue it now. She was interested in knowing just when and how
Melissa deleted Daverage, if she had been unconscious from the anti-viral field?
Although they had not given her the details, Dot guessed it was Daverage who
had infected Melissa in the first place. "We will discuss this
later."
Dot turned back to Lynx,
"So who else did you think was a spy?"
"I don't think, I
know he's one. Web Alliance has been following him for minutes. All reports
verify that he is a spy for Daemon."
"Who?"
"You're not going to
like it."
"Who?"
Lynx sighed, "Your
brother, the renegade, Matrix."
Silence followed the
declaration, then --
"Are you
random?"
"You can't be
serious."
"You're wrong, mate.
Deleted wrong."
"Listen to me,"
Lynx yelled over the protests. "We have proof that he's a spy."
"Lynx," Dot
said, "if this is a joke, it's in poor taste. My brother is not a
spy."
"How do you know for
certain?" Lynx said. "What do you really know about your brother, Ms.
Matrix? What has he told you about his life in the web?"
"What he told me was
not relevant," Dot wasn't about to tell Lynx that Matrix had told her next
to nothing about his journey through the web. There just hadn't been an
opportunity.
As though reading her
thoughts, Lynx said, "He hasn't told you anything, has he? Of course not.
I'm telling you Ms. Matrix, we have eye witness accounts of some of the crimes
your brother has committed. All for Daemon."
"You're wrong."
"You have to listen
to me or all is lost," Lynx said. "Why else do you think I'm doing
this? Do you think I enjoy telling you a member of your family is a
traitor?"
"I don't know Lynx,
do you?"
Lynx shook his head.
"Ms. Matrix, unless you listed to me," he pointed at Melissa,
"and incarcerate her and figure out some way to contact the Resistance
forces in the Super Computer and tell them to detain Matrix," He took a
breath, "all your fighting will be for nothing. Daemon will just take this
system like she has all the others."
Dot straightened away
from the consol, "Captain Lynx, if you wish to help it would be greatly
appreciated, however, know this, my brother is not a traitor. If you can contact
your people, we could use their help as well."
Lynx sighed, "My
people will have nothing to do with you as long as you refuse to acknowledge
the truth. They will definitely not assist as long as she's here." He
motioned to Melissa. "Your brother is a spy and a traitor."
"No."
All eyes turned to Enzo.
"I know you're wrong
to."
"And why is that
young man?"
"Because I'm
him."
A confused look crossed
Lynx's face.
"You know how I was
processed, right?"
"Yes, I've
heard."
"Matrix may be a big
jerk, but I know he's not a traitor because I'd never do anything to hurt
Dot."
"Out of the mouths
of babes," Ray muttered.
"Young man, I have
watched you," Lynx looked at Enzo, "and I mean no offense by this but
you are not like him at all."
"None taken,"
Enzo said, "but you're still wrong."
Lynx turned back to Dot,
"I am resigned to my fate," he said. "I know there's no way off
the system now, and I know the enemy will delete me. I can only hope our man at
the Super Computer can stop Matrix."
"Who is he? Who is
the man," Dot demanded.
"No, I will not tell
you. Torture me if you like --,"
"You know we won't
do that."
"No, I suppose you
won't," Lynx smiled slightly.
"Your people won't
come even to save you?"
"No," Lynx,
said, "I couldn't even contacted them if I wanted to. You have the machine
I was using. The same one Kurt was using to feed information to the
enemy."
"We thought perhaps
it was Syn, once we figured out what it was for," Dot said.
Lynx laughed, "Syn?
You're joking right? However --," He sobered, "I have no idea where
Syn may be, but he is dangerous inasmuch as his arrogance and stupidity will
get innocent people hurt or deleted."
"What was his
plan?"
"Haven't you figured
it out?"
Dot leaned against the
consol, "Let me guess. Syn gets as many people behind him and when the
fighting's over, he comes out looking like a great leader of many, hoping to
curry the winner's favor."
"You are as
intelligent as you are beautiful," Lynx said.
Dot brushed the
compliment aside, "Anything else you want to tell us?"
"Nothing
important," Lynx stretched. "I thank you for your hospitality and
wish you good fortune."
"Captain Lynx, we
could really use your help," Dot said. "We could use another
warrior."
Lynx sighed, "I'm no
warrior. Just an old web dog. But then again, why not? What would you have me
do?"
* * *
Ship cruised over the
war-torn streets of Mainframe. No one challenged her as she expertly piloted
her craft. She sighed as she looked down to survey the damage.
"We just got this
place back," Mouse muttered, "good as new and now look at it."
Smoldering fires dotted
several sections. Mouse could see more refugees combing the city streets and
transports continuing to round up the innocent. Once beautiful buildings were
now piles of rubble. It was hard to ignore.
But she was on a mission.
They had taken out the
enemy fighters on the perimeter; however, two challenged her when she hit the
outskirts of the city. The skirmish was brief and Mouse was the victor.
Ship streaked over the
Data Sea and Mouse did a long-range scan. The ship was still there. She scanned
for life forms when she was within range and found there were two.
Unfortunately, her being within range to scan meant she was within range of
their scanners.
Then she saw it. Her
enemy. The ship hovered placidly over the sea. Mouse powered up Ship's guns and
a nano later was glad she had.
Two missiles were fired
at her, Mouse banked left, and avoided them, and returned fire. The Trouble
turned and fled and Mouse was instantly in pursuit.
"Little
coward," Mouse muttered, "go on, and run!"
Mouse fired off a few
shots, but missed. She pushed Ship to its limits with a muttered apology.
The Trouble made an
abrupt turn and Mouse immediately knew where it was going.
"Oh no you don't,
you're not going back. I'm not letting you hurt more innocent people."
Mouse set the targeting computer, and focused all her attention on her enemy.
She squeezed the trigger. The shot slammed into the exhaust port of Trouble and
the enemy ship went into a steep dive.
"Yes!" Mouse
screamed, "Got you viral witch!"
Mouse watched as the ship
leveled out but not soon enough to prevent a rough water landing. Mouse set
Ship to hover nearby and watched as Trouble began to sink.
A figure suddenly climbed
from the hatch and stood atop the rapidly sinking ship.
"User!" Mouse
recognized Turbo. The Prime Guardian waved frantically to her.
"Although you don't
deserve this you double-crossing son of a null," Mouse hissed, "I'm
going to save your worthless ASCII."
Mouse brought Ship in to
a close hover. She lifted the hatch and stood, "Well it looks like you've
got yourself in sort a bind, ain't ya Turbo?"
"Are you going to
help me or not?"
"And why should I
after what you did?"
"Can we talk about
this later?" The Trouble lurched and Turbo fell backward.
Mouse grabbed an extra
zip board, decompressed her own and flew down to where the Prime Guardian was
struggling to his feet. "Here," she tossed him the board.
"Thanks," he
decompressed it.
"Where's
Nemesis?"
The blast that caught
both Turbo and Mouse was the painful answer. Mouse went down hard on her back.
"You will die now
flame hair!" Nemesis came, seemingly able to keep her balance quite well.
She stood over Mouse, her sword raised.
Mouse bent her knee to
her chest, drew her dagger from its sheath and threw.
The blade imbedded in
Nemesis' chest. A look of pure astonishment crossed the viral's face. Her sword
slipped from her nerveless fingers, before she stumbled and toppled over into
the Sea.
Mouse released a breath.
"Mouse, help!"
Turbo was floundering in
the water. Mouse crawled onto the wing and extended her hand. It was rough
going but with her help, Turbo managed to pull himself up beside her. He spat
out water.
"Thanks."
"I shoulda left ya
there."
"I know."
Mouse looked around. They
were running out of time. Mouse spotted one of the zip boards floating on the
water's surface.
"BRB," Mouse
said and dove in.
Trouble was nearly
submerged when Mouse climbed back on. She tossed the board to Turbo. "Give
me a lift soldier?"
Turbo decompressed the
board. Mouse climbed on behind him with barely enough room to spare. They flew
back to Ship. When they were settled they watched the Trouble as it disappeared
below the waves and Nemesis with it. Turbo grunted, "Glad to be rid of
her."
Mouse looked at him.
"How'd you know I
was out here?"
"Melissa told
us."
"Melissa told you?
Do you have her prisoner?"
"Um -- not
quite," Mouse said. She turned Ship back towards the city. "Maybe you
should wait until we get back. This is going to take a few nanos."