Daemon Rising, part 4a

[a1enzo]

[In this installment, a virus approaches Mainframe with her new helpers, a boy plays catch with his dad, seduction is attempted and cut short, and plans are put into motion. Speaking of which, here comes one of those plans now!]

Little Matrix enters the bar with two bots, a dog, and a look of determination. He looks around the bar, mentally reviewing as he does so the tasks he has been charged with. Wait here until someone comes to fetch me. Until then, stay with someone on the safelist. And find Programmers. Someone who can fix the cure so it's more compatible, and find out why it didn't work when Bob tried to...

Oh no! Bob! I forgot to tell Dot...

Matrix freezes, then wheels around and charges back past his escort toward the Door.

It's locked.


[Not plotlocked in any way. Go for it.]

Comments

[hack-slash-bots.livejournal.com]

[a1enzo]

Little Matrix is wrenching desperately at the doorknob. "I forgot to tell Dot, Bob's gotta stop using his powers, he's hurting himself..."

No good. It won't budge. The knob's barely rattling.

[hack-slash-bots.livejournal.com]

[a1enzo]

"I dunno! Unless..." His eyes widen, then narrow in anger as he releases the knob and steps back. "Oh, man! That's gotta be it! It knows!"

[hack-slash-bots.livejournal.com]

It's just the BAR here right?

[a1enzo]

"The Bar, or the Door, or something! They know Dot said not to go home yet, and they won't let me!"

He steps forward and delivers a sharp kick to the Door. No effect. Good thing Matrix wears sturdy boots.

[mandercommander.livejournal.com]

Bonzo is in the Bar. He doesn't look teriffic (he's a bit patched up), but he looks better than he did a few days ago.

[a1enzo]

Enzo didn't see Bonzo a few days ago, and he doesn't see him now. He's hammering on the door with his fists. "Let me through! I have to go back!"

[mandercommander.livejournal.com]

Bonzo walks over to Enzo, who is making lots of noise. "Door giving you trouble?" At least you're not on the side with a loaded gun in someone else's hand...

[a1enzo]

Enzo looks up. "Bonzo! It won't open and I forgot to tell Dot something really important and I hafta let her know 'cause I know Bob won't stop on his own but maybe she can make him and Phong won't tell her and..."

[mandercommander.livejournal.com]

Bonzo smiles just a little, noting Enzo's hyperactivity. "Calm down, Enzo." Pause. "Beating on the door won't help...I don't think. What do you need to tell her?"

[a1enzo]

Hyperactivity? What hyperactivity? This is normal.

Enzo takes a few deep breaths like Phong tells him to sometimes. "Bob and Phong found out that if Bob keeps using his Glitch powers it'll kill him but he can't stop fighting Daemon, it's his format, so he's gonna keep using his powers anyway and he told Phong not to tell but I heard 'em and he won't stop if I tell him but maybe if Dot does..."

He did start the sentence at a normal speed, but that didn't last too long.

[ami_imperfect]

"Enzo!"

This would be Dani, hopping off of her barstool after her milkshake was interrupted by the appearance of her friend.

She stops short when she sees the two 'bots, and Frisket. "Whoa. Who're your friends?"

[hack-slash-bots.livejournal.com]

The 'bots take it upon themselves to answer her question.

[ami_imperfect]

Now all Dani has to do is keep from confusing herself.

"Uh, okay. Nice to meet you. I'm Dani."

[a1enzo]

"Dani!" Reflexes take over as Enzo flings himself at her in his standard pounce, though on a lower trajectory than usual.

"Um, what they said. And this is Frisket!" Frisket, who is looking around with the kind of nervousness that heralds bodily harm for anyone who increases it, spares her a short "wuff."

[ami_imperfect]

"Hey!" Dani accepts hugs of all denominations, even one that begin in pounces.

She giggles. "Nice to meet you too, Frisket." She might pet him a little, if she weren't afraid that he'd bite her hand off.

An eyebrow arches as Dani gets a good look at what Enzo's wearing. "Um, nice outfit. This a new uniform or something?"

[a1enzo]

Enzo's pounces don't usually turn into hugs, just tackles, but this one does. After a few seconds, though, he looks confused and releases her.

He gives a short, embarrassed giggle. "No, it's, um, Bar gave it to me for some holiday a few min - er, months ago, to make me look like Matrix, and, well..." He shuffles his feet. "I wanted people to listen to me," he mumbles. "No one stops him from helping." He looks uncomfortable. Somehow, what seemed like perfectly logical reasoning a couple cycles ago sounds kinda stupid now.

[ami_imperfect]

It...doesn't make sense to Dani either. "You wanted people to listen to you, so you started dressing like your older self?"

Millitimed like a rented stepchild.

[md_donighal]

The man in the gray suit recognizes the green skin and dark green hair, and remembers a conversation from lo these many moons ago.
"Matrix is my little brother. It's a long, long story."

He offers a wave to the boy on his way over. "Matrix, I take it?" he asks once he arrives within conversing distance.

Re: Millitimed like a rented stepchild.

[a1enzo]

Matrix looks up from his struggles with the doorknob. "Yeah!"

Then he pauses. "Well, Little Matrix."

Another pause. "Enzo."

Funny, the whole thing is starting to seem kind of embarrassing now.

Re: Millitimed like a rented stepchild.

[md_donighal]

"Is this part of that 'long story' that Dot mentioned? — I'm Michael, by the way. Michael Donighal. I like to think I'm a friend of Bob's. Is he all right?"

Re: Millitimed like a rented stepchild.

[a1enzo]

"Kind of, yeah," says Enzo with a weak smile. Then he cocks his head. "You don't go by 'Mike', do you? 'Cause I know too many Mikes already."

His face falls again. "No, he's not, and I gotta tell Dot, I should have told her before and now the Door won't open..."

Re: Millitimed like a rented stepchild.

[md_donighal]

My name is Michael, he thinks. I am called Michael. You must never call anyone called Michael Mickey. Those of us who are named Michael are very nervous about it. Aloud, he says only, "I don't usually go by Mike, no. Particularly not if the other person knows too many Mikes."

Michael's face falls right after Enzo's. "Bob's in trouble, and you're Bound here? This is bad. Very bad. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Re: Millitimed like a rented stepchild.

[a1enzo]

Enzo considers this for a moment, then shakes his head. "Not unless you can get the door to open. But maybe you can help with why I'm here. Are you a Programmer?"