Tucked away deep in the cyber world is a city called Mainframe. Not the biggest, yet not the smallest, Mainframe has proven itself to be quite an exciting place full of adventure and danger. Part of this comes from the makeup of it's inhabitants who are a diverse group of sprites to be sure. At one time or another, Mainframe has been home to a retired Code Master, a game sprite who downloaded herself from a game, a Guardian who was lost in the Web, a renegade who aged prematurely via the games and at one point, two viruses. One of those viruses still lived in Mainframe and was in fact a virus no longer. Her name was Hexadecimal and due to the crash and reboot of Mainframe, she was miraculously rebooted as a Data Sprite, something that was unprecedented in the entire history of the Net. All this was just par for the course in the unusual place that was Mainframe. It seemed like anything at all could happen there and sometimes did.

Hexadecimal lived in "The Lair" which was located in Lost Angles, all that was left of Mainframe's sister city, a city that was lost in an accident many cycles ago which also robbed Mainframe of a great number of it's citizens. She had lived there ever since she and her brother virus Megabyte had first infected Mainframe and although they were brother and sister, they were different as night and day. Megabyte was a megalomaniac obsessed with conquest. He had great physical strength and a calculating mind. Hex on the other hand had the power to manipulate energy and was completely insane. She was not evil exactly but chaotic and her actions reflected this. Hex was generally harmless but there were times she caused a great deal of trouble for the citizens of the city. Those days were now over. Mainframe's guardian, a warrior named Bob had cured her of her insanity and if any traces of it were left, they were cleansed when the city was rebooted by the User. Since then Hex's attitude and emotions changed greatly. It was as if she truly had been born again. She now had a childlike naiviete and was endevouring to be a good citizen. In order to help herself out along these lines, she decided to learn as much as she could about Mainframe and it's people. Her brother Megabyte had used her power for his own ends at one point in his attempt to conquer Mainframe, cruelly remolding her in a gaudy appearance that she had finally discarded in favor of the way she had previously looked. Megabyte could do no more to her or to anyone for that matter. He had been beaten and exiled to the Web. The citizens of Mainframe settled down to the first real peace they had had for many a cycle.

Hexadecimal was an artist and spent most of her time painting and sculpting. It was truly her favorite pastime and the subject was always herself. She was very fond of self portraits. But one day while she finished her latest masterpeice (a painting of herself rising from the energy sea naked, riding a clamshell), she realized that she had been feeling unsusal as of late. New feelings and emotions were overtaking her body and mind. She didn't exactly understand the why of it but knew that she was changing physically, mentally and emotionally. She put the coming of these changes down to her rebirth in the wake of the reboot and decided it was time to find out what they truly meant. She turned to her familiar, a cat like animal sprite called Scuzzy.

"I'm going out Scuzzy, you stay here and keep an eye on things" she said.

With that she made her way to the Principle Office, the hub of all information in the city.

Hexadeciaml flew over Mainframe and decided to kill some time by engaging in her second favorite activity, people watching. Now that she was a sprite she enjoyed looking at the other sprites as well. She liked to take in all they did, work and play. She would turn invisible and hover over the various sectors, watching and listening. The other sprites for their part were a little worried about her presence. After all Hex had been a virus and her insanity had in the past made her do insane things like unleash the Medusa Bug and try to recast the city and it's people in her image. Although these incidents had been few and far between, they were still what most Mainframer's thought of when the name Hexadecimal was mentioned. Although now one of them and insane no longer, Hex was still eyed with a certain suspision by most. None more than Mainframe's Command.Com, Phong.

Phong was the oldest and wisest sprite in Mainframe, the political, technological ans some would say spiritual center of all things in Mainframe. In his possesion were the Read Me files, the accumulated history of both Mainframe and the Net. Hex came to the Principle Office every now and then to ask questions of Phong and access the files. She loved learning about her home and wondered why she hadn't done this sooner. Phong was at first dubious of letting her have access but a vote of confidence on the part of Bob, Mainfrmae's guardian made Phong cave in. Even so he always checked on what is was Hex was reading about, such was his paranoia. It was a feeling that he found hard to shake. Both Hexadecimal and in particular Megabyte had done some terrible things during their time in Mainframe. Phong truly hated viruses and although Hex was no longer one of that breed, he still found it difficult to forget.

Hex finally arrived at the Priciple Office and asked to speak with Phong.

"Phong, I need to use the Read me files again. May I please" she said in a child like pleading voice. Hex was learning to be polite and corgial.

"Very well Hexadecimal" he replied.

Phong went over to a far wall and spoke the ancient code word "yadda" three times. The wall opened and and beyond lay the Read Me rooom. Phong led Hex to it, he opened the door and let her inside.

"Remember, when you are finished close down all active windows and shut the door behind you" he reminded her.

She smiled at him, her chesire grin.

"As always Phong and thank you again"

Phong nodded his head in reply and left Hex to her business.

When she finished, she did as Phong said and met him on the way out.

"A good session today?" he asked.

Hex's eyes lit up.

"Oh yes, a very good session but I feel there is still so much I need to learn. May I come back tommorrow and read some more files please?"

Phong straightened his glasses.

"Yes, yes you may. Come back as often as you need" he said.

Hex was elated. She clasped her hands together and brought them to her face.

"Oh good, oh good. Thank you Phong."

And with that she hurried back home without another word.

Phong then rushed to the Read Me room and played back what she had accessed. So far all she had read in the past were the files pertaining to Mainframe's history and it's political structure but today he found out she had chosen a totally new file. Something most unexpected. A series of files on Sprite to Sprite relationships. Phong scratched his chin and tried to fathom the meaning of this.

"What are you up to?" he thought aloud.

Hexadecimal returned the next day and the day following that and again Phong found otu that she was reading the files on Sprite relations. He couldn't fully understand this and brought it up in conversation with his friend Dot Matrix. Dot was Mainframe's business leader and she owned a staggering number of businesses in the city. In fact it was joked that it would be easier to compile a list if what she "didn't" own as oppsed to what she did. Dot has also been the city's military leader during the rebellion against Megabyte and her ties to Phong were deep. Her father was one of the sprites who went missing along with the Sister ctiy and Dot now looked at Phong as a surrogate Father. Dot always kept up with the events in the Principle Office and had come to monitor the activity registering from a game cube that had rained down on the city. People in Mainframe no longer took the cubes very seriously, such was the profecincy of their defenders, Guardian Bob and Enzo Matrix (Dot's younger Brother.) Bob was always a Guardian of the first rank but his time in Web (not to mention his merger with his Guardian Key Tool Glitch) had transformed him. He was now arguably, the most powerful Guaerdian that ever existed. Enzo for his part had become a first class warrior and betwwen them any user User who downloaded into Mainframe would end his game with a humiliating loss. Seperately, Bob and Enzo were unbeatable, together they were unstoppable. Dot would still venture to the Principle Office out of habit to monitor the game's readings but deep down she knew she really didn't need to. Bob and Enzo had been making short work out of the users lately so there was really nothing to worry about. She decided to pass the time in conversation with Phong. They discussed the recent behavior of Hexadecimal.

"Can't you see it Phong? She's reading these files on relationships to prepare herself for one" Dot said.

"I don't understand you my child" the Command.Com responded.

"Phong, Hex is now one of us. She's a Data Sprite but she's lonely. She's looking for love. To be blunt, I think she needs a boy freind."

For all his wisdom, Phong hadn't thought of that. Hex was after all a living being with all the needs of such.

"Ah, I now see my child. You are probably right. She needs a companion to take awy her loneliness. It never occured to me how lonely she must be all by herself in Lost Angles. But she may be in for a shock when and if she enters the, how do you youngsters call it, the dating scenario?"

"Dating scene" Dot corrected.

"Ah yes, the dating scene. Hex is still met with a certain amount of distrust by the citizens of Mainframe. It will not be easy for her to find a partner if that is truly what she is doing" Phong replied.

"Trust me" Dot stated. "Sh's looking for love."

"Then I wish her luck. Considering her past actions, then she will need it" Phong said.

Dot shook her head.

"I really do feel sorry for her. It wasn't her fault. She was mentally unstable and Megabyte used her for his own ends. She was never really evil, just misguided."

"Tell that to all who remember the Medusa Bug or when she took control of the paint program." Phong added a little testily.

Dot noticed the tone of phong's voice. She was getting a little put out with her old freind and it started to show.

"Phong, I think it's time that you put aside your mistrust."

Phong look perplexed.

"What do you mean my child?"

"Your mistrust of Hexadecimal. Hex is no longer insane. Since the reboot she's been a quiet member of the community and has hurt no one. So meet her halfway. Bob has vouched for her and I will too."

Phong sighed and fiddled with his glasses.

"I am an old sprite and set in my ways my child but perhaps you are right. As they say, thee is no fool like an old fool.

Dot bent down and put a reasurring arm on Phong's shoulder.

"Now whoever called you a fool. I didn't and no one in Mainframe ever would. But things are different now. Hex is no longer a virus and her mental illness is cured. I don't think she'd do harm to anyone now. Let it go. You're to good to carry around something like that."

Phong gave her a smile.

"And they calll me wise. Alright Dot, I will try and I will continue to allow her to use the Read Me room."

"Glad to hear it."

The two old freinds continue t talk about Hex and this and that for a few more seconds until the game over alarm sounded. As always the user was beaten and in the area where the game had landed now stood a triumphant pair of Guardians. Dot decided to go greet them and see what game they had beaten this time. Phong bid her farewell and returned to his duties. He knew it wouldn't be easy but he promised Dot he would try to meet Hexadecimal halfway. All in all she hadn't really given him cause for alarm. Hex was at least trying to learn about Mainframe and her fellow sprites and her behaviour had been exemplary lately.

And then came the incident with the baby.

Hexadecimal was people watching one afternoon in Floating Point Park. She hovered invisibly above the many binomes who were enjoying the afternoon. Suddenly her attention was drawn to a young binome family. A Mother, and her baby to be exact. Something stirred in Hex's body and mind. She became fascinated with the baby and decided that she must have a closer look. She dropped ut of the sky, regained her visibily and appeared directly in front of the Mother and her child. The young woman was startled but held her ground. Even more startling were Hex' word to her.

"What a beautiful child, may I please hold it?"

A group of binomes gathered around keeping a close eye on Hex just in case she tried to hurt the baby. One in fact called the police and a squad car made it's way to the park.

"May I please hold the baby?" Hexed asked again.

The Mother binome relented hoping that the presence of so many binomes around her would deter Hex from trying anything. With trembling arms she handed her young son over to Hex who very gently took the boy in her grasp. The baby fascinated her. She marvelled at it's tiny hands and feet. She held the child close to her bosom.

"What a beautiful baby" Hex said as she rocked the infant in her arms. She stroked his head and cuddled him. The baby for his part was as content in her arms as he was in the arms of his Mother. Hex was curious about the little bundle and asked the Mother some questions. What was his name, how old was he and so on. The other binomes watched all of this unsure of what to do. After a short time Hex gently hugged the baby and kissed his head. She then very carefully handed the child back to his very releived mother. Hex stood with a look of contentment oh her face.

"Thank you, your child is very special" she said soflty.

As the Mother held her son close, Hex did something else unexpected. She bent down and gave the Mother a soft kiss on her head.

"Thak you" she said again. She took one final look at the child.

"Goodbye little one."

And in a flash she teleported back to her lair.

The Police Squad car promptly arrived and they took statements from all who had witnessed what had happened. But there was nothing to be done. The Mother and the other witnesses told the police that Hex had not harmed the child in any way, no crime was commited and the Mother told the officers that Hex was very gentle towrds her child and just seemed curious about him. The Officers filed their report back at the Principle Office where it was eventually read by Phong himself. He shook his head and tried to make sense of it.

"What are you trying to do Hexadecimal?" he thought to himself.

A few days later he had his answer.

The day started like any other but didn't end that way. Early in the afternoon Hexadecimal returned to the Principle Office yet she wasn't there for the Read Me files. She materialised in Phong's office with a burst of bright light knocking Phong out of his chair. Startled, he raised himself back up. He wasn't prepared for what he saw.

Hexadecimal lay quivering on the floor gasping for air. Phong rushed to her side and took her head in his hands.

"Hexadecimal, what is wrong, what is wrong with you?" he asked.

Hex responded slowly, haltingly in a very meek voice.

"Sick.......I am.......very sick, very......sick. Help.......me?"

Phong was stunned but acted quickly. He opened a vid window to the Hospital Sector and ordered a stretcher unit to his office. The Med Techs arrived, placed Hex on the stretcher and took her to the Med Sector. It didn't take long for Hex to regain some strength and she was able to answer Phong's questions. She told him how she had stayed up late the previous night painting and had only just woken up from downtime. Upon awkening she had become violently ill. Her stomach backed up on her and she had gotten sick. She used all of her power to teleport to the Principle Office in the hope that Phong might help her. She was now feeling much better but Phong insisted on examining her anyway. Hex was so improved that Phong was able to give her a head to toe physical. She waited in the Med Sector as he pondered over the results. First of all he was able to confirm what he knew in the back of his mind. Hex was indeed now a Data Sprite. All the makeup and genetics that indicated virus were now gone from her system.

But the second finding was most troubling. He couldn't beleive it when it came back positive. He ran the results two, three times and they came back positive each time. he realized that this could explain her recent behaviour, the need to understand realationships, the interst in the baby and her sickness this afternoon. But how? How had it happened and when and with who? Hex obviously did not understand what was happening to her. So Phong would have to explain. It was something he was not looking foward to.

Phong made his way to the room in which Hex was waiting. He entered and saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, her wide smile spread across her face.

"How much like a child she looks" Phong thought.

"Well Doctor, am I healthy?" Hexadeciaml enquired.

"Yes Hex you are healthy, very healthy in fact but there is something that I must speak to you about, a matter of some importance."

Hex bobbed her head in agreement.

"Please tell me" she said, keeping her smile wide.

Phong let out a long breath and continued.

"Hex, the illness you suffered today is a condition called Morning Sickness."

Hex's smile grew even wider and she flashed her teeth.

"Then I will only be sick in the morning's, that's not so bad."

Then she became more serious.

"Oh, it won't last long will it?"

Phong shook his head.

"No it will not. It will last only a short time but it is a symptom of a more important condition."

Hex's lips curled into an 0 shape and she brought her hands to her face.

"Oh no, do you mean another illness?"

"No, no." Phong said. "Not an illness, a condition. Hex, you obviously don't understand what is happening to you so I must explain."

He took her hand and held it tightly.

"Hexadecimal, I don't know how to tell you this so please bear with me. This is not easy. You see, only women who are with child have morning sickness. You are pregnant, Hexadecimal. You are going to have a........"

He paused for a breif time, collecting himself.

"You are going to have a baby."

Hexadecimal cocked her head to the side and a quizical look came to her face. She didn't understand. But as the seconds passed, she ultimately did.

And then her mood changed, because a memory returned to her.

A dark memory.

A memory she had buried deep within her, locked away never to be seen again. Or so she hoped.

And she spoke.

"No" she said quietly.

And then she screamed.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" she screamed with a force that would have shook down the walls of the Principle Office if it hadn't been built so tough. She shoved Phong to the floor and teleported back to the lair in burst of white light and a cry of anquish.

Some of the Med Techs heard the commotion and burst into the room. They found Phong trying to regain his senses.

"Sir are you all right?" one asked.

"Yes, yes" Phong said as he regained his composure.

"Find Hack and Slash and tell them to report to me at once!"

One of the Med techs ran from the room without question, carrying out Phong's command. The Command.Com dusted himself off and planned his next move. He needed to go to Lost Angles and find Hexadecimal.

The two robots Hack and Slash reported to Phong as per his order. As always if one spoke, the other immediatly followed. If they weren't hushed, they could keep up their chatter forever.

"Hack and slash reporting for duty you Phongship."

"Yes reporting for duty, just like you asked."

"Ready willing and able to work, Sir"

"Oh yes, always ready willing and able."

Phong felt a headache coming on so he raised his hands for silence.

"My Sons, please say no more and ask no questions, I need you to transport me to Lost Angles."

"Oh we can do that" Hack said and then added "Uh was I allowed to speak then?"

Slash piped in.

"Oh yes, are we supposed to keep quiet all day or are we never to speak again?"

Phong began to wonder how Megabyte had put up with them as long as he did.

"You can speak whenever you need to but please!, we must hurry to lost Angles, take me now!"

The two robots saluted and in unison said "Yes Sir, your Phongship!"

Hack and Slash picked Phong up and bunbled him off to Hex's lair.

When they arrived all seemed peaceful at first. All was quiet. Phong asked Hack and Slash to wait outside the lair for him as he decided to go in alone. The old sprite trundled into Hexadecimal's home and was taken aback by what he encountered. Hex's paintings were all slashed and burned, her sculptures lay smashed to peices. She had destroyed her artwork and scatteredd their remains all the around the lair floor. Phong saw that Scuzzy was hiding behind Hex's throne or rather what was left of it. It too suffered her wrath.

"Hexadecimal, where are you?" Phong asked.

For a few seconds there was nothing but the echo of Phong's words to be heard. Otherwise silence. But sudenly a meek voice said "Go away."

"Hexedecimal?" Phong asked again.

The voice returned, a little stronger, a little more forceful but not much.

"Go away" she said.

Phong pricked up his ears and homed in on the voice. He turned towards a dark corner of the lair asnd saw a form quivering there. It was indeed Hexadecimal. She sat shivering, her hands blocking her face. Phong raced towards her.

"Go away!" she again commanded.

Phong reached out a reassuring hand and placed it on her shoulder.

"Hexadecimal, I am here to help you. Plaese, let me help you."

Phong reached out and gently pulled Hex's hands from her face. It was painfully obvious she had been weeping a great deal. Her eyes were red and swollen, her cheeks moist form her tears. Phong was shocked by her appearance. The once insane virus was now more like a frightened child.

"Hex, everything will be alright. I will take care of you. There is nothing to be afraid of. I will see to it that you will have the best care in all of Mainframe. You are going to have a child and I will see to it that all your needs are met. Please come back with me to the Priciple Office so we may discuss things further."

Hex shook her head no.

"I can't, I can never show my face again."

"Why do you think that?" Phong asked.

"It is because of the Father, the Father of the baby."

Phong knew that they would have to broach the subject of who had fahtered the child but felt that could wait. The priority now was seeing to Hex's physical and mental condition.

"We will deal with the father later. Now it is you who are important."

Hexadecimal again became agitated and scared. She began trembling again and Phong tried to calm her some more.

"No, no, we must never find the father. He must be dead, I pray he is dead, he must be dead."

Phong placed his hands on her shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

"Please Hex, don't say that. All will be taken care of. Everything will be alright but why do you wish the father dead?"

Hex began to sob again.

"It is because of who he is, of what he did to me."

Phong began to get uncomftorable. He didn't understand but knew that now he had to find out.

"Hexadecimal, who is the child's father? Whay do you wish him dead?"

Hex began to cry again. Between her sobs she tried to speak, to answer the question but it came out as so much gibberish. Phong held her tight and looked her in the eyes.

"Hex, I must know who is the father?"

Hex shook her head.

Phong asked again.

"Hexadecimal, who is the Father of your child?"

Hex straightened up and screamed out a name that Phong had never hope to hear again for as long as his days. At the sound of it, Phong pulled Hex close and attempted to comfort her as she burst into tears.

"Why, why did he do this?" was all Phong could think.

The name Hex had given was the name of her brother.

The name was Megabyte.

Hexadecimal had collapsed in Phong's embrace. Hack and Slash transported them back to the Principle Office where she was returned to the Medical Sector. Phong kept a constant vigil on her. All the while he pondered her dilemna.

How could Megabyte have done this to her? To abuse his own Sister in such a way, the worst way any man could abuse a woman? Phong at that moment realized just how much he hated Megabyte and prayed that if his wounds hadn't killed that whatever he found in the Web did.

Phong held Hex's hand. And she finally awoke.

"Where am I?' she asked meekly.

"We brought you back to the Principle Office. You fainted."

"Thank you" she said in weak tone. "Thank you Phong."

Phong straightened his glasses and let out a deep sigh. He knew that he would have to broach the question sooner or layer. He bent his head down low.

"Hexadeciaml, I need to know, how did it happen. If you don't wish to talk now then maybe later?"

But Hexadecimal explained. She appeared about ready to cry again but she fought back her pain and told Phong of how it happened, of how the Firewall had so enrageded Megabyte that he took his frustrations out on her, doing what he did to her. To him it was all a joke, a way of dealing with his anger, by abusing another.

"After it happened, I blocked it from my memory. It was so horrible I never wantd to remember what he had done to me but when I became ill and you told me what was wrong, It all came back to me. All the pain."

Hex trailed off for a moment.

"All the pain"

Phong tried to keep his composure but it wasn't easy.

"It explains your recent behaviour and why you returned to the lair and destroyed you artwork."

"Yes" Hex stated. I felt my body changing and couldn't understand why and when I remembered, I didnt't know what else to do with my anger.

Hex sniffed back her tears.

"My paintings, and sculptures, all gone."

Phong leaned in close to her and tried to comfort her pain.

"There, there my child, what was destroyed cn be rebuilt in time".

"Do you think so?"

Phng spoke soflty.

"I kow so my dear, I know so."

For a long time they sat, holdind hands and saying nothing but Hex broke the silence.

"Phong, what shall I do?"

For once the wise old sprite did not have an answer.

I don't know my child. I can advise you, tell you all I know but the final descision on the child will have to come from you and you aloner. I cannot make the choice for you. It will be dificult but I will promise you this, I will be here for you, always and forever. I am your friend and I will help take care of you no mater what descision you make. I shall stand by you forever more."

Hexadecimal rose up from the bed and looked Phong in the eyes.

"Do you tryuly mean this?" she asked.

Phong nodded yes.

Hexadecimal leaned forward and hugged her new friend. Phong returned the favor.

"I will never allow anyone to hurt you again, I promise" he said.

"Thank you Phong, she said softly, you are my new friend, my new friend."

And they held each onto other for awhile.

As friends sometimes do.

Later that evening as Hex slept, Phong returned to his office and opened a panorama of vid windows in order to look out over the ctiy. How he loved mainframe, his home and his people. What a truly wonderful place it was. The perfect place ot raise a child if that is what Hex decided. If so there would be questions to answer. People would want to kow who the father was and Phong knew that in time those questions would have to be dealt with. But not this time. Not tonight. Hexadecimal was what was important now and he would keep his promise to her. He opend a vid window to the Medical Sector and saw that she was resting comfortably.

"Be at peace my child, from here on, I will protect you." he whispered.

He closed the vid windows and prepared for bed.

Cycles passed in Mainframe. Life went on. Game cubes descended only to be beaten back by the city's defenders. Sprites and binomes went about their daily lives. All was well. In the Lost Angles, Hexadecimal had been busy. She had been working hard onm a new painting, a departure for her as the subject was not herself but her new best friend. Phong. Hex sat on her favorite chair and put the finishing touches on the work. She had changed her appearance again. She crafted for herself a long, flowing gown to cover her body, a hooded cloak around it. The plumes on her head were now swept back, giving her the appearance of having hair. She looked quite beautiful. There was a glow about her. She completed the portrait of Phong and was determined to present it to him the next time she saw him. She leaned back in her chair. She was tired, had been more so lately but it was a good feeling she had decided. She gazed downward and placed her hands on her swollen stomach.

"Oh little one, you are making your Mother quite puffy." she laughed.

The life that grew inside her jostled somewhat for position. She felt this and with her hands sent gentle waves of calming energy into her womb.

"There you go little one. You need to rest as does your Mother."

She decided to take a quick nap while sitting in her favorite chair. Scuzzy buzzed aroungd her feet and she bent down and stroked his head. She looked around and took in what she had done to the lair. It now looked quite different. Bright and shining. The perfect place to raise a child. Her child.

"Let Megabyte rage wherever he is" she thought to herself. "I will turn what he thought was my humiliation into his last great defeat. I will carry this child. A child that was created from hate will know love. Oh how I will love my baby and teach it to love others My baby will know nothing of hate. And if you can see me now wherever you are dear Brother, I want you to look and see how I have beaten you again. Once again, I've turned the tables on you."

She could feel her child's life energy. It would be strong just like it's Mother and would also share something else with the woman who would carry it to term. The baby would be a Data Sprite and not a virus. The child had been cleansed. The viral taint in Mainframe was truly a thing of the past.

Hexadecimal leaned back and let out a deep breath.

"You and I need our rest, little one."

Scuzzy curled himself around her feet. Hex leaned back her head and fell asleep.

The woman and the life that she carried within her rested in peace and contentment.

And as was well in the place called Mainframe.

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