Part V
Matrix recounted the night�s events to Bob and Phong.
When he was done, Phong scooted off to tell Turbo what had happened and set up search parties. Bob held his head in his hand, thinking, eyes cast down.
After several micros of silence, Matrix could no longer stand it.
"Bob, what are we going to do?, Matrix asked.
Silence.
"You have a plan, right?"
More silence.
"Maybe we could attack Hexadecimal at Lost Angles?"
Bob paused a nano before speaking. "No, they would expect something like that. Hex and Zip Drive have probably moved underground to another lair."
"What are we going to do?," Matrix asked again, a pleading tone barely perceptible in his voice.
"I don�t know," came the reply.
AndrAIa awoke.
Everything slowly came into focus as she blinked.
"My, my, its about time you woke up. I was beginning to think Zip had put too much anesthetic in the tranquilizer."
"What? Where I am?," asked AndrAIa, dazed and confused.
"Why deary, you�re here with me and Zip, of course," replied Hexadecimal. "And your little friends, too." Hexadecimal gestured to the other two tables, not unlike the one to which AndrAIa was strapped down tightly.
AndrAIa glanced to her right, seeing Mouse and Dot strapped down, still unconscious.
She turned to back to glare at Hexadecimal. "What do you want of us?," she asked coldly.
"You don�t know? Oh, of course you wouldn�t. Why don�t you tell her, sister dear?"
A figure emerged from the shadows.
"You sssee, we can�t produccce offssspring of our own. That isss where you ttthree come in. And when we are done, all of you will be deleted."
AndrAIa stared at Zip Drive in shock.
Hexadecimal�s mask transformed from an plain expression to an evil grin full of sharp, pointed fangs. "Oh, this is going to be so delightful," she cackled in glee.
"Bob, I�m... really sorry about Dot," Turbo consoled his friend. "But we have to believe we will find her and the others before they�re harmed. I know how much you care for her."
"I know, I know," the Guardian replied. "But I feel so... so... guilty! I didn�t even know she was gone until Matrix told me."
"How is he taking it?," Turbo asked.
"Not good," Bob answered. "He feels even worse than I do. He was knocked out before he could do anything. I saw him leave with a search party a cycle ago."
The two of them turned as the door slammed open and Matrix stomped through.
"Any sign of them?," Turbo asked as the young man paced by.
"No."
Matrix leaned over a console, putting a hand on his head and the other on the console.
A beeping emitted from Turbo�s wrist. "Bob, I�ve got to take this." He started to leave, but paused and clapped a hand on Bob�s shoulder. "We�ll find them. I know it." Bob nodded. The Prime Guardian turned and left.
Matrix did not seem to notice Turbo, much less see him leave.
He turned to Bob. "Bob, I don�t know if I can take this much longer. I can�t stand not being near her, not knowing what� what they�re doing to her. I just can�t stand it!" He started to sob uncontrollably.
Bob strode to his friend and took his shoulders. "Enzo!"
Matrix continued to look down at his feet.
"Enzo!," Bob repeated, shaking Matrix�s shoulders roughly. "Look at me!" Bob forced Matrix to look him in the eyes.
"We will find Zip Drive and Hex, and we will get Dot, AndrAIa, and Mouse back." Matrix unashamedly wiped away his tears.
Bob�s tones softened. "I promise."