Part II
Dot disappeared into the back, leaving Mouse alone up front. She gazed around the room, then placed her feet upon the counter, causualy leaning back until she was lying on another stool. Cecil wasn�t in the position to berate her. He was too tense. He should relax more. Like this. This was actually quite comfortable.
Just then, the door opened. Quickly, Mouse pulled down her feet and turned to look at the newcomer. "Zipp!"
"Be right with you!" Dot called.
Friskett momentarily released Cecil, who made a vain attempt to jump away, and uttered a low growl towards the new girl.
Zipp smiled, curling a piece of green hair around her finger. "Didn�t think you�d recognize me, Mouse."
Mouse laughed and hopped off the stool. "How could anyone forget you, sugah?" She threw her arms around the other girl. "It�s super to see ya again."
"I know," Zip replied, hugging back. "It�s been cycles. I�ve really missed you."
"So what brings you to MainFrame?" Mouse asked. "You�re not here to arrest me, are ya?"
"Why do you ask? What�d you do this time?" Zipp laughed. "You know I�m out of that business. I was going to check in with Megabyte on some business, but..."
"Found the place abandoned, didja?" Mouse smiled. "Megabyte is...well, he had an accident." She laughed at an old memory. You were getting kinda buddy buddy with him, as I recall."
Zipp gave a dry laugh. "So that�s what happened. Oh well. The Guardians didn�t care much for him anyway."
Mouse noticed how Zipp clenched her teeth at the mention of the word Guardian. "Speaking of Guardians, darlin�, Bob�s in town."
Zipp jerked her head up. "Bob? Guardian Bob 452?" A smile spread slowly across her face.
"He won�t be too happy to see ya, sugah."
"He never was. Well, I�ll have to get up with him while I�m here. Catch up on old times." She skipped up onto the counter. "By the way, are you still in the hacker business?"
Mouse didn�t like Zipp�s smile. There was something different about it. In fact, Zipp herself seemed different. This wasn�t the same sweet young sprite she had met cycles ago in the Super Computer. Then again, she had grown up. "Well, Zipp, it�s not what it was, but I�ve still the skills." She raised an eyebrow. "What are you processing?"
Zipp tilted her head, giving Mouse a pleading smile. "Please, Mouse. It�s what I came to see Da-, Megabyte about. I just need one little favor. You�re so much better than me."
Mouse smiled at that. "You and your crazy ideas. What is this all about?" She felt as if it was something not good.
"Why, don�t you trust me? I thought we were partners!" She slipped a disk into Mouse�s palm. "Please, Mouse, it�s nothing bad. We�ve done worse in the past. It�s just one little project."
"Well..."
Dot reappeared, holding two cups. She handed one to Mouse. "Here�s your shake. Who was at the door?"
"That was..." She turned around, searching the room. It was empty, save for Friskett and Cecil in the corner. She laughed. Zipp had picked that trick up from her. Imitation was the best form of flattery. Zipp used to be a Guardian. Maybe not a very good one, but she was a nice girl. Nicer than Mouse had been. She couldn�t be up to too much trouble. Why not help her out?
She examined the disk. It read "Meet me in two seconds. Lost Angles."
"What�s that?" Dot asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing, Dot," said Mouse, slipping the disk into her pocket. This wasn�t something Dot would be happy about. "Nothing at all." She took a sip of her shake and headed toward the door. "Now, if you�ll excuse me, hon, I�ve got some business to attend to."
Dot frowned as she watched Mouse leave. They had gotten to be good friends recently. Mouse usually filled her in on things. Perhaps she should follow her.
But before Dot could do so, the door burst open, and in rushed a little sprite.
"Dot! Dot!" cried Enzo. "Matrix wouldn�t let me do anything in the game!"
"He was shooting at all the wrong ships!" came a loud masculine voice from outside.
"I only did it once!"
Dot sighed.
Lost Angles was a desolate place. Overhead was a dim, dirty sky, accompanied by sickly green clouds of old files and User knew what else. Dilapidated buildings seemed to piled on top of each other, all leaning dangerously over any passerbyer. Every now and then, a single null crawled past, occasionally pausing to peer around before hurrying on to seek shelter under a rotting board.
Mouse veered around a crumbling building, keeping her zip board on as low a speed as possible. A disgusted frown on her face, she scanned the view for any sign of Zipp.
Why was she even here? Mouse thought back several cycles, to when she had known Zipp. It seemed programs ago, an entire life time. Looking back at the old Mouse was like looking at an entirely different sprite who lived in slums, socializing with crooks and virals, doing anything to make a bit of money. And she had actually enjoyed that criminal life! Mouse smiled slightly. User, it hadn't been too bad, actually.
But that wasn't her anymore.
Mouse had expected more out of Zipp. Mouse had always admired the younger sprite's willingness to do right. She could have made something of herself. She did make something of herself. She had been a Guardian, for crying out loud! Mouse had met her when Zipp was about 1.3 or 1.4., a little orphan in the Super Computer. Mouse had then been young herself, only 1.9, just freshly starting out her career as a hacker. Zipp had learned the trade relatively quickly. She was a smart girl. But after a cycle, she was off to the Guardian Academy. She couldn't stand doing wrong. Mouse gave a short laugh. Those were the days. And she had worried that she had been a bad influence on Zipp!
Well, perhaps she was.
Somewhere, a piece of silicon fell from a building, bursting open on the ground. Mouse automatically drew her katana and stopped.
Nothing.
Then she heard a voice laughing. She looked up to see Zipp standing on a silicon beam jutting out from the dilapidated building. The girl jumped down in front of Mouse.
"You came! But oh my User! You actually stopped! You actually prepared for a fight!" Zipp fell to the floor, laughing like some hysterical little sprite.
Mouse stared at her like she was an idiot. "Well, now, darlin', what'd ya call me here for? Besides playing practical jokes? If you wanna do that, try it on Dot Matrix. She gives a much better reaction."
Zipp recollected herself and stood up. "It's nothing, really." She pulled a small data cartridge from her belt and handed it to Mouse, who studied. It seemed harmless enough. Zipp hadn't given her any reason to distrust her. Zipp just thought she was the old Mouse.
"I don't exactly have means to broadcast this," continued Zipp. "Couldn't you possibly break into the P.O.? This contains several bits of signals, so if you could possibly send those out, I'd be really obliged." She caught Mouse's scrutinizing frown. "It won't harm hardly anyone, if that's what you're thinking." She smiled sheepishly.
"Hardly anyone?"
"Well..."
Mouse knew Zipp. Something wasn't being said. "This isn't about Bob, is it?"
Zipp cocked her head. "Why would it be?"
"I know how you to get along, or the lack thereof. Same with the other Guardians."
Zipp laughed. "Don't worry! It's not that! I know how you feel about Bob."
"What about Bob?" (OMG! a movie!)
Both girls spun around. Bob's zipboard hovered some distance away. His mouth hung open in shock, and his eyes were wide and full of anger. "Zipporah Drive? What in the net are you doing here?" He zipped over. "I thought you knew better than to come this close to any Super Computer protected system!"
"Toldja he wouldn't be too pleased, sugah," Mouse muttered to Zipp.
Zipp sent Bob a flashy smile. "Oh, hello, Bob! How nice to see you again." She reached out and flipped a strand of his long silver hair. "I like your hair. It's changed since the last time I saw you."
Bob grabbed her wrist. "I can't believe you're here! After what you did!" His entire body seemed to be shaking with rage.
Mouse frowned. She knew Zipp and Bob didn't like each other, but this was riciculous. And the conversation had her thinking. She had heard Zipp had been expelled from the Guardian League, but she had never heard why. Her heart beat faster as she stared at the cartridge Zipp had given her. What was this thing?
Zipp yanked her hand away with ease. "Maybe I got lonely." Her voice suddenly lost it's sweet tone. It was now bitter.
Then she snapped back. "I guess I came to apologize, Bob. I've totally repented for what I had done. All I want is a second chance. I know I'll never be a Guardian again, but... They won't let me into the Super Computer..." She started to cry.
Mouse bit her lip. Zipp sounded sincere.
Bob glanced over at Mouse. "So this is who you're hanging with? When Dot told me to follow you, I never expected you to be with her! Does no one tell me anything?"
He grabbed Zipp's wrist again. This time she did not resist. "You're at least coming with me."