Part VII
Several seconds later, Zipp found herself wandering about the many rooms of the Tor, something to keep her mind off things. She had toured the place earlier, but hadn't really bothered to explore. Now she had a purpose to examine the rooms, searching for things she could REALLY use.
One room in particular caught her eye. It was like a cave; high ceiling, dark, and oh, full of the funnest stuff! Zipp had always liked sharp things... An adjustable sort of table sat in the center, surrounded by machinary of all kinds. A control panel lined one wall, and another wall held drawers. Zipp didn't have to look in them to know what they held. This room was obviously a medical lab. She entertained herself for awhile before setting off again down the hall.
Enzo was curled up in the corner of the room when Zipp peered through the door. A line of drool hung from his lips, and his eyes were shut. Zipp thought he was asleep. She opened the door completely.
Almost immediately, Enzo was on top of Zipp, shouting at the top of his lungs. Zipp smirked and pushed him off.
"Calm down, kid!" she said. "I ain't going to hurt you."
"Then why didja lock me up in here?"
Zipp laughed and stood up. "It was a little prank," she said. "A joke."
Enzo rolled his eyes. "Puh-leeze! That was no joke. I wasn't compiled yesterday," he said in a very grown-up tone, at least according to him.
Zipp's smile shrank a little. "You know, Enzo, you're a lot smarter than they give you credit for."
Despite himself, Enzo reddened.
"Still," Zipp continued. "I'm not going to hurt you. In fact, I'm going to let you go. I went a little random last night. ("That's for sure," said Enzo.) You were the closest sprite to grab. I hate to say this, but you're basicallly useless to me. So I'll release you, no harm done."
Enzo studied her, dubious. "Are you really going to let me go home?"
Zipp nodded, swishing her long green hair. "Sure thing. In fact, I'll even walk you out of the Tor." She stuck out her hand, which Enzo, after hestitating, took.
The Principal's Office was a madhouse. No one had the faintest idea how to approach Zipp and the Tor, not even Mouse. Finally, Dot had decided that the more weapons and people, the better. She stood in the middle of the room, assigning weapons to everyone, telling them their attack positions, which changed every two nanos.
Ray, who had shown up, couldn't help but smile a little. "Really, Dot. I'm not sure why you're getting so worked up. After all, it's just one little girl."
Dot was on him in a flash. "Listen!" she hissed through clenched teeth. "Zipp has my little brother. Zipp is insane. I don't know her very well. I have no idea what sort of tactics to use on her. I'm just trying to be prepared here, and I don't need you expressing your opinion!" She shoved a gun into his hands. As she walked away, Ray gave a low whistle. "Touchy."
AndrAIa and Mouse were mock fighting, all the while venting to each other about Zipp. Bob, having regained most of his energy, walked over to Dot and kissed her on the forehead. "Don't worry," he said. "Enzo has been in plenty of scrapes before. We'll get him back."
"Yeah, if we ever get out of here," said Ray.
"Amen to that, sugah," Mouse said, dodging a mock blow from AndrAIa's trident. "Zipp had has him for seconds, it's getting late, and poor little Enzo's probably scared to deletion!"
"No, I'm not." Enzo stood in the doorway.
Dot gave a cry and ran over to him. "How did you escape?" she asked, throwing her arms around him.
"I didn't escape," he replied.
"Zipp let you go?" AndrAIa said.
Enzo nodded. "She was really nice about it. She didn't hurt me at all. She locked me in this room for a couple of seconds, but that was it.""She didn't do anything?" Matrix asked, doubtful. "Are you sure?"
Enzo grinned.
Bob said "Well, we've Enzo back now. That's good. But it looks like there is another virus in the Silicon Tor. Did she say anything, Enzo?"
Enzo shook his head. "Nothing at all. But I think she might try something soon, if that's what you mean."
Mouse raised an eyebrow. What was Enzo talking about? Why had Zipp let him go, just like that? Something was up. "What do you mean, darlin'?"
Again, Enzo grinned. His hand reached down to his pocket, and he pulled out a magnet.
"User!" Mouse exlaimed.
Bob and Mouse pounced on Enzo, Bob tearing the magnet from his palm. Enzo screamed and thrashed around. Mouse forced his arms down, holding him tightly. Bob covered the magnet and grabbed Enzo's legs. He continued to yell "Get away from me! Let me go!" He twisted his neck around, trying to bite Mouse.
Matrix approached, his gun held high. "Sorry, kid, but this is for my own good, er, your own good... something like that. What am I saying?" He brought the gun down hard, and Enzo was still.
"What made him do that?" asked Dot, shocked. "Is this even Enzo?"
"Perhaps Zipp made a copy of him?" suggested Ray.
Mouse bit her lip and began examining the unconcious Enzo. "Well, sugahs, we'll have to find that out, wont we... Ah, here we go." She pulled off his hat and pulled back some of his messy black hair. "It's a chip!"
"Let me see!" Bob pushed Mouse aside. "You're right! I think he was being controlled."
"Can you pull it out?" AndrAIa asked.
Bob was already tugging at the chip, and within a moment a tiny bit of metal popped loose. "That's good. It wasn't in too deep."
Enzo gave a soft moan, and his eyes slowly opened. He gasped when he saw everyone around him.
"Oh, Bob! Itwasscarybutkindofcooltoobutitwasstillscary'causeZipplockedmeupinithisroomanditwasreallycoldandtherewasn't
anythingtodoandshewouldn'tletmeoutbutthenshedidandIthoughtshewasgoingtoletmegobutshetookmetothis
pixelatiousroomwithallthisdangerousstuffandIthoughtshewasgoingtodeletemebutthenIfellasleepandthenIwokeup
and-"
"Whoa!" broke in Dot. "Slow down! Enzo, you just attempted to delete us yourself."
Enzo's mouth fell opn. "Really? Alphanumeric! Er, I'm sorry."
Mouse laughed. "That's okay. Thank the User you didn't, though. But Zipp was controlling you."
"Really? Alphanumeric!"
Bob and Dot exchanged worried glances. "I don't know what we're going to do about Zipp," said Dot. "She's getting dangerous."
"Zipp doesn't seem to like doing things directly," observed AndrAIa. "How would she do in an actual fight, where she couldn't work through anything?"
Everyone looked at Mouse.
"I hate to say this, but she's not bad at combat,"responded Mouse. "But AndrAIa's right. She'd rather not fight herself.""So are you saying we should just march up to Miss Drive and her Tor now?" said Matrix, his eye glinting menacingly. "A good fight sounds good right now."
Half a second later, everyone stood at the base of the Silicon Tor, waiting for Zipp. Unfortunatly, Dot's plans had changed. She had searched for a white sheet or maybe even a shirt, but as laundary was being processed, all she could come up with was a bra. AndrAIa had strung it to her trident, which she held high. Enzo couldn't stop giggling. Matrix looked as if he wanted to place his gun to his own head and squeeze the trigger.
"Peace," he repeatedly said. "Was not what I had in mind. Especially not with underwear."
"I didn't see you offering anything, mate," said Ray. "Is it boxers or briefs?"
Enzo went into another round of laughter.
Finally, a hatch at the top of the Tor opened, and Zipp appeared. She laughed when she saw the assembly beneath her. What a bunch of basics!
"Ah, so you've decided to surrender Bob up peacefully!" she called down. "Or should I just delete him from here?" She held up a magnet. "You do mean to surrender, don't you? I can't quite tell with, ahem, that flag. By the way, who wears the D cup?"
Mouse, AndrAIa, and Dot looked at each other.
"No one is surrendering, Zipp!" shouted Bob. "We just want to talk with you."
"Let's see, there is six...seven...eight of you," replied Zipp. "And only one of me? I'm sorry, but that's just not a fair conversation. Tell ya what." She smiled darkly. "I'll talk to one of you, okay?"
"Great idea, Dot," Matrix muttered sarcastically. "Talking it out really helps."
Everyone looked at each other, unsure of whom to send. Enzo suggested that Frisket should go tear off her limbs.
"I'll go up," volunteered Mouse.
"You sure about his?" said AndrAIa, worried. Who knew how Zipp would react, even to her friends?
Mouse nodded. "I'm sure."
Zipp was waiting in Megabyte's chair when Mouse entered the room. Her heart lurched. She had hoped for Bob. What was she supposed to do, now? Mouse now hated her. She stood up and smiled. "Good of you to come, Mouse. I was afraid you all would just back out."
Mouse didn't return the smile. So this was Zipp, the sprite she thought she could trust. Zipp just didn't deserve a smile. "Well, here I am, sugah. You said you wanted to talk. So let's talk." Her hand tightened on the handle of her katana. She was pleased to see Zipp pale. "Ya never did like combat, didja, Zipp?"
"Zipp laughed dryly. "We aren't here for combat, Mouse."
"Oh, yeah?" Mouse challenged. "Then what are we here for?If you don't want a fight, why are you trying to murder Bob? Why did you drag Enzo into this? You tried to make him delete us!"
So Mouse really did want to delete her. Zipp didn't blame her. Well, she should make the best of it. "I did?" asked Zipp, seemingly bewildered. "Oh, yes. That little incident. Sorry. But I had found some new toys, and needed someone to play with."
"Cut with the RAM," snapped Mouse. "Y'know Bob didn't delete Vi."
Zipp was silent for a few nanos. "I know he didn't. But when Vi was murdered, I vowed vengeance against all Guardians. I just went out after them. I couldn't do anything else. It doesn't matter who they are. User, I even joined forced with Daemon! I don't know what to do. So I go after them."
"And where has that gotten you? It won't restore Vi."
"I know!" shriked Zipp. "But I had to do something! I didn't want to harm you guys, I promise you that. I really do like you. All of you. But... what else could I do? Besides, I didn't think you would mind, Mouse. You yourself were always the double-crosser, with your crimes and your work and-"
"Shut up!" yelled Mouse suddenly, katana in hand. "That ain't me anymore! Learn that!"
Zipp stared at the sword. Then she laughed. "Oh? So your old life has gone to the recyle bin? All of it? Including your FRIENDS?!" She whipped out her magnet and lunged at Mouse. She didn't know what possessed her to do it. ALl she knew was an intense fury sweeping through her, a blinding anger atMouse, who was now against the little orphan she had taken in so long ago! Fangs bared, she held the magnet out...
"No!"
Zipp felt a heavy blow, then found herself on the floor, Ray standing above her, scowling.
Mouse stared at Ray with a mixture of surprise and adoration. "Ray... how did you...?" She turned to the door.
Matrix and AndrAIa stood in the doorway, Frisket at their feet.
"Bob and Dot are outside to make sure no funny business happens out there," AndrAIa explained. "But we couldn't let you two have fun without us."
Zipp looked at AndrAIa, then back at Ray. She smirked. "So, Mouse, this is your lover boy, right?" She pulled herself up. "Not a bad choice."
"Not bad at all, are I? You know your stuff," replied Ray, but his voice was dripping with hatred.
Ray reminded Zipp so much of Vi. They looked completely differeng, but they shared the same charm, the same light. Vi... she felt a fresh burst of pain. Her vision blurred, and again she felt hatrid. Shouldn't others feel it? She reached out to kiss Ray, but he pushed her away.
"Virus," he spat.
No matter. Zipp laughed and ran her fingers through her hair. Half, actually. But you're close."
"Half virus, full virus, what's the difference?" said Matrix. He approached Zipp, gun out, eye glowing. A small red dot appeared on Zipp's forehead.
"Matrix," she said as he approached. "You're a Guardian, aren't you?"
"Cadet," he muttered.
She rasied her arm, the magnet clutched in her fist, ready to be thrown. "Good enough for me."
"No!" AndrAIa shrieked. "Don't you dare!" She dashed foreward, throwing herself in front of Matrix. He gasped and tried to push her away.
"AndrAIa, you'll get hurt!" he said.
"AndrAIa," Zipp whispered. She twisted her arm just in time, and the magnet clattered against the wall and fell to the floor. AndrAIa. The first nice sprite in Mainframe. Zipp had nearly deleted her. Oh, User.
For what seemed like a whole second, Zipp and AndrAIa just stared at each other, too stunned to speak. Mouse looked at Zipp, her anger beginning to ebb. For a moment, she saw little Zipp.
"WARNING: INCOMING GAME."
Enzo dashed into the room, his face ablaze with excitement. "The game is right above the Tor!" he exclaimed as if Upgrade had come early. "Isn't that cool?"
Zipp gave a small cry and sprinted toward the door.
Mouse blocked her way. "You're not going anywhere, sugah. You called us cowards? We're not running from games, and neither are you."
Zipp scowled and shoved Mouse out of the way. "You can all stay and get nullified."
"Is that what you're afraid of?" said Mouse. "Getting nullified? Or are you just frightened of something you can't trick your way out of?" Furious, she whipped out her katana, meaning only to scare Zipp. Zipp dodged, and a green wave spilled to the floor.
Stunned, Zipp touched her freshly cropped hair. "My hair," she moaned.
Matrix, Ray, and Enzo all laughed. Even AndrAIa and Mouse smiled.
"An insult to your vanity, darlin'?" Mouse said. "I'd like to see ya outrun the cube at this point."
"Watch me!" Zipp dove past Mouse and out the door. Immediately, Frisket chased after her.
"She'll never make it," stated Mouse. "And good, too. The game might scare her enough to weaken her. Then it'll be easier to take her."
"Are you sure she can't escape the cute?" AndrAIa asked. "She seems terribly afraid of games. Who knows what she might try?"
Mouse raised an eyebrow. "Good point. Why don't you make sure she stays in?"
AndrAIa quickly left the Tor. Outside, the game cube was dangerously low. Dot ran up to AndrAIa.
"Did she do anything?" she asked. "Zipp just left and-"
"Where is she?" AndrAIa asked, cutting off Dot. "Mouse has a plan. We just need to keep her in the game."
Dot pointed to the distance, where Zipp was racing off on her board. She was hunched over trying to avoid the cube.
User, thought AndrAIa. Zipp wasn't going to make it out. A thought struck her mind, and she panicked. She pulled out her zipboard and tore after Zipp. "Zipp!" she screamed.
But it was too late. There was a scream, followed by a sickening crunching sound as the edge of the cube crushed Zipp.
"Zipp!" AndrAIa screamed again. She rushed over. The cube had caught her down the middle of her body. The visible half of her head was her face, tilted to the side, unconscious. She wasn't deleted, but a good percent of her code was erased.
"Oh, User!" AndrAIa didn't dare try to move her. Zipp had saved her life. At least she hadn't deleted her.
Sick, AndrAIa turned around. She was standing in a large green field, with three gold hoops at two opposite sides. The Tor had transformed into an old castle, and in the distance were woods. The others stood a short distance off, staring in her direction. They had already rebooted.
They probably wanted to know what happened to Zipp. AndrAIa tapped the icon on her belt and muttered "ReBoot!" Immediately, she was dressed in a green robe, clutching a broomstick. She made her way over to the others, who were simarly dressed.
"What happened to Zipp?" asked Mouse.
"She didn't quite make it out."
Dot put a hand to her mouth. "User..."
Mouse's breath caught. Was Zipp okay? She resisted the urge to rush over and check. "We'll have to hurry and finish the game so we can help her," said Mouse.
"If she deserves it," said Matrix.
No one spoked.
"Well," Dot said. "We'll decide what to do with her later. Bob, what are the game stats?"
"We're playing *Quidditch*," he replied. "We have to fly around on these..." He held up his broom. "And throw balls through those hoops." He looked mildly disappointed.
"Alphanumeric," Matrix commented sarcastically. He held a large bat and was thumping it against the ground.
At the other end of the field was the User's team, dressed in red robes. In the middle of the field lay four balls.
"Dot, AndrAIa, Mouse," Bob continued. "Get the red one through the hoops. Ray and Matrix, keep the black ones from the girls. I'll guard our hoops."
"What do I do?" whined Enzo.
Bob shrugged. "Go after that other ball or something." He looked and Dot and smiled sheepishly.
Dot smiled back. Bob knew how she hated Enzo in games, but he still made the kid feel important.
A whistle sounded the beginning of the game. AndrAIa rose into the air. The User's team had the red ball. One player zipped past, holding the ball. She scowled at AndrAIa, then threw it to her team mate.
Mouse flew in, snatching the ball. "Gotcha! Dot! Catch!"
She tossed the ball at her. Dot rose up to catch it... but it fell into the User's hands as a black ball slammed into Dot, sending her broom into a spin.
The User girl laughed.
"Oh, shush," AndrAIa heard Matrix say. He swung his bat and a black ball went flying, knocking the User off of her broom. AndrAIa caught the ball and tossed it through the hoop. "Thanks, Sparky!"
Enzo flew above the action. He looked quite disgruntled. Why was he in the game anyway? He wasn't doing anything useful! Chasing after a little ball. Whoopdeedoo. Where in the net was the ball? This was just stupid.
The tiny, gold ball seemed to leap from nowhere. It hovered in the air for a moment, then shot off. Once again excited, Enzo sped after it.
But someone else was after the ball, too. A User boy with dark hair and glasses. Enzo scowled at him. He looked pretty pathetic for a User. They stared at each other. Then they dove toward the ball. "You're not ruining my part of the game, User!" Enzo cried.
A sharp pain swept through Zipp's code. She felt like she was being slowly deleted. Groaning, she forced open her eyes.
She could barely see. Where was she? It was so dark... people flying around...Ah, yes. She was back in the Web. Back at the ship. With the Guardians.
Rage replaced the pain. She had to destroy them. She tried to get up, but screamed. She couldn't get up; it hurt oo much, and something was holding her down.
The Guardians flew in the distance on their zipboards. She was too far back to be seen. "Hertz," she murmered. "Magnet."