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| Note: Like in some of my other fics, I don't even want to bother with the time scale and stuff like that because I'm already confused! I'll just use the time we go by and hopefully it all works out in the end. Enjoy the story! Oh yeah, and it would be a good idea if you read the first Daemon story I wrote which is posted above this one. You might understand what in the world I’m talking about in this one. ;-) Oh yeah, I should put a disclaimer in here somewhere, huh? I know I haven't done that with my other fics, (cringe) oh well, time to start! DISCLAIMER: NO I do NOT own Reboot, Bob, Dot, Daemon, etc. etc. etc. I don't even own Mainframe, work for them, conspire for them, etc. etc. etc. However I DO own Billy, even though she's linked to Daemon in that strange way. I just own the Billy part, not the Daemon part, so don't sue me! Oh yeah, and don’t steal her. How's THAT for a disclaimer? Part 1 Billy stood in the middle of the trash/recycle bin sector, looking forlornly at the graves. Ever since she had returned to the Super Computer she visited them once a week after work, hoping to make up for past mistakes. It had been half a year since she'd seen any of the Mainframers. A wind started up and she drew her trenchcoat closer to her body, hoping to keep the warmth within. She felt she had changed a lot since the whole Daemon issue. No more leather for her, that was strict no-no. When she even looked at something leather, memories came flying back. Painful memories. Now she wore regular clothes like everyone else. She took back her guardian job and protected her city with her fellow guardian-workers. She even started dating, but nothing heavy. She wasn't ready for commitment. Not yet. Her friends had suggested she go on a vacation, and Mainframe always got brought up in their conversations. For all she knew, she was scared to go back there. Scared of the people there and their perception of her, scared knowing that no one really knew what happened to Daemon after she left. It had been hard coming back to the Super Computer. Other than Turbo, not many other people accepted her or trusted her at first. She got strange glances from other sprites on the street, and several times people that lost their family members to her- no, Daemon, had confronted her. Turbo helped her start a new life. He got her a place to stay, reassigned her to the guardian field, and tried his best to explain to sprites that it wasn’t Billy at all, but Daemon that had done those awful things. Not everyone readily accepted that, though. Now she stood in the trash file, looking at the graves belonging to some of the many people she had deleted. They haunted her dreams every night, reminding her of all the horror she had done. Despite the fact it was all Daemon’s doing, she saw, felt, and did everything with her. She tried to stop but couldn’t. The super-virus was just too strong. Billy took one last look at the gravestones, then turned and walked down the street toward her apartment. On the way she passed the science lab, the same one that had been ‘creating’ Daemon. It was closed down and boarded up now. Sighing, she continued walking until she reached her apartment. Taking out her keys she unlocked the front door, reaching into her mail at the same time. It was late at night now, she never got home early anyway. Stepping in she closed the door behind her and turned on the energy lights. The one overhead cracked, popped, and fizzed. She ignored it and went to the kitchen where her cat was sleeping on the counter. "Down Chips," she said, passing the cat and opening the fridgerator. She had nothing but a few energy drinks and ice. She sighed, forgetting she had to go to the store. She got out the mixer and started making her a shake when the vidwindow popped up in front of her and started ringing. Not even looking up she reached out and pressed the answering button. Her friend, Stacy's face popped up. Stacy grinned. She was a guardian as well- well, a guardian-in-training. She had purple skin and bright yellow hair tied back in a ponytail. "Hey, Billy-Bo, what's shakin?" she asked, popping her gun. Billy smiled as she turned on the mixer. "Nothing much," she replied. "Plan on flopping down in front of the TV and watching 'Saucy Mare'." "Oh, that one movie about the rich girl and the poor guy and how they're forbidden to be together or something? And the boat that sinks that was originally called ‘unsinkable’?" "Yup, that's the one." "I really think you should go on vacation, Billy," Stacy said. Billy rolled her eyes. "No, I mean it! Go somewhere nice, like…" she fumbled for a system. "Mainframe?" "Yeah!" "No." "Either that or meet a guy. I'll fix you up with one, I'll get workin' on that right now-" Billy turned off the mixer and started spooning its contents into a glass. "Never mind Stacy, I'll go on that vacation." Just then the vidwindow started ringing again. Billy sighed and put down the mixer. "Hold on Stacy, incoming call." She pressed the button and Turbo's face appeared replacing the blond. "Heya Turbo," Billy said, picking the mixer up again. "What's processing?" "We're going to need you to go on a mission, Billy," Turbo said, his voice serious. He hadn't even bothered saying a greeting. "Wait, stop," Billy said, holding up a hand. She placed the mixer back down and took a gulp from the shake. "Try that again." "What?" "I say what’s processin’? and now you say…?" He stared blankly at her. She sighed. “Hello?” He narrowed his eyes at her, but reluctantly played along. "Hello Billy. How are you doing?" He spaced each of the words out, making them as clear as possible. She grinned. “Fine thank you, how are you?” "Good, now we're going to need you to go on a mission." "Really? Where? What? Why? How did it happen?" "Mainframe." Billy's eyes widened and she slammed down the glass in her surprise. "What!" "Billy, you're going to have to be able to face that system again sometime." She was already shaking her head. "No, no way! I will NOT go back there!" "Why? There's nothing to fear-" "No! The people there don't like me! I nearly ransacked that whole system! I killed citizens, binomes, sprites, the whole thing!" "You mean Daemon did." She shook her head. "Why would I have to go? Why me?" "Strange things are happening there, we fear it's another super-virus. Some of us even fear it to be Daemon. We're sending you as back-up." Her eyes widened again in frustration. "BUT WHY ME?" "Because. You know Daemon- if it's her. You're the only one besides Dot Matrix that's actually communicated with her, and Dot's already there." She sighed and shook her head again, placing her hands on the counter. Turbo narrowed his eyes. "Alright then. I'm ORDERING you to go, and you know what happens if you turn down orders." He pointed at her. She narrowed her eyes back at him. It was a game they always played and they always did when they were arguing. Which was often. "Okay fine," she said, throwing her hands in the air. "I'll go to the stupid system and save the citizens there from terror, whatever, etc., possible deletion." He actually smiled. "Thank you Billy. You'll leave tomorrow. Keep in touch." The vidwindow flicked off and Stacy came back on. The girl immediately saw the look on Billy's face and squinted at her. "Whoa girl, what's up with you?" Billy gave her a look, then a fake smile. "Well, it seems that I'm going to Mainframe after all." Stacy's eyes grew round. "Really? That's great! When?" Then she frowned suspiciously. "And who talked you into it?" "Turbo." Her friend smiled. "Ah I see." "What? What are you thinking- there is no 'ah I see'!" "You like Turbo, don't you?" Billy looked at her, shocked. "Turbo? He's my boss!" "So?" "There IS no 'so'!" Stacy grinned. "So? Have fun in Mainframe!" Before Billy could answer she cut the connection. Dot stood in front of the tear, watching the work team stabilizing it. She glanced around impatiently, then at Phong who stood forlornly beside her. They were in the Principal Office awaiting the guardian coming from the Super Computer, Billy. “You are being impatient, my child,” Phong said, not even looking up at her. She looked down at him. “Me? Impatient? Whatever gave you that idea?” He didn’t answer so she kept going. “I just feel a little strange having Billy back in Mainframe. We don’t need any help Phong, whatever’s going on around here can be settled by us and us alone. I really don’t see a point in sending in recruits.” “She is only here to help us out…if it is Daemon.” “Which it is not. And what if it is? Daemon will just try to infect her again.” “What is it that you do not like about her, Dot?” He now looked questioningly up at her. She sighed. “Nothing. I’m just a little tense. There’s nothing wrong with her, I’m just afraid that if it is Daemon, she might take advantage of her being here.” “Daemon is capable of infecting anyone, why would she pick only Billy?” “I don’t know.” She sighed again, only this time it was louder and not directed at the topic. “Come on, hurry up!” she yelled up to the work team. “At this rate she’ll be here next month!” There was a whole lot of scurrying around, then the tear vibrated and turned into the smooth portal leading to the Super Computer. It looked so bright and beautiful from their point of view. Anyone would love to live there. Dot, however, did not look impressed .She crossed her arms and tapped her foot against the floor. The portal shimmered and rippled, then a figure stepped through it. The minute the woman was at a safe distance, the portal turned back into the blazing tear and confined. Dot plastered on a smile as the woman approached them, dressed in the guardian uniform with a skirt tied around her waist. She had her blond hair down around her shoulders, and her eyes were covered with sunglasses. She was really pretty now that she thought about it. Then again, she was pretty when Daemon was infecting her too. She carried two suitcases in her hands which binomes immediately offered to carry for her. She smiled at them when she reached them. “Hi,” she said brightly. Dot didn’t say anything at first so Phong stepped in. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, my child,” he said, “Billy, is it?” She nodded, giving her bags to one of the binomes that would drive her to her apartment. “Hello again, Phong. I’m glad to be here again.” She smiled at Dot. Dot smiled back, but inside she wished she’d take off her sunglasses. She wanted to make sure her eyes were normal. "Hello Command.com," Billy said to her. "It's good to see you again." Dot continued her smile. "You too. Um, why don't we get you on your way to your apartment? Which one was it, Phong?" "8-Ball Apartment," he replied, quickly looking away to avoid Dot's look of surprise. "Come Billy, I'll escort you to the car. I'm sure Dot Matrix has some important…filing to do." Billy looked skeptically at Dot. Well it would've looked skeptic if she had her darn sunglasses off. Dot forced a laugh. "Uh, yeah, those darn files! I'll see you later Billy, pleasure meeting you again." Billy just nodded, but now she looked like doubtful. Dot only smiled, turned, and left. And grumbled all the way to her office. "Who does she think she is?" she muttered. "Now that she's back in Mainframe, I'm SURE Daemon will hunt her down- if this is really Daemon we're dealing with. Not only that, but she's staying in the 8-ball apartment! Bob lives there!" She entered her office, slamming it behind her. Bob was in his apartment attempting to clean it up. He had been generous to let the girls borrow it the night before for a slumber party, and they left it in shambles. “Never again,” he said to himself, surveying the room. Mike the TV sat on his couch, eating some of the leftover potato chips. “If you ask me-“ the TV began. “I’m not.” “You shouldn’t complain about this to Dot. I know what you’re thinking, do you reeeally think you want to tell her you’re upset about the apartment?” “Good point but- look at it!” “Hey, Two-thirds of it is caused by AndrAIa and Mouse.” He smiled wildly at her. “You want to tell THEM too?” “I’m sure AndrAIa and Mouse won’t mind.” “Well if you ask me-“ “Not going to!” Mike opened his mouth to continue, when they both heard talking coming from down the hall. Bob’s door stood open so they could hear a woman talking, then Phong’s voice. “Welcome to the 8-Ball apartment, my child. Your room is just down the hallway, next to Bob’s- you remember Bob from the last time you were here, right?” Bob looked in the direction of the door, intrigued. Dropping the garbage back he was holding, he rushed to the doorway and peered out. A beautiful, familiar looking woman walked down the hallway from the far end, holding suitcases as Phong rolled along beside her. Bob smiled at her, then recognized her. Daemon. No, not her, Billy. He blinked. It was hard to think of her that way. It was definitely Daemon, just no leather. And no evil eyes or pulsing green marks. He smiled again, when the two looked up at him. “Hi again,” he said, “you’re the recruit from the Super Computer?” Billy smiled at him as she reached him, setting her suitcases down to give her arms a rest. “Yeah, that’s me. Good to see you again, Guardian 452.” She extended a hand and shook with his. “Bob,” he corrected her. “Just…Bob.” “Oh, okay Bob.” She said, a little uncertainly. She folded her arms across her chest nervously. “So how have you been since the last time I was here?” Her understood what she was getting at and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Hey,” he said, “it’s okay. Whatever happened the last time you were here wasn’t you. That was Daemon, and right now you’re Billy. You’re here to help us and it’s not like we’re going to hold a grudge against you for something Daemon did.” She smiled, relieved. “Hey, it- it’s okay. But there is a reason I was called here, right? Something about a virus?” Bob’s smile vanished. “Yeah. After you’re done packing come to the Diner. We’ll discuss it there. Dot should come by around then and she’ll put you in the need-to-know basis.” Billy nodded. “Okay, thanks.” He looked down at her suitcases and picked them up. “Here, I’ll help you. Now where were the rooms, Phong?” Phong smiled appreciatively at Bob, silent throughout the whole conversation. “This way,” he directed, wheeling down the hallway until the reached the room beside Bob’s. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, revealing an apartment room almost identical to Bob’s. Bob whistled. “Wow. Looks like a mirror of my own room.” Billy smiled and took the bags from him. “Thanks,” she said, “now if you don’t mind, I’d like to get unpacked and stuff.” She gestured toward the door and the other two automatically got the point. “Hey, if there’s any problems throughout the day you’re here,” Bob said, “just knock on the wall if you need me, okay?” She nodded. “Thanks.” She watched the two leave, then closed the door behind them. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face her suitcases. Well, that was a pleasant trip. She hadn’t had the most fun getting up the nerve to actually enter the portal, but Turbo was the one that talked her into it. She smiled to herself. Maybe Stacy was right. Maybe she didn’t feel a thing or two for the commanding sprite. But that wasn’t what worried her now. What worried her, other than the fact that Daemon was probably running amuck in Mainframe, was that Dot didn’t look at all like she trusted her. Did she not want her here or something? And what about Daemon? If she was wondering around Mainframe, she couldn’t do it on her own. In her own, natural state, she looked like a blob in a petri dish. She couldn’t travel without a host. So if Daemon was doing some damage, that meant she was inside the mind of someone else. But who? To Be Continued…. |
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