4.04: Touched by a virus.

[nofileext]

The task that Daemon lays out for Mouse and YT is simple enough: allow the Word to spread to its fullest extent. To that end, YT is sent off into the 'Net carrying a list of IP addresses and a copy of Mouse's encryption codes.

One by one, YT visits the systems Mouse has firewalled off. One by one, the firewalls drop, allowing the Word to spread to the systems beyond them.

Soon, only one firewall remains.

This one is special. What lies within this system is too important to be entrusted to an underling. There have been too many false starts already.

Surrounded by a fleet of Guardian transports, Daemon and her new entourage fly toward System Mainframe.

Comments

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Are you absolutely sure about this, Dot?" Bob murmurs in an undertone. If she's thinking about using Milliways as a safe haven for Enzo, things must be really bad.

[hack-slash-bots.livejournal.com]

The two mookbots keep moving despite the interesting conversation, rockets coming out of their backs. Slash picks up Enzo and starts flying off for Dot's apartment.

For a few moments Hack watches them before doing a take between the departing Slash and Frisket.

[a1enzo]

Enzo gazes back over Slash's shoulder, feeling all kinds of conflicting emotions about this. Fortunately, he doesn't have long to dwell on it; the house is on level 1 at the narrow end of Beverly Hills, not all that far from the P.O.

Slash puts him down at the threshold; Dot has absolutely forbidden the henchbots to use their jets in the house. He dashes upstairs with escort in tow (Hack and Slash hopping rather awkwardly on their trackballs) and makes for the hall closet.

[command_dot_com]

As soon as they're out of hearing range Dot replies to Bob. She...really doesn't look happy about any of this. "...No. I'm not, but it's the best chance of covering all my options."

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob's frown deepens. "Oh, so Enzo's an option now, is he?"

[command_dot_com]

"Don't fight me on this... You're one as well." Dot starts going up the steps. "I want you to form a portal to a safe system and get out of here."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"What?!"

Does she seriously think he's going to abandon Mainframe, just on her say-so?

[command_dot_com]

"Daemon needs you to fulfil her function. So-" Dot is hoping she can convince him to ...just go. Hide. The thought of possibly losing him to Daemon scares her to her very kernel.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"So I go and hide in the 'Net."

Not gonna happen, Dot. After all he's gone through, Bob is NOT about to leave his home behind.

[command_dot_com]

"Exactly." Please Bob... If Daemon completes whatever her function is there's a good chance there won't be a home left.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"And what happens here in Mainframe?"

[command_dot_com]

Dot turns from him to look towards her father, her expression seemingly...sad and distraught. "You finished Dad?"

[nofileext]

Welman nods as he taps on the Gateway's console. "Every address on the 'Net is targeted."

[mendanddefend_archive]

What good is that? thinks Bob. Anyone who tries to go through will--

And then it clicks.

"It's a trap. You're going to trigger the Gateway when she crosses it!"

[command_dot_com]

And that fierce, look that says someone's going to be deleted today is back. "Single source, multiple targets. It'll blow her code to the far corners of the Net."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"But everyone will still be infected!"

[command_dot_com]

"Without Daemon's control the 'Net may recover!"

[mendanddefend_archive]

May recover? Can they really afford to gamble on that at this point?

"This is thin, Dot."

[command_dot_com]

"This is all I've got."

She turns to look up at the sky. Above the firewall ripples, then flares outward expanding before disappearing... And revealing a hole in the sky where the entire Guardian Armada had laid waiting in the Net.

They're out of time. Dot speaks into the microphone on her headset, expression grim. "Fleet commanders, this is it. Blow the Guardian armada out of the sky as it enters our airspace."

She looks up again as guns mounted on hundreds of ABC turrets turn and aim towards the hole in the sky. User have mercy.