4.02: Just another brick in the (fire)wall.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"The first firewall is online."

Bob, Mouse, and Phong study the map of the 'Net carefully. One system--the one in which Matrix and AndrAIa have just set up a firewall around the damaged port--glows red. The pathways branching off from it start to turn from viral green to their usual blue.

"It is working, Bob!" says Phong.

Bob nods. "Close a major port, and all the pathways beyond are protected. One down, three to go."

Comments

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

There's something that's been bothering Mouse for a while. "But why is Daemon only controllin' the pathways?" she asks. "Why isn't she infecting systems? It doesn't make sense." It's not typical viral behavior at all.

[nofileext]

It doesn't make sense to Phong either, but the alternative... "Infect the entire 'Net?! Oh, could she have such power?" He hopes, he hopes the answer is no.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Look, you're forgetting how Megabyte worked. All he ever wanted was power."

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

"An' Daemon's already infected the Supercomputer," Mouse points out. She's already got quite a lot of power that way.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"The largest power base on the 'Net," agrees Bob. "And with control of the pathways, she can move anywhere. A system gives her trouble, Daemon moves in..."

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

"No trouble," Mouse agrees. Put like that, it makes sense.

[nofileext]

"It is brilliant! She effectively controls the entire 'Net without spreading herself too thin." Truly, Phong would admire such tactical genius - does, in a way - but for the end to which it is being used.

[command_dot_com]

As interesting as this conversation about Daemon's tactics and strategy is... Dot preoccupied, studying a display of an image of Hex with the image of the null cocoon superimposed over it on her organizer.

After what happened, she's more than a little wound-up about the entire thing.

Not that anyone'd BLAME her...

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Dot?" says Bob, stepping over to where Dot is standing. "Are you okay?"

[command_dot_com]

"Oh, uh, sorry." Dot takes off her glasses and tries to smile at Bob. Nothing's wrong. Really.

And the Mun's made of swiss cheese and jelly beans.

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

"Well, there's one thing buggin' me," Mouse says. Actually, that's an understatement: it's giving her the jaggies. "We've just closed the door on Guardians. Now how did we do that? Guardians don't need doors."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"I know. They've stopped using portals... it worries me, too."

He has an idea as to why that's the case, but the implications are disturbing, to say the least.

[command_dot_com]

"Look do we really care?" Back to priorities, Dot isn't about to let these guys mess with her home. "It's a weakness and we've got to exploit it."

[nofileext]

With a loud beep and a buzz of static, the main screen shifts from the 'Net map to the face of a panicked CPU binome. "Commander, sir-ma'am! It's the cocoon--it's freakin' out!"

And indeed it is--the null cocoon, which has been more or less dormant since it spoke (!) last cycle, is now writhing and shifting into a roughly humanoid form.

[command_dot_com]

At last some kind of development.

"I'm on my way." She turned to Phong. "Where's Enzo?"

After that LAST incident she's been trying to keep a lock on her brother's location at ALL times.

[nofileext]

"He is in the Read-Only Room," says Phong. Has been for an awful long while now, too...

[command_dot_com]

"Keep him there. I don't want him seeing this. C'mon, Bob."

She leaves in a hurry, waving at Bob to follow her out.

[nofileext]

The cocoon is upright and mobile now, 'walking' slowly and aimlessly around Kits Sector. The CPU security force is firing on it--nulls can't be killed, everyone knows that, but they're hoping they can use the shots to herd the cocoon away from populated areas. The last thing they need is a repeat of the Nullzilla incident...

[command_dot_com]

"Stop! You're hurting him!" Dot ran into the direct line of fire between the CPUs and the null cocoon. Her FATHER was in there, couldn't they stop shooting? "Back off! Get outta here!"

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob lands a few pixels away, nearly faceplanting on the concrete in the process--he's still a little woozy. He picks himself up and turns toward the green sprite and the... whatever-it-is. (Bob's not convinced that this is really Welman Matrix, but he's not dumb enough to tell Dot that.)

[command_dot_com]

"Dad? It's me, Dot." She watched the blob hold still wearily, remembering all that had passed the last time they had spoken to each other. "I wasn't with you Dad... ...but you're right. There are other systems and peoples. But they're not all friendly."

"Oh Dad...I need you." She started crying into her hand softly.

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob gently wraps his arms around Dot. He can't imagine what it must have been like, to lose a family member so suddenly...

Then his eyes go wide in alarm as his hand starts flickering. Was he still low on energy?

"Uh... Dot?" he says, softly.

[command_dot_com]

Dot cries for a bit more before she realizes...the CPUs are watching.

She straightens herself up some, putting on a stiff upper lip. The last thing they need is a demoralized task force.

"Yes, Bob?"

When she gets the chance to? She will be going home to get this out of her system. Fat chance of that happening

[mendanddefend_archive]

"I..." he hesitates. He feels like a total jerk for saying this. "I think I need some more downtime. D'you mind if I head back to my apartment for a while?"

[command_dot_com]

Dot gives Bob a worried look. He looks like he's been chewed on by Frisket for a couple of microseconds.

"Sure...but be ready, it won't be too long before we'll need that portal to bring Matrix and AndrAIa home."

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob nods. "Thanks."

As he starts to walk away, he stumbles and nearly falls. One of the CPU binomes rushes over to give him a hand up; Bob is too tired to object, and together they slowly head towards Bob's apartment building.