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| Part 1 It was that time of year again. Love and happiness filled the air, no one was grouchy, no one was mean. Everyone loved this holiday. That is, except one sprite. He was grouchy about it, and he thought the holiday was so ridiculous, Users should celebrate it. He didn't like anything that day, and he wasn't about to change from the drop of a hat. Matrix sauntered into the diner and looked around. The scene nearly blew him away. The whole place was decorated with hearts, balloons, chocolate candies, teddy bears, and red, white and pink streamers. Dot and Bob were over at the counter with AndrAIa, Ray, and Mouse, and he decided to join them. "Dot, I don't see why you have to turn this diner into a mushy love spot," he said, sitting down. Dot glanced around. "Too much, huh?" "Oh, I wouldn't say that…" Mouse grinned. "Come on, Matrix! It's Valentine's Day!" Bob cried. "Well…at least, tomorrow it is. But why not start early? Get into the fun of things!" "I hate this holiday, and you guys all know that," Matrix replied, "the love and mushiness, clouds the mind and keeps from thinking straight. You never know, some new virus might drop down out of no where and-" "Hello, hello everyone!" The doors opened and Hexadecimal burst in. There was a huge smile on her face as she sat down next to Bob and put her arm around him. "Oh, hello Bob!" Bob coughed. "Uh, hi Hexadecimal. Maybe you should…I don't know, sit next to maybe Ray?" Ray sent him a look and Mouse, Dot, and AndrAIa stiffled giggles. Hexadecimal looked at the Surfer. "Well, you're absolutely right, Bob! I should sit next to this strong…" she walked over to him and put her hand on her shoulder, "muscular…" she sat down, "surfer." "Hands off!" Mouse directed. Matrix shook his head. "You see what I mean? I can't believe this!" He got up. "Call me when this stuff is over." With that, he walked out the diner. Dot looked after him, then shrugged, turning back to the girls. "So," she said, "you gals ready for the slumber party tonight?" "Definitely!" AndrAIa grinned. "I'm bringing all the chips and drinks. This is going to be the greatest!" Bob shook his head. "Another girls night in?" "A slumber party?" Hexadecimal looked bewildered. "I don't remember being asked to go to one…" Mouse started to say something, but Hexadecimal went on. "But I'll be glad to come anyway!" Dot forced a smile, only it didn't come out right. "Uh…okay?" Matrix decided to take a walk down the street. He wanted to spend some time by himself and think about things. No one knew why he really didn't like Valentine's day, and he wasn't ready to tell. "Oh my User, it's Matrix!" "Matrix? Aaaaagh- it is him! Oh User!" Matrix stopped to see two binomes skip over to him. They both were teenage girls, with dark brown hair and glasses. One girl was short and had brown skin, while the other was tall and had pale skin. The looked up at him in absolute worship. "Matrix!" The taller one cried, extending a hand. "It's an honor to finally meet you! I heard about all the games you've beaten, and I'm so thankful for how you guys saved Mainframe! My name is Vickie!" "I'm April!" The shorter one cried. "I can't believe it's really you! Will you sign your autograph?" She held out her arm. Vickie started jumping up and down. "Wow, Oh my User, you're so cool! I heard all about you! We're your biggest fans! Oh yeah, we also wanted to ask you something!" Then they both yelled, "Will you be our Valentine?" Matrix looked at them, stunned. They both looked at him with huge, innocent eyes (well, one eye each, really), and he felt really stupid. "Uh…I…" He looked around. "I'm sorry but I already have a girlfriend-" "We know!" Vickie cried, "but will you anyway?" "Please, please, please, please, please, please?" April pleaded. "It would mean so much to us! I love you!" "I love him too!" "I love him more!" "No, I do!" "No I do!" "I love him!" "No you don't! You love Bob!" "Shhh! Don't say it in front of Matrix! Besides, I love him!" "Nu huh!" Matrix managed to get away while the two binomes argued. Sighing, he headed toward home. "Wow," he muttered, "and I thought Valentine's day was random." Dot's place was crowded as she walked into the living room to find AndrAIa, Mouse, and Hexadecimal all spread out and watching the television. "Aaaagh! It's on!" AndrAIa cried, turning up the sound. "Have you guys heard of this show? It's about these people living inside a organizer, and they have to spend all their time fighting mini-viruses and incoming file games, and all that stuff. The main character is this total hunk named Rob." "Oh really?" Hexadecimal cooed, "what's the show called?" "Upgrade." "I heard of that show," Mouse said, "I think it's outrageously rediculous! It's not like there's sprites living inside Dot's organizer." "You know," Dot spoke up, "you kind of wonder what kind of world the Users live in. I mean, it's not like we live in their computer…right?" They all shrugged. "Anyway, what other characters are there, AndrAIa?" Hexadecimal asked, changing the subject. "The main female role is this girl named Spots," the game sprite replied, "she's supposed to be this…very busy person-" "Remind you of someone?" Mouse put in, a grin on her face as she glanced over at Dot. "A computer hacker named Rat-" Mouse nearly spit out a chip. "What!" "And a virus named…well…Decimal." They all looked at Hexadecimal. She gave them a 'don't look at me!' expression. That night, Matrix arrived to his house, finally. He was exhausted. With a sigh, he sat down in his easy chair and propped his feet up. "Valentine, Smalentine," he said to himself. "Maaaaaatriiiiiix……" Matrix sat up with a start at the sound of his name. "Who's there!" He demanded, taking out his gun. He glanced around, but didn't see anyone. Not even considering relaxing, he started walking around the house, looking for whoever could be in there. Finally, he returned to the front room and sat back in his chair, setting his gun right next to him. "Maaaaaatriiix…." This time, he didn't have time to react. Before he could even say anything, a sprite appeared before his very eyes, standing in the middle of the room. Matrix's eyes widened. "Bob?" The sprite smiled. "I am not Bob, but only the representative of him. I am here to warn you." Matrix frowned. "What? Bob, I don't get what you're saying." Bob sat down in the chair across from Matrix. "I am not Bob, I am only a representative of him!" "So what do you expect me to call you?!" Matrix was starting to get angry. The representative of Bob thought for a minute. Frowning, he propped his feet up on the table. "Bob's okay," he said finally. The renegade glared at him. "I don't know who you are, but it's clear that you are not Bob. What do you want?" He started to reach for his gun. 'Bob' only made a simple guesture with his arm, and the gun disappeared. Matrix gaped at the empty area where the weapon was, and looked up. 'Bob' smiled. "You won't be needing that tonight. You are going on a long journey, and you are not required to take weapons along with you." "Oh yeah?" Matrix started to stand up, but he felt some sort of force reach out and push him back into the chair. Surprised, he tried to get out again, but something was keeping him from. Finally giving up, he said, "Okay, I'm listening." 'Bob' leaned forward. "Enzo-" "Matrix." "Matrix, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Yet, you haven't figured out the happiness of the holiday. Mushiness and love is part of the celebrating. Yet, all you do is make fun of those who do." 'Bob' paused. "You will be visited by three-" "Ghosts?" Matrix asked sarcastically. "No! Representatives! How many times do I have to say that!?" 'Bob' blew up. He quickly caught himself and settled down. "You will be visited by three representatives. They will teach you to be nice to people, and to be more romantic. By tomorrow morning, AndrAIa will be the happiest woman in all the systems." Matrix looked at him. "Right. Whatever. Will you give my gun back now?" 'Bob' stood up. "You will get it back in due time." With that, he disappeared out of thin air. Bob (the real Bob) and Ray were huddled outside Dot's window, listening in on the girls' conversation. Bob had used his Glitch powers to hear better, and Ray had deliberately propped his surfboard secretly inside the house so they could hear everything going on inside. "So," AndrAIa's voice drifted over to the guys. "Dot, truth or dare." "Um….truth." Mouse's laughter burst through the air. "Dot, is Bob a good kisser?" "Oh my User! Why would you want to know that?" Dot cried. Hexadecimal started laughing. "Because, Dot. We all want to know. Personally, I wouldn't mind knowing a few things about the boy." Bob rolled his eyes. "Well…" Dot sounded thoughtful. "What do you think she's gonna say, mate?" Ray asked. "She knows me," Bob replied, "I'm a great kisser." "Uh…" Dot laughed. "He's the best, he really is. You guys don't know what you're missing!" "Aha!" Bob cried, "told you!" "Shhhhh!" Ray hissed. "Except," Dot continued, "he doesn't know how to…well…you know…" Girl laughter split the air. "Are you serious?" AndrAIa burst out. Bob looked horrified and glanced over at Ray. To his astonishment, the Surfer was trying hard not to laugh. "Thanks a lot!" The guardian cried. Ray managed to sober up long enough to say, "you don't know how to do-" he burst out laughing. "I had to teach him," Dot finished. The laughter got even louder. Mouse was practically rolling on the ground. "Well, you can't blame him," AndrAIa finally said, "They don't teach everything at guardian school." The girls laughed even harder. Bob looked away from the house and put his hands up in defeat. "Well…I don't even know what they're talking about!" To Be Continued.... |
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