Haunted Honeymoon Ch 7-8-9

Chapter 7 - Finding Home

Bob and Dahlia were standing in front of Unix and Warpan. Bob had much to explain with little wiggle room to attempt escaping punishment, not that he wanted to.
<<So the gathering party wanted to be a hunting party, >> Unix said. "You pups should know better. >>
<<The guardian did not Unix, >> Dahlia spoke. "This was the party's idea to celebrate his Choosing. >>
<<I did not want this, Unix. I voiced my opposition, >> Bob said. "And then I relented. >>
<<Not strong enough, >> Warpan growled.
<<Hold your peace Warpan, >> Unix ordered. "Weblash had authority to stop this, did he not? >>
<<He submitted to me Unix. I should not have allowed it. If I am to be a leader, I must take a leader's responsibility. For this I ask forgiveness.>>
Warpan would have none of it, <<Some guardian! A slug leads better then you! >>
Dahlia defended Bob, <<You are jealous Warpan! The Ghost chose him! Or do you say the Ghost is blind? >>
<<What would you know of leadership, Little Name? >> Dahlia made a whimpering sound. Warpan repeated Unix's words. <<You will never be more then a pup. Find your place or leave us! >>
Dahlia ran out of the hut without being dismissed. Unix called to her, but she kept going. Bob became angry. <<This is my responsiblity Warpan. Don't pick on her!>>

<<Then I will pick on someone my size!>> Warpan then evoked something Bob couldn't comprehend and slapped him across the face.
Unix shrieked at Warpan. The two Web Riders verbally sparred so fast,  Bob couldn't recognize all the words. Of course, Warpan's smack had his ears ringing so loud, he had a hard time comprehending them anyway.
Warpan left the hut without being dismissed either.
Bob asked in Net, "What just happened?"
Unix replied in Net, "Warpan challenges you."
"What? Unix if he wants the leadership after you, I'll gladly give it up."
"That would mean dishonoring yourself. Do not take wrong path guardian."
"I don't understand the need to obey this."
"You will understand. You need time."
"So you want me to fight him?"
"It is the only way. Hand-to-hand combat. I had to do it too."
"Someone challenged you authority?"
"Yes. And they lost."
"What happened to them?"
"The Darkness took them. Blind leadership leads to bad endings."
"I know that all too well," Bob sighed. "So I have to do this?"
Unix tried to cheer him up. "I can give you some pointers, if you like?"
"Thanks," Bob then asked. "What did Warpan mean by calling Dahlia 'Little Name'?"
"Dahlia is not a name she chose. I gave it to her."
"Really? What must she do to earn her own?"
"Like you, she must find it, but she refuses to seek. It makes her lack honor."
"Then I think I must help her find her way and you help me find mine."
"There is the voice of the leader."
Bob thought, then why don't I feel like one?

***

Bob left Unix's hut after a long talk. He immediately went to Dahlia's hut and knocked on the doorframe.
<<Dahlia. May I come in?>>
Bob heard a scream. He immediately ran inside, finding himself in the hallway of the Principal Office. He looked down, seeing himself as he was now. He heard the screams again.
"Dot? Dot!" Bob shouted and ran down the corridor. He saw Dot rush into the hallway from the opposite direction. As she came towards him, she stumbled and fell. Bob reached her and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Never better guardian," Dot grinned and transformed into Megabyte.
Megabyte pounced on Bob swiped his claws across his body, tearing open his chest.
Bob screamed...

***

Bob woke up.
He looked around, seeing no threat. He touched his own chest, expecting to find a wound that didn't exist.
Haunting season never ends for me.
He gazed at Dot sleeping beside him. She hadn't made any sounds so what had he heard to wake him from his exhausted nightmare?
The purring sound came from around his feet. Baby had curled up as a dog did at the foot of his master's bed. Baby even wagged her tail for him.
Bob huffed, "What are you doing here? This place is your home now. Go away."
Baby cooed and wriggled herself up to him. Bob pushed her. "I said go away!"
Baby whined and flew away from him, frightened by his tone. Baby hid herself under some palm leaves, crying to herself.
Dot woke up. She rubbed her eyes and asked, "Bob? What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Bob lied and stood up, rebooting into his guardian uniform. "Glitch systems scan."
Dot got up, stretching the discomfort out of her muscles.  She looked over her dirty and wet outfit and then rebooted into a secondary hiking outfit, this one had olive colored pants and a white blouse with a tie in front.
"Always prepared," she said.
"I'd prefer you had your body armor," Bob said. "Not only do we have to worry about a bunch of angry CPUs, but a full grown C serpent is out there. I have to get you off this island."
"What about you?"
"There's at least one Web Rider out here too. I have to find him and talk to him."
"I want to stay with you."
"It's not safe Dot. I'll focus better once you're somewhere else. Even if I have to leave you with Mackenzie," Bob studied Glitch's readings. "There is tear activity on the far side of the island. Come on."
Dot took his hand and they began walking. Dot's intuition kicked in. She asked, "Bob. You're very upset. What's wrong? Talk to me."

"You saw what happened," Bob said keeping his eyes on both Glitch and where they were stepping. "I want to get you out of danger before something else happens."
Bob looked to see Dot glancing behind them. Bob turned to see Baby swimming through the air, following them. Dot smiled, "It's Baby. She's all right. The big C serpent didn't hurt her."
"Leave her Dot. Baby's got to learn to live by herself," Bob said. Baby shrank back at the tone of Bob's voice, making a whining sound. Bob scolded Baby. "Go on! Get out of here! I'm not taking care of you anymore!"
Bob wanted to keep moving, but Dot didn't budge. She locked her gaze on Bob's eyes until he became so embarrassed; he turned away from her, his guilt and self-loathing returning. Bob said, "This is all my fault."
"Bob. I agreed to do this."
"You shouldn't have. Not after what Mega-. Not after what I did to you. To everyone."
"Bob we've been through this before. You can't keep dredging it all up again. You told me to stop beating myself up. Don't take my place as a punching bag!"
"Its just that-!" Bob sounded a bit loud. He lowered his voice. "I - I thought I had buried Interface and he's never even left."
"You're talking like he's another person."
"Its feels that way. At least it does now. He was to you once."
Dot lowered her eyes. "I'm ashamed of that. I'm ashamed of a lot of things I did, but you forgave me. Now you have to remember to forgive yourself."
"I keep making this mistake. Its like I have some kind of program flaw."
"I didn't marry someone that was perfect. I married a man with such a capacity to love. You want to save anyone from being deleted. Even your worst enemy."
"It makes me look crazy! It makes me act like - like a monster."
"Those aren't your words. Those words belong to someone incapable of love."
"I think he was right," Bob kept Megabyte's name from being spoken again, but the torturing words the virus spoke had cut deeper then his claws. Bob pulled his hand out of hers and stepped back. He said, "That resolve I have causes tragedy."
"No Bob. Stop. You're only hurting yourself. And me."
"I put you in danger when I swore a vow to protect you," Bob could hardly maintain eye contact. "Now... I'm the one who's ashamed."

"Don't. Please Bob. You have the most beautiful source code. I know. I've touched it." Dot moved her hand to touch his chest over his heart drive. "The source code you possess Bob is so complex, so unique, and so pure. I know happiness and love I've never known before. Remember my vow. When I look into your eyes... I'm home. And when I'm home I know I'll be safe. Even during the bad times, when a storm comes, this is going to be my home. And you're not tearing it down. You're my Guardian Angel. I love you."
They stared into each other's eyes for nanoseconds. So many bad memories were in his mind. He needed Dot to clear them away. Bob took her hand in his bring it against his cheek. Bob's voice trembled, "Remind me. What did I do to deserve you?"
"You became the guardian of a little broken system with an overbearing virus problem, remember?"
"I only wanted to help a beautiful young girl. What a remarkable woman she's become," Bob pulled her towards him and he kissed her. When their lips drew apart, Bob recalled part his vow, "So now after saving you, you're saving me from being alone."
"Its my duty," Dot cuddled against him.
"Thank you." Bob stroked Dot's hair contend to stand there for cycles.
She loves me in spite of everything. If only I could be sure you'll stay safe. I have to protect you. No matter what.
Baby nudged against the back of Bob's neck. Bob moaned, "Baby? What do you want?"
The C serpent squeaked and swam around them. Bob patted her head. "You forgive me?"
Baby barked.
"I guess were stuck with her a bit longer," Dot considered.
"I hope it's only a bit. Because she's going to get too big to live in the house."
Baby suddenly swam away, moving deeper into the jungle.
"Where is she going?" Dot wondered.
"The same direction we are. Come on."

***

Back on the beach, half dozen military boats landed on shore. The heavily armed binomes took up positions as Mackenzie came ashore. One of the binomes shouted, "Over here sir. Tracks. Someone made it to shore."
Mackenzie studied the prints. "It's the guardian."
"Only his tracks. Does this mean his wife drowned?"
"If would both a pity and a good lesson. Maybe if he learned the hard way what I have he'd understand what has to be done. Tell the troops this is a search and destroy. No C serpent gets off this island alive. Take half the troop and circle around the island following the shore. We'll go straight through the middle and follow the guardian. Contact me if you find anything."
"Right sir."
The groups split up. A smaller troop stayed to guard the transports.
A very nervous CPU asked another, "What do we do if we run into anything?"
"Die I guess," The other CPU joked.
"That wasn't funny."
Several microseconds later, their lives ended after they heard a modem hand shake sound.

Chapter 8 - A Mother's Death

The long walk though the islands unspoiled terrain may have been exhausting, but it produced the most spectacular reward. Bob and Dot discover a data fall the size of a three-story building. Baby chirped and dove into the data lagoon, splashing up and down as a child might at playtime.
"How lovely," Dot said.
Glitch snapped a picture, also impressed by the beauty of the scene.
Bob and Dot rested at the edge of the lagoon, taking a drink of cool data. Dot ran a handful of data around her neck. She noted, "If I'm feeling hot you must be broiling in that suit."
"It is a bit stuffy," Bob grinned as he drank another scoopful of data.
Dot patted her abdomen, hearing her stomach snarl, "Its a pity we lost our food. We haven't exactly been eating enough."
"Filling ourselves with love doesn't make our stomachs happy," Bob lay back on the ground and crossed his legs, tucking one hand under his head. He consulted Glitch. "We'll be there just before power down. Then you'll be having a good meal in a safe, noisy restaurant."
Dot lay down beside him, putting her head on his shoulder. She made another plea, "I'd rather stay with you. Please?"
"I know separating from you will be hard, but I have to find this Web Rider by myself. He might not be happy to see me."
"I thought they all listened to you."
"There were issues."
"I think you did the best job you could considering how much you wanted to come home."
"I know," Bob put his arm around her. Bob heard Baby squeaking echoing from somewhere. It sounded far too distant and yet close by. Bob sat up, "You hear that?"

Dot listened and figured, "It sounds like Baby found a cave."
They looked at the lagoon and then the data fall. Bob pointed, "Behind the falls. Let's take a quick look."
Bob led Dot to a narrow path that squeezed between the falls and the shear rock wall. At first he called, "Baby. Come here girl."
Baby only kept squealing. Bob relented, "I think we'll have to go in. You up to it?"
"As long as I'm with you," Dot said.
They had to keep themselves pressed against the cool stone surface to keep from slipping. Bob squeezed Dot's hand tight until they entered the dark cave. Then Dot held Bob's hand far tighter. Glitch produced a beam of light. Not much was needed. An unnatural glow lit the place.
"I've seen this before," Bob said in a hushed tone. "This happens in the Web. Even on the Rider's suits."
They heard Baby squeak. Bob nearly stepped into the drop off of a dozen bits. He jumped down, and then turned to help Dot. She jumped in his arms. Dot stared into Bob's eyes. He assurance kept her calm, even as a new sound echoed in the cave.
"Bob?" Dot whispered. "Is that...?"
Bob shushed her and nodded. Bob started to take Dot closer when he discovered the first egg. The silhouette within the membranous shell showed a tiny C serpent. It's body twitched as it slept inside, waiting to hatch. Other C serpent eggs were scattered around the floor all waiting their turn to emerge.  And there were also Web creature eggs, a small amount but they were there. Bob kept a strong grip around Dot and warned, "If any eggs open, the creature might attack. We should go."
A large bellow came from further in the cave.
Dot remarked, "But it sounds like its in pain. Bob?"
Bob relented only because Dot wanted him to. "Okay. If you want to look, well do it but stay real close."
When they went in further, they saw a Class M Web creature cow crying out in agony from the throws of labor. She sniffed the air, fearful and anxious as she struggled to lay her children. Bob backed Dot away for their safety. Bob told Glitch, "Dim."
The darker setting calmed the Web creature more. She groaned as she pushed her babies out from just bellow her tail. She three prefect eggs were left in a small circle on the floor of the cave.
Bob held Dot close to him so he could whisper in her ear, "You may never see anything like this again in your life. Something so big and frightening can also be so vulnerable."
"I'll never look at them the same way," Dot conceded. She sniffed, wiping tears from her eyes. "It's... beautiful."

"I'm happy you've seen this."
The Web creature called out.
The nearest C serpent egg to burst open. The little C serpent crawled out and swam around in front of the large beast, chirping and twilling in the air. Instead of snapping at the C serpent, the cow purred. The little C serpent attached itself to the Web creature, suckling on her energy. Dot gasped, "You were right."
"There's a chain forming here," Bob said. "Its so easy to break. Mackenzie arrogance can destroy it all."
"Someone deleted Bob."
"Huh?"
"Mackenzie's wife. I sensed it from her. She had grief in her eyes."
"Then I have to talk to him again."
"I will. If I have to go back to Paradise Code, then maybe I can speak to him."
"Sounds like another plan."
The cow lowed again and started moving towards the data fall entrance. Bob and Dot ducked down. The Web creature flew over them, exiting the cave for the open sky.
Baby swam after the Web creature. Bob smiled, "She's following her. Baby wants to leave the system."
Dot admitted, "Last power down I wanted you to get rid of her. Now I'm sad to see her leave."
"She'll be fine," Bob climbed up the slope he had jumped down microseconds before and assisted Dot up. "Now all I have to do is find a tear and the Web Rider."
Dot clung to Bob's arm, "Is it too soon to ask you to be careful?"
"Not at all," Bob kissed her cheek.
Dot heard something. "Bob? What is that noise?"
Bob consulted Glitch, "The battle cruiser is off shore. It's dropping death charges!"
Dot started to say, "But the Web creature is -."
Glitch beeped a warning before a flurry of gunfire sounded only a short distance away. The scream of the Web creature could be heard above the weapon's fire just before everything went silent.
Dot cuffed her hands over her mouth. She gazed at Bob. All the joy he had only moments before had been so cruelly stolen from him. Before Dot could attempt to comfort him, Bob told her, "I have to go see."
Bob and Dot retraced their walk along the path, being careful to make sure no one saw them. They then headed in the direction of what sounded like cheering. The sprites came to the outer rim of a jungle clearing and hid behind some rocks and dense b-tree foliage. Bob pushed the branches apart to gaze at spectacle below.
The CPUs were celebrating around the corpse of the Class M Web creature. They were acting like proud big game hunters, admiring a trophy they wanted to mount on their wall or place in a museum. Mackenzie stood among them, congratulating the slaying.
"Good shooting. Too bad no one brought a camera," Mackenzie slung his own rifle over his shoulder and leaned on the beast's jaw. "It would make a great photo."
Dot looked at Bob again. Her husband's continence had crashed. Bob's sadness at the death of these animals had disturbed her in the past, but after seeing the cow birth the eggs, even Dot grieved for her.
"Watch out!" A binome yelled.
A baby C serpent swam out from under the dead creature's wing. Mackenzie cocked and aimed, "No you don't."
BANG!
Dot jumped at the loudness of the gunshot. The little C serpent fell to the ground. Dot couldn't tell if it had been Baby or not. Bob sunk down against the rocks, breathing hard, trying to calm down. Dot put her arms around his neck, feeling him shaking. Bob turned towards her. Bob took Glitch off his armband and placed it in her hands, "Stay here. Stay down. I have to talk to them."
"Without Glitch? No!"
"Its better I go unarmed."
"Bob. It's too dangerous," Dot feared. "They might hurt you."
"Dot if they find the cave, they'll destroy every egg. I have to take the chance. I have to be a diversion."
They stood up. Bob put his arm around Dot's waist and the other under her head and kissed her. Dot had received some passionate kisses from Bob, but not this intense. Dot's heart raced.
Don't be kissing me goodbye! You're coming back!
Bob pulled himself away from her and walked down the path alone. Dot clutched Glitch in her hand trying not to think about the last time she held his keytool this way.
"He'll come back," Dot spoke to Glitch.
Glitch made a small beeping sound and flashed the words, GET DOWN.
Dot obeyed, hiding herself among the tree branches. She heard the leaves rustle far above her. She caught a glimpse of a sprite dressed it what resembled body armor. Its ruby colored eye slits glared at her a moment before a large C serpent slunk by the treetops. Dot kept silent. The beast allowed the sprite to hop on its back and fly off.
"This is not good," Dot whispered.

Chapter 9 - A Sister's Rage

"You hear something?" A CPU asked Mackenzie.

"Yes," Mackenzie answered. "And I see something too."
Mackenzie cocked his rifle as Bob came closer. Many of the other CPUs aimed their automatic weapons towards Bob as well. The guardian explained, "Mackenzie. I'm unarmed. I want to talk."
"Keep your hands up near your head," Mackenzie commanded. "And come closer."
Bob kept walking until he was within range of every CPU's weapon. Bob took a glance at the dead Web creature. He tried ignoring it and yet he wanted to say a Web Rider prayer over the animal's remains.
"Loose something Guardian?" Mackenzie asked in a cynical tone.
"What?" Bob refocused.
"Your wife? Did you forget about her? Or do the lives of monsters mean more to you?"
"She's safe," Bob insisted. "But you're not."
Mackenzie chuckled, "You have a nasty habit of sounding like your threatening me."
"Mackenzie there is a sprite on this island. A Web Rider to be exact. Remember what I told you."
"A Rider huh? A friend of yours?"
"I can't be sure."
"And if it is?"
"I'll deal with it."
"The Web Rider has deleted eight CPUs."
"The Web Rider has a full grown C serpent for a friend. It attacked the boats."
"And left you and your wife alive? How convenient."
"I have a keytool. It protected us."
"Why don't I try a different excuse for you," Mackenzie stepped closer to Bob, keeping his rifle pointed at Bob's chest. "The Web Rider spared you because he's your friend."
"I don't know that."
"I think you do," Mackenzie nodded to two CPUs standing the closest to Bob. "Handcuff him."
"Mackenzie! I haven't done anything wrong!"
"Smuggling a baby C serpent is a crime!" Mackenzie corrected him. "And so is being an accessory to murder!"
"That's not true!"
"Put your hands behind your back now!" Mackenzie now pointed to rifle at Bob's head.
Bob put his hands down and the CPUs quickly cuffed Bob's hands behind his back. Now more confident and even cockier, Mackenzie stood face to face with Bob. Mackenzie demanded, "Where is your wife?"
"She's safe," Bob repeated.
Mackenzie shook his head, walked around Bob. Keeping his rifle trained on Bob he called out, "Mrs. Matrix. Your husband doesn't seem to have your best interests at hand. I'm taking him with us. I don't want to leave you behind. Come out."
After a few nanoseconds Dot cried out, "Mackenzie! Your life is in danger! Let him go before-!"
Dot suddenly shrieked. Bob turned and yelled, "Dot?!"
The bushes rustled close by to where Bob left Dot.
"There!" A CPU said.
The closest CPUs came rushing up the hill expecting to find Dot. The C serpent came out charging out with the speed of a runaway roller coaster. It chewed up three CPUs before it cut its way through the field. Bob and Mackenzie ducked down in the grass as the serpent flew back into the cover of the trees. The CPUs fired wildly, missing the fast moving creature as it hid itself among the foliage.
The CPUs shouted to each other.
"Where is it?!"
"I don't see it!"
"Keep your eye open!"
A modem handshake signal screamed though the field. At first they CPUs looked in one direction. Then the sound came from another location, at the center of the clearing. They all watched Bob as he responded to the Web Rider. Mackenzie and the troops were now frightened for a new reason; they had no idea Bob knew how to speak Web and they didn't know if Bob was helping them or the attacker.
"Shut up!" Mackenzie warned.
"I'm trying to talk to him!" Bob responded in a now raspy Net voice.
"I said shut up!" Mackenzie stuck to barrel of his rifle against Bob's neck.
Bob swallowed. Mackenzie's cold rifle barrel trembled against Bob's skin. Mackenzie fear made him unstable. If Mackenzie were hit he would likely fire in a reflex motion and shoot Bob dead.
A CPU suddenly fell over, a dagger sticking out of his chest. Another got hit in the back. They both erased. The CPUs were panicking, firing into the trees, trying to pick off someone who out maneuvered them each passing nanosecond.
Bob whispered, "He'll erase you too."
"Then I guess you'll delete too," Mackenzie kept his finger on the trigger.
The modem scream came again. Daggers cut down two more CPUs. Then the C serpent charged out of the underbrush, heading straight at Mackenzie. He swung the rifle towards the serpent. Bob somehow read the Web Rider's plan. Bob leaped up and pushed Mackenzie out of the way, knocking them both to the ground. A beam of energy struck the C serpent encasing it in a shield. The monster trumpeted and thrashed about. The troopers opened fire, but the beams bounced off the energy shield. The C serpent's swinging tail forced the CPUs to duck in the grass, quite possibly saving them from being spotted to easily by the Web Rider.
The angry Command.com stood up and pointed his rifle at Bob's head. The guardian remained on his knees. Mackenzie growled, "Trying to escape!"
"I'm trying to save your life!" Bob gestured to the dead Web creature next to them. A dagger was imbedded in the creature's hide. "That almost hit you!"
Someone landed on top of the Web creature's corpse. Mackenzie saw what looked like a sprite wearing leathery brown animal skin. Its mask had two ruby colored eyeholes that had a permanent stare of rage on them. The Web Riders hair snaked around its head like a dozen angry little serpents. The Rider held a dagger the left hand and a longer, more lethal blade in the other. No. The blade was fused to the right arm. The Rider had no flesh and bone past the elbow joint. Bob didn't recognize her at first. Her mask had changed and her medusa hair looked longer. Bob uttered a name in Web, <<Dahlia?>>
The Rider took cover behind the dead Web creature as the CPUs shot at her.
Bob shouted a warning to Mackenzie, "Take my handcuffs off before you all end up deleted!"
A reasonable CPU ran up behind Bob and started undoing his cuffs. Mackenzie ordered him, "Stop! He might help her."
The CPU ignored him. "I don't want to die."
The CPU got stabbed by a dagger in the shoulder. Dahlia leaped over the Web creature and landed beside Mackenzie, kicking his rifle out of his hands. She caught the weapon, cocked it in her left hand and pointed it at his chest.
<<Let's see how you like it.>>
Bob shouted in Web, <<No!>>
Bob grabbed Dahlia from behind, making her drop the rifle. Mackenzie ordered, "Shoot her!"
Glitch kept the C serpent corralled as long enough. He moved his shield to protect Bob and the Web Rider from gunfire attempting to erase them both. The C serpent swam into the high trees to avoid the gunfire. Bob wrestled Dahlia to the ground, putting her head in a chokehold, trying to control her.
Bob screamed at them, "Leave now!"
The C serpent attempted at attack the troops again. Glitch put the shield up around the troops this time. The serpent whacked its skull against the shield, dazing itself. It shook its head and limped away to hide while Bob dragged Dahlia into the woods. Bob warned them, "I can't hold them off you forever! Get out of here now!"
Bob and Dahlia disappeared behind some thick palm bushes.
Glitch cut his shield around the troops. Mackenzie ordered, "We have to go after them!"
"Begging your pardon sir," the most senior CPU left said,  "but I don't think so. We have to pull back to the landing craft and pray that C serpent doesn't come after us."
Mackenzie gazed at the faces of all the terrified CPUs left and relented, "Fine. But we'll come back with more troops."
Mackenzie and his band fled as quickly as they could towards the beach. Mackenzie broke radio silence, "Team Two this is Team One. What's your status?"
"We returned to base camp when we heard noise sir. The boats are gone."
"They left?"
"No sir. They were destroyed. We've signaled the battle cruiser to come and rescue us."
Mackenzie grimaced, "We were attacked too. We lost seven. No. Eight troops. We'll fall back to the ship and reevaluate." Mackenzie put the radio on his belt once more.
The senior CPU asked, "What do we do now sir?"
"Maybe it's time to fight this fire with fire.  Guardian Matrix is a rogue. We need help to stop him. My wife said we need a guardian. So we're getting one. I'm calling the Collective."

***

Bob struggled to keep Dahlia under control.
<<Traitor! I should slit your throat!>> Dahlia hissed.
<<It's nice to see you too little sister.>>
<<You are not Interface! You would not protect an enemy.>>
<<You know it's me Dahlia. Inside I am the same. My code has been repaired. Glitch undid the damage. >>
Dahlia elbowed Bob hard in stomach before grabbing Bob by the head and throwing him over her shoulder to the ground. Dahlia held her blade arm to close to Bob's neck. Bob waited, half expecting her to fulfill her threat to delete him.
Dahlia snarled, <<Undo what you did.>>
A rustling of the brushes distracted the Web Rider. Glitch flew out and attached to Bob's arm. It formed an energy saber that Bob used to shove Dahlia's blade arm off him. Bob jumped to his feet, prepared to duel her.

<<What did I do to you?>> Bob asked. Dahlia stared at Bob, trying to word an answer. Bob spoke again, <>
Dahlia snarled, <<Then there is nothing to discuss.>>
Dahlia drew away from Bob and called for her mount. The C serpent came to her and she jumped on his neck, taking hold of the fin on its head. She glanced at Bob once more, <<If you do not help me, then you are my enemy.>>
They flew away. Bob decided it was better to let her go. Dahlia could likely beat him since he needed energy real bad.
Dot emerged from the bushes.
"Bob!" She cried in relief.
The memories of what happened swarmed Bob's mind. He had feared Dot to be injured or worse, but the woman he loved was very much alive.
Bob tried to walk towards her, but the weakness in his body made him sink down to one knee. Dot rushed to him, but he didn't give Dot the chance to kneel beside him. Bob put his hands on Dot's hips and stared up at her until his eyes glazed over with tears. He bent his head into Dot's abdomen, hugging her waist. Dot stroked the top of his silver hair. She remembered how Bob proposed to her, dropping to his knee in his apartment. Bob said he had to do the ridiculous act, because he wanted to beg Dot to marry him much the same way she had begged him on the steps of the Principal Office. When she answered yes, he hugged her same way he did now.
Bob said, "I'm so tired."
"You'll be able to rest now," Dot answered. The bushes shook again. Bob's adrenaline pushed him to stand, aiming Glitch. Dot touched his arm and told him, "Don't worry. I found us some friends."
Several one binomes dressed in no more then loincloths, beads and feathers came out of hiding. They carried spears, bows with quivers of arrows and crude axes. They spoke in a dialect of primitive code Bob didn't quite know. Dot seemed to understand. The leader of the party studied Bob and said, "Guardian Bob."
Bob cocked his eyebrow, "They know me?"
"Of course they do," Dot grinned. "They're from Bula's tribe."
"Bula's relatives," Bob sighed in relief remembering the captain's plans.
"Princess Bula friends," the hunting party leader said.
The natives were excited. To them, the sprites were celebrities.
Bob recalled, "Bula isn't really a princess."
"Want tell her any different," the native said.

Bob laughed.
The natives broke out some provisions of fresh data and wild B-tree fruit. The sprites thanked them as they ate and drank. Dot all but helped shove the food into Bob, knowing how drained he was. After the brief rest, the natives heard the rest of their hunting party calling from the clearing. The sprites followed the binomes back to the Web creature's body. A couple of natives were poking their spear butts at the body of one of Mackenzie's CPU troopers. Bob knelt beside him, recognizing the binome who had removed the handcuffs from his hands. Bob saw the dagger still in his shoulder. He pulled it out, making the binome moan and open his eye. The CPU was too weak to move but still strong enough to shriek in fear. Dot kneeled his other side, trying to sooth him, "He's here to help you. Its all right."
Dot held the binomes hand while Bob patched his wound. The natives quickly built a gurney of palms leaves and tree branches to carry the binome on. They were ready to leave when Bob asked for one moment more. Bob walked up to the Web creature and touched her rubbery hind. Bob sang the same solemn prayer for the beast as when they removed the dead Web creatures from the cargo hold of the Melville. Dot whispered some words under her own breath before Bob rejoined the tribe members. The two sprites had to trust in their guides as they strode through the jungle. Bob listened for the familiar drone of Web Rider modem, but heard none.
Come little sister. You must talk to me. I know your pain. You must share it with me again...