Scene: A System and city very different from Mainframe, laid out over the lower slopes of two hills with a fortress at the top of the tallest hill; in the harbour are three ships, one of which is familiar; in the sky is what looks like a large tear and what appears to be a ring, c/with a portal entrance, floating on the sea a short distance from harbour. A game cube is in the midst of the city, and begins to leave...
Voice Over:(Arabian accent)GAME OVER!
Scene: Matrix, AndrAIa, and Frisket find themselves in an empty open-air mall which features a fountain with a binome 'one' statue in heroic pose. Suddenly, to their great suprise, the mall is almost instantly filled with merchants and their wares and slightly crowded with pedestrian foot-traffic and noise. Bewildered, Matrix looks to AndrAIa and shrugs at the din.
Matrix: (taking Glitch from back of belt) Glitch! Scanner. (Glitch complies, the scan results are pleasing to Matrix) Yes! (picks AndrAIa up in his arms)
AndrAIa: (laughs in suprise) Whoa! Enzo... what is it? What did you find?
Matrix: AndrAIa! We`re ina system with ports to the Net! ALPHANUMERIC!! We`re goin` home! We`re goin` home.(Matrix is about to kiss AndrAIa, but gets bumped from behind) Hey! Watch where you`re goin`, Buddy!
Slimey Binome: M... my most humble apologies, O great and wise Guardian, Sir! Uh...so terribly sorry... uh my apologies... I`m sorry!(backs away as he says this)
AndrAIa: (slightly confused) How did he know you`re a Guardian?
Matrix: Probably saw my key-tool.(pats belt but can`t find Glitch, a victim of a pick-pocket!) Huh? (growls and uses eye to target the retreating binome; when the binome notices the attention, he runs away as Matrix begins to chase him)
AndrAIa: (to Matrix as he gives chase) Stay frosty, Sparky!
Scene: Matrix goes to the roof-tops to chase Slimey, avoiding the crowds below; he jumps from roof-top to awnings to roof-top keeping Slimey in view, but not letting himself be seen. Back at the marketplace, AndrAIa and Frisket look around.
AndrAIa: (rubbing hands together) Shall we do some shopping? (Frisket growls at her, clearly not wanting to)(pleading) Just for a while? Then we`ll find us a transport to Mainframe!(Frisket considers this, then agrees)
Scene: The chase! Matrix still chases Slimey via the roof-tops, making some spectacular leaps, until he tries to slide on his feet across a wire, causing it to sag to the ground.
Matrix: (exasperated) Ohh... I`m getting too big for this!
Scene: The marketplace. Merchants hock their wares to AndrAIa and Frisket.
Merchant 1: Files and data... files and data!(holds handful of diskettes)
Merchant 2: (blocking and interrupting Merchant 1)Get your red apples... get your red apples!(holds up a red apple)
Merchant 3: Fuzz-buffers... please to get your fuzz-buffers!(holds 'Fuzz-buffer' out to Frisket, who growls in irritation)
Merchant 4: (holding a small vid-screen) Wardrobe upgrade?(shows AndrAIa an image of herself in a 'Jeanie' costume)
AndrAIa: (chuckling) No thank you!(moves on with Frisket)
Scene: From the tear comes an energy strand with a pod at the end of it, which descends towards the marketplace.
Turbaned Binome: (terrified) Guardians! The Guardians are coming!!(jumps into large urn to hide)
Scene: The pod lands and disappears, leaving behind three sprites (two male, one female) with guardian icons, and several drones of various sizes.
Female Guardian: (apparently the leader) Okay, people, you know the drill! Let`s do the job and get out of this two-bit system!
Scene: The chase! Matrix follows Slimey towards Bar. Slimey looks around, thinks Matrix has lost him, enters Bar. Matrix is on roof across from Bar, watching. Back at marketplace, the Guardians and drones begin roughing up the crowd and Merchants, searching and generally terrorizing everybody! Meanwhile, at the docks...
Maxine: (swabbing out passenger-car) Aagh! How many times do I have to say 'if you feel the need to vomit, don`t! (frustrated)Augh!
AndrAIa: (approaches with Frisket, who smells something bad) Ah-phew! Uh... hello?! I`d like to book passage with you?!
Maxine: Do you have a strong constitution? My last group didn`t!!
AndrAIa: We can hold our own!
Maxine: Okay, do you have your authorization codes?
AndrAIa: (slightly confused) What do you mean?
Maxine: Well, I can`t take you anywhere without authorization codes!
AndrAIa: But we have to get back to Mainframe!
Maxine: Internet travel is restricted! Where ya been... playing games?
AndrAIa: Well... yes, actually! Wait a nano... who restricted travel?
Maxine: Well you have been out of the loop, haven`t you? The Guardians Did!!
Scene: Interior of Bar, Slimey is at table to one side of the lively room, enjoying a bottle of his favourite. Matrix crashes through doors, slamming them open, bringing the room to abrupt silence... save for some slight breaking of glass. He passes a fearful Slimey - who is hiding his face in an attempt to not be noticed - and approaches the bartender, who is very intimidated by Matrix`s size, expression, and manner.
Matrix: I/O shot please.(bartender places bottle and glass on counter so quickly, bottle rolls on it`s end; Matrix`s slight sneer at this causes the bartender to stop the bottle`s spin; hearing a noise, Matrix looks to his right as Slimey is trembling so hard that he makes a rattling noise; to Slimey...) You have something of mine... I want it back... now!
Slimey: (nonchalantly) I... I don`t know whatcha talkin` about!
Matrix: Glitch! Homing signal.(Glitch`s signal sounds from within Slimey`s coat; he bats at it, trying to make it stop) You were sayin`...? (Matrix looks at his drink, then the sound of blades being drawn is heard, causing him to look back at Slimey - who has large menacing friends with knives) Heyyy, take it easy! We can do this the hard way... (activates his eye, whispers....)Gun! Targetting! (gun floats from it`s 'holster' and comes level, an aperature rises up from gun-top and releases target icons that appear on Slimey and friends, then releases more until everyone in bar is targeted) ... or we can do it my way! Gun! Death-blossom mode! (gun begins to spin and rotate in all directions while staying in one place, to the terror of all the patrons; Slimey removes Glitch from coat, places it on the floor, and kicks it over to Matrix`s feet) Anyone who wants to live... leave! I just want to have a quiet drink! (pandemonium, as everyone tries to leave all at once; stopping gun and holstering it he places Glitch on bar; as he is about to take a drink, he notices that he is not completely alone) You got a deletion wish?
Stranger: (with Texan drawl) I`m looking for Guardian 452!
Matrix: Imagine that! So am I!
Stranger: What have you done with Bob?
Matrix: (suprised to hear Bob`s name, turns to stranger) Who are you?
Stranger: (moves forward, letting face be seen) I`m Turbo, Prime Guardian!
Scene: The harbour; Frisket chases flying creature as AndrAIa talks to Maxine.
AndrAIa: Why would the Guardians restrict `Net travel?
Maxine: Apparently, they have their own agenda. Something about controlling the known `Net!
AndrAIa: We are talking about the same Guardians, right? To mend and defend?
Maxine: Yes, the same Guardians. But now it`s 'divide and render'... for their own cause!
AndrAIa: do you know of anyone that can help us?
Maxine: I do, but they`re all in that prison. Locked up and awaiting deletion... courtesy of the Guardians!
Scene: The Bar!
Matrix: TURBO! You ruined my life! (draws gun)
Turbo: Coplin! Containment field! (his key-tool envelopes Matrix and bind him in energy bands, preventing movement; when Matrix struggles, he only falls back onto his seat at the bar) I`m happy that we`ve established who I am! Now, mind tellin` me who you are and what you`re dion` with Bob`s Guardian Protocol?
Matrix: (angrily) I`m not tellin` you anything! You tried to destroy Mainframe!
Turbo: Mainframe? You`re from Mainframe? What`s your name, son?
Matrix: (surly) You can call me 'Matrix'.
Turbo: (considers this for a moment) Matrix... Enzo Matrix?
Matrix: Pleased to make your aquaintance!
Turbo: Coplin! Release field! (releases Matrix) Where in the code have you been, Matrix? (sits in chair next to Matrix)
Matrix: Game hopping! After Megabyte shot Bob into the Web, I was Mainframe`s only hope... but I was only a little sprite. I played a game I couldn`t win... instead of being deleted, AndrAIa, Frisket, and I stayed with the game. We`ve been tryin` to get home ever since!
Turbo: Well, you haven`t been away for as long as you think! By my reckoning, you should only be... one-one!
Matrix: (shocked by this news) What?
Turbo: Don`t you know game-time is accelerated? You compiled-up faster in there, relative to our time!
Matrix: Then... there`s still hope for all of them! Especially Bob! (suddenly, Coplin begins moving his dial-screen and seems to be talking to Glitch, who responds in kind)
Turbo: (suprised) Glitch? (chuckles) Hello, old friend! My... you`ve been very honoured, Matrix! A key-tool selects their Guardian! Few were chosen, and I know Glitch would never choose poorly!
Matrix: (picks up Glitch) Glitch is broken... he was when I got him! Megabyte.
Turbo: Yeah... `n` I`m sorry, there`s nothing I can do to help. Listen! I came to warn ya, thinkin1 you were Bob!
Matrix: Warn me about what? (suddenly, from outside comes the shouted voice of the female Guardian)
Lead Guardian: Hey! you in the bar!
Scene: Interior of bar as suddenly shooting from outside begins destroying things inside, forcing Matrix and Turbo to jump for cover behind the counter; Scene switches to the harbour, as AndrAIa is talking to Maxine.
AndrAIa: What did you say your format was again?
Maxine: I`m a search engine. (notices AndrAIa`s confusion, laughs) I`ll explain! (suddenly the sound of gunfire from the city above) What in the `Net?
AndrAIa: Matrix! Gotta go!
Maxine: (as AndrAIa and Frisket run towards disturbance) And I thought I loved excitement!
Scene: Interior of bar, as shots wreak havoc.
Matrix: (shouts to be heard over noise) You were saying?
Turbo: I`m not the only Guardian that knows you`re here!
Matrix: You`re tellin` me those are Guardians shooting at us? (P.O.V. shifts to the Guardians, who are behind cover across from the bar)
Lead Guardian: (gestures for her men to stop shooting, shouts towards bar...) We`re here for the rogue Guardian Bob! Throw down your weapons, and come out!
Matrix: (moves to one-side of bar entrance as Turbo goes to the other; shouts to Lead Guardian...) Do your drones have personality chips?
Lead Guardian: (shouts back) No! Why? (Matrix and Turbo then open fire from inside bar, destroying the drones except for one)
Matrix: (blows smoke from gun-barrel; to turbo...) You were gonna warn me about something?
Turbo: (pointing to glowing striations at temples) This! It`s the infection! But I`m strong, I can still fight it! (his icon is partially corrupted)
Matrix: (low-voiced) Megabyte?
Turbo: No... much worse! A super-virus... Daemon! She`s infected the entire Guardian Collective... except for you...!
Matrix: ...and bob! But I`m only a cadet, version one!
Turbo: Yeah... but you`re clean! (scene shifts outside to the infected Guardians)
Lead Guardian: More drones are on the way. Daemon must have that Guardian! (scene shifts back to bar)
Turbo: Eh... it`s too bad you weren`t able to come to the Academy! You look like you woulda made a first-rate Guardian!
Matrix: Well... you saw to that!
Turbo: You could blame Daemon... she arranged the web-creature! But for what it`s worth, I`m sorry!
Matrix: Huh... yeah. Thanks, Turbo!
Turbo: Doesn`t matter where you go now! They`ve got a lock on your icon... they`ll always be able to track ya!
Matrix: Not if I do this! (taps icon, switching to game-sprite mode; scene shifts to outside)
Lead Guardian: We`ve lost his signal! Alert all of the system guardians! He must have used a portal to escape! (Slimey emerges from adoor behind the Leader, trying not to be noticed) I thought you took care of his key-tool!
Slimey: (nervous) Eh... I did, your eminence! But he reclaimed it! No matter, it was already badly damaged!
Lead Guardian: (grabs Slimey by collar, lifting him up) THEN WHERE IS HE, SPY?
Slimey: (very nervous) The one you seek was with others... a female and a dog! Capture them and you will draw-out the renegade! (Leader tosses him away)
Scene: Interior of bar.
Turbo:You`re our only hope! Our only chance of defeating Daemon lies in Bob`s protocol! And you need his codes to get back into Mainframe!
Matrix: I have to find Bob... so he can save the entire `Net!
Scene: The marketplace wher they first arrived, AndrAIa and Frisket survey the aftermath of the Guardian`s rampage. As they do so, the two male Guardians arrive on zip-boards with weapons drawn... one behind, one in front.
AndrAIa: (to Frisket as he growls menacingly at Guardians) Don`t you just hateScene: Back at bar, as floating bill-board machine displays scene of AndrAIa`s and Frisket`s apparent capture by the Guardians. The Leader is still behind cover across from the bar.
Lead Guardian: (shouts) Guardian 452! We have your female and the dog! Surrender or they will be deleted! (Matrix looks at scene on floating billboard and merely chuckles)
Turbo: (confused at Matrix`s response) What? (on billboard screen we then see Frisket attack, a close-up view of his teeth, and then the screen goes to static)
Scene: Across from bar, the Lead Guardian stands with the surviving drone watching the bar for activity; she then grabs a fly-type creature out of the air and squishes it, then becomes aware of someone coming up behind her...
Lead Guardian: What took you so long? (not looking back, until...)
AndrAIa: I came as fast as I could!
Lead Guardian: And my men...?
AndrAIa: Uh... don`t ask! (Frisket growls towards the Guardian) He was wondering if your drone has a personality chip? (at this, the drone rises up on two legs and freaks out , taking off away from them yelping like a whipped dog; Frisket then plops to the ground, the very picture of frustration at this turn of events) Don`t tell me... I`m under arrest!
Lead Guardian: You wish!
Scene: AndrAIA and the female Guardian face off with each other at either end of the alley, both looking for the best chance to strike first. The Guardian fires first with her weapon, but AndrAIa deflects the blast off of her wrist/armguard and retaliates by sending off her poisonous nails towards the Guardian, impaling her in the neck. As the Guardian collapses, AndrAia calmly blows on her finger-tips. Scene switches to bar.
Turbo: Are you sure your friends`re okay?
Matrix: They always are!
Turbo: Good! Matrix, i have to get back... I been away too long already! What i need is a tear! (Matrix considers this, then shoots a drink dispensor, destroying it and causing a tear to form; Turbo is impressed with Matrix`s resourcefulness) Thanks, cadet! Coplin! Portal! (Coplin stabilizes the tear into a portal to the super computer)
Matrix: W..why don`t you come with us to search for Bob?
Turbo: I`m more valuable to you where I am! You`ll always have a friend on the inside... as long as I can fight off this infection!
Matrix: Then I guess this is... where we part ways!
Turbo: No hard feelin`s? (Matrix slowly shakes head, no hard feelings on his part; Turbo salutes Matrix, then jumps through portal - which closes behind him)
Scene: Matrix is sitting at bar as AndrAIa and Frisket enter.
AndrAIa: (looking around at the damage) What have you been up to?
Matrix: Sayin` good-bye to a new friend - Turbo!
AndrAIa: Turbo? What the...?
Matrix: No, no... it`s okay! He`s on our side! He had some interesting news. Uh... did you find us a ship?
AndrAIa: That`s going to be a problem... the Guardians have restricted `Net-travel!
Matrix: Eh... it`s okay! We`ll get a ship!
AndrAIa: How?
Matrix: Uhh... something will come up! (picks up Glitch) Glitch! Scan for possible transport! (the scan brings quick results as two binomes warily enter the bar - Matrix recognizes one of them) Capacitor?
