Chapter 2
Medusa Bug
The camera pans across many VidWindows. They display graphs, charts, binary sequences, a calculator, an abacus, an advert for Bob wigs, icons, and text rapidly scrolling in several directions with a fish swimming around in front of it. Angeleana puts her eyeglasses down on her organizer, which alternately displays a jumble of numbers and the word "calculating". She walks away from the bar at the diner and joins Enzo, who is walking toward the door. Enzo waves at a zero binome inside the jukebox.
ENZO: Bye, everyone. Don't wait for us.
Angeleana stops walking.
ANGELEANA: Oh! Just one more call, Enzo?
Enzo turns toward Angeleana.
ENZO: Angeleana, you need a break! And Bob's in a wait state outside! Come on!
ANGELEANA: (holding her hands out in front of herself) No, really, I'm worried about the Mitchell account inputs. It'll just take a nanosecond. (She turns away.)
ENZO: Angeleana! You
promised!Angeleana sighs and looks embarrassed.
ENZO: (continuing) Remember that speech you gave me about keeping your promises? Angeleana?
Hello?ANGELEANA: (turning back to him, laughing softly) I'm coming.
They walk out of the Diner. Just outside Enzo stops and turns back to Angeleana. Engine noises can be heard.
ENZO: Pretty cool, huh?
ANGELEANA: (in disbelief) I don't believe it.
Enzo runs up to Bob's car.
ANGELEANA: (continuing) Bob? Is your car actually... running?
BOB: (proudly) Yup.
The car bangs violently and sinks toward the ground. Bob startles, then pounds his fist on the dashboard. The car rises back again. Bob, smiling, pats the dashboard.
ENZO: Isn't it awesome? (He turns back to Angeleana.) Oh, not again!
Angeleana!Enzo and Bob walk into the Diner and look at her from just inside the doorway. Angeleana is speaking to a pink female Binome on her organizer.
ANGELEANA: And the net codes, formatted
and docked?
PINK BINOME: Of course, Miz Matrix.
ANGELEANA: Please. Call me Angeleana.
PINK BINOME: Yes, Miz Matrix.
Angeleana rolls her eyes. Bob stands with arms folded; Enzo's hands are on his hips.
BOB: (sighs) Whaddaya think, Enzo?
ENZO: Yeah. Let's.
Enzo grins evilly. Both walk toward Angeleana. They come up behind her and begin dragging her toward the door.
ANGELEANA: Wait! Just one more call, that's all. (laughs) You two put me down!
Angeleana is thrown into the back seat of Bob's car.
ENZO: Woohoo!
Bob and Enzo get into the driver's and front passenger seat as Angeleana rights herself in the middle of the back seat. Seatbelts fasten themselves over all three. Bob drives forward.
ANGELEANA: Hey!
Fade in on the Gilded Gate Bridge, as seen from above the end that connects to Kits Sector. Megabyte's limousine drives in from LA and swerves to a stop by Hack and Slash, who are on the near end of the bridge. One of the side windows opens, and Megabyte looks out. Hack taps Slash, then both wheel up to the window.
HACK: (posing) Ten-hut!
SLASH: (posing) Sir! What's our status?
HACK: Status!
MEGABYTE: After all the time, all the effort, all the
lies... we finally have it! (Megabyte holds up an oddly shaped box made up of hexagons.) Gentlemen, meet the Medusa.
Seen from a viewpoint inside the box, Megabyte holds it up to his face and peers in. Then the viewpoint turns toward Hack and Slash.
HACK: Ooooh!
SLASH: Oh, wow! Wow!
HACK: Finally! Hexadecimal's ultimate weapon!
SLASH: What is it?
HACK: A box!
SLASH: I don't know, it's... a box?
Hack shrugs at Slash.
MEGABYTE: She thought she could hide its secret from me. She thought she could develop a weapon this powerful without my knowledge! (He rolls his eyes heavenward and shakes his head.) Oh... poor fool.
Megabyte looks over at Lost Angles. Cut to a view of the plaza in front of the Arc De Triomphe. With a sound like thunder the ground shakes. An explosion under the ground level blows a large hole open in front of the Arc. Hexadecimal flies up out of it. The camera comes right up into her face.
HEXADECIMAL: (furiously) Megabyte!
MEGABYTE: (casually) Oh, that would be her now.
Hexadecimal flies over the bridge, between sentences teleporting closer.
HEXADECIMAL: You lie! You lie! I was a fool to trust you!
MEGABYTE: How true.
HEXADECIMAL: (smirking) It was, however, very clever the way you tricked me out of one of my toys. (She turns away, then back, now wearing her bowling ball mask.) But whatever could you do with it? Just a little trinket. (She holds out her hand and her eyes go red.) You might as well give it back.
MEGABYTE: (looking at the Medusa) Really, Hexadecimal, I don't have time for this.
HEXADECIMAL: (tearfully) Oh, how very, very sad. (sobs) I'll have to destroy you all, then.
She switches to an angry mask and brings her hands forward. A huge, squealing mass of leechlike, red-and-black nulls rises out of the Gilded Gate Bridge and flows toward Megabyte's limo. Megabyte watches, unperturbed. Hack and Slash, on the other hand, are very perturbed.
MEGABYTE: Well, get to work, you two. I don't keep you around for your brains, now do I?
HACK: No sir!
SLASH: No sir!
HACK: Not our brains!
SLASH: No, we are not!
HACK: Absolutely not!
Hack and Slash wheel down the bridge and look at the approaching nulls. Slash turns away and looks around.
SLASH: Oh boy, oh boy!
HACK: Oooh, this is it! (He bangs Slash's arm.)
SLASH: (
)
HACK: It's over now! Awww!
Both bots wheel down the bridge, then bend forward and grasp the bridge.
HACK: Ow! Ooh, this is heavy!
SLASH: (
)
HACK: This is not in my job description.
SLASH: Mine neither.
HACK: A-lift!
They lift a section of the bridge with their telescoping arms, then drop it. The section tumbles down into the Energy sea as Hack and Slash chatter.
SLASH: (
)
HACK: Wooh, that's heavy!
SLASH: (
)
HACK: Oh, I don't care where you're from, that hurts. Ooh.
The nulls reach the edge of the bridge and throw themselves off like lemmings. Hexadecimal, floating above, clenches her fists.
HEXADECIMAL: Then I shall smite you myself, dog! (cackles)
MEGABYTE: Gentlemen, show the lady some of our own toys, won't you? I'll see you back at the Tor.
Megabyte points. The window closes and the limo drives off. Lieutenant Chauncy, standing in the top hatch of an ABC, waves his hand around, then raises it. The ABC lifts. Six ABCs rise over the edge of the bridge and space themselves out. Guns are aimed; rocket launches unfold from the ABCs' flanks. Bigger guns extend from the ABCs' tops. Hexadecimal waves to them, then examines her nails. Chauncy gestures forward. The ABCs open fire on Hexadecimal with rays and missiles. She surrounds herself with an energy sphere which blocks all attacks. Chauncy looks around. When he looks forward his eye widens. Hexadecimal waves, a big smile on her face, as the sphere disappears. Chauncy gapes in dread. Hexadecimal sweeps her hands down, switching to her sharp-toothed Evil mask. Red energy appears in her hands. The camera closes in on her face, revealing that her eyes are black, green, and red. Megabyte's limo and two ABCs drive away. After they pass, in the distance red explosions erupt. Fade in on the Tor. Lieutenant Chauncy is reporting via VidWindow to Megabyte, who is sitting on his floating throne. Behind Chauncy is a crater with ABC wreckage in it, and beyond that Lost Angles.
CHAUNCY: (pants) Then, o-out of nowhere, ah, she said something about being bored and (pants) and just disappeared! Ah, perimeter secure, sir! (poses militarily)
MEGABYTE: Very well. (He punches a button on the arm of his throne. The VidWindow closes and the throne turns. He leans back, puts his fingertips together in front of himself, and begins filibustering to nobody in particular.) My dear Hexadecimal, I am so disappointed in you. It was her fault, you know. Her increased security and strict privacy led me to my victory. She was so careful. So secretive. I
knew she was up to something. And yet, despite the length and scope of our operation, we still do not know the true nature of the Medusa's power... until now.
Megabyte taps the hexagon at the top of the hexagon box with his thumb. It rises and rotates, then retracts again. The other hexagons at the top open like a flower. Megabyte looks down, alarmed.
MEGABYTE: No!
The Medusa buzzes, then turns his hand to stone and starts working up his arm.
MEGABYTE: No! This isn't a weapon! It is a viral
bug!Seen from the Medusa's point of view as it spreads to Megabyte's upper arm, Megabyte taps on the controls on the chair arm with his right hand.
MEGABYTE: (urgently) Computer, identify Virus. Full scan. List possible cures and counteracting agents.
COMPUTER: File type, unknown. Counteragents, unknown. Cure options, unknown.
Hexadecimal, sitting on her throne, appears on the VidWindow in front of Megabyte and waggles a finger at him.
HEXADECIMAL: Getting your sorry self out of trouble, unknown. I see you've found my little surprise! (She laughs and claps her hands together.) Isn't it sweet?
The infection spreads to Megabyte's shoulder.
MEGABYTE: (pointing accusingly) You! All this time! All your secrecy! All your security! (clenches his fist) My whole operation!
HEXADECIMAL: (eagerly) Yes?
Yes?MEGABYTE: A trap!
HEXADECIMAL: (sarcastically) Now I suppose you'll want thanks for all your hard work!
The infection spreads left to right across Megabyte's body. He rears back and growls just before he turns completely to stone. His throne goes next, and the rest of the Tor. The throne tips forward. His red pupils fade to light grey. Seen from outside, the exterior of the Tor turns to stone from the top down. The surrounding buildings change next.
HEXADECIMAL: (putting her hands to the sides of her head and looking up theatrically) Oh, I hope this was the right thing to do, infect all of Mainframe with an unstoppable bug.
Scuzzy, who had been on the dais looking up at her, blinks at the camera, then shakes his, uh, head. The camera spirals outward from Hexadecimal.
HEXADECIMAL: Oh, I'm not sure.
Her looking glass disappears in a manner similar to a VidWindow closing. She laughs nuttily. Fade out. Fade in. A picnic basket and some plates are on a grassy surface. Birds are twittering. Angeleana is wearing sunglasses and lying on a snow leopard print blanket. We hear a car horn dopplering by. Angeleana turns on her side and props herself up on her elbow.
ANGELEANA: Nice picnic, guys.
A different camera view shows that they are right by a road in Baudway. Bob's car is pulled over to the side, and Bob is working under the hood. Enzo is standing by and watching him.
BOB: I'm workin' here, okay? I'm workin'!
ANGELEANA: (lowering her sunglasses so she can look over the lenses) Want some help?
Bob scowls at her. Angeleana lies back down again and sighs.
ANGELEANA: Don't get me wrong. I gotta admit, it is kinda nice to get away from it all.
BOB: You're welcome.
ANGELEANA: Heh! Thank you.
Bob wrestles with something in the car, then pounds on it with his fist. Frisket barks.
ENZO: Frisket? (He runs forward a few steps and points.) Check it out!
Bob looks over, scowling, then walks over to Enzo.
ENZO: (continuing) Something weird is chasing Frisket!
Frisket is running toward them. Behind the dog, the city is turned to stone. The edge of the area of effect is just behind Frisket. Seen from the bug's point of view, it approaches Frisket. Frisket skids to a stop as the Diner turns to stone His ears and tail lower. He growls as the bug surrounds him, trying to hold it at bay.
ENZO: Frisket?
Frisket looks over at Enzo. The Medusa closes in on him.
ENZO: (yelling) Frisket!
Seen from the side, above, and at a distance, Frisket, now stone, falls to the ground like a toy. The leading edge of the Medusa Bug advances.
ENZO: (yelling) Frisket!
Enzo tries to run forward. Angeleana holds him back. He struggles, trying to pull away from her.
ENZO: (yelling) Lemme go! Angeleana, we gotta help him!
ANGELEANA: Enzo! Enzo, wait! We don't know what that thing is yet! Bob?
BOB: (looking at Glitch) Unknown file type?
Glitch beeps and shows pretty designs.
BOB: (continuing) This is bad. Very bad. (looks around)
Angeleana is in the front seat of Bob's car, and Enzo in the passenger seat.
ANGELEANA: (uneasily) Uh, Bob, I think we're next.
BOB: Uh, I think you're right. (to Glitch) Glitch, ignition.
Glitch attaches itself to the car as a gearshift rod. Angeleana puts her hand on it. The car tries to start. Bob leans out from under the hood.
BOB: Quick, try 'er again!
The car revs painfully.
BOB: Again!
The car revs. The leading edge of the Medusa approaches. Angeleana watches it.
ANGELEANA: (alarmed) Uh, boys!
Bob's car is still revving as the Medusa's viewpoint approaches it. Angeleana looks frightened. Bob leans over to look at Angeleana past the open hood, then at the Medusa. Angeleana continues working the ignition knob as a building in the background turns to stone. Enzo stands up and bashes the center of the dashboard with his fist. The car rocks, the hood slams shut, and the motor finally catches. Angeleana turns the car. Bob leaps into the back seat just as the Medusa effect closes on the ground below his feet. The car flies away, over Frisket. Enzo looks back.
ENZO: But Frisket!
ANGELEANA: Look, Enzo, we can't help Frisket if the same thing happens to us. Don't worry, we'll be back - when we know what we're dealing with. Bob, what
is that thing?
BOB: We need to see Phong. Now.
The camera comes down on a table, tiny inside a great hallway. The top of the table is a VidWindow displaying a Yin-Yang symbol. Phong and Angeleana are on one side, Bob and Enzo on the other.
PHONG: It is a bug, pure and simple. It can and will spread to anything it touches. We are all at risk. (to Bob) You, Bob, however, may be immune, since you are a Guardian. It is difficult to tell.
BOB: Trust me, I don't wanna find out. But I do wanna get out there and warn everybody.
ANGELEANA: We need a plan first.
ENZO: Poor Frisket. I bet old Megadump is behind all this! I say we crash his tower! Big time!
BOB: I don't know, Enzo, this one isn't his style, it's too unpredictable, too dangerous.
PHONG: It's completely random, almost chaotic.
ANGELEANA: Hexadecimal?
BOB: Bingo.
The tabletop VidWindow beeps. Seen from above, it now displays a diagram of Mainframe and Lost Angles. On one side three shots of infected areas of G Prime appear. On the other, three shots of Lost Angles appear, showing that it is untouched by the bug.
PHONG: It must be her. Look, even the Tor has been infected.
ENZO: But not Hex's island.
BOB: Hexadecimal, huh? This one's got me worried, Phong. I mean, that Hex is as loopy as they come! I'm gonna need everything you've got to fight it.
ENZO: (hushed voice) Bob, worried? (to the camera) Dude!
Phong looks at large scenes of infected areas in the VidWindow.
PHONG: Worse yet, children, is that the longer one is infected, the sooner they begin to decay.
In the VidWindow, a sign, seen from four angles, appears. As Phong speaks, the largest view rotates, turns to stone, and dissolves into fragments from the bottom up.
PHONG: (voiceover) See here. Low energy goes first, like this sign.
In the VidWindow, the sign is replaced by an image of a set of dataforms, from left to right a null, viral zero binome, viral one binome, numeral five, robotlike sprite, and female data sprite.
PHONG: (voiceover, continuing) But then, high energy goes next.
ANGELEANA: High energy. Sprites like us.
ENZO: And Frisket!
PHONG: Truly.
ENZO: That's not even funny! What're we gonna do?!
PHONG: Angeleana, you and Enzo get everyone evacuated from the city. It is next in the bug's path.
ANGELEANA: Right!
PHONG: Bob, you come with me. We must hurry!
With a Jetsons spaceship sound, Phong wheels from the table to the wall.
PHONG: (facing the wall) Greek action.
A dark colored bar lifts, and the wall slides apart. Phong wheels into the passage. Bob looks back at Angeleana and Enzo.
BOB: Hey, you two be careful out there.
ANGELEANA: You too.
The camera closes in on the table from above. The Medusa, represented by a rippling glow, is infecting it from the rim inward. It closes in on the Principal Office rapidly. Bob and Phong are looking at several overlapping VidWindows. The largest in the back shows file drawers. The next is full of manila folders, and the smallest one in front contains documents.
BOB: I'll need two high-line Virus (
), self-adjusting, and a level eight desktop rebuilder, wide fielding.
Phong looks up at Bob silently. Bob looks down at Phong. Phong blinks twice, with "plink" sound effects.
BOB: What?
PHONG: (shaking his head) This is not the Supercomputer, Bob. I'm afraid this is all we have to offer.
Phong telescopes his arm and double-taps the upper left drawer. It opens. Phong takes something that looks like a large pink eraser out of it. It is labeled "Viral Erase Command." He holds it out to Bob.
BOB: (disappointed) Virus erase command? Don't you think that's a little primitive?
PHONG: (sighs) Perhaps, but it is the best we have.
BOB: Hmm. I suppose if we boost its power with an add-on it
might do the trick. Crude, but simple.
PHONG: Then let us make it so.
Fade out. Fade in on a scene of the Principal Office seen from outside, surrounded by all kinds of airships. One by one they descend and dock on the rim surrounding the PO. A four-part vehicle labeled "You Could Be... ZIPPING!" drive across the bridge leading to the PO, stops, then drives back, leaving behind a small crowd of binomes. Binomes walk up the steps into the Principal Office as Angeleana watches. She looks down, sad, when she hears a baby cry. The binome family is there, looking worried. She kneels down and speaks to them.
ANGELEANA: (putting her hand on the zero's 'chin') Chin up. We're almost there.
The father binome looks at the entrance to the Principal Office, then points excitedly.
FATHER BINOME: Bob! I-i-it's Bob!
Everyone watches as Bob flies out of the Principal Office on his zip board.
ENZO: (shouting) All right, Bob, woohoo! You show'm they can't mess with us! Crunch its format! Kick that bug's bitmap! For Frisket!
ANGELEANA: (softly) Be careful, Bob.
Bob flies high above the city, holding the Viral Erase Command, which is now decorated with gadgetry. Hexadecimal, in her throne, watches the Tor turn to stone twice in her looking glass.
HEXADECIMAL: Oh, did you see that, Scuzzy! (theatrically tearful) How sad! All of Mainframe, doomed! (She hangs her head, then laughs loudly. Then she leans forward, and her red eyes narrow between black "lids" in her mask's eyeholes.) What's this?
In Hexadecimal's looking glass, Bob flies closer, holding the command.
HEXADECIMAL: (continuing) Bob the Guardian? Oh no. Oh no! (Bob passes the camera, giving a good view of his hinder.) Oh, yes. (She leans back, smirking, a hand on her chest.) Now won't this be interesting. (She crosses her legs.)
Bob halts over a sector that is all stone.
BOB: (holding up the command and all its add-ons) All right, you antique, do your thing.
Bob hurls the command downward. When it hits a yellow dome appears and quickly expands. Its expansion slows, as if it is blocked.
HEXADECIMAL: (open-mouthed) My poor Medusa!
Seen from inside, the buildings inside the dome are normal. The dome seems to struggle to expand, then it shrinks again, leaving the buildings once again infected.
HEXADECIMAL: (passing her hand in front of her face and changing masks with every word - neutral, smiling, open-mouthed smile, and red-eyed evil grin.) Happy, happy,
happy!BOB: This is not good! (He looks up and around.) Where's a game cube when ya need one?
Angeleana, Enzo, and Phong are at the entrance of the Principal Office. Phong is waving the binomes walking into the PO along.
PHONG: Hurry, people!
ENZO: (anxiously) Come on, Bob! You can make it!
Bob flies out of the distance and stops before them.
ENZO: Bob!
Bob shakes his head. Angeleana and Enzo look at Phong. Phong lowers his head and wheels into the Principal Office. Bob and Angeleana look at each other. Seen from above and to the side of Lost Angles, the Medusa continues spreading into Mainframe from the rim. The bridges leading from the system to the Principal Office retract. Shields come down over the entrances. The pinnacle retracts into the dome. Finally, a blue energy sphere expands to engulf the Principal Office. The great hall seen earlier is now cluttered with boxes, and looks like a Hoovertown. Binomes sit around a campfire. Toque holds a marshmallow on a stick over the fire. It explodes with a loud "pop", startling him. Another binome at the same campfire starts playing a harmonica. Other binomes and numerals are in line for food, which appears to be meatball-like geometrical shapes. Number Seven grabs a meatball with its Alien-like "inner mouth." A binome holds out his tray. Al's Waiter slowly ladles a single pea onto it. The baby binome is playing with a Guardian doll. The binome father puts a Hexadecimal mask in front of his eye and taps the baby to get its attention. The baby startles when it sees him, does a data dump in its diaper, then turns to its mother and starts crying. The mother frowns at the father. Angeleana, Bob, and Phong are at the VidWindow table, watching a schematic of the Principal Office and surrounding area as seen from the side. Red comes in from both sides, up the column below the PO, and fills the circle representing the shield Outside, the Medusa's viewpoint travels up a building and across a walkway to the Principle Office. Alarms sound inside the PO. Phong looks down. Bob does too. Angeleana looks at Enzo, then down. Seen from outside, the Medusa travels down below the shielded Principal Office, then up the shield, which dissolves into shards from the top down as the Principal Office turns to stone. A binome looks up in alarm. Other binomes look up. The walls and ceiling of the great hallway turn to stone all at once. The baby binome cries. Its mother picks it up. It drops the Guardian doll, which falls to the ground in slow motion. The camera closes in on it as it and the ground beneath it are infected by the Medusa. Phong, looking as if he was shouting wildly, is turned to stone. Enzo is frozen in an action pose. Angeleana and the binome family are stone, Angeleana either taking the baby from or giving the baby to its mother. Bob is frozen in a shouting pose. Seen from outside, all of Mainframe except Lost Angles is now frozen. Fade in on Bob. He looks as if the stone covering him has thickened considerably. He screams, and as he does the covering shatters.
BOB:
NO! NO! NO!As Bob screams repeatedly, others are seen, still stone.
BOB: No... (looking at Phong) Huh... you were right, old friend. I am immune. Lucky me. (Bob looks around at the surrounding statuary - Phong, Enzo, Angeleana, and the binome family.) Let Hexadecimal turn all my friends into stone, destroy Mainframe, and get away with it? (The camera closes in on his face.) I don't think so.
View of the Lair in Lost Angles, seen from above. Inside Hex's throne chamber, a petrified one binome floats in place. The camera pans around showing more binomes - many of them viral - and a few Sprites petrified in various poses. They are floating in a ring above the edge of the platform. Hex is sitting on her throne, idly kicking her leg as if bored. Scuzzy - also petrified - floats before her. She raises her hand and examines her nails, then looks at Scuzzy.
HEXADECIMAL: How do you like my new garden, Scuzzy? It holds up so much better than some of my earlier efforts.
A viral one dissolves. First its limbs and other "details" fall off, then the blocks dissolve.
HEXADECIMAL: Well, for now at least. (She leans forward, smiling, and waggles her fingers at Scuzzy.) Does it please you?
Scuzzy floats mutely in place.
HEXADECIMAL: (screaming)
I asked you a question!Activity, responsiveness, alertness, all of these would be the opposite of words that would apply to Scuzzy. Hexadecimal slumps forward despairingly. Then she leans back and waves a hand at Scuzzy, who floats away from her. Bob, standing in one of the entrances around the walls of her chamber, shoots a line from Glitch up to the ceiling, then jumps up and swings toward Hexadecimal's throne from the back. Hexadecimal, sad-faced, does not notice his approach. With a growl he kicks the back of the throne, sending Hexadecimal flying forward. She stops in midair just before she touches Scuzzy.
HEXADECIMAL: Funny, I sense a presence. (She waves a hand, and Scuzzy floats away.)
BOB: (lowering himself to the ground) That would be
me!Hexadecimal lands and pushes part of her cape to the side with her right hand.
HEXADECIMAL: (laughing and yellow-eyed) That's a good one, Guardian! Infect
me with the Medusa? How delightfully clever!
BOB: Why, thank you.
Hexadecimal's eyes narrow between black "lids". Bob's eyes narrow the normal way. Hexadecimal reaches behind herself with her right hand. A red ball of energy appears above her palm. The camera pans behind Bob, who is crouching in a ready position, showing the stone Guardian doll on the back of his belt. He reaches back and throws the doll at her. She raises a finger and stops it in midair in front of her, then turns it around to face Bob.
HEXADECIMAL: (She wags a finger at Bob. The doll raises an arm and mimics Hexadecimal's gestures.) Now, we can't have any of that, young man. (Now sad faced, she tilts her head, then leans forward. So does the doll.) And you, immune to my Medusa? (She shakes her head and clicks her tongue. The doll shakes its head in time with her.) How very disappointing. (The doll moves in front of her face. The outline of her mask visibly changes. When the doll moves away, Hex is now wearing a pink-eyed smirk.) I'll just have to destroy you the old fashioned way. (She brings a hand into view. The doll glances back as her claws lengthen. With a scream she launches herself at Bob.)
BOB: (raising his left arm straight up) Glitch! Line!
Bob pulls himself up out of her path on Glitch's line. Hexadecimal meets him in midair and holds him telekinetically by the throat. As she speaks she spirals around him.
HEXADECIMAL: As much as I enjoy the chaos you bring into my life, it is time to be rid of you once and for all!
BOB: Uh - I like - uh - I like how you've changed Mainframe!
HEXADECIMAL: (surprised) Do you? And why is that, my love?
BOB: Well, now that everything is set in stone you've made Mainframe so predictable.
HEXADECIMAL: What do you mean?
BOB: Everyone in the same spot, never changing, never moving, nothing but still and quiet. How very peaceful it will all be now.
HEXADECIMAL: (waving her arms and switching masks from pouting to weepy to neutral) Peaceful? Oh dear. How true!
BOB: No more battles with Megabyte-
HEXADECIMAL: (holding up her hands) Quiet! Silence!
BOB: No more unexpected turn of events-
HEXADECIMAL: (arm to her forehead, palm outward theatrically) No! No! What have I done? No!
BOB: Just peace... and calm... forever.
HEXADECIMAL: (chewing the scenery mercilessly) No! No! I must - I must stop it! Stop it all from going so very
wrong!Hexadecimal lowers her head. When she raises it she is smirking. She snaps her fingers and tilts her head. There is a burst of light in Lost Angles, then the Medusa effect disappears from all of Mainframe from the center outward. Still smirking, Hexadecimal turns her back on Bob and walks away. As Bob watches Hexadecimal, Scuzzy pulls up onto the steps of Hex's throne dais.
BOB: Now
that's one strange lady.
Scuzzy churrs and nods. In a parklike setting, Frisket is standing over Enzo, who is lying on the ground. Frisket pants, and Enzo growls playfully at him. Frisket licks Enzo with a purple tongue. Angeleana is on her side on the snow leopard print blanket, propped up on her elbow, and Bob is sitting by her.
BOB: It's one miracle after another. First I fix my car, then I save Mainframe from the brink of destruction. (sighs) But most incredibly, Enzo and I actually got you to relax!
ANGELEANA: (amused) You both should get a medal.
BOB: Thanks, (sighs and lies back on the grass) but I think I'll settle for a long nap instead.
Thunder is heard. The sky darkens and an alarm sounds.
SYSTEM VOICE: Warning, incoming game. Warning, incoming game.
Bob, Frisket, Enzo, and Angeleana come into frame and look at the camera.
)