[Millitimed to a day or two after their stay in Radiance.
[Musical accompaniment. Has nothing to do with this post; I just like it. Though, it does seem to fit the overall theme of this little plot...]Not a lot unlike the last system, the pair arrive in the next in the dead of night. This time, though, there’s no question as to where they are as they pass a large sign, hovering in the middle of the 'Net pathway, lit nearly as brightly as the city visible in the portal up ahead, and welcoming them to LAN Voltas.
A smile tugs slightly on AndrAIa’s mouth as her companion voices his thoughts from beside her on his bike. "Now
this is more like it. I could stay here for a few cycles."
"Sounds like an idea, then." The Game sprite takes in the cityscape while they merge in with surprisingly heavy traffic and they turn into what looks to be the main drag while easing off on their altitude. "You know, it's an awfully busy place for this time of night."
"Too busy," Matrix grouses, even if this system is leagues better than Radiance was. To a human onlooker, the place looks like pop-up window hell, with advertisements for just about every form of gambling one could think of, and probably a few one couldn't. "It's like going from dial up to hi-speed in under a picosecond." You could tell from tone though, that he didn't think this business was a bad thing. In fact, it might be a tone of approval merely masquerading as disapproval.
AndrAIa motions at the surprising amount of themed hotels as they ride by on their bikes. "Well we better hope one of these places have vacancy, then." They pass by a few more hotels with signs outside declaring them to be full before arriving in front of one named 'PirateBay'. Outside, in a data lagoon there's a pirate ship with what are probably actors, because most of the moves they're using in that battle of theirs would be useless against anyone with half a brain; it was all flash, no actual finesse. "What about this place?"
"'PirateBay'. Captain Capacitor would love this place," he mutters, taking in the visuals. Indeed, it is a place the former software pirate would love, even if he'd critique the actors' techniques. Scanning as far as he could, and seeing nothing but "No Vacancy" signs, he sighs. "'PirateBay' it is then." Right now, sleep is more pressing, and he hasn't got the energy left to debate a different hotel with AndrAIa. Besides, that look on her face appears to be one of "I really like this place a lot", and who is he to deny her what she wants?
The bikes are stowed in the garage and the sleep-deprived and scruffy-looking pair enters the immaculate lobby carrying their bags and Frisket trailing behind them, and they make their way towards the front desk, disregarding the disapproving glances sent their way. AndrAIa approaches the desk while Matrix hangs back, his bionic eye glowing red. Some of the patrons have trouble in mind.
What manner of place is this? Did the people take the "pirate" part of the name literally?
"We'd like a room please."
The sprite behind the counter eyes them in undisguised distain. "I'm afraid we only have our Premium suites available at the moment, ma'am. Now if you'll mov—"
"We'll take one, then."
The sprite startles, and he starts spluttering at AndrAIa, who pinches the bridge of her nose while the clerk begins rambling. "Ma'am, I assure you that the prices a—"
"Look," the Game sprite more or less growls out. "We've been traveling all day, we're tired,
cranky, and just
really want some sleep." She gestures at the terminal in front of the sprite. "Now, why don’t you just go onto your little database there, and book us into a room for a few nights."
"Better do what she says," Matrix snarls. "She's a lot nicer than I can be when cross." His hand isn't moving towards the gun at his hip, but something about his body posture makes it stand out.
"Sir, weapons are not—" the sprite begins.
"Gun stays with me." Tone of no compromise.
"Sir?" the sprite tries again, looking more chastened.
"Room. We've got money to pay for whatever you've got. Just give us one. We're not here for trouble." But he sure as hell won't back down from it if they give him any, Matrix’s eye glows red again and Frisket chooses this moment to let out a low growl, sending the clerk scrambling.
They’re standing in their room not long afterwards, taking a moment to take in the decor and the view out the window overlooking the city. Frisket forces his way past the pair and hops onto one of the couches, flopping onto it unceremoniously with a sigh and almost immediately starts to snore. The sprites leave the luggage in the main room and make for the bedroom for some sleep of their own.
***
A uniformed binome places another card in front of AndrAIa.
"Eighteen."
"Hit me."
"Twenty-one; and that's another win for the lovely Game sprite. You sure this is your first time playing, Ma'am?" The binome slides the gambling chips she’s just won to the continually growing pile in front of her.
"Positive," she replies, sliding a stack of chips out for the next round.
AndrAIa was, to put it simply, raking it in. At her current rate, she'd have enough to buy the most expensive property in Mainframe that was not owned by Dot.
Matrix, on the other hand, has an aura of frustration about him. He's at the slot windows, and his winnings are next-to-non-existent, and quickly sliding into the red as he tries desperately to get the symbols to line up.
It’s just not his night.
"You’d think having spent five hours in the games would’ve given me some advantage," he snarls, as a zero and two one binome symbols slide into view. "Argh!"
At first, it looks like he’s about to deposit several gambling tokens into the machine [they’d exchanged some of their units for them, since the machines wouldn’t take them], but when both hands are placed at opposite sides of the screen…
"Mister you are not allowed to do that," a one binome dressed in garb that reminds Matrix of one of Captain Capacitor’s crew says. "They’re delicate."
Matrix just replies with something extremely rude, and several patrons gasp, their attention now on the scene unfolding.
"These blasted things are rigged!"
"Sir. Please take your hands off the slot window or I’ll have to call security…"
Several onlookers mutter, and the words "They’ll need to call in a lot of security. Look at the size of him!" float towards Matrix, and, most importantly, AndrAIa, who has excused herself from the table in order to calm her lover down and prevent the scene from escalating.
"Matrix, relax. We’re here to have fun."
"Easy for you to say.
You’re doing all the winning."
Yes, he had heard the comments from AndrAIa’s table. As well as the compliments over her appearance.
She sighs. "Matrix. Why not find another game to play or—"
"
NOW IN OUR AUDITORIUM!" bellows the PA's overhead. "
CELINE DIODE, BINARY MANILOW AND OUR FAMOUS MAGICAL ACT, BY THE NET-RENOWNED SEGFAULT AND ROY!"
"—you can go catch the show instead and keep yourself out of trouble while I take care of the winning?"
Her smile looks innocent, but he knows too well it’s her “I’m not taking any arguments” smile, nods and pretty much stomps off in the direction of the auditorium, as indicated by the binome who’d been trying to save the slot windows from meeting a very shattered fate at the hands of the renegade.
***
Torture.
That’s what this had to be. Listening to Diode warble and Manilow sing songs that were considered old when his mother was still processing. It’s sheer torture. And as such he spends the evening just glaring at the stage. Possibly causing the sprites who were performing to miss several notes in response.
"
AND NOW, THE ACT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR! SEGFAULT AND ROY!"
"This had better be more entertaining than the last two were," he snarls lowly from his seat.
It isn't, much to his chagrin.
In fact, it's positively boring.
"'Net renowned'. I'll bet," he mutters.
It continues for half a microsecond, before the lights dim and some sort of jungle MIDI begins to play.
"
LIVE ANIMAL MAGIC! SEE FEROCIOUS BEASTS FROM THE UNTAMED CORNERS OF THE NET!"
He yawns. He already has Frisket for "ferocious" and "untamed".
But at least the animal act is mildly entertaining, until...
"Hey Sparky! Glad to see you’re keeping quiet."
AndrAIa.
Now things would be interesting.
"Yeah. Diode and Manilow almost put me to sleep."
"Come on; they couldn't have been that bad!" she teases.
"They are. You staying or just checking up on me?"
"I only came down to see how you were doing, but I could stay for a bit—what's that?"
She looks towards the stage, where two one binomes in garish costumes are performing.
"Said it's a tiger," he says, following her gaze. "'From the untamed corners of the net.'"
"Looks more like a very large pussycat."
That’s what they think.
Because the tiger in question decides that the routine it normally performs is becoming stale, and decides to take matters into its hands. Or rather, mouth.
The audience screams as Segfault's blocky head is pinned between the tiger's jaws.
"It's just… It's just! Everyone calm down!" shouts Roy, looking positively panicked.
"Hey now this is entertainment!" Matrix approves.
"Matrix! That binome’s in trouble!"
"And I thought it was just part of the act."
Well. Here was his opportunity to ingratiate himself to the owners of PirateBay.
"Where are you going?" AndrAIa asks, looking very concerned.
"To lend a hand. He's in trouble, right?" He's already standing.
AndrAIa puts a hand on his arm, shaking her head. "Leave this to me," she says, and heads towards the stage, causing anyone who wasn't screaming or in a dead faint to point at the Game sprite walking so casually towards it.
"Let me," she says to a frightened Roy, and, with what looks like a tap, the tiger quickly lets go and flops down, seemingly unconscious.
"
…ttttttthanks…" he quavers, and proceeds to faint, allowing the hospital medical team to rush in to deliver assistance to the performers.
***
"We’d like to thank you, madam, sir, for helping us and Segfault and Roy," says a sprite who had identified himself as the hotel's owner. "And we’re sorry for being so rude to you the other night."
"It’s no trouble," AndrAIa smiles. "Glad to help."
"We're glad you did. I didn’t think we’d be able to pull ol' Mac off of Segfault this time."
"Here," a zero binome says, lugging a very heavy bag. "Have this."
"What is in that thing?" Matrix asks, and the binome smiles. "Just about every souvenir we’ve got in the shop, and..." He pauses, then rushes back to where he came from, before returning with a small box. "Tickets. To see future shows."
"I'd rather you—" Matrix begins, but AndrAIa interrupts him with a "Why thank you! You don't need to reward us, but we'll gladly accept your generosity. I'm sure the folks back home would appreciate a chance to see your show."
"Andr—" Matrix begins again, but is again cut off.
"As soon as it's possible to do so."
"Thanks," says the binome, looking very happy.
"Matrix? Would you be so kind as to take these upstairs?"
"
Dear Bob and Dot,
LAN Voltas is fantastic! I doubt the lights ever turn off here. Stayed at the PirateBay hotel. Matrix thinks Gavin would love it.
Won lots of money, which is good, because Matrix ruined that one slot window and the hotel needed reimbursing for the damages.
Sent him to watch Celine Diode and Binary Manilow, as well as Segfault and Roy to keep him quiet. Matrix didn't think much of the act, until Segfault was attacked by their tiger.
You'd be amazed the level of gratitude one can receive, when someone's just been saved from a wild animal.
JPGs as usual are enclosed.
Love, Andi."
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