Tonight, a rather special edition of ReBoot.

[renegade_enzo]

Sort of.

The door opens up with a violent shove, a voice familiar-but-different can be heard before the speaker is seen.

"I can't keep doing this, AndrAIa. We nearly lost that Game

Comments

[a1enzo]

Enzo is just barely within earshot, balancing on two chair legs with his feet on a table.

It's not the voice that makes him look up from his homework; it is, after all, not quite like anything he's heard before, even if the tone is awfully familiar. No, it's the wording. 'What in the Net' is sprite talk, and it's not coming from anyone... he... knows...

Chair and child hit the ground with a crash.

For an instant, he thinks he's looking at himself, and not just in the 'well, technically...' sense. The newcomer is wearing cadet blues, after all. But the uniform is incomplete, what's left of it is the worse for wear and size, and his face... His face is proof enough on its own.

[renegade_enzo]

Sound of a loud noise has Matrix's younger self making for and drawing his gun.

Which looks more "pistol" than "high-tech". That's hours away.

"Who are you?"

He's got that "Answer fast," look. Gun's not for show or intimidation-he really means to use it.

AndrAIa if you're planning on making an appearance by stepping through the door make it now...

[notascreensaver]

And lo, the Game sprite appears next to the elder of the two copies, her tone exasperated as she lays a restraining arm on his.

"What are you shooting at now, Enzo?"

Give her a moment, she'll notice the body double in a second.

[a1enzo]

At the drawing of Gun (which doesn't look like Gun, but he's not going to argue), Enzo2 scrabbles crabwise under the table with a curse that sounds far too shrill. "Dude, don't!" he calls desperately. "It's..."

And then she appears. Legs, first, finned and familiar, and he scoots cautiously forward.

Oh, code. She's only Dani's age.

"AndrAIa?" he squeaks, dry-mouthed.

[renegade_enzo]

AndrAIa has always had a calming effect on Matrix; now isn't much different.

Gun's still in his hand, but his arm is lowered. Situation under control. For now.

"Yeah. That's her name. Now what about yours?"

Encountering Milliways plus sudden movements that startle him into defence mode has made him temporarily unaware he's looking at himself.

Pause. Gun is lowered further. Confusion has filtered in. They can't possibly know each other, can they?

"Wait. How do you know her name?"

[a1enzo]

Code, oh code, she's beautiful and she's only a few hours older than him... He makes a strangled noise in his throat before his brain lines up with Matrix's... is he Matrix yet?... with his words.

Withdrawing slightly further into the shadows under the table, he says, "Do you promise not to shoot me when you don't believe me?" When, not if.

[renegade_enzo]

That noise causes Matrix to stand a little closer to AndrAIa.

Don't get any ideas, is his expression.

People who ask not to be shot tend to make him want to shoot them. History has taught him they're always the type he wants dead, fast. Like viruses.

"You're not secretly a virus, are you, to ask me that?"

[a1enzo]

"No! I just don't want to die of irony."

[notascreensaver]

Again, she does her best to soothe her Matrix all the while staring quizzically at the familiar looking sprite huddled under the table.

"Maybe we should hear him out, Sparky."

[renegade_enzo]

More scepticism. Matrix isn't buying it, but AndrAIa is making it momentarily easy to relax somewhat.

He looks about the area for a moment, then puts gun away.

"Very well. What is it you want to tell me that I won't believe?"

[a1enzo]

Enzo sits silent for a moment, then crawls out from under the table to stand up straight and look him in the... eye.

"Well, me being your accidental copy from the future is a good start."

He's doing a remarkably good job of keeping his voice level, he thinks.

[renegade_enzo]

There's a five nanosecond pause while Matrix's jaw works.

Then,

"That your idea of a joke?"

You're right about him not believing it.

[a1enzo]

"See? I told you."

[notascreensaver]

AndrAIa grips Matrix's arm, still nearly-gaping at the younger Enzo.

"Enzo, look at him, he looks nearly identical..."

There are obvious differences, of course.

[renegade_enzo]

Age. Physique. Missing eye. Fondness for using fisticuffs as a means to settle matters.

Obvious differences.

"How often do I-"

What he meant to finish with was "look into a reflective surface?" but he's giving this Enzo a look.

"That's ... not possible. You're just a kid! I was just a kid! Hours ago!"

Shock and surprise.

Next you're going to tell him Mainframe is compiled and processing well [save that part for later].

[a1enzo]

"Even longer, when I'm from." He's fighting an irrational urge to laugh. "The you I know is twice my age."