Browser City

Chapter 10: The Only Antivirus That Turns You On

Shannon's and Ajax's minds were jammed with panic-driven thoughts as they ran into the hall and up the stairs.

"Damn!" Ajax shouted. "I knew they would try to break in!"

The child's anguished cries and the dog's proud yet insolent barking kept making them think of the worst-case scenario. 

"Don't tell me Pitt and Nekari are breaking into the Core right now?!" Shannon exclaimed.

"And wreaking havoc while putting Zita's life in danger," Ajax replied. "A nasty situation that could easily turn into extortion."

"What do you mean?"

"If it's them, they're gonna ask for Aethelred's presence and try to strike a deal with him. It's gonna be either Zita or him – and he will give himself up to save his daughter, obviously."

"Damn..."

To make matters worse, Ajax was unarmed. His gun had been destroyed for good and he only had his fists and wits to guarantee Browser City's safety.

While rushing to the seventh floor, he hoped Ned would fly up the stairs or the elevator with his batons... and an extra weapon for him. Now that would be nice and thoughtful of him, Ajax thought. But he's on the ground floor right now. I doubt he's heard Zita's cries.

Right when Shannon and he were about to open the door to the gym, he got extremely tense and stopped Shannon.

"Stop right there," Ajax menacingly whispered to Shannon while blocking her way with his right arm in front of her chest. "I'm not letting you go in there with me."

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Shannon exclaimed whispering with pride. "Zita's my niece! Besides, you need help. Especially without your gun!"

Then, they heard a loud knocking sound. Algo had abruptly stopped barking. They assumed he had been knocked out.

"I can handle this," he whispered defiantly at her.

"You're gonna fight against Nekari's scythe with your... fists?" she asked with sarcasm and a look in her eyes that told him he was being an arsehole again.

"You make it sound like I'm stupid," he went on whispering while Zita's loud cries were over and got replaced by a heartbreaking whimper. "Look, yes, I need your help – but not in there. First, call Ned and tell him to come here to fight. And also tell him to bring me a weapon. Then, go and lock Aethelred in the Console Room. Don't let him out."

"Why?!"

"Because Pitt and Nekari will want to extort him, like I've told you. I don't want that. If he gets here, I have got zero chances at winning this thing and deleting them, okay?" Ajax's eyes were keenly glued on hers, trying to make that plan convincing.

In the meantime, they heard a soft, muffled, female voice from the other side of the gym's door addressing Zita in a condescending tone. It must have been Nekari's, but Ajax and Shannon couldn't make out what she was saying. Right after Nekari's voice, they heard a male voice chiding the kid as if he would love to beat the shit out of her for crying. That must have been Pitt's. It felt like Zita's behaviour made him extremely nervous.

"Look, I know she's Aethelred's daughter and your niece, but that's exactly how an ultimatum works. It's like the reset button. If Aethelred comes and is given the chance to exchange his life for hers, he won't be able to fight it – but I can. Don't worry. I'll keep Zita safe. I promise."

"No," Shannon whispered with a shaky voice. "I'm... not... doing that. Locking my brother up in the Console Room so that he can't come here. I'm going in there. With you."