Browser City

Chapter 6: More Trouble Zooming In

"Zero. The Core will now be sealed. Keep calm and resume your positions," the metallic voice said gently once the countdown was over once more.

The huge metal double doors were completely shut close behind Ajax Eagleye, Ned Guard and their respective vehicles. Their engines were running; their energy, flowing and glowing gold and red on Ajax's bike, light purple on Ned's convertible.

"We should first patrol all along the main avenue," Ned said loudly.

"Fair enough. It's your city," Ajax replied as if he didn't care much.

"It's your city now too, Ajax."

"Don't be offended, but I will request a transfer as soon as the job's done."

"A transfer? What the fuck are you talking about?! Duty is duty, no matter where you go. Didn't your teachers in the academy teach you that?"

"Let's just say I've got a calling for bigger things," Ajax added with a bit too much pride.

Ned stared at his younger companion with a raised eyebrow as if he couldn't believe it.

"What?" Ajax asked, irked at his companion.

Ned simply chuckled.

"Ah, youth!" he exclaimed with nostalgia.

They rode in silence down the main avenue. Ajax followed him closely on his bike.

Many functions were shut close, like the Core. The main avenue and the neighbouring streets were all deserted. An ominous silence reigned supreme. Only the roaring sound of their engines was echoing in those streets at that moment.

Barely a few nanoseconds later, they found trouble. The zoom function exploded very much like the bookmarks building had, and both the plus and the minus signs were thrown onto the main avenue's lanes, violently depixelating with the impact.

Ned and Ajax pulled the brakes in a hurry. The tyres screeched and skidded, but they managed to stop their vehicles right in front of the huge amount of scattering pixels.

They left their respective vehicles in the middle of the avenue and ran to the zoom building, from which a large cloud of smoke was emerging into the sky.

"I can't hear anyone screaming for help," Ned said with worry.

"Maybe they're all dead already," Ajax commented.

"My colleague is optimistic, I see," Ned replied with mild sarcasm.

"Being optimistic doesn't save lives, Ned."

"But being cynical might endanger them," Ned added seriously. "If we must work together, I need you to focus on saving lives. And that includes being optimistic, Ajax."

Ajax didn't like being told what to do and how to do it, especially when there were feelings involved. Ned suspected as much from the stern reaction he got from him. In spite of that, they entered the building together and searched for add-ons on every floor.

Everything had been torn apart: doors, windows, tables and the rest of the furniture. There were lots of pixels scattered all over the place – many from add-ons and extensions. The percentage symbol was slowly losing pixels on the stairs between the second and the third floor. It was disintegrating at an unbearably slow rhythm, but it was dead already. It had lost its natural glow.

"Now, that's what I call carnage," Ned whispered ominously while staring at the lifeless symbol. "I don't like this one byte. It looks like nobody's survived. And Zita's babysitter's place is only a couple of blocks away from here. Aethelred and Ragna are going to freak out."