Spy Kids 3: AU

5.

Soon enough they were in an in-between area between levels. It looked like an abandoned construction zone with green microchips raining in from somewhere.

"Hold on," Francis picked the green things off of his shoulder. It was something computer-related, Juni couldn't remember.

"The programmers!" He gasped.

"Who are these, ah, programmers?" Her grandfather asked.

"They're the brainiacs who wrote the book for the game," He explained. Her grandfather hummed before looking around.

"They work for the Toymaker?" He asked.

"They caught Francis cheating during the mega race and bounced us back to level one, which is why you found us there the first time," Rez said. Juni nodded. She looked around for the programmers.

"And I assume they'll do it again if they catch us?" Juni asked.

"Spread out!" Rez commanded.

"Hey, hold on!" Juni yelled, but it was too late, everyone was already running in separate directions.

"Come on! That never works! Whatever at least you're still here," She turned to her grandfather.

Who wasn't there.

"What the hell was the point of bringing in backup if this is how you're gonna act," Juni growled, stalking off in a random direction.

She was walking down a path when a hand reached out and yanked her down a crossroads.

"Can you at least act like your the Leader?" Demetra scoffed, blowing hair out of her eyes.

Juni narrowed her eyes. "Given the fact that a leader is someone others look to for, I don't know, leadership? Can't say that I can."

"Whatever. Listen, the programmers are after us because someone has a game cheat," She said, holding up a folded piece of green code.

"Dude. Are you kidding me!"

Demetra unfolded it to reveal a map of the game. Juni's protests stopped as she looked it over.

"Listen, if we cut through this path," She gestured at something on the map, "We'll be able to get to level 4 in half the time."

Juni nodded. "Ok, and from there?"

"If we go through Lava Mountain we'll be right at the door to level 5."

"This is perfect," Juni folded up the digital map and stuck it in her suit.

Juni felt a chill go down her spine. She and Demetra turned slowly to see two Programmers looming over them.

"Game cheats?" The one on the left said. "That's against the rules," The one on the right said.

"We're gonna have to bounce you back to level 1," The one on the left said threateningly.

"I'm not scared of you," Juni said, gritting her teeth and glowering at them.

The Programmers leaned back. Demetra nodded. "Yeah! She's The Leader!"

"Grandpa!" Juni screamed behind her, grabbing her grandfather's attention while Demetra cringed.

"Look at that, E-Dog, the Leader needs to call for her Grandpa."

"What's he gonna do, drool on us?" The two laughed darkly as her grandfather's silhouette looked over them.

"Ha, come and get me, gramps,"

As he said that, her grandfather picked both of the Programmers up by their collars.

"Why are you picking on my granddaughter?" He asked menacingly.

Juni grinned as the rest of her group gathered back around. The two Programmers looked fearful as he held them several feet above the ground.

"That's Logos and E-Dog, they're the leaders!" Francis said. Juni scoffed. "What he really named his persona E-Dog? Lame."

"Ah," Her grandfather smiled. "You are The Programmers? Let's see what you really look like."

Francis stepped forward and scanned them with a tool he grabbed from somewhere. The Lazer he scanned with peeled away the game view of the Programmers and revealed two tech nerds.

"Very unimpressive," Her grandfather laughed. The group began laughing as well.

"Computer nerds," Rez said. Juni shrugged with a satisfied grin on her face. "I don't know what I was expecting."

"Now tell me, where is the Toymaker?" He lifted them so he could glare at them at eye level. Juni sighed.

"I'm sorry, grandpa, but we don't have time for this. Put him down."

When he dropped them, they ran away whimpering.

"Don't worry, Juni, from here on, I'll protect you," Arnold said to her. Juni laughed.

"Thanks, I feel so reassured now that a 10-year-old is protecting me."

"Hey! I'm 12," He defended. Juni rolled her eyes good naturedly and ruffled his hair.

"Because that's so much better."