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Author's Note: Me mum gave me the idea for this fic, actually. She got the book "Letters from Atlantis" for me from the library, told me to read it, and suggested that I do something on the order of that regarding Bob's stay in the Web. I read the book, enjoyed it, and liked the idea of doing this with Bob, so here we go!
Mainframe Date: Unknown
Dot,
I honestly don't even know why I'm doing this. I don't think that you ever will get these letters - User, I don't even know if I'm ever going to go home. But none of this even seems real, not getting shot into the Web, not being found by the Web Riders, none of it. Maybe by writing it all down, I can get it to sink in - and find a way home…And maybe by addressing it to you, I won't forget you. I sense that I am already; I have to pause to remember what you, or Enzo, or Mouse looks like. I can't remember the number of my apartment. It's the little things, really - eye colour, favorite food - but it's enough to scare me.I'd never been really scared until I found myself here…I shouldn't talk like that; if you were to read this, I wouldn't want to worry you.
I don't know how long I've been here - I tried to keep track of the days, but there's no real distinction here. Day and night blend into one; it seems like the Riders only sleep when they are tired, eat when they are hungry… It's maddening, not knowing the date! Maybe we're all too focused on time. I wonder what life would be like in Mainframe if we didn't have a way of keeping time. You'd probably go crazy, not being able to make schedules. Here I am, writing this down like I'm talking to you. But that's the idea, wasn't it? I fear for Mainframe a lot now, I don't know what shape it's in - or that you're in. I can only imagine what Megabyte must have done to you all now that I'm gone…
I suppose I can't change that. I only hope that Enzo's up to the task - and that you and Mouse can learn to trust each other. If she sticks around, she could be a great help to you. I'm needed elsewhere now - cursors, and I never really actually explained anything! Oh well. I suppose that I'll have time enough to do that. It's not as if I was actually sending these to you - regrettably. I hope to see you soon. (You can't begin to guess how much.)
~Bob
Mainframe Date: Unknown
Dot,
It's the next day - I think. We've slept, at least. The herds have moved on, we needed to leave our old grounds. Predator troubles, I think. I'm still not too wise on the ways here, I really need a way to keep time. Putting "Mainframe Date: Unknown" at the top of each letter seems foolish, somehow. I should explain what happened after I was sent into the Web, I suppose. Maybe someday, you'll get this and want to know what happened…
I must have been knocked unconscious right when the pod shot through the portal, because the next thing I remember was waking up, alone in the Web. Mainframe's address was nowhere in sight - Megabyte planned well. I nearly panicked, I admit; there was no way for me to get anywhere, no way to know what or where was safe. I must've floated out there for hours - or maybe it was only minutes, who can tell? Suddenly, this huge… creature - there is absolutely no other word for it, you'd have to see one to understand - floated up out of the Web clouds and looked at me, blinking it's huge black eyes. I was shocked out of any fear that I might have had by curiosity. They are magnificent animals, Dot, you get accustomed to their looks. This one wasn't alone, however. She - I learned that it was a girl later - was followed by another one of the Web Creatures, this one bearing a mounted rider. He spoke at me harshly in some kind of garbled language, which I didn't understand - I couldn't even identify it now, although I have begun to learn to speak it. (Every lesson makes me remember that fight we had - I'm learning the hard way how important other languages are, it seems…) It must have been apparent eventually that I didn't understand him and that I wasn't there to threaten them, for he took me back to their camp. Make no mistake, they still view me with suspicion, but I think that they are at least starting to trust me.
I suppose it helps that the female Creature that found me seems to have taken a liking to me, although I doubt I'll ever try riding her - that's a little too much excitement for me. Perhaps I should name her, though…
~Bob