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Enzo _should_ have been happy, and he knew it. Circuit racing with Bob, there was nothing he loved better. Except maybe going into the games. And Bob had said he wanted to spend some 'quality time' with him. And he haven't even had to pester him! And there were all those new sprites around too - that surfer guy was really cool, and his board sounded totally alphanumeric. And that ugly guy, Matrix - that gun of his... Enzo _knew_ he could have some fun with that.
Thinking about Matrix reminded Enzo of what had been frustrating him all morning - he _wasn't_ happy. Everybody was either being too nice to him, or not saying anything at all. It wasn't right. And why was Bob - "What?"
"I _said_ - you're awfully quiet, Buster. Cad got your tongue?"
"Sorry Bob." the boy grinned. "I was just thinkin' about stuff."
"What stuff?"
"Oh you know... stuff." Enzo replied dubiously.
"Didn't you have fun racing?" Bob frowned.
"Sure I did - it was totally alphanumeric!" the green sprite nodded hastily. "Thanks for spending time with me Bob, it's really great. But..."
"But we need to talk." Bob sighed.
"We do?" the boy said softly, knowing the answer. That weird feeling in the pit of his stomach was starting all over again.
The Guardian ducked off of Baudway and steered his car, sputtering and protesting, down a quiet side street. "We're right near Green Screen Park. Let's stop and take a walk. I think this old girl could use a rest anyways..."
The Guardian brought the convertible to a screeching halt in a small docking area by a stand of directory trees. "I like it here - very peaceful-"
Inspiration struck Enzo like a cold slap in the face. "I know what you're gonna talk to me about, Bob." the youngster said softly, staring down at his feet.
"You do?" Bob replied, surprised.
"Yeah - you're leaving Mainframe, aren't you?"
"Wha- Leaving? What do you mean?"
"I've been thinking about it all morning - why you're being so nice to me, and all. And why Dot was crying. An' why that new guy is here, from the net-"
"Enzo-"
"Just tell me, Bob. I can handle it." Enzo said bravely, willing himself not to cry.
Bob started to laugh, than, seeing the pained expression on the little sprite's face, choked it down. He put a hand under the boy's chin lifted Enzo's gaze to meet his own. "Enzo - I'm not leaving. I don't need to have a special reason to be nice to you, you know. I like you - we're friends!"
"You're not leaving? Not ever?" Enzo whispered hopefully.
A shadow passed across the Guardian's blue features. "I made a promise to your sister, Enzo. I'll do the best I can. I take my promises pretty seriously..."
"But... Alphanumeric! Then Matrix isn't here to replace you?"
"Replace me?" Bob laughed. "Boy, that mind of yours is always processing, isn't it? No, he isn't replacing me - although that's not a bad theory, Enzo. I know everything that's happened must have had you pretty worried."
"A little." Enzo admitted. "But - if the big ugly guy isn't replacing you, then what do you want to talk to me about?"
"You may want to rethink calling him that." the Guardian sighed. "Actually, it was Matrix I wanted to talk to you about. C'mon, let's walk for a while." The blue sprite leapt over the car door and lifted Enzo to the ground. "There's a path, right through these trees here. Goes right past a really nice data stream..."
"OK - race ya!" the boy laughed, sprinting towards the woods. "Cool. Too bad we didn't bring Frisket - he'd have a great time here. He was gone when I woke up, I wonder where he is..."
----
"Handles?"
"Forty." Matrix called out.
AndrAIa stuck her head out from under the command console. "Forty? Will that be enough?"
"Hey - that's what Mouse said. She's the expert." the big sprite answered. He glanced over at Frisket - The red dog was reclining, head on paws, staring intently at him. "He's been staring at me all morning..."
"What?" AndrAIa called.
"Who are you - Al?" Matrix chuckled. "I said - Frisket's been staring at me all morning. Like he doesn't know who I am."
The game sprite pulled herself out from under the console and stood. "That's done." she grinned. "Hey Frisket! Here, Boy!" she called. The red dog lifted his head, stared at her for a moment, then put his head down again and resumed his vigil.
"Yeah Frisket - you and everybody else." Matrix muttered.
"What're you complaining about now, Enzo?" AndrAIa giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him playfully.
"It's that dog - He keeps staring at me..."
"He just has to figure things out, Lover. All of a sudden, there's two of you. And one of you he hasn't seen since you were zero one. It doesn't make sense to him, that's all."
"He's still my dog." Matrix grumbled. "All those cycles, in the games - and now, all of a sudden, he's afraid of me? And it's not just Frisket, either..."
"You really should go and talk to him, you know." the game sprite sighed.
"Who - Frisket?"
"No! You know - yourself. He's probably just as offlined about this as you are."
"He's circuit racing with Bob. Just like nothing ever happened."
"Well, what's wrong with that? As far as Enzo's concerned, it _didn't_!"
"I guess. Maybe after all the show, we'll see. It's just... seeing him, it's..."
"I know, Lover. But neither one of you is going anywhere, are you? So you'd better get used to it! It's actually pretty cool, if you think about it."
"Yeah, real alphanumeric!" Matrix sighed. "And I _really_ don't want to go to that show..."
"Well there you are... Little Brother!" Dot called out. "How's the system reset going?"
"Fine, we're almost done." Matrix tried to smile, forming a kind of half grimace. It broadened into a full grimace when he saw Tracer appear behind his sister.
"Mornin' Mate, Lovely Lady." the Surfer grinned cheerfully. "Your sister's just been giving me the shareware tour of the Principal Office here - very nice setup."
"Thanks. We like it." Matrix nodded gruffly.
"AndrAIa, can you spare En - Matrix - for a little while?" Dot asked, looking towards the wall. "I was hoping we could take a walk."
"Of course, Dot." the game sprite smiled. "We were almost done here, anyway. I can handle the rest of the setup by myself."
"I'll be glad to offer my assistance to the young lady." Ray added, with a small bow.
A glower crossed Matrix' face. "But-"
"But nothing! Go with your sister, everything's under control." AndrAIa kissed him briefly and picked up her toolkit. "I'll see you at the show tonight."
"Yeah, see you at the show." the big sprite said softly. With a last glare at Ray, he followed his sister out of the command room and down the hall. Frisket rose and followed silently at a discreet distance.
Dot turned and smiled at him. "It's nice, the way you two care for each other. I'm glad she was there for you, when - when..."
"Yeah it's nice." Matrix nodded. It was weird - why was he so uncomfortable? This was his own sister! Then it hit him - this was the first time they'd been alone together since he'd returned to Mainframe. He cast a quick glance back at Frisket. "Er... How are things at the diner, Sis?" ~Idiot! What a stupid question!~
Dot slowed, allowing the bearded sprite to catch up to her, and they walked side by side. "There _was_ no diner - not until last cycle, the reboot." she sighed. They walked for a few moments, neither saying anything. Suddenly, Matrix looked up to find himself outside, overlooking the city spread out below him. How often had he dreamed of that very sight? And there it was...
Dot smiled shyly at him for a moment, then turned her glance out at the city. Zip Boards and cars were everywhere, as if the citizens of Mainframe were desperately trying to make up for lost time. Something bothered Matrix, though. For a long moment he couldn't place it, and then it hit him - there was no Tor. He was so used to it's presence, it had been in all of his dreams of Mainframe - but it was gone.
This city was different - it could never be the same, reboot or no reboot. The sight should have filled him with joy, but instead it left him feeling strangely empty. He started, feeling a cool touch in his own. Dot had gingerly grabbed his hand in hers. Matrix stared at it for a moment. That cool, smooth touch - it was so familiar, so comforting - but it felt small, somehow. How could Dot's hand be smaller than his own?
He looked up to see Dot staring at him, her expression unreadable. He met her eyes with his own and tried to speak, but no words came to him. Instead, he squeezed her hand gently and turned back to stare out at Mainframe, and that strangely empty space across the city from the Principal Office.
----
"You're sure everything is ready, My Child?"
"Of course, Phong." Cecil replied stiffly, as if the mere question were a mortal affront to his sensibilities. "I _am_ a dedicated server. It is my function."
"Yes, yes, of course of course." Phong answered absently. He meticulously straightened a tray of I/O shots on one of the tables. This party had been his idea - a logical opportunity to bring all of the elements of the new Mainframe together - in effect, force them to talk to each other. "I will bring everyone back here after the performance, Cecil. I want them to enjoy themselves. If you need anything, the resources of the Principal Office are yours."
"Of course, Sir." the server bowed. He coughed nervously, and shuffled in place - at least, as close as a legless binome could approximate the action.
"There is something else?" Phong asked curiously, arching an eyebrow.
"Indeed Sir. It's only - well..." The server coughed again. "I was hoping , Phong, that with the reboot and all..."
"Yes?"
"I was hoping that there might be an upgrade for me, Sir. I could perform my function much more efficiently with a pair of legs, Sir."
"Ah, My Child." Phong said sadly. "You know that it is only by the grace of the User that we receive such bounty. Perhaps, in time, you shall be given what you seek. In the meanwhile, we have all been given our lives back, thank the User. Is it not enough?"
"Of course, Phong. It was not my intention to appear greedy." the server blushed.
Phong smiled. It was so easy to take them for granted... "Do not concern yourself, Child. There is an old read me file which says, 'Only in the act of serving others, may one achieve true independence.'"
"Indeed, Sir." Cecil nodded dubiously.
"Do not despair, Cecil. There is much work to be done, and we have much to thank the User for. Come, let us set out the memory wafers and ram chips..."
----
"She didn't know what to say to me, AndrAIa. She just stood there, looking at me, then away, then back..."
"Why does she have to say anything?" the game sprite sighed. "She's your sister - your best friend. Isn't that enough?"
"Is she?" the hulking youth said softly. "Dot's only ever had one brother..."
"You're driving me offline!" the girl groaned, exasperated. "Besides, you're not exactly Mr. Personality yourself, Lover. Did you ever think of talking to _her_?"
"I tried, AndrAIa. I promise I did. It's just all... different, somehow. Even the city's different. It's not the Mainframe I left."
"Things change, Enzo. You can't help it. The city changed. Dot changed. I changed. _You_ changed. Now stop worrying about it and let's go inside and enjoy ourselves. You know Mike put a lot of work into this."
"There they are!" Matrix whispered anxiously, nodding his head towards Bob, Dot and Enzo, who were approaching the main auditorium. "I can't handle this..."
"Be a man, Matrix!" AndrAIa hissed. "What are you going to do, never talk to him? If you never talk to yourself people will think you're crazy!"
"Look at that!" the young man growled as Frisket leapt up and tackled Enzo to the ground, licking his face. "Stupid dog..."
"Greetings, everyone." Dot smiled. "All ready for the show?"
"Hi Dot, Bob." AndrAIa smiled, squeezing Matrix' hand. "Hi Enzo - what's processing?"
"Hullo." the boy said shyly, smiling momentarily at the game sprite, then looking away. Matrix looked down at him - the child's face was uncharacteristically solemn. The big sprite met Bob's eyes, and the guardian nodded, almost imperceptibly.
Matrix glanced down and caught himself staring back. The youngster quickly looked away, unconsciously sliding a half step behind Bob's back. A long moment of awkward silence gripped the quintet.
"Well, ain't this lovely? All the gang, together again!' Mouse called gaily, joining the group. The Surfer was a step behind her. "What're y'all standin' out here for? I think they usually hold these kinds of things _inside_ the auditorium, don't they?"
"Of course." Bob grinned. "Shall we go on in?"
AndrAIa grabbed Matrix's hand and led him inside the great hall, Mouse and Ray falling in behind. Enzo felt Dot grab his hand and they followed the rest inside, Bob bringing up the rear. The boy was still reeling, and more than a little shaken, but his remarkable adaptive ability served him well - he was already beginning to file and sort this reality in his head. Still, his views on Matrix were clearly going to have to be re-evaluated. He _was_ kinda good-looking, the more Enzo thought about it...
The front two rows of the theater had been cleared, and the binomes inside made way for the small party, giving them a heroes' welcome of applause and whistles. Bob smiled, Dot blushed, AndrAia laughed. Matrix, for his part, shook his head and muttered something unintelligible. Enzo merely took in the scene, bewildered.
As the group filed down the front row to their seats, Enzo realized, with a start, that he'd be sitting next to Matrix. He turned and tried to slip past Dot, but the woman had already taken her seat next to Bob. The row was filled. "Hey Dot! Switch-"
"Seats with me!" Matrix whispered urgently.
"No!" AndrAIa hissed.
"But-"
"Act your age! He'll hear you!"
"But Dot-"
"Just settle down and be quiet, Enzo!" Dot whispered, the act giving her a warm feeling of comfortable familiarity. "The show's going to start any nanosecond."
"Cursors!" Enzo grumbled. Kicking his feet nervously, he stole a quick glance up at himself. Matrix started straight ahead, determinedly ignoring the fidgeting sprite next to him. The boy looked up at the stage, eyes wide. This _was_ pretty cool, when he thought about it - it would almost be like having a big brother! A half grin crept onto his face and he peeked at Matrix out of the corner of his eye.
Matrix could sense the boy staring up at him, but he couldn't force his gaze down. He concentrated on the comforting sensation of AndrAIa's hand on his elbow. To his relief, the lights dimmed and a swell of music rose from the orchestra pit. All eyes turned to the stage.
Dot's mouth opened in a small 'O' of surprise as she saw a very familiar looking binome stroll to the center of the stage and clear her throat. She heard a faint chuckle from Bob, and elbowed the Guardian in the ribs without looking over. With a dramatic cough, the binome on stage spread her arms and began to sing.
"The web invaded Mainframe..."
----
"Some party, Mate!" Ray laughed, one hand clasped around an I/O shot, the other around Mouse's waist. "You Mainframers sure know how to celebrate!" Above his head, Cecil whizzed by, a tray in his hand.
"This is a most special occasion, My Son." Phong smiled. "It is not every cycle the we witness a system reboot. We have been through very difficult times - now is a moment for celebration." ~And for marshalling our strength...~ the old sprite thought to himself.
"You shoulda seen these boys before I showed up, Sugar!" Mouse grinned evilly. "I loosened 'em up a little - ain't that right, Phong?"
"Er - yes, quite." Phong smiled. "My sincerest gratitude to both of you - we could not have survived without your invaluable assistance. Mouse's contributions to the defense of the city were indispensable, and you helped bring our two wayward sons home to us, Ray. Mainframe is in your debt."
"All in a day's work, Mate." Ray said softly.
"Yeah, we didn't do anything special, Sweetie. Just bein' neighborly. Besides, Bob and I go way back..."
"Quite. Have you two given any thought to your - well... future plans?"
Ray cast a look at Mouse, who winked conspiratorially back. "Don't rightly know just yet..."
"Pretty good, huh?" AndrAIa smirked around a mouthful of memory wafers.
"It was all right."
"Oh, come on, Enzo, you enjoyed it - just admit it!" the game sprite laughed. "I saw you pumping your first when it was over."
"I _asked_ you not to call me that." Matrix grumbled. "I suppose it wasn't too terrible - although that binome looked _nothing_ like me at all..."
"Yeah, I think I actually saw him smile. Besides - at least you got a few songs in. _I_ was hardly in the thing at all!"
"Their mistake." Matrix snickered, wrapping an arm around her waist and stealing a kiss.
"Did you enjoy the show, Enzo?" Bob asked the little sprite jovially. Dot, hearing the question, watched intently over his shoulder.
"Pixelacious!" the boy enthused. "I didn't know you could sing like that, Bob!"
"Very funny." the Guardian grinned. "I have to admit, Mike did a good job putting that together. I especially enjoyed the casting - I really thought that was you up there on that stage, Dot!"
"Watch yourself, Buster!" she growled. "So, you... liked it, then? What else did you think?"
Enzo, for about the zillionth time in the last millisecond, wished that adults would just say what was really on their minds. "It was cool... It's just - did all that - really happen? I mean - like they said?"
"Pretty much." Bob nodded, wrapping an arm around the boy's shoulder. "Did you understand all of it?"
"Kinda..." Enzo answered dubiously. "So - I really was a... Guardian... then?"
"Well..." Dot hesitated.
"Yes, you were." Bob affirmed.
"And I failed." Enzo cast his head down.
"No! You didn't fail, Enzo. You did the best you could - I never really had the chance to-"
"Bob!" Dot interjected.
"And then - after I... lost the game..." Enzo could barely bring himself to say it. He took a deep breath and looked up at Dot. "After that, I - you really thought I was..."
"Yes." she whispered. "Both of you."
Enzo could feel a tear forming in his eye, and desperately willed it away. "Dude..."
Dot grabbed his hand. "It doesn't really matter, Enzo. What matters is that you're here, now. We're all here."
"Yeah, but I - I failed!" Enzo spat angrily, pulling his hand away. "I had a chance, and I totally crashed it! Talk about your low-density, basic-"
"You didn't fail, Enzo - nobody did." Bob said gently. "I was the one who was supposed to protect Mainframe. 'To mend and Defend' - remember? We all did our best. And you _did_ bring me back to Mainframe..."
"No I didn't - _he_ did." Enzo sighed, glancing at Matrix, quietly sipping an energy shake in the corner. "I was just the little sprite who screwed up, as usual."
"But - you _are_ him, Enzo - don't you understand?" Dot prodded. "Whatever strength he found, to survive, to bring Bob home - he found that in you."
Enzo said nothing for a long moment, staring at the hulking young man across the room. "Basic... I still can't believe it. We're the same sprite..."
"I just can't believe we're the same sprite." Matrix muttered, shaking his head.
"Me believe it - you both cute!" Princess Boola boomed, jerking the youth's attention away from himself.
"Er - thanks... I guess."
"Him not fight as good as you, though. Not point gun at friends, either."
"I _said_ I was sorry about that..." Matrix grumbled. "What was I thinking, acting like he does all day? Yammering away, jumping on Bob-"
"Ask him self." the Princess added helpfully, lumbering off. "Here you come now." To Matrix' horror, his younger self was striding across the room towards him, a mixture of determination and fear on his face.
The boy stopped a few paces away from the hulking sprite, staring at his feet. After a moment, he lifted his head and glanced sidelong at Matrix. "Hey."
"Hey." the youth responded, staring down.
Enzo finally locked his gaze on his older self, and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "So you're _me_, huh?"
"Guess so." the youth answered.
"You're not all _that_ ugly, I guess - now that I look at you." the boy said grudgingly.
"Thanks!" Matrix chuckled, unsmiling.
"So - what's it like? Being me - only older?" the boy asked, a note of pleading in his voice.
"I... uh..." the big sprite fumbled. "I don't really know - know how to answer that. What's it like - being me, only a little kid?"
"Don't you remember?" Enzo looked away for a moment.
"I - I don't know. I really - I don't know..."
"Can I ask you something?" the boy said softly.
"Can I stop you?"
"How come - how come you never smile? I mean, you look so mad all the time-"
"You wouldn't understand!" the big man growled.
Enzo took a step back. "How could _you_ say that to _me_? Everybody says that! I'm sick of it!"
"I _said_, you wouldn't understand! How could you? You're just a little kid-"
"And _you're_ a basic, DOS-based, single-sided-"
"Aw, forget it!" Matrix growled, with a dismissive wave. "Go play with Frisket or something, and leave me alone..."
The boy sputtered for a moment, struggling to come up with a response. Finally, he balled his hands into fists and turned away, storming towards the Diner's exit. "Wait! I didn't_" Matrix began, but Enzo pushed through the doors and onto Baudway. Dot looked over at Matrix, a forlorn look on her face, and after a moment, followed the youngster outside.
"He'll be all right." Mouse said softly, causing Matrix to jump.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough. When it comes to gettin' inside that boy's head, I'm the expert, Sweetie. He'll be fine. How you doin'?"
"Why don't you ask him?" the youth sighed, and trudged off to get another I/O shot. A few paces away, Phong looked on, his expression inscrutable.
----
"There's not much left of her, is there?" AndrAIa sighed. A wave crashed loudly onto the rocks, spraying a light mist on the small group of sprites and binomes huddled together against the cold - especially Enzo, who was scrambling wildly over the boulders, Frisket at his side.
"No Lass - I'm afraid not." Gavin Capacitor replied softly, staring down at the foot long fragment of the Saucy Mare's hull in his hand. "Just what's washed ashore. By the code, I'll miss the old bird..."
"That's not all, Captain. I'm happy that Mainframe was saved, of course - but our entire profit margin has been damaged beyond repair - just like the ship. We haven't the credits to replace her anymore..."
"Aye, Mister Christopher." Capacitor sighed. "It's as I told ye - there's some things more important than a profit..."
"You gave up the Mare to save our city, Captain." Dot said defiantly. "We don't have much, but we'll do what we can to help you build a new ship. Besides - we're still partners, remember. We'll figure something out."
"Ar, yer a spirited gal, Miss Dot." the old pirate chuckled. "But yer the Command.Com, ain't ya? Ye got more important responsibilities now."
"Dot will always find time to turn a profit, Captain." Bob smiled fondly.
"Aye, Lad. And I thank ye all fer yer concern. But I been a spannin' the high seas fer a lot o' seconds, now. Mebbe it's time fer me ta settle in one place fer a while..."
"You're always welcome here, Captain." Matrix added. "I'll never forget what you did for me - for all of us."
"Always room for one more." the Surfer grinned.
"I have a thought..." Dot began. Without warning, a claxon sounded, and a purple cube began descending from the skies overhead, accompanied by a soothing feminine voice.
"Warning - Incoming game.
Warning - Incoming game."
"Awesome!" Enzo shouted.
"The first game since the reboot!" AndrAIa whispered.
"This is _not_ good." Bob said grimly. "Without a chance to test the new system settings, there's no way to know for sure how fast the game will run. It could be a very rough ride..."
"Let's go, then - it had to happen sooner or later." AndrAIa hissed.
"Right. Ready gang?"
"Ready!" the game sprite grinned, relishing the thought of a little action.
"We're on it." the Guardian said softly, hopping onto his zip board.
"Matrix - what's wrong?" AndrAIa frowned, astride her board. The big sprite was staring at his feet, kicking the sand.
"Nothing... I'm ready. Let's go..."
"Can _I_ come, Bob? Can I? You said I needed the practice! Maybe this'll be another racing game, d'you think so? Can I come with?"
"Sure, En-" Bob began.
"No!" Dot interrupted loudly, grabbing Enzo by the collar.
"But, Dot-" the youngster protested.
"I said _no_, Enzo!" Dot said firmly, meeting Bob's eyes for a moment. "Maybe next time. We've still got lots of work to do at the diner." The Guardian returned her stare silently, a small frown creasing his forehead.
"Aw Dot!" Enzo complained. "Can't Cecil help you at the diner? I haven't been in a game in milliseconds..."
"We'd better go if we're going to catch that cube." AndrAIa prodded.
"Right." Bob said softly, and sped off towards the game, Matrix and AndrAIa falling in behind him.
"Wanna check out the game, Tracer?" the game sprite called over her shoulder.
"Uh - thanks, but no, Pretty Lady." he shouted back, glancing over at Enzo and Dot. "Have fun!"
"This isn't fair!" Enzo spat angrily, kicking at the ground. "How come _he_ gets to go and I don't?"
"Enzo, don't do this now. Games are no place for a little sprite - you know that..." Dot sighed. "Besides-"
"You just don't want me to learn!" the boy challenged. "You think I'll just crash the whole thing like I did-"
"Say Lad - I had a little chore on my list today - wondering if you could help me with it." Ray interrupted amicably, clapping the boy on the back.
"What?" Enzo asked suspiciously.
"Someone's gotta reset the error correction parameters - make sure all the net connections are functioning properly after the reboot." the Surfer grinned. "Some o' those systems are pretty hard to reach - gonna have to surf up there. Always use an extra set of hands. Whaddaya say?"
"Well - that _does_ sound pretty cool... That is - _if_ it's OK with Dot!" he grumbled sarcastically.
"Fine, fine." she sighed. "Just be careful..."
"No worries, Lovely!" the Surfer winked at her, extending his board.
"Alphanumeric!" Enzo gasped, staring at the shimmering device. "Can I get one of those?"
"Do all your chores and finish yer homework and who knows what'll happen?" Tracer laughed. "Now - climb on, Kid. Just hold on tight and don't let go - this thing doesn't come with a parachute..."
----
The three sprites stood, a look of grim determination on their faces, as the game cube slowly descended upon them. AndrAIa cast a worried glance up at Matrix, who was nervously shuffling in place. Bob stood a discreet distance away. "What's wrong?" the game sprite asked worriedly.
"Nothing - I told you, I'm fine!" Matrix hissed through clenched teeth. He closed his eyes tightly as the cube enveloped them. When he opened them, the two young men stood on a vast, desert plain, featureless but for a minareted castle a few hundred paces in front of them. AndrAIa was nowhere to be seen.
"Looks like 'Prince of Babylon'." Bob mused, casting his gaze on the castle. "Storm the castle, defeat the guards, rescue the Sultan's daughter and get married. Easy as pi squared."
"Right. Easy." Matrix repeated. "Where's AndrAIa?"
"I have a pretty good idea who the Sultan's daughter is." the Guardian said grimly. He turned his eyes back towards Matrix. "Enzo, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a virus! Ever since the game cube showed up-"
"Don't call me-" the youth started, by reflex, but stopped himself. Bob, as ever, could see through to his soul. "It's just - the last time I left Mainframe... in a game cube - well..."
"I understand." Bob said softly. "But we've got bigger problems right now - if the User gets to AndrAIa before we do-"
The guardian was interrupted as a flash of color and sand whizzed past, spinning him to the ground. "What was _that_?" Matrix gasped.
Bob pushed himself lithely to his feet, dusting the sand off of his jumpsuit. "This is bad - _very_ bad..." He tapped a hand on his icon, a broad frown creasing his brow. "Reboot!"
End Part Two