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"Hand me the calipers, wouldya Lad?"
"Sure." Enzo answered, passing the instrument to the surfer. The two sprites were perched on a razor thin metallic plateau, far above the city. "I've never been up here before - this is totally Alphanumeric! You can see the Principal Office, the diner - even my school!"
"Well, just be careful - we're a long way up!" The surfer answered distractedly. He was lying on his back, grunting with exertion as he reached his long arms towards a jumper switch. "Hah - got it!" The tall sprite sat up and wiped his brow. "That should take of things for a while, netwise. These expansion slots aren't exactly up to the nano technology - I never knew Mainframe was such an old system..."
"Hey!" Enzo protested. "We're not exactly an AT clone, y'know!"
"No offense, Kid!" Tracer laughed. He gaped at the city spread out beneath them. "I gotta admit - I've been all over the network, but there _is_ something about this place..."
"Something with red hair?" Enzo smirked mischievously.
The surfer arched an eyebrow at the boy. "Yer a little too smart for yer own good, aintcha, Boyo? C'mon, let's head on back to that diner o' yours - I could use an energy shake."
"Cool!" Enzo grinned, relishing the thought of another ride on Ray's surfboard. He climbed on behind the surfer and grabbed his waist, and they sped off the ridge and into open sky.
"Hang on!" Ray yelled, picking up speed as they dove towards Baudway, wind whistling past them. "So - you and Matrix had a little talk, eh?"
"I guess." Enzo shouted over the wind. "He didn't say much - except to tell me how basic I was!"
"Last stop - Dot's Diner!" Ray called, leaping off the board and neatly kicking it up into his hand. "Quite a ride, huh Kid?"
"You said it!"
"Don't fry your processor too much about Matrix, Lad." Ray chuckled, walking off towards the diner. "He pretty much rubs everybody the wrong way, when ya first meet him. I think he tried to kill me about ten times..."
"But - why's he hate me so much?" Enzo protested. "What'd I ever do to him?"
"Don't know that I could answer that, Lad." Ray sighed. "Might take about a minute to explain it. C'mon, let's get something cold to drink, we did some hard work out there."
----
"Reboot!" Matrix growled. That peculiar sensation overcame him - he'd never quite grown used to the disorientation, the momentary blindness, the fine shaking of her very core. When his vision returned, Bob was dressed in a puffy red silk shirt and breeches, and held a long, thin sword. "Nice threads." Matrix whispered.
"Thanks - you too." the Guardian answered, suppressing a smirk.
"What the - I'm a monkey!" the burly youth snarled, looking himself over. "I've got a tail! How low-density can you get?"
"I love the hat though - faithful sidekick!" Bob grinned. "We've got bigger problems than your wardrobe, Enzo. That tornado that blew by was the user. If he rescues the Princess-"
"You mean AndrAIa."
"AndrAIa - before we do, we're toast. Game over."
"But - how is that possible?" Matrix protested. "How can the user be running at a faster clock speed than we are? We won't stand a chance!"
"Theoretically, you're right - it shouldn't be possible." Bob answered, starting towards the castle at a dead run, the monkey in pursuit. "But I've never been though a system reboot before - have you? Apparently it _is_ possible..."
"But how?" Matrix huffed. Even in this form, he was built for power, not speed. "And how can we possibly defeat the User?"
"I don't believe in the no-win scenario." the Guardian answered solemnly. "Maybe the system reboot freed up some extra RAM memory, I'm not sure. Maybe when we fixed the system settings we didn't take that into account. But the game sprites should be running at the User's speed - not ours. He'll still need to get past them..."
"But so will we! If only we could get word to Phong, somehow - get the system settings adjusted..."
Bob halted, staring up at the castle, which was guarded by a moat, well below them. Scores of large crocodiles inhabited it, swimming and snapping their jaws at comical speed. "You were a Guardian long enough to know that's not possible, Enzo. We'll have to figure something out ourselves."
"Starting with getting across that moat! I don't see a drawbridge anywhere..."
Bob silently studied the moat, than the walls of the castle. "There - that window." he pointed at a small portal on the surface of the fortress wall. The Guardian searched though his portfolio of supplies, finally settling on a coil of rope.. "Sure could use Glitch right about now... This'll have to do."
The Guardian hurriedly fashioned the rope into a lariat, and took aim at the distant castle wall. With a great heave, he looped the end of the rope around a stone gargoyle, well above the window.
"Nice roping!" Enzo nodded approvingly.
"You play one wild west game, you've played 'em all." Bob responded. "Now - grab hold of me and hang on!"
"I hope your eyes weren't damaged by all that time in the web..." Matrix muttered, wrapping his arms around Bob's waist.
"Hey - trust me. Ow! Not so tight - you're strong as a gorilla!"
"Sorry!"
The Guardian gripped the rope firmly and leapt out over the moat, the muscles in his arms rippling with strain. "This would've been a lot easier if you were still a little sprite!" he grunted through clenched teeth. The crocodiles leapt out of the water, snapping at their heels and missing by a hair's breadth, their jaws a blur. Matrix was certain they were going to slam into the wall, but they rose at the last moment and slipped neatly through the ingress.
"Maybe we should have traded places for that..." Bob gasped, rubbing his arms.
"Let's not do that again!" the big youth panted.
"I told you to trust me." Bob grinned. "Come on!" The two sprites set off at a run towards the center of the citadel. "She'll be at the top of the east tower - there'll be an access staircase somewhere."
"Well guarded, no doubt."
"No doubt." Bob answered. "Look!" Two shapes were barely visible, their forms blurred. "Looks like the guards are just as fast as Mr. User. Maybe they won't even notice us - think we're statues. Come on..."
----
"What's the matter, Sugar? You look worried."
"I am, My Child. I don't like the looks of these readings from the game." Phong answered. He craned his neck, staring at a set of dials in the center of the command console.
"Lemme see." Mouse leaned over the old sprite's shoulder, studying the readings. "That's funny - the game shouldn't be processin' at that speed, should it?"
"Speed is relative, Mouse." Phong murmured. "I fear that the reboot has altered the playing field, if you will. We are in uncharted territory here..."
Mouse frowned. "If we used the same configuration settings as before, but the system is faster - more memory, maybe? Speed is relative..."
"Yes, my child - our Guardians may not be running at the same speed as the game. In which case..."
"They won't stand a chance, Sweetie! The User'll run rings around 'em! We gotta do something!"
"We cannot, Child." the old sprite fretted, wringing his hands. "If we change the config settings while the game is in progress-"
"It might crash the game!" Mouse finished the thought. "And if the game crashes while Bob and Matrix are inside-"
"They will be deleted. Yes, Child - a Hobson's choice, I'm afraid." The old sprite opened a vidwindow, Dot's face appearing. "Dot - you'd better come to the Principal Office at once."
"Why?" the startled woman answered. "Is there a problem with the game?"
"Possibly. I'm sure it is nothing to be concerned about..."
"I'll be right down." Dot answered grimly. The vidwindow closed, leaving Mouse and Phong alone in the command room.
"This is indeed a dilemma, Mouse." the old man sighed. "I am not sure what we must do..."
"Hang on, Bob!" the red haired sprite whispered, gripping the edge of the console tightly.
----
"So far, so good." Matrix murmured, watching the sword battle play out at a blinding pace across the great hall from their position.
"We'll see." Bob replied. "Maybe the guards will notice us, maybe they won't. But there are other obstacles in this game..."
Without warning, a blaze of black zipped by them, disappearing through a doorway at the far end of the great hall. "Looks like the User got past the first guard... Come on, that's the eastern stairwell. Let's go."
"Why do I get the feeling the user is gonna be one step ahead of us all cycle?" Matrix growled.
----
"What do you mean, we can't do anything? Phong, that's my brother in there - and Bob! Not to mention AndrAIa... We can't just sit here and do nothing!"
"Easy, Pretty Lady!" Ray soothed.
"Patience, Dot. I fear that we are powerless to help them. Any action that we take may prove fatal to our friends."
"Bob'll think of something!" Enzo said defiantly. "He always does."
"How could this have happened? Why weren't we prepared for this eventuality?" Dot snapped.
"Have _you_ ever engineered a system reboot before - Sugar?" Mouse answered in a low voice. An uneasy silence gripped the command room.
"This isn't helping." Ray finally said. "I don't know much about this game stuff, Mate - is there any way one of us can get inside and help them?"
"I am afraid not, Surfer." Phong replied. "It would be of little value, in any case - any of us would be at the same disadvantage that Bob and the others are."
"Cursors!" Dot fumed. "We _can't_ lose them again - not now! The User can't possibly fail, can he? Not processing at that speed."
"There is one other possibility..." Phong mused.
----
"_Not_ good!" Bob sighed. Matrix and the Guardian stood in a long corridor which tapered down to a sprite's width at it's end. A staircase spiraled up at the terminus, but between the two men and the stairway rose a formidable barrier - two razor sharp steel blades, rising and falling at a furious rate to meet with a metallic snap.
"Yuck!" Matrix gasped.
"The user made it through there - but one of the guards wasn't as lucky, looks like." Bob added unnecessarily, turning away from the unsightly pile of entrails at the foot of the guillotine. "At normal speed, we could make it through there - but right now we don't stand a chance."
"Is there another way up?"
"No - that's it. I've played this game before." the Guardian said softly.
"But - there has to be!" Matrix protested. "We can't just give up! Maybe we can... I don't know, destroy that thing, somehow..."
"With what? Those blades are harder than anything we have at out disposal. There _is_ another way, Enzo - but I've been trying to avoid it unless absolutely necessary."
"What is it?" Matrix whispered, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Your icon." Bob smiled bleakly.
"Of course!" Matrix slapped himself in the forehead. "Why didn't I think of it before?"
"Game sprite mode." the Guardian nodded. "Theoretically, in game sprite mode we should be at the same processing speed as the sprites in the game itself - and the User."
"Theoretically?"
"Hey - this is all new territory for me!" Bob sighed. "You know better than anybody, Enzo - if you run in game sprite mode, you'll compile faster - that's time you'll never get back out there."
"Hey - it's that or be deleted." the big youth growled. "But - you haven't got-"
"No - but I have a Guardian icon. It should be able to run in emulation mode."
"_Should_ be? But you're a Guardian!" Matrix protested. "Can you run at game sprite mode, even with a game sprite icon?"
"I don't know." Bob admitted. "There's only one way to find out..."
"Give me your sword." Matrix said softly, extending his hand.
"What?"
"You heard me - give me your sword. There's no reason both of us should risk being deleted, Bob. I know my icon works - I've used it before. I'll go and rescue AndrAIa."
"Enzo-"
"Dammit Bob, let me do this!" the bearded sprite snarled. "You said yourself, you don't even know if a Guardian can run in game sprite mode! You've - you've got Mainframe to think about. And Dot. And - and... Enzo. My whole world is here, in this game. Mainframe doesn't really need me..."
"Mainframe needs you! Dot needs you - and so does Enzo. Don't be a fool!" Bob sighed. "Besides, I made you a Guardian before, remember? So if it worked for you, then - it should work for me, now. Theoretically."
"But Bob-"
"Give me your icon." the Guardian ordered.
"But-"
"_Please_, Enzo - we haven't got all cycle! 'To mend and defend', remember? Your icon!"
Matrix stared at his friend for a moment, then, with a defeated shrug, handed him his icon. Bob studied it closely for a moment, than removed his own. Gritting his teeth in concentration, the Guardian held the icons a few spans apart, and a stream of white light passed from Matrix' icon to Bob's. "You can _do_ that?" Matrix gasped.
"Don't you just hate me?" Bob replied, not looking up from his work. He handed the young man his icon, and replaced his own.
"I guess there's not much point in me telling you not to do this?"
"Nope." Bob smiled. "See you in speed central!" The Guardian reached and gave his icon, now a disc nearly indistinguishable from Matrix' own, a quick half turn.
"Good luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu." Matrix voice faded into a low, steady drone as a momentary disorientation overcame the Guardian. When he regained his bearings, Matrix stood before him, nearly as still as a statue. The motion of the guillotine, by contrast, was now easily visible to Bob's eyes.
"Come on, Enzo!" Bob fretted, watching the nearly still form of his friend. An eternity seemed to pass, then the low drone of Matrix' voice phased into a decipherable articulation.
"Uck!"
"What took you so long?"
"Long? It was barely a nano!" the youth protested.
"At least it worked. Come on - that User has a head start. Those blades shouldn't be too much of a problem now."
"If you say so." Matrix whispered, watching the angled blades, still coated with the remains of their last encounter, rise and fall.
"Just a question of timing." Bob said confidently, preparing to jump. "Oh, and Enzo?"
"Yeah?" The Guardian discreetly gestured at his backside. "Oops - good thought!" Matrix grabbed his tail and wrapped it around his waist.
"See you on the other side." Bob grinned, and leapt through the singing blades.
"Bad choice of words, Bob..."
----
"Any change?"
Phong studied the readings carefully as Enzo nervously fidgeted, pacing about the command room trailed by Frisket. Tracer and Mouse had retreated to a corner, well clear of the agitated Command.com. "There has been an increase in energy levels, Dot. I am not certain of the cause."
"This is the worst!" Dot fumed. "Not being able to do anything to help them..."
"I _told_ ya - Bob'll think of something, Sis!" Enzo declared.
"I'm sure he will, Enzo..." Dot answered distractedly, not sounding nearly as confident as the little sprite. "At least we can be ready for them when they come out!" she opened a vidwindow. "Captain!"
"Yes, Commander?" the security chief barked crisply.
"I want recovery teams to sector seven immediately - med units and security detail. I want those sprites brought to the Principal Office as soon as that game cube clears - do you understand?"
"Of course, M'amm!" the uniformed binome saluted.
"Very well." Dot sighed, closing the window. "For all the good it'll do them..."
----
"Well, _that_ was easy."
"Don't worry, they get tougher on the higher levels." Bob replied, wiping his sword on the breeches of the fallen guard and replacing it in it's scabbard.
"Don't they always? What now?"
"Through there." Bob pointed through a stone archway. The two sprites sprinted through, entering a narrow room with no other points of egress. A forest of spikes dotted the floor in one corner, below a small ledge over which flickering torchlight spilled down. "We need to climb up there."
"Great!" Matrix snarled. He gingerly picked his way through the spikes and reached for a tiny handhold in the stone wall. "Wouldn't want to slip here..."
"You said it." Bob echoed. "Oh, and Enzo - when you get to the top-"
"Heads up!" Matrix roared, as a black-clothed figure abruptly appeared above them, hung for a nano in the air, and plunged, narrowly avoiding knocking the bearded sprite off of his precarious handhold.
"Ooh!" Matrix whispered, closing his eyes tightly.
"That will ruin his day." Bob added.
"So much for the User."
"He'll be back - they get multiple lives in this game. He'll restart on the previous level, but it gives us the lead. Watch yourself when you reach that ledge, Enzo - our porous friend down there didn't fall on his own."
"I see what you mean!" Matrix gasped, pulling himself onto the ledge. A bearded game sprite loomed in front of him, brandishing a scimitar of fearsome appearance. Hastily the youth reached down and pulled Bob onto the short, narrow shelf on which he stood.
The Guardian drew his sword as soon as he gained his feet. "_Not_ good... This guy's tough - and you aren't going to be much help to me here. This ledge is only wide enough for single file."
"So just give me your sword - you've got Gli - sorry." Matrix hissed as the swordsman approached them, brandishing his curved blade with a flourish.
A look of pain flashed across Bob's face. "Glitch can't help me that way - not anymore. The one sword is all we've got."
"But - "
"S'cuse me!" the Guardian said politely, worming his way between Matrix and the swordsman. "Come on, come and get me..."
The two blades met with a screech of strained steel. "Can't...get... past his... guard!" Bob panted. "Only way is to... push him... back!"
The guard launched a furious offensive, driving the Guardian back towards the ledge over which they'd just climbed. Matrix braced himself and planted a shoulder in Bob's back - the Guardian could retreat no further without taking them both down into the steel spikes below.
"Thanks... for the assist!" Bob huffed, stopping a furious blow aimed at his head. With a grunt, he planted both feet in the guard's chest and kicked, hard. The swordsman was pushed back several paces but retained his feet.
Bob smiled and advanced a few paces. He feinted at the game sprite's belly, then brought his sword into a swooping arc towards his head. The swordsman blocked it but fell backwards a few more paces. "Lose...a game...and be.. deleted... after... working so hard... to... come... home?" Bob grunted. "I... don't... think...so!" In a blinding array of feints and thrusts he drove the swordsman slowly back, until, a surprised look on his face, the game sprite disappeared off the ledge.
"Pixelacious!" Matrix gasped. "That was - ...Wow!"
"Thanks." Bob panted. "That's one less obstacle for the User now, Enzo. We've got to keep moving!"
"Where?"
"Up there!" the Guardian pointed. A small archway broke the featureless surface of the wall, fully five times Matrix' height above them.
"But - how? We can't possibly climb that high!"
"Don't have to!' Bob grinned. "There's a little potion, y'see..."
"You mean this one?" Matrix reached for a red bottle, sitting on a receded, torch-lit shelf in the wall next to them.
"Enzo - No!" Bob shouted, grabbing his arm. "Poison. No substitute for experience..." The Guardian carefully studied the wall for a moment, then gave one of the stones a gentle shove. A section of the wall rotated, revealing a blue bottle.
"Alphanumeric!" Matrix chuckled.
"Lighter than air potion." Bob said knowingly. "Tastes like monitor cleaner." With a grimace, the Guardian drained half the bottle and handed it to Matrix.
"Down the input!" Matrix nodded, finishing the flask. "Eeyech! That's worse than any drink AndrAIa ever mixed up - and that's saying something..."
Both sprites were now semi-transcluscent, and a strange queasiness set in. "Always hated that stuff..." Bob grumbled. He bent his knees and leapt, soaring through the air and grabbing the lip of the archway as he flew by. He pulled himself through the portal and reached out a hand.
Matrix leapt, but misjudged the distance, overshooting the archway by an arm's length. The Guardian grabbed him by the belt as he drifted by and pulled him to the ground. "Whew! Thanks Bob."
"No problem." The Guardian grinned. "One more level, and we're home. This stuff wears off in a couple of nanos..."
----
"...do them."
"Patience, Child. They have survived the web - they will find a way to defeat the User. Somehow..."
----
"Look!"
"I see him. Just keep moving." Bob huffed. "She'll be locked up just across the tower."
"That User is really moving - game sprite mode or no game sprite mode." Matrix panted.
"Well, we've eliminated every obstacle for him - why shouldn't he? Whoa!" The Guardian skidded to a halt, arm on Matrix' chest. An abyss yawned before them, and a torch-lit doorway, seemingly inaccessible, across it's width from them. "She's inside that room - there..."
"How do we get across there? Another potion?"
"No more potions." Bob mused. "Do you trust me?"
"Always."
The Guardian grinned. "Remember you said that!" He turned and took a long stride into the abyss.
"Bob!" Matrix screamed. To his amazement, a narrow catwalk materialized, another plank appearing under each of the Guardian's footfalls. "Alphanumeric..."
"Like I said - no substitute for experience." Bob called back. "Come on, Enzo - it's go time!"
The bearded sprite held his breath and strode onto the plank, gingerly picking his way across. Bob disappeared into the torch-lit room, and Matrix followed hot at his heels. He screeched to a halt, narrowly avoiding crashing into the Guardian.
"Dude..." A barred cell was recessed into the far wall of the room, and inside AndrAIa sat motionless - at least to Matrix' eyes. What really attracted his attention, though, was the figure that stood before the cell door - a huge, bearded sprite at least half again his own height, and just as wide. The huge figure held a scimitar in each hand, each blade as long as Matrix' entire body.
With a booming laugh, the barrel-chested figure began spinning the blades in a dazzling display of swordsmanship. Bob looked on impassively as the behemoth twirled the blades a final time and raised them over his head, falling into a crouch, prepared for battle.
"Very impressive." the Guardian smiled. Without a further word he reached into his boot and pulled out a small dirk, which he promptly hurled at the giant, scoring a direct hit on his icon. The swordsman fell to the ground with a satisfying thud.
"A little something I picked up in a role-playing adventure game." Bob grinned sheepishly at Matrix. "Something about a lost ark..."
"You're the Guardian!" Matrix chuckled. "Sorry I haven't been more help to you, Bob. Some monkey I was... Guess you must think I've gone pretty basic-"
"Nah - winning the game is all that matters - not how you do it."
"But Bob-"
"Forget it, Enzo. Let's just free the Sultan's daughter and get out of here."
"How do we get the cell door open - spell? Acid? Magic word?"
"Nope - key!" Bob answered, rifling the fallen behemoth's pockets. He held up his prize. "This ought to do nicely!"
"Hey - what about the-"
"User?" Bob finished, as a black-clad figure scrambled into the room, gaze passing between Matrix and Bob. He drew his sword and slowly advanced, grinning confidently. With a weary sigh, Bob pocketed the key and drew his own weapon.
"No - allow me." Enzo said softly. Before the stunned swordsman could react, Matrix, with a scream, barreled into his chest and sent him toppling into the abyss.
"Very stylish." Bob chuckled dryly. He turned to the cell and took out the key. "Looks like AndrAIa's never switched into game sprite mode. I think she's got the right idea. We don't want to be in GS mode when the game ends."
"Agreed." the youth nodded. "Ready?"
"Ready." Bob nodded. Each sprite gave their icon a half-turn, and, after a momentary sensory deprivation, they stood before the cell - this time containing a very animated AndrAIa.
"Bob! Matrix - What in the-"
"We'll explain everything, AndrAIa." Bob reassured. He unlocked the door and the game sprite stepped out into the room.
"But - where did you come from? I couldn't see what was going on - everything was a blur. What's the game?"
"The game's over." Bob grinned. "You missed all the action, I'm afraid."
"But - how? It's only been a few nanos..."
"Say - the game _isn't_ over!" Matrix frowned. "What's going on? We freed the Princess..."
"Princess?!"
"Hmm." Bob mused. "I think we need to kiss the Sultan's daughter." He turned to Matrix and smiled. "Would you like to do the honors?"
"Finally - something _I'm_ good at!" The big sprite wrapped an arm around AndrAIa's waist and pulled her close.
----
"Something is happening. I believe it is almost over." Phong said softly. The others crowded around the console.
"Already?" Dot fretted. "Oh my..."
"At that speed, I'm surprised it took this long Sugar." Mouse noted. Dot reached for Enzo's hand and, finding it, clutched it tightly in her own.
"Game Over"
A deafening silence gripped the command room, each sprite waiting for the dreaded words they feared would follow. A nano passed, then two. A smile crept to Mouse's face, and then, as one, the room burst into delighted celebration.
"Yes!" Dot hooted, pounding her fist on the console.
"All right, Bob! Yeah! Woo-hoo!" Enzo enthused, slapping hands with a laughing Ray. "_Told_ ya he'd do it!"
"Thank the User." Phong breathed. "I am getting far too old for this kind of tension..."
"Come on, let's head over to sector seven and make sure they're all right!" Dot breathed, trying to temper the relief that washed over her. Until she saw them, whole and uncorrupted, she wasn't going to believe it...
----
"Game sprite mode? You were in game sprite mode the whole time?"
"We had no choice, AndrAIa." Matrix countered defensively. "If we hadn't done it, we'd all have been deleted!"
"I'm just mad _I_ didn't think of it!" AndrAIa fumed. "No wonder it went by so fast - and you two had all the fun!"
"Looks like the welcoming committee's out!" Bob smiled. Dozens of security vehicles and medical transports were spread out before them. "Phong must've figured out what was going on in there..."
"You're unbelievable, Bob!" Matrix chuckled. "I don't know how you do it - no matter what, nothing knocks you off balance-"
"Bob!" The Guardian spun, just in time to see a blur of red, blue, white and green hurl itself through the air and land squarely on his chest.
"Well, almost nothing." Matrix sighed.
"Bob! How'd you do it? We were totally offlined, Dude - we thought you were deleted for sure! But I knew you'd make it! We-"
"Nice to see you too, Enzo." Bob smiled.
"Bob - thank the User you're all right!" Dot breathed. "En - Matrix, AndrAIa - you're OK?"
"Never better, Sis." Matrix said softly. "Processing at a hundred percent."
Bob pushed himself to his feet, neatly hoisting Enzo in one arm. "Thanks for the welcome, guys - but it wasn't really necessary. Just doing our jobs, that's all."
"_Our_ jobs?" Matrix sighed.
"Dude..." Enzo whispered. "I was really worried there for a while. If anything happened-"
"Well, it didn't!' the Guardian grinned, tweaking the youngster's nose and setting him down. "Remember that promise I made?"
"How'd ya do it, Mate?" Tracer asked. "When we saw the speed that game was processing, we thought you were gonna wipe out for sure!"
"Game sprite mode." Bob said wearily. "It was the only way."
"Game sprite mode?" Dot gasped. "But that's - what if..."
The Guardian grabbed her hand and squeezed gently. "I had to make it home, Dot. And that was the only way. Don't you trust me?"
"Of... of course I do." she forced a smile. "I was just worried, that's all..." Bob wrapped an arm around her and drew her closer.
"Are you gonna kiss again?" Enzo grinned.
"Enzo!" Dot gasped.
"Maybe..." Bob mused, and then, turning back to Dot, they did.
Enzo walked over and glared up at Matrix. "I'm glad you're OK."
"Thanks." the big sprite answered tentatively.
"I bet it was fun." the youngster challenged.
"Enzo-"
"Come on everybody - let's head back to the diner and access a bite. I'm famished." Bob called, arm still wrapped around Dot's waist. Enzo darted over and grabbed his hand and they started back towards sector one. "And then I think we need to have a little talk about system settings, Mouse..."
"I'm on the case, Sweetie." the hacker chuckled.
"You guys go ahead - we'll catch you later." Matrix called out.
"Matrix?" AndrAIa frowned.
"You all right, Enzo?" Bob stopped, looking over.
"I'm great, Bob. Optimal performance. Just a little tired, that's all." The big sprite trudged off, a frowning AndrAIa a step behind.
----
"Dude! That was totally alphanumeric! You mean you ran in game sprite mode the whole time?"
"Pretty much." Bob nodded wearily. "The first rule of being a Guardian, Enzo, is you do whatever you have to do to win the game."
"Awesome! What's it feel like, Bob -game sprite mode? I wish I was that fast! Can you-"
"It really doesn't feel any different, Enzo - everything else is still processing the same speed you are."
"Can _I_ try it, Bob? Maybe I can go into the game next time-"
"Look, Enzo - It's not that easy. Game sprite mode is bad news - you compile faster, you know. What do you think happened to Matrix?"
The youngster's face darkened at the mention of his older self. "I'm sorry, Bob. I wasn't thinking, I guess."
"That's OK, Bud." Bob smiled. "Just remember - games are serious business. You have to think about the whole sector, not just yourself. That's why Matrix and I did what we did. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Enzo nodded solemnly.
"Good. Now get some downtime - it's been a big day. Dot and I need to talk for a while."
"OK, Bob. Uh - are you gonna kiss her again?" Enzo grinned.
Bob looked at the boy for a long moment. "Enzo... When I kiss Dot, it means that I care about her - a lot. It means that she's very special to me."
"I get it." the little sprite giggled.
Bob smiled a wry smile. "Is that - OK with you, Enzo? I mean... how do you feel about that?"
"I think it's totally cool, Bob - I promise. Dot's only been waiting for you to do that for like - hours!"
"She has??"
The boy rolled his eyes. "Duh! You mean you didn't know? The password on her organizer is 'Guardian'! How low-density can you get?"
"Huh!" the Guardian mused. "Well... I'm glad you're OK with that, Enzo. See you next cycle."
"Bob, can we play jetball tomorrow? We haven't played in seconds! Can we?"
"Maybe... You know Enzo - why don't you ask Matrix to play jetball with you? He used to be pretty fond of it, if I remember..."
"Matrix?" Enzo stuck out his tongue disgustedly. "He's no fun, Bob! Can't _we_ play?"
"But Enzo-"
"Don't you wanna spend time with me, Bob?" the boy frowned.
Bob let out a weary sigh. "All right, Pal. You win - jetball tomorrow - _if_ you're good! Understand?"
"Yeah! You bet, Bob - I promise!"
"OK. See you tomorrow, then. Good night, don't let the software bugs bite." Bob smiled, turning to go.
"Bob?"
"Yes, Enzo?" the Guardian turned warily back.
"Can I go into the game with you next time? Please?"
A frown creased Bob's forehead, and he looked away. "I don't know, Partner. We'll see how it goes."
"But - how am I gonna learn if I don't play the games, Bob? I really wanna be a Guardian just like you-"
"Enzo - it's... not that simple." Bob sighed. "There's a lot to think about..."
"You mean if _Dot_ will let me!" Enzo fumed, crossing his arms in front of him.
"We'll see, Enzo. No promises. Now, you swore you'd be good, remember? Jetball?"
"OK, OK!" the little sprite relented. "Good night."
"Night."
"Bob?"
"_Now_ what is it, Enzo?" the Guardian groaned.
"I'm... really glad you're OK. I was real worried. I didn't wanna let Dot know - she was kinda scared..."
"Thanks."
"Anyways, I'm glad you're OK." the boy grinned.
The Guardian smiled down at the boy. "Yeah. Me too. Night."
----
"This energy shake is terrible." Matrix snarled, tossing it aside. "Dot's let things go at the diner..."
"Enzo-"
"Docking bay's really uncomfortable too." the bearded sprite grumbled.
"We've only been back in Mainframe a few cycles, Lover. Bob's garage isn't exactly a luxury hotel, you know. Don't worry - we'll get our own place soon..."
"Yeah." Matrix said softly, folding his hands behind his head. "I guess..."
"Matrix, this act of yours is starting to wear thin!" AndrAIa muttered. "No matter what happens, it's never good enough. At least you're home - and all you can do is complain!"
"It doesn't _feel_ like home!" Matrix protested. "Everything is... different. I just can't get comfortable here-"
"At least you _have_ a home!" the game sprite half shouted. "At least you have a family- a sister, Bob. You _had_ parents. And Enzo-"
"Enzo!" the youth rolled his eyes."
"Gack! You're driving me offline!" AndrAIa growled. "Why don't you stop and appreciate what you've got instead of complaining about it? I never had any family - any home at all-"
"_I'm_ your family!" Matrix protested. "Aren't I?"
"I love you!" the girl replied fiercely. "But sometimes I don't like you very much. I wish I had a little of what you have, Matrix - and you don't appreciate any of it. How hard did you work to come home? How long did you fight - how many games did you win? And now look what you've got - what more could you possibly want?"
"I know, I know!" the young man sighed. "It's just... that game today. I felt totally useless in there, AndrAIa - I felt like an EISA card or something..."
"Why?" the game sprite said softly, holding his face in her hands. "You won, didn't you?"
"_Bob_ won. He didn't need me there... I was totally basic, I just got in the way..."
"Bob can't help being good at what he does, you know."
"I know. He's the best. But that's it, see - he _is_ the best! He doesn't need my help - Mainframe is in good hands. Bob can handle the games, and Dot has her brother back. They don't need me here..."
"Oh, Matrix.." the game sprite sighed, resting her head wearily on his shoulder. "Be patient. It'll all work out, I promise. And I'm tired of running..."
----
"You're getting pretty good at putting Enzo to bed, huh?" Dot smiled wearily.
"Yeah!" Bob chuckled, sitting down next to her. "He seems to like it, so..."
"And I don't think I'm his favorite person right now..."
"He's just a little sprite, Dot. He'll get over this game business."
"Will he?" Dot sighed. "I'm not so sure. Especially with Matrix around. Enzo doesn't like feeling left out."
Bob scratched his chin thoughtfully, casting a wary glance at Dot. "Maybe - maybe I _should_ take him into a few games. Do you think?"
"Why? So he can almost be deleted when the game runs too fast?"
"Dot, that was a fluke - you know it. It was due to the reboot - Phong and Mouse won't let that happen twice..."
"I know. But it'll be something different next time. Games are _dangerous_, Bob - and he's only a little sprite!"
"Sure." Bob said dubiously. "He's _your_ little brother format, Dot. It's your decision. It's just - do you think it's fair, never to let him go into the games after you did for so long? He doesn't understand why things are any different now."
"He wants to be like you, Bob." Dot said softly "He wants to be a Guardian. That's all he's ever wanted - from the nano you came to Mainframe."
"I - I'm not trying to take him away from you..."
"Aren't you?" Dot turned, eyes burning. "I already lost him once, Bob. Do you have any idea what that was like? _Could _ you have any idea?"
"I - No, I guess I couldn't..."
"I'm sorry." she sighed. "I didn't mean-"
"Dot, do you think - I mean... I never intended anything to happen to Enzo. But if it's what he wants - and he's good at it..."
"Let's not talk about what you intended." she whispered.
"What are you saying?" Bob said in a low voice - one rarely heard by his friends.
Dot shook her head. "Never mind. Let's drop it, talk about something else. It's been a long cycle, we're all tired..."
The Guardian stared at her for a long moment, then turned away. "If you say so."
"I'm sorry..." she mumbled. "Are you coming by next cycle?"
"Yeah - I told Enzo I'd play jetball with him. Is that OK?"
"Of course it's OK." Dot smiled wearily. "You know Enzo always has fun with you, Bob. Why shouldn't he?"
"_Now_ what?_" Bob sighed.
"Well - it seems like all you and Enzo do is play games, have fun - and I'm always the one who has to say no. Maybe you should try saying no once in a while."
"This just isn't my cycle, is it? I can't help it if Enzo wants to do stuff with me, Dot. He likes me. What do you want me to do - ignore him completely?"
"Of course not!" she hissed.
"Well, why are you telling me this - now?"
Dot locked eyes with the Guardian. "Things are a little different now. Between you and me. And that means between you and Enzo, too." An awkward silence hung in the air for a nano. "Aren't they?"
Bob said nothing for a moment, instead lightly brushing his hand on Dot's cheek. "I'm not sure what I think right now." he finally whispered. "I think I need to access some downtime, Dot. See you tomorrow?"
"See you tomorrow." she answered softly. The Guardian kissed her lightly on the forehead and was gone.
End Part Three