|
|
"No!" Matrix hissed, burying his face in his hands. "Why did it have to be this one?"
"What's the matter?" Enzo asked quizzically. "The big, tough sprite afraid of a game? I can't believe it!"
"You little fool!" Matrix snarled. "You don't understand... Now listen Enzo - stay clear! Under no circumstances are you to reboot!"
"Why?" the boy hissed. "It's a game, isn't it? How am I supposed to-"
"No!" Matrix screamed. "You don't understand! Dammit Enzo - this is it! This is the one!"
"What?" Enzo frowned, beginning to feel a little alarmed by Matrix' reactions. The horned beast had arrived on the floor of the arena, and was doing battle with a golden-haired warrior.
"You little idiot! This is the game - this is the one you lost! _I_ lost... _We_ lost!" the bearded sprite hissed. "I'm _serious_ - you can't beat this guy! I should know, I was older than you when - when..."
"This is it - the same game?" Enzo whispered, even his boundless enthusiasm momentarily dampening.
"Yes! Just take Frisket and stay out of the way, Enzo - let me handle this. No arguments - you understand me?" he shouted.
"Yeah, whatever!" the boy replied, indignation welling up inside him again as his fear faded. In the ring, Zaytan was disposing of his first opponent in short order. Enzo turned to watch. "How does this work, anyways?"
"He chooses his opponent." Matrix answered grimly. "Best of three falls. If he defeats five opponents without losing, he wins and we're nullified."
"But - that's not fair!" Enzo protested. "We have to fight him one at a time - and he gets to choose the opponent?"
"_We_ don't do anything!" Matrix said. "I told you - you can't beat him. I'll handle this - I just have to make sure he chooses me..."
Enzo looked on as the beast moved in for the kill. His massive claw closed on the cranium of his first opponent with a sickening crunch. "Yuck!" the boy gasped.
"One down..." Matrix sighed grimly. The big sprite desperately tried to fight down the panic that swirled in his gut and concentrate on the task at hand. The driving music started anew, and the ring of images began to illuminate again, one by one - save for the golden haired hero, who was dark.
"This is it! Come on, come on..." Matrix waited until the dancing light illuminated the figure of a burly hero, then tapped his icon. "Reboot!" The young man, now clad in furs and a horned helmet, held a fearsome looking hammer in a massive hand and stood behind the image of the massive warrior. The bearded sprite's window remained suffused with light for a nano, then was dark, the light settling on a wing-footed archer. "Cursors - missed!"
"What now?" Enzo gasped excitedly.
"He wins another round, no doubt!" Matrix growled.
"Just like that?" Enzo said. "This is totally basic! We don't stand a chance!"
"I don't believe in-" Matrix began. "I don't know what to believe..."
----
"They'll be all right, Honey. Don't you worry." Mouse grinned.
"Yeah, she's right Dot." AndrAIa agreed. "Matrix won't let anything happen to Enzo."
"_I_ should be in there - making sure nothing happens to _either_ of them!" Bob sighed. "'To mend and defend' my ascii..."
"One in a giga chance, Mate." Ray offered sympathetically.
Bob turned his glance on Dot, whose face was screwed up in consternation. "They're right, you know - the boys _will_ be fine. You can't get this worried every time it happens, Dot - games are a part of life. They aren't going away."
"That's easy for you to say!" the Command.com snapped. "You know what happened the last time my little brother went into a game! How do you expect me to feel?" She returned her gaze to the game cube, towering over them.
"This had to happen sooner or later, Dot." the Guardian said gently. AndrAIa, Mouse and Ray began to gently ease away, leaving the two sprites a bubble of space. "Maybe it's better that it happened now - we need to decide-"
"_We_ need to? That's a laugh! You just flaunt in and out when you feel like it! I'm there every cycle, good or bad! What's makes you think it's _your_ decision?"
The Guardian said nothing for a long moment. "Is that what you believe - really believe? Because if it is-"
"I don't know what I believe." Dot said softly.
"I'll tell you what _I_ believe." the Guardian replied. "I believe that things are different now - different than before all this happened. Before the reboot. I think what happens to Enzo is my concern, too. Both of them. I think you know that. But that doesn't really matter if you don't think so."
"Bob, I..."
"Can I say something?" AndrAIa volunteered.
"Of course, AndrAIa. You're family." Dot smiled wearily.
"Well..." the girl began. "I don't mean to be rude, but I think you're both kinda missing the point. You can't keep Enzo from doing what he wants. Believe me, I know!"
"Go on." Bob prodded.
"Well, here you are arguing about his future, about whether it's Bob's decision, or Dot's decision... Aren't you forgetting someone?"
"AndrAIa, he's just a little sprite!" Dot protested. "How can he possibly decide something like this? He doesn't understand how serious games are. He doesn't understand-"
"So _help_ him! Help him understand! That's all he ever wanted - just for you talk to him. And _listen_ to him once in a while!"
"I listen to him!" Dot asserted defensively.
"Maybe she's right." Bob mused. "Maybe we're so worried about deciding what's right for Enzo that we're pushing him away from us."
"It's easy for you, Bob. He wants to be like you."
"Maybe. Maybe he just wants to prove to himself that he can be different than his big sister - be his own sprite." Bob smiled. "Is that so terrible? Matrix turned out all right, didn't he?"
"Yes, of course, of course he did." Dot sighed, glancing at AndrAIa. "It's just so hard, Bob. I lost him once already - I don't want to lose him again!"
"If you don't let him have a say in his own future, you'll lose him for sure." AndrAIa said softly. "I know."
"Who know's what's going to happen?" Bob smiled, grabbing Dot by the shoulders gently. "Maybe he'll decide he wants to be a businesssprite, just like you. Remember the delivery service? Maybe he'll want to be a search engine, or a net technician. Who knows?" The Guardian pulled Dot close to him. "Maybe he'll decide he wants to be a Guardian. If he does, you'll just have to trust me."
"Trust you?" Dot repeated, eyes locked with the Guardian. "Trust you to keep your promises, you mean?"
"That too." Bob nodded. "Like a promise that as long as I'm around, I'll never let anything bad happen to Enzo - game or no game. Whatever he decides. A promise like that."
"That's a pretty good promise." the Command.com smiled. "I guess it must be kind of important to you, huh?"
"I take my promises pretty seriously."
Dot kissed him quickly and turned to look back at the game cube, looming mockingly over them. "You're not in there to protect him now though - are you? Either of him. And all this discussion could be for nothing...
----
The beast unleashed a wave of liquid fire from it's forked weapon, blasting the gryphon that was it's current opponent fiercely against the wall of the arena. Zaytan moved in for the kill.
"That's three!" Enzo fumed. "This is totally basic - he only needs two more!"
"He's not gonna get them!" Matrix sneered, turning away as the demon applied his finishing move to the winged creature. "Come on, one chance, that's all I need..."
"There's still nine left - how do we know which one he's gonna pick?" Enzo protested. "We could have two chances instead of one-"
"No!" Matrix snapped. "Don't make me waste time with this, Boy! I've already told you - stay out of the way!"
"You're not my father!" Enzo roared. "You're not even my brother! You can't tell me what to do!"
"Just be quiet!" the bearded sprite hissed, as the music began again and the User prepared to make his choice. He crouched and watched the dancing light intently.
"You're gonna get us both deleted!" Enzo scowled.
"Come on, come on..." Matrix whispered, swinging his hammer absently. "What's the matter, afraid of a little hardware? Come on..." The light danced on him for a moment, then moved on to a window depicting a small, lithe figure. "Blast it - missed again!"
The world seemed to slow down for Enzo, each nano stretching into a millisecond. He felt his legs coil under him, and sensed his hand reaching for his icon. He heard himself shout "Reboot!", heard Matrix' voice screaming his name, but he couldn't see the big sprite. For a nano, he was aware that his perception of the ring had changed, that he was now above it and watching through glass. Then his sight left him.
The youngster felt a wave of energy shoot through his body, and found himself standing at the center of the arena. The towering figure of the horned demon slowly approached him, surrounded by wings of flame, brandishing it's pitchfork. Enzo could still vaguely hear Matrix' voice, but he couldn't decipher any words. The rest of the arena was lost in darkness, and Enzo's world became the malignant presence which now loomed over him.
"Enzo! Enzo!" Matrix heard himself screaming. He pounded on the glass furiously, but he couldn't reach the boy. A flood of terrifying memories swept over him, and he sank to his knees.
Enzo slowly circled the demon, testing his legs under him. He was dressed in black and yellow silks, which covered him from head to toe. "Cool - kung fu fighting!" he giggled. His body felt supple, alive - he could feel the spring in his muscles. Part of him was terrified of the glowing-eyed creature before him, but that very terror gave him a thrill. No one could help him now - he was on his own.
A jet of fire shot towards the youngster, and he somersaulted out of the way, the molten flame missing him by a hair's breadth. Enzo was momentarily astonished by his own reflexes. He was fast, quick - much more so than the lumbering devil that even now bore down on him again. The boy feinted to his left, causing Zaytan to stumble for a moment. Enzo flew through the air and delivered a spinning kick to the creature's head, sparks of green fire exploding as his feet made contact with the beast. The impact sent a shock wave of pain up the youngster's leg, but he sprang back as the devil swung wildly at him with a clawed hand. Zaytan looked back at him, shaking it's head dizzily.
"This isn't so hard!" the boy grinned, dodging another jet of fire. The creature lunged at him, and Enzo leapt high into the air, landing behind the creature and delivering a forearm blow to it's neck. Then, his world was blackness - there was a shattering concussion as the demon caught him with a swinging blow from it's weapon, and he felt himself flying through the air, seemingly forever.
The youngster hit the ground with another bone-jarring impact. His head swam dizzily, and he shook it, desperately trying to clear his vision. The ground began to tremble, and Enzo felt rather than saw Zaytan approaching. He pushed himself to his knees and desperately dove to his right, but he felt a vice-like grip come down on his ankle.
Enzo screamed in agony as the beast squeezed, hard. He felt himself being dragged, then a stinking claw enveloped his head. There was an instant of incredible pain, then nothing.
"Nooo!" Matrix screamed. "Enzo!" The young man felt his breath coming in ragged, heaving gasps, and heard Frisket howling mournfully. "Stupid kid, why did you do it?" He felt his hand move to his chest and realized, with a jolt, that the boy in the arena still wore his original icon. There would be no escape.
Enzo's eyes opened and he was once again standing in the ring, facing down the horned creature. His pain still echoed in his mind, but as the boy gingerly tested his foot he realized that he was physically whole. He had lost the first round. There would be no more second chances.
The devil was smiling now, a hideous sight. It fired a stream of magma at the boy, who darted desperately out of the way, panting. Enzo felt panic rising in his gut. How could he defeat this creature? There was no way - zero chance. He desperately dodged a swing from the beast's barbed tail.
It was hopeless - he'd only been kidding himself. He was truly alone in this game - there was no Bob to protect him, to make sure he was all right. Not even Matrix could help him. How could he possibly hope to survive this encounter - he was only a little sprite! They'd been right all along...
Matrix pressed his hand up against the glass, watching the encounter unfold. He could clearly see that Enzo was now trembling uncontrollably. The young man flinched as the boy narrowly avoided another jet of fire. It was over - the little sprite was terrified. And it was his fault - he'd failed to protect the boy. Failed yet again. Matrix felt his heart defragmenting as he watched Enzo cowering, eyes filled with terror. If only that were him, down there... If only he could have it all to do again...
Enzo halfheartedly aimed a kick at Zaytan's chest, momentarily knocking the creature off balance. The youngster spun to his feet, but felt a sickening thud in his ribs as the devil's foot crashed into him. He flew across the ring, his breath driven from him.
Enzo lay on his back, desperately trying to force air into his lungs. It was over. He's been basic to think he could really win a game on his own. The boy felt the devil's footfalls as it approached, and caught a glimpse of a bearded face, staring down at him from behind one of the entombed images on the walls.
The boy's vision was blocked by the massive claw that descended upon his head. "No!" he screamed, and felt himself rolling to his left. The creature grunted and slowly spun to follow him. "No!" Enzo screamed again, and kicked the creatures legs out from under it. Zaytan fell with a demonic grunt.
The youngster stepped back, using the precious nano of rest to regain his wind. "It's not true - I _can_ fight!" he hissed. "I'm not just a.." he launched a spinning kick at the beast's head as it lumbered towards him, causing it to twist backwards at an impossible angle. The boy spun again, repeatedly, delivering a series of blows in a symphony of green fire. "Weak...little...sprite!"
Enzo rested, hands on his knees, panting. The creature was dazed, slowly trying to regain it's feet. The boy desperately willed the strength to flow through his body, to finish the kill. "Eeeyaagh!" he screamed, pouring all of his energy into a furious, head-on assault of the horned creature. It grasped at his feet and missed, then it's head snapped back with a crunch as they found their mark.
Matrix could scarce believe his eye - had he processed what he thought he had? He heard an astonished laugh escape his chest, and pounded on the glass repeatedly.
Enzo opened his eyes to find himself once again facing the creature from across the arena. He glanced up and made eye contact with the bearded figure behind the glass for a nano, then turned his focus back to the demon as it slowly approached him, much more warily this time. He easily dodged a jet of fire from the beast.
"One all, now." he said softly. "This is for all the databits..." The demon made a lunging grab at him, and the boy lithely sidestepped it. He feinted a kick at the beast's chest, then backed off. The two combatants circled each other warily.
"Think you're pretty tough, don't ya?" the little sprite whispered, thinking aloud. "You got all the advantages... But it was pretty hard for you to get up after I knocked you down, wasn't it? Took you a couple of nanos..." Enzo feinted to his right and spun to his left, delivering a glancing blow to Zaytan's head. He felt a jet of flame singe his arm and leapt back.
"The neck - that's your weakness!" Enzo hissed. "But it's pretty hard to get at it, as long as you're facing me..." The boy tried a series of misdirections, desperately trying to flank the devil and get behind it, but was unable to launch an attacking blow.
The creature fired a jet of flame at Enzo's left flank and spun, and the youngster sidestepped it to his right. Too late to change direction the boy saw the beast's tail whip towards him, and felt a numbness in his shoulder as he was sent head over heels across the ring.
Numbness gave way to searing pain and Enzo winced. His arm hung useless at his side, feeling as though it were broken. Worse, every movement now brought the youngster a fresh jolt of agony. The boy absently clenched and unclenched his fingers as the horned creature smiled and advanced on him. Enzo circled, desperately trying to block out the pain each step sent shooting down his arm.
"I've got to end this!" the boy panted, dragging his throbbing arm behind him as he dodged a stream of magma. "You're not going to get tired, are you?" The creature growled in frustration as it missed him with a wild swing of it's weapon.
"You think you can scare me - but you can't!" Enzo snarled, as the devil squinted in puzzlement. "I'm Enzo Matrix! I learned from the best! I may not be big..." The boy launched himself off the ground, aiming a kick at the creature's vulnerable head. Zaytan threw up a treelike arm as a barrier.
"But I'm smart!" Enzo shouted, changing direction and kicking at the beast's knee. It howled in pain, and keeled onto it's side. Enzo rabbit-punched it in the side of the neck once, twice. Snarling, the beast spun to face this new attack just as the boy somersaulted into the air, landing directly behind the devil.
"I'm not afraid of you!" the boy screamed, spinning all of his weight into a furious kick at the demon's head. Zaytan's neck snapped to the side at a sickening angle, and the youngster fell to the hard ground, panting and exhausted.
"GAME OVER"
Enzo felt his senses flee him, then opened his eyes to find himself on his back in Pearson's junkyard. Frisket was somewhere nearby, barking furiously. Matrix appeared alongside him, and looked down at him in astonishment. "You - you did it!"
The youngster frantically tried to think of something cool and alphanumeric to say, but could only muster a comical grin. The big sprite returned it, much to the boy's amazement. He reached out his massive hand, and Enzo grasped it with his small one. The two sprites clenched for a moment, saying nothing, then Matrix gently pulled the boy, wincing from his still sore arm, to his feet.
"How'd I do?" Enzo panted, looking over to see a quintet of familiar sprites running towards them.
"You got guts, Kid - but I guess I always knew that." the bearded sprite said gruffly. "But that was still one of the stupidest, low-density stunts I ever processed! You coulda been deleted! Why didn't you let me handle it?"
"Did _you_ always do what you were told?" Enzo glared accusingly at the big sprite. Matrix shook his head and turned away just as the others reached them.
"Everybody's OK?" Bob shouted.
"Yeah - we're fine." Matrix said as AndrAIa embraced him.
"Enzo you - you're all right?" Dot grabbed the youngster's face in her hands tenderly.
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Enzo protested, wriggling out of her grasp. "No problems! Right, Matrix?" The big sprite glared at him.
"How's your arm?" the bearded sprite responded, prompting a death glare from Enzo.
"Your arm?" Dot breathed, noticing for the first time the pained look on Enzo's face. She bent to examine the boy's limb.
"I'm fine!" Enzo grimaced. "It's a little bug! I just need a software patch, that's all..."
"What game was it?" Bob asked.
"I'll tell ya later." Matrix sighed. "But the kid won it - not me."
"What?" Dot gasped. "Enzo?"
"Good for you!" AndrAIa winked. "I knew you could do it!"
"Thanks!" Enzo beamed at her. "What's everybody doin' here, anyways? What's the big deal - it was just a game!"
Matrix threw up his hands and started away, a laughing AndrAIa at his heels. "I have a feeling we'll be hearing about this for a _long_ time..." Dot sighed.
----
"Enzo's asleep?"
"Yeah, he had a big cycle." Bob yawned, sitting down next to the Command.com.. "I still can't believe I missed that game cube! My instructors at the Academy would take me offline if they knew..."
Dot frowned. "You have to admit, Bob - that was a very strange turn of events. A tear that isn't there, all the way in Sector nine-nine. Then a game cube at the opposite end of the city! Don't blame yourself about it - at least the boys beat the User."
"I guess." the Guardian replied. "They can take care of themselves pretty well, can't they?"
"They had good training. Thank goodness Enzo wasn't badly hurt..."
"His arm'll be fine." Bob smiled reassuringly. "He's real proud of his bruise though, I'll tell you that!"
"Boys!" Dot cried, throwing her hands in the air. "You're all the same..."
"Yep, it's a beauty!" Bob chuckled. "Must've been pretty hard for Matrix - facing that game again. And seeing Enzo come so close to being deleted, just like _he_ almost was..."
"I'd rather not think about that, if you don't mind." the Command.com shuddered. "I can't shake these things off like Enzo can. They stay with me more and more, with each passing minute..."
"Sorry." the Guardian grasped her hand. "You have to admit, though - you're proud. Just a little."
"Of course I'm proud!" Dot answered with a hint of indignation. "I'm proud of both of them. Just like I'm proud of you. That doesn't mean I have to like it, though."
"No..." Bob sighed. "The little guy handled himself pretty well in there, from what Matrix told me. Maybe we should talk about - the future... I don't know how much longer he'll let us put if off."
"I know. We should. But tomorrow - not now. We should talk about it with Enzo. It's his code we're talking about, after all."
Bob raised an eyebrow. "If you say so... It _is_ getting late. I guess I should head back to my place."
"I suppose." Dot sighed. "I'm going to talk to Matrix and AndrAIa about getting there own place tomorrow. They're going to need some credits."
"Well-" the Guardian began, hesitatingly. "I had a little thought about that..."
"Oh? What was that?" Dot asked, sitting up on the sofa.
"Well - it seems kinda basic to me, those two zipping all over Mainframe looking for a place. I mean, when there's a perfectly nice apartment in Kits that might be available any nano." Bob grasped Dot's hands in his own and met her eyes with his. "D'you think there's any chance that apartment might become vacant anytime soon?"
Dot's mouth twisted into a half smile as she stared, wordless, at the Guardian. "It's possible." she whispered, meeting his lips with her own.
----
"Can't sleep, Lover?"
"Naw - thinking too much." Matrix sighed. "You always tell me I get into trouble when I think too much."
The game sprite scratched Frisket's ears, causing his tail to thump the docking bay loudly. "I know how hard it was, Enzo - to see what you saw today. That game. If you want to talk about it-"
"No - it's OK." the young man said softly, wrapping a burly arm around his companion. "I just need to process things out for a byte. Sort and file. Just don't go anywhere, OK?"
"Never." she whispered. They lay quietly for a time, AndrAIa's head on Matrix' shoulder, until their reverie was broken by a cacophony of coughing and sputtering.
"Bob's home late!" AndrAIa whispered.
"Must've been at Dot's."
"Yeah..." The game sprite let out a tremendous yawn. "Up late _talking_, no doubt... Good night, Enzo..."
"Night." the big sprite whispered. AndrAIa drifted off, leaving the young man alone with his thoughts.
----
With a sigh, Dot threw back the covers and sat up in her docking bay. Sleep wasn't going to come easily this night, that much was obvious. After a few nanos aimlessly browsing through a copy of 'Mainframe Business Hourly' she tossed the magazine aside, donned her robe and headed down the hall.
Enzo's door was open a crack, so she peeked inside. The boy was sleeping peacefully. Dot was struck - as she always was - by the contrast between the maniacally active sprite who kept her on her toes all day and the blissfully serene figure before her now. The Command.com tiptoed next to the youngster's bed and sat, quietly staring at his sleeping form, lost in thought.
How many nights had she cried herself to sleep, thinking that she'd never see the boy again? The last member of her family - gone. It had been almost enough to break her spirit - there were mornings were the woman hadn't been certain she could rise and face the cycle. And now, incredibly, here he was - every bit as irritating, exhausting, ingratiating, and fecklessly charming as ever. It was almost more than she could have hoped for - when there had been no brothers, now there were two.
Two brothers... She found herself staring at Enzo's face, wondering how she could possibly even think about allowing this innocent to face the harsh world of games - a world which had already claimed his childhood once. She thought of Matrix, barely one-one, forced to survive on his own, injured, with only a small sprite for company. With no Dot to protect him, care for him. The thought was nearly unbearable - she stifled a sob, and unconsciously reached out and grasped Enzo's hand.
"Wha-?" the boy woke with a start. He saw a shadowy figure next to him in the darkness and cried out in momentary panic.
"It's me!" Dot whispered hastily. "It's all right, I'm sorry-"
"Dot?" the boy mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong!" Dot smiled. "I just couldn't get to sleep, that's all. I'm sorry to disturb you. Go back to sleep..."
"What's the matter?" Enzo yawned. "Is everything OK?"
"Everything's fine." the woman sighed. "I just thought I'd check in, make sure you were all right."
Enzo squinted in puzzlement, shaking the sleep out of his processor. "I'm fine. Why can't you sleep?"
"I dunno. Just one of those things, I guess. Where's Frisket?"
"I guess he's with Matrix and AndrAIa." the boy yawned. "I think he's still a little confused by - you know. He likes to keep an eye on both of us."
"He's a pretty smart dog!" Dot chuckled. "He'll figure it out." Neither sprite said anything for a moment, content simply to rest in the darkness, hands clasped. "You know, I remember when Mom used to come in and watch me sleep at night, sometimes. I wonder if she passed it on to my programming..."
"Yeah - I remember too." Enzo agreed.
"You do?" Dot was surprised.
"Sure." Enzo smiled wistfully, sitting up in bed. "I was real little, but I remember it. She used to sit by the docking bay and hold my hand, and hum some kind of tune. I kinda remember it, but not quite. It's weird!"
"That's right! That's just what she did with me!" Dot laughed. "I'd always try to stay awake as long as I could - because I knew as soon as I fell asleep, she'd be gone - at least as far as I was concerned! I wanted it to last a whole minute."
"Yeah." Enzo nodded. "Me too."
"I bet you miss her, huh?" Dot said softly.
"Yeah." Enzo whispered. "Dad, too. They were great. I think about 'em all the time."
"I bet." Dot sighed, squeezing his hand. "Enzo, I - I know I'm not - like Mom. You know... I try, but you must really miss her-"
"Sure." the youngster nodded. "But it's OK. I'm real happy you're my sister."
"But Enzo, I-"
"Don't _you_ miss her?"
"Of course I do!" Dot sighed. "But-"
"So we both miss her. But that's OK. You take care of me, and I take care of you. That's what alphanumeric about having a sister." Enzo smiled. "And having a brother."
"Do you really mean that, Enzo?" Dot whispered. "It's OK that you - that we only have each other to take care of us? You don't feel bad about it?"
"Naw - don't be basic. I miss Mom and Dad, but you're great. You're an awesome big sister, Dot."
"Thanks!" Dot sniffled.
"Don't start cryin' again!" Enzo wailed.
"Sorry!" Dot laughed.
There were a few nanos of silence as Enzo turned his gaze away from his sister. After a moment, he spoke in a soft voice. "I'm sorry I scared you, Dot. Goin' into that game. I'm sorry."
"I know you are." Dot smiled. "I know you didn't mean to scare me..."
"It's just - I can't help myself, Dot. When the games come, it's like I just hafta be there! I can't think about anything else..." Enzo closed his eyes tightly. "And then, when it's over, and I see how worried you are, I feel totally low-density for making you feel bad..."
"It's OK, Enzo. I know it's hard - I know how much you love to go into the games with Bob. I may not like it, but I understand."
"But-"
"But nothing! I don't want you to feel bad." Dot said firmly. "C'mere." She wrapped her arms around Enzo and hugged him tightly. The boy, for once, made no attempt to extricate himself. He rested his head contentedly on her shoulder, and she on his.
Dot gently smoothed the boy's hair, desperately fighting to control her emotions. The rest of Mainframe seemed not to exist in that moment - her love for the small sprite in her ams filled her heart to the exclusion of all else. It was enough.
"No feeling bad, right?" she whispered after a long nano. "We all process in our own way, Enzo. All we can do is the best we can - OK?"
"OK!" he smiled. "Thanks Dot - you're the best."
"You're pretty alphanumeric yourself, Buster!" she grinned, kissing him on the forehead. "Now we both need to go to sleep - talking care of each other is a full cycle's job!"
"Bob can help some." Enzo said softly, laying his head back down on his pillow. "Can't he?"
Dot stared down at him for a nano. "Yes - Bob can help some. Sweet dreams, Enzo."
"Dot?"
"Yes?"
"You could stay for a while, if you want." Enzo whispered. "We could both pretend - you know..."
"Sure, Enzo." Dot smiled. The Command.com grasped Enzo's hand in hers once again and reclined back in her chair, humming a simple, plaintive melody.
----
"Well, good mornin', Phong!" Mouse smiled. "And what're you doin' inside on such a lovely cycle?"
"Oh, you know me, Child." the old sprite nodded. "I am a bit of a house mouse, when all is inputted. Is there something I can assist you with?"
"House mouse, I like that!" the hacker chuckled. "Say - sure was funny, that business with that tear in sector nine-nine, wasn't it, Hon'?"
"Indeed, Young Mouse. We are living in strange seconds, are we not?"
"Very strange, Sugar." the hacker smiled evenly. "Kinda a happy coincidence that Matrix and Enzo happened to be right under that game cube when it fell, too. Especially since ol' Bob was too far away - all the way in sector nine-nine, wasn't it, Honey? - to make it into the game."
"Yes..." the old sprite mused, wringing his hands and rolling out from behind the command console to face the red-haired woman. "There is an old read-me file which says, 'There are no accidents, only'-"
"You got a sayin' for just about everythin', don't ya - ya sly old dog! Ya got one in there about meddlin' old sprites and the games _they_ play?"
"I - I do not recall any such read-me file, Mouse." Phong replied stiffly. "Perhaps you would like to write one? It would be a nice gift to future generations, would it not?"
"Always thinkin' of the future - that's our Phong!" the hacker smiled thinly. "So I guess there's gonna be a full diagnostic - ta figger out what happened with that tear-"
"Yes - I have already completed it, in fact. Late last cycle. I was unable to determine the cause of the erroneous readings. I fear it will forever remain a mystery, Young Mouse..."
Mouse leaned an elbow on the console, staring at the old sprite and saying nothing for a long moment. Finally, she smiled and turned to go. "That's all I needed to know. I guess ya didn't get to be this old by bein' basic, did ya? See ya in the screen savers!"
"Mouse-"
"Don't worry, Hon' - I know when to keep my input shut." the hacker chuckled. "Stay frosty!"
"Before you go..." the old sprite called out. Mouse turned and looked at him quizzically. "As the immediate crisis appears to have passed, I was wondering if you had decided about your future plans. We still need all the help that we can process, Child. Daemon will turn her attentions to us again, I am certain. I do not doubt that an official position of some sort could be arranged-"
"I dunno, Sweetie." the redhead sighed. "The Mouse is a free agent, y'know? She don't work for nobody! Still, there _is_ somethin' about this place. And that surfer fella seems to like it here, too. Let's just say that I don't plan on goin' anywhere for a while an' leave it at that - OK, Sugar?"
"Very well." Phong nodded. "I shall enjoy your continued company, Child - things are rarely boring when you are in the sector. Still, at my age a little boredom is perhaps not such a bad thing..."
----
"Home, sweet diner." Dot sighed, pushing through the doors and entering the familiar surroundings. "That was a lovely walk, Bob - just lovely."
"Yeah, I enjoyed it!" Bob grinned, giving the woman a quick peck on the cheek. "Especially that part where we-"
"M'amm." Cecil nodded formally. "So nice to see you here again."
"I know, I know - I've been neglecting the place, Cecil. That's going to change, I promise. Have you seen Enzo?"
"Yes, M'amm. He's-" v"Bob!" the boy shouted, bursting into the diner and knocking the Guardian to the floor.
"Just coming now." Cecil finished, rolling off.
"Bob, where've you guys been? Ray took me for a ride on his surfboard - it was great! We surfed all over the place, even Lost Angles. He even let me drive it! It was totally Alphanumeric! Well, I didn't really drive it, I just kinda steered it or something, but it was pixelacious, totally awesome, completely high-res! Do you wanna see my bruise? It's all black and yellow - it's _totally_ cool! Too bad I'm not gonna have a scar-"
"Enough!" Dot interrupted.
"Oh - Hi, Sis!" the youngster grinned.
"Hi yourself." she answered. "C'mon, let Bob up and let's grab a booth. We need to talk."
"Aw, not again!" Enzo moaned. "Whenever she says that, I have to do something totally lame..."
"Process positive, Enzo!" Bob scolded, pushing himself to his feet. "Even Dot can be unpredictable once in a while!"
"What do you mean, 'Even Dot'?" the Command.com scowled. "Why, I'm as spontaneous as any sprite or binome in Mainframe! I just like to prepare for things, that's all-"
"Sorry! You're a real party girl!" Bob laughed. "Cee-cil - how about three mocha java applet sundaes over here?"
"That's Ce-cil!" Cecil fumed. "I am a dedicated server, not a soda jerk..."
"Now!" Dot smiled, patting the seat next to her. "Let's talk."
"Sure." Enzo slid into the booth. "What about?"
"About that game yesterday, for starters." Bob said.
"Aw, don't start that again!" Enzo wailed. "Enzo's just a _little_ sprite - games are too _dangerous_ for him! Little Enzo can't handle a game! He-"
"Stop!" Dot shouted, hands in the air. "Let _us_ talk, for a nano. Then you can talk, and we'll listen. I promise. OK?"
"OK..." the youngster replied dubiously.
Dot drummed her fingers on the table nervously. "Well, to begin with, we - Bob and I - we're very... we're proud of what you did yesterday."
"You _are_?" the boy gasped in astonishment.
"Sure!" Bob grinned.
"Well, putting aside the question of whether you should have been there in that game to begin with..." Dot sighed. "What you did, the courage you showed - we're both proud of you. You're a very brave boy."
"Gee... thanks!" Enzo grinned dumbly. "It wasn't anything much..."
"Well, that's as may be." Dot pushed on. "Enzo, what you did - in the game - is that something you want to keep doing? Is it-"
"Do I? _Do_ I? D'you even have to ask?" Enzo exclaimed. "It's totally cool! Of course I want to do it!"
"I thought you might say that." Dot sighed. "Enzo, if it's what you want - if this is really important to you - then it isn't right for me or anybody else to stop you from doing it. I don't like it, but you can go into the games with Bob."
"Pixelacious! You mean it?"
"Yes." Dot nodded.
"Totally cool! Yeah!" Enzo shouted, jumping on the table. "Bob, this is gonna be great! We're gonna have so much fun-"
"Wait!" Dot interrupted. "That's not all. If you're going to do this, there's going to have to be some rules."
"What kind of rules?" the youngster asked warily.
"Well, to begin with - under _no_ circumstances are you to go into a game by yourself. You may only go if Bob is with you - or if not Bob then at least some adult. You got that?"
"I got it, I got it..."
"And when you're in the games, you mind Bob - do what he tells you!" Dot continued urgently. "At all times!"
"Yeah, Enzo." Bob added. "I know you have fun, but games are serious business. They can be _deadly_ serious business. One mistake and you're nullified, and a whole sector with you - maybe a populated one. You're going to have to prove to me that you respect that."
"Yeah, yeah, no problem!" the boy replied. "I will, I promise. Don't you trust me, Bob?"
"Yes, I do." Bob smiled. "But that's not always going to be enough. Another thing, Enzo - when you come into a game with me, you're there for one reason - to learn. And that means paying attention when I tell you stuff. It's important. If you want to play games, you have to be prepared to study them, to get better. Do you understand?"
"Sure." Enzo grinned. "You're the best, Bob - I'll listen!"
"And speaking of studying..." Dot interrupted. "This game business isn't going to interfere with your schoolwork, or your chores around the diner. I still expect you to keep your grades up and pull your weight around here, even if it means skipping games. You got me, Mister?"
"Awwww..."
"Enzo! I mean it!" Dot insisted. "Promise!"
"I promise." the boy sighed. "You happy now?"
"No. But I hope you will be. And I'll just have to learn to live with it." She pulled the boy off the table and into a hug - the only place, it felt to her, that he was truly safe. "I'll just have to trust you - both of you."
"One last thing." Bob said, handing the boy an icon. "I had Mouse make this up for you. Never go into the games unless you're wearing this icon, Enzo - do you understand?"
"A game sprite icon! Coolness!" the boy exclaimed.
"Enzo - that icon is your protection - in case something terrible happens." Dot said, gently brushing the hair out of Enzo's eyes, her face forlorn. "It is never to be used unless all other alternatives have been exhausted - understand?"
"Understand!" Enzo nodded.
"Hey." Matrix called, walking into the diner. The bearded youth suppressed a smile at the scene playing out. "What's processing?"
"Lemme go!" Enzo growled, breaking free of Dot and rolling to his feet. "Dot's gonna let me go into the games, Matrix! Isn't that awesome?"
"Real alphanumeric." Matrix answered, arching an eyebrow at his sister. "You sure, Dot?"
"No - but I'm doing it anyway."
"Cool. You guys mind if I borrow Enzo for a while?"
"What for?" the youngster asked suspiciously.
"Don't bust a diode, I just wanna talk." the young man sighed.
Dot and Bob exchanged glances. "Sure - he's all yours."
"Thanks, Sis. C'mon, Kid - let's take a zip."
"Stay frosty!" Bob called as they left. "I wonder what that's all about." he mused, watching the mismatched pair disappear slowly into the distance.
"At least they're talking." Dot sighed. "I sure hope we're doing the right thing..."
"What does your heart tell you?"
Dot narrowed her eyes at the Guardian for a nano. "It tells me that I just made Enzo very happy - and that can't be all bad. It also tells me that I'm crazy to let that sweet little sprite out of my sight again - much less into a game. Not much help, is it?"
Bob wrapped his arm around the woman and held her to him gently. "I've given up looking for easy answers, Dot - they don't exist. Some things you can only learn from experience."
"Experience..." Dot chuckled bitterly. "Every cycle I think about what Enzo had to go through - to survive out there, on his own - it's hard to accept. I feel like I let him down..."
"Dot-"
"I want him to know I'll - I'll always be there. That I'm sorry!" Dot whispered.
"So tell him!" Bob said softly.
----
"Where are we going?" Enzo called out to the big sprite.
"Don't you know?" Matrix shouted back. "Just follow me!" The youth led the boy down a series of alleyways and side streets, finally coming to vast, vacant district. He came to a stop on a barren plain, nothing but emptiness for sectors in any direction.
"Dude - where are we?" Enzo gasped.
Matrix looked around. "The Tor used to be here - right on this spot."
"But - why?" Enzo was genuinely puzzled. "What's going on?"
"I wanted to talk to you, Enzo - and I didn't want any interruptions. I doubt anyone ever comes here. I figured we wouldn't be disturbed." The bearded sprite sat, cross-legged, on the bare ground. "And it seemed fitting, somehow..."
Enzo sat, eying the big man a little warily. "OK - so talk."
Matrix stared straight ahead, saying nothing for several nanos. "I think I've been kind of a jerk to you, Kid. I'm sorry."
"No big deal..."
"Whatever. Try to understand me, Enzo - it's just that... when I first saw you - it was strange. _Very_ strange. And then, every time I looked at you, it just made me angry. It felt like I had a virus inside, eating me alive..."
"But - why?" Enzo asked. "I never did anything to you! All I ever did was try to talk to you-"
"Please - this isn't easy!" Matrix hissed. "I'm not very good at this stuff - just let me say what I'm gonna say, OK?"
"Fine!"
The big sprite gathered his thoughts for a moment. "That game yesterday, what you did - it was amazing. It took a lot of guts. A lot of smarts. And even _that_ made me angry, when I thought about it!"
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to be down there!" Matrix scowled. The big youth visibly fought to control himself. "Because I wanted to be the one in that arena. I wanted to prove myself against Zaytan - and you stole that away from me."
"But - you _are_ me!" the youngster protested. "Aren't you?"
"No! I don't really understand it - but no. I'll be honest, Enzo - even now, it's tough for me to sit here, to talk with you. It still eats me inside. But I think I understand now that none of this is your fault - and it's not fair for me to blame you for what I'm feeling. We're both going to have to learn to deal with each other."
"It's no fun for me either, you know." Enzo said softly.
"What do you mean?"
"It's no fun sometimes, having you around!" the boy spoke louder, feeling courage welling up in his chest. "Because every time I see you, I know that I'm not real!"
"Not - real?"
"No! _You're_ Enzo Matrix - I'm just a copy!" the boy snarled. "I'm not even really who I think I am. Everybody looks at me funny, like they know I'm not the real Enzo. I'm a fake! I feel like Enzo, I look like Enzo - but _you're_ Enzo! I'm just an imitation, a backup, a copy-"
"That's not true!" the big man protested.
"Yes it is - and it's totally basic! Every time I see you, it reminds me I don't even belong here."
"That's funny - I was thinking exactly the same thing!" Matrix chuckled bitterly.
"What?"
"Kid, _you're_ the real Enzo - at least as far as Mainframe is concerned. They don't know me - I'm a total stranger. Even Dot doesn't really think of me as a brother. You're the brother she knows - not me."
"Dude!" Enzo said softly. "That's too weird."
"As far as these people are concerned, _I'm_ the copy - not you." the big sprite continued. "And every time I look at you, it reminds me I don't even belong here." Matrix ran a massive hand across his eyes, hiding his face from the boy. "I see how Bob looks at you... The way he used to look at me. The way he smiles when you do something funny, how proud he was when you won that game... I see how Dot protects you, looks out for you. She used to do that for me. Before I changed. Before I disappointed all of them..."
"Dude - that's not true!" Enzo protested. "Dot totally worries about you, all the time! She thinks you don't want to talk to her!"
"What? She said that?"
"You must be basic!" Enzo laughed. "Bob isn't disappointed in you - he thinks you're great! All that stuff you did, finding him on the web - that was awesome, Dude. I can't believe you thought that stuff about Bob and Dot!"
"I'm not even sure I know what to think..."the youth hesitated.
"So - now we know why you hate me." Enzo chuckled bitterly.
"Enzo, I..." Matrix leaned back on his elbows, looking up at the sky. "I really did hate you, for a while. I'm sorry."
"Whatever." the youngster said in a soft voice, unconsciously imitating the big sprite's posture.
Matrix wrestled with a thousand thoughts, each trying to rise from a confused mass to the surface. "Try - try to understand." he started haltingly. "I was _angry_, Enzo. I thought you failed. I thought _I_ failed. I thought you were weak, soft. I thought I had to change, to be totally different from that little sprite that lost the game and let Mainframe down."
"I'm sorry." Enzo whispered.
The bearded sprite pressed ahead, relief at finally giving vent to his thoughts driving him onward. "I thought all I had to was be the total opposite of you - in every way. I thought I'd done it - thought I'd left you behind me for good. And then you showed up, and it was like - like all those nightmares came back, all at once. I crashed, Enzo - I just couldn't deal with it."
"But it's not true!" Enzo hissed, rolling onto his side to glare at Matrix. "I'm _not_ weak! I'm not soft! I cant help it if I'm a little sprite, I can't help it!" Enzo felt a flood of anger overcome him, consume him. He began to rain his fists down on Matrix' massive chest, over and over. "I can't help it, delete you! I can't!"
"Stop!" Matrix shouted, grabbing Enzo's wrists and holding him as the boy continued to struggle in his grip. "I know! I know, Enzo! Stop!"
"Why do you have to say that stuff?" Enzo fumed, holding down tears of rage. "I can't help it if I'm just a little sprite!"
"I know!" Matrix repeated. "No more hitting - all right? All right?" The boy finally nodded, and Matrix released his wrists. "I'm sorry, Enzo. I'm sorry I said all of those things about you. It wasn't fair. It was totally basic of me."
"You bet your bitmap it was!" Enzo snarled.
"OK, OK!" the bearded sprite chuckled. "It took me a long time, Enzo, but I finally figured out you're right. AndrAIa helped me. Bob helped me, too. But mostly, it was watching you, last cycle. In that game.
I guess I didn't really remember it, but I - you - always did your best. You never gave up. In games... in everything. It was always an adventure, and you never ran away from anything - even when you were afraid. Even when you screwed up, you always came back for more. That's not easy when you're a little sprite.
I was running for a long time Enzo - it didn't seem like that long to Bob and Dot, but for AndrAIa and me it felt like a lifetime. And that whole time, I was trying to be something because I thought that's what I was supposed to be. I was turning into someone completely different - someone terrible..." The bearded youth shuddered momentarily. "I didn't really figure out till just now that I was fine being who I was."
The youth met Enzo's eyes with his own good eye, locked his gaze fiercely on him. "I hated you, Enzo - and as long as I did, I was never going to be happy. I carried that hate with me for my whole life, and it all spilled out when I saw you, after the reboot. You don't deserve it - neither of us do. I'm sorry."
"So - you don't hate me now?" Enzo asked hopefully.
"No - not most of the time." Matrix sighed. "There are gonna be good cycles and bad cycles, Enzo. I'll do the best I can. That's all anybody can do."
"It wasn't very easy for me either, y'know." Enzo stated, lower lip out. "Seeing you around all the time. Knowing what I'm gonna look like, how I'm gonna act when I'm old."
"Old?!"
"It's not fair, Dude - I don't even get to make my own future - it's already done! Y'know what that feels like? It's totally basic! Why should everybody else get to do everything and find stuff out as they go along and I have to have it all decided for me?"
"That's not-"
"Shut up!" Enzo shouted. "You know what the worst part is? Seein' you around, and knowing that was gonna be me - and I was gonna be so low-density all the time! Never having any fun, never even smiling! I'm gonna grow up and be a big jerk that never smiles! How d'you think that feels?"
"I - I don't know." Matrix stammered. "I guess not very good..."
"Awful!" Enzo snapped. "All I wanted to do was talk to you, and you couldn't even do that..."
"I'm sorry."
"There' so much I wanna _ask_ you!" the boy sighed. "You know everything about me - about what's it gonna be like. I wanna know all that stuff! I wanna know what it's like, to be older. To be a man, like you are. What I'm gonna feel like. And you wouldn't even talk to me!"
"Enzo, some of that stuff - I think it's better if you find out yourself, as you go along. Shortcuts aren't always the best way to get to a place-"
"Y'see? You _still_ won't talk to me!"
"Enzo! I'll try. I promise." the young man smiled. "Believe me, I know how you feel. I don't know if you'll like my answers, but I promise I'll try to help you as much as I can. I'm not much of a talker..."
"Yeah - me either!" Enzo nodded. The boy was astonished to hear a laugh - an actual laugh - emanate from Matrix. "What was _that_?"
"I think I laughed!" the big man grinned. "I guess you can make just about anybody laugh. That's a pretty special talent, Kid. Try not to lose it."
"Are you making fun of me?" Enzo sneered.
"No!" Matrix chuckled. "Y'know Enzo, about all that future stuff... I think maybe you're wrong about it being all planned out. I think you're gonna make your own future, and it might not look anything like mine. Just don't let anybody tell you what to do with it. Especially me!"
"Maybe..." the boy replied dubiously. "So - are we like, _brothers_ now?"
"Sure Kid - brothers." Matrix chuckled. He stood and lifted the boy to his feet. "You're a good kid, Enzo - don't let anyone tell you different." He wrapped an arm around the youngster and roughly squeezed him to his side.
"Ow!" Enzo wailed. "Take it easy - you're stronger than Megabyte!"
Matrix grinned down at the boy. "Yeah - we are."
Enzo felt the bearded sprite relax his grip and looked up to see the young man smiling, a sight which brought a wide grin to the boy's own face. He playfully punched Matrix in the gut and they started walking back towards the center of town, Matrix' arm still draped loosely over his shoulder.
Walking side by side with the big sprite, Enzo tried to process all of it. Any way you accessed it, this was still totally weird - this towering figure, looming at twice his height, was _him_. Maybe all that stuff about the future was true, maybe it wasn't - Enzo couldn't be sure. He only knew that for the first time since Matrix had been in his life, he felt _right_. He could see a possible future with both of them in it, together. It felt hopeful, and Enzo was a hopeful sprite by nature. Anything else just didn't feel like _him_, somehow. He'd teach Matrix to be the same way - he just needed a little time, that's all...
----
"That's not all, Mate - I had to stabilize a tear into a portal between the Web and the Supercomputer once - _and_ with a pack of web creatures on my tail! You wanna talk about action - _that_ was action!"
"Dude!" Enzo exclaimed.
"Sounds like a fish story to me, Ray!" Bob grinned, shaking his head and winking at the youngster sitting next to him. "Lemme tell you about some _real_ danger-"
"You men are all alike!" Mouse laughed. "I tell you what, Sugar - I've seen the inside of some pretty nasty systems - but I don't need to go around braggin' about it! Ain't that right, AndrAIa Honey?"
"Leave me out of this!" the game sprite shouted amicably.
"Steering clear of a fight? That's not my AndrAIa!" Matrix scolded.
"Cecil! Another round o' energy shakes over here!" Ray called out.
"Of _course_, Sir." the server bowed. "I detest zese large parties..."
"Why, if it ain't the Command.com herself!" Mouse exclaimed as the sprite and two binomes entered the diner. "And the dashing Captain Capacitor too. C'mon and join the crowd!"
"By the code, Lass - the Saucy Mare herself could've been named for you!" the Captain bowed. "It's a rare privilege to be in the company of three such lovely maidens!"
"You're a silver tongued ol' rascal, ain't ya Sweetie?" the hacker grinned.
"Since you're all here..." Dot began. "I'd like to make a little announcement, if I may."
"What's processing, Dot?" Bob prompted.
The Command.com took out her organizer and entered a number. "Principal Office." Phong answered.
"Hi, Phong. I'm making a little announcement, and I thought you'd like to hear it."
"Of course, Child. I am most interested." the old sprite smiled. "I am, as they say, made entirely of ears."
"Yes, er - well, as you know, there have been a lot of demands on my time lately, since the reboot. What with the diner, and me being the Command.com, and all." The woman shot a guilty glance at Cecil. "As you also know, Captain Capacitor here gave up his ship in the defense of Mainframe."
"T'were not much." the pirate mumbled.
"Well, we're all grateful." Dot smiled. "In any case, my responsibilities as Command.com are very important to me. As, of course, is
this diner." The woman looked around her fondly. "In the meanwhile, the economic infrastructure of Mainframe will have to be
rebuilt, and there will be ample opportunity both for profit and for the benefit of all it's citizens.
     Unfortunately, I won't be able to devote the time to all of my business interests that they deserve, and Gavin here has both the
time and the skill to excel in the world of Mainframe commerce. Therefore, I'm pleased to introduce him as the new Chief Executive
Officer of CapaciMatrix Enterprises."
"Alphanumeric!" Enzo beamed.
"Gavin will be looking after all of our commercial interests, until such time as he's able to raise sufficient capital replace the Saucy Mare. Mr. Christopher here will act as our Chief Financial Officer." Dot smiled at the small binome, half hidden behind Captain Capacitor.
"Er, yes." Mister Christopher mumbled. "By my calculations, that should take approximately two minutes, nineteen seconds, two hundred milliseconds and ninety-seven nanoseconds. Allowing for amortization factors and depreciation, of course. Approximately."
"Yes, thank you Mister Christopher!" Dot chuckled. "This arrangement will allow me to devote my time to the things that are most critical to me - my responsibilities as Command.com and as proprietor of Dot's Diner - best in all of Mainframe!" She smiled at the group seated at the table. "And to other things that are even more important..."
"Congrats, Mate!" Ray grinned.
"Yeah, way to go Captain! Good to hear you'll be staying!" Bob exclaimed, raising his shake. "Would you business tycoons care to join us for a celebratory drink?"
"I'd love to." Dot grinned. "But I promised my brother we'd go circuit racing today, and I'm already late. Ready to go - Little Brother?"
"You bet!" Matrix chuckled. "See you later, AndrAIa." the bearded sprite kissed the girl on the cheek and stood.
"Have fun!" AndrAIa laughed. "Go easy on him, Dot - he _hates_ to lose!"
"Congratulations Dot." Phong smiled from the vidwindow. "I am most pleased to hear that you will be staying with us in Mainframe for a time, Captain. Now, if you will excuse me, I have matters which require my attention."
"See you later." Dot grinned. ""Welcome aboard, Gavin! Oh, and Bob?"
"Yeah, Dot?"
"Isn't it time you thought about getting a haircut?" The Guardian's face reddened as laughter rose around the table.
"A remarkable Lass..." the old pirate mused, watching them go.
"That she is, Captain. That she is." Bob smiled ruefully.
"I think we'll be goin' too, y'all." Mouse said. "I promised Phong I'd help him with the file compression utility. Comin', Sugar?"
"Right behind ya, Lovely Lady!" Ray grinned. "Good on ya, Mates!"
"There is another matter, me Hearties." Gavin said, after the hacker and surfer were gone. "Me crew - some of them will want to stay on in Mainframe, I believe. They are a loyal bunch, and true. Many of them will follow this old captain - even without his ship. We'll need to find 'em new crew quarters - their old ones being lost somewheres, in the deep. Perhaps the lovely AndrAIa will assist me in remedyin' this problem?"
"Of course, Captain." the game sprite smiled. "You know I'm always happy to spend a day in your company." She rose and gave Enzo's cap a playful turn. "Let's leave the heroes of the game to discuss strategy in privacy! So long, Boys."
"Bye, AndrAIa!" Enzo beamed. "See you later?"
"Sure!" The game sprite straightened out Enzo's cap and winked at Bob, then led the Captain and his aide to her waiting motorbike.
"Well, Bud - looks like it's just you and me." Bob said. "How about a quick nap - no better way to spend an afternoon-"
"Nap? That's totally basic, Dude! Let's play jetball, or digi-golf, or-"
"OK, OK!" Bob sighed. "How about we do what AndrAIa said - discuss game strategy. How's that sound?"
"Cool!"
"All right... Let's say you're in a baseball simulation, and the manager of the other team puts in a left-handed pitcher with two outs in the ninth, tie game. Your best pinch-hitter-"
"Bob?"
"What?"
"Thanks, for - for talking Dot into letting me play the games with you. It's totally awesome."
"I didn't really do that, Enzo." the Guardian frowned. "Dot wants you to be the best sprite you can, that's all. It's your decision to go into the games - if that makes you happy. Dot just decided to let you do what made you happy. I didn't have anything to do with it."
"Really?" the youngster asked, surprised. "Don't you _want_ me to go into the games with you?"
"Enzo, that isn't the point! It's just that your sister is thinking about what's best for you, that's all. Even if it doesn't always seem like it to you, at the time. Understand?" The boy nodded solemnly. "But for the file record - I think it's great that you're going into the games with me. You're a good partner."
"You mean it?"
"Promise."
"Thanks!" the boy grinned, taking a huge slurp of his shake. "Games are totally cool, Bob - alphanumeric! But the reason I like 'em so much is 'cause we play 'em together."
"Really?"
"Promise!"
"Thanks, Enzo." the Guardian laughed.
Enzo took another slurp of his soda and kicked his feet nervously. "Uh - thanks anyway, Bob - even if you didn't make Dot let me play."
"Thanks for what, Enzo?" Bob asked quizzically.
The boy looked away. "Just - you know... It's been a lot better since you came to Mainframe, Bob. I guess I was kinda lonely before..."
"Enzo-"
"I know I'm a pain in the ascii sometimes, Bob. I figure maybe sometimes you don't want me around, but you never-"
"Hey!" Bob interrupted, reaching out and gently turning Enzo's face until their eyes met. "I don't do anyone any favors, Enzo. A Guardian _chooses_ the company he keeps."
"Really?' Enzo whispered. "But-"
"No more of that!" Bob scolded. "Me and you, and Dot - we're a team. We stick together. Promises, remember? A Guardian doesn't pick his best friend lightly, Enzo. It's pretty serious business. Games or no games - we're partners. Got it?"
"Got it!" Enzo beamed. "Thanks, Bob!"
"That's OK, Pal." Bob grinned. "What are best friends for? So... What did you and Matrix talk about, last cycle?"
"Stuff." the boy replied. "He's not so bad, I guess - once you get to know him. He's not much fun, though! He-"
"WARNING: INCOMING GAME
WARNING: INCOMING GAME"
"Alphanumeric!"
"That's us, Partner!" Bob exclaimed, grabbing his zip board.
"You got it, Bob!" Enzo grinned. The two sprites burst through the doors and sped off towards the descending cube.
----
Dot and Matrix hovered on their boards, watching silently as the purple cube slowly fell from the sky. "Do you - do you wish you were with them? In the game?" Dot asked after a moment.
"Part of me does." Matrix answered softly. He smiled and reached for her hand. "I dunno if games are where I want to be, Sis. Maybe they are, but maybe it's going to be something else..."
"You know I'll always support you, whatever you do - don't you?" Dot whispered. "You know I'll always... love you?"
"I know." the bearded sprite answered, squeezing her hand. "Me too." The two spites watched, hand in hand, as the game cube descended. Funny, Dot had never really thought about it, but it was beautiful, in it's way. Even games, in a sense, were a gift from the User. They had, after all, brought Bob to her...
----
Enzo felt a thrill wash over him as he followed the Guardian into the path of the game cube. It felt as if he belonged there, at the Guardian's side - there and nowhere else in the universe. They coasted to a stop and hovered, waiting for the game to reach them.
It was exciting - Enzo loved the fact that he never knew what world he'd be opening his eyes onto after the cube hit. It was like being able to go anywhere, do anything - and never knowing what was going to happen next. The best thing of all, though, was knowing that when he opened his eyes, Bob would be standing right next to him.
The boy felt his skin tingling with energy as the cube reached them. He glanced over and saw Bob grinning in his direction. The last thing Enzo saw was the Guardian wink at him, and then the game was on them. Enzo laughed as he felt the energy course through his body, and readied himself for the adventure ahead.
----
There was a crackle of static electricity as the cube hit, stabilized. Phong watched it thoughtfully, hands behind his back, for a moment. Then he turned away and back towards the console, humming a tuneless melody to himself. The old sprite felt as good as he had in seconds. Of course, there was the ever-present stiffness in his joints, and it seemed as though he needed a new set of glasses every other nano. Still, there were new wonders to be observed every day, and new problems to be solved. He felt as though he'd been given a second chance - they all had. He would deal with the dangers of the future when they commanded his attentions - in the meantime, it was a wonderful time to be alive.
Phong drummed his fingers on the console thoughtfully. "What do I have to do to get a cup of cocoa around here?" he shouted after a nano. Receiving no reply, the old sprite rolled off with a sigh to prepare it himself. Sometimes, all the troubles of the supercomputer itself seemed trivial compared to the need for a good cup of cocoa...
End