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Part I
Present
"Hey you two!" Dot called, carrying a tray into the living room where Bob and Enzo shared the couch, watching a vidscreen. "Anyone up for a sundae?"
"Alphanumeric!" the boy grinned, bolting upright and grabbing a glass off the tray. 'Thanks, Dot!"
"Yeah, thanks." Bob smiled. "Your applet sundaes are the best in Mainframe, Dot."
"Naturally." she nodded, sitting next to the Guardian on the couch.
"Dot's food is awesome - why d'you think everyone comes to the diner?" Enzo said around a mouthful of applet.
"Yeah - that's why I started coming there. For the sundaes." Bob winked at the Command.Com.
"Very funny." Both Matrix siblings said in unison.
"Stop that!" Bob laughed.
"Now Enzo - you have to promise to go bed after your sundae, all right? Bob and I have things to discuss, and it's getting late. He has to go home soon."
"Aww, Dot!" Enzo sighed. "It's barely twenty-eight-fifty! Do I have to?"
"Well, considering that you always play games on your organizer for seconds before you go to sleep - yes!" Dot answered with a wry smile.
"You know about that?" Enzo frowned.
"You can't keep any secrets from Dot, Enzo - believe me." Bob sighed. "Best not to even try."
"For once I agree with you." Dot chuckled, poking him in the ribs.
"But I wanna talk to Bob too! We barely even analyzed the game today. You shoulda been there - it was great! We-"
"That's _all_ we talked about!" Dot laughed. "It'll keep, Enzo. Even Guardians need to sleep, you know."
"Yeah, Enzo - lights out at the Academy is thirty hundred - no exceptions."
"I'm not a Guardian." Enzo scowled, wolfing down the last of his sundae. "Except when it's bedtime, I guess."
"My poor, tortured little brother." Dot frowned sympathetically. "Do you want me to get Mike the TV over here to do a documentary on your life, Enzo? I'm sure it'll be a real tearjerker…"
"Ha-ha!"
"Don't worry about her, Enzo!" Bob grinned, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "She just loves to torture us, that's all. It's our lot in life, I guess. Better to just give in and make the best of it."
"If you say so." Enzo scowled, allowing the Guardian to lead him off towards his room. "G'night, Dot."
"Night, Enzo. I'll stop by in a little while to tuck you in, OK?"
"Dot!"
"She just does that to annoy you." Bob whispered, grinning.
"I know!" Enzo sighed, sitting on his docking bay and kicking off his sneakers. "She only says it when you're around. I don't need anyone to tuck me in, you know. I'm one-zero!"
"I know." The Guardian laughed. "Don't let her see she's getting to you, or she'll never stop! Believe me, I know…."
Enzo carefully removed the two silver pins from his collar and looked at them reverently for a moment. "These sure are alphanumeric, Bob…"
"Yeah." he smiled. "I'm glad you like them, Enzo. Just remember what they're for, and you'll be fine."
"The ideals of the Collective." Enzo whispered. "Cool… Thanks, Bob. You're awesome."
"No problem." Bob said, sitting next to the boy.
Enzo carefully set the pins down on his nightstand and turned his icon, rebooting into his pajamas. "Do they really have lights out at thirty-hundred at the Academy, Bob?"
"They sure do. Well, they did." The Guardian nodded. "It's a tough regimen, Enzo - they worked us pretty hard. You needed your sleep."
"Cool." The youngster said softly, picking up the pins and studying them carefully. "D'you think I'll be able to go?"
"I sure hope so - if you want to. We'll just have to have faith, Enzo."
"Bob - if they do get the Academy back online, like you said - d'you think - well…"
"What, Enzo?"
"D'you think I'll do… all right?" Enzo said softly. "D'you think I can do it?"
"I think you can do whatever you want to, Partner. You're a Matrix." Bob grinned.
"Thanks! But it's just… I'm not like Dot and Matrix - y'know? I'm just a little kid…"
"I don't think that's important. It's what's here that counts." Bob frowned, tapping the boy on the chest lightly. "I don't think anyone's tougher in there, Enzo. You've got the Matrix codes. You'll do great."
"D'you really think so?" the boy whispered.
"Cross my heart. Don't worry about being a little kid - we're all little kids once. You just need to get a little older, that's all. You'll be ready for the Academy when the Academy's ready for you. Don't rush it."
"So - I'm doing OK, then? In the games an' stuff?"
"You're doing great!" Bob laughed. "Now get some sleep. It's almost lights out!"
"Thanks, Bob." Enzo smiled. "D'you think there'll be another game tomorrow?"
"Could be. We'll need to be ready."
"OK. Night, Bob."
"Night." The Guardian grinned, squeezing the boy's hand in his own. "See you tomorrow."
"OK." Enzo smiled, and the Guardian slipped out into the hall with a wink. Enzo stared at the pins in his outstretched palm for a nano longer, then set them down and deleted the light. He picked up his organizer and selected the 'Games' menu.
*** "Thanks!" Dot smiled as Bob walked back into the living room. "It's not easy to get him to bed sometimes. He never wants to slow down…"
"I know." The Guardian joined her on the couch and kissed her cheek. "He's in a big hurry to get where he wants to go. I have to slow him down in the games sometimes, too. He'll learn to be more patient."
'Where does he want to go?" Dot yawned, resting her head on Bob's shoulder.
"The Academy, mostly."
"Maybe someday…" Dot sighed, blocking the thought out of her processor. "User, tomorrow's going to be a long day. We've got that system backup, not to mention the analysis of the virus detects and firewalls…"
"Phong still doesn't know exactly what Hexadecimal did. I wish we had Mouse here to help figure out just what Hex was up to…"
"Don't talk about that." Dot frowned. "Let's worry about what's here, now. We'll get to the bottom of it ourselves. You said yourself Hex is no technical genius. Phong implemented most of the changes himself."
"At Hex's direction. But you're right - we'll figure it out. Even if it takes all cycle."
"Right… So - I suppose you'll be heading back to your place now, huh?" Dot sighed.
"I guess I should… It's late."
"You could stay here."
"Seems like we've had this conversation before!" Bob smiled.
"Maybe we have." Dot frowned. "So what?"
"I don't have any of my stuff here - I'd just have to go back there in the morning-"
"Don't you think it's silly, Bob - all this running back and forth? This place is way too big for just Enzo and I - there's plenty of room. And AndrAIa and Matrix could take your place - get out of the garage."
"I know, I know." Bob sighed. "It's not like I haven't been thinking about it. I love being here, spending time with you and Enzo…"
"So what's the problem?" Dot whispered, nuzzling the Guardian's neck.
"Mmm. That's nice."
"It could get a lot nicer…"
"I know." the Guardian grinned, and they kissed for a long nano. "It's just that things have been going so well for us… I really don't want anything to change. You know?"
"I love you." The Command.Com said simply.
"I love you."
"Isn't that enough?"
"It's not that simple, Dot." Bob sighed. "I've lived alone for a long time. I think it might be... difficult. I have a lot of bad habits..."
"I'll fix you, don't worry." Dot grinned mischievously.
"I bet! That's what worries me!"
"Come on, Bob - let's not play these games. We're both grown-ups here. You love me, I love you. I think we can agree on that. We hardly see each other during the day we've both got so much going on. We might be under viral attack at any nano. Let's not waste time being scared about being together and just be together."
"When you say it like that, it does make sense…"
"Everything I say does." Dot smirked. "So what do you say?"
"What about Enzo?" Bob asked.
"What about him?"
"Is he ready? He's had you to himself for a long time. He might not like having an outsider moving in-"
"Don't be silly!" Dot sighed. "You're no outsider. It'll be an adjustment for him - for all of us. But he loves having you around, so he'll love it even more if you're around more."
"Really? Do you think so?"
"I know so." she grinned, wrapping her arms around Bob's neck and kissing him passionately. "It just feels right, Bob - it's what we both want. Haven't we wasted enough time already?"
"Maybe we have." Bob whispered, once his breath returned. "Maybe we have…"
*** "'Circuits,' huh?" the tall, blond sprite mused, stepping through the swinging doors into the bustling interior of the club. "As good a place as any for a drink, I reckon…" The tall sprite slowly strolled across the length of the tavern, headed for the long bar along the opposite wall.
Ray Tracer's skin crawled, just a little, feeling the unfriendly eyes of the place as they focused on him. He'd never liked the Supercomputer - always had to be on your toes, alert. There was always somebody looking to sell something to you, or swindle you, or just delete you for the hell of it. And always, they were taking your measure. Seeing what you were made of. It was a very tiring place to be - not like the vast emptiness of the web that felt like home to him.
"DRAMbouie, please, Mate." he said gruffly, bouncing onto an empty stool. The bartender, a nine binome, slid a glass of sweet and bitter smelling liquid in front of him, and Tracer tossed a credit onto the counter. The binome snapped it up wordlessly and walked away. "Friendly chap." The surfr chuckled.
"That's as friendly as it gets around here, Pal." the sprite on the adjacent stool said softly, sipping his drink. "Get used to it."
"Yeah - spent a little time around these parts, Mate." Ray nodded, looking the man up and down. He wore simple, faded gray trousers and shirt, but there was a sense of formidable strength in his frame. His handsome, angular face, crowned by a mop of unruly white hair, wore the weathering of many a hard cycle. "Not exactly the United Workstations."
The other sprite didn't look at him, instead finishing of his drink in a long swallow. "Here - lemme get you another one o' those." the search engine offered. "I/O shot, is it?"
"That's right." The man said gruffly. Ray waved his hand at the nine binome, held up two fingers and pointed to himself and his new 'friend'.
"Down the input." Ray grinned, holding up his glass. The other man absently raised his fresh drink, then downed it in one swallow. "Slow down, Mate - gonna rot out your insides if ya ain't careful."
"So where you from?" the man asked abruptly.
Ray frowned. "Here and there, Mate. Ray's the name. I'm a search engine, so I cover a lot of bandwidth. Yourself?"
"Supercomputer written and compiled." The man smiled grimly.
"Didn't catch your name." Ray said helpfully.
"No - you didn't." the sprite replied. "Are you still buying, or is one your limit?"
"No - go ahead, ring 'em up!" the surfr laughed, shaking his head. The older man raised his hand, waved to the bartender. Ray drained his first DRAMbouie and nearly spat it onto the counter as he caught a glimpse of the man's sleeve. He coughed and spluttered a few times.
"If you can't hold your own any better than that, you're in the wrong place." The older sprite grinned. The smile disappeared when he saw the expression on Ray's face. "What's your problem, Boy?"
"Er - nothin', nothin' Mate." The search engine said hastily, returning his attention to his drinks. "Just went down the wrong input, that's all."
"Yeah…" the man frowned. He finished his third I/O shot in a gulp and stood. "Thanks for the drinks. I've got places to be."
"Wait!" Ray said, grabbing the man's hand. "Look-" he whispered. "That is a keytool under your sleeve - isn't it?"
The older sprite jerked his hand free and looked around quickly. "Like I said, I've got places to be." He snarled. He started for the door at a brisk walk.
"Wait!" Ray hissed again, falling into step behind him. "Look - there's someone I think you should meet. Hold up, Mate!" The man didn't turn, but walked straight through the doors and disappeared. Ray watched the doors for a moment, eyes narrowed, then returned to his drinks, scowling.
*** "Cool!" Enzo laughed. "That's nine-eight! Point game!"
"Bring it on, Sparky!" AndrAIa growled, patrolling her net. "I'm ready."
"We'll see who's ready!" Enzo grinned. With a whiplash motion, he flung his jetball off the floor a few spans in front of the game sprite, where it ricocheted up, off the ceiling and behind her as she dove for it. The bell sounded as it found her net. "Ha ha! Game!"
"Good shot!" AndrAIa panted. "Got me again."
"Wanna go again?"
"Naw - that's two-all." She smiled. "Let's call it a draw, whaddaya say?"
"Cool." The two sprites exited the court and rebooted out of their hoversuits. "This new jetball cone is great - Dot really picked a good one! I think Bob must've told her which one to buy."
"Or Matrix told her. Good game, Guardian." AndrAIa chuckled. "It's funny - you use all the same strategies that Matrix does! You'd think I'd have them figured out by now."
"Sometimes I think you let me win." The boy frowned.
"Never - I'm a game sprite!" the girl laughed as they emerged from the game center. "Winning games is our function! Wanna zip?"
"Naw - let's just walk." Enzo answered. The two sprites strolled leisurely in silence, side by side, for several nanos. "Andri - you're not really a game sprite anymore, are you?" the youngster asked, as they started towards Baudway. "I mean - you've been out here for so long…"
"I know - but it's still part of me." She smiled. "It's my code, just like being a data sprite is your code, and being a Guardian is Bob's code."
"And Matrix'." Enzo sighed.
"And yours too, someday - don't worry." She said gently, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as they walked. "Don't sweat it Enzo - you'll be a great Guardian. I know."
"Thanks." The boy smiled, leaning against her. "And thanks for playing jetball with me, too. It was a blast."
"No prob. I've loved jetball ever since Enzo showed it to me when I was little. We never really got much of a chance to play it before - you know."
"Sure." The boy said softly. "So you really like Mainframe, huh? It's a pretty cool place."
"It's pixelacious." The game sprite laughed, as always making Enzo's heart skip a beat. "I wish I'd never had to leave it. It's the closest thing to a home I ever had."
"Yeah, me too." Enzo nodded, bringing another laugh from the girl. "Was it really bad out there - in the games, and everything?"
"Sometimes. Did Matrix ever tell you about it?"
"A little." The youngster sighed, shivering slightly from the memory. "He doesn't like to talk about it, though."
"I know. I think it was worse for him than it was for me, Enzo. I came from a game - I never knew anything else. Enzo - Matrix - he knew what he was missing. He had more to miss than I did."
"It couldn't have been that bad - not if you were there." Enzo whispered.
"Thank you!" the game sprite smiled, kissing his forehead gently. "That's a very sweet thing to say. I'm not sure Matrix would agree with you, though."
"I bet he would." Enzo sighed, struggling to keep himself from lifting off the pavement and floating away.
"Well - it doesn't really matter. We got through it, and we made it home. And now we're all here, together. Right?"
"Right!" Enzo grinned. They'd walked all the way back to the diner. "Wanna come in for an energy shake, Andri?"
"Naw - think I'm gonna head home. Matrix'll be waiting. Say Hi to Bob and Dot for me, OK?"
"Cool." The boy whispered. "Stay frosty…"
"Stay frosty, Guardian." The game sprite hopped onto her zip board and zoomed towards Kits. Enzo watched her slowly shrinking form, unable to tear his eyes away.
The boy wasn't sure how long he'd been staring into empty space when Dot's voice cut through his reverie. "Well - are you going to stand there all cycle, or do want to see what it's like inside?"
Enzo spun, feeling himself blushing. "Sorry, Sis! Just thinking, sorry…"
"Yes, she is very pretty - you're right!" Dot smiled.
,p>"Dot!" the youngster hissed. "I wasn't thinkin' that!"
"Of course not. Now come on inside, I fixed you some dinner. Unless you have other plans?"
"Real funny!" Enzo scowled, stepping past her and pausing to absently scratch Frisket's ears as he walked into the diner. "Bob!"
"Hey, Enzo. How was jetball?" the Guardian greeted him from the counter.
"Totally cool, Dude! We split four games. AndrAIa's an awesome jetball player. Not as good as you, though. Think there's gonna be another game, soon? It's been cycles! D'you think-"
"Enzo!" Dot interrupted.
"Yes?"
"Sit yourself down, Hotshot. Your dinner's getting cold."
"Sure, Dot." The boy grinned, bouncing onto the stool next to the Guardian. Dot joined them at the counter. He shoveled java beans and franks into his mouth ferociously. "This is real good, Dot - thanks!" he said in a splutter of crumbs.
"Say it - don't spray it!" the Command.Com laughed, sitting next to him. "And slow down - I know my food is fast, but it's not going anywhere!"
"Sorry!" he smiled sheepishly.
"There's something Bob and I wanted to talk about with you, Enzo." The green-haired woman continued.
"What is it? Am I in trouble?' Enzo frowned in mid-swallow.
"No!" Dot chuckled. "Nothing like that. Enzo - what would you think if we had an… addition - around here?"
"You mean like - a pizza oven, or something?"
"No! Not like that." Dot sighed. "Something a little more important."
"Important ? Like what?" Enzo frowned. Bob watched bemusedly.
"Well - try to understand, Enzo. You know Bob and I love each other. Very much."
"Sure."
"And we love you very much." Dot continued, staring straight ahead, brow furrowed in concentration. "And because of that, we were thinking it might be nice if Bob - came to live with us. Now I know that might be hard for you to adjust to, Enzo. It'll be different for all of us. But I'm sure with time-"
"Uh - Dot?" Bob interrupted.
"Yes?" the Command.Com turned to find Bob sprawled on the floor, Enzo straddling his chest. "Oh. I take it you're all right with this, then."
"Dude!" Enzo gasped. "Is it true? You're really moving in with us?"
"Looks that way, Pal." The Guardian smiled, pushing himself to his feet.
"Alphanumeric!" Enzo giggled. He wrapped his arms around the Guardian gleefully. "Oh, Bob - that is so totally cool! Awesome! High-res! Double-sided! I can't even believe it!"
"I'm glad you're glad, Enzo." Dot sighed. "I was hoping you would be."
"Are you kidding? This is the best! It's gonna be so cool, you guys! Why in the net did it take you this long to decide?"
"Enzo!" Dot gasped. "That's none of your business!"
"Oh, Bob - this is so great! We're gonna have so much fun - we can watch vids together, and have breakfast every morning and you can zip to school with me - we're gonna have so much fun!"
"Yeah, we are!" Bob laughed. "But it might not be as easy as you think, Enzo. It'll be a big change - for you, too."
,p>"I don't care!" Enzo grinned, still wrapped around Bob tightly. "This is so awesome. I can't believe it's finally happening!"
"It was your sister's idea."
"Dot! That's so cool. Thanks! It'll be great!"
"Yeah - I know it will." She smiled, meeting Bob's gaze and patting her brother on the shoulder. "Just try not to wear Bob out too much, OK? He's not as young as he used to be."
"Thanks a lot!" Bob scowled. "I'm already having second thoughts…"
"I can't believe you guys waited this long. Everybody knew it was gonna happen!" Enzo grinned.
"Hmm. I'm not sure I like the sound of that." Dot sighed. "But it doesn't matter. What matters is here and now. And you like that pretty well, huh?"
"You bet!"
"You bet!" Dot smiled, leaning over her brother and kissing Bob quickly.
"Ow! Quit it - you're squeezing me!" Enzo bellowed.
"Sorry!"
"You guys are gonna do that a lot, I bet!" the youngster scowled.
"Yep!" Bob grinned, giving his cap a turn. "Get used to it!"
"It's OK. That's why you're moving in, right?"
"Enzo!" Dot frowned.
"I'm moving in for a lot of reasons, Kiddo. That's one of them."
"I don't care. I'm just glad you're gonna be here."
"Me too. Pretty cool, huh?"
"I've been dreaming about this cycle. For a long time." Dot said softly, wrapping her arms around the other two sprites. "For a lot of reasons."
"Yeah - me too!" Enzo beamed.
Dot met Bob's eye and smiled, and they kissed again. "For a lot of reasons…"
*** "What did you say his name was?" the flame-haired sprite frowned, scratching her chin thoughtfully.
"I didn't, Love." Ray Tracer smiled, leaning back wearily in the small berth that served as crew quarters in Ship. "He wasn't exactly the talkative type - especially when the subject of names came up."
"You didn't tell him your name - did you?" Mouse frowned.
"Darlin' - I have spent a little time in the Supercomputer, you know. I wasn't compiled yesterday - even if I do look dashingly young. All I gave up was Ray."
"Sorry, Sugar." The hacker chuckled, joining the surfr in the bed. "Can't be too careful around these parts. Especially when sprites with keytools are walkin' around. Yer sure it was a keytool?"
"Sure as salt, Love. Not a doubt in my mind."
"Damn - a Guardian, here? An uninfected Guardian? It don't make sense, not to mention - why would a Guardian be stupid enough to wear his keytool out in public right under Daemon's nose?"
"Dunno, Love." Ray sighed. "It wasn't exactly in plain sight - it was under his sleeve. If hadn't o' hung around old Gloomy Drawers and Bob, I'd never've recognized it."
"Still - pretty deleted reckless." Mouse said softly. "Mebbe he's workin' fer Daemon - but if he's uninfected, why would he be workin' for her? It don't make sense!" The hacker kissed Ray firmly for a long moment, and grinned. "You think you could find this guy again, Honey?"
*** "486 chip for your thoughts!" Dot whispered, legs drawn up on the sofa, head on Bob's shoulder. "You're awfully quiet."
"I don't think they're worth that much!" Bob grinned, squeezing the woman closer. "I was just thinking how bad this show is. Why do we even watch these things?"
"This is Mike the TV here again, bringing you another edition of "When Nulls Attack!" Watch closely now as our hidden camera follows the action…"
A pair of zero binomes, male and female, in safari hats sat in an open-topped vehicle, each grinning widely and carrying digital cameras.
"Look, Honey!" the male gasped. "It's a tiger-striped filesucker! Hold my binoculars while I move in for a closer look…"
"Be careful, Dear!" the female warned. "He looks hungry..."
"Don't be silly - they're only nulls." The male said confidently. "Look, he's - Aaaauugggh!"
"Wendell!" the female screamed, as the null secured itself to the binomes throat.
"My energy! He's sucking my energy!" The camera rocked wildly for a nano, then the picture was lost in a haze of snow.
Mike's face filled the screen again. "The terrible, awesome power of nature." He intoned. "So cruel, yet so breathtakingly beautiful. Come with us now to a small island in the heart of Mainframe-"
"Terrible!" Bob sighed. "What's the name of this network again?"
"You could always turn it off." Dot smiled, running her fingers through the Guardian's hair. "I'm sure we could think of something else to do."
"It's weirdly fascinating, in a way. But not nearly as interesting as you are."
"Thanks - I think!" the Command.Com smiled, snuggling closer against him. "So how does it feel - first night in your new home page?"
"Nice! Weird, though." Bob smiled. "Gonna be a long cycle tomorrow, getting the rest of my stuff and all. Shoulda hired a file mover…"
"I think Matrix could carry most of it himself." Dot chuckled. "And you can fit some of it in your car. On the off chance that it's actually running."
"What have I gotten myself into?" the Guardian sighed dramatically. "Now there's no place to escape…"
"Hey!" Enzo called, tiptoeing into the room in his pajamas. "What're you guys doing?"
"Just watching a vidscreen." Bob grinned. "Not a very good one, either. What're you still doing up?"
"Cool - When Nulls Attack!" Enzo enthused. "Can I stay up for a while? Please?"
"Sure!" Dot smiled, patting the couch. "Just this once."
"Alphanumeric!" The boy veritably raced over to the sofa and squeezed in between his sister and the Guardian. "Thanks, Dot."
"Well - it's a special occasion." The Command.Com said softly. "Did you finish your homework?"
"Sure!" the youngster nodded, sticking his tongue out in disgust. "Even the COBOL junk. Think we can do some more martial arts practice tomorrow after breakfast, Bob? Never know when there's gonna be another Kombat game!"
"We'll see." Bob laughed. "I have to get my stuff moved in tomorrow. You gonna help me?"
"Sure! Cool." The boy hugged his knees and leaned against the Guardian's shoulder. "Hey - turn it up! This is awesome - the null practically eats his whole face!"
"Welcome to the family, Bob!" Dot laughed.
*** "Well, Lover - I guess this is a little more comfortable than the garage." AndrAIa smiled.
"That's safe to say." Matrix nodded, snuggling deeper under the covers as the two sprites made themselves comfortable in their docking bay. "Still feels weird, though - this is Bob's room! Y'know?"
"It's our room now, Sparky."
"Yeah… Gimme a little time to get used to that." The big sprite chuckled. "I spent a lot of time in this apartment when I was a little spite. Never dreamed in a million cycles that I'd be living here, though."
"Our first place." AndrAIa grinned. "And we didn't have to go looking for it - it was right under our noses. Kinda exciting, isn't it?"
"Any place would be home if you were there." Matrix said softly, wrapping her in his arms.
"Thanks." She whispered. "Still - it kinda makes it official, doesn't it? We really are home now - for real."
"Gonna have to get some new stuff. Furniture and all. Most of this is going over to Dot's."
"It'll be fun!"
"You know how I feel about shopping." The bearded sprite sighed.
"You'll learn to love it." AndrAIa grinned evilly. The game sprite rested her head on Matrix' chest and closed her eyes. "I wonder how Bob and Dot are doing. I hope they'll be happy…"
"They will be." Matrix whispered, stroking her aquamarine hair softly. "I always knew they'd end up together - even if they didn't."
"Even when you were Enzo's age?"
"Especially when I was Enzo's age." He smiled. "It was like they were so close to each other that they couldn't really see each other sometimes. I always could, though. It drove me offline when they fought. I guess it doesn't matter, now…"
,p>"It'll be nice for Enzo." AndrAIa said softly. "Having Bob there. Don't you think?"
"I don't think. I know." Matrix replied, gently kissing her on top of the head. "By the Code, Andri - you're so beautiful…"
"Matrix!" the game sprite laughed.
"C'mere!" he growled, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her firmly. "We've got the whole place to ourselves, Andri - our place. Does it give you any ideas?"
"We could play a game." She grinned. "I am a game sprite, after all…"
"Games, games, games! I have an idea for a new game." The bearded sprite leant over and whispered in AndrAIa's ear.
The game sprite barked a laugh. "Matrix! I never knew you were such a - romantic…"
"Hey - it is our place!" he grinned. The big sprite kissed her again, and reached over and deleted the light.
*** On the vidscreen, Mike the TV was still droning on, this time about hard drive crashes captured live on film. The flickering light from the screen cast dancing shadows on the three sprites together on the couch in the darkened room.
"Is he asleep?" Dot whispered, a small smile playing across her lips.
"Yeah." Bob replied softly, not opening his eyes.
"Are you asleep?"
"Not quite." The Guardian grinned, yawning and finally looking down at the small sprite whose head reclined on his chest.
"I'm sorry, Bob - this isn't exactly what I had in mind for your first night here." Dot sighed.
"It's all right." The blue sprite whispered. "It's really nice, actually. I think it's the nicest cycle I've had since I can remember."
"I'm glad." The Command.Com leaned over her little brother and gave Bob a quick peck on the cheek. She reached for the remote and flicked off the vidscreen. "I think it's time for all of us to get to bed."
"I'll carry him." Bob smiled. He wrapped his arms around Enzo, but the youngster stirred and woke at the contact.
"Mmmf. What?" he mumbled.
"C'mon, Pal - time for bed. No more flesh eating nulls for tonight."
"No - I'll walk." Enzo yawned. He stood up and stretched. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
"You looked pretty comfortable." Dot chuckled.
"Walk with me, Bob?"
"Sure, Enzo." He turned to the Command.Com. "I'll be along in a nano, Dot."
"Okay." The woman knelt next to her brother and kissed him on the forehead. "Good night, Little Brother. Don't keep Bob talking too long - we've all got a busy day tomorrow."
"Night. Can I stay home from school tomorrow? To help Bob move? He asked me to help!"
"You can help. After school."
"Cursors." The boy yawned, barely able to keep his eyes open. Bob grabbed his hand and Dot stood for a moment, watching them disappear down the hall, before rebooting into her nightgown.
"Sorry I can't help you move, Bob." Enzo yawned, climbing into bed.
"That's OK, Enzo. We'll manage. I think between Matrix and Hack and Slash, we'll be all right." The boy stretched and grinned a mile wide. "What?" the Guardian asked, bemused.
"It's so cool - you're gonna be here in the morning when I wake up! Every cycle! I can't even believe it!"
"Neither can I. Pretty weird, huh?"
"Will you zip with me to school tomorrow, Bob? We can talk about game strategy and stuff."
"I think that might be arranged." The Guardian chuckled.
"Bob, did you think about it a lot - coming to live with us?" Enzo said softly.
"Sometimes. Don't forget - I was gone for a long time, Enzo. Just like Matrix was. All I thought about was surviving out there. And coming home."
"Yeah." Enzo whispered. Unlike with his brother, he'd never mustered the nerve to ask Bob about his time lost in the web. "I bet you missed Dot, huh?"
"I missed her a lot." Bob smiled. "I missed you, too. I missed Mainframe. It's the only home I ever really had, Enzo."
"What about before - before you came here? Didn't you have a home then?"
"That's a long story, Partner. It's complicated. And it's pretty late - we've both got to get some sleep. I'll tell you about it another time, OK?"
"OK." Enzo frowned. "G'night, Bob."
"Night, Pal. See you in the morning." Bob tousled the youngster's hair and turned towards the door.
"I thought about it a lot." Enzo said sleepily. "You coming to live with us. It's alphanumeric."
"Thanks." Bob grinned, turning. "Sleep tight." The Guardian closed the door behind him and walked down the hall to Dot's room. His room, now, too. That would take some getting used to…
"Alone at last." Dot smiled as he slipped into the room.
The Guardian joined her on the docking bay. "Did you miss me?"
"I didn't even notice you were gone."
"Hmmm. This is bad…" The Guardian was interrupted as Dot met his lips with her own and embraced him fiercely. "Maybe not!" he gasped. "I'd hate to see what would happen if you did miss me!"
Neither sprite spoke for several nanos, content merely to hold each other in blissful silence. "Some things really do happen." Dot sighed softly after a moment. "The way they should."
"Hmmm?" Bob whispered.
"Sometimes it seems like nothing ever turns out right, you know?" the Command.Com continued. "All we ever do is plod along, hope for the best. Deal with things the best we can."
"That's not so terrible, is it?" Bob smiled.
"No - it's not." Dot whispered. "But it isn't enough. Some things just turn out the right way. The way they should. Like this, Bob. It's right! Can't you feel it? You and I. Enzo. After everything that's happened, with Enzo and AndrAIa lost in the games, you lost in the web. Megabyte, Daemon, all of it. The reboot. All the terrible things, all the good things. They were all worth it, because this is right. The three of us."
"The three of us." Bob echoed, a little taken aback by Dot's passion. "I guess I never really spent as much time thinking about it as you did, Love. I just know I'm happy to be here, right now. That's all that really matters."
"I love you." The woman smiled, kissing him again, a gentle, savoring touch. They held each other in silence for a long time, the city sleeping quietly outside the diner.
*** "You're sure that's him?" the flame-haired sprite whispered, squinting in the general direction of a scraggily dressed man walking a few dozen paces ahead of them on the busy thoroughfare.
"That's him, Love." Ray Tracer answered confidently. "I never forget a man who owes me a drink."
"Weird - he sure ain't dressed like a Guardian." Mouse frowned as they followed at a discreet distance.
"D'you know him?"
"Not sure." The hacker whispered. "Gonna hafta get a closer look. There's somethin' about him though - somethin' familiar…"
"Through here!" Ray hissed, gesturing towards a darkened alley. "We can cut him off."
"Right behind you, Sugar." The two sprites trotted down the alley, towards the aisle of light on the far end that represented the streets of the Supercomputer. They'd nearly reached it when two muscular arms reached out from behind a recycle bin and grabbed the surfr by the throat. Mouse hissed like a cat, falling into a defensive crouch, her dagger poised in her left hand.
A shadowy figure held Ray firmly, his forearm poised at the surfr's neck. "Back off, Girl. Your friend here knows what's under my sleeve."
"How'd you get there so fast?" Ray gasped, fighting for breath.
"You mind telling me why you're following me? Or should I just delete both of you now?"
"That wouldn't be a good idea, Sugar." Mouse growled thinly. "You got no idea who you're dealin' with."
"Neither do you." The figure replied gruffly. "Don't feel like talking? That's a shame. Galileo! Autopistol-"
"Wait!" Mouse hissed. "There's no need for that, Sugar." The hacker frowned and squinted as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. "Just a nano - come out here where I can see you…"
"I think not." The shadow growled, the shape on his forearm now an ominous looking cylinder pointed at the surfr's throat.
,p>"You!" Mouse gasped, taking a step, towards the shadows. "It's you!"
"Who?" Ray rasped.
"Enough!"
"It is!" Mouse whispered. "Laser! I thought you were deleted minutes ago!"
"How do you know me?" the older sprite snarled. "I can delete you both any time I want to…"
"I was there! At the Academy. Of course! You don't remember - I was just another cadet…"
"Who is this guy, Love? If you're old pals, mebbe you could ask 'im to let me breathe for a while?"
,p>"The Academy?" the older sprite hesitated, relaxing his grip. Ray broke though his arms and dove behind Mouse, who still held her dagger poised. The surfr breathed heavily, forcing air into his lungs.
"Yeah." The hacker grinned toothily. "Until they kicked me out. This sprite, Sugar, was none less than Second Guardian. But I heard they kicked you outta the Collective, Old Man. And you ain't been heard from since-"
"I left!" the older sprite scowled, finally stepping from the shadows, still pointing his arm at the others. "Wait a nano - expelled from the Academy, you say?"
"That's what I said, Honey. Probably just as well, too - I wasn't exactly Guardian material. Just too young and stupid to know it at the time."
"Of course!" A barking laugh escaped Laser's throat. "Rebecca Postscript! I reviewed your case myself. Should've known by the hair…"
"Rebecca?" Ray said, arching an eyebrow. A smile played at the corners of his mouth.
"My name is Mouse!" the hacker snarled. She glared at Tracer. "And you'd be well-advised to remember that, Surfr. Do we understand each other?"
Ray held his hands up defensively. "Whatever you say - Rebecca. It goes no further than this alley."
"Ray Tracer. I'll just bet." She scowled.
"Well - ain't this fine." Laser grinned. "A couple of failures and outcasts meeting up for old times sake. Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend here?"
Mouse shook her head. "Surfr - this is Laser. Disgraced exile from the Collective. Disgraced exile - Surfr."
"Hey - I voted to reinstate you." The older man hissed. "So watch your tone. Your friend can't hold his I/O shots, by the way."
"Hang on!" Ray protested. "What'd I do?"
"What've you been doing with yourself, Cadet?" the white-haired sprite asked brusquely. "Since that failed hack into the Supercomputer, I mean."
"User! Does everyone know about that? I might ask you the same thing, Old Man. Last I heard was when they booted you out, couple hours after I got expelled. Not a byte since."
"I try to keep a low profile." Laser smiled thinly, finally lowering his arm. "Galileo - reset."
"Is that right?" Mouse frowned. "Seems to me you got a funny way of doin' that, Sugar - walkin' around the Supercomputer with a keytool under your shirt? You wouldn't by any chance be stalkin' horses for Daemon now, would ya?"
"Funny - I was about to ask you the same question." The older sprite replied evenly.
*** "Be careful!" Matrix shouted, nervously eyeing the small sprite as he circled above the diner. "Watch out for that billboard!"
"I got it!" Enzo scowled, flexing his knees and holding his arms out for balance. "Just like a zip board!" he whispered to himself. The cursored thing was so sensitive! Every movement of his body, no matter how small, translated into a course change. It was incredibly difficult - but what a tool, if he could master it…
"Why don't you come down now?" Matrix shouted up to him.
"OK, just a nano!" Enzo sighed. He circled out over Baudway in a wide arc, then swooped towards the diner and skidded to a hovering stop, arms flailing. Matrix reached out and grabbed him by the waist. "Thanks." The youngster panted.
"You say you find this enjoyable?" the bearded sprite asked dubiously.
"Sure!" Enzo grinned, hopping to the ground and wiping the perspiration from his brow. "It's the best! You try it."
"Me?" the big sprite chuckled. "I don't think so, Enzo. I'm not built for that kind of transportation. Gimmee a zip board any time…"
"Aw, just try it! This once. It's hard, but it's so much better than a zip board! You can go faster, turn faster - it's pixelacious!"
"Enzo-"
"Just try it!" the boy sighed, inwardly hoping that he'd never be as old as Matrix was. Bob would try it in a nano…
"Well - all right." The big sprite frowned. He stepped onto the board gingerly. "How do you make it go?"
"Those little pedals near the back, by your feet. The one on the right makes it go faster, and the left makes it go slower. Press down with your feet to turn yourself, and lean a little. Not too much!"
"OK…" Matrix delicately depressed the pedal on the right and took off like a shot. "User!" he shouted, scattering a small pack of binomes with shopping bags.
"Turn!" Enzo shouted, stifling a laugh, as the big sprite headed for a parked car. At the last moment, the board turned sharply to the right, unfortunately without its rider. Matrix flailed his arms and shouted, almost reaching the ground before the board swooped under him and caught him.
"That was awesome!" Enzo giggled, running towards the scowling sprite. "Are you OK?"
"Just watch it, Sprout!" Matrix snarled, pushing himself to his feet. "How did the board know to catch me like that?"
"I dunno." The boy shrugged. "You could ask Mouse - if she were here. She made it."
"Yeah." Matrix said softly. "Ray's board did that too. Weird…"
"Wanna ride it again?"
"No!" the bearded sprite smiled ruefully, hopping off the board. "I'll walk back, thanks. Wanna get an energy shake?"
"Awesome." Enzo grinned, stowing the board under his arm. "I wish Ray was here to show me how to ride better. He was a cool guy."
"Yeah - he was all right, I guess." Matrix sighed. "I don't know why you want to go anywhere near that thing - it tried to kill me!"
"Matrix!" Enzo laughed.
"Well - better you than me." The beaded sprite grinned as they entered the diner.
"Table for two, Sir?" Cecil asked brusquely.
"Why do you always do that. Cecil?" Enzo sighed, bouncing into a booth. "We're ownership - remember? We can sit where we want! "
"Couple of energy shakes." Matrix chuckled, joining his younger self at the booth. Cecil tittered and sped off towards the kitchen. "You shouldn't bust his diodes like that - he doesn't know any better."
"I know." The boy grinned. "It's fun, though."
Matrix rolled his eyes. "Where's Dot?"
"At the P.O. with Bob. They're still tryin' to figure out what Hex did to the defenses." Cecil returned and wordlessly slammed two energy shakes on the table.
Matrix frowned at the mention of the virus. "Yeah. Bet they're gonna be trying to figure that out for a long time. She and Bob getting along okay? How's he like living here?"
"They kiss a lot." Enzo giggled.
"That's a good sign…"
"It's totally cool, Enzo! Bob bein' here all the time. It's great! I think he really likes it too."
"Yeah. Wish Bob had been living with us when I was a little sprite." Matrix smiled, slurping his shake. "That would've been pretty alphanumeric. I think I dreamed about it every cycle. You're pretty lucky."
"You live with AndrAIa." Enzo said petulantly, and took a deep draw on his energy shake.
"Touché'." The bearded sprite nodded, raising his shake. "But it's still pretty cool."
"Yeah, it is." Enzo agreed. "How d'you like living in Bob's apartment?"
"It's pixelacious. It's still a little weird, though. I mean - I used to go over there and play all the time - since I was littler than you! Help Bob work on his car, all that stuff. It was my favorite place. And now I live there. Basic."
"Yeah, Bob's place is totally cool. I'll come over there and visit you sometimes, okay?"
"Sure!" the big sprite chuckled. "Our door is always open. Just wipe your feet - AndrAIa's getting pretty protective about the place. She's out furniture shopping right now…"
"Cool." The youngster took another slurp of his energy shake, kicking his feet under the table. He drained the glass to the bottom and looked down, as if trying to spot something hiding inside. "Thanks for listening to me the other cycle, Enzo. Sorry I was so basic."
"No big deal." The big sprite said softly. "And you aren't basic, Enzo. I wish I'd told someone all that stuff when I was your age. I carried it around with me instead. I guess I had no one to tell…"
"That's sad." Enzo frowned. "But I know what you mean."
"We say that to each other a lot, don't we?"
"Yeah! Wonder why." The youngster giggled. He drummed his fingers on the table thoughtfully. "I guess there's still nobody else around here… like me. Y'know? It felt great to tell you about it - totally awesome. But I'm still the only kid around here."
"I guess you are." Matrix said softly. "But at least you can talk to me about it, when it gets you down. Right?"
"Sure…"
"It wasn't Dad's fault - you know? He didn't mean to do it, Enzo. He was trying to help - trying to save all those nulls. It's better if you don't blame him for everything."
"I don't!" Enzo protested.
"Yes you do. I did. You can't lie to me, Enzo - I was there. I was you. Remember?"
"Maybe I do - just a little." Enzo admitted, kicking the table. "But it still isn't fair!"
"Fair doesn't enter into it." Matrix sighed. "It wasn't fair that I had to be on my own in the games when I was barely older than you. But I was. It wasn't fair that Bob got shot into the web before he could train me to be a Guardian. But he was. Don't worry about whether stuff is fair or not or it'll drive you offline."
"I guess." Enzo frowned. "I just wish everyone didn't think I was such a little kid all the time."
"Can't help that. Only way to show 'em - grow up."
"Matrix!" Enzo chuckled, punching his older self on the arm. "I'm serious!"
"That's a switch."
"OK, OK!" the youngster sighed. He twirled the straw in his empty glass aimlessly for a nano. "I wish Bob treated me like a grown-up sometimes. He's super nice to me, but he still treats me like a little kid. I want him to be proud of me…"
"I think he is proud of you. He takes you into the games-"
"I know." The boy interrupted. "But he'd never let anything happen. If he ever thinks I'm in trouble he bails me out. Like a little kid. I can do it, Matrix - I know I can! I can be a good Guardian…"
"He's just doing his job, Enzo. Dot would bust his bitmap if anything happened. Besides - he's training you. I wish he'd been around to train me. With no Academy, he's all the training you're gonna get."
"I know…" Enzo whined. "Matrix - can I see your icon?"
The bearded sprite frowned for a nano, then reached for his gold and black icon and handed it to the boy. Enzo held it reverently in his small hands, turning it over and over. "Does it feel any different?"
"Does what feel any different?"
"You know - this." Enzo said. "The codes. Bein' a Guardian. Does it feel any different?"
Matrix scratched his beard thoughtfully. "A little. It's hard to explain… It makes you do things. Like when the game cubes come, it makes you want to go. And act a certain way once you're inside. But it's not like it's controlling you - it is you, sort of. It changes who you are."
"Wow…" Enzo whispered, staring at the icon, holding it up to the light and studying it.
"You'll get there, sometime. It'll happen." Matrix said softly. "You'll even get to go the Academy. You'll see."
"Maybe." Enzo sighed. He took a last look at the icon, then handed it back to its owner. "Goin' to the Academy would be cool. Learning all that stuff, getting my own keytool. Bob and Dot would be proud of me then, I bet."
"Cool!" Enzo grinned. "Wanna come inside the game, Enzo?"
"Hey - gotta listen to my code." The big sprite sighed. "Let's do it, Little Brother."
*** "Nice place you have here." Laser said gruffly, looking around the cramped interior of Ship. "Where's the master bedroom?"
"Hey - I gotta have some way to get around the net, Old Man." Mouse scowled. "Speakin' o' which - how do you move around out there? Or do you pretty much hang around the Supercomputer and tempt deletion?"
"I have my ways, Cadet." The older sprite smiled thinly, sitting in the pilot's seat and languidly hanging a leg over the armrest. Mouse frowned at him. "What're you gawking at, Girl?"
"Nothin'…" the hacker said softly, sliding into the co-pilot's chair. There was something about the man - what was it?
"Here ya go Mate - finest hospitality of the house." Ray grinned, handing Mouse and Laser I/O shots and taking a sip of his own. He sat on the console and winked at Mouse. "Kicked out of the Academy, huh?"
"Like I said, Sugar - they did me a favor." Mouse scowled. She turned to the older man. "Let's cut to it, Guardian - just what the heck is goin' on around here? You ain't workin' for Daemon. Why in the net are ya hangin' around the Supercomputer right under her nose?"
"Why would I want to tell you anything? A failed cadet?" the white-haired sprite mused, sipping his drink. "How do I know you aren't working for Daemon?"
,p>"I been fightin' viruses for a long time, Guardian. I ain't infected, you can see that for yerself. You ever seen anyone work for Daemon willingly?"
"There's a first time for everything."
"Why'd you leave the Collective, Old Man? What was it? You were Second Guardian. A heartbeat away. You had all the power in the net…"
"I thought we were talking about you." The older sprite smiled evenly. "My reasons are my own, Cadet. No business of yours. Or anyone else's. Especially an expelled student."
"Fine." Mouse sighed. "I take it you know that there is no Collective now? And no Academy?"
"Nasty business, Mate." Ray added.
"I'd heard some rumors." Laser nodded. "So what brings you to the Supercomputer?"
Mouse and Ray locked eyes. "Let's just say I'm keepin' tabs on things, Sugar. For some old friends. You?"
The white-haired sprite raised an eyebrow. "Old friends, huh? Aren't you the cryptic one? I was written here, compiled here. Maybe I was homesick. I've been gone a long time."
"How touching." Ray said dryly. The older sprite held up his glass, and the surfr refilled it, shaking his head. "That's four you owe me now…"
"You know more than you're sayin', Old Man." Mouse sneered. "Just how bad are things out there?"
"Why are you so concerned? A renegade like you?"
"Remember those old friends I told ya about? Well, I'd lay down my code for 'em, Sugar. Whatever happens out here is gonna happen to them, sooner or later. And that makes it my concern."
Laser nodded slowly. "Just where are these friends of yours?"
*** The Guardian stood, arms folded, waiting patiently as the descending purple cube approached him. He scanned the horizon until he finally saw what he'd been expecting - two figures on zip boards approaching. With a frown, he realized that one of the figures wasn't on a zip board after all…
"Hey! Nice of you to join me!" he called.
"Can't go against my programming." Matrix replied, coming to halt in front of the Guardian. "Where's Dot?"
"At the P.O., with Phong. She doesn't do the game thing much anymore." Bob replied. "So - decided to surf on in this time, huh Cadet?"
"Hey - I gotta practice sometime!" Enzo grinned, bouncing with excitement as the game cube approached. "Think it's gonna be a racing game, Bob? Maybe it'll be Starship Alcatraz! Hey! Maybe it'll be the Funhouse - you think?"
"Don't even say that." Bob scowled. "We'll find out soon enough…"
The energy washed over them as the game cube hit, the skin on the Guardian's face and hand tingling as it always did. He opened his eyes and looked around. The three sprites stood in a large outdoor arena, it's bleachers packed with spectators. The smell of freshly cut grass was in the air. "Looks like World Series 2100." Bob mused.
"Awesome!" Enzo laughed. "I love baseball!"
"Basic." Matrix sighed. "At least it isn't golf…"
"This'll be a blast!"
"It's not so simple, Enzo." Bob frowned. "There's nine players on a team - and only three of us. There's more of this out of our control than I like. I just hope Matrix or I reboots as the pitcher."
Enzo scowled and kicked at the ground. "Or Enzo." Matrix added, winking at Bob.
"Sure." Bob nodded. "Sorry, Enzo."
"No problem." The boy sighed. "Is there any way to make sure?"
"Nope - we have to take out chances." Bob frowned. "OK gang - let's do it. Reboot!"
"Reboot!" the two Enzos echoed, tapping their icons.
"Awesome - you're the pitcher!" Enzo shouted, standing between second and third base in a white uniform with thin blue pinstripes. Bob stood atop the pitcher's mound, similarly clad.
"Go get em, Bob!" Matrix shouted from center field.
The Guardian grinned, then looked down at his uniform. "Oh, no!"
"What's the matter?" Enzo asked. "You're the pitcher - that's good, right?"
"Yeah - but this isn't." Bob sighed, pointing to his uniform. "This is bad - very bad…"
,p>"What?" Matrix shouted.
"We're the Cubs! These guys never win. Looks like the User's chosen the Yankees as his team. They always win. How basic can you get?"
"Well - they've never played us before!" Enzo scowled. "We can take 'em!"
"That's the spirit!" Bob grinned, shaking his head. He surveyed the binomes scattered at the other defensive positions as the first batter from the User's team strode towards home plate. "You guys cover as much ground as you can - I'll try to keep you as bored as possible out there. You can't leave your actual position, but you can still cheat over a little. And watch out for mines!"
"Mines?" Enzo squeaked.
"Sure - this is World Series 2100. They're mostly in the outfield, Matrix, so heads up. They look just like gopher holes. Use your jetpads when you can. And keep your throws to first base nice and easy, Enzo - don't expect a lot of help over there."
"Hey!" the first base binome protested. "I resent that remark!"
"Got it, Coach!" Enzo grinned, pounding his glove. "Let's play ball!"
"And now, batting first, for the visitors…" a voice boomed over the loudspeaker.
"Oh, no!" Bob groaned. "Not…"
"The first baseman - and isn't he a strapping one, folks? Let's put our hands together and give it up for… the User!"
"Mike!" Bob shouted. "This game just got a lot harder…"
*** Laser blinked as the interior lights on board Ship clicked on, triggering by the slow onset of the night cycle in the Supercomputer. "User, Girl! Isn't there any way to turn those down?"
"Computer - reduce interior lighting 25%." Mouse said softly. The cabin dimmed noticeably.
"Voice control - very nice." Laser nodded approvingly.
"I've learned a few things." The hacker sighed. "By the code, Old Man - if things are as bad as you say out there-"
"They are."
"So her infection's netwide, then?"
,p>"Netwide and maybe more. I'm pretty sure she came from the web originally, so I can only assume she's spreading pretty fast out there too."
"Worse than I thought." Mouse frowned, locking eyes with Ray for a nano. "There's more - something you may not have heard about, Sugar. She's infected the games, too."
"What? That's impossible!" the white-haired sprite protested. "What do you mean - infected the games?"
"Just what I said, Honey. Daemon's found some way to infect the game codes, or somethin'. My friends ran into an infected User in a game a few cycles ago."
"This is bad. Very bad." The older sprite sighed.
"What'd you say, Sugar?" Mouse hissed.
"What?" Laser frowned, puzzled. "What're you on about, Cadet?"
"Never mind…" the hacker replied dubiously. "Just a weird thought in my head, that's all. You were sayin'?
Laser arched an eyebrow and continued. "Can you trust these friends of yours? Are you sure they know what they're talking about?"
"No doubt about it, Guardian. Let's just say they know their stuff. If they say they had an infected game, they had an infected game."
"I can vouch for 'em too, Laser. They're a good lot." Ray agreed. "We went through a lot together, and they'll always watch your back."
"Damn." The older man sighed. "I can't explain it - it doesn't seem possible. But in all my years in the Collective, I never saw a virus like this one. I guess anything's possible now. But it sure sheds a new light on things…."
"Help me out, Mate." Ray frowned. "Mouse says you were kicked out of the Collective, right?"
"I left the Collective, Boy."
"Sorry." The surfr chuckled. "You left the Collective. You said yourself you ain't been back to the Supercomputer since I was knee high to a binome. So what's all this got to do with you? Why are you here?"
The older man looked at Tracer for a long moment, impassively, then sighed. "I've made some mistakes, Son. More than I care to admit. Maybe I was thinking I could make up for a few of them now…"
*** "You got 'im, Bob!" Enzo shouted from his position at shortstop. "No batter!"
"The tension is just unbearable here, folks. Two out, top of the eighth. The Cubs are clinging to a 2-1 lead. Runner on second, power hitting right fielder T. User is up at the plate, three balls, two strikes. What will Bob throw in this pressure situation? This make or break pitch is brought to you by A-1 Compressed Air. A-1 - it reaches all the places you can't reach yourself! Here's Bob, going into the stretch…"
Bob rolled his eyes and squinted towards the plate. The binome playing catcher flashed a sign, although the Guardian had been throwing whatever pitch he'd felt like for the course of the game anyway. He suppressed a scowl. "A fastball - here? I don't think so…" he whispered. He shook his head quickly.
The Guardian slipped two fingers onto the seams of the baseball and reared back. With a grunt of exertion, he fired a slow, looping curve ball towards the plate. The batter waited back on the ball, swung, and sent a screaming line drive towards left center field.
"Use your jetpad, Enzo!" Matrix screamed from the outfield. The boy took a quick step to his left, hopped onto a small white disk on the outfield grass and bounced high into the air in a puff of smoke and fire. At the apex of his leap, several times his own height above the field, he reached out his mitt and snared the baseball. He hit the ground with a thud, and found himself back in the dugout.
Ho-ly cow, sprites and binomes! A game-saving catch by the scrappy little shortstop, Enzo Matrix! With a little help from his jetpad, of course! What an effort! And he's being mobbed by his teammates out there as the Cubs take a one run lead into the bottom of the eighth!
"Great catch, Enzo!" Bob shouted, slapping the beaming youngster's hand.
"Thanks, Bob!" the boy panted. "Just like you taught me!"
"Nice job, Kid." Matrix chuckled, patting the boy's back. "But we need a few more runs. The User's only down by one."
"That pitcher of theirs is tough." Bob frowned. "Grab a bat, Enzo - you're up third this inning."
"Right, Skipper."
"And be a little more patient up there, all right? You're swinging at too many bad pitches. Make him throw you a strike!"
"You bet!" the boy scowled. "I'm gonna hit a home run, Bob - I've got this guy's number! You'll see!"
"Just get on base, Enzo!" Bob grinned. "Don't worry about the rest of it."
The first two binomes at bat struck out - a distressingly common occurrence - and the boy strode towards the plate.
"He doesn't lack for enthusiasm, does he?" Bob chuckled. "But neither did you."
"Nope." Matrix smiled. "But enthusiasm won't win this game. We need some runs."
"Thank the User you hit that home run or we'd be in real trouble." Bob sighed. "Pitching nine innings is hard work. I'm gonna need a few energy shakes when this is over."
"What's that?" Matrix frowned, squinting towards first base. The crudely drawn User figure was shimmering and flickering in the game sunlight.
"I dunno. Looks like a substitution, maybe?" The User blinked out and was replaced after a nano by another figure. "What the-"
As Bob and Matrix leaned out of the dugout to stare at the first baseman, the pitcher on the User team delivered a high fastball, and Enzo took a mighty swing and missed. "Cursors!" he spat.
"Bob! He's infected!" Matrix gasped.
"Is that it? What you saw before?" Bob hissed. The figure at first base was emitting a pulsing green glow from his neck.
"That's it -exactly the same!" Matrix nodded. "But what - how-"
"Enzo!" Bob screamed. "Don't swing!"
"What?" Enzo shouted back, puzzled. "But I wanna hit a home run!"
"The User! At first base - he's infected! You can't get on base - you have to stay away from him!"
Enzo turned to stare at the infected User, mouth agape. "Basic!" he gasped. "Bob - what - what should I do?"
"Strike out!" Bob shouted. "And get your bitmap back here!"
"Shoot!" the boy sighed. "All right…" He stepped back into the batter's box, only to dive out of the way as the pitch arced towards his head. "Hey! What was that?"
"Ball one!" the umpire shouted.
"He's trying to hit you! To get you to first base! The User must have corrupted the game function, somehow. Just swing at everything, even if it's headed straight towards you!"
"OK…" the boy said dubiously, digging in again.
"I don't understand, Bob - why now?" Matrix hissed. "Why not at the beginning of the game? And why aren't all the User's players infected?"
"I'm not sure…" Bob frowned, as Enzo swung wildly at a pitch headed straight towards him. "Maybe it's not that easy to override game programming. And the rules of the game - the User is only allowed to play one character. Maybe the virus can't override that."
"But it's controlling the pitcher - he's trying to hit Enzo!"
"The pitcher isn't his character - it's part of the game code. Maybe the virus can manipulate the codes to that extent - enough to warp the game function. But not enough to override the character restrictions. Like not leaving his position." The Guardian winced as Enzo dove out of the way of a fastball, unable even to simulate a swing.
"I don't understand." Matrix scowled.
"Me neither - but this is all new to me. I'm guessing." Bob sighed. "We've never seen anything like this before. But if that infected User has any contact with us at all, it's lights out."
"What do we do?"
"We still have to win the game. We just have to do it without having any contact with the infected User. Which means no baserunners. Come on, Enzo, you can do it - strike out!"
Enzo crouched low as the pitcher uncurled, delivering a missile towards his back. The boy leapt straight into the air and swung the bat wildly as the ball missed him by a thread of his uniform. "Strike three!" the umpire growled.
"Good boy!" Bob shouted, and found himself back on the pitcher's mound.
"I tell ya folks - in all my seconds of broadcasting I've never seen a duel like that one. And I hope I never do again. We go to the ninth inning now, with the Cubs ahead 2-1. And the Yankees bring the heart of the order to the plate, needing just one to tie, two to take the lead. Can Bob gallantly hang on, preserving the lead in spite of his fatigue? Can the Yankees snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, thereby dooming all of us to certain nullification? Can someone please get me a bag of peanuts already?"
"Mike!" the Guardian shouted. "This is hard enough as it is. Stick a jumper in it!"
"What now Bob?" Enzo asked, pounding his mitt nervously.
"We win the game and go home." Bob said with a confidence greater than he felt. "No problem."
"But what about the infected User? What if-"
"Hey - he can't leave his position on the field. Even if he hits, he can't do anything if he doesn't get on base. And I don't intend to let that happen."
"But that means - if he does get on base, and he's running to third… I can't leave my position either! What-"
"Don't worry, I got it covered." The Guardian smiled reassuringly. Naturally, it would be Enzo in harm's way. It wasn't a pleasant prospect. He gripped the ball as the first batter stepped to the plate.
With the strength of desperation, Bob hurled six fastballs past the first two hitters, relishing the feeling of the adrenaline as it coursed through him. He stood, panting, as the User's final hitter appeared in the batter's box.
"And now batting for the Yankees, first baseman I. User. He's their last hope, sprites and binomes! And what a towering figure he is - although to my eyes he looks a little green. A few too many sunflower seeds maybe. When I'm feeling like that, I pop a few Gut-Balms. Gut-Balm - when your guts feel like they're gonna explode."
The User stepped into the batter's box, a toothy grin on his crudely drawn features. An eerie green glow surrounded him, filling Enzo with the same sense of wrongness that he'd felt when he first saw Sideshow Bob. The towering figure spat a huge wad of brown liquid into the dirt at his feet.
"Ick - that's gross!" Enzo scowled.
"I say, Sir - it's a virus! Right here in the game!" the left fielder gasped.
"By jove - you're right!" the right fielder agreed. "Crikey, Binky - I think we've bought it!"
"Hardly seems, well - cricket - does it Sir?"
"Quiet out there!" Bob growled, wiping sweat from his forehead. He reared back and fired a smoldering fastball, right down the middle.
"Strike one!" the umpire shouted. The User smiled a grisly smile, and pounded his bat in the dirt.
Bob took a deep breath and firmed his grip on the baseball. With a grunt, he uncurled and sent another screaming fastball past the infected User. "Strike two!"
"You got it, Bob! One more!" Enzo grinned, pounding his mitt.
"Why isn't he swinging?" the Guardian whispered to himself. The User stepped away from the plate and lifted his bat. With a sneer, he slowly turned it until he was pointing it directly at shortstop. Enzo trembled a little, in spite of himself.
"You gotta hit it first!" Bob snarled. The User grinned and stepped back into the batter's box. Bob exhaled deeply, and slipped two fingers directly onto the seams of the baseball. "Stay frosty!" he hissed.
The Guardian launched a pitch that started at the User's eye level, then dove sharply as it neared home plate. The bat left the infected User's shoulder at last, and impacted the ball with a loud "thwack!" The ball sailed in a high arc towards the center field wall, as Bob watched in shock.
The User dashed towards first base and rounded it as Matrix started back, gingerly stepping around the mines that had already eliminated several binomes. Enzo watched his older brother for a nano, then turned and saw the User approaching second base, an evil grin on its face. The boy realized, with a shock, that he couldn't move more than a few steps - he truly was locked into his position. And the User was getting closer…
"It's a long fly ball, deep center field! Way back there! It might be… It could be…"
"No!" Bob shouted at the top of his lungs. The infected User was bearing down on Enzo, and the boy, wide-eyed, was powerless to escape his path.
Matrix reached out with his hand, felt the firmness of the wall behind him, wishing there were jetpads on the warning track. The ball was finally descending, after a seeming eternity. He coiled his knees and planted his hand atop the wall. With a great scream of effort, he pushed himself upward with his legs and hand simultaneously, and stabbed his glove skyward.
Enzo cowered back as the User bore down on him, hands reaching out for him, teeth flashing sickly green as he grinned. The hands reached for his throat, just as the diseased figure flickered and disappeared.
"Oh, what a catch, sprites and binomes! And the crowd goes wild! Cubs win! Cubs win! Surely, the apocalypse is nigh…"
Enzo blinked, scarcely believing his eyes. The stands and field popped into nothingness before him.
Matrix felt his legs strike hard ground and looked around him. His breath left him as a weight thudded into his chest and arms wrapped around his neck.
"Matrix!" Enzo grinned. "That was a totally awesome catch, Dude! You saved my bitmap! Where'd you learn to do that? Can you teach me?"
"Thanks!" the bearded sprite chuckled, setting the boy down. "A little too close for my tastes…"
"Everybody all right?" Bob shouted, running over to them.
"Fine." Matrix sighed. "For now."
"This is not good." Bob scowled.
"Aw, we can handle 'em!" Enzo beamed. "We're an awesome team! We can handle any User - even an infected one!"
"Maybe so, Enzo." Bob smiled ruefully, slapping the youngster on the back. "But I'm not so sure we can chalk this up to coincidence anymore..."
*** "The boys should be back any nano." AndrAIa smiled, stretching in feline fashion. "I could use a break."
"Me too." Dot yawned. "It seems like we've studying these codes for seconds."
"By the User, Children - I may have inputted these algorithms myself, but I have no idea what most of them, well - do. The ways of viruses are indeed strange…"
"Well - hopefully Hex is as scared of Daemon as we are." The Command.Com frowned. "Because we may never figure out just exactly what she did."
"I believe I will pay a visit to the research lab, Children - Hugh Branch is working on a new diagnostic algorithm that may be of some use to us. If you will excuse me?" Phong asked politely, bridging his fingers.
"Of course, Phong." Dot smiled. The old sprite whirred off, leaving the two women alone in the command center. "My code, I'm tired. It seems like every time we finish one job, another one pops up. Peace is hard work."
"Beats the alternative." AndrAIa replied.
"I suppose. Meanwhile, the boys were off in a game, as usual - having fun, no doubt."
"You sound like Enzo!" the game sprite laughed.
"Well - we are family. Maybe we like to complain a little too much… Maybe it's in our code."
"Funny - I never heard Matrix complain once, the whole time we were in the games!" AndrAIa chuckled. The teal-haired sprite yawned and sat languidly against a wall. "You really did make Enzo happy, you know - letting him go into the games with Bob. It means a lot to him."
"I know." Dot smiled wearily, leaning against the console. "It wasn't easy, believe me. But I know how hard things can be for him, sometimes. With no other little sprites around. Especially - well… Especially since you're so much older. This time."
"Yeah…" the game sprite said softly.
"If that's what Enzo is, if it's what he wants - I have to support him. No matter what happened before. Considering everything he's been through, he's always managed to stay pretty positive."
"Thanks to you. He's pretty lucky to have you to take care of him."
"Thanks." Dot sighed. "Does Enzo - Matrix - still feel that way about the games, sometimes? Like Enzo does?"
"Not very often. He's got the codes, and he still wants to enter every game cube that drops. But he doesn't get a lot of joy out it anymore. I think he's seen a few too many games already."
"That's sad." Dot whispered. "You should see the look that Enzo gets in his eyes when he talks about a game. Like nothing else. Your Enzo used to get that look too."
"He's still your Enzo…"
"Maybe." The Command.Com smiled, sitting down next to the girl. The older woman leaned back and closed her eyes. "You know, AndrAIa, I never told you, but I… appreciate... everything you did. For Enzo. Matrix."
"What do you mean, Dot?" the game sprite frowned.
"It's nothing. I just think sometimes about… Enzo. How I wasn't there to take care of him. He would have been all alone out there if it weren't for you. And Frisket of course. And he was just a baby, too. He would've been all alone…"
"It wasn't your fault!" AndrAIa protested. "It was Megabyte's, no one else's. He-"
"No - I know." Dot sighed. "But I still think about it. And I'll always be grateful."
"I didn't do anything I didn't want to do. I loved Enzo from the first time I saw him. I never would have wanted to be anywhere else."
"I think he loved you too." Dot chuckled softly. "He was never the same after your game. After Atlantis. I think both Enzos loved you from the first nano."
"It's mutual."
"I know." The older woman smiled and patted AndrAIa on the hand. "I suppose you know he loves you like crazy? Little Enzo I mean?"
"I might have had some idea." The game sprite answered. "It was so strange, Dot - as soon as I saw Enzo that first time, after the reboot - it was like I was a little sprite again! All the feelings I had then came back like they'd never gone. It made me remember why I fell in love with Enzo in the first place. I've been in love with him so long - sometimes I forget."
"Well, he never had a chance. Neither of him. I could see it in their eyes. And Little Enzo's crazy about you." Dot sighed. "That's not going to be the easiest situation in the world, is it? Especially in a few hours."
"I guess not. I love him too, Dot - he's the sweetest thing in the net to me. I'd never do anything to hurt him…"
"Never. I know. But I think it' going to be pretty hard for him when he gets older. When he understands things a little better."
"Maybe he understands now." AndrAIa sighed.
Dot was silent for a nano. "Maybe he does, Sweetie. I suppose there'll be plenty of time to worry about all this later. You can't worry about everything all at once." The Command.Com smiled wearily. "So - how do you like living in Bob's apartment?"
"It's pixelacious." The game sprite grinned. "It's a little weird for Enzo, I think it still feels like Bob's place to him. And anywhere he is would be home for me. But it's still nice to have a place of our own. I've never really had that."
"Got your new furniture picked out and everything?"
"Well, I was helping you could help me with that." The younger woman giggled. "Enzo doesn't seem to enjoy shopping very much, somehow…"
"Yeah - even when he was a little boy, he never liked it. He still doesn't like it. I've always had to drag him kicking and screaming…"
"Some things never change. So - how do you like living with Bob?" the game sprite grinned mischievously.
"It's nice. Between the games and this place, we're not home that much - and when we are, Enzo's always around. But I don't mind. It's been wonderful for Enzo, having Bob there."
"I bet!"
"I've lived under the diner for a long time, AndrAIa." The Command.Com continued softly. "Almost right after my parents were gone, I bought it. I thought it would be better for Enzo, you know - to start fresh. No sad memories. But it never really felt right until now. It's like you said about having a place, a home. Something was always missing. Until now."
"Hey." Bob said softly, leading the two Enzos into the command center. "Where's Phong?"
"What's the matter?" Dot frowned, standing along with AndrAIa. "Did everything go all right in the game?"
"Well - we won."
"Kicked their ASCII!" Enzo added.
"Enzo! Language!" Dot scolded.
"Sorry!"
"So you won - but?" AndrAIa prompted.
"Infected User. Again." Matrix sighed. "That's the second time."
Dot depressed a button on the console, opening a vidwindow. "Phong - you better get down here."
"What is it, Child?" the old sprite asked, a puzzled looking Hugh Branch at his side.
"Problems. With the game." Dot said grimly.
"I will be there in a few nanos."
"Thanks." The Command.Com turned to Bob. "So what happened exactly? You saw it this time?"
"With my own eyes. It was pretty much what Enzo described from the last time - I don't think there's any doubt."
"You saw it again?" she frowned at Enzo. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." The boy replied brashly. "We handled it, no problems!"
Bob chuckled and shook his head. "It's not quite as simple as that - but he's right, Dot. We were never in any real trouble."
"So you say…"
"What game was it?" AndrAIa asked, throwing an arm around Matrix' waist protectively.
"Baseball." The bearded sprite answered. "Pretty routine - until the eighth inning."
Phong hurriedly rolled into the room. "I apologize for my absence, Children. Now, Guardian - Dot said something about a problem? With the game?"
"You could say that, Old Friend. Infected."
"Oh, dear. Again?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Well - thank the User you are all safe and well. But this is indeed troubling news. Did this manifestation differ from the last one?"
"Well - I wasn't there the last time." Bob sighed. "But judging by what you've all told me about it, I think the basic notion was the same - the game codes were corrupted, and the virus manifested itself in the User's form. Not good."
"Indeed, Young Guardian. It is not a vision that I shall soon forget…"
"Me neither." Enzo added. Matrix rested a hand on his shoulder.
"I did see some interesting things, though…" Bob frowned thoughtfully. "This one seems to be different in a very important way. From what you've told me, the User was corrupted for more or less the entire game sequence last time, right?"
"That was my impression." Matrix scowled. AndrAIa nodded in agreement.
"That doesn't seem to be what happened this time. It wasn't until the game was almost over that we saw any evidence of corruption. I don't really know - I've never seen anything like this before - but I think it must be pretty hard to corrupt the game codes sufficiently to actually take over the User. That might be to our advantage."
"Or there could be little Daemonettes in other games - and we just never see them." AndrAIa said softly.
"You're right, AndrAIa. We just don't know." Bob nodded. "Maybe the virus infects lots of games, and it's dormant in most. Maybe it causes more severe symptoms in some games than in others for some reason. But the bottom line is, this has happened twice now in a matter of a few cycles. It may be much more widespread across the net than we'd realized."
"Or it may be that she's closing in on us." Dot scowled. "You said yourself, Bob - maybe they knew where we were, this was all a specific attack on Mainframe. On us."
"Maybe." The Guardian sighed. "There's no way to tell for sure. I think we're in the same place we were before - keep our eyes open and be prepared every time a game drops."
"Is there any way for our virus protection to smell this out? Before it happens?" Matrix asked. "All these new files that Hex threw into the mix?"
"No, Young Matrix." Phong answered. "We do not have the ability to scan a cube before it has landed. And once the cube has landed, even if we were able to detect the presence of a virus-"
"It'd be too late to do anything about it!" the big sprite growled. "Crash it all!"
"It's ingenious." Bob said. "I almost have to admire it in a way. Games are the perfect carrier for a viral infection. They go to almost every system, and they slip underneath the protection protocols. They're free agents in every system they go to. But to infect a game - it must consume incredible amounts of energy. I've never seen anything like this before - it's a whole new file."
"Well, if they try anything in Mainframe, we'll be ready!" Enzo sneered. "They don't know who they're dealing with! Right, Bob?"
"Right." The Guardian smiled at the boy. "But it won't hurt to be extra careful. And extra alert - every bit of information we learn from one of these encounters can help us the next time."
"The next time." Dot sighed. "Why don't I like the sound of that?"
*** "How's she look, Love?" Ray asked, gently massaging the kneeling Mouse's shoulders as she studied the myriad of components spread out beneath her.
"Right as rain, Sugar. 'Course, I've never actually built a portal generator before - no way of knowin' if it's gonna work until we test it. But I think it'll get us where we need to go."
"Doesn't seem like there's much keepin' us here then, does there?" the surfr said softly. "I think maybe we found out more than we had a right to expect."
"You don't much like this place, do ya Honey?" Mouse grinned, stretching.
"Not much." Ray admitted. "Too many sprites around for my tastes. A fella can't catch his breath. Doesn't seem to bother you though."
"I spent a lot of time here - guess I got used to it. Well, don't worry - once I get the generator installed we can bust outta here whenever we feel like it."
"Right. But where to, Love?"
"I don't rightly know, Surfr. I reckon that's somethin' we're gonna have to decide."
"That's not all we have to decide. What about Laser? What he asked you? Do you trust him, or not?"
The hacker frowned and fell wearily into the pilot's seat. "I don't know if I do or not, Lover. Never really got a chance to know the guy when I was at the Academy. But he was kicked out of the Collective…"
"If you used that as a basis for trusting people-"
"Yeah, yeah - I know Sugar." The flame-haired sprite scowled. "I get it. But I spent a lot o' time making sure nobody was gonna be able to find Mainframe-"
"Unless you wanted them to." Tracer interrupted. "What this guy was talkin' about - it makes sense. He wants to finally do somethin' about Daemon, instead of just sittin' around. And he was Second Guardian-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know." Mouse sighed. "And he's still got the protocols. And maybe he's sincere. But there's somethin' about him that bugs me. Like I said, Sugar - I spent a lot o' time and effort hidin' Mainframe so deep you'd need a map just to find out you were lost."
"Well - we're gonna have to make up our minds about it before we leave, Love." The surfr said softly. "We ain't got no choice. And if we don't help him-"
"There is another way, Honey. We can help Laser without havin' to trust him. It's a lot more work, but it might be the only way."
"I might have a notion of what you're talkin' about, Lovely Lady." Ray grinned. "You won't get any complaints from me - this place wears me out. And I don't have any appointments to keep."
"I thought you might feel that way." The hacker chuckled, holding out her arms. "Now why don't you get your pretty little bitmap over here and join me? It might be a while before we're alone again."
"If you insist." The surfr smiled, joining Mouse in the chair. "Computer - dim interior lights 70%…"
*** "And then what happened?"
"Dude! Bob pulled the pin and threw the grenade right into the tank! Blew the User into a gazillion pieces!" Enzo laughed. "It was the funniest thing I ever saw!"
"He makes it look pretty easy, doesn't he?" Matrix grinned.
"He's the best, Matrix. Nothing ever shakes him up. It's like he always knows what's gonna happen. I wish I was as good in the games as him…"
"So do I!" the big sprite nodded in agreement.
"Yeah - but at least you're a Guardian." The youngster scowled.
"Maybe you'll be as good as Bob someday, Enzo." AndrAIa smiled. "If you work really hard and watch what he does. He can teach you a lot."
"D'you really think so?"
"Sure. If you believe in yourself."
"You're lucky, Enzo - I never had Bob to teach me all that stuff." Matrix added. "I had to learn everything on my own."
"You did pretty good." The boy frowned. "Didn't you?"
"He did great." AndrAIa grinned, standing from the table and gathering plates. "Are you still hungry, Enzo? There's more pizza in the kitchen-"
"No - I'm cool. Thanks, Andri." Enzo said shyly. "Maybe I should go home - it's getting pretty late…"
"Why don't you stay awhile? I don't think Bob and Dot will mind." The game sprite answered, winking at Matrix. "You're our first dinner guest, after all. Wouldn't do for you to leave without dessert! Besides, there's a really good vid on in a few milliseconds - real bloody."
"Awesome!' Enzo grinned.
"Cool. I'll go and get the ice cream, then. Sit tight, Guardian."
Enzo stared after her for a nano. "Why does she call me that?" he asked softly.
Matrix stood, stretched, then walked over to the couch, Enzo at his heels. "That's what she called me when she first met." The big sprite said, sitting. "I think you remind her of you. Of me, I mean. You know what I mean…"
"Why did she call you that, then?" the youngster queried, planting his bitmap next to his older self.
Matrix blushed and smiled sheepishly, an expression Enzo never recalled seeing on the older sprite's face. "I may have told her I was a Guardian, when we first met. In the game. No big file…"
"You did what?" Enzo laughed.
"All right - laugh it up, Sprout!" Matrix sighed. "It seemed like a good idea at the time. But you know what's alphanumeric? Bob never told her. I always wondered if she knew, but if she did she never let on."
"Dude - he never told her? No way!"
"Yeah." The bearded sprite smiled at the memory. "Then, when he made me a cadet - well… It was pixelacious. The proudest cycle of my life. I was so happy, I couldn't believe it. I thought we were indestructible…"
"Wow…" Enzo whispered. "Can - can I look at your icon again?"
"Enzo-"
"Please?" the boy pleaded.
Matrix sighed deeply and removed his icon. "Okay, Kid."
The boy held the black and gold disk in both hands, a faraway look in his eyes. "Bob must've totally thought you were awesome, Matrix. He made you a Guardian. That's so cool."
"I… I guess he didn't have much choice, Enzo. Things were pretty bad…" The big sprite looked up and locked eyes with AndrAIa, who silently stood over them, holding a tray.
Enzo sighed and offered the icon back to his older self. "Thanks, Matrix."
"Uh - you wanna hold onto it for a while? There's no rush-"
"Naw. It's yours." The youngster said, dropping the disc into Matrix' palm.
"Ready for some ice cream?" AndrAIa grinned, joining them on the couch. "Triple RAM chip!"
"Pizza and ice cream. Dot'll be thrilled. Some kids have all the luck." Matrix smiled, punching Enzo on the shoulder. "I won't tell if you won't."
"Cool." Enzo smiled weakly, taking a bowl. He stared straight ahead, eyes far away. Matrix sighed and re-affixed his icon above his heart.
*** The room was dimly lit, the two figures on the sofa barely visible in the ambient glow from the fire crackling on the vidscreen. Dot snuggled closer to Bob, head on his shoulder, and sighed. "There's nothing quite so romantic as a fireplace screen saver, is there?"
"Nope." The Guardian grinned, kissing her hair gently. "Not when the company's this attractive."
"Compliments will get you everywhere." Dot giggled. "This was a lovely evening, Bob. It's nice to finally be alone together. No games, no infected Users, no friends. Just you and me."
"I'm glad you approve."
"The others will be back soon." The Command.Com said softly. "Mmm. It's so nice having you here, Bob. Being together, finally. Enzo was right - what did take us so long?"
"There was a little matter of me being shot into the web, as I remember..."
"Very funny! You know what I mean."
"What's the difference?" Bob sighed. "It's all in the past. Now is all that matters. All that's important is that we finally got it right - right?"
"Right." Dot whispered. "I wish I could forget about the past that easily. I think about it a lot. The future, too. And they both worry me..."
"Now is all that matters. We'll deal with the future when we get there."
"You sound more like Phong every day!" Dot giggled. Footsteps sounded outside the door. "Looks like everybody's home." She smiled, standing up and turning on the light.
"Hey, you two." Matrix nodded, stepping through the door. "Have a nice evening?"
"It was lovely, thank you Enzo." The Command.Com kissed her brother on the cheek, then knelt and kissed her other brother on the forehead. "Did you have fun?"
"Yeah." Enzo grinned. "We had dinner and watched a cool quicktime movie. Did you have fun?"
Dot rolled her eyes. "It was fine, thanks. Everyone sit down. Want some cocoa, or java or something?"
"Naw." Enzo yawned. "I'm pretty low-res. I'm gonna go to bed."
"Look at the time!" Dot replied, surprised. "I didn't realize it was so late. You've got school tomorrow. "
"Yeah yeah, I know!" Enzo sighed.
"Sorry we kept him so late." AndrAIa said with a wink at Dot.
"That's all right. You ate your dinner, didn't you Enzo?"
"You don't have to tell him twice!" Matrix laughed. "All health food too - right Sprout?"
"Don't call me that!" the boy yawned.
"Looks like we wore you out!" the game sprite grinned.
"It's cool. G'night AndrAIa. Night Matrix. We're circuit racing after school tomorrow, right?"
"Sure." Matrix chuckled.
"I'll be along in a little while." Dot said. "Make sure you brush your teeth-"
"OK, OK! Y'don't have to tell me every cycle! Night everybody. Night Bob."
"Sleep tight, Cadet!" Bob grinned, as the boy disappeared down the hall.
"Thanks, you two. We had a lovely evening. I hope Enzo wasn't too much trouble -"
"He was fine." AndrAIa replied. "We had fun. He was an angel all night. We're happy to take him anytime."
"Well..." Matrix muttered.
"Enzo!"
"Well - thanks just the same. Would you like some java?"
"I'm fine." Matrix said. "Andri?"
"I'm good. Guess we should head home and turn in ourselves. Big day of shopping tomorrow, right Lover?"
Matrix sighed deeply. "Sometimes I miss being in the games..."
The game sprite elbowed him sharply. "Very amusing. You're a regular Johnny O'Binome. Now come along - let's leave this little family to their nest, shall we?"
"Actually..." Matrix frowned. "I'll catch up with you in a nano, Andri. There's something I wanted to talk to Dot and Bob about."
The game sprite raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yeah. Won't take long. I'll be right behind you."
"Well, if you say so." AndrAIa shrugged. "Good night, you guys."
"Night AndrAIa. Thanks again." Dot smiled. The game sprite shared a grin with Bob and exited. "So - what did you want to talk to us about, Enzo?" Dot asked, a little warily. "Is something the matter?"
"No - everything's alphanumeric." Matrix shrugged, walking over to the large chair that faced the couch in the little living room.
Dot joined Bob on the sofa. "So what's processing?" the Guardian asked. "What's the big mystery?"
"No big mystery." The bearded sprite smiled. "Just something that's been nagging at my processor."
"What is it, Enzo?" Dot frowned.
"Well - I'm afraid you're both gonna thing I'm crazy. Gone offline or something..."
Dot and Bob shared a puzzled glance. "I'm sure we won't think that, Enzo. Just tell us. Is something bothering you?"
The big sprite scratched his beard thoughtfully. "I've been giving it a lot of thought. And I know it sounds basic, especially coming from me of all sprites. But... I think you ought to download the protocols to Enzo. You know - make him a cadet."
"What?" Dot gasped.
"I must say - I am a little surprised, Enzo." Bob said, leaning forward to meet the big sprite's gaze. "You've always been dead set against it - at least as far as I can tell. What's changed your mind?"
Matrix smiled sheepishly. "It's hard to explain, Bob. I - he - ... Let's say I saw things from his perspective. I know what it means to him-"
"That's all well and good, Enzo - but that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do!" Dot protested. "He's just a little sprite! Even you were older when - when..."
"I know." The bearded sprite sighed. "It does sound basic."
"Why now, Matrix? What's the rush?"
"Bob, I ... Look - it's hard to explain. Enzo - he sees me, with my icon. He sees AndrAIa and me together. Do you have any idea how that makes him feel? How left out?"
"I take him into the games with me." Bob frowned. "I teach him - or at least I try to. It's not like he isn't part of the team-"
"I know. But he knows that you look after him, make sure he doesn't get hurt. And you should. But he stills knows it. So it isn't really real to him, somehow. Do you understand?"
"I'm not really following this, Little Brother. This doesn't sound like you talking. What brought all this on?"
The big sprite ran a hand over his face wearily, buying a nano to choose his words. "You guys are great to Enzo. The best. Just like you were great to me. But no matter what you do, he's still different. He's a little kid. There's no one else for him to measure himself against, so he has to measure himself against you two. And now me, maybe..."
"Enzo-"
"That's hard. Since you guys are the best, it's really hard. And no matter how much you try, he knows you don't really respect him. You love him, but you don't respect him."
"That's not true!" Dot protested. "Of course I respect Enzo! But he's a child - that's a fact."
"I know." Matrix sighed. "Dot, don't take this wrong. He's not mad at you, and it isn't your fault. But he knows how you look at him, and it drives him offline. Believe me - don't you think I'd know? Me of all people?"
"I never intended him to think that..."
"Of course not." Matrix smiled. "So now, here I am - I'm a Guardian. Enzo knows that Bob downloaded the protocol to me, and he hasn't downloaded the protocol to him. That makes him feel like he doesn't deserve them."
"Matrix, the situation was different! There was a war on. And I fully intended to upload you to the Academy as soon as it was over."
"I know..."
"And then there's the Academy. Don't you think it's unfair to make Enzo a cadet when there's no Academy to attend? Wouldn't it be better to wait - once we've settled Daemon, things are back to normal-"
"I never went to the Academy." Matrix said softly. "But I'm still a Guardian, aren't I?"
"Of course you are." Dot sighed. "But look what you - had to go through... Was it worth all that? Would you want Enzo to have to go through that?"
"It's not fair to make Enzo deal with the consequences of something that happened to me. I have no regrets. I'm a Guardian, and I'll always be a Guardian. Thanks, Bob - it's a gift you gave me, and it'll always be part of who I am."
"You deserved it." Bob smiled sadly.
"You know what? I think I did." The big sprite chuckled. "But so does Enzo - he's worked hard. He's trying to learn everything you can teach him, no matter how hard it is for him."
"What about the Academy? There's only so much I can teach him, you know."
"The Academy would be nice." Matrix said softly. "But we don't know if there'll ever be an Academy again. We don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow. Daemon could blow all of our ASCIIs off the net-"
"Don't say that!" Dot hissed.
"But we don't know! So why wait? Don't you see? Let's assume there is an Academy again, someday. Maybe there will be. But Enzo wants to be a Guardian because of you. Both of you. He wants to share it with you, not with a bunch of sprites he doesn't know. He wants you to see him in his uniform, be proud of him. Why wait until he has to leave Mainframe before you give him that?"
"I never really thought of it that way..." Bob sighed.
"Enzo... What you're saying - is this all stuff that... that you thought? About us?"
"Some of it. Like I said - I think my being here makes it even worse for him. When I got the protocol, became a cadet - it was the best cycle of my life. I was so proud! And it was a million times better because you were there to share it with. I wish we'd been able to share it longer - more than anything. But Enzo can share it longer - if you'll let him."
"What about the infected games, Little Brother? It's more dangerous than ever to go into games now. Is this really the time to think about downloading the protocols to Enzo?"
"You're letting him go into the games, aren't you?" Matrix asked gently. "In which case I don't see that it makes much difference. If anything the kid'll be better prepared if you make him a cadet."
"This is a lot to think about..." Dot whispered.
Matrix smiled. "Look - whatever you decide, you decide. It's not my choice to make. But I'm telling you - nothing you could do would mean more to Enzo. More than anything, he wants you to be believe in him. I know you think he's just a little kid - maybe he is. But I think he's ready. I think he'll surprise you, if you give him a chance."
"I believe in him, Enzo - I really do." Dot said softly. "I believed in you too. Those things I said, after Megabyte... after he - did what he did. I only said them because I was worried about you..."
"I know, Sis. Like I said - it's not your fault. Enzo can't help what he feels, and you can't really understand it. Nobody can, except me. And even for me, it's been a long time."
"I don't know what to say, Matrix. You certainly caught me by surprise." Bob smiled ruefully. "I figured when the time came, you'd be fighting it every step of the way!"
"I know. Like I said, I just kinda - saw - stuff a little differently. I remembered some things." The big sprite stood. "I'm sorry to drop a data bomb on you like this. Like I said, whatever you decide, it's your decision. And Enzo'll be fine. I'm gonna head on back to your apartment. My apartment! See you guys tomorrow."
"Night, Pal." Bob sighed. The big sprite showed himself out, leaving Dot and the Guardian as they'd started the evening, alone.
*** The attack from the web was in full swing, but Dot's mind was consumed with other matters, even as the frenzied activity of the others buzzed around the Principal Office.
"Bob - I can't believe you're telling me this! What are you saying?" she exclaimed. "Why now, of all times?"
"Only that I think it'd be best." Bob said softly. "Dot, I know it's hard to accept. But there's a war on. And he's worked really hard-"
"I don't care how hard he's worked - this is my little brother you're talking about! He's only one-one! How can you even think of making him a Guardian?"
"A cadet." Bob sighed. "I wasn't all that much older when I got the protocols. I think he's ready."
"But Bob - why now? What's the rush? Let him grow up a little!"
"Dot, we're at war. This invasion from the web is serious business. Believe it or not, I think Enzo can be a real help to me - if I download the protocols to him. Besides - we don't know what's going to happen. To me, to any of us. I might not have the chance to give him the codes later."
"This is insane!" Dot chuckled bitterly. "What are you saying, Bob - that you want him to go to the Academy now? To leave Mainframe?"
"Well - he can't go anywhere now. Not until this invasion is defeated." Bob frowned. "And after that - maybe not right away. There are things that I can teach him myself-"
"Not right away - but soon?"
Bob was silent for a moment. "Yes. Soon. It's what he wants, Dot - to be a Guardian. And the Academy is the only place where he can truly learn to do that. Don't you want that for him, Dot?"
"I want him to be happy." Dot whispered, wiping away a tear. "But I want him here - with me! He's only a little sprite..."
"Well - he wouldn't be going anywhere for a while." Bob said gently. "I just think the time is right - I may never get another chance. And he deserves it..."
"He's all the family I have left, you know. He's all I have!"
*** "Hey!" Bob called out. "Are you listening to me?"
"Hmmm?" Dot murmured. "Oh - sorry! I drifted off..."
"Have we lived together that long already?" Bob sighed dramatically, stealing a bit more of the covers from Dot's side of the docking bay. "What were you thinking about?"
"Uh-huh." Dot nodded absently.
"So - what did you think of what your brother had to say?"
"I wish I knew." The Command.Com sighed. "It certainly came as a complete surprise to me."
"Your brother's changed a lot since I met him. Met him again." Bob mused. "I think Little Enzo's had a lot to do with that."
"Maybe." Dot whispered. "I don't really know him, Bob. Maybe I don't really know either of them. All of that stuff Enzo said - I never knew he felt that way. Either of him."
"Me neither. But I think you know your brothers pretty well. Nobody could know Enzo as well as Matrix does - not even you. He's lived it all already."
"Not all of it. Matrix didn't have to deal with an older version of himself when he was a boy."
"Good point." Bob chuckled.
"Bob, do you - do you think it's all true, what Matrix said? Do you think Enzo believes I don't respect him? Do you think I don't respect him?"
"I don't think Enzo looks at it like that." Bob said gently. "He doesn't understand it like that. But if Matrix said it, well - I think there must be something to it. It must be pretty hard for Enzo being the only kid around. And he knows we'll never treat him as an equal, no matter what he does - 'cause he'll always be a little sprite to us. I think he might look at it that way."
"I don't want him to think that!" Dot sighed. "I've always tried to make him feel special, to believe in himself..."
"You've done a great job." Bob smiled. "But he's still your little brother, no matter what either of you say."
"And you think it's even harder for him - with Matrix being here? The protocols, AndrAIa, everything?"
"It's possible..."
The Command.Com closed her eyes. "So you agree with Matrix, then. You want to make him a cadet now - not later."
"I didn't say that." Bob protested, kissing her forehead. "I do think it would make Enzo pretty happy. I think we both knew that all along. That doesn't mean I think it's the right thing to do, though."
"There's always a little more. I let him go into the games with you. So now what? He wants to be a cadet. If I let him be a cadet, what happens? He'll want to go to the Academy. And maybe I'll never see him again..."
"Dot!" Bob sighed. "Don't get all offline about this. There is no Academy, first of all - and there won't be for a very long time. And if Enzo is gonna be a Guardian some cycle - well, he'd have to go eventually."
"Eventually. Not when he's a little sprite who isn't even one-one yet..."
"There's not much danger of that happening anytime soon." Bob said gently. "So don't worry about it. Dot, it's going to be your decision. Like you told me once - you're Enzo's guardian. To mend and defend. Nothing's going to happen unless you think it's right."
The Command.Com sat in silence, staring straight ahead, for several nanos. "No." she said finally.
Bob frowned quizzically. "No what?"
"No, it's not my decision. It's our decision." She grabbed the Guardian's hands in her own. "Bob, when you came to live here, we decided that we were going to be a family. That means you have a say in what happens to Enzo. I know you're not his - you know..."
"Sure."
"And I'm not his mother. But he's our responsibility. Both of us. I'm not going to lock you out every time something important happens in his life."
Bob arched an eyebrow. He felt a rush of gratitude, of pride as Dot's words struck home. There was something else, too - a nagging at the pit of his stomach. Like a great chasm was opening up in front of him. "Dot - that's... I don't know what to say. If you mean it... He is your little brother..."
"You're not forcing this one on me, Buster!" Dot smiled bitterly. "You can bet your bitmap I mean it."
"So - I guess we have to decide, then." The Guardian sighed.
"I guess we do." Dot echoed. They sat in silence for several nanos, before the Guardian reached over and deleted the light.
*** The old sprite hummed absently to himself as he busily tended the bonsai directory trees in the arboretum. He tipped the silver can in his hand, sending a silvery blue stream of data into the soil of a particularly ornate planter. "Dum de dum de dum... There you are, Little Friend! Strong and green you'll grow, won't you? Hmmm hmmm...."
"You wanted to talk to us, Phong?"
The old sprite spun and smiled at his two visitors. "Ah, AndrAIa, Enzo - come in, come in, my Children. Please sit down, be comfortable."
"Uh - where?" Matrix asked sheepishly, looking around the domed room.
"Oh, Dear. I had always intended to place a bench or two in here. I do not feel the need to sit, you see, and so rarely do I receive visitors here..."
"That's all right, Phong." AndrAIa grinned, stifling a laugh.
"Please - this is s tea garden, in the ancient tradition. It is a place for contemplation and reflection. The Lotus 1-2-3 position is, I am told, a most reflective one for bipedal sprites like yourselves. Will you sit?"
"Sure..." Matrix shrugged. He and AndrAIa arranged themselves cross-legged on the floor, the game sprite achieving the position with considerably more ease than her partner. They were now eye level with their host.
"This place is so beautiful, Phong! I've never been in here before. Has it always been here?"
"Since long before you were compiled, Young AndrAIa. I find it to be most restful, tending my trees. The pace of the city seems not to intrude so much, in here."
"It's alphanumeric, Phong." Matrix smiled, a bit awkwardly. "Um - what was it you wanted to see us about?"
"Ah... Patience is a commodity rarer than gold in the young, is it not?" Phong nodded sagely as Matrix blushed. "So I shall be direct, yes? My Son, you have achieved a measure of experience that is most unusual. You have seen things, been places, that most sprites would never dream of."
"I guess..." the big sprite shrugged.
"And you, Child - it is my suspicion that you are the only game sprite ever to have successfully left the confines of game space - although of course I have no way of knowing this for certain. Your perspective is at the very least unusual, and more likely unique."
"I suppose." AndrAIa smiled sheepishly. "I've never really thought about it. What matters is what is, not what isn't. Or was."
The old sprite chuckled. "Indeed, Child - it is this very directness which sets you apart."
"Why are you telling us this, Phong?" AndrAIa queried.
"Ah, to be so young again. My children - it occurs to me that Mainframe is extremely fortunate. Not only that we survived the system restart, thank the User, but that we have such a wealth of remarkable sprites among us. Yes, we are most fortunate..."
"Uh - thanks." Matrix frowned.
"Mind you, I wish that Mouse was still among us. Her talents were rare and valuable. And the young surfr is a remarkable sprite as well - his abilities are most unusual. Still - we are most fortunate. Not since before the destruction of the twin city has Mainframe had so many remarkable resources to draw upon..."
The old sprite's face darkened at the mention of the tragedy that had, once, been Mainframe's darkest hour. "It was a terrible, terrible thing, Children - none who were there shall ever forget it."
"You can say that again." Matrix whispered. AndrAIa silently grabbed his hand in her own.
Phong smiled sadly. "But a toddler you were, Enzo. Your life was changed perhaps more than any among us fortunate enough to survive. But survive we did. With the destruction of the twin city, much changed in Mainframe. With so few sprites remaining, we were forced to consolidate power and authority. The very way in which the system was administered was altered drastically."
"I remember Dot talking about it..."
"Indeed, My Son. Your sister Dot is a remarkable sprite. But the work she does - it was never intended that it be done by one sprite alone. She is the Command.Com, yes - just as I am the System Administrator. But she is so many more things - some of them official duties, and some much more personal."
"So - what's this got to do with us?" Matrix asked.
"It is simple, Child. Your talents and experiences are vital - both of you. Mainframe may be under threat again at any time. It is my belief that the system would be better served if your roles in its defense were elevated in importance."
"How so?" AndrAIa frowned. "Increased - in importance?"
Phong smiled and twirled his fingers. "Dot is our Command.Com, children. She has the confidence and even the love of the people of Mainframe, and much deserved it is. Bob is our Guardian, and he also is a symbol of strength and confidence to the city. And, of course, he is ably assisted by your eager brother, Young Matrix."
"Of course." The bearded sprite grinned.
The old sprite tapped his fingers thoughtfully on his forehead and continued. "My Son, your experiences in the games and indeed the net are unique. You are a Guardian. No, do not protest - you are, Child. Your leadership among our forces in the effort to oust Megabyte was admired by all who witnessed it. I believe that you would make a superb Chief of Security for the city."
"Me?" Matrix exclaimed. "Chief of Security?"
"Yes, My Son. It was always intended that it would be a separate program - Dot only assumed direct command because there was no one else. You would report directly to your sister, of course. Your skills and experiences would seem to be a perfect match for this function, and indeed you have the confidence of our security forces already."
"Phong, I - I'm surprised. If you think I can, if you think I... should... Of course I'll do it."
"Of course you will." Phong smiled.
"That's wonderful, Sparky!" AndrAIa grinned, kissing a bearded cheek. "Dot and Bob will be so proud!"
"Er - thanks!" the big sprite replied. "Chief of Security..."
"Now - as for you, Young AndrAIa..." The game sprite arched an eyebrow. "Do not think that your remarkable abilities have escaped my grasp. You're technical skill is remarkable - indeed, in Mouse's absence I would venture to call you the most gifted engineer in all of Mainframe."
"That's probably true." The game sprite nodded.
"Modest!" Matrix muttered.
"Shut up!" she growled, elbowing the big sprite in the ribs.
"Indeed, Child - your lack of pretense does you credit. I know that your opinions will always be honestly and openly given. And your abilities in the area of physical defense, well - I can say with confidence that they would give any attacker pause."
"Agreed." Matrix nodded.
"I had grown accustomed to Mouse's assistance around the Principal Office, Children. As remarkable as her technical skill was, yours is not far behind it, Young AndrAIa. I would be most pleased if you would agree to become Mainframe's System Engineer."
"System Engineer? Really?" AndrAIa grinned. "Pixelacious!"
"Yes, Child." Phong grinned. "My right-hand sprite, if you will - although, of course, you may feel free to stand on my left at any time. You would be my closest associate in the Principal Office, Young AndrAIa."
"Of course, Phong! I'm flattered that you have that much confidence in me. I'm no Mouse, but I'll do my best."
"Splendid!" Phong nodded happily. "Then it is decided - and it is a fine cycle for Mainframe as well. Congratulations to you both."
"Thanks, Phong." Matrix smiled. "Does Dot know about all this?"
The old sprite looked over his glasses at the young man. "My Boy, it is my function as System Administrator to decide all matters of, well - function. But of course I have discussed this with the Command.Com. She approved most enthusiastically - in fact, there may even have been a tear or two..."
*** "So you think it's the right time, then?"
"I suppose." Dot sighed. "It's as right as any time ever will be. But it still feels wrong."
"Dot... Like I said, if you're not sure about this, we don't have to do it. If you have any doubts at all-"
"Of course I have doubts. I always have doubts. It's in my code..."
"We don't have to do this now." Bob said gently. "We can wait as long as you think we should. There's no rush."
"No - as long as we wait, it won't matter. I'll still have doubts. It'll never feel right. Enzo knows Enzo better than anyone, and I trust him. Besides - with the other changes, maybe it's just meant to be. Maybe this is the cycle for everyone to move on."
"If you're sure..."
"I'm not. But I never will be."
The Guardian wrapped his arm around Dot and smiled. "Well - think of the look on his face when we tell him. Concentrate on that, and forget about the other stuff."
"That's what keeps me going..."
*** The small figure on the zip board made it's way quickly through Baudway, towards the diner. Frisket picked his nose up off his paws and stared intently, watching the figure grow larger. Finally, he barked once, loudly, and took off at a trot on an intercept course.
"Hey Frisket! Hiya Boy!" Enzo grinned, hopping off his zip board. The dog gleefully planted his feet on the boy's chest and licked his face. "Ha ha! Miss me Boy?"
Enzo wrapped his arms around the dog's muscular neck and scratched roughly. "Like that, Boy?" Frisket responded by thumping his tail loudly on the street. "C'mon, Frisket - let's go inside. Wanna go inside?" The pooch nodded and fell in at Enzo's side.
The youngster loudly threw the door open and stormed into the diner. "Hey, Cecil. What's processing?"
"Bon soir, Monsieur." The server said stiffly.
"Where's Bob an' Dot?" the boy asked, grabbing an energy bar off the counter and downing it in two bites.
"Zey are downstairs, Mon Petit." Cecil replied. He cast a frown in Frisket's direction. "You are bringing ze dog inside now? Zis is a fine dining establishment, not a boarding kennel!"
"Sorr-ry!" Enzo scowled. "C'mon Frisket - I know when we're not wanted..." The youngster grabbed another energy bar and took off through the kitchen and down the stairs, the dog at his heels.
"Look who's home! How was school?" Dot smiled from the sofa as he entered the little apartment.
"Cool." Enzo replied, around a mouthful of energy bar. He absently handed the rest of the snack to Frisket, who devoured it in one bite. He waved at Bob and headed towards his room.
"Hey - where do you think you're going?" Bob called out, stopping the boy in his tracks.
"Huh? I was just gonna go grab my organizer and play-"
"When a cadet enters a room, he's supposed to report to the senior officer present." Bob said sternly. "Didn't I teach you that?"
Enzo frowned in puzzlement. "But, I - uh... Sorry. I guess...."
"Well?" Bob asked.
"Well, uh..."
"Well - come over here and report, then!" Dot stifled a giggle and shook her head.
Enzo slowly walked over, unsure of whether the Guardian was serious or not. "Um - Cadet Matrix. Reporting to, uh - the living room. Sir?"
"You shouldn't be wearing those." Bob frowned, pointing to the boy's collar.
"M-my pins? But - why?" Enzo asked tentatively.
"They aren't standard issue uniform, Cadet." The Guardian sighed deeply. "Since the rest of your uniform isn't up to standard either, I suppose we can make an exception."
"But-"
"Maybe we should do something about that." Bob said. "I think a change of clothes might be in order."
"A change - of clothes?' Enzo whispered. "Bob, I don't understand! Dot?"
"Does he have to spell it out for you?" Dot smiled, brushing the hair out of the boy's eyes. "Congratulations, Little Brother."
"Congratulations?" Enzo gasped, a strange thought creeping into the corners of his processor.
Bob allowed himself a smile at last. "Since you follow me into every game now, Enzo, we may as well make it official. There aren't many of us left. If you're willing, I'd like to download the Guardian protocol to you."
"Bob!" Enzo whispered, feeling his knees start to buckle. "No way! D'you mean it?"
"I do. I think you're ready, Enzo. But it's a serious commitment. If you're not ready to accept-"
"I'm ready! I'm ready!" Enzo shouted, pumping his fists. "I can't believe it! But - why now?"
"Because you deserve it, Enzo. You've worked very hard. Like I said - there aren't many of us left now. Things might get worse before they get better, and there's no telling when or even if there'll ever be an Academy again. The sooner you join the Collective, the more I can teach you."
"Join the C-collective?" Enzo could barely believe he was even saying the words. "Oh Bob..."
"I always knew you'd do it!" Dot said, forcing a smile to her face and grabbing her brother by the shoulders. "Never a doubt in my mind."
"Thanks!" Enzo beamed. "I can't even believe this! What - what do I have to do?"
"Well..." Bob began. "First - you have to convince me that you understand just how serious this is."
"I understand!" Enzo nodded hastily.
"Hmmm. Being a Guardian is about more than a nice uniform and a keytool, Enzo. It's about committing your life to the by-laws of the Collective. To mend and defend. What does that mean to you?"
"It means being brave." The youngster said breathlessly. "Always thinking about the system first - never about yourself. Doing the right thing all the time, and... and never giving up. And working hard and training and practicing and everything!" The boy paused, catching his breath. "And being the best! Just like you, Bob."
"Oh, Enzo!" Dot smiled.
"That's a pretty good answer, Cadet." Bob grinned. "And thanks. Do you also understand that what I'm asking you to do could be dangerous? Daemon is out there, and she wants to destroy the Collective - and that means all of us. Even you."
"I don't care!" Enzo growled. "I'm not afraid of Daemon or Megabyte or anybody else. I wanna be a Guardian, and fight her. She can't win! Just like Megabyte couldn't. I wanna help you save the net, Bob - please!"
Dot ran a hand over her face and sighed. Bob reached over and squeezed her arm reassuringly. "Let's not worry about that for right now, Partner. But I think you get the picture."
Enzo nodded briskly, breathing hard. He almost pinched himself, convinced he was dreaming, but held back at the last nano, not wanting to look basic in front of Bob. The boy couldn't quite bring himself to believe it was real, it was happening. It couldn't be! But it was!
"Calm down, Pal!" Bob chuckled. "Now we're all set for the good part. You ready?"
"Ready!" Enzo whispered, closing his eyes.
Bob smiled at Dot and cleared his throat. "Enzo Matrix, do you solemnly swear that, to the best of your ability, you will uphold the by-laws of the Guardian Collective, and fight for the ideals they represent, for as long as you're processing?"
"I swear." The boy said softly, trembling a little.
"Do you swear to protect and defend the Collective against all threats?"
"I swear."
"Do you swear all of this of your own free will?"
"Yeah. I mean - I swear!" Enzo whispered, feeling his knees buckling under him.
"Good boy. As the Academy is offline, I hereby invoke emergency protocol ninety-five one-oh. Your icon, please." The youngster reached a trembling hand to his hat, and carefully removed his black and white icon. He handed it to the Guardian, who smiled reassuringly.
Bob removed his own icon and held it close to the boy's own. "Command Line - download Guardian protocol to version one point zero." A stream of data passed between the two discs for a moment, then Enzo's icon reformatted itself. Bob handed the new gold and black disc back to the boy, who stared at it, open-mouthed.
"Go ahead." Bob said softly. Enzo started to reach for his hat, then stopped, stared at Bob and, after a nano's hesitation, affixed the icon above his heart. He paused, breathed deeply, and reached for the icon.
"No - wait!" Dot hissed. Enzo froze, hand in mid-air, looking at her quizzically. The Command.Com sighed and stared at him in silence. She reached out a hand and gently twirled his cap, forcing a smile. "Sorry." She whispered. "Go ahead - Cadet."
Enzo grinned ecstatically and tried to steady his hand. The room fell away - only his hand and the gold and black disc were real. Closing his eyes, the boy grasped the icon lightly in two fingers and turned. He felt his body tingle for a nano, felt his knees shaking.
Finally, the opened his eyes, half expecting to find himself lying in his bed. To his immense relief, he wasn't - Dot and Bob were grinning at him, and Frisket was barking loudly. He looked down to find himself clad in a blue and gold jumpsuit, sturdy black boots covering his feet and ankles. And affixed to his chest, the black and gold icon. The Guardian icon. "Alphanumeric..."
"Congratulations, Cadet!" Bob grinned, saluting.
Enzo beamed back, raising his arm in response and standing up stock straight. "Thanks, Bob!" he whispered. He held the stiff salute until his arm began to ache, and Bob laughed.
"All right, already!" Dot sniffed. "C'mere." She enveloped him in her arms. "Congratulations, Cadet."
"Thanks, Dot!" the boy laughed, hugging her back "I can't believe it! I'm a Guardian, Dot! I'm a Guardian! Me!"
"I know!" she chuckled, wiping her eyes.
"Way to go, Enzo." Bob smiled. The boy saluted again. "I think you can do better than that!" the Guardian laughed. He grabbed Enzo's hand and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "You've really earned this, Partner."
"You mean it, Bob?"
"Yup." The Guardian nodded. "Welcome to the Collective, Enzo. I know you'll be a credit to it."
"Thanks!" Enzo whispered, the emotions swirling through his brain far too rapidly for him to process them. He sheepishly punched the Guardian on the shoulder and smiled lopsidedly at his sister.
"Oh, Enzo..." she sighed. "I'm so proud of you."
"Really?"
"Yes, really!" she laughed. The boy grinned and she ruffled his hair gently. "Just promise me that you'll always be careful, Little Brother. Promise you'll always come home to me."
"Promise."
"And always listen to Bob. He's the best - right? Promise!"
"I promise!" he smiled.
"Okay - Guardian." She said softly, hugging him again, reflexively reaching to twirl his cap before catching herself. "Just be the best Guardian you can, and everything will work out fine."
"Thanks, Sis." Frisket barked and stood up on his hind legs, licking the boy's face. "That's right, Boy - it's me! I'm a cadet now!" he laughed. "Dontcha recognize me, Frisket? Cool uniform, huh? I'm never takin' it off!"
The youngster's eyes brightened and he bounced up and down excitedly. "Hey - I wanna go show Matrix and Andri my uniform! Can we, Dot? Please? It's so cool! Matrix is gonna end-file! Can we go?"
"Sure." She chuckled. "I think they're over at the Principal Office..."
*** "And of course you know, Child, that this is the weapons status array. All of the internal defenses of the Principal Office can be reviewed from this workstation."
"Sure." Matrix nodded "And this port provides a direct link to the archives, right?"
"That is so, My Son." Phong smiled. "The security of the archives is one of the most vital of your new duties."
"I had some thoughts about that." AndrAIa added. "I've been working on a way to tie in core energy directly to the archive security systems using a feedback loop."
"You're the System Engineer." Phong smiled. "Your youthful energies will be a welcome addition to the Principal Office, Children. Though I suspect that keeping up with you may deplete my energies just as quickly..."
"Hey! You guys!" The three sprites turned as Enzo burst into the command center. Matrix and AndrAIa's jaws dropped. Phong adjusted his glasses and raised an eyebrow.
The boy was on them in a burst of speed, making a beeline towards the game sprite, Frisket at his heels. "Look! Look! Can you believe it?"
"Enzo!" AndrAIa gasped. "What in the net-"
"I did it! I did it, AndrAIa!" Enzo laughed. "Can you believe it?"
"I believe it!" she giggled, kneeling and embracing the beaming cadet. "I never doubted it for a nano, Guardian. I'm so proud..."
"Thanks! Thanks..." Enzo sighed, his world in perfect harmony. "Oh Andri - I can't believe it! I thought I'd never be a Guardian, I thought it'd never happen-"
"I told you, didn't I? You should listen to me - I know what I'm talking about!"
"Way to go, Enzo." Matrix said, clapping the boy on the shoulder. Bob and Dot entered the command center and stood behind the bearded sprite.
Enzo stepped back from the game sprite and looked up at Matrix. "Matrix, I did it! I really did it! I'm a Guardian!"
"You sure are!" the big sprite chuckled.
"Just like you." Enzo said softly. Matrix winked and held out his hand. Enzo shook it firmly. "I'm a Guardian, Matrix!"
"I'd heard that!" Matrix grinned. "I always knew you'd do it, Kid. You just had to believe in yourself."
"So you're cool? You don't mind?" I know you were worried-"
"Hey - I told you. I believe in you. I know what you're made of. You're gonna make me proud, I know it."
"Thanks!" the boy grinned. "I am, Matrix - I'll do real good! You'll see! We're gonna be an awesome team!"
"We're Matrixes!" the bearded sprite laughed, picking up the youngster and playfully tossing him in the air like a Guardian doll. "No User or virus better pick a fight with Guardian Matrix - right?"
"Right!" Enzo giggled. Matrix set him down and he raced over to Phong. "Didya see my new uniform, Phong? Didya see it?"
"Indeed, Young Guardian. I remember well when Bob first came to us in Mainframe, how regal he looked in his uniform. It filled me with a feeling of confidence and pride, Child. I felt that same confidence and pride when I first saw your brother on the ramparts in his uniform, fighting off the web invasion. I feel it now."
"Really?"
"Mainframe is in good hands, My Son. Bob is our defender, and Matrix stands at his side. Now you have joined them. It is indeed an auspicious day."
"Gee - thanks, Phong!" Enzo grinned. "Cool! AndrAIa - didya see these boots? They're awesome, Dude! Totally high-res!"
Matrix chuckled and turned to Bob and Dot. "You guys don't waste a lot of time, do you?" he said softly.
"There didn't seem to be much point." Dot sighed. "We thought a lot about what you said, Enzo. We thought about a lot of things. And we decided."
"He'll be fine." Bob smiled.
"Who'd know him better than you?" Dot shrugged. "If you say he's ready, I believe you. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I trust you - Little Brother."
The big sprite watched as Enzo gleefully explained the finer points of his new wardrobe to Phong and AndrAIa. "Thanks, Sis. He'll be great. He's got the best teacher in the world."
"Sorry I didn't get a chance to teach you more." Bob sighed.
"You taught me everything." The bearded sprite whispered. He turned and smiled. "You both did. And you're teaching Enzo, too. I don't think you can ever really understand what this means to him, you guys. Thanks for trusting me."
"Thanks for caring so much about Enzo." Dot smiled, grabbing his hand. "And congratulations to you, too!"
"Hey you guys - this is awesome!" Enzo interrupted. "I wish I had a keytool like you did, Bob. Wouldn't that be alphanumeric? D'ya think I'll ever have a keytool, you guys?"
"Someday!" Bob chuckled.
"Man - I wish a game cube would drop! I wanna go into a game as a real Guardian, y'know? And I wanna see what it feels like, now that I've got the programming. I wonder if I'm any different..." The boy closed his eyes and screwed up his face in intense concentration. "I don't feel any different! Crash it all!"
Matrix and Bob burst out in laughter, and AndrAIa sympathetically wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulder. "You're different, Enzo - believe me!" Matrix said. "You're a Guardian now. A protector of systems. To mend and defend. It's always gonna be a big part of who you are from now on."
"Dude!" Enzo grinned. To hear Matrix say it like that, in plain DOS - it all came crashing over him. It was real. He was a Guardian now - he was his own sprite. A protector of systems. And no one could ever take it away from him.
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