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Part II
Past
"Go around and cut him off, Enzo!" Bob shouted. "Use your sword!"
"I'm on it!" Enzo replied, sweating in his heavy silver chain mail. Bob continued to keep the towering swordsman occupied as the boy positioned himself in front of the barred iron door at the far end of the large chamber in which the three figures stood.
As if on cue, the User launched a furious series of attacks against Bob, driving him back a few steps. He quickly turned and made a dash for the inner keep, pulling up short at the sight of the small figure guarding the door, sword in hand. "Not so fast, User!" the boy snarled.
The green-armored User hesitated for a nano, then slowly advanced on Enzo, sword poised. He launched a quick attack, which the boy parried with his shield arm, panting with exertion as he held the User's weapon at bay.
The clatter of metallic footfalls was heard and the User spun, just as Bob swung his broadsword, two-handed. The weapon rang resoundingly against the green knight's icon. The figure shimmered for a nano.
Dazed, the User raised his shield to hold the Guardian at bay, only to stagger back as Enzo blistered the icon with his rapier. The green knight staggered back a few steps, his helmeted head swiveling between his two rivals. "Keep it up!" Bob hissed, slowly advancing. He feinted an attack, opening the User's defenses and allowing Enzo so slip his rapier through to the icon once more. The green figure shimmered again.
"Good, Enzo! He can't take much more." The weakened User launched a half-hearted overhand blow at Enzo, which the youngster easily blocked on his shield. Bob seized the opportunity and stabbed at the icon again. The green knight shimmered, fell to his knees and blinked into nothingness.
"All right!" Enzo shouted. He slapped a metal-gloved hand towards Bob.
"Ow!" the Guardian yelped. "No high fives with armor on, Enzo - new rule."
"What?"
The Guardian ripped his helmet off, the Cadet following suit "You can't talk in these things!"
"Dude - that was awesome!" Enzo beamed.
"Yeah, good job, Knight. C'mon - let's finish this thing off and go home."
"But we beat the User - what's left?"
"Gotta recover the Holy Grail - remember?" Bob grinned. He walked over to the barred and chained door to the inner keep. He brought his broadsword over his head and shattered the metal locking chain with a powerful blow. "After you, Cadet..."
"Coolness!" Enzo whispered, stepping through the door. The inner keep was a small, Spartan room, featureless but for a raised dais in the center, upon which sat a small stonework chalice. Its design was simple but elegant, with a fine, basic filigree pattern around its sides.
"Dude!" Enzo gasped. "It's beautiful!" Indeed, there was an air of magic and majesty to the simple flagon. "Can - can I pick it up?"
"Go ahead." Bob grinned, leaning on his sword.
"No traps or anything?"
"Just the gauntlet we ran to get here. Go ahead, Enzo - just remember what I told you to say."
"OK." The boy said softly. He set down his rapier and shield and slowly stepped up to the dais. "In the name of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table!" The youngster said in a low voice, fingers closing around the base of the cup. He lifted it and held it to his chest.
When the boy's vision returned, he and Bob stood on a quiet street on Level 31, and his hands were clasped around empty air. There was a nano of emptiness inside him, too. "Cursors!" he said softly.
"I know." Bob smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. "It's really something, isn't it?"
"Yeah." The boy sighed. "That's basic - as soon as you finish the quest and find the grail, and you get to hold it - the game's over!"
"I know. That's the whole idea, I think. Some things just aren't meant to be possessed, Enzo."
"What do you mean, Bob?" the youngster frowned.
"Don't worry about it." The Guardian chuckled. "C'mon - since we're on Level 31 anyway, let's head over to Al's and get an energy shake."
"OK, cool!" Enzo smiled, the memory of the grail quickly fading into the recesses of his processor. "That was an alphanumeric game, Bob!"
"Yeah, I like that one. It's not easy, but it rewards patience and teamwork. Remember that, Cadet - patience and teamwork are important in games, especially the good ones."
"Right. Like that User in there - he couldn't stand up to both of us, but if I'd tried to fight him alone-"
"Exactly." Bob grinned.
"Is the icon always their weak spot, Bob?"
"Not always. A lot of the time. It's a lot easier to figure stuff out when you have a keytool, Enzo - all we have to go on are our senses and our processors. I'm lucky - I've played a lot of these games before. But you haven't, so you've got to learn to trust your instincts."
"That doesn't sound so hard."
"It's not easy, believe me." They stood before Al's Wait and Eat, and Bob held the door open for his pupil. "That's why I don't tell you everything Enzo - even when I know it."
That made Enzo feel strange, kind of glad and scared at the same time and a little proud too. The pair sat in a booth. "That's cool, Bob. I'll learn - I promise."
"I know ya will." Bob chuckled. He waved at Al's Waiter, but the figure behind the counter was dozing, a cigar dangling between his lips. "Hey!" Bob shouted.
"Huh?" Al's Waiter mumbled, shaking his head dazedly. "Now...serving... number... two..."
"Uh... Ex-cuse me?" Bob sighed. "Couple of energy shakes for me and my partner, please. This cycle, if possible!" Enzo giggled.
"Oh! Sure... Any...thing...for...you...........Bob." the waiter replied. "Hey... Al! Two...energy...shakes...on...the...double..."
"What?!"
"I was in a game with them, once." Bob smiled. "They weren't any faster inside. Although Al can belch pretty well... You were there, too - right after you almost erased Dot with the magnet. Remember - you rebooted into a damsel?"
"You didn't hafta bring that up." Enzo scowled. "It wasn't exactly my best cycle!"
"Sorry!" Bob laughed. "But it was the first time you won a game - remember? You just have to look on the bright side."
"I guess. Say - I won that one by pounding on the knight's icon, too!"
"So you did. File and store, Kiddo."
The boy raised an eyebrow. "I get it, Bob!"
"So how did it feel in there, Guardian - different?"
"Yeah - I guess!" the boy grinned. "It's hard to describe it. I just felt more like I... belonged - y'know?"
"Sure."
"When the cube hit, I - I dunno. It's like I knew where it was, and I just started heading towards it. I didn't even really think about it, like I used to. I was just going towards it before I realized it. And then - once I was inside..."
"Yeah?"
The youngster smiled. "It's weird. I guess I was thinking clearer or something. All I was worried about was winning the game and making sure everyone was OK. I wasn't thinking about any of the other stuff I usually do."
"That's good." Bob nodded. "That's what a Guardian feels like, Cadet. Once you're in the game, you've got responsibilities. The codes help you focus on that, but part of it's still up to you, too. That's what all the hard work and training is for."
"Coolness!" Al's Waiter shuffled slowly over to them and set a pair of energy shakes on the table.
"Here...ya...go... Bob." The binome said. "On...the...house."
"Thanks!" Bob chuckled. "Tell Al Dot says Hi."
"What?!"
Bob shook his head and raised his glass. "To Guardian Matrix."
"Both of 'em!" Enzo grinned. The boy took a huge slurp of his shake. "Ahhh! Pure energy!"
"Like you need any more of that." Bob laughed.
"Just end file!" Enzo growled playfully. He sat back and reverently ran his hands up and down his sleeves. "Isn't this uniform awesome, Bob?"
"Nothing like your first cadet uniform, is there? You wear it to bed last cycle?"
"Well..." Enzo grinned sheepishly. "I took the boots off."
"Good!" Bob chuckled.
Enzo sipped his shake again. "Thanks for makin' me a cadet, Bob. It's so totally cool-"
"No more of that." Bob scolded. "I told you before - you earned it. You've worked hard."
"I know... But you didn't hafta do it. You've already got Matrix to help you-"
"Can't have too many good Guardians. And if you work hard, you can be a good guardian, Enzo. I know it."
"Thanks! And I'm gonna keep working hard, too - I promise! I'm gonna be as good as you are someday..."
"You will if I have anything to say about it!" Bob laughed. "Let's finish these shakes and head back. Gotta report back to the P.O. after a game, right Cadet?"
"Right, Guardian!" The boy grinned.
***
"Well, I'm sorry, Phong - I can't make any sense of it either. It's almost like she didn't want us to know what she did."
"Indeed, Young AndrAIa." The old sprite sighed. "The ways are viruses are riddles wrapped inside of mysteries. But then - who better to design a defense against one, I suppose..."
"That was the general idea." The game sprite said. "But I'm still not comfortable with this whole business. Look at this sequence - she's piggybacked an undo command on top of a file encryption! Why would she want to do that?"
"Indeed, Child."
"I hope Bob knows what he's doing..."
"We have entrusted the defense of the system to our Guardian, Child." Phong said gently. "He has proven his worthiness of that trust, over and over. I am troubled, as you are - but I feel we must trust our Guardian's judgement in this matter."
"You're right, Phong." The young woman smiled wearily. "Bob's earned our trust. But we're going to be puzzling over these changes for a long time."
"Ah, our Chief of Security returns - and our Command.Com. I trust the review of the troops went well?"
"Very well, thanks Phong." Matrix nodded. The bearded sprite was a cutting figure in the green coat and breeches of the Security Chief. "I'd like to see Megabyte try to go up against us now - we'd kick his ASCII."
"Enzo!" Dot sighed. "I don't know where you boys picked up that mouth of yours! How was your first cycle on the job, System Engineer?"
"Pixelacious. A day spent in Phong's scintillating company - what more could a sprite ask for?"
"Er - you flatter me, Child!" Phong blushed. "Indeed..."
"We all know Phong loves to surround himself with pretty young ladies!" the game sprite winked at Dot, who stifled a giggle.
"Oh!" Phong gasped, giggling and turning a brighter shade of red. "Of course I - that is - I mean…"
Matrix choked down a laugh and smiled at the game sprite. "Should I be jealous, Andri?"
"Hardly!" the young woman wrapped an arm around his waist. "I never could resist a man in uniform..."
"You two!" Dot laughed. "I heard the game cube leaving a while ago - are Bob and Enzo back yet?"
"No, Child."
"Stopped off at Al's for an energy shake, no doubt." AndrAIa added.
"So many changes." Dot smiled wearily. "It's hard to keep them all straight. Enzo's a Guardian, Matrix is the Security Chief. AndrAIa's the System Engineer. It seems like last cycle you were all little sprites!"
"Who's a little sprite?" Enzo asked, leading Bob into the command center.
"Nobody, Cadet." His sister chuckled. "How was the game?"
"Awesome! It was like Wizards and Warriors, except without the killer carrots. We had to survive a bunch of stuff and beat the User to this pixelacious cup. It was a blast! And we kicked his bitmap."
"Sounds fun. Did you feel any different in there?"
"Yeah, it was kinda weird, sorta like what Matrix told me." The boy noticed his older self at last. "Dude - you look totally cool!"
"Thanks - you too!" the big sprite laughed.
An alarm filled the air, jerking the six sprite's attention to the console. "What's that?" Enzo shouted, covering his ears.
"Oh, dear. There has been an unauthorized access to the system - from the net!"
"Raise shields!" Dot and Matrix said simultaneously. "Sorry!" the Command.Com mumbled.
"I am picking up a ship, Children." Phong hissed. "Tracking on a direct course for the Principal Office. On Vidwindow."
"Scramble all CPUs!" Matrix barked.
"I know that ship..." Bob said softly, staring at the still fuzzy image on the vidwindow.
"CPU's - move to intercept. Heading two-zero by one-zero-five! Units twelve through twenty-five form a cordon around the P.O.-"
"Wait!" Bob shouted. "Open a channel!"
"But, Bob-"
"Trust me, Matrix." The Guardian said calmly. "Unidentified ship - please state your identity and function at once!"
There was a crackle of static. "Why, Bob - I thought you was never gonna ask!"
"Mouse!" Dot laughed.
"I'd know that ship anywhere." Bob grinned. "Greetings, Mouse. Long time no see. Ray with you?"
"He sure is, Honey. And just as precious as ever. How you doin'?"
"We're pretty frosty, Mouse. You?"
"Good, Sugar. Thanks for askin'. Thought we'd pop in and pay you folks a visit. Break out the good china!"
"You got it, Mouse. Head for landing bay seven." Bob grinned.
"Roger, Handsome, bay seven. Mouse out."
Matrix breathed deeply, his shoulders unclenching. "Lower shields. CPU's report back to base." He grinned at AndrAIa. "I thought maybe Phong was testing me there for a nano..."
"I would never deceive you in such a way, Child." Phong scolded. "Not in a matter of this importance. Come - let us go to meet the arrival of our old friends."
"Cool - Ray's back!" Enzo laughed. "Maybe he can give me some more surfing lessons!"
"It'll be wonderful to see them again." Dot smiled, wrapping an arm around Bob's waist as they walked towards the landing bay. "Isn't it odd, though? They've barely been gone!"
"Maybe they got homesick!" Enzo offered.
"Maybe..." The Command.Com wrapped her other arm around the boy's shoulder. "That doesn't sound like Mouse though - does it Bob? You've known her longer than I have."
"Who knows?" Bob shrugged. "She has changed a lot since the old days at the Academy. I think Mainframe really means something to her. But I've never known her to be indecisive. I imagine she must have some reason for coming back so soon."
"Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough." AndrAIa grinned. The sprites gathered and watched in silence as the little ship gently inched into the landing bay, hovered for a nano and gently settled to the floor.
"Always was a helluva pilot." Bob said admiringly.
"What's the matter?" AndrAIa frowned. Matrix, face ashen, was shuffling uncomfortably as he stared at Ship.
"Nothing. It's nothing..." the big sprite whispered, adjusting his collar. "I was just - remembering something..."
Matrix glanced over at Enzo who, like his brother, seemed unsettled. Feeling the bearded sprite's eyes on him the boy turned and met his gaze, frowning. He was confused, Matrix could see it. A flicker of understanding passed between them, an unspoken link that seemed to be growing stronger by the cycle. Both sprites seemed to draw some comfort from the connection, and Matrix reached out and grabbed the boy's hand. Both returned their gaze to the ship.
The door opened and the flame-haired sprite poked her head out, grinning. "Howdy, folks. Y'all miss me?"
"Give us a chance and maybe we will!" Bob laughed. The hacker hopped down to the tarmac and was met by a cluster of smiles and hugs.
After a nano, Ray appeared and joined her. "Nice to be back, Mates. Place almost feels like home. What's processin'?"
"We're getting by." Dot smiled. "We have missed you both, though. I'm glad you're back."
"Planning on staying a while?" Bob asked pointedly.
Mouse's glance fell on Matrix and Enzo, who stood several paces apart from the group. The younger, in particular, looked confused and unsettled. The hacker's jaw dropped. "What the... I ain't been gone that long, Darlin's! What's goin' on here?"
"Hey - nice suit, Kid." Ray grinned. "Kind of a style change for you, isn't it?" The youngster's face brightened into a smile.
"It's a Guardian uniform, Sugar. Does that mean what I think it does?"
"Sure does." Bob chuckled.
"I'm a Guardian!" Enzo said proudly.
"Well don't that beat all!" the hacker winked at the boy. "Congratulations, Honey. Sure brings back a lot o' memories, seein' you like that. Speakin' of which - that's a new look for you too, ain't it Matrix?"
"He's Security Chief now!" Enzo beamed. The bearded sprite smiled sheepishly.
"And AndrAIa is the System Engineer." Dot added.
"Dang! Can't tell the players without a scorecard!" Mouse laughed. "Yer gone a few cycles and everything goes random."
"Good on ya, Mates. Well deserved all, I'm sure."
"Thanks, Ray." AndrAIa grinned. "So - are you two here for a while, or what?"
"Why'd you come back so soon, Mouse? It's not like you to change your mind..."
"It's complicated, Bob." Mouse sighed. "We weren't exactly plannin' to be back so soon - but somethin' kinda changed our plans a little."
"And what was that, Young Mouse?" Phong inquired.
Mouse cast a glance at Ray. She turned back to Ship. "You wanna come on out now, Sugar?"
The tension in the landing bay increased exponentially as a white-haired sprite appeared in the doorway of Ship and gracefully lowered himself to the tarmac. "No!" Bob gasped.
"What is it?" Dot hissed.
The Guardian's face turned rock hard. "What are you doing here? What's the meaning of this, Mouse?"
"You remember him, I see." Mouse said softly. "Guess you would, Honey. You were at the Academy when it happened."
"Bob, what is it? You know this man?" Dot whispered. She studied the strange figure closely. The man was weathered, certainly, and not physically imposing - but there was a sense of coiled power in his lean frame. Something formidable but dormant. He looked back at her for a nano with piercing brown eyes, his sharp features furrowed in seeming pain.
The older man turned to stare at Bob, frowning. "By the User - what've you done, Boy?"
"Why did you bring him here, Mouse? What lies did he tell you?" Bob scowled.
"No lies, Young Guardian. The truth is bad enough." The white-haired sprite frowned.
"He told me what happened, Sugar. With the Collective, and all. But it's been a long time. You ought to listen to what he has to say-"
"What else did he tell you?" Bob hissed.
"What else? I don't rightly know - what'd you have in mind?"
"Ahem!" Phong interrupted. "I do not believe that we have been introduced? I am Phong, System Administrator of Mainframe. And you are?"
"Sorry, y'all. This here's Laser - formerly Second Guardian of the Collective."
"Second Guardian? Alphanumeric!" Enzo gasped. "Is that true?"
"Enzo!" Bob snapped, with uncharacteristic harshness.
"It is, Son. But it was a long time ago..."
"I don't remember Turbo mentioning anything about him." Matrix frowned. "Are you sure, Mouse?"
"I was out of the Collective before Turbo ever came to power, Son." The older sprite smiled bitterly.
"It's true, Matrix." Bob snarled. "He was Second Guardian while I was at the Academy. Only he left - walked out. Isn't that right, Old Man?"
"Look - he's still got his keytool!" Enzo exclaimed.
Laser smiled down at the boy. "Well, well - we have an eager young cadet here, I see. Mouse, you didn't mention anything about this."
"He wasn't a cadet when I left, Sugar. Bob's been a busy little Guardian."
"I did what I had to do, Old Man - just like I always do. I made a difficult choice - but you wouldn't know much about that, would you? And since when do you care what the Collective thinks?"
"Bob!" Dot gasped. Like the others, she was taken aback by his venomous reaction.
"You don't understand, Dot. I know this man. I know what he's like. He can't be trusted. Why did you bring him here, Mouse?"
"'Cause things are goin' to hell in a caddy out there, Honey. It's time we all fought back, however we can. I was at the Academy once too, if you remember. I felt the same way you did. But he was Second Guardian-"
"You didn't feel the same way I did." Bob said softly. "How could you?" The Guardian spun and walked out of the landing bay, leaving the others in stunned silence.
"Bob!" Dot shouted. There was no response from the Guardian. The Command.Com turned to the others. "I don't know exactly what's happening here... I've never seen him act like that before."
"I'm not sure I know either, Sugar." Mouse sighed.
"Excuse me. I think we need to discuss a few things." Dot turned and hurried out of the landing bay. After a nano, Enzo slipped away and scurried after her.
"Well, that was pleasant." Ray said dryly.
"I'm sorry - I didn't mean to cause such a disruption." Laser said softly. He turned to Matrix and addressed him directly. "From what Reb - er, Mouse has told me, you're a Guardian too, Son. That right?"
The bearded sprite arched an eyebrow in Mouse's direction. "Technically, yeah. I was never at the Academy, though - Bob gave me a field promotion. Just like Enzo."
"Well - you've got the codes, that's the main thing. I don't expect to get much support from Bob, Guardian - but I hope you'll hear me out. We've all got a lot of work to do."
"Look - Laser? Was that your name? I still don't know who you are, exactly - but I think you should know that Bob is my best friend. Whatever reasons Bob has for feeling the way he does, I'm sure they're good enough for me."
"Matrix-"
"No, Mouse." Laser interrupted. "He's loyal - that's an important quality in a Guardian. They don't spend much time teaching it at the Academy, unfortunately. Believe me, I know..."
*** "Enzo, I told you - go back to the P.O.. This is something I need to-"
"No!" the youngster said firmly, tagging along a few bits behind Dot on his zip board. "I wanna talk to Bob too! He's always helping me when I'm sad."
"Enzo-"
"Dot, please?"
"Oh, Enzo... I suppose." The Command.Com sighed. "But just let me get a word in, all right? He seems pretty upset."
"Why's he so mad at that sprite, d'you think?" Enzo said softly. "I never saw him yell like that before."
"I'm not sure. Mouse said he was Second Guardian when Bob was at the Academy. I guess I can ask him myself."
"Look! There he is!" Enzo exclaimed. The Guardian was, in fact, visible in a booth through the window of the diner.
The two sprites hopped off their zip boards and headed for the door. "Just let me do the talking, all right Enzo? I need to find out what this is all about."
"Sure." The boy sighed.
Cecil darted across the room and held the door. "Madam. May I bring you anything zis evening?"
"No thanks, Cecil." The Command.Com stopped a few paced behind Bob's still figure. "I suppose I knew you'd be here."
"Where else would I go?" the Guardian replied, without turning.
Dot seated herself across from Bob, her brother sliding in next to him. "Are you all right?" she said softly.
"I'm fine." Bob said, not lifting his elbows or his gaze off the table.
"Well - you seem a little put out. Of course, that's just my opinion." Dot smiled. "I've never seen you like that, Bob. Do you want to talk about it?"
"I really wouldn't know where to start." He sighed. "To call it a long story would be an understatement."
"Why don't you start at the beginning?"
The Guardian laughed bitterly. "I don't think you'd understand, Dot. I don't think anyone would. I never expected to see that man again, I can tell you that much."
"He was... expelled? From the Collective? Is that it?" Dot said softly. "Is he a traitor, or something?"
"You don't get it, Dot..."
"Bob, what's the matter?" Enzo asked at last, lightly resting his hand on Bob's elbow.
"It's complicated Enzo. You wouldn't understand-"
"I might!" the boy protested. "What - what did he do to you? He must have done something really bad."
"Enzo!" Dot sighed.
The Guardian tore his gaze from the table at last, staring down at Enzo. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, which the boy returned weakly. "You're right, Partner. He did."
"What was it?" the youngster whispered, eyes wide.
Bob gently tousled Enzo's hair and leaned back wearily. "He let me down, Enzo. He left me when I needed him. He tried to break down everything I believed in."
"Bob, I don't understand!" Dot protested. "What do you mean, exactly?"
"He's my father."
"Your father?" Dot gasped. "Bob-"
"Dude - he's your father? But I didn't think - I..."
"Didn't think I had a father, huh Kiddo?" Bob smiled bitterly. "I don't blame you - in my mind, I don't."
"I don't get it!" Enzo frowned in puzzlement. "If he's your father, why would you think that?"
"Like I said, it's complicated. I didn't ask for him to my father. Neither of us had any choice. He's got nothing to do with what I am. He doesn't mean anything to me."
"Dude!" Enzo whispered. "That's totally basic. Low-density. He's your Dad and you don't even like him?"
"There's more to it than that, Enzo..."
"That's totally sad, Dude." The youngster frowned. He tentatively leaned over against the Guardian's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Bob."
Bob ran a hand across his face and locked eyes with Dot, who smiled encouragingly. "Thanks, Cadet." He said softly, wrapping an arm around the boy. They sat in silence for a few nanos.
"Why do you think he's here?" Dot asked gently.
"Whatever it is, it can't be any good." Bob scowled. "He's told Mouse some pack of lies, I don't know what."
"I don't think he told her he's your father."
"I doubt it - she seemed to have no idea." The Guardian sighed. "User - I haven't seen him in so long! I thought I'd finally managed to forget about him, and now he has to show up here to ruin my life again..."
"That's what Matrix said to me." Enzo said softly.
"What?" Bob asked, puzzled.
"It's a totally different situation, Enzo. You don't know my father. You're lucky."
"I know." Enzo said. "Dude - he must've done something really terrible for you to hate him so much. He's your Dad!"
"Enzo-" Bob began sharply. He caught himself, breathed slowly. "I know it sounds basic, Partner. But I know what I'm talking about. He's trouble, and he can't be trusted. End file."
Dot grabbed the Guardian's hand in her own. "Whatever the reason - he's here. We're going to have to find out why."
"I know, I know..."
"We'll get you through it." The Command.Com smiled. "Right Enzo?"
"Right." The boy echoed.
"I appreciate it, you two." The Guardian sighed. "But I just need a little time to sort stuff out. I'm not ready to face him right now."
"Whatever you need, we're here." Dot said softly, squeezing his hand.
*** "This is a fairly impressive setup for such a small system." Laser mused, looking around the command center.
"Had no choice, Sugar. These folks have been to hell and back." Mouse said grimly. "Whatever we - they - did, they did it to survive."
"Yeah, Mouse told me about some of your viral problems. Sounds like you came pretty close to the edge there."
"If it hadn't been for Bob, Mainframe would've been destroyed." AndrAIa said pointedly. "The whole idea of engineering s system restart was his. We'd never have thought of it."
"Mainframe would have been destroyed on many occasions had it not been for our Guardian." Phong added. "His skill and courage have been our salvation, over and over."
Laser smiled broadly. "I'm sure they have, Phong. That boy never gave up - stubborn as a Unix user, always was."
"Do you know so much about everyone who was at the Academy?" Matrix scowled.
"No." the white-haired man admitted. "That one is special."
"He doesn't seem to think the same about you, Mate." Ray said. "Why d'you suppose that is?"
"I'm a traitor to the Collective, remember? How else would you expect him to feel?"
"Is that all it is?" Dot asked, walking into the command center, her brother at her heels. Both sprites wore troubled frowns on their faces.
"Isn't that enough?" Laser smiled bitterly.
"You tell me, Guardian." The Command.Com walked up to the man, hand extended. "I don't think we were introduced. I'm Dot Matrix - the Command.Com of this system."
"Mouse told me all about you." The older sprite smiled. "I'm Laser. It's an honor."
"And I think you noticed my brother earlier. This is Enzo."
"Cadet." Laser shook the silent youngster's hand.
"Now that we've got the pleasantries out of the way, how about we clear the air a little? Didn't you think it was relevant to mention that you were Bob's father?"
"What?!" Matrix exclaimed.
"Oh dear..."
"I wasn't sure it was." The older man scowled. "I didn't think Bob thought of me that way anymore."
"Funny you neglected to mention that to me, Sugar!" Mouse growled. "So this whole thing, takin' you here, everythin' you told me - it was all a scam? It ain't nice to fool the Mouse..."
"Everything I told you was true, Cadet!" Laser snapped in a flash of temper. "Every deleted character. The fact that Bob was my son - once - was irrelevant."
"Cursors - I shoulda seen it!" Mouse hissed. "Those deleted little mannerisms of yours - they've got Bob all over 'em. I must be goin' basic in my old age..."
"So you're Bob's father?" Matrix frowned. "Bob's father was Second Guardian? He never said anything about it to any of us!"
"That doesn't surprise me."
"You said you were a traitor to the Collective." AndrAIa prodded. "What do you mean?"
"It was a long time ago, Young Lady. We had... irreconcilable differences. That's all. We parted ways."
"And that's why you and Bob are - why you're..."
Laser shook his head impatiently. "What does it matter? It was part of it, maybe. You'd have to ask Bob - it was his decision."
"His decision?" Matrix scowled. "I don't think so! That doesn't sound like Bob."
"This is all very fascinating." Dot sighed. "If Bob wants to talk about all this, he can talk about it. In the meantime Sir, I'm still the Command.Com around here, and you're still an unauthorized visitor. Why did you come here? Not to talk to Bob, it sounds like."
"Right to the point, eh?" Laser grinned toothily. "How much do you know about the situation in the net?"
"I know it's bad. I know the Guardian Collective's been virtually destroyed-"
"Forget the 'virtually'."
"Destroyed, then. I know it's bad. Daemon's even managed to infect the games, somehow. I know that we're not safe here, even if we think we are."
"Very good." Laser nodded. "You're a wise sprite, Miss Matrix. And that's why I'm here."
"Please explain, Sir." Phong interrupted. "Forgive our ignorance - we are but a small system..."
"The net's made up of small systems." Laser sighed. "I'm not ready to sit back and let Daemon infect the entire net. And that's what's going to happen, make no mistake - unless we do something about it."
"Do what?" AndrAIa asked.
"Whatever we can." The older sprite said softly. "I'll admit I've had my problems with the Collective - I won't bore you with details. But they were a line of defense, if nothing else. It's time for me to bury old grudges. I have the codes, I have the keytool. I have the experience. Most importantly, there's no one else."
"So what are you suggesting?" Dot prodded.
"Fighting back. Restoring the Collective, from the ground up if we have to. The fight against Daemon is going to be a war of attrition. Wars against viruses always are. She can't win in a few cycles, and we can't stop her any faster. We must build a framework of resistance throughout the net, however we can."
Dot found herself drawn to the man's words. What he said made sense to her. "How? And what do we have to do with it?"
"You're a clean system." Laser smiled grimly. "That's a start. And I have very few resources to draw on - allies. I'll take my help wherever I can get it."
"Why should we trust you?" Matrix challenged. "Bob doesn't, obviously. And we all trust Bob."
Laser studied the young man, up and down. "You'll just have to decide, Guardian. Whatever happened between Bob and myself is between us. Maybe it's my fault. But I'd hate to see a chance to save the net wasted because of personal differences."
"You have given us much to think about, Guardian." Phong interrupted. "We are all confused and overwhelmed a little, I am thinking. Perhaps some time to think about what you have told us would be to our benefit, yes?"
"Perhaps, Sir." Laser sighed.
"Good, good. It is late in the cycle. Let us all return to our lives and consider what you have told us. Mouse, Ray - perhaps you would be kind enough to give our guest a short tour of Mainframe?"
"Sure, Mate - no worries." The surfr said. "You'll love the place."
"Matrix - will you and AndrAIa take Enzo back to your place and make sure he gets some dinner?" Dot asked wearily.
"Sure Sis - no problem."
"Dot? What-"
"Go on, Sweetie." The Command.Com smiled. "I just want to stay and talk to Mouse for a little while. I'll see you back at the diner, OK?"
"Sure Sis - no problem." The boy frowned quizzically. "If you say so."
"I'll catch you up later, Sugar." Mouse told Ray. "Might be a while."
"No worries." The blond sprite winked. He led Laser out of the command center as the others dispersed to their respective destinations. After a nano, Mouse and Dot stood alone in the large room.
"Welcome back." Dot smiled, hugging the hacker stiffly. "We've missed you."
"Thanks, Dot. Likewise, I'm sure."
"You didn't know he was Bob's father, I take it?"
"No." the hacker sighed. "Seems obvious now, to look at him - but it never even occurred to me. Well, maybe for a nano. All the minutes I've known Bob he never mentioned his daddy."
"Nor to me." Dot said wearily, leaning against the console. "Just so I'm sure I understand - you and Bob were at the Academy? Together?"
"Sure were, Sugar. Ol' Bob was a couple semesters behind me, but we were there. Didn't exactly leave on the same terms, though."
"You were kicked out?" Dot asked with a hint of a smile.
"You could say that. They did me a favor, Dot - I wasn't Guardian material. They just knew it before I did."
"And this man - Laser. You knew him while you were at the Academy?"
"I didn't really know him, Honey!" the hacker laughed. "Cadets don't exactly hang around the hard drive with the Second Guardian. I knew who he was - saw him around campus a few times. Heard stuff about him. But that's all."
"And you didn't know he was Bob's father?" Dot frowned.
"Bob sure never said anything. There wasn't any reason to think about it, I reckon. He was Second Guardian, Bob was a cadet. An underclassman at that. It never came up."
"Odd..." Dot said softly. "Where did you meet him? Now, I mean?"
"In the Supercomputer." Mouse grinned. "We were doin' the same thing, Sugar - snoopin'. It was Ray ran into him - spotted his keytool, bless his little processor. But I recognized ol' Laser soon as I got a good look at him."
"Do you trust him?"
"I don't rightly know. I thought I did when I got here. Gettin' tossed from the Collective don't make ya a bad sprite, Dot - believe me, I know. 'Course, I had no notion about this business o' him bein' Bob's daddy. Kinda changes things a little."
"You could say that." Dot sighed. "I've never seen Bob like this, Mouse - never. He doesn't want to talk about it, but he's really off-lined about him being here."
"He'll talk to ya, Sugar. Eventually."
"Maybe... What does Laser have in mind, Mouse? What did he mean by a 'framework of resistance'?"
"Don't know exactly, Honey. This guy was Second Guardian. You have no idea what kinda power that is, believe me - but I do. I think he wants to make up for some old mistakes. If he thinks he can organize a resistance I take it serious."
"Then I guess I do too." Dot nodded. "But I'm not sure Bob is going to listen to anything he has to say. I suppose we'll find out soon enough."
"I reckon." Mouse agreed. Both sprites stood in silence for a few nanos. "Was there somethin' else you was wantin' to say, Dot Honey?"
"You really hurt me, you know." The Command.Com sighed.
"I had a feelin' we'd be goin' there..."
"Well, it's true." Dot frowned. "After everything we'd been through together, all we survived..."
"Dot-"
"How could you do it, Mouse? How could you just leave like that - without even a word?"
"Because o' this, Dot. It ain't the Mouse's style-"
"Will you just stop that third person nonsense?" Dot growled. "We went through so much, you and I -and then you just leave? Don't I mean more than that to you?"
"You knew I wasn't gonna stick around forever, Sugar." Mouse said evenly. "Since I was gonna leave anyway, why have a messy emotional scene? Kinda like this one. It don't do nobody no good, Dot. Easier to just go."
"So why did you come back?"
"I had to bring Laser here - and I wasn't gonna just tell him Mainframe's location. Not until I was sure we could trust him."
"That's the only reason?" Dot scowled.
"Honey, I coulda left when all y'all were on the brink of deletion. I had the chance." Mouse hissed. "You know how I feel about Mainframe. About you. It was just time to go, that's all. I was more use elsewhere. That's the longest I stuck in one place since I was at the Academy as it is!"
"I'm glad you can be so logical." Dot sighed. "I was never able to detach myself from the sprites I love. Call it a weakness."
"Sugar-"
"No - you're right." Dot interrupted. "It's been a weird cycle, that's all. I'm glad you're back. If you need anything while you're here, you know how to find me." The Command.Com nodded brusquely and departed, leaving Mouse alone in the command center.
*** The diner was dark when the lone figure on the zip board hovered to a stop before the locked doors. Bob entered his command key and opened the file lock. Cecil, shut down for the cycle, snored quietly from his perch atop the java maker.
Bob file locked the doors behind him and walked quietly through the kitchen and down the stairs, letting himself into the small apartment underneath the diner. He tiptoed through the living room towards the hallway leading to the apartment's two bedrooms.
"I was worried about you." A voice brought him up short.
"Dot! You scared the data out of me." As his eyes adjusted to the dark he made out the Command.Com's figure on the couch. "You shouldn't have waited up."
"I fell asleep, actually." She chuckled, patting the couch next to her. Bob walked across the room and sat down with a weary sigh. "Are you all right?"
"Not really. Enzo asleep?"
"Yeah, for a few microseconds. He's really worried about you, you know."
"Is he?" Bob smiled. "He's got a good heart, Dot. I'll take him circuit racing or something tomorrow - I'm sure you'll all have other things to do..."
Dot rested her head on the Guardian's lap and closed her eyes. "He'll like that."
Bob leaned back and slowly, gently smoothed Dot's hair. "I wish you'd talk to me, Bob." She whispered. "I wish you'd tell me what was wrong."
"I don't know where to start..."
"Just tell me what you're feeling."
The Guardian laughed bitterly. "Angry."
"Why?" Dot said softly. "Was he so terrible as a father?"
"He was no kind of father." Bob hissed. "And he was all I had. He was never there when I needed him, Dot - never. Right up until - the end..."
"I'm sorry."
"Nothing I did was ever good enough for him." Bob sighed. "I never wanted to be a Guardian, you know."
"What?" Dot frowned up at him. "What do you mean?"
"He was a Guardian before I was born." Bob said softly, as though he hadn't heard the question. "That's all he was. He was certainly never a father. I never wanted to be a Guardian, because that's what he was. And I didn't want to be anything like him."
"Bob-"
"He pushed me and pushed me. As soon as I was of age, he sent me to the Academy. I hated it - it was everything I despised. It was just his way of controlling my life without having anything to do with me. I made sure no one there knew he was my father. And you know what happened?"
"What?" Dot whispered.
"I loved it." Bob smiled ruefully. "As soon as I stopped seeing him everywhere I looked, I loved it. I loved the training and the by-laws and everything else. I realized being a Guardian was exactly what I was meant to do."
"But - that's wonderful! Isn't it?" Dot smiled.
"And I was miserable. I hated myself for loving it. If I loved being a Guardian, that must mean I wanted to be just like him. But it didn't matter. I was good, Dot - I was great. I breezed through the Academy. Not that it ever meant anything to him.
And then - just when I finally started to accept it - this was who I was gonna be as long as I was processing - he quit. He bailed on me, quit the Collective!"
"Why?"
"Politics. Power. Does it matter?" the Guardian scowled. "Here I was, ready to graduate soon - the Collective was gonna be my life. And he walks out. And he tries to take me with him. He bails on me again. Just like he always did..."
"I'm sorry." Dot whispered. "That's terrible, Bob. I'm sorry..."
"Never mind." Bob sighed. "It doesn't matter anymore. It's over." He carefully lifted Dot's head and stood up. "Let's go to bed."
"If you say so." Dot whispered, standing and clasping his hand in hers. They slowly walked towards their bedroom. With a start, Dot saw the small figure standing in the hallway, barefoot but still in his uniform. "Enzo! You startled me..."
"What're you still doing up, Cadet? It's past lights out!"
"I heard you come in." the youngster said softly. "I couldn't sleep. I was worried about you."
Bob looked over at Dot, wondering how much the boy had overheard. "Don't worry, Enzo. Go back to bed."
"Are you OK?" Enzo whispered.
"I'll be fine." Bob said with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about me, Partner. Just get some sleep."
"Bob..." the boy hesitated, frowning. "OK... Good night."
The Guardian gently cuffed the boy on the neck. "I've got some business at the P.O. on the morning, but we'll go circuit racing afterwards, OK?"
Enzo forced a smile to his face. "OK, Bob. Thanks."
"Don't worry - OK? See you in the morning."
"Cool." Enzo sighed. "Night, Bob. Night, Dot."
"Night, Sweetie." Dot patted the boy on the cheek before she and the Guardian finished the walk to their bedroom. Enzo watched them for a moment before turning and silently padding back into his room.
*** "Can I have another cookie, Dot?"
"Enzo - I've warned you about cookies." Dot sighed.
"Please?"
"All right." The Command.Com smiled ruefully, handing the boy the large glass jar behind the counter. "Cookies for breakfast - I'm getting soft..."
"Where's Bob?' Enzo asked in a spray of cookie crumbs.
"He's helping Phong this morning. Don't worry about him, Enzo - he'll be fine."
"I know, I know..."
"I have to run over to Mister Christopher's office for a while and go over some numbers." Dot said, grabbing her organizer. "Will you be all right?"
"Dot! I'm not some basic little kid!"
"Of course not." The Command.Com suppressed a smile. "Just try not to get into any trouble. And no more cookies! All right?"
"Yeah, yeah - no problem!" The boy watched his sister until she was out of sight, then leaned across the counter to grab the cookie jar. Munching noisily, he tapped his organizer and opened up a jetball simulation.
After a few nanos the youngster heard the door open behind him. "Customer!" he shouted, without turning around.
"Table for one, Sir?" Cecil asked obsequiously.
"I'll sit at the counter, thanks - just java for me. Nice place you have here."
The boy spun at the sound of the voice. "You!" he whispered, staring at Laser's smiling face.
"As you wish, Sir. One for counter service. Sacre bleu..."
The white-haired sprite seated himself at the counter next to the goggle-eyed youngster. "Nice to see you again, Cadet. It's Enzo, isn't it?"
"Uh - yeah..." Enzo mumbled.
"Mouse told me about this place. It's very nice. You and your sister live here?"
"And Bob. Downstairs. But, uh - he's not here."
"That's too bad. I was hoping to talk to him." The man sighed. "I guess we'll just have to talk instead."
Enzo stared at the man, wide-eyed. "Are you really... Bob's dad?"
"I am, Son."
"And you were really Second Guardian? Of the whole Collective?"
"It seems like days ago, but yes - I was." The white-haired sprite smiled ruefully.
"Why did you quit?"
Laser barked a laugh. "That's a long story, Son."
"Everyone keeps saying that." The boy scowled. "Maybe it's so long because it takes forever to tell it 'cause you're always saying how long it is!"
"Maybe."
"You shouldn't have quit." Enzo said softly. "You made Bob really sad when you did. Whatever it was, you should have stuck it out."
"Did Bob tell you that, Son?"
"I just know." Enzo frowned. "Bob's my best friend. And he's really mad at you. So he must have a good reason."
"Bob's got a lot of friends around here. And they're all pretty loyal to him, too. He must be a pretty good friend."
"Bob's the best." Enzo said defiantly. "And being a Guardian is totally alphanumeric. So you must be basic if you quit."
"That's what I would've thought when I was your age. What are you - one-one?"
"I'm one-zero. And two minutes."
"One-zero? Already a cadet - Bob must think a lot of you, Enzo. I'm sure you're a good cadet, too. But you don't know everything. There's a lot you don't know. So maybe you should give me chance, huh? I'm not so terrible, maybe."
"You seem nice enough." Enzo said grudgingly.
"Thanks." The white-haired sprite sighed. "I bet you're pretty proud to be wearing that uniform, huh?"
"Sure." Enzo answered, allowing himself a grin. "Bob said I earned it. I worked hard. He's the best."
"What about the Academy, Son? Would you like to go someday?"
"Sure." The boy frowned. "But there is no Academy, is there? So Bob's gonna teach me himself. He knows a lot."
"I'm sure he does." The man smiled. "But there's nothing like the Academy. It was the best time of my life."
"Maybe I'll get to go someday..." Enzo sighed. He found his attention wandering to the man's forearm. "Does that really work?"
"What, Galileo? Of course. Have you ever seen a keytool, Enzo?"
"Yeah, Glitch. It was Bob's keytool. But it got broken, I guess. And Matrix - he's my brother, sorta - took it with him into the games, and when he met Bob he gave it back. And Bob had to download Glitch to get everybody back into Mainframe."
"Is that what happened?"
"I guess." Enzo frowned. "I wasn't there - that's what they told me. So it's been a while since I've seen one."
Laser scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I'll be deleted..." he whispered. He jerked his attention back to the boy, who was still staring intently at his arm. "Would you like to try Galileo out?"
"Could I?" Enzo asked before he could stop himself. He felt slightly guilty at the prospect. "I - that is-"
"Hold out your arm." Laser smiled. The boy complied. "Galileo - cadet." The keytool secured itself to the grinning youngster's arm. "Ever use one before, Son?"
"Once. With Glitch, but it didn't work out so good. I almost deleted my sister..."
"Well, you're a cadet now." The white-haired sprite chuckled. "Go ahead, Enzo - give it a try."
"Really? OK…" the boy whispered. "Uh... Galileo - viewerscope." The keytool shifted into a looking glass shape. "Cool!"
"Galileo is a very special keytool. Very powerful. It's the reason I'm still processing." Laser said. "Go ahead - try something else."
Enzo squinted in concentration, trying to come up with something sufficiently cool but not life-threatening. "Galileo - med-gun." The keytool complied. "This is totally alphanumeric..."
"I see you've still got your keytool. I'm sure the Collective would be very interested in getting their hands on that."
"Bob!" Enzo gasped.
"Hello, Son. Interesting boy. You've picked a good student, I think."
"I'm sorry, Bob! We were just talking, I-"
"It's OK, Enzo." Bob sighed. "You didn't do anything wrong." The Guardian sat at a booth and stared at the pair of sprites at the counter. "So what's the old man been telling you? About his heroic exploits with the Collective, no doubt. The rightful holders of that keytool, I might add."
"Galileo's a free entity." Laser said evenly. "You know that as well as I do. It could reject me any time it wanted. It's saved me from deletion more times than I could count."
"Well, since there's no Collective anymore I guess that's a moot point." Bob said softly. "Do you still want to go circuit racing, Enzo?"
"Yeah!" the boy answered hastily. "Can we, Bob? It'd be totally alphanumeric!"
"Sure." Bob smiled. "Just give me a-"
"Well - what do you know?" Laser smiled.
"I guess we'll have to file and save the circuit racing for now, Enzo. Ready for some action?"
"Let's do it!" Enzo grinned.
"Give the man his keytool back, Enzo."
"Not if you want to reach that game cube you don't." Laser said evenly. "It's a free net - if I want to go into a game you certainly can't stop me." Enzo looked nervously between the two men, feeling the still new insistent tugging to race to the game burning in him.
"Fine." Bob scowled. "Just stay out of my way. Let's go, Enzo."
"Right!" The boy followed Bob outside and hopped onto his zip board as the game cube appeared not far away, near Kits. He could hear Laser close behind him. He looked back. "Um... I guess I should give this back to you-"
"No - keep it for now." The white-haired sprite replied. "It'll be good experience for you, using Galileo in a game."
"Really?" Enzo gasped. "You mean it?"
"Of course. Who knows when you'll get another chance?"
"Quit talking and start zipping, Cadet." Bob said testily. "We've got a game cube to catch."
"Sorry Bob!" the youngster blushed. I am zipping! he thought to himself. What's his problem?
"Remember our job." Bob said as they coasted to a stop under the descending cube, just across from Matrix and AndrAIa's apartment. "Don't get distracted in there."
"No problem." Enzo nodded. "I'm ready, Bob." The boy allowed himself the luxury of a little pride - here he was, if full Guardian uniform, with a keytool on his arm, going into a game with Bob. And the Second Guardian, no less! Once again he wanted to pinch himself, sure he was dreaming - but he resisted.
The scowl on Bob's face brought him quickly back to reality. The Guardian was not happy, that much was clear. Enzo smiled encouragingly up at him as the cube reached them, and he felt his body shot through with energy.
As the boy looked around, he saw a vast, rolling grassy plain. In the distance, a low gray structure was visible. And around them a rousing, repetitive music was playing. Insistently.
"Seen this before." Bob said confidently. "Looks like-"
"Shhh!" Laser scolded. He looked down at Enzo. "Well, Cadet? Should we reboot?"
"Uh..." the boy hesitated. He could feel the white-haired sprite's eyes looking through him, evaluating him. "Um - no. Not yet. Let's find out where we are first. Galileo - game stats!"
"Good boy." Laser nodded. Bob shook his head impatiently.
"Looks like we're in a game called 'Kastles'." Enzo said, squinting to read the small display on the keytool. "The User has to finish building his castle to win the game. Umm... Bob? What does this part mean?"
The Guardian sighed and looked over the boy's shoulder. "It means we have to reach the inner keep and capture the royal scepter. Pretty straightforward. The only trick is that we have to do it before the castle is completed or we automatically lose."
"Sounds pretty basic." Enzo grinned. "So - I guess we should reboot now?"
"Sounds like a plan." Bob agreed, reaching for his icon. The others followed suit. "Reboot!"
The Guardian surveyed his personage - he was wearing a blue uniform and helmet, epaulets on his shoulder and stars on is collar. A short sword was strapped to his belt. "Looks like I'm the Field Marshall." He nodded approvingly.
"Cool!" Enzo smiled. He wore a blue and gold infantryman's uniform and carried a large shield, almost as large as his body. A quiver of arrows and bow were strapped to his belt.
"Not bad." Laser nodded. He was astride a large black horse, and carried a fearsome looking sword. "Looks like I'm Cavalry Master. I've played that role a few times."
"Now all we have to do is storm the castle and go home." Enzo enthused. "No problem!"
"I'd settle for shutting that music off." Bob scowled.
"Whatever the game provides, Guardian. Concentrate." Laser scolded. "Well, Son? What would you recommend we do now?"
"Me?" Enzo squeaked.
"Dad!"
"Go ahead, Cadet. What's your plan?"
"Well..." Enzo frowned. "I think we should go to the top of that next hill there - then we can see how far along the User is with the castle. We'll know what we're up against, time-wise."
"Good plan. Lead the way." Laser nodded approvingly. Enzo grinned and started towards the hill, struggling under the weight of his shield, Laser and his steed pacing behind him. Bob shook his head and followed.
The boy stopped, panting, and surveyed the scene before them. The User's castle was low-slung and irregular, the walls rising perhaps four times the youngster's height above the ground in most places. None of the towers were completed, but the moat was - it stretched several spans wide and surrounded the structure. Small figures could be seen scurrying about the site.
"Looks like they dug the moat first." Enzo said.
"Standard strategy." Laser replied.
"It doesn't look that tough." Enzo frowned. "Once we get past the moat, anyway. Do we have any troops?"
"You tell me, Cadet."
"Oh! OK..." The boy looked down at his forearm. "Looks like we've got 100 infantry and 20 cavalry. And 15 archers." He said. "Over there!" A large group of game sprites was milling about a hollow below them.
"So what would be your plan of attack?" the white-haired sprite asked. Bob looked on bemusedly.
Enzo squirmed, trying to keep his thoughts calm and clear. "Umm... Since the castle isn't nearly done yet, and we've got a lot of troops... I'd try a direct attack. Wear them down. Overwhelm their defenses and kick their bitmap!"
"If I may?" Bob interjected.
"Oh! Sure, Bob."
"What you're suggesting might work, Enzo." The Guardian smiled. "It's a good plan. But it's risky and it could get messy. They'll have archers hidden in the parapets, and you can bet there's boiling pitch waiting for anyone who storms the walls. We can't see most of what they've got. Those troops of ours are AI sprites you know - like AndrAIa."
"Oh, sorry! I didn't think-"
"Don't be sorry - I've been here before. What we should do is use most of our troops in a frontal assault - but only to draw their attention and most of their firepower. We've got a keytool - I think we can sneak around and attack their flank while the troops are distracting them. The rear of the castle won't be as complete, and we should be able to get inside fairly easily. Once we're in, getting the scepter won't be a problem."
"Dude - that's an awesome plan!" Enzo sighed. "I wish I'd thought of it."
"Watch and learn, Enzo - that's what being a cadet is all about. Laser can lead the main assault while you and I sneak around the back. We'll need a few archers for cover, but any more than that and we'll draw too much attention." Bob turned to the white-haired sprite. "Unless you have some objection?"
"No." Laser bowed. "Though I fail to see how the boy learned anything from the experience."
"He learned plenty! Enzo knows how to listen, unlike some people I could name."
"If you don't give him the chance to attempt his own strategies, how will he will he learn what works and what doesn't? Experience is the best teacher."
"The game should be won in the fastest and safest way possible." Bob growled. "That's my job. Enzo listens to me and I teach him something every game."
"He'll never learn if you nursemaid him every step of the way!"
"Give him some credit! He doesn't need to get hit in the head to know when to duck. He's got common sense - but then you wouldn't know about that. I have a responsibility to get him home safely."
"Guys-"
"Typical." Laser sneered. "Always thought you knew everything, didn't you? Well, he's not my responsibility. If you think-"
"He's only one-zero, Dad! Do you want me to cut him loose and let him take his chances? You never let me have any freedom in the games! Even when I was older than Enzo-"
"Please!" Enzo pleaded. "The game - right?" The boy didn't like everything Bob had said, but he wasn't about to start complaining - especially in the middle of a game.
"Just take your cavalry and draw their fire." Bob said evenly. "Do you think you can manage that?"
"I'll do my best." Laser smiled thinly. "Good luck."
"Good. Come on, Enzo." Bob started towards the troops in the hollow. "I need five archers, front and center!" Enzo looked back at the white-haired sprite on his horse and scurried after Bob.
*** "And the appreciation on your rental properties should be enough to cover the cost of the expansion on your venture on Level 31." The small zero binome said, tapping intently on his organizer. "Provided, of course, that your income from the diner doesn't fall below the-"
"What?' Dot said distractedly.
Mister Christopher looked up. "I was talking about your income level from your Baudway venture, Miss Matrix."
"Oh, sorry!" Dot sighed. "My mind isn't in this, Mister Christopher. I'm distracted."
"Of course, Miss Matrix." The buck-toothed binome nodded. "Perhaps you would like to review these figures at a later time?"
"No no, that's all right. I'm just a little concerned about Bob being in the game, that's all. He's so off-lined about this business with his father. But he can handle things, don't you think? He's a professional."
"The Guardian has always struck me as most capable - particularly in the realm of games."
"Of course." Dot nodded. "You spent some time with him in the web, didn't you?"
"Yes, Miss Matrix." The little binome said with a hint of a smile. "It was his leadership and skill which brought us back to Mainframe safely."
"I guess this is a long way from looting and plundering on the open seas, isn't it?" the Command.Com grinned. "I hope you aren't too bored."
"Profit is profit, Ma'am." The binome answered matter-of-factly. "To be honest, I never cared much for the danger and adventure. It was very hard on my nerves."
"I know how you feel!" Dot laughed. "I've had enough to last me a week. What were you saying about the Level 31 venture..."
*** "Keep low!" Bob hissed, crawling through the tall grass, Enzo right behind him. Five game sprites with bows and arrows brought up the rear. In the distance, the sounds of battle could be heard.
"What now?" Enzo whispered as the moat opened up before them. At eye level it appeared much wider than the boy had perceived from the hill above.
The Guardian peered through a stand of reeds, studying the ground on the far side of the moat. "I don't see any sentries, but I'd bet there's a skeleton crew up there. I'd like to get across the moat before they spot us."
"Sounds like your dad's keeping up his end of the deal."
"He'd better." The Guardian turned and tapped the boy on the nose. "OK, Guardian, you've got the keytool - get us across."
"How?" Enzo frowned. "A boat?"
"Too slow." Bob replied with a shake of the head. "They'll spot us."
"Line?"
"Maybe... But they'd probably hear it when it hits the wall. And what about our friends here? We'd be better off with covering fire."
Enzo squirmed impatiently. "Um... I dunno. What about a rotor, maybe? I've seen you do that before. It's quick and pretty quiet."
"Possibly. But what about the archers?"
Enzo looked back at the game sprites, scowling. "I don't think there's any way to get them across... They'd slow us down too much. Their arrows can reach the castle from here, right?"
"Sure - but they won't be as accurate." Bob whispered. "So - is that your decision?"
"I - uh... I dunno, Bob! I can't come up with anything else. I'm sorry..."
"Don't be." Bob grinned. "You can't always have everything perfect, Cadet. Sometimes you just have to settle for the best option. That's what you just did."
"Really? So that was OK?"
"Fine." The Guardian chuckled. "Just don't break your arm patting yourself on the back." He turned to the game sprites. "Get as close to the moat as you can and stay hidden. Give us covering fire on my signal." The archers seemed more than pleased not to have to assault the castle themselves.
"I guess this is it then, huh?" Enzo whispered. Bob winked and nodded. "Hey! If we use a rotor to get across the moat - why can't we just use it to get all the way over the walls?"
"We can." Bob hissed. "Tell you what - let me hold the shield, OK?"
"Sure." Enzo nodded gratefully, handing the heavy armor to the Guardian. "Ready? Galileo - rotor!"
Bob wrapped both arms around Enzo and held the shield in front of them as the keytool assumed it's new form and lifted them off the ground. "How do you steer it?" Enzo hissed.
"Just hold it out in front of you - in the direction you want to go!" Bob whispered.
"My arm! You're too heavy..." Enzo groaned.
"Just hang on! Almost there!" Bob reached over the boy's head with his free hand and grabbed the stem of the rotor, taking some of the weight off of Enzo's shoulder. A shout rang out below them, and an arrow rang off the front of the shield. "Now! Covering fire!" Bob shouted. A rain of arrows filled the air round them, flying in both directions.
Looking down, Bob saw the murky waters of the moat give way to grass, then stone. "We're in, Enzo! Now! Take us down!"
"How?" the youngster shouted through clenched teeth.
"Galileo! Descend!" Bob barked. They plummeted quickly to a stumbling landing inside the half-finished castle.
"Ow!" Enzo groaned, rubbing his shoulder. "That hurt!"
"Hang tough!" Bob hissed, blocking a spray of arrows with the shield. "Come on!" The Guardian pushed Enzo ahead of him and took off at an awkward run towards the center of the keep, holding the shield behind them.
"Galileo - map!" Enzo panted, a few steps ahead of the Guardian. He looked down at his forearm. "The central keep is dead ahead! Third door on the left!"
"Good thinking!" Bob grinned. "Sounds like we've got whole castle chasing us, though."
"This should be the only door!" Enzo huffed, skidding to a stop. "We're home free!" The youngster pushed the stone portal aside and slipped through.
Bob slammed the door shut behind him and turned, only to find himself staring at open space and a swarm of archers. The entire facing wall of the inner keep was missing. He grabbed Enzo by the collar and pulled him behind a pile of bricks just as a swarm of arrows rained down on them.
"Well - you were right." The Guardian sighed, holding the shield over their heads. "It was the only door."
"What now?" Enzo growled. He grabbed his bow and blindly fired an arrow into the mass of archers, more out of frustration than anything else. "Crash it all! How do we get to the scepter now?"
"If you want my opinion, we'd better make sure no one else comes through that door - otherwise the scepter will be the least of our problems." Bob said dryly.
Enzo spun and looked behind him, frowning. "Uhh... Galileo! Uh - buttress!" The keytool detached itself from his arm and twisted into a T-shaped girder, bracing itself against the door. A pounding began from the far side.
"Good job." Bob grinned, slapping the boy on the shoulder. "First things first. We still need to get the scepter but at least we're not deleted!"
"Thanks." Enzo sighed, launching another arrow. "But now Galileo can't help us against those archers - and we need to get past them to get the scepter!"
"True." Bob nodded. "So we have to think of something else."
"What's that?" Enzo frowned.
"What's what?"
"Don't you hear it?" the boy hissed. A steadily rising clamor was beginning to sound through the abortive castle.
"Sounds like-"
"Horses!" Enzo exclaimed. Both sprites peered over the edge of the bricks to see Laser charge into the chamber, sword flourished, a swarm of cavalry behind him. The defenders scattered wildly as the horsemen, lances raised, cut through their ranks. "Awesome!" Enzo grinned.
"Well - are you going to sit their all day?" the white-haired sprite shouted, horse rearing onto it's hind legs.
"I thought you weren't going to assault the castle!" Bob scowled. "Diversion - remember?"
"I think I know how to win games, Son. Besides - you drew half the defenders in here with all the racket you made!"
"How'd you get across the moat?' Enzo demanded.
"Horses can swim, you know. Come on - let's retrieve the scepter and finish this business once and for all."
"Where is it?" the boy frowned.
"There." Bob pointed. "The vault, on the east wall. Come on!" He pulled Enzo behind him and took off at a run, shield raised.
"How do we get it out?" Enzo panted. A huge metal chain protected the vault. "I don't think your sword can cut through this. Galileo could, but it's still blocking the door!"
Around them, the horsemen were chasing the last few stragglers out of the inner keep. "Well, Boy? The longer we stay here the better chance someone gets hurt!" Laser shouted.
"But..." Enzo hedged. He scratched his head thoughtfully. "We need Galileo to open the vault - but we need to protect the door... Laser! You could take your cavalry and hold them off while I use Galileo to open the vault! Couldn't you?"
"Are those your orders, Cadet?"
"No! Er, I mean... I guess so..." The youngster looked at Bob, who nodded. "Go for it!"
"At your command." The white-haired sprite grinned. "Cavalry! Assemble!" The horsemen clustered around him and he reared his horse again, sword over his head. "Guard that door with your lives!"
"Wow!" Enzo gasped.
"Show off." Bob muttered.
"Here we go - I guess." Enzo sighed. "Galileo - return!" The keytool detached from the door and flew quickly across the room to the boy's arm. Almost instantly the door was flung open and a swarm of men poured through, pulling up with dismayed shouts at the sight of the cavalry towering over them.
"Galileo! Cutters!" In a shower of sparks, the keytool tore through the heavy chain as though it was a memory wafer. Bob pulled open the heavy stone vault, revealing a bejeweled ivory staff inside.
"Alphanumeric!" Enzo beamed. "I guess that's it, huh?"
"I hope so, or I want my money back." Bob chuckled. "At least it'll shut that deleted music off! Go for it, Cadet." Enzo grinned and stepped into the vault. He hefted the heavy scepter, needing both hands to lift it.
The world shimmered, and the two sprites stood once again on the street in Kits . "Dude! That was awesome!" Enzo laughed. "Using a real keytool in a game - that's like the coolest thing I've ever done!"
"You don't know how lucky you are." Bob smiled ruefully. "Galileo isn't just any keytool - it's special. I never got to use it in a game."
"You mean your dad never let you? That's basic! Why?"
"Don't worry about it." Bob sighed. "You did a nice job in that game, Enzo. Very good. I know he doesn't always make it easy."
"Thanks!" the youngster beamed. "I learned it all from watching you, though!"
Laser, who had reappeared on the far side of the street, walked slowly towards them. "Not as young as I used to be!" he growled, holding his back theatrically. "Haven't been on a horse in minutes..."
"You shouldn't have stormed the castle like that, Old Man. How many troops did you lose? Enzo and I had things well under control."
"Things behind the brick pile, you mean." The white-haired sprite scowled. He turned to glare at Enzo. "You've got a lot to learn, Cadet."
"I know, Sir-"
"A lot to learn. Hopeless." The older sprite said gruffly. "But you're young yet. Keep your eyes and ears open and you just might have a chance." He held out his arm. "Galileo - return."
"So long." Enzo said wistfully.
"A keytool is a rare privilege, Cadet. They serve by choice - never forget that. So make sure you're always worthy of the honor."
"Yes, Sir."
Bob crossed his arms and frowned. "Enzo, I need to talk to Laser for a few nanos. You go on ahead, all right?"
"Sure, Bob." The boy said softly, eyes troubled. As the uniformed youngster stared at him silently, a strange perception crept into Bob's mind, as if he were seeing Enzo for the first time. He looked into the youngster's eyes and saw concern, compassion, and trust, loyalty and love. He saw the reflection of those things in his own eyes as well.
"Hey." Bob smiled, taking the boy by the shoulders gently. "Thanks for worrying about me, Enzo. You're a good friend." Before he could think, he pulled Enzo close to him and hugged him to his chest.
"Thanks!" Enzo whispered, feeling warm and safe and right, and a hundred spans tall. "You too."
The Guardian embraced the boy gently for a nano, then lifted his chin with a finger, brushing the hair out of his eyes. "I won't be too long. I'll see you at home in a few nanos, OK?"
"Cool." Enzo grinned. "Thanks, Bob." The Guardian sent him on his way with a pat on the back. The youngster waved at Laser, who stood a few paces apart form the pair, and zipped off towards Baudway.
"The boy's very attached to you." The older man said matter-of-factly, frowning.
"It's mutual." Bob sighed.
"I hadn't realized you were as close as that. Do you think that's wise - given that you're supposed to be teaching him?"
"I don't really care if it's wise or not. And besides - I can't think of a better qualification to teach him."
"I see." Laser replied. "You don't think it's more important that he respects you?"
"I think he does respect me. That doesn't mean I can't show him that I care about him. You wouldn't understand..."
"I see." The white-haired sprite nodded. "Well, it's not my decision to make. I hope you understand how serious an emergency promotion is. You invoked protocol nine five one zero, I take it?"
"Of course."
"And you don't feel that you've compromised the integrity of the Collective? You think he's ready?"
"I've devoted my life to the Collective." Bob said evenly. "Or had you forgotten?"
"No, no, I hadn't forgotten." The older man smiled.
"I know this boy, Dad. I know what he's made of. I brought his older self into the Collective once before and it was the right thing then. It's the right thing now. He's a Matrix."
"He's awfully young, Son. I wonder if you're thinking with your heart instead of your CPU-"
"Listen." Bob interrupted. "You met Matrix, right? And AndrAIa?"
"I did."
"Well, after I gave him the codes I was lost in the web. I'm not proud of it, but it happened. And he had to survive on his own out there in the games, in the net. He and AndrAIa were alone, and they were barely older than Enzo is now. And not only did that boy and girl survive, they found me and brought me home. That's what Enzo is made of. So don't tell me I'm not using my CPU!"
Laser held his hands up defensively. "As I said, it's not my decision to make. I'm not even part of the Collective anymore." The white-haired sprite sighed. "Apparently I'm not your father anymore, either."
"Is that why you're here, Dad? You want to make it all up to me?"
"I never did appreciate your sense of humor." Laser scowled, starting towards Baudway at a slow walk. Bob stared at his back for a moment then fell into step a few paces behind him.
"Why did you do it, Dad?" the Guardian said after a few nanos.
"Why did I do what? Would you care to be more specific?"
"I see your point. You could spend all cycle answering that question." Bob replied. "Why did you leave the Collective, Old Man? Why did you do it?"
"Do you really care, Bob?" the older sprite sighed, quickening his pace. "I betrayed everything that you believed in. Isn't that enough? What more could you need to know?"
"Can't you ever give me a straight answer?" Bob huffed, struggling to keep up.
"I'm giving you the answer you want. You should thank me."
"You could never tell me anything straight, Old Man. You were never honest with me. You always-"
"Nothing I could tell you would matter." Laser sighed. "You know everything you need to know about me."
"Just stop, Dad!" Bob barked. The older sprite kept walking. Bob took a leaping stride and spun him by the shoulders roughly. "Delete it, Dad - just stop and talk to me, you old fool!"
The white-haired sprite stared back defiantly. "Talk to you? What about?"
"I could start anywhere!" the Guardian snarled. "Why you're here right now. Why you didn't take me with you on your postings, even after Mom died. Even when you knew how much I wanted to go. Why you never had a good thing to say about anything I did in all the hours we spent together."
"Bob-"
"Let's start somewhere." Bob said intently. "Why did you walk out on the Collective? That was the one thing you gave me, Dad - loving the Collective. That was the one thing I got from you, even if I didn't want it. You made me want to be a Guardian more than anything, and just when I was gonna get there you walked out. Why did you do it?"
"I don't owe you any explanations. I don't regret anything I did-"
"I'm your deleted son, Old Man! After everything you put me through you owe me one honest answer at least! Why did you do it?"
The older man stared back silently for several moments. Bob felt himself breathing hard, fast. He removed his hands from Laser's shoulders and stepped back, repeating a calming exercise in his mind.
"So you want to know why I left." Laser said softly. "It's that important to you."
"Just talk to me for once, Dad. Just give me a straight answer."
"A straight answer." Laser sighed. "Very well, Guardian. Do you remember the council session that took place just after you started your final term at the Academy? On Rassilon Server?"
"Rassilon Server?" Bob frowned. "Sort of. You missed my combat exercise for it."
"Maybe I did. I was thinking about other things at the time." The white-haired sprite frowned. "Have you ever heard of a system called Amiga?"
"Amiga? No - I don't think so..."
"I'm not surprised." Laser smiled thinly. "It's not there anymore. Hasn't been for a long time."
"What do you mean - not there anymore?" Bob said softly.
"It wasn't much of a system. Ports to the net, of course, and a population of about five hundred sprites and binomes. Didn't even merit full-time Guardian posting. We just checked in from time to time - you know, kept an eye on things in case anything developed.
"Well, something developed. I don't know how - if the Collective ever found out, they did it after I left - but this little system was infected by the web, somehow."
"Infected?" Bob hissed. "Infected how?"
"At least one web creature. Portal generating capability. It was a very nasty situation. It would have been a very difficult job to sort it out, especially given the limited resources of such a small system. Very dangerous, a tough job."
"So what happened?"
"You know the protocols, Boy. As soon as the Collective was certain of the infection, the Council proposed that the system be wiped out. Deleted. It's standard procedure in a case like that."
"I know..." Bob whispered.
"But here's the thing, Guardian. I'd been to that system when I was barely older than you - served a few seconds there. Live field training more than anything else. But I was there. Those sprites and binomes had faces. And when it came right down to it, I couldn't bring myself to destroy those faces."
"Dad!" Bob gasped, his stomach dropping to his feet.
"So I argued against it to the Collective. Offered to lead a campaign there myself to cleanse the system. I was Second Guardian - there were people who listened to what I had to say. But the protocols were clear. I was outvoted. So there it was. They decided to go ahead and delete the system over my objections. I suppose if I'd never been to Amiga I probably would've gone along. But I was at Amiga. And I couldn't do it. I couldn't imagine doing what the Collective was proposing, even though I knew deleted well what the protocols said. But these were people, dammit! Our motto is 'To Mend and Defend'! We're supposed to protect people, not delete them!"
Bob stared mutely at the older sprite, unable to muster a response. He felt numb all over his body as his processor ran in turbo mode. How could this be possible? Was this his father talking?
"So I've finally shut you up!" Laser chuckled bitterly. "Well, that was it for me. I couldn't stay on the Council after that. Nothing they could ever do would justify that cycle. They sent an infinite data allisyps loop to Amiga disguised as an upgrade. Wiped out the system in less than a millisecond. Every Dot and Enzo in the place along with it. How could I stay on the Council after that? How could I stay in the Collective?"
"D-dad!" Bob gasped. "Why - why didn't you tell me this? Why?"
"I wasn't exactly proud of it." Laser muttered, looking away. "I knew the protocols - my duty was clear. And I couldn't carry it out."
"Dad! You left the Collective and you let me think it was all a petty power struggle! Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought you'd come with me!" the older sprite shouted. "I'm - I was your father. It should've been enough that I asked you. You shouldn't have doubted my reasons. You should have come with me..."
"Oh, Dad!" the Guardian sighed. "You never could give me a straight answer-"
"You didn't want a straight answer!" Laser growled. "You loved the Academy. You loved the Collective. Certainly more than you loved me. You proved it that day when I came to get you."
"That's not true!" Bob protested.
"Son - if I'd told you what happened - what I'd seen…" Laser sighed. "Would you have quit the Academy?"
"I don't… I'm not sure." Bob paused. "Probably…"
"So fine. So I could have told you and destroyed everything you loved. You had no family, Bob - your mother had been dead for hours. The Academy was all you had. Why destroy that dream? I gave you the chance to take me at my word and you chose the Academy. You made the right choice for you. Once I knew my word wasn't enough, there was no point in telling you what'd happened. Say you quit the Academy - then what? You have no dream, no future - just a father you didn't care enough about to quit the Academy for in the first place. So I did you a favor."
"User, Dad!" Bob whispered breathlessly, feeling as though he'd taken a crushing blow to the stomach from Megabyte. "User… I can't believe this… Was Turbo in the Collective when all this happened?"
"He was. He wasn't anyone special, just a Council member. He was all in favor it, of course. Always knew his duty, that one. He became Second Guardian not long after I left."
"Delete it, Old Man! I thought you left the Collective because you got muscled out of the Prime Guardianship! And you just let me think it!"
"I did you a favor." The older sprite snapped. "I gave you your life. It's all over, anyway. It's the past."
"You never could tell me anything straight, could you?' Bob sighed. "You never thought I could handle it. You always treated me like a little sprite. Like a little sprite…"
"Enough! You wanted to hear it - so you've heard it. It was over a long time ago, and none of it matters. Now - would it be all right with you if I started walking again?"
"That took guts, Dad." Bob said softly. "To stand up to the Collective like that. And to walk away from it, after you devoted your whole life to it. It took guts-"
"I had a job to do, and I couldn't bring myself to do it. So I quit. So you see, nothing's really changed, has it? It's over. And we've all get a lot of work to do right here and now." The white-haired sprite whirled and started towards the Principal Office at a brisk walk.
"Dad - wait!" Bob panted. "Where've you been all this time? Why didn't you find me before now?"
"I haven't exactly been welcomed with open arms everywhere I've gone!" the older man replied tersely, not turning. "I'm a traitor, remember? A fugitive, virtually. And since this Daemon business anyone with half a CPU has been keeping a low profile."
"But-"
"Besides…" Laser sighed, slowing his pace. "You weren't exactly anxious to see me. I had some idea what you were up to - it was enough."
"Enough…" Bob sneered. "So you knew I was a Guardian? And where I was?"
"Shameful that you haven't advanced farther by your age!" the older sprite snapped. "Yeah, I knew where you where - until your friend Mouse buried this system so deep it'd need a ladder just to reach the curb."
"She's very good." Bob grinned ruefully. "I'm surprised you were able to convince her to bring you here - she's not exactly the trusting type."
"She still isn't. She barred me from the bridge while she was programming navigation. A sensible precaution. And as for her bringing me here - she knows her duty, Boy. She knows how bad things have gotten. Do you?"
"I might have some idea. Where are you going?"
"Back to the P.O." Laser growled. "I need to do a full survey of your system specifications, and I want to rest up for a while at the ship. I'm not the sprite I was."
"Wait up - I'll come with you…"
The older man stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Isn't there someone waiting for you back at the diner?"
"Oh! So there is…"
"Wouldn't want to disappoint him." The white-haired sprite smiled thinly. "Would you?"
"No, Dad." Bob answered, arching an eyebrow. "I wouldn't want to disappoint him."
*** The door to the diner flew open, and the small sprite emerged, longboard under one arm. With an underhanded motion he tossed the board out in front of him, where it stabilized horizontally and hovered. The boy shielded his eyes and surveyed the city for a few nanos, then, with a shrug, hopped onto the board.
Enzo kicked out gently with his right leg and the board shot straight ahead, causing the youngster to teeter for a nano, hands failing. With a stamp of his left foot he slowed the surfboard and regained his balance, then began a slow, gentle course over Baudway.
*** Bob zipped slowly through Kits, the bustling streets of Baudway becoming visible before him. He watched as the lone figure to his right slowly disappeared from view, heading towards the looming hulk of the Principal Office.
The Guardian kept his eyes locked on the figure's back until it disappeared from view completely. With a shake of the head he turned his gaze towards Baudway and the long, low-slung building at its core. A small figure was circling above it slowly in a wide arc. Bob smiled slightly and quickened his pace, the comforting familiarity of the diner growing larger until it dominated his field of vision.
"Hey!" he shouted, close enough now to see the face of the boy on the surfboard. "Come on down!"
Enzo grinned and banked the board towards the Guardian, slowing to a near standstill before lithely hopping to the ground. "Hi, Bob! You OK?"
"I'm fine." The Guardian smiled, punching the youngster on the shoulder playfully. "I thought you were gonna wait for me at the diner!"
"I was - sort of." Enzo replied sheepishly. "I got bored."
"Bored?" Bob laughed. "How did you have time to get bored? I was ten nanos behind you!"
"It seemed like longer…"
"Just steps out of a game and he's bored already. Just used a keytool for the first time - a Second Guardian keytool no less! And he's bored. What can I say to that?"
"C'mon, Bob - stop teasing me!"
"I guess I'm gonna have to do a better job of keeping you busy." The Guardian grinned. "You're getting pretty good on that board, I see."
"Not really." Enzo replied, lightly kicking at the ground. "I just wanted to practice - y'know, in case Ray decides to give me another surfing lesson. So I wouldn't be totally basic…"
"You'll do fine. Where's your sister?"
"She's at a business meeting. Y'know - money stuff."
"Always time for a profit." Bob chuckled. "How's your arm?"
The boy rubbed his shoulder absently. "It's cool. It hurt a little for a few nanos, but it's fine. You're heavy!"
"No - you need to get stronger!" Bob laughed. He wrapped an arm around the boy's head and playfully wrestled him into a headlock.
"Stop!" Enzo giggled, pounding on the Guardian's arm. Grinning, Bob released the youngster and tousled his hair roughly. "You're in a weird mood!"
"Maybe I am." Bob smiled. "So - circuit racing?"
"Alphanumeric!" Enzo beamed. "Can we talk some more about the game on the way, Bob? I wanna know everything I did wrong. I wanna get better."
"Sure. Hop on your board and let's do it."
"Cool." The boy grinned. The pair stepped onto their respective transports and took off at a leisurely pace, side by side. "Bob - what'd you and your dad talk about?"
"It's complicated-" the Guardian began. "Do you really want to know?"
"Sure." Enzo nodded solemnly. "If you want to tell me."
"Yeah, I guess I do." Bob nodded.
*** "I like what you've done here, Sugar." Mouse grinned, fingers busily tapping at a workstation keyboard. "Very nice work - for a beginner, of course."
"Of course." AndrAIa laughed. "I learned from the best, Mouse. Some of it anyway. The rest I just kinda picked up on my own."
"That's the best way of learnin' things, in my experience. Nothin' like practical necessity to inspire genius." The hacker replied. "This algorithm here, the proxy security protocol - you didn't pick that up from me, Sweetie! I never seen anything like it!"
"You learn a few things spending your life in games. Things are different out there."
"Y'might say that." Mouse said with a shake of the head. "It ain't often I'm surprised anymore - but you surprise me. You got real talent."
"I'm a beginner - you said so yourself." The game sprite smiled. "I could never defend the system the way you could, Mouse - you and I both know it. If you stay I'd step aside in a nano."
"Honey-"
"Hey - I'm just saying. If it was bothering you. No pressure."
"That's not why we came back, Sugar." The fire-haired sprite sighed. "Not that I don't like it here - but it ain't the reason. We all got work to do, and I thought what Laser had to say was important. That's all."
"If you say so." AndrAIa frowned. "I'd feel a lot better about Mainframe's future if you were here, though."
"Thanks, Sugar - but Mainframe's in good hands. Yours included. Phong chose damn well."
"Indeed I did, Child." The old sprite agreed, wheeling into the room with Laser at his heels. "AndrAIa and young Matrix have been more than impressive in their efforts thus far."
"I don't doubt it." Mouse nodded. She turned to the white-haired sprite. "Guardian. What've you been up to?"
"I was in the game, actually. With Bob and the boy. Most interesting."
"You were in the game - with Bob?" AndrAIa asked with an arched eyebrow.
"I was. He's a very capable Guardian. I suppose I always knew he was. He seems to be rather attached to the boy as well."
"He always was." Mouse grinned. "What is it between you and Bob, Honey? What's the file?"
"It's not relevant. Bob is a Guardian and so am I - at least in theory. That's all that's relevant to the future."
"Chatty as ever." Mouse sighed.
"I realize how important Bob is to this system - how much you all depend on him." The white-haired sprite turned to Phong. "Given the obvious… tension - between he and I it would've been very easy for you to dismiss me out of hand. I appreciate the fact that you're willing to hear me out."
"In my experience, Guardian, it is the closing of one's mind that often leads to disaster." Phong replied. "You are correct in your assessment of Bob and his importance to Mainframe - yet your own experience is not to be ignored. Your past achievements deserve respect, and your observations careful consideration."
"You're a wise sprite, Phong - wiser than I." Laser smiled thinly. "If things weren't so desperate I wouldn't be anything but a failed old man. I'm a reflection of the times I live in, just like anyone else."
"You've been pretty cagey, Sugar. You came a long way to get here. You saw your son, you went into a game. I'm sure it's been a wonderful trip down memory chip lane, but what now?"
"All is good time, Cadet." Laser sighed. "I've got things to say - to all of you. But I need to rest for a while, and think. If you'll excuse me?"
"Of course." Phong smiled. The white-haired sprite smiled wearily and headed off towards the landing bay and Ship. "A most enigmatic young man…" Phong mused.
"Infuriating, more like it." Mouse scowled. "I always feel like he's holdin' out on me. Always got a little secret tucked away. Drives me offline…"
"Well - he is a man who was of great importance, once." Phong said. "He understands some things in ways we cannot, I am thinking. We are all at great risk, Young Ones. The net is not a large enough place to hide in forever. I will be most interested to hear his views on it's future."
"I think we all will." AndrAIa agreed.
*** Dot yawned as she stepped into the diner, her organizer tucker under her arm. "Thanks." She smiled wearily at Cecil, who was holding the door for her.
"Ma'am." The server replied obsequiously.
"Bob and Enzo around?"
"Ze Guardian is downstairs, Madam." Cecil answered. "May I get you something?"
"No thanks, Cecil." The Command.Com yawned. "I'm going to go downstairs and rest for a while. How's business today?"
"Bon, Ma'am." The server tittered. "Over sixty credits today. Ze new pizza oven is tres popular."
"It was Enzo's idea." Dot giggled. "See you later." The green-haired sprite slowly made her way downstairs and into the little apartment. Bob was curled up on the sofa, asleep. Tiptoeing behind him, she knelt and ran her fingers through his hair. "Surprise!"
"Huh?" Bob mumbled, jerking upright. "Oh! Hi, Dot. What's processing?"
The Command.Com kissed him softly on the lips and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Not a lot. Business meetings all day. Catching up on your beauty sleep?"
"C'mere!" Bob grinned. Dot joined him on the sofa and he wrapped her in his arms. "User, you look alphanumeric today…"
"Flatterer!" Dot giggled, rewarding him with another kiss. "Where's our cadet off to?"
"He finally cornered Ray for a surfing lesson. He's amazing, Dot - we were in a game this morning, then we went circuit racing after. Now a surfing lesson! I don't know how he keeps it up…"
"Must be the energy shakes - best in town!" Dot grinned. "He doesn't want to miss anything, I suppose. He wants to experience everything he possibly can as fast as possible. I was like that when I was his age."
"I can't believe you were ever his age."
"Very funny! So how was your game?"
"It was - interesting…" Bob sighed. "Dad - Laser - was in the game with us."
"Bob!" Dot gasped. "Really?"
"It wasn't by my choice - but I could hardly keep him out, could I? He even let Enzo use his keytool in there."
"I bet Enzo loved that. Was it… difficult? Did Laser cause you any trouble?"
"I guess not." Bob said softly. "He was Second Guardian - he knows his way around games. Even if he doesn't always do things the way I would."
"It's such a shame that you two don't talk." Dot frowned. "He's your father. It's such a shame…"
"Actually…" Bob sighed. "We did talk - after the game. Not for long, but it was as much as we've talked since before I went to the Academy."
"Really? That's wonderful, Bob!"
"I guess. He's a strange old bird, Dot. There's so much he never told me. He never really told me anything…"
"It's not too late." Dot smiled, squeezing his elbow gently. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if you two - you know... made up for lost time? Maybe he could even stay in Mainframe-"
"I don't think so. Not my father." Bob frowned. "He's got something planned - I just don't know what. Besides - we're different sprites. The fact that he's my father is irrelevant to that."
"If you say so." Dot said softly. "It just seems so sad - a man hating his own father."
"I don't hate him." Bob whispered. "It's not like that. Maybe I did once, but not now. He is what he is. That's all there is to it."
"Good." Dot smiled, resting her head on his chest and closing her eyes. "That's enough for now…"
*** "Good, Lad! Good balance. Try to flex the knees a little more and stand more upright."
"Sorry!" Enzo shouted. "Like this?"
"Better." Ray Tracer grinned. "Try to relax a little more, Mate - you're as stiff as a 3.5" disk! Loosen the shoulders up. The more rigid you are, the more stiffness you translate to the board. The more relaxed you are, the more fluid your movement. That's what you want!"
"This is so hard!" Enzo scowled, hovering in midair to take in the sight of the park below them. "How do you do it, Ray? You make it look so easy!"
"There's no secret, Enzo. Just hard work and practice. I've been riding since I was younger than you."
"I was a afraid you were gonna say that." The boy sighed.
"Stop that!" the surf laughed. "You really are getting better, Lad - I can see you've been practicin'. Just keep doin' that and you'll be fine."
"It'd be easier to learn if you were around to teach me."
"Maybe, Kid. I dunno. I'm not the best teacher." Ray sighed. "C'mon - just follow me and try to do exactly what I do, right?" The blond sprite banked off in the general direction of Baudway, executing a wide turn or altitude change every few nanos.
Enzo squinted at the surfr's back, concentrating on mimicking his maneuvers. "D'you think maybe you'll stay awhile, Ray? Mainframe's totally alphanumeric. You'd really like it here-"
"I do like it here, Lad." Ray smiled over his shoulder. "But I'm a search engine - not much use around here, I reckon."
"Phong could find something for you to do… He's good at that."
"I'm sure he is!" Ray chuckled, banking steeply to his right. Enzo flailed for a moment and followed as Ray looked back and checked his progress. "But Mouse and I have stuff to do out there. Don't know just exactly what yet, but we'll be busy enough. Don't worry - we'll be back from time to time. She's gotten pretty attached to the place."
"If you say so." Enzo frowned.
"People have to do what they have to do, Kid. Try not to take it so personal." Ray said gently. "Looks like we're back home - let's see a perfect landing, right in front of the diner. Show me what you've got."
"Right." Enzo pushed the irritation he was feeling out of his mind, concentrating on the task at hand.
*** "Getting late." Dot whispered, nuzzling the Guardian's neck.
"I don't have anywhere special to be tonight." Bob smiled.
"Right here's pretty special." Dot cooed. "I wonder what your father is up to."
"We'll find out soon enough." Bob sighed.
"That's not what I meant. I just wondered where he was."
I know." The Guardian chuckled, kissing her on the nose. "I suppose he's back at Ship. He and Mouse seem to understand each other for some reason. She's got a lot more in common with him than I do, I suppose…"
"Hi." Enzo called, suppressing a grin as he as he looked at the pair snuggled together on the couch.
"Hi yourself." Dot grinned. "Come over here, Cadet."
The boy sat next to her on the sofa. "What's processing?"
"Not much." His sister replied, wrapping her arm around him and kissing him on the head. "How was your surfing lesson?"
"Alphanumeric." Enzo sighed contentedly, reflecting abruptly on how lucky he felt today. The thought warmed him all over.
"Good." Dot smiled "Hungry?"
"Yeah." Enzo replied. "I guess. Kinda been a busy day."
"We'll go upstairs for dinner in a nano - we were waiting for you. So - I hear you used a keytool in a game today!"
"Yeah - it was awesome! I used it for all sorts of stuff. It was totally double-sided!"
"It sure was." Bob chuckled. "He did good - even my father had a hard time finding stuff to criticize. And that's saying something."
"He's not so bad." Enzo said softly. "I don't really know him, I guess…"
"He was a very good Guardian. I'll give him that."
"You're first time with a keytool - what was it like?" Dot asked, winking at Bob.
"Cool. But it was harder than I thought. 'Cause the keytool… I dunno. It can only do one thing at a time, y'know? So you still have to figure out how to do stuff yourself."
"Very good." Bob nodded approvingly.
"You're learning so much." Dot grinned. "You'll be a full-fledged Guardian in no time - who needs the Academy?"
"Thanks." Enzo beamed. "It'd still be cool to go, though - if I could."
"True." Bob sighed. "I can only teach him so much."
"Well, there's no rush." Dot squeezed the boy affectionately. "And we like having you right here. Ready for some dinner?"
"Sure." Enzo smiled. Dot gave him a last hug and the three sprites headed upstairs to the diner.
*** Phong hummed contentedly to himself as he conducted his morning system survey in the command center. The old sprite wheeled slowly around the console, craning his neck far away from his body in order to see the readouts at the center of the console. "Hmmm. Lovely." He murmured, adjusting his glasses.
The old sprite stepped back from the console and slurped his cocoa. "Indeed." He smiled. "Nothing like that first cup of the cycle…"
"Good morning." Phong turned to see Laser enter the command center, Mouse and Ray a few paces behind him. The old sprite frowned slightly at the uncharacteristically serious look on the hacker's face.
"Ah, good morning Guardian. It is a pleasure to see you again. Did you have an enjoyable sleep?"
"Yes, thank you Phong." The white-haired sprite's demeanor was noticeably stiffer and more formal than it had been earlier. What's more, he was now clad in a light blue jumpsuit and black boots, with a gold and black icon displayed prominently on his chest.
Phong arched an eyebrow in Laser's direction but said nothing. "Children." He addressed Mouse and Ray. "May I offer any of you a cup of cocoa? I believe I saw some fluffernutters around here somewhere…"
"No - thanks Phong." Mouse replied, a smile replacing the thoughtful frown on her visage for a nano.
"Just fine, Mate." Ray added. "Unless you got some vegamite around here."
"Ah - I am afraid not, Surfr." The old sprite said bemusedly. "How does the morning find you, Guardian?"
"I'm very well, Phong." Laser nodded. "I apologize for disrupting all of your lives for so long - I hope I haven't inconvenienced you too much."
"Not at all. It has been most interesting."
"You're very kind." The white-haired sprite smiled stiffly. "I assure you it hasn't been for nothing. One final inconvenience - I wonder if it would be possible for you to ask the others to join us here? There are matters I'd like to discuss."
"Indeed." Phong mused, adjusting his glasses. It was a moment he'd been expecting. "That should be easy enough. AndrAIa and Matrix will be along shortly to fulfill their duties, and Bob and Dot will be at the diner, I imagine. Shall I call them?"
"Please." Laser nodded.
*** "Eat your breakfast." Dot scolded. "You want to fall asleep at school?"
"Can't I have pizza? I saw some in the kitchen. I love cold pizza for breakfast-"
"Just eat your bytemeal." Dot replied, swallowing a laugh. "It's good for you. It's processor food."
"I'm with Enzo." Bob mumbled, stirring the contents of his bowl absently. He winked at the boy. "Can I have pizza, Dot?"
"No!" Dot sighed. "Honestly, the way you two encourage each other…"
"What do they have for breakfast at the Academy, Bob?"
"Not pizza, I'll tell you that!" the Guardian laughed. "The cuisine is not exactly the strongest selling point at the Academy. But it's healthy enough I guess."
"I hate bytemeal." Enzo sighed. "Dot, can't I-"
"Good morning, my young friends." Phong greeted the three sprites from the vidwindow that popped up before them. "Am I interrupting your breakfast?"
"It's fine, Phong." Dot smiled. "What's processing?"
"Our guest has asked that Bob and yourself join us at the Principal Office. There are matters which he would like to discuss."
"About time." Bob muttered, shaking his head.
Dot locked eyes with him for a moment. "Of course, Phong. Give us a few nanos - I have to get Enzo off to school. We'll be right down."
"Thank you, Child." The vidscreen popped out of sight.
"Dot, can't I-"
"No." the Command.Com interrupted. "You've got school. We'll tell you about it later."
"Crash it all!" the boy scowled. "This always happens! Why-"
"I said no, Enzo. Just finish your breakfast and-"
"No." Bob said softly.
Dot frowned at him. "What?"
"No." the Guardian sighed. "I think Enzo should come with us. Secrets are no good - better that we all hear what Dad has to say."
"Awesome!" Enzo grinned.
"Bob... What about school? I'm not sure this is appropriate. Phong didn't say anything about Enzo-"
"Look…" the Guardian began. "I'm sorry, Dot. I don't mean to step out of bounds. It's just that I think it's better if Enzo's there. Better than finding out stuff later. That's not good…"
Dot arched an eyebrow in puzzlement. "I'm not sure I understand, Bob. But if you think it's that important-"
"I do. I think I do. He can miss a cycle of school - we won't make a habit of it." He clapped the boy on the shoulder. "I think Enzo can handle straight answers. Right?"
"Sure, Bob." The youngster nodded eagerly. He wasn't entirely certain what Bob was getting at, but it sounded like it would get him to the Principal Office with the others, and that was good enough.
"If you say so." Dot frowned. "Finish your breakfast then - we'll get going."
"Alphanumeric! Thanks, Bob."
"Don't sweat it." The Guardian smiled. He squeezed Dot's hand reassuringly. "Thanks, Dot."
"You're welcome." The Command.Com sighed. The ways of men continued to baffle her, every time she'd thought she had them decrypted…
*** "Ah, Young Matrix and AndrAIa. It is good to see you. Did you sleep well?"
"We sure did." Matrix smiled, winking slyly at AndrAIa. "Good morning."
"I realize that both of you have many duties to perform, but out guest has informed me that he would like to take a few nanos of our time. Mouse and Ray are already in the chatroom, if you would care to join us?"
"Sure, Phong. Any idea what it's about?"
"I am not certain, Young AndrAIa. Laser seems to be a man of many secrets. Perhaps he wishes to unburden himself of a few. Bob and Dot will be joining us shortly."
"Bob?" Matrix frowned.
"Indeed, Child. Laser was quite specific in asking that he be there."
"I wonder if he'll show up?" AndrAIa mused.
"I believe so, Child. It is my sense that what Laser wishes to tell us involves Bob directly. I do not fully understand the nature of their conflict, but I believe that the young Guardian will be here."
"Which young Guardian?" Enzo grinned, leading Dot and Bob into the command center.
"Shouldn't you be in school?" Matrix frowned.
"I'm takin' the day off." Enzo said smugly, sticking out his tongue at his older self.
"Well, we're here Phong. Let's get this over with." Bob sighed. "Where is the old man?"
"He is waiting for us in the chatroom. If you please?" The old sprite wheeled off down the corridor, the others falling into place behind him. Enzo darted ahead of the others as Matrix edged next to Bob.
"So - do you have any idea what this is about?" the bearded sprite whispered.
"Not really. I'm sure Mouse knows more than I do. Whatever it is, the old man must've thought it was pretty important to come here after all these hours. I don't think he came for the family reunion."
"Can we trust him? I mean - well… You don't seem to…"
"That's a complicated question, Enzo." Bob said wearily. "He's a strange old file. When it comes to the Collective, I think we can trust him. He was a great Guardian once - one of the best. If he's talking about the defense of the net, I think we have to listen."
"Bob, what - what's this whole business about? Between you and him? If you don't want to tell me I understand-"
"No - I'll tell you." Bob smiled. "It's not important for now - he's here as a Guardian. I'll tell you all about it soon, though."
"As a … Guardian?" Matrix frowned. "What about all that stuff - him being a traitor to the Collective?"
"There is no Collective." Bob said softly. "Only sprites like you and me. And Laser."
Matrix looked up as they entered the Principal Office chatroom. A digital readout scanned their P.I.D.s as they entered, displaying a list of all the sprites in the room. "Dude!" Enzo gasped, catching sight Laser in full uniform.
Dot was struck, too, by the change in the man before her. Despite his wiry frame he'd seemed small, almost fragile at first glance. Now, in full Guardian blues he was transformed, seeing to tower over the very room.
"Thank you all for coming." Laser smiled awkwardly. "Bob, it's good to see you." The white-haired sprite arched an eyebrow and his guarded visage was broken, for a nano. "And Enzo."
"Hi!" the little sprite smiled cheerfully, hopping onto one of the chairs surrounding the big table around which Mouse and Ray were already seated. Dot slid in next to him.
"Bob?" the white-haired sprite queried. "Is this necessary?"
"It's right." Bob said matter of factly. He sat next to Enzo and looked his father up and down. "I must say I'm a little surprised to see you in that uniform. I didn't think you'd still have it."
"Let's say I kept it for sentimental reasons." The older sprite smiled evenly.
"You look good. It still suits you."
"Thanks. I'm very glad all of you could be here." Laser frowned at Enzo for a nano and continued. "I suppose you must've convinced yourselves that I was a traitor, or insane, or both. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long."
"We didn't think any such thing." Dot smiled. "We're very interested in what you have to say."
"Thank you." Laser nodded with genuine gratitude. It was obvious that the uniformed man was distinctly uncomfortable in front of the large group of sprites. "Since you've waited all these cycles already I'll get right to the point. To begin with, I'm sure you're wondering why I came to Mainframe at this moment. Yes, I knew Bob was here - I met Mouse and Ray in the Supercomputer, and as soon as Mouse described her friends to me there was no doubt in my mind that Bob was the Guardian she described."
Laser took a deep breath. "I won't deny that I looked forward to seeing Bob again. Very much. And it's been wonderful to see for myself what a fine Guardian he is." The older sprite nodded gruffly at Bob, who sat impassively. "However, the reality is that I would have come here even if I hadn't know that my… son - was here.
"In case any of you don't know, I was Second Guardian of the Collective at one time. That is a position of tremendous power and responsibility. There came a time when I was no longer able to fulfill that responsibility. So I left. I won't defend my actions - I merely tell you all this so you'll have some idea of who I am."
Laser coughed and shuffled in place for a nano. "The trappings of office that you see before you - the uniform, the keytool - no more rightfully belong to me than they belong to any binome off of the street. But I am - always was - a stubborn man. I chose to keep these things because I believed that I'd earned them. I left, and the Collective was no longer a part of my life.
"I am not a member of the Collective, by rights. I chose to leave. However, one thing has become clear to me - I am a Guardian. I cannot escape the responsibility. And now events have led us to this point where there is no Collective - and there are very few of us left. That magnifies the responsibility that much more."
The white-haired sprite turned his attention to Matrix and AndrAIa. "Mouse has told me that you young people were lost in the net for many minutes. Is this true?"
"It's true." Matrix nodded. "It seemed like even longer than that to us."
"Game time." Laser sighed. "Yes, I understand. You encountered some of Daemon's underlings during that time, did you not?"
"You might say that." AndrAIa smiled grimly. "We gave them something to remember us by."
"I'm sure you did." Laser chuckled. "And Bob - my son - was lost in the web for an even longer period of time. And during that time he experienced a small portion of Daemon's scourge." Bob nodded wordlessly.
"Indeed. The web can hardly hold her." Laser scowled. "Mouse has further informed me you have encountered her infection in the very games themselves, no less."
"I was the first one to see it!" Enzo said solemnly - and a little proudly.
Laser swallowed a smile. "Brave lad. This was as troubling to me as I'm sure it was to all of you. If this is true - and after meeting all of you for myself I'm convinced that you couldn't be mistaken - then it places Daemon on a different server than any other virus I've ever encountered. And I can assure you I've encountered plenty of viruses."
The white-haired sprite surveyed the room. "I don't have to tell any of you what viruses are capable of. You've all experienced it first hand, and survived. You should be commended for saving this system. But Daemon is a different file altogether from what you've encountered in Mainframe. She is more evil, more powerful, and more dangerous.
"I'm sure it's occurred to you, Bob, that games present an ideal vehicle for a virus to spread its infection throughout the net - even the web." Bob nodded again, wordlessly. "That's why this news was so troubling to me. What it's effectively done is to make a bad situation even worse. Our timetable to fight back against her has been slashed dramatically, and we didn't have much time as it was."
"Fight back how?" Matrix asked.
"The key question." Laser sighed. "It's been a long time since I left the Collective. Too long to be bitter about it. The Collective I left is dead and gone, and nothing has sprung up to replace it. The net is defenseless - its firewalls are down, and Daemon has free reign to infect as she pleases. The situation frankly, is bad. Very bad."
"This is as I suspected." Phong said softly.
"As I told you, I was Second Guardian." Laser continued. "That gives me certain - advantages. This keytool I carry is not like the Glitch that you carried, Bob - that Matrix carried for you. Galileo can do many things - generate portals, for one. It allows me virtually free travel around the net and even the web without requiring anyone's authorization. There are many other things it can do - far too many to describe now. Suffice to say that it is a powerful tool indeed."
"The essence of what I'm telling you is this - I have a great responsibility. Perhaps because I've been gone and forgotten from the Collective for so long I've evaded Daemon's attention. Yet I still possess the keytool, the codes - and the experience. I was Second Guardian. I find myself with very few options. Stand back and do nothing while a virus destroys the entire net? I don't think so."
"Alphanumeric!" Enzo gasped, wide eyed. "What're you gonna do?"
"Everything I can, Cadet." The white-haired sprite smiled. "The work is already started. I've established contacts in every free system in the net - every one that I've been able to find, in any case. There may be others that have a defender of Mouse's brilliance shielding them."
"Yer too kind, Sugar." The hacker grinned.
"Modesty doesn't suit you, Rebecca." Laser replied gruffly, as Mouse's face turned as red as her hair. "As I said, I've already established a network of contacts in every free system that I've been able to find. My hope is that we'll be able to share information - track the progress of the infection. We can also share resources - come to the aid of systems that are under attack. The advance must be stopped now."
"This is most sensible." Phong nodded approvingly. "An excellent plan, Guardian."
"I agree." Dot added. "But there's something I don't understand, Sir. What resources do you have to share?"
"That's a very good question, Commander." Laser smiled. "At this moment, not very many. The CPUs and other defenses of the free systems. Some low-level hardware. Not much else. The best we can hope to do is allocate them where they're needed. However - our most important resource is our people. That's the centerpiece of our counteroffensive."
Bob finally spoke up. "Just what do you mean exactly, Dad? Our people?"
"Just what I said, Bob. The most effective weapon against Daemon is an army of trained defenders. Guardians. That's why I'm re-opening the Academy."
"Dude!" Enzo exclaimed. "The Academy? Really?"
"How, Dad?" Bob frowned.
"It's already started." Laser said with unmistakable pride. "The site has been selected and formatted - on Gallifrey Seven. Don't forget, Son - my icon is still Guardian. I still possess the codes. I can initiate anyone into the Collective under emergency protocols - something you may know a little about."
"How?" Matrix prodded. "How is this going to work? Who will the cadets be? The teachers?"
"I will conduct as much of the training as I can myself, Matrix. And I have already recruited… others - to help me. And as for students - as I told you, I have contacts in nearly every free system in the net. I have already recruited over one hundred young men and women to attend as cadets - young people who want to fight Daemon, stop her while we still can."
"Dad… I don't know what to say." Bob whispered. "Are you sure this is the best way to fight her?"
"I couldn't be more sure." Laser answered. "Think about it, Son - we can't fight a pitched battle against Daemon every time she infects a system. We're spread too thin as it is - we wouldn't stand a chance. What we need are trained Guardians in these systems - Guardians who can lead the defense of individual systems. Halt Daemon where he is, maybe even turn the tide, who knows? It's our only chance."
"He's right." Dot said softly, her arm finding it's way around Enzo's shoulder. "He thinks like me, Bob. It makes sense. Only the Collective can fight Daemon and really pose a threat to her."
"I don't know, Dad..." Bob said dubiously. "Maybe you are right - but it's not like you can just step in and start the Academy up like nothing ever happened."
"You're right - we can't. There are luxuries we can't afford - like individual training regimens for every age level. We'll have two or three at most. And the entire program will have to be accelerated - we can't teach every aspect of the job that we'd like to. Games will be only a small part of the curriculum, for now. Our goal will be to provide a working knowledge of the protocols and the essentials of Guardian training. That's all we can afford."
"Wow!" Matrix whispered. "This is amazing..."
"A very ambitious plan, Guardian." Phong mused. "Very ambitious indeed."
"But achievable. The pieces are in place. It will take time - and we don't have much of that. But it's our best hope."
"I have to hand it to you, Old Man - you've thought this through." Bob sighed. "What you say makes sense - but it's a big job. I'm still not convinced it's possible. To start the Academy again, out of nothing-"
"We have considerably more than nothing." The white-haired sprite snapped. "There are remnants of the Collective - tatters. That's all I am, I suppose. But it's enough. It'll have to be. What choice do we have? We can't even hope to meaningfully slow her infection as things stand, much less reverse it. We need to give systems the ability to stand up on their own and fight. Only Guardians can do that."
"Where does Mainframe fit in?" Dot asked. "I suppose as Command.Com of the system that's what I should be asking. You took the trouble to come here, and you said yourself it wasn't just to see Bob."
"Very true, Ms. Matrix. I want Mainframe to be a part of the new alliance - to commit itself to the defense of the net. No system is an island, Commander. We're all threatened. I want Mainframe to commit its resources to the fight."
"That's something we can discuss." Dot frowned. "We're not going to turn our backs on the net - I can promise you that. We'll join your federation, if everyone agrees it's the right thing to do. But our location - I'm not prepared to surrender our secrecy under any circumstances. Mainframe's net address is unpublished and it's going to stay that way."
"Of course." Laser nodded, glancing quickly at Mouse. "As you say - these things we can discuss. I would never ask you to compromise the security of the system - I'm sure a line of communication can be opened that will protect your location."
"I am certain some solution can be agreed upon." Phong smiled, adjusting his glasses. "As young Dot says, we will not turn our backs on those in need. It is not our way. We will fight in defense of the net."
"Thank you." Laser replied. "I'm grateful."
"What else, Dad? You could have sent a message with Mouse telling us all this. What else do you have to say?"
Laser stared at his son for several nanos. Finally, the older sprite looked down at the table. "You're right, of course - I could have. But I wanted to tell you all of this myself. I owe you that much."
"In addition, I have a further request of you. As I said, it's my intention so supervise as much of the training on Gallifrey Seven as I can. However, Galileo's abilities make it all but certain that I will be travelling the net - probably often. There is no one else who can go the places I can go."
The white-haired sprite locked eyes with Bob again. "Son, I'd like you to come to Gallifrey and head up the Academy."
"Me?" Bob gasped. Enzo's jaw dropped as the others around the table turned to stare at the Guardian. "Why me, Dad?"
"Who better? You're a trained Guardian - an honors graduate of the Academy. You've had as much experience with viruses as anyone - even with Daemon herself. You're the finest the Collective has to offer, Bob. Who better to train the next generation of Guardians?"
Bob shook his head and grabbed a rather stunned-looking Dot's hand. "Dad, I - I'm flattered. More than you can possibly imagine… But I can't. My job is the defense of Mainframe - it's my sworn duty. I can't walk away from that, even for something like this."
The Guardian slowly brought Dot's hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "Besides, I made a promise. And I always keep my promises."
"I see." Laser sighed. "Is that your final decision?"
"It is." Bob nodded, still clasping Dot's hand. "I'll help you however I can - even if it means fighting Daemon down the road. But I can't leave Mainframe permanently. It's not an option."
Laser smiled ruefully. "I was afraid you were going to say that. I can't say that I blame you. It's a remarkable system."
"It certainly is." Bob said softly. "I'm sorry, Old Man."
"Don't be. It means nothing." The white-haired sprite turned his glance to Matrix. "What about you, Guardian? Your experience is unique - both yours and the game sprite's. I'd be proud to serve alongside you at the Academy."
"Us?" Matrix laughed haltingly. "At the Academy - as instructors? That's something I'd never have believed…"
"I'm very honored to be asked." AndrAIa grinned. "Especially by a man like you. But I don't know… Matrix?"
"Basic…" the bearded sprite whispered. He grabbed AndrAIa's hands and they locked eyes. After a nano, a broad smile crept across his features. "I don't think so, Sir. We waited a long time to come home. Our duty is here."
"Like Bob said - we'll help you however we can." The game sprite added. "We'll fight her if there's battles to be fought. We'll help any system that needs help. But we can't leave Mainframe permanently. I'm sorry-"
"Yeah - me too. Besides, I hardly have any Guardian training myself - I doubt I'd be much use."
"Don't be so sure." Laser sighed. "I understand your decision - even if I don't like it. You've certainly suffered more than enough already, both of you."
"It wasn't so bad." AndrAIa smiled.
"There is one other matter, then." Laser continued, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. "I'd hoped to bring it up under... different circumstances. Talk to you about it first. But since the boy is here-"
"No!" Dot said firmly, wrapping an arm around Enzo tightly. "Absolutely not!"
"Commander-"
"No, Dad. He's too young." Bob frowned.
"What?" Enzo gasped. "The Academy? Me?"
"This is ludicrous, Laser! Enzo's a child - how can you even suggest he go to the Academy?" Dot fumed.
"Hey!"
"I understand your hesitation-"
"No - I don't think you do! Have you lost your entire family, Guardian? Thought you were alone in the net?"
"I've lost more than you can imagine." Laser replied softly, a hint of anger in his voice. The white-haired sprite visibly calmed himself, as an awkward silence gripped the room. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to cause any conflict-"
"Dad…" Bob interrupted. "Dad - Enzo's only one-zero. The admitting age to the Academy was one-three, even in the old days. Even one-two required a special exemption."
"As I told you, Son - we don't have time for the luxuries of the past. These are desperate times - sometimes boys will have to do the work of men."
"So you're telling me there are gonna be other cadets Enzo's age? You've recruited them?"
"Well… He would be the youngest there." Laser admitted. "But he's a cadet, Bob - you made him one yourself. Guardian cadets belong at the Academy. If you didn't think he was capable, why did you upload the protocols?"
Bob shook his head. "Dad - I - we… We didn't think…"
"You don't really think I can do it." Enzo glared at Bob. "You said you did, but you didn't mean it."
"That's not true, Enzo."
"I don't mean to be rude, Sir - I'm sorry I lost my temper." Dot said evenly. "But what you're asking is out of the question. It's-"
"Does anyone care what I think?" Enzo shouted.
"You always knew how to stir things up, Old Man."
"Hey! Somebody listen to me!" Enzo scowled.
"I'm sorry, Enzo - but no." Dot frowned. "It's not up for discussion."
"You never listen to me!" the youngster pouted, folding his arms. "It's like I'm not even here."
"You don't understand-"
"I do understand! He asked me! He asked me to go to the Academy! It should be my decision!" The boy kicked his chair away from the table and stormed out of the chatroom.
"Enzo!" Dot shouted, jumping to her feet.
"I'll go." Bob said calmly, planting his hand on her shoulder. The Guardian turned to follow the boy outside.
"Bob - I'm sorry." Laser sighed. "I wanted to discuss it first, but-"
"I know. Don't worry about it." The Guardian disappeared, hot on Enzo's heels.
There was silence in the chatroom for several nanos. "Well, that was interesting." AndrAIa finally piped up.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Matrix. It wasn't appropriate for me to bring this up now-"
"No - it wasn't." Dot smiled ruefully. "But I know you didn't intend any harm. This was something the three of us were going to have to face sooner or later. I just didn't expect it to be sooner."
"I understand your feelings." Laser said softly. "But I can assure you that the boy would be well cared for - I'll vouch for it personally. The Academy can be the greatest experience of his life-"
"I'm sure you feel that way, Sir. But it's not your decision to make."
"No - you're right of course. I apologize." The white-haired sprite looked around the room at the remaining sprites. "I suppose that was all I had to tell you. It's a lot to digest, I'm sure. Unless you have anything, Ms. Matrix? Phong?"
"Thank you for your efforts, Guardian." Phong smiled. "Before you leave we will meet to discuss a security arrangement, yes? We will help you all we can. It is the way of Mainframe."
"Of course. Thank you."
"I believe we could all use some time to consider our guest's words carefully." The old sprite continued. "He has told us much of great importance. Let us give his words the reflection they deserve." Phong adjusted his glasses and smiled benignly, then slowly wheeled from the chatroom. Laser stared at Dot for a nano, then turned to leave as well. The others began to follow, slowly.
Dot sighed deeply and crossed her arms in front of her on the table, staring straight down. Matrix slid next to her and touched her elbow gently. "Dot, I-"
"It's all right, Enzo." The Command.Com smiled wearily.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I talked you into this business with Enzo. I had no idea this would happen…"
"I know."
"That'll teach you to listen to my advice." The bearded sprite chuckled bitterly.
"It was good advice." Dot replied. "Don't worry - things will work out. Meanwhile, we've all got a lot to think about, and you've got a job to do. Right?"
"Right, Sis." Matrix said softly. The big sprite stood. "I'll see you later, I guess." He stared at her for a moment and departed, leaving the Command.Com alone.
Dot closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, head in her hands. After a time - she wasn't sure how long - footsteps echoed in the chatroom, and she heard the chair next to her slide away from the table. There was no sound for several nanos bar her companion's slow, even breaths.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. "It's always somethin', ain't it Honey?"
"You could say that." Dot replied, not opening her eyes. "Sometimes I think the User is out there, just waiting for when my life gets too predicable so He can upload another crisis…"
"I didn't know Laser was gonna do that." Mouse sighed. "I knew he was startin' up the Academy again - heck, I even had an idea he was gonna ask ol' Bob to join him. But this business with Enzo - well, I didn't even know he was a cadet."
"Do you think he can do it, Mouse? Can he get the Academy online again?"
"I sure hope so Sugar." The hacker replied softly. "I wouldn't bet against him. He was the best, Dot - every cadet at the Academy had a favorite Laser story or two. It was only a matter o' time till he became Prime Guardian. That's what we thought, anyways."
Dot opened her eyes and stared at the hacker. "What do you know about him? About this Collective business?"
"He ain't told me much about it, Sugar. He ain't too proud of it, whatever it was. He don't seem too proud of anything he did. I didn't even know he was Bob's dad till Bob spilled the java beans."
"Listening to him today, talking about saving the net…" Dot whispered. "I wanted to believe him. Believe in him. He seems so dedicated…"
"He is, Honey." Mouse grinned. "Whatever happened before, it's drivin' him now. I didn't wanna believe anything he told me at first - but I believe him now. He's a tough old file. And I think he's right about how bad things are out there."
"The Academy." Dot sighed.
"Listen - Dot…" the hacker began. She leaned in close and spoke in a low, urgent whisper. "I dunno if it makes any difference to - to what you decide… About the kid and all. But I'm gonna be at the Academy."
"What?" Dot gasped.
"Yeah." Mouse chuckled. "It seems like as good a place as any, I guess. Laser needs all the help he can to get the Young 'uns trained, and I ain't got no pressin' business elsewhere. I think I got a lot to teach, when ya think about it. I said I was leavin' Mainframe to help out fightin' Daemon - and right now this seems like the best way to do it."
"That's - that's wonderful, Mouse. Is Ray going with you?"
"Of course!" the flame-haired sprite laughed. "We seem to be stuck with each other now, pretty much. He can teach those little snipes a lot too, all the places he's been. But listen, Sugar - the reason I'm tellin' y'all this…" Mouse leaned in close again. "It's just - if ya decide to let Enzo go, I want ya to know I'll look after him. Take care o' him, best I can. Like he was own, Sugar. You understand me?"
"Thanks." Dot whispered. A moment of doubt flashed in her mind, given that this was the same sprite that had left Mainframe without so much as a goodbye only cycles earlier. But the tone in Mouse's voice was one she hadn't heard before. "That means a lot to me."
"Well - I'd just be doin' what I should be, that's all." The hacker scowled. "Anyways - I wanted you to know. I just - wanted you to know…"
*** Bob followed Enzo discreetly from a distance, unsure whether or not the boy knew he was there. If he did, Enzo had no wish to talk - he zipped rapidly through the city, making no move to allow the Guardian to catch up.
After enough course changes, fits, and starts to finally convince Bob that the boy was aware of his presence, Enzo finally slowed and coasted to a stop outside Pearson's Data Dump. He hopped off of his zip board and leaned against the fence that guarded the yard, awaiting Bob's arrival silently.
The Guardian tucked his board away and walked the last several spans towards the boy, the rhythmic pounding of the incinerator audible from inside the dump. Frisket, with his inimitable sense for Enzo's whereabouts, ran up to the boy, barking. He growled at Bob as he approached.
"Bet you wish you'd made me go to school now, huh?" the youngster smiled bitterly.
"No - I don't." Bob answered. "I don't like secrets, Enzo - they don't do anyone any good. You OK?"
"I guess." Enzo said softly, looking at his feet and absently scratching Frisket's ears.
"My father took me by surprise. He took all of us by surprise."
"Is he really starting the Academy up again?"
"Sounds like it." Bob sighed. "There's one thing about my father, Enzo - he's stubborn. I don't think he ever told me he was gonna do something and then didn't do it. With one exception, I guess. So if he says he's doing it I believe him."
The boy kicked at the ground and looked up. "Sorry I got mad and ran away. That was basic."
"Don't worry about it." Bob smiled. "I didn't handle that as well as I should have either. Like I said - he caught me off guard."
"It's OK." Enzo answered with a halfhearted grimace. "I just - got mad…"
"Enzo-"
"I never thought there'd actually be an Academy. Not for a long time. Not till I was - y'know… Older…"
"Me neither. But I'm not sorry I made you a cadet. Not for a nano."
"Thanks." Enzo whispered. "I just - I wish you guys wouldn't talk about me like I'm not even there, that's all. I don't like it…"
"We need to talk. The three of us - discuss this."
"I know. But I just wanna think about stuff for a while, OK?"
"Not a problem." Bob smiled. "Don't be mad, OK? It doesn't help anything. We'll talk about it, I promise. Just come to me when you're ready."
"I'm not mad." Enzo sighed. "I just gotta process stuff for a while." He reached for his zip board.
"No." Bob said, hand on the youngster's elbow. "I'll go. You were here first. It's a good spot to think. See you later?"
"Sure Bob." Enzo nodded. "Thanks."
"Not a problem." The Guardian grinned. He hopped onto his board and zipped off, leaving the boy and dog alone outside the junkyard.
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