By: RoeBoot

Part 3 - System Backup

She heard someone come in. "I'm quite busy right now," she said without looking up. "You'll need to file an appointment with Claris."

"But that would ruin the surprise," Mack said.

Pixie sighed and looked up to see Mack standing next to someone she hadn't seen in minutes. Guardian Reso Jet. She had streaked bangs of burnished copper in her bronze hair and a new black, bolero style jacket over her one piece Guardian uniform. But other than that she hadn't changed a pixel.

"RES!" Pixie got up so fast Fetch squealed and ran out from the under the desk. The puppy sought safety between Mack's feet as Pixie rushed from behind her desk and hugged Reso. "Oh Net! How I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too," Reso said.

Pixie looked at Reso's hair. "Are you still reformatting the style? You're never satisfied with how it looks."

Reso shrugged. "Just picky I suppose."

"So how did Mack managed this little feat of strength?"

"I arm wrestled Dar," Mack joked.

"I've been due for some downtime. Mack somehow convinced Dar I need a cycle off." Reso looked at Mack in appreciation.
"And Darwin let you?" Pixie sounded skeptical and concerned as if Reso had broken the rules to get away.

"Dar can be nice sometimes, contrary to what Uncle Chip says. And Dar would pop his mother- board if he heard you call him Darwin!"

"Darwin's ego has gotten the better of him." Pixie leaned on the edge of her desk and folded her arms. "He thinks Dar makes him sound more like the Guardian he isn't."

Mack complained. "Getting him to give Reso one cycle was like trying to get as null to run in a straight line." Reso and Pixie looked at Mack in a sad way. He apologized. "Sorry. I put my foot in my mouth."

"It's okay Mack," Pixie said in concern. Reso seemed to ignore the apology. This wasn't the best way yo ReBoot a relationship. Pixie only figured it had to improve. "Let me see if I can do something about juggling my schedule so we can enjoy some free space at Cad-fe' Nine. And I'm paying." Quark beeped. Pixie held the Keytool up to her face. Claris' image was in the view screen. "Just the program I was thinking of. What is it Claris?"

"You have an emergency e-mail Miss Pixie. It's a code blue. Text only."

"Location?"

"It's from Mainframe ma'am."

"WHAT?!" Pixie jumped up and glanced at Reso. The sprite stared at the floor, hiding an obvious display the anger. "Quark. Display message." After examining it for a few nanoseconds, Pixie nodded to the Keytool. It beeped and whirled before remaining still on her arm. She tried to smile. "So much for our reunion lunch. I have to respond."

"How bad is it?" Mack asked.

"I don't know. The text message was the standard one sent by Keytools when their Guardian is unable to respond."

"This is urgent then."

"It still doesn't mean you have to go," Reso sounded annoyed. "Maybe Turbo can send Cardon."

"I'm sorry Reso. This request was programmed to be given to me in an absolute emergency. I'll be going to Turbo for confirmation. If he says otherwise about granting me the authority to go, I'll let you know. Why don't you two go to Cad-fe Nine and tell the waiter it's to go on my account."

"Sure Pixie. Come on Reso. Tell them to say hello to Bob for me."

As they walked out Pixie picked up Fetch. She whispered in his ear, "Bobby needs our help."

Fetch yapped and wagged his tail. Pixie grabbed her backpack and medical bag along with Fetch and headed for the Guardian High Command.

* * *

Right after they left Disk Tools, Mack and Reso activated their zipboards. Reso told him. "I'm leaving, Mack."

"But Pixie told us to go to Cad-Fe' Nine. I'm sure she can wiggle her way out of this and send some other Guardian to Mainframe."

"Down kid yourself or me Mack. Pixie is going. It's an emergency and it's in Mainframe. It's a perfect excuse she needs to see him."

Mack huffed. "It's more than seeing him, Reso. It's her duty to go. And what if Bob is hurt Reso? Or worse?"

Reso's vile look hadn't diminished. "Then she'd better be careful Bob's luck doesn't rub off on her."

Mack tried a different angle. "Reso. This doesn't mean Pixie wants to choose Bob over you for the wrong reasons. It's only a case of bad timing."

"You got that right," Reso flew away. Mack thought about going after her but gave up. There was no mending this tear today.

* * *

Reso had ported back to Outpost Omega telling Dar she'd return to duty at the end of the cycle. Reso only needed to stop at her apartment first. As soon as she closed the door she began to cry. Reso collapsed on the couch weeping. A deep green null with bronze stripes zigzagged its way over to her. It crawled up to sit beside her and nudged her foot.

Reso sat up and took the null in her arms. It purred. Reso held tight to the remaining life of her brother. She whispered to him, "Sorry I left you Laser. I won't do it again. I promise."

She got up and walked over to the kitchen table. The envelope and flowers were there as she had left them that morning. Reso had taken them out of storage on the anniversary of her brother's nullification. The daisywheels had long since been dried out and preserved but the envelope had never been opened before. She knew they were the last gift from Laser and Bob.

She carefully opened the envelope and removed the card. It was a holovid. She took a deep breath and opened it. The card spit out holographic confetti and two holograms appeared, Laser and Bob. They announced in unison, "A singing poem by Bob and Laser."

"R is for the random way you'll play games!
E is for the energy shakes you make!
S is for the Super Computer you'll work in!
O is for orders that you take!
Put it all together! It spells REEEEEESOOOOO!
And that's the special girl we both adore!"

"And now a special word from our sponsor." Bob gestured to Laser.

Her brother became serious. "Reso. I'm very proud of you passing those upgrades. I know your going to be as good Guardian as dad and as good a friend to whoever you'll be partnered with someday," Laser hologram looked at Bob. "Did I get the last part right?"

Bob nodded. "We plan to be here for you no matter what happens. We love you Reso."

The Hologram ended. Reso didn't know what to do. She wanted to delete it and keep it. Maybe she could find someone to digitally alter it.

"You lied it me Bob. You weren't there for me or my brother!" Reso picked up the dried daisywheels and threw them across the apartment. Laser squealed and fled out of Reso's arms. He hid behind the couch. Reso sank to the floor. She knew she wasn't going back to work today.

* * *

When news reached Megabyte at Silicon Tor all his aids cleared out to leave him alone for their personal safety. They had not seen the virus smile like that in minutes! His teeth glistened in the light and he strummed his fingers in thought.

After thirty nanoseconds he spoke. "So a game finally manages to do what I have tried to do for cycles." He slammed his fist down. " I must take advantage of this! Lieutenant!"

"Sir!" One of his viral binomes stepped forward and saluted.

"I want one legion ready to deploy. Immediately. Tell Herr Doktor to ready...the bomb!"

There was a gasp. The lieutenant only bowed. "Yes sir!"

As he departed, Megabyte continued to grin. "It's too bad Hexadecimal can't see this."

* * *

Mike had been broadcasting every single horror flick he found to bring Hex back to her old insane self. She still had a mostly blank look on her mask. Every now and then another mood mask took over her face for a nanosecond here and there. She showed herself more responsive everyday. Mike hoped the therapy sessions would end soon.

Scuzzy came scampering in. He hopped up the stairs and nudged against Hexadecimal's foot. Hexadecimal turned her head slightly. Scuzzy played the video he recorded at Baudway. What she saw registered something inside her. She stood up.

NEWS FLASH! SHE'S MOVING! Mike wanted to scream it aloud. The media sprite watched as Hex stared out in the direction of Mainframe, as if she could see through the wall.

"Michael?" she whispered.

"Yes Hexadecimal?"

"Could you go check on Bob for me? I think he's in trouble."

* * *

Bob walked into the Medical wing under his own power. It wasn't as if Dot tried to offer him help. Bob shrugged it off, insisting he could walk. He insisted Enzo not come along. The child sulked at the order. Dot asked Enzo to take Frisket for a walk outside while she went accompanied Bob to get medical treatment. Dot wanted to reprimand Bob for hurting Enzo's feelings but she figured if she snapped at him, Bob would order her to leave as well.

Phong had sent for a good diagnostic program and several disk tool assessors to check Bob's condition. Dot quickly learned she might as well have yelled at Bob anyway. When the doctors came to examine Bob, she was asked to wait outside. It seemed as if cycles were passing by but soon Phong came out of the examining room looking very distressed.

"Phong?" Dot became very worried. "Is it serious?"

"No. Only severe bruising. But..."

"But what?"

"The x-ray showed an old injury. There is scar tissue around the socket joint of his right shoulder. When the doctor inquired about its cause, Bob became extremely hostile. He is refusing to take a sedative to help him rest. I'd hope you'd speak to him but he doesn't want visitors right now."

"Are you kidding?!"

Binomes came scurrying out of the room. A glass hit the door frame as the last binome escaped Bob's wrath. They all hid behind a CPU guarding the hallway.

"I'm sorry Phong. He won't take a sedative." The head doctor said.

"He's still got a good south paw," one of the other binomes added.

Dot shook her head, remarking, "He's punishing himself. I saved us in this game just like I did in the Funhouse." When she looked at Phong, he smiled to her. It made her calm down. "Why is this any different?"

"If you recall child you needed some enlightenment to win that particular game. Now Bob needs to see his value to us despite his feelings a failure."

"I don't know if he'll listen to me."

"You have the softest voice my child. You must try for Mainframe's sake."

"Right. But I still think I'm going to need a miracle."

* * *

Pixie had arrived at the docks of Kits Sector, jumping out of her portal in front of Enzo and Frisket. The dog almost attacked her but the child had quickly called him off before she would be forced to use Quark. Enzo had gotten so excited, Pixie couldn't quite decipher what he was saying. But she basically caught onto the part of needing a miracle when it came to Bob.

"If your needing a miracle, I think I'm in the right place. Perhaps you should tell me more on the way to your Principal Office. If you promise to talk slower." Pixie suggested.

Enzo heard a yapping. A puppy peeked out of the backpack Pixie had on. "Cool! You have a dog too!"

"Well...he's not quite mine," Fetch licked Pixie's cheek. "But that might change. Now if we may go before anyone else notices me." Pixie gestured to the large crowd. Someone in a trench coat snapped her picture and ran away. She noticed a tint of viral blue under the hat hiding his eye. Pixie announced. "You'll have to excuse me. Bob requested some assistance."

"Who are you?" A young binome asked.

"Why I'm Pixelasha. Guardian Pixelasha. Disk Tools Operations of the Super Computer. Now come Enzo." Pixie hopped on her zipboard and Enzo activated his zipboard to fly beside her. As they headed for the Principle Office, Pixie asked him. "How bad is Bobby?"

"What? Bob? He's hurt. It's all I know. Dot won't let me see him."

"Looks like I'll be working here for a while. It will be nice to be a System Guardian."

Enzo processed what this could mean before saying. "You're replacing him?!"

"What?" Pixie looked at Enzo. But the child said nothing more.

* * *

Megabyte had his viral spy in a choking grip around his neck as the virus examined the instant photo of the new arrival to Mainframe. Pixie had actually smiled for the camera and winked. Megabyte tossed the viral spy aside and calmed himself down. The woman had said she came from Disk Tools. Obviously her field was to offer medical assistance and maybe not much more. He would have to make sure.

* * *

Dot slipped the door to Bob's room a crack to peek inside. She saw Bob as she never thought she would.

Vulnerable. And not quite in uniform.

Bob stared up at the ceiling, his arm in a sling to keep him from moving his right arm as to minimize the pain. He had on a black tank top instead of the upper half of his body armor.

Dot took a deep breath and came inside. Bob spoke. "Don't come any closer."

"Or else what?" She asked ignoring the semi-threat. "I came to talk to you. I don't intend on leaving."

"Okay. Then talk."

"Bob...this will only work if you help me understand why you're so upset with all of us."

Bob said nothing.

"All we want to do is help you. Why won't you tell any of us what's wrong?" Bob stayed silent. Dot caught on. He was going to let her do all the talking and give Dot no answer in return. Dot rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "I really need that miracle right now."

Dot heard a yapping and a whining at the door. Knowing it couldn't be Frisket, she walked over and opened the door. A cyberpup squeezed its way inside and ran over to the biobed. Dot saw Pixie standing in the hallway. She put a figure to her lips to signal Dot to be quiet. Bob heard the barking puppy and sat up to look down.

"Where did you come from?" Bob swung his legs off the bed and stood up before bending over to pick the puppy up. He strained to hold the little fellow in one arm. Bob looked at Dot wondering but she shrugged. Fetch licked Bob's cheek. "You remind me of Byte."
Pixie walked in. "Actually that's his son, Fetch."

"Pixie?!" Bob exclaimed. Dot saw her miracle. Bob was smiling and his eyes welled up with tears. Pixie wanted to cry too. The teacher hugged her student. Fetch yelped from being squeezed in the middle of them.

Pixie apologized. "Sorry little one. Got carried away."

The puppy whined before sniffing Bob's icon and licking his chin. "He's just like his father."

"Net bless him. He's going to make a fine Search Engine dog. By the way, Turbo, Mack and Cardon say hello."

"I'm not surprised Turbo sent you. But how did you know?"

"A little Glitch told me. Where is he?"

Bob gestured to the table next to the biobed. Glitch beeped. Quark beeped in reply. Pixie laughed. Bob did too if only after noticing how confused Dot looked. He then realized they hadn't been introduced. "Dot. This is Guardian Pixelasha of Disk Tools SC. Pixie. This is Dot Matrix."

"Charmed to finally met you. Bobby tells me all about you in his e-mails."

"Oh. He never mentioned you before," Dot tried not to get annoyed by the sudden jealousy. She then repeated. "Bobby?"

Pixie smiled. "It's an ongoing joke. Bob refuses to call me Pixelasha. So I call him Bobby." Pixie put Fetch on the floor and started to examine Bob. "Quark! Status!" As the Keytool ran a diagnostic. She moved his arm slightly and carefully ran her hand along Bob's ribs. He grimaced when she touched the tender area beneath his armpit. She glanced at Quark's readings. "How is the pain?"

"I'm still functioning." Bob stammered.

"Yes. We could tell," Pixie took another look at Quark. "You injury is right near the old one."

"Ironic isn't it. It's deja vu Pixie. I almost lost that game. It's my fault."

"Oh Bob," Dot came forward. Please stop blaming yourself. We're alive."

"Yes," Pixie agreed with her. "Having a good game partner helped you. It's what they are for. That doesn't make you a failure."

Dot felt herself blush. Bob ignored it by saying. "I don't want anymore partners. Having partners is a mistake."

"A mistake!? Me?!" Dot grew angry. "Honestly Bob. You've been nothing but cruel to me for these last few seconds! If you don't want me around fine! Maybe I'm better off without you!"

Dot walked out. Pixie looked at Bob. "She's a stubborn format."

"Yeah."

"Just your file type. You have to apologize to her young man."

"Pixie," Bob said softly. "It may be better if she stays angry with me. She'll be safe."

"Oh don't you get basic! Your starting to believe those cadets. Your not bad luck Bob."

Bob disagreed very strongly. "Dixon had everything to live for Pixie! Laser was in love with her. I got her deleted! Then Laser! It should have been me! They had families! I have nobody!"

"And what am I suppose to be? Undeleted ram?"

"Pixie it isn't the same. I can close my eyes and all I see are blurry images of two sprites. I'm not sure sometimes if the images are right until I look at the old holovids. My parents. Why them?"

Pixie hugged Bob once more. Pixie whispered to him. "We became family Bob. You are part of the Jet family too. Bevel treated you as one of her own. She asks me about you. She wishes she could see you again."

"But Reso doesn't. I don't want Res hating her mother. She's better off not seeing me."

"Reso is wrong lad. Very wrong." Pixie let go and slipped back into her doctor mode. "You need to sleep Bob. Rest will heal you."

"I doubt it. My head is so full of guilt right now."

"I can give you a sedative. I could order you to take it but I'd prefer you do it voluntarily."

"All right."

"And there is one more thing. I'm declassifying the Black Box incident for the sake of your mental stability."

"But Pixie-!"

"It's doctors orders approved by Turbo himself. I got clearance before I left."

"But why?"

"Because Dot deserves the entire truth before you wreck your friendship over this. Quark. Med gun." The Keytool changed into a hypo spray devise. She pressed it to Bob's neck and administered the dose. She then helped him lay down.

"Pixie," Bob yawned. "I'm glad you came."

"So did I."

Bob fell asleep. Pixie kissed him on the forehead. She then picked up Fetch and left the room to let Bob dream...

Flashback: The Super Computer

Bob sat on a bench beneath the foot of the Founders Fountain. He refused to admire the images of the seven first Guardians of the Net. It used to be an image of joy to him, believing he could be a great Guardian. Now his dream had deleted in sorrow.

"Just hang on, Dixon. Help! I need help in here!"

"Too... late... cadet."

"Dixon... please, don't..."

The memorial service for Dixon had been beautiful, the eulogy Laser delivered moving so many to tears. Bob had slipped away to avoid the stares and whispers. Everyone with a node of common sense knew it hadn't been Bob's fault but there were a few who found out Bob and Dixon were discussing the deletion of viruses before Killabyte broke loose. Dixon wasn't paying attention because of Bob. If the delay hadn't happened, would Dixon be alive?

Bob placed his hand on Glitch asking him, "Why did you pick me for?"

Bob heard someone sit beside him. He glanced over and almost fell off the bench. Laser only smiled at him. "Hi kid. I didn't mean to startle you."

"I was just surprised you want to be near me," Bob looked away.

"Well it isn't like you were going to push me in the Founders Fountain like you did when you were 01?"

Bob was forced to smile. "And then Reso pushed me in. We pulled her in after us. Dixon told Pixie. We all got in trouble!"

"Until Pixie pushed Dixon in for telling on us!" The two sprites were laughing now. Laser added. "I remember the look on Dixon's face. Pixie then jumped in to help us out before Turbo could show up!" The tears of laughter were mixed with sadness. Laser told Bob. "It wasn't your fault."

"It's not fair to you." Bob wiped his eyes. "You loved Dixon."

"I know. It's why I'm willing to take on one last request from her. She e-mailed me at the start of last semester that if she couldn't get you to the finals, I was to finish your preparations."

"But that's against the rules!"

"Turbo is bending them. Dixon wanted me to see you through to the end and I'm going to do it."

"Give me one good reason why I should even take the finals?"

"I can give you two. One reason is on your armband." Bob looked at Glitch as Laser continued. "Glitch saw you were worthy to take Dixon's place. You're only the second cadet to have a Keytool in the history of the Academy. Something Glitch sees in you will mean great things for you. Why disappoint him if you don't go on?"

"Second huh? Who was first?"

"I'm not really allowed to say."

"What's the second reason then?" Bob asked still skeptical.

"Mainframe. How can you go back of your not a full Guardian?"

Bob shook his head. "Who ever said I wanted to go back?"

"You don't have to even say you want to go Bob. The look in your eyes is screaming it. You were complied for a situation like this."
"You belong there more than me."

"Bob! Quit lying to yourself. I was meant to fly. Go around the Net finding viruses. Not staying put in one system dealing with one. That system is meant for you."

"Dot won't think so."

"Who?" Laser asked before recalling Bob's report. "Oh. Dot Matrix. Bob our own investigation says her father was running a gateway experiment. It overloaded the core of the Twin City."

"It's not what you believe."

"Killabyte's attempt to upgrade is the random element. He most likely overloaded the gateway command. But no one survived the explosion so all we have are theories when we process on facts. One fact is you want to go back to Mainframe when the Net port is fully up and running. And that will be very soon."

"And you'll help me pass it get there?"

"Yes."

Bob nodded. "Okay. I'll do it."

* * *

The day had finally processed. Bob sat on the front row since his only name began with a "B" making him feel more attentive to his appearance. His parents would have been so proud. At least he had Pixie to share this day along with his friends. Bob barely heard the oath as he thought about Dixon. He smiled.

I passed Dixon. I PASSED!

"Congratulations cadets. You are now Official Guardians," the Sprite announced.

The former cadets tapped their icons writing over their old uniforms. The audience of spectators cheered loudly. Bob glanced around the room to see Laser standing beside Pixie, Bevel and Reso. His friend and partner gave him a thumbs up which he returned.

"Act on the fly!" Laser shouted.

"Live on the edge!" Bob hollered in return.

Read Part 4 | Back to the Changing of the Guardian