By: RoeBoot

Part 4 - The New Housekeeper

Part 4 - The New Housekeeper

Phong was waiting in the hall outside medical wing for Pixie when a vidwindow snapped open beside him. Megabyte's image smiled at the elder sprite. "Oh dear."

"Hello Phong. I was calling out of concern," Megabyte smiled. "A little binome told me Bob isn't himself this cycle."

"That is a private format Megabyte." Phong remained calm. "I am not at liberty to discuss Bob without consulting his Disk Doctor."

"So he is ill?"

"Not exactly."

"Then I can talk to him? I'm sure he can speak for himself."

"Not without my orders," Pixie walked up to the vidwindow.

"Ah! Who do we have here?"

"Guardian Pixelasha. Disk Tools Operations Chief. And I know who you are. Bob's told me all about you."

"Then you have me at a disadvantage."

"I prefer to keep it that way. If you'll excuse me. I need to talk to Phong. Good bye." Pixie clicked the vidwindow's corner, terminating the link.

"You hung up on him?!" Phong cried out.

"Yes."

"I like you already." Phong smiled. "How is Bob?"

"He's sleeping. It will do him some good. The other part will be up to Dot. Do you know anything about B-Tree root?"

"Oh! I love to brew tea from it! It's very good for you."

"I left a recipe for a soup in Bob's medical file. It should be prepared for him so he can eat it when he wakes up."

"Dot is a good cook. She formatted the selection served at her diner."

"Perfect."

* * *

As Dot walked from Disk Tool Ops to the Main Hall, Dot felt her emotional data base starting to run over. She knew her composer undoing now would not look good in front of Enzo. She didn't want her little brother to think the situation was hopeless. Bob wasn't deleting but inside he was in fragments. How was this going to be repaired.

"Dot?" The sprite turned to see Pixie. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I was more concerned about Bob."

"He's asleep. He needed the rest. I'm sorry about his behavior."

"He's not like this. But it's not your place to apologize for him."

"Words hurt Dot. He's had too many mean ones thrown at him. Bad Luck Bob. Bob the Decompiler. Deletion Bob."

"What? Bob was picked on in the Academy? Why would anyone call him those things?"

"Partly because of what happened here. In Mainframe."

"I didn't start any of that."

"You blamed Bob for what happened to the Twin City."

"I was wrong! I told him I was sorry when I saw him again."

"Yes. I know." Pixie sighed. "I apologize for sounding a bit hostile. A cadet I trusted found out and spread the hate. Bob had to leave. He just didn't get here the way he was suppose to..."


Flashback - The Super Computer 

Bob carried a small duffel bag over his shoulder as he neared the Net ports. Pixie walked beside him attempting to reassure him of the Guardian's decision and Reso's state of mind.

"Reso promised she will be here Bobby. I told her you were going to Gamma for a few days downtime under Guardian orders."

"Yes," he sighed. "I get some log off time. This is the worst way to get it."

"This isn't your fault Bobby. This proves it."

"To Turbo and to you, yes. To me, maybe. To Reso, maybe never."

"Give her some time and free space Bobby. She'll compile up."

"This was her brother, Pixie! You just don't reformat yourself the next second and everything is back spaced to normal!"

"I know Bobby-"

"Stop calling me Bobby! It's not my name! I feel like a child when-"

Pixie halted taken by surprise at Bob's tone. She said crisply. "Sounds like someone really needs a downtime."

"Pixie. I'm sorry. I never meant to say that. I'm so hurt by all this."

"Bob, you know why I call you Bobbie?"

"Because when I was a tiny sprite I kept calling you Pixie because I refused to call you Pixel or Pixelasha," he smiled. "So you got even by calling me Bobby."

"And now everyone calls me Pixie, "she laughed. "And you never complained until now. I know you're all grown up. We both are. So is Reso. She'll understand."

"Can she?" Bob seemed to wonder allowed. "Maybe it'd be better when I've relocated to Mainframe."

"Hey now. That's a bit block too drastic Bob. Take the downtime you've got. Okay?"

"Okay. I promise not to modem myself anywhere without saying anything."

She looked at him for a long moment in sadness. "Your parents would be proud of you."

"What is it Pixie?"

"Just thinking of how it might have been. Turbo was very sad at the loss of your father, much the same way your sad about Laser."
"Laser and Reso really took after their dad."

"And you have taken after yours. But you've got your mother's eyes."

"Pixie? Can I wait for Reso alone?"

"I should be here."

"I want to do this alone. Please?"

"Okay," she gave him a quick kiss. "Is not proper protocol but I figured you'd need it. And buck up Bobbie. Everything will turn out all right."

"Thanks Pixie. I'll see you when I get back."

Bob watched her walk away until he disappeared in a crowd of tourists who were being led along by a guide. One of them snapped his picture and pointed. "Guardian."

Bob shook his head. He contemplated what to say to Reso. Reso. I'm so sorry. Reso. Laser meant a lot to me too. Reso. Forgive me. Nothing sounded right. He looked at the time on Glitch. The access port he had preset to automatically open for his departure would opened in another few nanos. Where was Reso? The portal opened in front of him.

"Crashes! Now I'll be late!" He then noticed the portal didn't look right. Gamma had open fields and lakes of data. The city in the portal appeared more of a industrial. It was Mainframe! "Great! I dialed the wrong number!"

Curious, he stuck his hand inside. Glitch sounded a warning about an incoming virus. Something grabbed him from within the portal and pulled him in.

* * *

Bob found himself staring at the face of a high level infection virus, not very ugly looking one but a menacing one in the least. Red irises. Green eye whites. Blue metallic skin. A red crest on his head. He drew back his lips to show a few rows of silver teeth.

Bob recognized him. "You!"

He snarled. "Out of my way Guardian!"

"Glitch! Emergency lock out!"

The virus pushed him aside and went for the exit to the Super Computer. Two steel doors closed in front of him barring his way.

"Sorry. Can't get in," jeered Bob.

The virus snarled at him, activating a set of long fist claws. Very long claws and very lethal.

"Uh oh!" Bob jumped out the other end of the portal and into a room full of viral binomes, many of them armed. "Not good! This is not good!"

It got worse. The virus came out of the portal. "Seize him you fools!"

"Glitch! Particle beam!"

Bob fired the spread around the room, scattering the blue binomes. He blasted the viral's portal generator to bits in the process.
"My machine!" the virus roared. "Clash! Delete him!"

Bob saw an enormous blue robot, its eyes glowing red and his arms bearing a variety of weapons, came straight for him. It said. "Crush! Kill! Destroy!"

Bob looked up. The building had a open roof. "Glitch! Elevator!"

A translucent cube of energy enclosed around Bob, lifted him off the ground and up to the top of Silicon Tor. Clash tumbled over as it attempted to grab Bob . The robot fell on top of the virus who screamed in rage. Glitch deposited Bob on top of the Tor. Bob looked down and grinned. What a dipswitch.

Bob heard a rumble and a system chime as the sky turned purple.

"WARNING! INCOMING GAME!"

The virus had to wait. "Duty calls."

Bob activated his zipboard and headed for the game drop area in a busy district of the city. He saw the name of the sector on the side of a building. Baudway. He entered the game's path as it settled down.

* * *

It was finished. Dot had put off completion of the diner for so long, Enzo had turned 01 and Frisket had turned into quite a handful of cyberdog. The original work on the diner had to be cleaned and restored. Now the final touches were needed. Inputting Cecil, getting the supplies and putting up the grand opening sign.

Dot removed her round rimmed eyeglasses. The teenage look had long disappeared. Dot wore a peachy and deep orange outfit, more fitting the business woman she'd grown into. Her late father's wealth bankrolled many investments making her a very influential in Mainframe. Of course she would give it all up to have her father back again.

Dot breathed deep to keep her emotions in check. Still she had to wipe a tear out of her eye.

I did this for you dad. I wish you could see it now.

The sky suddenly turned purple and a crack of thunder proceeded the ominous statement, "WARNING! INCOMING GAME!"

The cube was heading straight down at her.

"Oh no your not!" Dot said to it.

The cube closed over her and the dinner.

* * *

Pac Man had become known as the hottest game in the early days of game playing next to Donkey Kong. Even when the game became outdated, the User still found time to play it, even update it. There were faster games and harder games on the Net, but as long as the User still wanted to play, then sprites would continue to play it also.

Dot saw the User chase an unrebooted zero binome up a corridor.

"How basic can you be," Dot grumbled. "REBOOT!"

The game booted him into simple pink sheet. She was Ghost Pinkie.

In front of her, munching an intersection of power pellets away was the User. The giant sphere shaped yellow maze runner sensed him coming and headed for an Energizer.

"Oh no you don't!" Dot began to give chase but bumped into ghost Inkie. He exclaimed, "Watch where you're going!"

"Well excuse me!" complained Dot.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I can ask you the same thing!"

"I'm a Guardian."

"You're kidding?! They finally got around to sending one?! It's about time!"

"We don't have time to admire each other," he ran past her. "Left turn up ahead!"

"Hurry!" shouted Dot following him utterly amazed by him being present.

The User approached the Energizer, Dot broke off her pursuit.

"It's too close to it," she warned.

"I'm taking him out!"

"He's going to make it!"

The User bit down on the pellet. Instantly, Inkie and Dot's sheets turned dark blue. The User turned to chase them.

"Run!" Inkie yelled.

The User's speed had increased. It had only seconds to catch them before its power to delete them ran out.

"Junction coming up," said Inkie. "Take the left! I'll take right!"

They split up. The Pac Man continued after Inkie. The color of his sheet began to flash. The time for the User to gain extra points were almost gone, but he kept gaining. Inkie vaulted over an apple meant to give the User a higher score. The Pac Man gladly ate it in its attempt to get Inkie.

Inkie dashed into the side tunnel. Come on, he thought. Just a little more.

Inkie's outfit changed back to light blue. The User tried to get away. Dot blocked the User's escape. Inkie touched the User and he evaporated with a shimmer of gold and a whine of music.

"GAME OVER."

* * *

The cube pulled out of Baudway. Dot found himself staring at a very familiar sprite. The silver hair, the blue skin. There was no denying it.

"Wait a nano..." Bob whispered.

"I know you!?" Dot asked suspiciously trying to remember his name.

"Dot?! Is that you?!"

"Bob?!"

"I..uh...I mean...I didn't recognize you. You look... gorgeous!"

"What?!"

"I...uh..ah...Guardian. Serial number 452. Super Computer Port Authority. Special Agent for Illegal Entries ma'am!" Bob saluted her the way he would Turbo. "I'm here for my assignment."

Dot smiled. "Are you sure? You look a little lost."

"I was supposed to go to Gamma but I ended up here by accident. Can you-?"

"A Guardian!"

Bob saw a small crowd of binomes of different sizes and attire come over to him. Awe struck, they swarmed around him in curiosity. "I'm Guardian 452 of the Super Computer Port Authority," he repeated spreading his hands out. "I come in peace."

They were touching his hands oohing and aahing as little children discovering a birthday surprise. Bob gave Dot a look of pleading for help. The situation became odder for Bob as a red and golden cyberdog ran up to him and squeezed through the binomes to sniff him. The dog decided he smelled dangerous and growled.

A child sprite ran up to the crowd. "Frisket! Frisket! Stop it! That's our Guardian! He's a good guy!" The boy pulled the dog away which insisted on barking more. The child looked like Dot. Obviously her brother format. Bob vaguely remembered the child from his previous log in. What was the boy's name? The excited little sprite rambled. "A Guardian! A real live Guardian! I'm Enzo! EnzoMatrix!That'smysisterDot!AndthisisFrisket!Ireallysorryhedoesn'tlikestrangersbuttherearen'ttoomanyoftheminMainframe!Thisissoawesome!Wait'tilItelltheguysinschoolI-"

"Enzo!" Dot interrupted. "Slow down!"

Bob scratched his head. "I think I heard his name somewhere in there."

"Enzo Matrix."

"Right. Like I started to say I was attempting to download myself to Gamma system but I either dialed wrong or intercepted a virus breaking in. I stopped him from entering the Super Computer."

"Megabreath?" asked Enzo.

"Who?"

"Megabyte," Dot corrected. "Resident evil and pain in the bitmap of Mainframe living in G-Prime sector. He downloaded himself here and we haven't been able to get rid of him ever since. He's infection capable."

"I saw the binomes when I came in," Bob looked around for the first time seeing signs of sector damage consistent with lost games. "Don't you have game players?"

"We lost most of them when the Twin City was destroyed." Bob noticed how sad her eyes were when she spoke. "Since then we've been scrapping by. Megabyte is trying to infect more of the binomes and a second virus has taken up living in the remains of Twin City. She calls herself Hexadecimal."

Bob sighed heavily. "Sounds like you needed me here a lot sooner."

Enzo began jumping up and down in excitement. "So you're staying!?! That's so cool! Awesome! Alphanumeric! Pixelacious!"

"Pixie," murmured Bob.

"Enzo! Please!" begged Dot. "Calm down before you pop your motherboard." Dot looked at Bob. "Come with me. I'll take you to the Principal Office to meet Phong. He assists the Command.com."

"Lead on."

"And by the way. Thanks for winning the game."

"No problem. It's my job. But it would have been safer for you to have stayed out."

"The diner I'm opening might have gotten deleted in the game. I guess I got too attached to it to think of the negative side."

"Building can be replaced. But not deleted sprites."

Dot saw the signs of the deep and painful loss. Or was it a reflection of her own memories? "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. We'd better go."

They mounted their zipboards and flew off. Bob thought. Reso. I never got the chance to see her before I left. I hope she can forgive me.

"I'm sorry."

"What? Did you say something Dot?"

"I said I was sorry." Dot repeated.

"For going in the game?"

"No. For blaming you for destroying the Twin City. I never told you I made a mistake."

"Oh. Don't worry about that anymore. It's all in the past..."

* * *

Pixie put her arm around Dot's shoulder. "You have quite a task ahead of you. Are you up to it?"

"What task?"

"Getting Bob to tell you the truth."

"But he won't talk to me."

"Trust me. He will. Just make him a good old fashioned meal I left in the medical database and give him your attention. It won't be hard."

"As far as I know, you have the hard part. You have to go on patrol. Megabyte is dangerous Pixie. You have to be careful."

"I know the drill Dot. I taught other Guardians to do this job. Who better to take over then a teacher of the student?"

Dot heard a noise near the Main Hall vidwindow podium just outside Phong's personal quarters. It sounded like a low whine. "Frisket?" Dot called.

She walked around the podium to the far side to find Enzo sitting with his knees to his chest. Frisket sat beside him. When the dog saw Pixie, he growled. Fetch yapped at him. Enzo hushed Frisket and asked, "Is Bob all right?"

"He's asleep," Dot told him. "We came to find you. You were so excited when Pixie showed up, I thought you'd pop your mother board."

"Bob told me once that if something happened to him, we'd have to go to the Super Computer to get a new Guardian."

"I'm not a new Guardian. It's only temporary." Pixie corrected.

"I don't care!" Enzo snapped. "I don't want any other Guardian! I want Bob to be out Guardian!"

"Enzo. I want Bob to still be our Guardian too. We've only accessed help at his orders. We both know Bob's formatting. As a Guardian he has to place his bitmap in danger before ours. He does it every time he enters a Game or fights off Megabyte."

"Bob let this happen to him," he sniffed. "He got hurt because he wanted to protect us. It's not fair."

Pixie crouched down next to him. "A wise old Guardian once told me about a old read me file that says 'no greater love is this, then to lay down your life for a friend'. Bob takes that beyond his format. If he weren't a Guardian he would still be that way. Right?"

The young sprite nodded.

"Can you do me a favor?" Pixie asked Enzo. "Can you keep an eye on Fetch for me? It's a great opportunity for someone with Guardian potential."

Enzo's eye's widened. "Are you serious?!?"

She smiled and nodded.

"ALPHANUMERIC!" Enzo took the puppy in his arms. Frisket snarled. "Come on Frisket. It's only for a little while. It's an important job. We can go to Floating Point to give him some exercise."

"Enzo! No!" Dot exclaimed. "It's too dangerous."

"Is it?" Pixie was a bit insulted. "I'm on the job Dot. I want Mainframe to continue functioning as it did before I arrived."

"Even after Megabyte's vid call?"

"Exactly. He knows I'm here. Another Guardian is going to put a pause in whatever he was thinking of doing. Now if you'll excuse me. I'd better go out on patrol while you do the assignment I gave you."

"Your not going out dressed like that, are you?"

Pixie looked down at the lab coat and skirted uniform. "Oh how basic of me." Pixie reached for the icon just below her collar. She turned it. The uniform transformed to a body armor outfit. The pads at the shoulders and knees were now gold, the pants black with a aqua stripe and the top aqua and blue. "That's better."

"Cool!" Enzo said. "It looks nicer the the other one."

"Enzo!" Dot scolded.

Pixie laughed. "The blue uniform is my usual work attire. Most Guardians wear blue. This is my field uniform to show my rank as head of Disk Tools Ops. It does make me look a bit more serious, but Turbo always said I look good in it."

"Turbo?" Enzo asked.

"Prime Guardian. I'm surprised Bobby hasn't told you about him. How about I enlighten you on the way out?" Pixie extended her arm around Enzo's shoulder and looked at Dot for her approval. Dot nodded. "Come Enzo. Let's leave Dot to her duties."

Dot watched them leave before heading back to Disk Ops. She had a meal to prepare and an injured friend to comfort.

* * *

When Pixie reached outside, she met a very interesting data binome. Mike the TV was too obvious to miss.

"Hello?"

Mike blinked shocked. He panicked. "Bob?! I heard you were injured but this is horrible! What did that game do to you?! What am I gonna tell Hexadecimal?!"

"Uh Mike," Enzo said. "This is Pixie. Bob's inside."

Mike cleared his throat to a whisper. "Never mind. How is Bob?"

"He's resting," Pixie said. "Is there something I could do for you?"

"Well...you could go back with me to Lost Angles and tell Hexadecimal. She's worried about Bob and I hate giving her bad news. It could be very bad for my health."

"Of course Mike. I am a Guardian. And I've always wanted to meet her. Enzo? You don't mind me going to pay Hex a visit?"

"Are you sure you want to go?" Enzo asked.

"It's part of my job Enzo. Don't fret. I'll be fine. Come Mike." Pixie walked along side the media sprite as the headed for Lost Angles.

Read Part 5 | Back to the Changing of the Guardian