By: RoeBoot
By: RoeBoot
Part 8 - Point of Departure
Pixie stayed in Mainframe only long enough to see Bob reformatted to his old self. The Guardians needed her to port back to her post as soon as possible and despite her own secret desire to find an excuse to stall them, she knew better then to lie.
Bob and Pixie met for a morning meal at the diner with Dot and Enzo for a last bit of chitchat.
"I sure wish you didn't have to go, Pixie," Enzo said.
"Copy that," Dot agreed.
Pixie took a sip of her java and said, "I'd be hard pressed to find an excuse to stay longer. It has been quite fun."
"Megabyte and a viral game cube are fun?" Bob chuckled.
"I missed having an adventure. Now it's back to the subroutine of viral cures and classes of students."
"Will I be your student one day?" Enzo asked.
"Enzo!" Dot scolded him mildly. Pixie smiled a little at Bob who just shrugged. Dot finished by saying, "We can't be sure who will be teaching you in the future."
"Excellent point, Dot," Pixie finished her java. "Things change. I may have to be transferred or receive a new assignment outside the Super Computer. I may not be there but someone else may come along and take my place. You'll still be taught to be a full fledged guardian."
"We'll see," Dot said, still reluctant to the idea but not wanting to dampen Enzo's enthusiasm.
Pixie told Bob, "It's time."
"Well, convert a tear into a portal inside the Principal Office where it's secure," Bob said.
Pixie nodded. The group got up and went outside. Fetch and Frisket were sleeping curled up in front of the door. Enzo woke the dogs and picked up Fetch. The pup licked his cheeks, before Enzo gave him to Pixie. She nuzzled the puppy before saying, "Time to go home."
* * *
Phong had advised an even stricter level of protection for Pixie's departure. They went to the core control chamber. Phong had the tear suspended in a stasis chamber similar to the device Bob had once used to trap Megabyte. But this time the portal suspended inside was genuine, meant to bring Pixie home.
"It's beautiful," Pixie said.
"Megabyte thought so too," Bob added.
"But you see it all the time," Enzo said.
"Not from the outside looking in. I've been living there my whole life. I've never left it until now."
"So that makes me more important then you let on," Bob laughed.
"Don't get a swollen head, Bobby. I won't have anything to cure it," Pixie felt her eyes tearing up as she stared at him. "This is one of those times when I'd say, the protocols be deleted."
"I think so."
They hugged each other. Pixie choked back tears but to no avail. She sobbed, "I'm going to miss you all over again."
"You'll see me again," Bob told her as her helped dry her eyes. "I promise."
Pixie looked at Dot. "You look after him for me."
"I will," Dot said. Pixie's request make Dot shiver inside. It must have been worsened by the way Bob looked at her in that moment. Something had passed between them during the conversation about Laser. There would be no going back now.
"I'll help too!" Enzo said. "I'll play every game with him from now on."
"We'll see," Dot said.
"I hope I'll see Fetch again some cycle," Enzo added.
Pixie reminded him, "He'll most likely be working alongside a guardian of his own Enzo. And who knows? You might see him again real soon." Pixie picked up the puppy and lastly came to Phong. "You take care of yourself, my friend."
"As should you Pixelasha," Phong bowed to her."
Pixie took a long last gaze at Bob. She saluted him and she returned the gesture of authority. Pixie walked into the containment pod and through the portal, which closed behind her. Bob's hand still lingered at his forehead. Dot whispered, "Bob?"
He lowered his hand and looked at Dot. "Now if I remember, Miss Matrix, you were planning an anniversary celebration, weren't you?"
She nodded. "It got canceled."
"I'm still up for a party if you're interested?"
"Alphanumeric."
"Hey!" Enzo complained, "That's my line."
"Rules change," Dot smiled. As Bob and Dot started to walk to the zoomer, Dot put her arm around Bob's waist.
Yes. Rules change.