Before I start I must say accents are one pain in the bitmap to write! I've re-watched season 3 of Reboot to listen to Mouse and Ray talk. Sometimes they say you but other times it comes out ya or yah. There are other words that sound different from time to time also. Even Matrix does a ya now and then. So my writing is just as confused. But enjoy the story.
Freespace. The name fit the file from the moment you saw it. Freespace consisted of blocks upon blocks of unused space on the Net. It seemed to process on forever like the vast Energy Sea, except instead of blue green data, golden hills and valleys made up the empty land.
Guardian Chip Relay had grown up among the small processing sectors that prospected for energy and the ranch hands that moved about looking for grazing for their livestock. Returning here as a guardian was a thrill to him and the few occupants of Freespace despite the lack of serious problems for a guardian to face. There were occasional tears, cattle thieves, roving packs of nulls, and an lost binome or two. When a game cube landed it usually hit in the middle of nothing, doing either no damage or scoring the ground if the User won. Out here, the locals ran when a cube came since none were well trained in playing. Of course Chip rarely caught one himself, one of the major disappointments he had out here. Another thing Freespace lacked were viruses. They had no use for the place since it lacked technology to infect. The only main resource it gave was juice from processor cattle.
Chip's skin tone matched his surrounding. It was a deep yellow-gold color contrasted by dark brown eyes and black brown hair that stuck out here and there from under the white Stetson hat he wore which had a blue band decorated by gold guardian icon styled studs. He took several liberties with his Guardian uniform. Although he wore the blue uniform of special agent, he was allowed modifications for the climate.
His boots were black cowboy with golden spurs. In addition, he had an orange bandana around his neck for shielding his face during small ion swirls and a long gray colored duster.
When ion storms were worse Chip had to take one of his small shield generator which ran on batteries stored in his saddle bags. He ran an energy shield around himself like a tent to protect him until the storm left.
However, today they had ran into one of the worse they had ever encountered. The ion emissions had generated for the last two hundred cycles. Visibility became close to zero. Using a map he kept in his saddle bags, he walked within the safety of the energy shield. A heavy coating of ions made his feet sluggish to move.
"Only a little further Max." The horse would have complained more if Chip rode on him. But for the safety of the cyber-stallion tripping over the drifting ions, Chip lead him by the reigns. Maximilian was Chip's best friend. The copper colored stallion had white socks and a broad blaze on his face. The golden color of his mane and tail matched Chip's skin.
Chip made out a side of a cliff ahead of them. "Almost there!"
The energy shield fluctuated. Chip pulled Max along faster. Just as he found the cliff side entrance the battery power failed. Max neighed as the rush of ion dust enveloped them. Chip pulled the bandana up around his face. Chip reached for the latch of a metal door in the cliff's side. The shelters were small and quickly put together by prospectors using old mining shafts, but they were great in an emergency. He turned the latch and pushed the door in. Max followed him in without a need to pull or nudge him along.
Chip quickly closed the door behind them. Heaving a massive sigh he removed his bandana and hat to shake the ions off.
"I hope this blows over fast Max. We'll need to get to the Outpost for fresh battery reserves. And I'll need some treatment." Chip rubbed his temples. The infection had been the hardest thing he ever dealt with in his whole life. How he held out was a miracle caused at the outpost. He got regular injections of antiviral treatment to stem off Daemon. So far he fooled the other guardians. But how much more could he handle he could not predict. If only he were able to contact Turbo.
Chip noticed Max had his ears pricked forward. The cyberstallion stomped his foot and snorted. The horse sensed something.
Chip whispered. "Cursors!" He never thought to expect someone else maybe inside. He quickly reached into one of the saddlebags and removed a flair. He shook it and ignited it. A loud, treating hiss came from up the tunnel. Max neighed and stomped both his front legs before lowering his head. Chip took his laser rifle in his other hand.
"This is Guardian 244 of Freespace Sector 001. State who you are!"
"It's Relay!" a voice said.
Chip saw a few binomes come to him. They were prospectors, all right, seeking shelter from the storm.
"We're glad you showed up Relay! We were tryin' to find you. We ran across a couple of sprites out here. One of them knows you." Chip saw a glow of bright electric orange hair in the darkness.
"Mouse?"
"Chip! Chip Relay!" The hacker stepped forward smiling brightly. "I shoulda figured you'd find a way tah keep yarself in yar right mind all this time."
"What in the Net are you doin' here?"
A second sprite Chip had never seen before stepped up next to her. "The lady's with me."
"Who are you?"
"The name's Ray Tracer mate. As for what we're doin' here, we've been Bug huntin'."
"Bugs?"
"We traced a bunch of Bugs ta this sector from a system called Quadra."
One of the prospectors spoke up. "They caught the little varmints tryin' to set up a nest. Deleted the whole bunch."
"We were goin' tah port back," Mouse finished, "but we got caught in the ion storm. We had tah hide in here."
"Why were you doin' erasin' Bugs for? It's supposed to be my job."
"We had tah! Guardians have nasty habits of destroyin' systems infected by Bugs but-" Mouse stopped herself. Should she tell him?
"Mouse? What is it?"
"It's Bob, Chip. I know where he is."
"I see," Chip rubbed his forehead. "Don't tell me."
Mouse reached for him out of concern. "Does it hurt Chip?"
"Only when I don't think about it which isn't very often. But don't worry darlin'. I'll hold out."
Ray cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Oh sorry Ray. Chip, Ray's my new boyfriend."
"Really? Gave up on guardians?" Chip chuckled.
"I'm more her clock speed," Ray said.
The binomes got a fire going. They called them over to join them. Chip lead Max over to the fire and the three sprites sat down. Chip conceded. "I'm goin' to need to get to the Outpost soon. If I miss an injection, I'll be callin' Daemon boss for real."
"Can Bob help you mate?" asked Ray.
"He sure could but with Bob bein' hunted it's not safe. If I can contact Turbo-"
"No keytool?"
"Didn't earn one. It's a bein' chosen thing. But I never minded. I've got the best substitute for one right here," He patted Max's leg. The horse neighed.
"Who is treatin' you Chip?" Mouse inquired.
"Who else. Reso."
"I wish I could see her again."
Ray shrugged. "Do you care to explain what ya talkin' about?"
"No problem Ray. Since you hitch yourself to this filly you should know what your gettin' into."
"Chip!" scolded Mouse.
"Sorry. That came out wrong. Let me tell you a little about my past..."
Chip and Max had filed themselves in their favorite spot overlooking Freespace. From the large hill they had visual observation of the valleys and plains making up the scape. Chip could spend several cycles each day in one spot simply watching and finding not a bit of trouble. He had a habit of making himself more comfortable. Chip loved to sit in Max's saddle backwards and lean back on the cyberstallion's neck to relax. Max liked to stay alert, so he didn't mind holding his head up to let Chip rest a while. Max heard the snoring noise in his ears. At first he snored to try and wake Chip up. When that failed, he shifted his weight to shake himself thinking that might work. That failed also. He neighed loudly. No response. Only more snoring. The horse huffed in annoyance. He asked for it. Max lowered his head, sending Chip spilling over. Chip landed hard on his rump, his hat landing next to him.
"Maximilian!"
The horse snorted at him and stomped his foot.
"I was not sleepin'!"
The horse nodded his head.
"I was not!"
Chip got up and patted the cyberdust from his uniform. He took his bandana from his neck and wiped his hands. Before he could bend over and pick up his hat, Max gently took the brim of the white cowboy hat and held it up to Chip.
"Thank you." Chip took it from him and wiped it off. "So I took forty winks downtime. I doubt I'm the first guardian to power down at midday."
Max snorted as Chip put his hat back on.
"Will a tune make you feel better?"
Max nodded.
Chip climbed back into the saddle, sitting backwards. Max held his head upright again to support Chip as he leaned back. Chip removed his harmonica from his duster's pocket.
"What's your pleasure?"
Max neighed and stomped his rear hooves.
"That one? That's Laser's old song?"
Max purred.
"Okay."
Chip began playing the old tune, the old folklore song about a
lost child sprite that followed a null that guided her home. It had a cheerful lift Max liked to hear when he wanted a pick me up. To Chip it produced mixed feelings.
Laser and his sister Reso were his late sister's children from a long line of guardians. All three generations, Sam the grandfather, Ram the father and Laser the son were all deleted in the line of duty. The loss of his nephew Laser had hit the worse. He had been 10 when Ram died, leaving his sister a young widow. Reso had been only a baby and Laser a very young child. Chip grew up more a big brother to them then an uncle. His sister saw the desire to be
guardian's take hold of the pair but she refused to discourage them. Chip took the badge of office as Laser prepared to enter the Academy and Reso waited her turn. Chip felt honored to see Laser not only graduate but be "chosen" to have a keytool. Later on Laser got booted up to the grade of special agent alongside his best friend Bob. Things were really looking bright until a game cube took Laser's life, devastating Bob and Reso. His niece blamed Bob and had yet to reconcile with him. Now Bob lived in Mainframe and Reso at Outpost Omega.
A beep interrupted the song. He reached into one of Max's saddle bags for a keytool-sized scanner capable of sending and receiving messages and running scans.
"Receive message."
"Hey Relay? What's processin'?" Guardian Buck Wall asked. A youngster posted under him only in the last few seconds, Buck was logging in with a report. Buck had red skin with brown eyes and burnish colored hair.
Chip told him. "I've got a couple of ranchers in this sector watching over their stock is all. What have you got hombre?"
"Only a few side winding nulls. I've been mostly talking to LockFont for the past couple of cycles."
"Figure he'll talk back someday?" Chip asked.
"Got plenty of time to teach him. You've taught Max some tricks."
"He taught himself. In fact he's got me trained!"
"How do you put up with it being so quiet?"
"Kid, when you've grown up in this place, your formatted for it. You don't want to transfer do you?"
"No, but I've been itchin' for some action since we mended that last tear one hundred cycles ago."
Somethin' will come along, kid, just give it a few more cycles. It never-"
Chip saw the sky turn purple. Max jumped at the sound of electrical thunder and neighed in anger.
"Game cube comin'!" exclaimed Chip. "Calm down Max"
Chip saw the game cube going down too far away for him to catch it. "Cursors!"
Max snorted.
"Well I would have enjoyed a game! Can I help it if a horse can't play."
Max snorted again.
"You couldn't fit in a jump jet! I'm sorry I had to leave you on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier! It was either that or get nullified!"
Chip then saw dust kicking up in the valley below. "Kid! I've got some trouble over here! Get LockFont in overdrive and high tall it over here!"
He cut the link with Buck.
He saw a heard of cybersteers stampeding down the center. The game cube had obviously spooked them.
"At last! Some action! Let's go Max!"
The horse took off down the hillside at a strong gallop.
"Max! Wait until I get turned around!"
Max continued on with poor Chip sitting backwards in the saddle.
And I wanted to live out here, he thought to himself.
The cybersteers were running wildly down the canyon's center. The cattle hands were not gaining any ground on the herd. The binome's cyberstallions didn't have the best clock speed to keep up with the runaways.
However, Max had gone into overdrive to catch the front of the herd. When Max passed the other riders, they noticed Chip sat in the saddle backwards.
Chip shrugged and called out. "At least he knows which way he's goin'!"
Max began to pass the slower steers.
"Get in front Max!" Chip ordered.
The horse neighed and pressed even harder on his accelerators.
Chip glanced over his shoulder. A narrow area in the canyon was coming up. He guessed it would be the best place to lay the blockade.
"Hurry Max! I know you can do it!"
The cyberstallion passed the lead animal. Chip now had a good view of the stampeding herd.
"Time to wind down fellas!"
Chip pulled out his rifle and started firing at the canyon walls. Large chunks of rock fell into the path of the steers. The debris and dust scared the cattle into slowing down. After a few more boulders were thrown down at them, the cows stopped.
Chip sighed and spoke to Max. "Next time let me turn around in the saddle first."
Chip dismounted and took the horse by its reigns to let the cyberstallion rest after the long run. He then guided Max through the maze of tired cattle who were pulling up bits of data grass. The cow hands arrived. The binomes, three ones and a zero, were all dressed in western Net gear. A chuck wagon driven by another one binome, and pulled by four cybermules, joined them.
"Glad ta see you were here Guardian Relay," the zero binome named Willie told him. "They got plum away from us. Games are sneaky varmints out here!"
The wagon driver spoke. "You look like you could use a cup of juice."
Chip gestured to Max. "My partner could use some fresh data. After all, he did all the leg work."
Max neighed.
Chip looked down the valley towards the cube. "Did you guys happen to spot a young, over-driven guardian?"
The wagon driver answered. "Sure did! Dang city formatted sprites. Went right into the game. We coulda used his help!"
"It figures," Chip started. "I have to go scan that cube."
"I'll go with you," Willie offered.
"Sure," Chip climbed back on Max's saddle. "Sorry Max. We'll both get some energy in a nano. I promise."
Max huffed.
***
Chip rode Max slowly out towards the Cube. Max continued to huff his displeasure all the way. Game cubes made the cyberstallion naturally nervous.
Chip was tempted to spur the horse to go closer but he figured they were close enough to get good readings. As they watched, the cube turned from purple to a dark shiny black in less then a blink of an eye, then switched back to purple.
Willie whistled. "Woo whee! I've never seen them do that before!"
"Neither have I." Chip consulted his scanner. "I can't get a proper fix on the progress of the game! Buck might be winnin' or losin'. I just- Uh oh!
"What is it?"
"Watch it! It's pullin' out"
The cube withdrew with its usual amount of speed. Max and Willie's horse reared up and screeched at the cube's departure.
"Easy Max! It's gone now!" Chip patted the horse's neck to calm him. "Come on! Let's find Buck."
Chip spurred the horse forward, Willie falling in behind him.
From the first visual signs everything seemed fine. The sector showed no damage that was normal for a user winning a game.
"Buck? Where are ya kid?" Then Chip noticed Buck's cyberstallion LockFont. The silver and white horse stood with a dazed expression in its eyes. Chip dismounted, taking the horse's reigns in his hand along with Max's.
"You see that?" Willie pointed.
About a bit block away the ground showed signs of gray scoring, the type of damage consistent with nullification. Chip felt his harddrive skip a block. He led the horses over to what turned out to be a large crater. In its center was a red null with brown stripes.
Willie removed his cowboy hat in respect."Poor kid. He lost the game."
"He couldn't have!" Chip said in shock. "The entire sector should be nullified. We should have found LockFont as a null along with him."
"You mean you haven't seen this kinda thing before?"
"No. If he where deleted before the game ended he'd simply be vapor," he admitted as he ran through his read only memories. "But I know a couple of other guardians who have encountered somethin' like this. Willie. I'm goin' to need a null trap to carry Buck in. Do you have any?"
"All the time. Gotta keep the varmints out of our food."
"Best rustle me up one and get some grub ready. I have to go to port over to Outpost Omega right away."
"I'm sorry about Buck, Relay."
"So am I. He was a good kid. A little random now and then but he coulda been a great guardian. It's a cryin' shame this happened."
Just like it happened to Laser, Chip thought.
Outpost Omega was a vast harddrive system of monstrous size. (About 2 times the size of Mainframe) Five of its sectors were sealed within a titanium casing to protect it from the ion storms that blew in from Freespace. The sixth sector, Serial Port remained open, protected when necessary by a force field generator that could run for several days at a time. This sector was key to the commerce of the system. Ships came and went from here from points in Freespace to as far as the Super Computer itself. The docking ports, fifty levels high from top to bottom could handle as many as one thousand ship connections a day with room to spare for long time cargo storage. Ships landed at a strip on level one and were sent by hydraulic elevators to the lower levels to load and unload their cargo.
Chip had seen many interesting transports come and go when he stopped by the outpost and he met many interesting characters to go with it. Most of them were to found at the bottom, Level Fifty, nicknamed "The Shaft" as some of the smaller cargo carriers called it. If you had more clout, a better ship or more important cargo to deliver, you got Level 20 or better. The biggest got Level One. If you had the low end deal, well then, you got "The Shaft." It took longer to get in, drop off your goods and then get out. It also was a magnet for bringing trouble with it. Chip had caught software pirates working the level many times. He wondered if Guardian Dar even cared what went on down here. As far as Chip thought, Dar let the other guardians do all the dirty work. Worse, those guardians didn't have keytools.
Chip guided Max through the corridors of Level 50 heading for the main civilian elevator to take him to the Administration Office. He paused when he heard two familiar voices arguing very loudly. He led Max towards a side corridor which opened into one of the docking ports. He recognized the ship right away by the markings on its tail rudder.
"It's a small Net, ain't it Max?" Chip whispered to his horse.
Chip walked up unnoticed to the zero binome and purple-skinned sprite.
"Excuse me?" he asked. "But may I ask what the problem is?"
Mouse turned to look at Chip.
"Relay? Guardian Relay!?! Why I haven't seen you since-"
"Since I caught you trying to relieve some software pirates of a claim they stole from an old prospector in Freespace."
"Hey. They stole it first. I just wanted tah take it back."
"Without tellin' the original owner you got it back?"
"Energy crystals are a powerful fuel source, sugah. Energy can be expensive. But not as much as this little twerp is tryin' tah charge me!"
Chip tipped his hat back. "Hello, Sid."
"Hi Relay," Sid gulped.
"What, may I ask, are you doin'?"
"Nothing Relay. You know how prices go up."
"Yeah. Especially when you think its someone who can't file a complaint due to past brushes with the law?"
"Aww! Chip! I wouldn't do that."
"Good. Then charge the little lady the goin' rate. Got it?"
"Uh...right!" Sid punched several keys on his electronic order form and pasted it to Mouse. She took it, glanced it over, then pressed her ring against the area requiring her signature, branding her logo on.
"Here yah go." Mouse handed it back. "And I intend tah measure the fuel level when yar done! And check the quality!"
"No need to, Miss Mouse. I'll do everything right."
"You'd better," Chip warned him.
Mouse sashayed over to Chip. "That's one I owe yah, sugah. When do I expect yah tah start cashin' in?"
"You could start right now darlin'. I'm on my way upstairs to see Reso."
"Little Reso? She's here?"
"I figured you'd know. She came out here after..." Chip stopped. It was harder to talk about than he thought. "Well, after what happened."
Max snorted.
"Oh I'm sorry Max. Did you want to say howdy to the little lady?"
On cue the horse lowered his head and dropped to one knee in a bow.
"I'm happy tah see you too, Max," Mouse laughed.
When the horse stood upright again Mouse produced a treat. Where she had kept it, Chip could only guess. Max took the sugar energy cube and neighed a thank you.
"As I was originally sayin', I'm goin' upstairs to see Res. I hoped you'd come with me. I hate to give report bad news alone."
"What bad news?"
Chip moved to the null trap he had strapped to Max's saddle bag. "This used to be Guardian Buck Wall."
Mouse shook her head. "What a shame. I can see why you don't want tah tell Reso."
"But I gotta. Better she find out come from me then Dar! The guy's too cold to be a guardian! Reso deserves better then workin' under him!"
"Ain't she a guardian by now?"
"She never finished her final level of trainin'. Care to figure out why?"
Mouse understood, "I'm gonna have a serious talk with that girl!"
"Come on then. I know where to find her."
***
Reso sat in her usual file space at the main vidwindow switchboard of the Principle Office wing. The circle of vidwindows were quiet at the moment. In fact, they were very quiet for the enormous amount of activity that went on at Outpost Omega. Not a pixel of trouble anywhere. Even on Level 50.
Reso sighed. Babysitting the security system. This was something for a CPU. She'd rather be doing a dozen other things. Mend a tear. Fight a virus. These were the things she dreamed of. What would dad have thought? she wondered.
A chirping noise at her feet got her attention. A deep green null matching her skin tone purred to get her attention. The creature's body bore bronze-colored stripes to match Reso's hair. She smiled and reached for a snack container she kept under the desk. She opened it and took out a chip of slow food. She held it out to the null, which quickly absorbed it from her hand.
"Hungry huh?" she asked."Don't worry, Laser. My relief will come any nanosecond, then will go over to the Sub-Routine for some downtime."
The null squeaked.
"Excuse me."
Reso looked up, her amber eyes widening surprise. She got up from her chair as Chip and Mouse approached the desk.
"Uncle Chip! Mouse!" Reso exclaimed. She practically hoped over the desk and flung her arms around Mouse. Chip smiled. Her niece had become Mouse's friend via her relationship with Bob.
"You haven't changed a pixel!" Reso told her.
"Can't say the same for you honey. Yah've reformatted a lot. You changed yar hair. But I'm glad yah didn't change yar eyes."
There was a time when Reso had her bronze locks in a ponytail similar to Mouse's hairdo. Now she had cut it to just above her neck with long bangs that fell almost over her amber eyes.
"So what are you two doing here?"
"Oh you know me," Mouse replied with a bit of hesitation. "Just passin' through. In between things."
"You're always in between things Mouse," Reso giggled. "And what about you, Uncle Chip? Picking up supplies?"
"I actually came to see you. I had a run in with a game and-"
A shrilling neigh came from down the hallway. They turned to see Max cantering into the security wing dragging a drone by his reigns.
"Hold up there Max! Whoa!" Chip yelled at the horse.
The cyberstallion stopped in front of him, snorting in resentment.
"I told you before! You have to stay with Arthur at the Wait State while I'm in the security wing."
Mouse and Reso helped pull Arthur to this feet. The chrome and blue droid served as the outpost secretarial unit. He organized the systems file upgrades, personnel files, shipments arriving and departing from the serial port and occasionally wrote memos and made a decent cup a juice. But he had< severe clumsiness problems and had to clean up many a mess he was responsible for.
"Sir. Can't you control your animal?" Arthur pleaded.
"I told him to stay," shrugged Chip.
"And eat the B-tree bush in the foray? Maybe you should have told him to sit."
As if a cue Max sat down like a dog and snorted at Arthur. Reso cuffed her hands over her mouth to keep from bursting out in laughter.
"Max. Stand up," ordered Chip.
The horse obeyed.
"Now go back to Wait State with Arthur."
"Aww! Come on Uncle Chip," Reso pleaded. "I haven't said hello to Max in a while." She began to pat Max on the neck and scratch one of the cyberstallion's ears.
The horse purred.
"Reso, we got in trouble the last time the horse came in here!" Arthur reminded her. "The animal made a mess on the floor. Guardian Dar stepped in it!"
Mouse looked at Chip and said deadpan. "I thought Guardian Dar was always stepping in it."
Chip winced. So did Arthur.
Reso laughed. "That was a good one Mouse. And I promise not to-" Reso saw the null trap attached to Max's saddle bag and the red null inside.
Chip told Max. "You go back to the Wait State room with Arthur. I've got to talk to Reso."
Chip handed Arthur the horse's reigns.
"Come on Maximilian," Arthur coaxed him. "I'll get you some sugar energy cubes. I keep a big supply near the juicer."
Max snored and trotted away, dragging Arthur after him, excited by the thought of sugar energy cubes.
"What happened?" Reso asked trying not to hide her disgust at seeing the null.
Chip knew he didn't have to tell her who the null had been. Reso knew her old classmate Buck worked in Freespace. "He went into a game cube."
"And where were you?" she demanded, her voice raising another optic.
"Willie's herd of cattle stampeded. I had to go after them. I ordered Buck to come but he went after the cube instead. Willie and his ranch hands can verify it."
Mouse kept calm despite Reso's manor towards here uncle. She< acted as if she< were a member of Guardian High Commander interrogating a lesser guardian.
"Sugah yah can't expect things tah go perfect every nanosecond. Chip did his best."
"The one tah blame is the User, honey. The code is simple. Win, yah get out, lose, and-"
"You lose a piece of your family! Or a friend or two! But life goes on right?!"
"Reso. I'm only tryin' tah help. Chip wanted me here. I'm sorry about Buck.We both are."
"Reso," Chip began, "I'm not tryin' to be insensitive. It's my job to file a report; I just thought I'd tell you first in case Dar told you before I had a chance to explain."
"Oh, I see. You had the guts to come to me first! When Laser got nullified, Turbo told me what happened because Bob couldn't face me!"
Chip gritted his teeth. "Now listen, young lady, Bob's memory got all fowled up. He had to be treated by Pixie and then take a leave."
"Leave! Funny you should say leave, Uncle Chip! Because that's exactly what he did! He left! He left without saying goodbye! He couldn't face me or what he did to my brother!"
"Reso! This has got tah stop!" Mouse cut in. "You can't keep blamin' the wrong sprites for things!"
"I should expect this from you! You always protect your friends!"
"There was a time when Bob was your friend sugah. You quit file on that first! Not him!"
"Well I don't need friendship from him anymore! Maybe I don't need yours either!"
Reso turned away. Chip caught her by the arm. She glared at him as he asked. "You goin' to disown me too darlin'? Just because of Buck? Or because Laser treated Bob as family?"
Reso didn't answer. She pulled her arm free and walked back to her desk. A CPU came from up the hallway.
"I'm here to relieve you Reso."
"Thanks Metro," Reso responded reaching around the desk to pick up her lunch pack. She then lifted the pendant she had around her neck. She put the thin, metallic whistle to her lips and blew into it. Laser scurried out along the floor. She bent over, picked him up and walked off without looking or saying another word.
Metro stared at Chip and Mouse. "What was that all about?"
"Nothing Metro. Just some low Res."
***
Chip and Mouse walked slowly back towards the Wait State room.
"I made a mess of that," Mouse growled.
"What? Because you defended Bob? Heck I'd done more if either of you gave me the chance."
"I can't believe she keeps Laser with her like he was a pet or somethin'."
"I think it makes her feel better to have him around. She's afraid to lose what's left of him."
"What do you plan tah do know?"
"Now I send Buck off to the Supe the postings office to send and receive some e-mail."
"Yar gonna tell Bob aren't yah?"
Chip nodded. "I gotta. I can't tell you exactly why and I don't understand it all myself but Buck's nullification was not normal."
"Then tell Bob hello for me and I'm sorry about the mess I sort of caused when I dropped by."
"You've been to Mainframe?"
"Yeah. But I can't talk about that. It was private business."
"You have to learn to stay out of trouble, darlin'."
"Trouble is all I'll ever be, sugah."
"At least you've got the prettiest accent I've ever heard in Freespace."
"Likewise, honey. Remember. I owe you."
Chip watched her walk away. How did Bob ever get mixed up with her? In fact how had he gotten mixed up with her? He had to send Buck right away to Disk Tool Operations in the Super Computer and into the care of Guardian Pixie. And then an e-mail message to Bob in Mainframe. And maybe they would all be one pixel closer to finding the truth.
Ray asked. "Did you ever find out what caused the nullification?"
"No. Not one pixel closer to the truth. Since then Reso finished her entire trainin'. She knows a lot about viral infections. She keeps me and herself online while we try to raise Pixie."
"And who's Pixie?"
"Special agent guardian Disk Ops. The infected collective believes she has avoided infection by treating herself with antiviral serum too. They want her captured almost as bad as they want Bob."
Mouse informed him."Turbo isn't under Daemon's control Chip. If there were a way tah help other guardians maybe they'd be some hope tah stoppin' all this. What if Bob could finish cleanin' you up?"
"It'd be too dangerous. He has to stay where he is. I have to stay here. But if you find Pixie bring her to him. It might be the best chance," Chip yawned.
"I need to rest, darlin'. It usually stops the head from poundin' so bad."
"Sure, sugah. We'll be stayin' until the storm blows off."
Chip laid back on the floor. Max picked up Chip's hat and plopped it over the guardian's face.
"Good night, Max," he sighed.
The horse huffed.
In nanoseconds Chip fell asleep. The prospectors, also long into sleep mode, snored quietly around the fire. Ray stood up and walked away towards the entrance. Mouse followed. The hacker walked up behind her search engine love and wrapped her arms around his waist. She put her head against his shoulder. "I hope Matrix and AndrAIa don't worry about why we're not back yet."
"They know we're big kids, love. We'll be fine."
"I'm sorry about Chip. I used tah be sweet for him."
"You were sweet for Bob too. That's never bothered me."
Mouse purred, making Ray's eyebrows raise.
"Easy love. We're not alone in here."
"I know," she cooed as she kissed his lower cheek.
"Mouse. There's...somethin' I want ta show you." he coaxed her to release his waist.
"What's wrong, Ray? Is Chip really botherin' yah?"
"No. I need ta do somethin'," Ray started to fiddle with his goggles. "This does come off. I figure you've earned a look."
Ray pulled the goggles off. Mouse gasped. Ray's eyes were an undescribable color. In fact, they weren't any one color. They changed in the little bursts of light from the fire.
"Oh Ray! Why do yah keep those eyes under there for?!"
"I have ta protect them."
"But they're beautiful!"
"And they're dangerous."
"How?"
"It's hard ta understand or explain, but you're the first person I've shown them ta in my adult life."
"Why me?"
"Love makes you do crazy things sometimes." Ray put the goggles back on.
"Oh Ray."
They kissed. Max's ears pricked forward. He neighed and stomped his foot.
They stopped. Ray asked. "Is he jealous?"
Mouse giggled. "He did have a sweet spot for me too. We'd better keep a short distance for the rest of our stay."
Mouse and Ray settled down near the fire. As they both went to sleep Mouse whispered to him. "I've got a lot of old baggage in my life, Ray."
"So? I've got a deletion warrant on my bitmap."
"But Ray. I-"
"No more fertin' today love. Go to sleep."
Mouse did hold Ray's hand to comfort her. She had to make this last. No matter what.
Stay out of games Dot. Rule number one. No matter what happens. Stay out. But no! I had to walk right outside and one falls right on top of me. And when I reboot what do I get? I have to play the damsel in the dress!
Dot ran up the winding staircase of the castle wearing a beautiful chiffon and silk princess gown. She girded up the skirts as best as she could to keep from tripping. The User, the typical prince charming of blonde hair, blue eyes, a milky white toothed smile and a melodious voice chased after her.
"Do not fear, my love! I will save you!" he said.
"Oh shut up! I don’t want you to rescue me!" She took off her shoe and threw it at him.
"Do not fear, my love! I will save you" he repeated. "If I had a unit for every time you’ve said that to me I’d own everything in Mainframe!" she threw her other shoe at him.
As she climbed faster she passed a black suit of armor standing in an alcove along the stairs. The User approached the armor. "Do not fear, my love! I will-"
WHACK!
The suit of armor came to life, almost hitting the User with a battle axe. The sprite moved to stand between Dot and her prince Dudley.
The User took out his sword to do battle. "Do not fear, my love! I will save you!"
"Bob?" said Dot.
"Not quite," a feminine voice answered her.
"Hexadecimal?!"
"Yes! Do you think the outfit is a bit much?"
"Do not fear my love! I will save you!"
"Shut up!" Hex snapped.
They began to spar. Hex hit the User hard, sending him down the stairs a short distance. The former virus pushed Dot up to the door at the top. They went through and blotted it closed. They both panted. Hex opened the helmet visor. Her white mask face blinked and smiled to Dot.
"Where’s Bob?"
Hexadecimal scolded. "He’s coming, you naughty girl! You know you’re not supposed to be playing games."
"It landed right on top of me!"
"And you decided not to get out of the way. Just like your little brother."
"Believe me! I hardly wanted to be playing this part!"
"I’m envious! Bob has to rescue you first. The game could of picked me for the princess role!"
The User broke down the door. "Do not fear, my love! I will save you!"
"Shut up!" they screamed at him.
Hex placed herself between the User and Dot. Hex swung the axe. The User got the tip of the sword under Hex’s weapon, cutting off the axe blade. He then kicked Hex in the stomach, sending her rolling to the floor. She coughed. "That’s no way to treat a lady!"
Hex activated her hand claws. The User swiped at Hex, trying to chop her head off. Dot started throwing things at the User. A flower vase. A small statue. A bowl of fruit.
"Do not fear my love! I will save you!"
"What a dipswitch! He actually thinks I’m trying to help!"
Unfortunately both Hex and the User tripped over the slippery fruit. They both crashed on the floor. The User got up first and reached for Dot. "Bob! Where are you already?!" appealed Dot.
A roar came from the window. A lion faced beast man dressed in raggy medieval clothes and a long cloak jumped in between Dot and the User. "Bob?" she looked him over in shock.
His grin looked like a snarl. "Hi Dot. Like the outfit? I think I’m supposed to give you roses and read you poetry."
"How about after the game is over?"
"Do not fear my love! I-"
"SHUT UP!" Bob growled.
He slashed at the User with his own set of claws the game provided him. The User swung his sword at Bob. He ducked and sliced at the User, tearing the sword from the User’s hand. Bob picked the User up by the throat roaring in rage. Bob raised his other hand to rip the User open.
"Bob?!" Dot shouted in shock.
Bob caught himself. "Sorry. Got carried away with the game character."
Bob walked over to the stairwell and threw the User down.
Several thumps and bumps and corresponding oofs were heard all the way down. When he hit the bottom they heard the User weakly cry out. "Do not fear my love! I will save you!"
Bob shook his head before turning to Dot.
Hex got up, brushing herself off. "It seems we have a tale as old as time going on here."
"Oh Hex! Please! This getup is terrible! I cut my tongue on these teeth!" Bob pointed to his mouth canines.
"My terrible savior," laughed Dot. "Maybe if I gave you a kiss you’ll turn into a prince."
"I like the idea! Come here!"
Bob put his arms around her.
"GAME OVER!"
***
The game pulled out of its resting spot outside the Principle Office. Bob and Dot were still lip-locked, ignoring the city around them.
"There!" Dot said when the kiss ended. "You look better already."
Hexadecimal exclaimed. "Oooooo! What a rush! Can we play another game again?"
"Not today! My schedule’s all offline," admitted Dot.
"You’re not supposed to be playing games, Dot," scolded Bob.
"I told Hex and I’ll tell you I didn’t mean to do it on purpose. Little Enzo is coming."
"Thanks for the warning." Bob turned to face the child sprite and got bowled over. He stared up at Little Enzo as he rambled on.
"Bob! You were awesome! Alphanumeric! I thought your claws were so cool! And you really roared loud! Do you think that game will come back again? I’d really love to-"
"Enzo!" Hex interrupted.
"Yes?"
"Why don’t you and Bob run along? Dot has much work to catch up on before tonight."
"Tonight?" Dot repeated trying to remember.
"Your date!"
"Oh how basic! How could I forget! I-"
Phong rolled up to them. "Dot? Were you playing a game?"
"Yes Phong," she rolled her eyes.
"While you were busy two messages came. One is from Quadra. The other is for Bob. It’s from the Super Computer!"
"What?" Bob got Little Enzo off him. "Is it Turbo?"
"It might be. He is the only one who knows you are here. Come. The messages are waiting."
***
Inside the Principle Office, the guardian, the command.com and her little brother format, the former virus and the elder sprite watched a vidwindow message playback from Quadra. Matrix and AndrAIa were outside the system’s pyramid shaped Principle Office.
"Greetings from Quadra guys," began Matrix. "So far we’ve tracked down every Bug in the Principle Office and the industrial sectors. We’re continuing our sweeps but we took on a small side job. We’re training several of the binomes to be game players. They lost all their experienced players during the infestation."
AndrAIa added. "As soon as we’ve got the players confident enough to be on their own we’ll be returning home. Miles wants to discuss a trade deal and set up commerce between Mainframe and Quadra right away. I’m sure that Gavin and his crew will be anxious to help out."
"Like he wouldn’t," Dot whispered to Bob.
Matrix finished. "If you see Ray and Mouse be sure to tell ‘em to head on back right away. AndrAIa and I want to come home soon. See ya in a few seconds."
The message ended.
Phong told Bob. "The second message is encrypted."
"I’ll take it in one of the other read-me rooms," Bob walked away.
Phong addressed Dot. "I have been monitoring information on the Net. It seems an uprising against the guardians is inevitable."
"It's not the guardians' faults."
"True. But they all may become the scapegoats. But now they have one of their own."
"What do you mean?"
Phong brought up a vidwindow display of a wanted poster. Bob’s silver haired image adorned it. The reward amount was an astonishing one hundred thousand units.
"Daemon has resulted to bribery."
Hex commented. "It’s not a good picture."
"Hexadecimal. Don’t make jokes," said Dot. "I have a bad feeling Bob’s message isn’t any better news."
***
Bob entered a private read me file room and shut the door behind him. The desktop vidwindow had the image of a reboot guardian icon on it. The words PLEASE STAND BY were flashing underneath it.
Bob taped the icon on the window.
"Please confirm voice print," the computer asked.
"Guardian 452 of System Mainframe."
"Processing message."
Another vidwindow appeared over the desk. He saw Turbo and smiled. He still remained in his right mind, fooling Daemon and the other guardians for now.
"Bob. If you don’t already know you will know now that things have taken a turn for the worse. Several systems are planning to revolt against the Guardian Collective. This will mean a war for sure. A rebel force is forming and whether you want it or not, you're becoming the center of the campaign. They know you're clean, Bob, the last real hope left for freedom on the Net. The best advice I can offer you is to begin networking the systems who are ready to break from the Net. You will be considered the leader. As for me, as long as I can hold out, I will work as a double agent for your campaign against Daemon.
"She is putting a price on your head so sooner or later you will have more than rogue guardians out to find you. Mercenaries are bound to try and capture or delete you. You’ll have to be ready for anything. I’m glad you have Matrix to help you. He told me the two of you had to save the entire Net.
"Looks like you're going to get your chance. I’ve enclosed the list of suspected systems to revolt. Take care, Bob."
The message terminated. A list downloaded to the desktop. The list was longer then he thought it would be. Gamma. Beta. Outpost Omega. A dozen others. Bob added Quadra to the list then placed it in the Principle Office archives.
Outpost Omega. Reso and Chip. He sighed.
What would Laser and Pixie have thought of this...
Guardian Pixelasha looked over the class of Sprite cadets. As a high ranking guardian, she could have cut and pasted herself into better assignments in the Super Computer. But her knowledge in the study of viral bugs and cures to desktop malfunctions made her an important program for Disk Tools Operations.
Although she would rather play games against the users or mend tears, she took her responsibility of troubleshooting dysfunctions as an honor from Guardian High Command. So she spent most of her time booted in uniform more suited for herself. Instead of the aqua and teal body armor, she wore a two tone blue skirted uniform with knee high black boots. It still had the orange padding and silver arm bands, but she found the design a pleasing option for a female guardian. He long gold silicon locks were tied up in a bun on her head. Her light aqua skin matched nicely to the color of her uniform. Her eyes were her most unique feature. The left one was light blue while the right was hazel blue.
Pixie stepped from behind her podium and began to summarize. "When you do encounter an unknown file type virus, you will learn your viral protection program will most likely save your life functions. The bad part is it will not save your system or sector if it doesn’t have the right protection. It’s advised that you keep yourselves updated on to latest erase commands and how to access them. I want you to complete all these viral type situation profiles I am downloading to your file folders and process the solutions. Remember that there maybe more then one solution to each problem. You can drop off the answers to me at Disk Tool Operations. This will count as credit at your file upgrades at the end of the semester."
She pressed a button on her key tool. "Quirk. Download."
The buzzer sounded the end of the cycle.
"Anyone who has questions can see me before your next class. And I’d like to speak to cadets 452 and 453 please."
An "ooooooo" came from the rest of the cadets followed by giggles and someone commenting that somebody was in trouble. Pixie warned the rest of the class to move along. When they had all gone she found herself sitting at her desk with two teenage cadets in front of her: Bob and Laser Jet.
"Sir?" Laser said.
She looked up with one eyebrow cocked. Laser corrected himself.
"Ma’am? I don’t know how to address you."
"You can call me Pixie lad. You are like family to me. Both of you."
Bob smiled at her. She got lost in thought looking at him, thinking of the child she remembered who was now a handsome young sprite much like Laser.
"Pixie? You wanted to talk to us?" Laser reminded her.
She shook her head. "Sorry. You two ported in here thirty nanoseconds late for the lecture."
"Yes Ma’am," they answered in unison.
"And why were you late?" she asked, puzzled. "Care to access a good answer?"
"Air-car trouble."
Pixie cocked her eyebrow again. "Are you serious?"
Bob nodded.
Laser added. "It's true. Bob has random problems with transport. I think his vehicle doesn’t like him."
"And where were you two that you couldn’t calculate you’d be late if you didn’t leave on time?"
"In a game."
She sighed. " You should know that when in attendance of this Academy you must let full guardians handle game cubes. That way you can gain fullest knowledge upgrade."
"We know Ma’am," they said.
"Stop calling’ me ma’am. You make me feel old next to the two of you."
"It wouldn’t be fair Pixie," Laser said. "I mean ma’am."
"If you're worried about the other cadets getting on you for it I understand. But like I said you are both like family to me. And you don’t need energy signature similarities to be like family to me. Right Bobbie?" "Right," Bob answered.
"By the way, who beat the User?"
They were surprised at her interest.
"Laser got him."
"Only because you let me take the shot. You're the better game player."
"Well despite you breaking the rules I’m happy you got some experience outside," Pixie looked at the analog clock on the lecture room wall. "You aren’t going to be late to your next class?"
"No Pixie. We’re on lunch mode now. You know that."
"Things change. As of right now you're on mentor ship duty."
"That's not suppose to start until next semester," recalled Laser.
"I have clout you know! I wanted to make sure two of the best students get the best mentor. Of course it will be a bit hard handling the two of you but I think I can manage."
"Isn’t this giving us an unfair advantage?" Bob said. "The other cadets will think you helped us pass or something."
"Let them think what they will. Turbo approved the idea. And the first rule will be you two being on time! No more game cubes! Understand?"
"Yes ma’am!" they replied.
"Now I plan on going over to Disk Tools. You two gentlemen will join me."
Laser said, "But we’re not supposed to see Disk Tools until we’re farther on in training. Ouch!"
Bob had nudged Laser in the ribs hard. "Come on Laser you're the one who’s interested in viral bug study. You want this."
"Then it’s formatted," Pixie tapped some notes into her organizer and placed it into her briefcase. "Come on then."
They followed her out the room giving either other a high five to celebrate.
"Behave yourselves, " Pixie said.
"Yes ma’am."
"Tell me, Laser. When you finish your training, will you do what your father did?"
"I would like to explore the Net. Maybe find another system to settle in."
"And you Bobbie?"
"I’d hate to leave the Super Computer. You...are the only family I have now."
Bob’s parents had been deleted in a game accident when he barely learned to walk and talk. Pixie’s family took him in as their own alongside watching the widowed Bevel Jet take care of her two children Laser and Reso. Bob every so often asked Pixie to recall their faces for him. He wanted so hard to remember the fuzzy images in his head and many times it brought him to tears.
The sadness on his face made her nudge him for an answer. She wondered, "Does that mean you have no ambitions?"
"Are you kidding. I want to find the User!"
"Not if I do it first," Laser said.
"The only way you're going to beat me to that is if the User gets me first."
"Don’t ever make a joke like that! Ever!" Pixie suddenly snapped at him. "You never take the User lightly. When you do you’ll get deleted in a game for sure!"
"I’m... I’m sorry Pixie," Bob apologized thinking about his parents.
"Forget it. I guess I want you to stay alive."
"Then why let me be a guardian?"
"It’s what you wanted from a child. I won’t stop your wish. I want to help you fulfill it. The both of you are going to be great guardians." she put her arm around each of them as they walked down the hallway.
Bob wiped a tear from his eye. He missed his old adopted family as much as he had missed his newer family in Mainframe when he became lost in the Web. "When will I see you again Pixie?"
She would tell him to worry enough later. He had a date with Dot to prepare for. He left the read-me room.
Mouse heard Ray call softly to her. "Mouse. Wake up love. We’ve some nasty company."
The hacker opened her eyes. A Scout Bug, wounded and missing one of its feelers, sniffed the ground near her head.
"And I thought we got all of ‘em," she whispered. Mouse squealed as Max’s hooves came down on top of the Bug, crunching it bits from her face. She rolled away coughing from the dust the impact kicked up.
Ray tried to calm Max but the horse only stopped stomping when Chip grabbed the horse’s bridal and patted his neck.
"Easy Max," he scratched the cybersteed's ears. "Good boy."
Ray helped Mouse up and put his arms around her. "Are ya alright love?"
"I’m fine."
"I thought the thing was gonna stomp ya skull in."
"Max never would have."
Chip spoke to Ray. "He was protectin’ her partner. That’s all."
Ray still seemed unpleased by how close Max hooves came to Mouse. Chip checked the binome prospectors. They were all find. A scan of the cave showed no other Bugs.
"Basic of me," Chip said. "I shoulda made sure the place was clean myself."
Ray defeated themselves. "I think we did a better job considerin’ the guardians left Quadra to rot away!"
"Ray!" Mouse warned.
Chip tipped his hat up. "Ray Tracer right? That what you said? Wanted for illegal Net travel. A reward of ten thousand units last posted. Escaped from a system called Bauddad with a bunch of pirates wanted for the same thing."
"You’ve been up on ya info."
"It’s a common knowledge in the Collective."
"Your point?" Mouse asked, becoming equally annoyed at Chip. "If you hitched your wagon to this filly," Chip pointed to Mouse, "you best take care of her. I’d hate to find out you both got deleted."
Mouse took Ray’s hand. "I plan on bein’ hooked tah this one a long time, honey."
"I’ve gotta get along," Chip took hold of Max’s reigns and gestured to the prospectors. "I’ve got to get to Outpost for my injection and these fellas need an escort. Will you two be needin’ anything?"
"Just a tear," Ray realized.
Chip lead them outside. Freespace now had clear blue skies and pure golden hills with no sign of any future ion storms. Chip took a flair from his saddle bag and ignited it. He tossed it in the air and drew his rifle. The explosion created a small Class 5 tear.
"Will that do?"
"Fine with me mate," Ray hopped on Surfboard and pulled Mouse up behind him.
"No hard feelins?'
"Nope. Just promise you’ll take care of each other. And I hope I’ll see you both again."
"Take care Chip," Mouse blew him a kiss.
Ray converted the tear and they went through. The portal shut behind them.
Chip mounted Max. The binomes filed in along side him and they moved out.
Chip rubbed his temple. "Marry her if you can, Ray Tracer, but never fall in love with her."
***
Mouse watched the blur of blue and pinkish colors pass by as she clung to Ray.
Traveling in portal highways never caused her much fascination until she rode on the back of Ray’s Surfboard. To her they used to be the places between here and there. And like Ray see never saw herself as staying in one place for long. Only the war with Megabyte showed her the value of friends and having a permanent base. Mainframe had become their one and perhaps only safe haven. A place to call home.
Mouse glanced behind them. "Ray. We have company."
A silver ship towing a empty passenger carrier drew up on them. Sleek and aerodynamic in design, it quickly gained in them and made a noise similar to a honking horn.
Ray took a look and said. "It’s a very small Net today."
He pulled over to one side of the causeway to let the ship pull next to him.
"Hello Maxine!"
"Ray Tracer! Do you know how much trouble you're in?" a female voice answered from inside the ship.
"Not anymore then your used ta."
"I like excitement, but not getting deleted."
"It hasn’t happened yet."
"Who’s your friend?"
"Mouse say hello ta Maxine. We’re in the same business."
"Oh no we’re not! I don’t do any Web surfing! I’ll stick to the nice safe Net, thank you."
Mouse said. "It’s only safe if yah play by the guardian rules."
"Ease up on her, Mouse," Ray said. "We all can’t break the rules. And as far as Maxine is concerned, she never saw us right?"
"Right, Ray. We search engines stick together. Stay clear of the larger ports. They’re being watched. And word on the Net is a rebel alliance is forming against the guardians. You're obviously a great candidate for it."
"Thanks for the tip, Maxine. Be seein’ ya!"
The silver ship moved off and in a burst of power disappeared up the corridor.
"She may have great clock speed but I get larger access. Not too many brave surfers around."
Mouse stayed quiet.
"I hope that didn’t rattle ya, love. Both of us have long lists of old acquaintances. It may only seem like a small Net but-"
"Ray? Will you marry me?"
Ray put on the breaks. The access-way melted into a limbo system of ports of various shapes and sizes.
"Sorry I stopped short. Sometimes I think I don’t hear too well while travelin’ inside portals. Could ya repeat that?"
"I’m sorry Ray. I guess I got a bit..."
"Random? More like fast clock speed. Love, I’ve know ya only two minutes."
"I got impulsive. I thought after yah showed me yar eyes I thought..." She sat down on the end of Surfboard. "Forget it Ray."
"Forget it?! You just don’t pop the question ta someone and forget it. You have ta get an answer."
"Love make yah do crazy things. I-"
He knelt down by her. "I know. So...why not?"
"Are you sayin’ yes?"
"Only if ya not gonna withdraw the question."
This time they had no one to interrupt their kiss.
Phong helped Dot reorganize her duties and complete the most critical while he dealt with other less tasking functions so Dot might have time to prepare for her date. Since Dot now was officially the new Command.com she lived in a wing of the Principle Office with Little Enzo. Her personal quarters were made for her comfort and taste. Like Phong she had an office in front that lead to a living room, bedrooms and bath.
The "date", as Bob put it, was the beginning of their courtship. Although Bob gave her "the ring", they decided they needed time to get to know each other in a personal way. The long separation and knowledge of their love became the foundation. They were only friends before hinting of becoming lovers, afraid of what would happen if they crossed that line. Now they were moving towards a new point to be taken as carefully as Bob adapted to have Glitch a part of him. The two becoming one.
Dot rebooted into a black off the shoulder cocktail dress, her icon changing to gold and silver and remaining pinned in the center. She sat at her vanity and clipped on a pair of silicon crystal earrings. She primped her hair and powdered her face before reaching over to the ring and putting it on. She stared a long time at the perfect little daisy wheel and her eyes began to tear up.
Outside her room she heard Hex rap on the door and call. "Knock! Knock! May I come in?"
"Sure Hexadecimal."
Her face appeared first, then the rest after her like a Cheshire cat. Hex cuffed her hand to her mouth in delight.
"Oh Dot! You look exquisite! Get up! Turn around!"
She fulfilled the request.
"You definitely don’t look butch!" Hexadecimal stated. "You going to use a shawl?"
"Of coarse."
"You need something around your neck," Hex held out a small color paper wrapped box.
"Hex? What is this?"
"I never got you a birthday gift."
"No. You shouldn’t have. You already gave me the best gift. You gave me Bob."
"Then add this to it. Please?" she appealed.
Dot opened the package. Inside she found a necklace holding a round crystal pendant. A light flickered inside it.
"What is it?"
"A tear."
"But it’s so tiny. I never knew they came in this size."
"And they are very hard to catch too."
"It’s incredible, but isn’t it dangerous?"
"It’s sealed in a vacuum. You have to break it open and then it's not strong enough to do any damage if it bursts. Bob can change it into a portal."
"Kind of small to go anywhere."
"No but he can show you a nice little trick using it."
"Hex it's a wonderful gift. Thank you." she put it on her neck.
"One more thing. I know the wanted poster for Bob is worrying you."
"But there is nothing we can do about it. That’s why I’m worried."
"I’m making you a promise Dot. Bob is going to guard Mainframe. I will guard him for you just like Hack and Slash keep watch over you."
"Bob won’t think he’ll need it."
"He’s going to have it whether he wants it or not. But don’t fret. I’ll know when not to get in the way. Now Bob is waiting for you outside."
Dot took her shawl and draped it on her shoulders and Hexadecimal walked with her outside.
***
Al’s Waiter snoozed at the counter. His evening crowd were quiet enough to let him catch a downtime. But the deep sleep blocked out the sudden screams of terror and crashing of glassware as the patrons fled. Al’s Waiter felt something tap him on the shoulder.
He yawned. "May I help you?"
A Scout Bug stood in front of him hissing. A small group of Workers were in the dining area eating the food and condiments thrown on the floor. Two Soldiers stood guarding a small pile of eggs deposited in their center of the room.
"Hey Al! I think it’s time to change the bait traps!"
"WHAT?"
The Soldiers growled at Al’s Waiter. The binome slowly got up then ran through the double doors, grabbing Al on the way out the back. He had the smarts to turn off the lights so anyone would think the diner was shut for the night. He had to call for some pest control.
***
Bob leaned up against the passenger door of his Turbo Drophead 262 . The aircar never looked better. After the system crash and restart, the vehicle came online in a brand new state. Its rich red paint glistened.
Bob wore a black suit and golden colored vest. The round neck collar of his white shirt had a smaller version of his guardian Glitch icon buttoned to it instead of using a tie. Little Enzo and Frisket stood by him.
"Gosh Bob! You look cool!"
"Thanks."
"So it’s more appropriate for the girl to be late for the date?"
"Yeah. It’s tradition."
Frisket sniffed at Bob’s ankle length dress boots. Its gold buckles were shaped like guardian icons.
"Is that Web creature skin?"
"Generated. The tailor used scans from my new uniform to create it."
"Will you ever tell me what it was like to be a Web Rider?"
"Only if your sister approves. For now we can’t talk about it."
"But why?"
"Enzo. Please. It upsets Dot. Be patient."
"Okay." Little Enzo tried not to beg. He then saw Dot coming. "Wow!"
Bob looked as Dot walked down the stairs of the Principle Office. She paused to study Bob’s face. He was awe struck. She found herself starting to blush.
Bob never looked more handsome to her. Hack, Slash, Phong and Hexadecimal watched the scene. The two robots sighed so loud Hex smacked them to be quiet.
Bob reached into the front seat of his car and held up a bouquet of daisywheels as Dot came closer. "Hello, beautiful."
"Bob. You look great."
"Care to tell me where we’re going? You made the reservations."
"Silicon Gold in Beverly Hills."
"Sounds expensive."
"I own part of it so I’m paying."
"That’s not tradition," he frowned slightly.
"I know. But I think this time I should treat you."
Bob saw the pendant on her neck. "The tear."
"You knew about this."
"Hex said she was hunting for nano tears. It figures she’d find one."
"And what can you do with a nano tear?"
"I’ll show you. Hold these."
Bob gave the flowers to her and then Bob took the pendant off her neck. He put it in his palm and closed his hand to a fist. His hand glowed a moment. He opened it up and held it up so she could see. Inside was a portal. Dot had to close one eye to see it better.
"It’s the Super Computer! But won’t they know there’s an open port?"
"Not when it's this small. A guardian who has a keytool must be right on top of it to sense it. And special agents don’t look for tears this size."
Bob turned the port off, returning it to a tear.
"Alphanumeric!" Little Enzo proclaimed.
"We’re going to be late Bob." Dot remembered the time.
Bob put the necklace around her neck once more. "Then my chariot awaits." Bob swept her off her feet. Little Enzo giggled and Frisket only growled.
"Bob!" Dot protested in mild annoyance.
"I don’t want you ripping that beautiful dress trying to climb in," he reasoned.
She laughed. As Bob turned to put her in a vidwindow opened. A CPU sergeant addressed them.
"Commander! Sir! We have a problem!"
Bob put Dot down as she asked. "What’s the problem?"
"A group of Bugs are inside Al’s Wait and Eat! We’ve begun evacuating the area!"
"Not this!" Dot felt a lump come to her throat. She immediately turned her icon, changing to her armor battle outfit. "Get a ten block radius cleared out right away. I want heavy weapons and armored units in case there are Soldiers."
"Al’s Waiter said there were two of them!"
Bob booted to his guardian Glitch body armor. "Tell your men I’m on my way!"
Hexadecimal appeared at Bob’s side. "Need some company?"
"I can use it."
Dot spoke. "I want to go too."
"Dot please! If this is the beginning of an infestation you’ll be safer in the Principle Office!"
"But Bob-"
"Dot! He’s right!" Hex said. "I’ll go with Bob as backup!"
Phong rolled up to them. "You must contact Matrix and AndrAIa. They will return to help. You're Command.com. Your place is in the Principle Office."
Dot looked at Bob in fear. "Please. Be careful"
He gave her a quick hug. He felt her trembling. " I’ll be back soon."
He hopped in his car. Hex got in the passenger seat.
The former virus complained. "I wasn’t planning on being your date."
"Neither was I," agreed Bob turning on the engine. Bob gunned the engine and the car flew away in the sky.
Dot watched it for a long time before Phong urged her. "We must go in child."
Dot put her arm around Little Enzo and they went inside.
***
Bob and Hexadecimal pushed open the double doors of Al’s place. The dining area had remains of food scattered over the surface of the black and white tiles. The sound of breaking glassware came from the kitchen.
Several CPUs stuck the heads in the room.
Bob warned them. "We'll tell you when it's safe to come in."
They nodded and closed the doors.
"Here Buggie, Buggie, Buggie!" Hex called.
"Hex! This isn’t the right time to act random!" Bob complained.
"I’m only trying to break the tension. You're sweating."
"I’m nervous!"
"You're scared dear."
"Can you blame me?" he brushed his forehead clean using his hand.
"You have to see past it."
"I will."
"That’s better. Better raise shields captain!"
Bob smiled at her and enveloped them inside his energy shield. They walked to the center of the room. A Soldier Bug pranced up on the counter and hissed at them.
"Easy dear," Hex addressed the Bug in a soft, gentle manor.
It growled at her. This virus smelled weird.
"He’s not buying it," Hex shrugged.
"Just like Frisket," compared Bob, raising his hand and firing an energy beam that erased the oversized insect." Let’s clean up!"
***
Matrix and AndrAIa headed straight from the Quadra portal to Level 31. CPUs, heavily armored and carrying all sorts of artillery and heavy weapons rung the outside of the building, waiting for Bob to give the signal.
Matrix asked one of the lieutenants the status of the operation. The CPU responded. "We’re waiting for Bob to give an all clear to move in a clean up crew. It’s very quiet right now. There was weapon’s fire a few nanos ago."
Matrix scanned the building using his cyborg eye. "I can see them! They look alright."
A vidwindow opened beside Matrix and AndrAIa. Bob greeted them. "Nice of you guys to show up but you missed the party. Care to come in?"
"We’ll be right there."
***
Bob, Matrix and AndrAIa stood in the middle of the diner’s eating area as CPUs set up some fumigation explosives.
"Al had a large source of food for the Bugs," Bob explained. "The small troop must have figured this would be a good place to set up shop."
"But don’t they need core energy?" AndrAIa asked. "Core energy is the best breeding ground for a Queen. She can find substitute places for laying eggs and preparing them for hatching. They only won’t grow as fast."
Hex came from the kitchen carrying some eggs. "I found these in the oven. If Al found them he might have cooked them and fed them to the customers."
Bob took one of the eggs and examined the shape. He then pressed it between his hands to scan it using his Glitch programming.
"Just as we thought. It’s a Soldier Drone embryo. Drones are produced for the purpose a mating with a Queen."
"So she planned to have other systems be infested a new Queen?"
Matrix grumbled in revulsion. Then he saw two Soldier stingers on Al’s counter. There poison sacks were still attached. "What are those for?"
"You can’t process enough antitoxin to be too careful. If our supply ran out..." Bob caught himself fearing the worst.
"Bob? Are you okay?"
"I’m fine. I don’t want to believe we’re in any trouble." He asked the CPUs. "Are the fumigation bombs set?"
"They're ready sir! Timers are primed."
"Activate and let's get clear. This area will have Bug smog spread over ten blocks."
Hex dumped the eggs on the floor and crushed them using her feet. "Can’t be too careful."
"Right." Bob took the stingers from the counter. looking at them as if the Bugs were still attached. "Let’s go!"
*I dedicate this part of the story to the late Alan Sheppard. May we all have the Right Stuff!
Founder's Fountain was the memorial set up in front of the main entrance to Guardian Programming Academy. Statues of the seven first Guardians ever formatted were represented among the splash of cascading data plumes. Long considered the sprites who had the 'Byte Stuff', they were the seven who went on to create the protocol resource code for every Guardian programmed. The memorial had become the hang out for the campus going sprite population. Reso loved the fountain because it gave her the best way to remember her Grandfather who deleted well before her formatting. She sat on a bench under a B-tree waiting, for her brother and Bob to arrive. Lunch mode would be over in five microseconds and she hoped they weren't late coming. She threw some chip crumbs to a flock of cursors sitting nearby. The tiny bits of living energy ate up the fragments quickly before scattering at the movement of approaching sprites. Bob and Laser zip-ped up to the bench. She smiled at them in a mix of pride and envy. Bob and Laser had been booted up to Special Agents in Illegal Entry several minutes earlier. They were surely a great duo, graduating at the top of their class and both being "chosen" for keytools. Laser got selected by a youngster of a keytool named Buzz while Bob received a veteran of sorts called Glitch.
"Hey Res!" Bob greeted.
"Hi guys," she answered getting up to give her brother a peck on the cheek. "How's the guarding going?"
"Guess who Bob caught trying to hack into the SC today?"
"It had to be somebody with lots of random senses," Reso figured," but a lot a hacking smarts."
"She's good," commented Bob as a hint," but not that good."
Reso snapped her fingers. "Mouse."
Bob nodded.
"She warned you she'd be nothing but trouble!"
Laser said. "This is coming from my sister who wanted Mouse to give her tips on hacking."
Bob insisted. "Reso we're just old friends. I never questioned what she did for a living. Until today of course."
"She in big trouble?"
"Nothing I think she'll end up charming her way to a suspended sentence."
Laser asked. "In speaking of sentences, how are you handling your file load?"
Reso sighed. "I don't know how you two do it. Viruses. Hackers. Games. Software Pirates. It's so much."
"You'll do fine Reso. You got one of the best mentors in the Academy," Bob told her.
"She is doing fine," Laser informed him. " Pixie said she's in the top of her file grade."
"I didn't say it was hard to learn. I meant it must be hard to face the real stuff when it happens."
"You take this responsibly one cycle at a time. There will be days when nothing might happen except tear mending. Then the next you might end up with a Class Five Virus dropping in. Don't worry! It won't add on one pixel to your bitmap."
She smiled a teasing smile. "Is that a short joke bro?"
The Academy chime went off. It was time for Reso to go.
"My next class is going to start. I gotta run," she gave her brother another kiss and then a quick peck for Bob. "Let's be careful out there."
"We will Res. See ya later," her brother said.
Bob and Laser zipped away to patrol the ports. Bob said. "What happened to the little girl who tried to follow us and pester to go everywhere we didn't want her to go?"
"She grew up to be a guardian," Laser smiled. "Like my dad."
"He'd be proud of both of you."
"Your parents would have been the same way."
"I know."
"She likes you Bob."
"What? Reso? Of course she does. She forgave me long ago for pushing her in that data puddle when she was-"
"I mean she really likes you Bob."
Bob stopped his zip. "Hold on there a nano. Laser I do care for Res but not like that."
"I thought so," sighed Laser. "I have to try explaining this to her before she feels hurt."
"Just tell her she's not my destiny."
"And Mouse is?"
"Mouse is fire. I'm ice. I think it's only a matter of time before she catches on. In the meantime I'll wait and see."
"Bob. I might want to leave the SC soon. Jets have to fly right?"
"I'll miss you being around. We make a pretty good team."
"I'd say the best."
A rumbling and a long gong followed the darkening of the sky over them.
"WARNING! INCOMING GAME!"
"In speaking of a great team," Bob said, "care to join me?"
"Sure hot shot! Care to let me make the erasure this time?"
"I'll think about it," Bob laughed.
As they flew towards it on their zip boards Bob saw the cube turn black for almost an undetect-able incriminate of time. He blinked.
"Did you see that?"
"See what?"
Bob figured it had been his imagination. "Never mind."
They entered the cubes path as it settled down.
***
Cold. Numbness. Pain. Fear. They were four things Bob felt as he tried to open his eyes. Bob lay on a biobed in the infirmary of Disk Tool Operations. His right arm had a stasis cast on it and had a sling holding it in place. He had no feeling in the arm itself but the joint at the shoulder hurt terribly as if something tried to pull it out of the socket. He heard voices talking in the room. One was Mack Binary, a fellow guardian and graduate in Bob's class. The other was Pixie.
"When I found him he was screaming for Laser to answer him. I had to borrow a med gun from a disk doctor at the scene to sedate him before we brought him here. He must have saw something terrible."
Bob closed his eyes a moment to get them to focus more. "Pixie?"
Pixie came to the biobed. Mack joined her. The dark haired, indigo skinned sprite attempted to smile. His steel grey eyes were the only feature that manage to show some kind of happiness. Bob knew it was more relief then anything.
"How's the Armory?" Bob asked.
"Fine."
"Still refusing to do windows?"
Mack grimaced." That joke's getting old Bob."
Pixie asked him. "How are you feeling Bobbie?"
"Lost. Very lost." Bob lifted his left arm up. He noticed Glitch was not there. Bob almost sat up. "Glitch! Where's my Glitch!?! Did I loose him too?!"
Pixie and Mack had to hold him down. She told him. "He's being debriefed by Turbo and Copland. So is Buzz."
"Buzz is functioning?! But Laser! Where is he?"
Pixie spoke bluntly. "In containment where they keep nullified sprites."
Bob closed his eyes again. "Why Laser? Why not me? It's not fair!"
"Hush Bobbie. I don't need you to pop your motherboard now. Please stay still. Your arm needs to recompile."
Bob settled down, attempting not to cry. "What happened?"
"Don't you remember?" Mack asked incredulously. "You were all freaked out when I found you."
"No. I can't. Pixie? What's wrong? Why can't I remember?"
"I wish I knew Bobbie. It's probably trauma. Please try to sleep. I'll be right here beside you."
She brushed her hand against his hair, her gaze much resembling a mother concerned about a very sick child. If not for Mack, Pixie might have kissed his face to calm him. He closed his eyes but Bob remained awake straining to remember. Cold. Numbness. Pain. Fear. Its all he sensed. He gave up. Soon he heard someone else enter the room.
He heard Mack, snapped to attention. "Sir!"
"At ease," Turbo's deep voice answered and then asked. "How is he?"
"Resting."
"I'll hold off the inquiry as long as I can."
"Bobbie doesn't recall anything. What did Glitch and Buzz say?"
"Their memory boards are scrambled too. Buzz is sure Laser ordered him away to save him. Glitch believes he saved Bob from deletion but they only have a vague recollection they describe as cold, numbness, pain and fear."
"The exact symptoms affecting Bobbie," Pixie pointed out.
"But what caused this?" Mack questioned. "The User? A rogue game sprite?"
"Either of those things make any sense. A Game over means the User lost. Bobbie must have deleted the User to end the game. A game sprite never nullifies a normal sprite."
"A virus attempting to download in the game?"
"Both Glitch and Buzz have no record of a virus scan," Turbo said, "but it doesn't mean its not possible. This will be considered the first case of a nullification in a won game on record."
"What about Reso?"
"I'll have to tell her," Turbo's sadness was evident. "I've called for a couple of Reso's friends to be with her. And her mother Bevel and Chip."
"Poor Bevel. I want to be there too," Pixie said, "but I don't want to leave Bobbie alone. Tell Reso how sorry I am."
"I'll go Pixie," Mack offered. "I'll explain to her why Bob and you aren't available."
"As you were," Turbo saluted Pixie and left. Mack went with him.
Pixie heard some soft sobbing. She returned to Bob. The tears were falling down the sides of his face. Now alone, she wiped them away and started to hum Laser's song but stopped at the obvious error. There was a time she learned to sing it to Laser and Bob when they were children to cheer them up. But the words were now a haunting lullaby and they made her weep too.
They had grown up together. Now they cried together.
***
Bob entered the Command Council Chamber feeling unformatted and very much alone. The room suffered from a severe lighting deficiency, intending to echo the foreboding of what went on inside. Bob rubbed his forearm where Glitch should have been. During an inquiry guardians who had keytools had them temporarily confiscated, as if to make you seem more like a virus then a guardian. Bob's physical injuries were healed but when would the mental ones heal, if ever.
He walked into the spotlight in the chamber's center to stare out at the semi- circle table in front of him. What little light illuminated the room only made the command uniforms noticeable. The faces at the table were shadowed even though Bob knew who was there. And he knew one of them very well. Turbo probably despised this procedure as much as Bob. But Turbo followed the rules to the type letter no matter how much it hurt both of them.
"Please state your file name for the data log," Turbo said flatly.
"Bob. Guardian, Super Computer Port Authority. Serial number 452. Current status: Special Agent for Illegal Entries."
After an awkward pause Turbo spoke. "Let it be recorded that on clock date 13:35 that Guardian 452 of the Super Computer Port Authority was fully exonerated of any program violation in the accidental nullification of Guardian Laser Jet, registration number 453.
"It is the ruling of Guardian High Command, that an unexplained event, caused by an unknown, and unidentified source, is responsible for the null state Guardian Laser now resides in. I hear by order Guardian 452 to take five second leave before returning to active duty in the Super Computer. His keytool, surnamed Glitch, shall be return commanded back to him immediately. This hearing is adjourned. You are dismissed Guardian 452."
"Thank you, sir," Bob saluted his commanding officer, turned, and left the chamber room.
A guardian in charge of the Armory would give him back Glitch and he would try to recompile his life. But who could ever reformat Laser?
***
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 Bobbie. 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 Bobbie. This proves it."
"To Turbo and to you, yes. To me, maybe. To Reso, maybe never."
"Give her some time and free space Bobbie. 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 Bobbie-"
"Stop calling me Bobbie! 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 Bobbie."
"And now everyone calls me Pixie, "she laughed. "And you never complained until now. I know your all grown up. We both are. So is Reso. She'll understand."
"Can she?" Bob seemed to wonder allowed. "Maybe it'd be better if I relocated in a new system."
"Hey now. That's a bit block too drastic Bob. Take the downtime you've got and think about this. 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 alright."
"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 open 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. "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.
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.
***
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, the guardians would continue to play it also.
Bob saw the User chase an unrebooted zero binome up a corridor.
"Basic," he complained. "REBOOT!"
The game booted him into a simple blue sheet. He was Ghost Inkie.
In front of him, 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!" Bob began to give chase but bumped into ghost Pinkie. "Watch where your going!"
"Well excuse me!" complained a female voice.
"Who are you?"
"I can ask you the same thing!"
"I'm a guardian."
"Your kidding?!"
"We don't have time to admire each other," he ran past her. "Left turn up ahead!"
"Hurry!" shouted Pinkie following him utterly amazed by his being present.
The User approached the Energizer, Pinkie 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, Bob and Pinkie's sheets turned dark blue. The User turned to chase them.
"Run!" Bob 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 Pinkie."Take the left! I'll take right!"
They split up. The Pac-Man continued after Bob. The color of his sheet began to flash. The time for the User to gain extra points were almost gone, but he kept gaining. Bob vaulted over an apple meant to give the User a higher score. The Pac Man gladly ate it in its attempt to get Bob. Bob dashed into the side tunnel. Come on, he thought. Just a little more. Bob's outfit changed back to light blue. The User tried to get away. Pinkie blocked the User's escape. Bob touched the User and he evaporated with a shimmer of gold and a whine of music.
"GAME OVER."
***
The cube pulled out of Baudway. Bob found himself staring at the most beautiful sprite he'd ever seen. Her skin was a soft green, her hair black green and her eyes violet.
"Duty meets destiny," he whispered.
"Excuse me?" she asked suspiciously.
"I..uh...I mean...guardian. I'm a guardian. Serial number 452. Super Computer Port Authority. Special Agent for Illegal Entries ma'am!" he saluted her the way he would Turbo.
The sprite wanted to laugh. "Do you have a name buried under all those flustered words?"
Bob put his hand down. "Uh...Bob."
"You sure?"
"Last time I looked at my compiling certificate."
She smiled even wider. "I'm Dot Matrix. Data sprite. You look a little lost."
"I was suppose to go to Gamma but I ended up here by accident. Where-?"
"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 cyberpup ran up to him and squeezed through the binomes to sniff him. The pup decided he smelled dangerous and yapped a warning before starting to chew on his boot.
A child sprite ran up to the crowd. "Frisket! Frisket! Stop it! That's a guardian! He's a good guy!"
The boy pulled the puppy away which insisted on yapping more. The child looked like Dot. Bob guessed it had to be her brother since she hardly looked old enough to have a child his age. The excited boy rambled. "A guardian! A real live guardian! I'm Enzo! Enzo Matrix! That's my sister Dot! And this is Frisket! I just gothim!I'mreallysorryhedoesn'tlikestrangersbuttherearen'ttoomanyoftheminMainfram e!Thisissoawesome! WaituntilItelltheguysinschoolI-"
"Enzo!" Dot interrupted. "Slow down!"
Bob scratched his head. "I think I heard the name of this system somewhere in there."
"Your in Mainframe."
"Like I started to say I was attempting to download myself to Gamma system but I must have dialed wrong. I stopped a virus 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 in a software upgrade a long time ago 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 recalled. He 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 need a guardian."
Enzo began jumping up and down in excitement. "Then you'll stay? That would be so cool! Awesome! Alphanumeric! Pixelashous!"
"Pixie," murmured Bob.
"Enzo! Please!" begged Dot. "It's not our decision!"
"But Dot-" Enzo whined.
"Look," Bob decided. "I'm on five days leave from the Super Computer. I can stay until then to get an idea of how bad your problems are. Then maybe I can convince the guardians to send someone here to help."
"That sounds fair," Dot agreed. "Come with me. I'll take you to the Principle Office to meet Phong. He assists the Command.com."
"Lead on."
"And by the way. Thank you 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. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. We'd better go."
They mounted their zipboards and flew off. Bob thought, I'll be out of here in five days. Five short days Pixie. Then I'll see you and Reso again. I promise...
Mainframe/ Present Time
Little Enzo laughed. "I remember the last part."
Matrix chuckled. "So do I."
The child added. "Now I understand why you wanted to go back. What made you stay?"
"I had a duty to perform." Bob said. "And a destiny to find."
He gazed at Dot in fondness, her sweet smile warming his spirit and easing the sorrow lurking within.
"But," Little Enzo continued, "you miss Pixie and Reso."
"And Chip and Laser. You hate to loose your friends Enzo. But I have some great friends right here."
"And its not your fault if Reso won't forgive you, " Little Enzo insisted.
"Just help remind me." Hex's mask appeared beside Bob before the rest of herself phased in. "Hi Hexadecimal."
She gave a gleeful hello. "Hail! Hail! The gang's all here! If I knew I'd have brought biscuits!"
"How did your intelligence gathering go?" Dot asked.
"So far Level 31 is clean dear. Not a sign of any more Bug problems."
"And we hope it stays that way," Bob sounded relieved.
"Ahem!" Mouse cleared her throat. Ray took hold of her hand as they both stood up. "There's somethin' Ray and I have been meanin' tah tell y'all-"
A vidwindow opened beside Dot preventing Mouse from finishing. Specky spoke frantically. "Sir! Ma'am! The long range sensors have picked up an enormous energy signature!"
"A game?" Dot believed.
"No! It's moving in from the energy sea and closing on our position fast!"
"Red alert!" announced Dot. "Everyone get to defensive posts now!"
The sprites all rushed out of the Arboretum.
As Phong left, he gave his data can to a small robot. "Take care of the forest Dewey."
Everyone took their positions in the War Room. Bob stood at a console to the left of Dot's monitors overlooking the city map below them. Specky and Phong stood in front of the long range sensors to Dot's right, reexamining the readings. Mouse stood at shield control on the lower level next to the map. Little Enzo and Frisket watched as Matrix and AndrAIa activated defensive measures through out the system and triangulating them on the map.
Ray chose to stand beside Bob. He gestured to the monitors asking, "An interface?"
"I'm connected to the Net ports from here," he addressed Dot. "I can lock down at anytime."
Matrix said. "Defenses are in place. Squads deployed. Civilians are being sent to shelters."
Mouse spoke. "Shields tah full power. All Principle Office weapons armed."
Specky told Dot. "The unidentified object is massive! I have confirmation! It's a ship!"
"How big?" asked Dot.
"Very big!" Phong told her. "Readings indicate a mass equivalent to the Principle Office!"
Specky added. "And it has a large core signature."
"A ship with its own core?" Dot wondered. "Is it from the Super Computer?"
"The guardians don't have a ship that size," Bob said. "Can a simulation be outputted?"
Specky punched some keys on his pad. "The computer is creating one now."
A green hologram formed over the map, first in the size ratio to the city, then enlarged to show details of the ship itself. The battle cruiser had little resemblance to ships used in Net defense. In fact its surface was covered by long horn like spires making it look as if it were created for Web travel.
"That don't look friendly," Ray observed.
"I agree!" Dot concurred.
"I'm locking the ports!" Bob placed his palm against a sensor pad on the console. He closed his eyes. His hand glowed a moment, then stopped. "The ports are shut."
Bob noticed Dot looking at Mouse. The hacker's face showed fear. A small glimmer but fear none the less. Bob saw Matrix reached for AndrAIa's hand. His game sprite love held it tight, maintaining a calm exterior he sensed hid fright of her own.
Mouse finally said. "That's not gonna stop him."
"Dot!" Phong said. "We are being hacked!"
Mouse activated her vidworkstation adjoining shield control. As she tapped in counter measures she told Dot. "Ya better find out what Avar wants."
"Avar?!" Bob recognized the name from the old guardian fugitive lists.
He heard other voices repeat the name in various ways, either in confusion or knowledge. Bob turned to Ray, the surfer's concern reflecting his own. He then saw AndrAIa put her arms around Enzo to seek protection.
Matrix's eye glowed bright red as he told her. "Don't worry. He's not taking you away from me."
Mouse gave some orders as she kept typing. "Contact Avar! Matrix take AndrAIa and hide!"
"I'm not going to cower like a scared null!" he seethed.
"We don't know who he wants yet! Do it sugah! For AndrAIa!"
Still enraged, Matrix put his arm around AndrAIa's shoulder and walked her out of the room. Dot stared at Bob. The guardian shrugged. Matrix and AndrAIa had not processed every story of their journey on the Net. This was one they hadn't told anyone.
"Contact him," Bob urged her.
"Open a communication channel!" she said to Specky.
The binome obeyed. Dot spoke allowed. "This is Commander Dot Com of system Mainframe. Please state your intentions."
A rough voice answered. "My intent is to retrieve my property."
"We have never encountered your ship before. How is it that we have something you own?"
"Because she is keeping me out!"
Mouse gritted her teeth and kept right on working.
"I wish to see who I am speaking to," Avar requested.
"I will give you a visual communication line. Do not attempt to use it for any other purpose! We are battled ready."
"So am I!"
A large vidwindow opened in the War Room to reveal the virus Avar. His purple metal skin was contrasted by a pair of yellow eyes having the pupils of a reptile. His nose, or rather snout resembled a gorilla's with a pair of tusk shaped teeth protruding from the corners of his mouth. His black metallic goatee and hair flowed almost seamless into his silky ebony robe. The robe itself had spikes coming from the shoulders to match the look of his ships exterior. He smiled to show the rest of his steel colored, shark jaw teeth.
"How quaint! A female Command.com! And quite lovely at that!"
Dot's face flushed. "State you business."
"I told you. I came to retrieve my property. I want her back."
"Your speaking as if someone here belongs to you."
"Bought and paid for my dear Miss Command.com. And quite legal."
"LEGAL!?!" exploded Mouse finally looking away from her workstation.
Avar acted as if he saw her for the first time. "Oh! Their you are Mouse. It's taken me quite a while to find you. There were rumors around the Net of your deletion. But I figured you were too smart to let that happen. Now you can return to my services."
"I hire myself out tah people for my hackin' skills. Not to be their personal servants!"
"It's in the contract you signed."
"You hid that from me! I won't be part of your little consortium! Contract or no contract!"
"Then I hope you can keep hacking Mouse because eventually I'm going to get in."
"I wrote that hackin' program! Yah don't think I know how tah beat it?!"
"Yes I know you can. But are you going to keep at it every nanosecond for days? I will get in Mouse. And then you won't be the only one to suffer. Is your one life worth the destruction of your friends?"
Bob drew the conversation to himself. "Are you intending to attack this system?!"
"Oh," Avar blinked as if surprised. "A guardian. You don't look like the others."
"I'm not like the others. How I look doesn't matter. Your a virus. Your an enemy."
"You know me don't you? Care to enlighten me about who I am?"
"Your on the guardian wanted list. Your a Class 2 Virus who exploits systems for profit by forcing them to pay you tribute as a bribe to protect them from what you'll do if to them if they don't pay you."
"Usually. But this time I'm willing to overlook your tiny system. Simply give me the Mouse and I'll go away."
"You can't have her!" Ray shouted.
"Ray," Bob warned before saying. "I'm not about to give up one of my people to you for anything."
"Your people." Mouse told me long ago no one owned her. I guess she has changed much the same way you have. Oops! I blew it!" Avar rolled his eyes. "I wasn't suppose to say that. You see... I know who you are!"
"You enlighten me now."
"Guardian 452 named Bob. The guardians want you much more then they want me so the question I ask now, is the safety of your system worth one sprite?"
Bob gave no answer.
"I'm a reasonable virus so I'll give you to the end of the cycle to decide your options and consider the price for my silence. I'm sure you'll start thinking its quite a bargain."
Avar closed the link to show a picture of his ship in Net space beyond the ports of Mainframe. All black and very menacing, it showed no intentions of departing.
Specky told Dot. "The hacking has stopped."
"For now," Dot sighed from the strain on her heart.
She reached for Bob's hand. He took hold of it and whispered. "Don't worry. We'll think of something."
Ray walked down the stairs to Mouse. The hacker tried to find a smile. "Part of my old baggage caught up tah me."
She bit her lip, attempting to keep from doing the thing she hated the most. Crying.
Ray put his arms around her, holding her protectively close to him. "Don't fret love. I'm with ya no matter what."
Frisket whined. Little Enzo looked up at Bob and Dot, both confused and scared.
Bob told Dot. "You better find Matrix and AndrAIa. I'll talk to Mouse. We're going to need one very good plan."
***
Dot located Matrix and AndrAIa in the Arboretum, sitting under the Peace Tree. The Game sprite whipped away tears as Dot came to them and kneeled down.
"What's happened?" Matrix asked her.
"Avar is here to take Mouse."
"Mouse?" AndrAIa brushed away a final tear.
"He has no idea your here. Avar's threatening the system and Bob that if we don't hand Mouse over to him, he'll tell the guardians or destroy Mainframe himself using his ship."
"But we can't let her go! We know what he'll do to her!"
"Do you want to tell me?"
Matrix sighed. "We figured we'd get around to it sooner or later. One of hundreds of stories to tell. And Avar is one of the slimiest..."
"GAME OVER."
The cube pulled out, leaving Matrix, AndrAIa and Frisket stranded in a small system. Its hills were green and peaceful in appearance. Small dwelling dotted the landscape, the largest cluster grouped around a sphere shaped building, the system's Principle Office.
"Another dead end," groaned Matrix. He took Glitch from his belt. "Glitch! System scan!"
AndrAIa noticed a shadow slowly moving over them, as if dark cloud might cover the sun. She looked up. Frisket snarled.
"Enzo-" she began.
"Matrix! Call me Matrix! Remember?"
Annoyed she pointed upward. "We have some company."
A large black ship moved over them. Matrix had Glitch run an analyze and read them to her. "The ship has a core as large as the one in the system! There are no Net ports but the ship is net capable! Cursors! There's a virus on board!"
Matrix looked at AndrAIa when she tapped his shoulder. A dozen metallic sprites were coming towards them. They weren't real sprites but robotic drones shaped to the form. Each had purple metal skin and a full helmeted face showing no opening. The visor flickered in green burst of light as the lead one spoke.
"Hello. Lord Avar sends greetings to your system."
Matrix reached for his gun. The robot trooper put up its hands. "We are not any threat. We are under orders not to attack."
Matrix kept his hand close to his weapon. "Oh really? I know there is a virus on board that ship. I think it means there's a threat."
"Lord Avar only wishes to speak to representatives of the city for trade. Lord Avar will be honored by your presents."
"I don't honor viruses!"
Frisket growled in agreement.
The drone processed the answer. "He is willing to exchange information for any services you require."
"I already told you-"
"Matrix," AndrAIa cut in. "Can we have a nano."
Matrix and AndrAIa stepped further away from the drones. She said. "This can be our chance to get home."
"What?! We're not making any deals with a virus!"
"Who said we were. If we get on board and find out how he got here, maybe we can access a way to the Net. His ship obviously downloaded here. Why can't we upload out the same way?"
"He'll never let us go with him! Not without a price!"
"We simply won't pay it. If it fails, at least we can find out what he's up to."
Matrix heaved a long sigh. "I hope were not getting in over our heads."
"Since when has that not happened."
***
Matrix, AndrAIa and Frisket were escorted to a shuttle craft which flew to the front of the ship. The cargo bay opened like the jaws of a shark admitting its prey and giving Matrix an additional reason to be uneasy. As they walked along the catwalks of the bay, Matrix examined everything he saw using his cyborg eye's unique scanners. He saw through cargo containers. They were full of food, energy, raw materials and some weaponry. The ship itself had a network of air shafts and tubes beneath gradings in the floor. Several small jet fighters served as the ships defenses or perhaps a means of attacking innocent systems. Matrix saw only the drone troopers. No binomes or sprites so far. It seemed the virus used the mechanical creatures as his only means of serving the Net transport.
As the drones lead them to a corridor he asked. "What's the name of this ship?"
"The Tyrant," came the emotionless response.
He glanced at AndrAIa and Frisket. Not a good name.
They walked into hallways decorated in red carpets and marbled flooring, a display a civility for a virus. They approached a large pair of golden doors. The lead trooper knocked. They opened from within. The sprites and there cyberdog walked into a room arrayed in various displayed weapons. They were also a table of different foods and vases of flowers, a feminine touch for a virus. Avar sat on a throne on the far end flanked by guards.
He gestured to them. "Come in! Come in! No need to be shy!"
Frisket kept on growling as the trio crept closer.
"Easy fella," AndrAIa patted the dog's muzzle.
"My! My!" the virus poured on charm. "I never expected to find such loveliness so far off the Net ports. What is your name my dear?"
"I'm AndrAIa. This is Matrix. And Frisket."
Frisket barked.
"An intriguing creature. Very protective."
"Frisket always is."
"I was referring to the green fellow."
Matrix sneered. "I'm only here because AndrAIa wanted to see you."
"Really? This is good."
AndrAIa spoke. "We're travelers new to this place the same way you are. We hoped to get access to leave the system."
"You came here by ship?"
"No we travel in a more crude fashion. It's called game hopping."
"My way is a bit crude as well. Tear and portal generators but low speed code feeds for the program. The person I hired to install the equipment never finished the job properly. A pure violation of her contract but I have been looking for some new help. Would you be interested?"
"Maybe."
"Your different then other sprites."
"I'm a game sprite."
"Oh yes you said something about game hopping. Care to explain?"
Matrix began. "Well we-"
"I was talking to the young lady!" Avar corrected. "I'm sure she can tell me!"
Matrix snorted and crossed his arms. He only half listened to AndrAIa speaking about their unusual travel method. As he glanced around the room, he switched his cyborg eye over to see through the row of curtains behind the virus.
"How very sad," Avar turned up the pity. "Lost and so far from your home. If you tell me where your from I'm sure I can-"
Matrix shouted. "Gun! Command line! Multiple target acquisition!"
A red targeting sensor locked onto every drone in the room. Avar rolled his eyes to stare at the one attached to his forehead. AndrAIa automatically unfolded her trident and Frisket barked.
"This is a fine way to treat your host!" Avar complained. "My troopers can shoot you right where you are!"
"And if I pull this trigger you'll be the first one deleted!"
AndrAIa said in an annoyed state. "Matrix! Why?"
"Check through those curtains and see! And find out if the ladies care to leave!"
AndrAIa approached the curtains and used her trident to peel them to one side. Three harem girls screamed and ran to hide. A fourth, an auburn haired sprite having bright golden eyes and ivory colored skin, grabbed for a whip on the wall.
"Get out of here!" she warned.
AndrAIa was shocked. "But you can't stay! You don't belong to him!"
"Leave!" the sprite unraveled the whip and looked ready to use it.
AndrAIa gave up and backed out of the harem. She returned to Matrix's side. Frisket had taken several steps closer, ready to leap at the virus if he needed.
"There not coming," she said.
"My girls are trained very well my dear AndrAIa," Avar boasted. "So will you be!"
Angry, AndrAIa told Frisket. "Get the doors boy! We're leaving!"
Frisket charged to doors at the end of the room. The guards were smart enough to move out of the way. The cyberdog knocked the golden doors off their hinges. Matrix kept his trigger ready as he and AndrAIa backed out of the room.
"You won't escape from me!" Avar called.
"Watch us!" Matrix retorted.
***
Matrix, AndrAIa and Frisket ran down the hallway. Avar's troops pursued them. Matrix pulled the trigger on Gun. Personality chips or no he had to protect AndrAIa. Matrix heard the screams of deleting drones but nothing from Avar, who he hoped got his from the volley of tracer beams.
"Matrix! Over here!" AndrAIa led him to an escape pod they passed earlier, obviously close to Avar's quarters to aid in an emergency escape. This was certainly one of them. "Let's get in!"
Matrix forced open the hatch. "I hope you know how to work this thing."
"I'd better or this will be a short escape attempt," AndrAIa admitted.
The trio climbed in. AndrAIa quickly scanned the controls as Matrix closed the hatch. A button on the console simply said launch. She pressed it. The pod unlatched from the ship and fell away, activating a set of engines at the same time. It descended towards the system below.
AndrAIa steered the pod towards a landing. "I'm surprised they didn't fire on us."
"Avar wants us alive. Or at least you alive."
"Enzo. I'm sorry. I never should have talked you into this."
"I wanted to go home more then you. I figured it was worth a try. We were wrong."
The pod landed on the ground. Matrix quickly pushed open the hatch and they climbed out as two of Avar's fight jets flew towards them. They started firing. Matrix shot at them in return. AndrAIa and Frisket ran ahead of him as they searched for anyplace to hide. Then the sky rumbled and they heard a familiar announcement.
"WARNING! INCOMING GAME!"
"Run for it!" Matrix urge them on, still returning fire. He hit one jet, sending it spiraling away.
The cube headed for a landing only a few bits from their position. They had to get inside. The second plane was circling to the front, trying to cut them off. Matrix stopped and locked on a target. He pulled the trigger, blowing the jet to pieces. Shrapnel rained down around him. Matrix felt a large chuck hit him on the back. He fell to the ground and past out.
***
Matrix woke disorientated and fearing the worse. What if he were trapped in the system and AndrAIa was now in Avar's possession? But when he lifted his head he saw he was in the interior of a log cabin, definitely something Avar didn't have on board his ship. Matrix saw his chest wrapped in white bandages and felt dull pain in his back and head. A wolf dog laying beside him licked his face. Matrix saw the eye's of Frisket under the gray and white fur. He barked hello.
AndrAIa, now dressed in a frontier gown, sat down beside him.
"Hello lover," she smiled.
"What happened?"
"Your got hit by shrapnel. The cuts were deep but you'll be fine. As soon as your strong enough we can play the game and get out," a tear slipped from one of her eyes. "Enzo, I'm-"
"It's alright. Forget Avar."
Frisket whined and put his head on Matrix's stomach. AndrAIa curled up beside them. He drew her close and they all when to sleep, worn out from this piece of the journey. At least in their dreams they could go home...
"We stayed in the game until I recovered enough to beat the User."
Dot's thoughts returned to Avar. "Now I understand why Avar studied me so closely. He looked at me like he were examining a piece of merchandise."
"I hated leaving the other girls behind," AndrAIa regretted. "I don't want to know how he got them and what he uses them for."
Matrix burned. "If he finds out about AndrAIa he'll try taking her too. I'll delete before I let it happen!"
"Enzo please!" AndrAIa rebuked his words. "I don't want this to happen to Mouse either!"
"We won't," Dot got up. "Mainframers stick together. And Mouse is one of them now."
Matirx said. "Avar will use whatever he can to get what he wants from us."
"Even the guardians."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll explain on the way to the War Room."
Mouse talked quietly to Bob, Ray and Phong. All the while Ray kept his arm around Mouse's waist, not wanting to let go.
"I could see it in Matrix and AndrAIa's eyes," Mouse explained. "They ran inta Avar somewhere on the Net during their game hoppin'. Avar took a shinin' tah AndrAIa and tried tah capture her."
Little Enzo piped up. "But Matrix and AndrAIa never found a system with ports to the Net until they meet Ray and the pirates in Bauddad."
"Avar's ship don't need Net ports sweetie. It has a tear generator as well as a portal generator. And with the program I wrote for him, he can pretty much surf anywhere he wants."
"And portless systems are far easier to exploit then Net based ones," noted Bob.
"He paid me tah put the equipment online. My second worse mistake."
"Only second?" Ray said.
"The first was the deal I cut with the guardians tah suspend my sentence. That got me the wonderful job of comin' here tah to hunt a Web creature loaded with a detonator tah destroy Mainframe!"
Bob spoke. "I'm more concerned about your future then your past Mouse."
"My past is what's ruinin' yar future honey! If I'd know this I'd deleted Avar instead of simply escapin' from him!"
"No person, no matter their past deserves to be enslaved by a virus."
"The thought of what he wanted tah do tah me makes my skin jag," she rubbed her forearms as if trying to rub away a chill.
"Mouse. He didn't...didn't hurt ya..?" She seemed to avoid looking at Ray. He prodded her. "He did hurt ya?!"
"He's got an electron power whip. I've got my katanas. He got in one good lick. So did I. But it looks like he got his arm reattached. And I still have my pride," she rubbed her side remembering the pain.
Ray suddenly drew her close and held her tight. "I'm not lettin' him take ya."
"You can't protect me Ray."
"I can!"
"We can!' stated Bob. "All we need is a plan."
"Your not Dot, Bob," Mouse said gently removing herself from Ray's embrace.
"But Mouse-"
"Get real Bob! Mainframe and yar own bitmap are more important then me! Yah know that! I won't let yah watch this system slowly die the way I watched it with Dot! I won't see yah be taken away from Dot after yah fought so hard tah come home! Inside yah know I'm right."
Bob turned away and leaned against the map of Mainframe, squinting his eyes shut from the anguish. "Your right. I don't care about my own life but my protocol is to protect the majority. At all costs."
Phong summarized the statement by saying. "The needs of the many, out way the needs of the few."
"Or the one," Mouse tacked on.
Dot led Matrix and AndrAIa into the room and towards their friends.
"Bob!" Matrix addressed the visibly disturbed guardian. "Dot told me what Avar said. Do you think he'll tell the guardians?"
Bob stepped away from the map and gave the hologram of the Tyrant an angry look. "At this point, anything is possible. We have more to loose then he does."
"If I'd know this I'd deleted Avar when I had him!"
"My regrets exactly," Mouse said. "We can't chance him findin' out yar here. I have tah leave."
"No Mouse," Dot assured her, " We can make a stand against him."
"Sugah I've gottah go! Yah have tah look at the bigger picture! Mainframe's not goin' tah be the first system he's fire fought with! His ship is heavily armed."
Matrix agreed. "He has a small fleet of fighter jets, scores of drone soldiers and a lot of weapons turrets and missiles. We'd have to take him out fast or suffer severe damage and casualties."
"We'll be fightin' Megabyte all over again. And huntin' the people."
Phong added. "If he attacks the Principle Office and disables our shield he can destroy the entire system. Or try to over runs us."
"If he does that," Mouse put in. "he'll start takin' anythin' he can get his slimy claws on. And I won't be the only one he'll add to his harem."
Dot swallowed, thinking yet again about how Avar stared at her. AndrAIa held tight to Matrix's hand. The Command.com started to make another protest. "But Mouse. We have to..."
Bob slowly said. "Dot...She's right."
Everyone looked at Bob. He wanted to be the last one to be against Mouse departing but his protocol cried out for him to yield to the greater good of Mainframe, no matter how the rawness of the wound inflicted. Matrix wanted to launch his own argument but it died among the images of the near dead Mainframe and the loss of so many lives. Bob stared at the floor a long time. Dot reached for him.
As he grasped her hand he whispered. "No more war. At any cost."
Dot finally nodded.
Mouse tried to sound cheerful. "Well now that its decided I'd better pack my bags and get ship out of dry dock. If I get a good head start-"
"We get a head start love," Ray corrected.
"Ray. I can't-"
"Save it Mouse. I hitched the wagon ta ya. I'm takin' the baggage too. Ya don't go findin' someone ya clock speed and then let them go on alone. Remember? I said yes." Ray saw the gloomy faces on his friends. "I think we'd better cheer this lot up before we go. Want ta tell them the good news?"
Mouse smiled and turned to the others. "I sort of asked Ray tah marry me."
If the group weren't already silent they might have been shocked into it by her words.
"I was crazy enough ta say yes," Ray joked. "Though now it looks like I'm in worse trouble then I was before."
More silence.
"Isn't anybody goin' ta say something?"
Bob burst out laughing. It wasn't a mocking or mean laugh even if it appeared to be. He only found the joy out of hearing the admission overwhelming.
"It finally happened! You met somebody who made you go completely random!" Bob came to Mouse smiling wider then she ever remembered. "And I can't be happier for you!"
Bob gave her a hug to congratulate her as she replied. "Just as happy as I am for you."
The others gathered around the couple to wish them the best in spite of the circumstances they were to face.
Dot's voice trembled as she hugged Mouse. "Now I really wish you wouldn't go. I'd love to see you two get married."
"Well..." Mouse gave Ray a coy look. "Avar gave us tah the end of the cycle tah give up."
Ray shrugged. "Why not?"
Phong offered. "I know just the place my children..."
The sprites gathered once more in the Arboretum. Hexadecimal, Hack and Slash, Captain Capacitor and the crew of the late Saucy Mare were summoned to join in the very sudden wedding festivity and serve as additional witnesses to Mouse and Ray's union.
Phong positioned the would be groom under the Peace Tree to await his bride. Matrix stood beside him, playing the roll of best man. AndrAIa had to smile. She remembered the stories the captain told her about how Matrix wanted more then one to erase poor Ray. They had all come so far from mistrust to friends.
The captain walked up to Ray and Matrix. "Congratulations lad! I wouldn't have missed this for all the booty I could trade in a hour."
"Well it was a bit of a last nano thing," Ray thumbed to Matrix. "Look at who has ta be my best man."
"I figured if he got cool feet," joked Matrix, "I could keep him from getting away."
Capacitor held out something to Ray. "The lads and I wanted ye to give this to your lass."
He put a small beaten band of gold in the search engine's hand. Ray figured it once had been an earring one of the crew sacrificed for chance to turn it into a make shift wedding ring.
Ray protested. "Captain. I can't take-"
"It's payment for bein' our guide in the Web. Without ye we never would have found Bob. Ye givin' Mouse somethin' she never had before. Besides ye need a weddin' gift. This be it!"
"Thank you captain."
"I'll hold it," Matrix said. "It's tradition."
"Guys! There ready!" AndrAIa interrupted.
The crowd of on lookers hustled to one side. Mike started to preform the wedding march, sounding like a concert piano. Dot walked towards them carrying a small bunch of flowers, playing the roll of maid of honor for her friend. She still had tears in her eyes, a mix of heartache and joy on her face. Bob and Mouse followed her. The hackers battle outfit now was silver and white and she carried a bouquet of prism blooms who's crystal petals glowed as brightly as her hair. It was Bob who insisted on giving Mouse away, much to her flattery at the gesture. He figured since Mouse surrendered Bob to Dot's love, he might return the gesture by placing her in the care of Ray, the sprite who truly became her perfect match. Bob gave Mouse's hand to Ray and winked to him. Ray grinned as Bob stepped away to stand beside Dot.
Phong cleared his throat before beginning the ceremony. Bob half listened and half saw his friends as his mind drifting to Dot and he daydreamed about their future. When Phong recited the vows for Ray, Bob caught himself whispering, "I do."
He worried someone heard him. Only one person had. Dot gazed at him, her eyes moist and emotional. As Phong spoke the vows to Mouse, Dot also said softly, "I do."
Ray gave Mouse the ring, which by some small miracle, fit perfectly. Phong told Ray to kiss his bride. The spectators cheered, but it quickly turned to silence. Curious to what was wrong, Ray and Mouse stopped, and looked at Bob and Dot, who were locked in a very passionate kiss of their own. It took a moment for Bob and Dot to realize their logic error and let each other go. Embarrassed, the duo only sheepishly grinned to their friends.
Phong broke the silence. "Uh...children? Did I marry you also?"
Bob and Dot tripped over each other to speak.
"We were...um...practicing?" Dot figured.
"Yeah! That's all!" Bob agreed.
We...sort of...got caught up in the moment."
"Yeah! In the moment!"
"We're not really married..."
Bob and Dot exchanged a glance before asking Phong. "Are we?"
"Well the vows were directed at Ray and Mouse but if you want me to start over again-"
"NO!" they said.
Everyone looked shocked and disappointed.
"We mean," Dot corrected, "we don't have time. The cycle's nearly over."
"She's right," Bob said. "We have to program Mouse's flight pattern while there's still plenty of time."
The newlyweds followed Bob out of the Arboretum.
Little Enzo weaved his way through the chattering group of sprites and binomes to ask Phong. "Are you sure that don't count?"
The old sprite confessed. "If Bob and Dot meant it, then it's real. But I think they want to do it over and forget their error for now. You best do the same."
Little Enzo smiled. "I'll try Phong."
***
Bob, Mouse and Ray were in the cockpit of Ship. Mouse sat at her pilot position, now rebooted in her normal armor's colors. The guardian helped her lay in her flight pattern relative to the current position of the Tyrant.
"I'll open Alpha port enough for you to slip through and seal it behind you. Alpha will put you right next to the Tyrant, close enough for you to see each other."
Mouse said. "And for me tah wave goodbye, give him a cuttin' remark and hopefully get him tah chase me."
"Don't hold back too long Mouse. If he tries to lock weapons onto you-"
"He wants me alive sugah. He won't take the chance of damagin' his trophy. He's on a hunt. I'm the prey. I'm hopin' this will keep him busy enough tah leave you and Mainframe alone," Mouse got up from her seat.
"Mouse," Bob said, "I'd better say my goodbye now."
"No goodbye. Only good journey."
"I wish there were something I could do. I don't want you to leave."
"I want yah tah protect Mainframe honey. And take care of Dot."
Bob put his arms around Mouse to