A Guardian's Past
By Julia Cat
Note: This story takes place before season 1, and was written back before season 3.
Part 1 - Preparations
"Dad, can I go play with Mouse today? Please?" asked a hopeful Bob.
"Sure you can, son. Just remember to tell her that you're going away soon," Corel reminded his son.
"I will."
Corel was a Guardian who wanted the best for his son, Bob, and so was sending him to the Guardian Academy in a second. Unfortunately for Bob, he would have to leave Mouse, his best friend, to go to study at the Supercomputer.
Bob had lost his mother, Pentium, soon after his sister, Pixel, was initiated. His mother had become very sick and she had been deleted soon after. Her deletion had taken a huge toll on Corel, and he was never the same fun-loving guy he once was.
Bob bore an uncanny resemblance to his father, with the same light blue skin, chrome hair, and brown eyes. Pixel, however, was a mixture of both Pentium and Corel with violet/blue skin, very dark brown hair with silver streaks, and brown eyes. Pix was only one hour old, though, and she was just learning to talk.
Corel had vowed to Pentium before she was deleted that he'd make sure that both their kids would get Guardian training, one way or another. Pixel would have to be trained at home, unofficially. He wanted her to learn at a young age, which was one thing she couldn't do at the Academy. Girls weren't allowed to enter the Academy before the age of twenty hours. That was one of the many rather pointless rules made up by the current Prime Guardian.
Bob, however, was allowed to go at his age. He had already packed his bags for his long stay at the Supercomputer.
* * *
"Y'are leavin' for th' Supercomputer? Why?" Mouse asked, shocked.
"My dad wants me to become a Guardian," Bob explained gently. "I don't want to leave either, but I feel like I owe it to him."
"But ya're mah best friend! Ah'll miss ya so much!"
"I'm sure we'll see each other again someday." Bob then pulled something from his pocket and presented it to Mouse. She opened it slowly, tearing the shiny paper with all the sadness in her heart. Inside the small box, was a gold ring with a flat top. On this top was a carving of a mouse. "Keep this to remember me by." He smiled. "I know you'll like this. There are a few added gadgets to this thing. It has the ability to hold someone in stasis," he added with emphasis, waiting to see her reaction.
It was Mouse's turn to smile. "Stasis, huh? Thanks, Bob. Ah'll never forget this moment, or you." She reached over and hugged him tightly. He returned the embrace.
"I promise you, Mouse, I will see you again; someday."
* * *
Bob walked home very slowly that night. He needed some time to think about what he would soon undergo. A tear rolled unchecked down his left cheek as he thought of leaving Mouse. She was his best friend! How could he leave her like this? I can't believe I accepted Dad's offer. What was I thinking? I can't leave Mouse like this! I can't!
By the time Bob opened the door to his house, he was crying openly. He didn't care if his dad saw him cry; he was too upset to care.
"Bob? What's wrong?" Corel asked, concern deeply etched into his features.
"I don't want to go to the Guardian Academy! I want to see Pixel grow up! I don't want to leave anyone. I'll miss Mouse too much," Bob exploded, sobs racking his body.
"Bob, you're suffering the same thing I did when I left for the Academy. It isn't that bad; you'll have fun! The training you will undergo is mostly games training and Protocol. You're a natural-initiated leader. You'll be a great Guardian."
"I never said I wasn't going to go, I just said that I'll be too homesick! I am going. I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow."
"I can. I know you'll make me proud. Now go to bed; it's late."
Bob turned to walk away. "Dad?" he asked, turning back to face Corel.
"Yeah, son?"
"I love you."
"I love you too. I want the best for you. You'll make a first-rate Guardian. Now go to bed. You have a busy second ahead of you.
* * *
The next morning, Bob was up before the sun, getting all his bags ready for the long data-plane ride to the Supercomputer. He ate his breakfast in record-breaking time, wolfing down his beta-bits and serial-toast.
"I see you're feeling better this morning," Corel remarked with a smile as he watched his son wolf down the food.
"I'm not feeling better. I'm just really nervous."
As Bob was about to go out the door, he heard a sound from behind him: "Ba, ba, Bob."
Bob whirled around to see Pixel smiling and waving at him. "She said my name!"
"You should be honored! You're her first real word!"
Bob picked Pix up and hugged her. "Light," she said, pointing to the reflection of the sun on his hair. Bob hugged her even harder. He kissed the gurgling baby's cheek lightly.
"Bye Pixel," he said, smiling to himself at the irony of this situation. Last night he had wished he would hear Pix's first word and it had come true! He put her back into her high chair, said good-bye to his dad, and headed out the door for the data-airport.
