"Legacy"
Part 6
"Duck!"
The ground shook as an explosion rocked the complex, and Andraia shook dust and grit out of her hair as half the wall caved in.
"Matrix! We've got to get out of here! The User's right across the way!" She turned and shot another time-release grenade through the window as Matrix scouted out the hallway.
"Andraia - over here! I've found a tunnel that goes to the User's base... but it's all under water! I can hold him here if-"
"Great, I'll go through and take his flag... then we can end this thing!" Matrix switched positions with Andraia, and he pointed his much heavier guns out the window and started firing at the User. Andraia slipped out the doorway and made her way to the tunnel. In barely a nano she had made it to the enemy base, her scout game-format allowing her to outrun the User's allies. Her weapons were next to useless, but her speed was her greatest asset in this game. She saw the User's flag in front of her even as she felt the building rock from the explosions above. 'Matrix sure knows how to handle the heavy weapons...' She touched the User's flag and heard the magic words "Game Over" rumble through the cube. When it had lifted, she saw Matrix not too far away and ran to meet him.
"I hope that's the last time we see that game. Nothing but the same one, played over and over and *over*! Gah.. I *hate* Quake!" Matrix grumbled. Andraia laughed as she turned to look at the new system they were in.
"Hmm.. this looks like a nice place..." Andraia smiled as she took in their surroundings. "It's pretty... looks like a place I could call home."
It had been 2 months Game-time since they had left Mainframe.
Sprites and binomes cheered as Bob slipped the ring onto Dot's finger, and they yelled even louder as the couple kissed. Turbo had come from the SuperComputer for the marriage ceremony, and he stood next to Mouse and Ray who were watching the crowd. The two wanderers had also returned when they had heard of the impending wedding of the Net's savior.
"So, uh, Mouse... no hard feelings?" Turbo smiled sheepishly at the mercenary. Mouse arched an elegant eyebrow at him.
"Give me one good reason why I should forgive you Turbo.. and don't give me that 'I was infected at the time' spam." Ray looked from Mouse to Turbo and back again, then smiled. He knew Mouse pretty well by this time, and he could tell she was trying to get something from the Guardian. The only questions was, what.
Turbo sighed and shook his head. "I don't know... Maybe you should ask Matrix, he might be able to tell you his reasons."
"WHAT??" Both Mouse and Ray practically pounced on Turbo. "You've heard from Matrix?" Mouse asked breathlessly, "Where is he?"
"You mean... you didn't know?" Turbo watched as Bob and Dot walked over to them, grinning like fools. "Dot, is it true you don't know where your brother is?"
The new couple froze in shock, then Dot practically lunged forwards. "Where is he? Do you know? Are they all right? When-"
Turbo put up his hands trying to fend her off. "Whoa there... all I know is that I've been getting reports from hundreds of systems across the Net about a non-conforming Guardian and an aquatic Sprite who come and go with the Games. I thought you had known or I would've sent word minutes ago. I wasn't really sure at first, but taking into account how they'd look as they age... it has to be them. I'm warning you though, from the reports, they've aged quite a bit."
"WHAT?" All four sprites stared at the Prime Guardian.
"Game time is faster than-"
"Yes, we know that..." Dot interrupted. ""How old are they? How long has it been for them?"
Turbo took a deep breath before replying. "It looks.. like they're older then Bob now." He looked from Dot to Bob. "It's been a while for them. Quite a while..."
The young couple walked the quiet paths of a city park as the system switched from day to night; they strolled beside a small lake, and settled on a bench overlooking the water. Three months of Game travel had let them see a lot more systems, but every one was still unique. This one was especially beautiful. Even here, in an empty park, the sounds of this system's largest festival could be heard. Fireworks were being set off over the Principle Office, lighting the night sky with explosions of color as the shift to night proclaimed the beginning of the party. Andraia shifted in Matrix's arms, sighing contentedly as they watched the display.
"Andraia?"
"Hmm?"
"I don't know what I'd do without you..."
"Oh, you'd get by. Somehow..."
Matrix shook his head. "I don't think so. I love you too much. Do you know that I can't remember a time when we weren't together? I've spent more then half of my life with you, and one thing that life has taught me is that I'd have been deleted a long time ago without you to watch over me."
Andraia giggled. "You make me sound like a nurse or something. 'Watch over you'..."
He shook his head again, more forcefully this time. "I mean it Andraia. Without you to balance me, I'm nothing. I know you'll always be there to back me up, just as I know you'll never hesitate to tell me when I'm wrong. I never want to have to do without you."
She blinked up at the serious look on his face, then pulled herself off his lap and sat beside him. There was something he was trying to tell her...
He took a deep breath and reached into a compartment on his shoulder belt. He took something small and glittering out and held it in his hand, "I found this when the User ReBooted the system, it'd been lost in Megabyte's attack." He held out a small amethyst pendant hanging from a black velvet choker. "It was my mother's. I can remember, back when I was very small, that I had loved to play with it. When she was nullified in a Game, both dad and Dot said I should keep it, and that she would have wanted me to have it. I've always kept it safe, I had figured that there might one day be another woman I'd want to see wearing it."
Andraia looked at the pendant, in awe at its beauty; it seemed to catch every sparkling of color in the sky and reflect them back at her. She tore her eyes away and gazed up at Matrix; he was watching her every move nervously. She caught her breath as his words sank in, and she realized just what it was that had him so nervous. He licked his lips and took a deep breath.
"Andraia... will you marry me? I don't want to imagine being without you, and I want you to know that I'll never leave you."
She looked at the pendant again, noticing it was shaking, and she realized that Matrix was trembling slightly.
"Matrix?"
"Yes?" Even his voice was shaking. She shook her head, smiling.
"Yes."