Null and Void

by GuardianEnzo

In the sequel to "Abort, Retry, Fail", past, present and future come together as Enzo and Matrix share a frightening vision.

4. Chapter IV

NULL AND VOID

PART IV

"I still can't believe we're doing this!" Dot sighed. "We're putting the future of Mainframe on this plan, Bob - and Hexadecimal thought of it! Do you know what that means?"

"More like the future of the entire _net_." Bob smiled grimly. It was all making me feel very scared. It was weird, but I kept hoping a game cube would drop. I knew we didn't have the time, but I just wanted something I could get my processor around - something simple. Just me and Bob and the game. No plans or sacrifices or viruses...

"Well, _that_ makes me feel better." Dot grumbled, poking Bob in the ribs. Even now, they were still Bob and Dot. Some part of me still believed that as long as they were here, nothing really bad could happen.

"How are the preparations progressing, My Children?" Phong asked, whirring into the room.

"Well enough, Phong." Bob said. "It should be a simple enough matter to route essential system control to the field command center. Isolating the core, though - that's going to be a tall order. I wish we had some expert help with this..."

"What if we rigged it - set it up so we could take it offline right before we trigger the trap?" I blurted out. "Would that shield the core energy from the explosion?" I thought it was probably a dumb idea, but I was feeling pretty useless.

"Actually, that's a very good idea, Enzo." Dot smiled. "That was our first thought - but we haven't been able to figure out how we're going to isolate the core controls. If we lose those, the core itself is useless."

"And Hex is no help there." Bob added. "Not exactly her area of expertise. Megabyte was always the mechanically inclined one..."

"We stand to lose so much, Young Ones - even if we succeed." Phong said softly. "So much that we fought so long and hard to regain..."

"I know, Old Friend." Bob sighed. "But Hex is right - there's no way to stop Daemon, now - her influence is too widespread. I guess I've known it all along - I just never wanted to admit it to myself. The only way we can help all those who've been converted is to destroy her. We're doing it for the net."

"Tell me again just how this is gonna work, exactly." I frowned. The whole thing still sounded pretty basic to me.

"It is simple, Young Guardian. Hex will download a low-level virus - think of it as a vaccine, yes? - into the central computer. The virus will mimic the structure of Daemon's infection. Only essential functions will be isolated - the rest will be under control of the virus. The city itself will be under it's command. It will appear to her as if it has been safely secured, and her attack force will send messages to that effect."

"And Daemon will come here to survey her conquered territory." Bob added. "The whole city will be under viral control. She'll feel secure. That's when we spring the trap."

"In theory." Dot grumbled. "It's a good theory. I don't like theories - I like facts. And we're going to be risking the lives of everyone in Mainframe on a theory."

"It's our only chance." Bob sighed. "If we destroy Daemon, we free all of those under her control. Hopefully."

"Or they might just all die." Dot whispered.

"No!" I gasped. "It'll work - it has to work..."

There was a crackle of static from the main console. A vidwindow opened, but there was so much interference that it was impossible to see what was on the other side. "Come in, Principal Office! Come in..." a voice said through a haze of static.

"This is the Principal Office!" Phong barked. "State your name and function at once or face deletion!"

"A girl goes away for a few nanos and everything goes to hell!" the voice said. My jaw dropped.

"Mouse?" Dot exclaimed.

"It's me, Sugar!" We still couldn't see her through the interference, but it was definitely her voice. "Lower your shields - we're gonna be on top of ya in a few nanos! And we brought a friend..."

"A - friend?" I gasped.

"She could be infected." Bob said softly. "It could be a trick, you know."

"There is still no indication that the full attack force has arrived." Phong mused, studying the console. "We could risk lowering the shields for a few nanos..."

"If it really _is_ Mouse - she could hack through the shields anyway." Dot said. "Even if she were infected, she'd still have Mouse's skills."

"It's Mouse!" I said firmly. "That's her - I'm sure of it!"

"Lower the shields." Bob sighed. "We'll just have to risk it..." Dot reached for the controls and lowered the shields.

'Thanks, Honey!" Mouse's voice said. "I'm in! I'm gonna head for bay seven, you copy that?"

"Copy." Bob answered. "Raise the shields."

"Let's go, then!" Dot sighed. She smiled at me and patted my shoulder, and took off at a run towards bay seven, the rest of us close behind her. Well, except for Phong, who really can't move very fast. I knew how he felt - it was nice, finally having legs long enough to almost keep up with Bob and Dot.

We got there just as Ship was coasting inside. We all gathered around and waited as the ship hovered, then touched down. Dot was wearing her gun, I noticed. And Bob had Copeland, of course. But it was still scary - what if she was infected? Would either of them have the stomach to nullify Mouse? When I thought about it, I knew they would, if they had to. And that was almost scarier. I wondered if _I_ would.

The door opened and Mouse stepped out, Ray immediately behind her. They looked a little ragged and tired, but it was definitely them. No doubt about it - no trace of infection. I think I grinned like a little kid, but I'm not sure. I heard Phong roll into the room. "Mouse." Bob smiled. "Nice of you to drop in."

"Looks like my timing was pretty good, Honey." she smiled wearily. She raised an eyebrow when she saw my uniform.

"Mouse! Ray!" Dot laughed, running up and hugging them. "It's good to have you home, Mouse. We could really use your help."

"We picked up a little something along the way." Ray smiled, and another figure stepped off Ship behind them. I caught a glimpse of long blue-green hair, and golden skin.

"AndrAIa!' I shouted. Parts of the next few nanos are a little blurry. I remember running up to Ship, blowing past Mouse and throwing my arms around Andri. I think I might've almost knocked her over. I remember how it felt like the perfect nano, seeing her again when I thought I never would. Like a gift. I remember hugging her as tight as I could and just saying her name, over and over. Just loving how she felt, and smelled, and how she sounded when she laughed.

And I remember that she was definitely laughing, kind of a warm sound like a data stream flowing. I remember her smoothing the hair on my head and I remember her patting my back. "Hi, Enzo. I told you I'd come back, didn't I?" she whispered. "Shhh. It's all right..."

"I missed you!" I said, and I remember hoping that I wasn't crying.

"I missed you too, Love." she smiled at me. "You've grown so much I hardly recognize you! And you're a Guardian now! Congratulations!"

"Oh! Yeah! I'm a cadet!" I was blushing, I'm sure. Everything that was going on, and dumb little Enzo was excited that AndrAIa saw him in his uniform.

Dot and Bob walked over, and Dot put an arm around me and AndrAIa. She was smiling, but I remember thinking that she looked sad, and I couldn't figure out why. "AndrAIa, thank the User you're all right. We've missed you around here. But-"

Then it hit me, like a ton of data. How could I have been so stupid? "Matrix! Where's Matrix?" I cried.

"We lost him." Mouse said softly. I heard Bob swear, and all of a sudden I couldn't breathe. Somehow, Dot and I found each other and just kind of held on. They'd lost him?

"Enzo?" Dot said softly, tapping on the door to the boy's room. "Mind if I come in?"

"Sure." the youngster answered. The Command.Com entered to find her brother lying back with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

"What're you up to?" she smiled. "You went to bed without me having to force you!"

"Just thinking." Enzo answered softly, sitting up and sliding over to give his sister room.

"Thinking about what? I wish you'd tell me what's wrong, Enzo. It's obvious that something's bothering you-"

"It no big file. I'm cool."

"Not going to wear your medals to bed tonight?" she asked softly.

"Naw - it's silly." he sighed. "Besides - they're Bob's medals - not mine."

"He gave them to you, though. Because you earned them. By working hard. Enzo... you aren't still upset about that dream the other night, are you? It's just you and me now..."

"Nah."

"What was it about?" Dot prodded gently. "Maybe if you talked about it, it would help you feel better. You think?"

"I told you - it's no big file."

"Was that what you talked to Matrix about?"

Enzo was amazed, yet again, by how little he could hide from his sister. "Yeah... Sorta."

"Enzo, Enzo..." Dot sighed, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. The boy winced noticeably. "Enzo, what's the matter?"

"Nothing." he mumbled, looking away. "I'm fine."

"Come here." she commanded, turning his head to face her. "Let me see your arm."

"No! I told you, I'm fine-"

"Enzo!" she gasped, rolling up the sleeve of his pajama top. "What's wrong - how did you hurt this? This is a nasty bruise!"

"It's nothing..."

She repeated the process on the boy's right sleeve. "On this shoulder too! What happened? Tell me, Young Man!"

"I dunno. I musta fell down at school or something..." the boy said weakly.

"Were you fighting, Enzo? Hmmm. These look like-"

"Yeah - I was fighting. I'm really sorry, Dot. I'll never do it again, I promise! Can I go to sleep now?"

"Tell me the truth, Enzo." Dot said firmly. "Someone hurt you, didn't they? Who was it? Did it happen in a game?"

"Aw, Dot!" Enzo squirmed. "It's no big file, I promise. It doesn't even hurt! Can't we just forget about it?"

"Not likely!" She took the youngster's face in her hands. "Enzo, someone hurt you and I want to know who! If it happened in a game, why didn't Bob protect you? I'll just ask him tomorrow if you don't tell me-"

"It wasn't in a game!"

"Well - what then? That's even worse! Was it someone at school? Was it a teacher? I'd better go down there next cycle-"

"It was Matrix." the boy said softly.

"What?" Dot gasped. "Matrix? How? Why?"

"It's not his fault! I did something, made him mad. It was my fault-"

"Enzo, are you telling me that Matrix hurt you? He did that to you?"

"Yeah... But-"

"Oh, Sweetie!" Dot hugged the youngster to her. "How did it happen? Tell me this nano!"

"Look... It was all my fault, okay? He didn't mean to do it, I just - I dunno. I got him mad, and he grabbed me, and he doesn't know how strong he is-"

"There's no excuse for that!" Dot fumed. "No excuse! I can't even believe it - how could he do that to his own brother? You're not even half his size!"

"Dot, please! Don't say anything, I'm fine." the boy pleaded.

"Don't say anything?" Dot replied, flabbergasted. "How could I not say anything?"

"Because I'm asking you!" Enzo begged. "He didn't even know he was doing it, that's all. He doesn't know how strong he is - he thought he was just talking to me. Only I got him mad, and he just kinda grabbed me..."

"What did you do to make him mad?" Dot prodded. "What could make him so mad that he'd hurt you like that?"

"I can't tell you." Enzo said softly.

"Can't tell me? Enzo, you don't expect me to accept that answer? That just won't cut it, Mister! I'm supposed to be looking out for you - protecting you. Remember?"

"I know..." Enzo whined. "It's just - it's kinda between Matrix and me. It's special. I know it's basic, but I don't want anyone else to know about it. Lemme deal with it myself, OK? Between him an' me."

"Enzo... What you're asking me-"

"Please?" he whispered. "It's important. He didn't mean it, I promise. Just lemme deal with it myself, OK? I'm big enough to take care of myself now..."

"Oh, Baby!" Dot sighed, hugging him again. She kissed the boy on top of the head. "Why do you do this to me? Why do you drive me offline?"

"I can't help it, I guess. Just trust me, OK?"

"Oh, Enzo..."

"And don't be mad at Matrix, Dot. It's not his fault. He does his best. He can't help being a null, sometimes."

"Enzo..." she sighed again. "This is really that important to you?"

"Yeah - totally!"

"All right... But I'm keeping a close eye on both of you, you hear me? And if anything like this happens again-"

"It won't. I promise!" Enzo answered earnestly. "Thanks, Dot. And don't be mad at Matrix, OK? He didn't mean anything."

"Oh, I'm sure he didn't, Honey." Dot chuckled bitterly. "We'll get a med-gun for you tomorrow, all right? And if anything like this happens again-"

"It won't!"

"All right, then..." The Command.Com started down at her brother's face, shaking her head. With a weary smile, she kissed him on the nose. "Get some sleep. And try not to worry about that bad dream, OK? Dreams can't hurt you, right?"

"Right." he smiled, lying back in bed. "Thanks, Dot. Night."

"Good night." Still shaking her head, she deleted the light and left the boy alone with his thoughts. She slowly walked back to her own room, shaking her head. Matrix - hurt Enzo? She wouldn't have thought it was possible.

With a weary sigh, she sat back on her bed and picked up her organizer. "Bob? Bob, you still awake?"

"Hi, Dot." the Guardian grinned. "What's processing?"

"Are you alone?"

"Alone?" he frowned.

"Yeah... Are Matrix and AndrAIa there?"

"No. AndrAIa's downstairs in the garage, and I don't think Matrix is here. I'm not sure where he is..."

"We need to talk." she said softly.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm not sure..." she frowned. "I think there's something going on between Matrix and Enzo, Bob. They're fighting, or something."

"Fighting? They've both been kinda low-res the last few cycles, but I thought they were getting along pretty well. Did Enzo say something?"

"I thought so too, Bob. But Enzo's... upset. About something. And he says he wants to deal with it himself, with Matrix. I'm not sure what's going on."

"He hasn't been himself. Nobody has, lately... D'you have any idea what it might be?"

"Bob, do you think- do you think..."

"What?" he prodded.

"Do you think Matrix could ever... hurt Enzo?"

"Hurt him?" the Guardian asked, surprised. "What in the net do you mean, Dot?"

"I'm not sure. You know how Enzo is, Bob... He can be - trying, sometimes. And Matrix isn't the most patient sprite in the net. He's got a temper..."

"I don't think Matrix would ever knowingly do anything to hurt Enzo." Bob frowned. "Why would you ask, Dot? What's going on?"

"It's nothing, I'm just being overprotective." she sighed. "Bob, could you come over for a while? I'd love some company..."

"Sure, Dot." he smiled hesitantly. "You sure you're OK?"

"Fine." she smiled weakly. "But you'll come over - and stay?"

"Sure, not a problem. Gimme a few nanos and I'll be right over."

"Thanks, Bob." She broke the link, leaving the room in silence.

"That oughtta do it, Sugar." Mouse said, crawling out from under the console. "Although I still think I'm crazy for even helpin' y'all try this stunt..."

"Well, thank the User you're here, Mouse - I'm not sure we could have figured it out ourselves." Bob smiled, clapping her on the back.

"You are certain that the core controls have been isolated, Young Mouse?" Phong said. He was twiddling his fingers in front of him like he always did when he was nervous. "We will be able to restore control after the explosion?"

"You got it, Phong. The entire core control unit is in a stasis field. After the big bang, ya just reassert command from the field command center and initialize the startup. Couldn't be easier."

"So much we will lose, Children." Phong sighed, looking around him. "So much..."

"It's only a building, Old Friend." Bob said. "We can rebuild it. As long as we can save the core, we can start over. This is the only way we'll be able to process without having Daemon hanging over our heads."

"And get Matrix back." I added. Dot smiled and put her arm around me. She'd been awfully quiet - I knew she was thinking about what she'd have to do in a few nanos. It probably didn't help to bring up Matrix, either. He was out there, somewhere. Infected. This was our only hope to get him back - if he was still processing.

"Hope you're right, Honey." Mouse sighed. "Hex is right about one thing - things've sure gone ta hell in a caddy out there. The idea of bein' rid o' Daemon once and for all sure sounds pretty good."

"He's right." Bob said. "This plan will work, if we play our cards right." He winked at me, looked around the control room. Maybe for the last time. "Dot, I don't see too much else keeping us here..."

"You're right." she said softly. She reached for the controls and opened a vidwindow. "AndrAIa? Ray?"

"Right here, Dot." AndrAIa answered.

"Is everything ready?"

"Ready, Commander. Everything's in place."

"Right. See you at the bunker. Gavin?"

Another window. "Aye, Lass. T'is me." He didn't look happy.

"We're ready here, Gavin. There's not much point in you sticking around any longer. Get your people and the Lusty Wench out of here while you can."

"By the code, Miss Dot - I beg of you, let us stay and fight! You can't beat these virals at their own game-"

"No, Gavin. We can't beat them by fighting. There's too many. This is the only way. Now get your people to safety, and we'll see you at the victory party."

"If you command it, Dot, I will go. But-"

"Thank you for everything, Captain." Dot smiled. "Clear sailing."

"Clear sailing, M'lady." The window closed.

"One more call..." Dot sighed. "Hex? Hex, you there?"

"Why Dot - how splendid you look! Have you been working out?"

"Spare me, Hex. We're ready to move out here. Is the Trojan virus ready for launch?"

"Why, Dot! Surely you don't think I've been spending my seconds here baking biscuits, do you?" Hex laughed. "I am prepared for the download."

"Fine. Give us until eleven-fifty, than engage. And good luck."

"Your concern is _so_ touching, Dot. You'll be pleased to know that the attack force is here - right on time. Now you be certain and take good care of my Darling Bob, won't you?"

"Are you sure you won't join us at the bunker, Hex? It seems like it'd be less risky-" Bob said.

"Trust me, Love. And don't do anything I wouldn't do." The window closed, and Hex was gone.

"I guess that's it, then." Dot sighed. "We'd best be getting to the bunker while there's still time."

"You will - make the announcement, Child?"

"Of course, Phong." I remember thinking that Dot looked older than I'd ever seen her. I knew how rough this was for her. "You go on ahead. I'll make the announcement from here and meet you at Ship."

"You sure, Dot?"

"I'm sure, Bob. You go on. I'll be right there."

"Right. Come on, Boys - let's not drag this out any longer than we hafta." Mouse sighed.

"I'm staying." I said.

"Enzo?"

"I'm gonna stay with Dot, Bob." I'd been pretty much useless, up to that point. I wasn't any technical genius, so I could barely help with the preparations. No one had asked for my help with strategy. But my sister was gonna do the most difficult thing she'd ever had to do and I was damned if I was gonna leave her to do it alone.

"Sugar, why don't you just come along, now-"

"It's all right, Mouse. Let him stay." Dot smiled. Mouse and Bob nodded, and they took off, towards the landing bay. "Thanks." Dot whispered.

"It's gonna be fine." I said, not really sure if I believed it. "You'll see..."

"I know." she mouthed. Her hand reached for the control panel and froze there. She couldn't bring herself to do it.

I tiptoed over and grabbed her other hand. It was a weird time to notice, but my hand was almost as big as hers was, now. "Dot... I know you're scared. But you wouldn't do anything you didn't think was right - I know it. You're gonna save the city, just like you always do. They'll understand. We all believe in you."

She took a deep breath. She squeezed my hand and smiled at me. "I still can't believe how grown-up you are. My little brother... You ready?"

"Yep."

She let go of my hand and I stepped back a couple of paces. She cleared her throat and pressed a button on the console. "Attention, citizens of Mainframe. This is Commander Dot Matrix at the Principal Office. Viral forces have invaded Mainframe. I repeat - viral forces have invaded Mainframe. We do not have sufficient forces to repel the attack. Therefore, I am urging all citizens to surrender unconditionally. I repeat - I am urging all citizens to surrender unconditionally..."

"Sparky? Is that you?" AndrAIa whispered.

"Yeah, it's me." Matrix answered, slipping into the darkened room. "Did I wake you up?"

"Where in the net have you been?" the game sprite hissed. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Not really." Matrix sighed. "I've just been walking, that's all. Sorry if I worried you..."

"What's the matter with you, Enzo? You're acting weird- even by your standards! What's going on?"

"Thanks a lot." Matrix grumbled, crawling into the docking bay next to her.

"Where've you been all day?" AndrAIa frowned. "Is something the matter?"

"You sure ask a lot of questions..."

"How about an answer? If something's bothering you, Enzo, I wish you'd let me know-"

"I had another fight with the kid today." the bearded sprite sighed.

"But I thought you guys were getting along great." AndrAIa protested. "Weren't you?"

"He just knows how to push my buttons, Andri. It's not his fault..."

"Well, it's no big deal, is it Lover? I mean - brothers fight all the time. Or so I've heard, it's not like I ever had one."

"It's more than that." Matrix said softly. "He got me really mad, Andri. Like I wasn't sure I could control myself. And I think - I think I might've gotten a little rough with him..."

"Rough - what do you mean?" she hissed. "You mean you hurt his feelings, right?"

"Well - that too. But I - I grabbed him. Hard. And I didn't even realize, at the time - but I think I hurt him. A little."

"Oh, Enzo!"

"How do you think that makes me feel?" Matrix snapped. "It makes me feel like a damn fool. Like I could ever really change..."

"Don't say that! I'm sure he's fine, Lover. You're just upset-"

"He's just a little kid, Andri! What kind of a person am I to be around a little kid? He doesn't know any better, he's all over me. He likes me! He thinks he's helping me, by the User! The kid thinks he's helping me and I could break him in half like a memory wafer!"

"Oh Matrix - don't be so low-density!" AndrAIa protested. "I'm sure Enzo's fine. You just scared him a little, that's all. And it wasn't on purpose, you said yourself-"

'That's just it Andri! Even if I didn't hurt him, you know... You know. I sure as hell hurt his feelings. And scared him. And that was no accident - it was on purpose! I even enjoyed it - it felt good, delete it!"

"What... what did he say to you? What started it?"

"Does it matter?" the big sprite sighed, running a hand over his face. "He wants to know everything, Andri, that's all. He doesn't understand what happened to me. To us, I mean. He doesn't know when to stop pushing. He didn't mean anything, and I practically scared the data out of him. He was crying, and I didn't stop. I kept right on going..."

"Well... You shouldn't have done that." the game sprite sighed. "But I'm sure Enzo is all right. We'll go check on him tomorrow. And it's not like you'd do it again - you know you were wrong..."

"It's more than that." Matrix threw his legs over the edge of the docking bay and sat up, head in hands.

"What do you mean, Lover?" AndrAIa whispered, sliding next to him.

"It's never gonna stop - don't you see? He's always gonna be looking at me, wondering what it's gonna be like. For him. He's gonna think everything I did - everything I do - is something that he'll do too."

"Well - it's strange, I admit..."

"It's not fair to Enzo, Andri. He deserves a chance to live his own life, doesn't he? And he's gonna see me, every cycle, and think that his future is already decided. He's gonna think I'm his future. No kid should have to think that!"

"Enzo's proud to have you as a brother! He looks up to you-"

"He shouldn't!" Matrix snapped. "I've done terrible things, AndrAIa. You know it and I know it. Who's to say I won't do more-"

"I_say!" the girl barked. "This isn't the net, Lover - this is Mainframe. Everyone here loves you. You're a different person, now - anyone could see it. Remember that cycle, at the park?"

"Yeah - that cycle. Today I scream at him and make him cry and maybe worse..."

"Give it time, Enzo..."

"Why am I here, Andri? Enzo doesn't need me. He's better off without me. Bob and I barely talk - he knows I don't like the way he - you know. What he's doing, leading Enzo along..."

"Don't start that again..."

"And Dot. What about Dot? She still can't even be alone in the room with me. She doesn't know what to say!"

'What are you saying, Enzo?" the girl sighed wearily. "Every time I think you just might be happy..."

"This isn't home, Andri. I'm kidding myself. Enzo's a little boy trying to pretend he's a man, and I'm a man trying to pretend he's a little boy. How sick is that? I ought to get out of here and let him alone. He deserves his own life. He deserves better than to be my backup! Every cycle I'm here just reminds him of it..."

"Enzo loves you." AndrAIa said softly. "If you left, it'd just kill him. You know that, don't you?"

"He needs to grow up sooner or later." Matrix said in a low voice. "He needs to understand what life is really like-"

"Like _you) did, you mean?"

The young man stared at her for a long nano. "What about you, Lover?"

"What about me?"

"You know." he said insistently.

"My home is with you, Sparky." the game sprite sighed. "Even with a broken heart. That's not a matter of choice anymore."

"I don't know what to think. I don't know what I'm saying..."

"Come on to bed. Things will look better in the morning." she prodded gently, grabbing his hand. "Come to bed."

"All right." he sighed, allowing himself to be pulled down next to her. He felt her soft kiss on his cheek, on his neck, on his lips. He reached out an arm, pulled her head to his chest and held her close to him, desperately, needing her touch, feeling the sting of a tear on his cheek.

I was trying very hard to keep up with what was going on, but it was hard. There were sprites and binomes running around everywhere, alarms going off, Mouse and Dot and Bob and Phong yelling at each other, trying to keep things organized. As for me, I was just trying to pretty much stay out of the way, and keep Frisket with me. He was the only other one who really didn't have anything to do. Here I was - the big Guardian hero - standing off to the side with his dog.

Of course, looking back, I could delete myself for not taking advantage of every microsecond, every nano. For not knowing how precious they were. But how could I know? Like I said, I was just trying not to get in the way. AndrAIa came over a couple of times and talked to me, but I knew she was just trying to keep my spirits up. Not that I really minded at the time.

None of us really wanted to think about what was going on at the surface, I guess. We all knew it had to be pretty grim. I think it was hardest for Bob and Dot - they wanted to fight, they didn't want to give an inch. They didn't want to see one binome converted. And now they had to sit down here and wait, while it was all happening outside. As hard as it was for me, I knew it was worse for them.

So most of those few cycles in the bunker are kind of a blurry mess in my head. I knew Bob and I were both in game sprite mode, so Daemon's forces couldn't get a lock on our icons. I knew that Hexadecimal had downloaded the Trojan virus onto the central computer, and according to Mouse it had pretty much done what it was supposed to do. I knew Phong had checked and rechecked the control overrides, to make sure they were working. And other than that, we were pretty much waiting. The six of us and Frisket, and a handful of other essential personnel from the P.O., crammed into that little command bunker, somewhere under the city. Mike was out there. So was Cecil. Even Modem and Nully. Thinking about them made me feel strange all over.

The other thing I remember from that time is that I hated being underground. I never liked being underground, especially in cramped places like that bunker. I missed the P.O. - the tall ceilings, and the viewscreens, and all the room to move around. The bunker made me nervous, and I think I had kind of a stomach ache for the whole time we were in there. I don't think I ate more than seven times a day.

Then it all changed.

I remember the exact moment - it was like somebody threw a switch. The first part of my life was over. It was when Mouse said, "I've lost the link to the trigger mechanism!"

I snapped to attention then. I guess everybody did. "What?" Bob said. "When?"

"Just now, Sugar. It was there one nano, then it was gone. I've got no way to remotely set off the trap now."

"Have the other controls gone offline, Child? Have we been discovered?" Phong asked. We all crowded around the control console.

"I don't rightly think so, Phong. I've still got override on all essential functions. The stasis field around the core is holding. I've just lost the deleted remote trigger!"

"This is bad - _very_ bad." Bob said. For some reason, it annoyed me when he said it.

"What are our options?" Dot asked. "Can you restore the link, Mouse?"

"I dunno, Honey. I can try to isolate the fault, maybe... If the problem's on this end, I might be able to fix it. But it'll take time."

A vidwindow appeared, and Hex's face was staring down at us. I noticed she wasn't smiling. Or sneering, or baring her teeth. She just looked serious. "How nice to see you all together. Are you enjoying your slumber party?"

"We don't have time, Hex." Bob snapped. "There's a problem with the trap. We're trying to isolate it-"

"You have even less time than you think, Dear Boy. Daemon will be entering the system in a few milliseconds."

"Cursors! You've got to get to that trigger, Mouse! Phong, help her!"

"Of course!" Phong tittered, wheeling to Mouse's side.

"It ain't gonna happen, Guardian!" Mouse said. I didn't like the tone of her voice. "There's no way I can get that error isolated and fixed - even if I _can_ fix it - in a few milliseconds. You're gonna have to buy us some time."

"There _is_ no time, Sprites!" Hex said irritably. "My little ruse may have fooled her drones, but Daemon will spot it within a few microseconds. You will only get one chance! If you squander it you will never have another!"

"We're going to have to spring the trap ourselves. From the inside." Dot said softly. I felt like Matrix had punched me in the gut.

"What? No, Love!" Ray said. "You know what you're sayin'? If one of us gets caught in there-"

"You heard her. We only get one chance. One chance to rid the net of her evil before it becomes so entrenched it'll never be defeated. We have to do it."

"I'll go." Bob said. "Copeland-"

"No!" I shouted.

"He's right, Bob - you and Enzo are the only clean codes left. If this doesn't work, you have to survive."

"It's me, then." Mouse said, standing. "I set the blasted thing, I may as well fix it."

"No!" Dot shook her head. "You try and fix it from here - if you can, you can recall me."

"You?" Bob gasped. "No, Dot-"

"Someone had best do something soon, Loves." Hex said impatiently. "Daemon isn't going to wait for an invitation."

I should have said something - I should have protested. Not that it would've done any good - I knew Dot. But I still should have, and I would've, but I couldn't even breathe. My body felt like it was shutting down.

"That's it, then. I'll go." Dot said firmly. "I'll go on a simple zip board - force wouldn't work anyways. I'll sneak past them and use my command overrides to access the P.O."

"Honey, how in the net you gonna get outta there - even if you _can_ get in?" Mouse demanded.

"Is that all you're worried about, Sprites?" Hex sighed. "The simplest of tasks. I shall distract my cousin and her drones for a few nanos with some smoke and mirrors..."

"You can't trust her!" I spat.

"I don't think we have much of a choice." Dot said gently, smiling at me. "The future of the entire net is at stake."

"You set the thing for a delay, Sugar - ya know how?" Mouse ordered. Dot nodded. "Give yerself at least sixty nanos ta get out of there. Ya got me?"

"Got it." Dot nodded. She spun on AndrAIa and Ray, who were about to protest. "Don't even bother! We don't have the time. I'm the Command.Com of this system. And there's absolutely no advantage to more than one of us putting ourselves at risk."

"Dot, you can't do this - not alone!" Bob hissed, grabbing her hand. "I'm coming with you-"

"No, Bob - not this time." Dot smiled. She smiled! I couldn't believe it. "You have to stay, just in case this doesn't work. Besides - you and I can't both go. You _know_ why..."

Bob put his head down. I'd never seen a look like that on his face before. Anger, frustration, even fear. "Just be careful..." he whispered.

"I promise." she nodded, and kissed him real quick, on the lips. She turned towards the door and she saw me staring. I was numb, I couldn't say anything. She came up to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. "Don't worry - I'll be fine."

"I wanna go with you!" I whispered. "Lemme help you - I'm a Guardian now-"

"I know. That's why you can't - we need you out here." she said softly.

"But-"

"There's no time. Just be strong for me, OK?" I nodded dumbly. She kissed me on the cheek and smiled. "See you soon." I wished I'd hugged her, kissed her, told her I loved her, something. Whatever. But it's like I was paralyzed.

"Hex - I'm on my way. Meet me at the target site." I heard her say.

"Very well." It was Hex's voice. Then that was it. She was gone, just like that.

"I am very glad you have come to see me, My Son - even if it is at a rather odd hour." Phong said dryly. "May I offer you a cup of cocoa? Perhaps Ovaltine?"

"No... no thanks, Phong." Matrix said absently, maneuvering his bulk into one of the old sprite's Spartan chairs. "Sorry if I woke you..."

"I sleep very little, Child." Phong sighed. "Although I will confess to be relived not to have to go to the kitchen. The floor is very cold at this time of the morning..."

A barking laugh escaped Matrix' throat, almost involuntarily. "Sorry to be a bother."

"Please - it is far from a bother." the old sprite smiled. "My Child, I have been hoping that you might visit me. Your pain has been apparent to me from the nano that I first saw you, hovering over me at the Principal Office..."

"It - it has?" Matrix said softly. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Phong laughed lightly. "I cannot compel a data stream to flow where I wish it to flow, Child - it will go where it will. I knew that you would come to me when it was your time to come. When you were ready."

"Ready? For what?"

"Why, to talk, My Son. What else? You knew when you would be ready. You always knew. And now you are here, yes?"

"I guess so." Matrix said dubiously. "I'm just not sure why I'm here."

"Why do you think you are here, Young Matrix?"

"I'm not... not sure, Phong. I guess because - because I'm trying to figure things out..."

"You wish to be smarter?" Phong asked mischievously. "Dear Boy, I should hope that you have learned a lesson or two about that..."

"More than I wanted!" Matrix laughed, again in spite of himself.

"You have journeyed long and far, Matrix. You have seen many things. And now you are here - returned to the same ground you walked as a boy. It is very strange, is it not?"

"You could say that!"

"And you share that ground with another. Another who seems to walk the same paths that you walked. And this is even stranger, yes? And it disturbs you."

"I guess it does..." Matrix sighed. "I - I'm just not sure what I think anymore, Phong. About anything. The only thing I know for sure is that I love AndrAIa, and I never want to be apart from her. Everything else is a mess."

"I cannot tell you what you are thinking, Child - nor what you should be thinking. I hope you have not come hoping that I would do so."

"No... I guess not." Matrix said softly. "It just doesn't feel right to me, Phong. Mainframe. Dot. Bob. Enzo. Especially Enzo. It just doesn't feel right."

"How so?" the old sprite frowned.

"I think I'm in the way, Phong! I feel like I'm blocking Enzo's path to - to... I don't know what. Every time he looks at me he kills me inside, Phong. I want to be what he wants me to be, and I know I never can. I know what disappointment feels like - I don't want him to have to go through that! I swear, he looks right though me. Right inside me..."

"Do you suppose he harbors similar thoughts about you, Child?"

"I - I don't know... I guess it's possible. Maybe it's better if we're apart, Phong. Maybe neither one of us can be a whole sprite as long as the other one is around."

"It is possible..." Phong mused.

"I'm sorry - I don't mean to dump all this on you..."

"Please, My Boy!" Phong laughed. "It is most interesting. The ways of sprites are far more enchanting than those of processors and upgrades."

"I guess."

"Young Matrix... Try and see what it is that you desire. Why you have come here. Try and understand what you are seeking. Perhaps then I can help to ease your burdens."

"But that's just it, Phong - I don't know!" Matrix growled. "I thought when I came home, I'd feel, you know - whole. But I don't. I just feel empty. I thought it would all be like it was, but it isn't. I'm different. Bob is different. Even Dot. I can't connect to them! I find myself getting angry all the time - angry at Bob. At Bob! My hero! And I'm angry at him. I'm angry at the mistakes he's making, raising Enzo-"

"You feel you could do better, Child?"

"What right does he have, Phong?" the big sprite said intently. "Doesn't he know the effect that he has on Enzo? What right does he have to fill him with expectations, dreams - when he doesn't even know if he'll be able to deliver? Doesn't he know how disappointed I - He! He'll be, when it all crashes around him? He's just a little kid, Phong! He doesn't know any better! How's a lonely little kid with no father supposed to know any better? How?"

"Calmness, My Son." Phong soothed. "You are expressing feelings that are dear to your soul - that is good. But try to channel that anger into understanding-"

"I lose either way, Phong." Matrix sighed, hanging his head. "Either Enzo ends up trying to be just like me, or he ends up hating me and hating himself too. How can I stay here? Doesn't he deserve better?"

Phong sighed and tapped his fingers on his desk thoughtfully. "I think, perhaps, that we are moving into areas that are beyond the reaches of my understanding, My Son. These answers you seek - they are inside you, nowhere else. What we must do is to help you find them..."

"Dagnabit it - I can't find the fault!" Mouse snarled. "This command code's so stretched out it could be anywhere from here to the supercomputer for all I know. And I don't have a real diagnostic program here neither. Cursors!"

"It will soon be a moot point, Child." Phong said softly. "She will be in the Principal Office in a few nanos."

I was sitting in a corner with Frisket, and I heard AndrAIa sit down next to me. She put her arm around me. "Don't worry - she'll be fine! You know Dot - she's the best. She'll make it."

"I know." I said. "Thanks."

"This is _not_ good!" Bob fumed. "I should be out there, with her. It isn't right..."

"Peace, Child. She is doing as she has always done - putting the welfare of the system first. As you both have done."

"Don't worry!" AndrAIa whispered. I nodded.

"She should be inside by now..." Ray said nervously. "Damn, but she's a gutsy lass! Should be hearing something from her any nano..."

"Should have given her Copeland - just in case." Bob muttered.

"Wouldnt've done her any good, Sugar." Mouse sighed. "I can't unravel this thing - it doesn't make any sense! I-"

Every nano now is burned in my brain. Burned. I remember Matrix telling me once what it felt like when Zaytan cut his eye out in that game. That's what I felt like in those next nanos - like I imagined that felt.

A vidwindow opened. It was Dot. I bounced up and we all crowded around it, even Frisket. She was sitting in a corner, holding her keypad. I could hear a lot of noise in the background. "Dot! Where are you, Child?" Phong hissed.

"I'm at ground zero. Hex isn't here. I'm barricaded in the ancillary command center."

"Is this a secure line, Sugar? What the heck ya doin'?" It was Mouse's voice.

"She's here, Mouse. Daemon. I'm not using the delay. So it doesn't really matter."

"No!" I gurgled, barely able to get the word out. "No!"

"They spotted me, coming in. I used my command overrides - blocked out the door controls. But they'll be through any nano..."

"Dot, what're you doing?" Bob shouted. "Set the delay and get out of there!"

"I can't, My Love. She'll be in here in a few nanos. I've actually seen her. Daemon. I don't know where Hex is. It's the only way."

"Dot!" I cried. My cheeks were wet, my eyes were burning.

"I'm so sorry, Little Brother. Forgive me. I had to see you again, one more time. I shouldn't have, I know, but I had to."

"Do something!" I screamed at Bob.

"I - I can't! Copeland can't project a portal that far! I don't - I can't..."

"No more time." Dot said softly. "I love you both. Take care of each other." She reached for her organizer.

"Dot! No!" I screamed. There was a flash from the vidwindow, and everyone covered their eyes. Then a kind of low rumble ran though the ground, and the bunker shook for a few nanos. Then nothing - just the sound of the processors in the room idling on.

I blinked my eyes open and looked up at the vidwindow, but it was just a bunch of static. I fell down to my knees, and I was shaking and I couldn't stop. I heard Phong telling Mouse to initialize the core controls, and I heard her say she was. I felt someone's hands on my back, and I shook them off. It was AndrAIa. "Enzo-"

"No!" I screamed, as loud as I could, and it seemed to go on forever. I sucked in some air and I did it again, and I pounded on the floor until my knuckles couldn't feel it anymore and started bleeding and someone grabbed my arms.

"Hex! Hexadecimal!" I heard someone shouting, and banging on the console. "Dammit, Hex! Where are you?" It was Ray, I guess, or it could've been Bob.

There was no pride left in me anymore - I didn't care what I looked like to everyone. Of everything that I could ever call unimaginable to me, this was the pinnacle. Dot was the only thing that I'd always had in my life, always. I could always count on her, no matter what. I could imagine facing life without anyone else, even Bob. I'd lived without Bob. But not Dot. And she was gone. Forever.

I know I was crying like crazy, kneeling down on the floor. AndrAIa was hovering over me, holding my back, whispering in my ear. "It's all right, Love. I'm here. It's all right. It's all right, Love..."

And then I did something I'll always regret, even though I guess I didn't really know what I was doing. I stumbled over to Bob, and I just started shouting. "It's your fault! You let her go! Why didn't you stop her? Why didn't you save her? Why did you let her die?" I'll never forget the look on his face, as long as I live. Like all the pain you could ever imagine, and I'd just made it a million times worse.

I stumbled away from him, and I heard Frisket howling in the background. AndrAIa put her arms around me again, and this time I didn't fight her. I just put my head on her shoulder and cried forever.

AndrAIa rolled over in her docking bay, reached out her arm but found empty space. She yawned and blinked her eyes open, surveying the converted garage that served as her home. "Sparky?"

The game sprite checked her internal clock and frowned. "Matrix? You here, Lover?" she said softly. There was no response. "Where in the net did he go this early? His startup sequence usually takes about ten seconds!" she muttered.

AndrAIa sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes wearily. The behavior of her soul mate was becoming more and more puzzling to her every cycle. For the first time, she found herself worrying that she'd lost touch with him, somehow - no matter how bad things had ever been, the bond between them had always been unshakable. But Matrix seemed to be closing himself in, more and more. And closing her out.

With a sigh, the young woman tweaked her icon and changed out of her nightgown. She slipped outside, into the dim early morning light, and zipped briskly towards Baudway.

"There you are!"

"Yup." Dot said softly, leaning against the doorframe of Enzo's bedroom.

Bob wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "You OK?"

"Sure. Thanks." she smiled wearily.

"You coming back to bed?"

"No. I couldn't sleep much anyway. I may as well just stay up."

The Guardian joined her in staring down at the still figure in the darkened room. "Worried about Enzo, huh?"

"You could say that." Dot sighed. "It's just not like him, Bob - whenever he has a problem, he tells me about it. He's never shut me out like this before..."

"Maybe he just needs to prove to himself he can solve it on his own." Bob whispered.

"I don't want him to!" Dot chuckled bitterly. "That means he won't come to me the next time, either..."

"He'll be all right." Bob smiled, kissing her forehead. "You both will. Try not to worry about it so much. You weren't like this - you know... the last time..."

"I worried plenty! Besides - this time is different, isn't it Bob? Everything is different, now."

"I can't argue with that, I suppose." he sighed. "Dot... Why did you ask me before - about Matrix? You know, and Enzo-"

"No reason." the Command.Com said softly. "Just me worrying too much, that's all."

"Well, I don't think you need to worry about that." he yawned. "I'm gonna access a few more milliseconds of downtime. Coming?"

"In a nano." she whispered, not tearing her eyes away from her brother. "In a nano..."

I guess the next few seconds are pretty much erased - quit without saving. It's like I used up all my memory on those horrible microseconds in the bunker, and I really didn't have any left.

We won, of course. Hex's plan worked. At least what we knew about it. Daemon was destroyed, and so was the P.O. But Phong and Mouse are pretty much geniuses, and they'd rigged things so that the core was back online in less than a cycle.

When Daemon blew up, her infection went with her. From what they told me, it didn't really happen all at once - it's like everyone who was infected just sort of slowly, gradually, got themselves back. And the ones in Mainframe, who'd been infected only a few cycles, changed real fast. The ones in Daemon's attack force - the infected Guardians - they took a lot longer. They fought for a while. But eventually they got back to being themselves again.

There were a lot of cycles where I didn't even wanna live. Andri and Frisket were around me a lot, but for a while I remember I wouldn't even say anything. I just stayed in the diner and I wouldn't leave, and I wouldn't talk. When the games came, Bob would go and win them, but I didn't go with him. My codes were telling me to go, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It's like I would've been betraying Dot.

But eventually, even though I never thought I would, I started to process again. I guess I just couldn't help it. The horrible pain that I felt in my insides didn't go away, but I sorta got used to it. It's still there, every cycle, and sometimes something will happen and I have to just go away by myself and stew for a while. But most of the time it's just there, like it's a part of me, like my eyes or my arms or legs. Maybe it is.

I sorta moved into Bob's apartment in Kits. We never really talked about it, but we both just kinda started seeing each other in the kitchen every morning. It just seemed like the thing to do. Besides, it got harder and harder for me to be around the diner anyways, as time passed. And Cecil was doing fine running the place on his own.

Eventually, I even started going back into the games with Bob. I was still a Guardian, after all, and with so many of the Collective having survived the Academy was gonna be back online before any of us knew it. It didn't feel like I was betraying Dot so much as it felt like I owed it to her, now. I still didn't talk to Bob all that much, and a lot of the time I still hated him. And I hated myself for hating him. The last thing Dot had told us was to take care of each other...

It didn't take long for Mainframe to get back online. They even started recompiling the Principal Office. I never saw Phong so intense about anything as he was about that. I knew losing the P.O. was harder for him than any of us, but I think he also kinda thought he owed it to Dot. Like I felt about being a Guardian.

I knew Andri and Mouse and Ray would be leaving soon. I hated it, but I understood. If Matrix was still processing, they were gonna find him. Matrix had been infected, so if he hadn't been nullified he'd be somewhere, maybe looking for us. He needed AndrAIa more than I needed her. It seemed like he always did.

I was out in front of the diner the cycle they left, watching them recompiling the big ball on top of the P.O.. It was fascinating, in a totally tedious way, and it kept my mind busy so that it couldn't really think about stuff I didn't want it to think about.

I didn't hear her coming, but then I never did. Not unless she wanted me to. She tapped me on the shoulder and I jumped a little, and almost tripped. I was getting taller and kinda clumsy right then. "Hey!" she giggled, with that smile of hers that unformatted me every time I saw it.

"Hey." I smiled. We wrapped our arms around each others shoulders and leaned on each other. "Looks like she's gonna be just as pretty as the old one, huh?"

"Every time that place gets wasted, in comes back better!" she grinned. "Kinda like Mainframe in general."

We sorta made small talk for a while, and I was just happy to be around her, I didn't care about anything else. I knew in my heart that I'd never love anyone the way I loved AndrAIa. She was the only sprite I'd ever love. End file, quit and save. Game over. And I'd never have her. Maybe she'd come back and maybe she wouldn't, and maybe they'd find Matrix and maybe they wouldn't, but I was always gonna be a little sprite to her. I knew she loved me as much as I loved her, but the part of her that loved me was the part of her that loved Matrix when she was a little girl. It was a different person.

As much as I hated it, I'd accepted it. I knew it'd never change. Just like Dot being gone. But I still worried about Matrix a lot. I didn't know what had happened to him - none of us did. I thought of him being alone in the net again, and sometimes I thought of him being nullified, and it totally uncompiled me. I didn't cry about it, though. Nothing made me cry anymore - not even when AndrAIa left.

Andri told me it was time, Mouse and Ray were waiting. We kissed goodbye, and we hugged, and I watched her zip off and I walked all over Mainframe for a long time. It was totally dark when I got home, and Bob was sitting on the couch when I got back, not watching a vidscreen or anything. Just sitting. I guess he'd been waiting for me.

He smiled at me and I sorta tried to smile back. "Where were you?" he asked.

"Just walking." I answered. That was about like most of our conversations, the ones that weren't about games anyway. I sat next to him on the couch, and we just sat there for a long time. And after a while, he put his arm around me, and I leaned my head over against him, and I fell asleep.

Enzo rubbed the sleep from his eyes and yawned as he sat up in bed. He felt weary, and weird visions seemed to linger in his processor after he woke. Not clear, vivid memory, like the dream he'd had a few cycles earlier. Just vague images of faces and voices and feelings that lingered in his head like an echo. He was tired.

The boy rebooted into his clothes, reached the door of his bedroom and paused, frowning. He arched an eyebrow in the direction of his dresser. He set his jaw and walked across the room, picking up the two silver pins that sat there. He carefully pinned them to his collar, adjusted them in the mirror, and nodded. As an afterthought he picked up the seashell and code key that had rested next to the pins and slipped them into his back pocket.

By the time the boy had walked upstairs he'd managed to shake most of the sleep from his processor. He was surprised to see AndrAIa sitting with Bob and Dot at the bar. "Hey! What's everyone doing here so early?"

"I might ask you the same question!" Dot smiled. "Don't tell me you're going to start going to bed and getting up without me nagging you now? I feel so useless..."

"Sorry." the youngster mumbled, grabbing an energy bar off of the counter and heading for the door.

"Hey!" Dot grabbed him by the collar and pulled him onto her lap. "Where are you off to in such a hurry? It's not a school day."

"Yeah, I know." the boy squirmed. "I was - I guess... D'you guys know where Matrix is?"

Enzo noticed a shared frown between AndrAIa and Dot. Come to process it, they both looked kinda tired. Like he was. "Actually, no." AndrAIa said. "I haven't seen him all morning."

"Why don't you stay with us for a while? Have a real breakfast?" Dot said with forced cheerfulness. "We can catch up..."

"Yeah, Enzo." AndrAIa added. "I'm sure whatever Matrix is doing, he doesn't want to be bothered right now."

"I wasn't gonna bother him..." Enzo frowned. He looked over the uncharacteristically silent Bob, but the Guardian only shrugged. "So you don't know where he is?"

"Not a clue." AndrAIa sighed. "He was gone when I woke up."

"I'm worried about him." the youngster said softly. Bob looked over his head, at Dot, and smiled a little.

"Me too, Guardian." AndrAIa sighed. "How about you, Enzo - are you all right?"

"I guess."

"Wanna talk about it?" the game sprite smiled.

"Talk about what?" Enzo replied guardedly.

"Anything you wanna talk about."

Enzo looked over at Bob again, not sure what he was looking for. The Guardian smiled helplessly. "I don't have anything much on my mind, really..."

"Matrix told me you two had a fight." AndrAIa said gently. "What was it about?"

"Nothin'." Enzo sighed. "It's between me an' him."

"Enzo-"

"I _told_ you - it's between me and him!" Enzo growled. "Okay?" AndrAIa looked over him again, at Dot. "Why don't you look at me? _I'm_ the one who's talking!"

"Sorry!" the game sprite said hastily. "I'm sorry, Enzo - I don't mean to pry. It's just-"

"Enzo's fine." Bob interrupted at last. "Aren't you Enzo?"

"Yeah." the boy nodded. "I'm fine. I'm sorry I got mad..."

"Enzo..." Dot prodded gently. "All AndrAIa was doing-"

"C'mon, Enzo." Bob interjected, standing and grabbing the boy by the hand. "I think you're overdue for a martial arts exercise. We haven't practiced in seconds. Whaddaya say?"

"Cool!" the boy grinned, wriggling away from Dot.

"But, Bob-"

"Don't worry, I'll bring him back in one piece!" the Guardian replied, winking at Enzo. "We'll see you all later."

"Thanks, Bob!" Enzo smiled, once they were outside. "You're totally cool!"

"Don't mention it. You just looked like you could use a chance to work off a little steam." Bob sighed.

"Well... thanks. I dunno why I got so mad-"

"Don't sweat it." Bob grinned. "Just don't get the idea that it's OK to run away from your problems, Enzo - but once in a while, you just have to go and whale on somebody, I guess..."

It was hard for me to look at the diner, even now. Too much memory. System overload. Abort, Retry, Fail. I turned my head quickly and started walking towards Kits, eyes cast straight down.

Every step felt like an inch, my feet were so heavy. I knew Bob would be waiting, and I didn't want to be late, but it was so hard, making that walk for what would be the last time - at least for a long while.

How many times had I dreamed about this cycle - what it would mean to me? Sure, there were doubts, but it had always felt totally alphanumeric in my mind. It was supposed to be perfect - everything I'd dreamed about since I was a little sprite. I knew leaving Mainframe would be hard, but I'd be back. And it was what I'd always wanted.

That was what I'd always thought, anyways. But now that it had all happened, it was totally basic. Low density. The Mainframe I was leaving wasn't the one I'd imagined leaving. I wasn't sure if I'd ever come back. If I ever _wanted_ to come back. Except for one reason. Except for Bob.

I looked around me, at Baudway, back towards the Principal Office - the city was kinda quiet today. I knew that wherever I went, anywhere in the net, no place would ever be as beautiful to me as this. I could go to the Supercomputer itself, but Mainframe would always be home.

But that wasn't really true, was it? Mainframe would always be home, in my mind - but not this Mainframe. The Mainframe I'd remember would be the other Mainframe - before everything had happened. I'd file and sort it, back it up in my memory. But it wouldn't be real. I couldn't ever go back to a place that didn't exist any more. Maybe we Matrixes were destined to wander around the net forever - maybe it was part of our code...

I was almost startled when I looked up and found myself outside our apartment in Kits. I'd made the walk so many times, I guess I could do it in my sleep - and I just about had. Bob was waiting for me. It was time.

"Hey, Partner!" he grinned as I slowly walked through the door. "Where've you been? It's almost 1200, you know!"

"Sorry Bob!" I said sheepishly, forcing a smile to my face. "I was over at the diner. I guess I... I guess I had to have a - you know..."

"I understand." Bob smiled sympathetically. "Enzo, I know this is kind of rough for you - but you know it's for the best. It's what you've always wanted, and you deserve it-"

"Thanks." I nodded, even if I wasn't sure I agreed with him about the second part. "You've done a great job training me, Bob. There's no way I could ever go to the Academy if you hadn't helped me every nano along the way. There wouldn't even _be_ an Academy if it weren't for you, and Matrix, and AndrAIa. And..." Thinking about them brought even more pain. "Bob, I-"

"It was easy!" Bob grinned, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I guess there had been kind of a distance between us for a while, but it was forgotten now. It seemed unimportant. "By the User, Enzo - I can hardly believe it! You're nearly as tall as me, now. It seems like only a few nanos since the reboot, and now you're almost fully compiled. Where do the cycles go?"

It was strange hearing Bob talk this way - but then, everything seemed strange to me now. I blushed a little. "I'm still a little sprite and you know it. Those cadets at the academy are gonna tear me to data bits..."

"Spam!" Bob chuckled. "You're a Matrix - and we all know how tough Matrixes are."

"Yeah..." I whispered, all the memories flooding back to me. I could hardly believe that we'd ever fought, ever been mad at each other. It made me feel totally low-density. Bob and I were all we had, now. That thought made today seem even worse to me. I was shocked to feel a tear on my cheek.

See, I hadn't cried in a while. Since - since the last time. I promised myself that I never would again - I wouldn't let anything hurt me that much again. Maybe that's why Bob and I hadn't talked much, for a while, even though we lived in the same apartment. It seemed easier. But now, it all came crashing down.

"Come on, now." Bob said softly. "She'd be proud of you, you know. She _is_ proud of you. She-"

"It's not that!" I sobbed, ashamed of my crying but unable to stop.

"What is it?" Bob frowned.

I shook my head angrily, trying to rattle the tears out. "I just keep thinking about you, and Mainframe... And about how - how lonely you - it'll be! Bob, I-"

"Crash that!" he smiled, tousling my hair like he used to when I was a little sprite. "I'm a Guardian, Enzo - and so are you. Defending Mainframe is a full time job. Besides, we'll be seeing plenty of each other. Don't you worry about me. Just go to the Academy and make me proud."

"Bob-"

"You've always made me proud - why should it be any different now?"

I stared at him for a nano, startled to realize that we _were_ almost eye to eye. How was that possible? "Thanks!" I whispered, sniffling. I tried to keep control of myself, but I couldn't. I guess I was still a little sprite, when everything was filed and sorted. I buried my face in his shoulder. "Bob... I - I..."

"I know." he said softly, patting my back. "I know, Enzo. Me too. Come on, now - you don't want to be late on your first cycle, do you? Did you get everything uploaded all right?"

"Yes." I whispered, lifting my head and forcing a weak smile. "All set."

"Need anything from your room?"

"No - I finished uploading my stuff last night." I sighed. I didn't want to see my room now - I didn't need any more memory downloads pushing me over the edge. More than anything, I wished a game cube would drop - just so I wouldn't have to go through with it. Anything to delay things. But the games never seemed to come when I wanted them to, and now was no exception. "Say good-bye to Phong for me, OK?"

"I will."

"Thanks..." I sighed, looking around the apartment one last time.

"I guess that's it, then." Bob grinned, clapping me on the shoulder. "Just be yourself, Enzo, and everything will be fine. Remember everything I taught you. And make me proud."

"I will. I promise." I croaked, unable to muster my voice above a whisper. "Thanks - thanks for everything, Bob. I - thanks..."

"You're welcome." he said softly. He looked down at his wrist. "Copeland - portal!"

A shimmering sphere opened in the air in front of us, hovering in place. I took one last look at Bob, who smiled and nodded. "Stay frosty!" he mouthed. I nodded back, closed my eyes and stepped towards the portal.

I walked up to edge of it and stopped. It was like my legs had taken on a life of their own. I couldn't move. I was frozen.

"This isn't right!" I shouted. The room took on a strange, fuzzy appearance. My head was swimming, I was dizzy. "This isn't right..."

I looked back for Bob, but I couldn't see him. The room was blackness. When I turned, I lost my balance, and I felt myself falling through the portal. "This isn't right!" I screamed.

"WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING IS A TEMPORARY DISTORTION OF REALITY..."

"It's not right!" Matrix mumbled, flailing out an arm. A chair went flying across the room. "Not right..."

"Peace, Child!" Phong shouted, grabbing onto the big sprite's arm and holding on for dear code. "Peace! Be calm!"

"What? Phong?" Matrix said groggily. "What in the net-"

"Oh, dear!" the old sprite sighed. "It is not supposed to work that way..."

"What the - where am I?"

"You are in the Principal Office, My Son. All is well..."

"The Prin- what in the net did you do to me, Phong?"

"What is the last thing you remember, Child?"

"The last thing... What don't I remember?"

"Dear, oh dear." Phong tittered. "I believe that your system reacted rather violently to the R.D.E...."

"R.D.E. - what's that?" Matrix gasped, rubbing his eyes dazedly and falling back into a chair.

"It is a reality distortion engine, Young One." Phong sighed, holding up a small round object. "It is used to provide glimpses of the past - and the future. And other things... I had hoped that it might provide you some insight into the conflicts that were troubling you-"

"Future? Hey! Where's Dot? Where is she?!"

"I am not certain, Child." Phong frowned. "At this time of the morning, I would rather suspect she is at the diner-"

"She's here? In Mainframe? Thank the User!" Matrix gasped. "Thank the User..."

"Was she in your vision, Child?"

"Vision? Just what was that, Phong? It was no vision. I was there! It was happening, I swear it!"

"What did you see, My Son?"

"You tell me, Phong! Did all that... Did it happen? Does it happen, I mean? I don't know what I mean!"

"That is rather a complicated question, My Son." Phong sighed. "You see, the machine works by sending distortion waves, backwards and forwards, through time. The farther these waves go, the more they veer from their original course. There are many futures, and many pasts..."

"Many futures... So does it all happen, or not?"

"In one sense, yes. Did you see the future, Child?"

"The future, yeah." Matrix whispered. "But - but it wasn't me Phong! It was _him+! I wasn't me! I had his eyes..."

"Whose eyes, Child?"

"Him, Phong! You know - Little Enzo..."

"Fascinating!" Phong gasped. "The R.D.E. must have tapped into your source code - it is identical to the boy's. Fascinating..."

"Tapped - into my source code?"

"Yes, Child. The R.D.E. is a mirror of what exists in your code - a reflection, albeit a distorted one. The futures it exposes are not random - they are already contained in your programming. They seize on the potential and extrapolate outwards."

"You man I wanted all that to happen? That's spam, Phong! It wasn't even me!"

"Not wanted, necessarily, Young Matrix. Only contained within you. Desire is a very complicated emotion. I think it is most fascinating that you saw through the child's eyes, Matrix. Most fascinating indeed."

"I still don't really understand, Phong!" Matrix growled. "Is that going to happen, or not? I saw terrible things..."

"Your future is not a random chain of events, My Son. You determine it by the course of your actions. Nothing is set in storage - you will choose your own destiny. What you saw is only a connection of related events, cascading upon each other in a chain. Change one event, and the chain is broken."

"I need to think. I need to think about all this. Try to make sense of all of it!" Matrix growled in frustration.

"Think well, Child." Phong said softly. "You have been given a rare opportunity - none of what you saw was by chance. It is all a reflection of what you hold inside you. The key to understanding is there, if you but look for it. In a sense, you have been granted a look at your future and your past - a rare privilege indeed."

"It's all very strange, Phong. I saw things - terrible things..."

"I understand, Young Matrix." Phong said sympathetically. "The process is never easy - your own sister underwent it herself, once - though her visions were neither so vivid nor so extensive. She learned well from it - and so may you. You have the power."

"I'll try Phong. I'll try. Thanks - I guess..."

"You are welcome, Child. You are welcome. Now I would recommend that you access some downtime - you look very, very tired..."

"So he's just been sleeping? All this time?" Dot frowned.

"Yeah." AndrAIa sighed, sipping her energy shake. "It's totally weird - the whole cycle, and last night too! He barely inputted a word, and just zoned out. I don't know what's wrong with him."

"I know the feeling." Dot sighed, staring over at Enzo, who was sitting in a booth by himself, chin in hands.

"He'll be all right." AndrAIa said softly. "Just growing pains, that's all."

"Which one?"

"Both of them." the game sprite smiled wearily.

"I can't get to him, AndrAIa. I was always able to before, but now he's out of reach." Dot whispered. "He's growing up. Maybe I'll never get him back..."

"I don't think he needs you to reach him right now." the girl whispered. "Not this time. He needs something else. Matrix too. I don't know what Matrix needs, but I can't seem to provide it. I thought I knew every thought in his head, but something's different..."

"Hey." Matrix rasped, walking into the diner, bleary-eyed. Neither sprite said anything as he sat next to them at the bar. AndrAIa glanced over at Enzo. The boy stared over at them silently. He met Matrix's glance forlornly for a nano, saying nothing. Finally, he slipped out of the booth and out into Baudway.

"Enzo!" Dot called.

"Let him go." Matrix said softly. "I don't know what to say to him, anyways..." Dot stared up at the bearded sprite, frowning, trying to calm the anger that simmered in her processor.

"What's the matter, Sparky?" AndrAIa asked, grabbing the bearded sprite's hand. "You look like you swallowed a virus. You've been sleeping for minutes-"

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I've been such a null..."

"No need to be sorry." the game sprite smiled.

Matrix met Dot's glance, silently. He reached out a hand and gently touched the startled sprite's cheek. "Enzo! What-"

"You're an amazing sprite, you know that?"

"What? Enzo, what's-"

"I just wanted to tell you. I never stopped and really told you. You were my whole world, Dot. My mother and father. My best friend. My protector. I know I wasn't easy, either... And I never really told you how much I appreciated everything you did."

"You don't have to say that!" the Command.Com whispered, bewildered. "I loved every nano of it!"

"You never made me feel unwanted, Dot - no matter how much I pestered you and annoyed you and wore you out. You always made me feel like everything was gonna be OK. Every time I was lonely, you were there, and you never seemed to get tired of it. I don't know how you did it, but thanks."

"Don't thank me! You're my brother, I love you..."

"Me too." he whispered, embracing her. "I'm sorry you had to be alone all that time, Dot. I'm sorry you thought I was deleted. I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to feel sorry about!" she sighed, wiping away a tear. "None of us do. We all did the best we could. That's all we can ever do. You know that..."

"I'm not proud of everything I've done. Not out there. Not here, either. You don't know, Dot-"

"It doesn't matter." she smiled. It was odd - this Matrix was like a stranger to her. Someone she'd never met. No - someone she hadn't seen, for a long time...

"You always forgive me, don't you?" The big sprite finally released her from his embrace.

"You're my brother. I love you."

AndrAIa grabbed his hand in hers. "Matrix - what's the matter? You've acting very strange!"

"I know." he sighed. "I've been... thinking. About things. About us, about Mainframe. About the future..."

"What do you mean?"

"It's just - I don't think I've been seeing things too clearly. I've been blind to a lot of things that should have been obvious."

"What kind of things?" AndrAIa frowned.

"Everything." he said softly. "And I think I've been running away from my responsibilities. I'm so deleted lucky, and I was too basic to see it! I've gotten so many chances. One in particular I was too basic to see, but that's gonna change now..."

"Hey everybody." Bob called, entering the diner. "Was that Enzo I saw on the way in? He didn't answer when I called him."

"That was him." Dot replied. "He doesn't seem to be talking to anyone lately..."

"I'm glad you're here, Bob. I wanna talk to you." Matrix sighed, leading the Guardian over to a booth. The Guardian shrugged in Dot's general direction, and allowed himself to be led by the elbow.

"What's up?" he frowned.

"I think I owe you an apology, Bob." Matrix said softly. "For a lot of things..."

"Don't be silly, Enzo. You don't-"

"It's OK, Bob. I know I've been a total null to you lately. I've been thinking about a lot of the things I said - a lot of the things I've done. The things I'm going to do."

"What're you talking about?" Bob smiled gently. "You sound a little scrambled!"

"Maybe I am!" Matrix chuckled. "It's just - a lot of things, that are... you know. My problems. I've been blaming you for them. I'm good at that. It all changes now..."

"What brought this on, Matrix?"

"Let's just say I've seen things in a different light, Bob. I remembered... I remembered how I saw you. When I was little. I think I saw you more clearly then than I do now. I thought it was just the opposite..."

"What do you mean?" Bob asked gently. "Matrix?"

"Never mind. I've got a million things in my processor, and I'm trying to get everything out at once. I need to file and sort for a while, I know I'm not making any sense."

"Enzo-"

"Let's just say I - Enzo is lucky to have you. As a friend. As - as a lot of other things. I just remembered how lucky he was."

"Thanks, Matrix." Bob grinned. "That means a lot to me."

"He isn't the only one, either." Matrix said softly. "I guess I must look pretty basic - Dot and Andri must think I'm low-density! I need to file and sort things before I open my input. I just wanted to tell you, Bob. Better to say it than not say it and wish I had - you know?"

"Yeah. Thanks." Bob smiled, shaking the big sprite's hand. "C'mon, let's go get us an energy shake before they think we're both nuts!"

"Right." Matrix sighed wearily. There were other things to say, but there was plenty of time...

Enzo hovered over Baudway, staring down absently at the steady stream of traffic as it slowly weaved it's way through the busy thoroughfares. He still couldn't make sense of the mess of emotions in his processor. He couldn't shake the feeling that something important had happened, somehow. His senses screamed it out. But what was it? It was like he'd seen something, but from a great distance. It was unclear, unfocsued. And every time he thought he'd selected the right file, it was gone again, teasing him.

The youngster looked down at the diner longingly. More than anything he wished he were inside, with Dot and Bob. He'd seen the Guardian enter, not long after Matrix had shown up. He wasn't sure what he wanted to tell them, but he wanted just to be there. To sit in a booth and listen to them talk and laugh and slowly fall asleep and have their laughter be the last thing he heard before he did.

The boy knew he wasn't ready to be in there with Matrix, though. Not yet. He wasn't sure why, but he knew he wasn't ready. So here he was, outside and alone, while Matrix was in there with Dot and Bob. And AndrAIa. Always AndrAIa. The thought filled Enzo with a boiling rage, but as always it was tempered by something else. What was it?

It was that strange feeling, every time he saw Matrix. Sometimes he barely felt it, sometimes it was overwhelming. But it was always there. It was a hollowness, a longing for something the boy couldn't quite grasp. And always the paradox, the love and hate, the anger and pity, and joy and sadness. Matrix was all of those things, every time he saw him. And he was alone.

Enzo had turned and started zipping slowly towards Floating Point park when he heard a familiar patter of footsteps behind him. They were soon joined by a chorus of barking. "Frisket!" he cried, jumping off of his board to the sidewalk. "Frisket! C'mere Boy!"

Enzo laughed as the dog pounced on him, licked his face frantically. "Hey, Boy! Where ya been all cycle? Been busy? Wanna go to the park, Boy?" Frisket nodded eagerly, and the boy giggled and gently pushed the dog off of his chest. "C'mon, Boy! Race ya!" he cried gleefully. The boy hopped on his board and zipped off towards the park, Frisket in furious pursuit.

"Sleepin' on the job, Guardian? That's not like you!"

Bob jerked awake, and stared up at the vidscreen hovering in his living room. "Oh, Hi Mouse. Just accessing a little downtime while I can. Never know when the next game cube is gonna drop. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

"Just thought I'd say goodbye before I left, Honey." the hacker grinned.

"Left? What in the net are you talking about?"

"Now don't start with me, Sugar. We known each other a long time. You know the Mouse wears out her welcome if she stays in one place too long."

"Mouse, this is crazy!" Bob scowled. "After all we've been through - you're just gonna leave? Just like that?"

"All good things must pass, Bob. It's time ta move on. I ain't a stay at home gal, and I never was."

"Mouse, if this has anything to do with that little tiff we had - about Hex-"

"Aw, Sugar - I ain't leavin' with no hard feelings, if that's what yer worried about." Mouse sighed. "I ain't got nothin' to do here, Bob - Mainframe's in good hands. Mine are extras. I was never more'n a guest here anyways."

"But-"

"No buts, Honey. You guys are pretty much cut off from the net here anyways - I made sure o' that. I'll stop by from time to time - let y'all know what's goin' on out there. That is, when I'm not makin' Daemon's life hell!"

"You sure about this, Mouse?" Bob sighed.

"Never more, Honey. I can be more good to y'all out there anyway."

"What about the others? Dot?"

Mouse looked away. "Look, Bob - I ain't one for long goodbyes. Dot knows how I feel. They all do. And I'll be back before you can shake an analog anyways. You tell 'em the Mouse said so long for me."

"If it's what you want." Bob frowned. "But I still think you're crazy!"

"Y'always did, Sugar - why should now be any different?" the hacker chuckled. "Hey Lover - ya wanna say anything to the Guardian before we make tracks?"

Ray's face appeared next to Mouse in the vidwindow. "Yeah - good luck, Mate. Sorry I never got the chance to go into one of your games. You got a nice place here - I'm gonna miss it. And all o' you, too."

"Thanks, Ray. You take care of yourself. And Mouse too."

"Other way 'round, more like. And one more thing - tell the nipper to make sure he keeps his knees bent a little - give 'im much better balance on the board. And tell 'im I'll be back to take him web surfin' when he's good enough. Right?"

"Right!" Bob chuckled. "So long, Ray. I owe you one. We all do."

"Free o' charge, Mate. Good on ya." the surfr said softly.

"Well, Guardian - that's about as mushy as I care to get!" Mouse smiled. "I'll keep an eye on things out there for ya - you make you do the same here. Make sure you're ready, when the time comes."

"To mend and defend." Bob said softly.

"You always were a company man, weren't ya, Bob?" The hacker winked, and the vidwindow closed.

"So long, Mouse." Bob sighed.

Phong wheeled around the command center, meticulously checking and re-checking every setting and every reading before retiring to his chambers. It was a ritual near and dear to him - one he'd engaged in every cycle for almost as long as he could remember (and that was a very long time), broken only by the dark period before Bob's return from the web.

Ritual was important, Phong knew. Especially for a sprite as old as he was. The news of the cycle had been most disquieting - the departure of Ray and Mouse was a disappointment, though he'd more or less been expecting it. They would be missed, and for more than their technical skill.

Then there was the matter of young Matrix, as well. That was troublesome. The child had reacted more violently to the R.D.E. than Phong had expected, though the old sprite certainly held out hopes that the boy would derive some benefit from the experience. His pain ran deep, and it touched all those around him. Anything that could ease that pain was worth the effort.

Rituals were even more important on difficult days - that was obvious to the old sprite. There was comfort in familiarity. Sprites needed to know that they could depend on certain things, cycle after cycle.

With a final check of the system settings, Phong sighed contentedly and turned, prepared to go fetch his nightly cup of cocoa. To his great surprise, a tall, burgundy clad figure towered over him, grinning.

"What - no welcoming bouquet for me, Old Sprite?" Hex giggled. "No marching band? No key to the city? I'm so disappointed!"

"Hexadecimal." Phong sighed.

"Your enthusiasm underwhelms me, Phong. I'd almost think you didn't want my help. Well, you asked for it and here I am. Let's get started, shall we? I'm going to need just scads of things - I hope your archives are open late!"

"You timing, as ever, is exquisite." Phong said dryly. "So much for my cocoa..."

EPILOGUE

There was always a crowd of binomes in Floating Point Park on a glorious Mainframe afternoon. When the breeze gently wafted through the directory trees and the blue sky and wispy clouds were reflected in the data stream, there was no more beautiful place in the net.

On this day, however, the park was unusually quiet. Only a few binomes were scattered about, some content to recline on the green grass or among the daisy wheels while others, mostly children, romped madly through the directory trees or in the playground. The park, for the most part, was quiet and peaceful.

That suited the lone figure underneath the large directory tree near the data stream just fine. On other days, Enzo might have been out amongst the other kids, venting his manic and boundless energy, but on this day he was content to recline against the tree, knees drawn up to his chest, and toss pebbles into the slowly flowing data.

"Hey. Thought I might find you here." Matrix said softly, staring down at him with his arms crossed. Enzo looked up, not surprised. He'd managed to avoid the big sprite for a few cycles. He wasn't mad at him - just didn't want to be around him, somehow. He just wasn't ready.

"Mind if I sit?" Matrix said softly.

"Cool." the youngster answered, tossing another pebble into the water.

"Thanks." Matrix slid down to the ground and leaned back against the tree. Enzo edged away, almost imperceptibly.

"Scared of me?"

"Little bit." Enzo whispered.

"Yeah, well - I don't blame you." the bearded sprite sighed. "I worked you over pretty good the other day..."

"It's OK."

"That why you left the other night? At the diner?"

"Naw." Enzo replied. "I guess - I guess I just didn't really know what to say. I thought I would, but I didn't. I've been feeling weird."

"Yeah - me too." Matrix picked up a pebble and sent it splashing into the data stream. "Pretty scraggy about Mouse and Ray leaving - huh?"

"Yeah. What a gyp. I didn't even get a chance to learn to surf."

"Yeah! Well - I watched him a few times. Maybe we can sorta teach each other. If your board'll hold my weight, that is." Enzo stared ahead, head on his knees, saying nothing.

"Hey." Matrix said softly. "C'mere."

"What?"

The big sprite held out his arm. "C'mere Enzo. Don't sit way over there."

Enzo stared at him for a long moment, intently. Matrix looked placidly down at him, saying nothing, holding his arm out. After several nanos, the youngster slid over next to Matrix, and the big sprite wrapped the arm around his shoulder. Both sprites stared out over the stream silently.

Matrix held the boy to him, gently, gingerly. "I'm sorry, Enzo. I'm sorry for scaring you like that. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"I know." Enzo smiled. "It's cool, Matrix. Honest."

"Really?"

"Really!"

"You're nobody's backup, Enzo." the big sprite said softly. "You're Enzo Matrix. You're my brother. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks." Enzo smiled. "I'm proud of you, too. You're awesome..."

"I've done things, Enzo. I've done things I'm not proud of. You need to know..."

"I don't care." the boy said firmly.

"What? Why?"

"I don't care, Matrix. I know you're a good person, that's all. Whatever you did, you did because you had to. I know you're a good person. None of the rest of it makes any difference."

"Enzo, it's not that simple!" Matrix sighed.

"You always say that. It is simple! You're the one who makes it complicated!" Enzo laughed disdainfully.

"Oh Enzo, you don't understand..."

"I do, Matrix! I understand - better than anyone. And I always will."

"Maybe you do..." the big sprite sighed. "Maybe I do make things too complicated."

"Look - AndrAIa loves you, right? And AndrAIa wouldn't love you if you weren't a good person. That's like totally obvious!"

Matrix shook his head. "I dunno, Kid. I can't figure you out. You're something else!"

"Thanks - I guess."

"What'd you do with that tree I gave you - you ever plant it?" Matrix grinned.

"Naw." Enzo said softly. "Not yet. I haven't decided where I want to yet."

"There's no rush..."

Enzo smiled crookedly. "That was like, a totally weird present, Dude! I figured you'd get me a game or something."

"Like I said, Kid - I don't have a clue about that stuff. It just seemed like the thing to do." Matrix sighed, softly patting the boy on the shoulder. "Enzo - why did you ask me what you asked me, the other cycle? Why did you do that when you knew I didn't wanna talk about it and you knew how - how I am..."

"Because I wanna know about it, Matrix. I wanna understand! Why you are like you are. I don't want you to be sad all the time."

"Enzo..."

"I had a dream, you know." the boy sighed.

"A - dream? What kind?" Matrix frowned.

"A bad one." Enzo whispered. "Only it was weird - I was me - but I was also you, kinda. And stuff happened to me - and it was like what happened to you. And Megabyte was in it..."

Matrix pulled the youngster a little closer. "He's gone, Enzo. He can't hurt us any more..."

"He was there." Enzo continued softly. "He told me that you and me were the same - that we weren't any different. And then he grabbed me, and he p-picked me up... and he stuck out his claw. And... and he c-cut m-my eye out..."

"Enzo!" Matrix gasped. "It's OK, it was just a dream! It's all right..."

The youngster silently squeezed a tear out of each eye. "He was right, Matrix - we are the same person. Only he thought it was bad - but it's not! It's good! We've got each other, no matter what! How cool is that? I can always help you, and you can always help me, and we'll always know exactly how to do it! Only you won't let me, and it's totally basic..."

"I know. You're right." Matrix sighed. "I didn't want anyone's help, Enzo - not even yours. Not for a long time."

"Why?" Enzo whispered. "Why do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you! I... Just the opposite, Enzo. Maybe that's the problem... Andri was pretty much the only person I had for a long time, Kid. I wasn't really ready to care about anybody like I... - like I care about you. It scared me. But I see a lot of stuff differently now. I see a lot of stuff differently..."

"What happened to you?" the boy rasped, wiping his eyes. "You looked weird at the diner."

"I bet I did!" the bearded sprite laughed. "I had a dream too, Enzo. You could call it that. And y'know what's weird? I was you in the dream."

"You were me?" Enzo gasped.

"Yep. Only it was a weird dream, and I was you, and I could actually see me. I was you, looking at me. It was basic..."

"I bet!"

"And it took a real long time, too. It felt like minutes. And I saw a lot of stuff. The way you might see it. The way I saw it, a long, long time ago - only I'd forgotten what it felt like, being you. Seeing what you see."

"What kinds of stuff?" Enzo whispered.

"All kinds. Good stuff. Bad stuff too. Real bad. Everybody was there - even Daemon. But the point is that a lot of things look different to me, now. I feel like I can maybe understand stuff a little better. And avoid some mistakes I might have made. Maybe even help you avoid them, too."

"Really? Like what?"

"Like a lot." Matrix smiled wearily. "See, I - I had a lot of dreams when I was your age, Enzo. And a lot of them are never gonna happen now. And I was real mad about that, I just didn't wanna admit I was."

"What kind of dreams?"

"I think you'd recognize them." the big sprite replied. "They're good dreams. And you can still have them, Little Brother - 'cause they might still happen for you. And I was mad at you because of that."

"I'm sorry." Enzo whispered. "Y'mean the Academy an' all that?"

"You don't have to be sorry!" Matrix sighed, tousling the boy's hair gently. "That's a part of it, yeah. There's more. It's OK though - I just have to have different dreams now. I've gotten a lot of breaks, and I was just too stupid to know it. I was so damn lucky, and all I could do was try to shoot your dreams down!"

"It's OK-"

"No! No, it's not." the bearded sprite frowned. "But I can't change it. All I can do is do the best I can from now on. And I'm not gonna push my past on you anymore. What happened to me happened to me - not to you. You can do whatever you want to. And I know you're gonna do great - I know how tough you are. And I know what a great teacher Bob is, too. And I'm gonna help you every step, every cycle. Any way I can."

"I'll help you too." Enzo whispered. "You know what's weird, Matrix?"

"What?"

"I knew you were having the dream. I felt it." the youngster said softly.

"You - knew?" the big sprite frowned. "What do you mean, Enzo?"

"I dunno. I can't explain it. I didn't really see anything, but... It's basic! It's like I felt it, in my head. I had all this weird stuff flying around in there, and I couldn't figure it out."

"I guess that's possible..." Matrix mused. "Was it scary, Enzo?"

"A little, I guess. Mostly I just couldn't sleep, or think straight. I couldn't get my head clear, y'know?" The boy stared straight ahead for a nano, then silently gripped Matrix' hand in his own. "Enzo, you - you'd never leave, would you? Promise you wouldn't."

"Why are you asking me?" the bearded sprite frowned, gently squeezing the small hand in his own.

"I'm not sure. I just - felt it..." the boy hesitated. "You wouldn't, would you?"

"Mainframe is home." Matrix sighed. "I can't keep looking around for something I'm never gonna find. Whatever it is - my future - it's here."

"Alphanumeric!"

"But things are gonna happen, Enzo. We're OK now, but we're gonna have to fight Daemon, sooner or later. Maybe even you'll have to fight her too. I don't know what it'll be like - but I'm gonna have to do what I have to do. We all will."

"I know." Enzo nodded. "But you won't leave, right?"

"I'll try, Enzo." Matrix smiled. "This is where I wanna be - you know that. And besides - I don't think it's right, we should be apart. We're the same code, you and me. We're special. We should stick together, help each other out. Even when things go bad. Right?"

"Right!" Enzo grinned.

"Right." Matrix hugged the boy closer and gently cradled his head against his chest.. "We're the same code, you and me. We're special."

"Uh huh." Enzo whispered, eyes closed. He wrapped his arms around the big sprite, barely able to reach his back. The boy could sense the massive power in Matrix' arms as they held him, but there was no trace of the fear that he'd felt earlier. He felt as safe as he felt in Dot's arms. He felt whole. "Why'd it take you so long to figure this out?"

"I did my best, Enzo." Matrix sighed, marveling at how fragile the boy felt, like a stiff breeze would blow him away. It filled him with a desire to keep Enzo shielded forever, protected. "That's all I could do."

"That's OK." Enzo grinned, clinging to Matrix as hard as he could. "I'll help you do better the next time." The big sprite laughed, his barrel chest shaking with mirth. Enzo joined in, swept away by the joy in Matrix' voice. Their laughter folded into exquisite harmony and synchronization, each feeding on the other's exuberance. Enzo felt it form a shield around them, just the two of them, that nothing could break through. It was a moment they shared, perfect and complete. Theirs and no one else's. They were the same code.