EPILOGUE
His recovery was slow and painful. For the first few cycles, Bob slipped in and
out of consciousness, sleeping in long stretches. Nightmares plagued him, but he endured. He had won. And whenever
he regained consciousness, Dot was there, wiping the cold sweat from his
forehead after he dreamt and making him as comfortable as possible.
He heard things. Rose saying he was lucky to be
processing. His armor had shielded him
from serious damage, but it would take a long time for him to recover. Bob already knew he would never have the
power he once had, at least not fully. The memory of something teased at his processor. An encounter with two old friends who had
given him another chance and of something he had lost, but the more time that passed,
the more the memory faded.
But he was alive and he had kept his
promise
***
Katiyana was one of the first to come
see him about two cycles after his awakening. Bob could now sit up and eat, although Dot continued to assist him. Rose had finally allowed visitors.
"There are things we must discuss," as
always she got right to the point. "All
the infected Guardian's have been freed."
Bob nodded curtly.
"There is much confusion now. I have been attempting to restore order but
it is difficult. There is much that
needs to be done and many feel much justice needs to be dispensed."
"Has anyone from the High Council
survived?"
"No," Katiyana said. "I told you there is much strong emotion
within the Collective. Guilt and
anger. Some surrendered their
sanity. Others decided they could no
longer face life."
"User no." Bob whispered. "Do we
know who?"
"Yes, although others are still
missing. I will see to contacting the
families of the deceased," Katiyana said.
"Thank you," Bob said.
"There is something else," Katiyana
went on. "There is talk of an uprising
against the Guardians."
"Oh User, no." Bob muttered. "We can't let that happen Katiyana. After all we've been through."
"The Collective needs leadership,"
Katiyana said. "It needs it Prime
Guardian. It needs you, Bob."
Bob bowed his head.
"It was what Turbo wanted." Katiyana
sighed, "I'm sorry about Turbo. If I
had known what peril he was in at the time I would have never sent the keytools
into sleep."
"You did what you had to do. Turbo understood." Bob said.
"Bob," Katiyana continued. "The records have been opened. It's official. You are to be appointed the new Prime Guardian – that is if you
wish it."
Again, Bob's eyes closed in deep
thought. Prime Guardian, Bob had never
in his processing aspired to that title. He had always rather naively thought that Turbo would always be
there. Turbo had given his blessing and
the Collective needed him. He would not
turn his back on them.
"Yes, I will accept," Bob said. "Although my home is in Mainframe, I will
perform my duties to the best of my abilities."
"Then as the only remaining
high-ranking official of the Collective, you are hereby appointed Prime
Guardian."
Katiyana stood. "I take it there are people you'll want to
tell?"
Bob smiled at her as she walked out.
"Turbo," Bob whispered aloud. "I'll make you proud of me, I promise."
***
"Bob!"
Bob smiled at the little green-skinned
sprite as he entered the room.
"Hey there, Little Man," Bob smiled and
set the bowl of broth aside he had been given. He held out his arms and Enzo ran gratefully into them.
"I was so scared Bob when they said you
took a bad fall," Enzo said against his neck. "You looked so sick when they brought you in and Dot was crying and I thought
– I thought --,"
Enzo's voice broke and Bob knew he was
crying, "Don't go away again, okay? Promise?"
"I --," Bob said. "Enzo look at me."
The sight of the boy's tear-stained
face filled with admiration, tugged at Bob's core-com. "You're old enough to understand that
nothing is definite. I'll try never to
leave you, but if I do, know –," Bob sighed, "Know that I love you like your
sister does."
Enzo's lower lip trembled and his eyes
filled with fresh tears, "I – I love you to Bob," Enzo wrapped his tiny arms
around him again. "Um – Bob?"
"Yes?"
"Does this mean that you and Dot are
going to get married now?"
Bob chuckled, "You'd like that wouldn't
you?"
"Well yeah, sure Bob! You'd be my brother then."
"Then I guess we'll have to won't we? Think you can put in a good word for me?"
"You bet!" Enzo rushed to the door, then turned back, "I knew you could do
it Bob. I knew you could defeat
Daemon."
Bob leaned back and closed his eyes and
smiled.
***
Bob had other visitors over the course
of the next cycle.
Matrix and AndrAIa entered his room
early one morning. Dot was feeding Bob
breakfast and the Guardian was enjoying every nano of the pampering. Matrix hesitated but Bob motioned him
forward and AndrAIa gave him a shove.
"I – um -- Bob – I mean, Prime
Guardian, sir -- well I wanted to report and – I wanted to see how you were
doing."
"Sit down, Matrix."
The brawny sprite obeyed. He looked close to normal now, as Bob did,
as their infection was slowly fading, except for the patch over Matrix's eye.
"How's your eye?"
"It doesn't hurt as much anymore,"
Matrix said.
After Daemon's destruction, every trace
of her presence had been eradicated, including Matrix's eye, which had
disintegrated within its socket. The
pain had been almost unbearable for the young sprite. Zif was fashioning him a new one but until then he was forced to
wear the patch. He didn't mind it
though. AndrAIa had told him it added
to his, 'roguish good looks'.
"We wanted to congratulate you, Prime
Guardian." AndrAIa smiled, "No one
deserves it more than you do."
Bob blushed slightly and lowered his
eyes, "Maybe."
"What do you mean maybe?" AndrAIa placed her hands on her hips, "Don't
you start that 'angsty' stuff Bob, I have enough trouble dealing with Matrix!"
"Hey!" Matrix turned around and gave her a look of mock indignation.
Bob decided he had better head the
inevitable argument off while he could, "By the way, you two, thank you for
rescuing me."
"I screwed up and nearly got you
deleted!" Matrix said.
"Enzo, it's all right. You didn't see me hanging up there, nobody
did. You had to defend yourselves when
Tentacles attacked you."
I know but --,"
"Enzo," Dot reached across the bed and
laid her hands on top of her brothers', "Matrix –it's all right. We've won and Bob is back with us."
Matrix looked into his sister's eyes
for the first time since he had been infected and returned her slight smile.
Maybe there's hope after all,
Bob thought.
***
"You should have seen her, sugah!" Mouse went on and standing behind her, Ray
shook his head in amusement. "Dot fired
on that portal and the whole thing went up. Took out more of them than I could count."
"So I've been told," Bob gave Dot a
stern look and she blushed.
"Uh oh, he's not giving you trouble is
he, sugah?" Mouse asked Dot.
"For firing into a portal? Oh no, why should I be upset about that?"
"It's worked didn't it?" Dot muttered.
"Yeah, lighten up, sugah," Mouse said.
"Hmph," Bob snorted, "Help me out here,
Ray."
"Oh no mate," Ray raised his hands in
surrender, "You're on your own. You're not getting me in the middle of those
two."
"Thanks a lot, Ray."
"He thinks he's hot chips now because
he's Prime Guardian," Mouse said. "Oh
yeah, congrats, by the way."
"Better late than never, eh
Mouse?" Bob smiled, "So lady, do you
want a position on my staff?"
"What? Are you joking? Be in the
Guardian Collective? Besides, I've
already decided to accept a previous job offer," Mouse smiled at Dot, who
looked at first astonished, then pleased.
"What? Dot? You offered Mouse a
position?"
"You snooze you lose," Dot said
smugly. "Mouse is now our official
weapons and tactics chief."
"Well I'll be damned," Bob smiled,
"Congratulations Mouse. Finally
settling down?"
"Course not!" I'm just takin' this because I've been bored as of late (Ray gave
her an incredulous look) and this will make a nice diversion."
"Same old Mouse," Bob smiled.
***
Visitors came and went daily, much to
Rose's annoyance, who kept insisting that everyone leave Bob to get some
rest. But actually Bob was more to
blame than the visitors. He insisted on
daily reports as to the condition of the outside world. Most of this information came from Dot, who
couldn't spend as much time with him as she liked since the cleanup efforts
were in full swing.
Of the thousand or so Guardians present
in the S.C., only a few hundred were present and accounted four. However messages were coming in from
Guardians in the outlaying systems, now free of the infection. Some were cries for help as the people rose
against the Guardian forces in their confusion.
The Mainframers were spreading the word
throughout the capitol of Daemon's destruction and assisting in the cleanup
effort. Rose and her new staff were
working round the clock treating wounds and combing the city and towns for
anyone who needed medical aide. Bob was
beginning to feel a little guilty just lying around, although Dot assured him
he deserved it after what he had been through.
As for the condition of the Hall, Katiyana
had told him honestly (and he had appreciated that) that it was still in
horrible shape. A group had to be sent
in to eradicate the bugs and clean out the residue from Tentacles. It was a disgustingly arduous task that Bob
wouldn't wish on anyone.
Then came the mourning for the
dead. Although no one from the command
center personnel had been deleted, Bob was saddened to learn that their
casualties had been heavy and families hoping for a happy ending were now
forced to endure further misery. Bob
promised to himself to make it right.
Their troops had been decimated and the
damage to the Mercurius extensive. It would be many cycles before the ship would be flight ready. Dom graciously offered his factory and the
land surrounding for the continued use of the war-weary Resistance. Irina and Max would remain in the Super
Computer until their ships were repaired.
Katiyana had suggested a job for Zif on
the new High Council and Bob had agreed but Zif had refused. He wanted to be a Guardian studying the
games and developing new techniques to win them, which was what he had wanted
when he applied to the Academy. Bob had
sworn him in immediately.
SiRCe, also turned down his offer of a
Council Position, stating she wanted to rebuild her life somewhere else as the
Super Computer held to many bad memories for her. Bob suspected what the situation was but out of respect for her,
said nothing.
As for the uprising against the
Guardians Bob knew the dissention was very real.
He often heard the medical staff
whispering about it at night when they thought he was asleep. Bob didn't know how much time he had to stop
another conflict, so he concentrated on getting better as soon as possible.
Bob also learned that dozens of enemy
troops had been taken and were now residing in the Hall detention area and the
converted storerooms similar to the ones Bob and Matrix had been held in. He learned from Dot of the enemy prisoners
in Mainframe. Well that was another
file he would access when the time came.
***
Late one night, at the end of the
cycle, he had another visitor.
"Bob?"
"Hexadecimal." Bob said.
She appeared before him, "So my mother
is dead."
"Yes."
"And you deleted her?"
"Yes."
"Then I should delete you. It is my duty to avenge her. Don't take this personally, Bob."
"Do what you feel you must, Hex," Bob
said.
The Chaos Virus approached the
bed. She laid a hand on Bob's chest a
for awhile was silent, "Something is missing."
"I know."
"Does Dot know?"
"Hex, I don't understand what happened
myself, so how could I explain it to Dot?"
The virus chuckled, "I suppose I'll be
horribly bored now that this is all over."
"Are you kidding? You have Melissa. Believe me, life won't be boring, ask Dot."
"Hmm," Hex mused, "Perhaps I'll avenge
my mother later." Then to Bob's
surprise, Hex gave him a kiss on the mouth. Bob accepted it without protest, "I have always wanted to do that." Then she was gone.
Bob shook his head, "That is one
strange lady."
***
Applause broke out as Dot helped Bob
into the command center. It lasted for
a good five nanos, while Bob stood, smiling embarrassedly, his face flushed.
Gavin approached and handed him a mug,
"Drink up, lad! This is the first time
we've had ta' celebrate and ye are the guest of honor!"
Cheers and whistles erupted once again,
as Bob drank deeply of the frothy brew.
Dot helped him to a seat; "We have a
surprise for you."
"Dot please, I don't think I could take
anymore --,"
"Hello, my son."
"Phong?"
The venerable sprite rolled towards
him. "Hex was so kind as to portal me
here but I cannot stay long – why --- what is wrong my son? Why are you staring at me like that?"
Bob frowned at his old friend as a
memory flitted just beyond coherency, then Bob shrugged, "I'm just surprised
you're out of the P.O."
"As I said, I cannot stay. Specks is seeing to things and he has Hack
and Slash to assist him --,"
"Hack and Slash?"
"Yes, I know. I wanted to see if you were well and hope you will be coming home
soon?"
"Yes," Bob said. "As soon as we tie up some loose ends here."
"Very well – oh – by the way -- where
is Melissa?"
Almost shyly, the little virus stepped
forward. She was the only person who
had not visited Bob and the newly appointed Prime Guardian wondered if she were
embarrassed because she hadn't believed in him. He would find out one way or another.
"You will be staying with Hex in
Mainframe?" Phong asked her.
"Yes, Phong." Melissa replied.
"Enzo had made a request of me, but I
needed to be certain before I acted," Phong opened his built-in file drawer,
rummaged around for a nano and withdrew an icon, "Then you will need this."
"Ooh! How nice," Hex said. "I just
love playing dress up!"
"That is for me?" Melissa said. "An icon?"
"When you return to Mainframe I will
register you properly -- if you desire."
"Of course she does!" Enzo chimed in, then blushed and looked at
Melissa, "I mean, you do, don't you?"
"Yes," Melissa said, "Thank you Phong."
"You are quite welcome, my child."
"You see Melissa," Enzo said, "I told you
everything would turn out all right. Like Bob said all you had to have was a little faith. I knew it wasn't
going to be easy but I knew that it would turn out like I said and now we can
be friends and you'll live in Mainframe and --,"
Melissa placed two fingers on his lips,
"You're cute when you babble." And the
girl-child virus moved her fingers and gave Enzo a quick peck on the lips.
Everyone in the room stared in
speechless shock but none the more shocked than Enzo. When Melissa stepped back his violet eyes grew wide and his mouth
opened but the only thing that came out was an unintelligible croak.
"Enzo speechless," It was Matrix who
finally broke the silence, "Now how long have I been waiting to see that?"
"Melissa!" Enzo said when he regained his voice. The room erupted into pleased laughter and Enzo blushed hotly,
but the little sprite didn't seem as put out as all that.
Bob thought how glad he was to be among
them.
***
"Where are we going?" Dot asked him for the nth time. She had a million things to do at the
command center and now her love had pulled her away, making some excuse about
needing her to help him with some 'things'. He had literally dragged her outside and coxed her behind him on a zip
board.
"You'll see," Bob said cryptically. "I will say this – you and I haven't had any
time alone since I returned and besides, you needed a break. You've got a lot written on your disk,
pretty lady."
"Yes," foremost in her mind were the
two Enzo's. She had missed one brother
growing up and now it seemed his young counterpart was growing up as well. Although the peck had been innocent, it was
an uncomfortable reminder to Dot that her little brother would not be little
forever.
Dot almost didn't realize it when they
descended into the forest and landed near the pond that had served as their
emergency water supply. "This is nice."
"Um hmm," Bob smiled and he pulled her
to him and kissed her.
"We're going home tomorrow." Dot
said. "I can't wait."
"Neither can I" Bob smiled at her. "Things are going to be difficult for us
over the next few minutes. We might not
get to see each other as often."
"I know," Dot sighed. "Not to mention that there will be trouble
from all directions. You've got a
daunting task ahead of you, Prime Guardian."
"You know that title sounds so nice
coming from you," Bob held her tight. "You'll be with me."
"Always." Dot breathed against his mouth and then she kissed him.
***
The Mainframers stood a short distance
away in the clearing where the ships once again had landed and were undergoing
repairs. Their forces would remain
there until the ships were fully operational, then make the journey back. For now, the Senior Staff would return home
temporarily. Hexadecimal prepared to
create a portal as Bob still wasn't up to full power and Rose had expressly
forbidden him to do it. Dot was giving
last minute instructions to Dom.
"We should be back in a cycle," Dot
said. "Continue with all clean up and
repair operations and contact me ASAP if you have any questions or
concerns. And
Dom --,"
"Yes?"
"I think we're going to make a great
team. I never thought of having my own
confectioners company."
"Yes, I believe so, to." Dom smiled.
Dot saw Katiyana and SiRCe coming
towards them. "You know, SiRCe has some
fine leadership qualities. Perhaps you
can convince her to stay in the Super Computer and assist you."
Dom blushed scarlet. "That would be nice."
The portal opened behind them, "See you
in a cycle." Dot said.
Katiyana approached Bob; "I'll hold
everything down within the Capitol until you return."
"Thank you, Katiyana, for everything."
"No," Katiyana embraced him, "Thank
you. You sacrificed much and you saved
us all."
Dot moved next to Bob and the two
stared with happiness at the sight of Mainframe within the portal.
"The most beautiful thing you've ever
seen, isn't it?" She asked him.
"Not as beautiful as you," Bob replied
"Oh very nice, you're getting good at
that."
"Thank you."
Matrix and AndrAIa were the first
through. Mouse and Ray followed. Enzo helped Melissa inside.
"Well come on you two!" Hex said. "I can't keep this open forever!"
Bob sighed and slipped his arm around
Dot's waist and gave it a squeeze, "Lets go home, sweetheart."
"I couldn't have put it better myself."
***
It was a familiar scene; the cheering
masses greeted them again when they arrived. Mainframe was truly safe as last. Bob and Dot once again surveyed the scene of celebration but this time,
their thoughts were on a different line.
"I hope we're worthy of this," Dot
said. "It's far from over. There's still a lot that needs to be done."
"Yes," Bob whispered. His thoughts turning to his new title and
all the new trials they faced.
"But we'll be all right Bob."
"I know we will." The Prime Guardian turned to her and drew
her against him and kissed her.
"For now," Bob said. "I'm just glad we've come home."
Authors afterward:
You know it is necessary to add the
obligatory afterward. First off, I
wanted to say how much fun it was writing this work (and how hard, time
consuming, and frustrating) but nothing good is ever easy. I hope everyone who has read this enjoyed
it. I hope I captured the essence of
Reboot and all its marvelous characters. As previously stated I had fun writing it, and I'd love to hear your
feedback, or if you want to contact me just to talk Reboot that's fine
too. Email me at ladybard3@home.com or
you can ICQ, MSN. Yahoo or AOL Instant Message me.
There are also people I must mention here and I think
they deserve hearty thanks for their assistance. Julia Cat, Daemon (Meghan Wilk), Meighan Birrell, and Charisma,
for allowing me to showcase my work on their wonderful sites. And to Hanako (distant rumble of thunder)
for all her opinions and criticisms, which were an immense help, as well as Dan
Green for his opinions and thoughtful insights on the Enzo's.
But to coin a phrase from Mike the TV, "But wait, there's
more!" Look for the sequel to Daemon
Conflict, tentatively titled, "Aftermath: Daemon's Legacy" (may change). It will pick up where the story left off an
alternate between a few months and about seven years from Conflict and tie up
all the loose ends. Stay Frosty
everyone!
LadyBard