Thanks to Taryl and Ladybard for their ongoing help.
Oh, and: Happy birthday, Lauren!
It was like someone turned my turbo switch off as soon as me and Lisa weren't together anymore – I started hurting again, all over. All in all it had been a pretty rough couple of cycles for me, physically. I had:
- Bruised knuckles on my right hand from punching Zips's ugly face (Yes!)
- A big welt on my bitmap from Zip's stupid wet towel
- Bruises on my hip and elbow from falling on the floor in the shower
- A bump on the back of the head from where Calisto hit me
- Scraped palms from catching myself after he hit me
- A fat lip and a cut inside my mouth from Zip's first punch
- A bruise on my stomach from Zip's sucker punch
Mostly I didn't feel too bad about all that, 'cause it was like a finally had battle scars or something. But it was that last one that really hurt – Zip had punched me hard and I felt that ache in my gut with every step I took once Lisa had gone home and my feet were touching the ground again. So I zipped home.
When I was walking through the main hall towards the elevator this time, I didn't look down at my feet – I stared right back at anybody who wanted to look at me. A couple of guys did, and I think I saw a little surprise in their faces – they thought they had me figured as the weakling kid everyone was gonna pick on, but now they weren't totally sure. It was a step in the right direction.
So I was feeling pretty good when I limped back to my room, sorta like a wounded warrior coming home from winning a battle. Even though I could've done without a couple of the wounds. But like always things happen different than I expect them to, so I shouldn't have been surprised when I saw Mouse lounging back on my bed.
"Hey, Sugar. Thought you was never gonna get back here."
"Mouse!"
"That's my name."
"Where's-"
"Sent him down to the rec room for a while – I told him you and I needed a few nanos to sort some files. Shoulda seen him scurry away – I think the little fella's scared o' me for some reason!"
"Why- What's going on?"
"C'mon over here and set, Sugar." Mouse sighed, patting the bed next to her. "We need to talk."
"OK." I gulped. I went and sat next to her and she stared down at me accusingly. "What's the matter?"
"Why didn't you tell me 'bout what happened to you, Pumpkin?"
I decided to try and play dumb. "What do you mean?"
"C'mon, now – you should know you can't slip anythin' past the Mouse. Why didn't ya tell me?"
"Crash." I sighed. "How'd you find out?"
"Never you mind, Sweetie. In case you hadn't noticed, I got more than a passing interest in your welfare. Why didn't you come to me after it happened?"
Crash! I really didn't want to talk about the shower thing with anybody – I just wanted to forget it. It wasn't exactly my finest nano. And now Mouse knew, which meant Ray knew and maybe even Laser, too. "Can't we just forget it, Mouse?"
"Not hardly! Hazing is pretty serious business any time – but when it's you-"
"You didn't tell Dot, did you?" I gulped.
"No." Mouse frowned. "I ain't talked to Dot. But-"
"Don't tell her! Please! Or Bob – he said I had to try and be my own man. Don't tell anyone in Mainframe, all right? Promise!"
"Enzo, it ain't nothin' for you to be ashamed of-"
"Please don't, Mouse! I'd delete if they found out!"
She stared at me and pursed her lips. "All right – I'll take that under advisement, let's say. But why didn't y'all come to me?"
"I dunno… I didn't want to go to anybody. I just wanted to forget about it."
"It don't work that way, Hon."
"I… I know that. Now."
"Enzo, lemme tell you somethin', all right? You remember when Laser first came to Mainframe – all that way back when? And he asked you to come to the Academy?"
"Sure."
"I bet you do. Well, I made a promise to your sister back then, Kiddo – I promised that if y'all came here, I 'd look after you and make sure you were OK. And I intend to keep that promise, so ya better get yourself used to it."
"Really?"
"Shore." Mouse smiled. "Like you was my own boy, Sugar. I ain't never had a kid o' my own and I don't expect I ever will, now – that's maybe one of the reasons I decided to come here, help look after you young sprites a little bit. But you're special, Sugar – and not just because you're Dot and Bob's boy neither. You understand what I'm sayin'?"
"I… I think so. Thanks, Mouse. But I'm really OK."
"Honey, that was a terrible thing those boys did. Now why don't y'all tell me who did it and I'll just take my katana and-"
"No." I whispered. "I don't want to, Mouse. That'll just make it worse."
"Dang it, Boy – don't you wanna see those nulls get what's comin'? They oughtta be punished for what they did! It's wrong!"
"I know… But I'd rather handle it myself – OK? Please? I don't wanna be a crybaby."
"Crybaby – sheesh, Kid." Mouse scowled at me. She looked away and stared thoughtfully for a couple of nanos. "It was Zip, wasn't it?"
"Uh-"
"I knew it! Bet he had a couple slimy little helpers, but it was him, wasn't it?"
"Mouse…" I thought about trying to deny it, but there was no way I was gonna put anything over on Mouse. "Please don't say anything!"
"I knew it! That kid's no good, never trusted him. Always got a look on his face like he's puttin' something over… Maybe I'll just pay him a little visit and make sure he don't try nothin' like this again-"
"No, Mouse! Please – that'll make things worse! I can take care of myself, honest!"
"But what he did was wrong Enzo! That kid's a rotten apple if I ever saw one!"
"I know – but if you get him in trouble he'll think I told on him and then he'll never leave me alone."
"What makes ya think he'll leave ya alone anyway, Sugar?"
I looked down at my feet. "Um… I sorta had a fight with him, and-"
"A fight? Crash it all, Kid – what the heck were ya thinkin', fightin' with a kid twice yer size?"
"I didn't want to! He started it, he… He hit me on the head and he pushed me and he told me I couldn't use the rec room anymore and he really pissed me off!"
"Fightin' ain't allowed here, Hon – in case you didn't know. You wanna get yer little ascii expelled?"
"No!" I looked up at her pleadingly. "But I had to stand up for myself, Mouse – that's what Matrix told me about bullies and he was right. Please don't tell on me!"
"Kid…" Mouse looked at me and sighed. "I won't tell on you – 'course not. But you shouldn't be fightin' other cadets, especially big ones like Zip. Getting' beat up ain't gonna solve yer problems."
"I didn't get beat up." I said proudly. "Well – not when it was just me and him, anyways. I gave him better than he gave me."
"What? Now, Enzo-"
"It's true! He hit me a couple times, but then I figured out his weakness and I wasn't afraid of him anymore. And when he saw he couldn't beat me real easy he got madder and madder, and then I popped him a good one right under his eye. Take a look at him if you don't believe me! That's when he got that other null Calisto to hold me down. But he couldn't take me till then!"
"Calisto was helpin' him, huh?"
"Crash!" Me any my big mouth! "Well, it's true – I was beatin' him fair and square before that moron grabbed me and Zip punched me in the stomach."
"Dang, Kid." Mouse sighed. "You are somethin' else!"
"So please don't tell those guys you know, K? It's better if I take care of it myself. And don't tell Bob an' Dot!"
"Punched ya, huh? I thought you was limpin' when you came in here. You OK, Sugar?"
"Yeah… Just a little banged up. But so's he."
"User, I'd like to take my katana to those skunks and make sure they don't breed…" She looked down at me and shook her head. "So ya popped him good, huh? Right in the eye?"
"Yeah." I grinned. "He had it coming. I was scared at first, but once I got over that it really wasn't too bad. Until they ganged up on me, anyways."
"Wait." Mouse frowned. "So they ganged up on ya – Calisto held ya down while Zip was hittin' ya?"
"Yeah."
"So what happened, Kid? You seem to have all your teeth, near as I can see!"
"Oh! Uh…" I shrugged. "Quantum stopped 'em, actually."
"Quantum?" Mouse laughed. "That ornery possum? Don't surprise me, Sugar – that kid's full o' vinegar but he wouldn't hold with two big boys beatin' on one little one. Not his style."
"Yeah, well…" I let out a big breath. "I was a little scared of Quantum at first – I guess I still am. But I was lucky he got there when he did, 'cause those guys might've beat me up pretty bad. Zip was really mad after I smashed his face."
"Oh, Sugar." Mouse sighed. "You came this close to getting' hurt bad – ya know that, dontcha?"
"Uh – yeah. I guess." I hadn't thought about it exactly like that, but she was probably right.
"I don't believe in a lotta hand-holdin' – I think kids gotta learn stuff for themselves sometimes, even if they get their hair messed up a little. But them boys is a lot bigger than you are – and I couldn't forgive myself if somethin' was to happen to you. Not to mention Dot would have my ascii in a sling. So I'll be watchin', you get me?"
"I know. Thanks." I said softly. "But you went tell anyone else? You promise?"
Mouse frowned disapprovingly, then chuckled. "Yeah, promise. But I'll be watchin' and don't you forget it."
"Alphanumeric!"
"Kid." She sighed, and patted my cheek. "C'mere an' let me take a look at ya – we can't have you goin' to the infirmary, can we?"
"I told you I'm fine-"
"An' I told you to c'mere! Now shut yer input and let me look at you, OK? I picked up a thing or two about medical programs these last few hours."
"Sorry." I pulled my legs up on the bed and swiveled to face her.
"All right. Let's start off with your gut – you said Zip pole-axed ya while Calisto was holdin' ya down?"
"Yeah."
"Bastards." Mouse got a truly frightening look on her face, then. "You can do a lot o' damage to someone that way – bust up their insides real bad. Does it hurt?" She gently prodded my belly with her fingers.
"Yeah. A little." I winced.
"More than a little, I'm guessin'." She pulled up my shirt and continued to probe with her fingers all around my stomach, pressing softtly. "Nasty little bruise. Crash…"
"Oooooh!" She hit the spot right then – a wave of queasiness shot up to my head when she did and I almost tipped over. Then I almost heaved my breakfast.
"Hush now, Pumpkin." She gently tested the area around the bruise for a nano, while I whined and squirmed. "Poor kid. There - all done. C'mere." She smiled and wrapped her arm around me. "Sorry, Enzo – didn't mean to hurt ya like that. But it hadda be done."
"I know - it's OK." I panted through clenched teeth. "Is- is it bad?"
"I don't think so – I was worried he might've ruptured your stomach, but it doesn't look like it. You'd have a lot bigger bruise if he did. I really should take ya to the infirmary just to be safe-"
"No – please! It's OK."
"All right." She sighed. "If that bruise gets any bigger you tell me immediately, got that? Or if the pain gets worse?"
"Yeah, I will."
"Promise me, Sugar."
"Promise, Mouse."
"All righty. What else?"
"Um…" I decided not to tell her about the welt on my butt. It wasn't a hard decision. I held up my arm. "They pushed me down. In the shower – I got a little bruise on my elbow."
"Hmmm." She examined it for a few nanos, bending and straightening my arm. "Nothing broken here. What else?"
I held out my hands. "Scraped these when Calisto pushed me down, after the game. And…" I flexed my right into a fist. "Zip hit this one with his face."
"You little… Yer proud of it, ain't ya?"
"Maybe a little." I grinned.
"Well... Between you and me, you should be – but I never said that. Scrapes'll heal up just fine in a cycle or two – those knuckles are pretty bruised up, though. Lucky you didn't break your hand."
"I guess."
"Dang – you did whap that boy good, didn't ya? Go ahead and flex those fingers a couple times for me." I did, slowly. "Again." I did. "Lucked out again – no broken hand. If ya can, put some ice on 'em, though – they'll swell up a mess if you don't. I'll drop off a couple o' cold compresses later. Anythin' else?"
"Calisto hit me on the head." I pointed behind me.
"Ain't that nice. Well – you got a little bump here, but it don't seem too bad. You havin' any bad headaches?"
"No."
"Dizziness?"
"Not until you pressed on my belly."
"Nobody likes a smart-ascii, Son. You tellin' me the truth? You could have a concussion easy enough."
"Cross my heart."
Mouse smiled and tousled the hair around the bump. "Anything else?"
"Well… Zip did get in one punch before I nailed him." I pointed to my lower lip. "Right in the mouth."
She frowned. "Hmm. Little swollen, ain't she. Open up, Sugar." She leaned in close. "Any loose teeth?"
"Nnnh hhhh."
"I'll take that for a 'no'. Got a little cut inside here – don't look too bad." She gently felt around my lower lip with her fingers. After a nano she stopped and pulled away, then frowned at me and narrowed her eyes.
"What?" I said, a little nervously.
"Sugar!"
"What? What is it?"
"That's a new shade o' lipstick for ya, ain't it Honey?"
My heart started to race and then decided to jump up into my throat. "I- Uh… That is-"
"Lipstick. Care to explain this?"
"What? There's n-no l-lipstick." Whatever color my lips were, I'm sure my face was even redder.
Mouse held up her fingers, stained red. "Well?"
"Blood?" I offered weakly.
"Now, Sugar. It ain't nice to fool the Mouse."
"Geez…"
She scowled and scratched her head. "Ain't that a kick. Can't figger this out – you sure don't seem like the lipstick wearin' type. Unless… Honey – don't tell me you got yerself a little filly?"
"Uh-"
"Already?" Mouse cackled and slapped her knee. "Don't that beat all! Why Enzo – I never would've figgered it! You ain't but been here a few cycles!"
"It's no big deal." I whined. "I didn't mean to kiss her, it just sorta… Happened."
"Always does, Honey. Always does." She laughed again. "Who is it?"
"I don't wanna say." I mumbled.
"All right, fair 'nough." She giggled. "You know fraternizin' is against the rules too – sorta like fightin'?"
"Yeah – I know. I couldn't help it, I'm sorry. Please don't tell!"
"Take it easy, Sugar. I ain't gonna stand in the way o' young love, now."
"Thanks."
"Crash – shoulda figured after being stuck in Mainframe all that time you'd be rarin' to go. But you do work fast!"
"Aw Mouse – it's no big deal, honest."
"Hot damn. Ain't that somethin'. Enzo, I know it all must seem pretty pixelacious to you right now – but they got rules about this sorta thing for a reason. You're here to concentrate on the program and learn, and getting' squeezy with some girl ain't always the best way to go about it. You might not be old enough to keep your priorities in order-"
"I am too, Mouse! I won't forget why I'm here. I won't let everybody down, I promise I won't."
"Yeah." She sighed. "You broke an awful lot o' rules for yer first minute – not sure I like the trend. I know the fightin' wasn't really yer fault, and I'm sure yer little girlfriend is as sweet and pretty as can be, so I won't take any o' this to Laser for now – though I can't promise he won't find out anyways, way you kids gossip – or even Bob and Dot. But if I see you slackin' off even a little, I'll be all over you like Microsoft on Netscape – you got that?"
"Got it." I gulped. I was starting to feel guilty about going off the program so fast. Sometimes things just spiraled out of control and it seemed like there was nothing I could do about it.
"I mean it – I'll keep you in line even if I have to bust yer ascii."
"I know. I'm really sorry – I'll try to do better."
"Yeah – I know ya will, Hon. You always do." She folded her arms and stared at me for a nano while I fidgeted. "Yer a long way from home now, ain't ya?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Come on over here." She smiled and opened her arms, and I slid over and she hugged me. I was a little surprised at first, but then it felt really nice. I closed my eyes and I could almost pretend it was Dot, only with a lot more muscles. "I'm beginnin' to see why your sister and the Guardian are so crazy about you, Honey."
"You too, Mouse."
"I made a promise to that gal, and I plan to keep it. So you just do your best and I'll be here, all right?"
"I'll try. I dunno how everything got so messed up…"
"I know, Sugar – I was a kid too, once." I'd never really heard Mouse talk like this before. It was nice – like she was letting me see another person she had inside her. "Tossed outside in your altogether… Ganged up on, punched, fightin'… Kissin' a pretty girl… Guess it's been a pretty wild minute for ya, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Ya miss home?"
I didn't answer her for a few nanos. "A lot."
"I know." She squeezed me once, hard, and smiled down at me. "I see the man now, when I look at you – but the boy's still there too. Yer at a tough age to be, Pumpkin - don't let it get to you too much. No matter how bad it seems I promise you'll get through it, OK?"
"OK." I smiled back. It was right then that I realized something important about my life – something I'd sorta been aware of for a long time without really being aware of it. In a way, it was like everyone from Mainframe – even Mouse and Ray, who came later – were my parents.
Mostly I'd thought my not having real parents and how it affected my life, but I'd almost missed something just as important – Mainframe had no kids. And because of that it was like I was the whole town's kid – they didn't have anyone else, so they all took looked out for me and took care of me. I could sense that this was really important – it explained a lot of things about how I was now. I was used to being the youngest – way youngest – and I was used to other sprites protecting me and shielding me from the really bad stuff. That was really comforting in a way.
But in another way, it bothered me – because it seemed like it would make it that much harder for me to change my life now. I was at the Academy, but I was still the youngest and the littlest, and I had Laser running the place, and he was like a grandpa in a lot of ways. And Mouse and Ray. And even Quantum had stepped in and protected me when I was about to get beat on bad. Had things really changed all that much?
The scraggy thing was it felt good to have Mouse hug me and take care of my bruises and scrapes. Everybody who took care of me did it because they were good sprites – Dot filled in for Mom, Bob became my Dad, Matrix tried to protect me so I wouldn't have to deal with the stuff he had. I loved all of them and some part of me liked having all those sprites watching out for me. But sooner or later I had to be my own man, like Bob said. Maybe I'd taken a little step towards that by standing up to Zip, even when I was pretty sure I'd get beat up. And maybe I was taking another one by not letting Mouse tell anyone back home how bad things had gotten for me.
Mouse tousled my hair a couple times, and more than anything else I just felt grateful to her at that nano. "Good boy. I'll clear out and let that little roommate o' yours come on back, now. I'll bring over some ice packs for those bruises later, all right?"
"K. Thanks Mouse – you're the best."
"Don't I know it, Sugar. I'll be around when ya need me."
"I know." She stared at me for a few nanos, smiled and patted my cheek. Then she winked at me and took off, leaving me along with my thoughts for the first time all cycle.