A Guardian's Past
By Julia Cat

Part 2 - Formation

Bob walked off the data-plane cautiously and hesitantly. He was very nervous and very scared. He hesitated a little more when he saw someone running towards him. He then realized that it must be the Prime Guardian.

"Bob, I presume?" the male sprite asked in an authoritative voice.

"I guess that would be me," Bob said a little reluctantly.

"I'm Cyberspace, Prime Guardian. I've come to escort you to the Academy, where you'll spend your next ten hours."

"That's what I figured, since you seem to be the only one who recognizes me," Bob said, relieved that this person was actually going to be nice to him. "Wait a nano, TEN hours? When my father went, it was only for five."

"Your father started at a later age. You will have prime training and will be educated until you are a top level Guardian. Your father and I had a meeting and decided that you'd make the perfect subject for this hour's target."

"Target?" Bob asked. This was getting a little confusing.

"Once an hour, we select a special sprite who will take the full training to become a first-level Guardian. From what I hear, you'll make the perfect top-level Guardian," Cyberspace said with a crooked smile.

Bob was beyond stunned. Me? A top-level Guardian? I can't believe it! Dad had this in mind the whole time and I didn't even know it. I guess that's why he was so intent on my going. I really owe a lot to him, he thought to himself. "Why was I the perfect subject?"

"You have all the qualities required. You're compulsive, loyal, protective, and above all, you're a great friend to those in need. At least that's what I heard from your dad, and he must know best. We should get going back to the Academy. You've had a rough ride. You'll need a full night of sleep to prepare for your training tomorrow."

The two started off for the Guardian Academy.

* * *

"Wow! Impressive place you got here!" Bob remarked as he stood in the main hall admiring his surroundings.

The place was massive, but Bob expected this much; it was the famed Guardian Academy. It was the decorations that made his breath get caught in his throat. There were pictures of every single Guardian that ever existed on the walls. They all went in chronological order, from the oldest, to the most recent. If he searched long enough, he would probably find a picture of his father, but he'd do that another time.

"Well, Bob, I'll show you to your room," Cyberspace said as he motioned for Bob to follow him up the winding staircase to the first floor.

As they ascended the stairs, Bob's mind started to wander back to his home, and Mouse. He wondered if he'd ever see her again, like he'd promised her. Mouse will never forgive me for staying this long! Well, now that I'm here, I guess I'd better do what Dad said and try to make the most of this. This is, after all, a once in a lifetime opportunity, Bob thought to himself dismally.

They entered the room where Bob was to stay. The sight of it was even more impressive than the main hall... for a bedroom, anyway. There were numerous plaques on the walls, each indicating the name of every Guardian that had been in this room. A smile slowly crossed over Bob's face. He was obviously a little more than impressed. He set his bags down on the floor, and got into bed. Soon, he fell into deep sleep.

The next morning, Bob went down to the meeting room where all the new recruits would get their instructions. There were approximately seventeen other new recruits besides himself, and there was also a female Guardian-in-training who explained that she was in her last year at the Academy. She was to explain the basic outline of the training, as well as tell them a bit about herself and her background.

The sprite's name was Chroma and she was twenty four hours old. She had come to the Academy because her parents had been deleted in an accident, and the only thing she could think to do was to become a protector of the innocent to prevent any of this from happening again.

She explained that the Guardian training course was usually based on skill and cunning. The recruits were going to learn how to defend, how to play games and win, how to deal with shady business and other such problems, and, finally, how to make a good image as a Guardian. All these combined elements would make a great Guardian.

After the lecture, Bob walked up to Chroma and said: "Um, hi. I'm Bob, and I didn't exactly come here out of my own free will, like you. How you can stand this place, after all this time?"

"Personally, I love it. At first, as I mentioned before, I did not come here of my own free will. I felt the same way you do now; I didn't want to come. Sure, the normal school-like courses are boring, but the Guardian training courses are a lot of fun." She paused and drew a breath before continuing in a more excited tone. "They teach you survival skills, protocol, basically, everything a Guardian should know. The games survival skill are really amazing. It's like a hyped up version of gym glass."

"Well, it does sound like I'll have a good time in the training part, but not in the school part. I've always hated school. I don't know how I'll be able to manage a Guardian training course and school work," Bob said with a sigh.

"Well, let I'll let you in on a little secret," Chroma said in a more confined tone. She glanced around and lowered her voice even more before whispering: "The Guardians are terrible at school-type education. Remember that they're Guardians teaching normal courses. They're not expected to do well at things out of their normal field range." Chroma paused briefly to study Bob's expression. To her satisfaction, a small smile started tugging at the corners of his mouth. She continued in the same quiet manner. "If you ever need help, I'll be there. I tutor younger sprites who are having difficulty in their school-type studies."

"You'd do that? Thanks. Do you want to know my... um...." he faltered.

"Situation?" Chroma suggested.

"Yeah. Well, do you?"

"Sure. It certainly would help better my understanding of you when I tutor you," she said helpfully.

"Okay, I'll start at the beginning. I come from the Net and was initiated in a system called Powerpoint. I--"

"Powerpoint?!" Chroma interrupted. "That's where I compiled up!"

"Really? Small 'Net, isn't it? Anyway, soon after my mother had my little sister, Pixel, just under two hours ago, she got really sick and--" Bob took a deep breath, seeming to Chroma as if he were trying to stifle a sob. "--she was... deleted.

"My father had promised her before she had been deleted, that he'd give both Pix and me Guardian training. Only yesterday, I found out that I was the selected one for the 'target' to become the top-level Guardian." As Bob finished, a single tear rolled down his cheek, and he seemed to go into a deep reverie. He was thinking about his mother.

"I'm so sorry. About your mother, I mean. I'll try to help you as best I can, but I don't know if I'll succeed. Just remember that I'll be trying my best," Chroma said reproachfully.

"I know you'll try your best. Thank you for the offer. Thank you."

* * *

"Attention all staff and students. We have a... rather disturbing announcement to make," the secretary said in a choked voice over the school's P.A. Bob set down his pencil thankfully and looked up from his math test. "Our Prime Guardian, Cyberspace, had a fatal core-com attack last night. Early this morning... he was deleted." The voice stopped periodically, as if to calm down, then continued: "Our new Prime Guardian is Turbo, a dedicated man who worked very hard to attain this place. Please make him feel welcome." The intercom shut off abruptly; only to be turned on again as a deep male voice with a distinctly southern accent took over.

"Hello to y'all. Ah'm Turbo, your new Prahm Guardian. Ah will trah mah best tah teach the courses that Cahberspace had, but Ah'm not sure Ah'll do too well for a while. Ah will be teaching Game Survival and Protection. Ah hope Ah'll fit in soon enough. Thank ya for your tahm." The P.A. shut off again to leave Bob's class rather stunned in silence.

A girl sitting in front of Bob, Platter, one of Bob's new friends in his first few cycles at the Academy, turned around and said: "Are you as shocked as I am?"

"Yes, I am. Cyberspace seemed so... full of energy and life. How could he just... let that happen to himself? I don't understand."

"Good. I just wanted to know that I'm not the only one." With that, Platter turned back to her test.

Apparently, Platter wasn't alone at all. In their next class, the teacher made the class write an essay on what Cyberspace had meant to them. The whole class aced the project.

Throughout that whole cycle, the staff at the Academy prepared a remembrance ceremony for Cyberspace. They did everything they could to make it worthwhile. At the end of that cycle, they had the ceremony, and many an impressive and tear-jerking speech was made.

Bob's attention was slipping away from a particularly boring speech when he heard the speaker announce Chroma's name. He jerked his head up and smiled with a dawning awareness as his tutor walked across the stage to stop at the podium. Chroma was going to give a speech.

"Teachers, fellow students, and Turbo, our new Prime Guardian, we all know what Cyberspace meant to us. He was the leader of the collective for twenty wonderful hours, and I'm sure he will be sorely missed. Cyberspace taught me many a helpful lesson about life; he was more than a mentor, he was my friend. If it hadn't been for him, I may have even left the Academy. He was there through the good times, as well as the bad. However, there comes a time when he who is in power must step down, so that another may take his place. Turbo, as our new Prime Guardian, I wish you luck and many successes. I believe I speak for everyone when I say, congratulations." Chroma wiped away a tear and tried to look composed. It didn't work too well.

The auditorium was thundering with applause by the time she left the stage, everyone was amazed at her moving speech. Bob flashed her a smile.

Just then, Turbo stepped up to the podium. "Ah can see that Ah will be well treated here. With your support Ah may not be all that Cyberspace was, but Ah'll certainly trah mah best. Ah promise, Ah won't let any of you down. If anyone ever needs help in anything, be it in the school part or the training part, Ah'll be there for you. Thank you for your many hearty welcomes, for they have touched me deeply." With that, Turbo stepped down from the podium, and the Administrator rang the bell to signal the end of the school and training day.

Bob went up to his dorm and slept deeply. The next day was a holiday. He was looking forward to spending time with Platter. He didn't know why they were so close. He was beginning to fear that Platter would replace Mouse. No, he thought to himself, I'll never let anyone replace Mouse. Platter and I are only good friends. I guess I need a friend here. It can't possibly hurt anyone's feelings...

* * *

"Hey, Bob! I've been looking forward to today. So, did you talk to... um... what's her file name again?"

Platter and Bob were in the main hall the next morning with high hopes of a great day together. Platter was a little... too excited. So, excited in fact, that she had forgotten most of what she had wanted to tell Bob so badly.

"Her name is Chroma, and yes I did talk to her." Bob paused, just for a nanosecond. The look on Platter's face goaded him to continue. "She said that she came here under the same circumstances I did-- more or less. She said she'd be happy to help me with my school-type work, as well as a bit of training if I need it." Bob took a breath and stole a look at the Guardian-to-be who was standing at the end of the massive hall.

Chroma was looking rather depressed. Bob's only guess was that she was upset that Cyberspace had been deleted as soon as he had. He felt sorry for her. Poor Bob hadn't known the former Prime Guardian long enough to really show much emotion about his sudden deletion.

"So, what do you want to do?" Bob jumped as Platter's smooth voice broke his concentration on his thoughts. He turned to face her once more.

"I dunno. I actually think I want to call off our little rendezvous for today. I'm really feeling homesick. I'm gonna take it easy this second," Bob said a little reluctantly, nervous that Platter would be really disappointed at this statement.

"Oh. Okay," she said a little dejectedly. "I guess I'll go study for a little while. Um... bye. I guess..."

"Bye," Bob said, then added, "Wait!!" It was too late. Platter was already out of sight.

* * *

Bob was at his desk in his dorm, writing a letter to his best friend.

Dear Mouse,

I'm so sorry I had to do this to you; but it gets worse. I'm gonna be here for ten hours! My dad and Cyberspace discussed a few things and... well... I was selected as this hour's "target" for becoming a top-level Guardian. I'm so sorry. I'm going to try to visit you this Christmas, but I don't know if I'll be able to.

So far, the hour has been going okay, but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to stand this for ten hours. I'm gonna have to take a few million breaks so I don't go random.

Well, that's just about it. Try to write to me if you can, it would be really appreciated.

Your best friend, Bob.

P.S. I'm going to start writing a log next cycle, I want to chronologue my entire stay here.

Bob set down his pencil with a sigh. He meandered over to his bed, and picked up the read-me file he was reading. He had only read a few lines before he fell into a fitful sleep.

* * *

That was strange, somehow, he had found his way back to Powerpoint. But... how?! He in the Guardian Academy in the Supercomputer. How did he get back? Stranger than that, he was much bigger, almost as if he had skipped about ten hours. He was also wearing the Guardian uniform, along with a key-tool. Wow, is that strange! Oh well, Bob thought to himself, since I'm here, I'd better look for Mouse.

He took his zip-board, hopped on, and zipped on over to Mouse's house. Once he was there, he rang the doorbell. Mouse's father opened the door. "Yes? What is it?"

"Um... is Mouse home?" Bob asked tentatively. This was not like Mouse's dad. He had always greeted Bob with a smile. Now, he looked almost annoyed with his presence. What was going on?

"Yeah, she's upstairs. Why don't you go and apologize to her?" Mouse's dad asked with a sneer.

"Apologize? For what?" This was getting stranger by the nano.

"For abandoning her like you did ten hours ago. You went off to the Guardian Academy and never gave Mouse a word after that. Why didn't you call, or even come on Christmas?"

"Ten hours ago?" Now Bob was just plain lost. He decided to play along. "I wanted to visit her, I was too busy at the Academy to come."

"No, you weren't! You had time to go to your girlfriend's house."

"Girlfriend?? I've never had a girlfriend!"

"Yes you have. Her name is... Platter, I think?"

"Platter? She's just a friend! I have no attraction to her whatsoever."

"Not according to Mouse. She saw you two hours ago. She told me about everything, and it wasn't pretty in her words. I--"

"Dad?" Mouse's voice interrupted his rambling. "Who's there?"

"It's... an old friend, and a new enemy."

"Oooh. Enemy? Send him up here!" Mouse called.

"Go upstairs," Mouse's father told Bob, a menacing glare in his eyes. Bob suddenly had a very bad feeling about this.

He went upstairs ready to face his best friend with questions and protests. As soon as he entered her room, he stopped dead in his tracks. Mouse had certainly changed. She was drop-dead gorgeous. Bob's jaw went slack as he saw the look on her face. She did not look happy.

"Why didn't ya come to visit me, when you had time fer that slut of a girlfriend of yares?" she asked, pointing an accusing finger at Bob.

"I wanted to, I really did. I... I'm sorry," Bob said in a quiet, pleading tone. He was feeling small and sad.

"Sorry ain't gonna cut it, Honey. Ah'm sorry, but Ah'm gonna have to take you out."

"What?"

In response to Bob's query, Mouse punched him in the jaw. It hurt. Bob stumbled backward and looked at Mouse questioningly. Why was she doing this? Bob just didn't get it. Mouse socked him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He staggered backward and fell to his knees. As soon as he regained his breath he asked, "Why are you doing this?"

"Ah'm just getting mah revenge, Honey," Mouse said as she dealt Bob a very painful blow to the middle of his spine. He collapsed and his world went black.

* * *

Bob's eyes snapped open as he sat bolt upright in bed. He was panting, and his sheets were soaked with sweat. "A dream..." he muttered in relief. "It was only a dream."

He got up and walked over to his desk where the letter to Mouse lay. He picked it up, and replaced the "I will try to come at Christmas" with "I will come at Christmas" ; for he felt that the dream may be a foreshadowing of his future.

Bob pondered the part about Platter being his girlfriend. He had to admit that this was possible. He found himself wondering how he would ever get to liking her in this way. Maybe when he would eventually hit puberty... but he didn't want to think of that just yet.

He walked back to his bed and picked up the read-me file that had fallen on the floor. "Hmmm... only fifteen-forty. I still have time to study before I access my supper," he said, lying down on his stomach with his feet up in the air. He started studying Shakespeare once again.

After about a millisecond, Bob was beyond confused. "I'm gonna have to talk to Chroma about this," he mused. "Oh, User! I don't understand a word of this!" He picked up his pager and sent a message to Chroma about his Shakespeare.

Soon after, a vidwindow popped up displaying a yellow flashing neon sign saying, "SUPPER TIME! NOW OR NEVER!"

Bob left his room to go access his dinner.

* * *

The next day, or rather the next second, Bob was sitting in science class looking very bored. Suddenly, Turbo's voice echoed over the Academy's P.A. "Would recruit number 452, meaning Bob, come to my office immediately? That's Bob, recruit 452, to my office immediately."

Bob visibly jumped. A look of worry overtook his bored and indifferent expression. It was obvious that he was just a little more than worried. Just as he left the class, Platter gave him a look that clearly stated, "Good luck."

Bob's footsteps echoed eerily as he walked down the ominously empty hall way towards Turbo`s office. He got more and more nervous with every step. As he neared the Prime Guardian`s domain, he prepared himself for the worst.

Bob took a deep breath before entering the office. Once inside, he was surprised to see Turbo smiling pleasantly at him. Bob donned a confused look as he sat down across from the big Guardian.

"Ya don't need ta be scared of me, ya know. Ya're here fer a good reason. Ah'm not punishin' ya or anythin'. Ah'm upgradin' ya," Turbo reassured Bob with a friendly smile.

"Pardon?" Bob asked, astonished.

"Correct me if Ah'm wrong, but ya find your classes boring and easy, am Ah raht?"

Bob was suspicious. "Right, but--"

"And ya pass all your tests with high marks?" Turbo pressed.

"Yeah. What are you going to do?"

"Bob, you're ahead of everyone else in all your classes. Ah'm puttin' ya an hour ahead. Of course, if Ah see that ya're havin' trouble, Ah'll do mah best to help ya. Ah can only put ya ahead if it's alright with ya, though. And ya're gonna hafta teach at the Academy for an extra hour to make up for the tahm. Are ya prepared to do this?"

"Yes, sir!" Bob replied firmly, "Trust me, I won't let you down."

"Good. Startin' tomorrow, you'll startin your new classes."

"Thank you, sir. You don't know how much I appreciate this."

"It's your work, Bob. Ya deserve it. Ah'll be seein' you round, recruit." With that, Bob was dismissed.

* * *

Bob's Log, November 16th, 199X, first entry.

What a second this has been! I've just been placed an hour ahead. That's one less hour of training! I can't wait to tell Mouse. I'm actually starting to like it here. I just started Games Training, and already, I love it. We're learning the art of fencing. This stuff can be useful outside of games, also.

Chroma finally seems to be happy again; which is good for her. I was really worried about her for a while there. I'm really gonna miss her in two hours when she leaves for her assigned system. I'm hoping to have her for a teacher next hour. She really is a great friend.

Platter isn't talking to me because of the switch. I'm not too happy about that. She's too stubborn to see that it's not my fault it was too easy; I just got advanced schooling in Powerpoint. Well, I guess that's it for now. I'm tired and I want to go to bed.

--END OF ENTRY

* * *

For the next few hours, Bob passed all his courses with flying colors. He got Chroma as a teacher of Protocol, and, at the end of that hour, said a sad good-bye to her. Over those last few hours, Bob also changed considerably both physically and psychologically. He visited Mouse a few times, and was always greeted with a smile by her father.

Now, at sixteen, Bob was having trouble at the Academy. His courses had become much more difficult, and Platter still stubbornly refused to talk to him. Bob was in the midst of getting tutoring from Turbo, who was now a close friend and mentor. His tutoring was helping a great deal, but he just had to talk to Platter. The thought of her ignoring him disrupted his concentration in his studies.

Back at his room, he picked up his pager and sent Platter a message. He couldn't bear the thought that she'd ignore him forever.

Later on that second, Platter dropped by. As soon as Bob opened the door, she started on a long chain of apologies. The two talked for a while, and then, suddenly, Platter asked Bob out on a date. Bob was struck dumb, so he just kissed her and hoped that she'd get the message.

She did.

Well, Bob had thought that their date had gone well, right up to the point where Platter came up to him a few cycles later and dumped him for Norton. She had found a better guy. Bob was grief-stricken for the next minute. He finally decided that she wasn't "the one" after all.

* * *

When the time came to graduate, Platter was engaged to Norton, and, to Bob's dismay, Platter had started avoiding him all over again.

Bob graduated with first-class honors. He had made it to top-level Guardian, and he could see his dad smiling proudly in the audience. Pixel, however, was not there.

When Turbo gave Bob his new gold and black icon, he said in a low voice, "You've made me proud... Guardian." Bob just smiled and shook Turbo's hand firmly. He was now known as "Bob, Guardian 452."

Now, at age nineteen, he was looking forward to his two hours of teaching.