A Guardian's Past
By Julia Cat

Part 3 - Everything Changes

After the ceremony, Turbo told Bob that there was someone he wanted him to meet. Confused, Bob followed, wondering who that person might be. As it turned out, that person was not a person at all, but a key-tool named Glitch. Bob had learned early on that key-tools selected their Guardian, and that only a select few Guardians had them.

Apparently Bob had been chosen by Glitch. "I've been chosen?" Bob asked, a little confused.

"Yes, you have. Glitch here has been monitoring your progress through the Academy and he is mahty impressed with your achievements. He has chosen you, Bob, to be his Guardian. Congratulations," Turbo said with a warm smile as he handed Glitch over to Bob.

The key-tool immediately acknowledged its presence by making a few bleeping sounds and flashing. In Bob's mind, a distinctly male voice said, "Bob, I am Glitch. I am certain that we'll have a promising career together." Bob stared at the key-tool and blinked. How was that possible? It only bleeped a few times. How could it speak?

Seeing Bob's look of bewilderment, Turbo said, "Ah forgot to tell ya that key-tools can talk to the wearer. Glitch will give ya tutorials as ya learn to use him. He's very helpful and will always be there when ya need help."

"Thanks Turbo," Bob said, "I really appreciate this."

"Bob, Ah told ya before. It's ya're work, and ya deserved it. Now ya're a top-level Guardian. Ya'll always be welcome back here after ya leave."

Turbo then moved aside to reveal Bob's father who had apparently come in while Bob was receiving Glitch. He spoke. "Bob, I'm so proud of you. I knew you could do this, and you even surprised me by finishing an hour ahead of time. Along with that, you got a key-tool. That's better than I've ever done." He smiled proudly. "Your mom would be proud."

"Where's Pix?" Bob asked, looking around.

Corel's face fell. "A few minutes ago, she ran away. She left me a note that said that she had left looking for you. I talked to Turbo about sending a few Guardians to find her. She misses you, Bob. She still remembers the day you left, amazingly. She's eleven hours old now."

"Poor Pix. If you ever talk to her again, tell her I'm sorry, will you? Tell her I'll visit her someday. I miss her too." Bob paused, gaining a look of sudden remembrance. He continued with renewed enthusiasm. "What about Mouse? Where is she?"

"The Academy would only allow the immediate family to be present at the graduation. She really wanted to come, and said that she'd see you sooner than you thought. I wonder what she meant by that?"

"Who knows with Mouse? She's never changed. She's always been that spunky kid, hasn't she?"

"Yeah. Listen, Bob. I have to get back to Powerpoint. You take care of yourself, okay?" Corel then hugged his son tightly. "I'll miss you."

"Bye, Dad. I'll miss you too. Good-bye."

With that, Corel strode out of the room leaving a saddened Bob standing in the center of it.

* * *

"Bob? Can I talk to you for a while?" Platter asked while Bob was on his break at lunch from his first day of teaching.

"Sure. What's processing?" Bob queried.

"Well, I just want to... apologize for anything I might have done. I'm sorry I just stopped talking to you like that, but, you know, Norton really is a great guy. I'm sorry I let you go so suddenly."

"Apology accepted. You know, I've been over you for a long time. I just want to have you back as a friend it that'll do."

"Just what I was about to propose to you. Oh! I was meaning to tell you something. You know today in games survival you taught us about the Funhouse and how impossible it is to win?"

"What about it?"

"Well, My best friend's cousin got caught in the Funhouse. He lived to tell about it, too. I think his name is Mac or something like that."

"Hmm. Interesting. I'll try to remember that. Thanks."

"No problem. I have to go study now. See you later, Bob."

"Bye." Bob waved slightly and sat back in his chair. He sighed in content. He was happy that had gone well, now he just had to live though two more hours of teaching. He closed his eyes, wondering about what kind of system he'd be assigned to in the future. Soon, he was fast asleep.

* * *

He was standing in front of what looked like a Principal Office in the center of a system. The P.O. was a big white ball. That's interesting, he thought to himself. He looked around him and saw that he was is a circular-shaped system. He entered the big white sphere tentatively.

As he entered, a guru-type sprite with gold skin and a long black beard looked up. "Ah, you must be our new Guardian! Welcome to Mainframe!"

"Um... hi. I'm Bob, Guardian 452, and I guess I am."

At that a female sprite with green skin, short black hair and deep violet eyes entered the room through what appeared to be her office.

"Ah, Dot. You're just in time to meet your new partner. This is Bob, our new Guardian."

Dot smiled and stepped forward. Bob offered her his hand in symbol of a new friendship and greeting. She took it and smiled again. Bob noticed that her eyes practically shone when she did so. "Dot Matrix," was all she said.

Bob tried to look nonchalant, but failed miserably. He could only stare at her and marvel. She was gorgeous. She appeared to be somewhat pleasant also. This could be the beginning of a promising friendship.

"Uh..." he stammered, "So, what do you do here actually?"

Dot grinned and said, "You want it alphabetically?"

Bob was stupefied. "What?"

"I do a lot. Mainly I'm the Commander and I own and am in partnership with a lot of businesses. Listen, I've gotta get back to work. I'm in the middle of a Net conference."

* * *

"HEY!!!! GUARDIAN!!!" It was Turbo. Bob was jostled awake, still half-groggy and mystified from his dream. "It's about tahm ya woke up. We got an intruder. Go to the south port, now."

"Uh... yes, sir!" Bob exclaimed and rushed out the door, only to return a nano later to get his key-tool, then run out again.

At the south port, sure enough, someone was hacking in. As the portal opened, Bob readied his key-tool. His arm and jaw both dropped when he saw who it was. He put his arm up again.

It was Mouse.

"Glitch, binders." Pair of gold binders materialized on Mouse's wrists as she looked at Bob in horror.

"Bob? What are ya doin'? It's me?"

"I know, Mouse, but I can't let you do this. You're violating the rules. I'm going to have to detain you."

"But, Bob! What happened to ya?"

"I'm only following my own set of rules. You... are under arrest. You have the right to... remain... silent."

Mouse shot him a tearful glance as Bob shoved her forward. He felt terrible. He had just arrested his best friend.

* * *

"Nice job, Bob. Prahm arrest. But why so grim? Ya arrested that girl," Turbo congratulated, then interrogated.

"She's my best friend. She only hacked in here to see me," Bob said regretfully.

"Ya did what ya had to do. Ya did tha raht thing."

"I'm not so sure," Bob admitted.

Bob taught at the Academy for a two hours, making new friends, seeing Platter become a Guardian herself, and seeing her marry Norton. Before long, it was time for him to go to his assigned system.

"Well, Bob, I guess this is it. Your new system is waitin' for ya," Turbo informed him.

"Well, where do I go?" Bob asked excitedly.

"Your new system is in the Net. It's called Mainframe."

Bob's eyes went wide as he smiled subconsciously. He couldn't believe it. His dream had become reality.