Bob felt like he was going to go random any cycle now. Guardian Lieutenant Dweila was looking over his apartment. She hadn't done a white-glove test, but she had scrutinized everything quite thoroughly. He couldn't tell whether he had passed or failed this part of the inspection, because her expression never changed – it was always a critical scowl.
Finally, the inspector turned to look at him. "Everything seems fine here," she said. Bob was relieved. He hoped it didn't show on his face.
His relief evaporated when the inspector paused for a few moments, looking pensive. "Between you and me…" she began. Oh no. That can't be good…
"Between you and me, I don't approve of this whole experiment with the viruses." She turned to face Bob. She might as well have been pointing a gun at him and threatening to pull the trigger. "I don't think the Prime Guardian should have put this burden on you."
Bob did a mental doubletake. He couldn't believe his ears. "Excuse me, ma'am?"
"Reprogramming viruses is impossible. I don't know why Turbo thinks otherwise." She paused for a moment and regarded Bob carefully before continuing. "He instructed me to tell you that you have the option of ending the experiment – we can call in a virus control team from the Supercomputer, if you make that choice. But this might be the last time that you are given that option," Dweila said. "I'd advise you to say yes. Even an experienced Guardian would have difficulty in your position, and you've only been in the field for a little more than a day."
Bob didn't know whether he should have felt grateful or offended: The inspector was willing to make allowances for him because she thought that he had been ordered to run this experiment. She didn't know that he had proposed the idea to Turbo in the first place. He couldn't blame her for that – there were few who knew about the experiment, and fewer still who knew all the details. That was understandable.
But she was calling also into question his ability to deal with the challenges inherent in that experiment. Even though he had been dealing with them, and overcoming them, for more than a day. He certainly wasn't going to cave in now.
"Please tell the Prime Guardian that I appreciate his offer," Bob said, with a note of strength in his voice that had hitherto been lacking, "But I think I can handle things as they are. Ma'am." Even if you don't think I can.
She narrowed her eyes as him, just a little bit. "Bob, you're either the bravest sprite I've ever met, or the dumbest," she said. "However…if you change your mind before I leave this system, just tell me." She looked at her organizer again, then went back to business as usual. "Now then; I must interview the Command.com and some of the Principal Office staff on the subject of your performance as Guardian of this system," she said.
The two of them left the apartment, and were soon heading to the Principal Office on zipboards. Bob had been absolutely terrified earlier this second, but now he was confident that he would pass the inspection. Everything would be just fine.
~***~
"Phong, sir?" Phong turned away from the console to face the zero binome who was addressing him. The binome held out a white box. "I extracted the computer core from the ship, sir. You can start installing the upgrades now."
"Thank you," Phong responded, taking the box in his hands. He went to another console into which a round socket was set, opened the box, and removed the cylindrical computer core from it. He then put one end of the cylinder into the slot and pressed a button.
A screen flickered to life before him with the words "Please Enter Password." Phong scratched his head.
"It appears that we will need to wait for the inspector," he remarked. Maybe it was just his imagination, but the binome looked a little nervous upon hearing this. If that was indeed the case, Phong could not blame him. The inspector made even him uneasy. "In the meanwhile, please make sure to tune up her craft as she requested."
The binome startled. "Tune up? Oh. Yes sir." He threw a quick salute and hurried out the door.
Phong shook his head. The inspector seemed to have everyone on edge this second – he could hardly imagine how bad things must be for Bob.
~***~
"A Guardian lieutenant?" Enzo said excitedly when his sister told him the news at home. "Alphanumeric! I want to meet him!" Frisket barked in agreement.
Dot shook her head. "It's a her, and I don't think that's a good idea."
Enzo frowned. "Why not? I'm sure she can take a couple of nanoseconds to talk to me. Please?" It would make up for Bob missing the picnic.
"She's on a tight schedule," Dot answered quickly.
"But Dot…"
"I said no."
Enzo bit his lower lip. "Aww…" Frisket emitted a whimper. "This second is just turning out completely 8-bit," he grumbled.
Dot sighed. "I'm sorry. We'll make up the picnic another time, okay?" she assured him as she patted him on the back. "Right now, I need to go to the Principal Office to help Phong prepare the reports so the inspector can look at them. You just stay here." She wanted him out of the way – maybe because the inspector didn't like kids or something.
"Okay," he conceded. Dot smiled, kissed him on the forehead and left the apartment.
But Enzo was not going to stay here at all. He turned to Frisket. "We'll wait a few nanos, then go to the P.O. ourselves. Maybe we can see the Guardian ship the inspector came in! That would be pixelacious, huh?" The dog wagged his tail. Enzo patted him on the head. "Yeah, I think so too." He grinned mischievously.