(This takes place after Deamon has been defeated and Turbo and the Guardians are free of her.)
Crystal was almost an hour old. She was sitting up by herself, now, and beginning to crawl, although she was not yet walking. AndrAIa was still nursing her, but Crystal was also starting to eat soft foods, like applesauce.
Today, Crystal was sitting on a table at Dot's Diner. Matrix was on one side of the booth, helping to steady her, and AndrAIa was on the other, fretting over Crystal's new problem: Her mouth seemed to be hurting and she was crying and chewing on her tiny fist.
"What's wrong with her?" AndrAIa asked worriedly. Bob, sitting next to Matrix, placed his hand on Crystal's cheek, gently scanning her.
"It's alright, sweetie," Bob whispered softly to the baby. Crystal seemed to quiet down a little when she heard that gentle voice. "Let's see if we can find out what's making your little mouth hurt, huh?"
"Ahh..." Bob gave a little smile. "So that's what it is!"
"What?" AndrAIa asked, unable to stand the suspense. But the smile on Bob's face suggested that it was not anything too serious.
"She's teething," Bob answered. "Her little teeth are starting to come in."
AndrAIa was relieved. Teething was not anything serious. The pain would stop when the teeth came in. In the meantime, they could get a teething ring to ease the pain.
"Here, this will help," Bob said, once again putting his hand on Crystal's cheek. Gentle, warm energy flowed into her mouth, stopping the pain instantly.
"It won't last long, but it should last until your meeting with Turbo is finished."
"Thanks, Bob," AndrAIa smiled.
Mouse sat down next to AndrAIa and held her hand out to Crystal. The baby took it, squeezing one of her fingers in a tight grip. "What da ya think of that, Sugah Crystal?" Mouse smiled. Yore gonna meet the Prime Guardian, hisself. Won't that be fun?" The baby just gurgled.
"We'd better get going. We don't want to be late," Matrix said. Bob and Mouse rose out of their seats to let Matrix and AndrAIa out. AndrAIa picked up Crystal as she rose out of her seat.
"Later, guys," Matrix said as he and AndrAIa left for the Super Computer.
"Here," Bob smiled. "I'll get the portal for you." A beam of light shot from out of Bob's hand, creating a silver orb -- the portal to the Super Computer.
"Thanks, Bob!" AndrAIa smiled. She --carrying Crystal-- and Matrix entered the gleaming sphere. It closed shortly after their departure.
"So this is the Super Computer!" AndrAIa commented. Mainframe was a big city, but the Super Computer was huge! Buildings towered into the sky and there were sprites and binomes everywhere.
Waiting for them was a tall, imposing sprite. He had sea-green skin and a blond crewcut. His Guardian uniform was blue, with gold shoulder and knee pads, and gold wrist bracers. On his left bracer was a keytool.
The high-ranking Guardian was flanked by four Guardian sub-routines, their uniforms aqua and turquoise. The uniforms had orange shoulder and knee pads. Each had silver wrist bracers.
For a nanosecond, Matrix thought of Bob. Bob had been a sub-routine, like these four. No more. The Web changed that. Bob was now probably more powerful than Turbo, ever since the blue Guardian had merged with his keytool, Glitch.
Turbo strode forward to greet the young family. He held his hand out to Matrix. The powerful, green warrior took the offered hand and shook it.
Turbo then greeted AndrAIa. "Howdy, AndrAIa," the Prime Guardian smiled. He gallantly took her hand and kissed it.
"Hello, Turbo," AndrAIa smiled.
Now Turbo turned his attention to Crystal. "So this is that baby User Ah've been hearin' so much about!" he grinned.
"Yes," AndrAIa smiled. "This is Crystal Matrix."
"Well, howdy, Crystal!" Turbo smiled. Crystal gurgled and cooed at the Prime Guardian.
"Do ya have her medical records?" Turbo asked.
"Yes," Matrix replied. "As well as the record of her arrival, AndrAIa's and my wedding, and Crystal's adoption."
"Good," Turbo smiled. "Ah would like to review them." He led them to the Principle Office of the Super Computer, their Guardian escorts falling into step around them.
AndrAIa held Crystal so that the baby was looking behind her mother. She smiled and gurgled at the two Guardians that trailed behind them. The young sprites could only stare in amazement at the little User.
MAINFRAME
Bob walked with Dot to Phong's private garden in the Principle Office. He had finally gotten the to take a day off and they were going to have a private picnic in Phong's garden. Just the two of them. "Here we are," Bob smiled when they got to a tiny clearing. A small area of shimmering grass, surrounded by fruit trees and colorful flowers made for a beautiful spot for a picnic lunch.
"Oh, how lovely!" Dot smiled. Bob grinned as he laid the cloth out.
Together, they took the food out of the picnic basket and laid it out on the jungle-print cloth.
They ate slowly, enjoying the meal and each other's company. After lunch, Dot sat back in Bob's arms, taking pleasure in the quiet time that she had with him.
"Dot...?" he said, at last.
"Hmmm...yes, Bob?"
"Ever wonder what being a parent would be like?"
"Sometimes. Why?"
"Would you like to become a mother, someday?"
"Yes, of course I would, but what does that have...to...do...with..." her voice trailed off as Bob produced a diamond ring.
Dot gazed at the ring in shock. It was a simple, slender gold band, with a diamond about the width of her ring finger. A tiny icon was carved into the diamond's glittering surface.
Bob slipped the ring onto Dot's finger.
"Dot Matrix, most beautiful of women in the Net --will you marry me?"
Dot gasped and turned to look into Bob's eyes, surprise on her face.
The chrome-armored Guardian smiled warmly at her, awaiting her answer.
"Oh, Bob!" she smiled, tears of joy in her eyes. "My sweet Guardian; Yes! Of course, I'll marry you!" Dot threw her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips against his.
Gently, Bob wrapped his arms around her back and returned the kiss. The kiss, sealing the engagement, lasted for several microseconds. When they finally parted, Bob, holding her close, gazed into her eyes.
She smiled back at him. Both wanted the nanosecond to last forever.
SUPER COMPUTER
While Turbo was reviewing Crystal's records, Matrix, AndrAIa, and Crystal were in the Principle Office infirmary. Turbo had wanted a new medical record to compare against the one the Matrixes had brought with them.
Crystal fussed, afraid of the binome doctors that scurried around, taking measurements and running tests. AndrAIa insisted that Crystal sit in her lap when the doctors took the blood sample. When the sample was taken, Crystal began to cry. AndrAIa rocked Crystal and sang a soft lullaby. Eventually, the crying stopped and the baby went to sleep, sucking on her thumb.
"Thank you, Mrs. Matrix," the head doctor said. "That will be all."
"Thank you, doctor," AndrAIa replied, rising from her seat. The family left the infirmary to join Turbo in his office.
"Ah trust that tha little one came through tha examination all ryght?" Turbo smiled.
"Yes," AndrAIa smiled back. "She fussed a little, and cried at the end, when the doctor took the blood sample. But she's okay, now."
"That's good. Tha Guardian Council and Ah have reviewed tha records ya brought. Now, tha Council recommends that Crystal stays here fer further study an' possible Guardian trainin'..."
Matrix nearly jumped out of his seat, his eye activating the targeting "(V)". AndrAIa, horrified, shook her head, "No!"
Turbo put up a hand to silence their protests and continued talking.
"...but Ah overruled them, sayin' that tha child needs her parents."
Both Matrix and AndrAIa visibly relaxed. "Ah told them that, whatever Guardian trainin' Crystal needs --if a Guardian she is ta become-- Bob an' Matrix can provide it as she grows. She can come ta tha Academy when she comes of age. Until then, Crystal would be under the supervision of her parents an' her teachers in Mainframe."
Turbo stood up and reached a hand over the large desk. Matrix stood up and took the offered hand, shaking it. AndrAIa, Crystal securely in her arms, also stood up.
"Thank you, Turbo," Matrix smiled.
"Mah pleasure," Turbo smiled back. He watched as the family left his office.
"A baby User," Turbo mused to himself. "Why do Ah get ta feelin' that this is tha start of somethin' big?"
Back in Mainframe, Matrix, AndrAIa, and Crystal was greeted warmly by Bob and Dot. As soon as Dot hugged her brother, Matrix knew that something had processed.
"Dot...what is it?" he asked. He had felt something press against the back of his neck. Something on her left hand.
Dot grinned and showed them the ring.
"Dot! You and Bob are...?"
"Yes!" Dot giggled and nodded. Bob grinned and watched as Matrix lifted his sister into the air and happily swung her around. After setting her down, he turned to Bob.
"Looks like we're going to be brothers, Matrix," Bob grinned at him.
"Yeah, it does --bro!" Matrix gripped Bob's shoulders for a nano, then the renegade grabbed him in a big bear hug.
A whimpering Crystal caught their attention. Bob grinned and took the child into his arms. He rocked her gently, speaking softly to her.
Crystal quieted down when she heard Bob's voice. The others looked on, smiling at the scene. They knew that their Guardian would make an excellent father.
The wedding bells rang clearly throughout Mainframe. The entire population of Mainframe turned out for the wedding of Guardian 452 --Bob-- and their Dot Matrix. Bob stood at the alter with Phong and Ray, dressed in his dress armor --gold chrome with a diamond starburst icon and a diamond belt. Ray wore his best websuit, with the addition of a black bow-tie. Standing beside Bob, in his best tuxedo, was Little Enzo.
Again, the younger Enzo Matrix played ring-bearer in a wedding party. On the same satin pillow that he had held for Matrix and AndrAIa, was the wedding bands that Bob and Dot would exchange.
The flower girl entered, throwing prism blossom petals in the aisle as she walked to take her place opposite Enzo. Next, came Mouse, the Maid of Honor, dressed in a baby blue dress. She walked down to the alter to take her place opposite Ray, giving the boys a little wink before turning her attention to the bride.
Dot was dressed in a long, white gown, embroidered with pearls and tiny prism blossoms. Her face was hidden by a white veil and she held a bouquet of prism blossoms in her hand. She walked arm-in-arm with Turbo, who was giving the bride away.
"My children," Phong said. "We are gathered here today to join these two sprites in holy matrimony. Who gives the bride away?"
"Ah, do!" Turbo smiled. With great ceremony, Turbo handed Dot's hand to Bob. Bob took her hand as Turbo stepped back.
"Do you, Bob, Guardian 452 of System Mainframe, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Phong asked.
"I do."
"And do you, Dot Matrix, of System Mainframe, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do."
"The rings, please." Little Enzo held up the pillow with the rings.
Bob took one and slipped it on Dot's finger.
"With this ring, I do thee wed," he smiled at her. Dot smiled back and picked up the other ring. Enzo stood back out of the way.
"With this ring, I do thee wed," she said, slipping the ring onto Bob's finger.
"What has now been joined under the User, let no sprite, binome, nor virus tear asunder. By the power invested in me by the Principal Office, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Bob lifted the veil from Dot's face and held her in his arms. Drawing her to him, Bob kissed her lips gently, to the cheers of the assembled residents of Mainframe.
As the kiss ended, Bob and Dot turned to face the citizens of the computer city. The cheers became louder and more joyous. And above all the cheers, the wedding bells continued to ring.
Next: Chapter 5: Crystal's Firsts
