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I sank back down to Copeland. I felt for some reason that I should stay beside him. He'd over calculated his reserves in an effort to save his guardian. It was something I could relate to and my heart went out to him. I watched as the twenty-eight other keytools cycled in and out of the temporary ward, some there to transfer energy, others just to pay respects. Copeland had always chosen well in guardians. He'd been bonded to over half of the Prime Guardians in the collective and countless others in the span of his career. He had an intuition for spotting great leadership in young cadets. It had gained him great respect.

I was a surprised when I discovered that the keytools had come to see me as well.

"Glitch, you're the bravest keytool in recorded history." GUI told me, her signal always held admiration. "You're risking it all. It's the most noble thing I've ever seen."

"Thanks, GUI, I guess." I said.

"The rest think so to." She replied. "If we ever get out of here, I wouldn't be surprised if you get high honors, a plaque, an award or something."

"Lets just worry about getting out of here first."

Gibson dashed up, a little less quickly than he had the last time we'd spoken. "Glitch."

"Yeah?"

"Bad news." He reported. "Real bad news."

"What's wrong now?" I grumbled. I was sure he was about to tell me that my code had lost all structural integrity and we all had five nanos to live. There was nothing in his tone to give me that impression but that was the place I was at right then. Much to my relief (or dismay depending), the news was not so drastic.

"We can't get out." He reported.

GUI nearly passed out from the shock. I regarded her briefly and turned back to Gibson. "What do you mean you can't get out?"

"We got in easy enough." He said. "But I've just spent the last several macros trying to find a way back out. There just isn't one. Nothing I've tried has worked! We're stuck in here!"

"That can't be." I resolved. "There has to be some way out." I knew I couldn't live in this body with twenty-nine keytools and a guardian forever. I read Gibson, GUI and the current power transferor, DiDio for responses. They seemed to be losing hope. DiDio's signal faded, but she located Copeland again and regained strength, taking up the channel into him. I regarded my friend as well.

Copeland had never reawakened from the episode with Turbo. He had been the first to find me in here, and he had given of himself for Bob and I. He'd been our unhindered leader, and even now when many were running on the last of their energy, volunteers came to transfer what they had to him to keep him alive. That's the kind of devotion we all have for our guardians. I realized then what I hadn't thought much on before. We had always been a force to be reckoned with, but never on our own. We'd always had a guardian to help us fulfill our potential, protect the net, fight the bad guys. Keytools were made to take direction! We had strength when we followed Copeland's orders and we were dying without them. It was time for me to take a stand. I had Bob to back me up, and I had a fleet of friends to protect. What we needed was a goal! And I was going to be the one to give us one! I could pull from Bob's experience and this new perspective he'd given me. I turned sharply on Gibson. "We'll find a way out, I promise you."

The keytool took a start, used to my gloomy demeanor. It felt good to let those oppressive shackles fall. If I had a mouth, I would smile.

"We're taking the initiative guys! If we work together we can pull this off!" Turned my attention to the rest of the Bob colony, Gibson and GUI on my heels. "Everyone! It seems like it's a dark time now, but I'm telling you, don't give up yet! If we ban together we can achieve anything! And I'm going to see that all of you get out of here and back home to the guardians to whom you belong! You'll see your loved ones again! I need you all to help me on this!"

The response was incredible, the deep deep darkness I'd been privy to lightened with the glow of their hearts. They took strength just hearing that they'd reunite with their partners again. I surveyed my kingdom with satisfaction. Useless? Bah! Who's useless? I may be broken but it'll take more than a couple minor setbacks to get a good keytool down!