Return of the Guardian

[command_dot_com]

For the past few cycles everyone's been waiting on a sort of bated breath about this. The recompiler has been checked no less than five times over to make sure nothing could go wrong with it. It stands ready, a cylindrical casket with a transparent cover, the interior padded for the comfort of the returning sprite.

For the past few cycles Dot's been on bits and bytes worrying if this will work, and is now standing nearby, out of the way of the debugging duo as they get to work. Now, all they can do is hope it turns out all right.

Comments

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Sure."

He's got about as good a handle on the weirdness as he's likely to get for a while. Might as well let everyone know he's okay.

[nofileext]

Phong presses the door button. The binomes dive for cover.

[a1enzo]

"Bob!"

[mendanddefend_archive]

"GAH!"

And now Bob is flat on his back on the exam bed again.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[a1enzo]

You'd think the new senses would improve his reaction time.

"Bob I was so worried I'm so glad you're back is Glitch really awake in there? that's so cool how come your hair's all dark? we did blow Daemon up but it didn't hurt her that was really scary I'm so glad you're better can Dani come to the wedding? I told her she could."

[mendanddefend_archive]

They would if Glitch was actually used to having limbs.

"Hey, hey, slow down! I'm glad to see you're okay too, but could you please get off me?"

[a1enzo]

Enzo gives Bob a big hug and hops down, awaiting the answers to his questions.

[mendanddefend_archive]

He takes a deep breath and answers the questions in order. "Yes, Glitch is awake in my head. This is my natural hair color, it must have reverted back when I was recompiled. And I have no idea what's happening with the wedding yet, so I'll have to get back to you on that."

[command_dot_com]

"I'll handle some of the wedding plans, but right now there's no plan in action yet, Enzo. I have to discuss it with Bob sometime." Preferably soon.

[a1enzo]

Oddly enough, the most immediate question that springs to Enzo's lips is: "Is that why your eyebrows are black?"

Kids, go fig.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Yes."

Duh.

[renegade-enzo.livejournal.com]

"Glad to see you're finally back online," Matrix says from the doorway.

He'd waited for Enzo to get his...enthusiastic...greeting in before heading in himself from the waiting room.

"Told ya you should've gotten checked out sooner."

[nofileext]

"He did get checked out," Phong says, with a stern look at Bob.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"I had to protect the system!" Bob protests. "What, was I supposed to call in sick for the war?"

[renegade-enzo.livejournal.com]

Matrix chuckles. "Fragged if I know. I just like saying 'I told you so.'"

He sobers up a bit, though. "Seriously though, it's good to see you made it through in one piece."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Fewer pieces than anyone was anticipating, I think."

Glitch is... thinking. Really hard. Bob is Glitch's operator--he's the one with whom the keytool exchanged code. Yet it spent far more time taking orders from Matrix while he and AndrAIa were lost in the Games.

To say that Glitch's feelings are mixed would be a massive understatement.

[nofileext]

"Bob?" one of the medics pipes up. "We need to run a deep code scan to confirm that the compilation ran without any errors. Could you disrobe and step up onto the scanner, please?"

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob nods and stands.

There's a moment of awkward silence.

"Uh... a little privacy, guys...?"

[renegade-enzo.livejournal.com]

"No need to tell me twice," Matrix says as he heads towards the door. "Later."

[a1enzo]

Enzo snickers and follows him.

[command_dot_com]

...Oh what?


Dot smirks. You're expecting her to leave after all the grief you put her through by NOT TELLING about that little fragmenting error?

She is going to enjoy this.

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

"This mean I oughtta head out too?" After all, Mouse actually has a legitimate, technical reason to stay here.

She thinks of pointing out that it's nothing she hasn't seen before, but that would go against her resolution not to be cruel to Dot.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Uh..."

Bob flounders, unsure of how to respond.

You're on your own for this one, buddy, Glitch helpfully informs him.

[nofileext]

Phong decides to take mercy on Bob and Dot both. "I believe we can handle things adequately without you, Mouse. Perhaps you would be so good as to issue a report on our Guardian's recovery?"

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

Nice save, Phong. "Sure," Mouse says, sauntering out of the medlab. "Guess I'll spread the good news."

A moment later, though, she leans back inside the door and fixes Bob with a stern look. "Remember, no usin' any powers 'till you're one hundred percent checked out, hear?" She is so not debugging his code again.