Disclaimer: Mainframe Entertainment owns ReBoot. Kid Rock owns the lyrics to 'Only God Knows Why.'
Author's Note: I know I should have changed 'God' to 'The User' but I didn't. Don't like it? Byte me.
"They have got to be all right! I don't know what I'd do if I got back to Mainframe and found that they were all deleted!" Bob shook his head; dismissing the thought. "Don't think like that. You know that they are alive. They have to be!
"I know they've found a way to survive if Megabyte has taken over Mainframe! If I can survive this place then I know Dot, Enzo, Mouse, AndrAIa and Phong have found a way to survive!" Bob gazed out at the colorful environment of the Web through a small window. "It's beautiful out there, and yet so harmful."
If you go out there you degrade, or get deleted if not wearing armor. I just love having options.
"Options. Some options I have. It was either join the Web Riders or find my own way to survive the Web. It was either join the Web Riders or give up all of my chances at ever getting back to Mainframe. Either join the Web Riders or never get to see Dot, or anyone else I love ever again." Bob uttered sullenly to himself.
Dot...I love her. I think I always have. I was just too afraid to ever say something to her about it! I did try, though. When we were cornered by Gigabyte in the alley, I did say something. But Dot cut me off. She said she knew. She knew what? She probably thought I was going to say "Goodbye, Dot. It's been one helluva ride!" Or something like that. She had no idea that I was about to admit my feelings for her.
But I will tell her. I will get back to Mainframe. I have to. Not just for Dot. For Enzo, too. When I made him a Guardian I thought I'd be around to help him! I thought I'd be there to train him! I thought I'd be there for him. I never anticipated Megabyte having his own agenda. And boy, did I pay for that mistake. And so did everyone else. Some Guardian I turned out to be!
Trusted a virus! A virus! How basic can you get?! I even turned my back on him! And the next thing I know, Glitch is gone, and I'm in a holding chamber about to be launched into the Web!
And the look on Dot's face...I'll never forget that look. The pained expression etched deep in her beautiful face....
And then after that, Mainframe was gone. Dot was gone. Enzo was gone. Everyone was gone. My life included. Everything and everyone I love is replaced by the Web. My friends are replaced by the Web Riders. My lfie is replaced by Interface. The new me. My new life.
I know I've changed. I never smile anymore. I hardly ever crack a smart ASCII remark about something. And any naivet�y that I had left in me is now gone.
And the scary part is..., I think I like the 'new me.' Why? Because when I get back to Mainframe, I'm not going to crack any sarcastic remarks to Megabyte. I'm not going to enjoy fighting Megabyte. When I get back to Mainframe, I'm just going to delete him. Walk in, delete the mother, and walk out. Problem solved. It's something I should have done the nano I was the official Guardian of Mainframe. But did I? No. And look where I am now.
"Well, I'm not going to be here for much longer." Bob murmured quietly, placing his cobalt blue hand on the cold surface of the window. "I swear to you Dot that I'll find a way back to you. I'll find a way. If it's the last thing I ever do. I'll find you." he promised, wishing that Dot could hear him. "I'll find you."
I swear...I don't care what it takes. I'm coming back!
The End