4.03: A child psychiatrist's lot is not a happy one.

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*tak*tik*tak*tik*tak*tik*tak*tik*

Newton's Cradle desk ornaments are supposed to be calming. Phong has placed his directly in the child's line of sight, in hopes that this really is effective. Certainly, nothing else has worked in that regard

Comments

[a1enzo]

Matrix is not finding the Newton's Cradle soothing.

"Are we done?" This is really not what he expected when he decided to change his image.

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Phong gasps. "So you know!"

Then why has he not said something? Why has he deliberately overtaxed himself?

[mend_and_defend]

Bob nods. "Glitch was damaged. So was I. We both knew the risks, but it was the only way."

And now Glitch is gone, or nearly so, and Bob has to live with that decision and its consequences. He's accepted that, even if he doesn't necessarily like it.

[nofileext]

Phong... cannot disagree with this, much as he would like to. If they had not merged, they would surely have been deleted outright, there in the Web, along with Matrix, AndrAIa, and the entire pirate crew.

For Bob, however, it may have been only a stay of execution. "And do you also know that continued use of your Glitch powers... will result in total fragmentation?"

[mend_and_defend]

Bob had suspected, rather strongly, that that might be the case. Now he knows for certain.

Not that it changes anything.

"But I'm a Guardian. I can't go against my code."

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Phong knows this, and knows, too, that there is nothing he can do to stop Bob.

Time for a low blow, then. "Dot will never allow you to-"

[mend_and_defend]

"And that's why we're not gonna tell Dot," Bob says firmly.

They're fighting for the fate of the entire 'Net. None of them can afford to let their emotions get in the way of that simple fact.

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If Bob pushes himself too hard, he might not live long enough to save the 'Net. Phong is about to protest, when their chat is interrupted by an alarm bell ringing.

"What in the 'Net?" says Phong, staring at the ceiling as everyone does in such circumstances.

[mend_and_defend]

There are a handful of different alarm tones used by the Principal Office that Bob recognizes. This isn't one of them.

"What is it?"

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Since the ceiling passes inspection, Phong checks his datapad for the cause of the disturbance.

Oh dear.

"Bob... we're online!"

[a1enzo]

The problem with Matrix's plan - to help whether the grown-ups want him to or not - is that he's still just a kid and he doesn't really know how to go about helping. So he's mostly just falling back on standard little-boy behaviour. (But with rebelliousness and machismo.) For example, the fine old tradition of listening in on the grown-ups.

Outside the door, Matrix's jaw drops in horror. Bob's... unstable? If he uses his powers too much, his code'll break down?

Oh, man.

Just like Dani.

But Dani can stop using her powers. Bob's function won't let him, especially at a time like this.

No! He's gotta stop Bob from working himself to deletion! Matrix turns and bolts down the corridor. He's gotta find Dot. She'll stop him.

They've got the CPU forces and a Web surfer and a couple of hackers and two renegades and a friendly virus and Dot. They can save the 'Net without Bob's powers.

Right?