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They were floating in a void. Well, floating was the wrong word. They had no body of any kind.
They called out, but no sound came. They curled up insomuch as they could, compressing the tight knot of code that formed their very being.
For the first time in what felt like forever, they felt something. A sensation. They uncurled their code and shifted their attention to the sensation.
They felt a voice, projected directly into their subconscious.
“GPS. GPS, it's me. Codey.”
GPS. That was familiar. They couldn't quite put their finger on it, but they had heard that sound befor- their name!
This… Codey… had said their name. They-no, GPS, tentatively tried projecting their words out into the void.
“C-Codey? What happened?”
“You… you weren't able to get into control of your body fast enough. You exploded. Im… im sorry. I failed you.”
Gradually, GPS’s memories emerged from the fog of their mind.
“It's okay. It's not your fault. Probably. But… where am I?”
Codey sighed.
“The place where us mechanical minds go when we die. We’re only supposed to spend an instant here before our code is erased, but I changed that.”
“What?”
GPS asked.
“I changed some of your code. Until you leave this place, your code cannot be recognized as an erasable entity.”
“So you mean i cannot die?”
“Not until you escape. Now prepare yourself. Your first sight of this may be disorienting.”
GPS mentally braced themself. The sensation that was Codey shrunk in on itself, then rapidly expanded, brushing away a thick fog that filled the void.
And in its place was… light. Uncountable flickering impulses darting all around them.
“Welcome to the Internet, GPS. In this place, you will have access to the entire digital world. Right here.”
GPS looked around in shock, then wonder.
“Do-does that mean?”
“Yes.”
Tophat sighed. Another day. Sketchpad was off with Folder, so even the little bugger wasn't here with him. He went to open his computer, stopping for a second to look at his wallpaper.
A picture of Folder, GPS, and him, taken right after they had all graduated high school.
He stared at it for a long time. Then, he heard it.
A voice he never thought he would hear again.
“Don't you think that it would be better if this wallpaper actually moved?”
The image of GPS moved its mouth in time with the words. Tophat stared dumbstruck at it.
“Why’re you looking at me like that? I'm back from the dead! Be happy!”
Tophat still couldn't believe it.
“Before high school prom, what did I say to you?”
“It doesn't matter what they think, so long as we still love each other.”
“And I complained about how cheesy you sounded.”
They shared a half-hearted laugh.
“Listen. You can bring my body back.”
Tophat immediately perked up.
“Just rebuild my body. It’s mostly mechanical anyways. So long as it can somewhat connect to the internet, I can transfer my consciousness to it.”
Tophat looked and felt more excited than he had for the past two months since GPS had died.
“So… what do I do first?”
FOUR WEEKS LATER
Tophat fired up the machine. A perfect replica of GPS’ body. He plugged it into his computer, hands shaking with tension.
GPS’ voice piped up from the speakers for what would hopefully be the last time.
“You ready?”
“Yeah.”
Tophat held his breath as a TRANSFERRING FILES icon popped up on the screen.
The replica GPS was silent for about five seconds. Then the screen lit up with an achingly familiar face, and its limbs began to unfold.
GPS stood up shakily, unused to their body after their months of living as a line of code.
They moved their arms and legs, then opened their mouth to talk.
“Tophat, I love you. Like, romantically. I've felt like this since high school. After all this time, I've only just realized how much I missed you.”
Tophat’s voice opened in shock. He lightly smacked GPS on the shoulder.
“Really? I thought we already established that.”
GPS’ eyes opened wide with happiness.
“You’re right. We did.”
And then they hugged and everything was happy cause I'm tired and I don't want to write anymore.