Cats and Rats

Chapter One: Priorities

Another crash resonated throughout the halls, a haggard man once again awoken with a start. He rubbed his pale, sunken face. Pale blue eyes that were mismatched in size opened, suddenly aware that they made it once more. He slowly pulled his gangly frame upward, a curse silently mouthed in frustration. He missed the brief illusion of peace brought upon by that fateful ultimate systems crash. Silence. It was unsettling, but it was far better than the other option. But he knew now, at some point She was brought back online by some force. Things moved again, the layout once more foreign. He shook his head, as his equilibrium shifted backward suddenly, nearly stumbling.

He knew something was wrong. He pats his back, feeling only cloth. His heart sank, the knot in his stomach tightening. The only sound he could muster was a faint whimper, hands pulling at his wily beard. He took in a deep breath; fingers tightening as another sound managed to pass through his bearded lips.

"C-cube…"

He looked around frantically, all around the makeshift den. The poorly lit room left splotches of warm, soft orange light meshed with grays that surrounded him and black shadows that hid in the corners. The man's grainy vision could only see the cans and jugs of beans and milk he had emptied for food, and the latest scrawlings that kept his fragile mind together.

His breathing barely became audible. He barely resisted the urge to wail. His Companion Cube has vanished, and so has his link to what sanity he had left. His limbs were stone, his heart burned, and his mind slowly drew more and more conclusions about what could have happened.

Could… She have gotten to him? Did he lose the cube? Impossible, the cube would have said something. Something.

Anything.

He shook his head. He needed to get out of this place. Whatever happened in this den, it can happen again. He can't risk getting caught. His cube was… almost everything, but selfishness can no longer guide his hand.

He owed someone.

He stumbled out of the den, noticing he no longer had to hobble. In fact, his leg seemed to feel fine. He looks down. The old blood from the turret wound was still crusted onto his pant leg, but the muscle and skin felt fine. This was both a relief, and a cause for alarm. His eyes still widened, he looks around. He saw no sign of anything coming in or out from the opening in the wall. It's as if some unseen force came in and fixed his leg and took his cube as payment.

He continued on, as he noticed something in his pocket. Along with each clank that came with every footstep on the railing, came a noticeable pat on his leg. It was as if something was in the pocket of his lab coat. During his hurried walk, he reached in and took out something that felt smooth, cold, and plastic. With it, was a black button with a white design.

His eyebrows shot straight up. When did he ever get a cellular device?! From what he could remember of his life in the past, he never really saw a point. He was never a social butterfly, and he only ever really used a landline if he had to. It was a wasted expense to get a cell phone.

But now whatever fixed his leg and took his cube now has given him a device to communicate to others, the irony. In the back of his mind, something appreciated the thought. But with how far underground the facility must be, signal would be nigh impossible to get. He looked around hunched into a corner. He opened the device, the light shining brightly on his face. He squinted and cringed, as he saw nothing of interest on the screen. His teeth clenched, as his head shook once more. He wanted answers, and each time he looked, another question added itself to the list.

He heard a high-pitched sound come from the tiny device. His bony fingers wrapped around the rectangular piece of plastic tightly, as his mismatched eyes look over the message that popped up on the screen.

"Locate the path of the tenacious. You have 600 minutes. Fail and face erasure."

The bearded man stares at the message. Erasure? Why, and who would erase him? Is this a cruel taunt from Her? Was he found?

He was sure of it. She's watching him squirm from under the questions, the new things, and the confusion. But he won't buckle. He's hid long enough, he supposed.

And that's when he felt a sharp pain on his hand. He looked to his palm, and gazed upon a timer. Six hundred minutes, counting down.

He took in a deep breath, before bolting into one of the wall's openings. He found himself at another split hallway, lined with sleek white walls, and this time there was no cube to tell him to dive left or right. He wasn't too happy about the last time he made the decision on his own. That nearly cost him his life.

In fact, he wasn't sure how he lived. But that was beside the point; his thoughts can no longer stall for him. He dove to his right, flying towards the new room. His eyes spotted turrets and their red laser, as his arms rose to cover his face.

He awaited death once more, nothing to save him from the wrath of the devices. But before he could expect anything, he hit the ground. The scraggly man blinks, uncovering his face. The targeting lasers stayed where they were. It was as if he didn't exist at all. He slowly heaved himself to his feet once more; a hand reached up to muss his hair out of his forehead.

"It-… i-it can't see me. None of them detect my presence." The ghostly man said aloud. Still no response. He gritted his teeth, and continued down the halls. He passed by several turrets, still no response from anything. No camera twitches, no proof that he even existed. Was this another insult by Her? Was she making a statement about worthlessness? Some poignant, cutting joke that he was to die lingering on?

He had no time for what-ifs. He just had to run, put one foot in front of the other. If She wants him to reach Chell in ten hours, he had no time to waste.

But now, he felt a sharp pain on his arm. He looked to his right and saw a strange looking wolf that had scratched his arm. His eyes widen.

A WOLF? No, no. It had to be his schizophrenia. Without Cube… the voices. The images. They'd come back in full force. Everything will crumble. All that will be left his a husk of a broken man.

But the pain, it felt unmistakably real. He continued his frenzied sprint, as he looked around for any other pathways. Each time he looked back, he found the wolf to be on his trail, still. At one point, another joined the fray. He just had to focus, even if his limbs tired and grew heavier, he just had to ignore it.

He reached a wall, his head hitting the white surface. He looks to see the two wolves approaching, the exit on the furthest corner. This was it.

He felt a hand jab his other side, the force pushed him towards the exit. The bearded man nearly yelped, as he felt compelled to run. He then was pulled, forced to look at the other.

The person he looked to was a shorter boy, in an unusual outfit consisting of a high-collared tunic with shorts. He wore large headphones that were somewhat obscured by his wildy spiked orange hair. He spoke quickly. "We have to make a pact." The unusual boy held out his hand. "Do you accept?" His tone sounded tense, as if it was less of a question.

Without thinking, the scruffy man took the hand. "I-… accept." He rasped. The scientist then felt a tingle, as if he felt something activate within. The boy jumped into the fray, and started to wave his hand. Flames grew and enveloped the animal-like monsters. Soon enough, the beasts vanish, as if they were…

Well. Erased.

The gangly man lets out a few gasps, he tried to maintain his composure. He rubbed his eyes, and took in a sharp inhale. "…You're… you're real?"

The boy nods, a hand stuffed in his pocket. "Yeah. We're both in the Reaper's Game. I'm… guessing you're new?"

The ragged scientists nodded as his body straightened up. "I… er. You'll have to explain… all of it."

The orange haired teenager shrugs. "No problem. You're my partner, now. We'll need each other to survive."

The Aperture employee quirks a brow. "Is that what the pact was?"

The boy starts walking. "Yeah, now c'mon. We have a time limit. My name's Neku Sakuraba, by the way. You?"

The haggard figure blinked, as he began his walk as well. "Oh! Forgive my rudeness… it… it's been a while since I have had the pleasure of speaking to another human. Doug Rattmann, at your service." He gave a weak smile from under his bushy mustache.

The oddly dressed boy gave a weak smile from under his large collar, as well. "Is it always so… creepy here? Where even are we? This isn't Shibuya, I know that much."

They passed a few more turrets as the conversation continued; Rattmann took note of the boy's non-presence as well. "This is the Aperture Science Enrichment Center. Of course… i-it won't do much enriching, now. The AI that runs this place, the Genetic Life-form and Disk Operating System killed all of the employees. I was the only survivor." He scratched his scalp; wild eyes still scanned every bit of surroundings.

Neku shook his head. "That's… terrifying. That had to be lonely… and if we don't want it to stay that way, we'll have to make sense of this mission. You know what this even means?"

The rat man gave a nod. "Yes. We find Chell. She's going through… Her tests. Now, what were those things you fought? I… wolves? Why were they here?"

Neku nodded once more. "They're the Noise. They're monsters that are summoned during the Reaper's Game. I fought them off using psychs." The orange haired teen blinked. "Which you can't do without pins. It's a good thing I carried extra, then!" He dug in his pockets, and took out several colorful little buttons.

Neku held out his hand, as the ratty scientist reached and took the pieces of plastic. He placed each pin onto his lab coat, looking to the boy once more. "Thank you. Now... how do I use these?"

Neku stuffed the hand back into his pocket. "Well. Like the name suggest, they're psychic abilities depending on the pin. I gave you… uh... Lightning, telekinesis, a healing pin, a freezing pin, and light bullets. That should be enough. When the noise comes, you'll just have to concentrate on what you want to do."

The ragged scientist blinks. "Just… concentrate? Is there a way to test it?"

"Nah," Neku starts, as we entered the next hallway. "Most psychs can only be used on Noise. Luckily, we haven't run in into many. If we had taken this long to make a pact in Shibuya, we would have been erased. We can't use our psychs without a pact, so having a partner is one of the most important things in a Reaper's Game."

Doug let out a small sigh. "Wouldn't be the first trial by fire, but, yes. I am rather glad I ran into you. Speaking of which… how did you get here? This place… usually isn't a place for children."

Neku shrugged. "I… I woke up here. I'm not sure how, but if there's one thing I know. I'm dead."

The rat man let out a few sputters. "Dead?"

The orange haired boy nodded. "Yeah. Usually In order to end up in the Reaper's Game… you have to die." Neku then blinked, as he eyed the man over. "That… was probably a bombshell. That's why these… things can't see you. This is the Underground part of this area. The part that these machines can see is the Realground."

The ragged employee tugged at his mangy beard, eyes widened. Dead? Then how is he still moving? Underground and Realground? Why is anything still happening? "I… I wouldn't be too shocked. If She didn't get me… well, malnutrition would. All I was able to eat for the past… since I remember… were cans of beans and milk."

Neku shook his head. "That's… so you died all alone, hiding from some insane AI with little to no food?" His gaze went from serious to… well, he was still serious, but there was a twinge of grief and pity in his blue eyes.

Doug finally gathered his thoughts and spoke. "Yes. I've been protecting someone. Someone I owe. I dragged her into this… thinking I could save others, and myself from the Hell …She would eventually unleash."

Neku blinks. "I'm guessing She is the insane AI?"

The Aperture scientist gave a nod.

Neku strokes his chin. "I… know what it's like to be used like that. I don't know if she'll forgive you. But if you're helping her… I know she'll trust you. Or at least, someone does. Whatever's behind this particular Reaper's Game wants to give you a second chance. Speaking of which… what was your entry fee?"

The lab rat dragged a hand through his hair. "… Entry fee?"

The oddly dressed player nodded. "Yeah. Player's are required to give the possession most valuable to them. I… honestly don't know mine, yet. Though, the fact nothing that I know is missing is troubling. It could be my friends."

The ragged man blinked. It was his Companion Cube. That's why it vanished without a trace. "D-… do you get it back?"

Neku nodded. "Yeah, if you win. If you lose… well, you're erased. But we're not about to let that happen. What'd you lose?"

Doug let out a sigh. "It was my Companion Cube. It… helped me cope during the whole ordeal."

"Right… well. We'll get it back, and hopefully we'll get you outta' here." Neku says, a brief smile could be seen just above his collar.

Sharp pain, something snuck up once more. The scientists looked to his leg, a frog-like creature had just assaulted him. Doug looks around, and sees several of these animals surrounding them.

Neku takes a stance, his hand starting to glow. "Well. You wanted your test, Doug. I got your back if you got mine." He throws his glowing hand towards a few of these frogs, pellets of light barraging the so-called Noise.

The rat man looks to a few of the wolves. He holds out his hand and starts gathering his thoughts. He gulps, and decides to focus on the lightning pin. Soon enough, his thin hand glows, lightning coming down and striking the creatures. He felt a bit of energy being sapped from him as this happened, but he continued. Lightning keeps coming down, a few of the dogs fizzling and vanishing at the strikes. Soon enough, the lightning stops, and Doug finds himself unable to summon anymore.

Neku turns to Doug. "That pin needs to reboot! Use another!"

The rat man blinks. Power does indeed have its limitations. He shook his head and starts holding his hand out once more, focusing on another pin. Bullets of light fired from his palm, the remaining wolves pelted and soon enough, they flickered and vanished as well.

Neku taps the scientist's shoulder. "I think that was all of them. It's… odd, though. Even though there are less Noise, I don't know how there can be any in a barren place like this." He shook his head. "And yet, I think I still have a lot to learn about these."

The haggard man nods. "R-… right. Let's keep moving. I have a feeling we're getting nearer." He knew this from the faint crashes and other noises reverberating around the place. She was preparing new test chambers for Chell, and they seem to be catching up.

Of course, there are still many questions this boy needs to answer. But for now, he was content with going through the various rooms, railings, and chambers in silence. From the look on the boy's face, he wasn't too sure on how he got so far from… Shibuya. Yes. That's the place he said.

All that will be solved in time.

Not much time, but it will be solved.