Here's a Wreck-It Ralph fic I wrote some time ago, since plot-bunnies were demanding that I write, and well, the title is a word-play on Tabula Rasa, or Blank Slate. This is a what-if story, as I was thinking, 'what if Mr. Litwak bought a classic Turbo Time machine? Anyhoo, on with the story!
Ralph could not believe his eyes. As the Nicelanders threw him off the building during the game's 'eyecatch' mode, he saw a rather old-looking arcade machine being wheeled into the arcade. It was one of those nights when everyone had to put off their usual breaks from their programming. Any behaviour that strayed from the norm could very well earn them an unplugging. The addition of a new or old arcade system wasn't what bugged him; every now and then a new set of faces showed up, new good guys and bad guys to make friends with. No, what took Ralph by surprise and almost made him mess up his usual belly-flop into the mud was the familiar-looking artwork and lettering on the side of the machine: Turbo Time.
"WHAT?" Ralph cried out as he splashed into the mud puddle. The mud didn't hurt him, as Ralph was programmed to be strong enough to fall from several floors without even suffering a bruise. Once the humans were out, he was going to discuss this with Felix and the rest of the gang.
In the bonus demo, Q*Bert and his buddies seemed worried as well. Ralph couldn't blame them; they had been around for over thirty years, and they had seen first-hand the damage Turbo had done to both his game and the new one – the name of which escaped them as it had been unplugged so quickly. He knew it was kind of silly to worry about this Turbo, as he would be 'brand new' unless someone had fitted the system with some kind of device to preserve the game's 'memory'.
Still, Ralph and the others could not shake the whole incident from their minds; Turbo had taken over Sugar Rush and messed with the memories of all its citizens, mutilating the programming of their true ruler Vanellope Von Schweetz. Ralph's own colossal blunder in Hero's Duty almost destroyed Sugar Rush when he had inadvertently brought a cybug egg into that world. In the end, that mistake turned out to be a blessing in disguise – had Ralph stayed where he was, Turbo would have been able to keep up his charade as 'King Candy'. He could only imagine what kind of mayhem this Turbo could wreak, and the giant couldn't stop playing a million different scenarios in his head as he and the others went through the motions.
The 'All Clear' from Yumi in "Dance Dance Revolution" snapped Ralph and the others out of their grim reverie, and they all headed inside the Niceland condo.
"What the heck is going on out there?" Ralph blurted out as soon as he squeezed (with some care) inside.
Felix slumped down on one of the couches and and panted a few times. Usually he wasn't this winded, but it was clear the superintendent was extremely upset.
"I don't know, Ralph," he replied, "But this could be very bad! What if he decides to go Turbo like that... other Turbo did?"
Q*Bert just peered out the window, his legs shaking. Wrongway and Ug hopped over to their friend and both gave him a reassuring pat on the back, but it was clear that they were as worried as he was. Coily, Slick and Sam joined them, having grown close during those long years of homelessness. Coily wrapped himself around Q*Bert in a sort of a 'hug', and Q*Bert responded by wrapping his snout around the snake.
Ralph turned to see them huddled together, and walked over to the group of old friends.
"Look, guys," he said, "Whatever happens, Felix and I won't let this Turbo pull a stunt like the old one did."
"Well I'm gonna go to Hero's Duty and alert Tamora," Felix announced, "She and her troops should be able to keep watch over Game Central."
"*^# % ?" An incredulous Q*Bert asked.
"We're not gonna bar him from Game Central yet," Felix replied, "We're gonna give him a chance."
Q*Bert replied with a bunch of other symbols, including several skulls and crossbones. Ralph was just learning Q*Bertese, but he could make out the gist of what the little round guy was saying; he didn't want other video game characters to suffer or even die from this Turbo's game-jumping.
"We're gonna see what this guy's up to, Q*Bert," Ralph reassured him, "We won't let another incident like this happen again!"
Q*Bert blinked a couple times, then hopped out of the condo. His friends followed, leaving Ralph, Felix and the Nicelanders to ponder the situation.
"So, you gonna go to Hero's Duty?"
Felix nodded.
"And you go to PacMan's to rally the other bad guys. We'll need all the help we can get."
Ralph cracked a smile and left. Clyde had seen it all too, and he'd at least be able to keep everyone calm during a crisis. As he took the tram to Game Central, Ralph prepared himself for a routine stop courtesy of the surge protector. Surprisingly, nothing happened. Either the surge protector had something better to do with his spare time, or he was busy shaking down some other bad guy. Or maybe he was just as paranoid about the latest addition as everyone in Fix-It Felix Jr. Whichever it was, Ralph welcomed his absence. Sure, the surge protector was just doing what he was programmed to do, but all these 'random security checks' really cheesed Ralph off.
He headed to PacMan, and on his way, caught sight of the Turbo Time portal. Nobody was coming in or out, and the surge protector would periodically fade in and out, looking rather perturbed. After watching the scene, as well as a few denizens of the arcade roaming the unusually empty Game Central keeping an eye on the new portal, Ralph continued to PacMan and got onto the PacMan-O-Rail. He needed to speak with Clyde about this.
