CHAPTER 2

It was quite a festive scene.

Tapper was giving out root beers at no cost and he did not even complain about having to clean all those empty glasses he always ends up with! All the characters in Game Central Station know how big of a mouth Tapper can get when his place gets crowded and at this time, it is packed and not a single complaint escaped his mouth. This was a different time in Game Central Station.

It has been three days since Sugar Rush has been saved. The hype and energy has not died down one bit. Ralph, Vanellope, Felix, and even Sergeant Calhoun couldn't walk around Game Central Station without being asked for an autograph, a picture, or demonstrations of their abilities. Everyone loved it when Ralph did his trademark "I'M GONNA WRECK IT" quote with his ferocious mannerisms, all acted of course. The community of Game Central Station could not get enough of Vanellope glitching or Felix fixing something with his magic hammer or even Calhoun's high-definition beauty.

Ralph, just days ago, wanted to be a hero and to be recognized. Now, in a short time-span as well, he has already found something much more important, true friends and the ability to accept himself for who he is. Bad guy, good guy, it did not matter to him anymore. The fame that has been bestowed upon him for his heroic actions in Sugar Rush, the same kind of fame that he would have done anything for just days ago, was trivial compared to the strong platonic bond that he has formed with Vanellope. Despite his bad guy status, if that little girl likes him, how bad could he really be?

Things are great for once, so Ralph thought. He continued his "take it one game at a time" mentality. Some of the kids at the arcade who played Fix-It-Felix Jr. could have sworn that they saw the wrecking guy smile at times while he was wrecking the building. All of them usually dismiss it once they get ultra-excited about seeing Q*bert and the rest of his crew in the bonus levels of the game.

Sugar Rush, as anticipated, became extremely popular with the children as well. Especially since Vanellope, who became known simply as the "super-awesome new character" to the arcaders, is just a natural born racer. She is a fan favorite and kids even pay extra quarters to just get first pick so that they can select Vanellope as their racer. Glitch and all, everyone loves her. How could they not love an adorable brat with dirty hair that wins?

Over at Hero's Duty, kids still went crazy over the high-definition and the amount of action that is packaged in one game. Besides, Sargent Calhoun is quite an inspiring character. Even after their big victory over Turbo in Sugar Rush, Calhoun was still a bit stingy about introducing other characters into Hero's Duty not because she did not want her thunder to be stolen but because she did not want a Cy-bug sneaking out of the game. They learned that lesson the hard way when Ralph went in trying to earn himself the prestigious "Medal of Hero's" and a Cy-bug managed to sneak out with him on the aircraft shuttle that Ralph accidently hijacked. She only wanted individuals who were programmed to deal with Cy-bugs specifically to be in the game. She doesn't let Ralph or Vanellope come visit her in Hero's Duty, not even Felix, probably because she's over protective of her new lover as well. If she is to meet a friend somewhere, she would go over to Tappers or their game. She's a dynamite gal, according to Felix, that can look over herself. Felix does not worry about her the way that she worries about him. Calhoun is determined to make sure that the events with her past lover does not repeat and is intent on making sure that Felix stays safe at all times.

After closing time, Calhoun got on the next available train to go check on Felix over at Fix-It-Felix Jr. After arriving at her husband's world, she saw no initial sign of Felix and by habit, she took out her weapon. She got off the train slowly, crouched, and moved with caution. She heard something snap in the bushes nearby and charged her gun.

"Freeze!" she shouted, doing a complete 360 with her gun aimed at the bush.

Out of the bushes popped out a rather short nicelander in a white suit and a black tie begging for her not to shoot.

"Gene?" she said with sudden realization traced in her voice.

"Please! Don't shoot!" he cried, "I was just trimming the bushes. And I don't know where Felix is! I think he's up on the roof with everyone else throwing Ralph off the building!"

Suddenly, someone laughed that wasn't either Gene nor Calhoun.

"Well clearly, you have done this before."

Both Sergeant Calhoun and Gene turned around at a new guest who was just entering the world of Fix-It-Felix Jr. Calhoun was about to raise her gun until this stranger remarked,

"No need for that. I'm surprised that you just realized that I am here. You did not hear the train coming in?"

This was some well dressed, tall, and broad shouldered individual in a dark suit. He looked like a character out of some Japanese RPG. Both Gene and Calhoun realized that this is someone who probably is not from Game Central Station.

"The name is Victor Vector. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sergeant Calhoun."

Meanwhile, Ralph was thinking about how much he loves this part of the day, closing time.

He loved it because the nicelanders would conclude the day by lifting him up of the roof of the building and throwing him into a pile of mud. Particularly, as they are about to throw him off, the nicelanders would lift him up just a teensy bit higher and that's when he could get a perfect view of Sugar Rush. At this point, even though the arcade is technically closed, he could see the kids racing Vanellope in the concluding stages of the race. She could be 3rd or 4th place in the race and she always found a way, glitch or no glitch, to get into first place in the nick of time. As Vanellope fist punches the kid playing as her congratulations and receives her trophy for winning, she always continues to make sure that she waves to Ralph. Her smile and expression alone assures Ralph that there is something to look forward to every day. Something he has not had before.

As the nicelanders prepared their final push to get Ralph off the building, Felix whispered to him "I'll meet you downstairs!"

Ralph winked as he fell from the top of the building.

SPLOOSH

Ralph's used to the fall. After thirty years of falling down the same building, he's gotten used to the impact and the feeling of mud all over him. Felix came out the door on the first floor of the building and with his trademark buoyant happiness, jumped in joy.

"We have never been this popular in years!" he exclaimed, hugging Ralph in the process "And now not only are getting the quarters in like no other, but now I can know that my lady, my dynamite gal, awaits me at the end of the day."

Ralph smiled in response, patting Felix on the back. "

"I'm happy for you, brother" he said as the two walked towards the train tracks that connects Fix-it-Felix Jr. to the rest of the gaming world, "I'm sure she is waiting for you right by the trai…."

Both were petrified at what they saw.

They saw that Gene stood as frozen as an ice sculpture with his eyes wide open in fear. Neither Calhoun nor Gene were hurt, but what was shocking to everyone was that Calhoun had her gun charged and loaded, aimed at a well-dressed Asian man who did not seem to be phased out at all by the whole ordeal.

"My lady!" Felix shouted in shock "What's going on?"

Calhoun aimed the gun directly at the stranger's head. Whoever this person was, he was brave enough to turn around to address both Felix and Ralph despite the fact he was being held at gunpoint.

"What a pleasure" he said smiling with the back of his head facing Calhoun's laser pistol "The name is Victor Vector. Director of anti-viral programs over at the Ayala Café two blocks down the street."

Calhoun cocked the gun and yelled with formidable force,

"And you're about to be dead as a busted doornail in ten seconds if you don't tell me why you're really here! You know what happens when people die outside their games, don't you?"

Ralph and Felix were unsure what to do. Naturally, they wanted to find a way to ease the tension of the situation and they were both thinking very fast of a solution to do such. Victor Vector remained calm and he did not even turn around to address Calhoun directly, but he did respond.

"I understand the consequences of the possibility of dying outside my game, or world if you will, I won't regenerate."