Writer's note: This was a hard chapter because it had two pivotal scenes I'd wanted to write for a while now, but they came out fairly well. Thank you again to my readers for following!
Part 7
Footsteps marched purposefully towards the double doors of the penthouse. Right on time, as she was every day to give the evening report. He didn't bother waiting for her to knock; opening the right side as Sergeant Calhoun briskly strode through.
"Have I ever told you I love how punctual you are?"
"Every single day, Fix-it." Calhoun halted midway into the spacious great room, standing straight at attention.
Fix-It strolled passed her to flop on the couch. "At ease, Calhoun."
She didn't budge from her stiff stance. "I have news."
"You detained some rebels?" he asked, expectantly.
Calhoun frowned, and reported grimly, "No. Corporal Green found doppelgangers of you, me, and Wreck-It wandering in the station along with an unidentified child. Green says he thinks they entered through the tunnel door."
Look-a-likes of them in his arcade? Fix-It's breathing began to hitch. "Tell me you captured them, sergeant".
"My squad tried to apprehend them, but it is believed a rebel helped them escape to their hideout."
Fix-It jumped to his feet, slamming the bottom of a closed fist onto the coffee table top, glass cracking from the impact. Calhoun remained stock still, staring straight forward at the front door. "How could four individuals escape your dozens of soldiers with all their training and, might I add, highly sophisticated weapons? Are your men that inept?" He snatched her wrist, yanking her down to his eye level and glaring into her face. "Are you slipping, sergeant?"
Calhoun returned the glare. "I can assure you, Fix-It, neither me nor my men are slipping." She wrenched her wrist from his squeezing grasp to stand again. "We know nothing of these strangers except that they're other versions of us. If this Calhoun is anything like me, she'll fight her way out of any situation."
"If she is like you," Fix-It began to pace, fists balled at his sides, "then you need to be two steps ahead of her." He paused, grinding his teeth at the thoughts rushing through his head. "No telling what the rebels have in store for these doppelgangers." His eyes flashed in paranoia. "They'll use them against us; take back the arcade. There'll be no order; people will do as they wish."
He jabbed a finger to the ground. "Find them, sergeant! And as soon as you do, bring them to me. Don't mess this up this time!"
Calhoun grasped the front of Fix-It's shirt, yanking him up to her level; icy eyes burning with fierce anger. She wouldn't be tossed around like dog in the bed of a pick-up truck. She had the upper hand, whether he realized it or not.
"I never mess up." Calhoun snarled. "Remember that, Fix-It,"
He smiled wickedly and patronized, "I'll believe it when those doppelgangers are behind bars, doll."
With a growl, she tossed him onto the couch and stormed towards the exit.
"Sergeant," Fix-It called after her, "if you find Dr. Scott or her-"
"I know, Fix-It," Calhoun replied, not turning around. A hint of defensiveness lined her voice. "I'll handle Dr. Scott myself, and she's as good as yours."
Without another word, she marched away, slamming the door behind her. Fix-It strolled to the bay window, hands behind his back as he watched Calhoun jet away on her cruiser.
It was bad enough those wretched rebels were a thorn in his side, and now they had assistance from strangers from the outside. Fix-It felt the anger rising in him. All his hard work to keep in tack a perfect world would be unraveled if those miscreants weren't snuffed out.
Shifting his thoughts, she came to his mind as she always did when he was alone. "Where are you?" he asked aloud. She'd eluded him for far too long. One day, she'd be his again.
Felix opened his eyes to find the most beautiful woman ever programmed lying next to him. They'd taken advantage of the private quarters, indulging in each other until they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs. It felt so good. Now he watched her in the dim overhead light, counting the freckles on her skin. Numbering the cute, tiny spots peppered over her face was his favorite pastime, and it'd been a while since he'd had the chance to engage in it.
Tammy slept soundly as he gazed at her. He knew this was her first real rest in over a week. She'd tended to everyone but herself during the evacuation process at Litwak's. In route, she may have gotten a couple hours sleep every night, but her decision to stay alert to keep watch hampered anymore rest. She'd designated herself as their family's protector at the cost of her own needs.
Feeling restlessly, Felix carefully slipped away, dressing as quietly as he could. He glanced over his shoulder at Tamora, smiling at her sleeping form, and softly shut the door behind him.
He was met by silent in the main room, and Felix guessed there were no early risers like him in this melting pot of a group. He slowly wandered through the long room, taking in the surroundings. Many seating areas lined the walls in-between doors on both sides of the room with various chairs and couches and some tables.
A small counter and pantry broke the pattern on one side, and Felix assumed this was their kitchen. A soda fountain with two dispensers hung on the wall, its tubes running up into the ceiling. He frowned at the sparseness of the makeshift kitchen. No oven or stove, and no way to make a pie. Oh well. Maybe one day he'd have another chance.
"Take what you like, sweetie."
Felix jumped at the voice behind him. He whirled around to find Pauline there, smiling warmly.
"Sorry, hon, didn't mean to give you fright there."
"It's okay, Ms. Pauline." He waved hand, dismissingly, smiling back at her. "Good morning, by the way."
"Morning to you too." The brunette stepped closer, accompanied by a sway of her hips. So many women were programmed with that sway. She raised her hand as if to touch his shoulder, but dropped it before making contact.
"Y'know, me and our Fix-It Felix were close." She laid her left palm on her chest, fanning her fingers, and Felix caught a glimpse of the gold band encircling her ring finger. "Very close."
Felix gaped at the ring and asked carefully, "You'reā¦his wife?"
Pauline gave a sad smile. "16 years this year, but I don't think I'll ever be able to spend another anniversary with my Fix-It-boy."
"I'm so sorry, ma'am" Felix's heart ached for the poor woman. The sight of him must have been upsetting, though she had hidden well the night before. "If I would have known-"
"It's okay, hon," she reassured, slightly cocking her head. "I'm okay."
"If you don't mind me asking, Ms. Pauline, what happened with your husband?" Out of anyone, she'd have the best firsthand experience with the altered handyman and curiosity weighted on Felix to know more of his counterpart.
Pauline's hands clasped in front of her as she began, "I was gone during the storm; out with a friend at the soda shop. I found my Felix on the floor knocked out. When I woke him up, he seemed fine, just a headache and ringing in his ears. He started acting different a few days later; a biting remark here and there so unlike anything I ever heard him say. It was as if I did everything wrong and not long after, so was the rest of the arcade.
"He employed Sergeant Calhoun to keep order. By then, I barely recognized the man that I married. One evening, I finally gained the courage to approach him about his changes. He raised his voice to me and grabbed my arms and actually shook me." Pauline absently rubbed her forearms where her husband had grabbed her. Her eyes stared forward, pricked with unshed tears, seeing not the room around her but the memories she recounted. "He locked me in our bedroom, but I chanced a climb out the window and down the rain pipe and never thought twice about going back."
She stepped closer, her gaze glassy and longing. "I miss him so much. You're not him, but you look like him-" she leaned into Felix, pressing her full lips softly to his.
Felix's mind exploded in panic. This woman, who wasn't his wife, was kissing him! Jiminy, what would Tammy do if she saw this? His whole body tensed. He gently pushed against her shoulders, and Pauline backed off, cheeks flushed.
"Ms. Pauline, this isn't right. We're both married. I love my Tammy Jean more than life. We can't do this."
"I'm sorry, hon." Pauline let out a tiny nervous laugh, and backed away to a safe distance. "I lost my head for a moment."
"It's okay." Felix held his hands out unconsciously like a barrier to shield any other unwanted intimacy. "Just don't let it happen again, ma'am."
"It better not."
Felix nearly jumped out his pixel at Tamora's voice entering the situation. Now it was time for the real panic. He hurried around Pauline. "Tammy! It's not-"
"Can it, Fix-It!" Tamora strode passed him, straight to the harried woman. Fists balled at her sides, Tamora leaned down slightly, melting Pauline down with her fiery gaze. "I understand you miss your husband, but that does not give you the right to move in on mine."
"I apologize for my actions, sergeant," Pauline said sincerely, "I'll stay away from your Felix as best I can."
"Good, because next time I won't be so forgiving."
Pauline swallowed, noisily. "Of course." Head bowed, she started to walk away but stopped, "You're a lucky woman, Tamora." With that, she retreated to her room.
"Tammy?" Felix tried, and was met by narrowed eyes.
Tamora snapped her fingers and pointed down beside her. Felix hesitantly obeyed the order as he approached his steaming wife. She bent to one knee, slamming their lips together in a searing kiss that surprised Felix so much it took a moment for him to respond. The kiss ended as roughly as it began, Tamora pulling him away at arm's length.
"What was that for?" Felix asked, slightly out of breath and still surprised that he'd received a kiss instead of repercussion.
"I didn't want that woman's lips to be on your mind."
"Tammy, I would never-"
"I know you wouldn't, Felix. I heard nearly everything she said."
"You were eavesdropping?"
Tamora scowled at him, and Felix clinched a sheepish smile. Maybe it was best to keep his mouth shut. "As I was saying, I heard her story and saw how this all played out. You did the right thing, Felix."
"You know I would never intentionally do anything like that. You're the only woman I could ever want."
Tamora nodded. "It's dropped. Okay?"
"Yes, ma'am." He wrapped arms around her neck, relief sweeping over him as Tamora returned the embrace. "I love you, Tammy."
"You too, Fix-It." She pulled away, gesturing to the kitchen. "Let's get a bite to eat before the gawkers show up."
They snagged a few pieces of fruit and slices of bread, glad to find butter in the pantry. Water and root beer were the only drink options on tap. They sat at a table, quietly talking as characters began to filter into the great room some gawking, some ignoring them completely. A disgruntled Vanellope showed up, grabbing a few food items and grumbled about Ralph nearly squashing her a few times during the night before heading back to their room.
"Jumpsuit at 5 o'clock," Tamora muttered. Felix looked to find Turbo and Dr. Scott nearing.
"We need to have a chat, sergeant" Turbo informed, thumb jetting to the tunnel entrance. The couple stood to follow, but Turbo waved a hand then pointed to Felix. "No, no. Not you. Just her."
Tamora purposefully slapped her palms down on the tabletop. "Whatever you have to say to me, you say to my husband too."
Turbo gritted his teeth, giving a nod of permission. He pivoted around, and the three of them followed him to the tunnel entrance.
