Chapter 9 – Reality Bytes

Throughout the night, Josh tosses and turns in his sleep. He sees strange images of Cyrus just plotting his schemes and raising his army. Cyrus 'bumps' and 'touches' people just by walking down the street on purpose. They begin to feel the effects of his virus inside them. And slowly, they start to become his husks.

Following morning…

Josh slowly opens his eyes and sees the world sideways. He gets up and rubs his eyes and sighs hard.

"What a night…"

Josh gets up and goes to his Bathroom. As he enters the lights go on and Josh examines his face hard in the mirror. Josh pulls and rubs his face really hard trying to wake up faster. He nods and takes his shirt off. As he does, Josh notices scars around his body.

"What the?"

Josh turns around seeing his reflection of his back. The same kind of scars are there too.

"How did these get…?"

Then Josh remembers…

When I was infected with the virus. I saw what Cyrus's husks look like when their skin ruptures and pours out. I was close to that stage, if Hero didn't cure me. I guess my body absorbed didn't receive some of the treatment to remove the virus off my skin. As long as I wear a shirt, no one will know.

Josh nods and walks to the shower. He turns it on and gets it going, but as he gets in, the electricity in his body shoots everywhere inflicting harm on him as well.

"AH! AHHH! OOH!"

Josh's Apartment…

Josh walks out of his main room, dressed entirely different shaking his head.

"Of course, I can't touch water like that if my entire body is running on electricity. I basically have to take a bird bath…" Josh says walking to the Kitchen

"Good morning Josh."

Josh nods.

"Good morning E.D.I."

"I shall inform you today's weather is cloudy, and it's raining outside."

Josh flinches and closes the refrigerator door.

"Oh! Don't tell me that E.D.I. Please don't tell me that." Josh says shaking his head

"Is there a problem?"

Josh rolls his eyes.

"I nearly died just by taking a shower."

"Slip and fall?"

"No, no, the water touched my skin and I felt the effects of the current running through my body', Josh goes on explaining, 'I had to carefully wet a towel and clean myself up with that', Josh looks around and doesn't see his friends insight, 'E.D.I.? Where is everyone?"

"They are down in the Factory."

Josh narrows his eyes.

"The factory? Why?"

"They didn't say. But I overheard one of them say 'Let's check this place out'."

Josh nods with a small smile on his face.

"That might have been Vanellope. I'll bring them back up."

Josh walks to the elevator and heads down to the Factory part of the building.

The Factory…

Josh walks out into the Factory part of the building and looks around. He overhears talking and looks in the direction of the voices. Josh finds his friends up on a platform looking down at the old machines throughout the Factory. He walks towards them.

"What a dump." Calhoun states

"It's a mess. That's for sure." Felix says

"And I thought my home was messy." Ralph says

"Ralph, your home was always messy. You did live in a 'dump'." Vanellope reminds

Ralph looks down funny at Vanellope.

"Remember kid, you can't glitch here."

Vanellope shakes her head.

"Do you have to remind me of that Stink Brain?"

"Well it's true."

"So is about your home."

"Hey, hey! Come on guys. Don't fight." Felix says

Josh walks up the steps and approaches his friends slowly.

"Hey', everyone turns around and sees Josh, 'Enjoying the view?"

Josh walks up and alongside Calhoun.

"Enjoying? That's not the word I'd use." Calhoun states

Josh sighs and nods.

"Right. Admiring?"

"No." Calhoun says shaking her head

Josh looks out at the vast emptiness of the Factory.

"Say whatever you like about this place. It's all true right in front of you."

"Where to start, where to start…" Vanellope says climbing up the railing

Josh shakes his head with a smirk on his face. Calhoun leans forward on the railing, Felix holds his body on the top railing, and Ralph just stands tall holding the top railing.

"Of all places to choose to live, why this place Josh?" Calhoun asks

Josh thinks for a moment and blinks.

"If I told you Calhoun, it was in my price range."

"Liar."

Josh looks over at Calhoun. Calhoun looks down at Josh and knows that he's not telling the entire truth.

"Nothing gets passed you Calhoun."

"One of my trade skills…or programming', Josh nods, 'Something I've picked up from being around you. I'm afraid I know what you're going to do or say right before you do it."

Josh scratches his nose and Calhoun waits for her answer. He sighs slowly.

"This place…reminded me of Game Central Station."

Ralph, Felix and Vanellope look their way at Josh as well. They all look confused at how Josh is comparing this run down place to Game Central Station.

"Are you for real?" Ralph asks

"Yeah', Josh looks at everyone, 'I mean, look around you. Doesn't it have that feeling?"

The four look out and they…don't exactly see it as Josh does.

"I don't know Josh…this place is a dump." Vanellope states

Josh sighs and points around.

"Okay, it looks like that. But look closer…I mean, look at those entrances to get outside.', the four look at the different entrances that lead to the outside of the warehouse, 'I used to walk past them and visualize which game I was passing as if I was in Game Central Station. Like that one right there', Josh points at a certain one, 'That would be Sugar Rush right there.', Vanellope takes notice, Josh looks across the way and points at another entrance, 'That right there my tall and short friend, Fix-It Felix, Jr.', Felix and Ralph look at each other and grow happy faces, Josh then looks serious and straight ahead, 'And right there, the mother of all games, the one, the only, HERO'S! DUTY!', Calhoun shakes her head and Josh claps his hands, 'Come on now, let's give a round of applause to the first possible video game characters to leave their world and enter the real one. Let's go!" Josh claps and even whistles

The four turn their heads at Josh as he claps and whistles for them. They look at each other and back at Josh. Josh notices that their looking at him funny. He finally stops clapping and drops his hands.

"Was it something I said?"

The four don't say anything. Josh begins to pick up what's bothering them.

"You want to go back don't you?"

"Is it that obvious?" Vanellope asks looking back out into the Factory

Josh rubs his head and thinks about the course of action of what brought them here: Him.

"It's my fault', the four look back at Josh, 'I forced you to come along when we were at that… 'doorway'. If I didn't say anything, none of you would have come."

"You didn't force us to come here Josh. We may have followed you, but we stepped through the doorway by ourselves." Calhoun explains

Josh crosses his arms.

"You sure did."

Calhoun turns her head back at Josh.

"But you remember this, will try and help you stop Cyrus. But if this does ever end, you have to figure out on how to get us back. Understand?" Calhoun asks with a serious look on her face

Josh sees the look and nods.

"I'll try."

"Also in the meantime, you got to figure out on how we can use our programming here."

Josh narrows his eyes.

"Your programming?"

"Yeah, I can't wreck things without my hands getting hurt."

"Yeah, and I can't fix anything if my hammer doesn't work."

"I can't glitch anymore so help me with that first." Vanellope says

Josh puts his hands up.

"Okay, okay! I get it. I'll figure something out. You guys just have to bear with it in the meantime."

"Well how do you do it?" Calhoun asks

"Do what?"

"With your powers. I doubt you couldn't do that before right?" Calhoun states

Josh nods.

"Well…I don't know. It just…feels natural."

"Natural?" Ralph asks

"Yeah, Ralph, what runs through your mind when you wreck stuff?"

Ralph shrugs.

"Well I don't know, I just don't worry about it and…do it."

Josh nods.

"Exactly, why can't you do that here now?"

Ralph realizes it and looks down at his hands. Josh looks out into the Factory and sees some old toys set up. He looks back at Calhoun and nods.

"Hey Calhoun, see those old toys out there', Calhoun looks at what Josh is talking about, 'See them?"

"Yeah."

"Shoot them like you would a Cy-Bug."

Calhoun turns slowly and looks at Josh funny.

"You can't be serious."

"In the real world Calhoun, you got to work with what you got. Shoot them. Pretend their Cy-Bugs."

Calhoun sighs and takes out her pistol. Everyone watches as Josh leans forward on the railing. Calhoun takes careful aim at the toys. She visualizes that the toys are Cy-Bugs. Calhoun looks serious and shoots one. Everyone's surprised, even Calhoun when the toy blows up. Josh smiles and lowers his head. Calhoun just looks all confused.

"How…How is that…"

"It's natural.', Calhoun turns her head and Josh looks up at her, 'Like you've been doing it your whole life right?"

Calhoun looks down at her hand and the gun. Josh looks back out.

"Again."

Calhoun takes aim and does it again. She gets the feeling like it's not just done automatic, but as a skill learned and she knows how to use it. Calhoun shoots the rest of them and Josh stands up.

"Well done."

Calhoun holsters her weapon.

"What about me?" Vanellope asks

Josh sighs and kneels down.

"I don't know Vanellope. Your 'skills' might be…a little tricky."

"Oh come on." Vanellope says putting her hands in her hoodie

"Now, now, don't have that attitude. Got to think positive."

"I'm trying, but no offense Josh, your world bites."

Josh laughs and stands up.

"Yeah, don't remind me. Pretend you're in your kart and racing towards the finish line."

"Pretend?"

"Yeah, you see the finish line before you. Your right behind…Rancis. He's blocking your path, he won't let you pass. Close your eyes', Vanellope closes her eyes and visualizes that she's in Sugar Rush, 'You're a mile away from the finish line. Rancis is in front of you. He's not letting you pass. You have to win this.', Vanellope begins to look serious, she gets that feeling inside her knowing she's got to glitch in front of Rancis to win, 'So what are you going to do Vanellope? Win or lose?"

"Win!"

"How?"

Suddenly Vanellope's body glitches. Everyone sees it but she doesn't disappear. The effect is hard to do but Vanellope begins to feel her glitching ability is coming back but doesn't glitch far. Josh shakes his head.

"Well…', Vanellope looks around and up at Josh, 'Not a total loss, but at least you can glitch a little."

"Why can't I glitch at all?"

"Because there's no human in the entire world that can Vanellope."

"Oh where human now?" Calhoun asks

Josh looks funny at Calhoun.

"Not at all.', Calhoun flinches to that remark, 'Your video game characters remember, technically this is your second day of being outside your games. So your only two days old. You have a long way to go before you're technically human."

"And you do?" Calhoun asks

Josh shrugs.

"Hello. I'm twenty years old. Been alive a lot longer than any of you."

"Our game is thirty years old." Felix states

Josh looks down at Felix.

"True, but how long of it being in the real world Felix', Felix fixes his hat and Josh steps back, 'Guys, you know it's true. I'm sorry."

"Apology not needed." Calhoun says

"Oh, good."

"So don't rub it in." Calhoun orders with a serious look

Josh nods.

"Right, sorry. Anyway, can we leave this dump and go back up to my Apartment which is nicer. Please? Thank you." Josh says walking away

The four look at each other and follow Josh. Felix walks ahead.

"Hey Josh, what about me?"

"Hm?"

"What about my fixing?"

"Well Felix, if I ever get anything broken, you're the first person I'll call."

Josh's Apartment…

All is quiet in Josh's Apartment. Everyone does their own thing. Calhoun fix and cleans her gun. Felix tries 'purposely' breaking something so he can fix it up like he usually does. Ralph just sits on the couch and watches TV, pro wrestling to be exact. And Vanellope, she just stares out the window watching the rain outside pour hard. Josh walks out into his Apartment and sees everyone doing their own thing. He looks off to the side and sees Vanellope looking out the window. Josh walks to her and sits down next to her as she gazes out the window.

"Nice view?"

"Compared to what?"

Josh shrugs.

"Not much I suppose. But don't worry though; the sun will come out after."

"And how would you know that?" Vanellope asks looking up at Josh

"Because after every storm there's always a sun that will come out.', Vanellope crosses her arms, Josh sort of smiles, 'There was this one time when I was younger. I stayed up all night playing a video game. I finally passed out on my bed', Vanellope just listens in on the story, 'I was sound asleep until the moment I heard my brother screaming."

"Jason?"

Josh nods and Vanellope blinks.

"I first thought I was hearing things but then I noticed that it was storming hard outside…and that's when I discovered my brother was afraid of lighting."

8 years ago…

Younger Josh lies motionless on his bed with a Playstation 2 controller in one hand. He licks his lips and gets more comfortable. And then all of a sudden a loud lighting strike strikes outside. Josh shoots right up and looks out the window and sees it raining hard. He shakes his head and goes back down to fall asleep, but then, Jason in the other room screams.

"Ahhh!"

Josh opens his eyes and slowly sits up.

"Jas?"

Josh throws his body off his bed and walks out. His bedroom door is open and he walks down the hallway to his brother's room. Josh walks up to his bedroom door and sees it shut.

"Jas?" Josh softly asks as he grabs the knob

Josh holds the doorknob firmly and turns it. The door creaks and Josh sees Jason on his bed with the blanket over sitting straight up. Jason's hiding under the blanket, slowly shivering. Josh shakes his head and enters more. He kneels down in front of Jason and grabs the top of the blanket.

"It's a little earlier for Halloween don't you think?"

As Josh takes the blanket off Jas's head, another lighting strike hits hard and Jas grabs the blanket.

"NO!"

Josh flinches as Jason throws the blanket over back on his head. He sighs slowly and sits down next to Jason.

"Jas, come on now, what is this?"

"Leave me alone Josh, if you're just going to make fun of me, just leave me alone. I'm scared."

Josh sighs and grabs the blanket.

"I'm not going to make fun of you, come on out. It's okay."

Josh moves the blanket more and more off Jason. He shakes nervously as the light from the lighting shines in the room and fades away. Josh sees how nervous Jason is being about all this.

"See? Nothing to be scared of."

Suddenly lighting strikes loud and Jason jumps.

"AH!"

Jason crawls behind Josh and Josh just snickers. Jason takes note.

"See! You are making fun of me!"

Josh shakes his head.

"I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at the lighting."

Jason looks lost.

"Why is lighting funny?"

"Well think about it. Without lighting, we wouldn't be able to do this."

Josh hits a switch and turns on a night light in Jason's room.

"Without electricity, you wouldn't be able to turn that on."

"Well keep it on."

"You know the rules Jas, Dad doesn't want lights on in the middle of the night on."

Josh turns off the light and Jas glues himself to Josh's back. He sighs slowly.

"You already have a light on Jas, don't you see it?"

Jason looks confused.

"Huh? What light?"

Josh points as lighting shines through Jason's room. He sees the light shine through his window and hides.

"That's no light. It's scary."

"There's nothing to be afraid of Jas. It's only lighting. Lighting is your friend."

"Yeah? So is the darkness all around my room. I don't know which is worse."

"You can use the lighting to shine your room up to push away the darkness Jas."

Josh points it out as Jas slowly and carefully watches. Jason sees the lighting light shine through his room as it brightens it up and Jason is now able to see around his room from the light outside.

"Huh…well it's…kind of cool…"

Josh smiles and stands up.

"You know what we're going to do Jas?', Jas listens in as Josh looks around, 'Were gonna bright up the darkness together…with the lighting outside. What do you say?"

Jason nods happily and Josh claps his hands together.

Present…

Josh's Apartment…

Josh guides his finger around the window as Vanellope continues to listen to Josh's story.

"After that, Jas wasn't scared of lighting no more."

"What is lighting by the way Josh?"

Josh smirks and lifts up his hand. Vanellope watches and suddenly Josh shoots out a bolt right up to the ceiling and Vanellope flinches. Everyone turns their heads at Josh and see what he just did.

"That's what lighting is Vanellope."

Vanellope fixes her composure.

"Oh…well…imagine that if Jas saw you now."

Josh looks at his hand and twirls around the lighting around his fingers.

"Yeah, he'd probably wet his pants."

Josh stands up and suddenly the rain outside stops. Vanellope looks out as well and the clouds move away showing the sun outside.

"Whoa…you were right."

Josh nods.

"I'm always right."

Josh walks out and in front of Ralph.

"Excuse me Ralph; I got to use E.D.I. for a second. E.D.I."

As E.D.I. comes up on the TV, Ralph's program goes away.

"HEY! It was getting good." Ralph yells leaning forward

"I'll record it Ralph. Easy."

Ralph sighs and gets annoyed. Josh shakes his head and looks up at the screen.

"E.D.I., I need your help."

"What would you like me to do?"

Everyone comes to the Living Area.

"I need to find Cyrus."

"Where shall I start looking?"

"Nearby attractions."

"Searching…"

"What makes you think you're going to find him?" Calhoun asks leaning on the couch

Josh looks back.

"You'd be surprised on how I can do things here Calhoun."

"But still, how are you going to find him? He's not just going to let you find him out there just like that." Calhoun states

"I'm not finding him, E.D.I. is."

Everyone looks up at the TV and watch E.D.I. searching.

"E.D.I. can find anything as long as it's connected to the system."

"The system?" Felix asks

"Mostly everything nowadays is all connected; you just have to know where to look if you want to find something. Like the internet."

"What's the internet?" Ralph asks

Josh rubs his eyes and looks around.

"You guys have so much to learn."

"Where do you think Cyrus is going to be?" Calhoun asks

Josh looks serious as E.D.I. still searches.

"Someplace with a lot of people."

The searching still goes on. It happens for a view more minutes and finally E.D.I. finds something.

"I believe I have found something."

"Bring it up E.D.I."

E.D.I. brings up what she found and shows everyone a fair that's going on about twenty minutes down the road.

"A fair? What's a fair?" Vanellope asks

Josh nods seeing why Cyrus might be there.

"Clever. I'll give him that."

Josh stands up and walks around the couch. He picks up his staff along the way and everyone looks at Josh.

"Wait, you're actually going?" Calhoun asks

Josh looks back.

"You're welcome to join me if you want." Josh says with a smile on his face

"You want us to come?" Felix asks

"Yeah, I'll need back up and besides', the four listen in on Josh's explanation, 'It's a fair, games will be there, it should make you guys feel RIGHT at home." Josh says boarding the elevator

Josh waits as the four wonder if they should go. Vanellope walks ahead and joins Josh. The three see it and go along as well. Josh shuts the gates and the five go down.

The Fair…

The five walk down the street hearing the sounds of the fair's music in the distance.

"I think where here." Josh says

The four and see the fair in the distance in a giant park. As the five enter, Josh pays for tickets so he and his friends can enter. He hands them to each of them and looks at them.

"Okay, here's the plan…', the four listen in, 'Felix and Calhoun, you check the far side of the fair, you spot Cyrus, come back to get the rest of us."

"Got it." Calhoun says

"You betcha." Felix says

"Vanellope and I will check the center. Sound good Vanellope?"

"Yep!"

"Hey, what about me? Why am I alone?"

The four look up at Ralph and Josh crosses his arms.

"Well, you're so…big."

"No I'm not."

Josh looks around and sees several people looking up and seeing how big Ralph is. He sighs and drops his arms.

"Stay here at the entrance, incase Cyrus tries to leave."

"What am I supposed to do?" Ralph asks crossing his arms

Josh shrugs with a smile.

"Stand in front of him and sit on him."

The two groups separate leaving Ralph alone at the entrance. Calhoun and Felix check out the fairgrounds looking for Cyrus. They don't spot him and they continue to search. Back with Josh and Vanellope, Josh keeps a keen eye out looking for Cyrus. Vanellope on the other hand just looks at all the fun rides around the fair. In the distance, Vanellope spots something that really attracts her eyes.

"Oh! Look!" Vanellope yells

Josh spins around looking serious; he also looks like he's going to strike.

"What?! What is it?!"

"Racing karts!" Vanellope says running towards them

Josh shakes his head and slides his staff back on his back. He shakes his head and follows Vanellope to the karts. At the ride, Vanellope stands in line and boards one of the karts. Josh just watches as the ride begins to start.

"This is sweet!"

Josh leans against the fence outside the ride.

"Vanellope…', Vanellope turns her head at Josh, 'We have something more important to do, remember?"

"One lap, that's all I'm asking."

Josh sighs and the ride starts. Vanellope starts out last but that doesn't last for very long. She passes all the other kids up and gets in first. Josh just shakes his head seeing Vanellope possible having fun for the first time in her whole life, for real this time. The ride soon ends and Vanellope jumps out of the seat. She runs to Josh with all excitement and cheerful.

"That, that was fun!"

"You seemed to enjoy it."

"One more time?"

Josh sighs.

"Come on Vanellope, we didn't come here to have fun."

"Just one more."

Josh looks around and looks back into the fair grounds. He spots something that catches his attention and Josh walks towards it. Vanellope notices.

"What is it Josh?"

Vanellope follows Josh to a sign post showing an event at the fair. Josh just stares blankly at it and Vanellope sees it as well.

"What Josh?"

"'Come one, come all, see the newest way to change your eyes. See how fast your eye color can change. Presenter: Cyrus'. Cyrus!?"

Josh looks around and runs in the direction of where the event is. Vanellope tries to keep up with Josh but instead goes to find Calhoun, Felix and Ralph. Josh pushes people out of the way looking for Cyrus's event. He sees a giant crowd looking at one event and in the distance spots Cyrus performing on stage. Josh looks serious and without knowing, he starts shooting little bolts of electricity from out of his hands. He takes notice and calms down.

"Excuse me…"

Josh slowly moves through the crowd to the front of the stage. He gently pushes people out of his way as he keeps getting closer and closer. As Josh proceeds, Vanellope, Ralph, Felix and Calhoun make it to the attraction and try to search for Josh.

"You sure he went through here Vanellope?" Calhoun asks

"Yeah, he ran off. He might have found Cyrus." Vanellope answers

"Cyrus, here? Doing what exactly?" Calhoun asks

Vanellope sits down on Ralph's shoulder and looks out ahead. She sees Cyrus on stage performer.

"Doing that."

Calhoun looks closer and sees Cyrus herself.

"Unbelievable…', as Calhoun continues to look, she spots Josh advancing to the stage, 'And there's Josh. Let's go."

The four move through the crowd trying to catch up to Josh. Back with Josh, Josh makes it and he's several yards away from Cyrus. Cyrus continues to perform and spins around at the crowd.

"Thank you, thank you ladies and gentlemen for coming. Who would like to be next? Watch as I gaze around you and magically change your eye color in a snap!"

Josh looks serious at Cyrus and he doesn't notice Josh's presence. A girl raises her hand and gets Cyrus's attention.

"Me! Me! Do me!"

Josh looks over to his left and sees the girl.

"Come up right here young lady!"

The girl runs up stage and sits down in the chair near Cyrus.

"Now, just relax. You might feel a little…pinch."

"Will it hurt?" Girl asks

Cyrus looks funny down at the Girl.

"Well, not…much."

Josh rolls his eyes.

"No, no. Don't do it." Josh whispers to himself

Cyrus walks around in circles around the girl. He does a little stage act and proceeds on with the entertainment. And not knowing, Cyrus scratches the girl and she doesn't even notice.

"Now, watch as her eyes change!"

Everyone looks closer. Josh just stands still. Cyrus picks up mirror and shows it to the Girl.

"You're going to want to see this."

The Girl gazes at the mirror and suddenly her eyes begin to change. She gasps loudly as the crowd sees the Girl's eye change to a different color. A bright orange color. Josh shakes his head and rubs his face.

"There now! See? No tricks! Nothing up the sleeves, it's all in the hands."

And all in your body jackass…

Josh shakes his head as Cyrus helps the Girl off stage. Cyrus walks around getting the crowd's attention again. Back with the four, they make it to Josh and stand behind him.

"Now, for my next trick. I will show you something that I'm particular proud of. And the only way to test, I'll need another volun…', Cyrus pauses as he spots Josh in the crowd, 'Josh.', Cyrus whispers to himself as Josh just looks hard at Cyrus, Cyrus remains cool and shakes his head, 'For my next trick. I want a willing volunteer.', Cyrus just mainly looks at Josh, he points, 'How about you young sir?"

The crowd moves away as the wonder who Cyrus is pointing at. A clear line opens and it reveals to be Josh. Josh continues to stand there with his arms crossed looking at Cyrus. Cyrus just keeps on smiling.

"How about it? Want to partake in my trick…sir?"

Josh doesn't say anything but his eyes do. They shine bright showing the electricity inside him is just waiting to pop out. Josh takes a step forward and Calhoun stops him. He looks back at her.

"Josh. Don't."

Josh looks back up at Cyrus.

"Just get ready for anything."

"That's what I'm worried about."

Josh continues on at the crowd claps for him. He walks on stage and just stares at Cyrus. He just acts casually just smiling funny at Josh.

"What's your name young man?"

Josh gulps and crosses his arms.

"Josh."

"Josh huh? Well, would you like to see if your man enough?"

"I am."

The crowd goes 'ooh' and Cyrus backs up.

"I see. You think your man enough?" Cyrus asks walking away

Josh nods.

"Yeah, I am."

Cyrus walks to a button that's near his foot and looks down at it.

"How about now?"

Cyrus hits it and suddenly behind Josh, some curtains roll out and Cyrus's husks come running out at Josh. Josh slowly turns and sees the husks coming at him.

"WHOA!"

Josh jumps back but as the husks make it to him, they stop from the chains linked around their necks. He breathes heavily seeing them and suddenly the crowd laughs. Josh looks at them just…laughing at Cyrus's husks. He slowly stands back up as the four look around at the crowd seeing one of Cyrus's abominations just being laughed at. Cyrus walks to Josh and just stands in front of his husks.

"Not much of a man who gets scared like that', Josh looks pissed off at Cyrus, 'What? Got nothing to say now Josh? Going to do anything about it?', Josh narrows his eyes hard slowly grabbing for his staff, 'Yeah, I didn't think so." Cyrus says walking away

As Cyrus walks away, Josh grabs his staff and Calhoun sees.

"Oh no Josh." Calhoun says pushing people out of her way

Josh holds his staff firmly and looks at the husks.

"I got something for you, you son of a bitch." Josh whispers to himself

Josh looks at the husks and suddenly he swipes the head off of one and the crowd gasps. Cyrus stops and turns around watching Josh take down the other two as they fall apart into a million pieces. The crowd is just silent. Cyrus crosses his arms as Josh points his staff at him. Josh slowly turns his head and sees the crowd just…lost for words. He quickly smiles.

"Uh…don't worry folks! This is just all part of the act!', Josh slowly looks back at Cyrus, 'Right Cyrus?"

Cyrus smirks and drops his hands.

"Yep. It sure is."

The crowd eases up. Josh just twirls around his staff.

"So for MY next trick, watch a lightning bolt shoot out of my staff."

The crowd goes 'ooh'. Cyrus just shakes his head.

"You won't do that Josh. There are so many people around to witness this. Besides, that 'staff' of yours…looks more like a cane."

Josh looks more pissed and the crowd laughs.

"It's…A STAFF." Josh says with a smirk on his face

Suddenly, BOOM! The crowd gasps and flinches seeing a powerful lightning bolt shoot out of Josh's staff and it hits Cyrus hard in the shoulder.

"AHHH!"

Josh slowly lowers his staff and looks at the pain Cyrus is going through. He leans forward.

"Shocking isn't it? Come on Cyrus…', Cyrus looks painfully at Josh, 'Got nothing to say?"

Cyrus breathes slowly and raises his hand.

"I'll let my fingers do all the talking."

Josh narrows his eyes and Cyrus snaps his fingers. Suddenly more husks appear and reform. Josh turns around seeing them. The crowd gets interested but a little worried at the same time. Cyrus watches as Josh fights his husks. He throws his staff into them exploding them into a million pieces. But as Josh fights, his lightning bolts start shooting out uncontrollably. The crowd freaks out and runs for it. Josh takes down the last husk and looks at Cyrus.

"Your next!"

Ralph, Felix, Calhoun and Vanellope get pushed back by the crowd as they try to make their way towards Josh. But as Josh goes ready to attack Cyrus, the police arrive and stop him before he can even swing.

"FREEZE!" Police Officer yells

Josh stops and slowly turns. He sees several police officers with their guns drawn all aimed at him.

"Put the cane down now!" Police Officer orders

Josh slowly turns at Cyrus and sees him just shrug. He looks pissed and drops the staff. The officers get up on the stage and arrest Josh. As Josh is brought outside the Fair, he looks back and sees his friends following him. Josh looks back and shakes his head. The four back down but continue to follow.

Outside of Fair…

Josh is placed in the back of a police car, handcuffed. The officers talk amongst themselves as one of them finally sticks his head in the through the window.

"You like to explain now that little show you threw on in there?', Josh doesn't say anything and the Officer takes notice, 'Don't want to say anything? Fine."

The Officer walks away. Josh turns his head and sees Cyrus talking to one of the officers asking him he can speak with Josh.

"Sure, go right ahead Sir."

Josh looks more annoyed and throws his head down. Cyrus walks up to the window of the car and looks at Josh all restraint.

"Well, well, isn't this ironic.', Josh bites his lip and slowly looks at Cyrus, 'You just had to show off didn't you? You're lucky Josh, I'll tell you that."

"How am I 'lucky' Cyrus?"

"Because these so called 'law enforcement' people told me I can 'press charges' on you', Josh shakes his head, 'But it's a pity though, I could use these types of people as my puppets. Armed with handguns…also a side arm of my deadly virus. Now that's perfect husk don't you think Josh?"

"I'll get out of here Cyrus. I promise you I will."

"Oh really?"

"You may have gotten out of the game world first but let me tell you this; I know how this world works better then you. So by five 'o' clock, I'll be walking home.

"Hmmm."

Cyrus narrows his eyes and turns around. Josh looks back ahead and the Officers take Josh away in their ride. The four run out of the street seeing Josh disappear in the distance. Back with Cyrus, he walks down the street and tries to come up with a way to slow down Josh even more.

"What the hell am I going to do?"

As Cyrus walks down the street he passes up a newspaper stand. He notices something on one of them the word 'Terrorist'. He grabs the paper and reads a short article about several different law enforcement agencies going after a single man, the F.B.I., D.E.A., U.S. Marshal's, the whole nine yard just to go after a certain person. Cyrus begins to smile at the idea and looks around. Suddenly the man who runs the stand sees Cyrus just standing around.

"Hey, you going to pay for that?"

Cyrus slowly looks up.

"Excuse me?"

"If you're going to read it, pay for it first. Otherwise, get the hell out of here."

"Do you have a communication device?"

The Man looks confused.

"What?"

Cyrus looks serious but hides it. He puts the paper down and places his hands on the newspaper stand.

"I asked you, do you, have a, communication device?"

The Man wonders and nods.

"Yeah?"

"Can I see it?"

"What for?"

"I want to show you something."

The Man nervously reaches for his phone and shows it to Cyrus.

"Here it is…what did you want to show me?"

Cyrus's eyes glow and suddenly, he grabs the Man and he jumps.

"This."

Cyrus takes his phone as the Man falls down and gets infected by Cyrus's virus. He walks away as the Man continues to get more and more infected. Back with Cyrus, he looks at the man's Smartphone and dials into it smiling at it.

"Okay Josh…let's see how far you can get away from this."

As Cyrus looks into the phone. His eyes glow and suddenly his virus gets uploaded into the phone and hacks into the central network. He crawls his way through the system that connects everything to it. But he mainly focuses on Josh's background history at the F.B.I. He makes up false reports, making him the top priority. Done things he hasn't done. Anything that will get the F.B.I.'s attention on it. Cyrus pulls out of the network and puts the phone away.

"This is going to be fun."

Jail Cell…

Josh waits patiently as he just stares straight up at the ceiling. He taps his foot along the bars of the other cell and the occupant gets annoyed.

"Hey! Knock that crap off, it's annoying."

Josh continues and the man gets annoyed.

"Hey! HEY!"

Josh looks down and sees the man getting upset. He holds the bars firmly and Josh slowly stands up.

"Do it one more time." The Man warns

"Or what?"

The Man looks serious and Josh just smiles.

"Just stand like that for a second okay?"

"Huh?"

Josh whips up his finger and touches the bar. The Man feels a strong voltage and gets hard for him to let go. Josh sees what the man is going through and let's go. The Man on the other hand, he lets go of the bar and falls backwards on his back. Josh blows his finger like a gun and sits back. He goes back to tapping the bars with his foot.

F.B.I. Headquarters…

Nathan Winter, a veteran F.B.I. Agent far beyond his years walks to the Chief's office and knocks on the door.

"Come in."

Nathan enters and walks to the Chief's desk.

"You wanted to see me Sir?"

"Have a seat Winter."

Nathan walks over and sits down across from the Chief. He waits patiently as the Chief types on his computer for a few more seconds. Nathan looks to the side and sees a family photograph of him, his wife and daughter. The Chief looks and sees Nathan looking at his family.

"I forget Winter, do you have any family?"

"No Sir. I don't. Single man."

"Well, be happy about that."

"Why's that Sir?"

"Because you don't have a little girl who'd rather play every video game out there then Barbie's."

"I don't follow Sir."

"Video games nowadays are expensive. Playing with dolls on the other hand, a lot more cheaper."

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind Sir."

"Uh-huh."

"You wanted to see me Sir?"

"Yes. I called you here because I wanted to congratulate you on that last manhunt you went on."

Nathan smiles.

"Thank you Sir. We had to capture him and put him away."

"How long did it take you to capture him?"

"Um', thinks for a moment, 'eight months."

Chief nods.

"That's right. Right. Are you rested and everything?"

"Yes Sir I am."

"Good. Because I got someone new for you."

"You do? Already?"

"Lots of bad people out there in this world Winter."

"I know that Sir."

"I'll send the records to your computer."

"Yes Sir, I will look over them."

Nathan gets up and leaves. The Chief looks at Winter one more time.

"Winter', Nathan turns around, 'This next one should be easy for you. You shouldn't have to take longer than a day."

Nathan blinks wondering what Chief means by that. He leaves and goes to his desk. Nathan goes to his desk and sits down. He turns on his computer and looks up the records the Chief sent him. He finds the records and nearly falls out of his seat.

"Seriously?"

Nathan looks on his computer of the records of Josh Litwak. He scans his BIO and sees that he's the cause of certain accidents and why certain children are in hospitals. And all other crap that Cyrus has done and is blaming Josh for it.

"You have got to be kidding me."

Nathan types and finds out that Josh is currently being held in a jail cell only ten miles from the department. He looks at his watch and sees that he can make the trip before Josh gets away again.

"It'll take forty five minutes if I leave and get a team together."

Nathan gets up and gets a convey ready to capture Josh.

Back with Josh…

Josh sighs calmly and puts his hands behind his head. He finally gets up and stands up. Josh starts walking back and forth. Getting really annoyed by the time, to Josh it feels like it's been forever since he's gotten in there. Josh looks out the cells window and sees the street outside. As Josh looks around, he spots his friends across the street waiting for him.

"Guys…" Josh whispers to himself

Suddenly one of the officers come by and opens the cell where Josh is in.

"You're free to go."

Josh looks back and looks shocked.

"Really?"

"Yeah, unless you want to stay."

Josh shakes his head.

"No thanks, I'll go."

Josh leaves and the officer closes the cell. As the officer follows Josh, he spots the other man on the floor lying in the other cell.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What happened here?"

Josh stops and looks at the man in the other cell. The officer looks confused at Josh and he looks back.

"I don't know. I guess he got the shock of things."

The officer narrows his eyes and Josh leaves.

Outside…

Josh walks out the doors of the police station and feels the sun it his face.

"Ahhh…sweet smell of freedom…"

Josh twirls around his staff and his friends across the street spot Josh.

"There he is." Felix says

Everyone sees Josh and Josh waves. As Josh makes it down to the street off the steps, sirens are heard and Josh looks in the direction.

"What the…."

The SUV's swerve and block of Josh's route. F.B.I. Agents come out, guns drawn and Josh just looks confused.

"Really?!"

Nathan walks out and goes up to Josh. Josh just looks all confused and slowly puts his hands up.

"Josh Litwak?', Josh slowly shakes his head, 'No?"

"Wrong person pal."

"Oh really?"

Josh just blinks and Nathan grabs his cuffs.

"Josh Litwak, you're under arrest."

Josh almost loses it.

"For what?!"

"Terrorism against the United States."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"

"Enough! Don't make this any harder."

Josh sighs really hard as Nathan takes Josh's staff and throws him into the SUV. Ralph, Felix, Vanellope and Calhoun watch helplessly watching Josh being taken away, a second time.

End of Chapter 9….

Preview of Chapter 10…

So now Josh's is considered a 'terrorist'. Why? Well it's written on his records for a number of 'bad' things he's done all his life but we all know that Josh isn't responsible for any of it. So why not tell the truth? Oh wait, how are you supposed to explain to the F.B.I. that the real bad guy is a video game villain from a video game who's come to the real world? Probably not a good idea…So Josh is now in prison and he needs to escape. Maybe Ralph, Vanellope, Felix and Calhoun can 'bust' him out. Next time on Wreck-It Ralph: Cyrus the Virus, Chapter 10 - Fugitive