Chapter 10 – The Glitching Cy-Bug Part 3
Hero's Duty…
Josh, Calhoun and the rest of the soldiers rush into Hero's Duty. They all run out in front of the crashed ship and look up around at the sky.
"Where is it? Where is it?" Calhoun asks looking around
Josh puts his hand above his eyes.
"I can't see it…hold on…', Josh's helmet transforms up and wraps around his head, Calhoun sees, Josh scans the sky and spots it, he points right at it, 'There!"
Calhoun sees and in the distance, up in the sky, the glitching Cy-Bug glitches in and out right towards the Tower. Calhoun grabs her rifle.
"Take aim!"
The soldiers grab their rifles and aim, but Josh walks out in front of them.
"Hold on!', they all look at Josh, including Calhoun, 'Shooting it from here won't do any good', Josh's helmet goes back down, looks back, 'Where's it even heading?"
Calhoun walks past Josh and watches it go right towards the Tower.
"It's…heading straight towards the Tower. Why?"
Josh slowly lowers his head and remembers the intro to the game.
"The intro to the game…" Josh says looking down stunned
Calhoun blinks and turns around.
"What did you say?"
Josh slowly looks up at Calhoun and walks past her.
"The intro to the game…it's heading to the Tower because it knows that it's an experiment gone wrong." Josh says looking dazed and amazed by the whole thing
Calhoun shakes her head.
"Josh, that's nothing but a story to give the gamers a deeper background, it has nothing to do with anything."
"Calhoun think about it, this Cy-Bug is obviously growing smarter, it's programmed to only do three things right? Eat, destroy, multiple?"
"That's correct." Calhoun says nodding
"But since its glitching, it's becoming smarter."
"And how does that help us?"
Josh looks at Calhoun and back at the Tower.
"Well…if I was an experiment that's gone 'horrible' wrong…where else would I go where it all began?" Josh says walking to the Tower
Calhoun blinks now seeing the understanding that Josh is trying to say. Josh puts his hands to his sides.
"It thinks it's the only place to go to even 'fix' anything." Josh explains
"Another reason I hate Cy-Bugs even more." Calhoun says
Josh gulps.
"I figured your main reason that you hated Cy-Bugs was because of…', Josh stops as Calhoun looks at him, Josh gulps and decides not to say it, 'Never mind. It's going to the Tower, that's where I'm going then." Josh says walking ahead
"Right', looks back at soldiers, 'Let's move out!" Calhoun says waving her hand
Calhoun and the soldiers move out. Josh turns around and puts up his hand.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Stop right there all of you."
Calhoun narrows her eyes.
"What?"
"None of you are coming with me, that includes you Calhoun."
"Excuse me?"
"Let me take care of this, just stay here and…guard the door in case it tries to leave again."
Calhoun looks at Josh like she can't believe he's even ordering that.
"Excuse me?" Calhoun asks looking all serious approaching Josh
Josh puts his hands up and closes his eyes. He remains calm seeing Calhoun doesn't like his order.
"Calhoun, this isn't the time or the standoff."
"We're coming with you, I'M coming with you. That thing is in my game, and I'm leaving to make sure that it dies once and for all."
"I understand that, I really do, but last time I checked, it says in your background that your good at killing Cy-Bugs, not Glitching Cy-Bugs."
"It's still the same thing." Calhoun states
"No it's not, how many times already have you killed it?', Calhoun doesn't say anything, Josh looks at the soldiers, 'Show of hands if you shot at it and tried to kill it?', Josh raises his hands, the soldiers look at one another and slowly raise their hands, Calhoun looks the other way, he looks back at Calhoun, 'See? No matter what you do, or ANY of you, you can't kill it. I have a better shot at it."
"Oh yeah, like what do you have that none of us can do?" Calhoun asks with a look on her face
Josh shrugs.
"For instance…"
Josh glitches and appears several yards ahead of them. Calhoun and the soldiers see. Josh yells back at them.
"See!?"
Josh glitches back and appears right in front of Calhoun. She jumps back.
"None of you are glitches', makes face, 'If Vanellope was here asking to help I would send her right back to Game Central Station because she can't do anything."
Calhoun crosses her arms.
"She's a glitch as well."
Josh shuts his eyes.
"She's not the same. She's not like that glitch Calhoun.', Calhoun just blinks, 'So either way, not you or anyone is coming."
Josh begins to walk away. Calhoun sighs and gets annoyed.
"I'm coming Josh!" Calhoun says walking behind Josh
Josh sighs and turns around.
"No your not!"
"Yes I am!"
The two get in each other's faces and Josh sees what he's doing. He calms down and backs up.
"I can't bring you with me Calhoun. I'm sorry. I made a promise."
Calhoun narrows her eyes.
"What promise?"
Josh turns back and looks at the Tower. He sees the storm and looks back at Calhoun.
"I promised Felix that I would keep you safe', Calhoun looks way now realizing why Josh didn't want to bring her along, Calhoun looks somewhat embarrassed but reframes from showing it to either Josh or the soldiers, 'Going up to that Tower Calhoun is a death trap. That Cy-Bug has the basic programming of what it's suppose to do but now it has an added feature, to never die."
"I respect that your keeping what you told Felix to do about me', Calhoun turns back and looks at Josh, 'But I'm still coming."
Josh just blinks.
"I'm sorry, but your not."
Josh turns around and walks away. Calhoun just watches as Josh walks further into the distance. She looks at the ground and back up. Calhoun turns around and looks at her soldiers.
"Stay on the ground and keep in radio contact."
The soldiers salute.
(Same time)
"Yes Ma'am!" All the Soldiers yell
Calhoun turns back around and catches up to Josh. Back with Josh, he throws down his hover board and reloads his guns. He clicks both of them up and holsters them. Josh then hops on his board, but as he does, Calhoun throws down her board and cocks her weapon. Josh slowly turns seeing Calhoun is going to come no matter what. She throws her rifle on her back and looks at Josh. Josh just looks back up ahead, smiles like he knew Calhoun was going to come no matter what he would have said.
"Try and keep up this time." Josh says flying off
Calhoun rolls her eyes and flies up with Josh. The two head straight towards the Tower and right at the front entrance.
Front entrance to the Tower…
Josh and Calhoun land near the front doors of the Tower. They kick their boards up as Josh just looks up and Calhoun approaches the front door. He looks back down and watches Calhoun walk to the doors and suddenly, he remembers something.
"Wait!" Josh says throwing up his hand
Calhoun turns around.
"What?"
Josh just blinks seeing what Calhoun is seriously about to do.
"Could we possible skip this part?"
Calhoun looks confused.
"Excuse me?"
"Remember what happened last time?', Calhoun just blinks, Josh shakes his head, 'Remember how you always open this door and suddenly a million more Cy-Bugs come flying out?', Calhoun just shakes her head realizing what she always does to enter the Tower the same way, 'I like to skip that part."
Calhoun sighs.
"All right. Fine."
Josh shrugs.
"Also I like to skip the tackling, head butting, helmet hitting and anything else that happened the first time I drew you off course." Josh explains heading to the other door
Calhoun just follows with a smirk on her face.
"As long as the First Person Shooter isn't around, I won't even touch you."
Josh looks back.
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Josh shakes his head as the two approach the other door. As they reach the door, Calhoun goes up to the key pad that she uses to punch in the door code.
"Hold on a second." Calhoun says entering the code
Josh sighs. Josh watches as he remembers this part from the game, when after they open the big doors and the million Cy-Bugs come flying out, Calhoun orders the 'Rookie', or Josh to follow her to a side entrance. Josh crosses his arms and turns his head around. Calhoun enters the code…
"There."
But for some reason, she's denied.
"Huh?"
Josh looks back.
"What's the problem?"
"I…I don't know."
Josh walks closer to Calhoun and watches her punch in the code.
"What's the deal?"
"It's, it's not accepting my code."
Josh just blinks.
"Just enter the same code you always enter."
Calhoun rolls her eyes.
"I AM. For some reason it's not taking it', Calhoun enters the code again but it denies her, she gets more annoyed, 'What is going on?" Calhoun asks hard, hitting the pad and walking away
Josh examines it.
"The room where the Medal of Heroes is…it's also a lab right?" Josh asks looking back
Calhoun turns around.
"Yes, it's the science lab where it all went 'wrong'." Calhoun explains
Josh nods.
"You don't think the Cy-Bug…changed the codes do ya?"
Calhoun looks shocked.
"You really want me to start thinking that?"
Josh looks back at the box.
"You can't enter the code you normally use…so now it's changed. Why did it do that?"
"It knows were coming for it. Probably sealed off the big doors as well."
Josh rubs his chin.
"Smart bug, I'll give him that."
"'It'. 'It, not 'him'."
Josh rolls his eyes.
"Right, my bad."
Calhoun looks around.
"Will have to find another way in."
Calhoun starts to walk away, as Josh begins to follow her; he looks back at the key pad and sees the codes flashing over some of the buttons. He narrows his eyes and looks closer. Josh puts his hand up.
"Wait."
Calhoun stops and turns around. Josh approaches the key-pad and sees the codes even closer.
"Could it be that simple?"
Calhoun approaches Josh from behind. Josh slowly puts his hand towards the key-pad and starts hitting the buttons where the codes are. He hits the first four numbers in a random order, but denies him. Josh sees.
"Crap…"
Josh does it again in a different order this time and again, it denies him. Josh gets annoyed.
"Oh come on…"
"Hitting random buttons will not get us in the Tower Josh."
"Just give me a second."
Josh looks at the buttons and tries again. He does it in a completely different order and suddenly, it beeps indicating the door is unlocking. Josh smiles and Calhoun looks surprised. He rubs his eyes and nods.
"Now that worked."
Calhoun looks down at Josh.
"How did you do that?"
Josh shrugs slowly looking up at Calhoun.
"I don't know…I'm seeing these random codes that appear before me."
"Codes?"
Josh nods.
"Yeah, like with the bridge in Sugar Rush', Josh walks through the door, 'Come on."
Calhoun just blinks as she watches Josh enter the Tower. She grabs her rifle and follows him in.
The Tower, Bottom Floor…
The two enter the Tower, Bottom Floor. Its dark, the room they enter looks like a lobby, a desk is in the center of the room. Josh hits his wrist turning on his chest flashlight. Calhoun hits her gun turning on her flash light. They hold their guns firmly hearing strange noises around the room. Calhoun looks over her shoulder and sees the elevators in the distance.
"Elevator."
Josh nods.
"Copy that."
The two walk to the elevators. Calhoun kicks the button and the Josh scans the area. Up and around the room, Cy-Bugs keep themselves to the ceilings. They remain hidden. Josh gulps and lowers his guns.
"It's coming?"
"Yes." Calhoun says standing alongside Josh
Josh checks his guns.
"This is the part when…"
"Yes." Calhoun says getting ready
Josh just cocks his guns.
"It's the one thing about the games in the Arcade…', Calhoun looks down, Josh just keeps looking forward, 'You always know what to expect."
Cy-Bugs open their wings and start flying around the room. Josh and Calhoun aim up and start moving around in a circle together.
"Okay so…you'll take the ones on the right…and I'll take the ones of the left?" Josh suggests
"Fine by me."
Josh shrugs.
"I figured as much."
Calhoun opens fires and the Cy-Bugs attack. Josh shoots his pistols taking down each Cy-Bug flying at him. He comes to his last round and fires, killing the Cy-Bug, but another appears flying right at him. He grabs Calhoun's shoulder.
"Down!"
Josh forces Calhoun down and the Cy-Bug flies right over them. Josh quickly reloads and Calhoun looks back.
"Thanks!"
"Thank me later! We still got 45 seconds before the elevator comes!"
"You know exactly when it comes?!" Calhoun shouts
"Of course!', Josh shoots, 'I've played the game so many times, I'm just waiting for something different to happen!"
Calhoun rolls her eyes as she shoots. Josh looks at the elevator and sees that it won't be there for another 30 seconds. Josh spins around and suddenly gets pushed by a Cy-Bug.
"Whoa!"
He lands hard on his back and Calhoun sees. Josh rolls out of the way and grabs his pistols. He shoots the Cy-Bug that tackled him, spins back up on his own two feet and looks around.
"Who's next!?"
15 seconds to go. Josh turns and hears the elevator approaching. He looks back over at Calhoun and sees she's shooting.
"Calhoun! The elevator is coming! 10 seconds!"
Calhoun nods and walks backwards towards Josh. Josh shoots his way past all the Cy-Bugs flying around him and he looks back. Calhoun turns to her side and shoots the Cy-Bugs, but she doesn't notice the Cy-Bug flying right back on the side of her. Josh hears the ding of the elevator and looks back. He looks at Calhoun and points at her.
"Calhoun!"
Calhoun turns and sees Josh pointing a gun at her. But he nudges it over and shoots the Cy-Bug that has landed beside her and shoots. Calhoun turns and sees Josh was just aiming at the Cy-Bug that was about to eat her.
"Come on!" Josh says waving his arm
Calhoun rushes and the two hop on the elevator. They Cy-Bugs swarm to the elevator as Josh and Calhoun shoot as the door closes. The two take a moment and catch their breath. It's quiet for a moment and they reload. Click after click the two reloaded.
"I have to say, it's totally different from behind the screen then in front."
"Now you know what us video game characters go through while you gamers are having all the fun playing 'soldier'."
Josh turns his head at Calhoun.
"I would ask you why you hate them so badly, but…I believe I already know."
Josh looks back straight ahead. Calhoun blinks and looks down at Josh. Josh blinks as suddenly the lines of codes appear all around him. Josh stays calm about it seeing that it's just a vision that's uploading around him. The uploading finishes and the lines of codes disappear. Josh looks and finds himself…somewhere in a chapel. He turns around and looks up ahead at the bride and groom who are about to get married.
"A wedding…?', Josh looks closer and rubs his head, 'Why does this look familiar?"
As the bride and groom turn, Josh looks closer and sees the bride is Calhoun.
"Calhoun?"
Calhoun and the groom turn. Josh looks at the groom and recognizes him as well.
"Dr. Brad Scott…" Josh whispers
Suddenly a Cy-Bug crashes through the upper windows of the room. Everyone in the room panics, Josh remains still. The Cy-Bug eats and kills Brad, Josh just watches as Calhoun pulls out a large gun and shoots the Cy-Bug to death. Josh just blinks as he slowly lowers his head. The lines of codes appear again and Josh just stands motionless in the elevator dazed. Calhoun turns her head and sees Josh not moving.
"Josh?', nudges him, 'Josh."
Josh snaps out of it.
"Huh?"
"Pay attention, were almost to the lab."
Josh blinks and snaps out of it.
"Yeah, yeah, sure."
"And also, for what?"
Josh blinks and looks at Calhoun.
"Huh?"
"You said 'I'm sorry'. Sorry for what?"
Josh just looks more confused.
"What are you talking about?"
"You just said 'I'm sorry'."
Josh just flinches.
"I did?"
"You don't remember saying that?"
Josh shakes his head.
"No I don't. These codes are slowly becoming clearer what there doing to me."
Calhoun blinks just hearing these 'code' things from him.
"What are these codes your seeing?"
"I don't know Calhoun."
Calhoun rolls her eyes.
"Then explain it."
"I don't know how to explain it."
Calhoun hits the emergency switch to stop the elevator. Josh just looks and narrows his eyes.
"Calhoun what are you doing?"
"No more excuses."
Josh sighs.
"Calhoun, we have to keep moving."
"You tell me what is happening to you right now." Calhoun says pointing
Josh blinks and looks at the finger in front of his face. He looks back up at Calhoun who's serious about what she wants to know.
"I have several codes from some of the games in the Arcade', Calhoun lowers her hand, 'It seems like when I beat them, the game just sends them to me and they upload on my arm', Josh shows off his arm and Calhoun looks, 'The codes are what makes the game, the game. From everything that it's made of."
"How can you see it?"
Josh shrugs.
"I don't know. But it's shown me things that could happen and…', remembers last vision, 'things that have happened.' Calhoun just listens, Josh slides his way around Calhoun and pushes the button to move the elevator again, Calhoun just watches as Josh just looks at himself from a reflection in the elevator, 'Just like this bug you hate so much, I seem to do things that scare a lot of people."
Calhoun just watches as Josh seems to be comparing himself to the glitching Cy-Bug that Calhoun wants to get rid of. Even kill. She now sees and thinks that this is what Josh thinks of him. Calhoun closes her eyes and brushes her hair back.
"Josh…I don't think…"
Suddenly the elevator shakes. The two look around and see that there a few floors from the lab above. Josh looks and sees.
"Of course."
"It stopped us."
"I guess we take the stares from here?"
"Not exactly." Calhoun says walking to the doors
Josh narrows his eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
Calhoun tries to pry open the doors.
"What you gamers don' t know is that there's another entrance to the lab."
Josh just blinks.
"Really? How?"
Calhoun looks shocked and looks back at Josh.
"You actually don't know this?"
Josh sees he's being toyed by Calhoun. He becomes annoyed.
"Yes, I would love to know this."
Calhoun smiles.
"It's better if you see for yourself; I'm shocked to see that the Gamer doesn't know about this route."
Josh shrugs.
"Well, since you always go the same way and always say the same things, I figured there's never a change in your protocol."
Calhoun shuts her eyes.
"Touché. Help me with these doors."
Josh smiles and grabs the door.
"Can't the great Sergeant Calhoun open two elevator doors by herself?"
"Shut up and help me."
Josh smirks.
"Yes Ma'am."
The two open the elevator doors and see some of the floor between them and the ground floor, they squeeze through. Calhoun squeezes out first and Josh follows. The two look around and Josh sees what it looks like, offices of the scientists.
"Is this the floor where the scientists worked at?"
"Yes."
Josh looks around and wipes his hand on a desk and sees nothing but dust all around.
"It looks like nothings been through here in months."
Calhoun looks serious.
"How long did you say we were plugged in?"
Josh nods.
"Right.', Calhoun moves forward and Josh catches up, 'Why is there a floor here anyway? Why create a level that's never been in any use?"
Calhoun stops. Josh looks and Calhoun looks at a certain desk in front of her. Josh just watches.
"Calhoun?"
Calhoun blinks and snaps out of it.
"Come on, the elevator is this way."
Calhoun moves ahead fast. Josh watches and looks back down at the desk below him. He looks back at Calhoun and catches up to her, but back on the desk, the name plate of the owner says on the side, Dr. Brad Scott.
Hallway…
Josh and Calhoun walk down the hallway together. Josh keeps quiet about the strange way Calhoun is acting. He looks back up ahead with his eyes. Then suddenly, he yawns and Calhoun sees.
"Stay awake now, now's not the time to be falling asleep."
Josh stops yawning.
"Well sorry, I haven't been sleeping well these past few nights."
Calhoun turns her head.
"And why's that?"
Josh just closes his eyes.
"Try sleeping with your bad arm behind your head on a bench in Game Central Station. And what seems like night time, the whole station is lit up like its daylight outside, you try sleeping out there one night."
"Try sleeping in here, on a cot with a gun under your pillow."
Josh nods.
"I tried that once, scared Felix and made him jump higher then he normally does."
Calhoun blinks and slowly smiles. Josh turns his head and sees Calhoun smiling.
"He really cares about you, you know…"
Calhoun shakes her head.
"I just wish he would stop, I can take care of myself."
"Obviously."
Calhoun sighs.
"You care about him?" Josh asks stopping
Calhoun stops a few feet ahead. She slowly turns around and looks at Josh.
"Why would you ask that?"
Josh shakes his head.
"I'm, I'm sorry. I'm just thinking out loud', Josh sighs and Calhoun sees, 'With your background and everything I just assumed but maybe it never happened. Let's keep moving." Josh says moving ahead
Josh moves ahead and Calhoun pushes Josh back.
"My background and everything?"
Josh just blinks realizing he just blew it.
"Let's not get into it, okay?"
"No, I want to know what that means."
"I don't think you want to know."
"Tell me."
Josh sighs.
"No."
"Tell me!"
Josh looks up at Calhoun. He sees she's serious and Josh rubs his hair back.
"When you think your personal business is all to yourself and only you know it, that's until you become a video game character and every gamer out there knows everything about you.', Calhoun just blinks, 'I know about Brad…"
Calhoun looks shocked.
"Any gamer out there like me…knows your history."
Calhoun turns around and brushes her hair back. Josh just looks around.
"That's why this level is here. That was his desk back there wasn't it?"
Calhoun doesn't say anything. Josh gulps.
"You gamers may know my past but you don't know me', Josh looks back up as Calhoun looks back, 'I remember it but it never did happen."
Josh narrows his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"I was programmed with the worst back story for this game. I remember it but it never truly happened. It's only a memory, none of it was real', Josh nods, 'So don't believe everything you think you may know about us."
Josh blinks and nods.
"Right."
Calhoun turns back around. As Calhoun walks ahead, Josh watches. Josh now sees from what he's read about 'Sergeant Calhoun' of Hero's Duty isn't all that true. As he walks forward, the lines of codes appear again. Josh looks around and sees he's in the lab of the Tower. He looks around and studies the room, nothing, it's quiet, and the stairs leading up to Medal of Hero's just floating in midair.
Josh continues to look around and suddenly, Calhoun grunts and is thrown across the room. Josh watches as Calhoun struggles to get back up. Josh slowly walks to her and suddenly gun fire is shot behind him. Josh turns around and sees his other self-shooting at the glitching Cy-Bug but can't see it. Josh tries to look for it but doesn't see it. Josh's other self-climbs the steps to reaching the Medal of Hero's medal.
"What am I doing?" Josh asks looking at his other self
The other Josh grabs the medal and it disappears. The codes of Hero's Duty wraps itself around Josh's arm and Josh sees.
"The codes to the game…I have to beat the level to get the codes…"
A loud bang is heard. Josh and other Josh look up. Calhoun struggles trying to get back up on her own two feet, suddenly, the glitching Cy-Bug appears out of the darkness and tackles Calhoun toward and out the window. Josh and other Josh see.
(Same time)
"Calhoun!"
Josh and other Josh run to Calhoun but, the glitching Cy-Bug pushes Calhoun out the window and the two fall straight down. Josh and other Josh run to the ledge and look down. They don't see Calhoun or the glitching Cy-Bug anymore. Josh just shakes his head.
"What happened?"
"I'm sorry Calhoun', Josh looks at his other self-putting his left hand to his head, 'I'm so sorry…"
Josh just blinks and everything ends. The codes appear and Josh sees he's back where he is. Calhoun looks back and sees Josh.
"Hey! Snap out of it, come on!"
Josh blinks and looks at Calhoun. Calhoun just blinks seeing Josh staring kindly at her.
"What?" Calhoun asks with a look
Josh snaps out of it and wipes his face.
"Nothing. Show me this elevator."
Calhoun nods and guides Josh around the hallway. They look up ahead and see the elevator.
"That it?"
"Yes. We take that up and we should make it to the lab."
"All right."
"Let's go." Calhoun moves ahead
Josh stops her.
"Calhoun, wait.', Calhoun turns around, 'I think I know how to stop the glitching Cy-Bug."
"How?"
"The codes', Calhoun narrows her eyes, 'If I get the codes to the game, then I can search through them and find the Cy-Bug codes. If the glitching Cy-Bug is in there, I can…'de-bug' and perhaps remove its glitching."
Calhoun crosses her arms.
"Can you do that?"
Josh shrugs.
"I brought the kids karts back didn't I?"
"That was Sugar Rush, this is a different."
"I can handle it."
"I saw how weak you got just trying to bring their karts back; this is a Cy-Bug. A glitching Cy-Bug."
"I can handle it."
"Josh." Calhoun says stricter
"I can handle it, we're both glitches."
"Stop comparing yourself to it!', Josh flinches, Calhoun regains her composure, 'Stop doing that to yourself. You're a…better glitch then that thing is. You put yourself before others. I've seen it. Everyone's seen it. Including Vanellope', Josh just blinks, 'She now has a friend who is just like her. And not like a Cy-Bug."
Josh nods and Calhoun rubs her face.
"Can we go now before another we have yet another moment?"
Josh smiles.
"Sure. I know that's not your thing." Josh says walking ahead
Calhoun gets a little annoyed.
"I'm telling you right now Josh…"
"Sorry, sorry. I'm just having some fun with you Calhoun."
"I'm not one with 'fun'."
"You should try it some time. You'd be surprise how well it works."
"I'll put it to the side. Now, let's get that bug."
"Yes Ma'am."
Calhoun boards first. Josh watches and remembers his vision. He looks back and grabs his pistol.
"What was that?"
Calhoun looks.
"What?"
Josh aims.
"I think I saw something."
Calhoun grabs her rifle and walks out the elevator.
"Cy-Bug?"
Josh looks and quickly boards the elevator.
"Nope. Just you."
Calhoun narrows her eyes.
"What?" Calhoun asks turning around
Josh pushes the button and closes the elevator doors. It's see through and Calhoun runs up to the doors and bangs on them.
"Josh! JOSH! Open this door!', Josh just stays calm watching Calhoun from behind the door, 'Stop messing around! Open this door!"
"I can't Calhoun. I promised Felix."
"What? This again? Nothing will happen!"
"Yes it will."
"What do you mean?"
Josh sighs and looks down. Calhoun watches.
"It's not easy being me Calhoun', looks up, 'Especially when it comes to me. I can't change but other people can. That includes you too. If your not like what I've read, then be who you are. Be happy with Felix."
Josh starts to go up. Calhoun bangs on the door.
"Josh! JOSH!"
Josh leans back and looks up. Calhoun backs up seeing the elevator rising. She looks back out behind her and runs. Josh has his eyes closed as he reaches down for his guns. He grabs both of them and opens his eyes. The elevator stops and Josh walks out.
The Tower, Lab…
Josh keeps his guns drawn looking around. He scans the area and looks at what's left of the lab by the glitching Cy-Bug. Josh looks up at the ceiling and sees that it's too dark for him to see anything. He stops in the center of the room and whistles.
"Yoo-hoo…glitching Cy-Bug. It's me…Josh The Gamer/Glitch Litwak. Or you can just think of me as your worse nightmare. Why don't you just come on out so I can end this, I have to get back soon, okay?', nothing is said, Josh rolls his eyes, 'Great, now I'm talking to myself."
Josh walks in front of the steps leading up to the Medal of Hero's. He looks up at it and puts his foot down on the first step. But he hears something fall behind him. Josh quickly spins around and aims, but sees that it was just a wrench. He slowly lowers his guns and looks around, then suddenly, a big, dark shadow climbs up behind Josh. Josh looks down seeing something big that's literally covering his shadow. He narrows his eyes.
"Human…', Josh slowly turns around and looks up, 'You have come to far…"
Josh looks up and suddenly, the glitching Cy-Bug, completely transformed, bigger arms and claws, bigger body and much more dangerous. Josh slowly starts to back up.
"Great…you can talk now…"
The glitching Cy-Bug crawls down and gets closer to Josh. Josh keeps his hands up.
"Uhh…I think I accidentally started this off on the wrong foot…did I say 'worse nightmare'? I meant happily joined apprentice…', the glitching Cy-Bug follows Josh with its giant head, 'I mean, you and me…were a lot alike. I'm a glitch too."
"…Glitch…?"
"Yeah, that's what we are…', looks at medal behind it, looks back at it, 'You want to see a cool trick that not even you can do?"
But the glitching Cy-Bug doesn't care. It tries to eat Josh but he glitches out and appears behind it. Josh grabs his guns and shoots at the glitching Cy-Bug. It spins around and throws its giant claws at Josh, but Josh ducks and runs away. The glitching Cy-bug chases Josh around the lab. He hopes over desks and monitors as the glitching Cy-Bug just crashes into them. Josh looks up ahead and sees the steps leading to the medal. He knows that he'll get the codes to the game once he grabs it. So Josh runs up the steps but the glitching Cy-Bug throws down its tail and destroys the steps.
"Whoa!"
Josh quickly glitches and gets out and away before the glitching Cy-Bug throws down its claws at him. Josh reappears at the windows where he saw Calhoun get pushed out of. The glitching Cy-Bug looks around for Josh. Josh sees that it's looking for him.
"Hey!', Josh whistles, 'over here!"
Josh grabs his pistols and fires. The glitching Cy-Bug gets the attention and looks at Josh. Josh stops firing.
"Come on…come get me you bug scum…"
The glitching Cy-Bug drools as its gears in its mouth grind together hard. Josh narrows his eyes hard looking at the bug.
"I'm nothing like you…I'm nothing LIKE YOU!"
Josh opens fire and hits the glitching Cy-Bug hard. The glitching Cy-Bug roars and flies its gigantic body at Josh. Josh backs up and hits the glass. He waits for the right moment as the glitching Cy-Bug gets closer. Josh smiles…
"See ya."
He glitches out and the glitching Cy-Bug crashes through the windows. Josh reappears at the pedestal where the medal lies. He looks back at the giant whole in the glass and sees the glitching Cy-Bug gone. Josh smiles and looks at the medal.
"Hero's Duty codes…', grabs medal, 'Come to The Gamer."
The medal disappears in Josh's hand. It turns out that since Josh touched it, the medal turns out to be the codes for the game. Josh watches as he lends out his arm. The codes wrap itself around his arm and Josh feels it.
"There we go."
The codes finish uploading and Josh forms a fist throwing up his arm.
"Ahhh…there…', Josh turns around, 'Now to finish you once and for all."
Josh glitches down from the pedestal and reappears. He walks to the broken glass window and suddenly a loud thud is heard. Josh regains his balance and again another thud is heard. He looks up and suddenly the glitching Cy-Bug rips the roof apart. Some of the roof falls down at Josh.
"Whoa!"
Josh dives out the way and looks back up at the glitching Cy-Bug. It roars and Josh grabs his guns.
"Die already!"
Josh fires and hits one of the eyes of the glitching Cy-Bug. It roars and throws its head back. Josh smiles and quickly gets back up on his feet looking for the code of the Cy-Bugs of the game.
"Where is it, where is it?!"
The glitching Cy-Bug crashes through the roof again and this time Josh gets hit.
"Ah!"
He falls on the ground and gets trapped by debris.
"Come on!"
Josh tries to push the debris off. He tries to glitch out but he can't from the codes being brought out in front of him.
"Come on, come on, come on, where are the Cy-Bugs in this game?!"
The glitching Cy-Bug roars and Josh looks up. The glitching Cy-Bug starts popping out eggs from all around. Josh looks and sees some of them starting to hatch.
"I didn't mean that way!"
Josh looks through the codes hovering in front of him and finds something.
"Let's see if this works!"
Josh hits it and suddenly the beam off the Tower lights up. Josh looks and so do some of the Cy-Bugs. Josh smiles as he activated the beam but it shorts out and flickers. Josh's smile goes away.
"Come on!"
The baby Cy-Bugs look away from the beam and see Josh. They start to crawl their way towards him. Josh sees and grabs his pistol. He starts firing at them one by one.
Back on the ground…
Calhoun backs up looking up at the Tower. She can tell something is going on up in the lab. The soldiers come running up behind her and she grabs her rifle.
"Alright, listen up!', Calhoun turns around and the soldiers look at Calhoun, 'I don't know if Josh is alive or not', the soldiers look at one another, 'But our main priority is to kill that Cy-Bug. No matter what happens, we do not let it leave here. Do you understand?', the soldiers agree, but Calhoun doesn't like there 'soft' response, 'Do you understand?!"
(All at once)
"YEAHH!"
"Then move it!"
The soldiers run ahead at the Tower. Calhoun turns around and looks up.
The Tower, Lab…
Josh continues to shoot the baby Cy-Bugs crawling towards him. His gun empties and he throws it at one of them.
"Eat this!', Josh realizes, 'Wait, no don't!"
But one baby Cy-Bug does. It transforms up and becomes a normal Cy-Bug and its arms morph into pistols. Josh ducks.
"Ah!"
Josh ducks from the gun fire and the Cy-Bug shoots the debris. It becomes looser and Josh feels it.
"Thanks!" Josh yells running away
Josh runs around the room looking for the code still.
"Come on, where is it?!"
Josh trips and he looks ahead.
"Ow…', suddenly one of the baby Cy-Bugs crawl on his leg, Josh feels it and rips it off, 'Get off of me!"
Josh throws it off and looks at his watch.
"Show me the Cy-Bug codes!"
Josh scans through the millions of codes and suddenly finds one that's red and not white compared to all the others. Josh sees it and touches it. He sees that it's all distorted and glitchy, like the Cy-Bug.
"Yes…YES! I found you!"
Suddenly the glitching Cy-Bug roars and Josh sees it through the roof.
"Now I got you!"
The glitching Cy-Bug roars loudly through the whole level of Hero's Duty.
Back on the ground…
Calhoun and the soldiers stop. They hear the loud roar and all of them look up. And they see the giant Cy-Bug on top of the Tower. Some of them move their visors to get a better look. Calhoun brushes her hair back, horrified.
"Oh my…', Calhoun says covering her mouth, 'Please hurry Josh…"
Josh stands up and sees the glitching Cy-Bug has landed itself over the beam. Josh looks back through the codes and finds the beams activation button.
"Time for you to finally die."
As Josh pushes it a Cy-Bug attacks him and gets thrown on its back.
"Hey, whoa!"
It flies out of the Tower and around. Josh holds onto it tightly as he looks back and sees the glitching Cy-bug just roaring. Josh looks serious and pushes his watch to see the codes. He finds the red code of the glitching Cy-Bug and tries to fix it, but the Cy-Bug tries to throw Josh off its back.
"Hey! I'm trying to save the day here!"
It spins and flips to get Josh off. But Josh holds on. Josh finds the beam code and pushes it. The beam shoots up hitting the glitching Cy-Bug hard beneath it. Josh sees and laughs.
"Ha, ha! Like that!"
But the beam doesn't do anything except piss it off more.
"Come on Josh! Fix the code!"
Josh gets ready to hit the red code but the Cy-Bug flips again without Josh knowing and Josh lands on the roof of the Tower. He rolls and almost slides off. He sees and pushes himself back.
"Too close', Josh backs up and sees the beam right behind him, quickly stops and turns back around, 'Way to close!"
Josh looks up and sees the glitching Cy-Bug roaring as it's in the light. Josh backs up enough to find the red code in the codes. He looks up hard at the glitching Cy-Bug ready to attack Josh again.
"It looks like this time', Josh sees the red code, 'Your de-bugged."
Josh hits the red code and it changes back into a white one. The glitching Cy-Bug's eyes flicker back and forth and turns back into a normal Cy-Bug. Josh backs up and suddenly the Cy-Bug tries to crawl its way out of the beam.
"Oh come on! Just die already!"
But the beam seems to be sucking it in more then destroying it. Josh sees then suddenly the ground starts to shake. When Josh activated the beam, he pushed it the wrong way to use it, instead of shooting it up, instead, he's shooting it down causing the Tower to collapse from the inside. Josh looks and sees and suddenly, he and the Cy-Bug get sucked down into the Tower.
Back on the ground…
Calhoun and the soldiers look up and see the Tower falling down from inside.
"Back up! Everybody move back!" Calhoun orders waving
As the Tower collapses a large dust cloud hits the ground hard. The soldiers brace themselves and cover their faces. The top of the Tower is now gone. Calhoun and the soldiers look up and see what's left of the Tower. Calhoun looks back as everyone approaches the giant doors slowly. They all look around and see nothing is happening. Calhoun slowly looks down and slowly figures that Josh might have defeated the glitching Cy-Bug.
"I guess…he did it…"
The soldiers look back, and suddenly, the double doors open. They all look and get their guns up.
"Fire when ready!" Calhoun orders drawing her gun
The doors slide open and dust shoots out. They see nothing at first. Then slowly, a figure appears. They get their fingers on the triggers. Calhoun looks serious. And through the dust, Josh slowly emerges and everyone sees. Josh walks out and sees his welcome back. He stops and brushes his hair back.
"This is the second time you have your guns drawn on me', Calhoun lowers her gun, 'Another Mexican Stand-off? You still want your fingers?"
The soldiers slowly smile and lower their guns. Josh smiles and walks towards them and right up to Calhoun.
"Is it…?" Calhoun asks nervously
Josh calmly smiles and nods.
"It's…de-bugged."
The soldiers smile and throw up their guns and celebrate. Calhoun slowly nods and smiles.
"Well done soldier."
Josh nods.
"Sorry about your Tower though."
"It can be repaired."
"I can fix that. And maybe someone else can too."
Calhoun shakes her head with a small smirk on her face. But suddenly, a swarm appears and everyone looks. Calhoun looks serious and grabs her rifle.
"Alright ladies! Arm up! The fight's not over yet!"
Calhoun and the soldiers run out ahead. Josh keeps up.
"The Tower's destroyed!" Josh yells
"We all saw! The beam as well?"
Josh sighs.
"It came down with the Cy-Bug."
"Then I'm afraid we have no choice."
"What?"
"Without a beam, none of the Cy-Bugs can be stopped. They'll just continue to multiply', looks at Josh, 'My game is done."
Josh blinks and looks up ahead. He stops as he watches Calhoun and the soldiers run to the crashed down ship. He looks at his watch and finds the beam code from the game. Calhoun stops and looks back.
"Come on! We're closing off the exit!" Calhoun yells
Josh looks back up at Calhoun.
"I know where there's a beam!"
Calhoun narrows her eyes and Josh turns around and runs away.
"Josh!"
Calhoun runs after Josh. The soldiers see and decide not to leave anyone behind. So they go after the two. Josh runs out in the open field and holds the beam code in front of him. Calhoun tries to keep up with Josh and Josh finally stops. Calhoun stops several feet from Josh.
"What are you doing? We have to go!"
Josh turns around and points.
"I can save your game Calhoun. I have the codes. Step back."
Calhoun watches as Josh pushes the beam code in front of him. The soldiers come to the scene as well and suddenly Josh's hand lights up. Calhoun and the soldiers step back as Josh's arm really lights up, lights up in the way of a beam. Josh strains as he feels this power energy forming from his arm.
"Step back!" Josh yells
Calhoun and the men step back even further. Josh looses his footing and falls to his knees. He throws his arm up screaming, and suddenly the beam shoots out of his arm and straight up into the sky. Calhoun and the soldiers watch. The swarm of Cy-Bugs see the light and fly right at it. Josh uses all his might to keep the beam pointed up. All the Cy-Bugs fly into the light. Josh holds onto the beam a few more seconds and suddenly, it ends.
The light disappears and Josh throws his arm down holding it tightly. Little smoke comes off Josh's back. Calhoun and the soldiers watch. Josh slowly stands back up holding his arm. He looks at everyone.
"Now…who said 'their game is gone'?"
Josh smiles and Calhoun…just shakes her head. The pain in Josh's arm goes away and Josh walks ahead.
"Ten-hut!" Calhoun yells
Josh stops as he sees Calhoun and the soldiers stand in perfect formation.
"Raise arm!" Calhoun orders
Calhoun and the soldiers salute to Josh.
"In honor and bravery to our fellow soldier, to all of gamers who have ever played Hero's Duty. We stand before a true hero', Josh slowly smiles and crosses his arms, 'We thank you for your duty."
"Which of course was in fact a big duty, you know…"
Calhoun reframes from making a face. Josh walks up to Calhoun and lends out his hand. Calhoun continues to salute to Josh as she looks down at his hand with her eyes.
"Were a little past service duty aren't we Calhoun?"
Calhoun lowers down her hand slowly. She goes to grab Josh's hand but he quickly draws back and salutes to her.
"It was honor to serve and protect Hero's Duty. May the duty never change."
Calhoun blinks and shakes her head.
"Enough 'duties'." Calhoun says
Josh smiles and lowers his hand.
"Let's go back and tell everyone the news."
"You going to, or shall I?" Calhoun asks
Calhoun looks down at Josh. He looks up and she looks back up ahead.
"You can tell them. That's an order."
"Yes Ma'am!"
Josh runs ahead of everyone else. Calhoun stops and looks back at the Tower. She slowly smiles and walks to the crashed down ship.
And that's…the end of the three part chapter. Josh and Calhoun didn't. It seems now; they can put their differences to the side, and work together. And it seems, they have a lot more in common then the game they've played in.
Preview…
With the fight over, it's just another day in Game Central Station. Josh is getting more liked by the video game characters instead of him being treated as the figure he's known as in the Arcade. But Josh seems to be showing more of his other side then what the video game characters know off. So next time on Wreck-It Ralph: The Gamer Chapter 11 – Let's Play