Roughly one hour before the arcade opened, in the game Fix-It Felix Jr., in the bedroom of Felix and Calhoun's penthouse.

"Think we should try one last time to get into the meeting?" Felix asked as he stroked Calhoun's hair. They were both still in bed, shortly after having woken up. "I could argue that if anything happens to Jet, I can fix him up.. Or that you could explain how he managed to hack the games since he doesn't remember how.. Well that last one might not actually be such a good idea.." I could say she could intimidate the others into not doing anything, but she might not like that.. Or she might like it too much.

"I don't know," Calhoun said as she kissed his forehead, "I think Clyde made it fairly clear it's 'Bad Guys only'.. We might as well just wait outside the gate looking pretty." I don't know what kind of 'distraction' he would expect us to provide. He probably just said that to make us more likely to give up.

"I guess," Felix said disappointedly as he flipped onto his back, "Jiminy jaminy.. I just wish there was something I could do instead of being a bystander." Being a hero is in my code. It's hard to just stand around when someone needs help..

"I imagine a lot of people feel that way about now," Calhoun said as she pulled Felix into an embrace, "They've got it under control. There's two surge protectors that will be right there. And a bunch of capable fighters that go to the meeting regularly.. We just aren't needed this time." Just grin and bear it.. It's just this once..

Felix sighed, "I know.. That's what makes it so hard.." At least it's just for a few hours.. Calhoun blew a raspberry on his stomach and made him laugh uncontrollably, "Cut it out."

"Cheer up, would ya?" Calhoun ordered, "What would Ralph think if he saw you brooding like this?" We'd better get up.. Arcade opens in about an hour..

"Alright," Felix said as he gave her a kiss, "I can always count on you to bring my wood up." Ralph has the situation under control.. I'll feel better once I get something to eat.

Calhoun laughed.

"What?" Felix chuckled obliviously.

"Nothin'," Calhoun rolled her eyes and smirked as she started putting her armor on.

What's so funny? Was it something I- "...Ohhh," Felix chuckled, "That was an accident!" I meant mood, Tammy!

"Sure, sure."

"Jiminy jaminy," Felix smacked his forehead.

In the barracks of Hero's Duty.

"So it's a race then," Leon said eagerly as he cracked his knuckles, "What does the winner get?" I'm gonna win anyways. And for sure I'll beat Ralph.

"Winner gets.." Garret said before pausing in thought, "Hmm.. Okay, the loser carries the bags. How about that?"

"Challenge accepted," Leon said as he slammed on his helmet, then raised the visor, "I hope Sarge ain't gonna pull us aside again like she did last time." Good thing it's just us two in here. This ain't the other guys' business.

"Don't let it get to you, man. She's just trying to keep us in line the only way she knows how. It was probably mostly a joke anyways." A bad joke.

"I still don't like the implication," Leon pointed and shook his head, "Like, really. What does she think we're gonna do? Does she think we're gonna hurt the girls or somethin'? That's stupid. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." And I'm practically made of stupid.

"It's getting to you. See? Just forget it."

"Fine, but I ain't gonna forget she said it," Leon flipped the visor of his helmet back down. Totally uncalled for. Now, think happy thoughts.

Garret shook his head before putting his own helmet on. Can't really blame him.

S-U-G-A-R jump into your racing car. Minty knocked on Jubileena's door.

Jubileena opened the door. Her hair was still damp from a shower, though she was already fully dressed. "Come on in," she chuckled.

"Okay!" Minty giggled as she stepped inside, "I was hoping you'd be up by now."

"Well they wouldn't really notice if I showed up late today anyways," Jubileena shrugged as she closed the door then took a seat on her couch.

"Aww, Jujube.." Minty pouted, "It's not gonna be that bad. There'll be plenty.. Oh." Plenty of people. Duh.

"I'll be fine," Jubileena shrugged, "So did you eat yet?"

"Uh huh," Minty nodded, "I didn't know if you'd be up yet, so I didn't wanna take any chances. Did you? You gotta eat."

"Yeah," Jubileena smiled.

"Good. I wouldn't want you to starve," Minty laughed.

"Well I'd hope you wouldn't want me to starve," Jubileena laughed, "So what's up?"

"Nothin', just bored. Thought you might could use the company."

"I 'might could'," Jubileena chuffed, "Just let me go finish drying my hair and we can go."

Later, at the starting line in Sugar Rush 2.

"They'll probably have to have it custom made, right?.." Jubileena said offhandedly after they got to the starting line in Minty's kart. There's no way any store here would have clothes that fit them.. "Garret and Leon."

"Huh?" Minty blinked in confusion, "Oh, you mean their clothes.. Yeah, that's true, but there's that machine thing.. They probably won't like that much." She laughed. Those things can get feisty I've heard. Well that's only when it does actual dressing.. I think it'll be fine if it just takes measurements..

"So how did it go with Leon?" Jubileena asked, "I mean.. Don't go into any details or anything."

"It went good, but he didn't stay long," Minty said disappointedly, "We just talked for a while." No details she says.

"A-ah, yeah.." Jubileena said, "That's how it was with me and Garret too." There's no way I could tell her I kissed him already.. Already? Well it's not like that's a big deal anyways. I'm probably getting too worried about that.

"I wonder what they're talking about over there again," Minty said while looking over to Jet's group, at the front of the starting line, "Wanna go find out?"

"I'd.. rather not.." Jubileena said, "Besides it looks like they're serious about something.. They might think we're nosy.." You know I'd be too uncomfortable to even do much talking.. It's different with you and Garret.. Leon is the only odd one out, but I can deal with that..

"It's Litwak! Litwak is coming!" Yuni could just barely be heard yelling from the jumbotron, which was currently displaying the inside of the arcade. Yuni was keeping watch from her position in Dance Dance Revolution.

Minty looked over to the jumbotron. "Oh well.. I would like to get to know Crumbelina a little better though.." Why couldn't the developers have made us all best friends to begin with? It'd be so much better like that.. We've been racing together for years now.

"Doesn't she seem like she wants to be left alone most of the time though?" Jubileena asked. I know that feeling.. It's better with Minty and Garret now though..

"No way.." Minty waved dismissively, "If she wanted to be left alone, she would be alone." Well I say that but I kept bugging Jujube until she opened up to me anyways..

"..I guess. It's still not really our business to butt into their conversation though."

In the game Fix-It Felix Jr.

"Before you even ask, nothing out of the ordinary happened," Ralph huffed, "Vanellope invited us over to her house since I'd been missing her races lately."

"I wasn't going to ask anything of the sort, Ralph," Felix pouted and crossed his arms. So he knew it was coming. "I imagine Vanellope had a blast having the two of you over."

"You could say that," Ralph smiled, "You should have seen the two of 'em."

"They're a lot alike, those two," Felix smiled, "Well, for obvious reasons.." He's on guard, how can I get more details? No, I'd better stop that.. Besides, there's more pressing issues.. "So are you prepared for Bad-Anon? I imagine it's going to be.. difficult." He felt his stomach lurch. I wish I could go too..

The smile on Ralph's face faded, "I'm not really sure how I can prepare.. I've already told Clyde about it, I imagine he's told at least Zangief and M. Bison.. They're better at coming up with stuff than me."

"I wish I could be there with you," Felix frowned, "Tammy does too.. Just be alert. I'm sure you can handle anything that gets thrown your way.." I have to act confident for his sake..

"Yeah.. By the way," Ralph rubbed the back of his neck, "There was this weird Bad Guy from Ninja Turtles following me around before.."

"Bad Guy?" Felix asked anxiously, "Following you?" What?

"Well more specifically he was spying on me. Like when I was talking to Clyde, and before that in Tapper's.." Ralph explained, "He was collecting information on Jet. He didn't exactly seem hostile, but he wasn't up to any good either.."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Felix asked worriedly, "Brother, even if he wasn't hostile, you never know what he could be planning.." He must be working for someone.. He was from Ninja Turtles.. Was it Shredder? Maybe Tammy and I should pay a visit to Splinter to see what he thinks about all this..

"It's Litwak! Litwak is coming!" Yuni yelled from Dance Dance Revolution.

"I dunno," Ralph sighed, "But you heard the girl. We can talk about it later." He slowly returned to his demo position.

As usual, Litwak was none the wiser when it came to the goings on inside the arcade games. To him, it was yet another uneventful day. At closing time, he locked up and left, just as always, completely unaware of the events to come.

Author's Note: Author's Note: This takes place during chapters 13 and 14 of 'The Honeyglow Surge'.