Chapter Eleven
Stability versus Freedom
"Your weapons and gear, please," said Dr. Despair, pointing at the spot near his feet. "I'm not taking chances, and I don't think you want to either." He nodded in the direction of Vanellope, who had yet to stir.
With visible reluctance, Calhoun surrendered her gun and tool belt, Felix his own belt and his hammer. Ralph, who had nothing to give up, simply lowered his fists. Dr. Despair took the gear and piled it within a sack that he took from within the large black overcoat he was wearing. He opened the door just long enough to set the sack outside the room, before shutting it again.
"I'll lay it before you plainly," said Dr. Despair. "I don't approve of your plans for Sugar Rush. Not one little bit. I know what happened when you, Ralph, entered that game. I know how King Candy's rule broke down in a flurry of madness. I know how the cybugs almost wiped that saccharine kingdom out of existence."
"We put a stop to that," said Calhoun.
"Yes you did," said Dr. Despair. "You did- barely. But will you deny that but for Ralph the whole situation could have been avoided?"
"I won't deny it," said Ralph. "But the way everything turned out, it was one of the best things to ever happen to this arcade."
"For the arcade or for you?"
"For me, yes, but for Vanellope too…and for the arcade," said Ralph. "Turbo was defeated, and so was the cybug threat."
"And what, may I ask you, was Turbo doing there that was so horrible?"
"You know what he did to Vanellope."
"What he did to Vanellope…ah yes," said Dr. Despair. "Cruel perhaps…but that was all he did. You'd be hard pressed to find any other such example of cruelty in his reign."
"He stole the throne and locked away everyone's memories," said Ralph.
"He kept the game stable, and never bothered to trouble any other games," Dr. Despair replied. "Under his reign, there was never any threat of Sugar Rush being unplugged. When you showed up, there suddenly was. Now weigh the mere fact that Turbo was running the game against that, and tell me which was less risky for the denizens of that console."
"This is all the past, though," said Calhoun. "It all turned out fine. Why do you care now?"
"Because during the daylight hours, Sugar Rush is a monarchy. Monarchy is easy to understand. And for such simple-minded individuals as most of the inhabitants of Sugar Rush are, a simple, time-tested method of running the game is the most secure, the most stable. Try to introduce something more complicated there, especially when you can only do it half of the time, and chaos will inevitably follow. Opinions will clash over what is to be done, tempers will flare up, and conflicts will start. These conflicts will rise in intensity until the denizens can no longer tolerate working with each other. And when that happens…the game will be unplugged."
"You don't know that," said Felix. "With help, they could figure out how to make it work."
"You speak of the theoretical," said Dr. Despair. "Well, look what happened when the mere idea of being a democracy at night was introduced. They attempted to kidnap their ruler. Now imagine how much worse it will get if these insurgents get their way."
"I'm doing just that," Ralph retorted. "I know these racers. I can't imagine it getting that bad."
"But I can," said Dr. Despair. "You speak of tyranny, but what about lives? Will you risk the lives of all the racers, all the fans, for the sake of the whims of the few? Will you let their example corrupt the entire arcade, and place us all at risk?"
Ralph, pointed towards Vanellope. "You would torture a child and replace her with a psychopathic clone to keep us 'safe'? I don't give two mudballs what you think."
"Ah yes, the copy," said Dr. Despair. "I've no reason to hide it from you now. As you seem to have guessed, I duplicated both Vanellope and Sour Bill. Exact copies, with all of their memories intact- save that I've trained them to see the light of wisdom."
"To do your bidding, you mean," Calhoun spat. "I've seen at least one of your precious copies, and I wouldn't touch again her with a ten foot pole."
"She can be just as sweet-natured as this one here, when she's obeyed," said Dr. Despair.
"She's a usurper and an all-around jerk," said Ralph. "You say she's worth obeying?"
"If Sugar Rush is to remain in operation…yes."
Silence descended upon the chamber. Felix, Calhoun, and Ralph kept their gazes on Dr. Despair, who in turn kept his red eyes on them.
"Enough," said Dr. Despair when several moments had passed. "I gave Vanellope here several chances, so I don't see why I can't give you three at least one more. I'm going to give you two hours to decide whether you'll stay out of my way and the way of the new ruler of Sugar Rush. I hope for your sakes, that you will."
He turned towards the door. As he opened it, he paused.
"Don't think about throwing that switch, because it won't turn the guns off," he said. "I've got the controls to do that elsewhere. And don't try to escape either, or to free your friend from the rack because if you do, the guns will fire. And you may rest assured they won't miss."
With that, Dr. Despair left the room, shutting and locking the door behind him.
The first thing Ralph did was turn to Vanellope. She was still hanging limply, her head still down, breathing softly.
"Vanellope?" said Ralph. "Vanellope?"
Vanellope's eyelids fluttered for a few moments, before opening halfway. A weak cough passed from her lips. "That you, Stinkbrain?" she said, her voice almost a whisper.
"Yes it is," said Ralph. "I'm here. So are Felix and Sergeant Calhoun." Felix and Calhoun stepped forward, although they remained silent.
A wan smile passed over Vanellope's features and she raised her head slightly. "Don't worry," she said. "I only gave him my name, rank, and serial number."
Even now, weak, fatigued, brutally injured by energy shocks, she could still crack a joke. Ralph had to smile in response, but inside, he shuddered. His friend might want to keep a brave face, but he could tell she was being eaten up by the magnitude of the disaster that was unfolding.
"Do you know where Sour Bill is?" Ralph asked.
"No," said Vanellope. "In another cell, I guess."
"Do you know how to escape from here?"
"You'll have to…do as he says…" Vanellope said quietly. "You're not…getting out otherwise." She coughed again and closed her eyes. "Ralph…"
"No, save your strength," Ralph told her.
"Ralph," Vanellope continued. "I'm…sorry. So…sorry. I said…terrible things. Did…terrible things."
"Stay quiet," Ralph urged. "Rest as best you can."
"I was a jerk," Vanellope went on, ignoring him. "I was going to tell you…give up the presidency…give them free…elections…"
She stopped talking, hanging quietly as before.
"Vanellope?"
"I'm still here, Stinkbrain," said Vanellope, her eyes still closed.
"We're not going to do what he wants," said Ralph. "We're going to get out of here, and you're coming with us."
"Do as he says," Vanellope replied. "I won't have your lives…lost." She coughed again. "It's…too late…for my own freedom. Save yourselves…and Sour Bill…if you can…"
Her voice trailed off again. She had fallen asleep.
"Let her rest, Ralph," said Calhoun. "It'd be a kindness."
Ralph, Felix, and Calhoun stepped away from the rack.
"We aren't going to accept," said Ralph "We can't."
"Don't worry, Dr. Despair will be finding that out the hard way," said Calhoun, a smile playing about her lips.
"I know that look," said Felix. "You're up to something, Tamora. What is it?"
"I've a few tools built into my armor," said Calhoun. "While you were talking to Vanellope, I called for…assistance."
"The troops?" said Ralph. "You called in the troops? What if Dr. Despair kills us all before they can reach us?"
"We have our special signals," said Calhoun, still smiling. "I believe they know who precisely they need to stop."