Chapter Twenty- Cat Scratch Fever

Later that Thursday Morning

"Wait, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Of course I do!"

Gene was beaming with glee as he and his wife walked along the beach but there was something different to Gene's steps, something that would have shocked his fellow game-mates back at home. The pudgy little man was close to flipping cartwheels, Mary having a hard enough time to keep him down as it was.

"Yes! And then-! Oh, think about it! We still have so many bricks in the dump but if we use them-!"

"May I ask-?" Mary asked, taking her husband's arms and pulling him back "Where EXACTLY did you come up with an idea like this?"

"From….from everything around here!"

"Um, explain please, dear."

"Look at this place, darling!" Gene said, putting his arms out towards the sun "Look at how everyone has a chance to do the things they love! There's so much space and air out here and if the others had a chance-!"

Gene had to slow himself down, realizing that not only was he moving too fast for himself but for his darling as well. He turned towards the little woman in pink, her eyes filled with confusion.

He couldn't hold it back.

"Oh, MARY!"

"EEP!"

The blue man ran towards his love, hugging her so tight.

"This is only the start!" the Mayor said "I see so many good things for all of us!"

"Well, first? You know you have to talk it over with Felix and then we still have to see if the others even want to participate. I mean, for some of them? Perhaps. Perhaps, they would like an opportunity like this but what about-!"

"Don't be such a fuddy!" Gene chortled, wagging his finger before his wife "Get with the times, Pinky! We can't just ride on being 'retro' for the rest of our-NYAAARGH!"

One well placed pinch to the side was just enough to get Gene to stop.

"THERE." Mary teased, slapping the man on his side "What was that about me, SIR?"

Gene had not yet been defeated, even if his love-handles still stung. He gave Mary a wink and pulled her over towards the pier where an awaiting tour boat drifted in the docks.

"Look, if you're that worried about the whole thing we can talk it out, but I'm telling you-!" Gene continued "Once the cat is out of the bag, the looks the others will give us-!"

"Only three hours…." Moaned Felix.

"We're settin' a record…." Grumped Ralph "For a week where I was supposed ta be free of Mayor Blueberry, it sure feels like more of a headache than when he's here."

"I think it's just tha timin', Ralph." Yawned Felix "I mean, who wudda thought that somethin' else would pop up."

"I'm makin' an insentive. Any virus that's wanna come here? They hafta schedule three weeks in advance. Also, mandatory two weeks between attacks for recovery time."

Felix found himself chuckling at the gripe but his laughter didn't last long.

"Okay, I've been up n' down n' all around tha entire apartment an' I haven't found a clue!"

"But Tammy-!" Felix said as he looked at his wife "With all tha evidence ya found-!"

The woman held up a flask, thick virus sludge held with it.

"I have plenty for Mouse ta toy with…." The Marine said in a disgusted tone "But that thing's tucked itself well inside tha walls of tha game."

"Oh, great an' what can we do?" groaned Ralph, wanting more and more to partake in some of Gene's 'brews' to ease the headache that was clanging in his skull "Ya do know we're on call, right? Not like we can just waltz up ta tha screen an' go 'Hey kids! Sorry ya can't play us! We gots us a lil INFESTATION goin' on!'"

"I hear ya concern, Wreck-It." Calhoun said, rolling her eyes "So drop tha tude. My guys are doin' tha best that we can!"

"There's a monster virus goin' round tha game, Sarge." Ralph breathed out "Sorry for not bein' on tha chipper side this mornin' but for once. Just for ONCE we would like a lil heads up on things like this before that get tha hands on US!"

"I know I can't leave my post, but I can lend Mouse an' a few extras here ta do some cleanin' up behind tha scenes. That's tha best we can do on such short notice like this."

"It'll hafta do." Felix sighed, taking off his hat and running his fingers through his hair "Like Ralph said, we don't have tha option ta stop today an' so long as they keep things IN THA BACKGROUND…"

"Don't worry about it, Honey-glows." Calhoun smiled, petting her love on the head "We gotcha taken care of."

Ralph didn't share much of the confidence the Marine had, a sinking feeling in his gut coming to him. He had been on the edge far too much to know NEVER to let his guard down around such situations and with a virus going around, he was more nervous than before.

"Kid?"

Vanellope, who had been sitting on the steps the whole time, looked up and saw Ralph's worried looks.

"What is it, Stink Breath?"

"Go home."

"What?" the girl glitched, going closer to her friend "Aw, c'mon Ralph!"

"NO." the man said, his voice clear "Viruses? You're not gettin' near 'em again."

"If this is about Beta takin' me…" the girl pouted, crossing her arms "I'm kinda USED ta dealin' with icky creeps like him an' with tha trainin' I've gotten with Ugly One n' Ugly Two, then-!"

"Vanellope, I'm not gonna tell ya again!" the Wrecker said, sounding angrier "This is not tha time ta argue! Get home now or I'm takin' ya there myself! It's too dangerous ta be here right now an' without in-game immunity-!"

"Alright, alright! I get it!" Vanellope said, her ponytail drooping in sadness "Wow, Butter-Face. SOMEONE isn't happy without his mornin' coffee."

Ralph hated to be so stern with his friend but he knew he couldn't risk it, especially not after seeing so many of those around him hurt by search creatures. Even if Niceland was now a time-bomb itself, harboring a monster of what power no one really knew, he felt he stood a better chance against it. If he were to be bitten, if he were to fall, the game was his safety net. He could always come back.

But Vanellope?

"Just….just wait until we give the all clear." Ralph said, trying to sound calmer despite feeling worse than before "Once ya do…"

The little racer smiled weakly "Okay. Just be careful."

The two hugged, Vanellope going off for the trolley and leaving Ralph feeling horribly empty.

What had happened?

This was supposed to be a WONDERFUL week for the Wrecker and everyone in Niceland. They were getting a week without the Mayor but all things concerned, Ralph would have rather faced Gene at his most GRUMPIEST than know that so many around him were in danger over a virus.

"Should we evacuate everyone else as well?" asked Felix.

"Yes, that would be best." Calhoun said "But there's the issue of making sure the news doesn't get out as not ta cause a panic. Tha last thing we need is tha whole arcade goin' up once words get twisted."

"I gotcha on that, Tammy!" Felix said, puffing out his chest as he rushed to East Niceland, ready to herald the call.

"An' me?" Ralph asked, pointing to himself.

"Just look after tha lil guys as me an' my troops care'a things." Nodded Calhoun, patting the big man on the shoulder for support "This is gonna be QUITE tha day, Ralphie-Boo!"

Even before the doors of the arcade open, things were pumping and going. Felix and Calhoun informed the East Niceland residence of the circumstance and with enough information, and a few 'promises' on the part of Calhoun's itchy trigger finger, the residence from the opposing block kept their word about them that no information would leak out to the other games.

Ralph and the other Nicelanders made certain that things were in order for the game day but much to Wrecker's surprise, the little people fell into place a lot faster than he had expected.

"Wow, guess ya DO know tha drill." Ralph snorted to himself, watching the Nicelanders go about their tracks all the while avoiding a certain spot in the building.

And what spot was that?

Norwood's apartment.

"OH."

"What is it, Ralph?" asked Nicelander Kal.

"Where IS Nory?"

Nel's bow twitched like rabbit ears atop her head; Norwood hadn't come out yet?

"I guess he's still in the penthouse…." Said Deanna, once more playing the part of the calmest person in the game "But given how RESTLESS he was before, perhaps he needs another wake up call."

Ralph readied himself to travel up to the top story of the building "Lemme-!"

"LEMME GO."

The big man stopped in his tracks, looking down to see Nel racing towards the elevator.

"Whoa, hold on a moment Nelly!"

"I got this." The tiny woman said, giving Ralph a rather SHARP look, the man feeling his skin prickle over.

Uh-oh. That wasn't a good sign!

"Um, ya know what Calhoun said. Tha virus might still be up there an'-!"

"What?" asked Nel, sounding annoyed "Ya don't think I can't take care of myself, Ralph?"

"No, NO! Of course not!" the man said, sweating bullets "I know ya can handle yourself just FIIIIINE, Miss Nel but I don't wanna-!"

"A-ah, maybe you could go together?" Meg stepped up, not wanting to see either fighting "M-More power in n-numbers, right?"

"Yeah, that's right Meggy!" Ralph grinned painfully, giving the Nicelander a thumbs-up "Never know what could happen!"

"Alright, fine." Nel grumped, moving out of the way as Ralph managed to squeeze himself inside "But ya know I cudda don't this by myself."

"I know, I know…." Ralph breathed out, feeling quite uncomfortable and not just because of how small the elevator was. The doors closed and the two headed up, all heads turning towards Nolan.

"WHAT?"

"An' ya don't have anythin' ta say about this?" Lucy said in a catty manner "I would have thought that at tha very moment Nel wanted ta go up, ya would have thrown tha mother of all tantrums."

"Lucile! UURGH!" Nolan growled, a pixelated storm cloud forming over his head "Too early, girlie! WAAAAAY too early!"

Too early indeed.

"Ung, my head…."

Norwood had been up longer than the rest of the gang, the man already washed and dressed as he sat alone in the empty penthouse. He took another draw from his pipe but unlike most times it brought about no sense of calm, no sense of relief. In fact, none of his habits had helped the man feel better, his eyes going over to the ashtray and looking at how many remains of stubs lay in it.

Come on, Norwood. You know that's bad.

Even if you were drawn with that pipe, it's a terrible habit.

It's not making you feel any better.

Why are you doing this to yourself?

Is it because of your cats?

Is it because of Sassy?

Or is it something else?

Is it something else?

It is, isn't it?

Stop hiding from it, Nory.

Stop hiding, Nory.

Stop it, Nory.

Nory?

NORY?

NORWOOD!

"GAH!"

The man looked to the side, the doors open as Ralph stood before them but despite how BIG the Wrecker was, Norwood's focus was instead upon the tiny woman in front of him.

Nel.

"Ah-!"

The ginger Nicelander got to his feet, quickly throwing the ashes in the trash and flinging the ashtray behind him without a single care where it landed.

"Do you have ANY idea what time it is?"

The man stopped, seeing that Nel looked LESS than pleased to see him.

"Well…Yeah. Yeah, I do know what time it is."

"Then why aren't ya down strairs?" Nel asked, marching right up to the man "We've been worried 'bout ya, Butt-Monster! Get down stairs!"

"I had some things ta take care of, PRUNELLA." Norwood snorted, making certain that his glint was strong upon the woman "But thanks for askin'. Ya always knew how ta care for people, ya know that."

"Aw, let it go ya two!" Ralph moaned "For all tha years I've known BOTH of ya, ya can not tell me for a second you're gonna let somethin' like this split ya!"

"What do ya mean by THAT, Ralph?"

The Wrecker blushed WIDLY once he realized the words that had come slipping through the gap in his teeth.

"ACK! I didn't mean it that way! I'm just sayin'-!"

"Don't let her scare ya, Big Fella." Norwood sniffed as he strolled pass the two "She's worse than Gene when it comes ta overplayin' tha scariness."

"Oh-HO! SO I'm tha one who plays it up?!" Nel said "As opposed ta one Mister Nicelander Norwood who's only method of gainin' attention is ta act as ANNOYIN' as possible?!"

Ralph was starting to see that his idea of following Nel was a GOOD one; who knew what the two would have done had he left them alone!

"Look, Bunny Butt-!" Norwood growled, Ralph feeling as if were indeed looking at a cat ready to pounce upon a rabbit "I am NOT in tha mood ta deal with ya right now. My apartment's been taped-up, I still can't find Sassy-!"

"Um! I'm sure Sassy is fine!" Ralph said, trying to change the subject and get the two out of the penthouse "Tammy an' tha others are still lookin' for her!"

"Thanks, Ralph." The freckled Nicelander said, feeling some embarrassment rising in his stomach "But after all'a this, I may hafta apologize for sendin' ya on tha chase for her."

"Oh, it's nothin' at all, Nory so don't worry 'bout it."

Ralph then turned his sights upon Nel, his brows furrowing towards her but she returned the glance, Norwood unaware of the battle that was happening before him.

Darn it, Miss Nel! Ease up on him, please?!

SHUT UP, RALPH! SHUT UP, RALPH! SHUT UP, RAAAAAAAAAALPH!

"Look, how much time we got before we go on?"

Ralph snapped out of the stare-off, returning his focus back on the red-head beside him.

"Um. I think about half an hour or so?"

"Alright." Norwood sighed, heading out of the penthouse "Just gimmie a few. I'll be out there on time."

Norwood walked from the penthouse, leaving Ralph and Nel alone but the moment he was out of sight?

Ralph turned, the angered look back upon his face.

"That was so cold."

"Why do ya care?"

"THAT was so MEAN."

"Again, WHY DO YA CARE RALPH?!" Nel shouted, her little hands curled into smaller fist.

"C'mere!"

"KIYAAA!"

Nel knew there was no escape as Ralphs stepped over to her, picking the woman up by the back of her dress.

"Ah! AAAAAH!" Nel swung about, her little hands swatting in the air "Is this any way ta treat a lady, Ralph?! Put me down before I kick your butt so bad-!"

"I usually try ta stay outta Nicelander affairs."

"Then why start NOW?" gripped Nel, Ralph dropping her on the couch.

"Because what you're doin' ta Nory isn't fair!" replied Ralph "It's one thing when Nolan busts his chops but both of ya?! C'mon! I thought ya were friends!"

"W-Well….ya thought wrong then?" Nel meeped, crossing her arms against her chest.

"MISS NEL!"

"Look, what do ya want form me?!" the woman squeaked "I can't control what Nory does or what he wants or how he acts!"

"Yeah but-!"

What to say, what to say?

"Maybe ya can't control how much he rags on us but….but I know ya care for him."

Ralph could see the brown skin of the Nicelander slowly change to pink, a nerve had been hit.

"I don't expect ya ta make him happy instantly but….but of everyone here? I think he needs ya tha most."

"Why me?" asked the little woman.

"Because you're tha only one he'd really talk to." Said Ralph "He plays it hard but whenever he's with ya? I've seen it; when he's with ya he just feels like he can actually be himself."

The truth of it all hit Nel like a rain of bricks and she did not like it one bit. She knew that the Wrecker had a point but with everything that had happened, she was scared that she had pushed the red-head too far, that he just could not trust her anymore.

And if that were to happen?

All those years.

Gone.

Nel kept thinking, she kept seeing so much. It wasn't good, it made her feel too twitchy and fidgety.

"Ooooooooh!"

She kicked her little legs, flailed her little arms. If Norwood felt as if everyone had blamed him for the infection and that everyone was looking at him, Nel now felt the same.

"AUUUURGH! It's too early for this!" the woman shouted, jumping off the couch and running to the door "I DON'T WANNA DEAL WITH IT!"

"But Miss Nel-!"

"NOT ANOTHER WORD, WRECK-IT!" the tiny woman ROARED at Ralph, the man falling to the ground "NOT. ANOTHER. WORD!"

The big man gulped, nodding his head.

Well, he had been taught a lesson.

Nel SLAMMED the door of the penthouse shut, leaving Ralph to remind himself why it was never a good idea to cross the BAD path of the tiny people.

As Nel made her way down stairs, Norwood was on his own journey down as well.

"Big smelly Ralph an' his bid smelly…thoughts or whatever."

It was going to be a LONG day as far as the ginger was concerned, not at all looking forward to the long hours of being thrown OR facing Nel.

"If it's true that Turbo is cleanin' up Cybug shit….I'd rather do that."

Gyooooooooong.

The man stopped in his tracks, a sound hitting his ears.

"Huh?"

Gyoooooooooooong?

The man looked to his left, then to his right but there was nothing in view. Suddenly, the halls felt cold and far emptier than they were. It was a feeling that shook the man down to his bones, making the hair on his neck rise and his mustache twitch.

"Guys?"

No reply.

"Guys?"

Silence.

Norwood's brain was telling the man to dash off as fast as he could but his body wasn't listening. His feet felt STUCK upon the wooden floors, the slow unsettling sound of the creaking panels echoing through the halls.

Gyoooooooooooooooooong!

And that sound soon joined it again.

There was something to the sound; something hypnotizing and familiar. Norwood couldn't put his finger on it but something about it, something in the tone…

Gyooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong!

"C'mon, this isn't funny anymore!" the man said "I've had enough of ya guys messin' with me so for once! Just for ONCE, can ya leave me-!"

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Norwood let out a scream as he turned and tumbled into the wall. As he settled he found that he was facing the door of his own apartment, the bright yellow warning tape covering it.

"What tha-?!"

Gyoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong!

"G-Guys?!" Norwood said as he rushed towards the door but as his fingers were about to touch the nob he stopped, he pulled back.

It COULDN'T have been his cats as Calhoun and her Marines had rounded them up and taken them to Hero's Duty for a more thorough detox but the sound! It was that of a cat or at least a SICK one!

Norwood's instincts were starting to kick in and not for the better.

He pulled the tape down and with a strong charge from his body he managed to force the door open. Upon stepping inside he could see the entire apartment FILLED with Hero's Duty equipment and her personal items covered in plastic. It was like looking at a scene from a horror movie, everything so still as if they had abandonded once the monster had shown up.

And it was then when Norwood realized the mistake he had made.

"Aaaaaaaw, SHIT."

GYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!

The sound rang in his ears again and this time, it was much closer. If it were possible for freckles to fall off from fear, millions of them would be piling up at Norwood's feet because…

Because….

Because he knew he was no longer alone.

His heart was nearly in his throat as he turned, many eyes greeting him.

"H-H-what?!"

It was huge.

It was slimy.

It was waiting for him.

It was the virus.

Norwood was PETRIFIED as he looked at the creature, its body dripping with black ooze, its eyes glowing as it stared Norwood down like if he were a mouse….

To a cat?

No.

No, it couldn't be!

The man observed the virus as best he could without arousing its suspicious and he took many notes in it. It's ears, it's legs and paws; they were so cat-like. And its call-

Gyoooooooooooooooooooooooooooong.

Feline.

The man was even more surprised than before, wondering if what he were looking at were indeed real.

Granted, this was the same man who had escaped from the clutches of a Cybrid, watched as his best friend turn into a giant version of himself and even if many things in the past were NOT as exciting….

He could not say he hadn't stared into the face of oddity.

"W-What?" the man choked out "W-What are you?"

The creature did not respond, as anyone would have expected, and cocked its head towards the man, mewling softly.

"C-Can ya understand me?" gulped the Nicelander "H-Hey, friendly? Nice? NOT EVIL?"

Norwood knew he had to get out of the apartment but he was terrified at what he was facing that even his voice felt as if it were trapped in his throat. He tried to move but the creature stalked him, letting out a low, gurgling hiss.

"W-Watch it now. I'm not gonna hurt ya."

The creature growled again, its eyes glowing in anger.

Not good, not good.

"L-Look!" Norwood said, trying his best to scold the creature "I got plenty'a guff ta deal with tha others! I-I don't need it from ya! YA HEAR ME?! YA HEAR-!?"

The creature growled again before letting out a vicious hiss and yowl. The Nicelander felt his legs going back, ready to take him out of the apartment but the creature was far too fast for him! It roared, leaping into the air as it pounced upon the man. He screamed, trapped beneath the gore and claws.

"AURGH! H-HELP!"

Norwood made the mistake of looking into the cat-virus' eyes, all senses being replaced with FEAR.

"H-Help. H-H-HELP!"

Move, Norwood! MOVE!

The man looked to his side, seeing a bar next to him. He struggled and fought, the creature pulling him back with remarkable strength but he dug his own claws into the floor and pulled back, finally taking the bar and with a strong swing-!

WHACK!

The creature yowled as it reared back, allowing Norwood to slip from its grasp and run.

"Gotta get ta tha others! They can't-!"

Inches away from the door, Norwood felt the weight of the creature crashing down upon him again. It clawed at his clothes, the man screaming for the programmers above that he not be torn to ribbons there but he went into defense-mode, kicking the creature as hard as he could in the middle.

"BACK! BAAAAAAAAAACK!"

Norwood pulled back a fist and with every bit of strength he had, NAILED the creature in the face. For a moment it stopped but it didn't look too keen at being struck by a Nicelander. The red-head lay lip upon the ground as the creature snarled and as it opened its jaws-

It SUNK it's teeth into Norwood's hand.

HOOWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAURRRGH!

The Nicelander hollered loud but not loud enough to bring the others. Instead, the creature jumped off him and made its way back into the ducts, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. Norwood panted as he clutched his injured hand, looking up just enough to see the horrible purple welt that was left on his body.

"O-oh programmers! OH PRO-!"

GLITCH!

Oh, no.

GLITCH!

Oh, NO!

The man was hit by a wave of PAINFUL glitches as he rolled on his side. His insides felt like they were being pulled and twisted, his head feeling as it were being struck with a hammer and NOT a magical golden one.

"W-What's-?! HAPPENIN'?!"

GLITCH!

The entire room filled with light as the glitches continued but as soon as they started-!

They stopped?

Norwood felt dizzy, he felt sick to his stomach but all the weight and pain began to slowly fade away. He stood up on his feet, weak legs carrying him over to the sink.

"I-I gotta-! Gotta warn, Felix!" he panted "Gotta warn tha oth-!"

Shadows.

Shadows on the wall.

The man looked over, noticing something odd about the shape of the shadow before him.

Twitch.

Twitch?

His ears felt funny, a little more sensitive as they rung whenever he spoke or something moved, as if the volume around him had INCREASED. In fact, his entire body felt tingly and odd, as if he were to nervous but given what he had dealt with who could blame him.

TWITCH!

"W-What is-?"

He reached up, his hands feeling something…ODD on the top of his head.

They didn't feel like his ears.

His heart started to race again, his eyes peering down towards his bottom to see….

A tail?

A stubby

Orange

CAT

TAIL.

A tail?

Weird ears?

More and more Norwood could feel things starting to crumble around him, the man trying his best to reassure himself that nothing was wrong, that everything was fine.

But he turned towards one of the hanging pans in his kitchen, a pan just shiny enough to show his reflection and-?

Freckles everywhere.

A big, pink nose.

TWO orange cat ears.

And from behind?

A little orange cat tail.

"No."

Yes.

"NO!"

YES.

"No, no, NO! NONONONONO!"

Norwood looked behind himself and then he looked at his ears.

He saw a tail.

He saw ears.

He saw a tail!

He saw ears!

He saw-!

CAT!