AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story was inspired by an image of...a rather grown-up...Vanellope by DeviantArt user "Immortal Flower," who was known as "Nefrubi" when the image was first created. A link to this image can be found in my profile on this site.
30 Worlds: The Vanilla Voyages, Episode I: "A Cherry on Top"
BOOK ONE*CHAPTER ONE
"What do you mean, 'you saved my life?'" William asked Vanellope. "You're a computer program!" "Not exactly," Vanellope said. "I am a being known as an 'ISO,' or isomorphic algorithm."
William cocked an eyebrow. In college, he had studied the life of legendary video game entrepreneur Kevin Flynn, including his 1988 theory on the existence of a new type of living being—one that combined the best facets of organic and synthetic life. But never, in his wildest dreams, did William ever think that they were real—let alone the fact that he was actually standing in front of and talking to one!
"You're probably thinking that I have gone insane," Vanellope said. "That it is impossible that ISOs really exist. Well, look at this."
Vanellope removed her right arm from the sleeve of her jacket and showed William a mark on her arm. It looked like a sideways "T" with a hexagonal pattern next to it. William gasped. According to Flynn's theory, female ISO programs would have an similar mark on their arm.
"You are real," William said. "As if there was ever a doubt," Vanellope said as she replaced her arm in the sleeve of her jacket. "And I'm not the only ISO on this ship."
"What do you mean?" William said. Vanellope turned to Yen Sid. "Mind if I go show him?" she asked. "Why not?" Yen Sid said. "If they are going to help him, William will need to get to know them."
Vanellope then turned her attention back to William. "Follow me," Vanellope said. Before William could follow Vanellope out of the docking lounge, Yen Sid turned to William. "I'll look in on you from time to time," Yen Sid said before he disappeared.
William then followed Vanellope out of the docking lounge and into a long, metallic corridor. "This reminds me of the refit Enterprise," William said.
"That is because the corridors on this vessel are indeed modeled after the refit USS Enterprise NCC-1701 seen from Star Trek: The Motion Picture to the vessel's destruction in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," a computerized female voice said.
"Who are you?" William said. A transparent blue hologram appeared before William and Vanellope. "Hello, William Edwards and Vanellope von Schweetz. I am E.R.I.N., which is short for Electronic Reconnaissance and Intelligence Network," the hologram said. "I have been programmed to oversee the safe and comfortable operation of this vessel."
William gave the E.R.I.N. hologram a shoulder-length bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you, E.R.I.N.," William said. Vanellope turned to the E.R.I.N. hologram. "E.R.I.N., would you please direct me and William back to the Rec Deck?" Vanellope said.
The E.R.I.N. projection faded, and a line of lights began to blink, which guided William and Vanellope to a nearby door marked "Turbolift," which opened at their approach. "Rec Deck," Vanellope said. The doors slid closed and the cab began to move.
"I am happy that you are coming to terms with the fact that I am a real, living, being now," Vanellope said. "If I'm going to go on this mission that Master Yen Sid told me about, then I'll need to come to terms with whatever or whomever can help me with it," William said.
"I'm glad you think that way," Vanellope said. "Because it allows me to repay you for saving me in Slaughter Race." Vanellope pinned William to the turbolift cab's wall. She then leaned towards William and put her lips on William's.
The turbolift car slowed then stopped. The doors onto the corridor outside the Rec Deck opened, causing Vanellope to break the kiss. The two straightened their clothes and began to make their way down the corridor towards a door marked "Rec Deck," which opened at their approach.
Vanellope gestured to the beings spread out before them, then back towards William. "Everyone, this is William Edwards," Vanellope said. "William, these are my fellow ISOs—the former characters of Litwak's Arcade. They are here to serve you and the mission Master Yen Sid gave you."
William gestured for three beings at the front of the group to step forward. "What are your names?" William asked.
A giant brown-haired man in brown and white overalls smiled. "I am Wreck-It Ralph," he said. "With me are my counterpart, the title character of Fix-It Felix, Jr., and Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun, the lead character of Hero's Duty."
William bowed to the three individuals. "I presume you all would like to use your original arcade machines as your living space when off-duty?" William said. The beings all nodded as one. William then moved over to a nearby control panel and tapped a few keys.
The bank of arcade machines near the gathering of ISO beings activated. "Thank you, Captain Edwards," one of the beings said.
"No problem, guys," William said. "As for those ISOs among you who primarily come from console games, Vanellope and I will find you crew quarters here on the Enterprise before we get underway. Prior to us doing that, however, there is something we need to take care of first."
And so, William, Vanellope and Yen Sid—in disguise as Gerald Flynn—appeared in front of William's residence. William turned to Vanellope. "How do we explain your name?" William asked Vanellope.
"I'll simply say that as part of a promotional stunt Iktoma Corporation did to honor my official addition to Slaughter Race, anyone who legally changed their name to that of a Sugar Rush character would receive a $50,000 prize," Vanellope said. "I simply legally changed my name from 'Kira Newton' to 'Vanellope von Schweetz,' since 'Kira' loved playing as Vanellope so much," Vanellope said.
William shook his head and, with a sly smile on his face, rang the doorbell. William's father, David, answered the door. "William, who are these?" he asked, gesturing to Yen Sid/Flynn and Vanellope.
"Mr. Edwards, I am Gerald Flynn, head of the Unity of E-Sports Professional Athletes," Yen Sid/Flynn said. Gesturing to Vanellope, he added, "This is the former Kira Newton, who recently and legally changed her name to Vanellope von Schweetz. She is the captain of my organization's professional Slaughter Race team. May we come in?"
"Please," David said. William gestured for Yen Sid/Flynn and Vanellope to follow him into the house. "Would you two like a drink?" David asked. "No thank you," Vanellope said. "Some iced tea, if you have it," Yen Sid/Flynn said.
William pushed a pair of chairs into the living room and gestured for Yen Sid/Flynn and Vanellope to sit down. "As you probably know, William, under his 'NeoBlisseyX' persona, completed the final mission in the infamous 'Vanilla Voyages' mission chain in Slaughter Race," Yen Sid/Flynn said.
"Yeah," David said William moved off to get Yen Sid/Flynn's drink. "William told me." "Well, William's success brought him to the attention of my alliance of professional e-sports teams," Yen Sid/Flynn said. "Miss von Schweetz here specifically chose William to fill a space on her Slaughter Race team, which opened up recently."
"Our U.E.S.P.A. teams live in a complex on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona," Vanellope said. "Our complex has support systems in place for any need our team members may require, such as food, drink, psychiatric care, and so on."
William walked back into the living room and handed Yen Sid/Flynn his iced tea. "Thank you, William," he said. William sat down in a chair as David began to think about what Yen Sid/Flynn and Vanellope had told him.
"As far as I am concerned, William is an adult, allowing him to make his own decisions as to how to live his life," David said. "But I am concerned that with my advanced age, I would not be able to live long without someone to take care of me."
"What about Luella?" William said, referring to his sister. "She might be amenable to helping you, Dad." "Good idea, William. I also think, Mr. Edwards, that we can detach a live-in nurse from our organization to take care of you," Yen Sid/Flynn said. "All right," David said. "William, you take care of yourself."
"I will, Dad," William said. "I only wish Mom were still alive to see the success I have become." David and William hugged. "Then let's go pack your things, William," Yen Sid/Flynn said.
A few hours later, William was packed and ready to go. His sister, Luella, was also there. There was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" David asked. "Nurse Evans from the U.E.S.P.A. Health Office, Mr. Edwards," a female voice said. "Come in," David said.
The door opened, revealing the nurse that Yen Sid/Flynn had mentioned. "Mr. Edwards, I am Amy Evans, a nurse with the Unity of E-Sports Professional Athletes," the woman said. "Mr. Flynn told me that you would require assistance now that your son is moving to our organization's compound outside Tucson."
"You can use my old bedroom, Nurse Evans. This way," William said, leading Nurse Evans to his former bedroom.
With everything squared away, William, Vanellope and Yen Sid/Flynn got in a car and drove away from the Edwards house. Once on the outskirts of Yuma, where no one could see, Yen Sid made the three-vehicle convoy dissolve and reform back on the Enterprise.
In the ship's primary shuttlebay, Ralph, Felix and Calhoun stood and watched as the three vehicles appeared in a flash of light. "Ralph, can you and a few of the other ISOs help move my things into my quarters?" William asked.
"Sure thing, William," Ralph said. "Let me know if you need anything," William said.
William then turned to Yen Sid. "Thank you for helping to assuage my dad's fears," William said. "It is no problem, William," Yen Sid said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other important matters to attend to."
Yen Sid disappeared in a flash of light.
Dimensional Defense Vessel Enterprise Shakedown Crew's Report, Vanellope von Schweetz recording.
Felix believes that we should be ready to begin William's mission the day after tomorrow. This is perfect timing, as there are a couple of...rather personal...things I need to take care of before we can get underway.
The next day, in William's quarters, William was putting a model of the Enterprise on one of his display shelves when the door chime rang. "Enter," William said. The door slid open, revealing Vanellope.
"Settling in all right?" Vanellope said. "Yeah," William said. "What's up?"
"William, I just wanted to apologize to you for kissing you in the turbolift yesterday without asking your permission," Vanellope said. "I was just too keen to thank you for saving me in Slaughter Race. As you probably know, Iktoma was going to delete me from the game because that final mission was so difficult."
William smiled at Vanellope. "I understand where you were coming from, Vanellope," William said. "You did not really need to apologize."
"But in a way, I actually did," Vanellope said as she sat down across from William. "It gave me an opportunity to learn with my new organic emotions that...I love you, William," she said. "I just hope...that you love me too."
William leaned in and kissed Vanellope. When the kiss broke, William smiled at Vanellope. "Does that answer your question?" William asked.
Vanellope smiled a shy smile. "So...are we dating now?" she asked. "If you want to," William said.
"William, now that we are boyfriend and girlfriend, I need to ask a...rather personal...question," Vanellope said. "Fire away," William said.
"Well, then," Vanellope said. "Have you ever exchanged code with a woman before?"
William cocked an eyebrow, so Vanellope explained: "Exchanging code is a slang term among my fellow game character programs for the act of lovemaking."
"I see," William said. "And to answer your question: No, I have not. I was always raised with the belief that one should abstain from such activities until one is married. Like Fix-It Felix, Jr. and Sergeant Calhoun, I believe."
And so, William and Vanellope parted that night aglow in their new relationship. They both quickly went to bed that night, for the next morning would be the start of the mission to save the multi-verse.
::TBC::
Author's Note 2: The origin of "exchanging code" as a euphemism for sexual activity is from a series of Wreck-It Ralph stories by Vyntresser, a user on this site, known collectively as the "Wrecking Limits Saga." Special thanks must also go to Vyntresser for their inspiration.