Theo and Laura met up the next day in the lounge as Laura brought in some breakfast sandwiches of eggs and bacon on English muffins for them to snack on. Theo poured her a cup of coffee while she gave him a cup of orange juice.

"Thanks Laura.", Theo said as he gave her the coffee.

Laura blushed.

"I'm just happy that you got the breakfast sandwiches on our way back."

Theo shrugged. At that moment, the huge metal door opened and Peter stepped into the room looking both concerned and irritated.

"Well assistant intern, I hope you got some good news on who our new staff is going to be."

Theo sighed and pulled out three files of the bunch he had looked over and Peter swiped them out of his fingers before looking over each one.

"Well, these…will have to do."

Peter turned and walked out the door without looking back. Theo frowned.

"You're welcome.", he muttered.

Laura put a hand on Theo's shoulder and ushered him to the table where they finished their breakfast.

"So why are you working here?", she asked changing the subject.

Theo forgot about Peter for a moment and turned to Laura.

"Detailed or short version?", he asked.

Laura shrugged.

"I got time."

Theo made himself comfortable and started telling Laura about everything that had been going on with him since he came to the realm. The time he sailed out to find a mermaid, his encounter with Ted, helping Quinten become a superhero, and Visitor's encounter of saving them from the dog like creatures that had been hounding him. By the time he was finished, Laura was in more than awe.

"Wow Theo, you sure travel around."

Theo rolled his eyes comically.

"Just passing through while preparing for a catastrophe while avoiding something that wants me dead by sending a werewolf and demon spawn after me."

Laura shivered when an idea came to mind.

"Hey, would you mind helping me make something when the new staff arrives?"

Theo smiled.

"I'd love to."

/

Ted huddled in the alley as he dressed himself.

"Another night, another shift.", he growled as he finished putting on his vest, "Now back to finding Theo."

He put his head close to the ground and sniffed a few times hoping to pick up a scent. Fortunately, he did.

"Still around these parts, are we?", he grinned, "Now just need to find you and I will be sure that your stay will be short."

He just walked out to see some people starting their day and tried making himself look as presentable as he could.

"And now, to blend in and get some chow."

He walked into the sunlight and got on some old sneakers he found near a trash can. They looked old and worn, but they would have to do for now. Not many people gave him much attention, but the ones that did clearly weren't too thrilled.

"Geez, ever think of proper attire?"

"Dude, if you're looking for cosplay, try the other side of town."

Ted tried ignoring them, but the wolf side of his psyche was more than dying to get out and tear off their mouths. He was soon not far from a hot dog cart when he noticed a couple dollars in a storm drain and quickly claimed it before anyone else around did. As he approached the cart, the vendor looked a bit concerned.

"Rough night buddy?"

Ted reigned in his primal fury and slapped on a smile.

"A little. I'll take one of your dogs."

The vendor shrugged and pulled one out and handed it over as Ted gave the money he found. Ted scarfed down his snack and felt a bit better, but still hungry.

"Hey, you know where I can get some good food around here?", he asked the vendor.

The vendor pointed to a poster on a community message board not far off and Ted investigated. One flyer got his attention though. It was an announcement for a hot dog eating contest later that day and the winner would receive a couple hundred dollars. Ted wasn't much for the cash, but the hot dog eating sounded promising.

/

The metal door leading to the opening area opened and Theo looked a bit tense.

"Looks like we're meeting the team."

Laura said nothing as a trio of men came into the room. First was one with glasses, dark hair and wearing a yellow shirt, slacks, and sneakers. The second one was a little taller than the first and clearly was African-American wearing a blue vest over a white shirt, pants, and sneakers as well. He had no hair, but the goatee on his face helped make him look nice. The third however was much taller than the first two and looked like a professional wrestler. His dirty blonde hair flowed down to his broad shoulders and his facial hair was light, but scruffy. He wore a dark shirt with light teal highlights designed into it, faded jeans, and sneakers with sunglasses on his eyes.

"What a dump.", the third man said gruffly, "I love dumps."

Theo noticed that each of the men had some kind of equipment that seemed like it was for the game. Peter came in and looked eager.

"Well gentlemen, here we are."

The second looked at Theo and Laura and raised an eyebrow.

"And who are you two supposed to be?"

Laura tensed, but Theo came to her defense.

"We're just the interns.", he said before turning to Peter, "So who are these guys?"

"I'm Hardcore.", the third guy said firmly taking off his sunglasses to show his blue eyes.

"I'm Sol.", the second guy answered.

"And I'm Bug.", the first guy said shyly.

Before anything else went on, Faye came in from another end of the room looking both firm and calculating.

"Okay, allow me to lay down some ground rules."

The team clearly didn't like that, but Faye silenced them by speaking again.

"First thing: we're behind and need to have the game ready in less than a week."

"A week?!", Sol asked almost dropping his equipment.

"We're not set for handling things in a week.", Bug put in.

Faye clearly wasn't looking to sincere.

"Two: trust is everything. Spies are everywhere. Everything you do will be monitored by our security system and if any of you try anything funny, total lockdown!"

She paused to take a breath.

"And third: whatever aspect of the game is most liked will receive a million-dollar bonus. Share it, hoard it, I don't care! Just make the game scary!"

/

The following days, Laura and Theo took some time to get to know each guy as they ran errands. Hardcore's name was legally changed cause he just felt like it, had a criminal record, and he had a very bad habit of demonstrating his weaponry with nobody's concern. Bug was an okay guy, but Theo had discovered he had some medical records and though Laura was being friendly, Bug would often hide after talking for a while to her which hinted he was not socially inclined. Sol was someone who seemed to be mentally focused and spoke like he knew more than he was willing to put out.

"Seems like that bonus Faye promised is what's driving them.", Theo commented when Laura and him had a moment in the kitchen the place came with.

Laura nodded.

"At least you don't seem like you want anything."

Theo then looked side to side as Laura went off and recalled a clue he had discovered on a computer screen not long after the new team had settled in.

"Greed and Terror can breed evil and spite. Unite the rivals and the dice will be right."

Clearly the rhyme was ment about the guys for the way they were trying to one up one another, but something about the greed and terror part put Theo's mind on edge. Fortunately though, the interaction of Peter was enough to keep the trio in check. Soon, the game seemed to be on track and the game seemed to be getting scarier, but the idea of the million-dollar bonus was what was driving each of them to outdo the other. Finally, the day had come to an end and Peter had called everyone together as he did at the end of every day.

"Okay, we're two days away from release, but thanks to our new intern, we're almost done."

Hardcore sneered as he looked towards Theo.

"Suck-up.", he muttered.

"Hey, he's nice okay?!", Bug piped up.

Before yet another fight can get underway, Peter broke them up.

"Guys, no fighting."

Laura tensed, but then Theo spoke up.

"If I may say something, I really think that-"

That was when a flash of lightning came from outside and the lights flickered for a moment.

"Okay, what happened?", Peter asked.

Hardcore frowned as he checked the wiring and Sol checked the data.

"System needs to reboot.", Sol reported.

Peter then looked thoughtful.

"Then I have an idea to settle who gets to stay."

/

Ted had gotten some distance these past days, but he was feeling the heat.

"First needing to find a place to hide and now I have those dogs and bats after me.", he grumbled.

He managed to get to his new temporary home and barricade the door as he had done for days. He also made sure there was no mirrors or bodies of water around as well.

"I just hope that…whatever it is can't get to me."

The image of the spider monster still lingered in his head and even his animal side had been humbled by it. He also made sure he had some reinforced steel chains and handcuffs to properly restrain himself again. He was about to reapply the handcuffs when a voice came into the area.

"Hi there."

Ted paused as his wolf hearing kicked in.

"Who's there?", he asked coldly.

"I'm outside."

Ted cautiously walked up to the door and looked outside. Nothing seemed out of place, but something touched his leg. He looked down to see a plant vine retract into a nearby brush. Ted walked towards it to find a large plant with several long vines, three huge leaves, and a large pod on a tree like stalk. The pod was light yellow with light red lips and somehow knew Ted was around cause it turned in the huge flowerpot it was restrained in and looked his way.

"So nice to see you made it.", the plant chuckled revealing that it had rows of teeth along the edge of the inside with a huge eye in the back where Ted guessed the throat would be, "So what brings you here?"

Ted frowned.

"I'm hiding.", he grumbled not even wondering why he was talking to a plant, "I'm being hunted by demonic dogs and bats that want me dead and I'm trying to find some traveler who is out to find some magic dice."

The plant smiled.

"Looks like I'll get some supper after all."

Ted stepped back, but the plant pulled him closer.

"So boy, how about we team up? You lead me to this traveler, and I'll keep those dogs and bats off your back."

Ted suddenly smiled back.

"Call me Ted.", he said holding a hand out.

The plant used a vine to shake his hand while not taking its pod eye off his direction.

"I'm known as Audrey II, but I'll also go by Junior if you'd like."

Ted nodded.

"Works for me."

Junior then hoisted its pot off the ground so it could follow Ted back to his place.

"You don't mind if I'm restrained for tonight?", Ted asked, "I'm kind of a beast at night if I'm not."

Junior shook its pod.

"I'm good if you can get me some late lunch."

/

Theo observed as Laura, Hardcore, Bug, and Sol each took a screen and controller in the testing room where the testing party normally visited before he put in the game disc into the mainframe and Peter gave out his proposal.

"Most of the main features are down, but tournament play still works so the first player to lose will be the one to stay."

Soon, the game's introduction began with explaining about a new overlord and each player being humanity's last hope. Theo was clearly sold on the fear factor as the overlord came into view. He was strong looking, wearing scary armor and wielding a fierce sword. The face looked just as fierce with sharp metal looking teeth and glowing eyes. The game was a "first-person shooter" type of game and Theo could tell that the game had potential. But the guys were clearly competitive as they went along.

"Hey, hey, defective controller here!"

"Mine is fine."

Peter intervened again as Sol and Bug got eliminated and clearly not happy about it.

"Guys, no fighting."

"Oh, this isn't a fight.", Sol countered, "This is a killing."

Theo sighed.

"Well gentlemen, I'm betting Laura will outlast all of you."

Hardcore grinned.

"You're on."

Bug and Sol seemed to forget about their feud as they started to support Laura too. Soon, Hardcore and Laura had made it to the final stage, but Bug said one comment that made Hardcore slip up and get eliminated. Everyone crowded around Laura as she made it to the final boss which was the overlord. With everyone occupied, Theo was about to roll a dice when Laura had used a sword attack and disarmed the monster before she did another attack and killed it. The screen paused and the words "Level 1 Complete" came on the screen in bloody letters. The screen then went blank as Laura relaxed while the others looked impressed.

"Now that's scary.", she admitted.

"I agree.", Theo stated.

Peter quickly recovered though.

"Well, since Sol lost, he'll stay behind to reset the system."

Sol rolled his eyes and groaned as people filed out, but Theo gave him a smile.

"Best of luck."

Sol looked interested.

"You didn't help the intern did you?", he asked.

"No, just had a feeling.", Theo answered before he left, "Sometimes nice people do finish first."

Soon, Theo and Laura were back at the hotel room and ready to hit the hay. Theo then got an uneasy feeling before looking outside. Something was up, and it wasn't good.