CHAPTER 3: The Spy Who Came to Dinner

-A little while later, Globox, Otto, Spike and a few Topes are seated around a large table-

Globox: I haven't eaten anything since we were back in the Old World. I'm hungry!

Otto: You think you're hungry? I was given nothing as Crant's personal technician. I'm still not sure how I gathered up the strength to walk all the way over here.

Spike: Oh, wah wah wah. I don't need to eat.

Globox: Good for you.

Spike: Although sometimes I wonder what hunger feels like. Is it like a power deficiency?

Otto: I suppose, but aren't power deficiencies directly wired to the unit's command center and not centralized inside the unit itself?

Spike: Yes. If one of us is feeling weak from lack of code, everyone who's connected to that system feels the same effect. Which reminds me, I've been meaning to ask this for a while now. Why am I still operational? Why am I no longer made of code from Cyberspace?

Otto: You must have suffered the same reaction as Rayman when he entered our world for the first time. Your code was transformed into life energy.

Spike: I know that I kept my original properties in the Old World via backup energy, as with the rest of the legionaries, but what happened to that?

Otto: It was surely obliterated by the force of the cataclysm. The entire Cyberspace region is most likely in disorder at this very moment. It's rather inquisitive. You see, the process of...

-Globox, who obviously can't understand a word that's being said, goes up to the Tope who brought the three-

Tope: So, you came here impersonating Globonitz in the hope that you would scare us, yes?

Globox: No, that's not true. I'm not Globonitz. That's just something those Beanish things came up with because I kinda look like him.

Tope: Then why did your large companion introduce you as him?

Globox: Ugh, just ignore him. He thinks he's Mr. Tough Guy. So anyway, how are things going here?

Tope: All right, I suppose. The leader should be coming soon.

Globox: I sure hope he's a nice leader. That Durgen back there was pretty mean.

Tope: Ah yes, Durgen, that scum. He's trying to renew an old rivalry in between the Topes and the Beanish, and if he succeeds in doing so, we could be plunged into another war with the magnitude of the ancient Globonitz rule.

Topes: Silence, please! The leader approaches!

-A rather tall, elderly Tope comes into the room and sits down in a cushy-looking chair. He is wearing a crown with a rather large emerald inside-

Tope: Good day, leader. How is the family?

Riley: They're doing just fine. And please, address me by my proper name, Sir Riley the Fourth. So, who are these three? I've never seen them before.

Tope: Um... I haven't gotten their names yet. Who are you, my squishy blue friend?

Globox: I'm Globox, from another world. I somehow ended up here and... that's basically it.

Riley: I do not mean to get suspicious, but are you not Glob... -the Tope whispers something to him- Ah, right. Sorry. And who are the other two?

Tope: Hang on, I'll ask them.

-The Tope approaches Otto and Spike, who are still engaged in their Cyberspace babble-

Tope: Sorry to bother you two, but Sir Riley wishes to know about you two.

Otto: AHH! Do not sneak up on me like that!

Riley: Please tell me about yourself.

Otto: If I must. I'm Otto, a Teensie doctor from another world.

Riley: The same one as Globox?

Otto: Yes.

Riley: Marvelous. And you, my fat chum?

Spike: Fat? Why I oughta...

Tope: -hits Spike- Restrain yourself!

Spike: Argh! Fine! I'm Elite Cyber Legionary L97O13N, but I'm now known as Spike. I have to warn you, I can be a sadist sometimes.

Riley: You remind me of Sir Leon the First. Quite a war-loving leader who ruled after Globonitz disappeared. He managed to bring our society out of warfare against the Beanish and back to our current state by simply destroying their soldiers. He talked a lot like you, actually.

Spike: Well, that leader had some ambition. Why can't you be more like him?

Riley: I will never adopt a Leonic rule unless absolutely necessary. Now, I guess everyone's hungry. Chefs! Bring out the main course!

Chef: Absolutely. Get ready for this!

-A few Topes dressed in white come out, bringing out various repulsive-looking dishes. They set them on the table-

Globox: Urgh! You expect me to eat this?

Tope: Oh, come now. That's pure 100 Snipple meat. Good for the cholesterol!

Globox: -gag- oh... well, maybe a little taste...

-Globox takes a tiny bit of the meat and shoves it in his mouth-

Globox: Say... that's not too bad. Kind of sweet, actually.

Tope: Yes, it's the lactic acid.

Globox: I don't care if it's puke. I'm so hungry and this food is just waiting for me! -begins to shovel the meat into his mouth like a glutton. Otto is eating his food at a slow pace, while Spike just sits there-

Riley: The Snipples seem to be in good health this year. The meat is succulent!

Chef: Thank you, Sir Riley.

-Everyone (except Spike) eats. However, after a little while, a noise is heard-

Otto: Eh? What was that?

Tope: I haven't the slighest clue. It's probably just a small rodent. Let's continue with our meal, shall we?

-More noises are heard-

Globox: Okay, what's going on?

Riley: I do not know.

???: YOU KNOW NOTHING, RILEY!

Spike: Huh? Oh, look over there!

Globox: It's that cloaked Beanish guy from before!

Riley: What is the meaning of this?!

???: Oh, come on, Tope scum. You know what I want. Your crown!

Riley: Never! SECURITY TO THE DINING HALL!

-Four burly-looking Topes enter the room and approach ???-

???: Don't try to resist me.

-??? tears off his cloak-

Tope: Oh my!

Riley: So, I should have known it was you, Durgen!

Durgen: Such a dark room. Allow me to shed a little light!

-Durgen takes out a flash bomb and ignites it, blinding everybody-

Durgen: Yoink!

-Durgen quickly removes Riley's crown and runs away-

Riley: BEANISH! This crosses the line! Come back here this instant!

-But it is of no use. Durgen has left-

Tope: Offensive maneuvers!

Spike: Hoo boy, here we go. Some action!

Riley: I will alert the soldiers and try to catch Durgen before he reaches the Beanish city. If this means war, so be it!

-Riley runs out of the dining hall-

Globox: I don't understand. Why obsess so much over a crown?

Tope: It's not just a crown, Globox. The emerald in there is one of the three keys that Clydger the wizard sealed Globonitz away. If Durgen gets all three of them, he could lead an army into Clydger's lair and use them to free Globonitz! That would be a disaster for the entire Tope race!

Otto: Quickly! We must catch him!

Spike: Awright! Let's go!

-Spike and Otto run out-

Globox: What can I do? I'm just a weaking...

Tope: You come with me. I might have a job for you...

TO BE CONTINUED...