Chapter Three
Flight of the Handyman
For Felix, the day had gone beautifully so far.
He'd spent much of the morning already with his wife. Despite their nearly opposite demeanors, no one could deny that he and the Sergeant had proven the perfect match. Before they'd met, most would have seen the very idea of love blossoming between them as absurd. Now, nobody could imagine them separating, even if they sometimes wondered what the two saw in each other.
You have to look past the tough exterior. She cares. She cares deeply. She just doesn't look or sound all sentimental about it.
My land, I love her. Now, when she gets back here in Game Central Station- oh, here she comes now.
"I gave him the burger," said Calhoun when she arrived beside Felix. "He looked a little baffled, but he took it. Where's Vanellope?"
"Back in her game," said Felix.
"Right, if you'll just wait here a little bit longer, I need to go give her Gene's thanks."
"Will do," Felix replied. He watched her go, smiling. His smile faded as a sudden realization hit him.
I still need to get her a Christmas present. He began to pace back and forth, his index finger beneath his chin. What to get her? What to-
The sight of a tiny, six-legged, metallic object skittering across the floor of the station cut off his train of thought.
What is that?
Puzzled, Felix followed the object, which seemed to be merely an inch in diameter, across Game Central Station. It stayed near the edge of the wall, avoiding the other game characters, as it headed towards the far end of the power strip.
The way out of the arcade? Did it come from there? Whatever it is, it's small enough it might slip by Old Surge, careful as he is.
The object twisted around, paused briefly, and then turned again and made a quick dash for the wire entrance. Felix ran forward, ignoring the curious looks of the various characters. He arrived at the wire entrance just before the object did. It skittered aside, heading towards the left. Felix followed it until he had backed it into a corner.
"Now," he said aloud, "what are you?"
The object sprang into the air and landed on his forehead.
"Hey, get off!" Felix cried. He felt a tiny set of pincers sink into his skin, and the rest of the object following thereafter.
What just…
Felix stopped, as a voice rang through his mind.
I must get back to my master.
Somehow, it made no sense- and yet made perfect sense at the same time.
Felix felt his forehead. There was no object, no wound. Just smooth skin.
I must get back to my master.
Felix mused upon that thought.
I suppose it is true. I've been away for far too long. Ever since that scuffle in the wire. Yes, I must get back to my master. He'll be wondering where I am.
Felix turned towards the wire.
Back the way I came…
Sergeant Calhoun had never had any great love for the Sugar Rush environment. For one thing, the game's theme song made her want to claw her eyes out. For another thing, it was so obnoxiously cutesy in its aesthetics that if she hadn't retained some fondness for Ralph's chosen friend, she would probably have never returned at all.
Still, as she watched Vanellope von Schweetz speeding around the test track in her new pink and white kart, Calhoun had to admit that she could understand why the gamers liked Sugar Rush. Driving those karts did look thrilling.
Vanellope braked hard when she saw the sergeant observing her. She hopped out of the kart, removing her racing goggles and tossing them onto the seat.
"Hey Sarge," she said. "How'd it go?"
Calhoun remembered Gene's disgusted expression when he had smelled the burger. Best to choose the more tactful version right now. He said thank you, and he meant that much.
"He sends his thanks," Calhoun said aloud.
"Great!"
Calhoun pointed at the kart. "Out for a test drive?"
"Yeah," said Vanellope. "I'm still getting a little used to this one. You'd think I'd be adjusted by now, but…I guess not."
"Had a few crashes?"
"No," said Vanellope. "I don't know what it is. I just want more practice, I guess."
Oh, I know exactly what it is Calhoun thought. No matter how much you might like this one, you still miss your old kart.
"Oh, wait, where are my manners?" Vanellope reached into her pocket. "Here, take these. They're for you and Felix." She handed Calhoun several wrapped pieces of chocolate.
"Thank you," said Calhoun. She placed the candies in a small container on her belt.
Little kindnesses. She's taken to that a lot since September. A bit overdone, but backed up by a good heart. Ralph chose his friend well- even if she is rather too energetic for her own good.
Just then, Calhoun's wrist communicator beeped. "Yes?" she said as she switched it on.
"Hey Sarge," said the voice on the other end of the connection. "This is Kohut. You'd better get out here."
"Where are you?"
"Game Central Station. Something's happened to Felix. He's gone."
Calhoun started. "Gone? What do you mean, 'gone'? Has he turned invisible?"
"No, he left. He absconded through the power socket- right out of the arcade."
"What? Hold on, I'm coming right now."
Calhoun switched the communicator off and turned in the direction of Sugar Rush's wire entrance. Vanellope hurried after her, a concerned look on her face.
"He left?" she said, arriving beside Calhoun. "Why would he leave?"
"I have no clue," said Calhoun. "But I'm going to find out why. And just as soon as I have the facts, I'm going to fetch him back here, and I'm going to get an explanation."
"I'm going with you," said Vanellope.
"Maybe you are, maybe you aren't," said Calhoun. "First, I need to find out what exactly happened. Then we can talk about who's going after him."
"Through the power socket?" Vanellope said, the full weight of Kohut's words apparently only just hitting her. "But that's where-" She gulped. "But that's where they came from."
"I know that," said Calhoun. "That's part of why I'm worried. If that route can disgorge SANG…what else lies along its course?"