Chapter Twenty-Five
The Wrecker, the Prodigy, and the Mercenary
In plain terms, Ralph was both angry and worried.
He'd heard the entirety of Portia's speech and had gritted his teeth in frustration at the conversation between Litwak's employees. And then he'd smacked himself for not thinking first about the other games.
Mad at my own problems, when all this other stuff's going on…everyone else is in the same pickle. Except for the guys in Sugar Rush…
He froze. Oh no.
At that moment, Bruce -the soldier who had headed the takeover of his game- approached. "Okay," Ralph heard him say as the energy shield surrounding him was deactivated. "We're letting you out now. You know the terms and conditions. Have at the world."
Ignoring the soldier, Ralph stood up and walked over to Felix. "No hammer?"
"They took it," said Felix.
"Who's Ainsworth?"
"I couldn't tell you, but he sounds like the sort who'd give anyone the creeps."
"I haven't seen him yet," said Ralph, "But I will."
"You be careful now," said Felix. "Don't go doing anything hasty."
Ralph didn't reply. He instead turned away and headed straight for the game's exit.
How'd these guys get past Surge? Ralph wondered as he headed through the wire.
He soon had his answer, at least in part. When he exited the wire, the Surge Protector failed to materialize.
"Hey, that's not right," he said to himself. "He should be here to make sure things are safe…"
His voice trailed off as he realized what he was saying.
Maybe I have been unfair to the guy. The checks might be annoying, but he's just doing his job. I wonder where he is…
"He's still in there," said a voice to Ralph's left. "He just can't appear right now."
Ralph recognized the voice as that of Portia. He turned towards the leader of SANG. His eyes widened. "You're a kid?"
Portia pulled a pair of dice from her suit pocket. She allowed them to hover above the palm of her hand. "Not just any kid."
"Of course not," Ralph replied. "You brought these freaks here from…wherever you said it was."
"The internet," said Portia. The dice dropped back into her hand, and she placed them back into her pocket.
"I've only heard of it once or twice," said Ralph. "Never seen it. Though if you come from there, it can't be all that great."
"Speak no ill of what you know nothing about!" Portia snapped. Her expression hardened, and then relaxed again.
"I'll have to forgive your remark," she said. "I forget you're not intelligent enough to appreciate the world I live in."
"Not intelligent enough…?" Ralph raised a massive fist.
"Think before you act!" Portia cried. "One wrong move and I'll kill you."
"You? Kill me?"
Portia raised both her arms. Slowly, steadily, Ralph felt himself rise into the air.
"Wha…?"
"You're heavier than most," said Portia. "But if we were high up, outside your own game, my dropping you might still kill you." She lowered her arms, setting Ralph back on his feet.
"So, you can drop your fist now."
Ralph did so.
"That's better," said Portia. "Now, unless you've got something to ask me, I'd suggest you go about your business."
"I've got a question," said Ralph. "Where's this Ainsworth guy?"
"Why do you want to see him?"
"Why do you need to know?"
"I'm in charge, I've a right to know," said Portia. "I'd suggest you learn your place, Ralph, before I have to force it through your thick skull."
"Hey, how do you even know who I am?"
"I googled your game," Portia replied. "Now answer my question. Why do you want to see Mr. Ainsworth?"
"I reckon I could ask him that question myself."
Ralph turned to see a brown and grey-garbed western character standing on the opposite side of the wire entrance from Portia.
"You need something, partner?"
"Yep," said Ralph. "I'm going into Sugar Rush. Figured you should know."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that," Mr. Ainsworth replied. "Nobody goes in or out without my permission unless they're a member of SANG. I can take a letter if you like, though I should warn you that the war department is censoring the mail."
"What are you doing in there?" Ralph demanded.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
Ralph raised both fists this time. Again, he felt himself lifted into the air by an invisible force.
"This is your last warning, Ralph," said Portia. "Don't try any more sudden moves." She lowered him to the ground again.
"Speaking of suddenness," said Mr. Ainsworth, "nobody told me characters in an E-rated kids' game could bleed."
Ralph glared at him.
"Oh, don't worry," said Mr. Ainsworth. "Nobody's dead yet. We're all getting along just fine. Except for that stupid princess."
"Vanellope?" Ralph's tone must have betrayed some of his anxiety, for upon hearing him speak, Mr. Ainsworth gave him a curious look.
"Ah, you know her?" Mr. Ainsworth replied. "I'll tell her you said howdy then. Though between you and me, I don't know how she'll react. I think she's going crazy. Been talking to herself, thinking there's some confectionary monarch in the room." Seeing that Ralph was glaring again, Mr. Ainsworth smirked.
"You go have fun wrecking your building," he said.
"One of these days," said Ralph, "I'm going to wreck you."
At this, Mr. Ainsworth just laughed.
"You're dismissed, Ralph," said Portia, waving the wrecker onward. Fuming, Ralph continued towards the middle of Game Central Station, Mr. Ainsworth's mocking laughter still ringing in his ears. His mind was so occupied he didn't realize Sergeant Calhoun was in front of him until he bumped into her.
"Watch where you step," said Calhoun, "or I'll- oh, it's you, Ralph."
"Hey, sergeant," said Ralph. "What'd they do in Hero's Duty?"
"We had a rough fight," Calhoun replied. "We're all still alive though. Where's Felix?"
"In the game still," said Ralph. "Hammerless, but unharmed."
"They took the hammer, eh? These boys know their stuff too well."
"We've got to drive them out," said Ralph. "We've got just one month."
Calhoun put a finger to her lips. She gestured beyond the crowd of arcade characters toward several members of SANG, who stood against the walls of Game Central Station.
"They're watching- like a vigilant rooster, they're watching." She lowered her hand. "I'll get back with you later. But not here."
Ralph nodded in understanding. "I think I'll go check in with the Bad-Anon crew," he said.
"And I'll pay a visit to your game," Calhoun replied. "Dismissed, soldier."
Out of habit, Ralph saluted.
Always the way with her he thought to himself as he walked on. Even in the midst of a crisis, she still treats me like I'm one of her marines.
Even in the midst of a crisis…I hope she's got a plan to get out of this one.