Chapter Thirty-Two
Battle for the Arcade
From her perch atop the electronic display, Portia watched helplessly as more of her agents were split into atoms by the energy released via the Surge Protector's rapid movements within the floor. Her telekinesis was useless against him so long as he didn't materialize fully- and he'd never stayed materialized long enough for her to use it against him.
"Where is that blasted mercenary?" she exclaimed.
The sounds of gunfire, blows, and clashing weapons were drawing nearer. Portia glanced towards the nearest wire opening- the entrance to Hero's Duty. A squadron of ninjas backed out of the opening. Thirteen marines, some on hoverboards, some on foot, emerged after them, their lasers blasting through the ninjas' ranks. Gazing about the power strip, she saw similar sights at nearly every other wire opening; everywhere, small crowds of SANG Agents were being pushed back into Game Central Station, pursued by angry, weapon-toting arcade characters.
The sound of engines made her turn her head towards the wire that led to Sugar Rush. Several karts burst out of the opening, headed straight for her. Turning rapidly, she spotted one of the marines from Hero's Duty nearby, firing his gun from atop a hoverboard. Using her telekinesis, Portia pulled the hoverboard out from under his feet, sending him toppling to the ground. She leapt atop the hoverboard.
"Yes!" she cried. "Now I can move." Steering the board over the heads of the crowd of battling game characters, she raised both hands into the air. Slowly but surely, the electronic display on which she had been standing was torn from the ground and began to rise into the air…
Ralph and Vanellope emerged from Sugar Rush after the other racers. They were just in time to see Portia hurl the display in their direction. Thinking quickly, Ralph raised his fists. The display shattered against them and bits of metal scattered in every direction.
The next thing Ralph knew, he was being lifted into the air. His windpipe felt constricted; he clutched at his throat.
"Let's see where I can drop you from," said Portia. She lifted Ralph higher.
Suddenly, Ralph felt the invisible grip loosen. He dropped to the ground. Turning about, he saw Vanellope on Portia's back, her arms wrapped around the president's body. Portia's kepi had been knocked off, and she was struggling to stay balanced on the hoverboard. As Ralph rose to his feet, Portia shook her adversary off. Vanellope went hurtling over the edge of the crowd.
"No!" Ralph cried. He pushed his way through the combatants, trying to spot where Vanellope had landed. Before he had gone very far, Rancis's kart sped by. Vanellope was perched atop the rear of the vehicle, somewhat bruised, but otherwise unhurt.
"Wait, where are you going?" Ralph called.
"Come on, Ralphie!" Vanellope cried as she pointed in the direction Ralph had just come from. "She went that way!"
"Hey, wait, come back, I'm going with you!" Ralph hurried after the kart, almost tripping over Calhoun and Felix, who had just reached the edge of the Sugar Rush wire.
"My, but he's in a hurry," said Felix.
"So are we," said Calhoun. "Into the battle, soldier. Show no mercy, for they will show you none."
Both characters charged headlong into the fray, yelling like the furies.
Rancis steered his kart along the edge of the wall, avoiding the thick of the battle as best he could. Nevertheless, it took every ounce of his skill not to ram into the wall itself in the process. Ahead, he could see Portia's hoverboard, speeding further along the wall. Despite the need for extra-careful driving, they were gaining on her.
A small green form landed in front of the windshield, obscuring his view. It was Carl. The alien secretary held an axe in one hand. Grinning savagely, he swung it at Rancis's head. Rancis ducked and the blade sliced through the windshield. A shard of glass shot across Rancis's cheek, cutting it open.
"Vanellope," Rancis said through gritted teeth. "Get him off!"
Carl swung the axe again. Rancis ducked once more and the blow went wide. Vanellope grabbed Carl's arm with one hand and clutched at the axe handle with the other. Carl kicked at her, knocking her onto her back. Unfortunately for the alien, she kept hold of the axe. The speed of the kart combined with the light weight of the alien caused Carl to lose his grip on the axe. He went sailing over Vanellope's head into the crowd of combatants. Carl wrapped his arms around a thick, cylindrical object, not realizing until it was too late that he was between Zangief's thighs. He didn't even have time to scream before the burly wrestler brought them crashing together, crushing the secretary.
Rancis and Vanellope didn't see the alien's demise; they were too busy chasing after Portia. The president of SANG was leading them a merry chase towards they knew not where. Nor were they to find out, for the sudden appearance of M. Bison in front of her startled Portia and sent her veering sharply off course. She sped off to the right down the nearest wire entrance. Before Bison could follow her, a ninja leaped at him and he was forced to back away from the wire.
"What game is that?" Rancis asked as he sent the kart hurtling towards the entrance.
"I can't catch it," said Vanellope. "You're going too fast. Wait, its-"
"Too late," said Rancis as he sped into the wire.
Ralph arrived at the wire entrance just as the kart entered. He spared the title above the opening a brief glance.
Lifeguard? Why would Portia go in there?
But there was no time to waste, he realized. If that was where the president of SANG was headed, that was where he would go. He hurried into the wire, ignoring the corpses of SANG agents and the bits of broken weaponry as he followed the kart's tire marks.
I'm not letting those two take her on alone. She's too much even for me to handle. But maybe we'll think of something together.
We've got to.