SargeTJCalhoun64: Great to hear from you again! Thanks for your kind review and Hero's Cuties are going to play a bigger role in the story from now on! Stay tuned!

Snikkey sugara: Yeah! I kinda felt it was too easy…maybe I should drag out the suspense a bit more next time!

Chapter 9: Investigation

Vanellope and a representative group of racers strode into Game Central Station. She had chosen Jerry, Jubileena, Swizzle, and Adorabeezle to come with her. Gloyd, as usual, kicked up a fuss because he felt slighted by the exclusion. She assured him that the Sergeant and Felix would definitely be coming to Sugar Rush and she didn't want to crowd their home. He had grudgingly agreed after she pointed out that Crumbelina was in the hospital and Adorabeezle was coming with her.

Vanellope and her posse boarded the train to Fix-It Felix, Jr. and soon arrived. Vanellope saw Ralph walking home from the station and called out to him. "Hey Admiral Underpants! You've got visitors!"

Ralph turned around, overjoyed. "Well, if it isn't Baroness Boogerbreath! What brings you to East Niceland?"

Vanellope said, "I need to speak with Felix and the Sergeant. Are they at home?"

Ralph scratched his head. "I saw Felix heading out some time ago. Better check with Gene." He turned and yelled towards Niceland. "Hey Gene! You there?"

Gene popped his head out the window of the apartment. "Yeah Ralph? Oh, hey kids!"

Ralph called back, "They're looking for Felix and Sarge! Are they in?"

Gene replied, "Sorry guys! Felix is out. He told me he was headed to check on his missus. Try Hero's Duty!"

Vanellope sighed. "Come on peeps, guess we're headed to Warzone Central. See ya, Ralphie."

Ralph stared at her, puzzled. "Okay, this isn't you, Vanellope. What's bothering you?"

Vanellope just shook her head. "It isn't like you can help. Really, I'm fine, alright?"

Ralph crossed his arms and put on a mean face. "Okay, you're not leaving 'till you tell me what's going on."

Vanellope replied in a huff, "I don't have time for this, alright? Come on guys, we're leaving now."

Jerry interrupted, "Wait Vanellope, why don't we have Ralph come along with us. I can brief him on the situation on the way!"

Vanellope sighed in defeat. "All right then, let's go."

They reboarded the train and Jerry began telling Ralph about the happenings of the past two days. Ralph just listened quietly until Jerry finished. He merely commented, "You're new to Sugar Rush, aren't you?"

Jerry replied, "Well, yeah! President Vanellope was kind enough to let me race in her game, so, yeah, I am very new."

Adorabeezle cut in, "But also very good on the track!" Jerry chuckled self-consciously. Swizzle whispered teasingly, "And also very good with the ladies..."

Jerry said, "Hey!" and punched Swizzle's shoulder. "OW!" Swizzle cried. "Hit a guy when he's speaking the truth..." Jerry immediately jabbed him hard in the ribs. "OOWWW!" Swizzle cried again. "Especially with Vanellope..." Swizzle continued, watching Jerry's hands carefully. Jerry smiled...and stomped on Swizzle's foot! "OOOWWWWWW!" Swizzle yelled. "Just cool it, already, will ya? This isn't the right time!" Jerry said sternly to Swizzle. "Vanellope's stressed enough without having to worry about teasing!"

Adorabeezle grinned and said to Ralph, "See? Swizzle's right on the ball!" Jerry turned to stare at her...and turned away again. Swizzle complained, "That's not fair! You hit me and leave her alone. How does that work?"

Jerry sighed, "She's a girl. I don't go around hitting girls."

Swizzle added, "Or hitting on them...'cept for the President!"

Ralph, who was watching this humorous scene and trying to hold back laughter, suddenly turned serious. Putting on his angry face, he growled, "Everyone's right in one way. Swizzle, teasing has limits. Jerry, Swizzle's right about almost everything. Adorabeezle too. Jerry, I will speak to you personally about this..."

Vanellope cut into the tense situation by saying, "General Stinkbrain, enough with the 'protective father' act! Jerry doesn't know you well enough yet." Jerry sighed in relief. Vanellope continued, "Anyway, we're here. Hero's Duty." She started chuckling at the name (a personal joke). Ralph rolled his eyes.

The six of them disembarked and walked carefully into the game. Ralph, the most familiar with Hero's Duty, led them to the mess hall, where they'd find most soldiers. A huge wave of noise nearly bowled them over as Ralph pushed the door open. The scene that greeted their eyes was one of total havoc! The soldiers were eating, laughing and talking with/yelling at each other. Ralph cleared his throat and said, "Hello, excuse me, we're looking for-" Vanellope interrupted him with a cry. "FELIX!"

Felix was talking with Corporal Kohut, Sergeant Calhoun's second-in-command. He jumped and spun around when Vanellope tapped him on the shoulder. "Vanellope! It's good to see you!" he cried over the din. "Hey Ralph! Hey kids!" he greeted the rest of them. "What can I do for you?"

Vanellope screamed back, "It would be best if we got out of this place first! This place is loud enough to smash jawbreakers!"

Felix and Kohut escorted them to Calhoun's office. "So, how may I help you?" Felix asked.

Vanellope replied, "Bottom line, we need you and your wife to pay Sugar Rush a business visit." She gave Felix and Kohut a quick rundown of the accidents, with Jerry, Swizzle and Adorabeezle adding details.

Felix and Kohut looked at each other. Felix said, "Well kids, the problem is that Tamora is away. You see, Kohut was just telling me that she and a special task force left on a three-day mission. They're making a perimeter check and scan for Cy-Bug eggs outside the lab. She'll be back, uh, Corporal?"

Kohut saluted and responded, "Sir, they will be back tomorrow at 2100 hours, sir!"

Vanellope shook her head. "That's too late. We need someone now! Corporal, could you help us?"

Kohut shook his head. "Sorry kid, that's a negative. Sergeant Calhoun specifically commanded me to deputize for her, here. She'd pump twenty rounds into me and then throw me to the Cy-Bugs if I didn't follow orders! But, I can send Corporal Jameston with you. I'll instruct him to do a quick sweep. Would that be okay for you?"

Vanellope replied, "Well, I guess that'd have to do. Felix, you coming with us now?"

Felix thought for a moment and replied, "Sure! I'm not doing anything else now. Let's go!"

The group, now numbering eight with the addition of Jameston and Felix, headed back to Game Central Station. Suddenly, the whole station went dark! Adorabeezle screamed. So did many of the game characters now stranded in the pitch-black station. Vanellope grabbed her hand and tried to calm her. She realized that there was something glowing beside her. She turned to see that Jerry's racer suit was glowing!

Vanellope said, "Whoa. Nice costume."

Jerry replied, "Well, thanks. Not my style, but- Hey wait! You designed the suit; you knew about this, didn't you!"

Vanellope just giggled. Corporal Jameston snapped on a flashlight. "Okay kids, enough fooling around. We've got real trouble out here."

Swizzle asked, "What happened?"

Corporal Jameston sighed. "It looks like there's been an arcade-wide blackout. We're gonna have to wait 'till Litwak gets the power runnin' again."

Jerry asked, "How long might that be?"

Corporal Jameston shook his head. "Could be anywhere from minutes to hours. In the meanwhile, we're all stuck here. No contact in and out of games."

Jerry sighed. "Guess I'm stuck glowing for a while." Everyone stared at him. "Okay, okay! I won't complain any more."

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