Author's Note: This story has finally been rewritten in a new style! In case you're in the middle of the story when you catch eyes with this note, I've done the same for all of the previous chapters as well. I apologize if it's a bit sudden, haha.
A moment earlier, inside Sugar Rush.
"And stay away from those damn eggs, we don't need a repeat of.. nevermind," Calhoun roared in a firm, demanding voice. Nevermind having two amnesiacs running around by themselves, if even just one of those Cy-bugs get loose the whole arcade would be devastated. She had a degree of confidence in her men's ability to handle the situation though. Markowski could be a problem though. The man can't help but soil his pants if a cockroach even so much as sneezes at him. And Ralph is a wildcard..
"Will do!" Felix happily declared while waving goodbye. He could barely be seen through the screen of Fix-It Felix Jr., even when Ralph was holding him up. They disappeared from the screen, going into the building.
"Should we have maybe told him it's been 30 years?" Gene asked. I see no reason not to have told him..
"No, I think that under the circumstances, that would have been unwise," Clyde said calmly, "It's one thing to tell someone they've lost their memory. But 30 years is a long time, we should let it sink in a bit first."
Calhoun was still fixated on the screen of Fix-It Felix Jr., until in the corner of her eye she spotted Vanellope running out of the game. "Hey squirt don't run off on your own!" she yelled, running after her. I can't take my eye off her for a second when Ralph isn't around.
"From Sugar Rush, adoi! The name is right there on the entrance!" Vanellope insisted, trying to glitch through some sort of forcefield at the entrance to Sugar Rush. What the? Urgh.. Let me through, lady.
"Calm down little miss," a female surge protector said, "Just let me know where you're going and then you're free to go." Maybe we shouldn't bother asking where they're going.. It's optional information anyways.
Vanellope sat down cross-legged with her arms crossed. What else can I do? Well, aside from answering the question. I might as well wait for Calhoun to answer those stupid questions since we're going the same way anyhow.
"There some sort of problem here?" Calhoun asked firmly as she slowly walked closer. Looks like you caught our resident troublemaker easily enough. I don't think I've actually seen a surge protector do something like this before.. Is Olsen just lazy?
Slightly rattled, the surge protector took a step back and gestured for her to stop, and in an attempt to defuse the situation said, "I'm sorry miss.. Ah, Calhoun," noticing the name tag on the shoulder of Calhoun's armor, "There's absolutely nothing wrong, it's just protocol." That is some nice armor.. Why did this have to happen on my first day of the job? Maybe I'm not cut out for this type of work after all. I don't know what I was thinking, accepting this job after taking that placement test. I could have had it easy turning a light bulb on when a refrigerator door gets opened or playing DVD's. But no, I had to be a surge protector.
"Protocol," Calhoun replied with a firm smile, "Alright, go on." I guess since it's your job, I'll play along. She crossed her arms and shifted her stance.
Hearing those four words, the surge protector untensed somewhat. I can't let myself keep getting distracted like this. I'm a grown up now. "Alright, umm.. Well I'm Ashley Belkin, the new surge protector here," she said as she shook Calhoun's hand. Calhoun's grip was a little tight, but nothing unbearable. "If I may have your full name and where you're headed?" I should probably stop asking where people are headed though, really.. I'm not sure what they do with this information anyways.
"I'm Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun.. Fix-It, of Hero's Duty," she said plainly. Well, Felix doesn't even know himself if that's his family name or not..
"Okay, umm.. Hero's Duty.." Ashley said confusedly while writing it down. There isn't a Hero's Duty on this power strip though.. Or did I miss one?
Vanellope burst out laughing, to Ashley's surprise and further confusion.
Ashley looked at her in embarrassment. Did I say something stupid?
"It's on the other power strip, across the arcade," Calhoun said dryly as her right hand gently stroked her forehead, "We're trying to get there now. There a way we can get there from here?" There had better be, or this arcade is history..
"Ah yes, I've been in contact with Alex, he's in charge of the other power strip," Ashley said with a nod, "We'll be working on a transportation system for that as soon as everything is taken into account. It shouldn't be more than a few hours at most, please bear with it until then." She scribbling onto her clipboard and released Vanellope, who was still laughing, from the force field she had erected.
"Oh no, not again!" Ashley yelled, zipping to the entrance of E-Z Livin'. A fight broke out. This is the fifth one I'm splitting up since being plugged in. Why do I have to keep an eye on such a rowdy bunch?
"Haaahhh.. Duty," Vanellope said with a smile as she got to her feet and dusted herself off, "Well I ain't gonna just stand around." Ralph needs my help. When he sees this adorable winner in person, I'm sure he'll snap out of it.
"Maybe we don't have to," Calhoun said as they headed towards the outlet, "Come on, it's not that far."
As they got there, there was a sudden alarm which signaled Ashley to return, slightly freaked out. "Alright, if you insist," she said nervously, "but I'm coming with you. One zap from those cables.. it won't be pretty." Those things are lethal, even to game characters. There's a reason there are trains and the like, you know?