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.
"Quite a smooth ride, eh Felix?" Ralph said wryly, "Think they'd mind if I 'borrowed' it?" It's going to bother me forever, how we have a rickety mine cart railway while these guys get this huge subway train.
"I don't think it works like that, Ralph," Felix said jokingly. I know how you must feel. Ours was clearly not made with you in mind.
"And even if it did, I'd have to give you a citation," William said jokingly. You may think I'm just joking, but I'm serious.
Gunfire and Markowski's screaming could be heard ahead, which made them stop in their tracks.
"Why do they always go after meEEAAHHHH?!" Markowski screamed, before being eaten in one gulp. Make it stop.. His entire sense of being quickly eroded and twisted into one of what he fears most: bugs.
It's horrifying, getting eaten every game, early on, even. More so it's traumatizing, remembering every time it happened. Worst of all, none of this was even his fault. Running aimlessly and screaming was deeply ingrained into his code when in the presence of bugs. This is the reason that Calhoun didn't suspect a thing when Ralph was masquerading as Markowski on that fateful day. At most it was surprising that he managed to survive longer than the 'first person shooter', though it was Ralph's fault the first person shooter died in the end.
The battle went on for a short while until just before Ralph's gang finally decided to enter the room.
Since the game was programmed to reset after the first person shooter died, it allowed itself to be destroyed whenever it deemed that there was no chance to reach the top, which was rather early considering Calhoun was not there to give orders.
The beacon activated and all of the Cy-bugs, Markowski included, flew into the light of the beacon and disintegrated. There was finally a chance for the soldiers to respawn and rest for the rest of the day, since they didn't have to replay the title screen anymore.
"Take it easy Markowski," one soldier said while chuckling to himself. His last name, as could be seen on his armor, was Loya. He had a blond buzz cut.
Markowski didn't even turn to look at him as he walked away from where he respawned, near the bridge. He couldn't possibly understand. It's in his code to be a cut above most of us. I just have it the worst.. "I'm gonna go get some air!" he said frustratedly while walking towards the exit and taking his helmet off. Ralph.. I should bump into him on the way out.. No, that'd be too obvious. The guy never even said sorry for the crap he pulled five months ago even though he's had plenty of opportunities. He probably doesn't even have any idea what hell Sarge put me through after Tapper helped me out of the closet.
Ralph looked back at Markowski as the latter left, not having witnessed the battle that just took place. What's up with that guy? Of course, he also didn't recall ever even meeting Markowski.
"Felix! Ralph!" Kohut yelled cheerfully, "What brings you here? We thought Sarge was with you."
The soldiers were oblivious to the cross-game conversation that went on earlier with all the Cy-bugs taking their full attention and their game volume is rather loud when compared to some others.
After Felix and Ralph looked at each other, Felix said, "Ah, yeah she's probably on her way here now I'd imagine." I'm not sure why I immediately assumed 'Sarge' is a gal, but it seems right for some reason.
Ralph was standing dangerously close to a Cy-bug egg, staring at it intently. He then looked up at the tower where the beacon was housed. I get the feeling I should leave it be.. This place is giving me a headache anyway, I'm gonna get out of here, at least for a while. "Felix, William, you two go ahead and wait in here if you want," he said casually, "This place is giving me a headache. Too many triangles or something." No point in staying here from the looks of things anyway.
Ralph left the game and sat down near the entrance of Hero's Duty. No alarms or intrusive questions this time, just the way I like it.
Alex simply nodded and scribbled into his clipboard before zipping away. Let's not bother with it. It's not necessary in the first place. Sometimes I think that our training is just a bit too draconian.
"Tomorrow's races can't come soon enough," a cheerful man's voice rang out, laced with excited laughter, "Oh, what's the matter son? You seem down. Here, have some candy."