Jubileena parked her kart in the entrance to Hero's Duty, just past the gateway. It wouldn't be smart to bring it any farther. If not for the big train in the way, then because of the sparks.. At least I get to experience a train ride. No such thing in Sugar Rush..
Jubileena and Candlehead grabbed Spears from the back seats of the kart and just barely managed to pull him out, though they accidentally dropped him once he was out, which made them wince. Luckily for them, they figured, he was a sound sleeper.
"This guy is so heavy," Candlehead whined, trying not to even look at him as she and Jubileena carried him into the train. It's not that he's repulsive or anything, this is just so awkward.. Why do we have to do this? Couldn't he have at least had clothes on?!
Jubileena didn't seem to be having so much trouble, however. I really shouldn't stare..
They placed him on the floor of the train since there wasn't exactly anywhere else to put him. There weren't any seats for some reason. They stood at the other end in case he woke up, not wanting to be caught looking at him.
They got out once the train stopped and carried him out.
"Let's bring him to that room," Jubileena said as she nodded in the direction of the barracks, "Armory sounds too much like armor. It's probably a place to keep armor and stuff." I don't know what barracks are..
"Okay.." Candlehead said with a slightly strained voice. Let's just go.. Almost there. Almost there. Almost there! She nearly lost her grip on his ankles several times.
A sound echoed in the gameplay area of the game. It sounded as though someone was talking, but they couldn't really understand what was being said. Markowski had started the intercom.
"I think that's how it works anyway," they could faintly hear Markowski say in a hushed tone before it got louder, "Uhh.. Hey there."
"Who's there?" Jubileena asked looking around the room, trying to find the source of the voice. I'm not one for disembodied voices.. It's creepy.
"Oh, this might be better, help me out here FPS," the Markowski said. Soon after, the FPS came rolling through with a video feed from Markowski displaying on its screen. "Did Sarge send you?"
Candlehead walked around the room, carefully examining the world of Hero's Duty, taking in as many details as she could, while still halfway paying attention to Markowski on the FPS. I'll let Jujube do the talking.. This place is so different.
"Yeah, if you mean that blonde lady in the armor," Jubileena said dryly. That came out a bit more rude than I wanted it to.. Why do I do that?
Candlehead picked up a Cy-bug egg and started gently caressing it. This is pretty cute. I wonder what it does..
"That's her," Markowski said with a nervous chuckle, "Uhh.. Please be careful with that. Really. Don't drop it, just place it down slowly.." I don't want civilians getting attacked by Cy-bugs. Besides, Sarge would lose all respect for me aside from that. Especially if they were doing her a favor by being here. They're pretty cute, too, now that I can see them more easily.
Candlehead did as she was told. I guess I shouldn't touch this stuff..
"What's the big deal about these eggs?" Jubileena asked callously, "And why are you talking through a screen instead of talking to us in person?" And don't tell us what to do, either.
"Following orders," Markowski said, "Making sure nobody messes with the game while Sarge is away." He straightened up his back.
"Do you really have to worry about something like that?" Candlehead asked while biting one of the strings of her pink hoodie. Is that a common occurrence?
"Affirmative," Markowski said seriously, "There were two body snatchers.. Er.. No, it's nothing." I shouldn't go telling everyone this stuff.
"Care to run that by me again?" Jubileena asked, unimpressed by his answer. You're not good at keeping secrets, are you?
"Alright, fine. Just don't tell Sarge I said anything," Markowski said reluctantly. Them knowing can't hurt. It's not like they're completely uninvolved by this point anyway. "There were these two guys from another game that took control of two of our soldiers. Nothing to worry about though, I fixed 'em. But they could come back." Still haven't found the files that were merged with Loya and Spears after splitting them up.. Are they even still in here, I wonder?
"So one of them is the guy Sarge had us bring here," Jubileena said. Sarge is an odd name.. I guess ours are probably out of the ordinary to them too in that case. "She's chasing one guy down right now." What about the other one though?
"What if they don't come back for a long time?" Candlehead asked softly while walking closer to the FPS, "Will you still just sit in there waiting? Isn't that kind of boring?" I wouldn't be able to stay awake..
"Yeah, pretty boring.. But if I were to leave here, who knows what could happen?" Markowski said, "The whole game could be eaten by Cy-bugs and that'd be the end of the entire arcade as far as I know. As a soldier, I can't simply leave my post. It'd be different if this place wasn't so easy for just anyone with the code to break into."
"If it's such an easy code, then could you maybe change it to something harder?" Candlehead asked softly. I don't know if that's how it works, but it's worth a try, isn't it?
"What's a Cy-bug anyway?" Jubileena asked. You never did explain..
"I hadn't really thought about that.. Could I change the code?" Markowski wondered aloud, "Anyway, Cy-bugs are these big.. bugs that mutate into what they eat, they hatch out of those eggs there." He shuddered slightly even just thinking about it. Still freaked out by bugs, but at least now it'll be manageable.
"Eww, and I touched that? Gross!" Candlehead said as she furiously wiped her hands on the front of her hoodie. Warn me sooner!
Markowski laughed somewhat to himself. I shouldn't laugh. I was worse.
"Wait, isn't that like way more dangerous than what you're sitting all by yourself for?" Jubileena asked.
"Well, kind of, but the eggs won't hatch unless someone breaks them or if it's game time," Markowski said. He had been floating around looking for any file that had the word code or password on it. There was a little camera following him inside the code room which was what was broadcasting video to the FPS.
"What are all those little boxes in there?" Candlehead said, squinting at the screen. There's words on some of them.
The FPS got a little agitated and backed away from her. It never did like people getting in its personal space.
"The game's source code," Markowski answered, "Oh, hey here it is, I can change the code. What to change it to I wonder.."
Candlehead and Jubileena looked at each other and shrugged.
"What's your name anyway?" Candlehead asked curiously. I almost forgot to ask.
"Markowski.. Well, that's what most people call me anyways. You can call me Leon if you want." Since that's my first name.
He scribbled the code 'B A Up Down Left Up Right Down B A Start' on the other side of the paper the old code was written on and changed the code in its file, then stuck the paper in his boot. Luckily he had to input the new code twice, as he messed up the first time.
"I'll be right there ladies, just give me a moment," Markowski said happily.
Jubileena wasn't too happy about the tone he said that in. Oh joy.. I hope he doesn't keep that up. I need to relax, he probably didn't mean anything by it.
The door slowly closed behind Markowski after he left the code room. It took a moment for him to get used to gravity again.
Without wasting time, he flew his cruiser over to the gameplay area. Why is the gameplay area even still open? Is it because I used a cruiser to get to the church instead of a shuttle in the hangar?
"Man, it feels good to be out of that place," Markowski said happily, stopping his cruiser near them. He lost his balance while getting off of it and landed back first onto two Cy-bug eggs, making them hatch. "Run.." Just my luck..
"Good luck!" Candlehead screamed as the two girls ran to the armory. At least he doesn't have to worry about dying since he belongs in this game..
Markowski freaked out, swatting the baby Cy-bugs off of him and yelling, "Gross!" Way too gross. Luckily for him the babies couldn't do much more than cling onto things, so he managed to take them out in a few shots after finishing his mini panic attack. "I hate bugs!" He squirmed as though he could still feel them climbing on him. I'm fine..
Markowski composed himself, walking out of the gameplay area and locked it off using a separate code on a nearby control panel. He then took out his radio to contact Calhoun. "Ma'am, I locked the door, can I go out and play with you guys?" Markowski asked confidently.
"You'd better know what you're doing, Markowski," Calhoun said firmly, "We're in Sugar Rush 2. Is Spears awake yet?"
"Sleeping soundly, ma'am," Markowski said as he walked into the barracks. You know he sleeps like a rock.
"Let me give him a wake up call," Calhoun said with a sigh. He's napped long enough.
Markowski placed the radio next to Spears' ear and said, "He's on the line."
"Cy-bug 6 o'clock!" Calhoun yelled as loud as she could.
Spears practically jumped out of his skin and looked around. Then looked at himself, mortified. I.. What the hell?!
"I hope you had a nice nap, Spears. I need the two of you back in Sugar Rush 2 ASAP," Calhoun said firmly. I know he has to be awake after that.
"Yes ma'am!" Spears yelled. He walked into the armory without another word, grabbing another suit of armor and putting it on. I could die right now.. Please don't look at me like that.. Why are girls here in the first place?
The girls were itching to go, not wanting to spend another minute there. They weren't exactly sure why they even stayed after those eggs hatched.