"I just don't get where he could have gone," Felix said disappointedly, "Jiminy Jaminy. Ever since those tracks stopped we haven't seen hide nor hair of that little ruffian." Ruffian might not be the best word to use here..
"Relax Felix," Calhoun said reassuringly, "The kart tracks disappeared before he got out of the sugar so he's probably not using a kart anymore, right? We'll find him. He can't be far."
"I know. You're right," Felix said disappointedly, "I just want to hurry up so we can go find Ralph. And try to sort out this mess." I shouldn't try to remember right now..
"Kohut, Loya, you seen anything on your end?" Calhoun asked into her radio. We've been looking for quite a while with no results at all.. I thought for sure setting up a perimeter with the soldiers would have this done in no time.
"Negatory, ma'am," Kohut said over the radio, "We're holding the line but no sign of him yet. Just a few curious racers."
"You sure you don't want us to help?" Taffyta could be heard over the radio asking Kohut.
"Affirmative," Kohut could be heard answering her, "We have it under control."
"Sarge, we've lost track of Marco at Point C," William said over the radio pointedly. This is more fun than I thought it'd be! It's sort of in my job description anyway, depending on interpretation. I've never done anything like this though.. We'll catch this hotshot in no time, I just hope Marco's okay.
"Kohut, Loya, you two stay put," Calhoun said into her radio, "Felix and I will rendezvous at Point C." So he's there.
"Apologies for the radio silence, ma'am," Markowski said over the radio, "We've got good news to report." You'll like it.
"Spill it," Calhoun said into her radio. Hurry up and tell us.
"We caught one of them," Markowski said over the radio proudly. Although technically..
"Ahem!" Jubileena said over the radio. Don't even try to take credit, dude.
"Well, technically it was the two racers assisting us," Markowski said over the radio, "We.. I mean they cornered him in that big field of pocky and he's being held in the castle's.. Uh.. Fungeon." A fun dungeon? Seriously?
"I would have preferred to not get civilians involved.." Calhoun said into her radio in mild disappointment, "But that's good to hear. We'll interrogate him later. Right now we could use you at the northeastern end of the beach." Since you haven't been listening in on your radio..
"We're on our way," Markowski said over the radio confidently before putting it away. "Thanks for helping out ladies, it's a huge help."
"We have names you know," Jubileena said, "You never bothered to ask." I've been really patient with you, but if you can't at least do that much..
"I.. Woah.. I'm sorry," Markowski said nervously. I really should have asked. It just slipped my mind..
Jubileena sighed and said, "I'm Jubileena, this is Candlehead." There.
"Well Candlehead is more like a nickname really," Candlehead said sheepishly, "My name is really Minty, but there's another racer with the name Minty Zaki already. It gets confusing fast when the two of us are together." Which is almost never. It wouldn't hurt for people to use my actual name on occasion.
"You gotta forgive Markowski here," Spears said with a laugh, "He doesn't talk to women much" Or at all. Except for Sarge.
"What?! I do too!" Markowski said apprehensively, "Come on, back me up here, Minty. I've been plenty talkative, right?" I hope you don't mind me calling you by your name instead of Candlehead. This Minty Zaki person isn't around..
"Not sure how to answer that," Candlehead said with a sheepish smile as she briefly glanced back to look at him. He's pretty funny..
"It's just a joke, Markowski," Spears said wryly, "By the way, thanks for what you did earlier. That guy was pissing me off." I don't know how you knew to check our game's code, or how you got in there in the first place, but you did me one hell of a favor. It's great being in control of my own body again. I just wish I could remember everything he did in the code room so we could make sure nothing else goes wrong..
"So do you have any idea where he might be hiding?" Jubileena asked Spears, "Sugar Beach is just a beach. Not really anywhere to hide there. Besides, he would have left foot prints in the sugar so it'd have to be further inland." Although I guess nearby there is that..
"Are there any natural caves near there?" Spears asked, "We work best in confined spaces, and he's been in Hero's Duty for a while." As long as we've been plugged in.
"Well there is one, but even still, it's not very large," Jubileena said, "And it's more like an unfinished bonus track than a cave. I couldn't imagine anyone hiding there for long." We had the same idea, in a way..
"We should start there," Spears said before pulling out his sensor and showing it to Jubileena, "Could you pinpoint it on this map here?" I know it's not the best, but at least it works..
The visuals were a bit glitchy, but Jubileena could make out what looked like the place she's referring to.
"Well I think it would be around here," Jubileena said while pointing at a spot, "It looks similar anyways." I've never used one of those things before, so I can't be sure.
"Sarge, we're sending you coordinates on where he might be hiding," Spears said over the radio, "There should be a cave." Good luck.
"Let's hope he's that stupid," Calhoun said over the radio.Hiding in a cave of all places..
The cave wasn't far from Felix and Calhoun. The entrance was easy enough to spot from the air, since they knew what they were looking for and where to find it. The cave walls were made of a greyish rock candy, with the occasional veins of silver or gold Jordon Almonds. In addition to that, caramel was dripping from the ceiling of the cave, with small caramel stalactites and stalagmites having formed over time. It may have been a cave, but it was indeed quite obviously part of an unfinished bonus track as the ground was kart-friendly.
"You re~ally should use more secure channels, Tamora~," Set said over the radio as Felix and Calhoun walked inside the cave, "But I guess even so, you got me. However, I'm willing to make a deal. A fair one this time. You should be happy."
"And what if we don't want to make a deal, corpse?" Calhoun asked firmly. Really, what are you even supposed to be with that grey skin?
"You can have Marco. He's knocked out in the cave back here with me," Set said, "But in exchange I want my brother and I to walk free." Especially my brother.
"You're more messed up than I thought if you think-" Calhoun said before getting cut off. Keep talking, we'll find you.. If he hasn't killed Marco yet, he likely won't.
"Well now, let me finish," Set said in a slow, soft tone, "That's when the other part of the bargain comes in. You see, I've hidden away something very important in your game, somewhere no one would ever think to look. I'll tell you where it is once we're gone. And before you give me your answer I would just like to add.. We've never outright killed anyone. Or any game for that matter. It's not like we're murderers.. Oh sure, the games went out of order when we left them.. But that was an.. unintended side effect. They simply couldn't 'bounce back' in time before being unplugged. It's also the reason your game was eventually installed, I'll have you know. We'll even apologize if you'd like." What you don't know will hurt you, you know?
"Tammy.." Felix said worriedly. I'm not the least bit convinced, and I know you're not either. But I'm worried you'll go along with it thinking you can catch him again later..
"Hmph.. Alright how about this, scumbag," Calhoun said firmly, "You take off Spears' armor and walk on out of there, and then we'll talk."
"And then you'll shoot me in the back as I run away, is that it?" Set asked, "I'll tell you what- Ah, you found me.." He laughed. You really are too good to be true.
Calhoun slowly walked towards Set. Set was at a dead end, sitting casually in Spears' armor with a pistol from Hero's Duty in his hand.
"Go on, you'll tell me what?" Calhoun asked threateningly, holding her pistol as well. Do you really expect to get out of this?
Set let out a sigh, smiled and said, "You know, you really are one dynamite gal." If I can't have it my way, I might as well go out in style. Kill me, Tamora.
Calhoun just stood there looking at him incredulously. You're not getting off that easy. "Thanks, maggot. Now are you ready to give up?" she asked firmly.
Set laughed. "You got me.." he said with a sigh, "It was a fun game. I'd have liked a replay." He laughed again. I guess this is it then.
"We done here?" William asked disappointedly after zipping in from the entrance. Sorry there, Sarge. It took me a while to find this place..
"Yes, I'm done," Set said with a somber smile, "I've hidden it in the memory file, Tamora. Markowski will likely understand. And don't take it too hard on my brother, he's always been pulled along by the ear, so to speak." I feel as though there's something important I'm forgetting, but there's no time.. I love you, Tamora. Goodbye.. This isn't the game over I was looking for, but it will do. Before any of them could react, Set swallowed hard, raised the pistol he was holding to his head and pulled the trigger. His body blinked for a moment, then faded away.
Author's Note: Yes, Set is really and truly 100% dead. This isn't the final 'conflict' of the story, however.