"Evening, Sarge.. Well, I guess I really shouldn't call you that anymore," Jet said from his cell in the Fungeon. His hands were cuffed and he wasn't in the happiest of moods. He had been reflecting on his many mistakes in life before they arrived to question him.
King Candy was up from his nap. He couldn't sleep in the first place. He had heard from Sour Bill that Vannie went off to the first Sugar Rush with Ralph and Vanellope. Him being the king, he was there as well, with Calhoun and Felix, guarded by Wynnchel and Duncan. The other soldiers were given leave to do whatever they want as the criminals were taken care of.
"You're right," Calhoun said, "But lets leave that for after you tell us what the hell you were thinking." Just how involved in all this are you? 'Pulled along by the ear', Set says. Yeah right..
"What would you like to know?" Jet asked, leaning his back against the wall, just below a heavily barred window.
"You may have guessed, but your brother Set is dead," Calhoun said dryly, "We want to know exactly what he was hiding in Hero's Duty, and why you've been game jumping, knowing full well what the consequences are." There's simply no excuse for 'going Turbo'.
Jet looked her in the eyes and took a deep breath. I always knew Set would die before me. He was reckless and sadistic, and not at all concerned about consequences. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I stuck with him to the end. To keep him safe from himself.. "How did he die?" Jet asked solemnly. I'm despicable.. Why do I feel so relieved that my brother is dead? It's not like I hated him.. He was my brother. My only real family, psychotic or not.. It was just so hard to follow him once we started game jumping.. I followed him my entire life, even before we 'went Turbo'. These candy cuffs are nothing compared to the shackles I had before.
"He killed himself, rather than be taken in," Calhoun said dryly, "A shot to the head." You didn't answer my question.
"That's just like him.." Jet said with a somber chuckle. He tried to hold in his tears, not wanting to show weakness, but he couldn't help it. Tears stained his grey cheeks as he began his story. "This dates back to the day before RoadBlasters was unplugged.. By then, Turbo Time was hardly pulling in any quarters, being outclassed by the new game sitting right across from it. The three of us were all on edge, knowing it was only a matter of time before we were unplugged. It's a harrowing experience, knowing that your home is on the verge of being disposed of, simply because a new game comes along that does your job better.."
"I'm listening," Calhoun said. She felt as though she had to say something. I suppose I can understand that sort of feeling. All games are destined to be unplugged someday. Be it from a broken screen, exploding motherboard, or just not being as good as the latest thing.
"Turbo came back from Tapper's that night with a napkin. Despite only five people playing Turbo Time to the end that day, he was oddly.. happy," Jet said, "In his words, he said he 'shan't' return." I don't know why he used the word shan't.. "He scrawled onto two pieces of paper what he called the Konami Code. What we used to take over games. I never found out who he got the code from. Honestly I wasn't interested in finding out. Set said it would be fine, as long as we fixed the games back when jumping to another game. But one after another, the games got unplugged when we left. A total of four out of seven we'd gone into were unplugged.. It was as if the characters knew we were controlling them and couldn't cope with the experience or something.. Of course we know that for certain by now, I guess.. But it was so much better than the prospect of sitting around Game Central Station all day with nothing to do. And besides, after Turbo went Turbo, nobody would have wanted anything to do with us. Hell, they may have even tried to kill us.." Living in another game any other way just a pipe dream.
"So you kept doing it, knowing you were dooming games to the same fate that Turbo Time met," Calhoun said. You're no better than Turbo was, are you..
"Yes.. It's not something that I'm proud of," Jet said solemnly, "But it was better than the alternative.." I deserve to die for what I've done as well..
"Well.. Why couldn't you have just, you know.. Added yourselves in as new characters instead of taking over other peoples' lives?" King Candy asked confusedly.
"We never figured out how to do it, honestly," Jet said, "Taking someone over is as simple as merging your file onto theirs. The first time we did it, we were afraid that we would instead be the ones controlled, but we had gotten used to it after a few times.. To completely make a new character from scratch, that would be a completely different matter. You have to consider your appearance, the personality you want to display, what memories, if any, to repress to stay in character, and any special attributes they may have.. Then there's also modifying memories of already existing characters so that they don't think you're out of place.. It's far too advanced compared to what we knew how to do." Although we did have decades to learn. I let Set handle all of that though..
"And as for what Set hid in Hero's Duty?" Calhoun asked. You still haven't answered that. I need to know if I'm walking into a trap.
"I have no idea.." Jet said with a sigh, "The past few games, I didn't even go into the code room once. We hardly ever spoke out of character when we were in the middle of a game jump as well. It was something Set suggested after nearly getting caught in Star Wars. If there is anything, he probably didn't even know what it was himself until after Markowski kicked us out of Loya and Spears, as he tends to hide those sorts of memories. He likely wouldn't have left a trap, in case he came back to it later, not remembering what it was." So I don't know what he would have left..
"You're being awfully compliant," Calhoun said, "Why?"
"It's over," Jet said, "It was over the moment I was caught trying to take over this game. I'm actually relieved, believe it or not. So do what you want. I won't fight you." If you're going to kill me, just please make it quick.. He swallowed hard.
"I'm sorry," King Candy said solemnly, "I have an idea that I would like to run by you, Mrs. Fix-It.." Is that her last name or?.. "I know how to make new avatars in this game.. Would you mind if I take him in? I feel bad about leaving him like this.. If he's just going to be locked up forever, he might as well be dead. And I believe he feels remorse for what he's done, so I wouldn't feel right in executing him either.." If we can be sure that he'll never take over another game, then there can surely be no harm in letting him live..
"I don't think that would be wise.." Calhoun said firmly, "The fact that he's done this kind of thing before suggests that he would do it again if given the chance. Even if he is remorseful for what he's done." We can't be so sure it will work out..
"Jaminy.." Felix said to himself before speaking up, "Well, what if we just.. erase the bits about the code and code room from his memory? Wouldn't that be fine?" Won't he be harmless after that? Well, no more dangerous than the average racer..
Jet sat there quietly, listening. His heart skipped a beat at the prospect of possibly becoming a racer again. That's the best I could possibly hope for in life.. It's been decades since I last raced, not counting the chase a while ago.. There's always been this itch in our code that we could never scratch in fear of being discovered.. He sniffled. I just want my old way of life back.. I know it's selfish, but..
Calhoun stared at Jet for a while as he looked up at the ceiling. "Can that really even be done?" she asked reluctantly. If he can't take over games..
"I would appreciate it, if you can do it.." Jet said humbly, "But the Konami Code didn't work. It's the reason I was caught. The developers of this game must have gotten wise to something going on and changed it somehow.." The Konami Code was always a universal code for code rooms. I don't know what made it change now..
"What are you talking about?" King Candy asked confusedly, "I don't know about this 'Konami Code', but I know the code to enter this game's code room. Why wouldn't I? Is it just me?" This caught everyone by surprise. It's the first they heard of someone knowing the code without having it given to them from somewhere else.
"C-could I come with you?" Jet asked nervously, immediately realizing the audacity of the question, "If you'll allow it, I'd like to pick my name and stuff.." I know I should be satisfied with whatever I get. I will be.. But.. He clenched his fists in frustration with himself. I'm so selfish..
"What do you think, Tammy?" Felix asked earnestly. It would be a different matter if this were Set, but Jet seems to genuinely regret what he did despite the fact that he kept doing it. I can't help but feel sorry for him. If the root of the problem is taken care of, then surely it would be okay to let him free..
Calhoun sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "Fine," she said reluctantly. It's not that I don't feel sorry for him. But erasing memories to make someone a 'productive member of society' doesn't sit well with me either, even if the person is willing.
"So what name did you have in mind, son?" King Candy asked softly. I'll give you a good life here, don't you worry..
"I was thinking of something along the lines of Jet Chocolisto," Jet said apprehensively, "I saw a kid eating something called a 'Jet chocolate bar' one day, so it should fit in, right?" The kid no doubt smuggled it in.
"Alright, take him with us," King Candy said to the guards with a laugh, "Just don't let him into the code room. Sorry boy, I hope you understand."
"Of course.." Jet said anxiously. He was getting excited and it showed. He couldn't help but get antsy, having a chance to live for himself and do what he loves most.
King Candy had them all face the other way before he entered the code flawlessly. Why wouldn't the ruler of the game know the code? Or maybe it's because of the fact that the game doesn't use the Konami Code that I know.. "So what do you want to look like, son?" King Candy asked softly, "Grey skin just won't do, I'm afraid." You know that, I'm sure.
"That's fine, I didn't like it in the first place.." Jet said hesitantly, "Could you just recolor another male avatar? Maybe something in blue.." Honestly a recolor wouldn't be ideal, but I can't ask for more than that..
"Consider it done, Jet Chocolisto," King Candy said before entering the code room. It was a simple matter for him, locating the memories associated with how to hijack games. All he had to do was do a keyword search, memories being in text form to save space. After that, as far as the game was concerned, he was now a real racer, with a tragic past. You'll fit in just fine, Jet..
Author's Note: Okay, so that settles the matter with Jet.. In case you're curious where I got Chocolisto from, it's a product by the same company that makes Jet chocolate bars. It seemed like a good last name, being a combination of chocolate and the last name Calisto, so I picked it.