"That's only the first news. There's more. Secondly, I want to welcome back Minty Sakura, who has returned from her long vacation at Extreme EZ Livin' 2. There she is in the back row.".
Everyone turned around & welcomed her back.
"And with Minty & Banannaby joining, plus Sour Bill, since he just got a kart, there will be eighteen racers to compete in the Random Roster Race tonight. Only nine will make lt. The other nine will be watching on the sidelines. Next, I know lt's Felix's programday today. Happy programday, Felix!".
"Happy programday, brother!".
"Have a ship-shape programday, soldier!".
"Happy Felixday!".
"Programday", Vanellope whisperred.
"Oh, happy programday!".
"Thanks, everyone.", he blushed from all of the attention.
"And I saved the bad news for last.", she said, looking a little grim.
Tamora quickly reequipped her gun as Ralph stood up ready to pummel something, followed by Felix.
"Where's the trouble, President?", Tamora asked professionally.
"Is lt bad?", Felix asked unsteadily.
"Are you alright?", asked Ralph protectively.
Vanellope widened her eyes & gave an, 'are you done?', look before continuing.
"Hold your horses. It's not that bad. It may even be nothing. When I passed through the Game Wall earlier, a baby cybug tried to attack me.
Ofcourse, lt couldn't get through. I destroyed lt. The thing is: could there be more? How did that one survive the volcano?".
"Now, will you tell me what a cybug is?".
"I'll tell you.", said Tamora seriously.
If anyone is to explain them, lt should be her.
"A cybug is a science experiment gone horribly wrong. They're mutant freaks who eat everything. And worst of all, they literally become what they eat.".
"Like the old saying.", Vanellope added.
"They lay a lot of eggs & can spread quickly & virulently lf left to their devices. Read my lips: there is NO good in them. You see one, kill lt or run away. If there's an army of them, only a beacon can stop them.".
"So what should we do, Sarge?", asked Felix.
Despite now being married, Tamora detested any kind of cutesy nicknames. She was either Tamora or Seargeant Calhoun to him.
"Ralph & I will perform a perimeter check to see lf we can locate their bunker.".
She stopped.
"If that's alright with you, President.", she said respectfully.
Tamora was usually crude, blunt & highly sarcastic to people, but she had respect for authority. Vanellope wasn't used to being talked to this way. And she would never expect Calhoun to be the one. Afterall, lt was only a week ago that she was lonely & hated. Now, she's in charge of her game & lt's an indescribable feeling.
"Uh, sure.".
"Right. Felix, you go with the President to the cybug corpse, where you will fix lt up & let lt lead you to lts hideout.".
"What about me?", Banannaby asked, feeling left out.
Calhoun looked to the President for approval, to which she nodded.
"You go to Hero's Duty & request backup to prevent any cybugs from exitting the battlefield.".
"She doesn't know how to find lt. I'll go. She can take Felix to the cybug. And don't forget: she's the Princess (in reference to Tamora looking to her for approval. They were equals now, so she could make her own decisions.).".
Tamora nodded in understanding.
"Alright, we have our orders. Now let's move out, ladies!".
"Uh, meeting adjourned.", Vanellope said awkwardly.
Everyone orderly left through the exit, with Vanellope turning right, Felix & Banannaby turning left & Ralph & Tamora heading straight.
Vanellope was going to the garage to get her kart & depart for Hero's Duty when Minty came over.
"Where are you going?", Minty inquired.
"I'm on presidential buisness.".
"Can I come?".
Later on, in West Schweetz, Felix was trying to get to know Banannaby better.
"So, what's lt like in the Unzone?".
"What's that?".
"Where you live, where Vanellope found you.".
"Where's that?".
"You mean you don't remember?".
She seemed to truly understand the question.
"I wish I could. Everything is so hazy. I want to be able to remember all of the things that happened.".
"Maybe we can find your memories, that is lf you even have a codebox.".
"I would like that.", she smiled at him.
"Is there anything you DO remember?".
"There's nothing. I feel so... empty, like I have no purpose.".
"Hey, don't say that. Sure, ya do. Your Vanellope's sister & one of us.".
"Thanks", she was cheered up.
"Wait", he paused. "When you say you don't remember anything, does that include the cybug?".
Over by Gumball Gorge, but off track, Seargeant Calhoun scanned the area with her cybug tracker, turning up no results. She had given Ralph a miniature plasma rifle in case they spotted any cybugs. He had lt dangling at his side.
"You're carrying lt the wrong way, rookie.", she said in a rare friendly voice.
She shifted his arms & the gun, so that he had lt on his chest, pointing diagonally.
"This way you minimize the risk of friendly fire. And always put the safety switch on when not in combat.".
She pointed to the switch, which was already on. Ralph paid close attention.
"If & when you see a cybug, switch lt off, aim & fire. Keep the rifle connected with your chest; or else the recoil will injure your arm.".
She demonstrated with her own rifle, which was at least double in size.
"And remember: you're not in your own game. So don't try to be a hero; or a villain. You see too' many to handle & you retreat. Got that,
rookie?".
"Yes, Sarge.", he saluted, now properly handling his gun.
At Rainbow Hill, Vanellope & Minty arrove at their destination, abandoning their karts to take the Sugar Express to Game Central Station.
"So, what's the story here?", inquired Minty.
"We might have another cybug invasion, but we're not sure.".
"Where are we going?".
"Hero's Duty".
She smiled at the thought, but didn't laugh. She was President now & this was no time for jokes. She could visualize the severity of the last cybug invasion.
"We're going to get backup & make sure no cybugs leave the game. Otherwise, they'll destroy the whole Arcade!".
"How are we going to stop them?".
"We're going to grab some guns.".
A few moments later, Vanellope spoke again.
"This is only my second time.".
"You've only been there once?".
"I've only left the GAME once.".
Unpleasant memories of being trapped & bullied rushed back. Minty was the only racer who didn't pick on her. She wasn't even present last week.
They hadn't had more than a few conversations in the past, but Minty always treated her like any other racer. She never had a problem with Vanellope's glitching. As far as Vanellope knew, Minty was completely unaware of her being bullied.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to bring up the past.", Minty said, noticing Vanellope's despondence.
"It's fine. You were the only one here who was nice to me.".
"Someone had to be.", she said.
Noticing Vanellope's surprise that she knew, she changed the subject.
"If you're still a glitch, how can you leave the game?".
"Because I'm a character now. I kept my glitching, but my codebox is now attached, so the game recognizes me.".
Since becoming President, Vanellope had begun speaking more profoundly. She would still goof off here & there, but there's a time for that.
"Why'd you decide to keep lt?".
"It's part of who I am. And a reminder for all citizens to not judge someone for being different.", she paused. "Or for their job.", thinking of Ralph. "Looks like we're here.", she said as the train slowed to a stop, brushing off the conversation to be professional again.
They were now jogging to Game Central Station. They passed through the scanner & Surge appearred.
"Good evening, President Vanellope.", he said, not stopping her out of respect.
"She's with me.", she said rushed, knowing he would normally stop Minty.
They rounded the corner into Hero's Duty as Surge Protector dematerialized. They had another train to take, a high tech one in comparison to their candy-filled train. Arriving on the scene, they consulted Markowski & Kohut, who were standing around while chatting amongst themselves.
"Guys, I need to talk with the General & the Cournal.".
Vanellope was introduced to Markowski & Kohut during Felix & Calhoun's wedding last week. Calhoun told her during the after party that lf ever there was trouble, she should consult Cournal Lockload & General Hologram.
"What's the trouble?", Kohut turned to face her.
"We found a cybug in Sugar Rush. There might be more.".
"We can handle this.", Markowski said confidently, as he & Kohut cocked their guns.
"No, Calhoun would want yous to stay here & watch over the game.".
"Alright", they both said defeatedly, lowerring their weapons.
Kohut then said, "We'll send a distress call & have them check lt out. What are the coordinates of the bogey?".
"Uh, I don't know anything about coordinates or bogies. We only need them to guard the exit with us.".
"You're going to guard the exit?", he asked, skeptically.
"Yeah. I was hoping you'd give us guns & teach us how to use them. I'm sure Calhoun would.", she said with a, 'pretty please', grin.
Markowski & Kohut both looked at each other.
"Uh, meeting adjourned.", is from Toy Story. Haha. I'm sure everyone noticed that one. Schweetz is the name of the region containing Castle Schweetz, since Vanellope is royalty & was born in Schweetz. Review, favorite & follow. You know you want more. And check out my other Wreck-It Ralph story: BeelZeBub Arcade. It's currently on lts fifth chapter. And I'll be starting yet another Wreck-It Ralph story tomorrow, because there's infinite possibilities. You could say say I'm addicted. Vakura coming soon & plenty of surprises lay ahead. I own Wreck-It Ralph.