Meanwhile, the Channel 765 news crew was reporting on the recent events involving the Pac-Gang and Pacster himself. Using one of their drone cameras, which miraculously survived the attack, they managed to capture the action from a bird's eye view. The camera feed shrunk to a quarter of its size to show Farounda again as she began talking. "It looks like those ghost monster things have fled as quickly as they came, possibly thanks to this young man!" Then she called to the cameraman, "Go in for a closer look, ASAP!"
Sir Cumference and Stratos were watching the news again from the bunker. The former had the latter send out the aides on a mission to fulfill the former's request. "That's why I want that young boy in this bunker," Cumference began to the president, "and I believe he's the key to our victory!"
Suddenly, the news feed was interrupted by a channel-wide hijack. All across the city, on any kind of screen tuned to Channel 765, there displayed a crudely-made card reading 'special bulletin'. "We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin from the Netherworld!" spoke a raspy voice that Sir Cumference immediately recognized.
The card quickly lowered revealing Sir Cular himself. He screeched at the camera and laughed. "Scared you, didn't I?" The inventor and the president reeled back in shock. "Sir Cular." Sir Cumference angrily stated in response at the sight of his estranged brother.
"My ghostly forces and I have seen your little yellow 'hero' in action! But that's just a minor setback. There used to be hundreds of yellow ones back during the war." Sir Cumference's anger heightened as his brother mocked the loss of the other yellow Pac-People. "But now, there's only one! One against my entire ghost armada - and the odds certainly aren't in his favor!" He snapped, signaling Ecto to appear carrying a platter of live bats on fire. The ghost lord threw a bat into his mouth and swallowed it in a single gulp. "Ah, spicy! Just the way I like it!" He rubbed his stomach and continued. "Now that I have your undivided attention, here are my demands - surrender unconditionally, or we destroy Pac-World, starting with Paclandia!"
Sir Cular stepped closer to the camera. "Sir Cumference, my dear brother," he proceeded, "and President Stratos Spheros, your ruler, you have only one hour to make your choice." Sir Cumference stepped forward, growling, before Stratos motioned for him to stay back. "Frankly, I don't care what you choose! For me, it's a win-win! Ciao, chumps!" Sir Cular ended the broadcast with his trademark evil laughter.
The feed cut to black for a second before the regular news feed resumed. "We're back?" the reporter realized. "We're live? Alright, let's continue with what we were doing. "To recap the past events for anyone just tuning in, the ghost attack was repelled by the actions of this young man - on the ceiling of the Pacton Hotel just down the street. Let's move in for a closer look!" Farounda stepped into a nearby news hover vehicle, followed by the cameraman.
...
Pac and the other three were still catching their breaths on top of the hotel building. "I still can't believe what I just did," Pac stated, "I feel like I'm about to pass out. Again." Just then, a news hover vehicle arrived and landed on the roof. Farounda and her cameraman emerged. "Hello! I'm Farounda Diskora, reporter for Channel 765!" she began. "What's your name, young man?" Pacster, surprised and confused by this sudden appearance, tried to find his voice. With a large gulp, he started, "I-I'm Pacster Mannington, Maze University student." "Amazing! What's your secret, Mr. Mannington?" "Ah, geez - I just uh, acted like myself? I guess?" "Fantastic!" Farounda turned to face the screen, "Looks like we have a hero in the making! Now, let's go to the Round House, where our president will address the nation!"
As the broadcast cut to the next feed, the presidential limousine hovered in and landed. Out stepped the two aides that Stratos and Sir Cumference sent earlier. They grabbed the four university students without warning. Before being pushed into the limo, Skeebo shouted "we didn't do it! Honest!" No response from the aides.
Inside the limo, the aides remained silent. One of them drove while the other two sat in the passenger section with the four. "Look, whatever I did wrong," Pacster began, "I didn't mean it. I'm sorry." Again, no response. "Don't worry, Pac," Cyli assured, "we're with you all the way!"
...
In front of the Round House, the president and several aides stood before a crowd of civilians and the news team. Surrounded by microphones, Stratos began his speech. "My fellow Pac-Worlders," he announced, "today we have met the enemies - and they are disgusting. And because of their bodies, they cannot be permanently neutralized. But let me assure you - as long as I am president of Paclandia, we will never negotiate with ghosts."
After the speech ended, Stratos returned to his office. A few minutes later, his intercom buzzed. "We've arrived with the four as you've requested, Mr. President." said the aide driving the limo. "Good," the president responded, "bring them to the bunker as soon as possible."
Sir Cular was still watching the broadcast from his throne room. "That yellow one disgusts me." he began. "And what fuels said disgust further is that I know him." Ecto responded, "You do?" "Oh, I knew the Manningtons well. Very well." Cular squinted in anger.
...
The two presidential aides arrived in front of the Round House and escorted the Pac-Gang to the underground bunker. "It's an honor to meet you, Sir Cumference." Pacster began, shaking the inventor's hand. "You too, Mr. President."
"This is your first time meeting me - as far as you know," Cumference started, "but I know a lot about you - Pacster Mannington Jr." Pac's eyes widened in surprise. "Jr.? Does that mean you knew my grandfather too?" "Absolutely." Sir Cumference said as he walked over to a storage cabinet to pull out several objects. "I was his biggest fan when I was your age." He plopped the objects down on a table in the middle of the bunker.
Pacster went over and inspected the objects. One of them was a picture of his parents - Zaccary and Sunny - holding him as an infant, similar to the one he had in his dorm room. Another was one of a young Sir Cumference standing next to Pac's grandfather, Pacster Mannington the First. Yet another showed an older - but still young - Cumference with Pac's parents. But the most intriguing of all was a larger drawing of a valiant yellow Pac-Knight. The paper it was on was yellow, aged, and fraying at the sides. "Cool armor!" Cylindria pointed out. "Sir Pac-A-Lot?" Pac asked, recognizing whom the drawing was depicting. "What's he got to do with all of this?"
Sir Cumference simply grinned. "You're his descendant." he responded. "Your bloodline goes way back, to before Paclandia was even how it was today." "Woah." Pac's amazement heightened. "Tell me more about the war, my parents, and even your brother." Cumference stood up. "Your parents were the rulers of Paclandia before the war hit." He handed the third picture from the cabinet to Pac.
"After your grandfather retired, he passed on his job and title to his son, your father." The inventor stood up again. "I remember the day your parents - and all the other yellow Pac-People - vanished, except for you." "What happened to them?" Pac inquired. "Nobody knows. Maybe my brother wiped them out, maybe something else did."
"Now, as for my brother, I remember when he and I were young. He loved ghosts - a lot. Whenever he drew, most of his art would be of ghosts. Every Halloween, he would dress up as a ghost of some kind - usually King Spooky of the Pac-Middle Ages, whom he loved the most. I thought nothing of this, nor did everyone else. I wish we had seen the warning signs sooner."
Cumference pulled out a hologram video projector and turned it on - displaying footage of Sir Cular in court. "After my brother was captured and put on trial, he was punished for his actions - by being banished to the Netherworld for all eternity." The video switched to something that had never been seen before by anyone else - Cular and his ghosts being taken to the Netherworld, all in chains and restraints. "We never told anyone about this. We feared the consequences of it reaching the public." The video shut off. "But we had to come clean sooner or later. It was only a matter of time."
After this, Pac continued, "I have just one more question - why am I here? What have I done besides scare off all those ghosts?" Cumference lightly chuckled. "You are the next in line to be the defender of Paclandia, and Pac-World as a whole." he began. "You will continue your familial legacy as the fighter of ghosts. You, Pacster Mannington Jr., are the Pac-Man!"
Pac's amazement turned to shock. "But - does that mean - I have to-" "Eat the ghosts? Most certainly." "Nope! No way, been there, done that, no thank you." "But to defeat them, you must eat them! You have to eat the ghosts, like your ancestors have done before! It's the only way." Pac rubbed his back. "Well, alright. But didn't my grandfather eat those Power Pellet thingies first?"
Sir Cumference nodded in response. "Yes and no. The Power Pellets aren't required to eat the spectral entities, but they'll make the process easier." "If you say so." Pacster sat down next to his friends. "Looks like you've got some chomping to do, eh, Pac?" Skeebo remarked. Pac pulled out his berry dispenser and popped a few berries in his mouth.
Cumference perked up, pointing to the berry dispenser, he interjected, "You've already got some Power Pellets right there!" "These?" Pac responded. "I thought these were just regular berries, from the palm tree my parents left me. I never knew they gave me powers. I just knew they made me hungry."
Sir Cumference stated in response, "But they do give you powers - extraordinary powers!" Pac still wasn't quite convinced. "Well, maybe, but they still come from a pretty small tree - and I don't have that many of them. My grandfather had to deal with only five ghosts. The Netherworld has hundreds - maybe thousands - of them! No way I'll be able to chomp them all in time!" Cumference grinned again. "Did you forget?"
...
Sir Cumference and the Pac-Gang traveled to a barren, but grassy grotto, in the far reaches of Pacopolis. There stood before them a large palm tree - Pac-World's greatest treasure. "This," Cumference began, "is Pac-World's Tree of Life - the very soul of our existence. If any misfortune were to befall it, our planet and all life on it would perish, allowing Sir Cular to turn it into a ghost world. We cannot let that happen." Pac licked his lips. "Mmm, so many different pellets." Cumference wagged his finger. "Now, don't forget, young Pacster," he began, "the Power Pellets are only the appetizer. The ghosts are the main course!"
Spiral inquired, "But how are we gonna get all those Power Pellets from here to the city? Tre tree's miles away from Pacopolis." "We don't." Sir Cumference replied. "Your friend Pac already has a dispenser of his own."
The wrist communicator on Cumference's glove buzzed. President Spheros was calling. "Sir Cumference! Another ghost attack has hit the city! Bring the Pac-Man here at once!" The call ended. Cumference looked at Pacster. "You know what to do." Pac slammed his fist into his palm. "It's chompin' time!"
Unbeknownst to the five, one of Sir Cular's slug cams hitched a ride on the vehicle they traveled on and was broadcasting the entire thing to the ghost lord's throne room.
...
It was still late in the night. Pacopolis and Maze University were still recovering from the previous ghost attack when the next one hit. Again, Channel 765 was covering the situation as it evolved. Farounda Diskora reported in front of the cameras again, "The ghosts have invaded again! However, the president has requested that we don't be alarmed." Footage of Pacster form earlier played without audio. "Our hero, the Pac-Man, will appear soon to repel the ghosts again!" Bob and Paul, the university security guards, were watching in public via a giant monitor attached to a tall and wide building. They were off-duty, as their shift had ended prematurely during the first invasion.
"That kid should've been punished hours ago." Paul said. "Is saving our butts a good excuse to get out of detention?" Bob replied. Paul rolled his eyes. "I guess so."
Suddenly, the two were slimed by ghosts overhead. "Ew!" Bob yelled in disgust. "That's not coming out with any standard detergent!" As the ghosts flew off, they high-fived each other. "Nice shot, Rall!" "You too, Crob!"
Sir Cumference and the Pac-Gang arrived on the scene in one of the former's hovering escort vehicles. Pac, Spiral, Cylindria, and Skeebo stepped out in that order, followed by Cumference.
"Alright, ghosties!" Pac announced as the ghosts stopped in midair, dead in their tracks. "The Pac is Back, and I'm ready to chomp!" Instead of flying off in fear like they did earlier, the ghosts just laugh in unison. "We ain't scared of you!" "Yeah, you're just a kid! You can't do us any harm!" Pac smirked. "Oh really? Then, how about this?" He pulled out his pellet dispenser, opened it with the side button, and caught the Power Pellet that popped out. He held it up high for all the ghosts to see. The ghosts were shocked. "Is that-" "No, it can't be!" "How is this happening?!"
Pac didn't hesitate to pop the Power Pellet in his mouth, swallowing it in a single gulp. He felt a special kind of power surge through him - one unlike even the 'berries' he had eaten beforehand - yet he knew exactly what it was. Jumping up high in the air, he made a valiant pose. "Watch out, ghosties!" he exclaimed. "Here comes Pac-Man!"
It was at that moment that the ghosts were scared again. In fact, they were so scared that they turned blue and shrunk to half their size. "P-P-PPPP-PPP-" they stuttered, before screaming in unison, "PAC-POWER!" Now they were scrambling around again, fearing for their lives.
Pac-Man took flight, hot on the ectoplasmic tails of as many ghosts as he could. He chomped up and down. He gobbled from left to right. He chewed in zigzags. He ate in circles. No ghost was safe - not even big ones like the cyclopean and tentacular types.
Two of his ghostly victims were Crob and Rall. "Geez," Crob said to his buddy, "I haven't been eaten in years!" "You can say that again!" Rall replied.
Military troopers arrived in fruit-themed vehicles - courtesy of Sir Cumference - to assist Pac in his fight. Hovering pineapple-shaped tanks fired, well, pineapples at the ghosts. Meanwhile, cherry-shaped helicopters shot rapid-fire lasers that ate away at the ghosts' outer coverings. Pacster ate a stream of ghosts splattered with pineapple juice. "Mmm! Tasty!"
Meanwhile, the other four watched from the ground. "So now what?" Skeebo asked Spiral, Cylindria, and Sir Cumference. "We can't just stand here! We gotta do something!" Sir Cumference ran to the back of his hover vehicle. "That's just what I had in mind!" he said, pulling out a hovering gurney with three levitation beam weapons, like the ones used in the war. "Wow!" Spiral said. "Plasma-Sucking Cannons!" Cyli added. "For us?" Skeebo finished. Sir Cumference nodded. "It's time for you three to load and lock!" the inventor commanded. "At least, I think that's how it goes." "Uh, it's lock and load." Skeebo corrected. "Oh, right. Whatever it is, go out there and help your friend!"
Spiral, Cyli, and Skeebo ran out into the main streets. They took aim and fired at their ghostly targets - fields of plasma energy enveloping the specters and pulling them into the PSCs. "They're even cooler in person!" Cyli exclaimed. Spiral caught a few more. "You can say that again!" The three ran around and fired. They took formation back to back and fired. They even jumped up and fired. Then, their PSCs started beeping with a message on the side display reading 'CONTAINMENT UNIT FULL - EJECT EYES'. With the pull of a lever, the backs of their PSCs opened up and the bare eyeballs of the ghosts they targeted flew out.
In the midst of this, Pac-Man continued his gourmet meal, until - "Uh oh!" The power from the pellet he had eaten just minutes ago was about to run out. Just before he lost power completely and fell to the ground, he ate another Power Pellet - this one light blue, rather than yellow.
Unexpectedly, it made his skin turn blue and form a 'crown' of ice around his head. "Mmm. Minty!" He then spewed breaths of ice at incoming ghosts, freezing them solid and essentially turning them into cold treats. Another ghost appeared to be made of fire and, as such, threw fireballs from its hands, which Pac quickly dodged. Eating the fire ghost immediately depleted him of his ice powers. "Ugh," he said to himself, "talk about heartburn!"
At the same time as all of this, all the civilians on the streets ran for cover - or just ran around in general. Some of them were picked up by ghosts and dangled from up high - with the ghosts in question threatening to drop them. Others were covered in so much ectoplasm that they were encased in giant globs of the stuff. Pac-Man didn't hesitate to deal with any of this in the best way possible - by catching the dropped civilians and, er, eating the globs of slime.
All of this was being recorded and broadcast by the Channel 765 news crew. "Astounding!" Farounda said while cowering behind a slimed hover car. "I haven't seen heroics like this in years!" As such, the feed was on every screen in the city.
After several more minutes of chomping and fighting, the remaining ghosts appeared to turn tail. "Looks like we beat 'em back this time!" Pac said confidently, before heartily burping out the eyeballs of all the ones he had swallowed during the struggle.
Suddenly, all the screens in the city flickered to show Sir Cular again as another hijack took place. "Think again, Pac-Rat!" he screeched. The feed cut to slug cam footage near the grotto where the Tree of Life was located - as it was being uprooted by the ghosts. "Your hero has failed - and your precious tree is mine!" The screen switched back to Cular. "Goodbye, Pac-World - and goodbye, Pac-Man! Forever!" He laughed like he always does before the feed turned off.
The remaining ghosts flew overhead carrying the massive palm tree with them to Maze 256. Pacster stepped forward and prepared to fight back - until he realized he was out of Power Pellets. His expression changed from anger to sadness. "That's it. It's over. We lost." The other five looked down similarly.