All That's Left [Alpha Draft] Pt 23;

[keybearer]

Chapter 23: Budding Fears and Shifting Gears

After a long, grueling trek through the jungle, the Mysterious Tower’s spiral steps brought a welcome change of scenery. Even more welcome was their destination, for when they reached the top of the steps, Donald thrust the door open and revealed a wide, round room. The walls were smooth, free from bookshelves, and an assortment of cushy couches, bean bags, and armchairs covered the floor. Glowing stars crawled along the ceiling, while small tables scattered throughout, topped with star-shaped coasters. Several wood doors lined the far north wall, while star and moon-shaped windows revealed the sparkling sky.

A lone figure hovered by these windows, dressed in a baggy black coat. A mess of blond spikes clashed with his otherwise shadowy appearance, though he kept his back turned as he soaked in the starlight.

One look sent Riku flying back in time, to a distant cityscape dwarfed by an imposing clock tower. An explosive black ring shot across the sky. Riku’s own body flew forward like a missile. The Keyblade slammed into something, someone, and a chilling scream followed. Pinching his arm, Riku dragged himself out of the memory. That was then, this was now. Why let the past sour the mood?

Clueless, Goofy’s face lit up like a light. “Hey, it’s—”

Roxas! Sora barreled past the others, a planet-sized grin glued to his face. As he skidded across the floor, Roxas jumped back, bumping his head against the wall. Wincing, he rubbed the back of his neck and cracked a small, crooked smile.

“Hey, Sora.” With the two side by side, their differences hit Riku like a truck. When Sora stretched to his full height, he still stood about a head shorter, while Roxas’ shoulders had broadened, and his face grew slightly narrower. His cheeks still had some roundness to them, and his eyes remained wide and youthful, but his resemblance to Sora had dwindled bit by bit.

Soon, Kairi crossed the floor, clasping her hands as she greeted him. “Welcome back!”

“Thanks.” He gave a small chuckle. “I hope I didn’t worry you guys…”

“You did, but it’s okay.” She beamed, joining him by the window. “So, how was your trip?”

“It was… busy. I ran all over the place, and—”

“We know!” said Donald, butting in ever-so-bluntly. “Phil told us all about it.”

“Oh.” He scratched his cheek. “Sorry I missed you.”

Goofy slapped a hand down on his shoulder, making Roxas squeak. “No need to apologize! We know how much she means to ya, and if we had the time, we’d be right there with you.”

“But somebody’s gotta keep an eye on the Organization. I’ve been trying to, but I got so caught up looking for Xion that I never got far…” He deflated, shaking his head. “But it’s not all bad! I’ve got Max, PJ, and this goofy ladies' man looking out for her. I didn’t even have to ask for his help.”

Sora covered his mouth, though even it couldn’t hide the crinkle in his eyes. You sure he didn’t wanna date her?

Roxas gawked. “A date? But…” The shock must’ve warn off fast, as his face soon resumed a calm, neutral state. “Actually, I wouldn’t put it past him. That guy was something else…”

Both Donald and Goofy snickered to each other, making Roxas huff.

“Hey, it’s not funny!”

Giggling, Kairi put her hands behind her back. “Has anyone ever said you’re adorable?”

“Am not…” He folded his arms, falling back against the wall. “Besides, I found her! That’s the important part.”

Donald turned from Goofy, arching his brow. “Then how come she’s not with you?”

“She’s not ready yet. There’s… well, I dunno what it is, but she said she’s gotta take care of something first.”

Goofy blinked, reaching up to scratch his noggin. “Gawrsh, so she didn’t even give ya a hint?”

“Nope. I don’t get it, either, but I trust her.”

Then you’ve got nothing to worry about! Sora tipped his head back, setting one hand on his hip while he raised a clenched fist. He then gave the others a quick look, rubbing his neck. Instead of continuing to ‘speak,’ he dug out his writing gear and started scribbling on a brand new page. ‘I bet she’ll be back in no time! And once she shows up, we can throw her a big welcome back party, just like we did with Riku!’

“Oh, so Riku’s—” He looked across the room, then slouched. “Man, I need to pay more attention…”

“It’s fine.” Riku laughed, finally making his way toward the others. “No hard feelings, right? I know we weren’t on the best terms before.”

“Hey, I’m the one who started that fight, so…” He hesitated before extending his hand. “Wanna start over?”

“Heh. I thought it was obvious.” He gave Roxas a firm handshake. With the formalities out of the way, he then plopped onto a vacant couch. “So, how was she, anyway?” Just knowing that he found her didn’t explain much. Though Riku’d only met her briefly, a frown overtook his lips, and his posture grew slack.

Oblivious, Roxas set his sights back on the stars. “Well, I think she’s okay. She wasn’t hurt, and she said she’d be back soon.” He paused, then looked to the others. “Oh! And she really does miss you guys.”

Donald’s expression soured, and he wound his arms tightly around his torso. “Then why’s she gotta keep secrets from us?”

“I wish I knew…” He draped his arms over the window sill, using them to cushion his chin. “Are girls always this confusing?”

Donald moaned. “You’ve got no idea…”

“Excuse me?” Kairi loomed over him, staring him right in the face. This in turn made Donald scuttle backwards, holding up both his hands.

“Okay, maybe not all girls, but lots of ‘em—”

She crept closer. “Hmmm… Like Daisy?”

“Hey, don’t bring her into this!”

Goofy patted him on the back. “Aw, you know she’s just teasin’ ya.”

He wheezed a breathless laugh. “Of course I knew that!”

Lucky for Donald, Kairi soon swiveled away and skipped back over to the window. “Roxas, didn’t you leave your friends for a while?”

“I…” He stopped, nodding. “I wanted to find out who I was, and I thought I thought it’d be easier that way.”

Sora tapped his notepad with his pen, squeezing in on Roxas’ right. ‘But it wasn’t, huh?’

“No. It got lonely real fast…”

Sora looked to Riku, scratching his cheek before writing, ‘I know what you mean. When I was off on my own, I kept getting second thoughts. I wanted to see Riku and Kairi, but whenever I tried, I kept worrying that I’d scare them, or that seeing me would make them sad.’

“…then you’re just like her.” Roxas’ head hung, and he tugged one of his sleeves. “Xion’s still changing, and it’s getting worse! That’s why…” He trailed off, though Riku mentally filled in the blanks.

He saw a girl collapse in the sand, her appearance flickering between Kairi’s and his own. Black and red pixels stained the shore beneath her. The sky flashed, drowning out the bright sunlight with pure blackness, only to flicker back to a bright blue. It had happened so fast. She’d begged, pleaded to know their connection. Blocks rained down from above, striking the beach like cannonballs. A mechanical voice droned, warning of corrupt data, and though he knelt beside her and tried to offer help, she threw herself away, vanishing into the darkness.

Riku drooped over the back of the couch, crestfallen and silent. That was their first and last meeting. Compared to the others, he was an outsider looking in. What could he even say without sounding forced or fake? It seemed the others faced a similar dilemma, as the room sank into a noiseless state. Kairi fidgeted with her necklace, staring listlessly out the window. Briefly, Sora reached for Roxas’ sleeve, though he jerked his hand back at the last second.

Donald and Goofy peered at one another, and while Goofy gulped and bit his fingertips, Donald’s whole upper body drooped. Still, the situation wasn’t entirely new.

Clearing his throat, Riku said, “Think about what she’s going through.” He turned sideways, shifting his focus to Roxas. “Remember how rough it was when you learned the truth?”

With a soft gasp, Roxas looked up again. “Well, what’d you expect? No one wants to admit they’ve lived a lie.”

“Well, imagine being made of someone else’s memories. Then you find out you’re a copy, and to top it all off, your appearance is changing, and you’ve got no way to stop it… When you put it all together, it’s no wonder she’s withdrawn.” That kind of experience would drive anyone mad, maybe even break them.

“But that’s not going to help her…” Kairi spoke with a strained tone, and her hands slowly clenched. “The more she pushes us away, the more we’re going to worry. And if she’s alone, then who’s going to support her? We’re here for her, and we want to help, so why can’t she see that?”

Sora zipped in front of her, scribbling a new note. ‘I bet she knows, but sometimes that’s not enough to make the fear go away.’

“I know! I know…” She wilted, gripping her hands over her chest. “I just wish I could do more for her.”

“Kairi…” Riku threw himself off the couch, closing the distance between them. He reached for her arm, letting his other hand fall to his hip. “It’s going to be fine. We’ll sort this out, okay?”

“Okay.” She smiled weakly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sorry. It’s not like me to worry this much.”

“Hey, just look around. I’d say we’re all in the same boat.”

The others came closer, forming a half-circle near the window, and Roxas set a hand on her shoulder.

“I can talk to her again. Would that help?”

“Mm, I think so.” She straightened her back, lifting her chin. “But that’s if we don’t find her first!”

“And once we catch up, she’s gonna have a lot of explaining to do!” said Donald, though Goofy was quick to butt in.

“Aw, but we don’t wanna be too hard on her, Donald! I say we oughta take it nice and slow, and let Xion come to us.”

Ultimately, they couldn’t dictate when or if she’d show herself. So, having exhausted the issue, the group spread across the couches and chairs. Once they’d all settled in, Goofy whipped out some triangle sandwiches, and they recounted recent events, from the struggle against the Titans to Xemnas’ surprise appearance and the Organization’s recent actions.

Once Riku mentioned Xigbar, Roxas’ face crumpled up. “That jerk. What’d he want this time?”

“Beats me.” Riku leaned over the arm of the couch, nibbling the corner of his sandwich. “If he was that desperate for hearts, you’d think he’d grab Kairi for good measure, but instead he forced me into the spotlight.” He tore his eyes off the others. Was it just a coincidence, or did the Sheriff’s words carry a deeper meaning?

“I bet he was bored,” said Roxas. “Sometimes Xigbar does things just to tick people off.”

“But that doesn’t mean we should take him lightly.”

As soon as Aqua spoke, Riku immediately perked up, shooting a glance at the door. Both Xiruk and King Mickey slipped in behind her, and Riku dragged his fingers through his hair.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Oh, about five minutes,” said Xiruk. Wasting no time, he strutted up to Roxas. “And it’s about time you got back! I was just about to hunt you down.”

Roxas scooted back, gripping the fabric of his coat. “It’s not like I was avoiding you…”

“Yeah, I know.” He slugged Roxas’ shoulder. “But the next time you go away for two weeks, would it kill you to leave us a note?”

“Hey, that’s if I leave! It’s not like I’m in a hurry.” He scooted over to the opposite arm of the couch, giving Xiruk enough space to squeeze in.

“So, Xigbar’s up to no good again? Wish I could say I was surprised…”

Aqua’s lips pursed, and her brow tightened. With slow, heavy footsteps, she strode over to a vacant chair. “I only met him once before, but if he’s anything like his original self, then there’s a precedent for it.” She sank down, resting her arms in her lap, while her eyes wandered to Riku. “You should be careful. Xigbar used to work side by side with Master Xehanort, so it’s possible his actions had a greater purpose.”

A low grunt slipped out of Donald, and his eyes became daggers. “But why’s he gotta pick on Riku?”

“It’s difficult to say. We know that Xemnas followed us to the Coliseum, so it’s possible that he wants to test Riku’s potential.” She massaged her chin, bending forward. “A year is a long time, and if I were in his position, I’d exploit any weakness I could find.”

Riku’s face pinched into a grimace, and he looked away. “So you’re saying I’m weak?”

“Of course not, but they may want to see how your absence has affected you. It’s just a guess, but we still shouldn’t underestimate him.”

“Yeah, I get it.” He adjusted one of his wristbands, more focused on his hands than the company all around him. “But… suppose you’re right, and they are trying to single me out. What am I supposed to do about that?”

One of the beanbags shifted, and a series of light thumps carried across the room.

“Do you really think they’d go that far?” When Riku looked up, he caught Kairi gazing over him.

“Man, I don’t even know.” He covered his eyes, waving a hand. “Just. Okay, let me put it this way. Right before we took on Prince John, the Sheriff said I should sleep with one eye open.”

She tensed, jerking forward. “Why didn’t you tell us before?”

“Because I didn’t want to get ahead of myself, and I still don’t.”

“Which could be what they want,” said Aqua. “Riku, I know it’s hard, but you should try to stay calm.”

“Hmm, and maybe ya need a break!” said Mickey, as he flopped into an empty beanbag between chair. “You’ve been workin’ nonstop since ya got back, and I think you’ve earned a few days off.”

Riku’s eyebrows flew up. “But do we even have time? Those Keyholes won’t seal themselves.”

“Sure, but you aren’t the only fella with a Keyblade!” He rolled onto his feet, threw his hand over his head, and his gold Keyblade flashed into his palm. “Why don’t ya let me cover for ya, Riku?”

“You sure that’s okay? I thought you were busy in Hollow Bastion.”

“Aw, we’ve already got lots of pals helpin’ out over there. Besides, if the Organization’s after ya, there’s a chance I can take ‘em by surprise!”

Aqua pressed her hands against her thighs, rising from her chair. “Well, if you’d like, I could check the study for you.”

“Good thinkin’, Aqua! Plus, it’d give ya a chance to meet Leon’s gang.”

Kairi clapped her hands, chin up and expression bright. “Hey, we could show you around. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“I’d appreciate it, Kairi.” Seconds later, her eyes widened, and she added, “Oh, but that reminds me; we finally got in touch with DiZ.”

Roxas bristled, hunching his shoulders and arching his back. “But why would you want to work with—”

Xiruk waved his hands. “Hey, I’m not happy about it either, but he’s one of the only leads we’ve got.”

“But he’s the reason Xion’s—”

“I know, but DiZ has a history with the Organization. He might know them better than we do.”

Roxas’ hands trembled, and he shifted away from his friend. “So you trust him?”

Xiruk winced, and his head whipped from side to side. “Look, this isn’t about trust! It’s—”

Aqua brushed past him, kneeling before Roxas. “You have every right to be upset, but we won’t force you to work with him.”

“I just wanna know why.” His voice was cold, toneless, and his body grew rigid. “What can he do that we can’t?”

Even if they told him, would it make a difference? Sure, Roxas was a Nobody, but his actions and tone all flew in the face of his so-called lack of emotions. Unsure of what to say, Riku kept his trap shut. His palm idly slid up to his neck, while the fingers of his other hand drummed against his knee. Head low, Sora flopped over the top of his beanbag chair and twirled his pen, while Goofy’s eyes drifted to his feet, and he tugged at his collar.

“Well, he’s good with computers, and didn’t his note say somethin’ about hearts?”

Mickey thunked his fist against his palm. “Yup! DiZ said he’s workin’ on some kinda machine that could break Kingdom Hearts into code. I dunno how it works, but right now it’s our best chance at stoppin’—”

“But he can’t!” Roxas’ feet slammed against the floor. “Those hearts are too important. How could you let him—”

“Hold on!” said Xiruk. “Look, he said that he could change them back. And you can’t honestly tell me that you’d trust Xemnas over him…”

His arms dropped to his sides, and he slumped. “No, that’s not… I know he was using us, but what if we took Kingdom Hearts? Then we could…” He stopped mid-sentence, collapsing on the cushions. “There’s gotta be another way.”

“Hmm.” Riku crossed his legs and propped his head up with one hand. “Say, Aqua, how long do you think it’s gonna take?”

She gave him a brief glimpse. “It might be months until he’s ready.”

“Then don’t sweat it, Roxas. We’ve got time to work out a backup plan.”

“Mm… I guess so.” But he still refused to meet their eyes.

Digging his claws into the beanbag, Sora hopped down to the floor and crawled to the front of his couch. He hovered about a foot from Roxas, head cocked with a loose, flimsy grin. When that didn’t work, he tugged on his cheeks, resulting in a sigh instead of laughter. But that was it. No words, and no other reaction.

This changed when Xiruk slung an arm over his shoulders, making Roxas flinch in the process. “Hey, you want to see Naminé?”

He turned his head, staring for several seconds before he finally said, “If that’s okay…”

“Pfft. C’mon, we’re never too busy for you.” And before Roxas got a chance to speak up, Xiruk nudged him toward the door.

“Hey, you don’t have to push me—”

“Yeah, but the quicker we get out of here, the quicker we can cheer you up.”

Roxas moaned as Xiruk pushed him closer to the door. Instead of helping, Sora shook with silent snickering and gave him a quick wave. With a soft yelp, Roxas slipped into the hall, and the door shut with a gentle thud.

“Well, at least he’s in good hands,” said Kairi, tiptoeing behind Aqua. She bounced on her heels and took a peek at the doorway. “So, when do you want to leave?”

Laughter fluttered out of her. “There’s really no need to rush.”

Riku shrugged his shoulders, lifting his palms. “Yeah, but if we stay here too long, I’ll probably go nuts.” Sure, they could rest, but he’d napped enough on the ride back.

Rolling onto his feet, Sora pumped his fist in the air. ‘Well, I’m ready!’

Kairi shut her eyes, shielding her mouth despite the giggles squeaking out of her. “I can see that.’

‘Aw, c’mon! It’s been more than a year since my last visit, and this time we’ve got Aqua with us!’ Just to prove his excitement, he started scampering toward the door, stopping only when Goofy sprung into his path.

“Now, wait a second, Sora! A lot’s changed since we beat Maleficent, and now the whole town’s protected by this big ol’ defense system.”

Kairi’s hands flew to her cheeks. “That’s right! You’re a Heartless, so the Claymores might…” She winced. “It might be too dangerous to take you.”

Oh. Sora dropped down on all fours, head drooping to hide his pout. He swiveled away from the door, dragging his feet across the floor. Watching him, Aqua pressed her fingers over her lips, her brows drawn together in a tight, focused look.

“I wonder…” She held out her other hand, flexing her fingers, and a silver-white orb glistened above her palm. She shut her eyes, held her breath, and exhaled slowly as the light stretched and shifted. It gained three points, straight, rigid, edges, and a shiny metallic tint. As the glow dimmed, a crown-shaped pendant hovered in its place, then dropped into her hand with a quiet clink.

Knowing Aqua, that pendant wasn’t just for show, but just what was she planning? Keeping the answers to herself, she strode up to Sora and knelt beside him.

“Here, try putting it on.”

He blinked, then poked the pendant with a claw, which flashed and sent him skittering back. Cheeks puffed up, he crawled back up to the charm and snatched it up with a quick swipe. A pale white aura crawled down his body, and he shivered and tightened his grip. Mere seconds later, the aura faded, and the thick, murky stench of his darkness dissipated, leaving only a vague, metallic odor in its place, coupled with an almost bloody taste in the back of Riku’s mouth.

What was that about?

Aqua’s gaze lingered on Sora for a few moments before she finally stood up again. “I’m not sure how it’ll affect the defenses, but it should at least conceal your darkness.”

Sora’s brows lowered and drew close together, while his lips pulled into a flat line. He glued his eyes to the pendant, as if caught in a hypnotic trance, and then his claws curled over it, and he shot another look at the door.

I can’t just stay behind. Sure, it might be dangerous, but I wanna be there for them!

“Then go for it.” Riku traipsed behind him, giving him a wide, confident grin. “Might as well give it a shot, right?”

And besides, their last memory in Hollow Bastion was the moment that they said goodbye. Now was their chance to start fresh. To put aside their sordid past and embrace the joys of the present.

At the very least, it’d distract him from more foreboding matters.

x.x.x

A veil of shadow passed over the brightly colored buildings in the plaza. Searing greens, fiery oranges, the red and blue balloons and dangling banners blended together beneath the pitch black sky. A few sparkling dots scattered across space did little to illuminate the brick, sand, and cobblestone roads. Only the few windows still gleaming with yellow light served as lanterns and signposts for any wandering night owls. Well, night cats, in this case. And cat, as in singular. See, while the fine folks of Disney Town snuggled up in their beds, Cait Sith had slipped through alleyways and ducked behind lampposts.

Not that he was trying to make a scene, but lately, his life had taken some unexpected turns.

Black and white, he blended with the night, save for his swishing red cape and golden crown. A lumbering, pink ball of fluff trudged behind him, blinking its beady dot eyes. The Moogle opened his mouth, but Cait Sith pressed a gloved finger to his lips. They needed to keep quiet, or folks might get the wrong idea. Granted, everything about this was wrong! Here they were, sneaking around like criminals. Conspiring with those outsiders in their creepy black coats. He shuddered at the mere thought.

Salvation came in the form of a big, white rocket, glowing like a lightbulb and casting shadows over the street. Next to the rocket sat a building shaped like a flying saucer, with a wide, red ring dotted with round lights, a smooth, silver top, and neon green letters that read, ‘Pizza Planet.’ Clear glass windows revealed dangling, planet-shaped lights over the booths that spread across the dining floor. Ears perking, Cait Sith skipped toward the double doors, guarded by two menacing metallic statues. He and his Moogle shared a glance, and Cait Sith took a gulp. This was it. Just a little closer, and they were home free!

Standing on the tips of his toes, he tapped his Moogle on the leg. “Hey, Moggie. Think you could pass me those keys?”

“Kupo…” Mog opened his mouth, sticking in a big, mitten-like hand. He smacked his lips, then spat out a tiny, silver key, which Cait Sith snatched and jammed in the lock.

“Okay, okay. So far, so good. Good thing I picked up that night shift!” A turn of the key, and the lock clicked. Then all it took was a nudge of the elbow, and the doors slid open. “All righty! Now we just gotta mosey in like any other night. Keep it cool. We can do this!”

He’d just poked his head inside when he caught a shadow passing behind him and felt warm breathing on the back of his neck. His tail flicked, and his ears folded back, and he flipped back around in a huff.

“Now, see here, Mog, now’s not the time to— oh.” Instead of Mog, he stared at a pasty white face, with a slobbery red tongue and a chef’s hat and apron to boot. “Evenin’, Quina! Wasn’t expectin’ to see you out this late.”

“But I so hungry…” Quina sighed, patting their big, round belly. “I thought I eat pizza, but they closed.”

“Eh, but don’t ya work at the castle? There’s probably oodles of goodies in the kitchen.” He licked his lips. Lucky Quina, working with royalty. Fortune telling was tough work, and it sure didn’t pay the bills! That was the whole reason he got a second job in the first place. Well, technically a third, but that was his little secret.

Quina tipped their head up toward the sky, and more specifically, the distant castle. They tilted their head, blinking a few times. “That good idea, but food not the only reason I’m here!”

Really? But wasn’t food the reason for everything Quina did? Well, for now, he’d hold his tongue. Crazy as they were, they were probably too thick to catch on. Instead, he forced a smile. “Ya don’t say. So what’s keepin’ you here?”

“Because I smell black licorice again!”

Cait Sith flinched, stumbling into one of the statues. He bit his fingertips and gulped again. “And you’re sure it ain’t me you’re smellin’?”

Quina shook their head. “You smell more like creamy cookie! This smell very dark…”

“Uh… well, you know that Mortimer! Always makin’ trouble—”

“No. Mortimer smell like bad cheese.”

He smacked his palm over his eyes. Drat. And here he thought he had them fooled! “Well, maybe it’s that kid again. Y’know, tan skin, yellow eyes, kinda skinny… There’s a shady lad if I ever saw one.” Shady and rude. Sure, some of his fortunes were kinda cryptic, but no one was perfect, and he even gave a disclaimer!

Both Mog and Quina grunted, and Quina took another sniff of the air. “Hmm. That kid did wear black coat. But I not know where he come from. He very strange!”

“Yup, that’s for sure.” Granted, that was a few months ago, but judging by the way Quina moved away from the door, his little scapegoating trick musta worked.

“Well, if you see Organization, you let me know! Queen Minnie want us to be careful.”

He flicked his hands. “Yup, yup. I’ll be watchin’ like a hawk!” Watching his back, at any rate.

Once Quina’d wobbled around the corner, Cait Sith climbed onto Mog’s fuzzy, zippered back, and the two tip toed into the restaurant proper. They passed a claw machine stuffed with three-eyed green aliens and crept into a room glittering with neon lights. Reds, greens, blues, and especially greens, everything from the floor to the raised, rounded tables gave off an eerie glow.

A wide range of arcade cabinets spread before him, including one depicting a smiling man with a hammer and a blue cap, and a burly looking fella with messy hair and a red shirt. Another cabinet was sugary pink, with peppermint décor. Tiny tots in brightly colored race cars decorated the sides. But perhaps the most intimidating of the lot was the humungous screen marked with green, mechanical bugs, huge, plastic guns, and the title, ‘Hero’s Duty.’

It was here that Mog stopped, and Cait Sith dropped to the floor, straightening his crown as he landed. Waddling closer, Mog reached for one of the guns, but Cait Sith tapped him on the back and pressed a finger to his lips.

“Careful! These games ain’t just for fun.” No, according to his client, they contained a living, breathing world. Multiple worlds, even! And if that were the case, then the characters inside might get the wrong idea. So, naturally, Cait Sith kept an arm’s reach away from the machines when he strolled across the room and to a silver panel in the back.

He squinted as he tucked the key into another lock. A turn to the right, and the panel swung open, revealing an assortment of large buttons marked with arrows, letters, and even start and select. He’d just reached for the up arrow when one of the stools swiveled around. His ears twitched, and he spun on a heel just in time to catch a stranger in an all to familiar coat.

“Oh, uh. Were you here this whole time?”

“Yep.” The man flipped back his hood, revealing what he could’ve sworn was a giant red porcupine at first. His face was sharp, angular, and two tear-shaped tattoos rested below his eyes. An exotic fella to say the least, wearing a shark-like grin. “The name’s Axel. Got it memorized?”

“Sure I do!” Well, he’d try to remember it. Seemed short and sweet, tough to forget. “But what happened to that other laddie?”

Axel shrugged, folding his hands on the table. “Couldn’t tell ya. He just gave me the job. Didn’t even tell me in person.” He dug into his pocket, and pulled out a small note. “But here I am, stuck with some icky orders again, and I hear you’re the guy who can set me up.”

“You bet! Just watch and learn, buddy.”

Cracking his knuckles, Cait Sith punched the keys one by one. Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, and start. He’d learned the code from old Von Drake, and once he’d hit the last button, the lights of the cabinets lit up in unison, shining bright white while sparks raced down the cords. A bouncy fanfare of beeps and boops chimed over there heads, while tiny squares flew from the screens, gathering in a whirlwind at the center of the arcade. The pixels dropped down in a tidal wave, merging into a tall, blocky door. The door itself buzzed with warmth and a dim, gold aura.

The screens dimmed, leaving the door on its own, and Cait Sith took a bow. “And there ya have it!”

Axel whistled, pushing away from the table and sliding onto the floor. “Not bad, but how am I supposed to go from there to here?” He pointed over to the Hero’s Duty screen.

“Ah, well, they got these big light-up signs with labels on ‘em! Ya can’t miss ‘em.”

“Good, good. That makes my job easier.” He brushed past Cait Sith, reaching for the door, but before he got a chance to slip away, Cait Sith tugged on the tail of his coat.

“Now, wait a second! Aren’t ya forgettin’ somethin’, pal?”

“Right. The munny…” He reached into his pocket again, dropping a bag marked with an upside-down splintered heart. “There. Straight from the boss.”

“Good! This kinda job ain’t easy.” He tossed the bag up in the air, and caught it on its way down. “Well, good luck in there! Those bugs are some tough customers.”

TO BE CONTINUED