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0ng000h1011hh A011011HHHHHH!
"AAAHHH!"
Turbo glitched out harshly from wherever he was and ended up levitating. His hands twitched and his fingers curled into himself, feeling his palms. His eyes fixated on them as he slowly comes to the realization with a crazy laugh. Almost like he lost his mind. He takes a look around and slowly starts to recognize where he was.
"Oho! I made it! I'm alive!" This filled him with a sinister delight. It felt like no matter what came his way, death could never take him.
Speaking of, how was he alive anyway?
He looked back at where he came from and saw his old code shredded. Well not his code precisely. It was the king's code. The one that he stole the identity of.
It seems like coding himself into the king, might have actually made him into it. His code must be completely jumbled up now.
The hole's in the king's code glitched. That must be where he came from, but in escaping he basically destroyed his ability to regenerate. Meaning, he has to be careful now.
Whatever, he's glad he's even alive. The last thing he could remember was racing with that wretched glitch, trying to get her off his track and then it all went black.
Did he crash? He doesn't know.
Turbo looked at himself and found it quite strange that he was in the body of his original self and not the king's body. It seems that body will have no use anymore anyway.
He had quite enough of the levitation in the lifeblood of the game and started to swim through the entrance. It was probably locked, who knows how long it was that someone actually came here.
Thankfully the door opened, and once he rolled onto the ground the door locked itself.
"Phew! Never going back there again! Now-" How much time has passed?
He died but it felt like he was stuck in the void for an eternity thinking about his life. Thinking about how he will take over the next game, because there was no way he could take over Sugar Rush again. Not with that girl crossing the finish line and that halitosis-riddled wardog being super overprotective of her.
Turbo slowly sneaks out of the castle. Strangely no one was around. No racers, no citizens, no officers. It made his job easier, but also made him worried. Did the game get unplugged? Do games actually function without being plugged in?
He made his way over the rainbow bridge and stopped in his tracks when he stood before the exit.
It's been a while since he was outside of Sugar Rush. He wonders what was even happening outside of this world.
He hoped in a part of his mind, that it has been years and that, that Wreck-it Ralph guy turned into ash in some other game. He wasn't scared of the Sugar Rush racers or citizens but that guy...
In the state he is currently in?
He could actually kill him.
A shiver ran through his spine.
"There's no reason to think about that now, I need to get outta here!" The racer marched his way out of the sugary land and came into the game central station. Once he was nearing the station, he heard a lot of noises. Too much in fact. Was everyone just settled in the station, what was going on?
Once he arrived at his destination he hoped off and quickly went behind the wall. Hiding from any suspects that might recognize him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed an old poster of his game. Prideful as always he smiled at it, but his smile faltered when he realized just how creepy it actually looked like. The poster portrayed him grinning creepily, his eyes were x-ed out.
He looked almost dead.
On second thought, he wasn't all that interested in his old tastes.
Looking around he still recognized characters and games by their names. At least the ones that he actually made out.
He heard music from the other side of the wall. He recognized the song. It was from an older game. Wait, wasn't that game unplugged?
Either way there was a crowd surrounding the stage area. It could make his plan actually work. He could squeeze through the bunch without anyone noticing.
Still it would be good to cover himself a little, just on case anyone recognized his outfit.
His eyes looked at his old posters and then the other posters surrounding it. Guess it will have to do.
If he takes posters and puts it over his helmet and face, surely it's gonna be enough for people to not bat an eye at him.
He sighed.
Now or never.
Squeezing through the people wasn't the problem. It was the overwhelming anxiety that someone would know him. Like a certain wrecker.
Once he got through the crowd, he turned back to see familiar faces on the stage. Wasn't that...
It can't be.
On the stage where two musicians. Two musician's from an unplugged game. How are they back? What is going on?
With that said he saw two men approach each other and Turbo bowed his head down to pass them quickly, but not before he heard passing conversation between the two.
"Hey man it's nice to see you again! It's been like what 5 years?"
"Yeah man. It's nice to see you too! But it felt more like blinking to me."
The two men hugged and then did a handshake. Not that Turbo was specifically looking at them, they just caught his eye because he was next to them.
But the conversation was interesting, why were unplugged games back?
"I can't begin to imagine what you guys must feel. So many years just blinked out, I'm glad you didn't get rebooted though. Not like other people..."
"Other people got rebooted?"
"Yeah, like people who died outside of their game! Remember Turbo?"
He stilled in his steps.
"Of course I remember, who could forget the night that installed fear in all of us?"
"Yeah well, you know that his game got unplugged but he disappeared with Road Blasters, right?"
"Right?"
"About two years ago, it turned out that Turbo actually escaped Road Blasters and took over Sugar Rush! He did actually perish though thanks to the Wrecker and Fixer from Fix it Felix Jr and Sergeant Calhoun from Hero's Duty."
"Ah those two, I remember them, but wow really. So Turbo was alive? I don't know if I should be sad or glad that I missed out on that."
So everyone knew about that. Great.
...
Two years ago, huh.
Checks out.
So he was in the void for two years. Levitating in total emptiness. Alone. All alone.
He shook his head.
Best not to dwell on anything like that.
That guy said something about characters getting rebooted that died outside of their game.
His eyes widened.
Could it be?
His eyes searched desperately, until he found the title he was searching for.
No way.
Sure enough, his old game was right there in front of him.
Turbotime.
He didn't really know how to feel about it.
He should be happy or cry but...
Who cares, his old game is standing right in front of him. With a newfound determination he tore the posters off of himself and tossed them aside before going inside.
But not before being stopped by the security protocol.
"Name?" The Surge Protector incquired.
He entertained the idea of lying but his game was right there.
"Turbo" he replied.
At that the Protector looked up at him and adjusted his glasses "Weren't you already in the game? The last time I checked? You were like the only one that didn't come out today."
Crap.
"Well I am really fast, you must have not caught me with how fast I went through the gate!" Turbo cheekily smiled.
After a minute of silence and the Protector scratching his head while checking his notes, he nodded.
"It must have been a mistake, next time stop at the gates, I need to make sure that everyone is in their proper place! Lest we get another- nevermind. Just don't do that again."
"Right, my apologies."
He swayed the racer off and Turbo finally entered his original game.
Once he was inside Turbotime, a certain nostalgia swelled through his system. Whether it was bittersweet or just happiness, he couldn't quite make out. But the sight, was just like he remembered. Neon coloured grass with a circular dirt track. Alongside a big stadium where the audience could sit. Whobin actuality were only little particles of black.
He will admit, looking at his game now, it didn't look exciting as it once was. Compared to Sugar Rush, this was just a little indie game a college student could make by now. How far technology has come.
"So you're the reason I'm so hated around here!"
Turbo froze and turned back towards the voice.
It sounded just like...
Himself?
"You're me from the past..."
Sure enough there stood a complete replica of himself. This one seemed a bit lighter though, full of life and colour.
"Technically, you're me from the past" he retorded.
His new self looked down and then up again "I'll say! You look like a walking corpse, isn't a racer supposed to look lively and determined?"
"I am determined."
"Yes, but in the wrong way. I know exactly what you did." The person in front of him scowled.
Turbo laughed "You think I care about what a version of me that was born only weeks or months before has any idea who I am? You aren't me. You're just what the game developers wanted me to be. Determined, lively, young. But you know what trait I still share with you? I'm a winner and you are greedy just like me."
The other laughed "Heh, we'll see about that. After all, I am also cunning just like you!"
The new him tackled him and Turbo wrestled against himself. Grunts made their way out his lips as he struggled to accommodate to the wrestling. Soon their experiences made it clear that the new Turbo stood no chance.
"What now, punk?"
"I won't lose." The rebooted Turbo uttered and kicked the others legs to send him falling down on the path.
The new Turbo then broke a pipe over by the audience stage and returned to him getting ready to destroy "Sorry, but I'm not so benevolent to share a game with someone."
Turbo was a bit frightened at the sight and therefore saw a little bling on his hand. It was zapping red. Just like that little glitch.
With that he smirked, who knew he would be glad to have such a power now?
"Funny, you took the words right out of my mouth!"
Turbo glitched and zapped confusing the other and he pushed the new Turbo down into the path. With his glitching he made the other glitch as well, and he was almost glitching through the pavement.
His look-alike suddenly had this terrified look in his eye "No wait don't!"
Without a second thought he glitched and zapped until he could literally glitch his reincarnation through the ground.
All that remained was shallow screams fading out and then there was nothing.
He won.
He grinned and laughed maniacly. That should have brought him into the code of the game. His other self was going to be stuck in there for a while.
This game is his and his only.
He grinned but then a glitch rattled through his system.
Huh? No!
Ugh! He has to get this under control. He hates it when things aren't under his control. It infuriates him, makes him feel like he could do better. If he isn't perfectly capable than who would even want him?
No matter, he can practise, it's fine.
Turbo looks over to the outside of the audience, where his sleep chambers were. The whole land seemed almost abandoned. It made sense considering he saw like a thousand characters at the game central station. People from his game must have been there, watching the concert as well.
His other self said that he is disliked around here, so that's why he must have just stayed inside his game.
It's strange though, seeing himself from the past, not overrun by fame and praise, but by petty remarks and urban legends. He would almost feel bad for his past self if he weren't so selfish.
He started walking towards his little house, but then he heard snickering coming towards him. Two voices he hasn't heard in years.
Unfortunately the two saw him before he could make his escape.
"Hey, Turbo! The concert was so fun! Look we got you a little something!"
Turbo turned around to see two faces he never thought he would see again. His two racer colleagues, Jet and Set.
His ghostly expression must have caught their eye because one moment they were smiling brightly and then they wore a worried expression "Hey dude, you ok?"
Turbo quickly changed his expression and looked downwards "It's nothing, just tired is all."
He thought that would convince them and they would leave him alone but then Jet bowed down to his level to look at his face.
Slightly panicked Turbo stood completely still, like a statue. Afraid Jet would catch on that he is not their Turbo. With his sunken eyes and more experienced face.
But then Jet smiled at him, like he never smiled before. It was a soft expression. Caring even.
No one ever looked at him like that, except maybe...
"Hey, don't be so down. Those guys might not like you, but who cares what they think, you are not who they think you are. In my eyes you're the real deal." He then placed a star medal onto his jumpsuit.
Turbo blinked and looked at the star medal he gave him. The words 'real star' was inscribed into the metal.
He was unsure what to think "Thanks, Jet"
The racer bumped his fist into his shoulder which inadvertently caused him to glitch.
"Woah-" Jet moved back "What was that?"
Oh no! Come on, he must come up with a lie!
"Is that the real reason you couldn't come today?" Set asked seeing the commotion.
Thank you Set for the way out of this conversation. Everyone say thank you!
"I don't know how it happened, but one thing I was racing and then the next thing I knew I almost crashed into the stadium." Turbo paused "Please don't tell anyone else about this, they already hate me more than enough. I heard the other me had the exact same glitch bestowed apon him."
Jet made a determined expression "Dude, of course, we're your friends and friends keep their secrets."
The caring racer slapped the others shoulder who rolled his eyes in response "Yeah, I'll keep it a secret too! You don't need to slap me, Jet!"
"Thanks guys, you're really good...friends." Turbo chose his words carefully, albeit he said it a bit unconvincingly.
Jet pushed Set to move along and moved beside Turbo to go to their respecting rooms to rest "I'm actually glad that you stayed because of that, I hate to see you get upset."
"What?" Turbo chuckled "Scared, I'll make you lose harder than you usually do?"
"Nah, I'd be lucky if I would almost win against you, it's just that you seem to lock anyone out that wants to be there for you, bud."
Turbo was unresponsive. Why? Why were they so nice to him? What was happening. The Jet and Set he knew were more nonchalant about him than these two! Set was still a bit unresponsive to him, but Jet was...too nice.
Turbo might have been selfish but he was never nice to Jet. He felt undeserving of this kindness.
"Look, I'm just worried is all, hey what about we go to Tappers tomorrow! Heard they got your favourite drink for a limited time!"
Did the Turbo here have the same favourite drink as he once had before Sugar Rush? Hopefully?
"White hot Choco?"
"Yep, hey Set are you coming too? What about it? All three of us enjoying a night out? Maybe pick up some chicks?"
Set turned around and walked backwards "You're disgusting, Jet. But I'm in."
"Awesome, what about you, Turbo?"
Normally he would say no.
But...
"Fine, but I'm not interested in 'picking up chicks' so to say."
"Boring, but then again you haven't really been interested in women."
They talked a little more before they finally arrived at their houses and bid their good night's.
As soon as the two went into their homes and closed the door, the atmosphere definetly tensed. Not in a good way and not in a way that made Turbo glad he got away with it.
Normally he would be ecstatic that his lying worked. Yet he feels somewhat numb to it. If he did it once he could do it again. Like a routine. Routines are bound to get boring after a while.
This wasn't what he was expecting though. It didn't feel numb because it bored him. No, it felt much worse. It felt like he missed the presence of someone.
He gripped the star on his chest.
Never has he ever been treated like a friend by these two. It almost felt like...
Something akin to caring?
Somebody caring about him.
...
What a strange concept.
Best not to dwell on useless emotions. He's better than that.
He returned to his old room, but the same nostalgia didn't feel him as he plummeted into his bed right away, holding the little star close to his chest.