Random Encounters: The C.O.D.E

It's Not Easy Being Purple

Eggman stares ahead, adjusting his goggles. There's the sound of footsteps... not their own. Nate's heart beats a little faster as Eggman stops the entire group. The footsteps continue. They're cushioned, as if the person is wearing slippers... or a suit. Beginning around the corner, a man walking in a giant bear suit. Eggman quickly pushes them into the nearest room, hoping he didn't see them.

"What was that for?!" Goose asks, standing up and smoothing out her outfit.

"Phone Guy, do you want to get killed?" Eggman counters.

"Maybe!" Goose retorts.

Spooky stands up slowly, wiping dirt off her dress. Nate and Eggman stand up as well, Eggman quickly pulling his goggles down over his eyes.

"Why do you keep goggles on?" Spooky asks gently, "I'm sure you have beautiful eyes under them..."

Eggman turns red again, "I- uh, It's a character trait, like your lovely skin."

"Gross, get a room," Goose says.

Nate chuckles a bit and looks around at where they are. They're outside, in a jungle area. It's warm, humid even. Nate smacks his arm as a mosquito bites him. He instantly knows which musical they're in, but which part?

"Any punch you can take, I can take harder," a male voice sings behind them, "I'll get hit anywhere, harder than you."

Nate turns around where Lara and Nathan are talking to each other. Better. He walks up to them as Lara stands up to kick Nathan in the crotch. She's about to when Nate stops her.

"Who are you?" She asks.

"Nathan, you can't do that!" Goose calls after him.

The group runs up to join him, waving slightly at Nathan and Lara. When they catch up, Eggman is out of breath and is bent over trying to breathe better.

"Why, you did the same thing," Nate defends himself.

"That's different, you can't stop people in the process of hurting other people," Goose explains, or at least tries to.

"You're kidding, right?" Nate chortles a bit, but when he's greeted with serious faces says, "That's absurd."

"Rules are rules," Goose crosses her arms.

Eggman finally catches his breath and stands up a bit more as Nate shakes his head. Nathan and Lara share a look.

"The Narrator never covered whatever... this is," Nathan says.

"To be fair we haven't seen all the training videos," Lara adds.

Goose shudders, "I forgot he added those."

"I understand that this is not supposed to happen," Lara says, putting emphasis on not.

"Phone Guy, I really doubt they're in here, no one wants to be eaten alive by mosquitos," a man's voice rings.

"You don't believe me?!" Phone Guy asks.

Two figures walk in, one wearing purple the other wearing the bear suit. Very clearly, it's Purple Guy and Phone Guy. Momentarily, Nate asks himself why they're both just Purple Guy and Phone Guy, then remembers Phone Guy is William Afton and Purple Guy is AJ and dismisses the questions. They look around and walk in slowly, taking each step carefully. Spooky quickly jumps behind a nearby bush, pulling everyone else behind it as well. Eggman, not as graceful as one might think, steps on a branch, breaking it and alerting the two men to their presence.

"You're going to get us killed," Goose whispers loudly.

"Don't be overdramatic," Eggman whispers back, "We won't get killed, just brainwashed."