Collision Course [+ Additional Levels]

Level Twelve - Still Dreaming

"QBert?" Jumpman asked softly, causing him to focus.

He licked his dry lips, frowning. "What happened?" he asked. He winced when he found that his throat felt raw, his voice coming out hoarse. He coughed a little, and rubbed his neck.

"I'm not sure exactly," Jumpman replied with a small shrug. He glanced at Pacman. "From what he said, Coily had screwed up some of the rules, and after they were set right again, he carried you out and into the Denali."

QBert rose his brows in surprise. "He... He carried me out? All the way in here?"

Jumpman blinked. "Yeah... he did."

"All by himself?" QBert went on.

Jumpman, wordlessly turned his head to look at Pacman. And then, facing QBert again, said, "Yeah, I was kinda impressed too."

"Heh..." QBert shook his head, mildly amused. As his mind started catching up to the rest of what he'd heard, though, the smile slipped from his face. "How'd he get the rule back in place?"

Jumpman snuck another glance at Pac. "Didn't say."

"Why not?"

"He passed out."

QBert paused, and looked over at Pacman. The night slowly came back to him. He remembered him lunging at Coily, code attacking his brain, he thought he saw Pacman tackle Coily, hearing shouts, and then. . .

He shook his head and frowned at the memory. "Do you know what happened to him?"

Jumpman let out a soft sigh. "No. All I know is that after he got you in the truck and clambered in after you, he had started shaking and could barely get the words out to me before he nodded off." He looked to him. "Do you know what happened to him?"

He shook his head. "The last thing I remember is this bright yellow light..."

Jumpman's brows shot up. "Yellow?"

They simultaneously looked at their friend. Jumpman's brow creased with worry. "Well, whatever he did, it definitely took its toll on him," he said, speaking aloud their thoughts. "I'm telling you, QBert. He was barely keeping himself upright."

"Sorry, but I don't know what happened to him," he said with a grimace. "The room had just suddenly filled with bright light, and then..."

Jumpman looked at him in surprise. "And then?" he prompted.

"And then nothing," QBert replied dismissively. "Nothing else."

Jumpman cocked an eyebrow at him skeptically. "Oh, really?" he asked.

He frowned at him. "Yeah. Nothing." It was just his imagination anyway... right?

Jumpman tilted his head to one side. "Who's Mira?"

QBert's blood ran cold, and he jerked up in his seat. "How did you―?"

His friend looked back at him, his expression neutral. "You were talking in your sleep."

He leaned back. "So it was a dream," he said in relief. "Wait, no, but then...? Ergh!" He put the heels of his palms against his forehead in frustration. "I don't know."

Jumpman looked at him questioningly. "Huh?"

"I...." He slammed his hands down, growling. "I don't know, okay?" he said loudly. Jumpman hastily cast a worried glance at Pacman and opened his mouth to say something, but QBert wasn't finished. "I don't know how Coily was able to screw up the rules, I don't know who Mira is, I don't know... yeah. I don't know. I don't know, I... I-I just...."