Collision Course [+ Additional Levels]

Level Fourteen - Strange Feelings

Even QBert looked surprised at this.

Sweatshirt let out a low whistle. "Is that even possible, Mr. Watt?"

Mr. Watterson looked at him with an almost sly smile. "What, me allowing him to use the arcades without payin', or him beating the game's [number of levels] in an hour with three quarters?" he asked him.

Sweatshirt looked between them and shrugged. "Well, when you put it that way..."

QBert laughed.

The other kid frowned at him. "What's so funny?" he asked. "You're never gonna actually beat it."

QBert smirked at him. "Don't count on it," he told him. Then, to his friend, he asked casually, "You got the quarters, Jay?"

Jumpman nodded. He grinned and walked off. "Then let's play some video games."

****

"Their love, being kindled at first sight, was strong. The two would never leave each other. They lived in happy bliss, enjoying each other's company, living a joyful existence. And yet, it was not meant to be... One day, the humbla pumbler―I mean, pumble humbler―no that isn't it," the narrator chuckled. Licking his lips, he tried again. "One day, the plumble mumbler―no, the humble pumple―ergh! Mumble, numble, blah deeda deeda." The narrator paused to recompose himself with a short exercise that consisted of waggling his tongue in his mouth and gibbering of mumbo jumbo. Then, with a shake of his head, he cleared his throat loudly and tried once more. "They lived happy and sweet and unicorns and blah, blah, blah. But it was not meant to be. One day, the humble, plumber, came home to find that his beloved was missing! Taken, by the one, the only, dreaded gorilla, Donkey Kong!"

"Uh... Moe?"

"The plumber's search for the villain sent him underground, where his arch nemesis awaited him."

"Uh, dude..."

"The malevolent ape began his cliched monologuing, setting the premises for his twisted game―"

"Moe."

The narrator finally turned and looked at his friend, his hands at the controls. "What?"

Andrew cocked an eyebrow at him, giving him a funny look. "What... are you doing?"

Moe glanced at the Donkey Kong game in front of him. "Playing. Why?" he replied.

Andrew just looked at him. "Really? Because it sounds to me more like storytelling."

His friend grinned, and looked back at his game with a shrug. "Just making things more interesting. Can't help but have fun with it."

Andrew rolled his eyes with a sigh, turning away from him to go back to playing his game. "Drama King."

"Don't you know it," Moe replied. "Oh, hey, those initials are they same as Donkey Ko―aah!" he suddenly cried.

Andrew whipped around in surprise. "Moe?" However, he quickly realized that he shouldn't have been so worried.

"Our valiant hero is nearly barbequed by Donkey Kong's flaming goons!" Moe shouted, gripping the joystick on the dashboard like it was his lifeline. "No! Stupid barrel," he growled suddenly, breaking from his narration. "Stop! Wait! I've gotta get to the damsel in―"

They both watched the main character spin in place and lay down, a halo hovering above his head.

"... distress," Moe finished, staring at the screen as the tune of death sounded from the machine. White text appeared in the middle of the screen, the dreaded words reading "GAME OVER". Andrew looked at Moe to see what his reaction would be. For a couple seconds, the stumped teenager just stood there, staring at the screen, even as the home page appeared. Finally, it came.