Collision Course [+ Additional Levels]

Level Fifteen - Galaxy Beyond

Andrew tilted his head to the side. "What's your name?"

The other guy's eyebrows raised. "Hm? Oh, uh, it's Jessie."

He smiled at him and held out his hand. "The name's Andrew, here."

The other guy shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Andrew."

"Please, the pleasure's all mine." He pulled away. "I'm glad that I was able to stand as witness to your gameplay. You know, it's almost gross, actually, how you were able to smash right on through those screenlevels with that kind of score. You conquered it."

Jessie laughed. "I get that a lot. Especially around here."

"Well, of course you do, with lots of like-minded people around. This is where gamers come to recharge their batteries," Andrew told him. Suddenly, an idea hit him and his eyes widened. "Triple A!" he said with a snap of his fingers.

Jessie looked at him quizzically. "Huh? What do you mean?"

A grin spread across Andrew's face. "'Aqute Arcaders Arena'. Or, the 'Triple A'; a place for gamers to recharge their batteries."

"What!?" Jessie burst without thinking. He laughed as he thought it over. "I've never heard of that before, and I've hung out here quite a bit."

"I know, it's the first time I've heard of it too," Andrew replied with a chuckle, making the other teenager laugh again.

"You know what, you should totally share that with Mr. Watterson." At his confused expression, Jessie explained, "The older gentleman behind the front desk. He owns the arcade."

"Ah! That guy. Okay, yeah. I know who you're talking about now."

"I'm sure he'd have a hoot with that. What you've got there sounds like his new slogan."

Andrew nodded, leaning back to peer past the coin-op machines towards where Mr. Watterson was. "Sure thing. I'll have to remember to do that, right after I go through my space games."

"Your space games?"

"Yeah. I've got a short list of them that I've always gotta find when I'm at an arcade. I'm going to play them next. If I find all of them here, that is."

"You any good?"

"Better with them than I am at Donkey Kong."

Jessie folded his arms across his chest, looking at him thoughtfully. "A buddy of mine, he's over in the space aisle now. Or, should be."

Andrew's brows lifted. "There's a space aisle? Like, a whole aisle?"

"Yeah. It's surprisingly organized here. It's pretty convenient."

"Cool beans!"

"Yeah... My friend is wanting to warm up on some other games before he takes on this kind of game challenge. Here's the thing though... I'm afraid he'll frustrate himself out of the challenge."

Andrew tilted his head. "Oh, how come?"

Jessie winced. "The space aisle... He's not the greatest at those types of games, for some reason. Not a shooter type, and he doesn't do well with the kind of split-second decision-making that they require. He always gives some of them a try, but..." His mouth was open to say more, but he stopped and sighed, exhaling through his nostrils. He looked up at him hopefully. "Do you think you could maybe help him out a little?"

Andrew blinked in surprise. "Uh, yeah! For sure. You want me to just give him some pointers?"

He nodded. "Yes. You'd do that?"