Collision Course [+ Additional Levels]

Level Eighteen - Heavy Sleep

He was code.

Something activated within him, which released an energy that he had been holding back. The small shockwave blew back some of the attacking code, and the strong grips loosened. At this point, he didn't care anymore―he was going to infect Coily. If setting things right for the sake of his friend QBert, and for whoever Coily's human victim was―even for Ugg and Slick, who apparently had no part in this except that they were subject to Coily's whim―meant that he was to become a virus, then so be it. His own vibrant code flowed from him and surrounded Coily's code that was attacking him. In the midst of the purple cloud, electricity crackling through it and past him, he thought he could see Coily's face. Inside of him, he felt fierce determination rise up, pushing past the doubt. He was going to end this.

"Reverse the effects! Return rule twenty seven!" he shouted amidst the chaos of Coily's code that surrounded him.

Energy erupted from him. A yellow crackling wave exploded from his form. Every purple number throughout the void jerked violently in their places as they came in contact with it. His mind expanded, Coily's data becoming his own.

And he found what he needed. The access to change what had been misused for selfish intent: the Game Code.

In that place, he faintly recalled a vault of some sort. It seemed odd to him that this was one of the first things that stood out. Something had been encased in hardened coding. He wasn't sure if it was actually there, or if he'd just thought it up. And yet, it bothered him to let it go, to have it shrugged off, dismissed. Was it a part of his imagination, or was it not? It nagged him, gnawed at him. It had been like there was a glitch that covered it, kept it hidden. And the only reason he'd seen it was because of his access to the Game Code.

And what a crazy amount of energy he had. It was like the power of a waterfall, but instead of crushing him, it coursed through him. Every swish of his foot, every flick of his wrist, even twitch of his finger, there was a shockwave. The light around him was brilliant, the once dark void now yellow like daylight, the digits white once more. It was incredible. It was a hacker's dream that he was in. He was literally able to interact and create lines of code with his own mind. It was awesome. And efficient, sheesh. It made real easy work of it. Well, easier.

There was a zap. It shocked him. His nerves shot, he shakily glanced around for the source. Suddenly, with a gasp, he phased in and out of the work space he was in, to another place that was quite dark. So dark, he wouldn't have been sure if it'd just been him blinking if his travel hadn't vibrated his entire body. It was like he was being... teleported...

He had no clue where he was. It was quiet. Almost eerily so, yet also somehow comforting. It seemed to wrap around him in an embrace. He floated in a void so dark. It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before, he was sure of it. So... how was it familiar?

He seemed to blink, and he was back to the Game Code. The odd experience passed by without a second thought. Computing this quickly, he didn't have the time nor concentration to mull it over. He was crunching the numbers. Had to get back to work. Focus. Fix the problem. Reverse the effects. Return rule twenty seven. Yeah, that. Floating through what seemed like sunshine, he bumped into something, and looked down at his left leg. Oh, yeah―that vault! It seemed to blend into its surroundings. Or, was it? He still questioned it even being there.

Suddenly, Coily. Who just showed up. In his face.

As his thoughts were interrupted with "What!?" and "How!?", the purple snake snarled its fangs at him, and his instincts kicked in just in time, jerking his head back away from the attack. Still in shock and led purely by reflex, he unhelpfully kind of just swatted Coily's head, causing it to drift to the side. Agitated, Coily lunged for him. It happened so fast, he didn't have time to think before he punched him back, landing a solid blow to the snake's face.