Collision Course [+ Additional Levels]

Level Eighteen - Heavy Sleep

Now, Pacman slowly sat up in bed with a groan, rubbing his face, almost the same feeling in his gut. He remembered that someone had walked up to him. Slick had stood next to him, staring down at him through his sunglasses.

"Uh... hey." It was like after what had just happened, Slick hadn't quite known what else to say.

"QBert," he'd heard himself croak.

Slick quickly looked behind himself. "Yeah, uh... well, after whatever you did..."

Pacman had stared up, waiting expectantly for the next words.

The tall guy looked back down at him. "Anyway, he's still here, I guess. Didn't flicker an' vanish anywhere."

It had felt like he swallowed a rock, the lump in his throat had been so heavy. He quickly inhaled and exhaled shakily, relieved. "Dude, Slick..." He shook his head, heavy hand rubbing his face. He felt lightheaded. "Had me worried." That was an understatement.

"Yeah, sorry."

For some reason, he couldn't remember well what had happened next. He knew he'd sat up and checked on QBert's vitals, and at some point left Slick with his friend in his arms. Seemed like something that would stand out, seeing the pale face of his friend, feeling how alarmingly chilled his skin was, but finding a strong pulse and a drumming heartbeat. Yet it hadn't been. The memory was as blurred as carrying him out in the rain out to where Jumpman's ever-waiting truck was. He thought he could recall Jumpman running out and holding open the doors. He had a glimpse of his other friend's features creased with concern out in the rain.

Then, later, after they'd arrived at his friend's house, he remembered a little from then too. He'd awoken with a jolt. He'd seen QBert outside of the truck with Jumpman. At first, even at his weary state, he'd been overwhelmed with relief at the sight of his friend awake and standing. But QBert hadn't been well. No, he had been distraught about something.

Pacman leaned forward in the bed, drawing a knee up, face in his hands. As concerning as QBert's well-being was to him, something heavier pushed those thoughts aside, something seemingly more urgent.

What would have happened if Coily hadn't been stopped? Sure, Pacman had gone through the Game Code, fixed what Coily had done. He'd almost been finished too, just about―there'd just been this little thing about Ugg's memory. He hoped it was alright. But no, the other thing. What Coily almost had done to him personally.

That weakness he'd found. His glitch in his code. The one that not even his two closest friends knew about. Not that they needed to. It was his thing to deal with, his little issue. And yet, Coily had found it. It'd almost been exploited. What Coily would have done with it, what could have happened... Pacman guessed he'd never know. And he hoped he'd never have to find out. Coily couldn't have known what it was, exactly, except only that it was a flaw of his; a strained piece of his code that'd been stretched thin with time.

Pacman was suddenly uncomfortable being in bed. He pulled off the covers that hadn't actually been covering him much, and swung his legs over the side. Setting unsteady feet onto the floor, and staggered to his door, body still heavy with fatigue. This was deeper than from just sleep, though―this seemed to be set into his very core. Hm. He scratched the back of his head, wondering if this was what the term "bone tired" felt like, and looked about the living room. The kitchen light was on ahead, but the house was quiet. He recalled talking with Jumpman about him taking QBert out. To an arcade, maybe... yeah, that sounded right. Why there, he couldn't remember. Sounded like a bad idea right now, but maybe there was logical reasoning that had helped them draw to their conclusion back when they'd had their conversation. Yeah. So, he trusted that. And, he trusted Jumpman to do what was right. That alone was enough to ease his conscious.

Almost. That code... that flaw Coily had found... he couldn't seem to get it off his mind. Pacman looked at the couch, swaying a bit where he stood. That little flaw. He'd been trying to take care of it. By himself. And yet, it was still there. Maybe what he was doing wasn't working. Did he need help... with it...? But he was still confident he could get rid of it by himself. And he would. He would. Yes.

Feet like lead, as if they had a mind of their own, began walking towards the couch. Even after all this time, he knew he could take care of it. Deal with the little problem. And he'd find a way to work around it. Yeah, it could work, he thought sluggishly, not quite with himself. His body fell heavily onto the couch. He drew a pillow up beneath his head, arm beneath it, feeling feverish. It worried him so much, the flaw did, only because he'd forgotten it'd existed. He had been running for so long, been so... preoccupied, it had slowly but surely slipped from his mind. He'd started to think nothing of it. Then Coily had found it, brought it up again, almost used it against him, blah, blah, blah...

Thoughts swirled loosely in his head. As digital as he was, Coily melted into the depths of Pacman's mind, and he slowly descended into a heavy slumber, the coolness and the pressure of the pillow against his face comforting him. He sighed deeply, his last conscious thought ending up to be only of his two best friends. He hoped all was well with them, that they were having fun, and that QBert was finding the reprieve he needed.

Pacman slept so hard, he didn't dream for the rest of the evening.