Chapter 9: Runaways
~TASCORP Arena~
Coconut Boy: Whoa... is this that secret level, Tari?
Tari: Theo... we have to get out of here. Now.
Lo: Listen. We don't mean any harm. We're just... confused, that's all.
Lucks: Relax, you three. There's no need to panic. Forgive me for that unpleasantness. Understand that it was not my intention. My name is Lucks, & I truly wish to help you figure out more about all of your abilities.
Zel: Excuse me, but why am I part of this?
Lucks: (to Zel) Because you're his younger sister, & I assumed you two are part of this "event".
(For Lo, the term "younger sister" sounds a bit familiar)
Tari: Then what was it with all of the hurting?
Lucks: That was us trying to get you out of the game. And it worked, did it not?
Lo: Zel, Tari, we all have to leave. Sounds to me like they're doing a bit of manipulation.
Tari: Excuse me, but who are you?
Lo: (grabs Zel & Tari by their hands) Trust me.
(The three dashed off, even shoving the guard off in the process)
Theo: (to Lucks) Bye final boss. We're going to kill you later.
~Silica City Streets~
(The four ran off to the bustling streets of the city)
Theo: Crackerjack. Everything is so shiny. I want to touch everything.
Tari: Get off me. (frees her arm from his grasp) Who are you two, & why are you following me?
Lo: Listen, Tari. We don't mean any harm. We're from a... (thinks about it, then leans to Zel) Honestly, I can't tell to make the "we're from an alternate universe" believable.
Tari: & I am sure not to believe that. Now if you'd excuse me, I'm gonna find (notices that he's missing) Theo. Not again. (parts with the two) Where are you, coconut boy? (bumps to a bystander) Sorry.
Zel: So... now what?
Lo: We need to find more answers.
(The two then find a suave dark-skinned Meta Runner in a nearby jet-blue car. He sees Tari grabbing Theo & heading to a nearby alley that's close to an internet cafe)
?????: Alright. I got eyes on the target.
????: Make sure you don't lose sight of her. She'll be the key.
?????: Whatever you say, Masa. (hangs up, then notices Lo & Zel) Whoa, hold on. This spot is off-limits.
Zel: Please, sir. We are just looking for a blue-haired girl & his short green-haired friend. Her name is Tari &-
?????: Hold on. How did you know about Tari?
(5 minutes later, Lo & Zel took turns explaining to the Meta Runner)
Zel: & that... is what happened.
?????: (thinks about it, then opens up the car door) Come inside.
Lo: You serious?
Lamar: Of course. You don't seem to be bad guys, & it was enough for me. I'm Lamar, by the way.
Zel: Thanks. I'm Zel, this is Lo, who is not my brother, & (hears some struggling, only for the three to see Tari being dragged to one of TAS-CORP's vans) seems like she needs our help.
Theo: (sees Tari from behind a beam) No... Tari.
Lamar: (walks up behind him) Don't worry, little man. We got this.
Theo: (sees Lo & Zel) The blond twins?
Zel: Wassup, Theo.
Lo: Don't you worry, little one. We'll get her back. Now come on.
(The four then entered the car & sped off. It took them a brief while for the four to catch up)
Zel: (sees Lamar setting his eyes on the van) Ugh Lamar. You're getting a bit too close.
Lamar: Then you'd better buckle up.
(As the four clipped their seatbelts on, Lamar punches the pedal & speeds far to the van's side, colliding with it in a large thud)
(Tari steps out of the van coughing, only to notice Theo popping out of the car's sunroof)
Theo: Hey, Tari.
Tari: What? Theo?
(Luck's car, however, had caught up with them)
Lucks: Belle, is the girl alright? (notices Theo) YOU!
(Theo taunts the boss & opens the car doors for Tari to get in)
Tari: (gets into the front seat only to notice Lo in the middle) What the? How do you get here?
Lo: (to Lamar) FLOOR IT!
(The car speeds off the crash scene, leaving Belle a bit infuriated)
Tari: Theo, are you ok? What's going on? (sees Lamar) Who are you?
Lamar: Damn, that's an interesting way to say "Thank You" to someone who just saved your ass.
Zel: This is Lamar, & he agreed to help all of us.
Lo: (to Theo) & don't you dare mess with that body pillow there. That's Nova-chan, Lamar's comfort waifu.
Theo: I LIKE HER.
(The rest of the trip was a blur for Lo & Zel, but they do remember a ton of adrenaline, Tari taking gear shift, and being carsick. They eventually arrived at a small ramen shop)
Theo: Oooh, dinner. I'm starving.
Tari: I don't think we're here for food, Theo.
(Lamar then opens the doors for the gang to go in)
Tari: Lamar, why did you take us to a ramen restaurant?
(Lamar doesn't even ask & opens another room. A room where his team is working)
Lo: Wooooaaaahhhh.
Zel: Man, I wish our apartment looked like that.
Lamar: Masa, my man. We're here.
(As the black-haired individual heads somewhere, a blond-haired mechanic takes notice of the five & starts raving about them)
Theo: Hiya.
?????: (takes a closer look) Oh my gosh, you're here! You're finally here! I'm so glad to see the five of you in one piece!
Zel: Geez. Ever heard of boundaries?
Sofia: Oh sorry. My name is Sofia, & man, your driving skills are extraordinary, Tari!
(As Sofia talks to the five, Lo & Tari see Masa walk through his room. Something tells them that he doesn't take kindly to visitors)
(Later, Lamar talks about how they initially wanted to spy on Lucks to get some shady info on TAS-CORP before Tari, Lo & the others arrived)
Lamar: The original plan was to just get intel on Lucks & TAS-CORP. But, that all changed when you (to Tari) showed up.
Tari: Me?
Sofia: You went into the video game! That's unheard of! (to Lo) & it seems that you are part of this as well.
Lo: Well, only a bit. (looks on his arm) & to be frank, this WAS made alongside a Meta Runner by any chance. (to Zel) Is it possible?
Zel: How was I supposed to know? (to Sofia) & what is your business here?
Sofia: We call ourselves MD-5, & our plan is (strikes a menacing pose) TO TAKE DOWN THE EVIL CONGLOMERATE TAS-CORP!
Lo: I'mma assume that they did some more heinous deeds than overpricing their merch?
Lamar: Way more evil than that. You saw what they wanted to do to Tari. They just... destroy way more than other's lives.
Sofia: But, with you four on our side, I think we have a shot at taking them down!
(Tari tries to back down, but Zel assures her that they will be fine)
Lo: Alright team, what shall we do first?
(Masa then puts Tari through the test by an FPS battle. As for Lo, Lamar's got something in mind)
Lo: A round of Smash Bros?
Lamar: Yeah, man. We're going to see if you have what it takes to be a true fighter. Plus, Masa forced me to do it.
Lo: Seems fair.
(As the round begins, Lamar, who plays as Pikachu, already takes quick work against Lo's avatar, Mega Man. Lo is quick on evading his feet, but barely budges on blowing Lamar easily [his first KO is caused by an Assist Trophy])
Lamar: Man, you are trying too hard. Just focus, Lo. & it will come to you.
(Lo takes a deep breath & starts getting to the zone... only to find he's in an arena with his left arm as a cannon)
Lo: What the (gets Volt Tackled off the stage & lost a life)
Lamar: Damn boi. You got Tari's skills as well?
Lo: Whoa. So this is what Tari felt all of the time? It feels... powerful.
Lamar: (walks up to him) This is the way of a Meta Runner, man. Now push forward & take a big sho-
(He gets interrupted when Lo fires another beam at him, blowing him off the map again & losing another life)
Lamar: Oh hohoo, now we're REALLY COOKING!
(The two then clashed together more time on the battlefield. Sparks go off, close calls are invoked, & Lo has never felt so alive. But then, Lo gets forced off a ledge, hanging for his final life. His opponent already comes close)
Lamar: I say, you sure got skills, little man. But I think it's time we'll end this.
(Lo then noticed a nearby fiery Smash ball behind Pikachu & a bunch of ledges close by)
Any last words, bucko?
Lo: Only two... (prepares his gravity boots) THINK FAST! (fires a metal saw at him, on which he dodges. Lo then leaps near the ledges & breaks the Smash ball. Aiming directly at Lamar, he feels the other vestiges of his character are cooperating with him) & thanks for the training.
(Lo then fires his Final Smash beam directly at Lamar & KO-s him once & for all. He barely feels the satisfaction of victory before he gets sent back to the couch)
Zel: Woah... (to Lo) THAT WAS AMAZING! I can't believe you pulled a save like that!
Lo: Thanks. (to Lamar) Does that mean I get the cut?
Lamar: You sure did, boy. Boy, I tell you, that was EPIC when you pulled that final upset. (lends out his arm) Welcome to the MD-5, Lo.
(Lo then shakes his hand, not even caring about trying to find their way back. He already made up his mind to take down TAS-CORP first & get back home later. For now, Lo hopes that the others are alright)
End of Ch. 9
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Electric_Logan
Electric_Logan I felt I go beyond the 1000 word per chapter limit because I want to condense more of the 1st season. Worth it. Also, Lo & Zel are worried to Theo again due to his glitching due to him being outside of the game. Next chapter sets them up to the big game. Get ready!
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