Joe Rover

Reality Q!-ee-7B

Current status: Fallen World

Large roots smashed to our left and right as I maneuvered the Mutt side to side. The purple and white sports motorcycle hovered inches off the cracking ground, purple energy humming from the folded wheels.

The city around us cracked and crumbled. Roots snakes through buildings and the sky was red. The Sun was now black as it changed from normal light to darklight. Buildings moaned as they twisted into unnatural shapes. The clouds became darker than tornado clouds.

Another root struck near us.

The bridge moaned and shockwaves of dust blasted out like a mini-tsunami. Other roots grew along the sides, twisting the metal.

“How did I ever let you talk me into this?” I said to Danny. I turned to the teen in the sidecar. He turned his head to me; his expression was barely noticeable through the helmet.

“Everyone else was doing it!” he said.

He, unfortunately, was right. A fallen world like this was prime scavenging. Blue Light Technologies was here to evacuate as many people as possible while others were here to collect remnants to sell.

This world, for whatever reason, fell to Entropy (or Nothingness). It was literally falling apart. Goodness and Hope vanished from the world leaving it in ruins. Those that could be evacuated would go to another reality. If they chose, they would be sent to video game realities where they might become playable or non-playable characters.

The rest of the world was open game for people like Asset Hunters, who look for items, animals, or locations to sell to creatives, like game developers. Even though it is illegal, some will abduct people.

Danny and I were here to find some possible game assets. The leftover matter will fade into the Wastelands anyway.

I risked a look back.

The swarm of fungus people were still chasing us.

The fungus creatures grow on worlds that are falling into Darkness. They start out looking similar to mushrooms, but they can evolve into more humanoid creatures; they are the mushrooms you don’t want to eat or touch. Their roots/infection spread across the planet causing corruption, decay, distrust, and so on; they infect your mind. They twist minds; they twist matter.

They are a part of The Nothing, a being that wants to destroy all of Creation.

“Joe!” shouted Danny.

A root, probably from another fungal group, whacked the Mutt.

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Reaction: The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien Ch 5-7

Arlo’s coughing fit and frightened attitude suggests that the Ghost’s Gift, a boon given to the winner, has the classic “you can’t tell” curse attached. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a choice between getting what you want and something more morally right, like freeing Abigail or saving your friends.

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When I recovered, I saw the Mutt on its side. The sidecar was a few feet away…empty. My arms were cut, and I had a cut on my right leg; they were already starting to heal.

“Danny?” I said looking for him.

“Over here,” he said. He hit the guardrail that blocked the bridge’s edge.

I climbed to my feet and rushed towards him. The bridge around Danny, like some cartoon character sawing a hole around himself, cracked. A second later, the guardrail broke sending bits of concrete into the water below. Danny started to slide towards the edge.

I whipped out the Claw, a Dog Toy that looks like a purple and white retractable leash with a dog paw and claw as the hook. I fired the Claw. It hooked Danny’s leg as he tumbled over the edge. I groaned as I planted my feet and tried to reel him in like a bass.

One of the fungus roots cut through the Claw’s glowing energy line like a anime swordsman slashing through their opponent. The rope snapped; I stumbled; Danny fell.

I dashed towards the edge of the bridge. As I did, my belt’s Fabricator created my fire hydrant jet pack. I leapt off the edge like an Olympian going for their final chance at the gold medal. Sweat dripped down my face. My eyes and face became fear and focus.

Danny put his hands behind his head, closed his eyes, and whistled.

The jet pack’s ion stream pushed me towards Danny. I snagged him out of the air.

Danny blinked his eyes repeatedly. “My hero,” he said in a falsetto voice.

“Don’t make it weird, dude.”

I flew us to a route parallel to the ground instead of straight for it.

“I think it’s time to leave,” I said.

“Brain’s not going to like that you destroyed another Mutt.”

“He’ll live,” I said.

“But you will not!” said a cold voice. It reverberated through my bones.

The Nothing faded into view like some being appearing out of the mist. He/It was massive! He was a (at least) 100-foot, humanoid mushroom with a root-tentacle beard. The tentacle-beard looked like it was a city block, or two, long. Long blades stretched the length of His arms. Under his mushroom cap were glowing red eyes.

Ancient glyphs along his arms glowed red. “I have you now!” The Nothing said in a brutal voice.

“Definitely time to go,” I said.

Large, spear-like roots erupted from the ground. I went left and right as the root-towers stabbed at us. Car alarms sounded under us as the spires broke free from underground. A building crumbled as one broke through it. Not only did I have to dodge the roots but the pieces of building as well.

Meanwhile, Danny played a game on his Omni-Cuff phone.

“Dude!” I said.

“You got this. I’ve got faith in you.”

A swarm of roots came at us from every angle. I had to put us in a spin as we passed through the tunnel of fungal roots. We broke free just as the swarm closed.

I spotted our exit. An obsidian-like gate with red, green, blue, and white gems in the corners waited in a plaza area. BLT ships headed for the door-sized omnigate. As soon as any piece of the ship touched the mirror-like surface, the omnigate pulled the ship in like a friendly black hole.

I saw a few Asset Hunters fighting off tentacle-roots. They hopped through the gate as soon as they could. Normally, they’d find another way home–one that didn’t lead right to BLT Tower; but with The Nothing here, everyone was more concerned with surviving.

A wall of roots popped up in front of us. I heard The Nothing laugh.

“It is finally time to die,” He chuckled.

I narrowed my eyes. “Cover your ears, Danny.”

Danny stuck earbuds into his ears and played loud rock music.

“That works too,” I said.

I increased the speed on the jet pack. I inhaled.

I howled.

“AAAAOOOOO!!!”

The roots shattered from the sonic attack. We zipped through the hole and raced towards the omnigate.

“NOOOO!!” shouted The Nothing. A claw-hand came straight for us.

Just a little further!

“You cannot escape! Your time is–“

ZAP!

Danny and I blasted out the other end of the omnigate. I screamed when I saw us heading right for the Pathfinder DJ Booth. The pathfinder’s eyes went wide. I angled us away from the booth.

“Whew,” said the pathfinder.

Danny and I left the omnigate terminal and onto the BLT work floor. People screamed as we shot overhead. Fortunately, I think we only destroyed one cubicle before our crash landing in some business appropriate plants.

“Joel! Tobias! ROVER!!” shouted the Manager, boss of the Supervisors.

“Oh boy,” I said.

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If you like this short story, check out the other Joe Rover books:

• Not So Secret Origins
• Dogboy Reborn
• The Wizard of New Town
• The Life of Ace Journeyman
• Tails From the Omniverse