Life after game over

Chapter 1 Loss

((This is a redo of my fic ready to be new again. I wanted to start over and fix some things with the twins story.

Here is a link to music that helps set the mood for this chapter /k68thGEDlx8 ))

There are two types of game over. One is when a player messes up and gets the character they are playing as killed. The character is perfectally fine and will regenerate right after, or be sent to the beginning of the game. The second type of game over is more deadly. More permanent.

Either a character dies outside their game with no chance of regenerating, or their game gets unplugged. With an unplugging it's not entirely game over, if you get out on time. For some once their game is gone they move on to other games and can even get added into the games code. Others stay in game central and make that their home.

Never in all the years of the arcade being open however has anyone attempted to purposely take down someone else's game. Till now.

Crash stood in front of what only five minutes ago was the entrance to his game. A game that was just unplugged. Turbo Time was no more. Burn, his twin, stood next to him. Burn opened his mouth to say something but could not find the right words. They had just made it out in time along with the other two, their good friend Axl and dad figure Nitrous.

"What the fuck, Burn!"

A tall brunette quickly walked over to the twins with his fists clenched. He was a friend of Burn's and one of the only two survivors from Road Blasters. The other game that got unplugged.

"You made it, where is everyone else from your game?"

"Dead! Me and Riley were the only ones close enough to the exit to get out on time. Everyone else is dead! That demonic gremlin from your game killed everyone I cared about! Tommy, Eve." He paused for a moment to take a deep breath "He killed my brother...You can't lie to me and say you had no idea this was going to happen"

"I-I didn't.."

"You didn't...Bullshit! Your brother is his fling right? He didn't know? Your always around those two yet you didn't know? My sister is a mess because of all of this."

Riley, Drake's sister, was on the ground in tears by the entrance that no longer went to her game.

"Turbo doesn't really talk about things or think them through before acting on them, Drake. And he certainly would not talk to me about anything. So no, I had no idea he would go this far, but what I do know for certain is you must have really pissed him off for him to take it this far."

"Why do you defend him!?"

"Because, He's family."

"Well one good thing came from my game going down. That bastard went down with it."

Before Drake could say another word or leave Crash turned to him and punched him right in the face. A little bit of blood was now on his fist.

"That's it!" Drake raised his fist to punch back but it was held back by a taller figure.

"Enough. All of you" Nitrous let go of Drake's wrist. "You, your not a bad guy inside or out, instead of picking a fight with my boys why don't ya go help your sister. She'll be needing a shoulder to cry on"

Drake left without another word.

"Crash, what I tell ya about picking fights?"

"He started it."

"That is no excuse." Nitrous sighted. "We have all been through a lot today. Crash, why don't ya go clean up your hand. You two stay outta trouble. I have a few friends who may let me get coded into their game but I gotta talk it out first. I'll see if I can take ya boys with me."

"What about Axl?" Burn asked.

"He's going to talk to another game about staying there. Put his music skills to good use. You boys will be okay for a while?

"We'll be okay so long as we stick together." Burn said.

Nitrous gave a quick nod and left.

Burn looked over to his brother.

"I'll be fine" Crash said.

"Maybe eventually but not right now." Burn pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to his twin.

"It's just hard to process all of this right now, Burn" He cleaned up his hand.

"I know"

The rest of the day was pretty quiet and uneventful for the twins. They found a bench way off to one side of game central where they sat for most of the day. Felix had come over to talk to them at one point. He offered a room in his game if they needed it and gave them a cherry pie to snack on.

Burn thanked him and turned down the room offer for now. The pie they got was delicious and it seemed to put Crash in a better mood.

Axl had found them a while later and stayed with them for a chat. He informed them that he would be getting coded into a new game soon. The game was impressed with his music skills. Axl lit up when talking about it, music had always been a passion for him.

Not long after Nitrous had joined the group. He too was accepted into a new game. Sunday, when the arcade is closed, He would get coded in. He mentioned that the game wasn't to sure about the twins but after he put in a good word the game allowed them in. Their was just one condition, The boys would have to behave and prove themselves if they wanted to stay there. Especially if they wanted to be coded in.

Nitrous would be getting a cabin that both Crash and Burn could stay in but they would not be a part of the game a first. This was okay with the twins as they were unsure if they wanted to be coded into another game so soon. And they could hangout in game central while the arcade was open. It seemed like it would work out for them, for now.

To celebrate new beginnings the group decided to go to tappers for a round of drinks. The twins trailing behind the other two.

"How do you do it?" Crash asked.

"Do what?"

"How are you being strong? And not letting things get to you?"

Burn half smiled.

"One of us has to be, right? Trust me theirs a lot on my mind right now too. I'd probably break down and cry if there weren't so many people around. We can't change anything that happened. It's best to keep going forward."

Burn linked arms with his brother. "It's gonna be alright, Crashie. We still have eachother."