A Glitch In The Circus

Kernal Hunt

In the halls of the Tent, Pomni is looking side to side, tip-toeing past the doors that house her friends' rooms. As she did so, thoughts filled her head. A year... It had been almost a FULL YEAR since she wound up in the cartoon physics-run, brightly colored, "family friendly" purgatory she was forced to call home. It's true that her time here wasn't... ENTIRELY awful, but she had made it her mission to find an exit and get out. Next to no progress was made to getting into the game's actual base file, but this little meeting MIGHT be what she's looking for.

Upon reaching Ares' door, she rings the doorbell (that's there for some reason), the ringing echoing from within. The door opens a creak before quickly closing, leaving her confused before it opens again, revealing Ares' arm poking out that now controls a hand puppet.... That looked like her for some weird reason.

Ares: *through puppet* Password?

Pomni: Honey glazed salmon...

He makes the puppet look back through the door before receding his hand. Ares then opens the door for her.

Ares: Come on in, partner.

Pomni enters the room as she follows her friend, spotting Rhodes already inside and leaning against the wall near the dresser before approaching.

Rhodes: You sure we couldn't just do this somewhere else?

Ares: I have my VPN on me and our rooms are the only place Caine won't be able to see or hear us.

Pomni: And with how Caine is with his firewall, we can't take any chances. If he finds out, we're finished.

Rhodes: *nods* Hmph. Alright, then. Let me just.... *taps temple* Cosgrove, we're together. You clear?

Like before, the blue symbol on the robot's head projects a beam of light and forms a holographic rectangle, which forms a screen to show Cosgrove.

Cosgrove: Loud and clear. I have about 2 hours before I need to make something up to get the superiors off our tail.

Rhodes: Good. Before we begin, this is Pomni and Ares. They've been running this little operation before I lent my hand for aid. Guys, this is my partner, Lawrence Cosgrove. He's the one that managed to help me get in without losing my memories with his modified headset.

Pomni: Uh... H-Hi.

Ares: Hey there.

Cosgrove: *nods* Insert pleasantries here. Now, onto business. I've been digging up into files regarding C&A. Pomni, was it? You said you were zapped here with... THIS headset?

A projection then shows a familiar VR headset device that makes Pomni flinch in recognition before staring.

Pomni: I.... Y-Yeah. That's the headset! Actually... When I first discovered my powers, I looked up the Digital Circus myself.

Ares: Really? What did you find?

Pomni: Not much that could help, but the game was pitched by someone named Sean Chiplock.

Cosgrove: Hm... *typing is heard* Ah, I think I know your man. He was a programmer and game designer who worked with wife, Jessica, along with several others in order to create a game that would give everyone a sort of "escape from the hardships of reality". That's all it says before he and his wife, along with the entire original programming team disappeared almost 20 years ago.

Pomni: Kinger said he was in the Circus for 15 years! You think he could be one of those programmers?

Ares: Maybe, I dunno. Anything else you can remember?

Pomni: A... A commercial. It was advertising the game and the headset, but besides something about a chip, we don't have much to go on.

Cosgrove: I think I know what you're talking about.