Get Scrapped

Chapter 1: Call Me Call Me

Chapter theme: Call Me Call Me by Steve Conte

"Shake it love, shake it shake it, shake it shake it love, naui mam-e deul-eowaseo-"

The blaring pop song was cut off as Eli picked up the receiver.

"Shane residence," was his greeting, as usual.

"Hello!" said a masculine, obnoxiously cheerful voice from the other end. "Am I speaking to Mr Eli Shane?"

"...yes?" Eli said hesitantly.

"Mr Shane, my name is Gerald and I'm calling on behalf of Bullseye Cavern Ligh-"

"We already have all the lighting we need for this place, thank you!" Eli snapped, and he slammed the receiver down with a sigh.

"Are you kidding me?" asked Kord from the couch. "That's the third time they've called this week!"

"I thought I said we should take this address off their calling list?" asked Trixie. "Finishing move."

She casually pressed a button on her controller, and the cave troll three times her size was left gaping at the screen in horror.

"Face it, big guy," she said smugly. "You aren't ever going to beat me."

Kord buried his face in his hands.

"You're right," he groaned. "I don't know why I even bothered."

"Never fear, my cerulean compadre!" Pronto offered a less-than-comforting pat on the knee. "Pronto shall avenge you in your defeat, and in your honour, he shall obtain the... uh... the..."

He glanced from the TV screen to Trixie, who was eyeing him in amusement.

"What is the point of this again?" he asked.

"To win the Golden Grenuker," Trixie said flatly as the game returned to its title screen. "That's why the game is called 'Legends of the Golden Grenuker'. I'm the only one who's ever actually won it without dying even once, of course-"

"Then Pronto the Legendary will obliterate your winning streak!" Pronto triumphantly snatched the controller from Kord's hands. "Prepare for an emotional annihilation the likes of which you have never been familiar with!"

"Wait," said Junjie from the other room, and he entered carrying his slugs and all of them wearing excited smiles. "This is an event I do not want to miss."

"Well hey, make some popcorn if you're that excited," Kord said unenthusiastically.

As the onlookers waited with baited breath, Trixie loaded up a new match - a one-on-one PvP - and shared a daring glance with Pronto.

Eli and Junjie leaned in closer, eyes fixed on the screen, as large fiery numbers counted down from 3... 2... 1...

BEGIN!

Trixie's fingers raced over her controller and she bit her lip in determination as Pronto pressed a button and discovered that it made his character crouch, avoiding punches and leading Trixie to adopt a kicking strategy. The Molenoid desperately fiddled with toggles and triggers, trying to figure out which would activate his combos, but it was too little too late as Trixie happily played her finishing move and Pronto's character promptly exploded.

Now it was Pronto who was gaping at the screen, though this time he was accompanied by a background of Eli and Junjie struggling to contain their laughter and Kord side-eyeing him with a happy little smirk.