Brian Saves the World, Maybe

Chapter 39 - Shenanigans

"Floor number," Zed said, looking at Brian.

Brian frowned, considering. The bunker had been on floor -21. He pressed the button, but nothing happened.

"Floor number," Zed repeated.

"Floor -21, please."

Zed inserted a key in the button panel and pressed the button for floor -21.

The elevator lurched and began its descent. As he waited, Brian wondered what could be on all those other floors. That's like, 42 floors.

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. Brian looked out into a long, brightly-lit corridor with white walls. Exactly like the bunker! Brian thought, frowning.

"Question- what is this place?" he asked Zed.

"This is floor -21."

"Right, why did I ask?" Brian muttered. After some hesitation, he began walking down the hallway, Zed following. The place was eerily quiet. The only sounds were Brian's footsteps as he made his way down the long corridor. Kind of creepy, he thought. He passed some doors, checking each one, but all were locked.

When he reached a "T," he thought it looked familiar and turned right. Sure enough, he soon came upon an open area with seating and vending machines. Yeah, Dale and I were sitting right over there!

He walked over to what appeared to be the same chair he had been sitting in when visiting the bunker and sat down. Zed stood off to the side, waiting quietly.

Brian sat staring at the floor, chewing on his lip. This place seems to be an exact replica of the bunker. But, how is that possible? He scratched his head. One thing was clear. The Borae knew about the bunker. And that had to mean one of two things. Either Aunt Carol didn't know of the Borae's knowledge of the bunker, or she was involved with them, somehow. If the first was true, he needed to tell her right away. But if it was the second possibility... What then?

Brian, didn't you say that your aunt claimed she had been in contact with one of the Borae?

Brian's eyes widened.

"Zed!" he shouted, turning to the avatar.

Zed looked at him blankly.

"Question. Do you know my aunt Carol?"

The avatar blinked. "I am afraid I cannot help you with that. Would you like to speak to the Operator?"

Brian raised an eyebrow. "Question. Who is the operator?"

"The Operator can help you. Would you like to speak to the Operator?"

"Yes!"

"Very well. Password?"

"What?"

"Incorrect. Please try again. Password?"

Brian scowled. He wants a password? Then he remembered the trick Dale had used. "Password," he said, grinning.

"Incorrect. Please try again. Password?

Brian put his head in his hand, groaning. "Maybe later. I need coffee."

"Incorrect. Please try again..."

* * *

Brian blinked a few times, shaking his head to clear away the fog.

"Boss!"

Brian jumped, almost falling out of his seat, and turned, to see Ralph starting at him. "Ralph, don't scare me like that! What are you doing here?" As he finished the question, Bentley's big head popped up from behind his desk, and he jumped again. "Aggkh! What the—"

"Sorry, Boss! Bentley followed me from Jack's office, and I wanted to get him some jelly beans, and—"

Brian held a hand up. "Okay, whatever, it's fine, Ralph. Calm down." He wondered why he looked so nervous.

Brian, I am receiving some interference.

His eyebrows furrowed. What kind of interference? It's not the Borae is it?

"... And, I twisted my ankle," Ralph continued. He opened his mouth as if to say more, but hesitated.

I am not certain.

That's great. Brian grimaced, and began rubbing his temples. I really need that coffee, he thought. Then he remembered Ralph. "Oh, sorry Ralph. Um, need an ace bandage?"

"And... iaccidentallyshotbentleywiththeupgradegun," he mumbled quickly.

"What?" Brian said, looking at Ralph sideways.

He said he accidentally shot Bentley with the upgrade gun.

Brian's eyes widened. "Seriously? How?—Wait, never mind, I don't want to know," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "The dog doesn't even have a bio-chip, so it doesn't matter."

Right, TV?

I do not know.

Ralph sighed, looking at first relieved, and then confused. "You understood what I said?"

Well, the dog is the least of our worries, TV. Tell me about this interference.

It is peculiar. Similar to the first time I accessed your thought stream, actually.

Brian frowned. Can you... let me hear it?

Certainly.

It was like a switch had been flipped in Brian's brain. His mind was flooded with thoughts and emotions he couldn't keep up with. What the? And then a singular thought came into focus, crowding everything else out—An overwhelming craving for jellybeans. He yanked his desk drawer open, and jerked out the bag of jelly beans, spilling several on the desk and floor.

Bentley scrabbled over and began snapping them up.

Then a feeling of satisfaction swept over Brian. It was an intense sort of contentedness Brian had never experienced. He let his mouth hang open, tasting the air happily with his tongue.

Bentley looked up at Brian and noticed the bag in his hands.

Brian's cravings rushed back in like a tidal wave. He grabbed a handful of the beans and crammed them in his mouth, as many as would fit, and then tried to stuff more in.

Bentley was showered with a spray of the candies. He sniffed around, moaning with delight, as he licked each one up with an energy reserved for just such occasions.

Brian's eyes glazed over, and he stared off at nothing, sighing with a lazy conviction that everything was right in the world.

Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the storm of feelings and emotions lifted.

Brian looked around, panting, and bewildered. His eyes met Ralph, who sat staring at him, dumbfounded, with his mouth cranked open.

I muted the signal, Brian. I don't think it was good for you.

TV... What happened? That was... intense.

It appears the chip inside Bentley is now linked to your chip.

As Brian's jaw dropped, several jelly beans clattered to the floor.