A Sequel to the Quillan Games

Chapter 7 Part 1: Lovebirds Falling in Love

While Layra went back to her room to have some alone time and rest for a while, Bobby did likewise and went back to his own room. He took the short way up, the elevator, and went straight to the bed. He jumped up, feeling like his head was in a million spots. After his heated argument with Layra, he needed time to cool down and rethink things. He obviously wasn’t seeing LaBerge the same way she was. What if LaBerge truly was against his sister and Layra was right from the start? Was it possible he was wrong? Or worse, what if LaBerge was cleverly playing with her, Challenger Black, and reporting everything back to Veego and the two together were plotting some great scheme? Or even worse, what if Layra ended up so into it that she went ahead and did just what Nevva Winter had done. Would Layra end of betraying them to this clown? He feared what could happen with LaBerge involved.

And where did Saint Dane fit into all of this? Bobby groaned and sunk his head into the pillow. His head was a mass of throbbing pain. There were so many questions and so few answers. Just when he thought he had a handle on things, it only got worse.

Right then, things just didn’t make a whole lot of sense, from the hidden travelers, to coming back to Quillan and most of all, LaBerge’s sudden story. It all felt so bizarre.

After a long rest, he decided he’d get someone else’s opinion on what he’d been told. There weren’t too many people around the castle he spoke with but there was one in particular he’d befriended when he first arrived. He wasn’t exactly the best choice but he’d be there all the same. Whenever he called, or whenever he was in need of some favor, big or small…he always came.

“Fourteen?” called Bobby.

Instantly, the robot came strolling into the room, as formally as usual.

“Yes, Pendragon?” he asked.

“Sit down,” said Bobby, gesturing.

“Very well,” said Fourteen, who pushed himself up onto the bed. “What is on your mind?”

“Everything,” he groaned tiredly. “I don’t know where to begin, but I need to hear your take on the whole thing. I’m going crazy. I know dados aren’t meant to hear people’s stories or even talk about anything that has to do with things here but…it’s driving me nuts. I gotta tell someone.”

“I’ll offer my best,” said Fourteen with as much encouragement as a dado could show. “Tell me what the trouble is.”

So Bobby went ahead and told Fourteen everything he’d heard from Layra and LaBerge that afternoon while he’d been hiding under the bench eavesdropping in secret. He explained how LaBerge had told Layra of his past and how Veego had been the misery and pain of his life and to this day, she was still in control of him. He told him how LaBerge had broken down crying and how Layra suggested the idea of forming a revolution, a rebellion against the almighty company Blok and above all, Veego and her all powerful trustees. Layra had the idea that by doing so, they might have an actual chance of standing against these people, throwing them aside and recreating the influenced city of Rune and Quillan itself by banishing the cruel outcomes of the games and giving the people their freedom. He then told Fourteen how he wasn’t even sure if he could trust Layra since he was pretty much convinced LaBerge was fooling her over and during the games, would see to her own loss.

At first, Bobby remembered dados weren’t supposed to discuss Blok or the trustees but there was no one else to turn to for suggestions or advice so he knew he had nothing to lose. Fourteen sat there, listening carefully and nodding thoughtfully. For a moment, Bobby really thought he was going to ask him what that meant but being a robot, he showed little concern in the topic. Typical dado.

Once finished, he looked to Fourteen who stared down at the ground. He seemed to be thinking, but even if he did, he sure didn’t look like it. All the same, he’d heard every word.