Three more drabbles this week from the virtual universe of Frankie and Joni. Enjoy.
Free Squeaky
“Justice for Squeaky!”
A forlorn cry came from the holo room, and I sighed over my coffee. I briefly considered fleeing to the utility closet, but made my way to see what upset Frankie, poking my head in the door.
“Problem?”
“Squeaky is trapped in the matrix!”
“Who, or what, is Squeaky? And which matrix? There are currently four.”
“Squeaky is the Halloween Duck, and it’s matrix three.”
“Didn’t you read the memo? Three is glitching. Run diagnostic 57.9.”
“Oh.” A few pushed buttons resulted in, “Hurrah, Squeaky is free!”
I turned and then realized, “Wait? A Halloween Duck?”
Dark Wings, and a Duck
“Okay, explain it again. Why is there a Halloween Duck?”
“To stop the Dark Wing Bandit from stealing all the hot sauce in Chicken Town.” Frankie smiled as if that clarified everything. “The Bandit only comes out on Halloween, and that’s when Squeaky dons his mask and assumes his alter ego of Halloween Duck. Then there are fights and weaponized hot sauce. It’s all very exciting.”
“And this happens in a town of chickens?” Frankie nodded. “Did Eric come up with this idea?”
“No. This is Corporate’s new game idea. Based on a cartoon or something.”
“Of course it is.”
Hot Peppers and Vampires
“Why is Squeaky hanging upside down from the ceiling?”
“The program crossed wires with Gloaming. It caused…issues.”
“Gloaming? That’s the vampire vid, right?”
Frankie nodded. “Squeaky thinks he’s a vampire duck now.”
I took a breath. “Okay. We have a vampire duck. So why is the wall on fire?”
“That was the hot sauce; something glitched there as well. Squeaky ate some and now he can breathe fire.”
“Of course he can. So instead of a Halloween Duck, we have a Vampire Dragon Duck?”
“Yes. And a deceased villain.”
“What?”
“Apparently, the Dark Wing Bandit is allergic to hot sauce.”
Be Afraid of the Dark 
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