I managed to survive that dreadful experience in the elevator, so I am now ready for anything, I think.
"You going to love Mr. Mu-Lin! He's the best! Everyone else are pretty chill, too."
"I'm sure. Ahaha..."
We head into this large office room. There were already quite a few people in there when we got inside. 'I wonder are we late.'
I see Josh is among the people there and was happily chatting with another co-worker when he noticed me. He immediately came over and I honestly wanted to run away as he did.
"Hey, Jake! You made it, man! Why don't you come to meet everyone?" He followed him over to another group of people at a computer.
"Hey everybody, this is my old friend from college that I told you guys about? The one who was a whiz at fixing bugs. He was also the one who initially did the Kickstarter that helped start up our Indie company."
'Aw, crap! Now everyone's attention is on me! Say something cool!"
"Y-Yep, that's me. What's up?" 'Ahhhhh!!'
I immediately facepalmed in my head but I managed to keep my poker face through it all.
"Hey, how's it going?"
"So, he's the guy, right? BFK!"
"BFK? What's that?"
"He's the Bug Fix King! I follow his subreddit."
"Subreddit?"
"Ugh! I can't believe you don't know what Reddit is either."
"Haha! The one shouting over there is Tyler. He's the one in charge of PR for the game. The other one is Brian who is twenty years our senior and in charge of the team making the 3-D models for the game."
"You don't have to tell him how old I am, Josh." The one with salt and pepper hair named Brian got up and held out his hand to me. "How are you doing, Mr. Armeyer? Josh has told us a lot about you. I hope you make us proud."
I immediately took his hand and shook it before letting go. "Ah, yes! Thank you so much."
I felt a hand pat me on the back roughly. "I didn't know you were BFK! That's awesome dude! I hope you can help us all out today." It was Lakira and apparently, she was the other fan of my persona online.
"Hey, ease up on the man Lakira. Look, he looks like he's going to cry if you keep hitting him like that. Be careful you don't get sued, haha!"
"Is that true?! I only meant to just give him a light pat on the back. Please, don't sue me BFK! I'm a huge fan!"
"You don't have to worry about that. I'm not trying to sue anyone! Honest."
"That's good! Although, I guess it would be cool to see that article online somewhere~"
"Please, don't."
"Hi, I'm Rory! I work as the Head of Security here. Mostly, I'm just here to keep Lakira here in check. Haha!"
"No, he's not. I swear I'm not just going around hurting people. I'm a delicate flower myself, you know~"
"Ha! With that much energy, nothing about you is delicate~ Remember that time you blew up the microwave in the staff lounge? I can still smell the curry. Haha!"
I couldn't help but be enamored with these two who were boldly arguing back and forth in front of me, a stranger. I wish I had the confidence of these two.
"Ahem! Can we get back to the matter we discussed? Thank you. As Rory said, he is, in fact, the head of Security around the building. Which he should be going to, you know, secure?" Josh gave Rory a look before he got the memo.
"Okay, okay~ I just came to meet the new guy and maybe snag some snacks on the way out. That cream cheese danish is calling me~ See you guys, later." With that, I saw Rory grab a pastry before running out the door.
"Alright, now that we got the introductions out of the way, I think it is time for us to get to work. First, I'll have Tyler log into his computer, so Jacob can get to work. The rest of you will head out and wait for further instructions at home."
'Huh? Everybody is going home? But they all just got here, right?' it seems Josh must have been looking at the confused look I had on my face because he answered my question almost immediately.
"Everyone has a home computer or laptop, to work on from home. I only planned on having you meet everyone quickly and then sending them back home. We can't really do everything we want to until you find the bug and fix it for us. Of course, Rory you just met will be here to lock up after you leave."
"Alright, Josh I'm done here so we can just go. Jacob, I'm done here and I left the password to this computer just in case you need it. It was nice meeting you, bro." As soon as he finished saying that he held out his fist for a fist bump.
I put out my hand to meet it and fist-bumped him back. 'That was pretty cool.'
"Yeah, I can't believe I got to meet BFK! I'll see you tomorrow, okay!"
"Yeah!"
"Maybe tomorrow you can show this old man how to fix bugs. I want to show my nephew how to fix his tablet as he's been downloading a lot of hacks for this Roblox game, I think?"
"Sure!" 'Roblox? I've never heard of that game but I'm sure I can manage.'
"Oh, here I've made you this temporary ID card so you could get in if it takes a little longer. It won't until after 9 o'clock so be aware you come at the right time. You can shoot me a text if some problem arises."
"I will!" I watched them all wave goodbye as they walked out of the room leaving me all alone.
'Nai wa~ I can't believe they left me all this work. Still, they all seemed like they enjoyed each other's company. More importantly, it seems Josh was able to bring them all to that point... Maybe he has changed since college. Not that I could forgive him for everything he's done but a part of me still wants to believe in him as he has believed in me.'
"I guess I'll just focus on the task at hand for now. Let's check out this game--Eh, I mean a bug in the game. Yeah, that's right! I definitely don't want to check out what's going to be in the sequel at all! Not one bit!"
'Though, as a fan of the first game, I can't wholeheartedly say that I am not interested in what the second game must be like...Maybe they added more races to the game, though none can best the dragon race. They're still number one in my heart after all!'
I looked over the game files and was completely blown away.
"I can't believe that added that! Look at those! What do they plan to do with that, I wonder?! Oh!"
I was mesmerized by the complete layout of the world of this game and the backstories of some of the characters. The small notes the developers left behind were detailed and helpful. I could feel like I was being led through another's ideas as if they were my own.
I could feel my heartbeat become more erratic as I gushed over the intricate details laid out in front of me. As I wiped the drool from my mouth, I finally found it.
"So, this is the legendary bug I've heard so much about!" As I stumbled upon this file, I found the notes left behind by some of the developers detailing their run-ins with this bug.
'So that's what has been stopping them from working, eh? Should be a piece of cake to fix though?"
I took out my phone, a notebook, and my headphones before I got to work. "I don't want to forget about this experience so I might as well document what steps It will take to combat this bug." I cracked my knuckles and got to work.
"No good, huh? Then, I'll cross this one off the list." I had written down an extensive amount of strategies, tips, and tricks of how to fix bugs in this trusty notebook of mine for years. There was no way I'd remember them all so I took up the pen and paper to keep track of them all. I've written everything in excruciating detail all to the finest of details.
I made a chart of which strategies didn't work and which ones should work. I just cross the ones out that were a bust as I go.
"That one too, huh? What a tricky bug!" I cross another off the list. Eventually, I cross off nearly all of them leaving me with a few left. I look at the clock on the wall and realize it was nearly night.
"...I guess I was too into work. Not the first time, but I should still try to be aware of my surroundings." My headphones were nearly dead, too, I didn't even figure out how to fix this bug yet. I was also hungry as well. I've been eating some of the snacks here, but that wasn't a proper replacement for a real meal.
I decided to try to fix the bug one more time before heading out for the day.
'It's not like I can't try again tomorrow, so...'
After another 15 minutes pass, I decide to quit for the day and go out to find something to eat in time for dinner.
"I'll be back for you, bug. You were a worthy adversary but your days of threatening gamers everywhere are numbered." 'You freaking bug bastard! A plague! A plague on all of your houses! That'll teach you for wasting the Bug Fix King's precious time!'
I decide to leave my bag behind for now and will continue where I left off tomorrow morning. I close the office door behind me and head down with the elevator. I text Josh that I was leaving and waved goodbye to Rory on the way out of the building.
After I got in my car, I search up some stores in the area. 'Might as well grab something cheap and easy to make at home. Maybe, I'll have some cup ramen or a frozen pizza. Money is still tight right now.'
"Oh, a gas station! They sell everything so I'm sure I'll find something there." I plug my phone into the car charger and drove to the gas station I found nearby. I quickly get out of my car after parking in the lot. 'I wonder do I have enough toiletries at home. I think I was low on dish detergent as well. I might as well grab some snacks for tonight's gaming session while I am at it. I just made it to Level 105, too so I'm in a good mood.'
I was lost in thought as I listed the things I needed to get as I walked to the door. 'Hehe! I even managed to make some friends at the office, too! I wonder if they play Arcadian Records, too? Well, they did make the game so I'm sure they've seen it all...Huh! Look at me, enjoying the outside world again. I guess not even my bad luck could last forever, right--Uh?"
As I reached to grab the door, I was suddenly pushed back by some random force. I noticed it was a person who pushed me and they were in a hurry. I also saw the store attendant shouting something with a scared look on their face.
'I guess that guy was bad news... Wait! Why am I looking at the sky all of a sudden?!'
Then, I heard a large thud followed by my sight being engulfed in darkness.
It felt like a long time has passed with me sitting alone in this darkness. Until I could feel myself being pulled somewhere by some unknown force. It was still dark and I could hear nothing. Yet, why did I feel so--aware?
I don't know how to describe it.
I soon found myself awake but in a strange place. There was a vast emptiness around me and I was the only presence there. "H-Hello?! Anyone, there?!" I didn't get an answer only the echoes of my voice drifting away in this large expanse.
I stood up and walked around until I met an illuminated figure there in the dark expanse. "S-So bright!"
"Hello, Jacob Armeyer. Are you well?" The bright person spoke to me, but I couldn't place how they sounded. I just knew that they were speaking to me.
"Y-Yes. Who are you?! Where is this place?! I-I"
"There is no need to be afraid, Jacob. I am here to take you where to go."
"Wait, where to go? I don't even know where here is? No, don't tell me..."
I started to recall the last events I remember from the night before. I was on my way to get some food when out of nowhere this guy shoved me out of the way. Then, I...I fell and must have hit my head.
"It is as you have surmised, Jacob Armeyer. You died because of the head injury you incurred that day."
"But, I just fell! I don't think I should have died that way! At least I should have gone out in a blaze of glory saving puppies from a burning building or something! I mean, from a head injury? Come on!"
"You have my deepest apologies for this mistake on my part." After saying that, the figure then bowed deeply to me.
"Wait, wait, wait! I don't think you did this to me. Besides, if anything is to blame, it's my horrible bad luck. Please don't bow to me! I have a weak heart and I get embarrassed easily!"
'Plus, if anyone were here to see this, I'm sure they would get some kind of a bad idea.'
With his pleading, the luminous figure stood up.
"What even are you, anyway? Because, if I died that means this place is my afterlife, right? I at least want to be greeted by a hot supermodel or something~"
"If that is what you would prefer, then I will do my best."
"Wait, what?"
All of a sudden, there was a huge burst of light.