Qualified! You are not an Imposter
The elevator to the entertainment floor opens and out walks the Phantom Ruby user, Infinite. Infinite held his mask in his left hand, letting the white scar above his right eye be seen. Not that anyone around cared to ask him about it, or anything about himself as a matter of fact. He had established himself as a loner, who only sat with Eggman at the cafeteria, dismissed Sonic’s attempts to bridge a friendship and spent all of his time reading in the library. Well, he had now gone over every written piece of Sonic media he could find there. From manuals stretching from 1991 to the IDW issues released today. He even dabbled a bit in the Archie Comics before abandoning that front as he quickly realised that that Sonic was a completely different one than the one he had set his eyes on. Now it was time to venture into the world that started Sonic’s whole adventure; video games.
Infinite didn’t know how to play video games and he found the noise and lights of the entertainment floor to be too rowdy for his tastes. So he held off trying Sonic’s games until he could properly gather his thoughts. Now on the entertainment floor he walked over to a shelf that displayed all of Sonic’s games. Attached to the shelf was a note that Tails had written. It was a sort of guide for people who wanted to try Sonic’s games for the first time but didn’t know where to start. Two games were suggested for newcomers, the first ever Sonic game, released in 1991, and the newest release, ‘Sonic X Shadow Generations’, that celebrated Sonic’s rich history up until the mid-2010s. The game was described as a good starting point due to its incorporation of both 2D and 3D elements as well as giving new players a glimpse at past Sonic events, which may entice them to want to try the games of those events later. Both the original and Shadow version of Generations were recommended equally but Infinite decided on trying Shadow Generations as he viewed both Sonic and Shadow as his arch-nemeses and wanted to prove himself to both of them that he was not weak. That he was not just some run-of-the-mill villain of the week. One that could be left alone after a beat down with the hopes he would’ve “learned his lesson” and not come back. He was the user of the Phantom Ruby for crying out loud. How can such a power be treated like a joke?
Infinite grabbed a PS5 disc for the game and began making his way over to the main gaming area. However, before he left the shelves his eyes caught the cover for the game ‘Sonic Forces’. Seeing himself on the cover for the game Infinite starred at it for a while before continuing on his way. Infinite walked into the rowdy room and even though the place was only half-filled the interior design made it feel like it was noisier than it actually was. The floor was carpeted with a black background and colourful loops and spirals, the walls were plastered with patterns of space and the ceiling had patterns of stars and galaxies. The adjustable lighting was currently set to spin around the room like a disco ball. Infinite placed his mask on his head in irritation and made his way over to the consoles… only to find out all of them were taken.
Infinite: Huh?! What is going on here?
With the introduction of the Imposter and Fall Guy into the Colosseum came the introduction of the games ‘Among Us’ and ‘Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout’ too. And right now it looked like a Fall Guys tournament was happening.
Wally West: Hey! Who’s grabbing me? Knock it off!
Miles: Not a chance. I'm gonna win this.
Miles’ Fall Guy pulls Wally’s Fall Guy back to get a leg up over him. Up ahead Goku Black holds the lead over the competition.
Goku Black: You foolish mortals really think you can win against a god like me?
As Black’s Fall Guy attempts to make the final jump he is grabbed and his momentum is killed, causing him to fall off the stage.
Goku Black: What! Who did that?!
Reverse Flash: Oh how tragic. Who would do such a blasphemous act? Maybe Barry?
Barry Allen: Real funny Thawne. Huh, I guess second place isn’t so bad.
Static: It’s not just about who reaches there first is about getting qualified- hey let go of me! both proceed to then get hit off the map by a punching glove
Spider-Man: Aww man, I thought I could squeeze through if I was fast enough.
Rick: You all suck at this game.
The Doctor: Whew, barely qualified there.
Deku: Come on, there's one spot left. I can make it!
Orbot: Not if we make it first! Qualified!
Cubot: Great job Orbot!
Deku: UUUuurggghhhhh.
Shoto: If it’s any consolation, I didn’t qualify either.
Black: How did I barely make it?points at Reverse Flash Grab me like that one more time and I’ll-
Reverse Flash: You’ll what? Kill me? We both know how that’ll go.
Goku Black: Grrrrrrrr! You will not qualify for this next round!
Infinite had no interest in watching them play and so he began searching for a free PC instead. He found one right next to the Resident Evil Super Cop, Leon S. Kennedy, who laid back on his chair watching the game he was playing go on without him. Infinite walks up to the cop.
Infinite: Hey.
Leon turns to face the Jackal, who is now holding up the disc case of his game.
Infinite: Do you know how to play this on here?
Infinite points at the PC next to Leon’s.
Leon: Yeah. Do you need help installing it?
Infinite: I do not know how these video games work.
Leon: Alright, I’ll help you.
Leon moves his chair over in front of Infinite’s PC and begins to boot it up for him. Infinite watches as the Cop scrolls through the steam library until he reaches ‘Sonic X Shadow Generations’. It is currently not installed so Leon hits the install button before moving back to his PC.
Leon: Just wait for it to finish downloading. If you want a controller to play with there’s some lying back there.
Infinite doesn’t respond and simply places the disc case down next to the keyboard before grabbing a PS5 controller from a nearby shelf. As he familiarises himself with the controller’s layout he can’t help but overhear the game Leon’s playing. The Cop didn’t bother to put headphones on since he didn’t think his session would overpower the volume of the nearby Fall Guys tournament but Infinite could hear very clearly what was happening in his game.
Leon was playing ‘Among Us’. He got roped in by Frank West, who insisted he not spend all of his time in the Colosseum “brooding alone”. Frankly (get it), West always misunderstood his intentions of being in the Colosseum. They both came from worlds dominated by infection but while Frank viewed his whole debacle as an adventure waiting to be explored, for Leon it was work. Work that had begun to consume his life to the point where he couldn’t even escape it in his own home. It was a chaos that wouldn’t leave him alone. And while the Colosseum is far from the least chaotic place in the world he still preferred dealing with the oddball restless combatant than another zombie. At least there was more variety here. And he was far from a loner. If he was, he wouldn’t be accepting the various invitations he gets from Frank, Tracer, Scout and Nathan to hang out. Right now, he is a ghost. Sitting in a call, with everyone else using PCs far from each other, and floating in the center of the Skeld’s cafeteria waiting for his killer to be found or for the killer to win. But he isn’t the only one waiting as a ghost.
Bond: Well, what’s your story Kennedy?
Leon: I was killed in the cockpit. Not even a minute had passed and she had already killed me.
Bond: Yes she is quite eccentric. And she wonders why she isn’t up to par with the missions I take on. She killed me in the electric room not long after I fixed the lights. It shouldn’t be too long until she’s caught now.
Leon: Why do you say that?
Bond: You’ll see.
Emergency Meeting
Tracer: Soooooooo… I found James’ body in Electrical-
Scout: Yeah Tracer did it.
Tracer: Hey! You’re not gonna let me finish?
Frank: Woah slow down! We haven’t even gathered our evidence together yet-
Tracer: I didn’t do anything.
Wick: Where were you coming from?
Tracer: I was coming from Storage.
Scout: Yeah that ain’t true. You were in the MedBay with me when the lights were out. You went to get scanned, I left and suddenly James’ body is found in Electrical.
Tracer: You only know he’s down in Electrical because I told you. Maybe it’s you that’s the imposter since you seem to know where he was before he died.
Scout: Who was the imposter last round? Me! I know where that vent goes.
Wick: It checks out. I was in the Storage when the lights were out and was going to fix them when I was done with my task. I didn’t see Tracer at all while I was there.
Tracer: That’s how lights work!
Frank: Oh I think I get it now. What you’re saying is that Tracer cut the lights so she could vent to Electrical and kill anyone who was down there to fix it.
Tracer: That’s not true.
Frank: What’s your alibi then?
Tracer: After I did my scan in MedBay I went down through Storage to fix the lights. I didn’t see John because it was dark.
Frank: Mr Wick, what task were you doing down at Storage?
Wick: I was collecting fuel.
Frank: Uh-huh. That task is not far from the hallway leading to Electrical.
Tracer: Do you not realise how little you can see when the lights are out.
Frank: I was finishing my tasks in the Upper Engine so we can clear my name. This means Tracer is the imposter.
Scout: Heh, what an idiot.
Tracer: I don’t see you talking Jeremy.
Scout: Not a smart move.
Tracer: Smarter than yours.
Scout: I beg to differ.
The Teufort Merc, Former Assassin and Photojournalist all vote Tracer out while the Overwatch Agent votes Scout out of spite. She is ejected and not long afterward the crewmates are deemed victorious and Tracer groans in defeat. Bond and Leon soon join them in the start-up lobby.
Frank: So what’s the ranking?
Leon: Well I think we can all agree that Tracer is the worst imposter and having Mr Bond as the imposter is a nightmare.
Bond: It’s not all about being good at video games. It’s about deception.
Wick: Would be nice if you actually did your tasks instead of waiting around for the imposter to slip up.
Tracer: By the way has anyone seen Sam or Snake yet?
Wick: Snake said he wasn’t coming.
Leon: Sam said he would but he hasn’t shown up. Maybe something needed his attention.
Tracer: Oh well, who’s up for another round?
Frank: I’m down.
Scout: If I get to see you ejected again, sure thing.
Leon: If you’re the imposter again try not to kill me so quickly. I want to actually play this game.
Infinite silently watched Leon’s screen. He left no comment on the state of the game but simply observed. Watching as a small smile began to creep its way up the Super Cop’s mouth as a new round was starting. Infinite turned back to his monitor and noticed that his game had finished installing. He clicked play, ready to learn more about his arch-nemeses.
—
Somewhere in the Colosseum someone was being stalked. A knife had been sharpened and was ready to take a life. The eyes of a stalker pierced through the darkness of the corridor, eying and ready to claim its next victim. The Imposter seldom used his shape-shifting ability in the Colosseum. The more times he uses it the less of a surprise it would be, at least that’s what he thought. He had also not yet gained enough knowledge of the people around him to properly act like them. So whenever he had a chance he would hide in the vents and stalk certain combatants that he deemed would be useful if he had their complete disguise. Goody two shoes and revered individuals were good targets but also people who didn’t raise a lot of attention whenever they were in a room. Right now, the Imposter had one such person on their sights. Sam Fisher appeared to be aimlessly wandering around the Colosseum. He mainly kept to himself and only really opened up to a few combatants, mainly Snake, Leon, Bond and Wick. All were also good targets for the Imposter but right now he was focused on the one in front of him.
He watched as Sam continued to walk. He turned down some hallways and continued to walk, ignoring any other combatant he passed by. The Imposter followed through the vents, taking notes on his behaviour. A loner who didn’t spark any attention and who wasn’t feared is the perfect disguise to don. Sam made his way up the stairs and the Imposter leapt out of the vents to quietly follow him. He walked up past the Season 1 floor, past the Season 2 floor, past the Season 3 floor and climbed up all the way to the Death Battle floor without a hint of being aware of his surroundings. The Imposter felt this was all a little too odd. From previous secret night time trips around the Colosseum he knew Sam lived on the Season 2 floor and that no one went to the Death Battle floor except when there was a Death Battle going on. When he finally caught up to Sam he saw the soldier standing at the center of the massive room that acted as a foyer, connecting the stairwell and elevators to the stands. The Imposter looked around to check if anyone else was with them… only to look back at the center to see that Sam was gone.
The Imposter ran to the center of the room. He looked around, confused and a little on edge. Suddenly, he heard a voice that prompted him to draw his knife out.
???: Hmmm, you’re not so strong are you? But you are special. That shape-shifting ability you demonstrated in your fight. That’s an incredibly useful ability.
The Imposter didn’t say anything. Instead he pulled out his gun with his other hand and began aiming… somewhere. He couldn’t pinpoint where the voice came from. All he knew is that it was in the same room as him.
???: Put your weapons down. Let’s have a talk. I think you and I have a lot to benefit from one another.
The Imposter didn’t listen. It continued to wave its gun and knife around to ward off the voice.
???: Come on, put your weapons down.
The Imposter could feel his hands shaking. Without his command they began lowering down, dropping his guard in the process. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. He immediately turned around and backed off, weapons back on guard as the source of the voice knelt down to meet his eye-level.
Makima: Put your weapons down.
As if compelled by a force beyond his own comprehension, the Imposter found himself dropping his gun and knife on the ground. The weapons clattered on the carpeted floor. His hands still shook until Makima got closer. The Imposter froze as he made eye contact with the Red Head. She smiled at him.
Makima: Hehe, good boy. Aren’t you a cutie? Pick your weapons back up.
The Imposter picked up his knife and gun from the floor without hesitation.
Makima: Good. Go about your day. I’m sure there are plenty of useful disguises for you to copy. And if you need any help just meet me here. I can give you a list of useful people to shape-shift into.
The Imposter nodded and made his way back to the stairwell, leaving Makima standing alone in the foyer of the Death Battle floor.