The next morning arrived earlier than Pepper had anticipated. He didn’t know why he had awoken so early, but he decided to start the day early regardless. He was simply happy that Marcus didn’t have friends over that night and he found himself falling to sleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

  A quick splashing of water to liven himself up and then he staggered his way into the laundry room. He flipped the light on so he could see better and what he found helped awaken him faster then the energy he was seeking. What happened to all the Big D Energy? He thought while he noticed several cases were missing from where he had left them.

  He grabbed a can and popped it open. His hand flicked the light off while he turned and left the room. “Well, seeing how a certain group love devouring the food in this house. I can only wonder who may be behind the missing drinks.” Pepper muttered. “Pretty sure we don’t need Scooby Doo to solve this mystery!” Pepper practically punched the backdoor open while he walked into the backyard heading for the workshop.

  “Are you seeing other Golem Dogs behind my back?” Amprage asked as they walked.

  The question helped ease Pepper’s anger ever so slightly and he looked down at his familiar trotting along next to him. “What are you talking about?”

  “Scooby Doo, are you playing with Scooby Doo when I’m not around?”

  Pepper had arrived at the workshop door and punched in the key code to unlock the door. “Don’t be redicu… wait a minute. How do you even know about Scooby Doo?”

  “Scooby Doo is listed as a sub-option within the personality profile of the Phantom Industries mainframe. I technically can download and apply the profile as an option if you like?”

  Pepper paused inside the shop while the lights flickered on. His mind played through scenarios where he imagined Amprage acting out as the old cartoon character and immediately realized that was not an option he was comfortable with.

  “Nope… You know, that’s okay buddy. I love you just the way you are.” Pepper tried to convince his familiar and not let Amprage’s curious personality be tempted to try and adopt anything else without his knowing. “I wouldn’t want you any other way big guy.”

  He leaned over and patted Amprage on his metal head. The low metallic tang and thud let off a distinct sound that caused Pepper to chuckle slightly. He straightened up and then headed over to Mala’s Nightmare variant.

  “So… just to be clear, you’re still not seeing any…”

  Pepper placed his drink can down and cut off his familiar. “No, I’m not playing with other familiars. You are my one and only big guy.”

  Amprage huffed. “Okay, I was just verifying.”

  Pepper went about getting some music going and cranked the volume up… Way up actually. He didn’t care if it woke up Marcus, Wilson, or any of their neighbors for that matter. The early start to the day and the discovery of their energy drink supply left him not in the mood to put up with anybody’s crap. With that, he found a heavy metal playlist on his holodex and let the hang banging rhythm get his internal engine going.

  It wasn’t until hours later when Pepper stopped and used the bathroom that he realized how much he had homed in on his sculping. When he returned to the project, he stopped and took a second to look over his work. Dang… all I need is a few more sessions like this and Mala will be built in no time.

  Pepper walked over, plopped up on the workshop counter and took another long drink from his can. He leaned back and rested against the wall. “You know Amp… I could get used to this.” He turned his gaze over and watched as Amprage perked his head up from the workshop couch.

  The familiars head tilted with a curious look and continued to play out the personality of mans best friend. Pepper chuckled and turned his gaze back to the partially constructed golem. “Building golems all day long. Coming up with new strategies and tactics. Developing new runes. This… I could get used to this.”

  His smile soon faded when he heard the workshop door swing open. It wasn’t just Marcus he saw, but Marcus and two other attractive young women. Pepper glanced over the group to confirm that he had never seen the two women before.

  “Yo yo yo! Check this out everybody! The future Golem Master himself getting his sculping skills on with this dope Night terror variant!” Marcus exclaimed as he came closer.

  It’s Nightmare Variant! Pepper thought.

  Pepper caught sight of the small flashing red LED coming off of Marcus’s holodex, and that was when he realized Marcus was recording or live streaming to his Golem Chat account. Marcus then closed the distance, brought the camera close to his face before sliding over and giving a close up view of his progress.

  “You guys, so my man P-Dub discovered this Abismal Clay…”

  “It’s called Abomination.” Pepper attempted to chime in, but Marcus continued without delay as if he didn’t hear him.

  “It’s like… five times better than any other clay out there on the market. And of course, dun-dun-dunnn!” Marcus lifted up a Big D Energy drink can in the view of the recording. “We’re fueling this build solely on this awesome Big D Energy and a whole bunch of motivation! Oh yeah baby!”

  Marcus turned around and pointed the camera back towards Pepper. “Alright future champ! Any final words before we head out?”

  The question caught Pepper off guard and he didn’t know what to say. The comment regarding Big D Energy had brought Ryan into the forefront of his mind. Pepper began to stumble as he worked to find words until one of Ryan’s statements came to the tip of his tongue. “Uhh… Goonies never say die…”

  The statement not only caught Pepper off guard but caught Marcus and his two female companions off guard also. Marcus seemed to freeze for a second and his face was emotionless while the rapid blinking of his eyes looked like he was trying to reset himself. “Uhh, okay, well I don’t know what exactly that means, but you heard him yall! Don’t say die…. Ever.”

  Marcus turned the camera back around to face him. “We’ll catch yall next time fam… peace!” Marcus lifted his finger up and tapped the option on his holodex to end the recording. His gaze returned to Pepper with a confused expression. “What in the world was that man? What are goonies and why do they not say die?”

  Pepper lifted his hands up in defense. “I don’t know! It’s something my old neighbor told me. You totally caught me off guard and I panicked man.” Pepper hopped down from the countertop as the flush of embarrassment came over him.

  He felt the warmth of his cheeks and imagined his face was as red as his ginger hair. He lifted his hand up and pointed towards the girls. “Look, you can’t just barge in here with people I don’t know...”

  Pepper didn’t have a chance to finish as Marcus automatically went in to introducing the girls. “Oh my bad man, that’s on me. Pepper this is Jennifer and Megan.”

  Pepper’s eyes dashed over to the two ladies and saw the one add on. “Actually it’s Heather and Melenie, but that’s okay. You’re forgiven.”

  Marcus turned back around with a playful smile as if everything was perfect. “See! Now you know them.”

  Pepper wasn’t amused and continued as he shifted and pointed towards Marcus’s holodex, “Or surprise record me unexpectedly like that. I… I… I don’t work like that. That’s not me. It’s not who I am. I am not some cool, slick, awesome gladiator, confident guy like you.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The look on Marcus’s face appeared as if his heart melted. “You think I’m an awesome gladiator?” Pepper was stunned and didn’t know how to respond. Thankfully Marcus continued. “Like, you even watched my old matches I posted and think I’m good and all?”

  Pepper immediately regretted his words as he noticed the genuineness that was now on Marcus’s face. Pepper slowly nodded and did the only thing he could think of, he lied. “Yeah… yeah man. I was actually just watching some of your matches last night while I lay in bed. You were…. Wow… you, you know. Just wow.”

  Marcus’s face beamed with a giant smile and he reached up and lightly shoved against Pepper’s shoulder. “Oh come on man, you’re just messing with me! You didn’t really watch me did you?”

  Pepper felt trapped and didn’t want to embarrass his roommate in front of the two girls. Regardless of who they were. “Sure did, bud.”

  Marcus started to appear bashful for some reason. Pepper couldn’t really tell why, but was hoping Marcus would change subjects, but… he didn’t. “So… what match did you think I did my best in?”

  “What’s that?” Pepper cleared his throat and tried to buy more time as he mentally struggled to find a way out.

  “I asked which match you thought I really excelled in?”

  That was the question wasn’t it… Pepper panicked internally. “It was… well, you know man. You’ve just been really, really consistent in a lot of your matches. At least the ones that I watched last night.”

  Marcus chuckled and brought his hand up on his chest. “Ahh… thanks man. That, that just means a lot.”

  The light bulb came on in Pepper’s mind and countered. “Well let me ask you this. Which match do you think you did your best?”

  Marcus’s eyes widened and he quickly shifted into a puzzled expression. “Wow, I mean… Uh I’d have to really think on that one but maybe… maybe the one where I faced off with that spider golem.”

  A spider golem? Who would be so stupid to build a spider golem!? You take out one of the legs and the whole thing would be off kilter and would be an easy win. That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. He thought, but externally he smiled big and snapped his fingers before pointing towards his roommate.

  “You know, I was just about to say the spider match. I literally hesitated and I shouldn’t have, because… well, like you just said. That was a great match.” Pepper smiled but was more relieved when he saw Marcus soaking up his lie without even questioning it.

  Marcus pointed towards Pepper while he turned towards the girls. “See, I told you this guy was the best, didn’t I?” Marcus turned back around and faced him with a large smile. “Alright man, we’ll get out of your hair. I’ll come check on you in a bit once the girls head out.”

  Pepper waved him off and played the part of being excited to see them all leave. The moment the door closed he sighed in relief and rolled his eyes. “That guy is something else.”

  “At least he is trying to be helpful and supportive.” Amprage countered.

  Pepper turned his head and saw his familiar standing up on the arm rest of the couch. His small stubby tail wagged back and forth as he kept his mouth open as if he was panting. “I suppose you’re right. I just… I just wish he would talk to me first before just shoving a camera in my face.”

  Pepper reached up and grabbed the back of his neck. “At least get the name of the clay right.”

  It was just then that his holodex vibrated. Pepper had reconfigured it to only buzz or alarm for direct messages from his close friends and family.

  [:::] Hey, Ryan is trying to get a hold of you. He said he messaged you a few days ago but you haven’t answered. I’m busy at the ranch but will ttyl. <3 – Andrea [:::]

  Pepper typed out a quick thank you response to Andrea and then he navigated over to call Ryan. The call buzzed a few times but then his old neighbor answered. Ryan answered the phone with a large smile.

  “Well there he is aye! Boy is it sure nice to see you there P-Dub!” Ryan reached and and removed the baseball cap he was wearing. Pepper could then see there were beads of sweat all over Ryan’s forehead. A quick analysis of Ryan’s surroundings made Pepper guess that he was standing in a large warehouse.

  “Sorry I missed your call, it looks like you’re busy though. Would you like me to let you go?”

  Ryan’s face quickly expressed the concern he had regarding Pepper’s question. “Oh no! This is perfect. I’m just here in the warehouse getting another shipment ready for that there Jay down there. Aye, let me tell you Pep, I sure do’s appreciates you talking to him. He’s been a blessing, a real sure fire blessing I tell yeah.”

  Pepper smiled and hearing the update made him feel better about everything overall. “It was honestly nothing. I accidentally stumbled into him. Come to find out he’s the store owner and just so happened to be Rhino’s brother.”

  “Well, boy, let me tell you there Pep, you’ve been making one hell-of-a difference there, aye. Your videos been blowing up all over that there Golem Chat and man, we been selling so many cans it feels like we have Little D’s instead of Big D’s!”

  Pepper’s face scrunched up as he cringed at the thought that was now stuck inside his head. “I haven’t been doing any videos though.”

  “Well sure you have. Heck! I tuned in to the one you just shot. Man that Nightmare variation looks mighty powerful, aye. You’ll be winning that there invitational in no time, don’t you know.”

  It immediately clicked for Pepper, and he realized the activity was actually from Marcus’s efforts rather than his. “Oh, that. Well actually that was one of my roommates. He’s more the social butterfly than I am.” Clearly. Pepper thought to himself as soon as he finished his statement.

  “Well, you go ahead there and give that guy a big old kiss for me, aye!”

  Pepper’s head reared back, and his eyes widened. That is not happening, at all… like… ever. He thought while being shocked by the overly aggressive comment. “You know… I’ll just wait and let you do that yourself there Ryan.”

  “Ha! That’s fair I suppose. Well, I just told old Jody there to make sure we send over your royalties to your bank account tomorrow.”

  “My, royalties?”

  Ryan’s face turned into a puzzled expression. “Well yeah Pep. Didn’t you read your contract?”

  Pepper blinked and felt bashful. He remembered going over it with his dad, but so much had happened between then and now that he couldn’t remember the details. “Well sure I did. I guess… I guess that part is just escaping me for now.”

  Ryan smiled. “Well, that sure does make sense, seeing how you are preparing for being a big star and all. Soon you’ll be bossing me around, aye! Haha. Well, you get a certain percentage of every Big D you help us sell. With that, we applied that to you helping us get in with that Jay Beraz guy down there. Man… we are literally seeing can’s fly off the shelf Pep.”

  Pepper smiled, “Well, that’s great! I’m….” He paused and let out a long sigh. “I’m really happy to hear that Ryan. You’ve been working hard to achieve this.”

  “Well right back at you there, aye.”

  “So uhh… about these royalties. How much are we actually talking that I might see hit my bank account?” He started to take a drink from his can of Big D energy while his nerves reminded him just how little his bank account was.

  “Oh jeepers Pep, I would have to look to give you an actual number. I think it was something like 6,000 FLEX in this payout.”

  Pepper spit out his energy drink and started to cough. “What!? Seriously?”

  In Ryan’s humble nature he looked sorrowful. “Don’t worry Pep. We’ll try to make sure we get them regularly coming in so you can have some more breathing room.”

  Coming in more regularly? What in the… “Are sales really that good?”

  Ryan’s eyes widened and his cheeks swelled as he held in a large breath. “Oh…. Yup…. Yupperoni and cheese it is. I mean… we didn’t just upgrade to this here warehouse for giggly shits.”

  It’s shits and giggles Ryan… “Wait… upgrade. You mean you already had a warehouse and are now in a totally different one?”

  “Oh yeah. Pepper… would you believe that sales have literally quadrupled every week since we signed with you?” Ryan then shifted the camera view and allowed Pepper to see row after row of palletized energy drinks. “Pepper… this entire shipment has already been bought and is heading out tonight. We have got 50 more orders for this size or more. It’s insane, don’t you know.”

  Holy cow. Pepper thought while nodding with a smile. “Well… that’s awesome Ryan.” He paused and nodded. “Congratulations to you for all you’ve accomplished. And honestly, thank you. You know, for everything. You didn’t have to support me, and you did. I’m happy to see this is all paying off now.”

  “Awe, well shucks Pep. I appreciates that, you know. It means a lot, a whole lot there aye.”

  “Well, I should probably get back to work on Mala, and you’re clearly busy. So… thanks for.”

  A worried look came over Ryan. “Oh wait, wait, wait. Hold your horses right there, aye. I needed to talk to you about two things.”

  “Oh, okay then. Well… what’s on your mind?”

  “Say uhh. Would you be available, let’s say tomorrow to do a photoshoot?”

  Pepper blinked and the question took him by surprise. “A photoshoot?”

  “Yeah, you know. The kind where you get all dolled up there and wear cool clothes and a photographer takes photos of you and all. We were referred to this one character down in that area. Really expensive, but was also told they are the best. We wanna get some new photos done of you for advertising and all.”

  “I uhh. Well, honestly, I don’t know what to say. Sure, I guess.”

  Ryan immediately smiled. “That’s great! Really great there Pep. I will have Judy send over the details on where and when to be at the studio, aye.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll keep my eye out for it. So, what is the other thing?”

  Ryan’s expression immediately perked up with excitement. “Oh boy, yeah. Okay… so Pep, what do you think about this new concept. I’m considering... two different can sizes. One, Big Duck Energy, Mega Gurth! And then for the other we’d have, Big Duck Energy, Full 12 Incher!”

  Pepper immediately froze in disbelief. “Umm, do you really think people want that much Big D… you know. All at once?”

  “Well, P-Dub, it’s not about which size of Big D you may or may not have. Rather, it’s trying to give customers the size they desire.”

  Pepper sighed and just shook his head. “Phrasing Ryan.”