Chapter 16: A Clean Break

You are starting to get into the pinball game when Melvin comes back. He’s whispering. “Okay, I think I found someone who might be able to help us. I asked around about the baseball challenge, and most people couldn’t remember anything about it. But everyone says if you want to know about baseball, ask this guy.” He gestures over to a guy wearing dark glasses and a bright red sportcoat, who is patiently chalking his cue. There’s a toothpick in his mouth. You follow Melvin over.

“Scuse me,” says Melvin. “People say you know a lot about baseball.”

“So what if I do,” he says, and leans over the pool table to take a shot.

“We’re here to do the baseball challenge,” says Melvin. “I’m a missile, and this is my Player.”

This statement blows his concentration, and he pops the cue ball right off the table, and you catch it.

He looks up at both of you. “There aren’t any more Players,” he says. “Everyone knows that.”

“Yeah, everyone that remembers,” says Melvin suspiciously. “And what am I, then, a floating cocktail napkin?”

The man in the red coat stands up straight and looks at both of you. “You can’t have a missile without a Player, I guess.” He seems to think about that for a minute. Then he extends a hand. “Name’s Charlie.”

“Just Charlie?” asks Melvin.

You shake his hand and he smiles. “Some people call me Charlie Hustle.” He leans back and looks you over. “So… a Player, after all these years.” He switches his toothpick back and forth a few times. “And somehow, you heard about the baseball challenge.”

“We heard about it from our Queen,” says Melvin, in a steely tone. “Queen Stella, who defeated Lord Tyrannus, remember?”

Charlie stares at Melvin for a long time. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” says Charlie, quietly. Then, brightly, “But I do know about baseball. We’ve got baseball games all over this town… but it’s been a long time since a Player showed up to play.” He looks at you. “So, you’re really a Player, huh?”

“Show him your reset button,” says Melvin.

You take it out and hold it up. His eyebrows go up. He shifts his toothpick around. “Yeah, that looks legit, all right. But, tell you what,” he says, “just so I can be sure, why don’t we play a little pool? I never met the Player yet who could resist a game of trick shot.”

You look at Melvin, who shrugs.

Charlie looks at your hand. “Toss me that cue ball.” He starts setting up balls on the table. “Standard rules. I’ll set up ten trick shots, you get a point for each ball you sink. Two bonus points for sinking every ball in a shot. I figure, if you really are a Player, you ought to be able to get at least 25 points.”

“Then we can talk about the baseball challenge?” asks Melvin.

“Yeah,” replies Charlie with a smile, handing you a cue stick. “Sure thing.”

Put the Trick Shot cartridge into your Atari 2600. Select game “1T”. Play until you get 25 points. Post a link to a video in the comments section of yourself completing the challenge.