The arcade lights flickered back on. The front door opened by itself. And standing in the doorway, smelling of ozone and old pizza grease, was his father—holding a silver pinball that had his own face reflected in it.
Leo looked down. The physical light-marble from the Sorcerer’s Lair was still in his pocket. He placed it on the launch lane. The FX2 cabinet recognized it. Two balls launched: the comet and the Earth-616 orb. pinball fx 2 tables
Leo lost his first ball at the "Orbital Cannon" mini-game. The second ball at "Pacific Rim Rampage." One ball left. His heart hammered. The arcade lights flickered back on
“Now!” his father shouted.
“Told you,” his father said, smiling. “The high scores aren't just numbers.” Leo looked down
They circled the black hole, orbiting each other like binary stars.
There were no flippers. Just a single, infinite pinball field that stretched into a starry void. The ball was a comet. The bumpers were dying suns. The goal: hit the ramp before the black hole in the center of the table ate your ball.