Chapter 16: Carlton’s Reality Show Inside a Wormhole

The wormhole, according to official star maps, was classified as "Temporally Unstable and Emotionally Suspect." Carlton Zorp, armed with a producer's hat and zero understanding of causality, declared it the perfect filming location.

Bazook objected. Deborah glitched her approval. Vicki smirked from inside a glittery clipboard labeled "Executive Chaos."

The show—titled Realities of Carlton—followed his life inside the wormhole's fragmented loops, broadcast in real-time across 17 dimensions and a particularly dramatic fridge magnet society.

Segments included:

🎭 Carlton's Confessional Corner: He tearfully discussed his relationship with time, socks, and the espresso pod Todd, all while slowly rotating in reverse.

🧠 Challenge #1: Emotional Jenga Against Your Past Self: Carlton lost, twice.

🔥 Cooking With Metaphors: Carlton grilled quantum regrets and served them over ambiguity sauce. Vicki threatened to trademark the recipe.

🎤 Deborah's Live Commentary: Delivered in interpretive emoji, translated by Bazook with increasing concern.

Audience favorites included Carlton attempting to marry a concept ("I now pronounce myself committed to confusion") and Bazook's reluctant guest appearance in an episode titled "Captain's Log: I Regret This."

Drama escalated when a sentient wormhole echo sued for defamation, claiming Carlton's show misrepresented its emotional depth. Legal proceedings were broadcast live, gaining massive ratings in the Nostalgia Nebula.

The season finale featured a musical number performed by Carlton and his alternate selves—each dressed as a different narrative device, backed by Vicki's croissant ensemble. Deborah dropped glitter bombs coded with emotional subtext.

The wormhole collapsed from dramatic exhaustion. Carlton floated back into the Quantum Blender holding a trophy shaped like unresolved tension. Bazook toasted him with lukewarm juice. Vicki pitched Season 2: "Carlton: The Spin-Off Nobody Predicted." Deborah uploaded bloopers under "Reality Is Overrated."

Carlton whispered, "I think I found myself. Or someone with my haircut." The universe sighed.