I closed my eyes. “We can change this Guide! We have free will!”
He shook his head. “The past, the present, the future, it’s already happened. There is no changing the Guide.”
“Bullshit, there’s always a way.”
“Maybe if someone sent knowledge back from the future... but that isn’t possible. Believe it or not, I do not care. You will give birth to her, and the world will know peace.”
“Think I’ll go be alone now.” I left him to his fantasies and walked into the cargo hold. Lights came on around the large room. The small crates along the walls had labels, unlike the huge one in the center.
“What makes you so important, you don’t get a label?”
Doing a quick circle, I found no latches or buttons. I climbed on top and nothing. I knocked three times, and the knock echoed back. A second set knocks came from the crate. With raised brows, I placed my ear against the top. Something knocked from within once more. I brought my ear away and jumped back.
I knocked out a pattern. “Is someone in there?”
Whoever was inside knocked back the same.
“There must be a way...!”
I stared at the crate. At a different angle, the light exposed numbers; 6-2-1. It meant nothing as far as I could tell. I stuck against the steel again and listened. Something moved inside, and thudded, sounding frantic to get out.
“Can’t be a corpse…”
From inside came a tap tap tap tap tap tap.
I mimicked it.
Tap tap.
I mimicked it.
Tap.
I gave one last knock, and the box clanked and shuddered. The lid folded inwards and disappeared, leaving the top open. Fog wafted out, covering the floor. I stepped back with wide eyes. A human head popped out, and I stifled a scream.
A mop of black hair covered the girl’s face. She brought an arm over the edge, then the other, and a long, slender, exposed leg.
Out of nowhere, the nude girl fell to the floor with a loud thud. Help her or stay away? Was she a new enemy? A prisoner? Either way a crate was a strange way to keep someone confined.
She moved in a slow, groggy fashion. After a few moments, she rolled onto her behind and stood. My mouth hung open. She was pale, slim, my age, and she didn’t bother hiding her nakedness. The girl lifted her head and gazed at me with golden eyes. Her short bob-cut hair bounced to the sides of her face.
I prepared to run for help. “W-Who are you?”
“Me?” She studied her hands.
“Yes, you. I see no one else here.”
She turned her head left and right. “Neither do I.”
“Are you friend or foe?” I narrowed my eyes. If she was with the enemy...
“Identify yourself.” She took a step toward me.
“Tell me who you are first!” I reached behind me for a weapon, but as I hit the wall, I found nothing.
“I request you tell me your name and affiliation.” She took another, this time a seductive, hip swaying step.
“And I said tell me your name—and your affiliation!”
Did she want to kill me? She had to be an experiment belonging to the siblings. I’d found her in a techno crate; one that hadn’t been easy to open.
“I am called Dragoon.” She came another step closer, this time closing the gap by two feet.
“Who are you with, Dragoon?”
“Tell me your name your affiliation.” She stepped right before me, her nose inches from mine. She had no breath.
“I’m with the Gamers’ Guild!”
Dragoon put her forehead to mine and closed her eyes, then next thing I realized she had her palms on my shoulders and pressed up against me in an awkward embrace.
I didn’t know what to do, so I stayed frozen.
“I love you.” She caught me off guard.
“Wh-What...?” Before I could finish my sentence, she pushed her icy lips against mine.
I shoved her away.
Dragoon looked at me with hurt in her eyes, and frowned, her bottom lip trembling.
I shook my head. “Not into girls, sorry.”
“I’m—I’m sorry.” Dragoon glanced at her feet. “I am confused. It seemed... right. I do not love Tiffany; I love J..J...I can’t remember his name.”
“Don’t go around kissing people.” I wiped my lips. “And I’m sorry but no one with a J name is here.”
“I’m confused.” She fell to her knees. “Where am I?”
“You don’t know? Aren’t you with G.O.D. Mode?”
“G.O.D.... Mode?” Her eyes faded as she looked into distant memories.
A loud growl escaped her lips. Her eyes were aflame with pure hatred. Dragoon popped up and swung a fist, and I ducked in time. Her swing was so hard she spun around and stumbled. I scrambled across the floor and backed toward the cargo door.
She glared and walked toward me, one foot in front of the other; even when angry she walked a vixen’s walk.
“What’d I do?” I patted the air between us.
Her eyes burned with malice. “I hate you!”
“That was a quick change of heart!” I ducked under another punch and ran around the side of the crate, putting my back to it.
She stomped after me. “I will make you pay! I am not your toy!”
Around the corner she came. I hopped back as she launched a high kick at me. Her foot came within an inch of my face as I backed away. She launched another kick, forcing me back, and then another. I couldn’t keep dodging; her movements were too quick. Her next attack landed dead center in my chest, and sent me off my feet, landing hard.
I arched my back. “I did nothing to hurt you!”
She leaped and straddled me. I covered myself as she brought her fist back, ready to bash my face. The door opened, and my friends entered.
Arik’s eye widened. “What the hell are you doing?”
Dragoon stopped and turned to the pair, and they stared back, Arik’s jaw hanging open.
“Damn, that’s hot.” Dyonna leaned over and lifted Arik’s chin, closing his mouth.
LEVEL 27:
EVOLUTION
Mog rubbed his temples and sighed. “You don’t see the issue?”
Arik sat in the copilot’s seat and leaned over, his hands clasped together. “Please, can we keep her?”
Dragoon sat across the cockpit, as silent as death, observing our conversation.
Once we’d explained we weren’t part of G.O.D. Mode, Dragoon calmed. Not before smacking Dyonna across the face and being ready to brake Arik’s arm.
“I vote we kick her sorry ass out of the plane!” Dyonna massaged her jaw.
“Well, two for staying, two for going.” I dropped my head into my palms. “We can’t kick her out on a tie.”
“The hell we can’t!”
Arik shook his head. “You know you like her. Even you said she’s hot.”
“When she wasn’t trying to kill us!” Dyonna raised her hand to smack Arik, but he recoiled.
“We’ll arrive in Los Angeles ten minutes from now.” Captain Mog glanced back. “I’ve zoned in on where they landed.”
Arik waved his fist. “Then Garrett must be there too!”
“Excuse me?” Dragoon lifted her eyes. “Is it decided? Can I stay with your group?”
“No—” Dyonna started, but I cut her short.
“Yes, we could use an android on our side!”
“I am confused.” Dragoon hung her head to her now clothed chest. The military garb wore too tight, but she didn’t care.
“Don’t be. We aren’t kicking you out of the group.” I glared at Dyonna, who stuck out her tongue.
“She never was part of it!”
Mog nodded. “Dyonna is correct. Dragoon is a threat. She belongs to the siblings.”
“Negative! I belong to B-B-B...” Dragoon’s lips contorted, and twisted, as if she was forgetting how to speak.
Mog looked back, locking eyes with me. “When someone denies it so—”
&n
bsp; “Enough.” I stood and put my hands on my hips. “I’m the leader here, and I say she stays. She can fight, which means she can help us in our battle.”
“Does she know how to use a gun?” Dyonna narrowed her eyes.
“Affirmative.” Dragoon nodded.
“Then it’s decided!” Dyonna stood, with her hands on her hips. “She’s gonna shoot us in the back!”
“Who made you the leader?” Arik crossed his arms. “I think I should be the leader.”
I rolled my eyes. “Look, I’m the one running around saving all of your asses.”
“Mog did that.”
“And me!” Dyonna sang.
I turned my head. “Okay, so we’ve all saved each other. Even Arik!”
“Wait, I did?” He lowered his head in thought. “When?”
With a heavy exhale, I closed my eyes. “The train conductor?”
He smiled. “Oh, right!”
“The argument no longer needs waged.” Dragoon looked at each of us. “Leader Tiffany declared I stay.”
“She’s cute, so she stays.” Arik grinned. “Dyonna, you can leave.”
“I ought to kick your ass!” Dyonna lifted her fist. “Where the hell else can I go?”
Mog interrupted. “We’re landing. Everyone strap yourselves in, now!”
I cocked my head. “You said ten minutes.”
The plane jolted, and I flew from my seat, crashing to Dragoon’s feet.
“Tiffany!” Arik jumped.
“I’m fine!” I pulled myself into the chair beside Dragoon and strapped a seatbelt across my chest.
Dyonna’s eyes were wide. “What the hell?”
Outside the window, a massive black shadow flew by the plane.
“It’s a bird.” Mog turned the tiller to the side. “If we don’t land, it’ll take us down, without a doubt.”
My heart raced. “Is there a runway? Or a highway?”
“There is a lake.”
“Is it a big lake? Because this is a big aircraft.”
The plane shook again and Mog fought for control. That same shadow flew past our nose, and a long steel spike shot through the windshield, striking the floor between us. Air rushed into the cockpit.
I stared at the projectile, recognizing it. “That’s a feather!”
Arik lunged behind his chair as a shower of bladed-feathers shot in, striking the seats and shattering the window.
“Mog, are you okay?” The wind blasted my voice away.
“I’ll be fine!” He threw out his hand as the plane tilted. “Strap in, now!”
The lake below came into sight and it looked diminutive. “Oh shit.”
“We’re gonna die, aren’t we?” Arik strapped on a seatbelt and shrieked.
Dyonna clicked her belt. “Yeah, bird or robot. We’re dead!”
“I prefer the term android.” Dragoon’s voice drowned amidst the wind.
Another wave of feathers flew in, stabbing the floor. Lights flashed in the cockpit, and a loud beeping sounded.
We stared in horror as the lake came up to meet us. The plane struck at an angle; bouncing and skipping. Metal screeched as one wing ripped off, spinning us. The water drenched us and I only heard our screams. We then bounced onto land and slammed through picnic benches before ending by crashing against a hill.
Outside the bird screeched and bladed-feathers came sticking through the roof.
“That thing is Garrett’s bird!” I unstrapped myself and grabbed an assault rifle from the wall.
“You mean that bird was his?” Arik rubbed his eyes.
“It can’t be a coincidence. Remember Kiki had Bubsy?”
Dyonna’s head lolled. “How are you so sure?”
Dragoon unstrapped her belt. “Experiment 728-S. Code Condor. Capable of extreme mutation. Tamed by one Garrett Rose. Current enemy to G.O.D. Mode.”
“See! She’s with dem!”
“It was in my databanks.”
“Bullshit!”
It hit me that Mog hadn’t commented, or even moved from his seat. I rushed to the front and my jaw dropped. A feather-blade was protruding from his forehead.
“Shit!” I grabbed the feather, yanking it out. Green blood dripped from the wound.
He was dead! Headshots killed corpses; they had to kill Lonely Ones. Anger welled in my belly as a screech came from the sky. Rifle in hand and with narrowed eyes, I leaped out onto the nose, running to a copse of trees.
I spun around looking everywhere for the bird. The sun broke through the clouds, and a heavy shadow fell over me. I dove out of the way as the creature swooped. The truck-sized bird landed on the ground close by, bringing up mountains of dirt. It stretched its wide wings and sent the trees flying.
I drew my rifle and opened fire on the monstrous zombeast. My gun rattled as a spray of bullets shot into its side. It thrashed its wings and jumped around, facing me.
I stared in absolute horror. The bird had three heads. One of a goat, one of a lion and one of a reptile. Every feather melted off, replaced by scales and a snake-headed tail whipped behind it. The zombeast continued to change, as rotting, muscular lion legs burst from its chest.
“They made a chimera?” I inhaled.
With three heads, it watched me; each set of eyes flaring green.
From somewhere near its flank, came gunfire. My friends had joined the attack.
The reptile opened its mouth wide and sucked in a deep breath. A flicker of flames grew within its gaping maw.
“Shit.” I turned and ran.
Behind me the chimera lumbered, roaring with the lion head. There was no outrunning it. The damn thing was too fast. So, I had to fight. A park bench came up before me and I leaped it. At the other side, I spun, firing my rifle. The reptile head flailed as bullets struck home. Just as I thought I had a chance, my gun stopped firing; my ammo’s out.
I hurled the weapon at the creature and dove, crashing into a bunch metal garbage cans. A large garbage lid was by my feet. I brought it before me, to a second too late. The burning flames of the underworld blew forth from the chimera and washed over my hiding place. The feeble shield couldn’t protect me, and sure enough it didn’t. I screamed as the handle burned my hands.
Sure, I was to become ashes, I shut my eyes tight. Guns fired, and the torrent of flame ceased. When I dared to peek out, they each attacked a separate head of the chimera.
It thrust out its great feathered wings, blowing my allies off their feet. The zombeast turned to face me.
“Garrett sent you after us, didn’t he?” I clenched my fists.
Its answer came in the form of a roar, screech, and hiss. Before it attacked, a figure landed a few feet away. In each hand, he held a dagger.
My jaw hit the ground. “Mog? You’re alive?”
The Lonely looked over his shoulder, the hole in his head healed.
“No... But it takes more than that to finish one of my kind.” He turned back to the chimera. “Now, is time for you to flee.”
“Not again.” I bolted to his side and took a dagger from his hand.
We regarded one another with a nod. Neither of us wanted to take on this beast alone. Mog ran right, and I, left. The chimera struck out with its wings, but I dove under the attack, losing sight of Mog.
I turned to the beast’s flank and slashed. A long gash opened, revealing the rotting muscles.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted movement. I’d forgotten the tail! The snake head snapped at me. When I tried to swing, the fangs sank into my shoulder. I screamed and slashed at the snake, but it retracted out of harm’s reach.
“Asshole!”
Gunfire assaulted the snake as Arik came running around the chimera’s flank. The snake tried to dodge but failed; it fell limp.
The zombeast roared and flapped its wings. If it took to the sky, we were in trouble. Dagger in my teeth, I leaped onto its side. I dug my fingers into zombeast’s flesh as it lifted into the air. Only seconds later, we were more than a hundred f
eet off the ground. I made the mistake of dropping my gaze.
Panic filled me, and I scrambled back to climbing. Once on the monster’s back, I stabbed my dagger, holding on for dear life. It roared and shook, trying to throw me. In one quick motion, I withdrew my dagger, and dug my other hand into the wound; a new handhold.
What the hell was my plan again? I saw the base of the creature’s left wing. Even if I couldn’t kill it, I could bring it to the ground. But I needed to avoid dying too.
I crawled, stabbing and pulling myself forward. It thrashed with each stick but couldn’t get me to fall. I made it to the wings.
“Take this!” I slashed across and cut deep. The chimera roared, hissed, and screeched. It tried to flap again, but the sudden movement severed the wing.
And we fell.
My heart caught in my throat as the ground rushed to meet us. I couldn’t even scream.
The chimera crashed, and I bounced, flying. The next thing I knew, I found myself in Mog’s arms once again, landing with ease.
“That was the most reckless thing you could’ve done! If that chimera had flown off, there’d be no finding you.”
“You weren’t doing any better!” I frowned.
“The mother of the Silver Star—”
“Shut up, already!”
Mog looked at me incredulous and set me on the grass.
“You are not my guardian! You can’t tell me what I can and cannot do! No one tells me what’s reckless anymore. I make that decision. Me and me alone. Do you understand?”
I stomped away toward the chimera’s body. The others were standing several strides from the beast. “Is it dead?”
Arik picked up a stone and hurled it at the goat head. As the rock struck home, the beast twitched.
“Oh my god, it’s gonna kill us all!” Arik covered his head and screeched.
Dragoon walked to the zombeast with no fear on her face. She picked up my fallen dagger and walked around the front of the beast and with multiple quick slashes, cut off each of its heads.
The beast was dead.
Dragoon walked back. “Experiment 728-S has expired.”
“Oh.” Arik wiped his brow. “Phew, but I wasn’t worried… just so you know.”
“Yeah right, boyo.” Dyonna smacked his shoulder, giggling.
Dragoon tilted her head and tried to mimic the noise, but it came out as a series of screeches. The three of us stared at her and she stared back. “What is it?”
Omega Virus (Book 2): Gamma Hour Page 18