Taya looked over to this agile redhead. "Moon, is that you?" Her old friend smiled and Taya asked immediately as the two embraced, "How did you escape?" But before Moon could reply, more shots fired out and brought both women’s attention back to the struggle at hand.
There were still some of the thugs fighting, one of which had an operating gun. It was always deadly and dangerous out on the streets, and some of the good and the bad had fallen.
Peru took the last thug out with a nicely aimed shot. The remaining thugs made a run for it, and the battle was finally over.
During the process of recovering the piping and any type of food left in the grocery store, Taya and Moon were able to discuss many things. Moon didn't hold back.
She was definitely used and abused by the Joint Correlation. She had been a slave to their every need, and she wasn't proud of it.
These people were disgusting pigs, men who needed to die. They claimed to be the new age rulers for all that wished to prosper, yet these were all false promises and lies.
Moon explained that after many years of torture, and she had the marks to prove it, she was able to escape during one of the many gladiatorial death fights that were sponsored by the Joint Correlation. Taya felt Moon’s pain, yet all she could do was listen.
Moon explained how she was able to sneak into one of the visiting fighter’s caravans to hide, and in time, she was far enough away to be free. Taya was so happy to see her old friend. She convinced Moon and the remaining good folk to join her in her travels back to the hospital community, where she hoped they would find some sort of peace within the walls of their new home.
A year passed by very quickly, and she came to realize that there were many people like her that would always fight and go against the Joint Correlation’s laws.
Moon began to find a little happiness in life, and she and Taya became lovers. They had gotten closer and closer as the months went by.
Tonight was one of those nights where they shared each other's company and discussed the future. In their private apartment, the two embraced while nude on the bed. They looked each other in the eye with great admiration. A nice kiss was followed by a much deeper, passionate one as their tongues probed each other's mouths and tasted each other’s lips.
As their mouths separated, they both smiled, knowing they were so happy to have found each other once again. Moon brushed Taya’s hair from her face and said, "From the moment we first met, I liked your disposition. You always believed in the good in the world, and it gave me a hopeful feeling inside."
Taya held Moon's hand and leaned her head on it, then glanced up and smiled. They melted together in mind, body, and soul, intertwining their flesh as one.
The passion was building, and Taya whispered to her lover, "The one thing a harsh world cannot take from a human being is love." Moon kissed her deeply and they enjoyed each other on the bed for some time.
Afterwards, the pair sat and contemplated what was next in their crazy life.
"I don't think this is enough," Taya said. "There are whole cities out there that are hiding in fear." Moon nodded in agreement as Taya continued. "The Correlation will eventually come for them. We have to go to those places and somehow try to inspire the people there." Moon would never see a glimmer of hope diminish from Taya; she always felt that there was hope in this mad world.
By the end of their conversation, she was in agreement with her dark-haired, beautiful lover.
"I think you’re right. The next step is to go to one of the fortress cities. There we will find the answer to what we must do, but I’m still not sure yet what that will be." Moon cuddled up to Taya and kissed her arm. "If we do it together, I’m in!"
Moon and Taya still needed more time here at the hospital. There was still so much to learn, so they remained for several more years, which came as a surprise to both of them.
The time was well spent, as they were both taught by the scientists and medical experts at the facility. The training was in fighting disease and famine, and in this day and age, it was not an easy thing to master.
They also learned that the Joint Correlation was infecting people with cancerous cells, just to try to find a cure. The various types of cancer had really become an epidemic over the last few centuries, and people were dying at enormous rates. It was thought that a cure would have been found long ago, but that was not the case. If anything, cancer had gotten worse.
The women did find certain things of interest throughout their remaining years at the hospital. The most interesting being a human growth hormone, the usage of brain chips for enhancing intelligence, and most notably, a drug which the scientists and doctors referred to as the North Star Application.
They also worked on ways to fabricate weapons that could combat the JC’s advanced armor. A certain process of forging and altering a particular metal was needed to actually do any damage to these suits and any robotic usage of such protection. Guns and ammo were very limited, so these new swords and axes were priceless to any outsiders.
Both Moon and Taya also learned history about the country itself. They learned that what was once a proud nation had basically lost its freedom. They needed to know what had made it great before they could leave and inspire others to want such standard of living to return. They had both learned a lot, but they knew they had their work cut out for them.
Of course they reminisced about Garrison and TB. Taya knew very little about either at the time of their capture, only that Garrison was sent to learn military procedures, and TB was recommended for elimination. Their conversation swayed to anything prior to their capture when Moon knew them better. It was tough to even talk about it at times, but keeping the two in their memories was part of the healing process.
The women had made a lot of new friends here in the hospital complex. It was a good place to live, better than most, and hidden away from watching eyes.
However, the days and months here were not always easy. The people were confined and many became frustrated. As a trainer, Taya was challenged more than once. Today was one of her most challenging.
The guy was about six feet or slightly taller, and he was solidly built. Like others, this Viking-like dude wanted a piece of the slim woman teacher. He was lean and muscular and eager to prove that a woman was no match for a solid, in-shape male. He was a scruffy guy with a dirty beard and mean disposition.
They would do hand to hand combat, and he boldly stepped up to challenge Taya.
Taya defended as he attacked first. He was a tough sucker and built to brawl. He had the thickest eyebrows she had ever seen and looked like a wolf man as he punched out at the small young woman. She would avoid his initial shots, and then she swiftly belted him with a roundhouse kick to the face. He snarled but did not even flinch.
He came at her a second time, and then a third, and he punched out at her as she moved with graceful footwork to keep out of his range. She again made her own attack. This time, she faked a kick low to his groin and leaped up to punch him in the nose. He settled back with wild eyes and a huge grin on his face. He shook his head, now mildly impressed. "That felt good," he said, still excited about what had just happened.
Taya awaited his next move, and this time he faked a punch and dipped low to grab one of her legs, lifting her up and tossing her to the floor. She hit hard, and she knew her shoulder was most likely dislocated. She tried to get up, but others in the training room rushed over to stop the fight. Arknic the Viking had injured her, and thus had made his point. He strode amongst the student trainees, yapping about his conquest. "Now you all see," he announced to everyone in the room, "yes, she teaches good looking moves, but it does not matter because strength always wins out." He flexed his bulging biceps for all to see. "Men are always going to be stronger and better than women, real men, like me," he said, motioning to himself and posing with his flexed arms up over his head.
Chapter Nine
Several months later, Arknic retur
ned to the training area with yet another challenge.
The hairy, stout Viking man entered and immediately began his rant. "Do I need to prove again woman no good?" he announced. "Your teacher is too small and weak. What say you, Taya the hopeful? Shall we test this theory again?"
Taya had no choice. She needed to prove to the women, and a few of the guys, in her martial arts room that skill can take down a bear if done right. She walked out into the center area and took a fighting stance. Moon was there and rushed out to stop her. "Don’t do this. He’s just a big bully! You could get hurt again, it’s not worth it."
Taya padded her friend on the shoulder. "I have to do this," she nodded. "Trust me, this time it will be different." Moon backed up. As nervous as she was, she trusted Taya; there was something in her eyes, and knew she could do this.
Arknic grinned from ear to ear, "Ahhhhhh, more fun! Good girl. I like such fighting spirit . . . perhaps this time I will break your tiny back!"
He advanced with the intention of again proving the little dark-haired woman was no match for a real man.
This time Taya had a better strategy. She would not avoid as much as bait the big fellow. He came in much quicker than expected, and she did not get out of his way. Instead of punching, he kicked her in the stomach, and she flew back in pain while the watching people all groaned. Arknic laughed out loud. "I figured you would get better, but I see you have not. Let's end this fast," he said with a bragging tone, coming at his opponent again.
He reached to grab her, but she held her ground until he almost had her, and then she knocked his hand aside and spun around behind him. She jumped up on his back and wrapped her legs around his thighs. The big bearded Viking moved about and tried to get her off, but she held onto him tight, riding him like a monkey.
He was getting frustrated and was about to launch himself in the air to land on top of her, thus breaking her back in the process as promised. Taya felt his sudden lift and let go, knowing his plan was to flatten her, and she jumped off him while he was in mid-air. He turned to face her, and she kneed him hard in the liver. He puffed out a pained breath but did not fall, and he swung a punch that missed Taya as she bobbed and weaved away. He tried to hit her several times, but her constant movement caused him to miss with each attempted contact. She knew that his go-to move was to pick her leg up and toss her backwards, and he went for it.
As he hunched in to pick up her leg, she was ready for him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and sunk a guillotine choke around his throat. He clearly did not like it as he was gurgling in anger and trying to peel her hand away from his neck. She used her other hand to push his hand over and again whipped herself round to his back. The big man hated that she was somehow behind him once again.
Taya then made the watching pupils roar in delight. With a twist of her body, she spun around and kicked the wolf man in his temple, her heel driving right home as Arknic the Viking fell to the floor. The students went crazy.
Taya and Moon contemplated leaving soon, but one issue still kept them at the hospital.
The doctors in the hospital complex kept most of their research hush-hush, and the girls were not allowed to learn everything.
Taya so dearly wanted to know more about the DNA research. If there was ever to be a revolution, there had to be a way to keep up with associations like the Joint Correlation. These companies were too rich and held all the cards on such research, and this meant the upper class would always be the ones to prosper. Their technological advancements, especially in the field of robotics, were narrowing the playing field for any on the outside.
There was a particular doctor that always seemed to be watching Moon, and he looked on with envy whenever she and Taya were together. His eyes told Moon he craved to be with them, or at least be part of their union. These days, relationships were all over the place, same sex, mixed sex, group sex, no one really cared. But Moon and Taya truthfully had no interest in anyone other than each other.
It did, however, give Moon an idea. If she were to invite him to their bedroom, he would surely open up and most likely give out all the information that Taya and herself so desperately needed. He was a creepy little fellow, and that was the issue. He looked more like a weasel than an average guy, and most people actually called him the weasel behind his back. He was short with a receding hairline, glasses, and tiny hands and feet. He was nothing more than a large brain walking about in a blue lab coat.
Moon decided to put the plan in motion herself. Dr. Marvin was his actual name, and he was tracked down by Moon this very afternoon. She had been following his eating habits, and more often than not, he ate in the cafeteria and was always the last one to leave. The attractive redhead made it a point to be there during today's lunchtime hour.
Moon, very much like her friend, was a slim and attractive young woman. Both of them trained hard with much grueling cardio circuit training. Her friend had once again been asked to instruct the other martial arts classes, and Moon had learned a great deal during all the sessions.
Dr. Marvin saw that Moon walked in and felt a bit at odds as she sat down next to him in the cafeteria. "Hello, Dr. Marvin," she smiled. Moon didn't rush anything; she just greeted him and kind of settled down to eat her own lunch sparingly.
She sat rather close to him. It was obvious he was uncomfortable around pretty women, but she let him be. Tomorrow she would break the ice and force the issue properly, but before she left today, she put a little conversation out there. "So, Dr. Marvin, I've been hearing a lot of talk lately about the so-called North Star Drug. May I ask you how that is going?"
The weasel scowled at Moon's question. He took a sip from his cup and looked at the redhead beside him. "No, you may not . . . that information is top secret, in case you didn't already know, so don't ask." He was rude with his answer, and his squeaky gerbil-like voice really was quite annoying.
Moon didn't expect anything out of him right away. She calmly added, "Well, no need to get all huffy and puffy about it. I was just curious." They were left with silence for a moment, and then Moon made the ultimate move. Waiting until tomorrow had been the plan, but she could not hold back. This was a good time too because no one else was in the room. "Don't you ever get curious, doctor?" She winked at the weasel and realized he seemed taken aback by such a question.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered.
"I see you watching me and Taya, and I've seen you peeking in our room too as you pass by."
The doctor was shaking, and he quickly packed up his food and looked at Moon as he stood to leave. "I have done no such thing," he said.
She knew she had the weasel’s attention now, but he acted like he was not interested and walked to the exit door.
The coy woman purposely dropped her lunch bag and slowly bent over to reach for it so he could get a good view of her backside. She knew the weasel desired what he saw, and she glanced over to see he was still looking at her. "If you were to share your information, doctor . . . I might have something I could share too," she teased with a wink. The surprised doctor's eyes were now wide open as he bolted off in a flap down the hallway.
The next time she and Dr. Marvin connected was a day later in the same cafeteria. She had decided to play a little game with him, this time sitting a bit further down in another section. She was wearing her black cat suit training attire to lunch.
He approached her this time. "Hello, young lady. I was thinking about what you said yesterday . . . "
They went on to discuss the details.
She and Taya would want full access to the laboratory, his notes, and the research study of the North Star Drug. The doctor answered her request with a simple answer. "I can't do it. No, I cannot allow that," he said, shaking his head.
Moon walked over to the doctor and cozied up against his face, whispering in his ear, "One night is all we’re asking. Just leave the door unlocked, no one will ever know we were there."
/> The weasel was breathing heavily and perspiring. He took a long breath, "Nope, can’t do it . . . nope! It’s too dangerous, too much at stake. This is an accumulation of nearly twenty years of work by all the scientists and doctors ever to reside here."
Moon began to walk off, shrugging her shoulders to motion it was too bad his mind was made up. She stopped at the doorway, leaned against its frame, and turned to face the little weasel of a doctor. "I guess we just thought that you would like to join us . . . naked . . . just the three of us . . . you in the middle."
She then turned and walked away down the hall. A mere thirty seconds later, the weasel was chasing after Moon and agreeing to the plan.
***
"That's disgusting, Moon!" said Taya to her friend. "I wouldn't touch the weasel with a ten-foot pole."
Moon had been expecting such a response. "It was the only way I could get him to agree," Moon argued. "Anyway, he won't be able to keep up . . . we can get him into drunken stupor, use drugs, do whatever."
Taya again groaned out, "Yuck, yuck, yuck! No way . . . nope, no way!"
Moon got all serious as Taya continued to mock the weasel's ugliness. "He’s going to let us go in the research lab. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
The two bickered back and forth for over an hour that evening, and finally Taya came to the conclusion that Moon was right. "Okay, okay, I will try my best," she lied.
Later, they crept down the hall and into the main lab sector. The area was strictly off-limits to all civilian people within the hospital, and no entry signs were heavily posted all over the doors and hallway walls.
The door to the room they needed was specially designed to keep people out. Not only would they need pass codes, they would also need special keys and an eye scan to gain access.
RISING_A Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic USA Fantasy Page 5