Omega Virus (Book 1): Beta Hour

by Jake A. Strife

  “Someone is here then,” Wesley said as his SUV rumbled to life. “There’s one place I want to stop before we hit the port.”

  Not only did I have a horrid feeling about the city of Rockport, but also the infection continued to spread within me. We didn’t have the time.

  “Let’s just find a boat,” I said. “We can always come back later.”

  “This is important.” Wesley shook his head. “So we’re stopping. This could save our lives.”

  If we didn't move faster, nothing could save my life, but I knew Wesley wouldn't accept any excuses; especially if I told him I had a bite wound.

  “Is it really important?” Jeff asked. “We need to take care of this ‘Grandson’ asshole as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it’ll become.”

  “Whoever was watching might come for us!” Dave added. “I don’t wanna go to jail!”

  “We need to decipher the Rockport Report and the ‘Barracks’ may have a hint how to do so.” Wesley snapped. “It may tell us what we are going to run into in the Gulf Base.”

  “Like a strategy guide?” Dave asked.

  “Yes, like a strategy guide.” Wesley rolled his eyes.

  I didn’t like it. Not one bit. I opened my mouth to argue, but Wesley cut me off.

  “Not to mention the G.O.D. Report Part 2 should be there if it’s anywhere in this city,” Wesley added.

  That caught my attention. The G.O.D. Report Part 1 contained information regarding me. Maybe the next had more, and would tell me about Beauregard and why Grandson and I looked alike. Or maybe even better, it would tell how to make a cure, that way I could go up against Grandson at 100%.

  We walked toward the car just when a long siren began to wail. It sounded like a warning, the kind that stated curfew had started. We all glanced at each other, and a similar look passed between us.

  “Dammit Dave, why did you have to be right?” Jeff groaned.

  Dave shook his head. “I told you, it's a trap! It's always a trap!”

  LEVEL 33 – HARDLINE

  “Well kiddies, it's time to go!” Wesley sang as he jumped into the SUV.

  He didn't need to tell any of us twice. A blaring siren could only mean trouble. We piled in, and I took the passenger seat.

  Wesley put the car in drive, and the tires squealed as we were off; the siren still singing its song of doom.

  “What’s going on?” Jessie asked with a shaky voice.

  I kept my eyes on the road ahead. “Let's not find out.”

  Despite the direness of our situation, Dave ripped open the nacho container and went to work. In between bites, he said, “I think I know what it is!”

  Jeff sighed. “No, Dave. It’s not because you stole food.”

  “I prefer the term bootlegged,” Dave said smugly.

  “That doesn't even make sense,” Jessie said.

  The wailing continued as I looked around. I expected a dangerous new threat to come barreling out of every alley, but as we went no such thing happened. Still, I didn't like the fog horn siren.

  As we passed by a few businesses, Jeff pointed to the buildings. “Do you see that?”

  The lights inside were flickering madly.

  “What the heck does it mean?” I asked.

  “It’s a trap,” Wesley said.

  “See? See?” Dave mumbled. “I told you!”

  “What do you mean?” Jessie asked.

  “Look closer,” Wesley told us.

  I peered out the window and then spied an electrical spark jolting off of a door handle.

  “Why would they electrify doors?” I asked, confused.

  “Maybe it’s a timed thing? Some kind of curfew!” Dave suggested.

  “What time is it?” I spied the dashboard clock. “8:30.”

  “Good to know,” Jeff said. “So we avoid the doors at that hour.”

  “We won’t be here that long.” I hoped aloud.

  “What if we can secure this place?” Jessie asked. “It’s so nice here otherwise.”

  In the distance, we could see the beach on the Gulf of Mexico. What a sight to see. I'd never actually seen it before.

  Jeff leaned forward. “Jessie’s right. We can have a home here.”

  “I don’t plan on sticking around.” Wesley shrugged. “Once we get rid of Grandson there's more to do.”

  “What do you mean?” Dave asked. “Won’t it be over once we take care of G.O.D. Mode?”

  “It’s a group,” Wesley said. “An entire family of psychopaths.”

  I spoke up. “I saw them. Not their faces except for Grandson's. When I snuck into the base, I saw five people sitting around a table all dressed in black hooded cloaks. Another person was on the other end of the conference call.”

  “Six?” Wesley asked. “Should've been one more.”

  “Seven?” I opened my mouth to say, but the siren cut off and Wesley stopped the car.

  I looked out to see a stone building surrounded by more walls. A machine gun turret sat on each corner.

  “Maybe someone should stay out here and keep watch?” I asked.

  “I will if you give me a flamethrower!” Dave lifted his hand.

  Wesley chuckled and opened the car door. He looked at me as if I were an idiot. “Worried about grand theft auto?”

  “No!” I said. “But if Corpses come—”

  “And everyone did vanish, so I'd wager something is lurking here,” Jeff added.

  “It was a joke.” Wesley rolled his eyes. “Lighten up. This is the barracks, so come on!”

  “He’s got a point.” Jessie agreed. “There are turrets on each side of the building. We can handle anything.”

  “Point taken.” Jeff pushed his door open.

  As we got out, I looked the barracks up and down. A staircase led up to two iron doors, and small slitted windows were carved into the wall.

  “You think anyone’s in there?” Dave asked.

  “No,” Jeff replied. “Or you would have taken an arrow to the knee.”

  “And you told me to cut out those jokes.”

  “There’s a time and place.” Jeff chuckled.

  Wesley walked up the stairs. “Shut up, stooges.”

  “There are only two of us!” Dave argued.

  Wesley laughed. “Three including Zach.”

  “Who does that make me?” Jessie screwed up her face.

  “Betty Boop.” Wesley shrugged.

  “That was easy,” Jeff said as Wesley pushed open the doors.

  “Almost... too easy,” Dave added.

  Wesley sighed. “Zach, how do you put up with these guys?”

  “I’m still getting used to them.” I shrugged.

  We all entered and closed the doors behind us. Inside the building we didn't find much, not even any furniture; only a map of Rockport decorated a single wall, and another door leading presumably outside to the walls. Wesley leaned in close, examining the map.

  “See anything useful?” I asked.

  “Not yet.”

  Jeff pulled open the only other door, and daylight poured in.

  “What’s out there?” Jessie asked.

  “Not much.”

  “Something is strange about this place too,” I said.

  “Yeah, there’s nothing here,” Jeff said. “Outside there's just an empty yard.”

  “Oh well.” I shrugged. “Let’s go.”

  A sudden, annoying itch ran up and down my arm. I scratched it without paying much attention, but then it started itching again. I dug my nails in; scratching harder.

  “Got fleas?” Wesley eyed me.

  “No,” I asked. “Why?”

  “You’re distracting me.” He said.

  Jeff walked up to the wall with the map and tore it down to find a hole in the wall. “Aha! A missing brick.”

  Before I could comment, I started feeling really cold, as if I had jumped into a freezing pool. I rubbed my arms, but when I touched my skin, it felt burning hot. I didn’t fe
el weak, or out of it; nothing like Jessie’s spells. But the time grew ever nearer, and I knew it.

  “I guess I gotta stick my hand in the hole in the wall,” Jeff muttered.

  “It’ll cut your hand off,” Dave said, matter-of-factly.

  “You’re a bastard!” Jeff sounded annoyed. “I should make you put your hand in there.”

  “You two need to quit bitching.” Wesley walked over and shoved his hand in the hole.

  A loud click followed, and the floor vanished, replaced by a glowing white light. We all looked down to see we stood on a large computer screen.

  “Leon?” I asked.

  “Yes.” The computerized voice answered. “This is the AI unit codenamed Leon.”

  “It’s me, Zachary Mastiff,” I said.

  Everyone’s eyes watched the floor as an image of me appeared. It started out as a 2D but then rose up into the air, forming into a 3D hologram.

  “Zachary.” Leon said. “I have recognized your DNA pattern. Have you forgotten something? You returned so soon.”

  “Returned?” I cocked an eyebrow. “This is my first time here.”

  “Negative, sir,” it said. “You were here twenty minutes ago. You left after firing a missile at an incoming helicopter.”

  Everyone stared at me; Wesley didn't look shocked.

  “It had to be Grandson,” I said.

  “But you can’t have the same DNA!” Jessie argued. “That would mean your identical twins.”

  “Correction, madam.” Leon said. “There are more ways to have the same DNA.”

  “How?” I asked.

  “Permission not authorized,” Leon replied.

  “Again?” I grew frustrated. “Where are the citizens of Rockport?”

  “You’ve been shipping them to the Gulf Base.” Leon said. “For processing.”

  Jessie gasped, and covered her mouth. “Zach, ask what happened to them!”

  So I did. “What happens to them once they’re at the base?”

  “Permission not authorized.”

  I cursed loudly.

  “You gave me the orders to not tell you anything else.” Leon said.

  Grandson had impersonated me and tricked Leon into thinking we were the same person. We also apparently had the same DNA. But what could that mean?

  “What about the G.O.D. Report Part 2?” I asked. “Can you play it?”

  “No, sir,” Leon answered.

  “Why?”

  “You took the G.O.D. Report Part 2 with you when you left, then deleted the backup files,” it said. “If you bring it back here, I can play it for you.”

  I clenched my fists. How had he known about the report? So that meant we had to come back to Rockport after taking care of Grandson.

  “Tell me who Beauregard is in relation to me!” I shouted.

  “Permission not granted,” Leon said again.

  “Okay, I’m pissed.” I swung a fist at the air.

  “Zach, calm down,” Jessie said. “There’s nothing we can do.”

  “Leon.” Wesley cut in. “Do you recognize Wesley James?”

  The AI unit buzzed, and the floor flipped through images.

  “Affirmative.” A 3D hologram of Wesley popped up in the middle of the room next to mine. It wore the trench coat and the zombie-killing fedora, complete with the red feather.

  “Can you tell me where Zach went?” He asked.

  “Affirmative. He went to the Gulf Base.” Leon said.

  “And he has the G.O.D. Report?”

  “Affirmative.”

  I nodded to Wesley. “Beauregard.”

  “Tell me who Beauregard is,” Wesley asked.

  “Beauregard White.” the AI said, and images began flipping through on the floor. A moment later in the center of the room stood a 3D hologram of a heavyset man in a white lab coat. He had puffy white hair and a huge white beard.

  “He looks familiar,” I whispered. Something about him seemed to tug at the back of my mind. I'd seen him somewhere before, but where?

  Wesley looked at me. “Are you sure you want to go further with this? Who knows what there is to tell about this guy.”

  Did he know something?

  “I'm ready to hear anything,” I said.

  Wesley spoke. “All information on Beauregard.”

  The AI hummed and then began to speak.

  “Beauregard White. He's a Virologist and Quantum Physics engineer.

  Beauregard has participated in many of the top secret experiments performed around the world. He's responsible for creating the vaccine for the Omega Virus. His whereabouts are currently known.”

  “Can you tell us how to make the vaccine?” I asked.

  “Permission not granted.” Leon said. “Attempted voice recognitions have exceeded the maximum limit. Shutting down.”

  “Wait!” I cried as the screen fizzled back to the image of the stone floor.

  Wesley looked at me and shook his head. “You blew it. But why are you so interested in the vaccine again? None of us are infected.”

  I shrugged. “It’s useful. You know in case one of us get bit or something.”

  Wesley slowly nodded his head but looked me up and down.

  “We didn’t really get anything out of the stupid computer,” Dave said. “Can we go?” Jessie asked.

  “Let’s try again?” I asked. “Maybe we can wait twenty minutes and make another attempt! Isn’t that how these things work?”

  Wesley walked past me towards the exit.

  “You were in such a hurry,” Wesley said. “Now you want to stay. You’re right. We don’t have the time.”

  A sinking feeling told me that Wesley had found me out.

  “Let’s go,” I said. “Once we finish off Grandson, we’ll get our answers.”

  Jessie came up and wrapped her arms around me. She let go instantly and whispered. “Do you have a fever?”

  I shook my head quickly. “I just feel a little under the weather.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Jessie's eyes grew concerned.

  “Y-yes,” I said. “100%!”

  Wesley reached for the door just as the long wail of the siren started again.

  “Crap!” He snatched back his hand; electricity flowed through the handle.

  “Maybe the yard?” I suggested. “Can we get out there?”

  “There’s nothing out there,” Jeff argued.

  The second door's handle didn’t look to be electrified. With a deep breath, I grabbed and pulled it open. Outside we found a large yard, but the tall stone walls were blocking our escape. Anger simmered inside; I'd grown tired of being trapped. Outside, a ladder climbed up to the top of the walls. I heard a heavy sound. Like the groaning of Corpses, but much much deeper and stronger. I swallowed hard.

  “What is that?” Dave asked as they followed me into the yard.

  A rumbling shortly followed, like a train careened down the street not too far away. I hadn't seen any tracks.

  “I think we have company,” Wesley said.

  “The ladder!” Jeff said.

  “Everyone, up!” Wesley barked. “All four of you take the turrets.”

  “The turrets? Why?” Dave's eyes grew wide.

  “You like video games right?” Wesley patted Dave’s shoulder.

  Dave nodded. “Of course, but--!”

  “Get your ass up that ladder and to a turret!” Wesley ordered. “It’s time to play a real life video game!”

  “What genre?” Dave asked.

  Wesley grinned. “Tower Defense.”

  LEVEL 34 – TOWER DEFENSE

  My head dropped in despair. “Tower Defense is my least favorite genre.”

  I didn't like the kind of game where multiple units protect a point from wave after wave of oncoming enemies. From the sound of the stampeding outside the walls, we were in for a fight.

  Wesley quickly climbed the ladder. At the top of the wall, he drew his twin pistols and shouted. “Hurry or we’re dead!”


  I'd only made it halfway up when Wesley started shooting. I pulled myself onto the wall and rushed towards the farthest turret.

  “No, take that one!” Wesley pointed at the one to his right.

  I quickly jumped in front of the gun. My jaw dropped. Filling the streets below were massive, lumbering Lv02 Corpses like Governor Wayne from the Cornelia Facility.

  “Dammit Zach, shoot!” Wesley snapped.

  I grabbed the handles of the turret and held in the triggers. I opened fire first, as the rest of the guild made it to their turrets. The machine gun blasted powerful rounds, and the ratatat of gunfire filled the air. I faced several Lv02s coming from the south. All the while the siren continued to blare. The trap had caught us like rats; we weren't meant to escape.

  Bullets flew, causing sprays of blood and chunks of flesh to be torn off of the evolved Corpses. One would fall, dismembered, and the next would just stampede over it. We'd be lucky to stop them with just guns, so I aimed at their legs, trying my best to slow them down.

  My gun fired and fired. I took out one's arm, then the leg of another. The pair tumbled into a pile, and I tilted the gun up and shot for the next in line. Wesley hooted a cheer. I glanced over and saw the look on his face; he grinned wickedly. In this battle of life or death, he felt more alive than ever, scoring dozens of ‘points.'

  Heavy fear outweighed my joy. I used to love killing zombies in games, but this crossed the line.

  “We're winning!” Wesley cheered, as we all fired from different turrets.

  I narrowed my eyes. We were under attack, not in a video game!

  The Lv02s barreled in. Despite taking each down, they continued to force their way closer, and they truly were never ending. I had a feeling these were the citizens of Rockport, processed and transformed; Grandson's defense.

  I gritted my teeth and struggled to hold the gun steady. The kickback nearly had me falling over. The fact that my body felt colder, and my fingers were going numb didn’t help. My vision actually began to blur, and I could smell Wesley's sweat. It smelled appetizing. My stomach growled, and hunger began to seep in. I wanted to stop shooting and have a nibble.

  “They’ve made it to the walls!” Jeff screamed.

  Wesley ran around the top of the wall and fired to help Jeff fend off his Lv02s. The scent vanished, and I could focus again. Cursing, I realized my mind and senses were fading. I couldn’t let it happen again. I couldn't allow myself to lose control, it would be too dangerous.