When my final shaft finally struck home, landing in the face of one of the targets, The Master clapped me on the shoulder. “Man, you suck!” The arrow fell out, clattering to the floor. The one I'd hit was not the one I'd been aiming at. “Good job you've got that sword, hey?” In contrast, Apocalypse Girl's target mannequin bristled with arrows like a motionless, bipedal pincushion.
noon
The Master invited us to share his lunch, so we went back up to his office. His partner handed us each a plate and we sat around the large desk eating fresh Meat-Beast steaks. The young blonde girl, The Master's daughter, joined us as well. I asked why he had thought to come here, to this particular place.
“Food and shelter, mainly. Weapons, too.” The Master began. He smiled. “It was just convenient that it happened over New Years, really. Any other time of year and the Dead would have been swarming all over the place. Instead, it was almost empty. Just another couple of groups of survivors, in the early days. By the time the snow started to fall we had figured out how to operate the generators and there was plenty of fuel for them to begin with.”
Mistress interrupted. “The only real problem we had at first was working out who was in charge. Because there were, oh what was it, four or five different groups set up inside the place, at first we each had our own sections, but it became obvious pretty fucking quickly that we had to cooperate in order to survive.” She smiled. “Eventually we all decided that the person with the best ideas for survival should lead.”
“We had heard, of course, that The Queen had been cleaning up the streets, making things safe for everybody, so we did our part here.” The Master went on. “She's had agents come here a few times asking for this or that. We usually do what she wants, mainly because she has had a lot of good ideas, but she seems to think that she's in charge of everybody.”
Maiden, who had just been quietly munching away on her steak, looked up briefly. “Well yeah, she's had some good ideas. We're still not part of her New World, though. She wouldn't want us anyway. Not now.” She savaged her meat, hacking it into pieces.
“In any case, if she's recognised that we would work better together, I'm willing to listen. She might be a megalomaniac, but that doesn't make her a bad person, am I right?” The Master smiled. Maiden chuckled. “So, I guess this means you're the new Sheriff?” He asked me. “I kind of liked the old one. He was a hard man, you could tell that much, but honest. I don't know what happened to him, though.”
We spent the better part of the afternoon basically just talking bullshit, trading stories from before the rise of the Dead, telling jokes. In general, just having a good time. A rare enough occurrence before the world ended, simply enjoying oneself for a few short hours had become something wonderful, as if it had a touch of nirvana added to it now.
evening
Back in our guest quarters, we prepared for sleep. Apocalypse Girl stared out of the window, looking to the east. Once, she might have seen people going about their business, their day-to-day existences, from this window. Now all she saw was still. I stood next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder and she leaned into me. I could see, far away in the distance, a single shambling Dead, shuffling down the road. As I watched, the corpse's head exploded and it fell to the ground, dead once again.
“Do you think that things will ever get back to the way they were before all of this?” Apocalypse Girl asked me, quietly. I looked at the gibbous moon through the window, shining white upon the world beneath. Then I turned, turning Apocalypse Girl with me. Looking out the western window we could see the new, invader moon, glaring at us all angry and red. She sighed. “Probably not.”
Scout and Apprentice were busy quietly entertaining one another in one secluded corner of the room, Machete and Apocalypse Dog playing in another. I held Apocalypse Girl's chin, looking into her eyes. “Not the way things were, no. We'll make something out of it, though. I promise. No more running from the Dead. Or the Living. We'll find somewhere just for us.” She smiled, and a tear ran down her cheek.
August 18th Year 1 A.Z.
morning
The Master took me aside early in the morning to talk. Trade, he told me, and travel between Adelaide and his shopping centre would be easy enough to arrange. The harder part of the equation would be keeping the centre running. They were running rather low on petrol for the generators, it seemed, and The Master felt that we were the solution. They had already raided the local public transportation depot, siphoning all the fuel from the buses that would no longer be needed to ferry folks from here to there, or maybe even back again. Maiden, The Master's daughter, had hit on an idea during the night, however; the airport.
I agreed that it was likely the best large source of fuel left, though it would be problematic to reach. Nodding, The Master agreed with me. However, he went on, I and my little group of problem-solvers would be perfect for the task of clearing out the Dead from the place. I told him that we'd give his idea serious consideration, but that we should talk to The Queen about it first. Smiling wryly, The Master told me that he understood. After all, Her Majesty might just want some plane parts for her massive patchwork walls.
A brief couple of hours later, I was discussing the idea with Apocalypse Girl. “I like it,” She began. “We can clear the airport out so that The Master can get his fuel, The Queen can get her plane bits and we can maybe find a light plane and fuck off somewhere.” Upon my asking where exactly she planned on us going, she gave me one of those looks. The look grew only worse when I told her that we'd have to head back to Adelaide and clear things with The Queen first.
noon
The Master took us on a guided tour of his realm, both floors of a major shopping centre seeming almost as busy and bustling as it would have done before the Dead rose. Sure, there was no money changing hands anywhere, all food was simply divided amongst the hungry. Every couple of days they received another fresh load of Meat-Beast steaks from a relatively local supplier, to whom they granted additional protection from either bandits or the Dead. As we watched, the truck pulled up into the bay nearest the local butcher's shop, dragging out several huge sides of Meat-Beast, handing them over to Carver before hopping back in their truck and fucking back off whence they came.
Carver, a brute of a man, wielded a butcher's knife like nobody I had ever seen before. In moments the sides of Meat-Beast were reduced to meal sized portions, perfectly, precisely and with a minimum of fuss. When Carver was finished, the Meat-Beast steaks were sent upstairs, to the food court/archery range. The smell of cooking food was initially a huge distraction for those practicing their archery, though there was little choice in the matter. It was the only place large and long enough to learn to use the bow; it was also the only place conveniently supplied with more than enough cooking equipment for the entire group.
evening
We prepared for our journey back to Adelaide quietly, packing up our things and wondering what The Queen might have in store for us next. As Apocalypse Dog sniffed at the gaming device that Machete was returning to her backpack, the door opened to admit Maiden. The resemblance to our own Machete was uncanny, though Maiden seemed a little older. The Master's daughter handed our own blonde child a handful of games, telling her that they'd keep her entertained for a while. Machete thanked her with a hug, then Maiden left. The Master and Mistress came in, inviting us to dine with them one last time. Naturally we accepted.
Mistress had cooked up a mess of Meat-Beast, the aroma overtook the top two floors of The Master's Tower, making our mouths water incessantly. It tasted even better than it smelled, however, and the wine The Master had chosen for the occasion was a good one. When we were done with our meal, The Master took me aside. “I know you work for The Queen. That much is obvious. She and I... let's just say that we have a bit of history.” He nodded his head in the direction of his daughter. “She doesn't need to know about her, okay?”
I wondered exactly why The Master would want to keep Maiden's existence a sec
ret, eventually deciding that it was nothing to do with me. I mulled over Apocalypse Girl's idea of flight from Adelaide, looking at her as she slept peacefully, nostrils flaring slightly as she snored daintily. I don't know how to fly a fucking plane, I doubt anyone we know does. Fuck, maybe there's nobody left alive that knows how to fly a plane anymore. It was, as far as plans go, reasonably suicidal.
It was also the only way I could see to get out of Adelaide, away from that crazy bitch calling herself The Queen.
August 19th Year 1 A.Z.
morning
We got off to an early start, leaving the most heavily fortified shopping centre I had ever seen in my life. As we passed the door guard we were handed our firearms with a smile, told that if we were ever in the neighbourhood again to feel free to visit and sent on our merry way.
Avoiding the rising sun's blinding rays, we headed south first, taking a different route than the one we had used earlier. After a couple of hours walking, Apocalypse Girl asked for a moment to rest. Our canine companion took the opportunity to sniff around and urinate on anything remotely interesting. “I'm sorry,” She told me when she was ready, about five minutes later. I smiled, lending her my hand.
A short while later we came to what had been a large highway leading south-west from the city to the beach. We had not come quite this far along it the other day, when we left the safety of Adelaide's walls. The streets were bare, devoid of any vehicles whatsoever, as were most of the suburbs surrounding the city. I thought, for a moment, that I saw someone looking at me from a nearby window. Upon closer inspection, the glass was broken, the wind had been moving the curtains, tricking me. Fucking sneaky wind!
noon
We came to the outer wall shortly before midday, finding it under assault by a relatively large group of the Dead. Hearing a few gunshots, followed by a lot of swearing, I told everybody to stay put while I ran around behind the small swarm of Dead, quietly waving my katana so that those on guard knew I was Living.
“Hey!” One of them shouted at me. The Dead, naturally, ignored me. “Can you get their attention? Draw them back from the wall a bit, will you? Give us a clear shot at the fuckers!” The Dead shambled against the gate. I sliced one's head apart, then another. Half of the Dead were dead by the time the rest even noticed me. When they did, however, I simply wandered back, drawing them back while staying just out of reach as the gate guards blew them away. “Cheers, Sheriff!” Damn. I was hoping they failed to recognise me.
The gate opened, our group entered, then it closed behind us with a clang of finality.
evening
The Queen welcomed us back, greeting us all with a hug. When she came to me, however, her lips locked onto mine, practically kiss-raping me. I could feel Apocalypse Girl's ire rising to the occasion, though she said nothing.
We were brought, in time, to the dining room in the Casino-Palace, where a grand feast awaited us. It seemed almost as if all of Adelaide had come out for the evening. Butler waited on us, Jester capered for our 'amusement' and The Queen flirted with me incessantly, one hand always on part of me, either my knee, my arm, whatever. I could see Apocalypse Girl out of the corner of my eye gritting her teeth together.
“The airport?” The Queen mused, when I told her of The Master's idea. “Yes, I suppose The Wall could do with being reinforced. If I could, I'd set them up with electricity so that they wouldn't need their generators, but... shit happens.”
Jester, at that moment, passing by The Queen and myself, took that opportunity to speak. “It wouldn't take all that much work, Your Majesty, to set them up with power,” The look The Queen gave him sent him on his way, juggling a trio of coloured balls and an incredibly embarrassed look on his foolishly painted face. She wrapped her fingers around mine, Apocalypse Girl wrapping her own around the fork in her hand, tight enough for her knuckles to whiten. I tried to remove my hand from The Queen's, to no avail. Her grip was too damn tight.
When we were done with our meal, The Queen called for silence. “In honour of the new agreement with our neighbours to the south,” she began, “I have a few things that I need to say. First, I must thank my Sheriff, for going to such lengths in the first place,” She planted another unwanted kiss on me. My eyes locked with those of Apocalypse Girl. I could see nothing there but pure fury. “Second, I must ask yet another favour of you. You have told me of The Master's idea of going into the airport. He was not the first to think of this place. My former Sheriff also thought of the airport.”
The Queen took in a deep breath, exhaled, then continued. “I know he went in, I was watching. He told me that if he wasn't back in a week, that he was gone. He didn't come back.” A single tear ran down her cheek. “He was trying to find a plane for us. It was the early days of Winter still, when the snows weren't too bad yet. Before we dug in properly.”
She turned to face me, took both of my hands in her own. “I want you to find him. If he is still... you know... I want you to put your sword through his head. If not... I would really like to know what happened to him, at the very least. I need to know how it ended for him.”
I told her that I'd do all I could to find out for her. She smiled.
“The third thing I have to say is this; I would like to announce our engagement.” Apocalypse Girl's face turned bright crimson as she stood amidst thunderous applause from the gathered guests, fork still in her hand.
“NO!” She shouted, at the top of her voice. “He's mine!”
“Not any more.” The Queen waved her hand and a pair of guards grabbed Apocalypse Girl, holding her arms behind her as she struggled to free herself from their grasp. “You see, it's all about immunity. You're immune, he's immune. I imagine your child will be immune, too. If I can't have it for myself, I want it for the next generation. That means I need to mate with him.”
Apocalypse Girl finally managed to free one arm, swinging it around and burying the fork in The Queen's thigh. Her Majesty cried out in pain and anger, twisting Apocalypse Girl's arm, forcing her to drop the fork. Waving a few more guards over, she said; “Hold her steady.” To Apocalypse Girl, “This is going to hurt, I am sure. Honestly, I should have you killed, but you're pregnant with what will probably turn out to be another immune child, so I can't do that. I should make him do this...” She motioned to me. “But, if you want a job done properly, you have to do it yourself!”
Apocalypse Girl struggled against the guards, as did I against those that had appeared almost as if by magic to hold me back. With horror I watched as The Queen, an insane gleam in her eyes, slowly lowered the fork to Apocalypse Girl's face. “Hold her head steady...” She said. Apocalypse Girl stopped struggling to spit in The Queen's face. A large gobbet of spittle ran out of Her Majesty's left eye.
A moment later Apocalypse Girl screamed in agony as The Queen stabbed her in the eye with the fork, gouging the remains of her eyeball out and dropping the glorp on the floor where Apocalypse Dog began licking it up. Blood ran down her cheek as The Queen ordered her taken to the cells. Apprentice sprang up immediately, saying that she needed attention or the wound might fester. “Of course. I wouldn't want any harm to come to her child, after all.” Holding Apocalypse Girl's face firmly in one hand, she stared into the remaining eye. “When you give birth, though... I think I'll have you killed, then.”
August 20th Year 1 A.Z.
morning
The Queen expected me to “spend the rest of the evening with her” after her horrific attack on Apocalypse Girl. I, myself, was not necessarily in the mood, and so therefore I was not up to performing to Her Majesty's expectations . She was, however, relatively relaxed about the whole affair. Told me that she understands if I “need time to adjust” to the “new realities” of our “situation”, even going so far as to suggest that she might not actually kill Apocalypse Girl once she gives birth after all, as long as I cooperate with her fully and completely.
Apprentice came by the office early in the morning, careful to avoid outright stating tha
t The Queen has gone insane, telling me that Apocalypse Girl is alright, though naturally unable to see through her ruined left eye. According to my old friend, Apocalypse Girl was far more angry than anything else, pacing back and forth in her cell, throwing things at anyone that dared approach.
noon
“I have to see her...” I had been telling The Queen for the last several hours. Or weeks, it was hard to tell time when she was being this stubborn about things. Eventually, she relented, telling me that as long as I didn't try to break her out I could spend all afternoon in the cells with her. Snapping her fingers, she sent a guard to show me the way, through the Casino-Palace and under it.
Sure enough, before too long I recognised the layout of a small underground facility, much like Dragon's Lair. If this one was laid out in the same manner, then the armoury should be along the same corridor as the cells. The number of guards around was going to be problematic. My mind already raced with ideas of breaking Apocalypse Girl out of this place.
The sight of her ruined face left a massive lump in my throat, countered only slightly by the light in her remaining eye and the smile beneath it at seeing me. I ordered the guard on duty to allow me into the cell, then to give us some privacy.
“I'm glad you're here,” She began, speaking softly into my chest. The bandages wrapping her wound seemed fresh. “They're treating me alright, I suppose, apart from the eye!” She smiled, or attempted to do so. “I swear, when I get out of here I'm going to repay that bitch for this.”
Anno Zombus Year 1 (Book 8): August Page 7