by Terry Mayer
"Ok Jeb, you're with me, let's move out."
Dashing after the Corporal, with arrows flying all around is not my idea of fun but I must admit being chosen to help the Corporal for a second time is pretty cool. Looking over the wall into the compound I am shocked as hundreds of Zombies push their way through the openings in the wall.
"Corporal, the Zombies are through the wall," I scream at the Corporals back as we dash for the stairs at the far end.
"Nothing we can do Jeb, let's just hope Major Larrson is prepared."
"Major Larrson, what's he going to do?"
"Look!" shouts the Corporal pointing over the wall, "it's Major Larrson."
Glancing to my left I am once again shocked - yeah I know it's getting a little common now! - to see dozens of diamond clad soldiers riding on horseback out of the smoke. With swords raised they charge down the Zombies as they emerge through the breached defenses, cutting and slicing them to bits.
"Keep moving Jeb!" screams the Corporal and I am shocked - yep sorry, but I'm shocked once again - to find I had stopped and was watching the cavalry engage the Zombies. Pulling myself together, I dash after the Corporal and catch up with him at the stairs.
"Ok Jeb, so far so good. Major Larrson should be able to keep those Zombies engaged at the wall which should give us enough time to get to the command post. Now listen up, this is really important. If I do not make it you need to tell the Captain what you witnessed at the Portal. The numbers of Zombies, Skeletons and Creepers, all working together. Tell him we have to use the weapon, now!"
"What weapon sir?"
"Don't worry about that Jeb, just make sure he gets the message, you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Good lad Jeb, now move out."
And with that we dashed down the steps into the compound and ran towards the command centre. We were no more than 30 blocks across the compound before a few Zombies broke through the cavalry and gave chase, which was pretty scary, but what came next was terrifying. Between the Zombies legs these small shapes appeared and started chasing after us, and man were they fast, gaining on us with every step.
"Corporal, we got problems sir," I yell, looking back over my shoulder as a dozen Baby Zombies screamed along behind us.
"Keep running Jeb, we do not have time to engage them."
"Uh ok sir, but maybe you should tell them that," I shout, drawing my sword as I ran.
Looking back over his shoulder the Corporal nods at me and swings about, drawing his sword in one fluid motion as the first of the Baby Zombies catch up with us and throw themselves against our legs. Hey, they may be babies, but they are definitely not cute and man can they bite.
Trying to shake them off while slicing with our swords, the little monsters cling to our legs and the rest of them arrive and jump on us. Man, if it was not such a dangerous situation it would almost have been funny. The two of us were stumbling around with six little screaming biting machines stuck all over us.
"Jeb, stop messing around and get on with it," screams the Corporal as he runs towards me.
"What, where did all his Baby Zombies go?" I think as I rip one of the little critters off my leg and drive my sword through its stomach. Grabbing the next Baby Zombie by the back of its neck, I slice its throat and throw it to the floor just as the Corporal arrives and slices the remaining four Zombies in a single stoke. WOW! So that's what happened to his Zombies, this guy is
"Come on Jeb, move it before the real Zombies get here," he screams, turning away from me and dashing for the command compound.
Taking a quick look over my shoulder I'm shocked, no I'm actually horrified to see maybe twenty Zombies now shambling in my direction. *gulp*
"Right behind you Corporal," I reply, dashing after him.
Right, so anyway me and the Corporal ran from one end of the compound to the other, dodging Zombies all the way, until we reached the command post, but get this, the door was smashed in and everything inside was destroyed. All that way for nothing!
"So what now Corporal?"
"This is bad Jeb, how did the Zombies know that this was the command post, it looks just like all the other buildings?"
"So what do you think happened?"
"I can only hope that they survived and have fallen back to the secondary command. Feel like another little run?" he grinned as he dashed off at a sprint.
I guess that was a rhetorical question, I grin as I dash after him.
So anyway, here I am, sat at the backup command post. The Corporal has just gone in and left me here so I thought I would write in my diary, drat, I mean journal, just in case anything happens to me.
"Jeb, get in here," screams the Corporal.
Ok, time to go, will try and update this again later.
*****
Right, so here's what happened next. I was called into the command centre and the sight that greeted me nearly took my breath away. The Headmaster and Colonel Mayer were arguing and screaming at each other. My jaw dropped open as I came to a stop next to the Corporal.
"Attention soldier, you are in the presence of the commander," the Corporal ordered.
Standing to attention, my jaw remained open, as I stared at the scene before me.
What? Oh you don't get it. Ok, that's because you don't know what they were saying to each other, so let me fill you in.
Colonel Mayer: Steve, I know these are desperate circumstances but do you really want to reveal yourself to the troops. You know that once there realize who you are there is no going back.
Headmaster: Colonel, thank you for your concern but I have hidden behind these Headmaster robes long enough. It is time to take my place at this time of need.
Colonel: But Sir, why not wait and see what happens before making a decision that you may later regret.
Headmaster: I fear that it may already be too late Colonel. The mobs have formed an army the likes of which have never before been seen and they have already caused more destruction in one attack than they have ever managed to inflict before.
Colonel: Yes Sir. I don't know how they managed to find and destroy the command centre but the loss of the Captain and the destruction of the Survival Room controls could prove problematic.
Headmaster: Oh you have a way with words Colonel, but problematic does not do the situation justice. I would prefer to use the word catastrophic.
Colonel: Sir?
Headmaster: You do realize that we can no longer manipulate the Survival Room, don't you Colonel? When the mobs killed the Captain and destroyed the controls in the command centre they destroyed our ability to use Cheat Codes in the Survival Room. We are now effectively on the Overworld, and we are under attack by mobs that do not see emotion, do not feel pain and will stop at nothing until we are destroyed.
Colonel: Yes Sir, but they are brainless mobs. With our advanced strategies we can ...."
Headmaster: Corporal Henckman, please explain to the Colonel what you observed at the Portal.
Corporal Henckman: Yes Sir, Steve, uh, Headmaster sir. I observed hundreds of Zombies working in tightly controlled units with Skeletons and Creepers to form an attack force that will overwhelm our defenses within the next hour.
Colonel: Impossible! Mobs do not work together.
Corporal Henckman: That may have been the case in the past Sir, but what I observed was a well defined and executed attack. They may be brainless mobs but they are working together with devastating results.
Headmaster: Thank you Corporal. So Colonel Mayer, you still think we have the luxury of time?
Colonel: No Steve, if the mobs are organized then it appears that the time has come, but the troops will not arrive for days. What do you suggest?
Headmaster: Why Colonel, you should know the answer to that, just like last time, in the Zombie wars, we make a glorious last stand and hope that reinforcements arrive in time.
Jeb: Why don't you just reset the system?
Corporal Henckman: Be quiet soldier. You do not talk to th
e commander unless he first address's you.
Headmaster: Thank you Corporal, but let the lad speak. Jeb is it?
Jeb: Yes Sir, Steve sir.
Headmaster: So Jeb, what do you mean, and call me Steve.
Jeb: Well Steve, as far as I can gather the Survival Room is linked to the Overworld by the locked open portal. That creates the gravity that allows us to do amazing things.
Headmaster: Correct Jeb.
Jeb: BUT, the cheat codes that you use to control the Survival Room are controlled by a mainframe computer in the School.
Headmaster: Correct again Jeb, but the control centre has been destroyed so how does that help us.
Jeb: You have another control centre in the school, why not just use that one?
Headmaster: Because the Captain was the logged user and only he can issue commands and alas he is dead.
Jeb: So reboot it
Headmaster: Sorry?
Jeb: Reboot the computer. When it recognizes that the Captain is dead it will initiate its log program. Who is logged to give commands in the original program?
Headmaster: I was.
Jeb: There you go then. Reboot the computer and you will once again be in charge of the Survival Room.
Headmaster: Genius. Colonel Mayer, why did you not think of this idea?
Colonel: Uh, I don't even know what he's talking about sir. Sorry.
Headmaster: Corporal, do you understand how to reboot a computer.
Corporal Henckman: Sorry sir, no idea.
Headmaster: Well I guess I will have to do it myself.
Colonel: Steve, you can't leave now. The only chance we have of holding out until the troops arrive is with you by our sides.
Headmaster: But we have no choice Colonel, if I stay we are more than likely doomed, if I leave and regain control of the Survival Room it may be all too late.
Jeb: I could do it for you.
Headmaster: You Jeb. You know how to reboot a computer?
Jeb: Uh yeah, every eleven year old knows how to do that!
Headmaster: Eleven! What the heck are you even doing here?
Jeb: You see I won the choosing ceremony and ..
Colonel: Steve, we don't have time for this now. Jeb, can you really do this?
Jeb: Sure, no problem.
Colonel: Steve, I suggest Corporal Henckman takes a platoon of soldiers and escorts Jeb back to the school where he can reboot the computer and give us back control of the Survival Room.
Headmaster: Yes Colonel, but we can't spare a platoon. Corporal Henckman, take a cavalry squad and escort Corporal Jeb back to the computer room in the school.
Corporal Henckman: Uh, yes Steve, but that's Private Jeb sir, and he is just a noob.
Headmaster: Not anymore Corporal. No one below Corporal can gain access to the computer room. Corporal Henckman, you are hereby promoted to Sergeant and Jeb is promoted to your Corporal. Gather your troops and make haste.
Sergeant Henckman: Steve, thank you sir, we will not let you down.
Headmaster: I know you wont Sergeant. Corporal Jeb, how will we know that you have succeeded in your mission.
Jeb: When all hell breaks loose and nothing makes sense then you know we have succeeded.
Headmaster: Quiet a scary though Jeb. If what you say is true then how do we take control.
Jeb: I'm not entirely certain Steve, but if it's anything like a normal computer you will just have to state your name and the computer will lock onto your voice, once it has verified that you are the logged user you should be able to issue commands and take control of the Survival Room.
Headmaster: Very good Corporal Jeb. Make haste and bring us salvation.
And that it how I just got a battle field promotion to Corporal. Can you believe it, just days ago I was a noob at the School of Minecraft and now I have met Steve and received a battle field promotion to Corporal,
Emerging from the command centre I am totally star struck. We were immediately approached by two soldiers who informed Sergeant Henckman that the squadron of cavalry would arrive shortly.
"Err Sergeant?"
"Wow, that sounds cool, say it again Jeb."
"Uh, sure thing Sergeant."
"Man, I sure like that sound of that. What can I do for you Corporal Jeb?"
"Corporal Jeb, I guess I like the sound of that too," I reply raising my hand for a high five.
The Sergeant just looks at me and I'm about to lower my hand when he smacks it and replies, "Corporal Jeb. We do not high five in the army, we salute, but I guess under the circumstances we can make an exception today."
Cool, I can live with that! "So Sergeant, was that really Steve?"
"Do I really need to answer that?"
I look at him for a few seconds before I realize what he means. There was an aura around Steve that was totally unmistakable. "No, I bet I would have known it was him even if I was deaf and blind."
"Exactly, so why do you ask?"
"It's just that I have seen the headmaster loads of times so how come I never recognized him before,"
"Have you Jeb, have you ever met the headmaster?"
"Of course, he's always in the atrium giving speeches and ...." I stop in mid sentence as the Sergeant shakes his head. Then it hits me, I've never actually met him before, only seen him from a distance.
"Ah, and so it dawns on the noob. He's never actually met the headmaster, but don't worry, no one ever figures it out. The only people who ever actually meet him are the Minecraftia Guard."
"So you knew that Steve was the commander, the headmaster?"
"Of course, everyone in the guard knows the true story of Steve and meet him when they graduate."
"So how come everyone does not know?"
"Do I look like a blabber mouth to you? Think very carefully before you answer that Jeb," he replies with a slight smile on his lips.
"Uh, of course not sir," I reply.
"Well, years ago when Steve returned to Minecraftia and informed the local councils of how the Overworld worked no one wanted to believe him. Oh, don't get me wrong, they were thrilled that someone had returned but they did not want to believe that the Overworld was a death sentence for all that ventured there, it was supposed to be an honor not a curse. So anyway, after convincing the councils that the chosen would perform so much better for Notch if they were trained, Steve opened the School of Minecraft. Realizing early on that the whole of Minecraftia was under threat but not having the support of the world councils he took it on himself to form the Minecraftia Guard, and sold it to the council that it was only a social club of sorts for all returning avatars."
"Wow, does that mean that everyone in the Guard have journeyed to the Overworld and returned?"
"Until this invasion started, yes. Everyone in the Guard were returning Avatars."
"Awesome, so you've been to the Overworld too?"
"Yes Jeb, I have been to the Overworld, but let us not digress. Steve formed the Guard to protect Minecraftia after the Zombie wars left the Overworld in ruins. Steve swore that the mobs would never do the same here, even if the council did not believe him."
"Wow, so the Zombie wars were real, awesome."
"You know of the Zombie wars?"
"Uh yeah, me and Numbers found Steve's diary in a hidden room in the school."
"Impossible, that book was destroyed years ago."
"Nuh, it's still there, look, here's a page from it," I replied handing him the page I had copied.
"This is unbelievable, we thought this book was lost forever. Do you have more?"
"No sorry, that's all I was able to copy before Darth broke in on us and tried to beat me up," I replied, feeling a little silly talking about being bullied when we were in the middle of a war.
"Do you realize what this could mean?"
"Uh no!"
"This could be the answer to beating the mobs. The information in this book could be the difference between winning and loosing the war."
"Ok, but wouldn'
t it just be easier to just ask Steve?"
"After the Zombie wars his memories were erased. He knew he had written an account of all that happened but he does not know what happened to it."
"Why were his memories erased?"
"Seriously?"
"Uh yeah!"
"He can't remember. No one remembers. A lot of Avatars, including myself, were with him during the Zombie wars and all our memories stop at a certain point. We remember looking for and finding the weapon, but no one can remember what it was. All we know is that we used it and we won!"
"You were there too?"
"Yes, I was there too."
"Man, I knew I should have copied more of the book!"
"Think very carefully Jeb, do you know where the book is?"
"Of course, it's hidden behind a painting in an old storage room in the school."
"Think Jeb, do you know of its location?"
"Uh yeah. I just told you, it's behind a painting in ..."
"Yes or no Jeb, do you know its location?"
"Uh Sergeant, I just told you twice where it is?"
"What?"
"I just told you ..."
"So it's true, anyone that was involved in the war can not know of its true meaning."
"Wow, mine blow. What are you talking about?"
"It has been said that the true meaning behind the Zombie wars was so unbelievable that a spell was cast on all who were there, erasing their memories forever."
"Yeah, that makes sense seeing as you don't remember what happened!"
"Yes Jeb, but the legend also states that no one who was there can ever know why the war took place."
"Wow! So even when I tell you the where the book is hidden you can't remember it? Freaky!"
"Yes, freaky indeed. It seems that you may be a lot more valuable to this venture than I first realized. Wait here for our new squad, I need to inform Steve of this new information."
Right, so you are now up to date. I'm sat here, writing my journal, waiting for Sergeant Henckman to return and the new squad to arrive. It's been an eventful few days and I feel that the next few will be even more memorable. Hopefully I will get a chance to write again but if you are reading this and there are no further entries then I guess I never made it back to the School of Minecraft to reboot the computer and we never found the Diary of Steve and unlocked the mysteries of the Zombie wars.
