Omega Virus (Book 2): Gamma Hour

by Jake A. Strife

  With a sickening splat, a green pile of sludge smacked onto the Mustang. It glowed as if it were radioactive, and its stink hit me harder than a brick to the face.

  “Huh?” I covered my nose and backed away.

  I didn’t get five steps before the gunk exploded and sent me flying. The nearby car windows shattered, and the Mustang went up in a gigantic fireball. I heard a loud crack as I crashed into another car’s windshield.

  “What the hell?” My head lolled on my shoulders.

  Dragoon appeared beside me. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

  “I think I’m fine, but that sucked! Something green hit that car and exploded.”

  “We are under attack?” She examined our surroundings.

  I rubbed the back of my head. “No shit.”

  Another chunk of the green goop landed on the hood in front of me. My eyes widened as Dragoon grabbed my arm and yanked me from the car. She threw me to the ground and covered my body with hers.

  This car too exploded out of nowhere.

  My ears were ringing. “What is that stuff?”

  Dragoon flipped to her feet. “I believe the correct question is... from where is it coming?”

  She yanked my arm, pulling me to my feet.

  “Ow! Not so—”

  Movement came from up ahead, and I pointed between two wrecked taxis.

  “Saw it.” Dragoon crouched. I brought up my rifle and took careful steps ahead. We circled the cars, one of us on each side. When we stepped around, we found nothing in between us but air.

  We exchanged confused glances. A screech from above shattered the silence. We both looked up to find a large monkey, a baboon, standing atop one car. It had a long, barbed tail, and its rear end glowed bright green.

  The zombeast hopped, howling and showing off its finger-length fangs. In one hand, it held a ball of the gunk.

  “Irradiated feces!” Dragoon pointed.

  I glanced at her as we backed away, confused. As the monkey hopped, another pile of gunk fell out of its ass, and I realized what she meant.

  The explosive piles of gunk were shit. My stomach turned as I aimed at the baboon. “Just stay still, you cute monkey, you.”

  It screamed and hurled the crap. The pile landed between us on the road, and we couldn’t move before we were both thrown back with explosive force. My rifle flew from my hands, but I rolled into a crouch, scanning the space for my weapon.

  I spotted my gun by the zombeast’s sedan, and boy did the monkey look pissed. It jumped, slamming its feet and denting the roof each time.

  Dragoon stood, and the zombeast turned to her, ready to hurl its volatile poo.

  “Hey, stupid monkey! Don’t go ape!” I mimicked it, hopping from foot to foot.

  The monkey turned and stuck out its tongue before screeching again.

  “Yeah, you damned dirty poop machine! I’m your target.” The next pile flew at me, and I ran. I kept moving while the monkey produced another pile and hurled it. I ducked the attack, and it flew into an open window. The car launched and crashed, on fire.

  Gun blasts rang out, and the baboon screeched again. I rushed to the car’s side and looked for the monster, but it’d disappeared from sight.

  I cupped my hands around my mouth. “Did you get it?”

  A pile of poo stuck to the car window next to me. I screamed as the vehicle blew up, sending me onto my back. The car flew into the air and I closed my eyes, expecting a crushing death, but that death didn’t come.

  Dragoon stood over me, holding the burning car above her head.

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “I am so glad you’re a freak with your strength stat.”

  “As am I.” She threw the car with such great force it bounced over several others.

  I struggled to stand. “Where’d the monkey go?”

  “I am not sure.”

  “Cover me!”

  “Affirmative.”

  I rushed through the spaces between the burning wreckage and found my weapon. I reached to scoop it up, and a hand grabbed my wrist from underneath the sedan.

  A cry escaped my lips as the poo-thrower tried to pull me under the car. “Help!”

  The monkey lunged with its fangs and tried to bite my neck, but I jerked out of the way. “Stupid monkey! Get your hands off me!”

  A mass of green poo splattered next to my face, and I screeched. I yanked my hand away and pulled the monkey from beneath the car. The monkey struggled, but I held it as a shield.

  The explosion sent me tumbling once again. When I slammed into the freeway divider, the world spun. My ears didn’t stop ringing as I blinked away purple flashes before my eyes.

  As my senses returned, I realized I still held the baboon. I dropped the monkey torso, thinking it was dead, but the bastard grabbed my ankle and snapped at me. I stomped its skull with my other foot, crushing monkey brains everywhere.

  Then there came more howling screeches. Four monkeys now jumped on top of different cars, each holding explosive dung patties.

  They turned on Dragoon as she ran between the vehicles. They hurled feces at her, but she dodged each one until she got to the closest zombeast. The android fired point-blank and sent the baboon flying.

  The other three converged. One leaped onto her back and pulled at her chin. The other two grabbed her arms and legs, trying to dismember the girl.

  As I ran for my rifle, Dragoon struggled to get the baboon from her shoulders. I scooped my weapon and aimed at that same one. It struggled, howling and yanking as hard as it could, but a pull of my trigger exploded the simian’s skull.

  Dragoon turned her focus onto the two remaining Zombeasts.

  I locked onto one, releasing my breath, and pulling the trigger. It struck the monkey’s shoulder, but it didn’t let go. Dragoon grabbed its head, and I saw first-hand what thousands of pounds of grip strength could do. She squeezed the skull, and its brains oozed out of its ears.

  The fourth and final monkey leaped up and drop kicked Dragoon in the face, snapping her head back. The damn thing thrashed so I couldn’t get a lock on it. My android companion stumbled back and fell; my line of sight now blocked.

  “Hold on, I’m coming!” I rushed toward them, but a burning car blocked my path. It forced me to doubled back around another.

  When I got to Dragoon and the monkey, I found my friend halfway under a car. The baboon pulled on her head. I fell onto my stomach and aimed my rifle under the sedan. The monkey screamed bloody murder as it saw me, but I exploded its stupid face.

  I climbed onto my knees next to the android. “That was close.”

  Dragoon scanned the section of highway. “You are correct.”

  For the next few minutes, we lay there in silence, hearing only the crackling of flames. Catching my breath, I ignored the aching in my every joint.

  I offered my hand, but she didn’t look at me. “Dragoon!”

  She lifted her head and her eyes flickered. Something was wrong.

  “Are you all right?”

  As she sat up, she frowned. “I’m afraid I can no longer operate at one hundred percent efficiency.”

  To my horror, her left arm hung halfway out of its socket. Wires protruded, and small sparks leaped.

  I gasped. “Oh shit.”

  “Do not worry. I am still capa—capa—capable.” Dragoon grabbed her injured arm and ripped it. I cringed as she examined the severed limb. “The main cir—cir-circuitry has been to—to-torn apart. I will need a new arm, but otherwise I am fun-fun-functional.”

  “If you’re sure.” Because I wasn’t.

  She proceeded to the nearest non-burning cars without a word. I followed with worry in my heart and feared she was far below even okay efficiency. The monkeying around screwed her. I could only hope she still had the ability to fight.

  “Tiffany.” Dragoon pointed ahead. “I have fo-fo-found us a vehicle.”

  I walked past her, and my jaw dropped. In the middle of the freeway, with its doors open sat a bla
ck Lamborghini.

  “Oh em gee.” I exhaled.

  I rushed forward but as I got there, I found a corpse buckled into the seat. It looked at me and snapped its jaws. He wore a suit and tie. This guy had been a big-wig.

  Dragoon walked past, hit the seatbelt clasp, and grabbed the corpse with one hand. She threw it over her shoulder, and it snarled as it flew over the edge of the highway.

  As the broken android moved for the driver’s seat, I held up my hand. “No, Dragoon. This time, I drive.”

  LEVEL 36:

  WHAT ECHOES

  To drive a Lamborghini felt badass; until I knocked off a mirror in the first minutes. Then the other. I scraped up the sides trying to squeeze between two wrecked cars. The Italian sports car didn’t look so hot anymore, but at least I hadn’t totaled the damn thing in my twenty minutes behind the wheel.

  Dragoon hadn’t said a word, and the silence wore on my nerves, so I broke it. “Are we almost there?”

  She lowered her head, eyes closed. “Affirmative. We are closing in on Seal Land.”

  “ETA?” I glanced at the dashboard clock; 7:42 PM.

  “Great.” A mix of emotions ran through me; excitement and fear. Lots of fear. Brother and Sister didn’t plan on running. They’d dig in their heels, and we’d battle. Everything was ending.

  As we exited the freeway, I turned left onto a surface street. Following the road, the ocean appeared in the distance.

  I glanced out the window. The sun was shining on the water. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “For hu-hu-humans.”

  “You’re almost human. And what does it matter? You can still view things as beautiful or ugly. I mean, come on, you knew Arik’s emotional pain.”

  She studied the ocean and angled her head.

  I pulled off the Seal Land exit. “What’s on your mind?”

  “I am po-po-pondering the battle to come.” She squeezed her eyes.

  “Are you afraid?”

  “I do no-no-not have fear as much as I wo-wo-worry about your safety. Even with one arm and a da-da-damaged speech application, I ha-ha-have a higher chance of survival than you. You are a me-me-mere human.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Always the vote of confidence. Thanks.”

  “Do you not fe-fe-feel fear, Tiffany?”

  “Oh yeah, I’m pissing my pants right now.”

  She looked at my hands on the steering wheel. “I would take yo-yo-your hand to comfort you, but I cannot re-re-reach.”

  I peered across the roadway to the park. It looked empty. “The thought counts. And it’s good you’re here with me.”

  “I am gl-gl-glad, too.”

  I pulled around and past a row of several parking booths. Then I followed the driveway around and drove over orange cones which once directed traffic. We pulled up to Seal Land, where several ticket booths stood, abandoned. I turned off the car and steeled myself.

  “Time to do this.” We lifted the doors, and stepped out with our weapons, despite being limited on ammo.

  Dark clouds rolled in, and a warm wind blew.

  I took a deep breath. “A storm again. How fitting.”

  Dragoon gave her cringe-worthy laugh. “Humans and yo-yo-your dramatic inclinations.”

  I nodded as we stepped onto the curb. “A better story to tell later.”

  “If there is a la-la-later.”

  “And I’m the dramatic one? Confidence, Dragoon. Work on it.”

  “Af-Affirmative.”

  We walked past the ticket booths, and speakers on a nearby light post played a soft, instrumental opus. I wasn’t sure what song, but it sounded familiar as if I’d heard it in a video game once.

  Dragoon dipped her head. “Moonlight Sonata, by Ludwig van Beethoven.”

  I looked over at her. “Do you have one of those music-recognizing apps?”

  Before she answered, a guy’s voice spoke over the music.

  “Welcome, welcome, welcome to the show! You and your less than healthy looking friend have arrived just in time.”

  “Brother... Ready to get your asses kicked?” I scanned the entrance.

  “Now, now.” Sister giggled. “No need for such rudeness. We’re all family here.”

  Dragoon too, looked in each direction. “Negative. As Tiffany said, we are here to kick your asses.”

  “Gosh. Brother, they’re so rude!”

  “We will have to teach them some manners.” It was his turn to laugh. “And here we were ready to invite them to join us in G.O.D. Mode.”

  “Over our dead bodies!” I threw my gun arm in the air.

  I sensed their presence nearby, but I doubted them bold enough to charge and attack.

  “That can be arra—” Sister started, but Brother cut in and chuckled.

  “Cliché, dear Sister, my love. Try something stronger.”

  “Don’t belittle me in front of the brat!”

  I looked through my rifle scope, checking out the vantage points. “Just tell me where you are so we can come kill you!”

  “Not so fast!” Brother sang. “You will play our little game first.”

  “No way! No more games.”

  “Sorry, but this is the last one, we promise. You’ll want to play through this one until the end.”

  Dragoon’s arm sparked. “Wh-Wh-What game?”

  “It’s called…” Brother started.

  “Save your friends!” Sister finished on a high-pitched note.

  I furrowed my brows. “Our friends?”

  “Bingo!” Sister cheered, clapping her hands.

  I feared for everyone I’d ever known. “Who do you have?”

  “The tribal girl, the one-eyed cripple, and a special guest star.”

  “There’s no way!” My heart pounded against my chest. “We left them, safe!”

  “Did you?” Brother’s flamboyant laugh did not fit Jeff’s deep voice. “We have operatives everywhere, you know.”

  Dragoon stepped forward. “Re-Re-Release them!”

  “So-So-Sorry!” Sister mocked. “The game has begun. You have ten minutes to save each friend. We’re nice enough to give you time to find them all.”

  My heart raced as I pictured Arik and Dyonna’s faces and wondered who the star was.

  “The clock is tick-tock-ticking!”

  Dragoon turned. “We must split up to save three people in ten minutes.”

  I heaved a great sigh. Never split the party. I hated it, but she was right. With a solid nod, we both darted forward, hopped the turnstiles and came to a directory of Seal Land.

  I searched the map. “Watch my back.”

  “Affirmative.”

  Where were they keeping them? I looked at the large map, and I saw a sky tower. Just underneath it, they’d written the name Dyonna in blood. I swallowed hard and continued to scan the map. To the north and east stood the dolphin stadium with the name Arik written beneath in it.

  I regarded Dragoon. “Take the sky tower and find Dyonna. I’ll go to the dolphin area to get Arik. Then we’ll meet up in the center and find our third friend.”

  “Af-Af-Affirmative.” She started away, but I grabbed her arm.

  “Can you do this? Dyonna’s life depends on you.”

  “I will be fine. This is the only way.”

  For a few moments, I watched Dragoon run away, holding the shotgun in one hand. I had my rifle lifted as I left the park map. I hurried, eyes darting the entire way. There weren’t any corpses or zombeasts; only the sonata playing across the park.

  Up ahead, rocks were jutting out of the ground. I approached with caution. From several strides away, I spotted pools of water beyond the rocks. It was an outside water display. I edged over and aimed my rifle at the dirty water and found no movement. I peeked in and found stingrays floating on their backs. These animals were dead; a strange comfort in that fact. Every animal wasn’t coming back to eat us.

  I passed the stingray pool and picked up my pace. Overturned food carts were my only obstacle a
s I found the stadium. Through the archway, I went into a dark tunnel. I stopped and focused. If I could hear Arik trying to call for help, then I’d find him faster.

  A soft clicking sound caught my attention. I turned to the hallway, and while I saw no movements, I swore that’s where the sound originated.

  I didn’t need ambushed, so I moved away from the hall and circled the stadium which held a large pool of crystalline water.

  Still no Arik, and the clock ticked with an unknown remaining time. Subtlety gone, I cupped my mouth. “Arik!”

  A muffled scream replied. My eyes trailed higher to see a body hanging in a cocoon net. “I’ll get you down from there!”

  “Six minutes contestants.” Sister giggled.

  I didn’t have time for an intricate plan. I needed to get him fast. With my rifle raised, I aimed at the rope. I inhaled and heard a faint clicking again. No time to search for its source! After an exhale, I fired. The rope snapped, and Arik plummeted. He splashed into the pool, thrashing and sinking. I kicked off my boots, tossed my rifle and dove.

  A major issue came to fruition, the water was thick, akin to gelatin. I tried to paddle through, but I made little progress. Arik still sank as we locked our eyes; his was wide. I cursed in my head.

  From the corner of my eye, something was coming. I kicked as hard as I could and swung my arms. Something big careened into my side, knocking out my air. I gasped, and the sticky water forced its way into my mouth. My lungs burned as an unseen enemy carried me across the pool and slammed me into the wall. I reached up and grabbed the edge. I pulled myself out of the liquid, and landed on my knees, vomiting up the gel.

  As soon as my lungs cleared, I spun; a shadow leaped out and landed before me. I stared in horror, at the bipedal zombeast. It had human legs and webbed human feet. My eyes widened as the gray torso bulged, to form a dolphin’s body. It opened its long snout and gave a soft click.

  “Gross!” I gagged.

  I swept zombeast’s legs from under it, and it fell on its back. Scrambling, I made a break for my rifle. As I brought it up, another dolphin zombeast jumped out of the water and landed next to me.

  “Die, you ugly assfaced Flipper!” I fired point blank between its eyes.

  It hit the ground, and another clicked behind me.