by Jake Bible
“Probably,” Krissy says. “But at least we’ll be trying to save lives while you’re just sitting there playing tech nerd.”
Tony looks back at her, his eyes filled with anger.
“Don’t call me a nerd,” he snaps. “I am not a nerd. I have diverse interests that are well outside the parameters of what are considered part of a typical nerd’s interest. I am more than a slur.”
“Aren’t we all,” Krissy says. “So maybe not call me a mean girl, alright?”
Tony’s eyes widen then narrow, he turns back to his work. “That was not supposed to be repeated,” he says. “I now know that Terrie cannot be trusted with words of confidence.”
“Listen are you going to help us open the gun locker or not?” Krissy asks.
“I am not,” Tony replies.
“Then screw you very much,” Krissy says, this time fully committing as she turns and leaves the room. She is down the tunnel and into the main room quickly, her face burning with anger. “Fuck that guy!”
Terrie looks up from where she’s sitting on the ground next to Biscuit. She holds out a hand and Krissy reluctantly goes to her and helps her up on her feet.
“Didn’t go so well?” Terrie asks.
“No. It didn’t,” Krissy snaps. “He’s fucking retarded.”
“Hey now,” Terrie replies. “No need to be so harsh.”
“Well, he is,” Krissy says. “The guy can barely communicate. He got all pissed when I called him a nerd.”
“People get offended when they are called names,” Terrie says.
“Well, he is a nerd,” Krissy growls. “A retarded nerd that—”
“That is tired of mean girls being mean,” Tony says as he walks into the room. He strides past Terrie and Krissy to a door on the other side of the room. He opens it and stands to the side. “Coming?”
“Where?” Krissy asks, pointing to another door. “That’s where we found the gun locker.”
“I told you I’m not opening the gun locker,” Tony nearly spits. “Now who is retarded?” He points at Krissy. “You, mean girl, that’s who.”
Before Krissy can respond, Terrie puts a hand on the girl’s shoulder and clamps down. Hard.
“Where are we going, Tony?” Terrie asks.
“Armory,” Tony says, sighs, and walks through the door.
Terrie and Krissy share a look then follow.
Tony is halfway down the tunnel, waiting for them with his hands on his hips. The lights above flicker and he grumbles. “Going to need to charge the batteries. I’ll have to ride the bike, since you two are going outside to die and leave me all alone.”
When Terrie and Krissy reach him, he stretches until his fingers touch the ceiling, a few inches from a caged lightbulb. He jumps once then twice then smiles as a loud click echoes in the tunnel. He pushes against the wall and it swings away, revealing another, shorter tunnel.
“Come on,” he says and walks down the tunnel to the door at the end. He grabs the wheel in the center of the door and gives it a hard twirl. It spins quickly then clunks to a stop. Tony pulls the door open and lights inside the room automatically flicker on. “See. Armory.”
He grins from ear to ear at the looks on Krissy’s and Terrie’s faces.
“My Lord,” Terrie whispers. “There must be hundreds of guns.”
“Four hundred and thirty-one,” Tony says. “Most are semi-automatic rifles with the rest semi-automatic pistols. There are some hunting rifles, but not many. Those are in the gun locker.”
“Uh, what are those?” Krissy asks, still standing in the tunnel as she points at a wall of large, strange-looking weapons.
“SAMs,” Tony says. “Surface to air missiles. Those should drop the monsters. But you don’t know how to use them, so they are pointless for you to take.”
Terrie turns to Tony. “Do you know how to use them?”
“Of course,” Tony says. “But I’m not coming with you.” He points at the long wall of weapons. “You’ll have to use those and hope they work well enough to keep the monsters from eating you.”
Then he turns and walks off.
Terrie and Krissy look from the room, to each other, and back to the room.
“We need those SAMs,” Terrie says.
“Yeah,” Krissy replies.
“You are going to have to stop being cruel to him,” Terrie says. “Or he won’t ever show us how to use them.”
“You don’t know how?” Krissy says. “I thought you were military or something.”
“Former US Marshal,” Terrie says. “I never used a SAM before. Wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
“Great,” Krissy says. She starts to say more then shakes her head.
“Will it be so hard to be nice?” Terrie asks.
“Yeah,” Krissy says.
“Tough,” Terrie says and walks into the armory. “Come on. Let’s get some gear. I’ll show you how these work.”
Krissy grumbles, slumps her shoulders, and follows Terrie into the armory.
Eight
Lowell checks and double checks the doors to the lab, making sure they are secure and locked. He stares at the keypad and sensor plate on the wall, wondering if he shouldn’t smash them to make sure nothing can get in. But with his luck he figures the second he does, the locks will disengage and the doors will slide wide open.
He sits heavily on a lab table, M16 in his hands, his legs dangling and kicking back and forth. A couple feet away, staggered between the other lab tables are the gurneys holding Lu, Kyle, and Dr. Probst. Lowell glances at a wall clock and realizes that they have been unconscious for a couple hours. Whatever happened in the control room was the same thing that happened when they were in the cafeteria. Except this time he didn’t even get a headache.
Well, not a bad one.
He glances around the lab, in the dark completely about the equipment and apparatuses that line the work benches and walls. The lab wasn’t his first choice, he wanted to go back to the armory and equipment areas, but those doors wouldn’t open for him and he didn’t have time to figure out why. Not with three headless freaks on his ass.
But as he checks out the lab, he realizes it may have been the right choice after all. Labs are dangerous places, filled with all kinds of ways that accidents can happen, especially fiery accidents. And fire killed Dr. Bennet so stands to reason that fire will kill the other headless monstrosities that are probably roaming the corridors of the facility looking for his ass.
“I really wish you people would wake the fuck up,” Lowell says.
“Who are you calling ‘you people’?” Dr. Probst grumbles, her eyes still closed, but one hand slowly reaching up to her forehead. “Oh, wow. Moving is not good.”
“Then don’t move,” Lowell replies. “You’re the closest thing to a doctor around here, so I wouldn’t push your luck.”
“I’m not a medical doctor, Lowell,” Dr. Probst says. “I’ve told you—”
“I know, I know,” Lowell interrupts. “That’s what I mean. You are the closest to a medical doctor we have. Those other three yahoos aren’t even in the running anymore.”
Dr. Probst slowly opens her eyes and blinks against the glare of the overhead lights. She shields her eyes and pushes up on one elbow. Lowell lets her take a couple minutes to look around and size up the situation.
“Where are the others?” Dr. Probst asks. “Did you leave them in the control room?”
Then she gasps and sits up straight. Her body sways and she turns quickly before throwing up over the side of the gurney.
“Too fast,” she mutters. She wipes the back of her mouth with her hand and squints over at Lowell. “Please tell me you grabbed my laptop.”
“I did,” Lowell replies, pointing to the computer on a counter against one of the walls. “Snagged it right away. Wasn’t what I wanted to do, what with the headless bodies thrashing and warping and turning all Thing and shit.”
“That’s a lot of ands,” Dr. Probst says then fre
ezes. “Headless? What do you mean?”
“Their heads exploded,” Lowell says. “You three passed out and those three went kasplooshy. Brains everywhere. I’m still picking shit out of my hair, man. Not cool. Not cool at all.”
“So Burkhorst, Scofield, and McDaniels are all dead?” Dr. Probst asks.
“Well, not sure I’d go that far,” Lowell replies. “If your definition of dead means anything without a head shouldn’t be able to move and grow weird tentacles from their neck holes then, no, they are most certainly not fucking dead.”
“Tentacles from their neck holes?” Dr. Probst repeats. “Hand me my laptop.”
“Yes, ma’am, right away, ma’am,” Lowell smirks and jumps down from the table. He saunters over and grabs the laptop then saunters back and gives Dr. Probst a deep bow before handing it to her. “Anything else, ma’am?”
“Fuck off, Lowell,” Dr. Probst says and opens her computer. She logs on and sighs, her whole body relaxing. ‘‘It’s there. The data is still there.”
“Good for the data,” Lowell says. “Not sure how that helps us.”
“It doesn’t,” Dr. Probst says. “But it may help save the world.”
“That’s good,” Lowell says. “But I’d like to save our asses first, if that’s possible.”
“Working on that,” Dr. Probst says. She taps at the keys for a minute then swears up and down. “I need security clearance. I’m just a guest here.”
“Aren’t we all,” Lowell says. “And I have to say our hosts’ hospitality sucks so far.”
“Maybe I can fix that,” Dr. Probst says. More key tapping then a smile. “I need to speak to VanderVoort.”
“She’s, uh, very busy right now,” a tech’s voice replies.
Lowell comes around the side of the gurney so he can see what’s on the screen. The image of the White House situation room bunker fills the screen with a freaked out looking tech taking up most of the space.
“We’re, uh, stuck in a facility with headless freak monsters coming after us,” Lowell snaps and flips the tech off. “So go get the boss lady now, please.”
“Lowell,” Dr. Probst snaps. “I have this. Go check on the others.”
Lowell looks over at Kyle and Lu. “Still asleep. Checking all done.”
“I need authorization to take control of the facility,” Dr. Probst says. “Drs. Burkhorst, Scofield, and McDaniels are all dead. I’m all that’s left. And I think I may have an idea of how to stop the giant monster.”
“Which one?” the tech grumbles. “We have a lot of giant monsters we’re dealing with right now.”
“Just get me VanderVoort!” Dr. Probst yells. The tech blanches, turns from his workstation, and starts calling out for VanderVoort.
Lowell takes a step back and appraises Dr. Probst. “Wow. You would probably last a lot longer in the pen than I originally thought.”
“I am assuming that’s a compliment,” Dr. Probst replies as VanderVoort’s face moves into view.
“Dr. Probst? I have been informed the others are dead,” VanderVoort says. “And you want control of the facility?”
“That is correct,” Dr. Probst replies. “Although, Lowell has informed me that the doctors may not be fully dead.”
“They’re fully dead,” Lowell says. “Just not exactly staying down, if you get what I mean.”
VanderVoort sighs. “Unfortunately, I do get what you mean.” She looks to the side and frowns. “They are currently three corridors away from you and have mutated considerably. I wish you’d contacted us sooner. We could have disposed of them faster.”
“But you can dispose of them now?” Lowell asks. “Pretty please?”
“No,” VanderVoort says and then waves her hand back at someone trying to get her attention. “Hold on! Jesus. As it stands, I can only access individual room purges or full corridor purges. If we purge the corridors then they will be impassable for hours. I have a feeling you do not want to stay trapped in that room for the next few hours.” More voices call for her off-screen. “I know, dammit! Hold on! Listen, Dr. Probst, we are in the middle of something right now. I’m not sure what else I can do for you at the moment.”
“I need full control of the facility,” Dr. Probst says. “That’s what you can do. Hand it over to me and I’ll figure out how to get us out of this mess. I can also reroute the databases to my laptop and access all info on this facility and the Substance. If I do that, I may be able to confirm my theory on how to stop this thing. Or at least slow it down.”
“You want to fill me in?” VanderVoort asks then sighs and slams her hand down. “OKAY! Listen, I have to deal with the next giant monster battle, so I am going to trust you, Dr. Probst. But tell me one thing first. How certain are you about this theory?”
“Did she say giant monster battle?” Lowell asks.
“Hush,” Dr. Probst snaps. “I am not very certain, that’s why I need access to the data. If I can compare readings, and some past behaviors of the Substance, then I can get very certain.”
“Fine,” VanderVoort says. “You are now being promoted. That facility is yours. I’ll have a tech get you full access in the next few minutes. Hang tight until then.”
VanderVoort turns from the screen, yelling at several people at once, her hands gripping her belly.
“Uh…Thank you,” Dr. Probst says as the screen goes dark, the connection severed.
“She did say giant monster battle, right?” Lowell asks. “And next? What the hell does that mean? The next giant monster battle? Was there a first?”
“Apparently,” Dr. Probst says as she taps at her keyboard. “Now leave me alone. I need to analyze the data I have before I dive into the facility’s database once I’m granted access.”
“I have a better idea of what to do when you’re granted access,” Lowell says. “Kill the mini-monsters stalking the halls.”
“You heard VanderVoort,” Dr. Probst says. “If we purge the corridors then we will be stuck in here for hours. I don’t want to be stuck in here for hours.”
“Why the hell not?” Lowell grumbles. “Stuck in here or stuck anywhere else in this fucking hole in the ground, all the same, right?”
“No,” Dr. Probst says, looking up at Lowell. “We may need to move closer.”
“Closer? Closer to what?” Lowell asks then realization dawns. “No way. You want to go see the Substance up close and personal, don’t you? That is fucked up, Doc. Seriously fucked up. You have heard how that shit will drive you mad, right?”
“Yes, Lowell, I have heard that,” Dr. Probst says. “But that’s with long-term exposure. I think that is why the other doctors changed. They have been down here too long. The sooner I get to see the Substance, the better chance I have of not being influenced by its…”
“Influence?” Lowell chuckles. “If that’s the real issue then you should send me there. I didn’t pass out once when all the weirdness went down. You and the others went night night right away. I’m not saying they are related, but… Shit. I am not liking that smile on your face. Why are you smiling like that?’
“When the other doctors changed is when the energy pulse was emitted,” Dr. Probst says. “Same with us passing out. I believe there is a direct correlation. And the fact you didn’t lose consciousness is very promising.”
“Promising for who?” Lowell snaps. “And what energy pulse?”
Dr. Probst taps at her screen. “That is what I have been talking about. That is the data I need to compare. And if you are immune to the pulse, for whatever reason, then you just became one of the most important assets in this facility.”
“Nope,” Lowell says, shaking his head and holding up his hands. “Don’t want to be an asset. Not on my bucket list.”
There’s a soft thud against the lab doors. Dr. Probst and Lowell both turn and look that direction. Another thud quickly follows. Then another and another. Dr. Probst looks around then points to a desktop computer in the corner.
“As soon as I have
access to everything, I want you to monitor the things out there,” Dr. Probst says. “Find us a way to get around them or kill them without having to purge the corridors. You think you can do that?”
“Figure out an escape route and save our butts?” Lowell asks. “Yeah, that is something I can do.”
“Good,” Dr. Probst says then looks at Lu and Kyle. “We should probably wake them up.”
“Yeah, waking up a grumpy US Marshal and her surly teenager is a great idea,” Lowell says. “How’s that going to help your productivity?”
“Good point,” Dr. Probst says. “We’ll let them wake up on their own.”
Several more thuds against the doors echo in the lab. Lowell swallows and sits down by the desktop computer, his hands still gripping the M16. He makes sure he keeps his finger away from the trigger, just in case he gets twitchy.
***
“You keep that shotgun pointed down and away from me when we get outside,” Terrie says, turning to look Krissy in the eye.
Which are about all that show from her face. Terrie had made sure to clean the wounds and put fresh bandages on the girl again before they even left the main room. The outside is a dirty, ashy, mud-filled place now and Terrie isn’t sure she could handle it if Krissy’s face becomes infected. Handle it medically or emotionally.
“I know, I know,” Krissy replies, her voice slightly muffled from the way the bandages bunch up around her lips and under her chin. “Keep it pointed down and only bring it up if I am going to fire it.”
“And…?” Terrie prompts.
“And make sure you aren’t standing in the way if I do fire it,” Krissy answers. “I’m not going to shoot you, Terrie. Shit.”
“Famous last words the person getting shot hears,” Terrie says. She slings her own shotgun over her shoulder and grabs the wheel to the outside hatch door. “Ready?”
“Not even a little,” Krissy says. “I don’t know why we’re doing this. They’re probably dead.”
