With an airy sigh, I put the gun to my arm and pulled the trigger. All of the pain from every wound I had instantly hit me at once. I fell to my knees; I couldn’t breathe. It hurt so badly. Within, I could feel the virus reversing, but what did it matter? I had fatal wounds, and within seconds, I would die. I sucked in a breath, trying to hold air, but it flooded out. Grandson laughed maniacally from somewhere within the room, and I fell into sorrow, knowing those would be the last sounds I would ever hear.
LEVEL 40 – BOSS BATTLE
Death had come for me. I couldn’t hold in any air, and felt such horrid pain; my blood burned, my lungs scorched. The pressure in my head expanded, surely it would explode. But with a sudden gasp, I felt the air hold in my lungs. My head stopped pulsing, and my chest no longer hurt. Still, my blood burned. My teeth were locked together as I growled, trying to bear it.
“What did... you... do... to me?” I cried in between heartbeats.
Grandson chuckled. “Does it hurt, Zach? Is it too much for you to deal with?”
Despite the acid under my skin, I found myself standing.
“Yes! Fight the Omega Virus, Zach! Take control of it!” Grandson egged me on.
“I thought this was a cure?” I roared.
Out of nowhere, I felt more energy manifesting in my core. I could feel the wounds in my chest closing; both the slashes and puncture wounds became nothing more than mere scratches.
“Must I spell it out for you?” Grandson sighed. “I didn't cure you. I've bonded you with the Virus! The OVNs are working their magic!”
I breathed heavily. “What does that mean?”
“Right now, at this very moment, the Omega Virus is bonding with your blood cells, nay, deeper, your actual genetic code! Your DNA! It is on such a micro-cellular level that it will never leave your body again!”
“You son-of-a-bitch!” I shouted. “You lied!”
“I told you the cures were all gone.” Grandson said. “I needed them... but alas they didn't work. But be happy, I gave you a way to live. The virus will no longer kill you, but instead, it will work with your white blood cells. You will become the Negastar.”
“The what?” I stared at my hands, seeing the virus glowing green in my veins.
“I’ve given you a gift!” Grandson’s voice rose. “I have given you the Code! You will become like a God now! If you can defeat me and get the other six vials of the Omega Virus Nanites you will become so powerful you will be able to set things right again! You will be able to save the world!”
“Why are you helping me?” I asked, finally getting control of my body, and slowly balancing myself within.
“I tried to merge myself with the Omega Virus.” Grandson said. “But it didn’t go so well. Even though we are two sides of the same coin, something within me is different. I wonder what it is? Why I failed, and you are a success? Why did the OVNs reject me?
“You’re not making any sense!” I said. “Give me my friends! Give me answers!”
“We both know that isn’t an option.” Grandson replied. “Not until I am defeated.”
“You said we’re two sides of the same coin!” I shouted. “Can’t we join forces? Take down your family together?”
“No!” Grandson shouted. “Not now! It’s too late for me to become anything but the boss battle of your first quest!”
“Then show yourself!” I shouted. “Show yourself so we can get this over with!”
After I had spoken, I wished I had never called him out. The movement began in the shadowy part of the room behind the throne. Out emerged a creature I could not fathom.
The huge monster hovered above the ground. Its bottom half looked like a cocoon but made of gray rotting flesh. Twenty feet up it came to the naked torso of a human being. But the face; I looked up into the face of terror, my face. Grandson had injected himself and became a mutant Corpse creature. He'd told me he couldn't come to me, and I'd found the reason.
“Crap.” I murmured.
“Behold.” Grandson held his arms wide as one hand began to transform. “The effect of the pure Omega Virus on a human being! You can call me a Level 05 Corpse if you so choose.”
I took a step back. The gray, once human hand melted away until only a sharp spear-like bone remained. I lifted my gun.
“Four bullets,” I said. “Four bullets to kill this asshole.”
“It won’t be enough.” Grandson laughed and pointed his spike-hand at me.
Electricity began to spark around the point and then swirled, crackling about as a whirlwind would.
A smile crossed his face, and he opened his mouth to say one word. “Fight.”
My instincts kicked in faster than I even could register. The next thing I knew I dove to the side as a blast of lightning fired through the air. I rolled and came to a crouch. Glancing over I saw the heat from the bolt had melted the glass floor.
He thrust his arm out and fired again. I ducked, and the blast hit a computer terminal behind me. It exploded in a burst of sparks and flames, sending me flying and skidding a dozen feet. I looked back at the terminal, which had become a smoldering mess of wires.
A computerized voice spoke. “A request for the Self-Destruct sequence has been activated. Voice recognition confirmation required.”
Grandson’s eyes went wide, and he looked down at me slowly shaking his head.
“I confirm!” I shouted.
“No!” Grandson screamed, “Cancel that!”
“Self-Destruct initiated.” The computer said. “The sequence can not be aborted.”
A wry smile crossed my face.
“You buffoon!” Grandson yelled. “Do you think you can kill me and make it out of here in ten minutes?”
“I’m going to have to!” I whipped my gun up into the air and aimed at the ropes holding my friends. Normally there I could never have gauged such a shot, but my vision had become so clear I could count the individual fibers of rope. Vision zoomed in; I pulled the trigger.
The blast of the gun hit one rope, I shot again, hitting two. All three of my friends landed on the floor. Grandson and I watched as they stood up and looked around not sure where to run.
“Get out!” I shouted. “I’ll take care of this asshole!”
“We won’t leave you!” Jeff said.
“You saved me! Like I said it’s my turn to be a hero!” Dave added.
“All for one, remember?” Jessie finished.
Grandson laughed. “The power of friendship. How sweet.”
He pointed his spike at them, and the energy began to charge and spark, lightning bolts flying wildly around.
“Move!” I screamed and made a beeline for Grandson.
My companions split into three different directions and ran to different parts of the room.
“Hold still cockroaches!” Grandson snarled.
I leaped onto the cocoon of Grandson’s body and dug my fingers into the soft rot. I began a quick climb, digging in and going higher up. But Grandson snapped his head to look at me.
“Do not think I will be so easily fooled!” He snarled.
The cocoon half of his body shook so heavily that I lost my grip and fell. I went into a backward tumble and flipped onto my feet. The virus allowed me more fluid movements; like it had given me super powers.
As the bottom of Grandson continued to shake, I started toward him but stopped. To my horror, the cocoon split open and a pile of green gunk splattered out. I nearly vomited at the site.
I had bigger worries because the gunk began to move and separate. Moments later four Corpses were standing up and shaking off the slime. Each dashed in a different direction.
“Everyone watch out!” I shouted.
One Lv03 Corpse came at me. I couldn’t waste my last bullet on it—I needed it for Grandson’s face. I took a step back as the Lv03 leaped through the air, easily clearing twenty feet and tackled me to the ground. It thrashed as I held back its hands. It snapped its jaws and scratched, trying to get me.
<
br /> “Get off!” I punched its face.
I didn’t know my own strength; the Corpse’s head exploded, spraying me with brain matter.
“You’re growing stronger!” Grandson exclaimed. “It’s perfect!”
“I’m not part of your plan!” I shouted.
I spun to look for my friends. “I’m coming!”
“No!” they all shouted in unison from the catwalks above.
Jeff fist fought a battle with a Lv03 while Dave could barely dodge around to stay clear of the lunging Corpse. Jessie managed to run in the other direction while the third gave chase.
“We can take care of ourselves!” Jeff yelled. “You finish off Grandson like you promised!”
Turning, I glared at the boss.
“Now is the time for our fight!” Grandson said. “The two of us cannot co-exist. It’s not logical!”
“What do you mean?” I shouted.
“It’s like copy and paste!” He cackled. “But both file names are the same, but one must replace the other!”
“You’re insane!” I ran toward the wall behind me.
The time had come to test my new crazy reflexes. When I hit the wall, I ran straight up. I defied gravity for several seconds and then kicked off, twisting to face Grandson in midair. Shock splayed across his face as I flew at him, on level with his torso.
I grabbed ahold of his spiked arm, and I bent it side as a blast of lightning flew off and destroyed part of the wall. I clung onto him; my nose was only inches from his.
“Do it!” He yelled. “Use that last bullet on me!”
“My pleasure.” I brought the Desert Eagle up to his forehead, but for some reason, I hesitated.
We locked eyes, and his were shaking. “Do it!”
I still didn’t have my answers!
“Tell me what I want to know and I’ll kill you!” I promised.
“You already know everything.” He lowered his voice. “You already know!”
He turned his spike to the catwalks and lightning began to swirl around the appendage. If he shot the catwalk, the electricity would conduct and fry my friends.
“Do it!” He screamed.
“Fine, bitch.” I pulled the trigger.
Grandson’s roar amplified and blasted me back. I hit the floor and bounced into the wall. I stared up at the Lv05 as it spun around in the air. Grandson grabbed his face and continued to cry in pain, and then the rotting cocoon exploded in a huge blast of green gunk. Slime splattered everything as he crashed down into the center of the sickening goop.
I glanced up to the catwalk to see the Lv03 corpses had also expired into dripping ooze.
“Seven minutes until detonation.” The computerized voice announced.
Jessie, Jeff, and Dave all climbed back down the ladders. They rushed to my side. Jeff helped me up and then Jessie threw her arms around me.
“Thank gosh you’re all right!” she cried.
“I think I’ll be fine,” I said. “But you guys go on ahead; I have one last thing to deal with.”
“Are you insane?” Dave cried. “We need to make it out of here now! The place is gonna blow!”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’ll be back at the yacht with plenty of time left.”
“Please be safe.” Jessie looked me in the eyes. I could see the gaze of love; the twinkle that every person one day hoped to see.
“You too,” I said.
“Alright man.” Jeff patted my back. “Awesome job! We’ll see you up top.”
My friends left, running, so I turned and walked toward the green crater of muck.
“Grandson,” I said. “I know you’re alive still. I feel the presence of the virus.”
“Zachary… Mastiff…” Grandson croaked from within a large pile.
I reached in and pulled out the undead torso. I dropped him to the floor. He stared up at me, the bullet hole in the center of his skull.
“Thank you.” Grandson whispered. “Thank you for ending this nightmare.”
“You still never answered me,” I told him. “I deserve to know what’s going on.”
“Take the G.O.D. Report Part 2.” He said pointing to the throne. “The disc is sitting on the seat. The other half will explain what I could not.”
“I’m sorry.” I kneeled next to him.
“Don’t be.” He said. “You’ve spared me from my family’s wrath. I was tired of playing their game.”
I stared in silence.
“Take this new ability you have, Zach.” He said. “Find the other six vials of the Omega-V nanites. Inject each of them, then maybe you’ll be strong enough to defeat the final boss.”
“That tough, huh?” I asked.
“You have no idea.” He coughed, and blood came from his lips. “I’m glad they’re safe.”
“Who?”
“Jessie, Jeff, and Dave,” he replied. “They were once my best friends.”
I stared at him and had no idea how to respond. Maybe he'd lost his mind along with his humanity.
“And Tiffany,” He said. “My love, Tiffany. Find her. Make sure she’s safe. It’s time...”
“Time for what?” I asked.
His eyes looked past me and as if he saw an angel of death coming for him.
“Time… for the credits to roll…”
Then with those final words, he turned his head to the side and went limp. His skin bubbled, and moments later he melted into the floor. Grandson had been defeated, but there were five more members of G.O.D. Mode. Many battles were yet to come.
EPILOGUE
The first of G.O.D. Mode fell, but that left me with more questions than answers. Unfortunately, it had cost the lives of Kessa Brea, and Wesley James, not to mention possibly billions of others. Surely, pockets of survivors still were in the world. Somewhere out there.
Together, we the Gamer’s Guild, planned to search for those survivors. One of which included our friend Tiffany Gainsborough. She would be our top priority; because G.O.D. Mode would be searching for her as well. But the world, however, dead, still would take a while to search. She couldn't have gone too far, and I'm sure the enemy knew that too.
After Grandson had died, I found half a heart locket and the disk holding the G.O.D. Report part 2.
I opened the locket as I made my way back to the yacht. Inside I found a picture of Tiffany, a little girl like in my faded memories. Why did he have the locket and not me? Did it make me any less real? Any less the copy?
We returned to Rockport and were able to play the G.O.D. Report Part 2 via the AI computer terminal, Leon.
We stood around and watched the continuing projection of Beauregard.
“The enemy calls themselves G.O.D. Mode and you must use their own weapon against them. You must collect the seven OVN injections. To do this, you must understand…” Beauregard said. “I have to tell you the truth about the youngest member, Grandson. He doesn’t have memories of the past, just like you. He was created in the ‘Alpha Hour Experiment’, which essentially is why there are two of you. You see, you are Grandson, and he is you. You could say two sides of the same coin. The experiment split you in two. Grandfather didn't want it that way. He wanted only one Zach. This is why I took you and hid you in Ohio, with your 'mother'.
Grandson was given to the other G.O.D. Mode lackeys to raise. I can only assume this is why he turned out so corrupt and wanting to destroy the happiness of others. The truth is that one of you will likely have to die. If you do not seek out him, he will seek out you. You are drawn to each other like opposites.
If he tries to merge his DNA with the Omega-V Nanites he will surely fail. When the two of you split, you were not 100% equal halves. You retained a piece of yourself that he will never have, the capacity for kindness.
It is still unknown why the OVNs reacts to those of a more positive alignment than negative.
I have taken it upon myself to steal the seven samples of the OVNs and spread them out across the world. The properties are so unstab
le that if anyone were to harness the power of all seven, they would become a god—Or what I call, the Negastar.
It is imperative that you find the OVNs before G.O.D. Mode. They can give you great power, but that power is not meant to be wielded by man. You would be capable of destroying this world.
If you choose to inject yourself, do not overuse the powers, it will speed up the evolution of the virus inside of you. And you will become a monster.
This is what I fear most. But I see a light inside of your heart, one that will never be extinguished. So I have faith that with your friends by your side, you'll be a savior, not a destroyer.
It seems my time is up for this report. I plan on continuing to combat G.O.D. Mode in my own ways, and will try to give you more information at a later time.
So for now, my beloved nephew, stay safe. G.O.D. Mode's leader is one of the most intelligent people on this planet, and he will stop at nothing. Good luck, Zachary. May we cross paths again one day.”
We stood around as the image faded. None of us said anything at that time; we were still taking it in.
The following nights I sat on the roof with a mobile unit found inside the base. I recorded our adventures up to that point. Later, I would share the recording with the rest of the Gamer’s Guild, so they too could record their perspectives. I finished my story with these words, ones I took to heart in the realization of our new world.
“In the land of the dead… we are the virus.”
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