Omega Virus (Book 1): Beta Hour (15 page)

LEVEL 18 – BLITZKRIEG

Dave hid behind
Jeff. “We are so doomed! Doomed I tell you!”

I
had a feeling, this time; he would be right. If the Link Brigade weren't on
their way in, then we were trapped like rats.

Jeff
dashed to the door panel. “We lock ourselves in!” He hit the button, but the
door opened and closed again. It didn't lock.

I
called out, “Leon! Can you still respond?”

The
computer system no longer existed, but maybe it hadn’t been connected directly.
Moments ticked by and the machine gun fire continued. Someone slowly made their
way closer with lots of ammo to spare.

“I
hope it's the Link Brigade.” I murmured.

Jeff
cursed. “Someone help me find a lock!”

Kessa
came to the wall opposite of Jeff and ran her hands over the cold steel panels.

“This
isn’t going to work!” I said. “Leon, lock the door!”

A
static feedback came from the speakers, but I couldn’t make out if it were
affirmation or denial. To hit the door switch again, would allow anything out
there to get in.

“
Dooooomed
!” Dave cried, still ducking, and covered his
head. He'd lost it.

I
looked back to Jessie, who smiled at me sadly. Even if the Link Brigade were
coming, they'd likely kill her for being infected.

“Hide
it,” I whispered and she nodded.

The
gunfire seemed
neverending
like they didn't even have
to reload.

Two
quick explosions shook the room. Kessa gave up on the door and backed up,
stepping behind me. I found each breath heavy, like an omen of death.

“Jeff?”
I said.

“Yeah?”
He looked over, worry in his eyes.

“Guard
the girls.”

“What
do you plan on doing? Playing the damn hero again?”

“Do
I have a choice? I’m the leader after all.”

“Let
me.” He argued. “You got stuff to live for.”

“You’re
stronger,” I replied. “You can protect the group better than I.”

The
rattling fire stopped, and all went silent. I stood before the door, prepared
to tackle my foe, and likely get shot in the process. But at least the others
could get the guns and flee.

I
waited, my heel back, ready to dash. The seconds ticked by as I held my breath,
my heart pounding.

“Come
on,” I whispered. “Open the door.” Finally, I’d had enough. “Leon, unlock the
door.”

As
soon as the speakers garbled nonsense, I charged. The slid open, and
I
 
skidded
into
the hall, slipping on Corpse matter. I caught myself on the window ledge to the
next room. I couldn’t believe it. Nothing in the hall moved, not even a single
Corpse twitched. Halfway down were scorch marks from the explosions, probably
grenades. Whoever had come and blown the undead away, had left just as quick.

“Zach?”
Kessa called out.

I
steadied myself and shrugged. “We’re clear.”

“We’re
not doomed?” Dave peeked out.

“I
don’t know,” I replied.

Jeff
came out and kneeled next to the first Corpse then stood back up shaking his
head. “Whoever it was, they saved our
asses
.”

“I
owe him lunch then,” Dave said.

“You
still owe me lunch.” Jeff quipped.

“Sorry,
I haven’t been able to cook in the
ZPoc
.”

Jessie
and Kessa both appeared, side by side, contrasted entirely. Kessa looked sexy,
and tall, taller than me, and so model-
esque
. Jessie
stood shorter and a bit curvier. I scanned them both from head to toe, and each
smiled at me as if they were looking at their boyfriend. I couldn’t bear it, so
I looked away.

Jeff
caught the concern on my face. Then he put his hand on my shoulder and whispered.
“I know this new girl is hot. But don’t fall into that trap.”

Dave
came up and put his hand on my other shoulder and leaned in.

“This
Kessa.” He said. “I’ll take her off your hands. You take Jessie.”

I
rolled my eyes. “If it were only that simple.”

“I
think they’re talking about us,” Kessa said.

“Sounds
like it.” Jessie said, “Too bad we can hear most of it.”

Dave
chuckled nervously and walked ahead. Jeff followed him, clearing his throat.

I
tried to change the subject. “Something is going on. I can only hope it’s the
Link Brigade.”

Kessa
snarled. “We can’t trust them! The two with the helmets grabbed and dragged me
to Wayne as soon as we got here. They lied to us.”

“Wedge
told me how to get the code for the door. The Links want Wayne gone too.”

I
turned and started walking.

Kessa
caught up to me and spun me around. “You did it, didn’t you? She kept saying
you were hot for your age. The whole ride she told me how I should have taken
advantage of you the moment I met you.”

I
took her hand from my shoulder. “Calm down. They put me in a coma. She inserted
the catheter; that’s it.”

“That
bitch.” Kessa hissed. “No one touches my angel but me!”

I
should have lied. Kessa stormed off ahead stomping a Corpse here and there.

Jessie
walked up to me and said in a low voice. “Wedge, Kessa, you’ve gotten around.”

“W-what?”
I asked in shock. “I told you nothing happened with Kessa, nor Wedge!”

Jessie
shook her head. “Come on.”

I
sighed and walked a few steps behind her, watching the way her hips swayed. I
glanced further ahead at Kessa too. Why did I torture myself? Jessie likely
couldn't be saved. Even if my theory of a vaccine proved true, could it cure
the virus too?

I
couldn’t take it any longer. I caught up to Jessie and spun her around. Her
eyes went wide as I locked lips with her. I gave it my all, pushing my tongue
into her mouth and running my hands all over her, grabbing her from behind. She
gave a tiny moan but then shoved me as hard as she could. I fell backward over
a Corpse and landed hard on the cold floor.

“No.”
She said calmly.

Kessa
spun around. “What happened?”

“Zach
tripped,” Jessie said. “I was going to help him up!”

“My
angel!” Kessa cried, rushing to me. “Are you okay?”

She
reached her hand down, and I took it, feeling utterly humiliated. I tried not
to take it personally. She just wanted to protect me from becoming infected
too, and wanted nothing more than to be with me. Even though I knew the
thoughts to be true, her rejection didn’t sting any less.

Kessa
helped me to my feet, and I walked past Jessie without looking at her. I shoved
the thoughts away as we stepped out of the refrigerated hallway and into the
normal one.

“We
need an exit,” Dave said.

“We
can’t leave.” I blocked him. “We’re going to pay that jackass Wayne a visit.”

That
son-of-a-bitch used Jessie as fishing bait. He ruined any chance I had at being
truly happy. And that son-of-a-bitch would be paying with his life. I just had
to decide if I wanted to let him become a Corpse. Did he even deserve that? No,
I would just kill his ass.

I
led the way up the stairs and burst into the office of Governor Wayne. He sat
behind his desk looking calm and collected.

“So,
you’ve finished your little scuffle with Patient Zero, and rescued your ragtag
group?” Wayne asked with a chuckle.

“About
sums it up,” Jeff said. “Now we’re here to drag you to the Corpses.”

“The
zombies? If you had meant to do that, you should have kept some alive. You
cleared out my entire collection. That wasn’t very nice.”

“We
didn’t—,” Dave said, but I jabbed him in the rib.

“Sorry,
you know, high scores and all.” I shrugged.

Wayne
frowned. “You sound like Wesley James. Nothing but a child wanting to prove
himself before the world.”

I
kept going, “So, to top it off, I thought I’d take out the boss. But I don’t
see one so you’ll have to do.”

“Video
games references.” Wayne spat. “I hate video games! They’re the reason my
precious Serenade is gone. And soon you'll be gone, too.”

Wayne
lifted a gun from behind his desk
;
a large silver
revolver. He pointed straight at me. I couldn’t tell the caliber of the gun,
but I had a feeling it could blow any of us away with a single, even poorly
placed shot.

“It
doesn’t have to happen this way.” Jeff held up his hands.

“The
hell it doesn’t,” Wayne said with a dramatic laugh. “You’re all cohorts of that
damn double crosser!”

“Double-crosser?”
Dave asked.

“Don’t
play innocent.” Wayne aimed between each of us. “Mr. James may have been
working at Epic Impossibilities, but he had a hand in G.O.D Mode too. But when
things didn’t go his way, when their aspirations grew to great, he backed out.
Serenade followed him, and they manipulated others into forming their rival
game company.”

“What
do video games have to do with any of this?” Jeff asked, “I mean they are just
games!”

“Just
games?” Wayne threw his arms into the air. “It may have been a game to Wesley,
to all of you.
but
to G.O.D. Mode, it is a pure
reality.”

I
recognized the name G.O.D. Mode. I'd seen it on a video game at Epic
Impossibilities.

“A
game company has a hand in the zombie apocalypse?” Jessie asked. “Why?”

“Why
not?” Wayne spit. “Set something loose, play your pieces and control everything
from the background, just like a controller, never putting yourself at risk,
and never losing a single life. It’s strategy.”

“It
still doesn’t make sense!” I broke in.

Wayne
snapped. “Shut up, brat! You know nothing of the world! You’re a baby in
diapers compared to even Grandson.”

“Grandson?”
I whispered.

Someone
called Grandson, two game companies that had something to do with the undead
invasion, and Wesley James. I felt like we were in a game, trying to piece
together a puzzle on hard mode. And with the name G.O.D. Mode, it could mean
only thing; that had to be the G.O.D. Beauregard mentioned.

“What
does G.O.D. Mode plan to do?” I asked.

Wayne
raised an eyebrow. “Do you think they would tell me? Whatever they're planning,
it’s over my head. I’m just one of their pawns! I want them all dead as much as
you do, but the power they wield makes them actual gods!”

Dave
held his hands up. “If you want them dead, why can’t we join forces?”

“Simple.
I’m not going up against them directly.” Wayne snapped, and then looked past
us. “Ah, it was about time you got here!”

“Sorry,
sir.” Sergeant Fox said.

The
Link Brigade walked in and surrounded us, all five of them, each holding a gun
pointed in our direction.

“I
knew you were in on this!” Kessa hissed at Wedge.

Wedge
shrugged and pointed a gun at her.

Wayne
said, “Even now the Omega Virus is being refined! It has unlimited potential,
and as humans we are barely tapping in! Alas, I have said too much, no matter.
Sergeant Fox, take these five teenagers to the Chamber.”

“Sir!”
Fox saluted Wayne.

Wayne
asked. “You look troubled.”

Fox
said, “There’s an intruder in the facility. Allow Lu and Lo to hunt them down.”

Wayne
waved his gun. “Fine, fine. Just take them. To the arena.”

“Sir!”
Fox nodded to the twins. I couldn’t tell them apart with the helmets on.

An
intruder? Did Wayne have more enemies? And were they on our side?

Lu
and Lo left the room while Fox grabbed me under my arms and shoved me forward.

“March!”
Fox yelled.

I
began walking and more than once, I wanted to wrestle Fox’s gun away. If I did
Biggs or Wedge would shoot me dead, and the rest of us too. Single file we went,
down the stairs and into the underground level. As we walked, Wedge came to the
front and shoved me.

“Hey!”
I snapped.

“You
idiot!” She whispered through her teeth. “What were you thinking? Entering the
labs without us!”

“What
does it matter? We killed Patient Zero!” I whispered back.

“You
did what?” She asked. “I don’t know what you think you did. But I guarantee it
wasn’t dead. It’s practically a Lv02. There’s only one way to kill one.
Headshots don’t work! And neither does decapitation or dismemberment. It will
just put itself back together.”

“When
we left the glass was in its spine!” I argued.