Chapter 7
Unfortunately, as much as I’d love to savor that memory, it’s time to get to business. The troops are starting to pour out of Tieryl City, and they look very determined (at least, relatively. Brainwashed superhumans don’t have many emotions).
I nod at the rest of my group and we all start towards the group. At this point, I figure I might as well share the rest of our plans.
Once onboard, we would go our own ways. Ben and one of the superhumans who worked for Penelope, who knew the most about where the control room was and how to use it, would shut down all security cameras and shut down the program controlling the superhumans, as well as making it so Tieryl City would start flying. Lily would get an escape hatch ready, and when it opens, we would parachute out. Matthew, Penelope and I would recover the files for DEK341 and grab the serum. Arcya and Aria would set up a bomb near the center of Tieryl City to explode it if our other plan didn’t work. That way, the program controlling the superhumans is obliterated either way. The zombie populations would die off on their own, and the superhumans would probably help with that.
Either way, it’s a win-win.
Anyways, if all of this magically went smoothly, we would all escape, then going around and saving the zombies with the antidote to the plague (which Penelope would make).
If not, well, at least the superhumans aren’t brainwashed anymore.
The first bit of the plan works well. We effortlessly merge into their ranks, following the directions of the generals in command to look for the ‘renegade superhumans’. The irony of trying to look for yourself was not missed by most of our group, judging by the loud ‘ha’ I heard in my thoughts from Arcya.
Luckily, we managed to be towards the back of the group and, after a mostly brief search, are the first ones to reboard the vehicle.
Stay safe,
says Arcya.
I jump about a foot in the air when I hear a voice saying, “Private Protin.”
Then I remember that it’s my alibi name, and realize it’s Matthew saying it.
“Yes, sir.” I say.
“You and Private Laurd will follow me. I require your services.”
I nod. Brilliant improv by him, I thought we were just going to sneak off.
“Yes, sir,” I say, and the three of us set off.
When we’re out of earshot of almost everyone, he says in a thought-message to me and Penelope,
The plans are in a small room. We’ve got to go this way. I was pretty high up in the ranks.
How the heck are you sending thought-messages to me? They didn’t experiment on you too?
Uh, Sarah, the mind-reading abilities were sent to all superhumans, excepting the brainwashed ones,
says Penelope.
We didn’t tell you that?
Nah, you kinda FORGOT THAT MINOR DETAIL!!!!
Focus guys,
says Arcya.
Keep your eyes on the prize. And before you ask, yes, I’m almost in position.
I’m already in position,
says Lily extremely loudly, making me cringe.
Sorry, was that a bit loud? I’m new to this.
We all are, except for Arcya,
I say exasperatedly.
Ben, how about you?
asks Penelope as we walk.
All things good here. A bit longer of a walk than expected, but other than that, it’s fine,
he replies.
This. is. so. weird.
says Aria, and I can almost see her standing next to me, her mouth gaping and her eyes super wide.
Tell me about it,
I grunt.
All right, I’m gonna stop talking in this thing. I need to concentrate. I think we’re almost there.
This door right here,
says Matthew.
Okay,
I reply.
Dolts, you’re still talking to the whole group of us…. Wait, Ben, you kissed Sarah? One, when? Two, why the heck are you thinking about it right now?
says Arcya.
I didn’t wait to figure out how to read people’s thoughts when not purposely directed to you, immediately mentally blocking the conversation.
It kinda worked, but the voices drifted in and out, sounding amused at some times, shocked at others. I step into the room which Matthew points at, trying to pretend that I’m not doing something that I shouldn’t be doing. I strut in confidently.
Tone it down,
says Matthew.
I walk more normally. As we walk up to the container of serum, which is very tiny, Penelope covertly picks it up and replaces it with a small container of her nutri-things that she took from some of her dispensers.
Nobody sees her, but when we start walking up to the papers, there’s a door made of lasers. Matthew taps in a few numbers and steps in, having us trail him.
My heart immediately sinks to my feet. It’s Twyla, sitting in the room, with a dozen armed guards.
Penelope gasps before shutting her mouth abruptly.
She’s the infiltrator who poisoned the serum,
she hisses in my head and I barely stop myself from reacting.
“Ah, General Dunnen,” says Twyla, smiling. “Need the papers so you can make more serum?”
“Yes, of course,” says Matthew. “These privates are here to help. Deaf and illiterate, you see. Can’t understand a word of what we’re saying, and won’t be able to read the documents. They’ll just receive a few thought-messages and that’s how they obey.”
“Of course. Guards, step aside. General Dunnen requires access to the plans.”
The guards step away mechanically and I walk forward, picking up the plans and trying to control my racing heartbeat.
Where now,
I say.
Just follow me,
replies Matthew.
I quickly follow him out of the room, with Penelope right behind me. When we’re out of eye and earshot of everyone, I send a thought-message to Matthew, asking him if I can hide them yet.
Not here. The cameras can see us. Just hand them to me.
I nod and, when we’re out of the way of the cameras, he stows the plans away.
Group update,
I say in the thought-message group.
Arcya, Aria, and soon to be Penelope, Sarah, and Matthew are by the escape exit with me,
says Lily.
We had to knock out a few people covertly and had a few issues, but now the bomb’s in prime position,
Arcya adds.
Ben, what’s the situation?
I ask.
Having some technical issues.
Chapter 8
My heart sinks to my feet at those few words.
Almost there,
says Matthew.
I follow Matthew and we reach the escape hatch quickly, crouching down with Arcya and the rest of them.
We’ve got the programs shut down for good and the ship programmed to fly in five minutes,
says Ben.
I inwardly cheer.
Wait.. we have company,
says Ben.
Don’t wait for us. Escape and we’ll come when we can.
I kick at the wall in frustration. Such an idiot. He really thinks I’m going to leave him behind? A glance at the others’ faces proves they have the same reaction.
Heck no,
says Arcya.
We’re on our way.
We each grab a parachute (and Arcya and I grab one extra each for Ben and the dude from Penelope’s crew).
Follow me,
says Matthew. We all set off on a sprint, turning every few seconds in the maze that’s Tieryl City.
We finally burst through a huge door and see Ben and the other dude surrounded.
“The loyal superhumans conquering the renegades.. the others turned traitor as soon as they were able to,” spits Twyla, looking totally deranged with a lopsided hat and a sneer. “Your plan may have worked for a few of the un-loyal traitors, but see these people? We’ll still win! Supremacy of the best humans.”
That’s when a well-placed bullet from Matthew whips through her arm and all heck breaks loose.
I knock out two or three of them before coming up against Twyla.
“You could’ve been with us,” she says. “Join us and live.”
“Nah,” I say as I punch her jaw and she loses consciousness. “I’ll pass.”
There’s still a good twenty other superhumans to fight, and it’s a whirlwind.
A muscular man approaches me next, taking out his knife. I’m fully focused on him, dodging, parrying, and attacking when I can, until I’m grabbed by behind and wrestled against the wall. Two superhumans on each hand, one on each foot, and the muscular one with an evil leer.
“Let’s see how long it takes her to change her mind about being renegade,” he says, pulling out an even longer knife. “The pretty, pretty girly. What design shall she have? Zigzags, stripes, polka dots?” His singsong voice makes me want to vomit. Almost lovingly, he runs the blade down my arm, slicing it open.
I scream with pain, staring with shock at the blood gushing out of the wound.
He looks at the blood on his knife with disdain before rubbing it on my clothing. “Filth goes with filth.”
I look around, desperately searching for anyone who could help me. Penelope lies on the floor, motionless but with no other signs of injury. The dude who works for her is still fighting, and manages to get three or four more of the other superhumans before he falls and is viciously set upon by a swarm of them.
It seems to be a losing battle until the door slams open and an inpouring of at least fifty superhumans come in.
A tall woman shrieks with indignation when she sees Penelope motionless on the ground.
“Attack!” she yells, and the superhumans holding me scream with terror when at least ten of the new superhumans attack them.
The muscular man is still holding me against the wall, though, seemingly oblivious to the people attacking him. He runs his knife down my leg this time, and I scream in an agony of pain.
I see Ben down one of the other superhumans as the man runs his knife down my other arm. He’s one of the last people standing, and the others are quickly being knocked out by the new group of superhumans.
Ben stands there, motionless for a split second, before launching himself at the man attacking me. Others join him, but they all stop suddenly when the man holds his knife to my neck.
“Stop attacking me or she dies,” he growls.
I gasp, sending out a thought-message to everyone.
Just kill him! I’ll be fine!
He presses the knife closer and closer to my throat before I feel a thin slice. The knife is beaded with blood. I’m sweating bullets and my sweat mixes with my blood.
“Don’t do it,” I manage to gasp out before he exchanges his knife for his hand and moves his knife closer to my heart.
Not again! You’d think two times would be more than enough for these people, but no, they always strangle you. My train of thoughts moves too fast for me to recognize more than one thought, which I manage to communicate to Ben.
“Ac-achill-es…” I gasp out before sending a thought-message instead.
Ben, shoot his hands! They’re his Achilles heel!
His eyes widen with understanding as he rapidly draws his gun and shoots the guy’s hands. The superhuman instinctively releases me and I slump to the floor. Everything goes strange and dizzy then, but I vaguely see the man being attacked as my vision dims.
Black dots begin to appear in my vision and the world spins around me. Want to know how it feels?
Imagine you’re sitting on a kid’s carousel, but it’s about twenty times faster than the normal speed and it won’t stop no matter what you do. Yeah.
Ben leans over me, gently picking me up. Then the dots turn into a lattice, until the darkness takes me over.