Some Morgan picky person convinced me that free fiction and free voice is not accepted if its not polished perfect. If you say fuck, you better be sure to spell the work right and have it in the right place. So Morgan, fuck you.
Now that’s off my chest, time for some real writing fun. This time if people want to put my work down, they have to pay for it.
Biotech Dynamics Head Quarters
Research Base
We weaved our way between cars to a fire stairwell at the back corner of the car park and descended a couple of floors until we reached a steel door and wide landing. Reese swiped a card in the swipe-card slot next to the handled and pushed the door open, revealing a broad tunnel that ran for quite a distance. I followed her in and flinched when the door closed with a brutal clang and a threat never to open again. I shrugged it off and allowed the humans to lead the way.
The tunnel was entirely chrome, no ornaments except sink-hole lamps along the walls and other tunnel openings which offered the same view in a new direction. I got the picture the tunnels created a complex labyrinth ending at certain rooms and secrets.
“What is this place?”
“Research base for Biotech Dynamics,” Regan answered.
I faced him with more questions such as what Biotech Dynamics did and if they had any clues to the Manikin Virus and ways to fix it but bit my tongue when I realised, from his sober expression, he wasn’t pliable for my probing questions. We walked in silence.
We arrived before another metal door and swipe-card slot. Reese released the lock, the door sighed opened and invited us into a vast circular chamber. It was sterile like the tunnels, a highly sophisticated laboratory. The chamber rose a high way up, forming a dome shape roof. The walls were actually glass cells of various sizes containing every single living specimen of this earth. Each cell had a blue light towards the bottom right corner and a row of thin, bendable pipes connecting to each other in a circulatory pattern which formed a web pattern on the floor. A stage area tapered in towards the back wall, a door just visible towards the left. In the centre of the web was a circular computer centre: Rows of flat screen monitors creating one arc, small dirty silver server boxes making another and a master pc system directly before us. The pipes connected to a set of three large cylinders marked with hazardous warning signs and labels “hydrogen”, “Oxygen”, “Nitrogen”.
“What is this place?” I whispered with a frown and felt the sensation of hairs at the back of my neck stand up and an uncomfortable warm feeling make my stomach churn and go queasy.
Pete faced me and gave me something I hadn’t seen in a long time a reassuring smile. Why would a boy, previously afraid of me, offer me a cordial gesture? My frown deepened. I was glad when Pete’s smile vanished and he turned away.
“This is a place where we preserve things,” Regan answered matter-of-factly.
“Things?” I didn’t like the sound of that.
“It’s a scientific research centre which looks at the life span of a living creature and seeks to preserve it in the best of its health with the best intentions.”
I stepped back towards the door. “These creatures live a miserable life for nothing more than research?”
I heard Pete choke on an exasperated gasp and saw Reese clear it with a decent whack to the boy’s back.
Regan remained clinical and expressionless. “You make it sound so harsh. It’s nothing like that.”
I raised my brows and took a better look at a couple of the cages/tanks. A cat sat peacefully on a woollen mat matted with yellowish stains and bald spots here and there. It meowed, licked it’s paw and gave another brief meow. My vision blurred and refocused on its face so I was able to see his glossy bi-coloured fur and lustrous grey-green eyes. It sighed with another miserable meow before lowing itself down and curling into a ball. I glanced at the immaculate steel water and food bowls filled to the brim and not a bit of it touched. My vision blurred and refocused on the mini fox terrier in the cage next to it sharing the same sad eyes and miserable bark before lying down on its front paws and whimpering with defeat. Its bowls of food a picture of perfection and sustenance.
My vision blurred and returned to the humans. I felt my avatar’s talons flex and curl with tension. “They will die.”
“Why?” Pete whispered with a rattling voice. Reese pulled out her rifle and aimed it at my avatar’s chest.
I stood my ground and prepared myself for an onslaught if it should come. “Because you have stolen what is meaningful to them.”
“But they have everything they need, good bedding, food…”
“They are caged alone.”
Regan stood up tall and released a breath of understanding. He placed his hand on Reese’s gun and gently pushed it away. Reese shifted her position and cocked her head to one side with clear annoyance.
“Perhaps, ” Regan answered and took a step towards my avatar. “But they are safe and kept well.”
I stared him straight in the eye. “Is that what you plan for me?”
He held my avatar’s stare for a moment before answering with a careful no, which I interpreted as something else but now was not the time for chaos. He gave my avatar a quick up and down look before changing the subject to, “you must be starving.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Come, you can pick any of these creatures you want.”
I glanced at Pete and Reese and noted their uncomfortable stances. I turned my gaze over the sea of glass cages and in one noticed a hyena scratching the floor lethargically. I felt its pathetic want to die and felt no desire to taste it. All the other creatures were the same hopeless, desolate bunch. It was pointless.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Interesting,” Regan whispered and shook off his thoughts. “Well we are hungry and need rest.” He made his way towards the computer centre and a knee high cabinet at the end of the master pc.
Both Reese and Pete gave me an uneasy look. I sighed and realised I had to reassure them some how. “Look, you have my word I won’t hurt you nor interfere with this, er, project here not matter how infected it is.” I watched for Pete’s reaction more than Reese’s. He frowned then shrugged it off and made his way into the centre.
I watched them unwind into themselves. Pete assumed his age, kicking off his shoes, removing his guns and leaving them lying around the floor near the monitors. Reese cursed him for being careless and picked up his gear, hiding them away in a spot between the monitors and server boxes. Regan assumed command over the master pc, his eyes fixed on the monitor totally absorbed. Pete bounded up the steps to the stage, disappeared from view for a moment then returned when more lights flicked on and made his way to the nearest cage, tapping the glass gently and waving hellos. Reese joined him.
Like watching through a looking glass, I thought and saw a glass partition running a complete diameter across the room for the first time. The computer centre sat just behind this glass. A wide opening existed near the master pc.
“Humph,” I scoffed and decided to find a place to rest on my side of the wall and not too far from the door. My avatar and I found a wall of empty cages and decided it was the best place to lean against. I assumed the usual slept position; knees hugged towards my chest and wings folded. I kept a studious eye on the humans activities. I noticed Regan peer at my avatar from the corner of his eye whilst maintaining his focus on the pc. Reese and Pete involved themselves in conversation on the stage’s steps.
My eyes wandered from the humans and fell upon those of a vampire bat hanging on a tree branch. I realise it had similar wings to mine and even arms although they were still part of its wings.The colour of its skin held the same lustre as that of my avatars hair, its tone the same smoothness. I held its stare and sensed it watching me too. I realised it didn’t hold its self in the same hopeless manner as that of the others but rather a calm and strong presence as if it was waiting for a moment.
What you want with me?
It lift its head so its stare was obvious and drew my attention towards Regan and the computer it worked on. It’s stare was intense and unwavering. Suddenly, I understood what I needed to do. My old school teacher used to say, “everything happens for a reason”. My job trainer used to also say the same thing whenever I stuffed up with my calculations. “Stuff ups can really lead to great changes.” Ah the voice of hope.
“I see it,” I answered and nodded my head. As if it had heard me, the bat dropped its gaze and closed its eyes. “Good idea,” I muttered and closed my eyes too.
“Mary.” The real Martin stood before me with a beaming smile and those knowing eyes full of wonder and the warmest expression. His face was relaxed and peaceful. The colour of his t-shirt and jeans a rich, vibrant freshness. It was the best I’d ever seen him look.“ I’m sorry I had to leave you but you know I was far gone to begin with anyway.”
“I looked for you.”
“I know you did and that’s why I’m here.”
“I’m so sorry…”
“Ssh, don’t worry about that attack. That wasn’t me, you have to know that. I was dead way before then. I’m not here to talk about that. We have to talk about the fire.”
“The fire?”
“Yes. The one you started connected to others that went out with the rain but not before destroying most of the world you know above. If you could travel in the daytime before, I doubt you could do so now. The place is levelled like a bombed out city of Iraq – worse.”
“Oh God! What now?”
Martin stepped closer, his face was dead serious. He stared over the three humans and the laboratory for some time before coming back to me. “Watch yourself. Never let go.” He faded from sight before I could ask what he meant.
Burwood Road
We weaved our way along a wreck of Burwood Road: smashed in ethnic stores, rubbish of gadgets, bones and earth stained rags strewn all over footpaths and between cracks and gaps of burnt out car shells and stationery vehicles, and veered off into an shadowed lane where an ebony charger sat casually to one side.
“Come with us.” The Boy offered. The others glared at him with reprimanding expressions. You can’t blame the Boy for being hopeful, especially when he was still young and stupid.
“I am an infected, not to be trusted. So no would be a wise answer,” I said letting the boy off the hook.
“All the more reason to tag along,” the Man added.
Their scent was heavy with iron, sweat, despair and desperation to rest for just one day. Of course they needed me to provide dips, chips and a sweeter version of basically the total annihilation of the human species. Very well, I’ll tag along for now. I nodded my head and followed the charger at the rear, flying at a slower pace and level I could endure as I wasn’t sure how far their hideout was. Fortunately, their hideout was just a couple of blocks away in an industrial area existing away from homes and general trading. I followed them along a length of twisting by-lanes and into a circular complex where each building was connected to each other by glass bridges, and some of them smashed beyond repair. The area slowly suffocating within a smoky haze.
Dawn peeked through the sky. “God hope it rains,” I said towards the fiery behemoth visible in the west and screwed up my nose at the unmistakable stink of ash. I shrugged it off and flew down a ramp and entered a car park beneath a wannabe skyscraper of the 1980’s era.
The charger came to a halt in a parking bay and killed its purring and head lights. I felt at ease within semi darkness and sat down on the cold concrete ground. My vision blurred and swam in and out of focus. I inhaled and exhaled slowly, listening to the echoes of my own ragged breathing as if it was a lulling sea, and trying to find a way to cool the hot itchy sensation along my arms and legs.
Footfalls stopped before my feet; shadows stretched across my avatar’s wings. I glanced towards the towering figures and three heads inclined towards my avatar. They really couldn’t see me could they? I never before realised my avatar had the ability of speech, it felt strange that it could and even more so that I couldn’t hear its voice but only ever mine. What did that mean in regards to my level of infection – its evolution: the Scientists words, Cole Marshell’s orders, all the facts, the dicey dodges of a gruesome death (if there was a death) – eddied around my mind. I no longer felt the hot itch but was still plagued with one that filled my head with confusing imagery and threatened a massive headache.
“You have a name?” The question sliced through my thoughts and blew them all away. It seemed as alien as Roswell’s secret or an episode of the X Files. I glanced at the humans and wondered if I should give them my name. The last human who know my name was dead. My lips twitched with a sick smile.
“Mary Harlow,” I answered.
The boy’s head went back, startled. The woman was about to say something but stopped short when I raised a finger towards her lips and saw my avatars talon a few centimetres away from her lips. Their bodies stiffened, the man’s finger curled around the trigger of his gun.
“You’re Reese?”
“Yes,” the woman replied.
I studied her underneath the stark ceiling light and aseptic backdrop of steel and concrete. She was androgynous; lean and muscular with too much definition in her arms, legs, face and little around her breasts. Her auburn hair was pulled into a tight pony tail, green eyes narrowed in a studious gaze. Her hands rested conveniently near her guns hoisted to her hip. My stare moved to her badge.
“Servo veneratio fulcio,” I read aloud and traced the figurative pattern of a lion bearing a coat of arms.
“Protect- honour – uphold,” Reese translated with a sober tone in her voice. I held her eyes before turning away and taking a glance at the boy.
“Let me guess, you’re Pete?” The boy gulped and nodded his head. My eyes touched the fierce semi automatic pistols to a hips. He was too innocent to wear them and too young for the tattoo of a thorny vine running up his left arm. His lips twitched with words and nerves. He was a lamb the poor thing. I guess I should be considerate of his feelings.
“You have the right to be cautious of me.” He flinched and started biting his lip, his hand holding the flat of his gun so tight bone showed through his knuckles.
I sighed it off and stared at the Mr. Universe wannabe. His straw coloured hair was cut in an all over number one. He had neanderthal brows and heavy set eyes of a deep brown, thin lips, high angled cheek bones and sharp edged nose drew out a harshness from his face.
“Arnold Schwarzenegger?”
He huffed, rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Regan,” Pete answered for him and stooped low when Regan threw him a curt look.
The corner of my avatar’s lip curled into wry smile. I took in their presence one more time and faced Pete. “What do you think I am?”
Pete frowned, confused.
“Give me an answer later.” His frown turned into a look of sheer worry- fear. On cue, faint screeches and howls blew our way. Reese suggested we take our talk to safer grounds.
