Lieutenant Sharp “Sir!” the man saluted and turned away when Sharp nodded. “And where are they now?” the tall, handsome but intimidating man, questioned the boy that his junior ranked officer brought forward to him. Sharp blinked his eyes repeatedly but slowly for five seconds while he scanned the boy. The blue-lit words only for his visual, float in front of his eyes. The boy's heart rate was steady. He isn’t lying. His intelligence also showed that the boy’s temperature had not risen since picking him up. The boy reared back looking scared and Sharp heard his stomach grumbling- definitely human. No need to be tested, the man thought with a little humor. They were so feeble, no wonder Biomedical started to work on making them stronger. He twisted his mouth sideways just as he’d practiced, bringing his cheeks up higher than usual but not too much to scare the kid away. “Well, boy, speak up so you can go back to your food.” Sharp forgot the boy’s name because they had rescued so m
[Level 98] “Kia, pray tell me,” Liz begged the machine, “What is the purpose of so many levels if it leads to nothing?” And as usual, Liz received the same answer just as she had in the past couple of years. [No Entry. I have no access to your question. Please rephrase the question] Liz mouthed the last part because she was so accustomed to hearing it by now. She shook the others awake when she saw a group of fast-approaching people coming down the road, weeks later. She knew they were humans by the way they walked. The 'not warlike' bunch of survivors. Randall observed them sleepily and decided they were safe, although angry-looking. But the odds were probably against them by numbers- there were only three of them and more than a few on the opposing side- if it came to that. Calculating from experience, Randall knew the chances were very slim that the group would just be passing along, and onto fresher pastures. A greater chance of them, setting up camp in the buildings
“Have you guys noticed them long?” Matt ignored the smelly man, making small conversation with the Sam fellow instead while they waited for everyone to have something in their stomachs. He still held Randall’s Glock in his hand while he stood behind the crowd, who was sitting cross-legged in a circle on the tiled floor. Everything about the crowd seemed normal- like a bunch of friends on a normal day chilling out just sitting on the floor and having a fun chat while they snacked. Their clothing was clean and mostly new with sneakers and boots- except for Polo, of course, for nothing about him seemed normal. From his weirdly rotted teeth to his alien-wormy shape. The Outsiders was a movie that was a huge hit about an alien that became friends with the Earthlings and aided in the defeat of an invasion from another world. It was a teen hit back in the regular world and although a fictional character, it irritated Matt that this disgusting creature reminded him of the friendly, gun-sli
Polo the troublemaker, snuck off when he thought nobody was looking, going upstairs. But he was always under Matt’s radar. Using his eyes, he notified the spot where the man had vacated, to Randall. His eyes widened in alarm eyes and Matt tilted his head, indicating to him that he was going upstairs. Randall nodded and signalled Liz. Without giving anything away she nodded, and Randall followed Matt out. Sure enough, he was rummaging through their bags. Matt whistled and the man froze raising his hands in the air, quickly proving to Randall that his next words were a lie, “Hey man, I was just looking for a t-shirt- see?” Polo’s back was to him and he had no idea a gun was pointed at him so Randall knew the man must have known- which meant guilt. He was looking for a weapon. Matt was right- they had to be strict with these people- especially this one. The kids seemed okay but the trust in the group was zilch now. Polo turned around and looked at the pistol in his hand and grimaced.
Zombie sightings had been almost zilch since they’d left the sanctuary of their last shelter, for they had hightailed out of the city zone and into the less populated back roads. They waited till they were close enough and then chopped their heads off- no loud noises to attract others. Yes, Polo protested and tried to have a say by shouting, “The brighter roads are safest, we can see them. I’ve been in the woods- no lights mean you can’t see them approaching.” The trio hadn’t even bothered with a response. They ignored him and ensured everyone had a packed bag of supplies- food, water and a change of clothing and their weapons also returned to them. [Do you want me to navigate?] 'No,' Elizabeth hardly used Kia since she found her companions Matt and Randall. Advanced technology is not needed to chop heads off. Matt gave a salute, and they walked out into the street, taking the road by the next street corner that they knew would take them, to the mountainside. Ten seconds after s
“Don’t move.” Liz had been picking up sticks for a fire, along with two of the girls when she heard the gruff voice. Dropping the sticks, she raised her hand and turned around slowly but saw nobody behind her. Whoever it was, was well camouflaged between the thick tree trunks and the earthen covered floor. She closed her eyes and silently prayed that her friends were safe and unfound. Her silent prayer was unanswered when she saw them walking out of the thinning trees with two of the helmets, suit-wearing government troops, pointing guns at them, seconds later. Randall and Matt were closely escorted too, by another two, pointing guns at them from behind and a wide rotten grin from Polo, following behind. ‘Kia, switch on,’ she instructs the system that she had switched off earlier that day. In the past, Kia would automatically come on whenever she sensed body heat but after coming across so many half-starved and crazed humans, Liz instructed her to never automatically switch
“Give it an hour...” The voice echoed around her. Female. ‘Kia...’ Her entire body felt tired and prickly. Her brain tried to contact Kia, but the system was not responding. “Kia,” she called out again, this time out loud, her teeth rattling from the cold. “...coming to...” a male voice his time. Liz fought against the dark clouds her head was engulfed in. Her memory coming into play- fuzzy but she remembered- her body spasmed sending searing pain throughout her body. Someone hit her with a powerful jolt of electricity. “I’ll fuc-” her head grew cloudier- ‘end him’ ‘Kia?’ Another wave hit her again and Liz called out to Kia once more, her cloudier mind confused by the lack of response. ‘Switch on Kia, I need you to tell me where I am, my eyes won’t open.’ Blank. When she came too, Liz was on a table with a bright light shining into her eyes. Feeling the pain in her head, she squinted her eyes and groaned out loud, sitting up with her back towards the light. She mo
The next day the male doctor showed up again smiling. Dr West. “Radiation-free and healthy as a bird. You can join your friends now in the meal room.” Liz nodded her pretty head. Last night was her best sleep in years although she had only slept for three and a half hours. And where is Kia? Since coming here, the system was silent and while Liz found it irritating at times, she didn’t want her gone exactly. She’s gotten used to her. It was different here. Knowing you were safe and didn’t have to be partially asleep and alert at the same time. Worrying about if a zombie will chomp you or if a human will harm you in the name of survival. She had a bath. An actual shower with shampoo and running water. Clean linen and toothpaste. The bathroom had sanitary napkins as well. She almost sobbed at the sight of it. Being as it was a hassle to carry around, she never had any in her travel bag unless she was on her menstrual cycle. But... Nothing is free and should not be. There were