Ex animo, p.23
Ex/Animo, page 23
part #1 of Ex/Animo Series
“I can’t believe you actually checked the mirror,” Sherry giggled.
Martyn glowed red with delight and embarrassment.
“There ya go, partner!” Sherry winked. “You tried to play me at a game in which I’m a pro!”
“Yeah,” Martyn laughed sheepishly. “Did not see that one coming.”
The two laughed together. Selena opened her eyes; her expression appeared impassive.
***
“Wake up, honey,” a voice sang into Aron’s ear. “We are here!”
“Uh, what?” Aron woke up and found Selena’s face close to his. “What happened?” he found himself lying on her lap. “How?!” he sat up, baffled.
“I woke up ages ago,” Selena appeared smug. “You fell asleep on me.”
“Oh,” Aron held his head. “Thanks, I slept well, surprisingly.”
“You were squeezing my thighs the entire time,” Selena teased. “Naughty guy.”
“I was what?” Aron turned red. “I’m sorry–I didn’t realize-”
“I wasn’t complaining, Aron,” Selena grinned. “You just made me jump.”
“I-uh,” Aron scratched his head.
“Stop teasing him, Selena,” Sherry shook her head. “You’re making it sound a big deal.”
“It was!” Selena protested. “Not in a bad way.”
“What now, Aron?” Martyn asked. “We passed Westminster ten minutes ago.”
“Oh, that went better than I expected. Now, let’s see,” Aron took out the tablet from his backpack. “Huh, expected to find more Zeroheads around here.”
“Don’t wanna run into a Zomboss right now,” Martyn shook his head.
“Heh,” Aron shook his head. “You definitely wouldn’t want to meet a Zomlord then.”
“The Zerohead from the church?” Sherry asked.
“Uh-huh,” Aron nodded. “It was bigger than any Zomboss.”
“Wow,” Martyn exclaimed. “Good thing you had the C4s with you.”
“I doubt that was enough,” he said. “But that thing never came after us,” he shrugged.
“Why are there many types of ‘em?” Sherry wondered.
“We are at Boulder,” Martyn announced. “How do we find him?”
“It says here–on the way to Mt. Sanitas Trailhead?” Aron peered at the tablet. “Do you see it on the map?”
“Yeah, found it,” Martyn hit the gas on a zombie that approached the UAZ.
The UAZ shook as the Zerohead went under. The others stared at Martyn.
“Not my fault they wanna murder the shit out of us,” Martyn muttered.
They continued down the path to Mt. Sanitas Trailhead. They came across a Black SUV parked in the middle of the road.
Martyn slammed the breaks, and the passengers got thrown off their seats. They ducked below instantaneously.
“Dude!” Aron yelled.
“Sorry,” Martyn said. “Kinda jumped a little.”
“A little?!” Aron glared.
“Could that be SILEO’s?” Sherry asked nervously.
“Could be,” Selena muttered.
“What’s it doing in the middle of the road?!” Sherry frowned.
“Oh no,” Aron got off the UAZ. “We’re too late?”
“Did they see us?” Martyn asked.
“No,” Aron squinted at the tinted windows. “It’s empty.”
“There’s another!” Sherry pointed to the black SUV that was parked to the left.
They studied the two SUVs that lay abandoned by the empty lot.
“There’s some stuff inside this one,” Martyn said. “But no people.”
“They were ahead of us,” Aron felt the hood of the SUVs. “These have been lying here for several hours.”
“Huh?” Martyn murmured. “Where did they go? Why’d they stop in the middle of nowhere?” he looked around warily. “Could this be another ambush?!”
“Guys?” Selena called. “The Zeroheads.”
Selena pointed to the Zeroheads that lay sprawled on the ground. Some of them were burnt like charcoal, and the others were missing limbs. The team noticed them lay all around the lot. Not a single body was on the lot itself.
“Interesting,” Aron muttered.
“Did those soldiers face trouble with the Zeroheads?” Martyn murmured.
“Something’s off about this lot,” Sherry approached the empty lot.
“Wait!” Aron exclaimed. “Don’t take another step!”
Sherry jumped back immediately and fell on her butt.
“Sherry!” Martyn ran toward her.
“Lost my balance there,” Sherry reassured. “I’m okay!”
Aron looked around and found a Zerohead leg. He picked it up.
“What are you gonna do with that?” Selena asked.
“Observe,” Aron said.
He hurled the leg over to the empty lot, but it never made it past the edge. The leg hovered in midair; blue streaks of light ran across it. They heard the crackling of electricity. The leg was hurled back, and it landed a few feet in front of Aron.
Aron began to laugh. Others stared at him in confusion as his laughter grew louder. It made him sound like a maniac.
“Aron?” Selena called.
“Oh,” Aron snapped back to reality. “Sorry–got carried away. I was right to pursue Zeke after all!”
“What do you mean?” Martyn asked.
Aron pointed to the lot.
“That’s not some empty lot,” Aron said. “That’s his lab! It’s hiding behind a camouflage which is making it look like some empty lot! And it is surrounded by zappers that’ll fry everything it comes into contact with! Those Zeroheads were just flies caught in an electric fly trap!”
“Wait, wait, wait–hold on!” Martyn said. “You’re saying his entire lab is under camouflage?!”
“Yes!” Aron looked excited.
Martyn sighed.
“I GUESS THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WE CAN DO!” Aron shouted.
“I’m standing right next to you!” Martyn covered his ears. “Why are you yelling?!”
“I’M GONNA RAM THE UAZ INTO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.” Aron ignored him. “THAT OUGHTA DO IT!”
Sherry and Selena looked at each other and shrugged.
“Are you for real right now?” Martyn shook his head.
Suddenly, a noise was heard from the empty lot. As they watched, a huge building made of black glass and steel popped into existence like it was always there. The building appeared to be fenced by barbed wires connected to strange machinery. The three backed away instinctively.
“What the fuck?!” Selena exclaimed.
Suddenly, a giant image of a face popped on the side of the building facing them. Martyn, Sherry, and Selena were taken back. It was the face of the scientist from the soldiers’ hit list.
“If you make as much as a smudge on my stuff,” he warned. “I’ll sue you!”
“Huh?! You’re gonna take me to a zombie court?” Aron taunted.
“What do you want?” the scientist appeared annoyed.
“You!” Aron said.
“Huh?” he looked puzzled.
“We want you to join our team!” Aron looked around. “We’re looking for a way to end the apocalypse!”
“Is this a prank?!” Zeke scoffed. “Tell me you’re joking!”
“Come on, man!” Aron said. “At least hear us out!”
“You’re wasting my time!” the scientist didn’t budge. “I’m not gonna sit here and listen to some wannabe heroes who don’t know what they’re talking about!”
“Ugh, for real?” a female voice was heard. “I’ve got the door, guys. Come on in!”
“Elfy?!” Zeke sounded annoyed. “You know I like complete privacy, right?! This could very well be a trap.”
“Never mind him!” the voice said. “Just follow the arrows.”
Directional signs lit up on the side of the building, pointing toward the entrance. Aron grinned.
***
“Hey guys!” the voice called. “Hitch a ride on the elevator. We are up at fourth.”
The team got into the elevator. Martyn searched around for a button but couldn’t find any. The doors closed.
“Which floor would you like to visit?” a new voice was heard.
“Who’s that?!” Martyn looked around him.
“Uh, fourth?” Aron replied calmly. “Thank you.”
“The pleasure’s all mine,” the voice replied. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I wasn’t scared!” Martyn denied. “Just surprised!”
“Sure,” the voice replied.
“I don’t like her very much!” Martyn whispered to Aron.
“Oh boy,” Sherry grinned at Aron. “Remember the last time we were on an elevator?”
“How can I forget?” Aron smiled. “At least this one’s zombie-free!”
“You have arrived on the fourth floor,” the voice spoke as the doors opened. “Miss Valentine will see you now.”
Aron and others stepped out of the elevator to find themselves on a spacious floor. Black marble tiles reflected the round ceiling lights overhead.
“Welcome,” the former voice spoke. “I’m Elaine. Nice to meet you.”
They were greeted by a woman in a lab coat. She appeared to be in her twenties, tall and fair with flowy black hair. She shook hands with them.
“This way,” she led the way.
They followed Elaine to a room nearby. The door appeared to be locked. A console on the wall glowed red.
“I can’t believe him!” Elaine sighed. “Hold on a moment, guys.”
The team observed Elaine as she fiddled with the console. The console glowed green, and the door slid open. Elaine walked in and looked around.
“Where did he go?” she muttered.
They stepped inside. Aron grew wide-eyed when he noticed the anime posters on the walls and the neatly arranged figurines on the shelves.
“Synthea!” a voice was heard. “Set the building on lockdown!”
“Initiating lockdown,” the voice replied.
The lights began to flash bright red. Zeke appeared from a corner, holding up a strange-looking gun.
“I’ll give you five seconds to tell me exactly who you are,” Zeke said. “Five!”
“Uh…” Aron looked at Elaine.
“Synthea, terminate this nonsense,” Elaine appeared nonchalant.
The lights stopped flashing, and the door slid open.
“Lockdown has been terminated,” the voice said.
“Elfy!” Zeke looked annoyed.
Elaine pulled out a tab from inside her lab coat.
“The only thing you wrote into this ‘lockdown’ program is to flash red lights, close the doors and play the Death March,” Elaine peered at the tab.
“They don’t need to know that!” Zeke glared at Elaine.
“Why don’t you for once act a normal human being and listen to what they’ve got to say?” Elaine crossed her arms.
“Fine!” Zeke agreed reluctantly. “State the purpose of your visit, intruders!”
“Zeke!” Elaine looked annoyed.
The scientist sighed. “Take a seat,” he pointed to the chairs.
Everyone sat down except for Elaine.
“You guys look like you could use a drink,” Elaine said.
“Oh yes, please,” Martyn nodded eagerly.
“Be back in a moment,” she smiled before turning around to leave.
“Start talking,” Zeke appeared half-annoyed. “You’re wasting my precious time.”
The team introduced themselves.
“We want you to join us,” Aron repeated. “Be part of our team.”
“Team?” Zeke looked skeptical. “A team for what?”
“To put an end to the apocalypse,” Aron didn’t waver.
“Heh,” Zeke snickered. “And how did you find me?”
“We saw your name on the soldiers’ hit list,” Aron said.
“The soldiers,” Zeke studied Aron. “You know them?”
“We’ve run into them a couple of times,” Aron nodded.
“The SUVs outside,” Martyn said. “What happened to them?”
“Well, they weren’t very bright,” Zeke appeared grim. “They walked into the defense systems and poof–instant vaporization.”
Sherry, Selena, and Martyn stared at one another in alarm.
“Stop talking nonsense, Zeke,” Elaine came back with a tray. “They’re in the basement,” she sighed. “Shouldn’t we be doing something about them?!”
“Actions invite consequences,” Zeke said, “They acted,” he shrugged.
Elaine rolled her eyes. She passed the drinks to the survivors.
“And this hit list made you come to me?” Zeke stared at them, baffled.
“Well,” Martyn nodded toward Aron. “He was insistent.”
“They had you marked top priority,” Aron took a sip. “Which told me you’re someone they consider a threat.”
“Huh,” Zeke studied Aron’s wound. “You lost that to a zombie?”
“Yeah,” Aron nodded. “Done dirty by a Class D.”
“No kidding!” Zeke crossed his arms. “And you weren’t infected?”
“No,” Aron shook his head. “It was cut off before the infection spread. Or at least that’s what we believe.”
“Huh,” Zeke looked impressed. “That’s–something! When did this happen?”
“Two days ago,” Aron said.
“And no external signs of infection!” Zeke faced Elaine. “That’s something noteworthy.”
“I guess,” Aron shrugged as he gulped down his drink.
“What makes you think I’d join you?” Zeke grew serious.
“I don’t know,” Aron scratched his head. “There isn’t much we could do that’d help with your work. Assuming you’ve got something more practical at your disposal from the way you dealt with those soldiers.”
“This one gets it,” Zeke looked at Elaine.
“Zeke!” Elaine glared.
“What?” Zeke frowned. “The guy knows how useless he is.”
“But!” Elaine began.
“No buts,” Zeke faced his unwanted guests. “I guess that would be all?”
Aron sighed.
“Come on, guys,” he said. “Let’s go.”
“But Aron,” Selena said. “I thought you wanted this!”
“I learned my lesson, Sel,” Aron said. “We’re wasting their time. He’s well-off on his own.”
Aron got up and walked toward the door. The others followed him closely.
“Zeke!” Elaine stared at him in disbelief. “They came asking your help!”
“Yeah, run away,” Zeke nodded. “Like you always do, Joestar.”
Aron stopped in his tracks.
“Dude?” Martyn looked at him.
Aron spun around and started walking toward Zeke.
“You bastard,” Aron said. “Zeke!”
“Oh?” Zeke raised his arms. “You’re approaching me? Instead of running away, you’re coming, right at me? Even though you know how useless it is to try and persuade me to join your stupid team?”
“I cannot knock some sense into you without getting closer,” Aron replied.
“Oh! Then come as close as you like,” Zeke taunted.
Aron and Zeke approached each other. As the others watched anxiously, the two raised their hands and high-fived. They burst into laughter. Martyn appeared annoyed while the others grew puzzled by the bizarre scene.
“I can’t believe this shit!” Martyn rolled his eyes. “Are you guys doing a fucking JoJo reference?!”
“YES,” they both replied in unison. “WE ARE!”
“Maybe this was a bad idea,” Elaine facepalmed.
Aron and Zeke laughed maniacally. Martyn and Elaine looked done with the two.
***
“Why does he call you ‘Elfy’?” Martyn asked.
“Hmph,” Elaine scoffed as she moved some of her hairs to reveal her ears. “He thinks I have pointy ears.”
Martyn looked at her ears.
“Wow,” Martyn exclaimed. “They are. That’s actually a clever name!”
“Well, I don’t like it,” Elaine pouted.
“What actually brings you here?” Zeke turned to Aron.
“I was serious when I said we want you on the team,” Aron insisted.
“Hm,” Zeke appeared to be thinking hard. “I don’t know, man.”
“That’s fine,” Aron shrugged. “You wanna take a look at the severed arm? I kept it.”
“Do I?!” Zeke appeared excited.
“It’s in the UAZ,” Aron said.
“On it,” Martyn said.
“Don’t bother,” Zeke said. “Synthea!”
“The baggage is secure,” the voice from the elevator spoke again.
“Who is that?” Martyn looked around.
“Huh?” Zeke asked. “Oh, you mean Synthea?”
“Yeah?” Martyn looked uncertain.
“That is my assistant slash secretary, a project me and-” Zeke paused. “She basically makes my life easier,” he crossed his arms. “In layman’s terms–an AI,” he smirked.
“Sounds impressive!” Aron commented.
“And you’re right,” Elaine nodded in agreement.
“Wait, I thought Elaine was your assistant,” Sherry said.
Zeke burst out laughing. Elaine smiled sheepishly.
“You’re not far off the mark!” he said. “She helps me from time to time–to put my theories into practical application.”
“Whoa, an engineer?” Aron’s eyes lit up.
“More than that,” Zeke nodded. “She rules over an entire industry under her name.”
“Ugh,” Elaine held her face. “You’re embarrassing me!”
“Wow,” Aron said. “You’re already a powerful duo on your own!”
“A duo?!” Elaine threw a glance at Zeke, red in the face.
“I guess yeah,” Zeke shrugged.
“Hold on a minute!” Sherry interrupted. “You are Elaine Valentine? As in renowned robotics and bionics manufacturer–Valentine Corp?!”
“Among other things–yes, she is,” Zeke crossed his arms.
“Holy crap!” Sherry gasped.
Elaine appeared embarrassed.
“Really?” Aron had his mouth open in surprise. “Never heard of it before but impressive nonetheless!”
“Ditto,” Martyn nodded.
