Space-Time of Death: an Al Squires of the Protectorate Novel

Ch.6.1: Disco Ain't Dead...it's Undead, Baby!

The music stopped shortly after; the sound of Disco replaced completely with screams of terror and groans of the walking dead. Strangely enough, the lights continued to shine as if nothing was wrong, adding a touch of surrealism to the carnage. In order not to be trampled upon by fleeing clubgoers or attacked by zombies, the three of us moved over to a nearby booth. Luckily for us, the booth gave us a clear view of the action. As the chaos ensued, I caught sight of some of our fellow agents in their assigned sections; trying to handle the situation while not getting bitten in the process. Those among our group who weren't human kept their human forms on just in case. They had the guns Felix gave them, but none of them fired upon their attackers. Most likely, they were afraid to hit someone who was important to the Timeline by accident. Mostly, they just used them to pistol whipped them.

"Shouldn't we do something?" Cara said as we crouched down to avoid being seen. "I mean, we do have the abilities to fight them off." She pointed to my Profound Pen in my hand. "You're even got the Pen out."

"That's a non-starter," I replied. "Too many civvies. Can't risk more damage to the Timeline than this fiasco has probably caused. Besides, I doubt that having some civilian witnessing a guy fighting off zombies with a Magick pen will be good for the Timeline."

"Then, why not use your Kung-Fu?" she asked me. "From what I know of this era, martial arts are very popular. Surely, a civilian seeing a guy use Kung-Fu against a group won't be too damaging."

"Not the Kung-Fu I use," I rebutted as I kept peeking out. "And don't call me 'Shirley,'" I said with a straight face. "My style and technique are far too advanced for civvies," I continued, "even if I hold back. Besides, I can't risk any zombies biting at my arms or legs should I use it." I shook my head. "No, I'm afraid that it's still Ouroboros' show, and we're just the back-up singers. We just need to follow their lead for now."

I then peered my head out from our hiding place, and using my cyber-lenses, I then saw Felix talking to someone besides any of us via his comms. Luckily, he was facing towards me, so I was able read his lips. Needless to say, from what I read, he was calling for the assistance we desperately needed.

"That said," I said to my companions as I looked to them, "I think that said show is about to start." I then gave both Norah and Cara the 'one moment' finger before gesturing them to look out with me. With obvious hesitation, the two ladies looked with me as we waited for what I was about 90% certain of what was about to happen.

A couple of beats later, the lights in the club suddenly turned a familiar reddish hue. Followed by the fleeing natives seemingly vanishing without a trace. The only ones there besides the three of us were both Teams Protectorate and Ouroboros, Sgt. McTeer, more than a few civvies In the Know (because it's New York), and of course, the zombies. Unfortunately, because of the amount of people who were present before the zombies attacked, the number of undead was still quite formidable; around an estimated three to four dozen zombies, at least. On the plus side, being in the Still meant that my non-human colleagues could change out of their human forms; their inhuman abilities giving us a needed advantage.

"Ugh, it's been a while since I've been in the Still," Cara said with a queasy groan as we crawled out. "I hope that my stomach can handle it."

"Where did everyone go?" Norah asked as she gingerly looked around. "If we're in the Still, shouldn't everyone not In the Know appear frozen in time to us?"

"On normal occasions, yes," I replied. "But this was an emergency. A certain procedure had to be initiated." I leaned in toward Norah. "A procedure known as..." I trailed off while snapping my finger at her. "Come on, Norah. I know you know this one; they must've taught it to you at the Academy before they taught you time travel and Thropes." She thought about it for a beat.