Lifecode Zero: When the Game Becomes Reality

Chapter 9: Desert Showdown

The specialized car sped through the desolate wasteland, its tires kicking up clouds of dust. Joey stared out at the barren landscape, his mind racing with questions. Beside him, KØRA, was finally ready to explain.

"You all have a crucial role in what’s to come," she began, her voice steady despite the tension. "Attica isn’t just a safe haven; it’s the key to taking down SUMMIT and stopping this game.”

Dallas, sitting in the backseat, leaned forward. “How are we the key to helping you out?”

KØRA glanced at him, her expression serious. “Each of you has a unique—”

Her words were cut off by a sudden explosion that rocked the car. Joey’s heart leapt into his throat as the vehicle swerved violently. Zane looked out of the window to see apocalyptic style vehicles. "Shit! I think they're raiders!" Zane shouted, his voice tinged with panic as he pointed to the rugged vehicles rapidly closing in on them from all sides.

KØRA's hands moved quickly, flipping switches and pressing buttons. Hidden panels on their car opened, revealing an array of weapons. Rockets and bullets flew from their vehicle, but the raiders were relentless, their makeshift weapons and sheer numbers overwhelming.

Joey's knuckles whitened as he gripped his seat. "Can’t you shake them off?"

"I’m trying!" KØRA shouted back, her voice strained. The car swerved again, but a well-aimed shot from one of the raiders hit their engine, sending smoke billowing into the air. KØRA turned to the group.

"Everyone out, now!" she yelled, but their escape was futile. Raiders swarmed them, pulling them from the wreckage with rough hands and binding their wrists with coarse ropes.

Joey’s vision blurred as he was dragged away. When he came to, the air was thick with the scent of rust and oil. The room was dimly lit, the walls lined with makeshift metal panels and scattered debris. Chains rattled as he moved, realizing he was restrained alongside KØRA, Zane, Dallas, and Jr. The low murmur of rough voices and the clatter of metal surrounded them, adding to the sense of foreboding.

"Where are we?" Jr whispered, his eyes wide with fear as he tugged at his restraints.

Before anyone could answer, the doors swung open, and a group of heavily armed raiders entered. They made way for their leader, a figure who wore a helmet adorned with spikes and a cloak made from salvaged materials. The leader stepped forward, slowly removing his helmet to reveal a familiar face.

Joey's heart sank. "Micah?" The group's eyes widened, seeing the school bully in a Mad Max style outfit. He almost looked like a completely different person in the game.

Micah's grin was predatory, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. His face was covered with dirt and dried blood, his hair a shaggy mess. He looked like a complete psychopath, someone who had embraced the chaos of this world entirely. "Well, well, if it isn’t Joey and his merry band of misfits. Welcome to my domain."

Joey struggled against his restraints, disbelief and anger mixing in his chest. "Micah? What are you doing here?"

Micah laughed, a cold, harsh sound that echoed off the metal walls. "Playing the game, obviously. What, did you think I’d just sit back and watch? Here, I can do whatever I want. No rules, no consequences."

Joey's mind raced. Micah thought this was just a game, a place where he could unleash his worst impulses without real harm. He had no idea they were all trapped. "Micah, you don't understand. This isn't just a game. We're stuck here. This is real."

Micah's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing his face before shrugging it off. "Nice try, Joey. But I'm not falling for your tricks. Now, let’s see how you handle my world."

The realization hit Joey hard. Micah, the school bully, had also been drawn into this deadly game, just like them, but he remained unaware of the true stakes. They were all players in a twisted world where the rules were constantly changing around them, no matter where they are. The group's only option as of now: to survive and to find a way to escape...

FUN FACTS:

The Outskirts- it is a barren wasteland, where it is currently occupied by Micah and his clan of raiders (which will be explained in the next chapter.) The Outskirts was heavily inspired by Pandora from Borderlands and Mad Max. It is also the largest location out of all of them in the game. Its about 3x the size of Russia. Why Russia specifically? Well, I don't know why really. I just looked at the picture of Russia and I was like, "Hey! Let's make that one of the locations for this thing!"