Chapter 11: Double Hockey Sticks
Ascending the staircase, they reach landing 13.
Z: “This is the computer lab. Alburn thought we needed to train mentaly as well as physically. So he had this floor installed. Now we can skip this room, and continue are ascent, or we can do a little digging. What do you say?”
ELLy: “Skip.”
RY: “Dig.”
Z: “2 ta 1, let's dig around a little.”
They opened the door to floor 13. The room was dim, filled to the brim with computer stations.
RY: “Everyone grab a computer, and check out the activity logs.”
Everyone took a seat at one of the many computer modules. Little time passes...
RY: “Nothing... No activities reported.”
Z: “Oow XXXCOM, but besides that... nothin'.”
ELLy: “How do I check the, um... activity log?”
RY and Z get up and walk over to Elly's terminal.
RY: “Okay, right click this.”
Z: “Select that.”
RY: “Type this...and-”
Z: “That's that. Bingo... More Porn... awesome, but not useful.”
RY: “Everything seems in check... Wait, according to this log, there was a 27th assassin. What? Z, I thought you were the last one, This makes no sense. Z I'm worried.”
Z: My guess... Kazz has one more trick up his sleeve. Don't worry tho, we can handle anything he throws our way. Together we can achieve our goal.”
ELLy: “Hey guys, look, there's another door back there.”
Z: “Aw, Yes, the ever useful broom closet. Are you sure you want to check it out.”
ELLy: “Sure why not? Were checking everything else out, so why not? Who knows there might be something useful.”
ELLy swings to the door, opening it with full delight.
ELLy: “Woe, it's really dark in there.”
Z: “ELLy get back.”
ELLy: “?”
Z: “That room is much bigger than it's suppose to be. Who knows what inside.”
ELLy receded back a bit. Z moved on forward into the dark room. Immediately he found the light switch. Flipping it, light swallowed the room.
Z: “Looks like Kazz has done some renovations.”
???: “Why yesss...most certainty *huff* he has.”
The lit room revealed a mostly empty room, save for the 1 life support cylinder placed in the back of the room. Thru the glass of the container, a bald man with an oxygen mask, floated inside the chamber. He stared into Z's eyes. RY and ELLy walked up behind Z.
???: “Well I never *heave* thought I'd see you again. *cough*”
ELLy: “Who's this?”
RY: “Hello 13, Crypt. I see Alburn Kept you alive. We thought you died of a stroke. So what are you, his puppet now?”
13: “No, *heave* he said, *hack* that I was still of use.”
A silence fell over the room... *cough*
Z: “Tell me what do you know about the monster that attacked us a floor below. You must of herd us fighting it. Say... you didn't have anything to do with it, have you?”
13: “Sorry, *huff* but yess I did. Our Master *wheeze* forced me. There was no real -13. I just used *wheeze* used your minds to deceive you *cough*. It was all your minds...”
Z looked down, he saw no wound.
13: “Now my purpose is complete*heave*... Kill me now!... Tho... I'm not going to make it easy for you.”
2 turrets deployed out of the side of the apparatus.
13: “I still have a little power left in me.”
13 focused his mind conjuring up 4 green orbs. From the orbs, smaller orbs where launched. The turrets opened fire.
Z ran up, dodging the bullets and orbs as they flew. Landing in front of the unlucky 13th member. His blade pieced the glass, embedding the sword in the mans head. The man trapped inside went limp. The turrets stopped. The orbs vanished.
Z: “Goodnight Crypt, F.A.R (Fate at Rest).”
*Clap.. clap.. clap*
???: “Well formed.”
They turn to face a figure in a tux and short top hat.
ELLy: “Who are you now?”
???: “I present myself, Varrez. Who might you be?”
RY: “Your not Varrez. We watched him being dragged into the incinerator, just before we escaped.”
Varrez: “I am the new twenty-second.”
Z: “Meaning your the negative of the original Varrez.”
Varrez: “Now, now, no need for such harsh words. You might hurt my feelings. And I thought I was a spitting image of him.” He grinned. “Now if you don't tell me who you are, and why your here...Well, I don't want to get to that part.” A simple lie.
ELLy: “I'm ELL-” RY's hand cupped her mouth.
RY: “Don't give our enemy what it wants.”
Varrez: “Now you have gone and hurt my feelings. Looks like I am now going to have to hurt yours by taking your boyfriend over there to make things even.”
RY: “Z!!!”
Z: “I got it.” He raised his swords.
The newcomer derezzed, vanishing completely. A second later, he rematerialized behind Z, grabbing him.
Varrez: “Well if your not going to co-operate, I guess I am just going to have to...tee-hee. Ta-ta for now.”
With that he dematerialized again. This time taking Z with him. Both vanishing, hearts left behind.
RY: “No!! Z!!!
ELLy: “Umm, what just happened?”
RY: “Z.”her voice was soft. “We have to get him back!”
ELLy: “How do you suppose we do that?”
RY: “We look for him. They must still be in the tower.”
ELLy: “You think their on one of the lower floors?”
RY: “I don't think so, Varrez was a gentleman, He would be waiting for us on one of the higher floors. Where ever he is... We have to find him, and fast! Z... just hold on, I'm coming for you.”
