The untold tales of The Dead Men

Night Of The Living Pandemic

They were perched atop London Bridge when she got the call. The evening was warm and the breeze light. She'd been waiting all year for summer, she loved the way it made her hair golden and the warmth that blanketed her bronzed skin. Her associate wasn't bothered about the weather, he was always cold no mater the season, it was a hard life being bold. At least that's what he told his partner in crime, the infamous Tanith Low. Low answered the phone and began to talk about far away things, he couldn't pay attention to the conversation and let his mind wonder. He was shaken back to reality when Tanith passed him the phone, a scowl on her face.
"Yes Sir?" He answered.
"Who is this?" A presumptuous voice echoed down the phone. "I never know which one of Low's infatuates I'm speaking too."
"Ghastly Bespoke, Sir." His voice, matching Tanith's scowling face.
"Right well listen closely, I'm only going to say this once. An informant of mine disclosed intel that Billy-Ray Sanguine was spotted just south of here, close to Camden Market."
"Maybe he's picking up some groceries Sir." Ghastly said, sarcastically.
"Very funny Bespoke but this could mean life or death. He is believed to be in possession of a chemical compound, that when comes into contact with the virus strain COVID-19," The voice paused for dramatic effect. "Will cause a violent mutation, the virus will be stronger, faster and forever changing."
Ghastly and Tanith looked at each other.
"How do we stop it?" Tanith asked.
"You won't. Once the virus mutates again we could loose tens of thousands before it's controlled."
Ghastly had been happy at the top of the bridge. No one could disturb him up there. No deadly plots or evil Villains to fight. Only peace. His peace lasted about 25 seconds before that shrill voice cut through the air.
"Get moving to his last know position now! I will not except failure!" The phone cut out and the pair were left in silence.
Tanith sighed and ran a hand through her hair "And here I was thinking the night couldn't get any better." Tanith grumbled.

"I thought you said you always wanted to thwart an evil plot to release a chemical weapon into the world?" Ghastly teased.

Tanith looked him dead in the eye. "Yeah, but not on our fist date."

"That dose dampen the mood a little."

Tanith rolled her eyes and smirked, "I guess we should go save the world now."

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Sanguine was leaning against a marquee, picking through the fresh apples it sold. None of them looked good enough to eat, so defeated and slightly more irritated than before Sanguine turned his attention back to a more pressing issue. He used the term 'Issue' lightly as what he would prefer to call it was -
"A colossal fuck-up!" His usual Texan twang now coarse with anger.
"I wouldn't call it a colossal-"
"I turned away for one second!" Billy-Ray held up a finger. "One second. I've know vegetables with more competence than You!"

Vaurien Scapegrace was hurt. He hadn't meant to cause all this mess. Unfortunate and unlikely things just seemed to happen to him.
"Firstly-" Scapegrace began,

Bill-Ray threw a mouldy apple at him, it exploded on his face.

A moment passed.

"That was a fruit, not a vegeta-"

Another apple hit him in the temple, he felt it dislodge his eye.

"Not another word!" Sanguine snarled and pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated.
Scapegrace turned away and continued to search, grumbling under his breath.
Billy-Ray tipped his head back and sighed. Unlike most he didn't see himself as a merciless killer. His momma rised him to be polite and gentle, which is why he took pity on that pathetic pile of rot when it came begging to be taken on this job. "His whining was relentless." Sanguine murmured to himself. He gave Scapegrace a simple job, hold the tank containing the deadly virus. It wasn't difficult. However, as soon as he turned away Scapegrace  managed to loose the priceless chemical weapon.

Vaurien was on his hands and knees searching behind a stack of boxes. He didn't need to be on this ridiculous mission. Sanguine was lucky to have the Zombie King here. The Immortal Zombie King! Though bits had been falling off lately. Thrasher would usually staple him back together, how he wished Thrasher was here. He needed someone to blame this on.

Billy-Ray looked at his watch. Concern began to grow, he didn't want to remain in one spot for long.

"Found it yet?" He called.
"No but it's close, I can feel it." Scapegrace replied.

Sanguine returned to his watch, it was almost ten o'clock. They were running out of time. He was shaken from his thoughts by a sudden gasp. He snapped his head towards Scapegrace.

"Your going to find this so funny." Vaurien laughed.
"Try me." Billy-Ray growled.
"It turns out, it was in my pocket the whole time." He pulled out a small glass canister about the length of his hand, it was reinforced with titanium and a black gas swirled around inside. "But you see I moved it to my jacket pocket for safe keeping, you see I was being responsible and only checked my trouser pockets. So really this isn't my fault because I never really lost it." Vaurien continued to blabber but Sanguine didn't hear him. He stormed up to Scapegrace, red swarming his vision and grabbed him by the collar. The Texan rattled him until his eye came loose.
"Boss?" Vaurien said, a hair away from Bill-Rays unforgiving face.
"What." His voice low and dark.
"Behind you."

Sanguine turned just as a fire ball came hurtling towards them. He disappeared into the ground and the flames smashed into Vaurien's chest, sending him tumbling backwards. Sanguine reappeared a moment later. "Why hello my love." A playful twang in his voice. "I've missed you."