The Lymphnodes, Third Precinct 8:12 AM
Back at the Precinct Osmosis was widely respected by the other white blood cells and revered as a hero, a feeling he's never had before and even after a few months he's got a big head about it. Drix, too, has his own little fan club - after all he did help save the body too. However the pill is humble about his status and often gets annoyed when his friend boasts about himself or gets offended by being treated any less that what he thinks he is.
"Hey Drix, you're looking a little oudda it today. You feeling okay?" Ozzy's asked as he drove to the Precinct.
"Oh it's nothing Ozzy, that storm last night just kept me up late" He said holding his head
The two cops have just arrived at the station when Ozzy felt it necessary to spill his emotions on his co-workers.
"You know, Drix, about that storm last night . . . " He directed his words toward Drix but it was everyone whom he intended it to be heard, "Those only come when something bad is gunna happen soon."
"Don't worry, Osmosis, that's just an old legend." Said a female co-worker
"I don't know about that, man, I've been having some funny feelin's about that storm too" Said an older cop
"Oh please, all of you are just idiots" Snarled Guanine
Guanine was new. New to this Body in fact. Guanine was a white blood cell injected into the Body via a blood transfusion Frank had to have while he at the hospital waging war ageist the Red Death. Guanine was previously in the body of a teenager that had his blood taken at a school blood drive. She was not happy about leaving her Body one bit. Guanine is bitter to everyone, especially Osmosis who she finds annoying as he is treated like some kind of a big shot hero when Guanine knows no reason why he should be glorified. Guanine is an angry teenaged cell who believes she knows everything. She was accepted into the force due to her own stubbornness. Guanine would sometimes disagree with Osmosis simply to be appositional.
"Everyone knows that storms don't mean anything accept the Brain is working extra hard." Guanine grumbled
"Oh really?" Ozzy said turning toward the sour cell, "Don't you guys remember last time there was a storm like this?"
Cells around him began to whisper, Guanine lifted an eyebrow.
"Last time there was a big storm we all know who came into the hapa-thu-mis."
"Hypothalamus." Guanine corrected with a arrogant smile
"And caused this whole body to go up in flame?" Ozzy continued ignoring the comment
There was a rising whisper of surprise and agreement. Guanine folded her arms.
"I don't know what all of you see in this Red Death character." Guanine growled standing up, "If you lived though it and your Body is in such good shape then obviously your little virus wasn't as bad as you think"
"How do you know, you weren't here!" Ozzy snapped back, "I know, I fought him! If you ever came face to face with him you would see how serious he really was!"
"Oh no, the big bad virus is going to get me in my sleep!" She said mockingly prancing about the room, "He's going to come and set me on fire - with his finger!" Guanine said lifting her index finger
"He's coming with his sunglasses and trenchcoat, to come and take me to doom. He's coming with his bracelet, to take my DNA away. He's gonna set us all up in flame with his claw!" She sang as she gestured her words to the other cells.
To someone who hasn't seen him in the flesh, the whole idea of this virus sounded ridiculous
"I hope Thrax comes back and does all that to you too!" Ozzy yelled
"Officers! Let's not make a scene!" Yelled the Chief as he stepped in between them, "Both of you cut it out! Ozzy you should know better!"
Guanine pointed and laughed at the frustrated cell.
"And Guanine, I'm getting sick of your lip!" Chief said angrily confronting her
"MY lip! Cytoplasm-for-brains over there was back sassing me when I just simply trying to point out something for my fellow cells" Guanine defended
"That does it, come here!" Ozzy snarled as he started to run toward the teenager
"Osmosis, stop" Drix said as he held the cell back, "You're acting no better than her"
"I'm acting no better? She's certainly not the one that saved the whole Body from a psychopath homicidal virus!" Ozzy growled pointing toward Guanine, "A virus that would kick your butt if he was alive!"
"Oo. I'm so scared." Guanine with wide smile
"The two of you stop your bickering!" The Chief yelled above the two, "Now Jones, we have a case for you up in the Mouth. It looks like Fergie's been hiding all the sugar from his robbery up in a cavity. I want you to go up there and take care of the little guy and bring him back to lock down for us"
"Sure thing, Chief" Osmosis said with still a bit of aggravation in his voice
"You can trust us, sir" Drix added as they began to leave
"Haha. You two gotta go up to the Mouth while we real cells are-"
"Patrolling the Feet" The Chief finished turning toward Guanine
"What!? Again! But Chief, I've been doing that since I got here!" Guanine complained
"Some one has to keep them safe" The Chief said, "Now go on"
Guanine stormed off as the rest of the cells laughed at her.
"What a waste of my talent!" Guanine growled as she left
The Left Big Toe 8:30 AM
"Ow, ow, ow, ow. Yeah, that's it, down there, that big place" said Fergie as he walked beside the big virus, "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow."
He yelped in pain every time he put a paw down.
"Did we really have to walk?"
"So this is where all of Frank's germs are" Thrax said as he slowly turned his head to look around, "It sure smells like it"
"Smell? How do you know, you don't have a nose." Fergie groaned as he sat down
"It's right here, kid" He said tapping his snout not even moving his eyes to look at him
"Whatever you say buddy" Fergie said as he slumped to the ground
Thrax continued to swagger toward the big building at the end of the strip with a big sign that read "The Puss Hotel. Members only".
"Hey! HEY!" Fergie yelled as he hopped up, "I thought we where going to rest!"
The red virus continued to stride tirelessly toward the club.
"Man, you sure are a peace of work" Fergie said as he stumbled after him, "Wait up! Don't go too far, I can't see you!!"
Fergie dashed ahead trying to catch up with the virus that escaped his very limited line of vision. He slammed into something big.
"There you are!" He said as he stepped away from the virus
Thrax laughed quietly. Before Fergie was annoying, now he seemed to amuse him. If this was the best Frank has to offer him, taking over is going to be too easy. He was about to find out.
"You're not tired?" Fergie said, "Come on, your feet must hurt! We can rest up until tomorrow then-"
Suddenly Thrax angrily clamped his muzzle shut. It sounded a little bit too much like "Maybe we should incubate for a while" to him. He let his partner free and walked up to the door that was guarded by three very big bouncers.
The bouncers resembled big dull green bulldogs, each had their name tattooed on their chests - Thud, Thump and Crunch. They where very big germs, not big like Thrax who was tall and toned, they were big musclebound brutes who also happened to be taller than Thrax as well. They were so large in fact that when the Red Death walked up to them, he appeared to look much less powerful that he actually was.
Thrax wasn't intimidated by them, nonetheless he admired how big they were. He was suddenly grabbed from behind and stopped.
"Don't mess with these guys, dude, I'm warning you. They will eat you!" Fergie said clinging to the sleeve of his coat hiding behind him
"Well, I hope they like it hot" He responded putting his sunglasses on and leaving Fergie behind
He walked to the door and Thump got in front of him and pushed him back by his chest. The red virus peered at him above the brim of his sunglasses.
"Ok, wise guy, keep moving" Thump grunted pointing him away
"No, baby, you move aside" Thrax spoke smoothly through a slight grin, "I want in"
"Sorry shorty, members only" Crunch growled
"So scram, and tell your little friend to beat it too!" Thud added
"I'll only be a few minutes" He said as he started to walk between two of them
"Hey!" Crunch barked knocking Thrax in the chest.
He was slightly winded by the blow, they were very strong, nothing he hasn't dealt with before. He was harshly grabbed and lifted up from behind. His look of surprise was soon replaced with a look of irritation. Thump held him in his powerful (uncomfortable) grip, the virus made no effort to struggle, which the bouncer wasn't used to.
"All right, buddy, get ready to get your face beat in!" Thud growled raising his fist
"You sure you wanna do that?" The virus asked
Thud thrust his fist foreword. Suddenly the virus slipped out of Thumps grip and Thump receive his blow to the face. While Thump screamed in pain Thrax jumped up before the stunned Thud and knocked his feet out form under him. He fell over with a thud. Crunch came from the front to grab him. The virus thrust his left arm out in front of him. Crunch slammed into him. The claws dug into the bouncers flesh like razors and he came to stop. The bouncer stared at the now very frightening virus that grinned at him. Suddenly there was a great burning in the germs chest and it was over.
Their comrade fell over dead, and the red virus stood before them staring at them. The two remaining brutes backed off.
"It's ok man. Go on inside. Free of charge. Go enjoy yourself buddy" Said Thump
Thrax dusted himself off and headed into the club while Fergie trotted behind him. Fergie was pushed back by one of the big germs.
"Oh, I'm with him" Fergie said
"Sorry kid"
"No really, me and him have been friends forever. I taught him everything I know, he sometimes gets out of control like that but he's a nice guy. But if you don't let me in I might have to make him go psycho on you guys again, right buddy?" Fergie reached for the viruses hand but it wasn't there
He looked over to see Thrax was gone. He looked into the club and could make out his figure. He looked back up at the bouncers.
"Ha,ha. What a card, he seems to have forgotten me!" Fergie yelled so Thrax could hear him, "I'm sure he'll come back and get me, right? Right?!"
The virus looked back at Fergie with an amused smile. He shook his head and slowly mouthed "No". He turned his back to him and disappeared out of sight.
The Mouth 8:45 AM
Ozzy was starting to get a little irritated about how he seems to be the only one assigned to that annoying little kid, Fergie. Drix too was starting to get sick of him. Osmosis and Drix have caught him almost a dozen times by now and this time they both had a mind to keep him in the slammer but catching him always proved to be difficult.
The car was parked at the northern end of the Windpipe and the two walked the rest of the way up to the Mouth. They couldn't go through the Throat because it had been caught on fire the night before and it hasn't been put out yet. They entered the Mouth along the gum-line and the open cavity where Fergie hid out could be seen. They approached the cavity with slight caution.
"Okay virus, come out! You're in big trouble now!" Drix said as he pointed his cannon toward the entrance
"Yeah, setting the throat on fire, again? You could at least try something new" Osmosis added, "Now come out with that sugar you stole!"
"He's back!" Said a low voice from inside the cavity that did not belong to Fergie
"P-please! Don't hurt us!" Screeched a scratchy voice
"Yesss, we promise we will not get in your way" Hissed a snake-like voice
"Woah, wait. What are you talking about?" Ozzy asked lowering his gun
"Hey, I don't think that's him" Said a foot fungus slowly crawling into the light
He was followed by a wart and a stomach infection that slowly scuttled into the light. These germs where adolescent, probably Fergie's cronies, he been reported to have had other germs with him.
"Who's 'him'?" Drix asked not letting down his guard
"We- we do not know" The stomach infection said
"He is scary" The wart added, "So we run"
"Ok, slow down. Just tell me what happened" Ozzy said calmly crouching slightly to get to their eye level
"We where here with Fergie last night when something big came out of that pile of food over there" Said the foot fungus
"We did not know what he wasss ssso we ran away" Said the stomach infection
"He tall" The wart grunted, "also was red"
"He wore black" Hissed the stomach infection, "Long, black coat, couldn't make out most of hisss body"
"And was ugly" The wart broke in
"He had claws like this" Said the foot fungus taking the stomach infection's claws and showing them to the cops as her claws where similar, "Only one lit up"
"And he was ugly" Added the wart
There was a sort moment of silence.
"It couldn't be" Ozzy mused "But what if it is?"
"No, he's dead. It's probably a different virus" Drix reassured him
"Do you guys know where he went?"
"He headed down the Throat, we think, but we do not know where after" Said the stomach infection
"He probably went to the "Puss Hotel" down on the left Big Toe, that's where all germs go" Said the foot fungus, "Your chances are good he'll be there"
"Please get rid of" The wart added, "Don't like, he scary"
"And ugly" Hissed the stomach infection
"All right, comon Drix, we're going to the Toe!" Osmosis said as he turned away
"Wait! We need to stay here!" Yelled Drix fallowing him, "Those are viruses, they need to be arrested"
"We need to go to the Toe now and see what's going down!" Ozzy yelled back running down into the end of the Mouth
Drix looked back to see that the three viruses were long gone. He shook his head and reluctantly followed the cell.
The Left Big Toe 8:50 AM
In the club harsh industrial music blared though the oversized speakers that were jammed into every possible place. Where there wasn't stereos there was flashing strobe lights, neon lights, black lights, lights that flashed though the entire color spectrum and some lights even moved around. The club itself was rather dark despite there being no lack of lights. Groups of tough looking germs loitered in clusters around the large open area, hardly any of them danced. The majority of the germs where youthful but not necessarily experienced, or they where elderly germs that have lived past their prime. Most of Frank's most notorious pathogens where killed as a result of or by the virus that now strides through the club. It wasn't hard to notice that the "Puss Hotel" was strikingly similar to The Zit and was about the same size. Only that not any old germ was allowed in, it was exclusively for those in the new gang.
Funny. Looks like any old germ is here anyway, looks like Chill was looking for any help he could get, Thrax thought as he walked shifting his eyes to the surrounding germs that gave him bitter grimaces. He returned their looks with a mocking smile at which one of them mouthed something profane to him. How amusingly pathetic.
However some of the germs there had lived through Thrax's last visit and once they caught sight of him they quietly left the Wart - they knew he wasn't there to dance. The tall virus had been in many of these kinds of clubs and he had a good idea of where the new leader would be. At the core of the Wart. Gang leaders tend to be in the most disgusting, dirty places in the Body where cells (and Immunity) wouldn't tread. Thrax, was a virus and didn't mind being in these places, though he himself preferred to be clean. He coolly walked toward the end of the club, toward a single door that lead into the center of the Wart.
Outside the Wart our sour little friend Guanine was stuck patrolling the Feet around the area of the wart when she noticed Osmosis's car drive by and park in a back ally near the club. She crouched down behind a parked car and watched.
"What does he think he's doing here?" She grumbled to herself, "I thought mister awesome was supposed to be up in the Throat. I bet he's up to something"
Ozzy and is partner peered out from behind the side of a building at the Wart with two large bouncers guarding the door.
"I knew this was here before, but I don't remembering it being that big." Ozzy said quietly
"That's because now it's festered of all kinds of germs" Drix said with slight disgust, "I and don't think they'll be letting us in, either."
"I'll say." Whimpered a neurotic voice
From inside a toppled crushed thrash can out poked a beaten Fergie. He had bruises all about him, and his bandana has fallen off revealing a messy tuft of bangs on his head.
"You! We've been looking for you!" Said the pill making a defensive stance, "Come on Ozzy let's take her back to her jail cell where she belongs."
"Uh, I'm a guy virus" Fergie interrupted
"No wait, I think he wants to help us." Ozzy said holding him back
"Ozzy, remember who you're talking about. The last thing she wants to do is help us." Drix said slightly aggravated
"No, the last thing he wants is getting in trouble." The cell said turning toward Fergie, "Listen Fergie, unless you want to be put back into lock down you'll help us out"
Fergie's eyes shifted nervously.
"Name it", He finally croaked
"We're looking for a dangerous virus we think is around. Do you know where he is?" Osmosis asked, "I heard from your little friends that you saw him up in the Mouth."
"Tall, red, bad teeth?" Fergie stated
"Yeah, that's it!"
Fergie suddenly remembered watching Thrax killing one of the bouncers in front of the club. He cringed.
"Haven't seen him in my life." Fergie said quickly
"I was sure he'd be here!" The cell said in disappointment
Of course while Osmosis was oblivious, Drix knew Fergie was lying. He knew never to trust a germ, especially Fergie where half of what comes out of his mouth is a lie. The small virus was inching his way away to try and warn his deadly partner when Drix went to grab him. The sudden movement startled the virus and he let out a loud shrill yelp as he tried to escape.
The loud noise surprised Guanine who was watching them. She couldn't make out much that was happening in the dark ally. She knew she was on to something good so she listened closer.
Drix had the small virus pinned to the ground with his arm-cannon. Fergie shook and cowered.
"Drix! What are you doing?" Ozzy asked a little startled
The pill gave him a reassuring smile and he realized he was just bluffing.
"Ok! Ok! I'll squeal!" Fergie shrieked, "Just get that away from me, I hate big objects pointed at me!" He begged
The virus was released and he backed off.
"The guy you're looking for killed one of the bouncers and headed into the club" Fergie said, "He said something about 'dealing with a rat'. I take it he knows you guys and something about a chain."
"I told you! Thrax is alive!" Ozzy interrupted
"I suppose he could have somehow survived, but I just don't think that's likely" Drix said
"We have to get in there"
"Not through the front!" Fergie blurted, "Come on, I think I know a way through the back."
The germ lead the them to the back. Fergie still had a mind to warn the virus but he also didn't want to get in trouble with the cops, he knew he had to evade their gaze so he could get a hold of Thrax.
Guanine had witnessed all of this and knew she had all the evidence she needed to get those two into big trouble for disobeying direct orders from the Chief. But when she heard of a virus she wanted to go into that club and capture that virus and get the fame. Guanine would get two things she wants. She quietly entered the club to get to the core of the wart and confront this little virus.
The room at the core was much quieter than the outer area, the base of the music could still be heard through the thick padded walls. The center of the wart reeked of germs and perpetration, the walls where made puffy paddy tissue. The inner area resembled a lounge and a restaurant. There were few germs seated that their tables, they where the top dogs of this gang and allowed into this exclusive area. They paid no attention to the deadly virus that casually walked through the lounge - they didn't notice or they didn't care.
Off in a corner away from all this in a reserved area sat the head honcho of the germ gang, Chill the flu shot, again is more harm than help. He saw Thrax's death as a chance to take over the germs himself and live in luxury. Chill didn't mean to cause the body any harm, it was all too much effort for not enough pay off. He was the only actual pureblood virus left free in body, all the rest of the germs where bacteria who where lower in the germ higherarchy. Now a new virus was in the body and fully willing to challenge his dominance.
Thrax saw the table where Chill sat. The table was surrounded by a large wrap-around chair where other high ranking germs sat. He began to stride toward it. Chill sat at the center with a couple female germs keeping him "company". He spoke casually to his friends. A big shadow covered him up completely.
"Well, well, well. Who's this we have here? If it ain't Chill the rat, new leader of Frank's scum" Spoke a low smooth voice
"Who's the half-wit who said that?" Chill snarled angrily turning his head toward the voice
Chill jumped back, "Thrax?!" He cracked a nervous smile, "Buddy?"
Thrax pushed aside a few of the germs that sat the table and made himself comfortable, he didn't take his eyes off the surprised flu virus.
"What are you doing here?" Chill asked half casually, half frightened
"Oh I was just passing through town and thought I'd give my old friend a little visit" He responded nervelessly making circles on the brim of the martini glass in front of him with his left foreclaw. His yellow eyes didn't move from him.
"Ay boss, you know this guy?" Growled a germ directly to Chill's right
"Yeah, yeah" He said, "I used to know him. Thrax, buddy, glad to see you're in good heath!"
"Never better." He said holding the glass with two long claws, his movements didn't suggest any suspicion however in his eyes was the threshold of his anger, "So Chill, I see life has been treating you well."
"Yeah it has." Chill said as his eyes shifted about the room, he arose from his seat, "Well, would you look at the time, I have to be somewhere. Nice seeing you Thrax, but I really got to go!"
With hypocrisy he did not leave as the bigger virus still stared him down. Suddenly his gaze was averted by a sound coming from the nearby wall. A small green germ stumbled out of the wall and onto the table. The critter stared at the deadly virus with one stalk-eye and one on the tip of his tiny tail. He was obviously very frightened of Thrax.
"Who's this?" Thrax asked
The virus smiled and snatched the tiny germ with his left hand before he could scramble away. He laughed quietly.
"I'm just going to let you guys get acquainted and be on my way" Chill said turning quickly toward the exit. He bumped into a large black object.
"What's the hurry?!" Thrax asked walking forward into the flu shot, making Chill back up, "Don't you miss me?"
By now Chill's friends abandoned him, they could tell this guy meant trouble. Chill was backed up into a wall by a stronger, more deadly virus. Thrax played with the small germ in his hand like a cat with a mouse. He won't kill it, then he'll have nothing to play with.
"All right fellas, just lie low and hopefully they won't notice you guys" Fergie said as him and the two cops walked through the large dancing room in the wart. Unknown to them a third Immunity snuck in behind them, the rebel, Guanine, took her own route to the core of the club.
"Are you sure your disguise will work?" Asked Ozzy
"Oh yeah, you don't completely stand out at all" Fergie said with heavy sarcasm in his neurotic voice
Osmosis traded in his jacket for Fergie's brown leather one and Drix had put on Fergie's red bandana that he so generously lent him. Fergie's cloths had his scent on them, which was unique to say the least. This change in wardrobe was to help the very out of place Immunities blend in. If anything it raised suspicion, but these germs weren't astoundingly smart so they didn't pay much heed to them.
"Jones, do you think this is a good idea" Asked the skeptical Drix
"Of course it is! You remember Thrax? Crazy killer virus!? We have to stop him before he causes any trouble!" Osmosis said loudly causing a few germs to raise their heads
"Even if he did live, it's unlikely he would have recovered completely and even more unlikely he'd find his way back to Frank. If-"
"Shhhh!!" Fergie hissed bitterly, "If you idiots get caught I'm not helping you out."
Ozzy shifted his eyes about the room looking for the killer virus's face, but he was at a loss, none of these germs didn't even looked close to the virus he'd fought. Fergie was making his stealthy retreat to the core room when he was spotted by Ozzy's searching eyes.
"Yo Fergie! Do you have any idea of where he'd be?" He asked causing Fergie to stop dead
Fergie twisted around and faced them.
"Yeah, yeah, he's probably . . . " Fergie hopped up onto a table besides the Immunities, "He's probably over here!" Fergie said leading them in the opposite direction
While Ozzy, his partner and the strep throat headed the other way Guanine slipped into the core room with her gun drawn. She was prepared to bust this whole gang, her rival cops and this little virus she heard so much about.
In the core poor Chill was still being held captive by his former "boss". The two still sat at the table in the middle of the room, no other germs went to assist their leader as they just assumed Thrax was his friend. While Chill sat stiff at the edge of his seat Thrax sat reclined in a very relaxed manner, toying with the small creature with his left hand and holding his drink with the right. Chill didn't dare run away, he had seen Thrax's moves before and knew he was very fast and would make quick work of him if he tried to escape. Chill wanted to live as long as he could and hoped if he just stayed put and played along with the virus that by some miracle he would be saved. He knew he was staring death in its bright yellow unblinking eyes.
Thrax on the other hand was savoring this meeting as he enjoyed messing with his victims mind before making a kill. The little multi-eyed germ tried to escape his claws but it was all in vain. In any other situation the little creature would have been lunch but as of now he was spared. The virus had not had anything for his hand to play with since he had his chain and being reminded of it angered him inside. This was apparent because occasionally he would roughly squeeze the small helpless germ. Now and then he would take a brief slip of his drink.
Chill had caught on by now that when the glass was empty his time was up.
"So Chill, how's Frank been doing since I was gone?" Thrax asked casually
"Fine, fine. We got a new mayor and she's been trying to make the city more healthy and stuff" The flu's voice shook a little as he spoke
"Interesting" Said the virus taking his glass to his mouth
"Um, wait!"
Thrax paused and looked at Chill.
"You don't have to drink that whole thing"
"Oh, I think I do" He said continuing to take his sip, "Now, you said it was a girl, this mayor?"
"Yeah, I think her name is like, um, Leah or something" Chill said
"That does sound familiar" He said continuing to play with the tiny germ in his claws, "Almost like- I know her from somewhere"
"Yeah, isn't she the one you took hostage when you where here before?"
"That's it" He said with a small grin
"She took the job after the old mayor was kicked out" Chill said
"Yes, go on" Thrax said taking another short sip, swallowing a little more of the flu's courage with it
"All the cells say she's been doing an great job at making the city healthy"
"Really?" He said taking a slightly longer sip
Chill knew this wasn't interesting him, so he decided to change the subject.
"If it weren't for you she probably never woulda ended up with Jones"
"Is that so" He said as he took a long drink, his claws formed a cage around the little germ as he dug them into the table pulled them back making a loud screeching noise
Chill knew he had made a mistake mentioning Jones. Before he could speak again, the virus shattered the empty glass on the table and looked at him with a terrifying smile. Finally he cracked.
"Please Thrax, no, please! I didn't mean it! Please don't kill me, Thrax, please!" Chill begged pulling at the virus's long coat, "They made me do it, they threatened me! I didn't have any choice! The cell and his crazy pill friend, it was them! This isn't any fair!"
"Fair?!" Thrax snarled, then he leaned back in his seat and tapped his long left claw on the table, "Life ain't fair, baby." He scowled as he played with the small germ in his claws, "You can get so far and do so much, but one day someone will come and take that all away from you. It don't matter how strong you are, how fast you are, how hard you try. But . . . you, Chill . . . " He said as his foreclaw started to heat up and the heat began to slowly eat up the table, "You will never see the light of another day."
"Don't make a move, virus!" Said a youthful female voice from behind him
Thrax felt something cold at the back of his head, it didn't take him long to realize he was being held up by a young cop who had her gun pointed to his head. He was surprised but not scared. He was tough but being shot point-blank in the head would kill him instantly so he didn't move, yet.
"Ok, red, you're under arrest, you and this whole deal you have here. You're coming with me" Guanine threatened as she pushed her gun further into his head
Suddenly the virus turned around and forcefully hit the gun out of her hand. Once he had turned to her and stood up at full height Guanine was frightened. She was short even for her age and the virus that loomed over her with a grin of frightening teeth momentarily stunned her. Thrax slowly walked closer to the young cell, still holding the little creature in his hand.
Osmosis so far has not had any success in finding Thrax. Drix wasn't surprised, he didn't believe that the virus was even alive and he was quite annoyed with searching for something he was certain no longer existed. Their unwilling helper, Fergie, was still trying to sneak away and warn his partner so far he had no success other than rising their suspicion.
"See, there's no viruses here, we should take Fergie and bring her back to the precinct now" Drix said both tired and annoyed
"No, he has to be here" Ozzy said looking around, "There must be another room he's in"
He spotted a door leading into the center of the wart, he slowly walked toward it.
"Hey Fergie, you know where that door goes?" He asked
"What? No! There's nothing in there! Nothing at all!" Fergie said scampering behind him
The cell gave him a look and continued toward the door. Fergie pulled at his ears and made a dash for the door. He reared up on his tail and forcefully kicked the cell with his hind legs and ran through the door, slamming it behind him. After recovering from the blow (Fergie could kick hard as all his strength was in his lower body) Ozzy ran toward the door after it slammed. He tried to open it but it was locked from the inside.
"Fergie! Fergie, open this door!" Yelled the cop from the other side of the door
The strep throat turned and ran into the center room screaming for the virus by his name.
"Let me in!" Ozzy said as he banged on the door, Drix approached him from behind, "You have to get us in there"
"I told you, Thrax is dead" Drix stated
"It doesn't have to be Thrax, he's hiding something and we gotta get in there!"
"So, I take it your this big bad virus everyone's talked about" Guanine said after being backed into the corner of the section by the virus that toyed with a small germ in his claw "You're this Thrax character?"
"That's my name, baby" He said leaning down before her and putting his free hand on her arm so she couldn't make any sudden moves, "And would it be too much to ask who you are, little cell" He said as his hold changed to an almost coquettish grip
"Let go of me, you scum" She threatened in a agitated growl
"Me? Scum? You're a bit too fast to judge me" He purred a his pushed himself uncomfortably close
Guanine forcefully jerked her arm causing him to let her go and back up a little.
"You'd better not mess with me unless you want to get into big trouble with the Immunities!" She hissed
"Oh, I must practice my curtsy" He joked pushing his face closer to her, while some might be seduced by his charm, Guanine was very irritated by his behavior
"Don't make me mad, buddy" She said in a bitter tone
Suddenly there was the sound of yelling. Thrax's eyes shifted toward it then he soon became focused back on the she-cell.
"Thrax! Thrax! Come here! You gotta- Thrax!" Fergie screamed and he dashed through the room toward the virus and his two hostages
"What are you gonna do?" Thrax asked Guanine, "Call the Immunities on me?" His voice was no longer as lustful and had became more angry
Fergie by then had reached the virus and was calling him by name but both the virus and the she-cell ignored him.
"I don't need to, I'm an Immunity myself" Guanine said, "So why don't you just back off!"
"Thrax! Thrax!" Fergie repeated tugging at the collar of his coat
Thrax quickly held Fergie's mouth shut and turned his head toward him.
"Fergie" He said with a smile, "The adults are talking" He shoved Fergie to the ground with his hand
Thrax's eye quickly caught a glace of Chill trying to make an escape. He turned completely around toward the poor flu virus, letting go of Guanine and swinging his right arm with claws extended. Chill mostly evaded the hit other that getting nicked by the virus's claws in the face, which was still a significant wound as his claws were extremely sharp.
"And you stay put, I ain't done with you!"
He turned his head back toward Guanine.
"I'll tell you what cell, there ain't nothing that any Immunity can do to save this body this time"
Guanine spit right on the virus's cheek. He quickly pulled back and stared at her with a half surprised, half offended look. Guanine stared back at him with anger.
"Frank ain't going down" She said, "You are!"
Thrax's body become tense and his he bared an angry snarl of teeth. He lifted up his left hand and slammed it forward and let out an furious cry. The young cell became frightened when she saw his claw light up like the fiery rage in his eyes and she moved over and dodged his attack. His hand hit the wall with a loud boom. In spite of the force of the blow Thrax show no signs of pain, his terrible teeth where bared at her, his snout wrinkled and his eyes like flames. His mouth opened and he let out quick hot breaths onto her face, heat also came form behind as his claw burned through the wall material. He saw his claws had missed and were embedded in the wall. His eyes widened and his mind went back to the last moments before he fell into that horrific stinging liquid. Guanine saw the fear in his face.
"You okay?" She said at length
There was a loud crash as the wall to the side of them bursted open in an explosion of cold, blue smoke. Everyone turned toward it but only Thrax made a sound as he let out a petrified gasp as he snapped back into the present. When the smoke dissipated a cell and a cold pill revealed themselves and entered the room, with weapons drawn.
While Thrax was distracted Guanine slid underneath him and gave him a hard kick in his jaw. He backed away and opened his hand to cover his wound letting out the small creature he'd been holding. Happy to be free of the Red Death's grip the creature hopped away to Guanine and hid in her jacket pocket.
"All right germs, come out slowly! We don't want any one getting hurt!" Omsosis said leading his friend into the room through the smoke
The virus clearly recognized the voice and went toward Guanine to take her hostage but only received a hard punch in the chest that stunned him, letting her escape. The young cop too recognized the voice and put her own plan into work. Thrax allowed her to get away and leaned up and looked toward the opening in the wall toward the cell and the pill.
"Hey, look! It's those two guys you said you knew!" Fergie said, "I'll get them!"
"No, stay-"
But it was too late, Fergie had already ran toward the cops to get back his clothing.
The germs in the core room had by then attacked the two Immunities and Drix was the one to deal with them. Ozzy cautiously made his way to the back of the room when he saw a familiar figure in the dark smoke as he made is way toward it he thought he could see his face. He quickly drew his weapon and held it toward what he thought was the evil virus that threatened the Body. The figure crouched down. The gun fired but the figure jumped up in the air and into and opening in the ceiling. The bullet had hit something. Ozzy ran toward the spot he saw the figure and saw a long spatter of dark red blood on the ground, still warm. He looked up into the hole and saw nothing but darkness. The discouraged cell blurted something profane and ran to help Drix.
By then most of the germs have run away.
"Drix! Drix!" Ozzy yelled running up to him, "I saw him!"
"Who?" Drix asked knocking away Fergie, who was the last germ to attack
"Thrax, he went up into that vent! Come on, we have to get him!" He said trudging toward the opening
"Ozzy, Thrax is dead, leave it alone" Drix said without moving
Ozzy stopped and turned toward his friend.
"Don't you get it? It was Thrax that set the Throat up in flames, it was Thrax in the Mouth, it was Thrax that's behind this, all of this!"
"I got who's behind all this right here!" Said Guanine as she entered the scene holding a very confused flu shot that had been bound and gaged by the young cop, "There's no Thrax"
"Of corse, I knew it must have been that flu virus!" Drix said, "It was just him again Ozzy"
"No, no. It was Thrax, I saw him!"
"You're eyes must be going bad, we where they only ones here when you apparently saw this guy" Guanine said, "And we didn't see any red virus"
"Oh yeah, explain this then!" Osmosis said showing the blood smeared on his finger tips, "He's hurt and got away, all we have to do-"
"Oh I don't think you'll be doing anything for a while" Guanine interrupted
"Excuse me?"
"You where ordered by the Chief himself to go to the Mouth and catch a germ, but here you two are, as far away as possible, trying to bust a virus that doesn't exist without a warrant, in fact - without any permission." Guanine explained walking up to her rival, "Enough to get you both fired."
"Oh and like you didn't, you didn't tell the precinct what you where doing either!"
"Oh, I think I have" Guanine said with a sneer taking out her phone, "And I think you're in big trouble."
"Guanine, wait." Ozzy said taking her wrist and pulling her phone away from her head, "I know I saw him, just give me a chance to prove what I saw."
"Too late, they're already on their way" Guanine said turning away taking Chill with her, "And they know everything."
Other Immunities had begun to arrive and inspect the Wart. Ozzy grabbed the young cell's shoulder and she quickly turned her head and looked at him with surging eyes.
"How could you be so heartless?" He asked
Guanine curled a cold smile and laughed as she walked away.
"Take this virus to lockdown and make sure he stays there" She snarled pushing Chill into one of the bigger Immunities
Osmosis received some woeful looks from his fellow cells, they knew he was in trouble. He turned toward Drix who also had a look of self-pity in his eyes.
"Drix, you gotta believe me, I know what I saw" His head slowly moved to one side as he looked at the pill that did not respond, "You don't believe me either, do you?"
"Just- Leave me alone, Jones" He sighed moving he eyes toward him, "I've had enough for today." He said as he left the building.
The cell looked down at the viscous red blood on his hand. He reached into his pocket and took out the chain. It made soft noises as he fingered it in his hand. He clutched it tight and rose his head.
"I'll find you" He promised quietly and went back to the precinct
Outside the Wart in a dark unnoticed ally way stood Thrax the virus. He watched the cop cars pull up to the club, looking for germs to take in, unknowing the biggest threat to the Body stood watching right under their noses. Directly to the right of the virus was his little henchmen, Fergie Streptococcus, who stood uneasily as he watched Osmosis leave the scene in his car.
"You- you let him get away!" Fergie screamed convulsively, "Man if that was me I'd so them who was the big one with a WAH! and a HIYA! and a OoooWAAAHYA! and-"
The bigger virus forcefully hit him on the head causing him to fall over silent.
"Jones'll get what's coming to him in sweet time, baby" He said
He let out a sharp inhaled breath as he held the painful wound on his lower left arm inflicted by the cell's weapon. On his claws was his fresh hot blood. The virus is rarely ever hurt and even more rarely bleeds. He hates pain, especially if it's inflicted by a cell.
"Of corse this ain't going to be taken lightly, Jones"
