Chapter 9 and 10 will posted together today due to the two chapter having the same theme. Enjoy and review!
Chapter 9: Francis International Airport, Liberty City.
"What do you mean Bryce doesn't have a helicopter or a boat right now?" Niko asked to Bernie on the phone with surprise. Niko was currently on his way to Francis International Airport in his green Huntley Sport SUV with a black top and a gold stripe along the middle of the car with Kate McReary and her mother, Maureen McReary. The SUV was given to Niko by Little Jacob for helping him out in his drug distributions.
"It's true, Niko," Bernie replied with regret. "All of his boats and choppers are in Vice City. He only kept his sports cars here in Liberty City. Did you like his Infernus?"
"I can't say that I have," Niko answered. "It's been bugged. Hope nobody got hold of any sensitive information about Bryce."
Bernie was shocked to hear this. "Oh dear, Bryce isn't going to be happy when I tell him this," said Bernie.
"Never mind that," Niko said. "What I want to know is how can I get out of this city now without a boat or a helicopter?"
"Don't worry, Niko," Bernie assured. "I've already told Bryce of our situation. He'll be sending a chopper back here in about 6 hours."
"6 hours is too long! Can't you urge Bryce to make it come faster?"
"Sorry Niks, the chopper is getting here as fast as it can. You'll have to wait."
"That's just great," Niko said sarcastically.
"By the way, Niko," Bernie added. "The helicopter only has a capacity of only 6 people. Bryce is bringing himself, me, a pilot and his stupid wife. Who are you bringing along?"
"I'm not coming along. I'm going to send a few of my friends onboard. I'm taking another way out."
"Ok Niko. Stay safe. I'll be in touch." Bernie said before he hung up.
Niko was glad that a chopper was coming to the airport. He was racing through Meadows Park with caution as the area was next to Cerveza Heights, which was the area affected by the outbreak. Police Cars and NOOSE Enforcer vans were everywhere along with their heavily armed occupants ready to take down any zombies that appear. The streets were empty and desolate apart from the law enforcement vehicles and abandoned cars parked by the streets.
"Kate," Niko said. "I'm putting you in a chopper to Vice City with your mother. I'll stay behind for a moment and catch up with you later."
"No way, Niko," Kate said with worry. "I'm not leaving you here. Who knows what will happen to you if you're left alone here."
"Look, Kate," Niko said grimly. "I've lost Roman and I don't want to lose you too. I've also got to make sure Mallorie and her child is safe. She hasn't called me for some time. It's what I owe Roman now."
Mallorie was Roman's wife. After the day Roman was killed, which was the wedding day, Mallorie announced that she was pregnant with a son. Niko had sworn to protect both of them from the same fate that had struck Roman.
Kate remained silent for a moment as she looked at Niko with worry.
"Are you sure you'll be alright, Niko?"
"I'll be fine, Kate," Niko assured. "Don't worry. I'll promise that I'll come back for you after I'm done."
As soon as he finished his sentence, a horde of zombies emerged from a house near Niko's car. The zombies charged at Niko's car the moment they saw it driving past them.
"Shit!" Niko exclaimed. "Hang tight!" Niko immediately increased the speed of his SUV. One of the zombies jumped and managed to hang on the vehicle's rear bumper.
"Faster, Niko," Kate urged. Her mother was holding her hands tightly.
BANG! BANG!
Gunfire was heard as Niko turned to another street. The zombie that hung on to Niko's car loosened its grip and has let go. Five NOOSE Tactical Response Units with their M4 carbines pointing at the seemingly dead zombie emerged from a nearby alleyway.
"Get going," one of the armoured men said. "We'll take care of the rest."
"Thanks," Niko said as he drove past them. More gunfire was heard as Niko zoomed away from the scene.
"I hope you'll keep your promise to me, Niko," Kate said as they approached the airport.
...meanwhile...
"Is that everything, mami?" Luis asked her mother, Adriana Yanira Lopez, as he helped her carry her suitcase.
"That's all, Luis," Adriana said wistfully as she took one last look at her house in Northwood before stepping out of the door. "We should get going now. I'm really going to miss this place."
Adriana Yanira Lopez was a 59-year old Dominican woman. She was the mother of Luis and his two other siblings, Ernesto and Leta. Her husband had already left her for another woman, forcing her to raise her children on her own. She often disapproves of Luis's criminal and nightclub lifestyle, but she still loved him nonetheless.
"Me too, mami," Luis added. "But we should go. My friend, Yusuf, here can help us leave." Luis and mother slowly and sadly approached the Admiral sedan Luis had borrowed from Huang.
"Alright, homie," Yusuf said as Luis got into the driver's seat while her mother sat at the back. "Let's get going."
Luis began driving towards the East Borough Bridge linking Lancaster, Algonquin with Charge Island. From there, he planned to take the expressway that starts from Charge Island, runs through Meadows Park and ends at Francis International Airport to get to the airport. As Luis drove towards Lancaster, Yusuf switched on the radio.
"Just a little entertainment," Yusuf said as he tuned to The Beat 102.7 to listen to his favourite songs. However, instead of songs, it was another special news report.
Weazel News interrupts this programme to bring you this special news report. The zombie outbreak has spread! Panic and terror is now sky high in Liberty City as parts of Algonquin are now affected. The bridge closings have failed and have been overrun by the 'zombies' or mutants as the police call it. Officials say that Fishmarket South (connected to the Algonquin Bridge), Hatton Gardens (connected to the Broker Bridge) and East Island City (North of East Hook) are now swarming with zombies. Lancaster is also believed to be affected, but the status of Charge Island remains unknown. Residents are urged to remain calm and await the National Guard rescue operation which will arrive in about 24 to 48 hours. The LCPD and NOOSE are severely crippled as they have lost almost three-quarters of their manpower and FIB agents have just arrived to help. Jim Harrison, Weazel News. Coming Up, how to survive a zombie apocalypse when you have no boats or planes...
After hearing the news report, Luis picked up speed.
"We've got to hurry," Luis said urgently as he turned into another street at Lancaster. The engine of the Admiral four door sedan roared as the Luis increased his speed.
"There it is," Yusuf alerted Luis. "East Borough Bridge."
"I know, bro. I can fucking see it," Luis said. Luis picked up speed. Yusuf was surprised that the beat up car was travelling at over 100km/h.
"I didn't expect this old car to go so fast," Yusuf remarked as they rapidly approached the bridge.
"Me too," Luis replied. "Maybe that guy was right. I would be surprised."
As Luis drove on the bridge and was entering Charge Island, he noticed something strange.
"Funny," Luis said. "There aren't any cars or people on this island."
"Maybe everyone has already left," Adriana suggested.
Luis soon arrived at the toll booth on the island. He quickly reached for his wallet to pay the toll. Normally, he would zip past the toll booth without paying and this usually resulted in the cops chasing after him. But this time, he decided that police attention would not be so appropriate. Besides, his mother would highly disapprove of him breaking the law - again.
Once Luis stopped at the booth, he looked around for the booth attendant. He was surprised to find the booth empty as the it almost always had an attendant to collect the toll charges. As Luis got out of his car and peeked into the booth, a horrifying sight greeted him; a zombie, dressed in a dark blue attendant's uniform emerged from the booth. Although Luis was very shocked and disgusted as the wry hands reached out to grab him, he had the right of mind to quickly return to his car and took his pistol beside the driver's seat.
"So long, motherfucker," Luis said as he put a bullet into the forehead of the hostile creature.
"Are you alright, Luis?" Adriana asked, concerned about her son.
"I'm fine," Luis replied.
Quickly shutting the door of his car, he stepped on the accelerator and the car zoomed forward. Before he could get far, a very large horde of zombies, some dressed in LCPD and NOOSE outfits, while others are dressed in ordinary civilian clothing and probably numbering to about a few hundred, appeared on the bridge linking Charge Island to East Island City. The horde of zombies rushed towards the car at seemingly superhuman speed upon noticing the vehicle.
"I hate you, Yusuf," Luis remarked as he shift his car's gear to reverse. "You had to bring four fucking zombies to Liberty City."
"It was for the zoo," Yusuf protested meekly as Luis reversed the vehicle. "Not this."
"Take this," Luis said to Yusuf as he handed him his pistol. "Take care of those things while I drive."
Yusuf rolled down his passenger-side window with the small black Glock 17 pistol in his hands.
"I never used tiny guns like this one," Yusuf said with glee. "But it could be fun."
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Yusuf fired at any zombies that approached the car too closely. Yusuf didn't expect the zombies to be put down for long as the Glock 17 pistol could not deal a small amount of damage compared to other more powerful guns he had used. However, some of the zombies that were shot seemed unaffected as they got back up on their feet after being hit by a bullet from Yusuf, others that were hit in the head never got back up.
"Hey, Luis," Yusuf called out as Luis headed back to Lancaster, "I think I've discovered why the useless fucking authorities can't kill these things."
"Maybe we can discuss about that later," Luis said as he drove. "Right now, we've got to lose those 'things' first."
After that wild ride as Luis drove away from Charge Island, the three of them managed to escape the deadly wave of zombies. Much blood was spilled on the freeway on Charge Island as zombie corpses littered the road. The three of them breathed a sigh of relief as they reached Lancaster and have lost sight of the zombies.
"That was close," Adriana said. "Are you alright my son?"
"I'm ok, mami," Luis answered. "Now how are we gonna get to the airport?"
There was a brief silence as Luis drove back to Northwood. Luis's mind was busy trying to come up with a solution. Suddenly, Yusuf broke the silence.
"I have an idea," Yusuf announced, "Head to my helipad at the West River (the river was located west of Algonquin and separates Algonquin with Alderney). I have a Swift helicopter there. Its low on fuel, but I think it has just enough to get us to the airport."
"Alright then," Luis said. "Let's go while we still can."
As Luis drove around Northwood, a NOOSE Enforcer van drove hurriedly past them as the van was headed to Lancaster. Suddenly, from Luis's rear view mirror, a small army of zombies ambushed the van as the horde charged towards the van from the front. The van immediately swerved to the left as the driver was in shock and crashed into a brick wall. The zombies soon surrounded the van and ignored Luis's car. Luis was visibly shaken as van and the zombies disappeared from his mirror as he turned into another street.
"We've got to hurry," Luis said anxiously.
