The chill from being so high on a rooftop tingled Arnold's spine. The wind whipped through his hair. The feeling of hands black leather at his cheek and neck felt oddly arousing as pink lips pressed against his. His eyes were wide as he stared blankly into two eyelids in front of him. They were closed but slightly twitching. It was Helga holding his head and pressing her lips against his. He felt barely amorous about the situation as it happened so fast. Helga's words stuck in his brain as she kissed him, "Oh come here you big lug!" and reeled his head into hers. For a second, Arnold forgot about his task of saving his neighborhood and for a moment, felt personally happy...The alarm blared loudly into his ears as Arnold woke from his deep slumber. The hollowness of the hangar almost amplified the noise throughout as refugees all around him were stirred from their sleep. From the small entrance on the other side erupted two soldiers, frantically looking left to right till one of them locked eyes with Arnold and sprinted in his direction. "You have to come with us." He said when he arrived at Arnold's sleeping grounds, Helga sat up next to him, also disturbed from the noise. "What's going on?" Arnold asked. "Your friend is in trouble." The soldier replied...

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Hey Zombies

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Memory

Arnold was frantic the second he laid eyes on Charlie, his infected body squirming and turning as he struggled to break free from his restraints. Victor stood by, in a newly cleansed lab coat, his hair less mangled and persona much more stout. He wrote on a clipboard as Krieg stood by, pressing keys on a board causing them to show up in green lettering on the monitor in front of him.

"What the hell did you do to him?!" Arnold asked Victor out of anger. He was mad at him for everything else, this couldn't prevent him from venting his heartache over losing a friend.

"Krieg, if you'd please." Victor said. His hand still twitched. Krieg approached Arnold whom was being held back by the soldiers whom delivered him.

"Son, you need to stay back, we're working on him as we speak." Krieg said.

"But he was fine!" Arnold was choking on his words, "You let him die!" He cried. Victor set his clipboard down on the table in irritation.

"Let him go boys." Victor ordered. The soldiers immediately released their grip and Arnold charged at Victor, ready to throw punches.

His fury was his weakness as Victor dominated him, flipping him onto the ground, and pressed his knee on Arnold's chest.

"I know you hate me Arnold. I know I've done terrible things. But now you have to trust me, I'm going to make this right."

"I'll never trust you...you let Charlie turn, you're just using him for more of your experiments."

Victor grew a smug look, and smirked a little, "In a way yes, but this is different. See this?" He held up his thumb, the greenish glow continued to emit from his finger, the veins around it were thicker and more purple as ever. Arnold stared at it, his eyes in amazement; the purplish color, the hue of the green glow.

A flood of memories began to flow through his brain, memories he thought he hadn't recorded but seeing that glow gave him the access again. He remembered the sword that cut his leg when he was captured in the jungle, he remembered who the hand belonged to that cut him, the tall dark shadowed man with silver eyes. A foe he thought he had forgotten and repressed from his memory, the pirate they called La Sombre, the Shadow...

"Arnold...Arnold!" he heard his father call. Miles had come into the room and stood next to Arnold and General Goose. Charlie's growls only became more sinister as he continued to struggle with his restraints, "Arnold, I know you're angry, I want this man dead as much as you do."

"Appreciate the honesty Colonel." Victor said sarcastically.

"But now is not the time to grief and let your emotions get the best of you." Miles said, he stood in front of Arnold, placed a hand on his shoulder, "We need you focused, we need you to help us. We need your power."

Arnold looked at his father, bewildered, "What?"

"Remember when you told me on the plane, how you felt Thaddeus' intentions, you knew he was going to attack before it ever happened. And before, you told me how you found Charlie and Helga. The images in your head?"

Arnold wanted to forget.

"Here's our proposal Arnold," Krieg chimed in, "We believe your mental ability can help us cure Charlie here."

Arnold wiped the tears from his eyes, "How? He's puking blood and pus, and you're telling me we can save him?"

"Arnold do you even realize what we're up against?" Victor said.

Arnold choked and sputtered, "I figured some extreme case of rabies. The infected we fought off were violent, fast, and just wanted to eat what was in front of them."

"On the surface yes. But after tests, we've found that Shadow-1 particles, after taking over the original cells, don't exactly destroy them, but more act as an inhibitor. Shadow-1 is able to block positive emotion, while it acts as a booster for negative emotions, the strongest being violence and aggression. We found the same results on lab rats. Therefore infected people aren't exactly lost in their infection, but more being controlled by it." Krieg explained.

"This is bullshit..." Arnold said as he walked away.

"It's theoretical, actually." Victor said calmly.

"Arnold!" Miles called to him. Arnold turned back around, "You want to make this right? You can. You've been through so much, and yet losing one friend has destroyed your faith, I get it. But if you just give us this one chance, we can make this right...Think about your friends."

"I don't have friends dad..." Arnold said. Miles just looked at him, a mix of awe and disappointment on his face, "I have family."

With that, Arnold approached the infected Charlie and took a deep breath, "Okay, what do you need me to do?" He asked.

"I'll try to speak in layman's terms, but basically, we're going to use Victor's infected blood from the shard embedded in his thumb and transfuse it into Charlie's system. We think that since this virus has inhibiting factors, we want to see if you can tap into Charlie's brain and communicate with him." Krieg said.

"He's nothing but a savage killer now, what makes you think I can talk to him."

"Like I said, Charlie's not dead, he's just changed. He's still in there, and we want to see if you can tap into his subconscious, coax him out of wherever he's hiding."

"I can predict the future doc, I can't talk to others in my head."

"Try Arnold, it's the best option we've got." Victor said, placing his hand on Arnold's shoulder.

"You've known Charlie since you were a kid Arnold, you know him best out of all of us." Miles said. Arnold nodded and approached Charlie. He shut his eyes, attempting to "activate" his ability again.

Charlie, Arnold thought, Charlie can you hear me? He continued to speak. He shut his eyes tighter. Charlie's snarls distracted him. The fear was strong in him but he couldn't say a word. He had to think it. Charlie are you in there? Please say something. Nothing but growls continued to sputter from Charlie's lips.

"Well?" Victor said.

"Does it look like something's happening?" Arnold said, irritably.

"We'll have to try harder. Maybe physical contact." Victor replied.

"What?!" Miles said, clearly disagreeing with Victor's suggestion.

"Get a muzzle for the kid, and get Arnold some gloves." Victor ordered. Krieg went to a set of drawers and pulled out a pair of latex gloves as well as a brown leather strap. With some effort, he got Charlie to bite down on the strap, while he proceeded to tie it around Charlie's head. During which, Arnold put the gloves on.

"Okay Arnold. Right on the forehead, give it a shot." Victor said.

Arnold approached him again. He lifted his hands, underneath the gloves they were already sweating. He placed them on Charlie's forehead as Charlie continued to struggle, still trying to bite with the strap impeding his teeth.

Arnold could feel the sliminess of the pus eroding from Charlie's pores. He shut his eyes and tried again. Charlie, Charlie can you hear me. Please, the doctors want to help you. I know you're in there somewhere. Suddenly, Charlie twitched, in a way that was not normal for infected behavior. Arnold opened his eyes and saw Victor was now sitting in a chair next to Charlie on the opposite end. Krieg had set up an IV that ran from Victor's arm into Charlie's neck.

"Keep going Arnold, we're getting some different activity in the brain." Arnold nodded and continued his procedure.

Charlie...Arnold thought of something, Chocolate boy...remember how I helped you quit? I tried everything, but I didn't give up on you. Even after I found out it was only a bet that you could go without chocolate for a couple months...I knew you had it in you to quit. I miss you Chocolate boy...I miss Charlie...I miss you like you were my brother. Charlie, say something...

Arn...That wasn't Arnold talking, he realized...Arnol..Arnold?

Just then, a wave of pain shot through Arnold's body, he struggled to keep his balance. Miles was there to support him. Arnold kept his hands on Charlie's forehead.

Charlie? Arnold said in his mind. All of a sudden, a mental image of a large grid appeared in Arnold's mind. Waves of colors spun around him like the Northern lights. They spun around and around, passing through a projected image of Arnold himself. He looked around his surroundings and realized this wasn't real. Just then, Charlie appeared in front of him.

"Arnold? How the hell...How are you talking to me?"

"I'm speaking to you in my head. How can you respond back?"

"I...I don't know? Ever since I got bit, I was able to reach out more with my head. I could read things...in other people's heads."

"That...why didn't you say something Charlie?"

"We were in the midst of an attack at Kappa. You think I was willing to sit everyone down and drop this bomb that I can all of a sudden read minds?"

"Charlie, you weren't the only one! I was able to find you and Helga, when Sid kidnapped you. I could trace your path. On the plane, I was able to read Curly and tried stopping him from retaking the plane. Gerald...Gerald can freaking burn things just with his hands! And..." Arnold began to think. This projected image of Charlie approached him.

"What? What is it?" Charlie asked. Arnold looked at him.

"Ten years ago, when we went to San Lorenzo...that map I had. We used it to find my parents, and the Corazon, in that temple. There were six of us down there..."

"So?"

"So...you were there. I was there. So was Helga, and Gerald...and Sid. We all went down into that basement, and the Corazon was there..."

The memories came like a tidal wave to both Charlie and Arnold, all of a sudden the colorful area around them transformed into the mossy stone and greenish hue of the San Lorenzo jungle, trudging down the steep steps of the cobblestone temple in front of them. Charlie and Arnold could see themselves walking down, with Helga, Sid, and Gerald not far behind them. They watched the memory unfold like a movie.

Gerald had a smirking look on his face, winking at Young Arnold any time he looked back at him. Young Arnold just ignored it while any time Helga looked at Gerald, she gave him a look of lust to pound his face in.

Reminiscing-Arnold could only blush as he realized this was after Gerald and Sid caught him kissing Helga next to a tree. Charlie and Arnold could hear their younger selves talking.

"What the criminy are you doing taking us here, football head?!" Helga asked.

Young Arnold didn't reply.

"Yeah, there was a big radish patch just outside, I wanna go back and get some!" Young Charlie said as he turned to run the opposite direction. Gerald caught him.

"Hold on now son, you do realize there are psychopathic pirates out there just waiting to kill us right? If Arnold knows what's best, this is the safest place for us right now."

"Yeah, if there weren't so many bugs, this place is gross!" Sid called.

"Guys, come on. A little adventure never hurt anyone. But Gerald's right. Just stay quiet, and we shouldn't be found down here."

Arnold remembered what came next...

A man suddenly burst from the shadows behind them, "Bzzt, wrong! Gotcha you little brats." The voice called. The man merged from the shadows. His menacing goatee, that silk curved hat on his brow. His crooked fingers holding a revolver aimed directly at the group. The kids all realized it was La Sombra. "Now, what are five little kiddies like yourself doing in a place like this! I'm curious..."

"Leave them alone Sombra, you have my parents, it's me you want." Young Arnold said.

"No...not you. Not just yet, you need to do something for me first." La Sombra said before he cackled, "Now move!" And with that, La Sombra waved his gun, herding the kids further down into the temple.

Just then, the ground began to shake, but not for the kids or La Sombra. The ground quaked for Charlie and Arnold spectating the memory.

"What's going on!" Charlie's voice echoed.

"I don't know...I think the memory isn't strong enough for us to observe. It's collapsing!" Instead of down right crumbling to pieces, the environment around them retook shape to a different location. There was green all around them, Charlie and Arnold could see six bodies standing in front of where the green glow was coming from. It was a small pedestal, with several steps leading up to a small podium like stature. On top was where the green glow was strongest. Arnold and Charlie could see their younger selves again, staring in awe, while La Sombra stood behind them, still pointing his gun at them.

"Well? What are you waiting for boy? Take it." La Sombra said. Young Arnold reluctantly approached the green glow. Within it, he could see a small green stone like object. Young Arnold reached out with his hands, and without caution, grasped the object. A spark erupted from the object, it sent Young Arnold flying with a cry of pain. Gerald went to him after he landed on the ground. The other kids ran to him while La Sombra just stood with a surprised look on his face.

"Arnold!" Gerald called as he placed his hand on Young Arnold's shoulder. The same green spark emitted from Young Arnold's shoulder and Gerald went flying as well. The pain prevented him from seeing where he was landing, and he collided with Helga and Young Charlie who were standing behind him. Sid dove out of the way before Gerald could touch him. Everyone felt the same thing. Young Arnold was groaning with the most pain. He clutched his head which appeared to glow the same color as the statue sitting in the middle of the room.

"To hell with this!" La Sombra said as he walked past all the kids on the ground, struggling with the pain they each endured. He walked up the pedestal, threw his gun aside and reached out to grab the statue himself. Before he could even touch it, he pulled his hands back in pain, clutching them as if they were burned.

He took two more steps back and looked in horror at his hands. First his fingernails fell off, then his fingers disintegrated entirely before his arms fell from their sockets and faded into green smoke. He proceeded to walk and emit a blood curdling scream as the green smoke took over his entire body.

The image began to break and distort for Charlie and Arnold who were spectating. Arnold could see his younger self clutching his forehead which glowed a green hue. Gerald flailed his hands around which glowed an infernal red. Young Charlie's body appeared to be wrapped in a bluish color. Helga wasn't surrounded in color, but the loose rocks inside the temple appeared to move with every step she took. Arnold and Charlie watched as La Sombra's body appeared to fade away into green smoke. Just then, La Sombra looked at Arnold, not young Arnold but the spectating Arnold. Arnold in turn could feel fear in his bones. La Sombra was looking directly at him.

His voice echoed, "This isn't over...boy..." La Sombra said to him before his face dissolved and the cloud of green smoke appeared to fly out of the temple.

Just then, Arnold broke out of his mental projection. His eyes had to adjust to the bright light of the infirmary room. He felt he was in a different position from where he began. For one, his hands were drooped to his side. Miles was kneeling to his right, helping him maintain.

"Son, it's okay, you're here. Relax." Miles said as Arnold took panicked breaths. He looked at his father.

"Dad! Where's Charlie! I..."

"See for yourself." Miles replied as he looked ahead. Arnold turned to see Charlie, still strapped and laying against the propped up bed but his face was clear. He wasn't squirming around and struggling. His skin was pasty and white, and his chest barely moving.

Just then he opened his eyes, coughed once, and very slowly turned his head toward Arnold whom looked back at him.

Charlie attempted a smile, and successfully made a weak one show upon his face.

"It worked..." Charlie said, but not out loud. Arnold could hear it in his head. Just then, Charlie closed his eyes and his head dropped again.

"Charlie? Charlie!" Arnold cried as he struggled to get up from the chair. Miles had to hold him back.

"Arnold relax, Charlie's gonna be okay." Miles said.

"His skin is white, he's not okay!" Arnold argued.

"He will be once we get some blood in him." Victor said, he was still in his chair. The IV was unhooked. The purple hue in his veins was gone, and several stitches were around his thumb.

"Victor didn't have the same blood type as Charlie. It may have helped get rid of the infection, but he's still developing anemia." Krieg said.

"So we get someone with the same blood type! He doesn't need that much right?" Arnold replied

Victor for the first time put a look of care and worry on his face. He looked at Krieg.

Krieg in turn looked at Arnold, "He's lost so much blood, he needs more than just a transfusion. He needs the standard amount of red blood cells pumping in his system immediately or he will go into a fatal coma."

"Do we know someone with Charlie's blood type?" Miles asked.

"He's the rarest, AB negative...there's only one other person who tested for AB negative when they arrived." Krieg said.

"Who?" Miles asked. Arnold also looking concerned.

"Your father, Phil Shortman."

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To be continued.