Chapter 25 – Third Choice Part 1
Josh's Apartment…
Josh carefully rubs his face with his left hand and feels the small cuts and bruises. He shakes his head and bobs his eyes.
"Could someone like…get me an ice pack? Or a bag of cold peas please? I'm in a lot…of pain here.', looks at arm and hand, 'Don't I look like it?"
Everyone examines Josh's condition. Josh sigh slowly seeing no one is helping.
"Fine. I'll get the ice pack."
Vanellope and Elizabeth throw their hands at Josh and make him sit back down on the couch.
(Same time)
"No!"
Josh feels a slight painful push on his shoulder when the two threw him back down.
"Ow…" Josh says looking at his bruised hand
"I'll get it." Elizabeth says standing up
But Vanellope jumps and runs to the fridge.
"I got it!"
Elizabeth shakes her head and sits back down next to Josh. Plague shakes her head sitting down on the chair over in the corner.
"It must be nice."
Josh narrows his eyes and looks at Plague.
"What must be nice? I'm not exactly in a 'well' state here Plague."
"Oh no. Not that Josh. Not that at all.', Josh waits for Plague's reply, 'It must be nice to have several women do anything for you on hand and foot."
Vanellope comes back with a frozen bag of vegetables. Josh shakes his head and Elizabeth covers her face.
"It's not like that Plague." Josh says
"Not from where I'm sitting."
"Would you mind going to the Grocery Store then?" Josh asks
"No."
"See? I don't see you do anything for me on your hands and feet."
Plague sighs hard from Josh's comment. Calhoun shakes her head and walks around the couch.
"Who is Darkness anyway?"
"As I explained before, he's as worse as Cyrus but only at night." Plague explains
Calhoun looks at Plague and back at Josh.
"So he just ambushed you?"
Josh nods slowly and takes the bag of vegetables from Vanellope. Vanellope climbs up on the couch and sits next to Josh. Josh puts the bag of vegetables against his face.
"Yeah. Knocked out every light in the street and jumped me. I couldn't see him or hit him."
"Why?" Vanellope asks
Josh gulps and looks kinda stupid.
"I…didn't have my weapons on me.', everyone looks at Josh and he sees, 'I went to the Grocery Store. I didn't think I was going to get jumped like that."
"He certainly did a number on you." Plague says
Elizabeth looks at Plague.
"Shut up Plague."
Plague gets up and walks away. Josh turns his head and sees Plague leaving.
"Where you going?"
Plague looks back as everyone looks at her.
"If I'm not needed here I'm leaving."
Josh quickly gets up as he literally slumps over leaving his arm down to hang like a fish on a hook.
"No. I need you right now. All of you.', Plague stops and turns around, 'If Darkness is more powerful when it's night. Then were vulnerable until the sun comes up."
"What do you want us to do?" Calhoun asks
Josh slowly turns.
"We got to make sure this place is secure. Lock all doors. The Garage door. Windows. Even the hallways and offices. In the morning, will figure out a way to get lights on in the lower levels so Darkness can slip his way through in here."
"Understood. Everyone, let's go." Calhoun orders
Calhoun walks past Plague and she stands still. She looks back and pulls Plague along with her to go.
"You too fire ball."
Plague gets out of Calhoun's hand and board the elevator. Felix, Ralph and Vanellope get on too. Elizabeth walks ahead and Josh stops her, he points his hand at her.
"Elizabeth stop.', Elizabeth turns around, 'I need you to stay for a second."
Everyone boards the elevator and Calhoun shuts the door.
"You rest up Josh. Will take care of everything."
Josh nods. Vanellope notices Elizabeth is staying behind. She looks down and back up as the elevator goes down. Elizabeth crosses her arms as Josh leans against the couch looking away.
"What is it Josh?"
Josh takes a deep breath.
"I'm praying right now that through your time locked up in that Tower of yours…', Elizabeth blinks, 'You read a book or two about…healing others. Fixing body parts."
Elizabeth shrugs.
"Like a doctor?"
Josh smiles happily.
"I couldn't have put it in a better word."
Elizabeth struggles with the idea.
"I can't exactly say I have my PhD…"
Josh shakes his head nervously.
"Can you at least check me out? I've never dislocated my right shoulder before. Only with my left. Please Elizabeth…', Elizabeth sees the look on Josh's face, 'I really need help here…no one else can."
Elizabeth rubs her eye and nods.
"Of course."
Josh nods. Elizabeth points.
"Sit down on the couch."
Josh does exactly what Elizabeth wants. Elizabeth stand right behind Josh behind the couch.
"Let me see your arm."
Josh tries to lift his arm up but can't, Elizabeth takes it and examines it. Elizabeth sees how badly damaged Josh is.
"How did you let Darkness do this to you?"
Josh blinks.
"I just didn't 'let' him do this to me. He grabbed me and when he touched me, I couldn't move my body. It was like he paralyzed me."
"Paralyzed you?"
"I couldn't move. Barely speak…and while I was completely helpless, Darkness rips off my arm and fingers."
"Oh my…Josh…you really think going out by yourself was a really good idea?"
Elizabeth begins to work a little on Josh's shoulder.
"Now that I think about it, it wasn't really a good idea."
Elizabeth shakes her head.
"Nice to see your own failure."
Josh sighs slowly.
"It wouldn't be my first."
Elizabeth examines further on Josh's shoulder. It's really bad.
"Josh, this is very bad. You're really hurt, you need a real doctor."
Josh looks back.
"Right now. Your my doctor.', Josh smirks and looks back, 'If I stay like this I might need a little help taking a bath later, would you like to help me?"
Elizabeth smirks and grabs Josh's shoulder. She 'pops' it back in and all you hear is just a loud crack. Josh just shows a painful expression.
"Owwwww….mmmm.', Josh shakes his head, 'You know Elizabeth…your bedside manner needs a little work."
Elizabeth smacks the back of Josh's head.
"So does your timing."
"Hey…take it easy will ya?"
Elizabeth leans forward.
"Show me your hand."
Josh lifts his hands and Elizabeth sees his fingers.
"This is terrible. Who did this?"
"Same guy who did the shoulder Elizabeth. When he was done with my arm, he worked his way up to my fingers."
Elizabeth sighs slowly.
"This is going to hurt."
Josh nods.
"I know.', sighs hard, 'Just do it all at once."
Elizabeth nods.
"Okay."
Elizabeth grabs all three of Josh's fingers. Josh blinks and Elizabeth pulls them and all Josh hears is a LOUD crack. He takes the pain in slowly…breathing through his nose and Elizabeth watches. Josh lets out a big puff of air and slowly opens his eyes.
"Ow…" Josh says softly
Josh looks down at his right hand and wiggles his fingers. They still hurt just a bit, but he ignores it and gets up.
"Thanks Elizabeth." Josh says limping away
Elizabeth looks down and sees the frozen bag of vegetables on the table Josh left behind. She reaches over to grab it and looks at Josh.
"Josh?', Josh turns around and sees the bag, 'Do you want this?"
Josh shrugs like he cares.
"It's probably thawed out…pretty useless now."
Elizabeth looks down and her hand turns to ice. Josh watches as Elizabeth re-freezes the bag and tosses them to Josh. He catches them and feels how cold it is. Josh snickers and puts it to his head.
"Must be nice to have ice powers…"
Elizabeth shrugs.
"The only normal thing that I can control."
Josh nods and turns around. He walks to his room and shuts the door. Elizabeth looks at the elevator and goes down.
The Factory…
Ralph shuts the big doors leading outside. Calhoun goes to each exit of the Factory and makes sure each one is closed. Plague just looks around, spinning her sword around just seeing everyone working. Felix hops around while Vanellope stays near Ralph. Elizabeth enters the Factory and walks up alongside Plague. Plague doesn't turn her head, but she knows Elizabeth is standing next to her.
"How's the patient?"
Elizabeth nods.
"Josh needs a night of rest. Hopefully he'll be back to normal in the morning."
"Is that your 'medical' opinion?"
Elizabeth throws her eyes up making a face.
"Are you actually worried about someone other than yourself?"
Plague shrugs.
"I'm not worried about Josh, I'm just wondering if our 'leader' will survive another day."
Elizabeth shakes her head.
"Josh will pull through this. He's been through worse."
Plague smiles.
"Right. Says so from the princess who got locked away in a Tower all her life."
Elizabeth looks more annoyed.
"Says so from the girl whose own Father tried to kill but shocked to him, his virus gave you powers which in return leaves burn marks everywhere."
Plague bites her tongue.
"Don't forget fire melts ice."
Elizabeth smirks.
"How can you start a fire when you're surrounded by zero degree temperature?"
Plague nods.
"Will see. Will see Snow Queen." Plague says walking away
Elizabeth crosses her arms and watches Plague walk ahead. She sighs slowly seeing Plague is trying to get under her skin.
Out in the City…
Cyrus's Building…
Rooftop…
Cyrus walks out on the Rooftop. The darkling from when Darkness gave him crawls behind Cyrus. Cyrus walks up to a strange looking machine with two glass boxes on each side of the main control unit.
"Okay…let's see…"
Cyrus looks back and sees the darkling acting like an idiot. The darkling digs it's claws into the gravel of the roof top and Cyrus rolls his eyes.
"Hey. You!', the darkling looks up and Cyrus points at the left box, 'Go in there."
The darkling looks at the glass box Cyrus is pointing at and it looks back at Cyrus. Cyrus looks more serious.
"Now!"
The darkling jumps laughing hysterically. It walks into the box and Cyrus rolls its eyes.
"Dumb as shit…"
Cyrus looks back and sees one of his husks just slowly bobbing his head against the wall. He shakes his head and makes the husk go into the box. Cyrus shakes his head.
"Infected as hell but very stupid. All right. Let's see if this works…"
Cyrus hits a switch and the machine turns on. He steps back as electricity whirls around inside both glass boxes and something starts happening to the darkling and husk inside each. The husk and darkling start to spaz out and jump all over the place. A bright light shoots out and Cyrus covers his eyes. The machine begins to calm down and Cyrus looks back.
"Did it work?"
The glass boxes are filled with smoke and it's hard to see anything inside them. Cyrus walks back to the control panel and opens the doors. The smoke pours out and Cyrus looks at the door with his husk inside.
"Come on out now…"
The feet of the husk stand out and Cyrus just smiles seeing his 'new' creation.
"Oh yes."
Cyrus then looks at the other door with the darkling inside and it steps out. He just smiles seeing the new and 'improved' looking husk.
"Oh this is definitely a start to a new evolution."
Josh's Apartment…
Josh's Room…
Following Morning…
Josh is sound asleep on his bed with his arms and hands wrapped around his head. He snores a little and flinches. In his dreams, it's like he's looking through the eyes of someone, but the vision is blurry, so Josh can't exactly see everything clearly. Through the eyes of the person, they put their hands to some kind of control console and pulls a lever down. The eyes look left and right at these glass boxes and Josh opens his eyes gasping. Josh breathes heavily and lifts his head up. He looks around his room and sees he's just or was sleeping. Josh throws his head back down and shakes his head annoyingly.
"Can't I just have one good night's rest?"
Josh throws his legs down and looks down at his arm and hand. He checks his shoulder and finds everything in 'place'. Josh moves down and sees his fingers are working well and moving up and down making a fist. He sighs slowly.
"Okay…at least I have my fingers back."
Josh concentrates and short bursts of electricity shoot out and around his fingers. He engulfs the current and stands up.
"Let's start our day…"
Josh walks to his door and out to his Living Room.
Josh's Apartment…
Josh walks out into his Apartment and sees everyone, except Plague around the contour.
"Morning everyone."
Everyone looks back.
(All at once)
"Morning Josh."
"Hey Josh." Vanellope says
Josh walks to the far end of the counter and Vanellope sits alongside Josh. He sighs slowly and rubs his face. Josh looks through his eyes and sees everyone eating something that he's never seen before.
"And what are you all…eating?"
Elizabeth turns around carrying a pan, wearing an apron and holding a spatula.
"Everyone's eating something that I've cooked up." Elizabeth explains
Josh nods.
"Huh?"
"And what are we 'eating'?"
Elizabeth nods.
"Le petit déjeuner."
Josh narrows his eyes. He looks at everyone and Elizabeth looks back at Josh with a lost look on his face.
"Breakfast."
Josh nods.
"Oh. Just say that. But what 'did' you make."
Elizabeth nods smiling.
"Oh, of course. Silly of me. It's just your basic tartines…"
Josh shakes his head.
"Elizabeth. English please?"
Elizabeth sighs.
"Bread with a mixture of American type jam."
Josh nods.
"Sounds good."
"I also made some croissants. And some pain aux raisins.', Josh almost says it but Elizabeth stops him, 'Raisin bread Josh."
Josh nods. Calhoun and Felix eat some.
"This is really good." Felix says
Elizabeth nods.
"I must admit, it's really good."
"Thank you Calhoun."
Josh looks up and sees Ralph just digging into a big slice. He shakes his head and crosses his arms.
"How is it Ralph?"
"Mm mm mm., good.'
Josh narrows his eyes.
"Chew, swallow and then talk."
Ralph throws his head up and swallows without chewing.
"I said it's very good."
Josh smiles and shakes his head.
"Feel good about yourself Elizabeth, getting 'good' out of Ralph comes a long way."
Elizabeth goes back to the stove. Josh looks down and sees Vanellope not eating.
"Vanellope?', Vanellope looks up, 'Why aren't you eating?"
Vanellope shrugs.
"I'm not really hungry."
"Oh come on…"
"I am."
Elizabeth turns around.
"Actually I made one that you might like Vanellope. It has chocolate inside it. Pain au chocolat."
Vanellope shakes her head.
"No thank you."
"Vanellope." Josh says
"I'm not hungry."
Josh narrows his eyes and looks at Elizabeth. Elizabeth looks somewhat disappointed and Josh rubs his face. Josh looks around some more and notices Plague not around.
"Where's Plague?"
Calhoun swallows.
"Down in the Factory."
"Doing what?"
"Don't know. Said she didn't want to be bothered." Ralph explains
Josh sighs and gets up.
"I'll be right back."
"Josh…" Elizabeth says
Josh looks back walking backwards.
"I need to have a word with her anyway. Everyone just stay here and I'll be right back."
Josh hops down the elevator shaft and everyone goes back to eating.
The Factory…
Plague swings her sword around practicing her sword fighting. The blade heats up and turns red. As Plague swings, embers fall down on the floor. Suddenly Josh walks into the Factory and sees Plague swinging her sword around several times. Josh slowly walks up to her and waves.
"Yoo-hoo!', whistles, 'Hey!', Plague stops and sees Josh waving at her, 'Hi."
Plague goes back to sword playing.
"What do you want Josh?"
"Elizabeth made some breakfast. Why don't you come up and have some?"
"I don't want any."
"Why?"
"I'm not eating anything Queen Ice Cube makes."
Josh sighs.
"You're as worse as Vanellope."
"Don't compare me to that runt."
"Hey!"
"She's annoying. Sometimes in my way. Compare her to Elizabeth. I don't care."
"You know, you don't have to separate yourself from us. Were all on the same team."
"I don't work well with 'teams'."
"Well you're on one right now."
Plague pauses.
"Don't remind me."
Plague continues swinging her sword around and Josh realizes something.
"Where do you go when you're not here?', Plague stops and looks at Josh, 'Your gone for a long time. I'm just wondering where you go."
Plague goes back to sword slicing.
"Here and there."
"Can you be more specific?"
"Does it matter?"
Josh looks serious and steps forward. He pulls out his staff and as Plague throws her sword down, Josh hits it and Plague looks directly at Josh.
"Because for a girl who doesn't work well with teams and makes stupid ass comments about everyone here. You sure do spend a lot of time doing something away from here."
Plague looks serious and swings her sword up. Josh deflects it as sparks fly with Plague hits Josh's staff. Plague backs up.
"I see things that I haven't seen before.', Josh just blinks hearing Plague's answer, 'Just in case Cyrus wins and rules the world, I would like to see it before he changes everything."
"That's not going to happen."
"You can't say that. Darkness alone kicked the shit out of you and that was by himself. Cyrus on the other hand is much worse."
"I'll deal with it as it comes."
"And when you're not breathing and not moving, how are you supposed to stop him then?"
Josh sighs and spins his staff around.
"Always the downer huh?"
"I'm just being honest that's all."
"A little to honest don't you think."
Plague shrugs.
"Whatever…"
Plague walks away. Josh sighs and brushes his hair back.
"How about I make a deal with you."
Plague looks back.
"A deal?"
"The deal is…you start treating everyone here with a little more respect and I'll look the other way when it comes down to fighting husks or whatever."
"Look the other way?"
Josh nods.
"You can do whatever you want your way. I won't tell you stop as long as you don't hurt anyone unless you have to, deal?"
Plague thinks about the offer for a second and Josh waits for a reply. She shrugs and nods.
"All right."
Josh thumbs up and Plague points her sword.
"I get to do whatever I want. You tell me to stop, deals off."
Josh puts his hands up.
"Fine. As long as you don't go crazy."
"Describe 'crazy'."
Josh makes a face.
"You know exactly what I mean Plague."
Plague smirks.
"Okay…thought I just ask."
"Come on. Let's go back up right now."
"Now?"
"Plague."
"Jeez, okay…"
Josh and Plague go back up to his Apartment.
Josh's Apartment…
Plague and Josh take the elevator back up. Elizabeth turns her head as Josh throws up the door. She looks back down and sets down more of her bread she made. Josh and Plague go to the counter. He looks around and sees Vanellope at the TV watching it. Calhoun is cleaning her gun at the other end of the counter. Felix is in the other rooms examining them. And Ralph, is laying up against the wall sleeping.
"Nice to see everyone productive." Josh comments
Plague sees Ralph.
"You call that', Plague points, 'productive?"
Josh rolls his eyes. He looks down and sees the extra leftover bread.
"Do you mind?" Josh asks reaching for one
Elizabeth shakes her head.
"No. Go right ahead?" Elizabeth says with a small smile
Josh takes it and looks at Plague.
"Hungry?', Plague turns her head at Josh like she's going to kill him, Josh gulps and walks around her, 'Thought I just ask.', eats more, 'Mmm. This is good."
Josh goes to sit down next to Vanellope. Vanellope moves over and Josh gets comfortable. As Josh gets comfortable, E.D.I. shows up on screen and cuts away from the show Vanellope was watching.
"Hey!"
"Excuse me Vanellope. Josh?"
"What is it E.D.I.?" Josh asks only looking at the bread
"I have found something."
"Is it important?"
"Yes."
Josh bobs his head.
"And are you sure it's 100% accurate?"
"If you are trying to refer to my search of our last conversation. Then yes, I'm 100% sure accurate."
Josh leans forward.
"Okay. Show me what you found."
"Certainly."
E.D.I. fades away and shows camera footage of a nearby building's rooftop. Everyone sort of watches, except Ralph who's asleep and Felix in the other rooms. Josh narrows his eyes watching this fast-forward footage.
"E.D.I. what am I looking at?"
E.D.I. appears over the footage and pauses the moment Cyrus pops up.
"Cyrus."
Everyone looks shocked and they focus really hard on the TV.
"Cyrus?', Josh stands up, 'What's he doing now?"
"According to my scans and watching carefully, it seems like Cyrus has built some kind of combination machine."
Josh narrows his eyes and looks back at the four girls. He looks back at E.D.I.
"A what- machine?"
"I've watches Cyrus do this a few times now. He's placed his husks in one box and some sort of creature in the other. After a few seconds, boss subjects walk out not looking the same as they did when they went in."
Josh shakes his head strangely.
"Show me."
E.D.I. steps to the side and quickly speeds the footage. Elizabeth crosses her arms as Plague narrows her eyes watching what her Father built. Josh focuses as he sees the husk and darkling enter each side of the glass boxes. Elizabeth narrows her eyes seeing the darkling.
"What is that? It's disgusting looking." Elizabeth asks
Josh shakes his head and rubs his eyes.
"That's one of the creatures that attacked me by Darkness.', Elizabeth turns her head at Josh, 'It's bad enough if one of those things are being controlled by Darkness. If this thing is under Cyrus's control…can this get any worse?"
Plague blinks.
"I think it just did."
"Huh?"
Josh looks back up at the screen and sees the husk and darkling being 'combined' together. Calhoun covers her mouth and sees what's happening between the two. A giant flash goes off and the glass doors open up. The husk and darkling walk out, now transformed and mixed together, creating a darkling husk and a husk darkling. The husk has claws like the darkling and now can move faster. The darkling how looks more human and has the virus marked out all around its body. Josh shakes his head and looks around.
"This is a nightmare. This is just a frickin nightmare." Josh says sitting down
Josh sits down and keeps his hands on his face. Elizabeth walks on the right side of the couch and Plague sits down on the right side of the couch, smiling and nodding.
"Well I have to say, Daddy for once impressed me."
Calhoun looks annoyed.
"Are you kidding me?" Calhoun asks
Plague looks over and sees Elizabeth and Calhoun looking at her.
"Do you not see that machine? Anything or anyone who goes in that will get a mix of the other's powers. That's awesome."
"It's horrible." Elizabeth says walking away
Josh takes his hands off his face and sees Elizabeth walking away.
"You okay Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth covers her mouth with her one hand. Plague sees and smirks.
"Little Ice Princess here is just nervous seeing what Cyrus is capable of. I would be to if he locked me up and kept me as an experiment."
Elizabeth takes her hand off her face.
"It has to be destroyed.', Plague and Josh take notice of that, Elizabeth turns around, 'We need to destroy that thing before Cyrus makes anymore of those things."
Plague shakes her head.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wha? No way. We go there and steal it from Cyrus. Not only do we piss him off about it, we can use it for ourselves, huh?"
Josh turns his head but doesn't look at Plague. He thinks about the idea Plague just said.
"Huh…"
Elizabeth looks down at Josh not looking at her and she looks back at Plague.
"Plague, you don't understand the situation we have here."
Plague gets more annoyed and pissed. Vanellope sees and taps Josh's shoulder.
"Josh.', Josh looks and Vanellope points, Josh looks and flinches seeing Plague getting mad, 'Do something please?"
"I don't understand? I don't understand what you little ice bitch? That you feel like nothing more than a mistake gone horrible wrong? Huh?', Elizabeth gets really upset biting her lip, she takes a step forward clenching her fists, 'You're nothing more than a disaster waiting to happen and the only reason you're here is because Josh feels sorry for you."
Josh flinches to hearing what Plague is saying. He slowly turns and sees the look on Elizabeth's face.
"Oh boy…" Josh whispers
Elizabeth points at Plague with an ice fist. Calhoun looks and pulls Vanellope out of the cross hair.
"You know what Plague you can say and push me all you want but one of these days you're going to say the wrong thing and you're going to regret it!"
"Oh yeah?" Plague asks walking ahead
Plague and Elizabeth walk towards each other.
"Yeah!"
Josh stands up right before they collide with each other. He pushes the two back.
"Hey, hey! Destroying it or even using it, it doesn't matter if we don't even get to the damn thing!', Josh looks at both women and they calm down, just a bit, they back up, 'Now think about this. Cyrus isn't just going to let us walk into that building and reach that machine. It's going to be packed with whatever Cyrus is cooking up."
"And every second we waste, more of those things are showing up." Elizabeth explains
Plague shrugs.
"More fun for me."
"You would say that wouldn't you?"
"Yeah, I would."
Josh sighs hard to break up the fighting.
"Hey!', Josh looks at both women again, 'In case you hadn't notice, that building Cyrus is using is huge. It's going to take a lot more of us to clear that place out and reach that machine. Now…does anyone here have any ideas where we can 'borrow' an army?"
Suddenly Ralph snores loudly and everyone looks. Josh sighs and throws his head up.
"Ralph. RALPH!', Josh points his hand at Ralph and makes it out to a gun, he fires a small bolt and it hits Ralph, Ralph jumps wondering what just happened, Josh lowers his hand and looks serious, 'Wake your sleepy ass up! Were in kind of a dilemma here!"
Ralph is half asleep.
"What's wrong now?" Ralph asks yawning
"Everything. All hands on deck. Get Felix here."
Ralph sighs and gets up.
"Okay."
Josh rolls his eyes.
"If he doesn't wreck anything he just falls asleep. Wonderful…"
Elizabeth thinks for a moment and snaps her fingers.
"What if we call the local police?"
Josh blinks and everyone, including Josh looks at Elizabeth.
"You serious?" Josh asks with a lost look on his face
"They have fire power we could use to fight them."
Plague shakes her head.
"Why the hell would they help us?"
Josh nods.
"Plague's right Elizabeth. I know how that sounds but she's right. We're not, and I'm not exactly on their A-List."
"More like there Hit-List." Plague states
"Josh, what about that box thing you made?" Calhoun asks
Josh turns.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"My men from Hero's Duty. They could help out."
Josh shakes his head.
"That's not enough. And 'local' police aren't enough as well Elizabeth. We need a S.W.A.T. team or something. They all have the big guns."
"Josh, have you ever heard of Hearts and Minds?"
Josh blinks.
"No."
Elizabeth shuts her eyes and sees Josh doesn't know that it's a book.
"It's a book."
"History lesson time?" Plague asks sitting down
Elizabeth looks at Plague hard and Josh looks back.
"Plague. Shut, the, HELL up."
Plague sighs slowly and Josh looks back at Elizabeth.
"What are you talking about Elizabeth?" Calhoun asks
"The book in short, we do something for them, they'll…"
"Do something for us?" Josh asks
Elizabeth nods.
"Yes."
"Elizabeth. That's a long shot."
"How about I give them a good ass kicking. That should get them to help us."
"Unlikely Plague." Josh states
"Didn't you say law enforcement is having trouble fighting the husks?', Elizabeth asks, Josh turns around, 'They can't defeat the husks like we can."
Josh nods to that idea.
"We help them get rid of a few husks."
"Then they have to owe us." Vanellope says
Josh and Elizabeth look down. Josh smiles and pats Vanellope's head.
"Couldn't have said it better."
Vanellope smiles. Josh looks at E.D.I.
"E.D.I., can you find anything on the police band of any teams out there are fighting the husks?"
"Scanning."
E.D.I. scans on the broad band. Everyone waits. Plague shakes her head and looks at Josh.
"You can't be serious."
Josh looks annoyed and turns at Plague.
"It's our only move."
Plague scuffs and E.D.I. finds something.
"I've found something."
"Put it up E.D.I."
E.D.I. puts up the radio chatter of the S.W.A.T. under fire. There's gunfire, yelling and a lot of static.
"We need backup! We are surrounded! More and more of them just keep coming! We can't stop them! We need help!" S.W.A.T. Team Commander yells
Josh nods.
"Those are our guys."
"Were helping the people trying to arrest you?" Plague asks
Josh sighs.
"Yes for the time being. Let's go."
"Who's going?" Calhoun asks
Josh turns around and looks at Calhoun.
"Me, Plague and Calhoun. I don't want you four anywhere near those things or the S.W.A.T. team when we come into contact. We can handle a few husks."
"And what about those things Cyrus is making?" Vanellope asks
Josh looks down. He just shrugs.
"I don't know, I'm making this up as I go. Let's go ladies."
Ralph and Felix finally enter the Apartment. Felix sees Josh, Plague and Elizabeth leaving.
"Hey yall. Where are you all going?"
"Out Felix." Josh answers
Calhoun crosser her arms.
"What do you want us to do in the meantime?"
The three board the elevator. Josh turns around and throws down the elevator door.
"Keep an eye on that building with E.D.I. Call me if anything changes."
Calhoun nods. Josh hits the switch and the three go down.
Garage…
The three walk ahead and Josh goes to the car.
"Get in.'
"You two go on ahead, I'll meet you there." Plague explains
Josh and Elizabeth stand at both doors of the Camaro. They look at each other and back at Plague.
"Where you going?" Josh asks shutting the door
Plague waves Josh off.
"I'm in no mood for a drive. My way is quicker."
Elizabeth rolls her eyes.
"That's fine by me."
Josh turns his head at Elizabeth and she sees the look Josh is giving her. Plague bites her lip.
"And I have another reason why I'm not going with you two but I'm not going to say it."
Josh sighs.
"Fine.', points hard at Plague, 'You, better, be, THERE."
Plague walks away.
"Yeah, yeah…"
Plague swooshes and disappears. Josh shakes his head and looks back at the car.
"Well, no reason to take this.', Elizabeth looks at Josh, 'Let's take the bike."
Josh walks over to his motorcycle. Elizabeth narrows her eyes and brushes some of her hair back behind her ear.
"Motorcycle?"
Josh rips off the cover of his bike and hops on.
"Well, get on."
Elizabeth gulps.
"'Get, on'?"
Josh nods.
"Yeah. Come on."
Elizabeth walks up to the bike slowly and gets on. Josh turns it on and its engine roars out through the Garage. Elizabeth jumps and gets really nervous.
"You do know how to drive this right?"
Josh laughs.
"Ha! Of course. What makes you ask that?"
"Um, no, no reason."
Josh nods.
"Right. Tie your bowtie in your ponytail tight. We got to make it to that location in ten minutes."
"You're going to drive the speed limit right?"
Josh shrugs.
"Kind of."
Elizabeth gulps.
"Please tell me you're joking."
Josh shakes his head.
"Nope! Hold on!"
Josh throttles back and the front tire jumps. Elizabeth gasps and throws her arms around Josh as they speed out of the Garage and towards their destination.
S.W.A.T. Team Location…
The S.W.A.T. Team members get surrounded by the oncoming husks. They open fire on them, they get hailed with neuromas bullets but they keep on coming. Snipers on top of the S.W.A.T. truck open fire at the heads of the husks but doesn't do much damage to them as they just ignore the shot and keep on pressing. The S.W.A.T. Team Commander reloads his pistol and fires at the two husks approaching him.
"God Damn it! Die already!"
"Sir were running out of bullets!" S.W.A.T. Member yells
"Keep firing!"
The fifteen S.W.A.T. Team Members keep opening fire with their automatic weapons. The husks keep getting closer and surround the S.W.A.T. Team. The Commander sees that they're in trouble and faces the end…
"Oh shit…"
Just as a husk is about to attack the Commander, a gunshot is heard and the husk that was right in front of the Commander drops dead.
"Huh?" S.W.A.T. Commander asks
The other Team Members look around wondering how that one husk just died. A loud motorcycle engine is heard and the Commander turns around.
"The hell?"
Suddenly Josh and Elizabeth ride by and Josh fires at the husks advancing on the S.W.A.T. Team.
"GET DOWN!" Josh orders
As Josh and Elizabeth ride by, Elizabeth hails the husks with her ice and they freeze up to death. Josh drifts on his bike and spins around. More husks are right behind them and Josh kicks up the bike and Elizabeth gets knocked off.
"Take care of the rear?"
"Got it!"
Josh speeds ahead as Elizabeth takes care of the ones in front of her. As Josh speeds ahead, he pulls out his staff and takes down each frozen husk that Elizabeth got early. Josh hits the brakes and flies off his bike landing on a husk right before a S.W.A.T. Member. He digs his staff into the husk and it falls apart into a million pieces. Josh goes on about and takes down the rest of the husks around the S.W.A.T. Team and as they watch. The S.W.A.T. Commander just watches and slowly recognizes Josh.
"Josh Litwak…"
As Josh spins around, a husk is standing right before him. Josh goes to attack and suddenly Plague swooshes in and cuts the husk in half. He sees Plague and Plague just smirks.
"Did I miss much?"
"Thought you weren't going to show."
"I wouldn't miss a fight for the world."
Josh rolls his eyes.
"Behind you."
Plague spins around and cuts the head off the husk coming at her. Josh grabs his disc blade and throws it at the frozen husks Elizabeth is taking care of. IT flies around and cuts right through them like butter. The disc blade flies right back at Josh and he catches it. The S.W.A.T. Team and its Commander see the husks all gone by these three people, especially Josh. The Commander looks back at his men and nods. Plague and Elizabeth walk up to Josh.
"Well that was fun." Plague says with a smile
"What took you so long?" Elizabeth asks
Plague sighs and shakes her head.
"Not now little princess."
Elizabeth shakes her head.
"Stop calling me 'princess'."
"Stop it, right now." Josh orders
Suddenly, the sound of guns cocking are heard and Josh lifts his head up with a confused look on his face.
"What's that sound?" Josh asks turning around
As Josh turns around, Plague and Elizabeth look behind Josh and look surprised. Josh turns around and sees the S.W.A.T. Team aiming all their guns at them. Josh shakes his head and the Commander points his pistol at Josh.
"Your under arrest Josh Litwak."
"Unbelievable…"
Plague gets annoyed.
"I knew this was a bad idea. I knew it!"
"Shut up Plague." Elizabeth says
"Don't tell me to shut up." Plague says looking hard at Elizabeth
"Well I just did."
Josh looks back.
"Knock it off.', the two do and Josh looks back at the S.W.A.T., 'I just saved your butts and now you're going to arrest me?"
"We didn't ask for your help."
"Well it seems like you needed it." Plague says
"Put your hands up now Josh Litwak."
Josh sighs hard. Suddenly, growling is heard and a S.W.A.T. Member turns around. A small herd of husks walk their way towards everyone.
"Um, Sir, we got more company!"
The Commander turns around and sees the husks advancing towards them.
"Oh great…"
Josh and the two girls look and see more husks. Plague holds her sword out.
"More fun time."
The Commander looks back at Josh.
"Do not move. I'm telling you right now.'
"Or what?"
The Commander cocks his pistol.
"Use your imagination."
Josh shakes his head and Elizabeth leans in closer to him.
"Josh, what should we do?"
Josh narrows his eyes and looks at the husks coming. He blinks and smirks.
"We just took care of these husks for you right here, you did see that right?"
The Commander blinks and several S.W.A.T. Members stand in a line and aim at the husks approaching.
"Sir! Open fire?"
The Commander looks back still pointing his gun at Josh.
"Hold on!', looks back at Josh, 'We can take care of these things."
"Obviously not if you couldn't kill them." Plague states
The Commander points his gun at Plague.
"One more word of you and you'll be alongside the Terrorist here."
Plague narrows her eyes hard at the Commander and he sees the fire emitting off of her.
"Say that again, I dare you."
The Commander gulps. Josh steps forward and he sees, the Commander throws his gun at Josh.
"Don't move!"
"You two options Commander', The Commander narrows his eyes, 'Option One: you let us take care of these husks for you and you'll get better sleep at night knowing these things are off the street. Option two: try to arrest me and deal with these husks on your own because we both know were the only ones who can take care of them."
The Commander struggles. A S.W.A.T. Member looks back at the very close husks getting towards them.
"Sir!?"
The Commander looks down hard and grunts. He lowers his gun and the three see.
"Go! Do it!"
Josh nods.
"Let's go!" Josh orders
The three run ahead and the Commander watches.
"I hope I don't regret this." The Commander says walking towards the spot
Josh, Plague and Elizabeth run past the S.W.A.T. Members and they watch the three fight the husks. They take care of the husks in each of their own way. Josh uses his weapons one at a time taking down the husks. Elizabeth freezes the husk with her ice abilities and opens rips to get rid of them for good. She even opens some rips of alternate devices that either squash, run over and even lift up the husks. Plague uses her sword and slices and dices the husks coming at her. She spins around in circles and uses her fire abilities to roast them alive. The S.W.A.T. members and the Commander watch in shock seeing these three take down the husks without no trouble at all.
"This is unbelievable…"
The last husk gets taken down by Josh. Josh uses his staff and impales it into the ground. The husk dies and Josh spins around his staff.
"Ahhh…that was fun…"
Plague smiles.
"See?"
Elizabeth rolls her eyes.
"You two are so impossible sometimes."
Josh chuckles and looks at the Commander. He walks towards them and the S.W.A.T. Members cock and point their guns at Josh. Josh stops walking and crosses his arms.
"Really?"
Plague and Elizabeth see and get ready just in case. The Commander steps ahead, this time not pointing his gun at Josh. He stares at Josh and sees him not attacking or even harming anyone except for the husks he fought. The Commander sighs slowly and waves his hand.
"Guns down. Guns down…"
Josh smiles and the S.W.A.T. Members lower their weapons. He walks closer to the Commander and crosses his arms.
"You're welcome."
"Excuse me if I don't say thank you."
"You just did so I'll take it."
The Commander sighs.
"What do you want Terrorist?"
Josh chuckles and smiles.
"It's Josh. Or if you prefer White Lightning."
"No thanks."
Josh sighs.
"Okay, let's just cut to the chase.', The Commander crosses his arms, 'The man responsible for these things is close by."
"I can see him just fine."
Josh blinks and remains calm.
"These aren't mine. Don't believe everything you're told Commander."
"I'm told if I see Josh Litwak, I have all rights to arrest and bring him in no matter what the cost."
Josh nods.
"Well I can't stop you from disobeying your orders now can I?', The Commander nods, 'But let me tell you something right now Commander…there are more of these things nearby. Nearby in a building with the same man who created them."
The Commander narrows his eyes.
"How many more."
"Five times as many as you saw here.', The Commander and the S.W.A.T. Members open their eyes even more, 'But if you want to go and take care of them by yourself, go right ahead, will just be on our way." Josh says walking away
The Commander gulps and shakes his head.
"Wai-Wait!', Josh and the girls stop and look back, 'Are you serious?"
Josh looks at the two and sees that he's hooked on. He smiles but hides it. Josh looks back at the Commander.
"Yeah I am. And you saw what we can do. Will help you take out those husks as long as you help us take the building."
The Commander narrows his eyes and crosses his arms.
"Oh really?"
Josh nods.
"Yeah. That's how it's going to work. You help me, will help you."
The Commander bites his lip and thinks about the idea. Josh looks back at the two and shrugs wondering if the Commander will take the deal. The Commander blinks and nods.
"If my Captain finds out that I'm working with you on this, I can kiss my career goodbye."
"No one will know. Cyrus has something I want to see and I need the extra firepower to take the building."
"Cyrus?"
"That's the man who the husks belong to."
"Is that what you call them?"
"You got a better name?"
The Commander sighs.
"Where's this building you're talking about?"
Josh places his hands on Plague's and Elizabeth's shoulder.
"These two will show you.', Elizabeth and Plague turn their heads back at Josh, 'I have to 'upload' a few more characters to come along on this little journey. See yall later." Josh says walking away
As Josh walks away, Plague stands her ground and Elizabeth catches up to Josh as he walks to his bike.
"Where you going Josh?"
"Back to the Apartment. I need my Box."
"Why?"
"It's going to be a big fight at that building Cyrus is holding himself up in. I know…', shrugs, 'two characters that might be willing to help."
"Who?"
Josh hops on his bike and smiles.
"Master Chief and Nathan Drake."
Elizabeth narrows her eyes wondering who Josh is talking about. Josh turns on his bike and looks ahead.
"See you at the building."
Josh zings off and heads back home.
End of Chapter 25…
Preview of Chapter 26…
With the S.W.A.T. Team now going to help Josh take over the building Cyrus is in. The main mission is to get that machine and destroy it. But Josh is having second thoughts about actually using it instead. But when the time comes down to it, Josh realizes that it can be only used once. And with Plague and Elizabeth on his side, which one is he going to choose? Next time on Wreck-It Ralph: Cyrus the Virus, Chapter 26 – Third Choice Part 2 (Finale)
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