Authors Note:
"If You Ain't First You're Last"- The Monster Goes Rawrr
Chapter 35
Another Virus
Sapphire could not stop crying. She just lay there in the plastic bubble Mega had trapped her in.
There was no hope now- she would starve to death in a sound proof bubble. She would never see anyone again. She would never leave. It would be a slow and painful death.
She'd always thought hope was one of the best thing in life, that it could keep you sane and content.
Hope was just another failed dream now.
Ved had woken to an empty room for a couple of days. Cloe had gone with Patsy and he was almost being driven insane by worry. He decided to go for a wander around the tribe's site before locking himself away in the computer room.
As he walked around, passing the schoolroom, the hospital room, the clothes making and washing area and finally another set of housing he thought he saw Paul leave a room… he wandered a little closer and then saw Meena race out of the same room and talk to him. Paul pulled away, made some remark, and continued walking.
What was that about?
Sapphire heard something. What was it? She strained her ears against the bubble.
Voice outside door: Yes, I'm telling you- the Mallrats have Mega. He's somewhere in the Mall.
The Mallrats had Mega? There really was no hope for her now, unless someone came in.
Other voice outside door: What are you doing?
First voice: Going in.
Second voice: To here? Mega gave specific instructions to leave this room alone.
No, no, come in. Come into this room and help me you fools!
First: Ah right.
The voices slowly faded away.
Patsy: Is this the right place?
Cloe: I think so Pats.
Patsy: Okay, what are we waiting for?
Leo: You sure it's safe to go in there?
Patsy: As safe as it's ever going to be.
Ryan: Too right as it's ever going to be.
Patsy, Cloe and Leo spun around to come face to face with Ryan.
Patsy and Cloe: RYAN!
Ryan: (hugging the girls) I haven't seen you in ages! Especially you Cloe.
Cloe: Wait, what? What do you mean?
Ryan: Well I haven't seen you since the time of The Chosen.
Patsy: What?
Ryan: And I haven't seen you Pats, since the mines.
Cloe: But Ryan… you saw us a couple of months ago…
Ryan: What?
Leo: I think I know what's happened to your friend.
Cloe & Patsy: What?
Leo: The Technos can mindwipe people, erase memories, and they can even choose which ones. They obviously erased all the memories of after his escape for convenience.
Ryan: They erased my memories?
Cloe: Obviously. Don't worry though Ryan.
Patsy: We'll fill you in on our way back to our tribe.
Ryan: Our tribe?
Cloe: The tribe we've started living with- The Listeners.
Ryan: Lead the way then.
Sapphire slammed her fists against the plastic, and screamed and yelled but to no avail. She had enough food for only about two more days. And enough water for five. She buried her head in her hands but stopped when she felt something.
A bobby pin. She had a bobby pin!
She pulled it out and slid it through the crack on the door trying to jimmy the lock. Maybe, just maybe…
An hour later and she had given up and tried again countlessly when she heard voices.
Ram and Jack had been coming back and forth for hours, doing numerous things in the computer room next door. Her brother and one of her saviours- brilliant right? It was obvious that Jack didn't remember the forest trotting and their band of rebels. The Technos probably wiped it all away fairly soon after he was captured. They hadn't heard her and they hadn't investigated, which probably just pissed her off even more.
But this time was different- there were more voices and there was Slade's and Mega's. What was going on?
She retried to open the lock. She was getting somewhere when she heard panicking and footsteps. Everyone was leaving. Why was everyone leaving, and in such a rush?
She tried harder, she was almost there, she got it, she got it, and and and…
YES! IT WAS OPEN! She raced out of the bubble and got to the door. It was locked too, great, just great. She used her hair pin skills again and it took a few minutes but then the door leading onto the computer room opened.
She was met with the sight of Mega, almost dead, on the floor.
Sapphire: Josh! What happened?
Mega: No! You're meant to be in the bubble, you'll be safe, new virus…
He was dying, he couldn't be dying!
Uhhhhh, c'mon Soph, Saff, whatever, think!
Impulsively she grabbed the electrical wire and zapped him.
He moaned but his eyes fluttered and he regained breathing status.
Josh: I know what you're thinking, you don't have to do it Soph…
Sapphire: I have to, otherwise we'll both die.
Josh: I'm a loss how?
Sapphire: I may half hate you but I still care about you enough not to want you to die. Now stop talking, you're sick.
Then Sapphire turned her focus to the computers. It had a countdown. A new virus? That was it?
Taking a deep breath she braced herself before putting on the virtual helmet.
She either had to stop the virus or neutralise it… she'd studied Chemistry at school… now…
She brought up the list of ingredients. Hmm. She wasn't sure, so maybe stopping it?
The countdown was steadily going.
She tried system overrides, secret files, anything and everything.
So it was neutralisation huh?
She thought for another moment and then decided on what chemical to add, and in what quantity. She saw the video footage as the machines in the room poured in the extra solution…
A rush of smoke erupted from the mixture.
Sapphire: I've added something to the mix, it's still kinda toxic and will take a while to settle but it won't explode and kill everyone. However if we stay here we may get seriously sick so we've gotta go pretty boy.
Mega: Soph, help me.
Sapphire helped him get to his feet, and he put his body weight on her as they hurried out of the hotel. When they reached the outside they could see smoke pouring out the windows.
Sapphire: Seriously Josh? Another virus? What was going on in that head?
Mega: Don't even ask Sophie.