Chapter 14

I suppose I should have practiced a bit more restraint and spared more of the Pneumonia family. They would have made decent drones at the very least. If it's one thing Pneumonia knows how to do, it's cause cold symptoms. Spit. Fortunately, I had left a few of them alive and more than willing to help me carry out my plans once I'd persuaded them.

I've been in Marcus for only twenty-two hours, but I'd only managed to blow the cartilage dam in the nose, nearly eradicate Pneumonia from the body, and kill a shop keep. I had to step my game up.

"Uh… Boss?"

I looked up from where I was staring down at the map of Marcus that I had laid out on the table. My eyes moved over all the bacteria sitting around the table and stopped at the only empty chair. "We seem to be missing someone."

They all looked at each other until one bacteria with a bandana covering his bald head leaned forward to say, "Frankie got picked up by Immunity, boss."

I made a noise of disgust and rolled my eyes.

"Immunity probably thinks they can push back now that most of us are gone. They'll come knocking any day now," another germ said with a frown. He looked to be the oldest germ here. He had a trimmed goatee and was a little top heavy with legs that looked way too tiny to hold himself up.

"Immunity isn't our biggest concern right now," I stressed.

"You don't know Marcus Immunity. They need to be handled before they-" the germ continued, frowning at me.

"I don't have time to worry about Immunity!" I spat and slammed my fist down onto the table. Immediately, I saw the germ that I had been arguing with and several others reach for their straps and back away from the table. I let my gaze move over each of them slowly. I could see the fear in their eyes. Some of them trembled, while others gripped their guns tighter.

I shook my head and chuckled lowly. I raised both my hands, palms forward, before sinking back down onto my chair. "Relax, gentlemen. Relax. Just let me explain something to you," I said and reclined in my seat. They exchanged wary looks before slowly retaking the seats and releasing their guns.

I reached into my coat and pulled out my chain. Applying some pressure, I let a single bead of DNA bulge out of the chain. "You see this, boys? This is what I'm after. I got this pretty jewel from a cop living out on the west side. Picture this for me if you would… clean streets, efficient Immunity, the healthiest cells you could possibly imagine. My man Richard took real good care of himself. But that didn't save him from me.

"Now, I've visited a few bodies in my travels and I have to say that Marcus is one of the worst. Bacteria running the streets. Filth clogging arteries," I got up slowly to pace around the room. I kept my hands behind my back as I walked, making eye contact with everyone. "And an Immunity force that wouldn't know their nucleus from their backside."

Some of the germs chuckled lightly, lowering their guards slightly.

"Maybe… we like it like that. You ever thought o' that, boss?" the top-heavy oaf spoke up and shot me a defiant look. I could feel my rage trying to bubble up, but I viciously suppressed it.

"You like ruling over a piece of spit body? Well, excuse me," I replied with a smirk. The oaf shut his mouth with a click and glowered at me. "Boys, I have big plans and even bigger dreams. I've done well for myself. I've been able to break my record with every new body I invade, and Marcus will be my best time yet. I said I was going to take him down in seventy-two hours. That was twenty-two hours ago. I've got deadlines and need to make moves. So-"

"What does that mean for us?" Top-Heavy asked with a raised brow and a suspicious look. I nearly rolled my eyes.

"When Marcus starts to go down, we'll make our escape in a cough or a sneeze. You know how it is," I said with a distracted wave of my hand. I approached the map again. "You'll split into two teams. One team will take the lungs and the other will head for the throat. I already took out the dam in the nose on my way in. I just need you all to make as much noise as you can."

I let them look down at the map before looking amongst themselves. I gave them time to turn what I had said over in their heads. It was best to give the slower infections time to process big ideas. I chuckled and reclaimed my seat before kicking up my feet and humming softly to myself.

"You got it, Boss," Top-Heavy said before standing and moving towards the door. "Sykes, Tremor, Charlie, you're with me."

Once they had all left, my humming sounded even louder in the empty room.

You give me fever…

~:~

I hadn't given much thought to what would happen to Marcus after I left him in flames. More specifically, what would happen to Kat. She had made her decision to turn her back on me. Whatever she got, she deserved. For all I know, Immunity could have picked her up already. No skin off my nose.

"'Nother round?"

I looked up from the glass I was staring at to see the bar tender watching me expectantly. She was a young cell with half of her head shaved, a septum piercing, and only moderately more clothes on than the she-cell currently dancing on the stage behind me.

I grunted and pushed the empty glass toward her before staring at the counter again.

"No offense, but you look like spit," she said and popped her gum loudly. I gave her an unamused glare. She shrugged and filled a clean glass. "The only guys who come in here looking like you do are the ones with girl troubles."

"I don't have girl troubles," I snarled and took the fresh beer that she offered.

She raised a skeptical brow at me before grabbing a liquor bottle and a shot glass. She filled the glass and pushed it toward me. "On the house. You look like you need it. Hopefully, your girl sees you plastered and feels sorry for you," she says and moves away to go wipe down the other end of the counter. She was lucky she had moved away in time. A second longer and I might have done something that would have definitely gotten me kicked out.

"Coming to the stage is a girl who's new in town! Give it up for Mystic!"

I chocked on my beer. The liquid sloshed all over my hand, chin and sweater as I coughed roughly. The bartender shot me an annoyed look and stared at the now wet counter, but I didn't bother apologizing. I had already turned around to look right at the stage. It couldn't be. Of all the luck…

The song wasn't the same, but that didn't stop my membrane from prickling. I could feel my cytoplasm heating up as my hands shook. I clenched them into fists to stop the shaking just as the girl finally started to walk out onto the stage. And just like that, all the tension drained from my body.

This girl was nothing like Kat. Her proportions were way off. Her bust was too big, probably fake. Her waist was too thin, and her membrane was a translucent green. With her short, stocky legs, she reminded me of a gremlin. With a sound of disgust, I turned back around and downed my shot.

Pathetic, really.

I had better things to do than throw what little cash I had away at a seedy strip club. Reaching into my pocket, I grabbed some bills and tossed them onto the counter and stood. I could hear the bar tender shout a "good luck with your girl!" at me as I walked away. Whatever. I nodded to the bouncer as I approached the door. This place was spit anyways.

As soon as I stepped out into the dimming sunset, I heard the sounds of guns cocking and a voice shouting, "Freeze!"

You've gotta be spitting me.

Looking around, I could see around ten cop cars blocking me in on all sides and dozens of officers with their guns pointed at me. I could probably have taken them on if I hadn't spent the last few hours indulging. As of right now, I'd be lucky to take out more than six of them without getting killed in the crossfire.

"Put your hands in the air!"

I sighed deeply and raised my hands, palms forward.

"On your knees! Get on the ground!"

My plans were still in motion. Those bacteria were still doing their jobs. I could afford to pass out in a cell for a few hours. Once I'd sobered up, I'll make my move. I could see the Immunity officers closing in on me now.

"You have the right to remain silent! You have the right an attorney, you viral piece of spit."

"Now, that's hurtful," I said and let them clamp the cuffs over my wrists.

"Shut up!" one of them shouted before I felt something hit the side of my head. I immediately fell forward, my vision blurring and everything going muffled. I felt them slip something on my hands, but I couldn't see what it was. When I bent to see, one of them kicked my side. I felt all the air in my body escape, and I coughed a few times as my eyes prickled with unshed tears. As I was trying to restore my breathing, I felt my stomach turn. I threw up all the beer and liquor I had just paid for onto the sidewalk and the front of my sweater and groaned lowly.

"Get him out of here," someone said in disgust just as some hands roughly pulled me up and dragged me away.

Who said Immunity was inefficient?

~:~

Processing at the station was a blur. The thought of one of my cronies coming for me had crossed my mind once, but I'd let it go immediately. If they had heard about me, they wouldn't lose any sleep. They were probably glad I was out of their lives. Who needs them? I don't need anyone to look out for my back. I would get out of here on my own.

I sat in a cell with two other germs, but neither of them said anything to me. They were doing their best to avoid my lethal gaze and smell. No one had given me a clean shirt.

The Immunity cells walked around the station, not paying me any mind. I could see them walking around heavily armed and not the least bit concerned that I was already planning my escape. They'd regret it soon enough. Taking a deep breath, I cracked my neck and stood.

"Hey! Come on. Chief needs to ask you some questions," one of the guards said and took out a ring of keys. Okay. I don't mind you making it easy. He opened the door to the cell, and I stepped forward. Just as I was about to slash his throat with my claw, I paused. What the hell? I looked back at my hands. They were still handcuffed, and I still had a thick material covering both of them. I looked at the other germs in the cell.

Why was I the only one still cuffed?

"Move it," the cop said and grabbed my shoulder. He pushed me forward and clenched his hand over my shoulder. I held back a growl/

Things had just gone from mildly annoying to slightly concerning. I couldn't cut through the material covering my claw. I couldn't burn it off either. These cops weren't playing around. They were ready for me. The only way they could have known was if someone sold me out. My eyes widened. Those Pneumonia rats…

I could feel my cytoplasm heating up. I must have gone too easy on them. Once I was out of this joint, they would all die.

"In here," the cop said and pushed me into a room with only a table and two chairs. I sat in one of the chairs and watched the cop move to stand at the side of the room with a shotgun in hand. Difficult, but not impossible to handle. I could still get out of here. I'm sure that not even the chief of Immunity could stop me. I just needed to get out of these cuffs first.

The door to the room suddenly opened. My eyes moved to see just who it was that I would be taking down. Another officer walked in with a bullet proof vest on and a gun on each hip. He glared at me with fire in his eyes and sneered.

"I don't mean to be rude and spit on your hospitality, but I didn't get my one phone call yet," I said to the police chief. The officer didn't answer me. He moved to stand at attention on the other side of the room and watch me.

I heard another voice at the same time that I heard the heels. "Come on, Thrax. We both know you don't got nobody to call."

A cold sweat broke out on my back and I immediately sat up straight in my seat.

It was almost like seeing her in my hotel room all over again. She was wearing a white button down, some black slacks and a buttoned, black blazer. Her hair was out and flowing over her shoulders. She'd switched out the heels for some heeled boots, but she still looked like she could poke an eye out with a high kick. Her eyes were hidden behind some dark shades, but I could feel her piercing gaze on me anyways.

"Kat," I whispered, stunned.

I felt my breath catch when she pushed her shades up onto her head and leaned forward to get closer to my face.

"Hi, baby," she said with a wide grin.

~:~

Moi-Moi: The song that I imagined playing in the club was "Money Make Her Smile" by Bruno Mars. Obviously, you can choose whatever song you like, but I just liked this one.