Chapter 10 - New Priorities
Author's note: Hi, readers! I am terribly, TERRIBLY sorry that I took so long to update this story. With Halloween being just over a month away, I figured it's about time I get into the spirit and resume working on "Willy Wonka's Factory of Horrors"! Without further hesitation, I'll address your reviews.
Gs33022, I'm glad you liked the Wonkamobile reference. Thankfully for Mike, he won't be riding it again afterwards!
Turrislucidus, like I said to Gs33022, that is the last we'll see of that contraption. :)
JOHNHAMMOND1993, sorry to spoil the speculation, but Stella and Violet are two separate people. They have nothing in common except that they both have blonde hair. If I disappointed you, I apologize. :P Now, on with the story!
(Note: credit for New Loompaland and the name A'pocolate goes to MysteriousMaker1185.)
Mike shook his head as he disembarked the Wonkamobile, looking over his shoulder at the strange vehicle.
"That's the last and only ride I'm ever taking on that abomination," Mike said to himself as he walked through an identical station, taking the opportunity to quickly stock up on more ammo for his plasma cutter. Without looking back, he strutted through the doors that served as the station's exit.
"Now entering Utility Corridor # 4," an automated voice spoke as Mike set foot into yet another corridor. The walls and floor of this corridor were made from concrete, and there were two strips of flickering blue lights on each wall, just above the floor, to provide illumination.
Suddenly, his watch beeped, but instead of Stella, a new face appeared on the holographic display. It was that of a man who had fairly dark skin, brown eyes, and a rather unusual haircut. His facial features reminded Mike of the creatures he had encountered, but this Oompa-Loompa was clearly alive and healthy as can be. He wore a red polyester jacket that contrasted well with the black leather armchair he was sitting in.
"Attention Mike Teavee, 586749, this is A'pocolate, chief of New Loompaland," he said with an assertive, almost stern voice. "We have traced recent acts of sabotage to your ID number. Care to explain this?"
Mike gulped. He knew he was in trouble now. "Uhh, I-I'm sorry," he apologized nervously. "But listen, I didn't know exactly what would happen. I just did what Stella told me, and now that bitch has left me for dead out here! So screw her, all right? I'll even testify if you wish."
"I don't think my colleagues will accept that," A'pocolate said, crossing his arms. "You've caused a lot of trouble, Mike, but there is a way to make up for some of the damage you've done. The computers that control New Loompaland's security systems have malfunctioned, and you're the ideal person to repair them."
Mike noticed that a mutated Oompa-Loompa was walking towards him. It looked identical to the ones he had previously encountered. He quickly raised the plasma cutter.
"Isn't there someone else who can do it?" Mike protested. He pulled the trigger, severing both of the creature's legs from its torso with a white-hot burst of plasma. "I'm literally fighting for my life down here!"
"You're the only one in this building who knows how to operate the old computer systems that exist outside of New Loompaland," A'pocolate responded. "If you truly have any remorse for the last living members of our kind, this is your chance to show it. Fix the systems, and you'll keep those monsters from reaching our population. You must hurry!" A'pocolate immediately disappeared, leaving Mike alone.
So...there are people in here who are still alive?! Mike thought. Why didn't anyone tell me that before?
Mike walked towards the still-bleeding body of the monster he had just dismembered, and he stomped on its chest with his right foot to ensure that it was dead. His footsteps echoed all around the corridor as he moved onward. Before long, he approached a series of round doors that branched off both sides of the corridor.
"There's a Kinesis Ring in the first room on your left," A'pocolate told Mike. "It should prove to be a valuable tool for you."
"All right," Mike replied as he walked up to the door and pushed it open. Not surprisingly, Mike found himself in another locker room. After a quick search, he found a purple ring inside one of the lockers. He picked it up and placed it on his left index finger, and as with the Stasis Ring, this ring emitted a white glow for several seconds as it magnetically attached itself to his glove.
"The Kinesis Ring acts as an extension of the user's limb," an automated voice spoke. "With it, metallic objects and equipment can be remotely manipulated. Users should be aware of the object's true weight when working in populated areas."
"So that's what Stella used on me in my hallucination," Mike said in realization as he walked out of the room. "She threw me into the air with just a flick of her wrist. With that amount of power literally at my fingertip, I'm ready for just about anything that may come my way!"
He used his locator, and it led him towards a door on the left side of the corridor about fifty feet ahead. An electronic sign positioned above the door displayed the words: "HYDRAULIC ROOM # 15".
"Well, here goes nothing," Mike said, sighing as he opened the door. He emerged into an enormous room that was filled to the ceiling with intimidating machinery. There were massive hydraulic pumps that were each the size of a semitrailer, and hundreds of black rubber hoses spread out from each pump as if they were the tentacles of a mutated giant squid. There were also backup accumulators to restart the pumps in case of a power outage, but despite their existence, the room was dead quiet, since the machinery had likely stopped working a long time ago.
"That's strange," Mike said as he listened for any signs of monsters. "It seems that the room must be empt—AHHHHH!"
A pair of thin but strong tentacles fastened themselves around Mike's neck from behind. His screams of terror were drowned out by the creature's growls, which were so loud and guttural that Mike's body was vibrating from the sound alone. With quick thinking, Mike whipped out his diamond saw, blindly thrashing the lethal weapon around with his right arm until he heard the sound of flesh being ripped apart, accompanied by a bloodcurdling scream from whatever was behind him. The creature released him, and with a wet thud, its lifeless body fell to the floor.
Mike turned around to look at what had ambushed him from behind. It was clearly another mutated Oompa-Loompa, but this one was quite different from the ones he had encountered previously. Its facial features appeared to be more human than the others, but instead of teeth, this one had four mandible-like fangs. Its blood-spattered body was humanlike except for the fact that it had two octopus-like tentacles instead of arms. One of the tentacles had been cleanly sliced off during the fight that took place seconds ago, and a deep, bloody gash stretched diagonally from its right shoulder all the way to its pelvic area.
"Mike?" Stella's voice rang out as her holographic face appeared in front of him. "Mike, can you hear me?"
He nodded. "Loud and clear, Stella."
"Mike, what you just encountered was another—" Her face disappeared, and her voice was replaced by static.
"Stella!" Mike yelled. "STELLA! Can you hear me or not?" More static. "Damn! Either we have a bad connection, or someone or something is jamming the signal." The static sharply cut off, leaving the room silent.
Mike suddenly heard a low-pitched growl from behind. He whipped around to see two more of these new creatures steadily walking towards him, their tentacles hungrily wriggling in all directions.
Where are they coming from? Mike asked himself as he instinctively raised the plasma cutter. With a few quick blasts of plasma, the mutated Oompa-Loompas fell down as blood and limbs flew everywhere, grunting as they took their last breaths. Even though I've seen my fair share of monsters in this factory so far, at least this room didn't actually go into quarantine this time. I'd like to know why.
"That plasma cutter sure is proving to be a valuable tool for you, isn't it?" A'pocolate said as his holographic face appeared in front of Mike. "Use it in conjunction with your Stasis Ring and you should make it through this section of the factory with ease. Now, go to the control panel at the far end of the room and make sure to get it back online."
"What will it do?" Mike wondered as he walked across the room at a brisk pace.
"Repairing this system will restart the hydraulic pumps in this area, which should serve as a benefit while using the chocolate river as a mode of transportation. A barge will be docked at the station you come to, and it will take you to the maintenance wing of the hospital. Now get moving."
"Roger," Mike replied just before A'pocolate disappeared. "Hopefully I'll see someone who's actually alive with my own eyes." He picked up the pace slightly, breaking into a light jog as he neared the console. By the time he reached it, his legs were weak and his heart was pounding like a jackhammer.
"Stupid suit," he grumbled as his fingers typed a flurry of commands into the computer. "I know it's supposed to be a protective piece of gear, but why, just why, does it have to be so damn heavy?"
"Systems restored," an automated voice said once Mike hit the Return key for what seemed like the umpteenth time. Who knew that just a simple operation could require so much code?
A loud whine filled Mike's ears, followed by the sound of the hydraulic pumps powering up, as well as the gushing sounds of hydraulic fluid being forced through all those rubber hoses to who knows where. With a surge of newfound energy and relief, Mike jogged towards the exit of the Hydraulic Room. Thankfully, as he approached the doors, the room did not go into quarantine; instead allowing him to gracefully return to the corridor once they slid open.
Mike sighed in relief as he removed his helmet and his right glove, using the back of his now-exposed hand to wipe away the thick beads of sweat that had accumulated on his forehead. "Mission accomplished," he said out loud before donning his gear once again.
With the help of his trusty locator, Mike followed the glowing blue line past a plethora of doors, listening carefully for the slightest growl, scream, or footstep, which there were none along this stretch of the journey. Eventually, his progress was hindered by two large metal shipping crates that blocked the path. They bore a swirly white "W" on all sides.
"Use kinesis to clear that shit outta the way," A'pocolate told Mike.
"Got it," Mike responded, grinning beneath his helmet as he touched the Kinesis Ring with a finger. Instantly, a white beam of energy shot out of the ring towards the first crate, effortlessly lifting it off the ground. The ring hummed with electricity as Mike turned his arm ever so slightly to guide the crate through the air, and once it was out of the way, he carefully lowered his arm to set it onto the ground before disengaging the beam. He did the same with the second crate. "I gotta admit, this is really cool."
Now that the path was clear, Mike continued onward until he reached a door that was labeled: "CHOCOLATE RIVER MAINTENANCE ACCESS PORT Q". There was a small, blinking orange button located beside the door, and with a light press, the door clicked and made a loud whirring sound as it slid open.
"Mike, I see that you made it to one of the transport tunnels," A'pocolate said with a smile. "See that barge over there?" Mike looked around to find a barge that was docked at the side of the river. Really, it was just a large, flat platform with steel railings at the front and back, and a small computer terminal in the center.
"Yes, I see it," Mike replied. "I guess that computer is what controls the barge?"
"That is correct," A'pocolate replied. Mike stepped onto the barge and walked towards the computer. "All you have to do is tell the barge to go to the next stop, which will be the entrance to the Hospital. Once you're there, I'll give you another briefing."
"Thank you," Mike said as A'pocolate vanished. He typed in a single line of code, and with a click, the barge's anchor withdrew its hold on the station platform.
"Departing Access Port Q: Utility Corridor # 4," a voice announced as the barge began to float down the river at a smooth, steady pace. "Next stop is Access Port R: Hospital."
"Mike, I'm here," Stella said as her face appeared in front of him. "Sorry I couldn't talk with you. Someone was jamming my signal. Anyway, once you reach the Hospital, I will guide you through, since it's like a maze in there and you could easily get lost."
"But someone else just told me he'd give me a briefing of his own once I get there," Mike calmly replied. "Plus, I have my locator."
Stella sighed, brushing a long strand of blonde hair away from her left eye. "I know. It's just that I have your best interests at heart. I will help you the best I can, Mike. Cheers." And with that, she vanished, leaving only the bare metal walls and the slow current of molten chocolate in front of Mike to look at.
Okay, I'm confused, Mike thought. Stella and A'pocolate are both giving me their own sets of instructions. That means that one of them has to be telling me the truth, and the other one has to be—
"Now approaching Access Port R: Hospital," the automated voice said, snapping Mike out of his thoughts. The barge smoothly pulled into the station platform and anchored itself into position, and Mike was free to disembark.
"All right, with that out of the way, let's go," Mike sighed, walking towards a steel door that was labeled: "HOSPITAL", complete with a large, red + symbol. With a push of a button, the door slid out of the way, and he marched inside.
Author's note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! What do you think might happen to Mike inside the Hospital? Only I know for sure! MWAHAHA! As always, feel free to review, and stay tuned for the next chapter, which will be published soon! :)