The Mod Freaks
The air outside was cold, but not just cold, it had lifeless feel. The air was stale and the thick fog made breathing feel like inhaling water, making their lungs heavy.
"Where did your friend say the delivery point was?" asked Edd looking around the grim under-city. "There's a building down that path that'll take us to an apartment complex, he's in room 23 on the third floor" Eddy replied pointing down a path, which after a several meters disappeared into the fog. "I don't remember that much detail, how'd you know what room it was" Edd raised an eyebrow. "It's right here, on this little card on the box" said Eddy showing Edd the card. "Ok, let's just deliver this thing, it's cold out here" Edd rubbed his arms.
The Eds walked down the foggy path, down a flight of steps and into a wide, open area. There was another flight of steps going down under a tall building. To the right of the boys was an old warehouse, it's metal sliding doors were rusted and appear to have not been opened in years. A crane hung over the doors, a chain hanging from the crane swung silently. The whole area was eerie and quiet. The buildings had no lights on and the only light came from a flood light high above the sleeping down. "That's the place" Eddy pointed up to the solemn building. A window on the top floor emitted a faint glow, hidden behind several meters of thick fog. Down the dark steps led to a dingy elevator which took the three boys up to a silent corridor. The morning light cast a blue tinge throughout the long hallway. The hallway felt haunted, dust floated in the air and the floor creaked under foot.
They approached Room 23 and knocked. A voice from the other side responded "Enter" the voice was deep and unnatural, as if it had gone through a computer first. Eddy opened the door slowly, it creaked loudly. Inside were two men, or at least they used to be men. The beings in the room were only a fraction of what they used to be. Skin replaced by a nano-suit, limbs replaced by cybernetics, organs removed once they became useless. The masks that these cyborgs wore removed any trace of their previous humanity. Their masks were different, but both looked like gas masks. One had two pipes coming out of the side of his mask, going over his shoulders into his back. His eyes were hidden behind reflective glass sockets.
The other had what looked like bulging arteries going up his ares and legs and an extended respiratory piece and clear eye sockets. The black nano-suits were similar to the one Marie wore when she first arrived in Stratnigrad.
Eddy stepped into the room, less than a meter from one of the super-modified humans known as the Genetoo. Eddy could see the skin around the eyes of the closest Genetoo, it was burnt, black with patches of red, the eyes were being slowly taken over by the dark blue veins on either side of each eye. "Umm, we were sent to give you this" Eddy said uneasily, holding out the small box, the cyborg reached out and took the box. He opened it, revealing a slightly smaller glass box, suspended inside was a microchip, it was hovering in the centre, even though there was nothing holding it there. "Very good. Our transaction with your associate is now complete" the Genetoo said after inspecting the microchip.
"What's that for" Eddy inquired looking at the small piece of plastic. The cyborg looked at Eddy, "It is a micro-processor, the most advanced we have seen. We have no information on where it was built or who invented it" the computerised voice of the Genetoo said, "It came to our attention when an old base in the Southern Deserts of Gondwana was discovered. The team that discovered the abandoned base disappeared, when there was a cave in at the entrance. We have no agents posted there so we could not investigate it ourselves. Fortunately, one of the members did not go the second expedition and was saved. But the team removed very little from the base on the first go, so there was almost nothing for us to study, except for a fragment of micro-processor" the mono-toned voice of the Genetoo explained. "What happened to the last researcher?" Eddy inquired, "There was a sand storm that destroyed his camp-site along with a ,supposedly, cybernetic skull." The genetoo continued.
The Eds left the apartment and back into the cold corridor. "So, What now?" "I don't know Double D, why don't you suggest something. I've been guiding you guys around since yesterday" Eddy said folding his arms, "Let's pick up the girls and explore" suggested Ed, "Sure, why not" Edd said, "Led ahead Ed".
So Ed took over Eddy's position and the three boys returned to the bar to pick up Nazz and Marie. Now the modified teenagers walked through the quiet streets of Lower Stratnigrad. They were walking past one of the massive columns, a large pipe was running down the side, it was shaking violently and hundreds of litres of water poured down it into the open sewer grate underneath, the surrounding area was flooded, water reaching up the ankles. The street was still quiet and darker than usual, the light a kilometre above was flickering on and off, mostly off.
"I would hate to live down here" said Marie looking at the lonely street stretching out before them. A few houses down, a man came out of his home and walked past the teens. "I like it down here. It's peaceful" Ed said, Edd and Eddy raised an eyebrow at their friends out of character statement "and the monsters in the sewers" Ed quickly added. "Monsters?!" Nazz and Marie said, quickly turning to Ed for an explanation. "Not really monsters, but pretty monstrous. Giant crocodiles called megadiles live in the wide sewers beneath the city, most are about 20 feet long with massive, razor sharp teeth. Then there's the rats, at least three feet long, disease infested." explained Ed, moving his hands to show sizes. "Upper Stratnigrad is looking far more welcoming every second" Marie said, thinking about the giant rats lurking beneath her feet.
"I see you've come down to our level" came a female voice from behind the teens. They spun round to see three people standing just a few meters away. They were wearing the same outfits as the GLA who attacked the academy. Dark red hoods covered their faces, "Actually we were more interested in why you tried to kill us" Eddy said firmly stepping forward. "Yes, we must apologize for the reckless action taken by our Captain, he thought that driving you out by force would be the best test of your metal, he can be a bit forceful at times" explained the woman, she lowered her hood revealing a pale, tired looking face. "Our leader can explain everything in much greater detail than I. If you would please follow us to our headquarters we could set you up with a hot, hot shower and clean clothes." the female stood aside pointing in the direction of the old warehouse.
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Edd asked, "You have our word as soldiers" one of the men behind the lead female said. "We promise you no harm, only answers" the woman assured. "Excuse us for a second" Eddy said, then turned around to speck with his cohorts, "Whatta ya think? Can we trust 'em" "I think we should, otherwise coming down would be completely pointless" Marie said, "They said "Hot Showers" I need one of those, seriously" Nazz added, "Why not, they can tell us what happened to the others" said Edd, "Ok, Ed? Any objections?" Eddy asked looking at his slow, but lovable friend. Ed shook his head. "Ok then" Eddy turned around and said, "Lead the way".
Short chapter, but the next one will be longer, hopefully.
Thanks for reading.
