"It's congealed," Matt said. "Blood only does that... when they're dead."

"Well, I am a Licker," the Licker said, cleaning down the bar. "And I'm sorry I cut myself; the Hive doesn't have much band-aids."

Behind them, the zombies clamoured at the bent walkway, milling and moaning and grabbing at the paratroopers who tried to stay on the walkway.

"Righto, righto," the Licker said, banging on the bar. "Who's next, who's next? Spence? You want anything?"

Spence was too busy staring into space. Finally he said, "I think someone's wrong with my memory. All I can remember are quickly cut montages."

"Good drink'll fix that right up," the Lurker said, pouring out a drink.

"Man, I can't believe this foosball machine is up here!" Rain shouted over the noise of the zombies, playing against Alice.

"You're gonna lose," Alice said.

"I'm not dead yet!" Rain snatched the ball back from Alice's men. "I think I'll take this back!"

"I could kiss you, you bitch!"

"Then do so!"

Spence turned and watched the two girls fall into each other's arms and fall off the grate walkway into the zombie masses.

The Red Queen's voice spoke up, "I implore you: make me a scotch."

The Lurker shook its head. "Goddamn computer, can't even drink the fucking drink."

Kaplan came out of a tunnel and slapped down a plate of french fries onto the counter. "That's for Alice."

"Alice might be dead," the Lurker said.

"I'll take that," Spence said, reaching for the plate.

Spence snatched it back and screamed, "You're going to have work for your meal!"

He disappeared back into the tunnel.

Matt went to the foosball machine. "Hey, if Alice is still alive, tell her I want to play her at this thing!"

Spence turned around and searched the mass of zombies. Finally, he saw Alice. "Yo, Alice! Matt wants to know if you're going to play foosball with him? In or out?"

Alice looked up at him and said, "I don't know what we had, but it's over." She continued to suck Rain's face.

Spence shook his head. "Nothing ever changes."

The Red Queen giggled. "I've been a bad, bad girl."

The Licker looked up at the ceiling. "You can't even get drunk, you underaged hologram!"

Men in white coats burst through the zombie forces and grabbed Matt.

"I want him in the Nemesis program," a voice said.

XXXX

Matt turned off his television and got off the couch and wandered over to his apartment window. The phone rang.

"Hello?... oh, hi, Mom... yes, I know... yes, she tried to eat me... I don't care if it was sibling rivalry, she was a zombie... yeah, I don't know... I like the Nemesis program, I don't know... I just think I want to switch into Fine Arts... I don't know; what kind of job could I get with a Nemesis degree?... I don'tlike miniguns..."

A knock at the door. "Matt! ComeON, dude!"

"Mom, I have a kegger to go to, okay?... yes... yes, I'm coming home... yes I want some pancakes... yes... yeah... yeah."