CHAPTER 57: Opportunities in Messages

It felt wonderful to be staying in an amazing base like the TEC again. After all, I hadn't been in here for . . . I don't know . . . weeks, or months. While Elias and Eric roamed the hallways, discussing God knows what, Peater and I were sitting in a spare room, pondering how we'd get this rebellion off the ground.

"Ten bases of at least 2000 plants won't really cut it! I mean, look at how many zombies there are! In Toronto alone, there are at least 8 followed by ten zeroes when it comes to the zombies! Now think about the rest of the country!" I cried, punching the pillow on the bed that I was lying on.

"Calm down, Elyssia. Maybe we can . . . I don't know . . . lead a team and replace some of the graveyards with gardens!" Peater suggested.

"And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China? That plan is about as intelligent as waltzing around in a burning city!" I scoffed.

"Well, what do the other team members think? After all, this was in a book!" Peater countered with a smile.

"So was bearbaiting, and so was murder." I said.

"Have you heard the story about how a city in Saskatchewan tried a trick similar to the one you suggested? All that they got out of that was casualties left, right, and center!"

Peater raised his leaves to admit defeat. "Fine, then! We won't do that! But some kind of opportunity will have to come rolling around!"

Before I could even process this, Eric came running into the room, demanding to see Peater and I in his office. Without another word, we followed the Cactus through several hallways, until we arrived at a door labelled

"Office of Eric P. Yhamanae."

I frowned slightly at the name "Yhamanae." It rang a bell of some sort somewhere in the back of my mind.

And something told me that it wasn't a good bell.

"In, in, in! Quickly, quickly!" Eric marshalled us into the office, and had us sit down on wooden chairs.

"Elyssia Antonia Maccabaeus. You were famous, and you still are." he murmured as he took my right leaf and examined the tattoo.

"Really? How?" I asked.

"You somehow took on a crowd of zombies attacking your home when you were only six. Everyone chanted your name . . . but now it's only a whisper." Eric answered.

"Oh . . . I see . . ." I mumbled.

"Now . . . what is it with this Coponeva Insuperabilis thing?" I asked.

"Well . . . you see, around thirteen years ago, Madra Magia made a prophecy of sorts. She said that one day, a girl would be born with a great mental prowess, and amazing, supernatural powers. She would be the Coponeva Insuperabilis ― The Invincible Snowflake, The Chosen One. This particular girl-plant would grow up with a strong desire to fight and kill zombies, and she would later go on to save the country from Dr. Zomboss. Everyone chanted your name . . . until you took out somebody's eye when you were six with your powers. That gave you and your family a bad reputation." Eric explained.

I looked down at the floor feeling ashamed for two reasons ― one being my lack of memory, and the other reason was the fact that I had taken out someone's eye, which disgraced me.

"Yes, Elyssia. You've done many great things, and that deserves something." Eric whispered.

"It's a pleasure to have you in this base. You'll turn the tides of this war, and drive these zombies out of Ontario."

Just then, there were several loud knocks on the door, and before Eric could even go to answer it, a hyped Blover came running in, holding a note in one leaf.

"Savannah Dionne, messenger of the plants. What do you want from me and my life now?" Eric groaned.

The Blover named Savannah laughed and handed the note to me.

"For you, Eric!" she exclaimed. Eric nodded and took the note. Peater looked over Eric's shoulder and read the note out loud.

"Dear Eric,

This is a message from the CPR. We would like to recruit you and your bases into our war effort. We are slowly turning the tide in eastern Ontario, but we need some extra leaves on deck. Please come with your answer as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Janice Hodges,

Founder/President of CPR."

I gasped after hearing this news.

"Well, I told you! An opportunity was gonna come sooner or later!" Peater exclaimed delightedly.

"But what does CPR stand for?" Eric asked. "Canadian Pacific Railway, I'm guessing . . ." I deduced.

"Nope! It stands for the Canadian Plant Resistance! How you don't know that is all over in La Libre Plante. Or, The Free Plant. It's an illegal newspaper, because it's giving plants the lowdown on Zomboss' plans. That's where Elyssia got famous." Savannah explained.

"Also, none of the zombies like the idea of the plants being "free," or the idea that they can know where the waves are advancing. So, if any one of those undead freakos find the office where the thing's being printed . . ."

She trailed off, raised a leaf to her throat, and moved it along slowly.

"So . . . in or out?" Savannah asked.

"Uh . . . I'll have to discuss it with the rest of the plants." Eric mumbled.

"And how long will that take? Will I have to wait here?" Savannah groaned.

"Aw, for the love of God! What the hell does that have to do with the price of tea in China? We need to discuss this!" I snapped.

"Savannah, Peater, Elyssia, wait here. I'll need to discuss this with the rest of the plants." Eric muttered as he walked out of his office.

"And what if you pass the international date line?" Savannah huffed as she looked at the clock.

"Good news! Good news!" Eric came through the door like a green whirlwind several hours later.

"We are officially going to join CPR! All the other bases like the idea! We're going to win this war!"

Savannah looked away from the ceiling and grinned at Eric.

"A million years later! Now I can get back to Ottawa and tell them the good news! You'll be properly initiated in exactly 18 hours and 56 minutes!" Savannah squealed.

I saluted to the Blover as she made her way out of the office.

"I heard the good news, and . . . I'm proud of you two. Leading a rebellion . . . all I can say is "Wow."" Elias whispered as he came through the door.

Eric clapped his equivalents to hands and leaned back in his chair.

"Prepare yourselves. You'll have a big day tomorrow at noon." he reminded us.

The Cactus then dismissed us to go to our rooms and get a good night's sleep.