Coming in third in the Halloween Fiction Contest is Bird. Here is their entry...
(Story prompt by Dan Peyton)
The elevator doors slid open and Director Nova stepped out into
BADGE HQ. He hated that two mile ride down, but this was the most
secure location on Earth. The headquarters of the most advanced base
on the planet were surprisingly vacant, but this was normal. Most of
the work conducted here was done by robots along with the most
sophisticated AI system in the world.
After a short walk
down the corridor, Nova came into a large room filled with computer
consoles and a massive set of screens. Two robots worked at the
consoles as the only crew today.
“Let’s check in
on the teams.” He stated. “Call up the world maps, I want to see
where these leagues are?”
“Understood
Director.” The computer answered and the screens filled with maps
of the world. Each map had the location of the various teams of
superheroes that worked for BADGE. They organized themselves into
leagues so they could fight crime locally as well as more easily
respond to a call for international emergencies.
“Unit 10915,
contact the leagues around the Detroit area. I want to know why the
crime rate there has doubled this week.” The robot at the computer
stopped moving and nothing happened, “10915 respond.” Nova
approached the rigid robot.
Before he could find
out what was wrong both robots stood up and started dancing around,
their bodies acting like puppets on strings.
“What the hell is
going on?” Nova struck a fighting stance.
Just then the
computer monitors buzzed and the lights flickered. The screens began
to run through map after map, and then it all became fuzz. The two
dancing robots flung themselves at Nova. He was pummeled to the
ground, pinned down. He shoved on them, unhurt but furious. “GET
OFF OF ME!”
One turned it’s
head all the way around and then cackled at him. In a high, cracking
voice it screeched, “Having fun yet?” and then laughed.
Nova finally shoved
them off of him and backed away, “Okay, that’s creepy.”
A green energy
streamed out of the robots and formed a sinister looking
Jack-o-lantern in the air. It laughed in that same horrible voice and
then flew around the room, passing in and out of the computers like
they weren’t there. When it went through something, the already
crazy machine went even more haywire. Computers exploded, the lights
shut down, and the fuzz on the main screens became the only light in
the room.
Nova pulled out a
communicator and pressed a switch, “Nova to...” suddenly that
Jack-o-lantern flew right into his body and he felt it filling him.
He lost control of his left arm, his head twitched erratically, and
his mind was slowly fading as if he were falling asleep. It didn’t
take much to realize this creature was taking over his body. He
managed to hold that communicator up, “To...any...heroes who can
hear...me. BADGE has been compromised….help...”
(Story continuation by Bird)
The communicator crackled and hissed as Director Nova's voice faded
away. A distress call from the Director of B.A.D.G.E was most
unexpected.
Zombie
Ex-Girlfriend, who was alone with The Bird at that time, signalled
him to come along. This was to be his first assignment as a new
member of Wild Cards.
They got down to the
HQ, deep underground, and approached the Control Room, when a bright
green glow filled the corridor.
In front of it stood
Nova, his head transformed into a luminous pumpkin, with a
mischievous twinkle in his eyes and a wicked grin.
"Proceed no
further," he said. "I am the Great Pumpkin, and, finding
not a single sincere pumpkin patch in this world, have chosen to take
control of your leader."
"What on earth
is a Great Pumpkin?" asked Bird. He had never seen a talking,
animated pumpkin before.
Then again, he had
also never seen an infected zombie with super powers, let alone
teamed up with one. But he had gotten used to the bizarreness of the
world, especially since the transformation brought about by The
Legion's morphon particles. Perhaps the pumpkin had been transformed
by morphons too?
"Release Nova
or you will face the wrath of the Zombie Ex-Girlfriend!!!"
Zombie raised her voice.
"Whose
ex-girlfriend?" Pumpkin asked. "You are no match for me!!!"
"That's it, you
have made me mad! I'm going to turn you into a Zombie Ex-Pumpkin!!!"
She pounced on Nova
the Pumpkin, and they both crashed through the door right into the
control room.
There was a burst of
green light, followed by a loud thud.
Bird rushed into the
room, but was momentarily blinded by a bright flash. Then he saw a
body - Nova's - unconscious on the floor. To his relief, Pumpkin head
had left Nova.
Then a voice spoke,
"You will never be rid of me!"
Bird looked up, and
his jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
To his horror, saw a
completely transformed Zombie Ex-Girlfriend. She was not quite like
the zombie she was before. To be exact she was a... He was not sure
what she was...
"Zombie?"
Bird stammered, nervously.
"Hmmm... This
body makes me feel funny inside. Kinda sexy..." Zombie said, and
she let out a wicked laugh.
Still unable to
believe his eyes, Bird took a step back as Zombie glared and slowly
advanced toward him.
He felt all his
strength leave him, and became hopelessly powerless. Zombie put her
hands on his shoulders and shook him vigorously.
"Mwuahahahahaha!!!"
She continued to
grip his shoulders hard, saying repeatedly, "Bird!!! Bird!!!
Bird!!!"
"Bird, wake up!
Bird?"
The voice came from
FJ, who was standing next to Bird, "How many times have I told
you not to eat too much of my pumpkin pie? It's morphon-infused for
the Halloween party tonight!"
Bird woke up. His
head still partly covered with pie crust - he'd fallen asleep with
his head on the pie.
"What on earth
is going on here?" Zombie walks into FJ's Snack Bar.
"No...
Nothing," Bird said, trying hard not to look at her, as he
struggled to unsee his vision of her in his dream.
0 Comments