As a kid just like anybody else, you learn what to do and what not to do, sometimes with the help of your parents and other times not. For example, it did not take long to quickly learn to stay clear of fire when I stuck my hand in it one time. My dad also taught me to keep my hands out of the electric socket, he stuck a knife in there and the thing went sparkling like a new years eve celebration. Yeah, I did a few stupid things as a kid, but this situation perhaps tops all of my previous errs.
Here I am sitting under a mushroom shaped rock, sculpted from ages of erosion in middle of a desert. My first meeting with this spectacularly beautiful woman had been awkward enough, even more so now since I explain to her how I got myself in this situation.
“Let me get this straight. You are from the future, you bought a quantum something-something projector, guy in green suit comes out of the screen and dragged you in. Then that’s about when I found you, right? Please tell me if I missed something.” Her face is scrunched up a bit, as if she is condemning me as some sort of a loon.
“I really am not from the future. Well, technically I am, since this movie is supposed to be based on a fictional 2056 outbreak of a disease that is called Virus X, turning people into Ghouls and…” She interrupts my rambling.
“Wait, wait, wait. You’re saying this is a movie? Hell, you better not be going mad, I’ve seen plenty of your type and it is best to take you down before you turn into one of those things.” She unclasps her buckled pistol from her slim blue jeans.
I jolt straight up in fear, last thing I need is to get shot. I am willing to bet that if I die in the movie, it will mean that I die for real. I have seen plenty of movies to suggest that I would more likely than not die for good in this case, so it is best not to put the theory to the test.
So I said the only thing I can think of to save myself, “I can prove I am not mad! I know your name, your name is Lara Snips.”
This however did not convince her to pack her gun away, and now with the gun point blank at my forehead, she did seem slightly intrigued with what I have to say. “Anyone could figure out my name from anywhere, I am not exactly unknown.”
I stammer as I try to think of something else. “I, I… Kno… Know you are with a group!”
I dig my head in my arms, it is obvious that blocking a bullet with my arms would not help much. But there is always this feeling that if I do not see it, it really is not there. After I did not hear the infamous bang, I sneak a peek at her. Surprisingly to me, she tucks her gun back in its holster and leans against her bike.
She rolls her hand out, acknowledging my story some merit. “Ok, if this is a movie. Prove it.”
I lower my arms in victory, I am not going to die! At for least today. I cannot let this win get over me, I still need to prove my innocence. “No one knows it and no one would ever guess, but you are the point woman for the New Genesis foundation. The Director himself just earlier this morning requested your aid to investigate on a vaccine and perhaps cure to the Virus X.”
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She rubs her chin unconvincingly. “Anyone can get that info, more in particularly a rival unit or spy. Either case, I will still need to take you in for questioning or finish you off right here right now.”
I told her everything that had happened, so what more could I possibly say? Not like I can tell her the future. My eyes widen in excitement, perhaps I can tell her her future.
“Actually,” I start gathering my thoughts, “since I already saw this movie, I can tell you everything that is going to happen. If I help you get your Virus X cure, then will you believe me?” Hopefully that is enough to get her attention.
“Hmm…” She ponders in silence and her eerie cold presence keeps me tense, at the very least she is NOT thinking about finishing me off. Another score for me, I think.
“Before I decide, answer this question. Where am I going and what do you know of what happened there?”
That was an easy one, I smile reassuringly. “You’re going to a New Genesis blacksite lab bunker, and if memory serves me right, that site went dark not too long after you left New Genesis HQ.”
She nods in agreement, seems I pass the test, or so I thought until she spoke again. “Right. However, since you answered correctly, it either means you are the reason it had gone quiet or you are what you are. I heavily doubt the latter, but I will give you a shot to prove yourself.”
She flicks around and signals me to take a seat behind, I toss my head back in defeat while groaning my obvious frustration. There goes my dignity again. Well, it cannot be all that bad, I am sitting behind perhaps the hottest woman of all time, on the hottest bike of all time. The only thing I want at this point is a black leather road jacket not unlike hers, perhaps leather gloves too. In the end, I sit without putting up too much of a fuss, not like anyone else is watching me at this moment.
As the engine roars to life and sends the bike sputtering a few meters on the hard desert ground, I suddenly remember exactly what we are getting ourselves into. The next scene we are going to is the most awesome part of the movie! The bunker she is going to is crawled with Neo-Resistance soldiers and desert worms. Come to think of it, perhaps it is not that awesome, considering we are going to be prancing right in the middle of it all.
That also got me thinking about what would have happened if I had said something else. “Lara, what would you have done if I answered differently?”
She shrugs slightly while driving the bike through the dead desert. “Probably have killed you on the spot, you answering wrong would definitely proven you were crazy. However, you being right does not get you off the hook, you could still be a spy.”
I counter her with the truth, “Or I could be telling the truth, right?”
From my angle it is not easy to tell, but it did look like I see an amused smile. “Yeah, probably. Let’s not get your hopes up.”
Figuring that now is as good as a time as any to break it to her. “So Lara, you should know that the lab is overrun with the Neo-Resistance and desert worms.”
Her reaction surprises me, or better lack of reaction. She simply nods to acknowledge that she heard me, seems she is not too surprised about that. She is not much of a talker, perhaps interacting with a movie character would make the experience awkward.
I guess it is time I spark at least some conversation. “Name’s Richard, Richard Worthmoore. In case you are wondering.”
“Couldn’t care any less.” Ouch, her voice was flat and straight to the heart. I grin. Cold fish are always nice to try and warm up.
Almost tempted to grab a piece of her lovely hair, but think twice on it. She is the one with the gun and already confirmed several times that she was ready to shoot me, why push my luck? Not like I have much left anyway considering where we are going.