//------------------------------// // Infection // Story: Live and Let Die // by Dihinner //------------------------------// "If your spirit suffers too much, you will soon start to hallucinate and in the end you will be destroyed. And more worrying yet is that you will not even be conscious of that fact." – Ib   Twilight was frozen on the spot; the implications of what Smoker had just said sinking in. ‘There are nine extra-terrestrial zombies standing in front of me,’ thought Twilight, oddly calm. Meanwhile Hunter, who couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this and rolled his head back, opened his mouth and made a moaning sound, “Brrrrraaaaaaaaaaaiiiinnnnnnnsssss.” Twilight screamed in terror and bolted back inside her house and slammed the door. A few seconds later the infected heard the sounds of the door and windows being boarded up. Hunter started rolling on the ground with Jockey accompanying him. Screamer snickered at the scene while the other six infected glared at them. Screamer was quick to defend them, “Come on, she was asking for it.” Boomer glared at him, “You do realise that he just made the already fragile situation worse, right?” Screamer shrugged, “Well… it can’t be any worse that the swamps, right?” At the mention of the swamp, Spitter stiffened slightly, closed her eyes and began muttering under her breath. Smoker’s glare intensified at Screamer, the swamps were a touchy subject with Spitter. She did not want to be reminded about it. Screamer noticed Spitter’s sudden change in behavior and wisely decided that he had said enough and went silent. Tank rolled his eyes at the situation. So what if they were technically still infected? It’s not like they could still spread it, right? He thought about it for a moment, before concluding that, no, they would have seen he signs by now. Hell, the last time the first signs of the common infected (average everyday zombies) was as early as five minutes of even being in the same room as one of the infected. “…What does that have to do with anything, Smoky?” asked Screamer, clearly annoyed, “I thought that you’d given up on that by now.” Smoker glared at Screamer, “We don’t belong here. We’re already pushing out luck hoping that we’re not contagious anymore as it is. We need to find a method to return to Earth as quickly as we can.” Screamer scoffed at him, “If I remember correctly, which I do, you have some debts to pay to some of the locals.” Smoker raised an eyebrow at him, “Really?” he asked, deadpan. Screamer grinned, “Oh? You’ve already forgotten damaging that bakery? What about the medical bills from oh, I don’t know, this morning?” noticing the frown Smoker was giving him Screamer gave a short laugh, “What? Did you think they were free? Honestly, why do you think I’m been working my ass of for the past few days? Passing the time?” Smoker spat on the ground and Screamer noticed that the edges of the sclera on his eyes were turning black, but didn’t recognise it as very important. Screamer turned back towards the library. Normally he wouldn’t care if people viewed him as some sort of monster, that happened all the time, but for some strange reason, it bothered him here. He sighed, “For reasons I cannot explain, we have to convince Twilight that we’re not monsters,” Screamer said to the other infected. He paused, “Well, mostly.” The other infected gave him varying types of looks, from a raised eyebrow to a stare of unnecessary hatred. Amusingly, (for Screamer) Spitter had her eyebrow raised and Smoker was giving a look that should have incinerated him on the spot. And, of course, the two were standing right beside each other. Boomer nodded in agreement, “I think Screamer’s got the right idea, we need to clear our names from unnecessary titles.” Jockey cackled and Hunter gave the impression of blinking under the bandage around his eyes. “I have no idea how exactly you’re going to do it but, I’ll help in whatever way I can, Screech,” said Charger. Witch mumbled something and Tank rolled his head. They too were in agreement. That only left Smoker and Spitter undecided. “If we ever want to live here at all, I think we need our names cleared, right, Smoker?” said Spitter. Smoker was silent, but ever so slightly shaking with some newly found rage. His eyes were completely black except for the yellow pinpricks of his pupils in the very middle of each eye. “Do you think this is smart?” asked Smoker, his voice deadly quiet. The infected went silent. As Smoker had said those words, it seemed that the very air itself had lost the mid-autumn warmth and was instead replaced with the bitter chill of winter. All of the infected (except Hunter) instantly took notice in the deranged look in Smoker’s eyes. “Smoker..?” said Spitter cautiously, “Are you feeling alright?” Smoker hacked violently, “You’re asking me if I’m alright? You’re the ones that are deranged!” Looks of confusion passed on the infected’s faces. Something was very wrong with Smoker. “I’m fine. Completely normal. It’s all of you that are acting different!” “Smoker…” growled Charger. She did not like where this seemed to be heading. “Shut up!” Smoker suddenly snapped, “I am fine! You… all of you need to listen to me!” Screamer laughed sarcastically, “Oh, don’t worry Smoky, you’re our main focus of attention.” The next thing Screamer knew was that he was crumpled on the ground, every part of him hurting. It had taken a moment to realise that Smoker had slammed him into the ground. Screamer saw the dark red form of Smoker’s tongue slowly reeling back into his mouth. “I said shut up!” Smoker hissed at Screamer, his voice dripping with (metaphorical and partially literal) venom. Charger quickly ran in between Smoker and Screamer, trying to prevent the former from hurting the latter any further. “Smoker, calm down. Why are you doing this?” she asked sternly. “Why am I doing this?” asked Smoker, be started to cough violently, “Why are all of you defending him? Isn’t it obvious?” “Isn’t what obvious?” asked Tank, preparing to rain hell on Smoker if he attacked Witch. “Screamer! He’s a traitor! He sold us out to the non-infected and is leading us all into a trap!” exclaimed Smoker. A pained laugh was heard behind Charger. “Go home, Smoker. You’re nuts,” said Screamer, the pain evident in his voice. “Shut up you insane lunatic!” Smoker hissed. Charger, Spitter and Tank tried to calm Smoker down while Boomer and Hunter tried to get Screamer away from Smoker’s wrath. Only Jockey and Witch remained on the sidelines, both unsure if they should try and contribute in the situation. Suddenly, Hunter got an idea, “Boomer, I think I know what’s wrong with Smoker!” “Let’s hear it. you’ve known him the longest, if anyone would know what’s making him act like this, I’d be you,” said Boomer as he tried to move Screamer’s crumpled body. “Remember the day we first went to the doctors? The one where I was acting all weird?” asked Hunter. Boomer nodded, “Yes, I do. Didn’t the doctor say afterwards that eventually we’d all have symptoms like yours…” he smiled, “You know what, Hunter? I think you’ve got it! After we get Screamer out of here, we need to go ask him what he did to sedate you and use it in Smoker.” Hunter nodded as the two continued to drag Screamer away. After they were at a safe distance from Smoker, Boomer asked if Screamer was fit to walk. “Yeah, I think so,” muttered Screamer as he shakily got to his hooves. He grinned weakly before collapsing again. He sighed, “Guess not.” Boomer sighed, “We need to help Smoker, but we can’t do that with you just lying in the street. We need to get you someplace safe and not potentially in the line of fire, so to speak.” Screamer muttered something incomprehensible. “What was that?” asked Boomer. “I said take me to that candy shop. I’ve been paying back the owners for a little while now, they’ll know who I am,” said Screamer. Boomer glanced at Hunter, who scratched his left ear with his left hind leg. Sighing, Boomer went with Screamer’s idea and he and Hunter dropped him of around Sugarcube Corner. “Remember, don’t tell anyone about our, ah,” Boomer nervously looked around, deciding that no one would hear him he continued, “Infection problem. We already have one freaking out and we really don’t need any more.” Screamer waved his right hoof at him, “Yeah, yeah. I got it. Not go, Smoky’s probably still a little antsy.” Boomers nodded, “Alright, take care, Screamer. You sure you can get there yourself?” Screamer nodded as he managed to get upright. “I’ll be fine. Now, get outta here.” Boomer smiled, “Alright. See you when we get the situation under control.” With those parting words, Boomer and Hunter rushed to the hospital. About half way there, Boomer began to lose pace with Hunter. Hunter noticed this and slowed down. “Boomer, are you alright?” asked Hunter. Boomer stopped, panting, “I’m fine, just a bit tired. Go on ahead, I’ll catch up.” Hunter nodded and bounded away to the hospital again, hoping that he could get a hold of some sedatives to calm down Smoker. ************************************************************************************ “I cannot believe that just happened,” Tank grumbled as he glared at the quickly fading cloud of smoke that marked where Smoker was once standing. “What I want to know is where the hell he learned that,” said Spitter, “Seriously, teleporting by trying to fake his death. I want to know how to do that.” Charger sighed, “Whatever happened, we need to find him as soon as possible. He’s already dangerous enough when he’s sane. This is just making it even worse.” “Where could he have gone?” asked Spitter. Charger shrugged, “Hell if I know. Hunter seems to know Smoker better that all of us. When he gets back with Boomer, let him lead us to Smoker.” Witch frowned and sighed. She could just tell that this would end anything but well. She had a feeling in her gut. She glanced at Jockey who was in the odd position of half standing and half sitting, like usual. ‘Probably his arms that are making him look like that,’ Witch thought to herself. Jockey always did look odd. What with his enlarged upper back and spine sticking out of his back. Witch smiled despite the situation when Charger jokingly mentioned that he looked like a monkey. She also mentioned that Tank used to resemble and ape, as he couldn’t properly support himself on his legs he had to resort to a type of knuckle walk that apes used to walk around. Witch sighed. The probably would be the last memory where nothing bad was happening for a while. She continued to think about the good moments of the past until her thoughts were interrupted by Boomer, who was panting heavily. “Good, you’re still here,” Boomer panted. He looked around, “Where’s Smoker?” Spitter spat out some goo out of her mouth, it sizzled quietly on the ground, “Your guess is as good as mine. He just vanished in a cloud of smoke, like a stereotypical ninja.” Boomer nodded and sighed, “Hunter’s on his way to a doctor’s to try and find something to calm Smoker down. He seems to know what’s troubling him.” The other infected nodded, bur remained silent. Instead, they went off to try and track down Smoker. They left knowing full well that Hunter would be able to find them. After all, that’s what hunters are good at. ********************************************************************************** The city burned violently around Smoker. His yellow eyes burned as he stalked his prey as silently as he could through the chaos. There were other infected around him, most of them fleeing after an unseen prey. But, that did not interest Smoker in the slightest. No, all he wanted was his prey. And there it was, within catching distance. Already Smoker loosened his jaw and his tongue started to snake its way out of his throat and hang limply out of his mouth. His eyes narrowed as he targeted in on his prey. Slowly, Smoker crouched slightly, preparing to strike. The attack was silent, or, it should have been if Hunter hadn’t decided to intercept his tongue and tear it in half. Smoker hissed and glared at Hunter as he saw his prey flee in terror and eventually out of sight. Angrily, Smoker walked up to Hunter and glared at him. “You made my prey get away,” he growled. Hunter shook his head, “That’s not your prey. Smoker, you’re not hunting anything anymore. You’re in Ponyville and you’re sick.” Smoker made an odd wheezing sound, “Of course I’m sick you idiot! You’re sick, Spitter’s sick, we’re all sick! And what? Ponyville? What the hell kind of a name is that?!” Hunter sighed, “Smoker, you’re not on Earth anymore. You’re in Equestria and now you’re sick. Here, I’m trying to help you.” Hunter pulled out a small capsule of tranquilizer pills and offered it to Smoker, who it as on unlit Molotov cocktail. Smoker stared at in in disbelief before slowly removing it from Hunter’s grasp. His eyes flickered from Hunter to the incendiary weapon, then back to Hunter. Suddenly, Smoker made a hacking sound mixed with a hiss and threw the bottle of gasoline at a nearby tree. “I was wrong,” Smoker muttered, his eyes slowly filling up with rage. “Wrong about what?” asked Hunter. Although Hunter couldn’t see his eyes, just by the tone of Smoker’s voice and the literal rage burring off Smoker made Hunter uneasy. “Screamer isn’t the traitor,” muttered Smoker, “It’s you.” If his eyes could widen in fear, Hunter’s would have as he felt a long, slimy, rubbery thing wrap around his chest and slam him into a tree multiple times. Slowly, Hunter’s mind began to slow down and his sight through echolocation began to weaken. The last thing Hunter ‘saw’ before losing consciousness was the foreboding shadow of Smoker descend upon him. ********************************************************************************* It wasn’t uncommon for the six infected to smell Smoker before they saw him. As they finally managed to track Smoker down, they made the assumption that Hunter was already with him. As they finally rounded a corner they found Smoker… kicking a badly beaten Hunter with his hooves. “Even after all I’ve done for you; you have the nerve to betray me like this!” Smoker shouted at Hunter, who, from the lack of responding, Spitter assumed was unconscious. Spitter quickly ran up to Smoker and tried to get him away from Hunter. “Smoker, what are you doing?!” she yelled at him. Smoker glared at her, “He sold us out to the non-infected!” Spitter stared at him in disbelief, “What the hell are you talking about!?” Smoker backed away from her and pointed to a broken capsule of what looked like tranquilizer pills that was leaking its contents on the ground. “He sold us out to the non-infected and tried to kill me with that!” Spitter looked at the broken capsule, than back at Smoker, “He tried to kill you with a bottle of pills?” It was Smoker’s turn to stare at Spitter in disbelief, “Pills!? No! He tried to kill me with a fire bottle!” Spitter slowly shook her head, “No… those are pills.” Smoker frowned, and then he looked up with a fearful and angry look in his eyes as he slowly started to back away. “I get it now… it’s not just Hunter who sold me out… it was all of you!” Smoker shouted to Spitter and the other infected. “You cowards sold me out so you could live. Well, jokes on you! Their liars and murders!” Charger stepped up to stand by Spitter. Whatever Smoker was going to do, nobody was going to get hurt unless Charger let them. “Smoker, calm down,” she said sternly. “Calm down? Calm down?! Why should I calm down?! You all betrayed me and left me for dead! Well…” Smoker’s voice trailed off as his regular cloud of black smoke began to form around his head, “You’ll die before I’ll let you catch me.” “Tank…” muttered Witch, not liking where this seemed to be headed. “Got it,” Tank muttered as he prepared himself to make a run at Smoker. Smoker grinned again and began to laugh a psychotic, deranged laugh. It was so deranged; Witch seemed to notice that even Jockey, who had remained eerily silent, had shivered slightly. Tank took the laugh as the signal to charge and ran at Smoker as fast as he could go. There was a wheeze, then a large burst of black smoke that enveloped the small area the infected were in as Smoker disappeared. “Ah shit, not again,” muttered Charger. “Where do you think he could have gone this time,” asked Spitter, slowly walking to Hunter. Boomer had beaten her to Hunter. He looked over him, and then turned to Spitter. “We can worry about that later. Hunter needs a doctor. Now.” Spitter nodded as she turned around and saw that the smoke was clearing. She slowly started to notice six, unidentifiable shapes in the fading smoke. She squinted to try and get a better look when the smoke finally cleared. When it did, she saw that it was Twilight and her friends, standing in half circle like formation around the infected. Each of them had golden necklaces with a symbol in the center of it around their necks but Twilight, who had a crown like thing. None of them looked amused. Charger, who was checking Jockey, turned to talk to Spitter again when she noticed them. “Oh shit.” End of part 1: Quarantine.