Apocalypse Fighter

Chapter 39: Jimmy Zoe’s Deal

       As Richard prepared to inject the potion into Marry’s arm, he said “Don’t move. You will feel a little pinch. Once I have given you the injection, you may eat anything you like, and as much as you’d like. If you have any question, please direct them to Janet.”

       Janet was wolfing down the food in the corner of the room.

The next potion was injected carefully into Richard’s son’s buttocks. The gorgeous emerald green liquid flowed into Steven’s body and he stared nervously at the infant to monitor his reaction. As soon as the needle pierced his skin, he began to cry, which was normal. Children cried when they received needles. The side effects he was worried about were much less innocuous.

Normally, receiving the activation potion increased the chance of a person evolving and getting mutant skills. However, thirty percent of those that took the drugs, died a death most heinous. Nobody knew what was in the medication, or why the bodies of those unlucky thirty percent overdosed on the drug. It was a mystery. Without warning, their genes collapsed and that was the end of their story.

       This was why they took precautions. Richard introduced the medication slowly and gradually. Fortunately, Marry and Steven did not show any adverse reaction, which allowed Richard to settle down. They had escaped the danger of Radiation D.

Janet, who had taken the potion before them, was still eating. Between bites, she said, “Oh, I’m so hungry. It’s a good thing that you have prepared so much food, Richard. Otherwise, I would starve to death. Why am I feeling so hot, though?” The ground around her was littered with empty wrappers and food containers. In just a few minutes, she had finished three bags of biscuits, two loaves of bread, half a pound of baker’s chocolate, a box of lunchmeat, and three soda bottles. “Wow!” she exclaimed. “This is all so delicious. Can I keep eating?”     

The horrible scene stunned the others. They could not imagine how a girl could eat so much at one time. She was barely even chewing her food. What happened to her? – they wondered – And what will we do if her stomach bursts?

       “Go ahead,” Richard said. “Enjoy yourself. You can eat whatever you like.”

       Richard turned to Marry and smiled. She nodded. They both understood that the potion was doing its work on Janet, and the food was the fuel that her transformation needed. The more she ate, the greater her transformation would be. If she was not behaving this way, he would be disappointed. It would mean that the two injections had been wasted.

       It is a good thing that I have so much food stored in the basement – thought Richard. He had accumulated hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of high-calorie foods. It was enough, he hoped, to fuel everyone’s transformation – or at least the lucky seventy percent. When Radiation D covered the world, he had begun to provide people with the activation potions. He fed them, and many of them came through on the other side with very powerful mutant skills.

Captain Jimmy Zoe stared at Marry and Steven thoughtfully, and something flashed in his mind. He stood up suddenly and walked toward Richard. Then he unloaded his gun, showed it to Richard, and said, “I want a few more injections. If you agree, I will hand over all the weapons, keeping only this pistol for myself. What do you think?”

    Richard laughed. He said, “No way! You must be joking?” There was no way that he was going to give Jimmy the extra potions. In Richard’s mind, he was the law, and the other man was the criminal element. Since they had stepped into the house, Jimmy had not acted out violently, but he was always pointing his gun at Richard, so he could never let his guard down – which was physically and emotionally exhausting.   

Because the people in the house all sided with Richard’s, Tian I could not take action. When he saw what Jimmy was trying to do, he thought - The activation potions are so precious. Richard must not give them to Jimmy Zoe!  

       Jimmy hesitated for a moment, and then he said, “The pistol is also yours, as well as Dr. L…” Then pointed to Lora West and others that were near her. "If you still don't trust me, give me ten potions. If you do, I will kill these people for you. "

       Richard was a little bit surprised. Would he dare to kill them in front of so many people? – he wondered. – What am I going to do? Why is he so eager to get the activation potions?

Richard looked at Jimmy calmly, and he did not pick up the gun. He was trying to figure out the man in front of him. What makes him tick? He wondered – And what is his motivation? When they had gathered, outside the house, Jimmy had seemed like another person. He was restless and impulsive; not at all like this other Jimmy. After a minute, Richard nodded and said, “I think we can figure something out.” He took an activation potion from his backpack and handed it to Jimmy. “Inject this one first. If you are willing to stay and protect us, you will get another nine. Provided you live, that is. Does that work for you?”

       “Okay,” Jimmy replied. “My wife and daughter are outside, though. I have to pick them up first. We were supposed to go on an out-of-town picnic when I got off work, but now…” His words hung in the air, and Richard could see the feelings of regret, guilt, self-loathing, and anxiety on his face. Finally, he understood Jimmy’s motivation, and why he was acting so out of character.

       “Well, that’s it!” Richard exclaimed. “We have ourselves a deal!” Now that he understood why Jimmy acted the way he did – for his wife and children – he was able to empathize with him. It was a mess outside, and anyone who managed to live was incredibly lucky. Not only were there the monsters to contend with, but there was also the robbers, murderers, rapists, and pedophiles to contend with. This was how it came to be that,  when the only policeman in the house handed over his weapon, Richard became the commander – But if he had been in Jimmy’s position, he too would have done whatever it took to protect his family.  

Everyone had received the activation potions, and Anthony Miles had been a Top Priority Candidate. Under the insistence of Richard, the strong man received twelve injections. He did well with the first eleven, but after receiving the twelfth, things went South. He ate a lot of food, as usual, but then he collapsed onto the ground. He struggled and moaned painfully, and then he sunk into a deep sleep.

Wayne Page, Lily Sawyer’s boyfriend, refused to take the injection when he saw what had happened. Naturally, Richard did not make a big deal out of it. After all, how could he? They all knew what the risks were. It was a tough world, where the only thing that could save you killed three out of every ten people seeking salvation…