BY ELMAR

Hey, Guys! this is part one of my post-apocalyptic verbal tv show, the Inferno. I’ll be posting one part, or verbal episode equivalent, “whenever I feel like it” which will probably be on weekdays. Happy reading!!

Major Thomas Thaddeus, known as “Major” to his underlings and “Tom” to his friends, was sitting in his office chair, his muscular chest and broad shoulders visible above the holographic table. Sergeant Alica Mortermyer watched the table, frowning.

“The Khadrein are deploying troops all over the Inferno. Why? There’s nothing out there except Chokers and Ebola mutants.” She glanced up at him. “Their armies will be choked to death or ripped to little bits. What stunt are they pulling?”

Tom stroked his beard. “I’m not sure, Alicia. Maybe they know something we don’t. Or maybe they want desert-grown coffee. I don’t know. But right now we have more important things to work about. Did you give that new group their tour thingy?”

“I was about to, Major,” said Alicia. “But shouldn’t we-“

“We don’t need to worry about it, Alicia. Now go Gove that new group the tour!”

Alicia threw her hands up. “Alright, alright, I’ll give the group their tour. Just promise me you’ll keep an eye on those Khadrein.”

“Will do,” Tom said as Alicia left the room. He went and got a cup of coffee. As he was looking at the table, Sergeant Major Peter Alkasmar walked up to him.

“What is Alicia so worried about? She jumped when I walked past her.”

“Hmmm? Oh, it’s you. She’s worried about these Khadrein troops landing in the Inferno.”

Peter bent over the table. “Why are they landing troops in the middle of the desert?”

Tom shrugged. “Beats me. But I don’t see any reason to get worked up about it. If you ask me, it’s women. Always so jumpy and nervous.”

“We are not!” came Alicia’s voice from behind the door. Tom jumped, spilling his coffee on himself.

“Were you waiting for that?” he demanded. Alicia smiled.

“Can’t talk now. I have to give the newbies an orientation.”

She left the room. Peter grinned and left, as well. Swearing under his breath, Tom went to get another cup of coffee.

***

As she walked down the corridor, Alicia kept walking, that nervous tingle on the back of her neck again. She had felt it since she had seen the Khadrein landing in the desert. There was something wrong with that. Out of the reptilian Khadrein and the mammal-like Olsgomba, the Khadrein were definitely the superior and smarter force. So why would they do what was obviously a bad move? Alicia pushed it out of her mind as she got to the room full of new recruits.

***

“The mission of the Government started ten years ago, in 2079, when a biological experiment went wrong”

The speaker was a tinny voice in the “newbie video” or the orientation video. Most people here called the orientation the “tour”.

“The experiment was testing the causes of global warming when it drew the attention of the alien race, the Khadrein. Perceiving the experiment as a threat according to one of their ancient prophecies, they destroyed the lab. The high explosives in their missile struck the lab and blew it up, mixing chemicals with the atmosphere. Scientists had only eight minutes to warn the public before the full force of the sun’s rays struck the earth. All the land for five hundred thousand square meters around the equator was turned into a wasteland. We now call this the Inferno.

“The presence of the Khadrein drew the attention of their sometimes friends, sometimes enemies, alien race of the Olsgomba. Receiving a message from the Khadrein that something that threatened the universe was near their planet, the Olsgomba came to Earth, and we have been locked in war ever since.

“To make things worse, the lab was also engineering three viruses for use in biological warfare. The first is commonly called typhoon fever, since it is spread by water and out breaks are most common after hurricanes. Symptoms include blue skin, red eyes and choking fits. These fits will continue to manifest with increasing intensity and frequency until the victim either dies or infects several healthy people.

“The second is known as Corpse Syndrome, or more commonly, Zombie Flu. Victims skin changes any shade, but the most common is green or black. The victim’s joints will rot, the intelligence will drop, and the eyes will dull. After several weeks, the brain will start to rot and the victim will search for healthy people, ripping out their brains and consuming it in an attempt to heal their brain. Those whose brains are consumed will catch the disease and join the first victim.

“The last and most troublesome virus is cathartic ebola, more commonly called The Pox. In a matter of hours, the victim will mutate into a creature with a main amoebic body mass and four legs with claws. The victim, commonly called a Pox Beast, will kill and devour any creature that crosses its path. There is a cure for The Pox and for Typhoon Fever, but administering it is extremely difficult, as the victim is heedless of anything except the animal drives that the virus gives it.”

The video went on to talk about the weapons and training procedures that the recruits would be taught, and Alicia found herself glancing at her watch, wanting it to be over. The video ended and Alicia got to the front of the room.

“OK,” she said. “I’m going to be taking you on a tour of our HQ. During this tour, you will-“

A loud boom sounded and the entire building shook. Alarms went off and emergency lights flickered on.

“Oh-” Alicia was too scared to even swear. “Get to a bunker!” she screamed. “Now!” she dashed upstairs.

***

Tom was standing at the window when Alicia arrived.

“Tom!” she shrieked. “The Khadrein-“

He cut her off.

“I know. Look” He pointed at the security computer’s screen, and Alicia’s face paled.

The furry and reptilian forms of the Olsgomba and Khadrein were charging through the main doors, killing anything that moved.