The whole base was shaking. This wasn’t an earthquake, the storm had reached hurricane proportions. But even that paled in comparison to the thundering migraine in Shelton’s head.
Even Tinner didn’t bother trying to hide it. Rubbing his temples furiously, he cried, “Three hours is up! We should be reviving back in real Pelvanida!”
“Well, we’re not!” Shelton grabbed the screen back and read the code ripping up the page. “I’m seeing codes from all over the place, the enemy fighters, the gas…” He trailed off. He’d noticed the odd readings he’d seen after Scenario 2.
“What?” asked Tinner, stepping forward, but Shelton spun around and took a swipe at him. His hand went through, and Shelton went sprawling.
Shelton tried to get to his feet. “You tricked us,” he spat out. “You said the thug was the only one whose memory was going to get wiped. This thing says that every chair except yours will wipe our memories when we’re removed from the machine!”
Tinner said nothing.
“Then,” Shelton continued, squinting to keep reading, “it’ll stimulate the pleasure part of the brain, convincing us that the test run was an extremely enjoyable success, not the mind-wrenching nightmare it’s so far been!” Shelton staggered to his feet and tried another unsuccessful strike.
Tinner sighed and nodded his head. “You’re right. I knew of this problem, and couldn’t find a way to counteract it, so I found a way to cover it up. But whatever’s happening now, I’m not responsible for us still being here!”
“Oh, you’re responsible,” glared Shelton, “just not directly.”
Suddenly a radio went off. It wasn’t Shelton’s. “Dr. Tinner. Come in.”
Tinner took a radio out of his pocket. “Biff, what’s going on?”
“There’s been a change of plans. Welcome to Scenario 4, where we see what you’ve learned for the last three hours.”
“What are you talking about? What’s going to happen?”
“Oh, just an enemy attack during a neuro-gas breakout in a tropical storm. Your objective this time is to survive. Good luck.”
“Biff, wait!”
The radio cut out.
“Bruce, what just happened?” asked Shelton.
Tinner looked pale. “He’s combined them. He’s combined all three scenarios into one death match. With us as the targets.”
The walls started cracking. The hurricane was forming into a cyclone.
“Tinner, where’s Biff?”
“My laboratory,” said Tinner.
“Great, then we need to get there.”
“No, you stay here. I can’t be injured, so I’ll go.” Tinner flung open the door and strode into the hallway. Gunfire echoed down the hallway at him. Tinner fell to the floor.
“Bruce!” Shelton stuck his pistol around the corner and fired randomly. He doubted he hit anything, but the enemy retreated.
Tinner was hit in the arm. He tried to move it, and cried out.
“I guess Biff made sure you weren’t invulnerable anymore.” Shelton tried to help him to his feet. His hands went through him. “Hey, I still can’t touch you!”
Tinner looked dizzy. “I’m just an avatar. Just like you’re an avatar to me…programmed to be right where I am…and where you are…”
“That’s nice, Bruce. Now get up.”
Tinner shook his head. “Hurts,” she said.
The enemy came back around the corner. Shelton opened fire, using the last of his ammo. They retreated again.
“Bruce, get the hell up! Now!”
Ever so slowly, Tinner got to a sitting position, then to his feet. “Ow,” he said.
“Your arm?”
“No, my head.”
“My head hurts too, but we’ve got to keep going! Limp that way!”
The storm had caused major damage to the building, which was why the hallway no longer had knockout gas or a ceiling. Stinging rain beat against them until they escaped through a door on the other side.
Just as he shut the door, Shelton heard the enemy fighters return fire. They were back, and they knew where Shelton and Tinner had gone. No doubt they would be following them.
Shelton saw gas seeping through the next door. “Hold your breath, Tinner.”
Tinner shook his head. “I won’t make it.”
Shelton undid his gas mask and held it out. “Take this. But dammit, you’re going to have to move!”
Shelton opened the door and led the way into the hallway. The gas was everywhere. Shelton made his way to the next room. Then the next one.
“Here,” said Tinner. “It’s here.”
The door stood in front of him, Bruce Tinner’s name on it.
Shelton balled his lab coat in his mouth and breathed once. He didn’t know if it was enough, but he didn’t seem to be dying. Removing the gag, he spoke once. “Go.”
Tinner stepped forward, but suddenly a green plane of light came out of the wall, coming at them slowly.
“Shelton,” said Tinner. “I don’t know if I’m immune to the green light any more. If it hits me, I could…I could…”
Shelton didn’t have enough air to respond. Water started seeping from the ceiling. The storm was breaking in.
Tinner watched the green light coming at him. His eyes were wide. When it hit him, Shelton dove forward, tumbling through Tinner’s body as the green light passed over.
Shelton slid on the water-coated ground, crashing into the far wall. He looked back. Tinner crumpled to the door, dead.
Shelton opened the door and slid through, gasping as he shut the door before the gas could get in.
Biff stood at the control panel. He had one hand on the control panel, and the other held a Luger pistol pointed straight at Shelton.
