Broadway World of the Dead: Installment Two

[orion59]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 8:50pm

In our last installment, we learned that a mutant virus has been causing the recent dead to come back to life in New York City. The entire city had become a wasteland occupied by flesh eating zombies. The miliatry and the countries leading scientists had set up a command center in what used to be Madison Square Garden.

In this installment, Doctor Iris Chacon, a world reknown epidemiologist, has been sent by the Pentagon to help eradicate this zombie creating virus. We join our story as Dr. Chacon briefs command center personell on recent findings.

"Gentlemen, here is what we know thus far" Dr Chacon spoke as she pointed out various charts and graphs on the wall behind her. "We believe the virus started as a mutated computer virus that was transferred to people by way of a Broadway Theater site on the internet. We believe the webmasters of this site had a master plan to create an army of zombies that would help them in their quest to take over New York then the world. Itw as working. They had thousands of people sitting in front of their computers becoming mindless zombies, enticing them with the promise of becoming what they called "legends". We belive both of hem have escaped to Canada. We have yet to determine the mode of transmission from computers to humans. What we do know is that those initaially infected became carriers."

Commander Etoile interrupted "Do mean these initial victims showed no symptoms but passed this virus to others?"

"Precisly" Dr Chacon replied "The carriers transferred the virus to Broadway actors initailly. that's what made it so hard to detect at first. These actors must have died quietly and alnoe. Upon coming back to life, thare was no noticable difference in them initailly"

"But those creatures out there have hideously deformed faces" Commander Etoile said. "They all look like victims of bad face lifts. How could this not have been noticed?"

"As far as we can tell" Dr Chacon continued, "the first actors to become zombies were Carol Channing, Bea Arthur and Kathleen Turner." At that, nods of understanding circulated through the conference room. As Dr Chacon was about to continue, the door to the conference room burst open. The man who entered was wearing SWAT gear. He was a tall, handsome brute of a man, Dr Chacon noticed. He took a seat at the far end of the table.

"Nice of you to finally join us, Nate" Commander Etoile addressed the new arrival. "Dr Chacon, this is Nathan Rath, leader of our Survivor Search and Rescue sqaud. It will be his team that you'll accompany on their missions. They will be helping you collect the study specimens you need."

Nate learned back in his chair and glared at Iris. Arrogance filling every fiber of his being. "Iris Chacon, huh? Great, just what I need, some two bit dame to babysit."
Iris was about to answer when she noticed Commander Etoile give Rath a look that warned him to be careful.

"Well, gentlemen, that's about it for now" Iris announced. "Commander, I believe you ahve already collected some specimens for me to take a look at. I'm eager to see them."
Commander Etoile led Dr Chacon out of the room. "I really must apologize for Nate" he said. "He really isn't all that bad, but he fancies himself a Phillip Marlow type. He just doesn't tolerate any nonsense from anybody. I'm afraid you'll have your hands full." They walked a long corridor eventaully coming to a guard station. the guard on duty opened a steel enforved door and let them through. Another long corridor, this one containing cells on either side with observation windows in them.
"Don't worry. commander" Iris said as they stopped in front of one of the cells "I've dealt with his type many times before. I'm very confident in my abilities to handle him and to do my job."
The Commander smiled. "I dare say you are according to what I've heard. Tell me, is it true that as wella s being a very accomplished epidemiologist, you are also teh countries foremost authority on Broadway history?"

Iris laughed uneasily. "I don't know about being teh foremost authority but I have studied Broadway history extensively. Everything from "Rent" to "Light In The Piazza."
"I imagine it will serve you well in studying this strange phenomonon whuch started with the theater community." The commander drew Isris' attention to a cell on the right.
"Here in cell seven, we have an interesting specimen. This zombie was captured out in Times Square. Nate and his crew threw a rubber net over her and brought her in"
Iris peered into teh observation window. Inside the room was a very small zombie caresseing what appeared to be a remnant of shag carpeting. "What is doing?" Iris asked.
"It's very curious. We found that she has a fascination with hand puppets, particularly furry ones. It seems to be the only thing that keeps her calm so we can handle her. Now, over here we have something very unusual." The commander led her a little further down to cell number nine.
"In here we have four female zombies. We keep them together becasue when seperated, they tend to become disoriented and upset. The otehr odd thing is that tehse four appear to have regained some rudimentary speech. take a look."

Iris looked in through the glass, Inside she saw a Latina zombie with black hair wearing what remained of a red sequined dress.
"The one in the red dress" Etoile explained, "she ahs a fascination with spiders. We don't know why. We've taken to calling her spider woman."
One of the four, Iris noticed, must once have been a beautiful woman of a certain age. She had very think, red crimped hair and what must have been porceline skin prior to her death. The third appeard to be an old African American woman wearing a skin tight, lycra cat suit and a pair of cat ears on barret across her head. The last, a pale woman with think black hair whom, Etoile explained, was an actress who had appeared on a television show about a bar. One of the men at the command post had recognized her when they brought her in.
"Tell me about them" Iris said.
"Not much to tell, doctor. We found all four congrated in Shubert Alley where they were standing in a line kicking. They almost appeared to be dancing. As I had said, they seem to have reaquired some ability to speak. When we found them they were all saying the same phrase. we don't know what it emans but we have a team researching it."
"What was the phrase, commander?"
"All four were saying 'Iamnina' Just utter nonesense, I imagine."
Iris peered back into the window and watched the four zombies. "Nonsense, commander? I wouldn't be too sure of that yet."

Etoile sighed "Well, that appears to be all I can show you at this time. Perhaps I should have someone show you to your quarters. Nate's team leaves at oh six hundered. You'll want to be well rested before going out into the horror that was once New York. I'll have Robbie Pusskow come to get you. She is on Nate's team, an expert in weaponms of all types.

TO BE CONTINUED:

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 9:20pm

I am on the edge of my seat waiting for Chapter Two.

Forget Harry Potter, this is the best thing I'm going to read all summer!

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 9:33pm

I know! And I almost NEVER read a post that is this lengthy! Hope you're busy working on Chapter Two, Orion...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:06pm

Fascinating! But what will come of Little Nell?