Deadman's Gambit: ZPOCALYPTO - A World of GAMELAND Series, #3

By Saul Tanpepper

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

 

The thrilling saga continues in the third deadly installment of the best-selling post-apocalyptic cyberpunk series by Saul Tanpepper!

 

How do you survive the game when you're out of health points?

How do you continue playing when you've no weapons left in your bag?

How can you save your entire crew if you can barely even save yourself?

How do you level up when the game, its creators, and 10,000 undead Players are totally against you?

 

This is GAMELAND. Congratulations, you're in. Now just try to get out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brinestone Press
• Release date: Nov 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223049968

Saul Tanpepper

Subscribe for new releases & exclusive deals/giveaways: tinyletter.com/SWTanpepper Saul Tanpepper is the specfic pen name of author Ken J. Howe, a PhD molecular biologist and former Army medic and trauma specialist.  Titles include: The post-apocalyptic series GAMELAND (recommended reading order): - Golgotha (prequel, optional) - Episodes 1-4 - Velveteen (standalone novella, optional) - Episodes 5-8 - Infected: Hacked Files From the Gameland Archive (insights for the avid GAMELAND fan) - Jessie's Game #1: Signs of Life - A Dark and Sure Descent - Jessie's Game #2: Dead Reckoning Post-apocalyptic series BUNKER 12 - Contain - Books 2-4 (coming soon) International medical thriller serial THE FLENSE (a BUNKER 12 companion series) - CHINA: Books 1-3 - ICELAND: Book 1-3 - AFRICA: Books 1-3 - TBA Short story collections: Shorting the Undead & Other Horrors Insomnia: Paranormal Tales, Science Fiction, and Horror Visit him at tanpepperwrites.com

Book preview

PART ONE

Promises Made

Chapter 1

I wait for the tram to pick up speed, but it just clicks quietly along at a constant languid pace. We’re moving no faster than a slow jog. At this rate, it’ll take us more than an hour to get to the mainland.

Why aren’t we accelerating, Reg?

Maybe it’s low on power? he guesses.

His uncertainty doesn’t really help stifle my mounting anxiety. Every extra minute we delay getting back gives Novak and that man another minute to free themselves from their bindings and call for reinforcements. If I’d known the tram was going to be this slow, I wouldn’t have left them back there. I would have—

killed them

—brought them back with us.

The thought had crossed my mind. But one murder is enough for today. It’s enough for a lifetime.

The darkness of the tunnel swallows us up. Only the meager glow of the LCD safety light mounted in the ceiling of the car provides illumination. Reggie’s a pale ghost as he tries to figure out the dials and switches. He flicks something, and a grainy black and white image appears on a monitor in the console. It shows the section of track directly in front of the tram.

Let me know immediately if you notice anything strange, I tell him. Anything.

Where are you going?

Back with the others.

I get it. You and Kel gots things to discuss.

I chuff. No one’s going to be planning any weddings anytime soon. Just keep an eye out. And try to figure out how to get us moving faster.

Will do.

Also, give me a heads up before we arrive on the mainland side.

Worried about what might be waiting for us?

I just want to make sure we’re prepared.

That’s why you’re the boss.

I’m not the boss.

Whatever you say... boss, he says, smirking.

I don’t want to be in charge, but someone has to be. The moment we arrive on the other end, I’m ditching the responsibility. Let someone else take over for a while.

The compartment door slams shut behind me, and everyone looks up.

Why are we going so slow? Ashley asks.

Outside the window, a bare fluorescent bulb on the wall of the tunnel drifts past.

I don’t know. Reggie’s working on it.

I know I should be more relieved that we’ve even made it this far — all of us, together, alive, and for the most part, intact — but I just can’t shake this feeling it’s all an illusion. My escape from my bed, from Nurse Mabel, all just quirks of fate. I was luckier than I really had any right to be, especially in my physical condition. I shouldn’t have been able overpower Mabel so easily. But to do so again after she resurrected... Well, by rights, I should be sharing that room — and death — with her.

Then finding all the others, including Kelly... All almost too easy.

Almost as if...

I shake my head. I don’t know if it’s the exhaustion or the adrenaline hangover, but I’m having a hard time concentrating. My brain feels two sizes too big crammed inside a box two sizes too small. I used to get these tension headaches, and this feels like that. But this time the pressure is starting to build at the base of my skull.

Kelly walks over and we take a seat a distance from the others. So, he says, about what happened back there.

I groan. I want to tell him that I really don’t want to talk about it right now. He must sense my resistance, because he doesn’t lead with the marriage proposal.

I was going crazy with worry over for you, he says. "These past few days when I couldn’t figure out how to rescue you. I had no idea what they were doing to you guys, and I just kept thinking..."

We’re safe now, Kel. That’s all that matters.

No thanks to me.

What’s that supposed to mean?

I wanted to keep everyone safe. That’s why I came back for Jake on my own. All it ended up doing was making things worse.

Well, your brother is important to you.

Kyle? I don’t understand. What’s he got to do with this?

Look, Kel, I know you needed money for his hospital bills. What I don’t understand is why you’d drag all the rest of us into it.

He exhales heavily and pinches the bridge of his nose. How’d you find out about that?

Does it matter?

It’s not what you think.

What I think is, how am I supposed to trust you?

Jessie...

Another fluorescent lamp outside on the tunnel drifts past. We still haven’t accelerated.

Is that all Arc wanted? I ask. Or did they expect more. Did they ask you to Volunteer?

What? No! He pulls away from me, appalled. You know I would never do that!

Do I?

Yes, you do!

Then what did they want?

Micah’s hacks, he finally confesses.

How did they know about them?

I don’t know. It’s Arc. They know everything. They approached me about six months ago, gave me a choice. Either I start handing over everything Micah created or—

Just Micah? Or any of us?

Anything Micah touched. They didn’t care about the rest of the group, just him.

Why?

He shrugs. I don’t know. They said I had to hand over anything Micah created on his own or with anyone else, or they’d make sure we all got years added to our LSC. At first it was just the game hacks. I didn’t think it was such a big deal. As long as I sent them his work, they’d put money into an account for Kyle’s treatment. But everything changed the moment they found out about Micah’s tracking script. They changed the rules.

Changed them how?

They stopped sending the money. They demanded more.

When did this happen?

Two days before we left, a week ago Thursday.

So, they knew what we were planning? Or did you tell them?

No, I didn’t tell them. I didn’t have to.

Would you have? I ask. Told them?

He hesitates, then seems to deflate. Yes. But only if I believed it would stop us from even trying. It was a stupid idea from the start. I never wanted anything to do with it.

Then why didn’t you stop us? It’s because of you that—

They wanted us to go through with it. They wanted... proof, I guess, that we could.

Just another white hat hack for them to fix, I grunt. Is that it? And they don’t even have to pay a cent for our hard work.

Something like that.

So, why not just hire Micah directly to writes scripts and find holes in their codex?

Hire Micah? Not with his family’s ties to the SSC.

They’re not Separatists. They just happened to be living in Texas when it happened. The fact that they defected should mean something.

Not to Arc. I doubt they see things that way.

And the second time? I ask. Why’d you go back for Jake? Did they tell you to do that, too?

No. I told you, it was to protect you— all of you guys, but mostly you. And because I felt guilty about my part in making it happen. I realized I should’ve drawn the line, but—

No, you couldn’t. You made the right choice.

Did I?

"Well, the only choice you could make. But you should’ve told us. You should’ve told me. And you should’ve let us help you, instead of making us all worry."

I honestly believed it would be a simple rescue. I’d planned to get back here, grab him, and be home by early afternoon. The fewer people involved, the better.

Did you notify them about my lost Link?

No, of course not! He sighs. But it doesn’t matter. It was still my fault. If only Jake hadn’t— He stops. Are you okay? You look pale.

I shake my head, but it only makes my headache worse. It’s nothing.

If he’d only been there when I arrived, it would’ve been so much simpler, he goes on. But of course he wasn’t, because it’s never easy with him, is it? I found his wetsuit where he’d ditched it. That’s how I knew he’d made it all the way back. I didn’t know if he was alive or dead, so I waited a little while for him to return. Busied myself by gathering up the bags and supplies we’d left behind. After that, I had to hole up, because the IUs were starting to swarm again. They were still there by evening, and by then it was too late to go back through the tunnel, with or without Jake. I spent the night at the Holiday Inn.

Really?

He gives me a wry grin. Terrible service. Barely got any sleep.

Jake said you two didn’t join up until late the next day.

Yeah, I was about ready to give up when he showed up. Let me tell you, I was pretty angry by then. So when he started arguing, making excuses about the tunnels being blocked, I’d pretty much had it with him. I would’ve left him there, but then those two guys showed up.

Arc’s surveyors?

Yeah, I didn’t believe it for a second. But I did think Arc had sent them to check up on me.

You?

Yeah. I was valuable to them. But it didn’t take long for me to realize they weren’t who I thought they were. I mean, they were clearly sent to get us, but I don’t think they knew exactly who I was.

I just don’t understand how that all fits with them replacing our implants and preparing us to become Volunteers.

I don’t know, either. Arc’s a huge corporation. Oftentimes the left hand won’t know what the right hand’s doing.

You think that’s what happened?

I don’t know, but I’m done with them. I’m out.

What about Kyle’s treatments?

We’ll just have to figure something else out.

He leans into me. His face is suddenly deeply etched with fatigue that I’m afraid it’ll remain like that forever. I’m still angry at him for betraying us, even though he really didn’t have a choice, and for trying to be the hero. I want to forgive him, but I’m not sure the others will be so willing. How will they respond when we tell them?

That’s going to be an uncomfortable conversation, I murmur.

Sorry?

Nothing.

I cradle his head in my hands and pull him to me. He leans in, and we kiss, and oh God, I want so badly for this all to be a dream, a nightmare that dissolves seamlessly into a harmless dream that I can just wake up out of and know that everything’s alright. I want this whole past week to be nothing but some stupid play acted out in my head. I just want things to be back to the way they once were.

So? he whispers.

God, I want so badly to say yes. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. And yet...

You mean more to me than anyone else in this whole world, Jess.

I know that’s not true, but that’s okay. It goes without saying that Kyle occupies a special place in Kelly’s heart way above me. I try to smile, but it ends up being more of a grimace. The pressure inside my head has bloomed in the last couple of minutes. I’m exhausted, and yet I feel like every nerve in my body is on fire.

We’ll talk about it when we get home, I say.

He leans his head back against the window and closes his eyes, apparently satisfied for the moment. In less than a minute he’s asleep.

I wish I could sleep, but I’m far too anxious. Every click of the track takes us farther from Long Island and brings us closer to home. And to whatever awaits us. My stomach feels like a hot greasy fire pit. I need to stand up. I need fresh air. I stagger down the aisle.

The funny thing about this whole situation, Stephen says, as I near him, is that you think you’ve got it all figured out.

What?

You think this is all about you. You’re just a small part of this.

Of what?

Jake raises his head and squints over at us from his seat. He looks as miserable as I feel. No one asked you, he grunts. His voice is shaky. His words slur.

You okay, Jake? I ask, alarmed.

Don’t feel so great.

The tram rocks slightly, messing with my sense of balance. My body responds far too sluggishly. I stagger across the aisle and settle clumsily into the seat beside Stephen. My brain feels like it’s turning to mush inside my skull. I take a deep breath and wait for the nausea to pass, for the roaring sound in my ears to subside. But they both intensify.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Stephen’s face swims before me. He grins like a madman, like someone who doesn’t understand how much trouble he’s in. Once we get back to...

Back to...

Where are we going?

He speaks, and his voice sounds distorted.

Jake coughs and suddenly lurches out of his seat. He drops to his knees and starts puking.

What’s happening?

A sharp cry from elsewhere in the car draws my attention. I turn, and it’s like I’ve just stepped off the spinning teacups at the amusement park. The walls of the tram are a blur around me. Ashley spins past, once, twice. She’s slumped in her seat. She appears to be asleep, except how can anyone sleep like that? Tanya tries to stand. She grabs her head and screams again. Then she crumples to the floor, where she starts writhing and gagging. I lurch to my feet, and the world spins even more violently— Kelly and Jake and Micah and Ash and Tanya.

kellyjakemicahashtanya

kellyjakemichal—

I don’t remember falling. One moment I’m upright and the world is spinning around me. Then I’m on the floor, staring at the ceiling, and the world it whirring above me.

kellyjakemicahashtanya

I hear laughter. It’s Stephen. I hear him say something about not being able to leave.

And then it all makes sense. From someplace deep inside of me, I know what they’ve done to us. I remember Miss Novak echoing the same sentiment a half hour before. The same words Nurse Mabel had uttered before I killed her.

They did something to our implants so we can’t leave.

Someone really should’ve told you about the failsafe, he tells me. He sounds so far away now, fading in and out, like I’m on the carousel now, and he’s standing in the middle of the midway, and I keep zooming past him. You didn’t think you’d just be able to walk away, did you? he asks.

What did you do?

He acts like he doesn’t hear me.

What did you do, you asshole?

He makes his way over to the medical cart and starts pulling out drawers. He finds a pair of scissors and starts sawing through his bindings.

Why isn’t anyone stopping him?

Because they’re already dead. Or dying.

And I’m next.

I don’t know how I’m able to get to my feet again. Stephen glances over at me and laughs, as if he can’t believe it, either. He tells me not to fight it. I do the only thing that makes sense to me right now: I head forward to the engineer’s compartment. I have to stop the tram. I lose my balance and fall.

Stephen laughs again. You just don’t give up, do you?

I stand. I lurch. I carom from pole to pole, bracing myself on seatbacks, crashing into walls. Them I’m standing at the door to the engineer’s compartment, and I look inside. It’s empty. No one’s at the controls.

Reggie, I moan, as I slip to my knees. Giving up seems so much easier than fighting. I’m tempted to just close my eyes and sleep.

Stop the tram, Jessie. You have to stop it.

Stephen’s free now. He stands up and rubs his wrists. I can’t move. I can only watch him.

We should be just about under the wall by now, he says. You’re feeling the full effect of the EM barrier. Frankly, I’m surprised you’re still conscious. But you don’t have that much time left.

Why? I gasp.

I know my mouth isn’t working. I know I’ve said nothing, and yet he answers anyway:

Can’t have you leaving now, can we? Not when we’re so close. It would be a disaster if you were to get back out into the real world. A real disaster.

I’m helpless to act as he draws a syringe from the medical bag. It’s filled with a shiny green fluid. He cradles it in his hands like it’s precious cargo.

What are you going to do with that?

Don’t you worry your little head off, he says. He reaches down and drags me away from the engineer’s compartment. It’ll all be over soon enough.

Yes, please, I beg. Make this agony go away. I just want it to go away.

But it won’t. It stays like a stubborn stain. It spreads through me, finding fertile ground and growing into something so much larger. And just as I think I’m about to pass out, something inside of me snaps. Pain explodes inside my head. I scream.

Then it’s gone, all of it, blissfully gone. The pain and pressure recede out of my body so quickly and so utterly that it leaves me breathless. In their place is an emptiness so vast that I can do nothing to stop myself from plunging headlong into it.

Chapter 2

Citizens are advised to remain indoors, the recording blared from the government-mandated speaker on our living room wall. The same message for the past three hours, over and over again. This is not a drill. Do not go outside. Do not answer your door unless you are instructed to do so by the military.

Eric pulled me away from the window, snapping at me that I was going to get us killed standing there like that.

I thought the outbreak was far away? I said.

How do you know that?

It’s in Washington. That’s like hundreds of miles away.

I didn’t see anything on Media saying where it was.

He was right about that. There hadn’t been a thing about the outbreak on the official Media Stream. No announcements, no coverage. But I’d learned how to hack into the black streams, where it wasn’t hard to find news that wasn’t filtered or adulterated by Government.

Let me go.

Then stay away from the window.

God, I cried, yanking my arm free. I rubbed where he’d grabbed me. Why do you have to be so paranoid all the time?

Jessie, be quiet!

You be quiet, Mister Scaredy Cat-I’m-afraid-of-a-zombie-wombie.

He shook his head and began to pace, all the while moaning as if he were one of the stupid undead that we were supposed to be so scared of.

Is it because of Dad you’re such a freak?

You shut up about Dad! he screamed.

Eric, Mom whispered. Please. She’s only nine. She’s just a little girl. She’s scared.

I’m not scared, Mom.

Well, you should be! Eric shouted. And for the last time, Jessie, get away from the window!

My name’s Jessica, not Jessie!

Please stop, Mom begged.

How long do we have to stay inside?

As long as the police say we have to, honey.

Not the police, Eric corrected her. The military.

She reached for her glass. There was no more condensation on the outside, just a wet ring on the coffee table; the ice had long since melted away. She lifted it to her lips and grimaced at the sharpness of the alcohol. Sober for three months — the longest