ALL NOVEL Chapter 4: Part 4
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The huge lizard slammed into a massive pillar, which immediately began to tumble towards the man-made waterfall. The swamp-coloured scales on the reptile's massive body were particularly eye-catching, the mutant was perfect and deadly in its own way. Scarlet eyes blazed inexpressible anger and hatred for all living things, but occasionally in the scarlet pools of eyes still flashed a particle of reason, meaningfulness, but immediately disappeared under the insolent onslaught of various machines that hovered here and there above the mutant, trying to immobilise it.
Miniature drones confidently crowded the monster with fire from large-calibre cannons. Quickly pulling my ancient phone out of my pocket and taking a couple of photos, I started recording video. The red-haired beast quietly clung to me and watched mesmerised by the battle between the monstrously strong monster and technology, and admittedly, the drones were losing so far. Knocking out the fighting machines with throws of various debris, the lizard was reducing their numbers faster and faster. Indifferently continuing to eat rapidly cooling potatoes, I calmly filmed the entire fight between the drones and the lizard, which was in full swing destroying the shopping centre.
Hiding in a huge department with electrical appliances, the monster was quiet for a minute, but soon returned with some unknown shit and a carefully connected battery. Another languidly long minute of silence, and the triumphant Lizard burnt out all the drones' electronics with one powerful electromagnetic pulse. Hiding again, but already in the 'Everything for hunting and fishing' department, the monster soon returned with a couple of fishing nets and began leisurely assembling the combat vehicles that were rightfully his trophies. Having collected everything he could, the satisfied lizard simply disappeared into the underground car park of the shopping centre.
- I suggest we take our date to a pizza place and end the evening with something delicious. How about Hawaiian with pineapple? - quickly diverting the attention of the shocked frozen girl to myself, I confidently took her in my arms and hurried to leave such a dangerous place. - And who knows, who knows who else might decide to drop in on us? - The redhead nodded uncertainly.
I took a taxi and went to one of the nearest pizzerias, which was close to the house. Borrowing Valkyrie's phone, I quickly transferred the photos and videos to her smartphone and immediately organised an internet auction, sending invitations to all media holdings and news sites while the news was still hot. And why not?
Having reached the pizzeria of friendly Sicilians with a breeze and immediately paid for the taxi, I gallantly led the girl to a free table. A couple of seconds later a young-looking waiter came up to us and silently handed us the menu. Ordering my favourite pizza with pineapple, I told various stories, causing a smile at Carrot-top, which slowly 'thawed' from recent events. I wonder what those drones wanted from the Lizard? Would they just chase after a monster? I don't think so, because everything has a purpose or interested people. When I was done thinking about it, I looked at the Valkyrie who was eating a Hawaiian pizza with gusto. Smiling, I decided to immediately join the cute Redhead, and the pizza was getting cold.
- You're acting too calm for the nerd I remember... Admit it, what did you do to Parker and why are you so handsome? - still eating her pizza, the girl pointed her finger at my hand in a show of incredulity. - Seriously, this was the first time I'd ever been on such an unusual date. Thanks for taking me out, Peter. - Blushing sweetly, the redhead smiled uncertainly. Winking back at her, I tried to finish my pizza, too, and the pineapple was just the way I like it - sweet and sour.
- I'm actually a puddle-like tentacle monster from outer space that came to take over this miserable earth and create a harem of the most beautiful girls in the world. - With the most serious expression on my face and trying not to laugh, I was still trying to lift the girl's mood. - Will you come to my harem? - After receiving a sharp poke in the arm and a wider smile from the girl, I exhaled.
- So you started watching anime too? - The redhead said mischievously, as if she meant something else by 'anime'. - That explains a lot. - Smiling thoughtfully, the girl winked playfully at me.
Trying to figure out what it explained, I noticed a man in a trench coat and an army waistcoat with a grinning skull walking into the pizzeria. I grabbed Valkyrie's hand gently, and we sped away, only a minute later hearing shotgun blasts close at hand. What a Gotham, not a moment's peace.
- What about the bill? - The girl asked uncertainly. - How long has this city been so criminalised?
- Let it be our little secret, because the prank was a success, wasn't it? - With a mischievous wink at Carrot-top, I gently put my arm around the girl and we walked to the bus stop, not hurrying to talk about anything.
Thinking about how dangerous our city was and how we lacked heroes who were willing to work for nothing, I sold photos and videos to a company with the laconic name 'JJJ,' whatever that meant. As it turned out, being an insider is not a bad thing at all, and in some places it is even profitable. Having earned literally out of thin air, or to be more precise, a few pieces of green for a couple of photos and videos, I was in a slightly high mood.
Hugging the beautiful girl, I settled down with her on the back seats of the empty bus. Taking out vacuum headphones, Valkyrie handed me one of them, and under the even rumbling of the bus we watched 'Eternal Sunshine of the Pure Mind'. Admittedly, it had been a long time since I'd had a date with so many locations and ending on a bus. Tucked into my chest, the redhead dozed off, while I still held my smartphone with the film that had unexpectedly drawn me in. A romantic evening, what can I say. Smiling at the sight of the sniffling girl, I carefully started looking for the right stop.
After I'd delivered Carrot-top home, I opened the door almost silently and carried the girl into her bedroom. I covered the Valkyrie with a blanket and closed the door behind me, but something clicked in my head, and I decided to go to the shop that worked twenty-four by seven and get something to drink. Oh, and someone had promised me lasagne, so getting something cold would be a good idea. The bell at the entrance rang, and the friendly Vietnamese man smiled warmly at the next customer. Silently I went into the depths of the shop and found the drinks section, but I had to choose between a bottle of William Lawsons and a vanilla cola in a glass. Undecided, I headed for the till.
A two-metre tall mulatto was aggressively poking the salesman in the face with an old Colt 1911 and yelling something about the mani that the Vietnamese owed him. Quickly weighing both bottles in my hand, I bitterly realised that the heaviest bottle was the whiskey bottle. Already mentally saying goodbye to my hangover in the morning, I threw the bottle at the back of the bastard's head, which deprived me of a good mood before going to bed, and I would not sleep so sweetly now. Slowly reaching the cash register and kicking the robber for mental balance, I put a bottle of vanilla coke with a smile. Taking the colt from the mulatto, I reached into my wallet for the money, but the Vietnamese man waved his hands and said it was on the house. Smiling evilly and squinting at the mulatto, he quickly sent me away and put up a sign 'Technical break'. Not bothering the hospitable host, I went home as leisurely as before. Slipping quietly into the kitchen and finding the lasagne I was looking for, I smiled happily.
After eating quickly and yawning sweetly, I headed for the shower. Humming softly to Oysa, I regained my spirits and went to bed in a good mood.
My sweet dreams were rudely interrupted by May's cheerful voice:
- Get up, my sleepy princess. The pancakes and coffee are getting cold and waiting for you, Peter. - said sweetly in my aunt's ear.
- Temptress...' I mumbled sleepily and got up.
I took an invigorating shower and went into the kitchen, where a satisfied May was already making a hearty breakfast for just the two of us. As I sipped my hot coffee, I looked at my aunt with interest. That's what good company and a bottle of wine does? I see...
- I've already heard about your adventures last night, my hero. - May said sarcastically. - First date and you've already put a girl up to this. - she smiled even more mischievously. - I didn't think you'd run off without paying, Peter. - May shook her head reproachfully. - But ending the date with a romantic film, albeit on a bus, saved you, you little rascal, so eat up. - She handed me a plate of pancakes and smiled warmly again.
- You wanted me to entertain the young lady, didn't you? The rest is pure improvisation, and it's not my fault where she led me. Can we just agree that it was force majeure? And yes, your lasagne was, as always, excellent, May. - I was genuinely complimenting my aunt's cooking.
- Yes, I noticed that all the lasagne was gone in one night, if it wasn't excellent. I see you've worked up an appetite again. Be careful with that, because overeating after six is bad for you. Or do you want to start going to fitness and yoga with me? - May asked sneeringly.
- No, thanks for your concern, I'll do it on my own. For example, I'll take more walks and leave yoga to you, though the offer is tempting. - After I finished my coffee, I thanked Mei for the wonderful breakfast, and finally I gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and quickly slipped away.
As I walked lightly towards the underground, I thought about what to do, because I had a whole life ahead of me and a myriad of new opportunities. And even though I am a student now, but this misunderstanding passes with the years, doesn't it?
Once down the underground, I quickly made my way to the central bank and withdrew some cash from my account and got an instant card so I wouldn't have to carry around reams of paper with the faces of eternally dead presidents on it.
Next was an electronics shop, where I bought a brand new smartphone from the well-established Ozkorp company for a couple of hundred greenbacks. Titanium case, powerful battery for five thousand and a gorgeous 6.5 inch screen, what else do you need to be happy? Leaving the shop and immediately connecting to the web, I stumbled upon a news report from the scene where a respectable gentleman with a moustache was calmly broadcasting recent events, presenting photos and videos as evidence, and guess whose they were? Bingo. What else did I expect, though?
While leisurely researching what I could buy on the net, I accidentally stumbled upon an offer to sell all six types of army body armour at once, as well as addresses of various ateliers that provided services of tailoring suits with individual protection and different levels of armour. Having whistled from surprise, I continued my surfing in a Scandinavian-style cafe.
Having finished studying the sites and shops selling weapons and protection, I returned to searching for various scientists and other interesting people, because I am a student and I need to think about where to go next. And so far the most promising employer was a certain von Doom with his topic on robotics and cyborgisation, as well as the development of androids and drones of all kinds.