As they neared the massive, heavily fortified wall, its immense metal gate rising ominously before them, James finally broke the silence. "Okay, don't say anything," he instructed A.D. "I'll handle everything." He stopped the vehicle, and they both stepped out.
A small window slid open on the gate. "Who are you?" a voice demanded from within.
James immediately dropped to his knees, motioning for A.D. to do the same. "I am a leader of a branch of this lab," James called out. "Tell your leader that Branch B:3 leader James is here!"
The information crackled over the wireless to the security office. An assistant's voice announced, "Sir, James is here."
Leader Marsh's command was swift. "Open the gate and let him in."
With a low groan, the massive gate began to retract, revealing a sprawling complex within – a huge place with vast living quarters, abundant food supplies, and extensive research facilities. They entered.
Once inside, James turned to A.D. "I am sorry," he murmured, his voice lacking conviction.
"Why?" A.D. asked, confused.
Suddenly, a squad of armed soldiers appeared, their weapons aimed directly at A.D. "Kneel down!" one of them barked.
A.D. realized the deception. He looked at James, his eyes burning with fury. "You did wrong. You will have to pay for it."
A.D. was swiftly arrested and thrown into a cold, desolate cell within the complex.
Meanwhile, James was brought before Marsh. He immediately bowed, but Marsh grabbed him by the collar, throwing him to the floor in a fit of rage. James scrambled to his knees, begging for mercy.
"How could you lose that place?" Marsh roared, his face contorted with anger.
"I am really sorry," James stammered, still on the floor. "That kid ruined everything. He gathered the people and attacked us."
"How are they all armed?" Marsh demanded, his fury undimmed.
"They opened the gates, and zombies entered, and they hijacked the place," James explained, fear evident in his voice.
"Stop talking nonsense!" Marsh roared. He gestured to his men. "Get him and kill him!"
"No! No!" James cried, scrambling back. "I'll tell you something important!"
"What?" Marsh questioned, his hand pausing the execution order.
"That kid has a cure for this virus!" James blurted out.
"What!" Marsh's eyes widened.
"Yes," James insisted. "Because of that cure, he used zombies to hijack that place. And he came here to end this virus, to spread it in the air through your machine from here."
"What are you saying? That kid has a cure?" Marsh's anger transformed into shocked interest. He waved his hand. "Leave him."
"Thank you," James gasped, relief flooding his face. "And then, can I live? I will not interfere, I'll do what you say. Please, let me live here."
"Okay," Marsh agreed, his gaze now focused on the potential of a cure.
Just then, Marsh's daughter, Sharleen, a player, appeared. "Dad, I heard that James lost his place and came here with a boy, and he's inside the cell."
"Yeah," Marsh confirmed. "I'm going to meet him."
"Can I come?" Sharleen asked.
"Okay," Marsh replied.
They made their way to A.D.'s cell. A.D. sat on the floor, seemingly calm. Marsh addressed him. "Hey, you!"
A.D. slowly stood up. "Tell me the cure," Marsh commanded.
"No, I will not," A.D. refused.
"But you came here to end this virus," Marsh pressed.
"That's why you threw me here?" A.D. countered, a sneer on his face.
"That's because you destroyed our research B:3 branch!" Marsh retorted.
"What!" A.D. scoffed. "That was not a research lab! That was hell! You torture people there for your personal reasons, use them, and after when they are no use, you throw them away! And here, only luxurious people live, with poor people serving them! You want me to give you that cure, and you'll only give it to the rich people?"
Sharleen stepped forward, her expression troubled. "It's not like that." A.D. looked at her hand, a flicker of recognition in his eyes – she was also a player.
"You will die here if you don't tell me," Marsh threatened.
"Do what you want!" A.D. defied.
Marsh and Sharleen turned to leave. As they walked away, A.D.'s voice echoed through the corridor. "Sharleen, you are not from this world. This world is a game." Sharleen paused, looking back for a brief moment, then continued on.
A.D. was tortured for hours. At night, lying bruised on the cell floor, he heard a voice. "A.D.! A.D.!" He looked up. It was David.
"David! A.D., are you okay? And why are you here?" David asked, relief and confusion warring on his face.
"Long time no see," A.D. said, a faint smile touching his lips. "Don't worry, I'm okay. I had to come here to end this."
"James told me," David began, "how did you convince him?"
Then, a backstory:(Flashback)
A few hours ago, in the vehicle...
"James," voice quiet but firm, "how will you do that? And if you do, how will you find him?"
"Listen," A.D. had continued, explaining his plan. "When we enter, you'll have me arrested. And then, you'll have to find him. His name is David. Tell him A.D. is here and wants to meet him."
The plot thickens with Sharleen being a player and A.D.'s plan to use his "capture" to meet David. The moral conflict of the "game" and Marsh's cruel regime is stark.