While others split up to gain the items for the serum for the virus, Joe and Victor left the station to head to the Botanical gardens are nearby by the station and saw the robots that stood there. They stood there to take a moment to reflect on what would happen if they got into the station first and killed them all with no chance of survival. Joe has been attempting to start small talks with Victor, but he remained silent on their way to the gardens.
To be frank, Joe and Victor aren't best friends. You can say... they are the polar opposite of each other. While Joe will speak his mind without a second thought and willing to set things on fire; Victor is cool-headed and thinks it through and wields the power of Ice. As they arrived at the garden, they discussed how the local wildlife is asleep and even docile toward them. Joe thinks this is too quiet for them to reach the garden with ease while Victor reflected on his failure to honor his oath to Millie.
It is like learning that the woman that had a crush on him... Was his sister.
Victor's POV
Mother... I wish I had told Sakura the truth of our bloodline, but I hesitated in telling her. I said nothing despite Joe bothering my ass for conversation. But the gardens are exquisite under different circumstances, I would visit here and bring my sister for a picnic...
"Yo man! I got a question, " Joe asked while blocking my way.
"What is it, now Joe?" I admonished him. "Ask now because we need to focus on our mission."
"What the fuck is your problem with me, Vic?! You act like I did something to you!" he said. "I was asking about why Sakura had a crush on you? She even fawns over you whenever she sees you," he asked. "But I noticed that you don't seem interested in any men or women. You even walked past her many times. You hate women?"
I frowned upon that question, but I pushed him aside as I do not have time for this.
"She is my sister, Joe. We need to keep moving, that is all that you need to know." I walked off, leaving him dumbstruck.
But I noticed that Joe says nothing or tries to walk up to me, I noticed my response has affected more than what is being on. I turned around and saw that Joe thought it over what I said earlier. Then he walked up to me, I was bracing he might try to punch me but ...
"Yo man, why didn't you tell her?" he said. "And no man, I have no interest in her. She even looked to me as a big brother she never had." His response floored me.
"So... You didn't have any interest in men or women, either, huh?" I said, sympathizing with him.
"Why? So I can give birth to a kid who might go through the same shit I had? Nah, fatherhood isn't for me and I doubt I would be good at that stuff." he said "Lost my mom, long ago because of cancer and I swore not to give my heart to another woman after she passed away. Don't want to go through another heartbreak like that."
"Joe..." I said. "Shall we keep moving? We have 3 hours and 22 mins left."
In search of Rejuvenating Agent
No infected so far, no hostile wildlife, but I know the agent is somewhere. As far as I know about using Elemental powers, Fire & Ice is effective here, but Joe's power will set the entire garden on fire if I let the big lug set everything on fire. I also took the time to remind him to stick with PSI and telekinesis since our ammunition is not plentiful here, god I wish we had Jenny here to assist us.
"Discord..." a voice said with a raspy tone.
"Who is that?!" Joe barked.
"Calm yourself. Be ready for anything." I charged up my PSI.
"You should not have come here..." a female voice speaks.
"You disturb our rest..." another voice.
"But..."
"It is not too late..." another voice said,
"Come to your eternal rest... Be free of the tyranny of the individual. Their time has passed!" a voice said in an exalted tone.
"I will not fall here!" I remain alert. "Show your face, your true face!"
"Oh, child..." the creature revealed itself... a woman mutated with green veins showing on her body. "We welcome you to our whole. There is peace here..." it said to us. "Instead of being the discord, why not harmonize with us?"
"Dang! Are you trying to trip us up?" Joe said. "I ain't falling for your honey trap."
"No, my brother... We speak the truth," it said to him.
"We come to you... To bring you home where you would be warm and safe." another said behind us. "We are happy here of The One's beauty. We shall be one people."
"One Race." the woman exclaimed.
"To be whole..." another infected revealed itself but...
"Your legs? Where are they?" I asked it.
"Worry not, brothers. One has brought us together. We offer you two the chance to be free of the tyranny of the individual." the woman said.
"Or do you seek to remain alone, to be the discord that destroys our unity?!" another roared at us.
"To be part of a cult..." I said, grinning my teeth at this. "Don't you see that the virus has infected you?! You have been brainwashed by it!" I pleaded.
"We are not a cult where the individual controls all. We are a collective that Harmonize with those that listen. We used to be individuals, selfish… greedy… seeking to kill each other for sport." the woman exclaimed. "We hated it... We hated every moment in our hearts. Until The One reached out to us and gave us peace," a voice said.
"Why do you remain as an individual?" it asked me.
"Because I rather die with honor than to live as a mindless slave to a being with no will of my own." I shot back.
"We are the being, Victor Wu." another voice. "No one should rule all...."
"The One unites us all, we are one race, people & goal!" another said.
"You are being lied to, honorable one. The people that sent you have deceived and betrayed you. See how they will reward your service." a voice said. "They have sent the erasers and they will destroy everything we cherish."
"OH YEAH, WE ARE THE ERASERS, FUCKERS!!" Joe shouted as he threw a fireball at the woman.
"Joe, no!!" I shouted, but I was too late.
As soon as the fireball hit the infected plant creature, it wailed in agony, crying out in terror. The other creatures soon turned their gaze toward us.
"You have made your choice, discord!" a man growled. "If you will not join us... THEN YOU ARE IN HARMONY WITH THOSE THAT SEEKS TO END US!!" he pounced on us.
I cut one of them down with my sword but the infected are everywhere; I used Cryokinesis to freeze another in place. Damn it, Joe! Now we have to contend with the infected that now want us dead. We pressed on further to locate the rejuvenating agent and get out of there.
We have witnessed the downfall of our sister... Do you think we will sit by and do nothing while you destroy our unity?
I ignore the voice, but I have a feeling we need to hurry and get what we need and go. The ground rumbled before us and a mutated plant appeared before us. It attacked us and swiped at it with my end which roared in pain. Then I noticed it grew more leaves and tentacles. That is when I saw it.
The Rejuvenating Agent!