Sometimes, the search for food seemed endless. Athena didn’t do it for herself; she could pick off smaller birds any time she wanted. She did it for her friends, but, unfortunately, elephants, wolves and bears always seemed to be hungry. Athena had noticed there were certain buildings where humans kept a lot of food; some of it just animal food. And it seemed she’d found another one.

Sitting on the edge of the roof, she looked down at a walled area where many sacks had been piled up. Rats had chewed their way through several, and food was scattered across the ground. Athena flapped her wings and gave a cry, sending the rodents fleeing. Looking around the area, she saw there was a big group of humans not far away, but this prize was worth the risk. Athena launched herself off the roof and headed for the zoo.

-----

Lucky had enjoyed working with the other factions, but it was good to be back with his own people. After talking with Buck and Cyborg the previous evening, he was now back at the 8th Street camp with Gadget, Artemis and Seeker. Gadget was driving a camper van they had acquired, and the four of them were met at the school gate by the guards. All the captive CyMS had now been treated with the Purge Script, and the team was eager to check on their progress.

The camp leader, Veronica, was there to welcome them, and swiftly led the way to the gym. Lucky couldn’t help feeling nervous. After the disasters at the 10th and 13th Street camps, they all needed this to go well. They passed dozens of inhabitants and entered the main school building, which was empty.

"It seemed sensible to keep our non-infected people away," explained Veronica. "Some of them know we have CyMS who were family or friends."

She led them through the school’s science block, then outside. Lucky was relieved to see numerous armed guards on duty.

"So, how are the subjects looking?" asked Gadget.

"It’s mainly good news," said Veronica. "Most of them are out of the gym — the ones we can see are recovering. They’re ‘awake’ and no longer violent. But, they’re at different stages. Some are still non-communicative, while others seem quite normal and ready to join the others. We didn’t want to start releasing them until we’d spoken to you. We keep them here."

Veronica gestured to a fenced outdoor basketball court beside the gym. Inside were well over 100 people, some alone, but most in small groups. As soon as they saw Veronica, a few hurried over to the fence.

She had stopped 50 feet away and went no further. "Those that can communicate always plead with us to be allowed out. It can be very difficult."

"Smart to separate them from the healthy inhabitants," remarked Gadget.

"The remaining CyMS are in the gym?" asked Seeker.

"I’m afraid so," confirmed Veronica. "The ones still there have shown no signs of improvement."

"The mutations," said Artemis.

"What?" asked Veronica.

Artemis explained: "Cyborg and Pai think the virus may have mutated in various ways."

"So the Purge Script might not have fully removed the virus," added Gadget.

"That makes sense," replied Veronica, again gazing at the packed basketball court. "Though we’re still grateful for what you’ve done for the halfies. Your cure brought them back from the dead. I hope they’ll all be normal before long."

"Halfies?" said Lucky.

"That’s what we call them — half CyMS, half normal."

-----

Athena swooped down and landed on one of the food sacks. Bob the bear and Xi the Komodo dragon had swiftly ripped through one of the fences, and now the animals were gorging themselves on food. All was quiet as Jugger, Howl and Walter also ate their fill. Only Jane didn’t seem too interested, though Jane never seemed too interested in anything.

Good find, Athena, said Howl, between mouthfuls of dog biscuits.

My pleasure, Howl.

Jane jumped up onto the high wall that separated the building from the street and the area beyond, where Athena had earlier spotted the humans.

Oh, look there, said the cat, more of the strange ones. And a lot of them, too.

Bob’s snout had been buried in a pile of food. Now, he looked up.

-----

As Veronica had predicted, some of the halfies were calling out to her, asking if they could leave.

"So, what do you suggest?" she asked.

Lucky didn’t have an answer for her, so was relieved when Gadget spoke up.

"Even from here, it’s clear that some are in a better state than others. I suggest we get all the science types down here to put their heads together."

"I’d appreciate-"

Veronica was interrupted by a noise that Lucky had never heard — the roar of an elephant. Then, he saw it, charging at the side of the basketball court that faced the street. When it struck, one section of the wire fence tore from the ground. As the elephant struggled to free itself, Lucky saw more animals making for the hole it had created. Among them were a bear, a wolf and … a Komodo dragon! The bear pawed the remnants of the fence out of the way and rose up on its hind legs, unleashing a mighty bellow.

The terrified halfies all fled to the near side of the court. Lucky was glad, at least, that the entrance was on that side. "Veronica, we have to let them out!"

All five of them were already running toward the gate, where two armed guards were already overwhelmed. Thankfully, more were coming to help.

"Is there anywhere to put them?" asked Gadget.

"We can’t use the gym," replied Veronica. "There is the assembly hall inside the school."

"It will have to be there."

"Open up!" Veronica told the guards. "Get them inside the hall!"

Lucky had already taken his recurve bow off his shoulder, as had Artemis. Gadget was ready with his rifle, Seeker with her sling.

As the halfies fled past them, Lucky watched the bear and the wolf spring onto the court. He belatedly realized that one of the halfies had been hit by the falling fence: a middle-aged man wearing a suit. The bear took a swipe, claws raking the man’s leg. With a shriek, the man staggered across the court and was guided to safety by Veronica.

"What do we do?" she yelled.

"Don’t worry, we’ll handle it," said Lucky, trying to sound confident.

"It’s that group of animals we heard about," said Artemis. "They got the package to Lance, remember? They helped us."

"They don’t look like they’re in a helpful mood today." Gadget was first onto the court, rifle at the ready.

-----

Stop! Bob, please stop!

Athena knew the bear wouldn’t listen. All the animals hated the strange humans, but Bob most of all. As he walked towards the four who’d stayed to face them, Athena saw the metal weapon one of them was carrying. She knew it could kill. But these were not strange humans; she could tell that much. Bob seemed to be past caring.

Walter, do something!

The chimpanzee, like Jane, was trying to free poor Jugger from the wire fence.

Bob! Howl! Xi! They are not the strange humans. Stop and think. Please don’t attack them!

-----

Lucky watched Gadget raise his rifle.

The bear plodded towards them, teeth bared, now only 20 feet away. Close behind him were the blue-eyed wolf and the Komodo dragon. Now, Lucky realized all the animals had been artificially enhanced.

"Gadget, wait. If these things really are intelligent, we can’t just kill them."

"Lucky, in principle, I agree. But principles won’t stop them tearing us to pieces."

"Maybe we can trap them in here."

"Not a chance," said Artemis, drawing her bow. Lucky was dismayed to see that she had a titanium-tipped arrow at the ready.

Spying a whirl of movement, he watched as Seeker spun her sling and let fly. Her chosen ammunition was a metal ball, and it struck the bear on the head with an audible crack. The bear paused for a moment, then ambled forward, growling.

"That’s not going to stop them," said Gadget.

"This might."

Lucky had already nocked one of his kinetic pulse arrows. Hitting the big bear was an easy shot, and the arrow caught the beast on the shoulder. As the bear was halted for a second time, Lucky plucked another arrow from his quiver and fired swiftly at the wolf, hitting it on the snout. With a pained cry, it loped away. Seeker tried another shot, this time at the Komodo dragon. The metal ball struck only its artificial metal jaw, and the reptile kept coming.

"Guys, we’re out of options," said Gadget, moving his finger to the rifle trigger.

-----

Jugger! Stop them! Those are not the strange humans!

Athena landed on the elephant’s back alongside Walter and Jane.

For once, the cat spoke up:

Athena is right, Jugger. You’re our leader. You must stop Bob.

With a mighty roar, the elephant charged across the court, stopping between the groups. Lucky was relieved beyond words when he saw the bear and other animals make way. Perhaps the biggest of the animals was also their leader.

Gadget lowered his gun, quite possibly because there was a chimpanzee wearing a T-shirt on the elephant’s back. The chimp clambered down the elephant’s trunk and dropped nimbly to the ground.

He waved and smiled.

"I love chimps," said Seeker.

"This one loves New Amsterdam," replied Gadget.

"Many in zoos are taught sign language," added Seeker, thoughtfully.

She then made a series of signs, and Lucky was amazed to see the chimpanzee respond. The "conversation" went on for about a minute. Lucky took the opportunity to glance back at the school. He spied Veronica looking on from a window and hoped the halfies were under control.

As he looked back, the chimpanzee climbed back up the elephant’s trunk. Despite a growl of protest from the bear, the other animals followed the elephant back through the ruined fence and onto the street.

Seeker followed as far as the fence and watched them. "Straight to the pet food store. Figures."

"Never mind that," replied Lucky. "What did he say?"

"Not sure he got it all, but I tried to explain about the ‘halfies.’"

"The important thing is that they left," said Gadget, wiping his brow.

"Nice chimp," remarked Seeker. "Very bright. Name’s Walter."

Next Story: 69. A Date At Pets R Us