Zoopaloopa - Part 4 (Pixiv Fanbox)

Part 4 - The Dream

Two boys in their early teens leap from surface to surface across the roofs of London City. Dressed in the latest sports suits their slim well balanced bodies silhouetted against the afternoon sun competing in a race against time. Time being recorded along with the rest of their movements by the sensors built into their suits and beamed to their personal clouds.

The lead boy starts to giggle as he jostles for position by pushing to grab the edge of a window to pull himself up. His shoulder length blond hair flicking aside to reveal a mischievous grin. The second boy is taller with shorter red hair.

“kailem!” shouts the taller boy, “thats unfair, don't be such a douche!”

“don’t complain bro,” replies Kailem, “You know ill always look back to see who needs a hand.”

Kailem while holding onto the side of the building reaches his arm out to help his friend. The taller boy looks up then makes an insulting hand gesture.

“Get lost i don’t need your help, i just need to spend more time in the Augstudio getting some extra feedback loops, then i’ll have you beat.”

“Yeh Yeh what ever Marvin,” replies Kailem rolling his eyes, “you do know those virtual experiences can only teach you so mu…..?”

Marvin looks up at Kailem wondering why he stopped mid sentence then turns to follow Kailems surprised gaze.

In the distance following the exact same route across the roof tops was the shape of another boy. To Kailem and Marvins surprise this boy was much smaller and younger. kailem let go of the window ledge to land back beside his friend and the two watched as the younger boy finally leaped across the space between buildings to land on the same roof as them.

“Who the hell are you?” barks Marvin looking down at the child no older than 10.

“Ed…Edward”, replies the boy with a little shyness.

“Awwww man, this is that new kid!” says Marvin turning to Kailem, “If Grams finds out he’s up here we are both in the shit.”

Kailem pushes Marvin aside to stand over Eddy, the smaller boy dressed in the basic long shorts and oversized t-shirt.

“You that new foster kid?” asks Kailem.

“Yes” replies Eddy.

“You following us kid?” asks Kailem

“No.” Replies Eddy.

“Then why are you up here dumb ass?” asks Marvin with a hint of disbelief.

Eddy looked at Kailem then back towards Marvin.

“I like the fresh air”, replies Eddy glancing back and forth between the two older boys for their response.

“Ha!”, Laughs Kailem, “I like this one”, He wraps an arm over Eddies Shoulder.

“I’m Kailem, this is Marvin and i guess we are your new older brothers Eddy, welcome to our place.”

…

Place….

…..our place thought Eddy. He drowsily opened his eyes to the the sound of someone.

Many thoughts raced through his mind such as where was he, where were his foster brothers, were the past few days just a knightmare brought on tetris sickness?

“See Zeek,” Said a small voice, “i told you he was waking up”

Eddy tried to focus on where he was. A small concrete room with some daylight shining through small circular windows high up in the walls. Dust particles danced in the beams that cut into the room. Sitting up on his bruised elbows Eddy found himself sat next to a dark skinned boy of around 10 years old smiling back at him wearing slightly oversized bib overalls. The boys hair was a frizzy afro of messy dark curls.

Suddenly another dark skinned boy walked into view from behind what looked like some environmental processing rack unit. This taller boy looked slightly older than Eddy and looked similar to the younger boy. His hair was cut very short though. He wore only a pair of three quarter length shorts that hung low on his bony hips.

“Great you are awake”, said the older boy as he knelt next to Eddy handing him a bottle of ZoopaJuice, “We was beginning to think you was broken”.

Eddy took a drink from the bottle before wiping his mouth with the back of his left arm.

“I didn’t get eaten?”, he asked.

“Nagh, you totally triggered mass damage though”, replied the older boy.

“We saw what you did,” said the younger boy,“it was so awesome”

“But the Poppers and Snagtooth, how did i get away, i don’t remember getting away” moaned Eddy sitting up straight confused.

He shook his head to clear the fog in his mind to find he was laying on a makeshift bed of old ZoppaLoopa Flags, some of which he had seen blowing on the rooftops of the city. A flag was draped over his lower body as a blanket.

“Me and my brother Milo were on the Zoopa River on our raft,” Started the older boy, “when we saw the poppers go up. Then we heard lots of screaming…”

“Then we saw you,” Interjected the younger brother, “Standing on the riverside wall with that big Zoopa behind you and the pink poppers everywhere!”

“And then there was a big explosion,” continued the older brother, “and you went flying out across the river and i thought you must be dead, you looked totally dead.”

“We swammed the raft over to you in the water,” added Milo, "and Zeek got you out”

“Im Zeek by the way,” Said the older boy reaching out his hand to shake.

“Im Eddy,” said Eddy taking the older boys hand in his and shaking it in gratitude, “it feels kinda strange talking to real people again.”

“He kissed you” Giggled Milo from the side causing Eddy to look at Zeek confused.

“Dude you was like dead,” Protested Zeek, “i had to.. you know, do the mouth to mouth thing.”

“oh OH, sure ok,” said Eddy in realisation, “it’s ok, thanks, really, you saved my life”

Zeek looked over at his younger brother frowning, “you are such a dweeb.”

Eddy in the mean time was trying to work out where they were.

“is this an envirocentre, you know, on top of the buildings?”

“Yeh” Replied Zeek,“safest place from those monsters is up top, this here is an enviro on top the activity hub. It’s strange how even with all the people gone these envirocentres keep everything running smooth in the buildings below.”

“Good, for a while i thought we were on ground Level” Said Eddy about to try and stand.

“Hey dude rest” Said Zeek pushing Eddy slightly back down.

“Wait if you guys know how dangerous it is to be at ground level, why were you on the river in a raft?"asked Eddy.

"Them Zoopas dont like the water,” said Milo.

“And we were on a mission,” Added Zeek.

“What kinda mission?” asked Eddy with interest.

Zeek smiled and got up to walk across the room and rummaged through a backpack. On returning Zeek handed Eddy what looked like a ZoopaLoopaCity Travel leaflet. The front was animated with all that was on offer at the island and on the back was an interactive menu for information about the island.

“So?” Eddy looked up at Zeek with questioning eyes.

“Check the bit about the arrivals”, replied Zeek.

Eddy flicked his fingers across the leaflet and brought up a section about arrivals to ZoopaLoopaCity.


‘UPON ARRIVAL AT THE PORTZOOPA YOUR CHILD WILL BE WELCOMED WITH BIG HUGS FROM ALL THEIR FAVOURITE ZOOPALOOPIANS WHO SIMPLY CANT WAIT TO WRAP YOUR PRECIOUS BUNDLE OF JOY IN WARM EMBRACE. EVERY FOUR WEEKS THE AEROSCRAFT BRINGS NEW FRIENDS FOR THE ZOOPALOOPIANS WHO NEVER TIRE OF BRINGING JOY AND SMILES.’

“Gawd, who rights this stuff” said Eddy handing the leaflet back to Zeek. “So wait, you think another aeroscraft is gonna come pick us up?”

“Tomorrow!” Yells Milo in excitement.

“Wait what?” Says Eddy about to stand up from the bed of flags.

“Tomorrow it’ll be four weeks since the last arrivals,” Replied Zeek pushing Eddy back down again “Me and my brother planned to take our raft down the river to the outside of the city then make our way to the port in time for when the next Aeroscrft arrives, but on our way we got side tracked with you.”

Eddy paused to think for a second. He had spent so much time alone getting used to life as prey to these monsters, could this really be a chance to escape the island? 
Eddy looked over at the cheerful Milo sitting cross legged next to him, then over at Zeek kneeling the other side.

“Can i come with you?” Asked Eddy in ernest.

“Of course you can dude” Chuckled Zeek.

With excitement Eddy started to get up but Zeek once again gently pushed him back again before rising to his own feet.

“I was kinda hoping you would wonna come to,” Said Zeek as he walked across the room to a pile of clothes, “I’m gonna need help with the raft since Milo is too little, But before you do anything else, you should probably choose something to wear.”

Eddies nose wrinkled with a frown of confusion before he lifted the flag covering his lower half.

“The bang blew your clothes off,” Sniggered Milo with a giggle.

Eddy dropped the large flag sheet to hide his body again and blushed with embarrassment before getting a face full of several pairs of shorts and underwear.

“try one of those,” Said Zeek as he grabbed his little brother by the shoulder, “there must be something that’ll fit you”

Zeek then pushed Milo out the door of the room leaving Eddy with some privacy to get dressed.

A few minutes later Eddy emerged from the Envirocentre room onto the roof to join the brothers as they watched the rising sun blaze over the city. From the clothes Zeek had thrown him, Eddy had found grey boxer briefs and pair of slightly oversized black shorts to wear. Milo sat with his bare feet flat on the curve of the roof while Zeek stood behind his little brother leaning against a flag pole turning to face Eddy.

“You are a difficult size” Said Zeek with a smirk.

“Could do with a shirt,” replied Eddy “i burn easy in the sun”

“Dont worry, once we get inside the river tunnel you will be shaded from the sun, then we’ll be under the shade of the jungle”

Zeek then lifted up a backpack onto his shoulders and walked over to a large pole propped up against the wall the the envirocentre cubicle. Eddy saw that the pole had small energy pack tapped to one end with wires leading to what appeared to be part of a large light bulb with extra metal parts twisted around it. Zeek then proceeded to put on large worn brown workmans gloves and a pair of industrial goggles before taking hold of the pole.

“Ok milo, you ready bro?” yelled Zeek, “Suns gonna be up high soon, we best get on that raft and into that tunnel before Eddy starts to burn.”

“Whats that for?” Asked Eddy Pointing to the Pole.

“Oh this?"chuckled Zeek as he lifted the Goggles up onto his forehead, "This is incase we bump into the Janitor.”

“The Janitor?” replied Eddy as Milo handed him a backpack of his own.

“you must have experienced the show right?” Said Zeek in disbelief.

“Not really,” Replied Eddy, “I won a competition, i wasn’t really into this Zoopaloopa crap”

“I used to love ZoopaLoopa” piped up Milo, “but now i hate it, they aint nice like in the show”

Eddy looked hesitantly at Milo who for the first time looked emotionless and sad. His bubbly personality seemed pushed aside while remembering all that he had witnessed on the island.

“Hey Milo,” shouted Zeek causing his younger brother to jump back to his senses, “Be cool lil bro, this is a big game remember,and we are gonna win it ok?”

Milo’s smile once again appeared as he ran up and hugged Zeek.

“The next Level is the River Tunnel, where the janitor lives,” Said Zeek looking up at Eddy,

“on the streaming show he is a grouchy big dark green Zoopaloopian who keeps the underground of Zoopaloopa city clean. If by chance we bump into him on our journey, then he’ll feel the shocking end of my big stick of pain.”

Zeek pointed the pole into the air and pressed a button on the improvised grip. Large sparks erupted causing Eddy to jump back a few feet and Milo to hide behind his brother.

“I made it myself,” Said Zeek lowering the prod, “cool huh?”

But before Eddy could reply Zeek was marching off towards the side of the curved roof.

“Ok lets move before the sun rises to high and you burn like a vampire” said Zeek before sliding down the steep curved wall of the building.

“Wait up Zeek!” Shouted Milo running after his brother.

Eddy checked the backpack Milo had given him. Inside were bottles of water, some cake packs and a first aid kit. This Zeek must be a scout or something thought Eddy before putting the pack on his back and sliding down the side of the building to join the brothers.

It turned out that the building the brothers had been living on top was right next to the river that runs through the city. The raft was made from what looked like six large yellow empty canisters that supported a frame cobbled together from parts of a playground plastic square climbing frame. Covering the frame was a sheet of canvas probably taken from a tent of some sort. Ropes and some netting also covered parts of the raft which Eddy noticed Milo used to grip onto for balance.

“Permission to come aboard”, Asked Eddy with his feet at the edge of the river bank.

“Permission granted,” chuckled Zeek, “seriously though, get on quick, we don’t wonna be hanging around by the river bank walls”

Eddy quickly hopped aboard kneeling down next to Milo while Zeeks arm muscles strained and flexed as he used the prod to push the raft away from the bank and into the river current. He then dropped prod onto the netting and grabbed what must have been the rudder of this roped together raft of junk.

“Ok,here we go” grinned Zeek, “Lets play ZoopaLoopa Riverrun!”

The boys cheered as the raft started to pick up speed and Zeek controlled the rafts direction with great skill. This guy is definitely a scout thought Eddy as the water started to splash over him and Milo making them laugh.

The sounds of joy however rifted over the water, up the river bank walls and through the streets attracting the interest of glowing eyes, that belonged to big furry monsters with large grumbling bellies.

To be continued...