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Dead Men Walking
Topic Started: Nov 28 2014, 02:20 AM (70,878 Views)
DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Hank glanced behind him. He was curious about that as well. About that and a lot more.

“We’ve been set up there for almost a month,” Greg answered straightforwardly. “Though I didn’t mean to mislead you – our community isn’t in the city. Salt Lake is more of a… gateway. Like you were saying earlier, it would be dangerous to advertise our true location all over the country.”

* * *

Connor thought about it for a second.

“What about the sun?”
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Is that so?
"Ah, crap." Nolan confessed lightheartedly. "I knew that one was too easy."

* * * * *

Antonio nodded his head in agreement.

"What is the screening process like?" He asked. "How do you weed out the good from the bad?"
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
“Well, there’s an interview process,” Greg answered. “I’m not really involved in that. But like I said, for any one of you that wants to join our community, I will put in a good word. The fact that you saved my life, I’m sure, is going to go a long way.”

“This community of yours,” Eli said. “You can’t tell us where it is?”

Greg frowned hesitantly. “You understand, if it was up to me, I’d tell you everything you want to know,” he said. “But we have rules, and it’s not my place to break them. I apologize.”

“What can you tell us?” Eli asked, sounding combative.

Greg took it in stride. “What do you want to know?”

* * *

Connor pumped his fist.

“Got you!” he cheered. “My turn.”
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Is that so?
"Alright, well..."

Nolan hummed to himself; then he remembered how Connor had started it. But he didn't want to go copying his questions either. Maybe he could just ask the same question in a different way to make it sound more original.

"Is it smaller than an elephant?"

* * * * *

Antonio sighed. Greg and Eli had actually just gone in a verbal circle and ended up right back where they started. Asking questions about the community. Still, Antonio was interested about these people -- maybe he could find out something more about them.

"How about numbers? How many of you are there? How do you sustain yourselves?"
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Greg offered another hesitant frown. “Numbers is another tricky subject,” he said. “For security reasons, we’re not supposed to give specifics until later. But I can say that we are many, and more come every day.”

Eli frowned a little deeper. If Greg noticed, he didn’t react. In fact, as he changed gears his smile returned.

“As for our sustainability… well, we’re very blessed,” he says. “We grow food and we raise animals. Most of us contribute in one way or another. And I know how it sounds, but our leader was…”

He trailed off for a moment – rethinking his words, maybe Eli thought.

“Before the fall, he ran a farm,” Greg said, finally. “He taught us how to live off our own labour. And we can teach you, if you’d like.”

* * *

“Uh, yeah, I guess,” Connor said, still smiling from his victory. “It’s smaller than an elephant.”
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Is that so?
"Your leader, hm?" Antonio nodded. "He sounds like a good man."

Of course, Antonio was already hesitant of Greg and this paradise he described -- their leader above all else -- but he hoped he might be able to subtly wiggle a little bit of information out of him on the topic.

"How did your leader find himself running a settlement after the fall?"


* * * * *

"How about... smaller than a human?" Nolan followed up.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Connor had to think about that for a second. “Well, um… How big is a human?”

* * *

“Someone had to rebuild this world, guide it back towards civilization,” Greg explained. “He had a vision. And he is a preacher, not just a farmer. He knows how to lead and inspire. You’ll see – at least, if you choose to. Were you all headed to Salt Lake City for shelter?”

“My family is,” Hank said.

He had been listening to the conversation with interest, and liked what he heard so far. Particularly the part about growing their own food. After just a month on the road, he had enough of raiding supermarkets and fighting off biters for a lifetime.

“Andy and I, we’re electricians,” he added. “However we can contribute, we will.”

“For sure,” Andy said, then asked a question of his own. “This place of yours – it’s got walls?”

Greg nodded. “It’s very secure. The fallen aren’t a threat to us there.”

Hank smiled. Music to his ears.

Greg turned to Antonio – since he had been asking the questions, Greg must have seen him as the representative of the other group.

“And how about the rest of you?” he asked. “Are you looking for a new home?”
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Is that so?
Nolan adopted a thoughtful expression; that was a good question.

"Uh... well... let's say Eli. It is smaller than Eli?"

* * * * *

Antonio met Greg's eyes. He didn't want to tell him 'yes' just to back out at the last moment. That might be considered insulting to his 'leader' if they check the place out and leave. That was a risk they could do well without. But Antonio was at a temporary loss as to what to tell him. After all, why would anyone turn down a gated community with grown food during the apocalypse?

"We are in the market, but we actually came here for different reasons. We heard a rumor of a safe zone in California." He decided to stick with the same lie they told Hank; which he didn't have much of a choice with since Hank was clearly within earshot. "Have you and your group heard anything about that?"
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
Brandon smiled slightly at hearing the safe-zone lie again. He hadn't forgotten why they chose not to reveal the cure, but he had come to question if it was even necessary. They revealed the truth to the people at Flint. The people at Mount Kisco too. For the most part, nobody believed or even cared. The concern was the rare individual who wanted it destroyed. People like Max or Cory. The way he could see things at the moment it didn't make a lot of sense hiding the cure. Those people were the kind who would kill them, rob them, rape them for the fun of it alone. They needed no more motivation. Then there were people like Wendy, or the Fort Eerie bsndits. If tjose people had known there was stil hope would theyeven be doing what they were doing?

What about his own group? What about Brandon? People who he couldn't say were good or bad. What would they be doing right now without that cure? Maybe revealing the cure was the smart thing to do. Maybe the only thing they risked in doing so is that somebody might help them.

"We've kind of got our hearts set on it. We could take a trip to L.A. and go celebrity rotter spotting. Maybe trash some vacant mansions." he joked.

Julie would have liked that.

The thought caused his smile to falter a little. How would Julie have reacted to see her home town in ruins? If there were a safe-zone they might have looked for her family there. It was difficult sometimes to avoid thoughts like that. It put him in mind of another thought. Willow's parents were also unaccounted for. Once they were done with all this it would be worth looking into what happened to them. They'd be his family too soon.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
“Plus, some of us got family there,” Eli added quickly. “We gotta look, you know?”

He didn’t want to leave Greg any window to try to pitch them on his community, wherever it really was. He intended on leaving his company as soon as they were able, and he didn’t want it to be a big production.

“Of course,” Greg said. “Well I haven’t heard anything, but there’s a lot of the country still unaccounted for. Even by train, we’ve only seen so much. Perhaps I can still repay your kindness, however. We’re sure to be travelling east again soon. I could arrange to give your group a ride.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Eli said.

The real answer was hell no. Eli wasn’t about to take any more of a chance on Greg or his people than necessary. As soon as it made sense to go, they were going. But he didn’t need to press that issue now.

“Take a right here,” Greg said, turning to Hank. “And slow down. The camp is just up ahead.”

* * *

“That’s a tough one,” Connor said. “Um, it can be, but usually isn’t. How about that?”

Before Nolan could answer, Jimmy interrupted. Over the past 10 minutes, the town of Evanston had come into view, the convoy had entered it, and they’d navigated a few city streets. Ahead, the RV was now slowing to a halt.

“You guys might want to pick this up later,” Jimmy said, slowing down behind it. “Looks like we’re here.”

* * *

Hank slowly navigated the RV through the parking lot Greg had indicated. He passed a hardware store and an automotive supply place before running out of pavement. Just ahead was a line of orange traffic barricades which served as a makeshift wall guarding the train tracks behind it.

“What now?” he asked.

“They should be here,” Greg said, focusing ahead. “They wouldn’t have left without the truck. Just wait, and don’t do anything sudden. We don’t want to alarm them.”

Hank let out a long breath. He remembered how they accidentally ‘alarmed’ Eli’s group, and how that ended with Andy’s Jeep shredded into scrap metal. They were all lucky to be alive. He wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

“Got it,” he said.

And sure, less than a minute later, men with guns appeared. He could see the top halves of their bodies over the barricades – five of them, it seemed, all wielding two-handed weapons pointed at the Winnebago.

Greg emerged from the RV with his hands raised, much like they were after Eli cut down the biters outside his refuge in Mountain View.

“It’s alright, brothers, it’s me!”

“Gregory?” one of them asked back, as the five of them kept approaching.

“It’s good to see you again, Patrick,” Greg answered.

Kee-rist,” Patrick swore. “Where have you been? Did you get lost? Everyone else got back yesterday.”

Hank got a better look at Patrick as he got closer. He was a white guy with a dark scraggly moustache and short dark hair. Like Greg, he seemed to be in his 30s, in great physical shape, and sporting his fair share of tattoos – Hank could make an indecipherable one on his shoulder, unhidden by his dirtied up muscle shirt.

“I ran into some trouble,” Greg answered. “And you know what the Bishop would say if he heard you take that name in vein.”

Patrick lowered his weapon, then glanced down to the cross necklace that hung from his neck.

“Of course I do, apologies,” he said, then looked back up. His weapon was now lowered, but the four others – all relatively young men, like him – still had them raised at the RV. “So what’s all this?”

“Brother Patrick, I’d like you to introduce you to my new friends,” Greg said, gesturing towards the door he had exited from. “I didn’t return as scheduled because I ran afoul of some of the fallen. These people rescued me.”

Patrick smiled – he had a sweet, genuine smile, much like Greg did – and waved at the windshield.

“Is that right?” he asked rhetorically. “In that case, we owe you all some thanks.”

He turned to the others, their weapons still raised. As he slung his over his shoulder, he lowered his palm to the ground.

“Guys, guys, it’s cool,” he said.

They obeyed, lowering their weapons as well. Patrick returned his gaze to the RV.

“Well come on out, then,” he said. “Let’s get some introductions out of the way.”

Hank looked around. Eli, for his part, was staying glued to his seat. Hank noticed his hand on the barrel of his AR-15, which rested on the seat beside him. Hank gave him a chastising look. Eli noticed, but didn’t react. Just stayed where he was.

Hank didn’t try to press the issue, verbally or non-verbally. He just stood up and headed for the door first, hoping Eli would stay that way long enough to see that there wasn’t a problem.

“I’m Hank,” he said, when he landed on the ground outside the RV. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Patrick cleared the distance and offered Hank his hand, which Hank accepted.

“Patrick,” he said. “Likewise. Thank you for saving my brother.”

“It was the right thing to do,” Hank nodded back

They both looked left next, at whoever would be the next out.
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Is that so?
Despite his reservations, Antonio was the next person out of the RV. It was too late now to back out of this; they were here and they had to make the most of it. These people seemed genuine though, all he could do was pray that his concern was ill-placed and that he was wrong about them.

"I am Antonio." He introduced himself by extending his hand, consciously leaving out his title as 'Father'.

* * * * *

"So, should we get out or wait here?" Nolan broke the silence inside the truck.

It looked like people were starting to trickle out of the RV. Nolan was beginning to feel kind of weird sitting inside the truck, but on the other hand... they didn't know these people. And all of them were more ripped than Nolan could ever hope to be. It was kind of an intimidating combination, especially when he would have to be taking his little sister with him out there.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
“Antonio, good to meet you,” Patrick said, and shook his hand as well.

Andy emerged from the RV next. Hank stepped aside, and the introductions continued.

* * *

Jimmy answered Nolan’s question by unbuckling his seat belt and heading out the door. In front of them, a procession of people were being introduced to another friendly-looking guy with tattoos. The situation looked pretty far from perilous.

“Jimmy Weston,” he said, when it was his turn. “So what do you guys got going on here?”

Patrick – a name he had introduced himself as multiple times now – looked around. “Gregory didn’t tell you?”

“Something about repairing a train-line,” Jimmy said.

“That would be it,” Patrick said. “We’ve got it pretty much under control now. Soon we’ll have a direct route to Cheyenne. We still don’t know what the story is there.”

The story was probably that it got blown up, Jimmy figured. But maybe not. Maybe it wasn’t big enough for the government to bother.

“We sent a delegation that way last week,” Gregory cut in to explain. “But they never returned.”

“That delegation go through Green River?” Jimmy ventured.

“I believe so,” Gregory said.

Jimmy looked around – anyone else wanna take this? he asked with his expression.
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Is that so?
Antonio rubbed a hand across the 5 o' clock shadow that was starting to take over his jawline since he hadn't shaved since yesterday morning.

"I am sorry to have to be the one to tell you this..." Antonio cautiously started. "But you see, there is a community in Green River that was being controlled by some bad people. Their leader was using your signs as a lure to ensnare people on their way to Salt Lake City. If they were in that area, it is likely they encountered his man."

"We got into a fight with them a few days ago." Willow elaborated somberly.

Antonio's mind was drawn back to the quick, but frantic, car chase they had that night. The sound of the 50 caliber rounds punching through his truck like butter was terrifying. Apparently Willow had been the one to pick off the gunner before he could unleash another barrage -- if it hadn't been for her, they might not be standing here right now.

* * * * *

"Let's go try to be social, hm?" Nolan suggested to Kelsey.

"Okay."

She nodded up at him gently, but she looked a little unsure. Not that he could blame her, necessarily. But they seemed nice enough despite their appearances. If nothing else, that helped him feel a little better about this. Judging a book by its cover was a habit he needed to get out of; after all, he should have been able to trust the National Guard, and look how well that worked out.

He opened the door and jumped out of the truck, instantly feeling the stiffness and soreness in his body again. The only thing that made him feel better was Annie's assurance that probably nothing was broken.

Kelsey grabbed his hand and he led her toward the others. They were talking about Green River though, so he didn't make any steps to introduce himself, rather he sat on the edge of the conversation and just listened.

So much for trying to be social.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Greg frowned deeply at the story. Hank couldn’t blame him, he was frowning himself. It was distressing to think about people like that, and how easily Hank and his family could have encountered them on their way from North Carolina. It must have been doubly distressing for Greg and Patrick, since it meant their ‘brothers’ were almost certainly not coming back.

“That’s… terrible news,” Greg said.

“Yeah it is,” Patrick agreed, his own smile fading. He turned to Willow. “How did this fight of yours end?”
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Is that so?
Willow shared everyone else's frown.

"They chased us with a military Humvee and a modified 18-wheeler while we tried to flee down the highway. We lost most of our cars, a lot of supplies, and a damn good friend in the process..."

Just saying those last words forced her to pause. Thinking about Jen like that, it still hurt. Her world had felt a little darker since it happened. She had only been coping by not thinking about it.

"We managed to kill the asshole responsible though." Nolan solemnly added, with a hint of anger contained underneath. "But it won't bring her, or anyone else he killed, back."
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