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Dead Men Walking
Topic Started: Nov 28 2014, 02:20 AM (70,799 Views)
DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Annie was pleasantly surprised by the answer, since she was fully expecting a ‘no’. A ‘yes’ made things simpler. The Native language made her slightly nervous, though – there was always a chance Winona was setting them up – but she chose to believe they were just being cautious, that Winona was confirming that she wasn’t in danger in a manner this Brie would believe.

“Hopefully she’s right,” Annie said. “And like I said – the sooner the better.”

She turned to the others now.

“I’ll update Hank and Riley,” she said. “I’ll make sure they don’t go outside for any reason.”

She headed out. It wasn’t a conversation she was looking forward to.
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"They won't like it." Brandon declared.

"You could tell them nothing and they'd stay in there all day anyway." Emily remarked.

"Come on." Brandon implored.

"They've been pretending not to be a part of this group since we met them. If they want to have a say they should cut the crap. That's four mouths to feed, three able bodied people and only one who's actually done anything useful. Now Antonio is in trouble, he might be dead already. You almost died. We need all hands on deck from here on. No more sitting it out, if they're in, they're in. If not..." Emily said taking out a cigarette.

"They're still grieving." Brandon said in the defense.

"So is everyone else. Everyone's lost somebody. It might be time to consider what their plans are and to start making good on them. I know they're a raw spot for you, but we can't count on them the way I know we can count on everyone else here." Emily implored in turn.

Brandon couldn't muster a hard feeling toward the Kelly's but he also couldn't ignore the reality of their arrangement. Hank was the only one of them that could fight reliably, but they still had two able bodied adults who hadn't done much more than isolate themselves from the start. If they were going to enjoy the benefits of a group they did need to actually be a part of it. Hank wanted to protect his family, of course he did, but his idea of protection was sidelining. If Hank died, who would that fall to? Maybe letting them keep on like this was ultimately worse for everyone. And what Emily said about counting on them didn't ring false either. Hank again could be called upon, but if things got bad and they were needed would he see them driving away with their supplies?

When they agreed to travel together they both had more people. Maybe it was time they reevaluated their arrangement.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Willow frowned. She couldn't help but feel like the fragile bonds of this party were beginning to tear at the seams. The Kellys were withdrawn and isolated; Brandon was in bad shape; Antonio was missing and there was no guarantee they would ever see him alive again. Although she loathed to admit, the same could be said of Eli and Kelsey at this point.

She wished Antonio was here. It sounded silly, yes, but it was because he would know what to do. He would know what to say. But he wasn't. Someone else had to step up, and they were running out of people who could still stand.

"Looks like they're gonna be busy for a bit." Willow casually asked Winona. "I've been meaning to ask for a while now, but how far away from here are you guys living anyway?"

"It's uhh... a mile or two up the freeway." She answered hesitantly. "Northwest from here."

"That's a bit of a walk; you guys must have some working cars or transportation or something?"

"Actually, we uhhh... we generally walk. We have a few cars, but we try to coserve the gas as best we can. Save it for emergencies."

Willow nodded her head knowingly. The mental portrait of these people that she was drawing had them as minimalists. Living off the land and trying to conserve their non-renewable resources. It was probably what had kept them alive for as long as it had, though she had a hard time seeing how anyone could survive in this desert for the long term. Though the indigenous people of the Americas had apparently done so for millennia, so it was clearly possible, even if she didn't understand how.

"Smart idea." Willow conceded. "So your guys could be here quickly or slowly, depending on whether they decide to drive or not?"

"Pretty much." Winona shrugged. "If you're wondering about how long it takes to get here, it could be a few minutes or it could be a few hours. I like to think this would warrant using a car though, especially with the wendigos out and about."

"Yeah. Just in case though, the rotters- er, wendigos, won't give your people any trouble, will they? I mean if they walk."

"They shouldn't. We've gotten pretty good at using the spears and the bows."

"Spears and bows?" Willow mused. "That's pretty impressive. I guess just like the gas, you guys gotta conservee your bullets when you can, you know?"

"Right." Winona agreed.

So they did have guns. It wasn't surprising by any stretch of the imagination, but it was definitely good to have confirmation on it. She hoped that this meeting wouldn't come down to a fight, but she didn't have the faith in humanity that Antonio had. Not anymore. She felt like a total heel for what she was about to do, but she told herself that it was for everyone's safety.

"One more thing." Willow added. "Can I see your radio for a sec?"

Winona gave a confused look, but ultimately handed the radio over wordlessly.

"Cool, thanks." Willow said as she clipped the device to her belt.

"Hey-" Winona started.

But Willow had already turned her attention to giant of a man she knew as Emmett, who was still standing nearby; "They've got guns and cars; we should assume they'll be using them. They'll probably be coming from the northwest. You feeling okay to head up to the roof to keep watch for us, big guy?"
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Emmett gave a solemn nod in the affirmative. Then he looked to Winona.

“I truly hope we’re on the same side,” he said.

He meant that – he really did. Winona wouldn’t be wrong to find the words vaguely threatening, however. He meant it that way too.
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"It's nothing personal. Just going through the motions here." Emily explained to Winona as they went about getting ready for the arrival of their potential allies.

She offered Winona a cigarette.

...

Brandon couldn't see how he'd ever get used to only being able to use one hand. Every time he went to do something his muscle memory told his left hand to do its part. He definitely couldn't imagine himself getting any more proficient with just one hand even though he'd seen it for himself in a veteran who used to frequent the same gun range as his family. The man was fast and accurate, after a little while you just forgot he only had one hand sometimes. How long would it take him to get to that place?

Brandon taped the Supergrade underneath the reception desk using surgical tape, a task requiring him to use his knee at several points. He figured this way they could at least greet them unarmed, but if need be they had a weapon nearby to defend themselves. They were going all in. Letting another group walk right up on them and then right into their camp. It rubbed him the wrong way but it might be their best chance at getting Antonio back.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Winona frowned at the display, but she evidently realized her place as she did not physically resist. Even as Willow confiscated the impressive-looking compound bow (and accompanying arrows) that rested in the corner, the woman remained passive.

She glanced at Emily's outstretched cigarette; with a defeated sigh, she reached out and accepted the cancer stick from one of the people effectively holding her hostage.

"Look." Willow exhaled heavily and said to the defeated-looking Winona. "If we're truly on the same side, nobody has anything to be afraid of. You'll get all your stuff back as soon as we're sure your people are here to help us."

"Yeah, well... I hope you're telling me the truth." Winona retorted flatly.

Willow frowned. There was nothing she could say that would convince this woman that they weren't going to kill her as soon as her people arrived. And that made her smart. Smart enough to know that she shouldn't trust anyone, at the very least.

"Make sure you take one of the radios." Willow reminded Emmett, though she doubted that she needed to. "Let us know as soon as you see anything."

After Emily helped Winona light the cigarette, the native woman pressed it to her lips and inhaled deeply. She then doubled over and started coughing violently.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Emmett was about to disappear – with a radio, just as Willow suggested – but stopped when he heard coughing. He frowned when he realized it was Winona. Truthfully, his reaction was more out of annoyance than sympathy. If she was sick, he worried about the complications that might ensue.

Annie was gone, having left to fill in Hank and Riley on what was happening. Maybe they needed to reel her back in. He went ahead and asked:

“Do we need Annie?”
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Willow cocked a curious eyebrow at the display. "Doubt it. I just don't think she's ever smoked before." She mused.

"How do people do it?" Winona asked as she stared at the cancer stick in her hand, annoyance evident in her voice.
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"Don't take such a big drag. Little puffs. You're not on the clock." Emily advized.

"As for how we can keep doing it; chance of dying of cancer, chance of getting eaten alive." she explained raising both hands to illustrate the difference in odds.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Winona tried again. Again, she violently spat as her face contorted into a mask of disgust.

"Yeah, I'll pass." She finally said.

She made a move to drop the white stick on the ground, but paused at the last second. She then held it out for anyone else that wanted to take it. Willow reached out and accepted it from her. She had never smoked a cigarette before -- she mostly stuck to weed and alcohol for her dangerous substances. But Emily was right; rotter were a far greater threat than cancer was. And if she was gonna die, she at least wanted to give it a try first. Knowing full well that Annie would disagree with what she was about to do, Willow stuck the cigarette between her lips.

No sooner had she taken a puff than did she feel a particular burning sensation in her chest. She unconsciously clutched her right breast and winced at the sensation. Her lung. It had to be her lung. Now without the aid of painkillers, inhaling hot smoke was not the best idea in the world. She casually removed the cigarette, dropped it on the ground, and stomped it out under her heel.

"Sorry, Emily." Willow apologized after a moment. "I think I'll pass too."

She took a few deep breaths to clear her lungs out.

"Winona, you're sticking close to me until your people get here. Everyone else... just be ready for whatever comes next."

* * * * *

No more than 15 minutes later, a single man stepped through the light morning fog and into the hospital's parking lot. His reddened skin was weathered from exposure to the sun, and his silver hair ruffled gently in the cool morning breeze. He was dressed in a dark jacket and blue jeans. Gripped in his hand, he held an old, bolt-action hunting rifle with a wooden finish. He walked halfway through the parking lot. Then he stopped and waited.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Emmett was lying prone on the roof, watching Billy Church’s approach through binoculars. He took a calming breath before reporting the news into his radio, just as Willow had ordered.

“He’s here,” he said. “And he’s armed.”

* * *

Eli and Kelsey were many miles south of the trailer park when Noah said his first words. Every minute since driving away, Eli had taken a few seconds to study him in the rear-view. He was looking for signs of distress or fear, or a hint that he was up to something – but he wasn’t.

Eli couldn’t see into Noah’s eyes behind the blindfold, but even without them, he could tell Noah was exhausted. And sad. And defeated.

“Where are you taking me?” Noah asked, the words coming out creaky from his dry throat.

It was a good question. Eli didn’t really have an answer, so he didn’t respond. Noah didn’t follow-up.

A few more miles went by in silence. Eli found himself holding his breath as he eased up on the gas, eventually coming to a slow stop on the side of the road. He put the Chevy in park.

“We’re far enough,” he said softly, and looked to Kelsey.

He felt very deeply for her in that moment. He had been in the same position many times, choosing whether an enemy lives or dies. His choices haunted him.

He un-clicked his seatbelt, drew the Glock from his waistband and placed it in Kelsey’s lap. Then he opened the door and climbed out.

“Time to go,” he announced loudly, so Noah could hear.

“Go where?” Noah asked.

Another good question, Eli thought. He still didn’t have an answer. He was about to get one.
Edited by DoctorYerishi, Mar 12 2018, 02:41 PM.
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
By the time Church, and Emily was just assuming this was Church, arrived Brandon had passed out again. He might not like being left out of the loop but until there was a real reason to wake him up she figured it was better to leave him be. He had a rifle with him, she expected as much and she wasn't about to ask him to hand it over either. She was armed too, so everything was just about equal.

She walked outside calmly stopping about ten feet from Church.

"Morning. Are you Billy Church?" she asked.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
The man shifted his weight between his feet and rolled his shoulders back. His eyes scrutinized Emily closely in silence for a few moments before he spoke.

"Well now." He said, his voice gravelly and baritone. "It looks like you have me at something of a disadvantage."
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"I'm Emily. We passed through Elko, they told us we should ask for you." Emily explained, putting her rifle in her left hand as she approached Church and extended her right hand to greet him properly.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"Elko?"

The word escaped Church's lips. He hummed and nodded his head slightly. He, too, shifted his weapon to his left hand so that he could extend his right to accept Emily's handshake.

"Saxon has been good to us. He has respected our independence." He told her as they shook hands. "But before we go any further... may I see my granddaughter?"
Edited by Make-7-Up-Yours, Jan 26 2018, 09:48 PM.
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