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Dead Men Walking
Topic Started: Nov 28 2014, 02:20 AM (71,069 Views)
Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"I'm coming." Brandon said without a single doubt.

A cure. The thought of it was beyond too good to be true, it was toogood to question. If there were even a slight chance this thing was legitimate they had to go for it. He didn't like the idea of leaving everyone with fewer hands and eyes to keep the place safe, but if this worked out they could be saving the entire country, maybe the world.

"Just one thing though. The food will last, but the generator will need more gas and there aren't many weapons and only a little ammo to go around. I know where we can get those things. If you're okay with a waiting another day or so, we can all be well supplied." he proposed,
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"Thank you, Brandon." Randall nodded his head at the immediate offer to help.

"And about the supplies, if it puts us in a better position, I am all for it."
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
"I'm in!" Mac exclaimed, interrupting the exchange. He took a few meaningful steps forward. "If you're going to Chicago, I'm coming with you."

Eli watched from a bit further back, feeling a little dazed all of the sudden. A voice in the back of his head told him to follow Mac's lead. To take the same few steps forward. His body was telling him something different.

Almost without thinking about it, he took a few steps backwards, then turned and slipped through the crowd. Quietly, he exited into the lobby, then strode across to a private dining room, finding it empty. He made his way to the closet where he had left the backpack he had brought in with him. It contained all his limited earthly possessions, which included enough supplies to last him another week. Maybe two, if he was smart about it. He opened the door and located the pack. He stared at it for a moment before turning away and sitting down. He leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.

I should leave now, he thought. Before I get in too deep.

He didn't leave, though. He just sat there.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"I'm in too." Willow chipped in somberly.

After everything that had happened, she didn't much feel like staying at the lodge anymore. She couldn't. Even if it was more dangerous out there, she was willing to go. Not to mention that fact that maybe she could help save the world. The mental image of her name and face appearing in headlines as the savior of humanity, no matter how far-fetched, was still an appealing one.

"Thank you, both of you." Randall added.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
"If there's no help coming... then we'll be the help," Mac replied, psyching himself up before turning to Brandon. "So where are we gonna get these supplies you're talking about?"
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"Patterson."

Home.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Randall found that answering questions from concerned survivors and helping organize them for their continued survival was good. Between the weight of ensuring the survival of a colony and possibly saving the world, he found his mind dwelt very little on the fact that Elaine had just died. It still weighed on him of course, but if he just kept finding ways to keep himself busy, maybe it would dull the pain. Or so he kept telling himself. Any tears he might have had were shed long ago and he had nothing left but his drive to forget fueling him now.

Unfortunately, the questions did not last forever and people quickly began to break apart and continue cleaning and preparing. The past day had been difficult, but there was still a lot of work to do before nightfall.

Regardless of whether or not Randall was leaving, the encampment here would be fine. Everyone knew that. They looked up to Randall, but they did not need him. There were a few others that everyone trusted as well. Jose, for example, had proven himself to be strong and reliable, for starters. He had only been a groundskeeper here, but like Randall, his vast array of practical skills and his steady demeanor have been invaluable. While Randall was out there doing a lot of runs for supplies, Jose was back here managing a lot of the added construction (like the outhouses and some backup fences) that they were doing. He was also handy with a gun due to living on a farm during his early years. Randall would have considered appointing him the leader during his absence, but he really doubted the need for an official leader. The people knew who they trusted, regardless of what Randall said.

But there was one person Randall still needed to talk to.

He pushed open the door to the closet in the private dining room and found Eli sitting by himself. Without asking for an invitation, Randall took a seat across from him. The anger that he had felt yesterday, and even earlier today, had dissolved. Deep down, he was thankful now that Eli had refused to take the cure. It gave Randall a goal during a time when he would otherwise be lost in despair.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Randall asked.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Eli didn't react immediately. When he did look up into Randall's eyes, he was struck by the sympathy he felt. Here was a man who had just lost so much -- much more than Eli had lost -- and he was ready to push on. Sure, there was a certain kind of madness in his determination, but it was determination nonetheless. Despite all his hang-ups, Eli was having a hard time denying him.

He let a long, intense beat pass as he considered his response.

"I'll go with you north," he finally said. "I think your best bet is to go through Ontario. But when we get to Canada, I keep going, and you guys are on your own. It's the best I can do."
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Is that so?
Randall slowly nodded in response to Eli's offer.

"That is more than enough. Thank you."

Randall had been so focused on getting to Chicago that he had never really stopped to think about how he would get to Chicago. The route through Canada sounded like a good idea as he considered it, though. Winter would be a difficult time to make the trek, but if they stayed near the Great Lakes and scavenged some cold weather clothing while up there, they could probably make it through with a little luck. It was definitely a longer route, but probably safer than braving the densely populated eastern and mid-western United States.

He wanted to say more, but words and small-talk were not something he could do right now. So, he pushed himself to his feet and made his way towards the door.

"See you tomorrow then. Make sure you get some rest, alright? Gonna be a long day tomorrow."
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
It was bright and early when Eli and the others said goodbye to the country club -- in Eli's case, probably forever. Eli was still wiping the sleep out of his eyes when he loaded into Randall’s Chevy Suburban SUV and hit the road. He was a little surprised by the lack of ceremony, but he couldn’t blame Randall for not wanting to drag it out. He had to imagine there was a lot of fresh pain there that the older man wanted away from as soon as possible.

By the grace of God, there hadn’t been any further incidents at the camp – not serious ones, at least. A couple solitary rotters had wandered a little too close to the gate before nightfall, attracted maybe by the smoke. Eli was fast asleep at the time, but Mac later told him they had been dispatched quickly and efficiently. Other than that, all had been quiet on the Kisco front, which left the others with plenty of time and opportunity to prepare for the trip ahead.

By morning, the final away team had been assembled. It included Randall and his daughter Kelsey, Willow, Brandon, Mac, Glenda and Eli. It was relatively small, which Eli thought was for the best. A bigger group would have been harder to feed and transport, and would have attracted too much attention.

They had hit the road in two vehicles – Mac and Glenda in an old red F-150 that had belonged to Mac even before the apocalypse. It was lucky he had brought it with him to the camp. The cargo capacity would be useful.

The SUV was only a year old, meanwhile. Randall and his team had recovered it in the city, during one of their runs. It was in great condition, and it also had lots of room for supplies. It was a smart acquisition, and was going to be useful on the journey west.

Finally, trailing the group was a cargo van that once belonged to the Mount Kisco Country Club. Jose the groundskeeper was driving that, along with two passengers – a sturdy guy named Andre, and Jeff, who had been strongly encouraged to help load supplies as further penance for his earlier theft. The three of them had come along to bolster the camp’s stock for the winter before heading back.

In the leading SUV, Eli sat in the back seat with Brandon. Willow claimed one of the two middle seats, and Eli stared lazily at the back of her faded pink hair. Randall manned the wheel, while his daughter Kelsey slept in the passenger’s seat. He deftly led the convoy north on Interstate 684, maneuvering between the long line of abandoned cars.

“Remind me,” Eli turned to Brandon, and spoke for the sake of making conversation as much as anything else. The silence was starting to unsettle him. “How do you know all this stuff you’re talking about is even still gonna be there?”
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
Brandon looked out the window retarcing the path he'd taken along that exact stretch of the 684. He was lightly tapping his foot anxiously. He had been so decisive the day before, he knew in his heart and mind that this was for the best, but he was having to periodically reassert himself against a creeping unease. He exhaled sharply through his nose as he adopted a calm. Just focus on the supplies.

He didn't turn away from the window as he aswered Eli, his gaze fixated on some invisible point in the distance.

"I don't. It's been just over a week since I was there, so somebody may have scavenged the place. Too much food to carry though, so they could only have taken off with it if they had a car, or knew how to hotwire one. The place might still be crawling with rotters even. Or somebody could have moved in. Though I don't think any of those are very likely, it's probably the same way I left it." he mused with a bitter note in his voice.

He shook his head and chuckled at the next thought though.

"The guns and ammo are still there though. No doubt about it." he said with a smirk.

The convoy awkwardly took the exit onto 84, Eli and Brandon getting out to roll a car out of the way with Willow and Mac standing watch at the front and rear if the convoy respectively. Brandon found an untouched bag of Skittles in the glove box when he released the hand break.

"Hey Kelsey. Heads up." he said before gently tossing the packet to her as they got back in.

It occurred to him immediately afterward that he probably should have asked Randall first. He just wanted to do something nice for the kid, he knew what she was going through but still didn't really have any idea how to help.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Kelsey snatched the bag of Skittles out of the air, taking a moment to process what she had just caught before looking back to Brandon with a shy smile and uttering quietly; "Thank you."

Randall didn't say anything, but he also appreciated the gesture. It had been difficult for him to interact with Kelsey the past 24 hours. Kelsey had taken strongly after him; she had wavy light brown hair, was a little short for her age, and she was even really shy, like he had been. But there was one thing she had inherited from her mother; her chocolate eyes. Every time Randall saw them, every time he saw her, his thoughts would travel to Elaine.

As Kelsey passed the time picking out individual Skittles from the bag and popping them into her mouth, Randall took the driver's seat of the Chevy Suburban and their makeshift convoy started to roll out again.

"I'm impressed, Brandon. You made a lot of distance in only a week. Especially considering all the hazards." Randall eyeballed a few rotters off to the side of the highway as he added in that last part.

"Yeah..." Willow added somberly. "I had no idea it had gotten so bad."

The pink-haired woman reached into her backpack, which was at her feet.

"No smoking in the car." Randall curtly stated.

"Oh come on!"

"You won't live long out here if you're high as a kite." Randall warned her. "Plus, my daughter is right here. Try to set a good example for the little ones."

"Fiiiine." Willow pouted and leaned back into her seat.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
As Eli got comfortable in the backseat again, he stared out the window at the rotters Randall had pointed out. They were framed by thick autumn foliage, and were wandering through the overgrown grass between the roads. Presumably, they were looking for a sign of life, and had found that in the moving cars, which they were were now stumbling drunkenly and futilely after. They quickly faded from view as the convoy passed under the 684. The last Eli saw of them, they were tripping over a railing and face-planting on the road.

In the first couple weeks after the outbreak, Eli would pass the time in his mind wondering what those kind of people were like before turning. What their jobs were, what they did for fun, that kind of thing. He learned to quit that habit in the quarantine zone. He realized it was best not to think of them as people. That just made it harder to do what needed to be done.

When the rotters were out of view, he turned back around. He shook his head slightly at Willow's pouting, but didn't interject. He wondered how much weed she had left , and how many more non-essential items she had packed, but not enough to ask right now.

"So," he said, turning and resuming his conversation with Brandon. "Your family were what, preppers? Counting down the hours 'till doomsday, that kind of thing?"
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"Yep." he answered.

That was his parents at least. He and his brother were normal, at least relatively. The whole thing was his father's obsession. Peak oil, another great depression that sort of thing, he never exactly saw this coming though. They were prepared to be self sufficient. They extended the property, turned the back yard into a vegetable garden, stocked up on nonperishables. Then there were the guns.

His mom joined in because she loved gardening but mainly because it was something they all did together as a family. Camping out. Going to the range. Family self defense classes in the back yard. Brandon suppressed a chuckle as he remembered his brother handing their dad's ass to him.

He was the big brother in every sense. A real gym junky, he was taller and wider than Brandon and their dad. Took after the men on their mom's side of the family. Fortunately for Brandon though, he inherited the good looks, something he was very pleased to discover post puperty.

Brandon was always unenthusiastic about it all their parent's prepping, and a little embarrassed too whenever he had a friend over. That's why he'd always prefer to stay over somebody elses place as a kid, or when quickly find something to do outside whenever they'd visit. Hindsight is a bitch. Everything his dad taught him had kept him alive.

"People used to think we were weird. So did I. I never told my dad he was right, that I was proud of him. I regret that." Brandon reflected.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
"That's... heavy," Eli said, struggling for the words. He glanced at Randall's reflection in the rear view. "And I'm sorry to hear it. Family's tough."

He thought about his own family, not for the first time. He wondered if they were still alive. Maybe by some miracle, Florida had fared better than New York, as unlikely as that seemed. Then again, even if it did, he had to consider if his parents would even be happy to see him. He'd had an awkward relationship with them ever since he was a teenager, and his dad walked into his room at an inopportune time. He was pretty conservative, and didn't really understand Eli's fluidity. They never talked about it, but he and Eli's mom had already grown pretty distant from their son, even before he landed in lock-up one too many times.

Eli shook his head, as if trying to physically shake the memories. He didn't like to dwell on them.

"This is probably a dumb question, and sorry in advance, but -- any chance they're still out there somewhere?"
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